GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna has explained his long absence from social media.

The 54-year-old vocalist/guitarist, who is promoting a new single from his band, took to his Instagram late Sunday (October 9) to share a video message in which he said that he wanted to take a break from posting online content to focus on being "an entertainer".

Erna said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Okay, so I'm back after a very long break from social media. Actually, I think it's been well over a year and a half since I posted. And I wanted the first video to be an explanation, although I'm not gonna go too far down this rabbit hole on why I've been gone. But I felt obligated to give you somewhat of an explanation on why I chose to dip out for a while. And it's mainly because after the world tipped itself upside down a few years ago, and I started noticing every normal person had a professional political view and every celebrity, all of a sudden, was a medical expert in COVID, which I think is so wrong, because they're scaring people one way or the other. I chose to take the position of, I'm an entertainer; I get paid to entertain, therefore that's what I'm gonna focus my efforts on to create as much great music and videos and content for you people as I can.

"So we'll start with we have a new single out. It's called 'Surrender'," he continued. "And if you haven't heard it yet, you can get it on whatever your favorite music platform is. And we also are very excited to share with you that we have a new record coming out. And I'm not gonna tell you what the title of it is yet. And I'm not gonna tell you when it's coming out. What I will tell you is in the 30 years I've been with this band, I don't think once have I ever said in an interview or to a friend that this new music is the best work we've ever done. I know a lot of artists say that every record they put out: 'This is the best we've ever done.' I'm just gonna tell you that this is the best fucking work we've ever done. I mean, it is packed with great melodies, really big hooks. And what I love about it the most is it tells the story of our journey and our career. So it's been a really emotional record for us, because we really believe that this could be the last body of work that you hear from GODSMACK. That doesn't mean that I'm saying we're breaking up. I don't wanna put that false illusion in anyone's head. We are here. We are getting along better than ever. We plan on continuing to tour, continuing to build the greatest-hits show, which we're really excited about, and just start enjoying our lives after all the hard work we've put in. But this could very well be the last body of music that you hear from the band. So we encourage you to go out and get this record when it comes out and listen to it from to back because it really is great. And it gave us closure. And because of that is why I feel that this could be the last of the music.

"So after this video, all the videos will be fun or informative," Sully added. "But for now, I just wanted to say hi, wake up the audience again, let everybody know we're back and we're gonna have some fun. So stay tuned."

In a recent interview with the Minneapolis, Minnesota radio station 93X, Erna said that COVID-19 "kicked" his ass at the end of last year before he got better. "I was one of the unlucky ones that had to be hospitalized for it for four days," he said in part. "But I beat it, and I feel good now. All my taste, my smell, that came back — hmmmm — I wouldn't say a hundred percent, but probably 85, 90 percent. It's still a little bit different when I smell or taste now — a hint of bitterness versus what it used to be. But [it's] pretty close. And I just got COVID for the second time a couple of weeks ago. But now they have these antiviral meds and I jumped right on it and I knocked it out within three days. So I'm hoping I'm done with COVID now for good, 'cause I think I got all the strains that they offer it in. [Laughs]"

Erna's personal battle with COVID-19 came less than a year after he said that the coronavirus was not as deadly as health officials had made it out to be. "I'm sorry, man, and there may be some people that may get mad at me about saying this, but COVID is not a global killer," he said during a March 2021 appearance on "The Mistress Carrie Podcast". "It's doing damage, and it's certainly affecting the elderly, and we pray for them, and we are really sympathetic towards that, and that's why we're all wearing masks, that's why we're all doing our job. Because there's a lot of us that aren't afraid of COVID, and we know that we're probably gonna blow right through it. But we don't wanna roll the dice with our loved ones, so we're being responsible. But at the same time, the reality is this isn't a global killer. It's gonna pass, we're gonna get past it, and we need to get back to normal. So we have to influence the strong to get out there and start working and start going to school and doing what they need to do so we can create population immunity. That's what's gonna get us through this. And then we'll be able to get back to normal."

At the time, Erna also repeated a narrative pushed by conservative media and disputed by health experts that suggested the official death count from the coronavirus in the U.S. was inflated.

"There's been a lot of things proven within the media, the news, to who's on what side of what, and whether some of this was a political agenda to begin within, whether the numbers are accurate enough to be able to base it on, those half a million people dead," Erna told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast". "Because there was a lot of people coming forward, a lot of doctors and everything, saying, 'Why the fuck are we being asked to put COVID on everything? Why did someone just die of pneumonia, and we have to write 'COVID'? Why did someone come in and have a heart attack, and we're being told to write 'COVID'?' So whether that half-a-million number is correct, that's the part that I feel like we need to be responsible enough to try and be optimistic about not steering people down one rabbit hole, because that's what CNN does on one side and Fox does on the other side. So CNN delivers one side of this, and Fox takes you down a different rabbit hole."

Last November, Erna took a swipe at celebrities, including fellow musicians, who have used their high-profile voices to encourage medical behaviors, saying they should "shut up and let people live their lives."

Erna, who confirmed that politics played a part in his decision to relocate GODSMACK's headquarters to Florida — which leans Republican in presidential elections — on a part-time basis while maintaining a home in New Hampshire, discussed his views on celebrity health campaigns in an interview with Mindy Novotny of the Milwaukee radio station 102.9 The Hog. Speaking about the fact that star-studded vaccine endorsements have become a major part of public health messaging in the pandemic era, he said: "I get paid to be an entertainer. That's the position I've chosen. So I'll focus on entertaining, making people smile, healing people through music. And anybody else that's out there in a celebrity status that's pushing people one way or the other when you have no experience as a medical expert or a politician, my advice is shut up and let people live their lives because you don't know the consequences when you push them one way or the other. So why don't you just do what you're great at and entertain, because that's what you are. That's the position I've taken and that's the position I'm gonna stand with. I'm gonna write my music, I'm gonna put on great live shows, and I'm gonna help people escape a lot of their daily problems, hopefully, that they have to face regardless."

In March 2021, Erna told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast" about his move to Florida. "I'd been looking at an alternate home area for a while now. And California was kind of on my radar, just because I have a lot of friends there, my business is there, [and] I love the weather. But when all this political shit went down, it really turned me off to just the thought process and ways of being for a lot of the liberals and people that I just can't connect with on that wavelength. So it kind of bummed me out to a point where I'm, like, well, I don't really wanna go three thousand miles across the country to pay triple the amount of money to live in that kind of nonsense and be locked down."

He continued: "So, yeah, corona and politics played a piece of my decision to divert to Florida. And I honestly just went down there to buy a property with a little bit of room and a decent little house, and I wanted horses. And I knew that Shannon [Larkin, GODSMACK drummer] was kind of in horse country, 'cause it's in North Fort Myers. So I just came across this really great deal with this lady who had a 20-acre horse ranch, but she also owned a 30-acre pasture next door to it, which is just an open pasture that some guy leases to pasteurize his cows on. And it gives me a tax break 'cause it's agricultural. And I get a half a cow a year. [Laughs] So, yeah, I'm a meat eater too. Not only am I not a liberal, I'm a fucking meat eater."

Erna has been more vocal about his political opinions in recent years, saying in a July 2020 episode of his Internet show "Hometown Sessions" that if "Trump stays in [office], COVID's gonna be a big, messy pain in the ass, and there's gonna be more people burning down Wendy's fucking restaurants. If Trump fucking is gone, all of a sudden they're gonna have this miracle vaccine that those fucking liars have been holding on to."

In February 2020, Erna came under fire for sharing a post that was flagged as part of Facebook's efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its news feed. The post in question criticized then-Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders's plan to raise the minimum wage and provide universal health care to all Americans. It also cited Sanders's Medicare For All plan, a single, national health insurance program that would cover everyone who lives in the United States.

Back in 2004, Erna revealed that he was not in favor of the Democratic candidate for president in that year's election, telling Launch Radio Networks: "I'm a Republican. I want Republican. I don't necessarily want [incumbent Republican president George W.] Bush to win. I don't like that choice, but I gotta tell you, I don't truly believe in the Democrats either, man. I don't like the way they think. I don't like, I don't love Bush, I'll tell you that, but I want a Republican in office."

Last month, Erna told the Minneapolis, Minnesota radio station 93X that GODSMACK's upcoming album will be called "Lighting Up The Sky". He went on to say that the second single from "Lighting Up The Sky" will arrive in February and will coincide with the release of the full-length effort.

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A post shared by Sully Erna (@sullyerna)

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has seemingly weighed in on Kanye West's antisemitic statements in the rapper's latest posts.

In a since-removed tweet, West said he was "going death con 3 [sic] On JEWISH PEOPLE," and also that, "You guys have toyed with me and tried to black ball anyone whoever opposes your agenda," without specifying what group he was addressing.

Late Monday night (October 10),Stanley, who is Jewish, shared a photo of West and included the following message: "Mental Illness IS a disease but should NEVER be used to minimize the danger of hate speech, advocating anti-semitism and violence against religions or ethnicities. We have found ways over centuries to rationalize this behavior and viewed the atrocities that followed. SPEAK UP!"

Paul wasn't the only high-profile figure in the music industry to chime in on West's comments. Grammy-winning songwriter Diane Warren called for Kanye to be "banned for life everywhere."

"Also a little reminder Kanye, using the word death and Jews in the same sentence when 6,000,000 Jews were murdered, 2 out of 3 European Jews, is vile abhorrent and irresponsible," she tweeted Sunday, referencing the Holocaust.

Singer John Legend seemingly addressed West's social media comments Sunday, tweeting, "Weird how all these 'free, independent thinkers' always land at the same old anti blackness and anti semitism."

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman, who is also Jewish, tweeted: "Between @joerogan not calling @rogerwaters out on his antisemitic bullshit, @kanyewest going on an antisemitic rant, and then @elonmusk congratulating his friend (Kanye) on his @twitter reinstatement, it's been a rough week for us Jews. #Antisemitism".

Last week, Kanye sparked criticism for wearing a "White Lives Matter" t-shirt to the showing of his collection at Paris Fashion Week. He wore the same shirt Friday while attending 9-year-old daughter North West's basketball game.

Nearly two and a half years ago, Stanley offered his words of support to Kim Kardashian for speaking out after then-husband West posted a series of tweets that had called his mental health into question.

In a 2018 interview with The New York Times, West said that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017.

This past March, Stanley's KISS bandmate Gene Simmons said Kanye could use a "good bitch slap" because he was being an "a–hole" to Kardashian and her then-boyfriend Pete Davidson.

"At a certain point, if anybody misbehaves, a good bitch slap [works]," Simmons said.

Gene noted that he thinks Kanye is "a talented guy," but added that the rapper is also "out of his mind."

"It's serious stuff. This is your wife, the mother of your children," Simmons continued. "It's not childish. There’s something clinically wrong with him, as he's admitted. It's a psychological problem."
Mental Illness IS a disease but should NEVER be used to minimize the danger of hate speech, advocating anti-semitism and violence against religions or ethnicities. We have found ways over centuries to rationalize this behavior and viewed the atrocities that followed. SPEAK UP! pic.twitter.com/ULtcRk8lPs

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 11, 2022


Between @joerogan not calling @rogerwaters out on his antisemitic bullshit, @kanyewest going on an antisemitic rant, and then @elonmusk congratulating his friend (Kanye) on his @twitter reinstatement, it’s been a rough week for us Jews. 💔#Antisemitism

— David Draiman (@davidmdraiman) October 10, 2022


@RealCandaceO seems to think that @kanyewest saying that he wants to go “deathcon 3” on some Jews isn’t antisemitic.

Really?

Failed attempt at a Jedi mind trick Candace…

Also…water isn’t wet, and these aren’t the droids you’re looking for.

— David Draiman (@davidmdraiman) October 11, 2022

PRONG leader Tommy Victor has confirmed to Heavy New York that he and his bandmates are hard at work on the long-awaited follow-up to 2017's "Zero Days" album. "I can tell you the single will be out, the digital single, in January," he said at this past weekend's Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "'Cause the record is almost done. So for our European tour with LIFE OF AGONY in January, the single will be out. And the [full-length] record [will be out in], I guess, April or something. It depends on when the pressing plant can do it. It's on Steamhammer/SPV again, the same label. All the basic tracks are done. I've just gotta do vocals and solos now."

Speaking about his approach for the upcoming LP, which was produced by Steve Evetts, who previously helmed 2012's "Carved Into Stone" and 2014's "Ruining Lives", Tommy said: "This one is special because it's the first record I've written since I moved back to New York, [to] Amityville. So that concept is there, where it's, like, you know what? This is where the early PRONG stuff was written. I wrote it in my apartment in Amityville, and it's killer. So that's the concept, is that it's written back where I'm from. It's very hardcore, it's really heavy, but PRONG has to have the hooks, so it's still in there too. There's a lot of good choruses and understandable lyrics."

PRONG's latest release was an EP titled"Age Of Defiance", which came out in November 2019 via SPV/Steamhammer. The effort, which was produced by Chris Collier, included two new studio songs, the title cut and "End Of Sanity", along with live recordings of three tracks: "Rude Awakening", "Cut-Rate" and "Another Worldly Device".

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS played "Eddie", a song inspired by legendary guitarist Eddie Van Halen, live for the first time this past Sunday (October 9) at Austin City Limits in Austin, Texas. Video of the performance is available below.

"Eddie" is taken from RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' upcoming second album of 2022, "Return Of The Dream Canteen", which will arrive on October 14. The LP will be issued just six months after the release of "Unlimited Love".

In "Eddie", RHCP frontman Anthony Kiedis delivers lines that are a clear reference to the late VAN HALEN axeman. He sings: "Sailing the Sunset Strip, I'm a bit of a king / Granny would take a trip, I'll be bending the strings / Got hammers in both my hands, such a delicate touch / They say I'm from Amsterdam, does that make me Dutch?"

Kiedis commented on the inspiration for the song: "Sometimes we don't realize how deeply affected and connected we are to artists until the day they die. Eddie Van Halen was a one of a kind. The day after his death [RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS bassist] Flea came into rehearsal with an emotional bass line. John [Frusciante, guitar], Chad [Smith, drums] and I started playing along and pretty soon with all our hearts, a song in his honor effortlessly unfolded. It felt good to be sad and care so much about a person who had given so much to our lives."

He continued: "Although the song doesn't speak to Eddie by name, it talks about his early days on the Sunset Strip and the rock 'n' roll tapestry that VAN HALEN painted on our minds. In the end, our song asks that you not remember Eddie for dying but for living his wildest dream."

When Eddie died in October 2020, Flea tweeted: "Oh man, bless his beautiful creative heart. I love you Eddie Van Halen, an LA boy, a true rocker. I hope you jam with Jimi tonight. Break through to the other side my brother."

Like "Unlimited Love", "Return Of The Dream Canteen" was produced by Rick Rubin, who also helmed past RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS albums such as 1991's "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" and 1999's "Californication".

"Return Of The Dream Canteen" marks the second RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS album since the return of guitarist John Frusciante, who rejoined the band in late 2019.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS had previously said that they recorded 48 songs during the sessions that produced "Unlimited Love", with Frusciante claiming that "some of the best stuff" would surface on the follow-up album.

"Unlimited Love" entered the Billboard 200 albums chart at No. 1 with sales of 97,500 album equivalent units, marking the band's first LP to top the chart since 2016's "Stadium Arcadium".

UFO guitarist Vinnie Moore will release a new solo album, "Double Exposure", on November 8 via his Mind's Eye Music label. Vinnie is joined on this half-vocal-half-instrumental follow-up to 2019 "Soul Shifter" by singers Ed Terry (RAGE AND BEYOND, AMERICAN MAFIA),Keith Slack (MSG, MOTHER ROAD),Mike DiMeo (RIOT) and Brian Stephenson (OLD JAMES). This is Vinnie's first solo release that features vocals. Bandmembers include Richie Monica (BILLY COX, PAPA CHUBBY, TANTRIC) on drums, Michael Bean and Pete Griffin (STEVE VAI, DWEEZIL ZAPPA) on bass, John Cassidy on keyboards, and John Pessoni on drums.

Says Vinnie: "This project started during the period when we were all grounded from touring. I had some song ideas and originally thought I'd do an instrumental EP with five or six songs. Before recording, I always do listening sessions with my demos to get production ideas. While playing 'One Day', I started hearing vocals in my head and naturally started singing along and it hit me that this would make a good vocal song. As I listened through the rest of the tunes, one by one I realized that they all could be vocal songs. It was a lightbulb moment where I realized, 'hey dummy, here's the vocal thing you've been wanting to do'. So the idea to take a group of songs and create dual versions of each was born.

"To set this all in motion, the next step was lining up singers. I knew right away that I wanted to collaborate with a few different vocalists I have known or worked with over the years. Keith Slack and Mike DiMeo quickly came to mind. I have known Keith for more than 20 years and we have always talked about working together. Mike has toured with me in the past as vocalist and keyboardist, so he was an obvious choice. Brian Stephenson opened for me on a tour in 2016 with his band OLD JAMES, I liked his voice and lyrics and knew he would be a good guy to collaborate with. Ed Terry and I were on a track together a couple years back. I really dug his voice and ideas and knew I wanted to work with him.

"The only good thing about the world being shut down for months is that it gave me the time I needed to put this thing all together. It was a big undertaking. In between recording guitars, I would shift gears and go into phases where I sang and sketched out lyrics. It took some thought to decide which singer I wanted to be on which song. After that, I sent out the recordings with and without vocals and told everyone to be creative whether that meant totally following their own inspiration or using any of my ideas. In the end both things happened."

Vinnie has released ten solo albums and six albums and a live DVD with rock icons UFO, and is considered to be one of the originators of shred guitar. He's made many guest appearances with others and played and wrote the soundtrack for a classic Pepsi TV commercial. He's recorded and toured with Alice Cooper and was opening act for RUSH with his solo band on the "Roll The Bones" tour. Vinnie has toured all around the world with UFO and solo, and has two best-selling guitar instructional videos. He has been an inspiration for fans and guitarists worldwide.

Vinnie recently completed a European solo tour in May and a festival run with UFO during the summer.

Photo by Gretchen Johnson

Former GREAT WHITE singers Jack Russell and Terry Ilous will "release a classic cover of an iconic rock song" when they come together for one night, on one stage, for an acoustic storytelling show on Saturday, October 29 at Rockefellas bar in Corona, California. Russell and Ilous will share stories about their long rock and roll careers. Fans will get a chance to hear about the inspiration behind some of GREAT WHITE's biggest hits and learn how the songs came to be.

All proceeds from this show will benefit the Warrior Built Foundation which works to honor the service and sacrifice of combat veterans and wounded service members through vocational and recreational opportunities. The Foundation provides new motivation, camaraderie and sparks veterans' imaginations while most importantly offering a release to cope with similar difficulties in a positive and therapeutic way. Warrior Built does this in a safe, fun, and supportive environment all while providing much-needed different forms of therapy.

Tickets are $16.95 in advance and $25.00 day of show. This is a general admission show with limited table seating on a first-come-first-served basis.

Back in July 2018, Russell slammed his former bandmates in GREAT WHITE for the "deceitful" way Ilous was kicked out of the group.

Ilous, formerly of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after replacing touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was shown the door and replaced with Mitch Malloy.

Ilous later released a statement in which he claimed he was blindsided by his dismissal from GREAT WHITE, saying that he "proudly invested" all of his energy and focus "into the GREAT WHITE brand."

Russell, who was himself fired from GREAT WHITE in December 2011 (after being on hiatus from the group since 2009),took to his Facebook page to offer his thoughts on Terry's departure from the band, writing: "I just wanted to express my condolences to Terry Ilous for the deceitful way my X band members dealt with the situation of his termination kind of reminds me of something else. Huh? In the last few months Terry and I have gotten to know each other through Linkedin have become what I would say friends. As far as I'm concerned, he's a great guy and he had an opportunity and he took it. The fact is it was my fault that it all happened to begin with. I was unreliable, unhealthy and my addiction ruled my world. I wouldn't have wanted to play with me either if I were them. The only thing I was very upset about was the way they went about it. But at least Terry got an e-mail where I received nothing not even a phone call or a return message. But this is not about me this is about Terry. I'm sure he will find his way to a better place as he is a great singer and has a lot of talent and I have a lot of respect for him. I wish him well and I hope you will all support him in his future efforts."

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after the singer had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by guitarist Mark Kendall, keyboardist/guitarist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell now performing with a new lineup as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

Back in June 2020, Russell teamed up with Ilous, along with guitarists Robby Lochner and Phil Woodward, for a special acoustic concert on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise Facebook page. The set included acoustic renditions of songs from GREAT WHITE, XYZ and LED ZEPPELIN.
BREAKING NEWS !
Oct. 29th, Jack Russell & Tery Ilous to release a classic cover of an iconic rock song at @RockefellasBar in #Corona#California. Show to benefit Warrior Built Foundation. Get your tickets now @ https://t.co/xMinWiMCRnpic.twitter.com/QicEr0AsOk

— Terry Ilous (@Terryilous) October 10, 2022

Finnish sludge metal quartet, Black Royal, have released a video for "Ghosts Of The Dead", featured on their new album, Earthbound, available on October 21 via M-Theory Audio. Find the clip below.


Written and recorded at Studio Watercastle last August, mixed by Oskari Hakala Rahko (Lordi, Blind Guardian) and mastered by Jaakko Viitalähde (Convulse, Oranssi Pazuzu), Earthbound will deliver Black Royal’s heaviest collection of lurching sludge and groove-laden death metal songs yet. Filled with thunderous guitars and drums that trade blows at the gates of Valhalla, all deftly balanced on a psychedelic knife-edge, Earthbound will be released on limited-edition “Phoenix Ascending” coloured vinyl and on Digipak CD. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.







Tracklisting:


"Earthbound"
"Ghosts Of The Dead"
"Conjuration"
"Law Of Nature"
"13th Moon"
"Phoenix Ascending"
"Bleed Your Soul"
"Queen Of The Underworld"
"Bear Cult"
"Barren Land"
"Rite Of Passage"


"Ghosts Of The Dead" video:





"13th Moon" video:





"Earthbound" video:

“Fortress” is the first single release from the upcoming album by Norwegian melodeath thrashers Pitch Black Mentality.





The sound is a contemporary blend of aggressive thrash and melodic death metal packed with groove, the roots of which can be traced firmly to the ‘80s Bay Area thrash scene as well as drawing heavily on ‘90s Swedish metal influences. Lyrically, the track explores the themes of personal struggle and breaking through barriers, delivered with melodic aggressiveness by frontman Frank Natås.







Five years in the making, the album World Final Wake is set for release on November 4, 2022.

Finnish rockers Leaflet will be releasing their sophomore album Something Beyond this coming January 2023 via Rockshots Records. The album follows their debut album Outta Door released through VR Label Finland in 2017.


Today, the band is "Gonna Do It" and pull the trigger by giving fans the first single off their second full-length. The track is a hard riffing fist-pumping track to get you off your feet and rocking out!


"‘Gonna Do It’ is about the feeling of getting stuck in your life. You realize it is time for a change, and that it is your own duty to change the course of your life. Of course, there is a risk involved and it feels scary as hell, but you need to hear yourself saying: ‘Gonna do it’. ‘Gonna’ is the heaviest track we have written so far. We had several versions of it and ended up pretty much re-writing the whole song during the pre-production process. We are glad we did because the end result sounds absolutely stunning with its monster opening riff, crushing chorus, and epic guitar solo!" says the band about the track.




The band comments on Something Beyond:


"With this album, we are definitely showing that rock music is alive and pumping! The album is full of catchy metal-influenced rock tunes that would fit perfectly in the heavy rotation of every rock radio station. The album has a lot of variety within the songs and we got a diverse selection of singles as well. Three very different singles trying to represent the entire album as well as possible. As singles, we got one heavy and hard-hitting tune, one straightforward and super catchy tune, and one fast-paced in-your-face type of tune. You should check out them all to see what you think! "


Formed in 2013, Leaflet is a four-piece hard rock band from Turku, Finland. Their music can be described as metal-infused American-style hard rock and while you might hear echoes of bands like Alter Bridge or Shinedown they have their own unique Nordic flavour. “Our musical cocktail is a blend of many things. Although we love the ‘80s, we are trying to keep our hard rock fresh and not follow the retro route”, the band says.


The band has performed on Finnish festivals such as Kuopiorock and Saaristo Open Air along with touring across their home country to support their debut album. They also spent time on the road in the Baltics with Willie & the Goodsouls in 2018 again playing clubs and festivals.


In 2019, Leaflet released “Johnny Two-Face” as a single through VR Label Finland followed by an ambitious music video shot in both Turku, Finland, and Tokyo, Japan. After a couple of years of silence due to the pandemic, the band is now back with their second album “Something Beyond” to be released by Rockshots Records in January 20, 2023, sounding stronger than ever.


Preorder at the Rockshots Records webshop.





Tracklisting:


“Gonna Do It”
“Resonate”
“Alone Alive”
“Earth”
“Johnny Two-Face”
“Tattoos Of Life”
“Shades Of Black”
“Someone Somewhere”
“Something Beyond”


“Gonna Do It” video:

Montreal instrumental progressive metal band Cydemind is offering up its next single from their forthcoming album "The Descent" due out November 4, 2022 to follow their 2017 debut album Erosion.


"We’re thrilled to introduce ‘Breach’, our brand new single!" exclaims Camille Delage, keyboardist. "It’s a high-energy song that we believe is going to be appreciated by many fans!"


This single comes just a month after Cydemind unveiled "Hoax".




"While Hoax may have surprised prog fans, Breach is more in line with the classic sounds of prog metal (if there can ever be anything classic about prog!)," explains guitarist Kevin Paquet. "It’s got hard riffs, a captivating chorus, and unleashed solos."


The song musters a lot of these classic prog elements reminiscent of Dream Theater and Symphony X. "Of course when you make prog music, it’s hard not to take inspiration from these bands," admits violinist Olivier Allard. "They have molded the genre into what it is now. But I believe that the contribution of both the violin and the grand piano gives Breach a distinctive, organic, Cydemindesque sound, dare we say!"


The accompanying music video shows the band in their own jam space situated near Montreal. "We opted for something more straightforward in order to put the focus on the song and the playing," explains Alexandre Dagenais, drummer. "Our video editor, Joël Lalancette, did an outstanding job of matching the pace of the video with the song’s tempo and atmosphere. It’s dynamic and you can really understand what’s going on musically."


The Descent will showcase seven new tracks lasting just under 60 minutes. "With The Descent, we delved into the concept of obsessions and the abysses into which they can plunge the human mind," says Olivier Allard, violinist.


"The album takes us along one’s descent into hell,'' explains guitarist Kevin Paquet. “The first track, Obsessions, acts as an opening. The song contains rhythmic and melodic motifs from each of the tracks on the album. The opening melody acts a bit like the leitmotif of the obsession (whichever it is), returning several times throughout the course of the album. We follow this up with Hoax, a song that incorporates several elements of funk. As hinted by the name of the track, you should not expect the album to respect that tone; on the contrary, the music gradually shifts into something much more sinister and complex."


The band’s lineup remains the same for this second release: Olivier Allard (violin), Nico Damoulianos (bass guitar), Alexander Dagenais (drums), Camille Delage (piano and keyboards), and Kevin Paquet (guitars)


The album was mixed by Simon L’Espérance (Karcius) and mastered by Tony Lindgren (Fascination Street Studios). The cover art for the album was created by Alexander Dagenais.





Tracklisting:


“Obsessions”
“Hoax”
“Breach”
“Call Of The Void”
“Hemlock”
“Slumber”
“The Last Stone”


"Breach" video:





"Hoax" video:

Anonymous project Combustion 96 has unleashed their new single “Damaged” featuring Threat Signal’s Jon Howard. The band’s latest track, outside of the classic metal foundation they’ve constructed the song upon, delivers an onslaught of soaring, epic guitar tones, electronics, and a breakdown you won’t want to miss live. 


Jon Howard captures the essence of “Damaged” perfectly below:


"The song ‘Damaged’ really stood out to me with its huge, chunky riffs combined with a catchy, melodic chorus. It was a perfect song to write and sing on,” shared Howard. “The song allowed me to perform a diverse range of screamed and sung parts with different dynamics. However, the main selling point is the insane breakdown halfway into the song. The electronic elements combined with the groovy drums and guitar just sent the song over the edge - so sick!”




Certified multi-platinum producer/songwriter/muscian, Philip Näslund, shared the following on his collaboration with Combustion 96 and their latest track:


"I have collaborated with Combustion 96 on several recordings over many years. The band’s distinguished ability to blend heavy musical sections with catchy melody makes it a pleasure for me as a producer to collaborate and make music with them. The songs that are set to be released through the near future, captivate the personality and energy that characterizes Combustion 96 and I’m very excited to continue collaborating closely with the artist."


“Damaged” was produced by Combustion 96 and Philip Näslund, while the track was mixed and mastered by Kristoffer Folin/Purple Skull Music. The track was written by Combustion 96, Jon Howard, and Philip Näslund.

Originally released in 1999, Live In The Galaxy was recorded during Union’s first tour in support of its self-titled debut album. Union featured the pairing of guitarist Bruce Kulick and singer/guitarist John Corabi. Kulick had spent 12 years as the lead guitarist in KISS during their non-make up era and was featured on several multi-platinum albums, including the powerhouse band Revenge. Corabi fronted the Scream, and more recently, Mötley Crüe on their now cult following, eponymous 1994 release.  They teamed up with drummer Brent Fitz (Slash featuring Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, Alice Cooper, Vince Neil, Theory of a Deadman) and bassist Jamie Hunting (Roger Daltrey, David Lee Roth, Vince Neil) to record two studio albums before disbanding.


On the heels of selling out Union and The Blue Room in 24 hours, Deko and Blackbird Entertainment are at it again. Live In The Galaxy will be available for the first time as a 180 gram vinyl double album that comes with a bonus 7” vinyl. The double album totals 15 songs, with renditions of “I Walk Alone” from Kulick’s time with KISS and “Power To The Music” from Corabi’s time with Mötley Crüe. It comes in three color variations: Black/Milky White (limited to 500 copies pressed), Purple/Yellow (limited to 250 copies pressed), and Silver/Violet (limited to 250 copies pressed).  The bonus 7” vinyl includes the additional live tracks “Let It Flow” and “Empty Soul.” The album is set to go on pre-sale October 13 at noon (EST). Product is expected to ship early February. 


The options are as follows:




The Premier Edition – comes with a SIGNED 10”x10” band photo; limited edition Union T-Shirt; 180 gram vinyl double album, completely remastered, featuring all new artwork for a beautiful gatefold sleeve; and a bonus 7” including 2-extra live tracks. 


The Royal Edition – comes with a SIGNED 10”x10” band photo; 180 gram vinyl double album, completely remastered, featuring all new artwork for a beautiful gatefold sleeve; and a bonus 7” including 2-extra live tracks. 


The Standard Edition – comes with 180 gram vinyl double album, completely remastered, featuring all new artwork for a beautiful gatefold sleeve; and a bonus 7” including 2-extra live tracks.


Preorder begin September 13 at dekoentertainment.com/union.





Union band members are enthusiastically promoting Live In The Galaxy. 


John Corabi had this to say about the live release, “Union’s Live In The Galaxy exemplifies Union in a nutshell. It’s no frills, no backing tracks, no overdubs, no sound check!  Just straight ahead kick-ass rock and roll from a veteran rock band. Much like their ‘70’s classic rock heroes.  All recorded at one show at the Galaxy Theater in Anaheim.” 


Bruce Kulick continues, “Supporters of Union, always loved our live shows. We played intensely, and our raw powerful performances made a lasting impression on our fans. This recording proves it!” 


From Jamie Hunting, “The band once did 13 cities in 13 nights...runs like that allowed the band to get some flow to the show which can be heard in this concert.” 


Brent Fitz doesn’t hold back, “Live In The Galaxy was recorded at the perfect moment in our tour, we had been working hard on the road for a year, the band was tight, and we were a strong live act.  It’s an amazing snapshot of the band at full power on that first tour!”


Deko Entertainment president, Bruce Pucciarello, comments on their follow up release with Blackbird Entertainment, “Sometimes a live performance brings emotional revelation, allowing us to share feelings with the artist in a way that drives music to higher highs.  This amazing Union performance is the definition of exactly that.”





Tracklisting:


Side A
“Old Man Wise”
“Around Again”
“Heavy D…”


Side B
“Jungle”
“Love (I Don’t Need It Anymore)”
“Man In The Moon”


Side C
“I Walk Alone”
“Surrender”
“Pain Behind Your Eyes”


Side D
“Power To The Music”
“Tangerine”
“October Morning Wind”
“You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”

Billy Howerdel, the A Perfect Circle songwriter/multi-instrumentalist whose recently released album, What Normal Was (Alchemy Recordings/BMG) is a nod to the music Howerdel was influenced by, post-punk and new wave, has released a Mynxii White (Korn, Andy Black, Tinashe) directed video for the song “Ani”. Watch below.


The four-plus minute film utilizes low-key lighting, giving the dramatic story line an eerie wash of ambient street lighting. The fiery narrative is juxtaposed with footage of Howerdel recounting the story via the song’s lyrics.







What Normal Was can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


"Selfish Heart"
"Free And Weightless"
"Ani"
"Beautiful Mistake"
"The Same Again"
"Poison Flowers"
"Follower"
"Bring Honor Back Home"
"EXP"
"Stars"


“Free And Weightless” video:





“The Same Again” visualizer:





“Selfish Hearts” visualizer:





“Beautiful Mistake” visualizer:





"Poison Flowers" video:





New Jersey-born and Los Angeles-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and composer Billy Howerdel has quietly asserted himself as an alternative music auteur whose knack for massive hooks believes a keen emotional understanding and sonic acuity. Devoting his life to music after witnessing Pink Floyd live, he acted as something of a behind-the-scenes journeyman, working as an in-demand touring and studio tech for the likes of David Bowie, Guns N’ Roses, and Nine Inch Nails.


Striking up a friendship with Maynard James Keenan when Tool opened for Fishbone (for whom Billy served as a tech), he occupied a room in a North Hollywood cottage with Maynard. Billy founded A Perfect Circle with Maynard in 1999. The group’s seminal full-length debut, Mer de Noms, went platinum and made history as the “highest Billboard Top 200 bow for a rock band’s debut.” They followed it with the platinum Thirteenth Step [2003] and gold Emotive [2004]. The group made their return with 2018’s Eat The Elephant, marking their fourth consecutive Top 5 debut on the Top 200.


In between, Billy’s music has also appeared in video games and on the big screen. During 2008, he made his first solo statement under the moniker Ashes Divide with Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright. In the next decade, the album quietly pervaded as a cult favorite with millions of streams and the odd sold out “reunion” show. On his 2022 proper full-length solo debut, What Normal Was [Alchemy Recordings/Rise Records/BMG], he inhabits a space that’s reverent of his past, present, and future all at once. After all of these years, songs, and shows, Billy is ready to introduce himself.


(Photo - Erica Weitz)

Swedish metal supergroup, Soen, have released a video for their interpretation of the Slipknot classic, “Snuff”. The track is taken from the forthcoming release Atlantis, out via Silver Lining Music on November 18.


Founding members Martin Lopez and Joel Ekelöf explain their selection of Slipknot’s deeply dark meditation on darkness rejecting love “Snuff”: “We wanted to do something extra special during the Atlantis concert. The obvious path would have been to pick an epic progressive song from the likes of Genesis, Pink Floyd etc. Instead, we went for the opposite with ‘Snuff’, a scaled down and brutally honest song that we all love in its powerful sincerity.”







Atlantis is a special concert film featuring thirteen of the group’s most popular compositions reinterpreted with live orchestral accompaniment. Atlantis was created within the mystic and magical confines of Atlantis Grammofon Studio in Stockholm, Sweden, which has seen a wide range of international artists record, from Quincy Jones to Lenny Kravitz to Green Day. Formerly a movie house in 1941, it went on to become Metronome Studio (during which time ABBA was born) before becoming Atlantis Grammofon in 1983.


Filmed and recorded on December 10, 2021, Martin Lopez (drums & percussion), Joel Ekelöf (lead vocals), Lars Enok Åhlund (guitars & piano), Cody Lee Ford (lead guitar) and Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) worked together with an 8-piece orchestra to reinterpret and rediscover fresh energy and elements in classic Soen songs, such as “Antagonist”, “Monarch”, “Jinn” and “Lucidity”, as well as introducing a stunning interpretation of Slipknot’s deeply dark meditation on darkness rejecting love, “Snuff”.


The end result of this eighty minute performance is some remarkable new aural refractions of Soen’s greatest material for fans to absorb and enjoy. As has always been the way with Soen: the deepest dives yield the greatest treasures.


Atlantis was recorded by David Castillo and Iñaki Marconi, mixed by Castillo, and mastered by Tony Lindgren. The performance was filmed and directed by George Laycock from the bespoke British production house Blacktide Phonic/Visual.


Atlantis will be available as a DVD-CD with bonus footage, a Double 12” Limited Edition Vinyl, Long Form Video, Digital Download and Streaming. Pre-orders available here.





Atlantis tracklisting:


"Antagonist"
"Lunacy"
"Monarch"
"Trials"
"River"
"Jinn"
"Illusion"
"Modesty"
"Lucidity"
"Savia"
"Fortune"
"Snuff"
"Lascivious"
"Lotus"


"Trials" performance video:





The additional orchestral musicians and contributors on Atlantis are:


Stefan Stenberg, Double Bass
Joakim Simonsson, Piano and Organ
Karin Liljenberg, Violin 1
Andreas Forsman, Violin 2
Erik Holm, Viola
Cecilia Linné, Cello
Johanna Börjesson, Vocals
Therése Börjesson, Vocals


Technical support: Dan Wahlbeck


Drum tech: Rickard Gustafsson


Sound support: Niclas Lindström


Soen wish to thank them deeply for their immense contribution to this performance.


With no sign of slowing down, the relentless metal quintet recently announced a twenty date North American Tour, kicking-off at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall; the tour will also see Soen perform as special guests of Katatonia in Dallas and Austin on December 6 and 7.


The North American dates follow shortly after the 2021 rescheduled Imperial European Tour that Soen postponed due to the restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic at the time. The European dates include the opportunity for an unforgettable and intimate evening with Soen at their sole premiere live acoustic show taking place at Zoetermeer’s De Boerderij on September 30. The band are excited to be on the road again and have added fourteen new dates in Europe and the United Kingdom.


“It's a dream come true to finally be able to do an extensive North American tour,” enthuses Lopez. “It's a milestone for any band to tour a continent with such a rich musical history and we are very excited about finally getting to meet our North American audience. See you all there!”


All purchased tickets remain valid for the rescheduled dates and tickets remain on-sale. Full list of confirmed dates, tickets, and additional information available here.


Soen are:


Martin Lopez - Drums and percussion
Joel Ekelöf - Lead vocals
Lars Enok Åhlund - Guitars and Piano
Cody Lee Ford -  Lead Guitar
Oleksii "Zlatoyar" Kobel - Bass

Exhumed returns from the depths with their macabre new album, To The Dead, out October 21 via Relapse Records. In advance of the record’s release, today the band is streaming the track, "Disgusted". Listen below.


Frontman Matt Harvey comments: "Our final single from To the Dead is a veritable labyrinth of riffs that mirrors the lyrical content, dragging the listener kicking and screaming on a descent into homicidal mania. If you make it through this track alive after it slices, dices, chops and rips your senses, you deserve a beer before you dive back in for another listen! It's an Exhumed track - you know what to do, crank up the volume, crack open a cold one, and shed some brain cells with us!"







To The Dead will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Physical pre-orders are available at Relapse.com here. Find digital pre-orders here.





To The Dead tracklisting:


"Putrescine And Cadaverine"
"Drained Of Color"
"Carbonized"
"Rank And Defiled"
"Lurid, Shocking, And Vile"
"Undertaking The Overkilled"
"Nerotica"
"No Headstone Unturned"
"Defecated"
"Disgusted"


“Carbonized" lyric video:





"Drained Of Color" video:





Exhumed will kick off a US headlining tour this fall. The journey runs from November 11 through December 17. Support will be provided by Hulder and Vitriol as well as Molder from November 11 through November 22 and Castrator from November 23 through the tour’s conclusion. Tickets on sale now.





Exhumed are the pioneers of blood-soaked gore metal and the band's storied career needs no introduction. To the Dead is the culmination of decades upon decades of nightmarish riffs, obliterating blastbeats, and hellish screams from the very depths the band crawled out from!


"To The Dead is a destination," notes Harvey. "A rotting world populated by the grotesquely twisted truths of our waking world and the decaying fallout of our most deranged ambitions. But it's also a title that evokes a celebration of, and an invitation into, the gore-soaked world of Exhumed."


The very celebration of Exhumed's history is ever-present on this album. "We've expanded the writing team on the record to include former members Mike Beams, Leon del Muerte, Matt Widener, and Bud Burke in an effort to celebrate the band's history -- at this point decades of it -- and I think the resulting record is an excellent testament to the surprising longevity of Gore Fucking Metal!"


So please, accept the band's humble invitation and sink six feet down to their level. Exhumed can't wait for you to get a whiff of what they've cooked up - this will be the most fun you've ever had being disgusted!


Exhumed:


Matt Harvey - guitar, vocals
Ross Sewage - bass, vocals
Mike Hamilton - drums
Sebastian Phillips - guitar

Storm Force are back. After releasing their critically acclaimed debut, Age Of Fear, the group unleashes a stunning re-working of "Uninvited", by fellow Canadian icon, Alanis Morrissette.


"What started as an impromptu jam while working on songs for the next Storm Force album, quickly developed into something really special we wanted to share right away!" says singer Patrick Gagliardi.







The new single, "Uninvited", is once again produced by Darius Szczepaniak and features legendary special guest keyboardist Ray Coburn (Roger Hodgson, Honeymoon Suite, Corey Hart). The single is available now on all digital services. The new album will be tentatively arriving in fall 2023.


You can stream and purchase the new single here.


BraveWords is presenting the TikTok premiere of the “Uninvited” video. Watch below:



@bravewords666 BraveWords is honoured to bring you the TIKTOK premiere of Canadian rockers Storm Force‘s new single “Uninvited” which happens to be a cover of Alanis Morissette‘s track originally released back in February 1998. #bravewords #metal #heavymetal #hardrock #wheremetallives #80smetal #80srock #melodicrock #classicmetal #60secondreviews #60secondnews #bravewordsradio #metalradio #brightonrock #gregfraser #hardrock #80srock #80smetal #ageoffear #escapemusic ♬ original sound - BraveWords.com







Catch Storm Force live in Hamilton, Ontario on Saturday, November 12 at the Bridgeworks Concert Venue, 200 Caroline N. Hamilton Ontario.


Tickets available here.





Storm Force released their debut album, Age Of Fear, in early 2020. Led by Canadian rock legends Brighton Rock founder and lead guitarist Greg Fraser and featuring one of today’s most powerful and versatile lead vocalists in Patrick Gagliardi (formerly of Surface Tension), their debut record produced by Darius Szczepaniak (Black Crowes, Sum 41, Big Sugar) combines colossal, crushing melodic rock with hook-laden ballads and massive choruses reminiscent of vintage Cinderella, balanced by classic rock sensibilities of acts like The Who and Van Halen.


The group hails from Niagara Falls, Canada and is rounded out by the blistering one-two punch rhythm section of ex-Panik and Step Echo drummer Brian Hamilton and sought-after session musician and touring bassist Mike Beradelli.


Storm Force’s groundbreaking first record is the result of a rich blend of rock influences spanning Triumph, UFO, Thin Lizzy, Foreigner, and so many more, and will be available on Escape Music worldwide. Order your copy now from The Music Shop.


"Beacuse Of You"





"Dirty Vegas"

In a new interview with the "Behind The Vinyl" podcast, EUROPE singer Joey Tempest spoke about the band's plans for the long-awaited follow-up to 2017's "Walk The Earth" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "What we're gonna do is we're gonna start recording next year, together with a documentary we hope [to have] out in the autumn — a EUROPE documentary [and] a box set, hopefully, of all the albums. But definitely a 40th-anniversary tour [for the first EUROPE album]. We don't feel like we wanna compete too much without a new album, so what we're gonna do is we want to record new music and release one or two [pieces] of new music next year, and then will be the big release the following year. That's at least what we're planning right now. 'Cause there's so much going on next year. And [we want to] focus on the documentary and the 40th-anniversary tour and some other things."

Asked if the box set will contain any previously unreleased material, Joey said: "We haven't gotten that far, because the thing with EUROPE is we don't have that much extra stuff. Some bands have loads. Of course we can [include] live stuff — we can do that — but from the studio, there's not much. We've been boring like that. We come in with 12 songs and we come out with 12 songs. How did that happen? We should have 20 and taken 10 and kept 10. So, whether there's gonna be new songs involved in that, I don't think so. But the box set will a great vinyl box set with all the records, hopefully. Whether we put something else in there, we have to talk about it.

This past July, EUROPE guitarist John Norum told Sonic Perspectives that the band would begin recording a new LP in 2023. "All the guys are, at the moment, just writing songs and putting ideas down," he said. "I started preparing and doing demos and things like that."

Back in July 2019, Tempest told Finland's Kaaos TV that he and his bandmates don't "write so much on the road". He explained: "We've never been like that. We're a soundcheck band as well. So we always soundcheck. We soundcheck whenever we can. Festivals is more difficult, as you know. But it's possible sometimes — you can go in the morning and do it.

"What happens to us is usually we write for six months when the touring has come to an end on an album," he continued. "So it takes us about four to six months to write, to get everything together, get 75 to 80 percent ready, music and lyrics. Then we go into the studio and then we work fast — record everything live in two weeks. This is how we've done it on 'Bag Of Bones' [2012], 'War Of Kings' [2015] and 'Walk The Earth'. The last three EUROPE albums were recorded fast, because those fast decisions are amazing in the studio — everybody's there; everybody's on fire. That's how those great albums were made in the '70s — on the spot, when that glow and that fire is there."

While stressing the importance of improvisation in the studio, Tempest said that "you should be prepared. You don't wanna waste time in the studio and waste anybody's time. So if you're 75 percent ready, the last bit the producer can help out with or the circumstances, or whatever happens happens in the studio. But we've been so lucky working with Dave Cobb — a great musician and producer and a great guy to just hang with. He's now part of the band. Like he works with RIVAL SONS, he also works with us. He's part of the band when we're in the studio with him. He writes with us. He comes up with great ideas. He sits and plays the songs with us in a circle in the studio before we record it, and then we just slam it down live, three or four takes, and pick the best takes to work on and to finish up. And the nerve is there, the decisions were made right there, and that's how you make great rock records."

"Walk The Earth" was released in October 2017 via Hell & Back Recordings (Silver Lining Music). It was recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London with the aforementioned Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (RIVAL SONS, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton).

QUEENSRŸCHE's music video for the song "Hold On" can be seen below. The clip was directed by Thomas Crane of killDevil Films. The track is taken from the band's sixteenth studio album, "Digital Noise Alliance", which was released on October 7 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton told Metal Edge magazine about "Digital Noise Alliance": "It's an album that kind of stretches and encompasses the whole music genre of QUEENSRŸCHE. It's got some very melodic moments, it's progressive, it's heavy metal and it's very album-oriented visual music that is going to be just a good all-around QUEENSRŸCHE album."

Regarding the songwriting process for "Digital Noise Alliance", Wilton said: "I was living in Seattle at the time, and when you're isolated like that, it does weird things to your head space. I talked to Todd [La Torre, vocals] and mentioned that in all that time I had been writing lots of little riffs on the guitar. So, I went and visited Todd in Florida in late January of 2021. I had no idea he had also invited producer Zeuss to come down from Massachusetts, as I hadn't brought along any guitars with me. I was just going to go hang out with Todd in Florida. But we then made a conscious decision between all of us that this album's process would not be songs being e-mailed to each, waiting for their approval back. This was going to a process where on-the-spot riffage, experimentation, improvisation and seeing what sticks was the way we wanted it made. So, I'd come up with a riff and Zeuss would record it and Casey [Grillo, drums] would get on the electronic drums and put a drum beat to it, and we'd file it and move onto the next riff and so on. Then we would sit back and listen and if everybody was vibing on what we did during that day, we'd listen to all the parts and imagine where they would sit within a song structure and then kind of put them together from there. Eventually we had about 22 song ideas, and we had to wither that down to about 11 or 12 tunes."

As for the lyrical themes covered on "Digital Noise Alliance", Michael said: "A lot of the songs are our perspective on the current unrest in the world, especially in the United States, and whatever the music dictated to us for the lyrics. Todd writes great lyrics, as does Eddie [Jackson, bass], and I wrote some lyrics, too. I think as I said earlier, it's a full, all-encompassing QUEENSRŸCHE record that I think everyone is going to really enjoy."

This past March, La Torre told FOX17 Rock & Review about QUEENSRŸCHE's new LP: "Each song might have a little different attitude and we wanted to just use real amps and all the vintage, real stuff that was used throughout the history of QUEENSRŸCHE.

"We did all the drums at a place in Clearwater [Florida] — a huge home with the most amazing ceiling for a drum room," La Torre continued. "So we did all the drums there. And then, really, at my place [in St. Petersburg, Florida], we're able to track all the guitars, bass and vocals.

"Those days of renting thousand-dollar-a-day studios, we don't really need that anymore. And our producer Zeuss, who did the last two QUEENSRŸCHE albums — he does all Rob Zombie's stuff; he's a very seasoned producer, [and] he does mixing and mastering, so he's a one-stop shop — he's down here from Massachusetts. So he's handling all those duties. And things are going really well. We're having a great time."

Last November, La Torre told Canada's The Metal Voice about the musical direction of the new QUEENSRŸCHE material: "It doesn't sound like 'The Verdict'. It's its own new kind of thing. We really kind of just focused more on melodic hooks. I don't think we went in thinking, like, 'Oh, we need to sound old school or new or this.'"

He continued: "You know what we did on this record… Every other time, each guy would kind of submit their own song ideas and then we would kind of work on that. But what we did on this record was, other than Eddie — Eddie has a couple of songs that are really cool that he wrote and then showed us kind of when they were pretty much done. And then Michael kind of wrote some interesting chords — still staying within the keys and everything. But we all got in a room with our here [in Florida], and we literally started from scratch. Like, 'Michael, what do you got?' [And he would] come up with a riff. And Casey would sit on the drums, or I would sit on the drums. We were all actually in a room and just tried it like the good old days. So this record was totally like that — the whole thing pretty much, minus one or two songs. And even that changed a little bit."

In October 2021, Wilton confirmed that returning guitarist Mike Stone would contribute guitar solos to the band's new studio album.

Since late May 2021, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July 2021 that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

For the past five and a half years, Grillo has been filling in for QUEENSRŸCHE's original drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

In October 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against the band's fellow original members Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge.

Joe Satriani says that Wolfgang Van Halen should play guitar at a hypothetical VAN HALEN tribute concert.

Satriani, who was in talks with Alex Van Halen and David Lee Roth to be the guitarist for a tribute event, told Ultimate Classic Rock in a new interview that Wolfgang is a "more natural" choice to play Eddie Van Halen's parts than anyone else. He made his comments just weeks after Wolfgang performed his late father's songs at the recent Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts. The son of Eddie Van Halen played three VAN HALEN songs — "On Fire", "Hot For Teacher" and "Panama" — over the course of two concerts in September alongside Dave Grohl on bass, Josh Freese on drums and THE DARKNESS's Justin Hawkins on vocals.

"When I saw Wolfgang playing at the Taylor Hawkins benefit, I thought it was the most natural, beautiful thing I'd seen in a long time," Satriani said. "It was such a wonderful thing to see him play his dad's music like that, and he's such an incredible musician. I thought, 'Well, if the thing is ever gonna happen, he should do it.' It just seemed more natural than reaching out to somebody like me.

"So, the world should just wait for him to make up his mind how he wants to do it, and we should leave him alone, let him figure out the best time and place for it," the guitarist continued. "Whatever he comes up with will be the best way to do it, I think."

Satriani who played with former VAN HALEN members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony in CHICKENFOOT, admitted that he had some trepidations about signing on for a VAN HALEN tribute concert.

"I jokingly told [Alex and Dave] on that first phone call that if I had half a brain I'd hang up right away and not accept such a crazy offer, 'cause nobody can replace Eddie, and whoever tries to do it is gonna get a whole lot of negativity from the world of social media," he said. "But I heard myself saying 'yes' before my better judgment kicked in, because I am such a fan of Eddie and his work, and I thought, 'Wow, it would be such a great labor of love to dive into that and try to understand the essence what he was doing for each song.'"

Earlier this month, Wolfgang said that he is "super happy and proud" of the fact that he performed his late father's songs at the Taylor Hawkins tribute concerts. Wolfgang told Guitar World's Chris Gill: "I didn't even know if I could do it. I had a lot of conversations with Dave. What a kind sweetheart of a man he is. We talked a lot about [it]. Initially he was, like, 'What do you think? Would you be comfortable doing this?' Initially, I didn't wanna disappoint Dave Grohl. And I was, like, 'Sure.' And he was, like, 'Why don't you think about it and get back to me?' And so I did. I thought a lot about it and I was, like, 'You know what? If there was ever a time, this is it.' I talked to him about it and I was just honest. I was, like, 'I don't know If I could do this, but if I do, I need your support. I need you up there with me.' I was like, 'Whatever the incarnation of what it becomes, I need you there with me.' And he was, like, 'Absolutely.'"
Wolfgang also responded to those people who have suggested he has an easier time playing the classic VAN HALEN songs because he is the son of Eddie Van Halen. "I didn't just put a CD in and upload it into my head," he laughed. "I practice a lot. It's a really weird backhanded compliment, where it's, like, 'Oh, you did nothing to be able to do this.' And it's like, 'No, I work very hard to be able to do what I can do.' I understand where it's coming from, though."

This past summer, Wolfgang spoke to Rolling Stone magazine about why he is adamant about not playing VAN HALEN covers when touring with his own band MAMMOTH WVH.

"People are like, 'Oh, don't mention VAN HALEN. He hates VAN HALEN.' It's, like, 'It's my fucking name. Why would I hate it? It's my dad. I love my dad. I was in the fucking band.' I don't hate it at all."

He continued: "All I've ever said is I don't want to play VAN HALEN music at MAMMOTH shows. I'd rather bomb with my own stuff than gain attention for playing dad's. Expecting to hear VAN HALEN at a MAMMOTH show is like expecting to hear NIRVANA at a FOO FIGHTERS concert. And getting pissed off that they didn't play NIRVANA."

Eddie died in October 2020 at the age of 65. The legendary VAN HALEN guitarist passed away at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

Eddie was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had tongue surgery. He later battled lung cancer and had been receiving radiation treatment in Germany. Things took a turn for the worse in early 2019 when Eddie got in a motorcycle accident. He was subsequently diagnosed with a brain tumor, and received gamma knife radiosurgery to treat the illness.

Joe Satriani photo credit: Eduardo Peña Dolhun / Wolfgang Van Halen photo credit: Bryan Beasley

Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the signing of Tarmat, an exciting new AOR/melodic rock band hailing from Niterói, Brazil. The label will release their debut album, Out Of The Blue on December 9.


A new single and video, "Rosetta Stone", is out today. Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Out Of The Blue here.


Alexandre Daumerie (vocals), Eduardo Marcolino (guitars), Gabriel Aquino (keyboards), and José Marcus (bass) formed the band in mid-2020 during the early stages of the global pandemic. Four longtime friends, they have played together in hard rock bands since 2006. Eduardo and Gabriel are also childhood friends who play together in the instrumental progressive rock band Anxtron. Born from a yearning to start a new band to write and play some original AOR-oriented music together, their upcoming debut album, Out of the Blue was recorded during 2021-22. Rafael Marcolino provided drums, while the album was mixed and mastered in Sweden by Eduardo Belchior (Intense Music Productions) and Ronny Milianowicz, respectively.




With a clear nod to the '80s, yet sounding fresh, Tarmat's music is influenced by varied acts from across rock's spectrum such as Journey, Boston, Europe, Simply Red, Christopher Cross, Van Halen, Toto, and Queen. Melodic rock/AOR fans from around the world will surely find much to enjoy on the band's debut, Out Of The Blue.





Out Of The Blue tracklisting:


"Backbone Feeling"
"Out Of The Blue"
"Moving Backwards"
"Gibberish"
"Rosetta Stone"
"More Than Less"
"Your Enemy"
"True Colors"
"Dinner’s On The House"
"The Knight"


"Rosetta Stone" video:





Lineup:


Alexandre Daumerie - Vocals
Eduardo Marcolino - Guitars
Gabriel Aquino - Keyboards
José Marcus - Bass


* Drums recorded by: Rafael Marcolino

Melbourne, Australia-based progressive metal band, Teramaze, are streaming "Dangerous Me", featured on their 10th album, Flight Of The Wounded, released independently via Wells Music. Order the album here, and listen to the song below.





Tracklisting:




"Flight Of The Wounded"
"Gold"
"The Thieves Are Out"
"Until The Lights"
"Ticket To The Next Apocalypse"
"For The Thrill"
"Dangerous Me"
"Battle"
"In The Ruins Of Angels"


"Dangerous Me":





"For The Thrill" video:





"The Thieves Are Out" video:





"Gold" lyric video:





Teramaze’s lineup is as follows:


Dean Wells (Vocals & Guitar)
Chris Zoupa (Guitar)
Andrew Cameron (Bass)
Nick Ross (Drums)

Blackened death thrash practitioners, Goatwhore, released their new full-length, Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven, last Friday via Metal Blade Records. In celebration of its release, today the band is pleased to unveil their new video for the record's title track.


Trooping into their twenty-fifth year as conjurors of the most ruthless extreme metal, with Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven Goatwhore spews forth forty-seven decimating minutes of the band's trademark brew of death, black, thrash, and classic metal delivered with breathless intensity and an unapologetic bloodlust.


With the band's multifaceted title track, vocalist Louis B. Falgoust II ventured into an idea of emotional despondency within older texts and writings, feeling like several of these writings missed an element of human nature/emotion. "The basic laws and rules guided by simple aspects of good and evil and the emotional/mental journey in which people would have to traverse them. Life is simple, but very complex when coming to the relationships of numerous people together and their paths crossing. The idea was spawned from delving into my own idea behind the relationship of Judas and Jesus, reading various writings on the topic, from the basic ones we all have heard to the forbidden concepts like the Gospels Of Judas. It's also about the idea of doing something you may think is positive or beneficial, but it only ends up putting you in a more negative foundation, and this abstraction can send a person into a very dark place. Life around you begins to crumble and the thoughts become more askew. The title is more of a metaphor embracing this idea."




View Goatwhore's video for "Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven", directed by David Brodsky:





Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven was produced by Jarrett Pritchard (Exhumed, 1349), who handled the band's Vengeful Ascension full-length, and tracked primarily at Studio In The Country in Bogalusa, Louisiana under pandemic restrictions. Additionally, the band recruited acclaimed producer Kurt Ballou (Converge, High On Fire, Gatecreeper, Code Orange) to mix the record with final mastering duties handled by Grammy-award winning engineer Ted Jensen (Ghost, Gojira, Cult Of Luna). The record is tied together by the striking artwork of longtime collaborator Jordan Barlow who's cryptic use of sigils holds deeper meaning to the record's entirety.


Unquestionably their fiercest, most accomplished album to date in sound, concept, and execution, the twelve-track Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven stands among the most volatile and plainly dangerous records to come out of 2022. Featuring ferocious beasts like the maniacally thrashing "Born Of Satan's Flesh," the oldschool, crossover flavored "Death From Above'' with its guttural chorus, and a towering title track that's as haunting as it is heavy, the band - Duet, Falgoust, drummer Zack Simmons, and bassist Robert "TA" Coleman (his first recorded output with the band) - covers a wealth of sonic terrain while preserving their signature, nefarious Goatwhore aura. With an overall tone described by Duet as "dark and evil" with a perpetual sentiment of "impending dread," the record allows little light to cling to.


Order here.





Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven tracklisting:


"Invocation 3"
"Born Of Satan's Flesh"
"The Bestowal Of Abomination"
"Angels Hung From The Arches Of Heaven"
"Death From Above"
"Ruinous Liturgy"
"Victory Is The Lightning Of Destruction"
"Voracious Blood Fixation"
"The Devil's Warlords"
"Weight Of A Soulless Heart"
"Nihil"
"And I Was Delivered From The Wound Of Perdition"


"Death From Above" visualizer:





"Born Of Satan's Flesh" video:





Goatwhore lineup:


Louis B. Falgoust II - vocals
Sammy Duet - guitars, vocals
Zack Simmons - drums
Robert "TA" Coleman - bass


(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)

Deep Purple have released a restored live video for "Strange Kind Of Woman". This restored video was filmed on September 3, 2005 at Polo Express, Düsseldorf, Germany. It was recorded for the TV promotion of the studio album, Rapture Of The Deep. This live version hasn't been released on any Deep Purple CD or video.





Following the news in July that Steve Morse will be stepping back from the band, after more than a quarter of a century, Deep Purple announced that, following an abundant summer of touring, Simon McBride will join the band permanently.




Collectively, the band stated: “We are thrilled that Simon has agreed to join. Simon’s playing is up there with the greats. Of course, Steve can’t be replaced, the same as Ritchie, and Steve has a long legacy with Deep Purple. In Simon we have not found a replacement, but an extraordinarily talented and exciting guitarist in his own right. The reception from audiences over the Summer has already been great and we are looking forward to the forthcoming dates in the UK and Europe across the rest of the year. It is clear that Simon also holds great respect for those before him. We are all excited for what the years to come hold for the band.”


Simon stated: “I'm very happy to be asked to join the band, at the start of the pandemic if someone would have said to me that I was going to be the new guitarist in Deep Purple I would have just laughed, but here we are and it's happening. Deep Purple has a history of great guitarists so I’m very honoured to be asked to be part of that. They are all amazing musicians and more importantly, I have become very good friends with the guys so I can't wait to continue touring and even perhaps some writing and recording.”

St. Louis, MO-based black metal duo Stormruler - consisting of midwestern scene stalwarts Jason Asberry (vocals/guitars/bass) and Jesse Schobel (drums/vocals) - will release their new album, Sacred Rites & Black Magick, this Friday, October 14 via Napalm Records. Sacred Rites & Black Magick weaves epic tales of war, history, black magick and sorcery beyond the standard confines of black metal, birthing an unforgettable conceptual journey of legend that any metal fan would be remiss to ignore.


Following the album's first two epic singles "Sacred Rites & Black Magick" and "Internal Fulmination Of The Grand Deceivers", Stormruler has revealed a grim and gripping third single alongside a new lyric video. “Upon Frozen Shores” weaves a sonic tale of occult doom atop triumphant soundscapes, breakneck rhythms and ghostly melodic passages – succeeding in convincing even the newest of genre converts.


Stormruler says about “Upon Frozen Shores”: "'Upon Frozen Shores' was chosen as the final offering of the album cycle for its grim nature and the diversity that it demonstrates within the record. Starting out of the gate with a mid tempo pace and story-telling prose, it will sink the listener directly into the story told. In a way, it showcases all different aspects that this record has to offer - from slow mid-tempo riffage, to the imperial buzzsaw, to acoustic passages and more. We're proud to present this song to you all and we can't for everyone to experience Sacred Rites & Black Magick in its entirety."







Stormruler  broke out in 2021 with the avid subterranean support of their debut full-length, Under A Burning Eclipse – subsequently garnering scores of acclaim upon its wide re-release via Napalm Records. The album introduced Stormruler’s beyond-their-years execution of raw, atmospheric black metal doused in extravagant lyricism.


Produced, mixed and mastered by Gabe Usery at Encapsulated Studios and featuring stunning artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, Sacred Rites & Black Magick blisters with more unrelenting intensity while maintaining a haunting, visceral aura more ancient and foreboding than ever. As on Under A Burning Eclipse, between each song on Sacred Rites & Black Magick is an intricately positioned interlude building the ambiance and steering the thematic intensity of the album.


Stormruler says about Sacred Rites & Black Magick: "This album is on another level in comparison to our previous offering. It falls in the same vein of the melodic second wave black metal worship of Under The Burning Eclipse, but with a more intense and darker touch. It's got the high speed buzzsaw attack we love, crushing grooves, solid leads, ambience within the interludes and acoustic passages, as well as lyrics that tell a story."





Sacred Rites & Black Magick is available for pre-order in the following formats:
- 4 page CD Digipak
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold Marbled White/Black/Blue - Napalm Mailorder only, limited to 300 worldwide
- Digipak & Shirt Bundle - Napalm RoW Mailorder only
- Full Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Sacred Rites & Black Magick tracklisting:


"Hymns Of The Slumbering Race"
"Internal Fulmination Of The Grand Deceivers"
"Adrift Dark Halls Of Vinheim"
"To Bear The Twin Faces Of The Dragon"
"In Light Of Paleblood"
"Entranced Within The Moon Presence"
"Invocation Of The Black Sacrament"
"Sacred Rites & Black Magick"
"Oathpact"
"Ten Heralds, Ten Desolations"
"The Waters Of Iolamita"
"In The Shaded Vlasian Forest"
"Amid A Smear Of Crimson Cloud"
"Apparitions Across The Ravencrest"
"Sanguinare Vampiris"
"Upon Frozen Shores"
"Shadow Of The Golden Eagle"
"Along The Appian Way"
"By Winters Long Passed"
"A Malice Dead & Cold"


"Internal Fulmination Of The Grand Deceivers" video:





"Sacred Rites & Black Magick" video:





Stormruler is:


Jason Asberry - Vocals, Guitars and Bass
Jesse Schobel - Drums & Vocals


Stormruler recently announced their upcoming support of Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral and Ingested on their 2023 European tour. The tour begins on March 10 in the Netherlands, hitting a massive number of major European cities before coming to an end in Nottingham, UK on April 23. Tickets are on sale now.


(Photo - JT Ibanez)

In 2022, Powerwolf continue to build upon their status as the most successful German metal band in current music. An entry at #1 on the Official German Album Charts with the massive streaming event The Monumental Mass: A Cinematic Metal Event, a celebrated headline show at the legendary Wacken Open Air, impressive shows with Iron Maiden and KISS, as well as their upcoming headline tour across the biggest stages in Europe are just some of the highlights of this last year.


With the new single and music video, "My Will Be Done", the Wolves once again prove that they are one of the most exciting bands in the genre and have truly earned their outstanding status. The single can be purchased physically in 7'' picture vinyl, digipak CD and digital formats, and comes with both an orchestral and instrumental version, in addition to the original version.


Watch the official video for “My Will Be Done”:







Powerwolf are about to boost their prowess to the next level as they embark on their very first journey to North American shores. Today, Powerwolf announces two massive, once-in-a-lifetime live performances in New York, NY and Montreal, QC in 2023.


The first performance will take place on February 23 at The Palladium, located in New York City's world famous Times Square, and the second will take place at Montreal's impressive M Telus on February 24.


This is the very first time that North American Powerwolf fans will get their chance to feed the need for the 'Wolf - live and in person! Powerwolf is internationally renowned for their colossal, breathtaking world-class stage shows, so come see what all of the buzz is about and feast your eyes on one of the most impressive live spectacles in heavy music.


Tickets for both dates go on sale this Friday, October 7 at 10 AM, local time. Make sure to grab your tickets quickly - these will go fast. For tickets and more information, make sure to check local venue listings and powerwolf.net/tickets.


Powerwolf states: “North America, your calls over the years have not gone unheard! The holy heavy metal mass will finally be celebrated next year for the very first time in New York City and Montreal! Let's make sure that it will be an experience that neither you, nor we as Powerwolf will ever forget!”





Lineup:


Attila Dorn - Vocals
Matthew Greywolf - Guitar
Charles Greywolf - Bass
Falk Maria Schlegel - Organ
Roel Van Helden - Drums


(Photo - Matteo Vdiva Fabbiani / VDPICTURES)

Roadrunner United was a project organized by iconic hard rock record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary, culminating in the US Billboard Top 200, UK Albums, and Australian ARIA Albums-charting original The All Star Sessions. Four "team captains" (Slipknot's Joey Jordison, Machine Head's Robb Flynn, Fear Factory's Dino Cazares, and Trivium's Matthew K. Heafy) were chosen to lead 57 artists from 45 past and present Roadrunner bands. It was truly a heavy metal family affair - and then some.


The release was labeled "a testament to Roadrunner's far-reaching impact on the genre" by MTV. Because that's exactly what it was.


Additionally, on December 15, 2005, a concert celebrating the project, album, and anniversary took place at the Nokia Theater in New York City. That star-studded event featured multiple musicians, both past and present, from Roadrunner bands - as well as musicians that did not originally perform on the All-Star Sessions album.




The set list consisted of some of the most popular and famous songs released by Roadrunner Records, as well as some of the original songs from the project's album. The "core band," which performed on the majority of the songs, consisted of the aforementioned Cazares (Fear Factory), Adam Duce (Machine Head), the late Paul Gray (Slipknot), the late Joey Jordison (Slipknot, Murderdolls), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), and Roy Mayorga (Hellyeah, Stone Sour).


Now, both the original All-Star Sessions album and the concert performance itself will be made widely available in multiple configurations on March 10, 2023. Pre-orders for the concert album, which will be available on vinyl, CD, digitally, and presented in HD for the first time, are now live. Watch "The End" (Live) below.


"The Roadrunner United album was something I still have a hard time believing that it happened," says Heafy, who served as the youngest songwriting captain on the album. "A 19-year-old me being enlisted to be able to write anything I wanted… while picking a dream lineup of my favorite musicians every single every song? I am still honored and grateful to have been allowed this amazing experience. All I can say is… I want to do Part II."


Flynn reflected on his participation as a captain, saying, "I had a couple of riffs left over from [2004 Machine Head album] Through the Ashes of Empires that I hadn't ended up using, so brought them into play first-off for Roadrunner United. The song that really kicked it off for me was 'The Dagger.' I was like, 'Man, this is a f--king banger. I don't know if I even want to give this away!’'I actually told the label, 'If you can lock in Howard [Jones] from Killswitch Engage to do the vocals, you can have it. Otherwise, I'm keeping it for Machine Head!' We had so much fun when Howard flew in to record that song at my studio. He only had about three sentences of lyrics prepared, so we spent hours talking over what the song could be about, and then he freestyled a bunch. I remember him getting up, walking into the vocal booth, and just belting out this f--king insane scream, this screech! It became the sound that opens the whole record."


That moment caused a wave of songs to come flooding through for Flynn and further inspired his creativity on songs and the iconic Machine Head album that came after — 2007's The Blackening. He even stated that working with different artists for Roadrunner United "really opened my mind to all these possibilities."


All details about each configuration of the live concert album and original CD are below.


Roadrunner United: The Concert (Live At The Nokia Theatre, New York,Ny, 12/15/2005) Vinyl:


We have opened the vault to bring to you for the first time on vinyl Roadrunner United The Concert (Live at the Nokia Theatre, New York, NY, 12/15/2005), featuring members of Slipknot, Anthrax, Trivium, Machine Head, Fear Factory, Sepultura, and more. Roadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. On December 15, 2005, in New York City. Roadrunner Records produced the metal concert to end all Metal Concerts: 39 musicians, representing 25 different Roadrunner bands, performed 25 songs from 19 different bands' repertoires. This unique and unprecedented aggregation of musicians was no jam session. Each song was studiously rehearsed and arranged, coming together with exuberant perfection, to produce a concert that can only be called legendary and iconic!


Conceived as a follow-up to the Roadrunner United The All-Star Sessions, the label recruited the core team of musicians (Dino Cazares, Adam Duce, Paul Gray, Joey Jordison, Andreas Kisser, and Roy Mayorga) as the backbone of the performance.  Sure enough, as they fine-tuned the songs and rehearsed them tirelessly, dozens of other musicians boarded the performance.


This 3-LP set represents the gathering of a community of musicians that spans the heavy metal history of the first 25 years of Roadrunner Records — from King Diamond to Slipknot and beyond. Those who were lucky enough to be there experienced a night they will never forget.  For the first time as a live concert album, this 3-LP set on red, white, and black-colored vinyl is a chance to relive that special night again and again. The concert will also be available digitally. It is also presented in HD for the first time ever.





Tracklisting:


Side A:
Biohazard' - "Punishment"
Madball - "Set It Off"
Stormtroopers of Death - "March of The S.O.D."
Life of Agony - "River Runs Red"
Obituary - "The End Complete"


Side B:
Mercyful Fate - "Curse pf The Pharaohs"
King Diamond ''Abigail”
Annihilator - "Alison Hell"
Deicide - "Dead By Dawn"


Side C:
Trivium - "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr"
Killswitch Engage - "My Last Serenade"
Chimaira - Pure Hatred"
Fear Factory - "Replica"


Side D:
Type O Negative - "Black No. 1"
Roadrunner United - Tired ‘N Lonely"
Stone Sour - "Brother"
Roadrunner United - "The Rich Man"


Side E:
Roadrunner United - "The Dagger"
Roadrunner United - "The End"
Soulfly - "Eye For An Eye"
Sepultura - "Refuse/Resist"


Side F:
Slipknot - "Surfacing"
Machine Head - "Davidian"
Slipknot - "(sic)"
Sepultura - "Roots Bloody Roots"


Musicians: Steve Asheim, Matt Baumbach, Cory Beaulieu, Glen Benton, Rob Caggiano, Keith Caputo, Dino Cazares, Mike D’Antonio, Phil Demmel, Adam Duce, Brian Fair, Robb Flynn, Justin Foley, Paul Gray, Billy Graziadei, Paolo Gregoletto, Matthew K. Heafy, Andols Herrick, Scott Ian, Jamey Jasta, Howard Jones, Joey Jordison, Andreas Kisser, Jesse Leach, Logan Mader, Roy Mayorga, James Murphy, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Nadja Peulen, Evan Seinfeld, Acey Slade, Travis Smith, Joel Stroetzel, Corey Taylor, Ville Valo, Tommy Vext, Jeff Waters, Jordan Whelan, Tim Williams





Roadrunner United: The Concert (Live At The Nokia Theatre, New York, NY, 12/15/2005) CD:


This 2-CD set represents the gathering of a community of musicians that spans the heavy metal history of the first 25 years of Roadrunner Records — from King Diamond to Slipknot and beyond. Those who were lucky enough to be there experienced a night they will never forget. For the first time as a live concert album, this 2-CD set is a chance to relive that special night again and again.


Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions CD:


Roadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled The All-Star Sessions. Four "team captains" were chosen to lead 57 artists from 45 past and present Roadrunner bands, and produce and oversee the album's 18 tracks: Joey Jordison, Dino Cazares, Robb Flynn, and Matt Heafy. The 18 tracks are back in print for a limited time to celebrate four decades of Roadrunner Records' mark on the metal world.





The All-Star Sessions tracklisting:


"The Dagger"
"The Enemy"
"Annihilation by the Hands of God"
 "In the Fire"
"The End"
"Tired 'n Lonely"
 "Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)"
"Dawn of a Golden Age"
"The Rich Man"
"No Way Out"
 "Baptized in the Redemption"
"Roads"
 "Blood & Flames"
"Constitution Down"
"I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)"
 "Army of the Sun"
 "No Más Control"
"Enemy of the State"

Rock and metal maniac Rob Zombie, who’s dedicated his life to making catchy mega hit songs and becoming a world renowned writer/director of modern horror movies, has influenced countless musicians. Chicago’s SOiL is no exception. With the release of the new studio album in August, Play It Forward features the group tackling songs made famous by some of their influences including Prong, Motörhead, The Ramones, and White Zombie.


The cover of White Zombie’s “Thunder Kiss ‘65” has been one of the songs that has connected with SOiL fans the most, currently ranked as the third most popular song on the Play It Forward album and the band’s sixth best performing song overall across their entire catalog. SOiL’s revision of the 1992 classic makes it clear that there is a great affinity between SOiL and White Zombie. They both pack a punch and bust a groove thanks to a well-rounded group of musicians, which perhaps explains why so many SOiL and Zombie fans seem to be gravitating toward SOiL’s version of the song.


The band explains, “White Zombie and Rob Zombie’s solo material have always held a special place in SOiL’s heart. When we first heard our singer Ryan’s voice in 1997, when we were completing the line up for SOiL, his vocals were the perfect combination of Layne Staley merged with Rob Zombie. So it only seemed proper to do ‘Thunder Kiss ‘65’ on the Play It Forward covers album. We feel it turned out great and gives a nice little nod of gratitude to an early influence of ours. Not to mention having the honor to tour with Rob Zombie on the Merry Mayhem (2001) and Ozzfest (2002) Tours. He’s one of the nicest guys ever with a hilarious dry sense of humor.”




With the song gaining so much traction so fast, it was decided upon to make a more non-traditional hallucinogenic free-form video for the track that incorporates vintage footage of biker gangs and go-go dancers to evoke the rough and tumble gritty nihilism of the song’s lyrics and old school style.





Play It Forward is now available on all formats including two distinct album designs: a “cassette” design for CD and vinyl and a special alternate “skeleton” design issued only on vinyl.


Order the CD/Vinyl here. Stream/download the digital here.





Tracklisting:


"Runnin' Down A Dream"
"Thunder Kiss '65"
"Nightmare"
"No Voices In The Sky"
"Snap Your Fingers Snap Your Neck"
"Monkey Wrench"
"What It's Like"
"I Wanna Be Sedated"
"Rockin' In The Free World
"Unsung"
"Black Betty"


"Nightmare" video:





"Rockin' In The Free World    ":





"Monkey Wrench"    :

On October 14, Northern Irish rockers The Answer are set to make a spectacular and long-awaited return with their first studio single for almost seven years, "Blood Brother". The band are delighted to give you the first listen to this fabulous track with their new video, released today.





The new track, "Blood Brother", was produced and mixed by rising British rock producer Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow) and will precede the bands comeback performance as special guests at the Planet Rockstock festival, December 3, where fans will get their first taste of The Answer for a very long time with classic catalogue tracks as well as the latest music from their soon to be released new seventh studio album.




In support of this, the band have also announced a very special run of limited capacity UK and European album shows in March 2023 which will showcase the complete new album as well as classic The Answer tracks.


"Blood Brother" is power-keg anthem which sees the band hark back to their early 2006 sound but produced with a very contemporary alternative rock twist. It showcases a pounding minimalist rock groove with their trademark exceptional vocals from lead singer and front man Cormac Neeson.


Says Neeson “Our new track 'Blood Brother' is a thundering slab of positive energy created by four brothers who quite frankly just really missed each other. We’re back and we had more fun writing and recording this new music than we’ve ever had. We truly believe this could possibly be the best album we’ve ever recorded, and 'Blood Brother' is a very special track for us!”


Emerging into the rock world spotlight in 2005, their debut single "Keep Believin’" became the subject of critical acclaim and led The Answer to the ‘Best New Band’ award at that year’s Classic Rock Awards. The following year, the young band consolidated that early promise with Rise, a debut album that received universally great reviews went on to sell over 125,000 copies worldwide on the independent Albert Productions rock label, a startling debut achievement.


The ensuing years saw the band cement their fearsome reputation, both as an astonishing live band and as rock’s brightest hopes, securing high profile support slots with The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, and a two-year stint on AC/DC’s 2008 Black Ice tour, which took them around the world and into some of the biggest venues on the planet.


“We were thrown to the wolves a lot of nights on the road with AC/DC and all we had to fall back on was the four of us playing together” recalls mercurial guitar hero Paul Mahon. “We had to make it work and dig in really hard. It was an incredible rock baptism”.
 
In 2019, long time uber fan and international independent hard rock label Golden Robot founder, Mark Alexander-Erber, fulfilled a life-long ambition by signing The Answer to his Golden Robot Records to secure a brand-new seventh studio album, due for release in 2023; a record which, in the words of Alexander-Erber will be The Answer’s “greatest balls out straight ahead rock album ever’, eclipsing the debut of Rise for power, songs and sheer attitude. To say I am excited is an understatement, for me it’s a life-long ambition and privilege to work with these guys.”


With over 300,000 catalogue album sales under their belt and considered one of the forebearers of what is now colloquially known as the New Wave of Classic Rock, The Answer are thrilled to release "Blood Brother", a track they feel represents a truly powerful comeback after a long time away from the scene.





The Answer recently announced a series of very special limited UK and European album showcase performances in March and April 2023. Tickets are on sale now.


Says Neeson: “We have been waiting to make this announcement for some time and are so excited to be able to perform once again at these UK and European album launch shows. It’s been almost 6 years since our last gig and you better believe we are both nervous and pumped at getting back in front of our fans with our new music. Look forward to seeing you down the front!”





UK dates:


March
16 - Blackpool, UK - Waterloo Bar
17 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Institute
19 - Bristol, UK - Thekla
20 - London, UK - 100 Club
21 - Leeds, UK - Key Club
23 - Belfast, Ireland - Limelight 2





European dates:


March
25 - Haarlem, Netherlands - Patronaat
26 - Den Bosch, Netherlands - Willem Twee
28 - Essen, Germany - Turock
29 - Hamburg, Germany - Logo
30 - Berlin, Germany - Franz Club
3 - Munich, Germany - Strom


April
1 - Dornbirn, Austria - Conrad-Sohm
2 - Zurich, Switzerland - Plaza
4 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
5 - Savigny, France - L’Empreinte
6 -  Vorselaar, Belgium - De Dreef





(Photo - Golden Robot Records)

In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about the band's upcoming induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. PRIEST will receive the Musical Excellence Award at next month's event, which will honor Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

According to the Hall Of Fame, the JUDAS PRIEST members that will get inducted include current members Halford, Ian Hill (bass),Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums),along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar),Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

Halford told Ultimate Classic Rock that the PRIEST camp has been in touch with Downing and Binks about the upcoming induction, and "everybody's been very cool and agreeing. There's just been [an attitude of], 'Let's just relish this opportunity and jam and put everything on 11,'" he said.

Although Halford could confirm yet whether Downing or Binks will join PRIEST onstage during its Rock Hall performance, the singer said both former members will be involved in some capacity.

"We are gonna play live because there is all this roar: How are we gonna do it? Because we want to try and make the best things happen," Halford said. "So the best things to happen are to bring in all of the people that are included in the induction — which includes, obviously, K.K. and Les, and Dave. So, we've been able to work things out, so we will be playing live. We've got, like, eight minutes and 24 seconds and a half-second to play live."

He added: "We've got a couple of cool things that are gonna take place on the night that will be held under wraps like most people do because you don't want to give everything away. But yeah, look: A bunch of guys from the U.K., from the West Midlands, a Birmingham band of heavy metal, is being inducted into this great institution. So we're gonna make the most of it and have a great night out and live a lot of metal memories."

Earlier this month, Travis told the "Rocker Morning Show"'s Mark Frankhouse of the 107.7 RKR radio station that PRIEST will play "a medley" of "PRIEST classics" at the Rock Hall induction ceremony.

This past May, just days after it was announced that PRIEST would be inducted into the Rock Hall this year, Downing was asked which song or songs he would like to perform with PRIEST at the induction ceremony. He responded: "Oh, wow. I don't really know what the setup would or could be — whether Glenn" — who's battling Parkinson's disease but was on the road playing during the encores of PRIEST's latest North American tour, performing "Metal Gods", "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight" — "would be there and we all would… I know Glenn is just playing some of the more shorter kind of songs. And if that's the situation, then I'm sure the songs would be whatever Glenn would be able to feel comfortable with. And that's okay, and that's fine. But I don't think it's about, really, what the repertoire would be; I think it's just about would this and could this happen in the way that people want to and expect it to happen. We'll have to see. But it's [early days], and it's over six months away, so anything could happen between now and then. And it depends what people want to happen, myself included. I'm gonna have a good think."

Downing reiterated that there were still a lot of unknowns about how the induction ceremony will go down and whether PRIEST will be expected to perform at the event.

"I don't know what's gonna happen, mate," he said. "The ceremony's some time in November. I don't know what's gonna happen. I don't know how everybody feels. Like I said, up until [last week], it was just a thought in the back of the memory. But now the hurdle of being inducted has been jumped, so we're on the other side of that now. Obviously, it remains feasible and possible, but I don't know. Anything could happen between now and then. We'll see what happens. But it is, I suppose, for all intents and purposes, a kind of celebration of everything that's been achieved over many, many decades, and do we all wanna be a part of that celebration just for one night. We'll see how everybody feels about that. But certainly, like with the Grammy achievement and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, once we get into those rocking chairs, whenever that might be [laughs], at some point in the future, it'll certainly help us to rock a bit faster than everybody else around us, I think, really."

The 2022 Rock Hall induction ceremony will be held on November 5 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. It will air at a later date on HBO and stream on HBO Max. There will also be a radio simulcast on SiriusXM's Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Radio channel 310.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

In February, Hill and Halford told Billboard that they would be happy to stand alongside Downing at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year. "It's not a problem to us, no," Hill said. "Ken was an integral part of this band for a very, very long time. He deserves to be there along with the rest of us." Halford predicted that, "It won't be as awkward as Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss with KISS's Rock Hall induction]. I don't think it'll be awkward at all. I think you have to let all of that go because it's the night that matters. It's the moment that matters — but, again, the proverbial saying, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

JUDAS PRIEST was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year's class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

In 2019, Halford was asked by Fox Sports 910's "Freak Nation" if fans could expect to see any of the former PRIEST members joining the band on stage during a hypothetical Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction. He responded: "With something like the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, there's a tinge of 'what if' [and] 'whatever.' It's an open book.

"I know what you're alluding to, and as I've had to [say] in the past, it's just a case of 'wait and see,'" he continued. "But it's a celebration, and it's 50 years of PRIEST, and, man, it's gonna be great. Should we get in, it's gonna be amazing."

After host Kenny Sargent brought up the original KISS lineup's controversial 2014 Rock Hall induction which was at least partly overshadowed by the musicians' decision not to perform, Halford said: "[PRIEST is] not the first band that this has happened to, and on the day, some things turn out the way a lot of people want 'em.

"I was thinking about this the other day," Halford added. "And this thing came into my head: 'Jim, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or of the one.' Spock [in] 'Star Trek'. When he goes in the radiation room. Isn't that great? … That's a t-shirt, or an inspirational card."

Downing previously told Rockin' Metal Revival that there is a very good chance that he would perform with his former bandmates again if PRIEST gets the nod. "Oh, I think absolutely," he said. "I mean, why wouldn't you, really? It's a special thing. We're all of an age now. These opportunities only come once in a lifetime. And it seemingly takes a lifetime to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I've always said, there's no such thing as a young legend, right? [Laughs] So, while we're still here, it would be great to receive that accolade and put on a great performance and put that one to bed."

In his 2018 autobiography "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", Downing wrote that he told Tipton and PRIEST co-manager Jayne Andrews that he had "hated" them both "since 1985." Last year, he explained his outburst to Classic Rock magazine: "I was angry. Glenn had formed a relationship with Jayne from day one, and it felt a bit like a John-and-Yoko situation. I didn't like that."