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

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



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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Tracklisting:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Press photo credit: Juergen Spachmann

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Showtimes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Posted by Napalm Death on Monday, April 7, 2025

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

Posted by Napalm Death on Monday, April 7, 2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KATATONIA 2025 is:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Blessed be!"

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

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

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

Photo credit: Terhi Ylimäinen

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Hail Satan."

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

"The Shit Ov God" track listing:

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Sylwia Makris and Christian Martin Weiss

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Simon Emmett

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal pioneers EXODUS played their first concert with singer Rob Dukes in nearly 11 years last night (Saturday, April 5) at the Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly at the Fillmore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The band's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Bonded By Blood
02. Exodus
03. And Then There Were None
04. A Lesson In Violence
05. Metal Command
06. Deathamphetamine
07. Blacklist
08. Piranha
09. No Love
10. Deliver Us To Evil
11. The Toxic Waltz
12. Strike Of The Beast

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

In January it was announced that EXODUS had parted ways with longtime singer Steve "Zetro" Souza and was being rejoined by Dukes.

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

Regarding how he ended up back in the EXODUS fold, Rob told Mark Strigl in February: "How it happened was Lee [Altus, EXODUS guitarist] and Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist] called me, and Tom [Hunting, EXODUS drummer] called me, and they all spoke to me individually to kind of see where I was at. And then they asked me, and I said, 'Sure.'

"I'm not gonna talk about why they did what they did [as far as parting ways with Zetro] — that's on them to talk about, 'cause I have no idea," he continued. "I mean, I kind of do, but it's not my place. So, I'll let them handle that end.

"I was as surprised as you, man," Dukes admitted. "I mean, when I got the call… Me and Gary didn't speak as much, but me and Tom talk all the time. Me and Lee constantly talk about hockey and give each other shit — I'm a Rangers fan; he's a Flyers fan — so we're always in contact, especially during hockey season. And then, like I said, man, it came out of nowhere for myself too. And I took a day and decided, 'Yeah, okay, I can make it work.' 'Cause I have to put my life on hold, the life I've been building for 10 years as a car builder and a welder. But I sat down with the people I work for and the people I work with and I explained the situation and they were all, like, 'Yeah, go do it, man. You only live once.' And I was, like, 'Yeah, cool. That's exactly how I was thinking about it.' So, it all worked out, man. And everybody's stoked and happy."

As for the timeline for a new EXODUS studio album — his first with the band in a decade and a half — Dukes said: "I'm going up [to the San Francisco Bay Area] in a couple of weeks and start doing vocals on the new record. They have a bunch of songs written. Basically, right now they're working out the composition and the drums and stuff. Once again, I'm the fucking new guy, so I'm not really in the loop on things. I just know that I'm gonna be there in the first week of March and then I'll probably be there for a while."

When Strigl noted that Gary said in a recent interview that EXODUS's next album likely won't arrive before 2026, Rob said: "I don't know. I don't have that information. Like I said, I'm the fucking new guy again. They just asked me, 'Hey, can you do this, this and that?' And I go, 'Yeah, I can make that happen.'

"For me, it was a lot of scrambling trying to get the projects that I'm involved with, the cars I'm working on, trying to get them to either a finish point or at least a decent stopping point and dealing with other people's expectations and putting their expectations on hold a little bit," Rob explained. "So it was kind of like a dance, and I was pretty stressed until about a week and a half ago when things just kind of, like, 'Okay. This is the timeline. This is cool. And everybody's happy and everybody's cool. And I get to go do this thing that…'

"I love doing it, man," Dukes said about playing with EXODUS again. "I love hanging out with these guys. It's just fun. It was fun to do, and it's fun to be a part of this situation. And I'm glad they asked me to come back, man."

On the topic of the musical direction of the new EXODUS material, Rob said: "I've heard a few tracks, and they're just really fast. It's fucking thrash metal, and it's EXODUS, for sure. I've heard bits and pieces. Actually, I went up to San Francisco two or three weeks ago and I sat in on a writing session with Gary and Tom. And it was awesome, man. I was, like, 'Goddamn. All right, cool. This is kind of right where I left off.'"

Dukes also touched upon EXODUS's touring plans, which will include two very special "Bonded By Blood" 40th-anniversary shows (April 25 at UC Theatre in Berkeley, California and April 26 at House of Blues in Anaheim, California). "So we're doing that," he confirmed. "I don't know exactly how many shows. I know our first show is April 5th. It's in Philly at the Decibel [Magazine Metal &] Beer festival. And then a tour starts at the end of April and runs through the middle of May or end of May or something like that. And that's all I'm aware of at this point. I know there are some festivals in Europe. I don't have any of those dates. Like I said, I'm the fucking new guy. So, I'm just rolling with it. I mean, I'll probably know more once I get to the Bay Area and start hanging around those guys. And like I said, man, I've been trying to try to tie up all the ends of my life here in Arizona before I have to bail and leave. So that's what I've been concentrating on. And I know that all that stuff will just work out the way it's supposed to."

Dukes previously joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

During an appearance on a recent episode of the "Rock And Roll Geek Show" podcast, which is hosted by former EXODUS bassist Michael Butler, Holt opened up about Souza's recent departure, saying: " People ask [why we fired Zetro] — everybody wants to know because we've chosen not to tell anybody. All I ever tell people is, marriages don't often work. And just 'cause you saw a married couple out in public that seemed happy, you don't know what's going on at home. I don't know if the wife's throwing frying pans at his head or he's fucking drunk out of his ass, fucking screaming at him and slapping the kids. You don't know. Just 'cause they go out in public and they put on a happy face.

"We've got nothing but respect for Zetro, and we've got love [for him] and I'm honored to have made some great music [with him]. But I'm also 60 years old, and the five of us need to be on the same page. And now we are."

After Butler suggested that musicians sometimes have different personalities and "people can get on your nerves sometimes", Holt clarified: "It's not even a matter of [anything] like that because we all get on each other's nerves. It's just as you get older, this job, either you still love it or it becomes incredibly difficult… For me, [it's] fucking not [difficult] at all. And so, for whatever our reasons, four guys had a reason to do what we did."

Asked if he personally called Zetro to tell the singer he was fired, Gary responded: "I don't really wanna go into all that. [Laughs] There's no hate involved. It's just the fucking marriage didn't work. Sometimes you get along with your ex. Sometimes you don't hate your ex; you just can't be married to them anymore… Sometimes the wife still likes him and he's a good father, but God, what a fucking crappy husband. Or what a bad life. But she was good with the kids and she's a member of the PTA. Who fucking knows?

"What's funny is online people are coming up with their conspiracy theories [about why Zetro was fired]," he continued. "It's like Pizzagate. It's fucking crazy. Like that it had something to do with that he just got married. Like, 'Rob Dukes got married right when he got fired, and Zetro got married [before he got fired]. Hmm. Pattern?' Dude, I've got grandkids. Like I fucking have a problem with my singer being married. Fucking stupid. I had one guy, when it happened, he got on my Instagram and he broke down his timeline of how we treat singers. Well, the first thing he said was, 'Gary Holt's just all about the money.' And if you fucking think parting ways with your singer is a fucking path to financial security, you're fucking high. What the fuck's wrong with you? And then he broke down his whole timeline. And I politely corrected his timeline for him. I don't respond to fucking people — I ain't got time for — but the guy goes, 'Band hires Paul [Baloff]. Fires Paul.' True. Paul was fired. Paul's life was a mess. In hindsight, we later became just as big a mess as he ever was. And then he said, 'Band hires singer, Steve Souza.' And he goes, 'Band fires Steve Souza.' No, we broke up [after] 'Force Of Habit'. He goes, 'Band rehires Paul Baloff. Band fires Paul Baloff.' I'm, like, 'He fucking died. We didn't fire him. He died.' And then he said, 'Band hires Steve Souza. Band fires Steve Souza.' No, he quit… In his eyes, we fired the dead guy. And I was, like, 'Just fuck off,' you know?, I politely said, 'Hey, buddy, let me correct your timeline for you.' I didn't go, 'Fuck you, dude.' I just said, 'Let me fix your timeline.'

"People are dumb," Holt added. "And I don't like to be mean to people. I've done stupid shit myself. But people fucking create whatever theories they can come up with in their little brains."

Regarding why he and his EXODUS bandmates decided to bring Dukes back to the group, Gary said: "I'm 60 years old. The idea of getting an unfamiliar person in the band would not be an option… I think we all reached out when we became apparent. And sure, I could have found some 30-year-old dude who could still jump off a drum riser and has washboard abs and is not all fat like the rest of us. But I need someone who's close to my own age. I'm too old to have to like fucking educate some young kid on music that I like."

Holt also talked about the progress of the recording sessions for EXODUS's follow-up to 2021's "Persona Non Grata" album. He said: "Personally, I have two more songs of rhythm guitars to do. Lee [Altus, EXODUS guitarist] still has some. We're literally racing, trying to record two albums at once. Even if we don't finish it, we'll have the second album close to ready. Maybe we'll have to do some solos or vocals later, but we won't have to do this whole process again. Now I'm thinking, like, all right, we're gonna finish the album, get the guitars and drums done for album two. And then when it's time to think about releasing the album, we don't have to do this whole process again. Even before then, when we have a break, we can go and finish this stuff so that when we normally would start recording an album, maybe I can finally go on a vacation. I never had one."

When asked if all the songs are written for both albums, Holt said: "Yeah. Yeah. We've got a couple more to finish, but we write and record through the whole process. We don't stop. [Drummer Tom Hunting and I are writing it, along with] Lee. Lee's writing a whole lot of stuff for this record.

"A lot of bands, they go in, the record's done, they do the drums, and the drums go away. And now we're on the guitar stuff. But we don't do that anymore," Gary explained. "We leave the drums up the whole time so we could write the whole time. Because sometimes our best stuff happens at the end. I just finished a new [song] yesterday. It's just the most furious thing in the world. It's fucking insane. This shit is fucking heavy. The one I wrote yesterday, Lee heard my little demo and he asked if I started icing my wrist down yet. It's fucking heavy. But there's some really great songs on it. It's not just heavy. Right now I think we're at 18 songs, with two more to finish. That's two albums.

"I look at it like this: I'm getting older," Holt added. "And you start worrying about shit like mortality and if I fucking died. Between this album and the next one, there's Gary Holt's final fucking release and put some money and earn some royalties for my grandkids and my kids and my wife, because, of course, your albums sell better when you're dead."

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

When EXODUS announced Souza's latest departure on January 15, the band wrote in a statement: "We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.

"And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he's looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.

"Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue."

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the aforementioned "Bonded By Blood" LP inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

California rockers PAPA ROACH were joined by country-pop superstar Carrie Underwood on stage during their concert Saturday night (April 5) at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada for performances of the band's songs "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" and "Last Resort". Video of her appearance can be seen below.

Last year, Underwood teamed up PAPA ROACH to record a new rendition of the latter's 2022 track "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)", which continued the band's mission to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental health awareness. The new version of the song was released in August 2024, with Underwood sharing in a press release that she was "honored" to work with the rock group.

"I'm such a huge fan of Jacoby [Shaddix, PAPA ROACH frontman] and PAPA ROACH and was honored to be invited to record 'Leave A Light On' with them," Underwood said. "It's a beautiful song and the message behind it and the band's mission to shine a light on suicide prevention and mental health awareness has never been more important."

Shaddix was equally complimentary about Underwood, noting in the release that he and the other members of PAPA ROACH were "humbled that Carrie was open to our mission, and hearing the power of Carrie's voice in that recording session we were blown away. Not only is her vocal ability unequaled, but the impact of her voice brings a new meaning to our cause and will help people all over the globe."

"It's an honor to have a 'Rock Star' bring life to this track with us," he added.

Asked in an August 2024 interview with On With Mario Lopez how the Underwood collaboration came about, Shaddix said: "I was listening to SiriusXM Octane and she was doing an interview on Octane with this guy Jose [Mangin], and he's like a metalhead, right? And she was talking about her love for rock and metal music, and she brought up PAPA ROACH. And somebody had texted me, she's, like, 'Did you see this interview?' And I was, like, 'Oh, snap. What's up? Carrie's a fan. That's dope.' And so we had a show in Nashville, and I invited her and her husband out to the show. She came out to the show, loved the show. The wife and I were in Vegas and we checked out one of her residencies, and we rolled after her show and we just hit it off and became friends. And then one thing leads to another, and then we had this song and we hit her up, we're, like, 'Hey, we've got this song.' And we've always envisioned it with a female vocal on it, a duet. And she was all about it. And so it was just such a cool way that it came together and organically. It wasn't set up by the powers that be. And, yeah, she's just such a great vocalist. It was awesome."

As for whether there was a possibility that PAPA ROACH and Underwood would one day perform the song live, Jacoby said at the time: "Oh, man, that would be a dream. It would be cool. We actually sang the song together a few times in the studio. After she got done cutting her vocal, we did some TikToks and stuff like that. And she's, like, 'So what's up? Are we gonna sing this thing together?' And I'm, like, 'All right, here we go.' I'm just this rock dude and she's a super-polished, amazing vocalist. And we started singing live in the room together, and it was a vibe. It was cool, man. And so I would definitely love to put this on stage, for sure."

Coinciding with the single's release, PAPA ROACH and Underwood teamed up with partner organizations the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP),who will receive royalties generated from both artists from the song in perpetuity. The musicians also teamed up with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States and Canada to raise public awareness of their work through the track.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention CEO Bob Gebbia noted that the organization is "incredibly grateful to PAPA ROACH and Carrie Underwood for their commitment to providing those struggling with their mental health information and resources that can help."

"Leave A Light On" was first performed live during PAPA ROACH's "The Revolutions Live Tour" starting in September 2023, with 250,000 attendees at 30 shows. In each city, the song was preceded by an emotional video PSA delivered by Shaddix, who pledged a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on behalf of each city’s attendees, culminating in a $155,000 donation at the end of the tour in Denver, Colorado. Following the tour, the band officially released the official video recorded on tour and subsequently renamed the single to radio as "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)", in conjunction with the AFSP's "Talk Away The Dark" campaign. Following the critically acclaimed tour, they pledged a perpetual royalty from the song's use, in any manner, to the AFSP, continuing their mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide long after the "Revolutions Live Tour" finished.

"We had a passion for this song from the time we finished it," Shaddix said. "When creating the set list for the final leg of the 'Ego Trip' album cycle, we really wanted to see if the live audience would connect with 'Leave A Light On' the way we did — and the best way to do that is to perform it to ten thousand fans a night! From that first show, it connected. We could see it on their faces. We instantly knew the power of this song and its ability to help 'leave a light on' for those who needed it most."

"Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" is taken from PAPA ROACH's tenth studio album, "Ego Trip", which came out in April 2022. The LP (produced by Colin Brittain, Nick Furlong and PAPA ROACH) also achieved three previous No. 1 singles: "Kill The Noise", "No Apologies" and "Cut The Line" featuring BEARTOOTH's Caleb Shomo.



Papa Roach Featuring Carrie Underwood- Last Resort

Posted by Paulie Cunningham on Sunday, April 6, 2025

Professionally filmed video of SEPULTURA's entire March 30 performance at Lollapalooza Brasil at Autódromo de Interlagos in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.

Featured songs:

01. Refuse/Resist
02. Territory
03. Desperate Cry
04. Kairos
05. Attitude
06. Means To An End
07. Kaiowas
08. Escape To The Void
09. Agony Of Defeat
10. Arise
11. Ratamahata
12. Roots Bloody Roots

In a recent interview with Germany's Metal Hammer magazine, guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke about SEPULTURA's plans for the remainder of the Brazilian band's farewell tour, which launched in early 2024. Asked where the final SEPULTURA concert will take place, Andreas said: "We are planning to do a very big show in São Paulo, Brazil, or in [SEPULTURA's original hometown of] Belo Horizonte. We're still balancing these ideas. But at the end of 2026, we'd like to do this last show. We'd like to stretch [out the tour]. There's no reason for us to stop in a hurry just because we announced [the] last [tour] two years ago or so. We had a great time last year. This year is already looking great…. We're doing Lollapalooza in South America — Brazil, Argentina and Chile. We have a few shows in Central America, a few festivals this year in Europe, a few special concerts. In 2026 we'd like to do all the big festivals and finish in Brazil."

Regarding what the farewell tour has been like so far, Andreas said:  "It's amazing. And it's great to feel and to see that SEPULTURA is important in so many people's lives. A lot of people are very emotional coming to the shows, remembering the first show or the first shirt, the first song they ever heard. Some people that met their wives in a SEPULTURA concert, they got married, they bring their kids. It's amazing.

"Heavy metal, it's a big family, not only the SEPULTURA fans, but all the metal community," he continued. "It's a big family. And it's great to see that a lot of people that never seen SEPULTURA before are coming to see SEPULTURA for the first time, which is great. And not only young people — people that are following SEPULTURA for so many years, they've never seen SEPULTURA live, and now that we say this is the last [tour we will do], they are leaving their houses to come to see us. So it's great. We're having the best times. And everything is the way it's supposed to be, the way we planned — to celebrate. It's not a sad or melancholic situation. We feel great. We are having the best time of our lives and celebrating. It's a very thankful feeling for our fans."

Less than two months ago, Kisser was asked by Reality Check TV about the possibility of reuniting with original SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera and drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera for a final show to cap off the band's ongoing farewell tour. He said: "I hope so. The idea is to do a very last show [in 2026] in São Paulo, Brazil, where we have all the guests, friends to celebrate our history."

He continued: "There's no reason to be fighting. We just go on stage, enjoy ourselves. We know how to play the songs. It's gonna be a party for the fans. Forty years of history, it's a lot — many albums, many different changes and different styles of music. And it's gonna be an amazing party — I hope so — and hopefully everybody will be a part [of it]."

SEPULTURA kicked off the North American leg of the massive "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour on September 17, 2024 at the Concord Music Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The band played a career-spanning set that honors SEPULTURA's 40 years of existence. Joining SEPULTURA on this tour were Florida-based death metal veterans OBITUARY, iconic New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT, and São Paulo, Brazil's death/thrash metallers CLAUSTROFOBIA.

SEPULTURA is putting together a live album commemorating their last run of shows. The band is recording 40 songs in 40 different cities for what will be a "massive compilation of our best, most energetic moments on stage," according to a statement released by SEPULTURA in December 2023. Asked in an interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion if SEPULTURA's final show will also be included in the package, Andreas said: "Who knows? Everything is possible. We did three big shows in São Paulo [Brazil] before we went to the States. And we recorded the whole show — the cameras, DVD and stuff. Of course, this stuff that we're recording for the live album is audio only. And we are planning to have the last farewell show in São Paulo in 2026, so we like to go places, we like to visit places that we've never been before. We like to do our goodbye in a relaxed mood — no hurry. There's no reason really to rush anything. We are enjoying the moment so much. We are celebrating the momentum. It's fantastic. It's amazing. So it's something that is gonna be on the recording as well, this great vibe, the connection we have with the crowd and stuff. But, yeah, everything is possible. I mean, of course, the last show, [it] would be great to have a register. We like to invite all the ex-members, including the brothers, Cavalera brothers. Let's see what happens. We're working towards that, to have a big celebration for the fans."

Acknowledging the fact that SEPULTURA had an acrimonious split with Max Cavalera nearly 30 years ago, Andreas said: "We don't care who is right or wrong. We're never gonna get to that point. [Laughs] We have different point of views and different perspectives about same historical events and stuff. So let's jam, let's have a good time for the fans, for us, for ourselves, and really close this amazing 43 years or 44, whatever it's gonna be at the time, in peace with ourselves, and really reach for something different afterwards. At least in my point of view, I like to, of course, continue with music and everything, but maybe do something different. Who knows?"

In a separate interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Kisser and vocalist Derrick Green were asked about their plans for after the completion of the farewell tour. Andreas said: "I don't know, and it feels great. I want to study acoustic guitar, and to create instructional material on the SEPULTURA music. I've done small things here and there, but not a complete overview of my guitar playing and writing. I will decide when the time comes, but right now it is time to celebrate the moment."

Derrick added: "I want to do a lot more with the TV show I'm working on, 'Highway To Health'. I've also been interested in doing voiceover work in animation or commercials. Musically, I'd like to do something outside of metal with more singing, but if somebody approaches with something I think is intriguing, I'm definitely open to that, because I never want to step away from music."

Asked if Andreas and Derrick will still work together in the future, Kisser quipped: "Nah. We only talk to each other by contract. When the contract is done, we're done. [Laughs] No, of course there are a lot of possibilities. I would love to work with Derrick outside of SEPULTURA. We have the idea for a reggae project on the cards, which we have a great name for. The comfort zone is the worst thing that can happen to an artist. It would be boring to stop SEPULTURA and do something else that is SEPULTURA-like."

SEPULTURA kicked off its farewell tour on March 1, 2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who previously played with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

SEPULTURA announced drummer Eloy Casagrande's departure on February 27, 2024, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with Eloy later confirming that he is the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

Last August, it was announced that the original 1991 lineup of Swedish death metal pioneers GRAVE — Ola Lindgren (guitar, vocals),Jörgen Sandström (vocals, guitar),Jens "Jensa" Paulsson (drums) and Jonas Torndal (bass) — would reunite for a series of concerts in 2025 during which they would perform "an exclusive old-school set" consisting of material from the first three classic GRAVE albums: 1991's "Into The Grave", 1992's "You'll Never See..." and 1994's "Soulless". The first show took place last night (Saturday, April 5) Kulturhuset in Stockholm, Sweden. Fan-filmed video of the gig can be seen in the YouTube playlist below (courtesy of Riepu).

The setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Into The Grave
02. Eroded
03. Turning Black
04. Day Of Mourning
05. Morbid Way To Die
06. Deformed
07. In Love
08. Soulless
09. Brutally Deceased
10. Black Dawn (CORPSE cover)
11. Christi(Ns)Anity
12. Bullets Are Mine
13. For Your God
14. Extremely Rotten Flesh

Encore:

15. You'll Never See
16. Hating Life
17. And Here I Die

Several additional performances have been confirmed, including appearances at Germany's Party.San Metal Open Air, Czech Republic's Brutal Assault, Switzerland's Metal Storm Over Luzern and The Netherlands' Graveland Festival.

A few days after the reunion of the 1991 lineup of GRAVE was announced, Lindgren took to the band's social media to offer "some clarity" to what the upcoming shows will entail. He wrote: "Many thanks to all of you who commented on last weeks announcement and who are as excited about this as we are. Lets bring some clarity to what this 'reunion' is about.

"So early this year I was approached by the other 3 original members for a meeting. It resulted in the plan to do a couple of rehearsals for fun to see if we were first of all capable and also of course if we enjoyed jamming again.

"I would say that playing together after all these decades went far beyond anyone's expectations so we decided to try get some shows booked and here we are.

"This is initially a plan for festival shows during 2025. At the moment there are no plans to do any touring or recording new material with this lineup but who knows where this might lead us...

"The GRAVE that imploded last year is not dead and buried, it is simply put on ice.

"Tomas [Lagrén, drums] is definitely not fired from the band and it will be his decision if he wants to be a part of any future GRAVE endevours when that time comes."

One of the very first Swedish death metal bands alongside NIHILIST, MORBID and TREBLINKA, GRAVE released its first demo in 1986 under the band name CORPSE, before they switched to GRAVE in 1988. GRAVE's debut album, "Into The Grave", arrived in August 1991 through the then-young record label Century Media.

Lindgren told the "Swedish Death Metal" book by Daniel Ekeroth about how GRAVE landed its record deal: "We sent our third demo to just every label there was. A lot of them kept in touch, such as Earache and Peaceville. But Century Media was working faster than any of them, so we just went with them without thinking too much about it. Century Media invited us down to Germany to record that single ('Tremendous Pain'),and it was only after that we started to discuss a deal. It felt amazing for us to go abroad, so in a way they lured us into their roster! But it turned out well."

After Century Media and GRAVE parted ways after seven albums with the release of 2006's "As Rapture Comes", the band launched two highly acclaimed albums, "Dominium VIII" (2008) and "Burial Ground" (2010) through Regain, before reuniting with Century Media for 2012's "Endless Procession Of Souls" and 2015's "Out Of Respect For The Dead".

In 2019, GRAVE teamed up with Century Media Records to bring back the albums "Dominion VIII" and "Burial Ground" as classy, limited colored and black vinyl editions, hand-numbered digipak CDs limited to 3,000 copies each, and digitally. Remastered in 2019 by Lindgren and mastered for vinyl by Patrick W. Engel of Temple Of Disharmony, these records offer crushing and savage GRAVE tracks that fully live up to the group's morbid legacy.

In January 2024, GRAVE parted ways with bassist Tobias Cristiansson and guitarist Mika Lagrén.

4K fan-filmed video of Y&T's April 4 performance at Uptown Theatre in Napa, California can be seen below (courtesy of Walter Morgan).

In a March 2024 interview with SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Y&T frontman Dave Meniketti was asked if he would like to make a follow-up to 2010's "Facemelter" album. He responded: "Yes." But then he clarified: "It's not in production [yet]. You can slap my face, and I'm sorry, but, no, I have not written it yet, no. We will write together as a band, hopefully, because that's the way I like to write generally. I do like writing on my own as well, but I like getting the whole band involved because that creates a different sound than you coming up with everything and saying, 'Okay, now, you play this.'"

In February 2023, Meniketti, who went public with his prostate cancer battle a year earlier, said that he was in complete remission after receiving radiation.

In July 2022, Y&T was forced to cancel its previously announced European tour in order to allow Meniketti more time to recover from the radiation treatments.

Meniketti discussed his diagnosis and treatment during an appearance on an April 2022 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Dave said that while prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, with one in eight men getting it, it is also one of the most treatable, with a survival rate of over 90 percent after 10 years. "This is one of those cancers, if you catch 'em early, you can be one hundred percent fixed — it's over; it's done; you're sorted," he said. "I mean, sure, it could come back at some point, but even if it does, they can treat it again. You usually outlive this cancer, if you get it early enough. So, luckily, I have gotten it early enough."

Meniketti is the only surviving member of the Y&T lineup — then known as YESTERDAY AND TODAY — that recorded the band's self-titled debut album.

Original Y&T rhythm guitarist Joey Alves died in March 2017 at the age of 63. Two founding Y&T musicians — Haze, 61, and Kennemore, 57, who both had left the lineup — died from complications of lung cancer: Kennemore on January 7, 2011, and Haze on September 11, 2016.

Y&T's current lineup is rounded out by guitarist John Nymann, drummer Mike Vanderhule and bassist Aaron Leigh.

"Facemelter" came out in May 2010 via Frontiers.

🔥 Get ready to rock! Y&T is hitting the Uptown stage on Friday, April 4, 2025! 🎸🤘 With over four decades of iconic hard...

Posted by Uptown Theatre Napa on Tuesday, December 10, 2024

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy and guitarist Warren DeMartini played their first reunion show last night (Saturday, April 5) at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut.

Playing alongside Pearcy and DeMartini were former RATT and QUIET RIOT guitarist Carlos Cavazo, former RATT and ROUGH CUTT bassist Matt Thorr and former SLAUGHTER drummer Blas Elias. Thorr and Elias are both current touring members of Pearcy's solo band.

Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.

The setlist for the concert was as follows:

01. Wanted Man
02. Walking The Dog
03. I Want A Woman
04. In Your Direction
05. I'm Insane
06. The Morning After
07. Back For More
08. Dangerous But Worth The Risk
09. Nobody Rides For Free
10. Givin' Yourself Away
11. Way Cool Jr.
12. Over The Edge
13. Lack Of Communication
14. Lay It Down
15. You're In Love

Encore:

16. Round And Round

Pearcy and DeMartini will also perform a set of RATT classics at the 2025 edition of the M3 Rock Festival, which will take place May 2-4 at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland. Pearcy and DeMartini are also scheduled to play at Rock The Dam 8 in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, on July 26.

In a recent interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, Pearcy spoke about his reunion with DeMartini for a handful of shows this spring and summer:  "How it came about is an interesting story. It all happened around [this year's] M3 [Rock Festival], and some friends of ours over there said, 'Hey, what would it take for you and Warren to headline M3?' And I'm, like, 'Come on. I haven't talked to the guy in eight years.' And the instigation just fired him up, fired me up, and now we've got a handful of shows. And rehearsals went really good the last few days in L.A. And wow — it's amazing. It's like there's the real guy, you know what I mean? Even I'm going, 'Fuck, there's the real dude.'"

According to Pearcy, rehearsals for the shows had lived up to his expectations. "It's sounding really good," he said. "And we're doing a couple of songs that people have been asking for, like 'Givin' Yourself Away' and 'Dangerous But Worth The Risk' and just, whoa. So it's exciting 'cause I don't even play those in my [solo] set."

He added: "I'm telling you, we have some surprises, so it's gonna be very cool… We have a lot of songs, and I never really thought about it. I can actually go out and do the video set, video tour. We have, like, 16 videos. It's, like, holy shit. Even 'Givin' Yourself Away' was a single and video in Japan, not in the U.S."

Regarding the fact that drummer Bobby Blotzer and bassist Juan Croucier, who were both members of RATT's classic lineup, are not playing with Pearcy and DeMartini at the upcoming shows, Stephen said: "Do you know what it is? I had to be really careful with how we went about getting Warren and I, getting reacquainted. And bringing in everybody — besides, everything's not that copacetic — everything's cool to that extent, and then not cool. I didn't want it to be about the band RATT with 'who's this?' and 'who's that?' And in the beginning it was, like, 'Well, let's try it with just Warren and I for a bit and see how it works and take it from there.' But there's no reason for Warren and I to try to make it a RATT thing because it is a RATT thing. I think people will get it. It's a celebration of our music, the legacy. It's not about, 'Oh, we've gotta get the original dudes together.' I don't think people really give a shit."

He continued: "Well, if I had my way, it would be Robbin [Crosby, late RATT guitarist], myself and Warren. So that's why these days I really don't push anything because I think people, they get it when I go out there. They're enjoying it. And this is just an extra special added attraction with Warren coming in. And it's brilliant, at a time where it's never say never, So I'm looking forward to it. We're both looking forward to it. Everybody's excited, pumped. It's a great set. We have a lot of music to play, and we'll take it from there."

As for the possibility of more Pearcy/DeMartini shows to come in the future, Stephen said: "We're taking it really slow here. Besides, I don't wanna go out, nor does, I think, he does wanna go out and do some brutal hundred-city tour. That'll never happen."

Another project that Pearcy says is in the works is an official RATT documentary. "I've been accumulating stuff… and hopefully it can go down sometime this year," he said. "It's gonna be a lot of work., compiling 40 years of shit, and especially going into the RATT vault and locating all of these things and, and then burning all these things and getting them and working."

Pearcy and DeMartini will headline the final night of M3 Rock Festival on May 4.

During an appearance on the January 29 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Stephen said about the lineup of his new band with DeMartini: "We're gonna have Carlos out there, which is cool. And I'm bringing in Matt Thorr on bass, who's pretty much an original RATT guy from 1981, '82, when Jake E. [Lee] and Warren pulled in. And then we're taking Blas Elias on drums from SLAUGHTER and my band. And we're ready to go."

Added Warren: "When I moved up to L.A. to join RATT, I stayed at a house with Jake E. Lee for a few months, and, it was like a three-bedroom [house], and Jake had one, and Matt had the other, and this other musician had the third. And I was on the couch. But Matt goes way back with [RATT]. I'm actually kind of looking forward to checking that out again. He was playing bass at the time I joined [RATT]."

Regarding why they are not playing the M3 show under the RATT banner, Pearcy said: "Well, I'll tell you right straight up — it's not about RATT. It's about the legacy of our music. And who better to deliver it, because we don't have all the proper original elements, which would include [late RATT guitarist] Robbin [Crosby]. So we just decided — no. This is great. This is perfect. I mean, we don't wanna hit a brick wall. We want this nice and smooth. So that's what we intend to do. It's not about that — it's about the legacy of RATT. Period."

DeMartini went on to say that he is open to playing more shows with Pearcy in the future, assuming that everything goes will with the M3 gig.

"Since we announced the M3 show, other stuff has come up," he revealed. "When this [M3 concert] came up, I was treating it as a one-off, but everything has a momentum, or it can have a momentum. And in this case, it just feels better and better.

"I've always wanted to play these songs to the people, like we always have," he added. "So I'm totally game to doing more."

Asked if Blotzer and Croucier will have any involvement in the M3 and other gigs Pearcy and DeMartini plan to play together, Stephen said: "No, no, no. Not on this. No. Like I say, we wanted it to be about the music and Warren and myself delivering it, because it is gonna be a little different. If you were to throw the other guys in the mix, it wouldn't be exactly what it is now, the opportunity."

On the topic of what he has been doing in the seven years since he last played with Stephen, Warren said: "What I always did and what I always do. When I'm not sort of dealing with all the stuff that we deal with in life, I drift back into the studio and either start working on something that I hear in my head or refining something that I have going. So it's been a really nice thing to be able to do all this time, because basically since Stephen and Robbin and I wrote 'Round And Round', it's, like, 'Okay, you can be a writer if you wanna be,' so that's what I do, basically."

Asked if he missed being on stage and being in front of an audience, Warren said: "Oh, of course. It's hard to find words to describe the kind of energy that we have with our audience. It's just fantastic… I did do some gigs with some friends, like the last one was with Billy Gibbons and Sebastian Bach, and we would all play each other's songs. It was two or three songs each. And stuff like that kind of kept it burning, but this is the real fire."

As for a possible setlist for the M3 show, Warren said: "I think we need to really look at the whole catalog. I mean, we did — what? — six records with Atlantic, and we've done three through other labels. There's probably a lot of deep cuts that would be just totally awesome for this." Stephen added: "Oh, yeah. I can think of a few right now — 'Between The Eyes', 'Hard Time', 'Eat Me Up Alive'." Warren continued: "'Givin' Yourself Away' would be cool." Stephen chimed in: "Oh, that would be cool, actually."

Last year, Pearcy celebrated the 40th anniversary of RATT's classic debut album, "Out Of The Cellar", by performing it in its entirety and in sequence for the first time.

RATT exploded on to the national scene in 1984 with the release of "Out Of The Cellar". Featuring an undeniable hook and legendary music video, lead single "Round And Round" hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Out Of The Cellar" reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified triple platinum. Two more charting singles followed with "Back For More" and "Wanted Man". RATT started the tour as an opening act, but by the end of the tour had climbed to arena headliner.

RATT returned in 1985 with its second full-length album, "Invasion Of Your Privacy". Certified double platinum and also reaching No. 7 on the Billboard 200, "Invasion Of Your Privacy" also featured the classics "Lay It Down" (No. 40 on Billboard Hot 100) and "You're In Love".

"Dancing Undercover" followed in 1986 as RATT toured North America with a then-brand new Los Angeles band called POISON as the opening act. Lead single "Dance" hit the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned another music video hit with "Slip Of The Lip", while "Body Talk" was featured in a key scene in the Eddie Murphy film "The Golden Child". "Dancing Undercover" became RATT's third consecutive platinum album and reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200.

1988's "Reach For The Sky" saw RATT return to the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 album charts, peaking at No. 17. Driven by the bluesy hit and MTV favorite "Way Cool Jr.", "Reach For The Sky" was also certified platinum and became RATT's fourth album in a row to move well over a million copies. "I Want A Woman" was also a successful single and the video captured the excitement and energy of RATT live.

RATT released its last full-length record of the Atlantic era, "Detonator", in 1990. Music was changing, but "Detonator" was still a success, peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and going gold. It was the first RATT album to feature major outside songwriting contributions (Desmond Child, Diane Warren) and guests (Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Schenker). Lead single "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job" hit No. 18 on the rock chart while the power ballad "Givin' Yourself Away" reached No. 39.

In 1991, they released the single "Nobody Rides For Free" from the hit film "Point Break", starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.

In January 2021, Pearcy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he was open to the idea of making a new RATT album with all the surviving members of the band's classic lineup.

RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" LP.

"Round and Round," to Mohegan Sun! Pearcy and DeMartini Performing RATT with special guest Vixen are coming to Mohegan...

Posted by Mohegan Sun on Monday, February 24, 2025

On the heels of revisiting Latin American stages and announcing a new album and tour for autumn 2025, Canadian high-octane rock three-piece DANKO JONES has released a new single, "What You Need". The song represents the band's first auditory glimpse from their new album and also marks their debut at their new label, Perception, while their partnership with Sonic Unyon Records in their home country remains unchanged.

While fans still have to be a little bit more patient until learning more about the forthcoming record, the new track comes straight to the point: "If you want it, you got it, we're gonna give you what you need!" Who would even dare to refuse such a teasing offer and say 'no' to this powerful new DANKO JONES tune?! Concise guitar riffing introduces the single before the rest of the band jumpstart "What You Need" leading into its immersive chorus, making it an undeniable future live classic on top.

DANKO JONES's namesake frontman states: "'What You Need' is not only the first single off our new album, it's also the opening cut to it. It's loud, fast, and infectious. Turn this up until the volume knob breaks or your ceiling caves in!"

"What You Need" was crafted with longtime partners — Grammy- and Juno Award-winning producer/mixing engineer Eric Ratz (BILLY TALENT, BIG SUGAR, CANCER BATS) and Grammy-winning mastering expert Harry Hess (Hbomb Mastering) — and arrives in time for the trio's first 2025 European show, which will see them take the Paaspop stage in Schijndel, Netherlands in two weeks. Adam Mallett, another well-known face in the DANKO JONES universe, contributed contemporary single artwork which is additionally displayed on the "Danko Jones Is What You Need" tour admat.

As previously announced, DANKO JONES will promote its upcoming studio album in the traditional way — by embarking on a 15-date tour across Europe, visiting 10 different countries. Further stops might be added over the course of the year.

DANKO JONES is a three-piece rock 'n' roll band from Toronto. They never sleep. They sweat blood. And they are keeping rock alive by doing it better than anyone else.

On duty since 1996, these unstoppable road-hogs have devoted their lives to rousing the people with blistering, no-bullshit, all-action rock. They have rallied a global army of rock-hungry fans, and blown them away with a steady stream of explosive, anthem-packed albums and an absurd number of live shows. From early underground smashes like "We Sweat Blood" (2003) and "Sleep Is The Enemy" (2006),to the band's recent, triumphant triumvirate of "A Rock Supreme" (2019),"Power Trio" (2021) and "Electric Sounds" (2023),DANKO JONES has been a relentless force for rock 'n' roll good, both in the studio and on the road. And they have absolutely no intention of stopping.

"You know what? I like the routine of recording, touring, writing, and repeat," states singer/guitarist Danko Jones. "I can do that till I'm dead! It may sound boring, but it's so hard for a band to achieve. I don't take this lightly. Also, it's a page out of the MOTÖRHEAD handbook so it works! Since 'Electric Sounds' we've been touring and touring. We managed to play in Mexico and Greece for the first time, and we even played Prince Edward Island, a province in Canada we'd never been to before. Other than that, it's been a life of gigs and writing more songs to play more gigs!"

Proving that their time was well-spent, Danko, bassist John Calabrese and drummer Rich Knox have conjured yet another blazing banquet of nourishing rock goodness on their 12th studio record, due for release later this year.

DANKO JONES is:

Danko Jones - vocals, guitars
John Calabrese - bass
Rich Knox - drums

Photo credit: Jon Usual

In a new interview with Tom Wilson of Australia's Sense Music Media, former FEAR FACTORY singer Burton C. Bell commented on ex-FEAR FACTORY bassist Christian Olde Wolbers's recent announcement that he was launching a new project called ANGST FABRIK. Burton said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "ANGST FABRIK. It's how Germans say FEAR FACTORY. And we came across that — we played a venue called Angst Fabrik in Germany years ago.

"But I saw Christian at NAMM [this past January]," Bell continued. "And we spoke and hugged, and it was good to run into him. I'm glad to see that he is doing well. But I don't really think anything about it [laughs], about what he is doing. I mean, more power to him. But there's really only one FEAR FACTORY. There was one FEAR FACTORY, I should say that."

Reflecting on his time with the pioneering Los Angeles-based industrial metal act, Burton added: "I'm proud of everything I did in FEAR FACTORY. We did some really great music. We did a couple boners here and there, but they all can't be winners."

According to the official ANGST FABRIK Instagram page, the group's debut album is tentatively due in 2026.

Bell issued two solo singles in 2024 — "Anti-Droid" and "Technical Exorcism" — and a cover of RAMMSTEIN's "Du Hast" in 2023.

Bell played the first concert with his solo band on June 13, 2024 at 1720 in Los Angeles, California.

Backing Bell at his recent gigs have been guitarist Henrik Linde (THE VITALS, DREN),drummer Ryan "Junior" Kittlitz (ALL HAIL THE YETI, THE ACID HELPS),bassist Tony Baumeister (ÆGES) and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Cararas.

Bell's discography includes multiple live and recorded collaborations with BLACK SABBATH icon Geezer Butler and JOURNEY's Deen Castronovo (as G/Z/R); industrial maverick Al Jourgensen and MINISTRY; and guest vocal appearances with PITCHSHIFTER, CONFLICT, SOIL, STATIC-X, SOULFLY and DELAIN, among others. He's the vocalist of ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS and CITY OF FIRE and, of course, the co-creator of FEAR FACTORY and the only musician to appear on every FEAR FACTORY release from 1992 through 2024.

FEAR FACTORY created a sound that revolutionized extreme metal, defined in no small part by Bell's innovative scream/sing dichotomy and the influences he brought from post-punk and industrial. Songs like "Replica", "Linchpin", "Edgecrusher", "Fear Campaign", "Archetype", "Cyber Waste" and "Zero Signal" are modern metal anthems. "Demanufacture" (1995) and the RIAA gold-certified "Obsolete" (1998) are genre-redefining works heralded by fans and critics as essential albums. Orwell, Bradbury, "Blade Runner", and sophisticated sci-fi and fantasy works fed Bell's lyrics and concepts.

The band toured the world with METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN, MEGADETH and OZZY OSBOURNE, taking bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and STATIC-X out as support acts in their early stages. After years of behind-the-scenes band member turmoil and legal issues, Bell left FEAR FACTORY in the fall of 2020.

The 56-year-old Bell had been largely inactive on the musical front since officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY in September 2020. At the time he said that he could not "align" himself with someone whom he did not trust or respect, an apparent reference to FEAR FACTORY founding guitarist Dino Cazares. Bell has since been replaced in the band by the Italian-born singer Milo Silvestro.

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A post shared by Christian Olde Wolbers (@christian_oldewolbers)

Following a monumental emergence, SLEEP TOKEN returns with its second offering, "Caramel", from the band's upcoming album "Even In Arcadia", due on May 9 via RCA Records. The new track blends delicate melodies with heavy rhythms, creating a unique mix of tender beauty and unrelenting force, with vocals that convey haunting vulnerability and unspoken pain.

"Even In Arcadia" is expected to push the boundaries of sound and emotion even further, dissolving into something otherworldly. With their previous single offering from b>"Even In Arcadia", "Emergence", driving their momentum — having hit the Billboard Hot 100 charts, reached number 1 on the Hot Hard Rock charts, and claimed the top spot on iTunes — the band offers a refined and expansive sonic journey, continuing their exploration of emotional depth and enigmatic narrative.

"Emergence" has become the biggest rock streaming debut of the year so far and the ninth biggest rock debut in the past five years, while also landing in the top 15 overall artists to debut this year.

As this next chapter unfolds, the band will embark on their first sold-out arena tour in the U.S. — the "Even In Arcadia" tour — with stops in 17 cities this fall. Promoted by AEG Presents, the "Even In Arcadia" tour will be SLEEP TOKEN's only headline tour in 2025. The band will also make an appearance at the Louder Than Life festival on Friday, September 19.

Formed in London, United Kingdom in 2016, the SLEEP TOKEN members perform under cover of anonymity in cloaks and masks. Only two of the group's pseudonymous members — singer and multi-instrumentalist Vessel and drummer II — are credited as having played or written a note on any of SLEEP TOKEN's three albums so far.

Widely considered one of the biggest rock bands in Britain, SLEEP TOKEN wrapped up a massive U.K. arena tour last December that included two stops at London's O2 Arena.

The members of SLEEP TOKEN have never revealed their true identities and have only done a handful of interviews since forming in 2016.

SLEEP TOKEN masterfully blends epic, emotionally charged anthems with bold, boundary-pushing experimentation that transcends traditional genre limits. With rich layers of atmospheric soundscapes and hauntingly beautiful lyrics, they build an immersive, mystical world where music, emotion, and mythology converge under the being known as Vessel. This world becomes a sacred space for fans to escape, connect, and experience catharsis, fostering deep bonds among those who share in the band's ethos. Their innovative approach has established them as one of the most exciting forces in modern music.

Emerging in 2019 with their debut album "Sundowning", SLEEP TOKEN quickly garnered attention for their unique sound and mysterious persona. Two years later, they achieved mainstream success with their sophomore album, "This Place Will Become Your Tomb", which charted in the U.K. and attracted a growing global following. Their trajectory reached new heights in 2023 with the release of "Take Me Back To Eden", an album that became an international success, topping charts in multiple countries. Notably, standout tracks from "Take Me Back To Eden" have dominated streaming platforms, with "The Summoning" leading the charge. The track became a viral sensation, amassing millions of streams, taking the No. 1 spot on international Spotify viral charts, and earning a feature as a "YouTube Trending Artist On The Rise", appearing on YouTube's homepage and being viewed by millions every day.

With their meteoric rise, SLEEP TOKEN has never played a headline show that didn't sell out. In 2023, Revolver awarded the band both "Artist Of The Year" and "Album Of The Year" for "Take Me Back To Eden", while at the Heavy Music Awards, they took home "Best UK Breakthrough Band" and "Best Album" for the same record. Though notoriously elusive, SLEEP TOKEN's presence in the music world continues to strengthen, with their creativity and mystique drawing increasing attention from both fans and the media, earning praise from outlets like Billboard, Forbes, NME, Revolver and more for their innovative sound and creative vision.

Photo credit: Andy Ford