Acclaimed rockers ALTER BRIDGE will release their seventh album, "Pawns & Kings", on October 14 via Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2019's "Walk The Sky" was once again recorded at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with SEVENDUST, MAMMOTH WVH and SLASH, among others.

The lyric video for the LP's third single, the epic track "Sin After Sin", can be seen below. The clip was created by ALTER BRIDGE visual collaborator Wayne Joyner.

"Pawns & Kings" is comprised of 10 all-new epic tracks that are sure to garner ALTER BRIDGE new fans around the globe while satiating their fervent supporters that have been patiently waiting for new music from the band.

From the opening riffs of "This Is War" to the title track album closer "Pawns & Kings", ALTER BRIDGE returns with an album of intense tracks that were born after the cycle for their last album was cut short by the global pandemic. Songs like "Dead Among The Living", "Silver Tongue" and "Holiday" showcase the signature songwriting the band is known for. The album offers numerous epic adventures, with three songs clocking in over six minutes each. The opus "Fable Of The Silent Son" has a running time of 8:29 and is the longest recorded song in the band's catalog — a distinction held by "Blackbird" until now. Guitarist Mark Tremonti steps out of his backing vocal role to take the lead on "Stay", an introspective ballad that is sure to become a fan favorite live.

"Pawns & Kings" track listing:

01. This Is War
02. Dead Among The Living
03. Silver Tongue
04. Sin After Sin
05. Stay
06. Holiday
07. Fable Of The Silent Son
08. Season Of Promise
09. Last Man Standing
10. Pawns & Kings

In a recent interview with Ian Danter of Planet Rock's "My Planet Rocks", Tremonti stated about "Pawns & Kings": "We're very proud of it. Our producer is absolutely in love with the record. I think if you're a fan of ALTER BRIDGE, you'll dig this record. We're very happy with it."

Asked if there will be any "heavy" Tremonti riffs on "Pawns & Kings", Mark said: "There are some heavy riffs on there. And it's funny because some of the heaviest riffs on the record [ALTER BRIDGE frontman] Myles [Kennedy] brought to the table. Even my producer is, like, 'I can't tell who's bringing what to the table anymore. 'Cause back when the band started, you were the heavy guy and Myles was the moody guy — [he would bring in] the ballady things — and we'd mix them up. And now you never know.'

"At this point, Myles loves playing guitar solos, and I love singing. So we like to do each other's roles, because I think he doesn't feel the pressure as a guitar player because he's known as a singer; I don't feel the pressure as a singer because I'm known as a guitar player. So we liked filling the other person's role. It's fun."

Last month, ALTER BRIDGE announced the North American leg of their 2023 "Pawns & Kings" tour. The 30-city trek — split into two legs — will kick off on January 25 in Tampa, Florida and wrap on April 1 in Highland, California. MAMMOTH WVH — the band fronted by Wolfgang Van Halen — will be direct support on the entire tour. Rockers RED will also play on the first leg of the tour and newcomers PISTOLS AT DAWN will appear on the second leg.

ALTER BRIDGE released a seven-song EP, "Walk The Sky 2.0", in November 2020 via Napalm Records. The effort contained live versions of a few of the band's favorites from "Walk The Sky" — "Wouldn't You Rather", "Pay No Mind", "Native Son", "Godspeed", "In The Deep" and "Dying Light" — as well as one new studio track, "Last Rites", which was written, recorded and completed entirely during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Tremonti issued the fifth album from his solo band TREMONTI, titled "Marching In Time", in September 2021 via Napalm Records.

Kennedy released his sophomore solo album, "The Ides Of March", in May 2021 via Napalm Records.

Tremonti recently partnered with National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) to release an album of Frank Sinatra covers titled "Tremonti Sings Sinatra". The LP of selections from Frank Sinatra's catalog was made available in May as part of a new charity initiative created by Tremonti called Take A Chance For Charity. Proceeds from the album go to support NDSS and the work they do to advocate for and support individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann

Over the course of little more than three years between 1984 and 1987, CELTIC FROST established themselves as one of the most important bands in extreme and experimental music of that era. Due on October 28 in Europe and November 25 in the U.S., "Danse Macabre"brings together the band's recordings from those years, capturing their boundary-pushing ambition and creative zeal.

On paper, the story of CELTIC FROST's early years is as unlikely as it is extraordinary: a tale of how teenagers from rural Switzerland, at once audaciously ambitious and ferociously uncompromising, took heavy metal into new, exciting and unquestionably extreme territory. That they did so in the face of adversity at almost every turn makes this story even more incredible.

From its very inception mid-way through 1984, following Tom Gabriel Warrior and Martin Eric Ain's decision to dissolve HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST set out to give expression — both musically and aesthetically — to a uniquely extreme artistic vision which the pair delineated in forensic detail in a document which was presented to Noise Records, with whom HELLHAMMER had released "Apocalyptic Raids", in order to demonstrate to the label that their new band was a viable project.

Convinced, Noise asked CELTIC FROST to record a mini-LP, even though that hadn't formed part of Warrior and Ain's concept document. Undeterred, and propelled by a burning urgency, CELTIC FROST set out to write and record a full-length LP in a matter of a few months. "Morbid Tales" was recorded with Horst Müller in Berlin and was unlike anything else. Intensely heavy, nuanced and experimental, the record was a radical musical statement of intent; a stunning synthesis of Warrior and Ain's disparate influences. From the furious opening riff of "Into The Crypts Of Rays" through to the avant-garde experimentation of "Danse Macabre", "Morbid Tales" heralded the arrival of CELTIC FROST as a profoundly unique and uncompromising band.

New Yorker Reed St. Mark joined CELTIC FROST as a permanent member in February 1985, replacing session drummer Stephen Priestly, and the trio recorded the "Emperor's Return" EP in April '85, at Noise's request. Featuring the first recording of the essential "Circle Of The Tyrants", the EP is a solid snapshot of the sheer fanaticism that was the lifeblood of Tom and Martin in particular.

"To Mega Therion" was CELTIC FROST's next album, recorded in September '85. Due to personal difficulties, Martin was not in the band at that point, and so bass duties for the recording were carried out by session player Dominic Steiner. Martin's absence also meant that Tom was responsible for the music and virtually all of the lyrics. But despite difficult circumstances, the resulting album, however, was a triumph. Replete with iconic cover art by HR Giger, "To Mega Therion" imposes its dark majesty from the off with the orchestral bombast of "Innocence And Wrath", before launching into the savagery of the hook-laden "The Usurper". Daring, dark and superlatively heavy, "To Mega Therion" is a sophisticated expression of CELTIC FROST's inherent drive to eschew genre limitations and, instead, define art on their own terms.

Ain was soon brought back into the fold and a few songs from "To Mega Therion" were re-recorded and remixed with Harris Johns, emerging as the excellent sounding "Tragic Serenades" EP. It, and CELTIC FROST's previous releases, increasingly received critical acclaim, which emboldened the band to take more risks, to push the boundaries of heavy music even further with their next album.

Recorded in Hanover at the start of 1987, "Into The Pandemonium" was not an easy album to make, the band's experimental ambitions often at odds with their label's concerns. But, despite these obstacles, the band defended their artistic vision and the result is an astonishing piece of avant-garde art. The album's experimentation is still striking today, challenging how we perceive heavy music and what it means to take music risks. Only CELTIC FROST could create an album which kicks off with a singular cover of a new wave song (WALL OF VOODOO's "Mexican Radio") and immediately follow it up with the mournful tragedy of "Mesmerized".

"Into The Pandemonium" was the last recording made by this era of CELTIC FROST, bringing to an end a period of incredible creative and artistic growth over what was a remarkably brief period of time. That the teenagers who recorded "The Third Of The Storm" and "Triumph Of Death" for the HELLHAMMER EP would, despite constant turmoil, be recording the jaw-dropping "Rex Irae" just three years later is astonishing.

"Danse Macabre" captures the radical ambition and evolution of CELTIC FROST from 1984 through to 1987. In addition to the albums "Morbid Tales", "To Mega Therion" and "Into The Pandemonium", the marble color vinyl box set also includes the "Emperor's Return", "Tragic Serenades" and "I Won't Dance" EPs, along with "The Collectors Celtic Frost" compilation, a 7" of "Visual Aggression" and a cassette of rehearsals recorded at the band's Grave Hill Bunker. A 12" x 12", 40-page book, brings together photography — some previously unseen — from the era and brand new interviews with Tom Gabriel Warrior and Reed St Mark. A Heptagram USB drive contains MP3 audio of all the albums, including bonus tracks. A "Danse Macabre" woven patch, a double-sided poster, and a Necromaniac Union fan club enamel badge complete the set. "Danse Macabre" is also available as a five-CD box set with a 40-page book, badge, poster and patch.

Eternal Evil have signed a multi-album deal with Listenable Records, and will release their second full length album in 2023.





Influenced by thrash metal royalty Slayer, Kreator, Destruction and Exodus‘ earlier works, Eternal Evil was formed in Stockholm, Sweden in 2019. The band has intended to carry on the legacy of early high energy early classic thrash insanity.




Their quickly sold out Rise Of Death self-released demo was reissued by Iron Fist and Redefining Darkness Records. The latter released the band’s full length debut, The Warriors Awakening... Brings The Unholy Slaughter, in November 2021. Conjuring malicious old school metal powers, Eternal Evil’s debut received roaring criticism worldwide for its sheer fury and implacable velocity.


Passionate and relentlessly uncompromising, the young outfit churn out incisive riffs and arrangements with great conviction and surgical precision. Kickstarting with great enthusiasm, Eternal Evil are destined to make that head bang forever.





Lineup:


Adrian Tobar - Vocals and Lead Guitar
Tobias Lindström - Lead Guitar
Jacob Livåg - Bass Guitar
Alphonse Bouquelon - Drums

Alice Cooper played his first show with guitarist Kane Roberts since 1988 last night (Wednesday, September 7) at the kick-off of his fall U.S. tour at the Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Kane's return to Alice's touring band was first reported as a rumor by the Metal Sludge web site on July 11. He stepped in as the replacement for Nita Strauss, who announced her departure from Cooper's group two months ago after an eight-year stint. Nita has since joined the backing band of pop star Demi Lovato.

Alice announced his renewed collaboration with Kane in a social media post in July. He wrote: "I'm looking forward to welcoming back Kane Roberts for our shows in September and October. We've been friends all this time, and he's always been one of my favorite guitarists. He's bringing more muscle to the 'Detroit Muscle' tour.

"We've always had a swinging door policy where players can come and go, so it's very exciting to get back on stage with Kane. The fans are in for a real treat at these shows. It's gonna be a blast. Kane Roberts, Ryan Roxie, and Tommy Henriksen on guitars? Hell yeah!"

Kane has recorded a total of five solo albums (among them the PHOENIX DOWN project released in the late '90s),including his latest, "The New Normal", which arrived in January 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl. "The New Normal" contained the song "Beginning Of The End", featuring a guest appearance by Alice.

Kane's name and abilities first came to prominence on Cooper's "Constrictor" album, which was soon followed by his self-titled debut solo album in 1987. More albums and tours with Alice followed, making Kane a well-known face in the business especially for his guitar skills, but also for his body-builder image and his now iconic machine-gun guitar.

As a solo recording artist, he landed a few Top 40 hits, and his varied musical background includes recording, writing and touring with artists such as Rod Stewart, Alice CooperDesmond Child, KISS, Diane Warren, ALICE IN CHAINS, BERLIN, GUNS N' ROSES, Garland Jeffries and more. He's also written or recorded music for films like "Light Sleeper", Penelope Spheeris's "Decline Of Western Civilization", "Friday the 13th IV Jason Lives", John Carpenter's "Prince Of Darkness", and more. In 1991, his second solo album, "Saints And Sinners", for Geffen Records included the Top 40 Billboard hit "Does Anybody Really Fall In Love Anymore?", originally written by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.

In recent interviews, Strauss has said that the door is not closed on her return to Cooper's band at some point in the foreseeable future.

"There's no shutting of a door and changing of the guard, it's just I'm taking a step back a little bit," Strauss told Louder. "Depending on what the schedule looks like next year, I may have the chance to come back; I may not. But it definitely doesn't feel as final to me and to the people in Alice's band and the inner circle as it has been portrayed out in the world."

For his part, Roberts has said that he is not opposed to continuing his current stint with Cooper past the fall 2022 tour. "Well, I do want to record and sing with him," he told Vinyl Writer Music. "Right now, it's five weeks … there's a sort of a semblance of perfection in that, right? It has a beginning and an end to it. But if it evolves past that, there will be reasons why it should, and if it doesn't, then there will be reasons why it shouldn't."

Sammy Hagar has revealed to Ultimate Classic Rock that he collaborated with Eddie Van Halen on a new song in a recent dream.

"I shouldn't be hyping it now," Hagar said. "Nobody knows this but [my CIRCLE bandmates] Michael Anthony, Jason [Bonham] and Vic [Johnson]. About two months ago, I had this dream and Eddie came. We were in a room like this, [with] a bunch of people around. It was just like he'd been gone. It was not like he was passed, but he had just been out of my life and we hadn't seen each other for a while. He's going, 'Man, let's write some music!' I said, 'Yeah, fuck it, man. Here, let's go!' [We] went over into a corner, in this room. He had a guitar and he played me this thing. It was like this lick — [just like] the last lick that Eddie Van Halen showed me, when I went back for the [2004] reunion tour and when he was a mess. I said, 'Eddie, show me your newest shit,' because every time I'd be around him I'd say, 'Show me your newest shit.' He'd say, 'Oh, check this out!'"

According to Sammy, Eddie "did this harmonic thing" in the dream "and he slid it up to a chord, like a slide guitar. We wrote a song with that lick. I remembered it. I got up in the morning and I wrote the song. It's called 'Thank You'. I used the fuckin' lick that he showed me in the song. I told Jason, 'I just really don't know what to say lyrically.' I've got goosebumps, head to toe, [talking about it]. So I wrote it [about that experience], and we'll do that song someday."

Hagar added that when "Thank You" does eventually see the light of day, Eddie Van Halen will be credited as a co-writer.

"Now, that's going to be an Eddie-influenced song, to the point that I'm going to co-write it with him," he explained. "I'm going to give him credit and then maybe we'll donate the money to charity, whatever. You see, I feel so embarrassed about it because everyone's going to say, 'Oh, look at Sammy trying to capitalize on Eddie.' No, I'm not. You don't understand. This was a real fuckin' dream, and I told you exactly what happened in it."

Hagar mended his relationship with Eddie Van Halen months prior to the legendary VAN HALEN guitarist's October 2020 passing.

Hagar replaced David Lee Roth in VAN HALEN in 1985 and recorded four studio albums with the band — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

Sammy, Eddie, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

In his autobiography, "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock", Hagar slammed Eddie, saying the guitarist was unkempt, hunched over, frighteningly skinny, drinking wine straight out of a bottle, missing part of his tongue (after a cancer scare) and several teeth. He told an interviewer in 2012: "What happened on that reunion tour in '04 was some of the most miserable, back-stabbing dark crap I've ever been involved with my whole life."

In a 2015 interview with Rolling Stone, Eddie questioned an "embellished" portion of "Red: My Uncensored Life In Rock" that painted the guitarist as a "very angry drunk" during the group's 2004 reunion tour.

Sammy Hagar photo credit: Leah Steiger

Nita Strauss, who spent eight years playing with Alice Cooper before recently joining Demi Lovato's touring band, was asked in a new interview with Metal Injection if it was a "nerve-racking" experience telling the legendary rocker that she wanted to step back from performing with him. The guitarist responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wouldn't even say nerve-racking, because… I mean, it was a big decision, of course, but it definitely wasn't as dramatic as it has seemed online, if that makes sense. We had just started the U.K. tour when I got the offer to come and play with Demi. And I just went into Coop's room — I went to his hotel room and I talked with him and his wife. And I said, 'Look, I have this opportunity.' He asked, 'Would it conflict with anything on this tour?' I said, 'No, but it would conflict with the fall dates, so I'd have to step back from the fall tour.' And he said, 'Go and do it.' He gave his blessing. He gave me a big hug and said, 'Go and have fun. Shine your light, and let us know what next year looks like and we'll work it out.' So it was a lovely and loving conversation — no big blowup; no drama; no one got fired; no one stormed out. And I took a step back and I'm trying something different. And we'll see what happens in the future."

According to Nita, "it didn't help" that the news of her joining Demi's touring band "got leaked before anybody had a chance to really say anything. I don't really know how that news got out, 'cause it was all pretty close to the vest," she said. "But somebody found out, somebody decided to put it out before anybody really could make a proper statement about it, and I think that's how these things get twisted around into something that it's not.

"We had a — Alice literally called it a 'hiatus dinner,'" Nita added. "One of our last shows in Greece, we had a couple of days off, and we had a big 'hiatus dinner' and we all laughed and cried and hugged and they gave me a little parting gift. And if that was the last show at the end of the tour, it'll be okay. But there was no big dramatic exit that people were speculating. And now that I'm clearing it up, there is also no backtracking. [Laughs] I think people just love to speculate without really knowing the actual workings of what's going on."

Nita played her first full live show with Demi on August 13 at the Grandstand at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois.

Nita made her live debut with Demi on July 14 with a performance of "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".

Nita's new gig was first reported as a rumor on July 11 on the Metal Sludge web site.

Nita told Louder about how she ended up playing with Lovato: "So I actually got a text from Demi's musical director when I was on the road with my solo band on the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY tour, and essentially what it said was what we all know now: Demi is a huge rock and metal fan. And Demi wants to go back to her routes and wants to put together an all-female rock band. She's really one of the biggest stars in the world and she wants to take a step into our genre and this style of music that we love so much. When you get that text, that somebody wants to bring that type of music to the forefront, how do you say no? How do you turn down this opportunity to bring this style of music to so many more people? So I was thrilled to hear about it and I jumped at the opportunity. This was all way back in May. It's been in the works for a really long time."

She continued: "I've seen a lot of stuff out there saying, 'She jumped ship really fast'. There was nothing that happened fast, I think people just found out about it all at once. First and foremost, I went to Alice and [his wife] Sheryl for their blessing which they were so happy to give. Then I went to Alice's management and started rehearsal with Demi. I did my first TV appearance with Demi, I believe it was three days after the last Alice show, so it was really out of the frying pan and into the fire. But her team has been really fun to work with, the band is incredible, the musical director, Demi herself, it's just been a really good experience overall."

On July 11, Nita announced that she would sit out Cooper's fall 2022 tour. She has also scrapped the festival dates her solo band had planned for the rest of the year. The 35-year-old said in a statement that her "touring year" was "still VERY full" and revealed that she was "on a flight straight into the next adventure," adding cryptically that she would "be on stage again much sooner than you think."

A couple of Nita's Cooper bandmates commented on her post, with guitarist Ryan Roxie writing: "No words — just notes... and lord knows we harmonized a lot of them over the years... nothing but love and respect." Drummer Glen Sobel added: "You're super pro and prepared no matter what the situation. We're gonna miss you but we're also proud to be associated with Hurricane."

Strauss had been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.

Last October, Nita shared "Dead Inside", her first new solo music since the release of her debut album, 2018's "Controlled Chaos". The track was her first-ever solo collaboration with a vocalist, David Draiman, frontman of Grammy-nominated rock icons DISTURBED. Her new instrumental solo track, "Summer Storm", arrived on August 30.

Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths".

As well as performing with Cooper, Nita has also played with R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings FEMME FATALE, video game supergroup CRITICAL HIT and popular tribute band THE IRON MAIDENS.

In April 2020, Nita launched "Rock Guitar Fundamentals" — a three-module online guitar teaching program suitable for learners of all levels. The course is available at www.iwanttoplayguitar.com.

Nita's solo live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.

Melodic death metal duo, Hatchets For Hands, are back with a new single - their first offering since the release of 2020's "Cabaret Of Decay". "Mephistis" features guest drums from John Tempesta (White Zombie, Testament), and fans can check out the occult music video below.





“After several years of friendship, John joined us on a writing session above The Rainbow Bar & Grill in LA,” says Hatchets For Hands drummer/vocalist Cullen Poythress. “After a few whiskies together at the bar afterward, we knew it was on. We had to have Johnny T’s heavy-handed groove on ‘Mephistis’, and it was an honor to have him join us behind the kit on this one.”







Formed in San Francisco, California in 2009, Hatchets For Hands is the death metal duo of guitarist/bassist Brian Parks and drummer/vocalist Cullen Poythress. The band is defined by familiar elements of American thrash and traditional death metal mixed with the soaring leads and darkened melodies associated with Northern Europe's more melodic exports.

Sid Falck has released the new song, "Inhumanity", via his Falck project. "Inhumanity" is available via Distrokid on all music streaming platforms, including Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube Music, Facebook Music, Instagram Music. Listen below.





As with previous releases, “Inhumanity” is written and performed by Sid Falck.







Falck previously released the song "Rage", featuring special guest Dave Linsk (Overkill, Speed\Kill/Hate). A video for the song can be viewed below:

2017 saw Brussels-based rock sensation, Black Mirrors, take the world by storm with the debut of their awe-inspiring Funky Queen EP. Feverishly acclaimed live appearances and a powerful festival showcase later, the band fronted by extraordinary vocalist Marcella Di Troia quickly inked a worldwide deal with leading rock and metal empire Napalm Records, soon gaining further praise with the release of their first full-length album, Look Into The Black Mirror. Continuing to exceed expectations, the unstoppable Black Mirrors have now crafted a new masterpiece and one of rock’s leading highlights of 2022 – their upcoming release, Tomorrow Will Be Without Us, out November 4 via Napalm Records.


Are we killing our own planet? No, Black Mirrors doesn’t believe that we as humans have the power to destroy mother earth. However, as the album cover below portrays, it’s clear who will end up burning – all living creatures, us. Tomorrow Will Be Without Us is a clear statement impacting every single one of us living on our planet.


As first album single “Hateful Hate, I’ll Kill You” proves, the band pushes their fuzz pedals to the max, delivering a powerful rock anthem you can’t help but move and groove to, yet perfectly showcases Black Mirrors’ unforced, versatile and organic talent.




Black Mirrors says about their first single: "‘Hateful Hate, I’ll Kill You’ is one of the first songs we wrote and recorded for this album. We felt the song really helped us to shape the album as it embraces a lot of different influences like Nirvana and Hole, but also Queens Of The Stone Age, Jack White and even Radiohead.


The song is a shout out to the bitter world we’re living in, a shout out to our consumerist society! Our beautiful planet has its limits! We are on a sinking ship. We have left so many living beings to die, to disappear even. We need to change now more than ever - we have to change our ways."


Watch the new Black Mirrors music video for “Hateful Hate, I’ll Kill You” below.


About the new video, the band states: "The energy of ‘Hateful Hate I’ll Kill You’ video is pretty close to what you can expect from a live show of Black Mirrors. Furthermore, we focused on what’s behind the lyrics. The colors, mainly yellow and red, were used as a symbol of the burning of our forest, our planet. One of the outfits Marcella’s wearing is a nod to the last mass extinction to warn us of the 6th mass extinction we are currently living in. At the end, she even changes into a tree to embody the return to nature."


Black Mirrors’ sophomore outing is a deep, soulful and vividly textured 90's inspired rock record with umpteen layers begging to be picked apart with each spin, and lyrically, traverses humankind’s increasing apathy towards the world around them. The grunge-infused guitar lines meld in harmony, giving way to memorable riffs, rhythmic gems, big grooves and the addictive, beautifully unchained vocals of Di Troia. The album fluxes from fierce and blustery to often gentle and calming, channeling the flavor of MTV’s glory era showcasing acts such as Nirvana, Radiohead, Hole, Alain Johannes, Alice In Chains and beyond.


Contrary to the album’s title and its evocative themes about today’s society and a world falling apart, tomorrow does belong to Black Mirrors – there is no doubt they will own the next decade, providing us with the finest in heavy rock and melodic grunge grandeur the world of tomorrow unconditionally needs.


"Like all of us, we had to go through a lot during these past years. Tomorrow Will Be Without Us is our answer to all the questions we had during that time, our reflection on the ecological catastrophe we're all witnessing, our thoughts on our consumerist society, …“ the band comments. "Writing these songs gave us the strength to go forward and to heal us, it was our catharsis. We deeply hope it will bring you some light in these dark times."


Together with the touch of worldwide-acclaimed producer Alain Johannes (Eagles Of Death Metal, Queens Of The Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, No Doubt,…), Black Mirrors have reset the bar to unexpected heights, and their new album promises to leave its mark on today’s rock scene worldwide! One can be sure, the music world of tomorrow would be a lonely place without Black Mirrors, and Tomorrow Will Be Without Us locks them at the top.





Tomorrow Will Be Without Us will be available in the following formats:


- CD Digisleeve
- LP Gatefold BLACK
- LP Gatefold Marbled BLACK/GOLD (ltd. 300)
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Snake Oil"
"Lost In Desert"
"Tomorrow Will Be Without Us"
"Hateful Hate, I'll Kill You"
"Ode To My Unborn Child"
"Through The Eyes Of A Giant"
"Collapsology (Raise Your Voice)" feat. Alain Johannes
"Anthropocene"
"Tears To Share"
"Say It Again"


"Hateful Hate, I'll Kill You" video:





Current band lineup:


Marcella Di Troia (Vocals)
Pierre Lateur (Lead Guitar)
Yannick Carpentier (Drums)
Pierre Guillaume (Guitar, Synths, Backing Vocals)


(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

Canada’s NWOTHM outfit Iron Kingdom is releasing their fifth studio album The Blood Of Creation this fall and in advance have the melodic new single “In The Grip Of Nightmares” ready for your consumption. The album is not a concept album, but they exhibit a passion for fantasy themes and pays homage to tales woven by acclaimed authors. The single is about the sword Stormbringer from the Michael Moorcock books Elric of Melnibonè Series. Bound together by fate, Elric consumes the souls of those he slays with Stormbringer and this dramatic relationship is conveyed through progressive traditional heavy metal in the vein of Helloween and Fates Warning. Fast and driving, it is also melodic with plenty of solos and focus on the leads. 


The band explains the track further:


“We started writing this song during the On The Hunt sessions back in 2019, however, the song had a different energy than the rest of the album so we decided it would be best to come back to it at a later date. In late 2020, during the Covid-19 lockdown, we took a second look at what was to become ‘In The Grip Of Nightmares’. We rewrote the tune to be what it is today. It tells the tale of the legendary sentient sword ‘Stormbringer’ and its relationship to Elric. The sword ‘consumes’ the souls of those who it strikes down and feeds the energy into Elric, who needs it to survive. The two are bound together by fate. A fate that twists Chaos and Law, and leaves Elric in the grip of nightmares.”




Iron Kingdom set out to create music in a style of metal that seemed to have been forgotten when they were kids. Since no one else seemed to be doing it, they decided to play metal the way it used to be played in the ‘70s and ‘80s while transporting listeners into unique, fantastic worlds. Since their conception, they have toured around the world, keeping old-school vibes alive.


This upcoming album sees a lot more music content coming from lead guitarist Megan Merrick and having drummer Max Friesen (ex-Ophelia Falling) has added another layer of ideas giving this latest offering a new perspective than the previous ones, while maintaining the shredding heavy metal thunder fans have come to love. The album was self-produced by Iron Kingdom with mixing done by Andy Boldt and mastering by Greg Reely (Overkill, Fear Factory, 3 Inches of Blood).


This refreshingly classic and refined taste of traditional heavy metal is recommended for fans of Riot, Iron Maiden, and Helloween.


BraveWords is premiering the new single – step into the nightmare!





In additional news, Iron Kingdom have announced their album launch show for November 4 in Vancouver, BC, hosted by the Invisible Orange at the Wise Hall. Find more information at orangetickets.ca.


Pre-order the album here, or here.





Tracklisting:


"Tides Of Desolation"
"Sheathe The Sword"
"Queen Of The Crystal Throne"
"Hunter And Prey"
"Witching Hour"
"In The Grip Of Nightmares"
"Primordial"
"The Blood Of Creation"


Teaser:





In additional news, Iron Kingdom have announced their album launch show for November 4 in Vancouver, BC, at the Wise Hall. For more info, head here.





(Photo - Caitlin Delaplace)

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine was the featured guest on BBC's "The Rock Show With Johnnie Walker" during the "Rock God" segment. Dave picked JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton and stated about his choice (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I had no idea how much Glenn Tipton and JUDAS PRIEST had influenced my guitar playing until I recently covered 'Delivering The Goods' with my band MEGADETH and got to go over all those guitar riffs again. It was really revealing to me how much Glenn's playing had influenced me."

He continued: "Where did I first hear about JUDAS PRIEST? I can't remember exactly — I think it was my brother-in-law's little brother. But I did get my own copy of 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'. And I remember when I was living with my mom and we moved in with my middle sister — I have three older sisters — and she was married to a police officer that was the chief of police in a city called Stanton in California in the United States. And he walked into his house and heard PRIEST blaring in the bedroom I was sharing with their son. That was the first time I ever stood up for metal. And when he stomped out, you know what I did? I put the record back on."

Mustaine originally revealed that MEGADETH recorded a JUDAS PRIEST cover for an as-yet-undisclosed Amazon project during an interview last month with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station. Regarding how he and his bandmates approached the recording of the track, the MEGADETH leader said: "We went and listened to the song and charted out the performance. And going into that kind of micromanaging of the song, that minutiae production, we started to see a lot of things in the song where it seemed like there was no guide for the song. So we did everything the way that we do our recordings. And I believe it got a little more straightforward with the riffing and everything."

A few years ago, Mustaine picked JUDAS PRIEST's "Sad Wings Of Destiny" as one of the albums that changed his life. He said: "When it comes to classic heavy metal, JUDAS PRIEST's 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' is definitely one of the all-time great opuses. Hearing Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing's unison guitar playing and hearing Rob Halford let rip … Who sings like that? Nobody. I was so entranced by that band and everything about them, that I went to a hat store and bought a Fedora because Glenn Tipton was wearing one on the back of 'Sad Wings…' I have curly hair so hats don't stay on so well. It didn't last very long. [Laughs]"

MEGADETH's new album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", was released on September 2 via UMe.

Sole surviving EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER member Carl Palmer, in association with the estates of his bandmates Keith Emerson and Greg Lake, has announced the "Welcome Back My Friends - The Return Of Emerson, Lake & Palmer" tour. Launching on Friday November 18 at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the trek will actually "reunite" ELP live on stage through modern technology.

After exploring the idea of a hologram tour in detail, Palmer — with the estates of Emerson and Lake — opted for what they felt was a more honest approach using live footage of Keith and Greg on massive video walls alongside Carl (and his band) playing live on stage. The voice and instrumentation of Lake and the unmistakable keyboard mastery of Emerson will be mixed with Palmer's onstage live drumming to magically reunite ELP once again. Paul McCartney's duet with John Lennon at the end of his recent "Got Back" tour is a good idea of what ELP fans can expect from this show.

Emerson and Lake passed away nine months apart in 2016, leaving Palmer to carry on EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER's enormous musical legacy.

"About five years ago I explored the idea of trying to reunite the band using digital holograms," said Carl. "We saw a few shows of other artists but it did not seem like an honest approach. Then we realized the film we made of ELP's sold-out run at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 1992 had everything we needed. We were able to use just the camera shots of Keith and Greg, with the sterling audio tracks of their performances resulting in a combination of film and onstage performance that brings back the magic of ELP."

After establishing themselves in bands such as THE NICE, KING CRIMSON and THE CRAZY WORLD OF ARTHUR BROWN, ELP was formed in early 1970 as one of rock's first (and biggest) supergroups. With record sales of over 50 million and decades of sold-out tours through the 1970s and again in the 1990s, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER has remained one of the best-selling classic rock bands of all time. The group's complete recorded catalog, now under the direction and distribution of BMG Music, continues to be a steady force on the international music scene.

The tour will coincide with the new BMG box set of classic ELP hit singles pressed on vinyl with reproductions of the original picture sleeves.

The trek is being launched with the full approval of the Emerson and Lake estates, as well as the various managers who have represented the members of the band.

"Welcome Back My Friends - The Return Of Emerson, Lake & Palmer" will start in the U.S. during the fall of 2022 and eventually play all over the world where ELP toured throughout its career.

Tickets will go on sale on Friday, September 9.

Confirmed tour dates so far:

Nov. 18 - 2300 Arena - Philadelphia PA
Nov. 20 - Penn's Peak - Jim Thorpe, PA
Nov. 22 - Shea Center - Wayne, NJ
Nov. 23 - Patchogue Theater - Patchogue, NY
Nov. 25 - Town Hall - New York, NY
Nov. 26 - College St. Music Hall - New Haven, CT
Nov. 27 - Wilbur Theatre - Boston MA
Dec. 01 - Arcada Theatre - St. Charles. IL
Dec. 02 - Des Plaines Theatre - Des Plaines IL
Dec. 03 - The Goodyear Theatre - Akron, OH

On a recent episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS), heavy horror punk icon Wednesday 13 spoke about the passing of his one-time MURDERDOLLS bandmate, original SLIPKNOT drummer Joey Jordison. Asked if Joey's July 2021 death came as a shock to him or if he was aware of any underlying health issues that would have caused Jordison to die at the age of only 46, Wednesday said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Honestly, I don't know anything of him being in bad health. I know he had his health problems that he had talked about online over the past couple of years, but as far as that being anything that was putting him toward death or anything, I don't think anybody had that type of expectations.

"No one had been in touch with him at all, so when we all heard, it was all a shock," Wednesday continued. "I think he had recently just split up with his girlfriend, so he may have been living by himself for the first time [in] a long time. No one mentioned COVID. I have no idea. It was literally just 'he died in his sleep,' and that's the news they'd given to everybody. I hope that it's that simple and it was that easy for him to go out and just peaceful. But I have no idea — I have no idea what was going on with him. And everybody… When he passed, I had some people reach out to me, 'What happened?' I'm, like, 'I don't know.' A lot of people thought that he and I spoke constantly. I don't know anybody that he was in touch with. He was really like a recluse. So I don't know if we'll ever find out exactly other than just what they've said. And that's probably all we're ever gonna hear."

More than a year ago, Joey's SINSAENUM bandmate Frédéric Leclercq blasted TMZ for sharing the audio of the 911 call placed by the former SLIPKNOT drummer's ex-girlfriend after she found him dead. On July 29, 2021, the tabloid site posted the two-and-a-half-minute phone call in which the ex-girlfriend — who continued taking care of Joey's bills and maintaining his house in Iowa even after their split — could be heard getting very emotional when she went to his home to check on him after he hadn't returned her messages. During the call, she indicated that Joey was "a really bad alcoholic" with "health issues," and she revealed that the motion sensors on the house hadn't detected any activity in days.

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

Several years ago, Jordison overcame the neurological condition acute transverse myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord which damages nerve fibers, which ultimately led to the drummer temporarily losing the use of his legs.

Wednesday 13 previously discussed Jordison's death in an April 2022 interview with the "On The Road To Rock" podcast. At the time, he said: "It's been a tough thing to swallow, knowing he's not here. But we got to do that second [MURDERDOLLS] record ['Women And Children Last'], which is my favorite — killer songs on that record.

"When that record ended, we kind of ended on ugly terms and stuff — I won't get into it — but we made up in 2018. We had two days off in Iowa and I went to his house. I brought the whole band over. We had a barbecue, we hung out, we made up and we had been talking, 'Hey, let's do MURDERDOLLS again. Let's do MURDERDOLLS again.' And literally a month before he died, he texted me, just out of the blue, watching 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. From his bed, he was, like, 'I just woke up and this was on.' He was just giggling watching The Hitchhiker. And he wrote me a message and said, 'Dude, I'm with you, brother. Horns up. Go out there and destroy it.' It was just a weird, out-of-the-blue thing. So I don't know what was going on with him then. And then I get the news [about his death]. I literally woke up and I had a bunch of messages going, 'Did you hear? Did you hear?' And I knew it.

"So, yeah, man, it's been a weird thing," Wednesday 13 added. "But getting to go out and play these songs and seeing people's reaction has been a healing thing. I needed that."

Three years ago, Wednesday 13 told the "Talk Toomey" podcast that he has fond memories of his time with the MURDERDOLLS. "That was such a special time for me — both times, both records," he said. "I mean, we did a lot of cool stuff. But that very first time we came out, and the things we did, it was when nu-metal was dying, and we were just kind of like… I won't say 'breath of fresh air,' 'cause it definitely wasn't fresh; it was smelly. But we were something that kind of came in, and it was really amazing in certain places. In the U.K., it made me feel like THE BEATLES for five seconds. It was something I'll never forget. I'll never forget having your van almost rocked over by a hundred fans in the middle of Piccadilly Circus in London. That was pretty nuts."

MURDERDOLLS had been inactive since completing the touring cycle in support of the aforementioned "Women And Children Last", which came out in August 2010 via Roadrunner Records.

In 2018, Joey told the "Talk Toomey" podcast that he wasn't opposed to the idea of collaborating with Wednesday 13 on new music. "Never say never, man — I mean, that's life," he said. "It's kind of funny, 'cause we have a bunch of songs that have been written and a bunch that are ready to go. Timing is everything, man — not necessarily anything about, 'Oh, we need to do this to impress people,' or, 'We need to put out this record or do something like that.' Timing in life is everything, so we'll see. Only time will tell."

Jordison told CrypticRock.com in 2017 that he "would love to do another record" with MURDERDOLLS. He explained: "I have this punk rock and pop side of me that I don't really get to get out in other areas in my life. When we did that band, it was just pretty much to express fun, have a great time, and kind of throw a monkeywrench into what was going on in rock and metal at the time, and it worked."

Jordison added that the tours he did with the MURDERDOLLS were "really awe-inspiring when you look in hindsight of what we accomplished in a short amount of time and the two records we did. I could not be more proud and happy of what we accomplished in that time," he said. "Everyone that was in that band, the couple of different personnels we employed, the MURDERDOLLS were killer."

Wednesday 13 reunited with onetime MURDERDOLLS members Eric Griffin and Acey Slade on stage for the first time in over a decade in August 2018 at Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood. The event, which celebrated the life of former MURDERDOLLS drummer Ben Graves, saw the trio performing some of the group's classic songs.

Graves, who also worked with PRETTY BOY FLOYD and DOPE, passed away in May 2018 after a year-long battle with cancer. He was only 45 years old.

Had a great Memorial Day weekend and ran into an old friend. It’s been 7 years since we’ve all seen each other and we...

Posted by Wednesday 13 on Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Ohio hard rock outfit Eric Moore's The Godz have announced plans for a new album this fall, entitled Machines. The record will feature the final recordings of the band's founder, Eric Moore, who passed away from cancer in 2019.  The band have also announced the recent addition of renowned Tennessee rocker Charlie Bonnet III on guitar and vocals.  


Formed in 1976 by Eric Moore, the original line-up of The Godz were signed to Casablanca Records, releasing two landmark albums for the label, and touring with the likes of KISS, Cheap Trick, Blue Öyster Cult, Angel, and many more.  The band released many more albums throughout the years with a revolving door of musicians and record labels, with the one constant being Eric Moore.  The untimely death of Moore in 2019 brought the band to a temporary halt, with the legacy and future of the band left in the hands of long time manager John Gard, as well as guitarist / producer Jeff Westlake (Hydrogen).  


Following is an official statement issued via the official Eric Moore Facebook page:  




"The Directive as handed down by The Machine himself in March of 2019. It was everything your momma warned you about. The first new music since The Last Rights. It comes at a time when the collective needs it the most along with some long overdue re-worked material for the absolute maximum sonic overkill. Coming to you in the fall."





In May 2019, Eric Moore, frontman for cult Ohio biker band The Godz, died at the age of 67. Management released the following statement:


"Eric Moore, the lead singer of the hard rock band The Godz passes away after a long battle with bladder cancer.


It is with great sadness and heavy heart that John Gard Management and FnA Records announce the passing of a true rock-n-roll legend, Eric Moore of The Godz. Eric has been battling bladder cancer for many years. The official date of Eric’s passing was on May 17, 2019 in the early hours of the day – just after midnight. Eric was 67 years old.


Eric was known by his legions of fans as a beer-drinking, pistol carrying, blue collar rock-n-roller and the leader of the Godz fans worldwide known The Machines. Eric Moore was the lead singer of The Godz here on earth and he has now embarked on a triumphant return to the one and only God in heaven. Eric will be sorely missed.”


On March 18th, 2014, Eric Moore released a box set titled Godzology on Gard Dog Records. The boxset contains the first two releases of The Godz, and Nothing Is Sacred, in all new remastered forms and also has support shows included: Live from Laredo Texas 1978 and The Agora in Cleveland Ohio from 1979. Also included in the set is a bonus DVD. It is limited to 500 copies.

MoneyBag soda, the premium soda line launched in 2018 by KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons in cooperation with Niagara Falls, New York-based Rock Steady Sodas Inc. (a subsidiary of Johnnie Ryan Bottling Company),recently shipped its millionth bottle.

Simmons said: "Proud to let everyone know that we have sold over 1,000,000 million bottles of our MoneyBag sodas. Come celebrate with us. Go to MoneyBagSodas.com."

Added the MoneyBag soda team: "Gene Simmons is no stranger to selling millions of units. Our MoneyBag sodas team is excited to celebrate this milestone with him. Cheers to the next million bottles!!!"

Over the last few years, the explosion of artist-branded beverages has been incredible. Talking about the challenges of an artist-branded beverage, the MoneyBag soda team said: "In many instances the artists are not too involved with the product and leave it up to the manufacturers. Gene is personally involved with all aspects of MoneyBag sodas business. It is not just putting his name on the product. He has done buyer calls, store appearances, brings customers to KISS shows, does personal videos for all customers to use on social media, etc. Gene also uses his millions of followers on social media to promote product. He is a great business partner. Launching a non-artist brand is more challenging. It is pretty much up to how much cash you have to market. We have many of great stories to talk about."

MoneyBag is made with all-natural flavors, colors and sweeteners and packaged in eco-friendly glass bottles with painted labels. The flavor portfolio includes cola, diet cola, ginger ale, root beer, and cream soda. A new "blood" orange flavor is currently in development.

Among the retail outlets that have featured MoneyBag sodas are Hy-Vee, Tops Friendly Markets, Wegmans, Rocket Fizz Soda Pop and Candy Shop and 7-Eleven stores.

The collaboration between Simmons and partners Paul Janik Jr., John Janik and Chris Haick began with a chance meeting at Cleveland's "Wizard World" convention. The longtime KISS fans were in attendance with the hope of meeting their rock idol, who was a featured guest at the convention. Armed with their vintage posters ready for Simmons's autograph, John and Paul struck up a soda-centric conversation with the music legend. Simmons asked for their card, and a week later, Paul received a call from Simmons, who said he owned the trademark for the MoneyBag image and would be interested in having them create a MoneyBag premium soda line.

Paul and John have an impeccable work ethic, as well as a prowess in the premium soft drink marketplace," said Simmons. "The incredible flavor profiles they created and collectible packaging [are] a crowd pleaser. I am very proud of MoneyBag sodas and excited about my foray into the soda business."

MoneyBag sodas are bundled in vintage-style four-packs with custom crowns. They are manufactured in Niagara Falls, New York, at a single location.

Members of BLACK SABBATH, SAXON, DEF LEPPARD, STRYPER and THE OFFSPRING are among the musicians who have reacted on social media to the the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, the longest reigning monarch in British history, who died today at 96 years old.

"The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral this afternoon," Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement released today. "The King and The Queen Consort will remain at Balmoral this evening and will return to London tomorrow."

Buckingham Palace released a statement today from His Majesty The King, in which he reflected on the passing of his mother.

"The death of my beloved Mother, Her Majesty The Queen, is a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family," King Charles said. "We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished Sovereign and a much-loved Mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms, and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world."

He added, "During this period of mourning and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which The Queen was so widely held."

Shortly after her death was announced, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex shared a tribute to the queen on the web site for their foundation, Archewell. The landing page of the site changed to a simple black background with small white text that read, "In loving memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 1926-2022."
I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II pic.twitter.com/JZYXGRz2hb

— Ozzy Osbourne (@OzzyOsbourne) September 8, 2022


Sad to hear of The Queen passing. I remember the street celebrations when she was crowned Queen. Always a staple of growing up in England. GSTQ- RIP pic.twitter.com/TEROdsZvGk

— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) September 8, 2022


Cant help but think of Dads painting on this day. Hope the painting is still in good condition. RIP #QueenElizabeth a leader who brought the whole world together 🙏 https://t.co/KDD5a1cYSa

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) September 8, 2022


"She has transcended eras with good grace and service to her country that is unparalleled anywhere or by anyone. Thank you your Majesty for a lifetime of great memories and leadership."

-Joe Elliott [2/2] pic.twitter.com/Y5IYXVHsK6

— Def Leppard (@DefLeppard) September 8, 2022


My sincere condolences to @clydetombaugh & all those who loved her. #QueenElizabeth

— Gnudz (@TheGnudz) September 8, 2022


Long live the Queen

— Zach Myers (@ZMyersOfficial) September 8, 2022


May God Save The Queen and may God Bless The Royal Family🙏

96 years! The longest serving monarch.

Amazing……. pic.twitter.com/GYVnNCvWBA

— MichaelSweet Stryper (@michaelhsweet) September 8, 2022


Send her victorious
Happy and glorious

— Synyster Gates (@SynysterGates) September 8, 2022


Rip queen 👑 pic.twitter.com/oFxQhXMka3

— orianthi (@orianthi) September 8, 2022


We mourn the passing of our beloved Queen.
RIP Your Majesty.

Saxon pic.twitter.com/9Bhd34PNpE

— Saxon (@SaxonOfficial) September 8, 2022


For my whole life Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II has always been there. In my childhood I can recall watching her wedding highlights on TV. I remember her as a beautiful young lady, to the much beloved grandmother of the nation. My deepest sympathies are with the Royal family. pic.twitter.com/3JLILZDKwK

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 8, 2022


The Rolling Stones extend their deepest sympathy to the Royal family on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, who was a constant presence in their lives as in countless others. pic.twitter.com/veCyfN8rjp

— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) September 8, 2022


Rest peacefully Queen Elizabeth II.
Godspeed King Charles III.

— Tony Franklin (@FretlessMonster) September 8, 2022


Paying respect… RIP Queen Elizabeth II https://t.co/8zE3wKQG7a

— Jeff Scott Soto (@jeffscottsoto) September 8, 2022


I was so proud to perform for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace for her Platinum Jubilee only a few months ago. May you rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/cmfZ2cgnsS

— Nandi Bushell (@Nandi_Bushell) September 8, 2022


pic.twitter.com/HGSfXApPI7

— Elton John (@eltonofficial) September 8, 2022


RIP 🇬🇧 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 God save the queen.

Repost @vyvyan_patrol_group @ England, UK https://t.co/uFE1njbO4X

— Marcos Curiel (@MarcosCuriel) September 8, 2022


Queen Elizabeth was the ultimate example of service and duty… today is a sad day. pic.twitter.com/1yS7RpNeCp

— Jon Bon Jovi (@jonbonjovi) September 8, 2022

Earlier this year, Cannibal Corpse vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher released his debut solo album, Corpsegrinder. Now, Corpsegrinder returns with a new video for the album track, "Bottom Dweller".


Animated and directed by Andrew Ralph (MGK, Juice WRLD, Paramore), "Bottom Dweller" can be viewed below:







Purchase and stream Corpsegrinder here.





Corpsegrinder tracklisting


"Acid Vat" (feat. Erik Rutan)
"Bottom Dweller"
"On Wings Of Carnage"
"All Souls Get Torn"
"Death Is The Only Key"
"Crimson Proof"
"Devourer Of Souls"
"Defined By Your Demise"
"Master Of The Longest Night"
"Vaguely Human"


"Acid Vat" lyric video:





"On Wings Of Carnage":





(Album artwork by Dan Goldsworthy; concept by Corpsegrinder)

Sharpen your knives and prepare yourself for another Bloodbath. Massive death metal beasts, Bloodbath, are prepared to annihilate with their sixth full-length album, Survival Of The Sickest, out this Friday via Napalm Records. Vicious, unrelenting, and thrillingly violent, the critically-acclaimed, cult-followed band has no limitations, leaving the scene in shreds while skillfully fusing old-school Scandinavian harshness with a dose of Floridian US death metal.


Bloodbath have now revealed their most crushing track yet, “No God Before Me”, released alongside a brand new lyric video. On this relentless offering, “Old Nick” Holmes and his bandmates crucify with a blasphemic explosion, ensnaring with a sinister churning riff while coalescing elements of death and doom metal. Boasting one of the album’s most hair-raising solos, “No God Before Me” is a prime example of the band’s triumphant evolution.


Jonas Renkse on “No God Before Me”: "'No God Before Me' is a slow, churning hymn of death, a description of a godless afterlife as well as a massive nod to the masters of sickness themselves: Morbid Angel."




Watch the lyric video for “No God Before Me”:





The world is in flames, and Survival Of The Sickest, produced by Bloodbath and co-produced and mixed by Lawrence Mackrory at Rorysound Studios, offers no respite from the horrors of reality. Instead, with the addition of new guitarist Tomas ‘Plytet’ Åkvik (Lik) onboard, Bloodbath’s latest and greatest album gleefully confronts the slavering ghoul lurking in the shadows, and treats him to ten songs of ripping death metal frenzy. Alongside Bloodbath’s official alumni, Survival Of The Sickest boasts a smattering of irresistible cameos from the great, good and ghoulish of the metal underground, including Barney Greenway (Napalm Death), Luc Lemay (Gorguts) and Marc Grewe (Morgoth).


Bloodbath: "If there was a declaration of goods attached to this album, it would say Florida death metal exported from Sweden."





Survival Of The Sickest will be available in the following formats:    


- Digisleeve CD Edition
- Digital Full Length Album
- 1 Tape Edition - Brown Transparent with blue print - limited to 200, Napalm Records Shop exclusive
- Wooden Box Edition (incl. Digisleeve, Mouse Trap, Album Cover Flag, Cover Patch) - limited to 500, Napalm Records Shop exclusive
- 1LP Sky Blue - limited to 300, Napalm Records Shop exclusive
- 1LP Dark Green - limited to 500, Napalm Records Shop exclusive
- 1LP Picture Vinyl - limited to 500, Napalm Records Shop exclusive
- 1LP Black


Pre-order here.





Survival Of The Sickest tracklisting:


“Zombie Inferno“
“Putrefying Corpse“
“Dead Parade“
“Malignant Maggot Therapy“
“Carved“
“Born Infernal“
“To Die“
“Affliction of Extinction“
“Tales of Melting Flesh“
“Environcide“
“No God Before Me“


“Carved” video:





“Zombie Inferno” video:    





Bloodbath live dates:


September
9-10 - Hüttikon, Switzerland - Meh Suff! (performance day TBC)
24 - Monterrey, Mexico - Mexico Metal Fest


Bloodbath are:


Nick Holmes - vocals
Anders Nyström - guitar
Tomas Åkvik - guitar
Jonas Renkse - bass
Martin ‘Axe’ Axenrot - drums


(Photo - Ester Segarra)

Lee Aaron will release her new album, Elevate, on November 25 via Metalville Records.


Elevate: transitive verb


1: To lift up or make higher
2: to raise in rank or status
3: to improve morally, intellectually or culturally 4: to raise the spirits of




Lee Aaron is on a roll. The award-winning, songwriter, producer, and Canadian vocalist blazed back onto the rock scene in 2016 (after a ten-year hiatus to raise her family) with a wealth of original material and more firecracker energy than artists half her age. She’s since produced six new releases, including a live CD/DVD, with Elevate being the latest and possibly coolest addition to this renewed chapter in her illustrious career.


Elevate was written during the Covid lockdown, but rather than allowing that isolation to push the band into a negative place, Lee booked a studio lockout for the fall of 2021.


Elevate contains ten original tracks steeped in what has become Aaron’s signature sound: big guitar hooks, powerful, bluesy vocals, rich melodies and harmonies, and just enough sassy attitude to tip the scales. Aaron has always been known for digging a little deeper with her lyric content, and Elevate is no exception.


Elevate was recorded in Aaron’s traditional fashion: live off the floor with her crack band - Sean Kelly (guitar), Dave Reimer (bass), and John Cody (drums) - at the Armoury Studios in Vancouver with the finishing touches recorded at the band’s home studios. After forging a strong friendship and working relationship with Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams) on the last album, he once again teams up with Lee and the band for Elevate as recording and mix engineer.


About Elevate, Aaron explains, "I think it’s a shame how social media can divide good people. Analytics guarantee everyone has their own special ‘feed’ and you’re never hearing a different perspective – it polarizes people. Elevate is about not buying into that trap; it’s about choosing to lift each other up."


As the title track inspires, "It’s not too late to re-create, let’s celebrate, let’s Elevate - LET’S ELEVATE!"





Tracklisting:


"Rock Bottom Revolution"
"Trouble Maker"
"The Devil U Know"
"Freak Show"
"Heaven's Where We Are"
"Still Alive"
"Highway Rome"
"Red Dress"
"Spitfire Woman"
"Elevate"


Lineup:


Lee Aaron - lead vocals
Sean Kelly - guitars
Dave Reimer - bass
John Cody - drums


(Photo - Theresa Mitchell)

The first documentary covering Steve Vai's life from 1960 to 1990 is now available for streaming below.


The documentary has hundreds of Vai-centric facts and stories that even the most ardent fan will not have known. Complete with a Vai’esque quirky sense of humor, the video covers Vai’s life growing up, attending Berklee College, playing with several artists like Frank Zappa, Alcatrazz, the David Lee Roth band, and Whitesnake, the recording of both his solo albums Flex-Able and Passion And Warfare, plus Vai’s role in the movie Crossroads, and how he helped create the JEM guitar.


Vai previously commented on the film, stating: "Alan Berry (The Tapes Archive) is a filmmaker and has created an informative, quasi-animated, and at times hilarious short film on the first 30 years of my career!"




More information, photos, etc. can be found here.

Ayreon's Universal Migrator Part I & II will be re-released in various formats on November 18. Pre-order here, and watch an official lyric video for "Into The Black Hole", featuring Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, below.


Says mastermind Arjen Lucassen: "Dear Ayreonauts, sorry for the long silence… but I’ve got some good Ayreon news! I'm happy to tell you we're doing a very special re-release of Universal Migrator Part I & II. I have meticulously remixed and remastered the albums and they will be released in many different formats with lots of bonus tracks and a comic book. I'm so proud of the way this new release sounds and looks, I hope you’ll agree!"







Universal Migrator Pt 1: The Dream Sequencer and Universal Migrator Pt 2: Flight of the Migrator were released initially simultaneously in 2000, following the majestically sprawling hit album Into the Electric Castle two years previously. The Dream Sequencer continues the plot from The Final Experiment (1995), starting in the year 2084 when the final world war wiped out all life on Earth. Flight of the Migrator continues the story of the last living human being, the colonist on Mars and his decision to use the Dream Sequencer machine to travel back to before the universe was formed.


The two albums feature an extravaganza of stunning musicians and vocalists such as Bruce Dickinson (Iron Maiden), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Edward Reekers (Kayak), Damian Wilson (Headspace/Threshold), Neal Morse (Spock's Beard/Transatlantic/Flying Colors), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Andi Deris (Helloween), Michael Romeo (Symphony X) and many more.


Arjen Lucassen continues his crusade of remixing and remastering his finest work to absolute perfection and Universal Migrator, Pt. I & 2 (2022 Remixed & Remastered) is a stunning addition to his spectacular canon. Thanks to advancements in technologyA, fans can now get the chance to hear the albums through the ears of Lucassen as he intended them.


The hardcover artbook has 56 pages, which include lyrics, liner notes, the newly designed comic by Élan López, and additional pages with Élan's "Process".





Limited Edition 56-page / 5CD / DVD Earbook tracklisting:


CD 1: The Dream Sequencer"
"The Dream Sequencer"
"My House On Mars"
"2084"
"One Small Step"
"The Shooting Company Of Captain Frans B. Cocq"
"Dragon On The Sea"
"Temple Of The Cat"
"Carried By The Wind"
"And The Druids Turn To Stone"
"The First Man On Earth"
"The Dream Sequencer Reprise"


CD 2: Flight of the Migrator
"Chaos"
"Dawn Of A Million Souls"
"Journey On The Waves Of Time"
"To The Quasar"
"Into The Black Hole"
"Through The Wormhole"
"Out Of The White Hole"
"To The Solar System"
"The New Migrator"


CD 3: Bonus & Unreleased
"Into The Black Hole" – Damian Wilson (previously unreleased)
"Journey On The Waves Of Time" – Ian Parry (previously unreleased)
"Out Of The White Hole" – Robert Soeterboek (remix)
"Dawn Of A Million Souls" – Ian Parry (previously unreleased)
"Temple Of The Cat" – Lana Lane (remix)
"Through The Wormhole" – Ian Parry (remix)
"Into The Black Hole" – Lana Lane (previously unreleased)
"Carpe Diem (Chaos)" – 1992 Home Demo (previously released on Ayreonauts Only)
"House On Mars" – Instrumental Primal Version (previously unreleased)
Untitled Instrumental (previously unreleased)


CD4: The Dream Sequencer (Instrumental)
CD5: Flight Of The Migrator (Instrumental)


DVD:


5.1 Surround Mix
"The Shooting Company Of Francis B. Cocq" (Binaural Headphone Mix)
"Into The Black Hole" (Binaural Headphone Mix)
"Into The Black Hole" (Music Video)
Making of the comic feat. Élan López





Limited edition 4LP Box Set contents:


- The Dream Sequencer (2LP on 'Pink Nebula' marble vinyl)
- Flight of the Migrator (2LP on 'Pink Nebula' marble vinyl)
- Bonus DVD (with 5.1 surround audio, binaural headphone mixes, music video and featurette with Élan Lopez)
- Comic book by Élan López
- Sticker sheet
- 1 Double-sided poster
- Box is numbered and limited to 1000 copies

In a new interview with Revolver magazine, singer Chad Gray and drummer Matthew McDonough spoke about the possibility of new music from the MUDVAYNE. The reunited metallers haven't released released any new material since 2009, which means we're coming up on nearly a decade and a half without a single fresh MUDVAYNE song.

"That's obviously something we got to cross, right?" Chad said. "There's two ways you can do it. You could go out, and you can go once around the rock and just play catalog. For sure, that's absolutely a possibility. Or you can try to put something together. You can gauge it, you can decide. I'm not going to say because I've been constantly writing, recording touring for the last 12 years with HELLYEAH. So I don't think my well's dry by any means. And I'm excited, I would be excited to write with these guys.

"We've done a little bit of file sharing or whatever. Just some riffs. Greg [Tribbett, guitar] went into the studio in Texas. He lived in Texas. He went in there and just laid some stuff down, sent it to Matt. Matt put just a really simple metronome drum beat to it. I was working on it. It's pretty rad, different stuff. I've got a few different angles that I'm working with kind of how I want it to be, my parts anyway. But it's cool, it's cool. And obviously we're not going to put something out if I don't feel like it stands up.

"It's going to have to fucking blow my hair back before I would put it out, because I wouldn't want to put anything out and then people are just, like, '[They] can't do it anymore.' You can be your own judge of that. And maybe it's not the first song, maybe it's not the third song, maybe it's the seventh song. That's like, okay, now we're on something, but we'll figure it out, man. We'll figure it out. We'll either do it or we won't. But yeah, I'm down for whatever right now, I'm having fun with it."

As for what a new MUDVAYNE album might sound like, McDonough said: "I can't honestly say. Some of the stuff that we have messed around is heavy. We messed around with some typical [sounds], people wouldn't be terribly shocked, but the opportunity to experiment and given our past success, I think I feel a sense of freedom. There hasn't been any kind of pressure from any professional direction to try to, 'You guys going to write another 'Dig'.' Or 'Not Falling' or whatever; nothing like that. So the headspace and the culture around the band right now is incredibly positive. So I personally just would like to be wide open and excited and positive about it. I want to be surprised."

MUDVAYNE recently completed a co-headlining U.S. tour with ROB ZOMBIE, dubbed "Freaks On Parade". Produced by Live Nation, the 21-city "Freaks On Parade" tour kicked off on July 20 at the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Maryland Heights, making stops across the U.S. in Tampa, Holmdel, Tinley Park, and more before wrapping up in The Woodlands at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on August 21. Support on the trek came from STATIC-X and POWERMAN 5000.

Gray fell off stage during MUDVAYNE's July 26 concert in Tampa, Florida. The incident happened when Chadand his bandmates were performing the song "Not Falling" at MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre.

A few days after the incident, Gray joked about the irony of him falling off stage while singing "Not Falling", calling it "crazy" and "unbelievable".

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms. MUDVAYNE is Gray, Tribbett , McDonough and Ryan Martinie (bass).

Gray spent 16 years fronting HELLYEAH, which released its sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", in September 2019 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc marked the group's final effort with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who passed away more than four years ago.

MUDVAYNE did not tour behind its fifth album, which was barely promoted and sold weakly upon release.

Previously unreleased drum-cam footage of late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza playing along to the band's classic song "Skin o' My Teeth" can be seen below. 


The HD video was filmed in March 2014 at Uberbeatz Studios in Seattle, Washington. The drum audio was mixed by Richard Easterling / KRM Studios and is believed to be some of the final studio drum recordings of Menza before he passed away more than two years later.







The footage was supposed to be used for the late drummer's first-ever instructional DVD, "Intense Mega Drumming", that was to feature 10 re-recorded classic Megadeth drum tracks with tons of tips and tricks from Menza's arsenal to help teach anybody out there become a better player. The DVD, which was produced and directed by Kari Pearson and edited by Menza's manager, Robert Bolger, has since been shelved.


The unreleased video footage from the session will be a featured highlight in the recently announced official Menza documentary film, This Was My Life - The Story Of Nick Menza. It is described in a press release as "an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized by the Menza family.


From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic 'Rust In Peace' lineup." "This Was My Life - The Story of Nick Menza" is being produced/directed and edited by Holly Mollohan from Screaming Butterfly Entertainment.


David Ellefson has signed on as a co-producer of the film, and also will provide narration to guide the viewer through the exploration of the late Megadeth drummer's life.


Mollohan said: "'This Was My Life: The Story of Nick Menza' is now deep into the production phase of the film. The generous support of the fans during our Indiegogo campaign, as well as the amazing participation of the interviewees has enabled us to gather some truly unique memories and stories. For this, we are truly grateful.


The recent Los Angeles / Seattle portion of interviews went extremely well and we look forward to traveling to NYC, September 5th for the final set of interviews. This project is proving to be an interesting and rewarding one, and we look forward to sharing Nick's story."


Ellefson previously added: "The making of the Nick Menza documentary has been such a joy for all of us, like a sort of MEGA family reunion where we share stories, laughs and even a few tears around Nick and what he meant to so many of us. I think this film and Soundtrack will touch the hearts of the fans and viewers in the same way, as we remember his larger-than-life character behind the drum kit, but also his lovable charm and warmth that made him the beloved one of a treasured musical legacy."


The Menza family previously said: "We are excited for the fans to see the life Nick lived before, during, and after Megadeth, it was quite the journey. Stay tuned for an epic documentary. As Nick would say, 'It's gonna be RAD, Thank you everyone for the continued support in keeping Nick's legacy alive."'


Menza's longtime personal manager Robert Bolger previously said: "Nick loved his fans and always said without the fans none this would be possible. I really think Nick's fans will enjoy this journey through his life".





"This Was My Life" will be the first-ever film to memorialize Menza's legacy and celebrate his life exactly how it was. It is described in a press release as "an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized by the Menza family. From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life Including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic 'Rust In Peace' lineup."


"This Was My Life" will feature rare and never-before-seen photos and video footage from Nick's archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. Included will be exclusive content showcasing Nick working at the studio, personal home movies, casual time and party time with his fellow bandmembers, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with.


The cover photo for the film was shot by Los Angeles music photographer Alex Solca and designed by Brazilian artwork designer Alcides Burn of Burn Artworks.


Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.


Nick rightfully earned his place as one of heavy metal's fiercest drummers during Megadeth's 10-year commercial peak. The highlight of his career, Nick said, was playing Rock In Rio before more than 100,000 people. The lowest point was being fired by Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine while he was still in a hospital bed after surgery to remove what doctors feared was a cancerous growth.