In an interview with France 3 Pays De La Loire conducted at this year's Hellfest, SCORPIONS guitarist Matthias Jabs spoke about the band's enduring commercial popularity. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When I joined the band, it's like 44 years ago. The band was already going in the '70s, and we were all too young to think about the age we have today. When you're young, you think there's no end to things, but you have no idea what to imagine. Meanwhile, when you look back, it is very astonishing that we are together for such a long time, still successful with a brand new album and touring the world like we've always done. And sometimes I must think the success we have right now is comparable to the one in the '80s — every place is full, sold out, and the fans are very enthusiastic. And we gained a lot of new ones — young people are enjoying the SCORPIONS music, which is great. We are 80, and they are 18 or 28. [Laughs] They are younger than most of our songs."

SCORPIONS's latest album, "Rock Believer", was released in February. The LP was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the new album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, some of the initial work was done with Greg remotely, after which SCORPIONS opted to helm the recordings themselves with the help of their engineer Hans-Martin Buff.

SCORPIONS' new album marks their first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of new and classic material.

SCORPIONS' previous full-length collection of new recordings was "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.

Fan-filmed video of MUDVAYNE's August 14 performance at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre in Chula Vista, California can be seen below. The show was part of MUDVAYNE's 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 is coming from STATIC-X and POWERMAN 5000.

MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray fell off stage during the band's July 26 concert in Tampa, Florida. The incident happened when Grayand 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". While appearing on DWPresents On Twitch's "The Gunz Club" show hosted by his wife Shannon Gunz of SiriusXM, he said: "It's amazing. I mean, it really is. C'mon. The fucking irony, that it happens during 'Not Falling' is just unbelievable. It's so crazy."

According to Gray, the fall happened just as suddenly as could be seen in the numerous fan-filmed clips that have circulated on social media.

"As fast as you see that happen, it's literally as fast and as hard as my chest hit the top of the barricade," he said. "I wanted to fucking pee my pants. I mean, it fucking hurt so bad."

As for the reaction from the fans and the media to his fall, Gray said: "What's fucking crazy is the love that I'm getting from the fans and the people that were either there or not there, or have been to these shows and are fucking just over the moon about everything have been so fucking radical. The people that are really kind of giving me the most fucking shit are my friends. Dude, my fucking friends have been blowing me up, sending me all these fucking memes. I was, like, 'You know what? Fuck you.'"

On July 28, Gray posted a video message on his Instagram in which he shared "the whole truth" behind the incident. The 50-year-old musician said in part: "I just want you to know that it's not like I walked out there and fuckin' slipped on a banana peel or something and fell into the crowd. It was absolutely my intention to get out there and get down in your face and lay on ya and lean into ya and scream and have you scream back at me. It's probably one of my favorite parts of any show that I ever play, is getting that close with you guys.

"What happened was… So I basically walk to the down stage edge of the stage, and I step across and I put my foot on top of the barricade. When I'm on the stage, there's about five feet underneath me from where my feet are at to the ground, so I'm even higher, my head and shit. So, yeah, it's probably four or five feet. So what happened was I stepped out, the crowd surged forward, pushed my foot off backwards, so my foot went straight fuckin' down. My left foot was still on the stage — I hadn't stepped across yet — and my whole fucking body just went 'wham!' like that, right on top of the barricade, right here, right across my sternum. I thought I was gonna piss my pants; it hurt so fuckin' bad. We were ironically in the course of 'Not Falling', which is amazing, so I just started singing that. And I was able to sing. So I just pushed through the shit.

"It was fucking brutal," Gray admitted. "But we did it, and I got through it. I'm on day two now. I'm hoping this is the worst of it. I hope it's kind of like lifting weights where you get sore for a couple of days. But the good news is I didn't break a rib. Otherwise this tour could be over and I would be absolutely fuckin' devastated because all I wanted to do for the last two and a half years is get back out here and be with my fuckin' heavy metal family around the country and hopefully soon around the world."

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, Greg Tribbett (guitar, backing vocals),Matthew McDonough (drums, synthesizer) and Ryan Martinie (bass).

Gray has spent the past 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.

Raven have released a new single and lyric video, for the song "Rock This Town". The song is taken from the new compilation album, Leave 'Em Bleeding, available in September. Watch the clip below.


Experts agree: Without Raven, neither thrash nor speed metal would exist in their current form. The British trio around the Gallagher brothers John (bass, vocals) and Mark (guitar) not only released some of the most important albums of the NWOBHM era, but they also had a lasting influence on an entire generation of musicians in the early 1980s.


Much has changed since then, often either becoming vestigial or vanishing completely. Raven, however, have persevered, immortalizing themselves in the annals of music history with an imposing presence that continues up to this day. Not least through two studio albums that perfectly represent the recent works of the group: ExtermiNation (2015) and Metal City (2020). To the great delight of their fans, Raven will be touring again in the foreseeable future - performing their new album Leave ´Em Bleeding, featuring the best of the past seven years plus some red-hot bonus tracks.




“In a way, this record is a retrospective on the past seven years, which were hugely important to us, even if they haven’t always been easy”, is how John Gallagher describes their songs "Top Of The Mountain", "Metal City", "The Power", "Destroy All Monsters" and "Battle March/Tank Treads". The first three tracks mentioned are from Metal City, the following two from ExtermiNation. This glimpse into the past is rounded off by a live version of "Crash Bang Wallop", found in its original version on the 2019 concert album Screaming Murder Death From Above: Live..., a special testimony to the boundless power of this band, which - in addition to the Gallagher brothers - is completed by drummer Mike Heller.


As a special gift to their large crowd of followers, Raven treats us to six bonus tracks one shouldn’t miss out on. It starts with "Necessary Evil", one of the first three Raven songs after Mark Gallagher's serious accident in November 2001, when the guitarist was half-buried by a six-meter wall and had to undergo several surgeries to treat his severe injuries. Although the band was back on stage mere two years later, it wasn’t until 2009 that they could start working on their comeback album Walk Through Fire, with "Necessary Evil" as its spectacular finale.


Second bonus track is their Montrose number "Space Station #5" (Mark Gallagher: “During the early years, we often ended our shows with this song”), followed by "Malice In Geordieland", a superb outtake from the session for ExtermiNation.


Second cover song on Leave ´Em Bleeding is their Thin Lizzy number "Bad Reputation". Gallagher comments: “We`ve always been total Lizzy fans. I`ve never seen them live, unfortunately, but their influence on us and many others is huge.”


Rounding off the list of bonus tracks are "Rock This Town" and "Stay Hard" (Live); both come with exciting back stories. Gallagher: “’Rock This Town’ was produced by Michael Wagner in Nashville in March 2018 and features us as a trio live in the studio. The recording is just too powerful to have it sit in a drawer and collect dust. The live version of ‘Stay Hard’ is a 2017 recording from The Vanguard in Tulsa, Oklahoma. An employee of the club recorded the show and gave it to us on a flash drive. We haven't played ‘Stay Hard’ too often, so in that sense the release is a little special.”


Six bonus tracks in perfect balance to the six “regular” songs, meaning twelve Raven highlights in total that leave you wanting more, especially regarding the concerts that will hopefully be taking place very soon!


Leave 'Em Bleeding will be released on September 30 via SPV/Steamhammer as CD DigiPak, LP version, bundle version with shirt (only at the Steamhammer shop), download and stream. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting


"Top Of The Mountain"
"Metal City"
"The Power"
"Destroy All Monsters"
"Battle March / Tank Treads"
"Crash Bang Wallop" (live)
"Necessary Evil"
"Space Station #5"
"Malice In Geordieland"
"Bad Reputation"
"Rock This Town"
"Stay Hard" (live)


"Rock This Town" lyric video:





Raven is set to hit the road once more where they will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their iconic record Wiped Out and treating their fans by playing the album in full during each show.


John Gallagher comments, “Really looking forward to playing one of my personal favorite Raven albums, Wiped Out, in its entirety on this upcoming North American tour. There are a few songs on the album we never got to ever play live so that’s gonna be a blast!”


Joining Raven on the tour will be Riot Act, who will perform a Riot repertoire from their classic era (1977-1982). In a cynical musical landscape, where bands are not “gangs” but faceless corporations, Raven is a band that is real and proud of it. The Wiped Out 40th Anniversary Tour will kick off on September 22 in Jacksonville, Florida with more dates are to be announced soon. Tickets are on sale now at ravenlunatics.com.





Dates:


September
22 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
23 - New Orleans, LA - Santos
24 - Austin, TX - Lost Well
25 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
27 - El Paso, TX - Rockhouse Bar & Grill
28 - Glendale, AZ - 44 Sports Grill
29 - Santa Ana, CA - La Santa
30 - Fresno, CA - Stummer’s


October
1 - San Francisco, CA - Eli’s Mile High Club (Raven only)
3 - Everett, WA - Tony V’s Garage
4 - Portland, OR - Dante’s
8 - Salt Lake City, UT - Aces High
9 - Ft. Collins, CO - The Coast
11 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s Rock Club
12 - Grand Rapids, MI - Pyramid Scheme
14 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace
15 - Detroit, MI - Sanctuary
17 - Cleveland, OH - No Class
18 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey
20 - Portland, ME - Geno’s
21 - Brooklyn, NY - Market Hotel
23 - Philadelphia, PA - Kung Fu Necktie
26 - Piedmont, SC - Tribbles
27 - Knoxville, TN - Brickyard


Raven:


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

Cancer Bats have announced that the long-awaited vinyl for their seventh studio album, Psychic Jailbreak, will be released on October 28 through their own label, Bat Skull Records, in partnership with New Damage Records in Canada.


The vinyl for Psychic Jailbreak will be available in North America in three different colourways; custard, purple and red/orange/pink splatter. The custard and purple versions will be limited to 1,000 copies with the custard exclusively available through the New Damage Records webstore in North America and the purple exclusively available via retail stores. The red/orange/pink splatter colourway will be limited to 500 copies and will be available to pre-order/purchase through the band’s webstore and the New Damage webstore.


On Psychic Jailbreak’s vinyl release, lead vocalist Liam Cormier had this to say, “New PJB Vinyl! IT’S FINALLY HERE! I know the world has been asking about vinyl so we’re happy to say that the WORLD will have vinyl in their hands this fall. We wanted to hold off on taking orders until we knew from the pressing plant that they had all our colours in stock and were starting to melt the gooey goodness for your listening pleasure. PLUS we knew we had time to make sure the tunes were sounding THICK! These might be the beefiest vinyl pressings in our Bats history!! So thank you for being patient and we can’t wait for everyone’s ears to be BLASTED!!!”







In celebration of their vinyl release announcement, Cancer Bats have dropped a new version of “Friday Night” featuring Amy Walpole of Witch Fever. Listen to the latest version here.


“I had been listening to Witch Fever a bunch and getting excited for the tour, I just thought Amy’s voice would fit the song perfectly and really kick it up a notch and I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out,” shares Cormier. “It went from being one of my fav tracks on the album, to my now MUST PLAY song of tour!”


Accompanying the latest version of “Friday Night” is a captivating and powerful video directed by and starring social media powerhouse Haley Robinson and produced and edited by @thunderhaus.ca; a creative space that supports and represents queer, BIPOC and Indigenous artists in social media and entertainment.


On the video for “Friday Night” Robinson shares, “I really connected with the song because people have bullied me for being a queer Cree-FilipinX person. I’ve been put down for the way I want to live my life. I’ve had to overcome that - sometimes by giving situations a big middle finger. In the video, my character goes out to nature to bring back their power and level up by becoming comfortable in their own skin. This was my first time directing a music video. At first, I didn’t think I was capable of coming up with a whole video concept! I’m used to being in front of the camera. I just started thinking about my own experiences and expressing them was really healing.”





(Photo - Sid Tang)

Scandinavian black metal outfit, Nordjevel, have released a new single from their upcoming studio album. The new track, titled "Of Rats And Men", is aggressive, atmospheric, and heavy black metal - boasting impenetrable fury and searing riffs that prove the quartet is a force to be reckoned with. Lyrically, the song draws parallels between mankind and vermin that thematically ties with the black plague. Fans can check out the video for "Of Rats And Men" below.


The new full-length from Nordjevel, titled Gnavhòl, will see a September 23 release via Indie Recordings. Pre-order here.







Tracklisting:


"I Djevelens Skygge"
"Of Rats And Men"
"Satans Manifest"
"Within The Eyes"
"Gnavhòl"
"Antichrist Flesh"
"Spores Of Gnosis"
"Gnawing The Bones"
"Endritual"
"Twisted Psychosis" (bonus track)


"Of Rats And Men" video:





Nordjevel lineup:


Doedsadmiral – Vocals
Destructhor – Guitar
Dominator – Drums
Dzepticunt – Bass

Lybica, the dynamic and instrumental band from South Florida that seamlessly blends flavorful guitar melody with powerful metallic crunch and which features Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley on guitar, have announced their self-titled debut. It arrives September 16 via Metal Blade Records.


The band has dropped the visualizer for "Oktavist." Watch it below.


"Different versions of 'Oktavist' were kicking around in my 'ideas' folder seemingly forever, and it was exciting to hash it out with the guys and end up with the most metal song on the record, and our heaviest breakdown," says Foley. "I love headbanging through the end of it at shows. Also, I can't wait for you all to hear the full album when it comes out next month - exciting times!"







Pre-order the new album here.





Tracklisting:


"Ascend"
"Resonance"
"Palatial"
"Oktavist"
"Ferment"
"Manifest"
"Linnaeus"
"Voltaic"
"Charyou"


"Manifest" video:





"Palatial" video:





Live dates:


September
22 - Albany, NY - Empire Live (Supporting Killswitch Engage)


October
28-30 - Gainesville, FL - The Fest


Lineup:


Justin Foley - Guitar
Joey Johnson - Guitar
Doug French - Bass
Chris Lane - Drums


(Photo - @whoisjazel @blackcardfilms)

Heaven And Hell Records welcome Royal Hell into the fold and announce their forthcoming album, Second Sight Of The Grand Seer, scheduled for release in September.


Hailing from Northeastern Pennsylvania, the members of Royal Hell grew up in and around a small town called Exeter, located between the two cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. The four members of the band, vocalist Matt V Peppe, guitarist Eugene Pavlico, bassist David Kusma Jr and drummer Rob Helme have all played together in prior bands. However, it wasn’t until 2016 that they would join forces and begin writing songs that would land on their 2019 self-released debut album “Higher Court”.


Trying to place genre parameters around the band isn’t the easiest thing to do as Royal Hell doesn’t exactly seem to fit in just one box. They pull influences from the classic rock of the ’60s, hard rock of the ‘70s and heavy metal of the ‘80s and ‘90s. All of which create a unique sound within the modern new wave of metallic hard rock music of the 2000s.




Playing bluesy hard rock songs head first into a speedier thrashing metal comes naturally to the band as they never set out to limit themselves creatively. Influences from Black Sabbath, Metallica, Tool, and The Misfits can easily be heard but that’s just scratching the surface. When one takes a musical journey with Royal Hell a myriad of sounds and influences will appear to the listener when fully submerged. Garnering a bit of a buzz in the local scene helped the band obtain supporting slots with Dokken, D.R.I., Cloven Hoof, and Anti-Flag to name a few higher profile shows they played in the area.


Over the last two years, Royal Hell has been at work writing and recording their follow-up Second Sight Of The Grand Seer. Recorded with engineer Joe Loftus, the album features 12 blistering rockers that drive the hooks deep into the listener and quickly reel them into an enigmatic rock n’ roll soundscape. The track "Destroyer" features special guest guitarist Glen Drover (King Diamond, Megadeth).





Second Sight Of The Grand Seer tracklisting:


"Saturn"
"Black Desert"
"Risen"
"Destroyer" (featuring Glen Drover)
"Blood Shield"
"Drugs"
"Leather"
"Hole In My Soul"
"Hot Blooded Dreams"
"Does it Matter Now?"
"Both Sides"
"Beware"


"Saturn":





"Blood Shield":

Platinum-certified and twice Grammy-nominated Michigan rock powerhouse I Prevail - Brian Burkheiser (vocals), Eric Vanlerberghe (vocals), Steve Menoian (guitars/bass), Dylan Bowman (guitars), and Gabe Helguera (drums) - are ready to release their new record, True Power. The album arrives tomorrow, August 19, via Fearless Records.


To mark the occasion, I Prevail have shared "Self-Destruction". "Self-Destruction" is a straight up banger. The track builds tension from the opening salvo of spoken word vocals, which escalate to alternating guttural screams paired and melodic, rhythmic vocals with a hip-hop-inspired cadence. The song mixes crunchy EDM synths and sensibilities with the band's patented and tectonic plate-shifting rock chops and one helluva groove. The result is a song that refuses to be confined to one genre and that puts a full emphasis on I Prevail's dynamic thrust. "Self-Destruction" is sure to assert itself as a global fan-favorite.


Watch the video below.







Tracklisting:


"0:00"
"There's Fear In Letting Go"
"Body Bag"
"Self-Destruction"
"Bad Things"
"Fake"
"Judgement Day"
"FWYTYK"
"Deep End"
"Long Live The King"
"Choke"
The Negative"
"Closure"
"Visceral"
"Doomed"


"Self-Destruction" video:





"Bad Things" video:





"Body Bag" video:





The band will also embark on the True Power tour this fall. Pierce The Veil and Fit For a King will support. Yours Truly will appear on the first leg, while Stand Atlantic will appear on the second leg. The first leg kicks off in Asbury Park, New Jersey and runs through October 9 in Chicago. The second leg picks up in Las Vegas on October 22 with an appearance at the When We Were Young Festival. It wraps on November 22 in Detroit in the band's native Michigan.





Leg 1:


September
9 - Asbury Park, NJ - Stone Pony Summer Stage
10 - Danville, VA - Blue Ridge Rock Fest*#
11 - Pittsburgh, PA - UPMC Events Center
13 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre
14 - Oshkosh, WI - Oshkosh Arena#
16 - St. Paul, MN - Myth Live
17 - Ralston, NE - Liberty First Credit Union Arena#
18 - Wichita, KS - Wave#
20 - Oklahoma City, OK - The Criterion
21 - San Antonio, TX - Tech Port Center#
23 - Lubbock, TX - Lonestar Amphitheater#
24 - Dallas, TX - South Side Ballroom
25 - Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall#
27 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Live
28 - Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
29 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House of Blues


October
1 - Silvers Spring, MD - The Fillmore Silver Spring
2 - New York, NY - The Rooftop at Pier 17
4 - Montreal, QC - L'Olympia#
5 - Toronto, ON - Rebel
7 - Ft. Wayne, IN - The Clyde Theatre
8 - Grand Rapids, MI - GLC Live at 20 Monroe
9 - Chicago, IL - Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom


* I Prevail & Pierce The Veil Only // Festival Date
# Non-Live Nation Date


Leg 2:


October
22 - Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Fest*
23 - Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Fest*
24 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
26 - San Jose, CA - San Jose Civic
28 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
29 - Las Vegas, NV - When We Were Young Fest*
31 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort & Casino


November
1 - Boise, ID - Revolution Concert House and Event Center
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
4 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
6 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
8 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave#
9 - St. Louis, MO - The Factory
11 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
12 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center
13 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
15 - Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues
18 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia
19 - Cambridge, MA - MGM Music Hall at Fenway
20 - Buffalo, NY - Buffalo Riverworks#
22 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore


* I Prevail & Pierce The Veil Only // Festival Date
# Non-Live Nation Date

Seven Kingdoms have released the official music video for "Chasing The Mirage", filmed during the Unleash The Archers and Beast In Black tours in 2021 and 2022. The track is featured on the band's new album, Zenith, out now via Distortion Music Group.





Zenith was recorded at Morrisound Recording in Tampa, FL, and 8 Arms Audio in Orlando, FL during the summer and fall of 2021. The record was mixed and mastered by Jim Morris at Morrisound Recording in November of 2021. The cover art was done by Jan Yrlund (Battle Beast, Korpiklaani, Windrose).




Order here.





Zenith tracklisting:


"Diamond Handed"
"A Silent Remedy"
"Love Dagger"
"Chasing The Mirage"
"Valonqar"
"Empty Eyes"
"Magic In The Mist"
"Universal Terrestrial"
"The Water Dance"
"Life Signs"
"I Hate Myself For Loving You" (Cover)


"Love Dagger" video:





"Universal Terrestrial" video:





"I Hate Myself For Loving You" video:

Ballarat, Australia's Nicolas Cage Fighter have released a music video for the track "Static Abyss", off of the debut full-length album, The Bones That Grew From Pain.


Says the band: "'Static Abyss' is one of our personal favorites from the album, and it's an absolute killer live. The lyrics driving this song are about humanity's impact on the planet, and the necessity for us as individuals to play our part in making a positive change to the world around us. There's plenty of riffs to get violent to and some super catchy grooves that have us banging our heads hard every time we play it. There's a little bit of everything in this one that's certain to get you up off your feet and into the pit. We're incredibly proud of this music video and thrilled that we're finally able to share it with everyone."







Order the album at blacklightmediarecords.com, and find a full album audio stream below.





Tracklisting:


“Grey Eye”
“Shrine Of Wire”
“Coughing Nails”
“Static Abyss”
“The Bones That Grew From Pain”
“Weeping Sores”
“Compound And Fracture”
“Foundation”
“Heretic’s Vow”
“A Great Ruinous Deed”


Album stream:





"Compound And Fracture" video:





“Shrine Of Wire” video:





(Photo – Jayden Pitts)

Mötley Crüe have released an HD remastered version of the music video for "Too Young To Fall In Love", featured on the band's 1983 album, Shout At The Devil. Watch below:





The band previously released remastered videos for "Live Wire", from 1981's Too Fast for Love, and "Looks That Kill", from Shout At The Devil. Watch below:










This summer, Mötley Crüe are co-headlining the massive 36-city The Stadium Tour with Def Leppard, joined by special guests Poison and Joan Jett. Remaining dates are listed below.





August
19 - Minute Made Park - Houston, TX
21 - Alamodome - San Antonio, TX
22 - Globe Life Park in Arlington - Arlington, TX
25 - State Farm Stadium - Phoenix, AZ
27 - SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, CA
28 - Petco Park - San Diego, CA
31 - T-Mobile Park - Seattle, WA


September
2 - BC Place - Vancouver, BC
4 - Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, AB
7 - Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA
9 - Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas, NV

Invictus, the solo project led by Maurizio Iacono, will release their debut full-length, Unstoppable, on September 23 via MNRK Heavy, today unveiling the video for their latest single, "Get Up".


Elaborates Iacono of the track, “Since I was a kid growing up, I always lived by the rule of not giving up and fighting for what I believed in. If the doors of life were locked, I would find a way to open them or break through if I had to. ‘Get Up’ is a song that embodies that message: once you’re down, the only way to go is up - nothing to lose, everything to gain - and I’ve been there before.”







The sound of Invictus resonates deeply with all those who forged themselves in the fire of life’s obstacles. Conceived as an unflinching examination of fury and determination, Invictus explores the depths of struggle, frustration, and perseverance that shaped Iacono into the man he is today.
 
Well-respected as the singer of Kataklysm and Ex Deo, head of Hard Impact Artist Management, founder of Distortion Music Group, and co-owner of hard-and-heavy booking agency Continental Touring, Iacono delivers dynamic new layers of heaviness and melody with his latest creative vehicle. A Latin epithet for various Roman deities, “Invictus” translates to “unconquered” or “invincible,” a theme put forward throughout Iacono’s latest output. The 11 songs that comprise Unstoppable offer an unflinching view of an unbreakable spirit, examined through the lens of ambitious, unapologetic heavy music. Iacono executed his vision alongside longtime collaborator J-F Dagenais (guitarist for Kataklysm and Ex Deo) and producer/main songwriter Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within). Powerhouse drummer Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc., Inhuman Condition) rounded out the record with a blistering performance. Iacono got to know Clancy, who often works alongside Colin Richardson and Andy Sneap, while making Kataklysm’s fourteenth album, 2020’s Unconquered.
 
Lyrically, the self-made, free-thinking singer reached further inward for Invictus, summoning a fearless power destined to provoke and inspire those disenfranchised by modern times. Invictus acts as armor against manipulation and disinformation from a stance more personal than political.


“It’s a record about everyday struggle because I’ve always been a fighter,” Iacono reasons. “It’s about the emotional impact of everything happening in our world, which inspired this anger in me and a need to express the importance of standing for what we know is true in our hearts. It’s a hybrid between that and revisiting things from my childhood that built me as a person.”


Unstoppable will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digitally. Find pre-orders here.





Unstoppable tracklisting:


"You Will Know Who I Am"
"Eagles"
"Bleed Me Out"
"Exiled"
"Get Up"
"Weaponized"
"3656"
"Ghost Of My Father"
"Darkest Of Enemies"
"American Outcast"
"Keeping The Wolves At Bay"


"Exiled” video:

Reigning from Sweden, legendary symphonic metal pioneers, Therion, trumpet their way back to the fans with four colossal reissues of their critically acclaimed albums released twenty years ago. With Napalm Records, get ready to grab limited edition vinyl copies of 2001’s Secrets Of The Runes, 2004’s double release of Lemuria and Sirius B, and 2007’s concept double album Gothic Kabbalah, all releasing on October 28.


Each one of Therion's full-length offerings feature symphonic metal glory that combines the heavy death metal influences from the band’s early days and a rich presence of orchestral elements with lyrical focus on occultism, magic, and ancient traditions – finally available on LP again.


Pre-order your Therion reissues here.




More than 20 years after the release of Therion’s legendary tenth album, Secrets Of The Runes, the album will be available on LP once again via Napalm Records on October 28, 2022. Secrets Of The Runes is a concept album inspired by Norse mythology, with its tracks centered around the nine worlds. Sonically, the ancient stories are wrapped in the band’s signature mix of their deep metal sound combined with bombastic classical arrangements and choir.


Compared to other albums by the Swedes, the sound Secret Of The Runes is more raw and brutal, and offers a high variety of sounds. On the one hand, acoustic, quiet tones dominate like on “Ljusalfheim", while “Muspelheim”offers a splendid hard guitar explosion. At the same time, classical influences overlay it all and are complemented by Celtic and often even oriental melody lines. Secret Of The Runes is a perfect example of how Therion deftly blur the boundaries of metal and classical music.





Secrets Of The Runes tracklisting:


"Ginnungagap - The Black Hole"
"Midgård - Olo Midgård"
"Asgård - The Bifrost Bridge"
"Jotunheim - Call Of Jotunheim"
"Schwarzalbenheim - Gold Der Underwelt"
"Ljusalfheim - The Shining Ones"
"Muspelheim - Gudaskymning"
"Nifelheim - Dimmornas Värld"
"Vanaheim - Seed Of Ing"
"Helheim - Den Dimhöljda"
"Secret Of The Runes"


More than 15 years after its simultaneous original release with fellow catalog favorite Sirius B back in 2004, Symphonic Metal originators Therion re-release their album Lemuria in LP format on October 28, 2022 via Napalm Records. Both Sirius B and Lemuria - the latter of which references the mysterious sunken island Lemuria - feature over 170 musicians throughout the two recordings, positioning them as the most elaborate albums of their career. The styles range from gothic parts to melodic death metal and neo-classical elements to power metal in a complex and versatile way. This becomes particularly clear in the opener “Typhon”, which is introduced by some riffs, later transitioning into an orchestral, but not yet opulent passage. A wide range of feeling is also presented largely due to diverse vocals, including soprano and alto singers, tenor and bass singers, solo pieces and even atmospheric choirs. With “Uthark Runa”, the album veers back into heavy metal territory, but with a good portion of orchestral bombast added. Lemuria plays its way gently, melancholically and dreamily into our hearts, only to rock properly in the next moment with rhythmic melody and the ever-present bombast in the sound.





Lemuria tracklisting:


"Typhon"
"Uthark Runa"
"Three Ships Of Berik, Part 1: Calling to Arms And Fighting The Battle"
"Three Ships Of Berik, Part 2: Victory"
"Lemuria"
"Quetzalcoatl"
"The Dreams Of Swedenborg"
"An Arrow From The Sun"
"Abraxas"
"Feuer Overtüre/Prometheus Entfesselt"


Sirius B offers a high variety of musical styles, not only due the incredible talent of Christopher Johnsson, but the 170+ musicians involved in its recording process. The album picks up seamlessly where part one, Lemuria, left off, as opener “Blood Of Kingu” begins as a traditional heavy metal song before evolving into an extremely catchy operatic metal composition in the chorus, characterized by a great female vocal. The following “Son Of The Sun” is also dominated by these female vocals against classic metal riffs combined with catchy melodies. On “The Khlysti Evangelist”, singer Mats Leven takes center stage again and is supported by various male choir backings, giving the song a rather theatrical touch, but nevertheless making it one of the many highlights of this double album. With “Call Of Dagon”, Therion fully unleash all the bombastic elements that were available for this album. Therion convince on Sirius B with finest bombast - versatile yet heavy.





Sirius B tracklisting:


"The Blood Of Kingu"
"Son Of The Sun"
"The Khlysti Evangelist"
"Dark Venus Persephone"
"Kali Yuga, Part 1"
"Kali Yuga, Part 2"
"The Wondrous World Of Punt"
"Melek Taus"
"Call Of Dagon"
"Sirius B"
"Voyage Of Gurdjieff (The Fourth Way)"


Originally released in 2007, Gothic Kabbalah is a concept album based on the book ‘Adulrunan och den götiska kabbalan’ by Thomas Karlsson. This book tells story of Johannes Bureus, who mixed the magic, astrology and alchemy of the 17th century with runes and old Norse gods in order to create his philosophy called ‘Gothic Kabbalah’. Musically, Gothic Kabbalah differs significantly from its two predecessors Lemuria and Sirius B, as Therion offer a more progressive approach, and due to the increased use of female lead vocals, the album is wrapped in a gothic touch. The operatic elements have been slightly reduced, though they are still omnipresent. Pieces like opener "Mitternachtslöwe", the title track or "Son Of The Staves Of Time" show Christofer Johnsson's gifted songwriting talents and reveal new facts with each listen. "Chain Of Minerva" surprises with a very unusual groove, but just like "Three Treasures", it is an absolute highlight of Gothic Kabbalah.





Gothic Kabbalah tracklisting:


Disc One
"Der Mitternachtslöwe"
"Gothic Kabbalah"
"The Perennial Sophia"
"Wisdom And The Cage"
"Son Of The Staves of Time"
"Tuna 1613"
"Trul"
"Close Up The Streams"
 
Disc Two
"The Wand Of Abaris"
"Three Treasures"
"Path To Arcady"
"The Trinity"
"Chain Of Minerva"
"The Falling Stone"
"Adulruna Rediviva"


Therion is:


Christofer Johnsson – guitars and keyboards
Sami Karppinen - drums
Nalle “Grizzly” Påhlsson - bass
Thomas Vikström – lead vocals
Christian Vidal – guitar
Lori Lewis - vocals


(Photo - Mina Karadzic)

Previously unreleased drum-cam footage of late Megadeth drummer, Nick Menza, playing along to the band's classic song "Wake Up Dead" featuring David Ellefson's original 1986 isolated bass track which originally appeared on the band's second classic record, Peace Sells... But Who's Buying? can be seen below.


The HD video, shot in a two-camera-angle mix 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.

Breakthrough Mongolian rock act, The Hu, have released the second part of their epic single/cinematic music video, “Black Thunder”. Watch below.


“Black Thunder" (Part One) was released in July and has since garnered over 1.4 million views. The videos for “Black Thunder” were filmed in the band’s native country Mongolia and tell a powerful story of battle, faith, and death while celebrating traditional Mongolian values both lyrically and visually. They were directed by Erdenebileg Ganbold and The Hu’s producer Dashka.


Both “Black Thunder” parts are now available as digital streams along with the full extended version, which is also featured on their upcoming second album, Rumble Of Thunder, due September 2 via Better Noise Music.




Rumble Of Thunder, the band’s 12-track second studio album, is available for pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


“This Is Mongol”
“YUT Hövende”
“Triangle”
“Teach Me”
“Upright Destined Mongol”
“Sell The World”
“Black Thunder”
“Mother Nature”
“Bii Biyelgee”
“Segee”
“Shihi Hutu”
“TATAR Warrior”


“Black Thunder” Part 1 video:





“Black Thunder” Part 2 video:





This summer, The Hu will hit stages across North America, as they head out on tour with Megadeth, Five Finger Death Punch, and Fire From The Gods. The tour starts in Portland, Oregon on August 19, spanning over 30 dates, and closes out on October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah.


Tour dates:


August
19 - Portland, OR - RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater
20 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
23 - Mountain View, CA - Shoreline Amphitheatre
24 - Irvine, CA - FivePoint Amphitheatre
26 - Phoenix, AZ - Ak-Chin Pavilion
27 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
30 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion


September
1 - Del Valle, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
2 - Houston, TX -The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
6 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
7 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9 - Virginia Beach, VA - Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
10 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
12 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
14 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
15 - Camden, NJ - Waterfront Music Pavilion
17 - Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheater
18 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
20 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
21 - Pittsburgh, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake**
23 - Scranton, PA - Pavilion at Montage Mountain
24 - Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Stadium
27 - Darien Center, NY - Darien Lake Amphitheater**
28 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
30 - Tinley Park, IL - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater


October
1 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
4 - Cleveland, OH - Blossom Music Center
5 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
7 - Milwaukee, WI - American Family Insurance Amphitheater
8 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheater
10 - Atlanta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
12 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
14 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre


** = no Megadeth





(Photo - Khishigsuren Baasan)

Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of Perfect Plan's third studio album, Brace For Impact, on October 14. Over the course of their first two albums, All Rise and Time For A Miracle, the Swedes have quickly established themselves as a new gold standard in not only the Scandinavian melodic rock genre, but the melodic rock genre as a whole. Brace For Impact does nothing to slow that momentum and fans should do exactly as the album's title says in preparation for their latest opus.


Today, the band has released not one, but two new singles for fans to preview the album. Watch the video for "Surrender", and listen to the track "If Love Walks In", below. Pre-order/save Brace For Impact on CD/LP/Digital here.


The band will appear live and play songs from their new album as well as their two previous releases on October 8 at Slaktkyrkan in Stockholm for Frontiers Rock Sweden. Labelmates Treat, Art Nation, Seventh Crystal, Wildness, and Fans Of The Dark will also be playing. Tickets are now available and can be purchased here.




Asked about the musical direction of the album, vocalist Kent Hilli says, "Well, hard question...we didn’t think too much about that when we started writing as we want everything to come naturally to us. All we focused on and wanted to do was to write really great melodic rock songs with great riffs and melodies. But I think we have more ”rockers” on this album than before. I would say that it's melodic rock in general, but maybe slightly harder than our previous albums. But much like our second album, Time For A Miracle, we have a great mixture between hard rock, melodic rock, and AOR in there...and some songs even have some elements of progressive rock and some bluesier elements mixed in also. And we have just one ballad on this album. Our goal when writing an album is that it should feel like playing songs on a jukebox and I think we have succeeded with that on this album. Everything sounds like Perfect Plan 3.0, really! I think we have definitely pushed everything up a notch from songwriting and lyrics to arrangements and overall performance and sound. With the addition of the great Tobias Lindell who does the mixing…everything sounds really big and majestic I think!"


Sometimes the stars align and create a perfect balance of talent within a group. A band like Perfect Plan is the “perfect" (pun intended) example of that: a superb singer, a well-oiled band of experienced players, and a great songwriting talent with a knack for unforgettable melodies and driving rhythms. Add to that the right single released at the right time and Perfect Plan’s emergence as immediate rising stars on the melodic rock scene is no surprise. The song that “built” their reputation is of course the awesome “In and Out of Love,” the first single/video that kicked off the promotion of the band’s 2018 debut album All Rise, released on Frontiers in April of that year. The band followed their debut album with the sophomore release Time For A Miracle in 2020. Hyperbole aside, it was a major step forward across the board. Opting for a slightly heavier and more “in your face” sound, Perfect Plan matured and created an outstanding balance of melodies and energy, with the obvious references to the sound of the classics (think Foreigner, Survivor, The Storm, Giant, etc.) and Scandinavian AOR with a recognizable and personal feel.





Brace For Impact tracklisting:


"Surrender"
"If Love Walks In"
"Can’t Let You Win"
"Gotta Slow Me Down"
"Stop The Bleed"
"My Angel"
"Devil’s Got The Blues"
"Bring Me A Doctor"
"Still Undefeated"
"Emelie"
"Walk Through Fire"


"Surrender" video:





"If Love Walks In":





Lineup:


Kent Hilli - Lead vocals
Rolf Nordström - Guitar
Leif Ehlin - Keyboards
Fredrik Forsberg - Drums
Mats Byström - Bass