Right on time, RiverGhost emerges with their fifth single to date; "Bluebird" slows things down from a musical standpoint while expanding the meaning behind their lyrical content. What you'll notice about RiverGhost is that they're prolific - disciplined with strict consistency making slowing down a non-option. Taking a look back at their collection of singles, "Bluebird" brings their soulful sound to a higher level with the sexiest, grooviest lyrics to date. The track brings key terms like 'sultry' and 'smokey' to mind, as if "Bluebird" was the soundtrack to a late night cigar bar in the heart of Tennessee.


Though "Bluebird" channels a silkier sound than songs heard in RiverGhost's back catalogue, it retains their signature grit and guitar-driven rhythm and blues. The vocals lift you up and the harmonies take you on a trip you didn't know you needed- straight to rock n' roll church. RiverGhost exemplifies diversity while maintaining a crucial tenacity.







Stream / download "Bluebird" now at this location.


While RiverGhost has been in action since 2021, they bring their groovy rock and roll sound to 2022 with their long awaited on-record debut. This blues rock act captures the essence of classic bands like Guns N' Roses, The Black Crowes and Aerosmith with a fresh take on that sacred sound. Bringing in elements of soul, rhythm and blues and country wrapped in rock and roll, RiverGhost is paving their way as a band for all listeners to enjoy.


Tim Dolbear, producer on the track mentions: "Kaige and Randy (Boots) work together like they have been on the same team for their entire lives, kind of a Steven Tyler / Joe Perry synergy when they are in the room together. In the studio, working with the team was just effortless. All I had to do was stay out of the way and not mock it up."


Check out the four previously released songs from RiverGhost: "Sleeping Giant", "End Of The River", "Darkhorse", and "Fruit On The Vine".














For further details, visit RiverGhost on Facebook. 


 

The Dead Daisies have shared a new video recapping their 2022 European tour. The band states:


"It's been one HOT summer! We've played to tens of thousands of amazin' rockers, thank you all for coming out! Now most of us are back home safely. Join Doug & the band while they reflect on some of the highlights from the last couple of months! It's been an absolute blast! Rock is indeed alive & well!"







The Dead Daisies are set to release their sixth studio album, Radiance, on September 30. Radiance is ten tracks of pure unadulterated brilliant rock. The power of Doug Aldrich and David Lowy’s dual guitars provide a wall of sonic nectar. Frontman Glenn Hughes' rock solid bass grooves and unmatched vocal intensity, still among the greatest rock singers of all time and the matrix of Brian Tichy’s drums set the engine room on fire.


Recently, The Dead Daisies cast a spell with the third single, "Hypnotize Yourself". This track has a heavy, mesmerizing chorus, laced with Glenn’s soaring vocals, Doug and David’s duelling crushing guitars and Brian’s powerhouse heavy hitting drums.


“Our new single, is out! It’s got some hills and valleys in it, a big groove, hooky chorus and lots of rock energy! Looking forward to playing it live soon! Hope ya’ll dig it!” - Brian Tichy





Radiating heat, Radiance takes you on an exhilarating ride. The first singles off the album, "Radiance" and "Shine On" went straight to air on radio across the globe, were added to digital playlists and received with open arms by tens of thousands of fans and audiences on their EU Summer Tour when played live.


“The new album Radiance is our 2nd album with Ben Grosse producing from top to bottom. We had a great time composing and recording the record and I’m very excited for you all to hear what we put together. Definitely a heavy album but with some cool twists and turns! Hope you all like it.” - Doug Aldrich


Radiance is the second instalment The Daisies have recorded with esteemed producer Ben Grosse at the helm, recorded at The Mix Room in North Hollywood California. All the songs on Radiance are written by David Lowy, Doug Aldrich and Glenn Hughes. Hard-hitting drummer Brian Tichy returned to The Daisies in early 2022 to lay down the drums on Radiance.


“I am very much looking forward to the release of Radiance, the newest LP from The Dead Daisies! It was great to start off being back in the band by getting together with Doug, Glenn, David, and producer Ben Grosse at his studio dialling in the songs that make up Radiance. It was a very smooth, organized process of jamming with the guys getting all drum grooves and parts just right! The final result is another slab of butt-kicking rock! The guys all brought their A-Game and a tight, powerful record was created! I’m looking forward to everyone hearing it and playing more of these songs live in the near future!” - Brian Tichy


Radiance will be available as a Digipak CD with sticker, Gatefold black vinyl with printed inner sleeves and digitally from September 30. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Face Your Fear"
"Hypnotize Yourself"
"Shine On"
"Radiance"
"Born To Fly"
"Kiss The Sun"
"Courageous"
"Cascade"
"Not Human"
"Roll On"


"Shine On" video:





"Radiance" video:





US fall tour dates:


September
7 - Vineland, NJ - The Landis Theater
10 - Danville, VA - Blue Ridge Rock Festival
11 - Fall Church, VA - State Theatre
14 - Nashville, TN - Eastside Bowl
15 - St. Charles, IL - Arcada Theatre
18 - Los Angeles, CA - The Vermont Hollywood
21 - Roseville, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
23 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
24 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile





 

Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery has checked in with the following update:


"Hello Everyone,


Little over half way with tracking of the new 7dust record and it’s gonna be killer!! So excited about the progress so far. After that we will do a 3rd and final Animosity tour to wrap up the year.




My plan right now is to record a solo EP during the months Oct-Nov. I have debated on doing a full length but considering the fact that 7d downtime will not be as long as I originally planned, I think the better play is to do 6 song EP to release sooner than later.


It’s been nearly 3 years since I recorded God Bless The Renegades and really want to try some new directions as a writer. Once the Sevendust writing started, the solo writing took a back seat again. But now that the writing is 99% done and recording is wrapping up I’ll be focusing back on this EP.


I do these releases as a labor of love and because it’s an opportunity to explore some new ground. Still undecided on how this will be released and with who. I do plan on tracking this EP myself. I feel like I’m capable to take this on and will have it mixed by someone else because that is a skill set better left in the hands of someone else.


I’m excited about the material so far and can’t wait to record it.
For those interested in this… stay tuned for more details.
Other than that… get ready for a banger new 7d record!!!
Much love,
CL"


Sevendust continue to celebrate the 21st anniversary of their Animosity album with the upcoming final leg of the Animosity 2022 Tour, launching in September with support from Nonpoint, Bastardane, and Burden Of The Sky.





Dates:


September
9 - Danville, VA - Blue Ridge Rock-Fest
10 - Cherokee, NC - The Event Center at Harrah’s
12 - Elmira, NY - The L
13 - Portland, ME - Aura
15 - New York, NY - The Palladium
16 - Sayreville, NJ - The Starland Ballroom
17 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino
18 - Reading, PA - Reverb
20 - Des Moines, IA - Val Air Ballroom
22 - McHenry, IL - The Vixen
23 - Bloomington, IL - The Castle Theater
24 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life
26 - Charleston, SC - The Music Farm
28 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Culture Room
29 - Tampa, FL - Janus Landing
30 - Destin, FL - Club LA


October
1 - New Orleans, LA - The Fillmore


(Photo - Ashley Osborn)


 

Loudness frontman Minoru Niihara recently performed with Japanese drum prodigy Yoyoka Soma. Video of Niihara belting out the Loudness hit "Crazy Doctor" can be viewed below. 


The clip was shot at Takutaku in Kyoto, Japan on July 18th. It features:


Minoru Niihara - vocals 
Satsuma3042 - guitar / backing vocals 
Madooooon - bass
Holy - keys
Yoyoka - drums







The pioneers of Japanese heavy metal, Loudness, have released their new album, Sunburst, via earMUSIC. Available in 2CD digipak with an extensive booklet (including Japanese/English lyric translations) and digital, you can order the album here.


Even with a career that has been going strong for over 40 years, Loudness are not getting too tired to rock around the world and unleash their full power.


With the staccato, riff-driven "OEOEO", which is sung in their native language of Japanese, Loudness give praise and appreciation to their origin and roots, supported with pictures of some of Japan's most famous landmarks, such as Mount Fuji, Osaka Castle, or the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, which is where the 1970s world fair took place.


In particular, fans of guitar wizard Akira Takasaki will not be disappointed, as he shows his incomparable craft on the six-string with a performance that is second-to-none.





Back in 1981 rose the star of the Japanese hard ’n heavy scene, when Munetaka Higuchi (drums), Akira Takasaki (guitar), Minoru Niihara (vocals) and Masayoshi Yamashita (bass) were set to found a legend to this day, who is still second to none from their native Japan: Loudness was born!


During a career spanning over 40-years, Loudness built a rich musical foundation with many studio albums, EPs and live albums. With Sunburst, they’ve added another milestone to the great catalogue, their 29th studio album to be precise.


Sunburst is the band’s first official double studio album in their impressive career, making it particularly special as it can be considered a celebration of their rich musical history. The 16 songs represent the classic Loudness sound and style, highly acclaimed by fans and critics alike. Written mostly by original member and guitarist Akira Takasaki, the majority of songs are sung in Japanese, representing their appreciation of their origin and roots.





Tracklisting:


Disc 1:


"Rising Sun"
"OEOEO"
"Yamato Damashii"
"Kaso Genjitsu (Virtual Reality)"
"Crazy World"
"Stand Or Fall"
"The Sanzu River"
"Nihon No Kokoro (The Heart Of Japan)"


Disc 2:


"Kagayakeru 80's (Shining 80's)"
"Emerald No Umi (Emerald Ocean)"
"Tengoku No Tobira (Heaven's Door)"
"All Will Be Fine With You"
"Fire In The Sky"
"Hunger For More"
"The Nakigara"
"Wonderland"


"Hunger For More":

Avantasia guitarist Oliver Hartmann will release his new Hartmann album, Get Over It, on September 16th. It is now available for pre-order here.


Check out the official video for the new single, "The Gun", below.







The tracklist is as follows:


"Remedy"
"One Step Behind"
"In Another Life"
"What You Give Is What You Get"
"The Movie's End"
"Just Drive"
"The Gun"
"Can't Keep Away From You"
"Get Over It"
"Stay True To Me"
"When We Were Young"

Japanese drum prodigy Yoyoka Soma, who has become a YouTube sensation and attracted the attention of KISS icon Gene Simmons, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and Deep Purple drummer Ian Paice, recently teamed up with Loudness frontman Minoru Niihara for a performance of the Deep Purple classic, "Burn". Check it out below.


The clip was shot at Takutaku in Kyoto, Japan on July 18th. It features:


Minoru Niihara - Vocals 
Satsuma3042 - guitar / backing vocals 
Madooooon - bass
Holy - keys
Yoyoka - drums







The pioneers of Japanese heavy metal, Loudness, have released their new album, Sunburst, via earMUSIC. Available in 2CD digipak with an extensive booklet (including Japanese/English lyric translations) and digital, you can order the album here.


Even with a career that has been going strong for over 40 years, Loudness are not getting too tired to rock around the world and unleash their full power.


With the staccato, riff-driven "OEOEO", which is sung in their native language of Japanese, Loudness give praise and appreciation to their origin and roots, supported with pictures of some of Japan's most famous landmarks, such as Mount Fuji, Osaka Castle, or the Expo '70 Commemorative Park, which is where the 1970s world fair took place.


In particular, fans of guitar wizard Akira Takasaki will not be disappointed, as he shows his incomparable craft on the six-string with a performance that is second-to-none.





Back in 1981 rose the star of the Japanese hard ’n heavy scene, when Munetaka Higuchi (drums), Akira Takasaki (guitar), Minoru Niihara (vocals) and Masayoshi Yamashita (bass) were set to found a legend to this day, who is still second to none from their native Japan: Loudness was born!


During a career spanning over 40-years, Loudness built a rich musical foundation with many studio albums, EPs and live albums. With Sunburst, they’ve added another milestone to the great catalogue, their 29th studio album to be precise.


Sunburst is the band’s first official double studio album in their impressive career, making it particularly special as it can be considered a celebration of their rich musical history. The 16 songs represent the classic Loudness sound and style, highly acclaimed by fans and critics alike. Written mostly by original member and guitarist Akira Takasaki, the majority of songs are sung in Japanese, representing their appreciation of their origin and roots.





Tracklisting:


Disc 1:


"Rising Sun"
"OEOEO"
"Yamato Damashii"
"Kaso Genjitsu (Virtual Reality)"
"Crazy World"
"Stand Or Fall"
"The Sanzu River"
"Nihon No Kokoro (The Heart Of Japan)"


Disc 2:


"Kagayakeru 80's (Shining 80's)"
"Emerald No Umi (Emerald Ocean)"
"Tengoku No Tobira (Heaven's Door)"
"All Will Be Fine With You"
"Fire In The Sky"
"Hunger For More"
"The Nakigara"
"Wonderland"


"Hunger For More":

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo performance of Elton John's 1983 hit "I'm Still Standing". Check it out below.


Johansson: "This power metal version of his epic tune is a mix between the movie version (Rocket Man) the original, and a new arranged power metal version."







Johansson recently shared his solo performance of the Queen classic, "Show Must Go On". The song is taken from Queen's 1991 album, Innuendo.

Scarlett O’Hara has released their latest active rock hit “Witching Hour.” The high-powered track, produced by Andrew Baylis (whose accolades include Jelly Roll and Sleeping With Sirens), stays true to the band’s signature sound, combining melodic vocals and electronic details to complement the unyielding angst of their heavy metal influences. 





Their bold instrumentals come to life as they intertwine with a spine-chilling fictional storyline inspired by real-life commentary about mental health and inner demons:




“The instrumentals for ‘Witching Hour’ have a gothic rock vibe and so when I was writing the lyrics, I thought to myself - what if I made this about a ghost that I can see, but nobody else is willing to believe me about it? The line ‘I drown out the noises by swallowing poison’ made me think about a common saying of ‘they probably forgot to take their meds today’ as a way of calling somebody insane. Some people find comfort in drugs or other toxic outlets to make themselves feel sane or mentally exit their suffering. I wrote this song about a metaphorical ghost haunting someone and they are going through feelings of numbness, craziness, and loneliness since no one believes their story.” - Moses Lopez, Vocalist of Scarlett O’Hara


They say everything is bigger in the Lone Star State, and this is undoubtedly the case for South Texas Active Rock outlaws, Scarlett O'Hara. The band is turning heads with their heavy fusion of electronics, powerful riffs, and polished vocals, which has solidified regular placement on the Billboard charts for three consecutive releases, rotation on Sirius XM Octane, and a lineup spot at Welcome To Rockville 2021 alongside Metallica and Disturbed. They’ve teamed up with Grammy-nominated producers and spared no expense to conjure up an unrelenting discography for metalheads to relish in.


Alongside the band’s notable musical achievements, they are all Spanish-speaking Mexican Americans native to McAllen, TX - the epicenter of immigration challenges in the United States. Additionally, vocalist Moses Lopez is a proud gay frontman representing the LGBTQ+ community in the heavy rock scene. The band is showcasing the diversity and acceptance that has become synonymous with rock music - a genre built upon creating community amongst differences.


Scarlett O’Hara is pushing the active rock genre to new heights musically and ideologically - their only hope is that you’ll join them at the Brodeo. With more shows and new releases in 2022, this is only the beginning of the band’s new chapter in rock history.

Global doom metal supergroup MMXX have announced their new album Sacred Cargo will arrive November 11 via Candlelight Records. Preorder here.


Today, the band has shared the video for "Perdition Mirror," featuring guest vocalist Mick Moss of Antimatter.


Born during the initial lockdown of Rome and New York City, and incubated as the seasons passed, doom metal supergroup MMXX is the sound of global isolation.




At the core of MMXX is Andrea Chiodetti (ex-The Foreshadowing) on guitars and keys, Jesse Haff on drums (Daylight Dies + Gökböri) and Egan O'Rourke on bass (Daylight Dies). Together, they channeled inspiration for composition after composition to collaborate with a geographically, culturally, and stylistically diverse collection of celebrated vocalists and musicians from around the world.


"Sacred Cargo started during one of the darkest moments of lockdown," explains guitarist Chiodetti. "It was a creative expression, processing what was happening to the world around us. What makes this project unique is that every piece and its lyrics (provided by each singer), all composed during the height of the pandemic, is able to give voice to a deeply intimate part of all of us. They're lyrics that belong to every person who lived through and shared that collective experience." 


The end result, Sacred Cargo, is a dynamic and diverse release, simultaneously densely heavy while retaining elements of etherealness and light, with each guest vocalist layering in their own perspective to culminate in this eclectic compendium of music reflecting an experience sadly understood by all. 





Drummer Haff adds, "It's amazing to me that the grand vision of this album — one in which we had different vocalists from around the world contributing their own lockdown experience — was actually achieved. Andrea and I imagined our ideal end result and just went for it but underestimated how much coordination would be required by everyone to truly pull it off. I'm amazed that so many talented people connected with the intent behind the project and agreed to participate. I'm deeply grateful for that. We didn't have to describe some foreign science fiction concept — unfortunately it is a directly understood reality experienced by all. I think the idea of directly channeling our unique perspectives into a collective expression resonated with everyone, as an obvious way to mark this era of our lives." 


Of the new single, Haff says, "'Perdition Mirror' was one of the last songs written for the album. In fact its working title was 'Final.' Almost from the first chord the slow fuse is lit towards the tension and momentum that erupts at the end of the song. Because the journey to that point is plodding and calculated, we knew an exceptionally strong vocal performance would make or break the song. Thankfully, the deeply talented Mick Moss stepped in and everything perfectly crystalized into place. As a musician, it really feels like luck when all the elements come together to deliver a simple yet powerful song where you wouldn't change a thing."


Guest vocalist Moss adds, "For the lyrics of 'Perdition Mirror,' I wanted to reflect on what our role, as a species, has been in the unleashing of the recent pandemic as we outstrip our environment and cut into the wildlife with catastrophic results. Two articles, one in the Boston Globe, another in the New York Times, gave me so much clarity during the writing. To quote David Quammen in the latter article, ''We disrupt ecosystems, and we shake viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host. Often, we are it'.' Alan Wiesman, in the former, elaborates ''Humankind's presence on Earth is now so lopsided that growing and grazing our food supply requires nearly half the world's ice-free land, literally pushing other species off the planet. As we invade their habitats, and poach remaining wildlife for market, their resident viruses and bacteria jump to the handiest species left: us.' That’s how nearly 75 percent of new infectious diseases this century originated. As temperatures rise, even more will spawn." 


Guest vocalists appearing on the forthcoming album include Dan Swanö of Edge of Sanity and of Nightingale (Sweden), Yann Ligner of Klone (France), Mick Moss of Antimatter and of Sleeping Pulse (UK), Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride (UK), Mikko Kotamäki of Swallow the Sun (Finland),  Carmelo Orlando of Novembre (Italy),  Marco Benevento of The Foreshadowing (Italy), Chris Cannella of Autumns End (USA), and Egan O'Rourke of Daylight Dies (USA).





Tracklisting:


"This Breath Is Not My Breath" (Feat. Mikko Kotamäki)
"Perdition Mirror" (Feat. Mick Moss)
"The New Forgotten Ones" (Feat. Yann Ligner)
"Faint Flickering Light")
"The Tower" (Feat. Mick Moss)
"Unavailing" (Feat. Marco Benevento, Chris Cannella)
"Der Nukleus" (Feat. Carmelo Orlando)
"Sacred Cargo" (Feat. Aaron Stainthorpe)
"Espirare"
"Shadow Haven" (Feat. Dan Swano)


“Perdition Mirror” video:

In a new interview with Riff X's "Metal XS", SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith spoke about his mental health during the start of the pandemic and the early days of shutdown orders. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When everybody was getting really, really scared during the pandemic, I was getting really, really educated. Because what I did was… First of all, I didn't even know what a pandemic was. I'd never heard of COVID-19. I didn't understand what a coronavirus was. The very first thing I read, though, was that coronavirus is the common cold — the same family. So immediately, I remember reading that and going, 'Well, you're never gonna get rid of this. You have to become immune to it.' And then it got polarized and it got politicized and everything else, because now, I mean, you can look and see — these two and a half years, they have the data of what it did and what it didn't do; you can't really hide it.

"The thing is that you have to educate yourself," he continued. "And with a pandemic, you've gotta remember something: it's not the first virus in human history; it won't be the last. And also, if you would like to know something that I learned by educating myself, all pandemics have one thing in common, and that is they all ended."

SHINEDOWN is currently promoting its latest album, "Planet Zero", which topped all four Billboard rock album charts in its first week of release: Top Hard Rock Albums, Top Rock & Alternative Albums, Top Rock Albums and Top Alternative Albums. The set sold 50,000 equivalent album units, according to Luminate. Of that sum, 43,000 were via album sales. On the all-genre Billboard 200, "Planet Zero" came in at No. 5, marking SHINEDOWN's fifth top five title. It also landed at No. 1 on the all-genre Top Album Sales chart.

"Planet Zero", was released on July 1. The high-concept, viscerally charged album, produced by SHINEDOWN's Eric Bass, takes a hard look at the divisiveness among those of differing ideologies, cancel culture ran rampant, the toxicity of social media, the need for honesty in our public discourse, and the corrosive effects of these things on mental health and humanity.

SHINEDOWN recorded "Planet Zero" during the pandemic, mostly in Bass's newly built Big Animal Studio in his home base of South Carolina.

"Planet Zero"'s six predecessors have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide and all gone gold or better — double platinum in the case of 2008's "The Sound of Madness", according to Billboard.

The next U.S. leg of the "Planet Zero" world tour (produced by Live Nation) begins in Bonner Springs, Kansas on September 3 with special guests JELLY ROLL and John Harvie. The routing also includes festival performances at Louder Than Life on September 23 in Louisville, Kentucky and Aftershock on October 9 in Sacramento, California.

SHINEDOWN recently embarked on a Europe run of festival performances and select shows with IRON MAIDEN.

AT THE GATES recruited Patrik Jensen (THE HAUNTED) to play second guitar for the band on Friday (August 5) at this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

The Wacken gig took place less than two weeks after AT THE GATES parted ways with its guitarist of the past five years, Jonas Stålhammar.

Stålhammar joined the band in September 2017 as the replacement for co-founding guitarist Anders Björler, who left AT THE GATES in March of that year.

In addition to AT THE GATES, Stålhammar had previously played with THE LURKING FEAR, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, BOMBS OF HADES, GOD MACABRE, ABHOTH, UTUMNO and MACABRE END.

As previously reported, AT THE GATES will embark on a special "Slaughter Of The Soul" North American tour this summer. Originally planned for the 25th anniversary of "Slaughter Of The Soul" in 2020, the COVID-19 situation forced the band to postpone the trek until 2022.

AT THE GATES will play the whole "Slaughter Of The Soul" album from start to finish, and also a mix of other tracks from its 30-plus-year career.

It is not presently clear if Jensen will join AT THE GATES on the North American tour.

Late last month, Patrik played a couple of shows with THE HALO EFFECT as the temporary replacement for ex-IN FLAMES guitarist Jesper Strömblad.

AT THE GATES' latest studio album, "The Nightmare Of Being", came out last year.

While main parts for "The Nightmare Of Being" were recorded in several different Swedish studios — drums at Studio Gröndal with Jens Bogren, guitars and bass with Andy La Rocque at Sonic Train Studio and vocals at Welfare Sounds with Per Stålberg — the LP was mixed and mastered at Fascination Street Studios (AMON AMARTH, OPETH, KREATOR) by Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with AT THE GATES on the "At War With Reality" comeback album in 2014. The album's visual concept was developed by artist Eva Nahon.

2018's "To Drink From The Night Itself" was the first AT THE GATES album written and recorded without Anders Björler.

Guitarist Josh Rand says that STONE SOUR is still on hiatus, more than five years after the release of the band's last full-length album of original material.

Rand touched upon STONE SOUR's status in an interview this past Thursday (August 4) prior to a performance by his new band THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT at xBk Live in Des Moines, Iowa. Asked by Andy Hall of the Des Moines radio station Lazer 103.3 if there are any updates on STONE SOUR months after Josh said in a previous interview that the band was on hiatus, the guitarist responded: "That's basically still going on. Obviously, Corey [Taylor, STONE SOUR and SLIPKNOT singer]… SLIPKNOT is releasing a record in two months, so there'll be a full tour cycle of that. And then we'll see."

Rand's latest comments come six months after Taylor said that STONE SOUR was "on the back burner" while he focused all of his attention on SLIPKNOT and his solo career. A year and a half after announcing in an interview that STONE SOUR had "run its course," the SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman elaborated on the latter band's status during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said: "It's on the back burner. It's just one of those things where my mind and my heart are in a different direction. And that's cool.

"I wish everybody in STONE SOUR all the best," he continued. "I still talk to almost all of 'em. But sometimes you've just gotta do what's best for your heart, and that's what I'm doing. So STONE SOUR's on the back burner. But I'm also doing a ton of music. And like I've shown in [my] solo show, if you wanna hear that stuff, that's a great place to hear it 'cause I do a ton of STONE SOUR, I do a ton of SLIPKNOT, do a ton of covers, do a ton of originals for the solo stuff. It's a great show."

STONE SOUR has been off the road and out of sight since completing the touring cycle for its last studio album, 2017's "Hydrograd". Taylor has been working with SLIPKNOT since then, as well as making his debut solo album, "CMFT". A STONE SOUR live album, "Hello, You Bastards: Live In Reno", came out in December 2019.

In August 2020, Taylor said that he was open to doing more recording and touring with STONE SOUR in the future. But he admitted that there had "been some contention here and there" between the members of the band in the past and added that it was "time" for him to "step away" and pursue his solo project for a while.

In June 2020, Corey told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about STONE SOUR: "If someday we wanna get back together and do some stuff, it'll be bigger than it was. But for right now, we're all kind of focused on kind of doing our own thing. But you never say never in this business."

In June 2021, Rand told MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn's "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast about when fans can expect to see the follow-up to "Hydrograd": "There's no timetable for a return, 'cause, honestly, between Corey doing his solo thing, now me working on THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT stuff, Roy [Mayorga, drums] working on MINISTRY… So, there's just no timetable.

"I made a comment [in 2020], and it kind of backfired, because of how I said [STONE SOUR was on an] indefinite hiatus, which, if you know the definition, actually just means it's a long period of time with no timetable of return. I don't know if everybody thought I said 'infinite' instead of 'indefinite.' [Laughs] All of a sudden, the band was, like, over. It was, like, 'Oh my God! It's over.' All I was saying was there's no timetable. It's no different than what we've done in the past. It's just gonna be a longer break."

According to Rand, he and his STONE SOUR bandmates "needed to branch out", "try different shit" and "work with different people" before regrouping to work on new STONE SOUR music. "And then whenever that time is that we get back together, it'll actually be what is best for STONE SOUR," he explained. "There's no doubt about it in my mind. Just having these different experiences for all of us instead of just running that same cycle. I think more so with Corey and myself — like I said, he got to do a solo record where he's doing a different style of music than anybody would have thought of or that wouldn't have fit in STONE SOUR or SLIPKNOT. For myself, working with somebody that's not Corey and Roy. So there's a growth that will be there that we'll ultimately get which will benefit the band. I know some people might not be stoked that it's gonna be who knows when, but it needed to happen, and that's what's best for everybody involved."

Asked how he and the rest of STONE SOUR made the decision to take a longer-than-usual break this time around, Josh said: "I think at the end of the tour cycle, we had a good idea of what was going to happen, where [Corey] wanted to do the solo record. For myself, it's something I kicked around — just having some of the songs that I would musically write that I would never submit into STONE SOUR 'cause I don't feel like it fits at all. So I was kind of on that path to begin with. I just kind of got an extra nudge with him doing his solo record of, 'Hey, this is probably the time to do this.' And then we got hit with the pandemic, which then really locked me into the house. And I was, like, 'What else am I gonna do?' So I just started writing and working on playing piano. I did a bunch of stuff on piano, which some of it will come out, and some of it, it's, like, 'No.' I'll [it] for myself. And that's basically what we did. So we had a good idea, I think, that we were gonna take a longer break at the end of '19. I think towards the end, all of us were just burnt."

LAMB OF GOD kicked off its summer 2022 European tour on Friday (August 5) at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Romania. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Earlier this week, it was announced that former MACHINE HEAD and current VIO-LENCE guitarist Phil Demmel would be filling in for Willie Adler on nearly a dozen European LAMB OF GOD shows this month. Demmel previously stepped in for Adler during LOG's January appearance on the ShipRocked cruise and in May for the Canadian portion of LAMB OF GOD's "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with MEGADETH.

Late Wednesday night (August 3),Adler released the following statement via the LAMB OF GODTwitter: "Hey everyone. I'm thrilled with the love we've been seeing for the two new LAMB songs we've dropped so far.

"I can't wait for everyone to hear the entire 'Omens' album. We're all super proud of it.

"Unfortunately, I wasn't able to make the trip to Europe for the upcoming shows this month, I've got some things that I need to be home for and I appreciate the band supporting my decision.

"I will 100% be back on stage for the 'Omens' tour in September & October. See y'all there!"

LAMB OF GOD remaining summer 2022 European dates:

Aug. 07 - BE - Lokeren - Lokerse Festival
Aug. 09 - SK - Ljubljana - Cvetličarna
Aug. 10 - HU - Budapest - Barba Negra Track
Aug. 12 - FI - Turku - Knotfest
Aug. 14 - UK - Walton-on-Trent - Bloodstock Open Air
Aug. 18 - DE - Nürnberg - Z-Bau
Aug. 19 - DE - Köln - Live Music Hall
Aug. 20 - DE - Sulingen - Reload Festival
Aug. 21 - NL - Eindhoven - Dynamo Metalfest

Although the rest of LAMB OF GOD has not officially commented on Adler's absence from the shows, VIO-LENCE singer Sean Killian revealed in an interview in April that Willie is "not down with doing the vaxx," referring to the COVID-19 vaccine, and is being replaced by Demmel for dates in those countries that still require proof of vaccination from U.S. travelers.

In April, Demmel also filled in for LAMB OF GOD's John Campbell when the bassist had to miss a couple of shows on "The Metal Tour Of The Year" in order to "take care a family matter back home."

Demmel's appearance with LAMB OF GOD marks his third high-profile fill-in gig in four years. Demmel stepped in for SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt for four European shows in the fall of 2018 after Gary returned home to be with his dying father. Demmel also subbed for Dave Linsk at OVERKILL's November 13, 2021 concert at The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey and on the band's spring 2022 U.S. tour.

In a February 2022 interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET, Demmel discussed how he became the go-to fill-in guy for LAMB OF GOD.

"The LAMB OF GOD gig, that was a big deal," he said. "They had approached me before their MEGADETH States tour last summer and wanted me to learn both parts, Mark [Morton] and Willie's, just in case one got sick, they didn't want to cancel their tour. That's where I am: I'm their bullpen guy when one of them can't make the shows, I'm ready to go. It's such a high-profile band. I didn't want to go out there and blow it. I wanted the band to sound good. I wanted to keep that pride in what they are and not have a drop-off. Willie and I play differently. There's different vibrato in our left hand and pinkies. I didn't want there to be a drop-off. I wanted people to be not bummed that he wasn't there. And that's not a slag on Willie. If I went to see one of my favorite bands, let's say QUEENSRŸCHE. I want to see [Chris] DeGarmo, I want to see Michael Wilton. No slight against the other dudes, but they better fucking bring it if they're not going to be out there."

LAMB OF GOD will release its new album, "Omens", on October 7 via Epic Records.

Drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot's refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19 led to his exit from Swedish progressive metallers OPETH, one of his bandmates has told BLABBERMOUTH.NET. THERION drummer Sami Karppinen has replaced Axenrot for OPETH's current live dates. Axenrot is also a member of BLOODBATH but has not appeared in that band's recent promotional pictures and live shows.

In a new interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET, BLOODBATH vocalist Nick Holmes (also of PARADISE LOST) discussed Martin's status with the death metal supergroup. "He's still in the band as far as I'm aware," Nick said. "I haven't seen him for three years, maybe more. Waltteri's [Väyrynen, PARADISE LOST] been playing drums with BLOODBATH more than Axe has in the last couple of years."

Nick continued: "I mean, [Martin] was working with OPETH prior to the pandemic, so he decided to take a backseat to the live shows and Waltteri did the [BLOODBATH] live shows ever since. He's still in [BLOODBATH]. The whole pandemic — he didn't want to get the vaccine, so that caused issues with travel and touring with OPETH when they started to go out again six months ago. That caused them issues there. It's come over to BLOODBATH for sure."

Representatives for OPETH declined to comment when approached by BLABBERMOUTH.NET regarding Holmes's claim. Both OPETH and PARADISE LOST are managed by Northern Music Co. Ltd.

Axenrot has not publicly commented on his exit from OPETH and it is not clear if his vaccination status is the only reason he is no longer playing with the band.

When OPETH announced Axenrot's departure last November, OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt said: "However sad it is to not have Axe in the band anymore, we're not in a position to linger on anything that is going to hold us back. We need to soldier on.

"Needless to say, we're incredibly thankful that Sami is helping us out, making this tour possible and all. On top of that, he's quite outstanding, really!

"All of us wish the best for Axe in all and any of his future endeavors. He has been a incredibly important part of the band for many years now, and we're all heartbroken it didn't work out in the end. But that's life, I guess…"

Axenrot officially joined OPETH more than a decade and a half ago as the replacement for Martin Lopez, who left the band in May 2006 after being plagued by illness and anxiety attacks, which forced him to miss several of OPETH's tours.

Shortly after he first started playing with OPETH, Axenrot told Drummerzone about how he landed the gig: "During OPETH's tour in the U.S., Martin Lopez got ill. The band temporarily used the services of Gene Hoglan [who is also featured in OPETH's video for the song 'The Grand Conjuration'] but needed someone else for their European trek. While they were still in the U.S., I received a phone call from singer Mikael Åkerfeldt whom I already knew from our mutual project BLOODBATH. Soon after we all met in OPETH's rehearsal studio in Stockholm and here I am today."

Back in 2007, Åkerfeldt slammed the "new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans'" for questioning the abilities of Axenrot when compared to that of Lopez. Responding to a discussion on the band's forum regarding Axenrot's more "straightforward" playing technique compared to the "jazzy" style of his predecessor, Åkerfeldt wrote in an online posting, "Wow, looks like we got ourselves a new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans' on our tail, huh? Mindblowing guys...really!" He then added: "Axe is in the band now and we all fucking love playing with him.

"When somebody picks on [Martin's] drumming I can't help but to feel that that person is a deaf moron who knows nothing about music or drumming," Mikael continued. "I get defensive not only because I brought him in the band, but mainly because he's a fucking fantastic drummer."

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife, Toyah Willcox, are back with another episode in their "Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch" series. This time they perform a cover of Ozzy Osbourne's hit "Crazy Train". Watch below.





A selection of Robert & Toyah's previous Sunday Lunch videos can be seen below:




























 

Dutch symphonic metallers, Epica, performed at the Wacken Open Air 2022 in Germany on Wednesday, August 3rd. Check out pro-shot video of "Sancta Terra" below (the video is titled incorrectly).





Epica recently announced their 20th anniversary livestream event, scheduled for September 3. Watch a video trailer below, and tickets and limited edition merchandise here.







Says the band: "While we’d love to see all your faces in the crowd on our 20th-anniversary show on September 3rd, we are aware that not every one of you is able to attend the SOLD-OUT party live in Tilburg. Therefore, we’re happy to offer you the chance to be part of the celebrations and join us right from your living room through an exclusive pro-shot live stream of the entire show that will contain plenty of surprises, several guests and spectacular stage effects!


"In addition, you will also get to witness the return of a band that has disappeared from the face of the earth for 20 years and will finally be back for a one-off live performance as opening act on this special night: Sahara Dust. Don’t miss their show, because although you might have never heard of them, their history is heavily interwoven with Epica’s inception, and you will surely be able to sing along to a few of their songs…


"Starting live at 19:30 CEST, the shows will remain online for 72 hours to re-watch in your account at any time within that period.


"Early bird tickets are available until August 12th, and you can also get bundles with exclusive anniversary show merchandise that will only be available with the stream and at the show in Tilburg, so don’t miss out!"

The international hard rock outfit Steel Rhino has shared a new lyric video for “Lovin’ Easy”, a song taken from the eponymous debut album, released last year via GMR Music Group.





“Lovin' Easy” is the song that started the Steel Rhino saga. A cheesy track that became a love song that's heavily influenced by 80's rock. 1980’s old school rock 'n' roll with big guitars and bass lines, as well as a heavy drum sound, all topped off with a really smooth vocal.




With an attitude, heavy groves and insane vocals, Steel Rhino is here to take the world by storm. This new hard rock project started with an idea, a heavy drum track, a catchy guitar riff, and a heavy bass line to fill up the cracks. The only thing that was missing was a killer vocalist to match the intensity of the music. The search for the perfect vocalist ended when the insanely talented Herbie Langhans (Firewind, Avantasia, SinBreed, Radiant) agreed to lend his vocals to be featured on the album. His range and power provided the missing piece Steel Rhino needed to get the sound they wanted.





When founder Mikael Rosengren (Dirty Passion, Revolverlution, Bai Bang) decided to start Steel Rhino as a solo project, the whole concept was to create and play a heavier rock ‘n’ roll sound leaning into metal with the attitude in the music that makes people bang their heads, put their hands in the air, and just let loose to have a great time. With influences from European and American hard rock and metal bands, Rosengren found his own sound that mixes the great hard rock sound from the past with the present.


Order the album at gmrmusic.se.

German dark rockers Scarlet Dorn have shared their new single ''Born To Suffer'' along with a music video. It's the third single from their upcoming studio album Queen Of Broken Dreams out September 30, 2022 via SPV Recordings. The album, containing 12 new songs, will be released as a Limited LP of red vinyl and digipak CD, as well as be available for Stream and Download.


Pre-order Queen Of Broken Dreams and stream the latest single "Born To Suffer" here.


Scarlet Dorn combines the elegance of darkness with the catchiness of pop. Free of genre boundaries, Scarlet sings herself directly into the heart of the listener. With industrial sounds, rock ballads, and electronic beats, the band takes the listener on a journey through complex human abysses, the world of hope and sorrow, but also directly into the arms of life in all its glory. With her captivating voice, singer Scarlet Dorn exudes a variety of emotions ranging from gentle and tender to menacing and somber.







Tracklisting:


"Falling"
"Born To Suffer"
"Queen Of Broken Dreams"
"Your Highness" 
"A Light That Blinds The Truth" 
"Meteor"
"Unstill Life" 
"When You See Me Again" 
"Love Wasn’t Made For Me"
"What Are We To Do"
"Tonight" 
"A Million Miles Away"


"Born To Suffer" video:





"Unstill Life" video:





"Falling":





Scarlet Dorn was founded in 2016 by the producers Chris Harms and Benjamin Lawrenz, together with the singer Scarlet Dorn. Not only through the release of the albums Lack Of Light and Blood Red Bouquet, but also through tireless touring with Within Temptation, Joachim Witt, Letzte Instanz, and Lord Of The Lost among others, the band inevitably appeared again and again on the schedule of the dark music scene over the past several years.





Dates supporting Lord Of The Lost:


October
6 - Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
7 - Stuttgart, Germany - LKA-Longhorn
8 - Cologne, Germany - Essigfabrik
12 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
14 - Vienna, Austria - Szene
15 - Munich, Germany - Backstage
20 - Frankfurt, Germany - Batschkapp
21 - Leipzig, Germany - Täubchenthal
22 - Hanover, Germany - Pavillon
27 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater
28 - Prague, Czech Republic - Club Storm
29 - Warsaw, Poland - Hydrozagadka


November
2 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
3 - Paris, France - Petit Bain
4 - Lyon, France - CCO
5 - Barcelona, Spain - Salamandra
6 - Madrid, Spain - Mon
9 - Milan, Italy - Legend Club
10 - Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
11 - Kaiserslautern, Germany - Kammgarn
12 - Herford, Germany - X


(Photo: Jan Season)


 

Sunflower Dead has released music video for “Damn My Eyes”, taken from their new album March Of The Leper, out now. The video was directed by Lord Zane’s Matt Zane. Order March Of The Leper at sunflowerdead.com.





“Getting March Of The Leper released has been a back and forth nightmare behind the scenes for us over the past year and a half. Now that all that bullshit is done, we are happy to get it out for our Evil Seeds. This album is us at our most unaffected by anything else going on in the music world which led to us to a very honest look into who we are. The result is nine tracks of Fuck It, If You Don’t Care then We Don’t Care and We’ll Just Do What We Do. Cheers to all the Outcasts!”







After three albums, constant touring and steady upward success at Active Rock Radio, Sunflower Dead releases their fourth and most ambitiously dialed-in album to date, March Of The Leper (8/5/2022, via Bloody Bat Records). During the long uneasy months of the Covid-inflicted 2020, the main men of SFD, Michael and Jaboo, took a long hard look at themselves, what they have accomplished and where they stood in the grand scheme and realized that not only are they outcasts in the rock world but that they’re happy to accept this role as their own. The result is nine new tracks that come from a place of “Fuck It, If You Don’t Care then We Don’t Care and We’ll Just Do What We Do” for the Unwanted, the Uninvited, the Left Out, the Forgotten, the Outcasts and the Damned.


Sunflower Dead is: 


Michael - Vocals, Accordion, Piano
Jaboo - Guitar
Kevin Vickers - Bass
Sam Hutchinson - Guitar
Jimmy Schultz – Drums


(Photo – Stephanie Tovar)

Ether Coven has released their new album The Relationship Between The Hammer And The Nail out today on Good Fight Music. Dark, bleak and pissed, the seven songs on the record stagger in sound between doom metal, sludge, and post-hardcore. The album was written amidst vocalist Peter Kowlasky’s on-going battle with colon cancer and is filled with an overwhelming vulnerability centered on despair, loved ones, and the state of the world. This is strewn throughout the album’s closer “Consequences Of Self (Let The Nails Carve Our Names In Rust)” which features guest vocals from Howard Jones (Light the Torch / Blood Has Been Shed / ex- Killswitch Engage), as well as Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos) and Anthony Crupi (Pain Ritual),  and the band shares a video for it today.





Kowlasky expands on the track:




"This turned out to be one of my favorite moments of the record. We had a good starting point and when we were in the studio it really got dialed in with extra guitar melodies and vocal harmonies... As unlikely as it may seem, The Weeknd was a huge inspiration for the vocal harmonies, which Andy at Bricktop helped hone in. This song is about the consequences of our actions and what we do with our intentions; whether we are trying to build or destroy, living the repercussions of our choices, what we do to move forward, and how foolish to believe we are above consequence. Howard Jones helped us on some lines on this one. Blood Has Been Shed has been a keystone of my musical pallet and influence since the first time I heard them and his voice has always been so fucking big."


Produced by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Studios, the band set out to get The Relationship Between The Hammer And The Nail sounding as close to their live performance as possible. Using actual pedals instead of plug-ins and the majority of vocal cuts being first takes, the recording process was able to be completed in just one week. 


On the album, the band also brought in a heavy line-up of guests and friends to feature. On opener and lead single “Psalm Of Cancer” the band is joined by Integrity vocalist Dwid Hellion and Pain Ritual’s Anthony Crupi (who makes several vocal contributions on the album). Listening through the rest of the tracks you’ll find appearances from Daniel Weyandt (Zao), Tarek Ahmed (Intercourse) and Shane Post (Bird of Ill Omen). With The Relationship Between The Hammer And The Nail, Ether Coven have created a stand-out record embracing their truest form as a band.


Ether Coven is Peter Kowalsky (vocals/guitars), Devin Estep (guitar/vocals) Justin Gianoutsos (drums), and Shane Nerenberg (bass).


Order here.





Tracklisting:


“Psalm Of Cancer” feat. Dwid Hellion and Anthony Crupi)
“Afraid & Suffering” feat. Dan Weyandt)
“god Hates Flags” feat. Tarek Ahmed and Anthony Crupi)
“Of Might & Failure” feat. Shane Post
“The Warmth Of Your Bathwater” feat. Anthony Crupi)
“Temple Of Wu”
“Consequences Of Self (Let The Nails Carve Our Names In Rust)” feat. Howard Jones


“Psalm Of Cancer”:





(Photo – Karen Jerzyk)

Frontiers Music Srl announces the upcoming release of Swedish melodic rockers Wildness' new album, Resurrection, on October 14. The album, produced, mixed, and mastered by band founder, main songwriter, and drummer Erik Modin, contains 11 melodic rock masterpieces with one foot in the '80s and the other in the here and now.


A new single and music video from the album, "Tragedy" is out today. Watch the music video below, and pre-order/save Resurrection on CD/LP/Digital, here.


Wildness spent the bulk of 2021 planning and writing "Resurrection", the follow-up to their sophomore album Ultimate Demise. After the band signed a multi-album deal with Italian label Frontiers Music Srl in October 2021, the recording of Resurrection commenced with great enthusiasm. The band had spent plenty of time fine tuning the songs and were ready to nail them down in the studio. As an added treat on top of the already overflowing melodic rock goodness contained on Resurrection, the album sees guest appearances by from vocalists Danny Rexon (Crazy Lixx), Hank Erix (Houston), Ludvig Turner (Reach), and Dani Hart on backing vocals.




Wildness was formed in 2014 by drummer and songwriter Erik Modin, guitar players Adam Holmström and Pontus Sköld, and lead singer Gabriel Lindmark. The band performed live and released a few demos during the first two years of their existence before releasing their first two albums on the German label AOR Heaven. Prior to the release of their self-titled debut album in late 2017, bassist Marcus Sjösund stepped in as a full-time member of the band during the recording of the album. The debut album immediately became a great international success among fans of the melodic hard rock scene.


In 2018, the band performed at a number of different international festivals and shared stages with Dokken, H.E.A.T, Dee Snider, Crashdïet, Dragonforce, Arch Enemy, Warrant, Vixen, and more and also had the honor of opening for legendary Danish hard rockers Pretty Maids. In 2019, singer Gabriel Lindmark left Wildness and Erik Forsberg (ex-Blazon Stone) became their new frontman in the spring of 2020. The second album, Ultimate  Demise, was released later in 2020 and produced by drummer Erik Modin. The song “Cold Words” caught on for the band and brought them to the attention of even more fans in the melodic rock  community.


With Resurrection, Wildness is armed with 11 undeniable tracks to take them to the next level. If you love melodic rock, then Resurrection needs to be on your 'must listen' list.





Resurrection tracklisting:


"Nightmare"
"Release The Beast"
"Tragedy"
"Love Resurrection"
"Best Of Me"
"The Final Fantasy"
"Lonely Girl"
"The One And Only"
"Fading Sun"
"Dawn Of Forever"
"Eternity Will Never Fall"


"Tragedy" video:





LIneup:


Erik Forsberg - Lead vocals
Marcus Sjösund - Bass
Adam Holmström - Guitars
Pontus Sköld - Guitars
Erik Modin - Drums

US thrashers, Toxik, have released their new album, Dis Morta. In celebration, the band have released a lyric video for the title track, which can be found below.


Dis Morta was mixed by Martin Furia, and mastered by Maor Appelbaum / Appelbaum Mastering. The album's cover artwork was designed by Alcides Burn / Burn Artworks.







Dis Morta tracklisting:


"Dis Morta"
"Feeding Frenzy"
"The Radical"
"Power"
"Hyper Reality"
"Creating The Abyss"
"Straight Razor"
"Chasing Mercury"
"Devil In The Mirror"
"Judas"


"Dis Morta" lyric video:





"Creating The Abyss" lyric video:





"Power" lyric video:





(Photo - Henk Brouwer)

VENOM frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant has confirmed that the band is putting the finishing touches on a new studio album. Speaking at this weekend's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We had a bit of a hassle because of the pandemic; we couldn't meet in the studio and all that sort of shit. So that knocked everything all to hell. If that hadn't happened, the album would be out by now. But we're just doing the fine tuning, really, and working on individual shows for now.

"VENOM have never been a big touring type of band," he explained. "We like to just pop up and blow the place to hell."

VENOM formed in 1979 in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the new wave of British heavy metal, VENOM's first two albums — "Welcome To Hell" (1981) and "Black Metal" (1982) — are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general. VENOM's second album proved influential enough that its title was used as the name of the extreme metal sub-genre of black metal. The band classic lineup trio of Cronos, Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray recorded two further studio albums, "At War With Satan" (1984) and "Possessed" (1985),and live album "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (1986). Often cited by bands such as METALLICA, BEHEMOTH, CELTIC FROST and MAYHEM as major influences, they are one of the most revered bands of their generation. VENOM are still fronted by original singer/bassist Cronos and headline festivals all over the globe and continue to release new music.

In a 2018 interview with Consequence Of Sound, Cronos stated about his band's influence on subsequent extreme metal groups: "I really like to think of VENOM as a catalyst rather than inventors. Influence would probably be more like it. I've always been — from being young — a fan of what you'd call 'rock music.' From THE BEATLES to THE [ROLLING] STONES to THE WHO, through [LED] ZEPPELIN and [DEEP] PURPLE and everybody. So, I've always liked the idea of drums, guitar, this, that, and the other. My mum's brother used to play guitar in a country-western band, so I've always been around instruments and music. I've never really gotten into any of the electronic stuff when it came along in the '80s. I didn't really see how that was working for me in any way — I just like a drum kit and a guitar."

He continued: "When people used to ask back in the day, 'How do you describe VENOM?' I would say, 'It's all the best bits of the bands that I love.' So, if JUDAS PRIEST wear leather jackets, then I'm going to wear a leather jacket and a pair of leather pants! And if KISS have three flashpots on the front of the stage, I'm going to have ten! And if Ozzy Osbourne is going to sing about the devil walking down the street, then I'm going to be the devil walking down the street! It was taking all of the great things that I loved, and all the crazy frontmen, like Gene Simmons, Ian Anderson, Rob Halford, and encompassing all of these ideas into a new thing. And then, adding that dash of punk. That's why I always used to wear the big Doc Martens — that was my punk heritage.

"And just putting some aggression back into the music," Cronos added. "I mean, heavy metal has always been 'the devil's music.' They always say the devil has the best tunes, and I was bit frustrated at leaving school and being told that rock music was dead, and it had its day and everybody was finished with it. I had to absolutely disagree. So, when the New Wave of British Heavy Metal started in England — which became IRON MAIDEN, SAXON, SAMSON, and all these bands — I wanted to create something different from that. I appreciated that they were very heavily influenced by the ZEPPELINs, the PURPLEs, and the [BLACK] SABBATHs, and were trying to keep a hold of this '70s vibe. I get all of that, but I wanted something that was kind of a cross between SABBATH and MOTÖRHEAD. Something more aggressive — with a bit of SEX PISTOLS in there, to get nasty."

VENOM's 15th full-length studio album, "Storm The Gates", was released in December 2018 through Spinefarm Records.

VENOM is not to be confused with VENOM INC., the band featuring Mantas alongside ex-VENOM bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan.

In continued celebration of their 50th anniversary, the four-time Grammy Award-winning and diamond-certified rock legends AEROSMITH (Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Brad Whitford and Joey Kramer),have launched of "50 Years Live!: From The Aerosmith Vaults", the band's new "official bootleg" streaming concert series featuring five deep, archival, and unreleased multi-camera live shows from AEROSMITH's vast personal vaults.

With the entire production of all five concert films supervised by AEROSMITH, the series continues with a livestream of "Live From The Capital Centre, Landover, MD, 1989". Filmed in Landover, Maryland on December 17, 1989, AEROSMITH closes out the 1980s in top form with this dynamic performance at Capital Centre. "Live From The Capital Centre" features classic tracks such as "Walk This Way" and "Rats In The Cellar", as well as "Rag Doll", "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)" and "Permanent Vacation". Highlight clips from this show to be added to AEROSMITH's YouTube channel on August 6 will be "Walk This Way", "Permanent Vacation" and "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)".

For "50 Years Live!: From the Aerosmith Vaults", producer Steve Berkowitz, along with longtime AEROSMITH employees Tommy Higgins and John Bionelli, combed through the band's vast Vindaloo Vaults, unearthing a treasure trove of filmed concerts recorded in the original formats of the day, covering the band's history throughout the decades. With the help of director and producer Jennifer LeBeau (Lady Gaga, Tony Bennett, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon),this footage was carefully transferred and converted to digital to help preserve these historic recorded documents. Produced by Steve Berkowitz and Dennis Wolfe, the video and audio restoration was skillfully conducted by Vanderquest UK and Formosa Sound, giving these performances the highest possible visual and sonic quality.

As part of the continued celebration around their 50th anniversary, AEROSMITH will return to Las Vegas to bring their critically acclaimed residency, "Aerosmith: Deuces Are Wild" to the Dolby Live at Park MGM. Kicking off September 14 — with shows running through December 11 — the residency is the first live concert experience presented in Dolby Atmos at Dolby Live. Dolby Live is one of the world's most technologically advanced performance venues for enjoying live music in Dolby Atmos.

In addition to their upcoming dates in Las Vegas, AEROSMITH is set to perform at Maine Savings Amphitheater in Bangor, Maine on September 4 before they head to Boston for a show at the historic Fenway Park on September 8.

Upcoming livestream premieres include:

** "Live From The Coca-Cola Star Lake Amphitheatre, Pittsburgh, PA, 1993" (Premieres August 12)

Throughout the 1990s, AEROSMITH continued to be an unstoppable force in rock, delivering a high energy set at Coca-Cola Star Amphitheater on July 2, 1993, with all the same swagger and attitude they had from day one. The tightly knit band belts out now classics such as "Eat The Rich", "Janie's Got A Gun", "Livin' On The Edge" and "Cryin'". Older favorites include "Last Child", "Walk This Way" and "Back In The Saddle".

Highlights from this show to be added to AEROSMITH's YouTube channel on August 13 will be "Cryin'", "Janie's Got A Gun" and "Livin' On The Edge".

** "Live From Comerica Park, Detroit, MI, 2003" (Premieres August 19)

"Mama Kin" kicks things into high gear as AEROSMITH storm through Michigan on September 7, 2003, at Comerica Park during their "Rocksimus Maximus" tour. Included are classics such as "Same Old Song And Dance" and "Walk This Way", as well as "Jaded", "Love In An Elevator" and the Grammy Award-winning single "Pink". AEROSMITH brings the incredible night to a close in a cloud of confetti and a frenetic version of "Toys In The Attic".

Highlights from this show to be added to AEROSMITH's YouTube channel on August 20 will be "Toys In The Attic", "Same Old Song And Dance" and "Love In An Elevator".

** "Live From Arena Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, 2016" (Premieres August 26)

Captured at the Arena Ciudad de Mexico in Mexico City on October 27, 2016, this show was enhanced with the discovery of the original multi-tracks that were added and mixed by AEROSMITH's long-time soundboard engineer John Ship. The band wastes no time getting into their groove as Steven Tyler swaggers through classics such as "Draw The Line" and "Rats In The Cellar", as well as "Crazy" and their hit ballad "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing". Teasing the crowd with a "You See Me Crying" and "Home Tonight" medley, Tyler breaks into a powerfully moving rendition of "Dream On" before bringing the show to an explosive end with "Sweet Emotion".

Highlights from this show to be added to AEROSMITH's YouTube channel on August 27 will be "Crazy", "Dream On" and "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing".

In addition, "Aerosmith - 1971: The Road Starts Hear" (UMe) is now available globally on CD and vinyl LP and can now be streamed. This rare recording from 1971 was recently discovered in AEROSMITH's Vindaloo Vaults and was originally only available as a limited-edition cassette and vinyl release for Record Store Day in 2021. The heavily sought-after RSD release quickly sold out and debuted on the Billboard 200, hitting No. 2 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, No. 12 on the Top Rock Albums chart, No. 13 on the Vinyl Albums chart, and No. 19 on the Top Album Sales chart. In addition, the band's official online store now features a new 1971 collection of exclusive merchandise.

Celebrating their 50th anniversary, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees AEROSMITH have sold more than 150 million albums around the world, produced genre-defining music videos such as "Amazing", "Crazy", "Janie's Got A Gun", "Livin' On The Edge" and "Love In An Elevator", and launched extravagant record-shattering global tours, most recently with their smash hit Las Vegas residency. The band has broken numerous boundaries, including becoming the first rock band with a massive commercially successful hip-hop collaboration with RUN DMC on "Walk This Way" and the first hard rock band to appear during a Super Bowl halftime show with their 2001 performance, and in 1999, AEROSMITH became the first band to have their own themed attraction at Disney World in Florida and later Paris with the launch of the Rock 'N' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

Video of THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, the musical meeting of minds between Grammy-nominated STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand and PARALANDRA vocalist/guitarist Casandra Carson, performing a cover of MEGADETH's "Symphony Of Destruction" during its concert Thursday night (August 4) at xBk Live in Des Moines, Iowa can be seen below. Also available is a pre-show audio interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines radio station Lazer 103.3.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT will support ALICE IN CHAINS, BREAKING BENJAMIN and BUSH on around a dozen U.S. dates later this month.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT made its live debut on April 30 at The Riff in Springfield, Missouri. Joining Rand and Carson at the gig were keyboardist/backing vocalist Diana Weishaar, bassist Jaron Gulino and drummer Celestino Ramirez.

Several days prior to the show, Carson commented on social media: "It's crazy to think that Josh and I started writing songs together 2 YEARS ago and we're finally taking taking it to the stage! I couldn't be happier with the people we've chosen to join us on this journey. Absolutely incredible musicians and all around great human beings (one of which I might be a little biased towards)."

In a recent interview with HardDrive Radio's Lou Brutus, Rand stated about THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT: "In a sense, it was just something that I started doing a couple of years ago, just writing music myself. And then I just decided I wanted to get a female vocalist, basically, to work on these songs and sing on them. And I found Casandra through a mutual friend — actually, STONE SOUR's A&R person, Dave Rath — and we hit it off. And then we've just been working on stuff for the last two years kind of just here and there. Obviously, with COVID and all that stuff going on in the world, it really restricted going out, so there's really not been a desire to do that up until recently. So now we're gonna end up being a full band and actually play our first show, which I'm really excited about finally getting back out there. 'Cause for me, it's been a bit, I guess — like, three years — since I've been on a stage.

"So, that's really what it's about," he continued. "It's just me musically trying different stuff, but also getting back to where I originally came from, as far as my musical journey. So it's kind of getting back to my roots and just having fun with it. That's what THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is for me — it's a different vehicle to express myself, I guess, artistically with truly no boundaries, but leaning more towards, musically, I think, coming at it as an educated teenager. What I mean by that is it's the fire of that teenager — that drive, that style of music that I was playing 30 years ago — but now doing it with the experience, the knowledge and all that. So it's kind of like revisiting the past, in a way, or going home in some ways."

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT released a new four-song EP, titled "Big F.O.U.R.", in March via Bloodblast. The collection features a clutch of cover versions, one each from heavy music's pioneering icons METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.

Rand previously stated about the EP: "Recording a 'Big F.O.U.R.' cover EP is something that I have wanted to do for a very very long time, and last fall I decided to finally do it with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.

"Without these four bands (METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER),my musical career wouldn't be where it is today. In some ways, you could say this project is paying homage to them or, how I see it, a return to where it all started in my parents' house as a teenager trying to learn just a piece of the music.

"Each of the four songs that I picked were pivotal in my development as a musician, whether it was learning the intro to 'One' on guitar, drums on 'Symphony [Of Destruction]' or bass lines in 'Caught In A Mosh'.

"This EP was a true love and passion project for myself. I feel I captured the vibe and the spirit of the original but with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT sound. Hopefully you hear it too!"

Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's debut self-titled EP came out in the summer of 2021 and is available exclusively through the band's webstore or via the Nuclear Blast store.

Josh and Casandra's debut single, "The Nothingness", was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's "Test Drive" show on release.

Swedish melodic death metallers AMON AMARTH played a surprise set at this year's Wacken Open Air festival on Thursday, August 4 in Wacken, Germany.

After the performance, the band took to its social media to share a short video of the concert, along with the following message: "Heathens! Thank you for joining us today on the glorious battle ground of @Wacken
for a surprise set. Until next time!"

Earlier this week, AMON AMARTH teased the show as an appearance from a band called GUARDIANS OF ASGAARD, which, they said, would make "a brief appearance at Wacken on Thursday to play some of your favorite AMON AMARTH hits."

Wacken Open Air takes place annually in the village of Wacken, which has a population of just about 2,000.

Up to 85,000 people attend the event, which is 32 years old.

200 bands are scheduled to perform at this year's Wacken Open Air, including headliners SLIPKNOT, POWERWOLF and JUDAS PRIEST.

Wacken Open Air was forced to take a break for two years due to coronavirus restrictions.

AMON AMARTH has just released its twelfth studio album, "The Great Heathen Army", via Metal Blade Records. The LP was recorded with acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who previously worked with the band on 2013's "Deceiver Of The Gods" and 2016's "Jomsviking" albums.

This past February, AMON AMARTH released a standalone single, "Put Your Back Into The Oar", an ode to the epic Viking row. The track was recorded and mixed in January 2021 at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden with producer Jens Bogren and was made available via the band's own label Victorious Music.

The "Put Your Back Into The Oar" video was shot in England over three days in October 2021. The atmospheric, cinematic clip was produced by Twin V and directed by Ryan MackFall at Crashburn Media.

AMON AMARTH will team up with MACHINE HEAD for the "Vikings And Lionhearts" co-headlining European arena tour in September and October. A North American tour with CARCASS, OBITUARY and CATTLE DECAPITATION will follow in November and December.

AMON AMARTH stands tall and unassailable: 30 years into a career that has seen them evolve from humble origins in the dark, dank rehearsal rooms of their native Tumba to their current status as explosive festival headliners and one of the metal world's most widely adored bands.

Formed in 1992, AMON AMARTH became modern metal greats the hard way. Ruthlessly dedicated to creating new music and taking it out on the road, the Swedes steadily built a formidable reputation as a ferocious live band and, as the years passed, were increasingly recognized for their recorded achievements too. Since the dawn of the millennium, AMON AMARTH has been unstoppable.

Breakthrough releases like 2006's "With Oden On Our Side" and its now-legendary follow-up, 2008's "Twilight Of The Thunder God" further cemented their popularity throughout the metal world, while the band's stage show evolved with each successive tour, transforming into one of modern metal's truly great spectacles. "Berserker" brought with it an epic, history-making trek across North America with fellow Swedes ARCH ENEMY, AT THE GATES and GRAND MAGUS and saw multiple sell-outs.
Heathens! Thank you for joining us today on the glorious battle ground of @Wacken for a surprise set. Until next time! - Amon Amarth (Guardians of Asgaard) ⚔️🛡 pic.twitter.com/paLw4dC1ib

— Amon Amarth (@AmonAmarthBand) August 5, 2022


Our raid on Wacken Open Air was a success! Thank you for helping us celebrate the release of ‘The Great Heathen Army’. Stream our latest album now at https://t.co/cVsJAelZMv ⚔️🛡 pic.twitter.com/vraeQr8lyg

— Amon Amarth (@AmonAmarthBand) August 5, 2022

Fan-filmed video of DEEP PURPLE's July 28 performance in Tampere, Finland can be seen below.

Last month, DEEP PURPLE guitarist Steve Morse officially left the band to care for his wife, Janine, who is battling cancer.

Morse's announcement came four months after the guitarist said that he would be taking a hiatus from the band, in the hope of rejoining his bandmates once his wife's health improved. He was then replaced on the road by Irish blues-rock guitarist Simon McBride.

Morse effectively took over Ritchie Blackmore's DEEP PURPLE slot in 1994 and had since been in the group longer than Ritchie.

Morse's solo career has encompassed rock, country, funk, jazz, classical and fusion. Having started playing guitar around the age of 11, he later on attended University of Miami's School of Music, where he studied classical guitar and jazz. A "guitarist's guitarist", he was voted "Best Overall Guitarist" in the Guitar Player Readers' Poll for five consecutive years, before being removed from eligibility to open the award to other musicians, and being inducted into their Gallery Of Greats. His work has received seven Grammy Award nominations, and he has appeared on over 200 albums.

McBride, who is guitar player, singer, songwriter and a band leader all in one, hails from Belfast in Northern Ireland —a place that resonates of the best music traditions like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher, as well as bands such as THIN LIZZY, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS and obviously U2. His biography tells many stories — from his band touring with no sound engineer, driver, or roadie, playing 30 shows in 35 days, to him regularly sharing stages with DEEP PURPLE's Ian Gillan and Don Airey.

DEEP PURPLE's latest album, "Turning To Crime", came out in November via earMUSIC. The LP contains DEEP PURPLE's versions of great rock classics and musical jewels — including songs originally recorded by Bob Dylan, FLEETWOOD MAC, Bob Seger, CREAM and THE YARDBIRDS — carefully chosen by each member of the band.

WHITESNAKE has pulled out of its previously announced North American tour with the SCORPIONS due to singer David Coverdale's "continued treatment for a persistent upper respiratory infection."

SCORPIONS will still play all the shows on the trek, featuring support from the Swedish THUNDERMOTHER, beginning on August 21 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and ending on October 21 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Earlier today (Friday, August 5), Coverdale released the following statement: "It is with profound disappointment and a heavy heart that I must announce that WHITESNAKE will no longer be able to join the SCORPIONS on their US and Canadian tour due to my continued treatment for a persistent upper respiratory infection that affects my ability to perform. This includes the cancellation of our own headlining shows as well.

"While WHITESNAKE will no longer be on the tour, the SCORPIONS will be continuing on. We Wish Our Good Friends, the SCORPIONS Every Success!!!

"We Wish You Well".

SCORPIONS issued a separate statement confirming WHITESNAKE's cancelation. They wrote: "We wanted to let you know that WHITESNAKE will no longer be joining us on our U.S. and Canadian Rock Believer tour.

"Nothing is more important than our fans and it was important to us that we keep the shows as scheduled.

"We wish WHITESNAKE all the best and look very much forward to seeing you and rocking with you all on tour along with THUNDERMOTHER."

On June 28, WHITESNAKE scrapped three shows on its spring/summer European tour due to Coverdale's infection of the sinus and trachea. Three days later, the rest of the trek was also called off. At the time, David blamed the decision on "continuing health challenges, doctor's orders, and our concern for everyone's health and safety."

David was not the first member of WHITESNAKE to fall ill during the group's latest European tour. Guitarist Reb Beach missed several shows on the trek in June after being "under the weather." On June 25, WHITESNAKE canceled its show at the Rock Imperium festival in Spain due to the fact that drummer Tommy Aldridge "went down" and "was bad enough at the time to have missed the first show ever in his career," according to Coverdale.

WHITESNAKE launched its farewell tour on May 10 at Dublin, Ireland's 3Arena. The band's 14-song set, which was part of a European tour with special guests EUROPE and co-headliners FOREIGNER, marked WHITESNAKE's inaugural performance with the group's two latest two additions, keyboardist, guitarist and backing vocalist Dino Jelusick, and Irish bassist Tanya O'Callaghan.

Coverdale had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.

Prior to the pandemic, WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, "Flesh & Blood", which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.
Attention Rock Believers! pic.twitter.com/h67CEwWStl

— Scorpions (@scorpions) August 5, 2022

Australian progressive metal band, Teramaze, will release their new album, Flight Of The Wounded, on October 6 worldwide via Wells Music. Early bird collector bundles available for pre-order here.





The last few years has seen Teramaze go into a prolific writing frenzy, boasting an amazing feat of releasing three full-length albums, in a 12 month period. The band is showing no signs of slowing down creatively, with frontman and head songwriter, Dean Wells announcing the band has finished their 10th album.




Wells goes on to say: “Flight Of The Wounded is our 10th album and is quite possibly our strongest body of work date. From start to finish, from track to track, there really is no filler.


Like everything we’ve ever released, on this album we have poured our everything into every song and left no stone unturned. I’ve always been meticulous about getting the mixes perfect and finding the right guitar and synth sounds. As a band, we always strive to make every song sound as good as it possibly can.


This album will also be my 4th where I am the band’s lead vocalist. I am always trying to 1 up myself from one album to the next. I definitely tried a few new approaches to writing and singing that I hadn’t on previous albums. I tried making my lyric deliveries as strong or as vulnerable as possible, as well as  experimenting with the more gravely tones in my voice. I really pushed myself as vocalist and I think the fans will not be disappointed.


This album is like nothing we’ve release before. It’s going to be a really challenging album to sing live, but we can’t wait to actually tour this album, nationally and hopefully worldwide.”


Further details to follow.