Finnish hard rock monsters LORDI are set to release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, "Limited Deadition", on March 21, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The LP is spearheaded by the electrifying lead single, "Syntax Terror", a track that thrusts listeners into a game-like world with spacy melodies, thunderous riffs, and irresistibly catchy hooks.

LORDI leader Mr. Lordi comments: "The writing of this song started out with its main keyboard riff. I played around with those mono sounds, trying to come up with something with a very '80s-action-movie-opening-score feel. 'Syntax Terror' actually almost became the album title, but then it was discovered that other people have had the same idea way before I did. On the verses I was thinking of JUDAS PRIEST, on the chorus of MANOWAR and — as icing on the cake — Udo Dirkschneider-type of screams to belch out the title. Don't ask what the lyrics are about. 'Syntax Terror' is a very '80s-heavy-metal-style song, painting abstract pictures with every line!"

Already generating excitement among fans, the single promises to be a highlight in LORDI's monstrous catalog.

Known for their theatrical style and unique blend of 1980s-inspired rock and heavy metal, LORDI's latest creation is a nostalgic celebration of retro '80s toys, infused with a fresh and powerful energy. Building on the success of their 2023 album "Screem Writers Guild", "Limited Deadition" ventures into heavier riffs and faster tempos, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and invigorating.

Recorded at IluSound Studio and Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, "Limited Deadition" was produced by Mr. Lordi, mixed by Ilkka Herkman and mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen. As always, Mr. Lordi took charge of the album's striking artwork and layout, channeling his passion for '80s memorabilia into every detail.

"It's some kind of sibling album to its predecessor," Mr. Lordi explains. "We're still walking the path of AOR-inspired music, but this time, with a more metal touch in terms of riffs and tempo. We've always written what felt right and natural, and this album is no exception."

The thematic heart of "Limited Deadition" lies in Mr. Lordi's lifelong obsession with collecting, inspired by the action figures and toys of his childhood.

"The album topic of '80s toys is actually just a loose theme, but it's been accompanying me since I was little," he says. "I've always been a collector of various stuff, and I'm even some kind of a hoarder. I can't even remember which my first own toy was, but my obsession basically started with 'Muppet Show' dolls, followed by 'Star Wars' and 'E.T.' figures, with the latter actually being my favorite movie of all time."

The album opens with "SCG XIX The Hexecutioners", setting the stage for an exciting blend of cinematic and melodic heavy rock. Tracks like "Legends Are Made Of Clichés" and "Skelephant In The Room" highlight LORDI's knack for creating larger-than-life anthems. Meanwhile, the poignant ballad "Collectable" reflects on the fleeting value of physical objects in a digital world, while the title track, "Limited Deadition", makes a bold statement celebrating collectors and their passion.

"Limited Deadition" track listing:

01. SCG XIX The Hexecutioners
02. Legends Are Made Of Clichés
03. Syntax Terror
04. Skelephant In The Room
05. SCGTV Saturday Night Main Event
06. Killharmonic Orchestra
07. Collectable
08. SCGTV Monstersquad Action Figures
09. Fangoria
10. Hellizabeth
11. SCGTV The Hexecutioners Seasion
12. Retropolis
13. Frighteousness
14. SCGTV Crazee Ralph Promo
15. Limited Deadition
16. You Might Be Deceased

To support the release, LORDI will embark on a global "Limited Deadition" tour, beginning in Finland and expanding internationally. Fans can expect a monstrous spectacle, complete with new tricks and surprises.

"Limited Deadition" will be available on all major streaming platforms and in physical formats on March 21, 2025. Pre-orders for the album and tour tickets are now live. With the explosive single "Syntax Terror" already setting the tone, fans can prepare for an unforgettable addition to the LORDIverse.

LORDI 2025 tour dates:

March 21 - FI Tampere - Tavara-asema
March 22 - FI Helsinki - Tavastia-klubi
March 25 - PL Warsaw - Progresja
March 26 - PL Gdansk - B90
March 28 - NL Amstelveen - P60
March 29 - NL Drachten - Poppoadium Iduna
March 30 - NL Sittard - Poppodium Volt
April 02 - UK Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall
April 03 - UK Newcastle - NX
April 05 - UK Manchester - Academy 2
April 06 - UK Glasgow - Galvanizers SWG3
April 08 - UK London - Islington Assembly Hall
April 09 - UK Bristol - SWX
April 11 - FR Savigny-le-Temple - L'Empreinte
April 12 - FR Saint-Lô - Le Normandy
April 13 - BE Sint-Niklaas - De Casino
April 15 - FR Lyon (Villeurbanne) - La Rayonne
April 16 - FR Strasbourg (Ostwald) - Le Point d'Eau
April 17 - FR Montbéliard - L'Axone
August 02 - CZ Ostrava - Ostrava v plamenech

Photo credit: Marek Sabogal

Former GUNS N' ROSES and current ART OF ANARCHY guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal spoke to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about his upcoming instrumental album, "Bumblefoot ...Returns!", set for release on January 24, 2025.

"The very first album that I ever put out on Shrapnel Records [in 1995], it was this instrumental guitar album called 'The Adventures Of Bumblefoot'," Thal said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And it was just a bunch of weird guitar music. And since then I always did vocal stuff and stuff with bands and everything. And then, during the pandemic, I got the itch. I was, like, 'Let me do a bunch more instrumental things and put out an album.' And yeah, it's coming out."

Regarding how he got Brian May and Steve Vai to guest on the album, Ron said: "[Brian and I] have corresponded here and there for the past 15 years or so. And same with Steve — for, like, 10 years. So, I asked them. And Guthrie Govan I've known since we were teenagers, since 1989. I was in a guitar magazine, and he wrote to me. He was, like, 'Hi, I'm a guitarist. I live in the U.K. Check out my demo.' And I'm, like, 'Cool, cool.' And we became penpals. We'd write each other handwritten letters and send cassettes back and forth of just all our little demos, and we've been friends ever since."

Asked if the guest appearances were recorded remotely or if he was in the room with May when the QUEEN guitarist laid down his track, Thal said: "These days people do things remotely; it's most common that everyone works remotely when they're doing guest stuff. And you record it at your own studio, you send it to the people and they put it into the multi-tracks, and good to go.

"As you're working on songs, you could just imagine certain people that would fit with the song," Ron added. "Like the song with Brian May, it wasn't the original plan [to have him on it]. I was just making a song, but by the time the song was really coming together and all the parts were there and I was hearing it, it was, like, 'My God. This song wouldn't be complete without him. It needs his playing just to make it what it's meant to be.' So I asked him. And he did it. And over the years we've done a couple of things together. We've done festivals where we played with each other on stage, doing things. There's a festival he's involved with called Starmus. It is a mix of astrophysics and music. So they have all these incredible geniuses giving lectures and then they have a bunch of musicians that that play and put on concerts and everything, all combined. And we've done two of those together, and next year there's gonna be more."

Thal went on to praise May as a human being, saying: "Everyone that's guests on the album are all wonderful souls or I wouldn't want them on the album. That's first and foremost. But he absolutely is just such a sweet, wonderful guy. And he's as smart as they get."

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" will arrive 30 years after Thal's debut solo instrumental album. On the new LP, Bumblefoot revisits his roots with a 14-track masterpiece that spans genres from metal to orchestral to blues.

The album's opening track, "Simon In Space", serves as its first single, delivering an electrifying ride through chaos and intensity. In addition to the single, an animated music video created by Bumblefoot and animator Radek Grabinski is also available, as well as a retro-inspired video game, which is coming soon.

Bumblefoot commented: "From an early age, my passions were guitar and astrophysics, cosmology — the song 'Simon In Space' merges the two. Simon is my cat, haha; that's him featured in the artwork."

Soon fans will be able to immerse themselves in a retro-inspired video game based on the single. More details will be announced soon.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" features collaborations with iconic musicians, including Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Derek Sherinian, Jerry Gaskill and others, showcasing Bumblefoot's innovative guitar techniques, such as his signature fretless guitar and "thimble technique."

On the album, Bumblefoot shared: "It's been 30 years since releasing the debut 'Adventures Of Bumblefoot' on Shrapnel Records, and I haven't done a fully instrumental album since. Writing during the pandemic, these songs became a soundtrack to my life — from heavy fretless growls to bluesy tributes to legends like Lonnie Johnson. It's a reflection of the moments that shaped me."

He added: "Working on WHOM GODS DESTROY's album inspired growling heavy fretless parts like 'Simon In Space'. Watching a blues documentary inspired 'Moonshine Hootenanny'. Losing loved ones led to writing 'Funeral March'. Songs become a soundtrack to our lives."

The album is available for pre-order now on vinyl, CD, and cassette, with exclusive merch bundles at bumblefoot.com.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" track listing:

01. Simon In Space
02. Planetary Lockdown
03. Moonshine Hootenanny
04. Chopin Waltz Op64 No2
05. Monstruoso (featuring Steve Vai)
06. Monstruoso II – Departure
07. Cintaku
08. Once in Forever (featuring Brian May)
09. Andalusia
10. Anveshana (featuring Guthrie Govan)
11. Funeral March (featuring Ben Karas)
12. Griggstown Crossing
13. The Thread
14. Liftoff

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in 2006 and appeared on 2008's "Chinese Democracy", an effort which contained music that had been written before he came into the group. The disc took 13 years to make and was only a modest seller, moving just around half a million copies.

Thal never officially announced his departure from the GN'R, but a source confirmed to Detroit music writer Gary Graff back in 2015 that the guitarist had been out since the end of the band's second Las Vegas residency in 2014.

Thal later revealed that he was focusing on his solo career and other projects after spending eight years playing in GUNS.

Thal spent a few years recording and touring with SONS OF APOLLO, which also featured drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and bassist Billy Sheehan. SONS OF APOLLO released its second studio album, "MMXX" (pronounced: 20/20),in January 2020 via InsideOut Music/Sony.

ART OF ANARCHY's third studio album, "Let There Be Anarchy", was released in February 2024 via Pavement Music.

Joining founding ART OF ANARCHY members Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and Thal in the band's new lineup are vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY, SONS OF APOLLO) and bassist Tony Dickinson (SOTO, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

METALLICA's fourth "Helping Hands Concert & Auction", which will take place December 13 at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, will be made available on YouTube beginning on December 19.

METALLICA says: "We can't wait to hit the stage at YouTube Theater tomorrow night for the 'Helping Hands Concert & Auction', and we're psyched to announce that we'll be bringing the event to the world less than a week later! So, if you can't join us in Los Angeles, don't worry; you'll be able to watch the show on YouTube beginning December 19 at 12 PM PST / 3 PM EST / 8 PM GMT / 9 PM CET."

In addition to METALLICA, this year's fourth "Helping Hands Concert & Auction" will feature a performance by Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Kenny Aronoff, as wella as by SistaStrings, the sisters-turned-classically trained duo named 2023's "best instrumentalist" by the Americana Music Association.

Hosted once again by Jimmy Kimmel, this year's event will mark the return of All Within My Hands' "Helping Hands Concert & Auction" to Los Angeles — where the previous "Helping Hands" show in December 2022 raised approximately $3,000,000 — 100% of which went directly to All Within My Hands' efforts supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, disaster relief and other critical local services — and featured appearances by Robert Downey Jr., Tony Hawk, St. Vincent, leaders from six of AWMH's non-profit partner organizations and a set by GRETA VAN FLEET, all culminating in a very special acoustic/electric performance from METALLICA.

All Within My Hands' fourth "Helping Hands Concert & Auction" promises to be another unforgettable night of music and philanthropy. This year's lineup will be announced shortly, along with amazing items and experiences to be auctioned off, all to benefit the Foundation, with 100% of ticket and auction proceeds going directly to those in need.

Established in 2017 as a way to give back to communities that have supported METALLICA over the years, All Within My Hands has raised over $15 million — providing $8.2 million in grants to career and technical education programs including the ground-breaking Metallica Scholars Initiative, now in its sixth year, over $3.6 million to combat food insecurity, more than $3.5 million to disaster relief efforts.

All Within My Hands was established by METALLICA to invest in the people and places that have supported the band. It also allows METALLICA's fans to engage in philanthropy and volunteerism. The Foundation is dedicated to creating sustainable communities through workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services. All expenses of the Foundation are covered by the band, the board, and a few special friends so that 100 percent of donations go to the organizations it supports. AWMH is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Last year, All Within My Hands donated a portion of all ticket sales from METALLICA's "M72" world tour back into the communities visited during each tour stop. In partnership with local promoters, the Foundation worked diligently to find organizations that aligned with the AWMH mission and actively put funds to use to better the lives of people in need.

The METALLICA family and the All Within My Hands foundation board members are committed to running an organization of the highest integrity where expenses are kept to a minimum and are paid for entirely by the band, the board, and friends who have worked with the band over many years and are excited to help in this mission. As such, 100% of all donations from fans and third parties go to the organizations AWMH supports.

In January 2022, METALLICA announced the appointment of Peter Delgrosso as executive director to All Within My Hands. Pete had served on AWMH advisory board since 2018 and is focused on the future of the foundation.

METALLICA's 2021 "The Metallica Blacklist" compilation generated more than $1 million in donations. All the profits from the "Blacklist" project were divided evenly between All Within My Hands and charities chosen by the participating artists.

In a new interview with Australia's "Everblack" podcast, Billy Corgan from THE SMASHING PUMPKINS brought up METALLICA while discussing whether THE SMASHING PUMPKINS have ever performed their "Tales Of A Scorched Earth" song — which originally appeared on the band's 1995 album "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" — live before. Billy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " Well, let me caveat this by saying that I love James Hetfield as a person. I love METALLICA; I saw them in 1984 and all that great stuff. And James is probably the greatest riff writer outside of maybe [BLACK SABBATH's] Tony Iommi. James has written some of the greatest, most amazing riffs, and he's still writing them. But if you listen to 'Tales Of A Scorched Earth' and you listen to that METALLICA song ['Fuel' from 1997's 'Reload' album], 'Give me fuel, give me fire, give me that which I desire.' See — a little lightbulb went off in your brain… Now, which song came first?"

After the interviewer noted that "Tales Of A Scorched Earth" was released two years before "Fuel", Corgan said: "God bless you… Now, I don't think James would rip anything off from me, but the first time I heard that song, I was, like, 'That's awfully close.' But I love me some James. And I'd love somebody trying to get a troll headline out that, some clickbait out of that."

Billy added: "My father used to say, 'Look, there's only 12 notes.' So, that's the great thing. We all rip each other off, and if it works, great. I've got no problem with that. I mean, I've certainly ripped METALLICA off plenty, so…"

Back in 2010, Corgan picked METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets" as one of his favorite metal bands of all time, telling Music Radar about the LP: "[It's] the perfect combo of blitzing riffs matched with the beginnings of Hetfield finding that melodies weren't just something in the way of his robotic right hand. This is smart metal at its greatest level."

You might not guess it listening to SMASHING PUMPKINS, but Corgan is a serious metalhead. After all, he calls Iommi "my hero." In April 2023, Revolver sat down with Corgan to discuss his Top 11 picks for the greatest heavy metal bands of all time, and he dug deep, spotlighting everyone from PANTERA and SLAYER to MERCYFUL FATE and RAINBOW, sharing stories and insights along the way.

Regarding PANTERA, Corgan said: "PANTERA I got to see many times live. I knew the band back in the day. 'Dimebag' Darrell even gave me a guitar, which I treasure. PANTERA was one of those bands in the early '90s that not everybody on the alternative side of the equation understood right away because they were seen as just a straight-up metal band. But eventually I think a lot of people in alternative music recognized that PANTERA was one of those bands that sort of transcended genres. I think thematically and the way they changed metal and the way people played metal ever afterwards, I think it almost puts them in too small a category. And like the great metal bands, they tend to almost create their own category of music."

Corgan called SLAYER "probably my favorite all-time super-heavy band. But, in a way, it's almost impossible to say that because, as somebody once told me, SLAYER makes SLAYER music. Calling SLAYER heavy, hard rock or metal — only SLAYER sounds like SLAYER. So I think they always need a category unto themselves. I was lucky enough to see SLAYER twice on their last, I guess, farewell tour. I think I saw the fifth to last show in Romania. And I saw SLAYER in 1984 on the 'Reign In Blood' tour. [Editor's note: 'Reign In Blood' was released in 1986.] I was by myself with my goth hair; believe it or not, I once had goth hair. It was a little bit scary in there at the Aragon Ballroom during the 'Reign In Blood' tour. But what an incredible band. I mean, what do you say?"

Corgan called Iommi "my hero" in an interview with Kerrang! magazine in 2022, saying: "Tony wrote those riffs that, when you hear him, it's like a movie. In my mind, I always call it 'Cosmic Sabbath. When I would listen to SABBATH, I felt like I was peering into the universe. That's the way it made me feel, even as a little kid."

Photo credit: Jason Renaud

In a recent interview with The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show, former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. bassist Peter Baltes was asked about the status of his long-awaited solo album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, I've been working on it. And I was really gonna go for it because I had certain players in mind to play it. [One of them was DEEP PURPLE keyboardist] Don Airey. Then he was on tour, so I couldn't get him. And then [former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. singer] Udo [Dirkschneider] called me: 'Can you help me out [by playing bass for U.D.O. on tour]?' And since he called me, I've been on the road or recording with him. I did [Udo's] 'My Way' album and I played on the last [U.D.O.] album [2023's 'Touchdown']. I didn't have any time and it's killing me. I'm going home now for three weeks, and I've gotta spend time with my wife… And then we're going to South America and we're going back to Europe. Then I have December. Then I have something to do with the DATOG [DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG] album. We just recorded that. Then the end of February, the European tour starts. So there is no continuous like four or six weeks I could dive in. I don't know. That's how it's gonna be. That's how it's gonna live — song by song, piece by piece I have to put it together."

Regarding the musical direction of his solo material, Baltes said: "It's really like old progressive, EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER meets [DEEP] PURPLE meets RUSH meets MOTÖRHEAD. It's all in there in my own little world that I am. And it's very bass driven. And I'm struggling so much because I don't know if I should sing it myself. And then I could never do it live because I'm not a frontman; I play bass. I didn't wanna stand there sing at the same time; that wouldn't be me. So there had to be a singer there anyway. So I figured I'm gonna sing it, get it all finished, and then I'm gonna find a singer or have somebody sing it. And then I just alternate the ones that I really like where I'm on, keep them and everything else, [have] somebody else [sing those]."

When Blair noted that Baltes's vocal performance on some of the old ACCEPT records was "fantastic", Peter said: "Well, you can never tell by yourself, but I did some background vocals on a SCORPIONS album, because I come really high. I do like it. And next year when we do [a tour celebrating] 40 years [f ACCEPT's] 'Balls To The Wall' [album under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner], we're gonna play the entire album. I'm gonna pick one of the old ballads that we never played and we're gonna play that live. And it's just gonna be a nice special treat for the fans."

This past October, Baltes launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him and his wife in repairing their home in Nokomis, Florida due to damages caused by Hurricane Milton. Only $2,783 was raised of the campaign's initial $10,000 goal.

In October 2023, Peter spoke to Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global about his decision to exit ACCEPT in 2018 after spending more than three decades with the Wolf Hoffmann-led outfit. He said: "Everybody knows now. I did a lot of interviews, and I really don't wanna talk about it anymore, but basically we used to go up as a band, as friends and stuff, and then these things change business-wise and music-wise. And then it always seems that somebody wants all the influence. Once you're not involved anymore in the decision making, what's the point? I'm not interested in that. So I left."

He added: "In order to be creative and in a good spirit, you have to feel good about what you're doing. That's the number one reason you're doing it in the first place that you started. If you go back, when you were really little and how you started, it was just a love for music. You had no idea how good you were. If you ever had talent, that all didn't matter because you just worked hard on it, and that's where you ended up.

"I had a lot of fans write, 'Why did he leave the mighty ACCEPT and join the little U.D.O.?' And they just don't get it. It doesn't matter — it really does not matter."

In June 2023, Baltes discussed his departure from ACCEPT in an interview with Rock And A Hard Place. The now-66-year-old bassist said: "I wasn't the happiest person in ACCEPT before. In my life, every day counts. When you reach my age, I wanna enjoy my life and I don't wanna do anything I don't like. I have that right now."

Asked if Udo's exit from ACCEPT was caused by the singer's disagreements with Wolf and Hoffmann's then-wife Gaby Hoffmann, who also managed ACCEPT for several decades, Peter said: "The problem was always between Wolf and his wife and Udo. I never had a problem with Udo. I guess [Udo] wasn't sophisticated enough. He was a blue-collar guy. He was a singer. It never worked out between them. They just hated each other.

"I said that in another interview a while ago, I said here we made the biggest mistake," he continued. "I was asked, actually, by Metal Hammer [what I thought] the worst ACCEPT album [was], and I said it must have been [1989's] 'Eat The Heat' [which featured David Reece on vocals], because we left our true destiny. The singer, which was the sound of the band, is gone, and we try with an American singer to sound like DEF LEPPARD. What a stupid idea there.

"I think in 2005 we did a reunion tour with Udo. But I kept in touch with Stefan [Kaufmann, former ACCEPT drummer], and through him with Udo. Wolf and Gaby always had their [spats with Udo] back and forth in the media, and I kept out of that."

Peter added: "I told the guys in the [later version of ACCEPT], because they all chimed in, 'Eff Udo,' this and that. And I'm thinking, 'Without Udo, you wouldn't be in this band. You're the singer now and you're drummer. You're all humping on Udo. You never met the man, first of all. You never said a word to him. It is so easy to judge somebody. Without him, you would be nowhere.'"

Asked if he felt like he was stuck in the middle between Hoffmann camp and Dirkschneider, Peter said: "Of course. You grow up together, and you have a band. Fans — people who follow a band — for them it's hard to fathom and understand what you're going through, because you spend half a lifetime together or even longer. And you trust people. And then trust is betrayed. And you think, 'Why? What is there to gain? A little bit more money? Power? Is that it?' And I guess that is what it is. Certain people need control; they can't let go. And if they don't have it, they're not happy."

Baltes also reflected on the Mark Tornillo era of ACCEPT, which began with the "Blood Of The Nations" album and has produced five more LPs so far.

"In the end, when you mention ACCEPT albums, yeah, the first one was really good because that was stuff that mostly I had accumulated over the years," Peter said. "So Wolf and I wrote that first album together; that was killer. But after that, it was so predictable — it was the same riff; it's the same thing. So we were very divided. One side just wanted… I'll never forget that — he said, 'We can just do this and ride in the sunset together.' And I said, 'I think I have a different sunset in mind,' because I wanna be relevant with my music. I don't wanna just keep my fans happy and don't go anywhere else and just keep doing this. I wanna evolve; I wanna explore things. I come from a progressive background — EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, things like this. So I was, like, 'This is the same stupid riff again, the same vocal line. Just another word.' I didn't wanna do it. [There were] too many things that were just bad — financial situations, trust issues, musical [ideas]. Everything was wrong. So that's why I left."

Baltes previously discussed his departure from ACCEPT in an interview with Finland's Chaoszine. At the time he said: "Well, it was… maybe the last two years, it started to go down. I didn't like it anymore. And I found out some things — I don't wanna elaborate — but I found out some things that are really not nice. I'd been together with Wolf my whole life, and that wasn't really necessary. Some people have to have all the control, and when it started going into the artistic control, then it really bothered me more. So I really wasn't into it anymore. And I was glad I did it, because it was 2018, and it was the last tour. And then corona happened anyway, so I got to record a lot of different albums. I played on Mick Mars's [MÖTLEY CRÜE] solo album. I did so many different things. And I was writing music for television and radio anyway, so I had two years of working [on] other stuff that I wasn't used to. And then, on the other hand, sitting at home for two years, when Udo called [and asked me to join U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER], that's why I took about five minutes to answer."

Peter's latest comments are similar to those he made in March 2023 in an interview with Scott Itter of Dr. Music. At the time, he said about his exit from ACCEPT: "The statement that came from the band literally five minutes after I announced that I'm leaving [back in November 2018], that I wanna spend more time with my family, well, that wasn't true. No, no. I was extremely unhappy. And I found out a few things. I'd been in the band forever, and I found out in the end, in this incarnation of ACCEPT, I wasn't even really a member; I was a hired gun. And it's these things that come out where you don't have any input, insight, and you start getting bitter. And there's no reason to, but somebody else's ego is just so big or whatever — two of 'em — that it just takes them there, and they just need to control everything and have everything and you name it. That's what got Udo out back then, and I think in the end it hit everybody. So I was the last one standing, but I couldn't stand it anymore. I needed happiness in my life, and there was no happiness there. It was just a dead horse. So I left after the tour. And in my case, it was the best I ever could have done."

Baltes was replaced in ACCEPT by Martin Motnik.

Three years ago, Hoffmann was asked by SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" if he had had a chance to talk to Peter since his departure from ACCEPT and if he had gotten clarification on why Baltes left the group. Wolf said: "No, man. That's kind of the sad part about it. He kind of made that decision alone, and we never really had a sitdown and a man-to-man talk that I was hoping we'd have. He just announced it to the world, and that was it, and at that point, it was almost too late. I have to respect his decision.

"I miss him very much, and I think he's always gonna be my buddy or whatever," Wolf continued. "But right now, we don't really have much in common. Because when somebody leaves the band, it's usually that we never really see them much again, as sad as it is. I wish we would, and maybe one day we will. But right now, we don't, really. But we didn't have any fights or anything. I can only speculate why he left the band, but I'd rather not."

Hoffmann was also asked if he was surprised to see Baltes working with Udo on some new music in 2020. He responded: "Yeah, I probably shouldn't say much about that. Again, I can only speculate what that was all about. At the end of the day, we do our thing, and everybody has to know for themselves what they wanna do. Yeah, let me not say as much about that as I can, please."

In January 2021, Hoffmann told Australia's Metal Mal that he was "a little bit heartbroken" when Baltes left ACCEPT. "I felt it was not only a sad day for ACCEPT, it was also a sad day for rock and roll, or heavy metal, in general, because I thought we were gonna be doing this until the sun goes down — I don't know; until forever," he said. "But he all of a sudden decided otherwise, and he made that decision, and that was it. And that's sad, but what can you do, man? I decided, along with everybody else, the show must go on, and we continue without him. So this is what we did. And here's the new album — without Peter. But it's still sad. I still miss him sometimes. It's just the way it is."

In November 2019, Hoffmann told Powermetal.cl that he no longer kept in touch with Baltes after the bassist exited the group a year earlier. "Unfortunately, when somebody leaves the band, they're always kind of out of sight, out of mind," Wolf explained. "It's very sad. I wish it wasn't that way, because we've been friends for so long. But the reality is I haven't really heard from him — even though I reached out a couple of times. He's almost like he wants to disappear or he wants to leave the music business altogether. It's sad and I still don't quite understand what really happened. But it is what it is, and we move on."

Reba Meyers, the Grammy-nominated vocalist and guitar player of CODE ORANGE and current touring guitarist for Marilyn Manson, has released her debut solo single, "Certain Uncertainty", accompanied by a video directed by Greg Puciato (BETTER LOVERS, THE BLACK QUEEN, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN).

"I'm finding that I have the space only now in my life to have a bird's eye view on my adolescence, and that perspective, and current time of growth made it the perfect moment to begin to release solo material. A moment I've been sure would eventually come, thought I never knew exactly how it would look," says Meyers, reflecting on her decision to release music under her own name. "With that, I get to experience the rewarding and nerve-wracking process of allowing myself the platform to be a more vulnerable person, and to explore that natural foundation proudly outside of how I've maybe been portrayed."

The five-minute track sees Meyers untethered, exploring new territory, displaying a raw, introspective and dynamic side to her multiple talents while pushing well past the boundaries of her heavy music roots. Collaborating on the single are Gil Sharone (drums) and Judy Meyers (violin),with Reba herself performing the remaining instruments and programming. "Certain Uncertainty" was mixed by Josh Wilbur.

"Certain Uncertainty" is available now across all major streaming services, with a limited-edition cassette available exclusively via the newly launched Rebameyers.com.

In tandem with the release, Reba is partnering with the Braddock Youth Project, a Pennsylvania-based organization that supports youth in creating their own sustainable community development projects. A pair of shirts featured on her site will benefit the non-profit organization.

Meyers is a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter hailing from Pittsburgh. Best known as a founding member of the acclaimed band CODE ORANGE, she has earned a reputation as a fearless and innovative artist. In 2020 she became the first female signature artist in ESP guitar history with the arrival of her LTD RM-600.

Meyers has been playing concerts as part of Manson's band since he kicked off a summer tour on August 2, and she also made an appearance in the music video for Manson's single "Raise The Red Flag".

Earlier this year, the reunited expanded classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN signed with Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) for the release of their next studio album. The band entered the studio this past summer to begin work on the follow-up to 2021's acclaimed self-titled effort, with plans to issue the LP in 2025.

Asked by Spain's MariskalRockTV when fans will be able to hear the first single from the upcoming LP, HELLOWEEN singer Andi Deris said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Okay. I'm very careful here. Very carefully, I would say February would be a first single. The whole album, I reckon, would be beginning of summer '25."

Andi went on to say that the drums for the new HELLOWEEN album are still being recorded. "[The other guys] will be here in [my] studio in Tenerife [Spain] on the 20th of December. And then we start overdubbing guitars, solos and two or three rhythm guitars we have to finish here and start mainly with the vocals. Michael [Kiske, HELLOWEEN singer] will be here, Kai [Hansen, HELLOWEEN guitarist/vocalist] will be here, and myself certainly.

"That's the rough plan at the moment, so I would reckon that we finish everything in January," he explained. "And then that's why I'm saying, I hope that the first teaser or single will be somewhere mid or end of February."

Regarding the musical direction of the new HELLOWEEN material, Andi said: "I love two or three songs from Kai. [They're] super crazy, and I love 'em to death. Weiki [guitarist Michael Weikath] has a great song as well. My songs are certainly always good. [Laughs] [That's a] joke, joke, joke. But I think we have lots of great songs, definitely. Super-nice hooks, lots of positive sing-alongs. So, yeah, I think this is something that we probably may need in the times to come. [Laughs] Very positive, I have to say. So I would say 80 percent of the album is super positive. Sometimes very fast and heavy, but positive. Good, good mood. And we have a ballad. Finally, we have a ballad."

In a separate interview with Australia's The Rockpit, Kiske said that he would "be flying to Tenerife [on the] 3rd of January to start working on vocals [at Mi Sueño Studio, owned by Deris], trying to figure out vocal parts. Sometimes they still have to do lyrics, but then figuring out who does what and trying things out. I'm looking forward to it, because it's really cold and gray and dark here [in Germany] at the moment. So I don't mind flying over there for a couple of weeks."

Earlier this month, Deris was asked by The Metal Command how the material for HELLOWEEN's next album compares to that on "Helloween". He said: "I'd say it's much more easy listening, because there's less constructed stuff on it. It's more flowing with the wind, so to say. It's very, very positive, so I would rather say it's more happy, happy HELLOWEEN than the other album. I think it's a bit more… yeah, the flow is, for my taste, not as edgy as the last album, which was cool — I like edgy stuff — but we should have more or less some counterpart to edgy, more exhausting things. The last album, for me, was great to listen through — it was edgy, it was heavy, it was complicated here and there — but after listening to it, then I needed a pause. It was exhausting. After [listening to 'Helloween'], I needed some break, put it that way. I loved it, and I still love it, but it's demanding. I think the next album will be much more easy listening, I think much more enjoyable to sing along [to]; there are lots of parts in there. So I would rather describe it as a more happy, happy HELLOWEEN album. That would be the best description."

Andi continued: "It's hard to describe, because there are lots of speedy and heavy things on it. But when I listen through it, I feel good. I mean, that's a good sign. Not that I felt bad when I listened to the last album — that's not what I mean. It's fun. I listen to it, and it's fun. Definitely."

Regarding what he and his HELLOWEEN bandmates learned from the making of "Helloween" that they improved upon this time around, Andi said: "Yeah, I think the main keyword would be confidence. The last album, we had to get to know each other in that new setup, lineup, how to work with [each other], how to work here and blah, blah, blah, and this time we just realized, okay, actually everybody has such great ideas; just don't control each other. We don't need to actually stick in a studio for pre-production for two months because everybody did it for himself. Let's just listen to it and say, 'Wow, cool.' So this time we've been some lazy backs, actually, and just said, you know, pre-production we just do ourselves back at home, everybody in his own studio, and we just take the technique we are given. Internet is great, and you can have live sessions online, and that made life so much easier because everybody is just relieved that you [are] still at home. You still work hard, but you're at home. And as we all know, when you're at home, work doesn't hurt that much as being back in the studio again somewhere in the world, but not with your family. And nowadays you can actually have your family life, you have your eight, nine hours per day in the studio, you yourself decide when you make a break or when you go and have a meal with your lady or go down to the beach, in my case. That makes life so much easier and much more enjoyable than sitting in a fricking studio again and again and again, each and every day for two months, just for a pre-production, which you could easily do at home together. So this time, I have to say there's confidence that we earned for each other that helped a lot to make things even more easygoing. And I think that's exactly what you listen, when you go through the songs and you listen to them — you feel that easiness: 'Wow. Wow. Okay, cool.' I love it. So that's the way to go."

He then clarified: "I don't wanna say that I want to be back at home when I'm on tour. So I hate the idea of laser shows or something like that. As long as I can walk, I want to be on stage. But production-wise, I have to say I love the technique we have nowadays."

Regarding how HELLOWEEN has managed to pull off the seemingly impossible by keeping all seven members of the band happy — returning singer Michael Kiske and guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen along with Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble — Andi said: "I think the only thing you need to accept [is] that you are different people. I think that's the main problem we had back in the days because everybody actually expected the other to be and react and have the same opinion [as] yourself. And when you are realizing, okay, we are all different people, so you have to accept that everybody probably has a different point of view, at least a millimeter to the left or millimeter to right. And you have to sit down and actually find a compromise. If you accept that everybody is different, that's not a bad thing. You just have to accept that you yourself may fail here and there, and maybe the other one is right. And when you're getting older, you have decades of comparisons, and you realize, 'Okay, here I fucked up, there I fucked up, here I wasn't right, here I wasn't right.' You need that experience, and when you have that, you are a little bit more humble, because you know you did things wrong or you know you haven't been right back in the days here and there and blah, blah, blah. So, if you take that at a base, everything works out fine. And you just sit down with that knowledge and try to find a solution, which is good enough for all here in the room. And, yeah, that went down super the last few years, I mean, no problem at all. Even if somebody was pissed off, completely pissed off for whatever reason, again, that somebody did not react like he did back in the days, like with aggression or something like that, but in normal words and said, 'Hey, I have a little problem here. You said this and that and blah, blah, blah. And how did you mean that?' And then here comes the explanation and you go, like, 'Oh, okay, all good. Thanks.'"

Upon its release in June 2021, "Helloween" landed in the Top 10 in more than 10 countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The cover artwork for the LP was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.

Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, the last HELLOWEEN LP was recorded in part at the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (where everything started in 1984). The same recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as "Master Of The Rings", "Time Of The Oath" and "Better Than Raw" was utilized to record the band's new material. The effort was mixed at the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, RAMMSTEIN).

"Helloween" saw the legendary German power metallers going "back to the roots," with the band recording fully analog and Löble playing the drum kit previously used by HELLOWEEN's original drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" recordings.

HELLOWEEN will release a new live album, "Live At Budokan", on December 13, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal effort immortalizes HELLOWEEN's September 16, 2023 performance at Tokyo's legendary Nippon Budokan.

"Live At Budokan" will be available in a plethora of formats: 2CD-digipak and 3LP vinyl in trifold with the first print run of both coming as "deluxe edition" including embossed cover artwork, as well as Blu-ray, DVD and digital. Each version is meticulously crafted to suit the metal community's diverse tastes, ensuring every fan can relive the raw, unfiltered energy of HELLOWEEN in their preferred medium.

This release celebrates the grand finale of HELLOWEEN's epic world tour from 2022 to 2023. Spanning over 30 countries on three continents, the tour was nothing short of a triumph, drawing massive crowds and showcasing the band's undying appeal, the sold-out concert in Tokyo is the crowning glory of the cycle.

Earlier this month, ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera underwent a successful surgery for posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) on a day off during the band's ongoing North American tour as the support act for W.A.S.P. Posterior vitreous detachment is a common age-related eye problem that occurs when the gel that fills your eyeball (vitreous gel) separates from your retina.

On Wednesday (December 11),Vera took to his social media to offer the following update on his condition: "It's been 9 days since I had laser surgery to correct a tear in my left eye's retina. I'm still travelling and performing but I was able to see a specialist in San Diego yesterday. He said the surgery looked good and that it was healing well.

"My eyesight is still very blurry due to the bleeding from the tear, but he says over the next month or so it should begin to clear up.
I've been very lucky that this did not turn into something worse such as a full detachment, and I was able to see quality doctors and speak with several friends all who helped me get through this.

"I want to send a deep Thank You to everyone who reached out to me or sent me well wishes. You all helped me get through a pretty scary event and your concern really made a big difference.
Thank you!

"4 more shows and I'm home. Reno, Vegas, SF, LA. Let's do this!"

The news of Vera's surgery was broken on December 3 by ARMORED SAINT singer John Bush, who shared the following update via the band's social media: "After going out to Thanksgiving dinner in New Orleans with the band and our crew, and then a hang with a couple guys from WASP and their crew, Joey Vera went to sleep. When he woke up in the morning in Houston he realized his left eye was impaired. His vision looked like it was only at 60% and he had several huge floaters in his sight. Hoping it was just fatigue he went on with his day and SAINT played Houston, the first of three dates in Texas. The next day when he woke up in San Antonio the eye was not better and obviously worse. He became extremely concerned and found an Ophthalmologist. The doctor was not a specialist but did various tests and said it was very possible this was something called PVD, Posterior Vitreous Detachment. The doctor recommended seeing a Retinal specialist but it was too late in the day to do that. Joey explained the situation to the band but the show had to go on. So Joey subdued himself onstage (which is not a natural state for him as a performer) and we rocked the house at the Aztec theatre.

"By Sunday in Dallas even though he didn't show it, his anxiety had grown extremely high. Because it was Sunday there were few options to see a doctor. He decided after the show (he performed again mind you) to go to the Baylor University emergency hospital. Unfortunately there was little they could do test wise other than an ultrasound which again confirmed PVD but not much else. The band reluctantly contacted a couple of bass player friends in case he would have to go home so we could continue the tour.

"Finally having an off day on Monday, the band stayed in Dallas (our next show is in Little Rock, Arkansas tonight) and Joey found a Retinal specialist in Fort Worth. The Specialist confirmed he had PVD with a tear on the retina and confirmed the blurry eyesight he was seeing in his eye was blood. He recommended immediate laser surgery. He had about ten minutes to make a decision. After considering the limited options he decided what to do. 'Gotta do it!'

"The surgery went well and other than an Uber ride from hell Joey returned to the band bus feeling more relieved physically and emotionally. It will take several weeks before his sight will return to normal and follow up doctor visits are on tap.

"Arriving in Little Rock on Tuesday Joey and the band are ready to resume playing our last 10 shows of this 7 week tour with WASP.

"If Joey is a little more tame than he usually is onstage, I know you'll all understand why. Although I'm sure it will be difficult for this bad ass mother fucker to contain himself."

ARMORED SAINT is working on material for the follow-up to the band's eighth full-length album, "Punching The Sky", which came out in October 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

This past June, ARMORED SAINT released a rendition of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)". The classic track was originally written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and was first released by PEOPLE in 1970. Additional covers include THE FOUR TOPS (1974),SANTANA (1978) and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (1989).

"One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" was produced by ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Maor Applebaum.

ARMORED SAINT released the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album's 30th anniversary. "Symbol Of Salvation Live" was a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City's famed Gramercy Theatre during its 2018 tour.

In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

In May 2023, ARMORED SAINT's long-awaited documentary, Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers", had its world premiere in the band's hometown at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Earlier in the year, ARMORED SAINT wrapped up a successful North American tour with QUEENSRŸCHE.

Hello everyone,
Here's an update on my eye:
It's been 9 days since I had laser surgery to correct a tear in my left...

Posted by Joey Vera on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

LORDOFTHE80S has uploaded video of I AM MORBID's December 11 concert at the Lovedraft's Brewing Co. in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Check out the clips below.

I AM MORBID, the band featuring former MORBID ANGEL members David Vincent (bass, vocals) and Pedro "Pete" Sandoval (drums),along with guitarists Richie Brown (EXMORTUS, THE ABSENCE, TRIVIUM) and Bill Hudson (NORTHTALE, DORO),kicked off the seventh annual "Devastation On The Nation" U.S. tour on November 15 at Orpheum in Tampa, Florida.

I AM MORBID, which plays material from MORBID ANGEL's "Altars Of Madness" (1989),"Blessed Are The Sick" (1991),"Covenant" (1993) and "Domination" (1995) albums, was added as to this year's "Devastation On The Nation" tour after the previous headliner, MORBID ANGEL, pulled out of the trek "due to unforeseen circumstances", according to the tour organizers.

In October 2022, I AM MORBID parted ways with guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (POSSESSED, DIABOLIC, UNHOLY GHOST) and replaced him with Brown.

Brown made his live debut with I AM MORBID at the Grita Fest in Colombia.

I AM MORBID's spring 2022 European tour marked the first time Sandoval and Vincent played together in 12 years.

Sandoval, who now lives his life as a born-again Christian, was forced to leave MORBID ANGEL in 2010 after undergoing surgery for a prolapsed disc.

Vincent told Invisible Oranges in a December 2013 interview that Pete had "found Jesus," which meant that Sandoval and MORBID ANGEL were no longer "compatible."

Prior to joining I AM MORBID, Sandoval had spent a few years recording and touring with TERRORIZER, whose latest studio album, "Caustic Attack", was released in October 2018 via The End Records.

Vincent left MORBID ANGEL in 2015. He has since been replaced by a returning Steve Tucker, who previously handled bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs.

KK's Priest - featuring former Judas Priest members K.K. Downing and Tim "Ripper" Owens - performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Rock Hard Festival. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing their song, "Hellfire Thunderbolt", can be viewed below:





KK's Priest unveiled their blistering sophomore offering, The Sinner Rides Again, in September 2023.




With The Sinner Rides Again, KK's Priest double down on the ripping melodic force of their debut, Sermons Of The Sinner. The Sinner Rides Again wields nine tracks of pure hellfire, produced and written by Downing and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen. The celebrated new album is a call for the classics while speeding full force into the future, delivered by some of heavy metal’s most essential performers.


Order The Sinner Rides Again here.





Tracklisting:


“Sons Of The Sentinel”
“Strike Of The Viper”
“Reap The Whirlwind”
“One More Shot At Glory”
“Hymn 66”
“The Sinner Rides Again”
“Keeper Of The Graves”
“Pledge Your Souls”
“Wash Away Your Sins”


“Sons Of The Sentinel” video:

Octoploid - the band founding by Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine (bass, keyboards, backing vocals / Amorphis, Barren Earth, Mannhai) - have released a lyric video for "Coast Of The Drowned Sailors", featuring on the debut album, Beyond The Aeons, released back in July via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).


A message reveals, "'Coast of the Drowned Sailors is a conscious nod to the '90s, and the only possible interpreter for it was Mister Tomi Koivusaari. The track marries the essence of original melodic death metal with elements of slide and acoustic guitar characteristic of southern rock ballads. Also featured is Jani ”Joãnitor” Muurinen, the legendary vocalist from the band Xysma, who delivers the more hopeful part of the lyrics. Overall, 'Sailors' is an unapologetically old-school melodic death metal track executed with a modern touch!"







Beyond The Aeons was crafted at E-Studio in Sipoo, Finland where Petri Majuri (Hanoi Rocks, Michael Monroe) took care of mixing the eight tracks and David Castillo (Katatonia, Leprous, Opeth) mastered the album. Orion Landau (Carcass, YOB, Russian Circles ) completed the magnificent package with dreamy artwork.


Order/stream Beyond The Aeons here





Tracklisting:


"The Dawns In Nothingness" [feat. Mikko Kotamäki] *
"Coast Of The Drowned Sailors" [feat. Tomi Koivusaari & Janitor Muurinen] *
"Human Amoral" [f

metal band, is known for their infectious riffs, melodic sensibility, and socially conscious lyrics. Throughout their long career, the band has explored numerous topical themes, and their latest single, "Sky Falls Down", is no exception.


The band shares their thoughts on the song’s message:


“This track delves into the challenges of modern communication, such as the endless flow of information and the shouting matches often seen on social media and in the mainstream media. The lyrics invite listeners to reflect on how to navigate the constant noise and maintain a healthy sense of critical thinking without being misled – whether through opinion shaping or outright manipulation. Additionally, the song emphasizes the importance of genuine, person-to-person interaction and how easily that connection can be lost through instant messaging instead of face-to-face encounters.”

Thrilled to announce the latest signing to M-Theory Audio is the progressive death metal entity, Fractal Universe. Recognized for their boundary-pushing sound, technical mastery, and captivating live performances, Fractal Universe have carved a unique path in the modern metal scene and M-Theory Audio is pleased to be a part of the French quartet’s next chapter.


This begins today as Fractal Universe unleash "The Seed Of Singularity" on the unsuspecting public via digital single on all streaming/download platforms, as well as an epic music video that showcases their genre-defying creativity.


“’The Seed Of Singularity’ talks about a dystopian future where our society reaches the technological singularity - a point of no return where technological progress becomes uncontrollable and irreversible In such a future, humans cease to be the ‘dominant’ species and have been surpassed, even in fields we thought were specific to humankind, such as art,” explains singer/guitarist Vince Wilquin. “The music video shows a painter that has become a mere tool, as she’s plugged to a machine that guides her every move.”




Find the video below.


“The Seed Of Singularity” comes from Fractal Universe’s next opus, The Great Filters, to be released on April 4. It’s the group’s most ambitious, diverse and intricate album to date pushing the boundaries of the band’s unique saxophone-drenched take on progressive metal. Fractal Universe is celebrated for their ability to push the boundaries of metal, combining heavy riffs, melodic elements, and jazz influences.





The Great Filters will be released on limited-edition (500) red with black splatter vinyl, Digipak CD, digital and an exclusive to band/label red and cream marble vinyl limited to 200 copies and bundle options with album t-shirt. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"The Void Above"
"The Great Filter"
"Causality's Grip"
"The Seed Of Singularity"
"The Equation Of Abundance"
"Specific Obsolescence"
"Dissecting The Real"
"Concealed"
"A New Cycle"


"The Seed Of Singularity" video:

Tarja has released the official video for the Nightwish medley, "Tutankhamen" / "Ever Dream" / "The Riddler" / "Slaying The Dreamer", from her just released Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest, available via earMUSIC. Watch below:





On June 19, 2016, Tarja delivered a captivating performance at Hellfest, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious metal festivals held in Clisson, France. Her powerful blend of operatic vocals and heavy metal instrumentation enthralled the audience, making her performance one of the festival's highlights. The setlist featured a carefully curated mix of her solo work and iconic Nightwish songs.




Opening with “No Bitter End” from her 2016 album, The Shadow Self, Tarja set the tone for an evening of intensity and emotion. Her dynamic stage presence and dramatic musical arrangements created an unforgettable experience, solidifying her status as one of metal's greatest female singers.


Experience the raw energy and powerful emotion of Tarja Turunen's unforgettable performance at Hellfest 2016. Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest is available as a Ltd. 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital. Order here.

David Coverdale, the powerful voice behind Whitesnake and former Deep Purple frontman, sees his solo work shine brightly in a new collection featuring remixed, remastered, and revisited versions of his solo albums Whitesnake (1977), NorthWinds (1978), and Into The Light (2000).


Into The Light: The Solo Albums is available through Rhino Records as a 6CD boxed set. It comes packaged in a hardcover box featuring a 60-page book with rare photos, detailed liner notes, and a new interview with Coverdale. The newly remixed version of Into The Light is also available separately as a double vinyl album presented in a gatefold sleeve.


Watch "Too Many Tears" (Official Video 2024 Remix) below:







The boxed set features two versions of Coverdale’s solo albums: one newly remixed to deliver a more dynamic sonic experience and a second remastered from the original recordings for those who want to revisit the classic sound. The remixed versions feature significant updates (particularly to Whitesnake and NorthWinds) and utilize cutting-edge audio separation software. The track "Time & Again" from NorthWinds benefited from innovative voice extraction technology, allowing for new string and piano arrangements that Coverdale has envisioned for decades.


Coverdale shares, “The remixes are modern, using new technology to squeeze the best out of them… Truly exciting to revisit and take care of any technical ‘issues’ I had with the tracks all those years ago.”


Into The Light, Coverdale’s third solo album, boasts an impressive musical lineup that includes guitarists Earl Slick (David Bowie) and Doug Bossi, bassist Marco Mendoza (who later joined Whitesnake), legendary drummer Denny Carmassi (Montrose, Whitesnake), and keyboardist Mike Finningan (Jimi Hendrix). The remixed version of the album expands the original with songs like "Let’s Talk It Over" and "All The Time In The World". The collection also offers additional remixes, demos, and outtakes from the album, including "With All Of My Heart". Coverdale wrote the song for his wife and considers it one of the best he’s ever written.


The set also revisits NorthWinds, and Whitesnake Coverdale’s first two solo albums recorded immediately after leaving Deep Purple. Both albums have been reimagined and re-sequenced for the upcoming collection. NorthWinds includes some new arrangements and additional tracks like "Sweet Mistreater" and "Shame The Devil, Tell The Truth", breathing new life into this classic. Whitesnake features impossible remixes thanks to AI sound separation softwares, courtesy of technology that has only been available in the last couple of years.


Order here.





6CD tracklisting:


CD1: Into The Light (Remix)
"She Give Me"
"River Song"
"Don’t You Cry"
"Love Is Blind"
"Slave"
"Cry For Love"
"Living On Love"
"Midnight Blue"
"Too Many Tears"
"Don’t Lie To Me"
"All The Time In The World"
"Wherever You May Go"
"Yours For The Asking"
"Let’s Talk It Over"


CD2: Into The Light (Additional Remixes)
"Love Is Blind" (Band Version)
"As Long As I Have You"
"With All Of My Heart"
"Wherever You May Go" (Strings Version)
"Love Is Blind" (Strings Version)


Demos & Unfinished Symphonies
"Lust"
"Oh No Not The Blues Again"
"Into The Light Intro"
"Into The Light"
"You Make It Hard On Me"
"Would You Be Happy"
"Fooling Yourself"
"Make The Best Of It"
"Veda of Cassandra Blues"
"I Can See The Light"
"Another Fallen Angel"
"Itchy Finger"


Original Demos 1997
"Crazy ’Bout Cha" (Original Version of "Whipping Boy Blues")
"If You Want Me"
"Lay Your Love On Me" (Original Version of "Lay Down Your Love")


CD3: NorthWinds (2024 Remix)
"Keep On Giving Me Love"
"Sweet Mistreater"
"NorthWinds"
"Give Me Kindness"
"Queen Of Hearts"
"Only My Soul"
"Time & Again" (String Version)
"Say You Love Me"
"Shame The Devil, Tell The Truth"
"Breakdown"
"Time & Again" (Piano Version)
"Time & Again" (Strings Only)


CD4: Whitesnake MCMLXXVII (2024 Remix)
"Lady"
"Blindman"
"Goldies Place"
"Time On My Side"
"Peace Lovin’ Man"
"Sunny Days"
"Hole In The Sky"
"WhiteSnake"
"Celebration"


Young Lad's Blues (DC’s 1968 Home Demos)
"Sunny Days" (Original)
"Love Me In The Morning"
"I Will Love You"
"Moment In Time"
"It Would Be Nice"
"There Was A Time"
"Why?"
"I Still Love You"


CD5: Into The Light (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"She Give Me"
"River Song"
"Don’t You Cry"
"Love Is Blind"
"Slave"
"Cry for Love"
"Living On Love"
"Midnight Blue"
"Too Many Tears"
"Don’t Lie To Me"
"Wherever You May Go"


CD6: Whitesnake (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"Lady"
"Blindman"
"Goldies Place"
"Time On My Side"
"Peace Lovin’ Man"
"Sunny Days"
"Hole In The Sky"
"Celebration"
"WhiteSnake"


NorthWinds (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"Keep On Giving Me Love"
"NorthWinds"
"Give Me Kindness"
"Time & Again"
"Queen Of Hearts"
"Only My Soul"
"Say You Love Me"
"Breakdown"


All tracks previously unreleased, except CD2 track 8, CD5 & CD6.

Bloodstock Open Air 2024 organizers have released the new video below, along with the following message:


"On August 9th, 2024, the legendary Swedish progressive metal band Opeth graced the stage as the highly anticipated headliners of the Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival at Catton Park, UK. Known for their groundbreaking fusion of death metal, progressive rock, and atmospheric melodies, Opeth delivered an unforgettable night of music that thrilled metalheads from all over the world.


"This video captures their powerful live performance of 'Ghost of Perdition', a fan-favorite from their critically acclaimed album Ghost Reveries. The track showcases Opeth’s unique ability to balance ferocious growls, intricate guitar work, and hauntingly beautiful melodies - all delivered with unparalleled musicianship and emotional intensity. Mikael Åkerfeldt’s commanding presence as a frontman, combined with the band’s precision and energy, brought this classic track to life in a way that only Opeth can.




"The crowd at Bloodstock 2024 was mesmerized, headbanging and chanting along as Opeth worked their magic under the night sky. The sheer energy and synergy between the band and the audience made this a defining moment of the festival. Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the world of Opeth, this performance is sure to leave a lasting impression."





Opeth's 14th studio album, The Last Will And Testament, was officially released on November 22 via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget and is now charting internationally.


The current positions can be found below:





The Last Will And Testament lands at #26 on BraveWords' BravePicks 2024 Top 30, currently counting down here.


Opeth's fourteenth album was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). The Last Will And Testament was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on The Last Will And Testament were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting "photograph" reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick's infamous "Overlook Hotel" photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.


Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson's signature notes fly on "§4" and "§7", he narrates on "§1", "§2", "§4", and "§7". Joining Anderson, Europe's Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on "§2”, while Åkerfeldt's youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in "§1".


The Last Will A Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth's finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.


The Last Will And Testament is available worldwide via Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music. Order here.


Album cover by Travis Smith.





The Last Will And Testament tracklisting:


"§1"
"§2"
"§3"
"§4"
"§5"
"§6"
"§7"
"A Story Never Told"


"§4" lyric video:





"§3":





"§1" (Radio Edit) lyric video:





Track by track video:

Listenable Records have announced the addition of Belgium’s most ferocious offspring Coffin Feeder.


Featuring members of Aborted, Leng Tch’e, When Plagues Collide and Fleddy Melculy, Coffin Feeder spews forth a high energy blend of groove laden death metal, grind and hardcore. 
Since its inception in 2021, Coffin Feeder have unleashed two EP’s (Stereo Homicide, Over The Top) and played a ton of club shows through Europe. 


With already some festivals in Europe under their belt such as Brutal Assault & Summer Breeze, the band is continuing to take names and kick ass worldwide.
 
Hot on the heels of The Beast Against Beast European tour past November with their brothers Benighted and Baest, COFFIN FEEDER Have now been focusing on the release of their forthcoming album.

h 7, 2025 through Scarlet Records.


The band shared the following official statement to introduce the concept behind this work:


“On the occasion of the 2025 Catholic Church's Jubilee, Damnatio Aeterna will be a concept album featuring a story with strong anticlerical and satanic connotations. It is a satirical tale in which a demon named Malchrum is tasked with an inferna

In a new interview with Andrew McKaysmith of the Scars And Guitars podcast, former IN FLAMES and current THE HALO EFFECT bassist Peter Iwers was asked if he has ever been approached about writing an autobiography. Peter responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "A few years ago, we released a book called 'An Odd Story'. And I wouldn't say it's a biography per se, but it's a story about Daniel [Svensson, former IN FLAMES and current THE HALO EFFECT drummer] and me. It starts with our final shows with IN FLAMES and it ends with the first show of THE HALO EFFECT, and then everything in between. And the author, he interviewed us for a long, long time, individually and then together, and then he traveled with us and then he spent a lot of times with us and he kind of wrote what he saw. So that's as far as I've come."

He continued: "Nobody's actually approached me about doing [an autobiography], but I have a lot of material and I do have a story to tell. My concern is that every time I read a biography with somebody else, there's always some — it might not be bitterness, but it comes out as bitterness. And I think that's a shame, because I wanna celebrate the life that I've lived, instead of sounding angry, because I'm not. So I do have a story to tell, but I'm very, very eager that it's being told in a positive way. Even the dark stuff needs to be approached in a different way. So, absolutely, I'm open for it."

"One of the best biographies that I've ever read is Sammy Hager's 'Red'. Even though he's basically saying that he's been such an asshole, but it's still with a smile, 'cause he never meant to be. And I think it's a very inspiring story, and he seems to have a great relationship with his kids and all that stuff these days."

Peter added: "I have a lot of stuff written down already that I actually wrote. I've been writing all my time throughout IN FLAMES, like snippets here and there. I know how I want it to start — I have the first chapter, like this is it. So yeah, maybe one day. The thing is, when I write, I've gotta get into writing mode and I've gotta kind of put my mind back to back then and take some time."

Iwers left IN FLAMES in November 2016, saying in a statement that he was exiting the group "to pursue other endeavors."

In January 2021, several months prior to THE HALO EFFECT's public unveiling, Peter told the "Vox&Hops" podcast: "I loved being on the road for most of the years that I was with [IN FLAMES], and I miss the good times. I have no regrets as far as leaving, but, of course, sometimes I really miss just being free and out and playing shows and traveling to new places every day."

He continued: "I'm kind of not missing spending time thinking about stuff like that. I'm kind of more living where I am now, where I'm actually free to do whatever I can with my own time. I own my own time, as I like to say; I can plan it however I like it. And I'm kind of focusing on enjoying that rather than missing the past.

"It's fun to reminisce, but at the same time, it can take you down a dangerous road as well," Peter added.

In a 2017 interview with Ireland's Overdrive, Björn said that he wasn't surprised by Peter's departure from IN FLAMES. "It wasn't a 'shock,' so to speak, as we kind of knew that it was coming," he said. "I think he was just done with it all and not happy. No, 'happy' is the wrong word. He just wanted to pursue other things. Peter is a very, very busy guy. He has his own brewery with Daniel called Odd Island Brewing and he's also got four or five different musical projects happening, so he's really got his hands full at the moment."

Shortly after leaving IN FLAMES, Iwers joined CYHRA, the band featuring vocalist Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (ex-IN FLAMES). He announced his departure from that band in May 2018.