Bloody Times is back with a new EP titled No Fear with the vocal spot featuring a set of three different guests: Zak Stevens (USA; Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Archon Angel, Circle II Circle), David Marcelis (Netherlands; Thorium, Lord Volture) and again John Greely (USA; Ex-Iced Earth, Seventh Servant) who was the main singer on the previous album On A Mission. Also, the co-founder of Manowar Ross Friedman (USA; Ross the Boss) appears on the new release again with his guitar.


While the origin of the band is deep in the Black Forest, Germany, all other participants join in from all around the globe. The core of the band is described by bassist and founder Simon Pfundstein and lead guitarist Balazs Fleischhauer from Finland, while drummer Konstantinos Gkialos sits in Greece. Thanks to modern technology, creating music remotely is not an issue at all.







Once more Bloody Times stays true to itself and the traditional heavy metal tunes. What you can expect is music inspired from the classic ‘80s metal bands. Noticeably influenced from Joey DeMaio’s older Manowar songs, bassist Simon used an octave 8-String bass guitar on all songs. Yet Bloody Times finds success in creating new refreshing heavy metal music that does not feel like an old shoe.


Head here to order No Fear. 

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers AT THE GATES have parted ways with their 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.

Earlier today (Saturday, July 23),AT THE GATES issued the following statement via social media: "AT THE GATES have chosen to part ways with guitar player Jonas Stålhammar. We are currently working to find a replacement for the upcoming shows."

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.

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.

"At the gates have chosen to part ways with guitar player Jonas Stålhammar. We are currently working to find a replacement for the upcoming shows."

Posted by At The Gates on Saturday, July 23, 2022

Last Friday Graveshadow released their anticipated new album, The Uncertain Hour, and kicked off a west coast tour. Today Graveshadow release their next music video “Vengeance Of Envy.”


“I’m excited to release this song because of its straightforward and rock heavy sound,” states singer Rachl “Raxx” Quinn. “Rock ‘n roll is a large part of my origin, and the mesh of hard rock and heavy metal culminates in something I think that is truly special.”







The Uncertain Hour was produced by Miss May I guitarist Justin Aufdemkampe (Clutch, War of Ages), mastered by Roman Ismaylov (Crobot, Zoe’s Extraordinary Playlist) and features artwork by Roman Ismaylov (Battle Beast, Beast In Black).


Orders for CD and limited-edition (200) vinyl copies are available here.





Tracklisting:


"Soldier Of 34"
"Gwynnbleidd"
"Sea Of Apparitions"
"The Swordsman"
"Vengeance Of Envy"
"Beautiful End"
"The Betrayer"
"Shadow Battles"
"The Two Lived"
"Damsel's Finesse"


"The Swordsman" visualizer:





"Soldier Of 34" video:





The Uncertain Hour sees the new lineup for Graveshadow continue to refine the enticing mix of symphonic, gothic, doom, and epic progressive-metal elements, now augmented by the newfound energy that has been brought into the band by the soaring melodic vocals of Quinn and the rumbling rhythm section of Rae and Bones. The duo of Walker and Robitsch once again deliver a beautiful display of guitar histrionics that tastefully mix searing shred with warm melody. Graveshadow are back on the scene with a story to tell. Intertwining melodic highs and crushing lows to sweep listeners away on a journey of self-discovery, loss and the will to carry on.

Germany's Sinner recently released their new studio album, Brotherhood, via Atomic Fire Records. The album hit the official German album chart at #2 - the highest position of their multi-decade career so far.





Brotherhood was produced by Mat Sinner, co-produced by guitarist Tom Naumann, and recorded by Basi Roeder at Backyard Studios as well as Mitch Kunz at Apollo 13 Audio. Jacob Hansen mixed and mastered it at Hansen Studios, Denmark. Artwork was completed by 123RF GmbH / W. Cliff Knese (Terrafolio).




Order the album here.





Brotherhood tracklisting:


"Bulletproof"
"We Came To Rock"
"Reach Out"
"Brotherhood"
"Refuse To Surrender"
"The Last Generation"
"Gravity"
"The Man They Couldn't Hang"
"The Rocker Rides Away"
"My Scars"
"40 Days 40 Nights"
"When You Were Young" (The Killers cover) **


** Bonus Track (physical only)


“The Last Generation” lyric video:





"Brotherhood" lyric video:





"Bulletproof" lyric video:





Brotherhood Special Guests:


Dave Ingram
Erik Martensson
Giorgia Colleluori
Lisa Müller
Mark Basile
Neil Witchard
Oliver Palotai
Ralf Scheepers
Ronnie Romero
Sascha Krebs
Stef E.
Tom Englund


Lineup:


Mat Sinner - vocals, bass
Tom Naumann - guitars
Alex Scholpp - guitars
Markus Kullmann - drums


(Photo - Dominic Pencz)

With their sophomore album, Welcome To The Chaos, now available worldwide via Hopeless Records, Florida rockers Fame On Fire are celebrating the release by unveiling their next official single and music video from the album.


The title track, “Welcome To The Chaos”, features Ice Nine Kills vocalist Spencer Charnas on the song and is sure to become a new fan favorite. The video for the song, produced by longtime collaborators Roman Films along with Manuel Soto, creates an exciting visual carnival for the senses that showcases the creativity of the band comprised of Bryan Kuznitz (vocals), Blake Saul (guitarist), Paul Spirou (bass), and Alex Roman (drums).







Welcome To The Chaos is available to order and save here.





Tracklisting:


“Intro”
“Welcome To The Chaos” feat. Ice Nine Kills’ Spencer Charnas
“Ketamine”
“Cut Throat”
“Emo Shit” feat. Kody Lavigne
“Lost In Doubt”
“Robbery”
“Signs”
“Plastic Heart”
“Rotting Away”
“Back Then”
“Jaded”
“Dead Or Alive”


"Ketamine":





“Cut Throat” video:





“Plastic Heart” acoustic video:





(Photo - Arthur Lucena / Gold Rabbit Media)

Iberian black/death metal outfit and recent MNRK Heavy signees, Noctem, will unleash their maniacal Credo Certe Ne Cras full-length on October 28, today unveiling the record’s first single, artwork, and pre-orders.


In spirit, presentation, and philosophy, Noctem shares much in common with Watain, Rotting Christ, Belphegor, and Gorgoroth, while sprouting their own decaying branch of a rotten metal tree. Any extreme band with Spanish-style nylon string guitars in their arsenal owes a sizable debt to them. The band unveiled its fifth full-length studio album, The Black Consecration, in 2019.


Noctem follows that career landmark with a new, definitive masterpiece, merging the crushing cacophony of angry, adrenaline-fuelled lust with newfound sorrows and mournful melodic might. Credo Certe Ne Cras (“I Believe With Certainty That There Is No Tomorrow”) is a work of art. The album demands to be experienced as much as listened to, invoking ritualistic examination.




As emphasized in the brilliant album opener “I Am Alpha,” vocalist Beleth conceived of Noctem over twenty years ago. It grew to monstrous proportions, embodied in the album closer “We Are Omega,” which celebrates the unstoppable lineup completed by Moss (guitars), Tobal (guitars), Varu (bass), and Voor (drums). Credo Certe Ne Cras broadens its old-school-sounding predecessor's raw, filthy fury with bigger production and melody without sacrificing the frostbitten 200 mph winds of anger and blast beats.


In advance of the Credo Certe Ne Cras’ official unveiling this fall, today the band unleashes a video for first single, the aforementioned “We Are Omega”. Notes the band, “It gives us divine pleasure, and great delight to finally be able to present the first single from our next full-length album to our faithful horde of devils. ‘We Are Omega’ represents a new dawn, and the oncoming album - a new era.”


Watch the video below.


Credo Certe Ne Cras will be available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. Find pre-order options here.





Credo Certe Ne Cras trackisting:


"I Am Alpha"
"Sovereign Providence"
"Sanctum Of Anguish"
"Credo Certe Ne Cras"
"Homilia Of Punishment"
"The Pale Moon Rite"
"The Tolling Of The Nine Bells"
"Chalice Of Turpitude"
"Ceremonial Miasma"
"We Are Omega"


"We Are Omega" video:





Noctem:


Beleth - vocals
Varu - bass
Voor - drums
Moss - guitars
Tobal - guitars

Multi-platinum hard rock powerhouse, Five Finger Death Punch, have released a lyric video for "Times Like These", from their upcoming album, AfterLife. Watch below:





Pre-order AfterLife, available August 19, at this location.







Tracklisting:


"Welcome To The Circus"
"AfterLife"
"Times Like These"
"Roll Dem Bones"
"Pick Up Behind You"
"Judgment Day"
"IOU"
"Thanks For Asking"
"Blood And Tar "
"All I Know"
"Gold Gutter"
"The End"


"IOU" lyric video:





"AfterLife" lyric video:





"Welcome To The Circus" lyric video:





Five Finger Death Punch recently announced a 2022 North American headlining tour presented by Live Nation beginning this summer. The tour is set to start in Portland, Oregon on August 19, coinciding with their album release date, and will span over 30 dates as it closes out on October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The band will be joined on tour by very special guest Megadeth, with additional support from The Hu, and Fire From The Gods, promising an intense multi-faceted night of heavy rock music. Visit FiveFingerDeathPunch.com for dates and tickets.


(Photo - Travis Shinn)

Canadian rockers, Headstones, are back with their highly anticipated full-length album, Flight Risk, out October 14 via Known Accomplice. Flight Risk is pre-apocalyptic rock and roll at its finest, following up their 2019 release PeopleSkills, which garnered two Top 10 radio hits with “Leave It All Behind” and “Horses.”


This is one of the most subversive Headstones rock and roll records to date. Flight Risk is the result of years of relentless work ethic and dedication, a testament to the long-standing relationships within the band and their team. The album features a surprise co-write on the track "Ashes", between Hugh Dillon and long-time friend and collaborator Taylor Sheridan; one of the most prolific, premier storytellers of his time, and architect of hit series’ Yellowstone and 1883, Oscar-nominated films Sicario and Hell or High Water.


The first track, “Tangled” – shared last month - is a monstrously uncompromising ode to the 21st century, with elements of Link Wray, The Deadboys, and a hint of Dylan-esque disregard. The track is burning up rock radio with plays at Indie88 (Toronto), Live 88.5 (Ottawa), The Bear (Edmonton) and landing on key Spotify playlists Ready To Rock and New Music Friday.




The title track, “Flight Risk” – out today – is a defiant yet intricate juxtaposition of lyric and music, showcasing the band’s incredible songwriting talent, alongside Dillon’s rapid-fire vocals. Watch a video for the song below.


“You gotta try and try
You gotta dodge the motherfuckers
‘Cause they always keep coming
And there’s never any cover”


The album is available to pre-order/ pre-save here.





Tracklisting:


"Headlight Holds A Deer"
"Everything Or Nothing At All"
"Flight Risk"
"When It Goes Badly"
"Tangled"
"Hotel Room"
"Neon Rome"
"Ashes"
"Psychotropic"
"Pilot Light"
"Rink"


"Flight Risk" video:





"Tangled" video:





Lineup:


Hugh Dillon – vocals, harmonica
Trent Carr – guitar, vocals
Tim White – bass, vocals
Steve Carr – keys
Jesse Labovitz – drums

Oriental metal legends, Orphaned Land, announce the reissue of All Is One, their fifth full-length album, which originally was published in 2013. The album will be available as Gatefold double LP including an extended LP-Booklet featuring liner notes by Kobi Farhi and is set for release on September 23 via Century Media Records. Pre-order here.


Remastered for vinyl by Tony Lindgren from Fascination Street Studio, this 2022 reissue version includes two brand new tracks, “Brother” and “Let The Truce Be Known”, in a stripped remix version, mixed by the band’s own guitarist Idan Amsalem.


Just two weeks ago, Orphaned Land announced the vinyl reissue of Mabool - The Story Of The Three Sons Of Seven to be released on September 9.




“Great to have those two classics on stock again! We're super happy to also present the two new stripped remixes we did for the songs 'Brother' & ' Let The Truce Be Known' - as they turned out super nice!!! Also note that for Mabool I have written the longest liner notes EVER! with crazy stories behind the album. I can’t wait for you all to read them! - Enjoy those two diamonds,” states frontman Kobi Farhi about the new vinyl versions of All Is One and Mabool.





All Is One will be available in the following vinyl variants:


- Gatefold Black 2LP & LP-Booklet – Unlimited
- Gatefold Ultra-clear 2LP & LP-Booklet– 500x copies via CM Webshop / CM Distro Europe
- Gatefold Transparent sun red 2LP & LP-Booklet– 300x copies via official band shop


Orphaned Land is:


Kobi Farhi (vocals)
Chen Balbus (guitars)
Idan Amsalem (guitars)
Uri Zelcha (bass)
Matan Shmuely (drums)

ZZ Top has announced the return of their Viva Las Vegas Residency at The Venetian Resort. Tickets for the following five shows: December 3, 4, 7, 9 and 10, go on sale Friday, July 22. The Tres Hombres Presale begins July 19. 


ZZ Top's next show is July 22 at Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, MA. Their complete tour schedule can be found here. 







ZZ Top are readying a new album titled Raw that was recorded in connection with the band’s wildly popular and critically lauded 2019 Netflix documentary That Little Ol’ Band From Texas. The Grammy-nominated feature from Banger Films and director Sam Dunn includes an interlude that finds the group’s classic lineup -- Billy Gibbons, Frank Beard and the late Dusty Hill -- gathering for a very intimate session at Gruene Hall, “the oldest continually run dance hall in Texas.” That performance provided the basis for the Raw album release.


The album’s title is derived from the unfettered and straightforward manner in which the tracks were recorded. As seen in the film, the band members played, for the most part, together within sight of each other in the course of one day. The methodology employed was something of an homage to the way ZZ Top recorded at the start of its epic five plus decades run at the pinnacle of rock’s pantheon. Billy F Gibbons served as producer with engineering by Jake Mann and Gary Moon; Raw was mixed by Ryan Hewitt. The album’s twelve tracks recall the very beginning of the band’s recording career (“Brown Sugar” and “Certified Blues” from ZZ Top’s First Album) and include many of their major hits (“Legs”, “Tush”, “LaGrange”, “Gimme All Your Lovin’”) with a definite blues skew (“Blue Jean Blues”, “Just Got Paid”, “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”) as well as some up-tempo house rockers (“Tube Snake Boogie”, “Thunderbird”).


Raw will be released July 22 by Shelter Records/BMG on 180 gram vinyl, CD and through digital platforms and is dedicated “In righteous memory of Dusty Hill.” The album’s liner notes by Billy and Frank explain the approach:


“...it was, in a very real way, a return to our roots. Just us and the music, no audience of thousands, no concession stands, no parking lot social hour, no phalanx of tour busses. Just us and the music.


We knew right then it was a very special circumstance, all of us in the same place at the same time and what a time it most certainly was!


It was as bare bones as when we first started touring in a behemoth Chrysler station wagon, driving vast stretches between those early far-flung shows under blackened Texas skies and first hearing our records on the radio. We were bonded as brothers.


‘The Dust’ may have left the building but he’s still very much with us.”





Tracklisting:


Side 1


"Brown Sugar"
"Just Got Paid"
"Heard It On The X"
"La Grange"
"Tush"
"Thunderbird"


Side 2


"I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide"
"Gimme All Your Lovin’"
"Blue Jean Blues"
"Certified Blues"
"Tube Snake Boogie"


The official album teaser is available below. Pre-orders can be placed at this location.





 

Few musicians manage to make a worldwide impact with their music. Fewer still manage to pull that trick off twice - but Dez Fafara, the leader of DevilDriver, is one of this elite number. Formed in Santa Barbara, CA in 2002 when vocalist & frontman Dez Fafara’s previous band Coal Chamber were winding down, the five piece have since become a constant and dynamic force in the metal world over the best part of the last two decades. Now this deluxe collection of their first five albums entitled Clouds Over California documents their meteoric rise and will be available in deluxe splatter LP and expanded CD format on August 19 via BMG.


Pre-order here, and watch an unboxing video below.







DevilDriver’s first, self-titled album DevilDriver had established a successful, groove-heavy precedent on its release in 2003 – but when the Californian quintet got together to compose material for the follow-up album two years later, their music had evolved to an unexpected degree, the result was The Fury Of Our Makers Hand. 2007’s The Last Kind Words was recorded as the, then DevilDriver line-up reached the apogee of its powers, ranging from mercilessly fast extreme metal, to subtler, slower territory and all points between. When Pray For Villains was recorded and released in 2009 the album was a deliberate attempt by DevilDriver to step back a little, inject some textures into the songs and allow the music to breathe, while still staying true to their sound. Their fifth album, 2011’s Beast made a clear statement of intent. It’s predecessor was deliberately more introspective so the intention was to amp everything up tenfold this time by getting visceral and violent again.





LP Box Set:


- DevilDriver (White / Orange / Brown Splatter LP)
- The Fury In Our Maker’s Hand (Blue / Orange Splatter 2LP)
- The Last Kind Words (Yellow / Beige / Green splatter 2LP)
- Pray For Villains (White / Red / Black splatter 2LP)
- Beast (Purple and Green Swirl 2LP)


20 page book with liner notes by Dez Fafara.





CD Box Set:


- DevilDriver
- The Fury In Our Maker’s Hand
- The Last Kind Words
- Pray For Villains
- Beast


Each CD includes booklet with line notes by Dez Fafara.


Unboxing video:

Earlier this month, SCORPIONS singer Klaus Meine was asked by Greece's RockPages.gr how much "gas is left in the tank" for him and his bandmates after more than five decades of rocking as a group. He responded: "We played almost 30 shows now this year after two years break because of the pandemic. And I think there's still a lot of gas in the tank. When you imagine that we went through shows we did in the U.S. and now all over Europe, it looks like there's plenty of gas in the tank. It feels good."

This past May, Meine, who turned 74 that same month, told Portugal's "Metal Global" that there is no more talk of retirement for the SCORPIONS, as there was back in 2010 with what was purported to be a final album and a farewell tour that never quite took hold. "No, we scratched that word [retirement] out of our [vocabulary]," he said. "It's not there. We don't think about it and we don't talk about it and we take it as it comes.

"Who would have thought two years after the pandemic… The pandemic is not gone, unfortunately, but two years after this long, long break… We played the last show before we started [our residency] in Las Vegas on the 5th of March, 2020 in Singapore; that was the last show," he continued. "So it's scary. We never had such a long break. And then all of a sudden you're back in front of an audience, in front of the fans. But then you know it feels so good, and it still feels so good after all these years.

"We're just growing older and we do what we do and we hope our fans enjoy it as much as we do," Klaus added. "But who would have thought we're still around after celebrating 50 years of being recording artists — our first album came out in 1972 and now 'Rock Believer' looks like it hits the big time with the fans and so many positive reviews from all over the world. And after all these years, who would have thought? And it's a wonderful thing.

"But all we know is [that] the road ahead is way shorter than what's behind us. And we never take it for granted —we never take success for granted. We work hard on what we do because we still love it and we still enjoy it. But it's what it is. And I think every artist knows what I'm talking about, because to go out there, play a great show for the fans and not let 'em down, it takes a lot of preparation, takes a lot of work. And being the singer, you try to make sure your pipes are in a good condition.

"It's a lot of things," Meine said. "And we don't know what the future will bring. Take a look at the next corner, and you never know what's going on. But right now, life is good. We have a great new album out there. And we have a lot of fun. We enjoy it."

Meine previously discussed SCORPIONS' aborted retirement in a 2018 interview with SiriusXM. "The thing is we have a much different view now," Klaus said. "And it's a young generation — that's the fuel that keeps us going, and it's really motivating.

"To be honest, every other year, you take a look around the corner: 'Can we do this?' 'Can we still deliver on the same high level, the way we used to do it?'" he admitted. "And that's the only way, and it's only fun if you can go out there and play a great rock show, wherever you do it. Like in the last couple of weeks, we had so much fun. But then you get sick on the road, like I did last year with the severe laryngitis. What can you do? There's not a chance. And then sometimes, of course, you ask yourself, 'How long can we do this?' Especially for singers — and I know I'm not the only one. But it's always, sometimes you ask yourself, 'Klaus, c'mon, how long can you keep up this level?' And then you go out there, everything feels good."

Circling back to SCORPIONS' 2010 "farewell tour" announcement, Klaus told SiriusXM: "Of course, we had our moment of doubt when we said, 'Okay. Maybe we should retire. Maybe this is a good moment.' And then we realized we were wrong, because there's still a lot of sting in the tail, so to speak, and it still feels good. There's such a demand for the SCORPIONS, and we're one of the few bands who play this global stage. If there wasn't this kind of demand, of course, there's no point after so many years, and you'd better go, 'Well, I go home and take it easy.' But there's such a strong demand and that really feels good and challenging — it's a challenge. Of course, you don't do it for the business. It's a good business, yes, but you don't do it for the business and for the money — you do it for the fun, you do it for what's inside of you, what's in your blood, what's in your veins, and that's the rock and roll music. And you wanna go out and play in front of an audience, because that's what it's all about."

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

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

IN FLAMES vocalist Anders Fridén spoke to Chaoszine about the band's upcoming fourteenth studio album, tentatively due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records. Asked how he and guitarist Björn Gelotte went about the songwriting process this time around, Anders said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Me and Björn, we live on different sides of [Sweden] — he lives in Gothenburg; I live in Stockholm — and we only saw each other once or twice during the whole pandemic. But towards the end, when we kind of felt like it's gonna open up for real, we started talking and then we decided to take a trip to the U.S. and just get the machine rolling again — write some stuff; just get things out of our system. So we spent some time — like, three weeks — in L.A. And then we flew home and had Christmas and so on, and then we flew back again and started recording stuff for real. But as soon as we got together, a few weeks in the writing process, it felt like it always has."

Anders went on to say that he and Björn "had to be in the same room" in order to maximize their songwriting efforts. "We feed off each other's energies and ideas and so on, and I don't think we can write apart," he explained. "I mean, we can, but it won't be the same. So we have to get in the same room and be amongst everyone in the band… Me and Björn, we are the ones that are writing everything. The other guys are obviously partaking and bringing in their energy and their skills to the band, but when it comes to the writing, it's not much different."

Speaking in more detail about the contributions of IN FLAMES' three American members — drummer Tanner Wayne, bassist Bryce Paul and guitarist Chris Broderick — Anders said: "They are great individual musicians, so they bring in their skills and their way of playing, and it's very unique from person to person. And that's what they bring. And also the feeling — it's such a good atmosphere within the band; there's no arguments, really, and we're just having a good time being around each other. And that helps the whole creative process. And what they've done… I mean, you will hear it whenever we… We released one new song, but more to come. You can hear it, what they do. They're amazing guys and amazing musicians and really good friends."

Asked if the first single from the upcoming album, "State Of Slow Decay", which arrived last month, is representative of the musical direction of the entire LP, Anders said: "I definitely think this [song] is a hint of what is happening, but they are individual tracks. And it's not gonna be 15 or 14 or 14, or however many songs we release, but it's not gonna be the same 'State Of Slow Decay' part one, two, three, four… That's not how it's gonna be.

"If you like IN FLAMES, then this album is a hundred percent for you," he continued. "It's a combination of the past, where we are today, like present, and where we're going.

"We never try to run away [from the past]," Anders explained. "I think when you listen to the music, what we've done before, it always has these elements. If we recorded all the albums in the same studio with the same producer at the same time, I don't think people would see that it's super different between album to album… We don't wanna repeat ourselves, but I think [this album] has a little bit for everyone."

IN FLAMES performed "State Of Slow Decay" — which was produced by Howard Benson, mixed by Joe Rickard and mastered by Ted Jensen — live for the first time on June 10 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

As previously reported, IN FLAMES will embark on a North American tour this September. Support on the trek will come from FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, ORBIT CULTURE and VENDED.

This past March, Gelotte confirmed that IN FLAMES' upcoming album was once again recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Benson and Howard's longtime engineer Mike Plotnikoff.

Gelotte discussed the progress of the recording sessions for IN FLAMES' fourteenth studio album while taking part in an online video chat on "The Metal Tour Of The Year" Instagram.

"We just recorded [our new album], actually," Björn said. "We came home three days before we came [to Germany to start rehearsing for the U.K. tour]. We worked [in Los Angeles] with Howard Benson and his team. It's really, really good, and it suits us perfectly. The weather — January in Sweden is not very fun, and January in L.A., it's amazing."

Asked if Benson has his own recording studio in California, Gelotte said: "He's got a couple [of studios], actually. It's like a house where he has a few rooms, which is the studio. And that's where we do all guitars, bass and drums and all that stuff. But he's doing all the vocals at his house; he's got his own studio set up there. So [IN FLAMES singer] Anders [Fridén records his vocal tracks] there, and I'm in the house with Mike Plotnikoff, working on riffs and stuff. Yeah, it's awesome. This is the third record we [have done] with them, and it just works out really, really good for us."

Wayne joined IN FLAMES following the departure of Joe Rickard, who played on "I, The Mask" and 2016's "Battles".

Tanner made his live debut with IN FLAMES in July 2018 in Brno, Czech Republic.

Longtime IN FLAMES drummer Daniel Svensson announced in 2015 that he was leaving the band to focus on his family life.

Paul has been playing most of the shows with IN FLAMES since longtime bassist Peter Iwers's November 2016 exit.

In August 2020, IN FLAMES released a special 20th-anniversary edition of its seminal, critically acclaimed album "Clayman". "Clayman 20th Anniversary Edition" came entirely remastered by Ted Jensen (PANTERA, DEFTONES, GOJIRA) and featured all-new artwork in a 16-page booklet, a brand-new instrumental medley plus four re-recorded versions of fan favorites such as "Only For The Weak" and "Pinball Map".

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

Morse's latest announcement comes 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.

Earlier today (Saturday, July 23),DEEP PURPLE released the following statement via social media: "DEEP PURPLE announces that Steve Morse will be stepping back from the band, having been its guitarist for more than a quarter of a century. Steve's personal circumstances have made it impossible for him to commit to the band's schedule throughout 2022 and beyond.

"A few months ago, Steve openly shared with the band's fans the sad fact that his wife, Janine, is battling cancer and, in his own words, 'I simply must be there with her.'

"Since joining the band in 1994, Steve has written and recorded eight studio albums with the band: 'Purpendicular', 'Abandon', 'Bananas', 'Rapture Of The Deep', 'Now What?!', 'Infinite', 'Whoosh!' [and] 'Turning To Crime'. In addition, Steve has also recorded many live records with DEEP PURPLE over the years.

"Steve will be greatly missed by band, crew, management, record label and all those that had the pleasure of working with him over the years.

"Steve has always been hugely grateful for the support and love of DEEP PURPLE fans across the globe.

"A true master…"

Morse said in a statement: "Last Autumn, I suddenly left the PURPLE writing session in Germany because my wife was having a real medical crisis. Almost a year later, we are learning to accept stage 4 aggressive cancer and chemo treatment for the rest of her life.

"We both miss being at shows, but I simply couldn't commit to long, or far away tours, since things can change quickly at home. I suggested lining up a substitute guitarist last Autumn, hoping we could see the miraculous cancer cure all of us have heard about. As time went by, I could see the way things were heading though, after 28 years of being in the band.

"I've already played my last show with PURPLE back in Florida on the Rock Legends Cruise.

"I wish to thank the listeners who so strongly supported live music and turned every show from a dress rehearsal to a thundering, exciting experience.

"I'll miss everybody in the band and crew but being Janine's helper and advocate has made a real difference at many key points. As Janine adjusts to her limitations, she is able to do many things on her own, so we will try to play some shorter nearby concert tours with friends to, hopefully, get both of us out of the house!

"I know Simon has the gig nailed already, but I'm now handing over the keys to the vault which holds the secret of how Ritchie's [Blackmore] 'Smoke On The Water' intro was recorded. I guess you have to jiggle the key just right because I never got it open."

DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan said: "In circumstances like these it is normally difficult to find the right words, but not in the case of Steve Morse; I know what I want to say.

"He came from a different background to the rest of us in DEEP PURPLE and yet his musical genius has been somehow compatible and played a big part in the fresh direction adopted by the group when he joined and made his first album with us in 1996, and then onwards, for over a quarter of a century, enjoying the longest incumbency of any DP guitarist and contributing to the longest unchanging line-up, which started when Don Airey replaced Jon Lord — who retired in 2002 — until the present day.

"I first became aware of Steve through the DIXIE DREGS, particularly the track 'Take It Off The Top' which was the theme tune for Tommy Vance's BBC rock show and impressed me mightily. I didn't realise at the time that one day I would be lucky enough to stand on stage with Steve and enjoy his consummate skills up close and dangerous.

"I got to know him as a very kind man, full of ideas and the patience to see them developed. He would say, 'You never know until you try it'. We sure had some fun debating that approach, but mostly in good humour and he always gave as good as he got.

"Steve has a legacy with DEEP PURPLE that can never be forgotten, and that smile will be missed.

"It would be wrong to comment on his personal circumstances, suffice to say he's in a bad place right now but dealing with it bravely and as best he can; we all admire his devotion; he's been a strong family man all his life.

"All this has come at a terrible time for everybody, including the other musicians in DEEP PURPLE.

"After two years off the road because of quarantines everywhere, we had to get back to what we do, and that is perform live around the world and make music in the way we have always done, since 1968.

"As we get older, we realise that we're much closer to the end, and that triggers an urgency that won't be tamed.

"From Steve's perspective, I can only imagine that there is no possible 'nice' way of continuing with a new man, but it is either that or call it a day, because the lack of momentum was gradually becoming something more significant; it felt terminal.

"The best way I can describe this is by using Steve's own words; when I sent him a love letter a few weeks ago, he replied that it was weird being at home whilst we guys were out there, but 'reality intervenes'… and that's what has happened. I can only put out love and respect, and positive vibes at the memories of good times together."

DEEP PURPLE drummer Ian Paice said: "From the moment Steve joined us in PURPLE, it was obvious he could open up new musical possibilities for us. Like most great creative musicians, he has the ability to come up with musical ideas that no one else has thought of. I think the easiest way to say it is he's always 'thinking outside the box'. Not many of us can do that! We learnt he is also an incredibly nice man, who put up with our lack of knowledge of US sports teams and stars, and our continual talk of UK football, (soccer to our US friends!),with great patience. But there is one important truth here and that is 'family comes first'. Steve is adhering to that truth with his wife Janine's health situation. We will miss him."

DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover said: "In the early 80's, on tour with RAINBOW in Germany, I heard 'Go For Baroque' by the DIXIE DREGS on a car radio. I was captivated and immediately bought 'Unsung Heroes'. Then I bought Steve's first solo album. What a guitar player. Never could I have dreamed that twelve years later we would be in a band together.

"DEEP PURPLE was at a pivotal point in the mid-90's and needed to refresh itself. Steve was an inspired choice and brought his talent and limitless imagination to us — evidenced by 'Purpendicular', a favourite album of mine — enabling the band to start an amazing journey for the next twenty-eight years… no mean feat. He's a teacher, he inspired us, me in particular, with his energy, encouragement and wisdom, and his contribution and legacy in this band is beyond words. He will be missed but our friendship will remain. Sadly, life has intervened, and different challenges are upon us. Janine needs him now, and my best wishes and thoughts go out to them."

DEEP PURPLE keyboardist Don Airey said: "Thanks Steve for being such a shining light both musically and personally to me over the last few (20 !!) years. All I can do is wish you and Janine the best for the future, in the new course that life has taken you. I know it would take a lot more than this to extinguish your talent and your music, so hopefully we'll see you down the road a-piece."

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.

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.

Deep Purple announces that Steve Morse will be stepping back from the band, having been its guitarist for more than a...

Posted by Deep Purple on Saturday, July 23, 2022

On a recent episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS),ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante spoke about his appreciation for AC/DC and drummer Phil Rudd in particular. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "AC/DC is probably in my top five of my all-time favorite bands. And Phil Rudd has always been one of my favorite drummers. And some people may go, 'Huh? What? Why?' Phil Rudd is an awesome drummer and is someone that I looked up to since I heard AC/DC.

"The way Phil Rudd approaches the songs and his meter, most drummers wanna fill in a song," he explained. "Phil doesn't fill [laughs] that much, and when he does fill, it's this nice, tasty [simple fill], and you just feel it. So he doesn't overdo it because Phil understands the role in the band. They all understood the role in the band, and the focus was Angus [Young, guitar]. 'So Angus is gonna do what he does, and we're gonna stay back here, and we're just gonna keep it [simple].'

"I've been in situations where I'll see some famous drummers trying to play an AC/DC song, and I'm just, like, 'Nah, it's not it. It's not it,'" Charlie continued.

"I would dare anybody to play a song like 'Let There Be Rock' and you keep it up all through the song. Don't fill; just kind of keep it going.

"[AC/DC are] awesome. They're machines," Benante added.

Charlie also recalled meeting Phil after an AC/DC concert a number of years ago.

"One night they played in town, and we both had the same cymbal company," he said. And there was a lot of back and forth about 'Charlie's coming to see Phil.' So when I'm in the room with him, Phil comes walking in. He's, like, 'Where's Charlie? Where's Charlie? Ah, there he is.' And we had this great conversation. And, of course, I was so happy that I got to take a photo with Phil. He's just awesome. He's the best."

Benante is not the first metal drummer to publicly voice his Rudd fandom. Back in 2017, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich told Baltimore radio station 98 Rock that he would pick Rudd to take over behind the kit for METALLICA if he was no longer able to play drums in the band. "He's been probably my main, biggest source of inspiration when we did the turn-away from the super-progressive stuff, the crazy stuff after 'Justice', when we got into the 'black album' and the 'Load' stuff, when it got a little more about the bounce and the riffs and the feel and the groove and all that," Lars said. "Phil Rudd, he's the top of that pyramid. Hearing Phil Rudd play behind James [Hetfield], that'd be pretty cool."

Benante's ANTHRAX bandmate Scott Ian has also been vocal in his appreciation for late AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, telling SiriusXM Volume's "Debatable" back in 2019: "Ask any guitar player — rhythm or lead guitar player — and they'll tell you Malcolm's the best; he's the best. Literally, his riffs and his approach to playing, his dynamics… His right hand was so percussive as a rhythm player, so the dynamics are just unbelievable. And it just cuts through in a way that nobody else, before, during or after, playing hard rock will ever, ever come close to, because no one else is gonna write those riffs again; they've already been written. You can't write those riffs again; it's impossible. Because then you'll just sound like a bad AC/DC ripoff."

As a young teen, Ian actually learned how to play rhythm guitar by listening and playing along to Malcolm.

"There is just an instant rush anytime I hear AC/DC," Ian previously told Gretsch. "It's like mainlined into my brain. As soon as I hear him playing chords, I just get excited, still, after all these years. If I put on 'Let There Be Rock', I feel the same now as I did 40 years ago. It moves me in exactly the same way."

The number of artists who consider Malcolm Young an inspiration runs pretty deep, but we're guessing not too many have gone so far to actually have his face inked into their own skin. Ian, though, has immortalized the late-great rhythm guitarist on his left bicep, along with his brother Angus Young on his right.

"Specifically, these guys, as a guitar player, mean everything to me," explained Ian. "That's why I really wanted them on me because it makes me happy to be able to look at them every day.

"Malcolm has always been my hero since day one because he basically taught me how to play guitar," Ian said. "As a kid with AC/DC albums, vinyl albums, in my little bedroom on a turn table, I just used to sit and figure out how to play their songs. And it was all Malcolm. You know? It was all him. So, I was learning to play specifically by listening to what he was doing. He was my guitar teacher. He was the reason I learned how to play rhythm guitar the way I do."

Tim Bowness returns with his seventh solo album, Butterfly Mind, due for release on August 5. Produced in conjunction with long-time collaborator Brian Hulse, and mixed & mastered by Steven Wilson, this new album is his most eclectic release to date.


Bowness unboxes the album in this new video:







Written and produced by Tim and Brian Hulse (from Tim’s Liverpool-based 1980s Indie band, Plenty), "Only A Fool" is a dramatic and driving post-punk flavoured electro-rock piece about the dehumanizing and divisive nature of social media discourse. Uncompromising and accessible, grand yet direct, Bowness says of the song, “Lyrically and musically, it’s a sometimes fractious and sometimes playful exploration of contradictions.”


The track features Magazine’s Dave Formula on synth and piano and a rhythm section comprising Richard Jupp (ex-Elbow) and Nick Beggs.





Tim’s seventh solo album - his sixth for InsideOutMusic / Sony - features the rhythm section of Richard Jupp (ex-Elbow) and Nick Beggs alongside a spectacular guest list including Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull), Dave Formula (Magazine), Peter Hammill (Van Der Graaf Generator), Martha Goddard (The Hushtones), Gregory Spawton (Big Big Train), Mark Tranmer (The Montgolfier Brothers / GNAC), Saro Cosentino (Franco Battiato), Italian Jazz musician Nicola Alesini, US singer Devon Dunaway (Ganga), Stephen W Tayler (Kate Bush) and, marking his first studio work with Tim for nearly three decades, former No-Man violinist Ben Coleman.


Butterfly Mind will be available as a Limited 2CD Edition (incl. alternative mixes and outtakes), as well as a Limited Edition 180g LP+CD featuring a striking die-cut artwork by Carl Glover. Burning Shed have an exclusive green vinyl edition, and you can pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


CD1
"Say Your Goodbyes, Pt. 1"
"Always The Stranger"
"It's Easier To Love"
"We Feel"
"Lost Player"
"Only A Fool"
"After The Stranger"
"Glitter Fades"
"About The Light That Hits The Forest Floor"
"Dark Nevada Dream"
"Say Your Goodbyes, Pt. 2"
 
CD2
"Say Your Goodbyes, Pt. 1"
"Always The Stranger" (Alternative Mix)
"It's Easier To Love" (Alternative Mix)
"We Feel" (Alternative Mix)
"Lost Player" (Alternative Mix)
"Only A Fool" (Alternative Mix)
"After The Stranger" (Alternative Mix) / Extended Version
"Glitter Fades" (Alternative Mix)
"About The Light That Hits The Forest Floor" (Alternative Mix)
"Dark Nevada Dream" (Alternative Mix)
"Say Your Goodbyes, Pt. 2" (Alternative Mix)
"Clearing Houses"
"Always The Stranger - Raw"
"Lost Player - Primitive"


"Dark Nevada Dream" video:





"Always The Stranger" lyric video:

During an appearance on a recent episode of the "Prostate Cancer Uncensored" podcast, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about his decision to go public with his battle with prostate cancer. Asked by podcast host and TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French — a fellow prostate cancer survivor — when he first got diagnosed by the disease, Halford said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "My PSA [prostate-specific antigen] levels were starting to get elevated many, many years before I finally had a checkup with my doctor. And he took the blood tests and he goes, 'Man, these numbers are really high. I'm gonna take you to my guy.' I wanna say it was close to 10 years [ago] when my PSA levels were starting to get elevated. I was living in San Diego at the time. And my doctor there, he, as well, said, 'Rob, we need to keep an eye on this. I don't like the look of these numbers. Can you come in and see me, and we'll run some tests?' So this is on the eve of a big world tour. So what do you do? 'Yeah, doc. I'll just get this tour completed and I'll come and see you.' So, as you know, Jay, when we go on these world tours, they can take a year, two years, three years to complete, so through that whole touring process, I never got the follow-ups that I needed to get done, done.

"And let me quickly say that it's a guy thing, right? It's a guy thing," he noted. "I'm a 70-year-old metalhead. I come from a generation when men, we didn't talk about these kinds of things. We never really talked about our health. We always found it difficult to open up emotionally, let alone anything else. So on top of all of the things that I was dealing with on the road and having a great time, I knew this was lurking in the back of my mind.

"Anyway, so we're talking — what? — about three years back now maybe. I see my new doctor in Phoenix, and he runs the tests again and he goes, 'I've gotta get you in to see my guy.' And that's when this incredible journey started for me to battle the prostate cancer."

Regarding how he processed his prostate cancer diagnosis and whether he chose to keep it to himself for a long time before sharing it with those closest to him, Rob said: "I'm a gay. [Laughs] We gays, we throw it out — we throw it out. That might sound a little bit odd, but part of my personality and my sexual identity has just given me this… I don't hold anything back. And part of my sobriety is living your day in the most truthful and honest way that you see fit for yourself. Sure, if you don't wanna share some things, you don't have to. But I looked upon this whole experience as something that I really wanted to put out. Having said that, we did keep a lid on it for the band, for the business side of things until the appropriate moment came along for me to discuss it.

"You probably noticed, Jay, in recent years that, again, these issues of health — cancer, for example — musicians talk more openly about the health challenges that they're going through. So I was trying to make the timing work; I was trying to make it happen that was comfortable and beneficial to everybody," he added. "But initially I was telling everybody — my immediate family, my immediate close circle of friends — just because for me that was therapy. That was therapy."

Halford went on to say that beating cancer has made him appreciate being in JUDAS PRIEST even more than he did in the past.

"The health side of life is so important," he said. "And after having gone through what I did, I'm grateful and blessed to be able to do the work [with the band]. And as a result of going through the recovery process and the stars aligning and the calendar being in the right place, I was able to go out there and do my work now probably with even more intensity, because, man, to come through the other side of that challenge was, without a doubt, a life changer.

"I've always lived life to the max — every day of my life," Halford added. "It's so important for me to get even the smallest thing out of the day, whatever it might be. So to be in this opportunity is just an extra boost, man. You feel that even more now when you go out on stage and you're so grateful to be able to continue doing the work that you love."

Rob previously discussed his cancer battle this past April during an appearance on an episode of Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show. Regarding his decision to mention his illness in the new chapter added to the updated paperback edition of his autobiography "Confess", he said: "I think it was important [to talk about it], because for everybody it's incredibly scary. The first thing my guy doctor told me, he goes, 'You've got cancer. I'm gonna take your prostate out. Come with me to this other room.' And my world starts really... 'Oh my god. I've got cancer...' I think that's a very natural reaction. And he goes, 'Have you got a question?' I go, 'Am I going to die?' He goes, 'No, you're not going to die. I'm gonna do this. I'm gonna do this.' They're so positive and they're so reinforcing yourself through those early few days of understanding your condition.

"And I'll tell you something, as I said in the book, I felt so terribly selfish, because [I thought], 'Oh God, I've got cancer. I've got cancer.' And then I see these commercials for Phoenix children's hospital and these little kids — little kids — with cancer fighting for their lives. And I go, 'For God's sake, you got so far in your life and you've got this to deal with and you've got the most incredibly talented people to look after you and make you well.'

"So it was a readjustment for me," Rob said. "I was really, really ashamed of myself to have that kind of perspective. But I pushed through that, and then I just got on with the job that needed to be done. And yeah, we went into gory and amusing details in that edition of 'Confess'."

Halford went on to say that cancer treatment has improved dramatically in recent years and that fewer patients die of cancer than ever before.

"As a younger person, the 'C' word [cancer], as it used to be called, for a lot of people, the outcome was gonna be remarkably different to where we are today," he said. "It's just fantastic, the way that the improvements and the way that people are treated now. It's given everybody many, many greater chances of living long, healthy lives. And so we should all be grateful for that."

In "Confess", Halford revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer after experiencing symptoms for at least a couple of years.

In July 2020, Rob underwent prostatectomy, an operation where the entire prostate gland is removed plus some of the tissue around it, including the seminal vesicles. After more cancer was found last year, he went through radiation treatments in April and May 2021 and eventually got then all-clear in June 2021. He also had an appendectomy after a tumor was discovered on his appendix.

Halford's cancer battle is one of a number of health scares the members of PRIEST have had to deal with in recent years. Last September, guitarist Richie Faulkner suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during the band's performance at the Louder Than Life festival. Faulkner was rushed to the UofL Health - Jewish Hospital where the cardiothoracic surgery team needed approximately 10 hours to complete a life-saving surgery.

PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of the band's latest album, "Firepower". He was replaced by "Firepower" producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

"Confess" was released in September 2020 via Hachette Books. It was written with Ian Gittins, co-writer of "The Heroin Diaries" by Nikki Sixx.

Making their mark on the Australian metal scene since 2016, Melbourne act Primitive are set to strengthen their presence and demand the attention of the unsuspecting, with their aggressive new single "With The Rats And Snakes" - the title track from their upcoming EP, out August 12.


Without limiting themselves to a particular sub-genre, Primitive incorporate their brand of abrasive yet memorable riffs, solos, grooves and hooks - sounding something reminiscent of the wave of early 2000’s American Heavy Metal & Metalcore styles.







Frontman/guitarist Tim Gauci adds, "With The Rats And Snakes is a natural step to a more directed and matured sound. It was a conscious effort to learn from our previous efforts, see what we could expand on, and introduce new elements to draw closer to perfecting ‘our sound.’ The title track/first single perfectly encompasses what we’ve done before, and what we’ve recently discovered in the writing room."


Since their debut, self-titled EP (2017), and single "For The Weak" (2019), Primitive have shared the stage nationally and internationally with Max and Iggor Cavalera, Alien Weaponry, Psycroptic, Fleshgod Apocalypse, The Crown, Origin and more. The new EP, With The Rats And Snakes, exhibits a further expansion to their relentless sound and solidifies themselves as worthy contenders to reach the heights of some of metal’s biggest and most respected heavy hitters.





Tracklisting:


"Curse"
"With The Rats And Snakes"
"Broken Hands"
"The Last Nail"
"God Is Beneath Us"
"Rivers"


Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.


 

During an appearance on "The Rock And Metal Profs: The History And Philosophy Of Rock And Metal" podcast, former BLACK SABBATH singer Tony Martin spoke about recently announced plans to reissue the albums he recorded with the band. Asked when fans can expect to see the box set released, Martin said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't know. As always with BLACK SABBATH, you don't get a lot of information, to be honest; they keep things close to their chest. They don't sort of say anything, especially if you're in the band — they don't tell you anything if you're in the band. All I know is that it's happening."

He continued: "I know that two record labels are releasing it. I don't know when, and I don't know what it's gonna look like. There was some suggestion a while back that we might be able to put extra tracks and stuff on it. I did offer, and I went to see [BLACK SABBATH guitarist] Tony Iommi and offered some things. And then he said we can't use anything new 'cause nothing new can be released under the BLACK SABBATH name. It can only be stuff that's got the original four members on it.

"I'm expecting it to be a remixed version of whatever the original was; that's what I'm expecting," Tony added. "So I await as you do to find out. Let me know if you hear it first."

When the interviewer expressed hope that the box set will include some live recordings from the Martin era of SABBATH, either in audio or video format, Tony said: "I recorded the writing session with… Eddie Van Halen came over and helped us write one of the tracks [for 1994's 'Cross Purposes' album]. And I had an eight-track recorder at the time in the 1980s, and I used to take it everywhere, this thing. I've got all of the writing sessions and rehearsals recorded. So I sent [Iommi] this, and he went, 'Wow! That's fucking great.' And I said, 'Well, you're welcome to use it, if you wanna put that on.' So, I don't know… Maybe you'll get that on there."

Martin added: "It's great to hear Eddie play."

Two years ago, Iommi has explained to Rolling Stone magazine how Van Halen ended up co-writing the song "Evil Eye" on the "Cross Purposes" LP.

"When we were doing 'Cross Purposes', [VAN HALEN] were playing in Birmingham," he said. "Obviously, I went to see him, and we were rehearsing. I said, 'You ought to come down to rehearsal if you want.' 'Oh, can I?' I said, 'I'll pick you up from the hotel.' I said, 'Let's go and get a guitar.' We went down to the music shop in Birmingham. I said, 'Can you lend us a guitar for Eddie?' And of course, they went, 'Oh, oh, wha'?' [Laughs] So Eddie came in with me, and we got one of his guitars, his own model. And he came to rehearsal. We played some of the SABBATH stuff for him. One of his favorites was 'Into The Void', strangely enough. We played that and we went back to writing. I think it was 'Evil Eye', and I said, 'Go on, you play the solo on this.' He did and it was really great. When we recorded it, of course, I tried to duplicate that, but I couldn't. [Laughs]"

Asked if he still has a tape of Eddie's solo somewhere, Tony said: "You know what, there is. I don't know where it is amongst my lot, but there is one. I know I've got one. It was a real gem."

Reflecting on Eddie's impact on music, Tony said: "He's had probably one of the biggest influences that you could have on people, from his generation onwards. He came up with something completely different. How hard is that, to come up with something different guitar-wise? I think he's inspired so many people. There's millions of people out there all trying to do that tapping stuff and play like Eddie and play Eddie's solos. I think he's had a huge impression on millions and millions of guitar players."

BLACK SABBATH released six albums with Martin on vocals: "The Eternal Idol" (1987),"Headless Cross" (1989),"Tyr" (1990),"Cross Purposes" (1994),"Cross Purposes Live" (1995) and "Forbidden" (1995). Eventually, Martin and his "Forbidden"-era bandmates were ousted when Iommi reunited with SABBATH's fellow original members.

This past January, Martin reflected on his time with SABBATH during an appearance on "The Ron Keel Podcast", saying: "It doesn't haunt me. It's not a bad thing. I've got a lot to be grateful for. SABBATH is the reason why you, and the world, knows about my voice. So there are things to be grateful for. It was hard work for me. I'm 12 years younger than the rest of the guys, so even just circle of friends was different — they're hanging out with Ian Gillan and Brian May, and my best friend is Dave down the road. So that was a gap. And also the experience — they were way ahead of me in experience, at least 12 years further up the road from me, and I never could quite catch them up; they will always have that much more experience than me. So that was hard work."

He continued: "When I first got the gig, it was actually 1986 that I was put on standby when they were with Glenn Hughes on the 'Seventh Star' album. And I don't know what the issues were, but something went wrong with Glenn and they put me on standby. That scared me to death, 'cause it's Glenn Hughes. I can't sing like Glenn Hughes; nobody can sing like Glenn Hughes. Only Glenn Hughes can sing like Glenn Hughes. So that was really scary. Then they got Ray Gillen in. Then he left — he left to join BLUE MURDER with John Sykes, so they called me again and said, 'You'd better come down to the studio and try this out.' And they gave me one song, which was 'The Shining' off 'Eternal Idol', and then two days later said, 'Okay. You've got the job. You've got a week to finish the album.' So right from the start it was scary — it was huge; suddenly being the frontman of BLACK SABBATH was just ridiculous. And yeah, the whole association with me and my voice lasted 11 years."

Six years ago, Iommi told I Heart Guitar that "it's a shame" that "it took a lot for people to accept" Martin as SABBATH's vocalist. "It's taken all these years later for people to say, 'Oh blimey, that was a good band with good singing.' So it took a long time to get people to really realize how good it was."

In 2018, Iommi spent time in the studio remixing "Forbidden" for a future release. The LP, which features Martin, drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Neil Murray, is often regarded as SABBATH's worst studio recording.

In a 2012 interview with Über Röck, Martin said that he was "surprised" to see Iommi criticizing him in the guitarist's "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath" book (referring to the Martin period, especially the touring phase following the release of "Cross Purposes" in 1994, Iommi lambasted his former singer as "unprofessional" and having "no stage presence"). Martin said: "I mean, they never said anything to me. Surely, if you've got a problem, the first person you should say something to is the person that's in the band with you... It sounds like a really stupid thing to say, as they didn't say anything to my face — and, if that's the case, then more fool them for not saying anything, because, you know, we could have fixed it. I said to them, endlessly, that if there was anything they wanted changed, done differently, just to say and we could fix it, but clearly, they didn't, they hadn't got the guts to, obviously, and to write about it in a book afterwards seems a bit daft to me. I'm not bitter about it, but it is surprising... It seems a bit stupid to say that after the event."

Martin's latest solo album, "Thorns", arrived in January via Battlegod Productions and Dark Star Records. Among the guest musicians appearing on the LP are Scott McClellan (who helped write the album),Danny "Danté" Needham (VENOM),Magnus Rosén (HAMMERFALL),Greg Smith (ALICE COOPER, RAINBOW, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT) and Martin's youngest son Joe.

KickBoxer inspired metalcore outfit, Bleed Like Mylee, have debuted their first single, "Kiss Of Death" from the upcoming album, Nuk Soo Kow, due out August 12th. 





Mastermind Joseph Izayea had this to say, “I'm superbly stoked and still chuckling while I announce the release of the Bleed Like Mylee debut EP’s advanced single; 'Kiss Of Death'. Work on this ridiculous project was undertaken in almost complete secrecy during the production or release of the newly dropped or coming soon stuff from Seeking Sirens, Sour Times, From Under Concrete Kings, and also the Harder Truths record.




Josh, Doug and I are thrilled to finally see this lunacy fueled endeavor begin to see the daylight, and sincerely hope you have as much fun listening to it as we did making it! Chenqui.”


Nuk Soo Kow artwork and tracklisting:





"Kiss Of Death"
"Now Kiki Even Too"
"Kick The Tree"
"Stone City"
"Nuk Soo Kow"


Bleed Like Mylee is a hard-hitting metalcore five-piece delivering crushing breakdowns, epic choruses, and gut-punching songwriting all absurdly packaged in tribute to the movie KickBoxer featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Fans of acts like Austrian Death Machine, and Okilly Dokilly should easily find enjoyment in the debut EP Nuk Soo Kow, which stands to leave some bruises on 2022.


 

Anders Fridén, frontman of Swedish melodic death metal band IN FLAMES, has weighed in on THE HALO EFFECT, the new project featuring five former IN FLAMES members — Jesper Strömblad (guitar), Daniel Svensson (drums), Peter Iwers (bass), Niclas Engelin (guitar) and Mikael Stanne (vocals). Asked if he had a chance to catch THE HALO EFFECT when they played at Sweden Rock Festival alongside IN FLAMES last month, Anders told Chaoszine (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "They played the day after [IN FLAMES played], and we were already gone by that time. We played on Friday and they were playing on a Saturday."

Fridén went on to say that he hasn't "really paid attention" to THE HALO EFFECT and added that he doesn't care about a supposed rivalry between the two bands. "People can do whatever they want," he said. "There have been former members of IN FLAMES that played in other bands. Why would this be any different?

"I think you — not you personally, but media, they want it to be something [more than that]. But they do their thing.

"Honestly, I haven't listened, but from what I hear, it sounds more like DARK TRANQUILLITY than IN FLAMES," Anders said, referencing the fact that Stanne has been a member of DARK TRANQUILLITY since that band's inception more than three decades ago. "But it's fine. I don't care. They are allowed to do music, and as long as they are happy doing whatever they do, then that's fine. It's never gonna change us and what we do. It's just one band out of many.

"Good luck. I don't have anything else to say," Anders added. "I know you want me to say more. But that's the way it is."

THE HALO EFFECT will release its debut album, "Days Of The Lost", on August 12 via Nuclear Blast.

Asked in a recent interview with "The Back Lounge" podcast about some fans' perception that THE HALO EFFECT was formed primarily with the intention of "sticking it" to IN FLAMES, Iwers said: "No, no, no. It couldn't be further from the truth. Somebody said it to me perfectly… When you get that question, well, it's like talking about your ex-wife. You had it, it was great at the time, but then you moved on. So THE HALO EFFECT started out of love for music — not at all to spite anybody or to create some rivalry; nothing like that at all. And it needs to be said, and it probably will be said a bunch of times. The love for music and the love for each other is a hundred percent what it's all about."

Peter went on to say that forming a band with the intention of competing with someone else "would be totally the wrong reason" to do it. "Everything I do I base upon how I feel," he explained. "I try to do everything with a good vibe and everything that makes me feel good, feel great. And that's what it's all about with everything that I do. So if I would ever start something to piss somebody else off, then it wouldn't make me feel good, and I couldn't keep on doing it. It's real simple in my world, but I understand how people think that and how some people would like to think that. But there's no rivalry. IN FLAMES, I was a member for 20 years. And it is what it is. It's a great band and they always will be."

THE HALO EFFECT made its live debut on June 11 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

Last month, Iwers was asked in an interview with Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast if he would agree that "Days Of The Lost" is, in some ways, a "spiritual successor" to "Reroute To Remain", IN FLAMES' sixth album, which came out in 2022. Peter said: "Ooh, interesting. I haven't really thought about it. When you make music, like we do, you tend not to overthink stuff — you just go in and you write music and kind of know that what comes out will sound a certain way because of the style that we are playing and how we are playing and performing our music. So I haven't really thought about it, but maybe — maybe. It was definitely nothing intentional. We just went in. We had a bunch of ideas and we came out with a bunch of songs that happen to sound a certain way. But none of us really overthought it and it was never meant to 'it's gonna sound like this' or 'it's gonna sound like that.' We just [went], 'Let's write this music and see what happens.' And because of, like I said, how we're playing, it will sound a certain way."

Added Daniel: "A lot of people like to analyze music, and, of course, it sounds Gothenburg metal-ish because we all are from that genre and we are some of the people that kind of created it. So, of course, it will sound Gothenburg metal-ish, IN FLAMES-ish. And then which era, I don't know. And as Peter said, we don't really think about how it should sound. This is how we sound today, and with our legacy this is inevitable, that we sound as we do."

Continued Peter: "Obviously, people like to do a lot of comparing between us… It's a difficult topic to discuss because none of us have — even though we've all been in IN FLAMES at some point, none of us have really thought about this as what you're saying. But then a lot of people that we speak to say it. So it's a little hard to take in, as we've been very thorough in just writing music. But I'd say it's a little flattering to hear it."

Svensson, who joined IN FLAMES in 1998, announced in 2015 that he was leaving the group to focus on his family life.

A member of IN FLAMES since 1997, Iwers issued a statement in November 2016 saying that he was exiting the band "to pursue other endeavors."

A founding member of IN FLAMES, Strömblad quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.

Engelin has been sitting out IN FLAMES' tour dates for the past three and a half years but has never officially confirmed his departure from the band. Engelin's replacement for IN FLAMES' live shows since then has been former MEGADETH and current ACT OF DEFIANCE guitarist Chris Broderick.

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

Jay Nanda of Alamo True Metal conducted an interview with veteran British rock vocalist Graham Bonnet (ALCATRAZZ, RAINBOW, IMPELLITTERI) prior to his March 31 performance at Vibes Event Center in San Antonio, Texas, as part of MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST. You can watch the entire chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On how he came to join MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST:

Graham: "Well, it was basically a phone call, I think. We've done a few gigs over the past 62 years. We've played in Japan with Michael, with my band, the GRAHAM BONNET BAND. We did some gigs in Japan, so, this is kind of like, the third leg of this tour. We've been in different countries, but we've added one more singer, which is Doogie White to this ensemble. So, it's been quite an experience to kind of get all of these guys onstage, especially when we're playing smaller places. It's been a bit of, like, 'Get out of the damn way!' It's really good to have all the singers who have been on all the albums because all the albums are so different. We're all good friends, so we're having a good time, I think, on most nights. But the traveling has been somewhat grueling. As I said, this is why I'm wearing these things [points to sunglasses], I have bags under my eyes for three weeks. It's very grueling, but everybody's standing the test of time. Everybody has the cold, but it's good. As far as the audience is concerned, we all look so healthy and so happy, every time we do a gig, they'll come back and say, 'Wow, you guys were good tonight.' And it has been very good. We all carry each other. If one's a little bit sick, don't worry about it, we'll do it."

On reconciling with Schenker, who fired Bonnet from MSG (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP) after Bonnet "exposed himself" while drunk during a 1982 concert in Sheffield, England:

Graham: "Michael got in touch with me. That's how it came about. I thought, 'Really? You want to do a gig with me? The guy that did one song onstage with you in England, took his pants…' Well, the whole thing: my pants split, my penis came out, etcetera, etcetera, I started swearing at the crowd. I said, 'You really want to work with me after all these years?' It was great fun to go onstage with him and sing the first song and get through a whole song instead of part of a song. And, he smiled across at me and I said, 'I did it! I finally did it!' He said to me after, 'We finally actually played onstage together.' I think Michael's enjoyed me being around. We kind of laugh about how things went up before. That was a long time ago. I've now been sober for about, 15 years. Michael, too. He's cleaned up. I think everybody's doing that because if we don't, we're going to die. We're not 16 years old anymore or 20 years old. You have to look after your body when you get past 194 [years old] like I am. So, we're cleaned up. That's all I can say."

On the recent passing of his former IMPELLITTERI bandmate, drummer Pat Torpey, who died at the age of 64 from complications of Parkinson's disease:

Graham: "Pat was a great organizer of the band. I remember when Chris [Impellitteri] would be struggling with his arrangements and Pat would say, 'Hold on a minute! Let's edit that down a bit. Pay attention to me. Pay attention.' He was great in rehearsals. A great drummer and what a great loss. A really, really nice guy, bless his heart. We all miss him."

"Resurrection", the new album from MICHAEL SCHENKER FEST was released March 2 via Nuclear Blast. The disc, which was produced by Michael Voss-Schön, was recorded in four different locations over a five-month period and features guest appearances by METALLICA's Kirk Hammett, Wayne Findlay and Voss-Schön along with contributions from the three original MSG singers — Gary Barden, Bonnet and Robin McAuley — plus Doogie White, who plays with Michael in MICHAEL SCHENKER'S TEMPLE OF ROCK. Also appearing on the album are musicians Steve Mann (guitars, keyboards), Ted McKenna (drums) and Chris Glen (bass).

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor spoke to Kerrang! magazine about the lyrical inspiration for "The Dying Song (Time To Sing)", the latest single from the band's upcoming album, "The End, So Far". In the track, he roars: "Think hard you bastards / You're gonna tell me why / If I don't get an answer / You're gonna sing and die.'"

"To me, it just seems like it's all the outrage and none of the punishment," Corey told Kerrang! "For the last few years it's been very trendy to be offended and outraged by everything, and yet nothing happens — especially in my country, which is just fucking ridiculous. It's almost like the tables have turned, and the more angry people get, the more the people who they're mad at just double down on the shit. Instead of there being cause and effect, or crime and punishment, now it's just like, 'Fuck you. We don't care.'"

He continued: "I can't tell if that's a reaction because of the almost nihilistic isolation of the cultures themselves, where neither side is acknowledging any of the good parts of each other — they're just really honed in on the shit that they consider inflammatory. And it's almost like people are ringing the doomsday bell. You're sitting there going, 'Well, it's been fun. Everybody, pick up your trash when you're leaving, and I'll see you in Hell!' That's kind of what that song is. It's just like, 'If we don't figure it out, I'll see you when the meteor hits, basically.'"

Asked if he thinks it's all very hopeless, Corey said: "I think if I was younger, then I would believe in something like hope. I would have that kind of optimism [laughs], but I've seen waves of this shit for 30 years, and I'm just unimpressed. The sad thing is, it takes real tragedy to make anything change, because we're not a proactive species. We would rather close the door after the house is already on fire. I'm just kind of used to it at this point.

"I still obviously support and believe in all the causes that I'm very passionate about, but at the same time, I just realized that people aren't going to change — and I'm done trying to change people," Corey continued. "It's wasted effort, and it takes time away from the people that I actually care about. Until I see real shit, I'm just not going to care anymore. It's like, 'If you motherfuckers want to kill each other, go ahead. I'm just gonna stand back and will not be in the line of fire,' because I'm tired of the idiocy. I can only watch stupid shit for fucking so long. So yeah, it's me basically going, 'Go ahead, just fucking beat the living shit out of each other and see what happens.'"

"The End, So Far" will be released on September 30 via Roadrunner. The official music video for "The Dying Song (Time To Sing)" was directed by the band's own M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan. The LP was produced by SLIPKNOT and Joe Barresi and includes the band's 2021 surprise single "The Chapeltown Rag".

During a recent appearance on Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, former OZZY OSBOURNE guitarist Jake E. Lee spoke about the passing of his onetime BADLANDS bandmate Ray Gillen. The singer, who also had a brief stint with BLACK SABBATH in the mid-1980s, died in December 1993 from an AIDS-related disease in a New York hospital. He was only 34 years old.

Lee said that he has a "theory" about how Gillen — who apparently wasn't a heroin user — contracted AIDS at a time when the disease became an epidemic among homosexual men and intravenous drug users.

"When [Ray and I] first got together, we were talking to make sure we were compatible," Jake recalled. "And so drugs came up. We both said, 'Yeah, I did coke.' It was in the '80s. 'But no problem. I don't still do it.' And then I said, 'You ever shoot up?' 'Cause I never have, 'cause I hate needles. And he said, 'I did one time.' And I said, 'Oh.' He goes, 'It was with my uncle.' His uncle was a biker, and he had a Harley, and he was so different from his father — this wild guy on a bike, and apparently gay. And he just kind of idolized him, and he wanted to try heroin one time, I guess. This is what Ray told me. And so he shot up with his uncle — one time, just to see what it was like and to have a little bonding moment. But then, maybe two years after that, I remember Ray telling me that his uncle was diagnosed with AIDS. And, to me, it must have happened that one time that he did it with his uncle."

Lee confirmed that Gillen didn't share with him he had contracted AIDS. "He never told me," the guitarist said. "But in between the first and the second [BADLANDS] record, he started getting really thin and didn't look quite as healthy. And I never asked him about it. But, anyway, between those two, Paul O'Neill — he was our manager, as well as producing the vocals on the first record — we decided to fire him. There was missing money and whatever. We decided to fire him. And Paul calls me and says… 'Cause the first BADLANDS tour, we cut it off pretty short, because Ray got pneumonia. And then, for some reason, the management said, 'Well, you need to do a second record,' even though we'd hardly really toured on that first one. Which I thought was weird. Anyway, when we decided to fire him, Paul said, 'Well, you can't fire me.' [I said], 'Why not?' And he said, 'Because I have information, and I'll tell Atlantic Records about it.' I go, 'What are you talking about?' And he said, 'Ray has AIDS.' And I said, 'Why do you say that?' And he said, 'Because when he went to the hospital, when he had pneumonia, the blood work showed that he had it. And if you fire me, I'm gonna tell Atlantic Records.' And I was, like, 'You motherfucker!' So, then I said, 'This is gonna be Ray's decision. I'm not gonna say yes or no.' But I did tell him, 'You motherfucker. That's fucking blackmail, and that's just bullshit. That's fucked up shit.' So I asked Ray, and Ray said, 'Well, it's not true, so fuck him. Fire him.' So we did fire him. And he did tell Atlantic Records that. And we got kind of screwed on the second record because of it. They wouldn't even give us tour-support money at all… But, yeah, Paul O'Neill fucked us on that.

"But, anyway, Ray never told me he had it," Jake repeated. "And I just brought it up that one time because we were gonna fire the manager. And he said he didn't have it, so I just took him at his first word."

Jake went on to recount an incident that happened during a BADLANDS tour in support of the band's second album that shed more light on Ray's illness.

"We were touring in a town car, so we got pulled over for speeding," Lee said. "And they went throough our trunks, 'cause we were long-hairs, and they went through Ray's bag, and he had a bunch of medication that you apparently give to people that have AIDS. And they asked him what it was, and he said, 'Vitamins.' And they said, 'These aren't vitamins,' and kind of made a big scene about it. And he said, 'Well, it's…' whatever the medication is for AIDS. He said, 'It's for my uncle. My uncle has AIDS. I'm transporting them to him.' And they were, like, 'You're transporting these to your uncle?' Which… that sounds fishy too. But I kind of knew at that point [that he had AIDS]. And I wasn't gonna confront him about it. He had enough problems without me digging into his personal stuff. Anyway, I kind of knew at that point that he did… And like I said, if what he told me was true, and he only shot up one time, and he happened to be with his gay uncle, and that's how he got it, that's, like, what? One in a million? It's very sad."

BADLANDS lasted from 1988 to 1993 and released two albums, "Badlands" and "Voodoo Highway", before Gillen left the group and was replaced by John West.

The group had some success with its debut album, thanks to songs like "Dreams In The Dark" and "Winter's Call", which received airplay on MTV.