Currently on his Inviolate European tour, guitar legend Steve Vai has checked in with the following update:


"I have never been on a tour with so many unexpected challenges. After the show in Berlin, our bus broke down and we had to go directly to the Berlin train station and catch a 4:30 AM train to Düsseldorf, and then drive an hour to make it to the Bospop festival in the Netherlands on time, and we did! And what a glorious gig it was, even with virtually no sleep.


It seems like every time something blows up on this tour, there’s something a little better waiting. For instance, the bus that broke down had no air-conditioning and we had just gotten through Italy, and we’re wondering how we were going to be able to get through Spain on that bus in the killer heat. When we got to Bospop, a band had just finished their tour and their bus was being returned to London that day, and we got it to finish our tour. It’s a better bus, and it even has air-conditioning. Now how do you like that! Angels on our shoulders baby!!!"




Remaining tour dates are as follows:


July
16 - Valencia, Spain - Jardin de Viveros
17 - Vigo, Spain - Auditorio Mar do Vigo
19 - Barcelona, Spain - Teatro Tivoli


Vai recently shared a clip from a show in Italy when his rig had a technical glitch and he had to improvise.

Avant-garde entity, Thy Catafalque, have released a guitar play though video for "Szarvas", featured on their album, Vadak, released in 2021 via Season Of Mist. Watch below:





Order Vadak  here.







Tracklisting:


"Szarvas"
"Köszöntsd a hajnalt"
"Gömböc"
"Az energiamegmaradás törvénye"
"Móló"
"A kupolaváros titka"
"Kiscsikó (Irénke dala)"
"Piros-sárga"
"Vadak (Az átváltozás rítusai)"
"Zúzmara"


"Köszöntsd A Hajnalt" video:





"Piros-sárga" video:

DISTURBED performed "Hey You", the first single off the band's upcoming studio album, live for the first time Thursday night (July 14) at the Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of Vomdirth, Mike Amolsch and Jerry Marquette Jr).

The official music video for "Hey You", which was released yesterday, was directed by Josiahx.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman stated about the track: "It's a wake-up call. We've become our own worst enemies. Civil discourse has become the exception instead of the norm. People have lost themselves in outrage addiction."

All four members of DISTURBED were in Los Angeles on June 14 to film the "Hey You" music video.

Last month, Draiman said that DISTURBED's upcoming album, which is tentatively due in November, will contain a "surprise track" that will "blow [fans'] minds."

On June 2, the 49-year-old frontman took to his Twitter to write about DISTURBED's follow-up to 2018's "Evolution": "Listening back to the mixes. Amazing record. Very proud. (Also, there's a surprise track on here that's going to blow your minds)".

In May, Draiman told the audience at DISTURBED's concert in Camden, New Jersey that the band's new LP will be released "soon." He added: "It's about 90 percent heavy as fuck. Now there's still 10 percent of caring, loving goodness [laughs] — 10 percent. Hey, for everybody that fell in love with 'The Sound Of Silence' [SIMON & GARFUNKEL] cover, I figured, you know… But the rest of it? 'Sickness'-, 'Ten Thousand Fists'-era DISTURBED, for sure. You excited about that? 'Cause I'll tell you we're really fucking excited about it."

In April, DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast" that he and his bandmates are "definitely in the middle of the process" of making a new album. "We have been writing, we have been recording," he said. "I'm very excited about everything that we're coming up with right now. It's feeling great, it's sounding great."

He continued: "We don't necessarily have a definitive time frame right now [for the album's release]. Coming off two years of a pandemic, we just have been taking our time in trying to put out the best record of our careers and top everything that we've ever done before.

"I think people are gonna be pleasantly surprised when they finally get a chance to hear this," Mike added.

Wengren's comments came just days after Draiman confirmed that DISTURBED has completed recording the new LP. Prior to that, Draiman shared a since-deleted Instagram photo of a whiteboard — which appeared to have been taken in a recording studio — charting DISTURBED's progress with recording. On the board, 10 songs were listed, featuring such titles as "Hey You", "Love To Hate" and "Part Of Me". David captioned the picture: "And that's a wrap people. #HolyShitIsThisGood #epic @disturbed". Also included on the whiteboard was the guitar tuning for each track, with most of them using "Standard C#", "Drop C#" or "Drop C" tuning. One track was also recorded in "Drop A#" tuning, while another is in "Drop B".

Draiman spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new DISTURBED album during a recent appearance on "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie. Regarding what it has been like for him and his bandmates to regroup in person after such a long time apart and once again launch the creative process, he said: "There's really nothing that replaces it. It was a continuing theme of conversation over the course of the week that we had together between our couple of shows we played in Indiana [in early November] and our performance over in Daytona for [the] Welcome To Rockville [festival]. There really is no substitute. There isn't. The energy and that realization when you've got something. Compare it to fishing, and you finally land a big one. [Laughs] It's incredibly, incredibly exciting. And we were on fire."

As for the musical direction of the new DISTURBED songs, Draiman said: "The material is somewhere between 'The Sickness' and 'Ten Thousand Fists' as far as where I would identify it as sonically. It's rhythmic, it's pummeling, it's anthemic, it's polysyncopated. It's meat-and-potatoes DISTURBED."

David also discussed DISTURBED's apparent decision to pursue a more aggressive musical approach on its next LP compared to "Evolution", on which nearly half the songs were either acoustic or semi-acoustic.

"It's a different sort of itch you're scratching," he said. "You can have the satisfaction that comes with, let's say, playing with your children peacefully somewhere and you can have a different sort of satisfaction in engaging in full-contact football with your buddies. It's just a different feel. They're both equally as gratifying but sometimes you just get a little taste more for one than the other. And right now we are definitely — we've got our teeth dug in to that style. We were dying to do the more aggressive stuff. We wanted to go back home. We wanted to go back to the 'groove so hard that you can't stop bobbing your head' kind of stuff. So, we're there, and we're loving it."

Prior to DISTURBED's appearance at the 2021 edition of Welcome To Rockville last November, Draiman told Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio that the band will likely do things slightly differently with the upcoming release. "The way that I see it happening is we're probably not gonna put out something in the traditional full-length; we're probably gonna be doing two separate releases," he explained. "So we'll probably have one geared for release — if everything works as planned — by the fall, and then maybe something the following year as well." When Brutus asked Draiman to clarify if that means that the next DISTURBED release will be an EP, David said: "Define it what you want, but it would like five or six songs at a pop — something like that.

"We live in an environment right now and in an age where people's consumption of music has been very soundbitish and very track-driven and very single-driven," he continued. "And there's definitely some beauty towards continuing to try and [make] things like concept records and telling a long story over the duration of a series of songs — there's huge merit to that — but I think that when you write 10 songs and three of them actually get worked at radio and maybe, if you're lucky, the fans are really familiar with half the record and the rest ends up sitting on a shelf, and if you do end up pulling it out one day, it's like an obscure, weird moment during the set, and it's almost like gratuitous for yourself. I don't wanna do that anymore. I wanna make everything count. I wanna make sure that we get the biggest bang for everything we're putting out there. I think that that should be easily attainable. It seems to be where the environment is going, and it seems to be — whether we like it or not — what the digital age has funneled us into."

DISTURBED performed live for the first time in nearly two years last September as one of the headliners of the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

In March 2021, DISTURBED's "The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour" was officially canceled. The amphitheater tour, with very special guest STAIND and BAD WOLVES, was originally slated to take place in the summer of 2020 but was rescheduled to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was eventually scrapped altogether.

"The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour" was supposed to celebrate the 20th anniversary of DISTURBED's seminal album "The Sickness". On the tour, the band was expected to perform songs off the album, as well as tracks from "Evolution" and DISTURBED's extensive catalog.



Disturbed’s new single, released today, HEY YOU! Share this shit out!!!

Posted by Jerry Marquette Jr. on Thursday, July 14, 2022

Aussie rockers, Airbourne, have laid out plans to begin work on their new album. Set for release in 2023, the new set will follow on from 2019’s Boneshaker. The band made the revelation about the album in a brand new chat with eonmusic.


Speaking about the road to the new release, drummer Ryan O’Keeffe said: “We’re getting ready to do an end of the year tour and then another album. Soon we’ll be making another record."


Chatting about how the band deliberately held off on recording during the pandemic, front man Joel O’Keeffe said: “We did make an executive decision during lockdown not to be too focused on trying to make rock and roll songs that make you feel very good in an environment where you’re depressed and you’re being held down by the man."




His brother added: “We wanted to see people again and play to crowds again before we even think about it; that’s what we’ve always done."


Talking about their plans, Ryan continued: “To make the record, it’ll be coming down to picking a producer, picking a studio, giving us some time to put together what we have, but more importantly, the riffs that we’re making out here, now. This is how we wanted to do it; we wanted to make a record when we’re rockin’, and there’s people, and the crowd is there, and then, we come offstage and throw down this and that, and put it all together."


Regarding a release date, he concluded: “Hopefully it’ll be released sometime late next year."


Read the entire interview at eonmusic.co.uk.


Airbourne's fall 2022 North American tour kicks off September 9 in New York City and runs through October 11 in Los Angeles. Support will come from XX. Dates are below. Tickets are on sale here.


The tour is the band's first US and Canadian run since the release of 2019's Boneshaker. The band recently released the video for "Burnout The Nitro" from the album. Watch it below.


"We are from Melbourne, the most locked down city in the world. Unleashed at last, Airbourne are the most set-free animals on the planet. Look out," the band says. "They wouldn’t let us in for two years, and after this tour, they'll never let us back. Get your tickets - NOW OR NEVER!!"





Tour dates:


September
9 - New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
10 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
11 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
15 - Quebec City, QC - St. Roch XP L'Impérial Bell
16 - Saguenay, QC - Festival Saint-Honoré dans l'Vent
17 - Montreal, QC - Corona Theatre
20 - Toronto, ON - The Opera House
22 - London, ON - London Music Hall
23 - Columbus, OH - Skully’s Music Diner
24 - Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life
26 - Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge
27 - Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry
28 - Winnipeg, MB - The Pyramid Cabaret
30 - Calgary, AB - The Palace


October
1 - Edmonton, AB - Midway
3 - Vancouver, BC - Commodore Ballroom
4 - Seattle, WA - Tractor Tavern
5 - Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge
7 - San Francisco, CA - Starline Social Club
8 - Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival
11 - Los Angeles - Troubadour

Flagbearers of modern UK death metal, Ingested, have released a guitar playthrough video for their recently released digital single, "Ashes Lie Still", featuring Julia Frau. Watch below:





"‘Ashes Lie Still’ was written in my darkest times, my father suddenly passed away while I was on tour and the very next day Covid halted our career for over two years. You can hear my pain and frustration musically as well as lyrically; it's a dark, brooding piece and Julia compliments the feel of the track perfectly. It's an incredibly personal song to me and I'm proud it's the first single from our Metal Blade debut," comments guitarist and backing vocalist Sean Hynes.







The new single was co-produced by the band and previous collaborator Nico Beninato, Jeffs living close to Beninato's studio in Mallorca and recording his drums there, while Hynes recorded his guitars at home in the UK with the producer assisting remotely. Vocal tracking was interrupted by Evans falling seriously ill when finally making it to Mallorca and was ultimately tracked back in Manchester. Bass was again supplied by Dominic Grimard (Ion Dissonance/The Last Felony).


Watch the video for Ashes Lie Still, by Loki Film, below:

Atlanta, GA-based group, Pistols At Dawn, deliver hard-hitting hooks, magnetic melodies and intricate instrumentation with old school arena-size ambition on their debut studio album, Ascension, due August 19 via Megaforce/MRI Entertainment.


After independently amassing over 6 million streams across streaming and video platforms via previously released singles from their debut 2021 EP Nocturnal Youth, Pistols At Dawn returned to the studio to work with Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System Of A Down, Johnny Cash) on the new release.


The new single, “Fly”, will be released across digital platforms on Friday, July 15. Pre-save it here, and watch a music video below, which shows the band performing in a dark, gritty venue while shining the light on the strong females that are underrepresented in the rock genre.




The band commented, “We wanted to feature women as the subject of the video, not as an object. Feminine strength and girl power are themes that are very relevant at this moment and are uncharacteristic of most hard rock videos. We have a powerful love song in ‘Fly’ and our goal was to exhibit passion and feeling in a relatively unique way for our genre of music.”  





Ascension album art and tracklisting below.





Tracklisting:


"Under The Surface"
"Fly"
"Keep Me Guessing"
"For You"
"The Truth"
"Gravity"
"Get Away"
"Dictator"


"The Truth" video:





Pistols At Dawn were originally formed in 2015 but disintegrated after the tragic passing of guitarist Mike Buffa in 2018. They reformed in 2019 before releasing Nocturnal Youth in 2021 which was recorded with Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20). With live music at a halt due to the global pandemic, the band engaged fans worldwide with an immersive online campaign for the EP’s singles “Cold” “Voices,” “Crown,” and “Now Is The Time” which exploded with over 2 million Spotify streams and 6 million video streams combined.


(Photo - Michael Mueller/ M3 Creative)

As reported by NME, the Rockin' 1000 collective - calling themselves "the biggest rock band on Earth" due to the number of members - celebrated its 8th birthday on July 14th. To mark the occasion, musicians from 25 countries performed the Guns N' Roses classic "Paradise City" at Stade De France in Paris, France. Check it out below.


Rockin' 1000: "In 2015, 1,000 Rockers performed simultaneously 'Learn To Fly' by the Foo Fighters in Cesena, Italy. The video got more than 32 million views and the Foos actually held a concert in town! Since then we organize concerts with 1,000 musicians playing together  the songs that made the glorious History of Rock!"

Joe Satriani and Dreamcatcher Events have announced the long-awaited G4 Experience V6.0, happening January 3-7, 2023 at the Hilton Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa in Las Vegas, Nevada. Guitar players and aficionados of all ages, skill levels and interests are invited to join Satriani and an all-star lineup of special guests and distinguished instructors for an immersive four days of workshops, mentor sessions, exclusive live performances, and other activities.

"When I first put together the G3 concerts," Satriani says, "it was to create a camaraderie that is often missing in the general day-to-day competition of the music industry. It was to formalize us breaking the rules and saying, No, we're going to hang out and play in front of an audience together. From there we came up with the concept of the G4 Experience. I didn't want to do a traditional clinic, just getting up in front of people and giving impersonal lessons to a room full of people — I thought, what can we do that will truly reflect my values as a teacher? With the G4 Experience, we create an interactive community where I'm joined by these other stars that have been making amazing music and pushing the art form of guitar forward for decades. From all stylistic approaches and musical walks of life."

Satriani's special guests for G4 Experience V6.0 include legendary musicians Peter Frampton, Steve Lukather and Steve Morse, all of whom will offer instruction and share their knowledge with attendees on a more intimate basis than most fans ever get to opportunity to experience. In addition, a wildly diverse faculty of top players will lead clinics and jam sessions throughout the event, including Alex Skolnick, Andy James, Cory Wong, Eric Gales, John 5, Mateus Asato and Nili Brosh.

"We bring together this eclectic mix to show all the different sides of playing guitar," Satriani says. "They're all brilliant musicians with styles that are all over the map. They all have such different jobs, they've made millions of people happy with their playing, and yet they do it so differently. Every one of these players comes with fantastic new insights and innovations on playing guitar.

"Our faculty really reflects the anything-goes aspect of the instrument," he continues. "Not only does the guitar have the ability to play melodies, harmonies, and rhythms, it does this thing where it transmits the personality of the player to such a high degree that it kicks its versatility way ahead of other instruments. It's really a remarkable instrument. The G4 Experience is a testament to its astounding diversity."

Joe Satriani's G4 Experience V6.0 will cover a comprehensive range of themes and topics, spanning songwriting, playing, equipment, gigging, gear, and much more, all within an intimate small group setting that allows attendees to pick up a maximum amount of information, expertise, and personal connection. In addition, the four-day event will feature nightly live performances from Satriani and his longtime backing band — Kenny Aronoff (drums),Bryan Beller (bass),and Rai Thistlethwayte (keyboards and vocals) — as well as his special guests, faculty members, and other surprises.

"It's very different from the usual concerts we're all used to playing," Satriani says. "It's very intimate but everyone turns it on one hundred percent. The shows really break down the walls between the players and the audience. The shows put these incredible people just three feet away from you, it allows you to watch them and think very differently about how they're playing than you can do at a concert in a big venue."

Most of all, Joe Satriani's G4 Experience V6.0 will allow all who attend a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend time among their fellow players, allowing for a singular community experience where music lovers can share their fascination with the guitar and engage in unlimited dialogue and free-flowing exchange of ideas unlike any other.

"The G4 Experience is all about the community," says Satriani. "I can't state that enough. Everyone is not only there to enjoy the music, they're trying to learn everything they can. The G4 is such a fantastic spiritual experience. I've got my instruments ready. I've got my amps ready. There's a lot of information stored up in this head that I want to give to the fans and I'm very much looking forward to sharing it with everyone who attends."

For more information, visit g4experience.com.

Photo credit: Eduardo Peña Dolhun

In a new interview with VWMusic, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann was asked if he and his bandmates have been writing new material for the follow-up to 2021's "Too Mean To Die" album. He responded: "Yeah. We just signed a new deal with Napalm Records and they're desperately waiting for a new album. We are currently working on new tracks. While we're on the road, I sit with my guitar in my room and shred away, you know, collecting new ideas. Absolutely."

Wolf also confirmed that there are plans for him to release a third solo album, following "Headbangers Symphony", which came out in 2016.

"I started working on some tracks here and there," he said. "But to tell you the honest truth, this whole pandemic time was not my most creative time. The whole lockdown started, and we were in the middle of recording 'Too Mean To Die', so for a few months we were kind of glad, 'Oh, now we have time and don't have to worry. We can really take our time with this album.' Because touring's gonna start in — we thought maybe in six months everything was gonna be open, but then six months came, and nothing was open. Then we thought, 'Oh, okay, well maybe this tour is just postponed for another six months or a year.' And then that time came, and it was again postponed. So, it was always like this hurry-up-and-wait kind of thing. Almost like you're sitting at an airport, and you think that the flight's gonna take off in thirty minutes, and then thirty minutes comes around, and it’s gonna be another thirty minutes and another hour. That's how it felt to me. It was never, like, 'Oh, you've got two years off now. So, take your time and be creative.' It was just weird, man. It was a weird time for me."

According to Wolf, he has already "laid down some tracks and some ideas" for his third solo album. "But right now, for me, my focus is on ACCEPT and finishing this tour," he said. "We haven't really toured for this latest album, and that's what I really wanna get out of my system first. So, I can't wait to be on the road with ACCEPT again and properly tour this album. When the time comes, I will definitely go into the studio and work on another classical album. But these things take time. I mean, working on this classical stuff is really, really time-consuming."

As previously reported, ACCEPT will embark on a North American tour in the fall. The trek, featuring support from NARCOTIC WASTELAND, will kick off on September 29 in Nashville, Tennessee and conclude on October 29 in Columbus, Ohio. Fans can expect a career-spanning setlist of new and classic tracks, including mega-hits "Balls To The Wall", "Princess Of The Dawn", "Fast As A Shark" and many more.

This past February, it was announced that ACCEPT had inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.

ACCEPT's latest album, "Too Mean To Die", came out in January 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited ACCEPT in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik. ACCEPT's lineup has also been expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Uwe Lulis during 2019's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join the band permanently.

"Too Mean To Die" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with British producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH),who has been responsible for the studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.

Mark Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original lead singer, Udo Dirkscheider. He can be heard on ACCEPT's last five studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017) and "Too Mean To Die".

"The Rise Of Chaos" marked ACCEPT's first release with Lulis and drummer Christopher Williams, replacing Herman Frank and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD frontman Matt Sanders (aka M. Shadows) says that Zakk Wylde would be the "perfect fit" as the guitarist for the upcoming PANTERA reunion tour.

The 40-year-old Sanders made his comments one day after Billboard reported that singer Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown have signed with Artist Group International to book their North American dates. However, there has been no official word yet as to who will step in for guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was killed in 2004, and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who passed away in 2018.

Earlier today (Thursday, July 14),Matt took to his Twitter to write: "Irregardless of our personal feelings, it seems that this @Pantera reunion reminds us that life is fragile and short. We live in an era where Phil and Rex can still go out there and perform the songs and soon that time will pass too. Enjoy it while you can. Looking forward."

When one of Matt's followers pointed out that there are rumors that Zakk will stand in for Dimebag, Sanders responded: "I hope so… perfect fit and a friend for Dime. What a great tribute."

As previously reported, Wylde and ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante are rumored to be the musicians who will join PANTERA's surviving members on the 2023 tour.

Back in 2006, AVENGED SEVENFOLD recorded a cover version of PANTERA's "Walk" for a special disc called "High Voltage", which was given away with the 25th-anniversary issue of U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine.

Sanders later told Blender.com about his band's rendition of "Walk": "Kerrang! magazine came to us and they asked if we wanted to cover one of our favorite bands' classic songs. [And we went], 'Well, we know 'Walk'. Can we do that?' So we had Terry Date [PANTERA producer] record it for us and Vinnie Paul give us his blessings on it, so we went and did it. And from then on, we kind of like… you know, playing festivals in Europe with METALLICA and stuff, it kind of brings back…

"Dime, to us, was one of the greatest guitar players ever to live, and to us, it's like a tribute to him," he explained. "It kind of lets his spirit live on at Ozzfest.

"PANTERA was, for a few years, tearing it up at Ozzfest, you know, and now they're not a band anymore, and I think… To us, it's a song we can play, we know we do it well, and we're just going out there and letting the spirit live on a little bit."

Up until his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.
Irregardless of our personal feelings, it seems that this @Pantera reunion reminds us that life is fragile and short. We live in an era where Phil and Rex can still go out there and perform the songs and soon that time will pass too. Enjoy it while you can. Looking forward.

— M. Shadows (@shadows_eth) July 14, 2022


I hope so… perfect fit and a friend to Dime. What a great tribute.

— M. Shadows (@shadows_eth) July 14, 2022

Greber is a harsh grind/hardcore act, coming at ya’ from Ontario, Canada. They are releasing a new album Fright Without, which will be their fourth full length, later this year and in anticipation, are getting listeners stoked with their first single “Into Silence”.


Even just as a duo, Steve Vargas (drums/vocals) and Marc Bourgon (bass, vocals) sacrifice nothing and deliver a rush of intensity boosting adrenaline in listeners. Bourgon writes most of the skeletal ideas, which always start from the lyrics. Even if it’s just the title, it has to be there before he can let loose. Once Vargas comes in, things start to take shape, and chaos can begin. They explain the single “Into Silence”:


“This song is well above either of our abilities playing-wise so I’m sure we’ll never rock it live, thank Christ. Just a blasting of riffs and drums and pain. Nice. As far as a lyrical theme goes it’s just a portrait scaling the finer points of dissociation. Steve is just full-on, triple E, BEEEAST mode on this number.”




For Greber, the lyrics are an ever-evolving slog through a myriad of different sources. According to Bourgon, it used to be an overly personal airing of this or that, but on “Fright Without”, he went to great lengths to make it hurt more and to branch out as far as he could. The duo has come a long way since their debut back in 2006, their current form is raw and relentless, a sonic battering of low-end stylings.


In terms of influences, Vargas and Bourgon share the same love for “no bullshit” type bands. “Bands that only need what’s coming out the speakers and nothing else” such as Yautja, Malevich, Gaza, and Converge. Recommended for fans of the visceral, Greber will be enjoyed by those with an interest in Man is the Bastard, Black Sheep Wall, and Primitive Man.


Fright Without is slated for September 9, 2022, and will be available from the following labels: Ancient Temple and Nofuneral for Vinyl, CD, and Cassette in Canada, Hibernation Release for Vinyl in the USA, and 7 Degrees and Fresh Outbreak for Vinyl in Europe. Preorder on  Bandcamp





Tracklisting:


“Form”
“Aging Debt”
“Fabricated Purpose”
“Into Silence”
“Bush Cord Of Entrails”
“Larkinitis”
“Dark Corners”
“Rats Of Subversion”
“Nosebleed”
“Tree Carving”


“Into Silence”:





(Photo – Austin Gibson / Editing – Youth and Rust)

Canadian thrash metal veterans, Sacrifice, have announced a new reissue campaign of the band's early albums. This summer, the Ohio-based Shadow Kingdom Records is releasing the original group's first three albums on compact disc and limited edition cassette. This is the first time these albums have been available in North America on these formats since the early nineties.


The three albums in question, Torment In Fire, Forward To Termination and Soldiers of Misfortune, all contain the original, classic lineup of the band: Gus Pynn on drums, Scott Watts on bass, Joe Rico on lead guitar and Rob Urbinati on vocals and guitar. Featuring new liner notes* and updated booklet design by Annick Giroux of Temple of Mystery Records, the albums were prepared for release by Sean Pearson (Shallow North Dakota, Tomb Mold) at Boxcar Sound in Hamilton, Ontario in 2021. Order here.







* 1986's Torment In Fire features new liner notes from Decibel Magazine's Kevin Stewart-Panko





* Forward To Termination (1987) includes a testimonial about the importance of the album by fellow Scarborough rocker Danko Jones. The album was feted by Decibel Magazine and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2015 by Kevin Stewart-Panko





* Propagandhi bassist Todd Kowalski shares his thoughts about the band's third album, 1990's Soldiers Of Misfortune. His band wrote a song in tribute to Sacrifice, entitled "The Banger's Embrace". It can be found on their 2009 album Supporting Caste. Soldiers of Misfortune was declared one of the 50 Best Toronto Albums Ever by NOW Magazine


Sacrifice is currently in the demo phase for their next album. Plans on that upcoming full-length, their first since 2009's The Ones I Condemn, will be announced in the near future. In the meantime, Sacrifice has confirmed a rare, one-off performance for later this year in Halifax, Nova Scotia (Canada), It will be the band's first show in Nova Scotia in more than 32 years - and will mark only their second show of 2022, following a sold out Vancouver performance in May.


Sacrifice with guests Ritual Warfare, Hero's Last Rite, Novichok
Sunday, September 18
The Marquee Ballroom, 2037 Gottingen Street, Halifax NS


Tickets are on sale now and are available for purchase here.





(Photo - Kieran Palmerston)

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman and THE DARKNESS singer Justin Hawkins have publicly ended their feud, two decades after THE DARKNESS's disastrous gig as the support act for DISTURBED.

A few days ago, Hawkins took to his YouTube channel to recount the experience of sharing the stage with the Draiman-fronted outfit in London in 2002. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "THE DARKNESS supported DISTURBED [in 2002] at Brixton Academy. And I really love Brixton Academy; I think it's probably my favorite venue. It was the worst and also one of the best experiences because people were just throwing stuff. But some of the things they were throwing were, like, shoes, bottles and coins and stuff. But the thing about coins is it's money, so in a way that was a good thing, really. It's funny, though, 'cause I was right at the front of the stage. It kind of made me perform more, which made them more angry. And somebody — one of the DISTURBED fans who… I've got a lot of time for DISTURBED as a band; I think they're just brilliant — if you like that sort of thing. But one of their fans threw a piece of chewing gum that presumably had been in their mouth, and it actually landed in my mouth. I was singing [makes choking sound]. It was just a brilliant shot; I had to respect it, really. And then afterwards, David Draiman wasn't very pleased with me. I don't know; I think I may have issued an admonishment to the throng, which didn't go down very well with him. But what are you gonna do? Who gives a fuck? I'm just kidding."

Justin added: "When things like that happen… If a band is supporting my band and then our crowd is not very nice to them, I would always go and apologize. That didn't happen with DISTURBED. I think it actually had the opposite effect and they were angry with us. But… not my problem."

Hawkins's comments came 18 years after Draiman slammed THE DARKNESS as "a joke" and took issue with the British rock band's alleged characterization of DISTURBED as a band that symbolizes "this whole wave of nu-metal that is near its death." Speaking to Metal Edge magazine for its May 2004 issue, Draiman said: "To be perfectly honest with you, I think that THE DARKNESS is a joke, and that's, unfortunately, exactly what the world wants. The world wants rock bands to be idiots. The world wants rock bands to be these bumbling buffoons, these morons who made fun of themselves and their music and their art and don't take themselves seriously in any way. It's all supposed to be a joke. It's all supposed to be a joke. It's unfortunate. I think that there's always a time to be tongue-in-cheek, and there's always time for humor, but there's a time to be serious and a time for emotional content.

"And it's funny, I wouldn't even go ahead and say anything about them per se, unless they had already laid down the gauntlet," David continued. "I heard of late that they have decided to start slinging shit in our direction, that we are an example of one of the bands that they're completely against. That to them, we symbolize this whole wave of nu-metal that is near its death. Are you fucking kidding me? The irony is that they opened up for us in London at Brixton Academy, and here they are talking shit about us. I like [THE DARKNESS's single]. I have nothing against the song. I can't argue that it's a catchy goddamn song, but it's not metal. It's pop-rock. How dare they call themselves metal? That's not metal. It'll never be metal."

Draiman added: "They're a great band. I have nothing against them. But don't claim to be something you're not. Don't claim to be metal. Don't claim that you're authentic and we're not. Fuck you! Who the hell do you think you are? You consider yourselves and you treat yourselves and you conduct yourselves like clowns. And I enjoy laughing, because it's funny and the music is catchy. I even enjoyed them when they opened for us, even though the crowd was booing them to high hell. They were ready to lynch them! We're not looking to pick fights with anybody. We respect everybody. We don't talk shit about anybody."

On Thursday, a short time after BLABBERMOUTH.NET published a report about Justin's latest comments, Draiman took to his Twitter to share the article and he included the following message: "Hey @JustinHawkins of @thedarkness . Sorry you feel that way. There's a lot of things I regret saying in the past and this is one of them. It's been 20 years. I think we're both old enough to have a pint at some point and laugh about it."

A few hours later, Hawkins responded: "This is awesome! I don't drink any more but I'll take a non alcoholic beer. Thanks @davidmdraiman so cool that you reached out :)".

Added Draiman: "We're both survivors of this industry. Im sure we both have stories to tell. Let's figure out when we're both in the same place/same time and make it happen."

Hawkins replied: "Yeah!!! I'm down. I just slid into it DMs on Instagram :)".

Justin previously touched upon THE DARKNESS's experience opening for DISTURBED in a 2011 interview with Music Radar. He said at the time: "We played Brixton Academy with DISTURBED and their fans were a strange bunch. I think half of them despised us and the other half loved it. There was stuff being thrown at us and fights breaking out. We knew it would happen; we were expecting that kind of reaction from the start. But those bottles still hurt."
This is awesome! I don’t drink any more but I’ll take a non alcoholic beer. Thanks @davidmdraiman so cool that you reached out 😊

— Justin Hawkins (@JustinHawkins) July 15, 2022


*YOUR DMs

— Justin Hawkins (@JustinHawkins) July 15, 2022


Yeah!!! I’m down. I just slid into it DMs on Instagram 😊

— Justin Hawkins (@JustinHawkins) July 15, 2022

Former ALICE COOPER guitarist Nita Strauss has officially joined the touring band of singer Demi Lovato. Nita's new gig was first reported as a rumor on Monday (July 11) on the Metal Sludge web site.

Nita made her live debut with Demi Thursday night (July 14) with a performance of Lovato's new single, "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Video of the appearance can be seen below.

Lovato is about to hit the road in support of her eighth studio album, "Holy Fvck", which will be released on August 19 via Island Records. The LP's first single, "Skin Of My Teeth", was made available last month.

The follow-up to last year's "Dancing With The Devil…The Art Of Starting Over", "Holy Fvck" is reportedly a departure from Lovato's typical pop aesthetic and features a more punk-rock-flavored sound.

Lovato implied that "Holy Fvck" would usher in a new era for her after she posted a photo in January along with the caption, "A funeral for my pop music." She later told Rolling Stone that fans can expect to hear some "heaviness" in her new sound.

"It's a new era reminiscent of my first era," she said. "I'm ever-evolving, ever-changing. I'd like to put the rest of my music behind me and start fresh in this new era for this next album — but I do that every album cycle."

Lovato recently announced a fall tour in support of "Holy Fvck" featuring special guests DEAD SARA and ROYAL & THE SERPENT. The trek will launch September 22 in Wheatland, California and through November 6 in Irving, Texas. Prior to that, Demi will make appearances at the Illinois State Fair on August 13 and Iowa State Fair on August 14. She also has a seven-date South American tour scheduled for late August and early September.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Nita's solo live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.
DEMI LOVATO FIRST LIVE PERFORMANCE OF SUBSTANCE ON JIMMY KIMMEL pic.twitter.com/ho3fli87Q3

— anna (@buterasglass) July 15, 2022

Melbourne metal artist, The Overcoming Project, just released his crushing new single, "Determination" featuring world class metal musicians such as Mike Heller of Fear Factory, Jon Howard of Threat Signal, and Sergei "Efes" Fomin of FS Projekt.





"Determination" treats listeners to blistering fretwork, death metal-esque riffage, Heller's pummelling rhythms, Howard's larger than life vocals and cinematic orchestral arrangements, sure to satiate heavy music fans across the globe. This track is the second instalment from the self-titled singles collection based on Dr. Mike Trubetskov's personal journey navigating immigration, a Doctorate degree, Type I Diabetes and discovering his passion for metal music production. Each note and lyric is saturated with the urgency to keep pushing through uncertainty and fear because the reward on the other side is worth the blood, sweat and tears.




Trubetskov, the brain behind this opus, speaks: "I really dug deep to share my most authentic experience for the listeners, from the times where I was bullied throughout my doctorate to every other challenge that life threw at me. This song is about facing my own inner demons and recognising what brought me happiness and breaking out of the conventional norms that society puts on us. I'm sharing my sincerest and desperate breakthroughs that led to massive personal growth, through which I got the chance to work with musicians who have inspired me for years, and, in turn, I hope to inspire you."


“Determination” will be available on all platforms on July 15.





(Photo - Dr. Mike Trubetskov)

Death metal legends, Obituary, announce two new live albums - Slowly We Rot - Live & Rotting, and Cause Of Death - Live Infection. Both landmark albums are available for pre-order on LP/CD and Blu-Ray/CS & full digital audio is on all streaming services.


Physical pre-orders are out August 26 and available via Relapse.com, here. Video footage is presented in high resolution HD video, pressed on Blu-Ray.


Slowly We Rot - Live & Rotting and Cause Of Death - Live Infection were filmed by Odd Life Studios and directed by Lief Thomason on HD video in October 2020. Recorded and mixed by long time producer Joe Cincotta, and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, both live albums capture Obituary as one of death metal's most ripping and unrelenting bands.




Digital Downloads/Streaming for Slowly We Rot - Live & Rotting is available here, and Cause Of Death - Live Infection here.





Slowly We Rot - Live & Rotting tracklisting:


Intro
"Internal Bleeding"
"Godly Beings"
"Til Death"
"Immortal Visions"
"Gates To Hell"
"Words Of Evil"
"Suffocation"
"Intoxicated"
"Deadly Intentions"
"Bloodsoaked "
"Stinkupuss"
"Slowly We Rot"
"Redneck Stomp" (Live) [Bonus Track]
"Dethroned Emperor" (Live) [Bonus Track]
"A Dying World" (Live) [Bonus Track]








Cause Of Death - Live Infection tracklisting:


"Infected"
"Body Bag"
"Chopped In Half"
"Circle Of The Tyrants"
"Dying"
"Find The Arise"
"Cause Of Death "
"Memories Remain"
"Turned Inside Out"
"Straight To Hell" (Live) [Bonus Track]
"Threatening Skies" (Live) [Bonus Track]
"By The Light" (Live) [Bonus Track]
"I’m In Pain" (Live) [Bonus Track]





Additionally, Obituary have announced new North America Winter tour dates with Amon Amarth, Carcass & Cattle Decapitation! Tickets are on sale this Friday, July 15 at 10 AM.











(Photo - Ester Segarra)

Although considered as one of the ultimate ’album’ bands, Emerson, Lake & Palmer also crafted some stellar 7” singles across their illustrious career and on August 26, BMG marks the occasion with the release of the group’s first ever singles box set, a deluxe collection featuring 12 reproduced 2-sided 7” singles pulled from UK & international pressings complete with rare original picture sleeves and label artwork.


The box set also contains an extended booklet with detailed notes, a foreword from Carl Palmer, rare band photos plus 12 x 7"; companion artcards, inspired from the original single sleeves.


Released in celebration of ELP’s 50th anniversary, this 1971-1992 career spanning collection of 45’s have all been remastered by world-renowned ELP mastering engineer Andy Pearce and include amongst others, the majestic "From The Beginning" alongside fan favorites "C’est La Vie", "Lucky Man", "Jerusalem", "Stones Of Years", "Tiger In The Spotlight", B-side curio "Living Sin" and the UK Chart #2 classic "Fanfare For The Common Man".




Listening back again to the 7” mix of "Fanfare" re-affirms its position as one of the most memorable instrumentals to grace the history of the UK charts and one that holds it own when placed alongside other non-vocal chart busting masterpieces such as Booker T & The MG’s "Green Onions", Fleetwood Mac’s "Albatross" or the Average White Band’s "Pick Up The Pieces". From the minute Keith Emerson’s Yamaha GX1 synth gurgles into life after the trumpet intro, the track still rocks like a beast, the 45-edit bringing with it an even punchier dynamic to Greg Lake & Carl Palmer’s immensely powerful rhythm section.


Each member of Emerson, Lake & Palmer had their own personal history and relationship with the 7” prior to the formation of progressive rock’s first supergroup. With The Nice, Keith Emerson’s fiery Hammond organ was on several singles, most notably their 1968 cover of Leonard Bernstein’s "America". Greg Lake harboured his own aspirations of stardom covering Janis Ian’s "Too Old To Go ‘Way Little Girl" with The Shame in 1967 and the following year with The Shy Limbs on "Reputation". Carl Palmer’s first band, Craig, had a 1966 shot at the charts with "I Must Be Mad", a thunderous rumble of freakbeat pop underpinned by the then-15-year-old drummer.


Bringing things full circle on the role of the humble 7” in ELP’s history, Carl Palmer observes, “This box set of singles is very important to the development of ELP. The music that you will hear opened the door to radio around the world, and then the musical concept of ELP was born."


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


Single One
A. "Lucky Man"
B. "Knife Edge​"


Single Two​
A. "Stones Of Years"
B. "A Time And A Place​"


Single Three​
A. "From The Beginning"
B. "Living Sin​"


Single Four​
A. "Jerusalem"
B. "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine"


Single Five​
A. "Fanfare For The Common Man"
B. "Brain Salad Surgery​"


Single Six
A. "C’est La Vie"
B. "Hallowed Be Thy Name​"


Single Seven
A. "Brain Salad Surgery"
B. "Still… You Turn Me On​"


Single Eight​
A. "Tiger In A Spotlight"
B. "So Far To Fall​"


Single Nine
A1.  "I Believe In Father Christmas"
A2. "Jerusalem"
B. "When The Apple Blossoms Bloom In The Windmills Of Your Mind I'll Be Your Valentine​"


Single Ten​
A. "Canario"
B. "All I Want Is You​"


Single Eleven
A. "Black Moon"
B. "Black Moon" (Album Version)


Single Twelve
A. "Affairs Of The Heart"
B. "Better Days"

PRETTY MAIDS singer Ronnie Atkins, who is battling stage four cancer, spoke about his condition during a new interview with Chaoszine conducted on July 8 at the Sauna Open Air in Tampere, Finland. Regarding his prognosis. Ronnie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't know about my own situation. I'm living in intervals of three months — from scan to scan. You never know what's gonna happen. I never know what they're gonna tell me next time I turn up. I feel okay now, but it can happen pretty fast sometimes. The red light's been flashing a couple of times. They didn't find anything. The last two years I've been cancer-free, so to speak. It's still there; I've got metastasis in my bones — it's spread to the bone now, which is very bad. But I had immunotherapy for two years, which is probably why I'm still here. Now I'm not getting any treatments. I'm just saying that the future is very unpredictable."

Atkins went on to say that he is battling "constant pain issues" but added, "I've got 20 pills a day to keep it under control. It's nerve damage from the surgery and all the radiation therapy. Everything comes with a price. But [at least] I'm alive."

Asked how long he thinks he can keep recording music and touring, Atkins said: "I'm happy every day I can open up my eyes. That's just the conditions of my life now. The cancer thing is totally a game changer, not just for me but for my family too. It's there 24-7 in your subconscious. But I feel good. It's not that I'm whining all the time or anything like that. I just go ahead and try to live my life as I used to, as much as I can. And that's it. It's not that I'm sitting [and saying], 'I've got half a year left.' I don't know how [long I have]. I'm not terminal. I just take it as it comes, really. That's all I can do."

He continued: "If you read the statistics, four or five percent [of the people with my type of cancer] are alive after five years. That's not really good. I'm on my third year now. So I try not to think about that. As I say, I take it as it comes."

Regarding how much of his daily thought process is occupied by his cancer battle, Ronnie said: "It's in your subconscious, 'cause you get reminded every day. Now I'm doing an interview with you, and we're talking about it. So I can never really let it go. I might meet somebody at the grocery store [and they ask you], 'Hey, how are you doing?' and stuff like that. You go on the Internet, and somebody died of cancer. You get constantly reminded about it. So that, of course… it's a bit of a dagger hanging above your head. But it is what is, and I can't change that. I'm alive."

Ronnie previously opened up about his cancer battle in a March 2022 interview with "The Bay Ragni Show". Reflecting on how he was first diagnosed with the disease. Ronnie said: "When I first got it… I knew there was something wrong during the summer of 2019. I had back issues for years, but I had this kind of non-pain, strange pain. It's something you know yourself if there's something wrong. My mother had the same thing, and she died of it. I was 22, actually; my mother was 57. So I went to the doctor, and he said, 'I think you just struck a nerve or something.' I said, 'We should check it out.' And they sent me off. And then, the very same day, they said they found a spot in the lungs. Then I had to go through the whole thing. I had two biopsies, having a needle stuck into my lungs. It was just a very bad experience."

He continued: "I'd been smoking for 40 years at the time — or 35 years at that time. I actually quit smoking, but I'd been a heavy smoker for years. And I also had my share of alcohol; that's no secret. And those two things combined is deadly. But I lived a fucking rock and roll life. I don't regret my life, because I had a great life; I had a great run. And that's also what some of the songs [on my solo albums] are all about. We take everything for granted. That's what life is all about. That's what we do — when we're good and we're healthy — and that's the way it should be; we shouldn't walk around thinking about death. So when I finally was told it was cancer, I wasn't surprised. But then again, I had some panic attacks. It took me a long time to kind of cope with it. But music helped me through it."

Asked if it's difficult for him to talk about his cancer battle now, Atkins said: "When I did [my] 'One Shot' [solo] album [in 2020], it's maybe a little bit more emotional and melancholic and reflecting than [my latest] album ['Make It Count'] is, but this album is as well 'cause it's still in my head. But I was kind of weak when I did that album in the summer of 2020. When we did this one. I kind of learned how to cope with it — if you can ever learn to cope with it. You've just gotta be realistic and say, 'Okay, it is what it is.' I can't change that. I can just hope that science can prolong my life as much as possible. I do everything I can myself… Well, I don't. I train every day. I still have a glass of wine and a beer and stuff like that. I don't smoke anymore, of course. So I hope that with the help of the higher powers and the good doctors and science that I'll be allowed some more years in life 'cause I've got a lot more to offer.

"I'm very realistic about the situation, so I can talk to people," he explained. "People come and say to me, 'But you look good.' I had immunotherapy and that kind of fucked things up in my body, but I was never really sick from the chemo and the radiation and the immunotherapy. Sometimes I was, but basically when I look at a lot of other people with cancer, I've been very fortunate. So I basically have been feeling good — as good as I can."

After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, the now-57-year-old Atkins underwent at least 33 radiation and four chemotherapy treatments in the fall of that year before being declared cancer-free. In October 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned.

In a 2013 interview with Myglobalmind, Atkins joked that the secret to keeping his voice in shape was "twenty cigarettes a day and little drink now and then."

Formed in early 1982 by Atkins and guitarist Ken Hammer, PRETTY MAIDS' third album, 1987's "Future World", is still today regarded as a "classic."

During the ensuing years, PRETTY MAIDS continued to release albums usually followed by European and Japanese tours.

PRETTY MAIDS' latest album, "Undress Your Madness", came out in November 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

"Make It Count" was released in March via Frontiers Music Srl.

Orange County, CA metal band Leatherwolf have released a lyric video for the song "Hit The Dirt" off their forthcoming new studio album, Kill The Hunted, due out this fall.





Kill The Hunted, with artwork by Marc Sasso (Dio, Rob Rock, Cage), introduces powerful new vocalist, Keith Adamiak, alongside long-time guitarist, Rob Math, co-guitarist Luke Man (ex-Railgun) who first joined the fold in 2017 as a touring member, founding member/drummer, Dean Roberts, and veteran bassist, Barry Sparks (MSG, Dokken, Yngwie Malmsteen). The current Leatherwolf live line-up which had its baptism of fire at this year's M3 Festival in Columbia MD also features Wayne Findlay (MSG, Dream Child, Slavior) on guitar and keyboards and bassist BDrafts rice Snyder (ex-Railgun), on loan from thrashers Art of Shock.




"I feel like ‘Hit The Dirt’ is a great track to re-introduce Leatherwolf to the metal public with a vengeance.  I mean, we've been out there and played live until Covid shut everything down but's it's been a while since we've had a new album", says Roberts. "‘Hit The Dirt’ pulls no punches and the trademark Leatherwolf elements are there: The combination of great riffage, twin guitar lines, ripping leads, strong vocals, and a chorus that'll stick in your head - it's all in there. We wanted to make a heavy album without sacrificing melody and variety and I think we've achieved that."





Produced by Roberts who's been the band's primary driving force for many years, Kill The Hunted took the better part of 3 years to complete from the initial writing and demo sessions in 2019 before things came full circle in early 2022 when legendary producer/engineer, Randy Burns (Megadeth, Kreator, Helstar), entered the picture some 40 years after first working with the group.


"Re-connecting with Randy was pure coincidence and a classic case of "everything happens for a reason", laughs Roberts. “We had been talking to a couple of other mixers, including Jacob Hansen over in Denmark who had done 'World Asylum' for us, when our manager found out that Randy was back in business. We love the original Tropical EP so we thought, "what the hell - let's get in touch with him and see what he can do with this stuff if he's available." It only took a couple of test mixes to know that he was exactly what we were looking for. Randy had it dialed real fast and was super easy to work with. We couldn't be more pleased with the end result. And then we handed it off to Tom Baker who been our mastering guy for years for the final polish. I think the fans will be as stoked as we are once they hear the album."


In related news, the band has announced that they have been forced to pull out of their two European shows, Headbangers Open Air near Hamburg, Germany and Rampa Kultura in Goleniów, Poland, at the end of July due to drummer Dean Roberts sustaining a severe wrist injury which will see him out of commission for several weeks.


"We were briefly contemplating doing the shows with a fill-in drummer so we wouldn't have to cancel, let people down, and lose money due to flight cancellations. Unfortunately, it just was not feasible for various reasons. Number one being that we simply would not have had enough time to properly rehearse a full set of 60-plus minutes of music and be confident enough to represent Leatherwolf at the sort of level we expect from ourselves and our fans rightfully expect from us. Our sincere apologies to everyone who was looking forward to seeing us but especially the organizers, Thomas and the HOA crew and Pawel and the Rock Hard Ride Free people, for putting them in a bind. So sorry, guys! We'll see you in 2023!"


(Photo – Kara Uhrlen)

In a new interview with Rocking With Jam Man, PRIEST vocalist Linton Rubino, who played bass in GHOST as one of the Nameless Ghouls under the stage name Water, was asked if it was hard for me to be in a band like GHOST knowing that he was just a "cog in the machine" and that he could be replaced at any time. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Actually, that wasn't the case when I was in the band, 'cause there wasn't a culture of being changeable. When I was in the band, it was very clear that it was a band and nobody was a hired gun. So nobody felt that you were gonna be replaced all the time. Because the bass player before me, he quit by himself because of personal reasons. And then I got the chance to join the band — and not as a hired gun. I really thought I was a member of GHOST when I [was] in GHOST. After that, and after all the other stuff that happened, then that perception, I think, [was] changed, and now everybody believes that there was one boss and everybody was hired. But at the time, that wasn't the feeling or the culture that was in the band; it was more like we are one band. Maybe one person had more to say about the creative stuff and the business part of it, but we were still one band. So I didn't have that feeling [that I was just a hired gun]. Now I can understand, if you're a Ghoul today, you must have another view of it. But not back then, actually."

Linton also talked about his recent comment that he had to undergo six months of therapy after getting fired from GHOST. Asked how he is doing today, he said: "I'm doing just fine. And when I said that, it really sounds like I was in some kind of institution. I wasn't. It was only half an hour, once a week, and it was not only about GHOST or being fired; it was the whole life situation. It was a big change just to not have a job anymore and to be at home, not knowing what to do. I think everyone going through something like that, it's good to talk to someone. And I think it goes for everyone. I recommend it. But it took one or two months. I was back on track pretty fast. It was no big deal, really. I'm doing just fine today. Remember, this was seven years ago, so it's a long time ago. I don't think about it so much, to be honest."

Asked if the "media" took his comments about needing therapy a little "too far," Linton said: "Whatever works. All P.R. is good P.R., as the saying [goes]. And if we can sell some more [copies] of [PRIEST's new album] 'Body Machine' because of that, that's a good thing in the long run. But I wasn't institutionalized or anything. I had a therapist I went to once a week for half an hour. It was a very simply procedure… I wasn't locked in — never. It was only conversation — no medicines or anything like that. It was only conversations — half an hour, once a week."

Earlier this month, Linton told Dr. Music that he wasn't involved in the 2017 lawsuit filed against GHOST leader Tobias Forge by four former members of the band after being dismissed by the group's founder the previous December. "I was fired in 2015 from GHOST, so I wasn't a part of that process. But I have a family member and a close friend that was in that process, in the trial," he said, apparently referring to his father, Mauro Rubino, who was the keyboardist Air in GHOST from 2011 until 2016, and Simon Söderberg, who played guitar for GHOST from 2010 until 2016. "So, yeah, I was involved emotionally, you can say. But otherwise from that, I wasn't a part of that process."

Asked if it was difficult to deal with the fact that nobody knew his identity while he was in GHOST and he had to virtually start from scratch again once he was out of the band, Linton said: "I actually went through therapy for six months after that 'cause I felt that I'm nobody. We were up there playing with METALLICA and IRON MAIDEN and everything, and they know who we are, all the people backstage know who we are, but nobody else [does]. So it was just like being up [at the top] and then you're basically [on your own once you are out of the band]. And then I didn't have a job or anything and then it was cold turkey money-wise. So I had to really restart from bottom. Every breakup takes a while, right?! Then you're back on track in a couple of months. And you just roll up your sleeves and get at it again. You don't have much of a choice."

The four former members of GHOST who sued Forge were Söderberg, Mauro Rubino, Henrik Palm (Eather; member of GHOST from 2015 until 2016) and Martin Hjertstedt (Earth; member of GHOST from 2014 until 2016). They accused the singer of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the band's album releases and world tours.

The original lawsuit, which was filed in the district court of Linköping, where GHOST was originally based, claimed that Forge solely controlled the band's business affairs without input from anyone else in the group. The four musicians furthermore stated that a partnership agreement existed between them and Forge which put Tobias in charge of carrying out the company's management duties.

In June 2017, Forge filed an official response to the lawsuit, claiming that "no legal partnership" ever existed between him and the four musicians regarding the activities of GHOST and explaining that "none of the plaintiffs were present at the time of the" group's formation and that their sole task was to "perform" and "execute" the musical works and the image that Forge had created, produced and decided, all according to his instructions. For their efforts, he said, the musicians were paid a fixed salary.

In August 2017, the four ex-GHOST members presented an answer of their own, dismissing Forge's claim that GHOST is a solo project as "not [being] in accordance with the truth." "Forge has certainly been the band's main songwriter, he has had the role of the band's cinematic front figure 'Papa Emeritus,' has been a driving force in the band's business, as well as in the handling of the band's business affairs," the musicians wrote. "However, the activities carried out with respect to GHOST were extensively handled jointly by the members — for example, by making decisions jointly regarding the band's image, by participating in interviews, and by the fact that every member has, at certain times, contributed when recording the band's albums and singles and by touring together almost continuously since 2011."

The four ex-members, known previously only as Nameless Ghouls, claimed that between the years of 2010 and 2016, Forge never told them that he viewed GHOST as a one-man business and solo project. "To the contrary, Tobias Forge has always emphasized that it was a collaboration that everyone was involved in and would share in the profit of once the business became profitable," they wrote. "The first time Tobias Forge, through the band's management, mentioned that he saw them as hired musicians rather than full-fledged members of GHOST was in the context of a contract proposal presented in April 2016." This proposal was later rejected.

The trial in Linköping District Court lasted for six days, and on October 17, 2018, a 108-page decision was released dismissing the case. The four former GHOST members were also ordered to pay Forge's legal fees, which at the time was said to be approximately $146,000.

In February 2019, an appeals court rejected the former GHOST members' argument that the judge who ordered the dismissal of their lawsuit against Forge had a conflict of interest in overseeing the case.

In May 2018, Linton blasted GHOST's then-latest album "Prequelle", saying he was "ashamed to have been part of that" and calling the music "a joke" and "mainstream shit."

PRIEST's new full-length album, "Body Machine", will arrive on July 15 via Cleopatra Records.

German bashers Heaven Shall Burn performed at the 2022 edition of Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 25. You can watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set below.


Setlist:


"Hunters Will Be Hunted"
"Black Tears"
"Übermacht"
"Voice Of The Voiceless"
"My Heart And The Ocean"
"Corium"
"Behind A Wall Of Silence"
"Awoken"
"Endzeit"

This Friday, July 15, sees Irish post-rock maestros God Is An Astronaut release a very special anniversary album: With 20 years and a strong collection of masterful, acclaimed albums to their name, the four-piece comes full circle with their new live studio epos, The Beginning Of The End. Recorded at Windmill Lane Recording Studio in Dublin, Ireland on October 3, 2021, the album features modern transformations of all of the songs from their debut album, 2002’s The End Of The Beginning, encompassing each track’s evolutionary changes throughout the band’s years of live performances while allowing the original melodies and songwriting to shine through.


To shorten your wait until the record finally arrives this Friday via Napalm Records, today, God Is An Astronaut have premiered a brand new music video for their classic "Route 666”. The new live studio version kicks off with its praised synth and dark wave beat, taking the listener on a ride into the otherworldly sounds God Is An Astronaut has created for two decades.


"‘Route 666’ is the oldest God Is An Astronaut song. It was written in 1999 before God Is An Astronaut was formed,” Torsten Kinsella reveals.




"Initially Niels and I came up with the name / subject matter after watching US Televangelist Don Stewart pitching his green prosperity prayer handkerchief on the TV which we found obviously ludicrous, equally entertaining and humorous. 


“Back in the early years when we would play ‘Route 666’ live we would use some old film clips from the 1968 Horror film The Devil Rides Out. Needless to say the whole vibe was satirical.”


God Is An Astronaut's upcoming release provides a sonic snapshot of the evolution of the Irish post-rock band over two decades. Stage classics such as "From Dust to the Beyond", "Coda or "Route 666" can be heard in a new light, with clear, transformative variations originally heard during the band’s captivating live performances now incorporated. Plus, in addition to these live expansions, technical advances have been applied to each track. Originally limited to just a keyboard sequencer and an Akai S3000 sampler on The End Of The Beginning, 20 years later on The Beginning Of The End, the band seizes the opportunity to breathe new life into these live versions, allowing them to bring more feeling, experience, equipment and expression to the music and songs.


Niels adds: "When we recorded the The End of the Beginning we only had limited equipment; we couldn't even record full live performances,“ bassist Niels Kinsella reveals. "The Beginning Of The End gave us the opportunity to perform the whole album live and allowed us to bring more feeling and expression to the music and songs. We're very excited to share this with everyone."


The release of The Beginning Of The End could not be more relevant than in these current dark times. War themes are strikingly evident on songs such as the aforementioned "From Dust To The Beyond", as well as album title track "The End Of The Beginning" – named after a quote credited to Prime Minister Winston Churchill during the WWII era. Influenced by the chaos and futility of war, these themes are also reflected on the album’s cover, created by the band in collaboration with returning artist David Rooney. Featuring a war-torn concert hall and a piano, the art is a defiant message reflecting that the power of music transcends war and time.


Torsten Kinsella adds: "From Dust to the Beyond was written in 2002, inspired by the futile wars of the past and how we are doomed to repeat our mistakes and ironically we are now seeing the same unfold once again."





The Beginning Of The End will be available in these varying formats in various territories:


- 1CD Digisleeve
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold Gold - limited to 300
- 2LP Gatefold Marbled Orange Transparent & Black - limited to 500
- Shirt & 2LP Gatefold in Black
- Shirt & Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





The Beginning Of The End tracklisting:


"The End Of The Beginning"
"From Dust To The Beyond"
"Ascend To Oblivion"
"Coda"
"Remembrance"
"Point Pleasant"
"Fall From The Stars"
"Twilight"
"Coma"
"Route 666"
"Lost Symphony"


"Route 666":





"From Dust To The Beyond" video:





Lineup:


Torsten Kinsella - Guitar, Piano/Synths
Niels Kinsella - Bass
Lloyd Hanney - Drums
Jamie Dean - Guitar, Piano


(Photo - Brian Meade)

EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt says that SLAYER "had a lot more music in them" before calling it quits nearly three years ago.

Last October, Kerry King made headlines in the metal world when he said that SLAYER retired "too early." While recording a short video message to congratulate MACHINE HEAD on the San Francisco Bay Area act's 30th anniversary, SLAYER's founding guitarist said: "So, I hear congratulations are in order for my friends in MACHINE HEAD. Apparently, it's 30 years, which is quite an achievement. Not a lot of bands get there. We did, and then we quit too early. Fuck us. Fuck me. I hate fucking not playing."

Holt, who spent almost nine years touring with SLAYER, was asked about Kerry's comment in a new interview with Guitar World magazine. He said: "Did the band stop too soon? That's for them to decide. I know that's how Kerry feels. Maybe [bassist and vocalist] Tom [Araya] doesn't agree. I think the band had a lot more music in them, but you know what they say. It's better to go out too soon than too late. The band went out firing on four cylinders. Better to do that than milk it for a few more years when everybody knows you're milking it. That would tarnish the legacy of the band. This way they went out in peak form. Maybe that's best."

Asked if there is anything he misses now about being in SLAYER, Holt said: "Yeah, man. I've been friends with those guys since we were kids. And, I had one job in SLAYER and one job only. Go out, play killer, bang your head and play a little bit of a guitar hero role. One thing I was shocked with was how many SLAYER solos there are. There are songs that I played three solos in and at one point I'd be, like, 'All right, I'm just going to go shred and play this one behind my head 'cause I'm out of ideas.' [Laughs] But yeah, it was fun and relatively easy. I wear a lot more hats in EXODUS and have a lot more responsibility. Fortunately, I love it — but it's not always easy."

Holt began filling in for SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman at live shows in 2011, and became the band's full-time co-guitarist as of 2013, while remaining a member of EXODUS. Holt played on SLAYER's final album, "Repentless", which came out in 2015.

Holt previously weighed in on Kerry's "we quit too early" comment in an interview with Metal Hammer last fall. He said: "I'd have to agree [that SLAYER called it quits prematurely]. We were still playing at the top of our game, we were totally killing it. The band had a lot of years left in it, but I guess when it's time, it's time. When you decide to walk away from something, walk away. I can't tell anybody they made the wrong decision. Better to go out on top than go out unable to play your own songs, and this shit isn't easy. Playing 'Angel Of Death' at 70 years old would be fucking hard. But it was time for me to come back, let's put it that way. I was really missing my first family."

Back in March, Gary told Headbangers Con that he would be open to playing with SLAYER again if the band ever decided to come back. "Look, if the powers that be ever — like, in a year or something — said, 'Hey, you know what? We feel like playing some shows,' I'm there to do it," Holt said. "But those aren't decisions for me to make, or even me to really speculate on. As far as my knowledge, the band is over, and the final show was November 30th, 2019. And I'm full speed ahead with EXODUS now."

SLAYER played the final show of its farewell tour in November 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles. One day later, Kerry's wife Ayesha King said that there is "not a chance in hell" that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more live appearances. In August 2020, she once again shot down the possibility of her husband and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya sharing the stage ever again under the SLAYER banner.

After Ayesha shared three photos of Kerry holding their cat in slideshow-type Instagram post, a fan wrote: "No Tom, No SLAYER Kerry. Stop thinking SLAYER without @tomarayaofficial". Ayesha then replied: "don't worry, they'll never be SLAYER again! You can rest easy".

That same month, SLAYER drummer Paul Bostaph confirmed that he is involved in a brand new project headed up by Kerry King. The duo spent much of the last two years working on music with the hopes of recording it properly once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided.

SLAYER's final world tour began on May 10, 2018 with the band's intention to play as many places as possible, to make it easy for the fans to see one last SLAYER show and say goodbye. By the time the 18-month trek wrapped at the Forum, the band had completed seven tour legs plus a series of one-off major summer festivals, performing more than 140 shows in 30 countries and 40 U.S. states.

THE DARKNESS singer Justin Hawkins says that opening for DISTURBED in London was his "worst experience as a support act."

The 47-year-old British-born rocker who currently lives in Switzerland recalled sharing the stage with the David Draiman-fronted outfit via his YouTube series "Justin Hawkins Rides Again" where he shares a mixture of serious musician analysis and fun hot takes to his 166,000 subscribers.

Asked by one viewed what his worst experience was as a support act, Hawkins said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "THE DARKNESS supported DISTURBED [in 2002] at Brixton Academy. And I really love Brixton Academy; I think it's probably my favorite venue. It was the worst and also one of the best experiences because people were just throwing stuff. But some of the things they were throwing were, like, shoes, bottles and coins and stuff. But the thing about coins is it's money, so in a way that was a good thing, really. It's funny, though, 'cause I was right at the front of the stage. It kind of made me perform more, which made them more angry. And somebody — one of the DISTURBED fans who… I've got a lot of time for DISTURBED as a band; I think they're just brilliant — if you like that sort of thing. But one of their fans threw a piece of chewing gum that presumably had been in their mouth, and it actually landed in my mouth. I was singing [makes choking sound]. It was just a brilliant shot; I had to respect it, really. And then afterwards, David Draiman wasn't very pleased with me. I don't know; I think I may have issued an admonishment to the throng, which didn't go down very well with me. But what are you gonna do? Who gives a fuck? I'm just kidding."

Justin added: "When things like that happen… If a band is supporting my band and then our crowd is not very nice to them, I would always go and apologize. That didn't happen with DISTURBED. I think it actually had the opposite effect and they were angry with us. But… not my problem."

Nearly two decades ago, Draiman slammed THE DARKNESS as "a joke" and took issue with the British rock band's alleged characterization of DISTURBED as a band that symbolizes "this whole wave of nu-metal that is near its death." Speaking to Metal Edge magazine for its May 2004 issue, Draiman said: "To be perfectly honest with you, I think that THE DARKNESS is a joke, and that's, unfortunately, exactly what the world wants. The world wants rock bands to be idiots. The world wants rock bands to be these bumbling buffoons, these morons who made fun of themselves and their music and their art and don't take themselves seriously in any way. It's all supposed to be a joke. It's all supposed to be a joke. It's unfortunate. I think that there's always a time to be tongue-in-cheek, and there's always time for humor, but there's a time to be serious and a time for emotional content.

"And it's funny, I wouldn't even go ahead and say anything about them per se, unless they had already laid down the gauntlet," David continued. "I heard of late that they have decided to start slinging shit in our direction, that we are an example of one of the bands that they're completely against. That to them, we symbolize this whole wave of nu-metal that is near its death. Are you fucking kidding me? The irony is that they opened up for us in London at Brixton Academy, and here they are talking shit about us. I like [THE DARKNESS's single]. I have nothing against the song. I can't argue that it's a catchy goddamn song, but it's not metal. It's pop-rock. How dare they call themselves metal? That's not metal. It'll never be metal."

Draiman added: "They're a great band. I have nothing against them. But don't claim to be something you're not. Don't claim to be metal. Don't claim that you're authentic and we're not. Fuck you! Who the hell do you think you are? You consider yourselves and you treat yourselves and you conduct yourselves like clowns. And I enjoy laughing, because it's funny and the music is catchy. I even enjoyed them when they opened for us, even though the crowd was booing them to high hell. They were ready to lynch them! We're not looking to pick fights with anybody. We respect everybody. We don't talk shit about anybody."

Hawkins previously touched upon THE DARKNESS's experience opening for DISTURBED in a 2011 interview with Music Radar. He said at the time: "We played Brixton Academy with DISTURBED and their fans were a strange bunch. I think half of them despised us and the other half loved it. There was stuff being thrown at us and fights breaking out. We knew it would happen; we were expecting that kind of reaction from the start. But those bottles still hurt."