On June 27, songwriter/producer Desmond Child held a special concert in Athens, Greece at the legendary Odeon Of Herodes Atticus, an amphitheater which was built in AD 161. The concert featured some of the artists Desmond has worked with over the years, including Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, and Kip Winger.


The concert was organized by famous Greek songwriter Phoebus in collaboration with the Greek Ministry Of Culture with a noble cause to support and bring awareness to the global cry for the reunification of the Parthenon Sculptures to Greece.  







Desmond Child played some of his greatest hits accompanied by some of the artists he wrote them for. Alice Cooper stole the show with “Poison” and “Bed Of Nails” that he performed with Desmond on piano and Kip Winger on bass, running up and down and giving an amazing performance. Also, note that Cooper’s wife, Sheryl is contributing backing vocals with the other singers.


Bonnie Tyler, for whom he co-wrote “Hide Your Heart”, also appeared to sing the song, as well as “If You Were A Woman And I Was A Man”.


At the show’s finale, Alice Cooper, Bonnie Tyler, Kip Winger and all the guests including famous Greek pop star Sakis Rouvas, Rita Wilson (Tom Hanks’ wife, who is of Greek descent), The Rasmus, Justin Benlolo, Tabitha Fair, Chris Willis, Andreas Carlsson and George Lembesis, all dressed in white (except Cooper) sing one of Child’s most popular songs, “Livin’ On A Prayer” to the audience’s delight.


Minister Of Culture, Lina Mendoni, alternate minister of Foreign Affairs, Miltiadis Varvitsiotis were among the spectators who sold out the venue.


Rockpages.gr has posted a review of the concert, as well as photos and video. Find the review and photos here, and watch video below.














(Photos - Yiannis Dolas/Rockpages.gr)


 

The clip below features Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen performing the Northward song "Bridle Passion" at her solo show at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, Netherlands on September 1st, 2021. 


Floor: "The smallest song on the setlist, both in length and in sound. I wrote this song together with Jorn Viggo Lofstad (Pagan's Mind) for our rock project, Northward. It is about staying close to who you are. Hope you enjoy 'Bridle Passion'!" 







The setlist was as follows:


Set 1:


"Ever Dream" (Nightwish)
"Storm In A Glass" (Northward) 
"Nemo" (Nightwish) 
"Mama" (Samantha Steenwijk cover) 
"Sweet Curse" (ReVamp song - with Henk Poort) 
"Dangerous Game" (from Jekyll & Hyde - with Henk Poort) 
"Euphoria" (Loreen)
"Face Your Demons" (After Forever)
"Winner" (Tim Akkerman cover)


Set 2:


"Slow, Love, Slow" (Nightwish)
"Shallow" (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper cover)
"Strong" (After Forever) 
"Élan" (Nightwish) 
"Energize Me" (After Forever) 
"Qué Se Siente" (Rolf Sanchez)
"Bridle Passion" (Northward) 
"Our Decades In The Sun" (Nightwish)
"Wolf And Dog" (ReVamp) 
"The Phantom Of The Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover - with Henk Poort)


"Energize Me"





"Storm In A Glass"





"Sweet Curse"

Dream Theater drummer Mike Mangini has shared a new video clip along with the following message:


"Here's a live version of 'Bridges In The Sky', drums only, from a live Dream Theater show from the 2022 European spring tour."










Mangini previously shared the following video clip.


"This video is a combination promo for my June 11th Zoom Class, as well as a glimpse into what it feels like to decompress after a two-month-long Dream Theater Tour leg.  There are a lot of live clips in this video. The sound is raw from the cameras, so certain cymbals are much louder than others."

Andrew Daly at Vinyl Writer Music recently spoke with guitar legend Michael Schenker for a career-spanning interview. Following is an excerpt from the in-depth chat.


Andrew: I wanted to go back a little bit and talk history. As you probably are aware, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the Scorpions' Lonesome Crow. What do you remember about the recording of that album in particular?


Michael: "It was my first recording, and it was the first Scorpions album, too. I was fifteen years old when we recorded that album, and 'In Search Of The Peace Of Mind' was the first song I had ever written. I remember that particular solo came out of nowhere, and I still really love that solo to this day. For the rest of the album, you can hear I’m developing and had not yet found my full sound yet, but it was still very fun for me at that age. It was my first time in the studio, and it was amazing to hear what we had done later on. I still remember when the album was recorded, and pressed, and I actually had the physical album in my hands and heard it coming through the radio, it was really something to experience that. I could envision myself recording it just a few weeks earlier, I remembered where I was, and that experience is one I’ll never forget."




Andrew: How would you best describe your impact on the Scorpions? Especially since you were so young.


Michael: "Well, I was always focused on the music first, so even at a young age, I brought focus. I thought the drummer Wolfgang Dziony and bass player Lothar Heimberg were absolutely amazing for German musicians. With what we had to work with in Germany, they were really good. I actually really liked the drums and the bass and of course, Klaus Meine’s singing, I liked that too. In general, it was a great sample, but the problem was that everything was going too slow for me. Rudolph (Schenker) could hardly play guitar, and that really brought us down during the sessions, and with that album, even though I was fifteen, and had to do everything with the guitars. I had to be very patient, and I tried to teach Rudolph, but it was slow-moving, and he wasn’t getting it. I had to move on because I wanted to go somewhere where people understood, knew what I was doing, and where it all came from. That’s why I went to England, and once I went there, and I joined UFO, it all went very fast and was non-stop. We had lots of company, we had the audience, and we had the people who loved the music, everything was happening in London, and we started touring straight away. So, England was the place where I didn’t have to hold anyone’s hand, and everything was developing to my liking."


Read the complete interview here.


Lonesome Crow is the Scorpions' only album with Michael Schenker. He soon left following the recording to join UFO and was replaced by Uli Jon Roth. Schenker would, however, rejoin briefly during the recording and touring of 1979's Lovedrive.





MSG (Michael Schenker Group) have released their new album, Universal, via Atomic Fire Records. In celebration, the band have shared a lyric video for the song, "Under Attack". Watch below.


For Universal, Schenker has once again enlisted a number of prestigious fellow musicians for the recording of his new studio production, among them, as main vocalist, Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Vandenberg), who will also be MSG’s frontman on their upcoming tour, Michael Kiske (Helloween) and Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), keyboard player Steve Mann (Lionheart), drummers Simon Phillips (Toto, The Who), Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Foreigner), Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow) and Bodo Schopf (Eloy), as well as legendary bassists Bob Daisley (Black Sabbath), Barry Sparks (Malmsteen, Dokken) and Barend Courbois (Blind Guardian, Zakk Wylde), with Tony Carey as a very special guest.


Universal is available as Digipak CD (incl. 2 bonus tracks), colored vinyl, Earbook (CD incl. 2 bonus tracks) and digital album. Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Emergency"
"Under Attack"
"Calling Baal"
"A King Has Gone"
"The Universe"
"Long Long Road"
"Wrecking Ball"
"Yesterday Is Dead"
"London Calling"
"Sad Is The Song"
"Au Revoir"
"Turn Off The World" (Digipack bonus track)
"Fighter" (Digipack bonus track)


"Under Attack" lyric video:





“A King Has Gone" lyric video:





"Emergency" video:





To celebrate his latest MSG album, Universal, as well as his 50th anniversary of recording, MSG will embark upon an extended US tour this fall. The trek will run from September 27 through November 6. See all confirmed dates below.





Dates:


September (with Eric Martin, Images Of Eden)
27 - The Coach House - San Juan Capistrano, CA
28 - Goldfield Trading Post - Roseville, CA
29 - Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA


October (with Eric Martin, Images Of Eden)
1 - Saban Theater - Los Angeles, CA    
2 - Count's Vamp'd - Las Vegas, NV
4 - Oriental Theater - Denver, CO
6 - Pop’s - Sauget, IL
7 - Des Plaines Theater - Des Plaines, IL
8 - Arcada Theater – St. Charles, IL
9 - Pabst Theater - Milwaukee, WI
11 - The Art Theater - Hobart, IN
12 - Piere's – Ft. Wayne, IN
14 - The King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH
15 - Agora Theater - Cleveland, OH
16 - Harpo's - Detroit, MI
17 - Jergels - Pittsburgh, PA
19 - The Vault - New Bedford, MA * MSG only
20 - Flying Monkey - Plymouth, NH
21 - Cabot Theater - Beverly, MA
22 - Sony Hall - New York, NY
23 - Newton Theater - Newton, NJ
25 - Keswick Theater - Glenside, PA
26 - Tally Ho - Leesburg, VA
27 - Sherman Theater - Stroudsburg, PA


October (with Damon Johnson & The Get Ready, Images Of Eden)
29 - Bogarts - Cincinnati, OH
30 - Brooklyn Bowl - Nashville, TN


November (with W.A.S.P., Armored Saint)
2 - White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX
3 - Concrete Street Pavilion - Corpus Christi TX
4 - Eaton Arena - San Antonio, TX
5 - Amplified Live - Dallas, TX
6 - Tulsa Theater - Tulsa, OK


MSG - US Tour 2022 Lineup:


Michael Schenker - lead guitar
Ronnie Romero - vocals
Bodo Schopf - drums
Steve Mann – keyboards, guitars
Barend Courbois – bass

Danish death metal outfit Eciton have renewed their cooperation with Wormholedeath for their fourth album The Autocatalytic Process which will be released on July 22, 2022.


Eciton have enriched the Danish death scene with uncompromising locomotive metal on their three albums Oppressed, A Scent Of Veracity and their WormHoleDeath 2020 release Suspension Of Disbelief. In the summer of 2022, the Army Ants will release The Autocatalytic Process which was recorded and mixed at The Grid Europe with Jonathan Mazzeo. At the SoundEscapeAgency, Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy) has had his hands on the mastering and WormHoleDeath will release the album. The Autocatalytic Process focuses even harder on the technical abilities and melodic side of their old-school metal that insists on being modern. It is thoroughbred death metal from the heaviest end of the spectrum to maximum steam on the boiler. The globe is burning and it is the ants that have fired up under it.


Eciton have reinforced every parameter with the release of The Autocatalytic Process. The album is more technical, faster, melodic, and brutal than Suspension Of Disbelief. While writing the songs to The Autocatalytic Process, they always kept in mind to remember the old-school death metal vibe. 







Tracklisting:


“Repeal And Replace”
“Desperate Humans”
“Idealized Scum”
“Commercial Replay”
“Peeled Off Intelligence”
“The Autocatalytic Process”
“Incarceration Of Madness”
“Fanatical”
“Troglobites”
“Inhumanity Rules”


“Inhumanity Rules” video:

Infusing 80's American punk with 90's rock n' roll and alt-metal, Montreal, Canada's The Occult is gearing up to release their debut self-titled album this year and with the first single “In This Night”, they invite you to get lost in the music. The single and its accompanying video is gritty, energetic, and catchy, with it being presented in stark monochromatic tones. Vocalist/songwriter Eric Savanis comments on the track:


“Gianni and I did this video together. At the time, I had no band members and figured, maybe I’d find some if I released a video. I didn’t but the video came out pretty cool. It’s probably a little less on the nose than the previous song ‘Watch You Die’ but these themes are similar. The modulations in the verses were certainly accidental but still stand out as something that’s just really cool musically.”


Amidst the dark lyrical content such as murder, politics, and disdain for religion, The Occult is ultimately a celebratory band. They like to ensure that people leave the show with a smile. Hoping that people will forget their problems and become fully immersed in the music, they look to provide a transcendental experience. Well-rehearsed, they don’t get on stage and wing it, they are dedicated, passionate, and meticulous about their music.




For the most part, each of the band’s songs starts with the vocals, a chorus melody that needs music to be written around it. Once that core of the song is done the rest starts taking shape. The single “In This Night” was written back in 2011, and unexpectedly, was the advent of the band. The sole songwriter, Savanis was surprised with how simple it was to write - natural and innate. Constantly writing, he finished the other twelve tracks in a few months.


According to the band, this debut is the first step in what they hope is a long journey. They have a lot to say and think people will really dig the tunes. With a conglomeration of influences, especially stuff from the Seattle region in the early 90s, The Occult presents something that is both familiar and fresh. They are recommended for fans of Type O Negative, Life of Agony, Danzig, and Misfits.


The self-titled album will be available on August 19, 2022.





Tracklisting:


“Watch You Die”
“In This Night”
“Deth Doll”
“Strangling Republicans”
“It’s Amateur Hour”
“20 Years”
“Dots”
“Gotta Love Those Humans”
“Dine With Me”
“Team Satan”
“Planet Pisces” 
“Nicole”
“Occupy Unite” 


“In This Night”:

Ballarat, Australia's Nicolas Cage Fighter is back with their latest single "Compound And Fracture" streaming now everywhere, including a brand new official video, which can be streamed below.


The track, off of the band's upcoming release The Bones That Grew From Pain, is "basically the 'fuck you' song, it's entirely centered around personal accountability and taking control of your own life instead of blaming everyone else and everything around you for your own problems. The world can be a really shitty place but too often we see people around us that whine and bitch about things that they could easily fix if they got off their ass and just did it."


The Bones That Grew From Pain is slated for release on July 22, 2022 worldwide and can be pre-ordered now at blacklightmediarecords.com.




Nicolas Cage Fighter will be touring throughout Australia this August with Relapse, Blood On My Hands, and Shōkan.





Tracklisting:


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


"Compound And Fracture":





“Shrine Of Wire”:





Live dates:


August
5 – Sydney, Australia – Factory Floor
6 – Newcastle, Australia – Newcastle Hotel
11 – Melbourne, Australia – Stay Gold
12 – Ballarat, Australia – Volta
13 – Adelaide, Australia – Crown And Anchor 


(Photo – Jayden Pitts)

Madrid, Spain’s Spectrum Mortis is streaming new track, “U Anne Dugga”, from their forthcoming full-length debut, Bit Meseri – The Incantation, out in September via Listenable Records. 


After signing with Listenable records in 2019, Spectrum Mortis focused on the writing of their debut full-length album, immersed in ancient worlds between infinite passages buried in the sands of time, going back to the Sumerian saga of Apkallus and Ziggurats.


Under that primordial influence, the band entered The Empty Hall studios in Madrid in 2021 and recorded “BitMeseri - The Incantation” scheduled for a September 2022 release.




The band elaborates about Bit Meseri -The Incantation:


"We wanted to recover the essence of both mini albums and translate them into an authentic black celebration to continue enhancing the obscure arts and dimensions that we have managed to create with these works. This congregation will continue to write cold riffs of death under the path of ancestral rites and traditions, always low extreme care and obscure dedication. "


Spectrum Mortis transcends the listener with its inspired ceremonial occult death metal and Bit Meseri - The Incantation deeply masters that genre with great atmosphere and conviction.


Artwork by Khaos Diktator Design:





Tracklisting:


“An”
“Utu-Abzu”
“U Anne Dugga”
“Bit Meseri”
“Uanna”
“An-Enlida”
“El Sol De Eridu”
“Shamash”


“U Anne Dugga”:


Bit Meseri -The Incantation- by Spectrum Mortis

Jag Panzer has revealed they have completed drum and bass recordings for their new concept album, The Hallowed.


The band says in an update: “Drums and bass are complete for the new Jag Panzer album The Hallowed.  They were recorded at Sonic Phish, the studio owned and ran by drummer extraordinaire Ken Mary. Next up are guitars and vocals, then off to Morrisound to mix with Jim Morris. Mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum will then wrap everything up. We like to do things different for each album so that each record will have its own unique character. This is the first time we’ve tracked drums and bass together and it went extremely well. There is great chemistry between bassist John Tetley and drummer Rikard Stjernquist. That engineer was definitely captured in these sessions!”


The Hallowed will be the band’s second concept album. Mixing and mastering are scheduled to be completed in August. The album will be recorded at various studios and mixed by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios. The cover artwork has been completed by Dusan Markovic.




Jag Panzer's latest album, The Deviant Chord, was released in 2017. Stay tuned for further updates on the new record.

Miss May I have released a visualizer for their new single, "Earth Shaker", from their new album, Curse Of Existence, out September 1. Watch below.


"'Earth Shaker' is our self description on the ones who are motivated to get themselves out of the ‘mayhem’ they are experiencing. Everyone out there has reached the breaking point where enough is enough and the time comes to make a change. Sometimes that change can make ripples in your life and redirect you to a new path, but its still forward and that’s what matters. Even when it feels like there is no where to go you can become an ‘Earth Shaker’ and make your own quake in your life." - Levi Benton







Curse Of Existence, the seventh studio album from Miss May I, explodes with the life experience of an established band, the uncertainty of mental health struggles, the isolation of the global shutdown, and the perspective gained from the most extensive time away from the road of each man’s adult life.


"Curse Of Existence is exactly what it reads, the curse we have in our existence. This doesn’t mean anything strictly negative, but it covers all existence that is the good and the bad, the highs and the lows, the sorrow and the joy. Everything that comes with life comes with a lesson and a price and that is what we have put into this new album. It tells our lessons over our lives that have shaped us and have brought us to the very bottom of our lowest low and the tallest point to our highest high. We know the reflection we all went through during the world coming to a halt and that experience brought a lot of these sheltered emotions to light!" - Levi Benton





Produced by Will Putney (A Day To Remember, The Amity Affliction, Every Time I Die), Curse Of Existence is the sound of five people prying victory from the jaws of defeat. Unbroken by isolation, fearless in the face of fear, Miss May I wrestle with demons real and imagined all over the album.


Pre-order here.


Miss May I are:


Levi Benton – Vocals
B.J. Stead – Lead Guitar
Justin Aufdemkampe – Guitar
Ryan Neff – Bass/Vocals
Jerod Boyd – Drums


(Photo - Ross Theisen)

TogethermenT Records announces the release of a 5-song album by rock band, Anyone, featuring the late Taylor Hawkins on drums. The EP is entitled The Sylvia Sessions and is available now. The release is also available as a deluxe NFT Package with exclusive video, pictures, liner notes. Watch the promotional video below.


The Sylvia Sessions is a historically significant release, featuring the earliest recordings of Taylor Hawkins to ever be heard - recorded in 1993 and originally released as a demo tape. The EP captures Hawkins in his youthful exuberance playing with the explosive attack that would ultimately make him a rock drumming legend. This is amongst the first full albums to ever be released as an NFT package.


Anyone was formed by Riz Story, along with Jon Davison (YES) and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters) in the late 80’s in Laguna Beach, California.  Hawkins and Story worked together for the bands early years and together created the bands unique sound, which was dubbed ‘Maximum Acid’ by the press. Hawkins and Davison were replaced by the time the band signed with RoadRunner Records in 2000. Their self-titled debut album received much critical acclaim including a 5-star rating from Rolling Stone (Adrian Zupp).  




In October of 2016 the single “Fly Away” was featured in Story’s debut feature film A Winter Rose and became the most listened to rock song in America on digital radio, hitting #1 on the DRT National Airplay Rock Chart. The 2020 album release of On The Ending Earth… was met with widespread critical acclaim as was the monumental album released in October of 2021. In Humanity is a double concept album featuring an unprecedented display of virtuosity by Riz Story, who performed all instruments and vocals as well as producing, mixing and mastering.


Purchase The Sylvia Session here.





Tracklisting:


"Peace Love & Toxic"
"Sister Someone"
"Dear Sylvia"
"Mommy"
"Real" (Bonus Track)

Tenacious D's Jack Black & Kyle Gass were guests on Audacy Check In with host Carlota, to talk about The Who Medley, their latest covers-for-charity project.  


The rock duo shared they're waiting on Robert Plant’s blessing for the next medley, and have another album in the works, going on writers' retreats to work on it. "But we're gonna need a couple more retreats, we're gonna go up to Big Sur because that's a power spot. I think we're gonna go to all the power spots on the planet where the chakras are most enhanced... whatever it takes," says Black.


They also shared how life on the road is hard on their bodies...




"Did you get on the scale? See, we always weigh ourselves right before we go on tour, and then we weigh ourselves after the tour is over and so far we've always gained weight. We've never lost weight on tour, maybe one time we stayed the same I don't know... I was pleasantly surprised. I only gained three pounds... I was definitely eating whatever I wanted out there, so I thought it was gonna be worse, but I started off pretty damn heavy." - Black


"I gained like 25 pounds (in 11 days), I did. Alright 24 and a half or something." - Gass


At the end of the interview, Black talked about what a theoretical sequel to his 2001 rom-com with Gwyneth Paltrow, Shallow Hal, might look like, flipping the script in Shallow Gwyn, where she gets hypnotized and thinks he’s Brad Pitt... "but really, I'm Jack Black".

Whitesnake continues to revisit its multi-platinum career as it remixes some of its biggest hits for a new collection that spotlights updated versions of classic tracks like “Still Of The Night,” “Here I Go Again,” and “Is This Love.”


Whitesnake's Greatest Hits is available now on digital and streaming services, on CD, 2LP, and CD/Blu-ray in Europe, and fans are invited to order the collection by going here.


The band have released this remastered video for "Guilty Of Love":







In another clip, David Coverdale looks back on "Guilty Of Love":





David Coverdale had 16 tracks remixed and remastered for this collection. He explains: “We’ve definitely expanded on the original Greatest Hits, took them all out of the sonic time capsule of the ’80s and ’90s, and brought them up to date, sound-wise … as always, we have the original albums for those who consider them holy relics.”


Keyboardist Derek Sherinian, who also appeared on Whitesnake’s recent Red, White and Blues trilogy, adds Hammond organ to more than half the songs on the collection. His scorching contributions can be heard on the #1 smash “Here I Go Again,” “Fool For Your Loving,” “You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again,” and more. New performances by former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg can also be heard on “The Deeper The Love” and “Judgement Day” from the 1989 album, Slip Of The Tongue.


Along with those new additions, Coverdale also went back to the vault to unearth vintage performances by guitarist John Sykes that didn’t appear on the original recordings, including a solo on “Slide It In” and rhythm guitar on “Give Me All Your Love.”


Whitesnake Greatest Hits focuses extensively on three blockbuster albums the band released during the 1980s: 1984’s Slide It In (2x platinum), 1987’s Whitesnake (8x platinum), and 1989’s Slip Of The Tongue (platinum). But the collection goes deeper with songs like “Sweet Lady Luck,” a b-side on the 12” single for “The Deeper The Love,” and “Forevermore,” the title track from the band’s 2011 album.


Whitesnake have embarked upon a farewell tour with special guest, Europe. Coverdale said: “I pray every day we can all make this happen & once again, share unforgettable evenings together & celebrate the amazing journey we have been on for almost 50 years!!!”


- Digital now available worldwide
- CD out now in Europe
- 2LP out now in Europe
- CD/Blu-ray out now in Europe and July 15 in North America
- CD & 2LP out on now in North America





CD/Blu-ray tracklisting:


“Still Of The Night”
“Here I Go Again”
“Is This Love”
“Give Me All Your Love”
“Love Ain’t No Stranger”
“Slide It In”
“Slow An’ Easy”
“Guilty Of Love”
“Fool For Your Loving”
“Judgment Day”
“The Deeper The Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“You’re Gonna Break My Heart Again”
“Sweet Lady Luck”
“Crying In The Rain”
“Forevermore”


"Slow An' Easy" remastered video:





"Slide It In" remastered video:





"Love Ain't No Stranger" remastered video:





"Give Me All Your Love" remastered video:





"Is This Love" remastered video:





“Here I Go Again” remastered video:





"Still Of The Night" remastered video:

After months, nay years of separation, solitude and hermitage, the desire to unite, cheer and get together seems to be ubiquitous - not only amongst us music fans, who have been longing for shows and festivals to start again, but also for those people who bring us so much joy and the bangers our starved hearts and heads desire: the musicians themselves.


Glen McMaster, a versatile songwriter and guitar player, took these wishes to the next level by writing and producing songs for what is already turning out to be one of the most promising all-star projects in recent metal history: Besides Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Idol), who joined the writing process in early 2021, Figure Of Speechless consists of high-profile names such as Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Guns N' Roses, Sons Of Apollo), Ray Alder (Fates Warning, Redemption), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder) and Brian Tichy (Whitesnake, Billy Idol, Foreigner, Ozzy Osbourne).


Figure Of Speechless’ first single, “Day And Night”, is available now on all streaming platforms via SAOL, the accompanying lyric video can be viewed below.. But they won’t just stick together for one song – a full-length album titled Tunnel At The End Of The Light is coming on September 2, pre-save here.







Songwriter Glen McMaster (pictured above) describes the first single from the album as follows: “Although 'Day And Night' was one of the last songs to come off the production line, it is a combination of sections from the very first song I wrote for this album, and some jazz guitar chord progressions I came up with when I was much younger. When writing this song, I had a Victorian London sort of vibe in mind and originally wanted to write lyrics about Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but eventually I settled on writing about ‘Chance’, the fickleness of fortune and wealth, and the ephemeral nature of life. Representing ‘Day’, the first half of the song is quite melodic, and then the second half ‘Night’ becomes much darker and more sinister."


Listeners can expect an equal amount of variety throughout the whole 11-track effort. And while curating the allstar-piece, McMaster fulfilled a need many have been feeling after months and months of isolation: to bring people from all over the world together to cherish the beauty of art and music. Glen McMaster, the man behind the concept, describes the collective’s sound as an “infusion of five decades of progressive music” – all emerging into a powerhouse of nostalgia and influences from across music history. Listening closely, fans will discover musical elements from unexpected time depths and traditions ranging from Beethoven and Django Reinhardt to Rush and Dream Theater. The credo of unity doesn’t stop at the project’s members – this thing has the power to reach far beyond, and will without a doubt land the top lists of the year.





Tracklisting:


"Day And Night"
"Carve A Smile"
"Escape Hatch"
"Midnight Desert Rendezvous"
"Tunnel At The End Of The Light"
"The Cast-Out"
"Draw The Line"
"Inside Room 6"
"Turn A New Leaf"
"DysUtopia"
"Unfolding"


"Day And Night" lyric video:





 Album lineup:


Glen McMaster – Guitars/Songwriting
Derek Sherinian – Keyboards/Producer
Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal – Guitar Solos/Mixing
Ray Alder – Vocals
Tony Franklin – Bass
Brian Tichy – Drums

Swedish blackened thrash metal pioneers, Witchery, will release their eighth studio album, Nightside, worldwide on July 22 via Century Media Records. The band have launched the music video for the new single, "Witching Hour", which can be found below.


Following 2017’s much acclaimed I Am Legion album, Nightside was recorded with the Witchery lineup consisting of Jensen (guitar, The Haunted / ex-Seance), Rickard Rimfält (guitar, Seance), Angus Norder (vocals, Nekrokraft), Victor Brandt (bass, Dimmu Borgir / ex-Entombed A.D.) - who now officially replaces longtime bassist Sharlee D’Angelo – and Chris Barkensjö (drums, LIK / ex-Kaamos).


The album was once again mixed and produced by Daniel Bergstrand (Behemoth, In Flames, etc.) and includes artwork by Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson.




Nightside features brief guest appearances on vocals by Jeff Walker (Carcass, on “A Forest Of Burning Coffins”, as well as guest guitar leads by Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate, on “Left Hand March”), Simon Johansson (Wolf, on “Crucifix And Candle”) and Maciek Ofstad (Kvelertak, on “Don’t Burn The Witch”).


Nightside will be released in the following formats: jewelcase CD, 180g. vinyl LP (either as black vinyl or as limited transparent red vinyl of 500x copies via CM Distro/Mailorder) and as digital album. Pre-orders for Nightside start today and are available, here.





Nightside tracklisting:


"Witching Hour"
"Don’t Burn The Witch"
"Storm Of The Unborn"
"Er steht in Flammen"
"Popecrusher"
"Left Hand March"
"Under the Altar"
"Churchburner"
"Crucifix And Candle"
"A Forest Of Burning Coffins"


"Witching Hour" video:





"Nightside"


"Popecrusher" video:





Witchery is:


Angus Norder (vocals)
Jensen (rhythm guitars)
Rickard Rimfält (rhythm and solo guitars)
Victor Brandt (bass guitar)
Chris Barkensjö (drums)

New York Post is reporting that Bon Jovi frontman, Jon Bon Jovi, has sold his West Village home for $22 million, according to property records.


According to the report, the New Jersey born rock royal listed his four-bedroom, 3½-bath Greenwich Lane pad, at 155 W. 11th St., for $22 million last February. It went into contract six days later.


Says New York Post's Jennifer Gould: "The buyer, we hear, is Michael Ovitz, the co-founder of Creative Artists Agency who was also president of the Walt Disney Co., who did not return calls at press time.




"The spacious 3,951-square-foot home comes with its own elevator landing that opens to a gallery with “art walls.” There’s also a natural toned chef’s kitchen with a balcony and a 40-foot-long living room, plus oak floors.


"The main corner bedroom suite features floor-to-ceiling windows, a walk-in closet and a windowed marble bathroom. Bon Jovi bought the 14th-floor unit for $18.94 million in 2017."


Read more at nypost.com.

Greensboro, NC Southern rock band Old Heavy Hands has premiered the music video for their single “Runaround” through BraveWords!





Nate Hall, guitar and vocals, talking about the video: “The video shoot was more like filming a hang out with our friends. We just off the cuff called our friend Todd and said ‘Wanna shoot of a video?’ We were just coming out of the COVID lockdown and my chemo, so we were desperately needing to hang with friends and family again, so we just threw a party at our tattoo shop. It ended up becoming much more. We thought we would have a handful of our buds coming by to hang and shoot the shit. Ended with our manager at the door having to direct people to the bar next door when people were spilling out of the shop. We were so moved by the support we ended up with a bit of late night partying and singalongs. It was just what the doctor ordered.”




"Runaround" coincides with the release of their beer, "Small Fires." The single is now streaming and available for download from all digital platforms.


Nate Hall, guitarist/vocalist on the track, shared, “It’s a song that comes from a place of revelation. Sometimes we don’t realize that we’re the bad guy in our story. Runaround is about accepting that and changing the story. “


The “Small Fires” Pilsner is a collaboration with the band's friends at Little Brother Brewery. They chose a Pilsner because they wanted a crispy boy that leaves you feeling refreshed and ready for another. Coming in at 4.20% ABV this beer lets you enjoy the show and not forget the party.


"Runaround" can be purchased or streamed here. 





Singer Nate Hall found himself grappling with a dire stomach cancer diagnosis in August of 2018. While death was expected, Hall fought. And fought. Through chemotherapy and hard-assed willpower, his eventual recovery ignited a productive nine-month songwriting torrent by the entire band. After the dire cancer diagnosis Nate had only one choice, FIGHT. With a wife, 4 children, 2 grandchildren, a tattoo business, and a band to think about, Nate dug deep and began the literal fight for his life. Once the reality set in and fear and worry of his loved ones filled him with doubt, his family, friends and community came together to help lift the man that has spent his whole life helping others & show up they did. While going through the extreme pain and exhaustion of chemo the community stepped up in way he never could have imagined. From huge benefit concerts, to his staff at Legacy Irons having to fill the unfillable gap of Nate not having the energy to run the shop, to strangers signing up to bring the family dinner every night for months. It was no longer just Nate’s fight, it was everyone's fight and fight they did. The true story of David & Goliath the fight of cancer; David won! As Nate started to regain his strength and reflected on all his blessing and all the life he lived leading up to that point lit the fire. That fire grew bigger and bigger and songs started to spill out of him like a waterfall washing away the pain. The first song he pulled from his soul is "Runaround." A song that is the product of suffering.


Adding fuel to their fire, another member, Dee Self, dealt with the grief of his mother’s untimely death while Larry Slaton’s grandfather died from cancer during their writing process. A flood of tragedy produced a flood of creative response. In the insanely catchy "Runaround,” Old Heavy Hands examines accountability and the process of realizing what you’ve done and being big enough to atone for it. Throughout the rest of the album, the band either reflect on bitter experiences, or provide an escape hatch to a more tranquil place. Three of the band’s members are noted tattoo artists, gracing thousands of bodies with high-caliber skin art. Their other pursuit, music, finds each of the five members pooling their impressive professional experiences of the past to create something uniquely their own. At its core, Old Heavy Hands is about the bonds of family and the loyalty of lifelong friendships. Born from ashes of tragedies, theirs are songs by real people for real people -- inspired by true events.


Formed in 2015 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Old Heavy Hands forge a compelling brand of heartfelt southern rock informed as much by the Muscle Shoals tradition as the DIY punk rock of their youth. They recorded their new album, Small Fires, at The Fidelitorium and Earthtones studios, and with first single, “Runaround,” they exorcize demons, working through tragedy in a way that is far beyond artistic expression. It is a necessary purging of pain, loss, mortality and, ultimately, triumph.





Producer: Danny Fonorow,
Engineer: Mitch Easter (REM, Pavement, Wilco), Ted Comerford, & Benjy Johnson
Studio: Fidelitorium - Kernersville, NC & Earthtones – Greensboro, NC
Mixer: Henry Lunetta
Mastered: Sterling Sound, Calbi/Fallone


Old Heavy Hands is:


Nate Hall - Guitar/vox
Larry Wayne Slaton - Guitar/Vox
David Self – Guitar/vox
Josh Coe - Bass
John Chester - Drums

Known throughout the music world as a talented, solid bass player for bands like Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Journey, Ted Nugent and The Dead Daisies to name a few, Marco Mendoza has recorded a body of amazing music in his own right. But when his fourth effort under his own name, New Direction, hits the streets on September 16, 2022, it will be a very special beast of its own. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.


Working with world-class producer Soren Andersen, owner of Medley Studios in Copenhagen, dubbed by some as ‘the new Mutt Lange’, the partnership that has already produced the career-defining 2017 album Viva La Rock, has created in New Direction another future masterpiece together. 


As it often happens, demanding times produce special opportunities, and writing and recording amidst a pandemic was a trigger for Mendoza’s creativity. 




With Andersen himself handling guitars and keyboards as a background for Mendoza’s top-class bass lines and superb vocals, Tommy Gentry (Gun) stepped in for guest guitar solos on selected tracks, while drumming duties were split between Morten Hellborn (Electric Guitars) and Allan Tschicaja (Pretty Maids). A super-team surrounding Marco. But then again, the bassist/vocalist is used to working with the best of the best, and wouldn’t have it any other way in what is clearly the tightest set of songs he has ever recorded in his own name. 





Tracklisting:


"Take It To The Limit"
"I Just Can’t Get Over You"
"Light It Up"
"Walk Next To You"
"Shoot For The Stars"
"All That I’m Living For"
"Free Ride"
"Can’t Explain It"
"Scream And Shout"
"New Direction"


"Take It To The Limit":





"Shoot For The Stars":








 

Belgium-based progressive post-metal trio Psychonaut will release their Violate Consensus Reality full-length on October 28 via Pelagic Records. In advance of the record’s release, today the band unveils first single “Interbeing,” out now on all streaming platforms.





“Interbeing” is a perfect example of how Psychonaut can embody their subject matter through sound and dynamics. Rather than hiding a mediocre melody behind a big climax, the trio from Mechelen first embodies the moment, before blowing it up to larger-than-life proportions. Similar to classic hard rock tracks like “Achilles Last Stand” or “Immigrant Song,” every note feels devoted to the revelation of a new civilization rooted in mindful co-existence -- an enlightening addition to progressive metal.




Stay tuned for more info on Violate Consensus Reality including track listing, additional singles, and preorders to be unveiled in the coming weeks.


(Photo – Gert Stockmans)

Kamelot has announced they are putting the “final touches of mixing” on their upcoming album, the follow-up to 2018’s The Shadow Theory, to be released through Napalm Records.


The band says: “Hello Kamfans!!


“Things are going great here at basekamp. The final touches of mixing are underway for the upcoming album!! Tours for 2023 are being finalized and we are excited to get back on the road. In a related matter, due to the cancellations of Rock in the City Festivals in Finland, we will not be able to make the connecting shows in Lahti and Skogsroget. We will work to reschedule for 2023 and focus on the new album coming out in early 2023.  Rock on and have an epic and safe summer!”




ProgPower USA 2023 will take place on September 6th - 9th, 2023 in Atlanta, GA. Tickets for Days 3 and 4 will go on sale Saturday, September 10th, 2022 via Ticketmaster.


The official event poster can be viewed below, with Kamelot and Myrath confirmed as the festival headliners.


Line-up:


Friday – Day 3


Kamelot
Caligula’s Horse
Green Carnation
Ad Infinitum
Wind Rose
Cryptex


Saturday – Day 4


Myrath
Unleash the Archers
Delain
Orbit Culture
Shaman
Poverty’s No Crime


The line-ups for Days 1 and 2 have yet to be confirmed.


Go to the official ProgPower USA website here for more information and updates.

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Avantasia had been added to the Barcelona Rock First 2022 roster, replacing Manowar as the June 30th headliner. The change was made to due to an ongoing dispute between Manowar and festival organizers, who could not come to a contractual agreement.


Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet has issued the following statement regarding the situation:


"We are really looking forward to play another show in Spain, for our fans, for the promoter, for us and for you. One thing I have to set straight, though, with all due respect: Manowar said the deal was arranged behind their backs and I believe this is misleading and puts us in an awkward place.




I have no clue about whatever differences between Manowar and promoters occured, but we are not the type of band to sneak in and take something from someone. When we were approached only a few days ago, first thing we did was try to get an overview of the situation and the differences were no secret, made public by Manowar and BRF. On Manowar’s page it sounded like: 'The festival has problems we hope will not have to come to light.' My feeling was: Hardened fronts, it reads like putting up pressure, and thinking of similar situations of the past I had a feeling: Ouch! Band overboard...


And I thought if we don’t do it, Sabaton will, or Nightwish will have to play 4 hours… 


I wish everybody the best. But our job was to make sure, we set up a show within a few days, and I am aware how unfortunate it may be for Manowar’s fans. But we did not book anything behind anyone’s back. The hassle was in the press, word was out, and with some experience how things had been dealt with in the past you could tell: There’s an open slot, a case of emergency. 


It wasn’t staged or planned, we said: How much time do we have to decide? 12 hours? Okay! We looked for a bass player replacement who can learn a 2 hours set within 3 days, crew people, truck drivers, flights, tour manager, Eric (Martin / vocals) postponed a solo show, because we’re starving to play. It’s not easy to set it up, but it all happened within less than a day. We might be crazy to accept the challenge, but these times are crazy.


No offense to anyone; we love Spain and wish everyone, including Barcelona Rock Fest, Manowar and their fans nothing but the absolute best."





Organizers of the Barcelona Rock Fest 2022, which runs from June 30th to July 2nd in Barcelona, Spain, recently issued the following update regarding Manowar's scheduled appearance:


"As of today, June 21, the situation is complex. For months now, we've been wanting to sign a contract that clearly and accurately reflects the agreements reached without last-minute demands. The signing of a contract with clear, understandable and without errors terms that assure us their performance, is being a really complicated work and ten days from the festival we continue to try in all possible ways. We're working on it every day for a while.


With that, we are not saying that they won't act but that right now, we don't know, however strange it may seem.


We are very sorry about this situation for all of you who support Barcelona Rock Fest and specially for Manowar fans."


Manowar issued a statement shortly thereafter, which read in part: "The festival promoter and Manowar reached an agreement in June 2020 regarding Manowar's performance at Barcelona Rock Fest; otherwise we would not have authorized and supported the festival’s announcement of our participation and their promotional efforts. The promoters of this festival are now trying to unilaterally modify the terms.


We are ready to fulfill our obligations under the deal and have made substantial efforts preparing for this show. The only party that is refusing to comply with their side of the deal are the promoters of Barcelona Rock Fest by demanding to change significant terms at the last minute."


On June 26th, it was confirmed that Avantasia had been added to the June 30th line-up for the festival. The band  issued the following update:


"We just found out at the same time as you that the BRF Promoter is not counting on us for the performance on June 30th. We must tell you that whatever he is posting about Manowar is completely false and we will take appropriate legal action against him.


The promoter agreed with us in September 2021 some conditions for the performance and now refuses to comply with them. We are aware that he had already signed a performance with Avantasia, when we were still trying to sort the issue out with him. He's done it all behind our backs.


We reiterate that, unfortunately in the organization of the Festival there have been many irregularities that sooner or later will have to come to light. We didn't demand any last-minute conditions. What we demand as logically is what was agreed and that now the promoter refuses to comply provoking for reasons solely attributable to him that we do not perform at the Festival.


The sole responsible for this whole situation is the Promoter. We tried until the last moment, to keep the contract we had. In fact, we thought we still had time to fix all this when we got surprised by the announcement of the new group. The only thing the Promoter is after is enriching himself at the expense of us by acting ruthlessly and without considering the preferences of you, the fans.


We deeply regret this situation as we had a great desire to reunite with our fans at the Barcelona Rock Festival 2022.


Don't doubt that the truth will come out, with the help of Spanish justice if necessary."