Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes recently completed seven weeks of radiation therapy in his battle with cancer in throat and neck. Earlier today (Tuesday, June 14),the 63-year-old musician shared a video update on his health, saying in part: "I finished the last radiation at the end of April — went through seven weeks if it… My health, as it is right now in June, I can walk around the block. I don't have very much energy. I've lost a lot of weight — I've probably lost 40, 35 pounds — I'm not exactly sure. I can't eat, 'cause everything still tastes like crap — it burnt all my taste buds; my throat still hurts.

"I'm slowly getting better and better," he continued. "When I plan on touring [again] in September, I don't know if I'll be at a hundred percent; I might be at eighty, but I'm still gonna go out and tour anyway, 'cause I haven't played for a long time. I'm gonna try my best. I'll play at a hundred percent — I'll put a hundred percent into my playing. I'm just talking about entertaining. It depends on if I'm eating full then or not."

Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, the guitarist returned to W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Chris has not played with W.A.S.P. since.

Last year, Holmes told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that W.A.S.P. was "a group, a band" on the first LP. "And after that, the second album, it wasn't a group — it was a one-man show," he said. "And it's been a one-man show after that ever since. It's the way it is. Look at the records. It's the way it is in that band.

"W.A.S.P. never played any shows until I was in the band, so where does a band start — when they record or when they do their first show?" he continued. "I came in before the first show, and it was 'one for all, all for one.' But then when money came into it and fame, people changed — they change real bad. And I never changed. I don't change. I haven't changed the way I think, the way I am. I'm not gonna change. I am what I am.

"During the [making of the] second [album], I was told the manager wants to use Blackie's [Lawless, W.A.S.P. frontman] image [on the cover], which the manager didn't tell me that — Blackie told me that."

According to Chris, he, guitarist Randy Piper, drummer Tony Richards and Blackie were all part of W.A.S.P. initial management contract, but Blackie was the only one signed to the record label. "Everybody thinks we [all] signed to the label, but it wasn't [like that]," Holmes told "Trunk Nation".

"I never learned about the business till about 10 years ago," he explained. "How do you learn about the business? You've gotta be in there with the manager and all that stuff, so I was always kept from that… I put my trust into somebody, and [I found out later that he was] sticking a knife in my back. I didn't find that out until 2010 or '11.

"Once [W.A.S.P.] became [all about] one person, [my attitude was] 'Hey, I'll just do my thing, and leave me alone. I'll play my guitar.'"

Despite the fact that he only got songwriting credit on a couple of the songs on each of the first four W.A.S.P. records, Holmes was adamant that his input was essential to the band's overall sound.

"If I would have quit after the first album, the way I play guitar, the way I play is really important to writing those songs," he told "Trunk Nation".

"If I hadn't joined in the beginning, it would have never worked. Blackie told me that the first day, when he came and talked to me to play in W.A.S.P. He says, 'I've got this band. It's not gonna work unless you're in it.' He told me that to my face."

In October 2020, Chris said that he would never consider returning to W.A.S.P. unless Lawless agreed to pay him the publishing royalties that he allegedly owes him. He told Canada's The Metal Voice: "A lot of people think I made money from W.A.S.P. I've never gotten my royalties, or even my songwriting. All the stuff that I wrote, I've never gotten paid one penny. And you know whose fault it is? It's my my fault for not knowing the business, how it is. I trusted somebody.

"After every album, when the album is done, how they split up the publishing with the publishing contracts, the publishing companies — that's where the money comes from," he continued. "I was never told about when that meeting was. Because the other guys in the band never wrote — I was the only one [other than Blackie]. So I'm the only one that they have to screw over to get all the publishing. So I was never told. Then when I dug into it in about 2006 or [2007], I went into Sanctuary Music, had a lawyer go in to find out where all my publishing is, and I was written in as a session player into all the records. And if you don't know about it, and you're not told, and you don't see, you don't know. So I trusted Blackie Lawless about that. And when I found out, it really kind of yanked me wrong. It yanks me wrong — it makes me see he was sticking a knife in my back from the first day, from the first album, and not telling me, and being my best friend."

This past February, Lawless shot down Holmes's claim that the guitarist was "screwed" out of receiving royalties on the W.A.S.P. albums that he performed on. Lawless discussed Holmes's tenure with W.A.S.P. in an interview with "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked to respond to Holmes's assertion in Chris's recently released documentary "Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes" that he was financially taken advantage of during his time in the band, Lawless said: "I don't really know much about… I spoke to [former W.A.S.P. guitarist] Randy Piper a couple of years ago. I don't really know what's going on with the rest of the guys. And I'm not sure exactly what you're talking about with Chris about not being paid.

"Chris, at two different points in his musical career, received settlements from this band; he signed documents as such," Blackie explained. "And he was paid quite well.

"I haven't seen what you're talking about. The answer I'm giving you right now is based on what you just said to me."

The W.A.S.P. frontman went on to confirm that he hasn't seen Chris's documentary and was once again asked about Holmes's claim that there is money and songwriting credits that he didn't get that he's due. Lawless said simply: "That is not true."

During a November 2017 press conference in Moscow, Russia, Lawless was asked what he would say to those W.A.S.P. fans who continue to call for the band to reunite with Holmes. He responded: "People get divorced for certain reasons, and there's times when the kids want the parents to get back together, but sometimes it never happens. And this is one of those [times]. Sorry."

Chris’ update video message 14/06/22

We apologise for leaving you all so long without any updates. There is no excuse after all the love you all share with us and with Chris. But people who have had to deal with cancer within their family, know the ups and downs of every day, it is not always easy to go out the shell of the sickness and talk, even if we love all of you.

Chris decided tonight besides just a post to do a video for all of you, to thank you for all of your supports with messages as well as financially with the gofundme page, this helped us so much. I don’t know if you can imagine how much just words and a smile can feed hearts and give strength.

In the video you’ll notice Chris spitting. This is due to his saliva glands producing extra saliva to counteract the burning after the radiation. The nutritionist said today that that could happen for the next couple of months.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all, who during this difficult path keep their hands in ours.

Chris and Cathy Sarah Holmes

Posted by Chris Holmes & The Mean Men on Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Not even a year after the release of their album Chronicles Of War, German old school thrashers Daily Insanity once more enslave the masses with the release of their brand new single "Doomed". A furious old school metal beast with hard-hitting riffs.





With the release of "Doomed" the band also confirmed that they have parted ways with drummer Gustl earlier this year for "personal reasons". His replacement, Gene's son and band manager Felix Pirk, joined the group and also recorded the new track with the band. Felix will make his live debut with Daily Insanity on the band's The Final Crusade Tour.







Daily Insanity's Gene states:


"The feedback on Chronicles Of War was so amazing that we felt that we have to deliver more. We're here to bring metal to the world, that's what we do and that's what we live for! And with this new single we're crushing right into the next chapter of the band. We thank Gustl for his contributions and energy and wish him all the best. He will always stay an important part of the Daily Insanity legacy. We want to welcome Felix with open arms and are expecting for our fans to give him the welcome he deserves. At the moment we’re getting ready to bring all these new songs to you LIVE. We cannot wait to hit the stage... let the slaughter begin!"

It took a hard-fought audition to do it, but the Italian award-winning guitarist Gianmaria Puledda, known professionally as “Jommy”, has found his new home with the dynamic New York City-based street metal band, Spread Eagle. Jommy will be playing favorites such as “Switchblade Serenade” and “Scratch Like A Cat” on Spread Eagle’s upcoming tour.


Jommy is renowned throughout Europe’s heavy metal/hard rock community. One of his unique talents is the ability to play the Greek bouzouki, which led him to the creation of a particular style defined by some as “Mediterranean Metal”. He co-wrote and recorded the album The Sorceress Reveals - Atlantis at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, with sound engineer Jens Bogren (Opeth, Sepultura, Arch Enemy, James LaBrie, Devin Townsend and many others). Jommy also co-wrote songs and recorded all guitar parts on the album Janas at Crehate Studios in Gothenburg (Sweden) with producer and sound engineer Oscar Nilsson (The Halo Effect, Engel, Mustasch, Crashdiet, Hank von hell and many others).


Janas has reached more than 200,000 streams on Spotify, and achieved top rock album rankings on charts including Italy, South Africa, Oman, Greece, Estonia and the Netherlands.




Spread Eagle launched their guitarist open audition in March 2022 with an invitation by Spread Eagle bassist Rob De Luca to submit videos performing Spread Eagle songs. The band narrowed down the contestant pool to Jommy and ten other venerable guitarists, whose performances were posted online for public comments.  


Jommy advanced to a group of two finalists and was named first choice after an audition in New York City. In the end, the band (including guitarist Ziv Shalev) chose Jommy due to his superior technique, tone, groove and image.


Throughout his career, Jommy has performed in major live concerts and tours, opening for Vision Divine (with Fabio Lione), Saurom, and headlining many other shows. As a highly in-demand lead guitarist, Jommy has collaborated and toured with renowned heavy metal acts in Europe, among them Screaming Shadows from Italian maestro Francesco Marras, who is also the guitarist of Tygers Of Pan Tang.


Spread Eagle is certainly no new name to heavy music, releasing two albums on MCA / Universal Records, Spread Eagle (1990) and Open To The Public (1993), and also Subway To The Stars in 2019.


The live lineup features founding members Ray West on lead vocals and Rob De Luca on bass (UFO, Sebastian Bach, George Lynch), along with longtime member Rik De Luca on drums.


(Photo - Renato Pinna)

Mantic Ritual have released a music video for “Crusader”, the first new song from the reunited thrashers since their 2009 Nuclear Blast debut.


“Crusader” was originally released earlier this year to all digital platforms, in addition to a limited 7” single backed with the group’s take on the Mercyful Fate classic “Black Funeral”.


The music video, which can be seen below, was shot in the Mojave Desert by producer Randall Smith and edited by Kai Young and captures an intense performance by the band complementing the infectious balance of high-energy traditional melodicism with thrashy break-neck aggression.




“With no festivals or tours on the schedule, we felt it was really important to make a simple, performance-oriented video,” explains vocalist/guitarist Dan Wetmore. “It was about getting the Mantic boys together and once again telling the dumbest jokes and being Beavis and Butthead x2, all the while making a sincerely mad clip. Filmed out near Mojave, we took our time hashing out that Pittsburgh/So-Cal vibe. ‘Crusader’ is already out, so this is a weird order of operations, but at approximately 1500 followers on instagram, you gotta ask yourself, does it matter?! Good news is, we make music cuz we’re still pissed and still metal believers. If we were in it for cash, we’d have stuck with Nuclear Blast and made that weird euro pop metal. Enjoy, my friends!”





Mantic Ritual are spread across three states but that didn’t stop the core teaming up with friend and fan Carlos Cruz (Warbringer, Hexen, Exmortus), who has joined the outfit’s ranks, to crank out a few more originals and covers to please fans asking for “Crusader", “Black Funeral” and more on CD. September 2 Mantic Ritual will release, Heart Set Stone, a 6-song collection of three originals and three covers, including the aforementioned in addition to renditions of classics from British hardcore originators G.B.H. and Canadian thrash legends Razor.





Pre-order CD and limited-edition (100) cassette versions here.

Extreme Metal pioneers Venom Inc. are proud to unleash "Don't Feed Me Your Lies", the second single from their upcoming album, There’s Only Black, which will be released on September 23rd via Nuclear Blast.


Check out the lyric video for the new single below.







Almost 40 years after their inception, the revitalized 1989 - 1992 Venom lineup of guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and vocalist/bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan, and the new addition of drummer Jeramie 'Warmachine' Kling have returned with one hell of a follow-up to their acclaimed debut, Avé, and show no signs of slowing down.


Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan comments: "Following Wacken in 2019, our live season closed giving us time where I could have my hip replacement surgery and we could take the recovery time to work on a new album... Little did anyone know we’d be hit by a pandemic that would pause the whole world. We began our work at a pace then being locked down with no prospect of live shows I decided there was no need to rush it along but utilize the time to create without the pressure of live work looming. So we began recording our songs... and after producing twice the amount required we began editing, touching, improving, and polishing until we had until we finally had what we decided was THE correct album along with the label and here we can finally present to you... a pure ball of furious... Venom Inc power that left us feeling proud and excited at the same time...THIS album is now yours!!! And as the world runs through its evolution of its colors remember... when the sun goes out... THERE’S ONLY BLACK!!!!! AVE."





Available formats:


- CD Digipak
- Gatefold 2LP
 * Black
 * Clear Transparent w/ Black Splatter
 * Clear Transparent w/ Black Yolk + Gold Splatter
- Digital Album


Pre-order/pre-save the new album here.





Tracklisting:


"How Many Can Die"
"Infinitum"
"Come To Me"
"There's Only Black"
"Tyrant"
"Don't Feed Me Your Lies"
"Man As God"
"Burn Liar Burn"
"Nine"
"Rampant"
"The Dance"
"Inferno"


"How Many Can Die" lyric video:

Due to an injury, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee played only the first five songs of the band's much-anticipated comeback performance at "The Stadium Tour" kickoff show earlier today (Thursday, June 16). Lee made it through "Wild Side", "Shout At The Devil", "Too Fast For Love", "Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)" and "Saints Of Los Angeles" before announcing to the crowd that he broke several ribs days earlier, forcing him to hand over the sticks for the remainder of the performance to Tommy Clufetos (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK SABBATH).

"We did it! You did it. We did it. We're fucking here," Lee told the crowd. "Two and a half years.

"Okay, well, anyway, what I've gotta tell you is about 14 days ago, I fuckin' broke not one, not two, not three, but four fuckin' ribs right here.

"I wish I had a fuckin' badass story, like me and Connor McGregor fuckin' scrapping out in some fuckin' bar or something. But I don't," he continued.

"Anyway, I hope you guys have a fucking great time. And my boy Tommy Clufetos back here, he's gonna help me get through this. 'Cause the doctors told me, 'No playing, bro. No playing.' And I was like, 'Are you fucking high, bro? We've got a fucking tour to do.' So anyway, I ain't fuckin' sitting out for shit. My boy's gonna help me out here, and I'll see you guys later. On with the goddamn show."

Clufetos stepped in for "Live Wire" and finished the band's set, which included a surprise guest appearance by Machine Gun Kelly on the song "The Dirt". Lee rejoined his bandmates for "Home Sweet Home" toward the end of the show.

Lee has since issued the following statement regarding his injury: "Man ya'll ain't gonna believe this shit!.... I broke 4 fucking ribs! But I've been resting and healing and even though the doctor tells me I shouldn't play at all, you know I'm stubborn and I'll beast through the pain every show for as many songs as I can!

"And have no fear, my boy Tommy Clufetos is here to help me out until I'm back at 100%...we've all been waiting years for this moment and there's no way I'm missing this! On with the show!"

The setlist was as follows:

01. Wild Side
02. Shout At The Devil
03. Too Fast For Love
04. Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
05. Saints Of Los Angeles
06. Live Wire
07. Looks That Kill
08. The Dirt (Est. 1981) (with Machine Gun Kelly)
09. Medley: Rock And Roll, Part 2 / Smokin' In The Boys Room / White Punks On Dope / Helter Skelter / Anarchy In The U.K.
10. Home Sweet Home
11. Dr. Feelgood
12. Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)
13. Piece Of Your Action
14. Girls, Girls, Girls
15. Primal Scream
16. Kickstart My Heart

Clufetos is MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx's bandmate in a project called L.A. RATS. The quartet, which also features Rob Zombie and John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),came together last year expressly to record a cover of "I've Been Everywhere" for the soundtrack to the movie "The Ice Road".

CRÜE's long-delayed North American trek with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally planned for 2020 and later moved to 2021 and then to 2022. "The Stadium Tour" will conclude on September 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"The Stadium Tour" marks the CRÜE's first live dates since wrapping its 2014/2015 farewell tour. CRÜE toured with POISON back in 2011 and DEF LEPPARD teamed up with POISON for a string of road dates in 2017, but this jaunt marks the first time all four acts have hit the road together for an extended tour.

CRÜE fans who shelled out for the band's 2014/2015 "farewell" tour were led to believe that the group would never return after playing its final show on December 2015 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. The band touted the signing of a pre-tour "cessation of touring" agreement as cementing the fact it truly was the end of CRÜE's life on the road.
Breaking News: Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee takes the stage at The Stadium Tour but mid-set goes to the mic and says after 2 and a half years of waiting for this show he broke a few ribs recently and the doctors told him not to play. He promised to perform anyway #TheStadiumTourpic.twitter.com/VjKj9bVQMs

— Greg DeBrosse (@GregDeBrosse) June 17, 2022



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A post shared by Mötley Crüe (@motleycrue)





HYPPPPEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! Machine Gun Kelly performing The Dirt with Motley Crue on first show of the Stadium Tour 🤘🏻

Posted by Harley Roxx on Thursday, June 16, 2022

Initially scheduled for summer 2020, but twice postponed due to the pandemic, the long-awaited Stadium Tour, featuring Def Leppard and Mötley Crüe, with Poison and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, officially launched on June 16th at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia. 


Fan-filmed video of Def Leppard's show opener, "Take What You Want", and the live debut of "Fire It Up" can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:




"Take What You Want"
"Fire It Up" (live debut)
"Animal"
"Foolin'"
"Armageddon It"
"Kick"
"Love Bites"
"Excitable"
"This Guitar" (live debut)
"Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad" (acoustic)
"Two Steps Behind" (Joe Elliott performing solo)
"Rocket"
"Bringin' on the Heartbreak"
"Switch 625"
"Hysteria"
"Pour Some Sugar on Me"
"Rock of Ages"
"Photograph"








Remaining dates on The Stadium Tour are as follows:


June
18 - Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens, FL
19 - Camping World Stadium - Orlando, FL
22 - Nationals Park - Washington, DC
24 - Citi Field - Flushing, NY
25 - Citizens Bank Park - Philadelphia, PA
28 - Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC
30 - Nissan Stadium - Nashville, TN


July
2 - EverBank Field - Jacksonville, FL
5 - Busch Stadium - St Louis, MO
8 - Wrigley Field - Chicago, IL
10  - Comerica Park - Detroit, MI
12 - Hersheypark Stadium - Hershey, PA
14 - FirstEnergy Stadium - Cleveland, OH
15 - Great American Ballpark - Cincinnati, OH
17 - American Family Field - Milwaukee, WI
19 - Kauffman Stadium - Kansas City, MO
21 - Coors Field - Denver, CO


August
5 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA
6 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA
8 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON
10 - The Stadium Tour - Orchard Park, NY
12 - PNC Park - Pittsburgh, PA
14 - US Bank Stadium - Minneapolis, MN
16 - Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN
19 - Minute Made Park - Houston, TX
21 - Alamodome - San Antonio, TX
22 - Globe Life Park in Arlington - Arlington, TX
25 - State Farm Stadium - Phoenix, AZ
27 - SoFi Stadium - Inglewood, CA
28 - Petco Park - San Diego, CA
31 - T-Mobile Park - Seattle, WA


September
2 - BC Place - Vancouver, BC
4 - Commonwealth Stadium - Edmonton, AB
7 - Oracle Park - San Francisco, CA
9 - Allegiant Stadium - Las Vegas, NV

POISON played its first concert in four years on Thursday (June 16) at the kickoff show of "The Stadium Tour" at Truist Park in Atlanta, Georgia.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Look What The Cat Dragged In
02. Ride The Wind
03. I Want Action
04. Talk Dirty To Me
05. Something To Believe In
06. Your Mama Don't Dance (Loggins & Messina cover)
07. Eruption (VAN HALEN cover)
08. Fallen Angel
09. Unskinny Bop
10. Drum Solo
11. Every Rose Has Its Thorn
12. Nothin' But A Good Time

POISON's long-delayed North American trek with DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally planned for 2020 and later moved to 2021 and then to 2022. "The Stadium Tour" will conclude on September 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

"The Stadium Tour" marks the CRÜE's first live dates since wrapping its 2014/2015 farewell tour. CRÜE toured with POISON back in 2011 and DEF LEPPARD teamed up with POISON for a string of road dates in 2017, but this jaunt marks the first time all four acts have hit the road together for an extended tour.

In 2018, POISON completed the "Nothin' But A Good Time" tour with CHEAP TRICK and POP EVIL.

POISON's last album of new material was 2002's "Hollyweird". An album of covers, "Poison'd", followed in 2007.

Back in 2018, POISON bassist Bobby Dall said that the band "should" be making a new studio album but claimed that he didn't know if it would happen. "I'm not going to bullshit you and say there's any [new music] in the process [of being made]," he told All That Shreds. "Would I like there to be? Yes. But, it's a matter of everyone having the time. Everybody in the band has other commitments. Some members have younger children than others. So between those two issues, it's difficult, and, you know, [there are] health issues as we get older. Should we be making a new record? Yes, definitely. But will it happen? I don't know."

In a 2017 interview, POISON drummer Rikki Rockett acknowledged that part of the reason the band hasn't been motivated to work on new music has been the fact that fans rarely show interest in hearing fresh material performed live when classic rock groups go on tour. "We could write the second coming of 'Talk Dirty To Me', and I don't know if people wanna hear it or not, and that's a frustrating thing; it really is," he said. "AEROSMITH was able to do it, but not everybody is. I mean, even THE ROLLING STONES have had problems with that in the last few years. So… I don't know. But I do think it's important to stay viable. For the 'über fans,' it's always a really, really good thing. And that's what you do it for — you do it for you, you do it for the real fans, the real true fans."

More recently, Rockett admitted that he and other members of POISON harbor some resentment toward singer Bret Michaels, whose frequent tours as a solo artist caused the band to take a five-year break from the road.

"I think we need to get away from each other and do other things, but at the same time, I think he spent a little too much time away," Rockett said. "There's definitely some resentment, but not resentment like I want him to fail. I want him to do good. I just want POISON to be important too, and I would like [him] to put a little more energy into POISON."

NORMA JEAN will release a new album, "Deathrattle Sing For Me", on August 12 via Solid State Records. The official music video for the first single, "Call For The Blood", which boasts unique, digital-sounding guitars, can be seen below.

"Accept that everything is a draft," says NORMA JEAN vocalist Cory Brandan about the song. "It helps to get it done. We banded together to make this record and to me, this song is the rallying cry. Composed by my brother, [co-producer] Matthew [Putman], this song was written around a single idea, altered heavily in post, and then mimicked by us. The studio and post-production elements acted as an instrument. The experimentation and the process behind this track was a major point of inspiration for many other things we ended up doing throughout 'Death Rattle Sing For Me'. I feel like Matthew wrote this song with my voice in mind and I wanted to do something very unique over it. Dangerous rock 'n' roll! Blast it!"

Matthew Putman echoes the sentiment, saying: "'Call For The Blood' was one of the first songs where I felt like we were establishing a personality for the album. Even though it was constructed in the studio from manipulated ideas we captured during a 'riff vomiting' session with Grayson, it still has a very raw, live energy. The samples were all chosen in a very deliberate way for how they colored the story behind the song (rebellious unity). There is nothing random about 'Call For The Blood'; every sound has meaning. This is one of my all-time favorite vocal performance from Cory, where he proves once again why he's one of the best of his generation."

NORMA JEAN invites an intense level of intimacy on "Deathrattle Sing For Me", the band's ninth full-length. The group — rounded out by Grayson Stewart (lead guitar),Clay Crenshaw (guitar/bass),Matt Marquez (drums),and Michael Palmquist (guitar/bass) — plunges into unparalleled emotional depths, as if their very existence depended upon the catharsis these 13 tracks promised.

"This record was really about banding together," observes Brandan. "It embodies the camaraderie of our brotherhood in NORMA JEAN. At the time, we needed something to do, and we wrote these songs for our own souls. The record was necessary to keep me alive in a very literal sense. It's a deeper place."

The band unearthed a searing signature style on "O' God, The Aftermath" in 2005. They struck up a creative partnership with iconic producer Ross Robinson on the seminal "Redeemer" (2007) and "The Anti Mother" (2008). The latter notably boasted appearances by Chino Moreno of DEFTONES and Page Hamilton of HELMET.

Following the acclaimed "Meridional" (2010),"Wrongdoers" (2013) represented a critical high watermark with a 9-out-of-10 score from Rock Sound and 9-out-of-10 score from Outburn. On the heels of "Polar Similar" (2016),they reached another level on "All Hail" (2019). In a perfect 5-star review, New Noise Magazine raved, "'All Hail' is yet another momentous accomplishment on their part," while Kerrang! attested, "'All Hail''s ambition and execution is worthy of worship." Along the way, they toured with everyone from ROB ZOMBIE and KORN to MASTODON, LAMB OF GOD, and more. During 2021, they recorded what would become "Deathrattle Sing For Me" with longtime collaborator Jeremy SH Griffith. They nodded to inspirations as diverse as ALICE IN CHAINS' "Dirt", THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' "Siamese Dream", and the sample-and-riff onslaught of WHITE ZOMBIE's "La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Volume 1".

"Deathrattle Sing For Me" track listing:

01. 1994
02. Call For The Blood
03. Spearmint Revolt
04. Memorial Hoard
05. Aria Obscura
06. Any%
07. Parallella
08. W W A V V E
09. A Killing Word
10. Penny Margs
11. el-roi
12. Sleep Explosion
13. Heartache

Photo credit: Rachel Putman

STRYPER's Michael Sweet has praised Justin Bieber for embracing Jesus Christ, four days after the pop superstar revealed on Instagram that he has been diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Justin said he has "gotten better" since his diagnosis and he is leaning on his faith to navigate the "horrific storm."

In a video Bieber posted, he showed how one side of his face was unable to move as a result and explained the diagnosis is why he canceled some concerts and plans to take a break from touring while he recuperates.

Bieber, 28, shared the update on his Instagram Story.

"Wanted to share a little bit of how I have been feelin," Justin wrote. "Each day has gotten better, and through all of the discomfort, I have found comfort in the one who designed me and knows me. I'm reminded he knows all of me. He know the darkest parts of me that I want no one to know about and he constantly welcomes me into his loving arms. This perspective has given me peace through this horrible storm that I'm facing. I know this storm will pass, but in the meantime, JESUS IS WITH ME."

Bieber, who has been outspoken in the past about his Christian faith, captioned the text: "By this point in my life I realize storms come and go. Jesus continues to remind me that he is with me in the midst of the storm. It's not about the storm. It's that we are NEVER ALONE AND HE UNDERSTANDS."

Earlier today (Tuesday, June 14), Sweet shared the "I know this storm will pass but in the meantime Jesus is with me" quote from Bieber and he included the following message: "Respect.

"@justinbieber is facing what could potentially be the test of a lifetime. Yet he stares it straight down and says 'Jesus is with me'!

"That's not a kid, that's a brave man and a role model that this world so desperately needs.

"Too many Christian's sweep Christ under the carpet. It takes guys to proclaim Christ in this world.

"I applaud Justin and my prayers are with him".

In recent years, Sweet has repeatedly claimed that STRYPER was never a "Christian" band despite the fact that the lyrics in a number of the band's songs explicitly point to Christ.

Even though STRYPER's third album, 1986's "To Hell With The Devil", made Sweet and his bandmates the first contemporary Christian act to score a platinum album, the group has often felt unwelcome in Christian circles, with some members of the church feeling that Christianity and heavy metal are incompatible.

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band's Christian lyrics.

"We've never been accepted by either side," he said. "The secular side, the mainstream, they've never accepted us to this day. We're probably that band that everyone's going to go to whenever there's a time to mock. We'll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we've never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don't fit into their little club. We're not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching."

Formed 39 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil" and the band's latest effort, "Even The Devil Believes".

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Megadeth - featuring the current lineup of leader Dave Mustaine, returning bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren - performed at Sweden Rock Festival 2022 on June 8. Fan-filmed video of the band's full set can be found below.


Setlist:


"Hangar 18"
"The Threat Is Real"
"Dread and the Fugitive Mind"
"Angry Again"
"Conquer or Die!"
"Dystopia"
"Sweating Bullets"
"The Conjuring"
"Trust"
"A tout le monde"
"Wake Up Dead"
"Symphony of Destruction"
"Peace Sells"
"Holy Wars... The Punishment Due"








Dave Mustaine recently revealed that Megadeth's forthcoming album, entitled The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead, will feature bassist Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death, Sadus), who re-recorded the tracks originally laid down by David Ellefson. Stay tuned for complete album details, coming soon.


For upcoming Megadeth tour dates, head here.

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 "Slide It In":







In another clip, David Coverdale looks back on "Slide It In":





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 June 17 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”


"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:

Former MACHINE HEAD and current SACRED REICH drummer Dave McClain was a guest on a recent episode of the "Talk Louder" podcast, hosted by veteran music journalist "Metal Dave" Glessner and lifelong hard rock/metal vocalist Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS).

The 56-year-old musician, who joined MACHINE HEAD in 1995, announced his departure from the California metal band in October 2018. McClain, along with guitarist Phil Demmel, went on to complete the Robb Flynn-fronted act's "Freaks & Zeroes Tour" before they both officially exited the group.

Speaking about his decision to leave MACHINE HEAD, McClain told "Talk Louder" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was just time. And to sit there and talk about all the things that led up to that… It's kind of like just stuff that I would tell you guys in a private [setting], but I think for people who… Because I love when people come up to me with MACHINE HEAD albums — any album. It's amazing. For me to have been… 'Cause those records — specifically 'The More Things Change…' and then 'Through The Ashes [Of Empires]' and 'The Blackening' — those records were a part of people's lives, and that's something that, being a musician, when that happens, that's the lucky part… So for me to talk about all that stuff that led up for me personally to leave, it was just something that… I talk about it with my friends, all my friends, and I will tell people or whatever, but just for fans and everything, I think it's probably better for them, if they wanna stay a fan of MACHINE HEAD or whatever — totally, man. You don't need to know all the stuff that was going down that led me, that led Phil Demmel to leave the band. It's almost like a kid, when the parents are getting divorced — you don't need to know all the stuff that's going down with your parents. It was just something that I didn't wanna be a part of anymore, and that was partly the music, the direction of everything, and a lot of other things. And for me personally, it was just something that I had [to do]. For me, just to be happy with anything you're doing is more important than anything."

In a 2020 interview with Australia's Wicked Pix Photography, Dave said that he "definitely [had] no regrets" about his decision to leave MACHINE HEAD. "It's something to this day, almost every day, I'm thankful that I did it," he explained. "And I'm sure Phil is too. We talked about it. We're both in a good spot.

"He actually beat me to the punch," Dave continued. "He quit. 'Cause he had called me, and he was, like, 'Hey, I quit.' And I was, like, 'What? I'm gonna quit. I'm quitting first.' So it was kind of like this thing where he did it. And I was on my way to practice, with no Phil there, and that's when it happened — when I was in the practice room. [Robb] was, like, 'Hey, Phil quit today. We should probably talk about this.' And I was, like, 'Okay, well, I quit too.'"

Unlike Demmel, McClain had plenty of time immediately following the completion of MACHINE HEAD's fall 2018 tour to look back on the experience of playing in the band for more than two decades and the circumstances that led him to walk away from it.

"When we came back [home] from that last tour, that day, that next day, [Phil] texted me and he was, like, 'Dude, I'm gonna go play with SLAYER,'" Dave recalled to Wicked Pix Photography. "So he had like a bazillion SLAYER songs to learn and do all this stuff. I think I probably had a good three weeks of processing everything that went by. I remember I saw him when he came back [from filling in for Gary Holt on the SLAYER tour], and he was, like, 'Dude, you look different. You look so happy.' And I'm, like, 'I am.' And he's, like, 'I haven't been able to process this whole thing yet.'"

According to McClain, there were a lot of mixed emotions associated with his departure from MACHINE HEAD. "It wasn't just a happy thing we were gone," he explained to Wicked Pix Photography. "There was a lot of anger in it to where, like, I've gotta quit this thing that I've been a part of for 20-something years. So I was pissed off at that — that something that I loved became something that I didn't enjoy anymore."

In a June 2019 interview with "Robb's MetalWorks", McClain said that he no longer believed in MACHINE HEAD's songs and direction prior to his departure from the band.

A few months after McClain and Demmel quit MACHINE HEAD, Phil said that the band "became a Robb Flynn solo project" and he described his last few years with the group as "basically collecting a paycheck." Demmel also said that the musical side of MACHINE HEAD took a sharp turn for the worse during the writing stage for 2018's "Catharsis", an album that he said he hated.

The day he announced McClain and Demmel's exit from MACHINE HEAD, Flynn released a video message in which he blamed the split on the fact that he and his bandmates had "grown apart as people. Musically, we've grown apart. I have held on too tight to the reins of this band, and I have suffocated those guys." He went on to say that his "rough edges" had given MACHINE HEAD the success that it has, but they also "hurt the people around me. I've got a lot of drive, but I've got a lot of anger and rage. And that drive of mine has alienated folks in the band," he said.

In early 2020, MACHINE HEAD completed the North American leg of its 25th-anniversary tour for the band's debut album, "Burn My Eyes". Each show on the trek consisted of two parts: part one saw Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern performing alongside new recruits, Polish guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT); while part two featured "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with original "Burn My Eyes" drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist Logan Mader joining in.

McClain rejoined Arizona thrashers SACRED REICH in December 2018 and recorded the band's first album in 23 years, "Awakening", which was released in 2019 via Metal Blade Records.