The Haunted guitarist Ola Englund recently shared a video to his YouTube channel featuring himself learning how to play the Children Of Bodom classic, "Are You Dead Yet?".


Englund has teamed up with Decrepit Birth drummer Samus Paulicelli for an instrumental cover of the song. Check it out below.







In the clip below, Englund takes you the whole process of learning the song, from the riffs, chorus, solo, and bringing it up to speed on the spot.





"Are You Dead Yet?" is taken from the COB album of the same name, released in 2005.

Jackyl has filmed a video for their brand new single, "Get All Up In It (Another Round Of Mother Funker)". The song is available now across all digital streaming platforms.










Catch Jackyl live at the following shows:


June
5 - The Castle Theatre - Bloomington, Illinois
16 - Big Night Live - Boston, Massachusetts
17 - Granite State Music Hall - Laconia, New Hampshire
21 - Toad's Place - New Haven, Connecticut
22 - Morgan Hill Event Center - Hermon, Maine
23 - The Chance Theater - Poughkeepsie, New York
24 - Club XL Live - Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
25 - Penn's Peak - Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania


July
1 - JD Legends - Franklin, Ohio
2 - Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club - Lockhaven, Pennsylvania
3 - The Barrel House - Maysville, Kentucky
24 - Cumming Music Festival - Cumming, Georgia
30 - Sugar Creek Casino - Hinton, Oklahoma


August
11 - Full Throttle Saloon - Vale, South Dakota
27 - The Shed Smokehouse & Juke Joint - Maryville, Tennessee


September
8 - The Alliance - Sioux Falls, South Dakota
9 - RockTember Music Festival - Hinckley, Minnesota
10 - Beaver Bottoms Saloon - Fountain, Minnesota
15 - OC Bikefest - Ocean City, Maryland
17 - Bonnie & Clyde's Gangster Park - Harshaw, Wisconsin
24 - WIIL Rock Fest - Grayslake, Illinois





 

EVANESCENCE kicked off its spring/summer European tour last night (Sunday, June 5) in Athens, Greece. The concert marked the band's first live appearance with EVANESCENCE's new lineup, featuring Emma Anzai of SICK PUPPIES on bass and EVANESCENCE's longtime bassist Tim McCord on guitar.

EVANESCENCE's latest lineup changes, including the departure of guitarist Jen Majura, were announced last month.

In a statement welcoming Anzai to the band, EVANESCENCE wrote: "We've been friends and fans for years, and the time has finally come to join forces. Emma will be pulling double duty as we have some shows with SICK PUPPIES coming up soon, so get ready for that!"

Regarding McCord's switch to the bass guitar, EVANESCENCE said: "After 16 years in the band as our rock solid bass player, Tim is taking a turn on his original instrument. Spoiler alert- he's great at it."

In the comments section below EVANESCENCE's Instagram post, singer Amy Lee added: "Making positive change in your life (and band) can be really hard. Some choices we make, some are made for us. But who we are in the end is how we handle whatever comes our way.

"Today is a big day in my band. Taking another step forward with my brothers who have been beside me for 15+ years, and welcoming in a beautiful friend we are so excited to share the stage with…. I'm happy.

"You never know whats around the corner, but when something is right you know it's right. And this feels so right. Welcome Emma! Love all you guys."

Jen's exit from EVANESCENCE was announced via social media on May 21.

"It has been a very special chapter in the band with our dear friend Jen Majura, but we have decided it's time to go our separate ways," EVANESCENCE said in a statement. "We will always love her and support her, and can't wait to see what she does next! We are so grateful for the good times and great music we made all around the world together."

A few hours later, Jen took to her social media to clarify: "I feel the need to address that none of this was my decision! I have no hard feelings against anybody and I wish EVANESCENCE all the best. I am allowed to carry beautiful memories of these past years, I am grateful."

The 38-year-old musician, a self-described "half-Asian living in Germany," joined EVANESCENCE in August 2015 as the replacement for Terry Balsamo.

Shortly after she landed the gig, Majura spoke to EMP Rock Invasion about how she came to connect with EVANESCENCE. She said: "My name was somehow recommended by a sweet friend of mine, Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, and Dave Eggar — he's also known as a very good cellist, and he's a musician working in New York. And all of a sudden, there was this e-mail popping up: 'Are you interested in joining…?' And I was, like, 'What the fuck?' So I stopped breathing until my face turned kind of blue. And then afterwards, I was, like, 'Okay, I've gotta read it again.' Three days later, I found myself suddenly on an airplane, flying over to New York to meet Amy Lee. And we had some very, very cool talks. She's an awesome person. She's a very, very great musician. And so I found myself suddenly inside of his empire called EVANESCENCE."

Regarding the fact that she didn't even have to "audition" for EVANESCENCE, Jen said: "Yeah. To be honest, I was kind of concerned. I told [Amy], 'Do you want me to bring my guitar?' And, 'Would you like me to audition?' And she was totally, like: 'Nah, I know you can play. I've seen plenty of videos of you. And I know your live experience and you're touring the world, so… No, just come over and let's have some food and talk.' Yeah, and that's it. So, actually, what I was surprised by very, very much was that she actually had another guitar player on her list, and that was the guitar player of Alice Cooper [Nita Strauss]. And she's now with Alice Cooper and I'm now with EVANESCENCE. This is, like… I still can't believe it."

In 2019, Lee said she was happy to have Majura in the band. "She has added a lot to our live shows because she's a singer," Amy explained. "It has been a really awesome thing to have live background vocals for the first time. I am such a fan of layered vocals, and to have that better represented at our show has been a cool breakthrough for me. And also, she's just rad energy. She's got a great attitude, fun personality, very engaging, killer onstage, so she has been a fun addition to our family. And of course, it's awesome having another girl in the

Steve Vai kicked off his Inviolate World Tour with a European leg of appearances beginning in Glasgow, Scotland on June 4th. He’ll be on the road into mid-July, staging performances in the UK, Ireland, France, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.


Fan-filmed video from the kick-off show in Glasgow is available below. The setlist on the night was as follows:


Set 1
"Avalancha"
"Giant Balls of Gold"
"Little Pretty"
"Tender Surrender"
"Lights Are On"
"Candlepower"
- Dave Solo -
"Building the Church"




Set 2
"Greenish Blues"
"Bad Horsie"
"I'm Becoming"
"Sandman Cloud Mist"
"Dyin’ Day"
Play Video"
- Drum Solo - 
"Zeus in Chains"
"Liberty"
"For the Love of God"


Encore:
"Fire Garden Suite IV - Taurus Bulba"











For tickets and a variety of EVO Experience VIP bundles available visit vai.com. Vai will be joined by his long-tenured ensemble members Dave Weiner (guitar / keys), Philip Bynoe (bass), and Jeremy Colson (drums).


Vai shares, “It’s amazing to realize that after three years of not performing our show on a stage, that it’s now on the horizon, and will start to unfold in Europe this summer. I can feel the road now and the enthusiastic audiences that we will be will be connecting with."





Tour dates:


June
7 - London, UK - Palladium
9 - Bristol, UK - o2 Academy
10 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy
11 - Belfast, UK - The Limelight
13 - Paris, France - Le Trianon
14 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
16 - Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
17 - Bergen, Norway - USF Verftet
18 - Gothenburg, Sweden - Pustervik
19 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fållan
20 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
22 - Lille, France - Splendid
23 - Clisson, France - Hellfest
24 - Bordeaux-Cenon, France - Rocher de Palmer
25 - Nimes, France - Paloma
26 - Lyon, France - Transbordeur
28 - Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
29 - Linz, Austria - Posthof


July
1 - Udine, Italy - Castello
2 - Macerata, Italy - Sferisterio
3 - Bari, Italy - Teatro Petruzzelli
4 - Firenze, Italy - Ultravox Arena
5 - Gardone Riviera, Italy - Anfiteatro del Vittoriale
6 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex
8 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theatre
9 - Weert, Netherlands - Bospop Festival
10 - Antwerp, Belgium - OLT Rivierenhof
12 - Toulouse, France - Le Bikini
14 - Sancti Petri, Spain - Concert Music Festival
16 - Valencia, Spain - Jardin de Viveros
17 - Vigo, Spain - Auditorio Mar do Vigo
19 - Barcelona, Spain - Teatro Tivoli


Vai recently released his new studio album, Inviolate, via Favored Nations / Mascot Label Group. The LP will follow on March 18.


Inviolate is a nine-song opus that pushes the boundaries of instrumental guitar music. The body of work presents his most focused, streamlined and perhaps invigorating music in years. “It’s very ‘Vai,’ whatever that means,” he says, and then laughs. “Someone else might be better than me at explaining what that is. But it’s just very honest music. Because a lot of my records, they're long and there's a lot of concepts and playing around with stories. This one has none of that. This is nine pretty dense all-instrumental compositions that I wanted to capture and record so I could get out there and play them live for people.”


In essence, it all comes down to finding your own voice, and then having the courage and conviction to follow your musical and creative instincts wherever they may take you – something Vai has never been shy about in his playing. “One of the great things about the guitar is you don't need to be a virtuoso to express your creative vision,” he says. “I mean, Bob Dylan plays the guitar perfectly well for his expression. So does John McLaughlin. You just need to decide how much technique you want or need to get there. For myself, I came out of the chute wanting and needing it all. When it comes to my music, I don’t feel like I have to prove anything or conform to anything. I just love to think up creative ideas, and then use whatever skill I have to manifest them.”


“An inviolate inspiration is one that comes to you completely pure,” Vai explains. “It appears almost in its completeness, and there’s a recognition of it as being right for you – perfectly right for you. There’s no excuses in it. There's no fantasy in it. There's just a recognition of ‘yes.’ And then you capture that in a way that’s authentic to your unique creativity. Hopefully, that’s what I’ve done with this record.”


Inviolate can be ordered in various formats, here.





Tracklisting:


"Teeth Of The Hydra"
"Zeus In Chains"
"Little Pretty"
"Candle Power"
"Apollo In Color"
"Avalancha"
"Greenish Blues"
"Knappsack"
"Sandman Cloud Mist"


"Teeth Of The Hydra" visualizer:





“Zeus In Chains” visualizer:





"Little Pretty" video:





"Candle Power":





"Knappsack"

Drummer Anders Johannson has announced that he will be unable to join MANOWAR on the band's upcoming "Crushing The Enemies Of Metal Anniversary Tour '22/'23" due to "family commitments." He will be replaced on the trek by Dave Chedrick, who has previously played with RAVEN and KILL RITUAL, among others.

Earlier today (Saturday, June 4), Anders issued the following statement via social media: "Hello friends. Family commitments make it necessary that I remain as close as possible to my home in Sweden at this time. I will therefore not be able to perform on MANOWAR's upcoming tour.

"The support from MANOWAR, their crew and fans has been overwhelming from the beginning. Everyone involved has welcomed me into their hearts without hesitation, and I have made friends for life.

"Thank you all for the great times.

"Hail and Kill!"

In a separate statement, MANOWAR band leader and bassist Joey DeMaio said: "Anders is a rare combination of intelligence, kindness, humor and talent. It has been a pleasure working with him. He is part of our brotherhood, now and forever! We support his commitment to his family."

Based in Los Angeles, Chedrick has been a metal addict his entire life. Early influences include John Bonham, Neil Peart and, most of all, late MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus. An accomplished studio musician, Dave is praised for his professionalism, easy-going spirit, and willingness to always go the extra mile in the quest for the perfect sound.

DeMaio said: "Dave's drumming is a combination of speed, power and the spirit of true metal that we believe our fans will enjoy."

Added Chedrick: "The Manowarriors are legendary. I am honored that I will be playing for the greatest fans in the world!"

Johansson joined MANOWAR more than three years ago. The Swedish musician made his live debut with the band in March 2019 in Brno, Czech Republic.

Johansson can be heard on MANOWAR's "The Final Battle I" EP, which was initially made available in an exclusive pre-sale at the merchandise booth of "The Final Battle" world tour.

MANOWAR's "Crushing The Enemies Of Metal Anniversary Tour '22/'23" celebrates the band's over-four-decades-long career with focus on four signature MANOWAR albums and their anniversaries: 40th anniversary of "Battle Hymns", 35th anniversary of "Fighting The World", 30th anniversary of "The Triumph Of Steel", 20th anniversary of "Warriors Of The World".

Last November, MANOWAR announced that it had recorded a song titled "The Revenge Of Odysseus" for the band's upcoming studio album. DeMaio also traveled to Athens to record a narration with father-and-son team Kostas and Konstantinos Kazakos. Kostas, hailed in Greece for his participation in many movies and as an accomplished theater actor and writer, and his son Kostantinos, who is also a talented actor, narrated a touching dialogue between Odysseus and his son Telemachus. And to honor the historic source material, they did so in Ancient Greek, translated from English by Sakis Tolis of Greek metal band ROTTING CHRIST.

Asked in a recent interview with Metal Hammer Greece's TV show "TV War" if the next MANOWAR release will be a full-length album or if it will be the previously planned follow-up to 2019's "The Final Battle I" EP, Joey said: "That's a very good question. You're the first person to ask that. And right now, I truly don't know what is coming next, because we had the inspiration to write this song, which I was thinking could be a very long normal song — like maybe 10 minutes — 'The Revenge Of Odysseus'. And it just got out of hand — it just kept growing and growing. It started out with, 'Maybe it'll just be in English.' Then it was, 'Maybe it'll be in Greek.' And then it became not just Greek — ancient Greek. And then something like famous narrators. And then it became, 'No, we're gonna take one of the most famous, if not the most famous actor in Greece.' And then his son is gonna play the part of Telemachus. And it just got bigger and bigger and bigger. And now, when they came into the studio here in Athens and recorded, it just turned out so amazing. And now I'm stuck with a big problem — there's so much incredible stuff that these guys performed… So the reality, just hearing words has given me the challenge, now how can I match this great performance with music that's gonna be worthy of these beautiful, beautiful performances? So, it's a big fucking problem. So I'm looking forward to getting back into the studio and trying to serve this in the best way that I can."

As metal fans will know, 2022 marks the 30th year since the release of "The Triumph Of Steel". With this album, MANOWAR surprised its fans with the over-28-minute-long track "Achilles, Agony And Ecstasy In Eight Parts", inspired by Homer's ancient Greek poem "The Iliad". In celebration of this memorable anniversary and as a "thank you" for the steadfast and passionate support of the Greek Manowarriors, MANOWAR has now taken on "The Odyssey", Homer's tale of the great hero Odysseus and his long and perilous quest to return to his wife and son.

"The Final Battle I" came out in March 2019. At the time of its release, it was announced that parts II and III of the trilogy would arrive at a later date, inspired by MANOWAR's adventures on the remainder of "The Final Battle".

Former MANOWAR guitarist Karl Logan was arrested in August 2018 in Charlotte, North Carolina and charged with six counts of third-degree exploitation of a minor. He was jailed after pleading guilty to two child-pornography counts.

A few days after Karl's arrest was made public, MANOWAR issued a statement saying that he would no longer perform with the group. He has since been replaced by E.V. Martel, who previously played in a MANOWAR tribute band.

Hello friends.

Family commitments make it necessary that I remain as close as possible to my home in Sweden at this...

Posted by Anders Johansson on Friday, June 3, 2022

Following an announcement by drummer Anders Johannson that he will be unable to participate in MANOWAR’s upcoming...

Posted by MANOWAR on Saturday, June 4, 2022

Torn Between Two Worlds, featuring former Angtoria bandmates Sarah Jezebel Deva and Chris Rehn, have released a new EP, entitled As If We Never Existed. It is now available via Bandcamp here.


Check out the official video for new single "The Woman That Never Was" below.







The tracklist is as follows:


"The Beauty Of Deception"
"Transparent"
"The Woman That Never Was"
"All Eyes On Me"
"Hello"


"The Woman That Never Was"





"Transparent"





"The Beauty Of Deception"





"All Eyes On Me"





"Hello"

Mike Levine, bassist for the Canadian power trio Triumph, has issued an update on the forthcoming tribute album celebrating his band’s music, which is being overseen by producer Mike Clink, best known for his work on most of Guns N’ Roses‘ albums.


Levine tells ABC Audio that Clink, who also produced Triumph’s 1986 album Sport Of Kings, is working on the project in Los Angeles, and that it’s “close to being finished.”


“[The album] got delayed like everything else during COVID because nobody wanted to go to the studio, but everybody seems to want to play again,” Mike notes. “So he’s getting near the finish line with it. So we’re hoping to see that early next year.”




Levine reveals that among the guest artists who have contributed to the record are Starship singer Mickey Thomas and ex-Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach. He also reports that a number of “top-draw players” also have contributed to the album, including longtime John Fogerty touring drummer Kenny Aronoff and Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X.


Read more, here.


Levine previously spoke with The Metal Voice about the tribute album, stating: "I can only speak a bit about it cause it is still in production. We have been talking to producer Mike Clink over the years (Guns N' Roses, Mötley Crüe, Whitesnake) and we were talking about maybe doing a tribute album. So  Mike Clink is producing it and it has been recorded in L.A. There will be some great artists on it. It's going to be a real cool project. Our only parameter from a band point of view was do your own take on the song, we don't want to hear someone copy what we did, we want an interpretation. A lot of the money from the tribute album will be going to a charity called Musicares in the States, it's a huge organization that supports artists in trouble."


Stay tuned for updates.

Melodic power metal masters, Dragonland, return with their new single, "The Power Of The Nightstar". Get the song on all digital platforms here, and watch a video below.


More than ten years without a new studio album could be reason enough for a band to fall into oblivion, unless of course they left a lasting impression on their fans before their hiatus. In case of Swedish act Dragonland, who have inspired their extensive following repeatedly since the release of their debut The Battle Of The Ivory Plains (2001), the anticipation of new material has continued to grow from year to year since their 2011 release Under The Grey Banner. Now, Dragonland returns to the heavy music scene, with their brand new, colossal single, "The Power Of The Nightstar".







The song impressively illustrates why Dragonland still belongs to one of the most energetic and passionate bands of their genre, unleashing epic, fast-paced power metal with gripping melodies. "The Power Of The Nightstar" was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at renowned Hansen Studios, and sees the band continue as the lineup consisting of keyboardist Elias Holmlid, bassist Anders Hammer, vocalist Jonas Heidgert and guitarists Olof Mörck and Jesse Lindskog, complemented by drummer Johan Nunez (Firewind, ex-Nightrage), who joined Dragonland in 2014.


“We’re thrilled to finally unveil a small part of our forthcoming album," the band reveals. "This explosive track is a centerpiece of the story line and presents a turning point for our protagonists whose new found hope is expressed in the uplifting chorus."

Detroit death-doom force Temple Of Void’s Relapse debut, Summoning The Slayer, is out now. Listen on all streaming services and via the YouTube video below:





The Michigan-based quintet featuring Alex Awn (guitars), Don Durr (guitars), Mike Erdody (vocals), Jason Pearce (drums), and Brent Satterly (bass), hunkered down during the last two years, expanding upon their brand of fusty, artfully brutish death-doom with equal parts process and imagination. The outcome is an album that feels massive yet sepulchral, exploratory yet distinguishable—as if crafted deep below and inspired by all the things (mentally and physically) that come with their subterranean endeavor. Summoning The Slayer creepily evolves Temple Of Void.




Produced, mixed, and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Sumerlands, Candy), Summoning The Slayer pairs long-time influences and a bevy of non-metal vectors into hulking columns of heavy and desolation. Focus tracks “Deathtouch”, “Hex, Curse, & Conjuration” and “The Transcending Horror” showcases Temple Of Void’s death-doom at its heights and their massive, crushing lows. But the group’s fourth album is more than that. The album’s capper, “Dissolution”, is one example of the Detroiters stretching out, the song’s ‘70s rock/singer-songwriter motifs hitting The Moody Blues and Nick Drake hard. Lyrically, Summoning The Slayer eschews commonplace horror tropes with a deeper, broader psychological discussion of the self. Temple Of Void’s ultimate death-doom metal journey is now complete.


Summoning The Slayer is out on LP/CD/CS/Digital. Physical orders via Relapse.com are available here. Digital downloads/streaming at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Behind The Eye"
"Deathtouch"
"Engulfed"
"A Sequence Of Rot"
"Hex, Curse, & Conjuration"
"The Transcending Horror"
"Dissolution"


“Hex, Curse, & Conjuration”:





"Deathtouch" video:





(Photo - Brian Sheehan)

On July 1, traditional heavy metal's Haunt will release their seventh full-length, Windows Of Your Heart, via Iron Grip // Church Recordings. A lyric video for the track "Mercenaries" is streaming below.


To pre-order a copy of Windows of Your Heart, please visit Haunt’s Bandcamp or The Heavy Metal Store’s Bandcamp where the album is available in the following formats:


--digital album
--cassette (limited to 100 copies; Haunt Bandcamp exclusive)
--jewelcase CD (signed copies available exclusively at The Heavy Metal Store's Bandcamp)
--black vinyl (limited to 100 copies)
--milky clear w/ black & red splatter vinyl (limited to 250 copies)
--silver vinyl (limited to 200 copies; retail exclusive)
--transparent red w/ black pinwheel vinyl (limited to 200 copies)
--transparent red vinyl (limited to 200 copies; retail exclusive)
--half/half black/milky clear w/ red splatter vinyl (limited to 300 copies; Haunt Bandcamp exclusive)
--half/half red/milky clear w/ black splatter vinyl (limited to 300 copies; Haunt Bandcamp exclusive)
--picture disc vinyl (limited to 200 copies; Haunt Bandcamp exclusive)




Based in Fresno, California, Haunt is the brainchild of singer/guitarist Trevor William Church, and in July 2022, he proudly returns with new album, Windows Of Your Heart. For the most part, Church adhered to his tried-and-true methodologies for writing and recording this full-length - but, discerning listeners will notice a difference in the guitar solos this time around. Whereas on past Haunt records, the lead breaks were constructed around two-guitar tradeoffs, this time Church reinvented the solos with a single guitar, relying on pinch harmonics and whammy bar as key elements. However, longtime fans will be relieved to know that Haunt's trademark guitar harmonies remain fully intact and unsullied.


As on previous albums, Church built Windows Of Your Heart around a few key songs to be featured in the live set. The title track is one such foundational piece, featuring catchy riffs, big hooks and a slightly different guitar approach for Haunt that straddles the line between heavy metal and hard rock. As for other standout songs on the record, Church quickly points to the barn-burning opener, "Mercenaries", plus "Father Time" - which treads familiar lyrical territory for Haunt by musing on the dizzying speed with which time flies by. The single is also noteworthy for the readily discernible Ozzy-isms in Church's vocal melodies and timbre. The resemblance is not coincidental, but is an intentional tribute to the Prince of Darkness. Church explains, "Ozzy Osbourne gave me the courage to be a singer. He taught me how to be a singer. My music naturally goes toward that."


Album art by Brouemaster Visual Decay:





Tracklisting:


“Mercenaries”
“Running Hard”
“Barricade”
“Father Time”
“Windows Of Your Heart”
“Catch Me”
“No Control”
“Dream On It”
“Frozen In Time”
“Defender” 


"Mercenaries" lyric video:





“Windows Of Your Heart” lyric video:





On the live front, Church assembled a new line-up consisting of his longtime Beastmaker bandmate Andy Saldate on drums, Andy Lei on guitars, and Chris Fletcher on bass. "This is Haunt version 2.0," Church says. This new live configuration has already been battle-tested with eight shows under their belts, and many more to come - including a 20-date run through the western half of North America in April 2022, supported by Screamer, Traveler and Saber. The trek is highlighted by a stop at the prestigious Hell's Heroes Festival in Houston, Texas on April 23.


Dates:


April
7- Eugene, OR - Old Nick's Pub
8 - Vancouver, BC - The Wise Hall & Lounge
9 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
10 - Portland, OR - The High Water Marks
12 - Oakland, CA - Elbo Room Jack London 
13 - Sacramento, CA - Cafe Colonial
14 - Costa Mesa, CA - The Wayfarer
15 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
16 - Scottsdale, AZ - Pub Rock Live
17 - Albuquerque, NM - Moonlight Lounge
19 - El Paso, TX - Raves Club
20 - San Antonio, TX - 502 Bar
21 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It
22 - Dallas, TX - Three Links
23 - Houston, TX - Hell's Heroes Festival
26 - Denver, CO - HQ
27 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
28 - Las Vegas, NV - Count's Vamp'd
29 - Los Angeles, CA - Zebulon
30 - Fresno, CA - Strummer's


(Photo – Andy Lei)

Members of KISS, MANOWAR, RAINBOW and ANTHRAX are among the musicians who have paid tribute to Ken Kelly, one of the most successful fantasy artists of all time, who died on Thursday (June 2) at the age of 76.

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss wrote on his web site: "I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear friend Ken Kelly. He was an amazing man and talent. A gentle, kind, funny honorable man. A man of integrity and grace. I loved him so much. His art work graced the cover of two of our iconic albums. He brought out the super heros in us. He will live on through his incredible work. My prayers and love go out to his family and fans. May he rest in peace with the Lord. God Bless, Peter Criss".

MANOWAR bassist Joey DeMaio said in a statement: "Deeply saddened by the passing of the great Ken Kelly. He was a giant and will live forever through his art and the memories he left with those who got to know him. I will never forget our years together. Condolences to his family. RIP, Ken. Valhalla awaits you."

RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore said about Kelly: "He was a very nice man. Very easy to work with. I gave him a simple idea, which he turned into a magical picture. He shall be greatly missed. RIP Ken Kelly".

Over Kelly's 50-plus-year career, he has focused in particular on paintings in the sword and sorcery and heroic fantasy subgenres.

Early in his career, he was able to study the paintings of Frank Frazetta in the latter's studio, but Frazetta never let out his trade secrets. In the early 1970s, he did a couple of cover paintings for Castle Of Frankenstein magazine. Throughout the 1970s, he was one of the foremost cover artists on Warren Publishing's Creepy and Eerie magazines.

Kelly has depicted Conan The Barbarian and Tarzan while also creating the artwork for KISS's "Destroyer" and "Love Gun", RAINBOW's "Rising", several albums from MANOWAR, and Ace Frehley's "Space Invader" record.

His work often portrayed exotic, enchanted locales and primal battlefields. He developed the artwork for COHEED AND CAMBRIA's album "Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume Two: No World for Tomorrow", and a painting of his was used as the cover art for ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY's 2007 release "Open Fire". In 2012, one of Kelly's paintings was used for the cover of ELECTRIC MAGMA's 12-inch vinyl release "Canadian Samurai II".

Kelly has been a guest at the Kiss By Monster Mini Golf course in Las Vegas, Nevada, doing autograph signings of prints for the classic KISS albums he has drawn cover artwork for.
Sad to find out Ken Kelly, who painted our Destroyer album cover passed away. A kind and beloved gentleman. Rest In Peace. https://t.co/rNxoDve2T8

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) June 4, 2022


A moment to remember the great Ken Kelly. His fantasy art captured the larger than life image of KISS perfectly. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/6KawKXdOjE

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) June 4, 2022


Deeply saddened by the passing of the great Ken Kelly. He was a giant and will live forever through his art and the memories he left with those who got to know him. I will never forget our years together. Condolences to his family.

RIP, Ken. Valhalla awaits you.

— Joey DeMaio (@realJoeyDeMaio) June 4, 2022


RIP Ken Kelly, artist for No World for Tomorrow. 💔 pic.twitter.com/LqNHmNgMCl

— Coheed and Cambria (@Coheed) June 4, 2022


R.I.P. #kenkelly one of the all time greats. The art he created was my guide to drawing #destroyer#lovegun#rainbowrising@kisshttps://t.co/T11QTLPoSZ

— Charlie Benante (@skisum) June 4, 2022


He was a very nice man. Very easy to work with. I gave him a simple idea, which he turned into a magical picture. He shall be greatly missed. RIP Ken Kelly https://t.co/RTnjG8PavZ

— Official Ritchie Blackmore (@TheRealRitchieB) June 4, 2022


So sad to hear #RIPhttps://t.co/tWSlpLyiVb

— Candice Night (@TruCandiceNight) June 4, 2022



Ken Kelly the artist that painted Burning Starr's last 3 album covers has passed away, He was a great artist and helped…

Posted by Jack Starr on Friday, June 3, 2022

We are saddened to hear of the passing of our brother Ken Kelly.

No words can express what a terrible loss this is, not...

Posted by MANOWAR on Saturday, June 4, 2022

from PeterCriss.NET
---------
Ken Kelly
May 19, 1946 - June 2, 2022
I am heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear...

Posted by Peter Criss JAPAN on Friday, June 3, 2022

MTV's seminal, Gen X-defining "Beavis And Butt-Head" about two cartoon teenagers famous for their nasally laughs and love of heavy metal will return with an all-new movie, "Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe", which is set to premiere on June 23 via Paramount+. The movie will also be available to stream internationally in all territories where the service is available. In addition to the new movie, the full library of over 200 remastered "Beavis And Butt-Head" episodes will stream exclusively on the service, along with a new series coming later this year.

A tale that technically spans two centuries, "Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe" promises to sit atop all future lists of the "Dumbest Science Fiction Movies Ever Made." The saga begins when Beavis and Butt-Head wind up at space camp through "creative sentencing" from a juvenile court judge in 1998. Mistaking a docking simulator for something else (huh huh),Beavis and Butt-Head excel at it and are asked to join the space shuttle mission in a PR move. After ruining the mission, they are left for dead in space and end up going through a black hole and reemerging back on Earth in 2022, only to discover a very different world — and find themselves considered Buttholes of Interest by the NSA, the governor of Texas, and a highly intelligent version of themselves from a parallel universe. Also they almost lose their virginity, but don't.

"Beavis and Butt-Head were defining voices of a generation, and to this day, the show is one of the most well-known and beloved animated IPs of all time," said Chris McCarthy, president/CEO, Paramount Media Networks and MTV Entertainment Studios. "Mike Judge has reimagined this dynamic duo in a way that is sure to have both old fans and new ones alike laughing out loud — and we couldn't be more excited to bring them back into our rapidly expanding arsenal of hit adult animation."

"Reuniting Beavis and Butt-Head is the smartest dumb move one could make, and we jumped at the opportunity," said Tanya Giles, chief programming officer of streaming for Paramount+. "Only a duo this iconic would bring us to space and back and we're so excited to share their epic, nacho-filled journey with audiences."

"Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe" features the voices of Mike Judge, Gary Cole, Chris Diamantopoulos, Nat Faxon, Brian Huskey, Chi McBride, Tig Notaro, Stephen Root, Andrea Savage, Martin Starr and Jimmy O. Yang.

An exclusive look at the new movie will debut during the 2022 "MTV Movie & TV Awards", which air live Sunday, June 5 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

Created and voiced by writer, producer and director Mike Judge, the characters of Beavis and Butt-Head originated in Judge's 1992 short film "Frog Baseball", which was broadcast by MTV's animation showcase "Liquid Television". After MTV commissioned a full series around the characters, "Beavis And Butt-Head" ran for seven seasons from March 8, 1993, to November 28, 1997. The series was revived in 2011 with an eighth season airing on MTV. During its initial run, "Beavis And Butt-Head" received widespread critical acclaim for its satirical, scathing commentary on society. The show's popularity spawned various related media, including the theatrical film "Beavis And Butt-Head Do America" in 1996.

"Beavis And Butt-Head Do The Universe" is executive-produced by Mike Judge, Lew Morton and Michael Rotenberg, and Chris Prynoski, Shannon Prynoski, Ben Kalina and Antonio Canobbio for Titmouse.

Human Scum, today is the day! The New Dark Ages has finally been unleashed on the public. The album is available digitally today. It will be released on CD July 15 and vinyl and cassette on September 16 via the band’s own Pit Records. Order and stream the album here.


In celebration of the album’s release, GWAR has released a video for their big-time, sell-out, soon-to-be hit radio single, “Ratcatcher". Watch the clip below.


Lead singer Blóthar sez: “What better way to celebrate the end of human existence than a little reminder of your dark and violent past from the disease-ridden middle ages! 'Ratcatcher' is the true story of the mysterious Pied Piper of Hamelin. HA! It was GWAR all along! This tune, and every single song on this album is red hot molten lead poured directly into your ears! GWAR is eternal!”







"The New Dark Ages" chronicles GWAR's adventures in the Duoverse, where the band rediscovers old powers such as Blóthar’s terrifying Berserker Mode, and encounter new allies, such as the murderous maven known as The Cutter. Along the way, they battle the living monuments of a lost cause and armies of undead soldiers who Rise Again to fight a New Civil War.





The New Dark Ages tracklisting:


"New Dark Age
"Blood Libel
"Berserker Mode
"Mother Fucking Liar
"Unto The Breach
"Completely Fucked
"The Cutter
"Rise Again
"The Beast Will Eat Itself
"The Venom Of The Platypus
"Ratcatcher
"Bored To Death
Death Whistle Suite:
"Temple Ascent"
"Starving Gods"
"Deus Ex Monstrum"


"Berserker Mode" visualizer:





"Mother Fucking Liar" visualizer:





For all of you thirsty fans, GWAR has heard your call and have now partnered up with Devils Backbone to create a true intergalactic elixir of the gods. Behold, Blood Geyser, an intergalactic Blood Orange IPA from GWAR and Devils Backbone. Designed to save the planet from being sucked dry by Bohabs, this delicious swill is brewed to the specific gravity of blood, using hops, blood orange and pure “Berserker Rage.”


Singer Blóthar says, “This is a delicious and heady brew! Grab a tankard of this fine and fruity ale, get loose and kick up your feet and watch the world die, GWAR style!”


GWAR are out now on “The Black Death Rager World Tour'', which hits Washington, DC on Friday, June 10 at the 9:30 Club. Before the show, GWAR will host a limited number of humans at what will be a uniquely infamous GWAR-B-Q event. Food will include Pulled Pork, Smoked Chicken Thighs, BBQ Spare Ribs, BBQ Beans, Collard Greens, Cornbread Biscuits and “Blood Geyser” BBQ Sauce. Be one of the first lucky freaks to tickle their tastebuds with “Blood Geyser” Blood Orange IPA. Get your tickets here.

The Guardian is reporting that Jeff Beck has announced the release date for an album he has made with Johnny Depp, the day after the conclusion of the actor’s high-profile defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard.


Speaking at a concert in Gateshead on Thursday, where Depp made a guest appearance on stage, Beck said: “I met this guy five years ago and we’ve never stopped laughing since. We actually made an album. I don’t know how it happened. It will be out in July.”
The Guardian view on Depp v Heard: an abusive spectacle
Read more


As Depp’s trial has reached its conclusion, the actor has been touring the UK with Beck, appearing on stage to perform cover versions including Jimi Hendrix’s "Little Wing" and Marvin Gaye’s "What’s Going On".




At the Gateshead concert, Depp did not make reference to the judgment reached the previous day, but Beck said “what a result”.


Beck and Depp’s album was first announced in April 2020, by Depp in his Instagram post. He described Beck then as “my dear friend and my brother … one of my all time guitar heroes”.


The pair released one track from the sessions alongside the announcement, a cover of John Lennon’s Isolation, chosen for early release because of its resonances with the lockdowns in the early phase of the Covid-19 pandemic. “Lennon’s prophetic words are pure poetry; the profundity of his lyrics seemed to Jeff and me especially fitting for what’s happening right now,” Depp said at the time.

Texas death unit I Am will release their Eternal Steel full-length September 9 via MNRK Heavy, today unveiling the record’s artwork, tracklisting, and first single.


Brandishing a unique blend of furious thrash and death metal like a weapon of mass destruction, I Am is purely no-nonsense in their patented “Texas Death” assault. 


Across three full-length slabs of bludgeoning intensity and snarling rage, I Am puts a Southern stamp and revitalized swagger into deathcore, a subgenre rarely as raw, energized, and diverse as this band. In the spirit of fellow Southern icons Pantera and newer Texan heroes Power Trip, I AM channels discontent and anger into empowering anthems, as likely to inspire a grueling workout as to incite the pit. Reminiscent of the combination of death metal heaviness and thrash metal speed found in the early catalog of Sepultura, I Am mines the heaviness of Morbid Angel and the dexterity of the Big 4 to create something groundbreaking of their own. Vocalist Andrew Hileman -- who started the band in 2011 -- guitarists Tom Reyes and Chris Burgess, bassist Erik Rodriguez, and drummer Ian Scott deliver their Texas Death in clubs, theaters, and festivals, with bands like The Acacia Strain and Kublai Khan.




Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Randy Leboeuf (Kublai Khan, Sentinels, The Acacia Strain), Eternal Steel, the quintet’s debut for MNRK Heavy, combines the onslaught of the band’s well-received Hard 2 Kill (2018) with the primal bite of Life Through Torment (2017) into a singular statement of intent.


“We took what we did well on Hard 2 Kill to new extremes on Eternal Steel,” notes Reyes. “It’s faster than the last album, it’s heavier than the last album, and it expands on every other aspect of our sound. ‘Heavy’ doesn’t always have to mean ‘slow.’ Frequently for us, the faster parts are equally as heavy.”


In advance of the release of Eternal Steel, today I Am unveils a video for the record’s first single, “The Iron Gate”.


Comments Hileman, “When searching for solace and protection, I tend to find it’s often met with opposite hostility. The process of growth only occurs when forced into these uncomfortable situations. ‘The Iron Gate’ is that place of cruelty that I find so beautiful for the soul. Beware and enter if you dare.”


Eternal Steel will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digitally. Preorder at iam-eternalsteel.com.





Tracklisting:


“The Primal Wave”
“Surrender To The Blade”
“The Iron Gate”
“Eternal Steel”
“Vicious Instinct”
“Infernal Panther”
“Queen Incarnate”
“Heaven On Earth”
“Price Of Pain”
“Eye Candy”
“Manic Cure”


“The Iron Gate” video:





(Photo – Kevyn Reece)

Celebrate 20 years of Epica with reissues of the first three albums (including unreleased bonus tracks), plus Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us. Head to epicamerch.com to preorder The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion, The Score and the unreleased/rare live albums on a variety of (limited!) formats. It's all out September 2 via Nuclear Blast. 


Live At Paradiso is the 2006 Amsterdam show that is mythical among Epicans, as it's never been officially released. Now, the holy grail is available as a part of We Still Take You With Us, which bundles it together with their (long sold-out) first major TV performance/DVD release, We Will Take You With Us, as well as their first three albums: The Phantom Agony, Consign To Oblivion and The Score.







Pre-order it on an 11-disc vinyl box set, Earbook with 36-pages and 8 discs or 8-CD box clamshell. Live At Paradiso and We Will Take You With Us will also be available to download or stream, while Live At Paradiso will be released on 2-CD+Blu-ray, too.


Check out the video for "Sensorium" (Live At Paradiso):

UK rockers, Wayward Sons, have released a video for "Can't Take It Anymore" featured on the upcoming Score Settled EP, out on June 17. Watch the clip below.


The EP features three new, unreleased songs that were recorded during the sessions for Even Up The Score, as well as three tracks that were previously only released on a physical format, and a live studio version of a track previously released as a studio bonus track in Japan. See tracklisting below for more details.


Physical pre-orders are available now, exclusively from the band's webstore here, and Frontiers Music Srl's EU webstore here. Digital pre-orders and a new music video will be released on June 3.




Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Toby Jepson, who is joined by Nic Wastell (bass), Phil Martini (drums), and Sam Wood (guitar), Wayward Sons deal in energetic rock 'n roll coupled with thoughtful, insightful lyrics.Passionate, honest music made by passionate honest musicians who have come together to create rock music that reflects their heroes from the ‘70s and ‘80s, while also touching on the present – modernity through homage, if you will.


The return of former Little Angels singer Toby Jepson to the UK rock scene with Wayward Sons was a welcome event in the British hard rock music scene when it transpired some six years ago. After the overwhelming success of Little Angels, including a number one album, millions of records sold, massive sell out shows and numerous hit singles, Toby had been busy in the prior years in movie work as well as performing with Fastway, Gun, and Dio’s Disciples and producing albums for numerous bands (Saxon, Fastway, The Virginmarys, Toseland, and more). His heart, however, was always in writing and performing and so the concept of Wayward Sons was born – a new band, built for playing live. A new direction with Toby’s songs taking center stage was introduced on the debut album Ghosts Of Yet To Come. The album was greeted with outstanding critical acclaim and earned Wayward Sons the title of "Best New Band" at the Planet Rock awards 2018. More and increasing success followed with the release of the sophomore album, The Truth Ain’t What It Used to Be and their third opus, Even Up The Score.


In support of their release, the band as played an outstanding number of shows in and outside the UK, either as a supporting act for Saxon, Inglorious, Steel Panther, Living Color and UFO or at such festivals as Download and Ramblin Man Fair and of course their own runs of headlining dates.





Score Settled EP tracklisting:


"Beaten To The Punch"
"Can’t Take It Anymore"
"Real Go-Getta"
"Standby Heart" (previously available on vinyl only, "Don't Wanna Go" 12" Picture Disc)
"Radio Denial" (previously available on vinyl only, "Don't Wanna Go" 12" Picture Disc)
"Totally Screwed" (previously available on vinyl only, "Totally Screwed" 7" Flex-Disc)
"Backslide" (Live In the Studio) (live version of Japan Bonus Track for "Ghosts Of Yet To Come")


"Can’t Take It Anymore" video:





LIneup:


Toby Jepson - Vocals, Guitars
Sam Wood - Guitars
Nic Wastell - Bass
Philip Martini - Drums and Percussion

Tech-death masters, Origin, have released their new album, Chaosmos. The long-standing outfit celebrates not only a return to Nuclear Blast (World excluding Europe) and Agonia Records (Europe), but also rings in their 25th year on Chaosmos.


Paul Ryan comments, "Origin is super excited about releasing our latest album Chaosmos to our friends and fans worldwide! We've been on the road for a month now and would like to say thanks to everyone for all the support and positive feedback on each of the singles we've already released! We can't wait for everyone to experience the album as a whole - enjoy Chaosmos!"


Check out a new track video for "Cullscape":







Origin re-tapped Kansas City-based studio guru Rob Rebeck to engineer, produce and mix Chaosmos. The production team holed up in GFM Recording Studios in Blue Springs, Missouri, and Chapter 2 Recording in Lenexa, Kansas, over 14 days. Robeck worked the mix over four days, while Colin Maarten at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves in Queens, New York, mastered Chaosmos in two. The cover artwork was created by Santiago Jaramillo, Triple Seis Design.


Orderhere, save here.





Chaosmos tracklisting:


"Ecophagy"
"Chaosmos"
"Cogito Tamen Non Sum"
"Panoptical"
"Decolonizer"
"Cullscape"
"Nostalgia for Oblivion"
"Heat Death"


"Chaosmos" video:





"Ecophagy":

On August 6, 2021, three-time Grammy-nominated hard rock heavyweights and platinum-selling band, Killswitch Engage, unleashed a streaming event that took fans by storm. The event took place at The Palladium in Worcester in the band's native Massachusetts, which has been the site of many iconic KsE shows throughout the band's history. The performance setlist consists of 2019's Atonement in full, along with their 2000-released, self-titled debut album in full - with some fun and unexpected surprises along the way. This special event was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest for MyGoodEye.


Today, the band has shared the video for "As Sure As The Sun Will Rise". Watch below.


"This was an uplifting song for me as soon as I heard the demo," says singer Jesse Leach. "It's about spiritual redemption and hope amidst this troubled world. It's a call to arms for those who seek a just and righteous path in this life. The message is fight through the darkness and perils to overcome the war of spirit and flesh."







This compelling performance will be available for the first time digitally, on 2LP, and 2CD/Blu-ray on June 3 via Metal Blade. Pre-order it here and here.





Tracklisting:


"Unleashed"
"The Signal Fire"
"Us Against The World"
"The Crownless King"
"I Am Broken Too"
"As Sure As The Sun Will Rise"
"Know Your Enemy"
"Take Control"
"Ravenous"
"I Can't Be The Only One"
"Bite The Hand That Feeds"
"Temple From The Within"
"Vide Infra"
"Irreversal"
"Rusted Embrace"
"Prelude"
"Soilborn"
"Numb Sickened Eyes"
"In The Unblind"
"Just Barely Breathing"


"Vide Infra" video:





"Know Your Enemy" video:

Joe Bouchard is best known as a former member of Blue Öyster Cult. The original lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, “Burning for You". Bouchard contributed to songwriting and lead vocals on some of BOC’s greatest songs, such as “Hot Rails To Hell”.


Today, Bouchard releases his new album, American Rocker, via his brother’s (Albert Bouchard) and his imprint Rockheart Records and Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group). Watch a lyric video for the song "Deadly Kisses" below:







American Rocker sees the return of Mickey Curry (Bryan Adams, Hall and Oates, Alice Cooper) on drums, and sees Bouchard taking a look back at the heyday of the 70’s with BÖC on tracks like “In the Golden Age”, and “Rocket To Fame”.


Pick up the new album American Rocker and other Joe Bouchard merch here.





Tracklisting:


“My Way Is The Highway”
“In The Golden Age”
“Deadly Kisses”
“Love Out Of Thin Air”
“Off Season Hotel”
“Hounds Of Hell”
“Conspiracy”
“Rocket To Fame”
“The Devil's In The Details”
“Katherine”
“Hey There Suzi Dear”


“In The Golden Age” lyric video:





“My Way Is The Highway” video: