Croatia’s finest folk metal powerhouse, Manntra, bring roaring hymns and swelling horns, announcing their 8th studio album Titans, set for release on February 21 via Napalm Records.


With seven albums already under their belts and a reputation forged on stages like the mighty Wacken Open Air and tours with legends like German folk mainstays In Extremo, Manntra has proven themselves as a tour de force in the metal world. Titans is another testament to their unstoppable momentum, blending ancient tradition with modern sounds to create something truly unforgettable.


Giving insight on their latest onslaught, today, Manntra release their first single, a tribute to YouTube phenomenon Miracle Of Sound, an explosive cover of “Skal”. This high-octane track is a resounding toast to unity, revelry, and the timeless power of music. With their signature fusion of raw metal riffs, traditional folk instrumentation, and industrial elements, Manntra delivers an electrifying rendition of this modern classic, turning it into a full-fledged anthem for warriors, dreamers, and partygoers alike. Rooted in the band’s unique soundscape, “Skal” is a riot of pounding drums, razor-sharp guitars, and soulful pipes, seamlessly blending raucous energy with melodic folk charm, showcasing Manntra’s ability to bridge worlds with their masterful songwriting. Whether you’re a metalhead, a folk enthusiast, or simply someone who loves a good party, this track will have you raising your glass and stomping your feet.




Manntra on the new single “Skal" (Miracle Of Sound Cover): “’Skal’ is the first single from our upcoming album Titans. We chose to cover this song by Miracle Of Sound because it captivated us from the first listen and already embodied the Manntra vibe. It felt like a song we could have written in a parallel reality. While we typically don’t do covers, this one perfectly aligns with the energy and themes of the album!”


Watch the video for “Skal" below.


Formed in 2012 around mastermind Marko Matijević Sekul, the band has proven to be extremely productive as Titans is already their eighth studio album. Over the years the quintet developed their trademark sound by combining raw metal riffs and hard-hitting industrial sounds with traditional folk instruments, unleashing a relentless storm of catchy metal hymns. Manntra’s high energy soundscape is skillfully built by supposed opposites: authentic folk instruments like pipes and mandolins interwoven with raspy male vocals and an uplifting industrial metal sound. With their newest masterpiece they clearly take no prisoners as the album sets off with the title track “Titans” delivering forceful rhythms and powerful drumming. This continues on tracks like “Higher” or “Riders In The Dawn” kicking off with strong intros. Like no other, Manntra manage effortlessly to transport the ancient tunes into modern times by combining its folk elements with synths like on “My Sandman” or the album closer “Nav” delivering massive melodies. But Manntra also stay true to their roots with "Teuta” telling the story of a legendary Illyrian queen who reigned in Croatia around 200 BC and “Unholy Water (Voda)” containing a catchy chorus and intense female folk vocals delivering a hymn like melody with lyrics partly in Croatian. The same can be witnessed on the extremely groovy and catchy “Heart Of The Storm”, while uplifting “Skal” is a song to get every folk party started. A clear highlight are the combined songs “Forgotten Pt.1” and “Forgotten Pt.2” which are true industrial metal masterpieces that seamlessly cross genres, heavily leaning towards electronic elements, while maintaining their very own soundscape.


Overall Titans convinces with an enormous hit-density and sets a clear mark, delivering proud hymns and in-your-face metal songs that are undeniable, proving that Manntra are on the very top of their game, ready to enter the next level of their promising journey!





Titans will be available in the following formats:


- 1 Vinyl Bundle (Tote Bag, Autograph Card, Drinking horn, Patch, Invitation Card "Online Meet & Greet" - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 300)
- 1 CD Bundle (Tote Bag, Autograph Card, Drinking horn, Patch, Invitation Card "Online Meet & Greet" - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 300)
- 1 LP Marbled Orange / Black - Napalm Records mail order only - strictly limited to 200
- 1 LP Black Vinyl
- 6p Digipak + Booklet


Pre-order here.





Titans tracklisting:


"Ceremony"
"T

Polish extreme metal giants, Behemoth, performed their track, "Chant For Ezkaton 2000", during their set at the 2024 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. Watch professionally-filmed video below:





Join Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ in Europe next year for "The Unholy Trinity". Behemoth recently released a video trailer for trek, which can be found below.




Says Behemoth: "Legions of Europe! It’s that time again… We are beyond thrilled to announce that we’ll be bringing together the blasphemous forces of Behemoth, Satyricon and Rotting Christ for ‘The Unholy Trinity’ European tour." 🔥


Tickets are on sale now. Dates are listed below.

ion Records team up to announce the release of the Don Fury Sessions for the first time on vinyl.


Recorded in 1998 at Don Fury Studio at 18 Spring Street Nolita NYC, the eight songs were the beginning of the materialization of Glassjaw’s full depth of sound and creativity - going on to become the basis of the band’s debut album, Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Silence.


The original tracks are now remastered by Don Fury himself and p

As part of the latest season of his deeply personal exploration of grief in the CNN Audio podcast "All There Is With Anderson Cooper", Anderson Cooper spoke to VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen about the death of Alex's brother, legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Alex said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm grieving all the time. I'm not running from it, because that doesn't solve the problem. At times, it can be overwhelming, and the more the more I dwell on it, the more complicated it becomes. When I'm alone and I put on a piece of music and I hear [Ed] play, I break down — that's it — uncontrollably. But knowing what I know about the human body, you just let it happen. Otherwise it will happen in the line at the grocery store. And that wouldn't look so good."

Alex went on to say that he was caught off guard by his brother's passing. "None of us really thought he was gonna die," he explained. "He'd always bounced back. He had the most incredible DNA that I've ever seen in anybody. He could do more and more drugs than anybody and still wake up the next day and perform. I don't think anybody really thought he was gonna die. So when he passed, it was really a shock."

Asked if Eddie knew how close to the end he was during the final days of his life , Alex said: "I don't think he knew. Being human, you think you're gonna go on one more day, one more day. You keep going forward. But then one day you don't. So up to the very end, we were still making music and we talked about, what are we gonna do next year? But it was clear that he was going downhill."

According to Alex, Eddie's deteriorating health was complicated further by the fact that most of the world was embroiled in COVID-19 lockdowns.

"It was difficult because his immune system was down, so the last thing he needed was to get infected by anything," the drummer explained. "So there was always a distance between us at his house. We had to watch him from outside in the driveway from the window."

When Cooper noted that Alex couldn't sit by Eddie's bedside or hold him, the drummer said: "No, no, no. The last time we did that was when I took him to Switzerland to have some treatment by some unbelievable doctors. But he was in a lot of pain most of the time. Most people have no idea what kind of pain he was in — physical, emotional, mental, you name it. Then he started to lose the function of his extremities. It all compounded, and every day it was something, some other part that was not functioning anymore."

Alex confirmed that Eddie battled a brain tumor and stage four lung cancer before he passed away. "Yes," he said. "And they did something called a Gamma Knife operation where they cut the cancer out, which was successful, but in the process, it caused a swelling in his brain. So they put him on steroids. And typical… [Laughs] I'm only laughing about it because even in a life-and-death situation, the decision was, 'Well, two's good. Twenty must be better.' So he took handfuls of steroids and it made him Superman temporarily. But we got him off to Switzerland to get him off that stuff."

Reflecting on Eddie's final days, Alex said: "He had a massive stroke. We were in the room with him when he actually took his last breath. We just sat there. Everybody was in their own headspace. All I know is that when he stopped breathing, I didn't hear anything. I didn't see anything. There were no bells. There were no angels. It stopped. And then the room was empty. That was it. And then they pulled the plug because he was on a ventilator. And that was it. And because of COVID and the restrictions and the rules, they immediately carted the body off and that was it. Then we didn't see him anymore. [It was] a very uneventful ending to an eventful life. But you know what? He fought it till the very end. I wanna think of Ed's life in terms of that he never gave up."

Alex remains philosophical about Eddie's legacy and contribution to the music world, even if he wishes that he had his brother for at least a decade longer.

"We travel through time or we travel through existence, if you will, and you come and then you go," Alex said. "It's part of the natural order of things. I think the real problem, at least from my perceptual standpoint, is that when it happens out of what is the norm, which is a full 75- or 80-year-life, and to have it be shorter than that, it doesn't make sense.

"Am I angry at him? Yeah, there were times when I'd have a jealous scream. 'Ed, what the fuck is wrong with you? What are you doing? Ed, if you stop doing all them damn drugs…' [Laughs] 'You can't do this to your body and expect to live a full life.' Had he stopped, he might still be here. The emotional part of me just says, 'Ed, you're not done yet. It'd be nice to have you hanging around.' My kids don't have an uncle anymore. Your son doesn't have a father. I don't have a brother.

"Ed's whole life was searching for something," Alex added. "I don't know what it was, 'cause musically we could play anything. Ed, come on. Maybe you could have been here a little longer. But then you realize, I have no control over that. And then maybe it's not my place to tell him to be here longer. Maybe he knows intuitively that, 'This is it. I'm done. I'm leaving.' He was never satisfied. There was always that itch to do something else. So I don't know. I'm still grappling with some of those things because, to me, it doesn't make any sense."

Alex's memoir, "Brothers", which has been described as a love letter to his younger brother, while still mourning Eddie Van Halen's untimely death, came out in late October.

Alex is the co-founder of VAN HALEN and its original drummer. Born in Amsterdam and trained as a classical pianist, he graduated from Pasadena High School.

In "Brothers", Alex recounts his and Ed's childhood in an 800-square foot house in Pasadena, with an itinerant musician father and proper Indonesian-born mother — how they arrived in the U.S. from the Netherlands and struggled to fit in. He also shares stories of musical politics, infighting and bad-boy behavior. The book includes never-before-seen photos from the author's private archives, as he sets the record straight on his brother's life and death in the first-ever accurate account of his family and the band.

Alex and Eddie formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony.

VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

According to Modern Drummer, Alex was instrumental to VAN HALEN's electrifying, dramatic sound, leading the rhythm section on standout hits like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Unchained" and "Panama". His double-bass pedal work throughout "Hot For Teacher" was deeply influential, combining technical prowess with a restless, thoroughly original drum composition.

Eddie passed away in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. Alex was by his side, as was Eddie's son, Wolfgang.

"Face Of God", the fourth single from the new studio album by Babylon A.D., is being released to radio. The previous singles saw support from the likes of Alice Cooper on his nationally syndicated radio show "Alice's Attic" and Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM's "Hair Nation" with the lead single "Wrecking Machine" hitting #2 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #36 on the Mediabase 7 day Classic Rock chart, and the title track, "Rome Wasn't Built In A Day", reaching #3 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #33 on the Media-base 7 day Classic Rock chart.


Stream "Face Of God" here, and watch a music video for the song below.


Lead singer Derek Davis talks about the song, "'Face Of God' is the most inspirational song I have ever written. The band and I are Christians and as the lyricist for Babylon A.D., I have sometimes referenced my faith in my lyrical content but this song is more direct in nature. The song is about faith, hope and redemption. Sometimes a spiritual awakening is needed to help people better understand just who they are and what they are placed on this earth to do, and I hope that when people hear the song or watch the video they find peace in their hearts. I am fortunate in that aspect that I believe God gave me my talent and has lead me on my way to the truth! And I am thankful everyday for the blessings I have received. I have found that the face of God is in everyone if they look for him!"







To celebrate their brand new album, Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, Babylon A.D. and BraveWords are giving away an autographed guitar. Entering is easy, just head here and enter your email address. Good luck!


Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is available now via Perris Records. Order/purchase the album here.





Tracklisting:


"Wrecking Machine"
"Pain"
"Sometimes Love Is Hell"
"Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"
"Looking For A Heartbeat"
"I Will Never Break Again"
"White Hot Bullet"
"Crashed Into The Sun"
"Face Of GOD"
"Shut Up"
"Super Beast"


"Sometimes Love Is Hell" video:





"Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day" video:





"Wrecking Machine":








Album details:


Produced, Mixed, Engineered by Derek Davis @ The BADMOFO’s Recording Studio, Pleasanton,

In 2013, original HINDER singer Austin Winkler parted ways with the band following a long battle with substance abuse. He was initially replaced by Nolan Neal before the Oklahoma City rockers recruited Marshal Dutton as their new vocalist two years later. Dutton previously sang for HINDER on some tour dates during Winkler's hiatus from the band in 2012.

In a new interview with The Logan Show, Dutton spoke about how he was received by the HINDER fans after joining the group nearly a decade ago. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "So many of the fans have been super gracious and kind to me, but in the beginning, there was a lot of a lot of haters. I remember when the guys first approached me about doing it. I was really scared. I was, like, 'I don't know, man. My voice is completely different from this guy's.' I'm, like, 'It's gonna be tomatoes for me.' But surprisingly enough, the vast majority of people were really kind and kind of took to it and have been nice. And now, after so many years have gone by — God, it's almost been a decade now — I feel like people just embrace me as if I was always there. So, I have to say it's been kind. And I don't know if I don't know if the way that I seeing that's raspy has helped bridge that gap or not, but I feel like the older I get, the less raspy I sing and kind of the more clean I sing. So, I don't know how that happened."

HINDER drummer Cody Hanson added: "I think, honestly, if I'm being perfectly honest, I think the fact that when people come to shows, they see us having a good time and being a band again. I think that's something that was that was missing toward the the end of the old era, as I'll put it. The fact that that that we're a tight-knit unit again, I think that makes a big difference, man. When people show up to the shows and we're having fun on stage, they feed off that energy and it makes them have a good time. We've been out on the road — I mean, he's been here for over 10 years now — so, that's a lot of exposure to a lot of fans."

Asked if HINDER would be open to the possibility of reuniting with Winkler for a one-off show or tour, similar to what THREE DAYS GRACE is doing with Adam Gontier and Matt Walst, or if such a scenario is "totally off the table", Cody said: "I think right now it's off the table. I think right now our focus is on the future. The focus is on the new record, the new material and just moving forward and being happy in life. I think that we've been doing this for 20 years, so I think that we've earned the right to be happy and have a good time and just do this and enjoy ourselves. So I think right now that's the focus moving forward."

Dutton also talked about how he became the lead singer of HINDER. He said: "Well, kind of going back, I met these guys back in 2005, 2006, 'cause we toured a lot when I was with FAKTION. And Cody and I became good friends. At one point, after FAKTION got dropped, we went through this period where Cody was actually managing FAKTION for a little bit. We were shopping for another deal, and through the process, we started recording music together. And he ended up asking me to come out on the road with him, like right before we recorded [2010's] 'All American Nightmare' record. And I was out with them a large portion of that year, just recording demos on the back of the bus. They were writing all these songs; I think I think they wrote, like, over 60 songs for that record. And so every day, every evening after the show, we would record vocals and then we would build tracks during the day in the back lounge. It's actually how we came up with our production company's name, is Back Lounge Studios. But anyway, through that process, we just started working together. And then I ended up co-producing 'All American Nightmare' and then [2012's] 'Welcome To The Freakshow'. And through a lot of that process, I would end up singing the demos sometimes, if the other guy wasn't around. And so I was always just really familiar with the songs. And so when he kind of crashed and burned to begin with, they asked me to come out and fill in for him. And I did that. And then — I don't know — after a year of looking for singers and not finding a good fit, they just asked me to do it. And at first it was a terrifying prospect to me, 'cause it's a big job and big shoes to fill there. So I was really scared and a little intimidated at first, but I'm really glad I did it 'cause it's been one of the greatest experiences of my life being able to be a frontman. 'Cause I was never really a frontman before that; I was always a 'B' singer, or I was a guitar player in the band. So, it kind of gave me the opportunity to explore a whole different side of performing, just by being the guy with the mic. It's kind of hard to figure out what to do at first, but now that I've done it for so many years, I absolutely adore it and I'm glad I got the opportunity to do it."

Last month, HINDER shared the official Reagan Elkins-directed music video for its new single "Everything Is A Cult". The track, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide, comes in the wake of the U.S. election at a time of unprecedented division and showcases HINDER's patented songwriting and Dutton's dynamic range.

HINDER's story begins in 2001, when Cody Hanson (drums),Joe "Blower" Garvey (lead guitar) and Mike Rodden (bass) met and activated their musical chemistry. The 2005 hit "Lips Of An Angel" from the band's debut album, "Extreme Behavior", since certified three times platinum, topped the charts and remains a radio mainstay. Powerful lead vocalist Marshal Dutton joined them in 2015. Throughout their discography, HINDER has embodied an ethos of defiance and tenacity through gutsy lyrics, rousing melodies, and soaring choruses. Each album in their musical journey has reflected a progression, from the grittier early days of "Take It To The Limit" to the more introspective and exploratory energy of their most recent album, 2017's "The Reign".

HINDER started 2024 strong, with a series of sold-out shows and live performances with CREED, 3 DOORS DOWN and DAUGHTRY.

HINDER's most recent album, 2017's "The Reign", was the band's second with Dutton.

Photo credit: Doug Schwarz

Swiss industrial metallers SAMAEL have finished recording the vocals for their upcoming eleventh studio album, tentatively due in 2025.

On December 4, SAMAEL guitarist Thomas "Drop" Betrisey took to his Facebook page to share a photo of SAMAEL frontman Michael "Vorph" Locher and drummer Alexandre "Xytras" Locher, along with acclaimed Swedish producer Daniel Bergstrand, and he included the following message: "The legendary Daniel Bergstrand traveled to Switzerland to produce the vocals for the upcoming SAMAEL album. The recording is now complete. New music in 2025! I can confidently say these tracks are outstanding!"

This past July, Vorph was asked by Portugal's Caminhos Metálicos when fans can expect a new studio album from him and his bandmates. He responded: "We're on it. Part of the recording is finished. I did the vocal. Xy's still doing some editing. My original idea was to release at least one song this year, but as I see how it is working now, I think it's gonna be early next year. But we will have one song, at least, released before anything else."

In June 2020, SAMAEL announced the addition of bassist Ales Campanelli to the group's ranks.

A former member of SYBREED, OBSYDIANS and THE ERKONAUTS, Ales had been playing with Betrisey for many years. He was no stranger to the machines-versus-humans music of SAMAEL and had known the band since its early black metal days.

Campanelli made his live debut with SAMAEL as part of Tohuwabohu, a worldwide, pay-what-you-want streaming metal event, in June 2020.

Ales joined SAMAEL as the replacement for Pierre "Zorrac" Carroz (SCARS DIVIDE, HEROD),who had played with the group since July 2018.

Longtime SAMAEL guitarist Marco "Makro" Rivao left the band in April 2018 "to do something different." Bassist Drop has since taken over guitar duties in the group.

SAMAEL's latest album, "Hegemony", was released in October 2017 via Napalm Records.

Photo credit: Johan Vergères

The legendary Daniel Bergstrand traveled to Switzerland to produce the vocals for the upcoming SAMAEL album. The recording is now complete. New music in 2025!
I can confidently say these tracks are outstanding!

Posted by Drop RMX on Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Afternoon in Montreux with Daniel Bergstrand after completing the vocal recording on our latest stuff....
There will be new SAMAEL music in 2025 !

Posted by SAMAEL on Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED have entered the studio to begin recording their fifteenth album for a tentative summer 2025 release.

On Friday (December 6),UNLEASHED shared a photo of frontman Johnny Hedlund in the studio laying down his vocals and included the following message: "Warriors!!! UNLEASHED are in the process of recording our 15th studio album! Release date is not set yet but summer 2025 is very likely."

This past June, Hedlund spoke to Finland's Rauta about UNLEASHED's plan for new music. He said at the time: "We are now working on the new album. In my world, it's gonna get done [written] by, let's say, the end of the summer. I would think the album is ready by the end of the summer. Then, of course, we're gonna have to plan the recording of the album, which I would guess, let's say, October, November, December, something like that. Then it's up to the record company to plan when to release the album, obviously, and then we're in 2025. So, if the album comes out, as I hope, in early 2025, then yeah, a lot of more shows, festivals, etc. In 2026, I would assume we'll start working on the next damn album. But we'll see. It's a bit far, but I think that's pretty much what we're doing now."

He continued: "That's what's right here, right now, because we're doing it all the time. And we don't really make a lot of extensive tours these days; we play a lot of festivals. But I think that's in the loop for 2026 as well. Because you do a lot when the album comes out and then also the year after again, because that's how it is. You can't play everywhere anyway for just six months; you have to step into the next year as well. So I think that's how it looks right now. And well, that's a classic answer because that's what we do all the time. But it's real."

In addition to Hedlund, UNLEASHED's current lineup includes drummer Anders Schultz and guitarists Tomas Måsgard and Fredrik Folkare.

In November 2021, Johnny told Time For Metal about how UNLEASHED has managed to keep a steady lineup for all these years: "Well, we have since long been very good friends. We all help out in the band with all things in UNLEASHED. And we have also that long agreed on what to do and what not to do with the band. We also know pretty well what we want to play and what we do not want to play. So I think these are things that really play a key role in keeping the band in a strong and solid shape for a long time."

Hedlund elaborated on UNLEASHED's longevity in a 2021 interview with Metal1.info. He said: "There are a few things that I think need to be in place. First of all, you have to be very good friends in the band. Second, you all need to help out with things so that it doesn't become a one-man show. And, you need to agree on what to do and also, what not to do. Especially when it comes to what to play, and what not to play. It also helps out a lot if someone in the band is good with finance. I took my degree in finance in that time frame between 1999 to 2001. A really good time for a break."

Photo credit: Jens Rydén

Warriors!!!

Unleashed are in the process of recording our 15th studio album!

Release date is not set yet but summer 2025 is very likely.

Johnny & The Boys

Posted by UNLEASHED on Friday, December 6, 2024

Former FEAR FACTORY frontman Burton C. Bell is among the metal musicians who have shared their Spotify Wrapped For Artists stats this year. The Spotify Wrapped For Artists shows how many Spotify users listened to an artist's music in 2024, how many streams the artist's music garnered, how many hours were spent listening to the artist's songs and how many different countries around the world the artist's listeners are from.

Bell shared his stats on social media earlier today (Friday, December 6),writing in an accompanying message: "So I checked out this 'wrapped' BS from Spotify. It is a bittersweet realization as an independent artist to see that my music is truly spanning the globe, and that fans are truly supportive (that is the sweet part).

"THANK YOU TO ALL THE FANS AROUND THE GLOBE FOR YOUR SUPPORT! I AM GRATEFUL FOR YOU!

"The bitterness that wells within my heart is seeing that Spotify WILL compensate me with $4.29.... that is $0.003 for every stream... a fraction of ONE PENNY... #fuckspotify...

"[Spotify CEO] Daniel Ek is reaping in billions off of the backs of all the artists that have built this company, and will not compensate the artist for the invaluable work that supports his business and life.

"Spotify is an 'evil', regarded as an 'important gauge' for artists in the music industry. How can artists survive in this burgeoning economy with compensation like this?

"What's even worse is that the only way to really break ground on Spotify is to pay for services to break into a larger audience. 'Pay to Play' is still rampant, and it has infiltrated the internet."

Back in 2015, Bell said that streaming music services like Spotify and Pandora were "getting away with murder" by not paying songwriters a fair royalty rate because of the consent decrees that govern how the vast majority of American songwriters are compensated for their work. Asked by Rodney Holder of Australia's Music Business Facts for his opinion on the way streaming services like Spotify and Pandora are changing the landscape of the music industry, Bell said at the time: "I'm part of ASCAP, which is a royalty collection company, like BMI. ASCAP collects my royalty [for songs] that are played live [and on] radio [and used] in movies, commercials… whatever.

"Streaming is a very debated issue right now, because companies like Pandora and Spotify are getting away with murder, basically, because they are going with a contract… they are going with a trademark agreement written in the 1940s to pay the artists the least amount of royalty possible, because in the 1940s, there was no such things as the Internet, and they never expected it. So, because of that, they're using this copyright/trademark law that was written to get away with paying the artist literally nothing. For instance, an artist like Adele — multi-platinum artist. One of her songs, 'Someone Like You' or whatever, had over 11 million listens on Pandora. The person who wrote that song, because of the royalty rate, only got paid 11 thousands dollars. For over 11 million million hits [or] listens on Pandora! That's fucking ridiculous! And that's what they're getting away with, and Pandora is fighting to keep it that way."

He continued: "ASCAP invited me to a conference. I live on the East Coast, in Pennsylvania, and it just so happens that the area that I live in, my state representative, named Tom Marino, he is on the board to rewrite these trademark laws, to change them. And so ASCAP had a bunch of local artists — I happen to be one of them — who are signed up to ASCAP, who, basically… it's important for them to get a proper royalty rate to survive. So we met with this representative and we all sat and discussed, like… 'This is our living. This is what we do.'"

Bell went on to say: "Pirating is bad enough. People think it's okay to steal downloads and music for free — they think it's okay — but would they enjoy it if I walked into their house after they created a meal for their family, I'd just pick it up and take it? It's, like, 'Oh, it's free.' It's the same thing. You just made this for your family to survive.

"I do records, one, because it's my passion, and two, so me and my family can survive, and you're just gonna take it? For free, without paying for it? That's the analogy we give.

"We are actively fighting this to make sure that all recording are properly… We're not asking for the world, we're not asking for a million, we are asking for a decent royalty rate. Because with a decent royalty rate, it makes sense to continue writing, it makes sense to continue being in a band."

Bell added: "Taylor Swift… She's a fine example. I'm not much of a fan of her music, but I respect the woman immensely, because she is one of the fiercest fighters for artists about this… over this situation. So I highly respect Taylor Swift, 'cause she fiercely fights for us, and it's amazing."

According to Bell, the solution to the complex issue of illegal music downloading is simple. "I just think that people need to be educated," he said. "Especially the younger generation that feel that they're entitled to everything for free — free Internet. Which is not the case. People work hard to make this. And there needs to be stipulations and things put into place so people start paying for things again. 'Cause it needs to happen."

He continued: "Napster, as genius of a technological revolution it was, it fucked a lot of people — it really did. And it created a mentality of, 'Oh, shit! It's free. Everything's free. Wooo!' It really created a negative impact. And it's really sad. But at least there is one aspect of the metal community… The metal community is one of the communities of music that do continue to buy albums — CDs and vinyl — which is pretty strange. The metal community is very passionate about the music. And every day on stage, I'm announcing that we have a new record coming out and I'm also saying, 'If you love the music, you need to support your favorite artists. Because if you do not support your favorite artists, there's no way that your favorite artists will be able to come out here and play for you.' And I put it that way. 'Cause if you put it in that context, it's, like, 'Well, if I don't support them, they won't be here for me? What?' Yeah. It's true."

Burton released two solo singles earlier this year: "Anti-Droid" and "Technical Exorcism".

Bell played the first concert with his solo band on June 13 at 1720 in Los Angeles, California.

Backing Bell at the 1720 gig were guitarist Henrik Linde (THE VITALS, DREN),drummer Ryan "Junior" Kittlitz (ALL HAIL THE YETI, THE ACID HELPS),bassist Tony Baumeister (ÆGES) and multi-instrumentalist Stewart Cararas.

When the 1720 concert was first announced, Burton called the gig a "historic event" and vowed to perform "new songs and classics spanning my career."

Bell's discography includes multiple live and recorded collaborations with BLACK SABBATH icon Geezer Butler and JOURNEY's Deen Castronovo (as G/Z/R); industrial maverick Al Jourgensen and MINISTRY; and guest vocal appearances with PITCHSHIFTER, CONFLICT, SOIL, STATIC-X, SOULFLY and DELAIN, among others. He's the vocalist of ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS and CITY OF FIRE and, of course, the co-creator of FEAR FACTORY and the only musician to appear on every FEAR FACTORY release from 1992 through 2024.

FEAR FACTORY created a sound that revolutionized extreme metal, defined in no small part by Bell's innovative scream/sing dichotomy and the influences he brought from post-punk and industrial. Songs like "Replica", "Linchpin", "Edgecrusher", "Fear Campaign", "Archetype", "Cyber Waste" and "Zero Signal" are modern metal anthems. "Demanufacture" (1995) and the RIAA gold-certified "Obsolete" (1998) are genre-redefining works heralded by fans and critics as essential albums. Orwell, Bradbury, "Blade Runner", and sophisticated sci-fi and fantasy works fed Bell's lyrics and concepts.

The band toured the world with METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, KORN, MEGADETH and OZZY OSBOURNE, taking bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and STATIC-X out as support acts in their early stages. After years of behind-the-scenes band member turmoil and legal issues, Bell left FEAR FACTORY in the fall of 2020.

Like the faithful cover of RAMMSTEIN's "Du Hast" he released in 2023, or the cover of "Enter Sandman" recorded with DANZIG's John Christ and METALLICA's Robert Trujillo more than a decade before, Bell's solo work embodies the best of hard rock, metal, and industrial's past, present and future.

Last year, Bell unveiled "Paradise Found", his debut exhibition of photographic works, at the Vincent Castiglia Gallery in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The photographs Bell presented were representational of his industrial and science-fiction aesthetic.

"Paradise Found" consisted of 20 original full-color photographs of abandoned industrial buildings taken in darkness and fog from 2002 to 2003. Bell's images are printed on aluminum using the dye sublimation process — an approach Bell calls "celluloid impressionism."

Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project released its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", in October 2020 via Dissonance Productions.

Photo credit: Erica Vincent

So I checked out this "wrapped" BS from Spotify. It is a bittersweet realization as an independent artist to see that my...

Posted by Burton C Bell on Friday, December 6, 2024

Massachusetts-based metallers ALL THAT REMAINS have set "Antifragile" as the title of their tenth studio album. Due on January 31, 2025, the follow-up to 2018's "Victim Of The New Disease" will include the four singles that band has released in recent months: "Divine" in May, "Let You Go" in June, "No Tomorrow" in August and "Forever Cold" in November.

Earlier today, ALL THAT REMAINS singer Philip Labonte shared the following message via social media: "You've waited so damn long for this. And I gotta tell you… I'm fired up to finally say it — we have a release date! January 31st, 2025. Mark it. This is it. The wait is over. The time has come."

Pre-orders for "Antifragile" are available at this location.

"Antifragile" track listing:

01. Divine
02. Kerosene
03. No Tomorrow
04. The Piper
05. Antifragile
06. Forever Cold
07. Poison It
08. Let You Go
09. Cut Their Tongues Out
10. Blood & Stone

In a recent interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", Labonte spoke about ALL THAT REMAINS' plans to release a new studio album. He said: "We've got some music out, and there's a full-length record coming eventually. And I say eventually, just because I don't wanna give anybody any kind of heads up about when it will come out. 'Cause we're not gonna tell anyone. When it comes out, it's just gonna show up. So, we're not gonna do the big pre-order, blah, blah, blah. It's gonna be, 'Hey, go to Spotify or go to iTunes and listen right now.' But there's a full-length coming. And it'll be well worth the wait. And I hope that ALL THE REMAINS fans that have gotten a taste of the new stuff with [recently released singles] 'Divine' and 'Let You Go', hopefully they're as excited about more new music as we are."

Asked who produced ALL THAT REMAINS's upcoming album, Phil said: "The record is produced by Josh Wilbur. Josh is well known for his work with LAMB OF GOD. He's worked with MEGADETH. He's worked with TRIVIUM. I think he worked with KORN. He's done all sorts of metal records. He did 'The Order Of Things', which is our record that came out in 2015. And Josh and I work tremendously well together. I feel extremely comfortable with his opinions and when we're writing, we'll get together and we'll write the lyrics and stuff together. And his opinion is something that I put a lot of value in it. And I really think that he knows his stuff when it comes to getting not only the sounds that ALL THAT REMAINS looks for, but also helping me to tell the story that I'm trying to tell. A lot of times when we're writing, he'll just be like, 'Well, what's this about?' And he'll ask me to tell him the story behind the song. And he'll just start typing as I'm telling it. And he'll be, like, 'All right, cool. I think we got the first verse here.' And then we'll go ahead and he'll pick lines or words, things that I said, and he'll put them together in a way that looks cool. And then we'll go ahead and we'll adjust it a little bit. I'll change this line or move that around. And he's really, really great at getting the real spirit of what I'm trying to say out of me. And I feel real comfortable telling him really personal things because of that. So, like I said, he did 'The Order Of Things', but he also did 'Victims Of The New Disease', which came out in 2018, the last record we did with [late ALL THAT REMAINS guitarist] Oli [Herbert]. So, yeah, he's a great friend, a great producer and I couldn't be happier to work with him again. He's wonderful."

"Divine" marked ALL THAT REMAINS' first original new material since the passing of Herbert. "Divine" also ushered in a period of rebirth for ALL THAT REMAINS, which is, for the first in its career, 100 percent independent and will be releasing future material on its own label — All That Remains Records.

When "Divine" was first made available, Labonte said in a statement: "It's been a long time since ALL THAT REMAINS released new music. A lot has changed...in both the band, ALL THAT REMAINS, and in the world around us. When we lost Oli in 2018 it was hard to envision a path forward, six years later and I am proud to share 'Divine' with you. ALL THAT REMAINS has new life, and that is thanks to the fans for their years of support. We would not be here without them."

Ten months ago, Labonte spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for follow-up to 2018's "Victim Of The New Disease" album during an interview with Rock Feed. He said at the time: "Right now I'm sitting in one of the dressing rooms at Henson [Recording Studios] in Los Angeles. It's a historiful place [being the former headquarters for A&M Records and the location of A&M Recording Studios]. I mean, Charlie Chaplin's lot is here. Studio A, they did 'We Are The World' in. They mixed [METALLICA's] Black Record here. They mixed [Dr. Dre's] 'The Chronic' here. So I'm in this awesome place with all this history.

"This is our second trip here doing drums," he continued. "We did four songs the first trip and that was in June [of 2023]. And now we're doing four more, and then we've got another session booked in March to finish up the drums. And that should be the last of actual tracking. Everything should be done. We might have some odds and ends, like maybe some solo stuff and noodley stuff. But we should be done tracking by the middle of March."

Regarding why it has taken six years for ALL THAT REMAINS to complete a new album, Phil said: "It has been a long time coming because — well, I mean a million reasons: because of COVID, because we had some legal actions with our label. We're no longer on a label. We're self-releasing it. So we're self-financing. We're gonna own it, which is a huge milestone. We had a great agreement with our label. We were supposed to have another record, but they let us go and they let us venture out on our own, which was awesome. I've got tons of love for Fearless and Concord Music Group and stuff, 'cause they let us do our thing. So that's awesome. And we're gonna get it out as soon as we can. We don't want to rush it."

Labonte added: "We started the sessions [for the new album] — really, the first time that I got together with Josh Wilbur, who's producing it. Josh Wilbur, you guys know him from TRIVIUM, from LAMB OF GOD, from a ton of [other bands]. He's worked with us [before]. He did [2015's] 'The Order Of Things', he produced that one, he mixed 'Victim Of The New Disease', so we've got a lot of history with him. But he's here [in Los Angeles], and we started with him — I think it was 2021, is actually when we started with him. He came out the first time and started working on some riffs and some ideas. And then we got our first like real song together in February of last year, where I got with Josh and wrote lyrics for a song. It was actually a song that Jason [Richardson, ALL THAT REMAINS guitarist] wrote the whole thing and kind of gave it to us."

Speaking about the addition of Richardson, who replaced late ALL THAT REMAINS guitarist Oli Herbert six years ago, Phil said: "He's super creative, so it's a ton of fun. And this being his debut with us, we wanted it to be right. Not only is it the first record that we've put out without Oli Herbert, which took us a long time to kind of get used to the idea and figure out what that means and what it looks like and all kinds of things that had to happen since Oli passed away. But this being the first record that comes out with Jason, we want it to be right. There's not gonna be any half-assed [songs] on this at all. There's not any deep cuts — nothing at all. Right now we're eight songs in and there's zero deep cuts. Every single song that we've got, if someone else was, like, 'Oh, let's put this one out as the first single,' it'd be fine. That would work as a first single. And that's a big, big deal. Usually you'll hear three or four songs or five and you're, like, 'Yeah, we've got some killer songs on this record. We've got six great songs.' And there's 10 or 11 songs on the record and you're, like, 'Yeah, these other ones are cool, but we didn't have the time to do with them what we wanted. They didn't quite come out the way we want, and the record label wants to have this many songs on the record, so we don't have time to…' blah, blah, blah. 'We've got a deadline.' So you end up making compromises, and because we're doing it ourselves, putting it out ourselves and we've got a career and we're super fortunate that people still listen to our music and we've still got people out there that support us, so we can take the time to deliver the record that the fans deserve."

In July 2023, longtime ALL THAT REMAINS drummer Jason Costa announced his departure from the group, citing "deeply personal" reasons that "have nothing to do with any drama or anything within the band."

Jason was the featured drummer on the last six ALL THAT REMAINS albums: "Overcome" (2008),"For We Are Many" (2010),"A War You Cannot Win" (2012),"The Order Of Things" (2015),"Madness" (2017) and "Victim Of The New Disease" (2018). He is notable for being one of the few heavy metal drummers to play solely with the "traditional grip."

Back in March 2022, Costa left ALL THAT REMAINS' U.S. tour in order to "deal with some personal matters." He was temporarily replaced by Anthony Barone, who had previously played with BENEATH THE MASSACRE and SHADOW OF INTENT.

Earlier last year, ALL THAT REMAINS's breakthrough album "The Fall Of Ideals", was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.

In 2022, ALL THAT REMAINS embarked on "The Fall Of Ideals" 15th-anniversary tour.

"The Fall Of Ideals" was reissued in November 2021. The best-selling title features such fan favorites as "This Calling", "Six" and "The Air That I Breathe".

Oli was found dead on October 16, 2018 at the edge of the pond on his Stafford Springs, Connecticut property. He was reported missing by his wife about 3 p.m., and his body was found by police face down at the edge of the pond where the water was only a few inches deep. The medical examiner's office conducted an autopsy showing that Oli had three prescription drugs in his system — the antipsychotic olanzapine, the antidepressant citalopram, and Ambien. It also said: "Mr. Herbert's past medical history is reportedly significant for marijuana use."

ALL THAT REMAINS and MUDVAYNE supported MEGADETH on a 33-city, nationwide tour, "Destroy All Enemies", this past summer. Produced by Live Nation, the trek kicked off in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and ran throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28.

"You've waited so damn long for this. And I gotta tell you...I’m fired up to finally say it—we have a release date!...

Posted by All That Remains on Friday, December 6, 2024

In a new interview with El Planeta Del Rock, DEATH ANGEL guitarist Ted Aguilar spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2019's "Humanicide" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Rehearsals have been good. Writing has been good. I mean, we have pretty much the album pretty done. We're just waiting on the lyrics right now. I know Rob [Cavestany, DEATH ANGEL guitarist and main songwriter] and Mark [Osegueda, DEATH ANGEL singer] are working on some stuff, but right now Mark's busy [touring] with [SLAYER guitarist] Kerry King['s solo band]. So when [Mark] gets back and we're gonna get together and talk after the holidays and figure out a plan on when to release some music. So as of right now, music is done, lyrics have gotta get put on, and we'll figure all that out in the new year."

Ted continued: "Yeah, it's going good. We've just gotta get together and figure out when's a good time to release some music. And [we're] just trying to get through these Christmas shows and holidays and we'll get a plan. But definitely there'll be some new music coming out next year for sure. We've just gotta figure it out."

Aguilar was also asked why DEATH ANGEL pulled out of its fall 2024 tour as the support act for W.A.S.P.. Replacing them on the bill was ARMORED SAINT. He said: "Schedule conflicts with Kerry King. Kerry King had some dates booked in Mexico during that time. And right now they're in Australia. So it's just schedule conflicts. And it's okay. It does suck, but things happen for a reason. It would have been a nice tour — of course we're bummed we're not doing it — but you have to look at the positive side of things and go, well, we were able to write more songs for the [upcoming DEATH ANGEL] record, instead of prepping for the tour for and getting everything ready. It didn't happen. ARMORED SAINT got the tour. They're a good band and they deserve it. But we look at it as, 'Well, since we're not doing the tour, what are we gonna do? Well, let's continue writing more songs.' So I think at the end of the day, it's a lot better to write more songs and start preparing for these [DEATH ANGEL] Christmas shows [in San Francisco at the end of December]. 'Cause if we would have done that tour, we would have done five weeks of supports, and where are we gonna prepare for the Christmas shows, all these songs, these different setlists. I look at things as things happen for a reason, and for whatever reason it is, it brought us here, and we're okay, man. We're all right. There'll be more tours to come about… You just have to find the positive out of it all. If you dwell on the negative, then it's not gonna do you any good. Just find the positive, just like anything in life. So, something happens, just, okay, don't focus on the problem, focus on the solution. The solution is, hey, okay, this is what we're gonna do. You have to bounce back right away."

Ted added: "It does suck [that we couldn't do the tour]. We would have loved to go on tour with W.A.S.P., and, of course, we love to play live. But the new record is important, these Christmas shows were important. So there'll be more to come in 2025."

Asked if he has listened to Kerry's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", which features King and Osegueda alongside drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH) and guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD),Ted said: "I listened to it once. It's what I expected. I think Mark sounds great on the record. They're doing their thing. I have to give hats off to Kerry. SLAYER discontinued, and he moved on with this stuff. He definitely picked the right guys to play with him. And I've seen some footage live. They're fucking doing amazing. So, hats off to them. It's great. It's a positive thing. It's good for Mark. Mark loves it. He's sounding really good. And it's just gonna benefit both bands. That's how I look at it. The only tough part is trying to figure out schedules. But that's something we could deal with. But it's gonna benefit both parties. So there you go."

Regarding the possibility of DEATH ANGEL and Kerry King's solo band performing together at some point in the future, Ted said: "That's up to Mark, because of his voice. But never say never. Things may happen. It could be at a festival. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, if it comes about. But I bet to the fans, they would like it. But I guess it all depends on Mark, if his voice could handle it. He only knows. I mean, on paper looks good, but behind the paper, you go, 'Mark, can you do it?' If he says, 'Yeah.' If it works, it works. If it doesn't, then it doesn't."

When it was first announced in August that DEATH ANGEL was pulling out of the W.A.S.P. tour, the only reason given for the cancelation was "unforeseen circumstances", with no further information offered. However, DEATH ANGEL drummer Will Carroll later shed some light on the circumstances that led to DEATH ANGEL pulling out of the tour, writing on his personal Facebook page "it's pretty fucking obvious" why his band was no longer taking part in the trek. "The word BETRAYAL comes to mind," he wrote, adding: "We knew there would be problems at some point but not so immediately."

Not long after DEATH ANGEL's tour dates with W.A.S.P. were announced, King's social media revealed that Kerry's band would play two shows in Mexico in early November — one concert in Mexico City as the support act for AMON AMARTH on November 6, and another gig as the support act for SLIPKNOT in Guadalajara on November 8 — in direct conflict with the W.A.S.P. tour, which was scheduled to launch in late October and conclude in mid-December. KERRY KING also confirmed appearances at three Good Things festival shows in Australia in early December.

This past May, Osegueda was asked during an appearance on the "Let There Be Talk" podcast with rock and roll comedian Dean Delray how he broke the news to his DEATH ANGEL bandmates that he was joining King's solo group. The singer said: "Oh, man. With this one, it's tough. I really had to respect the NDA [non-disclosure agreement I signed with Kerry's team]. I really did. And it was eating at me. 'Cause DEATH ANGEL has been touring consistently — we toured consistently when the world shut down [due to the coronavirus pandemic]. When the world reopened, we went right back out on the road. And this was all happening. I was starting to do these demos during the pandemic, and then, after that, I was regularly seeing Kerry to do more demos [for his debut solo album] when the world opened. And [Kerry's] record was done for a year before it came out. And I'd be on tour with DEATH ANGEL. And there were some nights where me and Rob were in the lounge, just me and him, drinking, listening to music and just laughing and talking like we do. And it just took everything in me [not to tell him what was going on]. It's so hard to not just say, 'Look, bro. Look, bro.'

"This is one of those things that just, like it or not, some people will think I'm an ass about it, but I just kind of really promised — I promised Kerry and I signed the NDA," Mark explained. "I promised everyone I wasn't gonna let anyone know. The only people who knew were my girlfriend, my girl, my mom and my sister. We didn't even tell my dad 'cause my dad has loose lips. So we didn't even tell him then. So those are the three people who knew. And, of course, people who were at the studio when we were recording, and shit like that, who were all NDA people as well. So it's fucked up, but I waited and let him know through e-mail same day that the [official] announcement [of Kerry's new band] happened [in early February 2024]. And then shortly thereafter I talked to Rob and Ted."

Elaborating on how he approached informing his longtime bandmates of his involvement with Kerry's new band, Mark said: "I said in the e-mail, 'Look, this is the toughest thing for me to tell you.' And how I worded it in one aspect to them was just pretty much, 'This is gonna be either the most surprising thing in the world to you or, slash, the most obvious thing in the world to you.' And I even said at the end, 'cause it was an e-mail to all the guys, and I just said, 'Take some time to really process all this before you respond, before we talk. Let all this kind of sink in, and then when come together, if you wanna talk to me, then we'll all talk.' And shortly thereafter, I talked to Ted and Rob. And they were still a little sideswiped, for sure — for sure. I could see it in their [faces]… We did a FaceTime kind of Zoom call, the three of us, and they were both definitely still in kind of a state of processing it. But by the end of the call, after we talked for about an hour, they were supportive, for sure, happy for me. And they both did say, 'Now that you mention it, man, it is kind of the most obvious fucking thing in the world.' [Laughs] But it was tough, man. I'm not gonna lie. It's tough, 'cause we've been through so much together — so much together — especially me and Rob. I mean, not to take away from… Shit, Ted's been in the band since 2001, and now Damien and Will have been in the band for well over a decade now. So it's crazy. But, of course, me and Rob, we've known each other since we were in the crib. So that it was a tough one. But now, [Rob is] very, very supportive. Before the first [Kerry King] show, I got a text from him saying, 'Have a fucking killer show, bro.' And all this stuff. The [Kerry King album] release day, he sent me congratulations on release day. Ted as well. So, they've [come] to accept it. And I think it's already brought a lot of attention to DEATH ANGEL. And it's gonna keep doing that. But it was tough."

Mark added: "I'm excited about everything. I'm excited about everything ahead. But, yeah, for sure, it was definitely a delicate situation. Even before it was happening, when I knew it was coming up, it was, like, 'I've gotta choose my words carefully.' It's tough. But now that it's out, I feel so relieved — so relieved — it's out. And since then, we've [DEATH ANGEL] toured South and Central America together recently, and that was the first tour we did since the [Kerry King] announcement and some [of Kerry's] songs have been released. So everyone got along great. And it's out. And it just feels so much better to be around the guys with them knowing. I just felt so odd them not knowing."

Asked by Delray if he made his clear in his initial e-mail that he was not quitting DEATH ANGEL, Mark said: "Yeah, absolutely. Well, first, I'm kind of yammering about the process of it, but I definitely said, 'I'm very much still the singer of DEATH ANGEL.' And, of course, when I was talking to Rob and Ted, Rob was, like, 'I was very happy to hear you say that.' Like, 'Of course, bro.'"

"From Hell I Rise" came out in May via Reigning Phoenix Music.

Following his recent tour with LAMB OF GOD and MASTODON and his first European headline tour earlier this year, King and his solo band will hit the road for the 28-date North American headline tour in early 2025. With MUNICIPAL WASTE as special guest and ALIEN WEAPONRY supporting, the tour is set to launch in San Francisco on January 15, 2025, and wrap at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22

THIN LIZZY is back with a fresh take on some of the band's most iconic tracks, marking THIN LIZZY's first new release in over four decades. This unique acoustic album reimagines beloved songs, offering a stripped-back sound that exposes the core of their songwriting. Original vocals from Phil Lynott are paired with brand-new guitar parts from founding member Eric Bell, creating an entirely new listening experience for fans. The album will land on January 24, 2025 via Decca.

Following the recent unveiling of the new acoustic version of "Whiskey In The Jar", their first UK Top 10 hit, THIN LIZZY are releasing a brand-new version of "Slow Blues", originally featured on the band's 1973 album "Vagabonds Of The Western World". Drummer Brian Downey, the only member to have played in every iteration of the band alongside Lynott, co-wrote the original version of "Slow Blues". His powerful, orchestral drumming created a distinctive bridge in a song that fused gritty blues with subtle jazz influences.

The newly recorded "Slow Blues E.B (Eric Bell Acoustic Version)" showcases a seamless blend of past and present, featuring fresh electric and acoustic guitar parts recently laid down by founding member Eric Bell at the Oh Yeah! Centre studio in Belfast. These new recordings are layered with Phil Lynott's original vocal takes and Brian Downey's authentic drum tracks, creating a rich and timeless sound. This innovative approach reimagines THIN LIZZY's classic material by combining period-correct elements with modern production, delivering a unique listening experience that fans have never heard before. It's a groundbreaking way to breathe new life into the band's legacy while staying true to their roots.

Commenting on the project, Eric Bell said: "I remember recording 'Eire' from our debut album 'Thin Lizzy' in 1971. I wrote the main guitar part first on acoustic and then we built it up from there. I played the 12-string acoustic throughout the track and introduced the electric on top. This was useful in the studio in Belfast recently where we recorded fresh guitar parts to allow us to create new THIN LIZZY acoustic versions of some of our favorite songs by recreating those original acoustic parts and adding the vocals which Philip laid down on the day and those original drum parts which Brian came up with in the original recording sessions."

Producer and mixer Richard Whittaker added: "Traditionally, songwriters and bands have used acoustic 'polyrhythmic' instruments such as piano or guitar to demo or sketch out their ideas. In most cases these parts are replaced as the production process develops but occasionally, these core elements survive and remain intact. I encountered this during the 'Vagabonds' project. After sifting through all the Decca recordings, I presented a list of ideas however, in most cases additional development and material was required. So the guys at the label approached Eric (Bell) who was happy to get involved with the project and between us, I think we've made something really quite unique and special."

Each track on the album is a freshly created version of songs featured on either the 50th-anniversary super deluxe editions of "Vagabonds Of The Western World", considered THIN LIZZY's breakthrough. The new album also includes acoustic renditions of songs from their self-titled debut and "Shades Of A Blue Orphanage". For the first time, "Whiskey In The Jar", THIN LIZZY's first U.K. Top 10 hit, is presented in an acoustic format — an entirely new way to experience this enduring favorite.

The origins of "Whiskey In The Jar" date back to the 1700s, but it found new life when Phil Lynott began playfully strumming the traditional Irish tune during a rehearsal. Their manager at the time urged them to record it, despite the band's hesitations. Released in 1972, the song soared to No. 6 on the U.K. charts. Though its success was undeniable, THIN LIZZY initially distanced themselves from the track, leaving it off their upcoming album. Since then, the song — echoing the LIZZY arrangement — has been covered by notable acts such as U2, METALLICA and THE POGUES, among many others.

With "Whiskey In The Jar", THIN LIZZY finally broke through, paving the way for their celebrated "Vagabonds Of The Western World" album. It was also the final album featuring original guitarist Eric Bell, whose departure after a tough New Year's Eve show led to the recruitment of future legends Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson, and the birth of their twin-lead guitar sound.

This album marks the first time since Bell's exit that he has recorded under the THIN LIZZY name. Fans can now experience what might have been their "MTV Unplugged" moment — a chance to hear the band's timeless music in its most intimate form.

For dedicated fans, a D2C edition includes an exclusive bonus track, "Slow Blues G.M.", a tribute to Gary Moore, alongside acoustic versions of these classic tracks:

* Mama Nature Said (Acoustic Version)
* A Song For While I'm Away (Acoustic Version)
* Eire (Acoustic Version)
* Slow Blues (Acoustic Version)
* Dublin (Acoustic Version)
* Whiskey In The Jar (Acoustic Version)
* Here I Go Again (Acoustic Version)
* Shades Of A Blue Orphanage (Acoustic Version)
* Remembering Pt. 2 (Acoustic Version)
* Slow Blues G.M. (Gary Moore) (Acoustic Version)

The album will be available in both CD and limited-edition marble vinyl formats, along with an ultra-limited vinyl edition featuring an exclusive bonus track. Don't miss out on this once-in-a-generation release from one of rock's most beloved bands.

Former GUNS N' ROSES and current ART OF ANARCHY guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal is back with a brand-new instrumental album, "Bumblefoot ...Returns!", set for release on January 24, 2025. Thirty years after his debut solo instrumental album, Bumblefoot revisits his roots with a 14-track masterpiece that spans genres from metal to orchestral to blues.

The album's opening track, "Simon In Space", serves as its first single, delivering an electrifying ride through chaos and intensity. In addition to the single, an animated music video created by Bumblefoot and animator Radek Grabinski is also available, as well as a retro-inspired video game, which is coming soon.

Bumblefoot commented: "From an early age, my passions were guitar and astrophysics, cosmology — the song 'Simon In Space' merges the two. Simon is my cat, haha; that's him featured in the artwork."

Soon fans will be able to immerse themselves in a retro-inspired video game based on the single. More details will be announced soon.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" features collaborations with iconic musicians, including Brian May, Steve Vai, Guthrie Govan, Derek Sherinian, Jerry Gaskill and others, showcasing Bumblefoot's innovative guitar techniques, such as his signature fretless guitar and "thimble technique."

On the album, Bumblefoot shared: "It's been 30 years since releasing the debut 'Adventures Of Bumblefoot' on Shrapnel Records, and I haven't done a fully instrumental album since. Writing during the pandemic, these songs became a soundtrack to my life — from heavy fretless growls to bluesy tributes to legends like Lonnie Johnson. It's a reflection of the moments that shaped me."

He added: "Working on WHOM GODS DESTROY's album inspired growling heavy fretless parts like 'Simon In Space'. Watching a blues documentary inspired 'Moonshine Hootenanny'. Losing loved ones led to writing 'Funeral March'. Songs become a soundtrack to our lives."

The album is available for pre-order now on vinyl, CD, and cassette, with exclusive merch bundles at bumblefoot.com.

"Bumblefoot ...Returns!" track listing:

01. Simon In Space
02. Planetary Lockdown
03. Moonshine Hootenanny
04. Chopin Waltz Op64 No2
05. Monstruoso (featuring Steve Vai)
06. Monstruoso II – Departure
07. Cintaku
08. Once in Forever (featuring Brian May)
09. Andalusia
10. Anveshana (featuring Guthrie Govan)
11. Funeral March (featuring Ben Karas)
12. Griggstown Crossing
13. The Thread
14. Liftoff

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in 2006 and appeared on 2008's "Chinese Democracy", an effort which contained music that had been written before he came into the group. The disc took 13 years to make and was only a modest seller, moving just around half a million copies.

Thal never officially announced his departure from the GN'R, but a source confirmed to Detroit music writer Gary Graff back in 2015 that the guitarist had been out since the end of the band's second Las Vegas residency in 2014.

Thal later revealed that he was focusing on his solo career and other projects after spending eight years playing in GUNS.

Thal spent a few years recording and touring with SONS OF APOLLO, which also featured drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and bassist Billy Sheehan. SONS OF APOLLO released its second studio album, "MMXX" (pronounced: 20/20),in January 2020 via InsideOut Music/Sony.

ART OF ANARCHY's third studio album, "Let There Be Anarchy", was released in February 2024 via Pavement Music.

Joining founding ART OF ANARCHY members Jon Votta (guitar),Vince Votta (drums) and Thal in the band's new lineup are vocalist Jeff Scott Soto (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, JOURNEY, SONS OF APOLLO) and bassist Tony Dickinson (SOTO, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

SICK PUPPIES will release their next album, "Wave The Bull", on March 28, 2025 via ONErpm. The official music video for the LP's third single, "Creature", can be seen below.

Since bursting on to the music scene in the early 2000s, SICK PUPPIES — Bryan Scott (guitars/lead vocals),Emma Anzai (bass/vocals) and Mark Goodwin (drums/vocals) — have sold over one million albums, including a gold certification for "Tri-Polar", had five rock radio hits, including "You're Going Down", which reached No. 1, amassed over 310 million global streams, and have had their music featured on hits shows like "NCIS" and WWE.

"We are all familiar with what it means to 'take the bull by the horns,' but to 'wave the bull' is a different take on approaching life's most difficult times," the band states. "To wave the bull is to provoke, embrace, and surrender to the battles that will inevitably scar us — a battle cry for the emotional masochist. Antagonizing adversity, afraid of nothing. This is the central theme, and philosophy behind our fifth studio album, 'Wave The Bull', as we reflected on the thick skin grown from the trials, and tribulations of our band's history and hardships, both professionally and personally."

SICK PUPPIES continue: "This concept album is a collection of songs that thematically, lyrically, musically, and sonically double down on the narrative that it's not about what life throws at you, it's about the way in which you face it. So, wave the bull!"

"Wave The Bull" track listing:

01. There Goes The Neighborhood
02. Friends Like You
03. Creature
04. Going Places
05. Fix Me
06. Knock Your Lights Out
07. Find A Way
08. Feel Again
09. Hurricane
10. Dead & Buried
11. Fuck 'Em All
12. Halfway Home

In addition to being known for their extensive range of pivotal accomplishments, SICK PUPPIES are a formidable live act that has clocked in over 1,000 live shows in the U.S. alone over time, sharing the stage with the likes of MUSE, THE KILLERS, BREAKING BENJAMIN, INCUBUS and TOOL. Notable festival plays include Rock On The Range, Carolina Rebellion, Welcome To Rockville, Louder Than Life, Download (U.K.) and Aftershock.

In a new interview with The Break Down With Nath & Johnny, Bill Kelliher of world-renowned American metal band MASTODON opened up about the realities of post-pandemic touring, including increased travel expenses — gas, tour buses, hotels and flight costs. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, honestly, it's a few different moving parts, because during COVID no one toured and a lot of places shut and a lot of people changed careers, like techs that work for bands went into the real estate business or got regular jobs. Everyone was scrambling for money. And it was a fucking disaster. So, the trickle-down effect of supply and demand, getting places. For instance, petrol, gas, it trickles down when the price of gas… People can't get gas, there's lines, it's all economics. Everything relies on transportation, especially our band. And we had turned down a couple tours in Europe just because we were gonna basically break even. And there's a few different reasons for that, because on one hand, we have the biggest production we've ever had in our careers, which is great. But trying to pull that off in Europe is much harder. First of all, gas is way more expensive. The lorries, the trucks, they're smaller, so we'd have to get a few more trucks, double the amount of trucks we have over here. And the drivers are hard to find. Brexit happening, where… Usually we rent from the U.K., and the drivers, there were a lot of times we could find the vehicles, but we didn't have drivers, or vice versa — lots of drivers, but no vehicles. 'Cause everybody's back on tour trying to make up that lost money during COVID, and it's still happening. Even though the last U.S. tour we did with LAMB OF GOD was a huge success — it was great — best ever. But we can't have the huge production that we have in the States, go over to Europe and not do the same thing. If you go over there with a backdrop, you could make some money, but if you bring lasers, video wall, all your crew and techs, the fire and all this, you can't do that. And the crowds are gonna be, like, 'Oh, what the fuck? Why don't you have that here?' And they're not gonna comprehend what I just told you… We can't go to Europe for a month and not make any money, just to play shows. Everyone else gets paid. The band is the last person to get paid."

Bill continued: "I think it was two years ago in August, we went to Japan, and we barely get to Japan, either just because the economy and the cost. And Japan's very — the cities are kind of spread out and it's difficult to maneuver sometimes logistically, even though they're the best crowds. Every time we go over there, they're so precise. If you borrow amps or rent amps there, hire equipment stuff, they're amazing. They pay attention to detail, and they're just amazing. We went over there, and a lot of the fans, I mingled in the crowd a little bit, and we played just one festival over there. I was, like, 'Why can't we play, like, three or four shows while we're here?' We just can't. Talking to people, they were, like, 'Japan just started letting people congregate in groups now.' This is two and a half years ago, whatever.

"Things are bouncing back, but there was definitely irreparable damage done to the whole industry," Kelliher added. "People are just — they're finding different ways to make money. Like hustling. That's me. I've always been a hustler, even before MASTODON. I was, like, I don't have a college education. I never took guitar lessons. I'm just a fucking dude from the streets. And it's, like, how do we make money? Sell stuff, sign stuff, play guitar on stage, sell it. Those are things musicians are doing now. And a lot of people don't understand that are out in the audience. They go to the merch stand and they're, like, 'Oh, their fucking t-shirts are sixty dollars. They're just raking us over the coals.' It's, like, let me explain the details. Venues, they take 20 to 30 percent sometimes — most of the time — of your merch money, when they have nothing to do with merch money. And they shouldn't. If you play with a bigger band like SLAYER, METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, you have to price match with their shirts. So there's a lot of things that are hidden from the general public."

Addressing the merchandise cuts that the promoters are taking from artists, Bill said: "It's pretty standard. We've been fighting it for years. In the contracts, we'd cross that part out. Like, 'No, we're not gonna do that. Why should we do that?' We have a merch company. We have a merch person that comes on the road with us. They're an extra body. They fly where we fly, we pay their ticket, they stay in hotels, they're an extra body, they get a per diem. You go to the venue that day, and the venue says, 'No, we have our own people that [sell the merchandise].' And we're, like, 'Hey, we have our own credit card machine.' They're, like, 'Nope. You're gonna use ours, and we're gonna charge you to use it.' So it's, like, you're just getting fucked everywhere."

MASTODON performed its entire "Leviathan" album on the recent "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headlining tour with LAMB OF GOD.

"Leviathan", released on Relapse Records, was MASTODON's first concept album, loosely based on the 1851 novel "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville.

MASTODON's latest album, "Hushed And Grim", was a double LP recorded at the band's Atlanta studio, West End Sound. The effort was produced by David Bottrill (TOOL, RUSH, MUSE, PETER GABRIEL) and was MASTODON's most expansive song cycle to date, featuring 15 distinct tracks. It achieved the band's third consecutive No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart and earned MASTODON a Grammy Award nomination for the track "Pushing The Tides". Additionally, the album's single "Teardrinker" secured a top 10 position on the rock radio charts, a further testament to the band's widespread acclaim.

Last month, MASTODON and LAMB OF GOD shared a collaborative new single called "Floods Of Triton". The track, which was recorded prior to the launch of the "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour, was made available via Loma Vista Recordings.

"Floods Of Triton" was recorded at MASTODON's own West End Sound in Atlanta and was produced by MASTODON and Tyler Bates, highly regarded in his own right for his scores for "Guardians Of The Galaxy", "John Wick", "MaXXXine" and more.

UNDEROATH has released a new song, "Generation No Surrender". The track exhibits the beloved metalcore act's signature, uniquely original and organic blend of electronic experimentation alongside heavier elements, coalescing and synthesizing to form another fitting entry into UNDEROATH's stellar output as of late, which includes the recently released singles "Teeth" and "Survivor's Guilt".

Speaking on the new song, UNDEROATH singer Spencer Chamberlain says: "We wanted to write a song that would be a ripper live — something that moves an entire room, something we can all get behind and relate to.

"This song is written from the perspective that, if 'they' told us the world was ending and the apocalypse was upon us, we wouldn't be surprised — nor would we run from it. I think we'd face that battle head-on.

"I feel like we've reached a point in our lives where nothing surprises us anymore. We've all seen and been through a lot of shit, and I fear we're never told the truth. That pisses me off. I'm sure it pisses all of us off, which is why I feel like we are all 'generation no surrender'. It's not just about age — it's about all of us."

UNDEROATH is currently on the "They're Only Chasing Safety 20th Anniversary Tour", which has been massively successful, with over 35 sold-out shows. In addition to special guest STATIC DRESS serving as support throughout the dates in the United States, UNDEROATH has invited a group of friends to open for them at various local stops for the remainder of the tour. These handpicked acts play an important role in UNDEROATH's history, having been present during the original touring cycle of "They're Only Chasing Safety", and a few that have crossed paths with them along the way.

In 2025, UNDEROATH will visit Australia for the first time since 2019, performing "They're Only Chasing Safety" in its entirety along with an encore set, as direct support for ALEXISONFIRE. Soon after their jaunt in Australia, the band will return to North America for a run of shows supporting RISE AGAINST and PAPA ROACH as part of their "Rise Of The Roach" tour. UNDEROATH will also perform at Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival on May 10, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio and at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 16, 2025.

Additionally, UNDEROATH has teamed up with its label MNRK Heavy to bring you a one-of-a-kind giveaway featuring a real-life vinyl stamper that was used to press the landmark album "They're Only Chasing Safety". Enter the contest here. The deadline to enter is December 17, 2024. One lucky winner will be picked.

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

English doom metal pioneers MY DYING BRIDE have recruited SWALLOW THE SUN vocalist Mikko Kotamäki to front the band for their live appearances in 2025. So far, only one show with Kotamäki has been announced: July 3 at the Rockmaraton festival in Hungary.

Earlier today, MY DYING BRIDE released the following statement via social media: "MY DYING BRIDE are thrilled to announce their return to the stage in 2025!

"After a small 'hiatus', live shows are set to recommence, featuring a very special guest on vocals: Mikko Kotamäki from SWALLOW THE SUN.

"We warmly welcome Mikko, who has graciously joined the MDB live setup, enabling us to bring both new and classic songs back to the stage.

"With this year's monumental album 'A Mortal Binding' now well into establishing itself as a Doom Metal success, the band are at last ready to promote it live along with seasoned classics of course.

"The band is excited to announce one show already with more to come.

"Stay tuned for further announcements — and let's also give a big welcome to Mikko!"

In a recent interview with U.K.'s Devolution magazine, MY DYING BRIDE vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe was asked about the revelation that he and his bandmates were canceling all of their previously announced 2024 tour dates, including an appearance at this year's Maryland Deathfest. He responded: "We've worked relentlessly in MY DYING BRIDE — without a manager. Me and [guitarist] Andrew [Craighan] managed the band as best we could over the years. We've had people interested in managing, but it's never really [panned out]. And sometimes when you're doing the admin, it really takes away from the artistic side of things. You've got tax men to deal with and politics and blah, blah, blah. And me and Andy, we've argued the toss like a married couple for years and years and years — artwork, lyrics. I normally pretty much get away with lyrics, but artwork particularly. And I think we're both becoming grumpy old men. We've just got a bit loggerheaded like that. We said, 'Let's take a break before we have a massive bust-up.' Even though it's a rubbish time to take a break because the album is just coming out. But everyone just thought, 'You two just take your breather. Take some time away. It happens to loads of bands. And then come back.'"

He continued: "It's a bad time to take [a break]. We'd had gigs booked and everything. And I apologize profusely to people who bought tickets and were coming to see us. But we just needed a break before we blew our heads off. So we're taking a breather."

Aaron went on to deny that his involvement with his HIGH PARASITE side project had anything to do with MY DYING BRIDE's decision to take a break.

"I know some people are going to say, 'Oh, is it because of HIGH PARASITE?' Well, HIGH PARASITE has been going for three years. So how can it be HIGH PARASITE? It's not HIGH PARASITE," he said. "MY DYING BRIDE have huge gaps in the things that we do — three years between albums, 12 shows a year. I can fit three or four more bands in those spaces, no problem whatsoever. So HIGH PARASITE's got nothing to do with it whatsoever. We're just taking a breather because if we don't, MDB will be over. When we come back — we don't know yet. We will be coming back. I just don't know when. But weirdly, the timing is almost perfect for me because HIGH PARASITE, it's like one door closes, another one opens. And it's just, like, this is amazing. I've got more breathing room than I expected I would have."

Aaron acknowledged that "it's a shame" that MY DYING BRIDE was unable to tour in support of its latest album, "A Mortal Binding". "As I say, we had live gigs booked for MY DYING BRIDE," he said. "That's not fair on the fans, but I'm afraid it was either save the band or lose the band. So we decided to save the band. So I've now got some breathing space, so I'm shoving HIGH PARASITE in and the poetry reading. And this could be an exclusive — myself and Mark Deeks, the songwriter from [U.K. doom band] ARÐ [pronounced 'Arth'], myself and Mark are looking at forming a band between us. So I'm gonna be very busy in the next couple of years. And when MY DYING BRIDE comes back into it, MY DYING BRIDE will always get priority. You can't dismiss 33 years of — they're so well established, they're so legendary, you can't say, 'Oh, this is more important than that.' And so I suspect the next maybe 10 years are gonna be the busiest years of my entire career, which I think is really exciting — slightly nerve-racking, but super exciting. And it's allowing me to do things… As I say, I didn't realize I wanted to do them until someone's given me the opportunity. 'Why don't you have a go at this?' 'Oh, I'm not really sure.' And then friends and family have said, 'Do it, because you'll kick yourself if you don't do this later on.' So I'm now open to other ideas and I'm doing these things and thoroughly enjoying it."

In a recent interview with Brazil's Headbangers News, Craighan was asked when MY DYING BRIDE fans can expect to see him and his bandmates on tour in support of "A Mortal Binding". He responded: "I'm sorry. I really, really don't have a real answer for that. To try and give you some understanding that MY DYING BRIDE is not a full-time band. We all have very much normal jobs and sadly that drags on our time, as you can imagine. And, obviously, it means we have to ask permission to leave work and all those kind of things. So that's one difficulty. And also the distance, because we would need more than one gig for the promoters to make it make sense and all those kinds of things. So the sad and real answer is I don't have an answer. But on the plus side on this, if there is a light at the end of this well, we do think about it. We do try, and our agent does listen to various promoters and tries to get things going. But like everybody else, we're at the mercy of how it all works and how our professional jobs keep us sort of — not necessarily held back, but it's all got to align."

He added: "I mean, we have some problems to sort out. Some people have some personal problems that we need to sort of overcome. It's not insurmountable… I know people are concerned because obviously people, they care for the band in ways that we didn't expect. But I reckon we'll be okay. Everything's a little bit messy right now. We have some things that we have to organize and iron out, let's say, but it's not insurmountable."

This past April, MY DYING BRIDE issued an official statement regarding cancelation of all of their previously announced 2024 tour dates. The band said: "The production of this latest album was arduous and challenging to such an extent that it has revealed fractures within the band. These tensions had already been observed during the creation of the previous 2 albums and were only exacerbated during the Covid period. Over the past few months, they have intensified, causing a profound sense of discontent among the band members. The resulting stress and the pervasive feeling of burnout, along with the physical and mental malaise it creates, necessitated a period of time off which unfortunately impacts on live shows.

"The reason for the lack of an official statement until now is because the band has truly hoped to resolve these internal issues and perform some shows this year while trying find a resolution in time to satisfy all parties involved. Sadly, this resolution is yet to be found.

"Regrettably, a lack of understanding and poor communication from our professional partners has resulted in an untimely and chaotic mess from which a recovery is challenging. However, the promoters have now been officially contacted and it is hoped that steps can be taken to minimise the impact on you all.

"We apologise for keeping you in the dark, but these are indeed challenging times."

The follow-up to 2019's "The Ghost Of Orion", "A Mortal Binding" came out on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records.

MY DYING BRIDE hired "The Ghost Of Orion" studio wizard Mark Mynett to produce, mix, and master "A Mortal Binding". The group holed up at Mynett's Mynetaur Productions (PARADISE LOST, ROTTING CHRIST) in Manchester, U.K., where they tracked the album consecutively from July to September 2023.

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IRON MAIDEN drummer Nicko McBrain has announced his retirement from touring.

The 72-year-old musician, who has been a member of MAIDEN for more than four decades, revealed his decision to "step back" from being on the road earlier today (Saturday, December 7) in a statement on the band's official web site and his social media.

Nicko wrote: "After much consideration, it is with both sorrow and joy, I announce my decision to take a step back from the grind of the extensive touring lifestyle. Today, Saturday, December 7th, Sao Paulo will be my final gig with IRON MAIDEN. I wish the band much success moving forward.

"I will, however, remain firmly part of the IRON MAIDEN family working on a variety of projects, my long time managers, Rod Smallwood and Andy Taylor, have in mind for me. I'll also be working on a variety of different personal projects and focusing on my existing businesses and ventures, including The British Drum Company, Nicko McBrain's Drum One, TITANIUM TART, and of course, Rock-N-Roll Ribs!

"What can I say? Touring with MAIDEN the last 42 years has been an incredible journey! To my devoted fan base, you made it all worthwhile and I love you! To my devoted wife, Rebecca, you made it infinitely easier and I love you! To my kids, Justin and Nicholas, thank you for understanding the absences and I love you! To my friends that are always there for me, I love you! To my bandmates, you made it a dream come true and I love you!

"I look into the future with much excitement and great hope! I'll be seeing you soon, may God bless you all, and, of course, 'Up the Irons!'"

MAIDEN's longtime manager Rod Smallwood of Phantom Music Management commented: "Nicko, and we all love you too!! Thank you for being an irrepressible force behind the drum kit for MAIDEN for 42 years and my friend for even longer. I speak on behalf of all the band when I say we will miss you immensely!

"Ever since Rock In Rio in 1985 we have had a special relationship with Brazil so to bow out of touring in front of 90,000 fans here in Sao Paulo over 2 nights is poetic and you are deserving of all the accolades I am sure these marvellous fans will give you on this last show.

"Phantom look forward to many more years of working with you on the projects you mentioned and I am sure we can find a few more special ones around the MAIDEN family and FC!

"The band and I all have a thousand great memories of the past 42 years, great gigs, copious platinum and gold discs and awards, love from the fans and one beer too many on too many occasions! Such a bond is forever! And, as Steve Harris says, 'Nicko is and will always be part of the MAIDEN family'.

"P.S. MAIDEN always get their man and our already chosen new drummer will be announced very shortly."

In January 2023, Nicko was at his home in Boca Raton when he suffered a stroke with partial paralysis. That was the beginning of a challenging journey of physical rehabilitation that followed rapid and precise treatment by stroke specialists at Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton, Florida's Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health.

McBrain addressed his health issues during an appearance on an episode of The Washington Tattoo podcast. He said: "It happened on January the 19th last year. I was actually having cataract surgery that day. And I guess there was a lot of stress and angst, with somebody messing with your peepers. And I was getting them both done at the same time. In the old days, I'd do one at a time just in case it didn't work. You'd be walking around blind in one eye, not both. And I had it on good authority that's the only reason they don't like to do, even today, both at the same time. But I had confidence in the surgeon, with the way they do it nowadays. And I said, 'Oh, can I get done both at the same time?' 'Yeah, no problem.'"

He continued: "Anyway. So I remember I was watching some tennis on the telly. I was up at six o'clock in the morning, which is unusual for me, 'cause I get up about 7:00, 7:30 nowadays. And I got up and I was a little bit anxious. And I lazed on the chaise lounge, and I went to sleep. About eight o'clock I thought, 'I'm gonna have a nap. I feel really tired.' And I woke up about 45 minutes later, and I'd had this stroke. And I thought it was pins and needles, but I couldn't feel the pins and needles. I picked my arm up, going, 'What's going on here?' And I could feel [the arm] but nothing was happening… And I let my arm go and it just dropped, and I'm, like, 'Oh, shit. Something ain't right.' And it didn't paralyze my leg, although my leg was wobbly. Which is a good thing, because my foot still worked. At least one saving grace — God gave me my right foot. It's not quite as good as it was, but… Anyway, I went to the doctors, or they took me to the hospital. I had a whole team of people work around me. It was like I was a superstar. And they didn't even know who I was. That's the sort of treatment that everybody gets when they have a stroke and they go to the Boca Baptist Hospital, [Baptist Health] Boca [Raton] Regional [Hospital]. They have a crew of, like, 12 people around you instantly, no matter who you are. And so after the MRI — they did a CT scan, then I went to an MRI. And [when] I came out, [Marc A] Swerdloff, my neurologist doctor, he had a plethora of students around him, and he had about six kids, young 'uns — I call them kids; they're probably all in their 20s or 30s. Anyway, he goes, you've had a stroke, Mr. McBrain, I went, 'Yeah, tell me something I don't know.' And he laughed. And he said, 'It's a TIA.' I said, 'Okay, so it's not a major stroke.' He said, 'Yeah.' He said, 'We've got this drug called TNK [tenecteplase],' which, what it stands for I've no idea. And he said it's a clot buster, and it prevents any further damage being done to your brain that may have or that has already occurred. He said, 'But there's a risk.' And I said, 'What's the risk?' He said, 'You could die.' I went, 'Okay. So what's the percentage of failure from people [treated with intravenous tenecteplase]?' It [was] seven to nine percent. He says, 'So if you have it, we have to put you in intensive care for 24 hours and monitor you every hour.' And I went, 'Well, okay, let's have it.' He says, 'Sign here.' And I'm right-handed, so I had to put a cross. And he said, 'Just make out as much as you can.' I sort of squiggled my name on a line. He gave it to me outside the MRI. About three hours later, I'm upstairs. And finally, I could move my thumb a little bit — the first thing I could move. I was in for two nights, and the day after I got out, I went for therapy, and I had three physiotherapies a week and OT, occupational therapy. My scapula had dropped and apparently my face was down here, although I could talk. So the only thing I had was a paralysis."

McBrain added: "The first three months of a stroke is where you have the most recovery. After that, the next three months, it's a little less and then the three months after that, and so on and so forth. I'm over — almost a year and a half now, but it will be next week. What's the date? Yeah, 10 days' time. So I'm still not back to where I wanna be. I've probably got… I can't do, I can't do… So if this is a tempo, I can't do a 16-note roll going into 32nd-note rolls anymore. What happens is I can play eighth notes, like that kind of groove. I can do doubles, but when I try and play that 16th at that speed, instead of going up and down, it wobbles from left to right, when I start playing fast, when I try to play fast. So I've had to adjust my fills now. I mean, I don't play 'The Trooper' fill anymore because I can't get it… It's the speed of it. I can do everything slow, but I've had to make sure that as long as I can keep the groove of the song, which is normally…"

Elaborating on how his stroke has affected his playing, Nicko said: "We had the rehearsal [for the spring 2023 MAIDEN tour] starting in April [of 2023], end of April. So I had that three months — March, February, March, April. I had 12 weeks of recovery, basically, before I went and had rehearsal. And, so today my routine now is I do the eight on eight to warm up and try and get my fingers working, but they're not… I'm at the stage now where I've peaked. I've noticed in some of the rehearsals — I play with the TITANIUM TART [side-project] band I've got, which are doing the same set that I'm playing with MAIDEN later this year; we're doing exactly the same set. I've got a couple of gigs coming up this weekend. We rehearse once a week. I've got a rehearsal tonight and tomorrow. So, I'm allowed to be out to try these things out. And they're not working. So, I've reverted back to what I was doing with the band last year, which was playing straighter on those kind of fills. [The song] 'Fear Of The Dark', I'm getting the triplets again and a couple of the hi-hats snap. Those kind of things. It's all about the tempo of the songs. When they're fast, I have a struggle. When they're slow, I can do it."

Seven months ago, Nicko reflected on that fateful morning when he suffered a stroke in an interview with Baptist Health. He said: "It was about probably 8, 8:15. I had a sleep. I woke up about quarter to 9. And as I got turned over, my arm wasn't moving. And I thought, 'What's going on?' And I pulled my hand up. I could feel — I had sensation in my hand. And I thought, 'Well, where's the pins and needles? Why has it gone to sleep?' And I started to [squeeze my hand]. And I let my hand go, and it just dropped. And I thought, 'Uh oh.'"

Nicko went on to say that he didn't know if he would be able to recover from the stroke quickly enough to join his MAIDEN bandmates on a tour they had scheduled for that spring.

"I did honestly think that was it," he admitted. "Now I'm laying in the bed, and I'm trying to move, move my hand, at least my fingers or something, encourage my body to, 'Come on, you can do this. You can do this.' Because we had scheduled this tour two years prior. And we were starting in May, and we were gonna do rehearsals starting the last week of April. So I thought, 'Well, I've got three months to see if I can at least play again.' And even holding a drumstick, there was nothing there."

McBrain previously talked about his post-ministroke recovery in December 2023 in an interview with Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, he said: "Well, it was very, very difficult. When it first happened, I thought, 'This is it. I'm not going to be able to play. I've got a tour coming up in three months' time.' I had a lot of time for reflection in the hospital. My wife was really my bastion of strength and encouragement and she was with me throughout. I did a lot of strength exercises, a lot of stretches with weird weights that they have and I got my stamina back."

McBrain told Metal Hammer that his MAIDEN bandmates, especially bassist Steve Harris, were very supportive during his recovery.

"Through all this period of time I was in touch with Steve, obviously all the guys, and I'd have a bit of a chat with them on the phone and they were all very, very encouraging, and none more so than Steve," Nicko said. "He said, 'Look, the most important thing is that you get well and work on getting yourself together.'"

In October 2023, Nicko spoke about his latest health scare during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation Power Trip Special". Asked how the shows on MAIDEN's "The Future Past Tour" have been, Nicko said: "It's going great. It started off a little shaky for me, but as the time [went on] and the more shows we performed, I started to get a little bit more strength and they'd been really rocking out well. And the last couple of months have been fantastic."

The 72-year-old McBrain also talked about his recovery in more detail and touched upon how his health setback affected his drumming. He said: "[I'm] doing good [right now]. I'm still probably — I'd say I'm 85 to 90 percent back to strength, but I still have a little less dexterity with speed in my fingers. My fingers are the ones that — this is the last thing to strengthen up. But I had to change certain drum fills. Some fills that everybody knows me for on certain songs, I've had to improvise those at rehearsals to be able to actually play the songs. So now I'm starting to actually be able to kind of embrace it a bit more. And I can't do that live. I have to wait until we start doing some rehearsals again or whatever it is. But I'm definitely getting stronger. And I've had great support from [MAIDEN manager] Rod [Smallwood], the band, and all of the fans out there. They've been absolutely — they've shown me so much love, it's amazing."

When Nicko first went public with his stroke in August 2023, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him "paralyzed" down one side of his body and "worried" that his career with the band was over.

McBrain's statement read as follows: "I hope this message finds you all well!

"The reason I'm writing to you all today is to let you know of a very serious health problem that I have been through. In January I had a stroke, thank the Lord it was a minor one referred to as a TIA. It left me paralyzed on my right side from my shoulder on down, of course I was very worried that my career was over but with the love and support from my wife, Rebecca and family, my doctors, especially Julie my OT (Occupational Therapist),and my MAIDEN family I was able to bounce back to somewhere near 70% recovered. After 10 weeks of intense therapy it was almost time to start rehearsals for our tour.

"I feel it's important to let you know about this now instead of earlier as I was mainly concerned with doing my job and concentrating on getting back to 100% fitness. I'm not there yet but by the grace of God I'm getting better and stronger as the weeks go by.

"Thank you all for a most wonderful and magical tour so far, you have all been so amazing.

"Well that's it from me. God bless you all, stay safe and well and I look forward to seeing you all somewhere in time. "

Smallwood added: "The rest of the band and l think that what Nicko has been able to achieve since his stroke shows incredible belief and willpower and we are all very proud of him. With this new and musically very complex set to learn ahead of him, he just got his head down and concentrated on recovery. We honestly did not know if he would be able to play a whole show until band rehearsals started in May and there was just so much support for him from the band and then genuine relief for all when we saw he was going to be able to do it!

"Nicko being Nicko he did not want to make a fuss and cause any distraction to the tour at the time but, now that he is sure he will soon get there, he thought you fans should know straight from him rather than by any rumours! We are all of course delighted he battled through this so well and look forward to many more tours together!"

Four years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and opened up about it in a single interview in 2021 but otherwise kept it mostly under wraps. The musician received his cancer diagnosis after undergoing an endoscopy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University Of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine. Within a week, McBrain's cancer was surgically removed and he now gets check-ups every few months to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

McBrain, who had the cancer in a part of his vocal cords, isn't the first member of MAIDEN to beat cancer. Back in late 2014, IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with throat cancer. The singer, who had a golf gall-size tumor on his tongue and another in the lymph node on the right side of his neck, got the all-clear in May 2015 after radiation and nine weeks of chemotherapy.

In a 2015 interview with Overdrive, McBrain admitted that he thought MAIDEN was over when it was discovered that Dickinson had a cancerous tumor. "Well, I'd be a liar if I didn't think for a minute that IRON MAIDEN [was] finished," he said. "[But] I thought more about the possibility of losing my friend than anything else, to be honest. Then later, I was thinking, 'God forbid if the worst ever happened, the legacy would be the last 16 albums.'"

McBrain, who is a dedicated Christian, continued: "I've got to be honest, I did question his mortality at one point and thankfully that didn't last long. Honestly, I got down on my knees and said a prayer, picked my thoughts up and got positive about it all, thinking to myself, 'If anyone can beat this, it's Bruce.' He's so positive about everything he's ever done in his life, or whatever he is about to do. Basically, I prayed for him and my prayers were answered, as well as everybody else that knows and cares for him."
An Announcement from Iron Maiden..

I love you too All and up the Irons 🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/zterPYFGtS

— Nicko McBrain (@NMcbrain28871) December 7, 2024

Forbes Senior Contributor, Hugh McIntyre, is reporting that Led Zeppelin have returned to the charts in the United Kingdom, where they formed and first began developing a following more than half a century ago.


According to the report, this week is especially notable for Led Zeppelin, as they don’t simply see one of their popular projects barely make its way back onto one chart. Two of their albums return to the same ranking, and they’re not far apart from one another.







Led Zeppelin IV is the highest-ranking of the group’s two current wins in the UK. That set, which is also known as Four Symbols - including on the charts - is back at #20 on the "Official Rock & Metal Albums" ranking.





Meanwhile, Led Zeppelin II reappears on the same list. That project, their aptly-titled sophomore release as a band, breaks back onto the same roster at #29.


Read more at Forbes.com.