Legendary Spanish death metal band, Avulsed, have revealed details of what will be their eigth full length album, Phoenix Cryptobiosis, which will be released on March 4 via Xtreem Music on CD, 12"LP, Cassette & Digital formats.


The first single and video, "Lacerate To Dominate", will be released on December 18. Pre-save the single here.


Avulsed, formed in 1991 by their vocalist Dave Rotten, runs for almost 34 years of uninterrupted devotion to death metal, and although they recently underwent a drastic lineup change, where only Dave Rotten and drummer Santiago Arroyo "Gog" decided to continue with the band and immediately recovered with the incorporation of new members Alejandro Lobo (guitar), Alex Nihil (bass) and Victor Dws (guitar), completing the composition and recording process of the new album and continuing without rest, their live activity.




Phoenix Cryptobiosis is Avulsed's eighth studio album, the first with new songs after 12 years since Ritual Zombi, and will be a step forward in the band's style and sound, maintaining all the characteristics, but with a notable qualitative progress in all aspects. While some songs were written by some of the former members, the majority have been composed by the current lineup and will undoubtedly add a touch of freshness to the band's sound. Surely, every fan of Avulsed will enjoy this new work a lot!


The recording of Phoenix Cryptobiosis took place between the months of September and October in different studios, being mixed at the beginning of November at the Acórdica Studios, owned by guitarist Alejandro Lobo, and then being mastered at the MK2 Studio (Ivrea/Italy) by Davide Billia, drummer for bands like Beheaded, Antropofagus, ex-Hour Of Penance, ex-Putridity, ex-Septycal Gorge... and all this has really achieved the best sound of the band in their entire career.


The cover art was created, once again, by the infallible Ukrainian artist Daemorph Art, who has perfectly captured the concept of the resurgence of Avulsed.


According to Dave Rotten: "The title of the album, although it had already been half decided for many years with the word "Cryptobiosis", has been somewhat prophetic, since cryptobiosis is a state that consists of the suspension of the metabolic processes, in which some living beings enter when environmental conditions become extreme. Avulsed has remained in a state of cryptobiosis for many years and

Trivium frontman Matt Heafy, who regularly posts archive videos via his official YouTube channel, has shared live footage from the band's 2005 show at the London Astoria. Check out "Like Light To The Flies" below.





Bullet for My Valentine and Trivium recently announced their 2025 co-headlining "The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour," featuring special guests August Burns Red across all dates, Sylosis, and Bleed From Within on select dates - see routing below.




The tour is in celebration of both bands prolific albums - Bullet for My Valentine's The Poison and Trivium's Ascendancy, which turn 20 years old in 2025. Each will be performed in their entirety on this tour.


"We are super excited to announce we are coming back to the USA in 2025 with our friends Trivium, to bring you the 'Poisoned Ascendancy Tour,'" says Bullet For My Valentine. "We're going to be celebrating 20 years of our debut album The Poison and Trivium's Ascendancy. It's the metal tour of 2025, so don't miss out."


"This is a celebration for the old fans that were there at 9am at Ozzfest to catch a couple songs from a band in Iron Maiden shirts," says Trivium. "It's for the new fans that have been listening to the deep cuts but never caught them on a recent tour. And lastly, it's for both BFMV and us to take a moment to reflect on how amazing these 20 years have been, how fast they've gone, and how important these albums are for the both of our bands. Having August Burns Red, Bleed From Within, and Sylosis joining us only makes this more special. We can'’t wait to play Ascendancy for you!"


Produced by Live Nation, the 26-city tour kicks off on March 30 at PNE Forum in Vancouver, BC making stops across North America in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, NC at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 18.


Tickets will be available starting with artist pre-sales beginning today, Tuesday, September 17. Additional pre-sales will run throughout the week ahead of the general on sale beginning Friday, September 20 at local time here.


Limited VIP packages are available from both artists including a meet + greet. For more info on VIP packages, head here.





Tour dates:


March
30 - Vancouver, BC - PNE Forum#&


April
1 - Seattle, WA - Paramount Theatre#&
3 - San Francisco, CA - The Masonic#&
4 - Wheatland, CA - Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento - Hard Rock Live#&
5 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort*#&
8 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium#&
10 - Las Vegas, NV - Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort#&
11 - Inglewood, CA - YouTube Theatre#
12 - Phoenix, A

Today, The Wildhearts release a brand new single, "Failure Is The Mother Of Success", the first track to be revealed from their forthcoming studio album, Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts, out March 7 via Snakefarm.


About the new track, Ginger Wildheart comments: “‘Failure Is The Mother Of Success’ is about getting back on your feet after things have gone wrong. There's an old saying, 'fall down three times, get up four’. It's about feeling like you're worth getting back up for, and that making mistakes is just an essential part of life, everyone does it. At almost eight minutes long, it's pretty brave for the record company to pick it as a single; but it's a really good taster for the album and has everything any Wildhearts fan could want. I hope you absolutely love it!”


Dante Bonutto of Snakefarm follows up: “To be honest, I really struggled to decide what the lead single should be. Whenever I was sent a new track, I thought, right, that’s the single! In fact, every song could have been. But then that’s The Wildhearts – never knowingly under-singled! In the end, when I heard Ginger talk about ‘Failure…’, it became clear that this is the unofficial title track of the album, brilliantly encapsulating the triumph over adversity theme; the fact that the future remains unwritten, you just need to grasp both the nettle and the pen, possibly the other way round?! If you love the fact, like I do, that Ginger can feature an album’s worth of song ideas in a single track, and do it seamlessly, then you’re in for a treat!”




Check out the video for "Failure Is The Mother Of Success" below. Stream/download the single here.


The creatively brilliant Ginger Wildheart is arguably amongst the UK’s best and most prolific songwriters, and his band, The Wildhearts, recently signed a worldwide deal with Snakefarm / Integral.


"The songs on ‘Satanic Rites…’ were written during a period of transition, from extremely negative to positive,” reflects Ginger. “I realized how much control I have over my mental health, and the songs came from that understanding. There’s everything here – catchy choruses, proper fuck-off riffs, anger, frustration, acceptance and revelation, with plenty of insane detours. The album starts pessimistic and ends up like ‘Ah, so I CAN turn my life around?’ It’s a hard rock album for people who love hard rock!”


Satanic Rites of The Wildhearts was produced by Jim Pinder (Bring Me The Horizon, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine) and mixed by Jim Pinder & Carl Bown (Trivium, Machine Head, While She Sleeps, Bullet For My Valentine, Bring Me The Horizon).


Satanic Rites Of The Wildhearts will be available on coloured vinyl LP, CD (with exclusive bonus track), and cassette. The LP & CD formats contain lyrics hand-written by Ginger, a painting by Ginger, plus other Ginger-related graphics.


Pre-order the album here, pre-save here





Tracklisting:


"Eventually"
"Scared Of Glass"
"Troubadour Moon"
"Fire In The Cheap Seats"
"Kunce"
"Maintain Radio Silence"
"Blue Moon Over Brinkburn"
"Hurt People Hurt People"
"I’ll Be Your Monster"
"Failure Is The Mother Of Success"
"Loyola" (bonus track)


"Failure Is The Mother Of Success" video:





To celebrate this release, The Wildhearts will be playing eight headline UK shows in March, starting on March 7 at the Leadmill in Sheffield and concluding on March 16 at the 1865 in Southampton.


About the tour, Ginger Wildheart says: “We’ll be taking a full evening’s entertainment on tour, kicking off with party-punks Dirt Box Disco, going to rock ‘n’ roll church with Jim Jones, then being flayed alive with The Wildhearts. The party starts when the doors open, so get a buzz on and get down early. Come join The Wildhearts’ community gathering. We guarantee you’ll leave with the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll firmly restored.”


For three decades, The Wildhearts have remained at the forefront of the UK rock scene, and their incendiary live shows have cemented their reputation and legacy as one of the best bands their homeland has produced, so miss these shows at your peril.

For more than 25 years, Sacred Steel have been offering metalheads a killer, trend-free alternative to bloated trigger drums, cheesy keyboards and boring cliché sounds that are hyped year after year as “the next big thing in metal”. Sacred Steel have always remained true to themselves, constantly reinventing their traditional style and releasing some highly acclaimed classics, such as their legendary debut Reborn In Steel, the follow-up Wargods Of Metal, or their heaviest album Slaughter Prophecy.


In April 2025, the band will release their 10th album, Ritual Supremacy, which will be celebrated with a performance at the 25th anniversary of the Keep It True Festival and many more shows. The album is also the first to feature new members Toni Ieva (bass) and Jörn Langenfeld (guitar), who joined the band in 2023.


Ritual Supremacy will be released by their new label partner ROAR (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy, Holy Moses and others), whose managing director Jochen Richert, Markus Wosgien (label management) and Lambros Kokkinos (product management) are long-time scene veterans.




“These are people we've known for ages and who have been supplying you and us with the stuff we all can't and don't want to live without for at least as long: high-quality heavy metal releases,” the band is pleased to say, adding: ”When the label A&R first had his entire Sacred Steel record collection signed at the meeting with the band, we just knew: this is the right place for us! With ROAR behind us, we are now ideally positioned to finally release our new album “Ritual Supremacy” worldwide and on a broad basis after more than 8 years since the last release.”


“As a native Swabian and friend of pure heavy metal, you are inevitably connected to Sacred Steel. You can sing along to their classics in your sleep and with a raised metal fist, and

UK extreme metallers Abduction have released their immersive second single, "Razors Of Occam", a gripping prelude to the forthcoming album, Existentialismus, due for release on February 21, 2025, via Candlelight. The track serves as a visceral glimpse into the band’s otherworldly, introspective universe, while its haunting video, directed by Jake Kindred, draws viewers deep into the emotional abyss of Abduction's world. 


"'Razors Of Occam' is a celebration of the back-breaking labour that our grandfathers and grandmothers endured over the past century to build the houses and systems that maintain our (relative) safety and comfort here in the west', comments vocalist A|V. '"There's more honour in the last gasping breath, spilled forth from a dying old man's chest, than in all the seas of all the tears the younger can conjure. For with one wish, they'd give it all away."


Following their explosive 2022 album, Black Blood, which showcased the band's fiercely expansive sound, Abduction is now poised to push their musical boundaries even further. With many bands currently paying homage to black metal’s glory years and just as many attempting to connect unrelated workings to that legacy, Abduction’s music manages to be both recognizably authentic and imbued with its spirit. And never has this been truer than in the new album, Existentialismus.




Having become one of the UK’s most visible black metal acts on the live circuit, bringing their ritualistic and immersive performances to audiences at club shows and festivals such as Damnation, Bloodstock, Incineration, Fortress, Mass Destruction, Samhain, Reaperfest, and Eradication, 'Existentialismus' has been recorded, for the first time, as a full band.


“It’s inspired by the juxtaposition of this horrible post-truth era with its contradictions and the simple, metaphorical truths that began in ancient religions of the crumbling past. Somewhere between a biblical gospel and a Nietzschean nightmare. As a father, there’s a particular terror in seeing all that our grandfathers built, physically and morally, being torn apart and reduced to a commodity and wondering what kind of world my son will inherit.”


“I am by no means a philosopher – I desperately lack the patience,” A|V admits. “But my observations of the modern Western humane race have become particularly bleak, and this informs my lyrical writing process. Art as a reaction to life and experience. This is laid out in the first track, ‘A Legacy of Sores’, which posits that most of us here, in the current year, have become an alarming pairing of being both too sensitive and yet without any core beliefs to stand on. (‘Wet skin now paper thin, reveals a core of dust’) I think this is a mixture of a post-religious society and the acceleration of technology to the point at which its claws are deeply in us. Have you tried to live without a smartphone recently?”


Existentialismus was recorded and produced by Ian Boult at Stuck On A Name Studios in Nottingham, while the final touches of post-production and mastering were handled by Tore Stjerna (W

Nightwish released their new album, Yesterwynde, back in September via Nuclear Blast. The band have announced that Yesterwynde will receive it's symphonic world premiere by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra.


Says the band: "Yes, you heard it. Our newest album Yesterwynde will be performed as an orchestral version for a live audience. Composed by Tuomas Holopainen, Yesterwynde Orchestral, will have its world premiere at Tampere Hall, Finland in August 2025. Who's coming? The music will be performed in two concerts by the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra, the Tampere Opera Choir, and a children's choir. Tickets for the concerts will go on sale on Tuesday, December 10, at 9 AM."


Tuomas Holopainen adds: "Yesterwynde is a journey through the landscapes of memories, dreams, and longing. The album is full of stories about time – both elusive and ever-present. It is the most personal and multi-layered creation of my career so far, and I am profoundly grateful that it will receive such a special world premiere with the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra and a massive choir. In the studio, you can polish things endlessly, but live performance is always something unique."







Yesterwynde is available in a number of different vinyl variants, as a jewelcase, digipak, earbook and as part of a deluxe vinyl box set. Order the album here.





Yesterwynde tracklisting:


"Yesterwynde"
"An Ocean Of Strange Islands"
"The Antikythera Mechanism"
"The Day Of..."
"Perfume Of The Timeless"
"Sway"
"The Children Of 'Ata"
"Something Whispered Follow Me"
"Spider Silk"
"Hiraeth"
"The Weave"
"Lanternlight"


"Lanternlight" video:





"An Ocean Of Strange Islands" lyric video:

Germany’s dark metal pioneers, Nachtblut, have announced their seventh studio album, Todschick [eng: dead chic], set to be released on February 21 via Napalm Records. The quartet unveils ten new tracks, expanding their repertoire by incorporating various stylistic elements and 1980s-inspired synthesizer sounds, seamlessly blending this with their signature dark metal sound and Askeroth’s distinctive vocals.


The even more sinister and versatile offering follows their 2020’s successful album Vanitas, which reached #19 on the official German album charts. Produced by the renowned Chris Harms of Lord Of The Lost, the wooden box set also includes a bonus CD with seven additional tracks, featuring collaborations with genre heavyweights - promising an extra surprise.


Today, Nachtblut unveils the beautifully gloomy title track, “Todschick”, together with an eerie official music video. Like death itself, it blends catchy synths with explosive riffs, embracing the inevitability of death while redefining the beauty of darkness.




Nachtblut about the new single: "With this song, Nachtblut embraces death and simultaneously reveals the beauty of darkness, redefining the word ‘Todschick’ (dead chic). As the title track of the album, it's the perfect introduction to a new era."


Check out the official music video for “Todschick” below.


The monumental release of Todschick not only presents 10 fresh new tracks, but even offers a wooden box set which includes a bonus CD with seven additional tracks, featuring collaborations with guest artists such as Frank Herzig (Schattenmann), Freki (Varg), Tetzel (Asenblut/All For Metal), Eric Fish (Subway To Sally), and further top acts.


The melancholic track “Das Leben der Anderen” criticizes modern societal ills like doom-scrolling through social media, overlaying the seemingly perfect lives of others with guttural screams. Meanwhile, the dark, new-wave-synth track “Manchmal kommen sie wieder” explores the eternal cycles of creation, destruction and war. Some songs also reference film classics, including “Stirb Langsam,” a humorous celebration of escapism, which, in true Nachtblut style, conceals a sharp message. Tracks like “Kinder des Zorns” invite headbanging with especially hard riffs and tempo. With “Schneller als der Tod,” the band ventures into entirely new musical territory, seamlessly merging epic wild west elements with the powerful sounds of dark metal. Energetic melodies blend perfectly with Askeroth's characteristic vocals, creating a unique atmosphere that brings the album to a striking conclusion, offering an unexpected musical twist.


With Todschick, Nachtblut not only masterfully enriches dark metal with captivating, genre-spanning sounds that set new accents, but also addresses contemporary societal issues, striking a chord with the times. This new masterpiece is an invitation to view the dark beauty of life and its challenges in a new light, and to join the band on their 2025 headline tour to experience it live!


Nachtblut on the new album: "Todschick is an album where death sets the rhythm, a musical blood kiss, in which the line between fiction and reality fades with every note."





Todschick will be available in the following formats:


- Wooden Box (Digipak CD, Digisleeve Bonus CD, Hand Mirror, Autograph Cards) - 500 copies
- 1 LP Gold/Black Marbled - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
- Vinyl Black
- 1 Digipak CD
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Todschick tracklisting:


"Von Hass Getrieben"
"Todschick"
"Nachtgeweiht"
"Das Leben Der Anderen"
"Manchmal Kommen Sie Wieder"
"Mein Ist Die Hölle"
"Götterstille"
"Kinder Des Zorns"
"Stirb Langsam"
"Schneller Als Der Tod"


"Todschick" video:

Sammy Hagar has shared the video below, along with the following message:


"RIGHT NOW is the perfect time to get ready for the #RoadToVegas! Check out this little throwback to The Best Of All Worlds Tour as Sammy & Mike get ready to take over Sin City with the Residency beginning April 30th!"







Hagar recently announced that The Best Of All Worlds, his critical and commercial hit summer 2024 tour, will launch in 2025 as The Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM. The tour will reunite the rock powerhouse band of Sammy, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Kenny Aronoff with a new “only in Las Vegas” setlist running April 30 through May 17, 2025. The tour represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this band of brothers deliver one of the most legendary hits-packed live shows of their careers.


This highly anticipated residency will showcase Sammy’s career-spanning hits, from seminal breakouts with Montrose, his iconic solo hits, and a deep dive into his tenure with Van Halen, Chickenfoot, and everything in between. Presented in partnership by Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, the residency will be custom-designed for Dolby Live, giving fans an intimate, high-energy concert experience in the 5,200-seat entertainment venue.


“I'm so looking forward to this residency and being able to stay in one place so we can get the sound and production completely dialed in,” said Sammy Hagar. “It also allows the band to experiment with the setlist every night – that’s why it’s going to be exclusive to Las Vegas. Instead of traveling all day on tour when there's no time to rehearse and make changes. I plan on digging deeper into the Van Halen catalog, and my solo career, Montrose and Chickenfoot, as well. The fans are in for a lot of surprises.”


The Las Vegas residency follows on the heels of the chart-topping success of The Best of All Worlds tour, which sold out amphitheaters and arenas across North America and Japan. Together with the release of The Collection II, the 2023 box set featuring newly remastered versions of the four consecutive #1 albums released during the Hagar era of Van Halen: 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988), For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge (1991), and Balance (1995), fans were reinvigorated by their arsenal of hits, many which hadn't been played live since the band’s 2004 reunion tour. Musician Rai Thistlethwayte will also return on keyboard and backing vocals to round out the band of brothers and deliver an exclusive new hits-packed live show.


Tickets for the nine shows are available at ticketmaster.com/SammyHagarVegas or RedRocker.com.


The Best of All Worlds tour received universal raves from fans who’d been waiting 20 years to experience it live again, and critics who universally praised it.


“The crowd remained on their feet for most of the show, singing along or holding up their phones to capture the moment. The musicians seemed to be having just as much fun. Hagar, alongside Anthony, made it clear that the tour was not just a performance but a ‘celebration’ of Van Halen’s enduring legacy. 'It’s a celebration of the music and the people who supported that band,’ Hagar said. And the fans couldn’t agree more.” – USA Today


“Now this is going to be an amazing tour! If you’re ever going to play the Van Halen music, this tour you put together is going to be a massive celebration of all the music. I get emotional just listening to it.” – Howard Stern, The Howard Stern Show


“Sammy Hagar sounded ageless as he celebrated Van Halen and more in Phoenix. Joe Satriani did a great job of channeling Eddie Van Halen (and more). The phrase ‘guitar hero’ is obviously overused, but Satriani more than lives up to the title. He’s a total badass on guitar, as he reminded us repeatedly without necessarily making it all about him.” - Arizona Republic


“Sammy Hagar’s Best of Both Worlds Tour — which also features former Van Halen bandmate Michael Anthony, guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani, and drummer Kenny Aronoff — brought an infectious energy to PNC Music Pavilion. Hagar and Anthony’s bond was palpable on stage... The crowd turned out in full force to hear Van Halen-era songs like ‘Right Now,’ ‘Best of Both Worlds,’ and ‘Why Can’t This Be Love,’ alongside Hagar’s solo classics. Their performance proved that age is just a number when the music is this good.” - Charlotte Observer





2025 Vegas Residency Dates:


April
30 Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM


May
2 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
3 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
7 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
9 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
10 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
14 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
16 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM
17 - Las Vegas, NV - Dolby Live @ Park MGM

In a new interview with Victor Rocks, the YouTube channel of Japan's Victor Entertainment, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about the recently released remixed and remastered version of the band's classic debut album, 1974's "Rocka Rolla". Asked if he and his bandmates expected, 50 years ago, to still be around five decades later, Rob said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we had no idea that 50 years ago, when JUDAS PRIEST released 'Rocka Rolla', that we would be here 50 years later celebrating and keeping and defending the metal faith. It's been an incredible journey full of so much power and energy and love from our heavy metal maniacs all over the world, especially our Japanese heavy metal maniac family. We love you."

Regarding the decision to enlist longtime PRIEST producer Tom Allom to remix "Rocka Rolla" for the LP's 50th-anniversary edition, Halford said: "The idea to bring Tom Allom into the 50th-anniversary edition of 'Rocka Rolla' was an important one because there were so many elements in the music, in the sound, in the feel of the album that we felt Tom could make great improvements, make the whole album express itself with the power and with the feelings that we had when we were originally making that recording in 1974. If there's a chance to make anything better in life, then you should take it. And that's what we did with Tom Allom for the new edition of 'Rocka Rolla'."

Addressing some fans' belief that PRIEST was a hard rock band during the "Rocka Rolla" era and became a heavy metal act after "Sad Wings Of Destiny", Halford said: "When JUDAS PRIEST began its metal life all those years ago, we said from day one, 'We want to be a heavy metal band. We want our sound of heavy metal around the world from the very beginning.' And that's what we did when we began with 'Rocka Rolla'. Yes, there's a different texture and a different experience from 'Rocka Rolla' to 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'. As it is with a lot of bands, your first two or three albums are establishing who you are and what you wanna say with your metal, with your, with your music. And that's what JUDAS PRIEST did with 'Rocka Rolla'. Heavy metal from day one. Oh, yeah."

As for the possibility of more songs from "Rocka Rolla" making their way into PRIEST's future setlists, Rob said: "'Rocka Rolla' is such an important album for JUDAS PRIEST in so many ways. And we've already been celebrating a little bit with songs from 'Rocka Rolla'. The title track, 'Rocka Rolla', we've played a few times as well as 'Never Satisfied'. But as we go through this incredibly important moment of the official 50th anniversary of 'Rocka Rolla', we feel sure that we'll be expressing more of the content, more of the sounds and more of the energy and power of heavy metal from the 'Rocka Rolla' album in the live format. So stay tuned. And when it happens, we'll let you know."

The remixed and remastered version of "Rocka Rolla" was released digitally in the U.S. and Canada on September 13. The CD and vinyl versions of "Rocka Rolla - 50th Anniversary: Remixed And Remastered 1974 - 2024" will arrive on Friday, November 22.

In 1974, before the eternal metal flame was ever lit, JUDAS PRIEST — Halford, guitarist Glenn Tipton, bassist Ian Hill, guitarist K.K. Downing and drummer John Hinch — were simply five young musicians in their 20s from the Black Country an area of working-class towns in England excited to have signed a record deal. With limited funds, the band recorded during the less expensive night shift hours. The album "Rocka Rolla" was born during these sessions, under the guidance of producer Roger Bain who was brought in by the label and who had previously produced BLACK SABBATH.

JUDAS PRIEST learnt over time how to record an album, and the experience of working in a professional recording studio helped prepare them for the next album to come, one of the most definitive and foundational heavy metal albums of all time, "Sad Wings Of Destiny". But with "Rocka Rolla", the band was not there for the mixing, the mastering process or any final approvals — they didn't have a say when it was finished or how it ultimately sounded. Although the band felt positive about how the songs sounded in the studio, they were particularly disappointed when they received a finished copy of the album in the mail to listen to for the first time.

Halford recalled: "I took the record and I put the needle onto the groove and I sat back. And I just slowly started to deflate, deflate. I was so disappointed with the way it was sounding. All of us were — we'd all worked so hard to get to this place. And now this music that we know when we play live is roaring — the heavy metal is roaring even in those early primitive days — none of that was coming out of the speakers"

The band never had a future say in "Rocka Rolla" in the intervening decades — the re-releases and early-era compilations… but that was about to change.

During JUDAS PRIEST's "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour in 2022, something remarkable was happening behind the scenes. The label that originally signed JUDAS PRIEST in 1974, Gull Records, and its owner David Howells, decided to sell the masters and publishing rights for the two albums the label owned, "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings Of Destiny", and David contacted Tipton's music publisher, Michael Closter of Reach Music Publishing.

After discussing this opportunity and collaborating with JUDAS PRIEST's manager Jayne Andrews, a compelling offer from Reach Music was made to Gull Records. Terms were accepted. An acquisition agreement was prepared, and after almost 50 years from the release of these albums, Reach Music and its label Exciter Records, in partnership with JUDAS PRIEST, was now the owner of "Rocka Rolla" and "Sad Wings Of Destiny".

The first order of business was to retrieve the original multitrack tapes from storage (which miraculously still existed and kept in usable condition for all these decades) — and to begin the process of resurrecting "Rocka Rolla" from these multitrack recordings...

With the task of delving back into time and putting the tapes of "Rocka Rolla" back on the recording studio console, JUDAS PRIEST put their full faith in Tom Allom, known in the JUDAS PRIEST world for producing the iconic "British Steel" and "Screaming For Vengeance" albums, among many others.

As Allom stated: "What we did with the multitracks is quite unusual, to completely remix an album from that era, from scratch. So to clarify what we're doing, we're not adding anything musically. We're not re-recording any of the musical parts… We're remixing them, rebalancing them using the technology we have, the modern tools we have now, to sonically upgrade them, and make them sound more powerful."

The results of this remixed version are now available for posterity — the artist-approved version of "Rocka Rolla" is finally here for fans to add to their JUDAS PRIEST collection.

Halford said: "It's great to look back and see our future unfurl — from little metal acorns mighty metal oaks do grow. One small step for metal, one giant leap for metalkind — a lifelong metal journey began with these songs. This album lit the eternal metal flame — as real and fresh as ever five decades on.

He added: "I'm just thrilled… because it just goes to show you when you get an expert involved in a project, it's likely that you have a second chance. And I think that Tom Allom is giving us a second chance here with the way that a lot of the elements were lost in 'Rocka Rolla'. And it's also nice, like a really nice feeling, especially to attach it to what will be a 50th-anniversary moment. It's just a beautiful feeling."

Tipton said: "This is where it all started for us and 50 years later, we have a great re-mixed and re-mastered version of the original...and the band are still going strong!"

Hill stated: "Recorded during nighttime sessions to save costs, over a few weeks in June and July 1974, on a shoestring budget, 'Rocka Rolla' was always going to have its flaws! But walking into my local record store and seeing it on a shelf amongst all your idol's records was the proudest feeling in the world, and I thought, 'Whatever happens now, nothing can change that!' Now remixed by Tom Allom and remastered, 'Rocka Rolla' has finally got the production it deserved!"

Downing said: "At last! This! The first JUDAS PRIEST album can be listened to and enjoyed in the way it was always intended to be!"

"Rocka Rolla (50th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered)" track listing:

01. One For The Road
02. Rocka Rolla
03. Winter
04. Deep Freeze
05. Winter Retreat
06. Cheater
07. Never Satisfied
08. Run Of The Mill
09. Dying To Meet You
10. Caviar And Meths

Swedish/Canadian/American extreme metal titans ARCH ENEMY have released the video for the title track of their upcoming album, "Blood Dynasty". The LP is slated for release on March 28 via Century Media Records.

Following the surprise drop of their single "Dream Stealer" in July and the subsequent release of "Liars & Thieves" in October, "Blood Dynasty" marks the third single offering from the highly anticipated album. The track promises to deliver ARCH ENEMY's signature blend of powerful guitar riffs and dynamic vocals, showcasing the band's evolution while staying true to their roots.

Founder and guitarist Michael Amott shares: "The third single from our upcoming album has arrived, and it's the title track: 'Blood Dynasty'! This one shifts gears from the fast and furious energy of our two recent singles, diving deeper into melody and atmosphere. Immerse yourself in this dystopian soundscape!"

Amott previously stated about "Blood Dynasty": "This new album pushes the boundaries of what we've done before — it's everything you've come to expect from this band, and then some! We can't wait for you to hear it and feel the energy we've poured into every track. Welcome to the 'Blood Dynasty'!"

"Blood Dynasty" track listing:

01. Dream Stealer
02. Illuminate the Path
03. March Of the Miscreants
04. A Million Suns
05. Don't Look Down
06. Presage
07. Blood Dynasty
08. Paper Tiger
09. Vivre Libre
10. The Pendulum
11. Liars & Thieves

Next to the limited deluxe editions that feature two exclusive bonus tracks, fans can direct their attention to the limited liquid blood vinyl that is exclusively available in the band stores and limited to 666 copies.

"Dream Stealer" marked ARCH ENEMY's first new music since the release of the "Deceivers" album, which came out in August 2022.

"Dream Stealer" was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The video was directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus.

Four months ago, Amott told Pulp Magazine about "Dream Stealer" and ARCH ENEMY's plans for new music: "We've been staying busy for sure and are really focused on writing and recording new stuff in between the touring we're doing. I'm kind of always coming up with new musical and lyrical ideas though — I just keep going as it's what I enjoy doing anyway. Making music is a natural process, and it's pretty much a daily thing, so it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when everything was conceived. I do, however, actually remember that the initial seed for 'Dream Stealer' was written during a songwriting session I did with Daniel [Erlandsson, drums] in Los Angeles, California, two years ago, and then it's been rearranged and updated a lot till it reached its final state that you're now hearing."

Asked if it was a conscious decision to go back to the "classic ARCH ENEMY" direction and approach with "Dream Stealer", Amott said: "I've seen some seriously great feedback from the fans, and that's always very encouraging, of course. Personally, I don't know if I’d necessarily say 'Dream Stealer' is a throwback to the sound of the past, but I get what they mean — the song has the energy and speed that is very exciting and infectious. Maybe there is a hint of vintage ARCH ENEMY in there, and why not? I'm looking forward to playing it live on stage — I think it is going to be intense as hell."

ARCH ENEMY played its first concert with new guitarist Joey Concepcion on April 24 at Musinsa Garage in Seoul, South Korea. The show was part of ARCH ENEMY's 2024 Asian tour.

In December 2023, ARCH ENEMY announced that it had "amicably" parted ways with longtime guitarist Jeff Loomis.

Jeff, who was the main songwriter in his previous group, NEVERMORE, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014, but was not involved in the writing for the latter act's last two albums, 2017's "Will To Power" and the aforementioned "Deceivers".

ARCH ENEMY is:

Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals
Michael Amott - Guitar
Joey Concepcion - Guitar
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums

Photo credit: Katja Kuhl

Prepare to descend into the depths of unrelenting death metal with You’ve Got Red On You, the highly anticipated split album from Necronomicon Ex Mortis and Bloodfeast Ritual. This release, set for February 21, 2025, delivers an uncompromising fusion of old-school grit, progressive ferocity, and cinematic horror. Each band contributes their unique voice to this shared infernal vision, crafting a sonic journey that blurs the boundaries between terror and transcendence.


 


Hailing from opposite corners of the United States—Chicago's Necronomicon Ex Mortis and Los Angeles' Bloodfeast Ritual—these two acts have converged to push the limits of modern death metal. With influences ranging from the haunting melodicism of Blood Incantation to the technical fury of At The Gates, the result is an album that is as diverse as it is cohesive. The shared ambition of these bands is clear: to create a musical experience that is brutal, immersive, and unforgettable.




 


The Bloodfeast Ritual half of the split begins with "Soul Annihilation," a blistering track inspired by cosmic dread and the grungy, sludgy tones of death metal titans. Guitarists Michael Bala and Hunter Gurney weave chaotic, searing solos into a punishing framework, reflecting the track’s narrative of a soul’s complete obliteration. It’s an unrelenting assault, setting the tone for what’s to come. Then there’s "Decaying Humanity," a sprawling, nearly 10-minute opus that exemplifies the band's progressive prowess. Written by Hunter Gurney and meticulously arranged by Michael Bala, the track unfurls with a sense of desperation and grandeur as it chronicles humanity’s bleak descent into oblivion. It’s aggressive, intricate, and undeniably epic—quintessential Bloodfeast Ritual.


 


On the other side of You’ve Got Red On You, Necronomicon Ex Mortis delivers a mid-tempo death metal barrage that balances unrelenting heaviness with eerie storytelling. Opening with "The Music of Eric Zahn," a Lovecraftian instrumental masterpiece by guitarist Manuel Barbara, the band sets a haunting tone that bridges beauty and terror. Then comes "Bound In Human Flesh," a thrashy, blistering homage to the visceral terror of Evil Dead (2013). It’s a ferocious track that harkens back to the early days of Deicide and Morbid Angel, with incendiary solos from both Bala and Barbara driving its relentless pace.


 


The split’s centerpiece is "Unspeakable Swamp Creature," a direct continuation of Necronomicon Ex Mortis’ "The Swamp" from their Silver Bullet EP. Revisiting the cursed wetlands and their murderous inhabitants, this track is steeped in creeping melodies and unsettling atmosphere, solidifying its place as the highlight of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis catalog. The band closes their contribution with "Misery," a track inspired by Stephen King’s chilling classic. With riffs reminiscent of Bolt Thrower and Obituary, the song brings a c

India's Bloodywood performed at Mahindra Independence Rock in Mumbai, India on November 17th, and during their set the band peformed to new songs, "Nu Delhi" - their new single - and the unreleased "Tadka". Check out fan-filmed video below.










Bloodywood recently shared a new documentary, Expect A Riot, which traces their journey since the release of their independently released debut album, Rakshak, in 2022. Check it out below.





Bloodywood have announced their signing to Fearless Records, celebrtating the occasion with a new single and video, "Nu Delhi". It is the band's first piece of recorded music since their independently released Rakshak album from 2022.


Pick up "Nu Delhi" here, check out the official video below.


Bloodywood: "'Nu Delhi' is our love letter to New Delhi, the city that raised us, where we grew up dreaming of doing exactly what we are now. It’s a city of vibrant chaos, filled with love yet quick to set you straight if you overstep. It’s not just a city, it’s a game of chess."


With regards to sigmning with Fearless Records, they offered the following:


"We’ve always been DIY to the core, figuring things out ourselves rather than relying on others. The success we achieved with Rakshak, all on our own showed us what we’re capable of. But now, we’re ready for the next chapter. Now we wanted to see what a label could bring to the table. We wanted a partner who’s as passionate and committed to our music as we are. We found that partner in Fearless Records, and we’re excited to kick off this collaboration with the release of our first single from the new album."





Bloodywood has also announced European and UK tour dates for 2025. The band comments: 


"It's the Return of the Singh and we're coming back with the best of the new and old. So if you thought last time was crazy, multiply it b

New York City's death thrash titans, Final Siege, are stoked to announce their signing with WormHoleDeath Records for the release of their earth-shattering album, Nuclear Doom State, dropping December 27, 2024.


Final Siege comments: "We are incredibly excited to have signed with WormHoleDeath Records. It is an incredible honor to be part of such a well-renowned label that has helped so many bands and artists reach their full potential in their music careers. We are looking forward to what we can accomplish together and cannot wait to unleash our vision on the world."


"The concept behind Nuclear Doom State was to shed light on what we are experiencing in societies all over the world," states Final Siege. "The corrupt governments, the top 1% of the wealthiest individuals in the world, religious institutions, and social media platforms all play a hand in our collective suffering. The title track of the album serves as a sort of premonition of what’s to come if we continue down the path we’re currently on. While 'W.A.R.' is more of a rallying cry for the middle and poorer classes to unite as one to change the current state of our lives. Stylistically this album was heavily influenced by bands like Death, Exodus, Power Trip, Slayer, and Gojira. It took a little less than a year to complete the album even with a lineup change in 2022. When our newest members Rob Maldonado and Ameer 'The Beheader' Aljallad joined the band in April of 2023 we immediately went to work on all the songs that had been written over the years that would make up this album. Together we managed to come up with some great ideas for the songs to have them reach their full potential. Rob himself even contributed to the album with his song titled 'Primordial Combat' which was influenced lyrically by the anime series Baki Hanma."

British death metallers Mutagenic Host have shared their new track "Artificial Harvest Of The Obscene". The song is the second to be revealed from the band's debut album, The Diseased Machine, set for international release on January 3, 2025: the album will be co-released by Gurgling Gore (vinyl, cassette), Dry Cough Records (vinyl, cassette), and Memento Mori, with the CD version slated for release on January 20, 2025.





Mutagenic Host are a five-piece band hailing from London, England as part of the New Wave of British Death Metal (see also: Coffin Mulch, Celestial Sanctuary, Slimelord, Vacuous, Mortuary Spawn). The group comprises members from various parts of the UK and United States. With a diverse background spanning the hardcore, black metal, and death metal scenes, Mutagenic Host blend hardcore sensibilities and groove with the heavy, well-crafted sound reminiscent of '90s Floridian death metal.




Mutagenic Host dive into a technological apocalypse, examining a world overshadowed by hypocritical, insidious, and murderous global powers. The band is deeply disillusioned with the traditional themes of death metal and hardcore, feeling that these subjects no longer capture the urgency of the present. Instead, Mutagenic Host tackle the modern-day specters of complacency, apathy, and the looming threat of AI. Their work is an allegory for the systematic industrialization of humanity’s eradication — whether by human hands or by the machines we create to snuff out life. In this narrative, the instruments of the state use AI to monitor, control, and suppress the population, sounding a warning of impending doom through a fresh, intense lens in the death metal genre.


The Genotoxic Demo, unleashed in early 2023 via Dry Cough, featured four tracks that plunged listeners into a cerebral mulch while simultaneously slashing through them with a ruthlessness found in the streets. Following a year of relentless live performances alongside bands such as Incantation, Fulci, Fuming Mouth, Undeath, Celestial Sanctuary, Kruelty, Portrayal Of Guilt, and Doldrey, Mutagenic Host have now finished writing, producing, and recording their inaugural full-length debut, The Diseased Machine.


Aptly titled, The Diseased Machine is a dark and thought-provoking journey into that post-plague world, which frankly doesn't feel so far away from present times. As a debut album, it consolidates Mutagenic Host's myriad strengths - stomping 'n' slamming grooves, world-eating heaviness, patient deployment of double-bass movement - and then intensifies them to an enviable degree. To be sure, the band are the proverbial well-oiled machine (but not diseased!) across the album's ten oft-twisting tracks, the clean-yet-crushing production amplifying their strident execution. And with their fluid shifting between tank-rolling downtempo and galloping bouts of speed, we can confidently declare The Diseased Machine as the epitome of "chug and slug" - Mutagenic Host have stormed the gates to further solidify their ferocious presence in the death metal scene.

Thrash collective, Grindpad, returns with a new single and lyric video. "X-Mas Mosh" was mixed & mastered by Erwin Hermsen at Toneshed Studio (Legion Of The Damned, Deadhead, Headless Hunter). The song will also be released on the upcoming vinyl re-release of Violence (Iron Shield Records) in 2025. Watch a lyric video below.





Guitarist JG comment: "Doesn't every band have their "what ifs?" In Grindpad's case it was 'what if we had a Christmas song.' And not your average, standard, heavier cover of a known one, but our very own ACTUAL Christmas song. And, somewhere this year, on a hot sunny summer day, ours was born. It was literally written and recorded in shorts, with sunglasses. So, Mariah Carey, Wham! and Chris Rea, be warned! Because here comes Grindpad's very own... X-MAS MOSH!!"

SOM have announced the release of their third full-length album, Let The Light In, on March 14 through Berlin-based, left-field label Pelagic Records.


SOM's dreamy shoegaze roots are on display across Let The Light In but there is heft at its core that is bracing and ferocious. If the band's debut album The Fall explored hitting rock bottom and sophomore release The Shape of Everything grappled with the ever-darkening world around us, Let The Light In sees SOM turn their sights inward, towards our most primal impulses: Seeking solace and reconciliation from the vibrancy within ourselves and the people we hold close.


Adversity became the catalyst for change when, due to unforeseen circumstances, the band's founding drummer left midway through the album's writing and recording process. SOM took the remainder of 2023 to reshape and refocus, eventually re-recording most of the album in a new configuration that allowed them to paint in even broader sonic strokes. The result is a raw but richly melodic album unafraid to travel through the depths of human emotion, ultimately guiding us towards growth and enlightenment.




Serving as a reinvigorated statement of intent, lead single "Give Blood" unleashes a barrage of post-metal, high gain distortion and pummeling drums before opening up into a panoramic, cloudbusting chorus that sees duelling guitars and vocalist Will Benoit's tender-yet-commanding voice freely intertwined, spiralling ever upwards.


To accompany this brand new song, SOM have unveiled a music video with a particularly cinematic feel, directed by Alex Pace (Blood Incantation, Wayfarer, Abrams). The video features an anonymous couple in a series of intense, dreamlike shots crossed by swirls of light. But abruptly, a darker side appears, counterbalancing this idyll. A sumptuous video that seems to invite viewers to make their own interpretation of it. Watch the video below.


"It's a sort of post-pandemic reflection on kindness and how we treat one another," says Benoit. "The idea came while I was laying on a table, actually giving blood. It occurred to me how kind someone would have to be to be doing this during a pandemic. I started to think about how many people were doing awful things at that time, spreading misinformation, and just generally being horrible people in society. I continue to want to do everything I can to not be that person, I want to be the kind of person who 'gives blood.'"


Since 2019, SOM have toured extensively across North America, Europe and the UK alongside acts including Katatonia, Solstafir, Slow Crush, and many more. This relentless live commitment across 21 countries, coupled with 2023's introspective restructuring, has profoundly altered their creative approach.


As they began working on this new material, the members of SOM found themselves in a fresh headspace, armed with a newfound, hard-earned maturity. Let The Light In is SOM's testament to resilience and evolution. Born from challenge and change, the album pulses with confidence and catharsis, imploring the listener and the band themselves to traverse the darkness and find th

Lord Of The Lost performed at the 2024 edition of Summer Breeze, and you can now watch professionally-filmed video of the band performing "Blood & Glitter". Check it out below:





Two of Germany’s most energetic bands, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost, have joined forces to deliver the outstanding metal anthem, “Lords Of Fyre”, together with an official music video that combines the best of both worlds. The bands also released a behind the scenes video, which can be found below.




After recently announcing a massive co-headline tour for 2025, kicking off October 2 in Berlin and covering seven German cities in total, the song closes out 2024 with a massive bang.


The powerful anthem “Lords of Fyre” celebrates grand melodies and is an instant sing along track, as it combines the trademark sounds of both bands in one. Known for their #1 studio albums, massive sold-out tours, premium positions on the largest festivals and several mainstream TV appearances, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost reinvent themselves as Lords Of Fyre. Get ready for the hottest collaboration of the year, bringing together fire, darkness and boundless joy.


“Lords Of Fyre” is now available on all streaming services worldwide.


Hodi states: “We've had a great friendship with Lord Of The Lost for a long time, even though we come from completely different musical worlds. For us, it was great fun and challenging at the same time to merge the two worlds into one!”


Chris Harms adds: “Besides our shared love for music, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost have one more thing in common: bringing every idea to life, no matter how crazy it might be. The fact that the idea of  ‘let's go on tour together’ has grown into such a monster - with a joint song and video - is even better! We can’t wait for the Lords Of Fyre tour!”


Watch the official video for “Lords Of Fyre” plus the new behind the scenes video, below:








The Lords Of Fyre Tour promises an unforgettable night filled with grand melodies, blazing pyrotechnics, and an unparalleled atmosphere. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer, this tour will make your heart race when the worlds of Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost collide.

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, SHADOWS FALL/ex-OVERKILL drummer Jason Bittner was asked what the impetus was for the formation of CATEGORY 7, his new band also featuring former MACHINE HEAD and current KERRY KING guitarist Phil Demmel, ex-ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando, ARMORED SAINT/ex-ANTHRAX singer John Bush and EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson. Jason replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If I'm being frank, the impetus, for me, was my dissatisfaction with my role in OVERKILL. I hadn't been happy in the band for, like, two fucking years. It wasn't a surprise that I quit. I'd been dissatisfied for a long time, but I'm a team player. I don't like to leave things. I love the guys personally. So I just kind of just hung in there, but I was not happy where I was career-wise, let's say, within the confines of that band. I wasn't a bandmember. And that's the main thing for me to keep doing this at this point in my lifetime. That's why for SHADOWS FALL to be back together, I'm 20 percent owner-member. I'm involved in the decisions. I just don't get told what's happening. I hate that. I'm a Capricorn. I can't deal with that shit."

He continued: "For my whole career, for the most part, even like back to the early days, all the bands either I formed or I was instrumental in getting the guys together, or it was always just a one-for-all, all-for-one thing. OVERKILL was the only band I've ever played in where I was a hired gun. The only exception was ANTHRAX, but I was only a touring member with ANTHRAX, and with PRONG — only touring. That's a totally different animal than being, quote-unquote, in the band. Even when I was in FLOTSAM [AND JETSAM], I was a 20 percent member-owner. I was involved in the decisions. So seven and a half years of that was a long time for me.

"I know Blabbermouth is gonna take this and run the wrong way with what I'm trying to talk about," Bittner added. "My point I love the guys, I was a team player, I wasn't leaving, but I was dissatisfied and I was looking for something else.

"My whole career, I had my ears always to the grindstone and I'm always just in the mix to know what's going on, like, 'Oh, hey, someone's looking for something.' Not that I want to be a ship jumper or anything, but I've had a lot of downtime on my hands in the last number of years. So anything I can play on, play with, be a part of, I'm gung-ho to do. But for a while with OVERKILL, I wasn't like that anymore," Jason admitted. "I'm, like, 'All right, this is cool. I'm not looking for anything else.; But after a while, I was, like, 'All right, I need another outlet.'"

When Ruger pressed Bittner about the exact reasons for his dissatisfaction with his role in OVERKILL and whether he wanted "more involvement in the creative process", Jason said: "A little bit. For me, more so it was definitely on just being paid fairly for my time… Like I said, there's no animosity. I just went and saw everybody last Friday. [OVERKILL] just played in my backyard Friday night. I went, I knocked on the bus, Blitz [OVERKILL singer Bobby Ellsworth] opened the door: 'Hey, you coming tonight?' 'Yeah.' 'All right. Come on in.' Gives me a big hug, like I knew he would. I gave his girlfriend a hug. I said hello to a couple of crew people that I knew. I went inside and gave everybody a hug. D.D. [Verni, OVERKILL bassist] came up, slaps me on the back. It's got nothing to do with our personal lives. It's just a business thing."

Bittner added: "For a while it was fine, but I needed to make myself available for the bands that I'm a member of. That's really what it is. I couldn't be tied to OVERKILL anymore to be their drummer and only their drummer and 'this is the schedule for the year and you have to work in whatever you do in this.' Uh-uh.

"And I know that the people are already typing away, 'Yes, but SHADOWS FALL doesn't tour the way that OVERKILL did,' blah blah blah blah. Yes, true — very true. But remember, I have another band, CATEGORY 7. Between the two, we'll be working just as much. But also, the thing to keep in mind here, too, is I can play five shows with SHADOWS FALL and make more money than playing 30 with OVERKILL."

This past September, Verni told Capital Chaos TV about Bittner's departure: "We kind of knew that that was coming. He had told us a while ago that he was just kind of burned out on too many things and had his hands in too many pots. So I think we kind of knew that was coming."

When the interviewer noted that "it's nice to see he left on good terms" and that there wasn't "some sort of drama," D.D. concurred. "Yeah, it was nothing like that," he said. "He didn't leave us hanging. You know, he finished out his commitments with us. He was supposed to do this European tour, but he couldn't; he ended up not being able to do that, which worked out, because we have Jeramie [Kling, formerly of VENOM INC.] now in the band and he's going to do the KING DIAMOND tour with us. And so it it all ended up working out."

Bittner joined OVERKILL in 2017 and played drums on the band's last two studio albums, 2019's "The Wings Of War" and 2023's "Scorched"

When Bittner has announced his departure from OVERKILL on August 5, he said in a statement: "On August 1, 2024, I played the Vagos Metal Fest in Portugal, and it was the last show I will play in the band OVERKILL.

"For a while now I have been juggling a few different bands along with OVERKILL, and I knew at some point something would have to give since I simply can’t be three places at once. Over the course of this last year, my schedule has reached that breaking point.

"At this time SHADOWS FALL is working towards completion of our new material that will take us back out on the road sometime in 2025, as well as our fall shows we have booked for the rest of this year celebrating 20 years of 'The War Within'. Compounded on top of this is my new band, Metal Blade recording artists CATEGORY 7, whose album just hit the shelves last month and will start touring soon through 2025. All of this adds up to something having to 'take a break', so as of today I no longer play drums in OVERKILL so I can concentrate solely on the bands that I am a full member/owner of.

"Now don't worry — they currently have another great drummer already learning the material, and he will be ready to do battle for the upcoming tours.

"I would like to thank EVERYONE in the OVERKILL extended family for 7 1/2 years of laughs, killer shows, and fun around the globe. All our crew members throughout my run, our agents Dolores Lokas and Mike Monterulo, my tech Animal for always having my back (Shake and Bake),as well as all of our crew past and present, the SKULLKRUSHERS (much love Jurgen),and all the fans who supported my tenure in the band, I love you all, thank you, and will miss you on the European and KING DIAMOND tours… but I'll see you out there with SHADOWS FALL and CATEGORY 7."

OVERKILL played its first concert with Kling on August 30 at the Posada Rock festival in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania.

When OVERKILL announced Kling's addition to the band on August 23, the group said in a statement: "We're gearing up for an epic European and North American tour this August through December and are excited to announce a special addition for the tours. Here comes a thunderous old friend, who had done work with us, as well as THE ABSENCE & VENOM INC. Please welcome, with drum sticks in hand, Jeramie Kling!"

Jeramie added: "Words cannot express how stoked I am to share the stage with my good friends in OVERKILL. We will be laying waste to everyone throughout Europe and North America (with KING DIAMOND). Check the dates online and come out to see an unforgettable night of metal \m/".

A founding member of THE ABSENCE, Kling appeared on VENOM INC.'s second album, 2022's "There's Only Black", and has played with such acts as FORE, RIBSPREADER, GOREGÄNG and NECROMANCING THE STONE. He was also briefly affiliated with the reunited Florida death metal band MASSACRE, which led to the formation of INHUMAN CONDITION, alongside Terry Butler (OBITUARY, ex-DEATH) and Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE). In addition to being a drummer, Kling is a recording engineer, producer and live sound engineer.

Photo credit: Frank White