West Coast based glam, punk ‘n’ rollers, Prophets Of Addiction, have released the new music video for the track “Slippin’ Away,” from their latest album Face The Music, available via BraveWords Records.

Speaking about the new single “Slippin’ Away,” lead singer Lesli Sanders said, “This is one of the most important songs that I have ever written lyrically. This is a tribute to my dad, as I was by his side for the last year of his life every day as he battled cancer.”

As for 2026, the vinyl of Face The Music has just been released on German Label Night of the Vinyl Dead. Links to purchase vinyl below.



– USA / Wisconsin
– Germany
– Greece
– Sweden

CDs available here.

Face The Music can be streamed or purchased here.

Prophets Of Addiction are currently recording new material, and hope to tour in 2026.



Tracklisting:

“Flavor Of The Danger”
“Let’s Get High”
“Slippin’ Away”
“Walk The World”
“Maggie May”
“Superhero”
“I Want You To Know”
“Hollywood”
“Wasted Tears”
“Last One In The Bar”
“Take Me To Your Leader”

Lik, the modern-day purveyors of classic Swedish death metal, have undergone a change in their lineup. An announcement from the band reads:

“Chris Barkensjö has decided to part ways with Lik. It’s been one hell of a ride and we will forever have some fond memories to look back upon. We wish him the very best in his adventures ahead.”

“As for the upcoming live shows, you’re in for a real treat as none other than our good friend Waltteri Väyrynen from Opeth will be grabbing the sticks to perform some real Stockholm Death Metal with us on our upcoming live shows.”

Chris’ statement:

“Thank you & good bye!

I have decided to step away from the band I´ve been a founding member of since 2014.

My reason is simple and honest: it’s no longer fun for me, and I no longer have the energy required to continue in a way that feels right & honest. I don’t want to stay out of habit or obligation. The band deserves full commitment, and I’m no longer in a position to give that.

This decision isn’t about conflict, bitterness, or a lack of respect — quite the opposite. It’s out of respect for the band and for myself that I’ve chosen to step aside. But my passion for playing drums remains unchanged.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the journey since 2014.

I wish the band nothing but the best moving forward.

Cheerio!
Chris”

Lik will return to stages in March when they kick off the Necrofeeling Over Europe Tour 2026! Comments the band: “In March & April we drag Necro across European soil – a procession of stinking, rotten, & unspeakable volume. Join the march or be buried beneath it.” Confirmed dates are as listed:

Things are looking better than ever for Generation Steel. The quintet from Wetzlar/Germany, has repositioned itself on all fronts and is literally blowing a storm with its upcoming third studio album.

With guitar wizard and songwriter Thilo Herrmann, who made his debut in 1985 on the Faithful Breath classic “Skol” and has written heavy metal history with Risk (Ratman a.o.), Running Wild (Black Hand Inn, Masquerade, a.o.) and Grave Digger (Ballads Of A Hangman, a.o.), band leader and guitarist Jack the Riffer now has a living legend at his side.

There has also been a change behind the microphone, with Swedish singer Mike Stark, who currently also sings with the Argentine band Feanor and the Swedish formation Stormburner, now setting the tone. His powerful, high-pitched yet dynamic voice gives the new tracks an absolute seal of approval.

Generation Steel stands for genuine, traditional heavy metal influenced by the 80s, right between acts like Accep and Judas Priest.

With the first demos of their upcoming third LP in tow, the metal commando scored two more hits: With We-Live, they gained a renowned booking agency whose roster includes Overkill, Sacred Reich, Sodom, and their neighbors from Blizzen. The set-up is completed with a contract with the newly launched label Fireflash Records, where Generation Steel found a new home among acts such as Wolf, Ruthless, Holy Moses and Depressive Age.

“I’ve always had a soft spot for Teutonic heavy metal, which was more tangible and present for me. For me, Generation Steel in 2026 stand for the same values and sound that artists like Accept, Grave Digger, Running Wild, and Rage established in the 80s. Even in their raw form, the new songs are pure dynamite and steel in its purest form!” says Fireflash Records owner Markus Wosgien about his new protégés.

Generation Steel are currently in the final stages of production with producer Piet Sielck (Iron Savior) in his studio. Sielck has already refined classics from Gamma Ray, Grave Digger, Headhunter, Stormwarrior, Blind Guardian, and Saxon in the past.

Generation Steel is:

Mike Stark (Vocals)
Thilo Herrmann (Lead Guitar)
Jack the Riffer (Rhythm Guitar)
Andreas Drommershausen (Bass)
Marc Laukel (Drums)

Gibson has announced the release of the Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt, a bold new signature model designed in collaboration with Mark Morton, the acclaimed guitarist and co-founder of LAMB OF GOD.

Known for his ferocious riffs, intricate solos, and genre-defining blend of metal, thrash, and blues influences, Morton has long been celebrated as one of the driving forces behind the new wave of American heavy metal. His new signature Les Paul captures that same fearless musical spirit — delivering precision, power, and uncompromising performance for players who demand the very best.

The Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt is available worldwide at Gibson Garage locations, via authorized Gibson Custom dealers, and on Gibson.com.

"I wanted something that stayed classic to the heritage and the history of the Les Paul, and something that looked heavy metal," says Mark Morton. "The quilt top and the trans black satin finish felt dark and metal to me, but not over the top, it still feels like and looks like a Les Paul. Once we decided on the finish of the top, and the guitar, there's are all of these different design elements to play with re picking out the hardware and plastics. We tried a bunch of different options, and we paid a lot of attention to how we were going to finalize those little details, and for me it's a bullseye.

"The 60s style knobs are a cool throwback to the John Sykes model that was done a long time ago. The way it is contoured at the heel allows me to reach the upper registers comfortably, and the ebony fretboard is really fast. This model has a slim taper neck which was very important for me, as it's the most comfortable neck profile."

Morton continues: "The pickups are unique to this guitar, it's a brand new Gibson pickup and I worked closely with Jim DeCola (master luthier at Gibson),and the Gibson Pickup Shop in designing them. They're both ceramic-based pickups the neck pickup wise more conservative and terms of its output which allows me to flip to the neck position and play clean and roll back the volume and not hit the amp as hard and clean things up quite a bit. Switching to the bridge pick up it's just a flame thrower, its super high output, and when you're really swinging at these bridge pickups they give you all the gain you want they really hit hard and you can pull back to get more of a crunch sound.

"We went back and forth on these pickups for quite a while trying different prototypes and models. It was a lot of fun developing them and hearing the subtle nuances and different changes. The great thing about it was I was touring a lot, so I'd take prototypes and put them in a guitar and try them onstage. I got to put them through the paces, in an actual work environment.

"It's an iconic guitar and an important piece of music history, and for me to be associated with the legacy of the Les Paul, is one of the greatest honors of my career. I am thrilled with the process of developing this guitar, and I am immensely thrilled with the outcome. These are great guitars, I am so proud to play them, and people are really going to like them."

Watch/share the new interview with Mark Morton regarding his Gibson Les Paul Modern Quilt below.

On Thursday, February 12 (4:00-6:00 p.m.),Mark Morton will drop by the Gibson Garage Nashville flagship to unveil his new Gibson Les Paul Modern Quilt and be interviewed live from the Gibson Garage stage by Mark Agnesi, director of brand experience at Gibson. Music fans can stay for a meet-and-greet following the interview.

Crafted for comfort and expression, the Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt features a AAA quilted maple top paired with a mahogany body utilizing Gibson's Ultra Modern Weight Relief, offering exceptional resonance with reduced weight for long sets on stage or in the studio. Its mahogany neck with a SlimTaper profile and Modern Contoured Heel provides effortless upper-fret access, while the ebony fingerboard boasts a compound radius, 22 medium jumbo frets, and mother-of-pearl trapezoid inlays for a fast, elegant playing experience. Finished in Translucent Ebony Burst Satin, the guitar's striking aesthetic is complemented by chrome hardware, Grover Rotomatic locking tuners, black rings with chrome trim, and a truss rod cover bearing Morton's signature.

At the heart of the instrument are two exclusive Mark Morton signature humbucker pickups, handcrafted by the Gibson Pickup Shop to deliver the guitarist's unmistakable tone. The rhythm pickup features moderate, Patent Applied For-style windings with a ceramic magnet for clarity and punch, while the lead pickup offers higher-output windings and a ceramic magnet for added presence and power. Both pickups are wired to individual volume and tone controls with Orange Drop capacitors and a three-way selector switch, giving players a wide dynamic range and exceptional tonal precision.

Each guitar ships in a Modern hardshell case and includes a premium accessory kit, along with a set of Stringjoy Mark Morton Artist Series Signature Electric Guitar Strings. The result is a signature model built for the intensity of the world's biggest stages yet refined enough for the most demanding studio sessions.

The Mark Morton Les Paul Modern Quilt stands as a testament to Morton's artistry and Gibson's commitment to crafting instruments that inspire. Designed for players who push boundaries, it delivers the power, finesse, and unmistakable character worthy of one of metal's most influential guitarists.

LAMB OF GOD recently announced "Into Oblivion", the band's first full‑length album in four years, arriving March 13 via Epic Records alongside a new music video for the title track. The 10‑song record finds the band fully embracing their status as modern metal veterans — leaning into their roots, sharpening their signature groove, and expanding their sonic reach with a sense of creative freedom. The title track's video, directed by Tom Flynn and Mike Watts, channels the band's trademark aggression through psychologically charged lyrics and unrelenting intensity. Morton describes the album as a return to unpressured creativity, while vocalist Randy Blythe frames its themes around the accelerating breakdown of the social contract.

Ahead of the announcement, LAMB OF GOD previewed the album's range with two blistering singles: "Sepsis", a nod to the early 1990s Richmond underground that shaped their beginnings, and "Parasocial Christ", a three‑minute blast of classic LAMB OF GOD energy. Produced and mixed by longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur, "Into Oblivion" was recorded across locations central to the band's identity — drums in Richmond, guitars and bass at Morton's home studio, and Blythe's vocals at the storied Total Access Recording in Redondo Beach. The result is a record that feels both deliberate and untethered, reaffirming LAMB OF GOD's place at the forefront of heavy music.

Photo credit: Errick Easterday (courtesy of Gibson)

Celebrating its 40th anniversary in March 2026, "5150" is the first of four albums VAN HALEN recorded with lead singer Sammy Hagar. To mark this moment, Rhino is releasing an expanded edition of this classic on March 27 with a remastered version of the original album, a disc of rare singles edits and B-sides and a previously unreleased performance from the band recorded on August 27, 1986 in New Haven, Connecticut. Rounding out the package will be a Blu-ray inclusive of the first HD release of the band's classic 1986 live video "Live Without A Net" and a promo video for the track "Dreams".

A live version of "Summer Nights" from VAN HALEN's aforementioned New Haven concert can be seen below.

The 3CD/Blu-ray/LP version of "5150 (Expanded Edition)" includes a remastered version of the original album (overseen by longtime VAN HALEN engineer Donn Landee in 2023 for "The Collection II" box set),a disc of rare non-LP edits and mixes, and the audio from the "Live Without A Net" home video. The New Haven concert, taped at the New Haven Veteran Memorial Coliseum, has also been remastered in HD and included on a Blu-ray alongside two music videos.

"5150" was VAN HALEN's seventh studio album and the band's first to claim the top spot on the Billboard 200. Certified platinum six times in the U.S., the record treated fans to hits like "Dreams", "Love Walks In" and "Why Can't This Be Love", which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"5150" was named after the California police term for a mentally unstable person, which comes from section 5150 of the California Welfare and Institutions Code. 5150 is also the name of guitarist Eddie Van Halen's home studio where the band worked on the record.

"Why Can't This Be Love" was the first single off "5150". It reached No. 3 on the Billboard 100 and helped propel the album to number one. "Dreams" was the second single off "5150". It peaked at No. 22 on the Hot 100.

Ten years ago, Hagar told Rolling Stone about "5150": "It was the first Number One record for all of us, and it stayed there for five weeks. The crazy thing is that it took three weeks to go to Number One. It was a lot more difficult back then before SoundScan. Back then, it wasn't all about sales and it kept building and building. I think we sold something like a million records in the first week, but they didn't count it that way for the charts. It was some weird system.

"It was a big deal for us all to have our first Number One record together," Sammy added. "I remember us drinking champagne in Atlanta at the Ritz Carlton. Our manager told us the news and we popped a bottle at two in the afternoon, which wasn't my style, and we probably had a pretty good show that night. I don't remember that one."

Former KAMELOT and current CONCEPTION vocalist Roy Khan continues shaping his first solo album, expanding on a project first revealed in late 2024. The album represents a new creative chapter in the Norwegian singer's career and follows a period of renewed live activity and closer engagement with his audience.

In a recent Instagram post, Khan shared a moment from the writing process, stating: "Writing down the first three lines of the first song finished for my first solo album…"

Khan's solo album is being produced by Sascha Paeth, a producer, composer and musician with a long-standing career in European metal. Paeth is widely recognized for his fundamental role in shaping the sound of classic KAMELOT albums such as "The Fourth Legacy", "Karma", "Epica" and "The Black Halo", as well as for his work with acts like AVANTASIA, EPICA and ANGRA. His signature blend of heaviness, refinement and cinematic atmosphere aligns closely with the artistic identity Khan has developed throughout his career.

Alongside Paeth, the album is also being co-produced by Caio Kehyayan (FIREWING) and Adrienne Cowan (SEVEN SPIRES),both of whom have been deeply involved in the songwriting process. Additional songwriting contributions come from Bill Hudson, best known for his work with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, I AM MORBID and CIRCLE II CIRCLE. Multiple collaborative sessions have helped define the core musical direction and early structure of the album, highlighting an active and collaborative pre-production phase.

Still untitled and without a confirmed release date, the solo album promises to explore new territory within Khan's musical universe, balancing a distinct personal identity with the experience accumulated through his work with KAMELOT and CONCEPTION. Further details regarding recordings, guest musicians and upcoming steps will be announced as the project moves forward.

In parallel with the studio work, Khan remains active on stage. He has a confirmed appearance at the Bangers Open Air on April 26, 2026, in São Paulo, and will also appear as a special guest with SEVEN SPIRES at the festival's official pre-party on April 24 at Audio.

Last July, Khan took the stage at Tokio Marine Hall in São Paulo, Brazil for a one-night-only performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of KAMELOT's "The Black Halo" album.

Originally released in 2005, the LP remains a landmark in metal history, featuring iconic tracks like "March Of Mephisto", "The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)" and "When The Lights Are Down".

Backing Roy at the São Paulo show were members of the Brazilian progressive rock/heavy metal band MAESTRICK, consisting of Fabio Caldeira on vocals, piano and synthesizers, Renato Montanha on bass, Heitor Matos on drums and Guilherme Henrique on guitar. Also appearing on select tracks was American vocalist Adrienne Cowan of SEVEN SPIRES.

In a 2025 interview with PowerOfMetal.cl, Roy was asked why now was the right time for him to celebrate "The Black Halo". Roy said: "Well, it's 20 years ago since it came out. And 'The Black Halo' is undoubtedly possibly the most important album in my catalog. So I just felt that it was in its place to do some sort of celebration in connection with the 20th anniversary. And that's what we're doing in São Paulo on the 5th of July."

Asked what he thinks made "The Black Halo" such a "timeless" record, Roy said: "I think it was in a very important phase of the band's development, both as a group and as the members individually. The time was right. There were some new collaborations there that took place. It was the first record we recorded with SPV, so we had a good budget and we could do whatever we wanted. We could try our stuff and tear things down in studio, build them up again. We had the finances to do things properly. And I think the lyrics hit some sort of nerve that I think a lot of people can relate to. But most of all, I think it's a bunch of people that happened to align with each other and managed to make something that is really greater than the sum of them all. And 'The Black Halo' has definitely stood the test of time. I mean, the album is a classic in the genre."

"The Black Halo (20th Anniversary Edition)" was made available in an array of special formats, including a limited-edition wooden box set featuring splattered vinyl, a collector's chalice, a ring, a pendant in a velvet bag, a 20-page booklet, and an exclusive autographed card. Other variants include deluxe marbled vinyl, a slipmat and a digipak CD edition. This collector's edition was released via Napalm Records on March 14, 2025 — exactly two decades after its original debut.

Khan is also featured as a special guest on "Here Be Dragons", the latest album from Tobias Sammet's AVANTASIA. His powerful vocals grace a grand and emotional power ballad, marking another exciting chapter in his return to the scene. Sammet himself praised Khan's contribution, calling the song "one of the most moving and emotional, yet biggest ballads I have ever done."

In the summer of 2023, Roy said that a number of things contributed to his decision to leave KAMELOT nearly a decade and a half ago.

The now-55-year-old Norwegian singer announced his exit from KAMELOT in April 2011 after taking several months off to recover from a "burnout."

After his departure from KAMELOT, Khan, who is a devout Christian, joined a church in the coastal town of Moss, Norway.

In an interview with Justin Young of Monsters, Madness And Magic, Roy — whose full name is Roy Sætre Khantatat — was asked what led to his split with KAMELOT. He responded: "Everything. Too much travel. Too much work. I had my first kids. I got married and I was pretty much falling into every pit there was. And this whole character that I was creating was very different from the person that I was and wanted to be at home. And those two characters pulled farther and farther from each other and that whole thing just tore me apart. I wasn't really present when I was at home either. I'd come back from a six-week tour and just take my shoes off and sit right down on the PC and work on something, and it was not good. And I got mentally sick. That summer of 2010, I had a period of five, six weeks where I literally did not sleep. Maybe, I mean a little bit, of course, but there were so many nights that I did not sleep at all. I just wandered around the house and worrying about everything and nothing."

Asked if he became religious after his exit from KAMELOT, Roy said: "Religious? Depends on what you mean by religious, how you define that. But I've always been occupied with big questions and also spiritual things. I mean, those kind of things have always fascinated me. But there were some really weird things that happened to me in connection with me being at my lowest low ever in 2010. I mean, obviously, I was really mentally ill at that point, but we experienced things. I mean, I experienced things that other people experienced together with me, and the timing of things were really awkward. Whatever that was, it definitely made me completely change my mind on the whole issue, is there something out there that we can't see that affects us? I'm positive about that. And I still have to sit down and pinch myself in the arm and just remind myself that the things that happened happened. I mean, some of those things people surely will say are coincidence. Some will say that I just imagined it. Some people will say that — some people won't even believe. But for me, it was very, very clear. And, there's no doubt in my mind. That doesn't mean that that completely changed my life. I mean, it did, but it's not like I was a whole new being all of a sudden. I still have things that I struggle with. It's not like you go from being an arrogant, sinful bastard to being an angel. It's a process. But all those things, having those things in mind for me is definitely gradually changing me in my approach to other people, life in general and then how I look at the time that I have left on this planet."

Four years ago, Roy told Chaoszine about his split with KAMELOT: "I'm really, really extremely thankful that KAMELOT was able to continue without me, 'cause I had no intention to hurt the band. It was a very personal decision to quit the band and I simply had to. And I'm just glad that everything turned out in the end to be… They managed to go on without me, and I'm just very thankful for that, really."

Khan, who reformed his pre-KAMELOT band CONCEPTION eight years ago and released an EP, 2018's "My Dark Symphony", and a full-length album, 2020's "State Of Deception", previously reflected on the circumstances that led to him ending his long working relationship with KAMELOT during an appearance in 2021 on the "Breaking Absolutes With Peter Orullian" podcast. Roy said: "That whole thing was a cocktail of several things that just happened to climax at that point. As you all, KAMELOT was getting more and more popular, so I was away months every year — like half the year at least I was gone. I was having a family, and that right there was starting to tear me apart. And then I was living my life not very healthy — let's put it that way — and I did a lot of stupid stuff back then that… I knew in my heart that it was going down the drain."

He continued: "I remember every night when I sang [the KAMELOT song] 'Karma', I would feel that this shit is gonna knock me on the back of the head at some point. If it's gonna tomorrow, [if] it's gonna be two years from now, I don't know, but the way I live my life, that's not gonna work — it's not sustainable. And then it happened. I knew for so many years, actually, that this was gonna not work out, and then, all of a sudden, it happened. I broke down. I had a full summer where I barely slept — like six to eight weeks where I didn't sleep a whole lot of hours during those six to eight weeks, and I was going really completely crazy. And in connection with that, a lot of stuff happened."

According to Khan, leaving KAMELOT after a 13-year run weighed heavily on him at the time.

"Quitting KAMELOT was the best decision that I've ever made, and by that I don't mean that… KAMELOT was a fantastic thing in my life, and Thomas and the other guys — it had nothing to do with them; it was all me and the way I lived my life, and I just couldn't take it any longer," he explained. "And I was also overworked — I worked all the time. Even when I was home. The first thing I'd do when I got back home is I would kick my shoes off in the hallway and I'd just sit right down at the computer and start working. I was really not a good husband and I was not a good father. Lots of things weren't good about me at that point.

"Quitting KAMELOT at that point, it was easy but it was hard," he elaborated. "It was easy because I didn't really have a choice. I was really wrecked. And at the same time, it was hard because I'd been working to get to that point my whole life, basically — 20 years, at least — and finally I was there. And then I threw the towel in and said, 'Hey, guys, I'm not coming in for the next tour.' 'Okay. Well, what's wrong?' 'Well, actually, I'm not coming back at all.' And obviously, everybody… My mom was, like, 'Are you kidding me? Are you serious?' Then the guys in the band, they thought that it was gonna pass. But I knew in my heart that summer [of 2010], already in August, I knew that that's it."

KAMELOT officially announced Tommy Karevik as its new lead singer in June 2012. The Florida-based band has recorded four albums so far with the Swedish vocalist: 2012's "Silverthorn", 2015's "Haven", 2018's "The Shadow Theory" and 2023's "The Awakening".

Asked if he has listened to any of KAMELOT's recent material with Karevik, Roy told Italy's SpazioRock back in 2018: "Yes I have. I really like some of their new stuff. Sounds classical KAMELOT in my ears, and Tommy is a great singer."

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British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley, who fronted IRON MAIDEN more than 25 years ago, has announced that he will stop doing "meet-and-greets and signing" sessions at his solo concerts.

The 62-year-old musician, who underwent a quadruple bypass surgery following a heart attack in March 2023, explained his decision in a social media post earlier today (Tuesday, February 3). He wrote: "I have decided to stop doing free & included meet & greets & signing at my headline shows.

"This is a massive decision for me to take, mainly to protect my health following my open-heart surgery after a near fatal heart attack. But also, I feel I must protect my health as much as possible, prioritising my energy, focus & voice for the performances at shows where the highest standards are my aim.

"A further reason is the disappointment of seeing signed items appearing the very next day for sale on ebay & other auction sites after the meet & greets. This is in no-one's best interests. So, there will be no signings in the foreseeable future.

"If you see me out & about & would like a selfie, that's fine. Just say hello & get your phone or camera ready. That isn't changing.

"After 25 years this is a massive decision for me to take. You are my inspiration and my comfort, my warriors & my friends & together we have moved the sun. I thank you so much for all your help & support over the years, & thank you in advance for understanding this very difficult decision."

Last spring Blaze embarked on a European tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of his first post-MAIDEN release, "Silicon Messiah". On this tour, Blaze played songs from "Silicon Messiah", previously unperformed songs from his most recent album "Circle Of Stone" and classic IRON MAIDEN songs from his era with the band. Blaze gave free meet-and-greets at the merchandise stand before the shows began for all ticket holders.

Bayley fronted IRON MAIDEN from 1994 until 1999. The two MAIDEN albums he appeared on, "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI", sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort, and a follow-up LP, 2022's "Genius".

Last year WOLFSBANE released "Live Faster", a full-throttle reinvention of the band's iconic debut, "Live Fast, Die Fast", which was originally produced by Rick Rubin and released on Def American Recordings in 1989.

In a February 2025 interview with Rock Of Ages radio, Blaze was asked what advice he would give to younger musicians who are trying to make it in the scene today. He responded: "Well, it's a different shape now, the industry, from when I started. When I started, you had to get a record deal. You had to be with a company to do everything. Now, you can afford your own recording equipment. It doesn't take that much. And studios are a lot cheaper.

"I would say don't stop at learning your instrument," he continued. "That's the key. You've gotta be great on your instrument. The next thing is you have to have songs that really mean something, even if it's just for you, a song that makes sense. And then after that you must learn to record yourself well. You must learn that. So as much as you learn to be a virtuoso on guitar or play drums or whatever instrument you've chosen, you must learn to record yourself. That is possible now with practice and experience to make an album that as good as an album that someone has spent a million euros recording. That's possible. You can learn to do that. It's absolutely possible. So I would say to new bands, do that and take advantage of the social media. But the key thing is, and this is a horrible question that I believe you must ask yourself is, why would anybody want to listen to me instead of watch Netflix or go on the PlayStation? That's a tough question to answer, man. And I have to ask myself that all of the time. And if you can't think of a reason, you'd better come up with something. The reason should be that your songs are so great live and you mean it so much when you bring these great songs to life in front of five people, 50 people or 500, it has to really grab everybody. That's my opinion.

"What I do at every Blaze Bayley concert, at every WOLFSBANE concert, what I'm trying to do is reach into the heart of my wonderful fans and go, 'Right, come on, you're gonna feel better. Just come with me, sing along. You're gonna feel better. Get involved.' So that's what I would say to new bands.

"I think people do forget why they get into the artists that they like," Bayley added. "And it's almost always because of the songs, something about the songs that really appeals to you. So I think that's important. But it's tough, and you've really gotta consider if it's for you. Because in the end, if it's not life and death, it's really, really tough, man. If you're not prepared to sacrifice and work hard and work smart, it's tough."

Bayley's latest solo album, "Circle Of Stone", came out in February 2024.

ANNOUNCEMENT

I have decided to stop doing free & included meet & greets & signing at my headline shows.

This is a...

Posted by Official Blaze Bayley on Tuesday, February 3, 2026

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's epochal debut album "The Poison" truly solidified the band's status as modern British metal frontrunners. But the scene was set and foundations were laid by their exploratory early recordings, unearthed publicly in 2004's EP "Hand Of Blood". An unparalleled and enduring career has since followed and, in doing so, the group changed the landscape and supercharged the trajectory of alternative music.

Today, the band has revealed that the "Hand Of Blood" EP will be reissued as a standalone release, paying homage to the early spark in their career that has now become a roaring flame.

"I honestly can't believe it's been twenty years since the release of 'The Poison' and 'Hand Of Blood', and what an incredible twenty years it's been," says BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck. "I feel so proud of what we've achieved as a band in the last two decades and it all started with those recordings."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's meteoric rise saw "The Poison" hit No. 21 in the U.K. album charts, becoming a late contender in end of year polls, placing at No. 7 on Kerrang!'s "Albums Of The Year" list, and since achieving gold status. An album still boasting enduring impact, Metal Hammer listed the album in the Top 25 in their "The Greatest Metal Albums Of The Century" feature.

Twenty years on, the band has proven their music has definitively stood the test of time. Joining forces with TRIVIUM, who were also celebrating the twentieth anniversary of their debut album "Ascendancy", the bands launched "The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour". Honoring the legacy that these groundbreaking and influential albums paved for them, the tour took both bands all over the globe to some of the world's most prestigious venues, including a colossal and breathtaking sold-out show at London's O2 Arena.

"Hand Of Blood" EP track listing:

01. 4 Words (To Choke Upon)
02. Hand Of Blood
03. Cries In Vain
04. Curses
05. No Control
06. Just Another Star

In 2024, to celebrate two decades, "The Poison" was remastered for vinyl and was released on a set of limited-edition and exclusive products. Now, the "Hand Of Blood" EP has been reissued as a standalone release. Coming on a range of bespoke, exclusive and rare products, it offers the chance for completists and new fans alike to add the blueprint of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's success to their collection.

An exclusive picture disc featuring an homage to the EP's original art direction and a special limited edition marble design vinyl are available through the band's official store. An eco-recycled CD option and red-color vinyl will be available for all retail.

Pre-order the "Hand Of Blood" reissue here.

Photo credit: Andy Ford

KISS's "I Was Made For Lovin' You" music video has officially topped a billion views on YouTube.

The band announced the milestone on social media, writing: "The numbers speak for themselves. This one still dominates. IWMFLY baby!!"

Last summer, Paul Stanley revealed that "I Was Made For Lovin' You" is the "biggest" KISS song of all time.

On August 26, 2025, the now-74-year-old KISS guitarist/vocalist, who co-wrote "I Was Made For Lovin' You" with Desmond Child and Vini Poncia, took to X to write: "THE BIGGEST KISS SONG OF ALL TIME IS… 'I Was Made for Lovin' You' with 1.3 BILLION total streams on Spotify as of late August and approximately 850 THOUSAND daily streams!! Amazing and THANK YOU!"

Seven years ago, Child said he was hurt when KISS publicly badmouthed "I Was Made For Lovin' You".

Although "I Was Made For Lovin' You" was a huge chart success for KISS 40 years ago, it was maligned by many of the group's fans who didn't appreciate the track's disco beat.

During an appearance on the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, Child said that he wrote "I Was Made For Lovin' You" with Stanley after befriending the KISS frontman in the late '70s.

"I was experimenting then with a drum machine, and the idea of having dance beats with rock had occurred to me," Desmond recalled. "So I kind of hoodwinked him into this idea of four-on-the-floor dance beat with these heavy guitars. Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] never bought it — he never liked it, [and] he [still] doesn't.

"I remember when they made a record — I think it was [1981's] '[Music From] 'The Elder'' — and they started doing hundreds of interviews saying, 'Well, this time, we're putting guards in front of the door to keep Desmond Child out,'" he continued. "And I was so hurt. I called Paul and I said, 'Paul, why don't you criticize your enemies, not the friends that put money in your pocket?' And he says, 'Well, you know, that's Gene — it's not me.' So, the next day I came home and there was a message on my answering machine. And it was, like, 'Hi. It's Gene. Sorry.' And he hangs up. [Laughs] That was his apology."

According to Child, he and Simmons eventually reconciled. "After all these years, he's been an amazing friend and supporter and, actually, mentor," Desmond said.

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" originally appeared on KISS's 1979 album "Dynasty". It was released as the A-side of their first single from the album. It was the band's second gold single, selling over 1 million copies. The single reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart. The song also became a Top 10 hit in Australia, reaching No. 6 on the ARIA charts in 1979. The song fared the best in Western Europe (Where it became a Top 20 hit in Sweden, a Top 10 hit in Norway, made it to the No. 2 position in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and in Holland it became a No. 1 smash).

In 2018, Simmons said that he hated performing "I Was Made For Lovin' You" because he is forced to sing like his grandmother. Asked in an interview with OK! magazine to name a song that he wasn't initially crazy about that ended up becoming a hit, Gene said: "Well, Paul Stanley comes in and he says, 'Did you write any songs?' I go, 'Oh, yeah. I've got one called 'Almost Human'.' 'Yeah? How does it go?' 'I'm almost human. I can't help feelin' strange.' 'Yeah, that's cool. That's a Gene song.' 'How about you, Paul?' He goes, 'I've got one. [It goes] 'Tonight.'' "Ooooh. That's cool. What's the next line?' 'I'm gonna give it all to you.' 'Oh, yeah. I know what 'it' means — I know exactly what you mean.' 'In the darkness.' [Claps] 'Love that!' 'There something I wanna do.' 'Yeah, I know what that 'something' is. Wow! That's a cool song. Okay, what's my part?' [Sings] 'Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do.' 'You're killing me. Really? I'm gonna sing like my grandmother?' [Sings] 'Do, do, do…' I hate playing that song to [this] day. Stadiums full of people jump up and down like biblical locusts — they go nuts — with tattoos and grills on… 'Ahhhh!' They're all jumping up and down, and I'm going, 'Do, do, do, do, do, do… Kill me now.' Still — still to this day I hate that song."

After the female interviewer pressed him on whether the song ever grew on him after performing it for the last four decades, Gene said: "Well, how about you sing that song? You're a girl. I wanna sing guy stuff."

Stanley admitted in 2017 that the success of "I Was Made For Lovin' You" was "a double-edged sword, because it became such a massive hit but it was also so contrary and contradictory to what we had done before." He added: "The funniest thing is when we do festivals sometimes in Europe where it's very much… the bands are quite heavy, well, when we do an encore of 'I Was Made For Lovin' You', you suddenly have all these people with spikes in their eyeballs or bones through their noses singing along. So it's a song that seems to transcend everything — although it went through a period, certainly, of a big backlash against it."

I Was Made For Lovin’ You just passed ONE BILLION views on YouTube 🔥

The numbers speak for themselves. This one still dominates.

Posted by KISS on Monday, February 2, 2026

Fan-filmed video of KITTIE performing on January 27 aboard this year's ShipRocked cruise can be seen below.

KITTIE bassist Ivana "Ivy" Vujic sat out the band's performances on this year's ShipRocked due to "a prior family commitment". She is expected to rejoin her bandmates for their appearance at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada in April. Filling in for Vujic on ShipRocked was Rachel Gonzales of the Las Vegas band NEON KNIGHTS.

When KITTIE announced Ivy's ShipRocked absence on January 26, the band wrote in a statement: "For those joining us at @shiprocked this week, you may notice that Ivy won't be with us on this run. Family always comes first, and she's honoring a prior family commitment, something we fully understand and support. We're looking forward to being back together again at @sicknewworld in April".

ShipRocked 2026 sailed January 25-31, 2026 on board Carnival Horizon from Miami to Half Moon Cay, Celebration Key — Carnival's private cruise port on the island of Grand Bahama — and Nassau in the Bahamas.

At last October's Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California, KITTIE drummer Mercedes Lander and guitarist/vocalist Morgan Lander spoke to Baby Huey and Chasta of the San Francisco radio station 107.7 The Bone about the band's decision to reunite in 2022, initially just for a couple of festival appearances. Mercedes said: "We could not ignore the e-mails from [concert promoter] Live Nation in our inbox any longer. Because we didn't have any representation for management, we didn't have any representation for our booking agents or anything like that. So these people's last-ditch effort to try and get us on these festivals was to e-mail us, e-mail the band e-mail, and then they were so persistent, like, 'Hey, I've got this festival. Come on.' And every couple of months they'd e-mail us. And I remember writing Morgan and being, like, 'Hey, just so you know, we should probably reply back to this guy, 'cause he's written us at least three times.'"

Referencing the fact that KITTIE eventually released a new studio album, "Fire", which came out in June 2024 via Sumerian Records, Morgan added: "But it wasn't just that — it was that more people were listening. Spotify numbers [were growing], and people just asking for new music. And the voices just continued to get louder and louder."

Continued Mercedes: "And we couldn't ignore them anymore. And our plan was just to play a couple of shows and then be, like, 'Okay, bye.' That's the KITTIE universe — so it always ends up taking on a life of its own. And then that morphed into us getting an offer for a record deal, and then getting, obviously, to write new music. And we were, like, 'Well, we don't have any new music, but I guess we'll write some music.' So, again, everything kind of spiraled out control. We got to work with like dream-list people for 'Fire'. It was amazing. We felt so lucky to be able to work with somebody like [producers] Nick Raskulinecz and Josh Wilbur. Like, wow. Those are the guys. It was the dream team. We have the dream team."

Asked what is coming up next for KITTIE, Morgan said: "Well, Aftershock is our wrap-up show of the year. So that's it for us. We get to go home and relax. We've got a few things brewing next year. There'll probably be some more festivals, more shows, maybe some headline stuff. We do have a few things announced, but there'll probably be more. And maybe start thinking about new music too, just for fun."

On September 19, 2025, KITTIE released "Spit XXV" EP, a four-track effort celebrating the 25th anniversary of the band's gold-certified debut album. The collection featured freshly updated and re-recorded versions of four of the albums biggest tracks, "Brackish", "Charlotte", "Do You Think I'm A Whore?" and the title track, "Spit", all produced, once again, by Garth Richardson who helmed the original 1999 sessions at EMAC Studios.

Released on January 11, 2000, "Spit" transformed KITTIE from four Canadian teenagers into international heavyweights, achieving gold certification with over 660,000 U.S. sales. The album became a defining moment for women in heavy music, with its aggressive sound and uncompromising attitude proving that metal made by women could achieve both critical respect and commercial success during nu-metal's completely male-dominated peak era.

The original "Spit" earned critical recognition from Rolling Stone, who ranked the title track No. 82 on their "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Songs Of All Time" in 2023. The album's influence continues rippling through generations of musicians, with artists like Serena Cherry of SVALBARD crediting it as "the reason she became a metal musician," while experimental artist Poppy covered the title track in 2023.

"Fire", KITTIE's first new material in 13 years, reached No. 13 on U.K. Rock & Metal Albums charts and No. 20 on Billboard Top Album Sales, while single "We Are Shadows" became the band's highest-charting song on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay chart at No. 20. The album earned the band a 2025 Juno Award nomination for "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year".

Since returning from their hiatus in 2022, KITTIE has experienced a remarkable resurgence across demographics, with their 920,000 monthly Spotify listeners spanning longtime fans and new generations discovering their music through social media. Their performances at major festivals including Sick New World, Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple have demonstrated the band's enduring live power, while their successful 2024 North American headline tour proved their enduring and undeniable ability to command stages as headliners.

Jukka Pelkonen, vocalist of Finnish melodic death metal powerhouse OMNIUM GATHERUM, has been diagnosed with lymphoma, a cancer that affects the lymphatic system. As a result, Jukka will miss the band's European "May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way" tour, which is scheduled to kick off on February 11 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Earlier today (Monday, February 2),Jukka released the following statement via social media: "It is Jukka from OG. I have to inform you I won't be able to participate on the upcoming European tour. This is because I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. And now this serious situation requires my full attention. ⁠
⁠
"But worry not. OG is a train which is not easily stopped. After a careful dialogue and consideration with my brothers in OG we decided to ask a talented individual to join the tour. He is Henry Hämäläinen. An experienced singer and a frontman. We think he is more than suitable to headbang with OG on this tour."

OMNIUM GATHERUM added: "As a silver lining, the tour is still happening in its entirety and we'll make sure it's going to be one hell of a ride! Even with this setback, the spirit of OG is strong, so see you all at the shows!

⁠Henry commented: "Hi there OG family, Henry here!⁠ While I'm truly saddened by Jukka having to step away from this tour, I'm extremely honored to be called upon in the band's time of need. The trust shown by the whole band — and especially Jukka himself — means a lot to me."⁠

Last month OMNIUM GATHERUM surprise released a new single, "Moongold". The song was written and recorded during the sessions for their critically acclaimed album "May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way", released late last year to widespread praise from the international music press, and serves as a perfect bonus track to complement the album as a whole.

Kicking off their 30th-anniversary year, and widely regarded as one of Finland's most internationally active touring metal bands, OMNIUM GATHERUM will embark on their European headline tour on February 11, with FALLUJAH and IN MOURNING as special guests. The world tour cycle for "May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way" began already last year with an extensive North American headline tour.

Formed in 1996 in the coastal town of Karhula, OMNIUM GATHERUM has long stood at the crossroads of traditional heavy metal, Gothenburg-style melodic death, and progressive finesse — earning the tongue-in-cheek label adult-oriented death metal.

On "May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way", founding guitarist and chief songwriter Markus Vanhala (also in INSOMNIUM, CEMETERY SKYLINE) sought to capture the band's full scope: catchy hooks, searing solos, thunderous rhythms, inventive keys, and vocals that shift between aggression and melody with ease.

Through its lyrics, "May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way" is structured as a loose concept album, narrating "stories from the streets" through the experiences of dreamers, fiends, liars and wanderers. Songs like "Walking Ghost Phase" delve into addiction and despair, while "Ignite The Flame" champions brotherhood and rebellion. In "The Darkest City", the urban landscape itself speaks, reflecting the chaos of the modern world.

The music was captured in various Finnish studios — some in repurposed industrial spaces with a haunted stillness. Meanwhile, Jukka Pelkonen's vocal sessions were tracked in Sweden with Björn "Speed" Strid (SOILWORK),who co-produced the vocals and lent his voice to the powerful gang shouts. For the gearheads, the vocal tracks were cut on the legendary SSL console used on QUEEN's "Innuendo", adding a touch of rock history to the powerful performance. And to round out the album's production, the band once again turned to Jens Bogren and Tony Lindgren from Sweden's renowned Fascination Street Studios for mixing and mastering.

OMNIUM GATHERUM is:

Jukka Pelkonen - vocals
Markus Vanhala - guitar, backing vocals
Aapo Koivisto - keyboards
Mikko Kivistö - bass, clean vocals
Atte Pesonen - drums
⁠

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Fan-filmed video of California crossover thrash/hardcore punk legends SUICIDAL TENDENCIES performing on January 27 aboard this year's ShipRocked cruise can be seen below.

Last month SUICIDAL TENDENCIES announced that they had recruited Xavier Ware as their new drummer following the recent departure of Jay Weinberg.

On January 23, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES shared the following statement via social media: "We're SToked to introduce you to X, the new SxTx drummer! Breedxdrums

"X has already recorded some tracks for the new Cyco Miko album and is ready to officially jump on board with ST STarting with the ShipRocked Cruise. This will be ST's 3rd time doing ShipRocked and each time keeps getting better.

"Looking forward to seeing you there and or any of the shows/ festivals coming this year.

"So please welcome X and look out for lots of new annoucements coming soon from ST and the Cyco Family for 2026 and beyond!"

In addition to Ware, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' current lineup consists of singer Mike Muir, lead guitarist Dean Pleasants, rhythm guitarist Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and bassist Tye Trujillo (son of METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo).

Hailing from Beaufort, North Carolina, Xavier has been drumming since he was two years old. He explained: "I started in church and went on to perform in churches around my local and surrounding areas. With church, came school. Schooling allowed me to develop my music reading skills, perfect my ability in dynamics and strengthen musical techniques. I gigged throughout high school with different musicians and learned how to play jazz drums. This created the opportunity to audition and make the all-state jazz band in North Carolina three out of four times. In college I learned a bit of music theory and enhanced my jazz drumming. Since college, my playing and touch expanded, and have not been the same since! Out of college, I gigged around the triangle area of North Carolina with peers and professors alike.

"I hope my sound can continue to touch every heart, soul, and mind. I am very grateful for the opportunity to play drums in whatever setting, and I hope to be able to do so forever."

On January 11, Weinberg announced his departure from SUICIDAL TENDENCIES after an almost two-year run with the California crossover thrash/hardcore punk legends.

Jay played his first concert with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in March 2024 in Osaka, Japan.

Weinberg's pairing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES came less than two months after he was announced as the new drummer of INFECTIOUS GROOVES, the long-running outfit formed more than three decades ago by Robert Trujillo alongside Robert's then-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmate Mike Muir.

Last November, Jay and his wife Chloe announced that they were anticipating the arrival of their first baby.

Throughout 2025, Weinberg had been actively involved with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES. Additionally, he released his debut solo track titled "Sandstone", featuring George Clarke of DEAFHEAVEN on vocals. Jay revealed that the song was the first of a series of upcoming collaborations, showcasing various guest singers whom Weinberg has been developing material with over several years.

Frontiers Music Srl has announced a historic and long-awaited event for melodic hard rock fans: GIANT will reunite its original lineup for a full show appearance at the Frontiers Rock Festival 2026, taking place on May 1-3, 2026 at the Live Club in Trezzo sull'Adda (Milan),Italy.

Originally formed in the late '80s by brothers Dann and David Huff, together with the experienced jazz and rock keyboardist Alan Pasqua and Nashville session bass player Mike Brignardello, GIANT would have become one of the most respected bands of the melodic hard rock scene, since the release of their debut album "Last Of The Runaways" (A&M Records, 1989).

Following countless live performances in support of their debut, the band released the follow-up "Time To Burn" (Epic, 1991),an album still regarded as a main source of influence for many melodic and hard rock bands who came after. In the early '90s, GIANT disbanded, with their members becoming involved in different projects, with both Dann and David Huff becoming well-respected producers.

In 2001, Frontiers prompted GIANT to release "III", an album that would prove to be a landmark in the growth of the new era melodic rock scene, particularly in Europe. Unfortunately, Dann's busy schedule along with the other members' commitments made the reunion impossible to carry on as had originally been planned; however, the vision of bringing GIANT back as a band with a recording and touring lineup was something that the band was still open to exploring, even if Dann had to step away.

Thus, original members, drummer David Huff and bassist Mike Brignardello, with the blessing of Dann started endless research for the right musicians that could be part of a renewed GIANT lineup. In the end, the choice fell on vocalist Terry Brock (ex-STRANGEWAYS) and guitarist John Roth (WINGER, STARSHIP).

The resulting album, "Promise Land", soon became a fan favorite, showcasing top-quality songwriting and performances. GIANT, however, went into hibernation again, with the exception of a one-off show in 2017, where the original band members reunited on a Nashville club stage for a charity event.

That event piqued fan interest and Frontiers and David Huff started talking again to see if they could manage to find the right formula for a new album from GIANT. When the Swedish band PERFECT PLAN released a cover version of the GIANT's original hit "Stay" in 2019, then all pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.

Huff and Brignardello were keen on the idea of Kent handling lead vocals for the next GIANT release. Dann Huff gave his seal of approval, appearing on lead guitar on the single "Never Die Young", which anticipated the successful release in 2022 of the "Shifting Time" album. GIANT released their latest studio album, "Stand And Deliver", in May 2025.

At the Frontiers Rock Festival 2026, GIANT will reunite the original lineup, featuring Dann Huff on lead guitar, David Huff on drums, and Mike Brignardello on bass and will be joined by U.S. singer Bryan Cole. The lineup will be completed by Mark Oakley, who also served as second guitarist during the band's first two album tours, and Larry Hall on keyboards.

For this special appearance, GIANT will perform many of their most legendary songs, primarily drawn from the first two albums, which defined their sound and left an indelible mark on the melodic hard rock genre.

As part of the festival's exclusive Platinum VIP Experience, fans will also have the rare opportunity to attend a Q&A session with GIANT at the venue, offering an intimate look into the band's history, legacy, and this very special reunion.

This special appearance marks a rare and celebratory moment in the history of the band, and offers fans a unique opportunity to witness the original lineup together on stage once again, in a setting that honours the deep and long-standing relationship between GIANT and Frontiers.

For more information, visit www.frontiersrockfestival.com.

During an appearance on the latest episode of his "The David Ellefson Show", former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson commented on the fact that MEGADETH's latest album includes Dave Mustaine's version of "Ride The Lightning", the title track of METALLICA's 1984 album for which Mustaine got a co-writing credit following his 1983 departure from the band. Ellefson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The funny thing, [Dave] was mad at [current METALLICA guitarist] Kirk Hammett for playing [Mustaine's] solos [on the songs that ended up on METALLICA's 'Kill 'Em All' album], and now here's Dave playing Kirk's solos."

Ellefson continued: "I remember being at some party down in Orange County. And I think I remember the woman who owned the place. But that was Dave's haunts. It was Orange County. It's kind of where he came out of. I remember Ron McGovney was there, from METALLICA, the former bass player. He was there with his girlfriend. And it was a big party, and somebody there had the [then-]new METALLICA album, 'Ride The Lightning'. And we listened to it. We put it on. I remember Dave goes, 'They fucking stole my riff.' That [riff in the instrumental break before the bridge] because we had that; Dave used to play that in the apartment. [Early MEGADETH guitarist] Greg Handevidt seems to think that was actually in [the original version of] 'Set The World Afire' [the first song Mustaine wrote after being kicked out of METALLICA]. And he may be right. It may have been in that song. And then we had to take it out because they [METALLICA] used it. So, they clearly used a couple of Dave's riffs. Dave speaks about it now like they were all sitting in the room writing 'Ride The Lightning' together. I wasn't there, so I don't know the details of it, but it seems to me if it was really a finished song, it would've been on 'Kill 'Em All'. But it wasn't. It was a couple of years later. So, look, did Dave have a participation? Yeah, but it seems to me more like that song was sort of put together after he was out of the group. But again, I wasn't there. I do know this much: James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] is a very different lyric writer than Dave was. So by 'Ride The Lightning', you hear very much James coming into his own as his own lyricist, as I hear it. So there's that."

Ellefson went on to say that he has tried to give the new MEGADETH album an objective listen.

"It's funny, I, of all people, am not on the MEGADETH hate train," he said. "I know the fanbase is divided on this new album. I hear about it. Our singer, Chaz Leon, from KINGS OF THRASH, he's big MEGADETH fan, big Dave fan, and he tells me, the fanbase is a bit divided on it.

"I don't care. I've really moved on from Dave, from MEGADETH," Ellefson claimed. "It's all in my rearview mirror. I just did an interview with Guitar Player magazine where I just very clearly said, 'Look, I've certainly forgiven Dave for everything.' And life's moved on. I'm on to new stuff. That's five years in my rearview mirror at this point. And [they asked me], 'Oh, are you gonna be part of the MEGADETH [farewell tour]?' And I said, well, I'm not invited. It's like, look, if they called me, would I grab a bass, go play a couple of songs? Of course. It'd be fun. It'd be cool. But that's not what I'm sitting around going, 'Well, I hope they call.' Fuck that. I'm sitting here learning four other bands' [worth] of songs right now, including METAL CHURCH and 'Bass Warrior' and everything else."

According to Ellefson, he recently listened to an interview Mustaine gave to SiriusXM radio personality Eddie Trunk and he took issue with Mustaine's comment that " the behavior of one of the bandmembers in the past" stands in the way of MEGADETH playing the final show of its upcoming farewell tour with a lineup that could include all surviving former members of the group. Mustaine was apparently referring to his decision to fire Ellefson in May 2021 after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

"I think it is ridiculous [to say that]… something I did was [so] unforgivable [that we can't play together again]," Ellefson told "The David Ellefson Show". "[It was] a fake story — fake scandal, fake story. Give me a fucking break. Fake news. So that's just silly and ridiculous.

Circling back to Mustaine's interview with Trunk, Ellefson said: "My heart softened toward Dave when I heard that interview, because I hear him. He's obviously in a very different part of his life. He's a lot older. Dave and I haven't talked in five years, and I don't sit around and read and listen to his interviews, but this is one that — ah, what the fuck? It's on. I'll listen to it. So, realizing I've made records with Dave, obviously, for almost 40 years, I can get kind of almost in the room a little bit with it."

Ellefson continued: "I do say this: I don't remember [hearing] any of the songs [that are on the new MEGADETH album]… I thought 'Let There Be Shred'… Look, [current MEGADETH guitarist] Teemu [Mäntysaari] is obviously a great guitar player. He's fantastic. He's a great player. To me, he's kind of the story of MEGADETH right now. He's the shining star of the group. I wish they would not Pro Tool Dirk [Verbeuren, current MEGADETH drummer] so much 'cause the guy can play, and he's got this kind of loose… We always said he's the closest to [early MEGADETH drummer] Gar Samuelson since Gar Samuelson. It's, like, take the guy off the fucking Pro Tool grid, stop quantizing him and let him breathe a little bit. He can play. Let him breathe. And so there's some of those production things that I — even on the last album that I was a part of until I wasn't… I was, like, don't lock everything to the grid, man. It's, like, let people play; let it breathe. Let it feel like the 'Peace Sells' album."

Referencing the fact that the original version of MEGADETH's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" album featured his tracks on it before he was kicked out of the band and his tracks were replaced by those of Steve DiGiorgio, Ellefson said: "Maybe one day Dave will unmute my bass parts and actually put out the remixed, remastered David Ellefson and Dirk Verbeuren version, because I'm telling you, dude, there was magic in those parts that Dirk and I played on that last album together on that — I hate that title, 'The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!' Ugh.

"But I will say, I listened to the new [MEGADETH album]. I mean, look, Dave's got a new band. He's got a new sound. So I just sat and listened to it just as a listener, a fan even of MEGADETH and even of Dave's abilities. 'cause I am — I admire what he can write and do and stuff. you know. And one thing I will say about Dave — he writes a lyric that makes you wanna listen to what he's saying. Usually with heavy metal, it's like a bunch of riffs. Then the singer comes in either growling, yelling, whatever. You sort of check out — at least I do. Chuck Billy's [TESTAMENT] another one I listen to because he's such a freight train that you can't help but hear him and what he's saying. But Dave does write a lyric that you listen to it. 'Cause I always say, when you're mixing, when the singer comes in, everything else has to kind of step back, 'cause people wanna hear the singer. I mean, that's what women listen to. When they hear a song, it's, like, listen to the singer. So, to me, that's what you should do."

On the topic of MEGADETH's new album being billed as the band's final effort, Ellefson said: "I still look at it as Dave's retirement because I still think of MEGADETH as our band. I think it's a sin to just go off and claim it as his own. And look, at the same time, [there's] this woman who I'd done an interview with. And she tells me that she's also a psychic, and one day she calls me and we do some psychic reading. I'm, like, yeah, there's probably some… just like reading a horoscope to me, there's probably some truth in and around some or all this stuff. So one day she calls me up, and I don't know her. She goes, 'You know Dave doesn't want you on his last album.' I said, 'Yeah, no shit. He's certainly behaving like that. He's taking all my songs off, takes my bass parts off. Yeah, no kidding.' And now I'm not in the band. So on one hand it's sort of, like, all right, look, if the friendship is done, the musical relationship is over, hey, move on. And of course, getting to use the MEGADETH name, well, guess what? Now a million people pay attention to it. Try doing what the rest of us have done — go out under your own name, which I know he tried to do back in 2004 and everybody, they repelled back and said, 'No, we need this album to say MEGADETH.' … That's what's under contract here.. So he gets the the benefit of that. 'Cause I hear it and I go, okay, this is a Dave solo record. This is Dave and his new band, Dave and his new guys. It says MEGADETH, so obviously it gets all the attention, but realistically, I hear it and to me it just doesn't sound like MEGADETH. And that's just me — period. It sounds like Dave doing what Dave does, but with a different set of guys in a new day. And this is Dave's retirement. So that's my view on it in a nutshell."

According to Billboard, MEGADETH has secured its first-ever first No. 1 album in the U.S. with the band's final self-titled effort.

"Megadeth" debuted at the top of the chart after earning 73,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending January 29, according to Luminate. The bulk of that sum was driven by pure album sales (purchases of physical and digital copies of the album),totaling 69,000.

The follow-up to "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", "Megadeth" was released via Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint on Frontiers Label Group's new BLKIIBLK label.

MEGADETH also claims the top spot in Australia (highest previous position No. 2) and Austria (highest previous position No. 8). Other top five spots include No. 2 in Finland (and No. 1 physical),Sweden (plus No. 1 physical; highest previous position No. 9),and Belgium (highest previous position: No. 6); No. 3 in both the U.K. and Germany (highest previous position No. 6); No. 4 in the Netherlands (highest previous position No. 7); and No. 5 in both Italy (highest previous position No. 15) and New Zealand (highest chart position ever). Debuts in additional territories are still being compiled at press time.

"The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!", sold 48,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked MEGADETH's eighth top 10-charting album.

MEGADETH's previous top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 were "Countdown To Extinction" (No. 2, 1992),"Youthanasia" (No. 4, 1994),"Cryptic Writings" (No. 10, 1997),"United Abominations" (No. 8, 2007),"Endgame" (No. 9, 2009),"Super Collider" (No. 6, 2013) and "Dystopia" (No. 3, 2016).

For its final album, MEGADETH once again worked with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two LPs, the aforementioned "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH more than two years ago. He stepped in as the replacement for Brazilian-born guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who announced in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

In addition to Mustaine, Mäntysaari and Verbeuren, MEGADETH's current lineup includes bassist James LoMenzo.

San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans HEATHEN have begun a new era, joining forces with Napalm Records. With a new album in the works as well, HEATHEN kicks off the new partnership with a special treat for its loyal fans. Digging deep into their musical past, the thrashers recorded two rather obscure tracks from other bands the members were involved with. Up first is "Never A God", title track of LAUGHING DEAD's first demo. The band was fronted by HEATHEN vocalist David White in the early 1990s — the classic song will now shine once again in HEATHEN's powerful style.

HEATHEN comments on the signing: "We're very proud to announce that HEATHEN has officially signed with Napalm Records! Joining forces with a team who shares our vision, our drive, and our passion for metal music. This marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. We're fired up for what's coming and can't wait to complete work on the new HEATHEN album!"

Napalm Records senior A&R Sebastian Münch states about the signing: "We are incredibly proud and excited to welcome the legendary Californian thrash metal band HEATHEN to the Napalm Records family. HEATHEN are true icons of the genre, and working with them is an absolute honor. We strongly believe in this partnership and are thrilled to take the next chapter of HEATHEN's legacy to new heights together."

Watch the official music video for "Never A God" below

HEATHEN emerged from the San Francisco scene in 1984, leading the Bay Area thrash metal scene in their early years. "Breaking The Silence" (1987) and "Victims Of Deception" (1991) are staples of West Coast metal. After a few years of hiatus, they returned in 2001.

HEATHEN comments on "Never A God": "We're going to start this new partnership with Napalm Records off with a bang and give you something new to listen to while we continue to work on the new HEATHEN album. With that in mind, we recorded a couple of classic Bay Area thrash tracks originally written by other bands that we played with in the early 1990s. The demo collectors out there may have heard these songs before, but they'll be new to most of you. The first single is 'Never A God', originally recorded in demo form (with David White on vocals) by LAUGHING DEAD. So, new record label, new music, new video, 12" maxi-single pre-order, and a tour with CORONER in North America starting tomorrow. LFG!"

"Never A God" track listing:

01. Never A God
02. Twist of Faith

HEATHEN supporting CORONER on "Dissonance Over The West" tour:

Feb. 04 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Usual Place
Feb. 05 - San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick
Feb. 06 - Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
Feb. 07 - Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
Feb. 09 - San Jose, CA @ The Ritz
Feb. 10 - Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone
Feb. 12 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
Feb. 13 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Feb. 14 - Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
Feb. 16 - Billings, MT @ Pub Station
Feb. 17 - Butte, MT @ Covellite Theatre
Feb. 18 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Ace's High Saloon
Feb. 20 - Denver, CO @ HQ
Feb. 21 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
Feb. 22 - Mesa, AZ @ Rosetta Room

HEATHEN is often credited — alongside exodus, testament, forbidden, death angel and VIO-LENCE — as one of the leaders of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s. They have gone through several lineup changes over the years, but still having the foundation of David White on vocals and Kragen Lum on guitar, with Kragen filling in for Gary Holt in EXODUS whenever Holt was touring with SLAYER.

To date, HEATHEN has released four studio albums: "Breaking the Silence" (1987),"Victims Of Deception" (1991),"The Evolution Of Chaos" (2009) and "Empire Of The Blind" (2020).

HEATHEN's debut album, "Breaking The Silence", sold well over 100,000 copies worldwide, and the band's latest album, "Empire Of The Blind", hit Top 40 in the charts in Germany, Hungary as well as charting elsewhere around the globe in places like Scotland.

HEATHEN is:

David R. White - Vocals
Kragen Lum - Guitars
Kyle Edissi - Guitars
Jason Mirza - Bass
Blake Anderson - Drums

Photo credit: Ty Fox

“A surprise for the New Year Filthlings,” begins an update from Cradle Of Filth frontman, Dani Filth. “From The Cradle To Enslave (Deluxe) on vinyl (including limited edition variants) and CD are now available for pre-order. Get your filthy paws on them!”

The deluxe edition of From The Cradle To Enslave will be released on March 20, 2026.

Upon its initial inception unto the world in 1999, From The Cradle To Enslave, the band’s second EP, provided a snapshot of Cradle Of Filth sharpening and expanding their sonic monikers, ones that would eventually go on to establish the eponymic sound of a groundbreaking genre. A collection of tracks that feel both intense and theatrical hit with heavy driving riffs, sweeping orchestral touches and the inimitable bark of frontman Dani Filth.

These tracks provide an accessible entry point to the ornately gothic extreme metal milieu the band operate in and remains a sought-after release for collectors and new fans alike. Re-pressed on special formats including a red and black colour vinyl, red on clear splatter, a picture-disc and a recycled eco-CD.

From The Cradle To Enslave (Deluxe) tracklisting:

From The Cradle To Enslave
Of Dark Blood And Fucking
Death Comes Ripping
Sleepless
Pervert’s Church (From The Cradle To Deprave)
Funeral In Carpathia (Be Quick Or Be Dead)
Dawn Of Eternity

After 25 years of musical exploration and boundary-pushing creativity, long-running Israeli progressive/alt metal outfit, Subterranean Masquerade, begins a bold new chapter having officially changed its name to Submasq. By shortening its name to Submasq, the band marks an evolution that reflects both its legacy and its future.

While Submasq continues to complete their impending new album – the follow-up to their Mountain Fever LP, released in 2021 via The Lasers Edge Group’s metal label Sensory Records – this week the band unveils their first release with the truncated moniker: A new cover EP titled Oedipus. The EP features three reimagined songs, all revolving around the shared theme of mothers, including Danzig’s “Mother,” Rammstein’s “Mutter,” and Genesis’ “Mama.” Produced and rearranged by Submasq, Oedipus was mixed and mastered by Arie Aranovich.

Speaking about the release, the band explains, “We love making covers. We wanted to make something special for our followers just before the official new album arrives. We know it takes time, but we want to do it right—so in the meantime, this EP, all rocking and rolling, is for you.”

Reflecting on the name change and the road ahead, the band’s founder Tomer Pink adds, “I’ve been doing Subterranean Masquerade since I was a teenager. Today – twenty-five years after, a father to two kids – it’s time to move forward to something more exciting and fitting who we are today. I’m thrilled to share new music with you guys. This is going to be legendary.”

The first preview of Submasq’s Oedipus arrives with their cover of Danzig’s “Mother,” now streaming everywhere including a lyric video for the song playing below.

Oedipus will be released on all digital platforms Friday, February 13. Preorders are up at Bandcamp here. An official video and more will post alongside the rest of the EP in the days ahead.



Oedipus tracklisting:

“Mother” (Danzig cover)
“Mutter” (Rammstein cover)
“Mama” (Genesis cover)

Peter Criss spoke exclusively and at length to Rock Candy magazine about life before, with and after KISS. During a wide-ranging and revealing interview, the band's original drummer, who turned 80 in December, unwrapped a large amount of subjects, including how he joined the group that would become known as "The Hottest Band In The World".

Peter said: "I put an ad in a local paper [after my previous bands CHELSEA and LIPS were over] and that's when [future KISS bassist/vocalist] Gene Simmons called. He asked me, 'Are you tall?', 'Are you good-looking?', 'Do you have long hair?', 'Are you willing to wear a dress and high heels?', 'Are you willing to wear lipstick?' I couldn't believe what he was asking me, but those questions fascinated me. I said to my wife at the time, 'I've got to meet this guy.'

"We had been to London for our honeymoon not that long before and I'd found some really cool clothes there. So when I went down to Electric Lady Studios in New York to meet Gene and Paul for the first time, I was really dolled up... Gene told me later that day he thought I was a rock star going into the studio to make an album."

When Criss joined Simmons and Stanley, the band played together for a little while as a three-piece, but the man who would become a close friend soon entered the picture.

"We put an ad in a local paper looking for a lead guitarist," Peter said. "We auditioned quite a few players before Ace [Frehley], but he really made an entrance wearing a motorcycle jacket and different-colored sneakers. There was some other guy already playing, but Ace didn't care. He walked right by the guy, plugged in, and started playing himself. And we all turned around, looked at one another, and went 'Holy sh*t!'. He was in straight away."

KISS deciding to wear make-up was influenced by glam rock and shock rocker Alice Cooper but THE BEATLES were also part of the thought process Paul, Gene, Ace and Peter had.

"John [Lennon], Paul [McCartney], George [Harrison] and Ringo [Starr] all had their own fans, as well as people who loved the whole band," Criss explained. "We wanted the same thing... so we took the concept they developed and made it more theatrical. We said, 'Let's start trying to apply make-up and see what's going on.' So we bought this really cheap clown-white make-up — even shoe polish at first, I think — and started putting it on for rehearsals in this real sh*tty loft with no heating. It was so cold we had to wear coats all the time, but that's were we experimented with our different looks."

But once the band became famous the make-up had a frustrating by-product when the general public didn't know what they actually looked like.

"Once we started to make it big, we started wanting to be recognized, sign autographs and have kids outside hotels screaming for us," Peter recalled. "I'd go to clubs in New York and would tell the guy on the door that I was Peter Criss from KISS. They'd go, 'Yeah, right'. In the end I started taking my driving license and other ID out with me to prove that I really was Peter Criss. It was pretty funny how the make-up thing kind of backfired."

The recent Kennedy Center Honors ceremony for KISS, last December, was a chance for the original band to be together again but sadly Frehley passed away just a few weeks earlier, on October 16, something Peter found very hard to cope with.

"It was tough for me because Ace wasn't there," Criss said. "He'd been very excited about going there. He said, 'Pete, I'm really looking forward to this.' So not having him next to me was really hard... I cried a lot of times that day, broke down actually. I missed Ace and it wasn't the same... It was great to get the award, But I was grieving so much that my heart hurt a lot."

Peter released a new solo album a few weeks ago and he feels motivated and keen to show the world he's a fit, healthy and productive musician.

"I haven't done drugs for 42 years, and I gave up drinking 30 years ago, I'm too old for that sh*t! So what you see now is the real Peter Criss. And you know what? I'm definitely not a drug addict. I'm a drum addict!"

Read the rest of the exclusive mega interview with Criss, as well as features on MEGADETH, Paul Gilbert, Alex Skolnick of TESTAMENT, Francis Rossi of STATUS QUO, Phil Collen of DEF LEPPARD talking about his previous band GIRL, a reappraisal of AEROSMITH's "Pump" album and Ian Anderson talking about the classic JETHRO TULL "Aqualung" album, Jason McMaster of DANGEROUS TOYS... and much more fascinating content in issue 54 of Rock Candy.

Rock Candy is a 100 page, full-color bi-monthly rock magazine, created in the U.K. It covers the sights, sounds and smells from the greatest era in hard rock, the '70s, '80s and early '90s. It is the brainchild of respected U.K. rock journalists Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson and Malcolm Dome — all frontline writers for the legendary Kerrang! magazine in the golden era.

SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill was interviewed by The Music Universe on Saturday, January 31 when Primary Wave Music celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary by hosting its annual pre-Grammy party in partnership with Venu at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. Asked about SKID ROW's singer search following the March 2024 departure of Erik Grönwall, Scotti said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Yes, we are working on that. We're gonna really get it kicking in here in a few weeks. Let me see — in about a week we're gonna make an announcement for a real push, and we're gonna get it done and we're gonna get the right person for the job and we're gonna get back out there."

After the interviewer noted that the "singer has to be really top-notch" to be able to handle the SKID ROW material, Scotti concurred. "It's not an easy job. It's not an easy job, really," he said. "I mean, that stuff is really hard to sing. And it's gotta be the right chemistry, because in our band we get along really great. We get along really well. We're family, and we need somebody to be family with us."

Last month SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan spoke to the "Rockstrap" podcast about the band's ongoing singer search following the departure of Grönwall nearly two years ago. The now-38-year-old Swedish-born musician, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, announced his departure from SKID ROW in March 2024, saying that it had become increasingly "difficult to prioritize" his health and full recovery as the lead singer of the group.

"We have a couple of guys on our radar," Bolan said. "We've auditioned a few people, but we're gonna do a big, gigantic… We were just waiting for the new year to start. Not so much an open call, but there's a lot of people that wanna audition, so we're just going — us and management and our producer, Nick Raskulinecz, we're all going through each person saying, like, 'Okay, let's get in a room with this person. 'This person [is a] little too young or a little too green,' or 'they can't sing. Who told them they could sing?' You get that too. So we have a couple of guys on our radar that we're pretty excited about. So hopefully before the end of the year we'll be back out on the road."

When one of the interviewers noted that SKID ROW has had especially bad luck with securing permanent singers, Rachel said: "It's just one of those things, man. We had a really good thing going with Erik. I think the road was just too much for him, [with] his past health issues and whatnot, and it just didn't work out, which was a bummer… He fit right in, and the fans loved him."

Last September, Rachel told Lisa Karkos of the Nashville On The Rocks podcast/show about how he and the rest of SKID ROW are going about looking for a new vocalist: "It's kind of become a thing with SKID ROW, 'cause we've had quite a few [singers]. But we're going to do something pretty big to find one, find the [right] person [to front the band].

"We have a certain criteria, and I think the main part, you have to have strong pipes," Bolan explained. "You have to be able to tour a lot. And you have to be a good hang. I think that's the main thing, is being a good hang.

"It's really hard doing it as long as we've been doing it, and other bands and artists could back me up on this, [when] you're doing it for this long, the hang becomes really necessary. When you get someone in there that is out for themselves and doesn't care about anything that's going on around them, it's tough.

"So that's where we're at," Rachel added. "We've auditioned some people, and some people came in and they were great — they were really great. But you have four guys that are looking at someone, and it's, like, one guy might think they're perfect, another guy might think they're almost perfect, another person might think, 'Eh,' wasn't feeling it. So all four of us — Rob Hammersmith, Snake, Scotti Hill and myself — we need to be a hundred percent on board."

Rachel went on to say that he and his SKID ROW bandmates are "not gonna rush anything" when it comes to selecting the group's next vocalist. "We have the luxury of time on our side," he explained. "Maybe not our ages [laughs], but we have the luxury of time. We don't have any tours set up or anything like that, that we have to just like kind of get someone in place… Our booking agent says those shows are still gonna be there. If it takes two years, three years, whatever, those shows are gonna be there, dude. And it makes you feel good, because when you're as close to it as I am, it's, like, you don't look at us, like, 'You guys are fucking SKID ROW, man. You can do whatever the fuck you want.' I look at it as, like, 'We're SKID ROW. What the fuck are we gonna do?' We just told ourselves we're not gonna stress. If it takes a long time, it takes a long time. And like I said, we've had people down that we've dug a lot. Something was there. Maybe there was pieces missing, an element missing, but it is what it is. And we're meeting a lot of really cool people along the way — a lot of really cool people who I'm, like, 'Wow.' I'll listen to some of their songs, and it's, like, you look at someone and you're, like, 'Maybe we could work together on something else or write songs together.'"

Erik was SKID ROW's fourth frontman since Sebastian Bach's departure.

In March 2025, Hammersmith told The Chuck Shute Podcast about SKID ROW's ongoing vocalist search: "We've been busy. We've been on the hunt, I guess we've been on the prowl, if you will, we have been on an active search since [2024]. So, having said that, we've had some really good candidates. We've had some really strong candidates that we have been in discussions with. We have actually been in a room with a handful of people. We've had a really good experience with a lot of people. That said, we are still in the midst of an active search, so we like to keep that storyline out there and remind everybody that we are still looking. So if anybody hears this, if there's anybody out there that thinks that they're right for it, it is still an ongoing search at this at this moment. But we've made a lot of progress. And it's amazing — to make the best of a situation like that, it's kind of awesome to see how many talented people there are out there. Whether or not they're right for us, it really doesn't matter. It's really inspiring. It's awesome to see how many talented people there are out there."

Asked if he and his SKID ROW bandmates are looking for a singer who is stylistically similar to the group's previous vocalists, including Bach, or if they want to find someone to take SKID ROW "in a different direction", Rob said: "We would be open to either of those scenarios. When you're dealing with a situation like ours, there's a legacy there. There's a history, there's a legacy, there is a particular component to what we do that a lot of people are very, very attached to, and we're aware of that, and we're grateful for that. It's a really wonderful situation to be in. So having said that, preserving the history and honoring the history is very important to us. But that's not to say — all of our favorite bands have evolved and they've changed throughout the years. So I would say we are open to either scenario that you're describing, but we do have to honor the history and so many important parts of the history of the band."

Regarding whether the singers SKID ROW has auditioned so far are established and well-known vocalists or if they are relatively unknown, Rob said: "A bit of both, a bit of both. So in regards to that, we are certainly not narrowing the scope of that in terms of who we're looking at and who would be a potential candidate."

Circling back to what he and his SKID ROW bandmates are looking for in a new singer, Rob said: "The way I've explained it to a lot of people, in my perception of the situation, it's a very specific gig. We're not claiming to be THE BEATLES, we're not claiming that we write the most complicated music that's out there, but it's a very specific thing. And then going back to the history and the legacy of the band, not only is it a specific thing, but it's a specific established thing. It's a pre-established sound. You're talking about an iconic catalog of music. For some people, they hold that catalog of music very sacred. So, you do have to find out what the balance of evolution, but honoring that and really giving the fans the experience that they're hoping to have. It's difficult. It's a balancing act, but you figure it out as you go. And everybody that we have been in a room with, as I said, there's some amazing people out there, amazing singers. And you can really see where every one of those people would bring something really cool to the table and bring something really cool into the mix. It's just the reality of a situation like this. It's a very specific gig."

In May 2024, Rachel confirmed to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station that he and his bandmates had been talking to singers about potentially stepping in to replace Grönwall. He explained: "No one, really, with a name. But, yeah, we've been talking to a few guys that piqued our interest, for sure."

That same month, Sabo ruled out a reunion with Bach telling The Hook Rocks podcast: "It's not gonna happen. And I say the same thing every time. I'm thankful that people have such an interest in wanting to see that happen, but I also have to reiterate that this is about being happy in the situation that you're in. So I'll speak for myself personally.

"First of all, I do need to say something too, is that the reason that this isn't happening is because there's three of us — myself, Scotti [Hill, SKID ROW guitarist] and Rachel — who've had conversations about this, and we've all been on the same page that we don't wanna go down that road again. We just — we don't.

"Rachel has taken a beating over this through the years," Sabo continued. "He's the one who's been blamed for this. 'Oh, it's Rachel's ego.' 'It's this and that.' No, that's a load of bullshit. That is not true. And I feel bad because he's really, really had to shoulder that blame and has never said anything derogatory or anything like that. But you know what? The truth of the matter is that Rachel, Scotti and myself have continually felt the same way, that we enjoy being happy in this band and we're really happy.

"It's been such a great experience for the last however, 35 years, everything, all the ups, all the downs, everything, but we just don't wanna revisit that particular aspect of our history," he explained. "I love the songs, [I] love a lot of the memories, [I am] not fond of some of the memories, but just as individuals and as a collective, that's just how we feel. So this is not on Rachel. And this has nothing to do with anyone's ego or anything like that. So that's just gotta be clear. Again, for anyone to sit there and make assumptions that this is Rachel Bolan saying 'nope,' it's not. It's the three of us, and we've all collectively sat there and just said that we don't wanna do it. We just don't wanna do it. And we wish everybody all the best."

Snake added: "We've been just ripped apart by ex-members of the band and stuff — ripped apart. Some really shitty stuff [has been] said about all of us. And we just choose not to [respond]. It's not who I am. It's not who we are. We won't go down that road. We just wanna play music and be happy. This has really never been about a monetary aspect of things because it's known that we've been offered a good amount of money to do shows together and to reunite [with Sebastian] and whatever, but it's just never been about the money, man. I choose my happiness, my willingness to continue to be a really good friend to my best friends and a really good husband and a really good dad and bandmate and person. And I don't wanna endanger that in any way. So the people that we choose to play with, those choices are made in order to keep those particular things in line for all of us."

Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan, guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger. SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I. Theart was fired from SKID ROW in February 2022 and was replaced by Grönwall, who was previously a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T.

Six years ago, Bolan also confirmed that he and his bandmates "were entertaining the idea" of reuniting with Bach following Harnell's departure. But Rachel shot down the possibility of a rekindling of his friendship with Sebastian, explaining: "Well… Here's the soundbite for Blabbermouth. I wouldn't say we were friends [when we were in a band together]. We were bandmates. You know what I mean? We're two very different people." Bolan added that he hadn't seen Bach "in years."

Seven years ago, Bach was asked by Rolling Stone what it would take for SKID ROW to be reunited. He responded: "It would take those guys to realize that I have a lifetime manager. His name is Rick Sales. I've been with him since 2006. They don't want to deal with a guy like that. They want to give some singer who doesn't have a manager $700 to $800 bucks a week. I've got a team that's worked with me and don't allow me to get fucked around. I didn't have that team when I was 19 years old."

In response to Bach's statements about the earnings of SKID ROW's singer, Sabo told Rolling Stone in an e-mail: "I guess fact-checking isn't in his skill set… The five of us go on that stage as a band and we all get paid equally. We're in this together. There's no egos."

Sebastian went on to say that SKID ROW was "close to reuniting, but then it didn't happen. The fact that it didn't happen obviously makes me somewhat bitter, because life is only getting shorter, as the song says," he added.

"I wouldn't say 'came close,'" Bolan told Rolling Stone in an e-mail response to Bach's account of the reunion talks. "We entertained the idea. Snake and I went as far as talking with agents and promoters about money. But we quickly learned after a few text conversations, why we fired him in the first place. Nothing is worth your happiness and peace of mind."