GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose joined county-pop superstar Carrie Underwood on stage Saturday night (April 30) at the Stagecoach country music festival in Indio, California to perform his band's classic songs "Sweet Child O' Mine" and "Paradise City".

Carrie performed the opening verse and chorus of "Sweet Child O' Mine" with her band before telling the crowd: "Welcome to the greatest night of my life. Give it up for Axl Rose!" They then immediately launched into "Paradise City", with Underwood telling the audience: "You thought we were finished?"

Back in 2015, Underwood told E! in an interview with she really wanted to sing with Rose at some point in her life. She said: "I've covered enough GUNS N' ROSES stuff, and it was people like him who taught me how to sing."

"I look at people like him and Freddie Mercury, those people who were doing all these crazy runs. It was so different," Underwood added.

In 2013, Underwood delivered a faithful cover of "Paradise City" at the CMA Music Festival in Nashville.

Two years ago, while promoting her book "Find Your Path: Honor Your Body, Fuel Your Soul, And Get Strong With The Fit 52 Life", Underwood appeared on an episode of "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" and talked about flying to Las Vegas to see her favorite band GUNS N' ROSES and called it "one of the best nights" of her life.

"We were nowhere near Las Vegas, so naturally I said, 'Let's go to Las Vegas with the band and go see GN'R play,'" Underwood shared with Fallon. "It's kind of a life-long dream of mine I never thought would happen. Couldn't waste that opportunity, so I abandoned my husband, abandoned my children, went to Vegas, and saw GUNS N' ROSES. Amazing."

She continued: "Usually, when I go to concerts, I'm like, in a box on the side, which is great — it has its perks, there's usually a bathroom in there, it's kind of awesome,' she explained. "But you miss the energy of the crowd. Because we were in Vegas, we were just in there with everyone else, it was absolutely incredible. You could feel everybody, everybody was screamin', I was screamin' — I was, like, 'I'm never gonna see none of these people ever again, I'm gonna act like a fool!. It was amazing."

Following that show, Underwood actually met Rose backstage. "It's hard to meet your heroes, because I do consider him someone who taught me how to sing," she said. "But he was super cool and great and nice and we talked. We're best friends."

Carrie said in a 2014 interview that late QUEEN frontman Freddie Mercury was high on her list of first loves.

"I've always been a huge fan and lover of Freddie Mercury," she said. "I would listen to him when I was a kid. He could do so many amazing things with his voice. People like that — who had incredible voices — I was always drawn to. I would want to try to do what they do. They were my teachers."

She also said that if you scrolled through her iPod, you’d find some really hard rock music, like MUDVAYNE.

"When I work out, I like to listen to things that are really angry," she said. "I couldn't do it on a daily basis or driving in my car. I think that would be kind of weird."



Carrie Underwood Feat. Axl Rose - Sweet Child O' Mine & Paradise City - Live Stagecoach 2022

Posted by Gilmar Gunner on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Carrie Underwood y Axl Rose en el escenario del Stagecoach Country Music Festival 2022

Posted by Guns N Roses for ever on Sunday, May 1, 2022



When Axl Rose joins Carrie Underwood for 2 songs tonight at Stagecoach you get Guns N Country! #amazing

Posted by Kerry Zurier on Sunday, May 1, 2022



What a great concert Carrie underwood featuring Axl rose.
Stagecoach. That was a cherries on top of the cake.

Posted by Jose Leanos on Saturday, April 30, 2022

SEETHER was joined by former FLYLEAF singer Lacey Sturm last night (Saturday, April 30) during the band's concert at Santander Arena & Performing Arts Center to perform the FLYLEAF song "I'm So Sick". Fan-filmed video of her appearance can be seen below.

Prior to launching into the track, SEETHER frontman Shaun Morgan told the crowd: "We've known this person for a very long time. She's one of my favorite singers of all time. So we said, 'Hey, let's do this one song that you used to do.' And she's gonna play it with us tonight. I may screw it up, 'cause it's always on me if something goes wrong. But please make some noise for Lacey Sturm."

Sturm left FLYLEAF in October 2012. She was replaced by Kristen May, who recorded one album with the group, 2014's "Between The Stars", before exiting.

Lacey opened up about her reasons for her departure from FLYLEAF in a video promoting her 2014 memoir "The Reason: How I Discovered A Life Worth Living". At the time, she said: "We were on our second album when I got married. And the album was called 'Memento Mori'. And 'memento mori' means remember you're mortal, remember that you'll die and remember that your life is short and precious and so are the lives of those around you.

"For two years, I toured with my husband and it was really amazing, and then after those two years, we ended up getting pregnant with my son," she continued. "And I recognized that my priorities were gonna change even more and that message of 'memento mori' and remembering how short your life is was really weighing on my heart.

"We toured for ten years. I mean, we weren't home for more than a month, probably, a year. So, for me, I just felt really blessed to be pregnant and to be in a place where I could stay home if I wanted to, and really ask that question: how is this gonna change my priorities? How is this gonna look? We had a few things happen that really brought that message home, but the one that hit the hardest was the death of our sound engineer [Rich Caldwell]. We did one last show with FLYLEAF as a benefit for his wife Katy and their son Kirby. And it was really hard to do a show without him, and it was really hard to think it could be our last show. So I remember looking at my son after Rich had passed and just wondering to myself, if this was the last year I had with my son, how would I spend it?

"It was really amazing to recognize this season changing in my life and the freedom that I was gonna be able to focus on my family. And I'm so thankful for that time. And although it was really hard, I'm thankful. And that's the reason I stepped down from FLYLEAF."

Last December, Sturm released the official music video for her latest single, "Awaken Love". The track followed the previously released "The Decree" and "State Of Me".

Performing live with SKILLET before the pandemic shut down arena tours, Lacey has since been writing new music and finding creative ways to connect with fans. Singing on BREAKING BENJAMIN's 2020 single "Dear Agony (Aurora Version)", which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 after 20 weeks on the chart while racking up well over 16 million views on YouTube alone, Lacey has also performed with SHINEDOWN and others on drive-in theater stages and has hit virtual stages along with METALLICA, THREE DAYS GRACE, SEETHER and others during the Recording Academy-sponsored Octane Home Invasion festival.







Seether w/ Lacey Sturm - I’m So Sick

Posted by Dan Zona on Sunday, May 1, 2022



Seether W/ Lacey Sturm Performing ”Sick” by Flyleaf

Posted by Adrian Conrad on Sunday, May 1, 2022



Seether featuring Lacey Sturm - I’m So Sick

Posted by Jack Ayres on Sunday, May 1, 2022

SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill was forced to miss the band's concert last night (Saturday, April 30) at Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Kentucky after testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Filling in for him was one of SKID ROW's guitar techs.

SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall addressed Hill's absence before launching into the band's classic song "18 And Life". He told the crowd: "Unfortunately, Scotti got COVID and he's home and resting. And luckily, we have the best and coolest fucking crew in the world. So this guy right here, that guy is usually a guitar tech but he's an awesome fucking guitar player. And this guy learned all the songs in less than a day. Give it up for Casey, everybody, c'mon. What a fucking hero."

Grönwall joined SKID ROW in January as the replacement for ZP Theart, who had been in the group for more than six years. Theart played his final gig with SKID ROW in February before being officially given the boot.

In late March, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's upcoming album, which will arrive on October 14 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW recorded most of "The Gang's All Here" in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

Grönwall was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. with whom he recorded four studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012),"Tearing Down The Walls" (2014),"Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020) — before exiting the group in October 2020.

Grönwall was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021. Six months later, he announced that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant in August. "Some anonymous wonderful human being somewhere in the world donated his/her blood cells so that I could get a second chance at life," he told Headbangers Lifestyle in January. "Sometimes I can just get tears in my eyes when I think about it. It's so beautiful that one person who is not connected to me in any way wanted to do that for me. He/she doesn't know that the blood cells were for me. It's completely anonymous."

Last September, Grönwall released his cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In 2018, Grönwall debuted in the U.S. for 10 million viewers in NBC's live broadcast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's and Tim Rice's musical "Jesus Christ Superstar". Along with John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles and others, Erik played the key role of Simon Zealotes.









Skid Row 18 an Life 4-30-22 Ashland Kentucky

Posted by Jeff Ramey on Saturday, April 30, 2022



Hell of a show last night in Ashland KY! I’ll put up samples throughout the day! Good time!

Posted by William Bub Koster on Sunday, May 1, 2022



The end of "Slave to the grind" and the song "The Threat". 4/30/22 Ashland Kentucky

Posted by Brian Lawrence on Sunday, May 1, 2022

Happy New Year! We're kicking of 2022 with another 🚨 NEW SHOW ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨 Saturday, April 30th, join us for a HUGE...

Posted by Paramount Arts Center on Monday, January 3, 2022

Former SEPULTURA drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera joined U.K. hardcore punk legends DISCHARGE on stage this past Thursday, April 28 at New Cross Inn in London to perform the classic DISCHARGE song "Protest And Survive". Video of his appearance can be seen below.

Igor and his brother, ex-SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera, previously performed "Protest And Survive" and "Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing" with members of DISCHARGE back in December 2019 at 02 Academy in Birmingham, England.

Six years ago, Max stated about how he first discovered DISCHARGE's music: "There was a time in Brazil around '82, I believe — '82 or '83 — we used to go to this place called Woodstock Records. And we didn't have money for imported records, so we'd buy cassettes. And I just remember the guy from the store recommended that one side of the cassette I should the DISCHARGE 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' album. And the other side was HELLHAMMER 'Apocalyptic Raids'. So I just bought that cassette and took it home and fell in love with it. It was so cool. It was not until later that I realized that [DISCHARGE] were punks — that they [had] mohawks and all that. It was on the same tape with a metal band — I liked HELLHAMMER and I liked DISCHARGE. I wanted more so I ended up discovering more stuff, bought more tapes. I got some other records — I got the 'Why' EP and 'Never Again' and all that. So, yeah, it was killer. I became a big fan. It was mostly me and Igor — we were kind of like the punk heart of SEPULTURA. The other two guys didn't like punk stuff very much, so it was mostly me and Igor. But I think the influence is… Even today, to me, 'Hear Nothing See Nothing Say Nothing' is a wall of guitar that has never been done again ever since. The album still today sounds amazing. It's just a wall of guitars coming at you. It's incredible. It's sonic violence. It's what I like about it, and I fell in love with it."

He continued: "We were right on the edge of the crossover of metal and punk when SEPULTURA started. Because the beginning of the thrash metal movement, I think what inspired it was the combination of stuff like MOTÖRHEAD mixed with DISCHARGE — you get thrash metal, which is great. So it's perfect for that."

In a 2016 interview with Antihero, Igor stated about what drew him and Max to some of the early hardcore punk music: "It has a lot to do with the energy. I remember also me and Max digging through certain records and always we would find, like, this song. This song is the best … And usually it was the one with more raw power to it. Even though on the [BLACK] SABBATH record, if it would be like a ballad, we would be, like, 'That's cool, but that's not it.' If it was something a bit heavier, we would get into it. And eventually that moved to the point where we were, like, 'Man, this is it. 'That's where hardcore, they get that. They were extracting the cool thing about metal and the cool thing about punk and kind of mixing it up and bringing this style that me and Max to this day, that's something that we really love. Those old records, and also new bands."

As previously reported, Max and Igor will perform select tracks from SEPULTURA's seminal "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" albums on a U.S. tour this spring/summer. Joining Max and Igor on the trek will be Mike Leon of SOULFLY and Daniel Gonzalez of POSSESSED.

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).




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MEGADETH guitarist Kiko Loureiro has shared more behind-the-scenes video from the rehearsal sessions for the 2022 leg of the band's "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES. Check out the 11-minute clip below.

Featured songs:

00:00 - Intro
00:17 - Soundcheck
02:07 - Trust - Cryptic Writings
05:36 - Symphony of Destruction - Countdown To Extinction
07:34 - Sweating Bullets - Countdown To Extinction
11:07 - Final

The 49-year-old Brazilian musician, who lives in Finland with his wife and kids, and his MEGADETH bandmates kicked off the 2022 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" on April 9 at Michelob ULTRA Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Last month, MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo discussed the band's setlist for the 2022 leg of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" during a bassist roundtable video chat with Knotfest's Ryan J. Downey. "You have to take into account that Dave's [Mustaine, MEGADETH frontman] been through a lot with his voice, so a lot of the songs that we pick are predicated on [the fact] that he is healing correctly," the bassist said at the time, referencing Mustaine's recent battle with throat cancer. "So that's part of it as well. But it's a long road ahead. We're always swapping in songs. We've got a whole pile — they're all sitting, waiting to be let loose. That's the great thing about being in this band, is that there's just an inexhaustible catalog.

"I don't know how to say this delicately, so I'll just say it. The truth of the matter is when you go to see a lot of your favorite bands — let's be the fan guy; okay, let's go to see our favorite band… I remember when JUDAS PRIEST was doing all of 'Nostradamus'," he continued. "It was a good record, but it wasn't 'Hell Bent For Leather'. And I've gotta say that people wanna hear the songs that they love. Why wouldn't you play them for 'em?

"So that's the problem with a band like MEGADETH," James added. "And there are bands, as we move along — all bands, as you move along, you start just getting this giant catalog. And how do you get enough in there to give the core fans what they really want as opposed to the esoterics? You try and throw a thing here and there, but you've gotta keep the hits, man."

LoMenzo joined MEGADETH in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame". He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with returning original MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

In addition to MEGADETH, LoMenzo has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and WHITE LION. For the past nine years, LoMenzo has been performing with iconic rocker John Fogerty.

LoMenzo played his first show with MEGADETH in nearly 12 years last August in Austin, Texas. The concert took place three months following Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving him were posted on Twitter.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the group's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

During an appearance on yesterday's (Thursday, April 28) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", BLACK SABBATH bassist Geezer Butler spoke about the status of his upcoming autobiography. "[It's] finished," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I sent the manuscript in three weeks ago, so now I'm just waiting for the edited version to come back so I can go nuts."

He added: "The trouble is ever since I sent in the manuscript I thought about seven things I've left out. So I'm gonna probably drive them nuts now."

Asked when fans can expect to see the book released, Geezer said: "I think it's looking like the beginning of next year now."

Geezer first announced the completion of memoir in a tweet on April 6. At the time, he wrote: "Just turned in the 1st draft of my book so I'm now thinking of titles. So far, I have: Into the Void, Basses Loaded, Past Forward, What The Butler Did, Bassic Instinct. Feel free to send me which of those you think would suit my #autobiography".

A year ago, Butler told Cleveland.com that he started writing a memoir "because when my parents died, I always wished I'd asked them a lot more things than I knew about. I don't really know much about my mum and dad, 'cause they were always just there," he explained. "So, I started writing a memoir for my grandkids to read, and that's been fun going through stuff — old times and growing up in Birmingham and all that."

In the fall of 2020, Butler told Australia's Wall Of Sound that his book would be "about growing up in Aston, Birmingham and how SABBATH came about." The bassist also reflected on everything he has accomplished in this past half a century, saying: "It's a great achievement to still be relevant 50 years after we recorded our first two albums. We honestly thought we'd last a few years, then be forgotten about. Fifty years ago any form of popular music was seen as a passing fad — people even thought THE BEATLES would be forgotten about after they broke up, but nobody then [realized] how powerful the nostalgia effect would be."

A founding member of BLACK SABBATH, Butler is also the lyricist of such SABBATH classics as "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and others.

Butler, singer Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Tony Iommi reunited in late 2011 and released a comeback album, "13", in June 2013.

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and is currently in remission, can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

Although SABBATH will not tour again, Butler, Osbourne and Iommi have not ruled out recording together.

Geezer is the third member of the original SABBATH lineup to release an autobiography. Ozzy's memoir, "I Am Ozzy", debuted at No. 2 on the New York Times' "Hardcover Nonfiction" best-seller list. The book was published on January 25, 2010 in the U.S., nearly two years after it was first expected to arrive. "I Am Ozzy" chronicled the legendary metal icon's life from his working-class beginnings in Birmingham, England to his initial fame with BLACK SABBATH to his massive solo career and forays into television.

Osbourne won the "Literary Achievement" honor for "I Am Ozzy" at the 2010 Guys Choice Awards at Sony Pictures Studio in Culver City, California. Ozzy was presented with the award by Sir Ben Kingsley.

Iommi's memoir, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath", was released in hardback in November 2011. It landed at position No. 35 on the New York Times' "Hardcover Nonfiction" best-sellers list. Da Capo reportedly paid a six-figure amount at auction for the rights to the 352-page book, which was described as "'Angela's Ashes' meets 'The Ground Beneath Her Feet' meets 'Spinal Tap'" by Foundry Literary + Media co-founder Peter McGuigan, who completed the North American rights deal for the memoir.
Just turned in the 1st draft of my book so I’m now thinking of titles. So far, I have:
Into the Void
Basses Loaded
Past Forward
What The Butler Did
Bassic Instinct
Feel free to send me which of those you think would suit my #autobiography

— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) April 6, 2022

The official lyric for DEF LEPPARD's new single, "Take What You Want", can be seen below. It is the second single from DEF LEPPARD's upcoming album, "Diamond Star Halos", which will arrive on May 27 via UMe. The follow-up to 2015's self-titled LP is available for pre-order now in multiple configurations, including a deluxe edition, 2-LP vinyl, digital formats and more. Exclusive bundles including newly designed album merch have also launched.

Last month, DEF LEPPARD released "Diamond Star Halos"'s first single, "Kick". The song thrusts into an anthemic stadium-ready frenzy kickstarted with driving guitars and bombastic drums woven into its musical fabric. Meanwhile, the chorus has all the makings of another iconic LEPPARD hit with its skyscraping vocals and melodies the band has become synonymous for.

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen, who came up with "Kick" as an additional track after the first 14 songs were already completed, told Billboard that "'Kick' represented where we were at as well. It's got that glam rock feel, that hand-clap groove, big vocals. It was just a no-brainer. It was not only that it's got to be on the album, it's got to be the first single as well."

"It's a stadium anthem, and we were about to go into stadiums," singer Joe Elliott said. "We didn't write it for that reason, but Phil's always trying to write the next 'Sugar' or 'We Will Rock You' or 'I Love Rock 'N' Roll'. We all are, but he actually came up with one, and it's, like, 'Yeah, we've got to do that,' so now it’s a 15-song record."

The artwork for "Diamond Star Halos" is art in itself. The design follows pedigree with their instantly recognizable album covers from their celebrated past. With images by world renowned photographer and director Anton Corbijn, styling concepts by Maryam Malakpour and graphics by the U.K.-based Munden Brothers, the design truly follows the band's influence through their eyes today.

Over the past two years, DEF LEPPARD recorded "Diamond Star Halos" simultaneously in three different countries with Elliott in Ireland, Rick Savage (bass) in England, and Collen, Vivian Campbell (guitar) and Rick Allen (drums) in the United States. Without the pressure of timelines or a fixed schedule, they poured all of their energy into crafting 15 meaningful tracks with a mixture of classic spirit meets modern fire. Thematically, they nodded to their earliest collective influences such as David Bowie, T.REX and MOTT THE HOOPLE, among others. The title itself notably references T.REX's "Bang a Gong (Get It On)". However, they didn't embark on this journey alone. The multi-Grammy Award-winning and legendary artist Alison Krauss lent her instantly recognizable and angelic voice to "This Guitar" and "Lifeless", while David Bowie pianist Mike Garson performs on "Goodbye For Good This Time" and "Angels (Can't Help You Now)".

"Diamond Star Halos" track listing:

01. Take What You Want
02. Kick
03. Fire It Up
04. This Guitar (feat. Alison Krauss]
05. Sos Emergency
06. Liquid Dust
07. U Rok Mi
08. Goodbye For Good This Time
09. All We Need
10. Open Your Eyes
11. Gimme A Kiss
12. Angels (Can't Help You Now)
13. Lifeless (feat. Alison Krauss)
14. Unbreakable
15. From Here To Eternity

DEF LEPPARD's "The Stadium Tour" with MÖTLEY CRÜE, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS was originally scheduled to take place in the summer of 2020 but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Photo credit: Anton Corbijn

Bloodstock Open Air has shared pro-shot video od Amon Amarth's August 11th, 2017 show at the festival, where they played the Ronnie James Dio stage. Check it out below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"The Pursuit of Vikings"
"As Loke Falls"
"First Kill"
"The Way of Vikings"
"At Dawn's First Light"
"Cry of the Black Birds"
"Deceiver of the Gods"
"Destroyer of the Universe"
"Varyags of Miklagaard"
"Death in Fire"
"Father of the Wolf"
"Runes to My Memory"
"War of the Gods"
"Raise Your Horns"
Guardians of Asgaard"




Encore:
"Twilight of the Thunder God"





Amon Amarth recently released their new single and video, "Put Your Back Into The Oar". Check it out below.





Amon Amarth and Machine Head are teaming up for the colossal co-headline Vikings And Lionhearts arena tour set to rampage across Europe in September & October.  Joining the metallic pairing to open the show are The Halo Effect.





Tour dates:


September
8 - Nottingham, England - Motorpoint Arena
9 - Cardiff - Motorpoint Arena
10 - London, England - The SSE Arena, Wembley
12 - Manchester, England - Ao Arena
13 - Dublin, Ireland - 3Arena
16 - Zurich, Switzerland - Hallenstadion
17 - Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
18 - Krakow, Poland - Tauron Arena
20 - Tallinn, Slovenia - Saku Arena
21 - Helsinki, Finland - Ice Hall
23 - Oslo, Norway - Spektrum
24 - Stockholm, Sweden - Hovet
26 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Forum Black Box
27 - Hamburg, Germany - Barclays Arena
28 - Frankfurt, Germany - Festhalle
30 - Oberhausen, Germany - König Pilsener Arena


October
1 - Berlin, Germany - Velodrome
2 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Afas Live
4 - Milan, Italy - Lorenzini District
6 - Barcelona, Spain - Sant Jordi
7 - Madrid, Spain - Vistalegre
8 - La Coruna, Spain - Coliseum
9 - Lisbon, Portugal - Campo Pequeno
12 - Paris, France - Zenith
14 - Munich, Germany - Olympiahalle
15 - Leipzig, Germany - Arena
16 - Prague, Czech Republic - Tipsport Arena
18 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
20 - Esch Sur Alzette, Luxembourg - Rockhal
21 - Brussels, Belgium - Forest National
22 - Stuttgart, Germany - Schleyerhalle

Toronto-based heavy metal trio Skull Fist recently released their new album, Paid In Full, via Atomic Fire Records. The band has landed in the German album charts for the first time ever, hitting #52. 





Paid In Full was recorded at Vespa Studios, and mixed by Chris Snow and Eric Rats. Harry Hess mastered the album. The band recently released this video, shot during the recording of the drums for the song, "Long Live The Fist":







Says the band in regards to "Long Live The Fist": "It's weird as balls releasing one track for a new album, you'll hear this and assume what the rest of the album sounds like, haha, this one does that sort of formula we've done on previous records, some speed metal, some heavy metal, some hard rock and some caveman riffs. I think you guys will find the record to be just slightly heavier than previous ones. But we're obviously biased, haha. Stoked on seeing how you nutters feel about it all!"


Since their leggy beginnings in 2006, dungeon keeper Zach Schottler and his ruthlessly shredding gang of reckless accomplices have released three archetypal heavy metal almanacs, eaten more dust than is good for their health, endured hardships (henceforth called shitty business partners) and propped up countless beers in countless bars in countless cities. Now, after 15 years on behalf of steel, Zach Schottler is really turning up the heat with the uniquely titled Paid In Full, a heavy metal wonder of the defiant middle-finger variety. With head held high, pockets empty and just enough gas in the tank to make it to the next show, Skull Fist have just officially won 2022. Paid In Full is heavy metal in all its glory and splendour: skillfully - unleashed - wide-legged. Written at home and recorded at Vespa Studios near Toronto, Paid In Full encompasses his sonic efforts of the past two years: tales of steel and legends from the underworld.





Tracklisting:


"Paid In Full"
"Long Live The Fist"
"Crush Kill Destroy"
"Blackout"
"Madman"
"For The Last Time"
"Heavier than Metal"
"Warrior Of The North"


"Long Live The Fist" video:





"Madman"





Skull Fist lineup:


Zach Slaughter - vocals, guitar
Casey Guest - bass
JJ Tartaglia - drums


(Photo - Sharon Ehman)

Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen has shared another cover song from her growing catalogue of solo performances. Check it out below


Floor: "'Zu Schnell Vorbei' from Clueso reimagined by me for Sing Meinen Song (@VOX) as the official audio video. The video version can be seen at VOX or RTL+ in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Covering this track from Clueso was a pleasure and I hope you all like it!"


The original version of "Zu Schnell Vorbei" is taken from Clueso's 2011 album, An Und Für Sich.










Jansen released her first ever original solo track, "Fire", on March 25th. The live performance of "Fire" below took place at  HLF8 on Dutch television. Backing Jansen up are Ivo Maarhuis (drums), Joost van den Broek (keyboards), Levy Simon (guitar) and Jelle Stokhof (bass)

Iron Savior founder / frontman Piet Sielck has checked in with the following update:


"Check out the second single for Reforged Vol 2 - Ironbound, and follow us to the mighty riffs, epic melodies, massive choruses and yet another Kai / Piet solo duel of 'The Battle', taken and reforged from the Unification album!"


The song is now available via digital platforms found here.







Iron Savior are gearing up for a new album, entitled Reforged II – Ironbound, which will be coming out during 2022 via AFM Records. 


Sielck previously issued the following:


"Yes! We are kicking off the promotion for the new Reforged album. Vol 2 will go by the title of Ironbound and is due to hit stores after summer this year. We put a lot of effort into this and are proud to present this new old classics collection in production standard 2022. We are also really happy, that Kai (Hansen / Helloween, Gamma Ray) took over a lot of his original vocal and guitar work. So for now enjoy Kai and dueling ourself on solo guitars."


"Brothers (Of The Past) - 2022 Version" is now available on all digital platforms found here.

Vocalist Ted Poley (Tokyo Motor Fist, Danger Danger) is featured in a new interview with 80's Glam Metalcast. Check it out below.


On Tokyo Motor Fist and playing recent shows with Ace Frehley 


Poley: "It was so much fun. Ace was great. He is one of my heroes…I had him sign my 1978 KISS doll. We’ve been kicking ass with Tokyo Motor Fist. We did our first album a few years back, initially for money to be honest. The album charted and we toured the world with it. Then we did a second album. We Iove it, it’s probably one of the most favorite things I’ve ever done. It’s pretty cool that something new like that is being accepted."




On his history with Steve Brown (Trixter)


Poley: "When I first got famous like in the 1950’s, I knew Steve Brown and the guys. I grew up in Paramus, NJ, same place the Trixter guys are from. When I got signed and first got on MTV with 'Naughty Naughty', these unsigned little kids would come over to my apartment and I would hold court. They would ask me what it’s like to be famous...I would say 'I don’t know!' I still had that new fame smell. Then they took off and it was really cool. So I’ve know him well over 30 years. Working with Steve has been amazing, he’s one of the most talented guys in the world. He actually subs in Danger Danger, so sometimes I’m his boss and in Tokyo Motor Fist, he’s my boss!" 


On the current status of Danger Danger 


Poley: "You never know. It would be a surprise even to me. I have a red Danger Danger phone in my house; if it lights up, I know that means there’s a trip to Japan coming! We are laying low, doing our own things. I know if something good comes along, the guys will ring the hotline." 


About their 1989 debut and the oversaturated metal market that year 


Poley: "It’s never too much. I wish it was like that today. It was great. We came out right at the end, right about a quarter to grunge. We had 15 minutes left and we got to the ballad. That separates us from the Warrants and the Firehouses. Those guys are platinum and I pretty much mow their lawns. The ballad never came out and the label thought it was time to grow goatees and put a flannel on. The label tossed us out right before it was time to get the fabulous gifts and prizes. We didn’t have as long of a run as people think. If we could have got out a year earlier, it could have been even more fabulous than it what it turned out to be. No complaints, thanks to everyone because I still get to live out my dream!" 


Doing "I Just Can’t Wait" Eric Carr for the Unfinished Business album 


Poley: "He was so nice. I didn’t get to finish that until after he passed. I actually got asked by his sister to complete it. I got to co-write a song with him, but he never got to hear it. It’s one of the coolest things I got to do, and one of the saddest."

Legendary Swedish progressive folk-fusion-rock band Kaipa celebrate the release of their 14th studio album titled Urksog. Order on limited CD digipak, gatefold 180g 2LP + CD, and digital album here.


The band also released a visualizer clip of their incredible instrumental track “Wilderness Excursion”.







Hans Lundin comments: "‘Wilderness Excursion’ is an instrumental track from Kaipa's album Urskog that leans more towards the fusion side of the band's music."


Urskog takes the listener on a breathtaking journey through the Swedish wilderness and the changing seasons. Hans Lundin's six new compositions draw influences from the landscapes he witnesses during his solitary countryside biking treks as well as from a less known part of his own vast song catalogue.


Hans comments: "Most of the songs were written in 2018. At the time I was working on the 6-CD box Hans Lundin: The Solo Years 1982-1989, and revisiting my old solo albums informed my songwriting process for Urskog. Listening to these old compositions influenced my new compositions in a general way; there were also few instances where I took a nice chord structure or a melodic fragment of an old song and turned it into something entirely new. I also sampled some sounds from the 80's that can be heard on the new album."





The new album opens with “The Frozen Dead of the Night”, a 19 minute epic that takes us from the cold and bleak midwinter into the spring and its promise to start life anew. The album's closing song “The Bitter Setting Sun” mirrors this theme as it's time to say goodbye to the summer as we watch the leaves falling and recall memories from summer nights when the sun refused to set. The title track “Urskog” takes us deep into the heart of the Swedish primeval forest, evoking images of old folklore with its Swedish lyrics.


While the rest of the band's lineup remains intact, Urskog introduces new drummer Darby Todd from London, UK. Guitarist Per Nilsson explains: "When the time came around to start tracking drums, Morgan wasn't available within any reasonable timeframe so on Morgan's own suggestion, we decided to amicably part ways. Morgan's fantastic and imaginative drumming has adorned the music of Kaipa for almost two decades and eight albums, but for what it's worth, we felt that this could be an opportunity to bring some new grooves and new sounds into Kaipa. While Hans had a few ideas for the drummer position I only had one person in mind, someone whose creativity and chops rival those of Morgan's but with more of a hard-hitting rock edge, and upon seeing a few videos of this guy bashing the skins Hans was convinced too. So, it brings us great joy to present to you mr Darby Todd as the new drummer for Kaipa! Darby has a resumé fitting a musician of his caliber, having played with Devin Townsend, The Darkness, Gary Moore, Martin Barre and many more, and while the guy is capable of expertly playing everything from death metal to soft jazz, he's got a strong own voice on his instrument and it's been exciting hearing him take these six new Kaipa tunes to the skies... and beyond!"


Lineup:


Hans Lundin – keyboards, vocals
Per Nilsson – guitars
Jonas Reingold – bass
Darby Todd – drums
Patrik Lundström – vocals
Aleena Gibson – vocals

Swedish hard-beating rockers Hot Breath return with the standalone single “Feeling ’Bout This”. An explosion of lustful garage rock with powerful vocals and thrilling riffs, the single is the first release from the Gothenburg-based group since their 2021 debut album Rubbery Lips. ”Feeling ’Bout This” is available now on all streaming platforms via The Sign Records. 





The band comments on the new single:




"The song Feeling ‘Bout This’ is about when you find a person who has the same rhythm and desire as you in life, both in the mind and in bed."


Following the release of the new single, Hot Breath will support Hällas and Spiders on their respective European tours.

Heavy rockers Cellar Stone have issued the first single from their new album Rise & Fall. Watch the video for "Going Under" below.


Rise & Fall was recorded at Soundflakes Studio in January/February 2021 by Nick Papadopoulos and mixed in the woods of Kentucky, USA at Monocle Studios, by Jordan Westfall. On top of that the frontman of Black Stone Cherry, Chris Robertson guests on the album, with a fiery guitar solo on track “War We Can Win”. 


Mastered at Euphonic Masters, Memphis, Tennessee by Brad Blackwood. The new album shows 11 heavy rock brand new tracks. Once again Cellar Stone delivers an album with over the top production, strong melodies and massive guitar riffing. The band willtour with UFO on their special farewell dates on July and October.




Rise & Fall will be released on July 1, 2022 as digipak CD, Rose Red/Black Marbled vinyl (limited to 300 copies worldwide) and digital streaming and download format. Preorders available here.





Tracklisting:


“Borrowed Time”
“Going Under”
“Time To Fall”
“War We Can Win” (feat. Chris Robertson)
“To The Core”
“Through My Veins”
“Demons”
“Save Me”
“Rise & Fall”
“Storm Is Coming”
“Run Away”


"Going Under" video:








Cellar Stone dates supporting UFO:


July
7 - Bremen, Germany - Modernes
8 - Berlin, Germany - Hole 44
9 - Torgau, Germany - Kulturbastion Open Air
11 - Tübingen, Germany – Sudhaus
12 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
13 - Cologne, Germany – Kantine


October
15 - Sint Niklaas, Belgium - De Casino
16 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013
17 - Braunschweig, Germany - Westand
18 - Hamburg, Germany - Fabrik
20 - Prague, Czech Republic - Palac Akropolis
21 - Dresden, Germany - Tante Ju
22 - Erfurt, Germany - HsD
24 - Augsburg, Germany - Spectrum
25 - Speyer, Germany - Halle 101
26 - Nürnberg, Germany - Hirsch
28 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Principal Club
29 - Athens, Greece - Fuzz Club

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


Today, Bouchard releases his first single, “My Way Is the Highway”, from the forthcoming album, American Rocker. The album is due out June 3 through his brother’s (Albert Bouchard) and his imprint Rockheart Records and Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group).


Bouchard had this to say about it, “The song ‘My Way Is The Highway’ is a dream of tour destinations while cruising down the coast as the sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean.  It is powered by the drums of Mickey Curry, and cementing the groove is brother Albert on his iconic cowbell--the original “more-cowbell man”!  This song makes you want to put the pedal to the metal while you dance to the rocking music of the 70s.”




Listen to the song here, and watch a music video below.


Deko Entertainment president, Bruce Pucciarello, states, “The song ‘My Way Is The Highway’ teases my imagination. It conjures up images of times and places that feel like the essence of rock and roll to me.”


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


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





Tracklisting:


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


“My Way Is The Highway” video:

Devil Master's new record, Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night, is an alluring mix of black metal, death rock and Japanese-style hardcore. For Ecstasies, Devil Master welcomed new drummer/keyboardist Festering Terror in Deepest Catacomb (a.k.a. Chris Ulsh of Power Trip and Iron Age). They joined forces with producer Pete DeBoer (Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice) who recorded the album live to analog tape. The collection proves a definitive arrival for the Philadelphia band whilst witnessing them at their core – their roots in ritual magick have never been more prominent. Ecstasies expands on the warped riffing and dark atmospheres that have already propelled Devil Master as one of the underground’s most unique and unfettered bands.


Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night is out now via Relapse. Find a full album audio stream below. Order here.


Album artwork by Burney.







Tracklisting:


"Ecstasies..."
"Enamoured In The Throes Of Death"
"Golgotha’s Cruel Song"
"The Vigour Of Evil"
"Acid Black Mass"
"Abyss In Vision"
"Shrines In Cinder"
"Funerary Hyre Of Dreams & Madness"
"Precious Blood Of Christ Rebuked"
"Never Ending Night"


Album stream:





“The Vigour Of Evil” video:





"Acid Black Mass" video:





(Photo - Cecil Shang Whaley)

Italian power/progressive metallers, Secret Sphere, have released the new video below, Liveblood - The Studio Session. Stream/download Liveblood - The Studio Session here.


Tracklisting:


"Lifeblood"
"The Scars That You Can't See"
"Alive"
"The End Of An Ego"
"Rain"
"Against All the Odds"
"Legend"







Lineup:


Roberto Messina - Voice
Aldo Lonobile - Guitars
Andrea Buratto - Bass
Gabriele Ciaccia - Keyboards
Marco Lazzarini – Drums

German hard rockers, Fargo, have released a video for "Time", featured on their current studio album, Strangers D'Amour, available via SPV/Steamhammer. Watch the clip below, and order the album here.





Tracklisting:




"Rain Of Champagne"
"Gimme That Bone"
"Closer To The Sun"
"Time"
"Mary Says"
"Law Of The Jungle"
"Homesick"
"Dear Miss Donna Vetter"
"No Reason To Cry"
"Car Expert"
"Why Don’t You"


"Time" video:





"Rain Of Champagne" video:





"Gimme That Bone" video:

Germany’s Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, whose name translates as “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”, brandish a unique style of melodic heaviness, accompanied by one-of-a-kind, intense lyrics. Last week, the band unleashed their new masterpiece Wilde Kinder (=“Wild Children”), which is the official successor to their album Der Rote Reiter (2017).


On Sunday, May 1, the band will celebrate the release of their new album with a special worldwide streaming event, The March For Freedom, which is set to be the ultimate experience of Reitermania’s live-power. Today, the band reveal a live video for their track, "Von Freiheit will ich singen" (= "I want to sing of freedom"), which was taken from The March For Freedom stream and gives fans a first taste of what's to come.


Watch the video below:







The March For Freedom will take place here on Sunday, May 1 at 8 PM, CEST.


The band comments: "The March For Freedom is our very first worldwide digital show. We have been working on a great and epic Reiter-show, that has never been seen before. Elaborately staged and filmed with ten cameras, fans can expect to experience fire, intense emotion, and a huge spectacle. Modern technology gives everyone the opportunity to watch us play as if we were right there in your living room. For the first time ever, we will be playing brand new songs from "Wilde Kinder", while also including several band classics in our setlist. Our show will be available from May 1st to May 8th and participants will be able to watch the show as often as they like for 48 hours. You can get your tickets and exclusive merch here."


Watch the show trailer below:





Order Wilde Kinder in your format of choice here.





Tracklisting:


“Von Freiheit Will Ich Singen”
“Volle Kraft”
“Alles Iit Gut”
“Wilde Kinder”
“Leinen Los”
“Euer Gott Ist Der Tod”
“Nur Frohen Mutes”
“Blau”
“Der Eisenhans”
“Ich Bin Ein Mensch”


"Leinen Los" video:





"Euer Gott ist der Tod" video:





“Wilde Kinder”:





“Volle Kraft” video:





Die Apokalyptischen Reiter:


Fuchs - Lyrics, vocals, guitars
Ady - guitars, keyboards
Volk-Man - bass
Sir G. - drums, programming, keyboards


Studio Session Guests:


Dr. Pest - keyboards - Wilde Kinder, Der Eisenhans, Alles ist gut
Chris Harms - Spoken Words - Blau
Sabine Scherer - Vocals - Euer Gott ist der Tod
Corvin Bahn - Keyboards – Von Freiheit will ich singen, Euer Gott ist der Tod, Blau

Mayhem, the Norwegian pioneers responsible for invigorating a global scene alongside originators such as Venom,  Celtic Frost, and  Bathory, formed in 1984, and with a long history of tragedy, intrigue and infamy they have become truly revered legends of black metal, with a large part of their legacy established in the late 80’s & early 90’s, notably when guitarist  Euronymous and bassist Necrobutcher welcomed Hellhammer  on drums and Dead on vocals, to help shape a new and inspired era of darkness.


Preceding this more notorious period, Mayhem ’s formative years were spent honing a selection of tracks of pure brutality, eventually leading to 1987’s iconic Deathcrush EP release - considered the launching point for the band onto the global map.


The first seed of Mayhem was, however, planted with 1986’s Pure Fucking Armageddon demo. Featuring the trio of Manheim, Necrobutcher, and Euronymous, this is a cult rehearsal space recording including now timeless tracks and staples of the Mayhem live set such as the "Pure Fucking Armageddon" track itself and "Carnage", plus also features a cover of Venom ’s genre-defining "Black Metal". With a sound delivered in its most primal, raw & chaotic form, this stands as undoubtedly an influential early classic of Norwegian extremity.




This edition of Pure Fucking Armageddon is presented on black vinyl and limited to 666 numbered copies. The release contains the original classic cover artwork, and features a new tape source transfer.


Available May 27, you can pre-order the title here.

Swedish black/death metal masters, Necrophobic, announce the re-release of their compilation, Satanic Blasphemies, which is the newest reissue of the current back catalog series and an important collection of the earliest recordings of the band’s history. Satanic Blasphemies is already available to stream and download digitally on all platforms and can be pre-ordered physically, here.


“It’s a great feeling to be able to reissue these old and early recordings again, for our die hard fans. It’s also extra special as I found an old cassette that was our first ever recording we did in our rehearsal room with a track I have totally forgotten about, since it never got recorded again, but is now included on this reissue,” states Necrophobic’s drummer and founding member Joakim Sterner about Satanic Blasphemies.


Satanic Blasphemies will be available physically as Ltd. CD Jewelcase in slipcase and a Gatefold LP version with double-sided poster featuring two tracks, which never have been released before, and will be released through Century Media Records on July 1.




Satanic Blasphemies will be available in the following vinyl variants:


- Gatefold Black LP & Poster – Unlimited
- Gatefold Red LP & Poster – 1000x copies via CM Webshop / CM Distro Europe & all USA outlets
- Gatefold Golden LP & Poster – 300x copies via CM Webshop Europe
- Gatefold Silver LP & Poster – 300x via EMP & Nuclear Blast





Tracklisting:


"Slow Asphyxiation" (Demo 1990) *
"Realm of Terror" (Demo 1990) *
"Retaliation" (Demo 1990) *
"Sacrificial Rites" (Demo 1991) **
"Unholy Prophecies" (Demo 1991) **
"Inborn Evil" (Demo 1991) **
"Shadows of the Moon" (EP 1992) ***
"The Ancients Gate" (EP 1992) ***
"Father of Creation" (EP 1992) ***
"Infernal Souls" (Rehearsal 1989) ****
"Realm of Terror" (Rehearsal Demo 1989) ****


* from Slow Asphyxiation Demo 1990
** from Unholy Prophecies Demo 1991
*** from The Call EP 1992
**** previously unreleased tracks

Over And Done is a celebration of the classic Status Quo line-up of Rossi, Parfitt, Lancaster and Coghlan, and is built around a huge selection of mainly, unpublished on and off stage photos from the seventies, alongside those from the 2013/14 reunion. Words come from long-standing, devoted Quo fan Alan Stutz who has seen the band in excess of one hundred times since 1976, including every London show the classic line-up played in the '70s, plus the very last show performed in Dublin.


This unique book encapsulates the excitement of the ultimate Status Quo line-up in all its glory and is topped off with a foreword by John Coghlan. With the sad passing of Rick Parfitt in 2016 and Alan Lancaster in 2021, the 2013/14 reunion proved to be the last chance to witness the legendary four on stage. This book will help bring back some of the excitement and memories that every Quo fan who witnessed the classic band will have. This is a beautiful memento of moments in Quo history that sadly are now truly over and done. This is the softcover version of Status Quo Over And Done Hardback Limited Edition, which is now sold out.


Publication date is set for July 22nd, 2022.




Go to this location for more details and to order.