SOUNDGARDEN's breakthrough 1994 album "Superunknown" was certified six times platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) on April 21 for sales in excess of six million copies. The LP was previously certified five times platinum in March 1996.

The RIAA developed its gold and platinum awards program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements.

Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold.

In the streaming age, each permanent digital album or physical album sale count as 1 unit for certification purposes, 10 permanent track downloads from the album count as 1 unit for certification purposes, and 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from the album count as 1 unit. For songs, 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as 1 unit for certification purposes.

When it came time for SOUNDGARDEN to enter the studio for "Superunknown", the song stash was empty, a daunting creative challenge to main songwriter Chris Cornell. All of the ripe musical fruit had been harvested for the series of singles and EPs on Sub Pop and the SST album "Badmotorfinger", but Chris found the untilled earth liberating, fertile musical ground. The result was the uncanny way in which songs such as "Spoonman", "Fell on Black Days", "Black Hole Sun", "My Wave", "The Day I Tried to Live", "Like Suicide" and "Superunknown" somehow bridged the evolution of rock over the 25-year period 1969 to 1994. The band's effort would be rewarded with a No. 1 album, two Grammy Awards and millions of fans.

In an interview with "Loudwire Nights", Cornell stated about "Superunknown": "I think the main thing is, it's sort of unquestionably SOUNDGARDEN in every way. I don't think there are songs on it that could have or would have been written by anyone else, arranged that way, performed that way, whether it's the music, lyrics, the sounds. I think we had already come into our own and had our own sound, but 'Superunknown' cemented it as living in its own world. It created an autonomy for us that we could make albums that were strictly SOUNDGARDEN albums that no one else was going to sound like and no one else could write. We kind of lived in our own world. I think that was important for us. I think we started out as a band that way, and I think during the early '90s, we then sort of lost the autonomy being lumped into other Seattle bands. That wasn't bad; that was a good thing. It was great that it was us and our friends kind of conquering the world. But it took away some of that autonomy for all of us. And 'Superunknown' for us, in one fell swoop, immediately got that back. There are songs on it that just, if you look at the history of rock, they're just nothing like anything else. And that was the beginning of it. I think that was the seed that led to 'Down On The Upside' and 'King Animal' in terms of our process and in terms of us owning who we are. So it was a good period for us. I couldn't say that we knew that we were doing that when we were making it. We were making that album just like any album. One song at a time. Just writing songs, but it became that."

The 20th-anniversary reissue of "Superunknown" was made available in 2

Ozzy Osbourne has told Classic Rock in a new interview that he spoke to Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister on the morning that the iconic MOTÖRHEAD frontman passed away.

Lemmy, who celebrated his 70th birthday on December 24, 2015, learned two days later that he was afflicted with an aggressive form of cancer. He died two days later, on December 28, 2015, at his home in Los Angeles.

Speaking with Classic Rock for the magazine's 300th issue, Ozzy recalled his final conversation with his longtime friend.

"He was a good man, Lemmy was," Ozzy said. "All the guys from MOTÖRHEAD have gone now, from the original band. It's hard to lose anyone you love. I was talking to Lemmy on the morning that he died, but I couldn't understand what he was talking about. I wanted to talk to someone else who was there, but they kept giving the phone to Lemmy."

A day after Lemmy's death, Ozzy talked about the MOTÖRHEAD frontman's passing on SiriusXM's Ozzy's Boneyard. At the time, Osbourne said: "[MOTÖRHEAD and Ozzy's solo band] did South America together in April [2015], and then I noticed he didn't look too well. I remember saying to him, 'Are you okay?' And he said, 'I've got kidney problems.' I didn't realize he was as sick as he was."

"[His death] left a big hole in rock and roll. Lemmy was not only my friend, he was everybody's friend.

"I knew he was ill for a long time, and even when Phil [Taylor, former MOTÖRHEAD drummer] died a couple of months [earlier]. I wouldn't speak to him too much; I'd correspond with him on text. And I said to him, 'Sorry to hear about Phil. You must be sad. If there's anything I can do, please let me know.' And he texted me back saying, 'Thanks for caring.' I would always keep a correspondence with Lemmy. Lemmy was a dear friend of mine. A good man. A good guy.

"The industry has lost a rock and roll hero. He was what rock and roll was all about. He lived the lifestyle. And I can't tell you how sad we all are. I'm sad that he died. I'm really sad that he died. In my life, it's such a terrible loss for me. I mean, I think more about Lemmy than most people I've lost."

He continued: "I was saying to my wife this morning… He worked right up to the very end, and I honestly think it was important for him to keep going. If he hadn't been doing more gigs and traveling… His band must be fucking brokenhearted. I'm so glad I'm not in his band; I wouldn't know how to fucking handle it. But he worked to the bitter end. And I think it was the reason that he got out of bed every day. Had he said, 'I'm sick. I'm not doing it anymore,' perhaps he would have died quicker. But I'm sad that he died when he did. I really am.

"If somebody were to say to me, 'Which one person would you say epitomizes sex, drugs and rock and roll?' And it would have to be Lemmy Kilmister. He was everything that people think.

"I don't drink anymore, I don't do dope anymore… I don't do any of that stuff. It gets you in the end. But Lemmy says to me, 'If I didn't drink and have fun in my life, I probably wouldn't live that long; I'm gonna be bored shitless. So I'm living my life like I wanna live it.' And he lived on his own most of the time, apart from when he had a girlfriend there. But most of the time, he lived on his own."

Ozzy added: "I will never forget Lemmy. He was a very influential guy in my life. He wrote me a bunch of lyrics. I remember when I was doing the 'No More Tears' album, and he wrote me a bunch of lyrics for that album. I think he wrote lyrics to 'Mama, I'm Coming Home', 'Hellraiser'…"

Osbourne also talked about why he connected so much with Lemmy. He said: "[Lemmy] was born not far from Liverpool, I believe. And he loved THE BEATLES. I loved THE BEATLES. He was really interested in World War II. I was really interested in World War II. And I would buy German daggers. I even got him [Adolf] Hitler's autograph at one point, I think. But it wasn't that we were Nazi [sympathizers]. It was just the fact that we were both born around that time in England, and we grew up in the environment of post-War… just as the war had finished. Lemmy was born at the end of '45, you know. And he was very knowledgeable about a lot of things. He was so well read. You would look at Lemmy and you would think he was a yob who didn't know shit about anything, and that couldn't be any further away from the truth, if you tried. 'Cause Lemmy was… He would read books quicker than you could read a newspaper. He knew so much about so many things in the history."

He went on to say: "If someone was to say to me, 'Ozzy, what one person would you say you identify your music with?' And I would have to say Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD. MOTÖRHEAD were far bigger than they realized they were, I think. But Lemmy was a simple guy. He lived just around the corner from the Rainbow [in West Hollywood]. I said, 'Why do you live there?' He goes, 'You know why? Because I can get out and walk around to the Rainbow, sit at the Rainbow and I don't have to drive. I don't wanna drive.'"

Lemmy had dealt with several health issues in the few years before his death, including heart trouble, forcing him to cut back on his famous smoking and Jack Daniel's habits.

The band was forced to cancel a number of shows in 2015 due to Lemmy's failing health, although they did manage to complete one final European tour just two weeks prior to his pass

SUICIDE SILENCE's debut album, 2007's "The Cleansing", will receive an expanded 15th-anniversary re-release on June 24. "The Cleansing (Ultimate Edition)" will include liner notes by the band as well as extensive bonus material.

"The Cleansing (Ultimate Edition)" track listing:

01. Revelations (Intro)

02. Unanswered

03. Hands Of A Killer

04. The Price Of Beauty

05. The Fallen

06. No Pity For A Coward

07. The Disease

08. Bludgeoned To Death

09. Girl Of Glass

10. In A Photograph

11. Eyes Sewn Shut

12. Green Monster

13. Destruction Of A Statue

14. A Dead Current

15. Swarm

16. Engine No. 9

17. Unanswered (Live In Paris)

18. Bludgeoned To Death (Live In Paris)

19. The Price Of Beauty (Live In Paris)

20. Swarm (Live In Paris)

21. No Pity For A Coward (Live In Paris)

22. Green Monster (Live In Paris)

23. The Fallen (Live In Paris)

24. Destruction Of A Statue (Live In Paris)

25. Hands of a Killer (Instrumental Rehearsal Tapes)

26. In a Photograph (Instrumental Rehearsal Tapes)

27. The Fallen (Instrumental Rehearsal Tapes)

28. Untitled (Instrumental Rehearsal Tapes)

With nearly two decades of non-stop touring around the globe, hundreds of thousands of records sold, and cementing themselves as a lynchpin band in modern extreme metal, the Riverside, California quintet recently returned to Century Media, the label that released the highly acclaimed albums "The Cleansing", "No Time To Bleed" (2009) and "The Black Crown" (2011).

SUICIDE SILENCE guitarist Chris Garza stated: "I can't believe how far we've all come since the band began 20 years ago. Today we're back where it all started — writing music together in the same room where the first three albums were created. We're incredibly excited to be working with Century Media Records once again as we enter the next chapter of our career."

Mike Gitter, Century Media vice president of A&R, added: "SUICIDE SILENCE has long been an important band in heavy music, not only being the band that really put 'deathcore' on the map but a band that has continued to redefine themselves and beat the odds at every turn. The new music I've heard from them has all the intensity and earmarks of their past while continuing to push into the proverbial red."

"It feels great to welcome SUICIDE SILENCE, undeniably the most influential deathcore band ever, back to Century Media Records," said Philipp Schulte, Century Media vice president and global head. "Working with them again feels like reuniting what was never meant to be divided. We're happy being the band's supporting label home again. No pity for the cowards!"

SUICIDE SILENCE is currently working on material for the follow-up to 2020's "Become The Hunter" album, which was released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. It will be the band's fourth LP with vocalist Hernan "Eddie" Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH), who joined SUICIDE SILENCE following the passing of frontman Mitch Lucker. The band recently finished an extensive U.S. tour with JINJER and has announced a co-headlining run on the U.S. 2022 "Chaos & Carnage" tour with CARNIFEX, labelmates LORNA SHORE, UPON A BURNING BODY, ANGELMAKER and DISTANT, beginning May 15 and running until June 4.

Photo by Lina Glasir

LAMB OF GOD performed without singer Randy Blythe and bassist John Campbell at the band's concert Friday night (April 22) in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The show at the Resch Center was part of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES, which kicked off on April 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Blythe, who previously missed the band's concert in Grand Rapids, Michigan four days ago after testing positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, was replaced at the Green Bay gig by Joe Badolato, vocalist for New Jersey deathcore outfit FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY. Filling in for Campbell was former MACHINE HEAD and current VIO-LENCE guitarist Phil Demmel, who previously stepped in for LAMB OF GOD guitarist Willie Adler during LOG's January appearance on the ShipRocked cruise.

At the Grand Rapids concert, LAMB OF GOD used three stand-in singers: Mark Hunter of CHIMAIRA, as well as TRIVIUM's Matt Heafy and IN FLAMES' Anders Fridén. LAMB OF GOD then canceled its concert Thursday night (April 21) at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Indiana when Hunter himself fell ill.

On Friday, LAMB OF GOD released the following statement: "Green Bay - unfortunately, Randy will not be able to perform but we WILL see you tonight! Our brother Joe Badolato from FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY will be stepping in to handle vocal responsibilities this evening. We expect Randy to return to our show on Sunday in Sioux Falls."

When the Fort Wayne cancelation was announced, Hunter clarified in a tweet that he didn't "blow his voice" singing for LAMB OF GOD in Grand Rapids but was actually forced to spend all day in the ER after "a genetic condition flared at the worst time."

No reason was given for Campbell's absence from the Green Bay concert.

LAMB OF GOD is continuing to tour in support of its latest, self-titled album, which was released in June 2020 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe.












































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BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE, the Huntington Beach, California-based alternative hard rock/metal band featuring former KORN drummer David Silveria, has just released a new EP, "Defy The Algorithm", to all major platforms.

Joining David in BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE are bassist Chris Dorame, guitarists Joe Taback and Mike Martin and singer Rich Nguyen.

BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE formed after a worldwide vocalist search led them to recruit Nguyen. The band's diverse musicality is backed by Silveria's signature groove and neatly wrapped together by captivating vocal melodies.

BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE's debut singles "Pity" and "Change Your Mind", released on January 4, 2019, were met with tremendous fanfare. "Pity", the edgier track of the two, has helped grow the band's following exponentially in both the U.S. and abroad. "Change Your Mind", showcases the band's softer, melodic side. The two singles were released as a Side A/B as a throwback to the '80s and '90s single releases. "Pity" peaked in the Top 25 (#23) on the Billboard (BDS) Indicator chart and Top 10 (#9) on the Foundations (SMR) chart. It has reached over 264,000 streams on Spotify and 54,000 views on YouTube. A third single "Hesitation", was released on July 16, 2019 to radio with an accompanying music video. The song is the exact middle ground between the first two singles. It peaked in the Top 25 (#24) on the Billboard (BDS) Indicator chart and Top 10 (#6) on the Foundations (SMR) chart. It has reached over 26,000 streams on Spotify and over 72,000 views on YouTube.

BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE released its debut EP, "Acronym", in January of 2021. It has reached over 560,000 streams on Spotify. The video for the final single "Anything But Right" was released on August 13, 2021.

"Defy The Algorithm" EP track listing:

01. Twine

02. Surprise

03. Worn Down

04. Antibodies

05. Leave Me Be

06. Naïve

Silveria previously told OC Weekly about BREAKING IN A SEQUENCE's musical approach: "We definitely have our own unique sound, but at times there are hints of the early sound of KORN. I feel this band is a new fresh sound on the rock scene that is lacking right now. We have a new sound for sure, but we aren't reinventing the wheel."

Nguyen described his lyrical themes as "both personal and abstract. Every song I write has two meanings; mine and your interpretation," he explained. "I try to write my lyrics vague enough for people to relate to and form their own opinions. However, if you know me personally, you may be able to figure what I'm talking about, maybe."

KISS frontman Paul Stanley is auctioning off a 2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray convertible.

Barrett-Jackson will offer his factory-customized C8 Corvette with no reserve at the 2022 Las Vegas Auction, held June 30 to July 2 in the West Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Stanley became acquainted with Chevrolet's top executives at the launch of the C7 Corvette in 2013 and was later asked by Mark Reuss, the president of Chevrolet, if he would like to take part in designing a 2015 Stingray model for the 2014 SEMA Show.

He agreed and worked with the design team to develop a color inspired by a supercar he had seen, which is incredibly close to the Long Beach Red paint option Chevrolet began offering in 2016.

Following the project, Stanley said he was very excited that Chevrolet would be raising the bar in terms of design and technology regarding the C8.

As a result, the C8 — powered by a 6.2-liter V8 paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission — was adorned with the striking metallic red tint coat exterior paint color, also known as red mist metallic tint coat and the successor to Long Beach Red he helped create. The accompanying saddle interior and pewter wheels work together to give the car a warmer and richer feel than the other colors normally seen on American cars.

"I would rather draw attention from being understated than overstated; that's just my preference," Stanley said.

Though he loves the car, he is offering it for auction because he "couldn't do it justice," as he is so conscious of the vehicle, its pedigree and its number. "I want to make it available to somebody who might be able to get more out of it, whether it's to add to a collection or to drive it."

The 70-year-old rocker is throwing in an Ibanez PS120 Paul Stanley Signature guitar for the winning bidder.

Photo courtesy of Barrett-Jackson

Norwegian black metal legends Emperor have checked in with the following update:


"Congrats to former Emperor drummer Faust, who won the Norwegian Grammy in the metal category with his band Djevel. In May he will join Emperor on stage in London for a special appearance at the Incineration Festival."


The Incineration Festival takes place on May 7th in London, England. Go to this location for details.




Emnperor previously issued the update below, announcing the go-ahead of their long-delayed Latin Anerican tour.


"Emperor fans of Latin America! Two years have passed since we first announced this tour. Finally, it’s time! The band is now getting ready, all plane tickets are bought and Emperor official is now set to travel and tour in May. Can’t wait to see you all!"





Black City Records, in collaboration with Emperor and Candlelight Records, are the very first store worldwide to offer the latest 140g Abbey Road half-speed masters on coloured vinyl of the following titles:


• Emperor EP
• In The Nightside Eclipse
• Anthems To The Welkin At Dusk
• IX Equilibrium
• Prometheus - Discipline Of Fire & Demise


All versions are in limited quantity and available both instore and online. Buy them here now.





Photo by Void Revelations

Building on the success of last year's debut album, The Natives Are Restless, released on High-Vol Records, Louisville, Kentucky rock group Native Sons has dropped new music. "Drama", the first single from their forthcoming album Shadow Head, is now available on most streaming services with an accompanying video, which can be seen below.


Native Sons' performance of "Drama" delivers powerful lyrical content mixed with their modernized yet old-school sound to draw listeners of all demographics. "Drama" is a straightforward rock song with southern and blues-rock elements that come together to create an undeniable catchiness and groove.







"Drama" showcases singer Ashton Blake's soaring, Ronnie James Dio-esque vocal style. The song explores its namesake—the sign of the times topic of living in a drama-fueled world. Describing the song's context, Blake said, '''Drama' was inspired by learning about a conversation where a 'friend' was working hard to create animosity. It is about people creating drama and being dramatic instead of living."


Native Sons teamed up with veteran engineer Dave Barrick (Kentucky Headhunters, Black Stone Cherry) to record the track. Discussing the recording process, bassist Jim Quiggins said, "We had these killer new songs, and we wanted to track them live, so we decided to head to Glasgow, Kentucky, to Dave Barrick's studio. Dave engineered, mixed, and mastered the song and provided a great creative space."


Overcoming numerous challenges, including the passing of High-Vol Records founder and CEO Bill Chavis last fall, Native Sons has continued to perform live, developing a reputation for high-energy shows while writing and recording new, original music. Their next concert is May 15th at Wampus Cat Music Festival in Sanford, North Carolina.


For further details, visit NativeSonsRocks.com.





(Photo by Sandy Beitler)


 

Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo performance of Gary Moore's 1986 classic "Wild Frontier". Check it out below.





 




Johansson previously shared his solo performance of Gary Moore's 1986 classic "Over The Hills And Far Away".


 


 





 

Progressive metal quartet OU (pronunciation: “O”) will release their debut album, one, on May 6 via InsideOutMusic. The band recently released the singles "Travel" and "Mountain", and have now followed up with "Farewell". Check out the official video below.





Hailing from Beijing, China, the group combine a variety of elements and influences (Devin Townsend, The Gathering, Radiohead to name a few), to create their extremely unique sound.




Formed by drummer and songwriter Anthony Vanacore, the idea behind OU came from each member having a long history of playing in local house bands and seeking new challenges in their growth as musicians. Vanacore would go on to recruit talented guitarist and fellow house band veteran Jing Zhang, as well as highly sought-after bassist Chris Cui, with the three of them laying the initial groundwork for the song structure and creative approach. OU recruited highly talented singer Lynn Wu to front the project, who brings with her ethereal vocals that contrast with the dynamic and engaging music, delivering a powerful and soaring sound. On their debut, OU set out with only one clear goal in mind, and that was to make certain that every song had its own unique identity.


one will be available as Ltd. Edition CD Digipak, 180g Gatefold LP Edition and as Digital Album.





Tracklisting:


"Travel 穿"
"Farewell 夔"
"Mountain 山"
"Ghost 灵"
"Euphoria 兴"
"Prejudice 豸"
"Dark 暗"
"Light 光"


"Travel 穿"





"Mountain 山"





OU lineup:


Lynn Wu – Vocals
Anthony Vanacore – Drums, Producer
Zhang Jing – Guitars
Chris Cui - Bass


Top photo - Frank Mao)

Orange Goblin performed at the UK's Bloodstock Open Air 2021 on August 15th on the Ronnie James Dio stage. Pro-shot video of the band's full show is available below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Sons of Salem"
"The Filthy & the Few"
"The Man Who Invented Time"
"Saruman's Wish"
"Some You Win, Some You Lose"
"Your World Will Hate This"
"Scorpionica"
"The Devil's Whip"
"They Come Back (Harvest of Skulls)"
"Quincy the Pigboy"
"Red Tide Rising"







Orange Goblin will be performing a small number of club shows in the US when they travel over in May to perform at Desertfest New York. This year marks 20 years since Orange Goblin first came to the USA when they toured with Alabama Thunderpussy back in 2002. Since then they have been back numerous times, but not since the short tour in 2019. Orange Goblin are very excited to play these dates and are bringing some cool friends with them to support. Details are as listed:


May
11 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA (with HTSOB)
13 - Desertfest at Knockdown Center - New York, NY
14 - The Middle East - Boston, MA (with Telekinetic Yeti)
15 - Reverb - Reading, PA (with The Atomic Bitchwax)


Tickets are on sale now at this location.





(Poster artwork by Dominic Sohor)

Germany's Chapel Of Disease have revealed they have parted ways with founding bassist Christian "C.K." Krieger. Their official statement is available below.


"Today we have to announce that our friend and bassist C.K. is no longer part of CoD.


Since we were never a band that strived for the big speeches on social media platforms, in this case it really can be put short: sometimes life comes along and changes what‘s happening in itself. There truly isn‘t any drama or bad blood behind this, but much rather our highest hopes and respect for him and for what‘s coming up. And since this strange construct we call a band never was about four people just playing music together, but rather more about four very connected individuals, we will not be searching for a new bass player as of now but treasure what we have achieved together. The band however will continue.




The biggest thanks to you for these last 14 years."


C.K. has issued the following statement:


"To add a few personal thoughts: I have nothing but gratitude for the past years with Chapel Of Disease. I am grateful to every single person who has made this band what it is today, grateful for all the experiences I have had that I could never imagine when we started all this, all the great gigs, among others at my personal favourite festivals. The tours with the coolest people who walk this earth. Sharing the stage with bands whose fans we have been for years. Being voted 'Album of the Month' several times by people who have influenced myself with their publications for 30 years.


But most of all, all the anecdotes, experiences and conversations based on friendship over the course of 14 years, so invaluable and beautiful. And no one can take all that away from me.


But now it's time to set off for new shores in the truest sense of the word and look ahead. Friendship will last over the distance, but the music is over for now. And I can only say thank you to all of you once again!


Dig in, see you!"


Launched in 2008, Chapel Of Disease have issued three albums to date, one demo, and one split release:


Death Evoked (2012 Demo - FDA Rekotz)
Chapel Of A Lifeless Cult (2012 split with Lifeless - FDA Rekotz)
Summoning Black Gods (2012 - FDA Rekotz)
The Mysterious Ways of Repetitive Art (2015 - FDA Rekotz)
...And As We Have Seen The Storm, We Have Embraced The Eye (2018 - Ván Records)





Photo courtesy of Geschmacksrichtung Grün

Finnish cello-rock quartet, Apocalyptica, have released the video below, featuring their performance of "I'm Not Jesus" at Graspop Metal Meeting 2016 featuring vocalist Franky Perez.





Apocalyptica recently partnered up with some of the biggest names in rock music to deliver their new single, “I’ll Get Through It”. The song, written for the band by American award-winning songwriter Diane Warren, features Franky Perez – guest vocalist in Apocalyptica’s 2015 record Shadowmaker – as well as Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath on bass guitar. The track can be found on all digital streaming platforms. Buy/stream here, and watch the official music video below.







The song was born out of a visit Geezer & Franky paid to their friend Diane, who had already written the track “Not Strong Enough” for Apocalyptica, included in their 2010 record 7th Symphony. “Franky & I were visiting my friend, Diane Warren, at her studio. She played us this song, saying that she thought it would work well with Frankie’s voice. He gave it a try on the spot. We loved it. Franky then suggested sending it to Apocalyptica. They loved it, and the rest is history,” comments Geezer.


Franky Perez shares the same feeling of enthusiasm upon hearing the track for the first time – “I knew this song was special from the moment Diane Warren played it for Geezer and me. So much so, that I framed the lyrics from the session the very next day. They have been hanging on my wall ever since. This song speaks to me lyrically which made for an honest performance. Musically, there is no better collaboration than Geezer and Apocalyptica to do the song the justice it deserves. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”


“I’ll Get Through It” marks the first collaboration between Apocalyptica and Franky Perez since he sang on Shadowmaker, which adds to the excitement for the members of Apocalyptica, according to Perttu Kivilaakso: “We are more than thrilled working with our great and talented friend Franky Perez again! It’s been a while since our previous collaborations in Shadowmaker- album and tour, and we are also highly awaiting for getting back on road with him this April all across the States!”


Perttu also adds, about the song – “’I’ll Get Through It’ – is a meaningful and beautiful song by an incredible songwriter Diane Warren, with whom we’ve also had the pleasure of working with before. We can’t wait for you to hear the final result… falling in love again with Franky’s sensual performance, Geezer’s earthshakingly powerful bass, and our wistfully haunting cellos, among the inevitable presence of all the rhythms and groove!”


“We hope you’ll enjoy the track as much as we do! Gonna be a blast performing it also live!”

The progressive/power metal group Immortal Guardian has unveiled the music video for their new single, “Ozona.” The song is the first new music from the group since last year's release of their critically-acclaimed concept album Psychosomatic. “Ozona” is available for download/streaming on all digital music platforms. The band is also now more than halfway through their current nationwide tour alongside video game-inspired shredders Powerglove. 





“A few years, while we were on the road, we broke down in the middle of nowhere in a lil’ Texas town called Ozona,” explains guitarist Gabriel Guardian. “We had no way of getting home, and no money to resolve our problem. We just wished and wished we could get home somehow…. While we waited, we decided to write a song about our experience because we knew that we weren’t the only ones going through times like this. This song is for all the traveling souls just trying to find their way back home.”







Immortal Guardian's current tour with Powerglove has the band once again taking the sounds of Psychosomatic on the road following two lengthy tours that dazzled metal fans nationwide during the second half of 2021.


The newly-released music video for “Ozona” is but a small taste of the new territory that Immortal Guardian plans to take their sound in 2022. More information on additional new music and touring in 2022 will be revealed in the weeks to come by M-Theory Audio.

Wardruna are releasing an official music video for the streamed live performance of "Fehu". Einar Selvik says, "‘Fehu’ is a song inspired by ancient runic poetry. The word itself refers to cattle/livestock and wealth and the song discusses the duality of wealthiness. "Fehu" was originally released on the album Runaljod - Yggdrasil in 2013. It has been a permanent song in our live-set ever since the release and thus, it feels great to finally release a live version of the song."





The release date of Kvitravn: First Flight of the White Raven has been moved to June 10. A statement from Einar is as follows; "Due to a very unfortunate production issue, we are forced to move the release date of First Flight Of The White Raven in all of its formats to June 10. On a more positive note and due to popular demand, we will make the DVD available as a standalone item and offer the concert as VOD (Video-On-Demand) through our World and US online-shops." He continues, "The DVD presale starts April 22 along with a new digital single and video from the upcoming release. We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause and we are grateful for your understanding."







An immersive audio arrangement that underscores the experiential paradigm shift and masterful musicianship of their superlative and boundary-pushing virtual live experience First Flight of the White Raven of March 26, 2021. This new release captures their special set list consisting of songs from Kvitravn and a selection of favourites from the discography, and will be released on a 2LP, as well as 2CD that also features the original studio album track listing. To mark the event’s exceptional impact, it will also be available as a limited Boxset Edition including 2LP (black), 2CD, DVD with livestream performance and bonus documentary material and three videos (only available in the boxed set), flag of the CD album cover, certificate of authenticity for the box and an exclusive autographed card signed by Einar Selvik. Preorder at wardruna.com.


"Kvitravn – First Flight of the White Raven is an audio-visual ‘live-in-studio’ recording that was broadcasted online, as the release show of the Kvitravn album. It was recorded in a time when it was not allowed to perform in front of an audience, which made it very important for me that the recording itself truly captured the energy of a live performance. What you hear is what we performed in that moment in that room. No re-recordings or autotune was done in the afterwork. Just like for a regular concert, the set list was carefully put together with a selection of songs from all our albums, including a handful of songs from the new album, which we performed for the very first time. On the day of recording, we all stood together in the same room for the first time in over a year. Everyone came focused and well prepared and the energy felt like no time had passed. I hope you will agree!” - Einar Selvik


To celebrate the announcement, Wardruna are also sharing the track and virtual live performance video for "Solringen" about which Einar Selvik says;"Solringen is a song originally released on the album Runaljod - Yggdrasil (2013). Even though it quickly became a popular track amongst our listeners, it wasn’t until late 2019 we first got around to performing it live. When taking the song from the studio to the stage, I really felt it needed a slightly different approach, more specifically adapted for the concert format"


Selvik continues; "In earlier tradition the women of the household on a farm had the task of going out into the fields around midsummer and wake up the elves dwelling there with rhymes and songs to encourage them to ensure growth and good crops. These songs and traditions have now mostly passed into oblivion. The initial idea behind "Solringen" is that new songs might wake them once again.”





Tracklisting:


Audio (with translations):
"Synkverv" (Turn-sight)
"Kvitravn" (White Raven)
"Skugge" (Shadow)
"Grá" (Grey)
"Fylgjutal" (Speech of the Fetch)
"Munin" (Memory)
"Kvit hjort" (White Stag)
"Viseveiding" (Song-hunting)
"Ni" (Nine)
"Vindavlarljod" (Song of the wind-bred)
"Andvevarljod" (Song of the Spirit-weavers)


Audio from virtual live performance:
“Kvitravn”
“Skugge”
“Solringen”
“Bjarkan”
“Raido”
“Voluspá”
“Isa”
“UruR”
“Grá”
“Vindavlarljod”
“Rotlaust Tre Fell”
“Fehu”
“Helvegen”


DVD:
“Kvitravn”
“Skugge”
“Solringen”
“Bjarkan”
“Raido”
“Voluspá”
“Isa”
“UruR”
“Grá”
“Vindavlarljod”
“Rotlaust Tre Fell” 
“Fehu”
“Helvegen”


Interview 
Behind the Scenes Videos: 
“Grá”
“Kvitravn”
“Lyfjaberg”


Documentary


"Solringen":





Photo by Ragnarock Film

Lips Turn Blue, the Upstate NY band that releases its debut album on MIG Music on May 4, has released its new music video, "Pray For Tomorrow:. Although written and recorded with the band’s late vocalist and co-writer, Phil Naro before the current conflict in the Ukraine, the compelling video was created to reflect that tragedy and others dominating the news today.


Save the single here, and watch the video below.


“’Pray For Tomorrow’ is a song we have had for a while now and was written when conflicts around the world started becoming a main focus in the news; then the pandemic hit, and recently the focus has been on the war in the Ukraine,” says guitarist and Lips Turn Blue founding member, Don Mancuso. “When it came time to do the video, we decided to that situation could be addressed in a powerful way using this song.”







In addition to Mancuso, the band (nicknamed LTB) also includes keyboardist Eric Bieber, bassist Mike Mullane, drummer Roy Stein and newest member, singer/ instrumentalist Iggy Marino. The debut album and subsequent videos were the last projects original singer Phil Naro was able to complete before passing away in May 2021 from cancer.


“This is the second of only two videos we have with Phil Naro. We were working on the song when things in the world started going awry and Phil’s own health concerns allowed a song like this to give him comfort.” adds Eric Bieber, who, in addition to his skill as a classically trained keyboardist and longtime professional performing musician, recently retired as a physician and hospital executive administrator.


The group will grant a limited time usage license to any legitimate organization raising funds for Ukrainian refugees. “If  this video can help bring awareness to the plight of the Ukrainian people and raise money for them that is the least we can do as artists,” says bassist Mike Mullane.


“Pray For Tomorrow and this video is very timely for the world right now,” says Bernd Ramien, A&R & Director of Catalog Marketing for  MIG (Made-In-Germany-Music GmbH), which signed the band soon after only hearing a few tracks from the debut album. “It speaks of hope and we all need some hope right now in our lives…”





Pre-order the new album here.


The group is currently booking tour dates to coincide with the album’s release.


Based in Hannover, Germany but distributed worldwide, MIG Music has released albums by an extraordinary roster of acts that includes: Joe Jackson, Sheila E, Jack Bruce of Cream, Roger McGuinn, Ron Wood, Muddy Waters, Pee Wee Ellis, Maceo Parker, Weather Report, Nash Albert, Pat Travers Band, Vanilla Fudge, Richard Thompson, George Thorogood, Public Image Ltd, and many others.

Brian May has shared a new and innovative video of “On My Way Up,” one of the highlights of his second solo album, 1998's Another World. The clip marks the release of a multi-format, meticulously repackaged deluxe edition of the album in Brian's Gold Series, featuring the remastered original album alongside remixes, rarities and live tracks in the 2CD and box set formats.


"On My Way Up" shows Brian in reflective mood in his home attic as he leafs through old photographs of himself and memorabilia from his stellar career. As the uplifting, feel-good track plays, we see a clever combination of new and historical video and still images of the Queen guitar hero. Static artifacts, photos, and souvenirs are transformed into living images which reflect his passion for so many projects in different areas across distinct periods in his life until we find Brian today, surrounded by those things that portray his current sensibilities – stereoscopy, astronomy, animal protection, nature spaces while Brian sings and plays along with its message of positivity and personal growth.


A regular feature of Brian’s solo concerts, “On My Way Up” is an optimistic belter originally commissioned for the 1994 Series 2 of the ITV comedy drama series Frank Stubbs while work on Queen’s Made in Heaven album proceeded. Backing singers Cathy Porter and Shelley Preston help the melody reach a high, in tune with the character of Stubbs as a lead figure in the series.




“The central character of this song is someone who is basically a loser,” says May, “but has total belief and a kind of insane optimism, and he's going somewhere, you know, 'Man, I'm on my way' kind of thing. So that's what the song was. It became imbued with different things once I got going on the track, but it's basically funny. It's funny, and it's optimistic and loud.”


He adds that while he was creating the song, “I had a moment of belief and joy thinking, 'Yeah, I actually can do this, it's going to be fine. It's a very joyful song, and that's one of the forces which propelled me through the album and made me want to release it and makes me want to release it now.”


Watch the video below.





The 15-track rarities collection in the new edition of the album, titled Another Disc, also features Brian's live version of “On My Way Up,” as performed in Paris in 1998, and a new guitar version, of which he says: “It's nice to just pick up the guitar and sing it with a guitar, so there's a couple of those versions on there. I particularly like the one of “On My Way Up” because it's very kind of rude. It's just raw, and I've done nothing to it apart from playing.”


The new “On My Way Up” clip is the latest in a series of videos highlighting the reissue of a landmark album in May's solo career. These also include a Bri-Art lyric video for his version of Buddy Holly's “Maybe Baby,” one of the rarities on the second disc, and another short film in which he talks about revisiting the island of El Hierro, where the memorable front cover image for Another World was captured.
 
In his new Another World 2022 album liner notes, Brian notes how far we have all travelled since the album’s release in 1998, but also that the exploration feels very appropriate at this time. “It seems perhaps that in 2022 we ARE in Another World,” he writes, “but if it’s not quite the world we asked for, perhaps we can still reach that perfect world… in our dreams. JOIN ME !!!”


“On My Way Up” video:





"Maybe Baby" lyric video:





(Photo - Richard Gray © Duck Productions Ltd)

In conjunction with Decibel Metal & Beer Fest 2022, Swedish Grammis award-winning and US Grammy-nominated doom metal legends, Candlemass, has partnered with the event's lead beer sponsor, Broken Goblet Brewing, to release “Doom Lager” - a dark as night black lager inspired by Epicus Doomicus Metallicus featuring a hearty roasted malt character. The beer will be available on tap and in cans at Decibel Metal & Beer Fest 2022 - don’t miss the chance to sample this special brew.


To honour the band's special full-album headlining set of their 1986 landmark debut, Epicus Doomicus Metallicus, at Decibel's Metal & Beer Fest on June 10 in Philadelphia, Decibel takes a deep look at the impact of Epicus with band founder Leif Edling, guitarist Mats Björkman and returning Epicus vocalist Johan Längquist. Check out the new issue here.


"After nearly 40 years in the Doom service, we're finally on the cover of a big U.S. metal mag. We're very honored! Candlemass are like cockroaches, we'll never go away. Surrender or Die!" - Leif Edling







In addition to their upcoming performance at the 2022 Decibel Metal & Beer Fest, Candlemass began their limited run of US spring dates in Boston earlier this week; with shows in Houston and Chicago coming up this weekend.





Candlemass are:


Leif Edling: Bass
Mats "Mappe" Björkman: Guitars
Jan Lindh: Drums
Lars "Lasse" Johansson: Guitars        
Johan Langquist: Vocals

Lucifer have returned with a monumental new offering. The band released their latest record, Lucifer IV, last November via Century Media. Today, they have unveiled a new visualizer for the song, “Orion”, from the aforementioned record.


A cosmic, stargazing affair that offers soaring vocals, punchy drum sequences, and mystifying guitar riffs - fans can check out the visualizer for “Orion” below.


Speaking on the track and the visualizer for “Orion”, Johanna comments: "We've been meaning to pick 'Orion' as a single all along for its emotional impact but opted for the harder rockers first. This heavy heartbreaker rocks no less but is a lot more melancholic and wistful. It's a song about two people colliding briefly, then drifting apart again and about the loneliness you sometimes feel within your existence. You're born alone and you will pass on alone. In the end, we are all just particles revolving around each other in the universe, each one of us a lonely star in the night sky. The idea came to me when I read in Marianne Faithfull's autobiography about her relationship to Mick Jagger and the aftermath."







Furthermore, Lucifer announce that their latest album, Lucifer IV will be available as coloured vinyl for the first time.


Lucifer IV will be available in the following colors:


- Ltd. transp. orange (available at all outlets)
- Ltd. glow in the dark (limited to 500 units/band exclusive)


The release is set for May 20. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Archangel Of Death"
"Wild Hearses"
"Crucifix (I Burn For You)"
"Bring Me His Head"
"Mausoleum"
"The Funeral Pyre"
"Cold As A Tombstone"
"Louise"
"Nightmare"
"Orion"
"Phobos"


"Crucifix (I Burn For You)" video:





“Bring Me His Head” video:





“Wild Hearses” lyric video:





Lineup:


Johanna Platow Andersson – Vocals
Nicke Platow Andersson – Drums
Linus Björklund – Guitar
Martin Nordin – Guitar
Harald Göthblad - Bass


(Photo - Ester Segarra)

In a new interview with "The Garza Podcast", hosted by SUICIDE SILENCE guitarist Chris Garza, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares opened up about his band's search for a new vocalist following the departure of Burton C. Bell nearly two years ago.

"A lot of people are calling me out for not announcing our new singer," Dino said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "[They're saying] 'What's up? You were gonna announce a new singer? What happened?' What I was gonna do is announce the new singer just before the STATIC-X tour [with FEAR FACTORY] that was supposed to happen right now. So I was gonna announce it, I was gonna release a track just before the tour, just to get some hype for the tour [and] introduce the person. But the tour got postponed, and I went on tour with SOULFLY [as a guest guitarist] and then all this other stuff.

"The thing is if I announce his name right now, everybody's gonna attack — boom! They haven't even heard him yet, and they're gonna attack him," Dino explained. "So I wanna do where I release a track. Everybody's, like, 'Release a track right now.' Well, there's planning involved. I don't wanna put a song out just to put it out and nothing behind it. So, in other words, what I'm trying to say is what most fans don't understand is you wanna create hype for something. In other words, just before a tour, I would release a song with the new singer, and people would get excited — boom! — you've got something to tour on. It would hopefully help generate more ticket sales, generate more interest for the band, blah blah blah blah. But if I release a track now, there's nothing behind it and it's just whatever. That's what most fans don't understand — there's planning and there's timing involved. So I'm withholding who this person is till the time is right… So that's my thing that I'm saying to everybody right now, is that."

When asked by Garza if the new FEAR FACTORY singer is "emotionally" ready to handle the inevitable pushback from some fans that he will get once his identity has been revealed, Dino said: "I think that they're ready. When it comes to talent, they're very ready. But 'tour ready' is completely different. Let's hope that… Well, the person that we have has done some touring, but not touring like we do touring. Like, a full U.S. tour can be anywhere from four weeks to six weeks to whatever, then you fly over to Europe and do another four to five weeks, come back to the States, do another tour, then you go to South America and do another few weeks there, then you go to Australia and do another few weeks there, and then you plan for next year. I think one of the other things, too, is when this person is announced, they're gonna have to be able to handle all the criticism. That's gonna be the hard part. 'Well, it didn't sound like Burt.' Well, of course not. I want this person… They do actually sound like Burt — they can handle all the old stuff like Burt — but as far as moving forward, I would like them to have their own identity. We're still gonna have the formula of what makes FEAR FACTORY — for sure — but I want this person to somewhat have his own identity as well."

Pressed about what happened to cause Burton to leave FEAR FACTORY, Dino said: "Good question. I don't know. I think he just lost interest in… I can only assume, because we went through some really heavy lawsuits for four years, and it financially crippled us — personally as well — and I just believe that he lost interest. I think that possibly all the stuff that we went through in FEAR FACTORY was just, like… He's one of those guys, 'Fuck it. I'm out. I quit. Fuck it.' He doesn't come across as a fighter — as somebody who's gonna be, like, 'Fuck it. We went through it. Let's go through it and let's just continue.' I mean, I left the door open for him for a while to come back into the band, but he pretty much said fuck me, Raymond [Herrera, former FEAR FACTORY drummer] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, former FEAR FACTORY bassist] — everybody. Fuck everybody.

"I'm not gonna push it," Dino added. "I'm not gonna push him or nothing like that. Fans ask me all the time: 'Hey, call him up. Just call him up.' Well, if you saw the stuff he said when he left, he's not exactly a phone call away… He left pretty bitter, and that's pretty much where… It looks like he's having a good time being free. So I'm not gonna force anybody to come back or [any] stuff like that.

"Some people want change in their life, but sometimes fans just can't accept that. Fans are, like, 'He was the singer for 30 years. Come back.' That was his decision. No one pushed him out; no one forced him to leave — none of that stuff. That was his decision."

Two months ago, former NIGHTRAGE singer Antony Hämäläinen, who recently unsuccessfully auditioned for the vocalist slot in FEAR FACTORY, claimed in an interview that the new FF frontman is "a person from Italy." He also added that a female vocalist who is "in a band with somebody who's a well-known producer/musician" auditioned for the position as well but didn't get the gig.

Asked about his previous comment that he was open to hiring a female vocalist for FEAR FACTORY, Dino told Bucketlist TV: "That was true. I auditioned a few women, yes. But it didn't work out — not because they were female or anything like that. Because I wanted to pick whoever was best for the position, and it turned out to be a guy."

Dino also addressed his statement from last year that he wanted to give an "unknown guy a shot" at fronting FEAR FACTORY. He said: "Well, it wasn't like I was only looking for somebody that nobody knew. I was looking for all different [types of singers]. Sure, if the guy turned out to be, or the girl turned out to be, someone that nobody knew and I gave 'em that shot, yeah, great. I was open to all of it, is what I'm saying. Male, female, whatever, known, unknown — I was open to all of that."

In September 2020, Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's latest LP.

Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while," he said. "These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.

"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."

In October 2020, Dino issued a statement in which he said that the door for Burton to come back to FEAR FACTORY wouldn't "stay open forever." The guitarist also revealed that Burton "lost his legal rights" to the FEAR FACTORY name "after a long court battle" with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. "I had the opportunity to do something right, and I felt that obtaining the name in full was the right thing to do for the both of us, so after nearly four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and to tour," he said. "That is why it is sad to hear that he decided to quit and, in my opinion, for whatever issues he has it seems like it could've been worked out."

FEAR FACTORY's latest album, "Aggression Continuum", was released in June 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP, which was recorded primarily in 2017, features Cazares and Bell alongside drummer Mike Heller.

During an appearance on a recent episode of "The Bob Lefsetz Podcast", AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows offered an update on the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "The Stage" LP. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We recorded an album a few years ago. We haven't finished it yet. We kind of took some time off for family, COVID, weird touring circumstances, some changes within our team. And we are still currently with one record left on Warner Brothers Records. We'll be finishing that record up — I think we have May locked out; our producer can get back to work on it — and then we're gonna go mix with Andy Wallace in August. And then we're gonna figure out if it's [going to be released in the] first quarter or fourth quarter or what we're gonna do. And then we're gonna be booking tours and put the tickets on sale when the record comes out and the whole nine yards."

M. Shadows also addressed the fact that Warner Bros. sued AVENGED SEVENFOLD in late 2015 after the band left the label by citing the California Labor Code's "seven-year rule." The rule allows for parties to exit contracts after seven years if certain unfavorable conditions exist. The band then moved on to Capitol, which issued the aforementioned "The Stage" as a surprise release in October 2016, promoted with a concert on top of the Capitol building.

The singer explained how AVENGED SEVENFOLD ended up returning to Warner Bros., saying: "There's a lot that goes into that. We pulled the old seven-year clause that we were trying to get out of our deal, but the reality is we wanted our masters back — we wanted to make some sort of deal and be able to own our recordings, or possibly re-sign and get a check, all the things you can do. And then we started thinking about the seven-year clause and we actually wanted to see if we could help artists out in a way.

"The people that we had a problem with at Warner Brothers that simply weren't engaged in the band had left, and some new people came in and they flew out and we basically broke bread and said this record we did with Capitol Records, come back to Warner Brothers, finish up your deal and we'll deal with it from there. So, obviously a lot of rabbit holes in there."

Elaborating on why AVENGED SEVENFOLD was so unhappy with Warner Bros. before going back to the label, M. Shadows said: "[When] our 2014 record, 'Hail To The King', came out, we just noticed that no one at the label cared about our band. Basically, they'd come to the recordings, they'd come and check out the record, and it was just everyone's on their phone, and there was just no support. So we tried to get a better deal or at least get our masters back and get out of there. We went over to Capitol Records and put out a record. I think we're the only band that actually put out an album while we were still in some sort of litigation over the seven-year clause which caused a huge uproar between the labels and ourselves."

Pressed by Lefsetz about how Capitol feels about AVENGED SEVENFOLD returning to Warner Bros. after the band released only one album through the former label, M. Shadows said: "We went to Capitol and they knew the situation we were in, obviously. They're not dummies — they're not gonna sign us and say, 'We're getting into some long-term deal here.' We were under the idea that we would get our record back. They were basically putting one record out for us, and then we'd be free. So I think they kind of probably expected something like that to happen. When the regime change happened with Warner Brothers, and obviously the amounts of money we were spending arguing with them back and forth, it was obviously… the smart thing to do was just kind of put it to bed. So I think Capitol, they're fine. They got their one record, and we went out and worked it — we toured for a long time on it. And now we're back to finishing up our contract."

A provision in the California Labor Code's "seven-year rule" allows labels to collect money that would have been made on undelivered albums. In its lawsuit against AVENGED SEVENFOLD, Warner Bros. sought damages based on the fact that the band had one album left on its contract, while the group argued that extensive turnover in the label's staff led to an unsatisfactory working relationship. Had it lost the case, AVENGED SEVENFOLD would have faced a verdict between $5 million and $10 million. Warner Bros. was also allowed to seek its attorney fees — which by 2018 had amounted to more than $1.5 million.

"The Stage" debuted at No. 4 on The Billboard 200 album chart in November 2016. The surprise release of the disc earned the lowest sales of an AVENGED SEVENFOLD album in eleven years. It sold 76,000 copies in its first week, less than half the tally of its previous two efforts.

A few years ago, M. Shadows told The Pulse Of Radio that AVENGED SEVENFOLD was aware of the risks in such an unusual release. "One thing that we knew, you know, all the analytics proved that, you know, we shouldn't do this because of the way that rock fans consume music," he said. "You know, it's very physical-heavy, and one thing we knew is that we had to get records in stores, but we were gonna be basically setting ourselves up for a leak, which would have been a huge disaster. But Capitol Records did an amazing job of being able to get these records into stores, so we were able to be the first band to actually have a physical and digital release that was a surprise."