In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, former SCORPIONS drummer Herman Rarebell was asked if he would consider rejoining the band, if the other guys were open to it. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It depends, really, what the plan would be. At the moment, I see no reason. I offered them a while back, when [former SCORPIONS drummer] James Kottak was not them anymore, I wrote them an e-mail, the three of them [Klaus Meine, Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs], and I said, 'Why don't we do something again?,' just like between friends. And they didn't even answer me. So I said to them, 'Okay, fuck it. If you don't want [to consider it], I'm not gonna kiss your ass. Then fuck it.' Or like Paul McCartney would say: let it be."

Back in September 2021, Rarebell blasted his former SCORPIONS bandmates, calling them "rude" and accusing them of "greed" over their apparent refusal to allow him to rejoin the band. Rarebell, who was a member of the SCORPIONS from 1977 to 1995, discussed the possibility of his return to the group in an interview for Classic Rock magazine. Asked if he was disappointed not to have been invited back into the fold following the 2016 dismissal of longtime drummer James Kottak, Herman said: "I'll tell you how disappointed I am. I sent them a message offering my services, and never even got a reply. I thought that was very rude. Now I hear the SCORPIONS are claiming their new album will be a return to the glory days of the eighties. If they're serious about that, they should get [former bassist] Francis [Buchholz] and me back, and also Dieter Dierks who produced all those classic albums. You know why they won't do that? Greed. It would mean having to share everything five ways and not three."

Rarebell also criticized his former bandmates for seemingly not giving him enough credit for their commercial success in the 1980s. "The band never mention me in interviews, which I find ridiculous," he stated. "But there's a new documentary in the pipeline from ITV on the band. I am being interviewed for this, so I can finally set the record straight on my role."

In an interview with Classic Rock Revisited, Herman stated about the huge commercial success of SCORPIONS' 1982 album "Blackout": "Mercury Records was totally behind us and they believed in us. They wanted us to keep making albums. They wanted us to grow and do better each time out. 'Lovedrive' went gold. 'Animal Magnetism' went gold and then 'Blackout' was the first one to go platinum. [Rudolf] Schenker / [Klaus] Meine / Rarebell was a great songwriting team. You can see that from how many successful albums we had. After I left the band, they didn't have any more hits."

Rarebell also talked about the inspiration for the lyrics to "Rock You Like A Hurricane", which was released as the lead single from SCORPIONS' ninth studio album, 1984's "Love At First Sting". "Those lyrics were very easy to write," he said. "I woke up early in the morning after fucking and doing cocaine all night and I opened up the curtains. 'It's early morning, the sun comes out. Last night was shaking and pretty loud. My cat is purring and she scratches my skin.' She had scratched my back during our lovemaking. I just sat down and wrote it right then and there. It was five in the morning and the girl was still in bed as I was sitting there writing it. The next day, I said to Rudolf, 'I have some great lyrics for that riff you have.'"

Rarebell is currently promoting the upcoming HERMAN RAREBELL & FRIENDS studio album "What About Love?", which will be released on April 11 via Metalville Records. The LP features Herman's re-recordings of 12 songs with good friends and great musicians as a tribute to the greatest hits of the 1980s — a time that was a golden age for him personally. Former OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Bob Daisley can be heard on this album, as can Dann Huff, who was a studio musician on some of the greatest albums in pop history, as well as Howard Leese from the legendary U.S. rockers HEART and singer Michael Voss (CASANOVA, MAD MAX, MICHAEL SCHENKER).

KANSAS vocalist Ronnie Platt has undergone successful surgery for thyroid cancer.

On Tuesday (March 4),Platt took to social media to write: "I am home! The doctor said my surgery couldn't have gone any better!!!

"I felt the power of everyone's prayers and positive energy! You all have helped me [through] this, how do I? or can I? ever thank all of you for that!!!????

"Day 1 of recovery here I am!!!

"I am looking forward to getting back to what I do best! Yes, singing, but my true job is entertaining you all and helping you at least for a couple hours forget about your problems and recharge your batteries. I take a lot of pride in that!!!!

"Thank you all again, CARRY ON!!!!"

As a result of Platt's cancer diagnosis, KANSAS canceled two previously announced shows in Louisiana — in New Orleans on February 21 and Lake Charles on March 1.

When the 64-year-old singer first announced his cancer diagnosis on February 15, he wrote that "it has a 99% survival rate" and "it has not spread. It's contained to my thyroid. I just have to have my thyroid removed," he added. "Go through some rehab time and be right back in the saddle."

Platt joined KANSAS in July 2014 after the departure of longtime singer Steve Walsh.

Ronnie can be heard on KANSAS's last two studio albums, 2016's "The Prelude Implicit" and 2020's "The Absence Of Presence".

Formed in Topeka, Kansas in 1974, KANSAS has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and has a catalog that includes 16 studio albums and five live albums, eight of which are gold and three that are platinum.

In a 2024 interview with Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Platt stated about how he landed the KANSAS gig: ""It's such a wild story. I've been telling it for 10 years, and it's still surreal to me. One day, while I was at work — I used to be a truck driver — I received a text message from a friend of mine, Dina, who knew what a fan I was of KANSAS. All of my cover bands back in Chicago would play KANSAS. ... Dina saw the announcement of Steve Walsh's retirement, and I reached out to Rich Williams (the original guitar player for KANSAS) on Facebook to ask him if they would consider me. I was in a band called SHOOTING STAR from 2007-2011, and we played with KANSAS a couple of times, so we already knew each other. The very next day, I get a message from him saying, 'We're about to go on stage in Houston, Texas. If you get this in the next 90 minutes, give me a call.' Before I knew it, I was flying to Atlanta, having a great conversation with Phil (Ehart) and Rich, I get back home to Chicago, and then I get a congratulations e-mail from Phil saying I'm in."

On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, KANSAS lead vocalist Ronnie Platt underwent outpatient surgery to treat thyroid cancer. Below is an update directly from Ronnie:

Posted by Kansas on Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Brian James, founding member of THE DAMNED, died peacefully on Thursday, March 6, with his wife Minna, son Charlie and daughter-in-law Alicia by his side. He was 70 years old.

Writer of the first-ever U.K. punk single "New Rose", Brian was the principal songwriter of THE DAMNED's debut album, "Damned Damned Damned", which was released in February 1977. Parting ways with THE DAMNED following the release of the group's second album, the Nick Mason-produced "Music For Pleasure", Brian created the short-lived TANZ DER YOUTH, before he formed THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH with his friend and fellow rocker Stiv Bators.

In a wave of excitement, headed by the twin powers of Brian James and Stiv Bators, three successful studio albums followed for THE LORD OF THE NEW CHURCH, spawning singles such as "Open Your Eyes", "Dance With Me" and "Method To My Madness". Always looking for new challenges and keen to work with different musicians, over the years that followed, Brian formed THE DRIPPING LIPS and guested on different records, while creating the BRIAN JAMES GANG and working on his solo albums.

Incessantly creative and a musical tour de force, over a career which spanned more than six decades, with his music also gracing film and television soundtracks, in addition to THE DAMNED and THE LORDS OF THE NEW CHURCH, Brian worked with a plethora of punk and rock and roll's finest, fromIggy Pop to Wayne Kramer, Stewart Copeland to Cheetah Chrome. Most recently, more than four decades after the release of the epoch-making "New Rose", the original members of THE DAMNED reformed for a series of very special and emotional U.K. shows in 2022.

GOODBYE TO A PIONEER & TRUE GENTLEMAN

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of one of the true...

Posted by Brian James on Thursday, March 6, 2025

Former PRONG and MINISTRY drummer Aaron Rossi has died after suffering "a sudden, severe heart attack." He was reportedly only 44 years old.

Although Rossi passed away on January 27, his death wasn't announced until today (Thursday, March 6) via a post on his Facebook page.

The full message reads: "It is with overwhelming sadness to share that on January 27, 2025, Aaron John Rossi passed away from a sudden, severe heart attack.

"Aaron was a force with his own gravitational pull. His powerful energy instantly captured you. If you saw him on stage, you were blown away by his immense power, speed and agility – and if you were lucky enough to know him in person, you were equally taken by his kindness, humor and humility.

"Aaron leaving us so soon is beyond devastating, but we know that he would not want to be remembered that way. He made us laugh and told us stories like it was his job. We sincerely hope you will share some of your own stories of Aaron in the comments.

"There will be a Celebration of Life in the future and details will be shared as soon as possible.

"Aaron's talent on the drums and his ear for music was incomparable – and his sound will live on forever. He will always be The Shredder, The Beast, The Big Dog.

"Rock In Peace, Aaron! We love and miss you!!!"

PRONG frontman Tommy Victor commented: "I've known about Aaron Rossi's passing for a few weeks now. It was requested that I not post anything until I was given the ok, but now since the tragic news is out, I need to finally come out and say how terrible I think this is. He was part of my inner sanctum of serious musical brothers. A great funny guy and a great drummer and dad. You are loved and you will be missed. Rest In Peace fine sir."

MINISTRY leader Al Jourgensen said: "Great drummer, Great human being, He will be missed. Keep pounding that snare in the great beyond".

For over a decade, Rossi had drummed around the world with a number of heavy acts, including John 5, ANKLA and STRIFE. In 2007, while playing and recording with PRONG, he caught the attention of Jourgensen, who invited him to become the touring drummer for the legendary industrial metal group MINISTRY.

Regarding how he joined MINISTRY, Aaron told Roland.com more than a decade ago: "I played in the band PRONG, and PRONG was signed to 13th Planet Records, which [was] run and owned by [Al and his then-wife Angie] Jourgensen. They came to one of my shows in Albuquerque and saw me play, then came in the recording studio and saw me play. I was working my job, and I got a phone call from Angie Jourgensen, telling me to put in my two-weeks notice, [which is] probably the coolest thing that's ever happened. The next phone call that was cool was when they told me [the band] was nominated for a Grammy Award. Within a year or two years, I went from touring in a van, slumming it, to touring in a bus and staying in five-star hotels and chillin' at the Grammys."

It is with overwhelming sadness to share that on January 27, 2025, Aaron John Rossi passed away from a sudden, severe...

Posted by Aaron Rossi on Thursday, March 6, 2025

NEUROSIS singer and guitarist Steve Von Till has announced his latest solo album, "Alone In A World Of Wounds", arriving May 16 via Neurot Recordings.

Ploughing a different furrow, "Alone In A World Of Wounds" is a collection of sweeping gothic-tinged Americana, tripped out drones, beautiful world weary vocal melodies and slowly unfurling cello arrangements. Initially inspired by the harmonic resonance of piano and synths and his long standing love of ambient music, "Alone In A World Of Wounds" follows 2021's "No Wilderness Deep Enough" in reflective ambience. Opening up his voice in ways he has never done before, the album's genesis came via intuitive improvisations.

"The complex overtones of upright piano and synthesisers really inspired me to sing out more, to seek out the implied harmonies, and to find unique approaches within the limitations of my voice." says Von Till.

On "Watch Them Fade", Von Till's voice complex melodies with a rich, deep timbre. The lead single is available today alongside a stunning video by Bobby Cochran.

Aside from music, Von Till is a poet (he published his first collection — "Harvestman" — in 2021) and has a deep bank of poetry and wider writing that he draws on, frequently reflecting on our place within the universe while leaning into themes of loss and longing. Likewise, it is our place in nature and — crucially — our current disconnect from it that prove key to the sonic tapestry woven on "Alone In A World Of Wounds". The album title itself was inspired by a quote from forester and environmental philosopher Aldo Leopold from his 1949 book "A Sand County Almanac", which called for a reimagining of the relationship between people and the natural world ("one of the penalties of an ecological educations is that one lives alone in a world of wounds"),while — outside of music — Von Till remains equally committed to education (he has been an elementary school teacher for 24 years and also serves on the board of directors for the Firekeeper Alliance non-profit which is committed to reducing suicides among the youth of the Blackfeet Nation in Montana).

While "Alone In A World Of Wounds" may be far removed from the caustic aggression of NEUROSIS, make no mistake — the life-giving energy of punk rock and DIY ethic continue to provide deep inspiration and grounding to him. The search for deeper connection, living with the sorrow of our separation from the natural world, and relying on gut level instinct to get closer to the primal creative state are all key to Von Till's process.

"It is the transcendent nature of music, the cathartic healing process where I can leave everything behind and become one with sound," he says. "When you allow yourself to go beyond the ordinary you might be fortunate enough to find a moment where you are creating in alignment with the flow of the river of the universe."

Recorded mostly at his barn studio at home in Idaho and mixed at Circular Ruin in Brooklyn, New York with storied producer Randall Dunn (JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON, SUNN O))), EARTH, JIM JARMUSCH),"Alone In A World Of Wounds" also boasts cover artwork from Spokane, Washington-based alternative process photographer Brian Deemy — who works with colloidal wet plate "tintype" aesthetics, which complement Von Till's uniquely ancient yet grounded aesthetic, and one that perfectly matches his desire to reimagine the connection between the human and the more than human world.

"I often wonder where the psychological break was that caused the fatal delusion that we have dominion over the natural world, how it is reduced to existing solely for our benefit," Von Till says. "Whenever that disconnect was — I believe it to be the root of most of our problems as a society, in relationships, and even within ourselves and our own minds. It always comes back to the fact that we must have a conscious shift back to understanding that we're all part of a living animate earth: and that we need to think of the rivers and the mountains and the weather as part of us and us as part of the world. We are wild things but we've forgotten. Without this shift in consciousness we're screwed. That's the overarching theme. And when I look back on my life it's becoming more explicit and more clear that this is always what I've been singing about."

Steve Von Till is set to perform at Roadburn 2025 (Tilburg) next month and at Prepare The Ground (Toronto) and Fire In The Mountains (Blackfeet Nation) festivals this summer.

"Alone In A World Of Wounds" track listing:

01. The Corpse Road
02. Watch Them Fade
03. Horizons Undone
04. Distance
05. Calling Down The Darkness
06. The Dawning Of The Day (Insomnia)
07. Old Bent Pine
08. River Of No Return

Steve Von Till live dates:

Apr 17-20 - Roadburn Festival - Tilburg, NL
May 30 - Jun 1 - Prepare The Ground Festival - Toronto, CAN
Jul 25-27 - Fire In The Mountains Festival - Blackfeet Nation, MT

Photo by Bobby Cochran

In a new interview with Rock Feed, NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger was asked what is next for him and his bandmates, more than two years after the release of the Canadian rockers' tenth studio album, "Get Rollin'". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Although it looks like [we are] a poster child for DIY and we know what we're doing all the time, we don't know what we're doing all the time. And right now we are not sure exactly what is next. We're talking about getting in the studio and recording, but we're trying to come with some kind of a different idea than just write an album, record an album, go on the road, repeat cycle. We're trying to come with something a little bit different. And being that we've got 10 albums out there, we're kind of just pumping the brakes a little bit. There's no hurry. We're gonna do it when it feels right and not before. And the same thing goes to when we release things. We made a rule a long time ago that we have a choice to release an album on time or an album when it's ready, and we've always chosen to release the album when it's ready. Rushing something half-hearted or half-baked is, is not gonna happen with this group."

NICKELBACK's first album in five years, "Get Rollin'", was released in November 2022 via BMG and debuted at No. 2 across the Current Rock, Alternative, Hard Music and Digital Album charts. The record also landed on the ARIA album chart at No. 3 and in the Top 10 in the U.K., Canada, Germany, Australia and Austria. Additionally, "Get Rollin'" debuted at No. 1 in Switzerland, a career first for the band.

NICKELBACK released a new live album, "Live From Nashville", on November 15, 2024 via BMG. The LP was recorded at the band's August 2023 show at Nashville, Tennessee's s Bridgestone Arena as part of NICKELBACK's "Get Rollin'" tour and features special guest appearances from Ernest ("Flower Shops"),Josh Ross and Brantley Gilbert (for a cover of Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road"),Chris Daughtry ("Savin' Me"),Bailey Zimmerman ("Rockstar") and Hardy ("Sold Out").

"Hate To Love: Nickelback", a feature-length documentary film about one of Canada's most iconic and globally celebrated rock bands, premiered in September 2023 at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film tells the authentic story of the band from their humble beginnings in Hanna Alberta to their explosive global success in 2001 and the highs and lows that followed. Directed by Leigh Brooks and produced by Ben Jones, the film celebrates the loyalty of NICKELBACK fans and delves into the years of online vitriol while exposing the personal impact it had on each of the band members. The film also unveils the rock group's decision to return after a five-year break with a new record and a hugely successful sold-out tour, finding themselves riding a sudden wave of online love that has introduced their music to an army of new fans and audiences worldwide.

2023 Canadian Music Hall Of Fame recipients, and diamond-certified selling group NICKELBACK were named the "most successful rock band of the decade" by Billboard in 2009. Globally celebrated for their career defining and award-winning hits "How You Remind Me", "Photograph", "Far Away", "Rockstar" and more, the four-piece comprised of Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair is one of the most commercially viable and important acts of the past two decades. Their success includes worldwide sales of more than 50 million units, solidifying their status as one of the top-selling acts of all time and the second best-selling foreign act in the U.S., in the 2000s decade, behind only THE BEATLES. Their inescapable and irresistible smash "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's "Top Rock Song Of The Decade" and was the No. 1 most played song on U.S. radio (any format) in the 2000s according to Nielsen Soundscan, with over 1.2 million spins.

Amongst all of these accolades, they've also been named Billboard's "Top Rock Group Of The Decade" and received nine Grammy Award nominations, three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards, and have been inducted into Canada's Walk Of Fame (2007) and the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame (2023). With more than 23 chart-topping singles and fans spanning the globe, NICKELBACK boasts more than twelve consecutive sold-out world tours, playing to well over 10 million diehard and adoring fans.

Grammy-winning, multiplatinum heavy metal band MEGADETH has announced an agreement for founder and frontman Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint with the Frontiers Label Group's new imprint BLKIIBLK. In this new arrangement, BKLIIBLK — which is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of heavy music — will exclusively release the iconic band’s forthcoming album globally.

"When I first met Tom Lipsky and Bob Chiappardi back in the day, I had no idea we would be working together again so many years in the future," Dave Mustaine says. "I look forward to working with Serafino and the team in Italy and I can't wait for the fans to hear the songs from our new record."

This new and exciting collaboration with one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in heavy metal history marks a significant moment for both the label and metal fans worldwide. BLKIIBLK aims to bring a fresh perspective by focusing on innovative and boundary-pushing artists. With a mission to support and elevate the genre, the imprint strives to showcase talent that is both pioneering and influential.

"As the owner of Frontiers, I am honored to be working with MEGADETH, a band that has shaped the sound of metal for decades. This collaboration reflects our dedication to bringing the best in rock and metal to our audience," says Serafino Perugino, president and CEO of Frontiers Label Group.

"Myself, Justis Mustaine and Steve Ross at CTK Enterprises are extremely excited for the partnership with Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft Records and BLKIIBLK," says Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK. "Looking forward to getting this new album out to the world and combining teams with Serafino and Tom for the global attack."

Tom Lipsky, head of A&R of North America for Frontiers Label Group, commented: "When BLKIIBLK Records was formed, the very first artist we agreed was ideal to define the creative mission of the label was MEGADETH. Now, it is a reality. The band is crushing it in the studio. Danny Nozell, Justis Mustaine, Steve Ross and the team at CTK are developing an incredible global plan, and our team is thrilled, primed and ready to shake up the world of hard rock and metal!"

MEGADETH is once again working with Chris Rakestraw, a producer, mixer and engineer who previously worked on MEGADETH's last two albums, 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" and 2016's "Dystopia".

Last September, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who joined the band a year and a half ago as the replacement for Kiko Loureiro, was asked by Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the progress of the songwriting sessions for MEGADETH's next LP. He said: "Yeah, actually, already a while back Dave started talking about making the next album and kind of starting to do pre-production. And as soon as he mentioned that, and kind of before that already, once it was clear that I'm gonna be staying with the band, then I kind of started putting my ideas down and just recording any riff ideas that I feel like could be something that could be used in MEGADETH. And by now I have a bunch of riffs and ideas that I've gathered. And then Dave told me that he likes to work the way that everybody does their riffs and then at some point we're gonna get together and then review things and see which riffs are gonna work together and then work out the parts between the riffs to kind of connect things and then that way come up with the skeletons for the songs. And I'm really looking forward to doing that and hearing how he feels about my ideas as well. But what I've done so far is whenever I have a moment to sit down, I usually just record a little video of myself playing a riff idea and then when we have a day off at the hotel, then I would record that properly and then just like have this folder of riffs that we can look into at some point. So, [I'm] really looking forward to that. And Dave has been really supportive and sounds like he wants to have all the guys' input on the next album, which is really exciting."

In August 2024, Mustaine was asked by Chuck Armstrong of "Loudwire Nights" how the dynamic within MEGADETH has changed since Mäntysaari's addition to the band. Mustaine responded: "Well, we are a band again. It doesn't feel like me and some side players or some session guys. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears that I had. I feel like Kiko did us a really huge courtesy by helping us find Teemu because with Kiko needing to step down… I thought I was gonna finish my career out with Kiko, and when things came up with him, he couldn't tour anymore because he needed to be home for his kids. So I see he's touring again, which I'm happy that he's still playing. But he had to go home. And when he did, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was an even closer connection between me and Teemu than Kiko and I had. We'll [Kiko and I] always be friends, but this new relationship I have is — it harkens me back to the days when we had Marty Friedman in the band and the four of us actually felt like a band."

Mäntysaari stepped in September 2023 for Loureiro, who announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the 37-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

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

Earlier in August, Mustaine was asked by Kyle Meredith what Mäntysaari has brought to MEGADETH that wasn't there before. Mustaine responded: "God, he's such an amazing talent. And as far as being a human is concerned, he's a really humble guy. He's fun to be around because he's kind of — there's this 'greenness' to him, if that's a word, greenness. He makes it really fun because he's gone from being in a band that was pretty well known to being in MEGADETH. And so everything's very new for him at this level. And for us, we get to kind of enjoy ourselves, because we sometimes forget where we're at and then you see other people that, 'Wow, the bread is round and so is the meat,' that kind of shit. And it just makes him really happy, and it just reminds you of how good you have it."

Regarding how much a lineup change like that actually alters the musical DNA of the band, Dave said: "Well, it depends on who the new player is. If they're willing to learn the parts, then the songs either, they stay where they are or they get better. And a lot of times when you have a new player, like when Teemu came in, he played everything identical to the original players. So, he's been one of the best guitar players to step in and play somebody else's stuff. I don't know what his stuff's going to sound like yet, which I'm looking forward to finding out."

Last June, Mustaine told Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece that he thinks Teemu will contribute to the songwriting process on MEGADETH's next studio album. "I think he's gonna be a great addition to MEGADETH," Dave said. "He already has. We're playing more songs now than we were playing before. And that has nothing negative to say about any of the previous lineups. It just says that he knew more about the band and understands the metal backbone of so many of these songs more than some of the other people would understand it."

He continued: "When you're a metal guy, I think you understand metal compositions more than somebody who, say for example, knows progressive rock like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Chris Broderick does, or somebody who knows bossa nova, which Kiko does, or somebody that plays jazzy, like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Glen Drover would play, maybe Al Pitrelli. These guys all have their strengths."

Mustaine added: "I've often thought, although I've never said it, I do believe that when somebody gets singled out by me, that's pretty much it for them. They've been indoctrinated into the world of great guitar players, and from that moment on, their life will change."

In early October 2023, Mustaine told Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho about Teemu's addition to MEGADETH: "People are losing their minds over how things are going right now 'cause we have a really good chemistry together."

In September 2023, Mustaine was equally full of praise for Mäntysaari, telling Wes Styles in a separate interview: "He's really great. And I'm super excited with what Teemu has brought. And it's uncanny because he plays a lot like Marty. And it's really exciting. At certain times I just close my eyes during the set and I just hear these songs played, whether like Kiko in the past or Teemu now, it just sounds really magic because these guys have learned these songs and they're not just going out there and just banging their guitar around; they actually learned the solos from some of the virtuosos that I've played with over my career."

Photo credit: Ryan Chang

After laying low for the past year, veteran British metallers TANK are now back in action and ready to go into battle once again with the release of a five-song digital EP, "Live In Texas", and promo video for the single "Shellshock", which is taken from the EP.

"Live In Texas" was recorded at the Hell's Heroes festival in Houston, Texas on March 15, 2024 and features five classic TANK anthems:

01. Walking Barefoot Over Glass
02. Echoes Of A Distant Battle
03. Shellshock
04. He Fell In Love With A Stormtrooper
05. This Means War

TANK will be back on the road this year with summer festival dates confirmed and a European tour being planned for October/November 2025.

Confirmed dates, with more being added:

June 05 - The Cart & Horses - London
June 07 - Heavy Sound Festival - Belgium
July 10 - Metal Magic Festival - Denmark
October 4 - British Steel Festival - France -
October 11 - Thessaloniki - Greece

A brand new TANK studio album is scheduled for release in late autumn and there will be selected back catalog reissues available in the coming months.

TANK's touring and recording line up now consists of 40-year TANK veterans Mick Tucker and Cliff Evans, DIAMOND HEAD drummer Karl Wilcox, Swedish vocalist Marcus "Mean Machine" Von Boisman and new recruit Gav Kerrigan, former bass player with GODSIZED.

Tucker states: "The road is calling us again and we can't wait to get back out there and do what we do best. We have an awesome line up that can certainly deliver the goods."

Evans adds: "Taking some time out has helped us to re-evaluate what we want to achieve and we will come back stronger than ever. We haven't lost our edge or determination."

In May 2023, original TANK frontman Algy Ward died at the age of 63. He reportedly passed away at a hospital in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, United Kingdom after suffering from serious health issues for quite some time.