While She Sleeps have released their new single "Eye To Eye" with a cinematic epic of a music video, clocking in at over seven-and-a-half minutes, directed by the band and featuring a star turn from vocalist Lawrence Taylor, who plays two versions of himself in the bloody fervor. Watch it below.


"With this song and video, we wanted to push our DIY attitude to the limits, especially with the visuals," says guitarist Mat Welsh. "The entire video was directed and filmed by the band. We came up with the concept, built the sets, designed the choreography, wrote the score, directed the acting, and cut the edit. It's our biggest visual project to date."


He continues, "The song is born from an idea we've had for the past few years. We knew it would grow into a great Sleeps song but have never had the time within an album to focus on it and develop the idea into what it is today. It's definitely an amalgamation of the last 10 years of the band. We wanted something that felt thrashy and something you can really blow off some steam to when you're playing it live. We know from filming the video that it feels incredible in a room full of people. The song also contains gang vocals from Sleeps Society members — we recorded them at the warehouse (the band's creative space in Sheffield) with 100+ people and also had members send in their vocals so we could get them on the song."




"We wanted the video to visually present what one can feel in the midst of a mind attack of any kind," he explains. "Wherever the negativity is coming from, we always seem to split ourselves into two. The one who’s in pain, the one running away internally, and the one causing the pain. It’s always a battle with ourselves and we get lost in between these storms."


He finishes, "The reason we wanted this to feel so disturbing is to illustrate the sheer torment the mind can generate within us all, which to anyone on the outside is completely invisible. This should serve as a wake-up call for us all to remember that each and every one of us can put on a brave face, and we often do, but no one really knows the extent of our internal universe. So it’s a way to remind us to stay compassionate to others as we walk through life."


"Eye To Eye" will feature on a new expanded special edition of While She Sleeps' fifth album Sleeps Society, which will be out July 8 via Search & Destroy/Spinefarm and adds five new and re-imagined tracks to the original, including a version of "Systematic" with Enter Shikari's Rou Reynolds on vocals. The original version of the album was released in April 2021. The band chose a non-chart-eligible retailer local to them to push the album, which racked up first week numbers that would have landed them in the Official Charts Top Ten. Pre-order it here.


Co-produced by While She Sleeps guitarist Sean Long and longtime collaborator Carl Bown, Sleeps Society is up for Best Production at this year's Heavy Music Awards with the band also nominated in Best Live Artist and Best UK Artist categories. The album's single "Nervous", which features Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro on guest vocals, reached the BBC Radio 1 Playlist, provoking discussion around mental health struggles and coping strategies, drawing upon Sean Long's own experiences with anxiety.


Sleeps Society (and its expanded edition) is a true manifestation of While She Sleeps' extremely close relationship with their fans. Members of the band's Sleeps Society subscription service (powered by Patreon and launched alongside the album's initial launch) have been gaining access to exclusive perks and receiving insight, and even input, into the working of the band and production of their material and tours. While She Sleeps recently put on and played the first members-only Sleeps Society gig at Rebellion in Manchester.  





Tracklisting:


"Enlightenment(?)"
"You Are All You Need"
"Systematic" (feat. Rou Reynolds)
"Eye To Eye"
"Nervous" (feat. Simon Neil)
"Pyai"
"Know Your Worth (Somebody)"
"No Defeat For The Brave" (feat. Deryck Whibley)
"The Enemy Is The Inner Me"
"Division Street"
"Sleeps Society"
"Fakers Plague"
"The Long Way Home"
"You Are All You Need" (Acoustic)
"Call Of The Void"
"DN3 3HT"


"Eye To Eye" video:





Lineup:


Lawrence Taylor – Vocals
Sean Long – Guitar
 Mat Welsh — Guitar/Vocals
Aaran Mckenzie – Bass  
 Adam Savage – Drums

In a recent interview with Nik Nocturnal, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about how the band's classic 2000 song "Last Resort" has sparked so many memes over the years. "It's everywhere, dude," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "It's even in my house, with my kids. It's funny, dude. It's one of those things that, honestly, I'm absolutely grateful for because we have a cult classic and a best-seller wrapped into one. And in meme culture, people take the piss out of it, and I love it, 'cause it means that you've made it into the fabric of pop culture and we're part of the landscape of what people are talking about still. And what else can you ask for? It's such a great thing. And every time we perform that song, it ignites the audience. You could be at a bar mitzvah and drop that song and somebody there would be, like, 'That's my fucking jam.' Or I could be at TSA fucking airport security, and fucking [someone will ask me], 'Are you the 'Cut My Life…''? And I'm, like, 'I am the 'Cut My Life Into Pizza' guy. That's right, dude. Let's go.' I'll be that guy."

"Last Resort" originally appeared on PAPA ROACH's breakthrough album "Infest", which celebrated its 20th anniversary two years ago. The LP peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of three million copies in the U.S. alone. It also featured the fan favorites "Broken Home", "Blood Brothers" and "Between Angels & Insects".

In June 2020, Shaddix told "Offstage With DWP" that he still feels the same way about "Last Resort" as he did when PAPA ROACH first released it. "I feel that that song is a lifeline to a lot of people, and has been," he said. "I've met thousands of kids over the years that have told us, 'Yo, that song saved my life. That song was there for me in my darkest hour.' If I could look back on my career just for that one moment, just that piece, it's, like, 'Wow!' To be able to make a song that impacts people in a positive way, that it has, it's, like, mission accomplished. It wasn't really my intention. It was just, like, 'We're just writing music. We've gotta get this off our chest.' But to look back on it now and see the effect that it's had, the positive effect… And also, man, it's one of those songs that cuts deep and it's at the heart of the matter… Yeah, people have been through some really dark stuff, and 'Last Resort' has brought some people through some feelings of suicide and whatnot. But then on the other hand, it's also become this crazy party anthem. I just saw this dude [on video at] a Walmart the other day and just start singing 'Last Resort' in the middle of everybody pandemic shopping, with a broom. So it's just one of those songs, it's survived the test of time, and I'm just fortunate that it's been such a positive piece of art out there floating around to be a lifeline for people struggling."

Shaddix previously called "Last Resort", which has passed 160 million views on YouTube, PAPA ROACH's "classic." He added: That thing, it's given us such a relevance, even in pop culture. People are making memes — 'Cut my life into pizza.' I love that. 'Cause now I don't take it all too seriously, because it's embedded itself into pop culture, but then also the reality is that it's spoken to a lot of people's hearts that have been in that darkness, and going, 'Hey, man, there's some hope. You can come out of this. You don't have to stay in there.'"

PAPA ROACH's latest album, "Ego Trip", was released on April 8 via New Noize Records in partnership with ADA Worldwide (WMG's independent label and artist services arm).

Finnish cello-rock quartet, Apocalyptica, have released the video below, featuring their performance of "Grace" at Graspop Metal Meeting 2016.





Apocalyptica 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!”

Swedish black metal band, Devils Tail, have inked a deal with the Dutch label, Non Serviam Records. Their new album, Desolation, will be released in summer 2022 as a physical CD digipak, and through all digital platforms.


Comments Devils Tail: “To become a part of the Non Serviam Records family is an achievement that we are very proud of. We know several Non Serviam bands already and we will now form an alliance so powerful that only darkness can master."


Added by Non Serviam Records: “By hearing the first dark, melodic and evil tones of Devils Tail, I knew that this is a band that I have to sign. Every time I listen to their, I experience a dark ritual. Devils Tail is an asset for the label, and we are really pleased to work with this great, and hard-working band!”




Stay tuned for updates.

The new single, "Lift Me Up", by Los Angeles-based alternative metal band, Motive Black (AFM Records) premieres today.


Produced by Grammy-winner Nick Rowe (Bloodsimple, Vampire Weekend), the track focuses on the talents of newcomer Elana Justin, and features special guest Carla Harvey, of the internationally acclaimed metal band Butcher Babies, on vocals. Music video for "Lift Me Up", replete with vintage hot rod and fight sequence, is set to premiere on April 22.


The single features Justin performing together with Butcher Babies' Carla Harvey. Elana Justin explains: "the song is about realizing that you can’t find validation through other people.  It's easy to fall into the trap of avoidance, and trying to distract yourself from the growth you require by looking for love in all the wrong places. Facing inward can be truly difficult, but through that journey you find empowerment."
 
Carla Harvey concurs stating, "I love collaborating with strong women on projects so when I was asked to add my vocals to 'Lift Me Up', I happily obliged. The result... an infectious tune, and a new found friendship!"




"Lift Me Up" was produced at the legendary NRG Studios in North Hollywood, Calif. by Grammy-winning Nick Rowe (Vampire Weekend, Lamb Of God, Madonna, Snoop Dogg) and mixed by Josh Wilbur (Lamb of God, Korn, Papa Roach).


“It’s been a real treat working with Elana," Nick Rowe explains. "She is a diamond in the rough - unafraid to explore new musical territory and put her soul on the page lyrically.”
 
Access the single on digital platforms, here.

Scorpions recently recorded four songs from their new album, Rock Believer, at their studio in Hannover, Germany. Check out the just released video for "Shining Of Your Soul", as well as the previously released clips for "Gas In The Tank" and "Rock Believer", below:













Scorpions are set to perform a historic concert to celebrate Bangladesh’s 50 years of independence at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday, May 6. The Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert will feature as special guests one of Bangladesh’s most prominent artists, Chirkutt.


The Bangladesh Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division is organizing the event with the support of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, the United Nations Development Programme, the US Embassy in Bangladesh, and local sponsors with the intent of gaining a global audience and celebrating Bangladesh’s golden anniversary through a live, one-night-only musical performance in the World’s Most Famous Arena.


Proceeds from the event will benefit the United Nations Development Programme’s global awareness campaign on cyber security programs for the youth and children, especially in under developed countries. Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster. For more information and to join the community head here.





After gaining its independence, Bangladesh’s economy has grown massively with the support of different significant sectors such as agriculture, RMG, Energy, Pharmaceuticals, and ICT.


A previous Concert for Bangladesh, organized by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, was held at Madison Square Garden on August 1, 1971, featuring Ringo Starr, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Billy Preston, Leon Russell, and Badfinger.

Deep Purple performed "Wring That Neck" at the Belgian Jazz-Bilzen Festival in 1969. The performance video below, licensed from VRT Archive, features the "Mark II line-up": Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.





Deep Purple recently announced that, due to a family matter, Steve Morse will be taking a temporary hiatus from Deep Purple live shows but remains a full member of the band.




Steve’s replacement for the upcoming live shows in May, June and July 2022 will be guitarist Simon McBride, who has previously toured with both Ian Gillan and Don Airey amongst others.


Statement from Steve Morse: "Hello, everybody. I've just done a few gigs with the band, after years (!?) of not playing live. It's a bittersweet, wonderful time to get together. However, my dear wife Janine is currently battling cancer. At this point, there are so many possible complications and unknowns, that whatever time we have left in our lives, I simply must be there with her.


I am not leaving the band - I hope that after she gets a clean bill of health, I can re-join the tour. However, I am not seeing any likely situation which would allow me to do overseas touring in the immediate future. I continue to be privileged to be a part of the Purple family tree, and also to get to feel the amazing support of so many loyal fans and the rest of the band.


There's a certified world class guitarist ready to take over for the live shows whom everybody will surely be happy to hear.


I appreciate all your sincere prayers for Janine and thank you all." - Steve Morse


Statement from the rest of the band: "All of our thoughts are with Janine during her fight against cancer and also with Steve while he supports his wife at a very difficult time. We hope that Steve will be able to join us back on the road later this year." - Ian, Roger, Ian and Don


Statement from Simon McBride: "I'm deeply honoured to be asked to stand-in for Steve and play for such an iconic rock band like Deep Purple. They are amazing musicians and amazing people… I'm very excited to get out and play all those iconic songs and rock the stage with such legends. My thoughts are with Steve and Janine and their family. There will be no further comment and we kindly ask to respect the family’s privacy and keep them in your prayers at this time."

Brian May's rare tribute version of Buddy Holly's rock 'n' roll classic, "Maybe Baby" is available for download and streaming, accompanied by an eye-catching new video (see below). The clip comprises Brian “fan art,” with a colourful collection of fan-created images of the Queen guitar hero from throughout his stellar career.


Brian's version of the track is on the second disc of bonus tracks on the April 22 deluxe reissue of his second solo album, 1998's Another World. The second release in his Gold Series, it contains the remastered original album alongside Another Disc, on which he treats his legions of fans to a wealth of previously unreleased remixes, rarities, live tracks and cover versions.


“I've never done a Buddy Holly song, and I did 'Maybe Baby,'” says Brian, ever aware of the part that the single played in his development as a musician. “That song more than probably any other, is the reason that I'm here doing this, playing guitar and being a rock star and being a very fortunate person.”




The new video also includes a Queen fan's visual tip of the hat to the T.E. Conway character, and Brian says of the second disc on the new deluxe album: “It has a also an escapade where a dear friend [and] relative of mine, T.E. Conway, visited me from the southern states of America and performed for me, if you like.”


"Maybe Baby", credited to Holly's group the Crickets, entered the UK and US charts in March 1958, and it had a profound effect on May, who was then just ten years old.


“I heard Buddy Holly make that incredible sound on his guitar, that clang, singing that beautiful song, hearing those wonderful harmonies of the Crickets,” he remembers.





May previously released an official lyric video for "On My Way Up", featured on his second solo album Another World. Watch the clip below:





"This, dear Listener, is the second release in my “Brian May Gold Series” reissues. To this album, historically my second solo record, we’ve applied the same loving care that we lavished on ‘Back To The Light’ - repolishing and remastering but using the exact original mixes. Originally delivered 24 years ago, ‘Another World’ is now reborn just as it was originally created.” - Brian May. 2022


When Brian May finished touring his debut solo album, Back To The Light, he began to throw open his doors to fresh possibilities. “I got all these little kinds of commissions and triggers and inspirations from outside,” said Brian, who took ownership of these “triggers” and moulded them into a second solo album in his own image. Now released as the second strike in Brian’s Gold Series reissues campaign, Another World pays rich, raucous and fully felt testimony to the legendary Queen guitarist and songwriter’s roots and reach: between its expansive energies and immersive craft, the album’s world-class quality rings out.


The album receives a multi-format release on April 22 along with the album’s original single release "On My Way Up".





Driven by the potent drumming of the much-missed Cozy Powell, who tragically passed away prior to the album’s release, Another World is a superlative successor to Back To The Light. Drawn from many sources of inspiration, the record emerged in June 1998 as an album of roof-raising rock’n’roll and scorching guitar and indelible melodies, plus a couple of impassioned covers. The album is full of dangerous unguarded feelings and uplift, with guests including Jeff Beck and Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins helping to stoke its fires.


Warmly received by the press on its original release in 1998, the album birthed four electric singles in "The Business" (Rock on Cozy Mix), "On My Way Up", "Another World" and "Why Don’t We Try Again". It also ushered Brian and his band out on a hugely successful 42-date tour covering a large swathe of the world and packing out prestigious venues including London’s Royal Albert Hall.


"Space" is the album’s overture, introducing the idea of opening up spaces in which one can breathe and create safely. The gentleness of this track softens us up in readiness for the bulldozer anthemic crunch and Red Special roar of "Business", originally commissioned for 1993’s UK TV show Frank Stubbs Promotes. Brian made this tale of “an eternal optimist” his own, with Cozy’s input thrust upfront. “You immediately hear this massive drum track come in and that’s very much him. It’s meant to be as big as it gets - I want Cozy’s life to be marked as big as possible,” said Brian at the time. “It isn’t about somebody hitting something, it’s about the inner energy and strength and optimism of this guy. He’s a crucial part of this album and I don’t know what the Hell I will do without him.”


The album’s fire stays lit for the playful live killer "China Belle", before "Why Don’t We Try Again" finds Brian digging deep inside for a plaintive ballad. Written years earlier but deemed too personal for Queen, the song finds Brian sublimely assured in his vocal range. A regular feature of Brian’s solo concerts, "On My Way Up" is a deliciously infectious romp, commissioned for Series 2 of 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, 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, and again, 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.”


A more sci-fi source inspired "Cyborg", influenced by Brian’s collaboration on the video games Rise Of The Robots and Rise 2: Resurrection, the song adopts the perspective of a robot longing to escape his skin (a metaphor for humanity’s longings for another world?) and features ballistic drums from Taylor Hawkins. Brian was full of praise for his guest, in the early days of the Foo Fighters: “He'd never really done a studio session for someone else, so he was wired to the hilt - you could imagine. He's going "this is f*****g awesome". I mean, there is energy spilling out all over Surrey from this guy, incredible! I think he’s well represented on the track - it’s insane, the amount of energy on there.”  


For "The Guv’nor", another contributor steps up. Though at one time intended for a proposed but unmade film about a bare-knuckle boxer, the song pivots on Brian’s reverence for guesting guitarist Jeff Beck. “In our world, Jeff is the guv’nor - the standard by which you judge yourself,” said Brian, who forged this low-slung, blues-rock belter from his admiration for the legendary Yardbirds man.


A stark ballad follows in "Wilderness", a late entrant for the album with Brian in fine voice once again. And it’s followed by tributes to his influences. After Back To The Light, Brian envisaged making an entire album of covers titled Heroes, to include the original song "No-One but You (Only the Good Die Young)" as a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury. When Queen adopted Brian’s song for the Queen Rocks compilation in 1997, he moved on from the ‘heroes’ concept but channelled its spirit into Another World’s covers. "Slow Down" is a classic Larry Williams 12-bar blues romp recorded live with Cozy, bassist Neil Murray, Queen keyboardist Spike Edney and guitarist Jamie Moses. And then follows a unique tribute to Brian’s all-time hero Jimi Hendrix. Powered by liquid guitars, "One Rainy Wish" is a dreamy take on the Hendrix classic, which fits perfectly with Another World’s other-worldly musings. “That song was the description of Jimi’s dream, his exact transposition in words and music,” says Brian. “I always wanted to try my hand at interpreting it my way.”


The final cover version hits close to home for Brian. "All the Way from Memphis’" was a 1973 hit for Mott the Hoople, who took the young Queenies on tour as an opening act in the very early days of Queen - formative transatlantic jaunts that inspired Brian’s massive Queen rocker "Now I’m Here". Describing that touring experience as “blinding”, Brian adds, “I used to watch them do ‘All the Way from Memphis’ every night, and the place would erupt, like an earthquake. They really were a fantastic band live.”  Hoople front man Ian Hunter appears on this adrenalized cover by Brian as ‘Special Guest Raconteur’.


The album reaches its close with an original song forged from Brian’s soundtrack work. The years following Back To The Light saw Brian occasionally composing music for films, including The Adventures of Pinocchio and a radio version of The Amazing Spider-Man. "Another World" emerged when Brian’s film-writer friend Peter Howitt requested a song for his forthcoming movie Sliding Doors, which was to feature Gwyneth Paltrow. Brian’s response was a sublime reverie on secret desires, parallel universes and paths untaken, lovingly tailored to the story of the film. Eventually, due to contractual crossed wires, the song never made it into the movie. Brian reclaimed it for Another World, where it testifies exquisitely to his melodic skills. As a kind of ‘bonus’ the CD reissue closes with "Being on My Own", a previously ‘hidden’ piano piece now incorporated into the album’s CD formats.  


For Brian, Another World upholds the value of the open-door policy he adopted post-Back To The Light. “I travelled a lot of paths to gather all the pieces,” he said. “In order to have something worthwhile for the next Brian May album, I would have to rediscover who I was. I decided to go out and do a lot of playing and open myself up for projects because I didn’t want to make another purely introspective album. I thought I would go out into the world, experience things and rediscover my roots.”


This self-outreach programme assumed many forms. While some of his time in this period was devoted to Queen’s Made in Heaven album, the gradual cessation of Queen’s activities freed Brian up to accept some of the offers he hadn’t the time to accept previously. Some of this work features on Another World’s 15-track rarities set, Another Disc, which opens on a deeply moving note. Another World was dedicated to two much-loved figures in Brian’s life, his late mother and Cozy, who died in a car crash on 5 April 1998 at the age of 50. “It’s impossible to describe what a terrible gap it’s going to leave in our lives, our mate Cozy not being here,” said Brian on a spoken-word tribute to Cozy in 1998, which opens Another Disc. “He was a fantastic support, a fantastic energy and vibe, he had the most incredible attitude to life which leaked over into everything he did.” That attitude roars out of "The Business" (Rock on Cozy Mix), which emphasizes Powell’s drumming thunderously.  


Also on Another Disc are four covers Brian recorded under the alter ego T E Conway for Retro Rock Special, an EP previously only available to purchasers of Another World in 1998. The songs range joyously from The Rocky Horror Show’s rollicking "Hot Patootie" to Buddy Holly and the Crickets’ stunning "Maybe Baby", The Shadows’ electric "F.B.I." (recorded with Status Quo’s Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt) and Conway Twitty’s immortal "It’s Only Make Believe". Also featured on the disc is a transcendent Spanish sung version of "Another World", "Otro Lugar", alongside a blistering instrumental attack on "Cyborg" and a hard rocking guitar version of "On My Way Up". Fantastic live cuts highlight The Brian May Band’s live form at the time: dedicated by Brian to “absent friends,” "Hammer to Fall"’ starts tenderly before roaring into rock’n’roll life, while "On My Way Up" brims with pep. Three alternative takes on "Business" reveal Brian’s work on ’stings’ for the TV series. And the disc closes with "My Boy", a heartfelt piano ballad recorded by Brian in 1980 and until now, almost unknown to the public.


Long unavailable in any format, this timely re-issue in a variety of formats has been personally overseen by Brian himself along with original co-producer Justin Shirley-Smith, Queen and BM Pro Tools expert Kris Fredriksson and longtime Queen art designer Richard Gray.


Meticulously restored with mastering by Bob Ludwig, working from the true original mixes for maximum quality, the album will be reissued in multiple formats, including 1-CD and - on 180g heavyweight black vinyl - 1-LP versions. The 2CD Deluxe set adds Another Disc (mastered by Adam Ayan), while a 2-CD + 1-LP Collector’s Edition includes both CDs and a sky-blue vinyl LP in a 12” lift lid box, complete with 32-page booklet and enamel badge. Queen Online Store exclusives will include picture disc and cassette options.


On all fronts, Another World documents Brian’s personal journey, with "A Different Place, way across Time and Space” in mind, and pure emotional honesty at its core. As he explained of the record’s concept, “I hoped that by the time I got to the end of the project, I would have brought about a change in myself. I thought, 'When the album is finished, I will have made this journey, and I will have got to this other place, and I can tell everyone how I did it'; but to be honest, I didn’t really manage it. The truth of the album is that it’s a journey which is still taking place.”


In his new 2022 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!!!”


Bursting with forceful rock anthems, open-hearted yearning, lush melodies and galvanizing guitar work, Another World sends out a gloriously irresistible invitation to do just that.


Find the complete tracklisting and further details here.





The re-issue of Another World is also celebrated with a unique book of fan-art — or, in this case, ‘Bri-art’, as it has become, now a phenomenon in the Instagram community.  The pictures in the book are curated from the work of both amateur and professional artists. This astonishing collection of artwork offers a visual accompaniment to tracks from the album and other related imagery. It showcases the diverse talents of this community of artists, all of whom have been so deeply inspired by Brian and his music, career, and accomplishments. Within these pages reside over 300 unique pieces of artwork in various media and styles, each illustrating a one-of-kind perspective of Dr May in Another World, created by those who love him best.


- Featuring over 300 unique pieces of artwork created by artists from all over the world.
- Over 100 full colour pages.
- Size: 300 x 300mm (The size of a vinyl album).
- Hardback edition.
- 100% of the profit will be donated to Brian’s charity the Save Me Trust.


Another World: The Bri-Art Collection, published by The London Stereoscopic Company, available from shop.londonstereo.com or queenonlinestore.com/Brian-May.


100% of profit will be donated to Brian’s charity the Save Me Trust.

Finland's Recordshop X has checked in with some good news for diehard Ozzy Osbourne fans:


"Ozzy Osbourne's Black Rain will be soon released on vinyl, officially for the very first time in the history of this world! Finally, after 15 years of the original release date of this album. Pre-order now to secure your copy of this beautiful vinyl."







The double vinyl LP tracklist is as follows:


Side A
"Not Going Away"
"I Don’t Wanna Stop"
"Black Rain"
"Lay Your World on Me"


Side B
"The Almighty Dollar"
"11 Silver"
"Civilize the Universe"


Side C
"Here for You"
"Countdown’s Begun"
"Trap Door"


Side D
"Nightmare"
"I Can’t Save You"
"Love to Hate"


Official release date is May 20th. Pre-order here.





Black Rain is the tenth studio album from Ozzy Osbourne, released in May 2007 via Epic Records. The new vinyl edition features the addition of  "Nightmare" (originally a Japanese and iTunes bonus track), "I Can't Save You" (originally a Japanese bonus track), and "Love to Hate" (originally an iTunes pre-order bonus track).

Katharos will release Of Lineages Long Forgotten on May 13 on CD, vinyl, and digital formats via Willowtip Records. Katharos exalts the Scandinavian black/death-sound with killer riffs, epic symphonic arrangements and crushing drums in the vein of Emperor and Dimmu Borgir.


Katharos' sophomore album, Of Lineages Long Forgotten, offers a fresh take on the symphonic black metal genre with complex yet unrelenting arrangements recorded in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (Mayhem, Watain). The album rewards multiple listens without compromising energy or flow (in the vein of Emperor). It is an album that easily flows from epic majestic pieces to blasting infernos. It will draw the listener in with harmony and then deep dive into intriguing dissonance.


The band sums it up most succinctly in stating that, "We are very proud of the album, and this recording sets the music in its right aural space.” Check out "Those Hornclad", the opening track from Of Lineages Long Forgotten, streaming below.







The cover art, created by Eliran Kantor (Testament, Soulfly, Bloodbath), and tracklisting are as follows:





"Those Hornclad"
"Feigned Retreat"
"Of Lineages Long Forgotten"
"The World Serpent's Marrow" 
"Lay Yersinian Siege"
"I Waged War"
"Most Dread Portent"


Pre-orders for Of Lineages Long Forgotten can be placed now at this location, and listen to "The World Serpent's Marrow" now:





(Band photo by Matthias Hammar)


 

“New York City, top of the world…” testifies Mick Jagger after a raucous performance of “If You Can’t Rock Me”. “It’s great to see you here looking really beautiful tonight all dressed up. You think you’re on TV or something?”


In 1964, The Rolling Stones arrived to absolute mayhem for their first show in NYC, after the release of their debut album The Rolling Stones. Having played New York City multiple times, at several venues, it was only fitting that in January 2003, as part of their 40th anniversary tour, they made it a point to return to New York’s most celebrated arena… Madison Square Garden.


The Rolling Stones’ 40-year celebration tour with the NYC crowd bearing witness to a razor-sharp performance is evidenced throughout this entire set.




On June 10, Mercury Studios will proudly present Licked Live In NYC on DVD+2CD, SD Blu-ray+2CD, as well as a standalone 2CD and 3LP. Originally released in 2003 as an HBO special and as part of the Four Flicks package, this concert has been fully restored and remastered with four previously unreleased songs: “Start Me Up”, “Tumbling Dice”, “Gimme Shelter”, and “Sympathy For The Devil.”


Joining Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood, and Charlie Watts were Darryl Jones (bass, backing vocals), Chuck Leavell (keyboards, backing vocals), Bobby Keys (saxophone), Bernard Fowler (backing vocals), Lisa Fischer (backing vocals), Blondie Chaplin (backing vocals, acoustic guitar/ percussion), Tim Ries (saxophone, keyboards), Kent Smith (trumpet), and Michael Davis (trombone) who set the Garden’s stage ablaze. Kicking off with “Street Fighting Man”, The Rolling Stones made their way through “Angie”, “Midnight Rambler”, “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and “It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (But I Like It)”, to name a few, as well as “Honky Tonk Women” with a special guest appearance by Sheryl Crow.


The addition of three bonus performances from Amsterdam and rehearsal footage gives an insider’s view of The Rolling Stones gearing up for this tour. The SD Blu-ray package includes the additional 51-minute documentary Tip Of The Tongue, which captures the conception and preparation of the Live Licks tour’s innovative three show / three venue approach. Inspired to switch up venues on a nightly basis between arenas, ballrooms, or theaters, and setlists along with it, the band are captured preparing for this tour from the recording studio in Paris to the rehearsals in Toronto.


A dynamic performance delivered at one of the most celebrated of venues, Rolling Stones Licked Live In NYC showcases a landmark, celebratory moment in the lives of the world’s greatest rock ‘n’ roll band.





Tracklisting:





Pre-orders can be placed now at this location. A video trailer can be seen below.





 

Darkane will release their new studio album Inhuman Spirits on June 24, 2022 via Massacre Records. The tracklist for the album has been revealed; check it out below.


The album is also available to preorder as a CD Digipak and limited edition vinyl LP in selected stores – find purchase options here.


Inhuman Spirits was mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Rorysound Studios, and it is packed with intense, brutal, groovy and catchy melodic death/thrash metal. The cover artwork was created by Mathias Blom / The Happy Creative.




The first single from the new album, the title track, will be released on April 26 along with a video.





Tracklisting:


“Inhuman Spirits”
“Awakening”
“Embrace The Flames”
“Conspiracies Of The Flesh”
“Inhaling Mental Chaos”
“Mansion Of Torture”
“The Quintessence Of Evil”
“A Spiral To Nothing”
“The Great Deceiver”
“Vålnader”

“Flea Ridden,” the new video from Sydney, Australia’s Black Rheno (pictured above), has arrived. Black Rheno spews forth hot and catchy chunks of stoner, sludge, grind, and doom. Their latest single is taken from their upcoming split 7” with US noise rockers Child Bite set for release on April 29 via Housecore Records in the US and Dead Set Records in Australia.


The video was created by Mitch Hertz at Hertz Fist Productions and captures the zany, off-kilter antics of the band in their hilarious new venture. “Flea Ridden” literally bolts out of the gates and features the incredibly catchy and explosive energy of the band at the peak of their powers.


Black Rheno has been active part of the Australian scene for the last five years, with their debut self-released record Noise Smasher receiving high praise and earning them a spot in the top of the heap of Aussie heavy bands. The band also received a nod to tour the US showcasing at SXSW in Texas in 2018 and toured Japan and Australia in 2019 alongside Eyehategod. Additionally, Black Rheno has been on the road with likes of Napalm Death, Brujeria, Lock Up, King Parrot, and Psycroptic, and have carved out a loyal fanbase with their intense live shows that never fail to engage.




Formed nearly fifteen years ago, art-rock-turned-punk/metal mutants Child Bite has forged a unique path through the underground musical landscape. Their current formation, consisting of vocalist Shawn Knight, bassist Sean Clancy, guitarist Jeremy Waun, and a revolving cast of drummers, produces a sound directly informed by legendary pioneers such as Dead Kennedys, The Jesus Lizard, Voivod, and Faith No More; aggressive, anxiety-inducing songs that deftly balance their early-’80s-hardcore-meets-’90s-alt-rock/metal influences while never losing sight of the goal; creating unique, memorable songs.


The Child Bite/Black Rheno split 7” is the amalgamation of two giant forces from opposite ends of the globe clashing together to produce some visceral, hypnotic and plainly bone shattering noise. Featuring strictly limited vinyl with hand printed covers produced personally by Child Bite’s Shawn Knight and Sean Clancy, this is truly a must have release.


Physical preorders are available via Housecord Records in the U.S. and Deadset Records in Australia.





Tracklisting:


“Death Before Dementia” – Child Bite
“Born A Hog” – Child Bite
“Flea Ridden” – Black Rheno
“Empire” – Black Rheno 


“Flea Ridden” video:

METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett has released a first taste of his upcoming debut solo EP in the form of "High Plains Drifter". The track opens the second side of "Portals", Kirk's four-song EP, which will arrive on April 23 via Blackened Recordings across digital platforms, on CD, and as a Record Store Day-exclusive ocean blue vinyl EP (including a download card).

Featuring contributions from Edwin Outwater (with whom Kirk had previously collaborated on METALLICA's "S&M²" concerts and releases), Jon Theodore of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE (and Kirk's THE WEDDING BAND bandmate), members of the LA Philharmonic and more, "High Plains Drifter" shares a unique inspirational relationship with the 1973 cinematic classic of the same name. The song, Kirk explains, "was not meant to be specifically music for that film, but it was once it was written, I immediately thought it conveyed the same sentiment as the film, so the piece was christened accordingly.

"The music for 'High Plains Drifter' initially came from a flamenco piece I had written," he continues. "It was a two-and-a-half-minute piece, and I really liked it, but it was one of those riffs that would be hard to integrate into METALLICA. I knew I wanted to do something with it, even though it came out spontaneously. I had been sitting outside messing around with a flamenco acoustic guitar I'd just bought, and it flowed out in the moment. I was determined it would have a life. It would have its moment."

True to its title, "Portals" is a collection of gateways to musical and psychic destinations. Recorded around the world, from Los Angeles to Paris to Oahu, "Portals" is the result of Kirk's life's journeys and an invitation to tap into your own inner world. Heavily influenced by classical music, soundtracks, horror movies, and maybe a little Ennio Morricone, Kirk wanted the EP to span the decades and touch upon all the horror he loves. The idea behind the EP was to have all the songs flow into each other, so he relied on a whole cast of his friends to record the four songs.

Produced by Kirk, "Portals" is comprised of the songs "Maiden And The Monster" and "The Jinn" on side A, followed by "High Plains Drifter" and "The Incantation" on side B. The latter two were co-written with Outwater, who also contributed keyboards and led the orchestral players from the LA Philharmonic on "Portals".

Other familiar names amongst the "Portals" players include drummer Abraham Laboriel, Greg Fidelman on bass, Emmy-winning arranger Blake Neely and Bob Rock.

Says Hammett: "Initially, before I even had the idea for a solo EP, I was inspired by the need to create some sort of soundtrack music to accompany The Kirk Hammett Collection for the first 'It's Alive' exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, 2017. I wanted to conceive music to play on a loop in the background as people walked through the exhibit. I sat down one night with a progression, and before I knew it, all the parts were there for 'Maiden And The Monster'.

"The initial concept for 'Portals' started with that one song. Following that, I realized I could create different soundtrack moments. These songs are what I call 'audio cinematic'; I'm creating sounds and pieces of music for the movies playing in my head. Hopefully they'll create movies in other people's heads in a similar fashion."

"Portals" will be available to order on the Met Store and the Probity U.K. shop on Saturday, April 23.

SANTA CRUZ frontman Archie Cruz has fired back at reports that he was "miming" to a track during the band's performance last week in West Hollywood, California.

On April 6, SANTA CRUZ — whose current lineup consists of Cruz along with new recruits Jerry Jade (guitar), Tommy Bradley (bass) and Randy McDemian (drums) — played a show at the legendary Whisky A Go Go venue. The following day, a fan-filmed video of SANTA CRUZ performing the song "Under The Gun" was posted on the "concertsrock" YouTube channel, showing Cruz at one point walking away from the microphone while the singing continued to be heard through the P.A. until Cruz, Jade and Bradley returned to their microphones for what was the song's chorus section.

Two days after the concert, SiriusXM radio personality Eddie Trunk took to his Facebook to share the concertsrock video of the "Under The Gun" performance, and he included the following message: "This is beyond words … everyone I guess just okay with this?! As I've said and have been saying this has become an epidemic that needs to stop . So bad it's to the point this band doesn't event attempt to fake their lip synching.. stunning. Imagine paying to see a band you love 'live' and it's anything but. What's the point? Imagine you are a band that puts the work in to be live, and others don't, play to a computer , and fans talk about how great they sound.. pathetic. It's the norm in pop, it's gotta stop in rock. Bands, fans and promoters have to care that a live rock show is live or it will only get worse. Madness."

After initially suggesting in an Instagram Story that the whole thing was planned and intentional, Archie, whose real name is Arttu Kuosmanen, finally addressed the criticism in a video message posted to his social media on Tuesday (April 12). In the two-minute video, which can be seen below, he said: "I just feel like I need to clear some shit out. Obviously, there's been a lot of backlash after our show at the Whisky last Wednesday. And we've been accused of 'miming' on the track, which is not true. We did have backing tracks, but we just had some layers, and that is literally what every fucking big band is doing right now, which just happened to fuck up the timing, so I feel like I need to clear that out right now."

Archie then reproduced his vocal track from the section of "Under The Gun" where the alleged "miming" took place, and explained: "This is my vocal. This is what I do live. That's my track. That's 100 percent live. And what we had in the P.A. was an octave-lower harmony and an octave-higher harmony to back that shit up." He went on to play a recording of what he said was on tape to back up his live performance during the Whisky concert, and he added: "So, please do not talk about something you don't know anything about or do not accuse us of doing something that's not true. So, piss off and shut the fuck up."

In addition to uploading a video message explaining the Whisky mishap, Archie shared an Instagram Story in which he publicly apologized to Trunk for telling him last week in a social media post that he "fucked with the wrong crew" and that his "career will be over soon". "Even though I don't think he was in the right for what he did," Archie said of Eddie, "calling him names was NOT the move and not how one should behave."

In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes concerts more synthetic but also more consistent. For better or worse, pre-recorded tracks are becoming increasingly common for touring artists of all levels and genres and they're not just used in pop music — many rock artists utilize playback tracks to varying degrees.

"Under The Gun" is the first single from SANTA CRUZ's new album, "The Return Of The Kings", which will be released this fall via M-Theory Audio. Cruz recorded the follow-up to 2019's "Katharsis" as a one-man studio project throughout 2021 in his native Finland.
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Archie Cruz (@archiecruzz)












As I said during my show yesterday this issue is way beyond just @SantaCruzBand . I actually like the band & had Archie on once. I appreciate the apology but I personally will always believe live rock should be live. And a TON of bands do NOT play to tracks. https://t.co/X40ZMv6rV7

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) April 13, 2022








This is beyond words … everyone I guess just okay with this?! As I’ve said and have been saying this has become an...

Posted by Eddie Trunk on Friday, April 8, 2022





I have long railed against the epidemic of bands using tracks live. And how fans & promoters just accept “live” acts & paying to see a band “live” and it’s anything but. This is how bad it’s become. Everyone okay with this?! Unreal! https://t.co/EHp6zW57i4 v

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) April 8, 2022

Progressive metal quartet OU (pronunciation: “O”) will release their debut album, one, on May 6 via InsideOutMusic. The band recently released the first single, “Travel”, and now are excited to share the album’s second single, “Mountain”.


Drummer Anthony Vanacore says this about the new song: “'Mountain' is absolutely one of our favorite tracks on the album, we are so proud of how this song came out! I think it really captures the spirit of OU and I’m pretty sure you’ve never heard anything quite like it.”







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. Pre-order





Tracklisting:


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


Teaser:





OU lineup:


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


(Top photo - Frank Mao)

New SKID ROW singer Erik Grönwall spoke to Liz Berg of Smarts & Entertainment about what it's been like for him to join his favorite band and immediately start working on a new album, along with beginning to prepare for SKID ROW's current Las Vegas residency as the support act for the SCORPIONS. "It's insane," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Surreal, definitely. I grew up listening to SKID ROW, and when I wanted to become a singer, I was trying to sing like [former SKID ROW singer] Sebastian Bach. And that's what I did. I did that at karaoke nights [back home in Sweden]. So it's just surreal, because I come into the band and I started to do a new album straight away. I don't just have to rehearse the old songs; I'm doing a new album. So it's my voice on that. It's surreal, and I'm so honored."

Grönwall joined SKID ROW just weeks ago as the replacement for ZP Theart, who had been in the group for more than six years.

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26. During its nine-song set, SKID ROW performed its new single, "The Gang's All Here", which was made available last month. 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.

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan recently told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about Grönwall's addition to the band: "Just the way he does things and his work ethic is one I've never seen other than the four of us that are already in the band. He just doesn't stop until he gets things absolutely right. Whether it's his version, what he thinks is right, or what we think is right, he works hard — he works hard. And you can see why he had the success he did overseas because he's a really, really hard-working singer that takes care of his instrument and that takes pride in his craft."

Rachel also reflected on SKID ROW's first live performance with Grönwall, saying: "Honestly, dude, from the minute he opened his mouth… His timing is impeccable. We knew it was gonna be cool. And each show has gotten even better, 'cause we're learning each other's rhythm on stage. When I walked away from that show, I said to Erik, I go, 'This was show one. I cannot wait for show one hundred. It's gonna be amazing.'"

Bolan previously talked about how Erik came to join SKID ROW during an appearance on the latest episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation L.A. Invasion", recorded just hours before SKID ROW's first performance with the Swedish singer. "We toured together. H.E.A.T. was on tour with SKID ROW. What year was that? '18? And we'd hear him every night from the dressing room," he said. "And a couple of times, I was, like, 'Man, listen to this guy sing. He's phenomenal.' And then, I forget who told me, someone that was with us, 'Yeah, he won 'Idol' in Sweden.' And I was, like, 'Man, he's got pipes.' And I was listening. Then I went behind the monitor board a couple of times. And in my head, I'm, like, 'Wow! When SKID ROW has some downtime, I'm gonna get in touch with this dude and start a side project with him.' And obviously, that never happened. But as time went on and we got to the point to where we were with ZP and stuff, Erik was our first… I told Snake, I go, 'We've gotta check this guy out.' And along with Snake and the rest of the guys, and Nick, our producer, Nick Raskulinecz, were, like, 'He's the guy, man. Send him some songs.' So we sent him some songs that we were recording, just with a guide vocal on it, and it came back about 24 hours later, and we were, like, 'All right. He's the guy. Get him on a plane. Let's do this.'"

Grönwall sang on H.E.A.T.'s last 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. A short time later, he wrote on his social media: "I am extremely privileged and grateful to live at a day and age where a disease like this is curable. There's been so much progress made in this field. My body is reacting well to the treatment but it's a long treatment and it's going to be the toughest challenge of my life so far, for me and my family."

Last September, Grönwall released his cover version of SKID ROW's "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms. At the time, he said about his version of the track: "This song was basically the starting point of my professional career as an artist. I performed this song during my 'Swedish Idol' audition back in 2009. 12 years later it's time to give this bad boy a try again. Here's my version of the SKID ROW song '18 And Life'."

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.

Onslaught headlined the Sophie Stage at Britain's Bloodstock Open Air 2021 on August 11. You can now watch professionally filmed footage of the band's full performance.


Setlist:


"Rise To Power"
"Killing Peace"
"Strike Fast Strike Hard"
"Let There Be Death"
"Destroyer Of Worlds"
"Bow Down To The Clowns"
"A Perfect Day To Die"
"Metal Forces"
"66'Fucking'6"
"The Sound Of Violence"
"Religiousuicide"
"Burn"
"Damnation / Onslaught (Power From Hell)"

Northern symphonic rock ensemble, Winter In Eden, has released its new studio album, Social Fake. The band crafted the album over a long period, including during lockdown, but the end result takes their music to a new level.


Containing all new material which builds and further refines the unique style that is Winter In Eden, from delightful symphonic instrumentals to crunching aggressive rock. With compelling vocals, muscular riffs, memorable hooks, and swirling keyboards coupled with pounding bass and thunderous drums; the result is powerful, modern and perfectly balanced.







Social Fake is the band’s fourth album and features a lineup of Vicky Johnson, Steve Johnson, Steve Hauxwell, Benji Lynch and Ian Heddle.  Its release coincides with the launch of the band’s new webstore.


Lead singer Vicky Johnson said of the release: “Social Fake is a very special album for us. We poured our blood, sweat and tears into this project and the results make me feel incredibly proud. I love every single song on this album. The sound has evolved but it is still Winter In Eden at its best. We can't wait for everyone to hear it.”


The album is available on CD and on Digital Platforms including Amazon CD, Apple Music, and Spotify.


A video for the title track can be seen below:

HIM mastermind Ville Valo spoke to Metal Hammer about his new single, "Loveletting", which he released under the VV banner. "Loveletting" is taken from VV's forthcoming debut album, "Neon Noir", which won't arrive before 2023.

"'Loveletting' is one of the more mellow songs," Ville said. "I've always been shit with picking singles — I'm always wrong, so I let the label choose that and everybody was smiling when they heard it the first time, so they suggested it. I'm hoping the next one will be a lot more rock 'n' roll, harder hitting."

"Loveletting" marks Ville's first new music in over two years, following the arrival of the three-track "Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" EP, also released under the VV banner, in March 2020.

"Gothica Fennica Vol. 1" bore a strong musical resemblance to HIM and featured the tracks "Salute The Sanguine", "Run Away From The Sun" and "Saturnine Saturnalia".

Regarding the musical direction of "Neon Noir", Ville told Metal Hammer: "The new stuff definitely does sound like HIM. But I did write most of the songs, so… I'm to blame for that. It's a continuous journey from HIM for me. A lot of people when they move on to solo projects want to distance themselves from the past, burn bridges and start their solo career. It's different for me. VV is me building a bridge between HIM and the future. That's what 'Neon Noir' is."

Ville recently spoke to Spotify about why it has taken him so long to complete "Neon Noir". "Since the pandemic hit, I started working on the album," he explained. "I actually learned how to record — I learned how to record drums and bass and guitar because I wasn't able to get any musicians; I had to do it solo — literally solo. So I'm really sorry but it did take me two and a half years to get the album done. 'Loveletting' is the first single. It's kind of what I normally do — it's a loud love song; it's a very sad and melancholy wistful one, but sort of maybe light at the end of the tunnel which is hopefully not the oncoming train.

"So there's not much new under the sun of VV, but I love it. [Laughs]"

"Loveletting" is now available across all digital platforms. An official music video can be seen below.

VV's headline tour dates will take place next year across Europe and North America. Naturally starting in Helsinki, Finland, the 2023 extensive run reaches the U.K. in March before heading to America come April.

HIM completed a farewell tour in 2017, closing the final chapter on the band's 26-year career. At the time, Ville explained to Kerrang! magazine why the band decided to call it a day. "We were tired of the same shit," he said. "When you've done it for a long time, at some point it doesn't taste good anymore. We started working on some stuff, it didn't sound good enough, and we didn't get the teenage buzz you're supposed get."

He also discussed the future of his artistic and musical endeavors.

"I'll be figuring out the emotions I'll be going through after the HIM period is done," he said. "That's how I experience life. I experience it through music, I'll pick up the guitar and start writing and I'm sure some of the emotions that come out of this wild ride will come through. My life is not done yet. The HIM part is done, as it is now, the chapter is closed, but the book is still unfinished…"

Formed in 1991 by Valo, guitarist Mikko "Linde" Lindström and bassist Mikko "Migé" Paananen, HIM offered the world a new take on the metal genre, which became known as "love metal" (also the title of their fourth album).

HIM in 2015 parted ways with its longtime drummer, Mika Kristian Karppinen (a.k.a. Gas Lipstick), and replaced him with Jukka "Kosmo" Kröger (formerly of HERRA YLPPÖ & IHMISET).

Three years ago, Valo teamed up with guitar legend Esa Pulliainen to record an album based on songs by the late, legendary Finnish singer Rauli "Badding" Somerjoki. The self-titled album by VILLE VALO & AGENTS was released in February 2019 and was followed by a short tour.

Houston-bred rock/hip-hop fusion artist Hyro The Hero has released a new version of the title track off his "Kids Against The Monsters" project with a feature from SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor. The release is the culmination of a series of singles featuring high-profile fellow artists that Hyro The Hero has dropped over the past year. The project originated as a mixtape, inspired from his Houston underground hip-hop roots, and is now available in full as an EP to stream and download across digital platforms.

The "Kids Against The Monsters" track was recorded remotely during lockdown in 2020, after Ben Bruce of ASKING ALEXANDRIA, a mentor to Hyro, reached out to Taylor. The answer was an immediate yes. Late last year, fans got an early listen to the track when it appeared in episode eight of Apple TV+'s basketball drama series "Swagger", executive produced by Kevin Durant and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Reggie Rock Bythewood. An official video for the track was also released today.

Thrilled to be sharing the latest version of "Kids Against The Monsters" with Taylor, Hyro said: "Working with Corey Taylor was absolutely incredible. When I first heard him sing the words of the chorus we created, I got chills.

"'Kids Against The Monsters' is about the problems we deal with from generation to generation. This generation is trying to find peace and fix past mistakes. When you press play and listen to my music, I want you to feel the positivity and love."

Taylor also gave his thoughts on teaming up with Hyro on the track, saying: "It's always nice to collaborate with up-and-coming talent, especially when you're a genuine fan. I was stoked to hop on this song with Hyro The Hero. He embodies what a true artist is meant to do: make you feel something. This song is a great reminder that we're stronger together when facing our demons."

In addition to capturing the attention of his musical peers, Hyro's music has piqued the interest of influential media such as The Houston Chronicle, his hometown paper, who profiled the artist at the top of this year writing, "Over the years, Hyro — born Hyron Louis Fenton Jr. — has built on that mashup [rock and hip-hop] and become a full-fledged rock star." True to that sentiment, Hyro brings together a unique blend of influences across rap, rock, punk, and hip hop on this EP, gathering a group of iconic artists to join him on a collection of songs that speak to the racism, class discrimination, and political division in our society, and hopes to inspire a way forward, encouraging all the kids to unite.

The "Kids Against The Monsters" mixtape includes previously released tracks such as the incendiary "FU2 (feat. AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods)", "We Believe (feat. David Draiman of Distubed)" and "Fight (feat. Chad Gray of Hellyeah)". Hyro announced the project in a reflective piece published by Knotfest last year, explaining how his Houston roots introduced him to the idea of the mixtape and expressing how sacred that concept is in the hip-hop community to reaching new fans. The mixtape is an embodiment of Hyro's growth as a musician, as he stayed true to the hip-hop ideology embedded in his DNA, while also fulfilling the emotional pull he felt towards rock music in his teens. Additionally, Knotfest aired a series of interviews with Hyro and his collaborators to dive deeper into the project and the inspiration behind each track.

"Kids Against The Monsters" EP track listing:

01. Kids Against The Monsters (feat. Corey Taylor of Slipknot)

02. FU 2 (feat. AJ Channer of Fire From The Gods)

03. We Believe (feat. David Draiman of Distrubed)

04. Fight (feat. Chad Gray of Hellyeah)

After non-stop touring in support of his last album, Hyro dove right into the studio with producer Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, FROM FIRST TO LAST). Under a flurry of inspiration, they recorded an entire album over the course of just two weeks. In the process, he expanded his sound dramatically.

"You can see and hear the growth in this album," he says. "I had to go through everything that brought me to this point and I've really learned how to focus on storylines and approach records structurally and lyrically. All of my experience built up respect to work with some of my heroes on the new material." He grins and says, "I want to have my name in this game for a lifetime."

GREY DAZE, Chester Bennington's pre-LINKIN PARK band, will release a new album, "The Phoenix", on June 17 via Loma Vista Recordings. It is the follow-up to 2020's "Amends", which featured newly recorded music with remastered vocals from the group's long out-of-print and largely undiscovered catalog.

"'Amends' was more emotional and reflective," explains drummer and songwriter Sean Dowdell of the different mood and feel displayed on "The Phoenix", which also sees contributions from JANE'S ADDICTION's Dave Navarro, FILTER's Richard Patrick and Bennington's daughters, Lily and Lila Bennington. "We felt sad when we were writing it. Now that we're a couple of years removed, it's very clear what we were going through. We were at a different stage of grief. We went through the shock and the sadness. Now, we're back to gratitude. So, 'The Phoenix' is more of a celebration of our friend, his talent, and the music. It captures Chester's angst and energy that people fell in love with. It's much more aggressive. If you love Chester's scream, you'll love this record."

A preview of "The Phoenix" arrives with today's release of "Saturation (Strange Love)" and its Marc Silverstein-directed video. The track, evocative of the shift in energy between "Amends" and "The Phoenix", showcases a younger Chester and the raw, astounding talent was already in possession of, as Dowdell notes: "It's going to surprise a lot of people because it gets back to Chester's core. One of the things that people love about him was his unique ability to scream in key… and this song brings you back to everything you love about that scream. You feel that angst and raw emotion he brought to everything he did."

Over the course of GREY DAZE's first incarnation, which ran 1994 to 1997, the group recorded and released two albums. It is those albums that serve as a foundation for both "Amends" and "The Phoenix". Prior to Bennington's passing, he publicly announced GREY DAZE's return, which included re-recording the band's largely undiscovered discography. With Chester's widow Talinda Bennington's blessing, and working with producer Esjay Jones, the surviving bandmembers — Dowdell, bass player Mace Beyers and guitar player Cristin Davis — moved forward, as both a way to pay tribute to their fallen brother and bandmate, but also to expose his fans to another dimension of the dynamic singer. "Amends" arrived in 2020, with Rolling Stone, Revolver, Billboard and Kerrang! praising the collection. NME summed it up best as "a great modern rock record fronted by one of the best vocalists in the game." In late 2020, the trio reconvened with Jones re-recording, and re-working the remaining 10 tracks that would become "The Phoenix".

"The Phoenix" track listing:

01. Saturation (Strange Love)

02. Starting To Fly

03. Be Your Man

04. Holding You (featuring Dave Navarro)

05. Hole (featuring Lily & Lila Bennington)

06. Drag

07. Believe Me (featuring Richard Patrick)

08. Anything, Anything

09. Spin

10. Wake Me

In a 2001 interview with Revolver magazine, Chester described GREY DAZE's musical style as "early-'90s -style rock. It wasn't pop rock, it wasn't heavy metal. It was in between grunge and good rock. We didn't know what we were doing. We were just writing songs and singing. It was a four-piece band. Some of our songs were more rock. Others were more, I don't know, alternative? I've always been into punk and classic rock. The first few years of being a musician, it was all cover band stuff, and we'd throw in a few originals. The last band I was in, I was in it for almost eight years. We made two albums, and tried really hard."

He added: "I definitely know why it didn't go anywhere: We all wanted to make it, but we all wanted to make it for different reasons. It wasn't all about making good songs, where anything else that comes from that is a fringe benefit."

Bennington was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home in July 2017 after hanging himself.

LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring.

Photo credit: Tom Preston