Post Malone, along with GUNS N' ROSES members Slash and Duff McKagan, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, and producer Andrew Watt will perform a special tribute to Ozzy Osbourne at this weekend's Grammy Awards.

The 2026 Grammys, hosted by Trevor Noah, will broadcast live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 1, at 5 p.m. PT/8 p.m. ET on the CBS television network and will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+.

The Grammy Awards are the only peer-recognized accolade in music and are voted on by the Recording Academy's voting membership body of music makers who represent all genres and creative disciplines, including recording artists, songwriters, producers, mixers, and engineers.

Fulwell Entertainment is producing the 2026 Grammy Awards for the Recording Academy. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, Jesse Collins and Trevor Noah are executive producers.

Ozzy's death certificate revealed that he died on July 22, 2025 of a heart attack. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31, 2025 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).

The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.

Seven months ago, Ozzy reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

At "Back To The Beginning", Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album "Blizzard Of Ozz" — "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley", "Suicide Solution" and "Crazy Train" — along with his 1991 "No More Tears" ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home".

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

To mark the first anniversary of the band's acclaimed album "What Remains", POP EVIL has announced the release of "What Remains (Midnight Edition)", arriving March 27, 2026.

The band's new single, "The Decay", is out today after premiering on SiriusXM Octane yesterday. The track is a riff-forward modern rock track with depth, melody, and staying power.

Regarding the release, POP EVIL shares: "In a world full of pain, lies, distractions and half-truths, how easy is it to swallow venom dressed up as medicine without recognizing the damage being done? The choice to help or to hurt is ours. This song is raw, uncomfortable, and honest, an invitation to face the darkness, accept responsibility, and choose to make a difference while you still have time."

To further reflect this mindset, POP EVIL made the conscious decision to forgo any use of A.I. in crafting the official visualizer. Directed by Sam Shapiro and produced by the skilled CGI team at VSRL Company, the visualizer reinforces the song's core message: what we choose to create and support truly matters. Watch it below.

"What Remains (Midnight Edition)" expands the album's powerful legacy with new material, including "The Decay" and a studio-refined reimagining of the iconic '80s anthem "Don't You (Forget About Me)", reimagined through POP EVIL's unmistakable modern-rock lens.

Originally released as POP EVIL's most uncompromising and emotionally exposed body of work to date, "What Remains" stands as both a sonic reckoning and a personal confession. Heavier, darker, and more direct than anything the band has released before, the album channels arena-ready modern rock and metal into a deeply introspective narrative, with frontman Leigh Kakaty laying bare the truths, scars, and battles that shaped his life.

With "What Remains (Midnight Edition)", POP EVIL completes a full creative arc, stripping away armor, confronting the past, and standing firmly in the present. It is a reckoning with who Kakaty was, who he is now, and who he's determined to become. More than an anniversary release, the "Midnight Edition" solidifies "What Remains" as the definitive POP EVIL statement, unflinching, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.

Last year POP EVIL released a four-song EP, "Unleaded". The live, acoustic EP was a bold departure from the band's signature sound. "Unleaded" revealed an entirely different side of POP EVIL — one that traded distortion and fury for shadow and nuance.

POP EVIL first rose to international prominence with debut album "Lipstick On The Mirror", featuring the RIAA-certified-gold single "100 In A 55". After Kakaty famously tore up the band's major label contract onstage, POP EVIL signed with MNRK Heavy (formerly eOne Music). 2011's "War Of Angels" debuted in the Top 10 of the Rock Albums chart and produced three Top 10 singles.

The band's 2013 album "Onyx" put them in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the first time and boasted three consecutive No. 1 rock songs, two RIAA gold singles and one platinum single, "Torn To Pieces". POP EVIL's next release, "Up", was the No. 1 Independent Album in America and made it to No. 25 on the Billboard 200. It featured several Top 5 rock songs and a chart topper with "Footsteps", which also went gold. POP EVIL's 2018 self-titled set included the No. 1 hit and certified-gold single "Waking Lions" and two other Top 10 hits. 2020's "Versatile", meanwhile, scored two No. 1 rock songs: "Breathe Again" and "Survivor". In 2023, the band released its seventh studio album "Skeletons", which spawned their eighth and ninth No. 1 singles: "Eye Of The Storm" and "Skeletons".

In a new interview with Dawn Osborne of TotalRock, legendary guitarist George Lynch spoke about why he is still playing shows under the LYNCH MOB banner, nearly a year after the completion of the band's "The Final Ride" farewell tour celebrating LYNCH MOB's 35-year legacy. Joining Lynch on stage at all the recent gigs were vocalist Andrew Freeman (LAST IN LINE),drummer Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER, OZZY OSBOURNE) and bassist Jaron Gulino (TANTRIC, HEAVENS EDGE). Regarding why vocalist Gabriel Colón and drummer Jimmy D'Anda (BULLETBOYS) are no longer involved with the group, George said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Gabriel] is very sweet, and I love Gabriel and I just felt like we needed... I don't know. There was a thing with Gabriel that I wondered about. He is wonderful and a great singer. LYNCH MOB is known for 'Wicked Sensation'-era records and style, that bluesy dark thing, whatever it is, and Gabriel is not that kind of singer. And we knew that when we joined forces with him. And it introduced us to a new style which we thought would ingratiate us maybe to a larger audience. I don't know if it did that, but it certainly was off brand. And in some way I loved what he did and in some ways I thought we're getting off what we're known for a little bit. And so when we did disband last year — we actually were not a band for, I think, 24 hours, and then I changed my mind — and I took that opportunity to sort of switch things up a little bit, 'cause Jimmy left. And he said, 'No. You said this is the end of the band, so that's it. I'm done.' And we're best friends and everything. I'm, like, 'Whoa, that's a little harsh. I mean, guy can't change his mind?' And so he was gone. So I thought, 'Well, all right. Let's switch singers.' And so Jaron and I got Andrew Freeman and Brian Tichy, and we've been banging away ever since."

On the topic of the musical direction of LYNCH MOB's ninth full-length studio album, "Dancing With The Devil", which came out last November via Frontiers Music Srl, George said: "We always run the risk of chasing 'Wicked Sensation', and there's always gonna be a little bit of that in the back of our minds. At the same time, that was a long, long time ago, so it's like trying to recreate the DOKKEN era — you just can't do it. We're all made of different stuff and too much time has passed and we're not the same creatures. The world's not the same place. Unless you're just completely plagiarizing, copying something, it's not gonna come from the same place, so it's not gonna very disingenuine. So, as much as people wanna hear 'Wicked Sensation' and continue that legacy and that style and that sound, that was just a culmination of a thousand different things that happen once in a lifetime, and that won't happen again. So we were trying not to chase that. And then again, you wanna do new, fresh stuff, but nobody wants to hear you do that either. So, it's tricky."

Circling back to the fact that LYNCH MOB is still continuing to tour, George said: "I've learned something through all this, and I was talking to Jaron about this the other day. I've learned that I shouldn't be making any decisions at all about anything other than which notes I'm gonna play and which chords I'm gonna put together to write a song. And that's about it."

Asked by Osborne if that means that "Dancing With The Devil" is, in fact, not LYNCH MOB's "final" studio album, despite the fact that it was marketed as such by Frontiers Music Srl prior to its release, George said: "No, it's not." He then added: "I did stop [LYNCH MOB] for 24 hours — until I got bored. Because in that 24 hours I was kind of on the porch and I had this rocking chair and I had one of those ear things so you can hear good. And my little dog was there, [and I was] just smoking a straw pipe, my corn cob pipe. And my wife says, 'Honey, you want some more lemonade?' And she goes, 'You wanna get back on the road. You wanna be back out with your boys, right?' I go, 'Yeah.' So, yeah, the next day I got back out there. It was really interesting. My agent was, like, 'You can't quit. We've got all these gigs and everything.' And then I go, 'Well, I'm just getting older, man. I probably should not keep doing this.' 'Cause I felt I was looking silly up on stage at 71… You know, it was, like, make room for other people and go do other stuff. But all of a sudden I got all these offers from my agent. And I think what happened was when people thought it was the end, all of a sudden they appreciate you. It's like after you die and they say all this nice shit about you, but the day before, they weren't. You know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? And all of a sudden we're the greatest band since sliced bread. It was, like, 'Oh, LYNCH MOB. I wish we would've appreciated them when they were still together.' So we're, like, 'Okay, we'll reluctantly come back and play your stupid gig.' And then we've done about a hundred more since then. But our new album is gonna be called 'The Final, Final Ride'. Not kidding."

Last October, George told Tim Caple of Rock 'N' Blues Experience about still playing with LYNCH MOB: "Well, I think you can see a common thread throughout this interview that I make really bad decisions [laughs] throughout my life. Horrible. You do not want me in charge of any of your decision making. So, if I give you any advice, do the opposite for a better outcome. I don't wanna be in charge. I shouldn't be managing anything or making any decisions about anything other than just playing my guitar and writing music. Having said that, I still try to do the right thing and be smart, but whatever.

"So we decided, or I decided, I think earlier [in 2025], if I'm not mistaken, that this was the 35th anniversary, I believe, of the band, so maybe let's go out with a nice bookend and put out a good record and call it a day," he explained. "And we called it 'The Final Ride' — the tour was called 'The Final Ride'. And so I did that and sort of — not fired the band; we just all agreed to do this. So everybody went their separate ways. And there was some momentum and some interest because of that announcement. So all of a sudden my agent started getting all this work opportunity. He talked me, as agents do, talked me out of quitting LYNCH MOB touring. He said, 'Well, just add a few more shows.' Well, that's parlayed into, we just kept it going. So here we are. We're still touring, we're still putting out records. It's a different band than it was last year, but… Brian Tichy's back in the band. Andrew Freeman, Jaron Gulino and myself. It's a great band. And why not?"

He continued: "So, people are, like, 'Well, you said you were retiring LYNCH MOB.' I go, 'Well, I lied. I changed my mind. I'm sorry. Sue me. I'll see you in court.' I mean, what do you want me to tell you?

"So that's what it is. I make silly decisions — off-the-cuff decisions — sometimes that aren't well thought out. Here we are."

Tichy was previously a touring member of LYNCH MOB in 2010, 2012–2013, 2015, 2020 and 2025; Gulino was in LYNCH MOB from 2022 to 2025; and Freeman played with LYNCH MOB in 2003, 2010 and 2019.

In July 2025, the same four musicians played their first two shows under the name of what at the time was supposed to be George's new touring entity, GEORGE LYNCH & THE MOB.

Earlier in 2025, George told Talking With Cars that he would put together "another" touring band with "a revolving door of different people." He added that he was "tentatively calling it GEORGE LYNCH & THE MOB, so people can identify with my name and the fact that there's still the LYNCH MOB aspect to that name without the bad connotations."

LYNCH MOB played what, at the time, was being billed as the group's "final" concert on March 22, 2025 at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina, Minnesota.

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

In August 2020, Lynch announced that he was ending LYNCH MOB due to the racial insensitivity of the moniker, saying he would no longer record or perform under that name. Two years later, George had a change of heart, explaining that he had to "live with the fact that [the name LYNCH MOB] has some negative connotations that I probably have to continue explaining for the rest of my life, and I don't mind doing that. But it is a brand that I built, and I'm just gonna stick with it. As far as a marketing thing and a brand thing and a business thing and a working thing, and it keeps my band guys working and it keeps the fans happy, it makes sense."

As was the case with LYNCH MOB's eighth studio album, 2023's "Babylon", "Dancing With The Devil" features Lynch alongside Colón, Gulino and D'Anda.

Platinum-certified alternative rock mainstays THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS have announced the deluxe edition of their sixth album, "X's For Eyes", due out March 6 via Better Noise Music. Also today (Friday, January 23),the band has shared "Angels Cry", a new, previously unreleased track. The accompanying music video, directed by Shane Drake at Say So Pictures with additional production by Michael Lombardi from Better Noise, can be seen below.

THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS singer Ronnie Winter describes "Angels Cry" as "a bittersweet story of love and loss in early teenage years. As an adult, I've learned these things are natural, but when you are young it feels like the end of the world. Turns out it was just the beginning."

"Angels Cry" follows the release of the single "Perfection" from "X's For Eyes" and its video directed by Shane Drake (PANIC! AT THE DISCO, PARAMORE).

"X's For Eyes - Deluxe Edition" track listing:

01. Always The King (feat Kellin Quinn)
02. Purple Halo
03. Perfection
04. X's For Eyes
05. Bad Beat
06. Slipping Through (No Kings)
07. Angels Cry
08. Home Improvement
09. Twenty Hour Drive
10. Kins And Carroll
11. Getting By
12. Worth It (feat. Craig Mabbitt)
13. Not Today
14. Perfection (feat. Derek Sanders)
15. Slipping Through (No Kings) [screams version]

Originally released on October 3, 2025 via Better Noise Music, the 11 songs on "X's For Eyes" find the band revving up their caffeinated pop sensibilities, throwing down the punishing riffola, delivering more electronic and ambient flourishes, and topping all of it off with Winter's high-pitched emoting. Factor in some hair-raising cameos from SLEEPING WITH SIRENS' Kellin Quinn ("Always The King") and ESCAPE THE FATE frontman Craig Mabbitt ("Worth It") and the result is genuinely THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS's most strident full-length offering yet.

Formed in 2004 in Jacksonville, Florida, THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS has accrued gold and multi-platinum singles — including their massive five-times-platinum hit single "Face Down" (which has over 176 million views on YouTube),double-platinum "Your Guardian Angel" (which has over 37 million views on YouTube) and double-platinum-certified debut album, "Don't You Fake It", alongside numerous high-ranking radio chart positions and a robust digital history of over 1.5 billion career streams. Sometimes it's hard to believe that THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS began their expedition into the hearts and minds of a generation 20 years ago. Their blazing 2006 single "Face Down" delivered both anthemic choruses and a strident message about domestic abuse, achieving both sales accolades and adoration from crowds all over the planet.

Photo credit: K Enagonio

In a new interview with Heavy Mextal, SYMPHONY X bassist Mike LePond spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2015's "Underworld" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we have been writing. We've been writing music for years now, new music. We just haven't had enough time to put it together yet, but we're getting closer and closer."

He continued: "I can tell you that I have heard all the new music and I think it's amazing sounding. And once we do put out our next record, and we're working really hard on it, once we put out our next record, I really believe that our fans will think it was worth the wait."

Last August, LePond told Rev. Tom Brice of Sportzwire Radio about SYMPHONY X's next LP: "We are getting closer. And, yeah, the fans, they're clamoring for a new album. I can't blame 'em. It's been 10 years. If JUDAS PRIEST didn't come out with an album for 10 years, I'd be pretty mad too. We have been writing it. We have most of the parts kind of together. Now it's just a matter of recording it, really. So, it's definitely coming. And if things stay on track the way they are, we're thinking next year [it will be out], so we're excited. I mean, the stuff sounds really, really cool. And believe me, I want you guys to hear it as soon as possible."

Regarding the musical direction of the new SYMPHONY X material, Mike said: "Well, the 'Underworld' record, I felt, encompassed a bunch of SYMPHONY X styles. I think the new record, judging from what I've been hearing, it's gonna even more kind of be like a summary of SYMPHONY X's career, as far as our musical directions. 'Cause we went on a few directions. There was a point in our career where we got noticeably heavier and a little more straighter."

LePond went on to elaborate on the reasons for the delay in putting out new SYMPHONY X music, explaining: "With SYMPHONY X, there's tremendous pressure on us to consistently do great records. Our fans, they're really diehard fans and they're so supportive and they expect only excellence from us. So that's always in the back of our mind. So, if we're working on something and maybe it's good, but we're not sure, we won't use it. We're only gonna put songs on the record that we feel are excellent and worthy of the fans. So absolutely that plays a role. But the other things too — you had COVID, and in and out of touring. Once you start touring, then you forget about the writing and then you come back to it and then you forget where you left off and you start again."

Last year, SYMPHONY X completed a North American tour with Finnish metallers SONATA ARCTICA. The trek launched on September 4, 2025 in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and conclude on September 29, 2025 in Red Bank, New Jersey.

During last year's 70000 Tons Of Metal cruise, LePond told Metal Anthology about the band's follow-up to "Underworld": "[We've been working on new material for] many years. A bunch of years. We are working on a new album, and it's gonna have all the cool stuff you guys like. It's gonna have the big symphonic stuff, it's gonna have the heavy riffs, it's gonna have the classical [elements as well]. It's gonna have all that stuff in there."

He continued: "When we write, it just takes time, because [SYMPHONY X guitarist and main songwriter] Michael Romeo, his rule [is] there's no filler songs, no songs that are, like, 'Ah, it's not bad.' And it goes in the garbage. They've all gotta be where at least we think they're all great. They all have to be that.

"The fans are, like, 'Hey, it's been so long.' But we promise you it's coming," Mike added. "It's gonna be good."

Asked if there will be a longer song on the upcoming SYMPHONY X album, considering "Underworld" contained mostly "shorter, more straightforward" tracks, Mike said: "We're still thinking where we wanna go with that. There's gonna be something crazy epic on it. We just don't know how we're gonna present it yet. But with all the newer technology for the symphonic stuff, it's gonna be monstrous."

LePond added: "So, yeah, we're excited to finally do it again. When it's time to record the bass, I'll been sweating for days, but once it's done… I have this routine. Once I finish all my bass tracks and I'm just so tired and wiped out, I go to McDonald's [fast food restaurant chain]. That's the only time I go, and it's, like, 'Ah.' My comfort."

In October 2024, Romeo told the "Coffee With Ola" podcast about the upcoming SYMPHONY X LP: "With us, it's not like, 'Oh, yeah, we're just gonna write one — how do you say? — single, and then just have a bunch of filler. It's, like, everything's gotta be as good as it can be. So, yeah, it gets harder and it takes longer. Then you throw in COVID and a bunch of other things, and then it's just, like, 'Oh, shit.' Now it's, like, I don't know — eight years or something. I lost track.

"What's different now than in the past is that we could take a bunch of time off. There would be some royalties from CDs back in the day coming in and kind of float on the downtime and really get the record done and then come back out [with a] new record, tour. So now it's, like, well, that money's gone. So we have to tour a little bit, keep things going, work on the record, go back out. So it's been like that for a while. And for me — I do most of the writing, so for me it's hard because you're sitting in the studio for whatever month, 'I got this idea,' and you're trying to put these things together, and it's, like, 'Oh, we've gotta go on tour now.' All right, cool. We do our thing. And then you come back, and it's, like, 'What the fuck was I working on again? Was this riff here?' And so you're trying to arrange all this stuff. And then you're, like, 'Oh, I've got all these new ideas.' So then you keep adding. And then after a long period of time, it's, like, 'Oh my god, there's so much stuff I can't even manage it now.' Plenty of material — like three hours of stuff — but now it's actually making sense."

Elaborating on when SYMPHONY X might be done composing the material for the next album, Michael said: "It's gonna take some time to organize everything. It's not like there's nothing there. It's [not], like, 'Oh, man, we have to start from scratch.' There's quite a bit. It's actually overwhelming. I never remember being this overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, 'cause over the last year and a half or whatever, every time there was a break, it's, like, 'Okay, I'll write something.' I didn't stop and [go], like, 'Well, let me finish this.' It was, like, boom, 'I got all these ideas,' and I just kept going. So now it's, like, all right, no more writing. Now more arranging."

SYMPHONY X completed an extensive tour behind "Underworld" in 2016, including a U.S. run of shows with OVERKILL and a pair of headlining performances in Australia.

In July 2017, SYMPHONY X singer Russell Allen and his ADRENALINE MOB bandmates were involved in a crash that killed the latter group's bassist, David Zablidowsky.

In 2019, Allen — who has toured with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA since 2013 — was injured during the rehearsals for TSO's annual winter trek and was unable to make the tour.

Romeo released his latest solo album, "War Of The Worlds Pt. 2", in March 2022 via InsideOut Music. The record featured guest vocals by Dino Jelusick (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

Photo credit: Danny Sanchez

Swedish metallers SABATON have postponed their previously announced North American tour in order to allow bassist Pär Sundström sufficient time to heal from "inflammation in his arms".

SABATON's North American tour was scheduled to kick off February 9 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and hit venues across the U.S. and Canada, including major stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston before wrapping April 20 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Support on the trek was slated to come from POP EVIL and WINGS OF STEEL.

Earlier today (Wednesday, January 29),SABATON released the following statement via social media: "Dear friends in the USA and Canada, unfortunately we have to postpone our North American tour.

"Pär is currently dealing with inflammation in his arms, and after seeking medical advice, he's been told to rest for now so he can properly heal. Performing on stage means everything to us, but health must come first.

"We are genuinely sorry for the inconvenience and disappointment this causes. We're already working hard to secure new dates.

"We were so excited to see you all, and that excitement hasn't gone anywhere. We're looking forward to the moment we can finally step on those stages!

"Thank you for your patience, your love and your constant support. It means the world to us!

"For now, please keep hold of your tickets. You will receive an e-mail notification from the official point of sale as soon as the status of the event changes or a new date is announced. Please note, the summer shows in Europe are not affected by this!

"We'll be back soon, stronger than ever.

"Pär, Joakim, Hannes, Chris, Thobbe".

SABATON kicked off the European leg of its "The Legendary Tour" on November 14, 2025 at Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The band teased the 20-city European trek as "a huge celebration of SABATON's music, storytelling and the incredible bond they share with their fans", featuring "The Legendary Orchestra and other surprises," resulting in "something unprecedented." "The Legendary Tour" was SABATON's first headlining tour in support of the band's eleventh studio album, "Legends", which arrived on October 17, 2025 via Better Noise Music.

Throughout the aptly titled "Legends", which blends rock and history for fans of all ages, SABATON delves into some of history's greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D'arc (also known as Joan Of Arc),Napoleon Bonaparte, Julius Caesar and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.

"Legends" is available across various different physical formats and retailer exclusives, including CD, 2CD digibook, 2CD earbook (both including the exclusive Storyteller Edition),11 unique vinyl editions (including a special vinyl color and exclusive artwork each),additional exclusive vinyl colors and a limited box set (including another exclusive vinyl color, the 2CD earbook, and a colored cassette as an exclusive format).

Among 11 unique vinyl editions, each one portraying one legendary figure, "Legends" is available as the "Hannibal Edition" and the "Miyamoto Musashi Edition", which are linked to the song releases for "Lightning At The Gates" (Hannibal) and "The Duelist" (Miyamoto Musashi).

"Legends" is a rock odyssey that transcends time and borders, with melodic guitar riffs, goosebump-inducing choirs, and epic choruses. It marks a bold evolution in storytelling, plunging headfirst into the heart of history's most formidable and enigmatic figures. These are not just rock songs, they are battle hymns carved from the blood and legacy of warriors, kings, strategists, and revolutionaries.

SABATON have always had a signature focus on writing songs about historical battles, wars, and acts of heroism that have solidified their impact with their loyal and longtime fans. They've collaborated closely with its network of specialists, developed over the years since the launch of the Sabaton History Channel on YouTube, to make sure this new album is once again as close to reality as possible.

SABATON continues to work with graphic artist Peter Sallai to create the striking album artwork, and producer Jonas Kjellgren is once again behind the boards from his Swedish Black Lounge Studios to create the classic SABATON sound the band is now known for.

In the more than two decades since the band's launch, SABATON has headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts worldwide, and gained a legion of loyal fans by carving out a reputation for being one of the hardest working bands in the business. Since their 2005 debut album, they've earned gold, platinum, and multi-platinum certifications in territories around the world with their 10 studio albums. Eight of their albums scored Top 10 international chart status, and six claimed the Top 5. SABATON has earned eight Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards nominations, taking home the award for "Breakthrough Artist" in 2011 and "Best Live Band" in three different years, and a Grammis nomination (Swedish equivalent to the U.S. Grammy Award) as "Best Heavy Metal" band. They've accumulated more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and two billion views on YouTube.

Guitarist Thobbe Englund originally joined SABATON in April 2012 and amicably parted ways with the band in July 2016 to focus on his personal life and expand his creativity. He rejoined SABATON in February 2024.

Photo credit: Steve Bright

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: North America tour postponed

Dear friends in the USA and Canada,

Unfortunately we have to...

Posted by Sabaton on Wednesday, January 28, 2026

The life and career of pioneering heavy metal frontman Paul Di'Anno, the powerhouse voice heard on IRON MAIDEN's early albums, will be celebrated in the forthcoming documentary, "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer", to be released by Cleopatra Entertainment this summer.

In a strikingly raw and intimate film, Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon, and 2015's "The Damned: Don't You Wish That We Were Dead", about punk rock legends THE DAMNED, captures the late singer riding an emotional rollercoaster toward the end of his life. Featuring appearances by James Hetfield (METALLICA),Gene Simmons (KISS),MAIDEN's Steve Harris and members of EXODUS, SLAYER, MEGADETH, OVERKILL and SEPULTURA, the film chronicles how two IRON MAIDEN fans encounter Di'Anno at the lowest point of his life and then set out to restore his health and relaunch his career.

Wheelchair-bound since the mid-2010s, Di'Anno's health nosedived during the COVID-19 pandemic, when those two fans launched a crowdfunding campaign which ultimately led to him relocating to Croatia, where — through the help of those fans and doctors — he made a dramatic turnaround while running out of money, reuniting with his former MAIDEN bandmates, and falling in love. Eventually he makes a heroic and drama-filled return to the stage. All of this is captured in "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer", which Orshoski began shooting in 2017.

"For years there wasn't much to capture," says Orshoski. "Paul was waiting for surgeries that doctors in the U.K. would not green-light. He was in an incredibly dark place. But once he got to Croatia, fans and doctors gave him the hope he was desperately searching for. It was beautiful to witness. I wanted to make a film that was unlike any rock doc you've ever seen. And in the end, I think we got there."

One of icons of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, London-born Di'Anno helped launch IRON MAIDEN around the world, appearing on two of the most foundational metal albums ever released: IRON MAIDEN's 1980 self-titled debut and the celebrated follow-up, "Killers", released in 1981. In one of the most epic sagas in metal history, Di'Anno left MAIDEN in 1981 and was replaced by Bruce Dickinson, leaving metal fans around the world to debate which line-up and which singer was/is better. It's a debate that continues to this day, almost 50 years later.

Orshoski finished work on the film (which was shot in England, Croatia, Brazil and the United States) shortly before Di'Anno's death at 66 in October 2023. "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer" has been screening at European film festivals and will be released worldwide on both streaming services and on home entertainment DVD and Blu-ray formats.

The official trailer can be viewed below.

Last October, Orshoski stated about "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer": "I started shooting this film in 2017 and for years there wasn't much to capture. Paul was in a wheelchair, desperately waiting for surgeries that doctors in the U.K. refused to greenlight. By the time the pandemic hit, Paul's health had nosedived. And that's when everything changed for him and my film. Kastro Pergjoni, who runs the Cart & Horses pub in London (known as 'The Birthplace of IRON MAIDEN') launched a crowd-funding campaign to help Paul take control of his own destiny. MAIDEN fans around the world gave. And Croatian MAIDEN superfan/writer Stjepan Juras lobbied for Paul to seek treatment in Zagreb, where he could be treated affordably. Paul acquiesced. Without question, Kastro and Stjepan not only changed Paul's life, they extended it. My film largely documents their efforts, which were without question responsible for nearly all of the good moments at the end of Paul's life."

In August 2024, Di'Anno discussed the status of the documentary in an interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM. Paul said: "Wes is a good mate of ours. He'd done the MOTÖRHEAD rockumentary. He'd done THE DAMNED [one] as well. And he's a great guy. We've had this in the pipeline for a couple of years now. The unfortunate part about it is we had to take our time in between when he can come over and do this. But the unfortunate thing is I'm sitting in a fucking wheelchair, which is a pain in the ass, but what are you gonna do?"

Asked by Dionne if the documentary will focus on a particular portion of Di'Anno's life or if it will cover everything from beginning to end, Paul said: "Everything. But you'll see the determination sometimes and the despair. And it goes through the whole lot of emotions and stuff. It's a bit strange."

Di'Anno added: "I trust Wes. He's got me in all sorts of weird situations. He even wanted to come in and fucking film the operation. And they said, 'No.'"

Di'Anno was laid to rest on November 21, 2024 at the City Of London Cemetery And Crematorium in Manor Park, East London, United Kingdom.

Di'Anno, whose real name was Paul Andrews, passed away on October 21, 2024 at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.

An official statement shared to Di'Anno's Facebook page on November 11, 2024 with permission from the late musician's family revealed that his cause of death was caused by a "tear in the sac around the heart."

"Dear fans and friends," the statement began. "We have received permission from Paul's family to bring you the news of Paul's cause of death, after the results of the autopsy have been received."

It continued, "His sisters Cheryl and Michelle confirmed the following: 'Basically he had a tear in the sac around the heart and blood has filled inside it from the main aorta artery and that has caused the heart to stop.' Paul's death was instantaneous and hopefully painless. May he rest in peace."

Born in Chingford, East London on May 17, 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album "Iron Maiden" and the influential follow-up release, "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with BATTLEZONE and KILLERS as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.

Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.

His first career retrospective album, "The Book Of The Beast", was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving IRON MAIDEN.

In December 2022, Di'Anno spent time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WARHORSE. The band was formed earlier that year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante "Pupi" Pupačić. The resulting LP was made available in July 2024 under the PAUL DI'ANNO'S WARHORSE banner.

WARHORSE previously recorded three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — were released in May 2022 as a special DVD single along with Paul's video message to all fans who bought the single and thus helped raise funds for his knee operation.

The WARHORSE single marked Di'Anno's first music release after a seven-year hiatus due to severe health issues.

Di'Anno, who finally underwent his knee surgery in September 2022, played the first show since the operation on October 1, 2022 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany.

In May 2022, Di'Anno came face to face with MAIDEN bassist and founder Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia. Also in May 2022, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in the "Di'Anno: Iron Maiden's Lost Singer" documentary.

Photo credit: Marco Benjamin Alvarado (courtesy of Central Press for Conquest Music)

In a new interview with Classic Rock magazine, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine explained in more detail why the previously planned expanded version of METALLICA's 1982 demo tape, "No Life 'Til Leather" has yet to see the light of day.

"No Life 'Til Leather" was released as a limited-edition cassette for Record Store Day in April 2015, available exclusively in independent record stores. It featured artwork copies from drummer Lars Ulrich's own personal copy of the original demo, as well as his handwriting. At the time, METALLICA also promised that expanded editions of the demo, which had never before been commercially available, would arrive on CD, vinyl and in a collector's set.

The seven-song tape was recorded with the first lineup of the band that appeared live as METALLICA, including Ulrich, guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, lead guitarist Mustaine and bassist Ron McGovney. The original recordings were paid for by High Velocity record label owner Kenny Kane, with a view of making them available as an EP in 1982.

According to Mustaine, the expanded version of "No Life 'Til Leather" is unlikely to arrive anytime soon.

"I wrote all the music on 'Phantom Lord', all the music on 'Metal Militia', all the music on 'Jump In The Fire' and 'The Mechanix'," Mustaine told Classic Rock. "And I wrote the lyrics for 'Jump In The Fire' and 'The Mechanix'. So do the math: if I wrote the music and James wrote the lyrics, then the credit is 50 percent me, and 50 percent James. Well, that's not what went down when I left. James and Lars figured out that they were going to give Lars some percentage of the songs he didn't write anything on, and that happened on all four songs.

"This was a bone of contention for me going forward with METALLICA on anything because, you know, it just wasn't fair," Dave continued. "You guys got more money than God, why do you have to take my money?

"So James called me up," Mustaine added, "and he says, 'Hey, man, we want to release this 'No Life 'Til Leather' thing, and we want to get all this publishing stuff straight, and, you know, we really don't remember what went down. And I said, Well, that's good, because I do. I remember what went down, and I can help with that. And then the conversation took a turn. James goes, 'Well, that's not the way that we remember it'. And I went, Well, James, honestly, there's three ways to look at this: there's your way, my way, and the truth, which is some combination of the two. And that was the end of the conversation. He took offense to that, and we hung up, and I don't remember speaking to him since then."

Mustaine previously discussed the proposed expanded edition of "No Life 'Til Leather" during a November 2022 interview with Guitar.com. He said at the time: "Oddly enough, that was one of the last conversations I ever had with James Hetfield because we were talking about getting back together and doing a project. Something had come up about the publishing discrepancy that we have been arguing about for years and years and years, and I told James, 'I'll do it but we've got to get this stuff sorted out first'. And he said, 'Oh yeah, sure'. So I said, 'Now these two songs you and me split 50/50. Lars didn't write on this song — you know that. I don't know why you gave him percentages but I'm not. I'm not going to sign another deal that's gonna confirm that because I never agreed to that'. And James said, 'Well, Lars has a different recollection of that,' and I said that's fine; there's his side of the story, my side and the truth is somewhere. And that blew his mind, and we haven't talked since."

Mustaine added: "You know, I was trying to be really friendly with him; he told me that the last three projects they did bombed, and they wanted to go back and use all the stuff that I was on, and I said sure. As soon as I said that 'three stories' bit, it was over."

More than six years ago, Mustaine said that he didn't want to "perpetuate false information" by giving Ulrich songwriting credit on the previously announced expanded version of METALLICA's 1982 demo tape, "No Life 'Til Leather".

Mustaine discussed the proposed expanded edition of "No Life 'Til Leather" during a June 2018 interview with U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine. Saying that the last time he spoke to Hetfield was when the METALLICA guitarist/vocalist called him to talk about the "No Life 'Til Leather" re-release, Mustaine recalled: "He was trying to get me to give publishing over to Lars, despite James and I being the sole songwriters. Lars wanted a percentage and I just said no. I love James, he's a terrific guitar player, but yeah, I can't do that. The songs are already out there. I'm not going to release something just to have a product to sell — especially if they are perpetuating false information. Lars did not write the songs. It was just me and James. Period."

Ulrich told Metal Forces in 2016 that "some unexpected difficulties on the legal side… prevented the 'No Life 'Til Leather' box set and our vision for how we were going to kick this whole reissue series off. We spent some time doing that dance, but then James and I decided that it wasn't worth it getting bogged down in all the unpleasantries, because this was supposed to be a celebration and not end up being a tug of war, so we thought, 'You know what? Fuck it. We'll just move on to 'Kill 'Em All'," he said.

Ulrich did not want to get into the details of the exact issues that were preventing the demo tape from being released. "It's a little more complicated than that," he said. "There's no reason to go deeper into it. It was just something that we hadn't expected."

Back in November 2017, Mustaine tweeted that he was contacted by Hetfield two years earlier about "officially" releasing "No Life Till Leather" with "27 tracks, pics, the whole enchilada," but, he said, "the talks broke down because Lars wanted credit on two songs I wrote every note and word to. I have the texts. I passed."

When Ulrich spoke to Metal Forces in 2016, he made it clear that METALLICA was still hopeful that the expanded version "No Life 'Til Leather" would arrive at a later date. "As you know, I am the eternal optimist, and I am the eternal 'glass is well fucking half full,' so who knows?" he said. "I think some of those parties have circled back around now that they've seen that this is real and so we'll have to see. It would be great to share 'No Life 'Til Leather' in a year or two with our fans and with the people that care. We haven't shut the door on it."

"No Life 'Til Leather" was recorded on July 6, 1982 at Chateau East Studio in Tustin, California. All the songs on the tape later appeared on the band's 1983 debut album, "Kill 'Em All", including "Hit The Lights", "Motorbreath", "Jump In The Fire", "Seek And Destroy", "Metal Militia", "Phantom Lord" and "The Mechanix", which was renamed "The Four Horsemen" on the album.

"No Life 'Til Leather" track listing:

01. Hit The Lights
02. The Mechanix
03. Motorbreath
04. Seek & Destroy
05. Metal Militia
06. Jump In The Fire
07. Phantom Lord

"No Life 'Til Leather" recording lineup:

James Hetfield - lead vocals, rhythm guitar
Lars Ulrich - drums
Dave Mustaine - lead guitar
Ron McGovney - bass

Mustaine was a member of METALLICA for less than two years, from 1981 to 1983, before being dismissed and replaced by Kirk Hammett.

Mustaine was not inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame with METALLICA during the April 2009 ceremony at Cleveland, Ohio's Public Auditorium. Ulrich later explained to The Plain Dealer that Mustaine "never played on any METALLICA records. No disrespect to him. But there [were] half a dozen other people that were in the lineup in the early days. We thought... the fair thing to do would be to include anybody that played on a METALLICA record." He added: "Dave Mustaine was in the band for eleven months, predominantly in 1982... I'm not trying to play it down. I have nothing but respect and admiration for his accomplishments since."

The eminent Canadian prog-metal icon Devin Townsend has released "Hotter", a track from his Patreon-exclusive new ambient album "Seeker - Ban Khao Tao".

"Seeker - Ban Khao Tao" was recorded during Devin's recent travels across the other side of the world.

Devin comments: "Never been in a place that was in such unique harmony with itself. I could live there. Lots of wild dogs and unique societal pathways that need respecting, but I loved the place and I loved the people."

When Devin first launched his fan club on Patreon last November, he explained in a statement: "I've been curious about Patreon and the model for a long time. I appreciate the idea of an avenue where artists can connect directly with their audience without the interference of algorithms, ads or "content best practices".

He continues: "I guess amidst all this craziness in the world, it's really about connection. It's about being able to create with and for you, not for a faceless platform in hopes that it lands on the right ears by chance."

Devin's Patreon includes four levels of membership offering the same core access, designed simply for those who wish to pay more. Starting at $9.50 (USD) a month, fans can become a "DevHead", a "Stormbender", a "Physicist" or a "PlanetSmasher", dipping into the lore of his prolific catalogue. Each tier is decorated with one of Devin's customary hand-drawn cartoons.

Townsend announced an indefinite break from touring after staging his most ambitious live concert to date in March 2025. "The Moth" was a new work scored for full symphony orchestra and choir, performed with Noord Nederlands Orkest at De Oosterport in Groningen and simulcast worldwide. He has since teased an eponymous studio album for 2026.

True to polymathic form, among the exclusive content available to fans is the charming conceptual sci-fi series "The Ruby Quaker Show", in which Devin constructs a spaceship that is powered entirely by music. The show was entirely produced by Devin's team at his home multimedia studio in British Columbia.

In addition, Devin dropped a completely new track titled "Dad's Lament", a song he said "just didn't find a home for whatever reason" and exclaims to his subscribers "I enjoy having an avenue to share these sorts of thoughts that may otherwise fall through the cracks."

Fans will be well aware of Devin's ongoing ambient project called "Dreampeace", which he started with relaxation, wellness and improving sleep through music in mind. Devin has already uploaded several video clips of performances from his studio to the woodshed, even hinting that some of this work is inspired by a new audio device "The Seeker" he is working on.

Everything is approached with Devin's customary eccentricity, charm and candor that his fans fully embrace and understand. From community chat threads where fans uploaded their gig memories, celebrate other new music they love and even share their cute pet pics, it is already clear Devin has (as intended) found his tribe without the intermediary of a social media newsfeed algorithm.

Subscribe to Devin Townsend Patreon at Patreon.com.

British heavy metal legends SAXON have completed work on their 25th studio album for a tentative late 2026 release.

On Tuesday (January 27),SAXON frontman Biff Byford released a video message via social media in which he said: "We've finished the album now. [Longtime SAXON producer and JUDAS PRIEST touring guitarist] Andy Sneap's finished mixing the album, the new album. So, you're gonna be hearing about that over the summer, I'm sure."

Byford also offered an update on his fight against bowel cancer, saying: "I've got some new news on the operation. [It's been] six months now since my cancer operation, and I had a CT scan and everything is clear. So that's good news after the op, so there's nothing come back. So that's really good."

SAXON's upcoming LP will be the follow-up to "Hell, Fire And Damnation", which came out in January 2024 via Silver Lining Music.

Last July, Byford told Riff X's "Metal XS" about the progress of the songwriting sessions for SAXON's upcoming effort: " Well, we've started writing the next album. I'm doing lyrics now. And I've got a lot of ideas from [guitarist Doug Scarratt], [drummer] Nigel [Glockler] as well, and from Nibbs [bassist Tim Carter]. So, yeah, I've got quite a lot of ideas, which I'm compiling at home in my studio. So I think we're maybe looking — fingers crossed — we're looking at a new album in autumn next year, September/October."

In April 2025, Biff told Uruguay's The Dark Melody that he and his bandmates had "been writing" new music "for about six or seven weeks now, off and on. So yeah, we're coming in with some ideas and I've got some ideas for songs, for titles. And, yeah, it's coming along.

"It will be out next year, I think," he continued. "We're probably gonna start recording in November, when we finish touring. We'll probably go in and record the drums and bass and the basic guitars and some guide vocals then. So, yeah, we're pretty much on it. We're working towards the new album. It's going well."

Three months ago, Byford shared a video update in which he said he had completed the final round of chemotherapy in his fight against bowel cancer.

Although Biff released a video message in August 2025 in which he implied that he underwent an operation to remove "a small tumor" from his "prostate gland", he later clarified that he was actually diagnosed with bowel cancer, which is cancer that is found anywhere in the large bowel, including the colon and rectum. Byford was later treated with chemotherapy for "a short period", resulting in the cancelation of a couple of shows and the postponement of several others.

Earlier in 2025, SAXON announced the cancelation of 10 summer shows and festival appearances while Byford was recovering from the cancer surgery.

In August 2024, Biff underwent a "procedure" to treat atrial flutter, a type of heart rhythm abnormality, or arrhythmia, that causes the heart's upper chambers (atria) to beat too quickly.

In September 2019, Biff suffered a heart attack and underwent an emergency triple bypass surgery.

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" was produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering.

In early 2023, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by Brian Tatler.

Brian has been touring with Doug, Nigel, Nibbs and Biff since mid-2023, but continues to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

Byford and Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan will release his debut solo album, "Gargoyle Of The Garden State", on June 12 via earMUSIC. The LP was produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who previously worked on SKID ROW's 2022 album "The Gang's All Here", and it will feature guest appearances by Rachel's SKID ROW bandmates Dave "Snake" Sabo (guitar),Scotti Hill (guitar) and Rob Hammersmith (drums),along with Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR),Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME),Danko Jones, Steve Conte (NEW YORK DOLLS) and Damon Johnson (BROTHER CANE, LYNYRD SKYNYRD).

Bolan discussed "Gargoyle Of The Garden State" during a recent appearance on the "Rockstrap" podcast hosted by rock and roll comedian Don Jamieson and radio veteran /musician Keith Roth. Rachel said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It doesn't sound like SKID ROW. I'm doing most of the singing. I've got a few guests on there. Our buddy Steve Conte is singing a song. The first single Danko Jones is singing with me. And then there's another song that Corey Taylor sang. So there's that. Snake played a solo. Scotti played a solo. Damon Johnson played a bunch of solos. Nuno Bettencourt played a solo. Hammersmith played drums on the whole thing. It's a whole bunch of buds on there, and it's cool, man. I'm really happy with the way it turned out. Nick produced it. He produced the [last] SKID ROW record, and every worth-a-shit Active Rock band that's out there, he produced. He's so great to work with because he is such a fan of music."

He continued: "When we did my solo record, I played most of the guitars, most of the singing, all the bass. I didn't do drums and I didn't do some of the solos, so most of the solos. So it was a whole different dynamic that way [from making a SKID ROW album with Nick], because he was just talking to me. So it made it go a lot quicker. Stuff didn't have to clear the committee's vote and stuff and shit like that. So it was cool, man. And to see him excited about something that I wrote again, it was awesome, man. It was a really, really fun process.

Asked if he is "doing any covers" on his solo album, Rachel said: "[I'm] doing one. I'm not gonna tell you [what it is]… I did it just for the hell of it because I heard it on the radio and I was, like, 'Man, I didn't know that was them.' And so I was, like, 'It's a cool tune.' And I was, like, 'I'm gonna completely change this — not change the chord structure or lyrics or anything, but I'm gonna change the vibe of it.' So I did it, expecting the band never to be heard from again, and then they were. And I'm, like, 'Oh, okay.'"

Rachel went on to say that he was "getting ready to shoot the first video" for "Gargoyle Of The Garden State", with plans to release the LP's lead single in the coming months.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

HELD., the trio featuring Douglas Robinson and Sal Mignano of THE SLEEPING and Josh Eppard from COHEED AND CAMBRIA, will release its debut album, "Grey", on May 15 via MNRK Heavy.

An introduction to the band arrives with "New You Anthem" featuring MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE's Frank Iero on the powerful three-plus-minute anthem.

"I wrote the idea for this song in my room. I was motivated to write something anthemic, not for the sake of being purely anthemic but more or less therapeutic for people who feel down all of the time," vocalist/guitar player Douglas Robinson explains. "I feel this a lot in my life. It's a heavy vibe I have to push through more times than not. I wanted to write something that encapsulates the feeling of any kind of love as survival. I reference different points of love throughout the song: music, friendship, sound, belief in yourself, and the desire for others to believe in you. It's subtle but it's all there: 'if our infection is loving, then we're drinking up to the swell of the sun.' I wrote this as an ode to people who love all elements in their lives with so much passion. Even if you feel yourself beaten and broken down every single day."

Iero reflects on how interconnected he has been with the members of HELD.: "MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE played a few shows with THE SLEEPING on the East Coast way back in the day, and I have always been a fan of Douglas's voice and songwriting. Recently, when my friend Mike Dubin hit me up and said he was managing Douglas's new project with Josh from COHEED on drums, another mutual friend, and that they were wondering if I'd be interested in singing on a song, I immediately said yes. It's always a pleasure getting to work with new people; it opens doors and makes your brain work in different ways. Especially when those people are artists that you respect and are already a fan of. I'm flattered they wanted to have me on the record and I think the track turned out super rad. 'New You Anthem' is a great song, and our voices work together really well."

"Woodstock has long been a beacon for artists across all genres. The town, in its guts, is home to world class musicians and studios and has served as a sandbox of sorts for the three of us throughout our careers," Eppard adds, detailing how the trio, who have already been hailed by Alternative Press as one of the new bands to watch in 2026, first worked together. "It feels awfully serendipitous that our first time playing together was in that town, in a studio (Applehead studios) where we'd all crafted career-defining albums with our previous projects. Personally, I felt the hands of the universe at play when Michael Birnbaum (longtime COHEED/THE SLEEPING producer) called me and said 'Yo, Doug and Sal are coming through… wanna jam?' To be honest I've gotten quite a few of those kinds of calls over the years. This time, I said yes."

Produced and mixed by Jon Markson (DRUG CHURCH, THE STORY SO FAR),"Grey" was recorded at the Animal Farm in Flemington, New Jersey.

"Recording this record with Jon at the Animal Farm was really special," Mignano shares. "Jon is a creative monster. He was a perfect match for this band. The Animal Farm itself has an insanely good energy that makes it seamless and easy to create."

"Grey" track listing:

01. Defending The Earth
02. New You Anthem (ft. Frank Iero)
03. Constant Tension
04. Knifepoint (ft. High Vis)
05. Waves Of Fire
06. Grey
07. I And I Against You All
08. Through The Cracks
09. Broken Spacesuit (Decay And Sand)
10. Emptiness: A Side Effect

HELD. is Douglas Robinson (vocals/guitar),Sal Mignano (bass) and Josh Eppard (drums)

Photo credit: Nick Karp

In a new interview with Peter Kerr of Rock Daydream Nation, ROSE TATTOO frontman Gary "Angry" Anderson confirmed that the band, which formed in Sydney in 1976, will play its final live show at the end of this year. Asked if there are "mixed emotions" about taking one "final lap" with his band, The 78-year-old Angry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, yeah. Yeah. I thought I was fine. I thought when you preempt something or you have pre-knowledge, and I don't mean to be gloomy, but when you know someone — I've just lost someone rather dear to me, yet another person, to cancer just recently, and we knew she was terminally ill. And so we had this two years plus of leading up to it — constant treatment, talking about it, blah, blah, blah — but it didn't prepare me for the shock. And it reminded me of losing the other members of the band. We all knew, months in some cases, years ahead of time, that they were terminally ill, but when it actually happens… And that's just human nature. That's just what happens."

Angry continued: "Three years ago, when I first went to Scot Crawford, our manager, and said, 'Are you aware of the fact that the band is 50 years old in a few years?' two and a half years, whatever it might've been. And he went, 'Yeah, yeah, yeah.' And I said, 'Well, we'll do another album.' 'Cause the songwriting with this particular lineup, predominantly with Mick [Arnold], the slide player… And he's very prolific musically, and he comes up with the sort of music that appeals to me. It's very bluesy. It's quite modern technique, but it's very bluesy. It's very chordy, [with] some beautiful, beautiful nuances and some beautiful riffs and chord progressions, et cetera. So [I'm] quite happy and very excited about that. As far as we know, it'll be our last album."

Anderson added: "The end of the year, when I wake up on the morning, the first morning of '27, I'll wake up and the band will be gone.

"I was home by myself [this past] New Year's Eve, and I thought, 'I'm gonna drink some beer and bourbon and smoke a cigar and go to bed a happy man.' And foolishly I started… I'd had a couple of drinks and I was making something for myself to eat and I started listening to some of the new songs. And that's when it just came down on me like a fog. And, of course, I'd had three or four shots of bourbon by this… And I certainly wasn't pissed by that stage, but you get that nice buzz thing going on when it first comes on… And the new songs reminded me so much of the old songs, and when you hear them, you'll know what I'm saying, but in a different way altogether, really. But, yeah, I just sat there and I just thought, like, 'Wow.' Because by this time, midnight had come, and I just thought, well, [in] a year, I'll be sitting there possibly…' Well, I'll be with the band, 'cause we'll play on the New Year's Eve into the New Year's morning of the first morning of '27, because that's how the band started. We took our first gig from the New Year's Eve gig at the Chequers nightclub here in Sydney. And I thought, I'll wake up to a new year and I'll be bandless."

ROSE TATTOO's 2026 tour will showcase the current lineup of Angry Anderson (vocals),Paul DeMarco (drums),Steve King (bass),Mick Arnold (guitar) and Ronnie Simmons (guitar).

ROSE TATTOO has released a total of eight studio albums: "Rose Tattoo" (1978),"Assault & Battery" (1981),"Scarred For Life" (1982),"Southern Stars" (1984),"Beats From A Single Drum" (1986),"Pain" (2002),"Blood Brothers" (2007) and "Outlaws" (2020).

Six former ROSE TATTOO members have died in recent years, including four of the original recording lineup: Dallas Royall (1991),Peter Wells (2006),Ian Rilen (2006),Mick Cocks (2009) and Lobby Loyde (2007),who was a member between October 1979 and September 1980, and Neil Smith (2013),who played bass temporarily prior to Loyde.

In a new interview with Argentina's Rocktambulos, DARK TRANQUILLITY and THE HALO EFECT frontman Mikael Stanne once again spoke about the recent passing of AT THE GATES vocalist Tomas "Tompa" Lindberg. Regarding what Lindberg meant to the metal scene in Gothenburg, Sweden, Stanne said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Tompa's importance to the metal scene in Gothenburg and in Sweden in general cannot be overstated. He was, without doubt, the most important character in our city and where we grew up. He was my closest neighbor growing up, so that he taught me everything about music and the underground scene and tape trading and all those things. I met him when I went with a friend to see them rehearse with GROTESQUE, with this black metal band before AT THE GATES. And it was the most insane thing I've ever seen. And we've been we've friends ever since. So he was really just an inspiration to me, just because of his kind of vast knowledge and passion for the underground scene. And he knew everything. He's one of those guys who just absorbs information and knows everything about every fucking album that has been released. He was in contact with all the musicians from all the bands that I loved, and we connected — us and himself — to everyone."

Mikael continued: "It's been incredibly difficult knowing that he's been really sick. And we had so many plans and we had so many things that we talked about doing and shows we wanted to go to, and festivals we would travel to, and other things. Now that he's gone, I feel kind of like weird, because I wouldn't be a singer if it wasn't for him. There would be no DARK TRANQUILLITY without him, there would be no IN FLAMES, there would be no nothing without him. So, we all owe him everything, basically. He was kind of the hub for a lot of… That's how I met a lot of my friends, was through him, because he was kind of the hub that kept everybody together."

Last November, Stanne told Luisina Reynoso of Argentina's Cuero Y Metal about Lindberg: "We kind of grew up in the same part of town; he was a very close neighbor to me. And he was two years older, and he had a lot of experience. He started in the metal scene early. He had a fanzine. He had a band when he was 15. And he was just such a dedicated and passionate music fan, and it was really contagious. The way that he spoke about music and the way that he thought about music and kind of lived through music was infectious. Everybody around him kind of started to feel the same way, and he loved to kind of spread the music that he loved. So we spent a lot of time just at home in his room listening to demos and cassettes and live tapes and things that he got through his fanzine or that he would collect or buy from all over the world. And I was a collector as well, and we bonded over that."

Stanne continued: "He had GROTESQUE, his first band, and it was this insane black metal band. And I went to see them all the time. And I couldn't believe it because he was such a nice, gentle, very courteous and well-mannered, soft-spoken guy, but on stage he was an absolute beast. And it was pentagrams and inverted crosses and blood and skulls and shit, and it was the coolest thing in the world. And I was 15, 16, as I went to these shows, and it was the coolest thing in the world. And, of course, once AT THE GATES started, that inspired us a lot, but I think in general he was kind of the hub that we all gathered around. The metal community was small but very, very passionate at the time."

Stanne added: "There was this bus line that went from the suburb where we lived to the city, and me and Tompa got on the first stop, then the next stop was Anders Fridén and the other guys from DARK TRANQUILLITY. Two more stops and there was the guys from TIAMAT and Peter Iwers from IN FLAMES. And two more stops was Anders and Jonas [Björler] from AT THE GATES. And then we were in town. And then we would sit in a park with a tape recorder and listen to music and drink beer, basically. That's how we grew up and how we all became friends and how this scene kind of started and how the Gothenburg metal scene started to come alive. And he was the kind of hub that brought people together because his passion and his kind of serious… He took it very seriously. This music should be serious, even though it was all about very random stuff, like anything from grisly death metal, like AUTOPSY or political punk or whatever, he was into it and he took it seriously. And so did we, because of him. And he started working at the local record store and he would always recommend stuff. And then I started working there as well. And it was just one of those things that he inspired and encouraged. And, of course, we always went to their rehearsal room, and then we had rehearsal rooms next to each other for years, so we were hanging out in each other's rooms and talk about music, listen to whatever new songs, they were cooking and while we were writing. And it was the same for all the bands in Gothenburg. And then, of course, the way that he was on stage and the way he sang was also for me, as a wannabe singer at the time, that's everything I wanted. Even though at the time it was just black metal, but it was deadly serious, and it was incredible to see how into it he was, and that inspired me to become a vocalist as well. And then, of course, in the last 20 years or so, it's been something else. We've just been friends going to shows together and going out to drink together and hanging out, but he's always been an incredibly important part of the Swedish metal scene, because he everybody knows him and he knows everybody. It's that simple."

Referencing the fact that Tomas died after being diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC),a rare, slow-growing but aggressive cancer that typically develops in the salivary glands, particularly the minor salivary glands of the head and neck, Mikael said: "Of course I've known that he was sick for years, or a year and a half, and so it's been really difficult to kind of live with that and knowing that the worst might happen. But we always kind of remained very hopeful and positive up until the end. So, yeah, it's been really difficult, but, fortunately, all of his friends are also my friends, of course. And so it's been a good community to kind of talk to and hang out with them. We have a lot of kind of gatherings planned that we can just sit and talk about him and kind of remember the good stuff."

Stanne previously spoke about Lindberg last September in an interview with Chile's PowerOfMetal.cl. Mikael said at the time: "I met [Tomas] when I was 14. I went with a friend to their rehearsal room in the basement of Kristian Wåhlin, [also known as] Necrolord, who's the cover painter for [DARK TRANQUILLITY's] 'The Gallery' [album], for instance. And they were rehearsing with GROTESQUE that later became [AT THE GATES], or before [they formed] AT THE GATES. And it blew me away. I saw a band that played music live in a basement. And I'd never seen that before. And it was crazy, insane black metal stuff. And I was so inspired by it and kind of awestruck by it. And so we started hanging out, and Tomas showed me tons of music that he had found through his fanzine and through his kind of tape-trading and record collecting. And yeah, we became instant friends, and [we'd been friends] since then."

Mikael continued: "More than anything, I think Tompa really inspired the scene, because he was kind of that central figure for everything that kind of went on in Gothenburg at the time. He was so passionate about it, and he was so into it, and he knew every band, and he knew about everything that was going on in the scene. So, if you needed anything, if you had any questions or you wanted to know something, or you wanted to kind of be inspired, you just go to him. And he was always there. So without him, there would be no Gothenburg death metal scene; that's just a fact. [With] his kind of integrity, he took this music very incredibly serious. And when I kind of discovered extreme metal through bands like KREATOR and CANNIBAL CORPSE, whatever it was, I was kind of, like, 'I don't know what this is. I love it, but I don't know if it's serious or not.' But he showed me that, 'No. Come on. This is serious.' There are some bands that take this very seriously, and there are lyrics that matter. It's not just horror movie stuff. And so when I started writing, I wanted it to matter and be serious and with serious issues or problems or what have you. And it's because of how he showed me what music could and should be. So, yeah, without him there would be no [Gothenburg] death metal scene. So we're eternally grateful. And I miss him like crazy."

Speaking about Tomas's death, Mikael said: "It's been a horrible two years knowing that he was struggling and kind of battling this disease. And everybody thought, of course, 'Yeah, it's gonna be fine. [He's] gonna power through [it].' But a couple months ago we realized that it's worse than we thought. And now this happened. And, yeah, it's devastating."

Lindberg received the diagnosis in December 2023, which led to a major surgery that removed a large portion of the roof of his mouth. He had also undergone radiation treatment and had been on a path to recovery, but then doctors found traces of the cancer in early 2025. In May 2025, an undisclosed "setback" placed Tomas in long-term care.

AT THE GATES released its definitive album, "Slaughter Of The Soul" — often regarded as one of the all-time greatest metal albums — on Earache in 1995, before touring the world and abruptly disbanding. Members of the band went on to play major roles in other notorious metal acts such as THE HAUNTED and CRADLE OF FILTH, before reforming in 2008, with Lindberg juggling his day job as a teacher with being a death metal frontman.

AT THE GATES' latest studio album, "The Nightmare Of Being", came out in 2021.

Lindberg revealed in a statement in early 2025 that AT THE GATES recorded a new album before he underwent mouth surgery.

"The last version of the vocals, the ones that will end up on the album, were recorded in ONE day, mostly one takes, the DAY before the surgery, just to make sure we HAD the album, so to speak," the statement said. "So the vocals were actually recorded BEFORE the rest of the album.... a bit different, but it felt good to have it done."

In a new interview with Italy's Almarok, legendary extreme metal drummer Nick Barker (LOCK UP, BRUJERIA, DIMMU BORGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH) once again opened up about some of his recent health challenges. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, as many of you probably know, I went through kidney failure. I'm stage five chronic kidney disease, which means my kidneys have totally failed and I have to have dialysis four times a week for four hours each time. And this is basically what is keeping me alive right now. I'm on the transplant list, so I hope to get a new kidney sometime later this year. And this means that I cannot tour or make music or travel, because of my dialysis schedule. So, I have a GoFundMe page, which helps me, basically because I cannot earn any money because I can't work anymore. So, it's for fans to donate anything if they feel like it. And I appreciate all the help from everyone, and I hope to be back playing the drums very, very soon."

Last October, Barker told "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of the Pod Scum podcast that he was "experiencing renal failure… And that's pretty much consumed my life," he said. "I've gone from one extreme to the other, whereas before the renal failure, I was [on tour] in a different place every week. Today I could be in New York; next week I could be in Sydney, and then the week after that, I'm in Amsterdam, I'm in London. Because of what I'm going through personally, it's made me appreciate it more now it's gone. Now I don't have it, I really do appreciate it. And I realize how much I took it for granted."

Elaborating on his medical condition, Barker said at the time: "Well, I'm dealing with stage five chronic kidney failure right now, which is full renal failure. I've been on dialysis, hemodialysis since January '23. I've been approved by the transplant list here in Vancouver. I did all the pre-assessments, passed all the assessment tests. They said, 'Yep, you're totally fine. You've just gotta drop some of those lbs. So I've got about 20, 30 pounds to lose before they can operate on me."

According to Barker, the operation will involve him getting "a new kidney", explaining that "they don't give you two [kidneys] now. What they do is they make an incision and they basically implant the live kidney on one of your dead kidneys."

Regarding a timeline as to when something like that will take place, Nick said: "I'm on a waiting list. I could get a phone call after I speak to you, or it could be next year. It's really just a waiting game. To not sound so crass, I've just gotta wait for somebody to die."

Asked if he is still able to create and be involved in music at all on any level right now, Nick said: "Yeah, I am. I still play the drums, but not very often. See with me, I need somebody to jam with to be inspired. I can play do playthroughs all day, but they're not really challenging. But if I'm there with a guitarist and he's throwing riffs at me, I get really creative that way. But playing on my own, I'll be honest with you, I get bored after 20 minutes."

The 52-year-old Barker started playing drums at the age of 13 years old, but his professional career began back in 1993 at age 20 when he joined U.K. black metal icons CRADLE OF FILTH. After four albums and numerous world tours that followed, Nick went on to join the ranks of Norwegian black metal rivals DIMMU BORGIR in 1999 and went on to enjoy even greater commercial success with them up until 2004.

Nick has also been a busy session player in both live and studio environments, lending his skills to the likes of such heavyweight metal acts as TESTAMENT, OLD MAN'S CHILD, EXODUS, BRUJERIA, GORGOROTH, GOD SEED, ANAAL NATHRAKH and BENEDICTION, to name a few.

Barker previously discussed his health challenges in January 2025 in an interview with Earth House. He said at the time:  "I went from traveling the world every month to being stuck at home. And it took about six months to come to terms of it 'cause I felt like I was in prison.

"We picked up [touring] after COVID, and then I started to get sick," the British-born musician continued. "I ended up in hospital on a U.S. tour. 10 days in ICU in North Carolina. Yeah, it was pretty bad. The bill came to 98 grand. Well, I didn't pay. They've got a thing now in the States where if you're a non-citizen and you've got no insurance, you pay a waiver fee and you fill out the form, a waiver, and they just treat you. But they did show me, 'This is how much your treatment costs.'"

Barker went on to say that he really misses "not being able to travel or tour. When it's been pretty much what you do your entire adult life and then all of a sudden, it just stops suddenly, it's a bit of a headfuck," he explained.

Reflecting on another health scare that happened while he was on tour, Nick said: "We were on a heavy metal cruise from Florida to Nassau, Bahamas. And during the gig I had a panic attack. And the paramedics were there. I was, like, 'I need oxygen. I can't breathe.' They were, like, 'A thousand dollars.' And they were literally standing over me, watching me [gasping for breath]."

Asked if he ended up paying, Nick said: "No, I didn't. I said, 'Fuck you.' I kicked the emergency doors open and did a Titanic special. [Laughs]"

Einar Solberg of LEPROUS has announced his second solo album, "Vox Occulta", due for release on April 24, 2026. A bold, heavy and symphonic statement, the LP was recorded in collaboration with the much-sought-after Norwegian Radio Orchestra.

To celebrate the announcement, Einar has launched the second track from the album, titled "Medulla", and you can watch the video — directed by Leo Liberti — below.

Einar comments: "'Medulla' started with a riff. I had just picked up an eight-string plugin, and it immediately led me to that main idea. As soon as it came together, I knew it had weight. It felt physical — like something you feel in your bones rather than just hear. That's where the idea of marrow came in.

"The song is about the part of me that stayed strong through everything I've been through. No matter what happened around it, the core held.

"There's no full orchestra on this track, but it still has a cinematic edge. Chris Baum added real strings, and Keli, Pierre Danel and Jed Lingat bring the song to life on drums, guitar, and bass."

As well as the beautiful orchestration, Einar is joined by drummer Keli Guðjónsson (AGENT FRESCO),violinist Chris Baum (BENT KNEE),guitarist Pierre Danel (NOVELISTS) and bassist Jed Lingat, as well as guitarists Ben Levin (ex-BENT KNEE) and John Browne (MONUMENTS). The album was mixed by Adam Noble (NOTHING BUT THIEVES, BIFFY CLYRO) and co-produced with David Castillo.

"Vox Occulta" sees Solberg taking a deeply personal approach, having been an avid fan of classical music and soundtracks for more than 20 years. The lyrics are personal as well, and they make "Vox Occulta" something of a thematic follow-up to "16". Where Solberg's solo debut revisited the death of his father and his past struggles with anxiety, this set is a wartsand-all portrait of himself and how he views the world in 2026.

"Vox Occulta" will be released as a limited CD digipak, gatefold white/black 2LP and a very limited gatefold transparent red 2LP, as well as digitally.

The first live dates in support of his upcoming second solo album have also been announced, and 2026 will see him playing the following headline dates across Europe:

Sep. 18 - UK London, The Garage
Sep. 19 - FR Paris, Café de la Danse
Sep. 20 - FR Toulouse, Le Rex
Sep. 21 - FR Biarritz, La Rhapsodie
Sep. 22 - PT Porto, Mouco
Sep. 23 - PT Lisbon, Republica da Musica
Sep. 25-26 - ES Barcelona, Be Prog! My Friend
Sep. 26 - FR Grenoble, L'amperage
Sep. 29 - PL Krakow, Hype Park
Sep. 30 - DE Berlin, Lido
Oct. 01 - DE Neunkirchen, Gebläsehalle
Oct. 02 - CH Baden, Werkk Kulturlokal

Einar kicked off his solo career in 2023 with the release of "16", an album of wildly diverse collaborations, that also saw him playing his first-ever solo live shows, performing at the likes of Prognosis Festival, Euroblast, Hellfest and Rock Imperium, alongside a hugely talented live band.

California rock veterans PAPA ROACH have released a powerful new single, "Wake Up Calling", via New Noize Records/ADA. The track, following in the footsteps of "Scars" and "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" , shows the more melodic, emotionally vulnerable side of their songwriting, but still retains the intensity and honesty that have defined their career for over two decades.

"Wake Up Calling" debuted at a surprise performance in Nashville to an audience of artists and industry-folk at the Whiskey Jam on Broadway last week. It was produced by Colin Brittain (LINKIN PARK, ALL TIME LOW, A DAY TO REMEMBER) and explores themes of connection, self-reckoning, and emotional dependence.

PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix commented: "'Wake Up Calling' is a song about standing on the edge of disaster — being pulled back from the brink, and ultimately choosing love over self-destruction. It's one of the most raw, emotional songs we've written."

The release is accompanied by a lyric video, which can be seen below, and follows PAPA ROACH's successes of 2025 with "Even If It Kills Me" and "Braindead" (featuring Toby Morse),and career–best touring results, performing to over one million fans on the band's "Rise Of The Roach" tour.

Always philanthropic, PAPA ROACH presented Campaign Against Living Miserably with a £20,000 cheque at their sold-out headline show at Wembley Arena from funds raised during their U.K. tour last year.

Welcoming 2026, PAPA ROACH has already announced dates in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as shows in Europe.

Last August, PAPA ROACH released the official music video for "Braindead", featuring Toby Morse, frontman of H2O. The clip was directed by Jesse Davey and Ed Shiers and produced by Joanna DeLane of Proper Pictures.

In July 2025, PAPA ROACH released a music video for an acoustic version of "Even If It Kills Me". The original single reached No. 1 at U.S. Rock Radio, marking PAPA ROACH's 13th appearance at the top of the charts.

In March 2025, PAPA ROACH released a "reimagined" version of "Even If It Kills Me". The band and Joshua Landry again produced the track. "Even If It Kills Me (Reimagined)" was a fresh take on its heavier counterpart, showcasing the hit song in a new light, with a melodic arrangement and signature vocals delivered by Shaddix.

PAPA ROACH are two-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling leaders in alternative hard rock music. PAPA ROACH are not unfamiliar with calling attention to mental health and have been doing so since the seminal release of their first hit single "Last Resort". Since then, the band has gone on to create 10 studio albums, including "Ego Trip".

Photo credit: Travis Shinn