Devil Master reveal their mesmeric new single, “The Vigour Of Evil” – an intricate, alluring mix of black metal, death rock and Japanese-style hardcore. Their expansive new album Ecstasies of Never Ending Night is a definitive arrival for the Philadelphia band whilst witnessing them at their core – their roots in ritual magick have never been more prominent.


Recorded live to analog tape by Pete DeBoer (Blood Incantation, Spectral Voice), Ecstasies expands on the warped riffing and dark atmospheres that have already propelled Devil Master as one of the underground’s most unique and unfettered bands.







The path from Devil Master’s lauded 2019 debut, Satan Spits On Children Of Light, to Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night was long and winding. Beyond the many challenges presented by the pandemic, the band experienced a mutual parting of ways with half of their previous lineup. In the aftermath, vocalist Disembody Through Unparalleled Pleasure also assumed the role of bassist, strengthening the core songwriting trio alongside Darkest Prince and rhythm guitarist Infernal Moonlight Apparition. Fresh blood was required and found in drummer/keyboardist Festering Terror in Deepest Catacomb (a.k.a. Chris Ulsh of Power Trip and Iron Age).


As Darkest Prince points out, Ecstasies is a step above and beyond its predecessor. “This album is more mature and self-confident,” he says. “It’s moving past childish Satanism towards a more mature dark spirituality. This one is not relying on stereotypical tropes. It’s a real magickal experience.”


In many ways, Ecstasies is meant to mirror Satan Spits On Children Of Light. “This and the last album are mirrored opposites, right down to the titles,” Darkest Prince points out. “There’s even an instrumental in the middle of the album, like last time. I believe in balance, so there’s a spiritual aspect to it. And it just feels good.”


From the band’s monumental “Acid Black Mass” to the spiraling death rock of “Abyss In Vision” and the layers of refined atmosphere on the closer “Never Ending Night”, Darkest Prince shines across a collection of fiery, tumultuous riffs - Lyrically, vocalist Disembody Through Unparalleled Pleasure laces Ecstasies with life-affirming blasphemy and existential dread.


Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night proves to be a crucial addition to the pantheon of evil satanic metal. In the end, magick reigns!


Ecstasies Of Never Ending Night is out April 29 via Relapse Records. Pre-order here.


Album artwork by Burney.





Tracklisting:


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


"Acid Black Mass" video:





(Photo - Cecil Shang Whaley)

Helloween have released the video below, stating: "Together we'll fly someday SOON! The United Forces tour 2022/23 is kicking off in Europe in May - don't miss out and get your tickets now! To get you in the mood here's a classic from our "United Alive (In Madrid) live album and DVD/Blu-ray. Enjoy! And see you on tour!"





Find Helloween's tour itinerary and ticket links here.

Ted Nugent has condemned Will Smith for walking onto the stage at the Oscars Sunday evening and slapped Chris Rock during the live broadcast.

Smith, 53, interrupted the 57-year-old comedian's introduction of "Best Documentary" with a slap across the face. The altercation came after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith, saying, "Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can't wait to see ya," an apparent reference to the actress's bald hairstyle as she lives with the autoimmune disorder alopecia, which attacks follicles resulting in bald spots and hair loss.

Pinkett Smith could be seen rolling her eyes, before the camera cut back to Rock, while Will Smith initially laughed from his seat. Shortly after, however, Smith's mood changed as he walked up to Rock and struck him across the face with an open hand.

"Oh wow," Rock said as Smith made his way back to his seat.

"Will Smith just smacked the shit out of me," the host said.

"Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!" Smith yelled up to the stage at Rock after taking his seat again.

"Wow, dude, it was a G.I. Jane joke," said Rock — to which Smith replied once again, "Keep my wife's name out your fucking mouth!"

Later in the night, Smith won the "Best Actor" award for his starring role in "King Richard". He addressed incident in his acceptance speech by apologizing to the Academy and his fellow actors for the altercation but failing to mention Rock by name.

"I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees," Smith said in part.

He added: "Art imitates life: I look like the crazy father. Just like they said about Richard Williams. But love will make you do crazy things."

Nugent weighed in on the incident during today's (Monday, March 28) edition of "The Nightly Nuge", a news-style clip in which Ted offers his take on the news of our world every night. He aid (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Number one, black-on-black crime is quite visible [laughs] — it's everywhere you go, even at the Oscars. We got broadcast globally black-on-black crime.

"Okay, there's a number of dynamics that I would like to address," he continued. "Number one, Chris Rock has had some brilliant moments where he's identified the failure of his culture to respond adequately and properly when pulled over by the police and how to not get killed. So we applaud Chris Rock on those rare moments where logic surfaced in his life.

"With all due respect, I got to hang out at the Comedy Store with Richard Pryor, Rodney Dangerfield, Sam Kinison [and] Robin Williams, so I know that humor is supposed to be irreverent and outrageous. So Chris Rock's whole career is based on outrageous and irreverent. Certainly Will Smith knows that. And there's another time in our culture where if you were disrespectful to my woman that I should be able to coldcock you flat out in the street. Now, I have been attacked, my family, my mother, my wife, my children have been attacked publicly because I 'murder innocent animals,' which I suspect would be considered barbecue in conscientious families' lives. And you know what I do? Because I've been armed since I'm 17, and I trained with the greatest warriors of all time, and when people spit at me, when they attack the honor of my family members, you know what I do? I back away and leave. Because unless there's actual life-threatening conditions, I will not engage.

"So there's a two-edged sword here," Ted added. "Number one, I'm a huge fan of Will Smith and I'm a huge fan of Chris Rock in many ways, when I want a good guffaw or I wanna see a super action actor in a brilliant role, which Will Smith seems to have dominated over the years. But to go ahead and drop your sense of social norms in the clusterbuck [sic] of 2020 and to walk up onstage for the whole world to see and slap Chris Rock… Will, prioritize. That's not the hill you want to climb right now.

"So, there's all kinds of dynamics, but I thank Will and I thank Chris Rock, because society needs to see that there's an element of our society, most profoundly exposed in the Hollywood world, where your and my rules of engagement don't apply. Because let's go ahead and admit it right now: you and I would have been arrested. If Will Smith would have been a white guy hitting Chris Rock, he would have probably been taken out in handcuffs. But I'm glad that the whole world got to see it.

"But those days of defending the honor of our loved ones, in all practicality, those days are over," Ted said. "Because if you defend the honor of your wife in such a violent manner, you're supposed to go to jail; you're supposed to be charged with assault and battery. That was assault and battery under any jurisdictional definition.

"So it's good that the spoiled brat Hollywood people have so disconnected themselves from the rules of engagement for the rest of society that it's great we got to see it.

"Now my final statement is, as I say we finally get to see it, guess what? Almost nobody saw it, because the Oscars are so stupid and the people involved are so disconnected from society that mom-and-pop America don't watch 'em anymore because pretty much everything about Hollywood is offensive and against the traditional family values that made America great while they condemn those of us that purchase their products. And it's become so laughable.

"So there's a number of dynamics. Number one, I'm glad it happened. Number [two], I didn't see it. Number [three], I'm glad that my friends have shared that with me. But let the world know the emperor has no clothes, and he's a wart-riddled fat pig."

Rock declined to file a police report in connection with the assault, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

"LAPD investigative entities are aware of an incident between two individuals during the Academy Awards program," the LAPD said in a statement, obtained by Variety. "The incident involved one individual slapping another. The individual involved has declined to file a police report.

"If the involved party desires a police report at a later date, LAPD will be available to complete an investigative report," the statement continued.

Earlier today, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences condemned Smith for slapping Rock during the Oscars broadcast, saying that it's reviewing the matter.

"The Academy condemns the actions of Mr. Smith at last night's show," the Academy said in a statement.

"We have officially started a formal review around the incident and will explore further action and consequences in accordance with our bylaws, standards of conduct and California law."






Full video: Will Smith's wife appeared upset after Chris Rock called her "G.I. Jane 2" at the Oscars. Jada Smith suffers from a condition which causes hair loss pic.twitter.com/EChVHrRvjz

— BNO News (@BNONews) March 28, 2022

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill says that "it would be great" if his band finally got inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year.

PRIEST was previously on the ballot for Rock Hall induction in 2020, but failed to receive enough votes to make that year's class.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was also on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

On February 2, it was announced that JUDAS PRIEST is among the nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's class of 2022. Inductees will be announced in May. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 induction ceremony will take place this fall. The date, venue, and on-sale information will be announced later.

Asked by WTOP entertainment reporter Jason Fraley if he thinks 2022 will finally be the year PRIEST gets inducted, Hill said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It could be, yeah. It's one of those things — it's something that we haven't really thought about. It'll be nice. When you're recognized by your peers, it's always an honor. But it's not something that you lose sleep over necessarily if it doesn't happen. It would be great if it happened, but the people you really need to keep happy are your fans, without whom none of us would be here anyway."

Once again, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has named the individual bandmembers that will enter should their group get inducted.

For JUDAS PRIEST, they picked current members Hill, Rob Halford (vocals), Glenn Tipton (guitar) and Scott Travis (drums), along with former members K.K. Downing (guitar), Les Binks (drums) and late drummer Dave Holland.

Back in October 2020, Halford said that the heavy metal genre "hasn't been respected enough" by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Asked in an interview with Word In Your Ear if he was "bothered" by the fact that PRIEST hasn't been inducted into the Rock Hall yet, Halford said: "Well, let's put it this way. You have all of these institutions here in America — you've got the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for music; you've got the Basketball Hall Of Fame; you've got the Baseball Hall Of Fame; Football — you've got all of these places where, I think essentially, it's just a really nice, cool recognition of what you've done, the work that you've done and the things that you've achieved, the place that you've been put at, and so on and so forth.

"So, am I bothered if we ever get in? Not really. But I think we do deserve to be in there. Because I look at the list of people that are in there, and I feel that we have a place. And it would not only be for JUDAS PRIEST — it would be for British music, particularly British heavy metal music, and that's a beautiful achievement. [BLACK] SABBATH are in there, which is great. But I've always said that as far as what the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame represents, the genre of heavy metal music hasn't really been looked after enough and respected enough.

"So, I'd like to feel that eventually we will get in."

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

The Rock Hall didn't induct BLACK SABBATH until 2006, and METALLICA followed three years later.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until 2016.

After the 2020 Rock Hall inductees were announced in January of that year, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner said that it made no sense that DEPECHE MODE, Whitney Houston, NINE INCH NAILS and Biggie Smalls were going into the Rock Hall before PRIEST. "Hence why the Rock Hall holds no credibility for me and never has," he tweeted.

Last month, Hill and Halford told Billboard that they would be happy to stand alongside Downing at a hypothetical Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year. "It's not a problem to us, no," Hill said. "Ken was an integral part of this band for a very, very long time. He deserves to be there along with the rest of us." Halford predicted that, "It won't be as awkward as Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss with KISS's Rock Hall induction]. I don't think it'll be awkward at all. I think you have to let all of that go because it's the night that matters. It's the moment that matters — but, again, the proverbial saying, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

Downing previously told Rockin' Metal Revival that there is a very good chance that he would perform with his former bandmates again if PRIEST gets the nod. "Oh, I think absolutely," he said. "I mean, why wouldn't you, really? It's a special thing. We're all of an age now. These opportunities only come once in a lifetime. And it seemingly takes a lifetime to get into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I've always said, there's no such thing as a young legend, right? [Laughs] So, while we're still here, it would be great to receive that accolade and put on a great performance and put that one to bed."

A month before the start of PRIEST's tour in support of its latest album, "Firepower", Tipton bowed out due to the worsening of his Parkinson's disease, first diagnosed eight years ago (after being stricken by the degenerative condition at least half a decade earlier). His spot in the band is being filled by "Firepower" album producer Andy Sneap.

HEART's Ann Wilson has praised Dolly Parton for offering to take herself out of the running for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's 2022 class of inductees.

Earlier in the month, the 76-year-old country music legend asked the Hall to withdraw her name from the 2022 ballot, saying "I don't feel that I have earned the right. I really do not want votes to be split because of me, so I must respectfully bow out."

Parton is one of 17 artists nominated for the Rock Hall class of 2022, along with Eminem, Lionel Richie, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, JUDAS PRIEST and Beck, among others.

Ballots are cast by an international voting body of more than 1,000 artists — including previous inductees — historians, music industry members and critics. Factors considered by voters consider include "an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique," according to a statement issued by the Hall.

Wilson, who was inducted into the Rock Hall in 2013 as a member of HEART, was asked about Parton's offer to bow out of the highly esteemed honor during an interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast". She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I thought that her response was beautiful. She doesn't need to freeload on another genre. She's totally cool for doing that, as far as I'm concerned.

"The Rock Hall is becoming less and less about rock," Ann continued. "And I just thought that her response was perfect. And she maybe has always talked about making a rock and roll album, but I don't know. She is country; she's one hundred percent through and through country. That's what so cool about her. She's just one of a kind."

Two weeks ago, Ann's sister and HEART bandmate Nancy Wilson also praised Parton, telling the 95.5 KLOS radio station about Dolly's offer to take herself out of the running for the Rock Hall: "How classy… It's really cool for her to step down like that, because the category is so broad. Like, Dionne Warwick is not a rock performer, and a lot of them are not, and they should make different categories under the bigger Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame moniker. They should have a Country Hall Of Fame and a Pop Hall Of Fame and a Rap Hall Of Fame and a Rock Hall Of Fame. I think that would be really smart, if they started to do that. 'Cause I've gotta vote for it, like, tomorrow."

Nancy, whose band was inducted into the Rock Hall by fellow Seattle native Chris Cornell of SOUNDGARDEN, continued: "It's really tough because Lionel Richie is in there. If you try to narrow it to what really is rock, it excludes too many others. So I think she's really a class act to have done that. It makes me wanna write a rock record with her… I should give her a call. She can do anything. She's written some of the best songs in our history. She can do it."

On March 17, the organizers of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame declined Dolly's request to pull her nomination, in part because voting is already well underway. That same day, during an interview on "Fox & Friends", Parton doubled down on her discomfort with being included in the Hall's pantheon.

"Well, I didn't feel exactly right about that because my perception, and I think the perception of most of America, I just feel like that’s more for the people in rock music," she said. "I've been educated since then, saying that it’s more than that, but I still didn't feel right about it. It kind of would be like putting AC/DC in the Country Music Hall Of Fame. That just felt a little out of place for me."

To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1996 or earlier.

Inductees will be announced in May. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2022 induction ceremony will take place this fall. The date, venue, and on-sale information will be announced later.

The 2022 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nominees were announced last month, with Dolly appearing on the ballot for the first time.

Parton told Billboard last month that she never thought of herself as a rock 'n' roller "in any sense of the word, but I guess they judge it on the music and the influence certain songs have had, and I guess I've had songs with other people in that realm," she said: "I'm not expecting that I'll get in. But if I do, I'll immediately, next year, have to put out a great rock and roll album — which I've wanted to do for years, like a Linda Ronstadt or HEART kind of thing."

Parton was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 1986, the Country Music Hall Of Fame in 1999 and the national Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2001.

During a brand new appearance on "The Adam Carolla Show", KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons discussed some of his fellow popular musicians who are not appreciative of their success and position. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's not fair to point a finger, because everybody's got their own dynamics with life and living experiences. But anybody who is lucky enough, on the face of a planet of seven and a half billion people, to have more money than you could ever spend in your life, have more chicks run after you that you don't deserve 'cause you're not that good looking. I'm talking about myself. Glory, fame — all that stuff. I don't have to do a goddamn thing and people will give me free stuff. Where were they when I couldn't afford to get on a bus? That you wouldn't see how blessed you are is delusional; it's criminal. Because there are millions of people who would kiss the ground you walk on just to be given the chance. So, for instance, we have Tommy Thayer [KISS guitarist] and Eric Singer [KISS drummer] who've been with us 20 years; we've been around almost half a century. And we are quitting very soon. But Tommy and Eric show up on time; they're appreciative, professional — no drugs, no booze; nothing. And I can't say the same thing about — I always wanna shut my mouth — Ace [Frehley, original KISS guitarist], who I love to this day, and Peter [Criss, original KISS drummer]. They were every bit as important as Paul [Stanley, KISS frontman] and I in forming the band, but not everybody has the DNA to run a marathon. Some people are shooting stars; they look great for a short time, and then bye-bye."

When Carolla asked Simmons why he thinks so many people engage in such seemingly professionally self-destructive behaviors, Gene replied: "I believe a lot of it has to do with insecurities, self-esteem issues and a survival method. It's like mom likes you best. It's just, like, who cares? So mom likes that one better. You'll still get fed just as much food and you'll go to the same college and all that stuff. No, no — mom likes you best, so you're always in competition.

"We have four dogs — [my wife] Shannon and I — and we put some food down and they'll kill each other to get at the food," he explained. "And yet when the other dogs aren't around, [they act like] 'I'm not hungry right now.' It's just because there are other ones. And at the end of the day, we're still animals. We have not evolved. When you really think about it, what are we complaining about? You're never always gonna be the center of attention. Not everybody likes Jesus either. You need [somebody] to bitchslap you and say, 'Get over it.' But why do people do that? Even without drugs and alcohol, I see bad decisions all the time. I've made a few, and so has everybody. But when you continue to make lots of bad decisions, [there will be] hell to pay. And that's not hairpiece that the devil wears."

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last October, Stanley said that the final concert of the "End Of The Road" tour will likely happen by early 2023.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended to at least the end of 2022. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, Thayer (since 2002) and Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Criss and Frehley, KISS's first "farewell" tour in 2000 was the last to feature the group's original lineup.

New SKID ROW vocalist Erik Grönwall says that he met his bandmates in person for the first time four days before they played their first show together.

The Grönwall-fronted version of SKID ROW made its live debut Saturday night (March 26) at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.

SKID ROW's nine-song set included its new single, "The Gang's All Here", which was made available on Friday, March 25. The song is the title track of the band's upcoming album, which will arrive on October 14 via earMUSIC.

On Sunday (March 27), Erik took to his social media to share a photo of the new SKID ROW lineup, and he included the following message: "First show done! Met these lovely gents for the first time this Tuesday. Rehearsed in Vegas Wednesday and Thursday. And did the first show yesterday. First time on stage in two years and here I am with my favorite band @officialskidrow.

"Fuck me. Feels like I've been hit by @miketyson . Time to rest and then off to the studio tomorrow to track some more vocals for the new album. Can someone get me in touch with Steven Spielberg to discuss the script for SKID ROW the movie?"

SKID ROW's setlist for the first concert was as follows:

01. Slave To The Grind

02. Big Guns

03. 18 And Life

04. Piece Of Me

05. Livin' On A Chain Gang

06. Monkey Business

07. I Remember You

08. The Gang's All Here

09. Youth Gone Wild

Fan-filmed video is available below.

Grönwall joined SKID ROW as the replacement for ZP Theart who recently left the group after a six-year stint.

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

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo said in a statement: "We are beyond excited to release this record. It has been a long time in the making and a lot of hard work has been put into it by the band and our producer Nick Raskulinecz. The addition of Erik has lifted the songs to new heights. Add all this to the fact that we start our world tour in Las Vegas with the SCORPIONS residency this Saturday at Zappos Theater makes it easy to say that SKID ROW is going to have a great year."

Grönwall sang on H.E.A.T.'s last four studio albums — "Address The Nation" (2012), "Tearing Down The Walls" (2014), "Into The Great Unknown" (2017) and "H.E.A.T II" (2020) — before exiting the group in October 2020.

Grönwall was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021. A short time later, he wrote on his social media: "I am extremely privileged and grateful to live at a day and age where a disease like this is curable. There's been so much progress made in this field. My body is reacting well to the treatment but it's a long treatment and it's going to be the toughest challenge of my life so far, for me and my family."

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

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

Theart, a former member of DRAGONFORCE, joined SKID ROW in 2016 following the departure of Tony Harnell (TNT, STARBREAKER).

Sebastian 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 Bolan and guitarists 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 Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by Theart, the South African-born, British-based singer who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.


First show done! Met these lovely gents for the first time this Tuesday. Rehearsed in Vegas Wednesday and Thursday. And...

Posted by Erik Grönwall on Sunday, March 27, 2022





















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Follow The Pure Rock Shop for more coverage ?Erik Grönwall SKID ROW

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LIVE in VEGAS ????

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SKID ROW

Posted by Jessica Chase on Saturday, March 26, 2022

Perry Farrell has shared a video tribute to his "best friend" Taylor Hawkins who died last Friday (March 25) at the age of 50.

The JANE'S ADDICTION frontman and Lollapalooza founder recorded the message on Saturday and had it played at the Lollapalooza Brasil festival, where the FOO FIGHTERS were the scheduled headliners on Sunday.

In the five-minute video, which can be seen below, Farrell states (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Taylor Hawkins died yesterday. He was my best friend — beloved in my home by my wife, my children, even my dogs. Whenever Taylor came over, we would make music in the den, [my dog] Cloud would always go and sit right by him. He was one of the most passionate drummers I've ever seen in my lifetime. When I think of him, I sum it up with one word: velocity. He had the gift to maintain a confident, striking and stroking velocity on drums.

"There's a large part of my heart that I had reserved for him. I accepted him into my heart when we became friends because he was such a pure guy, so pure of heart. I would receive texts from Taylor. They were always bits and pieces of songs he was writing or looking to write or wanted me to listen to. I got music tidbits as often as I got 'I love you's. We would always start with a song; there was always a song that… Like, 'Do you listen to YES? The guy kind of sounds like you.' And I say, 'Yeah, yeah. I like YES.' He just was obsessed with music and great songs. My passion for music, that's what's our common ground; our friendship was based around that. Then we got to know each other. He would tell me stories of going to JANE'S shows back in the '80s — shows that were pretty underground. So although I didn't make his acquaintance back then, we shared a history. It's almost like the rites of passage. We were young men and we were trying to be great musicians. Little did he know through this one fatal night, he would cement himself in the legends of music for all time. And that's what I think he deserves.

"The only sense that I can make of the tragedy is to know that Taylor's now in heaven; he can hear us. What I'm gonna do from this day forward is to try to make music that I think Taylor would really love."

Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota, Colombia. Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. The 50-year-old FOO FIGHTERS drummer did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

On Saturday, the Colombian attorney general's office announced that Hawkins had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died. A toxicology report showed traces of 10 substances in his body, including anti-depressants, the office said. The statement added that the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences "will conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death" and that it "will continue the investigation and will report the results obtained within the framework thereof in a timely manner."

FOO FIGHTERS announced Hawkins's death on their Instagram account. "The FOO FIGHTERS family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the announcement read. "His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time."

The FOO FIGHTERS were scheduled to perform Friday at the Picnic Stereo festival in Bogota but their performance was canceled.

The band played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18 and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20.

Hawkins has been open about his history of drug use. He overdosed on heroin in 2001 and spent a week in a coma, just four years after joining the FOO FIGHTERS.
























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Pop superstar Billie Eilish and her collaborator brother, Finneas O'Connell, discussed the passing of FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins with Access Hollywood's Scott Evans and Zuri Hall on the red carpet of Sunday's (March 27) 94th annual Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Finneas said: "Taylor was such a legendary player. We were admirers of his work years before we got to meet him. And we only met him a handful of times — I wish we got to spend more time with him — but he couldn't have been a kinder, cooler, more generous person as well. And such a deeply inspiring person. We're just heartbroken." Billie added: "It was incredibly heartbreaking. It was right before we went on stage. And we got the news, and it really, really tore us all apart. It's horribly, horribly tragic."

Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota, Colombia on Friday (March 25). Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. The 50-year-old FOO FIGHTERS drummer did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

On Saturday, the Colombian attorney general's office announced that Hawkins had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died. A toxicology report showed traces of 10 substances in his body, including anti-depressants, the office said. The statement added that the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences "will conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death" and that it "will continue the investigation and will report the results obtained within the framework thereof in a timely manner."

FOO FIGHTERS announced Hawkins's death on their Instagram account. "The FOO FIGHTERS family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the announcement read. "His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time."

The FOO FIGHTERS were scheduled to perform Friday at the Picnic Stereo festival in Bogota but their performance was canceled.

The band played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18 and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20. They were scheduled to headline Lollapalooza Brasil on Sunday (March 27).

Hawkins has been open about his history of drug use. He overdosed on heroin in 2001 and spent a week in a coma, just four years after joining the FOO FIGHTERS.

Singer-percussionist Sheila E. discussed the passing of FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins with Entertainment Tonight's Nischelle Turner and Kevin Frazier on the red carpet of Sunday's (March 27) 94th annual Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. She said: "[I'm] devastated, because we just played together not long ago. And he's an amazing drummer. So kind, so generous. His laughter, his smile. He walks into the room and you're, like, 'Taylor!' He's just... I mean, I don't even know what to say or how to feel. I'm kind of still in shock. I'm trying to get through this and then just go, 'Okay, wait a minute. What's happening?'"

After news of Hawkins's death broke on Friday, Sheila E. posted a message on Twitter expressing her sadness over losing one of her "favorite drummers."

"I am devastated to hear the news of one of my favorite drummers Taylor Hawkins has passed," she tweeted. "Blessings to the family and to the band. I'm so sorry for your loss. Taylor you will be missed!"

Hawkins died at a hotel in Bogota, Colombia on Friday (March 25). Local officials said an ambulance was sent to the hotel after a man reported having chest pains. The 50-year-old FOO FIGHTERS drummer did not respond to resuscitation efforts and was declared dead, the city's health department said.

On Saturday, the Colombian attorney general's office announced that Hawkins had opioids, marijuana and other drugs in his system before he died. A toxicology report showed traces of 10 substances in his body, including anti-depressants, the office said. The statement added that the National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences "will conduct the necessary medical studies to ascertain the cause of death" and that it "will continue the investigation and will report the results obtained within the framework thereof in a timely manner."

FOO FIGHTERS announced Hawkins's death on their Instagram account. "The FOO FIGHTERS family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins," the announcement read. "His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever. Our hearts go out to his wife, children and family, and we ask that their privacy be treated with the utmost respect in this unimaginably difficult time."

The FOO FIGHTERS were scheduled to perform Friday at the Picnic Stereo festival in Bogota but their performance was canceled.

The band played Lollapalooza Chile on March 18 and Lollapalooza Argentina on March 20. They were scheduled to headline Lollapalooza Brasil on Sunday (March 27).

Hawkins has been open about his history of drug use. He overdosed on heroin in 2001 and spent a week in a coma, just four years after joining the FOO FIGHTERS.






I am devastated to hear the news of one of my favorite drummers Taylor Hawkins has passed. Blessings to the family and to the band. I’m so sorry for your loss. Taylor you will be missed! ?????????? #taylorhawkins #foofighters #drummer pic.twitter.com/FJAFQOa76X

— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) March 26, 2022

In a new "Fan First" interview with Revolver magazine, former SEPULTURA drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera was asked what the first musician was that he put on a pedestal. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think the first one, and still one of my favorites to this day, is Bill Ward from BLACK SABBATH."

Regarding how he first discovered SABBATH, he said: "It's a funny story, because my father had a bunch of records, and later, me and Max [Igor's brother and former SEPULTURA frontman], we were going through his collection and we found the first SABBATH record in the middle of it. But that was after we were already into rock music — not so much metal, but more rock. And then, of course, SABBATH became one of those bands that are still my favorite. I still listen to those first records.

"Bill Ward is one of those guys that inspired me, in the beginning, to play the drums, and also the way that he was always pushing the limits with different percussion," he continued. "And he was out of the ordinary, so he was the one."

Asked what the "most unique thing" was about Ward's drumming, Cavalera said: "I think the most unique thing is that in a time when a lot of drummers would just follow the guitars and try to be as — I don't know — very 'normal,' he was trying different things and he was going off. And at times, it seems like the whole band was actually trying to catch up with him. And for me, that was a huge lesson because he put the drums in the front instead of just being the typical drummer who only followed the riff, only followed the bassline. He was actually throwing a few curveballs back then, and that's for me one thing that really made me look into him as a different drummer."

As previously reported, Igor and Max will perform select tracks from SEPULTURA's seminal "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" albums on a U.S. tour this spring/summer. The trek will include an appearance at this year's Maryland Deathfest, set to take place May 26-29 at several venues, including Rams Head Live, Soundstage and the Edison Lot.

Max and Igor kicked off a tour celebrating "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" back in 2018. In early 2020, Max revealed plans to bring the trek to the U.S., but no dates had been announced prior to the pandemic.

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

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

The current SEPULTURA lineup — featuring guitarist Andreas Kisser and bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. alongside Derrick Green on vocals and Eloy Casagrande on drums — released its latest studio album, "Quadra", in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast.

Oceanhoarse from Helsinki, Finland, is one of those exciting acts that never stands still. Having recently released their debut studio album, Dead Reckoning, via Noble Demon, the band continues to stay busy, releasing the track "Fading Neons".


Oceanhoarse comments: "Before the new album, we've wanted to release this gem from the archives that we recorded as a special bonus track during the Dead Reckoning sessions. 'Fading Neons' was one of the first songs we wrote when we started the band - and it's also proven to be one of the most popular ones, thanks to the Wreckfest soundtrack! We have played it on our shows frequently and it's always been a blast - so we figured we should record the new, heavier live arrangement that we have developed over the last few years and make this new version rock even harder than the old one!"


 







Oceanhoarse released their critically acclaimed full-length album Dead Reckoning on August 20th, 2021 via Noble Demon. 


With former and current members of well-known acts like Amoral, Warmen and others, Oceanhoarse have delivered exactly the kind of debut studio album one would hope to get for from such experienced people - Dead Reckoning features 13 tracks, loaded with crushing riffs, vocal harmonies and high voltage arrangements and shows a band willing to explore things in their very own style, instead of sticking to any kind of average formular.


In support of the new album and to celebrate the release in glorious style, Oceanhoarse recently unleashed a brand new video clip for the melodic and groove-laden heavy metal anthem "From Hell To Oblivion".


The band comments: “‘From Hell To Oblivion’ represents Oceanhoarse at its most melodic, and it just might feature the biggest chorus on the album. The lyrics talk about false lighthouses, the inability to see warning signs in advance and how history keeps repeating itself, usually in pretty depressing ways.”


Oceanhoarse have amassed an impressive two million plus streams on Spotify alone, and all this before their first studio album has even been released. The band's previous single "One With the Gun" was released in late February, and has already hit the 100,000 stream mark.





Tracklisting:


"Headfirst"
"Locks"
"Betrayed By Light"
"One With The Gun"
"Reaching Skywards"
"Fields Of Severed Dreams"
"Submersed"
"The Intruder"
"Fight For Tomorrow"
"From Hell To Oblivion"
"REW"
"Dead Reckoning"
"The Damage"
"Fading Neons"


"From Hell To Oblivion":





"The Damage" lyric video:





"One With The Gun":

Australian extremists Oratory will release their debut EP, Inner Pyre, on May 16. The EP features the band's toxic audio cocktail of death metal, sludge, and hardcore, one that results in the battering of senses and laceration of the soul. You've been warned.


The official video for the EP's first single, "Capitulation Genuflect", can be seen below.







In the band's own words: "Inner Pyre is a collection of hymns outlining the darker parts of our psyche. The mounting bleakness for all the grief life throws you. 'Capitulation Genuflect' places a 'God' label on beliefs and stances that engrave your mind, beyond reproach. To be haunted by God in that sense is an eternal drip of ticking dread. On this EP we’ve taken our inspiration from Celtic Frost, Dismember, Trouble, Autopsy, Sepultura, Motorhead and Japanese hardcore bands like Death Side and Forward. The EP was recorded and mixed over seven months at Eternity Ward studios."





Tracklisting:


"Capitulation Genuflect"
"Inner Pyre"
"It Takes A Toll"


Oratory is:


Nathan Chow - vocals / lead guitar
Paul Barnes - guitar / backup vocals
Brett James - drums
Ben Thomson - bass / backup vocals


For further details, visit Oratory on Facebook.


 

California tech-death metal trio Inanimate Existence are back with a collection of scorching new tracks that make up their next full-length studio album. Today, the band announced the release of their new LP, The Masquerade, which will see a June 10th, 2022 release via The Artisan Era. The follow-up to their 2019 record Clockwork, the new effort sees Inanimate Existence pushing to new creative heights and maintaining their technical ferocity.


Speaking about their new album, the band comments: "The Masquerade is the dark evolution to our 2019 album Clockwork, retaining our signature style while still managing to forge a new sound that is unlike anything else in our discography. We have returned to a conceptual / storyline format with lyrics that touch on subjects such as isolation, tribalism, and the connection between one's outer shell to their true inner self. This cohesive story is scored with plenty of blast beats and intricate riffs that are deeply layered to create an atmosphere that elevates each chapter's overarching concept."


To give fans their first taste of The Masquerade, Inanimate Existence has released the music video for the album's first single, "Return To The Dream", which can be seen below.







Mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren, check out the artwork and tracklisting for The Masquerade:





"Endless Waves"
"Buried Beneath Scars"
"The Masquerade"
"Into The Underworld"
"Wandering White Halls"
"Return To The Dream"
"Heart Of The Inferno"
"Ending The Ritual"


Pre-order The Masquerade now at this location. For further details, visit Inanimate Existence on Facebook.


 

Melbourne-based death-metal heavyweights Hadal Maw have issued a music video for "Future Eaters", a song from the band's most recent EP Oblique Order, which was released last December via Blighttown Records. Directed by Nick Rackham and Ian Ritter, the clip can be seen below.


Speaking about "Future Eaters", Hadal Maw commented, "We consume like there’s no tomorrow, believing our feast is infinite. We are in danger of eating our future, while naively passing blame or offering prayer and faith instead of action. We are the snake eating itself, time to sever the head!"







The new effort follows-up the band’s 2018 EP Charlatan and presents four tracks of uncompromising and confronting aural violence whilst also introducing new members Liam Weedall (Dyssidia) and Jarrod Sorbian (Départe).


Musically, the four track EP delves further into the more visceral aspect of their sound and composition while maintaining the technical wizardry that the band established on previous releases. The title track features guest vocals from three of Australia’s most accomplished vocalists: Karina Utomo (High Tension), Luke Frizon (Growth) and Antony Oliver (Descent).


Oblique Order artwork and tracklisting:





"Fetishize Consumption" 
"Oblique Order" 
"Future Eaters" 
"Vile Veneration"





 

After the release of “The Reaper” - the first single from their upcoming album –  heavy rockers Statement are back with a new song. “Indestructible” is another track off the new Statement album that will be released later this year via Mighty Music and, once again, shows the immense firepower of the Danish quintet.


"This is a real story about life on the road under miserable conditions on tour," comments the band. "The feeling of playing tiny stages and still delivering kick ass shows. Afterwards you’re being paid four beers and a package of stale peanuts, but despite it all, having the time of your life, making all the hard work worth the while, when you’re on that stage in front of the audience."










Statement hail from the dusty and dirty suburbs of Copenhagen, combining the raw power of several genres with their field-warrior melodic heavy rock and their assertive metal approach to form their own unique sound - a sound that straddles hard rock, heavy metal and softer elements from the world of pop. 


Check out Statement's video for “The Reaper”:








Statement's upcoming album will be released in 2022 via Mighty Music.

 

Lita Ford joined SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE on stage this past Friday, March 25 as part of Hagar's 2022 "Sammy Hagar & Friends" residency at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod to perform cover versions of MONTROSE's "Rock Candy" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Rock And Roll". Fan-filmed video of her appearance can be seen below.

A couple of years ago, Lita said that the title of her 1991 album "Dangerous Curves" was "given" to her by her "dear friend" Hagar. "We started writing a song and never finished the song, so I just used the title," she said. "I don't know where that song went — I'll have to check that out..."

Lita recently completed recording her long-awaited new solo album. The follow-up to 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" was once again helmed by guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who contributes some guitar playing to the disc, alongside the rest of Ford's backing band, which continues to consist of guitarist Patrick Kennison, drummer Bobby Rock and bassist Marty O'Brien.

In January 2021, Lita told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that her new album contains "some of the best guitar playing" she has heard "in decades." She added: "And I'm not blowing smoke up my own ass, but Gary and I just nailed it with the guitar playing on this record.

"I'm a huge fan of people like Dick Wagner and Steve Hunter from Alice Cooper's 'Welcome To My Nightmare'. I mean, there's some really great duo guitar players — [JUDAS PRIEST's] Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing… Those guitar players don't exist anymore — they just don't exist. If you wanna hear them, you have to go back in time a little bit and dig them up into your favorite library, favorite music catalog. But I think Gary and I really nailed it on this next record. It's, like, oh my God. I'm crying — I'm just, like, crying listening to this stuff. It's so badass."

Ford's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Lita in the past, but never before made available.

Six years ago, Lita released an autobiography, "Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir", via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books), an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.

English rock 'n' roll band, The Quireboys, have parted ways with their singer, Spike.


A short message from the band states: "The Quireboys have parted company with Spike and will continue as a 5 piece with all other current members."

The Quireboys are scheduled to make a triumphant and welcome return to the States to finish what they started back in 2020. The lads were in the throws of a stunning country-wide tour when the pandemic hit - and have been itching to get back ever since. That time is now, and May 2022 sees the band - most famous for their hit album A Bit Of What You Fancy - embark on a fresh tour of the US taking in New York, Denver, Las Vegas and many more cities across the country including a stop at the prestigious M3 Festival in Baltimore. The tour will reach a triumphant conclusion at the world-famous Whisky a Go Go in West Hollywood - and for the tour The Quireboys are joined by the amazing Midnight Devils and Steve Ramone. Confirmed dates can be found in the official tour poster seen below.

NME is reporting that Mick Jagger has announced that a new solo track, "Strange Game", is coming this week. The upcoming song serves as the theme tune to the new Apple Original series, Slow Horses, the first two episodes of which land on Apple TV+ this Friday (April 1). The Rolling Stones frontman co-wrote the single alongside Academy Award-nominated film composer Daniel Pemberton.


Teasing the collaboration (see below), Jagger wrote: “I’ve been working on a fun project with the composer Daniel Pemberton… look out for it coming soon!”


Pemberton said in a statement: “Working with Mick Jagger has been one of the most exciting collaborations of my professional career. I think we have managed to create an incredibly unique and original titles theme and I cannot wait for the rest of the world to hear it.”




Slow Horses‘ series director, James Hawes, added: “We always wanted a song to set the tone for the show and there was only ever one name in my mind – Mick Jagger. Hearing the track for the first time was utterly thrilling. Mick’s lyrics and performance have totally nailed the mood of Slow Horses, with all the humour and swagger I dreamed of.”


Read more at NME.