Geoff Tate says that "there's not really a motivation" for QUEENSRŸCHE's classic lineup to ever reunite.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Fellow original QUEENSRŸCHE members Michael Wilton (guitar), Scott Rockenfield (drums) and Eddie Jackson (bass) responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform the albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Tate discussed the prospect of a QUEENSRŸCHE reunion during a new interview with 80's Metal Recycle Bin. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "QUEENSRŸCHE had a really good run. Not many bands can last 30 years. And we did, and we wrote a lot of really cool music that I'm very proud of. We visited a lot of countries and played a zillion shows, made a lot of friends. It was a really good run and I'm proud to have done that and grateful for everybody in the band who stuck it out all those years.

"I think there's a time to say goodbye to that and move on to other parts of your life and do things that you wanna do. The older I get, I created a bucket list of things to do in my life, and one of 'em was playing the 'Rage For Order' album in its entirety on a concert tour. So I'm doing that right now, accomplishing my bucket list. I wanna go to as many different countries as I possibly can. This year I'm going to two new ones — Costa Rica and Peru, which I'd never been to before. That'll make it 64 and 65 countries I'm performing in.

"So, getting the band back together? For what?" he continued. "If we were gonna make an album together and get on that kind of level, that would be a really difficult thing to do, I think, but not impossible. It would be more likely that we'd get together and do a concert tour, which we've been offered, and certain people have declined it. So, I don't know. There's not much of a motivator at this point within the band, the people that were in the band. There's not really a motivation. If it's not money and if it's not creatively [fulfilling], why get together?'"

This past January, Tate told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that it was highly unlikely a QUEENSRŸCHE reunion would ever materialize. "I'm honestly not really expecting that to happen, basically because we've been offered just obscene amounts of money to get back together and do one tour — one tour and we'd never have to tour again," he said. "And a couple of people in the band turned it down; they're not interested in doing it. So that would really be, I think, the only motivation that would get everybody together was an obscene amount of money. But that didn't work, so [laughs] there's really no hope for it after that, I think… Money is not the motivator, and getting together for an artistic dream isn't a motivator either, so what do you have? You have nothing. Obviously, both camps are happy in the position they're at. I know for myself, I love my life — I love what I'm doing and I love traveling and playing music for people. And so far, I'm still kicking it at 63, still happy and healthy."

Geoff went on to say that he is fine with the prospect of never returning to QUEENSRŸCHE and continuing to pursue his solo career and other projects for the rest of his time as a performing artist.

"We did hold it together for years and years and years," he said. "It was a really, really tightly run ship and it was very lucrative and we had a lot of great records and did a lot of world touring and made a lot of friends and played a lot of music together. And we had our time, and I'll aways be grateful for that time that we had. That was a time, and it doesn't mean that that time has to go on forever. There's new times to be had and there's more music to be made, there's more songs to be sung and more audiences to play music for."

Tate has gone back and forth on the subject of a reunion with QUEENSRŸCHE, telling The Rock Vault in November 2019 about the possibility of rejoining his former bandmates: "I think that would be something that makes sense, and I think it would be an interesting thing to do, if everybody could get in the same room and actually talk to each other." However, just eight months earlier, he dismissed the chances of a QUEENSRŸCHE reunion, telling Greece's "TV War" that he had "no interest in that. No. Not at all. [I have] absolutely no reason to," he said. "I don't need the money. That'd be the only reason to do it. Maybe if they paid me, like, 10 million dollars or something like that. [Laughs]"

He continued: "It was a good thing for a long time, and then it went really bad. And I just don't want that kind of negativity in my life. My life is so good, and I have such great friends and family. I travel the world and sing songs for a living. I mean, it's lovely. I have wonderful, positive people in my life, and to go back and be in that negative land again… aargh, I just couldn't do it. It's not worth it."

Tate previously described his time in QUEENSRŸCHE as "a strange, strange sort of relationship." He told The Metal Gods Meltdown: "We weren't really friends, you know — we were business associates. We had a wonderful entity that we shared called QUEENSRŸCHE, but it wasn't an equal sort of partnership as far as involvement goes. You know, so there wasn't a real camaraderie amongst everybody in the band… From my perspective and my involvement, it wasn't an emotional sort of brotherhood kind of thing that some people might think existed. That wasn't my reality with them."

Last year, current QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre told "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" about the chances of Tate's return to QUEENSRŸCHE: "It's funny. I always hear, 'There'll definitely be an all-original lineup reunion. Every band does it.' And I'm thinking, if you knew what I know, I don't think that's gonna happen. And other than the optics of it, why? What's the point? We saw for 15 years what it sounded like."

In October, Rockenfield, who stepped away from QUEENSRŸCHE's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son, filed a lawsuit against Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. Rockfenfield also claimed that Wilton and Jackson did not include him in the recording QUEENSRŸCHE's latest album, "The Verdict", "despite his availability and willingness to participate."

The drum tracks on "The Verdict" were laid down primarily by La Torre.

QUEENSRŸCHE has used former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo for touring purposes since April 2017.

PAPA ROACH vocalist Jacoby Shaddix spoke to U.K.'s Rock Sound about the inspiration for the title of the band's upcoming album, "Ego Trip". The effort will be released on April 8 via New Noize Records in partnership with ADA Worldwide (WMG's independent label and artist services arm).

"This album essentially is a journey through the ego, a wrestling match of the ego of my higher self and my lower self," Jacoby said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And I'm always challenging myself to try to become a better person — treat myself better, treat other people better, put other people first, but I've got this part of me that's selfish and self-centered and self-seeking. And it's that wrestling match with the ego — it's, like, who's in control right now? Is it my higher self, my more humble, spiritual, loving, compassionate self or is it my dark self-seeking version of myself. And we all have that. And I found that to progress in my life, I've gotta smash the ego — I have to. Because when I'm out there thinking my shit don't stink and the world should bow down before me, my life turns to shambles; it don't work for me. I don't operate well in that dynamic. So, PAPA ROACH, we're on an ego trip.

"We went out and all guns blazing, a hundred and fifty miles an hour towards a cinderblock wall and we bashed our heads into it repeatedly," he continued. "And that was our lifestyle for some years — just a lot of wreckage and damage and pain, self-inflicted pain, relationship issues.

"It's almost like this album, the title seems so egotistical, so cocky, but it's anti that, honestly. There's this self-awareness that I've come to in my life that I'm always challenging myself to rise to the occasion."

The seeds of "Ego Trip" were planted when the quartet entered a COVID-secure mansion in Temecula, California in the summer of 2020. What started as an escape and an exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing, in a world that had completely ground to a halt, quickly grew into something bigger. Purposeful, provocative, and just the right side of the line between confident and cocky, "Ego Trip" is PAPA ROACH — completed by guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and drummer Tony Palermo — at its boldest and most brilliant.

Last month, PAPA ROACH kicked off its North American "Kill The Noise" tour, featuring very special guests HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and BAD WOLVES, with a sold-out show in Anaheim, California. The tour, produced by Live Nation, marked the band's first headlining tour in three years.

PAPA ROACH's last album, "Who Do You Trust?", was released in January 2019. The disc was produced by Colin "Doc" Brittain and Nick Furlong except for the song "Top Of The World", which was helmed by Jason Evigan.

PAPA ROACH's second greatest-hits collection, "Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The Better Noise Years", was released in March 2021 on Better Noise Music. "Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - The Better Noise Years" included 12 of the band's top 10 hits released between 2010 to 2019 as well as three previously unreleased remixes and two unreleased acoustic recordings recorded live at the YouTube Studios in New York City.

In December 2020, PAPA ROACH released a five-song EP, "20/20", featuring "new takes on old jams," including "Last Resort" and "Scars".

Swiss hard rockers SiN69 has signed with ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records and has announced the release date of their debut self-titled album.


SiN69 was founded in 2020 and rose out of the ashes of the rock band Circle. Guitarist Beat Hefti, bassist Pesche Liechti as well as the two singers Marina Schaller and Thomas Schaller already played together in Circle for several years and were joined in 2019 by drummer Charles Mönroe (also active in the rock band King Louis) and guitarist Michael Vaucher (also active in the Swiss heavy metal band Emerald) for some live concerts. What started as helping out for concerts harmonized more and more in the rehearsal room as well as on stage, so that soon after with a lot of motivation, inspiration and joy in making music and songwriting together the new start under the banner "SiN69" was announced. 







With this enthusiasm, under the direction of Julien Menth (Emerald), they quickly started recording their first studio album. V.O. Pulver (Poltergeist, Gurd) gave the recordings at Little Creek Studio the final touches and a great, powerful sound. As different as the eight songs of the eponymous debut album may be, they all bear the typical SiN69 signature: powerful pressure from bass and drums, harmonious, polyphonic vocals by Marina and Thomas, heavy guitar riffs and dual guitar solos and, above all, noticeable fun rocking together.


The band’s debut, self-titled album will be released on May 20, 2022 as digipak CD and digital streaming and download format and as limited Silver vinyl on November 4, 2022. Preorders are available on rockworld24.com.

On August 6, 2021, three-time-Grammy-nominated hard rock heavyweights and platinum-selling band KILLSWITCH ENGAGE staged a streaming event at The Palladium in Worcester in the band's native Massachusetts, which has been the site of many iconic KILLSWITCH ENGAGE shows throughout the band's history. The performance setlist consisted of 2019's "Atonement" album in full, as well as the entirety of the band's 2000-released, self-titled debut LP — along with some fun and unexpected surprises. This special event was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest for MyGoodEye. The compelling performance, dubbed "Live At The Palladium", will be available for the first time digitally, on two-LP and two-CD/BR on June 3 via Metal Blade.

Today, the band has shared the video for "Know Your Enemy". Watch it below.

"This song speaks volumes about the state of the world, not only when I wrote the lyrics, but today, as well," says singer Jesse Leach. "It shines a light on the various protest songs we've written over the years. To me, the message is equally important as the music, and this song is no exception. And regardless of who we have become as a band, we still have our roots firmly planted in hardcore music."

"Live At The Palladium" track listing:

01. Unleashed

02. The Signal Fire

03. Us Against the World

04. The Crownless King

05. I Am Broken Too

06. As Sure as the Sun Will Rise

07. Know Your Enemy

08. Take Control

09. Ravenous

10. I Can't Be the Only One

11. Bite the Hand that Feeds

12. Temple From the Within

13. Vide Infra

14. Irreversal

15. Rusted Embrace

16. Prelude

17. Soilborn

18. Numb Sickened Eyes

19. In the Unblind

20. Just Barely Breathing

In other KILLSWITCH ENGAGE news, the band, recognized by Forbes as one of "metal's most cherished acts," has earned another impressive accolade. Their fourth album, "As Daylight Dies", released by Roadrunner Records on November 21, 2006, has been certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America). The record produced fan favorites such as "My Curse" and "The Arms Of Sorrow". The band also received a platinum certification for the aforementioned single "My Curse", as well as gold certifications for 2004's "The End Of Heartache" and the "Set This World Ablaze" DVD. The single "The End Of Heartache" and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's cover of DIO's "Holy Diver" are also certified gold.

Last month, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE completed a headlining U.S. tour with AUGUST BURNS RED and ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones's current group LIGHT THE TORCH.

Last fall, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE took part in a U.S. run with SLIPKNOT, FEVER 333 and CODE ORANGE as part of the "Knotfest Roadshow". The band also appeared at several key festivals.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's latest album, "Atonement", was released in August 2019 via Metal Blade Records in the U.S. and Sony Music Entertainment in the rest of the world. The disc featured guest appearances by Jones and TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy. It marked the band's third full-length release since the return of Leach, who rejoined the group in 2012.

In July 2021, Leach and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz released the second album from their TIMES OF GRACE project, "Songs Of Loss And Separation", via the band's own imprint label, Wicked Good Records, distributed by ADA Worldwide.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE is:

Jesse Leach - Vocals

Adam Dutkiewicz - Guitar

Joel Stroetzel - Guitar

Mike D'Antonio - Bass

Justin Foley - Drums

Boston legends Cave In has made their return with their Relapse Records debut, Heavy Pendulum, their first full studio record in over a decade. Today, Cave In shares the second single “Blinded By A Blaze” with an accompanying video featuring album artwork by Richey Beckett combined with live footage by Frank Huang from 3 sold out shows at Saint Vitus Bar/Brooklyn NY in 2021.


Guitarist/Vocalist Stephen Brodsky comments:


"I had the idea for ‘Blinded By A Blaze’ during the Final Transmission days, but it really came to life for Heavy Pendulum. There were five or six songs in the initial batch of demos that I sent to the band at the beginning of the writing process, but ‘Blinded’ was the one that created a call to action - it's basically what sold JR, Adam & Nate on writing a new Cave In album. Lyrically, it's a sonic photograph of a strange magical moment that I had while driving along the Pacific Coast Highway during the golden hour, and the feeling of looking back on it years later - something everyone should try to experience at least once in their lifetime."




Heavy Pendulum is out May 20 on DLX 2xLP/2xLP/CD/CS/Digital. Physical pre-orders are available via Relapse.com here. Digital downloads/streaming here. Deluxe 2xLP comes with a poster and album slipmat.


Produced by Kurt Ballou at God City, Heavy Pendulum showcases everything that has long established Cave In as one of the best contemporary rock, hardcore, and metal bands since their monumental 1998 debut Until Your Heart Stops. From the driving tracks such as crushing opener "New Reality" to the metallic edge of "Blood Spiller", Heavy Pendulum sees the band look back at their discography and capture their most memorable, visceral, and forward-thinking moments to create a record that is all at once familiar and in true Cave In fashion, ahead of the mainstream.





Tracklisting:


"New Reality"
"Blood Spiller"
"Floating Skulls"
"Heavy Pendulum"
"Pendulambient"
"Careless Offering"
"Blinded By A Blaze"
"Amaranthine"
"Searchers Of Hell"
"Nightmare Eyes"
"Days Of Nothing"
"Waiting For Love"
"Reckoning"
"Wavering Angel"


"Blinded By A Blaze" video:





"New Reality" video:





Lineup:


Stephen Brodsky - Guitar/Vocals
Adam McGrath - Guitar/Vocals
John-Robert Conners - Drums
Nate Newton - Bass/Vocals


(Photo - Jay Zucco)

Guitarist/vocalist Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL has once again said that he doesn't expect the proposed follow-up to the band's first documentary, "Anvil! The Story Of Anvil", to ever see the light of day. He tells Friday 13th Metal in a new interview (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't suspect there will be [another movie], because I think it's a little late on. There's really no point at this point. To a great degree, the people who knew about the movie knew about it, and today it's kind of faded back; it's not as prominent today. That could change. You never know."

As for what he attributed the film's overwhelming success to, Lips said: "It's hard to compete with reality, isn't it? People try to make documentaries, but it's not the same as actually filming things in real time. It's not the same, man. You can do a retrospective and show pictures of the band in the old days and all that — talk about the old days, the old days, the old days — but everybody's seen the old days. What about tomorrow? What are we gonna film tomorrow? What are you doing tomorrow? What do you hope to happen tomorrow? How are you gonna make what's gonna happen tomorrow, put it into motions so we can see it happen? That's what the ANVIL movie did. It's off the hook in that regard. You can't beat the spontaneity. I mean, there's pure spontaneity — as things are going on. You can't make shit like that up."

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" was named one of 2009's best documentaries by a slew of film critics associations across the continent, including critics in Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Las Vegas, as well as the International Documentary Association, the Online Film Critics Society, and the National Society of Film Critics. It also made the year-end Top 10 lists in publications such as the New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, and Village Voice.

"Anvil! The Story of Anvil" was the directorial debut of screenwriter Sacha Gervasi ("The Terminal") and was produced by Rebecca Yeldham ("The Kite Runner" and "The Motorcycle Diaries"). The film follows Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner and their band, ANVIL, which released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982's "Metal on Metal". The album influenced an entire musical generation of rock bands, including METALLICA, SLAYER, and ANTHRAX, who all went on to sell millions of records. ANVIL, on the other hand, took a different path — straight to obscurity. The film was both entertaining and touching as it followed their last-ditch quest for the fame and fortune that has been so elusive to them.

Back in 2017, Lips said that there was "forty minutes of probably good footage" already shot for a follow-up ANVIL film, but he didn't "really expect anything to ever come of it." He explained: "[Gervasi] paid for that movie ['Anvil! The Story of Anvil'] himself. He doesn't wanna do that again… You never make back all your money. But what it did for his career… like what he did for our career — same thing. He's got a career, and then some. But it's just a question of, will a movie company wanna buy it, wanna finance it? And it's not cheap. It won't be like a blockbuster — it's not gonna cost three hundred million dollars. You're talking about probably less than a million to make a documentary. I don't get paid. Documentary subjects never get paid. I'm not an actor. And it's doing my career such a huge favor, I haven't really got the right to go, 'Hey, why don't you pay me too? You're making the biggest advertising campaign that ever existed? Now why don't you pay me?' It's, like, that doesn't make sense. And he'd say 'no' and I wouldn't get the movie made."

Lips added: "So that's the big question: will there or will there not be? Who knows? I'm not gonna discount it. I'm not gonna say 'no.' I don't know enough. I'm not in that stream of the business, so I really don't know how to answer it. Now, having said that, the ANVIL movie did extraordinarily well, so it would be in their best interest [to finance the movie]. And it's, like, if you guys are lacking stories out there and storytellers and writers, here's something that's a natural, living, breathing fucking story. Why not continue it? You've got an automatic audience from all the people that saw it the first time. So it's got all those positive aspects going for it. But it's just a question of who's gonna open their wallet. [Laughs]"

ANVIL's new album, "Impact Is Imminent", will arrive on May 20 via AFM Records.

Like its three predecessors, "Anvil Is Anvil" (2016), "Pounding The Pavement" (2018) and "Legal At Last" (2019), "Impact Is Imminent" was produced by Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and Jörg Uken at Uken's Soundlodge studios in Germany.

Austin, Texas progressive death/black metal band Haunter has released the next preview of their impending Discarnate Ails LP, nearing May release through Profound Lore Records, today unveiling a video clip for a segment of the album’s closing track “Chained At The Helm Of Eschaton.”


The follow up to 2019’s Sacramental Death Qualia LP, Discarnate Ails will unveil Haunter as one of the most enlightening and dynamic bands within the present-day progressive death/black metal movement and one of the pioneering prospects of the scene.


With Discarnate Ails, Haunter has tapped into the next level unparalleled with their most complex, advanced, and their most furious and heaviest release to date. The three epic chapters that form the album weave through intricate, dissonant, and vitriolic passages that find the notable balance of challenging melodious movements and parts while maintaining the band’s sense of creating epochal songs of triumph and mastery.




Mixed by Arthur Rizk and mastered by Dan Lowndes, Discarnate Ails features cover artwork by Elijah Tamu, additional art by 47_N_74D0 and Saprophial, and design by Chimere Noire.


Discarnate Ails will see digital,CD, and cassette release on May 6, with the vinyl to follow this summer. Find preorders via Profound Lore, and watch for vinyl updates, an official video, and more to be issued.





Haunter has announced their European tour, including dates with Suffering Hour, Bedsore, Cryptic Shift, and others, and appearances at Eros at Arms Festival, Felsina Death Fest, Vienna Death Date, Six Dates Of Death, Kill-Town Death Fest’s Decay In May, and more. The Summer months will see them touring stateside, with sets at Northwest Terror Fest, Fire In The Mountains, Medium Well In Hell Fest, and more already confirmed.





Tracklisting:


“Overgrown With The Moss”
“Spiritual Illness”
“Chained At The Helm Of Eschaton”


2nd clip of "Chained At The Helm Of Eschaton":





Clip of “Chained At The Helm Of Eschaton”:





(Photo – Oscar Moreno)

Bay Area skate punk/thrash/crossover band Boneless Ones is back.  After a 35 year hiatus the guys said, “Hey-what the fuck!!!” …That’s three-plus decades of sonic dominance and counter-culture benefaction. Now, The Boneless Ones find their contumacious voice again on Back To The Grind via their own label, Thunder & Lightning Records. “Back To The Grind” and “Crossing Over The Bridge” are the first two singles dropping April 29 at a CD Listening Party at the iconic Bay Area punk-rock venue Oakland Athletic Club.





After laying the foundation for West Coast Punk rockers a mere 36 years ago venerated skate punk/cross-over legends The Boneless Ones celebrate their much-anticipated return with new album, Back to the Grind. Featuring founding members Max Fox (vocals) and Troy Takaki (bass) with erstwhile drummer Chris Kontos (ex-Attitude Adjustment, ex-Machine Head) and new guitarist Craig Locicero (Dress the Dead, ex-Forbidden), the Bay Area quartet breathe present-day life into the sounds/customs that crucially bridged punk, hardcore, metal, and skateboarding. In fact, it was appearances on pivotal compilations Them Boners Be Poppin’ (Boner) and Skate Rock Volume 3 - Wild Riders of Boards (Thrasher) that set up debut album Skate for the Devil for near-continuous reverence from the day of its release in 1986 to its most recent re-issue via Beer City Records in 2020.




“We knew what we were doing with Back To The Grind would be well received,” says vocalist Max Fox. “It was from the soul. We started with skateboard music, and there was no concept style-wise of what that was back then, so it was all so fresh. When Beer City Records started talking to us about re-issuing Skate For The Devil, we also started to think about writing a new album. Obviously, the original idea was for The Boneless Ones put out another record after Skate For The Devil back in the day. That didn’t happen. It’s been over 30 years, but we’re finally back!”


“Out of the blue, I got a call from Chris and Max,” Troy Takaki says. “They said, ‘Hey, do you wanna play the Haight [Ashbury] Street Fair?’ The fair had organized reunion shows with all these ’80s bands. After I left The Boneless Ones in ’87, I didn’t really touch my bass again. So, I went to my garage, took out my bass, and practiced for the first time in decades. We eventually agreed to play the Haight [Ashbury] Street Fair show, after which we said to ourselves, ‘Should we keep playing?’ So, we played [skate legend] Randy Katen’s birthday party with Fang in Sacramento in 2019. That was huge—sold out! Then, we played the Exodus benefit show for Tom Hunting. That’s when things started to evolve into what The Boneless Ones are today.”


“About a year and a half ago, Troy and I started putting some ideas together for new music,” says Fox. “The writing was cathartic, joyful—all those things. When Chris returned from doing the anniversary shows with Machine Head, it all started to really gel. We knew we had to continue the tradition of having a great guitar player, so Chris had the idea to ask Craig to join. We got Craig, thankfully, and he really took to it. We set up a songwriting room at Chris's house. We had four songs from our '87 demo, which we reworked together. Then, we wrote nine more kick-ass songs. Writing with Troy, Chris, and Craig was an incredible experience."


“I was standing there at their last show at UC Berkeley in ’86,” guitarist Craig Locicero adds. "I thought, 'Man, that guitar player [Skeels] is way too good for a punk band.' That's what was going through my head. Then, they broke up. When Chris approached me, and after meeting with the rest of the guys, I was stoked. I immediately knew how and where to swing for the fences. Musically, we picked up right where they had left off in ’86. My background is not just technical thrash metal. I have a lot of flavors that I can add to the music. Hardcore punk is one of them.”


(Photo – Timi Devlin)

Seventh Station, led by guitarist Dmitri Alperovich and featuring keyboard player Eren Başbuğ (mostly known for his work with Jordan Rudess and Dream Theater) along with Davidavi ‘Vidi’ Dolev (frontman of Subterranean Masquerade) are ready to release their first single in five years. “All Hail The Moustache” blurs the line between reality and hallucination and is especially relevant to present world events. Along with reaching a new level of musicality and artistic expression, the band hopes that listeners will gain something from listening to it and find all the hidden messages in the music.





According to them, the single is a manic track portraying the grandiosity of a tyrant, a power trip that is getting out of hand, an active volcano hoping for some sort of immortality, spiraling out of control under waves of paranoia. Ironically, at the same time, it could also portray the minds of some artists. They chose the Moustache as a symbol of an ever-growing force of dark leaders in recent history, and though the current tyrants are shaved, we all know what goes under their skin. Guitarist Dmitri Alperovich explains the track and the accompanying video further:




“Through the intense music and the shocking video, we call people to respect each other and say no to any kind of war or dictatorship around the world. The animation was done by the great Finnish animator, Mika Tyyska, who worked on Dream Theater’s ‘Octavarium’ animation and he managed to put his unique input into our ideas. Slovenian actor, Anton Strojin, is starring in the first part of the video and is bringing his colorful acting to the surreal script, prepare yourself, this is a strange one.”





“All Hail The Moustache” is just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg of what to expect next from Seventh Station who has other singles in the works which will eventually lead to the full, concept album.


Theatrical magic on steroids, Seventh Station passionate storytellers, and classically trained musicians/composers are recommended for fans of Dream Theater, Pink Floyd, and Opeth.

In a recent interview with RadioactiveMike Z, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire", EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was asked how he first met original EXODUS guitarist Kirk Hammett, who has been a member of METALLICA for the past 39 years. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The first time I met Kirk was in my high school music room, Richmond High, and EXODUS came and played. [Original EXODUS drummer] Tom Hunting grew up, like, 50 yards from my house, across from a park, but he went to a different school — he went to De Anza High, where Kirk did. I knew Tom, I'd see him around, but I didn't know him that well. But I was really good friends with the other guitar player in EXODUS, Tim Agnello, who I did know. And they came in and played in the music room, and it was awesome. Even though Kirk sang [SCORPIONS'] 'Another Piece Of Meat', and it was just really awful, as you can imagine — Kirk Hammett trying to sing Klaus Meine at his greatest; it was bad. But there was something about… Even though I'd been to many concerts, being in a room and hearing an electric guitar that up close and personal, it was kind of like a special moment for me, 'cause I'd never experienced it. I'd only seen guys onstage; I'd never stood five feet away. And it was killer. I totally [knew] that's what I wanted to do. And then we went to see Ted Nugent and the SCORPONS together, and we became best of friends from that first time we hung out. And then he said, 'You wanna learn to play guitar?' And I said, 'Yeah.' And he taught me the basics and some chords. I think the first thing he ever taught me was some ROLLING STONES song and a couple of licks and all that, and six months later I was in the band."

Asked if he had a favorite METALLICA song, Gary said: "I'd have to go… I've got a lot of favorites — that's one of those tough questions — but one that's always near and dear to my heart is 'Damage, Inc.'"

Three months ago, Holt was asked during an appearance on "Put Up Your Dukes", the podcast hosted by ex-EXODUS singer Rob Dukes, if Hammett was involved in the songwriting for any of the material that ended up on EXODUS's classic debut album, 1985's "Bonded By Blood". "There were riffs that I had written while Kirk was still in the band, and he tried to adapt them, tried to change 'em a little bit — the old, 'I changed it a little bit. I'm a co-writer on this riff,'" Holt recalled. "And that was, like, two riffs, I think. And the rest of 'em were written after he left. We never used a Kirk Hammett riff, ever, until [2004's] 'Tempo Of The Damned' [album] when we recorded [the early EXODUS song] 'Impaler'."

Explaining that "the first two [EXODUS] songs finished post-Kirk Hammett were 'Strike Of The Beast' and 'No Love'," Holt continued: "The biggest talent I have, if you wanna call it a talent, is my fucking memory. I can remember fucking everything. I remember showing him… I can picture it as a film, showing Kirk the riff to 'Strike Of The Beast', and I can picture it as if I'm watching it on a film — in the jam room, me in my spot where I played him [the riff] and him wanting to change the higher note to a lower note; I remember it all as if I'm watching a movie of it. I remember all of it — every last minute of it. I remember details from fucking most meaningless shit."

The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Hammett and Agnello, Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before "Bonded By Blood" saw the light of day.

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — "Bonded By Blood" inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

Back in 2018, Kirk spoke about the fact that riffs from songs by EXODUS, "Die By His Hand" and "Impaler", found their way into "Creeping Death" and "Trapped Under Ice", from METALLICA's "Ride The Lightning" album. "What I think happened was when Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] and James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] were thinking about getting rid of Dave [Mustaine], our sound guy, Mark Whitaker — who was EXODUS' manager — gave them EXODUS' demos," Kirk said. "I think 'Die By His Hand' might have caught their ears. So when they were writing 'Creeping Death', they went, 'Great. 'Die By His Hand'. Put it right there.' It was definitely not me going, 'I have a riff here in this EXODUS song, and it needs to be here in this METALLICA song.' By the way, I wrote that 'Die By His Hand' riff when I was, like, 16 years old."

German power metal space warriors, Victorius, have released a guitar playthrough video for their new single, "Dinos And Dragons", featured on their upcoming new album, Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War, which merges the worlds of the band’s Dinosaur Warfare - Legend Of The Power Saurus EP and previous album, Space Ninjas From Hell.


Out June 24 via Napalm Records, this adventurous ride sees the mighty dinosaurs rise again to fight against the evil space ninja clan Sunbladers. Led to the battleground by a magical mammoth, the laser dinosaurs unite their power on earth and in the sky to halt the ninja’s second try to enslave mankind.


Victorius on “Dinos And Dragons”: “Sharpen your sword and saddle your dinosaur. We're proud to present you the first song and video from our upcoming new album. ‘Dinos and Dragons’ combines all trademarks Victorius is known for: Speed, crushing guitars and an epic chorus that will get stuck in your head. As it continues the story of the dinosaurs as well as the space ninjas, we thought this is the perfect song to give you a first taste of what the new album is about. Also the great work of director Mirko Witzki and his team visualizes this song perfectly. As said, this is just a first taste. To be continued…”







Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War sets off with a monumental introduction, cracking open this mystical world as it flows into “Victorious Dinogods”. The track initiates battle with relentless power metal as the mighty dinogods resurrect to protect mankind against the space ninja attack. Luckily, the dinogods don’t stand alone, as they are proudly joined in battle by the “Mighty Magic Mammoth”, awakened by a fiery comet. But wait, there are more brothers-in-arms (and songs) on their way - like “Jurassic Jetfighters”, “Triceps Ceratops” and “Tyrannosaurus Steel”. The three join forces to fight the ninjas and their fearsome dragon, as fabled on smashing track “Dinos and Dragons”, spiced with an intense guitar solo praising the tradition of speed metal with a remarkable virtuosity. A foreshadowing of what’s to come when the ninjas take command is described with “Katana Kingdom Rising”, setting off with stomping drums that lead to an anthemic chorus. Strong symphonic elements are witnessed on “God of Roar” as well as on the powerful track “Night of the Nuclear Ninja”, which tells the story of the space ninjas transforming into even deadlier, nuclear versions of themselves. This is when another grand figure joins the fold: the giant “Powerzord”, a mighty robot lord, who comes to the aid of the dinosaurs in battle with the aim of finally freeing mankind from the space ninja threat. Will the dinos and their brave supporters manage to prevent the nuclear ninja kingdom from rising? Find out on Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War - a roaring good time for all.


Victorius on Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War: “Mighty Dinosaurriors. Get ready for the next chapter of our epic quest. Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War is nothing more than the most ambitious album we´ve ever made. 12 songs full of speed, melodies, hooks and epic-ness. Together with producer Lars Rettkowitz we’ve created the soundtrack for an intergalactic Power Metal adventure you can´t escape from. The war rages on. Choose your side.”





Dinosaur Warfare Pt. 2 - The Great Ninja War is available in the following formats:


- Digi Sleevepack
- Digi Sleevepack + Shirt
- 1 LP Gatefold gold (limited to 300 copies, band shop exclusive)
- digital


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Saurus Invictus Lazerus"
"Victorious Dinogods"
"Mighty Magic Mammoth"
"Jurassic Jetfighters"
"Dinos And Dragons"
"Katana Kingdom Rising"
"God Of Roar"
"Night Of The Nuclear Ninja"
"Triceps Ceratops"
"Tyrannosaurus Steel"
"Shadow Of The Shinobi"
"Powerzord"


"Dinos And Dragons" video:





Lineup:


David Baßin - Vocals
Dirk Scharsich - Guitar
Florian Zack - Guitar
Andreas Dockhorn - Bass
Frank Koppe - Drums


(Photo - Steffen Runke)

World-renowned guitar virtuoso, Joe Satriani, is set to release his new album, The Elephants Of Mars, worldwide on April 8 via earMusic. Watch an unboxing video below:





Pre-orders for The Elephants Of Mars are available now and include a special limited digi-pack CD release featuring seven double sided cards of original artwork by Satriani representing each song from the album. In addition, several coloured vinyl options will be available as well to pre-order including an orange, pink (D2C only) and purple version.




Pre-order here.


Formats:


- CD Jewel case
- Ltd. CD Digi sleeve (incl.14 images created by the artist himself)
- 2LP Gatefold
- Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Orange
- Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Purple
- Ltd. 2LP Gatefold Pink
- Digital





Tracklisting:


"Sahara"   
"The Elephants Of Mars"                   
"Faceless"                                          
"Blue Foot Groovy "                         
"Tension and Release"                      
"Sailing The Seas Of Ganymede"  
"Doors Of Perception  "                      
"E 104th St NYC"
"Pumpin’"
"Dance Of The Spores"
"Night Scene"
"Through A Mother’s Day Darkly"
"22 Memory Lane"
"Desolation"


"Pumpin'" visualizer:





"Faceless" visualizer:





"Sahara" video:





The Art of The Elephants Of Mars, Episode 1:





The Art of The Elephants Of Mars, Episode 2:





After being forced to postpone numerous tour dates over the last two years, Satriani is more than ready to get back to live shows and playing for his legions of fans across the world. The North American leg of his worldwide tour will get things started with the tour set to launch on September 21 in Riverside, CA and continue on through November 19 with a final date in the States to take place in Dallas, TX. Satriani will then head over to Europe for rescheduled shows in early 2023. Tickets for the North American dates are on sale now.


North American dates:


September
21 - Fox Performing Arts Center - Riverside, CA
22 - Balboa Theatre - San Diego, CA
23 - Orpheum Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
24 - Talking Stick Resort - Scottsdale, AZ
25 - Grand Theatre @ Grand Sierra Resort - Reno, NV
26 - Bob Hope Theater - Stockton, CA
28 - The Moore Theatre - Seattle, WA
29 - Bing Crosby Theater - Spokane, WA
30 - Elsinore Theatre - Salem, OR


October
2 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA
4 - Paramount Theatre - Denver, CO
6 - Stiefel Theatre - Salina, KS
7 - Hoyt Sherman Theatre - Des Moines, IA  
8 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
9 - State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN
12 - Chicago Theatre - Chicago, IL
13 - Peoria Civic Center Theatre - Peoria, IL
14 - Kalamazoo State Theatre - Kalamazoo, MI
15 - Honeywell Center - Wabash, IN
16 - Canton Palace Theatre - Canton, OH
17 - Count Basie Center for the Arts - Red Bank, NJ
19 - Carolina Theatre - Durham, NC
20 - Palace Theatre - Greensburg, PA
21 - MGM Northfield Park - Northfield, OH
22 - Taft Theatre - Cincinnati, OH
23 - Brown County Music Center - Nashville, IN
24 - Ryman Auditorium - Nashville, TN
26 - Warner Theatre - Washington, DC
27 - Beacon Theatre - New York City, NY
29 - Danforth Music Hall - Toronto, ON


November
2 - - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
3 - Ridgefield Playhouse - Ridgefield, CT
4 - Scottish Rite Auditorium - Collingswood, NJ
5 - Orpheum Theatre - Boston, MA
7 - Atlanta Symphony Hall - Atlanta, GA
9 - Ponte Vedra Concert Hall - Ponte Vedra, FL
10 - Hard Rock Live - Orlando, FL
11 - The Parker Ft - Lauderdale, FL
12 - Ruth Eckerd Hall - Clearwater, FL
14 - Mars Music Hall - Huntsville, AL
16 - Tobin Center for the Performing Arts - San Antonio, TX
17 - Paramount Theatre - Austin, TX
18 - House of Blues - Houston, TX
19 - Majestic Theatre - Dallas, TX





Satriani recently made the very tough decision to once again reschedule his European tour. Originally scheduled to take place in 2020 it had been rescheduled to begin in April 2022. However, with the current Covid restrictions and quarantine mandates not yet standardized throughout the World, it has been decided that the best path forward is to reschedule once again. The new tour dates will now be moving to 2023.


These newly rescheduled shows are now set to begin on April 1, 2023, in Oslo, Norway and wind up on June 4th in Bordeaux, France.


Fans who are holding tickets for these shows, originally planned to take place in April, May and June 2022, will be honoured for the rescheduled dates.


Joe’s rescheduled UK concerts have been moved to May 2023. The rescheduled UK dates include Birmingham Symphony Hall (Friday 12 May), Gateshead, Sage Hall 1 (Saturday 13 May), Manchester, Bridgewater Hall (Sunday 14 May), Glasgow, O2 Academy (Monday 15 May), Bexhill, De La Warr Pavilion (Tuesday 16 May), and London Palladium (Wednesday 17 May).


His current band features celebrated drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Fogerty) bassist Bryan Beller (Aristocrats) and keyboardist Rai Thistlethwayte (Thirsty Merc) with Joe Satriani on guitar.





European dates:


April
1 - Oslo, Norway - Sentrum Scene
2 - Stockholm, Sweden - Fryshuset Arenan
3 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Amager Bio
4 - Odense, Denmark - Posten
5 - Aarhus, Denmark - Train
7 - Prague, Czech Republic - Prague Congress Centre
8 - Vienna, Austria - Wiener Stadhalle
10 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra Track
11 -  Warsaw, Poland - Stodola Club
13 - Enschede, Netherlands - Muziekcentrum Enschede
14 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg the Max
15 - Heerlen, Netherlands - RABOzaal Heerlen
16 - Antwerp, Belgium - De Roma
17 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle Oberhausen
18 - Nürnberg, Germany - Löwensaal
20 - Berlin, Germany - Huxley's Neue Welt
22 - Zurich, Switzerland - Volkshaus Zurich
24 - Milano, Italy - Teatro dal Verme
26 - Napoli, Italy - Teatro Augusteo
28 - Lecce, Italy - Teatro Politeama Greco
29 - Roma, Italy - Auditorium Conciliazione
30 - Firenze, Italy - Teatro Verdi


May
2 - Bologna, Italy - Europaditorium
4 - Lyon, France - Transbordeur
5 - Nantes, France - Cité des Congrès
6 - Clermont-Ferrand, France - Coopérative de Mai
7 - Tours, France - Le Vinci
9 - Rennes, France - Le Liberté
10 -  Saint-Malo, France - La Nouvelle Vague
12 - Birmingham, UK - Birmingham Symphony Hall
13 - Gateshead, UK - Gateshead Sage 1
14 - Manchester, UK - Bridgewater Hall
15 - Glasgow, Scotland - O2 Academy Glasgow
16 - Bexhill, UK - Bexhill De La Warr
17 - London, UK - Palladium
19 - Reims, France - La Cartonnerie
20 - Paris, France - L’Olympia
22 - Metz, France - Bam
23 - Besançon, France - La Rodia
24 - Strasbourg, France - La Laiterie
26 - Karlsruhe, Germany - Kulturzentrum Tollhaus Karlsruhe
27 - Winterbach, Germany - Salierhalle Winterbach
30 - Toulouse, France - Théâtre du Casino Barrière
31 - Perpignan, France - Le Médiator


June
1 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Barts
2 - Madrid, Spain - Sala la Riviera
3 - Bilbao, Spain - Santana 27
4 - Bordeaux, France - Théâtre Femina


For further information on specific dates, please contact your local promoter.


(Photo - Eduardo Peña Dolhun)

THE QUIREBOYS' founding frontman Spike has fired back at his former bandmates, saying that he has "no intention" of walking away from the group.

After the British rock stalwarts announced last month that they had parted ways with Spike and "will continue as a five-piece with all other current members," he responded with a statement of his own, saying that he had received "a letter from three of my band members informing me that my services are no longer required to sing or perform with them."

Earlier today, THE QUIREBOYS released a lengthy new statement in which they accused Spike of "refusing" to speak to them and "consistently declining" to meet and discuss band issues over the course of the past nine months. They also claimed that they had "been trading as THE QUIREBOYS through a business registered with Companies House & HMRC for many years, a company Spike was asked to join but declined, preferring instead to be hired on a freelance basis, 'cash in hand'." They reiterated that "Spike does not legally own the band or the name."

Just hours later, Spike, whose real name is Jonathan Gray, released a response to THE QUIREBOYS' statement, insisting that he holds the trademark to THE QUIREBOYS name and accusing his former bandmates of trying to "discredit" him by "say[ing] anything about me they see fit, whether it's true or not."

Spike's full statement reads as follows:

"Once again, I find myself having to clarify points made about me that are untrue, misleading and somewhat dismissive - and at a time when I have aimed to be dignified, respectful - and avoided proactive attempts to make divisive statements.

"Personally, in recent weeks I have been focussed on supporting two dear friends who are seriously ill and, well, there are sometimes more important things in life than shouting about band line-ups. Given what so many people have been through in the last two years, I'm sure many will understand the need for empathy, dignity and perspective.

"First and foremost, I would like to put the music fans first and thank THE QUIREBOYS fans from the bottom of my heart for the enormous show of friendship and support in the last week. It has meant so much at a difficult time and I've needed some time to process the shock of events in the last week. However they now try to re-cast events, I was not expecting their letter and it had a brutal, cold conciseness to it that was so sad.

"Looking forward, I would like to make clear that I have not resigned or walked away from my own band, THE QUIREBOYS, and I have no intention of doing so. As the founder, only original member and singer of THE QUIREBOYS, this is my band, I created the intellectual property that made the band distinctive. Further, I hold the trademark to THE QUIREBOYS name and I also have the name registered with Companies House. My former band members, I believe, work under a different business name - not THE QUIREBOYS. With Guy Bailey, I penned the benchmark QUIREBOYS songs - such as Hey You, I Don't Love You Any More and 7 O'Clock - which have defined the band musically for decades and, to this day, remain the hallmark songs of any QUIREBOYS show.

"During lockdown, the band was inactive as a touring entity and various things made us grow apart, which was sad. I invited them to play the Dice FM show which was declined. As lockdown ended in early Summer 2021, I set out to do some informal acoustic shows to help get people back into small, local venues. To be clear, THE QUIREBOYS were not touring at this time and were in fact rescheduling shows into 2022. They were not active. I was greatly saddened at this time that there were attempts and threats by a band member to disrupt these shows, specifically of me doing some impromptu gigs as Spike from THE QUIREBOYS - which I have always been. Subsequently, I was shocked to then find myself locked out from THE QUIREBOYS social media accounts without any explanation. It was around this time that I went into the studio to record the vocals for the re-recorded version of 'A Bit of What You Fancy'. Despite writing these songs with Guy Bailey, no one personally sent me a copy of the final recordings or artwork. In my mind this said a lot about a lack of friendship or respect towards me.

"Things like this add up and, sadly, change the dynamic between members of a band. The attempt with today's Facebook post to discredit me is riddled with inaccuracies. I'm shocked and appalled some of my former band members think it's fair game to say anything about me they see fit, whether it's true or not. To some, the post may read like an attempt to claw back favour after the understandable fan reaction to their decision to sack me last week.

"Despite the breakdown of relations during the pandemic, band members have seemingly booked some shows without my prior agreement. I understand they now need to honour these commitments but they will need to move forward under a new name.

"I will return with a new QUIREBOYS line up. In fact some of you will probably recognise a few of them.

"All that's for another day. For now, I have some solo dates to play, some personal matters to attend to - and then it'll be time to plan the new era for THE QUIREBOYS. I would never quit the band that's been my life, in the same way I'd never walk out on my fans that rightly expect me to front a band I started - a band called THE QUIREBOYS.

"I will be seeing you at shows and at the bar for a drink very soon.

"God bless, Spike".

THE QUIREBOYS most recently performed without Spike aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise, which departed out of Miami, Florida on February 9.

THE QUIREBOYS put out their most recent album, the well-received "Amazing Disgrace", in 2019.

The band's debut LP, "A Bit of What You Fancy", was released in 1990 and included the song "Hey You", which was THE QUIREBOYS' biggest hit, reaching No. 14 in the U.K. singles chart and No. 5 in the U.S. Billboard Rock chart.

In 2020, THE QUIREBOYS were scheduled to celebrate their 35th anniversary with a tour. The trek, which ended up getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, would also have marked 30 years since the release of "A Bit Of What You Fancy".

Following the band's inception in London in 1984 — originally as THE CHOIRBOYS, then THE QUEERBOYS, before settling on the less controversial name of THE QUIREBOYS — there followed six years of hard graft and personnel changes.

THE QUIREBOYS played to 72,000 people at 1990's Monsters Of Rock at Donington with the likes of WHITESNAKE, AEROSMITH and POISON. They supported THE ROLLING STONES that same year in Newcastle, and opened for GUNS N' ROSES at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and again a couple of years later on their "Use Your Illusion" tour.

The public's appetite for THE QUIREBOYS had returned and hasn't waned since — three further studio releases ("Well Oiled", "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers", "Halfpenny Dancer") were released on various labels from 2004 to 2009 before the band found their new, and permanent, home on Off Yer Rocka, the label of the renowned festival brand Hard Rock Hell.

An anniversary edition — fully re-recorded — of "A Bit Of What You Fancy" drew much acclaim in 2021.




pic.twitter.com/3d1Rx30kts

— The Quireboys Spike Official (@SpikeQuireboys) April 5, 2022






Further to our initial statement last week regarding The Quireboys parting ways with Spike, we'd like to address some of...

Posted by The Quireboys - This Is Rock And Roll on Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Before his voice fills stadiums during AFI's upcoming "Bodies" tour, Davey Havok is speaking out about the cruel forced swim test in a new PETA campaign video released on World Rat Day (April 4). With a rat named Wee Man perched on his shoulder, the singer explains how small animals are dropped into inescapable beakers of water where they swim desperately, trying not to drown in the "behavioral despair test" — which pharmaceutical companies like Eli Lilly have used to screen antidepressant drugs.

"Is that depression that you're measuring?" the musician asks in the video. "No. It's fear. It's trauma. It's fight or flight. … Nothing is gained from that except their suffering. And no animals deserve that. No animals deserve to be treated like that."

PETA and Havok are urging Eli Lilly to ban the forced swim test, which studies have shown to be notoriously inaccurate. The company has tormented a total of 3,400 mice and rats in this test since 1993, and after nearly 30 years, none of the drugs it has attempted to develop using this test are on the market.

In addition to pushing for modern, animal-free testing methods, Havok advocates against speciesism — the false notion that humans are superior to other species, who are nothing more than commodities to use and abuse at will. Playing with Wee Man, he adds, "All life has value, and it's not our place to choose which life is more valuable than another … Rats do not deserve to suffer. Just like your dog or your cat, they feel pain and they feel joy. And they give and receive love — just like this little guy right here."

Havok is part of a growing list of celebrities — including Paul McCartney, Iggy Pop, Dave Navarro, Nikki Sixx and RZA — who've teamed up with PETA to promote its motto, which reads, "Animals are not ours to experiment on, eat, wear, use for entertainment, or abuse in any other way."

THE QUIREBOYS have released a statement explaining their decision to part ways with their lead singer Spike (real name Jonathan Gray).

Late last month, the long-running U.K. rockers announced that they had split with the frontman and revealed their intention to continue as a five-piece, with longtime guitarist Guy Griffin handling the vocals.

A short time later, Spike took to his Twitter to write that he had received a letter from "3 of MY band members informing me that my services are no longer required to sing or perform with them." He went on to refer to himself as "THE QUIREBOYS founder, only original member and singer."

After a couple of concert promoters canceled THE QUIREBOYS' previously announced appearances, the band issued the following statement: "Further to our initial statement last week regarding THE QUIREBOYS parting ways with Spike, we'd like to address some of the questions and speculation that have arisen.

"Spike was informed of our decision to part ways with him via a phone call from the band's manager two weeks prior to receiving the letter, which was just legal confirmation, as he refused to speak to us. Spike has consistently declined to meet and discuss band issues over the course of the past nine months.

"Our decision was not taken lightly and is the culmination of not just months but years of persistent problems, as many working in the music industry know.

"Most recently we had to deal with his last-minute nonappearance on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise as well as the double-booking of solo shows in a bid to jeopardise contracted QUIREBOYS shows, including those in France this past weekend and our forthcoming US tour. There are many more instances of cancelled shows and systematically trying to undermine us thus causing stress and uncertainty to both our crew and ourselves.

"Spike's solo performances are not and have never been an issue, but doing them without any consultation with the band or management is. Our shows are booked months in advance of being announced and all band members receive the dates in good time. It is up to us all individually to manage our calendars accordingly and to ensure that any other projects we have do not interfere with THE QUIREBOYS schedule. Ultimately, if we do not fulfil our contracted tour schedule, the band makes no money and any deposits would need to be refunded.

"We have been trading as THE QUIREBOYS through a business registered with Companies House & HMRC for many years, a company Spike was asked to join but declined, preferring instead to be hired on a freelance basis, 'cash in hand'. Therefore, there is absolutely no fraudulent use of the name by us. Spike does not legally own the band or the name.

"The pandemic hit our company and band hard, as it did many in the industry. After an 18 month struggle to pay bills and keep the band solvent whilst supporting our families, we were dismayed to come into possession of a contract that Spike's Agent had been sending out on his instruction stating: 'Please note that THE QUIREBOYS will not be performing any 'unplugged' shows in 2022' - and so just like that, 50% of our future income was gone before we had even had a chance to play again.

"None of us asked to be put into this position. We are a band who has been playing together for over twenty years with nine albums' worth of music to our name. In addition, as most fans would know, Guy Griffin has played on every QUIREBOYS album to date, writing many of the tracks you love. Why should we be denied the opportunity to play the songs we wrote or performed on and not be able to protect our livelihoods?

"Let the music do the talking."

THE QUIREBOYS most recently performed without Spike aboard this year's Monsters Of Rock cruise, which departed out of Miami, Florida on February 9.

THE QUIREBOYS put out their most recent album, the well-received "Amazing Disgrace", in 2019.

The band's debut LP, "A Bit of What You Fancy", was released in 1990 and included the song "Hey You", which was THE QUIREBOYS' biggest hit, reaching No. 14 in the U.K. singles chart and No. 5 in the U.S. Billboard Rock chart.

In 2020, THE QUIREBOYS were scheduled to celebrate their 35th anniversary with a tour. The trek, which ended up getting canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, would also have marked 30 years since the release of "A Bit Of What You Fancy".

Following the band's inception in London in 1984 — originally as THE CHOIRBOYS, then THE QUEERBOYS, before settling on the less controversial name of THE QUIREBOYS — there followed six years of hard graft and personnel changes.

THE QUIREBOYS played to 72,000 people at 1990's Monsters Of Rock at Donington with the likes of WHITESNAKE, AEROSMITH and POISON. They supported THE ROLLING STONES that same year in Newcastle, and opened for GUNS N' ROSES at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and again a couple of years later on their "Use Your Illusion" tour.

The public's appetite for THE QUIREBOYS had returned and hasn't waned since — three further studio releases ("Well Oiled", "Homewreckers & Heartbreakers", "Halfpenny Dancer") were released on various labels from 2004 to 2009 before the band found their new, and permanent, home on Off Yer Rocka, the label of the renowned festival brand Hard Rock Hell.

An anniversary edition — fully re-recorded — of "A Bit Of What You Fancy" drew much acclaim in 2021.


Further to our initial statement last week regarding The Quireboys parting ways with Spike, we'd like to address some of...

Posted by The Quireboys - This Is Rock And Roll on Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Icelandic ambient rock band, Kontinuum, premier their brand new track, "Hafið Logar", in the form of a lyric video. Watch below.


Says the band: "Continuing our works inspired by the sculptor Einar Jónsson, we bring you, 'Hafið Logar'. The song grew from his statue "Mold (Earth)", which depicts our final resting place in the arms of the earth. At the time of writing, we had a different war in mind. Iceland's long-standing history of its fight against the sea. A brutal and ruthless enemy, we depended on for our survival.  Our journey is always destined to come to an end, right back where we started from. But today, there's a different meaning hiding in there.  Another time, another war, another villain."


Pre-save the single here.