Italian power metallers played their first live show in two years on February 19th at the Legend Club in Milan, Italy. It was the band's first show with the new members Fabiola Bellomo (lead guitar), Niso Tomasini (drums), and Francesco Zoff (bass). Fan-filmed video from the show can be viewed below. 


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"Neverending"
"Embrace the Night" (live debut)
"The Water Dancer" (live debut)
"In The Dark"
"Everwinter"
"Far Beyond" (live debut)
"Kings"
"I Am the Tyrant"
"Night Crawler" (Judas Priest cover)
"The Shieldmaiden"

Sam Astaroth, the Toronto-based frontman for Astaroth Incarnate, issued a message in October 2021 announcing the band had called it quits then. He has since made the decision to forge onward as a solo artist. Below is Sam's one take cover of Gostemane's "Fed Up" featuring guitarist Cody Johnstone.





Following is Sam's message announcing the end of Astaroth Incarnate:




"R.I.P. Astaroth Incarnate 2013-2021


Thank you, spawns, for the years of support.


Due to creative differences, the members of the band are going their separate ways and focusing on their individual projects.


From our humble beginnings back in 2013 with vocalist Sam Astaroth and first drummer Jake Theo and guitarist Pablo Sagastume (Netherheart) and his cousin Louis auditioning each other to Belphegor's Stigma Diabolicum to have come to this point, there are nothing but great memories to be reflected upon.


Our bassist Sergio (Where The Light Fades) joining the fold afterwards to finding our first live drummer Marina, getting the taste of playing shows, the exhilarating rush of connecting with our fans from on and off the stage, the feeling couldn't be compared to anything else.


Our drummer Emile Giordan (Working Girl) originally joined as a second guitarist and played one live show before switching to permanent drum duties. Our previous guitarist Ric Galvez (Malice Divine) being a part of our first EP Omnipotence to contributing solos on our second EP, a lot of epic Extreme Metal shows were had. Once Ashley Williams (Autumnal Reflection) joined as keyboardist, the band took a symphonic extreme metal direction and with the help of Spencer Creaghan's orchestration, we released our second EP Ascendance and our live shows took yet another leap forward with bloodwitches and surreal metaphoric theatrics.


During the covid lockdown being away from shows, we mostly spent time writing and recording new musical ideas and when we put all our ideas together and assessed how we want to represent ourselves and move forward with our musical careers, we felt like we've all grown differently so it felt best to go our separate ways.





As the visionary member of this band; I, Astaroth, couldn't have asked for a better experience for the last 8 years, being that this is the first band I have ever been in which I had the pleasure of seeing it grow from it's inception to re-creating my persona as Astaroth (from my pro-gaming days as t3h_mAstArOth since I was 16) and seeing my artistic career flourish thanks to this band.


I want everyone to check out all the other band member's individual projects I tagged,and if you like what you hear then show them some support as they are all great musicians and I am very thankful to have been able to spend quality time jamming, hanging out, playing shows and creating memorable experiences with such awesome people.


I also want to thank our producers Alex Oprea and Tyler Williams for handling our 2 EPs so professionally, all the promoters such as Dina, Gualberto (r.i.p.), Tristan, Jess, Kelly, Cristina, Craig, Max, Gillian, Shawn, JJ, Daniel, Aaron, Karina, Noel, etc who supported us with all the shows we played, all the venues we played at, our previous record label CDN Records, Train Records for printing our CDs, Chase from Threads of Society for all the merch we printed from you, our artists Dee Gozali (r.i.p.) and Marie Cherniy for our album artworks, our PR companies Kim & Jason and Curtis that helped with our album releases, Reka, Mike, Joe and Alan for all our music videos, Jordy, Jerome and Andrew for all the themed band photos, all the bloodwitches who ever performed with me on stage, Timothy, Gaia and Alina for singing with me on stage and all the amazing musicians and sick metal bands that we have ever shared the staged with. Thank you for your support, you all rule!


Most importantly, I can't end this post without showing my utmost gratitude to each and everyone of you Spawns for believing in Astaroth Incarnate and making my first band experience memorable for a lifetime! I have had the best time getting to know you, meet you at shows, talk to you online and in person, genuinely connect with you and thoroughly enjoy your positive energy towards this band. I am a fan of you! never stop being your awesome self!


This is a new beginning for me and aside from the musical projects I am currently involved in or which I have contributed my vocals to (Iomair, Haven Dream, My Frost, In Veil). I feel like I am about to embark on a very personal adventure and fully discover myself in a newly reinvigorated dark Demonic light. I would love for you to be a part of this exciting new stage of my musical career so come follow my activities Linktr.ee/SamAstaroth as I'll be able to connect with you more closely than ever before. The artistic journey of Astaroth shall continue as a solo project under my artist name Sam Astaroth.


It's been a wild ride and none of it would have been possible without your love and support. Thank you so much, spawns!

Brazilian hard rockers Wicked Razor have released the energetic track "Back 2 The 80's" as a single and music video, featuring renowned musicians from the Brazilian scene - Rodrigo Marenna (vocals/Marenna) and Alexsandro Gabrielli (guitar/Fighter).


Influenced by bands like Guns N' Roses, WASP and Mötley Crüe, and because of the track's title itself, which already opens up a true nostalgic ode to the fervent 80's, Wicked Razor vigorously bring together the exquisite union between hard rock and glam rock with the weight of heavy metal, all equipped with an aggressive footprint.

"Back 2 The 80's" will be featured on the upcoming debut album from Wicked Razor entitled, The Bad Boys Guide, to be released later this year.







(Photo by Gabriel Lunardi)


 

During his February 19 spoken-word show at Uptown Theater in Kansas City, Missouri, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson recalled how he personally flew Royal Air Force pilots home from Afghanistan to RAF Wittering in 2008, taking control of a Boeing 747 chartered by the Ministry of Defence to transport RAF pilots back to the U.K. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "One of the jobs that we had at the airline I worked for, we had an airplane permanently allocated to the military to go and take people places — not to wars, but we'd take them to bases. And sometimes we flew people back. And sometimes we flew people back who had been in Afghanistan, for example, been in a war. They would go somewhere for two or three weeks to try and readjust and then we'd take them back. And one particular flight, we were the flying the Royal Air Force Regiment, which is RAF boots on the ground, soldiers. And they'd been to Afghanistan. It was an unusual flight 'cause we were returning them to their actual home base — not to a military airfield and then they get on a coach and they go back to their barracks. Where they were based had a runway, and we were told to go direct there. They had taken some casualties and they had lost some people. But they were all really cheerful; the best passengers you could ever have in the military — I mean, seriously… And we flew them into a place called the RAF Wittering, which is where they invented the Harrier Jump Jet. So, as we were coming in to land, we stopped and we blew the reverse thrust. And I had a female co-pilot, first officer. And we were looking out, and all really close to the runway were families, kids, all the families and wives and everybody of all the soldiers, and they were all [holding signs saying], 'You're my hero, daddy' and everything else. I mean, it was very emotional. And we actually had to stop the airplane 'cause my co-pilot was welling up and so was I. We were both trying not to [cry]. I went, 'Okay, we're gonna stop. We're gonna blow our noses, make sure we can fucking see where we're going and then do the job. 'Cause this is really exceptional.' The last thing you wanna do is go, 'It was so emotional, we ended up in a fucking ditch.' So, we dropped them off and that was it. So that was one of the more memorable flights — the sort of thing we used to do."

Two years ago, Dickinson was officially attested into the Royal Air Force, the United Kingdom's aerial warfare force. The British singer was awarded the role of Honorary Group Captain.

Bruce has held a commercial pilot's license for more than 20 years.

Dickinson had other connections with the RAF, having completed an emergency landing at RAF Halton in 2015. He was flying his Fokker triplane when it began to run low on fuel.

Last month, Bruce, who flew his group around the world in their customized jumbo jet dubbed Ed Force One, named after MAIDEN's iconic mascot Eddie, told the Associated Press that he will not be sitting in the pilot's seat when he and his bandmates return to the road later this year. "Oh, no, no, no, no," he said. "We're going to be flying and I'm going to be in the back. Hey, look, I'm 63 — I'm 64 in August. You know, when you get to 65, if you're an airline pilot, they just take you out the back and shoot, right? So, I'm going to be sitting in the back being the backseat driver."

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), commercial pilots have to retire at age 65. There is currently no maximum age limit for being a private pilot or for being an Air Force pilot.

Dickinson gained a commercial pilot's license after learning to fly in the 1990s. In 2012 he set up Cardiff Aviation, an aircraft maintenance company which has since changed its name to Caerdav.

Bruce, who spent a few years flying planes for Astraeus Airlines, told CNN in a 2007 interview: "Aviation's been kicking around my family for as long as I can remember; my uncle was in the RAF. But I always thought I was too stupid. I was useless at maths and majored in history at university, so I thought history majors don't become pilots, let alone rock stars. And then our drummer learned to fly, so I said, 'If a drummer can learn to fly, then anyone can.'"

Dickinson told Wales Online that he still gets a thrill out of flying, but that it's a totally different sensation to playing live.

"The satisfaction flying airplanes is getting the job done, but the satisfaction with playing live is external, looking out at all the people looking at you," he said. "With an airliner, it's all internal. If you've got passengers, nobody goes, 'Wow! Wasn't that great?' They're thinking about the rest of their day. Your job as an airline pilot is to deliver them safely and be invisible. That's quite nice for me because it's completely the opposite to what I do when I sing."

Bruce will hit the road with IRON MAIDEN for a new North American leg of the band's "Legacy Of The Beast" tour in September.

Los Angeles groundbreaking pioneers of the rap/hardcore hybrid and outspoken sociopolitical activists DOWNSET have officially joined forces with Nuclear Blast Records and are currently plotting one of the genre's greatest comebacks. To mark the occasion, the band has partnered with the label to reissue the controversial demos that helped ignite a street led movement around the world, "Anger/Ritual" seven-inch single and "About Ta Blast" seven-inch single, which were initially released 30 years ago.

Commenting on the signing to Nuclear Blast, founding guitarist Rogelio Lozano says: "Being signed to Nuclear Blast is a big honor for me. It's a great organization/record label and working with the people there has been nothing but pleasant, professional experience. Nuclear Blast is the #1 heavy metal label in the world with so many great bands and amazing album releases. It gives my band and me the feeling of being a part of something special. We feel right at home, excited and look forward into the re-release of the first two original 7" records as a reissued bundle, as well as our forthcoming sixth album!

"Look out for a mix of old-school sound and 12 songs featuring the new era of DOWNSET in 2022. With our new lineup, Bobby Blood Ponte on drums, Phillip Gonzales on bass, myself on guitar and OG Rey Oropeza on vocals, we plan on continuing the legacy with future albums to come. WE ARE BACK!!"

Additionally, DOWNSET has revealed a new music video today for the bonus demo track "Breed The Killer" which features vintage live footage of them performing the song. Watch the video below.

"Anger/Ritual" 7" track listing:

01. Anger (Demo)

02. Ritual (Spoken Protest) (Demo)

"About Ta Blast" 7" track listing:

01. About Ta Blast (Demo)

02. Body Cry (Demo)

03. Breed The Killer (Demo)

Monumental progress doesn't occur overnight. Some of man kind's most powerful words don't come from education or privilege, but erupt from the pain and roughness of the streets; they smolder through the cracks in the concrete until eventually grand truths are revealed, and the winds of change slowly emerge. It is with these notions in mind that old-school hardcore kings DOWNSET began to surface in Los Angeles, California in the early 1980s.

The genesis of DOWNSET itself was not one of entitlement or handouts, either. Originally formed with a straight edge mentality under the name of SOCIAL JUSTICE, the members of DOWNSET have been fighting against societal injustice for a long time. Oropeza began using graffiti as its own language for change in about 1982. "I would hit the streets… and when you hit the streets there's violence, there's racial injustice; it's not just violence in the sense of someone pulling out a gun on someone else, there's a violence that can happen to anybody, you can be rich, poor, male, female… and these things affect people for the rest of their lives," he explains. The group eventually released demos and shifted from SOCIAL JUSTICE to DOWNSET. "It has multiple meanings," explains Lozano (CYPRESS HILL, POWERFLO). "Some people are set up in life, some are down with a set, but it also means to start off underprivileged; to have a life full of disadvantages." All of these notions and inspirations eventually procured a self-titled studio album that was released in 1994 via Mercury Records.

A musical style that was distinctly hardcore combined with Oropeza's MC abilities allowed DOWNSET to stand out from other metal acts, while still being able to achieve a variety of tours with some of the most prominent bands of the time. After member rearrangements, and the 1996 release of "Do We Speak A Dead Language", the band went on to join the original "Tattoo The Earth" tour in 2000 with the likes of SLAYER, SEPULTURA, MUDVAYNE and more. This all coincided perfectly with the release of "Check Your People", and once again the band was on the hustle. With more member changes and the release of "Universal" a few years later in 2004, followed up by self-released "One Blood" in 2014, the band went on hiatus.

DOWNSET is:

Rey Oropeza - Vocals

Rogelio Lozano - Guitar

Phillip Gonzales - Bass

Bobby Blood - Drums

Fan-filmed video of QUIET RIOT's February 18 performance at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut can be seen below. Also on the bill were Stephen Pearcy (RATT) and SLAUGHTER.

QUIET RIOT's current touring lineup includes bassist Rudy Sarzo who recently rejoined the band after an 18-year absence.

Rudy was one of the members of QUIET RIOT's "Metal Health" lineup. He played bass on the classic LP, which sold over ten million copies and spawned the hits "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Metal Health" and on the follow-up record "Condition Critical".

Sarzo appeared in the most notable music videos in the MTV age and toured with the band until 1985 and again from 1997 to 2003. During his years out of the band, Sarzo was a member of OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, DIO, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, QUEENSRŸCHE and THE GUESS WHO.

Joining Sarzo in QUIET RIOT's current lineup are guitarist Alex Grossi, vocalist Jizzy Pearl and drummer Johnny Kelly.

Drummer Frankie Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on "Metal Health", died in August 2020 after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer. A month after Banali's death, QUIET RIOT announced that it would carry on.

Grossi was in the last version of the band, from 2004 through 2007, before founding singer Kevin DuBrow passed away, and was asked by Banali to return in 2010.

When QUIET RIOT's 2022 tour dates were first announced in January, Grossi said in a statement: "We can't wait to get back out there and see everyone. The first few shows with Rudy back have gone over really well and the audiences are very excited to see him perform these songs again."

Added Sarzo: "I'm excited to be back home and celebrate the QUIET RIOT legacy, which began 40 years ago next year with the recording of 'Metal Health', the first heavy metal album to reach #1 on the Billboard top 200 albums chart."

QUIET RIOT went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before settling on Pearl in 2013. Pearl announced his exit from QUIET RIOT in October 2016 and was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of "American Idol" finalist James Durbin. Pearl returned to QUIET RIOT in September 2019.

For a complete list of upcoming QUIET RIOT shows, visit QuietRiot.Band.

Sarzo discussed his return to QUIET RIOT in a recent interview with Adika Live!. He said: "My decision, in addition to [it] being Frankie's request that I return to the band, was a decision that I had to meditate on it, because it is that important. Not meditate whether it was the right decision to make or not — no, that wasn't the point — it was to meditate about the timing of it. Because it could not be an abrupt decision that you drop everything you're doing and you change the band.

"Regina [Frankie's widow] and I, we sat and we talked about it, and we said, 'Okay, the best thing to do is to let everybody fulfill their commitments.' Because I have commitments to the band that I've been playing in for the last five years, THE GUESS WHO. And I wasn't about to tell them, 'Hey, I'm outta here, guys. Good luck.' I've never done that. So I have commitments with them. And QUIET RIOT has commitments with [longtime bassist] Chuck Wright. And we felt that the only thing that we can do, really — [we felt] that all these commitments must be fulfilled so our agreements with everybody is fulfilled."

Rudy went on to say that he has been "making the transition" and "embracing again the whole QUIET RIOT consciousness" by going "back and playing the songs" again. "And actually, it's been wonderful because, I've gotta tell you, to be able to go back to something that you did 40 years ago with the musician I am today, I'm looking at the songs a little bit different, as far as my own contributions," he said. "Of course, it's not gonna be something that is gonna turn into completely something else, but there are certain note choices that I can improve on."

Two short video clips of DEICIDE rehearsing with its new guitarist Taylor Nordberg (THE ABSENCE, INHUMAN CONDITION) can be seen below.

Earlier in the month, Nordberg spoke about how he landed the DEICIDE gig in an interview with "The Zach Moonshine Show". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "In 2019, my band THE ABSENCE toured with DEICIDE in the U.S. And we got to know the guys and got along really well. And I actually found out that Glen [Benton, DEICIDE frontman] lives, like, two streets over from Jeramie [Kling, THE ABSENCE drummer] and I, where we live. So Jeramie and Glen became good buddies and they ride bikes all the times. It's a funny little thing, thinking about that. But long story short, [previous DEICIDE guitarist] Chris [Cannella], I believe he's the head of A&R at Dean Guitars so he's focusing on that for right now. I heard that they needed a guitar player, so I learned a couple of songs, made a couple of videos, and Glen saw 'em and liked what he saw. So we had a couple of practices, and bing bang boom, here we are."

Asked if he has worked on any new material with DEICIDE or if he has just been focusing on getting the old songs down, Taylor said: "Well, when they first asked me to start learning songs, they said, 'Start learning [the] 'Legion' [album], because this year is the 30th anniversary of 'Legion'. So later on in the year, we're gonna be playing it start to finish live. So that's been the main focus over the last couple of weeks — just hammering down those 'Legion' songs, which that's been a blast to just delve into those tunes and that songwriting… Right now, we're focusing on the 'Legion' stuff and then, obviously, me just trying to learn a full set. Otherwise, there is new songs that we've been working on. Like I said, we're kind of just focusing on the 'Legion' stuff for right now, but there's definitely a ton of killer new material on the way. I don't know what the time frame is — when we'll record or anything like that — but there is new music, and it's killer so far."

Cannella amicably left DEICIDE last month after a three-year run.

When Benton first announced Nordberg's addition to DEICIDE, he said in a statement: "We are pleased to announce and welcome Taylor Nordberg to the DEICIDE family! An amazing and accomplished guitarist who takes our sound to the next level and brings a profound level of professionalism that completes and compliments the DEICIDE machine!"

Cannella said in a separate statement: "Yes, it is true. I am no longer in DEICIDE. There is no drama and we all kept it quiet as to not lead into drama or speculation.

"I have all the love and respect for Glen, Steve and Kevin. I had so many great times over the last three years I cherish for a lifetime, especially the friendship.

"Cheers to all and thanks for all the love and support. I'm excited for what's to come."

Cannella joined DEICIDE in 2019 following the departure of guitarist Mark English.

English became a member of DEICIDE in 2016 after the exit of longtime guitarist Jack Owen.

DEICIDE's latest album, "Overtures Of Blasphemy", was released in September 2018 via Century Media.
























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Finnish death-doom spearhead Kuolemanlaakso, led by Swallow the Sun vocalist Mikko Kotamäki, have released the third and final single from their upcoming album 'Kuusumu'. The new song, titled "Surusta meri suolainen", is out today.





Commenting on the track, the band shares:




"Surusta meri suolainen is based on the Justinian plague breaking out in Europe in 541. There were so many corpses laying around in the streets of Constantinople in 542 that the Byzantine emperor Justinian I asked his subordinates to pile the carcasses on ships, transport them to the open sea and throw them overboard. After a while the waves brought these putrid bodies back to shore as humanary rafts. The title translates to ‘Sea Salty of Sorrow’, which refers to the tears of those who lost their loved ones."


Adding, "Musically it's basically a map of what this band is all about: heavy riffs, rich dynamics, different styles of vocals, and juicy twists and turns."





Kuusumu is Kuolemanlaakso’s first album in eight years and their most versatile work to date. In addition to the traditional Kuolemanlaakso heaviness, the album contains fast and bombastic material. The album was co-produced, mixed, mastered and engineered by the Triptykon and Dark Fortress guitarist V. Santura, with whom the band has worked with on all of their releases. The female vocals were performed by Lotta Ruutiainen from Luna Kills.


Kuusumu will be released in 2022 via Svart Records, with the CD version releasing on April 3 and vinyl following on July 29.  Preorder at SvartRecords.com.


The first digital single, "Katkeruuden malja", is streaming below:





"Tulessakävelijä":





Lineup:


Kotamäki - vocals
Laakso - guitar, backing vocals
Kouta - guitar
Usva - bass
Tiera - drums


(Photo - Riku Jokinen)

On the heels of his blistering first single from the upcoming album, Shades, acclaimed King’s X guitarist, songwriter, and co-vocalist Ty Tabor has released the album’s latest single, “Insane”.


The hard-hitting track features a devastating solo from Ty amongst thick layers of guitars and a tight rhythm section. “Insane” builds upon the brooding and intense atmosphere of first single “Sister Genocide,” laying the bedrock of Ty’s forthcoming solo offering out on March 4.


The static video for “Insane” can be seen below:







Shades is out on March 4 via Rat Pak Records. The upcoming album features 10 brand new songs with 3 bonus tracks and follows the successful release of 2018’s Alien Beans. Shades is available for pre-order in various configurations including CD, vinyl and digital download, here.


From the opening chords of “Come Home,” it is clear that Ty Tabor’s trademark guitar tone lays the bedrock for his latest solo release Shades. Ty tackles a wide array of emotions and topics with layered harmonies, hooky pop sensibilities, and the total riffage that remains a crucial ingredient to the King’s X sound. Songs like “What You’re Thinking,” “One Drop Of Water,” and “Doesn’t Linger” show Ty’s penchant for crafting tunes with tremendous melodies, while songs like “Shallow,” and “Your Fantasy,” trend heavy and exemplify why Ty is one of the most influential guitarists of the last three decades.





Shades tracklisting:


"Come Home"
"Shallow"
"Your Fantasy"
"What You're Thinking"
"Sister Genocide"
"Best Day In A While"
"Insane"
"One Drop Of Water"
"Doesn’t Linger"
"Leaves Falling Down"
"Ashes" - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
"Political Nonsense" - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]
"Ashes" (Acoustic) - (Bonus Track) [CD & Digital Download only]


"Sister Genocide" lyric video:





(Photo - Reames Photography)

Bruck Kulick recently announced: "Each week I will be sharing a video of the second set at the Stardust Theater, filmed by my wife Lisa from the balcony. It's a great way to 'be there.' Enjoy!"


Today he releases "All Hell's Breakin' Loose" from the show, which can be viewed below. A message states: "Here's a great song from Lick It Up that KISS never performs. It has an amazing main riff, as well as awesome rap style lyrics sung here by Todd Kerns. We dedicated it to Eric Carr, since he is a co-writer with Paul Stanley along with Gene and Vinnie. The crowd loved hearing this live!"







Kulick and his band have performed on the last three KISS Kruises: KKXIII, KKIX, and KKX. His band plays songs from the '80s and '90s that aren't usually performed by KISS. Joining guitarist Bruce Kulick in his band are: Todd Kerns - lead vocals / guitar, Zach Throne - vocals / bass, and Brent Fitz - drums / vocals.


Watch previous videos from the Kruise:




















Creatures Fest 2022 will take place Memorial Day Weekend, May 27 - 29 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel. Get ready for three nights of live music. Bruce Kulick has been added to the lineup, which already included KISS alumni Ace Frehley and Vinnie Vincent. Organizers are calling this "The Holy Trinity."


Thus far, eleven Creatures Fest performers have been announced: Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent, Bruce Kulick, Quiet Riot, Enuff Z'Nuff, Vixen, Trixter (acoustic), Pretty Boy Floyd, Kuarantine, John Corabi, and Kore Rozzik.


Complete details, including ticket info, can be found at creaturesfest.com.

Former HANOI ROCKS guitarist Nasty Suicide (born Jan-Markus Stenfors) has revealed that he is battling prostate cancer. The 58-year-old musician discussed his diagnosis in a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine which focused primarily on promoting the upcoming debut album from his new band STENFORS.

He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I can talk about it. It's no secret. And it actually had a role to play in recording the [STENFORS] album as well. When we decided we're gonna do the album, everything was fine. But then, as soon as we started doing it, I got my diagnosis of prostate cancer. So that was, like, 'Oooh. What's gonna happen with the album then?' [laughs] was first at mind. Well, anyway, it didn't affect that at all — except that, obviously, then when I went into chemo in the summer while we were doing the recording bit by bit, it did affect, obviously — it affects everything; it goes everywhere, and it's nasty stuff [laughs], but it's supposed to take care of the cancer, so I've always taken it as a thing — you're supposed to feel like something. But it kind of affected me a little bit while we were doing the recording, but I think it went pretty well.

"So, I'm through the chemo part now and I've been through it for a few months and feeling really good," he continued. "Now we started the radiation phase, so until the end of March I'm going to radiation every day. So, bit by bit, they're giving the disease the dose that it needs."

As for his prognosis, Jan said: "It's been positive. Actually, the direction is really good. I'm pretty confident that it's just gonna be kind of chronic state; you have to go to checkups and give it a little dose of something every now and again. I feel good. I mean, I feel nothing from it."

Nasty Suicide is best known as one of the founding members of HANOI ROCKS, the legendary Finnish rock band whose trashy, hedonistic, decadent hard rock/pop-metal boogie influenced many Los Angeles acts, including GUNS N' ROSES and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

HANOI ROCKS originally broke on to the hard rock scene in the first half of the 1980s, becoming one of the first Finnish bands to make an international impact. HANOI ROCKS's career was subsequently derailed after drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley's 1984 death in a car accident caused by MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil. Internal tensions and the commercial disappointment that was 1985's "Rock & Roll Divorce" led to singer Michael Monroe leaving the band that year, thus putting an early end to HANOI ROCKS.

STENFORS's debut single, "Then It's Gone", was released on February 18. A full-length LP, "Family Album", will arrive in June.

After the breakup of HANOI ROCKS, Nasty Suicide and his former bandmate Andy McCoy recorded an acoustic album under the name THE SUICIDE TWINS which was released in 1986 and was titled "Silver Missiles And Nightingales". They also started THE CHERRY BOMBZ, which included Timo Caltio on bass (later replaced by Dave Tregunna), Terry Chimes on drums and singer Anita Chellemah. THE CHERRY BOMBZ released two EPs, "The Cherry Bombz" (1985) and "House Of Ecstasy" (1986) as well as a live album, "Coming Down Slow" (1986). After THE CHERRY BOMBZ, Nasty went on to form his own band CHEAP AND NASTY, which was active from 1990 to 1994. Suicide was also a member of Monroe's band DEMOLITION 23 in the early Nineties. After the breakup of DEMOLITION 23, Suicide recorded an album under his given name, titled "Vinegar Blood", in 1996; it was released in Finland only.

Former EXODUS guitarist Rick Hunolt has launched a new band called DIE HUMANE.

The news of Hunolt's project was shared by BLIND ILLUSION's Mark Biedermann who took to his Facebook Saturday night (February 19) to write: "Here's what's really going on. Rick Hunolt's new band DIE HUMANE is going to blow your mind. I wish I could share what he gave me but just know this it is fresh, new and different with amazing vocals and top notch Guitar playing! That is after one listen to one song. Now let me get back to you in a few minutes as I have just received more. Dang it's good to be in the loop! Thank you Rick!"

Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.

Rick discussed his exit from EXODUS during a November 2021 appearance on "Put Up Your Dukes", the new podcast hosted by ex-EXODUS singer Rob Dukes. He said: "During the recording of 'Tempo', Gary [Holt, EXODUS guitarist] had just gotten clean a little while prior to that, and I was still using. But I've gotta say, Gary Holt — my hat's off to the man for… He never sweated me. Not once did Gary say, 'Dude, you're a piece of shit. I'm gonna fire you from the band if you don't get your shit together.' He never said nothing. He let it take its course, you know what I mean?

"I was a mess," Rick continued. "We all were, but everybody got better, and I didn't. I fell down the rabbit hole even worse, I think, because I was just so depressed. I couldn't stop. I don't know what was up… To the point where I was gonna lose my position in the band I'd been in for over 20 years — my best friends, my life. Yeah, it was dark as fuck.

"One day, after spending my life, giving everything that I had and the whole world to EXODUS, one day I woke up and I wasn't in EXODUS anymore," Hunolt added. "And that morning was, like… Dude, I can't even describe the emotions that I [was feeling]. I woke up and I wasn't in EXODUS anymore, dude. It damn near took me out, bro."

Rick revealed that he went through a particularly difficult period after splitting with EXODUS. "I had to reinvent myself at 40-plus years old, [with] two little kids," he said. "I ended up moving out of Oakland. I had to get the fuck out of there, 'cause we were living at the studio; it was bad. And then we moved in with my wife's mom and I got a job at the [discount chain] Dollar Tree and I ended up working there for, like, two or three years. I mean, I can go on and on and on. But long story short, I met a guy who knew who I was and offered me a job on his ranch. And the rest is history. He taught me how to live my life and make money."

Hunolt makes a guest appearance on EXODUS's new studio album, "Persona Non Grata", which was released in November via Nuclear Blast Records.

The San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' latest disc is the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was their first release since the departure of Dukes, the group's lead singer of nine years, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

Back in April 2019, Hunolt rejoined Holt and other EXODUS members Tom Hunting (drums) and Souza to perform several of the group's classic songs during a METAL ALLEGIANCE concert in San Francisco, California. More recently, Hunolt joined EXODUS on stage in August at Psycho Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Kirk Hammett (now in METALLICA) and Tim Agnello, Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before EXODUS's debut album, "Bonded By Blood", saw the light of day.


Here's what's really going on. Rick Hunolt's new band DIE HUMANE is going to blow your mind.I wish I could share what he…

Posted by Mark Biedermann on Saturday, February 19, 2022

Bomber Alley is following up from their well received sleezy hard rock tune “We Get By” with an amazingly slick cover version of Def Leppard’s classic song “Lady Strange”. The song was produced by Dee Snider’s solo band drummer & producer, Nicky Bellmore at Dexters Lab Recording in Milford, CT, (recording home for Hatebreed, Jasta, Dee Snider). It will once again be released on the newly formed label Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. via The Orchard. Available to stream and download digitally now at this location.


Bomber Alley’s version of “Lady Strange” will also be licensed and put out on an official Def Leppard tribute album coming out soon on FnA Records.







Here’s what Russell Pzütto, bassist of Dee Snider’s solo band had to say about playing on this track…. “Bomber Alley definitely delivered for their rendition of 'Lady Strange' an old favorite of mine! It was my pleasure to throw down bass tracks and add the bottom end to the song.”


“Bomber Alley’s all about that old-school vibe, and this 'Lady Strange' cover is a testament to that. Shredding through a modern take on such a nostalgic sound and style with these dudes is a total blast!” adds Nick Petrino - Guitarist (Dee Snider band).





Bomber Alley, reminiscing the early GN’R era sound & attitude, is lead by long time LA sleeze rocker and well known drum tech, Talon Blaque, who stated, “I’m super stoked on the music we are writing & creating & also excited of what the future holds for Bomber Alley. Working with Opus of Dead By Wednesday‘s new label venture Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. finally feels like we have a solid home for our awesome music that will actually get out there. They will take the time to nurture us & understand music unlike many other hit & run labels out there only looking for a quick buck. Tons of cool things to come including some tour dates TBA as well so please stay tuned!!”


Stay tuned for a follow up Bomber Alley tune and EP in early 2022 coming out on Mindsnap Music / Von Artists, Ltd. via The Orchard. For further details, visit Bomber Alley on Facebook.


“We Get By” lyric video:





 

Swedish occult rockers GHOST will release their fifth album, "Impera", on March 11 via Loma Vista/Concord. The band's leader, Tobias Forge, worked on the follow-up to 2018's "Prequelle" with producer Klas Åhlund and Swedish co-writers Salem Al Fakir and Vincent Pontare, whose credits include Madonna and Lady Gaga.

Forge discussed the "Impera" songwriting process in a new interview with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He said: "In every band I've ever had, every song I've ever written, I was always called a dictator, a control freak who couldn't work with anyone else. And I am a dictator and control freak. But I can work with people."

Regarding his collaboration with Åhlund, Al Fakir and Pontare, as well as OPETH's Fredrik Åkesson who was brought in to sharpen the album's guitar attack, Forge said: "I found that I can work really well with someone I respect, who is always pushing for the best. They make me want to write better, to get my game up a little."

Back in 2017, Forge was sued by four former members of the band after being dismissed by the group's founder the previous December. They accused the singer of cheating them out of their rightful share of the profits from the band's album releases and world tours. The lawsuit was filed in the district court of Linköping, Sweden, where GHOST was originally based. It claimed that a partnership agreement existed between Forge and the four former members, all of whom performed anonymously in the band as Nameless Ghouls. As a result of the lawsuit, Forge was forced to reveal his identity after years of performing in a mask as Papa Emeritus. He has maintained that "no legal partnership" ever existed between him and the other members.

GHOST kicked off its co-headlining tour with VOLBEAT on January 25 at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada. The 26-date trek, which includes special guests TWIN TEMPLE, will conclude on March 3 in Anaheim, California.

The official music video for "Impera"'s latest single, "Call Me Little Sunshine", was lensed by iconic director Matt Mahurin and stars Ruby Modine.

In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the new character who will front the act for its next LP phase.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of "Prequelle"

Rolling Stone is reporting that John Paul Jones has re-recorded the 1971 Led Zeppelin classic, “When The Levee Breaks”, with help from 17 musicians from around the globe, including guitarist Derek Trucks, drummer Stephen Perkins, harmonica player Ben Lee, singer Susan Tedeschi, singer Elle Márjá Eira, slide guitarist Keith Secola, and vocalist Mihirangi.


Sebastian Robertson (who also plays guitar on the song) and Mark Johnson produced the video and new version as part of Playing For Change’s Song Around The World initiative. All funds generated from the song will benefit the charity partners of Peace Through Music, including Conservation International, American Rivers, WWF, Reverb and the Playing For Change Foundation.


“When the Levee Breaks” was written by Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie two years after the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Led Zeppelin introduced the blues song to a new generation when they covered it on Led Zeppelin IV. When Playing For Change was looking for a follow-up to past videos that featured Robbie Robertson revisiting “The Weight” and Peter Gabriel updating “Biko,” the choice was obvious.




“Looking at ‘When The Levee Breaks’ through the lens of producing a song to raise awareness for key environmental organizations truly felt like a plea for climate justice,” says Sebastian Robertson. “The wailing guitars, harmonica, and vocals all in harmony for Mother Earth.”


“It’s such an epic and powerful song both lyrically and musically,” Johnson adds, “and you feel the conviction and perseverance that the world needs to face these climate challenges together as a human race."


“When The Levee Breaks” wasn’t a regular part of Led Zeppelin’s live repertoire. They only played it at a handful of January 1975 concerts and again at their 1995 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. But John Paul Jones revived the song at many of his solo shows in the late 1990s and early 2000s. When Johnson and Robertson began sketching out their vision for the new rendition, they felt Jones would want to contribute.


“It starts with a dream,” says Robertson. “A lifelong obsession with Led Zeppelin and a mindset of manifesting the impossible. Then you reach out to his wonderful manager Adrian Molloy, concoct a plan, and deliver a demo that piques John’s interest. The rest, as they say, is history.”


In an e-mail interview with Rolling Stone, Jones said the decision to get involved was easy. “It’s a great cause, and I really liked what Sebastian and the team are doing,” he says. “The videos are all so well put together, and a joy to watch.”


Read more at Rolling Stone, and watch the video below:

AFM Records is proud to announce the signing of a very special new band: fallen Sanctuary, led by masterminds Georg Neuhauser (singer of Serenity) and Marco Pastorino (guitarist of Temperance), who indulge their common love for melodic power metal here. The two became friends in 2018 during a joint tour and soon realised that they pretty much share musical idols and tastes. 


Neuhauser: "Marco and I often got talking at night on the tour bus to the next show with Serenity and Temperance. It was amazing that we have so many favourite bands in common. And since we also get along really well on a personal level and live only a four-hour drive apart, we came up with the idea of releasing an album together some day." 


It would appear that "some day" has now arrived: June 2022, Neuhauser and Pastorino's debut album 'Terranova', released under the moniker of Fallen Sanctuary. The new band also features a permanent rhythm section consisting of Alfonso Mocerino on drums and bassist Gabriele Gozzi, who will complement Fallen Sanctuary live on stage.




"The quality of Fallen Sanctuary convinced and amazed us right away," says AFM Records A&R Timo Hoffmann. "The passion and dedication, their attention to detail and the super high standards they set for themselves, make Fallen Sanctuary stand out. Songwriting, performance and production are on an immensely high level and will thrill fans of varied Melodic Power Metal. In addition, Georg and Marco are such positive characters that we are very much looking forward to working with them."


Georg Neuhauser states: "Since I bought Edguy's Vain Glory Opera album back in 1998 I always followed AFM Records and dreamed of becoming a part of this family. So with Fallen Sanctuary this will happen now and I am sure that AFM is the perfect partner for us to release our debut album, Terranova. Many memories come to my mind, sitting in my room listening to the AFM albums from Edguy and Avantasia - and now another melodic power metal masterpiece will see the light on this label".


"We are thrilled to announce that we are joining AFM Records' roster for the release of our new album", guitarist Marco Pastorino adds. "They are the best team possible to be part of our journey. We worked extremely hard to give you the best debut album possible and we are looking forward to giving you more updates very soon! Get ready for some great melodic power metal!".


The Fallen Sanctuary debut album, Terranova will be released on June 24th, but February 25th will already see them present the first single, "Broken Dreams".


Stay tuned for updates.

BODY COUNT, the metal band fronted by hip-hop legend, actor and director Ice-T, has apparently commenced the recording process for its new album, "Merciless". The follow-up to 2020's "Carnivore" is tentatively due before the end of the year via Century Media.

Earlier today (Saturday, February 19), Ice-T took to his Twitter to write: "I'm proud to say we just finished the FIRST day of writing, recording and track selection for the New BC Album 'MERCILESS' Only one goal… It's gotta be HARDER than the last…. It already is. @BodyCountBand @centurymediaeu".

"Carnivore" continued the path of its uncompromising and critically acclaimed predecessors, "Bloodlust" and "Manslaugther", in pairing Ice-T's impassioned and socio-critical lyrics with thick guitar riffs and nods to metal and hardcore greats like SLAYER, METALLICA, PANTERA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. Guest musicians on the LP included Amy Lee (EVANESCENCE), Dave Lombardo (ex-SLAYER), Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Riley Gale (POWER TRIP).

BODY COUNT was honored with a Grammy in the "Best Metal Performance" category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, which was held in March 2021 in Los Angeles. BODY COUNT was nominated for "Bum-Rush", a track from "Carnivore".




☠️BODY COUNT NEWS☠️ I’m proud to say we just finished the FIRST day of writing, recording and track selection for the New BC Album ‘MERCILESS’ Only one goal… “ It’s gotta be HARDER than the last…. It already is. @BodyCountBand @centurymediaeu pic.twitter.com/COleTGwV29

— ICE T (@FINALLEVEL) February 19, 2022

Video footage of Dave Mustaine performing the MEGADETH classic "99 Ways To Die" with several campers at last month's Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp in Deerfield Beach, Florida can be seen below. Also joining in for the performance was VIXEN guitarist Brittany Denaro (a.k.a. Britt Lightning), who is the musical director for Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp.

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp was created 26 years ago to provide real people the once-in-a-lifetime experience of connecting and jamming with their musical heroes. The Camp has provided unforgettable memories, advice and feedback for attendees worldwide. Camp events span over four jam packed days where campers join a band mentored by today's top touring musicians, and work up to final performances with the headliner rock stars at legendary venues from Abbey Road Studios in London, to Hollywood's Whisky A Go Go, to the Atlantic resort in The Bahamas.

Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp was the focus of the tremendously successful 2021 documentary "Rock Camp: The Movie". "Entertaining", "inspiring" and "moving" are how critics, audiences and industry leaders described the documentary. The film follows four real people who attend Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp and how it transforms their lives. These "rock campers" share the stage with superstar counselors including Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Nancy Wilson, Joe Perry, JUDAS PRIEST, Sammy Hagar and many more. "Rock Camp" was directed by Doug Blush, who has worked on over a hundred documentaries (including Oscar winners "20 Feet from Stardom", "Icarus" and "Period. End Of Sentence.").

"Rock Camp: The Movie" has generated great word of mouth and buzz, scoring a 94% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The film has been featured on "The Today Show", "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon" and on ABC News. The Washington Post called "Rock Camp" "an eye-opening treat," and The Chicago Sun-Times described it as "infectiously upbeat." Music industry critic and influencer Bob Lefsetz raves, "I couldn't turn it off. Rock and roll is a religion."

David Fishof, Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp founder, has had a successful career as a sports agent, producer, promoter, and manager and is the founder and CEO of Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp. Fishof produced the "Happy Together" tours, the MONKEES 20th-anniversary reunion tour, "Dirty Dancing Live" tours and "Classic Superfest" and others. He also created and produced RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND tours for 15 years.














Playing Symphony of Destruction with Dave Mustaine, Vinny Appice, Daniel Linares, Brian Fox, & Brandt

Posted by David Ashelman on Tuesday, January 11, 2022





So what’s it like to jam with your idol Dave Mustaine at Rock Camp. Check this out.

Posted by David Fishof on Tuesday, January 11, 2022

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of PANTERA's classic sophomore major label album "Vulgar Display Of Power", The Pit recently uploaded a video interview with the band's vocalist Philip Anselmo. You can now watch the remaining two parts of the chat below.

Speaking about the LP's opening track, "Mouth For War", Anselmo said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When we wrote 'Mouth For War', I wrote the main riff and Dimebag [PANTERA guitarist Darrell Abbott] liked it. And it sounded about a thousand times better when he played it. And he made it his own. And everybody — God — they put that song together; we put that song together. I think we knew we had written a pretty good song, that one. And I think the video for its time was unique to look at, groundbreaking, sort of, action-packed, shit like that — so very '90s-band-like."

In one of the earlier parts of the interview, Anselmo discussed his expectations for the LP at the time of its release. He said: "When 'Vulgar Display Of Power' first came out, my expectations for how it would do were none. I never had any expectations for any record we've ever done. I always felt like if I put an expectation upon it, I'd always get let down. So I just let things happen as things happened.

"Now, the reception of the record and — God — the tours, the tours," he continued. "The difference in the audience from 'Cowboys From Hell' touring cycle to 'Vulgar Display' was night and day — truly. But I was surprised at how positive the reception was and all the massive crowds and the fans. That was really the true… Well, that was when people started coming to shows — like, you had to see PANTERA."

"Vulgar Display of Power" was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2004, signifying shipments of more than two million units in the U.S. since its February 1992 release.

In a 2017 interview with the WGRD radio station, former PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott spoke about the 25th anniversary of "Vulgar Display Of Power". He said: "I never ever think about [how long it has been since the record was released]. It certainly doesn't feel like it at all, man; it feels like it was yesterday, almost. But looking back on it, it really was a groundbreaking record for heavy metal. It really set the tone for what modern-day metal bands do. They still use that record to A-B their records to — getting their guitar sounds, their drums sounds, this, that and the other. So it really was special, and I'm really proud to have been a part of it."

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Vinnie Paul and his brother Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for the murder of Dimebag.

KręciołaTV has shared pro-shot video of Arch Enemy's 2018 performance at Pol'and'Rock Festival. Check out the entire show below.


The setlist on the night was as follows:


"The World Is Your" 
"Ravenous"
"War Eternal"
"My Apocalypse"
"The Race"
"You Will Know My Name"
"The Eagle Flies Alone"
"First Day in Hell"
"As The Pages Burn"
"Dead Bury Their Dead"
"We Will Rise"
"Avalanche"
"Nemesis"







On July 29, Arch Enemy will release their 11th studio album, Deceivers, via Century Media Records. For a preview of the record, the new single, "Handshake With Hell", can be streamed here.


The video for the song, directed by Patric Ullaeus, can be viewed below.


Michael Amott (guitars) comments: "Our new single/video 'Handshake With Hell' started off with some riffs and melodies that I thought might be suitable for each other, and when I showed the parts I had to Daniel (Erlandsson, drums), he also felt it had potential. We worked on a demo of it, developing it much further together, and once we had reached a point where we felt it was ready, we sent the instrumental version to Alissa over in Canada. She came back with this really cool approach to the vocals and lyrics that elevated the song even further. To me, it's a stand-out track on the new 'Deceivers' album, really showcasing what we are capable of as songwriters and performers in 2022 - it's definitely one of the new songs I'm dying to play live on tour!"


Alissa White-Gluz adds: "When Michael and Daniel showed me the instrumental they had cooked up, I got a ton of vocal ideas to complete the song. 'Handshake With Hell' has a classic heavy metal feel, and it felt like the right time to unleash some classic heavy metal vocals to match. I think the result is really interesting and catchy!"





A collection of 11 tracks that are ruthlessly catchy and mercilessly violent, Deceivers stands toe-to-toe with the highlights of the band's storied catalogue. Pre-order the album here.





Deceivers tracklisting:


"Handshake With Hell"
"Deceiver, Deceiver"
"In The Eye Of The Storm"
"The Watcher"
"Poisoned Arrow"
"Sunset Over The Empire"
"House Of Mirrors"
"Spreading Black Wings"
"Mourning Star"
"One Last Time"
"Exiled From Earth"


"Deceiver, Deceiver" video:





"House Of Mirrors" video:





This spring, Arch Enemy and Behemoth will return to the states to co-headline The North American Siege 2022 tour with Napalm Death and Unto Others as special guests, before Arch Enemy appears at select summer festivals; the rescheduled European Siege 2022 tour (with Arch Enemy, Behemoth, Carcass, Unto Others) will kick off in the fall.


"Despite the obvious uncertainties everyone is currently facing in the world, we have got quite a few concerts booked for this year!" says Amott. "We're delighted to be returning to the live stage in North America this spring and hitting select European festivals in the summer, as well as a huge European tour at the end of 2022. It's time, let's do this!"


All dates and tickets can be found here.


Arch Enemy lineup:


Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals
Michael Amott - Guitars
Jeff Loomis - Guitars
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums

The clip below features Nightwish vocalist Floor Jansen performing at her solo show at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, Netherlands on September 1st, 2021. Floor performs Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper's "Shallow" from the movie A Star Is Born. 


Floor performed this track twice during Beste Zangers. Once solo, and after the massive success together with Tim Akkerman. Now during her sold out solo show in Amsterdam she performed it again, live, for the world to see.







The setlist was as follows:


Set 1:


"Ever Dream" (Nightwish)
"Storm In A Glass" (Northward) 
"Nemo" (Nightwish) 
"Mama" (Samantha Steenwijk cover) 
"Sweet Curse" (ReVamp song - with Henk Poort) 
"Dangerous Game" (from Jekyll & Hyde - with Henk Poort) 
"Euphoria" (Loreen)
"Face Your Demons" (After Forever)
"Winner" (Tim Akkerman cover)


Set 2:


"Slow, Love, Slow" (Nightwish)
"Shallow" (Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper cover)
"Strong" (After Forever) 
"Élan" (Nightwish) 
"Energize Me" (After Forever) 
"Qué Se Siente" (Rolf Sanchez)
"Bridle Passion" (Northward) 
"Our Decades In The Sun" (Nightwish)
"Wolf And Dog" (ReVamp) 
"The Phantom Of The Opera" (Andrew Lloyd Webber cover - with Henk Poort)


"Ever Dream"





"Storm In A Glass"





"Dangerous Game"

Tabahi is a thrash metal band from Karachi, Pakistan, a city that is known as the most violent in Pakistan, and among the world’s most dangerous which makes for a perfect breeding ground for quality thrash metal. Tabahi takes its cues from ‘80s German thrash bands such as Destruction and Kreator, armed with some classic pre-‘86 Bay Area ideas. 


With stingy vocals and claustrophobic riffs, the music will take you right into the heart of Pakistan’s most dangerous city with a pure thrash assault that numbs the brain.


They have returned after 7 years with their new single “Politricks”, a theme that is parallel to their band name. As the song name itself and aggressive lyrics suggest; it's a direct call out of the political brainwashing tricks, hypocrisy, deception and madness which our society is repeatedly subjected to for decades now. 







Tabahi stands out as a thrash metal band with its lyrical content targeting Pakistani socio-political environment.


The band was formed by Faiq Ahmed in 2005 who performs as the guitarist, while Daniyal Buksh Soomro performs as the vocalist and bassist, and Omair Soomro performs live on drums.

Following on from their high-energy performance at last week's BRIT Awards, Ed Sheeran and BRING ME THE HORIZON have released their alternate version of "Bad Habits", out now on Atlantic Records.

Sheeran and BRING ME THE HORIZON opened the BRIT Awards with their version of "Bad Habits", which made waves across both fanbases, leading us to today's track release.

Sheeran says: "I really enjoyed the show last week and I think people will really like the new version. Excited to get it out."

BRING ME THE HORIZON's Oli Sykes says: "From receiving the email asking whether we'd like to open the BRITs with Ed Sheeran to us chatting and bouncing ideas to rehearsing and then performing and now releasing, this has, needless to say, been pretty mental. But we are all about pushing the boundaries of our own and other genres, so this felt like the perfect challenge."

The original version of "Bad Habits" was released in June 2021 as the lead single off of Sheeran's latest album, "=", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 upon its October release, marking his fourth consecutive chart-topping full length. "Bad Habits" is currently nominated for "Song Of The Year" at the upcoming 64th Grammy Awards and stands at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in its 33rd week on the chart.

Sheeran is an era-defining artist. From record-breaking sales across his recorded music and live performances, and a plethora of award wins to his name, the British singer-songwriter is the boundless talent behind some of the biggest songs in history. With four multiplatinum, critically acclaimed albums under his belt — "+" (2011), "x" (2014), "÷" (2017) and "No.6 Collaborations Project" (2019) — Sheeran has amassed more than 60 billion streams and sold over 50 million albums, globally to date; he is also one of only six artists to have three songs — "Thinking Out Loud", "Perfect" and "Shape Of You" — earn RIAA diamond certification, for sales equivalents exceeding 10 million in the U.S. alone. An unparalleled live performer, Sheeran's most recent, two-year "÷" world tour made history becoming the most-attended and highest-grossing tour of all time.

Last fall, Sheeran released "=", the fourth installment of his symbol album series, highlighted by the hit singles "Shivers" and "Bad Habits". Debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, "=" is Sheeran's fourth consecutive full-length release to top the chart after its first week. A global phenomenon, "=" has also gone to No. 1 in 19 countries around the world.

Frontman Kirk Windstein of New Orleans sludge metal veterans CROWBAR spoke to Aftershocks about how his band's upcoming North American tour with SEPULTURA and SACRED REICH might be affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It seems… They're starting to talk — and they're not just talking about Louisiana or the New Orleans area; they're talking about the whole U.S. — where they think it's about to hit a plateau. It's spreading so fast, it's so fucking contagious that… It's one of two things — either we literally shut down the entire country or people get their fucking vaccines, whether they like it or not.

"I was not a big fan of it — I'll admit — but I am fully vaccinated and I am fully proud of it," he continued. "And I caught COVID — and so did my drummer — on tour with MUNICIPAL WASTE. It's not those guys' fault, but we did catch it. And it wasn't a picnic, I'll tell you that; it was no fun. But that's done.

"It's one of them things — wear your mask, do your social distancing, keep your fucking hands clean. If you don't feel good, stay home."

According to Windstein, he has "no choice" but to get vaccinated against COVID-19 if he wants to play in other parts of the world. "If I worked at the corner grocery [store] or something and that was my job and I never wanted to travel or go anywhere, who knows?" he said. "But guess what? I love to travel. And I love to travel around the world; I love to play. You tell me to get fucking two shots, I'll get two shots. You tell me to get three, I'll get three. Whatever it takes. That's just the reality. Whatever it takes to protect myself and others around me, I'm gonna do what I can do."

CROWBAR's North American tour with SEPULTURA and SACRED REICH will kick off on March 4 in Sacramento and will make stops in Toronto, Cleveland, and New York before concluding on April 8 in Berkeley, California.

CROWBAR will release its new album, "Zero And Below", on March 4 via MNRK Heavy (formerly eOne Music). The LP's first single, "Chemical Godz", was made available in December.

"Zero And Below" was produced, mixed, and mastered by Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording And Production in Metairie, Louisiana and was previously described in a press release as "reverently old school, counterbalanced by a resonant melodicism that's stunningly mature."




So I got my second covid shot Friday. It started hitting me Saturday night and yesterday was miserable, but I'm feeling...

Posted by Kirk Windstein on Monday, August 9, 2021

earMUSIC has released the latest single from ANNIHILATOR's upcoming "Metal II" album, "Couple Suicide", featuring Danko Jones and Angela Gossow (ex-ARCH ENEMY).

"Metal II", which arrives February 18, kicks off earMUSIC's long-term ANNIHILATOR catalog campaign, which will include special configurations, additional bonus material, exclusive and previously unheard new tunes from the band.

"Couple Suicide" tells the story of what may be a doomed relationship if only the protagonist could find a solution.

ANNIHILATOR leader Jeff Waters commented: "I'm a big fan of Danko and Angela. Danko and I have written songs over the years. He is a badass rocker meets punk rocker with a bit of pop and metal in there, plus he's a nice guy. He and I discussed doing a project/record together someday. Angela was the vocal queen of her genre and I loved her in ARCH ENEMY. It's such a conflicting, 'opposite end of the spectrum' vocal pairing, that it has to be cool! And it is!"

"Metal II" has been given an incredible overhaul with the one and only Dave Lombardo (SLAYER) killing the drums and lead vocals "re-invented" by the great Stu Block (INTO ETERNITY, ICED EARTH). The rest of the guest list on the album is huge: Willie Adler (LAMB OF GOD), Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM), Steve "Lips" Kudlow (ANVIL), Dan Beehler (EXCITER), Jesper Strömblad (IN FLAMES), Jeff Loomis (ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE), Anders Björler (THE HAUNTED, AT THE GATES) and Corey Beaulieu (TRIVIUM).

Waters passed over mixing duties to legendary engineer Mike Fraser (AC/DC, VAN HALEN) and it was remastered by Maor Appelbaum.

When Waters was asked, "Which record would you re-do, if you could and why?," with no hesitation it was "Metal". So, what we have now is a 2021 record that is called "Metal II", appropriately, featuring all the original guest tracks from 2007 with Jeff Waters at the helm.

"One of greatest engineers/mixers on the planet, Mike Fraser, was my first choice to mix this one," Jeff said. "It was a challenge as Mike was not brought in to make a record; he was simply there to mix a big mess of tracks that were recorded in 2006 and 2021 and with over 14 players on it. After this difficult mix, I promised Mike that I would do another record with him, from the ground up."

"Dave was in my favorite band ever (SLAYER)," Waters said, "and continues to evolve and play in many diverse bands, like MISFITS, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, DEAD CROSS, MR. BUNGLE and many other projects. It was an honor to be on the same record as Lombardo. And he uses the 'Reign In Blood' ride cymbal!! Yes! The ACTUAL ride cymbal we hear on that classic record."

Waters revealed that "Stu has been the vocalist that I have (publicly) wanted to be ANNIHILATOR's singer, ever since I heard him in the Canadian band INTO ETERNITY, but I never got the opportunity to get him! He is the next generation of amazing vocalists that is grabbing the microphone from such icons as [Bruce] Dickinson and [Rob] Halford. And our paths SHOULD have crossed a long time ago, but we are here now!

"So I got a hold of them both," Waters continued, "and they both loved the tunes and both said 'FUCK YES'! And I said to Stu, 'You've got three takes', so there's blemishes and warts and fuck-ups everywhere. And I said the same to Dave, 'get it done'. And watching pros do this is mind-blowing because you don't have the best sounds, but you have the best players."

Waters closes, "Although Alexi Laiho's shredding in 'Downright Dominate' and the VAN HALEN song 'Romeo Delight' were recorded a while back, adding Stu and Dave to these songs gave us all the feeling that 'Metal II' is also a fitting tribute to our two fallen guitar heroes. Ed and Alexi, R.I.P."

"Metal II" track listing:

01. Chasing The High (ft. Willie Adler)

02. Downright Dominate (ft. Alexi Laiho)

03. Army Of One (ft. Steve "Lips" Kudlow)

04. Couple Suicide (ft. Danko Jones and Angela Gossow)

05. Heavy Metal Maniac (ft. Dan Beehler and Allan Johnson)

06. Haunted (ft. Jesper Strömblad)

07. Romeo Delight

08. Detonation (ft. Jacob Lynam)

09. Clown Parade (ft. Jeff Loomis)

10. Smothered (ft. Anders Björler)

11. Kicked (ft. Corey Beaulieu)

Canada's ANNIHILATOR is the lifework of Waters. Founded in 1984, the band took the metal scene by storm with its debut 1989 release "Alice In Hell", upped the ante with 1990's "Never, Neverland" and has continued a non-stop career-pattern of releasing records and touring with many of the biggest bands in the metal genre (mostly all outside North America), ever since; cementing ANNIHILATOR as the biggest-selling metal act in Canada's history.

ANNIHILATOR has given the metal world a sound that is one of the clearest, most tasteful mixtures of huge, metal riffs with the idea of the perfect song and some legendary solo shredding as the icing on the cake. Waters and ANNIHILATOR have been a major influence on countless well-known metal acts and musicians around the world. In fact, countless, successful non-metal acts and musicians cite Waters and Co. as an influence in their careers.

Waters is the guitarist, vocalist and writer for ANNIHILATOR as well as a studio owner, producer, engineer and mix and mastering engineer. Waters formed the band with singer John Bates.

Volbeat have released a lyric video for "Step Into Light", featured on their new album, Servant Of The Mind, out now via EMI Records. Watch the clip below:





Servant Of The Mind is available in standard/digipack CD, deluxe 2LP vinyl (with various limited-edition variants, more info below), a deluxe digital edition, plus a special box set (including 2CD digipack, 28pg booklet, bandana, and hip flask, housed in a metal box, available from the official Volbeat store). Order the album here.







Tracklisting:


"Temple Of Ekur"
"Wait A Minute My Girl"
"The Sacred Stones"
"Shotgun Blues"
"The Devil Rages On"
"Say No More"
"Heaven’s Descent"
"Dagen Før" (feat. Stine Bramsen)
"The Passenger"
"Step Into Light"
"Becoming"
"Mindlock"
"Lasse’s Birgitta"
 
Deluxe 2 CD/2 LP and Digital Deluxe bonus tracks:


"Return To None" (Wolfbrigade cover)
"Domino" (The Cramps/Roy Orbison cover)
"Shotgun Blues" (feat. Dave Matrise from Jungle Rot)
"Dagen Før" (Michael Vox Version)


"The Passenger" lyric video:





"Say No More" lyric video:





"The Devil Rages On" lyric video:





"The Scared Stones" lyric video:





"Temple Of Ekur" lyric video:





"Shotgun Blues" video:





"Becoming" lyric video:





"Shotgun Blues” lyric video:





"Wait A Minute My Girl" video:





"Dagen Før" lyric video: