Original members of GRIM REAPER, guitarist Nick Bowcott, bassist Dave Wanklin and drummer Mark Simon, reunited for the first time in over 35 years to perform with singer Harry Conklin of JAG PANZER fame at the Wings Of Angels festival on Saturday, November 23.

Steve Grimmett, producer, songwriter and lead singer of the internationally renowned metal band GRIM REAPER, was remembered at the one-day event, named after the lead track from STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER's 2018 album "Walking In The Shadows".

GRIM REAPER was at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal scene which took the world by storm in the 1980s.

Grimmett, who sold over a million albums, is considered one of the greatest heavy metal singers of all time. He gained notoriety throughout the world, with a large following in Europe as well as across the Atlantic in the USA, South America, and also in Japan. His career included numerous highly acclaimed studio albums, single releases and MTV airplay.

Steve passed away in August 2022. To meet the demand from the singer's global fanbase, his wife Millie organized the festival to celebrate his life with a musical send-off.

The festival included guest singers performing songs from Steve's back catalog, and bands from around the world with a connection to Steve and his music. Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes headlined the event.

Other former members of STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER, the revamped version of GRIM REAPER led by Grimmett, joined the festivities, including Chaz Grimaldi, Paul White, Mart Trail, Mark Walker, Julian Hill and Ian Nash. Plus there were special appearances by Richie Yeates, Sy Davies, Kim Jennett, Mike Jurgens and Franc Potvin.

On Tuesday, November 26, Bowcott shared a backstage photo of him, Wanklin and Simon, and he included the following message: "37 YEARS LATER!!! 75% of the 1985-1987 GRIM REAPER lineup...

"Damn! I haven't seen this fine pair of fellas, let alone played with them in 37 years...but that all changed at the 'Wings Of Angels' Festival in sunny (cough, cough) Swindon, England this past Saturday.

"This charity event was a celebration of the amazing life of the late, great Steve Grimmett. The two other old gezzas in the picture are, of course, Dave Wanklin (a.k.a. 'Chief') and Mark Simon...the driving rhythm section on the 'Fear No Evil' (1985) and 'Rock You To Hell' (1987) albums. And we played 8 songs together with no rehearsal and a dodgy monitor mix..but had an absolute blast...jazz notes and all!

"Special thanks to Harry Conklin, Mike Jurgens and Mark Hale for the stellar singing; Richie Yeates for great geetar work (sans our planned 'All Hell Let Loose' closing dual lead dribble...darn it!); the kickass audience; and, of course, Millie Grimmett and Karen Chen for their tireless efforts in putting this wonderful festival of nostalgia, dear old friends, and some new ones too. HOORAH!"

In addition to Steve's back catalog of music dating from 1979-2022, his legacy also includes influence on popular culture in the 1990s, with GRIM REAPER songs "See You in Hell" (1983),"Fear No Evil" (1985) and "Rock You To Hell" (1987) each gaining notoriety for appearing on the MTV animation "Beavis And Butt-Head".

During his 45-year career, Steve shared the stage with a wealth of big names including JUDAS PRIEST, BON JOVI, SCORPIONS and DEEP PURPLE. At one time he was even touted to be the new vocalist for IRON MAIDEN.

Millie said: "Such was Steve's impact on music that we have had people contact us from around the world to purchase tickets and to join us in Swindon, U.K. for Wings Of Angels. People have been sharing stories and pictures on our social media pages and it is really heartwarming to see this outpouring of affection for someone who did so much to shape the metal scene over several decades."

Grimmett's passing came more than five years after he had his right leg partially amputated in January 2017 when an infected wound on his foot spread to the bones in his leg partway through the group's five-week tour of South America. The life-saving surgery was carried out in Ecuador and the frontman was in hospital for just over a month while fans raised $14,000 to bring him home after his insurance company refused to pay because of the type of work he was doing.

GRIM REAPER's story begins in 1979 after successfully fighting off hundreds of bands in a local Battle Of The Bands competition. This win, combined with an already sizeable following, aroused the interest of Ebony Records. Signing with the small U.K. label, GRIM REAPER released three albums in rapid succession to international acclaim. Due to legal turmoil with Ebony, GRIM REAPER would disband in 1988. Grimmett would go on to record with ONSLAUGHT, LIONSHEART and more recently THE SANITY DAYS. His renowned vocal range remains one of metal's most identifiable with loyal fans turning out in numbers to hear him perform.

GRIM REAPER was part of the "Hell On Wheels" tour which crossed the States in 1987, alongside ARMORED SAINT and HELLOWEEN.

Grimmett reformed GRIM REAPER in 2006 as STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER following an amicable decision between the singer and original GRIM REAPER guitarist Nick Bowcott, who both agreed that using the original name minus the other members of the classic lineup wouldn't be a proper reunion.

STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER released two studio albums, 2016's "Walking In The Shadows" and 2019's "At The Gates".

Since 2006, STEVE GRIMMETT'S GRIM REAPER had made a number of European festival appearances and toured all around the world.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nick Bowcott (@nick.bowcott)



About last nights Wings of Angels Festival ….. will do a proper post another time but what I will say is… WHAT A NIGHT!...

Posted by Steve Grimmett's Grim Reaper on Sunday, November 24, 2024



Hands down, the best experience of my life 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼💙💙💙💙
What a pleasure being up on stage singing with all these wonderful people, who meant so much to dad.

I hope I did you proud big man 💙 Steve Grimmett

Wings of Angels Festival

Posted by Sami Lea Drewitt on Saturday, November 23, 2024

Darkness Shall Rise Productions have announced the release of Thyrmr's debut album, Saga Of the North, on CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape formats.


Trym Torson, who is widely known as having been the drummer on landmark albums of Norwegian black metal like Emperor's Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk or Enslaved's Vikingligr veldi and Frost, moved into uncharted waters by composing music inspired by his longstanding passion for movie soundtracks and ambient music. 


Thrymr doesn't have much in common with black metal, but the eight tracks that make up the debut album Saga Of The North are not to be missed if you are into dark sounds àla Mortiis or Summoning.

'Tis the season. Grammy-nominated, Lancaster five-piece August Burns Red - JB Brubaker [lead guitar], Brent Rambler [rhythm guitar], Matt Greiner [drums], Jake Luhrs [vocals], and Dustin Davidson [bass] - release an instrumental holiday cover song every year.


This year, they've chosen the classical track "Waltz Of The Flowers" from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and have given it quite the guitar-driven and metallic makeover.


Listen here, and below:







"In keeping with our annual tradition, we are excited to reveal this year's

Legendary US thrash metal band, Hirax, will release their new full-length album, Faster Than Death, on February 21 via Doomentia Records. The album will be available on LP (die-hard version, 2 colors), CD digipack, and cassette tape.


Further details, as well as pre-order options, will be available next week. In the meantime, check out the album artwork, created by Thomas Pinheiro, below:







Back in August, Hirax released the Faster Than Death 7" vinyl EP via doomentia.com.

In a new interview with Andy Greene of Rolling Stone magazine, Sammy Hagar was asked to address his absence from Alex Van Halen's book "Brothers" in which the VAN HALEN drummer wrote that the essence of VAN HALEN ended when David Lee Roth left the group. Hagar said: "It's sad. I haven't read the whole book, but I've seen all the excerpts, and I heard some of the interviews. It breaks my heart, because if I think what Alex is going through, losing his brother, never played with anybody else in his life, and then his health."

Referencing the fact that Alex has been filmed and photographed walking with a cane while promoting "Brothers", Sammy continued: "When I saw how rickety he is, I realized, 'No wonder he's not answering my call when I say, 'Do you want to go out and play with us?'' He can't. That breaks my heart, because I can only put myself in those shoes and say, 'What if I couldn't sing and perform anymore?' The thing that I did my whole life, the thing I devoted my life to, the thing that made me rich and famous and gave me the most beautiful life on the planet, and all of a sudden I can't do that anymore? I would feel like I was robbing the fans, to start with. When you put yourself in his shoes, I'm saying, 'Okay, I feel sorry for him.'"

Hagar added: "Why he left me out, I would like to hear him explain that someday, because I don't get it completely. I know that he's bitter about some things, whatever that is… It's like, 'If you don't want that era, that even gives me more justification to say I own it then,' because no one else can do it, and he can't do it even without me. It makes it easier for Mike [Anthony, former VAN HALEN bassist] and I [to go out and play the songs on our own]. We're sitting there going, 'Okay, I guess we own this,' and we have the obligation to bring this to the fans to keep this music alive, keep it live and alive. This music is too good to throw away."

Later in the interview, Sammy once again said that he is determined to make peace with Alex. "It's on my bucket list that I will not take this to my grave, and I don't want Al taking it to his grave," he said. "I've put the olive branch out there many times, and I just put it out again to [VAN HALEN manager] Irving Azoff.

"I want to be friends… I don't want to play in a band with Al," Sammy explained. "I'm not asking for that. I can see that he's not capable of doing that. If he was, I'd be happy to play with him, but it's not what I'm looking for. I just want to be friends again."

Last month, Alex explained his refusal to participate in this past summer's "The Best Of All Worlds" that focused largely on the music of VAN HALEN. The trek featured Hagar and Anthony, along with guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Jason Bonham.

The 2024 tour came more than two years after Satriani revealed that he was approached about participating in a VAN HALEN tribute show with Alex and David Lee Roth. That project never got off the ground, reportedly because Roth was "holding up" getting everything approved.

In an interview with Billboard, Alex said about why he was not responsive when Hagar and Anthony reached out about him taking part in some way in "The Best Of All Worlds": "I'm not interested. They're not doing the band justice. They can do what they want to do. That's not my business."

"Brothers" largely ignores Hagar's stint with VAN HALEN, as well as that of EXTREME vocalist Gary Cherone, and even VAN HALEN's reunion with Roth that started in 2007.

"What happened after Dave left is not the same band," Alex told Billboard. "I'm not saying it was better or worse or any of that. The fact is Ed [legendary VAN HALEN guitarist and Alex's brother Eddie Van Halen] and I did our best work whenever we played. We always gave it our best shot. But the magic was in the first years, when we didn't know what we were doing, when we were willing to try anything."

In a separate interview with Rolling Stone, Alex didn't even utter Hagar's name. "The heart and the soul and the creativity and the magic was Dave, Ed, Mike and me," he said. In the book, his only acknowledgment of the "Van Hagar" era reportedly came in the line, "We had a lot of other singers over the years."

This past August, Hagar confirmed to Las Vegas Review-Journal that he attempted to see if Alex would be interested in taking part in "The Best Of All Worlds" prior to getting Bonham involved. Sammy said: "I reached out to Alex a dozen times, before this tour was announced, and got no response. I mean, I've asked him to meet me under any conditions, any circumstances, anytime, anyplace, anywhere. It's not like, 'Well, let me think about it.' It's like, no answer. Zero."

According to Hagar, he was willing to offer Van Halen the spotlight "to just play a couple of songs, or if you want to be the drummer the whole night, or be the executive producer. [Laughs] What do you want to do?"

Hagar went on to say that Alex's autobiography may have something to do with the drummer's lack of communication about a possible appearance on the tour.

"I'm sure when he made his book deal, they said, 'You cannot talk to Dave, and you cannot talk to Hagar," Sammy said. "I guarantee you, that that was part of the deal."

In July, Hagar told Ultimate Classic Rock that he and Anthony "reached out to Alex before we did [the tour]. We reached out to him a dozen times before this tour, in every way. E-mail, text message, phone call, message on the machine, okay? No response. No response. I mean, we made every offer to get together or to just talk or to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. Go to the studio and play. Come to my house or I'll come to your house. Go ride horses, go sit on the beach. What do you want to do? Let's just do something. Let's get together. And nothing."

Explaining that he and Alex Van Halen "don't have a relationship," Hagar added: "When the tour came, the first person we called and left all of the messages, sent all of e-mails, it was Alex Van Halen. Mike and I said, 'We're wanting to do this thing.' Alex's famous line to me [was], 'Sammy, we ain't getting any younger.' Mike and I said, 'Alex, we ain't getting any younger. We're going out and playing for the people. We're going to go honor the VAN HALEN catalog. Let's just get together and let's talk about it. Mike and I, we're going out, we're going to do this, Alex. Please join us. Let's be friends, let's bury the hatchet, whatever.' There was no response. I was saying, 'He'll come to a show, he's got to — in L.A. or something. I'm sure he'll come.' But no, no, he sold all of his equipment. That was his statement. That was like, 'ah, I ain't coming nowhere.'"

Hagar previously discussed the possibility of Alex taking part in "The Best Of All Worlds" in November 2023 during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". At the time, he said: "Jason insisted upon, 'I will not say yes to do this thing until at least you get… Alex says yes or no.' Alex hasn't returned my call for five years. I've called, I've left messages, I've left texts, I've left e-mails.

"I don't think Al really wants to go out and play; otherwise they would have did it with Joe when they were thinking about it [back in 2021]," he continued. "And Irving Azoff called me [around that time in 2021] and said, 'Hey, would you do it? Somebody's out of their mind. You and Alex, I've gotta get you guys together.' I said, 'Fine.' He said, 'Reach out one more time.' I reached out one more time. No response.

"Alex never played with anybody ever except his brother," Hagar added. "He never jammed with anybody. The whole time we were in VAN HALEN, Mike and I would be out playing clubs with Eddie [Van Halen], jumping on stage on nights off. And Alex [would be] standing on the side of the stage [and looking on]."

Hagar and Anthony previously worked with Satriani in the supergroup CHICKENFOOT. They recorded two albums between 2009 and 2011 and toured across America but never performed any VAN HALEN material. More recently, Hagar and Anthony have played some of the VAN HALEN catalog with guitarist Vic Johnson and Bonham in SAMMY HAGAR AND THE CIRCLE.

Hagar mended his relationship with Eddie Van Halen months prior to the legendary VAN HALEN guitarist's October 2020 passing.

Hagar replaced Roth in VAN HALEN in 1985 and recorded four studio albums with the band — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

Sammy, Eddie, Alex and Michael last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

Finnish metallers Fire Action have issued their electrifying new single and music video for "Survive", marking a thunderous preview of their upcoming studio album Until The Heat Dies. The single is also accompanied by a music video.


Guitar player Juri Vuortama states: "'Survive' is about - well - surviving. It comes after 'No Drone Zone' on the LP so maybe we defeated the evil powers pretty quick!"


With three albums - Rock Brigade (2016), Fahrenhater (2018), and 9112 (2020) - to their name, Fire Action are anything but newcomers and have long established themselves as an integral part of Finland's metal scene. However, their international career looks to gain added momentum with Until The Heat Dies and an exciting new contract with Steamhammer/SPV.




The quartet surrounding guitarist Juri Vuortama and vocalist Pete Ahonen has taken a musical quantum leap producing eleven traditional heavy metal songs, each diverse in their own right. From the grooving opener "Storm Of Memories" to the anthemic finale "Midnight Avenue" the group’s continued evolution is on mighty metal display.


Vuortama aptly comments on the new songs: “It’s riffs, riffs, and riffs, with awesome melodies on top!”


Until The Heat Dies will be available in the following formats:


- CD digipak
- LP gatefold red vinyl version
- Download and Stream


Pre-order here.





Until The Heat Dies tracklisting:


"Storm Of Memories"
"No Drone Zone"
"Hard Days, Long Nights"
"Survive"
"Under The Gun"
"Dark Ages"
"13 Arrows"
"Incitement Of Insurrection"
"Until The Heat Dies"
"Curse The Day"
"Midnight Avenue"

3X Grammy-nominated and Gold-certified rock powerhouse Nothing More have landed their third #1 Mainstream Rock single this week with the empowering “Angel Song” featuring David Draiman of multi-platinum hard rock outfit Disturbed. This marks Nothing More’s second #1 single from their latest album Carnal via Better Noise Music following the emotionally charged “If It Doesn’t Hurt” which held the top spot in June.


Nothing More are celebrating an additional milestone today, November 22, with the release of their acclaimed self-titled album’s Nothing More - 10th Anniversary Edition via Endurance Music Group and Better Noise Music. The anniversary edition includes the original album’s track listing along with new acoustic renditions and remixed versions of the album’s top tracks along with a remix from frontman Jonny Hawkins of their #1-charting rock radio single “This Is The Time.”


Nothing More - 10th Anniversary Edition is available now on CD, 2LP (translucent orange variant) along with throwback merch in the bands official store here, and streaming and digital downloads here.




Originally released on June 24, 2014 via Eleven Seven Music, now Better Noise Music, Nothing More debuted at #33 on Billboard’s Top 200 charts while landing at #3 on US Hard Rock Albums, #8 on US Independent Albums, #11 on US Rock Albums, and #19 on US Digital Albums. It included three Top 5 singles—“This Is The Time (Ballast)” (#2), “Here’s To The Heartache” (#4) and “Jenny” (#3)—and the Top 20 single “Mr. MTV” (#12). To date its received 323.9 million global streams and its music videos have amassed over 96.7 million views combined.


The San Antonio, TX-formed band—Jonny Hawkins (vocals), Mark Vollelunga (guitar), Daniel Oliver (bass), and Ben Anderson (drums)—released their latest album Carnal in June via Better Noise Music. Nothing More will join Disturbed in February 2025 on the second leg of Disturbed’s The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour alongside Daughtry following a headlining appearance on Shiprocked 2025 in January.





Nothing More – 10th Anniversary Edition Digital tracklisting:


"Ocean Floor"                 
"This Is the Time (Ballast)"       
"Christ Copyright"                      
"Mr. MTV"            
"First Punch"       
"Gyre"                  
"The Matthew Effect"     
"I'll Be OK"           
"Here's to the Heartache"         
"If I Were"          
"Friendly Fire"              
"Sex & Lies"      
"Surface Flames"                    
"Take a Bullet"  
"Jenny"  
"God Went North"        
"Pyre"
"This Is the Time (Ballast)" Remix **
"Jenny" Acoustic **
"This Is the Time (Ballast)" Acoustic **
"Here's to the Heartache" Piano Version **
"Mr. MTV" Live On SiriuxXM **


Nothing More – 10th Anniversary Edition Vinyl tracklisting:


Side A
"Ocean Floor"                 
"This Is the Time (Ballast)"       
"Christ Copyright"                      
"Mr. MTV"            
"First Punch" **
"Gyre"       


Side B
"The Matthew Effect" **  
"I'll Be OK"           
"Here's to the Heartache" **      
"If I Were" **
"Friendly Fire" **              


Side C
"Sex & Lies" **       
"Surface Flames"           
"Take a Bullet"    
"Jenny"    
"God Went North"           


Side D
"Pyre"
"This Is the Time (Ballast)" Remix **
"Jenny" Acoustic **
"This Is the Time (Ballast)" Acoustic **


Nothing More – 10th Anniversary Edition CD tracklisting:


"Ocean Floor"                 
"This Is the Time (Ballast)"       
"Christ Copyright"                      
"Mr. MTV"            
"First Punch"       
"Gyre"                  
"The Matthew Effect"     
"I'll Be OK"           
"Here's to the Heartache"         
"If I Were"          
"Friendly Fire"  �

Spinefarm has confirmed that legendary British doom outfit, Electric Wizard, will release Black Magic Rituals And Perversions Vol. 1, their new 2-disc live-to-tape album, on December 13, 2024. Preorders are now live here.


Recorded onto a 16-track tape machine, capturing their essence and malevolence, Black Magic Rituals And Perversions Vol. 1 is as heavy as can be expected from The Wizard. 


“It's raw as f**k,” boasts Jus. “It’s like a lost ‘70s black metal demo rehearsal session or something. It’s raw, nasty, screaming in your face. I always promised Electric Wizard was like rats in your face. This is verging on it.”




As the COVID pandemic took hold in 2020, Electric Wizard wondered if they might ever play live again. Out in the wilds of the English Westcountry where singer/guitarist Jus Oborn and guitarist Liz Buckingham live, the band descended into their crypt-like jam space to make a live album like no other.


“We’d been gigging for two years at that point, around America three times, going to Japan and Australia, and we were sounding pretty good by the end of it,” adds Jus. “When the pandemic happened we thought, ‘F**k it, maybe we’ll never play again.’ So we went into the jam room and played the songs to get them on tape to capture how we were playing at the time.” 


Opening with the enormous "Dopethrone", and taking in signature apocalyptic doom staples like "Witchcult Today," "Satanic Rites of Drugula," and the ever-destructive "Funeralopolis," the set here shows how powerful and dominating The Wizard can be.


Jus says he wanted to capture a feeling like that of Motörhead’s classic No Sleep 'til Hammersmith (1981), or the sense from KISS’ ALIVE! (1975) that you were getting a window into something, a world the band created. It’s also, he says, an opportunity for a band as big and cult-like as electric wizard to bring something from metal’s dirty underbelly into the light, if only to freak out t

In a new interview with "Reckless" Rexx Ruger of Pod Scum, Vinnie LaBella, founding guitarist of New Orleans-based thrash metal pioneers EXHORDER, cited by many as the originators of the riff-heavy power-groove approach popularized by PANTERA, spoke about his former band's supposed influence on PANTERA's decision to move from a power metal act to a more aggressive form of thrash. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, let me put it to you this way. I wrote [the EXHORDER song] 'Desecrator' before [PANTERA's first album with singer Philip Anselmo], 'Power Metal', was out. I think 'I Am The Night' [the last PANTERA album to feature lead singer Terry Glaze] was going on while I was writing [EXHORDER's debut album] 'Slaughter In The Vatican'.

"Look, there's a lot of controversy behind that. And, of course, we're all old and gray, and some of us aren't here anymore," he continued.

"I've told this story before in other interviews — Phil was actually in EXHORDER for about three hours. And it was my fucking fault because what happened was, I wanna say sometime in '86 we got in a big fight in the band and stuff as usual… So that was the first [EXHORDER] breakup. And Kyle [Thomas, EXHORDER singer] and Chris [Nail, EXHORDER drummer] and David Main, my first guitar player with me, left. So it was just me and Andy [Villafarra, EXHORDER bassist]. So I grabbed [guitarist] Jay Ceravolo, Sid Montz on drums. We were all trying to put it back together in the rehearsal space. And Sid called me up, and he said, 'Listen, man, I talked to Phil. Phil wants to come and try out for the band.' He wasn't [happy] with things that were going on in Texas, so he wanted to come home and come try it with us. So I said, 'Well, just tell him, 'Come home.' He's got the job.' So he flew in anyway and tried out and shit, did a couple of songs with us. I was, like, 'Dude, you're fucking killer. Of course you got the job.' So we put him back on the plane back to Dallas, and I went home. And when I walked back in the house, my phone was ringing, and it ended up being Kyle Thomas. And he's, like, 'Listen, man, I wanna come back to the band.' I was, like, 'Motherfucker, I haven't heard from you in a year. I just put fucking Phillip on a plane and told him he's got the job. He's going home to fucking quit fucking PANTERA.' So I said, 'Let me call you back.' So I called up Jay. I was, like, 'Jay, I'm in a pickle here.' So he's, like, 'Well, look, man, what do you think the right thing is to do?' So [I said], 'The right thing to do is to bring Kyle back and give him his gig back.' Because he's the one we built this house with. I wanted to be loyal, I wanted to do the right thing, and I loved Kyle. So he's, like, 'Well, do what's on your heart to do.' So I called Philip. He was disappointed, of course, but he was also happy that we were getting it back together in its original state. And then Chris ended up coming back, and we had the old gang back together. But now I kick myself in the ass and I go, 'I can't believe I passed on Phil Anselmo for this guy.'"

Asked if he likes the fact that PANTERA is currently touring with a lineup that includes surviving members Anselmo and Rex Brown (bass) alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX),Vinnie said:
"At this moment, yes, because when you're 50-plus years of age, it's not like this is gonna set the world… You're not trying to rebuild the fucking wheel. This is for your legacy. This is to give something back to the fans that were loyal to you back then and the ones that never got a chance to see you. 'Cause we had the same thing with EXHORDER. We've been around for so fucking long, people were just so happy that we came back and the people that have heard us for the first time, and old folks, man, they bringing their fucking kids and shit. So I kind of equated it to the same thing. Look, I don't care if you get Benante and Zakk... I mean, who else are you gonna get? I mean, those guys are top notch. So I thought it was cool. Now, in my opinion, if they put out new music under that banner, I would probably not be a fan of that — unless it blows away everything else you did before. That's tough to do, man. Unless you can get in the fucking time machine and get your ass back to the '80s and have that teenage angst. We're all different people now. But I was cool with it, though. I was, like, this will be good. And it's good for metal. I mean, as much beef as we had back in the day over the who-came-first thing and the media with all of that bullshit, they were great for metal back then; they kept everybody on the map. And it's good for metal today, man."

This past February, Kyle was asked by the "Scars And Guitars" podcast if he still gets questions about the fact that EXHORDER played a more extreme form of metal a few years before PANTERA adopted a similar musical approach. Kyle said: "Every once in a while I meet somebody who feels the need to pull me aside and tell me how important it is that they tell me that they think that we were before PANTERA. Like, whatever. And I always try to take it and deal with it in the most polite way possible 'cause people aren't saying that necessarily to incite me in some kind of way; usually they think they're telling me something that I'd like to hear."

Referencing the fact that PANTERA is currently touring with Anselmo and Brown alongside Wylde and Benante, Kyle said: "I think there's room in this world for both bands. I think it's a good thing PANTERA is back in business. I think it's good for hard rock and heavy metal, and the more, the merrier. They worked extremely hard — a lot harder than we did — for their success, and who cares whether the chicken or the egg came first. To me, they're both delicious.

"I've been friends with Phil for a long time," he continued. "I always got along nicely with Darrell [late PANTERA guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott] and Rex. That platinum record on the wall right there was a gift from Phil for 'Far Beyond Driven', presented to me and my band PENALTY at the time, which became FLOODGATE. It was just his way of basically saying, 'Hey, thanks, man.' And I know what he meant. We were a big influence on him personally, and he returned the favor by spreading our demos around to people and turning people on to us. He was, at one time, probably the biggest cheerleader this band ever had."

Thomas previously discussed the comparisons between EXHORDER and PANTERA in a November 2022 interview with Heavy Culture. At the time, he said: "PANTERA had an evolution. Early, they were kind of glam-ish, and I don't know if necessarily the music was as glam as maybe the appearance. But a lot of heavy metal bands… I mean, I played in heavy metal bands before I was in EXHORDER where I wore the spandex pants and black eyeliner. We all kind of did at some point — not everybody, but some people did. A lot of the thrash bands we love today — SLAYER, DESTRUCTION — they wore makeup and leather and spiked wristbands and stuff.

"PANTERA were very good before even, before Philip Anselmo joined them. They were very good and well established at what they did, a very hard-working band. Now, Phil is from New Orleans, like we are. We've known each other since we were teenagers. We've been friends for a very long time. In fact, that platinum album on [my] wall back there was a gift from Phil. That's for [PANTERA's] 'Far Beyond Driven' [album]. So, we've been friends for a long time.

"I think a lot of the controversy was media- and fan-driven more than anything," Kyle explained. "For me, I was friends with Darrell as well. I've been friendly with Rex a long, long time. I've known these guys for years.

"Were we doing what they ended up doing before they were? In a way, there was things that we were doing that they eventually did and we were doing them first. But that doesn't necessarily mean, I think, that there was any kind of blatant rip-off or anything.

"Phil almost joined EXHORDER for a minute," Thomas said. "The band was reforming and I wasn't interested, so Phil was asked by the band if he wanted to sing, and he said yes. And when I found out Phil wanted my job, I took my job back. [Laughs] That's kind of how that went.

"There were a lot of bands interested in Phil at the time. I know METAL CHURCH was interested in Phil. So I think he went to the guys in PANTERA and he was, like, 'I'm really interested in doing something a little bit more than what we're doing right now. So y'all hear me out.' And I think they just kind of hashed it out.

"I know we were one of… We're still one of Phil's favorite bands," Kyle added. "He's told me this before, and people I know tell me the same thing. I know he's a huge fan, and he helped us tremendously build the underground in the Dallas/Fort Worth area when he was living out there with the PANTERA guys just building all that stuff.

"It's a frustrating thing to me, because I guess it's kind of like the poor man's version of METALLICA versus MEGADETH," Kyle concluded. "I don't think it needs to be that big of a conversation anymore. Basically, we've reformed back in 2017, and we're still going strong, about to do our second album in that timeframe. And they're [PANTERA] putting some shows together with some friends to bring the band and songs back to life, which I think is a great thing. So there's room for both."

Back in 2013, Anselmo denied that EXHORDER was a major influence on PANTERA's sound, telling Examiner.com: "It's absolutely untrue. EXHORDER was a killer band, don't get me wrong. And for their time in the local scene in New Orleans in 1988, as far as skill level, they really upped the game for everyone. To this day, I'm still really good friends with their singer, who is now the singer for TROUBLE. Kyle and I come from the same school of heavy metal vocals — Rob Halford, Don Doty from DARK ANGEL, and Tom Araya — so there are similarities between us, but musically, I don't hear it at all."

In a 2007 interview with Midwest Metal, Kyle addressed the possibility that EXHORDER inspired PANTERA's more aggressive early 1990s approach, saying: "The thing I hate the most of this topic is just how handcuffed we are to their success. Did they rip us off? Possibly. Was it deliberate? Maybe. Were they influenced by us? Definitely. Did they work a helluva lot harder than we did? Absolutely. Case closed."

Thomas is now the sole remaining founding member of EXHORDER, which parted ways with LaBella in February 2020.

EXHORDER's fourth full-length album, "Defectum Omnium", came out in March via Nuclear Blast Records.

Joining Thomas in the band's current lineup are former CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Pat O'Brien, who made his live debut with EXHORDER at the 2022 Maryland Deathfest, bassist Jason VieBrooks and drummer Sasha Horn.

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was a guest on a recent episode of the Fox 5 "More" show ahead of his November 2 concert at Sam's Town Live in Las Vegas, Nevada. Asked about the fact that he handles both guitar and lead vocals in his solo band, Ace said: "Yeah, but I have a lot of the guys in the band helping me as well. Everybody in the band sings at least one song. So it gives me a break, because I don't really consider myself a singer."

Earlier in the month, Ace was asked by The Archive Of B-Sox what keeps him going as a recording artist and performer after all these years. He responded: "I've been playing guitar 60 [years]. I started when I was 13. I'm 73. Professionally I've been playing for around 60.

"I really enjoy performing," he explained. "I get so much pleasure out of making people happy, and when I perform and I get a good audience response, it makes my day. Plus, for an hour and a half, I give my fans a treat to see me perform live without any backing tracks or any of that nonsense that other people I've worked in the past have used. No names [mentioned]. And I just get out there and kick ass. And I've got a great band — I've got Scot Coogan on drums, Jeremy Asbrock on lead guitar vocals and Ryan Cook on bass. And the four of us just kick ass. We do new stuff, FREHLEY'S COMET stuff and we do KISS stuff. It's a well-rounded show, and I think the fans will be pleasantly surprised."

The original KISS guitarist is continuing to tour in support of his latest solo album, "10,000 Volts", which was released in February via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music). The LP was produced by Ace and Steve Brown (TRIXTER).

Frehley recently revealed that his next release will be a third "Origins" volume, covering songs by artists who influenced him. He will once again work with Brown on the project, which is tentatively due in 2025.

Frehley, who co-founded KISS in 1973, left KISS twice — in 1982 and again in 2002.

When all four original KISS members concurrently released solo records in September 1978, Ace's LP was the most successful, yielding the top 20 single "New York Groove".

In 2016, Frehley collaborated Paul Stanley on a rendition of FREE's "Fire And Water". That track appeared on Frehley's covers LP "Origins Vol. 1", released that year.

Metal Church and Ross The Boss vocalist, Marc Lopes, has unveiled a brand-new video for “Hollow”, a standout track from the 2022 AFM Records release, Orden Ogan And Friends. After years of delays due to various commitments, the video has finally been completed and released as a personal passion project by Lopes.


Recorded during the global shutdown, “Hollow” features Lopes’s signature vocal prowess in a collaboration spearheaded by Orden Ogan mastermind Seeb Sebastian.


Reflecting on the project, Lopes shared: “When Seeb reached out to me to be part of this amazing collaboration, it was an easy ‘Yes’ and a huge honor to be included alongside so many incredible vocalists in our genre. The original assignment was to record the lead vocals, but in true Marc Lopes fashion, I went overboard and recorded 20-plus tracks of harmonies, grunts, and everything else I could think of. It might have been a little overkill at the time—sorry, Seeb!—but I felt it would add my personal touch to the song.”




Despite its completion in 2022, the video’s release was delayed due to Lopes’s commitments to touring with Ross the Boss and Metal Church, as well as running his creative design company, Sonatheria, which produced the video.


“This video was a personal project I chipped away at over the years, and I’m thrilled to finally share it with everyone. A huge thank you to Seeb, Orden Ogan, and AFM Records for including me on this killer album. I hope you all enjoy it!”

Swedish heavy metal legion, Enforcer, has been a household name in the genre for 20 years, and now, Napalm Records is thrilled to be a part of that legacy - announcing their signing of the band that has transported the metallic sonic profile of the 80s into modernity. With Napalm Records, Enforcer are ready to take their unstoppable strength to new stratospheres.


Formed in 2004, Enforcer quickly gained recognition for their explosive blend of thrash and traditional heavy metal. Since then, they have published six studio albums showcasing their evolving sound while staying true to their roots.


Known for their electrifying live shows, Enforcer have performed on massive tours for thousands of devoted fans around the globe, including major European festivals like Hellfest, Sweden Rock and Copenhell, as well as more genre-focused festivals such as the legendary Keep It True and Bang Your Head festivals in Germany. Their high-energy performances and commitment to metal have made them fan favorites.




The band is now working on new material, promising an exciting future for metal fans worldwide. Stay tuned for more updates from Enforcer as they continue to dominate the scene.


Enforcer state about signing with Napalm Records: “We’re super excited to finally announce that we’re partnering with Napalm Records. Super stoked for a new release we’ve been working on to get out soon! Metal above all!”


Senior A&R Sebastian Münch says about Enforcer: “Since their debut album Into The Night, Enforcer, togethe

Motörhead unveils signature hot sauces that are “Born to Raise Hell!" Heat up your holidays with five “Over The Top” sauces from Jade City Foods, which can be ordered here.





The flavors and pairings are as follows:







Iron Horse - Mango Habanero Sauce
Heat scale rating: 5/10 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


This sauce has a blend of Habanero peppers, mangos, yellow bell pepper, onion, garlic, ginger, turmeric, vinegar, lime, and salt. It is recommended to pair with seafood, grilled chicken, pork and vinaigrette salads.





100 Percent Heat - Aged Red Pepper Sauce
Heat Scale Rating: 6/10 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


100 Percent Heat is a tasty blend of aged red peppers, distilled vinegar, salt, and spices. This boasts as an excellent breakfast pairing as it goes well with scrambled eggs, omelets, taco salad, burrito and for those looking to spike their Hot Chocolate with something other than booze, this is the way to go!





Iron Fist - Reaper Pepper Sauce
Heat Scale Rating: 8/10 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️


For those who dare to turn up the heat, the Iron Fist Reaper Sauce has an extra spicy blend of habanero, ghost, and cayenne peppers with notes of paprika, garlic, distilled white vinegar, and salt. This pairs best with seafood, Brussel sprouts (great way to turn up your Thanksgiving sides this year!), tacos and poultry.





Bo

Finnish metalheads, Arched Fire, return with a new single via Inverse Records. Following their two acclaimed albums Remote Control (2021) and Trust Betrayal (2024), "Northbound Train" is a tribute to their roots and their journey, and also a mark for an end of an era. Check out the official lyric video below.





Aggressive, old school and borderline chaotic, “Northbound Train” is a thrashy heavy metal song to bang your head and break your neck to.




 "It’s an old song resurrected and running onward like an unstoppable train, much like Arched Fire," says vocalist Kristian Herkman. "A train to the north of Finland, back to where Arched Fire started."


"And what a train it is," adds guitarist Ari Väntänen. "I love the cover art by Umar Setiawan, it’s like Thomas The Tank Engine from hell! We also have a beautiful lyric video by Jussi Hevander that fits the mood perfectly."


Originally formed in the Finnish Lapland in 1989, the band hibernated for thirty years until reforming in the late 2019 and starting to work on new music. Now, a five-year phase seems to be nearing its end. 


"Things are about to change," says Ari. "It may be that Northbound Train is the very last release with this Arched Fire line-up. Who knows what the future holds, but for now, it is what it is. As a song, it

Great American Ghost have shared the arrival of “Kerosene,” the fourth single from the band’s upcoming album Tragedy Of The Commons out January 31 on SharpTone Records. The track opens the record with a buzzsaw riff and pummeling industrial-style beat. Taking inspiration from bands like Nine Inch Nails and HEALTH as much as Slayer and Meshuggah, “Kerosene” signals Great American Ghost’s ability to write killer songs that transcend genre. The video for the track, directed and edited by Anthony Altamura, evokes a spine-chilling and anxious blend of horror.


Vocalist Ethan Harrison comments on the song: “Kerosene is a song about absolute nihilism. If the world is truly hopeless, forlorn, irredeemable, then this is its anthem.”


Upholding an uncompromising vision with clear intention, Great American Ghost know exactly what they want to say about their community, the greater world around them, and humanity as a species. Tragedy Of The Commons offers a powerful statement on exploitation, oppression, and scarcity. On the Will Putney produced record, Great American Ghost transmit their message without filter delivered through a combination of basement-born hardcore spirit, staggering metallic precision, polemic lyrical provocations, and unexpectedly arresting melodies.




Tragedy Of The Commons is available for preorder through Sharptone Records.


Great American Ghost have a hometown headline show in Manchester, New Hampshire on December 14 at Jewel Music Venue. The band will join Bleed From Within and After The Burial on a European tour next fall.


Great American Ghost is Ethan Harrison (vocals), Grayson Stewart (guitar), Anthony Laur (bass) and Niko Gasparrini (guitar).





Tracklisting:


“Kerosene”
“Echoes Of War”
“Lost In The Outline”
“Forsaken”
“Ghost In Flesh”
“Writhe”
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In a new interview with Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco Bay Area radio station 107.7 The Bone, Zakk Wylde spoke about his ongoing touring activities with a reformed version of PANTERA, also featuring surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),alongside Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) on drums. The lineup has reportedly been given a green light by the estates of PANTERA's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

Asked how the PANTERA "celebration" tour will continue in the next couple of years and whether there is a chance of a live album or even possibly new music, Zakk said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's all up to Phillip and Rex. It's real easy-peasy. We just hang around, and if Rex is just, like, 'Hey, fellas, let's just put this [song] in the set,' or whatever, or Phil's, like, 'Yo, let's try this,' or whatever, then me and Charlie learn it and then we'll put it in the set. So, that's where it's at. But it's a great hang, because everybody in the crew and everybody out there, we've all known each other for years. Even with the crew people, it's just, like, whether they've been out with Ozzy [Osbourne] when I was rolling on the 'No More Tears' tour, everybody knows everybody. So, it really is like a huge family vibe out on the thing. It's a great time, for sure. And seeing so many people taking a trip down memory lane, the PANTERA faithful that saw PANTERA back when they were playing clubs in front of five people. So you have that, you have the PANTERA faithful taking a trip down memory lane, and then you have all the new kids, which is amazing, 'cause Phil, every night, he's just, like, 'How many people saw PANTERA back in the day?' And like I said, you have the PANTERA faithful, and then when he goes, how many people this is their first time hearing these songs live. It really is mind-blowing, how many young kids, 'cause they never… When the band ended, when the guys took a break, they'd hear about the legend of PANTERA, like the legend of [BLACK] SABBATH, and I never got a chance to see [the original] SABBATH, so when they got back together, it was just, like, 'Wow. Now I can go see him with Ozzy and Bill [Ward] and Tony [Iommi] and Geezer [Butler],' back when they did Ozzfest. That was a huge, big deal for everybody that never got a chance to see it because you were too young. So, I think it's a beautiful thing, and keeping Dime and Vinnie's, what they created with Philip and Rex, this amazing thing. So, I think it's a great thing. It's beautiful."

When Blakk noted that it sounds like PANTERA is "a fluid thing" and that he is "all on board" with however it evolves in the coming years, Zakk concurred. "Yeah," he said. "For 2025, we're rolling right now. It's just gonna be all PANTERA all year long. So, that's what's going on right now. Go over to Europe, then we'll be back in the States and then we have a bunch of METALLICA shows. So, yeah, it's awesome."

This past August, Zakk was asked by "The Rich Shertenlieb Show" on Boston's 100.7 WZLX radio station what his immediate thought was when he was first approached about taking part in the PANTERA tour. Zakk said: "Phil called me up and he was, like, 'Zakk, would you wanna…?' I've always told Rex and Phil if they ever wanted to do it, since day one, when [Vinnie Paul] was still alive, and they would always talk, there'd be rumblings of talking about it, it was, like, 'Guys, whatever you wanna do, you know I'm always here. Allied forces. I'm always here to support you.' So, and then it never came about, but I was just like always… I remember I was telling [JUDAS PRIEST's] Rob Halford, 'cause Rob saw one of the [recent PANTERA] shows, he was like, 'Zakk, it's really a beautiful thing you guys are doing.' And I was telling Rob, I said, it was never a matter of if I'll do it, it's a matter of when I'll [do it], you know what I mean? It's just like one of those things with your parents. If they ask you to come home, you don't say… you just go home. If they need help around the house, you just do it. So, yeah, to me it's the same thing."

Regarding the challenge of reproducing Dimebag's parts in a live situation, Zakk said: "I always tell everybody, with Dime's, his legacy and his greatness. aside of his great chops and his technique and everything like that, it was a Dime's writing. Where [BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi created a whole genre, pretty much with PANTERA, it's its own entire genre. So I always put Dime, status-wise, just like Tony Iommi. As far as creating a genre, they're the benchmark of that music, for LAMB OF GOD and all those guys that play in that genre. They're THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, the SABBATH, the [LED] ZEPPELIN of that genre."

Back in February, Zakk told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the possibility of the reformed lineup of PANTERA making new music: "I think you would have to call it something else. You know what I mean? PANTERA is those four guys [Philip, Rex, Vinnie and Dimebag]. So, yeah, you can't replace that."

Pressed about whether he would want to do it under an altered name rather than calling it PANTERA, Wylde said: "Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we'd have to wait until we get there. But right now, it's just the four of us celebrating what the fellas [from the classic lineup] created."

Zakk went on to say that he was open to making new music with Anselmo, Brown and Benante, provided that it was presented differently than just PANTERA. "Yeah, of course," he said. "I mean, how could you call it PANTERA unless it was just pre-existing material and we were gonna record it — stuff that was in demo state or whatever, and it is songs that the guys wrote. But as far as new songs, it would have to be — you'd call it something else."

Earlier in August, Wylde was asked by The Mistress Carrie Podcast what he would have said a few years ago if somebody had told him that he would one day be the guitarist in PANTERA. Zakk responded: "Well, [it's] the PANTERA celebration. It's not PANTERA. PANTERA is Dime, Vinnie, Phil and Rex. So that's PANTERA. But no, it's a beautiful thing honoring the guys every night. Everybody's having a blast. Everyone that comes down to the shows either — you have the PANTERA faithful taking a trip down memory lane, and you've got all the younger, like Phil always calls it, the new blood. And it's amazing every night how many… It's just a testament to what the fellas created. Because we've got so many young people that have never seen PANTERA before."

He continued: "For me, for my situation, I never got a chance to see LED ZEPPELIN. So, if ZEPPELIN got back together, and you had, I mean, right now with Jason [Bonham] playing the drums, 'cause I never got a chance to see it. So, it's that kind of situation. So it's all the younger kids coming up hearing that their older brothers listened to it or their dad or whatever, and now they're at the gig to hear this music live. So, to me, it's truly a beautiful thing every night we play honoring the guys."

Regarding how his opinion of Dimebag as a guitar player has changed as a result of having to dissect his parts, Zakk said: "I already knew my buddy was great. I already knew Dime was great. But then the more I was learning this stuff, I was, like, he's even greater than I ever thought. But, no, learning all the stuff or going through actually learning the songs, it's just, aside of Dime's great technique and his chops and everything like that… I mean, to me, his legacy is — I put it more like Tony Iommi, where what Tony created with SABBATH was basically its own entire genre of music. So PANTERA, they're the gold standard of that genre of music, whether it's 'power groove' or whatever, what Dime called it. The LAMB OF GOD guys are amazing, but they're cut from that cloth, that style of music that PANTERA forged, and all the bands that come after that. I mean, it's just kind of like PANTERA, what PANTERA created in their genre is the same thing as THE BEATLES, THE STONES, ZEPPELIN and SABBATH, all the bands that we love, where they're the benchmark of that style of music. So, yeah, that's why I always tell everybody, it's not so much how fast Dime was and everything like that; it's what he wrote. And that's his legacy, to me."

Asked what it's like to play the opening riff of the classic PANTERA song "Walk" every night, Wylde said: "It's truly amazing. Phil always says it every night. When we're, doing the shows with METALLICA, he goes, 'I think a lot of people don't know who we are, don't know who PANTERA is, he goes, 'but once that riff starts. They go, 'Oh, yeah, I've heard this song before.' It's an iconic riff, for sure. Totally."

In a separate interview, Zakk was asked by Joshua Toomey of the Talk Toomey podcast what goes through his mind when the curtain falls down as he and his bandmates launch into the opening riff of "A New Level" every night, Zakk said: "Oh, it's awesome. I love every second of the show — from the beginning to the end, man. Obviously, when we're doing 'Floods', I get pretty choked up doing that one, especially the end bit, the outro of Dime's, 'cause it's just me by myself. I don't see the video screens that are behind me, but, obviously, when I've seen the footage of it, it's just, like, 'Wow.' There's just pretty much not a dry eye in the house on that one. Yeah, I definitely get choked up doing that one, when we do 'Floods'.

"Everybody in the camp, everybody's just all great people," Zakk continued. "I mean, we've all known each other — the fellows in the band, we've known each other, but as far as the whole camp and the crew, we've all known each other from various tours and things. So it's like one gigantic family out there. So, I mean, the whole vibe, it's just a beautiful thing."

Regarding whether there were any PANTERA songs or parts that took him longer to figure out than the rest, Zakk said: "What I just found really awesome was Dime's… I mean, the reason why we're still talking about Dime's greatness and everybody, and all the guys that we love, whether it's King Edward [Eddie Van Halen], St. Rhoads [Randy Rhoads], Jimi Hendrix, I mean, all the guys, it's what they wrote. Aside of Dime's great technique and how amazing he was and how fast he could play and everything like that, it's what he wrote, just like with Randy and Eddie and everybody. I mean, all the guys that we love. But Dime's writing, like his chord choices and everything like that, it's just, like, 'Oh, wow. That's definitely really cool.' So, a lot of unexpected pre-choruses and things like that. It's, like, 'Oh, wow. I wonder what made him go there,' like really interesting chord choices. But, yeah, for sure.

"Going through, learning the whole catalog and learning deeper cuts and everything like that, I was, like, 'Wow. This one's pretty cool,'" he continued. "I mean, even the pre-chorus to 'Walk' or just the opening riff — a lot of a lot of the chord choices would end up becoming… They're dissonant, where that's obviously what Dime's going for, is the dissonance, whereas opposed to something would be like if it was a more ear-pleasing chord choice, but it would sound routine, and you could just tell Dime was going for… 'No, that's what everybody expects us to go. So, let's go here. Everyone expects us to make a left turn. So, let's make a right.' So, it's, like, oh, 'Wow, that's definitely interesting.' So, yeah, that's what I found, learning all the material and everything like that. So, for sure. So that, to me, is what puts Dime in that league with all the guys we love, whether it's Jimi Hendrix, whether it's Eddie and Randy. It's his writing."

This past April, Zakk told Ultimate Guitar about touring with the reformed PANTERA: "I feel [Dimebag] all the time. Even when we were getting ready to do the [PANTERA tour in 2022], [the early] rehearsals, and they were just figuring out how we were gonna do this, there'd be signs all over the place, whether [it was] a license plate that would be, like, '333' [three being Dimebag's favorite number], or I'd run into like a Dimebag license plate in the middle of nowhere. It was just, like, him just pushing this thing along, willing it to happen. So he's just always around. When we were in New York, just like signs, when we just did [a headlining show at] the [Madison Square] Garden [in February 2024], my wife Barbaranne was, like, Check this out.' Something came up and it just reminded us of Dime, and I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy.' Or we would look on our phone and it would be '333'. It's just these signs everywhere. And I could see Dime just doing it, going, 'I hope these idiots realize it's me sending these signs.' [Laughs]"

The reformed PANTERA is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of its own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2025.

It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

During a recent appearance on "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, Zakk was asked how he, Philip, Rex and Charlie all "came together to decide that this was the right time, the right group to pay homage to the mighty PANTERA". The guitarist said: "Well, BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY] and DOWN, we did some shows together in 2014, we did a tour, and it was great. 'Cause I've known Phil [who also sings for DOWN] and Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] and all the guys, and Jimmy Bower [DOWN drummer], Father Bower Power, over there for a while. It was just a bunch of friends going out doing shows together. And we did some PANTERA stuff then, and then Father Rex came out and we jammed 'I'm Broken' and stuff like that, and it was a lot of fun. And it's always been rumored for years. I just said that's always on the fellas. Me and Charlie are buds, and we'll be here to support our friends, whatever they wanna do. So when Phil called me up one day, he was, like, 'Zakk, you wanna get together and do this? We're thinking about me, Rex and Charlie and yourself, and we'll go out and pay tribute to Dime and Vinnie.' I was, like, 'Of course. I always said I would be there for you guys when you felt the time was right to do it.'"

He continued: "But, yeah, we just got together and did the rehearsals down in New Orleans and then we've been rolling ever since. We just did the [Madison Square] Garden and everything like that, with LAMB OF GOD and the guys and everything like that. So it was great. So just looking out every night and seeing people taking a trip down memory lane, the people that have seen the original PANTERA… When Phil says every night, he's just, like, 'How many people, this is their first time ever seeing PANTERA?' And all the younger people that never got a chance to see 'em [raise their hands]. It just really is a beautiful thing.

"I always say it every night, when we were playing the Garden, it's just like if Dime and Vinnie were right there on the side of the stage, I'd go, 'Look at what you guys created.' So it's really special. I think it's just a beautiful thing every night paying honor and tribute to Dime and Vinnie every night, Phil and Rex and Dime and Vinnie, this thing that they created that brings so many people joy. So, I just think it's a beautiful thing every night."

Zakk previously discussed his involvement with PANTERA in a February 2024 interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights. At the time, he said: "Everybody in the whole camp, it's all great people. And it's crazy, because we've known each other for years, but you end up knowing, even with the crew and everything like that, all these people you've known for years — I mean, people that I've been with when I started with Ozzy [Osbourne] and everything like that. So, it's just a great time out there, man, for sure. And then, obviously, celebrating Vinnie and Dime every night, it's just awesome.

"The beautiful thing about music is, all the bands that we love, whether it's ZEPPELIN or [BLACK] SABBATH, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS or Elton John or PANTERA or whatever, everybody has their connection to that music," he continued. "That's the most powerful thing about music. I mean, you hear stuff, it just transports you back to when you were 13 years old, 14 years old, where you were and what you were doing when that music was going on. So, for so many people — it's amazing 'cause Phil always does it at like almost every night, he's just, like, 'How many people saw PANTERA back in the day?' And everybody, obviously, you have all the PANTERA faithful. And then he goes, 'How many people, this is their first time seeing PANTERA?' It's mind-blowing. I mean, I'd say it's almost like 60-40, 70-30 sometimes, where it's, like, 'Wow. That is amazing.'

"I never got a chance to see ZEPPELIN back in the day, so to see… When I went and saw the [Jimmy] Page and [Robert] Plant thing with the orchestra and everything, that was just amazing, because I never got a chance to see them back in the day. So, just the power of the music, to see it live was just… I saw 'em at Brendan Byrne Arena [in East Rutherford, New Jersey in April 1995] when we were working on [Ozzy Osbourne's 1995 album] 'Ozzmosis'. I got tickets and we went down to the gig that night, and it was amazing — 'cause I never I never got a chance to see it back in the day. So, it's pretty much the same, 'cause I know I was getting chills when I was watching it. So, yeah, it's a beautiful thing, man."

Zakk was also asked if he would be open to working on new material with PANTERA. He said: "Nah, I don't think so. Whenever Phil says that and all the younger kids are screaming and yelling, when they put the house lights on and everyone's got their fists up in the air 'cause that's the first time [they're seeing PANTERA live], I just look at like Vinnie and Dime, if they were on the side of the stage, and go, 'See what you guys created.' So it's just, like, yeah, it's awesome. It truly is, man. But, no, I don't think [the plan is] to record [as PANTERA]. I mean, it'd be like if [Eric] Clapton was playing with [drummer] Mitch [Mitchell] and [bassist] Noel [Redding], honoring Jimi [Hendrix], they're not gonna go in and record [and call it] THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE with Eric Clapton. [Laughs] I don't think anything like that. Obviously, if we were ever to do anything, it would be under a different name. Like Jimmy Page, if he was playing with Paul Rodgers and everything, it's THE FIRM; they're not going out as LED ZEPPELIN."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. 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.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Gràb have unveiled the lyric video “Kerkermoasta” (English 'dungeon keeper') as the first single taken from their forthcoming new album Kremess (English: 'funeral feast', German "Leichenschmaus"). The sophomore full-length of the Bavarian black metal duo has been scheduled for release on February 21, 2025.


Preorder here.


"Our first advance single 'Kerkermoasta' is probably the most in-your-face track of the album", vocalist and lyricist Grànt states. "It also shows a wide range of basically everything that makes our sound unique. Some parts remind me of the best days of such bands as the Norwegians Gehenna. There is also a dulcimer that introduces the melody, mid-tempo, blast beats, groove, and a slow ending. On the lyrical side the Bavarian word 'Kerkermoasta' literally translates to 'Dungeon Master'. The dungeon keeper in question is the Grim Reaper himself. In other words: Life creates the doorway, death holds the key."




Gràb offer both, continuity and change, on their sophomore full-length Kremess. The Bavarian black metal project founded by vocalist Grànt continues to revolve lyrically around tales and traditions narrated in the local dialect of Germany's southernmost Alpine state: Bavaria. "Kremess" means 'funeral feast' in that language and death plays a leading role on this album.


Musically, Gràb still feature a prominent traditional instrument of their region, the hammered dulcimer. This gets combined with particularly Norwegian strands of black metal such as early Gehenna, Ulver, and Darkthrone as well as taking inspiration from German pioneers of the genre namely Nagelfar and Lunar Aurora. Adding to the local sonic colours are many fresh ideas and sounds that came with English guitarist Gnàst, who has replaced previous main songwriter Grain in the meantime. A host of guest musicians including members of Empyrium, Triptykon, and Dark Fortress among others has further enhanced the musical spectrum.

EDGUY frontman Tobias Sammet's long-running AVANTASIA project will release its tenth studio album, "Here Be Dragons", on February 28, 2025 via Napalm Records. In addition to absolute AVANTASIA essentials such as spellbinding choirs and theatrical symphonic metal elements, Sammet surprises fans old and new with plenty of intriguing fresh soundscapes. "Here Be Dragons" gives the celebrated AVANTASIA sound that has been carefully crafted over a quarter of a century an exciting and powerful spin. The new album is the most consistent and concise piece of art that the band has ever crafted.

AVANTASIA's impressive success story has seen nine previous studio albums (including the 2019 offering "Moonglow" that charted at No. 1 in Germany),gold awards, hundreds of millions of streams as well as headline shows at all important metal festivals and worldwide sold-out arena tours with tens of thousands of devoted fans. AVANTASIA is not showing any signs of slowing down; soon after the release of "Here Be Dragons", the band will head out on an extensive arena tour across Europe, promising to deliver fans an immersive experience with their biggest and most epic production ever.

Sammet comments: "This new album carries the most adventurous and bold spirit my music has had in decades. And it's rather reckless, fearless, powerful, and uplifting and not introverted at all. While my previous albums allowed me to get a lot off my chest, this time I dove headfirst into the creative flood, crafting ten discrete, musical pictures, that miraculously merged into what I believe is the tightest chapter in AVANTASIA's history. I did everything exactly how I wanted it, approaching the album with unrelenting determination and a carefree attitude that was reminiscent of my early days way before the Metal Opera thing, when I felt unstoppable and let instinct just write songs. Right now I'm bursting with energy and can't wait to unleash 'Here Be Dragons' and then kick off the big tour with our new stage. We'll present the new material alongside our classics and some rarities in the most spectacular stage show AVANTASIA has ever delivered. An early Merry Christmas, everyone!"

In grand AVANTASIA tradition, the new full-length is rich in vivid storytelling and cinematic atmospheres, not to mention the highest level of musicianship. Opening track "Creepshow" is without a doubt one of the catchiest songs in their career. The energizing future hit truly welcomes the listener into the new era of AVANTASIA and will be an integral part of the band's spectacular live shows. In contrast, the incredible title track "Here Be Dragons" is a classic AVANTASIA song, and, at almost nine minutes, is by far the longest on the album. The cinematic dark soundscapes of "The Witch" captivate and support the song's storyline perfectly. Emotional, multifaceted vocal performances mesmerize on "Avalon", while the heavy metal number "Against The Wind" serves as further proof of the versatility of AVANTASIA's sound. Remaining well-balanced and cohesive, "Here Be Dragons" is undeniably AVANTASIA's most powerful album so far.

The 10-track offering was written and composed in its entirety by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Tobias Sammet together with Sascha Paeth, mixed by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The stunning cover art was once again created by acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. "Here Be Dragons" marks another masterpiece in the AVANTASIA catalog, leaving both fans and critics speechless and proving the band's standing as a main force in the world of rock and metal!

"Here Be Dragons" is now available for pre-order in several exciting physical editions, with bonus albums included in select limited formats, like a 3CD hardcover artbook with 96 pages, over 160 pictures, drawings of Rodney Matthews and extensive stories to accompany the music and pictures. Make sure to secure yours and stay tuned for the first single that will be released very soon.

"Here Be Dragons" track listing:

01. Creepshow
02. Here Be Dragons
03. The Moorland At Twilight
04. The Witch
05. Phantasmagoria
06. Bring On The Night
07. Unleash The Kraken
08. Avalon
09. Against The Wind
10. Everybody's Here Until The End

AVANTASIA's ninth album, "A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society", was released in October 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was the follow-up to "Moonglow", which came out in 2019.

"A Paranormal Evening With The Moonflower Society" was produced by Sammet with AVANTASIA guitar player Sascha Paeth. The cover artwork was created by Swedish illustrator Alexander Jansson.

Since its beginnings in 1999, AVANTASIA's past releases have featured international stars such as Alice Cooper, Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker (SCORPIONS), Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Bruce Kulick and Eric Singer (KISS), Eric Martin (MR. BIG), SAXON's Biff Byford, TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider and many more.

Photo credit: Kevin Nixon

In a new interview with John The Ninja, ARMORED SAINT/ex-ANTHRAX singer John Bush was asked to name the most important piece of advice he has ever been given. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "My mother-in-law, she was a crazy, wacky woman. My wife, she takes after her and she's going to be a lot like her and it'll be really comical and ball-busting throughout. [My mother-in-law] told me when [my now-wife and I] were getting married: 'I got some advice for you.' And I said, 'What?' And she said, 'Wash your balls.' That's it… And I was, like, 'Well, I do wash my balls, but, yeah, every night.' Anyway, it was pretty funny."

As for the most important "music"-related piece of advice he has ever gotten, John said: "Man, I don't know if I could pinpoint one specific thing musically. I just think that really it's probably something my mom probably instilled in me. It was just kind of a support that really wasn't necessarily verbal but just an aura of support of saying, 'I believe in you.' And it wasn't even with words, actually; it was more of just support and love and always being there for me and believing [in me]. My mom ran the fan club for the band for several years. And it's probably one of the reasons I don't like to do social media, because I actually really was a big part of the ARMORED SAINT fan club for a while and wrote hand letters to people. And I did it with my mom, and then Bob Nalbandian, God rest his soul, and my buddy Andy. We were all a part of it at different different times. But my mom was kind of the key component there. My dad would actually go pick up the letters at the post office, bring them back and then my mom worked it. My parents were always there for me. They let me follow music… I graduated high school and I didn't wanna go to college. I went to junior college for, like, maybe a semester, and I was, like, 'I don't wanna be here.' And they could have said, 'What are you doing?' They didn't. They just said, 'Okay, you like this music thing. Go for it. Let's see what you can do.' And they were just always there and supportive of me, and my mom in particular. So I think it wasn't words. It was just a vibe. And I think that — let me give props to my mom, because I probably don't do it enough, actually."

ARMORED SAINT is working on material for the follow-up to the band's eighth full-length album, "Punching The Sky", which came out in October 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

This past June, ARMORED SAINT released a rendition of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)". The classic track was originally written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and was first released by PEOPLE in 1970. Additional covers include THE FOUR TOPS (1974),SANTANA (1978) and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (1989).

"One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" was produced by ARMORED SAINT bassist Joey Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Maor Applebaum.

ARMORED SAINT released the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album's 30th anniversary. "Symbol Of Salvation Live" was a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City's famed Gramercy Theatre during its 2018 tour.

In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

In May 2023, ARMORED SAINT's long-awaited documentary, Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers", had its world premiere in the band's hometown at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Earlier in the year, ARMORED SAINT wrapped up a successful North American tour with QUEENSRŸCHE and is currently on the road as the support act for W.A.S.P..

Linkin Park - Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahn, Emily Armstrong and Colin Brittain - recently released their comeback album, From Zero. In a recent official band podcast, Armstrong opened up to Shinoda about what it was like being asked to join the band.


Armstrong: "I was trying to be on your level, how cool you guys were just asking me (about doing some live shows). If I was just so over-the-top, I feel like it would have been a little cringe. And you guys were very sweet by asking 'How does Dead Sara think about it?' Once we left the studio, that's when I was just like, 'Oh my fucking God.' I was allowed to just throw myself into this new world. It was like I stepped into Disney World. It was like, fucking full of magic and full of opportunity, and everything you could possibly imagine."







After a year of monumental returns and record-breaking milestones, Linkin Park - Mike Shinoda, Dave “Phoenix” Farrell, Joe Hahn, Emily Armstrong, and Colin Brittain - announce From Zero World Tour will continue into 2025, with the next leg launching in January of next year. The tour celebrates their new album, From Zero, out tomorrow via Warner Records and hits stadiums and arenas across North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The run also includes several notable festival plays around the globe, including Sick New World, I-DAYS, Novarock, and more.


Their 2024 arena run was met with incredible demand, prompting the addition of four stadium dates in Paris, Dallas, and São Paulo. Now, fans worldwide will have even more chances to experience Linkin Park’s raw, high-octane performances with an expanded tour schedule in 2025. Full ticketing and tour info is available below. Special guests Queens of the Stone Age, Spiritbox, AFI, Architects, grandson, Jean Dawson, JPEGMAFIA, and PVRIS will join on select dates.


“Getting back out on the road has been incredible,” says Mike Shinoda. “The fans’ support is overwhelming, and we’re ready to take this energy even further around the world. From Zero is a new chapter for us, and we’re so excited to share it with everyone on a bigger scale.”


Highlights of the upcoming run include the band’s first stadium shows in Tokyo and Mexico City since 2017, a return to Jakarta after 13 years, and performances at Wembley Stadium, Stade de France, and Dodger Stadium, where they’ll perform both new hits like “The Emptiness Machine” and “Heavy Is The Crown” alongside iconic anthems spanning their 20+ year career. Additional ticketing and venue details for South America and Jakarta will be forthcoming.


Following the release of “Heavy Is The Crown”, the official League of Legends World Championship Anthem and their first collaboration with Riot Games, Linkin Park has reasserted their position as one of rock’s defining voices. The song’s hard-hitting rhythm and anthemic energy embody the bold, renewed spirit of the band and have resonated with fans across the globe, paving the way for From Zero.


Linkin Park made their triumphant return to the spotlight with "The Emptiness Machine," which surged to #1 on both the Billboard Alternative and Mainstream Rock Airplay charts, marking their 13th and 11th chart-toppers on these lists, respectively. The song also debuted at #4 on the UK Singles Chart, achieving the band’s highest UK chart position in their 24-year career, and has held the #1 spot in Germany for an incredible 9 weeks in a row and counting.


Tickets:


- LP Underground fan club exclusive presales start November 18. Get all details and ticketing info here.
- North America: The general onsale will take place on Thursday, November 21 at 12 PM, Local Time.
- Europe/UK: The general onsale will take place on Friday, November 22 at 10, AM Local Time.


With over 54 million monthly listeners on Spotify and accolades from Billboard, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times on their recent singles, Linkin Park’s comeback has proven they are more influential than ever. The band’s recent late-night performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon showcased their timeless appeal, and their latest music has struck a powerful chord, propelling them to the forefront of rock music in 2024.





From Zero World Tour 2025:


January
31 - Estadio GNP Seguros - Mexico City, MX =


February
3 - Estadio 3 de Marzo - Guadalajara, MX =
5 - Estadio Banorte - Monterrey, MX =
11 - Saitama Super Arena - Tokyo, JP
12 - Saitama Super Arena - Tokyo, JP
16 - Venue TBA - Jakarta, ID


April
12 - Sick New World Festival - Las Vegas, NV *
26 - Moody Center - Austin, TX ^
28 - BOK Center - Tulsa, OK ^


May
1 -  Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI ^
3 - CFG Bank Arena - Baltimore, MD ^
6 - Lenovo Center - Raleigh, NC ^
8 - Bon Secours Wellness Arena - Greenville, SC ^
10 - Sonic Temple - Columbus, OH *
17 -  Welcome to Rockville - Daytona, FL *


June
12 - Novarock Festival -Nickelsdorf, AT *
14 - Rock for People Festival - Hradec Kralove, CZ *
16 - Heinz-Von-Heiden Arena - Hannover, DE ~
18 - Olympiastadion - Berlin, DE ~
20 - Bernexpo - Bern, CH
24 - I-DAYS Festival - Milan, IT *
26 - Gelredome - Arnhem, NL $
28 - Wembley Stadium - London, UK $&


July
1 - Merkur Spiel Arena - Dusseldorf, DE ~&
3 - Rock Werchter Festival - Werchter, BE *
5 - Open’er Festival - Gdynia, PL *
8 - Deutsche Bank Park - Frankfurt, DE ~&
11 - Stade de France - Paris, FR
29 - Barclays Center - Brooklyn, NY+


August
1 - TD Garden - Boston, MA +  
3 - Prudential Center - Newark, NJ +  
6 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC +
8 - Scotiabank Arena - Toronto, ON +  
11 - United Center - Chicago, IL +  
14 - Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI +  
16 - Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, PA #
19 - PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA #
21 - Bridgestone Arena - Nashville, TN #
23 - Enterprise Center - St. Louis, MO #
25 - Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, WI #
27 - Target Center - Minneapolis, MN #
29 - CHI Health Center - Omaha, NE #
31 - T-Mobile Center - Kansas City, MO #


September
3 - Ball Arena - Denver, CO #
6 - Footprint Center - Phoenix, AZ #
13 - Dodger Stadium - Los Angeles, CA !&
15 - SAP Center - San Jose, CA &
17 - Golden 1 Center - Sacramento, CA &
19 - Moda Center - Portland, OR &
21 - Rogers Arena - Vancouver, BC &
24 - Climate Pledge Arena - Seattle, WA &


October
26 - Venue TBA - Bogota, CO
29 - Venue TBA - Lima, PE


November
1 - Venue TBA - Buenos Aires, AR
5 - Venue TBA - Santiago, CL
8 - Venue TBA - Rio de Janeiro, BR
10 - Venue TBA - São Paulo, BR
13 - Venue TBA - Brasilia, BR
15 - Venue TBA - Porto Alegre, BR


* Festival Performance
! With support from Queens of the Stone Age
$ With support from Spiritbox
= With support from AFI
~ With support from Architects
^ With support from grandson
# With support from Jean Dawson
& With support from JPEGMAFIA
+ With support from PVRIS
 
Linkin Park's From Zero will be released tomorrow (November 15). Pre-order / pre-save here via Warner Records.





Tracklisting:


"From Zero" (Intro)
"The Emptiness Machine"
"Cut The Bridge"
"Heavy Is The Crown"
"Over Each Other"
"Casualty"
"Overflow"
"Two Faced"
"Stained"
"IGYEIH"
"Good Things Go"


"Two Faced" video:

Nectar have released an official lyric video for "I'll Let You In", a track from their new album, Mission To Mars. Watch below:





Formed in Germany in 1969, Nektar favoured extended compositions and concept albums over the constraints of pop. They were among the progenitors of the progressive rock movement of the 1970s as well as the jam-band scene that arose in the late 1990s.




Their sound traveled well to the States, where they enjoyed Top 40 success with A Tab In The Ocean (1972) and Remember The Future (1973). Nearly 20 albums later, the band’s artistic and personal charisma has earned them masses of devoted fans along with their album The Other Side (2020) which was Number 1 on Amazon Progressive Music.


For over half a century, Nektar has been the guiding star for countless fans, leading them on mesmerizing expeditions through the vast expanses of the cosmos and the depths of the ocean. With their unique fusion of progressive rock and stunning visuals, these trailblazing prog-rock legends have ignited the imaginations of generations.


Nektar is broadening their horizons with the first in the Mission To Mars trilogy. Their first to feature new drummer, Jay Dittamo, alongside longtime members Ryche Chlanda (guitars, vocals), Kendall Scott (keyboards, synths), Maryann Castello (vocals) and original founding member Derek “Mo” Moore (bass guitar, vocals).


From the rocking title track “Mission To Mars” to the beautiful “I’ll Let You In”, Nektar covers all the prog rock bases while venturing into some new melodic territories.


As both Mo and Ryche state, “Mission To Mars’

In a new interview with Metalhead Marv of This Day In Metal, ex-QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate was asked about the possibility of a reunion with his former band. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think it's likely, really, at this point. I mean, there's been several offers on the table, getting the band back together. And nothing has inspired anybody to get in the same room or even pick up the phone and talk. So, I think it's pretty unlikely. In fact, there's not really a band anymore. [Laughs] With [drummer Scott] Rockenfield gone, it's just Eddie [Jackson, bass] and Michael [Wilton, guitar] playing, using the name QUEENSRŸCHE, of course, which is very valuable. And it's not really a 'band band' as we know it. So, yeah, I don't really think it's likely."

When Metalhead Marv noted that it sounds like Geoff is "willing to give" a QUEENSRŸCHE reunion "a try" if it happens, Tate clarified: "Well, I would say that I'm very willing to talk about it. That's the first step. You've gotta actually pick up the phone [laughs] and answer the phone call. [Laughs]"

Geoff previously discussed his time with QUEENSRŸCHE this past June in an interview with Cassius Morris. Asked if he had any desire to ever create with his former bandmates, including guitarist Chris DeGarmo, again, he responded: "Well, I think that we had 30 good years, which is phenomenal. Most bands make a couple of records. How many records did GUNS N' ROSES make? Three? [Laughs] We had 30 years of making music, and we gave it a really good run. We had a lot of success. I think we created some really memorable albums, some really memorable songs that will outlive us. And I don't really have a need to go back and try to recapture that with Chris or any of the other guys as well. I feel like it's time to do other things, and to just explore. And we gave that a great run. It was successful. We did great things. It's time to do other things now."

Asked if he keeps in touch with any of his former bandmates at all, Geoff said: "Um, not regularly, not regularly. But sometimes situations arise where we have to sort of deal with each other, and it's not unpleasant now. Enough time has gone by [and] the bridges have mended, I guess."

Regarding whether it is tough for him to keep having to talk about his split with QUEENSRŸCHE more than a decade later, Geoff said: "At first, it was very challenging because we had kind of a bitter breakup, and I guess I was very angry over how it was handled. But then I started looking at the personalities involved and realized, well, it really didn't have any other realistic outcome. It was gonna be what it was. But that was 12 years ago when the band split up. And so a lot of water is under the bridge now and I can be a lot more forgiving of people in their situations. But I've had to talk about it. I keep getting asked questions about it, that kind of thing, 'You ever gonna get the band back together?' that question all the time. And so I've tried to think about how to talk about it in a way that is honest and real for me, but yet not so volatile. 'Cause I could get very volatile about it and point fingers and express blame and I can be very cruel, but it doesn't really serve me to even entertain that idea. I really appreciate what we had and what we did. And I'm happy with that. Very happy."

Back in March 2023, QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Michael Wilton shot down Tate's claim that the original lineup of the group was offered an "obscene" amount of money for one reunion tour but that "a couple of people in the band turned it down." Michael told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk": "I don't know. I didn't hear about it. I never saw any offers. I know our management never saw any offers. So I have no idea about that."

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 Wilton, drummer Scott Rockenfield and bassist Eddie Jackson 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.

During a January 2022 appearance on "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Tate was asked if he is hopeful that a QUEENSRŸCHE reunion will happen someday. He responded: "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. 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, 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."

In 2021, 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 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against guitarist Wilton and Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. A few months later, Wilton and Jackson filed a countersuit against Rockenfield, accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit. That dispute has since been settled out of court.

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

Halestorm performed in Quebec City at Centre Vidéotron on October 26th. During the show, they were joined by The Warning vocalist / guitarist Dany Villarreal for "Familiar Taste Of Poison". Check out fan-filmed video below.





Halestorm's Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger have announced "The Living Room Sessions" tour for January 2025.

Sammy Hagar has shared professionally filmed video of his special halftime performance this past Sunday (November 24) at the Las Vegas Raiders' game against the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Delivering a powerhouse set of "I Can't Drive 55" and "Right Now", Hagar, alongside special guest Michael Anthony, celebrated the news that their top-grossing summer tour is coming to Las Vegas this spring as an exclusive "The Best Of All Worlds" tour residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM.

The performance was highlighted by a heartfelt tribute to honor the bravery and dedication of the U.S. military. During the iconic VAN HALEN hit "Right Now", Hagar invited members of the military who participated in the Raiders' "Salute To Service" reenlistment ceremony to join him on stage and sing along. At the end of the performance, the crowd chanted "USA! USA!" and the members of the military were given rockstar treatment with high fives from fans as they exited the stage.

A week ago, Sammy announced that "The Best Of All Worlds", his critical and commercial hit summer 2024 tour, will launch in 2025 as "The Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency" at Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas, Nevada. The tour will reunite the rock powerhouse band of Hagar, Anthony, Joe Satriani and Kenny Aronoff with a new "only in Las Vegas" setlist running April 30 through May 17, 2025.

This highly anticipated residency will showcase Sammy's career-spanning hits, from seminal breakouts with MONTROSE, his iconic solo hits, and a deep dive into his tenure with VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, and everything in between. Presented in partnership by Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, the residency will be custom-designed for Dolby Live, giving fans an intimate, high-energy concert experience in the 5,200-seat entertainment venue.

"I'm so looking forward to this residency and being able to stay in one place so we can get the sound and production completely dialed in," said Hagar. "It also allows the band to experiment with the setlist every night — that's why it's going to be exclusive to Las Vegas. Instead of traveling all day on tour when there's no time to rehearse and make changes. I plan on digging deeper into the VAN HALEN catalog, and my solo career, MONTROSE and CHICKENFOOT, as well. The fans are in for a lot of surprises."

The Las Vegas residency follows on the heels of the chart-topping success of "The Best Of All Worlds" tour, which sold out amphitheaters and arenas across North America and Japan. Together with the release of "The Collection II", the 2023 box set featuring newly remastered versions of the four consecutive #1 albums released during the Hagar era of VAN HALEN: "5150" (1986),"OU812" (1988),"For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" (1991) and "Balance" (1995),fans were reinvigorated by their arsenal of hits, many which hadn't been played live since the band's 2004 reunion tour. Musician Rai Thistlethwayte will also return on keyboard and backing vocals to round out the band of brothers and deliver an exclusive new hits-packed live show.

Tickets for the following nine shows went on sale to the public Friday, November 22:

April 2025: 30
May 2025: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16, 17

Jason Bonham, son of late LED ZEPPELIN legend John Bonham, took part in the U.S. leg of "The Best Of All Worlds", which focused largely on celebrating the music of Hagar's former band VAN HALEN. Unfortunately, Bonham had to leave the tour with four shows remaining on the U.S. leg due to a family issue. The drummer was replaced at the last several dates of the trek by Aronoff, who had previously played with Hagar, bassist Michael Anthony and guitarist Joe Satriani in CHICKENFOOT.

"Kenny is one of the greatest drummers on the planet," Hagar told Rolling Stone. "The biggest surprise in my life as a musician is that we pulled off that change midway through the tour since these songs have cray breaks in them. The way Eddie [Van Halen] writes music doesn't make any sense. It makes the drummer's job so difficult, but Kenny killed it. He crushed it."