There is a calm, serene spirituality about Ann Wilson in 2022 which instantly draws you to her. She feels like a warm, wise someone who has seen enough bullshit to know how to avoid it calmly, and someone who is at peace with whatever she needs to be at peace with. Perhaps that is why the soul (and, indeed title) of her latest album, "Fierce Bliss" (set for release April 29 via Silver Lining Music) offers such universally entertaining, engaging, honest and safe harbor from these unpredictable times.

Take "Greed", the powerful first single. "'Greed' is that thing in our animal nature that makes us want MORE," Wilson declares. "Whether it be money, sex, power or ecstasy, it fires our craving. It happens with all of us. When you turn around and catch yourself making decisions because you want the money, or because you're caught in the headlights of glory, well, those are greedy moments."

Wilson continues: "I think people who claim to have made every decision from a root of pure idealism, and never done anything dark or greedy, is lying. I think everybody who ventures into especially the music industry hoping for a career with big success, ends up making these Faustian bargains at some point even if only briefly. It's an aggressive song and I think I write best when I'm angry."

One of the premier hard rock vocalists of all-time, Wilson smashed boundaries with her band HEART, the eight-times platinum, 35-million-plus-selling Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame trailblazers who formed in 1973. During a decades-long career, Wilson rode the roller coaster of fame, fortune and madness, learning both joyous and hard, hard lessons along the way. Fast forward to summer 2020 and a meeting with legendary veteran "artist's lawyer" Brian Rohan provided the catalyst for "Fierce Bliss"'s creation.

Ann says: "Brian recommended people to me that knew people in Nashville, so I met these guys like [famed Nashville session guitarist] Tom Bukovac and Tony Lucido at those Muscle Shoals Sound Studio sessions. I'd never met them before, and they really inspired me. It was like a big door opening."

With the musical chemistry organically established, "Fierce Bliss" came together quickly. "I had originally intended to go in, record a few songs and see what I had, but it just took on this life," remarks Wilson. "At Sound Stage in Nashville, Kenny Wayne Shepherd came in and played on a couple songs. He was a whole other influence coming in. He just played his butt off, and with the gospel singers and everything else coming together, the whole project just started to grow."

Wilson continues: "I'd known Warren Haynes from GOV'T MULE for a while. We'd written a couple songs together with GOV'T MULE playing, and those rounded out the record. So all of a sudden, where there was no record before, suddenly I had eleven cool songs that I really liked."

"Fierce Bliss" is classic rock comfort food of the finest ingredients, carrying a richness and light that allows you to escape into timeless nostalgia. 11 perfectly weighted and selected songs ranging from Wilson's own co-penned originals to breathtaking covers and collaborations. "A Moment In Heaven" could easily apply to anyone who has seen their career suddenly bathed in a bright beam of glory before the spotlight is abruptly moved elsewhere. There is a deeply spiritual air about Ann Wilson 2022, and both "Black Wing" and "Angel's Blues" show different facets of that soul and ethos. Furthermore, Wilson brings new life and verve to classic songs, such as QUEEN's "Love Of My Life", EURYTHMICS' "Missionary Man" and Robin Trower's "Bridge Of Sighs", and has helped fashion definitive versions of each which stand toe-to-toe with the originals.

To cap it all, the album artwork comes from the mind and hands of celebrated fantasy artist Roger Dean, who aside from his work in fantasy art is also renowned for his YES sleeve artwork.

Wilson will soon be hitting the road with her new band, and make no mistake, she's a performer at heart thus her excitement is palpable. Ann Wilson seems to be more comfortable with herself (and her art) than ever before with both "Fierce Bliss" and the band she'll be touring with. "I think that for someone who's been through as much as I have, and has lived to tell the tales, it's okay to share my experiences," says Wilson sagely. "I've heard from a lot of younger musicians and listeners too who have thanked me for staying around and for just keeping upright, just making it through, making the concessions once but not twice, and being able to live through it all with dignity."

"An Evening With Ann Wilson Of Heart & The Amazing Dawgs" tour will kick off on February 19 at Family Gras in Metairie, Louisiana, with more dates to be announced soon.

Tour dates:

Feb. 19 - Metairie, LA - Family Gras

May 04 - San Francisco, CA - Great American

May 05 - Napa, CA - The Uptown Theatre

May 07 - Pala, CA - Pala Casino

May 09 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

May 10 - Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre

May 13 - Los Cabos, MEX - Hard Rock

Jun. 11 - Peachtree City, GA - Fred Amphitheater

Jun. 13/14 - Nashville, TN – Basement East

Jun. 16 - Tampa, FL - Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa

Jun. 17 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - The Parker

"Fierce Bliss" track listing:

01. Greed

02. Black Wing

03. Bridge Of Sighs

04. Fighten For Life

05. Love Of My Life (feat. Vince Gill)

06. Missionary Man

07. Gladiator

08. Forget Her

09. A Moment In Heaven

10. Angel's Blues*

11. As The World Turns

* Available on CD and digital formats only

Ann Wilson - Vocals

Tom Bukovac - Guitar

Tony Lucido - Bass

Sean T Lane - Drums, Percussion & Bike

Gordon Mote - Keyboards

Tim Lauer - Keyboards

Produced by Ann Wilson and Tom Bukovac

"Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues" produced by Ann Wilson and Warren Haynes

Mixed by Chuck Ainlay

Recorded by Chuck Ainlay at Fame Studios, Muscle Shoals, AL and Soundstage, Nashville, TN

"Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues" recorded by Joe Paterno at Power Station, Waterford, CT

"Black Wing" recorded by Sean Walker at Uberbeatz, Lynnwood, WA

Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, Edgewater, NJ

Executive producer: Jim Zumwalt

Musicians who appear on "Fierce Bliss":

Vocals - Vince Gill on "Love Of My Life"

Lead Guitar - Kenny Wayne Shepherd on "Bridge Of Sighs" and "Missionary Man"

Guitar - Warren Haynes on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Guitar - Tyler Boley on "Black Wing"

Keyboards - Danny Louis on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Keyboards - Dan Walker on "Black Wing"

Bass - Jorgen Carlsson on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Bass - Andy Stoller on "Black Wing"

Drums - Matt Abts on "Gladiator" and "Angel's Blues"

Choir - The Rev Nathan Young Singers on "Missionary Man"

A MetOnTour video edit of METALLICA performing the song "The End Of The Line" on December 19, 2021 at Chase Center in San Francisco, California can be seen below. The show was the second of METALLICA's two 40th-anniversary concerts which featured different setlists. They were part of METALLICA's "San Francisco Takeover", a four-day citywide celebration of the band's 40th anniversary that also included a film festival, photo exhibit and curated lineup of smaller venue shows featuring other acts.

The 40th-anniversary shows marked METALLICA's return to Chase Center for the first time since the September 2019 "S&M²" concerts that also served as the venue's grand opening. Those two shows grossed more than $4.1 million over the course of its two nights, according to reports submitted to Pollstar's Boxoffice, and the band ranked at No. 4 on Pollstar's worldwide touring chart that same year with a global gross of $175 million.

Formed in 1981 by drummer Lars Ulrich and guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, METALLICA has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, having sold nearly 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 2.5 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on literally all seven continents. The band's several multi-platinum albums include "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", "… And Justice For All", "Metallica" (commonly referred to as The Black Album), "Load", "Reload", "St. Anger", "Death Magnetic" and "Hardwired... To Self-Destruct", released in November 2016 and charting at No. 1 in 32 countries.

METALLICA's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, and its 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. In June of 2018, the band was awarded one of the most prestigious musical honors in the world: Sweden's Polar Music Prize.

On December 16, San Francisco mayor London Breed presented Ulrich and bassist Robert Trujillo with a special declaration marking the day as "Metallica Day" in the city.

"When you talk about San Francisco," Breed said at the news conference, "you talk about cable cars and then you talk about METALLICA."

Dutch rockers Wasteland Viper have signed a licensing deal with Wormholedeath for their album Dead Men Tell No Tales, which is due for release on April 1st, 2022 via Wormholedeath worldwide.


Speaking of the upcoming release and the signing, the band explain, "We are very proud to announce that we’ve signed a record deal with Wormholedeath, an international acclaimed record label! We are also very thrilled to announce the worldwide release of our debut studio album, Dead Men Tell No Tales digitally on April 1st and the CD Jewelcase on May 27th. It was recorded and produced in Enschede (Netherlands) by Tom Meier. The very first single / video ‘Too Blind To See’ will be released on March 15th. Stay tuned!"


Wasteland Viper is a four-piece hard rock group from the Netherlands, formed in 2016. The band combines a punk / hardcore vibe with clean vocal melodies in a unique way. They really deliver a solid and original debut album with quite a lot of variation, melody and power. The influences are there, but each of the bandmembers really adds their own fingerprint to the overall sound. Songs like "Live By The Day", "Too Blind To See" and "Overdrive’"are perfect examples of this. The lyrics are about different subjects with one overall theme; Respect the little things in life and finding out who you are.




"We went to Tom Meier Studio Recordings for the recording and production of Dead Men Tell No Tales because we’ve succesfully worked on our EP Unleash The Beast before. Tom really pushed us to get the best performance possible and his liveroom has fantastic acoustics that are perfect for recording rock ‘n roll."





Tracklisting:


"Overdrive" 
"Black Snow"
"Dead Men Tell No Tales"
"Different World"
"Feeding The Madness"
"Too Blind To See"
"Nineteen-Fourteen"
"Live By The Day"
"Welcome To The Bar"
"Steed Of Steel"


Teaser video:





 

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's new album is "90 percent done" after the band was able to get a 78-piece orchestra to record its parts for the follow-up to 2016's "The Stage".

Earlier today, AVENGED singer M. Shadows shared new photos of the orchestra in the studio along with him and guitarist Synyster Gates giving their "thumbs up" to what they were hearing. "Twas worth the wait," the singer tweeted.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD drummer Brooks Wackerman also offered an update on the recording process, writing on Instagram: "Well… this happened on Tuesday. We – AVENGED SEVENFOLD – started writing this record 4 years ago and I can’t believe we are 90% done… One of the perks – in the creative process – is that we are able to track a 78-piece orchestra on our records. The fact that we are able to bring incredible musicians together to enhance our art still gives me chills…

"I can't wait for the the world to hear this… all I can say it's unlike anything we've ever released.. ALRIGHT and good night!"

Last month, M. Shadows confirmed to Metal Hammer that the band would complete the recording of its eighth studio album this month. "The record's been recorded for a year, but we haven't been able to put the real strings on it, because we couldn't fly out to Prague," he said. "When an orchestra have to social distance and they aren't sitting next to each other, they can get out of tune, and we have just finally got to a place where we can use this 70-piece orchestra as we intended. We finish the record in February, mix it in March."

Regarding the musical direction of the follow-up to "The Stage", M. Shadows said: "There are so many influences… We're very influenced by Kanye West. The thing about Kanye is that he is pulling from such great soul music. I didn't grow up with that stuff — my dad listened to BOSTON and Alice Cooper [and] I didn't get that taste of black music and old soul. So, diving deep into jazz musicians… We're not trying to do a jazz record, but the chord changes and progressions are so eye-opening to us."

AVENGED SEVENFOLD kept a low profile during 2019. A blood blister on M. Shadows's vocal cords forced the band to cancel a summer 2018 tour with PROPHETS OF RAGE and THREE DAYS GRACE.

"The Stage" was surprise-released in October 2016. The release of the disc, which was announced the night it went on sale, earned the lowest sales of an AVENGED SEVENFOLD album in 11 years. It sold 76 thousand copies in its first week, 73 thousand of which were physical.

"The Stage", AVENGED's debut for Capitol, sold less than half as many copies in its first week as the group's two previous efforts, 2010's "Nightmare" and 2013's "Hail To The King".




Twas worth the wait. ?@RAFACORE pic.twitter.com/AEJA2uN9tS

— M. Shadows (@shadows_eth) February 10, 2022




























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Brooks Wackerman (@thebrookswackerman)

Dutch/Norwegian rockers THE GATHERING will release their first studio album in almost a decade, "Beautiful Distortion", in April via Psychonaut Records. Produced by Attie Bauw, who previously worked on 2006's "Home" and 1998's "How To Measure A Planet?", the band's 11th studio LP will contain eight songs with a running time of nearly 50 minutes.

The official music video for the album's second single, "We Rise", can be seen below.

THE GATHERING comments: "'Beautiful Distortion' is a typical eclectic THE GATHERING album, although it may be our most dynamic and melodic album to date. THE GATHERING's signature atmospheric and electronic rock sound is topped with the warm Nordic vocal lines by Silje Wergeland."

Wergeland adds: "We wanted the artwork and title to reflect the times we have been in lately. Both with the pandemic, trying to be creative in isolation, all our everyday struggles, in private life, in relationships, and all that comes in life and with not being able to meet face to face. It symbolizes communication, or the lack of it, the interaction that has been out of balance. But at the same time, all the beauty that can come out of this distortion, such as new music, ideas and perspectives. It has been a long way, but we are so pleased and excited to soon reveal what we have been working on so hard for the past years."

The first single from "Beautiful Distortion", a song called "In Colour", was made available last October.

In February 2021, THE GATHERING drummer Hans Rutten told Portugal's Underground's Voice that he and his bandmates don't see 2013's "Afterwords" as the group's latest studio album. "We all see 'Disclosure' [2012] as our last studio album, and 'Afterwords' was more or less a 'Disclosure' after-party," he said. "Frank [Boeijen, keyboards] and René [Rutten, guitar] really wanted to do some extra things — to make remixes. We had some sounds going on and some ideas, so we devoped into a sort of — it's a mini album, maybe, but it's a long album. But that said, we don't see it as a full-length album of THE GATHERING, more as sort of an EP kind of thing."

Released in September 2013, "Afterwords" contained three songs that originally appeared on the "Afterlights" EP in 2012, two "Disclosure" remakes, three brand new THE GATHERING tracks and a cover version of a song called "Areas".

"Disclosure" arrived in September 2012 via THE GATHERING's own Psychonaut Records.

Silent Skies, the cinematic ambient project of Evergrey’s Tom S. Englund and classically trained pianist and composer Vikram Shankar (Redemption), have finally unveiled their second studio album and label debut, Nectar, via Napalm Records. A full album stream can be found below.


This spectacular full-length soaked in a melancholic atmosphere showcases the touching intensity of Silent Skies’ musical expression without holding anything back. Infinite, heartfelt Nectar enchants with sounds like pure poetry lifting off the page and wrapping around its listener with a gentle glow as it combines the reminiscence of the likes of producers and composers such as Olafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm and Ludovico Einaudi, and bands ranging from Sigur Rós to Anathema. The balance between haunting instrumentals and vocal intensity that complement each other in perfect harmony walks a delicate line where listeners are treated to the best of both worlds.


In 2017, the paths of Swedish progressive band Evergrey's vocalist Tom S. Englund and multi-instrumentalist Vikram Shankar crossed fatefully. Both artists set themselves free from limitations to captivate their listener with Nectar - a soulful ten-track offering, produced by Englund and Shankar themselves and mixed/mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios.




Silent Skies on the new album: “We are tremendously proud to announce our second record, Nectar, is out now! Nectar represents an expansion and an elevation of all things that make us who we are; simultaneously grander and more intimate, more futuristic yet more organic and thoughtful. This record represents who we are, and it means so much to both of us, that we cannot wait to hear your feedback on it.”


With Gothenburg’s Evergrey known as one of the most prolific bands in progressive metal, Englund is by far no stranger to the scene. After partnering with North Carolina, USA-based piano player Vikram Shankar – who had already worked with greats like Anneke van Giersbergen – this fateful encounter, now known as Silent Skies, set its first milestone with the release of their spine-tingling debut Satellites back in 2020. Two years later, this fruitful collaboration returns with Nectar, marking the sequel of something that’s far more than just a side project of Englund’s. Rather, it’s the brainchild of two highly talented individual artists with deep knowledge and many years of experience, whose creativity and spirit culminates in an exceptional form of musical expression. Shankar’s sensitive yet intense piano tunes merge with the poignant vocal interpretation of Tom S. Englund to take the listener on a touching, melancholic ride that wanders through the darkest facets of life, while always leaving a spark of hope to hold on to. This otherworldly sonic collaboration is graced by the outstanding contributions of Leprous' cello player Raphael Weinroth-Browne, who appears on nearly every track of the album to spice up the stirring sound even more.


Silent Skies’ sophomore full-length sets off with the soulful, ethereal “Fallen From Heart”, immediately creating a tapestry of sound to get lost in. Tracks like delicate “Taper” and shimmering “Neverending” are dominated by the yearning vocals of Englund, but never fail to give Shankar’s instrumental virtuosity the well-deserved space to shine bright like the first sunray welcoming the day. Beautifully honest “Let It Hurt” addicts with its remarkable chorus hitting on point, blending cinematic strings and piano with hooky modern vocals. Darker realms lure with heart-breaking “Leaving”, combining gloomy ambient and infectious pop influences, and dramatically accented, heart-beating “Cold”, with its lingering electronic elements that build a tangible, gripping maelstrom of emotions. Instrumental title track “Nectar” closes this new chapter of Silent Skies but leaves its audience with a long-lasting impact and the key to a door that’s worth entering over and over again.





Nectar is available in the following formats:


- 6p Digisleeve
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album


Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Fallen From Heart"
"Taper"
"Neverending"
"Let It Hurt"
"The One"
"Leaving"
"Cold"
"Better Days"
"Closer"
"Nectar"


Album stream:





“Let It Hurt” video:





"Leaving" video:





"Taper" video:





(Photo - Patric Ullaeus)

Mass Worship has released a visualizer video for “Empyrean Halls”. The track is off the band’s latest full-length album, Portal Tombs, which came out this past Friday.


“The human existence is but a blink of an eye to the universe. We came from nothing, to nothing we will return -- and the passage of time will deem us irrelevant”, states Mass Worship about “Empyrean Halls” that is also the concept of Portal Tombs in a nutshell.







Portal Tombs is a terrifying but electrifying exploration of the gloomy depths of human nature: a monolithic manifestation of the musical force that is Mass Worship. The album features guest appearances by Jonas Stålhammar of At The Gates, Mark ‘Barney’ Greenway of Napalm Death, and Jonas Renkse of Katatonia/Bloodbath.


“It’s pretty mind-blowing to have members of such inspirational pioneers on our own album”, says the band.


Drawing inspiration from bands such as At The Gates, Mastodon and Meshuggah, Mass Worship could be likened to many bands, but somehow forge their musical identity into something exceptionally distinctive and transcendent, and with enough confidence and conviction to win over even the most orthodox fans of the genre.


Order your copy of Portal Tombs at this location.





"Specular Void"
"Portal Tombs"
"Revel In Fear"
"Orcus Mouth"
"Unholy Mass"
"Dunes Of Bone"
"Scorched Earth"
"Empyrean Halls"
"Deliverence"


“Orcus Mouth” video:





"Portal Tombs"  guitar playthrough video:

Distortion Music Group, the new boutique metal label led by Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm, Hard Impact Management) has signed up and coming surf ’n' slam death metal warriors, Stillbirth.


Speaking about signing with Distortion Music Group, the members of Stillbirth say: "The time has come to surf further and explore a new wave and in new territories. We are very happy that Maurizio and his team from Distortion Music Group will also get on board with us and ride the new waves together.


"After many years of working with Unique Leader Records, it's time for a change and we think Distortion Music Group will help us to master this change successfully. We are convinced of DMG's boutique concept and years of experience in the death metal universe will bring great results.




"For us, the independence of the creation of our art has always been in the foreground and with DMG we get a partner who supports this way of working and gives us the freedom to explore our art and music on our terms.


"The first new album under Distortion Music Group will be released in 2023 and we are already working on the new tunes and grooves. We are looking forward to the partnership with Maurizio and Distortion Music Group and to the organic growth together.”


Addressing the signing of Stillbirth, Distortion Music Group CEO Maurizio Iacono shares: “The buzz Stillbirth have been creating has resonated worldwide, these death metal surf maniacs deserve to be heard further and with conviction, together with our artist first mentality, we are excited to unleash the next chapter of Stillbirth’s creations, We look forward to their next album coming out in 2023!!"





Lineup:


Lucas Swiaczny - Vocals
Leonard Willi - Guitar
Jens Strack - Guitar
Martin Grupe - Drums
Lukas Kaminski - Bass

To celebrate five years since their biggest headline show to date, on February 4, 2017, Epica have released this high quality live video for "Beyond The Matrix, from Zénith Paris.





Watch "The Holographic Principle" and "Consign To Oblivion" from the same show:

2022 landmarks 30 years since the release of the Asia album, Aqua, on which John Payne was the band's lead vocalist.


The following 15 years featured seven more stunning Asia studio albums, Aria, Arena, Anthology, Aura, Archiva 1&2 and Silent Nation. This year also celebrates 40 years since the 1982 release of the first Asia album (Downes, Howe, Wetton, Palmer) that features the hits, “Heat Of The Moment” and “Only Time Will Tell.”


This tour will showcase the music of both Asia’s 1982 release and Asia’s 1992 release, Aqua.




The 90-minute show focuses on those two albums and a setlist that includes, “Who Will Stop the Rain,” “Someday,” “Heat Of The Moment,” “Only Time Will Tell,” “Back in Town,” “Lay Down Your Arms,” “Sole Survivor,” “Time Again,” “Love Under Fire,” “Heaven On Earth,” “Wildest Dreams,” “Here Comes The Feeling” and more.


Vocalist John Payne remarked: “This is going to be very nostalgic for me, I haven’t played some of these songs in 30 years and I’m extremely excited to do this tour with our band. We want the shows to sound as close to the original recordings as possible.”


Manager Lee Evans said: “The band is really on form and John’s vocals are as powerful as ever, It’s gonna be a knock-out show!”


The tour is being booked by their agent Rick Shoor in the US. Further details to follow.

British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley, who fronted IRON MAIDEN more than 20 years ago, spoke to Metal Pilgrim about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting. Addressing the cyclical nature of trends, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "For a few of is, metal never went away. And we didn't want grunge. I think largely the journalists said [about grunge], 'This is the next big thing.'

"When I was in WOLFSBANE, we are happy-go-lucky guys, trying to be positive and enjoying life. Grunge comes, they're all looking at their shoes, they're miserable, they're suicidal — the opposite of WOLFSBANE, and the opposite of a lot of bands at the time.

"The people that really loved this music carried on," he continued. "There's something about it. And grunge had its place, but it didn't last — those bands didn't really last. I think it's a difference in values.

"Metal isn't really getting bigger. It's just slowly going out and we refuse to let metal go. And when you see metal live and you see a band that believes and plays well, it's irresistible. It is the devil's music — we know that because it's completely irresistible and you'll do anything to hear more of it.

"Metal is something that grips you in a certain way," Blaze added. "It transcends fashion. If things go in circles… Well, I've been unpopular and unfashionable for most of the 35 years that I've been going, but I'm still going. So I'm trying not to be popular and not to be fashionable, and then my music, my brand of metal will just keep going. And every so often, every 10 years, there'll be a little bump where people go, 'Oh, Blaze Bayley,' and then then I'll just be where I was before.

"The most important thing, man, is that it comes from the heart. There's something about metal that absorbs me, transforms me [and] takes me out of the normal world and away from everyday problems.

"When it's great, to me, when it's done well by masters, then metal is absolutely the best music. When it's done badly by people who just take every cliché and don't do anything original, it's the worst music. And this is the curse that we have in heavy metal — it can be the best and it can be the worst, and sometimes it can be on the same album."

The 58-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, recorded two studio albums with IRON MAIDEN — the aforementioned "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI" — before Bruce Dickinson returned to the group. The MAIDEN albums he appeared on sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort.

Blaze's latest solo album, "War Within Me", came out in April 2021. All songs were written and produced by Blaze and guitarist Christopher Appleton.

During an appearance on the latest episode of "The Boo Crew" podcast, KORN frontman Jonathan Davis discussed the band's constantly evolving sound. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think it has to do with the chemistry between each of us in the band. I think the biggest thing and the most important thing is that we all get along so well. I've been around so many big bands that hate each other, to the point where they can't even be in the same room [and] they have to be on different sides of the stage. They only see each other on stage and then they go [their own] way. Which is fine, but when you're trying to create and do something, you can't have that bullshit going on, when you're trying to write and do something.

"[In KORN], everybody respects everybody," he continued. "If someone has an idea and we wanna do it, we always try it. And we're really democratic bandmembers — everyone's equal [and] everyone has their equal share.

"We've just been lucky," Davis added. "I don't know. We get in a room and we start making this music and it just comes from somewhere else. It's not like we physically sit there or mentally go 'we're gonna do this' and 'we're gonna go in this direction' and 'we're gonna do that.' We get together and we make this music and it comes out different every time. It's really special. And I really enjoy being in this band."

KORN's new album, "Requiem", was released on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings. The band celebrated the LP's arrival with a special record-release event on February 3 at the Hollywood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California. "Requiem Mass" saw the Southern California heavy music pioneers perform an intimate set in front of a 300 attendees.

KORN kicked off a short run of shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN on January 31 in Phoenix, followed by dates in San Diego (February 1) and Los Angeles (February 4 and February 5). KORN's headlining tour with CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE will launch March 4.

Canadian hardcore punk heavyweights, Cancer Bats, will release their new album, Psychic Jailbreak, on April 15 through their own label, Bat Skull Records in partnership with New Damage Records in Canada.


Psychic Jailbreak is Cancer Bats’ seventh studio album but is the band’s first album to be written and recorded by the current lineup of Liam Cormier (lead vocalist), Jaye Schwarzer (bass and guitar) and Mike Peters (drums), following the departure of founding member and guitarist Scott Middleton.


The follow up to 2018’s Juno nominated album The Spark That Moves, Psychic Jailbreak sees the beloved metal stalwarts stepping up their game once again, eagerly pushing themselves both musically and lyrically beyond what they have achieved as a band to date. A record that is destined to invigorate fans with its punishing drum patterns, memorable riffs and infectious choruses, Psychic Jailbreak is available to pre-save/order here.




To give fans a little taste of what they can expect on their forthcoming album, today, Cancer Bats have shared the title track and first single, “Psychic Jailbreak”, and its accompanying video. Lead vocalist Liam Cormier had this to say about the track, “We needed to kick things off with a total banger of a track that makes you want to pump your fist in the air, smash your head to the beat, all while screaming the call to action REJECT THE FALLACY OF TIME!" Cormier continues, “The concept of a Psychic Jailbreak is to completely change one’s perspective on something, in this case it’s our ideas of fixed linear time.”


Filmed by Sid Tang and edited by Mitch Barnes, the video for “Psychic Jailbreak” is a collection of footage capturing the recording process for their latest release. It features performances of all 3 members tracking their parts, behind the scenes shots of what life in the studio entailed, as well as Cormier’s handwritten lyrics animated over top of each scene.


“My goal was to capture the intensity and power of the band, while still showing how relaxed and fun the whole recording session was,” shares Sid Tang.


View the video for “Psychic Jailbreak” below.


For Psychic Jailbreak, Cancer Bats once again enlisted the watchful eyes and ears of producer JP Peters (Propagandhi) at his studio Private Ear Recordings in Winnipeg, MB. Over the course of three weeks, Cormier, Schwarzer and Peters saw their rough ideas exchanged in emails evolve from Garage Band home demos into thundering Cancer Bats songs. One after another, boxes were being ticked, Mike’s signature power house of drums laid the foundation, as track after track of Jaye’s guitars were layered on top of another, all while they referenced their favourite Entombed, Metallica and White Zombie guitar tones. All of this fuelling Cormier’s vocal fire, inspiring him to fully push what he had to offer both in lyrics and screams.  


“We knew this album had to be special,” shares Cormier. “Our band has never been one sole member tasked with all the writing.  Over the last 15 years of releasing albums, it’s been a collaboration of the 4 of us forming all musical ideas. That being said, we knew that the 3 remaining Bats would have to prove our worth with this next album. We wanted to show Cancer Bats fans that an exciting new future was in store for us. To say the stakes were high on this album, would be an understatement. We were all feeling a mix of excitement and nerves as we began tracking the 11 songs that would form this record.”  


As vocal melodies began taking shape and adding different dynamics into the mix like Brooklyn Doran singing a duet style on “Hammering On”, or Jaye’s distinct snarls filling out many a chorus, the whole album was starting to register as one of the best projects the band has ever worked on.


“On the final days, while adding the last bits of “skateboard noises” and guitar shreds, we were all feeling our confidence levels rise with each playback. This last years’ worth of long hours and many late nights writing, finally coming together as a whole and fully formed effort. We were proud as a band and felt this new offering was worthy to join in the legacy of Cancer Bats albums.”





Tracklisting:


"Radiate"
"The Hoof"
"Lonely Bong"
"Friday Night"
"Hammering On"
"Crocodiles"
"Shadow of Mercury"
"Keep On Breathin"
"Pressure Mind"
"Rollin Threes"
"Psychic Jailbreak"


"Psychic Jailbreak" video:





In support of their forthcoming release, Cancer Bats will be hitting the road with long-time friends and labelmates Comeback Kid. The Canadian dates will kick off March 17 and wrap up with two shows in Calgary (April 30/May 1). Tickets for all Cancer Bats Canadian tour dates are available now.