Nearly two years after TWISTED SISTER's one-off onstage reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California, Mark "The Animal" Mendoza was asked by the "Rockstrap" podcast about his current relationship with his longtime bandmates. The bassist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The guys in the band, we all talk. We're all good friends. We talk often. Obviously, A.J.'s [Pero, late TWISTED SISTER drummer] not around anymore, 'cause if A.J. were there, it'd be five of us. And we love [stand-in TWISTED SISTER drummer] Mike Portnoy, but he doesn't know that all the inside stuff on the band. But the four of us — that would be Dee [Snider, vocals], Jay Jay [French, guitar], Eddie [Ojeda, guitar] and myself — we have a group text message, and once every two months or so, somebody says something idiotic to somebody else, and it's like a nuclear war. The stuff that goes on, I sit here and I read it and I get in on it and you start crying. It is so funny."

Regarding the possibility of more TWISTED SISTER reunion shows in the future, Mark said: "We've said never say never. That's the song. Never say never, never say never. There's no talk of it now, but you never know what's gonna happen in the future. I think as long as the four of us can get on stage and perform and nobody else dies, which, you know, God forbid, I don't wanna see that happen, there's a slight chance. But we're not talking about playing. None of us are saying, 'Hey, let's do it next year.' Who knows what happens? And just like you say, somebody's gonna need money [laughs], and we're gonna have to play. [Laughs] And it ain't me. [Laughs]"

This past April, Dee was asked by "The Hook Rocks!" podcast if he and the rest of TWISTED SISTER would consider coming back together for special performances. The singer said: "As a result of all the bands retiring and dying, the offers get bigger and bigger for the holdouts to come back. And we retired in 2016, I think it was. So we're on eight years now of not playing, with no intention of coming back. But — my father, he says, 'Everything before the word 'but' is bullshit — but at some point, you've gotta say, 'Well, how can I say no to that?'"

He continued: "Is it there yet? No. Is it getting close? Yeah. Is there talk amongst us, like, 'Well, in the event that the numbers do get there, and they sure as hell seem to be going in that direction, how are we gonna do this?' So there's a little bit of that conversation. And that's both physically how we're gonna do it and on a number of other levels. And that's a recent occurrence, that the conversation has gone from 'never' to 'in the event that they make as an offer we can't refuse, what's the plan?' And there's some very general discussion on that, involving personal trainers [laughs], diets, hair extensions. And that's the first time in eight years that the conversation has changed."

Snider added: "We're all friends, by the way. The surviving guys, we all talk and we're all friends and we love each other. And that was one of the great things that came out of getting back together the first time is that we managed to fix the friendships and be friends and that, to me, is really why I wanted to do it in the first place, getting back [together] last time… So, anyway, we'll see what happens."

On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and Portnoy, who has played drums for TWISTED SISTER since the passing of former member Pero. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War.

The highlight of the ceremony — which also saw FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm, NWOBHM heroes RAVEN, and guitarists Chris Impellitteri and Doug Aldrich honored — was TWISTED SISTER's highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

In January 2023, Snider told Eonmusic that there were no additional TWISTED SISTER reunion performances in the works. "A hard 'no plans'," he said at the time. "No plans at all to do that."

Going on to reference both OZZY OSBOURNE and MÖTLEY CRÜE's retirement and returns, he added: "You know, I've said when people retire, they should leave the stage, and all those bands, I'm tired of buying 'No More Tours' shirts and seeing people signing contracts in blood and then they show up three years later. I don't believe in that bullshit, so I don't think it's going to happen."

In March 2023, French told The Metal Voice that the Metal Hall Of Fame performance shouldn't give fans the impression that there will be more TWISTED SISTER performances to follow.

"There's no reunion to speak of," he said. "I'm not gonna be so cynical and say that it couldn't lead to conversations, but we never had a single conversation about a reunion prior to this. Not one.

"People always go, 'When are you guys getting back together?' I say, 'Well, we talk all the time, but we never talk about playing. But we talk about business,'" Jay Jay added. "Why do we talk about business? Because 'We're Not Gonna Take It' and 'I Wanna Rock' are the most licensed songs in the history of the music business; they're in more TV commercials, movie soundtracks… So we do licensing deals all day long. It's really what we do. I'm in the business of music licensing, which is a business I didn't know existed."

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza, along with Portnoy. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of Pero.

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

The surviving members of the classic lineup of TWISTED SISTER previously reunited virtually in March 2021 for a special episode of Mendoza's Internet TV show "22 Now". The hour-and-a-half-long program was a tribute to Pero, who died exactly six years earlier at the age of 55 while on tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB.

Prior to the March 2021 virtual reunion, the four surviving members of TWISTED SISTER reunited for two days and nights in November 2019 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band's classic album "Stay Hungry".

In a 2021 interview with the "Metal From The Inside" podcast, Snider was asked if he is still steadfast about not wanting TWISTED SISTER to reunite. He responded: "[I am] one hundred percent committed to not reuniting. Now, let me just be clear: we're friends. I did a [solo] show a couple of weeks ago [on June 11, 2021 at Stereo Garden in Patchogue, New York] and Mendoza showed up, and we did [TWISTED SISTER's] 'Under The Blade', and it was awesome. I talk to the guys all the time. I can show you my text messages. We have a little text group, and we were sending messages back and forth.

"To me, that was the reason to reunite, was to fix the relationships [between the members of the band], and we did fix' em, and we're friends," he explained. "I feel we did what we could do without just doing the same thing over. And I wanted to do some new, challenging things that I couldn't do within TWISTED. And the solo records I've done I could not have done with TWISTED SISTER. I could not have done 'Dee Does Broadway' with TWISTED SISTER — 'Twisted Does Broadway'. And I could not have done 'For The Love Of Metal' with TWISTED SISTER; people would never have accepted it. But as a solo artist, I'm allowed to change and evolve. And some things [fans have] liked; some things they've not liked. But at the same time, I'm allowed; no one's ever questioned [it]. And, again, if TWISTED SISTER did it, it would be, like, 'Hey, it doesn't sound like TWISTED SISTER anymore'; it would have been that kind of thing."

Circling back to the prospect of TWISTED SISTER reuniting, Dee said: "I could see us doing a charity — a couple of songs for charity, for the right reasons. We got [back] together originally for charity, which was a good reason to get together. I could see [talk show host Jimmy] Fallon — he's a big fan — if he said, 'Hey, guys, can you guys come on '[The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon'] and do 'White Christmas' for us?' Fuck yeah. But to do a tour, to do 90 minutes, two hours on a stage, I don't see that happening. And credit to everybody in the band, and I know some people — without naming names — some guys, they would have kept going; others did not wanna keep going. But I'm sure we get offers. Jay Jay French is the manager of TWISTED, 'cause it's still an entity — there's still royalties and licenses and things like that, and merchandise — he's not presented one offer, and I'm sure we've gotten 'em. 'Cause we're not even considering it. It doesn't matter what they're offering; we're not doing it."

Fresh off GOJIRA's Grammy Award nomination and jaw-dropping appearance as the first metal band to rock out at an opening ceremony of the Olympics, vocalist Joseph Duplantier goes from performing a French Revolution–era song to leading the vegan revolution in a new PETA campaign. The musician and activist appears to be surrounded by animals on the Brooklyn Bridge in a dramatic image shot at New York's Silver Cord Studio and explains in an accompanying video — set to the group's song "The Trails" — why going vegan is crucial for animals, human health, and the future of the planet.

"I became vegan for the animals. It's about the life of the animals and what they go through. But another benefit of being vegan is for your own health. I have more energy now when I perform since I became vegan," Duplantier says in the video. "I believe people have a responsibility to challenge the laws and the traditions in society … in order to move gracefully to a future where we can actually be alive. It's not just an ethical question anymore, but it's also a question of survival for our species. You have to go vegan."

Researchers have determined that current agricultural systems make it impossible to meet climate commitments even if all other sources of fossil fuel emissions were eliminated. Every person who goes vegan lowers their food-related carbon footprint by up to 73%, making it conceivably the biggest way to reduce one's negative impact on the planet. They also spare nearly 200 animals a year miserable lives and a terrifying death and reduce their own risk of cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and obesity. PETA's free vegan starter kit can help those ready to make the switch.

PETA — whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat" — points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness.

Back in August 2023, Joseph was asked by Finland's Chaoszine if there were specific foods or drinks that he wouldn't have before a show that he felt affected his vocal cords, and on the opposite side, something that he thought helped him with singing. He responded: "I'm sure I can discover more things about that. But I feel what I need before a show and… For example, before this interview I was just slicing some avocado, 'cause avocado helps. It's healthy fats, and I like to eat a little bit of that or a banana or something that sort of sticks to your pipes. Definitely I'm not eating for three hours before a show."

He continued: "There's a lot to say about food, of course, and it's notorious that dairy is not really good before singing, for example. I don't do dairies for a long time now; I'm a vegan. I remember struggling before being vegan to manage my energy on stage. The energy level was good at first, and then the first time I screamed, I would almost pass out sometimes because I'm still digesting. Because at the beginning of our career, we were opening a lot, so we would eat and then go on stage, for example. This is very dangerous, because your body is trying to process the food, and if you wanna use your entire body to sing, as you should if you're a singer, there's gonna be a lot of things in the way and the body gets confused. And I almost fell passed out on stage multiple times because I was not done digesting.

"Also, I wanna say this on a side note, but since I quit animal products and I eat plant-based [foods] only, my energy increased by ten or a hundred," Joseph added. "I don't know, because how would I know? Every time we finish a show, I'm still full of energy and I keep going. I can keep going and going and going. And back in the day, before I changed my diet, at the end of the show, I was at the end of my life. And I was young; I was 20[-something]… Dude, I should be the opposite, right? But then I changed my diet, and now I can go anytime. Even if I eat in this three-hour window, it's gonna be super light, so it's gonna be acceptable. But if I would eat cheese or meat or heavy things, it's impossible.

"So I think although I don't have the healthiest lifestyle — I drink a few beers after the show; I'm a night owl, so I don't sleep a lot. I try to catch up on sleep in naps. But I do drink a lot of water and try to sleep as much as possible. These are my secrets — that are not secrets; everybody knows it [laughs], even for non-singers. But yeah, the diet change was crucial in my life."

Earlier in 2023, Joseph spoke to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine about some of his favorite snacks on tour. He said: "Being vegan on tour used to be difficult, but it's easier these days now that I get to ask for whatever I want. [Laughs] A few years ago, when we were a little less important, I'd always have to make sure that I had olive oil and bread, so that if worst came to worst I could put some olive oil in a bowl with salt and bread. Olive oil is very important to me — I can feel it go into my joints and muscles and bones, which I really need to survive on tour. Aside from that, I eat a lot of quinoa and avocado. Maybe that's the most hipster answer ever, but it is such a healthy fat. The problem is that it doesn't grow where I live. Also, I need my coffee. I'm not a super-healthy eater. I like a lot of junk food. First and foremost, I'm vegan for the animals, but I do notice how much better it makes me feel."

GOJIRA's latest album, "Fortitude", came out in April 2021 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2016's "Magma" was recorded and produced by Joseph at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

GOJIRA initially laid the foundation for "Fortitude" in 2020 with the surprise release of the single "Another World".

Last week, Canadian rockers THREE DAYS GRACE released "Mayday", their first single since the return of original frontman Adam Gontier. The 46-year-old musician, who left THREE DAYS GRACE in 2013, is sharing lead vocals in the band's new lineup with singer Matt Walst, who has fronted THREE DAYS GRACE for the past decade.

"Mayday" was produced by Zakk Cervini and Dan Lancaster with vocal production by Howard Benson. In addition, the band released an epic CiRCUS HEaD-directed visual to accompany the track which can be found below.

Speaking to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, THREE DAYS GRACE drummer Neil Sanderson stated about Adam's return to the band (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We had been talking and we've kept in touch. And the band was just talking about, like, how great would this be for us and for the fans and for the nostalgia of THREE DAYS GRACE. And then he got up on stage with us [for a guest appearance], and then we just thought, 'Let's make something new. Let's sit down and write a song.' And once we kind of got into that songwriting process, it just felt really natural and it felt right. And I think for the fans, we're giving them something that we haven't done before and hasn't really been done much in the past."

He continued: "At the end of the day, THREE DAYS GRACE, we're family. In fact, as you may know, Matt, one of our singers, is Brad's [Walst, THREE DAYS GRACE bassist] brother. And he kind of grew up around THREE DAYS GRACE and then slipped into the position. But we're really guitar heavy — we've got a lot of guitars going on and stuff — and those guys [Adam and Matt] both play guitar. So it's gonna be great to have another guitar on stage, too, as well as two singers. So it opens up the door for us to do a lot of things that we might not have been able to do before."

Regarding "Mayday", Neil said:  "First of all, it's been a crazy journey since the beginning for THREE DAYS GRACE, but bringing Adam back into the band has just been — it's all been really positive, super organic. And we decided, 'Let's get together and see what we can really do together,' and this song kind of came out quick.

"This song is just kind of about putting one foot in front of the other in a world of kind of disillusionment," he explained. "And, basically, when Adam and Matt started singing it, the natural trade-off of vocals just kind of came together. We kind of listened to a bunch of PINK FLOYD, 'cause both singers have their own characteristics and stuff, so we really played to those strengths. And at one point the guys were rock paper scissors to see who was gonna sing the next line."

On the topic of the "Mayday" video, Neil said: "It was a really fun video to make. It was kind of especially cool for me because very rarely as a drummer do you get to make a video where you don't have to fake playing drums all day. [Laughs] And so, yeah, complete melee goes on on the plane. And it's kind of an analogy to just feeling like we're hurling through life at warp speed, and sometimes it doesn't feel like there is a pilot that's in control of things. But it's also a bit of a celebration, like, 'Hey, if we're going down, we're all going down together.'"

Asked when we can expect a new THREE DAYS GRACE full-length album, Neil said: "We're working on it as we speak. I was just with the guys on Zoom, and we're finishing it up. We basically hope to have it done by the end of this year and finish recording in January. And then, of course, we go out on tour. We're starting with DISTURBED and then we're putting together a headline tour for later in the year and lots of festivals and stuff. So we need to wrap the record up by January, and I think it'll probably come out a couple of months after that."

THREE DAYS GRACE teased a reunion with Gontier less than two months ago by posting a voicemail message in which Adam told Matt that he would "be at the studio soon, if you can just let everybody know."

Gontier said about his return to THREE DAYS GRACE: "I feel like it's been seamless, better than we were expecting. It's like we got back in a room together and picked up where we left off. We have been friends for so long, it's kind of natural to get back in the room together."

Walst added: "It's been so much fun and inspiring making this record. Combining over 20 years of THREE DAYS GRACE and doing something that no band has ever done. I'm excited for the fans to hear it!"

In April 2023, Gontier reunited with THREE DAYS GRACE onstage during the band's concert in Huntsville, Alabama. Gontier rejoined his former bandmates when they opened for SHINEDOWN at the Probst Arena At The Von Braun Center to perform two classic songs from THREE DAYS GRACE's 2006 album "One-X": "Never Too Late" and "Riot".

THREE DAYS GRACE later shared a post-performance photo with Gontier on social media and wrote in an accompanying message: "Soooo we did a thing."

In July 2022, Gontier said that a reunion with his former bandmates was "likely" to happen "down the road at some point." The Canadian-born musician made his comments just a couple of weeks after he and two members of the band's most recent lineup, bassist Brad Walst and his younger brother, vocalist Matt Walst, were inducted into the Norwood District High School Hall Of Honor in Norwood, Ontario.

Asked in an interview with Rock Feed if he would be open to working with THREE DAYS GRACE again now that he appears to be on good terms with his former bandmates, Gontier said: "You know what? Yeah. I mean, for sure. We've all grown up. It's been a while. There's no hard feelings or anything like that. We're all in touch now and we talk and text and stuff. We haven't really talked about doing anything — not yet anyway — but I feel like something like that is most likely down the road at some point," he added.

When interviewer Brian Storm noted that Adam's reunion with THREE DAYS GRACE would be a "big" deal, Gontier said, "And it would be a lot of fun." Storm then reiterated that the reunion would be "very big," to which Adam said: "Probably would be. You never know, man. We haven't really talked about it. But, yeah, I guess we'll see."

Earlier in July 2022, Brad Walst spoke about reconnecting with Gontier at the Norwood District High School event in an interview with Tommy Carroll of the 97.9 WGRD radio station. He said: "It's funny 'cause the high school's been calling us for years. And, obviously, we've all had kind of different schedules, and Adam's been doing his thing and we've been doing our thing. And until recently, to be honest, we hadn't really spoken that much — we'd text and stuff. But Adam's moved back to the area, and he's got a great family and a great wife. And we've all kind of been chatting and hanging out. Yeah, I called him and just said, 'They want the three of us' — they want Matt, Adam and myself. And everyone agreed, and it was, like, 'Okay, let's do this.' So it was pretty cool to see [our] high school, where you grew up… It's nice to be acknowledged."

He continued: "It's funny, 'cause I texted Adam, 'You made the Hall Of Fame.' He's, like, 'Yup. Straight-B student.' [Laughs] But I think just having us together in that room was way more powerful, for sure. So it was a pretty cool feeling."

In 1992, Gontier, Brad Walst, Phil Crowe, Neil Sanderson and Joe Grant formed GROUNDSWELL while most of the members were still in high school. That band broke up in 1995, but two years later Gontier, Sanderson and Walst reformed as THREE DAYS GRACE. Gontier left the band in 2013 and was replaced by Matt, the vocalist from another Norwood band, MY DARKEST DAYS.

In a 2007 interview with The Oklahoman, Gontier said that he met some of his first bandmates while they were freshmen at Norwood District High School.

"I ended up hooking up with Brad because we had the same love of music," Gontier said. "He didn't play anything at the time. I suggested him getting a bass, and he did."

Gontier said that Canadian bands, including THE TRAGICALLY HIP and OUR LADY PEACE were early influences, along with the Seattle rock scene, particularly the group SUNNY DAY REAL ESTATE.

Gontier initially went into rehab in 2005 in Toronto after admitting an addiction to Oxycontin. The rehab stint influenced some material which would appear on THREE DAYS GRACE's "One-X" album, including the songs "Pain" and "Over And Over".

Gontier left THREE DAYS GRACE in the spring of 2013. At the time, the Canadian rockers cited unspecified "health issues" when his departure was announced. Adam later released a statement explaining he exited THREE DAYS GRACE to pursue new projects, and not to deal with addiction.

Gontier is currently a member of SAINT ASONIA, which also features STAIND guitarist/founding member Mike Mushok. The quartet is rounded out by Cale Gontier (bass) and Cody Watkins (drums).

THREE DAYS GRACE's latest album, "Explosions", was released in May 2022 via RCA Records.

Photo credit: Matt Barnes

a Mundi, a name synonymous with melodic death metal, has been captivating audiences worldwide since its inception in 2000. Known for their intricate compositions, powerful vocals, and dynamic performances, the band has built a dedicated following. Today, after almost a decade of silence since their last release, during which they pursued various musical projects, Disarmonia Mundi returns with the intense new single, "Oathbreaker".


"Oathbreaker" is the first single taken from the band's sixth forthcoming full-length album and is coming exactly nine years after the band's previously critically acclaimed Cold Inferno (2015). The new track is a relentless and powerful melodeath assault showcasing the band's trademark sound filled with crushing riffs, classic metal melodies, ruthless growling vocals by longtime screamer, Claudio Ravinale, opposed to the epic and melancholic vocal harmonies done by mastermind and producer Ettore Rigotti, and an overall gigantic wall of sound which returns the band to top form

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Alter Bridge’s best-selling debut, One Day Remains, an expanded reissue of the Gold-certified album is available to pre-order or pre-save now.


The Deluxe Digital or 2LP set, released via Craft Recordings, includes fan favorites like “Metalingus,” “Open Your Eyes,” “Broken Wings” and “In Loving Memory,” along with six bonus tracks, including the rare B-side “Save Me” and a live 2005 performance from Toronto’s Phase One Studios, featuring four previously unreleased tracks.


For fans eager to get their hands on a copy early, limited quantities of exclusive color variants will be available starting November 29, exclusively at the official Alter Bridge store. Each limited to 300 copies, these special editions include Red Smoke, Yellow Smoke, Green Smoke and Sea Blue Smoke pressings.




The wide 2LP release will follow on March 7, and features a classic black vinyl edition, along with limited runs in Orange Smoke (exclusive to the band’s Spotify listeners), Limeade (via Revolver), Blue Smoke (Best Buy), and Electric Smoke (Vinyl Voice, exclusively available via Independent Record Stores).


Meanwhile, the Deluxe Digital album will drop December 6, with the advance single “Metalingus (Live)” available to stream/download starting today.


Florida four-piece Alter Bridge was formed in 2004 by members Mark Tremonti (guitar), Scott Phillips (drums) and Brian Marshall (bass) just as their Grammy®-winning group Creed (known for such enduring hits as “Higher” and the multi-platinum “With Arms Wide Open”) was embarking on an extended hiatus. The band completed its lineup with singer and guitarist Myles Kennedy - then known for his work with the Mayfield Four - and signed to Wind-up Records. In the studio, Alter Bridge took a collaborative approach, working with producer Ben Grosse (Depeche Mode, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Thirty Seconds to Mars), to create their own special brand of hard rock, blending post-grunge riffs, soaring melodies and plenty of blazing guitar solos.


Setting the tone for One Day Remains is the metal-tinged opener “Find the Real,” a searing, high energy track that showcases Kennedy’s dynamic vocals. The album features one of Alter Bridge’s biggest hits, “Open Your Eyes,” which served as the band’s debut single. The anthemic track peaked at No.2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart, while it was a Top 50 hit in Australia and Canada. “Find the Real” also had significant success, landing in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and becoming the official theme to the 2005 WWE Royal Rumble. Fan favorite “Metalingus,” meanwhile, was adopted by WWE Hall of Famer Adam “Edge” Copeland as his entrance theme and, today, remains the band’s highest-streaming song. The four-piece also shows off a softer side through tracks “Broken Wings,” “Shed My Skin” and the deeply personal “In Loving Memory,” written by Tremonti as a tribute to his late mother.


Upon its release in August 2004, One Day Remains was an immediate bestseller, peaking at No.5 on the Billboard 200 and earning a Gold certification from the RIAA. Elsewhere, it was a Top 40 hit in Australia and New Zealand, while it found chart success in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and beyond. The album also earned plenty of attention in the press.


Looking back on two decades since the band’s debut release, Myles Kennedy reflects, “It’s been 20 years since we released One Day Remains. We are forever grateful to everyone who has supported us on this amazing journey. Thank you for the last 20 years and we are excited for what the future holds.”


Today, Alter Bridge have remained at the forefront of the global hard rock scene with seven best-selling studio albums, including the broadly acclaimed Blackbird (2007), AB III (2010), Fortress (2013), The Last Hero (2016), Walk the Sky (2019) and, most recently, Pawns & Kings (2022). They also maintain an active touring schedule in the US and abroad, having played such legendary stages as the O2 Arena, Wembley Arena and the Royal Albert Hall (all of which have resulted in Top 5 UK live albums), as well as Britain’s Download Festival, France’s Hellfest and Germany’s Rock am Ring/Rock im Park.

Head over to Brooklyn Vegan to order the new Misfitst Holiday Fiend 8" figure.


Description: Have a very Misfits Christmas this year with one of the most recognized music mascots of all time! Wearing a long tailored robe and a removable Santa hat, The Misfits Holiday Fiend is dressed for a trip to your Christmas tree this winter season! Standing at 8'' tall, this poseable figures comes with a fabric present sack and two sets of hands.


Also included are two interchangeable heads, creating both the classic look of the Fiend, and a highly stylized version rendered in artwork painted by the late, great Basil Gogos, featured on the window box packaging!

Former WHITESNAKE and DIO and current THE DEAD DAISIES guitarist Doug Aldrich has offered an update on his condition, two months after he underwent a "very successful" surgery following a throat cancer diagnosis.

Earlier today (Tuesday, November 26),Doug took to his Instagram to write: "Hi everyone….Hope all is great where you are! Some of you have been wondering about my treatment and recovery so… Four weeks of Radio treatment done and two to go! I'm doing better than expected…not losing weight and getting through it. I have a few issues but I feel blessed that it's stuff I can deal with. Basically my neck is burnt badly from getting zapped everyday but it will heal up good when I'm done. Jaw is still pissed off at me and I'm tired a lot but otherwise I'm good.

"Thank you so much for all the prayers and well wishes cause it really really has helped me a lot. Hope you guys are still enjoying the 'Light 'Em Up' record, and I look forward to seeing you asap. Happy Holidays wherever you are!"

In late September, Doug's wife Daniela "Danni" Aldrich said that his surgery, which she described as "five long hours of multiple steps", "went incredibly well", adding that "Doug pushed through like the fighter he is. Even the nurse called him a superhero for his strength and determination right after!" she wrote. "He is the strongest person I know."

As a result of Doug's surgery, he was not able to take part in THE DEAD DAISIES' recent European tour and was temporarily replaced by Reb Beach (WHITESNAKE, WINGER).

Aldrich played with DIO for a short period between 2002 and 2006. He was also a member of WHITESNAKE from 2002 to 2014 before leaving to spend more time with his family. The guitarist played on two WHITESNAKE studio albums, 2008's "Good To Be Bad" and 2011's "Forevermore", and appeared on several live releases, including 2013's "Made In Japan" and "Made In Britain/The World Records".

Aldrich left WHITESNAKE 10 years ago, saying in a statement that he "had several recording and live commitments," so he "needed a more flexible schedule to conclude these before going full force as normal." He added: "Unfortunately, my schedule was not workable."

Having also played with LION, HOUSE OF LORDS, BAD MOON RISING, HURRICANE and Glenn Hughes, Aldrich joined THE DEAD DAISIES in 2016 and can be heard on that band's last five albums, 2016's "Make Some Noise", 2018's "Burn It Down", 2021's "Holy Ground", 2022's "Radiance" and 2024's "Light 'Em Up".

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The Dead Daisies have released a the new video below, recapping their Light 'Em Up European tour.


Says the band: "We had a ball tearing time in the EU and can’t wait to get back! Hope you guys had the same. Check out some highlights from the tour. Love ya and catch you in 2025!!"







The Dead Daisies' new album, Light 'Em Up, is out now and available to order here.





Light 'Em Up tracklisting:


"Light 'Em Up"
"Times Are Changing"
"I Wanna Be Your Bitch"
"I'm Gonna Ride"
"Back To Zero"
"Way Back Home"
"Take A Long Line"
"My Way And The Highway"
"Love That'll Never Be"
"Take My Soul"


"I'm Gonna Ride" (Revamped) video:





"I Wanna Be Your Bitch" video:

Building on the haunting beauty of his 2020 debut album Chants From Another Place, Swedish songwriter Jonathan Hultén returns with the follow up Eyes Of The Living Night, set for release on January 31, 2025 via Kscope.


Recorded at Stockholm’s Chanting Studios and co-produced with Ola Ersfjord (Lady Blackbird/Tribulation/Monolord), the new album Eyes Of The Living Night is a remarkable showcase of Hultén’s distinctive blend of folk, rock and pop, drawing influence from the likes of Bert Jansch, John Martyn and Nick Drake as well as contemporaries such as Anna Ternheim, Chelsea Wolfe and Hexvessel.


Eyes Of The Living Night delves deep into the human spirit. Merging the raw emotion of his earlier work with a more expansive, otherworldly sound, Jonathan Hultén has created an album that shimmers, taking listeners through the decades of rock, synth-pop, blues and folk on a journey best described as “Ambient Dream-grunge”.

Swedish melodic hard rockers, Art Nation, are thrilled to share their new single, “Thunderball”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl. The track is accompanied by a new music video.





Singer Alexander Strandell comments on the new single: “With 'Thunderball', we’re stepping boldly into a new era. We’ve worked hard to innovate while staying true to the core of our identity. Join us and be part of the Nation."




Stream/download the single here, watch the video below:





Gothenburg-based band Art Nation is a rising force in modern melodic hard rock. Founded in 2014 by Alexander Strandell and Christoffer Borg the band has quickly gained acclaim for their captivating sound and dynamic live performances.


With his powerful and emotive vocals, Alexander Strandell has captivated audiences on Sweden's National TV and radio. A nominee for “Rock Voice of the Year”, his commanding stage presence and vocal mastery set him apart as one of the most dynamic performers in rock today.


A producer and guitarist celebrated for his precision and creativity, Christoffer Borg has worked with iconic names like Amaranthe, Anthrax, and Evergrey. His exception

Forbes Senior Contributor, Hugh McIntyre, is reporting that Black Sabbath scores a brand new Top 10 album in the United Kingdom this frame. The set isn’t actually newly released, but it is new to several charts it reaches for the first time, and it even rises into the highest tier on one of them.



Headless Cross debuts on a trio of charts across the pond this week. It opens highest on the "Official Rock & Metal Albums" ranking, which tracks only the best-selling rock, hard rock, and metal full-lengths in the country. On that tally, Black Sabbath’s popular set launches at #10, bringing the band back to the loftiest space on the roster.

The set appears to be the group’s milestone twentieth Top 10 on the "Official Rock & Metal Albums" chart. It hasn’t been very long since they last scored a new winner on the genre-specific list, as Anno Domini 1989-1995 hit #1 this spring.

"Till Death Do Us Part" is the latest single from famed rock vocalist and guitarist, Mike Tramp. The track is off his latest studio album Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II, which is out via Frontiers Music Srl. The album's ten tracks see Tramp re-imagining select cuts from his former band White Lion. "Till Death Do Us Part" is accompanied by a new music video. Watch below:





About the new album, Tramp shared: "Would Leonardo Da Vinci have re-painted Mona Lisa, if he had gotten a second chance? That, we will never know, but I can say for sure, that I am beyond thrilled to have gotten a second chance to re-record and sing the songs I wrote between 1983 and 1990. Today I have such a better understanding of how I want to express the songs in my voice than I had when I was in my 20’s, it’s just a fact, and I’ve grabbed the chance. 'Songs Of White Lion' is a whole new chapter, matter of fact it is current."




Tramp is out now on tour supporting Songs Of White Lion - Vol.II. For a current list of dates, head here.


Order Songs Of White Lion - Vol. II here.





Tracklisting:


"Lights & Thunder"
"Lonely Nights"
"Till Death Do Us Part"
"El Salvador"
"The Road To Valhalla"
"Don't Give Up"
"You're AII I Need"
"Out With The Boys"
"All You Need Is Rock'n’Roll"
"Farewell To You"


"The Road to Valhalla" video:





"Out With The Boys" video:

Brazilian rock band, Malvada, are pleased to share their new single and video, “Fear”, out today via Frontiers Music Srl. Stream/download the single here, and watch the video below.





Describing the new track, the band say: "'Fear' is the song that will surprise everyone who listen, with a different aura and new elements, a very good fusion of classic and new rock’n’roll."







Malvada was initially formed in March 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic. With a rock n' roll style full of personality, the band quickly attracted attention as one of the most promising acts in the Brazilian rock scene.


In January 2021, Malvada released their first single entitled "Mais Um Gole", which gained greater prominence in the scene. Shortly afterwards, in May of the same year, it was time to release the second single "Cada Escolha uma Renúncia", which preceded the launch of the band's debut album, A Noite Vai Ferver.


In the years 2022 and 2023, Malvada solidified its presence on the national rock panorama, performing more than a hundred shows in several cities in Brazil. The band had the privilege of participating in huge festivals, such as Rock in Rio, Best of Blues and Rock, Angra Fest and Chama Rock, sharing the stage with renowned national and international rock names, like Pitty, Ira!, Angra, Viper, Edu Falaschi, Matanza, Golpe de Estado, Extreme and Tom Morello.


In Novemb

Femme sleaze rockers, Cobra Spell, have released a video for "Love Crime", featured on their debut album, 666, out now via Napalm Records. Watch below:





Cobra Spell’s ambitious, smoking hot debut attack, 666, showcases the indisputable talent of the outfit, and is sure to settle the rising rockers’ standing in the scene. These fierce ladies take no prisoners and are now ready to take on all stages worldwide, with a hunger to put on a show that will leave audiences around the globe bewitched, speechless and begging for more.




Cobra Spell on 666: “Unleash the power of our upcoming album, 666 - an album that defines convention and rebels against the limitations imposed on us, women. This is a sonic journey that embraces the devil’s number as a symbol of personal autonomy and freedom. ‘666’ is not just music; it’s an act of rebellion against gender inequality, a scream for freedom of expression, and a fight to destigmatize sexual expression for women. Join us in this unapologetic quest for equality and empowerment.”


Order here.





666 tracklisting:


"666"
"S.E.X."
"Satan Is A Woman"
"Hotline 666"
"Bad Girl Crew"
"The Devil Inside Of Me"
"Fly Away"
"Love = Love"
"Love Crime"
"Warrior From Hell"
"You’re A Cheater"
"High On Love"


"Warrior From Hell" video:

Jeffrey Hatrix, also known as Jeffrey Nothing (born Jeffrey Lewis Hetrick),formerly the haunting voice and co-founder behind Cleveland's pioneering alterna-metal and industrial collective MUSHROOMHEAD, has clarified his recent comment that he is planning to form his "yet-to-be-named version of MUSHROOMHEAD."

Last week, Nothing took to his social media to write in a since-deleted post that his new project would be his "new take on the band I co-founded. I will be the only returning vocalist. It will include a new bassist, keyboard player and co-lead vocalist. Returning members will play guitar and at times possibly drums." He added that the new project would be "the band that we were always meant to be. We will do whatever we want and no one, members included… will ever tell us what to do!"

Earlier today, Nothing returned to social media to offer more clarity on his previous comments, writing: "After seeing this hit the press yesterday, I feel I should clarify a few things that were mentioned, as well as questions that I saw in the comments. For starters, when I said that I'm doing my own version of MUSHROOMHEAD, I meant a new project based on the same creative ideals that the project I co-founded was based around.

"MUSHROOMHEAD was always supposed to be about pushing creativity and the abstract to its limits. The earlier music reflected that. That's what I'm bringing with the new project. It's not gonna be MUSHROOMHEAD 2.0. We're not gonna be rewriting 'Bwomp' and 'Sun Doesn't Rise' over and over. We're not going to try to capture that particular sound. It's going to be an evolution. The only real connection to [MUSHROOMHEAD] will be my voice.

"If you're a MUSHROOMHEAD fan, there will be enough there to scratch that itch. If you never liked MUSHROOMHEAD, it'll be different enough that it may actually be something you can get into. We want this to have its own fingerprint.

"If you wanna revisit the MUSHROOMHEAD of yester-year, Waylon and Jmann will have you covered. (Highly recommend checking out A KILLER'S CONFESSION.) If you want to see a band cling to a name so they can sell more masks every year, the current [MUSHROOMHEAD] has you covered. This project is all about evolution and moving forward.

"There is a possibility of some [MUSHROOMHEAD] alumni working on it or playing shows with us. Not because we're trying to recapture glory days or anything of that nature, but because some of them are dear friends. Simple as that. Every experience is that much better when it's shared with people you love.

"We are currently writing the material and will keep things radio silent until it's time to launch. Thank you for your continued support."

This past August, Hatrix sued MUSHROOMHEAD's drummer and producer Steve "Skinny" Felton, alleging copyright infringement and failure to pay him royalties that he is owed.

Hatrix, who left MUSHROOMHEAD in 2018, claimed in the lawsuit, which was obtained by BLABBERMOUTH.NET, that he had not received royalties for his music "for several years at least", despite the fact that he wrote or helped write 148 songs during his time with the band.

"Most of the performing arts copyright registrations were registered as Stephen Felton being the copyright claimant," the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Cleveland, read. "And, although on many songs [Hatrix] was given proper credit for his participation in creating said works, there seems to be no record of mechanical royalty payments stemming from these performing arts registrations."

In the years prior to Hatrix's exit from MUSHROOMHEAD, "Felton's actions … became more nefarious, including the doctoring of publishing splits giving Skinny (Felton) double pay under 2 names 'Tenafly Viper' and just plain 'Steve Felton', along with 30% going to him under 'unknown publicist' and 'unknown writer'," according to the lawsuit. "In fact, most of the publishing splits seem to have disappeared as plaintiff has not received any mechanical royalties to speak of for several years at least.

"Although the money coming increased, plaintiff was apparently receiving pennies on the dollar," the lawsuit added. "[Hatrix] was paid an 'allowance' $1,200 per week per, per tour. In fact, plaintiff was paid almost nothing beyond this and is due his publishing and other, royalties, income from touring, sales and royalties from film media, along with loss from other sources of income to be determined."

Hatrix's attorney Ronald Stanley told Cleveland.com that Hatrix was seeking at least $3.5 million, but clarified that "we don't know all what he is entitled to yet."

Jeffrey left MUSHROOMHEAD in March 2018, stating: "I am coming to you today with a heavy heart to announce that I am leaving MUSHROOMHEAD. It is a decision that I did not make easily, but one I made for reasons that are best for me as an artist and musician at this juncture in my career." The vocalist went on to thank "the craziest, fucking loyal and amazing fans" for the "once in a lifetime privilege" of performing for them while touring and recording with the group.

A few months later, Hatrix discussed his exit while appearing on the "ADHD" podcast, saying that "my issue was there was only one chief [Steve Felton], and that's not how it started. That really catapulted us all backwards. I feel like we could have done so much more… Things could have all been different and friendly, but I don't believe my former band has that in their vocabulary. I never wanted it like that. It's odd."

He added: "I left the band because I couldn't do it anymore. I stayed for a long time for the fans and it just got to be like, 'Sorry I just can't do it anymore.' I was trying to leave on semi-amicable terms and then that never happened… I got to the point where I didn't even want to go on tour anymore. There was one tour where I felt like I was in need of having every tooth pulled out of my head. The stress was so bad, it felt like that. That ended up not being the case. Once I got home, I was fine. Sometimes a bus can feel like a prison cell or your bunk can feel like a casket or you're doing time or you're not even alive anymore… When it was cool, I liked it. When it became somebody's little game, for lack of a better word, it became very ugly and something I wanted to get out of as soon as I could."

"After seeing this hit the press yesterday, I feel I should clarify a few things that were mentioned, as well as...

Posted by Jeffrey Nothing on Monday, November 25, 2024

In a new interview with Dave Rumbler of Metal-Roos, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera confirmed that he is working on the follow-up to 2022's "Totem" album for a 2025 release. Regarding the musical direction of the new SOULFLY material, he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[It will be] very tribal, back to basics. I'm gonna let SOULFLY be SOULFLY again. I kind of stopped SOULFLY from being SOULFLY for a couple of years, and I kind of regret that a little bit. But now that I have CAVALERA and GO AHEAD AND DIE and KILLER BE KILLED, I get to really let SOULFLY be SOULFLY. Let's go back to what it was in the beginning. It's that tribal groove power that people love. So I'm creating a record with that."

Max, who turned 55 years old in August, went on to say that he has no plans of slowing down in the coming years. "I was put on this planet to do this, and that's all I wanna do," he said. "It's all I know how to do and it's all I wanna do… Of course, we change as people as we get older, but I think there's some things in me, they are the same as they were when I was 15 years old — my passion for metal, how I feel about going on the stage and the goosebumps, the excitement is like a drug. You can't really get that anywhere else except on the stage. And those things don't change. And I love that.

"To me, I'm always looking forward to whatever tour we're doing, whatever album we're making," he continued. "There are challenges, but at the same time, they are great life opportunities. And I live life for the moment. I'm not one of those guys that — I don't live thinking 10 years from now. I live for right now for this, 'cause I don't know what's 10 years from now. I live the moment, and in the moment, this is what's going on right now. I grab it with both hands, man, and enjoy. And I try to teach that to my kids — enjoy the moment. It's a great thing. It's good to be alive. It's good to share this feeling with people around you. It's incredible. It's an incredible thing."

This past September, Max told Matt Zaniboni of Metal Express Radio that the next SOULFLY album will be "a little bit of return to the early SOULFLY. I feel there was a magic around those early records that kind of got lost in the shuffle of the years… To me, when I'm creating this new record, for me, this is the album that should have been made after [2000's] 'Primitive'. So, I feel like like I have a chance to make the third record all over again, and I'm making it more towards the vibe I had on [1998's] 'Soulfly' and 'Primitive'. So, it's gonna be cool, man. I'm excited for that."

SOULFLY recently completed the "Superstition" U.S. tour. Support on the trek came from EYEHATEGOD (from October 22 until November 6 only),MUTILATION BARBECUE and SKINFLINT.

SOULFLY is continuing to tour in support of "Totem", which came out in August 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by Max Cavalera alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP),and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.

In a separate interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, Max said that SOULFLY's upcoming thirteenth album will be "influenced by other stuff I'm listening to at the moment, like KUBLAI KHAN and JESUS PIECE and KNOCKED LOOSE, JUDICIARY. So there's really heavy breakdown grooves together with tribal drums. It's gonna be cool, man. It's gonna be a real cool album that I am very excited to create. And, of course, also the fact that my mother passed away last year, I'm gonna make this album for her. It's a homage to her. So it's gonna be also a spiritual record for me because of that. So it's gonna be a special record, for sure. It's been [two] years since 'Totem'. 'Totem' was our last record. I think we are inspired to create something special next year."

This past March, Max was asked by Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", if guitarist Mike DeLeon, who has been touring with SOULFLY for nearly two years, will be featured on the band's next LP. Max responded: "I'm leaving it open for now. Mike is gonna jam with us. We have some festivals in the U.S. I think we're doing, and we're also doing the LAMB OF GOD boat [Headbangers Boat], the cruise. That should be fun as hell. And Mike will play with us for that. He's a great guy. I love Mike."

He continued: "I don't know. It's too early to know where I'm gonna go with this record — if I'm gonna try to find somebody else to record or if we're just gonna roll with Mike. We don't know yet."

Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

Maria "Tristessa" Kolokouri, leader of Athens-based all-female black metal band Astarte, lost her battle against leukemia in 2014. Ultimare Guitar has published a special in-depth feature in tribute to Tristessa's memory.


In the feature story Tristessa's widower and occasional writing partner, Nicolas Maiis, revealed that unreleased music from Astarte will surface next year: 


"An unreleased, aggressive Astarte album with thrash and death elements recorded by Tristessa and Maiis, named Blackdemonium, will see the light of day in 2025. The voice of the black metal queen will be heard once more."




"Tristessa was a born leader," Maiis told Ultimate Guitar. "She always wanted to move forward in music and her style. She was a very confident

Boston's Pathogenic is set to make a triumphant return with the release of Crowned In Corpses, a brutal and immersive display of progressive tech death. This marks their first full-length release in over half a decade, promising a bold evolution of their signature brand of progressive tech death, while retaining the intensity that has defined the band for years.


This is evident in the album's first single, "Mass Grave Memory". The official music video for the song can be seen below.


Pathogenic vocalist Jake Burns reveals the song's lyrical themes: “'Mass Grave Memory' asks the ultimate question: What do we gain when we destroy everything? It’s a vivid portrayal of nuclear war’s aftermath — the searing light, the choking ash, and the silence of a world undone. Above all, it stands as a stark warning of what will await us if humanity loses control.”




Skepsis Recordings will release Crowned In Corpses on February 7, 2025. Pre-order the album now at this location.

It's been almost four years since the LA based traditional minded metallers Saber issued new music. Well, the wait is over!


On November 27th, the band unleash the title track from the forthcoming Lost In Flames album, which is scheduled for release on February 7, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music's sub-label, ROAR. Pre-save your copy now at this location.







Additionally, there's a promotional video for "Lost In Flames", which captures the essence of the band: high notes nailed by Steven "Turbo" Villa, along with quick fingered runs from guitarist Joel Dominguez (also seen in Haunt, these days), encapsulated in a bouncy, infectious '80s sound.


As to the choice, the band claims:  "Lost In Flames became the album title because it embodies the theme of the entire album: feeling lost, while our world around us was going up in flames. Everyon

Jesse James Dupree, lead singer of Jackyl, has just dropped a new lyric video for his solo song "Born To Ride The Lightning".





"Born To Ride The Lightning" appears on Jesse James Dupree's solo album, Breathing Fire, which was released in November 2023. Secure your digital copy at this location. Orders for physical product, including CDs, T-shirts, and Vinyl can be made here. 







Tracklisting:


"Lay It On Me" 
"Never Gets Old" 
"Breathing Fire" 
"It's Not Love" 
"Stranded" 
"Born To Ride The Lightning" 
"Kill The Sunshine" 
"Over My Dead Body"
"White Flag"
"Rappa De Pappa" 


"Never Gets Old" Studio Session Video:





"Stranded" video:

Blacktop Mojo has issued a video for "Red Enough" (Unplugged) from the Pollen Unplugged Sessions, filmed live at Rosewood Studios in Tyler, Texas.





The original version of "Red Enough" can be found on Blacktop Mojo's fifth studio album, Pollen, released in April 2024 via Cuhmon Music Group; order your copy here. Check out the official music video:







Pollen artwork and tracklisting:





"The End Is Gonna Come"
"Weary I Roam"
"I Can't Tell"
"Please Don't Call"
"Red Enough"
"Rise"
"As The Light Fades"
"Something's Changed"
"Shoulda Just Gone To Sleep"
"Born To Lose"
"Like Wild Horses"











In live news, Shaman's Harvest and Blacktop Mojo will be coming to The UK next year on a very eagerly anticipated and long awaited tour! Confirmed dates are as follows:


March

Get ready for an epic dive into symphonic death metal as Septicflesh takes over the Ronnie James Dio Stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2024. Recorded live on August 11th, this powerful performance captures the haunting intensity and dark allure that are the hallmarks of Septicflesh’s music. Their mastery of symphonic metal ignites the crowd, flooding the festival grounds with electrifying energy and creating a paradise for headbangers.


In this video, experience "Martyr", a track that flawlessly blends orchestral grandeur with relentless guitar riffs and commanding vocals. The atmosphere is hypnotic, layered with raw emotion, striking melodies, and a cinematic darkness that only Septicflesh can deliver. 







Septicflesh recently announced they are bringing this special experience Infernus Sinfonica II to Mexico. On February 8, SepticFlesh will bring their symphonic metal concert at the Pepsi Center WTC. They will be joined by Mex Pops Orquesta &