Unlucky Morpheus’ live concert XIII held at Toyosu PIT on October 1, 2021 will be released March 9 on Blu-ray and a 2CD set. Preorder at diskunion.net.


All songs from 2020’s Unfinished and 2015’s Vampir have been performed. A concept live of beauty and violence. Participate in the angry march of Unlucky Morpheus!







Tracklisting:


CD1
“Unfinished”
“Unending Sorceress”
“Near The End”
“Cage Bird”
“Salome”
“Make Your Choice”
“Top Of The ‘M’”
“Dogura Magura”
Violin Solo
“Carry On Singing To The Sky”
“‘M’ Revolution”
Bass Solo
“Spartan Army”
“Wings”


CD2
“Wishing Ark”
“Vampir”
“Opfer”
“La Voix Du Sang”
“Phantom Blood”
“Angreifer”
“Change Of Generation”
“Knight Of Sword”
Drum Solo
“Black Pentagram”


“‘M’ Revolution”:

Italian folk power metal heroes ELVENKING have announced the re-releases of two early yet distinctive records, for the first time ever available on Vinyl, of the band’s impressive career! Both the 2001-debut Heathenreel and 2006’s classic The Winter Wake were remastered by Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Volbeat, Pretty Maids), and will be reissued as colored Vinyl Anniversary Editions on March 11, 2022 via powerhouse label AFM Records.

“We are relieved to finally be able to announce the Vinyl Anniversary Editions of two of our most important albums.“ ELVENKING comments. “The plan was to release them exactly 20 years (“Heathenreel”) and 15 years (“The Winter Wake”) after the original releases, so in 2021, but because of the prevalent situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the production process of vinyls underwent several disruptions, thus we were forced to postpone them. Finally we can announce the pre-orders!


“Heathenreel”(originally released in 2001) is definitely our most important album. The Album that started our journey in metal. The Album that defined our place in the world and our sound which we used to define “Folk Aggressive Metal”. The Album we made with the biggest passion and that is well cast in the memory of the metal fans of those years. A really important debut and our mission statement.


“The Winter Wake” (originally released in 2006) was a turning point in our career. Still our most successful album to date, this is an album born after a storming series of events that made Elvenking mature and diverge from a series of errors and ill-fated choices that were destroying the band instead of making it nurture and bloom.”

The Finnish death doom spearhead Kuolemanlaakso, starring vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow the Sun), have unleashed the second single from their upcoming album Kuusumu. The song, titled Tulessakävelijä, closes the album on an epic note and is the first one to feature both Kotamäki and Aleksi Munter (Swallow the Sun, Insomnium, Ghost Brigade) since 2015. 





Guitarist-songwriter Laakso says:




"Tulessakävelijä is the album’s massive closing track. Musically it explores heavy and oriental atmospheres. The chorus line 'Pilvistä verta sataa' ('Blood is falling from the clouds') refers to Chinese texts from the mid-530s which depict people actually believing it was raining blood. It seems more likely that a volcanic eruption, which blackened and cooled the sun for one and a half years, colored the rain blood-red with its ash."


"The orchestration, reminiscent of the soundtrack of Conan, was conjured by Aleksi Munter (Swallow the Sun, Insomnium, Ghost Brigade), with whom I produced and arranged Kuusumu’s keyboards. Kotamäki displays completely new aspects of his clean vocals on this track. This might actually be the first song since Swallow the Sun’s triple album Songs from the North (2015) where Munter and Kotamäki perform together."


“Tulessakävelijä’”s lyric video was created by Hans-Peter Weckman. "We immediately reached a consensus on the execution and color scheme. Great guy, great video.”





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


Kuusumu will be released in 2022 via Svart Records, with the CD version releasing on April 3 and vinyl following on July 29. The second digital single, Tulessakävelijä, will be released on Friday, January 21. Preorder at SvartRecords.com.


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





Lineup:


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


(Photo - Riku Jokinen)

The members of HALESTORM escaped unharmed after their tour bus caught early Thursday morning (January 20).

HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger revealed that he and his bandmates had slept in hotel rooms overnight but were awakened early in the morning to find their "bus burning down."

"Old HALESTORM had a night for the books," he wrote on Instagram. "We were all in our HOTEL rooms last night and we woke up to our bus burning down at 3AM.

"Fun fun.

"No one was hurt.

"The Worcester fire department got there and put the fire out. They were amazing.

"Our fearless security Steve pulled guitars and luggage out of the bay.

"We all lost some stuff, but it was just stuff.

"The investigator doesn't know what started it, but it began in the bunk hall.

What matters is that no one was hurt. The best part is that tonight, we will rock.

"Looking forward to playing some music and forgetting about things being on fire.

"See you tonight Worcester!"

HALESTORM drummer Arejay Hale added in a separate post: "Wanted to first and foremost let everyone know we are all safe, nobody was hurt, nothing of great value was destroyed but we had a bus fire last night while we were sleeping in the hotel.

"I woke up to my tour manager, Mike, calling me at 3am to make sure I wasn't sleeping on the bus, our head of security (pictured here) heroically ran into the burning bus with a fire extinguisher to make sure nobody was sleeping in their bunk. According to him, as he looked under the door, the bunk hall was an inferno and he saw 15-20 foot flames rising out of the top of the bus.

"We're all so grateful to the Worcester fire department @worcesterfd for their bravery, and incredibly thankful everyone is ok.

"To all my fellow touring people, take bus fire and all touring safety protocols seriously!! And of course thank all of you out there for your love and best wishes!!

"Come pandemic, snow storms and now BUS FIRES you can't stop us no matter what life will hurl at us! See you at the next show!!!"

HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale tweeted: "Thank you to everyone for the well wishes. Like Joe said in his post, we lost some stuff, but so grateful that it was only stuff and no one was sleeping on the bus last night. I'm still shook, and emotions are a bit high today. But looks like the universe is not done with us yet!"

HALESTORM is currently on the road with EVANESCENCE as part of the two bands' rescheduled U.S. co-headlining tour dates, which will run through January 21 in Newark, New Jersey.

HALESTORM and EVANESCENCE first toured together in 2012. EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee later guested on the track "Break In" on HALESTORM's 2020 "Reimagined" EP and Lzzy lent backing vocals to the EVANESCENCE song "Use My Voice" and appeared in the accompanying music video.

HALESTORM is promoting its latest single, "Back From The Dead", which recently became the band's sixth No. 1 at rock radio.
























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Thank you to everyone for the well wishes. Like Joe said in his post,we lost some stuff, but so grateful that it was only stuff and no one was sleeping on the bus last night. I’m still shook, and emotions are a bit high today.But looks like the universe is not done with us yet!

— Lzzy Hale (@LZZYHALE) January 20, 2022

Iconic rock singer Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74.

The news of his passing was confirmed on the musician's Facebook page by his family.

"Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah, daughters Pearl and Amanda and close friends," the post said.

Meat Loaf's amazing career spanned six decades and saw him sell over 100 million albums worldwide and star in over 65 movies, including "Fight Club", "Focus", "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Wayne's World".

His "Bat Out Of Hell" remains one of the 10 top-selling albums of all time.

"We know how much he meant to so many of you and we truly appreciate all of the love and support as we move through this time of grief in losing such an inspiring artist and beautiful man," the post added.

"We thank you for your understanding of our need for privacy at this time.

"From his heart to your souls…don't ever stop rocking!"

No cause of death has yet been revealed.

The Dallas-born singer's real name was Marvin Lee Aday.

His 1993 hit "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" earned him a Grammy Award.

"Bat Out Of Hell" was also adapted as a stage musical, written by longtime collaborator Jim Steinman.

Metal Sludge was the first media outlet to report that Meat Loaf was "on his deathbed" on Thursday (January 20).


Our hearts are broken to announce that the incomparable Meat Loaf passed away tonight surrounded by his wife Deborah,…

Posted by Meat Loaf on Thursday, January 20, 2022

CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher has released a new solo song, titled "On Wings Of Carnage". The track is taken from his debut solo album, "Corpsegrinder", which is due on February 25. The 10-song effort was co-produced by Nick Bellmore (DEE SNIDER, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and will be made available through Jasta's new label, Perseverance Music Group. Another song from the LP, "Acid Vat", features a guest appearance by Fisher's CANNIBAL CORPSE bandmate Erik Rutan.

Corpsegrinder comments: "When Jamey approached me to do this record, I was fired up to get into the studio with Erik Rutan and record the vocals. It's a mix of death metal, thrash and hardcore, and it sounds heavy as hell!!! I'm really excited about it, and I can't wait for the world to hear it!!!"

Jasta adds: "Working with George has been a dream come true, he's one of the best dudes in metal and one of the most brutal voices EVER. He's outdone himself on this album!"

"Corpsegrinder" track listing:

01. Acid Vat (feat. Erik Rutan)

02. Bottom Dweller

03. On Wings Of Carnage

04. All Souls Get Torn

05. Death Is The Only Key

06. Crimson Proof

07. Devourer Of Souls

08. Defined By Your Demise

09. Master Of The Longest Night

10. Vaguely Human

Throughout the years, Fisher has become a beloved figure in the metal scene and beyond, having one of heavy music's most brutal voices. In addition to having spent more than a quarter of a century fronting CANNIBAL CORPSE, he has been involved in several side projects, including PATHS OF POSSESSION and SERPENTINE DOMINION. He has also guested on various recordings from such acts as SUFFOCATION and SUICIDE SILENCE.

Last year, Fisher told Kerrang! magazine about how he first became interested in extreme metal: "I went from BLACK SABBATH to [JUDAS] PRIEST and IRON MAIDEN, but when we discovered the heaviest shit, it was SLAYER and VENOM and CELTIC FROST and VOIVOD and POSSESSED — it all hit us at once. We were listening to heavy metal and then they dropped a fucking building on us. One of my earliest memories is my friend Steve playing the MERCYFUL FATE EP, and I'd never heard anything like it. King Diamond is my favorite singer of all time, and when we first heard that EP, it was, 'What the fuck was that?' I started getting demos and exploring more underground bands. When the CANNIBAL CORPSE demo came out, I believe I was already in my first band, which was called CORPSEGRINDER. We named the band after a DEATH song."




























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NIGHTWISH's Floor Jansen has revealed plans to release a new single in the coming weeks. The 40-year-old Dutch-born singer, who made her live debut with NIGHTWISH nearly a decade ago, shared a timeline for the arrival of her new solo music during a YouTube livestream earlier today. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "As you know, I've been writing music; I've been telling you about this for months and months. Thus far, I've only been saying, 'A new song will come. A new song will come.' And so I've been writing. There's a lot of songs ready, and now there's actually one song ready to be released. And so the thing I can tell you today is that the first song will come on the 25th of March. So now we can finally count down to a moment where something all new will come."

Regarding the musical direction of her solo track, Floor said that "it's a pop song, so it's not metal, it's not rock, but it's definitely me." Jansen went on to explain that the track will not necessarily be representative of all the new solo music she has been working on in recent months. "I guess it's more of a mash-up [of styles] actually," she said, referring to her upcoming collection of solo material, "though it's not so extreme as in genres, like all of a sudden it becomes… Here's a metal song and here's a rock song and this is more poppy… I mean, pop music — the word of it — [it's short for] popular music, and it kind of describes a lot, and within that it falls. I can only say that it's not metal and it's not rock, but it will have its influences and it will have a part of the sound. It can't even be so that the first song is how everything else will sound like because, yeah, if you know NIGHTWISH and also for us, it's always so hard to pick just one song that's gonna be like the kick-off of an album but it can never really represent everything. And I guess it's the same for this first song that comes on the 25th of March."

Last summer, Floor said during an appearance on the "Breaking Absolutes With Peter Orullian" podcast that she had been working on a solo album since shortly before the beginning of the pandemic. "And it really kickstarted my own creativity that I haven't really been able to use over the years," she said. "It's nice that it gets out. And I would like to do more of that and actually finish that album and make those steps and find a way to combine a solo career with NIGHTWISH and my life at home, which I even more value after spending so much time here in this green heaven [in Sweden] where I live."

Jansen discussed the prospect of making a solo album during a 2020 interview with Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, she said: "After 20 years of rock and metal, I think I would like to do something else. I don't mean stop with NIGHTWISH, but something alongside it.

"I was recently involved in a TV show in my home country in the Netherlands [reality TV show 'Beste Zangers', which translates to 'Best Singers']. That really inspired me to start writing, and the stuff that has come out is very calm.

"I would love to make an album where less actually is more. Something different — not because I'm bored, but because if you are already in one of the biggest bands in your own genre, and you have someone like Tuomas Holopainen as a songwriter, I don't really see that I'd be adding anything by making another metal album myself."

Earlier in 2020, Jansen spoke about a possible musical direction for her solo album during an Instagram Live chat. She said: "I cannot imagine it would be rock or metal — just because rock now I've done, and metal I've done a lot. And I'm already in one of the best bands, I think, that are out there, in my opinion, to my taste. Plus, if you're in a band with a songwriter such as Tuomas Holopainen, it's a little bit hard to come up with something — anything — better, I would say, and I only say that out of love and respect for him. Plus, after 20 years of metal, wouldn't it be lovely to do something completely different for me? That's how I feel."

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.

Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013 and made her recording debut with the group on 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album.

NIGHTWISH's ninth studio album, "Human. :II: Nature." , was released in April 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The effort is a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.

British extreme metallers CRADLE OF FILTH have announced a digital show stream, a one-off special performance titled "The Infernal Vernal Equinox". The concert will see the band play its monumental 1996 studio album "Dusk... And Her Embrace" in full.

"The Infernal Vernal Equinox" will take place on March 20 at 11 a.m. PST / 2 p.m. EST / 7 p.m. GMT / 8 p.m. CET. Tickets are available to purchase from this location.

CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani "Filth" Davey said: "After the glorious success of our livestream extravaganza back in May last year, we have decided to undertake a second in which we will play our legendary musical excretion 'Dusk... And Her Embrace' in its dark cinematic entirety, accompanied by a further bout of new album tracks and fan favorites.

"Being unleashed on March 20th, 2022 — the day of the Spring Equinox — and known as 'The Infernal Vernal Equinox', this full livestream ritual will also premiere the incredible third single video from 'Existence Is Futile' plus will include the entirety of our first livestream free for your vulgar delectation.

"So, Children of the Night, be expectant of horrific spectacle, big production, and razor-sharp Black Metal mayhem ascending your way. Warning. This one-off special performance is intended solely for those tortured souls still clinging to the last of winter's grip. Happy f**king Spring!!!"

CRADLE OF FILTH's latest album, "Existence Is Futile", was released in October. The LP was pieced together in isolation at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk with studio guru Scott Atkins (DEVILMENT, BENEDICTION, VADER). Horror icon Doug "Pinhead" Bradley made a welcome return to the CRADLE fold, lending his dulcet tones to the band's most politically astute song to date, the epic "Suffer Our Dominion" as well as the album bonus track "Sisters Of The Mist", which is the conclusion to the "Her Ghost In The Fog" trilogy that started over 20 years ago on the infamous and classic "Midian".

Eight months ago, CRADLE OF FILTH announced the addition of keyboardist Anabelle Iratni to the band's ranks.

Iratni, who previously played alongside Filth in DEVILMENT, as well as her own group VEILE, made her live debut with CRADLE OF FILTH on May 12, 2021 during the band's livestreamed concert.

Anabelle joined CRADLE OF FILTH as the replacement for Lindsay Schoolcraft, who announced her departure from the group in February 2020 after a seven-year run.

CRADLE OF FILTH is:

Dani Filth - Vocals

Richard Shaw - Guitar

Marek "Ashok" Šmerda - Guitar

Daniel Firth - Bass

Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - Drums

Anabelle Iratni - Keyboards & backing vocals

The old-school brutal death metal outfit Embryonic Autopsy has released its first single "Regurgitated And Reprocessed" - featuring Terrance Hobbs of Suffocation.


In order to watch the video, viewers need to be at least 18 years old and logged in to YT since there's an age-restriction activated due to the visual content of the video.







The song is taken from the upcoming album Prophecies Of The Conjoined that will be released on February 18, 2022 via Massacre Records. It contains a total of ten songs, and will be available as CD Digipak, limited edition vinyl LP as well as in digital formats. Preorder here.


Nine of the ten songs were mixed by Scott Roberts, whereas Ulrich Wild mixed the remaining song. All songs were mastered by Jason Z at TVR Studios. The album's cover artwork - available below - was designed by Diego Gedoz de Souza.





Embryonic Autopsy are focused on bringing back the style that made death metal so popular back in the early ‘90s, so get ready for blazing guitars, guttural vocals and lightning fast drumming galore.

Veteran California deathcore outfit, Impending Doom, today unleashes their new video for "Culture Of Death". The ferocious hymn comes off the band’s Hellbent EP, released late last fall via MNRK Heavy.





Comments vocalist Brook Reeves, “'Culture Of Death' is a song about sacrificing your beliefs to become someone you’re not for people who don’t care only to feel numb in the end and the wanting to feel alive again.”







Impending Doom lineup:


Brook Reeves - vocals
Manny Contreras - guitar
David Sittig - bass

Florida death metal veterans DEICIDE have announced the addition of guitarist Taylor Nordberg (THE ABSENCE, INHUMAN CONDITION) to the group's ranks. Taylor joins the band as the replacement for Chris Cannella who has amicably left the Glen Benton-fronted outfit after a three-year run.

Earlier today (Wednesday, January 19), Benton said in a statement: "We are pleased to announce and welcome Taylor Nordberg to the DEICIDE family! An amazing and accomplished guitarist who takes our sound to the next level and brings a profound level of professionalism that completes and compliments the DEICIDE machine!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Later this year, DEICIDE will embark on a special tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of their second album, "Legion". Benton and his bandmates will perform the LP in its entirety, along with other tracks from their vast catalog.
























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Joe Satriani is kicking off the new year with a brand-new album. Due on April 8, 2022, "The Elephants Of Mars" marks the legendary guitarist's 19th studio album in his 35-plus-year career in music. This album also marks the debut of his new label partnership with earMUSIC, the international rock label of entertainment group Edel.

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

The first single, "Sahara", debuts today with a video directed by ZZ Satriani.

Satriani had an admirably productive workingman's holiday, with pandemic forced time away from the road, that ultimately gave him and his touring band, all recording remotely in separate areas of the world during lockdown, the ability to deliver an album length journey that never dulls. "The Elephants Of Mars" crackles with an exciting new energy, briskly traveling through stylistic roads that feel freshly updated, viewed through new eyes.

The guitarist challenged himself to create a "new standard" for instrumental guitar albums to be measured against, one which would work from "a new platform of his own design," as he terms it. "I want to show people that an instrumental guitar album can contain far more creative and entertaining elements than I think people are using right now."

From the gripping, sci-fi madness of "Through A Mother's Day Darkly" to the isolation felt in a decaying urban landscape, as depicted in first single "Sahara" to the general endorphin levels that peak as the elephants finally roar in the title track, "The Elephants Of Mars" will stampede across your mind, leaving a sonic imprint that doesn't fade.

In 2020 with all time constraints removed, "The Elephants Of Mars" truly represents the album that Satriani himself hoped he could deliver with his band.

"We did everything," he says. "We tried the craziest ideas. And we entertained every notion we had about turning something backwards, upside down, seeing what could happen."

With this new album, Satriani joins the eclectic and exciting roster of earMUSIC. General manager Max Vaccaro remarks: "Some years ago, we were lucky to be the label chosen by Joe Satriani for the extremely fortunate CHICKENFOOT project. It was impossible not to notice and admire the dedication, the work ethic, and the monstrous talent in the recording studio and on stage. We knew, though, that he had the same 'home' for his solo music for decades and that for him, being signed to a record company meant loyalty and belonging. It is with great joy and sense of responsibility that now, some years later, we welcome Joe for his first solo work with earMUSIC. We thank him for having written and recorded very special music that will make a lot of fans happy, and we like to think this will be the first of many great albums to come."

"The Elephants Of Mars" track listing:

01. Sahara

02. The Elephants Of Mars

03. Faceless

04. Blue Foot Groovy

05. Tension And Release

06. Sailing The Seas Of Ganymede

07. Doors of Perception

08. E 104th St NYC

09. Pumpin'

10. Dance Of The Spores

11. Night Scene

12. Through A Mother's Day Darkly

13. 22 Memory Lane

14. Desolation

For over three decades, the guitar virtuoso has travelled the world, playing to sold-out crowds as both a headliner and as founder of the all-star "G3" guitar extravaganza. Satriani's studio and live recordings have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide to date and of his many solo albums, two have gone platinum and four others went gold, with 15 Grammy nominations between them. His side project CHICKENFOOT, featuring former VAN HALEN frontman Sammy Hagar, former VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, saw their debut album certified gold and their second studio album debuted at No. 9.

California’s Helsott are kicking off 2022 with their first single and the title track off their forthcoming concept album, Will And The Witch, mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Ex Deo), being released this spring through M-Theory Audio. Since their incarnation in 2019, Helsott have amassed a respectable discography including two EPs and two full-lengths. They have toured throughout North America and Europe along with performing on several festivals including Wacken Open Air.





On this new record, Helsott goes back to their roots along with adding orchestrations composed by the band. Overall, Will And The Witch will have more thrashy elements and fewer orchestrations than their previous work, which results in a bit less complexity than earlier albums, yet keeps the essence intact while catching listeners off guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme, but maintains the group’s underlying core that definitely is still Helsott.




“The album is a concept recording. It’s basically a fan-fiction story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west," explains vocalist Eric Dow. "There are southern vibes with banjo and fiddle. There are Native American vibes with hand drums and flute. There is thrash metal, power metal, death metal, and even acoustic campfire parts. We think there are enough flavors on this album to keep any listener engaged and wanting to listen over and over again. The title track explores the relationship between the two main characters on the album. Musically it’s melodic and thrashy, but also catchy and fun so I think this is a great song to introduce the listener to the full-length."


“The album is a concept recording. It’s basically a fan-fiction story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west," explains vocalist Eric Dow. "There are southern vibes with banjo and fiddle. There are Native American vibes with hand drums and flute. There is thrash metal, power metal, death metal, and even acoustic campfire parts. We think there are enough flavors on this album to keep any listener engaged and wanting to listen over and over again. The title track explores the relationship between the two main characters on the album. Musically it’s melodic and thrashy, but also catchy and fun so I think this is a great song to introduce the listener to the full-length."


The video for “Will And The Witch” was created by Raf Ortega (Ayreon, Subterranean Masquerade). Watch below:





Heavy, and eclectically enchanting, Helsott weave tales from mythology and history and are recommended for fans of Amon Amarth, Ensiferum, and Moonsorrow. The full album, Will And The Witch, is expected in May 2022 and will feature a roster of many special guests.

Frontiers Music Srl recently welcomed Zadra to their roster. Zadra is a continuation of the label's relationship with the talented guitarist/vocalist August Zadra, who the label has worked with as a member of Waiting For Monday and Dennis DeYoung's band.


Zadra’s debut album, Guiding Star, is the start of a new band centered around the talents of August, a Los Angeles based singer and guitarist. The album will be released on February 18.


A lyric video for the track "Rise From The Fire" is out today. Watch the clip below, and pre-order/save Guiding Star on CD/LP/Digital here.




Guiding Star is a compelling collection of hard hitting rock songs and ballads that feature August's powerful and emotional vocals as well as his fiery guitar playing. The album was produced by the multi-talented Alessandro Del Vecchio and features a slew of talented contributors. Del Vecchio handles bass, keyboards, and backing vocals (and contributes some rhythm guitar to "Won't Let Your Love Take Me Down") and Jelly Cardarelli plays drums. Additionally, Jeff Scott Soto (background vocals, plus a songwriting contribution on “Take My Hand"), Dennis DeYoung (keyboard solo on “Take My Hand”), Jimmy Leahey (acoustic guitars on “A Matter Of Yesterday”), Andrea Seveso (additional rhythm guitars on “Won’t Let Your Love Take Me Down”), and Martin Jepsen Andersen (who contributed to the songwriting and additional rhythm guitars on “Escape The Rain”) all appear. Guillermo De Medio, Pete Alpenborg, and Jan Akesson all contributed to the songwriting and added additional keyboards as well.





August Zadra is best known for his touring and recording as a member of Dennis DeYoung's solo band since 2010. August has also written, recorded, or performed with several esteemed and much loved artists over the years including Jeff Scott Soto, Nuno Bettencourt, Robin Zander, Jim Peterik, and more. In 2020, the band he formed with vocalist Rudy Cardenas, Waiting for Monday, released their critically acclaimed debut album on the Frontiers label. Also in 2020 and in 2021, he contributed backing vocals and guitars to Dennis DeYoung's highly praised final studio albums, 26 East, Vol. 1 and 26 East, Vol. 2, respectively. His passionate, high energy performances have been admired by fans, press, and other musicians around the world.  His joyful spirit and love of music are infectiously entertaining and delivered with a balance of flash and substance.





Tracklisting:


"Come Together"
"Nothing More To Say"
"Ship Of Fools"
"Come Back To Me"
"Escape The Rain"
"A Matter Of Yesterday"
"I’ll Meet You In Heaven"
"Take My Hand"
"Dream Of You"
"Won’t Let Your Love Take Me Down"
"Rise From The Fire"


"Rise From The Fire" lyric video:





"Nothing More To Say" video:





Lineup:


August Zadra - vocals, backing vocals, guitars
Alessandro Del Vecchio - bass, keyboards, backing vocals, additional rhythm guitars on “Won’t Let Your Love Take Me Down”
Jelly Cardarelli - drums
Jeff Scott Soto – backing vocals on all songs except “Come Back To Me”
Dennis DeYoung – keyboard solo on “Take My Hand”
Jimmy Leahey – acoustic guitars on “A Matter Of Yesterday”
Andrea Seveso - additional rhythm guitars on “Won’t Let Your Love Take Me Down”
Martin Jepsen Andersen - additional rhythm guitars on “Escape The Rain”
Additional keyboards: Guillermo De Medio, Pete Alpenborg, and Jan Akesson

Provogue Records / Mascot Label Group has presented a new lyric video to the classic MOUNTAIN hit "Theme From An Imaginary Western" in front of the March 25 release of "Legacy: A Tribute To Leslie West". The recording features TWISTED SISTER bandmates Dee Snider on vocals and Eddie Ojeda on guitar, with Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, THE WINERY DOGS) on drums alongside Rudy Sarzo (QUIET RIOT, OZZY OSBOURNE) on bass.

Snider was a dear friend of West for decades, and shares: "Leslie was a hero, friend, amazing guy and a guitar god. I always wanted to sing this song. It's my favorite Leslie West guitar solo. It resonates with me and speaks to me on so many levels. I'm honored to have gotten a chance to do it on this record."

Friends, many of whom were influenced by the loved West, have contributed to "Legacy: A Tribute To Leslie West". Amongst those who performed are Robby Krieger, Slash, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy and Tal Bachman, JETHRO TULL's Martin Barre, Joe Lynn Turner, BLACKBERRY SMOKE's Charlie Starr, THE CARS' Elliot Easton, George Lynch, Marty Friedman, Steve Morse, DIRTY HONEY's Mark Labelle, and West's band members Bobby Rondinelli and Rev Jones. The release will be available as a limited-edition box set, on LP and CD, digitally, and as a web shop exclusive limited LP variation manufactured with digital.

When Leslie West passed away in December of 2020, he left behind a towering legacy of epic recordings that few rock guitarists can match. But there was more to West than great songs (although, to be sure, he created a ton of them); there was his brilliant, idiosyncratic sound, a gargantuan earth-mover that razed arenas and stadiums across the globe. More than just paralyzing tone, though, he also had a touch nobody could beat. Stinging, swooning and sensual melodies leapt from his fingertips — with a deft flick of his wrist, he sounded like a Delta bluesman had picked up a violin. These elements and more helped to make West one of the most significant, influential and irreplaceable guitarists of the rock era.

"There was nobody on earth quite like Leslie," says the guitarist's widow, Jenni West. "The second you heard him play, you knew it was him. He loved playing the guitar and making music. He lived to make people feel good — it was his passion. He was famous to his fans throughout the world, but he was adored by other musicians. Everybody from country stars, rappers and heavy metal players — they all loved Leslie. He found it surprising, but I think he was also pleased to know how much he inspired other musicians."

West's longtime manager Bob Ringe agrees, saying: "I've worked with some of the greatest guitarists on the planet, and nobody could hold a candle to Leslie. He was so unique and special — his sound, his style, his power and warmth. Any guitarist I talk to has been influenced in some way by him. They broke the mold when they made him, and he took it with him when he passed away. He was a true one of a kind."

An astonishing array of West's admirers — who also happened to be friends and peers — came together to celebrate the trailblazing musician on "Legacy: A Tribute To Leslie West". Executive produced by Jenni West, Bob Ringe and John Lappen, the album was originally intended to be a retrospective celebration of West's music on which the guitarist himself would perform some of his best-loved cuts with notable guests, along with a collection of new tracks. Two weeks before recording was set to commence, however, the guitarist passed away. Once Jenni West, Ringe and Lappen changed gears and put a tribute album in motion, they discovered that the process was far easier than they could have imagined: "We really didn't have to reach out to many people," Jenni says. "They came to us. What's really amazing is, if Leslie himself had whispered into my ear and told me who he would want on this record, these would be the people he would have requested."

West's longtime rhythm section of bassist Rev Jones and Bobby Rondinelli laid down brilliant basic tracks for the guest artists to contribute their talents. One of the two exceptions is the dramatic retelling of "Theme For An Imaginary Western" (which West recorded with MOUNTAIN for the band's 1970 debut, "Climbing!"), which features the walloping drumming of Mike Portnoy and commanding bass work by legendary QUIET RIOT / OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rudy Sarzo. Two TWISTED SISTER alums — singer Dee Snider and guitarist Eddie Ojeda — turn in poignant performances on this grand and sweeping track.

"Leslie was a hero, friend, amazing guy and a guitar god," says Snider. "I always wanted to sing this song. It's my favorite Leslie West guitar solo. It resonates with me and speaks to me on so many levels. I'm honored to have gotten a chance to do it on this record."

Unquestionably, West's most famous song remains "Mississippi Queen" and who better to tackle such a historic sonic behemoth than GUNS N' ROSES' guitar titan Slash? Joining the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer on an absolutely ripping, rifftastic rendition is singer Marc LeBelle, currently riding high as the front man for the band DIRTY HONEY.

Former DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW vocalist Joe Lynn Turner tips his hat not only to West, but also to the late MOUNTAIN co-vocalist Felix Pappalardi on not one, but two cuts: On a standout version of "Nantucket Sleighride", the bluesy, prog-flavored title track of MOUNTAIN's second album from 1971, he's joined by international guitar star Marty Friedman; and a haunting take of the psychedelic rocker "For Yasgur's Farm" (from "Climbing!"), he teams with guitarist Martin Barre, best known as the longtime lead axeman for JETHRO TULL.

"It was an honor to do this tribute to Leslie," says Turner, "especially to sing 'Yasgur's Farm'. I'll never forget seeing MOUNTAIN at the Fillmore East. Felix had done the verse and when it came to that B section, Leslie was hit with a white spotlight in his buckskin. It still chills me to the bone today."

In 1969, West had left his band THE VAGRANTS and began what was to be a solo career, but his album "Mountain" turned out to be the unofficial debut of the power trio of the same name. From that record, Zakk Wylde chose the tour de force stomper "Blood Of The Sun", and like West himself, he's a formidable, show-stopping double threat on guitar and vocals.

In later life, West befriended Charlie Starr, singer and guitarist for the band BLACKBERRY SMOKE. Starr was in in awe of West, and he selected the soulful gem "Silver Paper" (from "Climbing!") as his way of remembering his late pal. Responding to the muscular rhythm section of Rev Jones and Bobby Rondinelli, as well as the bravura keyboard playing of Mike DiMeo, Starr laser beams on the song's joyous spiritual center and doesn't let go.

"I love 'Silver Paper', and it's got one of the coolest guitar licks of all time," says Starr. "Leslie played exactly what the song needed; his timing was impeccable. He played way back in the pocket, and it was so nasty and so great — the kind of things that you aspire to. I'm very proud to be part of this project. God bless Leslie West."

THE DOORS legend Robby Krieger also knew West well — the two had shared numerous concert bills through the decades.

"The coolest thing about Leslie was the way he played blues – it was just very natural," Krieger says. "He and Clapton were the best at the time. They just had the feel for the blues. Maybe in their former lifetimes they were blues guys." Krieger picked a deep cut for his tribute — the ripping barn burner "The Doctor", from the 1972 album "Why Dontcha" by West's power trio supergroup WEST, BRUCE AND LAING (featuring CREAM's Jack Bruce and MOUNTAIN's Corky Laing) — and he burns spectacularly on the song's dizzying, slippery lead lines. Rising to the occasion, singer Ronnie Romero, a veteran of bands like LORDS OF BLACK, RAINBOW and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, howls with grit and grace.

As the album unfolds, more treasures are revealed: The celebrated father/son duo BACHMAN AND BACHMAN seamlessly splice two tracks from 1976's "The Leslie West Band" — "Money" and "By The River" — and fold them into one feisty, good-time flame thrower. CARS' guitar star Elliot Easton is paired with singer Ronnie Romero on a sparky and frisky take on "Sittin' On A Rainbow" (from "Climbing!") — Easton's fluid style is a spot-on fit for West's country-flavored solo. "Climbing!" is revisited once more with "Never In My Life", which features a go-for-the-throat repeat performance by Dee Snider and the paint-peeling guitar work of former DOKKEN lead picker. And DIXIE DREGS/DEEP PURPLE guitar god Steve Morse (along with a return trip by Ronnie Romero) heads into the outer limits, firing off leads that are by both spacey and fiery, on the gnashing title cut of "Why Dontcha".

"Leslie could take a simple two- and three- note phrase and just sell it with that gritty determination," says Morse, who shared many a stage with West. "What was not to like about him? He knew everything to do. Just the phrasing of the solos and the commitment and the tone — it was really awesome to stand next to him and experience that."

"Long Red" is one of the most fascinating songs of West's career. First featured on the guitarist's 1969 solo album, it was also a highlight of the 1972 MOUNTAIN album "Live: The Road Goes Ever On". Over the years, the psychedelic-funk groover has grown in stature thanks to the mind-boggling number of hip-hop artists — everyone from Kendrick Lamar to Kanye West to Ice-T — who have sampled it on mega-selling hits (even Mariah Carey used it on her 2014 cut "Money"). Here, international guitar icon Yngwie Malmsteen (backed by the ace rhythm section of drummer Bobby Rondinelli and bassist Rev Jones) locks into the bluesier aspects of the song and injects his own inimitable shred madness — and the results are wicked. With singer Teddy Rondinelli flooring it full-throttle, it's a stone-cold slam dunk.

Jenni West sums the album up thusly: "Nobody in this world has ever made me feel loved as much as Leslie, and I feel so honored and grateful that I could give him this gift." She laughs. "He would often say, 'If it doesn't make my balls rumble, it's not right.' And I think there's some balls-rumbling tones on this record! When you're listening to it, you might even think it's Leslie playing — and that's a good thing. He really believed that adage of imitation being the sincerest form of flattery. Even when some of the players do their own twists on the music, they're still doing it in a way that's authentic and respectful, and Leslie would have appreciated that."

Track listing:

01. Blood Of The Sun (feat. Zakk Wylde)

02. Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin) (feat. Joe Lynn Turner & Marty Friedman)

03. Theme For An Imaginary Western (feat. Dee Snider, Eddie Ojeda, Rudy Sarzo, Mike Portnoy)

04. For Yasgur's Farm (feat. Joe Lynn Turner & Martin Barre)

05. Why Dontcha (feat. Steve Morse & Ronnie Romero)

06. Sittin' On A Rainbow (feat. Elliot Easton & Ronnie Romero)

07. Never In My Life (feat. Dee Snider & George Lynch)

08. The Doctor (feat. Robby Krieger & Ronnie Romero)

09. Silver Paper (feat. Charlie Starr)

10. Money (Whatcha Gonna Do)/By The River medley (feat. Bachman & Bachman)

11. Long Red (feat. Yngwie Malmsteen & Teddy Rondinelli)

12. Mississippi Queen (feat. Slash & Marc LaBelle)

Swedish metallers HAMMERFALL have released a new single, "Venerate Me", featuring a special guest appearance by legendary Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond. The track is taken from the band's twelfth studio album, "Hammer Of Dawn", which is due on February 25 via Napalm Records.

HAMMERFALL guitarist Oscar Dronjak comments: "The second single is here, and I'm very, very proud of it. The music was written during the darkest, most uninspiring days of the pandemic and still came out as one of the strongest on the whole album. Joacim's [Cans] fantastic lyric idea makes this track really stand out, and the special guest appearance towards the end really pushes it over the edge."

Adds Cans: "The song is overloaded with enchanting melodies and a very catchy chorus. Lyrically one of my greatest efforts dealing with the fact that we die twice. First when we take our last breath and second when someone says your name for the last time. Say my name and I will never die."

As one of the main forces in heavy metal, HAMMERFALL have dominated not only the Swedish album charts, but album charts across Europe throughout their extensive career, while earning gold status thrice. Faced with the daunting task of following up the band's last studio album, "Dominion", an album that fans and critics hailed as one of the band's strongest releases, HAMMERFALL collectively met the challenge head on and have delivered what many early listeners are predicting as the best metal album of 2022 and a high point of the band's catalog.

Cans states about the new album: "It's hard to describe in words how extremely happy and proud I am about the outcome of 'Hammer Of Dawn'. It was a struggle, for sure, but in the end we pulled it off and delivered a solid, vital and positive new album. Everyone is on top of his game and together we have created yet another milestone in HAMMERFALL history. Can't wait to sing these songs live together with my sisters and brothers, The Templars of Steel!"

Dronjak adds: "We spent a long time creating the songs for this album, mainly due to the coronavirus but also because we began working on the material very early. That's definitely evident in the result, the attention to detail is very big. Another thing that is quite palpable is the energy level, and that can be contributed to the extreme and forced downtime we all had to endure during the pandemic. The atmosphere in the studio was relaxed and laid back and the lack of stress created the perfect working environment for turning up the heat when the red light came on. It was easy to peak when you had to since there was no outside distractions or immediate deadlines. This album is a product of the pandemic in some ways, but more importantly it's a strong statement that we are experiencing the high point in our creativity at the moment. I've said it before: HAMMERFALL has never sounded better than we do right now."

"Hammer Of Dawn" track listing:

01. Brotherhood

02. Hammer Of Dawn

03. No Son Of Odin

04. Venerate Me

05. Reveries

06. Too Old To Die Young

07. Not Today

08. Live Free Or Die

09. State Of The W.I.L.D.

10. No Mercy

"Hammer Of Dawn" starts off with remarkable opener "Brotherhood", a hymn echoing the deep connection of bandleaders Cans and Dronjak with their loyal Templars of Steel worldwide. Other tracks on the album present one smasher after another, with songs like "Reveries", "No Son Of Odin" and "Venerate Me" — the latter featuring an appearance by none other than King Diamond — making sure it will go down as another milestone in the career of the Swedes.

"Hammer Of Dawn" was produced by long time collaborator Fredrik Nordström (IN FLAMES, OPETH), who handled mixing, mastering, drum recording, and shared the duty of recording guitars and bass with Pontus Norgren and Oscar Dronjak. Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT), produced the lead vocals.

Later this year, HAMMERFALL will team up with HELLOWEEN for an extensive co-headlining tour through Europe.

Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has once again defended Kenneth "K.K." Downing over the comments the ex-PRIEST guitarist made about his former bandmates in his 2018 autobiography, explaining that Downing is just telling the truth.

K.K. departed the iconic band 11 years ago but looked back on his time with the British metal titans in "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", which came out in September 2018. The book, which was written with collaborator Mark Eglinton, covers all of the behind-the-scenes turbulence that led to Downing's exit from PRIEST, including his strained relationship with guitarist Glenn Tipton and his gripes with certain managerial decisions.

During a new appearance on "The Jasta Show", the podcast hosted by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta, Owens said that Downing had every right to tell his story, including insider details on band collaborations and machinations. "Listen, he just told truths in the book," Owens said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "He told truths, and you get crap for it. Unfortunately, that's what happens. Should he have said all the things? He was hurt. Things happened. It didn't go right. He talked about it in his book. If he didn't tell those things and he made a book that was just about other stuff, people would have said, 'Why didn't he talk about the other stuff?' And then you do the interviews, and people said, 'K.K. needs to stop bringing these points up.' And I'm, like, 'Well, no. He's being asked about these points. And then he's answering the questions.' And then it's on the front of Blabbermouth that whatever…"

According to Owens, tensions between Downing and Tipton had been brewing for quite some time before K.K.'s exit from the group.

"I saw it during [the] 'Demolition' [album cycle]," he said. "We weren't even together hardly at [the time we made] 'Demolition'; it was never Glenn and Ken together ever. I would go to Ken's house on the weekends and we would hang out and have a pint, play some snooker. And it was brewing then. And, obviously, money helps out, so you get [former singer] Rob [Halford] back and you get your millions back and you're not playing [smaller venues] anymore."

Tim, who recently launched a new band with K.K. called KK'S PRIEST, went on to say that Downing doesn't ever bring up any grievances with his former bandmates during their interactions. "He still doesn't say bad things about those guys when we're together; he never talks bad about 'em — ever," he said. "You know why? Because I don't ask any questions about it. I'm not the guy interviewing him going, 'So, what did….?' I don't really wanna know — I don't wanna know about it. I read the book. I know what's going on. All that stuff that he talked about, I knew half of it, that went on. But people ask him, so it sounds like he's whining. He doesn't walk into an interview going, 'All right. Let me tell you about the dirty laundry. Let's talk about this.'"

K.K., who is a founding member of the British heavy metal legends and was part of the group since 1969, announced his retirement from PRIEST in April 2011.

In 2018, Downing told Rolling Stone that he tried talking things out with Tipton to let his bandmate know what was bothering him about their working relationship before Downing exited PRIEST. "I did when it came to his drinking before and during the gig," K.K. said. "That didn't get me anywhere. It just made me nervous, because I'm a beer drinker and I know I couldn't do that. It seemed to be slowing the show down as well."

Downing confirmed that PRIEST's roadies tried to limit Glenn's alcohol intake by watering down his beer during live performances. "I just hated going on every night and wondering, 'Are we together here?'" K.K. said. "It made me so fucking nervous. It wasn't funny. Ripper [who was singing for PRIEST at the time] used to come over and tug at my stage clothes and say, 'Do something.' I'd go, 'I'm playing the guitar, mate. I can't do anything.' Not that anybody probably noticed. I stopped enjoying playing. It got to me."

Downing also said that he thought Tipton was controlling band decisions, such as when PRIEST toured. Asked if he ever discussed that with Glenn, Downing said: "The thing was, so much of it went on [behind the scenes], and we knew, but there was never any kind of proof. You can't make an issue out of something you can't back up. For the most part, it was done in a certain way. You knew it was done, but you couldn't make an issue out of it. Sadly."

Downing claimed that the other members of JUDAS PRIEST felt pretty much the same way as he did about Glenn's control issues, which is why K.K. thought it was odd that he wasn't approached to rejoin the band following Tipton's decision to retire from the road due to his battle with Parkinson's disease. "Yeah, because they all knew my problem was with Glenn with the beer drinking and the decision-making with him and [management]," Downing said. "I was just tired of it. I felt like I was working a nine-to-five job and the other guys felt the same. There's no doubt in my mind their preference would have been to have me in the band, because why wouldn't you?"

PRIEST recruited Owens in 1996 and released two studio albums, 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition", before reuniting with Halford in 2003.