Finnish rock band THE RASMUS has entered Finland's annual Eurovision selection contest, "Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu" (UMK; The New Music Competition). The band has also announced the release of its Eurovision entry bid and new single, "Jezebel", which will be available on January 17, 2022 via Playground Music.

"Jezebel" was co-written and produced by Desmond Child, who collaborated with THE RASMUS on their seventh studio album "Black Roses". Child is responsible for formulating some of rock's biggest hits, with co-writer and production credits on iconic songs by KISS, BON JOVI, AEROSMITH and ALICE COOPER, to name a few.

Singer Lauri Ylönen comments: "It was awesome to work with Desmond again. He really knows how to put a hit song together.

"'Jezebel' is about a girl who takes what she wants, without asking. A free spirit."

Speaking about the collaboration, Child says: "Lauri gives me a call and says 'Hey, I need to write the biggest, greatest song in the entire world ever. Will you do it [with me]?' and I said 'Yeah, but I am in Folegandros (Greece)' and he says, 'I'll be right there.'

"'Jezebel' is an homage, a tribute, to the strong women of today, who own their bodies, who are in charge of their sensuality, their sexuality, and who are determined to be an equal."

The UMK winner and Finland's next Eurovision Song Contest participant will be chosen at the UMK22 event in Turku Logomo on February 26, 2022. The final will be shown live on Yle TV1, Yle Areena and Yle's radio channels from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. EET. The winner will be chosen by TV viewers and the international UMK jury. Those outside of Finland can watch the show at areena.yle.fi/tv.

There is more big news to share from THE RASMUS, as they have announced that founding guitarist Pauli Rantasalmi has left the band. Pauli comments: "I have decided to make my departure from the band and seek for new adventures and challenges in life.

"I want to thank everybody that has made this journey possible, especially all you amazing fans, for the best moments and memories. I love you.

"I'm eternally thankful to my band brothers for everything and wish the best from the bottom of my heart. Lauri, Aki and Eero, I love you.

"Music lives forever!

"This is not the end. It's just time to turn the page."

The remaining band members emphasize that it is an amicable split.

"We have always been like a family, more like brothers than a band," says Lauri. "We are still very good friends, and we wish Pauli all the best."

The torch is passed to Finnish guitarist and singer Emilia "Emppu" Suhonen. Speaking of her invitation to join the band, Emppu says: "I got a very surprising call in the fall and answered 'yes.' Although I was a bit nervous to go to the rehearsal room with the guys for the first time for a test drive, I still had a strong feeling that this would be a good thing. That feeling turned out to be right and playing together felt totally natural right from the first riff. I am THE RASMUS's new guitarist, and it's pretty insane to be on this ride."

Emppu began playing the guitar when she was five years old and at 13, she made her album debut with the band TIKTAK, who went on to become one of Finland's biggest rock bands in the early 2000s. Since then, she has played in several bands including DAME, ALAVALA and MIRA LUOTI, among other projects.

"At the moment, I'm getting ready for the UMK and the upcoming gigs with this awesome band I'm now in, THE RASMUS," says Emppu. "Being part of this group is a dream come true on so many levels."

Armed with a new arsenal of songs and a revitalized lineup, THE RASMUS will embark on a world tour in the fall of 2022.

Confirmed tour dates:

Oct. 10 - Germany Hamburg Markthalle

Oct. 11 - Germany Berlin Metropol

Oct. 12 - Poland Warsaw Proxima

Oct. 13 - Poland Krakow Kwadrat

Oct. 14 - Germany Leipzig Taubchental

Oct. 15 - Czech Rep. Prague Forum Karlin

Oct. 17 - Hungary Budapest BNMC

Oct. 18 - Austria Vienna Ottakringer Brauerei

Oct. 19 - Germany Munich Neue Theaterfabrik

Oct. 21 - Italy Milan Fabrique

Oct. 22 - Switzerland Bern Bierhubeli

Oct. 23 - France Paris La Maroquinerie

Oct. 24 - Luxembourg Esch-Sur-Alzette Rockhal

Oct. 25 - Germany Wiesbaden Schlachthof (Halfhouse)

Oct. 27 - Germany Cologne LMH

Oct. 28 - Holland Haarlem Patronaat

Oct. 30 - England Nottingham Rock City

Oct. 31 - England Manchester O2 Ritz

Nov. 01 - Scotland Glasgow Garage

Nov. 02 - England Bristol O2 Academy

Nov. 03 - England London O2 Forum Kentish Town

Nov. 05 - Ukraine Kiev Mc Hall

Nov. 06 - Ukraine Lviv Malevich Club

Nov. 07 - Ukraine Odessa Musical Comedy Theatre

Nov. 08 - Ukraine Dnipro Shynnic House Of Culture

Nov. 09 - Ukraine Kharekiv Mekhanika

Nov. 11 - Russia Moscow Stadium

Nov. 12 - Russia St Petersburg A2

THE RASMUS is:

Lauri Ylönen - vocals

Eero Heinonen - bass

Emppu Suhonen - guitars

Aki Hakala - drums

Photo credit: Venla Shalin

After their debut full-length album, Puritan Masochism, took the entire doom and heavy metal scene by storm upon its release two years ago, March 11 will see Danish blackened death doom outfit Konvent return with a sophomore offering that doubles down on the band’s songwriting talent and brutal, heavy sound.


The sonic evolution of Konvent over the course of just two years is immediately evident on Call Down The Sun, surprising with new elements at every turn. Undoubtedly inspired by recent dark times, the ongoing pandemic and cancellation of live performances, the new album sees the Copenhagen-based band more pissed off, fast-paced and pitch black throughout. Rikke Emilie List’s guttural, sublime growls and fierce screams perfectly integrate with a heavy as hell wall of blackened death and funeral doom metal riffs from guitarist Sara Helena Nørregaard, backed by a thick, profound rhythm section provided by bassist Heidi Withington Brink and drummer Julie Simonsen.


But give ear, as today Konvent has unleashed a first single taken from Call Down The Sun. “Grains” is a ground-shaking, stomping black doom metal epos that will be a must-hear on the band’s upcoming live setlists - showcasing their deep black soul with a hint of post-metal and even progressive elements.




"'Grains' is about realizing the repetition of self-destructive patterns and not knowing how to break out of that cycle. It is the first Konvent song containing Danish lyrics, as we felt like the song called for it," vocalist Rikke comments.


Watch the music video for "Grains" below.


"In our search for a video producer, we found Martin Goltermann and we quickly shared the same vision for the video; atmospheric shots of sand and the sea reflecting the lyrics and a black-haired woman's journey. As we were in a hurry, Julie had to step in and embody the part of the woman. After two days of shooting by the windy coast and in our cold rehearsal space, Martin wanted to go out again with Julie to get a few final shots. However, it had been snowing during the night and he managed to capture these beautiful shots of Julie gliding through the winter landscape. We loved it so much that we scrapped all the other footage."


Recorded and mixed by Lasse Ballade at Ballade Studios, Copenhagen and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Studio, the new album’s thunderous apocalyptic sound is impossible to escape. Call Down The Sun a refreshing, vibrant record that is not only poised to top 2022 Album Of The Year lists, but reign as one of the best death and blackened doom metal records of modern times.


Call Down The Sun will be available in the following formats:


- 1-CD Digisleeve
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl Marbled Red/Black/White (Napalm Records exclusive, ltd to 500)
- MC (Napalm Records exclusive, ltd to 100)
- Bundle - 1-CD Inside Out Digisleeve + Shirt  
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Into The Distance"
"Sand Is King"
"In The Soot"
"Grains"
"Fatamorgana"
"Interlude"
"Never Rest"
"Pipe Dreams"
"Harena"


"Grains" video:





Lineup:


Rikke Emilie List – Vocals
Sara Helena Nørregaard – Guitar
Heidi Withington Brink – Bass  
Julie Simonsen – Drums


(Photo - Sebastian Apel)

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" podcast kicks off its Season 3 podcast with Darryl McDaniels emceeing, the DMC portion of the greatest hip-hop group of all time RUN-DMC.

"I'm honored that I get to talk about AC/DC right now, because... it's my thing," he said.

Sporting his ever-present AC/DC T-shirt while being interviewed from his home in Wayne, New Jersey, the rap pioneer discusses everything from producer Rick Rubin sampling "Back In Black" for the BEASTIE BOYS, overcoming drugs and depression through the power of music, and even a proposal to reunite RUN-DMC to play the Super Bowl halftime show... with AC/DC.

This exciting season opener begins with Darryl's introduction to AC/DC growing up as a catholic kid in Hollis, Queens. "I think I heard 'Highway To Hell' first," listening to KROCK while cruising around town in the late 1970s. "It was an experience," he said. "AC/DC takes you on a ride."

Friends would often refer to DMC as "white boy" due to his affinity for classic rock, a style he would later infuse into the hip hop genre — a first. From "Highway To Hell" to "Raising Hell", McDaniels would catapult his "King Of Rock" aspirations into RUN-DMC, one of the most significant acts in the history of hip-hop.

For McDaniels, AC/DC would always be his rock/rap muse. "When I discovered 'Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution', that flow is way better than fucking GZA from the WU-TANG CLAN," he said. "Nobody beats that. AC/DC was definitive of what rock 'n' roll really, truly is. Everybody else does rock 'n' roll. This band is rock 'n' roll."

Relating AC/DC to rock heroes, the topic turns to discussing how AC/DC and "Iron Man" were the perfect marriage of brands. "For me, rock was like superheroes," pointing to the AC/DC logo on his chest. Heroes being the theme McDaniels has carried throughout his life, whose love for comic books and superheroes saw him launch a line of comics called DMC (Darryl Does Comics).

And although they have not performed together since the murder of founder Jam Master Jay, when asked towards the end of the episode whether RUN-DMC would ever consider reuniting, Darryl serves up a one time offer - involving AC/DC: "Everybody's asked me, 'Why don't me and Run do the Super Bowl… put this out viral... I'll do the Super Bowl — if AC/DC does it," he said.

Darryl McDaniels is a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and fellow Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer, who has sold over 30 millions albums, and listed as one of Top 100 greatest bands of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. McDaniels received the Congressional Angels in Adoption award for his work with children in foster care and promotion of adoption. He continues to make new music.

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" podcast features professional actors, authors, athletes, chefs, CEOs, comedians, musicians, media hosts, wrestlers, even war heroes, all paying homage to one of the greatest bands of all time, AC/DC. Guests have included Slash, Hall Of Fame MLB pitcher Trevor Hoffman, "SNL" comedian Jim Breuer, U.S. military war hero Mike Durant from the film "Black Hawk Down", pro wrestler Chris Jericho, classically trained Croatian duo 2CELLOS, as well as Eddie Trunk, Dee Snider, Dweezil Zappa, Scott Ian, Lemmy, Chris Slade, Mike Fraser, HELL'S BELLES, and many more.

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" was created by duo Gregg Ferguson and Kurt Squiers, who both quit their jobs and set out to capture a feature-length documentary as the ultimate homage, but failed to secure the band's approval. Ferguson and Squiers then decided to unearth these stories of well-known fans discussing their affinity for AC/DC and harness that energy into a podcast with the help of sound engineer Eric Kielb. From archival interviews to all new guest episodes, "AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" is now in its third season with over 150,000 streams.

"AC/DC Beyond The Thunder" can be heard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any of your favorite podcast apps.

UXB Press has uploaded audio of Venom's full performance on March 31, 1985 at The Concert Hall in Toronto, ON (Canada). The band were supported by Razor and Slayer. The clip features live photos by Rita Laberto, with audio recording by Ray Berkis.


Setlist:


"Too Loud (For The Crowd)" - 0:16
"Black Metal" - 2:40
"Die Hard" - 6:49
"Nightmare" - 10:15
"Countess Bathory" - 13:58
"Seven Gates Of Hell" - 17:35
Bass Solo - 22:00
"Powerdrive" - 23:18
"In Nomine Satanas" - 26:12
"Welcome To Hell" - 30:45
"Buried Alive" - 36:24
"Don't Burn The Witch" - 39:24
"Warhead" - 42:38
Guitar Solo - 46:38
"Poison" - 49:42
"Leave Me In Hell" - 53:58
"Bloodlust" - 57:20
"Schizo" - 1:00:58
"Too Loud (For The Crowd)" - 1:04:23







(Photo - Rita Laberto)

Bass legend Billy Sheehan recently sat down with Guitar World and looked back on Mr. Big's Lean Into It album, which is celebrating its 30th Anniversary. Following is an excerpt from the chat.


The success of the album and the "To Be With You" single – the latter a Number One hit – changed the course of Mr. Big’s career, a point not wasted on Sheehan. 







Sheehan: "I was very lucky. I’d seen the success of the Eat ’Em And Smile band (with singer David Lee Roth) and I wanted to see that level of success with a band I’d put together. It changed so many things in my life and for the first time, this was my success – I put the band together. It’s me, Pat (Torpey), Eric (Singer) and Paul's (Gilbert) success; we made it happen. It was not only a life-changer, but a life-completer. 


Finally, you know that the things you were doing have worth and value. The fact it was our own thing lays to rest a lot of self-doubt, which we all have, and I still have, of course... but not quite as much! It really helped to move that aside for a while – and to take an honest look at whether or not our decisions were the right ones."


Read the complete story here.

METALLICA's Robert Trujillo has shared a short video of him jamming at home.

The bassist uploaded the one-minute clip to his Instagram earlier today (Tuesday, January 11) and included the following message: "I'm just tryin’ to get my groove on. @chloetrujillo #groovy #jamsession".

Trujillo, who was born on October 23, 1964 in Santa Monica, California, tasted success as the bassist in punk-funk pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and Ozzy Osbourne's band. But in 2003, he successfully auditioned to replace Jason Newsted in METALLICA, a process chronicled in the warts-and-all documentary "Some Kind of Monster".

METALLICA's much-loved former bassist Cliff Burton died in 1986 when the band's tour bus crashed travelling through Sweden on the "Damage Inc. Tour" in support of "Master Of Puppets".

Trujillo told Exclaim! in a 2016 interview that he feels no pressure when compared to his low-end predecessors.

"Whether it's Jason or myself or Cliff, we're all different types of players coming from a different place, but delivering what is best for the band," he said. "That's all I ever do, just try and do the best I can and cater to the song, cater to the music."

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield praised Trujillo during a 2017 interview with the 94.5 The Buzz radio station, saying: "Who else could [have come in and done the job]? I mean, there were a few people we auditioned, I know. It might have worked out with other people, but it's hard to find people that are, say, your age; kind of your upbringing, musically, obviously; ability-wise; they've been on the road. It's not like you're bringing some kid out for his first time, and it's, 'Oh my God!' He's going through all the stuff that you did twenty-five years ago. He's got kids. He's married. It just jelled, and it's still jelling. And his personality is probably one of the best contributions, I think, to the band, 'cause he's so chill, he's so up for anything, he's always in there rehearsing. So he does fit in."
























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A post shared by Robert Trujillo (@robtrujillo)

Chicago-based thrash trio and recent MNRK Heavy signees, Misfire, will release their crushing Sympathy For The Ignorant debut full-length on April 1, today unveiling the record’s first single, tracklisting, cover art, and pre-orders.


Misfire makes old-school flavoured thrash metal devastation with the kind of bombastic firepower that could wake the dead. In the tradition of classic metal trios like Venom, Motörhead, and Raven the band makes more noise than bands twice their size, unleashing song after song of unrelenting fury. It’s music that could have arrived in the thrash golden age of 1986, when bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Dark Angel, and Sodom delivered vital records. And yet Misfire is forward-thinking, injecting modern metal mastery into their brew for a powerful, timeless sound.  


The excellence in execution within the band owes much to the longtime chemistry between its blue-collar members. Guitarist/vocalist Jay Johnson and drummer James Nicademus started jamming together as teenagers. They played in the band Diamond Plate before reuniting in Misfire. Bassist/vocalist Sean Coogan is another young veteran, having cut his heavy metal teeth in the band Vitrial. While Coogan sings, most of the trio plays multiple instruments. Everyone contributes to songwriting.




“I was originally going to play second guitar, but I switched over to bass,” Coogan explains. “I think the three-piece setup rocks. The band’s dynamic works well. We’ve all really gelled as a band.”


Created in a small studio and engineered by Coogan himself, the debut album for Misfire is free from click-tracks and other unnecessary frills, projecting the purity of what three musicians raised on Pantera and the "Big 4" sound like in a room together. Sympathy For The Ignorant is heavy, confident, and filled with the kind of earworm thrash metal riffs that sends aspiring players to the guitar store.  


“The album is a sonically badass version of what you’ll hear live. It’s real, no fake shit,” Nicademus says. “It’s very much a throwback to the way things used to be recorded. Like, just turn the shit on, press record, layer some stuff in after that, put some words on top of it, mix it, and it’s done.”


In advance of the record’s release, today the band unveils a video for first single, “Fractured.” Notes Nicademus of the track, “Featured as the first song of the album, ‘Fractured’ unearths the feelings of uncertainty and dread we were faced with in 2020. Inspired by the current state of the world, it delves into the madness that is the pandemic. The song poses the question, ‘What’s left of who we are?,’ as we are left with humanity divided and fractured. The album has a common theme revolving around situations that many people have gone through or will go through. We’re all going through this shit right now so this is our take on it: ‘No matter what you believe, we are fractured, divided, diseased.’ We are looking forward to sharing it with the world!”


Watch the clip below.


Sympathy For The Ignorant will be available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. Find pre-orders here.





Sympathy For The Ignorant tracklisting:


"Fractured"
"Red Flag"
"War Of Mine"
"Skin Of Mirrors"
"Death Trap"
"No Offense "
"R.I.P."
"He Said, She Said"
"L.Y.S. "
"Sympathy For The Ignorant"


"Fractured" video:





Armed with the attitude and songs to follow in the footsteps of Slayer, Metallica, and Lamb Of God, the three men of Misfire are heavy metal lifers. “I started playing drums when I was eleven, and ever since, it’s all I talk about,” says Nicademus. “Jay and I started jamming together at ages twelve and thirteen.”


In just a short couple of years, Misfire quickly shared the stage with thrash legends Sacred Reich and modern throwback bands like Iron Reagan and Warbringer. As long-running tastemakers Metal Crypt wrote in a review of Sympathy For The Ignorant, “these fellows are ready for the big leagues.” 


“Whatever happens, we’re going to be here for a long time because we can’t live without doing this shit,” Nicademus declares. “All we want is to make records, tour, and have a good time doing it.”   


Misfire lineup:


Jay Johnson – vocals/guitar  
Sean Coogan – vocals/bass  
James Nicademus – drums


(Photo - Wombat Fire)

KORN's new single, "Forgotten", can be streamed below via a visualizer created by EFFIXX. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, album, "Requiem", which will arrive on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings.

Due to the effects of COVID-19 and the inability to play live shows for the first time in KORN's illustrious career, "Requiem" was conceived out of very different circumstances than the majority of the band's catalogue. It is an album born of time and the ability to create without pressure. Energized by a new creative process free of time constraints, KORN was able to do things with "Requiem" that the past two decades haven't always afforded them, such as taking additional time to experiment together or diligently recording to analog tape — processes which unearthed newfound sonic dimension and texture in their music.

"Requiem" was produced by Chris Collier and KORN.

KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer recently told "Loudwire Nights" about "Requiem": "Something about it makes me feel like it's — remember the album 'Untouchables'? It has a vibe to it that's like early 2000s to me. I don't know why. Maybe it's just because we took more time on guitars. We got a lot of textures, and there's some layering and techniques recording-wise that we've done [such as] recording to tape. We did all the drums and did a lot of analog recording, and just got out of working in a computer."

Munky added that some KORN fans might be surprised by the release. "I feel like it's gonna take fans a minute to kind of digest," he said. "And also, you have to put yourself where we were in the middle of COVID. The whole world shut down. At one point, L.A. had these big fires and there was this orange sky, the virus was out there — it just felt so dystopian."

"Requiem" is available for pre-order in an array of collectible formats. These include an exclusive silver vinyl variant strictly limited to 1,000 copies.

"Requiem" track listing:

01. Forgotten

02. Let The Dark Do The Rest

03. Start The Healing

04. Lost In The Grandeur

05. Disconnect

06. Hopeless And Beaten

07. Penance To Sorrow

08. My Confession

09. Worst Is On Its Way

KORN will play four shows with SYSTEM OF A DOWN beginning on January 31 in Phoenix, Arizona and concluding on February 5 in Los Angeles. A 19-date arena headlining tour with CHEVELLE and CODE ORANGE will follow in March.

Photo credit: Tim Saccenti

This is where it all began for the quartet dubbed “The American Led Zeppelin” - on a 1970 bill that also featured the likes of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Grateful Dead and Steve Miller Band. Vocalist Rusty Day, guitarist Jim McCarty, bassist Tim Bogert, and drummer Carmine Appice, collectively known as Cactus, made their auspicious debut in their very first public performance that night. Fortunately, this stunning and historic show was captured on tape and has now been unearthed from the archives and released on all formats. 


The Birth Of Cactus 1970 finds the freshly minted quartet ripping through some of the key tracks from their landmark debut album including “Parchman Farm,” “Feel So Good” and “No Need To Worry” plus some smokin’ hot blues numbers. The performances are not only supremely confident, but also fluid and dynamic as each member locks into the groove and relentlessly rides it.


Drummer Carmine Appice had this to say about the concert recording, “I remember doing that first gig, hanging out with Hendrix who was a friend of Cactus. We got on stage and the energy level was off the charts! All the songs kicked major ass. We were so excited to get Cactus going and this show helped. Crowd was great and we did ROCK!!”




The Birth Of Cactus 1970 will be available on digipak CD and on purple vinyl everywhere on January 21. Order the album cleorecs.com.





Tracklisting:


“One Way…Or Another”
“Sweet Sixteen”
“No Need To Worry”
“Medley: Let Me Swim / Big Mama Boogie / Oleo”
“Feel So Good”
“Parchman Farm”

German quintet There's A Light have released a drum playthrough video for "Even In The Darkest Place...", featured on the new album, f̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶I ̶h̶o̶pe̶? for what must we hope? ( Napalm Records). Watch below:





Thematically, on f̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶I ̶h̶o̶pe̶? for what must we hope? There's A Light take a deeper look at the question of the true meaning of hope as well as at the different facets of it: On the one hand, hope can be something positive - a flourishing force that always gives a new impulse to grow beyond oneself. On the other hand, it can also do harm, for example, if one holds on to something that will never become reality.




Order here.





f̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶I ̶h̶o̶pe̶? for what must we hope? tracklisting:


"...The Storm Will Set The Sails"
"Within The Tides"
"Magnolia"
"Like The Earth Orbits Sun"
"Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead"
"Refugium"
"Elpis"
"Fear Keeps Pace With Hope"
"Be Brave, Fragile Heart"
"Appearance Of Earth"
"Even In The Darkest Place..."


"Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead" video:





"Elpis" video:





There's A Light is:


David Christmann - guitar
Jonas Obermüller - piano, synth percussion
Markus Dold - guitar
Andreas Richau – vocals, bass
Jan Lüftner - drums


(Photo - Nicolas Kuri)

It’s normally the case that it’s the “worst kept secret”, but when it came to Iron Maiden releasing their 17th studio album, Senjutsu, last September, it was quite the opposite. It was the “best kept secret”, as fans around the world were literally in shock while they were hearing the first single, “The Writing On The Wall”, last June. But unlike any other album roll-out in their long and treasured history, they couldn’t embark on the usual jaw-dropping world tour. 



Singer Bruce Dickinson, a man always ready to spring into action, decided to make lemonade out of lemons.  


“That was the reason why I had a really long chat with (manager) Rod (Smallwood) during the lockdown,” he tells BraveWords in an upcoming episode of Streaming For Vengeance, set to air this Saturday (January 15th), just before he embarks on his spoken word tour, An Evening With Bruce Dickinson 2022. 




“And I said ‘Look, it’s not going to happen this summer (2021) is it? Anywhere. It’s going to have to happen next year. But we have to do something. Why don’t we just do an amazing video, something that really knocks peoples socks off. Because we haven’t done one for ages like that. Let’s do something.’”





“That’s when the idea of the animation came up,” Dickinson continues. “I scripted the video out (for 'The Writing On The Wall'). Then we found Andrew Gordon and Mark Andrews, the ex-Pixar guys who then found us the animators from BlinkInk and then we were into the process of making it. Which was fascinating. And we just got such a great result out of that in every single way. There were no negatives from that video at all. And what I love about it, it’s exceeded beyond my wildest imagination, because what I had hoped for was the video to be enough to be everything to everybody. And it kind of is. And if you are a conspiracy theorist, you’ll love the video. If you think that we are all being oppressed and it’s the end of the world, global warming, then it’s for you. There’s something in that video that appeals to absolutely everybody without taking a position. It’s a weird reality we create and it kind of has an ironic happy ending. The ending is a complete nod to the ending of Dr. Strangelove from Stanley Kubrick, with all the bombs going off.”



Fans around the planet are looking at this stunning new Senjutsu artwork and imaginations are running wild as to what it will look like in a live setting. Where are you at with all the designing and building?


“I’ve seen the drawings, I’ve seen the pictures,” the singer reveals. “I haven’t seen it actually up yet, but it’s actually going to happen! My guess is sometime in April or something that we will start dragging the set out and putting it back together. And obviously we still have all the Legacy things that we are going to be doing on the tour as well. It’s all going to happen. The Spitfire is going to be there and Eddie’s going to be there, the sword fight will be there, the flamethrowers, Icarus, it’s all there.”

During the interview, Dickinson also talks about his upcoming solo effort that he's working on with long-time partner Roy Z and reveals the Trooper beer plan for 2022. So grab a cold one 🍻 and watch/listen to Streaming For Vengeance this Saturday, January 15th at 3:33 PM EST on the BraveWords Facebook page or the BraveWords YouTube channel. For more information about Streaming For Vengeance, visit this location.






Dickinson is bringing his spoken word tour, An Evening With Bruce Dickinson, on an extensive US and Canada starting next week in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.


Split into two parts, the first section of the show sees Bruce taking a humorous and often satirical look at the world from his own very personal perspective, treating the audience to private insights into his drive and ambition, peppered with plenty of Maiden anecdotes, and a myriad of other experiences encompassing not just the giddy heights but also the extreme lows, told first-hand in his inimitable anarchic style, punctuated with photographs and sometimes even erupting into song a-capella, to illustrate a point.


The final section of the evening is devoted entirely to a Q&A session, with the opportunity to pose questions on any subject whatsoever. As Bruce’s answers will all be completely improvised – the more left-field and quirky the question, the more interesting and compelling the response is likely to be!





Dates:


January
17 - Ft Lauderdale, Florida - Parker Playhouse
18 - Orlando, Florida - Plaza Live
20 - Tampa, Florida - Theatre
21 - Jacksonville, Florida - Florida Theatre
23 - Atlanta, Georgia - Tabernacle
24 - Raleigh, North Carolina - Meymandi Concert Hall at Duke Energy Center
26 - Nashville, Tennessee - Polk Theater
27 - Columbus, Ohio - Jo Ann Davidson Theatre
29 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead
30 - Detroit, Michigan - The Fillmore


February
1 - Buffalo-Niagara Falls, New York - Buffalo State Performing Arts Center
2 - Albany, New York - The Egg
4 - New York City, New York - The Town Hall
5 - Boston, Massachusetts - Schubert Theatre at the Boch Center
7 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - The Fillmore
8 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
10 - Cleveland, Ohio - MGM Northfield Park
11 - Chicago, Illinois - Vic Theatre
13 - Minneapolis, Minnesota - Pantages Theatre
14 - Milwaukee-Racine, Wisconsin - Pabst Theater
16 - Des Moines, Iowa - Hoyt Sherman Place Theatre
17 - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - Rose State College Hudiberg Chevrolet Center
19 - Kansas City, Kansas - Uptown Theater
20 - Denver, Colorado - Paramount Theatre
22 - Dallas, Texas - Majestic Theatre
23 - Houston, Texas - Stafford Centre
24 - Austin, Texas - Paramount Theatre
26 - Phoenix, Arizona - Mesa Arts Center
28 - San Diego, California - Balboa Theatre


March
1 - Los Angeles, California - Orpheum Theatre
3 - San Francisco, California - Palace of Fine Arts
4 - Portland, Oregon - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
6 - Seattle, Washington - The Moore Theatre
12 - Las Vegas, Nevada - House Of Blues
14 - Vancouver (New Westminster), British Columbia - Massey Theatre
16 - Victoria, British Columbia - Royal Theatre
18 - Edmonton, Alberta - Winspear Centre
20 - Winnipeg, Manitoba - Burton Cummings Theatre
21 - Calgary, Alberta - Jack Singer Concert Hall
23 - Montreal, Quebec - MTELUS
26 - Ottawa, Ontario - Algonquin Commons Theatre
27 - Quebec City, Quebec - Palais Montcalm
29 - Hamilton, Ontario - FirstOntario Concert Hall
30 - Kitchener, Ontario - Centre in the Square

(Photo credit Bruce live: Thomas Mazerolles)

For their 20th band anniversary in 2022, Dutch symphonic metal titans EPICA have prepared a massive celebration from January to December, with plenty of surprises, new projects and of course some new music too that will all be revealed throughout the year.

After announcing plans to re-release their first three albums, the now-classic "The Phantom Agony", "Consign To Oblivion" and "The Score 2.0" via Nuclear Blast, on CD, vinyl, as well as strictly limited earbooks and boxsets later this year, EPICA has started the year with launching its own "universe."

"We truly feel like there's a universe within the band, a world of our own, and we want to invite our lifeblood to be citizens — Epicans, if you will," the band explains. "Think of it as a sequel to past EPICA fan clubs like 'The Fantom Agony' and 'The French Crusade' but updated for the modern era; it's more fan community than club. Epica Universe will give Epicans insight into our lives, both personal and professional, through exclusive behind-the-scenes photos, podcasts, polls, vlogs, live hangouts and much more. There's even a (super limited) tier that includes one-on-one video calls with a band member each month!"

Join the Epica Universe at www.epicauniverse.com.

Get a first glimpse of what to expect via a trailer below presented by the whole band.

And what would a 20th anniversary be without a proper celebration live and in full color? The massive anniversary show will take place on September 3, 2022 at the same venue as EPICA played their first show back in the day, supporting ANATHEMA: the 013 in Tilburg, The Netherlands.

EPICA was formed by composer Mark Jansen after leaving AFTER FOREVER in 2002, and the band quickly gained attention outside their home country, taking big steps towards becoming the leading symphonic metal superpower they have long proven to be. After their ambitious debut "The Phantom Agony" (2002) and the surprisingly eclectic sophomore work "Consign To Oblivion" (2005), the road took them to new heights via their first concept masterpiece "The Divine Conspiracy" (2007) and their global breakthrough "Design Your Universe" (2009). 2012's opus "Requiem For The Indifferent", 2014's bedazzling "The Quantum Enigma" and their finest, most embellished effort yet, "The Holographic Principle" (2016), cemented their reputation as not only one of the hardest-working metal bands in the business but also as one of the best. Period. With "Omega", the final part of the metaphysical trilogy they began with "The Quantum Enigma", they reclaim the throne without so much as the blink of an eye, amassing three million-plus streams during the first week of the album's release.

"Omega" is an album of unity, of friendship, of the close bond the members share. An album that naturally came together as a group effort. And no wonder: Mark Jansen, Simone Simons and keyboard player Coen Janssen have been playing together since EPICA's conception in 2002, with drummer Ariën Van Weesenbeek joining as early as 2007, lead guitarist Isaac Delahaye following in 2009. In 2012, bass player Rob Van Der Loo marked the latest addition to their ranks. For eight years, three records and hundreds of gigs, this band has formed an indestructible unit.

In the middle of a world in turmoil, of a cataclysmic change in society, EPICA somehow managed to create their most spectacular album yet. An album that is seamlessly bringing together metal and orchestra, choir and oriental instruments to a perfect storm constantly emitting goose bumps. A record with specifically written suites for orchestra and choir, featuring a wide range of ethnic instruments recorded around the world by some of the best native musicians out there. In short: They outdid themselves. Once again. And still managed to keep the songs approachable and wickedly catchy.

Since forming in 2002, the band has amassed an incredible amount of success, "Omega" entered the album Top 10 in Germany, Holland, Belgium and Switzerland. EPICA has toured the globe, performing at venerable festivals including Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, Heaven & Hell festival, Heavy MTL and Download, while also staging shows in countries where many metal bands have not played including South Korea, South Africa and Venezuela.