Swedish heavy metal squadron, Ambush, is thrilled to announce its signing to Napalm Records, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter in their relentless quest for fast, traditional metal domination. Known for their high-octane, riff-driven anthems and explosive stage presence, Ambush is ready to rise to even greater heights.


Formed in 2013, Ambush quickly became a staple of the Swedish metal scene, delivering classic heavy metal vibes with a modern twist. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Judas Priest, Accept, and Iron Maiden, Ambush’s unique blend of traditional metal and fierce energy has earned them a dedicated fanbase around the globe. Their passion for the genre is undeniable, and with Napalm Records as their partner, they are primed to take the world by storm.


Stay tuned as Ambush prepares to unleash their next chapter with new music and a series of live shows that will leave crowds screaming for more.




Ambush state about signing with Napalm Records: "We are very excited to announce that we just signed a record deal with Napalm Records! This is a big step in the right direction for Ambush, and we want to salute everyone at Napalm for the trust in us and in our upcoming album. We are so proud of what we

German power metal upstarts, Sculforge, have checked in with the following message:


"We’re dropping our second album in March, and to celebrate, we’re throwing a wild, slightly ridiculous hometown bash where—you guessed it—you can snag the album before it officially drops. Yeah, we’re cool like that.


But wait, there’s more! We’re not just stopping at new music and questionable decision-making. We’ve invited our bros, Sons Of Eternity, to headline the night! Why? So we can hit the bar early with all of you, obviously.




Now, if you don’t know SOE, what rock have you been hiding under? These guys are a straight-up metal freight train—they just toured with freakin’ Axxis, and their live set will melt your face off. Guaranteed.


And because we love surprises almost as much as we love shredding guitars, we’ve got a secret opener in the works and a little something special for all you fine metalheads. What is it? Not telling. That’s why it’s called a surprise, duh.


Enough talk—click the link here and grab your tickets now. Unless you wanna be that one person who hears about it later and cries into their beer. Don’t be that person."





After a small line-up change, Sculforge are back with a new single and video entitled "The Journey". The track is available as a digital single on all download and streaming platforms, and at the same time in the form of a brand new video clip, which can be viewed below.





Sculforge released their debut album, Intergalactic Battle Tunes via MDD Records. This groundbreaking high-speed power metal journey takes you from the dark side of the moon, through the Milky Way, and beyond!


Intergalactic Battle Tunes packs an epic punch with 26 riveting tracks. Each song is an intricate tapestry of power and thrash metal, punctuated by radio-play-like interludes that progress the thrilling narrative. Standouts include "Into The Never", "For The Omnisavior" and "The Sculforge Inn Incident." This album isn't just a collection of songs—it's a high-octane journey through time and space.


The band's unique line-up includes Polly McSculwood (Vocals & Guitar), Fabz McBlackscul (Guitar), Ariz Guinto (Bass), and Chris Merzinsky (Drums & Piano), all contributing to a virtuoso and fresh musical experience that fans of Helloween, Rhapsody, and Blind Guardian will adore.


Capturing the frenetic energy of their concept, the album was meticulously recorded at Hell’s Kitchen Studio Berlin and produced, mixed, and mastered by Fabian Pospiech & Sculforge. The cover by Aleh_z, and artwork by Oliver Göler & Fabian Pospiech, complement the saga's vast, mysterious universe.





Tracklist:


"Into The Never"
"Lost In The Warp"
"Forbidden Knowledge"
"For The Omnisavior"
"For Honor"
"Spacehull"
"Lost And Found"
"Dark Ruins"
"The Sovereign Protects"
"Secrets Unlocked"
"Slave To The Machine"
"The Extraction"
"Extermination"
"A New Hope"
"Castilla Stands"
"Glorious"
"Schwanengesang"
"The Escape"
"Epitaph"
"Kings Of The Battlefield"
"Reign Of Chaos"
"Follow Me

Following the departures of drummer Nick Pierce, guitarist Ken Susi, and bassist Ryan Neff, guitarist Phil Sgrosso recently announced he is following in their footsteps and has quit As I Lay Dying. This leaves frontman Tim Lambesis on his own.


Now, Lambesis' side-project, Austrian Death Machine, has lost drummer Brandon Short. He issued the following statement regarding his departure via social media:


"It is with a heavy heart that I announce my decision to step away from Austrian Death Machine. For the sake of my mental well-being and personal beliefs, and in light of the recent developments surrounding the As I Lay Dying camp and Tim, this has become an inevitable step for me. Although it feels necessary, it’s one I made after deep reflection as these events began to unravel.




To walk away from something I cherished so deeply, that once felt like a fulfilled dream, is incredibly painful. I grew up listening to As I Lay Dying and Austrian Death Machine, never imagining that one day I’d be part of this world that meant so much to my younger self. But dreams can come at an unexpected cost, and that cost has proven to be too great. My integrity and character have been called into question in a way I can no longer accept, especially with what has come to light and being in utter disbelief.  


The repeated promises, the endless cycle of 'I’ll do better'—words that once gave me hope—have turned into a broken record that has brought no real change. Instead, I found myself trapped in a pattern that eroded my trust and my well-being. This cycle has reached into my personal life, affecting my mental health in ways I can no longer ignore.


I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who enjoyed my drumming on Austrian Death Machine’s latest album—it was a project I poured so much effort and pride into. To all who supported me and came out to the shows in Europe, thank you for being part of that incredible experience.


Here’s to embracing new adventures and creating even more music that resonates. The best is yet to come!"





Lambesis recently took to social media today to comment on the recent departure of his As I Lay Dying bandmates.


Says Lambesis:


"Hi everyone,


"I needed some time to process all that has happened recently with AILD. As I reflect, I certainly agree that there was an unhealthy environment that made leaving for a new tour with the previous lineup unrealistic. It had become difficult to figure out even the smallest details, and I admit I can stick strong to my vision

ver Had The Right Technique... Now It Backfired In A Serious Way"">
Finland's gothic / melancholy metal outfit To/Die/For has parted ways with their vocalist Jape Perätalo.


A statement from Jape, dated November 15, 2024, reads:


"To/Die/For has been my whole life for many, many years. The band has broken up several times, but always with strong will and perseverance it has been kept alive. In April 2024, we did a tour in Mexico, and it felt good to notice that the fans had not forgotten us. However, during the entire tour, black clouds followed us because I was in pain for almost the entire tour. I forced myself to sing and perform even if it wasn't always worth it and it really took it’s toll after coming back to Finland. I had to cancel all the scheduled acoustic gigs that I do from time to time. I’ve never had the right technique for singing anyway and now it backfired in a serious way. The remaining original T

Legendary hard rock vocalist Joe Lynn Turner (RAINBOW, DEEP PURPLE) has collaborated with another legend, Russian punk rocker Andrey Knyazev and his band KNYAZZ (КНЯZZ). Joe Lynn Turner and Andrey Knyazev met in 2021 and instantly found common ground, discovering in each other similar personal ideology and unified rock and roll spirit. They both developed a mutual desire for a collaboration on a song that would be a perfect fit.

In August 2023, KNYAZZ released their recent album, from which Joe Lynn Turner truly connected with the song "Stalker". In this particular song, they were able to combine their similar worldviews, current problems, and struggles of humanity and agree on the fact that the destruction of the planet's future is being eradicated by their own hand. Joe Lynn Turner wrote verse and chorus in English, preserving the meaning and message of the original lyric written by Andrey.

This version of the song "Stalker" exemplifies an international unity of not only different generations of rock musicians but also voices in two different languages warning of the inevitable apocalypse by the fault of mankind.

Joe said: "In my opinion, 'Stalker' is about hope... Every day we struggle between good and bad, the light and the dark...A spiritual war between good and evil. 'Stalker' tries to show that humanity is capable of some very, very evil things, but also the hope that as a warrior, you can overcome that. The light always overcomes the darkness. And we must search for that light inside ourselves. So, 'Stalker' is a message of hope, of inspiration, through the desperation of life. We must become that light, for light will always overcome darkness."

Turner broke with most international artists who canceled their live appearances in Russia in response to the global condemnation against the Kremlin and its president, Vladimir Putin, over the war in Ukraine. In addition, major record labels suspended their operations in Russia, while streaming services like Spotify pulled out of the market.

More than two years ago, Joe dropped the hairpiece he had worn since the age of 14 after being diagnosed with alopecia at three years old.

The singer went public with his new look in August 2022 in a series publicity images released to promote his latest solo album, "Belly Of The Beast". In a press release for the LP, Joe said that he started wearing the wig to deal with "emotional and psychological damage from cruel bullying in school."

Joe was the singer of RAINBOW between 1980 and 1984 and he sang on the album "Difficult To Cure", which featured the band's most successful U.K. single, "I Surrender".

During Turner's time with RAINBOW, the band had its first USA chart success and recorded songs that helped define the melodic rock genre.

1990 saw Turner reunited with RAINBOW leader Ritchie Blackmore in a reformed DEEP PURPLE for the "Slaves And Masters" album.

Photo credit: Agata Nigrovskaya

Hi Everyone! We have a big surprise coming out this week!

Joe Lynn Turner has collaborated with another Legend -...

Posted by Joe Lynn Turner on Sunday, November 17, 2024

Blues-rock icon Joe Bonamassa has gifted fans with a brand-new holiday staple, "Lonely Christmas Eve", out now on streaming platforms. Infused with Bonamassa's signature guitar prowess and soulful vocals, "Lonely Christmas Eve" captures the spirit of the season while offering a fresh addition to his growing Christmas music collection. Co-written with James House (Martina McBride, Bonnie Raitt, George Strait),the song tells the story of friends gathering together to celebrate the season.

This release follows Bonamassa's recent Grammy nomination for "Blues Deluxe Vol. 2" in the "Best Contemporary Blues Album" category, his fourth career nomination. The album debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Blues Album chart last year, resonating with Grammy voters and further solidifying his legacy as a modern blues powerhouse. His other nominations include 2022's "Royal Tea" ("Contemporary Blues Album"),2017's "Live At The Greek Theatre" ("Best Traditional Blues Album") and 2014's "Seesaw" (Contemporary Blues Album) with Beth Hart.

2024 has been a monumental year for Bonamassa, with his live album and concert film "Live At The Hollywood Bowl With Orchestra" debuting at No. 1 on multiple Billboard charts, including Blues, Classical and Classical Crossover. This achievement marks his 28th career No. 1 on the Billboard Blues chart, extending his record and showcasing his ability to blend blues with orchestral grandeur seamlessly.

Last Month, Bonamassa celebrated the tenth anniversary of his landmark album "Different Shades Of Blue" with the special digital reissue "Different Shades Of Blue (Overdrive)". Featuring rare tracks and fan favorites like the newly released "Black Irish Eyes", the project invited listeners to revisit the album that marked a turning point in his career, debuting at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 back in 2014.

Currently, Bonamassa is in the midst of his highly anticipated fall tour, delivering electrifying performances across the U.S. Fans can expect a powerful mix of new tracks, classic hits, and perhaps a few holiday surprises.

Only in his mid-40s, Bonamassa has become a living legend with an astounding multi-genre catalogue. He has released more than 40 albums, including studio and live recordings, as well as collaborative albums with his adventurous side projects: BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION and ROCK CANDY FUNK PARTY.

A prolific writer who is always on the hunt to expand his eclectic musical horizons, Bonamassa has a limitless work ethic whether it's in the studio, on the road, or working with other artists to spur new music. In recent years, he has produced an immense number of albums, including Joanne Shaw Taylor, Marc Broussard, Larry McCray, Jimmy Hall and others for his independent label KTBA Records, and has also recently launched Journeyman LLC, a full-service artist management, record label, concert promotion, and marketing company that builds awareness for independent artists worldwide.

A celebration of the ultimate guitarist's guitar hero, Christie's is honored to present Jeff Beck: The Guitar Collection, a live auction on January 22, 2025 in London. Spanning his almost six-decades-long career, from joining THE YARDBIRDS in 1965 to his last tour in 2022, this unique auction presents over 130 guitars, amps, pedals, cases and "tools of the trade" used by the late, great guitar legend Jeff Beck (1944–2023).

A multi-Grammy Award-winning artist — twice inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame — his inimitable sound led to collaborations with countless internationally renowned musicians and friends, including Jimmy Page, Jimi Hendrix, Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Billy Gibbons, Jan Hammer, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Tina Turner, Nile Rodgers, Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Carlos Santana, Imelda May and Johnny Depp, amongst many others.

From the outset, Jeff Beck was a sonic innovator; a maverick and mercurial virtuoso who blazed the trail for musical genres as diverse as psychedelia, heavy metal and jazz-rock fusion, and who embraced a wide range of influences from the blues, rockabilly and rock 'n' roll to Indian sitar music, Bulgarian folk, techno and opera. A maestro of his trade, Jeff could make just about any sound possible with a guitar and an amp. His playing style could not be defined and part of his magic lay in the balance between the fluidity and aggression of his playing and his technical brilliance, which could swing from furious attack one moment to sheer ethereal beauty in the next.

All the guitars he played tell a story and bear the unmistakable signs of his hands, from the Gibson Les Pauls — the "Yardburst" he bought in London in 1966 and the iconic "Oxblood" depicted on the cover of "Blow By Blow" — to the Gretsches inspired by Cliff Gallup of THE BLUE CAPS, and the Fender Teles and Strats which were his "workhorses", describing the latter with which his playing became synonymous as: "My Strat is another arm, it's part of me. It doesn't feel like a guitar at all. It's an implement which is my voice."

The ultimate guitarist's guitarist, Jeff Beck was a rock pioneer whose influence on his peers was unmatched. Now Christie's presents his instruments to the world — the guitars through which he shared his emotion and voice — paying tribute to his enduring legacy.

For more information, visit www.christies.com.

Beck died "suddenly" in January 2023 after contracting bacterial meningitis, his representative said.

Having cultivated one of the most influential careers in rock history, Beck was universally acknowledged as one of the most talented and significant guitarists in the world, and has played alongside some of the greatest artists of rock, blues and jazz.

Over the course of his distinguished 50-plus-year music career, he had earned an incredible eight Grammy Awards, been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time," and been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame twice — once as a member of THE YARDBIRDS and again as a solo artist. In the summer of 2016, the guitar virtuoso celebrated his five decades of music with an extraordinary concert at the famous Hollywood Bowl.

Speaking when he was inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for the second time in 2009, Beck said: "I play the way I do because it allows me to come up with the sickest sounds possible. That's the point now, isn't it? I don't care about the rules. In fact, if I don't break the rules at least 10 times in every song, then I'm not doing my job properly."

Beck famously replaced Eric Clapton as THE YARDBIRDS' lead guitarist in 1965 and later went on to form THE JEFF BECK GROUP, which featured Rod Stewart on vocals and Ron Wood on bass. Their two albums — "Truth" (1968) and "Beck-Ola" (1969) — would become musical touchstones for hard rockers in the years to come.

The constantly evolving Beck's next move — a power trio with bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice, which released "Beck, Bogert And Appice" (1973),once again shattered people's preconceptions of what a rock guitarist was supposed to sound like.

1985's "Flash" kept Beck in the spotlight as he earned the "Best Rock Instrumental" Grammy for the song "Escape". A second Grammy came with Jeff Beck's "Guitar Shop" with Terry Bozzio and Tony Hymas, and a third for "Dirty Mind" from the "You Had It Coming" album in 2001. 2009 saw the release of the platinum-selling "Performing This Week… Live at Ronnie Scott's", which earned a Grammy for "A Day In The Life".

Beck's astonishing 2010 solo album, "Emotion & Commotion", brought about two additional Grammy Awards; Beck was nominated in five categories before bringing home three: "Best Rock Instrumental Performance" for "Hammerhead" and "Best Pop Instrumental Performance" for "Nessun Dorma", both from "Emotion & Commotion", and "Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals" for "Imagine", his collaboration with Herbie Hancock.

His "Rock 'N' Roll Party (Honoring Les Paul)" album was nominated for a 2012 Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album". In 2016 he released "Loud Hailer" and in 2017 "Jeff Beck: Live At The Hollywood Bowl" was released, both to widespread critical acclaim.

The eight-time Grammy winner is survived by his wife Sandra.

In a new interview with Francisco Zamudio of KNAC.COM, TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2020's "Titans Of Creation" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I wrote a record with [new TESTAMENT drummer Chris Dovas] and it's gonna be an amazing record. I'm super excited for everybody to hear it. It's all over the place. It's very focused, but there's a lot of elements going on."

Regarding where TESTAMENT is in the production process for the new album right now, Eric said: "I would say we're, like, 95 percent done recording it. There's some solos to do… Drums, bass [are recorded]. A little bit of guitars need to be done. Alex's [Skolnick, TESTAMENT lead guitarist] got some solos [left to record], some solos for me. I think Chuck's [Billy, TESTAMENT singer] got, like, two or three songs left to do. But everything's pretty much in the can. All the hard work's done. So, we can definitely play it for people and go, 'Look, we've got a record.'"

As for a possible release date for the new TESTAMENT album, Peterson said: "Definitely for singles [it will be early 2025], yes. Release-wise [for the full album], I would say maybe more in the summer. I mean, I guess we could push it and put it out in May, but we'll see what the record company wants to do. Definitely people will be hearing a couple of songs by April [or] May for sure."

Earlier in the month, Billy was asked by Jaimunji if the new TESTAMENT LP will be a throwback to some of the band's early records or if it will once again be a step forward for the band. Chuck said: "I think we've always evolved. We never like to go backwards. These songs, definitely the old classic stuff, 'The Legacy' and 'The New Order', that's where we came from, those are the first songs we wrote, so definitely that's who we are, but we always wanna evolve. We don't wanna do something we've done. But I will say the new record, we're very excited for it 'cause Chris Dovas, the new drummer, it's probably the most a drummer has worked with Eric writing material, and it shows.'

He continued: "The songs are very strong, very heavy, very fast. We've got a little of everything. We've got some mid-tempo, but really crushing fast drums. I would even say that we went and put — I don't wanna say the word 'ballad', but it's a very slow, old classic TESTAMENT vibe, like 'Return To Serenity', that we had the confidence and the song is there that we wrote. This record, we're fired up 'cause, to me, it sounds modern. That's the one thing I've gotta say. It's TESTAMENT but modern-sounding, just because I think Chris, he shifts another gear on the songs. I mean, he just puts it to another level as far as the drum playing and inspiring Eric to what he's doing. And it actually opens up the doors for me, challenge-wise, to not just take it the easy way out. I've really had some challenges — a lot more screaming death metal, mid-tempo clean vocals. I'm doing a little bit of everything. So that's the fun part for me and the challenging part, is to make it all work."

Billy also confirmed that one of the new TESTAMENT songs will be a duet with Floor Jansen of NIGHTWISH. "Yeah, I reached out to her," he said. "Me and Floor became friends maybe under 10 years ago. Me and her, Joey Belladonna [ANTHRAX], Udo Dirkschneider [ex-ACCEPT], we all did this Christmas performance show through Europe. And we were singing our songs, but with a Christmas theme with an orchestra. And so we all traveled together and became friends. And she's a powerhouse of a vocalist. Great voice. And when we wrote the song and the lyrics, first thing I thought was, 'Okay, this song, it, it needs a strong girl's voice,' and, of course, Floor is the first one that came to mind. And this song, it's gonna be pretty epic. We're gonna put a string section on it, acoustic guitars. It's gonna have a lot going on, but it's a really, really beautiful song. It's really deep. And with Floor, it's kind of me and her kind of singing the lyrics kind of to each other, and the meaning of the song and what we're saying, it's kind of, like, I'll say my part and she's answering me through the vocal. So it's gonna be very strong, very cool. And I can't wait to hear what she's gonna do on it… We haven't sent it to her because we haven't laid down the acoustic guitars yet for it, but the song's done. I tracked it all. I tracked her parts. And I wanna wait till she hears it for the first time with the acoustics and get the vibe — I want her to be in the vibe once she gets it… And Alex has a connection to some guys that are gonna do the strings on it, who played on some huge records, so what we've heard so far, it's pretty cool."

Billy recently told Metal Express Radio's Bryce Van Patten about how TESTAMENT's songwriting process has changed since the band's early days in the late 1980s and 1990s: "Oh, it's night and day. Before, back then, we all lived the same place, we all had to go to the same studio, where now it's by e-mail, sharing the songs. Everybody has home studios to work out demos. Definitely a different writing process, but still Eric is one of the main writers. And ever since we brought in our new drummer, Chris Dovas, he's been here two years — he was 24 when he came into the band; he's 26 [now]. But he's a smart kid. [He] graduated [from] the Berklee [College] Of Music. [He] knows theory [and is] great in the studio with Pro Tools. He's really into modern bands and new and upcoming stuff, and he's got an old soul so he knows the history of the music. But I think him working hand in hand with Eric as long as they did, he really pushed Eric and drove Eric to get challenged. And I wouldn't say 'copy', but I think Chris and what he listens to and the style Eric likes, it brought an influence to the new songs."

Regarding the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material, Chuck said: "To me, the new songs sound current, they sound fresh. They're touching what a lot of new upcoming bands are making good names for themselves are doing. So, again, it's raising the bar one more time. And I think when fans hear this record, especially new, younger fans are gonna go, 'Whoa. That's TESTAMENT. I know the TESTAMENT I know from 30-something years ago and grew up with, but what is this?' I'm excited for that because I wanna hear what people think. I'd love to see the expression of them hearing it for the first time. That would be great, because it does sound new and modern and fresh, even though we're still being challenged."

Asked if he and his TESTAMENT bandmates have more freedom to do whatever they want now than they did when you were on a major label like Atlantic, Chuck said: "Totally. When we were on Atlantic, that was a big machine. They had an A&R department, they had the radio department, they had tons of departments, tons of money, and they were always influenced by how well their big-selling artists were, which were radio bands and they were pushing radio. So that A&R guy would be whispering in our ears, 'What's the next radio song?' And we're thinking, "Well, we're not a radio band. That's not us.' And even to this day, when I hear some stuff like [on the SiriusXM channel] Ozzy's Boneyard or something, they play ballads by us, and it's, like, that doesn't represent us, but that represents that era in thinking maybe of what TESTAMENT did or what they chose to expose us to the public, which it's misrepresenting us. So, yeah, the freedom's huge now, especially being with Nuclear Blast as long as we have. There's no deadline. It's just, 'When you're ready, you have a record, give it to us.' And that's been really nice. And the beauty about this record is that usually we have Andy Sneap mix our record, so we usually write a record and give it to him and then it's done, written in stone, can't go back. But this record, we had to pick a somebody to mix it, which wasn't available till early next year, January. So we decided, 'Okay.' We tried to get all the tracking done before we went to Europe this June or July, and we got most of it done."

This past September, Peterson told Brutal Planet Magazine that TESTAMENT has tapped Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, KREATOR, PARADISE LOST, SOILWORK and AMON AMARTH, among others, to mix the band's upcoming studio album. Peterson said about the LP: "It's, like, 90 percent done. And it's gonna get mixed in December by Jens Bogren. He's a producer from Sweden, and he's done — God, he's done KREATOR, he's doing the new BEHEMOTH right now, he's done IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY. A lot of European bands. We usually work with Andy Sneap, but he's [the touring guitarist] in JUDAS PRIEST and he's just, like, 'Bro, I need some time off.' It's a good switch, though. I think Jens will do a good job. And yeah, there's a lot of crazy stuff on this record. I'm excited for everybody to hear it."

In August, Billy told Oran O'Beirne of Overdrive.ie about the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material: "We always try to outdo ourselves or make a better record or write better songs. It's always a challenge for ourselves, and I think this time we really took a long time to create the record. We kind of got everybody in the same room to really go through the songs and kind of put their two cents in to the arrangements. I think by having Chris — he's a younger drummer, a really great drummer — but I think he brought you know a new fire to Eric in the writing process. And I believe because we're going on 37 years of making records, it's kind of full circle right now. We're kind of inspired by new generation, I guess, of music and metal. And Chris is a big part of that. He's a big fan of that. So I think he inspired Eric just to write some really aggressive, fast, creative riffs. And it really inspired me to really push myself to try to do a little more screaming, death vocals, melodic stuff. We even went as far as writing — I don't wanna say 'ballad', but it's something really catchy that's really slow that's something we haven't done in over 30 years. So I think just the overall songs and the confidence in the writing this time really is gonna stand out on this record."

This past June, Chuck told Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about the lyrical themes covered in the new TESTAMENT songs: "[It's] not as focused [on], like, the aliens, creating mankind and that kind of stuff, but there is some of that. There's a lot. Each song definitely has its own identity lyrically. And again, we're writing stuff that is real, that happens with the environment; we're singing about that again. A.I., we're singing stuff about that. That's a big thing. So, there's always an inspiration for songs. I think it's a little easier. There's so much going on in our world to write about now. It's a crazy world today, so there's a lot of stuff to talk about. And I like singing about what's real and what's going on instead of some fantasy lyrics, because, for me, I think when I sing 'em, I have more conviction, I believe in 'em a little more. And maybe it's easier for me to remember the lyrics live. [Laughs]"

Naming specific tracks, Chuck said: "There's a song, 'Havana Syndrome', which is about the Havana Syndrome. People, look that up. There's 'Infanticide A.I.', which is another song going A.I. direction. And there's actually a slower song. We haven't done a slower song. I'm not gonna say 'ballad', but I'm gonna say a slower song that has a lot of groove and soul, called 'Meant To Be'. And it's like a classic TESTAMENT-type ballad, I guess, if you wanna use that word. But we've got a little bit of everything, but, again, I think it's really sticking to TESTAMENT, having to have some melodic stuff, even though there's some really brutal lyrics and real brutal, more of a death voice. I still put the hook in with more of a melodic hook or something. It's still classic TESTAMENT. If you listen to it, you'll go, 'That's TESTAMENT, but a little more octane to it.'"

Also in June, Chuck told Canada's The Metal Voice that he writes most of TESTAMENT's lyrics with Del James. "Del, he works with GUNS N' ROSES," Chuck said. "He's been working with them and wrote with them a long time ago. I think he had big hits like 'November Rain' with them. And we've been working [together] for over 20 years. So I always go down and work with him because I come up with a lot of the ideas and concepts, but he really interprets and gets the right words, how to say what I'm thinking. And we work fast. When we get together, we'll knock out like two songs in a day. So we don't mess around. We get there, say hello to each other, we sit down and we go right to work. It's about what we do."

Prior to joining TESTAMENT as a full-time member, Dovas filled in for Dave Lombardo on the first six dates of TESTAMENT's summer/fall 2022 leg of "The Bay Strikes Back Tour".

Former Dream Theater drummer, Mike Mangini, has shared a new performance video along with the following introduction


"'Xanadu', being recorded as you see it by me during a DT tour soundcheck for the Rush release, A Farewell To Kings - 40th Anniversary. This video uniquely compliments my Rhythm Knowledge: Volume One philosophy on focussing in various challenging situations and environments. 


In order for viewers to get a flavor for a Sound-check environment during a long tour, you’ll see and hear lots of possible distractions from the lights and background noises while I recorded this. Also, it is impossible to match the original version of the song, especially on this kit configuration. I had no choice but to play the verses with righty hands and lefty feet given this set up. I fixed some of the parts I missed later, but did not film it. This video is made from a couple of takes (eye glasses on and off)."







Mangini, world-renowned as the former drummer of Dream Theater and Extreme, and a distinguished Berklee College Of Music professor, unveiled his highly anticipated solo project on a recent episode of The Mistress Carrie Podcast. He talked about his split from Dream Theater, recording his solo album, theories behind his playing, songwriting, and more.


On his departure from Dream Theater


Mangini: "I don't think about the future too much. There are things that are out of my control and things that can change for the worse, or better. This is happening (the split with Dream Theater) and everybody's in the place they need to be. The situation made sense to

Following their latest, colossal studio album Expedition One - released in January this year via AFM Records - Swedish melodic power metal frontrunners Metalite present a new video clip for the song "Cyberdome", recorded live at Skogsröjet 2024. Check it out below.





Expedition One tells a fictitious story about life on our planet in the year 2055. The band's upcoming magnum opus inspires with a wide range of diverse compositions and an intelligent sci-fi story that couldn’t be more topical. In addition, their fourth album offering manifests the musicians’ amazing artistic development.




Metalite's visionary sci-fi trip is told over sixteen multi-faceted songs that combine the quintet’s many strengths: powerful and at the same time delicate guitar riffs and solos, anthemic melodies courtesy of vocalist Erica Ohlsson, driving rhythms and cleverly positioned keyboard parts. Expedition One was produced by guitarist Edwin Premberg, and was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen.


Order the album here.





Tracklisting:


“Expedition One”
“Aurora”
“CtrlAltDel”
“Cyberdome”
“Blazing Skies”
“Outer Worlds”
“New Generation”
“In My Dreams”
“Disciples Of The Stars”
“Free”
“Legendary”
“Paradise”
“Sanctum Of Light”
“Utopia”
“Take My Hand”
“Hurricane”


"Aurora" lyric video:





"New Generation" video:





“Blazing Skies”:





(Photo - Vassfjord Foto & Media)

Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time performing the iconic hit, "Never Ending Story", released by Limahl in 1984.





Symphonic power metal quartet, Majestica, have announced their brand new studio album, Power Train, which will see the light of day on February 7 via Nuclear Blast Records. After more than four years since their last album, the Swedes are ready to set the bar high once again with their new long player and are presenting their fans what is their strongest album to date.




Power Train is a spellbinding experience that awakens sleeping dreams with powerful riffs and epic choruses. The enchantment rises like a breath of stars, propelling listeners into the heart of a fairytale world. This is particularly evident in the album's first single. With the title track "Power Train", Majestica leaves an exciting first impression and also presents a strong music video, which you can witness below.


Tommy Johansson comments: "Get ready for explosive power metal with a ”can’t stop singing along”-chorus in the new track 'Power Train'. The video literally takes you onboard the Power Train with elements taken from the entire album."


Stream the single here, and pre-order/pre-save the new album here.


When it came to the process of recording and putting all the pieces together, the band did not change a lot compared to the last projects. Again the music was written, recorded, and produced by Majestica themselves.


"Like our previous albums this one is also produced by ourselves, and we recorded most parts in our new place Majestic Studios. For mixing we went back to Jonas Kjellgren as we have been very happy with the sound of A Christmas Carol and Metal United," says bassist Chris Davidsson.


Regarding the amazing artwork for Power Train, Chris explains: "For the artwork we teamed up with Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove design. It invites you to join this majepic ride of the Power Train, imagine standing there on the platform eagerly waiting, and you hear ”all aboard”!"





Power Train contains ten brand new tracks and will be available in the following formats: CD Jewel (incl. booklet), Vinyl, and digital.





Power Train tracklisting:


"Power Train"
"No Pain, No Gain"
"Battle Cry"
"Megatrue"
"My Epic Dragon"
"Thunder Power"
"A Story In The Night"
"Go Higher"
"Victorious"
"Alliance Anthem"


"Power Train" video:





Shortly before the release of their new album, Majestica will play a few shows, perfect to warm up for the upcoming album. The tour, which is called The Dead Don't Die Tour, kicks off on December 26 in Nürnberg, Germany. Along with headliners Dominum and support Hammer King, the Swedes are going to stop in seven cities. Furthermore, Majestica will play a festival show at No Sleep After X-Mas Festival in Runkel with some extra focus on their Christmas album, A Christmas Carol, on December 29.


Get tickets here.

Crypta, the Brazilian death metal powerhouse, delivered a thunderous performance on the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2024 on August 10. Known for their ferocity and crushing sound, the band emerged as one of the festival’s standout acts. Led by the formidable bassist-vocalist Fernanda Lira and the relentless drummer Luana Dametto, Crypta has been rising rapidly in the metal scene since their formation in 2019.


This performance, drenched in raw energy and deep passion, includes highlights like “Lift the Blindfold”, “The Other Side of Anger”, and “From the Ashes.” Each track echoes Crypta’s drive to push boundaries in the genre, leaving a powerful mark on Bloodstock’s massive audience of metalheads.


Setlist:




"The Aftermath"
"The Other Side of Anger"
"Poisonous Apathy"
"Lift the Blindfold"
"The Outsider"
"Stronghold"
"Dark Clouds"
"From the Ashes"

Former Megadeth guitarist, Kiko Loureiro, has released the track "Talking Dreams" from his new solo alnum, Theoury Of Mind. Check it out below.


Loureiro: "'Talking Dreams' explores the depths of the subconscious, where thoughts and desires take shape and reveal hidden truths, unconstrained by logic or order. The song embodies the essence of Theory of Mind by delving into how we interpret not only our own dreams but the dreams and inner worlds of others. It even hints at a future where machines could understand and perhaps mimic human dreams.


This track is also a reflection on what truly fulfils us—whether we are pursuing our genuine dreams or simply following the paths society sets for us. As an artist, I'm constantly navigating the tension between doing what I genuinely want and fulfilling what I think others expect of me. 'Talking Dreams' captures this conflict, weaving beauty and chaotic moments into a piece that resonates with the struggle between personal truth and external pressures."







Theory Of Mind features Kiko Loureiro (guitars and keyboards), Felipe Andreoli (bass), Bruno Valverde (drums) and Maria Ilmoniemi (keyboards).


Go to this location to purchase.





Tracklist:


"Borderliner"
"Out Of Nothing"
"Mind Rise"
"Talking Dreams"
"Blindfolded"
"Point Of No Return"
"Raveled"
"Lost In Seconds"
"The Other Side Of Fear"
"The Barefoot Queen"
"Finitude"


"Mind Rise"





"Point Of No Return"

All-Canadian rock band Toque, featuring Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz - both of whom play in Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators - along with Cory Churko (Shania Twain) and Shane Gaalaas (Michael Schneker Group), have just released a new, original song called "Broken" via all digital outlets.


"Broken" was written by Toque, along with their good friend and guitarist of Honeymoon Suite, Derry Grehan. Stream / download the single now at this location. It can also be enjoyed below.







In live news, Toque has revealed the dates of their upcoming Frozen Not Broken Tour, which will take the band across Western Canada this Fall and Winter. They are:


November 
22 - Coquitlam, BC - Great Canadian Casino Vancouver


December 
27 - Regina,

Empires Of Eden, led by producer / guitarist Stu "The Hammer" Marshall, released their new album, Guardians Of Time, today (November 15) via Massacre Records.


Lyric video for “When Will It End” is streaming below. The track features Darren Smith (Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel), Mike LePond (Symphony X), and Clay T. (Arkenstone).







Guardians Of Time holds even more electrifying collaborations, with artists such as Jonas Heidgert (Dragonland), Louie Gorgievski (Night Legion), Tony Webster (Archetype) or John Gallagher (Raven) to name just a few, and continues Marshall's legacy of delivering high-octane metal with both precision and passion.





Stu Marshall, a renowned Australian guitarist and producer, is best known for his explosive guitar work, blending technical prowess with melodic sensibility. Rising to prominence with the power metal band Dungeon and more recently US power supergroup Death Dealer, Marshall's career has spanned decades, marking him as one of Australia’s most respected metal musicians.


In 2008, Marshall embarked on his solo project, Empires Of Eden, creating a platform to collaborate with some of the biggest names in metal. The project brought together an array of world-class vocalists, allowing Marshall to blend symphonic, power, and traditional heavy metal elements into epic soundscapes. Since its inception, Empires Of Eden has released four critically acclaimed albums, showcasing collaborations with metal legends such as Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O., ex-Accept), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Zak Stevens (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Rob Rock (Impellitteri), Mike Vescera (Yngwie Malmsteen, Loudness), and Jeff Martin (Racer X). Each release delivers a mix of Marshall's complex guitar compositions and the iconic vocal styles of his guest artists.


Guardians Of Time can be pre-saved here. The album will be available to pre-order on CD Digipak and limited edition vinyl LP soon.


Guardians Of Time was mixed by Stu Marshall, Clay T and Chris Themelco. Chris Themelco also mastered the album. The album artwork was designed by Alex Yarborough.





CD Digipak / Digital tracklisting:


"The Dawn March"
"Guardians Of Time"
"When Will It End"
"Mortal Rites"
"The Inner Me"
"When The Beast Comes Out"
"Arabian Nights"
"Stand United"
"August Runs Red"
"Baptise This Hell"
"The Devil's Only Friend"
"Baptise This Hell" (Alternate Version) [Bonus Track]





Ltd. Vinyl LP tracklisting:

Crucial Velocity have announced Controller, the follow-up to their self-titled 2023 album release, is forthcoming and due to drop January 10, 2025. Heavier, leaner and darker than the debut album, Controller is ready for the masses. 


“On the new album, Controller, we took the elements that we loved from the debut and basically magnified them. The songs are more concise and heavy yet always melodic. There is a flow and a consistency throughout. We do not shy away from our influences. We embrace the classic hard rock and metal from the 80's and 90's while keeping it fresh and creating a unique Crucial Velocity sound. Fans of Queensrÿche, Alice In Chains, Ghost, Black Sabbath and even prog metal will align with this album."  - Nate Bauer







The theme of “control” runs through much of the album. Political unrest with cult like figures. Online mind control. Religious control. Brainwashing men to kill thousands in the holocaust...


"Brainstorm" - the powerful and haunting lead single - was created by Crucial Velocity's Nate Bauer through empathetic perspective-taking inspired by his child with autism.


Nate Bauer explains "‘Brainstorm’ is a deeply personal song with lyrics written from what I imagine to be the perspective of my non-verbal son who, as a result of Tuberous Sclerosis, has severe autism and seizures. I tried to capture what it might be like inside of his head, as he is unable to verbally communicate for himself. It is a tribute of sorts to everyone affected by autism or any special needs."





Crucial Velocity:
Matt Thompson (King Diamond) - Drums
Androo O'Hearn (Shaolin Death Squad) - Voca

Swedish melodic metal powerhouse Starchaser have released their second studio album, Into The Great Unknown, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.


The band also share the title track, accompanied by a music video, available now.


Guitarist Kenneth Jonsson describes the themes of the title track:




“The song ‘Into The Great Unknown’ explores humanity’s fascination with the unknown -discovering realms beyond Earth and facing the fear of the unexpected. Musically, it builds on the style of Starchaser’s first album, blending atmospheric depth and intense melodies. The layered guitars and synths evoke both wonder and apprehension, capturing the thrill and tension of venturing into uncharted territory.”


Jonsson also expresses his enthusiasm for this release, by saying: “We’re pumped to unleash Starchasers' latest album to the metal masses. Our debut ignited the scene with blazing reviews, and the fan and critic response was beyond epic. For this new record, we've delivered fiercer melodies and a more thunderous sound.”


“Ulrich and I worked in close collaboration, pushing each other to new extremes and elevating the band's performance to shredding new levels. Our combined effort has forged the songwriting into something truly formidable”, continues Jonsson. “Örjan, Johan, Eric and Kay also played crucial roles, contributing their talents to make this album a powerful force. A huge shoutout to Roger Bergsten for his crushing mix - his expertise has turned this second album into a face-melting experience. We’re stoked for you to crank it up and hope it hits as hard as our first.”





Starchaser is a new band formed by former Tad Morose guitarist Kenneth Jonsson, with vocalist Ulrich Carlsson (Shaggy, ex-M.ILL.ION), bassist Örjan Josefsson (Cibola Junction), drummer Johan Kulberg (Wolf, Therion, Hammerfall), and keyboardist Kay Backlund (Lions Share, Nils Patrik Johansson, Impera).


Initially, the musical journey that Kenneth undertook was supposed to be a solo album, but it turned into a brand new band after the chemistry between the players he was working with became apparent.


After leaving Tad Morose, Jonsson decided to focus on songwriting, by combining his “outside” musical influences – such as composers Phillip Glass and Max Richter - into the hard rock/metal genre he was known for.


His first choice for a singer was Ulrich Carlsson, whom he felt had the perfect mix of clean and raw tone in his voice, with a very melodic approach. Ulrich wrote all the lyrics and vocal melodies for the songs and came up with some arrangement ideas which Kenneth felt made the songs sound even better.


Kenneth later asked Örjan Josefsson to handle bass duties. As with Ulrich, Örjan contributes to the songs in a meaningful way and fits perfectly into the concept of the band.


Kenneth asked his friend Magnus Ulfstedt (ex drummer for Eclipse, Jimi Jamison, Nordic Union), to play on the Starchaser album, but it didn't work out due to conflicting schedules. Magnus kindly helped Kenneth to get in contact with Johan Koleberg, who turned out to be a perfect match.


Since Kenneth's songwriting is based on the piano, he needed a skilled keyboard player who could help him develop his ideas into bigger ones, so he asked Kay Backlund to play keyboards on the album and suited the concept perfectly.


The band released their debut album, Starchaser, on Frontiers Records in 2022. Largely composed by Jonsson and Carlsson, the record was produced by Roger Bergsten at Nevo Studio in Sweden.


This second album. Into The Great Unknown. will bring the band to the next level, with a consolidated chemistry between the members and, as a result, a strong songwriting and a great performance!





Into The Great Unknown tracklisting:


"Stella Exodus"
"Into The Great Unknown"
"Battalion Of Heroes"
"Who Am I"
"One By One"
"Shooting Star"
"Under The Same Sky"
"The Nightmare King"
"The Broken Empire"
"War Is A Bad Place For A Good Man"
"In A Time Of Steel"
"Far From Home"


"Battalion Of Heroes" visualizer:

Today marks the release of the debut EP from Lurking Terror. A World In Darkness features five songs of old-school death metal and to further exemplify their lethal intention the LA-based quintet have revealed a new lyric video for song “In Darkness.”


"‘In Darkness' draws inspiration from the haunting and otherworldly tales of H.P. Lovecraft,” explains singer Enrique Chavez. “The song delves into the eerie and unsettling realm of a nightmare that I find myself trapped in, yet paradoxically, there's a strange sense of fascination and enjoyment in the experience, as if I'm both terrified and mesmerized by the dark visions unfolding before me."


While Lurking Terror have only been together for 3 years, the five band members have roots dating back three decades when the core trio of vocalist Enrique Chavez, drummer Joel Marquez and guitarist Vincent Cervera played together in the cult death metal band Sadistic Intent. Lurking Terror, named after the opening cut of the classic 1990 Sadistic Intent EP, Impending Doom…, are joined by guitarist Noel Bello (ex-Infinitum Obscure) and bassist Lorenzo Kemp (Temblad). 




Since releasing a demo there’s been tremendous interest in the group leading to performances not only in the band’s So Cal home but in other states with festival appearances in Texas and Illinois, and even further with concerts in Mexico and Japan, along the way sharing bills with Sacramentum, Sinister, Midnight, Incantation, Pessimist, Nausea, Phobia and more.





Lurking Terror brings the classic death metal sound that has rumbled in the underground for decades. With heavy down-tuned guitars, blistering riffs, grinding blast beats and guttural Death Metal vocals, the band is everything death metal was meant to sound like. The slow, pounding heavy sounds are reminiscent of bands like Autopsy and the classic Stockholm Swedish sound of Entombed, while the downbeats hit your ears with the aggression brought forth by bands like Napalm Death and Terrorizer, leaving the listener wanting more after every assault.


A World In Darkness is out now on digital, jewelcase CD and limited-edition vinyl run of only 200 copies that features completely different album art and a digital download code m-theoryaudio.com/store.


"In Darkness":





"This Is War":

Intromental Worldwide is proud to announce the signing of the Swiss melodic prog-metal band, Neverland.


Founded back in 1999, the band released an album in the early 00's, toured around the world and went on hiatus for a long time, due to the death of the vocalist at that time. The band reunited some years ago and wrote their new album, Illusory World. Musically, Neverland is a fusion of ‘spaciousness and vastness,’ which is expressed through atmospheric keyboards, melodic vocals, and a solid rhythm section. In short, Neverland is energetic metal with melody.


Find the video for the song "Legends" below:







Following a reunion of founding members Daniel Huber and Boris Stoll, they decided to start a new chapter in the band’s history. Original vocalist Mike Zotter shared this vision, and they began exchanging ideas. Together with Roland Jost (bass), they worked on new songs. The COVID-19 pandemic complicated the recording process, as cross-border meetings were impossible. The songs were recorded and produced in their own Peakville Studio, with Tommy Vetterli once again handling the mixing. Mastering was completed by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The finished songs caught the attention of Tobias Bruntschi from Powerblast Records, who offered the band a contract.


With the reunion of the founding members and the signing with Intromental, the band is more determined than ever to open a new chapter in Neverland’s history. The band aims for songs that are diverse, balancing straightforwardness and experimental elements, allowing listeners to discover hidden details with each listen. Neverland’s songs are designed to remain fresh and captivating, sparking new interest with each play. Neverland has now laid the foundation for another chapter in their musical journey


Neverla

In a new interview with Mike Palm of TribLIVE, EXODUS and SLAYER guitarist Gary Holt spoke about the status of his memoir, which is due next year via Hachette Books. "A Fabulous Disaster: From The Garage To Madison Square Garden, The Hard Way" is described in a press release as "a no-holds-barred memoir from the preeminent thrasher's life in metal, from its humble (but not quiet) beginnings in the San Francisco Bay Area through today's current resurgence in worldwide popularity, as he lived big, played fast and crashed hard, written in collaboration with Adem Tepedelen."

"I had thought about doing a book for a long time," Gary said. "Just my career arc is very different. Most of your rock books involve starting out, mass success, huge drug use and alcoholism and a spiral down, then redemption. Mine's different. I had moderate success, completely out of music, complete drug addict, and then the redemption. It's really close to the finished stages now. I read the latest version of it. It made me cry a couple of times. It made me cringe a bunch of times because there's some really cringy [expletive] going on. And it made me laugh. It's laugh, cry, on the edge of your seat, like any good movie. That's all you could ask for."

Asked if there were any stories that he left out of the book, Holt said: "I left out anything that would be horrible to a lot of people I know, because if I turned it into a tell-all, I know where all the bodies are buried in thrash metal. I could expose everything. But no one would tell me all that stuff anymore, because Gary's a blabbermouth and he just shared it with the world. I peel the layers back on myself heavily, just like I always have. But I'm protecting the innocent to a large degree. I'm not going into detail about other people's stuff. That's for their own books. And that's their own decision, whether they want to share some of that stuff. And anytime it did involve bandmates, I ran it past them. Some stuff is not a secret, the drug use and all that. … I left tons of stuff out, stuff that would have made the most riveting chapters on Earth, but it would've been damaging to people I care about. And I don't mind damaging myself, because it's my story."

When Holt first shared the news of his upcoming memoir on social media in March 2023, he wrote: "Super stoked!!! The announcement in book circles has gone out today, so I'm sharing it in MY circle! The book about my life is under way, from the beginnings of EXODUS and thrash metal, to the drug fueled fall, to the unexpected and tragic circumstances that led me to @slayerbandofficial to the bounce back to Madison Square Garden with and @exodusbandofficial charting at number 20 on the MAIN Billboard charts, all will be told! No holds barred, all the lows and highs will be retold! Been a project very close to me, and I'm stoked to be working with @ademtepedelen_ @lauramazer @bschafer714 @hachettebooks and @wendysherman to make this a reality!"

Holt joined EXODUS in 1981, shortly after the band's formation, and has been the group's main songwriter ever since. Holt has performed on every EXODUS album, and is considered highly influential in the world of thrash metal.

Holt began filling in for SLAYER guitarist Jeff Hanneman at live shows in 2011, and became the band's full-time co-guitarist as of 2013, while remaining a member of EXODUS. Holt played on SLAYER's final album, "Repentless", which came out in 2015.

In a June 2012 interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, SLAYER's Kerry King stated about Holt: "I always regard Gary as the Glenn Tipton of our era — really good, really polished and nobody talks about him. To this day, nobody really references [JUDAS] PRIEST and Tipton that much as guitar players and I feel the same way about Gary. EXODUS have a huge following but a little more overlooked than METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER, ANTHRAX — the 'Big Four,' so to speak, so [it is great] to be able to bring him to the forefront and shove him down people's throats and say, 'Hey, this motherfucker kicks ass. Pay attention.'"

EXODUS's latest album, "Persona Non Grata", came out in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap. For the third time in the band's history, they returned to Swedish artist Pär Olofsson to create the album artwork.

"Persona Non Grata" was the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

King Diamond's legendary guitarist Andy LaRocque and bassist Pontus Egberg spoke to BraveWords for a Streaming For Vengeance chat recently and talked about their current tour and new music which is expected to completed this spring (2025) and will be released shortly after their European summer festival tour in 2025. 


King Diamond has never performed in front of so many people in their entire career, and there was a point when things looked bleak. But those days are long gone. 


“Yeah, I mean, just follow the flow,” Egberg tells BraveWords in an excerpt from a Streaming For Vengeance chat which airs tomorrow (Thursday, November 13th) at 9AM EST. “When we came over here, the first tour back in ‘86, some of the places we played back then were just small local bars and clubs, actually. There were a few of those, you know, and then it actually has been growing for all those years, except for the very early, I believe 2000s? It was not very big at all. We played some weird places back then too, and actually after. I would say in 2012, after King had his surgery and everything, we started to play a lot of festivals. The whole thing with King Diamond just got a lot bigger since then. It was about 10 to 12 years back that it has been growing quite a bit. Yeah, so I’m amazed by that. We can only think our fans for that. We can only be grateful.”




And the horror of it all, watching the band perform is one of the craziest and scariest events to witness live!


LaRocque laughs: “Well, what can I say? We just try to. These stage sets, they come in a very large part from Kings own head, and incorporate things from the storyline of the upcoming album or albums. It’s just a fun spectacle to watch, I think. There’s a lot of stuff going on. We deliver the music, King the setting, and Jodi (Cachia) of course, the brains of the acting. There’s a lot of stuff going on. And the story and the stage is kind of evolving around a thing called Saint Lucifer‘s Hospital, where everything happens, crazy stuff, you know? And we were actually down at an asylum outside Philadelphia called Pennherst a few days ago to shoot a few parts of the video that’s coming up, in a couple of weeks I believe. We did some video shooting in the grand rehearsal in Dallas right before the tour, did some shooting at the asylum that’s going to be in the video as well, for a song called Spider. Yeah, it’s going to be crazy, I think. The whole stage is like Saint Lucifer’s Hospital.”


King Diamond are performing two new songs called "Spider Lilly" and "Electro Therapy”, but the grand finale is a special moment LaRocque says.  


“I must say though, of course when we play ‘Abigail’ the people go crazy, but the reception of the new songs has been very good. People seem to be really interested in hearing new music, so that’s really nice.”


And about the full album?


“South America tour, all that, you know,” Egberg lays out the master plan. “ Once we get back from the tour, we’re going to try to finish the album, then we have a European solo tour coming up and our own headline shows. Then after that, the album is going to be released, then we don’t really know what’s going to happen. But, I mean Japan, South America, Australia, will be awesome. So, we’ll see.”


Watch King Diamond legends guitarist Andy LaRocque and bassist Pontus Egberg on Streaming For Vengeance tomorrow (Thursday, November 13th) at 9AM EST. 





King Diamond's North American headlining tour will run through December 6 in Dallas, Texas. Support features Overkill and Night Demon. Additional backing vocals for the King Diamond set are provided by special guest, Myrkur.


Secure your tickets at kingdi

Brutal Belgian death metal band Fractured Insanity return home for their new album, and have revealed details of what will be their fifth full-length entitled Age Of Manipulation, which will see the light of day on February 18, 2025 through Xtreem Music on CD and Digital formats.


Check out the first single, "Exaltation Of A Fallen Glory":







Fractured Insanity return to Xtreem Music, where they released their second and third albums, after having been with Massacre Records for their fourth album. The band began its journey in 2004 by releasing its first EP The Ethics Of Nihility (2006), followed by four albums: When Mankind Becomes Diseased... (2007), Mass Awakeless (2010), Man Made Hell (2016) and Massive Human Failure (2020), all of them recorded and mixed at Hertz Studios in Poland. Their style has remained unchanged over the years, with their characteristic mix of brutal death and black metal that will surely delight fans of groups like: Dying Fetus, Behemoth, Suffocation, Hate Eternal, Decapitated, Cattle Decapitation, Aborted, and Benighted.


Age Of Manipulation artwork and tracklisting:

InTheosis is the brainchild of Norwegian Grammy-nominated Extol vocalist, Peter Espevoll, and Australian Gold producer Jon Reichardt. On paper it would seem like an unlikely fit, as the two have found success in very different musical genres, but in reality the collaboration makes perfect sense.





Today, they have shared their third single thus far in the form of "Iconoclast". It boasts quite the chunky groove and features vocal contributions from hip-hop artist, Damien. Watch the lyric video below.




"Our third single, 'Iconoclast,' features vocals from the talented wordsmith himself, Damien," the band states. "While the word 'iconoclast' may conjure up images of literal shattered idols, we wanted to explore how this concept works with long-held paradigms and beliefs that poison your mind. We all have them; sub-conscious or conscious. Patterns of thought that steal our joy, that haunt us during those sleepless nights, that keep us bound from offering our full selves to the gift of life. They are the 'corrupt trees that produce evil fruit.' Fusing dystopian synths with 8-string guitars, aggressive raps, a melodic chorus, all over pummelling drums, this song is an ode to destroying negative thought patterns and beliefs that infect our lives."





InTheosis are also thrilled to share that they are working towards releasing their debut album late 2025.


Yet to be named, the body of work is looking to be a varied smorgasbord of modern metal with strong influences from prog, cyberpunk, hip-hop, and orchestral elements. The duo will continue exploring their core themes of spirituality and mental health. How

I AM MORBID, the band featuring former MORBID ANGEL members David Vincent (bass, vocals) and Pedro "Pete" Sandoval (drums),along with guitarists Richie Brown (EXMORTUS, THE ABSENCE, TRIVIUM) and Bill Hudson (NORTHTALE, DORO),kicked off the seventh annual "Devastation On The Nation" U.S. tour on Friday, November 15 at Orpheum in Tampa, Florida. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

I AM MORBID, which plays material from MORBID ANGEL's "Altars Of Madness" (1989),"Blessed Are The Sick" (1991),"Covenant" (1993) and "Domination" (1995) albums, was added as to this year's "Devastation On The Nation" tour after the previous headliner, MORBID ANGEL, pulled out of the trek "due to unforeseen circumstances", according to the tour organizers.

In October 2022, I AM MORBID parted ways with guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (POSSESSED, DIABOLIC, UNHOLY GHOST) and replaced him with Brown.

Brown made his live debut with I AM MORBID at the Grita Fest in Colombia.

I AM MORBID's spring 2022 European tour marked the first time Sandoval and Vincent played together in 12 years.

Sandoval, who now lives his life as a born-again Christian, was forced to leave MORBID ANGEL in 2010 after undergoing surgery for a prolapsed disc.

Vincent told Invisible Oranges in a December 2013 interview that Pete had "found Jesus," which meant that Sandoval and MORBID ANGEL were no longer "compatible."

Prior to joining I AM MORBID, Sandoval had spent a few years recording and touring with TERRORIZER, whose latest studio album, "Caustic Attack", was released in October 2018 via The End Records.

Vincent left MORBID ANGEL in 2015. He has since been replaced by a returning Steve Tucker, who previously handled bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs.

U.S. TourJust Announced!! #IAmMorbid to headline Devastation On The Nation Tour November 15 to December 14....

Posted by I Am Morbid on Friday, November 1, 2024

Earlier this month, Californian rockers BUCKCHERRY entered a Nashville studio with producer Marti Frederiksen to begin recording the band's eleventh album. On Friday, November 15, BUCKCHERRY issued an update on the recording process, writing on social media: "Today we wrap up an incredible 10 days in Nashville working on album number 11 with Marti Frederiksen. Love this part of the creative process when everything starts to come into focus and cannot WAIT to share new music with you in Spring of 2025! Stay tuned!"

Three months ago, BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd spoke to the "Everblack" podcast about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to the band's 2023 album "Vol. 10". He said: "We already got record eleven written. We have a few more songs that we've gotta… We're about three songs short, and we'll get that done. And we're gonna record in November. And we'll have our eleventh record out next year sometime, probably before the summer."

"Vol. 10" came out in June 2023. The 11-song LP featured 10 new BUCKCHERRY originals and, as a bonus track, a cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69". The album was produced by Frederiksen and recorded at Sienna Studios in Nashville. The album was released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan, and by Earache Records for the rest of the world.

Frederiksen previously produced 2021's "Hellbound" as well as BUCKCHERRY's fourth album, "Black Butterfly", and co-wrote "Sorry", among other songs, with the band.

In November 2023, BUCKCHERRY released a new holiday song called "Tell 'Em It's Christmas".

BUCKCHERRY previously released another holiday song, "Christmas Is Here", back in 2010.

In the summer of 2020, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July of that year.

In 2019, BUCKCHERRY enlisted Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".

Endurance Music Group has announced the January 17, 2025 release of the 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of the double-platinum BUCKCHERRY album "15" on physical and digital formats. Released in 2005, the album featured the four-times-platinum single "Crazy Bitch" and the two-times-platinum single "Sorry". The deluxe edition will be released in North America on a two vinyl LP format featuring the album's 11 original songs as well as four bonus tracks recorded in 2005 and three newly recorded acoustic tracks by Todd and guitarist Stevie Dacanay (a.k.a. Stevie D.)

The album is available for preorder in the U.S. at Amazon and at Real Gone Music.

Outside of North America, the album will be distributed by Earache Records on four exclusive LP colors, black vinyl and deluxe CD formats.

BUCKCHERRY will perform the "15" album in its entirety on all 2025 tour dates which begin in March.

Today we wrap up an incredible 10 days in Nashville working on album number 11 with Marti Frederikson. Love this part...

Posted by Buckcherry on Friday, November 15, 2024

In a new interview with Neil Jones of TotalRock, THIN LIZZY/ex-BLACK STAR RIDERS guitarist Scott Gorham was asked if he is involved in any music projects at the moment. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I'm not really working on anything really solid right now, unfortunately. I would really like to get back out, put just an absolute kick-ass THIN LIZZY band together and either tour England again or Europe or something like that.

"I don't think I'm ever going to lose that love for playing that music, just because all of us were so involved in writing it, rehearsing it, recording it," he explained. "And there was a lot of work that — well, everybody, every bandmember will know all the work that has to go into just being able to get out on the road.

"So, we'll see. Hopefully in the near future I'll have some sort of news and I'll get my butt out there and start playing again," Scott added. "So, that's really all I can say right now."

In 1974, the Californian musician moved to the United Kingdom and joined Irish rockers THIN LIZZY. Scott would perform on ten best-selling albums, including "Jailbreak", "Johnny The Fox", "Bad Reputation" and "Live And Dangerous", and on the hit singles "The Boys Are Back In Town", "Rosalie", "Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight)" and "Waiting On An Alibi".

This past April, Gorham unveiled six new works of art, with limited-edition prints available to purchase through the artist's web site. The Scott Gorham World site showcases the first six illustrative works from an archive the now-73-year-old guitarist started creating under the radar as an artist nearly 40 years ago.

Gorham was in BLACK STAR RIDERS for nearly a decade, having formed the band in 2013 with other THIN LIZZY members after deciding to write and record new music under a new moniker. BLACK STAR RIDERS' original lineup was completed by vocalist Ricky Warwick, guitarist Damon Johnson, bassist Marco Mendoza and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso.

BLACK STAR RIDERS announced Gorham's departure in September 2021, with Warwick saying in a statement: "We are very sad to see Scott go, but we discussed a very heavy world touring commitment on the new record and Scott decided he wanted to concentrate just on THIN LIZZY — and being the legend he is, none of us can blame him."

Gorham discussed his decision to leave BLACK STAR RIDERS in a February 2022 interview with "The Hook Rocks!" podcast. He said: "It was right in the beginning of the whole pandemic thing. I know Ricky wanted to do an album straight off the bat. And I said, 'Well, I can't and I won't get on a plane right now, for god's sakes. We've got this thing raging around all of us. It's kind of impossible.' And I did not wanna do an album by Zoom; I didn't even wanna contemplate on that. Plus, I did wanna start concentrating on THIN LIZZY, to get out there and show people these really great songs. So I thought it would be unfair to try to really put a hundred percent concentration and effort into one and then the other is kind of flailing there on the side. So I thought, well, I've done four albums with BLACK STAR RIDERS. I love 'em and I love the guys. I've proved the point with BLACK STAR RIDERS. Now it's time to concentrate a little bit more on THIN LIZZY and see what we can do. 'Cause there are so many really great musicians who want to be in this band called THIN LIZZY. They've listened to the songs their whole life, and to be able to get up on a stage and for real play the songs… It's really kind of heartwarming that I know that I can reach out and there's so many guys who wanna get up there and sit up there shoulder to shoulder with me, paying homage to Phil [Lynott] and Gary [Moore] and everybody else that was in the band. And it's not an easy thing as you would think to pick who's going to do it. It really is picking the right person for the right tour when we do THIN LIZZY."