Trepanation Recordings has announced that they will be working with Hypaethral Records to release Resilience & Despair, by Los Angeles-based atmospheric doom maestros, Qaalm, in early 2022. Hypaethral Records will be releasing on vinyl with Trepanation handling the CD and cassette release.


The first single, “Existence Asunder”, will be released as an edited version of the epic 20-minute album track with an accompanying music video. The full album is set for an early 2022 release, with specific details regarding pre-order and limited edition vinyl versions coming in the next couple of months.


Despite featuring current/former members of notable metal bands Act Of Defiance, Harassor, and Seven Sisters Of Sleep, no musical comparison can be made to Qaalm, who have forged a sound unlike any of the member’s previous efforts.




Combining the crushing heaviness of sludge, the melancholic harmonies of funeral doom, with the atmosphere and intensity of black metal, Qaalm have created a gloomy, depressive, and unique interpretation of the doom metal genre.


Formed in 2012, Hypaethral Records, are purveyors of doom and blackened metal. Qaalm are a perfect fit for the label, alongside the stalwarts of doom Olde, the blackened hardcore of Spread the Disease, the crust/black metal of Ramlord, and the suffocating drone of Gates.


Listen to the Qaalm demo here.


Lineup:


Pete Majors - Lead Vocals
Henry Derek Elis - Lead Guitars / Vocals
Brock Elmore - Rhythm Guitars / Vocals
David Huet - Bass
Dave Ferrara - Drums

Canadian prog metal Trailight mastermind Omer Cordell has checked in with the following update on his new album, the follow-up to last year's Sophia:


"Rather quiet while here as the album is being mixed by Dave (Padden). We've had some setbacks with some logistical issues but we're back on track and making progress.


Release date for Chasing Daylight has been set to February 22, 2022 with two singles to be released beforehand. One will be the title track of the album and the other, a cover of Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds' "The Weeping Song" featuring Dave Padden and Burton C. Bell on vocals."







Chasing Daylight features guest performances by Devin Townsend, former Strapping Young Lad guitarist Jed Simon, Archetype guitarist Toño Tejeda, The Astral Light drummer Steven Parent, cellist Anna Kuchkova (Alchemy Chamber), and Cyanotic guitarist Cory McBain.


Check out Trailight's 2015 cover of "The Weeping Song" below.

Last night (Friday, November 12), Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar kicked off his final weekend of sold-out performances as part of the "Sammy Hagar & Friends" residency at The STRAT Hotel, Casino & SkyPod in Las Vegas, Nevada. Hagar was joined at the show by Grammy winner Rick Springfield as they performed with Hagar's band THE WABOS, featuring guitarist Vic Johnson, drummer David Lauser and bassist Mona Gnader. The crowd erupted when Springfield and THE WABOS played Rick's iconic hit "Jessie's Girl". Fans also rocked out to Hagar's songs, including "I'll Fall In Love Again", "Your Love Is Driving Me Crazy" and "Mas Tequila".

The STRAT Theater has a capacity of about 800 people. The theater was designed to capture the beach vibe Hagar's synonymous with, including elements of his famed Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, home to his epic annual birthday bash.

An additional show is scheduled for tonight (Saturday, November 13) at 9 p.m.

"Sammy & Friends" celebrates Hagar's career, spanning four decades, from his solo career, MONTROSE, VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, THE CIRCLE, and surprise additions to the setlist depending on which of his musician friends take the stage with him.

Speaking to the Las Vegas Sun about what fans can expect from the residency concerts, Hagar said: "Nobody is going to hear the same thing twice. One night we're going to come out and play VAN HALEN for an hour, then start cherry picking. Another night, we might just play MONTROSE, which will be fun because that's only about 35 minutes of music. I want to do it with a different theme every night and really mix it up.

"The team at The STRAT has been awesome and they've really allowed us to come in and do what we want to do," he added. "That room is great and I looked at every room that was available in Las Vegas. My fans, the Redheads, they come from all over the world, and you want them to be in a place like Vegas where they can have a good time before and after the show. The experience in Vegas is like no other town. If you can't find something to do here, you're either broke or in a really bad mood."

Produced by industry leader SPI Entertainment and Hagar's manager, Tom Consolo of TC Management, "Sammy Hagar & Friends" sold out each show in under two hours. New dates will be announced for 2022.




Some more live Sammy Hagar and joined onstage by Rick Springfield for some Jesse's Girl.Wow.???⭐???

Posted by Ashi Minhas on Friday, November 12, 2021





When you’re Sammy Hagar, Rick Springfield comes to join in…

Posted by Eric Hausten on Friday, November 12, 2021

In a new interview with NewsNation's "Banfield", TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider, who was famously called to testify before the U.S. Senate against the proposition to have warning labels be placed on albums deemed "offensive" to listeners, once again spoke about the rise of political correctness in the social media era. Asked for his opinion of cancel culture, which is the idea that someone, usually a celebrity or a public figure, whose ideas or comments are considered offensive should be boycotted, Dee said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's censorship. And censorship has changed quite a bit. I mean, you go to when I was in Washington testifying. By the way, it was a bipartisan effort — it was the Democrats and Republicans who were joined together in putting a leash on rock and roll. But it was definitely a conservative attitude — it was a more conservative attitude, wanting to censor music. Now censorship still exists, but it's gone from the right more to the left. We're in this P.C. [politically correct] world where we have to be careful about what we say and who we offend, and it's a very odd thing."

He continued: "I've been working on lyrics for my new album, 'Leave A Scar', which comes out in July, and I found myself questioning the metaphors I was using — metaphors. I mean, where is art without metaphor? Where is lyrics and writing without metaphor? Yet I was going, 'Can I say this? Can I say this?' I have a song called 'In For The Kill', and it has all these metaphorical [lines], 'Fire at will, I'm in for the kill.' And I was talking about going for it — just going for it — yet here I was censoring myself lyrically because of the current state of things.

"What is censorship? What's not censorship?" Dee added. "Boy, I would say, as long as you're not screaming 'fire' in a crowded movie theater, you're cool."

Last year, Dee told Canada's The Metal Voice that a movie like "Blazing Saddles", the 1974 American satirical Western black comedy film directed by Mel Brooks "could not be made today — it literally could not be made, because it would offend too many people.

"I remember seeing that movie the first time in a theater full of African-Americans in a black neighborhood in a black theater; me and my brother were the only two white people," he continued. "And I was laughing my ass off. And my friend said, 'Stop laughing. We're gonna get our asses kicked.' And I looked around the theater, and everybody was laughing. I said, 'Everybody's laughing.' It's funny. Funny is funny.

"It's odd, because conservatism was ultra-right back in the '80s. Now it's shifted toward the left, where you've got the liberals saying, 'Oh, you can't say that, and you can't say that, and you can't say that.'

"So, yeah, [censorship] still around, it's still an issue. But we've just gotta continue to push back and fight."

In 1985, the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC), led by Tipper Gore, was trying to introduce a parental warning system that would label all albums containing "offensive material." The system was to include letters identifying the type of objectionable content to be found in each album (e.g. O for occult themes, S for sex, D for drugs, V for violence, etc.), which resulted in the "Parental Advisory" sticker now found on new album releases with "questionable content." The incongruous trio of Snider, Frank Zappa and John Denver were called before Congress to testify in defense of music.

In 2015, Snider wrote an Op-Ed story for HuffingtonPost.com about his experience, saying: "Thirty years later, everything and nothing has changed. The ultra-conservatives still want to dictate to the masses what they deem acceptable for the general public to see and hear. The record industry is a mere shadow of its former self (apt punishment for its cowardice), and CDs and vinyl albums have almost become 'novelties’ in a world driven by downloads. Yet, the warning labels still adorn individual track listings and albums online.

"While initially my appearance at those Senate hearings was damaging to my career and reputation, long term it was beneficial, showing people for the first time that I was much more than a screaming 'Raggedy Ann on acid' and a fairly intelligent, sentient human being. Fortunately, I have gone on to better things."

TWISTED SISTER called it quits in 2016 after completing a farewell 40th-anniversary tour.

Fan-filmed video footage of METALLICA's November 12 performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida can be seen below.

The band's setlist was as follows:

01. Whiplash

02. Ride The Lightning

03. Harvester Of Sorrow

04. Cyanide

05. The Memory Remains

06. One

07. Frantic

08. Moth Into Flame

09. No Leaf Clover

10. For Whom The Bell Tolls

11. Whiskey In The Jar

12. Fade To Black

13. Master Of Puppets

Encore:

14. Fight Fire With Fire

15. Fuel

16. Seek & Destroy

Welcome To Rockville, a four-day rock festival, kicked off its 10th edition on Thursday (November 11) at a new home in Daytona Beach.

METALLICA will play another show at Welcome To Rockville with a different setlist on Sunday, November 14.

Along with two nights of METALLICA, this year's Welcome To Rockville features DISTURBED, SLIPKNOT, A DAY TO REMEMBER, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, LAMB OF GOD, SOCIAL DISTORTION, MASTODON and many others. The event is also being livestreamed on Danny Wimmer Presents's Twitch channel, featuring select performances, interviews and behind-the-scenes content at twitch.tv/DWPresents.

This past September, METALLICA's Lars Ulrich said that it was "way too early" to talk about a new studio album from the band. The 57-year-old drummer touched upon a possible follow-up to 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" while speaking to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked if there is a new METALLICA LP in the works, Lars said: "We're on that path. I don't know if it's cohesive enough to call a record, but we're dipping our toes. We've been trying to stay busy. We did the drive-in thing last summer. We did an All Within My Hands event in November. We did '[The Late Show With Stephen] Colbert'. We're doing '[Jimmy] Kimmel [Live!]' tomorrow. We're engaged. And we are creating at some level. It's way too early to talk about a record or a timeline or anything. But we're staying busy. And it's exciting to just think of the possibilities. Right now we're so rejuvenated and just ready to get back in."

Earlier this year, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield told "The Fierce Life" podcast that he and his bandmates had written "quite a few songs" during the coronavirus quarantine. "We'll see how many we like first, and then we'll put 'em out," he said. "We're pretty selfish that way; we like what we write as well."

This past July, guitarist Kirk Hammett told Classic Rock magazine that he and his bandmates have been staying creative during the pandemic. "We've tried to make the most of the COVID year and a half, and we've been pretty successful," he said. "We've got together remotely and worked, and we've got together [properly] and worked. Things are moving really well. I would say that the music we're coming up with is very appropriate for the times."

"Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart, selling 291,000 copies in its first week of release.

Lars Frederiksen from legendary punk band RANCID will release a new solo EP, "To Victory", on November 19. The official Sam Benavidez-directed music video for the EP's new single, "Skunx", can be seen below.

"To Victory" is the first effort to be released solely under the Lars Frederiksen banner. He previously issued two albums with LARS FREDERIKSEN AND THE BASTARDS: 2001's "Lars Frederiksen And The Bastards" and 2004's "Viking".

This solo venture for Frederiksen started back on March 7, 2020 when he sold out the landmark Oakland club Eli's Mile High Club. Frederiksen performed a Billy Bragg-esque set. The lucky fans attending the show — which was supposed to be the first of many, including an appearance alongside DROPKICK MURPHYS on St. Patrick's Day in Boston — had no idea that they would be the only ones to witness this unbelievable performance for quite some time. The surreal concert was treasured by the lucky few who got to see it, and has given Lars even more confidence and validation to pursue this venture. Frederiksen headed into the studio to record these tracks in the vein of his live performance — simple, raw, emotionally charged, and powerful.

"So much happened in my life starting in 2018 and is just now sorta wrapping up here currently in 2021," remarks Frederiksen. "This entire period, especially during my mom's passing, was a great reflection point for me and a time to dive deeper than I've ever been into my pagan roots."

The album has six tracks, featuring a mix of covers and songs from his other bands — each song carrying personal meaning for Frederiksen, and each a standout performance in its own right.

With two more videos on the way, and touring planned for 2022, this is just the beginning of a new venture for Frederiksen.

"There will be more to come 'cause I'm not done yet. I don't think I'll ever be," he says. "As long as I have breath, I'll unapologetically use my voice."

"To Victory" track listing:

01. God And Guns (THE OLD FIRM CASUALS)

02. Army Of Zombies (LARS FREDERIKSEN & THE BASTARDS)

03. Tomorrows Girls (U.K. SUBS cover)

04. Motherland (THE OLD FIRM CASUALS)

05. Comin' Home (KISS cover)

06. Skunx (LARS FREDERIKSEN & THE BASTARDS)

Canadian rock icon Aldo Nova took to Facebook on November 13th to celebrate his 65th birthday, posting the following message:


"Sixty-five years ago 1 took my first breath on November 13th, 1956, and today on November 13th, 2021 is the day of my rebirth, so two birthdays on the same day. Finally, a solid schedule and this is it. January 11th, 2022, I release my first song and video to my song, 'Free Your Mind' with press handled by Mitch Schneider and Marcee Rondan of SRO PR, who also handle Ozzy. Then, on February 22nd, 2022, I release the second song and video to my song 'Burn Like The Sun', again with a huge press release. Then on March 29th of 2022, I release my third video and single to my song, 'King of Deceit'. Then, on April 1st, 2022 the 40th year anniversary of the release of my multi-platinum, now considered a classic album titled Aldo Nova, which was released on April 1st, 1982. I finally release my 10-song EP, a preview to my 25-song 2-hour 15 minute rock opera, The Life And Times Of Eddie Gage. It will be available when I think the fans are ready to absorb 2-hours and 15 minutes of what is, in essence, my autobiography in music, because Eddie Gage is the name of my alter ego to make things a little clearer for you. But if it would've really been the autobiography of my Life, 65 years multiplied by 24 hours a day wouldn't be nearly enough music to cover it.


Then on April 19th, 2022 I release Aldo Nova 2.0 Reloaded, which is made up of some of my biggest songs taken from my first album, Aldo Nova, my second album, Subject, and Blood On The Bricks, but turbocharged to the Nth degree. Be careful when you're driving listening to Reloaded because you'll get the feeling that your car has nitro in the gas tank. 




The thing about Reloaded which makes it special is that since I own everything on it - because at 65 I'm not a slave to the system and I make my own rules - I've decided to make it a 2 disc set which consists of Disc 1, that has all the song as they were recorded, then on Disc 2 is where I screw the entire music industry and change the way music will be forever sold, and it's simple. Since I own everything, Disc 2 will consist of all the songs but with versions that will have my full tracks but with no lead vocal and then also versions of all the songs with no lead guitar on them, something that no artist on the planet has ever done and will probably never do because they're only interested in making money and don't give a shit about the fans. I, on the other hand, have realized that it's because of you that I can pay my mortgage and feed me, my wife Sylvie, my cat Daisy, and my Yorkshire Terrier, Roxy, so I wanted to give you something to thank you by giving you the chance to do supercharged karaoke with me, Aldo Nova, as your backing band. I also encourage young and old guitar players to jam with me to either play my solos or to do what my intentions were, and that is for guitar players to jam and use my tracks and me as your backing band to create and develop your own style and innovate and not imitate as I do.


Then in June, having bought back the master to my album Nova's Dream and re-sequencing it and having Bob Ludwig, a living legend (who has mastered all of the albums) master it so it sounds out of this world, will re-release it since the album isn't really known but is a gem of an album which is instrumental where I completely let my creativity loose and it showcases some of my best guitar playing ever recorded.


Then I start my world tour at the M3 festival on May 8th, 2022, so don't miss out and see me and my new band of gunslingers rock the world.


And then, before I do all of that, my wife will tell me to take out the garbage and the recycling also... lol.


See you all in 2022."


Back in March, Aldo Nova took six of his COVID 19 special versions of his classics from his albums, Aldo Nova, Subject, and Blood On The Bricks, and turbocharged them.


The performances below are spot on with Aldo doing the guitar and vocals live, playing to specially re-recorded versions made just for his fans who were stuck at home during the COVID 19 lockdowns. Aldo performs all the instruments and vocals on all of the songs, with an occasional song featuring the best of the best musicians.


All the songs have been re-mixed for this Home Mini Concert so it's like sitting watching a live show with an amazing soundman behind the mixing console.

BEHEMOTH mastermind Adam "Nergal" Darski and his dark folk/blues/Americana influenced solo project ME AND THAT MAN continues its celebrity team-up with the new Western-inspired single "Under The Spell" featuring the mysterious Mary Goore, better known as GHOST's Tobias Forge, alongside a captivating music video.

In contrast to the recently released soulful blues-rock ballad "Angel Of Light" (featuring Myrkur), ME AND THAT MAN now enters heavier horizons. Dark guitars, a galloping duo of snare and bass and the raspy tingling and well-known voice of Mary Goore create an ambience full of untamed anger with an unmistakable vintage Western touch.

Regarding how Forge came to be involved with the track, Nergal told Ireland's Overdrive: "It's a funny story… I've known Tobias for a long time. We crossed paths at some festival many years ago and I just introduced myself to him, and we became buddies ever since. We would see each other every now and then on different occasions. I remember him coming to Warsaw with GHOST, and I picked him up and I took him to my Barbarian Shop where he got his hair cut, etc. and we just really maintained a friendship. So, when I had this song, I immediately though of Tobias and his voice, which was just perfect for what I was trying to achieve with the overall vibe of the song. I remember sending him the rough track and he was, like, 'Awesome! It's like a rockabilly/MOTÖRHEAD kind of vibe, with an up-tempo/Western feel.' And he was totally into doing it. But then we had some issues with the lockdown/restrictions and it wasn't easy to move around, so he [Tobias] suggested that rather than doing it remotely, we actually do it in his studio because he stated that he prefers that and likes to have an in-person 'dialogue' during the recording process. I didn't think twice about it. I just booked my flight and went straight to Stockholm where we spent most of a full day in the studio. And yeah… the rest is history."

"Under the Spell" is taken from ME AND THAT MAN's third full-length studio album, "New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 2", which will be released on November 19 via Napalm Records.

Following the chart-breaking and critically acclaimed antecedent, "New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1" (2020), the enthralling new offering follows the exciting path Nergal then set ablaze, once again featuring an abundance of heavy music icons — but this time, he takes it to a whole new level. Experience greats such as Gary Holt (SLAYER, EXODUS), Alissa White-Gluz (ARCH ENEMY), Randy Blythe (LAMB OF GOD), Myrkur, Devin Townsend, David Vincent (MORBID ANGEL), Doug Blair (W.A.S.P), Hank Von Hell (TURBONEGRO) and Olve "Abbath" Eikemo (IMMORTAL, ABBATH) intertwining with the album's bewitching collection of occult anthems, marking another breathtaking symbiosis of unfiltered blues, gothic-laced folk, country essence and touch of evil you'll swear was either beamed straight out of hell or the most blackened of churches.

Darski commented on the new album: "Here we go again, mother lovers! 'New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 2'. You guys know the drill, I recruited the best of the best in heavy music to collaborate on some unique tracks me and the Polish, Italian and Ukrainian crew have been working on over the last 18 months. Once again, the result, amazing and the performances, inspired! Thank you, comrades — Abbath, Alissa, Amalie, Anders, Blaze, Chris G, Chris H, David, Devin, Douglas, Frank, Gary, Hank, Jeff, Kriss, M.Goore, Michale, Ralf and Randy. Who knows when we'll get together to play these songs but I will try my best to make it happen! Enjoy it everyone!"

Following the chart-breaking part one of the album, ME AND THAT MAN are now presenting whole new facets: Opening track "Black Hearse Cadillac", featuring the vocals of Hank Von Hell and guitar sorcery by Anders Odden, marks a sinister beginning to this infernal journey through dark desert soundscapes and evil lyricism. Driving "Under The Spell" lives up to its title, at times evoking a spaghetti western-esque ambience. Songs like wicked "Witches Don't Fall In Love" (featuring Kristoffer Rygg of ULVER), straight-to-the-head rocking "Blues & Cocaine" (featuring Michale Graves) and mysterious "Goodbye" — with a haunting-yet-powerful vocal attack by Alissa White-Gluz — showcase the record's extensive variety and that there's something unexpected lurking all throughout. This is further evident on songs like the soulful blues-rock ballad "Angel Of Light" featuring the compelling voice of Myrkur, or insanely dynamic, uptempo outburst of "Got Your Tongue" featuring Chris Georgiadis (TURBOWOLF).

After the enticing debut "Songs Of Love And Death" (2017), followed by sophomore release "New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 1", its sequel once again mirrors Nergal in a completely different light and provides a tremendous contrast to the extreme metal sounds of BEHEMOTH.

"New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 2" track listing:

01. Black Hearse Cadillac (feat. Hank Von Hell, Anders Odden)

02. Under the Spell (feat. Mary Goore)

03. All Hope Has Gone (feat. Blaze Bayley, Gary Holt, Jeff Mantas Dunn)

04. Witches Don't Fall In Love (feat. Kristoffer Rygg)

05. Losing My Blues (feat. Olve Abbath Eikemo, Frank The Baptist, Chris Holmes)

06. Coldest Day In Hell (feat. Ralf Gyllenhammar, Douglas Blair)

07. Year Of The Snake (feat. David Vincent)

08. Blues & Cocaine (feat. Michale Graves)

09. Silver Halide Echoes (feat. Randy Blythe)

10. Goodbye (feat. Alissa White-Gluz, Devin Townsend)

11. Angel Of Light (feat. Myrkur)

12. Got Your Tongue (feat. Chris Georgiadis)

ME AND THAT MAN is:

Adam "Nergal" Darski - Vocals, Guitars

Łukasz Kumański - Drums and Percussion, Backing Vocals

Matteo Bassoli - Bass, Synth, Backing Vocals

Sasha Boole - Guitars, Mouth Harp, Banjo

Photo credit: Grzegorz Gołębiowski

Dutch retailer Plato has shared audio samples of all the songs that will appear on DEEP PURPLE's next studio effort, an album of covers titled "Turning To Crime". Due on November 26 via earMUSIC, the LP will contain DEEP PURPLE's versions of great rock classics and musical jewels — including songs originally recorded by Bob Dylan, FLEETWOOD MAC, Bob Seger, CREAM and THE YARDBIRDS — carefully chosen by each member of the band.

Produced by Bob Ezrin, "Turning To Crime" arrives only 15 months after "Whoosh!", DEEP PURPLE's 21st studio album, which received acclaim by critics who praised the creative strength of a band that continues evolving with every release, and prestigious chart achievements (third consecutive No. 1 in Germany, No. 4 in the U.K., and topped the U.S. Independent Album and Hard Music Albums charts).

The second single, "Oh Well", can be streamed below. A song originally written and recorded by FLEETWOOD MAC, it is accompanied by a music video (set to premiere later today) that shows DEEP PURPLE on a very special mission. Label and management would like to state that nobody from the band or crew, nor members of the media, were hurt during the shooting of the video in Germany in early October.

"Everyone knows 'Oh Well' is a great song," DEEP PURPLE bassist Roger Glover says. "Steve [Morse, guitar] did the demo for that one. You never quite know where it's gonna go with Steve because he is very inventive. Right up until the point, with a couple of verses in, it was pretty much the same as the original. And then, all of a sudden, it took off like a rocket… in some other space."

"Turning To Crime" track listing:

01. 7 And 7 Is (LOVE)

02. Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu (Huey "Piano" Smith)

03. Oh Well (FLEETWOOD MAC)

04. Jenny Take A Ride! (MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS)

05. Watching The River Flow (Bob Dylan)

06. Let The Good Times Roll (Ray Charles & Quincy Jones)

07. Dixie Chicken (LITTLE FEAT)

08. Shapes Of Things (THE YARDBIRDS)

09. The Battle Of New Orleans (Lonnie Donegan/Johnny Horton)

10. Lucifer (BOB SEGER SYSTEM)

11. White Room (CREAM)

12. Caught In The Act [Medley: Going Down / Green Onions / Hot 'Lanta / Dazed And Confused / Gimme Some Lovin']

Last December, Glover revealed during a virtual meet-and-greet with Finnish fan Anssi Herkkola that DEEP PURPLE was planning to enter the studio in 2021 to begin work on another album. Speaking about how he and the other members of PURPLE have been spending their coronavirus downtime, Roger said: "All this COVID situation has meant that we can't tour. We're twiddling our thumbs, really, for over a year, and the idea was to possibly go back in and do another album. And so we're just working towards that. It's so quick after we'd done the last album, [and] maybe that will spoil things, but we're gonna try and do another album at some point next year. We're experimenting with stuff."

DEEP PURPLE's latest collection of original material, "Whoosh!", was released in August 2020 via earMUSIC. The LP was once again helmed by Canadian producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, ALICE COOPER), who also worked on the band's previous two studio albums, 2017's "Infinite" and 2013's "Now What?!"

Glover told Den Of Geek about the PURPLE songwriting process: "All our songs come from jamming. We don't actually write songs, they just evolve as we play. The first writing session is usually a lot of fun. We just explore different rhythms and riffs and whatever, and then take a break to listen to them, and figure out which ones we really want to work on, and that's the second writing session. And then we go to the studio and record them, but at this point, we rarely have finished vocals or lyrics. It's usually when the album has been all recorded instrumentally that [singer] Ian Gillan and I go off on our own somewhere for a couple of weeks and we write the words. Sometimes he writes on his own, sometimes I write my own. Sometimes we write together. And that's how it comes out.

He added: "You don't go to a PURPLE session with anything like a finished song. You go with an idea, and we all work on it together. It's got to be a collective. That's the point of the band — it's a collective. So, one person couldn't write a DEEP PURPLE song. It takes five of us.

"We've always done it that way. It's a strange way to write songs, I know. Most people write the songs before they go in the studio, we write them after we've been in the studio. But it was like that in '69 when I joined the band. It's been the same ever since."

In the Den Of Geek interview, Glover also said that DEEP PURPLE has "always" been a democratic group. "It was right from when I first joined the band," he explained. "We decided that whoever writes any particular idea, we all share, because we all contribute. The way we play is almost as much a part of the writing process as what the riff or the lyrics are. So we all shared everything. It didn't last that way. When I left the band, and Gillan left the band, it changed. It changed up until when Steve Morse joined. When Steve Morse joined, we said, 'Right, let's share everything.' It takes away stress, it takes away ego, it takes away jealousy, it takes away bad vibes. And I think we all share and we all write for it. We all work our bits. So that's the way we do it, and it is a democratic band."

OPETH played its first show with drummer Sami Karppinen (THERION) Tuesday night (November 16) at ExploreAsheville.com Arena in Asheville, North Carolina at the opening date of the band's tour with MASTODON and ZEAL & ARDOR. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Karppinen stepped in to play with OPETH after the Swedish progressive metallers parted ways with their longtime drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot due to what they called "a conflict of interests."

When Axenrot's exit was first announced earlier yesterday, OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt said in a statement: "However sad it is to not have Axe in the band anymore, we're not in a position to linger on anything that is going to hold us back. We need to soldier on.

"Needless to say, we're incredibly thankful that Sami is helping us out, making this tour possible and all. On top of that, he's quite outstanding, really!

"All of us wish the best for Axe in all and any of his future endeavors. He has been a incredibly important part of the band for many years now, and we're all heartbroken it didn’t work out in the end. But that's life, I guess…"

Axenrot officially joined OPETH a decade and a half ago as the replacement for Martin Lopez, who left the band in May 2006 after being plagued by illness and anxiety attacks, which forced him to miss several of OPETH's tours.

Shortly after he first started playing with OPETH, Axenrot told Drummerzone about how he landed the gig: "During OPETH's tour in the U.S., Martin Lopez got ill. The band temporarily used the services of Gene Hoglan [who is also featured in OPETH's video for the song 'The Grand Conjuration'] but needed someone else for their European trek. While they were still in the U.S., I received a phone call from singer Mikael Åkerfeldt whom I already knew from our mutual project BLOODBATH. Soon after we all met in OPETH's rehearsal studio in Stockholm and here I am today."

Back in 2007, Åkerfeldt slammed the "new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans'" for questioning the abilities of Axenrot when compared to that of Lopez. Responding to a discussion on the band's forum regarding Axenrot's more "straightforward" playing technique compared to the "jazzy" style of his predecessor, Åkerfeldt wrote in an online posting, "Wow, looks like we got ourselves a new breed of idiot OPETH 'fans' on our tail, huh? Mindblowing guys...really!" He then added: "Axe is in the band now and we all fucking love playing with him.

"When somebody picks on [Martin's] drumming I can't help but to feel that that person is a deaf moron who knows nothing about music or drumming," Mikael continued. "I get defensive not only because I brought him in the band, but mainly because he's a fucking fantastic drummer."

Australian metalcore trailblazers THE AMITY AFFLICTION have shared another new track, "Give Up The Ghost". The emotionally charged but heavy song wasn't meant to be recorded, as it came at the end of a session where they were recording alone for the first time.

"It turns out everything is faster and yet we have the same level of attention to detail we’ve always had on our records" says singer Joel Birch. "The lyrics were already written, and Ahren [Stringer, bass/vocals] had a chorus melody on another demo that worked for this song, so it all came together quickly, which was cool. Banging out a song on a whim in a day isn’t something we’ve done before, so it felt pretty good."

Since emerging in 2008 with its debut "Severed Ties", THE AMITY AFFLICTION has served up two ARIA gold-certified albums, "Youngbloods" (2010) and "Chasing Ghosts" (2012), and earned a platinum certification from ARIA for the seminal "Let The Ocean Take Me" (2014). "This Could Be Heartbreak" (2016) marked the band's second consecutive Top 30 debut on the Billboard 200 and it went gold in Australia, while "Misery" (2018) elevated them to new critical heights and most recently "Everyone Loves You...One You Leave Them" (2020) showed the band returning to their heavier side and saw the group's total stream tally surpass 460 million and counting.

THE AMITY AFFLICTION is Joel Birch (vocals), Ahren Stringer (vocals, bass), Dan Brown (lead guitar) and Jon Longobardi (drums).

Genocide Pact return with their eponymous new, Self-Titled album out December 3. Listen to Genocide Pact’s new song “Deprive / Degrade” below.


Vocalist/Guitarist Tim Mullaney comments on the new song:


“This song is an homage to our faster influences... old school grindcore bands like Terrorizer, Napalm death, and assuck. We’ve always had parts that were influenced by these bands but this time we decided to do a 100% fast song for the speed freaks. The lyrics of this song describe a generation that is increasingly socially isolated, with world views formed by what gets to your screen. Specifically, this touches on the fine line between entertainment and information relating to negative events. The ratings on war, terrorism, shootings, police violence, and on and on are so massive, it implies to some extent, that a lot of people are subconsciously entertained by the fucked up stories that dominate our media. At a certain point, the news goes from informing people to placing them in the center of a snuff film.”




The fury behind Genocide Pact captures the band's collective frustrations and personal journeys through these turbulent times.


"You turn on the news and see mass shootings, a global pandemic, endless war, and corporations and politicians trying to sell you bullshit. You pick up your phone and another friend or family member has died. On top of that, you’re broke as fuck and work endlessly for a boss that doesn’t even know your name. You find yourself paranoid, pissed off, and embracing nihilism," Tim Mullaney says.


Genocide Pact have learned to embrace the negativity, churning out one of 2021's ugliest and unforgiving records.


Genocide Pact is out December 3 on CD/LP/Digital via Relapse Records. Physical pre-orders are available here. Digital downloads / streaming here.





Tracklisting:


"Led To Extinction"
"Perverse Dominion"
"Fossilized Future"
"Mutilated Vision"
"Deprive / Degrade"
"Purged Flesh"
"Barbaric Regression"
"Industrial Obedience"


"Deprive / Degrade":





"Purged Flesh":





"Perverse Dominion" video:





Genocide Pact is:


Mike Nolan - Bass
Connor Donegan - Drums
Tim Mullaney - Guitars/Vocals
Demir Soyer - Guitars


(Photo - Brian Boeckman)

With seven studio albums and many tours alongside such black metal heavyweights as Marduk, Gorgoroth, and Dimmu Borgir under their belt, it wasn't just a little history that German black/death metal legion Mystic Circle left behind when they decided to call it quits in 2007. But alas, fourteen years of silence are over as Mystic Circle -- consisting of Beelzebub and A. Blackwar, who had actually left the group in 1999 -- has risen from their graves to renew their deal with the Dark Lord.


Comments Beelzebub of the reunion: "Had anybody told me last year that we would be releasing a new Mystic Circle album in 2022, I would have laughed out loud. A. Blackwar and I never lost contact since his departure, but we never seriously considered making music again either. One day, for whatever strange reason, we were talking about music and quickly realized that we both had lots of ideas. We got to work immediately. The old spirit was right there again as though it had never left."


Adds A. Blackwar, "I think the spirit never really left. It shouldn't have ended the way it did back in 1999. Somehow, it was boiling under the surface for all those years."







Followed by crafting eight brand-new psalms that continue along the same musical path Infernal Satanic Verses -- the final record featuring both reunion members -- left off, MYSTIC CIRCLE will unleash their self-titled comeback studio album upon mankind in early 2022 through their new partners, Atomic Fire Records. The first taste of the new offering, “Letters From The Devil” will be revealed alongside an new music video on Friday, November 19. The song also gives its name to the infernal duo's upcoming pitch-black 7" single (limited to 666 copies) whose B-side features an exclusive non-album track titled “The Godsmasher.” Preorder at the Atomic Fire webshop.


"It is with pride, we can announce that we have the opportunity to work with Atomic Fire Records,” states Beelzebub. “This is a very big thing for us because these guys will bring our dark visions to our fans and supporters in a proper way. We feel total support and together we will raise a giant called Mystic Circle. I am looking forward to all things to come in the future."


"After years of friendship and respect, we are now in the position to work together with our fellows from Atomic Fire Records,” notes A. Blackwar, “This is not only another record company, it already feels like a family. We can't wait to present you our new as well as our future releases. So let's start the Armageddon and bring the sound of hell to earth."


Atomic Fire Records CEO/founder Flori Milz raves, "After listening to the first demo versions of their new material, we were immediately sure that Mystic Circle would be of the same quality and darkly outshine all of their previous works - and it really does!"


Label co-CEO/owner Markus Wosgien concludes, "I have a special long-time relationship with the band since I was the international publicist in support of their first three albums back in the '90s. When we met the guys after hearing the new songs, we could immediately feel that a special magic and spirit was still there. We simply had no other choice but walking this way all together from then on. So here we are now, waiting for the day to come... We're pleased to herald the start of Mystic Circle's new era and can't wait for the metal world to hear this devastating comeback album!"


More details on Mystic Circle's upcoming record to be unveiled in the coming weeks.


(Photo by: Alen Ljubic)

Canada's thrash metal machine Wreck-Defy, featuring guitarist Matt Hanchuck alongside former Archetype singer Greg "Wags" Wagner, former Testament bass player Greg Christian and drummer Dave O'Neal, have released a lyric video for their new single, "Fashionably Offended".


"Fashionably Offended" is featured on the new album, The World Enslaved, available on December 1 at all digital retailers and providers. Watch the video below.


Pre-order the new album in digital format at the SubLevel Bandcamp site or anywhere digital music is sold.







Tracklisting:


"Bring It All Down"
"Fashionably Offended"
"Obey"
"Crushing The Coward"
"Tow The Line"
"I'd Share Your Grave"
"Death By War"
"Moment Of Clarity"
"Form Of Release"
"Kill The Pain"


"Fashionably Offended" lyric video:





Wreck-Defy is:


Greg “Wags” Wagner - Vocals
Matt Hanchuck - Guitar
Greg Christian - Bass
Dave O’Neal - Drums

TOTO's "Africa" recently crossed the threshold of one billion streams on Spotify. This accomplishment speaks to the continual discovery of the band's repertoire, alongside the multi-generational fan base enjoying a composition that is nearing 40 years since the band's album "IV" was released. Co-writer David Paich shares: "This surpasses a dream come true! Thank you to our family, friends and fans! 'Africa' is the result of a team effort in the studio – resulting in musical magic! And thanks to Spotify for helping TOTO connect with so many awesome listeners. I know my co-writer Jeff Porcaro would be smiling and celebrating this moment with us." Cumulative Spotify streams exceed 3.3 billion plays.

TOTO will stage 18 appearances with JOURNEY in arenas across the United States. The run begins on April 7 at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California and ends on May 11 at XL Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

TOTO recently released "With A Little Help From My Friends", a recording of a special November 21, 2020 concert when guitarist Steve Lukather, singer Joseph Williams and Paich appeared with the new lineup of TOTO for a global event originating from Los Angeles. They were joined by bassist John Pierce, drummer Robert "Sput" Searight, keyboardist/background vocalist Steve Maggiora, keyboardist Dominique "Xavier" Taplin and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Warren Ham. This lineup marks the fifteenth incarnation of TOTO in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited. In the DVD and Blu-ray versions of the set, a documentary is featured alongside the performance, which includes commentary from all members of the band that appeared that evening.

On February 26, Lukather and Williams presented separate solo albums via The Players Club / Mascot Label Group which charted in multiple territories across the globe. Both artists made significant contributions to the other's recordings. Additionally, Paich performed on select tracks on Lukather's "I Found The Sun Again" and Williams's "Denizen Tenant". The titles were released on LP and CD, and a limited-edition deluxe edition is available with the two titles bundled together.

This past June, Lukather confirmed to Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com that there are no plans for TOTO to record new music. "There's not gonna be another TOTO record," he said. "What we do is we continue doing what we do. Joe and I can make [solo] records and have some of the cats on it. And we can go out and play as TOTO. And if we get the audience, we pay off the people that sued us, and we go forward."

Lukather continued: "I'm gonna dig in. I don't roll over easily. I've taken a lot of punches over the last 45-plus years — whatever the hell it is; it's a long time. So I can take a punch, man, and I've taken a whole lot of 'em on falsities. But that's okay. It's behind me now. I let it all go. Peace and love to everybody. I don't carry around any hate. I'm, like, 'Okay, life changes. I'm sorry.' It broke my heart too. But it's like getting over a divorce — you've gotta get back on the horse again and do it. And that's what we plan on doing. There's no malicious vibe or, 'I'm gonna get even with anybody.' It's just such a waste of time. I'm 63 years old, man. I don't wanna play the games anymo

Brazil-based animator, Val Andrade, has released the latest cartoon in his series, "The Tales Of The Iron Maiden". The cartoon based on the Dance Of Death album track, "Montségur" (1993), can be seen below:





A selection of Andrade's previously released Iron Maiden-based cartoons can be seen below:

Episode Two of Psycho Schizo Espresso, the new podcast from Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson and Dr. Kevin Dutton, is available for streaming below.





If psychology was a country, then it would be the world’s top tourist destination bar none. It’s an enchanted territory with something for everyone: from aliens to drug lords, from serial killers to conspiracy theories.




Join intellectual explorers Bruce Dickinson and Dr. Kevin Dutton for an Indiana Jones-style adventure through some of its most far-flung corners as they delve into the psyches of rock icons, sporting superstars, and special forces soldiers and get the latest tips and insights from some of the most respected thought leaders and brain scientists on the planet.


If you’ve ever wondered whether psychopaths like Hannibal Lecter and Patrick Bateman really exist outside the imaginations of Hollywood screenwriters and film directors, why ghosts only seem to appear at night, and about the true meaning of the Book Of Revelation’s most enduring and enigmatic mystery – 666, the number of the beast - then welcome aboard Flight Psycho Schizo Espresso and observe the “fasten seatbelt” sign!


Episode 2 of Psycho Schizo Espresso continues where Episode 1 left off; dissecting the number of the beast with Professor Steve Friesen from the University of Texas at Austin. Bruce, Kev and Steve also delve into the murky world of conspiracy theories, the Messianic psychology of Doomsday predictors, and what happens when you crash a car into a van-load of nuns.





Psycho Schizo Espresso, Episode One can be viewed below:





Find the podcast on Apple, and Spotify.


Psycho Schizo Espresso is a Pod Prod Production.

California thrashers Fueled By Fire have returned with their new single, Past…Present…No Future Pt. 1, out now via M-Theory Audio. BraveWords is premiering the new rager, “Disrupt”, check it out below! 





Vocalist Rick Rangel comments:




"‘Disrupt’ is a song that touches on Fear, Greed, Corruption, Ignorance, Oppression, Manipulation, Hypocrisy and all out Anarchy happening around the world. Having gone through one of the craziest times in modern history, I think this song reflects the dire feeling that has been felt by everyone that has been affected by a global pandemic, media manipulation, corporate greed, corrupt politicians and police brutality all going on at the same time. Ultimately, this song is about a bleak future for everyone and that there are no happy endings... just endings.


"Past...Present...No Future! is a 4-song EP that was two years in the making. After numerous setbacks with writing and recording, these recordings seemed doomed never to be released. But as fate would have it, not even a global pandemic could stop it! If anything, the pandemic only fueled the anger and aggression felt on these songs. The reason we chose to release a 4-song EP as opposed to a full-length was to get music out a lot sooner and we were anxious to announce to the world that Fueled By Fire has returned to fuck shit up! We feel like this is the pinnacle of what we have to offer as artists and musicians and we hope to have that bleed over to our next offerings and we can't wait for you to play these songs at full volume!"





Find purchase options for the single here.


Having gone on hiatus in 2014 after a string of impressive European festival performances, Fueled By Fire reconvened at the beginning of 2020 to record new music. Initially set to be released in fall 2020, the four songs put together by the new lineup – consisting of returning members Rick Rangel (guitars/vocals), Anthony Vasquez (bass) and Carlos Gutierrez (drums), who are now joined by Gutierrez's bandmate in Blade Killer, guitarist Jon Rubio – were further refined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The first of two 7” singles to come, Past...Present...No Future...Part 1 showcases Fueled By Fire as a group ready to re-stake its claim to thrash metal supremacy, with the second 7” single to come in early 2022.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has blasted anti-vaxxers in Kansas for comparing COVID-19 vaccine mandates to the Holocaust, after a group of protesters wore yellow stars to a government hearing.

According to The Kansas City Star, a former Kansas City, Kansas, mayoral candidate donned a yellow star on Friday (November 12) to testify on Kansas lawmakers' plan to combat federal COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Daran Duffy, who finished last in a five-candidate mayoral primary field in August, told lawmakers he'd worn a yellow star as a reminder that "every single thing that Hitler did he did in accordance with the laws of his country." Nazi authorities forced Jews to wear yellow stars on their clothing as a means of identification in the 1930s and 1940s.

Duffy later defended his stance, stating that the U.S. was headed toward a catastrophe like the Holocaust when challenged by Sen. Pat Pettey, a Kansas City Democrat.

On Friday, Stanley, who is Jewish, shared a tweet about protesters wearing yellow stars to Friday's hearing, and he included the following message: "APPALLING. This is despicable. Stupidity is no excuse for being ignorant. I grieve for 6 MILLION JEWS who suffered and perished only to be trivialized by a bunch of morons who surely MUST have the capacity to read and know better. Stunned."

Back in March, Stanley told AXS TV's "At Home And Social" that he was "so excited and so thankful" to receive his second COVID-19 vaccine. "I'd like [to see] everybody just get back to a normal life," he said at the time. "It's been devastating for so many people. For us who are inconvenienced, it's minor compared to what some people have gone through."

Stanley also criticized people who were defiantly skeptical of mask wearing, saying they were posing a risk to themselves and to all those around them.

"Part of the problem is that we haven't adhered properly to what should be common sense restrictions," he said. "And as long as there are people who are negating what's being told to them, this [coronavirus crisis] is gonna extend further.

"We're supposed to be a community. And if there's the slightest possibility that it would be the right thing to do, shouldn't you do it?" he asked rhetorically.

Last month, Stanley, who often tweets about political issues to his 609,000 followers, weighed in on the controversy that erupted after a district leader in Texas asked teachers to offer students books with an "opposing perspective" of the Holocaust. Stanley tweeted at the time: "This is so FUCKED. There will ALWAYS be 'opposing views' but there are NEVER opposing FACTS."

TWISTED SISTER's Jay Jay French agreed, chiming in in a tweet: "completely insane. and you can thank Trump for unleashing the stupids".




APPALLING. This is despicable. Stupidity is no excuse for being ignorant. I grieve for 6 MILLION JEWS who suffered and perished only to be trivialized by a bunch of morons who surely MUST have the capacity to read and know better. Stunned. https://t.co/oEMGtOx6Ei

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) November 13, 2021

Consiracy promoter and right-wing media personality Alex Jones has blasted Gene Simmons for calling unvaccinated people the "enemy."

In an appearance on Talkshoplive's Rock 'N' Roll channel last week, the KISS bassist and vocalist said that many people were turned away from the band's recently completed Kiss Kruise because they were not vaccinated. All guests on the cruise, which was on a Norwegian Cruise Line boat, were required to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

"If you're willing to walk among us unvaccinated, you are an enemy," the 72-year-old Simmons said on November 10.

"This whole idea, this delusional, evil idea that you get to do whatever you want and the rest of the world be damned, is really terrible," he added. "We've got to identify those people and bring them out into the open so you know who they are."

Jones, who runs a web site which has been repeatedly accused of disseminating fake news and conspiracy theories, responded to Simmons's comments via a video message on the Infowars YouTube channel. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've got a very important message for Gene Simmons or, as he's known, the Demon. You claim that we're evil because we don't want you and Big Pharma to literally rape us with your Frankenshot GMO. And then you claim that we're gonna get you sick and you're gonna die if we don't take the shot. I thought the shot protects you. They admit it doesn't protect you. That was all a lie. In fact, it doesn't give you a little bit of protection. It actually lowers your immunity. That's in the real studies.

"So, I ask the question: are you stupid or are you consciously evil?" Jones continued. "Either way, it doesn't matter, because you're literally out there promoting to the world that I need to be forcibly injected with this garbage. That is a declaration of war against humanity, Simmons, and you're on the wrong side of history."

Scientific data shows that the COVID-19 vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective and have reduced hospitalizations and deaths.

According to FactCheck.org, the death rates for the unvaccinated are three to five times higher than the rates for the vaccinated among the 60-and-over age groups.

The effectiveness of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in preventing hospitalization and death remained high at 90% for at least six months, even against the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

More than 195 million people in the U.S. are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as of November 14 — about 59% of the total population, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracker shows. In addition, vaccination rates are uneven throughout the country, so some communities are closer to herd immunity than others.

Back in August, Simmons tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. His bandmate Paul Stanley also caught the virus, leading the band to postpone a handful of concerts.

Late last month, Rolling Stone magazine published a story in which a group of KISS roadies suggested that the lack of COVID protocols enforced on the band's "End Of The Road" farewell tour led to the death of a longtime guitar tech, 53-year-old Francis Stueber. Stueber died of coronavirus in his Detroit hotel room on October 17, just two days after being quarantined. The crew members claimed the tour didn't take strict enough safety measures, including not testing everyone regularly. In addition, some crew members allegedly disguised their illness and/or faked vaccine cards.

Gene Simmons has once again blasted people who are defiantly skeptical of COVID-19 vaccines, calling them "delusional" and the "enemy" and saying they are posing a risk to themselves and to all those around them.

The KISS bassist and co-vocalist discussed his views on anti-vaxxers while participating in a live interview on Wednesday (November 10) on the livestreaming social selling online network TalkShopLive to promote deluxe versions of the band's 45th anniversary edition of "Destroyer".

Speaking about KISS's annual Kiss Kruise, which concluded earlier this month, Simmons said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[It was] really a terrific time. Unfortunately, our European friends and other friends around the world — I prefer 'friends' to 'fans' 'cause it's really become sort of like a family — couldn't come as easily on the cruise because you had to have been vaccinated.

"I don't care about your political beliefs. You are not allowed to infect anybody just because you think you've got rights that are delusional, of course," he continued. "You don't have the right to go through a red light; actually, the government has the right to tell you to stop. You have to put on a seat belt. If they tell you you can't smoke in a building, you can't smoke in a building. And that's not because they wanna take away your rights; that's because the rest of us hate it. We don't wanna smell your smoke. I don't wanna catch your disease. I don't wanna risk my life just 'cause you wanna go through a red light.

"This whole idea, this delusional, evil idea that you get to do whatever you want and the rest of the world be damned is really terrible. You've gotta identify those people and bring 'em out into the open, so you know who they are.

"Know who your friends are by how much they care about you," Gene added. "That includes COVID. If you're willing to walk among us unvaccinated, you are an enemy."

Simmons also touched upon conspiracy theorists and anti-science die-hards who think that COVID-19 is a hoax, saying: "For those that don't believe this is real, over five million human beings have died from COVID. I know — there are Flat Earth Society people who believe in all sorts of things [who say] they died because they were fat or because they smoked. No, bitch — they died because they got COVID. And there are still a lot of people who don't believe that, and you have to find out who those people are.

"I don't care if you play football or not — stay away from evil people who don't care about your health."

Gene went on to lament the politicization of the coronavirus vaccines, saying: "It has become political, unfortunately. The far left and the far right are both evil; they both spread all kinds of nonsense. I don't like either one of them. Politics are the enemy. Humanism and humanity is what we should all be concerned about. Love thy neighbor as thyself.

"For god's sakes, if I'm gonna yawn in your presence, I'm gonna put my hand up in front of my mouth," he reasoned. "Yawning is not a life-threatening event. You having COVID might be a life-threatening event, and I don't wanna catch it."

Back in August, Simmons tested positive for COVID-19 despite being vaccinated. His bandmate Paul Stanley also caught the virus, leading the band to postpone a handful of concerts.

Late last month, Rolling Stone magazine published a story in which a group of KISS roadies suggested that the lack of COVID protocols enforced on the band's "End Of The Road" farewell tour led to the death of a longtime guitar tech, 53-year-old Francis Stueber. Stueber died of coronavirus in his Detroit hotel room on October 17, just two days after being quarantined. The crew members claimed the tour didn't take strict enough safety measures, including not testing everyone regularly. In addition, some crew members allegedly disguised their illness and/or faked vaccine cards.

RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe has addressed rock's diminishing commercial profile and ever-decreasing album sales, saying "the rebellion in rock music is kind of over."

For the past several years, hip-hop has surpassed rock as the most popular genre in the U.S., consistently coming out on top as the largest genre in terms of total consumption, which includes album sales and album-equivalent streaming figures.

Kruspe, who is promoting the new album from his EMIGRATE project, spoke about rock's declining popularity in a new interview with Summa Inferno. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The thing with rock, it used to have, or every kind of music has a certain kind of mission. Rock music used to be music that we would [use] to rebel against our parents. I remember when I was small, I was cranking up rock music, and my parents would come in and say, 'Can you put it down?' Nowadays, when my kids play rock music, I come in and say, 'Can you make it louder?' So the rebellion in rock music is kind of over. That's why I think the rebellion these days is more in lyrics. That's why I think hip-hop is so popular — because the young generation needs to rebel. But this will also [be] over, and the next generation [will move on to] something else. I don't know if rock music comes back, but at the moment, obviously, it has changed and it's not high priority in the music business.

Kruspe also bemoaned the lack of new rock bands capable of headlining festivals in the future. "[Acts like RAMMSTEIN and METALLICA] all like dinosaurs. I mean, of course, but think about it — all those dinosaur bands, they're old," he said. "We're old people [by] comparison. The young generation, they're listening maybe also to rock, but they're also interested in other kinds of music. And the other problem is that those big bands, they're not coming after. I always talk about those stadium bands. It's almost over. What's the last stadium band you know? Maybe MUSE was the last one. I'm talking about huge stadium bands that can play in a stadium. They're getting less and less and less, and certainly they will die out."

EMIGRATE's fourth LP, "The Persistence Of Memory", was released on November 5.

A year and a half ago, RAMMSTEIN postponed its 2020 North American stadium tour due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe. The trek was then moved to the summer of 2021 before being postponed once again, this time to the summer of 2022.

RAMMSTEIN's seventh, untitled album came out in May 2019 via UME/Spinefarm in Europe and Caroline Records in the U.S.

Ozzy Osbourne says that he is "really happy" his former bassist Robert Trujillo appears on his new solo album.

Trujillo, who had a seven-year tenure with Ozzy before joining METALLICA in 2003, has recorded a guest appearance on the legendary heavy metal singer's follow-up to 2020's "Ordinary Man" LP.

Speaking to the December issue of Metal Hammer magazine, which pays homage to METALLICA, Ozzy said: "Rob has always been a great friend of mine. He's a great bass player and a great guy; he's the only guy who, when it came time to move, did things the right way.

"I always ask that the guys who play with me, if they get another offer and want to move on, that's fine, just don't drop me in the shit, give me time to get a replacement. Rob's the only guy who ever did things right by me for that. I'm really happy we've got him playing on the new album as well."

Regarding the massive success of METALLICA's self-titled album, better known as The Black Album, which celebrated its 30th anniversary this year, Ozzy said: "In this business, there's a lot that'll surprise you and I'm forever being surprised by things. Clearly the album touched a nerve or something, but I just know that it's a really good album, you know? It's one of those albums that came at the right time and place, then took off. If we knew exactly what was needed to make an album go off like that, we'd all do it, but they got it perfectly right and made an absolute must-have album."

During his time in Ozzy's band, Trujillo appeared on the "Down To Earth" and "Live At Budokan" albums, as well as the 2002 reissues of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman". The latter two were widely panned by Osbourne fans when Sharon's wife and manager had Trujillo re-record original bassist Bob Daisley's parts after Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake sued Ozzy and Sharon over royalties. They were restored for the 30th-anniversary editions.

Ozzy, who is signed to Sony Music, recently confirmed that 15 songs have been recorded for his next LP. He is once again working with producer Andrew Watt on the "work-in-progress" effort, which will include additional guest appearances by Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Tony Iommi and Zakk Wylde.

Last month, Ozzy told Metal Hammer magazine that his new album will be "similar in tone to 'Ordinary Man', but I can't describe it completely. I've not heard it for a while because it keeps going over to the next person to add their parts — we're fucking around with it all the time," he said.

Watt connected with Osbourne after meeting Ozzy's daughter Kelly at a friend's party and pitching her on the idea of Post Malone and Ozzy collaborating together.

In December 2020, Watt told Guitar World that he and the BLACK SABBATH legend were "halfway through" the new LP. "There's some songs on there that are like eight or nine minutes long that are these really crazy journeys. I'm really excited about it," he said.

Like "Ordinary Man", which featured Watt on guitar, Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES) on bass and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) on drums, Ozzy's next album will feature guest appearances by a number of other notable musicians. "There's a bunch of people involved," Andrew told Guitar World. "I can't say for sure until the end, but I started doing a bunch of basic tracks with Chad and Robert Trujillo, who used to play in Ozzy's band. And Taylor Hawkins [FOO FIGHTERS] also came in and played a bunch on the record as well, which adds a different flair — it kind of harkened back to Ozzy's '80s era, in a great way. And I think it's so cool for a rock fan to be able to listen to half an album with Chad Smith on drums, and then you flip it over and you get to hear Taylor Hawkins. And you know, the last album was really special for everyone involved. And so there was no point in Ozzy or me doing this again unless we thought we could bring something new to the table. And I feel like we're achieving th

Me And That Man, the blues/dark folk/Americana project from Behemoth mastermind, Adam 'Nergal' Darski, will release their new studio album, New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol. 2, via Napalm Records this Friday, November 19.


In a new interview with Guitar World, Nergal talks to Greg Prato about gear, leading a double life in both bands, tapping up his guitar heroes for Me And That Man's new LP, and his future plans. An excerpt follows:


Guitar World: What's your guitar setup for Me And That Man?




“It’s very simple. I have some pedals - the names I don’t remember, because they were made custom for me. What is set in stone is always the same combination, it’s a Peavey Combo, vintage something - I’m so bad with names - and Gretsch guitars. I’m endorsed by Gretsch - I’ve been a huge fan of those guitars. I call them ‘jewels’ - they’re not really guitars, they’re jewels. They’re just beautiful pieces of art. When people think of Me And That Man, I want them to see a Gretsch. And when people see a Gretsch, they think of Me And That Man.”


Guitar World: How does it differ from your setup in Behemoth?


“You don’t want to hear any Behemoth song played with my Me And That Man set-up. We could never pull off anything – because it would sound like… someone farted! [Laughs]  Of course, there are no secrets - with Behemoth, it’s a high-gain band. You’ve got to have this sustain and punch. You can’t do that with the Me And That Man setup. So, it’s basically two opposite worlds - because the music comes from two opposite angles. I mean, you can compare it… But what’s the purpose? It’s not going to work.”


Read more at Guitar World.


Following the chart-breaking and critically acclaimed antecedent, New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol.1 (2020), the new offering showcases an abundance of heavy music icons, but this time, it's taken to a whole new level. Experience the likes of Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus), Alissa White-Gluz (Arch Enemy), Mary Goore, Randy Blythe (Lamb Of God), Myrkur, Devin Townsend, David Vincent, Doug Blair (W.A.S.P), Hank von Hell (Turbonegro) and Olve 'Abbath' Eikemo (Immortal, Abbath) intertwining with the album’s collection of occult anthems. This symbiosis of unfiltered blues, gothic-laced folk, essence of dark outlaw country and a touch of evil you’ll swear was either beamed straight out of hell or the most blackened of churches.





New Man, New Songs, Same Shit, Vol.2 will be available in the following formats:


- 1 CD Sleevepack
- 1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Black
- 1 LP Gatefold Vinyl Sun Yellow (Napalm Records worldwide exclusive)
- 1 LP Earbook Marbled Black/Gold “Die Hard Edition” + 48pages booklet + slip mat (Napalm Records worldwide exclusive)
- Digital album


You can pre-order or pre-save here.


Album sleeve artwork by Bartek-Rogalewicz.





Tracklisting:


"Black Hearse Cadillac" (feat. Hank Von Hell, Anders Odden)
"Under The Spell" (feat. Mary Goore)
"All Hope Has Gone" (feat. Blaze Bayley, Gary Holt, Jeff Mantas Dunn)
"Witches Don't Fall In Love" (feat. Kristoffer Rygg)
"Losing My Blues" (feat. Olve Abbath Eikemo, Frank The Baptist, Chris Holmes)
"Coldest Day In Hell" (feat Ralf Gyllenhammar, Douglas Blair)
"Year Of The Snake" (feat. David Vincent)
"Blues & Cocaine" (feat. Michale Graves)
"Silver Halide Echoes" (feat. Randy Blythe)
"Goodbye" (feat. Alissa White-Gluz, Devin Townsend)
"Angel Of Light" (feat. Myrkur)
"Got Your Tongue" (feat. Chris Georgiadis)


"Angel Of Light" video:





"Got Your Tongue" video:





Track-By-Track videos:


Part 1:





Part 2:





Me And That Man are:


Adam 'Nergal' Darski - Vocals and Guitars
Łukasz Kumański - Drums and Percussion, Backing Vocals
Matteo Bassoli - Bass, Synth and Backing Vocals
Sasha Boole - Guitars, Mouth Harp, Banjo


(Photo - Grzegorz-Gołębiowski)

Arjen Anthony Lucassen (Ayreon) is back with a new Star One album, titled Revel In Time. The new album comes more than 10 years since the previous release and is due out on February 18 via InsideOutMusic.


Arjen has issued the following update, announcing an appearance by Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Sons Of Apollo, Guns N’ Roses): "Ron plays a solo on the track ‘Back From The Past’ of the new Star One album, Revel in Time. Check out this video to hear part of the solo and don’t miss Ron’s little message at the end. What a guitar player... I truly believe this guy can do anything, and with such unflappable ease!"







Revel In Time will be available for pre-order on December 17 and it will come as Ltd. 2CD Digipak, Ltd. Deluxe 3CD+Blu-Ray Artbook (incl. a poster of the cover artwork), and as 180g Gatefold 2LP (incl. the album on CD & an LP-Booklet).


CD 2 features alternate versions of the same songs as CD 1, but with different vocalists. Also available will be a 5.1 mix, a high-res audio version, and an exclusive, hour-long Behind the Scenes video, on the Blu-ray included in the Artbook.





Revel In Time tracklisting:


CD1:


"Fate Of Man"
"28 Days (Till The End Of Time)"
"Prescient"
"Back From The Past"
"Revel In Time"
"The Year Of ’41"
"Bridge Of Life"
"Today Is Yesterday"
"A Hand On The Clock"
"Beyond The Edge Of It All"
"Lost Children Of The Universe"


CD 2 features the same songs as CD 1, but with different vocalists.


"Lost Children Of The Universe" lyric video:

Ground-breaking, genre-defying instrumental trio, Animals As Leaders, recently dropped brand new track, "Monomyth", their first in 5 years. You can now watch guitarist Tosin Abasi's  playthrough video for the song below.





"Monomyth" comes accompanied by a high-concept music video directed by Telavaya Reynolds and featuring choreography by Tlathui Maza / NOHBORDS. Find "Monomyth" on streaming platforms here, and watch the official video below.







Speaking on the band's new release, Tosin Abasi shares, "'Monomyth' is part fever dream, part ritual. Its imagery represents man's ceaseless attempts to translate transcendent ideas into movement. The conflation of struggle with meaning. Pain with significance. The ultimate failure of distilling perceived patterns in the world into knowledge."





The band also announced that they have signed a new deal with their current label home, world renowned independent powerhouse, Sumerian Records.

OPETH has parted ways with longtime drummer Martin "Axe" Axenrot. The Swedish progressive metallers announced Axenrot's exit from the group in a social media post earlier today. The band wrote: "Due to a conflict of interests, Martin Axenrot is no longer part of the OPETH collective. His replacement for the North American tour with MASTODON and ZEAL & ARDOR will be powerhouse drummer Sami Karppinen [THERION]. His first show will take place today (November 16) at Harrah's Cherokee center in Asheville, NC."

OPETH frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt added: "However sad it is to not have Axe in the band anymore, we're not in a position to linger on anything that is going to hold us back. We need to soldier on.

"Needless to say, we're incredibly thankful that Sami is helping us out, making this tour possible and all. On top of that, he's quite outstanding, really!

"All of us wish the best for Axe in all and any of his future endeavors. He has been a incredibly important part of the band for many years now, and we're all heartbroken it didn’t work out in the end. But that's life, I guess…"

Shortly after he joined OPETH back in 2005, Axenrot told Drummerzone about how he landed the gig: "During OPETH's tour in the U.S., [then-OPETH drummer] Martin Lopez got ill. The band temporarily used the services of Gene Hoglan [who is also featured in OPETH's video for the song 'The Grand Conjuration'] but needed someone else for their European trek. While they were still in the U.S., I received a phone call from singer Mikael Åkerfeldt whom I already knew from our mutual project BLOODBATH. Soon after we all met in OPETH's rehearsal studio in Stockholm and here I am today."


Posted by Opeth on Tuesday, November 16, 2021