MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best across a wide range of subjects, today announced that METALLICA will teach a class on being a band. In celebration of the group's 40th anniversary and as the first rock band to teach on MasterClass, James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo will reflect on four decades of transcendence, giving members a window into their journey to teach strategies for growing and staying together as a band, collaborating creatively and maintaining a unique and intimate relationship with a loyal legion of fans. METALLICA's class is now available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers get unlimited access to all 100+ instructors with an annual membership.

"With 40 years of sustained success, METALLICA is arguably one of the greatest bands of all time," said David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass. "For the first time, METALLICA will bring MasterClass members along their dynamic creative process, teaching strategies for what it takes to be a band and demonstrating how individuals with big ideas can start, maintain and work together as a collective."

In their class, METALLICA will unpack the principles that ensure longevity as a group by being effective communicators, managing criticism and navigating collaboration. Breaking down some of their greatest hits, including "Enter Sandman" and "Master Of Puppets", they will provide techniques for songwriting, taking members through the process of a song from its conception as a riff to its finished arrangement, complete with lyrics, solos and moments of dynamic tension.

Drawing on a devoted international fan base, METALLICA will dive deep into the audience-performer relationship, sharing advice on how to connect with fans on stage and off, and how to cultivate and maintain these lifelong relationships. Their philosophies on writing lyrics, creating albums and sustaining a band's interpersonal relationships over time will help aspiring musicians come together as a unified creative team. Members in creative fields will appreciate the band's insights on how to offer constructive feedback, communicate effectively when strong personalities are involved, and take a pragmatic approach to the necessities of business. After sharing stories of the band's transcendence and keys to creative collaboration, METALLICA will leave members inspired to think of their own creative collaborations in a new light with an exclusive six-song performance.

"We have sustained our bond for more than 40 years because we've learned a lot about each other and ourselves over time," said Hetfield, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and cofounder of METALLICA. "In our class we not only teach MasterClass members how we write songs and find inspiration for our music, but how the experiences we've had together have contributed to successful creative collaboration."

Formed in 1981 by Hetfield and Ulrich, METALLICA ranks as one of the most commercially successful bands of all time, having sold more than 120 million albums worldwide and generating more than 15 billion streams. METALLICA has released 10 studio albums, four live albums, a cover album, five extended plays, 37 singles and 39 music videos. Its last six studio albums have consecutively debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The band's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards and a 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. In 2018, the band was awarded one of the most prestigious musical honors in the world: Sweden's Polar Music Prize. In 2017, METALLICA established the All Within My Hands foundation to give back to communities that have supported the band. To date, All Within My Hands has donated more than $4 million to critical local services and the fight against food insecurity, working with partners around the world to feed more than 10 million people. In addition, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has pledged a total of $4.1 million in grants benefiting 23 community colleges across the U.S. For 40 years and counting, METALLICA has forged an unwavering bond of mutual loyalty with its legions of fans, as represented by the more than one-million-strong Fifth Member fan club.

Launched in 2015, MasterClass is the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best. With an annual membership, subscribers get unlimited access to 100+ instructors and classes across a wide range of subjects, including arts & entertainment, business, design and style, sports and gaming, writing and more. Each class features about 20 video lessons, at an average of 10 minutes per lesson. You can learn on your own terms — in bite-size pieces or in a single binge. Cinematic visuals and close-up, hands-on demonstrations make you feel like you're one-on-one with the instructors, while the downloadable instructor guides help reinforce your learning. Stream thousands of lessons anywhere, anytime, on mobile, tablet, desktop, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku players and devices.

Photo credit: courtesy of MasterClass

According to TMZ, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons has purchased a mansion in Beverly Hills, California for $10.5 million. The home occupies more than 7,000 square feet of living apace and an additional 1800 square feet of "sleek deck space." The sophisticated design allows for scenic views from the expansive kitchen, dining, living room, four bedrooms and five bathrooms, upstairs library/gallery space and a sliver of glass in the home theater. The home is one half solar powered, using roof panels to heat the pool and radiant heated floors.

Check out photos of the property at TMZ.

Last week, Gene spoke to The Wall Street Journal about his decision to sell his Southern Nevada estate, only five months after buying it.

Simmons paid a combined $10.8 million for the home and a lot adjacent to it back in May and is now asking $14.95 million for it. Among the improvements Simmons made to the Vegas house is installing all new floors and ripping up wall-to-wall carpeting in some of the rooms.

According to Gene, his wife and their two adult children never wanted to spend time in Las Vegas, preferring to stay at the family's other homes, an extensive portfolio which includes a modern lake house in Whistler, British Columbia, a home in Malibu and two houses in L.A. that Gene bought for the Simmons kids, Nick and Sophie.

"They're not fans of 115-degree weather," Simmons told The Wall Street Journal.

Because of KISS's touring schedule and his business travel, Gene said he never spent more than a few weeks total in Las Vegas. He went on to say that he had no regrets about selling the property so soon after the purchase, adding: "How many houses do you need anyway?"

Last month, Simmons sold his Los Angeles mansion for $16 million, almost a year after he first put it on the market for $22 million. He later relisted it for $25 million after it never sold and he reportedly invested a lot of money in making improvements.

Simmons has been very vocal about his desire to leave California for some time due to wanting a quieter lifestyle and to get away from being listed on celebrity maps or having to deal with Beverly Hills tour buses. He also said that part of the reason he and his wife listed the two-acre property in Benedict Canyon because the home had become too big for the both of them since their children had grown up.

Gene and Shannon were married in 2011 after dating since 1975.

Gene, Shannon and their kids all appeared on the reality TV series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" from 2006 until 2

French progressive metallers GOJIRA have released a music video for the song "Sphinx". The clip was directed and animated by Zev Deans, who has previously helmed videos for BEHEMOTH, GHOST and more.

"Sphinx" is taken from GOJIRA's latest album, "Fortitude", which entered Billboard's Top Albums chart at No. 1 last May, while also claiming the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top Current Albums, Current Rock Albums and Current Hard Music Albums tallies. The release also marked a career high debut on the Billboard 200 for GOJIRA, arriving at No. 12, with several career high chart positions and Top 10 debuts in countries around the globe including: France (No. 2), United Kingdom (No. 6), Australia (No. 3), Germany (No. 8), Belgium (No. 2), Netherlands (No. 4), Denmark (No. 3), Portugal (No. 4), Finland (No. 2) and Norway (No. 10).

"Fortitude" is highlighted by the singles "Another World", "Born For One Thing", "Into The Storm", "Amazonia" and "The Chant", a slow-burning track featuring some of GOJIRA's most melodic material to date.

Furthermore, GOJIRA recently concluded a month-long fundraising initiative in support of the indigenous-owned NGO The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who advocate for environmental and cultural rights of indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Working with the social good-focused digital platform Propeller, the charitable campaign raised over $300,000 through an auction and raffle of one-of-a-kind items from the band and their friends in METALLICA, TOOL, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, Slash and more. All proceeds will be donated to APIB to support their work aiding the indigenous tribes of the Amazon who have suffered immensely — victims of deforestation, land loss, forced labor, violence, and harassment.

Recorded and produced by Joseph Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), "Fortitude" is GOJIRA's first album in five years and the follow-up to 2016's Grammy-nominated LP "Magma". A collection of songs urging humanity to imagine a new world and then make it happen, "Fortitude" has been earning widespread critical praise with Rolling Stone naming it one of their best albums of April 2021 and remarking "It's all the rage of death metal mixed with the conscience of punk rock and the musicality of progressive rock." NPR hailed "Another World" as "an apocalyptic banger," and Paste called "Into The Storm" a "much-needed revolutionary anthem." Stereogum declared, "hearing this band operating at their peak is a life-affirming thing," while Revolver attested "Fortitude" "could spark a revolution."

In a new interview with Mexico's WARP Magazine, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello was asked for his opinion on the state of the world at the moment. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The thing that gives me hope — and there are a lot of challenges before; in the face of the environmental challenges and the political challenges and the racist challenges — but the one message that I will just say over and over again that's been a theme of all of my bands and all of my interviews is that the world is not going to change itself; that is up to you. And that history is not something that happens; history is something that you make. And whenever the world has changed for the better — in progressive ways, in radical ways — it's been people no different than anyone listening to this right now who have been the people who changed it. You may think that your life is just Instagram or video games or working… You're the one who changes it. It's never been different than that. It's people who have had no more power, courage, money, influence, creativity than anyone listening to this. It's a matter of standing up in your place in time and unpologetically aiming for the world you really want."

Morello — co-founder of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE and PROPHETS OF RAGE — released his new album, "The Atlas Underground Fire", on October 15 via Mom + Pop Music. The LP's first single was the classic AC/DC rock anthem "Highway To Hell" featuring Morello, Bruce Springsteen and Eddie Vedder.

Morello is widely known as a barrier-breaking guitarist who continues to push the limits and prove the transformative power of music. Throughout his acclaimed career he has collaborated with everyone from WU-TANG CLAN to Johnny Cash. On "The Atlas Underground Fire", as he did on 2018's "The Atlas Underground", Morello took a path into new sonic territory with the project's breadth of talented collaborators, transforming his sound.

Finland's Tolkien-inspired metallers Battlelore, who announced they were taking an an indefinite break in 2011 and made a one-off appearance at the Metal Female Voices Fest XIII in October 2016, confirmed back in July 2020 they were gearing up for a return. 


A photo of vocalists Tomi Mykkänen and Kaisa Jouhki was uploaded via the band's official Facebook page back in February 2020. When asked by a fan if a new album was in the works, they responded with a cryptic "Might be. Who knows?".


On July 8th, 2020 the band posted the photo below online, and when asked by a fan if a new album was on the way Battlelore responded "At least some new music." 




The band entered the Sound Supreme Studio last week and have shared snippets from the guitar recording sessions. Check them out below.

Colorado metal force Allegaeon return with their sixth studio album, Damnum, set for release on February 25th, 2022 via Metal Blade Records. Today, the five-piece also deliver a blistering look into their new album with the first streaming single/video "Into Embers".

"As an introduction to our new album, Damnum, we are thrilled to present "Into Embers," Allegaeon vocalist Riley McShane proudly states. "This song embodies the dark and fitful nature of this album by bringing to the table elements of ourselves as a band and as individual musicians that we have been waiting to share with you all for a long, long time. As always, we are excited for our listeners to join us as we step forward into new landscapes - continuing to push the boundaries of our music further and further - and we are eager to experience the unveiling of Damnum together over these next few months."

Dee Snider says that "it's insane just to think about" the fact that AC/DC's much-anticipated new album will utilize previously unreleased guitar tracks from late guitarist Malcolm Young.

Last December, Snider confirmed that he had dinner with Brian Johnson and that the AC/DC frontman was doing "good," four years after he was forced to leave the band mid-tour due to a dangerous level of hearing loss. He was eventually replaced on the road by GUNS N' ROSES vocalist Axl Rose.

Asked in a new interview with Marci Wiser of the 95.5 KLOS radio station when fans will finally get a chance to hear new music from AC/DC, the TWISTED SISTER singer said (hear audio below): "I think that everybody — and you've seen this with the movie industry; you've seen this across the board — not everybody, but a lot of people have said, 'Let's just put a hold on everything until everything until things settle down a little.'

"I think they're planning on a tour to go with the new record, and I know they're spoiled old brats like me — they don't wanna do it online or something," Dee continued. "They know they're gonna be playing stadiums on this tour."

Two years ago, Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd, along with guitarists Angus Young and Stevie Young, were photographed outside Vancouver's Warehouse Studios. Based on the pictures, the assumption was that AC/DC was in the midst of making — or at least planning — another album, with Rudd and Johnson both back in the lineup.

"I'm an O.G. AC/DC fan," Dee said. "I discovered them in Australia, before they were even here in the States. And to see the classic lineup — Cliff and Brian and Angus and Phil… To see the classic lineup and know that they actually had tracks from Malcolm that they've used. So you're actually getting the band on this record. It's insane just to think about it."

Snider's latest comments seem to corroborate a September 2018 report from JAM! magazine, which cited a "reliable source inside the AC/DC camp" as indicating that the band was recording a new LP which will utilize previously unreleased guitar tracks from Malcolm Young on all the songs.

This past February, Snider said that AC/DC's upcoming album will feature "some surprises" related to Malcolm Young that will blow the minds of the band's diehard fans.

Ever since AC/DC completed the tour cycle for its 2014 album "Rock Or Bust" four years ago — a turbulent trek that weathered the forced retirement and eventual death of co-founder Malcolm Young, plus the departures of Johnson, Rudd and bassist Cliff Williams — fans have wondered whether sole remaining founding member Angus Young would keep the band going or decide it was time for AC/DC to pack it in.

In February 2019, a photo surfaced on social media suggesting that Williams has also returned to AC/DC and will appear on the rumored comeback album.

Ted Nugent has weighed in on the fatal on-set shooting last week involving actor Alec Baldwin.

Baldwin shot a prop firearm while rehearsing a scene on the set of the movie "Rust", killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Hutchins died on Thursday after being airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital. Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident but was released from the hospital the following day.

Nugent discussed the incident during his Facebook Live stream on Monday (October 25). He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm not gonna comment right now on… What's the dirtbag that shot the guy with a prop gun? Alec Baldwin. We don't know the details. But until we know the details, all I wanna say is I know Alec Baldwin is just a nasty, nasty man. He would attack the good families of the NRA that did nothing wrong and blame us when there was a school shooting. So we know he's a liar and his brain is fried and he's just a prick. But you know what we're gonna do for the brainfried, nasty, rotten prick? We're gonna pray for him until we find out the details of that terrible accident — if it was an accident. Because you know if you point the gun at something and you blow that thing up, it's not an accident; that's negligence. So as big of a prick as Alec Baldwin is, we're actually praying for the prick, because I know he's hurtin'. Nobody wants to kill anybody in an unnecessary moment like that."

The outpoken conservative rocker and avid hunter, who is the national spokesman for pro-hunting lobbying group Hunter Nation, continued: "When I did the 'Miami Vice' episode, I had a prop gun that happened to be the exact replica of the Taurus brushed nickel nine-millimeter that I carried at the time. So when I went to perform on 'Miami Vice' back in '84, '85, 'Little Miss Dangerous' time, I made sure I disassembled my Taurus and separated the spring and the slide and the frame and the barrel, and I separated everything so there was no possibility whatsoever that someone would mistake my real brushed nickel nine-millimeter with the prop brushed nickel nine-millimeter. And even when I shot Don Johnson in the shootout, I made sure I wasn't pointing it at him. I cannot point a gun at anything I'm not willing to destroy. So I can't wait to find out what happened. But because he's a liberal prick, and the media is controlled by liberal pricks, and all the so-called justice in America is controlled by liberal pricks — for the most part. Only the guilty need to feel guilty, 'cause there's some really good judges and good lawyers and good attorney generals out there — I think nine total. But since the so-called court systems of America are basically run by a gang of pricks, they'll probably cover for the Alec prick. And we'll probably never find out what happened."

Baldwin famously impersonated former president Donald Trump during his time in office on "Saturday Night Live". Those impersonations were a sore point for the former president, who would often take the time to rail against the actor's performances on Twitter.

Nugent, who recently resigned from the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA) after 26 years, has called Trump "the greatest president in our lifetime." He also said the billionaire real estate mogul represents "the heart and soul of the best American families out there."

Leading up to the 2020 presidential election, Nugent teamed up with Donald Trump Jr. on the campaign trail.

Nugent, known as the "Motor City Madman," moved to Texas from Michigan more than 18 years ago.






Posted by Ted Nugent on Monday, October 25, 2021

Kurt Deimer has announced the release of the video for his new single “Burn Together,” directed by Scottish filmmaker Paul Boyd (Sting, Deadmau5, The Cult). The video spotlights Deimer’s cinematic vision and charismatic presence and features former Queensrÿche frontman Geoff Tate on guest vocals. The track and video are the first offering from Deimer’s upcoming debut EP Work Hard Rock Hard, following the release of his cover of the Pink Floyd classic “Have A Cigar.”





“One of my most enduring musical memories is Geoff Tate performing ‘Silent Lucidity’ with Queensrÿche in front of an orchestra on the MTV Video Awards thirty years ago, so to have Geoff Tate performing on my first release and in a video with me is beyond surreal,” said Kurt Deimer. “His music has had a profound influence on me, and now I get to celebrate that influence on tour and in the video. Paul Boyd did an amazing job filtering my vision through his lens and creativity. It’s such an honor to be surrounded by so many talented people.”




“Kurt Deimer knows exactly what he wants and gives 100% on screen. His song “Burn Together” and the video collaboration we made with Geoff Tate is a breath of fresh air in the sea of sameness.  Kurt wants to break the mold and he’s got a story to tell…and his live show kicks ass too,” said Paul Boyd.


“Burn Together” debuted as #3 most added on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Indicator chart, following only Papa Roach and Bad Wolves, and premiered on the Foundations Secondary Market Rock Chart as the fourth most added.. 


The song is the public’s first taste of what to expect from Kurt Deimer’s upcoming debut EP, Work Hard, Rock Hard. Due for release later this year, the all-original EP is ripe with Deimer’s enchanting lyrical musings, the brazen musicianship of his musical director and key collaborator Phil X [Bon Jovi], and the epic production of Chris Lord-Alge (Rolling Stones, Green Day, Joe Cocker).


Joined by a band that includes guitarists Phil X - who is splitting time between Deimer and Bon Jovi - and Michale Vassos, bassist Cristian Sturba and drummer Dango, Kurt Deimer embarked on his first tour this fall in support of Geoff Tate. Deimer will continue to hold down direct support duties this November as the legendary frontman performs the Queensrÿche albums Empire and Rage For Order in their entirety across North America.


Find more information at KurtDeimer.com.

Following the departure of bassist Martyn Millard, stoner metal masters Orange Goblin have regrouped, recruiting old comrade Harry Armstrong for their new studio opus and impending live shows, and have signed a new deal with Peaceville Records. The 10th full length will be out sometime in 2022.

Orange Goblin frontman Ben Ward comments: "When we first started the band back in 1995, Peaceville was a label we admired so much due to the number of amazing bands they were releasing and building careers for at the time. To join a roster that released albums by the likes of Autopsy, Darkthrone, Paradise Lost, Anathema, My Dying Bride, Pentagram, At The Gates, Aura Noir and many more is an absolute honour and we look forward to continuing that amazing bloodline of talent, alongside the killer bands that they currently have on their books. We spoke to a few labels when our last deal ended and the enthusiasm, vision and passion for the music that Peaceville showed made this a really easy decision for all of us. We can't wait to start work on what will be the 10th Orange Goblin studio album. With a new bass player in place we are now writing new material and expect to have this released sometime in 2022. Cheers!"

Paul Groundwell (Peaceville label manager) says: "As trailblazers of the UK heavy metal scene for well over two decades now, and a band which has remained consistent in their attitude and with unwavering integrity towards their art, we're delighted to now welcome Orange Goblin to the Peaceville family for more top class doom-fuelled shenanigans to come."

Finnish folk influenced melodic death metal band Crowen is set to release their debut EP, Prophecy, on December 10th via Inverse Records. They have released their first single and video, "Exosus". Check it out below.


Frontman Esa Uusimaa comments: "'Exosus' is one of the first songs I have composed for Crowen. I have been working on new songs during this year. Due to these new songs, this new single almost didn't make it to the EP release.


The song has a massive beginning, blast beat sweeps the listener away. Strings bring wistfulness to the song, making the sound melodic and brutal at the time. The songwriter, Nina Kärki, was inspired by a story of a hated person. The catching melody flows throughout the song and growl vocals tie the song together."
 
 Pre-save Prophecy to your Spotify playlist here 




Crowen was founded in 2019 by Esa Uusimaa (Rain of Acid, ex-Wolfheart). The band released their fist single, "In Arms", in September 2020.





Tracklist:


"Her Words"
"Seer's Prophecy"
"Submission"
"Black"
"Exosus"





Line-up:


Esa Uusimaa - Vocals, Guitars
Aki Örni - Bass
Teemu Hauta - Drums
Mira Cibulka - Feature Vocals
 
For more information on Crowen go to the band's official Facebook page. 


Photo by Minna Heikkilä

Founding BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has shared three new original poems apparently titled "Halloween 2021", "A Walk Home" and "Cold… And Dark". Check them out below.

Ward has released a number of poems in recent months, some inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and others celebrating the fall–winter holiday season, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bill was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced more than nine years ago, but backed out soon after. The drummer later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

All four original members of SABBATH were present when the band announced its reunion in late 2011. But Ward split from the group in 2012, citing an "unsignable" contract, and singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler carried on with their Rick Rubin–produced "13" LP and extensive international touring without him.

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio during SABBATH's last tour that Ward was not in shape to participate. "Bill Ward has got the most physically demanding job of the lot of us, 'cause he's the timekeeper," he said. "I don't think personally he had the chops to pull it off, you know. The saddest thing is that he needed to own up to that, and we could have worked around it, whether we had a drummer on the side with him or something."

It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, something that Iommi confirmed in 2017 during a question-and-answer session about SABBATH's "Ten Year War" box set.

In 2015, Ward released his first solo album in 18 years. Titled "Accountable Beasts", the record can be purchased on iTunes.

In November 2017, Ward's band DAY OF ERRORS released its first two songs, "Day Of Errors" and "Blaspheming At Creation", via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and Google Play. Two more tracks, "Dark" and "Ghost Train", followed in 2019.

This past March, Ward revealed that he was working on an autobiography.




#halloween2021 ? pic.twitter.com/eOlDMZtXug

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) October 19, 2021








A Walk Home. #halloween2021 pic.twitter.com/b0fFqjy4ag

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) October 27, 2021








Cold... and Dark #halloween2021 ? pic.twitter.com/NwhqCt6EKc

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) October 27, 2021

Hot on the heels of Ace Frehley’s epic tour with Alice Cooper this summer, comes The Space Cassette Box Set, featuring Frehley’s entire eOne catalog on cassette for the very first time.


Spanning five albums over 11 years, this specially priced box set features Anomaly Deluxe, Space Invader, Origins Vol.1, Spaceman, and Origins Vol.2; all pressed on exclusive colors, per release, plus four individually colored “iconic silhouette” guitar pics, all from Ace’s chart topping era with eOne.


This colored set has been capped at 1000 units, and is available exclusively from MNRK Heavy. Shipping now!







The Space Cassette Boxset includes the following Ace Frehley titles:

• Anomaly (Deluxe) - Lime Green Cassette Metallic Silver Imprint


• Origins Vol. I - Light Blue Cassette Metallic Silver Imprint 


• Origins Vol. II - Black Cassette Metallic Silver Imprint 


• Space Invader - Yellow Cassette Metallic Silver Imprint 


• Spaceman - Silver Metallic Cassette Black Imprint 

 

In a new interview with MetalAsylum.net, Jay Jay French spoke about how TWISTED SISTER built its reputation as one of the best live acts on the planet. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When a fan comes to see the band, they expect certain songs — always. And when a band says, 'Here's some new stuff from our new album,' that just means they're not playing stuff that the public wants to hear. And we decided a long time ago, 'We wanna play exactly what they wanna hear.' That's one of the reasons why we were so successful — we played exactly what they wanted to hear. 'Here's 17 songs. We're gonna play these 17; they should make you very happy.' If you want us to replace a couple of 'em with some new stuff, let's vote.' You know what the vote would be? 99 to one not to do it. So when most classic bands come out with a new record, the mistake they make is [they say], 'Oh, we're gonna promote our new record.' No one gives a fuck about your new record. They really don't. So what happens is [the bands] fool themselves into thinking they do, and the first week they're playing five songs, and then the next week they're playing four songs, and the next [week] they're playing two, and then one month into the tour, they're playing one song from the new record. Why? Because nobody really cares. It doesn't mean the song isn't good; it doesn't mean the band isn't good — it doesn't mean any of that. The point is you're entertainers. So what's the point? Are you there to entertain or not? Now, there are some people who don't give a shit. Bob Dylan could care less whether you like the way he performs or not. He obviously turns his back against you; he mumbles; you don't even know what the fuck he's singing. And that's what he wants to do — that's his way of doing it. We don't work that way."

He continued: "Look, let me put it to you this clearly: whether you like TWISTED SISTER or you don't like TWISTED SISTER, here's an undeniable fact — we're one of the only handful of bands that a promoter will trust with a hundred thousand people. Simple as that. We've played a ton of those shows. A hundred thousand people close out these festivals. I'm not talking about the afternoon where you're playing in front of ten thousand or twenty thousand; I'm talking about a hundred thousand. When you are headlining a festival that holds anywhere from eighty to a hundred and ten thousand people and you're the headliner, you have to not suck; you have to be great; and you have to make sure you're great; and you have to make sure that everybody walks out and says, 'That was great, and that was a great festival.' That's the responsibility that KISS has, that JUDAS PRIEST has, that AC/DC has, that DEF LEPPARD has… These are the top-echelon bands that are going out there and are told… IRON MAIDEN; there's only maybe twenty of us that can go out there and can accept the responsibility of delivering happiness to a hundred thousand people. Well, you have to be really good to do that. And then, when you've reached and attained that ability to do it, you have to be grateful that you've reached that ability to do it, and you have to deliver it every time. And that's what I'm probably most proud of."

TWISTED SISTER called it quits in 2016 after completing a farewell 40th-anniversary tour. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of TWISTED's longtime drummer A.J. Pero.

French's new "bizoir" — part memoir and part business primer — "Twisted Business: Lessons From My Life In Rock 'N' Roll", was released last month via RosettaBooks.

After releasing their vibrant fifth studio album, Viridian, in 2020, Temperance delight their devotees with the persuasive new offering Diamanti, to be released on November 19 via Napalm Records. With Diamanti, the exceptionally skilled Italian outfit once again showcases their extraordinary ability to merge brilliant vocal melodies, hefty power metal guitar riffing, and symphonic soundscapes in perfect harmony - all dressed in modern surroundings. This is an offering that fans of bands like Amaranthe will fall in love with immediately.


The new single, “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”, breaks in with full force, telling an epic tale and creating a far-reaching sense of common bond. This absolute anthem showcases the powerful strength and energy of all three vocalists Alessia Scolletti, Michele Guaitoli and Marco Pastorino, providing a taste of the upcoming album.


Michele Guaitoli (vocals, piano) on the new single: “If there is one thing that makes Temperance unique on the scene, is that we just don’t care about any commercial rule. We write our music for how we like it. We don’t ask ourselves “will this work?” We don’t question our songwriting putting it in relation of the market. This attitude is the same that we have when it comes to accepting limits: we don’t accept the idea of having limits. We are here to break the rules. Why just one singer? Let’s have three. Why just a style? Let’s play many. If we want something, we fight for it even if we need to break the rules of a certain scheme. What about heavy metal? Does it have rules? Does it have a scheme? If yes, we’re here to break it.”




A drum playthrough video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal” can be viewed below:





Check out the official music video for “Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal”:





Diamanti was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Amaranthe), with the cover artwork once again created by Yann Souetre (Ayreon).


Marco Pastorino (vocals, guitar) on the new album: "With Diamanti, we managed to combine our best qualities and selected the best Temperance songs so far.  It's not our heaviest album, it's not our fastest work, but surely it's our favourite one so far! We weren't necessarily supposed to record a new album only one year after Viridian, but luckily we made it! In this album you will find our trademarks: the vocal harmonies, the catchy melodies, but also epic stuff, strong arrangements, and long tracks - I am very proud of Diamanti and I am convinced we have written a bombastic album!"





Diamanti will be available in the following formats:


- 1CD Digipak
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold Curaçao Sea
- 2LP Gatefold Diamond Clear
- Digital Album





Tracklisting:


"Pure Life Unfolds"
"Breaking The Rules Of Heavy Metal"
"Diamanti"
"Black Is My Heart"
"Litany Of The Northern Lights"
"You Only Live Once"
"I The Loneliness"
"Codebreaker"
"The Night Before The End"
"Fairy Tales For The Stars"
"Let's Get Started"
"Follow Me" 


"Pure Life Unfolds" video:





Temperance are:


Alessia Scolletti - vocals
Michele Guaitoli - vocals, piano
Marco Pastorino - vocals, guitar
Luca Negro - bass guitar
Alfonso Mocerino – drums


(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)

Danish/American rock and rollers VOLBEAT have released a new song called "Becoming". The track is taken from the band's eighth studio album, "Servant Of The Mind", which is due on December 3 via Republic Records. The effort will be available in standard CD, deluxe 2LP vinyl (in various limited-edition variants) and a deluxe digital edition.

For "Servant Of The Mind", the band, which consists of Michael Poulsen (guitars/vocals), Jon Larsen (drums), Rob Caggiano (guitars) and Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass) took their signature heavy metal, psychobilly and punk 'n' roll sound up a notch while showcasing Poulsen's keen ability for songwriting and storytelling.

"I wrote the whole album in three months," recalled Poulsen, "I was in a good place and mood while at home, and had a captive audience of myself… There are a lot of VOLBEAT signatures in it. If you go back to the first record and compare it to where we are now, you can hear how the band has developed its style, while keeping the signature sound."

When the album was first announced in September, the band released the "Shotgun Blues" single, an anthemic track in which Poulsen explores the ghostly events he recently experienced upon moving into a new home.

"Every time you move into a house, you bring dead people with you," he explained. "Weird stuff happens when I move into a [new] house… it's very otherworldly." Watch the lyric video below.

The album also includes the "double barrel" of summer songs the band released this past June: "Wait A Minute My Girl" and "Dagen Før" (featuring Stine Bramsen), the former of which became the band's ninth number one single on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Other songs on the album weave intricate and fascinating tales. "The Sacred Stones" tells the story of "an earthly being who has committed himself to the dark side. He is on a mission, speaking to darker forces and fallen angels." Meanwhile, "The Devil Rages On" looks at the idea of the devil taking human form. Album opener "Temple Of Ekur" returns to the ancient themes explored in past songs such as "The Gates Of Babylon", while the epic album closer "Lasse's Birgita" explores the story of the first witch burnings to occur in Sweden in 1471.

"Servant Of The Mind" standard edition track listing:

01. Temple Of Ekur

02. Wait A Minute My Girl

03. The Sacred Stones

04. Shotgun Blues

05. The Devil Rages On

06. Say No More

07. Heaven's Descent

08. Dagen Før (feat. Stine Bramsen)

09. The Passenger

10. Step Into Light

11. Becoming

12. Mindlock

13. Lasse's Birgitta

Deluxe 2 CD/2 LP and digital deluxe bonus tracks:

14. Return To None (WOLFBRIGADE cover)

15. Domino (THE CRAMPS/ROY ORBISON cover)

16. Shotgun Blues (feat. Dave Matrise from JUNGLE ROT)

17. Dagen Før (Michael Vox Version)

Vinyl variants (North America)

* Standard 180g black vinyl 2LP

* Translucent Rust 2 LP – Volbeat.dk exclusive, limited to 550

* Transparent Yellow 2 LP – Revolver magazine exclusive, limited to 400

* Mystery Color LP2 – indie retail exclusive, limited to 100

Vinyl variants (Europe)

* Standard 180g black vinyl 2 LP

* Crystal Clear 2 LP, volbeat.dk exclusive, limited to 2,000

* Glow In The Dark 2 LP, EMP exclusive, limited to 2,000

* Orange and Blue 2 LP, UMG exclusive, limited to 3,100

* Danish Red and White 2 LP – only available in Denmark, limited to 2,000

Regarding the musical direction of the new VOLBEAT album and how the rest of it compares to the recently released songs "Wait A Minute My Girl" and "Dagen Før", Michael told Germany's Rock Antenne: "It's the most heavy VOLBEAT record to date. The two singles that are out now — I'm very, very proud of them; they're pure rock songs — but they don't really represent the rest of the material. There's a good reason why we released those two songs now. It's summer. People need some light. They need some positive energy. They need good vibrations, good mood. And I think those two songs have all those kind of things."

Asked if the new VOLBEAT songs are as heavy as "Evelyn", which originally appeared on the band's 2010 album "Beyond Hell/Above Heaven", Michael said: "There's definitely stuff that's just as heavy as 'Evelyn' — no doubt about it. I wouldn't say much more than that. But there's definitely stuff that's just as heavy as 'Evelyn'. And there's stuff that'll bring you back to old BLACK SABBATH with Ronnie James Dio, early METALLICA, even some old DEATH inspiration, old BOLT THROWER inspiration. So some of those classic songs from old-school heavy bands. For sure, there's definitely stuff that sounds like early CANDLEMASS. So, there's gonna be a lot of thunder and lightning for the rest of the material."

VOLBEAT is two decades deep into a career that has found them sharing stages with genre legends like BLACK SABBATH, METALLICA, MOTÖRHEAD, SLIPKNOT, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and more. They have racked up nearly three billion cumulative streams over the course of their career, notched a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy nomination for "Room 24" (featuring King Diamond) from 2014's acclaimed (and gold-selling) "Outlaw Gentlemen & Shady Ladies", and have grabbed multiple Danish Music Awards. Not ones to rest on their laurels, their forthcoming album "Servant Of The Mind", which was written and recorded during the shutdown and quarantine necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic, is introspective but pulls no punches and is no less raucous or driving than their previous efforts.

Since forming in 2001, VOLBEAT has gone from the clubs of Copenhagen to headlining stages around the world, including the famed Telia Parken stadium in Denmark (becoming the only domestic artist to ever sell out the venue). Over the course of seven record-breaking albums the band has picked up number one songs (including nine No. 1s on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and counting, the most of any band based outside of North America), multi-platinum certifications, awards and accolades all over the planet. Their latest album, "Rewind, Replay, Rebound", was released in August 2019 and has spawned the hit singles "Last Day Under The Sun", "Die To Live" (featuring Neil Fallon) and "Leviathan". A live album featuring songs recorded during the subsequent world tour, "Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live In Deutschland", was released digitally in November 2020. Most recently, they contributed a cover of "Don't Tread On Me" to "The Metallica Blacklist", with all proceeds from the track benefiting METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation and the Børne Cancer Fonden of Denmark.