At the peak of the pandemic lockdown last year, Behemoth set the world on fire when they took over an abandoned church in rural Poland, bringing their truly spectacular production for a worldwide streaming event, which was lauded by rock media as one of the very best livestream events to date.


After just over a year since the show’s premiere, In Absentia Dei returns in a range of deluxe formats for fans to relive the drama that took place on that fateful night in 2020. The live release is set to hit retailers on December 17 via Nuclear Blast.







Today, we witness another incendiary excerpt of the show, their classic 2007 anthem, "Prometherion". Follow Behemoth into the old ruins of the hidden church by watching the clip below.


Frontman and visionary Nergal tells us: "Legions! For some of you, The Apostasy is the ultimate Behemoth experience. Here, we present to you a song from that record which we filmed during 'In Absentia Dei'. Enjoy it!"





In Absentia Dei will be available as digital album, digi-book and 3LP Vinyl in various colours. All Nuclear Blast triple LPs come with a premium 20-page booklet AND a cut-out, build-at-home model of the actual church that Behemoth performed in. Burn it down at your discretion.


Pre-order/pre-save your choice of format here. Please note the video element of the show comes with the digi-book format only. The digital album and 3 x vinyl formats feature the live audio.


The event was said to set the bar for streaming events moving forward, which was something Behemoth set out to achieve from the start. Produced by Grupa 13, In Absentia Dei was presented as a show of four parts, woven with high-production theatrics and flames emanating from all parts of the formerly sacred building.

Evolution Empire has premiered their debut single, “Fist Of God”, through BraveWords! Check out the video below!





Evolution Empire started in Dallas, Texas, where frontman Chris Roberts and drummer Rob Youells were introduced to each other by their mutual manager, Dave Chavarri (Ill Niño, Terror Universal). The next piece of the puzzle was to begin writing for their debut release and choose a production team. The band landed producers Eddie Wohl (Anthrax, Fuel, Ill Niño) and Chavarri. Still in need of a bassist and guitar player, the band’s manager reached out to bassist Jerry Montano (Hellyeah, Danzig) and guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-Fear Factory). Both were immediately on board and agreed to a guest appearance on the video and debut single "First Of God".




Evolution Empire is now completed by bringing monster lead guitarist Joe Dragich (Terror Universal) and veteran bassist Sal Dominguez (Ill Niño, ex-Upon A Burning Body) into the fold. Keep an eye out for Evolution Empire as they are confirmed for major U.S. and international tours throughout 2022. Stream/download “Fist Of God” here.


Evolution Empire will join Ill Niño, Drowning Pool, and Hed Pe on the Brothers In Arms Tour 2022.


Dates:


March
13 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Box
15 – Destin, FL – Club LA
16 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage
18 – Hartford, CT – Webster Theater
19 – Portland, ME – AURA
20 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
21 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
23 – Fort Wayne, IN – Pierre’s
24 – Flint, MI – Machine Shop
25 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
26 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave II
27 – Belvidere, IL – The Apollo Theatre
29 – Colorado Springs, CO – Sunshine Studios
31 – Missoula, MT – Wilma Theater


April
1 – Tacoma, WA – Spanish Ballroom
2 – Portland, OR – Roseland
3 – Reno, NV – Virginia Street Brewhouse
4 – Roseville, CA – Goldfiend Trading Post
5 – West Hollywood, CA – Whisky
6 – Phoenix, AZ – The Marquee Theater
8 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
9 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
10 – Abilene, TX – Abilene Convention Center


Evolution Empire online - Instagram / Facebook / Official Website

Earlier this week, reunited German black/death metallers Mystic Circle announced their signing to Atomic Fire Records. Today, the duo unveils a video for “Letters From The Devil", the first single off their eponymous comeback, set for release on February 4.


Elaborates the band of the track, "This song tells the true story of a possessed nun who reportedly received messages from Satan at night back in 1676. They were of a language that can't be decoded to this day. Myths like these are always worthy of becoming a song within the Mystic Circle universe, of course. Musically, we kept it diabolical but still infectiously melodic. That diabolicalness has greatly been staged in our new music video. Get seduced...!"


“Letters From The Devil” is part of a trilogy written by the band’s own A. Blackwar. View the video, filmed and edited by Alen Ljubic and Nils Lesser, below.




Following the musical path where Infernal Satanic Verses - the final Mystic Circle record featuring both reunion members - had left off in 1999, Mystic Circle was produced by the band and Nils Lesser at Vaultroom Productions while its artwork was designed by Brazilian artist Rafael Tavares.


Pre-order Mystic Circle in various formats (box set, CD-digipak, black/red marbled vinyl), pre-save it, or pre-order the album digitally to receive “Letters From The Devil” instantly and order the group's new Letters From The Devil 7" black vinyl single, which includes the exclusive, non-album B-side track “The Godsmasher,” limited to 666 copies and available now, here.





Mystic Circle tracklisting:


"Belial Is My Name"
"Seven Headed Dragon"
"Hell Demons Rising"
"Letters From The Devil"
"Darkness In Flames"
"The Arrival Of Baphomet"
"Curse Of The Wolf Demon"
"Satanic Mistress"
"Death Metal" (Possessed Cover) - CD digipak only bonus track





"Letters From The Devil" 7” tracklisting:


Side A: "Letters From The Devil"
Side B: "The Godsmasher"


"Letters From The Devil" video:





With seven studio albums and many tours alongside black metal heavyweights Marduk, Gorgoroth, and Dimmu Borgir under their belt, it wasn't just a little history that German black/death metal legends Mystic Circle left behind when they decided to call it quits in 2007. But alas, 14 years of silence are over as Mystic Circle - consisting of Beelzebub and A. Blackwar who had actually left the group in 1999 - have risen from their graves to renew their deal with the Dark Lord.


Mystic Circle:


Beelzebub - vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards
A. Blackwar - vocals, guitars, drums, keyboards


(Photo - Alen Ljubic)

Kid Rock has released a defiant new single, "Don't Tell Me How To Live", in which he rants against "woke" culture and the mainstream media at a time when "every opinion has a millennial offended."

The first new music from the Michigan-bred rap-rocker since 2017, which was recorded with the Canadian hard rockers MONSTER TRUCK and plays off that band's 2015 song of the same title, was accompanied by an official music video which features Kid Rock wearing a shirt that says "social media sucks."

"I'm the last of a few still screaming 'Fuck you,'" he raps in the song.

This past January, Kid Rock revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic gave him plenty of time to write new music, saying, "I haven't this much time to work on music since my first record." According to the Detroit Free Press, he added that he had planned to release a 50-song triple-album this year, made up of 10 hip-hop tracks, 10 rock tracks, 10 country tracks and 20 previously unreleased cuts.

Kid Rock, an ardent supporter of former President Donald Trump, made headlines in 2017 when he announced he was considering a run for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan.

In September 2020, Kid Rock hosted an outdoor rally for Trump's presidential campaign in Michigan. Three and a half years earlier, the musician visited the Oval Office with fellow rocker Ted Nugent and former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

Kid Rock was once a contestant on NBC's "Celebrity Apprentice", which starred Trump.

"Don't Tell Me How To Live" lyrics:

FUCK ALL YOU HOES

DETROIT TILL I DIE MOTHERFUCKER

TALKIN ALL THAT BULLSHIT

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME HOW TO LIVE

I'M A MOONSHINE SIPPER STRAIGHT SLIPPIN' IN THE DARKNESS

FAR FROM HEARTLESS I'M MORE LIKE THE SHARPEST

TOOL IN THE SHED NO I'VE NEVER BEEN THE SMARTEST

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE I HIT THE FUCKING HARDEST

DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE YOU HEARD ME SCREAM IT

AND TWENTY YEARS LATER BITCH I STILL FUCKING MEAN IT

BUCKA BUCKA YOU AIN'T NEVER MET A MOTHERFUCKER LIKE THIS

KISS MY ASS THEN YOU CAN SUCK A DICK SIDEWAYS

MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY LISTEN UP

AIN'T NOTHING CHANGED HERE I STILL DON'T GIVE A FUCK

SO WHAT THE FUCKS UP WITH ALL THE BACKLASH

YOU SNOWFLAKES HERE'S A NEWS FLASH

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME HOW TO LIVE

YEARS AGO WE ALL THOUGHT IT WAS A JOKE SEE

THAT EVER KID GOT A MOTHERFUCKIN' TROPHY

BUT YO HOMIE HERE'S THE SITUATION

A NATION OF PUSSIES IS OUR NEXT GENERATION

AND THESE MINIONS AND THEIR AGENDAS

EVERY OPINION HAS A MILLENNIAL OFFENDED

BUT THIS AMENDMENT ONE IT RINGS TRUE

AND IF YOU DON'T DISSENT BITCH THEN SEE NUMBER TWO

AIN'T NOTHIN NEW RIGHT CHURCH WRONG PEW

GET A CLUE, A CREW, YOUR FAKE NEWS AND VIEWS

CAN ALL GET THE BOTTOM OF MY MOTHERFUCKIN' SHOE

I'M THE LAST OF A FEW STILL SCREAMIN' FUCK YOU

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME HOW TO LIVE

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME HOW TO LIVE

OH I'M GONNA SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE

MY WINGS WILL CARRY ME AWAY

I GOT THE HEART OF A LION

I GET STRONGER EVERYDAY

YOU'LL NEVER TELL ME SHIT

YOU'LL NEVER FLIP MY SCRIPT

BECAUSE I'M MORE OUTRAGEOUS THAN THE VEGAS STRIP

YOU'RE LIKE MAYBERRY BITCH I'M HARD AND CRISP

HIGH RISK HILLBILLY BUT I'M FILTHY RICH

YOU'RE LIKE MILLI VANILLI KINDA SILLY AND SHIT

I'M LIKE SHOTGUN WILLIE SMOKIN' PHILLIES AND SHIT

I'M LIKE REVEREND RUN OR DAVID LEE ROTH

LIKE SPRINGSTEEN BITCH I'M THE MOTHER FUCKIN BOSS

JAMES DEAN SHIT I'M MORE LIKE BRAD PITT

A LITTLE LESS PRETTY BUT I SLANG MORE DICK

I TWANG MORE RIFFS I SLIDE THRU GRASS

I RIP MORE LINES THAN A 10LB BASS

PASS THE MIC I'M LIKE SLOE GIN FIZZ

IT AIN'T NOBODY IT AIN'T NOBODY

AIN'T NOBODY GONNA TELL ME HOW TO LIVE

Professionally filmed video footage of METALLICA performing the song "Blackened" during the band's "intimate" concert on November 4 at Hard Rock Live at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida can be seen below.

Tickets (priced $130-$380) for the 7,000-seat-theater show went on on July 30 and quickly sold out.

Support at the Hollywood gig came from Orlando metallers TRIVIUM.

METALLICA's setlist was as follows:

01. Whiplash

02. Ride The Lightning

03. Harvester Of Sorrow

04. Seek & Destroy

05. Through The Never

06. One

07. Sad But True

08. Moth Into Flame

09. No Leaf Clover

10. For Whom The Bell Tolls

11. Fuel

12. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)

13. Master Of Puppets

Encore:

14. Blackened

15. Nothing Else Matters

16. Enter Sandman

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.

George Lynch rejoined DOKKEN on stage last night (Friday, November 12) at Keswick theater in Glenside, Pennsylvania to perform three of the band's classic songs: "Kiss Of Death", "When Heaven Comes Down" and "Tooth And Nail". Fan-filmed video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Lynch previously performed with DOKKEN in October in Waukegan, Illinois, in July in Ashland, Virginia and in Moline, Illinois, as well as in early June at the Live United Live Music Festival in Sunbury, Pennsylvania.

This past March, Lynch was asked in an interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com if there has been any talk of more shows featuring the reunited classic lineup of DOKKEN. He responded: "I've actually been talking to Don [Dokken] a little bit, and we're both in agreement that that should probably happen — meaning some kind of a meaningful reunion done in the right way, carefully and with proper preparation and time and rehearsals and not just throwing it out there like we did last time." George went on to say that "the obvious choice" to replace DOKKEN's recently retired drummer "Wild" Mick Brown would be Mick's brother Steve, who can be heard playing alongside Lynch and ex-DOKKEN bassist Jeff Pilson on the latest THE END MACHINE album, "Phase2".

In a separate interview with Alamo True Metal, Lynch reflected on the last time DOKKEN's classic lineup — Dokken, Lynch, Pilson and Mick Brown — reunited for a short Japanese tour in the fall of 2016. The trek marked the first time in 21 years the four musicians had hit the road together.

"I think I was slightly disappointed in it — not overwhelmingly disappointed, but I have some regrets," he said. "I wish we had prepared more. And I know we all feel that way. 'Cause of the logistics, we all had things we had to do right after the time we had allotted and beforehand. So we just were barely able to even pull it off with everybody else's pre-existing commitments. The fact that we got to do it at all was… you know, we were fortunate for even being able to pull it off. So we were a little underprepared, I feel. And yes, we were offered a good amount of money to go to Japan and do some other things, so it made it just kind of a no-brainer."

A DOKKEN concert DVD focusing on the band's reunion tour, "Return To The East Live (2016)", was made available in 2018. In addition to the Japanese performance, the set included footage from the classic lineup's only U.S. show in September 2016 at Badlands in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, as well as newly recorded acoustic reworkings of "Heaven Sent" and "Will The Sun Rise". Also featured on "Return To The East Live (2016)" was "It's Just Another Day", the first DOKKEN track featuring the group's classic lineup since 1997's "Shadowlife".

Since completing the Japanese reunion dates, DOKKEN has continued to perform with the group's current lineup — including bassist Chris McCarvill, guitarist Jon Levin and drummer BJ Zampa (HOUSE OF LORDS).

DOKKEN is currently working on material on a new studio album, tentatively due next year via Silver Lining Music, the label owned by Thomas Jensen, one of the founders of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. It will mark the group's first disc since 2012's "Broken Bones".

Over the past four years, Lynch has appeared on recordings by THE END MACHINE, KXM, ULTRAPHONIX and SWEET & LYNCH. He released his first-ever full-length instrumental album, "Seamless", in August via Rat Pak Records.

San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans EXODUS have just released their new album, "Persona Non Grata", via Nuclear Blast Records. The official lyric video for the disc's fourth single, "Prescribing Horror", can be viewed below. The song's lyrics tell the story of Thalidomide, the drug developed in west Germany as a sedative in the 1960s and used to ease morning sickness in pregnant woman and which has been linked to thousands of birth defects.

Guitarist Gary Holt states: "As we have finally come to the day of 'Persona Non Grata''s release, something we've been eagerly awaiting for what seems like an eternity, we are pleased to share one last lyric video with you, my personal favorite song on the album, 'Prescribing Horror'. A little tale of motherhood and a drug, and what happens when greed comes before life and safety. The story of Thalidomide."

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

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

In July, EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting underwent a successful total gastrectomy in his battle with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach. He rejoined his bandmates on stage on October 7 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

EXODUS tapped John Tempesta to play drums for the band at Psycho Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada in August and at Full Terror Assault in Cave In Rock, Illinois in September while Hunting was recovering from surgery. Tempesta was a member of EXODUS from 1989 until 1993 and played on the band's albums "Impact Is Imminent" (1990) and "Force Of Habit" (1992).

A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses had previously raised more than $114,000 — including $5,000 from Tom's former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.

"Persona Non Grata" track listing:

01. Persona Non Grata

02. R.E.M.F.

03. Slipping Into Madness

04. Elitist

05. Prescribing Horror

06. The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)

07. The Years Of Death And Dying

08. Clickbait

09. Cosa Del Pantano

10. Lunatic-Liar-Lord

11. The Fires Of Division

12. Antiseed

NHC, the new band featuring JANE'S ADDICTION members Dave Navarro and Chris Chaney alongside FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins, has released the official music video for the song "Devil That You Know". The track, which features Hawkins on lead vocals/drums, Navarro on guitar, and Chaney on bass, comes on the heels of the band's first headlining show at the Troubadour on November 23 selling out almost instantly.

"Devil That You Know" and "Lazy Eyes" follow the release of "Feed The Cruel" and "Better Move On", both of which arrived in September.

Hawkins and Chaney previously played together in Alanis Morisette's band in the mid-1990s and are bandmates in Hawkins's solo project, TAYLOR HAWKINS AND THE COATTAIL RIDERS.

Last month, NHC — an acronym for Navarro, Hawkins and Chaney — played a seven-song set at Eddie Vedder's Ohana Festival. The trio delivered five songs off its yet-to-released debut album and covers of QUEEN's "Keep Yourself Alive" and RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' "My Friends".

Hawkins told Forbes about NHC's upcoming LP: "The thing I take musically from this record is a lot of times the records me and Chris made, with COATTAIL RIDERS and stuff, I had to use some form of comedy or some form of, 'This sounds like QUEEN, kind of, but it's not.' We had amazing musicians, but when you hear Dave play guitar, you're just, 'It's Dave.' And he's one of the last, dare I say, cool shredders; he can really rip. And there was a time, after 1992, guitar solos became extinct, for a long time. And they creep up now and then, [on] FOO FIGHTERS albums and stuff. And we had that, we had Dave's guitar sound to hang our hat on as far as the style of music. We didn't need to have funny tricks. This is just what it sounds like when me and Dave and Chris get together and make music. Very democratic, all the songs were written differently. Chaney wrote bass lines. But also there was none of this, 'This is my song, this is how I want it to be' bullshit at all."

Hawkins, who plays drums and sings in NHC, previously called Navarro "the best lead guitarist in alternative rock," while Dave referred to NHC as an "awakening of everything he loved about playing." He told Forbes: "Honestly, these two guys, Chris and Taylor, are probably the two best musicians I've ever met just in terms of musicianship, being able to write on the spot, coming up with just a hundred ideas, keep going, no stopping. It's amazing."

According to Navarro, NHC's debut album will contain 12 tracks. He added: "The record has such an emotional range throughout it."

This past January, Hawkins, Navarro and Chaney teamed up with SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor in a supergroup called GROUND CONTROL, which performed at "The Bowie Celebration: Just For One Day" in tribute to the late David Bowie.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

On February 4, CANNIBAL CORPSE vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher will release a solo album, titled "Corpsegrinder". The 10-song effort, co-produced by Nick Bellmore (DEE SNIDER, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED), features a guest appearance from Erik Rutan (CANNIBAL CORPSE, HATE ETERNAL) on the track "Acid Vat". It will be released through Jasta's new label, Perseverance Music Group.

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

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

"Corpsegrinder" will be available for pre-order in the coming weeks; in the meantime, fans can check out the new video teaser below.

Corpsegrinder is also giving fans the opportunity to contribute to the album by getting their names immortalized in his "thanks" list. For more information about how to participate, please visit www.martyrstore.net.

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

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

BIOHAZARD's Billy Graziadei will release a new album from his BILLYBIO project, "Leaders And Liars", in 2022 via AFM Records.

Earlier this week, a video was unwittingly leaked by sometime Graziadei collaborator Lindsay Martin on her Instagram. From there it spread quickly over various platforms. Graziadei says: "It blows my mind how fast things can spread on the Internet! It's not how I wanted everyone to hear about the new release, but at least it's something I'm proud of, so I hope the fans enjoy it."

Having been caught by surprise, Graziadei and AFM Records have now officially posted the lyric video for the song "One Life To Live". The song, which features Graziadei's longtime friend Toby Morse (H2O, HAZEN STREET), is a call to action. It is an adrenaline-drenched anthem inciting fans to stand up for what is right.

"I love how every generation has their version of YOLO," Graziadei says, "Life is too short to be worried about bullshit. Those, who let the crap out there consume them, get pushed to the grave quicker than everyone else."

BILLYBIO is raw and gritty in the spirit of classic New York hardcore bands such as AGNOSTIC FRONT, CRO-MAGS and CRUMBSUCKERS. "Leaders And Liars" borrows from the BIOHAZARD legacy in that it also defies being pigeonholed. The album represents Graziadei's love of punk, hardcore and classic metal (BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN), delivering a 15 song take-no-prisoners aural assault.

Graziadei explains the album title, saying: "We are born into this world as pure souls and then are poisoned by the nefarious darkness that surrounds us. Those who stay the path and navigate the blackness with success become real leaders, the rest rot away as liars and thieves." He adds: "I dedicated this record to a friend from the record label Bauke de Groot (RIP) who helped me a lot when I first joined the AFM family."

Graziadei wrote, performed, recorded and produced all 15 tracks on "Leaders and Liars" in 2020 and 2021 at Firewater Studios in Los Angeles. In addition to recording and producing BIOHAZARD there, he's also had POWERFLO, MADBALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT, DEVILDRIVER in the studio, which he runs full time when not on tour. The record was mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen. Additional musicians performing on the album include Fred Aching Rios (POWERFLO) on drums; Roberto "Ra" Díaz (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, currently touring with KORN) on bass; Daniele Manca on bass; Dan Palmer (DEATH BY STEREO, ZEBRAHEAD) on guitar; Robbie Davidson (THE EXPLOITED) on guitar. Vocals on "Remission" and "Just In The Sun" by Jennifer Bair with Jay Roth. Toby Morse (H2O, HAZEN STREET) appears on "One Life To Live". Album artwork by Lecru Eyebrows and design by Filipe Horsch. Photos by Alan Vasquez.

"Leaders And Liars" track listing:

01. Black Out

02. Fallen Empires

03. Leaders and Liars

04. Lost Horizon

05. Turn the Wounds

06. Sheepdog

07. Deception

08. Generation Kill

09. Looking Up

10. One Life To Live

11. Our Scene

12. Just The Sun

13. Enough

14. Remission

15. Cyanide

The official music video for the song "I'm Still Alive" from EMIGRATE, the side project of RAMMSTEIN guitarist Richard Z. Kruspe, can be seen below. The track is taken from EMIGRATE's fourth album, "The Persistence Of Memory", which came out on November 5.

"The Persistence Of Memory", which was named after a Salvador Dalí painting, features the following tracks:

01. Rage

02. Always On My Mind (feat. Till Lindemann)

03. Freeze My Mind

04. I'm Still Alive

05. Come Over

06. You Can't Run Away

07. Hypothetical

08. Blood Stained Wedding

09. I Will Let You Go

As a member of RAMMSTEIN, the music world's most explosive live act, Kruspe has been part of a ground-breaking global success story that continues to build and to ignite; along the way, he's turned his attention to a number of parallel projects, such as constructing a studio (and a home) in his native Berlin, but it's his decision to launch the EMIGRATE setup that has given him the greatest chance to satisfy creative instincts outside of the parent group.

The first EMIGRATE album appeared in 2007 (a self-titled record that went Top 10 in Germany, with single/video "My World" appearing on the soundtrack to the third "Resident Evil" movie); "Silent So Long" followed in 2014, featuring guest vocals from such high-profile artists as Marilyn Manson, Jonathan Davis, Peaches and the legend that will always be Lemmy. EMIGRATE's third album, "A Million Degrees" came out in November 2018 and was described as "less a successor to 'Silent So Long' and more a re-booted take on the overall concept, continuing Kruspe's desire to craft something personal."

"I really want the freedom to collaborate with different people and to explore different kinds of music," Kruspe explained when "A Million Degrees" was first released, "to express myself as both a writer and a singer away from deadlines, timelines and other such restrictions. The idea is to keep experimenting and to keep challenging myself. Plus, EMIGRATE works in an organic way, so musicians can come and go, and it's still okay, it's positive…"

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

RAMMSTEIN will bring its full-scale stadium production to North America for the first time ever in the summer of 2022.

New York-based progressive metal act October Thorns featuring late bassist David Z has revealed a video for their recently released single “Circle Game,” featuring never-before-seen live footage from the band's first big show in Brooklyn and snapshots from the band's personal collections.


“This is the first time in over 20 years that this footage has been made public and we hope it brings back some good memories,” says vocalist Paul LaPlaca. “19-year-old David Z is featured at the end with an extended bass solo with a two-handed tapping version of Michael Jackson's ‘Billie Jean, complete with a moonwalk.”


BraveWords is premiering the video for “Circle Game”; watch below:







Formed in 1999, October Thorns quickly became a mainstay at Brooklyn’s “Rock Capital of the World,” L’Amour, and found themselves trekking from state to state to take part in every metal festival on the continent. Despite numerous lineup changes, the group held strong and began receiving praise internationally from the likes of Holland’s Aardshock and Germany‘s Heavy Oder Vas? with the release of their one and only six-song demo. By 2001, interpersonal problems, disagreements over musical direction, business decisions and presentation had taken their toll and October Thorns disbanded, playing just two reunion shows in New York City in the years that followed.


More than two decades since forming, October Thorns is set to finally release a long-awaited album, Circle Game, next year via Divebomb Records. Over the years, interest in releasing October Thorns’ only official output has remained consistent. Now, with the assistance of Icefish keyboardist and engineer Alex Argento, these early recordings have been elevated to modern production standards and are ready for release. In addition to “Circle Game,” the full album will include unreleased mixes of the songs “Leviathan” and “Sounds of Life,” as well as unheard demo tracks.





Following October Thorns, LaPlaca went on to play with Chris Caffery (Savatage/Trans-Siberian Orchestra), Ted Poley (Danger Danger), Carnivore AD and currently plays with Drift Into Black, while David Z went on to make a name for himself with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Joan Jett, Jeff Scott Soto, and his own band, ZO2. On July 14, 2017, David Z was tragically killed in a vehicle crash while on tour with Adrenaline Mob. The news sent shockwaves through his extended community of friends and family, and the David Z Foundation was created in his memory to continue the work of music education through school programs and scholarships at the School of Rock and Brooklyn College.


While there are currently no plans to reform the band or tour, the release of Circle Game is an homage to David Z and also serves as a foundation for a new project, Critical Consciousness, whose debut album slated for spring of 2022. Songs from the October Thorns album will be part of the Critical Consciousness live set.


The “Circle Game” single is currently available via all major digital providers. Stayed tuned for additional details on the Circle Game album.

Canadian heavy metal powerhouse, Striker, is back from the grave. Last month, with rumours spreading of the band calling it quits after they posted an image that was titled "RIP Striker 2007-2021" on their social media, fans began speculating on their future. In the end, it was all made to prepare them for Striker's new single "Deathwish", a track that has their signature sound of putting a modern twist on classic heavy metal mixed with 1980s AOR.





The single is also the band's introductory track with new drummer Jonathan Webster and bassist Pete Klassen who joined the lineup in 2019 along with it being their first of many new recordings to come since releasing their Juno award-winning album 2018's Play To Win.




Today, Striker unveils their music video for "Deathwish", which can be viewed below.


“The world’s already on fire, you might as well light a smoke on it and kick back and watch. While you’re at it, feast your eyes on our new music video for Deathwish.” adds the band.


"Deathwish" can be streamed and downloaded on Spotify and Apple Music.





In additional news, Striker will be performing their first and only hometown show of 2021 in Edmonton, AB on November 27 at The Starlite Room with support from Riot City, Tymo and Tower Hill. Event Details can be found here.





Champions in blending classic heavy metal, hard rock, and 80’s hair metal, Striker have been making shredtacular anthems since 2007. The band has toured multiple times across Europe and North America along with festival appearances at 70,000 Tons of Metal, Bang Your Head Festival (Germany), and more to add to their almost 1000 shows performed in their decade-plus career. The band has been honoured with multiple Best Album awards in their home country of Canada from the JUNO Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, and the Edmonton Music Awards. Since their inception, Striker has released six studio albums Eyes in the Night (2010, Iron Kodex), Armed to The Teeth (2012, Napalm), City of Gold (2014, Napalm), Stand in the Fire (2016, Record Breaking), Striker (2017, Record Breaking), and Play to Win (2018, Record Breaking).

KORN singer Jonathan Davis says that he was "totally wiped out" by his recent battle with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Three months ago, it was announced that Davis tested positive for COVID-19. As a result of his infection, the band postponed six dates and canceled two on its recent U.S. tour. A month later, KORN guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer also contracted COVID-19 and was temporarily replaced by J.R. Bareis, who is also in the band LOVE AND DEATH with KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch. In October, KORN drummer Ray Luzier became the third member of the band to get infected, forcing him to miss three shows on KORN's U.S. tour. Filling in for him was FEVER 333's Aric Improta.

Davis discussed his COVID-19 experience in a new interview with Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I tested positive on the 14th of August. I was at a gig in Scranton. My girl had tested positive three days prior, I believe. So I was hoping [I wouldn't get infected]. I kept testing. I was, like, negative, negative, negative. I was, like 'Oh, I just dodged a bullet.' Then [I tested] positive. And I was scared shitless; I was freaking out. They rushed me right to the hospital and they did all these tests on me. They said, 'Okay, it doesn't look like you have the markers for the bad. We'll let you go.' And it never went into my lungs. I was totally wiped out. I couldn't move — just the body aches. I didn't eat for a month, damn near. But thank God it didn't get into my lungs; that would have freaked me really out. But I got through it and tested negative on the 25th, I think, and I played a show the next day. And I was beat up, but I just couldn't find it in my heart… I just wanted to get through it because I saw how happy people were to see live music. And I just didn't wanna let anyone down. So I'm, like, 'I'm gonna just sit down and get through this. At least it's a live show. And I'm just gonna give it all.' And we just pulled it off. I did the whole tour. Unfortunately, Munky got it and Ray got it. But we got through it. We just had some bad luck. But it is what it is. And we're here all alive and happy. So it was overall a good thing."

Davis, who was reportedly fully vaccinated, had been taking a seat on a custom throne near the drum riser at KORN's later shows due to lingering effects of his bout with COVID-19.

In video footage of KORN's August 27 concert in Tinley Park, Illinois — Jonathan's first gig back after revealing his positive diagnosis — he could be seen walking slowly around the stage, coughing and appearing to take a minute to catch his breath. According to TMZ, Davis also took occasional hits from an oxygen tank set up near this throne.

KORN's new album, "Requiem", will arrive on February 4, 2022 via Loma Vista Recordings. The official music video for the disc's first single, "Start The Healing", directed by Tim Saccenti (FLYING LOTUS, RUN THE JEWELS, DEPECHE MODE), was made available last week.

"Requiem" was produced by Chris Collier and KORN.

Fans had been anticipating new music after KORN previewed a snippet of "Start The Healing" within an augmented reality filter and billboards bearing the band's iconic logo began appearing worldwide earlier in the month.

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

At the age of 24, Austin Mo has been creating and recording new music with feel and soul well beyond his years with guidance and mentorship from Frank Hannon of Tesla.


Austin has released his newest single “I’m Wanted” produced by Hannon. “I’m Wanted” is a song that Austin wrote while he was reflecting on his successes and challenges that he has encountered performing throughout California since the age of 15. Focusing on his personal drive and love for music, Austin created the lyrics with a clear message which he stated: “regardless of what has happened to me so far in my career, I know I’ll succeed and not be left behind, that’s my inspiration for the lyrics.”


“I’m Wanted” is out on all major platforms and BraveWords is premiering the video for the new single; check it out below!







Hannon comments:


“Austin Mo is an amazing young guitarist who is rapidly honing his songwriting skills. Known primarily around Sacramento as a young blues prodigy guitarist, I started working with Austin Mo co-writing songs a few years ago and our first collaboration was a song called ‘The River’, which received a lot of positive feedback along with the video. My goal as a mentor to the young artists I work with is to teach them the value of writing songs from the heart and it is very rewarding to hear a young artist grow in that area of expression. This new single ‘I’m Wanted’ Shows Austin’s growth as a songwriter into a harder rocking edge, and expresses emotion of frustration along with a fun twist toward the perils of ‘making it’ in the music biz. Besides the song’s fun vocal stylings, Austin’s funky rhythms and blistering guitar work are enough to tickle the eardrums of the most critical music snob. Enjoy this new song and music video.”


While the world of music has been opening up with live shows and allowing the greats such as Tesla to return to the road, Austin Mo came across his second producer Joe Merrick of Boston MA. While Tesla has been on the road Austin has been working hard in the studio recording with Joe Merrick to create an incredible new EP entitled Do Or Die. “I came across Joe Merrick while I was searching for a cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Young Lust’, the instant that I heard his rendition I knew my management, and I had to reach out to him,” stated Austin. With the mentorship and guidance from both Frank Hannon and Joe Merrick, Austin is on track to achieve his musical goals of touring the world and opening up for the biggest acts in the industry i.e. Gov’t Mule, Dirty Honey, Greta Van Fleet are just a few of the acts that Austin would love to tour with. Keep your eyes and ears open for this up-and-coming artist, the future looks very bright for the next generation of rock.

This Friday, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss celebrate the historic release of "Raise The Roof" (Rounder Records), their first new album together in more than 14 years. In the runup to the LP's arrival, Plant and Krauss have continued to surprise listeners on pre-release previews like "Can't Let Go", "It Don't Bother Me" and the original song "High And Lonesome", written by Plant and the album's producer, T Bone Burnett. Now, they have shared their rendition of Brenda Burns's "Somebody Was Watching Over Me", offering one last look into the record before the full collection is finally unveiled.

Building on the Grammy-sweeping, millions-selling success of 2007's "Raising Sand", "'Raise The Roof' almost magically reclaims the spectral tone of 'Raising Sand', then finds ways to expand on it, delving further into both quiet subtleties and wailing intensity," says The New York Times, in an expansive profile of Plant and Krauss's long-awaited reunion.

Following the monumental debut of "Raising Sand", which won all six Grammy Awards for which it was nominated (including "Album" and "Record Of The Year"), Plant and Krauss "are still proof that sometimes the best things come from unlikely collaborators" (Entertainment Weekly). Across "Raise The Roof", the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer and 27-time Grammy-winning Bluegrass Hall Of Famer step further outside their comfort zone, expanding their unexpected, unparalleled partnership in remarkable new directions.

While sessions for the album began in Nashville in November 2019, wrapping just weeks before the world went into lockdown, Krauss remembers sending Plant the Randy Weeks/Lucinda Williams classic "Can't Let Go" at least 10 years ago — and "it seems like time hasn't passed at all" (NPR Music). Elsewhere on "Raise The Roof", Plant and Krauss reimagine songs from Merle Haggard, Allen Toussaint, THE EVERLY BROTHERS, Anne Briggs, Geeshie Wiley, Ola Belle Reed, Brenda Burns and more, with arrangements even more evocative and hypnotic than those on "Raising Sand".

"It's such a far cry from everything I've done before," says Plant. "I love the whole kaleidoscope of music that I've explored, but this is a place where you can think within the song, you can decide how to bring home an emotion. It's another blend that we've got, and long may we have more of them."

"Raise The Roof" track listing:

01. Quattro (World Drifts In)

02. The Price Of Love

03. Go Your Way

04. Trouble With My Lover

05. Searching for My Love

06. Can't Let Go

07. It Don't Bother Me

08. You Led Me To The Wrong

09. Last Kind Words Blues

10. High And Lonesome

11. Going Where the Lonely Go

12. Somebody Was Watching Over Me

To mark "Raise The Roof"'s releasePlant and Krauss will come together to deliver a series of key live performances to fans across the world.

Beginning at 12 p.m. CST / 1 p.m. EST / 6 p.m. GMT on November 19, the indomitable duo join forces with YouTube to present a global livestream. Backed by an all-star band in Nashville's Sound Emporium Studios, they will debut a selection of songs from "Raise The Roof" exclusively for audiences on the platform. The special event will be hosted simultaneously on the official Plant and Krauss YouTube channels.

On November 19, Plant and Krauss will also appear alongside CBS News senior culture correspondent Anthony Mason for an interview. Later that night they will perform on "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" before bringing more music to "CBS Saturday Morning" just a handful of hours later.

Following the YouTube livestream on Friday, viewers can head to NPR Music's YouTube channel for a virtual listening party at 1 p.m. CST / 2 p.m. EST. In addition to a full playback of "Raise The Roof", Plant and Krauss will join critic Ann Powers for a discussion of the album.

Photo by David McClister

Three-time-Grammy-nominated and RIAA gold-certified UNDEROATH frontman Spencer Chamberlain has unveiled "Neck High", the debut track from his alternative/indie-leaning project SLO/TIDE.

Teaming up on songwriting with alt darlings SIR SLY, SLO/TIDE pulls from a unique blend of influences from acclaimed indie peers fused with the spirit of his hard rock roots to create an impressive body of work that is at once enlightening and arresting.

At times an instantly-listenable perfect poolside soundtrack channeling the classic alt-pop stylings of FOSTER THE PEOPLE and TAME IMPALA, while at others diving into dark layers of musical experimentation a la PINK FLOYD and RADIOHEAD, SLO-TIDE's new single should impress both long-time fans of Chamberlain and a whole new audience who are about to discover their new favorite band.

Of "Neck High", Chamberlain comments: "I've been writing music since I was a kid, and 9 times out of 10, it's not the heavy music the world knows of me. SLO/TIDE was an idea I started in 2015, but the songs started coming together in 2019-early 2021. 'Neck High' was created after jamming with my friends in SIR SLY for over ten hours — the last song I wrote before the pandemic and the first taste for the listener to see how the other side of my brain works. In this song, I'm singing to myself in a hopeful tone about how no matter how bad things seem, I've always found a way to swim through it. So here's 'Neck High'. I hope you enjoy it."

Photo credit: Dan Newman

Former TURBONEGRO singer Hank Von Hell has died.

The Norwegian musician, who for 17 years fronted TURBONEGRO, the self-styled "biggest underground rock 'n' roll band in the world", passed away earlier today (Friday, November 19) at the age of 49.

Hank Von Hell's death was confirmed in a statement on his social media. "We are very sad to announce that Hans-Erik Dyvik Husby, also known to the world as Hank von Hell, sadly passed away on November 19th, 2021," the statement read. "We kindly ask for your respect to the family and close friends in this moment of tragedy."

TURBONEGRO commented on Hank Von Hell's passing in a post on Facebook. The band wrote: "It is with immense sadness we received the tragic news that Hans-Erik 'Hertis' Dyvik Husby has passed away.

"We are thankful for the times, the moments and the magic we shared with Hans-Erik in TURBONEGRO during the years 1993-2009.

"As a charismatic frontman who equally channeled humor and vulnerability, Hans-Erik was crucial for the band’s appeal. He was a warm and big hearted human, a spiritually and intellectually seeking person who loved having a conversation with anyone.

"We are proud of what we created together as rock brothers in TURBONEGRO — the music, the characters, our whole universe.

"Hank Von Helvete remains an iconic figure in the history of Norwegian rock and popular culture, and also made a mark as a profile in the international rock 'n' roll community.

"Actor, romantic and entertainer — through his life Hank left no doubt that he was a man for the stage, loving the spotlight and the room's attention.

"Our thoughts and hearts go to his family.

"Rest In Peace".

After forming in the late 1980s in Nesodden, Norway, TURBONEGRO recorded four well-received albums and toured extensively before breaking up in 1998, citing Von Helvete's heroin addiction as the cause. A four-year hiatus following during which Von Helvete checked into rehab. A 2002 one-off appearance at Norway's Quart Festival led to the band's first new album in five years, 2003's "Scandinavian Leather". Two more reunion albums following, including 2007's "Retox", after which Von Helvete left TURBONEGRO and formed a new band, DOCTOR MIDNIGHT & THE MERCY CULT.

In 2018, Von Helvete released his first solo album, "Egomania", and followed it up with last year's "Dead".

Most recently, Hank contributed guest vocals to the song "Black Hearse Cadillac" on the latest album from ME AND THAT MAN, the band led by BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski.


It is with immense sadness we received the tragic news that Hans-Erik «Hertis» Dyvik Husby has passed away.

We are...

Posted by Turbonegro on Friday, November 19, 2021

























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David Coverdale, who was among the DEEP PURPLE members who were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016, was asked in a new interview with QFM96's "Torg & Elliott" radio show if he thinks he will eventually get the nod as a member of his post-PURPLE outfit WHITESNAKE. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When I did the Hall Of Fame for PURPLE, I spoke with the guys there and they were very, very forthcoming that they felt it appropriate that WHITESNAKE be in there. But you've gotta remember something — these are really cherries on an amazing cake of my life already. So if that does manifest, that's amazing. It's not on my bucket list, but I would receive it with open arms. 'Cause those kinds of things are validations from your peers."

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like IRON MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

The Rock Hall didn't induct BLACK SABBATH until 2006, and METALLICA followed three years later.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until five years ago.

PRIEST was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction last year, but failed to receive enough votes to make the class of 2020.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was previously on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

IRON MAIDEN was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction this year, but didn't make the class of 2021.

DEEP PURPLE's first three lineups were inducted into the Rock Hall, including guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Jon Lord, and various singers and bassists — Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Coverdale and Glenn Hughes.

DEEP PURPLE's acceptance speeches included turns from Gillan, Glover, Paice, Coverdale and Hughes before the current lineup of DEEP PURPLE — Gillan, Glover, Paice, guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey — took the stage and played a short set consisting of "Highway Star", "Green Onions" (with an image of Lord behind them), "Hush" and "Smoke On The Water".

Some might already call him an old fossil, but legendary BLACK SABBATH guitarist Tony Iommi has now come face to face with a pre-historic trace of life named after him.

It comes after heavy metal-loving scientists from Scandinavia were so thrilled to discover a 469-year-old fossil in Russia that they named an entirely new species of conodonts Drepanoistodus Iommii — after their rock hero.

To celebrate the momentous occasion, Westside BID manager Mike Olley set up a surprise Facetime meeting between Tony, his fossil and lead palaeontologist Mats Eriksson on the BLACK SABBATH bench in Birmingham.

Tony said: "It was a real shock to hear that a fossil's been named after me. I've had a bit of abuse from my friends about it who've enjoyed calling me an old fossil, but I think it's great, a real honor. This has to be the weirdest thing that's ever been named after me but I'm really proud of it and I wanted to thank Mats and his team in person for being such brilliant fans."

Speaking to Tony from his home in Sweden, Mats said: "What an absolute honor it is to meet you. It's hard for me to wrap my head around this. From our point of view, it's to be regarded as nothing but a huge honor. The reason we do this is to have fun and to combine my love affairs with nature and with music. But this is just amazing. For me to publish academic papers published is fun but talking to you is priceless."

Mats, who has been a fan of BLACK SABBATH since he was a boy, was so thrilled by his team's discovery that he commissioned legendary "heavy metal painter," Joe Petagno, to create an honorary painting to mark the occasion.

Mats added: "I love the painting that Joe affectionately refers to as 'Tony Iommi conjuring an otherworldly gargantuan conodont.'"

The fossil is said to be from an ancient eel-like marine vertebrate known as a conodont — depicted in the painting as a giant, alien-like creature.

Olley said: "The purpose of having Tony here with us is to celebrate the fact that he's officially a fossil.

"I'm delighted we were able to set up the meeting and I want to thank Mats for his fantastic gesture to honor one of Birmingham's greatest rock heroes."

Photos and video courtesy of Westside BID

Multi-camera fan-filmed video footage of PHILIP H. ANSELMO AND THE ILLEGALS performing their "A Vulgar Display Of Pantera" set on Saturday, November 13 at Amplified Live in Dallas, Texas can be seen below.

"A Vulgar Display Of Pantera" finds singer Philip Anselmo and his solo group celebrating the legacy of PANTERA with a set featuring select cuts from the iconic metal band's five classic albums: "Cowboys From Hell", "Vulgar Display Of Power", "Far Beyond Driven", "The Great Southern Trendkill" and "Reinventing The Steel".

In a recent interview with The News-Herald, Anselmo said that part of the reason for performing PANTERA classics is to honor the band's guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was killed in 2004, and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who died in 2018.

"It's one of those cases where you have to say it is what it is," Anselmo said. "All of that stuff is terribly sad. It's (expletive) very tough to wrap my mind around even listening back to PANTERA stuff. The truth of it is, I learned a while back dealing with Dimebag's death that I could muck around and stay in the past and wallow, but it's not healthy. And in turn, when I play these songs, for me it's all about celebrating the life of Dimebag and Vince. I have to do the best I can for my brothers who have fallen and for all of our fans. I have to do the best I can and look at the bright side."

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for the murder of Dimebag, who was his brother.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Vinnie Paul died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS features Anselmo with guitarists Stephen Taylor (SUPERJOINT) and Mike DeLeon (FLESH HOARDER, BEING KILLED, ex-MOD), drummer José Manuel "Blue" Gonzalez (SUPERJOINT, WARBEAST), and bassist Derek Engemann (SCOUR, ex-CATTLE DECAPITATION). The band's most recent full-length, the critically acclaimed "Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue", was released in 2018 via Anselmo's own Housecore Records.

Active on YouTube since 2016, Joe and Dave, better known as Melodicka Bros, are an Italian musician duo known for covering popular songs in a style opposite from the original version, Check out their new way too happy version of the Metallica classic "Master Of Puppets" below.





The Melodicka Bros YouTube channel can be found here. A few more examples of their work can be found below.

"'Exciter'! Song opener on the KISS Kruise X," says guitarist Bruce Kulick. "Each week I will be sharing a video of the second set at the Stardust Theater, filmed by my wife Lisa from the balcony. It's a great way to 'be there.' Enjoy!"


Rarely played by KISS, "Exciter" - written by Paul Stanley and Vinnie Vincent - is the opening track to the 1983 album, Lick It Up, which is certified Gold in Canada, and Platinum in The United States.







Bruce Kulick and his band have performed on the last three KISS Kruises: KKXIII, KKIX, and KKX. His band plays songs from the '80s and '90s that aren't usually performed by KISS. 


Joining guitarist Bruce Kulick in his band are: Todd Kerns - lead vocals / guitar, Zach Throne - vocals / bass, and Brent Fitz - drums / vocals. Catch Bruce and his band live at Count's Vamp'd in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 30th. 





 

In these bleak days, we think you might agree, it’s about time we had some dark news that was actually good? Well, Rise Above Records is certainly chuffed to announce the signing of this exciting new doom metal machine known as Friends Of Hell.


Brainchild of former Electric Wizard bassist, Tas Danazoglou, Friends Of Hell also feature the enigmatic talents of former Reverend Bizarre vocalist Albert Witchfinder.


Their fantastic self-titled album will be released worldwide via Rise Above Records on March 18, 2022. More information (including a promo video) coming soon.




Tas: "We are all veterans, having played in many bands in the past, but this one feels very special. We are ready to strike!"


(Photo by Pete Voutilainen)


 

German quintet There's A Light recently inked a worldwide record deal with Napalm Records. The promising discovery will release its second album f̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶I ̶h̶o̶pe̶? for what must we hope? on December 10. A video for the new single, "Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead", can be viewed below.


True emotions do not require words. That's what There's A Light have proven many times, as with new single "Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead". A fulfilling opening is followed by familiar peaceful guitar melodies and ambient interjections that detach the listener from mundane concerns. Each note drifts weightlessly through the atmosphere before fading into eternity. In addition, the warm cello tunes of passionate guest musician Akito Goto join in, gently embracing the listener in auditory bliss, assuring that everything's going to be alright. The music video goes hand in hand and tells a profound story with the purest of visual means and brings peace with one's internal conflicts.


There's A Light on “Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead”: “If you ever experienced this phenomenon in nature, on a hike or wherever you are without shelter from the elements, you will not forget it. It’s a calming and beautiful sight when you see a dark storm front moving away from you while the sun comes out. For us this is a metaphor - life is a constant flow between ups and downs. But no matter how dark a storm is, there will always be a bright sky ahead. This song tries to capture this motion and feeling. Thank you so much for listening!”







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


The radiant album opener "...The Storm Will Set The Sails" immediately enchants with its shimmering melody and great arrangements, while the following "Within The Tides" presents a more dramatic, progressive touch with impressive technique and rhythm. The driving "Like The Earth Orbits Sun" is one of the tracks that features bassist Andreas Richau's captivating, emotional vocals, along with the multi-faceted exclamation point "Elpis" and spherical "Be Brave, Fragile Heart". "Dark Clouds Behind, Bright Skies Ahead" and "Appearance Of Earth" open up another spectrum of sound and expand the cosmos with the passionate cello playing of guest musician Akito Goto. The grand finale "Even In The Darkest Place..." weaves powerful instrumentation with dreamy moments into a harmonious overall construct, once again underscoring a hypnotic post-rock experience in the style of bands like God Is An Astronaut, Russian Circles and Sigur Ros.


There's A Light on the new album: "So, we asked ourselves what hope stands for and what it means to us. We had a lot of conversations within the band about the good but also the bad aspects of hope and our experiences with it. And we got answers and inspiration by history and philosophy. Like Kant who has extremely positive views on this topic - hope is necessity for human existence, it’s not seen by him as a personal but collective thing. This is where the album title came from. The whole process of creating this album really took us on a journey and we found new ways to express our thoughts and feelings with our music. We took a few trips to France and wrote songs together in a cabin, but we also had to write a lot of parts simultaneously, since we are not living in one city any more. We had the chance to work together with new lovely people but we also reconnected with old partners in crime. All in all it wasn’t an easy journey, but now we made it and are happy and proud to finally release this album with Napalm Records!"





f̶o̶r̶ ̶w̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶m̶a̶y̶ ̶I ̶h̶o̶pe̶? for what must we hope? will be available in the following formats:


- Digipack
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- 2LP Gatefold in Marbled Curacao/Black (limited to 100 copies worldwide)
- 2LP Gatefold in Ocean Blue (limited to 300 copies worldwide)
- Digital Full Length Album


Pre-order here.





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


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


"Elpis" video:





There's A Light is:


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


(Photo - Nicolas Kuri)

Guitarist Gus G. (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne) recently got together with his friends Strutter (bass) and Achilles (drums) to rehearse some of the tracks off his new album, Quantum Leap.


"We set up a few cameras and pushed the 'record' button," says Gus G. "We approached this as if it was a livestream. The video edit is done on the spot and the audio is raw with no overdubs. Engineered, recorded and mixed by Strutter at Valve Studio in Thessaloniki, Greece. Camera edit operation by Jimmy Tott."


Watch "Force Majeure" from the session below:







Watch "Into The Unknown" from the same session:





Quantum Leap artwork and tracklisting:





"Into The Unknown"
"Exosphere"
"Quantum Leap"
"Chronesthesia"
"Enigma Of Life"
"Judgement Day"
"Fierce"
"Demon Stomp"
"Night Driver"
"Not Forgotten"
"Force Majeure" (feat. Vinnie Moore)


"Into The Unknown" video:





"Enigma Of Life" video:





"Fierce" video:





"Exosphere" video:

Kingdom Immortal is the new album from New Jersey metal hoard Midnite Hellion. The album is due for release on January 21, 2022 via Power Chord Productions. BraveWords is premiering the video for the blazing “Speed Demon”; watch below!





The band comments:




"First cut from Kingdom Immortal is short, sweet, hard 'n heavy. ‘Speed Demon’, prepare for a wild ride. How fast are you willing to go?"


Kingdom Immortal will be available on LP, CD, limited edition cassette, and digital. Preorder on Bandcamp.


Midnite Hellion will support Loudness on February 20, 2022 at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ. 


Tracklisting:


“H.M.O” 
“She-Demon” 
“Phantomland” 
“Rapscallion” 
“Speed Demon” 
“Resurrected”
“Army Of The Dead” 
“In Sickness And In Hell”


Established in 2011 by drummer Drew Rizzo, Midnite Hellion took shape with the addition of bassist and vocalist Rich Kubik in 2016. Joined by lead guitarist Charles Koegler in June 2019, the band entered Pyramid Sound Studios in Ithaca, NY in August 2019 with producer Alex Perialas (Anthrax/S.O.D, OverKill, Testament, Joe Bonamassa). Recording for Kingdom Immortal was completed in six days, with mixing and mastering taking place in March and May 2021, respectively. The vinyl mastering was cut at Infrasonic Mastering by Daniel Bacigalupi (Barry Gibb, Dolly Parton, Stray Cats, Willie Nelson) and manufactured at Third Man Records (Jack White/The White Stripes).


Their debut album, Condemned To Hell, catapulted Midnite Hellion into the metal markets in 2017. The album was featured on the coveted “New Music Mondays” program on 89.5 FM WSOU. Heavy regional and national touring in support of the album was in order, most notably supporting Otep and The World Over in December 2018 in the Midwest and Mountain regions of the US.