Shortly ahead of their self-titled third studio album, Forth have released a brand-new single called “1993” — available now.


Doing its job in successfully taking listeners back to the glory days of the 1990s — objectively, one of the finest decades in music history — the up-and-coming Finnish hard rock band pay ode to fallen musicians of the era with this gorgeous new track.


“This song is about the loss of those voices, and the fading away of a kind of music that was real, powerful and driven by raw emotion,” lead vocalist / acoustic guitarist Brian Forth says.


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Though there’s twinges of Bryan Adams and early 1990s Axl Rose in Forth’s seemingly familiar voice, “1993” is a clear product of the massively short-lived grunge era. It’s constant, and addictive bass groove is carried by not just a glorious acoustic guitar melody, but a rock-solid rhythm backing and admiringly emotional vocal delivery from the band’s leader.


In fact, his delivery is similar to something you might hear out of Scorpions — the veteran German rock titans. To top it all off, guitar virtuoso and lead Tim Norrgrann treats fans with an incredibly succinct guitar solo.


Speaking further on “1993”, Forth gave a nod to four of his most beloved heroes in particular. The late grunge icons: Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Layne Staley (Alice In Chains), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, Audioslave) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver).


Though he wrote the lyrics on his own, Norrgrann — another insanely talented multi-instrumentalist — helped him compose the instant classic, which landed itself at the #1 spot on Finland’s Suomi Soi Top 20 chart upon release.


Of the writing of “1993”, Norrgrann said “it pretty much wrote itself,” after jamming over a few guitar ideas with Brian. As is clear throughout the song, he described it as an amalgamation of different musical eras, naming “late ‘70s stadium rock” as one of the key themes.


While Forth’s back-catalogue incorporates clear inspiration from the classic rock, alternative, hard rock and grunge genres, the four-piece band has pro-actively dubbed themselves a style called “newstalgia” — a sound the Espoo natives have become well-known for. The idea for this so-called newstalgia spawned from

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has just released his new solo album, "Quantum Leap", via AFM Records. The official music video for the disc's latest single, "Into The Unknown", can be seen below.

"Quantum Leap" came together over the course of the worldwide pandemic that, unfortunately, prevented FIREWIND's self-titled album from 2020 from gaining any real momentum. Immobilized by the quarantine measures that kept him at home, Gus began compiling musical ideas to keep himself occupied, which led to the full-on effort to write and record an album during the summer of 2021.

"I didn't make 'Quantum Leap' with the intention of it being the next one in the cycle of solo albums," Gus admits. "It was more of a case of, 'What else is there?' I needed the creative outlet."

Gus agrees with the suggestion that one has to make an instrumental album for him or herself; if people happen to enjoy it, that's a plus. It's an approach he takes with every album he makes, but if heavy metal is considered a niche market doing an instrumental album is an even smaller corner of that. Being a part of the music industry over the past 20 years has taught Gus that the business and the market has evolved to the point that instrumental albums are far more readily accepted compared to when he started.

"As an artist nowadays, you can basically do whatever you like and there's an audience out there for it," he says. "Instrumental music might not be a big seller, but everybody and can listen to anything, and there are no limits to what I can do. There's a track on the record that's a little bit synth-wave ['Night Driver'], there's bluesy ballad thing ['Enigma Of Life'], there's a track that has more prog elements ['Into The Unknown'], there's some power metal ['Demon Stomp', 'Judgement Day'], so it's all under the hard rock / heavy metal umbrella, but I wanted it to have some variety. It doesn't sound like I wrote 10 different riffs on the low E string and put a bunch of solos over it. And there's no excuse for anybody to say, 'I like the music but I hate that type vocals...' because there are no vocals. [Laughs]"

"Quantum Leap" was assembled in pieces, featuring new compositions and material taken from Gus's "riff vault," where he stores unfinished ideas and revisits them when he's able. The album started as a full-on solo outing, with Gus programming drums and playing guitar, bass and keyboards, but a chance encounter with drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco — who volunteered his services and subsequently blew Gus away — opened up the production. Producer/engineer Dennis Ward, who was responsible for mixing and mastering "Quantum Leap", ended up laying down bass tracks on eight of the 10 tracks.

Unlike many instrumental albums, "Quantum Leap" doesn't feel like a musical root canal or long and drawn-out brain surgery. Each of the 10 tracks are solid and compact musical ideas, with Gus's guitar acting as the voice. In this respect, writing "Quantum Leap" was a challenge because he is so used to writing in a specific formula utilizing vocals. He found himself falling into the loop of overplaying a few times during the production because of the lack of vocals, but was able to overcome the problem once he acknowledged it.

"When I first wrote 'Exosphere', for example, there were so many things going on in the track but it wasn't saying anything," says Gus. "I really needed to have the guitar taking a vocal approach. I knew that if I just kept the playing technical it wasn't going to be enjoyable. So the playing isn't always about technique, and once I found the formula it was easier to create melodies for the record."

"I'm a guitar player and I cannot stand most instrumental guitar albums," he adds. "The classic are the classics, but very rarely do I get into them because after the third track it just seems like an endless guitar solo where everything that sounds the same. That's something I wanted to avoid on 'Quantum Leap' and I think I succeeded in doing that."

"Quantum Leap" track listing:

01. Into The Unknown

02. Exosphere

03. Quantum Leap

04. Chronesthesia

05. Enigma Of Life

06. Judgement Day

07. Fierce

08. Demon Stomp

09. Night Driver

10. Not Forgotten

11. Force Majeure (feat. Vinnie Moore)

Maryland rockers CLUTCH have postponed three shows on their current tour after undisclosed members of the band's "touring camp" tested positive for COVID-19. Affected dates include in Burlington, Vermont; Hampton Beach, New Hamsphire; and Washington, D.C.

Earlier today, the band issued the following statement: "Although we followed every available protocol and precaution, Covid has made its way into the CLUTCH touring camp. The bad news is we are postponing our next 3 shows, but the good news is we already have the rescheduled dates so hold onto your tickets as they will be honored for these rescheduled dates in 2022."

New dates:

Jan 02 - Washington, D.C. - 9:30 Club

Apr. 27 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Apr. 29 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino

CLUTCH drummer Jean-Paul Gaster recently told the Chicago-based webzine Metal Kaoz that he and his bandmates have "written a lot of songs" in the last year for the follow-up to 2018's "Book Of Bad Decisions" LP. He said: "We've been writing now for our new album that we will record in the fall, and I think we're spending more time than ever in the studio, just trying out different ideas. And most of the ideas don't ever really make it to the end; we try 10 things and we keep one.

"I think we are even more selective than we were before as to which ideas we really decide to focus on. And I think it is because we have so much more time. Before, we would come home for a tour and maybe we would have three weeks off. So, the first week, we don't do really much of anything — everybody goes back home to their families and we rest — and then the next two weeks we would get together and we would just jam really hard and get a bunch of ideas, and then on the road and play those ideas, and then come back and do it again. And that process might go on for a year and a half. This has been different. This is the first time where we've had so much time at home to work on ideas and never really tried them in a live setting. So I'm not sure how it's gonna impact the record. But I think it's gonna make for a different album — whether it's good, bad or otherwise, it's too early to tell. But, for sure, it's a different dynamic, and it requires more of us.

"So often, when we have new ideas and we put them in front of an audience, you can really tell right away — we know right away if the song is the right tempo, we know right away if the riffs are where they need to be, if the chorus is the way it needs to be," Gaster added. "It's a testing ground. And we don't have that right now. So, for that reason, I think we are being a lot more careful about what ideas we really wanna focus on, and which ones we think, 'You know what? We've done that before. Let's do something a little different.'"

Gaster went on to say that the new CLUTCH album will likely arrive in early 2022 — "hopefully before we start really hitting the road again. And it'll be fun to get back out there," he said. "Man, I just miss it so much."

"Book Of Bad Decisions" was recorded at Sputnik Sound studio in Nashville, Tennessee with producer Vance Powell. The record sold 26,000 copies in America during its first week of availability, giving the group its third consecutive Top 20 album on the Billboard 200.
























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Praised by fans and critics alike for their 2020 EP, The Dawn Of Vitriol, Finland's Mercury Circle have unleashed their hotly anticipated debut full-length record, titled Killing Moons. With 10 brand new tracks spanning over 63 minutes, the band's brand new record is a deeply powerful and majestic piece of music - truly representing a genre of its own - and one that will take the listener on an all-absorbing trip into yet unimaginable spheres.


In support of the new album and to celebrate the release, Mercury Circle have released a new video clip for the track "Like Matches", with a special guest appearance by Cammie Gilbert of Oceans of Slumber. Watch the video below.





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Founded by producer and musician Jaani Peuhu, who paused his activities in Swallow The Sun for the band's upcoming album cycle in order to fully concentrate on Mercury Circle, the Finnish five-piece is by far no stranger to the scene and features former and current members of well-known acts such as Children Of Bodom, To/Die/For, Hanging Garden and Sleep Of Monsters. Thematically inspired by daily life with all its dark facets and challenges, "The original idea for the album concept was to make it some kind of a gateway that opens up a path away from everyday life leading somewhere where we can be free from all the stress, grief, Corona or any other worldly worries" Jaani Peuhu explains.


He continues: "This idea of escapism is very basic and true to music, but it turned out to develop a deeper and more complex meaning for me during the writing process. I had to cope with the difficult reality that my father, a brilliant musician himself, was no longer in this realm anymore because of Alzheimers disease. I often wonder where he is, roaming in his own head. I imagine that he is free to travel in space and time and do whatever he wishes there, like destroying planets or having a good time in a spiritual world… all while this disease is erasing a lifetime of memories. Many of us are looking for ways to flee the stat

Norwegian hard rockers Conception released brand new single, "Roll The Fire 2.0" on October 8th. It is a newly recorded version of the classic from their 1993 album, Parallel Minds, and marks the first time that the band have revisited their classic back catalogue. It is the latest release in a series of new recordings, live performances and previously unreleased material.


Guitarist Tore Østby comments: "'Roll The Fire' gave us an immense kick when we wrote it back in 1993, and it's one of our most popular songs to this day. It was so exciting to develop, reshape and adapt it to Conception of 2021, and we are really thrilled about how this brand new version turned out - not just with the new elements, but also generally a much heavier and rawer approach. We are super proud of how it turned out!"





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Conception, released their full length comeback album, State Of Deception, on April 3, 2020. It followed 2018’s successful EP release My Dark Symphony, both released via their own Conception Sound Factory label. They recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for an expanded edition of State Of Deception planned for 2022. This new version of the record will include new songs, re-recordings and live tracks.


Conception recently issued the following update:


"The latest release for our campaign is out! 'Gethsemane' was always one of the highlights from the Flow album, and this particular version comes from a very special night in Gjøvik back in 2019. The track is available via digital platforms found here."





Check out the crowdfunding campaign here.


Frontman Roy Khan: "We've been lucky enough to have such loyal fans. They have been incredibly generous in supporting us, and we've tried really hard to acknowledge that by making some particularly distinctive items and experiences available to them. The centrepiece of the campaign will be an all new deluxe box set version of State of Deception, packed full of new and exclusive goodies and new tracks! As you might be able to tell, we’re just a little bit excited about it all!"





State Of Deception follows a twenty year interval during which band members Roy Khan, Tore Østby, Ingar Amlien and Arve Heimdal remained friends throughout, and the album release marks the full-circle evolution of the band. Lead singer Roy Khan: "The reception we’ve had from fans made recording a new album almost inevitable; they’d have rioted if we didn’t get this out! But we’re mightily proud of what we have put together here; I actually think it’s the best thing I’ve ever been involved in. We can’t wait to share it with everyone!"


In fact, reflecting the band’s desire for an entirely direct relationship with their fans, the album is wholly fan-funded. Moreover, State Of Deception is wholly self-produced, benefits from the stellar mix skills of Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Within Temptation, Europe etc), and is comprised of 9 tracks in total. Guitarist Tore Østby explains further, "Producing this new album has been an emotional and exciting process, digging deeper into the heart and soul of the band than ever before. The result is dynamic and intense!”


State Of Deception perfectly captures the band’s trademark breadth of progressive sound, from symphonic melodrama to rock riff utopia, and also features eminent Amaranthe vocalist Elize Ryd.

Nuclear Blast has announced the signing of Danish metal band, Cabal. The six piece from Copenhagen are down to conquer the business with their visceral and doom-laden atmosphere, strapped up with a mixture of extreme metal, hardcore and djent. Be prepared for this lethal combination to blow up your world.


Cabal states: "We are beyond ecstatic and proud that Cabal is now a part of the Nuclear Blast family. A lot of the bands that we grew up listening to and idolising were signed to Nuclear Blast, so joining the roster ourselves feels quite surreal, in the best way possible way, for a bunch of fanboys like ourselves. Having the opportunity to work with such an incredible team is truly a dream come true for us. This is a new and exciting chapter for Cabal. We can’t wait to release our best material yet with Nuclear Blast Records, and we’re ready to take our musical careers to the next level."


Jens Prüter, Nuclear Blast European Head Of A&R, adds: “We are very proud to welcome Cabal to NB. Next to MØL, they are one of the most interesting Danish bands pushing the genre boundaries of extreme metal. I first saw the band in January 2018 at the 'When Copenhell Freezes Over' event, when it was actually really freezing cold outside and they set the venue on fire with an intense soundtrack to the apocalypse. Since then, they continued to tour all over the world, from Japan to North America and became an unstoppable force of a new generation for Metal. It’s no surprise that Matt Heafy (Trivium) also took notice and joined them as a guest vocalist on their last album. The next chapters will continue to be surprising. Special thanks to their manager Mirza Radonjica and Jeppe Nissen from Copenhell for introducing me to the band!”


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And Cabal immediately step up to the plate: Ready to demonstrate their live power as soon as possible, the band will join the legendary Never Say Die Tour together with Nasty, Within Destruc

Swedish AOR band, Houston, have released their new studio album, IV. Listen to the new single "Heartbreaker" below, and order/save IV here.





Tracklisting:


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"She Is The Night"
" You're Still The Woman"
"Hero"
"A Lifetime In A Moment"
"Heartbreaker"
"Storyteller"

UK rockers, Wayward Sons, have unleashed their third album, Even Up The Score, via Frontiers Records Srl. The album track, "Land Of The Blind", is available for streaming below.


Fronted by vocalist/guitarist Toby Jepson, who is joined by Nic Wastell (bass), Phil Martini (drums), and Sam Wood (guitar), plus Dave Kemp (keyboards) for the recording of the album, Wayward Sons continue to deal in energetic rock 'n roll coupled with thoughtful, insightful lyrics.


The album is once again a full-blooded rock album, containing songs that define the band as writers and players. A record built on the passion and commitment of its members, with an eye on modernity and the human condition, and at this moment in history, have we ever been more challenged? Well, Wayward Sons intend to defy the times and bring a little hope to rock n roll!


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Passionate, honest music made by passionate honest musicians who have come together to create rock music that reflects their heroes from the ‘70s and ‘80s, while also touching on the present – modernity through homage, if you will.


The return of former Little Angels singer Toby Jepson to the UK rock scene with Wayward Sons was a welcome event in the British hard rock music scene when it transpired some five years ago. After the overwhelming success of Little Angels, including a number one album, millions of records sold, massive sell out shows and numerous hit singles, Toby had been busy in the prior years in movie work as well as performing with Fastway, Gun, and Dio’s Disciples and producing albums for numerous bands (Saxon, Fastway, The Virginmarys, Toseland, and more).


His heart, however, was always in writing and performing and so the concept of Wayward Sons was born – a new band, built for playing live. A new direction with Toby’s songs taking center stage was introduced on the debut album “Ghosts Of Yet To Come”. The album was greeted with outstanding critical acclaim and earned Wayward Sons the title of "Best New Band" at the Planet Rock awards 2018. More and increasing success followed with the re

Albert Bouchard is best known as a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult. The original lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Contributing to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites On Flame With Rock And Roll”.


With the success of Re Imaginos last year, Albert Bouchard is now back with Imaginos 2 – Bombs Over Germany (minus zero and counting), continuing the Trilogy of Imaginos, a concept album about an alien conspiracy that is brought to fruition during the late 19th and early 20th century through the actions of Imaginos, an agent of evil. The album weaves scripts and poems by the late Sandy Pearlman. It features guests Ross The Boss (Dictators), Joe Cerisano (Silver Condor, TSO), and reunites original Blue Öyster Cult members Eric Bloom, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Joe Bouchard, as well current BOC member Richie Castellano, who all contribute to this latest installment. The album also features reworks of classics like “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll”, “The Red And The Black”, and “Dominance And Submission”.


Check out a lyric video for the new single, "Independence Day", below.


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Deko Entertainment is very excited to continue their relationship with Albert and RockHeart Records and plans are already underway for the third instalment and accompanying Imaginos comic book currently in development.


President Bruce Pucciarello comments, “With a comic book based on his Re-Imaginos album in development, and Albert continually stepping it up to represent each musical piece with a personal dedication to the original vision, Imaginos II is exactly what it is supposed to be, an epic…thank you Albert.”





To celebrate Imaginos II, there are limited edition bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered

Las Vegas hard rock breakouts, Crash Midnight, have dropped their third of four brand new singles for 2021 with "Blackout" – a searing rock anthem that will be echoing this fall throughout Las Vegas - where the band has established itself as the highest-drawing independent rock act.





The band is partnering with the NHL's Las Vegas Golden Knights to have the new single featured during games this season. Combined with the launch of a Crash Midnight signature "Smash Midnight Blackout" whiskey smash cocktail at Corduroy (the coolest rock bar in downtown Vegas), fans will be getting a steady dose of Crash Midnight everywhere they go in the Entertainment Capital of the World!


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"Blackout" is a raw, "punks in the street" homage to the band's formative years running in the Boston club scene.  It came together during the year-long shutdown of live entertainment, which gave the band an opportunity to really look back on where things all started and use some of that as inspiration for a few of their new songs. "Blackout" took on a whole new meaning for the band though when the Las Vegas Strip literally went dark during the height of the pandemic.


Vocalist Shaun Soho tells BraveWords about “Blackout”: "This song is a total live song.  It's got so much energy and the chorus just knocks you on your ass.  It all came out of us reminiscing a little during the lockdowns about the freedom we sort of took for granted in the early days of this band - running through bars in Boston and getting into all the shit we did back there where we didn't really give a thought to consequences or what would happen next. When stuff gets shut down like it was this past year, it makes you appreciate times like that more. 


“I had some fragments of lyrics along those lines, sort of a 'punks in the street' vibe that I hadn't placed to a song yet and then we hit on this riff that straight up embodied that attitude.  It all came together quickly from there and our co-producer, Tristan Hardin, definitely put in a lot of work to keep the song edgy, but still have this gigantic feel to it.  We're psyched that our hometown NHL team, the Vegas Golden Knights, dug the song and are going to be using it during games all season long. VGK President, George McPhee, was awesome in getting us connected with their people to make this happen.  Those guys are such a great organization with everything they do for the Las Vegas community out here that it's hard not to become a huge fan of them and this is just another reason."


Soho on the Blackout cocktail: "We became good friends with the guys at this cool rock n' roll bar in downtown Vegas called Corduroy. We were telling them about one of our favorite drinks back in Boston - this thing called a whiskey smash - that we used to drink all the time down by Kenmore Square. Nobody out here really made it though. A whiskey smash is pretty much just bourbon, muddled mint and lemon with some simple syrup, but these guys came up with a whole new take on it with some of their homemade ginger beer, a dash of bitters, and activated charcoal to make it jet-black. Then they serve it in a glass skull mason jar so you're basically drinking this badass black skull cocktail. We're calling it the ‘Smash Midnight Blackout’ so you can check it out

TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy has confirmed to the "Not These Two Fucking Guys" podcast that he has begun reaching out to various hard rock and heavy metal musicians about collaborating with him on his first-ever solo album. He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it started [to be] in the works, but then things just kind of got held up. I was recruiting some guitar players over the last six months to write a record with me, and I was gonna use a different guitar player on every song to help me write songs. Mark Morton [LAMB OF GOD], I've talked to him; he wants to work [with me]. I also want Gary Holt [EXODUS, SLAYER] to write some songs with me. Glen Drover [ex-MEGADETH] is gonna write some songs… I haven't approached my cousin Stef [Stephen Carpenter] from the DEFTONES yet, but I'm gonna see if he'll wanna write a song with me. I tried to reach out to Joe Bonamassa [to see if he wants to] write a song with me."

As for the musical direction of his solo LP, Billy said: "I want it to be different. And what I've told all these guys [is] that I wanna do a solo record, but I don't want it to resemble TESTAMENT; I wanna do something different. And the direction I wanna go is the old classic vinyl-sounding records — just real, clean and dry and big. Real tones — not compressed digital stuff. I want it to be classic sounding, but have it rock, have it bluesy. Have some metal, but just have it where [it doesn't sound like what people are used to hearing from me]."

He continued: "I've done these compilation records for this Cleopatra label, and I've done anything from Michael Jackson to Christmas songs. And every time people hear it, they go, 'Man, that's kind of cool.' And I was thinking about it — it's fun to do, and it's challenging and different. So when I think of a solo record, I want it to be different — I want every song to kind of have its own personality and stand on their own. So that was kind of my goal. If I do a solo record — maybe I'll do a few, but if I do one solo record, I want it to really be something that [is] challenging to me, different for me and different from [people's] expectations, when somebody puts it on, [but] that they'll enjoy it still.

"So that's what I wanted to do," Chuck added. "So I've been telling [the various guitar players], 'Just start writing. Put the song together for me. But don't think metal. Don't think TESTAMENT. Don't think the bands you're in. Just write something cool that's got a vibe. And give it to me. Let me do my thing on it.'"

TESTAMENT's "The Bay Strikes Back Tour" with EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL will kick off on October 6 at the Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, California and make stops in Austin, New York, and Detroit before concluding on November 27 at The Fox in Oakland.

TESTAMENT's latest album, "Titans Of Creation", came out in April 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The disc was produced by guitarist Eric Peterson and Billy, while Juan Urteaga of Trident Studios handled co-producing, recording and engineering. Andy Sneap was responsible for the mixing and mastering of the album. Eliran Kantor stepped up once again to create new artwork for the cover of this release.

Early last year, TESTAMENT completed "The Bay Strikes Back 2020" European tour with EXODUS and DEATH ANGEL.

NICKELBACK has fired back at a Texas singer over a copyright lawsuit claiming the rock band ripped off its 2005 hit song "Rockstar" from an earlier track called "Rock Star".

Kirk Johnston filed a lawsuit against NICKELBACK members Chad Kroeger, Michael Kroeger, Ryan Peake and Daniel Adair, as well as the band's former record label Roadrunner Records and Warner Chappell Music, Inc. and Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. alleging that the NICKELBACK copied his original musical composition, "Rock Star", which he wrote in 2001 while a member of the band SNOWBLIND REVIVAL.

In August 2001, SNOWBLIND REVIVAL created a master recording of "Rock Star", along with three other original songs. The band made 15 copies of the master recording and sent them to several record labels, including Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group, of which Roadrunner Records, Inc. and Warner Chappell Music, Inc. are wholly owned indirect subsidiaries. Johnston alleges that NICKELBACK had direct access to Johnston's musical composition "Rock Star" as a result of SNOWBLIND REVIVAL's marketing efforts.

In January 2005, NICKELBACK released the song "Rockstar" on its album "All The Right Reasons". Johnston alleges that "a substantial amount of the music in 'Rockstar' is copied from [his] original composition 'Rock Star'," including "the tempo, song form, melodic structure, harmonic structures, and lyrical themes."

Now, in an answer to Johnston's original complaint, NICKELBACK stated that "the two songs sound nothing alike." The band went on to say that "Johnston failed to identify any specific lyrical similarities between the works at issue; he could only conceivably point to the titles of the two works and 'lyrical themes'. Titles are not protectable by copyright, and their similarity cannot give rise to an infringement claim. Nor does copyright protect the commonplace lyrical theme of imagining being a rock star."

NICKELBACK wrote in the court document: "As for the music, it is evident to an ordinary observer that the sound recording of [Johnston's song] has a steady, driving guitar beat, whereas [NICKELBACK's 'Rockstar'] does not and is obviously slower. The two songs are not in the same key; [Johnston's song] is in a major key, whereas [NICKELBACK's 'Rockstar'] is in both major and minor keys. Further, the styles of the two works are different. Even [Johnston] acknowledges that his band SNOWBLIND REVIVAL and NICKELBACK play different genres of music: 'Unlike NICKELBACK's hard rock sound, SNOWBLIND REVIVAL would be considered an alternative rock band with more indie/eclectic roots.' And most importantly, the melodies of [Johnston's song] and [NICKELBACK's 'Rockstar'] sound nothing alike."

NICKELBACK also pointed out that Johnston "provides no details" of his purported meetings with record-label higher-ups, "such as the names of the record label representatives with whom he allegedly met, where the meetings took place, or even when the meetings took place." The band also claimed that Johnston "has failed to allege any means by which [his song] could have ended up in the hands of the individual members of NICKELBACK who composed 'Rockstar'. None of these allegations describe a chain of events that links [Johnston's song] to the creation of [NICKELBACK's 'Rockstar']."

Johnston is seeking damages for copyright infringement and an injunction against further infringement.

Last month, Magistrate Judge Susan Hightower said in her report and recommendation to Judge Robert Pitman of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas that Johnston's complaint sufficiently alleged NICKELBACK's members had access to his song "Rock Star".

"Johnston has alleged facts sufficient to raise his right to relief above the speculative level, which is all that is required at the pleading stage," Hightower said.

NICKELBACK had asserted that Johnston cannot state a claim for copyright infringement because "fundamentally, the works at issue are not substantially similar to an ordinary observer." They argued that the works are so dissimilar as to defeat Johnston's claim for copyright infringement as a matter of law.

Having listened to both songs, Hightower found that it is possible for a reasonable juror to determine that the works share protectable elements. Whether Johnston will be able to produce evidence that these similarities rise to the level of "substantial" or "striking" in view of NICKELBACK's level of access is yet to be determined, she said.

LAMB OF GOD frontman Randy Blythe spoke to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about what it's been like to return to the road as part of "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and HATEBREED. "It's awesome," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "It's been since February 14th, 2020 since we played a show, and that was the only show we played in 2020, and we hadn't toured in two years. It's awesome. It's an interesting time."

According to Blythe, not being able to play live in 2020 was a "weird" experience. "Because we put out a record that came out last summer — a little over a year ago; I believe it came out in June 2020," he said. "And we tour so much, so that immediately it wasn't, like, 'Oh my God. I've gotta go back on stage.' I've been doing it for 27 years or whatever with this band alone. But it was weird in that we put a record out and we couldn't go tour to support it and play new songs, and that just felt like a huge component of my life was removed. That's the way I've lived my entire adult life — you write, record, put out a record and then you go out and play songs on it. So it was very strange."

That said, "I can't complain, because a lot of people lost businesses, lost jobs, people died and all that stuff," Randy clarified. "I'm not gonna whine about not being able to play a rock and roll show when other people faced far more serious consequences."

Randy also talked about how he and his bandmates are coping with the complexities and expense of doing live shows — including navigating a patchwork of safety protocols that vary by city and venue — amid concerns about resurgent COVID-19 cases.

"Dude, we're just trying to survive this thing," he said. "This is a crazy time. We're trying to stay healthy, stay in the bubble and get through this tour… It is strange not to hang out with the other bands — we aren't hanging out with other bands on their buses or in their dressing rooms. We're out here with HATEBREED, who, they're family to us; their singer, Jamey [Jasta], is one of my best friends. And we talk via text on tour. And we talk via text at home all the time. But it's weird. His bus is right over beside mine, and we don't hardly see each other. So there's a bit of that — the normal camaraderie that you feel on a tour and the shenanigans you get into and just hanging out and playing pranks on each other, all that other crap, that's absent. But we're all out here trying to adapt and overcome and do what we have to during this weird, weird time to give people a rock show."

LAMB OF GOD is touring in support of its latest, self-titled album, whcih was released via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. The follow-up to "VII: Sturm Und Drang" marked LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.

"Lamb Of God" was recorded with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) and includes special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John Corabi says that fans calling for him to return to the band should "let it go."

Corabi joined CRÜE in 1992 as the replacement for the group's original singer, Vince Neil, who was dismissed due to personal differences. With Corabi on vocals, MÖTLEY CRÜE released one critically acclaimed full-length CD, which ended up being a commercial failure in the wake of grunge despite a Top 10 placing on the album chart. When Neil returned to the fold in 1997, Corabi was left on his own and formed the band UNION with ex-KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

After a recent article emerged online claiming — falsely — that CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx issued an ultimatum to Neil to lose a significant amount of weight for the band's comeback tour or be fired and replaced by Corabi, John posted a statement on social media denying that he had held "secret rehearsals" with CRÜE and shooting down the possibility of him rejoining the band, saying that he was "not even remotely interested in doing that again."

On Wednesday (September 8), Corabi took part in a video interview with Let's Rock in which he once again touched upon the rumors of him reuniting with CRÜE.

He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I made a post this morning. I got up and I had a gazillion e-mails on [the above-mentioned article].

"Last week, somebody posted that after a performance Vince did, all the fans are saying Corabi's gotta come back. Then, about three days later, there was a thing, like, 'Nikki orders Vince to lose 50 pounds or to bring in Corabi back.' And now today I get up and there's this bullshit. And I'm, like, fuck, man. Let it go. I did that fucking record, like, 30 years ago. I'm proud of it, it's a great album, but fuck off. It's been 30 fucking years. Let it go.

"In 2022, it'll be 30 years that I joined, and in 2026, it'll be 30 years that I left. It's, like, come on, guys. Seriously, let it fucking go."

Asked point blank if he is returning to the CRÜE, Corabi said: "I'm just gonna level with you. After the incredibly fucking pathetic, stupid performance, or my portrayal in the fucking movie 'The Dirt', and then, I won't mention his name, whatever, but a certain bandmember's comments about my lack of writing talent and my contributions to the record, I'm, like why would I do that to myself? Fuck off. Done. It's been put to bed. Moving on.

"I had a great time doing the record; I had a great time with the guys," he continued. "Something went south probably about 10 years ago. I have no idea what it is; I can't put my finger on it. Nor do I care."

Corabi in 2016 said that he would avoid talking about MÖTLEY CRÜE in the future because he didn't want his comments about Sixx to descend into a feud.

In an interview with Sweden Rock Magazine, Nikki said that writing the "Mötley Crüe" LP with Corabi was a prolonged and difficult experience. He went to call it "a very unfocused record" that was "painful for me, because John Corabi can't write lyrics, and I had to do all that work."

Corabi initially responded to Sixx's comments by saying that he didn't "give a shit" about what his ex-bandmate had to say, but later told an interviewer, when asked about it again, "I have no idea why Nikki feels that I'm the biggest piece of shit to roam the Earth." He then proceeded to take to his Facebook page to claim that he would "officially have nothing to say about any member of MÖTLEY CRÜE ever again," adding that he was "not backing this bullshit stirring that is happening to start a feud."

In February 2018, Corabi released a live album of his performance of MÖTLEY CRÜE's entire 1994 self-titled album, recorded on October 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. "Live '94: One Night In Nashville" documents the album in its entirety along with the bonus track "10,000 Miles", which was originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the "Quaternary" EP.

Corabi recently completed work on his autobiography. Titled "Horseshoes And Hand Grenades", it was written wih the help of MÖTLEY CRÜE historian/author Paul Miles, and is due on April 12, 2022 via Rare Bird Books.

Thoughtcrimes, the Long Island-based hardcore band featuring former Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Billy Rymer, singer Rick Pepa, guitar players Russ Savarese and Brian Sullivan, and bass player Cody Hosza, mark the arrival of their Tap Night EP (via Pure Noise Records) with the release of the “Wedlock Waltz” video.





The track is one of two new songs on the expanded, reissued EP, with the band previously sharing a video for the track “Misery’s A Muse”.


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“Once the tone was set with the first demo, we pushed ourselves to make the most blistering

English extreme metal legends and pioneers of goregrind and death metal, Carcass, recently released their new album, Torn Arteries, via Nuclear Blast Records. The band have released the final trailer, in which they discuss the new record as a whole.





Torn Arteries can be ordered in a variety of bundles and formats, including CD, Box Set and limited edition vinyl pressings. Order here.


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Tracklisting:


"Torn Arteries"
"Dance Of IXTAB (Psychopomp & Circumstances March No. 1 In B)"
"Eleanor Rigor Mortis"
"Under The Scalpel Blade"
"The Devil Rides Out"
"Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment Limited"
"Kelly's Meat Emporium"
"In God We Trust"
"Wake Up And Smell The Carcass / Caveat Emptor"
"The Scythe's Remorseless Swing"


"The Scythe's Remorseless Swing" video:

Dutch metal legends, Martyr, will release their new studio album, Planet Metalhead, on February 24, 2022.


During the 40 years of their existence, Martyr have always been battling unorthodox styles such as nu-metal, screamo or slam death metal. Martyr therefore is a band you can always rely on to put out a solid as fuck heavy / speed / thrash metal release.


Planet Metalhead will be available in various formats and bundle packages and is set for a worldwide release through the Dutch Pt78 Records label in association with No Dust Records (Netherlands), Rock Stakk Records (Japan), Animated Insanity Records (U.S.A.), Classic Metal Records (South America).


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The ten tracks show a variety of impassioned eargasms which correspond to different styles that are firmly rooted in the Eighties heavy metal scene but with a contemporary twist and production. On this release, Martyr will prove they are stronger than ever before and haven’t lost any of their relevance.





Tracklisting:


"Raise Your Horns, Unite!"
"Demon Hammer"
"Children Of The Night"
"Fire Of Rebellions"
"No Time For Goodbyes"
"Metal Overdrive"
"La Diabla!"
"Diary Of A Sinner"
"Church Of Steel"
"Wings In A Darkened Soul"

Acclaimed rock vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto, has released his next solo project, The Duets Collection, Vol. 1. For this album, Soto wanted to do a career retrospective and re-record some of his favorite songs from his storied career, but with the twist that he invited friends to join him on duets of said songs.


Watch a video for his cover of Talisman's "I'll Be Waiting" below, and order/save The Duets Collection, Vol. 1 on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital here.


Using the down time from his normally relentless touring activity due to the worldwide pandemic, renowned vocalist Jeff Scott Soto decided to create a very special album which pays tribute to some of the classic songs he has recorded over the course of his storied career. But, rather than simple re-records, he wanted to make the album something special, unique. So, not only did he re-record these songs with his musical friends Jorge Salan, Howie Simon (guitars), Leo Mancini (guitars), Tony Dickinson (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums), but he called in some of his fellow rock friends/vocalists to create a unique Duets album. With the likes of Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Johnny Gioeli (Hardline), Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey), Nathan James (Inglorious), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Renan Zonta (Electric Mob), Dino Jelusick, Mats Leven (Candlemass, TSO), BJ (Spektra, Soto), and Aliro Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza), this is an amazing international affair.


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The tracklisting alone will surely make any JSS fan excited, much less hearing the final product. Where can you get such an amazing list of singers and songs all in the same place?


Jeff says, "It was a DREAM to cast these voices and I am so amped for you to hear the results…”





Tracklisting:


"Livin’ The Life" (Rock Star) with Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.)
"Don’t Let It End" (Yngwie Malmsteen) - with Dino Jelusick
"Mysterious" (Talisman) - with Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
"Believe In Me" (Jss) - with Nathan James (Inglorious)
"Coming Home" (Soul Sirkus) - with Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey)
"I’ll Be Waiting" (Talisman) - with Alirio Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza)
"Callin’ All Girls" (Eyes) - with Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen/Lande)
"Colour My XTC" (Talisman) - with Renan Zonta (Electric Mob)
"Warrior" (Axel Rudi Pell) - with Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell)
"Holding On" (Jss) - with BJ (Soto, Spektra)
"Again 2 B Found" (Humanimal) - with Mats Leven (Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)


"I’ll Be Waiting" video:

ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann spoke to Brazil's Headbangers News about the inspiration for the song "The Best Is Yet To Come", a "ballad" of sorts that is featured on the band's latest album, "Too Mean To Die".

"I had the music written for that song, and I liked it, but I wasn't quite sure whether it would work for ACCEPT, because, after all, a song like that has to be a hundred percent convincing and the singer really has to put his heart and soul into it, or else it's not gonna make it, I think," Wolf said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "'Cause the last thing that you want, especially as a metal like we are, you don't want a half-assed ballad that's only like, 'Meh,' where people are saying, 'Well, they could have left that away.' So, if we do a ballad or a slow song… Actually, to me, it's not really a typical ballad; it's more of a slower song because it's still quite bouncy and not so… I don't know… Something about it is not a typical ballad to me.

"Anyway, we did say initially when we recorded it, 'Let's just wait and see how it develops and what Mark [Tornillo, ACCEPT singer] feels about it. If he really gets into it and and if he really 'gets' it, so to say, and really delivers, then it's gonna make the cut.' And by God, he did. I think he did a killer job. And he loves that song; you can tell he loves it.

"We have had sort of 'ballads' in the years past, and it's been a while that we've done one, because I always felt, like, we don't really need one," Wolf continued. "We're not a band which has to have a ballad for the chicks or something; it's not us. We're not BON JOVI or we're not somebody else… That's not us. I get it — it's their thing — but that's not really who we are. So that's why I felt if we do one, it has to be one that's really convincing. And lyrically, I think it turned out really, really well. The message in that song is really something that's close to my heart, but I am personally sort of an optimist kind of guy and I like to live in the present and the future much more than in the past. So I actually do think the best is still out there a lot of times. Who knows what's around the corner? Who knows what's gonna happen next week, and it could be the best thing ever. And that's the way I like to think personally and also as a musician. I think you have to say to yourself, 'Maybe the best ACCEPT show hasn't been played yet. Maybe yesterday was amazing but tomorrow could be much, much better.' And that's what, I think, motivates you [and] challenges you."

"Too Mean To Die" came out in January via Nuclear Blast. The LP is the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited ACCEPT in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik. ACCEPT's lineup has also been expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Uwe Lulis during 2019's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join the band permanently.

"Too Mean To Die" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with British producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH), who has been responsible for the studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.

According to The Patriot Ledger, AEROSMITH guitarist Joe Perry has put his home in Duxbury, Massachussets on the market for $4.5 million.

The 14-room, 7-acre country gated estate includes a heated pool in the shape of a Gibson guitar body, rooftop garden, three-stall barn, high-tech media room, exposed beams, three fireplaces, a gym and a billiards room.

The house, which Perry has owned for 33 years, including his basement studio, where AEROSMITH recorded some of the 2001 album "Just Push Play" as well as 2004's "Honkin' On Bobo". Perry also used the facility to record three of his solo albums.

In recent years, Perry has been spending a lot of time in Los Angeles as well as his beach-front condo in Sarasota, Florida.

See photos of the property at The Patriot Ledger.

Last month, AEROSMITH and Universal Music Group (UMG), announced a worldwide alliance spanning the iconic group's entire discography, merchandise and audio-video projects. For the first time, in 2022 all of AEROSMITH's iconic recordings will be unified in one place ahead of the band's upcoming 50th anniversary through a new multifaceted partnership with UMG. In addition to supporting the band's consolidated catalog, this partnership will also make use of unprecedented access to the storied "Vindaloo Vaults" and personal archives of bandmembers Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Tom Hamilton, Joey Kramer and Brad Whitford, who will actively help curate their collections of music, photos, video footage, artwork, journals, set lists and memorabilia. Future releases will offer fans access to never-before seen and heard gems, that will further cement the band's position as one of rock's most ground-breaking and reverential groups in history.

Inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2001, AEROSMITH is tied for the most RIAA album certifications by an American group with 25 gold, 18 platinum, 12 multi-platinum and one diamond. As the band was founded in Boston in 1970, April 13 has been declared "Aerosmith Day" in Massachusetts by former governor William Weld

This past July, WHITESNAKE announced that it had enlisted Croatian singer/multi-instrumentalist Dino Jelusick for its upcoming tour. Jelusick is a member of multi-platinum selling band TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and was previously part of DIRTY SHIRLEY (with George Lynch), ANIMAL DRIVE and recorded with many others. Dino has been singing, touring and recording since the age of five. Other than being a frontman, his main instrument are keyboards but he also plays bass, guitar and drums. He finished music academy and did theater work.

Asked in a new interview with Mónica Moreira of More Than Words what his role in WHITESNAKE will be and whether he will be contributing to the band's songwriting, Dino said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, David [Coverdale, WHITESNAKE leader] mentioned that he would love to fly me [to] his house and that he would love [for] me and him to write some songs for WHITESNAKE.

"I'll be playing keyboards. I'll be doing backing vocals. I'll be playing guitars on a couple of songs," he explained. "And that's as far as I know."

Asked if he is in any way a bit sad to know that this will be probably WHITESNAKE's farewell tour, Dino said: "Well, no. Every band has an expire date. WHITESNAKE has been going for 40, 50 years now. More than 40 years — since '78 or '77, when the first album came out. But I'm proud to be the last WHITESNAKE member ever. When you see the guys that played in this band. You had Jon Lord. You had Don Airey on keyboards. You had Timothy Drury, Michele Luppi and myself. It's five keyboardists of WHITESNAKE. There were a couple of more playing live — yeah, Paul Mirkovich was in 1994, playing that leg. Yeah, there were a couple of more. But, yeah, it's definitely a beautiful part of history in the making."

When Jelusick's addition to WHITESNAKE was first announced, David said in a statement: "I am absolutely delighted to welcome the extremely gifted Dino Jelusick to WHITESNAKE. We've had our eyes and ears on him since we played Zagreb together two years ago. You're going to love him!"

Dino said he has been influenced by WHITESNAKE and Coverdale from an early age.

"I am beyond honored to be part of one of my favorite bands of all time," he said. "To get the phone call from David Coverdale is something every singer and musician of my generation can only dream of; it still feels completely surreal. I cannot wait to start hitting the road with WHITESNAKE and, as the great DC said to me himself, to give a piece of my identity to the sound of this iconic band."

On October 29, WHITESNAKE will release newly remastered and remixed CD and LP deluxe editions of "Restless Heart", along with unreleased demos and studio outtakes and a DVD. The DVD includes music videos and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the album with new interviews from Coverdale. The set comes with a hardbound book filled with rare and unseen photos from the era.

Coverdale, who will turn 70 on September 22, recently confirmed that he plans to retire from touring after WHITESNAKE's next batch of concerts around the world.

Coverdale had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.

WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, "Flesh & Blood", which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

This past February, BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski was convicted for offending religious feelings by a court in Warsaw. The charges stemmed from an image the Polish musician posted on social media showing a foot stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary. At the time, Darski was ordered to pay a fine of 15,000 złoty (approximately $4,000) and court costs of almost 3,500 zloty (approximately $942).

Darski later contested the judgement and the case has now been dismissed. In the ruling, the judge wrote the photo in question was posted on Nergal's social media and was therefore only made available to a specific group of people who could read it after observing the disclaimer at the top of the page: "The content presented on this profile may offend your religious and other feelings. If you don't want that to happen, stop following me."

Earlier today (Monday, September 13), Nergal shared the news of the case dismissal, and he included the following message: "Case DISMISSED. There's NOTHING controversial about the jury's verdict so fuckin' DEAL with it. AFTER ALL we live in civilized and democratic country… still. Common sense beats the shit out of fundamentalist agenda which means on more step towards Poland remaining a secular state! Moreover, I know it's like talking to the wall but to all my adversaries: dont't give me that 'do the same with Koran' bullshit coz it's old and irrelevant. I keep on spamming here coz I simply LOVE polarization between half of u dear followers congratulating me for the battle won and the other half… that would love see me crucifucked".

Seven months ago, Nergal told The Irish Times, that he was appealing his conviction because not doing so would have resulted in him having a criminal record and therefore not being able to tour in many countries, including the United States and Australia.

"I don't think the public know the details of the level of harassment I have been through," he said. "It is getting monstrous, and it is a growing tide of censorship and harassment. Every few weeks, I have to check myself in at the police and go for different hearings and spend a fortune on lawyers with all the costs around court cases.

"I am being the perfect target," he continued. "The Polish authorities just pick on me. It is not a secret that a prosecution officer has me as his favorite scapegoat. He follows my Instagram account. Can you imagine that? It's insane and absolutely unprecedented."

After Darski shared the image on his social media in September 2019, an ultraconservative legal group, Ordo Iuris, and an organization called the Patriotic Society (Towarzystwo Patriotyczne) notified prosecutors that Darski had "offended the religious feelings of four people," including a local politician from Poland's conservative ruling coalition, reported Notes From Poland.

Poland is a predominantly Catholic country and the ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party's policies are strongly in line with Catholic teachings.

"We are going backwards in time, more backward thinking," Nergal told The Irish Times. "It is a violation of the most basic human laws. It is not just me. There are different artists being harassed by police and self-proclaimed censors.

"They forget that Poland is still a pluralisatic country," he continued. "It is not a Catholic or a totalitarian state. We are a democratic and pluralistic democracy, which means we can say what we want about other religions. The authorities are trying to censor us and shut us down.

"We can't be part of the European Union if we are upholding different standards. We have a blasphemy law, and we are the only country in Europe that still holds to that law — and that is insane. That is an excuse for all of those people, all those opportunists. I must win, because we can't see my case becoming a precedent. People like myself need to be protected to freely express themselves."

Article 196 of Poland's penal code says that "Whoever offends the religious feelings of other persons by publicly insulting an object of religious worship, or a place designated for public religious ceremonies, is liable to pay a fine, have his or her liberty limited, or be deprived of his or her liberty for a period of up to two years."

Amnesty International has previously called on the Polish authorities to repeal or amend legal provisions, such as article 196 of the Criminal Code, that criminalize statements protected by the right to freedom of expression.

According to Human Rights Watch, international human rights law permits states to impose certain restrictions on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression only if such restrictions are provided by law and are demonstrably necessary and proportionate for the protection of certain specified public interests (national security, public order, protection of health or morals) or for the protection of the rights of others (including the right to protection against discrimination).

This is not the first time Nergal had encountered legal problems in Poland related to his social media activities. Back in January 2018, it was announced that Nergal was being formally charged by Polish authorities in a case involving BEHEMOTH's "Republic Of The Unfaithful" tour artwork and merchandise, which was said to be "insulting" to the national coat of arms of Poland, a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield. Nergal and Maciej G., who, as the band's webmaster, promoted the tour online, were accused of publicly affronting the Polish national emblem, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Also charged was Rafał Wechterowicz, the graphic artist who worked on the BEHEMOTH artwork. Three months later, Nergal posted an update via Instagram, revealing that "all the absurd charges" against him were "dismissed."

In 2011, Nergal was acquitted in Poland on charges he insulted religious sentiment when he called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's September 2007 performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."
























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Four decades into his career as a musician, HELLHAMMER, CELTIC FROST and TRIPTYKON founder Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Warrior) was among the recipients of the Swiss Music Prize 2021, awarded by the Swiss Federal Office Of Culture in a ceremony on September 17, 2021 at Lugano's Arte e Cultura (LAC) centre. This event marked the first time the Swiss Music Prize formally recognized the genre of heavy metal.

Statement by the Swiss Federal Office Of Culture: "Tom Gabriel Warrior's bands have played a significant role in music history and influenced musicians around the globe. A metal music pioneer, Warrior is an idol not just within the boundaries of the metal scene, and as an advocate for animal rights, he aims to provide a voice to those who don't have one."

Also among the winners of the Swiss Music Prize 2021 was legendary producer Roli Mosimann, Fischer's past collaborator during the recording sessions for CELTIC FROST's "Vanity/Nemesis" album (1990) and APOLLYON SUN's "Sub" album (2000). Unable to attend the ceremony due to health reasons, Mosimann asked Fischer to accept the prize on his behalf.

Edited transcript of Tom Gabriel Fischer's acceptance speech for the Swiss Music Prize 2021: "Although I was very fortunate to be granted a loyal audience already early on in my career, not least in my native country of Switzerland, the local Swiss music industry and cultural institutions either ignored me or expressed derision for my music, and sometimes they even obstructed it. In their perception, it simply didn’t conform and wasn't commercial enough. And indeed, my music was dark, experimental, and obstinate. But exactly due to these qualities, it was noticed abroad.

"I do, of course, understand that receiving this prize is an honor, and I do feel grateful for it. But given that an inconceivable 40 years have passed since I first became a musician, this prize is also quite irrelevant to me by now. I have pursued my path regardless, without subordinating myself to any of the customary inbreeding rituals of the Swiss music scene, and without ever applying for any kind of cultural funding from the Swiss state or the relevant institutions.

"The support granted to me throughout the years by the following individuals was absolutely essential, however, and my gratitude to them is limitless:

Antje Lange

Vanja Slajh

Alois Wendelin

Urs Sprenger

Maya Ghirardello

Martin Eric Ain

Michelle Fischer

H.R. Giger and Carmen Giger

Jörg Michael

Ian Christe

Denise Mathieu

Corinne Kühne

Kathy Lenze

"And there are many more.

"Moreover, I would also like to express gratitude to those who do not kill animals, do not enslave them, and do not mistreat them, but instead respect and protect them. I bow to you.

During an appearance on the "Talking Shred" podcast, former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5 reflected on the passing of legendary VAN HALEN axeman Eddie Van Halen almost exactly a year ago. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Me, just like millions of others, he was my favorite. It's strange — I'm so upset too, because it's, like, 'God, couldn't we do anything to save him?'

"Eddie was so special," John 5 continued. "It's really rare to have someone so special. Now, everybody listening to this and watching this can totally agree with me — I mean, the best guitar player, such an amazing inventor, such an amazing songwriter. And he had everything. And he was something special; he was touched by God. And we don't have many Edward Van Halens — not just in music, but in anything. In sports — it's like the Michael Jordan, or in art he's like the Picasso. And we don't have many of these. And I'm just happy we got what we got. I just wish that there was anything like… All the great minds in the world, 'Listen, Eddie Van Halen is sick. Can't we do anything to save him? He's, like, everything.' And it just breaks my heart. But I am so thankful for what we did get and the music and the guitars and the amps — everything. He was a real genius, and I was happy to, and lucky enough, to know him. And he was just a kind soul. It was so devastating. It really messed me up, just like everyone else. It's hard to listen to him, but you listen to him and go, 'Man, he was just something very, very special.' He was the Mozart of our time. It's just awful. It's just a terrible, terrible thing."

John 5 also discussed a hypothetical Eddie Van Halen tribute concert, saying: "If there is a show — which there needs to be, there has to be — if I'm not on stage, I'll be front row. I think it's something that definitely needs to happen with everybody. I think everybody should be there — I think Dave [Lee Roth] should be there, Sammy [Hagar] should be there, Mikey [Anthony] should be there, Wolfie [Van Halen], of course, Alex [Van Halen]; everybody that was a part of this VAN HALEN history — and all the fans all over the world, and just give praise and appreciation and love to the master, Edward. It just needs to happen. I think it would be a wonderful thing."

John 5 previously talked about how he was affected by Eddie Van Halen's death a year ago while appearing on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". At the time, he said: "We all knew that Eddie was not well, but he's like our Superman," John 5 said. "[We all thought] 'Eddie's gonna be fine. We saw him at the TOOL concert. He's gonna beat this. Everything's gonna be fine. He's our Superman.' And when that news hit, I was talking to Fred Coury [CINDERELLA], and I said, 'I've gotta go.' I just hung up and I had to pull over on the freeway. I just couldn't believe it. I was just shocked. It's just the worst news — the worst. Because we listened to him every day; we saw his picture every day; he's been a part of our lives since the late '70s, and now he's gone. But he changed the world forever, that's for sure."

John 5, who got his first big break playing on David Lee Roth's solo album, "DLR Band", before landing stints with Manson and now Zombie, said that he first learned of Eddie's declining health from the VAN HALEN singer.

"I talked to Roth a while ago, and he was, like, 'Yeah, Eddie's not doing well,'" John 5 recalled. "And I remember I'm sitting there at his place, and I started to well up, I was starting to tear up. I was, like, 'Okay, get ahold of yourself.' Because that's you hearing it from someone that's close to Ed. I was, like, 'All right. Keep it together.' Because I was shocked. I was, like, 'Oh my God. This can't be.'"

John 5 confirmed that he knew Eddie personally after first meeting the VAN HALEN guitarist nearly three decades ago.

"I didn't really talk about it that much," he said. "But I talked to Ed on the phone quite a bit. We would just sit on the phone for a long time. I don't really talk about this, but we'd sit on the phone and chit-chat for a long time, and tell stories and talk about guitars and talk about bands, and it was always positive."

"I think I met him the first time in '93 through Robert Knight, the photographer. It was kind of nice contact — 'Hello, how are you?' — at events and stuff. But then it got a little closer when I started playing with Dave and Manson and everything. But yeah, he gave me a guitar; I gave him one of mine. We were pretty close — not super, super close like I am with Dave or Mike [Anthony] or something like that. But he knew — I would just always tell him how much he meant to me and how much he meant to a zillion other guitar players."

Elaborating on what made Eddie's guitar playing so special, John said: "The thing about Ed is — which people that don't play guitar don't understand this — he looked at the instrument different, just like [Apple co-founder] Steve Jobs would look at a computer different or anything else; [American inventor Thomas] Edison would look at something different. And that's what was so special, and that's why we have lost such a giant, such an important figure in music.

"I would go down to the VAN HALEN rehearsal and I would pick up his guitar and play through his rig, and I would sound nothing like Eddie Van Halen even if I played a VAN HALEN song," he explained. "And that's the difference, because it's what's inside you. It's those hands; it's that feel. It's like trying to describe the color blue. It's a feeling, and it's something you have. And I don't know if we'll ever have that again — ever."

A video of John 5 performing a cover of VAN HALEN's version of "You Really Got Me", featuring VAN HALEN's Michael Anthony on bass, SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor on vocals and CINDERELLA's Fred Coury on drums, can be seen below.

Eddie passed away on October 6, 2020 at the age of 65 after a years-long battle with cancer. His death was announced by his son Wolfgang.

Eddie and Alex formed VAN HALEN in 1972 in Pasadena, California, with Roth on lead vocals and Anthony on bass.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

After undergoing hip replacement surgery in 1999 due to a chronic joint problem, Eddie was diagnosed with mouth cancer in 2000 and had to have part of his tongue surgically removed. He later battled throat cancer and reportedly had been receiving radiation treatment in Germany.




























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We lost our modern day Mozart today Eddie Van Halen. There’s no one that changed my life or influenced me more than Eddie, he was an inventor an amazing songwriter and the greatest guitar player that ever lived. R.I.P my friend. #eddievanhalen #rip

A post shared by john5official (@john5official) on Oct 6, 2020 at 1:23pm PDT