During an appearance this past Wednesday (September 22) on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", drummer Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER, AVENGED SEVENFOLD) spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the third album from THE WINERY DOGS, his power trio with guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen and legendary bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG, TALAS, DAVID LEE ROTH). He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's sounding great. We're having a great time working together again. We pretty much got together twice over the summer — two different 10-day sessions; once in July and then again last month in August. Billy and I went out to L.A., and we worked with Richie at his home studio, and we did all the writing there and recorded my drums there. So the writing is done, my drum tracks are done. We came up with about 10 or 11 really cool songs. The material is awesome. It's great. We're so excited by it. But we're taking it easy. With so many uncertainties out there, we're kind of just doing this without any deadlines."

He continued: "Deadlines are Richie Kotzen's kryptonite — he fucking hates that. I think part of the reason he wanted time off from THE WINERY DOGS is because he was starting to feel that pressure of, 'We've gotta have this album out. We've gotta do this tour cycle.' Richie is a free spirit and doesn't wanna be tied down by all that shit. So I think the fact that now we can make a record with no impending deadlines of release or no impending deadlines of a tour, because who knows if or when we can tour, I think that suited Richie best. He likes being able to just get together, write and record music for the fun of it. When it's done, it'll come out, and then, when the path is clear for safe touring, then we'll do it again. It's safe to say the album will probably be out sometime next year, but all the details at this point are still very, very premature. But it's great music, great band, great guys, great playing."

As for the musical direction of the new THE WINERY DOGS material, Mike told host Eddie Trunk: "I would say somewhere [between the first and the second albums]. It's hard for me to have that real perspective that anybody listening does 'cause when you're writing and recording it, it all becomes important to you. It's hard to tell; it's hard to have that perspective.

"The first album is just song after song after song — there's no moments of weakness at any point — whereas 'Hot Streak', I guess, we did some more experimental stuff, songs like 'Spiral' or 'War Machine', songs on the back end that were more kind of experimental things," he explained. "So I would say, if I had to compare it, it's probably more like the first album because we also consciously decided to stop at around 10 or 11 songs. 'Cause both the first album and 'Hot Streak', I think, had 13 or 14 songs. People like you and I, we love everything, we love music and we dig in, but for a lot of people, the attention span for a 14-song album could be a bit much. So when writing this album, we decided, let's just come up with 10 or 11 that are really super strong. Nothing too experimental, nothing too off the beaten path from what people expect from THE WINERY DOGS. So I think everything on this album is super strong from top to bottom."

THE WINERY DOGS were founded in 2012 after Portnoy and Sheehan — who initially aimed to collaborate with former WHITESNAKE and BLUE MURDER guitarist John Sykes — reached out to Kotzen, who played with Sheehan in MR. BIG from 1997 to 2002. The group's self-titled debut reached No. 27 on the Billboard 200 after selling more than 10,000 copies in the U.S. during its first week of availability. The initial sales of follow-up effort "Hot Streak" were even better, as the album debuted at No. 30 in late 2015 after shifting 13,000 equivalent album units in America during its first week of availability.
























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Longtime QUIET RIOT bassist Chuck Wright will release his debut solo album, "Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky", in early 2022. A video trailer for the LP's first single, a hard-rocking, intense interpretation of Björk's 1995 hit "Army Of Me", is available below.

The song and the accompanying clip represent Wright's exploration of disorder and parallels with the chaotic current state of world affairs. The visuals include a 3D animation of an "army" of Ruth Bader Ginsburgs, the late Supreme Court Justice, feminist icon and steadfast advocate for women's rights and gender equality.

Says Wright: "I chose to release the trailer today, September 18, to recognize the late Justice Ginsburg on the one-year anniversary of her passing. RBG was a formidable presence on and off the bench; she challenged the status quo and knocked down legal obstacles to women's equality. She cared deeply for minority groups, immigrants and others and inspired an army of believers. I admired her greatly."

The track "Army Of Me" features several of Wright's musical peers, including the late Pat Torpey (MR. BIG) on drums, guitarist Lanny Cordola (HOUSE OF LORDS) and Seven Martin (Jonathan Davis band) on keyboards along with songstress Whitney Tai, recent "Best Vocalist" winner at the Intercontinental Music Awards.

"Army Of Me" and the accompanying music video are scheduled for release this fall.

Last month, it was announced that QUIET RIOT's former bassist, Rudy Sarzo, will be returning to the group after an 18-year absence.

Rudy was one of the original founding members of the legendary "Metal Health" lineup. He played bass on the "Metal Health" album, which sold over ten million copies and spawned the hits "Cum On Feel The Noize" and "Metal Health" and on the follow-up record "Condition Critical". Wright has been a part of QUIET RIOT, on and off, since 1982, having initially been involved in the "Metal Health" recordings (he played bass on the tracks "Metal Health" and "Don't Wanna Let You Go").

Wright appears on nine QUIET RIOT albums. He was a contributing songwriter on 1986's "QRIII" and was featured in the band's video for "The Wild And The Young", among others. Wright has also been involved with over 100 recording projects throughout his stellar career.

In May 2020, Wright released his first-ever solo music video, for a song called "The Weight Of Silence".

Photo credit: Joe Schaeffer

Guitar legend Joe Bonamassa today reveals his stunningly sweeping new single, "Time Clocks". This is the third song taken from his upcoming studio album of the same name, due on October 29 via Provogue (Europe) and J&R Adventures (North America).

Joe continues his soul-searching evolution on this beautifully poignant Bonamassa-Kevin Shirley-penned song. At just over seven minutes long, it has all the epic musical grandeur of him at his most expressive and ambitious. With a heart on sleeve narrative weaving its way throughout, the rousing chorus rises to the heavens as he sings, "and the rain soaking through my coat, about to capsize my boat I push it along away from the docks, I was never a good puncher of time clocks."

Backed with cascading vocals from Juanita Tippins and Prinnie Stevens, as well as the supreme musicianship of Anton Fig (drums), Steve Mackey (bass), Lachy Doley (piano, organ) and Kevin Shirley (percussion), it has an aura of pure timelessness.

The album was recorded in New York City and took Joe back to his early roots and rediscovers him at a newfound peak with an unparalleled blues rock prowess. Known as the man in the suit, loved by many as the ultimate guitar hero, and cited by critics as "the world's biggest blues guitarist" (Guitar World), somehow the music mastermind has found yet another layer of immense new artistry to share with his fans. Recently Bonamassa dropped hints of the new album with his reeling anthem "Notches" and the blues-heavy single "The Heart That Never Waits", another instant classic that takes a tale of heartbreak and turns it around into an undeniable showstopper meant for the stadiums.

The new album is a collection that sheds new light on Joe's life as a journeyman, constantly creating and always on the run. As "Notches" and "The Heart That Never Waits" would suggest, this album shows that even though Joe chose the road less travelled, it's led him to success in the end. And he's not backing down any time soon. A bit older in years but wiser in knowledge earned, his new sound has a raw and vital flavor, combined with a resolute skill that can only be gained through years of perseverance and unyielding dedication. "Time Clocks" follows Joe on his never-ceasing evolution as he continues to forge ahead, bending genres, breaking down walls and defying the odds of the music industry.

For the new studio album, Bonamassa hit the studio with longtime collaborators Kevin Shirley as producer and manager/business partner Roy Weisman as executive producer. Recorded in New York City at Germano Studios/The Hit Factory, the band includes Steve Mackey (bass), Lachy Doley (piano), Bunna Lawrie (didgeridoo), Bobby Summerfield (percussion), and "Late Night With David Letterman"'s Anton Fig (drums and percussion), along with Mahalia Barnes, Juanita Tippins and Prinnie Stevens on backing vocals.

The album was mixed by Bob Clearmountain (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, THE ROLLING STONES, TOTO, BON JOVI), and the fantastic artwork on this album was created by famous graphic artist Hugh Syme (RUSH, AEROSMITH, WHITESNAKE).

"Time Clocks" is a song that has all the hallmarks of a sure-fire fan-favourite hit. As the world begins to open up and Joe the showman, Joe the entertainer takes his place on this rightful home on the stage, you can already picture thousands of fans singing back the stirring chorus.

Now, with even bolder energy than ever before, Bonamassa holds the power of controlling both his artistry and his business in both hands. With 24 No. 1 albums, yearly sold-out tours worldwide and custom annual cruises, he's a hard act to beat. Joe knows his worth, and albeit humble, he plans to continue to beat the odds and exceed the expectations of naysayers. "Time Clocks" is a testament to his credentials and a toast to his longtime fans. It's Joe Bonamassa at his finest, ready to rock.

In releasing new music destined for the loudspeakers, Joe is elated to get back to the stage. Recently completing a summer tour on the U.S. West Coast, he'll be back on tour for the fall season with shows across the rest of the country before taking the stage at sea for his sold-out Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea VII cruise, sailing from Miami, Florida to Ocho Rios, Jamaica on February 21-25, 2022, by way of the Norwegian Pearl. Joe will also be touring Europe in spring 2022.

Photo by Eleanor Jane

Dave Grohl has revealed to Rolling Stone magazine that he was in serious contention to join GWAR as a drummer back when he was a teenage drum prodigy living in the suburbs of Washington D.C.

"GWAR were looking for a drummer," says Grohl. "And I talked to their guitar player Dewey about it. And he's, like, 'It's great, and you get to design your own costume.' As drummer, you don't want something that covers your face fully. You want your arms to be free. So I was, like, 'Cool.' So I started kind of drawing this thing. At the time GWAR was a band that would draw like 700 people, right? Which is huge. And then the more I thought about it, am I really gonna invite my uncle to see me play when there's like fake blood and cum shooting all over the place?"

After Rolling Stone first published Grohl's comments, Mike Bishop, GWAR's former bassist and current lead singer, confirmed the story, saying in a statement: "Our guitar player Dewey [Flattus Maximus] was booking shows in Richmond at the time, and we had all seen Dave play with his bands DAIN BRAMAGE and later on in SCREAM," Mike said. "He was already one of the greatest, hardest hitting drummers I had ever seen. He still is. Dewey called and started the conversation with him about joining GWAR. I was stoked because I played bass at the time, and I would have loved to jam with him. Just think, her could have been working his ass off playing drums in a rubber monster suit all these years. Boy did he make the wrong choice."

However, Bishop's alter ego in the band, the Blöthar The Berserker, offered a different take on the situation.

"Grohl remembers this ALL wrong!" he said. "He used to hang around the track with all the other young punks jacked on gak. This is back before he lost all his teeth. We hired him and then called him back immediately and fired him. He was in the band for around 7 and half minutes. He was holding us back."

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus, died in March 2014 of an accidental heroin overdose in his home in Richmond, Virginia. He was last remaining original member of GWAR, which was founded 37 years ago. He was 50 years old.

The satirical metal band earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes, offensive lyrics and graphic, gore-soaked shows, in which the bandmembers performed as the descendants of alien warriors who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race.

Back in September 2014, FOO FIGHTERS paid tribute to Brockie at their crowdsourced gig in Richmond. At the concert, Grohl, who got his start drumming on the Washington D.C. hardcore scene and grew up in a nearby Virginia suburb, told the crowd: "One of the greatest compliments, or non-compliments, that I have ever gotten in my life, I remember seeing this interview with Dave Brockie where they asked Brockie about a Grammy nomination, and somehow he made his way to me, and he said, 'Dave Grohl, he's actually had his teeth removed so he could fit more Grammy dicks in his fucking mouth.' So, right now, I give it up to Brockie. He would fucking hate that I dedicated a fucking song to him."

Grohl was born 100 miles north in the town of Springfield, Virginia. His mother was in attendance at the Richmond show.

Grohl is currently promoting his new book "The Storyteller", which is due on October 5 via Dey Street Books and Simon & Schuster.

JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner reportedly underwent a "10-hour open-heart surgery" after suffering a "heart attack" following the band's performance at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday (September 26).

The British heavy metal legends announced on Monday (September 27) that they were postponing the remainder of their U.S. tour so that Faulkner could be treated for a heart condition. The following day, his girlfriend Mariah Lynch, daughter of former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, said that Richie was "stable and resting" after undergoing "major emergency heart surgery."

On Tuesday, TESLA guitarist Frank Hannon took to his Instagram to write: "Sending love and healing power to Richie Faulkner @falconfaulkner .. I haven't met him yet but he's a rock n roll brother that my guitar playing friends all love very much and they tell me how cool of a guy he is. I heard he played a show then walked off stage having a heart attack and had 10 hr open heart surgery last night. Hang in there Richie and I look forward to meeting / jamming with you someday! You got this!"

Produced by Live Nation, the rescheduled "50 Heavy Metal Years" trek kicked off on September 8 in Reading, Pennsylvania and was slated to run through October before concluding on November 5 in Hamilton, Ontario.

PRIEST's next date was originally set for tonight (Wednesday, September 29) at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado.

Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for original guitarist K.K. Downing.

Richie was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

A number of Faulkner's other colleagues also sent their well-wishes his way, including Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), Joe Bonamassa, Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER) and Paul Stanley (KISS).

"Get well soon Richie," wrote Bonamassa. "One of the nicest, most talented and genuine people I have met in this business."

Former WHITESNAKE and DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich wrote: "Just heard our brother Richie fell ill and is in the hospital… Prayers for a speedy recovery."

Holt wrote: "Here's wishing Richie a speedy recovery, get well soon brother, one of the greatest guitarists walking this earth, and nicest guy too."

Faulkner and Lynch welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Daisy Mae, in July 2020.
























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JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner is "stable and resting" after undergoing "major emergency heart surgery."

On Monday (September 27), JUDAS PRIEST announced that it was postponing the remainder of its U.S. tour due to "major medical heart condition issues" suffered by Faulkner.

Produced by Live Nation, the rescheduled "50 Heavy Metal Years" trek kicked off on September 8 in Reading, Pennsylvania and was slated to run through October before concluding on November 5 in Hamilton, Ontario.

Earlier today (Tuesday, September 28), Faulkner's girlfriend Mariah Lynch, daughter of former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, shared the following update via Instagram: "Thank you to everyone for all your messages. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

"Richie underwent major emergency heart surgery. He is stable & resting.

"If you know him, you know how tough & strong he is. So tough that he finished the show & kept the hair flips coming. There's no one like him. We'd be lost without him. #HotDad".

Faulkner and Lynch welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Daisy Mae, in July 2020.

PRIEST's most recent show took place Sunday night (September 26) at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky. The band's next date was originally set for Wednesday (September 29) at the Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado.

Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for original guitarist K.K. Downing.

Richie was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

A number of Faulkner's colleagues sent their well-wishes his way, including Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE), Joe Bonamassa, Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER) and Paul Stanley (KISS).

"Get well soon Richie," wrote Bonamassa. "One of the nicest, most talented and genuine people I have met in this business."

Former WHITESNAKE and DIO guitarist Doug Aldrich wrote: "Just heard our brother Richie fell ill and is in the hospital… Prayers for a speedy recovery."

Holt wrote: "Here's wishing Richie a speedy recovery, get well soon brother, one of the greatest guitarists walking this earth, and nicest guy too."

In a 2016 interview with 103GBF, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford stated about Faulkner: "We can't say enough about Richie. I mean, you know, it's hard to condense it, but if you [see PRIEST in concert] and just look at Richie's charisma and energy and all of the great stuff that's coming out of his hands, it's wonderful; it really is. And, yeah, I mean, he's infectious; the fans will tell you that. Once the show kicks off, he's at the edge of the stage connecting, and that's a really cool thing to be having happen with PRIEST."
























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MEGADETH's new touring bassist James LoMenzo says that he is "having the best time" playing with the band again.

LoMenzo joined MEGADETH in 2006 and appeared on two of the group's studio albums, 2007's "United Abominations" and 2009's "Endgame". He was fired from the band in 2010 and replaced with returning original MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson.

In addition to MEGADETH, LoMenzo has played with Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde and WHITE LION. For the past eight years, LoMenzo has been performing with iconic rocker John Fogerty.

LoMenzo played his first show with MEGADETH in nearly 12 years last month in Austin, Texas. The concert took place three months following Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving him were posted on Twitter.

Asked in a new interview with Melodic.net what it has been like for him to play with MEGADETH on "The Metal Tour Of The Year" this summer after such a long absence from the band, James said: "Well, I'm into this for six weeks right now, and I'm really having the best time. Dave's [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] been really welcoming and supportive, and the band as a whole is just fantastic. It's a real powerhouse. Dirk [Verbeuren, MEGADETH drummer] is a dream drummer for this type of music, and Kiko's [Loureiro, MEGADETH guitarist] just so musically deep. Dave's playing as good or better than ever and now that he's on those Gibson guitars, his sound is so much more gut punching then I remember it."

Regarding how he ended up returning to MEGADETH, James said: "Dave's management reached out at first to see if I'd even be available, which I really wasn't, but after a call with Dave, I realized how important for MEGADETH and even for myself this would be. Time was ticking, so I knew it would be a crunch, but having been here once before the re-learning curve was a tad less steep. I made some arrangements with the Fogerty camp, and they were gracious enough to allow me a leave to do this."

Mustaine has yet to reveal who played bass on MEGADETH's new album after Ellefson's tracks were removed from the LP following his exit from the group.

Ellefson laid down his bass tracks on MEGADETH's sixteenth LP in May 2020 at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee.

In July, Mustaine announced during an episode of his Gimme Radio program "The Dave Mustaine Show" that Ellefson's bass tracks would not be used on the new MEGADETH LP.

In early May, Ellefson released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

On May 24, Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — announced the bassist's departure from the band.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the group's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest e

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE singer John 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.

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.

In a new interview with 80's Glam Metalcast, Corabi was asked if he is concerned at all about what his former bandmates will think about his book. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "To be honest with you, I don't really think that I'm telling anybody anything that they didn't already know. What the book really kind of goes through is me joining the band, being in the band, leaving the band, and it really kind of explains my mental state. Obviously, the MÖTLEY thing, all of it's been so publicized with [the band biography] 'The Dirt' and just interviews and different things like that. I'm just explaining how I was feeling while certain things were happening and how I feel like I fit with the band but I never really did. So I'm kind of talking about my mental state through the whole thing. So I don't really think I'm saying anything that will surprise anybody. And to be honest with you, and I don't mean this to sound weird, but I don't really care what those guys think... The minute they told me they were bringing Vince back, I walked away from it and I kind of accepted everything. It's not me who keeps bringing it up. I'm still writing new music. I've done — in the last 10 years, between my solo records and the records I did with THE [DEAD] DAISIES and the new music that I'm doing, I think I've done five or six records. So I'm past it, I'm over it, I don't even think about it.

"Paul talked to me about doing a book, which I really didn't want to do in the beginning," he continued. "But he said, 'You know what, dude? You're just one of these guys that, like, even though you kind of had a few chapters in 'The Dirt', you're largely a mystery. There's not a lot of stuff that people know about you. And I think your story is pretty fascinating.' So I was, like, 'Okay. Whatever. We'll do the book.'

"It's not a tell-all book about any band that I've been in; it's not a tell-all book about any of my marriages; it's basically a tell-all book about John Corabi from the minute I took my first breath till about a year ago or six months ago," he explained. "I have an ex-wife or two that it might piss off, and I don't give a shit about them either. So, whatever… [The book] is about perseverance and it talks about my life from the beginning to now. And the title is just about somebody that's been close a lot. It's a book about a guy that's been in all the right places but at all the wrong times. So it's pretty cool. It's fun."

Corabi went on to say that he doesn't hold a grudge against any of the guys in MÖTLEY CRÜE. "Honestly, it may not seem it, but I don't have any issues with the guys in MÖTLEY at all," he said. "I love those guys. I don't know why Nikki's [Sixx, CRÜE bassist] had a hair up his ass for the last couple of years about me; I couldn't tell you why. I don't know. I don't care. My only beef with those guys was I really wish they would have just left me out of ['The Dirt' biopic]. I really felt like — I don't know if it was intentional, if it wasn't intentional, but I really felt like my portrayal in the movie just made me look like a complete fucking babbling moron. And they also made it look like we were playing in high school gymnasiums to 10 people. Obviously, it wasn't great — we all know that; it's common knowledge — but the attendance wasn't that bad; not as bad as they made it look. So I wish they would would have just left me out of the movie altogether and whatever. But it is what it is. I don't care. I'm over it."

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.

Swedish heavy rockers GHOST have released a new song called "Hunter's Moon". The track, which was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, is featured in the latest blockbuster installment of the legendary film franchise "Halloween Kills". The "Halloween Kills" soundtrack is set to arrive October 15 via Sacred Bones, with the film hitting theaters (and Peacock) the same day as well.

The creative juices between GHOST and Blumhouse, the production house behind "Halloween Kills", began the evening of GHOST's headline show at the Forum in Los Angeles in November 2018. In October 2019, Blumhouse invited GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge to visit the "Halloween Kills" set and meet director David Gordon Green to get a hands-on sense of the atmosphere.

Earlier this month, GHOST announced a 26-date co-headlining U.S. arena tour with VOLBEAT and special guests TWIN TEMPLE, coming to cities including Seattle, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Phoenix.

Last October, Forge told Sweden Rock Magazine that he was planning to enter the studio in January to begin recording GHOST's fifth album. "The actual recording will last around six weeks and then there's two to three weeks of mixing and mastering," he said. "So sometime in March the record should be finished, but it won't be released until after the summer. As it looks now, knock on wood, we will then go on tour. We won't release an album until we know that we are actually going on tour. The album release will coincide with the start of a tour. Of course, we could announce an album release date and then, for some reason, it might not be possible to tour, but that's a whole other matter."

In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the new character who will front the act for its next LP phase.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle".

In October 2019, Forge confirmed to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that there would be a new character fronting GHOST by the time the group's next LP sees the light of day.

"Prequelle" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and featured the chart-topping singles "Rats" and "Dance Macabre".

In December 2018, GHOST nabbed two Grammy nominations, "Best Rock Album" for "Prequelle" and "Best Rock Song" for "Rats".

Five years ago, GHOST became the first Swedish rock band ever to win a Grammy — 2016's "Best Metal Performance" for the song "Cirice".

American groove-metal band Shotgun Facelift have issued a video for "Suicide Eyes", the second single from the group's second full-length album, Dakota Blood Stampede, which will be released worldwide on December 17, 2021 via Eclipse Records.


Suicide is an important public health issue. For more information, please visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website. Nobody was harmed or hurt in the filming of this video.


"Suicide Eyes" is about the eyes of addiction, abuse, and despair. Shotgun Facelift takes mental illness very seriously, and they write about it a lot in a non-exploitative manner because every band member suffers from some form of it deeply. 


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Nashville trio HOWLING GIANT, which features in its ranks bassist/vocalist Sebastian Baltes, son of former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes, has teamed up with Peter and fellow former ACCEPT member Udo Dirkschneider (vocals) to record a particularly heavy cover version of AC/DC's "Shoot To Thrill", to be included on the upcoming Magnetic Eye Records "Redux" series installment "Back In Black (Redux)".

Sebastian Baltes comments: "I've loved 'Shoot To Thrill' and AC/DC since the first time I have heard this track at the age of eight. This great classic very much embodies the sound of the Australian giants. Being able to arrange our own version while working with my father and Udo has been a wonderful opportunity that brought things full circle."

Peter Baltes adds: "AC/DC has been the soundtrack to my life. A few years back, we [ACCEPT] were opening for two giant AC/DC shows in Germany, which, to me, was one of the greatest experiences ever."

HOWLING GIANT is an up-and-coming U.S. psych-metal band from Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 2014, the trio has released four EPs and a debut full-length, "The Space Between Worlds" (2019). The band is hard at work on its next album for Magnetic Eye Records.

Due on December 3, "Back In Black (Redux)" will feature the following tracks:

01. Hells Bells - RED FANG

02. Shoot To Thrill - HOWLING GIANT feat. Udo Dirkschneider & Peter Baltes

03. What Do You Do For Money Honey - SUPERSUCKERS

04. Givin The Dog A Bone - SMOKING LIGHTNING

05. Let Me Put My Love Into You - HEAVY TEMPLE feat. Valient Himself

06. Back In Black - BESVÄRJELSEN

07. You Shook Me All Night Long - JAKETHEHAWK feat. Patrick Waters

08. Have A Drink On Me - WHORES feat. Bill Kelliher

09. Shake A Leg - EARLY MAN

10. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution – EARTHRIDE

"Back in Black (Redux)" presents new takes on all ten cuts from AC/DC's seminal seventh album. This was the first record to feature "new" singer Brian Johnson following the death of original larger-than-life frontman Bon Scott, and music historians agree that there was massive pressure on both the new singer and the band to deliver. Even so, nobody could have anticipated that they'd create one of the most important rock albums ever, and Magnetic Eye cannot wait to present what many favorites from the stoner, doom, and riff-rock scene have done with some of the most iconic rock songs of all time.

Alongside "Back In Black (Redux)", Magnetic Eye Records will publish a by-now-traditional companion album containing even more amazing cover versions under the title "Best Of AC/DC". This 2-LP extravaganza features 13 bands offering their exciting renditions of all-time classics and deep cuts from across the AC/DC catalog. Fielding an array of heavyweights and hungry up-and-comers from the heavy rock underground, there should be no doubt that fans of the riff-heavy will be stoked to experience these massive AC/DC interpretations unlike any that they've heard before.

The Magnetic Eye "Redux" series features hand-picked classic albums from across the history of rock and metal, re-imagined in their entirety from start to finish by bands we love. Choice artists from throughout the rock and metal world are tasked to select a track to make their own, translating a milestone record into the new millennium with crushing heaviness and searing energy. To date, Magnetic Eye Records has published "Redux" versions of PINK FLYOD's "The Wall", HELMET's "Meantime", BLACK SABBATH's "Vol. 4", Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Ladyland" and ALICE IN CHAINS' "Dirt".

In the nine-minute Guitar World video below, John Petrucci discusses the riffs and writing process behind the song "Invisible Monster" from the new DREAM THEATER album, "A View From The Top Of The World".

"Invisible Monster" clocks in at 6:27 and showcases the musicianship and creativity that has garnered the band fans around the globe. The video for the song was directed by William "Wombat" Felch (MUDVAYNE, HELLYEAH, CROBOT, STATIC-X, NEFARIANT) and follows the story of an artist's internal struggles as the band is showcased performing the track. The piece of art created by Felch in the video now lives inside DTHQ.

Petrucci stated about "Invisible Monster": "It was written after we'd written a bunch of material. A lot of the music was super energetic and upbeat, tempo-wise. [Drummer] Mike [Mangini] suggested we do something a little different though. So, we started working on a more mid-tempo song. The hook, riff, and melody changed so naturally. I equate it to 'Pull Me Under' back in the day where we'd just start playing, something would come out, and we'd be, like, 'Whoa, that's cool.' There's a serendipitous moment where it happens. Lyrically, it's about how anxiety plagues people. It's like there's an invisible monster beating you. You don't see it, but it's haunting you all of the time."

Due on October 22, "A View From The Top Of The World" is DREAM THEATER at its musical finest expanding on the sound they helped create while maintaining the elements that have garnered them devoted fans around the globe. The seven-song album also marks the second studio album with InsideOut Music/Sony Music. The artwork was created by longtime cover collaborator Hugh Syme (RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, STONE SOUR). "A View From The Top Of The World" was produced by Petrucci, engineered and additional production by James "Jimmy T" Meslin and mixed/mastered by Andy Sneap.

DREAM THEATER — comprised of James LaBrie, John Petrucci, Jordan Rudess, John Myung and Mike Mangini — was in the middle of a sold-out world tour in support of their last release "Distance Over Time" and the 20th anniversary of "Scenes From A Memory" when a global pandemic brought the world to a stop. The musicians found themselves at home, with LaBrie in Canada and the rest of the group in the States. As fate would have it, they'd just finished construction on DTHQ (Dream Theater Headquarters) — a combination live recording studio, rehearsal space, control room, equipment storage, and creative hive. With LaBrie in Canada, he initially wrote with the band via Zoom on a monitor in DTHQ. In March 2021, he flew down to New York, quarantined, and recorded his vocals face-to-face with Petrucci. The album ultimately threaded together lean and uncompromising hooks with tried-and-true technical proficiency.

"We just love to play our instruments," observed Petrucci. "That never goes away. I love to be creative, write, and exercise that part of my mind. We've been able to do this for a long time, and we don't take it for granted. Whenever we get together, we know we can't disappoint ourselves or our fans, so we manage to try even harder."

"We approach every album like it's our first," added LaBrie. "It's been such a great ride, but we're not going to stop."

"A View From The Top Of The World" track listing:

01. The Alien (9:32)

02. Answering The Call (7:35)

03. Invisible Monster (6:31)

04. Sleeping Giant (10:05)

05. Transcending Time (6:25)

06. Awaken The Master (9:47)

07. A View From The Top Of The World (20:24)

Speaking about how the album title came about, Petrucci said: "Honestly, titling records is a funny thing because sometimes it comes really quickly — sometimes it even comes before — and sometimes it's really hard trying to come up with, 'What is the title that's gonna reflect what this album is all about?' This one, it was difficult. There was nothing that was really coming to mind. The things that were were… I don't know. It's hard to be original. Things you used or it just didn't quite do it.

"I remember the discussions we were having [were] that the music was really powerful; it was dark, but it was also positive; there's a lot of energy; there's a lot of spirit," he continued. "So, what would kind of encapsulate that? Eventually, one of the songs on the album is the epic 'A View From The Top Of The World', the title track. I had a list of dozens and dozens and dozens and dozens [of titles]… And then one day I just kind of saw that, and I was, like, 'You know what? That's pretty damn DREAM THEATER-y as a title.'

"Like anything that we do, I just pose it to everybody and say, 'What do you guys think of it?'" John added. "I think the time when you know that it is the title, or it is the decision, whatever it may be, it's when everybody kind of comes back, like, 'Yes. That's so cool.' I remember everyone was, like, 'That's such a positive title. That's cool. Love it. Thumbs up.' Blah blah blah. And you know. Then you're, like, 'Okay, cool.'"

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA has shared the official music video for a brand new song called "Sacrifice". The track, which was produced by THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA bandmembers themselves, is available for stream or download via Solid State Records.

"'Sacrifice' is a song of defeat: its character is exhausted, relinquishing will in an abusive relationship. There is nothing left to fight for," the band states.

"Sacrifice" is an excellent example of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA's continued sonic evolution, mixing an almost restrained melodic nuance with full on brutality.

Earlier this year, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA released the "ZII" EP via Solid State Records. It was a discordant, dissonant exercise in excellence. The original "Zombie" EP dropped all the way back in August 2010 and remains an intense fan favorite. While not a chronological release in THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA catalog, "ZII" is the next chapter. THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA effectively summed things up, saying: "Before, there were five songs about how to fend off the apocalypse. Now, there are five songs of hopelessness against the hoard."

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA has positioned itself for meaningful reinvention. Following their 2005 emergence, they served up 2009's seminal "With Roots Above And Branches Below". In its wake, the group achieved two back-to-back Top 10 entries on the Billboard 200 with the "Zombie" EP (2010) and "Dead Throne" (2011). The group kept up a prolific pace on "8:18" (2013), "Space" EP (2015) and "Transit Blues" (2016) and "The Act" (2019). This output of new music garnered widespread acclaim from Kerrang!, Revolver, Rock Sound, New Noise and Alternative Press who proclaimed it "an impressive step forward." In addition to selling out countless headline shows, the musicians toured with everyone from SLIPKNOT to SLAYER. Not to mention, their total stream tally impressively nearing 200 million in 2020.

Southern California hard rockers OF MICE & MEN have had quite a prolific 2021 thus far. The quartet used their time spent in the 2020 lockdown, which was the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an incredibly productive way. During that period, the band wrote and recorded both the "Timeless" and "Bloom" EPs, which were released in February and May of this year, respectively. But today, OF MICE & MEN is back and continues its consistent feed of new music with the new single "Mosaic".

"'Mosaic' is about questioning whether or not we, as human beings, can overcome our seemingly primal need for combativeness, because it's more prevalent than ever in our lives these days," shares bassist/vocalist Aaron Pauley about the track.

As is the case with all previous 2021 music drops, the artwork (pictured below) was designed by the iconic artist Derek Hess.

OF MICE & MEN enjoyed a groundswell of activity around the well-received "Timeless" EP. The three-song collection was described as "crushing" by Revolver, and as "thought-provoking" and "cinematic" by Loudwire. MetalSucks celebrated the new material as a "call back to the band's heavy roots," while Knotfest enthused that it's "a gut-punch reminder of their dynamic songwriting and unrelenting heft." The single "Obsolete" dominated SiriusXM's Octane channel upon release.

At its best, heavy music produces songs of escape and catharsis. Few bands demonstrate this ethos as powerfully as OF MICE & MEN, the multifaceted metalcore machine whose mission is to make the soundtrack for every heartbreak, melancholic rumination, and moment of triumph. It's a potent and perfect storm of elements. A bombastic and uplifting roar familiar to fans of LINKIN PARK; a layered crunch akin to the DEFTONES; thrashing old-school riffage a la SLAYER and EXODUS; the sensual atmosphere of SADE or RADIOHEAD; swirled into a singular sound uniquely OF MICE & MEN.

Across a half-dozen studio albums, the group's combination of crowd-moving breakdowns, staccato rhythms, and soaring melodic vocals bridged the gap from the underground to the world at large. Their songs catapulted them onto massive tours with LINKIN PARK and RISE AGAINST (2015); SLIPKNOT (2016); and FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and IN FLAMES (2017).

At every turn, no matter what obstacles presented themselves, the four men at the OF MICE & MEN core since 2016 never lost sight of the strength of their connection to the audience or each other. They refocused and persevered at every turn, delivering massive anthems that work in the most intimate of punk clubs, the biggest of European festivals, and American rock radio formats alike. It's all about the songs themselves and what they mean to people at the end of the day. The music of OF MICE & MEN begins as something deeply personal shared among the quartet. Once they're turned loose, they take on new meaning, adding to the soundtrack of people's lives.

U.S. rockers Lillian Axe is the lead signing of new label Global Rock Records, launched by The Store For Music. Global Rock Records will seek to release not only catalog titles, but potent new releases from established heavy rock and metal based artists.


Lillian Axe gained international recognition with albums on MCA Records and IRS Records in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. They have toured with Alice Cooper, Ratt, Accept and many others, as well as rocking hundreds of thousands of fans worldwide at major festivals such as Sweden Rock, Firefest, and Rocklahoma. Though the music has evolved and progressed in the decades since, the band still treats their audiences to MTV singles like “Dream Of A Lifetime,” “Show A Little Love,” and their version of the Badfinger classic “No Matter What.”


The signing of Lillian Axe also includes back catalogue titles for re-release as well as the forthcoming new Lillian Axe album From Womb To Tomb, which is currently being recorded. The deal was negotiated by Head of A&R Giles Lavery and includes global publishing rights for the main writer Steve Blaze.


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The album master rights of the titles include:
Poetic Justice
Psychoschizophrenia
Fields Of Yesterday
Live 2002
Waters Rising
Sad Day On Planet Earth
Deep Red Shadows
Days Before Tomorrow
One Night In The Temple
Plus: Steve Blaze solo album Random Acts Of Blindness


All which will form the basis of initially a career spanning multidisc anthology plus reissues of all listed album titles with bonus tracks from Steve Blaze's personal archives prior to the release of the new album.


Many albums from other notable artists have been already licensed including Impellitteri, Jack Starr, Bangalore Choir, Bob Kulick, Thrasher, Killing Machine, Rhino, Code Black, Beyond and many more to

Norwegian death metal vets, Blood Red Throne, will release their 10th album, Imperial Congregation, on October 8 via Nuclear Blast. The band recently released a cataclysmic new single, titled "6:7", and you can now watch a drum playthrough video for the song.


Founding guitarist Daniel Olaisen comments on the song: "'6:7' has one of the most epic solos in BRT history. A super heavy riff and some real kick ass headbanging parts throughout the whole song!"


Watch the new drum playthrough, as well as the lyric video for "6:7", below:


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With over 25 years and 10 albums soon to be under their belt, Blood Red Throne is dedicated to the continual delivery of straight forward, exceptional death metal with Imperial Congregation being no exception.


“This time around we’ve made something new and fresh in our sound. We felt it from the very first song that was written; this will take us to a whole different level in terms of arrangements, riffs, vocals... everything. We are super-excited to share this with our fans, and in cooperation with the greatest label ever,” says Olaisen.


Imperial Congregation delivers quality, old school sound while reflecting in part upon the self righteous nature of humanity and its incessant need to destroy itself through power, ignorance and religion.


“We live outside this system,” explains Olaisen. “We don’t join in on the sheep mentality. Create your own possibilities, be responsible for your own misery or success!”                        


The haunting, organic album artwork was designed by the infamous Marcelo Vasco. The image displays a flock of old, religious men as they meet in secrecy to design the laws of lower society.


“Many of our lyrics deal with our skepticism of religion, and of mankind in general. Be free or be dead,” says Olaisen. "Two gigantic skeletons tower over the men of worship as they dictate human fate by candlelight."


Pre-order Imperial Congregation here.

Frontiers Music Srl will release Lords Of Black's new album, Alchemy Of Souls, Part II, on October 15. Today, fans can get a taste of the new album with the release of the single and music video, "Bound To You". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save the new album here.





Prog/power metal masters Lords Of Black are set to return in 2021 with a new album, the follow-up to 2020's incredibly well received Alchemy Of Souls, Part I. The new album, Alchemy Of Souls, Part II, is a continuation of the themes started on the previous album. With the downtime created by the global pandemic, Lords Of Black worked incredibly hard to create music that pushed past the boundaries of anything the band had done in the past showing a newfound musical maturity from the band, incorporating new musical elements into their style. Vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Sunstorm, The Ferrymen) delivers another vocal performance yet to be matched, guitarist Tony Hernando delivers some of the best melodic metal he has ever written, while bassist Dani Ciado and drummer Jo Nunez prove to be a powerful rhythm section so powerful who play with absolute finesse.


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"You all know the old saying, "Second parts are never as good as the first parts"... but honestly, I think this record is an exception to that. This is a collection of very strong songs, sporting a variety of elements that, as a whole, make this second installment familiar yet different. The magic of every album lies in its own uniqueness, and that is ultimately our goal, to avoid repeating ourselves," says guitarist Tony Hernando.


"This album has obviously been influenced by the exceptional times we are living in, therefore the intent of every song is to try to be meaningful and powerful in their intention to make you experience wonder and enthusiasm, which is our ultimate goal," he continues.


Heavier and darker compared to the album that preceded it, Alchemy Of Souls, Part II enhances the perception that Lords Of Black are now ready to ascend to the upper tiers of European melodic metal. This is an album not to be missed by both melodic metal and progressive metal fans alike. An absolute delight for the ears and another classic in the making from these Spanish masters.


Upon their formation, Lords Of Black’s vision was to form a metal band with a modern approach blended with catchy, melodic, and progressive elements. After months of intense hard work on the songs, the band independently released their acclaimed self-titled debut in 2014, which was co-produced by Roland Grapow (Masterplan, Helloween).


The band supported the release with a series of successful live shows, including guest spots for a variety of high profile international acts. Later, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Blackmore's Night) became aware of Ronnie Romero's vocal talents and invited him to front his, at the time, newly reformed Rainbow. This brought the band to the attention of international music media and in particular, the words from Blackmore describing Romero’s voice like “a cross between Ronnie James Dio and Freddie Mercury” piqued the curiosity of journalists and fans alike. While enjoying this new found attention, Romero and Hernando continued work on Lords Of Black and signed a worldwide deal with the Frontiers label. The first global release from the partnership was "II", an album which did and continues to blow the minds of fans of modern melodic metal.


Once again, co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Roland Grapow, the album created a stir in the metal scene and is still regarded as a true underground classic. The band played several European shows in support of the release and then headed back to the studio to create the follow up album, "Icons of the New Days". Upon its release, the album once again set a new standard for melodic metal with outstanding epic tracks mixed with glorious power/progressive metal songs.


Like its predecessor, Alchemy Of Souls, Part II is setting a new gold standard for melodic metal in the new decade.





Tracklisting:


"Prelude (Alchimia Confessio 1458 A.D.)"
"Maker Of Nothingness"
"What's Become Of Us"
"Bound To

All-female rock band, Plush, will release their self-titled debut album on October 29 via Pavement Entertainment. Pre-save here, and pre-order on CD here.


The girls have released their second single “Athena”, a jaw-dropping song that has electrified audiences during recent live performances across the United States. Listen to the single below. “Athena” follows Plush's debut single “Hate”, which climbed to #24 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Chart and continued to chart for a total of 17 weeks straight.


Vocalist Moriah Formica says, “‘Athena’ is one of my favorites on the album and definitely my favorite song to play live! I can’t wait for this album to come out and for everyone to hear what we’ve created.”


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Bassist Ashley Suppa adds, “I’ve always viewed ‘Athena’ as a song that introduces a mystifying and intense energy to our album.”


Guitarist Bella Perron notes, “It’s been amazing to see such a positive response to the song. We are all so grateful for the support.”


Drummer Brooke Colucci says, “We’re so excited to release our debut album and I truly believe there is something on it for everyone!”


The album was produced by Johnny K (Staind, 3 Doors Down, Disturbed) and features thirteen tracks of melodic in-your-face heavy rock.





Tracklisting:
 
"Athena"
"Champion"
"Hate"
"Found

Last week, Rivers Of Nihil released their fourth full-length, The Work, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of the album, a video for the new single, "The Void From Which No Sound Escapes" (directed by David Brodsky / mgenyc.com), can be viewed below.


Guitarist Brody Uttley comments: "'The Void From Which No Sound Escapes' is a song that was put together pretty early in the writing process for The Work. It features some familiar sounds that people have come to expect from our band, while also highlighting some new sounds and textures that we've never experimented with before."





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The Work can be ordered here in the following formats:


- digipak-CD
- deluxe box set (hardcover box includes: CD digipak (w/ bonus track), blue w/ black & white splatter vinyl, 52-page photo book, slipmat, and exclusive download content)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- silver w/ blue & black splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- natural clear w/ black & red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- crystal clear w/ white & turquoise splatter vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- red / white melt vinyl (EMP exclusive - limited t

International all-female metal collective, Chaos Rising, have released their eighteenth video, "Prisoner".


Founded by French multi-instrumentalist Stéphanie Nolf (Unsafe, Syrinx), Chaos Rising is a unique project that brings together female metal musicians from across the globe.





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"Prisoner" is an empowering melodic punk anthem starring German vocalist Miss ScarRed (Aeternitas)

Symphonic metal outfit, Ad Infinitum, return with their bewitching second offering, Chapter II - Legacy, out October 29 via Napalm Records. The band have released a new single, “Afterlife”. The track, which features frontwoman Melissa Bonny performing alongside fellow vocal powerhouse Nils Molin of modern metal frontrunners Amaranthe and power metal outfit Dynazty, has premiered today with a cinematic music video.


“Afterlife” propels the band into the realms of eternity with spine-chilling cembalo insertions, shivering strings and epic guitar riffs. This is an outstanding, harmonic duet that promises instant goosebumps!


Says the band: "'Afterlife' is one of those songs that was an obvious candidate to introduce and represent the sound of our second album. We are proud to present a darker, heavier Ad Infinitum and we are thrilled to share “the stage” with one of the greatest voices in metal nowadays, mister Nils Molin.”


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Nils Molin adds: ”Ad Infinitum is one of those few bands that with their second album go beyond delivering upon the great promise established by their first release and instead shatter expectations with Chapter II - Legacy! I’m hella excited to contribute with my voice and be featured on the haunting and devilishly delicate track and second single release - 'Afterlife'!”





Symphonic metal onslaught Ad Infinitum are no stranger to the scene. With their spellbinding debut album, Chapter I - Monarchy (2020), brought to life in the middle of a global pandemic, the foursome reached millions of plays on streaming platforms. Furthermore, frontwoman Melissa Bonny is consistently drawn to exciting musical collaborations, as she recently unveiled the brand new band The Dark Side Of The Moon and their bittersweet reinterpretation of Florence & The Machine's Game Of Thrones soundtrack song, "Jenny Of Oldstones". In addition, Bonny's exciting feature with Feuerschwanz on the song “Ding” (Seed-cover) has already gained over 2.6 million views on YouTube since its release. Now, she sets her focus back to her main musical force as Ad Infinitum - with Adrian Thessenvitz (guitars), Korbinian Benedict (bass) and Niklas Müller (drums) - will unveil its new opus, Chapter II - Legacy.


Chapter II - Legacy surprises with a melting pot of different influences and a contrast between super heavy riffs, sometimes even djent/metalcore-like touches and catchy hook lines and melodies, giving the band's sophomore album a modern and equally timeless touch. The lyrics have, just like on their debut album, been inspired by a historical figure: the paradoxical life and afterlife of Vlad The Impaler, also known as Dracula, inspired the themes and questions of this album.


Ad Infinitum add: “Chapter II - Legacy holds a very special place in our heart. It represents months and months of hard work of four bandmates, for a result that we are proud to call “self-produced”. For this record, we decided to work without the influence of an external producer during the songwriting process and to team up with Elias Holmlid for the beautiful and epic orchestrations and of course with Jacob Hansen who recorded [vocals], mixed, mastered and participated to the post production. A younger and heavier sound that defines Ad Infinitum like never before.”


Chapter II - Legacy once again showcases the indispensable creativity of Ad Infinitum - featuring twelve complex, marvelous tracks highlighting their sonic development and undeniable symphonic strength. Such talent can be witnessed with opener “Reinvented”, lurking with lovely piano tunes and erupting in intense riffage in the blink of an eye. Right away, the music reflects the extremely multifaceted voice of Melissa Bonny - ranging from crystal clear vocals to impressively powerful screams and menacing growls. Hailing from hell, hard-hitting “Afterlife” features the vocal power of Nils Molin (Amaranthe, Dynazty), merging in perfect harmony with Melissa’s incredibly haunting delivery. Songs like “Your Enemy” and cinematic grand finale “Lullaby” leave no scope for weakness and unveil the heaviest side of Ad Infinitum to date. This grasping hymn is far from lulling you to sleep, as the eclectically versatile sonic world of Ad Infinitum immediately induces you to listen to Chapter II - Legacy again, right from the beginning.





Chapter II - Legacy will be avail

Canada’s Infrared has a new album ready for listeners who can tune into Bravewords for a heavy dose of no holds barred, traditional ‘80s thrash. The quartet of Kirk Gidley (guitar), Alain Groulx (drums), Mike Forbes (bass) and Armin Kamal (vocals/guitar) initially started on their journey back in 1986 and through trials, tribulations and a very long hiatus, they have arrived here with a third full-length album From The Black Swamp.


Infrared is the kind of band that writes exactly the songs needed for the album, working on them meticulously until they are up to standard. Each of the twelve songs is a standalone banger and cohesive with the rest of the album. A definite trip back in time, the band explains the album in their own words:


“With 12 songs and an hour of brand-new music, this album is the most personal yet. It is a rollercoaster ride of riff after riff, thundering bass, relentless drumming, and heavy lyrical content. The band hopes these personal songs resonate with fans and attract new listeners who share a love and passion for classic metal songs delivered with a modern touch and production.”


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The songs on the album are a collaborative effort between the band members, it was produced, mixed and mastered by Kamal and the album artwork was done by Nate MacDonald. Infrared has shared the stage with bands such as Anvil, Sacrifice, Razor, and Venom Inc., and looks forward to supporting this album with a tour as soon as possible.


Staying true to their roots, this album is for those who like the ‘80s Bay area sound mixed with classic metal influences such as Maiden, Priest and Sabbath.


BraveWords is premiering the album stream ahead of its release on September 30:

Jaded Star are back with a video for their song "Adrian", which was filmed and recorded live at The Crow Club Athens.


"Due to the pandemic we haven't been able to play our music live and share this experience with a real live audience. We had a fantastic time during our performance at The Crow and we are looking forward to hit the road again!," the band says.


Five years since their highly acclaimed debut album, Memories From The Future, last year melodic metal act Jaded Star celebrated the release of their sophomore album, titled Realign, with Noble Demon. Dynamic arrangements and unique songwriting that is reminiscent of old-school metal with a modern edge: Realign is the charismatic and dynamic, beautiful but heavy, follow-up record that their fans have been waiting for.


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Watch the live video for "Adrian" below. Realign is out now via Noble Demon and available for purchase here.

Los Angeles-based atmospheric funeral doom band, Qaalm, have joined forces with Toronto, Canada based record label, Hypaethral Records, to unleash their debut double LP, Resilience & Despair.

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

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

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

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

Listen to the Qaalm demo here.

Lineup:

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

Seattle's Jack And The Dull Boy are a prog-metal band and they're set to release their refreshingly retro debut album, Failure In Three Parts, on November 19. Today the band is sharing "Maniac", a cover of Michael Sembello's hit from the Flashdance film and soundtrack.





Here's what the band had to say about "Maniac": "Jack And The Dull Boy say they obviously have a lot in common with ‘80s legend Michael Sembello in that they’re bearded, slightly stocky, and not particularly photogenic. What’s maybe not as obvious is that the original version of ‘Maniac’ is a heavy metal song dressed in ‘80s synth-pop clothing. Chord progressions, key signature (Eb minor), guitar solo in the bridge, all these ingredients beg the question, ‘Are you sure Steve Harris didn’t write this?’ Jack and the Dull Boy seems to have had some fun connecting the dots between the genres.”


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Failure in Three Parts by Jack and the Dull Boy


Jack and the Dull Boy exists at the intersection of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive pop. With their debut release, Failure in Three Parts, the Seattle duo has lovingly crafted an album for an alternate universe in which classi

At the end of August, Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen began teasing fans with with music from his forthcoming Star One album by launching a  "guess the movie" game. Fans were invited to watch a video clip o see the lyrics inspired by the movie and hear a part of the song. 


Lucassen: "Even if you can’t guess the movie. I hope you enjoy the music."


Check out some of the clips below.


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"Fate Of Man"





"28 Days (Till The End Of Time)"





"Prescient"





"Back From The Past"





Stay tuned for more.


Lucassen recently checked in with a new update:


"Jef Bertel’s majestic painting for the new Star One album front cover is finally ready, and it’s amazing! Here is the proud owner... ME."

In 2019, the metal world was introduced to Align The Tide, a brutally heavy, technically dazzling new group from an unlikely locale, the beautiful, sun-soaked Mediterranean country of Malta. The quartet released their debut album Dead Religion with mega-indie label Cleopatra Records that year and quickly gained a solid following thanks to a superior combo of monster riffs, thundering drums and dark, heavy lyrical themes. 





Today, the band returns with an even fiercer sound, a newly expanded line-up and a brand new single, “Judgement.” Now a five-piece, ATT have brought onboard another guitarist as well as a new vocalist who hails across the sea from the state of Texas. Together, this devastating quintet are set to attract attention worldwide as they prepare for a n

Snares Of Sixes – the exploratory and ever-evolving collective of artists and musicians led by Jason Walton of Agalloch, Sculptured, and more – presents its MoonBladder LP, set for release this Friday through Nefarious Industries and Transcending Records. An album-length video for the single 30 minute movement is streaming ahead of its release.





Conceived, assembled, arranged, and constructed by Jason Walton, Snares Of Sixes’ MoonBladder was recorded in various locations all over the world, its impressive cast of guest collaborators including Marius Sjøli (Sculptured, Fauna Timbre), Robert Hunter (Occulted Sound), Martti Hill (Barrowlands, Sculptured), Don Anderson (Agalloch, Sculptured), Toby Driver (Kayo Dot, Asva), Ron Varod (Kayo Dot, Psalm Zero), Ramin Hosseinabad, Peter Lee (Lawnmower Deth), Lauren Viera, (Dreadnought), Andy Winter (Winds, Age Of Silence), and Nick Wusz (Dolven).


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MoonBladder was mixed by Jason Walton at Earth In Sound Studios, mastered by James Plotkin (Khanate, Sunn O))), Merzbow), and completed with a cover painting by Bridget Bellavia and layout/design by Marius Sjøli. Additionally, a psychedelic video for the entire movement was directed by David Brenner (Gridfailure) infusing footage from multiple band members.





Divulging how the record came to be, Walton writes, “MoonBladder emerged in a very odd way. It started as a twenty-five-minute MIDI idea. Then, Robert Hunter and I did an improv noise set in his house that got added to the MIDI piece. After that, Martti Hill, Nick Wusz, Robert Hunter, and I went into my studio and recorded singing bowls, various pedals, and I even recall pounding on a metal bed frame for a while. Once that was all mixed together, that's when Robert, Marius and I started adding more melodic elements. It continued like this for a few years, until the final pieces of samples, field recordings, and Toby Driver's vocals were added to wrap it up."


MoonBladder will see release October 1 on digital and LP