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.”


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



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.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



"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).


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



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

Memoria Avenue is a new melodic rock/AOR band from Norway showcasing an artistic union between guitarist Tor Talle and singer Jan Le’Brandt. The band's self-titled debut album will be released on November 5 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, the band has released a music video for the song, "Stranded". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Memoria Avenue here.





Memoria Avenue is yet another newcomer to the AOR scene brought to you by Frontiers Music Srl. Comprised of guitarist Tor Talle, vocalist Jan Le'Brandt, keyboardist Dag Selboskar, bassist Svenn Huneide, and drummer Bjørn Olav Lauvdal, Memoria Avenue create have a sound and style that will particularly appeal to fans of stylish, '80s oriented melodic rock bands (think Journey and newer bands like Perfect Plan and Work of Art) with a hint of that breezy, feel good sound of yesteryear. Listening to these songs will transport you to the feeling of driving by the sea with the windows rolled down without a care in the world. Certainly not a bad feeling in this day and age...


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



Tor is a skilled and well known musician, best known for the Northern Light project and the band Skyscraper. He has also worked, either writing songs and/or performing with, on records from melodic rock giants such as Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple), Fergie Frederiksen (ex-Toto), Rob Moratti (ex-Saga), Steve Overland (FM), and the late Tony Mills (TNT, Shy).


Jan Le’Brandt, a relative newcomer to the melodic rock scene, has a voice that is sometimes hoarse and rough, but can also move into a more delicate and sensitive style. Jan masters the whole spectrum to the fullest, with his soulful presence both on stage and in the studio. He has already previously released some material as a solo artist, appeared with the cover band Svigermord, and formerly sang for Big City (also signed to Frontiers recently), but Memoria Avenue is his chance to truly shine.


Keyboard player Dag Selboskar (who also plays in Zelbo, another new signing to Frontiers), has been touring since 1980 with several bands including Da Vinci, Evenrude, Street Legal, and Trine Rein. He started his own band, Zelbo a couple of years ago with Ken Hensley and Wonderworld guitarist Ken Ingwersen.


Bassist Svenn Huneide started touring in his early teens and has released several albums with Norwegian AOR band Stoneflower. He has released solo albums spanning from pop to rock to country and played bass with Norwegian AOR legends Da Vinci.


Bjørn Olav Lauvdal is one of the most experienced heavy rock drummers in Norway and is known as a heavy hitter. He started playing drums at an early age and toured the club circuit in Norway early in his career. He has toured, recorded, and released albums with Street Legal, The Wheel, and Da Vinci. He has also recorded album tracks on releases by Carnivora and Ken’s Dojo, among others. Live, he has also played with Evenrude, Ozzmosis, Dee Snider, etc.


Melodic Rock and AOR fans will have much to enjoy with the self-titled debut from these talented Norwegians.





Tracklisting:


"Stuck"
"Stranded"
"Can't Blame It On The Rain"
"The Air That Breath"
"Waiting Forever"
"Nathalia"
"Sometimes"
"Run With Me"
"If You Fall"
"Someday"
"High As A Kite"
"Picket Fence"


"Stranded" video:

Swedish doomsters, Left Hand Solution, have unleashed a new video for "For The Hallowed Blood" from Studio Nevo. Watch below.


Drummer and songwriter, Erik Barthold, comments about the song and the making of the new video: "The video was shot in Nevo Studios, our favorite recording studio and longtime collaborators of Left Hand Solution. Our album Light Shines Black was recorded there 20 years ago, and since then this studio has a special place in our hearts. Always an awesome vibe to record there and that is what we wanted to show with the video.


“For The Hallowed Blood is about being truly devoted to someone, and to experience the loss of this someone. It also flirts with religious ceremony and vampires, with the blood being a symbol for eternal life and love. The salvation of being loved.”


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Heaven And Hell Records has announced the addition of guitar shredder Guy Mann-Dude to their ever-growing roster.


Guy Mann-Dude (Guy Shiffman) is an American-born musician who was best known in the late 1980s and early 1990s after his eponymous band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1988. A musician renaissance man of sorts, Shiffman began as a drummer and would find himself backing YES singer Jon Anderson on his 1982 Animation Tour. Although an accomplished drummer doing studio work and leading his bands, Shiffman turned to his first love - the guitar - and reinvented himself as Guy Mann-Dude.


Before going solo the guitarist served time in the Michael Angelo Band. In 1988 Mann-Dude would secure a deal with MCA for his first solo album titled Sleight Of Hand. Bassist Barry Sparks (Vinnie Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Mary Friedman) would be recruited for the album, along with late drummer David Eagle. The following year on July 26, 1989 the instrumental shredding nightmare debut would be released.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



The album would garnish minimal attention, getting little to no support and push from the label. However, Mann-Dude’s reputation continued to grow.


In 1989, Mann-Dude would be part of the heavy metal supergroup The Dudes Of Wrath along with Paul Stanley of KISS and Desmond Child, both on vocals, Vivian Campbell on guitar, Whitesnake's Rudy Sarzo on bass guitar, and Mötley Crüe's Tommy Lee on drums. The group was specially assembled to record a song called "Shocker" for the soundtrack of the Wes Craven film of the same name. That same year he would also lend his gunslinging talents to Robin Beck's hit album Trouble Or Nothin as well as Alice Cooper’s Trash in 1989.


In 1991 it was time for a Guy Mann-Dude follow-up. However, this sophomore effort would see a slight change from the shredfest of the first album. Still, as a trio including Mann-Dude, Sparks and Eagle, they would self-release Mannic Distortion (often cited to be Guy Mann-Dude's Mannic Distortion) under the name Metal Future Records. This 10-song effort would see vocals added to most of the songs contributed by all three members. Only two of the tracks would be instrumentals. Mannic Distortion would also delve headfirst into a Bay Area type thrash metal that could have easily rivalled any of its contemporaries at the time. The album would receive another small release on Czechia label Poprun. Neither wou

Almost twenty years ago to the day, celebrated thrash metal act Sodom released one of the most significant albums of its career: M-16, an offering that continues to be a challenge both musically and in terms of its content still touches upon a very sensitive issue in the history of mankind.


The theme of the iconic concept album is the Vietnam War, which was officially fought between North and South Vietnam in the 1960s, with the intervention of 500,000 US soldiers fighting and supporting anti-communist North Vietnam against Eastern Bloc detachments. Songs such as "Among The Weirdcong", "Napalm In The Morning", "Minejumper" and "Cannon Fodder" see musicians Tom Angelripper (vocals, bass), Bernemann (guitar), and Bobby Schottkowski (drums), who recorded the album at the time, hauntingly evoke through harsh metal sounds and unmistakable words images of war, brutalisation and devastation, grievances and the excesses of Western civilisation.


M-16 continued Sodom’s tradition of politically committed and socio-critical albums such as Agent Orange (1989) and Code Red (1999). No doubt: In autumn 2001, Sodom succeeded in creating a masterpiece of international metal history, now set to be re-released on December 10, remastered by Sodom drummer Toni Merkel and featuring extensive bonus material as well as attractive fan items in a premium-quality package.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});






M-16 (20th Anniversary Edition) will be available in three different formats (tracklisting below): as a deluxe box set, including the remastered original album plus bonus live tracks, two additional bootleg LPs with further previously unreleased live versions (recorded in Germany, Thailand, Japan), a USB stick in the shape of a rifle cartridge with all the album songs, a Sodom military ID badge, a poster featuring the cover artwork plus a 44-page booklet with rare photos and liner notes by Tom Angelripper. In the booklet, former Metal Hammer contributor Manni Eisenblätter, whose private archive contains countless unpublished Sodom photos, tells the story of the album`s creation and promotion, for which the band travelled to Thailand and South Vietnam just a few weeks before its release to get a first-hand impression of Vietnam, a country scarred by the devastation of war.


In addition to the remastered original songs, the CD media book includes two previously unreleased live tracks from 2001 and additional never-before-seen Sodom photos, which also can be on the orange vinyl version (2LP, 180g).


Looking back two decades on, M-16 continues to be a very special album to bandleader Tom Angelripper: “The recording is definitely one of Sodom’s classics, not least because of its consistent thematic concept. It was also our last collaboration with producer Harris Johns, finalising an important era for the band. I'm very happy that ‘M-16’ will now be re-released as a ‘20th Anniversary Edition’ with new versions and lots of attention to detail.”


Pre-order the album here. Listen the new single “Remember The Fallen” (Live Wacken 2001) here, and below.





Tracklisting:


CD


"Among The Weirdcong"
"I Am The War"
"Napalm In The Morning"
"Minejumper"
"Genocide"
"Little Boy"
"M-16"
"Lead Injection"
"Cannon Fodder"
"Marines"
"Surfin' Bird"
"Remember The Fallen" (Live Wacken 2001, previously unreleased)
"Blasphemer" (Live Wacken 2001, previously unreleased)


LP


LP1, Side A:
"Among The Weirdcong"
"I Am th

Australian progressive metal band, Teramaze, fronted by guitarist and band founder Dean Wells, along side Chris Zoupa, Andrew Cameron and Nick Ross, will release their new album, And The Beauty They Perceive, via the band’s own label Wells Music on October 5.


The band have released a lyric video for the song, "Untide", which can be viewed below. Says Wells: "'Untide' is a song born out of watching us as people slowly losing our freedoms and liberties for comfort, but also giving everything for a cause you believe in even if you have to stand alone. 'Untide' is an ANTHEM for those PEOPLE....."





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



Says Dean Wells about the album: "This is our third album released in under 12 months, and our ninth studio album as a band, I truly believe it's one of our greatest yet."


Chris Zoupa adds: "When writing ATBTP, we wanted the album to be 9 killer tracks that combined all the elements of technicality, emotion, orchestration and catchiness that can be found across every Teramaze album through the years. I think we comfortably achieved that, and all Teramaze fans are really going to dig this album!"





Tracklisting:


"And The Beauty They Perceive"
"Jackie Seth"
"Untide"
"Modern Living Space"
"Blood Of Fools"

Exodus return with their eleventh studio album, Persona Non Grata, out November 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. In this new video trailer, bassist Jack Gibson talks about the making of the album:





Literally translating to “an unwelcome” or “unacceptable” person, Persona Non Grata touches on themes of modern societal disgust and degradation. The band gathered at Tom Hunting's house in the mountains where they produced and recorded Persona Non Grata from three home-built studios . Steve Lagudi was at the helm of engineering while the band enlisted Andy Sneap of Backstage Studios to mix the album. For the third time in the band’s history, they returned to Swedish artist Par Olofsson to create the album artwork.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});






Persona Non Grata will be available in the following formats:


- CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!)
- T-Shirt + CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!)
- T-Shirt
- Cassette – Tinted Red
- CD Jewel + Blu-ray Bonus Disc (Jam Camp!) Long Box (Decibel Magazine Exclusive)
- Double LP
 * Black
 * Red & Mustard Swirl W/ Black Splatter
 * Electric Blue W/ Black & Bone
 * Gold & Bone Swirl W. Black and Mint Green Splatter
 * Green in Mustard W/ Red Splatter
 * Mint Green & Brown W/ Cyan Splatter (EMP Exclusive)
 * Purple & Yellow Swirl W/ Mint Green & Bone Splatter (UK Indie Exclusive)
 * Bone & Beer Swirl W/ Red & Brown Splatter (Revolver Magazine Exclusive)
 * Red & Mustard Swirl W/ Black Splatter (Rebellion Republic Exclusive)
 * Blue Swirl W/ Bone * Black Splatter (U.S. Indie Exclusive)
- Mail Order Boxset – Limited to 2,000 pieces worldwide
 * Orange, Red Swirl W/ Black Splatter
 * 20 page booklet
 * Slipmat
 * CD + Blu-ray Bonus Disc
 * Patch
 * Flag


Pre-order here. Pre-save here.





Tracklisting:


"Persona Non Grata"
"R.E.M.F."
"Slipping Into Madness"
"Elitist"
"Prescribing Horror"
"The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)"
"The Years of Death and Dying"
"Clickbait"
"Cosa Del Pantano"
"Lunatic-Liar-Lord"
"The Fires of Division"
"Antiseed"


"Clickbait" lyric video:





"The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)":

After the release of “Hidden Window”, Be'lakor are back with their second single, “Foothold”, taken from their new album, Coherence, out October 29 via Napalm Records.


The deep, powerful vocals of George Kosmas unite with a keen sense for captivating, atmospheric and multi-faced compositions. “Foothold” appears as another gem of progressive death metal, proving Be'lakor’s great ambitions to push their boundaries further once more.


Watch the new music video for “Foothold”:


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});






The eight tracks on Coherence display Be'lakor’s impressive spectrum of musical abilities, ranging from the 12-minute-long journey of “Much More Was Lost” to the atmospheric, fully instrumental “Sweep of Days”. Be'lakor are not afraid to focus on extensive, cohesive songwriting, and Coherence is full of details that reveal more and more with every listen of the album. Thanks to the marvelous, larger-than-life mix by none other than Jens Bogren (Opeth, Katatonia, Leprous, At The Gates among others), Be'lakor are as bold and majestic as ever on Coherence!





Coherence will be available on black 2LP gatefold with etching, as well as limited 2LP gatefolds in gold, silver and white. The exclusive Die Hard Edition of the album will feature a metal plate with the lyrics and a slipmat, and a deluxe wooden box (jewel case) limited edition will include a collector’s coin, wall flag, wrist band and pick set.


Pre-order

Swedish avant-garde metallers Diablo Swing Orchestra will release their fifth album, Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole, on November 2 via Candlelight / Spinefarm. They have released a new single, "Celebremos Lo Inevitable", and the official lyric video can be viewed below.


Guitarist / vocalist Daniel Håkansson: "The song draws inspiration from the Mexican holiday Día de Muertos and its celebration of friends and family members who have passed on but still live in our hearts and through our memories of them. It's our first song in Spanish and since we wanted it sound authentic, we had a Mexican vocal coach in the studio just to get the pronunciation correct."





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



The spirited, progressive eight-piece Swedish ensemble are known for pairing elements of jazz, swing, classical, and progressive rock with just about everything in between. Since their foundation in 2003 the band have released four studio albums which push musical boundaries to the extreme with humour, creativity, and a healthy dose of positive aggression. Their debut, The Butcher's Ballroom, was a breath of fresh air when it came out in 2006 to worldwide critical acclaim. Swagger & Stroll Down the Rabbit Hole is the band's fifth effort and is by far their most ambitious undertaking, which pays tribute to all four previous releases and adds some new colors to their already broad pallet of sounds.


DSO have once again teamed up with producer Roberto Laghi (In Flames, Hardcore Superstars), who has become almost the ninth member of the orchestra. Together, they've dug d

Vocalist Stu Block - who left Into Eternity in 2011 to join Iced Earth, and was replaced by Amanda Kiernan - recently announced his return to Into Eternity after performing live with the band at the Loud As Hell festival in Drumheller, Alberta on July 31st. The band has checked in with the following announcement:

"Attention Death Prog Squad! We will be hitting the studio soon with Stu doing a re-record of a 15 year old classic song from our catalog and recording two new tunes! We are very excited for you all to hear what we are up too!! Lots of news to come stay tuned!!"

On August 2nd, Stu Block posted the following message on social media:

"What an amazing time with Into Eternity at the Loud As Hell Fest!! I had such a killer time with my brothers Matt, Tim, Troy and Bryan and sister from another mister Amanda!! Soooooo I’m sure you are all speculating if I will be coming back to Into Eternity permanently and the answer is............YES!!! I will be coming back sharing lead vocal duties with the amazing Amanda Kiernan! The insane talent that is in this band needs to be showcased to the world again through new recordings and some touring. We will be working hard on new music and refining the live show to perfection for you to enjoy. We have LOTS of exciting things coming within the next few months! We can’t wait!!!"

Multi-platinum rockers SKILLET will release their new studio album, "Dominion", on January 14, 2022 via Atlantic. Their 11th studio project, it follows SKILLET's amazing track record of two RIAA certified multi-platinum albums, two gold albums, five RIAA certified multi-platinum singles, and four gold singles. Simultaneously unveiling the project's stunning cover art and track listing, "Dominion"'s first Active Rock radio single, "Surviving The Game" is available now as an instant grat with album pre-order, and fans can also pre-save the album. The album, produced by Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, PAPA ROACH, DISTURBED), with songs written by John Cooper, Korey Cooper, Kevin Churko and Kane Churko, was created 100 percent remotely between the band's tour dates, home studio in Wisconsin and the Churkos' studio in Las Vegas.

"'Dominion' is about the celebration of freedom, a liberation from fear — to be who we want to be, say what we want to say, believe what we want to believe," John Cooper says. "In some ways, it's a reminder of the God-given rights that we were born with. It's time to regain some sort of control over our lives and not be a slave to fear. I hope this record is going to make people feel empowered, inspired, uplifted and want to rock their faces off!"

Yesterday, in advance of "Surviving The Game"'s release, Atlantic Records president of A&R Pete Ganbarg and the band's A&R rep Andy Karp hosted SKILLET for a performance and question-and-answer session about the track, which Ganbarg describes as "pure anthemic SKILLET — a song that speaks to the unprecedented times we're all facing with the ferocity that has been the band's trademark for over two decades. It's a fierce, welcome return."

John Cooper describes the track as as "a defiant song about not giving in to the fear that the world is and has been experiencing. This song brings a feeling of survival; you have to do what you need to do in order to get your life back; a defiance against fear and the things that want to hold you down. For so many, that's depression, isolation, lonelieness, suicidal thoughts, etc. This song is about becoming the person you are meant be and coming out on the other side of all the madness."

Earlier today, the band premiered the track's music video on YouTube at 3:05 p.m. EST, following a live video chat. Shot in the expansive desert outside Los Angeles last month, the video is made up of a mixture of high-energy band performances alongside a storyline where a young kid rules the land, entraps the band and they have to fight through pain and fear to make it out alive.

"Dominion" track listing:

01. Surviving The Game

02. Standing In The Storm

03. Dominion

04. Valley Of Death

05. Beyond Incredible

06. Destiny

07. Refuge

08. Shout Your Freedom

09. Destroyer

10. Forever Or The End

11. Ignite

12. White Horse

This fall, SKILLET is headlining 24 shows with ADELITAS WAY as main support as well as EVA UNDER FIRE. The trek, dubbed "The Aftermath Tour", kicked off September 12 in Chicago and will run through October 22 in St. Louis. A limited quantity of VIP packages is available as well, which include a ticket, preshow question-and-answer session and trivia contest hosted by SKILLET, and exclusive merchandise.

SKILLET is one of the best-selling rock bands of the 21st century. The two-time Grammy Award-nominated Pandora Billionaires Club members have an undying spirit that has humbly asserted and affirmed them as one of this generation's most successful rock acts.

By 2019, they not only garnered a pair of Grammy nods and sold over 12 million albums worldwide, but they also took home a Billboard Music Award for the double-platinum "Awake". Its breakout single, "Monster", remains one of the most streamed rock songs of all time, with over three billion global audio streams.

2016's "Unleashed" bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200. Hitting No. 1 on rock radio, the lead single, "Feel Invincible", cracked 643 million global audio streams and went platinum. Meanwhile, the gold-certified "Unleashed" became their fourth consecutive album to receive either a gold, platinum, or double-platinum status.

Their 2019 release, "Victorious", included the Top 10 rock radio hit "Legendary", which lived up to its name with over 108 million streams. To date, nine original tunes earned RIAA recognition in tandem with high-profile syncs by everyone from WWE and Marvel to ESPN and NFL.

Photo by Jimmy Fontaine

Ozzy Osbourne's latest album, last year's "Ordinary Man", was officially certified gold on September 9 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

The RIAA developed its gold and platinum awards program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements.

Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold.

In the streaming age, each permanent digital album or physical album sale count as 1 unit for certification purposes, 10 permanent track downloads from the album count as 1 unit for certification purposes, and 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from the album count as 1 unit. For songs, 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as 1 unit for certification purposes.

Ozzy, who suffered from several medical issues last year, including a fall, neck surgery and hospitalization for the flu, told Entertainment Tonight that the making of "Ordinary Man" helped him cope with the emotional toll of his recovery. The disc was recorded with Andrew Watt after Ozzy previously collaborated with the guitarist/producer on the Post Malone song "Take What You Want".

"That whole album came out of nowhere, and it was so much fun," Ozzy said. "It was what I needed to get me out of my gloom and doom and my recovery."

"Ordinary Man" came out in February 2020. Recorded in Los Angeles, the LP features Watt on guitars, Duff McKagan (GUNS N' ROSES) on bass and Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) on drums. Beyond the core band, "Ordinary Man" features a who's-who of Ozzy friends and collaborators, including Elton John, Post Malone and Tom Morello.

To celebrate the album's arrival, Ozzy made history by launching a worldwide tattoo sale and album listening event. Held on the eve of the album's release, Ozzy premiered his new album simultaneously at tattoo parlors in 57 cities around the world — making it the largest multi-city album release event in rock 'n' roll history. Globally more than 3,000 fans received exclusive Ozzy-inspired tattoos created specifically for the one-day only event while hearing the album for the first time. Over 1,000 unique tattoo designs were created from some of the top artists around the world, with a total social reach of over 20 mill

In celebration of five decades in music, one of the world's most iconic bands, QUEEN, will feature in a dedicated experiential pop-up shop on Carnaby Street in London, opening later this month.

The shop, "Queen The Greatest", will open on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 until January 2022 with a lineup of limited-edition music releases, exciting fashion collaborations and lifestyle products with weekly new product drops and events. Each month will have a theme — Music, Art & Design and Magic — with visual installations that act as storytelling from each of QUEEN's historic five decades.

The "Queen The Greatest" store will take visitors on a journey over two floors, from 1970s thrift store (Freddie Mercury and Roger Taylor had a stall in Kensington Market), 1980s iconic live performances and tours, 1990s record store, 2000s DVD homage through to 2010s tech concepts.

The new store, created in partnership with Bravado, Universal Music Group's merchandise and brand management company, features all of the hallmarks of the band. The store includes an exciting apparel collection including exclusive collaborations from a host of fashion brands including Champion, Wrangler and Johnny Hoxton jewelry.

The Champion collection features unisex T-shirts and sweatshirts, with a nod to the fashion brand's heritage. Denim pieces from Wrangler, some adorned with iconic song titles, sit alongside solid gold and silver jewellery from British jewelry designer Jonny Hoxton, known for his tongue-in-cheek jewelry that fills the sweet spot between traditional craftsmanship and underground pop culture.

The proceeds from an exclusive Freddie Mercury T-shirt will go to the Mercury Phoenix Trust. The charity was founded by Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jim Beach in memory of Freddie Mercury and raises vital funds and awareness for HIV/AIDS

Music Month - October

The band's continuing album and single releases will be a big part of the shop's pulse. Limited-edition music will be available to buy throughout music month with drops every week including a limited edition of a "Greatest Hits" vinyl, exclusive to the store, as well as both current and new solo releases from Brian May and Roger Taylor.

Art & Design Month - November

Showcasing a lineup of collaborative partners including Japanese designer Tokolo, a limited-edition bear from Steiff, and the first viewing of a soon-to-be-released pinball machine.

Magic Month - December

Fusing the magic of five decades of QUEEN with the magic of Christmas. Product includes Rubix Cube, Christmas jumpers, cards, wrapping paper and accessories.

The store will feature screens showing archive QUEEN performances and Instagrammable moments that fans won't want to miss. For those unable to travel to the store, a selection of items including the vinyls will be available online at: queenonlinestore.com/The-Greatest-Pop-Up-Store.

QUEEN said: "We are pleased to collaborate with Bravado on this project, which will be an exciting experience for everyone to come to London and enjoy. Carnaby Street was the perfect spot for the store to celebrate five decades."

David Boyne, MD, Bravado, said: "We are delighted to announce this innovative partnership with QUEEN. The project will add another cultural moment to their rich legacy and will be a destination for fans to immerse themselves in the music, style and spirit of one of the world's most iconic and beloved bands."

Queen The Greatest

57 Carnaby Street

London, W1

September 28, 2021 - January 2022

Monday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Sunday: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Apparel

Alongside the collaborations, a range of exclusive clothing will be available to buy, including QUEEN's iconic Crest logo across t-shirts, sweats and jackets. Interpretations of vintage tour tees will be available in different designs which run from the 1975 tour crest through to the European 1984 tour pharaoh-inspired design.

Gifting & Accessories

A range of QUEEN products will be available for fans to own, including caps, tote bags, socks and various drinkware. Christmas-specific products will give QUEEN fans the chance to theme their festive period. Visitors can "tour" the world with the band with a Queen Monopoly game.

Composer and curator Greg Anderson (Southern Lord Recordings, SUNN O))), ENGINE KID, GOATSNAKE and more) has unveiled another new song as a part of his forthcoming explorative compositions and collaborations as THE LORD available on Bandcamp. "We Who Walk In Light" features ALICE IN CHAINS frontman William DuVall, who comments: "'We Who Walk In Light' just came to me. I simply reacted to the music Greg sent, tracked and arranged all my parts at home alone. I wrote it as I was singing it, all at once, no second guessing. Thankfully, my wife was out of town at the time as she might have been a bit unsettled by some of the sounds emanating from the basement. It's basically a heavy metal Buddhist monk choir with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan flying in for a cameo. I'm sure it's channeling some of the tension of current times.

"I was happy to be asked by THE LORD to collaborate and I'm glad to donate the proceeds to my friend Brother Wayne Kramer's organization, Jail Guitar Doors."

Proceeds from "We Who Walk In Light" will go directly to Jail Guitar Doors.

Anderson will continue to release other collaborations as THE LORD via Bandcamp in the future, including but not limited to a score for the forthcoming horror anthology film "V/H/S/94", additional collaborations with noted singer/songwriter Petra Haden and more. Stay tuned for more news to surface in the coming months.

Prior to joining ALICE IN CHAINS in 2006, DuVall was a member of punk rock bands AWARENESS VOID OF CHAOS, NEON CHRIST, BL'AST! and FINAL OFFERING. DuVall's long musical history also includes COMES WITH THE FALL and ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist Jerry Cantrell's solo work.

Cantrell befriended the members of COMES WITH THE FALL in the early 2000s, playing shows with the band on the West Coast, then enlisting the musicians to tour with him as both opening act and backing group in support of his album "Degradation Trip".

DuVall appears on the last three ALICE IN CHAINS albums: 2009's "Black Gives Way To Blue", 2013's "The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here" and 2018's "Rainier Fog".

Celebrating its 45 anniversary, "Destroyer" was originally released in 1976 and is considered to be one of the quintessential KISS albums. It is the band's first album to sell one million copies in its first year and holds the title of being their all-time best-selling studio album. Packed with concert staples and KISS Army favorites, including "Detroit Rock City", "Shout It Out Loud", "God Of Thunder" and "Beth", on November 19, 2021 UMe will release "KISS – Destroyer 45th" in the form of a Super Deluxe 4-CD + Blu-ray audio box set as well as on standard double black vinyl and limited edition yellow and red double colored vinyl, 2-CD set and digital.

For the recording of "Destroyer", Bob Ezrin was brought in as KISS's new producer, helping the band reach new levels, both sonically and creatively. The album also showed the band's growth as musicians and songwriters, experimenting with new sounds which came in the form of the softer side of songs like "Do You Love Me?" , and songs heavy with orchestral arrangements including "Great Expectations" and their Billboard No. 7 hit single "Beth". Following the breakthrough success of 1975's No. 9 Billboard-charting "Alive!", "Destroyer" was the KISS album that brought them to the forefront of the mainstream and transformed them into global rock icons. For its anniversary, UMe celebrates this seminal album's legacy with a staggering amount of bonus material.

CD 1 includes the original album newly remastered at Abbey Road Mastering, while CD 2 features 15 demos from Paul Stanley's and Gene Simmons's personal archives — nine of which were previously unreleased. CD 3 is packed with studio outtakes, alternate versions / mixes and single edits — most notably a brand-new stripped-down mix for "Beth (Acoustic Mix)", and CD 4 contains an electrifying performance from the band's visit to Paris France at the L'Olympia on May 22, 1976. For the Blu-ray audio disc, Steven Wilson was brought in to create a first-ever Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround mix of the original studio album plus two bonus tracks, "Beth (Acoustic Mix)" and "Sweet Pain (Original Guitar Solo)", the latter featuring Ace Frehley's original recorded guitar solo that was not released on the studio album (this track is available on the 2012 "Destroyer: Resurrected" project).

Additionally, the Super Deluxe box features an extravagant array of collectable KISS memorabilia and ephemera, including a complete recreation of the original KISS Army Kit with the original folder and following items:

* KISS Army newsletter Volume 1 - No 2 announcing "Destroyer"

* 2x 8"x10" "Destroyer" Press Photos

* Discography Sheet

* Gene, Paul, Ace & Peter Bio Sheet

* KISS Army Member Certificate

* KISS Army Membership Card

Also included in the Super Deluxe set:

* KISS logo Iron-on

* KISS Army Sticker

* "Detroit Rock City" Bumper Sticker

* "Destroyer" Cover Sticker

* 11"x17" KISS on Westminster Bridge UK Poster

* 4 brand new 8"x10" Band Member Photos

* 8"x12" "Destroyer" Foil Flyer

* 8"x12" "Destroyer" Canadian Flyer (super rare)

* 4x Band Member Trading Cards (newly created for this boxset)

* 16"x24" KISS Over New York Skyline Poster

* 16"x24" KISS Halloween 1976 Concert Poster

* 2x 9"x12" "Destroyer" Tour Stage Blueprints on Transparent Vellum (never been seen before)

* 16-page "Destroyer" 1976 Tour Program

* Gotham Rock City News Volume 1 Newspaper that is a track-by-track interview with all 4 band members, Bob Ezrin and crew

* 68-page hardcover book with extensive liner notes by Paul Elliott and Ken Sharp featuring interviews from Gene, Paul, Ace, Peter, then-manager Bill Aucoin, album producer Bob Ezrin, and many more about the album's writing and production process, U.S. and European tours, photo shoots, promotional stories, band member memories from their TV appearance on "The Paul Lynde Halloween Special", and an intoxicating amount of unreleased photos and imagery

The entire contents are housed in a lift top- style box and features artist Ken Kelly's original "Destroyer" cover art, arguably one of the most iconic album covers in rock, making this the ultimate KISS "Destroyer" souvenir.

Super Deluxe track listing:

Disc One:

Destroyer: Original Album Remastered

01. Detroit Rock City

02. King Of The Night Time World

03. God Of Thunder

04. Great Expectations

05. Flaming Youth

06. Sweet Pain

07. Shout It Out Loud

08. Beth

09. Do You Love Me?

Disc Two

"Destroyer"-Era Demos

Paul Stanley demos

01. Doncha Hesitate

02. God Of Thunder And Rock And Roll

03. It's The Fire*

04. Detroit Rock City*

05. Love Is Alright*

Gene Simmons demos

06. Bad, Bad Lovin'

07. Man Of A Thousand Faces

08. I Don't Want No Romance*

09. Burnin' Up With Fever*

10. Rock N' Rolls Royce*

11. Mad Dog

12. Night Boy*

13. Star*

14. Howlin' For Your Love*

15. True Confessions

Disc Three

Destroyer: Outtakes, Alternate Versions / Mixes, Single Edits

01. Beth (Acoustic Mix)*

02. Shout It Out Loud (Single Edit)

03. Flaming Youth (Single Edit)

04. Detroit Rock City (Single Edit)

05. Shout It Out Loud (Mono Single Edit)

06. Flaming Youth (Mono Single Edit)

07. Detroit Rock City (Mono Single Edit)

08. Beth (Mono)

09. King Of The Night Time World (Live Rehearsal Instrumental)*

10. Do You Love Me? (Mono Instrumental)*

11. God Of Thunder (Early Instrumental Mix)*

12. Ain't None Of Your Business (Instrumental)*

13. Detroit Rock City (Instrumental)*

14. King Of The Night Time World (Alternate Mix)*

15. Great Expectations (Early Version)*

16. Flaming Youth (Early Version)*

17. Do You Love Me? (Early Version)*

18. Shout It Out Loud (Alternate Mix)*

19. Ain't None Of Your Business (Outtake)*

20. Beth (Take 6 – Instrumental)*

21. Beth (Instrumental)*

22. Do You Love Me? (Alternate Mix)*

Disc Four

Live In Paris - L'Olympia - May 22, 1976*

01. Deuce

02. Strutter

03. Flaming Youth

04. Hotter Than Hell

05. Firehouse

06. She / Ace Frehley Guitar Solo

07. Nothin' To Lose

08. Shout It Out Loud / Gene Simmons Bass Solo

09. 100,000 Years / Peter Criss Drum Solo

10. Black Diamond

11. Detroit Rock City

12. Rock And Roll All Nite

Blu-ray audio:

"Destroyer": *Dolby Atmos 48kHz 24-bit, *Dolby True HD 5.1 96kHz 24-bit,

DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 96kHz 24-bit, PCM Stereo 96kHz 24-bit

01. Detroit Rock City

02. King Of The Night Time World

03. God Of Thunder

04. Great Expectations

05. Flaming Youth

06. Sweet Pain

07. Shout It Out Loud

08. Beth

09. Do You Love Me?

Bonus Tracks:

10. Beth (Acoustic)

11. Sweet Pain (Original Guitar Solo)

* Previously unreleased

Deluxe Edition 2CD track listing:

Disc One

"Destroyer": Original Album Remastered

01. Detroit Rock City

02. King Of The Night Time World

03. God Of Thunder

04. Great Expectations

05. Flaming Youth

06. Sweet Pain

07. Shout It Out Loud

08. Beth

09. Do You Love Me?

Disc Two

Paul Stanley demos

01. God Of Thunder And Rock And Roll

02. Detroit Rock City*

03. Love Is Alright*

Gene Simmons demos

04. I Don't Want No Romance*

05. Rock N' Rolls Royce*

06. Star*

Rarities

07. Beth (Acoustic Mix)*

08. Shout It Out Loud (Mono Single Edit)

09. King Of The Night Time World (Live Rehearsal Instrumental)*

10. Detroit Rock City (Instrumental)*

11. Flaming Youth (Early Version)*

12. Shout It Out Loud (Alternate Mix)*

Live In Paris - L'Olympia - May 22, 1976*

13. Deuce

14. Strutter

15. Flaming Youth

16. Hotter Than Hell

*Previously Unreleased

Deluxe Edition 2LP track listing:

LP One

"Destroyer": Original Album Remastered

Side One

01. Detroit Rock City

02. King Of The Night Time World

03. God Of Thunder

04. Great Expectations

Side Two

01. Flaming Youth

02. Sweet Pain

03. Shout It Out Loud

04. Beth

05. Do You Love Me?

LP Two

Side Three

Paul Stanley demos

01. God Of Thunder And Rock And Roll

02. Detroit Rock City*

03. Love Is Alright*

Gene Simmons demos

04. I Don't Want No Romance*

05. Rock N' Rolls Royce*

06. Star*

Side Four

Rarities

01. Beth (Acoustic Mix)*

02. Shout It Out Loud (Mono Single Edit)

03. King Of The Night Time World (Live Rehearsal Instrumental)*

04. Detroit Rock City (Instrumental)*

05. Flaming Youth (Early Version)*

06. Shout It Out Loud (Alternate Mix)*

*Previously Unreleased

Dolby Atmos - streaming

"Destroyer": *Dolby Atmos 48kHz 24-bit

01. Detroit Rock City

02. King Of The Night Time World

03. God Of Thunder

04. Great Expectations

05. Flaming Youth

06. Sweet Pain

07. Shout It Out Loud

08. Beth

09. Do You Love Me?

Bonus Tracks:

10. Beth (Acoustic Mix)

11. Sweet Pain (Original Guitar Solo)

* Previously unreleased

Despite being arguably Brazil’s biggest ever music export, when extreme metal legends Sepultura lost their original frontman and founder (alongside brother and drummer Iggor Cavalera) Max Cavalera in 1996 after their hugely influential Roots album, many thought the band would not recover from his departure. However, in Cleveland, Ohio punk and hardcore scene veteran Derrick Green, Sepultura found a formidable, towering force that would lead the band with power and conviction through this new era of their career.


Sepulnation - The Studio Albums 1998 - 2009, released through BMG on October 22, celebrates the bands seconds phase, and this five-album boxset (across eight slabs of vinyl or five CDs) contains the albums; Against, Nation, Roorback, Dante XXI and A-Lex, all of which are half speed cut, remastered and back on 180g vinyl for the first time in a decade and also as a collector’s CD box.  


In addition, the Roorback album features the rare Revolusongs EP, which is available for the first time digitally and saw the band celebrate their influences with covers of bands as musically broad as Devo, Exodus, U2 and Massive Attack.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



You can watch an unboxing video below:





Any fans who feared that this new lineup of Sepultura would see the band taming their intense and heavy approach were not left disappointed when Against came out of the traps in 1998. With the powerhouse that is Iggor Cavalera still on drums (he remained for four of the five albums), Andreas Kisser’s grinding guitars and bassist Paula Jr’s heavy bottom end powered behind Derrick Green’s guttural roar and Sepultura sounded heavier and more forceful than ever. This period would see the band continue to push their sound forward and challenge new sounds and styles, but they never lost sight of what was the core of the band. The righteous, rebellious nature remained with the 1998 album Nation calling for ‘one nation, Sepulnation,’ – a rallying cry that stayed with the band throughout their long and challenging career.


Sepulnation - The Studio Albums 1998 - 2009 brings the focus back on a period of the band that may have been missed by early supporters and shows that the fire continued to burn bright throughout.


“It’s an honor and privilege to be a part of Sepultura's history,” states frontman Derrick Green. “I’m proud of all the work we have done together and it only makes sense to have this box set format released for the fans to have the complete history of Sepultura. Long live the Sepulnation!”


Pre-order here.








Sepulnation - The Studio Albums 1998 - 2009 tracklisting:


Against:


Side A
"Against"
"Choke"
"Rumors"
"Old Earth"
"Floaters in Mud"
"Boycott"
"Tribus"
"Common Bonds"


Side B
"F.O.E."
"Reza"
"Unconscious"
"Kamaitachi"
"Drowned Out"
"Hatred Aside"
"T3rcermillennium"


Nation:


Side A
"Sepulnation"
"Revolt"
"Border Wars"
"One Man Army"


Side B
"Vox Populi"
"The Ways of Faith"
"Uma Cura"
"Who Must Die?"


Side C
"Saga"
"Tribe to a Nation"
"Politricks"
"Human Cause"


Side D
"Reject"
"Water"
"Valtio"


Roorback (inc. Revolusongs – Disc 2):


Side A
"Come Back Alive"
"Godless"
"Apes of God"
"More of the Same"
"Urge"
"Corrupted"


Side B
"As It Is"
"Mind War"
"Leech"
"The Rift"
"Bottomed Out"
"Activist"
"Outro"


Side C
"Messiah"
"Angel"
"Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos"


Side D
"Mongoloid"
"Mountain Song"
"Bullet the Blue Sky"
"Piranha"


Dante XXI:


Side A
"Lost" (Intro)
"Dark Wood of Error"
"Convicted in Life"
"City of Dis"
"False"
"Fighting On"


Side B
"Limbo" (Intro)
"Ostia"
"Buried Words"

The 450’s first single and video, for the track “Flowers From Columbine”, has been released today. Watch the clip below.


“Flowers For Columbine” now is also available as digital single on all digital platforms, and the album, The 450s, will be released on November 19 via Louder Than Loud Records. Pre-order here.


Tales of decadence and despair are rendered with dark and edgy musicality in the provocatively titled songs “Flowers for Columbine” and “Lust and Denial.” Cleary, The 450s aren’t afraid to delve deep into the heart of darkness, either lyrically or in their modern take on soulful, raucous rock ‘n’ roll. Thankfully, some do get out alive, including frontman Rhett, who, like the other members of The 450s, is a musician with a storied history and prolific creativity.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



But past critical raves and credits—and there are many among this foursome—don’t necessarily translate into brutally honest, beautifully rendered rock songs, influenced by the ages, but sonically current. Musical chemistry is elusive, but this band of brothers— though only two, Robert and James Jacobs, are blood brothers—have been friends and sometime musical collaborators for decades despite living in Florida, Connecticut, Georgia and Pennsylvania. Each musician had their own project when they came together: Respected drummer and producer (Anthrax, Blue Cheer and more) Carl Canedy just released an album with his iconic band the Rods; the Jacobs’ found strong success with a 2019 release from their acclaimed band St. James; while Rhett, a veteran of major labels, was thriving as a solo artist, earning critical praise for his “ugly-beautiful, gutter- to-penthouse vocals.”


When the quartet got together in Miami, on a whim, the chemistry was effortless, the resultant songs so strong that they caught the ear of legendary producer Jack Douglas (Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith), who went the extra mile in mixing the album, highlighting The 450’s inherent musical tension and dynamics. Chris Collier (Korn, Prong) also worked on the mixing/production, helping to hone the “modern” part of The 450’s “modern vintage” vibe.


The result is songs with an immediacy and nakedness that’s so intense it’s almost scary. The bluesy flamenco spookiness of “One King” is hauntingly cinematic; while the addictive “Black Tar” mixes a raw power with a dramatic string section, courtesy of keyboard player Ryan Sambrook. The musical push-pull comes from their personalities, as they explain: “Carl is the foundation and Bobby is the bridge between Carl and the rest of the band.”


Jimmy, who cites “Jimmy Page’s arrangements and production abilities and David Gilmour’s precision,” among his influences, “brings the whole thing together musically.” And Rhett himself? He brings a reckless urgency vocally, observing, “This is the heaviest record I’ve ever done, yet it has subtleties, and I hope, at times, a pop sense. Lyrically, this album talks about the thin lines that differentiate where one ends up in life.”

Alien Weaponry have issued their sophomore release, Tangaroa, via Napalm Records. The band have also released a video for the third single from the album, "Hatupatu".


Performed entirely in the indigenous language of te reo Māori, the story behind this track is not only legendary in the band's culture – it's about one of the de Jong brothers' ancestors! Journey alongside Hatupatu in the new music video as he escapes the dangerous clutches of the fabled witch of the forest, the evil bird-woman Kurangaituku.


Drummer Henry de Jong says: "The story of 'Hatupatu' is one Lewis and I grew up with – our father was the first person to tell us as children. Having a family connection with it only made creating a song more intriguing for us. Traditionally, Māori legends were passed down through families by re-telling them, not by having them written down in books. It only makes sense for us to be re-telling this story as our tūpuna (ancestors) did for generations. We cannot wait to share with the rest of the world."


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});






Alien Weaponry are poised to dominate with Tangaroa. The album coalesces the band’s growing maturation with an undisturbed songwriting process, resulting in their most inspired, honest and informed material yet. Tangaroa is immersed in important historical accounts and cultural heritage of the Māori people – in addition to lyrics written in te reo Māori, many tracks feature traditional instruments, called taonga puoro, providing the tracks their own warrior-like attitude. Rhythmic, dynamic album opener “Titokowaru” begins with determined rowing chants and depicts the tale of a famous war chief that challenged the colonial government in New Zealand and led a rebel army, backed by quick riffage and driving drums. Following standout “Hatupatu”, inspired by the harrowing, legendary tale of a de Jong ancestor facing off with a witch, is carried by frenzied guitars, spirited chanting and tribal-like percussion. While Alien Weaponry sourced inspiration from their culture and environmental surroundings while writing most of Tangaroa, the band also looked inward – drawing vision for other portions of the album from within. The album dives into some of their most effecting personal experiences, with English-language songs like the pensive “Unforgiving”.


Order the new album here.





Tangaroa tracklisting:


Titokowaru“
“Hatupatu“
“Ahi Kā“
“Tangaroa“
“Unforgiving“
“Blinded“
“Kai Whatu“
“Crooked Monsters“
“Buried Underground“
“Dad“
“Īhenga“
“Down The Rabbit Hole“


“Buried Undergr

Extreme industrial metal pioneers, Fear Factory, released their tenth studio album, Aggression Continuum on June 18 via Nuclear Blast. Today, the band releases the fully instrumental version of that recording entitled, Aggression Continuum: The Instrumentals, which is exclusively available for download and streaming. Listen & download the instrumental album here.





Aggression Continuum features guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder Dino Cazares; drummer Mike Heller; and former vocalist, lyricist, and co-founder Burton C. Bell. It was produced and engineered by Damien Rainaud, with keyboards by Igor Khoroshev, and programming on two songs from longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber. The album also features additional keyboards handled by Max Karon and Giuseppe Bassi.


window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-rec-reel-3n4-a',
container: 'taboola-mid-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Mid Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});



Aggression Continuum was mixed by A-list rock and metal producer Andy Sneap, who also mixed the album’s critically-acclaimed predecessor, Genexus. The artwork for the album was created by Francesco Artusato.





Aggression Continuum tracklisting:


"Re

Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing, who officially left the group in 2011, said that there was talk, around a decade ago, of him continuing to collaborate with some of his former bandmates on other projects.

"Not many people know that, but [PRIEST singer] Rob [Halford] and his manager sent me a letter after I walked out asking me to join a band with Rob," Downing said during an appearance this past Tuesday (September 21) on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Rob was gonna come back to England and he wanted to come and see me about forming a band with three guitar players — with me, Roy Z and Jeff Loomis [ARCH ENEMY, NEVERMORE] — with a very good drummer and bass player. But I ignored the letter; I didn't see Rob… This was March [or] April 2011."

K.K. first revealed Rob's intention to form a side project with Downing this past June in an interview with Rock Hard Greece. At the time, he said: "A couple of weeks after I walked out, Rob and his manager wrote me a letter. They wanted me to form a band with Rob and some other musicians. Jeff Loomis was one. I can't remember the names. But I've got the e-mail… I just ignored it."

Asked what he thinks led Rob to approach Downing about forming a new band, K.K. told Rock Hard Greece: "You have to ask him. No one asks them questions. No journalist asks the other guys questions."

Downing left PRIEST amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Last year, Downing announced the formation of KK'S PRIEST, in which he is joined by former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

KK'S PRIEST's debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", will be released on October 1 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records

RUSH bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee will release a memoir in the fall of 2022. The book will be edited Noah Eaker and made available via HarperCollins.

Lee shared the news of his memoir in an Instagram post earlier today (Tuesday, September 21). He wrote: "So, how did I kill time during the pandemic? Little did I know that as of March 2020 I'd be locked down for over a year and a half—the longest time I'd spent in Toronto since I was nineteen and hit the Northern Ontario bar circuit with RUSH.

"Although [my wife] Nancy and I had to cancel a bunch of adventures we'd been planning, there were some shiny silver linings to be found at home: teaching my grandson the finer points of baseball and birdwatching, tending to my pups (one of whom was quite ill) and spending the evenings with my lovely better half, glass of Armagnac in hand, as we watched every European mystery show ever produced. Oh, and another thing: I began to write. Words, that is.

"My friend and collaborator on the 'Big Beautiful Book Of Bass', Daniel Richler, saw how I was struggling in the aftermath of [RUSH drummer] Neil's [Peart] passing, and tried coaxing me out of my blues with some funny tales from his youth, daring me to share my own in return. So I did—reluctantly at first, but then remembering, oh yeah, I like wrestling with words. It's a less physical version of arguing with musical notes, without a Ricky doubleneck breaking my back! And soon my baby-step stories were becoming grownup chapters. Being the nuclear obsessive that I am, I'd write and re-write them, reassessing perspectives in the narrative not just by scouring my memory banks but my diaries and piles of photo albums too. I was piecing together a mystery of a different kind.

"I'd then send these improved and even illustrated stories to Daniel, who'd clean up some of the grammar and remove a lot of the swearing (I love to fucking swear), and presto! In a voice that sounded, well, just like me, a presentable, epic-length account of my life on and off the stage was taking shape: my childhood, my family, the story of my parents' survival, my travels and all sorts of nonsense I've spent too much time obsessing over. And Daniel said, 'I think you're writing a book. An actual memoir, in fact.' To which I replied, 'Hmm… I guess I am.'

"I'm rounding third on this as-of-yet untitled memoir, which will be published by HarperCollins, edited by Noah Eaker, and is scheduled for release in Fall 2022."

Earlier this month, Lee was honored with a solo Lifetime Achievement Award at the Artists For Peace And Justice (APJ) gala in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lee was recognized for his "commitment to philanthropy," including his support of brain cancer research, Toronto Food Bank, Alberta Floods, Doctors Without Borders, Grapes For Humanity, United Way, Canadian Museum For Human Rights and Casey House.

Lee recently appeared on Dave Grohl and his mother Virginia Hanlon's series "From Cradle To Stage", where he spoke about growing up the son of Holocaust survivors with his late mother, Mary Weinrib.
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Geddy Lee (@geddyimages)

Jack Starr, Ned Meloni and all the members of Burning Starr have announced that, moving forward, Giles Lavery will now be their manager.


A message states: "We have known Giles for quite some time and have been impressed with him as a person and his work with the many bands he represents (Impellitteri, Girlschool, Alcatrazz, The Rods, Onslaught, David Reece, A-Z (Ray Alder & Mark Zonder), and the newly launched supergroup Iron Allies to name a few. His previous work re-energizing the career of Graham Bonnet was something I personally saw develop over a 6 year period, and with all this he still finds time to be a panelist on the The Metal Voice where his opinions on metal are highly respected. He is also co-owner of Louder Than Loud Records with our good friend Carl Canedy.


"In various capacities Giles has worked with and travelled the globe with many legendary musicians such as Michael Sch

Tim "Ripper" Owens says that there is no competition between his former band JUDAS PRIEST and his new group KK'S PRIEST, in which he is joined by another ex-JUDAS PRIEST member, guitarist Kenneth "K.K." Downing. "I don't think we look at it [like that]," he told The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn in a new interview (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "There's one JUDAS PRIEST. They're JUDAS PRIEST. If [K.K. and I] wanted to take that angle, we would have called [our new band] KK'S JUDAS PRIEST. But I think fans are happy 'cause they know they do have two things that are the same vein, and they have K.K. back. I went nowhere — I've been putting music out like crazy — but they have Ken and I back together again. So there's no competition. I mean, how awesome would it be if we do shows with them? I don't care. I really don't. I love the guys in PRIEST. Rob's [Halford, PRIEST singer] my idol. And Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist] and I are friends. But this isn't a competition. We're not trying to make it a competition or another JUDAS PRIEST. That's why we put an album out first; that was the difference. If we were trying to make it that, we would start touring right away, doing the back catalog."

Asked if KK'S PRIEST is really open to touring with JUDAS PRIEST, Tim said: "I'm open to anything. I've never burned bridges. From the sounds of it, it's never gonna happen. 'Cause it never happened with me. I tried to get BEYOND FEAR to support JUDAS PRIEST on tour. Wendy Dio was my manager, and they were, like, 'Absolutely not. You're not gonna support us.' But we're all friends. I mean, I'm speaking for me — I'm not speaking for Ken. But, yeah, listen, I always look at it as how much fans would love stuff. How cool would it be if that happened?"

Downing left PRIEST amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

KK'S PRIEST also includes guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

KK'S PRIEST's debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", will be released on October 1 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.