In a new interview with Tommy London, host of SiriusXM's Classic Rewind, original FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm reflected on his decision to leave the band more than two decades ago. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "In the late '90s, early 2000s, Mick [Jones, FOREIGNER guitarist and main songwriter] and I began writing. And we put some really, really good ideas together… I think we had about seven songs complete. And we were hoping to finish with about three or four more songs and put out a new FOREIGNER album, which there hadn't been a new FOREIGNER album in over a decade. We were also touring. We were playing something called 'Night Of The Proms' [in October 2002]. It was done in Brussels, Belgium, and they had a huge indoor tennis arena where there could be four games of tennis going on at once. It held 80,000 people. And after that series of shows, I left the band…. I just had enough."

Elaborating on the tension between him and Jones that led to his departure from FOREIGNER, Lou said: "[Mick is] the founder of the band, he's the leader of the band, but he wasn't necessarily doing the job the way he used to do it, and he was suppressing a lot of my creativity. 'Just sing your parts, Lou.' And after contributing to just about every hit song that the band had released in 20-some years, to be reduced to just a non-creative part, just the singer, didn't sit well with me. So, after that 'Night Of The Proms', we all flew back to the States [and] I informed the management that I was leaving the band. [They said], 'Why? What could be wrong? Everything's going so good.' I said, 'It's not going good.' I said, 'I'm being shut out creatively, which is extremely important to me.' I said, 'I'm not just a singer. I'm a songwriter.' I said, 'And I always have been, even before FOREIGNER.' So I left the band. And I've never had any regrets about it since."

Gramm was the voice on FOREIGNER's biggest hits, including "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" from the band's eponymous debut in 1977, and later songs like "Hot Blooded" and "I Want to Know What Love Is".

The 74-year-old Gramm left FOREIGNER for good in 2002 and has battled health issues in recent years, including the removal of a non-cancerous tumor. He told the Democrat & Chronicle in 2018 that he was planning to retire, but still reunited with FOREIGNER for several shows that year to celebrate the band's 40th anniversary.

FOREIGNER replaced Gramm with Kelly Hansen in 2005. Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012.

This past February, Jones revealed on social media that he was battling Parkinson's disease, which explained his absence from FOREIGNER's live shows since 2022.

Gramm and Jones's June 2013 performance of "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Juke Box Hero" at the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in New York City marked the first time the pair performed together in a decade after Gramm left FOREIGNER for a second time. Hansen has fronted the group for the past 18 years.

In October 2023, Gramm once again said that greed was the reason he wasn't listed as one of the songwriters for FOREIGNER's's smash hit song "I Want To Know What Love Is". The power ballad, which is credited solely to Jones, was released in November 1984 as the lead single from the group's fifth album, "Agent Provocateur".

Gramm discussed his supposed lack of contribution to the track during an interview with Justin Young of Monsters, Madness And Magic. Speaking about his involvement with the songwriting process on "Agent Provocateur", he said: " For me, the sticking points were when we started writing songs. Nine out of 10 ideas that Mick showed me, he was playing keyboard and they were midtempo, somewhat rock songs — not heavy or anything. They were nice, they were good songs and the music was nice, but it wasn't dynamic in any stretch of the imagination the way FOREIGNER '4' was. And then, then there was 'I Want To Know What Love Is'. He played me the idea for that song and I liked it. And I was not a ballad guy, but that song was very special. And we worked on that song. He had a house about 20 minutes from my house, so I was over his house at least five out of seven nights a week having dinner and working till one or two in the morning with him on that song specifically. And we would just hit creative dead ends and walk away from it frustrated. But we kept plugging away, and we ended up getting the body of the song correct, and the chorus, lyrics and melody the way we wanted it, and we were set to go in and record it. Mick had a friend, a young black guy, who he knew from years ago, and he heard the song and told Mick that he had been working for a gospel label the past few years. And he says, 'I know what the song needs.' He says, 'It needs a gospel choir in the choruses.' And Mick kind of was taken aback and he thought about it and he goes, 'You could be right.' And his friend says, 'I have just the choir for you. It's New Jersey Mass Choir.' He says, 'They've had hits on their own in the gospel charts.' So on the day that they came down to sing the choruses, I was in one studio next door to where they were — just myself and an engineer. I was singing the lead vocal to the song, which hadn't been done yet. So Mick was consumed with the choir and making sure that that they sounded the way they should, and I was in the next studio over singing the lead vocal. Usually when I would sing the lead vocal, Mick wouldn't be more than three feet away from me offering suggestions, little criticisms and making sure it came out the way he wanted it. When I walked in there to sing that lead vocal, I didn't see him for four hours. And when I saw him, I handed him the tape and I said, 'I'm done'. And he looked at me, like, 'What do you mean you're done? I haven't even heard it yet.' He didn't say that, but then with the gospel choir there in front of the mics, he played my version with my lead vocals on it and my vocals on the chorus too. And the choir sang along with the choruses. And I got goosebumps and chills all over my body. And I looked over at Mick, and he was crying."

Elaborating on the disagreement over songwriting credits for "I Want To Know What Love Is", Gramm continued: "When we were recording that album, at the end of completion of every song, Mick and I would sit down at a table, and on a little piece of paper we would write out what we thought the split was for the song between the two of us as writers, and we'd done that from album one. So, like, 'Hot Blooded' was 50-50, 'Double Vision' was 60 for Mick, 40 for me. And other songs had different, different splits. And I wrote 60 for Mick, 40 for me, and I slid that piece of paper over to him, and he slid one over to me. So I saw him look at my piece of paper, and he didn't smile or anything; he had stone face on. And I picked up my piece of paper. You know what he had on it? 95-5 for him. We had worked on that song since it was just a little tiny idea for weeks and weeks and weeks until it became a song. I was involved in the melody, in the arrangement of the song, and plus I sang the ad-libs and I sang the hell out of the song. And his best offer was 95-5. I was insulted, I was angry and I knew right away why it was. Because he knew that song was gonna be Number One and he wanted it all for himself. But he would sacrifice five percent. I tore the piece of paper up and I says, 'Mick, I know why you're doing this.' I says, 'You want the song for yourself, so it just says 'Jones' under writers.' I says, 'You do that.' I said, 'I don't want any part of it.' So he did. The song went to Number One. The song itself sold millions — millions and millions of songs. I think it went two and a half times platinum just for the single. It was immediately re-recorded by Wynonna Judd. She re-recorded it and had a worldwide hit with it. So it was a Number One hit for three other artists. He made millions and millions of dollars off just that song. I didn't see a nickel."

In the latest edition of My Weekly Mixtape, blues guitar legend Joe Bonamassa dives into the stories behind the songs from throughout his entire discography. He also discusses his collection of over 650 vintage guitars, his approach to cover-songs such as "Sloe Gin" (originally written by Bob Ezrin & recorded by actor & singer Tim Curry) and "Prisoner" (originally recorded by Barbara Stresiand); his latest release Live At The Hollywood Bowl w/ Orchestra, his release of "Better The Devil You Know" (a song he co-wrote with Journey’s Jonathan Cain) to celebrate the 10 year anniversary of his Different Shades Of Blue album, and more.


On His Next Studio Album


Bonamassa: "The world doesn't need another Joe Bonamassa record right away. So we got the Hollywood Bowl. We had Blues Deluxe last year. We'll put out some singles this year, or maybe next year, and then we'll just see. I mean, I don't know how many albums I have left.




I mean, it's like how many... I'm not even sure if the album format is going to be relevant in 10 years, it's like, who's making CDs? Who has a CD player? I'm on a tour bus... a music tour bus. There's no CD player in here. You don't even have them in the new cars, so the concept of a 12 song, 59 min record, I'm seeing it become less and less relevant. I think we're back to A and B-side singles, because even the general notion, when you're dealing with a streaming kind of business, you're releasing 10 of the 11 songs anyway, before the album comes out to keep the algorithm or whatever the Spotify thing is. And so you're basically just churning out singles. And then the 12th song or the 11th song is your... that is a full length album. But like, who cares at that point? They've heard most of it. And you're gonna dump the junk at the end. And you're gonna put the good songs first, I mean that's just how it's gonna work. So I don't know. I don't know when the next one is."


On Retiring From Music


Bonamassa: "I don't have many years left in this thing. I'd like maybe a decade before I just retire. I've done this 36 years. We're taking this thing up to, maybe a 45 year career, and that's great enough. You know, let me go enjoy my life and not work every single day. And everybody goes 'No, you're still a young man. You can go for another 35, 40 years.' That's not me. That is not gonna happen. There's only so many pitches in this arm and use them wisely from here on out."


Check out the interview below or via Spotify here.


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Coming off a whirlwind return to the Sunset Strip with three historic club shows last month, an EP release, and a 2025 Las Vegas residency announcement, legendary rockers MÖTLEY CRÜE confirmed today that they have raised $350,000 for Covenant House.

With the help of fans and partners, the band generated the funds through their new philanthropic endeavor, the Mötley Crüe Give Back Initiative — a moniker under which they will partner with different non-profit organizations near and dear to their hearts moving forward.

An exclusive charity dinner at the legendary Rainbow Bar & Grill in Los Angeles and a Charity Buzz/Definitive Authentic auction of ultra-rare collectible items from MÖTLEY CRÜE's sold-out "Höllywood Takeöver" helped the band to surpass their original donation goal of $250,000 by $100,000, directly supporting Covenant House — providing immediate and long-term support for young people facing homelessness and survivors of trafficking.

"MÖTLEY CRÜE has supported Covenant House for close to 20 years, quietly supporting young people in need for decades," Covenant House CEO Bill Bedrossian explains. "But this past month of concerts, auctions, and the charity dinner showed that Crüeheads all over the world care deeply about young people experiencing homelessness, too. The generosity shown by the band and their supporters will enable so many more young people to have the opportunity to be safe, supported, and to pursue their dreams. What an incredible legacy for the CRÜE!"

The members of MÖTLEY CRÜE added in a shared statement: "Every young person deserves a safe place to sleep and the opportunity to thrive. It's been an honor to support Covenant House in the fight to end youth homelessness. Thank you to all the Crüeheads who joined the fight and helped make this donation possible. We are humbled and inspired by all of you."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's debut Big Machine EP, "Cancelled", is out now on all platforms ahead of their 2025 Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live, March 28 - April 19. For tickets and more information, including a pre-order for the band's new 35th anniversary, limited-edition "Dr. Feelgood" box set, visit motley.com.

Watch the brand-new visualizer for MÖTLEY CRÜE's latest single, "Cancelled", out today via YouTube below.

The three-song "Cancelled" EP contains the title track, MÖTLEY CRÜE's cover version of the BEASTIE BOYS classic "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" and "Dogs Of War", which was made available in April. All three songs were recorded in April 2023 with longtime producer Bob Rock.

"It was really great getting in the studio and working on some tracks together," MÖTLEY CRÜE offered in a joint statement. "What started out as a couple demo ideas turned into this EP produced by Bob Rock. We look forward to getting back into the studio again soon and writing more new music, as well."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's version of "Fight For Your Right" has quickly become a fan favorite since the band first debuted the song live during their secret 2023 club show at The Underworld in London, U.K. At its premiere, 450 lucky, sweat-drenched fans who came out to see a band advertised as DÖGS OF WAR got the surprise of a lifetime when MÖTLEY CRÜE took the stage with the BEASTIE BOYS classic in their set list.

The veil of speculation surrounding the DÖGS OF WAR pseudonym was finally lifted when the band released their first new single since 2019 by the "Dogs Of War" name in the spring of 2024. "Dogs Of War" subsequently became a Top 5 Rock Radio hit, accompanied by a highly acclaimed music video by director Nick DenBoer. The cutting-edge visual, which is entirely CGI-based, features the members of MÖTLEY CRÜE navigating an exhilarating post-apocalyptic world.

"Cancelled" EP track listing:

01. Cancelled (Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, John Lowery)
02. Dogs Of War (Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, John Lowery)
03. Fight For Your Right (Adam Horovitz, Rick Rubin, Adam Yauch)

MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee told Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast last year that he and his bandmates felt inspired to write a song called "Cancelled" because they were surprised it never happened to them.

"There was this article that was like, 'How did MÖTLEY CRÜE ever not get cancelled?'" he said. "And we were like, 'Fuck, we've gotta write a song about that because we didn't ever get it.' We snuck in under the whatever threshold, wherever that was, where we got away with fucking murder."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's deal with Big Machine sees the band and the label working together again after making the 2014 project "Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe", which featured CRÜE tracks covered by country stars RASCAL FLATTS, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, Darius Rucker and more. Big Machine also partnered with MÖTLEY CRÜE's new guitarist John 5 for the release of his 2021 album "Sinner".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's last studio album was 2008's "Saints Of Los Angeles", which was followed by a 2009 "Greatest Hits" compilation.

In 2018, MÖTLEY CRÜE recorded four new songs for "The Dirt" movie, including the single "The Dirt (Est. 1981) (Feat. Machine Gun Kelly)", "Ride With The Devil", "Crash And Burn" and the band's own spin on Madonna's "Like A Virgin".

John 5 joined MÖTLEY CRÜE in the fall of 2022 as the replacement for the band's co-founding guitarist Mick Mars. Mick announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 as a result of worsening health issues.

In a recent interview with Janne Innanfors of the Swedish radio station Rockklassiker, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx stated about the mixed response to "Dogs Of War" from the band's fans: "We like the fact that there was kind of a knee-jerk reaction, because at least people were listening. It's a very strange time now where, whether it's a news cycle or socials, everybody has turned into a critic. And I always say, they've never erected a statue of a critic. It's never happened, right? It's always the artist. But now everybody's a critic. So within a short amount of time, we get, 'We love it.' 'We hate it.' 'You're over.' 'You've reinvented yourself.' 'It sounds like 'Shout At The Devil'. 'It sucks.' And we just kind of sit there and go, 'That's cool, guys, but we didn't really ask for any input from you.' We're just artists writing music, and we're pretty cool. I'm happy with it. I like it."

During an appearance on SiriusXM Fight Nation's "Busted Open" show, Sixx discussed the musical direction of "Dogs Of War", saying: "A lot of people said it's a different sound, but I'll be honest with you, I don't necessarily agree with that. If you listen to the verses, they're very similar to a lot of stuff that we've done — that simple, grinding thing with those almost CHEAP TRICK melodies. And the riff, I mean, it could be off of 'Dr. Feelgood'. So I don't really feel like it's that different. I think what's different for people is that when we were working on the song, Tommy [Lee, CRÜE drummer] had the idea to just let the bottom fall out in the verses, which is not really what we do. We usually go for it, and [it's] really unique for Vince [Neil, CRÜE singer]."

Vince chimed in: "I don't ever sing like that. But it works in the song." He added that "Dogs Of War" "was very easy to sing."

Nikki elaborated on the CRÜE songwriting process, saying: "I think what we do together is we all kind of know each other so well, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses. And for me as a lyricist, I'm always thinking about Vince and his tempo as I write. So it's not like out of the wheelhouse, but it's nice to know each other so well, if that makes sense."

When "Dogs Of War" was first released, Neil described the track as "like old school meets new school. It's got that old-school vibe about it, but it's new music. Nikki came up with it and he sent me the music and I thought it was really cool. So I started singing it and we got in the studio and it turned into the song I think the fans are really gonna like it."

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

In a new interview with Belgian Jasper, DELAIN keyboardist, founder and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt spoke about the Dutch band's musical and personal evolution, nearly four years after he announced the dissolution of DELAIN's previous lineup. Regarding the pressures of delivering high-quality performances at some of Europe's biggest rock and metal festivals while introducing a largely new lineup, Martijn said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The name is there, but some people are new to the job. And expectations are not less; they're even more. So, you have to deliver. And so I was constantly kind of on the mode of, 'How is it going?' And I also consider that part of my job, to make sure that everything is, quality-wise, how we want it to be, people are happy, things are working well. So constantly you're in that mode of evaluating, but because you're constantly in the mode of evaluating, in a way you are not, if you know what I mean.

"I just came back from almost four-week road trip in the U.S.," he continued. "I wanted that for years already, starting in New England and then ending up in Florida in the end… But that gave me the time to really take a step back and see, 'So what has been accomplished and where are we?' And I have to say that I'm really grateful for where we are, because it's, yeah, quite something, the developments that happened in the last two and a half years, when you have this big lineup change and you have to play those big festivals — Graspop [Metal Meeting], Wacken [Open Air], Masters Of Rock, Summer Breeze, et cetera. But I think I'm really proud of everybody in the band, how they performed, and I'm grateful to the fans. [2023's] 'Dark Waters' as a music, as an album, has been received well. My aim was to show people, hey, the DELAIN sound is there, and it's called DELAIN still for a reason, because of the music that we make. And, yeah, I have the feeling that this is a mission accomplished. And, of course, there will be people that think differently, but there are also people that I focus on that are really enjoying it. And that's why you do it as well. Not only for your own enjoyment and what comes out of your heart, but also for the people that listen to your music. So I'm very grateful and happy."

On the topic of his working relationship with his current DELAIN bandmates — new additions Ludovico Cioffi on bass and Diana Leah on lead vocals, along with returning drummer Sander Zoer and original guitarist Ronald Landa — Martijn said:  "Well, of course you try to coach the new people with the experience that you have. And for myself, which is a different aspect, it's more of a team effort now, because in the past it was not so much a team effort. Charlotte [Wessels, former DELAIN singer] did a lot and I did a lot, and the last album, also, Timo [Somers, former DELAIN guitarist] was more involved, but that was only with the last album, really. So for the rest, I simply did so much that that was what was getting me into a burnout. And also missing the appreciation from people around me for everything that I did, because I'm only human and everybody needs some appreciation and doing something like DELAIN is very challenging. And, yeah, it's very important that you are supported as a human being. And now this happens way better because we — how do you say? — share the tasks way more. There's less on my plate and I can focus on what is my specialism, other people can focus on what they are good at, and I can focus more on making music, and that makes me really happy and grateful."

DELAIN's new EP, "Dance With The Devil", will be released on November 8 via Napalm Records. The effort features two brand new tracks — "Dance With The Devil" and "The Reaping" — two newly presented favorites, nine live performances, and two instrumental bonus tracks.

In a recent interview with Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio, Wessels was asked about the circumstances that led to her 2021 departure from the band. She said: "There was a conflict and we couldn't overcome it. That's a very short version of it. I've never really gone into detail about it, and I still don't really feel about going into detail about it. The thing that I will say is we spent a lot of time trying to work things out. We were already putting much energy in that before we kind of got to the conflict where it was hard to come back from. But, yeah, especially since the pandemic happened, we had no gigs. We had all the time in the world to think, like, 'Okay, what are we going to do? Will we be able to solve this?' And we took a very long time. And in the end, the answer was no. There was no solution that we could find where we would continue in that way. And a part of me — it's such a big part of my life, and I'm very happy, I'm very proud with what we did in that time. So it's frustrating to me that we couldn't work it out. The thing that kind of comforts me is the fact that we did take so much time to explore all the different possibilities, like, could we make this work? Yeah, I don't feel like there was really another option. So that's why."

Asked if she still keeps in touch with Martijn, Charlotte said: "I ran into him at one point, but there's been no contact otherwise. And I think right after it, there's been some contact here and there, but that was about it."

Back in September 2022, Wessels was asked by Spain's The Metal Circus TV how she feels about the fact that DELAIN made a comeback with a new lineup. Charlotte said: "I'm trying not to engage with it too much, honestly. I've seen positive responses about it, which I think is good. But I do try to keep some distance and just focus on what I'm doing rather than checking that out, because I still don't feel like that will make me happier per se."

In February 2021, Westerholt announced the dissolution of DELAIN's previous lineup. At the time, he explained: "For the last year or so, the collaboration within the band ceased to work as well as it once had. Some of us were no longer happy with the current roles in the band. We all tried very hard to find a solution for over a year, but sadly we were unable to find one. As a result, we will all be going our own ways and pursuing our own endeavors.

"I am very sad our cooperation has come to end, but at the same time I am very grateful for all the years we were able to work together. Together we toured the world, shared highs and lows, and met with many successes as well as times that pushed us to learn and grow. We all enjoyed meeting our fans and making new friends all over the globe."

At the time, Wessels said about her departure: "I know that you might have questions about the 'why' in all of this. I fully understand and respect that. Simply put, it is the sad conclusion of more than a year of trying to find solutions to built-up grievances. Part of me feels like I'm letting all of you down, I'd like you to know that this decision was not taken lightly and I apologize to those of you who had high hopes of seeing all of us together live on stage again after lockdown. Until recently, I thought this might still be in the cards for us as well."

The new DELAIN lineup made its official live debut in August 2022 at the Riverside festival in Aarburg, Switzerland.

Wessels's new solo album, "The Obsession", came out in September via Napalm Records.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe

In a new interview with Alma Hard, Dutch guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (WHITESNAKE) was asked why he took a decade-and-a-half break from recording music prior to the 2014 release of the debut album from his band VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I stayed together with David [Coverdale, WHITESNAKE leader] up until 1998, because we did tour — we toured in 1994 and we toured in 1997, '98. So, the end of 1998, David wanted to stop with everything because he wasn't feeling well and he wanted to stop touring because he didn't seem to enjoy it anymore. So, in 1999, I was with a girlfriend at the time and she got a baby. Or actually we got a baby, and she got pregnant and I thought, 'That's great. I wanna be there for that.' Of course, I didn't wanna tour and then record records because that's a very important thing. But when the baby was three years old, the relationship fell apart, and we weren't married. And it appeared to be a very difficult period. And I thought, 'If I'm gonna record now and start a band and start touring, then I will be one of those fathers who sticks his head around the corner of the door and goes, 'I'm your father, but I have to go.'' So when that relationship went wrong, I wanted to be an important part in the life of my daughter. I thought, 'You know what? I'm gonna live off my paintings for about 10, 11 years,' which is what I did, 'until she's old enough that I can explain to her what I actually do and what I did before.' So, when my daughter was about 11 or 12, she was old enough to explain and she thought it was really cool because there were kids at her school who go, 'Oh, is that your dad? He's famous and he's got long hair' and all that stuff. So before, until she was 11 or 12, for her it was totally normal that I played some guitar and there was painting and all that stuff. So, that's when I started MOONKINGS. She must have been 12 or something. And I really missed playing and touring and doing shows and all that stuff, so I was happy to pick it up again. And I thought, 'Well, the world will have forgotten about me, of course.' That would have been totally normal, because that's how it goes. Pop music is called pop music because people, when it started, with bands like THE BEATLES and pop artists and stuff in the '60s, people thought, 'Oh, you know, that's the kind of music you throw away. It's pop music, popular music. That's music you forget after about a couple of months.' But it's never gone away, fortunately, because that's why I didn't go away either. I'm still here."

Vandenberg was a member of WHITESNAKE for 13 years at the height of the band's fame, contributing the solo on "Here I Go Again". He was also part of supergroup MANIC EDEN, and more recently released a number of albums with VANDENBERG'S MOONKINGS.

Vandenberg's namesake band released its comeback album, titled "2020", in May 2020 via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group. A follow-up LP, "Sin", arrived in August 2023.

The group's fifth full-length offering, "Sin", was produced by Bob Marlette (OZZY OSBOURNE, ALICE COOPER, ROB ZOMBIE).

Recalling his refusal to return to WHITESNAKE when Coverdale resurrected the band in 2002, Vandenberg told "White Line Fever" that the singer "wanted to stop altogether because he was kind of worn out on the road. He didn't want to do it anymore… When he called me up and said he wanted to start it up again, I couldn't do it because I had all kinds of obligations for exhibitions for my paintings. And those are always planned a year ahead, because art galleries reserve the space a year ahead because exhibitions usually last three to six months or something. I couldn't do it but we did keep in touch always. We still do."

The guitarist added that he and Coverdale became "very good friends over the years, [so] you never know what might happen... We actually have pretty specific ideas about maybe doing a blues album or an acoustic thing or whatever… Sooner or later it might happen, but right now we're really involved in [other projects]. So this is probably not the time. But I wouldn't be surprised if, sooner or later, we end up doing something together in some kind of format. I was in WHITESNAKE for 13 years, which is quite a long time. I still hold the record, I think."

Photo credit: Neil A. Lim Sang (courtesy of Mascot Records / SKH Music)

Following the release of their latest studio album, Hail The Abyss (released in May 2023 via Napalm Records), blackened death metal frontrunners Thulcandra have announced their first-ever live album, celebrating the first chapter and early days of the band.


Live Demise was recorded live in 2011 at a hometown show in Munich, Germany, and features true gems that the band hasn't performed in more than a decade, all with the original lineup consisting of Sebastian Ludwig, Tobias Ludwig, Matthias Landes (Dark Fortress, Noneuclid) and Steffen Kummerer (Obscura, Death, Cynic).


Watch the Live Video for "Fallen Angel's Dominion" (Live) below:







Thulcandra’s rise to power ignited when the four-piece unleashed their debut album, Fallen Angel’s Dominion, upon metaldom in 2010. Followed by their 2011 masterpiece, Under a Frozen Sun, Live Demise contains brutal-as-hell classics from both records, like "Black Flags Of Hate", "In Blood And Fire" and "The Spirit Of The Night", aptly capturing the spirit and high-voltage energy of both the crowd and band. Ragers such as "Night Eternal" and "Fallen Angel's Dominion" perfectly showcase the band's raw and intense performances in their early days, and prove how Thulcandra has quickly stepped up as one of the leading bands of their genre.


Due to the pandemic, which was subsequently followed by their latest studio album, Hail The Abyss, Live Demise could not be released alongside Thulcandra's 20th anniversary as originally planned. Now, with mixing and mastering by Dan Swanö (Katatonia, Edge Of Sanity, Dissection) and cover artwork designed by Herbert Lochner, this very special release and retrospect of the first phase of the band will become available in only strictly limited editions exclusively via Napalm Records and at Thulcandra's upcoming live shows.


Pre-order Live Demise here.





Tracklisting:


"In The Realm Of Thousand Deaths"

David Coverdale, the powerful voice behind Whitesnake and former Deep Purple frontman, sees his solo work shine brightly in a new collection featuring remixed, remastered, and revisited versions of his solo albums Whitesnake (1977), NorthWinds (1978), and Into The Light (2000).


Into The Light: The Solo Albums is available through Rhino Records as a 6CD boxed set. It comes packaged in a hardcover box featuring a 60-page book with rare photos, detailed liner notes, and a new interview with Coverdale. The newly remixed version of Into The Light is also available separately as a double vinyl album presented in a gatefold sleeve.


"Yours For The Asking" (Official Video 2024 Remix) below:







The boxed set features two versions of Coverdale’s solo albums: one newly remixed to deliver a more dynamic sonic experience and a second remastered from the original recordings for those who want to revisit the classic sound. The remixed versions feature significant updates (particularly to Whitesnake and NorthWinds) and utilize cutting-edge audio separation software. The track "Time & Again" from NorthWinds benefited from innovative voice extraction technology, allowing for new string and piano arrangements that Coverdale has envisioned for decades.


Coverdale shares, “The remixes are modern, using new technology to squeeze the best out of them… Truly exciting to revisit and take care of any technical ‘issues’ I had with the tracks all those years ago.”


Into The Light, Coverdale’s third solo album, boasts an impressive musical lineup that includes guitarists Earl Slick (David Bowie) and Doug Bossi, bassist Marco Mendoza (who later joined Whitesnake), legendary drummer Denny Carmassi (Montrose, Whitesnake), and keyboardist Mike Finningan (Jimi Hendrix). The remixed version of the album expands the original with songs like "Let’s Talk It Over" and "All The Time In The World". The collection also offers additional remixes, demos, and outtakes from the album, including "With All Of My Heart". Coverdale wrote the song for his wife and considers it one of the best he’s ever written.


The set also revisits NorthWinds, and Whitesnake Coverdale’s first two solo albums recorded immediately after leaving Deep Purple. Both albums have been reimagined and re-sequenced for the upcoming collection. NorthWinds includes some new arrangements and additional tracks like "Sweet Mistreater" and "Shame The Devil, Tell The Truth", breathing new life into this classic. Whitesnake features impossible remixes thanks to AI sound separation softwares, courtesy of technology that has only been available in the last couple of years.


Order here.





6CD tracklisting:


CD1: Into The Light (Remix)
"She Give Me"
"River Song"
"Don’t You Cry"
"Love Is Blind"
"Slave"
"Cry For Love"
"Living On Love"
"Midnight Blue"
"Too Many Tears"
"Don’t Lie To Me"
"All The Time In The World"
"Wherever You May Go"
"Yours For The Asking"
"Let’s Talk It Over"


CD2: Into The Light (Additional Remixes)
"Love Is Blind" (Band Version)
"As Long As I Have You"
"With All Of My Heart"
"Wherever You May Go" (Strings Version)
"Love Is Blind" (Strings Version)


Demos & Unfinished Symphonies
"Lust"
"Oh No Not The Blues Again"
"Into The Light Intro"
"Into The Light"
"You Make It Hard On Me"
"Would You Be Happy"
"Fooling Yourself"
"Make The Best Of It"
"Veda of Cassandra Blues"
"I Can See The Light"
"Another Fallen Angel"
"Itchy Finger"


Original Demos 1997
"Crazy ’Bout Cha" (Original Version of "Whipping Boy Blues")
"If You Want Me"
"Lay Your Love On Me" (Original Version of "Lay Down Your Love")


CD3: NorthWinds (2024 Remix)
"Keep On Giving Me Love"
"Sweet Mistreater"
"NorthWinds"
"Give Me Kindness"
"Queen Of Hearts"
"Only My Soul"
"Time & Again" (String Version)
"Say You Love Me"
"Shame The Devil, Tell The Truth"
"Breakdown"
"Time & Again" (Piano Version)
"Time & Again" (Strings Only)


CD4: Whitesnake MCMLXXVII (2024 Remix)
"Lady"
"Blindman"
"Goldies Place"
"Time On My Side"
"Peace Lovin’ Man"
"Sunny Days"
"Hole In The Sky"
"WhiteSnake"
"Celebration"


Young Lad's Blues (DC’s 1968 Home Demos)
"Sunny Days" (Original)
"Love Me In The Morning"
"I Will Love You"
"Moment In Time"
"It Would Be Nice"
"There Was A Time"
"Why?"
"I Still Love You"


CD5: Into The Light (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"She Give Me"
"River Song"
"Don’t You Cry"
"Love Is Blind"
"Slave"
"Cry for Love"
"Living On Love"
"Midnight Blue"
"Too Many Tears"
"Don’t Lie To Me"
"Wherever You May Go"


CD6: Whitesnake (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"Lady"
"Blindman"
"Goldies Place"
"Time On My Side"
"Peace Lovin’ Man"
"Sunny Days"
"Hole In The Sky"
"Celebration"
"WhiteSnake"


NorthWinds (Original Mix 2024 Remaster)
"Keep On Giving Me Love"
"NorthWinds"
"Give Me Kindness"
"Time & Again"
"Queen Of Hearts"
"Only My Soul"
"Say You Love Me"
"Breakdown"


All tracks previously unreleased, except CD2 track 8, CD5 & CD6.

2022 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductees, Judas Priest, performed "You've Got Another Thing Coming," "Breaking The Law," and "Living After Midnight" at the ceremony on November 5, 2022 in Los Angeles, CA. The Rock Hall has shared the HD video below:





Alice Cooper inducts Judas Priest:







Judas Priest acceptance speeches:





Judas Priest have a

Kings Of Mercia recently released their sophomore album, Battle Scars, via Metal Blade Records. In the new video below, bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint) performs the album opener, "Guns And Ammunition":





Kings Of Mercia's 2022 approachable, world-class self-titled debut was termed "truly a hybrid: it's heavy, but not metal. It's got tones of melodic AOR hard rock but with an edge." Now, 2024 brings the band's sophomore album written and recorded throughout 2023, Battle Scars sees the core writing team of Matheos and Overland expanding on their obvious chemistry.




"I think it was a bit easier this time around because we've established a good working rhythm," states Matheos, "I'll send Steve at least a few songs every couple of months, and I try to keep them varied. This allows him to work on whichever ones he feels strongly about."


"What Jim sends me is the first draft of that song," says Overland. "So once he's heard all the melodies and the harmonies I sing, he can chop it about and make it how he thinks it should be. He always sends me three or four different versions. He'll say, 'What do you think? Which do you like?' Then we work it out between us and come up with the one we're both happy with."


"Steve and I started working together in 2021," says Matheos. "I was aware of FM-they came up around the same time as Fates Warning - but I'd lost touch with them and wasn't familiar with their more recent work. When Steve was recommended to me, I checked out some of the newer releases and felt Steve was exactly what I was looking for."


"It's a different genre of music that I'm normally involved in," says Overland, whose voice has been likened to other British greats Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes. "Obviously, I'd heard of Fates Warning - they're a very big cult band in their field. Jim and I touched base, and I told him to send me one backing track. If it sounds great, then it's a win-win. If it doesn't, we'll just call it a day, knock it on the head, not take it any further. That song became 'Humankind' from the first album. I wrote the melodies and the title and put it all together. Jim got it and he was blown away. So we made a couple more. I loved doing it. It was just such a different challenge for me."


Those songs would become the self-titled debut album, which was released in 2022. Written during lockdown, bouncing tracks across the Atlantic, Kings Of Mercia found its mojo. Fans of Fates Warning, FM, and Armored Saint all rejoiced at the common ground on Kings Of Mercia, the sweet spot in the middle of the Venn diagram.


It's a true collaboration that has led to KOM's Battle Scars. However, despite the unfolding sound and clear chemistry between the four Kings, Overland has never met his bandmates in person. 'Battle Scars,' like its predecessor, is a slab of transatlantic magic.


Order Battle Scars here.





Battle Scars tracklisting:


"Guns And Ammunition"
"Eye For An Eye"
"Between Two Worlds"
"Legend"
"Battle Scars"
"Don't Ask"
"Aftermath"
"Hell 'N' Back"
"Cold"
"Angels & Demons"


"Battle Scars" video:

Heart's Ann Wilson has shared the video below, in which she and her band, Tripsitter, perform Heart's "Even It Up". The clip is listed from PBS's "Ann Wilson & Tripsitter - Live In Concert", streaming now wherever you get your music.





Heart recently announced the support acts for their 2025 Royal Flush Tour. Squeeze, Cheap Trick, and Lucinda Williams will join Heart on the North American tour on select dates.




Ann Wilson said, "Each of these acts can totally bring it all on their own. It's an honor for us to be hitting the road with them next year. I'm especially thrilled to be doing a few gigs with my dear friend Lucinda. We've wanted to tour together for years!"


Nancy Wilson added, "This tour promises to be super fun. Traveling with the likes of the ever-fabulous Cheap Trick, and the Brit-pop studs Squeeze, not to mention the all-time songwriting muse Lucinda Williams. We are super stoked to get back out there and bring the Big 100% live RAWK!"


Find ticket information at heart-music.com.


The tour is currently scheduled to launch on February 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will conclude on April 16 in New York, NY. Find the updated tour itinerary below. Get tickets at heart-music.com.





Tour dates:


February
28 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas


March
1 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas - Theatre
3 - Los Angeles, CA - Crypto.com Arena*
4 - Sacramento, CA - Golden 1 Center*
6 - Phoen

QUEENSRŸCHE founding guitarist Michael "Whip" Wilton spoke to The Metal Voice about his upcoming solo album, "Volume 1", which is due on December 6 via Rat Pak Records. The nine-track LP sees Wilton joined by powerhouse Seattle vocalist Mark Winterman, drummer Sonny Sudra and bassist "Hodgy".

Regarding how the idea for the solo album came about, Michael said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Over the years, like the past ten years, I'm always writing songs. And some of the songs, just depending on my mood and whatever, they don't fit QUEENSRŸCHE. So I have just a plethora of ideas and songs. And I just decided to kind of work on 'em and get 'em together. And I found some guys that fit with me."

On the topic of the musical direction of "Volume 1", Wilton said: "It's not the power metal or the high operatic singing or anything like that. It's more just hard rock… It's my guitar playing… Everybody that's heard it says it's really cool."

As for whether he is planning to play any shows in support of "Volume 1", Michael said: "I'd have to write 'Volume Two'. [Laughs] It's a possibility, but QUEENSRŸCHE is so busy, and we're always working. But if there's room in the schedule, maybe to do a week or two weeks or three weeks or something, then it's not out of the question. A good friend of the drummer's bought a tour bus, so that's a step in the right direction. [Laughs]"

Asked if there is going to be a follow-up album at some point, Wilton said: "Oh, I know there is, 'cause there's six or seven [songs] already done."

Michael went on to say some of the musical ideas on "Volume 1" go back quite a while. "Some [are] two years [old], some five years, and, yeah, [some are even] a decade [old]."

Mixed and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (QUEENSRŸCHE, ROB ZOMBIE, SHADOWS FALL),"Volume 1" captures Michael's ability to think outside the box with flavorful riffs, catchy melodies and thoughtful solos while still maintaining his signature sound. From the opening chords of "People Suffer" to the closing track "Drowning At Daybreak", it is clear that Wilton's trademark style lays the bedrock for this well-crafted offering.

Track listing:

01. People Suffer
02. Get Away
03. Glitch In Time
04. Toxic Girl
05. Reason To Fight
06. On Your Way
07. Turn The Page
08. Wasted Time
09. Drowning At Daybreak

For more information, visit ratpakrecordsamerica.com.

Around two decades ago, Wilton launched a side project called SOULBENDER. SOULBENDER's self-titled debut album was released independently in 2004. A follow-up effort, simply titled "Soulbender II", came out in September 2014 via Rat Pak Records. The disc contained four all-new songs as well as the ten original tracks (remastered) from the first album.

In addition to Wilton, SOULBENDER's lineup featured ex-MY SISTER'S MACHINE singer Nick Pollock, ex-TIN PAN/FALLEN ANGEL guitarist Dave Groves and ex-ASSAULT/FALLEN ANGEL drummer Wes Hallam.

Wilton previously described SOULBENDER as "a very progressive, hard rock band with very intense musicians." He added: "A couple of them are prodigies and it's really been a lot of fun to do."

After years spent honing their unique sound and building a devoted underground following, SOL INVICTO, the innovative project led by Richie Londres featuring Stephen Carpenter of DEFTONES, Eric Bobo of CYPRESS HILL, Dan Foord of SIKTH and with guest vocals from Sean Plague of PLAGUE TO PYRES, has unveiled its debut EP, "Loosely Aware". This release marks the band's significant step from an exclusive cult act to an official presence in the wider metal landscape. Available now on all major streaming platforms, "Loosely Aware" showcases a powerful blend of metal, industrial, and percussive prowess. Heralding the EP's arrival is the visualizer for focus track "Lost In Translation".

Speaking on the release of their long-awaited EP release, Londres shares: "'Loosely Aware' represents years of relentless experimentation, sweat, and commitment to this project. This EP is a testament to the resilience and collaborative spirit that defines SOL INVICTO. We wanted to create something gritty, heavy and authentic that gives listeners a taste of the chaos and beauty that we thrive on. The 'Loosely Aware' EP marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. We're proud to finally share it with the world and are very excited for what's coming next."

Today's EP's release follows last month's debut single, "The Obvious Play", which provided fans with a fierce glimpse of SOL INVICTO's intense soundscape and was met with immediate critical acclaim. Revolver magazine included it in their "Best New Songs Right Now" list, calling it "a heavy swinger, with Carpenter's detuned-and-doomy compound-judding rattling the speakers amid fractured pulses of electronic percussion and PLAGUE TO PYRES vocalist Sean Plague's savage screaming session.", Consequence stating "Among the more brutal tracks to bear Carpenter's credit (this ain't DEFTONES)." and Kerrang! calling it a "monster of a debut single". The EP marks the project's first official release following their extremely rare, private double album 'Initium' in 2017, a collection of demos and experimental tracks gathered over the years which was available only to members of their private club, Sol Invicto Comiti.

"Loosely Aware" heralds a bold new era for the band as they prepare to record a full-length metal album later this year. For now though, bask in the EP's gloriously nasty, soul-crushingly heavy sounds and prepare for much more coming from SOL INVICTO in 2025.

"Loosely Aware" EP track listing:

01. The Obvious Play
02. Revelation of The Method
03. Lost In Translation

Fusing heavy riffs, industrial beats and Latin-infused percussion, SOL INVICTO has carved out its own unique space in the world of experimental metal.

The group initially blended lo-fi industrial drum and bass with Carpenter's crushing guitar work and Bobo's dynamic percussion. As the sound evolved, Londres brought in Foord to take over on drums, pushing the band toward a more live, raw energy.

To date, SOL INVICTO has released a single, exclusive double album titled "Initium", a collection of demos and experimental tracks gathered over the years. Released in 2017 on limited edition signed vinyls, "Initium" remains a rare gem for members of the Sol Invicto Comiti and currently unavailable to the public.

After starting work on new music in 2018, the group's plans were delayed, but 2024 finally has finally seen the first official release from SOL INVICTO — the "Loosely Aware" three-track EP.

"Loosely Aware" was mixed by Adam "Nolly" Getgood (PERIPHERY, ANIMALS AS LEADERS) and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (GHOST, PARADISE LOST). The artwork was created by Kwonny.

In an interview with Steve-O's Wild Ride! podcast, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine spoke about his longstanding reluctance to perform the band's 1986 song "The Conjuring" live, largely due to his Christian beliefs. One of the more memorable tracks from MEGADETH's classic "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" album, "The Conjuring" was written about black magic and features instructions for hexes, according to Mustaine, who wrote the track.

Addressing the fact that he eventually decided to play "The Conjuring" live again for the first time since 2001 in June 2018 at the Home Monitoring Aréna in Plzeň, Czech Republic, where the band was the support act for JUDAS PRIEST, Dave said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wasn't sure about what effects the lyrics would have on our young fans. And I didn't wanna mislead anybody. I wanted to make sure if I was singing something and they gave it any kind of importance that I wasn't inadvertently making a decision for them and they were saying something that was gonna possibly hurt them in some way or form… [But] the structure of the song did not have in it what I thought was in there. There's nothing misleading in there, and after extensive evaluation with it, a lot of thought, a lot of navel gazing and prayer and stuff, I figured it's okay to do this one now."

Mustaine, however, said that MEGADETH will no longer perform a cover of "Anarchy In The UK", a song by English punk rock band the SEX PISTOLS, "because it says 'I'm an anti-Christ,' and I'm not an anti-Christ," he explained. "We did that over at [U.K.'s] Download [festival in 2016]. So Nikki Sixx [MÖTLEY CRÜE] was there. And I looked at him and for some reason I just felt that I needed to just bury the hatchet with him for something. And I don't know what it was, but just something made me feel like I needed to just make things cool. Not that I need his approval or anything like that, and not that he cares about me at all, but I just felt like maybe there was something out there that I did. And I remembered that we had a guy in our band that had a shirt with Nikki's face on it with a red line and a circle through it. And so I'm glad that I did make that amends with Nikki, although it wasn't like a ninth step or anything like that, 'cause I'm not in the program. But I'd gone up to him and said, 'Hey, man, would you be interested in playing 'Anarchy' with us tonight?' So the last time I played it was with Nikki at Download. And it was fun. I don't think anybody expected to see that. I certainly wouldn't have expected that. If young Dave would have talked to old Dave, I would have said, 'You're out of your fucking tree, Mustaine.'"

Mustaine said in a 2016 interview that he was reconsidering his decision to never play "The Conjuring" again, explaining that he wouldn't mind reintroducing the track at MEGADETH's live shows "as long as it doesn't hurt anybody."

Mustaine wrote in his autobiography, "Mustaine: A Heavy Metal Memoir", that he practiced black magic as a teenager, and that the experience — which inspired "The Conjuring" — affected his life for years after.

Speaking to "The Morning Blaze With Gus & Izzy" show on the Fresno radio station 105.1 The Blaze, Mustaine was asked about his refusal to play "The Conjuring" at MEGADETH's concerts. He said: "I used to do black magic when I was a kid, and I put a hex on a dude and his leg kind of got messed up. The other one was I put a sex hex on this girl and the next night she was in my bed, so I think that it worked."

He continued: "But the funny thing [is] Chis Adler [LAMB OF GOD drummer, who played on 2016's 'Dystopia' album] just said, 'Hey, dude, can we re-record 'The Conjuring' with different lyrics?' And I was, like, 'Nah. You know what? Maybe I should re-think this whole thing.' Because when I first did the whole, 'You know what? I'm not gonna be a heathen anymore. I'm gonna clean up my life' thing, I kind of put some brakes on things I would and wouldn't do. And as I grow, I evolve in my outlook and my personal journey here, being a positive person and being a positive influence on other people's lives. So as long as it doesn't hurt anybody, I wouldn't mind doing the song again, 'cause it is a good song."

Mustaine previously spoke about his reluctance to perform "The Conjuring" during a 2011 interview with U.K.'s Total Guitar magazine. He stated at the time: "Performance-wise, 'The Conjuring' is one of the heaviest songs on [MEGADETH's 'Peace Sells… But Who's Buying?' album], but, unfortunately, it's got black magic in it and I promised that I wouldn't play it anymore, because there's a lot of instructions for hexes in that song. Although it seems kinda corny, anybody who's a Wiccan or a warlock or anything like that will know that all of that stuff is instrumental."

He continued: "When I got into black magic I put a couple of spells on people when I was a teenager and it haunted me forever, and I've had so much torment. People say, 'Goddamn, Dave never gets a break, he's had such a hard life,' and I just think, 'No, Dave didn't — he got into black magic and it ruined his life.' It wasn't that I was a bad guy or that I had a big mouth, it was that I got into witchcraft and black magic and it ruined my life. Fortunately for me, with all the work and the love of my friends, and not giving up with my guitar playing, I got over it. So I look back now and I think, "Hmm, I don't wanna play 'The Conjuring'."

Mustaine went on to say: "When I first got saved, I was really scared and I was basically holding on to anything that I heard in church or whatever, but as I've grown I've learned a lot and lightened up a lot, and I see people around me doing certain things and instead of me saying, 'Man, you shouldn't do that!' I think quietly to myself, 'Dude, you don't know what you're doing…' It's a huge growth process."

In a new interview with RadioRadioX's Justin Smulison, ARMORED SAINT frontman John Bush was asked if the band's recent touring activity affects the scheduling of the next ARMORED SAINT album. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it will. It'll postpone it a bit, because it's harder — at least I find that it's hard — to completely write and make demos and stuff on the road, of course. You try to write, and we'll make an effort, a conscious effort to do that. Sometimes it's hard. For me personally, sometimes I don't even wanna listen to any music, much less work on music. So, a lot of it is just taking a brain break and an ear break. But bands did it — all the great bands in the '70s would tour and make records. And I don't know how they did it. They were just better. But, yeah, it's a challenge. It's not easy. So we wanna do that. We've been told by our label it's been so long for a record, but it's not like we're dormant and not doing anything. We're obviously out there and playing and performing. So we're very visible still."

Regarding the progress of the songwriting sessions for the next ARMORED SAINT LP, John said: "I was just working on another [song] right here… Well, I had to kind of rewrite some stuff because I wasn't happy with it. But, yeah, [we're] trying to do this. We have a tendency to kind of move slowly and we need to step that up, according to Tracy Vera, who is Joey's [Vera, ARMORED SAINT bassist] wife and the president of the [Metal Blade Records] label. But, yeah, we're trying, and you just want it to be really good. So, I mean, quite frankly, five years, six years, it really doesn't matter that much because it's already been five years. But like I said, it's not like we went away and haven't done anything. We've been touring, we've been visible. And on the road, we sell lots of records, which are really cool. People buy a lot of LPs, CDs and we sign 'em. Yeah, we sell a lot on the road. So we are still moving product and doing our due diligence there."

This past June, ARMORED SAINT released a rendition of "One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)". The classic track was originally written by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter and was first released by PEOPLE in 1970. Additional covers include THE FOUR TOPS (1974),SANTANA (1978) and THE DOOBIE BROTHERS (1989).

"One Chain (Don't Make No Prison)" was produced by Joey Vera, mixed by Jay Ruston and mastered by Maor Applebaum.

ARMORED SAINT's eighth full-length album, "Punching The Sky", came out in October 2020 via Metal Blade Records.

ARMORED SAINT released the "Symbol Of Salvation Live" CD/DVD in 2021 via Metal Blade Records. The release came in celebration of the seminal album's 30th anniversary. "Symbol Of Salvation Live" was a combination live album and video of the band playing the album in its entirety at New York City's famed Gramercy Theatre during its 2018 tour.

In July 2023, ARMORED SAINT was inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

In May 2023, ARMORED SAINT's long-awaited documentary, Armored Saint: Band Of Brothers", had its world premiere in the band's hometown at the Harmony Gold Theatre in Hollywood, California.

Earlier in the year, ARMORED SAINT wrapped up a successful North American tour with QUEENSRŸCHE.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

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This Friday, November 7th - exactly 30 years after the band was founded - the new album, DarkanakraD, by German melodic/celtic metallers Suidakra will be unleashed.  


The album will be released as a CD and DigiPak; the latter is only available in the MDD Shop and selected mailorders. The 12” vinyl edition will be available on November 28th. In advance, the song "Unravelling Destinies" is available as an official video and as a digital single on all digital streaming platforms.


Pre-order the album here.