During a recent appearance on "Drinks With Johnny", the Internet TV show hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, former MOTÖRHEAD and current SCORPIONS drummer Mikkey Dee discussed the evolution of his drumming style. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If you take KING DIAMOND, DOKKEN, MOTÖRHEAD, now SCORPIONS, they have come in in the right time in my life. For instance, by the end of KING DIAMOND, I felt as a very narrow drummer because all I could do is all this stuff. I felt a lot of stress, and back beats and technical drum fills and ripping apart certain songs, I felt at the time. Because when we moved out to California, I started jamming with, if you will call them regular musicians — more rocking out, jamming cover songs of [LED] ZEPPELIN and DEEP PURPLE again. And I felt stressed. And I felt that my meter wasn't where it was supposed to be. And I wanted to become wider. And the DOKKEN thing was the perfect thing for me to step from KING DIAMOND with. I learned a lot, how to just sit and rock out. And then, after a few years with Don [Dokken], I felt that this is great, but I do belong in the heavier division; I am a heavier drummer. And then, suddenly again, MOTÖRHEAD was the right time to join."

He continued: "After 25 years with MOTÖRHEAD, there's no secret that we felt in the end maybe we wanted to do something else — either do a solo record or be inspired with something else. Because with MOTÖRHEAD, we had a very tight frame to work within, which was MOTÖRHEAD. And sometimes me and Phil [Campbell, guitar] could write some music and Lemmy [bass, vocals] would come in and go, 'What the hell do you want me to sing to that? That song is more aimed to RUSH. We're not RUSH; we're MOTÖRHEAD.' And he was totally right by that. Maybe we took off a little too much out of the framework of being MOTÖRHEAD."

Dee, who has been a member of SCORPIONS since 2016, played drums for KING DIAMOND from 1985 until 1989. The Swedish-born drummer also played with MOTÖRHEAD from 1991 until the band's dissolution in December 2015.

Dee played on the classic KING DIAMOND albums "Fatal Portrait", "Abigail" and "Them" until he left in 1988 to join Don Dokken. He returned a year later as a session player on KING DIAMOND's "Conspiracy".

Canadian extreme melodic death metallers THE AGONIST will release a new EP, "Days Before The World Wept", on October 15 via Napalm Records.

Inspired by real-life experiences, "Days Before The World Wept" explores a grim, conceptual tale of greed, gluttony, confusion, pain, redemption and hope enveloped in a new level of aggression and cohesive, technical prowess.

Get a taste of the band's newest music today by watching the music video for brand new single "Remnants In Time". The death metal burner brings non-stop energy throughout, showcasing Vicky Psarakis's multifaceted vocal attack as she nails searing highs, guttural lows and magical clean passages. Just like the track itself, its haunting, conceptual music video's imagery blends emotive and eerie imagery throughout.

The onslaught continues with the rhythmic soundscapes of cry for salvation "Immaculate Deception", blending fast paced, aggressive verses with haunting, melodic choruses. "Resurrection" reaches into blackened territory before Psarakis splits it wide open — annihilating with her pinpointed vocal attack calling for rebirth. In addition to Psarakis and guitarists Danny Marino and Pascal Jobin, dexterous drums from Simon McKay and the bass attack of Chris Kells lead the listener through metallic melodic passages topped with emotive poetry before breaking into the next track, "Feast On The Living". It stands tall with rollercoaster clean and gritty vocals, rapid fire drums and blazingly precise guitar leads and solos, cementing the track as one of the most technically meticulous of the entire offering. Shifting into fifth gear, title track "Days Before The World Wept" brings it all home, beginning with a beckoning acoustic introduction before roaring in with intense blastbeats, polyrhythms and bellowing screams. THE AGONIST pulls out all the stops, showcasing their chops in all directions with breakneck instrumentation and staggeringly superb vocal approaches. Soaring through a kaleidoscope of blistering metal mastery and hopeful lyrical dramatism, the opus dominates as one of the most impressive works of the band's catalog.

Psarakis says about "Remnants In Time" and the accompanying video: "'Remnants in Time' is the first chapter in this story. It marks the final moments of a person's life and the journey that begins right after.

"We wanted the visuals to strongly reflect the lyrics and the concept behind them, and transforming me into a demon was key in that. I'm a huge fan of horror/sci-fi and makeup transformations, so working with a professional makeup artist and the use of prosthetics was the coolest part for me!

"This song — and video — is all about extremes. Angelic and demonic, fragile and strong, delicate and aggressive. It embodies a lot of what THE AGONIST is about."

"Days Before The World Wept" was produced by Christian Donaldson, who has previously worked with BEYOND CREATION, CRYPTOPSY and DESPISED ICON.

Psarakis adds about the record: "There's a lot I could say about this EP and its importance to the band, but does it matter? Obviously, this is the part where I tell you these are the best songs we've put out to date. Honestly — it's a journey. You're either gonna reach the end and want to relive it or you're not... and that's okay. Let the music speak for itself."

"Days Before The World Wept" track listing:

01. Remnants in Time

02. Immaculate Deception

03. Resurrection

04. Feast on the Living

05. Days Before the World Wept

THE AGONIST is:

Vicky Psarakis - Vocals / Piano

Danny Marino - Guitar

Pascal Jobin - Guitar

Chris Kells - Bass

Simon McKay - Drums

Best known for his role as songwriter and lead singer of punk rock band PENNYWISE, Jim Lindberg has shared the first glimpse of his acoustic solo project with the track "The Palm Of Your Hand" produced by Ted Hutt (THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM, LUCERO, FLOGGING MOLLY). The song features David Hidalgo Jr. (SOCIAL DISTORTION) on drums, Joe Gittleman (THE MIGHTY, MIGHTY BOSSTONES, AVOID ONE THING) on bass, and Marc Orrell (DROPKICK MURPHYS, THE WALKER ROADERS) on guitar.

Lindberg began writing "The Palm Of Your Hand" over fifteen years ago, coming up with the chorus at the time but the song remained predominately unfinished until 2020 when he entered the studio to work on his forthcoming solo record. "I wanted to create two fictional characters who are struggling with shame, guilt, and self-delusion to match the chorus lyric and so that's how 'Left-Handed Sal' and 'Walleyed Sally' were created," he said. "It's a song about two people who for one reason or another can't seem to get out of their own way and end up inflicting all kinds of damage on the people around them. The only way they'll get out from under all their problems is to 'Let that ego drop' and let their feelings show. The answer is right there in front of them, in 'the palm of your hand.'"

This weekend, Lindberg will perform at BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, California alongside JANE'S ADDICTION, CAGE THE ELEPHANT, Trever Keith of FACE TO FACE, and many more. Lindberg has curated the lineup for the festival's "SpeakEasy" stage. The stage will also feature a pop-up art gallery provided by Punk Rock & Paintbrushes, which highlights artwork from some of the festival's musicians and local artists.

Lindberg has been making inspiring, thought-provoking music since the 1990s. Musically, he is influenced by an array of genres from punk and folk music to old school country and americana. Lyrically, Jim takes inspiration anywhere from transcendental philosophers to real-life events; seeking always to tell a story or find the answers to life's big questions.

Photo credit: Brent Broza

California rockers PAPA ROACH have just shared "Kill The Noise", a powerful, anthemic new single and second track from their forthcoming album. The song, produced by WZRD BLD (a.k.a. Drew Fulk; A DAY TO REMEMBER, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, LIL WAYNE) and Andrew Goldstein (ALL TIME LOW, BLACKBEAR, LINKIN PARK, MAROON 5), is a powerful example of heavy riffs and emotional lyrics, driven by singer Jacoby Shaddix's ongoing mission to help anyone overcome mental struggles and anxieties. The accompanying music video, directed by Jacoby's brother Bryson Roatch, takes the viewer on a journey of escaping the confines of your own mind through a raw and energetic performance.

Shaddix comments: "It's easy to get caught up in some of that static inside your mind — we all tangle with that demon. For us, 'Kill The Noise' brings some straight-up heavy music catharsis, a reminder to find that moment of peace from the noise."

"Kill The Noise" arrives a little over a month after the release of PAPA ROACH's previous single, "Swerve", which was a collaboration with FEVER 333 frontman Jason Aalon Butler and Los Angeles rapper Sueco. Both tracks are expected to appear on PAPA ROACH's upcoming eleventh studio album, due next year via the band's own record company, New Noize Records, Inc., under exclusive license to ADA.

This past May, Shaddix spoke to the FM99 WNOR radio station about PAPA ROACH's decision to release its next LP through its own label. Asked how the move came about, Jacoby said: "Way back in the day when we were with DreamWorks Records — this was right after we released our album 'Infest' — we had this pact with this band ALIEN ANT FARM. We were, like, 'Whoever gets signed first, let's try to get an imprint, which is a subsidiary of the record company, where we can release music.' And we had made good on our promise and we had a record company called New Noise Records. And this was in, like, 2001. So fast forward so many years and a few record companies later, we just released out greatest hits with Better Noise Music, and that was the last record company we were with. And we were kind of in negotiation of going, 'All right. Are we gonna stick with this company?' which we've had a lot of great success and learned a lot of great things from, and I have nothing but great things to say about them. But we were, like, 'All right. Let's take the temperature and go see if we have what it takes to do this on our own, do it independent.' And so we took meetings, and we ended up with Warner/ADA, which we have our record label now of our own and we use their in-house staff to do the promo and all that kind of stuff. But we are the record company. So we're using our knowledge over the years that we've accumulated with our team and ourselves to take the reins and run with this one ourselves. And it's very exciting. It's kind of scary. 'Cause you don't know. But guess what? I just feel like we can't fail."

He continued: "You know when your gut tells you something? I just go, we've been doing this; we know a lot; we know what our fans want; we know what we want; we know that we are inspired; we know that we are passionate; and we know we've got a fanbase that loves us. Let's do this. And we have a great relationship with radio too. I mean, we just had another No. 1 on rock radio — after 20-plus years of being in the format. And I go, 'You know what? I think we can do this.' And so we made the jump. And so P-ROACH, we've got New Noise Records back up and running."

Regarding what's involved in releasing album without the participation of an outside record company, Jacoby said: "After this call with you, I get on with the band and we're wrapping on creative calls to finish up the artwork for the album and getting ready for the photos shoots and all that kind of stuff. It's been cool, man. It's a different — I guess — creative progression of making an album. You get the music, but then we talk about marketing, we're talking about music videos, imaging, photo shoots, different ways of packaging the album — all that kind of fun stuff, that's what we're in the middle of now. And I really enjoy that; it's a fun process. And it's cool to just dream some stuff up, and we then we build it and we make it and it happens, and I really love that process."

In January, a snippet of a brand new PAPA ROACH song called "Stand Up" was included in commercial for Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) partnership with ESPN.

PAPA ROACH's second greatest-hits collection, "Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The Better Noise Years", was released in March on Better Noise Music. "Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - The Better Noise Years" includes 12 of the band's top 10 hits released between 2010 to 2019 as well as three previously unreleased remixes and two unreleased acoustic recordings recorded live at the YouTube Studios in New York City.

PAPA ROACH's latest album, "Who Do You Trust?", was released in January 2019. The disc was produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for the song "Top Of The World", which is helmed by Jason Evigan.

In December, PAPA ROACH released a five-song EP, "20/20", featuring "new takes on old jams," including "Last Resort" and "Scars".

Photo credit: Darren Craig

JUDAS PRIEST's first pandemic-era tour, the rescheduled "50 Heavy Metal Years" North American trek, kicked off last night (Wednesday, September 8) at Santander Arena in Reading, Pennsylvania.

As was the case with their appearance at the Bloodstock Open Air festival in August, the British heavy metal legends, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, threw in several rarely played songs in their set, including "One Shot At Glory" and "Invader", as well as several tracks that hadn't been played in a long time, such as "Rocka Rolla, "Exciter", "Hell Patrol", "A Touch Of Evil" and "Blood Red Skies".

The setlist was as follows:

01. One Shot At Glory

02. Lightning Strike

03. You've Got Another Thing Comin'

04. Exciter

05. Turbo Lover

06. Hell Patrol

07. The Sentinel

08. A Touch Of Evil

09. Rocka Rolla

10. Victim Of Changes

11. Desert Plains

12. Blood Red Skies

13. Invader

14. Painkiller

15. The Hellion / Electric Eye

16. Hell Bent For Leather

17. Breaking The Law

18. Living After Midnight

Fan-filmed video footage can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Kirby Ray of the Cape Girardeau, Missouri radio station Real Rock 99.3, JUDAS PRIEST drummer Scott Travis spoke about what fans can expect from the band's current North American trek, which will conclude on November 5 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

"We have a whole new set designed and the production — meaning the lights and the video screens behind the band, the actual stage set," Scott said. "We have some props we've never used before that are gonna make appearances throughout the show. And so all of that is new, as you have to do with every tour — you have to just come up with all new stuff. It's almost like a wardrobe; you can't wear the same thing twice. So, that's all new. And because JUDAS PRIEST have a 50-year catalog, it's a blessing and it's a curse in the sense that you've got a 50-year catalog, if you will, to choose from, but at the same time you can't do everything. So we are gonna pull out some new old songs — songs that JUDAS PRIEST recorded way back when and either never had played live or if they did play it live, it was literally 40, 45 years ago. So we're doing some of that again. And then playing some newer new songs, if that makes sense. In other words, something off maybe 'Painkiller' we haven't done in a while or 'Firepower' that we haven't done. And an amalgamation of that, along with some classics, and you've got a new JUDAS PRIEST set."

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford told Ultimate Classic Rock, about his expectations for the tour: "Here's the thing: We've got to get out there and do it, man. If we don't, we're going to be sitting home for the rest of this year, next year, the year after that and the year after that. This stuff isn't going to go away. We've got to find a way of getting through it. You talk about herd immunity, you talk about all of these different things, you can only do as much as you can do. You've got your bubble, you've got your masks, you've got the sanitizer. And even that can't kill this evil demon of a virus. It hits you when your friends, like Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley], get it. And Sebastian Bach and Bruce Dickinson, and all of my other friends.

"Thankfully, they haven't been devastated by the horrible thing like so many people have," he continued. "But we've got to do it. I think if the scientists had said, 'Look, everybody hang on, if we give it another year or two, we think we've got the vaccine that's going to kick its ass,' but they haven't, have they? They've just said that there's a booster shot coming. I'll be first in line for that. And then it's like a lottery, because, again, I was talking to some friends the other day with certain bands that I won't name. But they've been out for a while and everybody's fine. Crew is fine, the band is fine. They're doing the bubble thing, they're doing the protocol thing. It's like a lottery, this virus is, the way it can suddenly come out of nowhere. I know that Gene and Paul, their whole KISS [organization] was doing as best as they could. And yet it creeped in. It's a horrible, horrible thing.

"So, we have to battle on. We really have to battle on. I think that's all we can do. And if ever we needed music, if ever we needed to be with each other, now is the time that we need to do that. And talking about the fans, we have our protocols in place for the fans, as well, with [concert promoter] Live Nation, who are making the bulk of this tour. We have a great relationship with Live Nation, and we're working together to make sure that we can make it about as safe as we possibly can. Because at the end of the day, you've got something or you've got nothing and nobody wants nothing, right? So let's just do our best and keep our fingers crossed, and please, God, don't let any of us be hit by this horrible thing."

For the Bloodstock Open Air appearance, JUDAS PRIEST was rejoined by guitarist Glenn Tipton for three songs.

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's seven years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of JUDAS PRIEST's latest studio album, "Firepower". He was replaced by "Firepower" album producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

As he has done a number of other times over the course of the last three and a half years, Tipton joined PRIEST onstage on Bloodstock for the encore, performing "Metal Gods", "Breaking The Law" and "Living After Midnight".

In early April, JUDAS PRIEST's European tour, which was scheduled to kick off in late May, was once again postponed due to "ongoing COVID-19 vaccine issues." The trek will now run from May 27, 2022 in Moscow, Russia until July 31, 2022 in Oberhausen, Germany.

Hachette Books has set an October 5 the release date for the new 336-page hardcover book "Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen" by music journalists Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill.

"Eruption" offers a new look at guitar legend Eddie Van Halen via a groundbreaking oral history composed of more than 50 hours of interviews with Eddie, his family and friends.

Published to coincide with the first anniversary of Eddie's death from cancer, the book highlights his greatest triumphs as a groundbreaking musician, including an unprecedented dive into VAN HALEN's masterpiece "1984". It takes an unflinching look at Eddie's early struggles as a young Dutch immigrant unable to speak English, which resulted in lifelong issues with social anxiety and substance abuse. It also examines his brilliance as an inventor who changed the face of guitar manufacturing, as well as his turbulent marriage to Valerie Bertinelli and his relationships with bandmates David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar.

As entertaining as it is revealing, "Eruption" is the closest readers will ever get to hearing Eddie's side of the story regarding his extraordinary life.

Highlights include:

* Details of his childhood struggles as the son of biracial and immigrant parents

* Eddie's battles with social anxiety, which encouraged later problems with alcohol and cocaine

* His impact on the guitar industry, including how he built his own guitar with spare parts, known as "Frankenstein," and created a trend that eventually changed the way electric guitars were made, revolutionizing the guitar industry

* His often-stormy relationships with VAN HALEN's trio of singers David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar and Gary Cherone

* His long and complicated marriage to Valerie Bertinelli; his close relationship with his son/bassist Wolfgang Van Halen; and his marriage to second wife and publicist Janie Liszewski, who helped him recover from substance abuse and supported him through his many cancer treatments

* Details of his 20-year cancer battle and death

Official book description: When rock legend Eddie Van Halen died of cancer on October 6, 2020, the entire world seemed to stop and grieve. Since his band VAN HALEN burst onto the scene with their self-titled debut album in 1978, Eddie had been hailed as an icon not only to fans of rock music and heavy metal, but to performers across all genres and around the world. VAN HALEN's debut sounded unlike anything that listeners had heard before and remains a quintessential rock album of the era.

Over the course of more than four decades, Eddie gained renown for his innovative guitar playing, and particularly for popularizing the tapping guitar solo technique. Unfortunately for Eddie and his legions of fans, he died before he was ever able to put his life down to paper in his own words, and much of his compelling backstory has remained elusive — until now.

In "Eruption", music journalists Brad Tolinski and Chris Gill share with fans, new and old alike, a candid, compulsively readable, and definitive oral history of the most influential rock guitarist since Jimi Hendrix. It is based on more than 50 hours of unreleased interviews they recorded with Eddie Van Halen over the years, most of them conducted at the legendary 5150 studios at Ed's home in Los Angeles. The heart of "Eruption" is drawn from these intimate and wide-ranging talks, as well as conversations with family, friends, and colleagues.

In addition to discussing his greatest triumphs as a groundbreaking musician, including an unprecedented dive into VAN HALEN's masterpiece "1984", the book also takes an unflinching look at Edward's early struggles as young Dutch immigrant unable to speak the English language, which resulted in lifelong issues with social anxiety and substance abuse. "Eruption: Conversations With Eddie Van Halen" also examines his brilliance as an inventor who changed the face of guitar manufacturing.

As entertaining as it is revealing, "Eruption" is the closest readers will ever get to hearing Eddie's side of the story when it comes to his extraordinary life.

California rock band THRICE has shared its newest single, "Summer Set Fire To The Rain", from its upcoming album "Horizons/East". The song delves into the all-too-familiar sensation of searching for something while ignoring the broader picture — the world and all of its beauty — right in front of you. In vocalist Dustin Kensrue's words: "How often is life spilling over with beauty and novelty and possibility and all we can do is complain, in this case about getting wet, and to miss the moment completely? So much depends on how we attend to each moment."

"Much of this song is really close to Ed's original demo," Kensrue explains. "As we got together and were jamming on the parts, I ended up singing the words 'Summer set fire to the rain.' While most of the things I end up singing during the writing process are nonsense, sometimes there are little gems that emerge, and I've been trying to pay more attention to them and pull them in to songs when it feels right. In this case, my accidental but poetic framing of being caught in the rain while the sun shines became a central metaphor for the song."

"Horizons/East" is available for pre-order now and will be released September 17 digitally and October 8 physically via Epitaph Records. The album exemplifies art as a work of recognition — the human task of perceiving oneself amid details, disasters, and blessings as a relentlessly relational phenomenon among others. In this, "Horizons/East" is the rare rock album on which interrelatedness is a theme, painting an adventurous and lush landscape mixed by Scott Evans that the band produced and recorded at their own New Grass Studio.

With the new album, THRICE addresses, with candor and courage, the fragile and awkward arrangements that pass for civilization, while inviting us to dwell more knowingly within our own lives. Without surrendering any of the energy and hard edge of their previous albums, they've given us a profoundly meditative work, which serves as a musical summons to everyday attentiveness.

Some of the writing even began with open-ended challenges that the band laid on themselves like building a song using the quartal chords they found in much of the jazz they loved, or taking the Fibonacci sequence and turning it into a guitar riff.

"Horizons/East" track listing:

01. The Color Of The Sky

02. Scavengers

03. Buried In The Sun

04. Northern Lights

05. Summer Set Fire To The Rain

06. Still Life

07. The Dreamer

08. Robot Soft Exorcism

09. Dandelion Wine

10. Unitive/East

Formed in 1998, the Orange County-based four-piece is widely regarded as one of the most innovative rock bands of its generation.

THRICE features frontman Dustin Kensrue, guitarist Teppei Teranishi, bassist Eddie Breckenridge and drummer Riley Breckenridge.

THRICE will be touring this fall with special guests TOUCHÉ AMORÉ, JIM WARD (appearing at select dates only) and SELF DEFENSE FAMILY.

Photo credit: Matt Vogel

During an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation Virtual Invasion", IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson was asked whether he would like to work on a new solo album to follow up 2005's "Tyranny Of Souls". He reponded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Not only would I like to. I've got a work in progress right now that's been kind of on and off, on the backburner, for, well, three or four years now. And basically, since the pandemic happened, I may have had loads of time, but I can't go to America to do it — to finish up the writing for it, start the recording process and all that stuff. So I'm just waiting for Uncle Joe to let me into America."

Back in December 2017, Dickinson said that his next solo LP would likely include a reworked version of "If Eternity Should Fail", the opening track on IRON MAIDEN's 2015 disc "The Book Of Souls". At the time, he said that he had about "half" of his seventh record already written and he also confirmed that "If Eternity Should Fail" was originally penned as a Dickinson solo track.

He told Finland's Kaaos TV that the original plan was for his next solo record to be "a whole concept album, which was gonna be called 'If Eternity Should Fail'. And 'If Eternity Should Fail' was the title track to my new solo album," he said. "And a bit like [Dickinson's 1989 solo song] 'Bring Your Daughter To The Slaughter' [laughs], it got commandeered for IRON MAIDEN. So if I did do another solo album, which I think I will, I might just stick to my original plan and have that as the title track. I mean, I did write it — it was the first track that I wrote for it. So, yeah, I'd probably still include that song. But it would be… the feel would be slightly different — not very much, though — from the MAIDEN version."

In 2015, Dickinson told France's Hard Force magazine that "If Eternity Should Fail" ended up being used by IRON MAIDEN after bassist Steve Harris heard the demos that Bruce was working on for what was supposed to be his next solo album. "And [Steve] went, 'That's a really cool song. Can we use that? That's gonna be the opening song on the album,'" he recalled. "And I went, 'Yeah, okay.' And he was already writing, I think… He was already thinking of 'The Book Of Souls' as being the title, so he told me about the Mayan thing. And I'm, like, 'Yeah, that's cool. Okay. Yeah, I see where you're going.' But in my case, that song was written as part of a story. So the spoken word at the end is the beginning of a story that goes through the whole album. And one of the characters is Dr. Necropolis; he's the bad guy. And the good guy is Professor Lazarus; he raises people from the dead. So that introduces Necropolis in the spoken-word thing. And I asked Steve… I said, 'Look. Okay. I get having the song…' 'Cause it opens up with, 'Here is the soul of a man.' 'Yup. Get that. But what about the end?' I said, 'Will people understand what this is about? Because this is nothing to do with the Mayans or anything. This is to do with… I'd come up with a concept album that doesn't happen.' [Laughs] And he [went], 'No, no, no. It's just talking about souls and everything, and it sounds great.' I went, 'Okay.' [Laughs]"

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith. Since then, Dickinson has only released one more solo album (the aforementioned "Tyranny Of Souls") but has previously said that his solo career is not o

Maryland rockers CLUTCH performed a brand new song, apparently titled "Strive For Excellence", during their first fan-attended live concert in 21 months, which took place September 5 at the Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska. Video footage of the performance can be seen below.

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

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

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

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

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

WE CAME AS ROMANS has shared a video for its brand new single "Black Hole", featuring BEARTOOTH's Caleb Shomo. You can watch it below.

"'Black Hole' was the very last song that we wrote for the record," WE CAME AS ROMANS vocalist Dave Stephens says. "We had this idea of what we wanted it to sound like, and we wrote a bunch of music for it throughout our time in L.A. But we were never really satisfied with what we created. With only a week left in the studio, we had finally created something that we were all stoked about — and it was time to put a message to the song."

Stephens continues: "The lyrics to 'Black Hole' are about dealing with the anxiety that you feel going through life. For me, at the time, the anxiety I was feeling in dealing with loss and the grieving process. But we wanted to leave the song open-ended enough for our fans to relate to, with anything they were going through. That anxiety is sometimes so crushing, and so heavy, and you have to deal with the weight of it, the gravity of the situations you're in, and sometimes it just feels like an endless cycle."

He finishes: "When the song was complete, we sent it over to a long time friend of ours — Caleb Shomo. We've been playing shows together for well over 10 years now, and we're so happy we've finally had a chance to collaborate on a song together. Caleb is an amazing vocalist and the song wouldn't be the same without his contribution!"

WE CAME AS ROMANS recently shared a video for the single "Darkbloom".

In other WE CAME AS ROMANS news, the band rebooted its U.S. anniversary tour celebrating their landmark, 2009-released album "To Plant A Seed". The tour was originally scheduled for spring 2020, but it was tabled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "To Plant A Seed" was a definitive sonic statement for WE CAME AS ROMANS and remains a fan favorite to this day. The tour kicks off on September 29 in Philadelphia and runs through November 7 in the band's native Michigan. Support will come from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, DAYSEEKER and HOLLOW FRONT.

BAD WOLVES will release their third studio album, "Dear Monsters", on October 29 via Better Noise Music. The LP serves as the official introduction to new lead singer Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz, whose addition to the lineup was announced by the band earlier this year. "Dear Monsters" is preceded by lead single "Lifeline", which the band released today in celebration of the news of the album's upcoming release. The track is an epic rock song, showcasing DL as a dynamic vocal force, bringing to life the emotional urgency of the lyrics. The band also released the song's official music video, which takes viewers on a haunting journey, setting the tone for the new album and its theme of confronting one's demons.

Laskiewicz has carved out an impressive career for himself over the last 15-plus years, most notably as a founding member and lead guitarist of metalcore band THE ACACIA STRAIN, of which he was a member from 2001 to 2013. A talented songwriter and producer, he's also worked on projects with ALL THAT REMAINS, LEGION, FOR THE FALLEN DREAMS and collaborated with BAD WOLVES on their 2019 studio album "N.A.T.I.O.N.", where the creative relationship with the band started.

BAD WOLVES are led by drummer John Boecklin, who has honored his commitment to the band's fans by continuing with the group when the previous singer, Tommy Vext, quit in January 2021.

BAD WOLVES broke the news of Laskiewicz's addition to the band via a statement on social media in June. The group wrote: "DL is a tremendous songwriter and singer, and we can confidently say that the album we are working on, titled 'Dear Monsters', is the best BAD WOLVES album to date.

"DL is one of the most talented and hard-working people we have ever had the pleasure to know. He is a team player, a creative force, and overall a great human being who fits perfectly with our BW family. It feels incredible to be surrounded with such positive energy and the music we've made is certainly reflective of this new-found optimism and collaborative spirit. This new album shows a more cohesive and unique reflection of the band. There is a lot to prove and expectations are high with a new singer coming in. And we nailed it. The songs speak for themselves, and if you're a BAD WOLVES fan we know you won't be disappointed.

"So much has happened since Tommy publicly quit BAD WOLVES a few months ago — and we disagree with the validity of much of what he has said publicly about our parting of ways — but we would prefer to not look back on the past and instead focus on this new chapter. And most importantly, we'd like to let the music speak for itself."

Vext originally announced his exit from BAD WOLVES in a since-deleted Instagram Live video, insisting that he was forced out by his former bandmates and record label, Better Noise Music, over his conservative political views. The singer also announced plans to launch a solo career while claiming he wrote a significant portion of the new BAD WOLVES album, apparently referencing the band's upcoming third LP.

In the months leading up to his exit from BAD WOLVES, Vext — who is black — has been vocal about his support for former U.S. president Donald Trump while insisting he had never experienced racism in America and that it was all "manufactured." In June 2020, Vext posted a six-plus-minute video on Instagram in which he suggested, without evidence, that "Black Lives Matter" was created by people like George Soros, the Holocaust survivor and billionaire who is the subject of many right-wing conspiracy theories, along with the Clinton Foundation. He also offered up the debunked theory that they invest in "Black Lives Matter" to profit from media coverage. The singer said he made the video "after weeks of research & interviews with independent journalist(s), military personnel, entertainment industry professionals, a virologist & many ex Democrats."

BAD WOLVES guitarist Doc Coyle later took to his social media to "apologize to anyone who was hurt" by Tommy's comments and to offer up his perspective on what he called a "distraction" from BAD WOLVES' message of "inclusion and positivity."

BAD WOLVES broke through in 2018 with a cover of THE CRANBERRIES hit "Zombie". CRANBERRIES vocalist Dolores O'Riordan was supposed to contribute to the track but died the day she was supposed to go into the studio.

Supreme Unbeing was a mysterious four-piece metal band led by vocalist / prophet Zac Red, with his fellow prophets D.Vine (lead guitar), Unknown (bass) and Al Mytee (drums), that is, until today, when the fifth seal was opened, and the band announced the addition of a fifth member – rhythm guitarist D. Sciple.


Although the members of Supreme Unbeing are yet to be seen in the flesh, only appearing through their animated visages, nonetheless, the band has made their mark here in the physical domain with their full-length debut album Enter Reality (released October 2020) already surpassing  over 2 million streams The animated music videos for the singles "You'll Never Make It" and "Animals" now have in excess of 3 million views on YouTube.


“Hailing from the same corner of the universe as D.Vine (lead guitarist), the two found chemistry and struck a chord instantly as melodies and riffs started flowing through their amplifiers during their first shredding session. In some ways, D.Sciple could be viewed as the younger version of D.Vine, with qualities and skills that are yet to be fully refined. Nonetheless, with the addition of D.Sciple, D.Vine will be alleviated from playing multiple guitars simultaneously in the future when the band plans to performs in the physical domain,” says Zac Red of Supreme Unbeing.


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Supreme Unbeing, now a five-piece, recently released three bonus tracks “At The End Of The Day (Animals Acoustic)”, “I Can’t Help You (The Realm Version)” and “Everything’s Unreal (Dreaming Acoustic)”. The band will now retreat from the physical plane to the Realm for a short while to finalize their second album. But rest assured, the prophets of Supreme Unbeing will come forth with another face-shattering announcement soon enough.


“He can play the guitar, but he has never played the fiddle, with this announcement his identity is no longer a riddle. We hereby induct prophet D.Sciple as the fifth Prophet of Supreme Unbeing,” concludes Zac Red of Supreme Unbeing.  


"Everything's Unreal (Dreaming Acoustic)":





"Animals":





 





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Steamhammer / SPV are opening the autumn 2021 season with a real bang, taking advantage of the increasingly upbeat mood after that nerve-wracking lockdown: 


Pink Cream 69, one of the most renowned and longest-serving hard rock bands on the German music scene, has signed with the Hannover-based label. The quintet – consisting of David Readman (vocals), Alfred Koffler (guitar), Marco Wriedt (guitar), Roman Beselt (bass), and Chris Schmidt (drums) – currently finds itself in the songwriting process for its next studio album. 


Koffler: "At the moment we are sifting through and sorting the new material. There are currently about thirty tangible ideas for new tracks, which we are, as always, subjecting to a thorough selection process in order to deliver a homogenous album."


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The production of the as yet untitled new release is scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. Koffler hopes that the record will be ready to be mixed in December 2021, and the release of a single including video is scheduled to precede the arrival of the album. Pink Cream 69 have enlisted their former bassist Dennis Ward (Unisonic, Place Vendome, Gus G.) as sound engineer to mix and master their latest offering. As a little bonus, thank-you and taste of the good things to come which everyone is so eagerly hoping for, the band has re-recorded its song 'Better Days' in an acoustic version, which is about to be released.





With this signing, Pink Cream 69 have returned to the Steamhammer/SPV fold almost 18 years after the release of their 2004 album, Thunderdome. Alfred Koffler is delighted: 


"Since Thunderdome, the contact with Steamhammer`s A&R manager Olly Hahn, who did a great job back then, has never ceased. That`s why we have absolute trust in SPV and feel that we are in good hands. We’re confident that our collaboration will be a fruitful one again."


Olly Hahn: "In Pink Cream 69, one of the strongest and most charismatic German hard rock bands of the past thirty years, is returning to the Steamhammer roster. We’re proud and very happy and look forward to the coming months, which will definitely be very exciting."


Photo by Arno Kohlem





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Video footage of Steven Adler's September 5 performance at the Rainbow Bar & Grill Backyard Bash in West Hollywood, California can be seen below. Joining the former GUNS N' ROSES drummer in his group are Ariel Kamin, the singer of Argentinian GN'R tribute band SON OF A GUN, plus guitarists Michael Thomas and Alistair James, and bassist Todd Kerns (filling in for Tanya O Callaghan).

Kamin replaced Constantine Maroulis of "American Idol" and "Rock Of Ages" fame, who was the vocalist for ADLER'S APPETITE for a dozen or so dates in May 2018, including an Australian tour.

Steven previously played with Ariel when the drummer joined SON OF GUN on stage in November 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina to perform several GN'R classics, including "You Could Be Mine" and "Welcome To The Jungle".

Although he wasn't included in the lineup that launched the "Not In This Lifetime" trek in 2016, Adler rejoined GUNS N' ROSES at several shows on the tour, including three stops on the U.S. leg and one gig in Buenos Aires, Argentina, playing drums on "Out Ta Get Me" and "My Michelle".

In February 2017, Adler revealed that he was originally supposed to appear at more than just a handful of shows on the GUNS N' ROSES reunion trek. He claimed that he expected to play all the "Appetite For Destruction" material during the entire tour, only to be told he was out after he hurt his back during rehearsals.

Speculation was rampant that Adler would participate in at least a portion of the reunion tour ever since GUNS made it official in January 2016. The regular GUNS drummer for several years has been Frank Ferrer, who is also part of the current lineup.

A little over a year ago, DREAM THEATER guitarist John Petrucci released his second solo album, "Terminal Velocity", via Sound Mind Music/The Orchard. The follow-up to 2005's "Suspended Animation" featured guest musicians Mike Portnoy (SONS OF APOLLO, ex-DREAM THEATER) on drums and Dave LaRue (DIXIE DREGS) on bass. The effort marked the first time Petrucci and Portnoy had recorded together in over a decade, as well as their first time playing together since Portnoy departed DREAM THEATER.

In a new interview with Revolver, Petrucci said about his renewed working relationship with Portnoy (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Chemistry is everything. It's funny, too — with my solo album, I'd gone in, written all the music, recorded all the guitars, programmed drums, played bass. It was all done, and then I had to go in and get Dave LaRue to play bass on it and Mike to play drums on it. And when Mike started playing drums — I remember the first day he came into the studio and he just started playing to this music that I wrote, it just sounded like the two of us. It just was really nostalgic. Even though we didn't write it together, we weren't jamming together, we weren't even in the same room when I was writing it, but there's just something about that chemistry that creates this magical sound. And one of the things I thought was really awesome with the fans out there was when it came out, it just got such a positive reaction. People were just, like, 'I'm just so happy that you did this,' and the music sounds positive and happy. And this was, like, really all during the heart of the whole pandemic. So it was a very good, positive [experience]."

Last year, Petrucci told "Coffee With Ola!" that "it was really great" for him to have Mike play on the record. "I hadn't done anything musically with him since he left DREAM THEATER over 10 years ago," he said. "And it was really just fun, because it's different when you're in a band with somebody. Really, we grew up together — we met when we were 18. And you're in business together. It's different than when it's, like, fast forward, now it's, like, my friend is playing drums on my album. It was so easy going and so cool. He was able to come to my studio despite the pandemic situation on the East Coast in the U.S. It was safe for him to come to the studio — he doesn't live that far from me. And he spent a week, and we had fun. And he did a killer job.

"These songs take a lot of different skills, I think, as a drummer — some are uplifting and happy; some are metal; some take double-bass chops; some you've gotta do a shuffle; some are blues; some is Latin feel," Petrucci explained. "And it's just a testament to Mike's playing — he knows how to do all that stuff. And he came in, totally easy going, did it. We had fun. And I'm really happy that he did it."

Portnoy, who co-founded DREAM THEATER more than 35 years ago, abruptly quit the band in September 2010 while on tour with AVENGED SEVENFOLD. He has since been replaced by Mangini (ANNIHILATOR, EXTREME, JAMES LABRIE, STEVE VAI).

This past March, Petrucci and Portnoy's instrumental progressive rock/metal project LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT released its third album, "LTE3", via InsideOut Music. The effort arrived 22 years after the release of 1999's "Liquid Tension Experiment 2".

Former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens has criticized Dr. Anthony Fauci for repeatedly changing his COVID-19 recommendations.

Fauci, President Joe Biden's chief medical advisor, has received criticism from Republican leaders throughout the coronavirus pandemic, with some of them asking him to resign over his handling of COVID-19.

Owens, who frequently "likes" tweets that amplify Republican talking points and that are derogatory to Democrats, offered his opinion on the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director while responding to a headline from conservative media outlet The Blaze about Fauci's recent comment that three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine are likely needed for full protection.

Tim tweeted: "He changes what he says over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. So we find out masks don't work and vaccines don't work. So wear 5 masks and get 5 vaccines. ( just so you know I'm vaccinated and I wore a mask, oh yea and I've had Covid )".

Experts have repeatedly said that a COVID-19 vaccine is the single most important tool for preventing infections and protecting against moderate and severe disease. Some variants, such as delta, may be more likely to cause breakthrough infections, but vaccinations have shown protection against symptomatic disease caused by delta. Unvaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated. In the United States, 97% of the hospitalizations over the past three months, since delta came on the scene, have been in unvaccinated people. Ninety-nine percent of the people who have died of COVID-19 in the last three months were unvaccinated.

Masks reduce the risk of an infected person's spreading the virus and provide some protection for the wearer against becoming infected. A new study found that increased mask-wearing led to a significant reduction in the percentage of people with COVID-19, based on symptom reporting and SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. The researchers tested both cloth and surgical masks and found especially strong evidence that surgical masks are effective in preventing COVID-19.

In recent months, Fauci — who has served seven presidents since 1984 — has responded strongly to growing rightwing criticism and conspiracy theories connected to his handling of COVID-19. He told The New York Times in an interview: "It is essential as a scientist that you evolve your opinion and your recommendations based on the data as it evolves. And that's the reason why I say people who then criticize me about that are actually criticizing science."

He added: "The people who are giving the ad hominems are saying, 'Ah, Fauci misled us. First he said no masks, then he said masks.' Well, let me give you a flash. That's the way science works. You work with the data you have at the time."

Two months ago, Owens told Rocking With Jam Man that he wasn't leery about performing with someone or touring with another band that hasn't gotten the shot yet. "You can do what you want. I think it's your prerogative. It doesn't mean that they're not gonna get COVID [even if they're vaccinated]… An Olympic athlete, another one, just went down with COVID, and he was vaccinated.

"Listen, you're supposed to stay safer with it, but I'm not gonna treat anybody different that doesn't get it," he explained. "That's their thing. I got it. It's kind of like if you don't wanna wear your seat belt, you don't have to. I'm still gonna drive in your car with it. I'll wear mine."

As for whether he is concerned about there being another potential lockdown in the future if the number of coronavirus cases increases drastically, Tim said: "No. I do think there could be that. I try to read up on it. Now there's other strains they're talking about and this and that and the other. I mean, still, if people would just use a little common sense and don't go breathing in other people's faces and lick other people's fingers and stuff, we'll be all right. But hopefully [there] won't [be another lockdown]. I'm doing my part. I don't wear my mask anymore, 'cause I don't have to where I'm at. I stay six feet away from people. I got vaccinated. Not that I was one hundred percent sure if I wanted to, but I wanted my career in this business to start back up again. I try to do what I can. Hopefully people will still use common sense. But it does worry me a little bit. I sometimes think the numbers change when they want 'em to change as well," he added, without clarifying who "they" are. "I think if they want 'em to go up, they'll find a way to make 'em go up; if they want 'em to go down, they'll find a way to make 'em go down. Hopefully people will just use common sense and, again, stop coughing and breathing on each other."

In June, Owens spoke to "On The Road To Rock" about how he adapted to strict COVID-related rules and regulations during the coronavirus crisis. He said: "Listen, it is what it is, whatever you think about it. My girlfriend [went to] New York for two months [as a paramedic] and worked when COVID first started, and she's never seen anything like it. So she's experienced this firsthand. But you know what it is? My thing was this: let's just get through it; let's do whatever we have to do to get through it.

"I'm not a snowflake who… I don't wanna wear a mask, and whether they work or not, I got COVID before," the 53-year-vocalist, who lives in Akron, Ohio, continued. "But I'm not a whiner that's gonna whine about wearing a mask. It wasn't that difficult. I wasn't a roofer, and I wasn't digging a ditch in a mask. I actually wore my mask the whole time I was in the gym — on the elliptical and the treadmill I wore a mask. Because, first of all, wearing a mask I don't really have to talk to any jackasses half the time either, so they don't recognize me, so that makes it even better."

Owens did not reveal exactly when he came down with COVID-19, but he said he did his part in trying to protect others from possible infection.

"I just had the philosophy of I will do whatever I have to do to get us back together," he said. "Whether I believe it, whether I think it's right, whether I think it's wrong, politically — left, right, middle, whatever the hell we're talking about — let's just do whatever we have to do to get it going on. And you know what? Everybody just used common sense. My thing was back then if you are sick, stay home. If you don't wanna wear a mask [or] if you're a masker and you're worried about people without masks, then stay home.

"I miss sports," he continued. "I'm a big sports guy, and music, so my philosophy was whatever we need to do to get us back in the right direction, let's do it… Even now, when the numbers go up… They're gonna go up at times, and then this new strain is gonna hit. It is what it is."

Owens added that he is optimistic about the pandemic situation and the return of live music in the near future.

"Listen, we got hit with something we'd never seen before, and it was a stress situation; you don't know how to handle it," he said. "But you know what? Numbers are gonna go up and down, they'll move around, and you still use common sense. I mean, I'm not gonna go to the grocery store and lick the back of somebody's head. I'm gonna stay six feet from 'em and not be around somebody who's coughing. It's just common sense stuff. You do what you've gotta do. But I think we're there now. I think we're in a better position where you feel a lot safer going out there now."

In the past, Tim had vowed to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as he was able to.

Various polls have consistently find that Democrats are much more likely to report having been vaccinated than Republicans, and Republicans are much more likely to say that they definitely do not want to get vaccinated.

Owens is currently in a new band called KK'S PRIEST with ex-JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing, along with 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.




He changes what he says over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. So we find out masks don’t work and vaccines don’t work. So wear 5 masks and get 5 vaccines. ( just so you know I’m vaccinated and I wore a mask, oh yea and I’ve had Covid ??‍♂️ )

— Tim 'Ripper' Owens ?? (@TimRipperOwens) September 4, 2021

PEARL JAM singer Eddie Vedder has released a brand-new solo single titled "Long Way" via Seattle Surf/Republic Records. The song is the first track off Vedder's upcoming solo album, "Earthling".

In creating the song, Vedder worked with producer Andrew Watt in their first collaboration together. Vedder's iconic vocals shine through as Watt's production drives home the emotions of the track.

Vedder has also announced the pre-order of a special limited-edition seven-inch vinyl featuring "Long Way" and soon-to-be released song "The Haves".

Vedder has been busy, recently collaborating with Glen Hansard on eight new compositions for the "Flag Day Original Motion Picture Soundtrack", available via Seattle Surf/Republic Records. The soundtrack features noted singer-songwriter Cat Power who contributes three new original songs, along with one cove, and the debut of Olivia Vedder on two tracks. The 13-song soundtrack serves as the musical companion to the Cannes Film Festival-selected film "Flag Day" starring and directed by Academy Award winner Sean Penn and also starring his daughter Dylan Penn.

Up next, Vedder will perform a string of festival dates with PEARL JAM, including Sea.Hear.Now. festival on September 18, Ohana Festival on September 26 and again during Ohana Festival's Encore Weekend on October 1 and October 2. In addition, Vedder will also be performing a special solo set at Ohana Festival on September 25.

A year and a half ago, PEARL JAM unveiled its latest album, "Gigaton", to widespread critical and fan praise and a Top 5 debut on the Billboard Top 200. It graced year-end lists by Mojo, Consequence Of Sound, Insider, and more.

Photo credit: Danny Clinch

With his solo band starting its first tour in over 30 months this September, ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy has released another music video from his sophomore release "The Ides Of March". The video for "A Thousand Words" finds Myles reconnecting with director Stefano Bertelli (ALTER BRIDGE's "Native Son"/Myles Kennedy's "In Stride" video) for another animated masterpiece. The video shows Myles reflecting on life at an open grave as he sings the thought-provoking lyrics "'Cause in times like these, we must live and learn."

It was recently announced that Kennedy will head out on "The Ides Of March" tour. The 15-date trek will kick off on September 7 in St. Petersburg, Florida and make stops in Atlanta, Georgia; Des Moines, Iowa; Nashville, Tennessee; and New York, Ne w York, among others, before it wraps up in Baltimore, Maryland on October 2. They will also be part of the Foothills Festival in Jasper, Alabama on September 11 and the Adelphia Music Hall Summer Concert Series in Marietta, Ohio on October 1. These shows will include the full trio that recorded "The Ides Of March" — drummer Zia Uddin and bassist/manager Tim Tournier — on the road as well. All shows are on sale now and more information on tickets/VIP packages for all dates can be found at www.myleskennedy.com.

"The Ides Of March" was released in May via Napalm Records.

During his time at home due to all touring being canceled, Myles created the framework for the song ideas that would make up "The Ides Of March". He then called up his cohorts from his "Year Of The Tiger" debut — Uddin and Tournier — and the three musicians drove to Florida to record the album with longtime producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette.

From the slide guitar riffs of "Get Along" to the pensive blues style of closer "Worried Mind", it is clear that Myles has crafted a formidable follow up to his debut solo album. While "Year Of The Tiger" was more of an acoustic exploration through Myles's mind, "The Ides Of March" finds him strapping on his electric guitar and pushing himself as a guitarist/songwriter. Tracks like "A Thousand Words", "Wake Me When It's Over" and "Moonshot" showcase the diverse musical arrangements that have garnered Myles fans globally across all of his projects. The epic "The Ides Of March" clocks in at over seven minutes, and Myles, Tim and Zia showcase their musical chops on the track.

In November, Myles told Kylie Olsson about how "The Ides Of March" compares to "Year Of The Tiger": "It dawned on me last night as I was listening [to the new album], I was, like, 'You basically made a rock record.' [Laughs] I don't know if I went into it with that intention initially. And I feel like it definitely is still a continuation of the overall style that was established for the solo project on 'Year Of The Tiger'. There's a fair amount of acoustic instrumentation; there's a lot of lap steel [guitar]. I love the lap steel; I just love the way you can make it weep — it's got a very vocal quality. But then I realized there's just a lot of guitar and a lot more solos — you know, guitar geek stuff that I enjoy."

A month earlier, Kennedy told Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA that it was a joy to reconnect with Uddin, Tournier and Baskette for the making of the new LP.

"Oh, yeah, it was great," he said. "It was great, because we actually drove [to the studio in Florida]. So Zia, my drummer, who, we've played together for the last 30 years, off and on, since we were in high school. He's, in my opinion, one of the greatest rock and roll drummers alive; he's so good, it's mind-boggling. So we started driving. We left Spokane, with the gear in tow. And then we met Tim about halfway. I think we met somewhere in Tennessee, maybe. Then we after driving to Orlando, we all quarantined. Zia did his drums and then he went home, and then Tim finished up. He hung around for a little while. And then I was there for, I think, seven weeks with Elvis."

He continued: "It's a fun environment. We all love each other dearly. I'm serious when I say this: we're a bunch of middle-aged children. I mean, it's as if we've taken a time machine and we're in the seventh grade. And the humor is ridiculously silly. I don't even know how to articulate how ridiculous it gets when you put all of us in a studio together. [Laughs]"

Nikki Sixx has blasted the "bottom-feeder press" for sensationalizing his recent revelation that David Lee Roth turned down an offer to take part in that MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Stadium Tour".

In an article previewing Sixx's upcoming book, "The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx", the Los Angeles Times revealed that when CRÜE invited Diamond Dave to share the bill with them on their highly anticipated reunion tour, the VAN HALEN singer responded, "I don't open for bands that I influenced."

A day after Roth's remarks were covered on BLABBERMOUTH.NET and other sites, Sixx took to his Twitter to write: "Media takes one sentence outta new book and makes it a headline. Clickbait. I've comes to despise bottom feeder press. Ripping off fans to sell advertisements.."

Back in October 2019, Roth reflected on the influence of VAN HALEN on bands that followed, telling KKLZ's "The Mike & Carla Morning Show": "Hair bands were the imitations of VAN HALEN. Yeah, it is true, and spandex was what they came up with as something visual. I started off in leather, with the same haircut that Bono and [Bruce] Springsteen and the guys in METALLICA had. A famous haircut — if I had that same haircut today, it'd have its own Instagram. But VAN HALEN was a '70s band — we started off in 1972, and our first two albums were in the '70s. We sold our first 10 million records before the '70s were over. We spawned a whole lot of imitators who resorted to gimmickry and trade crap. It's easier to imitate a haircut and a kind of pants and to exhibit bad behavior."

"The Stadium Tour", which also features POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS, was originally scheduled to take place last summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus crisis.

When it happens, "The Stadium Tour" will mark the CRÜE's first live dates since wrapping its 2014/2015 farewell tour. CRÜE toured with POISON back in 2011 and DEF LEPPARD teamed up with POISON for a string of road dates in 2017 — but the upcoming jaunt marks the first time all four acts have hit the road together for an extended tour.

Roth performed as the opening act for the February/March 2020 North American leg of KISS's farewell tour, but is not making any appearances on the rescheduled KISS shows which kicked off on August 18 in Mansfield, Massachusetts.

In March 2020, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic.




Media takes one sentence outta new book and makes it a headline.Clickbait. I’ve comes to despise bottom feeder press. Ripping off fans to sell advertisements..

— ? (@NikkiSixx) September 1, 2021

To commemorate the 30th anniversary of METALLICA's self-titled album, the Grammy-winning, 16-times-platinum-certified LP is receiving its definitive re-release on September 10 via the band's own Blackened Recordings. Remastered for ultimate sound quality, The Black Album remaster will be available in multiple configurations including 180-gram double vinyl LP, standard CD and 3 CD expanded edition, digital, and limited-edition deluxe box set (containing the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four tour laminates, three lithos, three guitar picks, a METALLICA lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card).

Much more than a mere tribute album, "The Metallica Blacklist" celebrates the enduring influence of this musical milestone with one of the most ambitious projects ever conceived by the METALLICA team: An unprecedented 50+ artists spanning an unbelievably vast range of genres, generations, cultures, continents and more, each contributing a unique interpretation of their favorite Black Album cut.

"The Metallica Blacklist" offers up new dimensions of the record whose gravitational pull first drew the mainstream to METALLICA — and provides new insights into the universal and timeless appeal that kept it there: the boundary-smashing influence these 12 songs have had on fans and musicians of all stripes. "The Metallica Blacklist"'s 53 tracks find singer songwriters, country artists, electronic and hip hop artists sharing their love of these songs alongside punk rockers, indie darlings, icons of rock, metal, world music and many, many more… and for 50+ good causes: Profits will be divided evenly between charities of the artist's choice and METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation.

"The Metallica Blacklist" is a fitting and limitless homage, one that features bands who've shared stages with METALLICA alongside artists who are younger than the original album. It's a truly staggering, at times mystifying assemblage of musicians, dozens of whom have little to nothing in common other than the shared passion for the music that's united them for this album: 1 Album. 12 Songs. 53 Artists. Unlimited Possibilities.

"The Metallica Blacklist" will be available in formats including digital, four-CD and a limited-edition seven-LP vinyl pressing. Pre-orders will instantly receive multi-platinum selling recording artist, songwriter, philanthropist and trailblazer Miley Cyrus's version of "Nothing Else Matters" featuring Andrew Watt, Elton John, Yo-Yo Ma, Robert Trujillo and Chad Smith, and Colombian-born rock/pop superstar, and winner of 20+ Grammy and Latin Music Grammy Awards Juanes's interpretation of "Enter Sandman".

All profits from "The Metallica Blacklist" will be split evenly between the All Within My Hands foundation and 50+ charities chosen by the artists who play on the album. All Within My Hands was founded by the band in 2017 as a way for the entire METALLICA family to give back to communities that have supported the band by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.

"The Metallica Blacklist" features the following tracks:

* ALESSIA CARA & THE WARNING - Enter Sandman

* MAC DEMARCO - Enter Sandman

* GHOST - Enter Sandman

* JUANES - Enter Sandman

* RINA SAWAYAMA - Enter Sandman

* WEEZER - Enter Sandman

* SAM FENDER - Sad But True (Live)

* JASON ISBELL - Sad But True

* MEXICAN INSTITUTE OF SOUND FEAT. LA PERLA & GERA MX - Sad But True

* ROYAL BLOOD - Sad But True

* ST. VINCENT - Sad But True

* WHITE REAPER - Sad But True

* YB - Sad But True

* BIFFY CLYRO - Holier Than Thou

* THE CHATS - Holier Than Thou

* OFF! - Holier Than Thou

* PUP - Holier Than Thou

* COREY TAYLOR - Holier Than Thou

* CAGE THE ELEPHANT - The Unforgiven

* VISHAL DADLANI, DIVINE, SHOR POLICE - The Unforgiven

* DIET CIG - The Unforgiven

* FLATBUSH ZOMBIES FEAT. DJ SCRATCH - The Unforgiven

* HA*ASH - The Unforgiven

* JOSÉ MADERO - The Unforgiven

* MOSES SUMNEY - The Unforgiven

* J BALVIN - Wherever I May Roam

* CHASE & STATUS FEAT. BACKROAD GEE - Wherever I May Roam

* THE NEPTUNES - Wherever I May Roam

* JON PARDI - Wherever I May Roam

* SEBASTIAN - Don't Tread On Else Matters

* PORTUGAL. THE MAN FEAT. AARON BEAM - Don't Tread On Me

* VOLBEAT - Don't Tread On Me

* THE HU - Through The Never

* TOMI OWÓ - Through The Never

* PHOEBE BRIDGERS - Nothing Else Matters

* MILEY CYRUS FEAT. WATT, ELTON JOHN, YO-YO MA, ROBERT TRUJILLO, CHAD SMITH - Nothing Else Matters

* DAVE GAHAN - Nothing Else Matters

* MICKEY GUYTON - Nothing Else Matters

* DERMOT KENNEDY - Nothing Else Matters

* MON LAFERTE - Nothing Else Matters

* IGOR LEVIT - Nothing Else Matters

* MY MORNING JACKET - Nothing Else Matters

* PG ROXETTE - Nothing Else Matters

* DARIUS RUCKER - Nothing Else Matters

* CHRIS STAPLETON - Nothing Else Matters

* TRESOR - Nothing Else Matters

* GOODNIGHT, TEXAS - Of Wolf And Man

* IDLES - The God That Failed

* IMELDA MAY - the god that failed

* CHERRY GLAZERR - My Friend Of Misery

* IZÏA - My Friend Of Misery

* KAMASI WASHINGTON - My Friend Of Misery

* RODRIGO Y GABRIELA - The Struggle Within

A new instant-gratification track is now available with "The Metallica Blacklist" album pre-orders: "The Struggle Within" cover by RODRIGO Y GABRIELA. It can be heard below.

Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted performed with the MERE MORTALS at the 2021 Skaneateles Fire Department Field Days on September 5 in Skaneateles, New York. Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Last October, Newsted bought a home on Skaneateles Lake in Skaneateles for $6.1 million.

In late 2019, Jason sold his Walnut Creek, California house for $2.3 million.

Newsted and his wife Nicole have been longtime residents of Jupiter, Florida.

Seven years ago, the now-58-year-old Newsted canceled an appearance at Australia's Soundwave festival with his band NEWSTED, citing "private and personal circumstances." The cancelation followed more than a year of intense touring and promotional activity surrounding the release of NEWSTED's "Metal" EP and follow-up album, "Heavy Metal Music", both of which were positively received by the critics and fans alike.

After staying mostly out of the public eye for a couple of years, Newsted rejoined Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD on stage during June 2016 concert at Slim's in San Francisco, California. He has since formed a couple of new acoustic projects, one of which completed a short West Coast tour.

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001 but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.

Iron Maiden and Drake are going head-to-head in a gargantuan chart battle for #1 on this week’s Official Albums Chart, reports Official Charts Company.


Iron Maiden lead today’s Official Chart Update with their 17th studio album Senjutsu, while Canadian rapper Drake is clipping at their heels with his sixth album Certified Lover Boy in the runner-up slot.


Iron Maiden lead on physical sales and downloads, while Drake has the upper hand on streaming. So far this week, 8,000 chart sales separate the two albums, but everything is still to play for.


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Iron Maiden have scored five UK #1 albums across their forty year career, with their latest two studio LPs 2010's Final Frontier and 2015's The Book of Souls becoming their first consecutive UK #1s.


In other news, Iron Maiden have released the video below, stating: "Alex our Fan Club Eddie-Tor takes us through a beautiful Senjutsu vinyl unboxing (filmed last week but we wanted you to have that gatefold moment yourselves so we didn't post it)."





Senjutsu, Iron Maiden’s 17th studio album, is available globally via BMG. Through a series of new visualizers, you can hear the entire album below.


For Senjutsu - loosely translated as ‘tactics & strategy,’ the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Steve Harris. With a running time of a little under 82 minutes, Senjutsu, like their previous record The Book Of Souls, is a double CD/Triple vinyl album.





Senjutsu is released in the following formats and is available to order/save at IronMaiden.com.


- Standard 2CD Digipak
- Deluxe 2CD Book Format
- Deluxe heavyweight 180G Triple Black Vinyl
- Special Edition Triple Silver And Black Marble Vinyl
- Special Edition Triple Red and Black Marble Vinyl
- Super Deluxe Boxset featuring CD, Blu Ray and Exclusive Memorabilia
- Digital album [streaming and download]





Tracklisting:


"Senjutsu" (8:20) - Smith/Harris
"Stratego" (4:59) - Gers/Harris
"The Writing On The Wall" (6:13) - Smith/Dickinson
"Lost In A Lost World" (9:31) - Harris
"Days Of Future Past" (4:03) - Smith/Dickinson
"The Time Machine" (7:09) - Gers/Harris
"Darkest Hour" (7:20) - Smith/Dickinson
"Death Of The Celts" (10:20) - Harris
"The Parchment" (12:39) - Harris
"Hell On Earth" (11:19) - Harris


"Senjutsu":





"Stratego":





"The Writing On The Wall" video:





"Lost In A Lost World":





"Days Of Future Past":





"The Time Machine":





"Darkest Hour":





"Death Of The Celts":





"The Parchment":





"Hell On Earth":





"The Writing On The Wall" (SFX Version)








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Guitarist Rich Ward was unable to join FOZZY on stage last night (Thursday, September 2) in Columbus, Ohio for personal medical reasons. He is currently recovering under the care of medical providers and is expected to be back on tour, providing his high-energy performance, very soon. Meanwhile, FOZZY still performed a full set last night and will continue to do so until Rich's return for the first time ever as a four-piece.

Fan-filmed video footage of the Columbus concert can be seen below.

Ward's illness came on the same day that his ex-wife, former professional wrestler Shannon Spruill (a.k.a. Daffney Unger), was found dead at age 46.

According to People, Spruill sparked concerns on Wednesday (September 1) after she posted an Instagram video that showed her holding what appeared to be a small gun. In her video, she discussed potentially having symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disorder caused by repeated concussions.

Spruill's friend Lexie Fyfe told the New York Daily News that Shannon was found on Thursday morning, adding, "This last act, I don't want it to define her. She would always want people to reach out for help and to check in on those they're worried about. We're going to miss her."

Ward and Spruill wed in 1999 but separated in 2003, according to reports.

In May, FOZZY dropped a video for its first new song in two years, "Sane", which hit one million views in its first two weeks. This first-of-its-kind video was filmed on the longest wooden roller coaster on the planet today.

This past February, FOZZY singer Chris Jericho told Detroit's WRIF radio station that the band's follow-up to 2017's "Judas" album would "continue with the momentum that [the] 'Judas' [title track] started for us [four] years ago."

Last summer, Chris revealed that FOZZY's next LP will contain 12 songs, including one cover.

Ward and producer Johnny Andrews once again did "the lion's share" of the songwriting for the new LP, which was recorded primarily in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to producing "Judas", Andrews previously co-wrote FOZZY's "Lights Go Out" track back in 2014. He has also written songs with the likes of ALL THAT REMAINS, THREE DAYS GRACE and HALESTORM.

In November, FOZZY appeared in its first global live streaming event from Madison Studios in Atlanta, Georgia.

FOZZY is Chris Jericho (vocals), Rich Ward (guitars, vocals), Frank Fontsere (drums), Billy Grey (guitars) and P.J. Farley (bass).

Former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo has shared a photo of the flooded community surrounding his Lousiana home after Hurricane Ida devastated the southern portion of the state and left a million people without power.

Earlier today (Monday, September 6), Anselmo uploaded the picture to his Instagram and wrote in an accompanying caption: "September 2nd 2021 - aftermath of hurricane Ida #hurricaneida #ida".

The fifth most powerful hurricane to strike the United States blasted ashore in southern Louisiana on August 29, bringing rainfall and floods before moving north and east into Mississippi and Alabama the following day.

At least nine deaths were reported in Louisiana as of late last week, but state officials fear that number will end up much higher when the floodwaters recede.

Last Monday, a man was attacked by an alligator in some of those flooded Louisiana waters. The attack near Slidell, which is just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, resulted in the man losing his arm and disappearing in the flood waters, officials said.

Hurricane Ida, which made landfall near Port Fourchon, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds of about 150 mph, has drawn comparisons to 2005's Hurricane Katrina, which slammed New Orleans, leaving more than 1,800 people dead and becoming one of the costliest storms in American history.

Around the time Hurricane Katrina hit, Anselmo was in the process of kicking hard drugs in order to get a doctor to operate on his back. While he was going through detox, he was splitting time in Houston and Waco, Texas, before he could return home three months later.

In a 2005 interview, Anselmo spoke about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, explaining, "I was stuck in a hotel room for two and a half weeks in Houston, Texas, with my Rottweiler, my other dog, and this cat I've had since 1992 or something. I wasn't even sure he was going to make it because of the trauma, but he's a tough bastard." He added, "I was surrounded by all sorts of different people from New Orleans, who were working class, earning week-to-week salaries just to buy groceries and pay rent, and everything that had was gone. Just to think about the city, its culture, its characters, just the bands that have come out of here over the last 20 years, scattered and literally washed away."
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Philip H Anselmo (@philiphanselmo)

Wacken TV has uploaded pro-shot footage of Finnish bashers Ensiferum performing at the 2018 installment of the Wacken Open Air. Check out the full show below.


Setlist:


"For Those About to Fight for Metal"
"Two Paths"
"Heathen Horde"
"Twilight Tavern"
"Token of Time"
"From Afar"
"In My Sword I Trust"
"Hail to the Victor"
"Way of the Warrior"
"Two of Spades"
"Lai Lai Hei"
"Iron"


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On October 1st, Polish industrial groove metal band Torture Of Hypocrisy will release their fourth studio album, Humanufacture.


The release spotlights the band's ultra-modern style and sound, with emphasis on 7-string guitars, groove drumming, concrete bass, challenging growls and screams, and a strong vibe of electronic ambience inspired by video games such as Deus Ex or Cyberpunk. The conceptual layer showcases a metaphorical picture of recreating and reprogramming a human entity in modern society - human which turned to be a battery for GDP fed by fake news and social programs.


The record features also the unique, almost 10 minute long, self-proclaimed industrial masterpiece, "Body Parts Reproduction Facility”. Humanufacture is the new quality in industrial metal, redesigned to be based on atmosphere, heaviness, severity and interesting composition, instead of techno-like music played by countless bands in this genre. 


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Tracklisting:


"Synthetic Entity"
"Tech-Addict"
"Homo Globalis"
"GDP Serfdom"
"Social Credit System"
"Info Wars"
"Unperson"
"A Miracle Of Life"
"Body Parts Reproduction Facility"
"Mass Murder Mechanism"
"Deep State"


"Tech-Addict":





 





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US modern deathcore heavyweights Signs Of The Swarm have unveiled new single / video "Death Whistle", taken from their forthcoming album, Absolvere, out September 24th 2021 via Unique Leader.


Vocalist David Simonich commented "'Death Whistle' is a conceptual piece inspired by the ancient Aztec relic used in war. Entwining this idea to represent the end of our pain and sorrow that fuels the war within ourselves."


"While composing 'Death Whistle', we as a group had our own individual challenges and griefs to overcome. Sharing my experience publicly, I went through the hardship of losing my mother. To this day, I struggle with the constant battle within myself that there was something else I could have done to change what had happened. Full of regret, I dwell on my actions of the past where I believe that if I were around that my influence could have changed the outcome."


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"This song has a special place in my heart for it was the first time the band fully collaborated on the lyrics of a song. Pouring our souls, 'Death Whistle' was born."





Guitarist Jeff Russo continues: “I brought the 'Death Whistle' concept to the table after stumbling across videos of them online and feeling inspired by their chilling nature. Coming full circle to tie this together with our personal struggles and the lyrical content of the song, I felt pouring our feelings of being overwhelmed and crushed by life’s obstacles and tragedies was fitting. The end beckons to us, it instils fear in us, but we answer its call and we are swallowed by it. It’s a dark fantasy entailing the agonies of depression, loss, and letting go, but one I feel many can relate to at times.”


Pre-order / save Absolvere here.





Tracklisting:


"Hymns Ov Invocation"
"Boundless Manifestations"
"Dreaming Desecration"
"Totem"
"Nameless"
"Absolvere"
"Revelations Ov A Silent King"
"Hollow Prison" (Feat. Alex Erian of Despised Icon)
"Blood Seal"
"Death Whistle"


"Hollow Prison" video:





"Totem" video:





 





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Calgary, Canada’s Ravenous have a new album Hubris coming out this year and the second single “Astral Elixir” is now being served up with a music video. The single combines the spiritual experience of psychedelic rock with the changing musical patterns of prog metal at thrashing top speeds, a relentless power-thrash workout designed to be slick but rhythmically exhausting. The song breaks into a multifaceted and technical bridge that leads into an explosive shred section before a triumphant singalong ending. Ravenous explain the track further:


“Astral Elixir'' was the first song that Jake wrote specifically for the “Hubris” album. It was a dedicated effort to move Ravenous towards a more technical direction while maintaining the genre-blending influences of power, thrash, and speed metal. The title of “Astral Elixir” is a homage to some of Jake’s favourite songs: Astral Body (Between the Buried and Me) and Celestial Elixir (Haken), and the choice to make the lyrics spacey and psychedelic with themes of astral projection and ego death was a deliberate juxtaposition to the shreddy, dense music. Take a sip of the Astral Elixir and get lost in the soaring vocals, machine-gun drumming, and bombastic sweep arpeggios.”


Hubris will be released on October 22, 2021 via Feast Beast Records for North America plus Europe and for Asia via Spiritual Beast with exclusive bonus tracks. Preorders are available at Indiegogo .


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Tracklisting:


"Carnage In Carthage" 
"Astral Elixir" 
"Son Of Storms" 
"Die 1000 Deaths" 
"Bridgeburner" 
"The Alder Queen"
"March Of Hunger" 
"Claw Is The Law" 
"Onwards & Upwards" 
"…Of Beasts And Faust" 


Japanese Version Exclusives


"Cakaw Te Partiro" 
"一瞬千撃"


"Astral Elixir":





(Photo credit - Monika Deviat)





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"Stratego" is the second track from Iron Maiden’s long-awaited, 17th studio album, Senjutsu, released on September 3rd via BMG. It’s one of two songs on the 10-track, 82 minutes long album written by guitarist Janick Gers and founder member/ bassist Steve Harris.  


The official animated for the song can be viewed below.





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For Senjutsu - loosely translated as ‘tactics & strategy,’ the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Steve Harris. With a running time of a little under 82 minutes, Senjutsu, like their previous record The Book Of Souls, will be a double CD/Triple vinyl album.


Steve says: “We chose to record at Guillaume Tell Studio in France again as the place has such a relaxed vibe. The setup there is perfect for our needs; the building used to be a cinema and has a really high ceiling so there’s a great acoustic sound. We recorded this album in the same way we did The Book Of Souls in that we’d write a song, rehearse it and then put it down together straight away while it was all fresh in our minds. There’s some very complex songs on this album which took a lot of hard work to get them exactly as we wanted them to sound, so the process was at times very challenging, but Kevin is great at capturing the essence of the band and I think it was worth the effort!  I’m very proud of the result and can’t wait for fans to hear it.”


Bruce continues: “We’re all really excited about this album. We recorded it back in early 2019 during a break in the Legacy tour so we could maximize our touring yet still have a long set up period before release to prepare great album art and something special as a video. Of course the pandemic delayed things more - so much for the best laid plans – or should that be ‘strategies’!?  The songs are very varied, and some of them are quite long. There’s also one or two songs which sound pretty different to our usual style, and I think Maiden fans will be surprised -  in a good way, I hope!"





Senjutsu has been released in the following formats and is available to order/save at IronMaiden.com.


- Standard 2CD Digipak
- Deluxe 2CD Book Format
- Deluxe heavyweight 180G Triple Black Vinyl
- Special Edition Triple Silver And Black Marble Vinyl
- Special Edition Triple Red and Black Marble Vinyl
- Super Deluxe Boxset featuring CD, Blu Ray and Exclusive Memorabilia
- Digital album [streaming and download]





Tracklisting:


"Senjutsu" (8:20) - Smith/Harris
"Stratego" (4:59) - Gers/Harris
"The Writing On The Wall" (6:13) - Smith/Dickinson
"Lost In A Lost World" (9:31) - Harris
"Days Of Future Past" (4:03) - Smith/Dickinson
"The Time Machine" (7:09) - Gers/Harris
"Darkest Hour" (7:20) - Smith/Dickinson
"Death Of The Celts" (10:20) - Harris
"The Parchment" (12:39) - Harris
"Hell On Earth" (11:19) - Harris


"Senjutsu" visualizer:





"The Writing On The Wall" video:








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