GUNS N' ROSES' merchandising company has filed a lawsuit to get a judge's order that it can use to direct federal marshals, and authorize local and state police and agents hired by the company to seize bootleg T-shirts and similar items during the band's current tour.

Global Merchandising filed the complaint in New Jersey three days before the band's August 5 concert at MetLife Stadium for trademark infringement and unfair competition against various unnamed defendants described in the complaint as "parties who are selling unlicensed and infringing merchandise bearing the trademark, likenesses and logos of the musical group known as GUNS N' ROSES." The defendants were, according to the complaint, going to "sell unauthorized merchandise bearing the names, logos, likenesses, trademarks and artwork of musical performers without their permission and without payment of royalties to them."

The complaint went on to note that "about 400,000 people are expected to attend the GUNS N' ROSES concerts on its present tour."

Kenneth Feinswog, a lawyer for Global Merchandising Services Ltd., said in the court filing: "During the past 35 years of tremendous commercial growth of popular music, the public has not only purchased millions of records and concert tickets for entertainment but has further sought to identify themselves with and declare allegiance to their favorite performers by purchasing various articles of merchandise, t-shirts, patches, posters, photographs, jerseys, caps, belt buckles, jackets and other items that embody the names, photos, likenesses, logos, trademarks and/or artwork of such performers. Unquestionably, the aforementioned public statement of identification and allegiance to the performers and the souvenir value of the aforesaid merchandise is the reason why fans will pay more than $35.00 for a t-shirt displaying the performer's name or likeness which t-shirt might otherwise retail (without such name or likeness) for $4.00.

"Concurrently with the growth of the legitimate merchandising business, an illegal multi-million dollar industry has developed in the United States involving the unlawful manufacture, sale and distribution of 'bootleg' merchandise bearing the names, trademarks, trade names, likenesses or artwork relating to popular entertainers."

He continued: "Defendants are individuals and companies commonly referred to as 'bootleggers' of merchandise who, without permission or authorization, misappropriate the names, likenesses, logos, symbols, artwork and/or trademarks of performing artists and musical groups for use on merchandise that the 'bootlegger' Defendants peddle to the general public in order to cash in on the musical performer 's huge commercial value and reputation, all in violation of the rights of those individuals and companies that possess the exclusive right to engage in such commercial activity.

"To add insult to injury, the merchandise that the bootleggers manufacture and sell is, in most instances, of inferior quality and not only violates Plaintiffs ' rights but adversely affects the general public and irreparably injures the performers ' reputations for excellence and integrity in the pursuit of their professional careers.

"The glut of bootleg merchandise on the market deprives the artists, whose names, likenesses, symbols, logos and designs appear on the illicit infringing merchandise, of the earnings and credit that they (the artists) deserve from the investment of their capital and their creative energies into the development of their careers. These artists have licensed other companies to engage in legitimate merchandising activities on said artists ' behalf (such as Global Merchandising Services, Ltd.) and these companies are suffering as well from the competitive effects of the illegal activities conducted by Defendants."

Feinswog added: "Defendants are preventing these artists from controlling the manner in which the artists desire to be presented to the general public and have given the public the false impression that their illicit and inferior merchandise was either sponsored or approved by those artists.

"Moreover, since the bootleggers pay no royalties, and no fees to the stadium or concert hall where their illegal product is peddled, and upon information and belief, no taxes in connection with the sale of said merchandise, the bootleggers (defendants herein) are able to undercut the prices of the legitimate vendors who abide by the law in the conduct of their

business activities to Plaintiffs ' substantial detriment.

"These bootleggers are, plainly and simply, parasites who wrongfully profit from the tremendous energies and reputations of performers in the entertainment industry, and who flagrantly and unlawfully impede such artists in their personal and professional advancement."

Global Merchandising filed a similar lawsuit three years ago prior to the start of SLAYER's farewell tour.

In August 2010, Live Nation filed a lawsuit against several "John Does" in advance of that month's Ozzfest in Devore, California. ("John Doe" is a term used in lawsuits for individuals whose actual names are not yet known.) Live Nation was attempting to get a court order that would have federal and local law enforcement authorities seize and impound trademark-infringing gear at Ozzy Osbourne's traveling festival. AC/DC also filed a similar suit ahead of its 2016 U.S. t

During an appearance on the "Appetite For Destortion" podcast, legendary guitarist George Lynch was asked about the impact Eddie Van Halen's death had on him. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That hit me personally very hard, and every guitar player I know, pretty much, kind of felt the same way. As we get older, obviously, we're seeing people go away and pass. And that's just normal, of course. And we're seeing a lot of that. And so that's pretty profound. But, I mean, fucking David Bowie and George Michael and all these people — Prince — these giants… Tom Petty. It's, like, 'What?' All at once it seemed like. But Eddie was on another level, because, obviously, we're a little closer as far as what we do, and we kind of came up in the same place at the same time and had some connections and all that, so that's why it was more profound, I think. And I learned a lot from him, and I based a lot of my style on him. Even though we were compatriots in a way, he was way beyond me, so I lifted a lot of stuff from him and got inspired by him, as we all did. He's a Southern California guy, and we were like kind of neighbors and played the same clubs and played on the same stages together and hung out. [DOKKEN] did [the 1988] 'Monsters Of Rock' [tour with VAN HALEN, SCORPIONS, METALLICA and KINGDOM COME]… So, yeah, that was a pretty tough one. It hits close to home, too, I think, for us when our friends start disappearing, because it's a lonelier place after that."

Asked if he had any Eddie Van Halen stories to share that might "display the fun side of his personality," George said: "He was just incredibly shy. He was just a super introvert. I mean, all the guy did was just sit in his room and play guitar his whole life, and drink his beers and smoke his cigarettes, and developed what he developed. He changed the guitar world. I think he was just sort of burdened with this whole fame thing and being a human being in a complicated world. It isn't always so nice. He was a super-sensitive guy, which allowed him to be this incredible musician, as you have to have that sort of sympathy and empathy. A lot of people thought he wasn't that nice of a person, but it was just 'cause he was really quiet. He was a little bit scared, but he spoke so beautifully through his instrument.

"But we had moments," he continued. "We used to hang out. 'Monsters Of Rock', we'd go almost every night. When Valerie [Bertinelli, Eddie's then-wife] wasn't out, we'd jam. We'd just sit in our hotel room and just play guitar all night. It was pretty awesome. And actually, I had some issues with my gear out there on the 'Monsters' tour, and [VAN HALEN] were the headliner, obviously. And he was so sweet, 'cause he was, like, 'Hey, man, take anything you want of mine.' So I did half that tour with his gear. That's pretty insane, 'cause headliners usually don't do stuff like that. They're just, like, 'That's your problem. Figure it out,' which is fair. But he was very sweet: 'Just take anything you want — heads, cabinets.' I used his rig for, like, half that tour. It was pretty sweet.

"He gave my son a guitar lesson," George added. "My kid was going to GIT, and he wanted to be a guitar player like his dad. And I took him to meet Eddie at a show, and Eddie's, like, 'You know what? You're a guitar player? Let me show you…' So they went back in the warmup room and he gave my son a little lesson. That was pretty cool. Who does that?"

Lynch previously talked about Eddie's influence in a 2009 interview with Guitar Player magazine. Asked if he was jealous of VAN HALEN's success in the late 1970s and early 1980s, George said: "We were jealous and we were all trying to play catch up. We thought, 'Oh boy, we better get on board. This guy's going to change the world.' I remember my reaction when I first heard Eddie. I had been hearing about this guy with the weird European name. He's got a torpedo onstage, the bass player wears clogs, they have bombs onstage, and the guy's unbelievable. I saw him and it blew my mind. They were still doing covers at the time — RAINBOW, MONTROSE — and their original stuff was as good or better than their cover stuff, which was pretty exceptional. After their show, I went back to our band room and played my guitar until the sun came up. I thought, 'Man, how can I get that tone?'"

Asked if he tried to copy Eddie, George said: "What I really did was sort of bounce off his stuff rather than emulate it. I've done that with a lot of players. Instead of copying them, I react to them. I'll think, 'Well, Di Meola does this thing. I can do some alternate picking, so I won't copy it but I'll embed that a little bit into my toolbox and do it my own way.' I've tried to do that with any player who has influenced me: Clapton, Hendrix, Schenker, Eddie, Holdsworth. I couldn't play any of their stuff note for note to save my life, but I can capture the gist of what they're doing by being exposed to it. I can get the essence."

Eddie died in October at the age of 65 after a long battle with cancer.

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

Annihilator frontman / founder Jeff Waters takes another trip down memory lane, this time reflecting on recording the band's 1994 salbum, King Of The Kill. It was the first of three consecutive Annihilator albums to feature Waters on guitar, lead vocals and bass.


Waters: "Nice shorts. King Of The Kill recording sessions at Watersound Studios, Maple Ridge, BC, Canada. Spring/Summer 1994.


(My shorts and) I remember watching the OJ Simpson chase on that little tv in the corner. I gave that LP guitar away but it had played only on one or two parts of a song or two. The main rhythm and lead was that Black SG. The cleans were with the blue strat. That was in the days when four Alesis ADAT's and a BRC were the thang! They were insane for us musicians and studios but put a lot of studios out of business. Previously to these coming out in the early 90's, you would use mostly 2 inch tape and those would cost hundreds of dollars and only let you record something like 15 minutes on it. Then you had to buy another tape and another, etc. Sometimes, 2 inch tape (that played and recorded on huge, high-temp, fussy, maintenance machines) budgets for the big bands ran into the many thousands of dollars... a lot. Plus temperature, transporting and storage cost ya. 


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With the advent of digital stuff, which Alesis initially became the kings of with the Masterlink (a thingy to record your mix onto) and ADATS, I could literally go to the local 7-11 store and grab a VHS video tape for $7. That's what they used to record with in this new digital audio format. Those who know about this stuff were stunned and it opened up so much more at such a lower cost, even though we didn't realize that the A/D converter tech was pretty shitty for a good five years after its release, but this studio of mine was equipped with some of the first ones. I think I got them in '93? 





Things sure have come a long way in the studio biz. The only really fkd thing was that so many of us older farts understand that the REAL way to make GREAT music, generally was as a band, not at home, in a studio and with tape. Why? 'Cause you had to be a seriously well rehearsed band and you ALL had to be fkn great players. No computers. No computer vocal fixing software. Just be a killer musician and play good... and with the other members. Nowadays, we can email a Dropbox link to someone around the world, they play on it in their home studio and send it back. All of this tech is AMAZING; the only downside is that band thing and that need to take your playing to a way higher level to be able to record old school. No one is gonna really fix it up that much! 


King Of The Kill was my first 'not in a big and real studio' record. Luckily, that fkr sold huge overseas and more in Japan. 


To end this babble, I revert back to the beginning: Nice Shorts, Jeff!" 











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TRIUMPH guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett will release a new poetry book, "Reinvention: Poems", on September 14.

"Reinvention" is a largely autobiographical collection of poetry — a project that followed on the heels of Emmett retiring from a touring musician’s and college educator's life in early 2019. Inside all of the slashes that define him — singer/songwriter/guitarist/rock star/teacher/columnist — writing has always been his strongest avocation, and the poetic style of "Ultra Talk", in particular, offered a welcome spark for a songwriter's freedom of expression. This creative license is organized under seven headings — The Humanities, Life & Death, There's Politics in Everything, Double Helix, Soapbox Sermonettes, Time Time Time, and Ars Nova 2020.

Rik's poetry (literally) reinvents his own retirement, and it's not just some aging dilettante's bucket list fancy. He discovered a sincere way to tie up a lot of loose ends, fulfill dormant promise, and eschew show biz tangents. "Reinvention", his first book, makes some sense of a life that always went in a lot of different directions at once. Finally, he's given himself permission to chase a mode of self-expression with less commercial potential … than jazz guitar recordings.

Emmett is in three Canadian "Halls" and two "Walks Of Fame." After 12 platinum LPs in his TRIUMPH years, Rik produced 20 indie projects, from rock and blues to jazz, folk, and classical. His latest release is "Folk Songs For The Farewell Bonfire". An avowed family man, he’s been married for 45 years; he was also a Guitar Player magazine columnist for more than a dozen years and an educator for a few decades at Humber College. Rik is Artistic Director Emeritus of the SongStudio Workshop, and a published poet and cartoonist. He lives in Burlington, Ontario.

MEGADETH will be coming to the Wax blockchain. There will be two exclusive NFT craftable card packs available, an All Access pack, with only 1,500 available, and a General Admission pack, with only 2,500 available.

Based on artwork from the last 20 plus years of the Cyber Army and reimagined for the Wax blockchain, the MEGADETH Series 1 NFTs sets a whole new stage for MEGADETH collectibles. Both packs go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 27 at 10 a.m. PDT and will be available to purchase for only 72 hours, or while supplies last.

The card packs will be delivered after the transaction is complete and can be opened starting Monday, August 30 at 12 p.m. PDT. Cyber Army members will get exclusive pre-sale access to a limited number of All Access and General Admission card packs available starting on August 26 at 12 p.m. PDT. A credit card or PayPal and a Wax wallet will be required for all purchases. For more information, click here.

All Access Pack ($125): With only 1,500 being sold, the All Access NFT card pack features complete sets of 10 Collector Craftable Cards, a set of four Rare Craftable Cards, one Challenge Craftable Collector’s NFT Card, and one exclusive physical commemorative Collector Challenge Coin which will only be minted once.

General Admission Pack ($10): Only 2500 of the General Admission card pack will be made available and includes five pre-minted craftable cards.




MEGADETH is coming to the WAX blockchain, offering two exclusive NFT craftable card packs here: https://megadeth.io

• All Access pack (Only 1,500 available)

• General Admission pack (Only 2,500 available)

Based on artwork from the last 20 plus years of the Cyber Army and reimagined for the Wax Blockchain, the Megadeth Series 1 NFTs sets a whole new stage for Megadeth collectibles.

Both packs go on-sale to the general public on Friday, August 27 at 10AM PT and will be available to purchase for only 72 hours, or while supplies last.

Cyber Army members will get exclusive pre-sale access to a limited number of All Access and General Admission card packs available starting on August 26 at 12PM PT.

Posted by Megadeth on Tuesday, August 24, 2021

METALLICA has released two songs from its performance at the Chris Cornell tribute concert as part of its "Vinyl Club". "All Your Lies" and "Head Injury" were recorded at the "I Am The Highway" event, which was held in January 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles, California , and were produced by Greg Fidelman, mixed by Jim Monti and mastered by Billy Joe Bowers at Casa De Amor.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich commented: "Thank you for your musk, thank you for the words, for your thoughts... Thank you for the shows, thank you for the good times, for putting yourself out there... and thank you, along with your fellow bandmates, for giving us something that inspired us, excited us, meant something, moved us, and not only gave us belief in the possibilities, but turned us the fuck on.

"What an honor to have known you, to have shared the stage with you and created next level memories, and ultimately to nave been included in the LA celebration of your life, which allowed us the opportunity to share with the world just how much your music and your brilliance meant to us.

"Here are two of our favorite old-school SOUNDGARDEN tracks from that special night."

Cornell's widow Vicky added: "Thank you so much to METALLICA for the love and appreciation that you have shown for Chris and for memorializing that love, admiration and support from your performances at the 'I Am The Highway' tribute on this truly amazing and special vinyl.

"Joining the tribute concert meant so much to me and my children and to so many fans around the world… And I know how proud Chris would be, not only because you were there as his friends, but also because he was such a huge METALLICA fan.

"Thank you so much and thank you Lars for your very kind words about Chris. It is true that 'a man is not dead while his name is still spoken.' Thank you for continuing to honor him."

A number of pop stars also appeared at the event, such as Miley Cyrus, Brandi Carlile, Adam Levine, plus country artist Chris Stapleton and Ziggy Marley.

Rock artists that honored the singer included FOO FIGHTERS, Josh Homme of QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, Tim McIlrath of RISE AGAINST, Taylor Momsen from THE PRETTY RECKLESS, Perry Farrell of JANE'S ADDICTION, THE MELVINS, BLACK SABBATH's Geezer Butler and Ryan Adams, along with members of Cornell's bands SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE and TEMPLE OF THE DOG.

The show was presented by Cornell's family and closest friends, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting.

Each ticket purchased online for the show included a copy of Cornell's recently released self-titled career retrospective album.

Chris took his own life in May 2017 after a SOUNDGARDEN show in Detroit.




























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ALL THAT REMAINS is celebrating the 15th anniversary of its breakthrough album, "The Fall Of Ideals", with a new vinyl reissue, a tour and a documentary. Set to release on November 12 and available for pre-order today, the best-selling title features such fan favorites as "This Calling", "Six" and "The Air That I Breathe". In addition to the wide release, the band has exclusive colored vinyl variants with deluxe packaging available only at the band's webstore. The band will also be announcing information on their anniversary tour and documentary later this year.

Originally released in 2006, "The Fall Of Ideals" launched a new era for ALL THAT REMAINS — finding the band moving away from the death metal of their first two albums (2002's "Behind Silence And Solitude" and 2004's "This Darkened Heart") and settling into the melodic metalcore that defined their career. "The Fall Of Ideals" also introduced fans to the band's longtime bassist Jeanne Sagan and marked their only album to feature drummer Shannon Lucas. The newcomers joined founding members Phil Labonte (vocals) and Oli Herbert (lead guitars), as well as rhythm guitarist Mike Martin.

In the studio, the Massachusetts quintet partnered with two prominent metal artists: KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's Adam Dutkiewicz, who served as producer, and SOILWORK's Peter Wichers, who engineered the sessions. The dynamic, 11-song set found the musicians pushing their sonic boundaries, while Labonte showcased his broad vocal range — from epic, extended screams and in-your-face growls to emotive choruses. The album spawned a variety of enduring favorites, including the hard-driving "This Calling", which featured in the soundtracks to "Saw III" and "Masters Of Horror II", as well as singles "The Air That I Breathe" and "Not Alone". Other highlights included the guitar-forward "Whispers (I Hear You)" and the dramatic "Six", which appeared in "Guitar Hero II".

Upon its release in the summer of 2006, "The Fall Of Ideals" was embraced by fans, becoming the band's first album to break the Billboard 200 (peaking at No. 75) and eventually selling more than 450,000 units. The album also caught the attention of critics. Pop Matters hailed, "ALL THAT REMAINS has made the kind of stylistic leap that most bands can only wish they could pull off… 'The Fall Of Ideals' [is] invigorating from start to finish, and could very well be the metalcore album of the year." BLABBERMOUTH.NET praised, "ALL THAT REMAINS effortlessly blends thrashy twin guitar fireworks and Phil Labonte's raging vocals with soaring clean vocals and overall tunefulness…There is no denying that those guys play their asses off here and the result is immensely gratifying." Lambgoat simply declared, "The entire band executes the songs perfectly," adding that "the production…is full and crisp."

"We're so thankful to everyone who has kept this disc in their hearts for the past 15 years," says Labonte. "We are proud to celebrate the reissue and can't wait to tell you about all the other cool things we have in store."

In the 15 years since "The Fall Of Ideals", ALL THAT REMAINS have built an undeniable legacy as one of this century's most consistent purveyors of heavy music with a bulletproof canon of arena-worthy anthems. Currently consisting of Labonte and Martin, as well as drummer Jason Costa, bassist Aaron Patrick and lead guitarist Jason Richardson, the band continues to defy the odds of its genre. To date, they have sold more than a million albums worldwide, earning five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart, and boasting more than 1.5 million monthly listeners on Spotify — an unprecedented feat for any metal band. In 2018, ALL THAT REMAINS released their widely acclaimed ninth studio album, "Victim Of The New Disease".

"The Fall Of Ideals" track listing (vinyl):

Side A:

01. This Calling

02. Not Alone

03. It Dwells In Me

04. We Stand

05. Whispers (I Hear You)

06. The Weak Willed

Side B:

01. Six

02. Become The Catalyst

03. The Air That I Breathe

04. Empty Inside

05. Indictment

Swedish metallers SABATON have collaborated with World Of Tanks game developer Wargaming on the "Steel Commanders" music video. The clip, which can be seen below, also features Grammy Award-nominated and BRIT Female Artist Of The Year-nominated Tina Guo. Having established an international career as a virtuoso acoustic/electric cellist, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and entrepreneur, Guo is known for her unique genre-crossing style, she is one of the most recorded solo cellists of all time and can be heard on hundreds of blockbuster film, television, and game soundtracks.

"It's been a great experience working with the World Of Tanks and Wargaming guys on this huge project. Together, we made an epic music video for 'Steel Commanders' and it's the perfect way to kick off our massive collaboration," states Joakim Brodén, lead vocalist of SABATON. "We're proud to be part of this brand new in-game event that features the first-ever Tier IX Premium tank as the ultimate prize, as well as us as crew members!"

"Steel Commanders" will be out on all digital streaming platforms on September 17. All pre-savers will be eligible to win prizes, including "Steel Commanders" merchandise, as well as World Of Tanks bonus codes with exclusive SABATON in-game content!

Apart from the music video, SABATON is headlining a new in-game event: Spirit Of War. The event will see tankers take on challenges to reap the utmost reward: the game's first-ever Tier IX Premium tank, the Strv K. Eagle-eyed viewers will have noticed it in the "Steel Commanders" video, and it will be manned by a SABATON crew that includes Brodén, who recorded a custom voiceover that's full of Easter eggs for fans to discover. Once tankers earn their Strv K, they will be tasked with getting the exclusive Spirit Of War 3D style.

"We've really enjoyed working with the SABATON guys and we're happy to have them onboard this project," states Max Chuvalov, publishing director, World Of Tanks. "Our players love their music, and we complement each other as we are both fascinated with military history. Plus, we hope the new tune will inspire tankers to go that extra mile for the victory."

Even if players ultimately do not finish the marathon, they will earn plenty of goodies along the way and each stage they clear will allow them a set 10% discount on purchasing the Strv K, and the same is true for the 3D style. The Strv K also features its own SABATON soundtrack and will allow you to earn bonds in Random Battles, so it's a vehicle no tanker will want to miss out on, if not for owning a piece of World Of Tanks history. The Spirit Of War event will run from August 27 through September 6.

For more information about the Spirit Of War event, visit worldoftanks.com.

The surviving members of NIRVANA as well as the estate of Kurt Cobain have been sued by Spencer Elden, the man who claims he was the baby featured on the cover of the band's "Nevermind" album. Elden alleges the image of the baby reaching for a dollar in a swimming pool violated federal child pornography statutes and argues child sexual exploitation.

In the complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court, which also names photographer Kirk Weddle and the various record companies behind the album's release, Elden claims that his "identity and legal name are forever tied to the commercial sexual exploitation he experienced as a minor which has been distributed and sold worldwide from the time he was a baby to the present day."

According to the suit, the defendants "knowingly produced, possessed, and advertised commercial child pornography depicting Spencer, and they knowingly received value in exchange for doing so. … Despite this knowledge, defendants failed to take reasonable steps to protect Spencer and prevent his widespread sexual exploitation and image trafficking."

Elden claims that his parents never signed a release authorizing the use of the photos, which were taken in a Pasadena aquatic center in 1990. He alleges that the band promised to cover his genitals with a sticker, which was never incorporated into the album art.

"To ensure the album cover would trigger a visceral sexual response from the viewer, Weddle activated Spencer's 'gag reflex' before throwing him underwater in poses highlighting and emphasizing Spencer's exposed genitals," the complaint states.

The suit further alleges the defendants "used child pornography depicting Spencer as an essential element of a record promotion scheme commonly utilized in the music industry to get attention, wherein album covers posed children in a sexually provocative manner to gain notoriety, drive sales, and garner media attention, and critical reviews."

Elden is seeking damages of either $150,000 from each of the 17 defendants or unspecified damages to be determined at trial, attorney fees, an injunction to prohibit all parties "from continuing to engage in the unlawful acts and practices described herein," and a trial by jury.

"The permanent harm he has proximately suffered includes but is not limited to extreme and permanent emotional distress with physical manifestations, interference with his normal development and educational progress, lifelong loss of income earning capacity, loss of past and future wages, past and future expenses for medical and psychological treatment, loss of enjoyment of life, and other losses to be described and proven at trial of this matter," the lawsuit states.

Elden's parents were reportedly paid only $200 for the photos, and the shoot lasted around 15 seconds.

In a 2016 interview with Time magazine, Elden said: "It's a trip. Everyone involved in the album has tons and tons of money. I feel like I'm the last little bit of grunge rock. I'm living in my mom's house and driving a Honda Civic.

"It's hard not to get upset when you hear how much money was involved," Elden added. "I go to a baseball game and think about it: 'Man, everybody at this baseball game has probably seen my little baby penis,' I feel like I got part of my human rights revoked."

"Nevermind" has sold over 30 million copies worldwide and was certified diamond by the RIAA for sales in excess of 10 million copies in the U.S. alone.

Former D.R.I. bassist Harald Oimoen has apologized to VIO-LENCE singer Sean Killian for saying that he had "no sympathy" for adults who refuse vaccination against COVID-19 and then become sick.

On Sunday (August 22), Killian revealed that he been hospitalized with COVID-19 after contracting he virus "from a friend who was unaware he was carrying it." The 57-year-old musician, who battled stage four liver cirrhosis five years ago, added that his "lung capacity at this time is diminished" and indicated that he "will have a recovery period that will take some time."

A short time later, Oimoen, who is perhaps best known as one of the photographers behind the 2012 photojournal book "Murder In The Front Row" which chronicled the 1980s San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal scene, took to his Facebook page to write: "Hmmmmm .... I really don't wanna piss anybody off .... however the vocalist of a very popular local legendary ( almost !) thrash band just contracted the virus !! He is a totally anti vaccination kinda guy !"

He added: "I have absolutely no sympathy for anyone who gets the virus but refuses to get vaccinated !!! Kinda ironic and perfect punishment for being soooo ignorant !!"

Harald's comments prompted a quick response from Killian, who shared Oimoen's post and added in an accompanying message: "This is what Harold Oimen [sic] just posted about me. When an individual's mind is so poisoned by the need to confirm their affiliation with a group that they use others misfortune to do it says a lot about that person. I considered Harold a friend once but no longer. If he had any integrity he would have contacted me directly and we could have had an open conversation. We have known each other for decades. Your a coward Harold don't ever consider yourself my friend again. When you see me in public, and you will, avoid me like a storm sent from Hell because that is what you'll be facing."

Late last night (Monday, August 23), Oimoen returned to his Facebook to write: "I'd like to publicly apologize to Sean Killian for my callous and uncalled for rant !! I've known Sean for 35+ years and even performed at his benefit show !! I should keep my opinions to my self !! I love our scene here in the Bay Area and deeply care for all my friends !!

"This has gotten way outta hand & never dreamed my comment would blow up like this !! I don't know WTF I was thinking .... Life is way too short & fragile to even waste time on bullshit like this !! It was mean spirited & uncalled for ! There is enough schism in the world right now & I shouldn't be making it worse !

"So bummed we lost Eric Wagner who was a way cool guy !

"Get well soon Sean and now we're even for the time you trashed my house with Baloff & Fred Cotton !! Truly sorry brother !"

Oimoen's initial post drew reactions from several other members of the Bay Area metal community, including Killian's bandmate, VIO-LENCE drummer Perry Strickland, who wrote: "We all stand by our choices !and Sean ! 100 [percent]" Former TESTAMENT bassist Greg Christian also chimed in, writing: "In my humble opinion, I don't think this needed to be said. Regardless of the irony. He's a human being, and an old friend - with fragile health to begin with. Why would you want to gloat or take pleasure in him getting sick? What if, God forbid, he were to end up dying from this? How would you feel about this post then? I know, it's social media. I get it. But this whole social media experience is making us all callous. It is what it is, but hey we really should at least try to not celebrate when people we know catch a potentially dangerous disease. Ya know?"

Sean's public revelation that he was infected with the virus came on the day that former TROUBLE singer Eric Wagner — who was also reportedly unvaccinated — died after a battle with COVID pneumonia.

Unvaccinated people are more likely to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19 than people who are fully vaccinated.

Infectious disease experts have said that large-scale outbreaks among unvaccinated people are being fueled by the highly contagious delta variant.

Killian underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in March 2018. The year before, Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, which was caused in part by a genetic condition called hemochromatosis.


I’d like to publicly apologize to Sean Killian for my callous and uncalled for rant !! I’ve known Sean for 35+ years and...

Posted by Harald Oimoen on Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Chicago doom metal legends TROUBLE have paid tribute to their late singer Eric Wagner who died over the weekend at the age of 62.

Earlier today (Tuesday, August 24), TROUBLE guitarist Bruce Franklin, who co-founded the band in 1979, released the following statement via social media: "We were all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our old friend and former bandmate, Eric Wagner.

"I am struggling with how to describe the complex relationship we had together, in just a few paragraphs. A person's life deserves the fullness of a book, but I will try to convey things in brief form.

"I met Eric when I was 16 and he was 18. We played in our first band together and even though he hadn't realized it yet, I saw the potential that he had. We saw a lot of things the same way, which led us to ditch the band we were in and look for something more serious. We found Rick's band TROUBLE, who were looking for a lead vocalist and guitarist. Those next couple of years produced the sound and early songs of TROUBLE, that you would all come to know and love. Eric definitely played a big part with his unique lyrics and visions for album artwork, along with his eventual iconic image fronting the band.

"On a more personal note, we could all tell some great stories of things Eric used to say that would make us all laugh until we cried. You had to be there and if you were, you know what I'm talking about. I'll also never forget the hours upon hours that Eric and I would spend in his apartment, sometimes just talking about tv shows, movies, or sports. Other times, talking seriously about lyrics, songs, and band direction.

"Eric grew from an aspiring lyric writer and novice singer to become a serious lyricist and kind of poet. When the band hit its peak, Eric had fully realized his potential as a singer and lyricist. This helped to catapult TROUBLE to new heights and made forever fans out of thousands of you. Eric was what musicians call a 'lifer'. He made music his life's mission. He was always working on the next thing and God knows he wasn't doing it for the money.

"It's a tough thing to accept that a close friend is gone and you will never see them again. We all will have to get by with our memories and Eric's bountiful legacy of music through 5 decades.

"God bless and keep our brother Eric.

"Rest in Peace

"Bruce Franklin on behalf of TROUBLE".

Wagner, who was reportedly unvaccinated against the coronavirus, died after a battle with COVID pneumonia. Less than a week earlier, his THE SKULL bandmates went public with the fact that he was infected by the novel coronavirus.

TROUBLE formed in 1979 and released several classic albums like "Trouble", "Manic Frustration" and "Plastic Green Head".

Wagner left TROUBLE in April 2008, citing his disdain for the touring life as the main reason for his departure.

In a 2016 interview with Oldschool Metal Maniac, Eric stated about his split with TROUBLE: "I was tired of everything. Tired of touring, playing same songs every night. I wanted to do more things, and I didn't see us doing anything new. I had a bunch of new songs, that I've been working on, which appeared on BLACKFINGER records and THE SKULL records."

Eric was one of the guest singers on Dave Grohl's (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS) heavy metal side project PROBOT, whose 2004 album featured heavy metal vocalists from the '80s and '90s.

Last year, TROUBLE partnered with Hammerheart Records to re-release the legendary doom legends' entire musical catalog, in addition to their upcoming album. This partnership that will see the distribution of the band's entire library of music that spans over three decades.


We were all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our old friend and former bandmate, Eric Wagner. I am struggling...

Posted by Trouble on Tuesday, August 24, 2021

SKID ROW is continuing work on its long-awaited new album for a tentative early 2022 release via earMUSIC. Bassist Rachel Bolan offered an update on the progress of the recording sessions for the LP in an Instagram video message on Monday (August 23). He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm on my way to the studio. Snake [guitarist Dave Sabo] and Scotti [Hill, guitarist] just got in last night. Snake braved the hurricane. Yeah, they got in last night and they're starting today on their solos. I'm heading there right now to check things out, listen and drive everyone crazy with my ideas and thoughts. Not really… I really don't intend on driving everybody crazy, but who knows. I'm very psyched. It's another step in the completion of the new SKID ROW record, and that makes me very happy, as I think it'll make you happy too. We're looking at spring of 2022 for the release, is what I'm being told — subject to change, of course."

SKID ROW is recording its new album in Nashville, Tennesse with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, STONE SOUR, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, RUSH and ALICE IN CHAINS, among many others.

SKID ROW's new LP will mark its first release with South African-born, British-based vocalist ZP Theart (DRAGONFORCE, TANK, I AM I), who joined the band in 2016 following the departure of Tony Harnell (TNT, STARBREAKER).

Unlike 2014's "Rise Of The Damnation Army - United World Rebellion: Chapter Two" and 2013's "United World Rebellion: Chapter One", SKID ROW's forthcoming release will be a full-length record.

SKID ROW previously collaborated with several outside songwriters on its new material, including Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR) and Lzzy Hale and Joe Hottinger of HALESTORM, a group that covered the title track of "Slave To The Grind" on its "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP" in 2011. SKID ROW also worked with songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow.

Earlier this month, SKID ROW celebrated the 30th anniversary of its classic second album, "Slave To The Grind", by performing it in its entirety at The Amphitheater at Rolling Hills Casino And Resort in Corning, California.

Last summer, Bolan told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he and his bandmates would embark on a "Slave To The Grind" 30th-anniversary tour in 2021.
























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A post shared by OfficialRachelBolan (@officialrachelbolan)

BLACK SABBATH's Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward have taken to social media on Tuesday to honor THE ROLLING STONES' Charlie Watts, who died earlier today at the age of 80.

Iommi wrote: "So sorry to hear the very sad news of Charlie Watts passing. He was such a nice guy and a major influence in the music business - he’ll be sadly missed. My deepest condolences to his family and to Mick, Ronnie, Keith and all his friends and fans. R.I.P."

Ward said: "Our condolences to Charlie's family, friends, fellow musicians, and fans. The very bulwark in the best rock and roll band in the world has passed away leaving us all so much to listen to and relisten to. His hats and snare pinned in so much of the sound and let it sound loose but always so tight at the same time.

"Charlie was brilliant, sustaining and always on, a solid fixture in a band that often seemed it was falling off the edge of the world. We've all been with him a long time now, he was always solid, we can learn much. A great rock and roll drummer and beloved jazz drummer making outstanding jazz recordings. He will always be vital to fellow musicians, especially for fellow drummers.

"My family and I are very sad today, in the notice of his passing. Our hearts will be forever grateful for all the great things he gave us, and now, has left us, thank you Charlie, RIP. The Bill Ward Family".

Butler stated: "This news did shock me today. I've been a fan since I saw THE STONES at the Birmingham Town Hall in 1964. RIP Charlie, thanks for the great music and memories."

Bernard Doherty, Watts's publicist, said that he "passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family."

Charlie's death came just weeks after THE ROLLING STONES announced that Watts would be missing several U.S. tour dates while he was recovering from an unspecified medical procedure.

Although Watts wasn't a founding member of THE STONES, he had been with the band since January 1963.

He battled throat cancer in 2004 but got the all clear after undergoing two operations.

Prior to Charlie's death, the "No Filter" tour, which was originally supposed to happen last year, was scheduled to hit 15 cities from September through November.




#CharlieWatts ?? pic.twitter.com/OtLzoRiToE

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) August 24, 2021








This news did shock me today. I've been a fan since I saw the Stones at the Birmingham Town Hall in 1964. RIP Charlie, thanks for the great music and memories. https://t.co/45J87apnrv

— Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) August 24, 2021








So sorry to hear the very sad news of Charlie Watts passing. He was such a nice guy and a major influence in the music business - he’ll be sadly missed. My deepest condolences to his family and to Mick, Ronnie, Keith and all his friends and fans. R.I.P.

Tony pic.twitter.com/62veFSUjoz

— Tony Iommi (@tonyiommi) August 24, 2021

Original KISS drummer Peter Criss has taken to social media on Tuesday to honor THE ROLLING STONES' Charlie Watts, who died earlier today at the age of 80.

Criss wrote: "As a musician it was always a comfort to know the greatest band in the world was still around.

"It is devastating to hear of Charlie Watts' passing. As a drummer he inspired me deeply. It is a great loss in musical history and there will never be another Charlie Watts. His unique style and technique was the heart beat of THE ROLLING STONES. He is and always will be an inspiration for us drummers. He was one of my favorite drummers and I have so much love and respect for him. He will be greatly missed.

"My love and prayers go out to Mick, Keith, Ronnie, and all his family and fans all around the world.

"May he rest in peace with the Lord in heaven.

"God Bless, Peter Criss".

Bernard Doherty, Watts's publicist, said that he "passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family."

Charlie's death came just weeks after THE ROLLING STONES announced that Watts would be missing several U.S. tour dates while he was recovering from an unspecified medical procedure.

Although Watts wasn't a founding member of THE STONES, he had been with the band since January 1963.

He battled throat cancer in 2004 but got the all clear after undergoing two operations.

Prior to Charlie's death, the "No Filter" tour, which was originally supposed to happen last year, was scheduled to hit 15 cities from September through November.




God bless, Charlie. pic.twitter.com/sWpU2JSeqG

— Peter Criss (@PeterCriss) August 24, 2021

Juno nominated singer / songwriter Lindsay Schoolcraft is honoured to have been featured as a guest vocalist on "Hail The Acoustic Destroyer" by legendary Canadian hardcore band, Cancer Bats. The song is from the band's upcoming EP, You’ll Never Break Us: Separation Sessions. All proceeds raised via the band’s Bandcamp, as well as, a portion of the proceeds from shirt sales will be donated to Water First NGO, an organization that helps to train interns in water purification in order to help their communities have access to clean drinking water.


Lindsay comments: "Cancer Bats are underground kings as far as the hardcore punk scene goes so I was a bit perplexed when Liam reached out asking me to collab on a track. Once he told me it was an acoustic version of 'Hail Destroyer' I was like 'Okay, that makes more sense.' Their acoustic releases over the pandemic have been a real treat and I highly recommend checking them out!"


The band further comments: "For Hail The Acoustic Destroyer we all really wanted to capture the same energy and tension of the song but using a completely different approach from the original. Looking more at it being sparse and looming to convey the 'heaviness.' Once that groundwork was laid, having Lindsay Schoolcraft’s amazing goth tinged vocals on the track really pushes the song into a new melodic dimension, making the listener forget what the original 'Hail Destroyer' even was."


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"Hail The Acoustic Destroyer" is available via the digital platforms found here.








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Carolinas based heavy rock band The L.A. Maybe - fronted by lead singer Alvi Robinson, made famous when he was nearly selected to front AC/DC in 2016 - have released the official music video for "When I'm Gone", off of their debut album, Dirty Damn Tricks.


"In 2015 a close friend of the band committed suicide. While we can’t ever fully erase the pain of such an event, we wrote 'When I’m Gone' as a form of therapy and to hopefully inspire others with a message of hope.


This video is our most ambitious effort yet. Filmed over two months, across five beautiful locations around the SouthEastern United States... we shot through pouring rain, searing heat, and breathtaking scenery.


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It was our goal to have the visuals capture and reflect the emotional nature of the song and its meaning. Most of all, it’s a tribute to our friend and we hope it can help others through their own dark moments." - guitarist Dallas Dwight





"When I'm Gone" can be found on Dirty Damn Tricks, the debut album from The L.A. Maybe, available now at this location.





Tracklisting:


"Mr. Danger"
"Sucker Punch"
"Oh Sugar"
"She's Reckless"
"Peace Of Mind"
"When I'm Gone"
"Take Me Away"
"Sweet"
"Fake"
"Up Next To You"


"Mr. Danger":





"Sucker Punch":





"Oh Sugar":





"Peace Of Mind":





To read BraveWords scribe Aaron Small's new interview with The L.A. Maybe vocalist Alvi Robinson, click here.


 





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Swedish heavy metal power trio Nekromant will release their fourth full-length, Temple Of Haal, via their new label home of Despotz Records this Winter.


Hailing from the city of Vänersborg and formerly known as Serpent, Nekromant is renowned for delivering an authentic and effortlessly brilliant old-school metal assault. Standing on the shoulders of metal giants such as Black Sabbath and Pentagram, the band is well versed in the art of crushing riffs and powerful melodies, boasting a sound that echoes the might of the past with an eye cast toward the future. From a punishing percussive battery through to the Iommi-esque guitars, Nekromant understands that the riff is king, as demonstrated throughout their superb new long player. 


Temple Of Haal is packed with ambitious metal gems such as the epic “Behind The Veil Of Eyes” and the doom-laden “Olórin's Song.” In advance of the record’s release, the band is pleased to unveil first single, “The Woods,” revealing of the track, “This is a classic, unapologetic heavy metal tune. We’re not content with living this modern lifestyle, detached from what really matters. ‘The Woods’ is therefore an aggressive expression of Scandinavian grumpiness.”


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Temple Of Haal will be released on CD, LP, and digitally December 3. Preorders available here.





Tracklisting:


“Sileni”
“The Woods”
“Olórin's Song”
“Nekrolith”
“Vaenier Dreams”
“King Serpent”
“Häckle Klint”
“Temple Of Haal”
“Behind The Veil Of Eyes”


“The Woods”:





(Photo by: Robert Hellstorm)





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The extreme progressive/power metal group Immortal Guardian have unveiled a music video for “Candlelight”, the latest single from their concept album Psychosomatic. The clip which was produced by Brett Rivera and features former Cirque Du Soleil performer Olga Pikhienko and world-renown dancer Danny Davalos was filmed at the location at the Valley of Fire outside Las Vegas – is being released in the wake of the band's return to the road, which began last week with a concert in their newly adopted hometown and was followed by a show in guitarist/keyboardist Gabriel Guardian’s original hometown of Harlingen, Texas.





Says Gabriel, “'Candlelight' is a beautiful song written by (vocalist) Carlos Zema as a tribute to all of our loved ones that passed away during these hard times. 2020 was a very difficult year for all of us, with lockdowns, deaths in the family and having to cancel all of our plans as a band. Making our album 'Psychosomatic' helped us cope with the tough times and be able to channel our thoughts and emotions into lyrics and melodies. ‘Candlelight’ was a very tough song for Carlos and I to do with all of the emotional weight it brought, but in the end, we were very happy with how it came out and finalized on the album. This song goes out to all our friends, family and heroes who are no longer with us today.”


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Immortal Guardian's cross-country journey – which includes a series of shows alongside Atlanta power-thrashers Paladin, as well as a headlining appearance at the Mad With Power Fest in Madison, WI on August 28 – marks the band's first live performances in support of Psychosomatic. The group will be performing every night backed by a visually entrancing laser/light show designed by Guardian himself.





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Backwoods Pennsylvania death metal freaks, Outer Heaven, return with In Tribute..., a 5-track slab of grotesque covers from some of extreme metal's finest: Repulsion, Morbid Angel, Pig Destroyer, Mortician & Death. Artwork by Matthew Stikker.


“In the very uncertain and depressing times during the beginning of the pandemic, we wanted to find a way to keep ourselves occupied as a band. With shows falling to the wayside for the foreseeable future, we decided to push our efforts into celebrating our label, Relapse Records, in their 30th year. We scoured the timeless discography of the label and chose a handful of tracks that meant alot to us, and decided to record covers of them as an offering of tribute to the label and all the fans who have supported us all this time. We also recorded an extra 5th track from outside the RR discography that we just couldn’t resist including with this release. We hope this will do the job of holding everyone over as we complete work on our 2nd full length album! DEATH METAL FOREVER!”


In Tribute… physical pre-orders are available via Relapse.com here and officially out October 8. Listen to In Tribute... on all streaming platforms here, and below.


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Tracklisting:


"Maggots In Your Coffin" (Repulsion cover)
"Word Of Shit" (The Promised Land) (Morbid Angel cover)
"Junkyard God" (Pig Destroyer cover)
"Drowned In Your Blood" (Mortician cover)
"Secret Face" (Death cover)





Lineup:


Austin Haines - Vocals
Jon Kunz - Guitar
Zak Carter - Guitar
Derrick Vella - Bass
Paul Chrismer - Drums





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In all the silence, Finnish death doom masters, Swallow The Sun, have written, recorded and mixed a new album called Moonflowers. It is done and ready and will be released on November 19.


Along with some of the album formats, there will also come a full bonus album featuring very special instrumental versions of all the regular album tracks. This instrumental album has been composed for strings and recorded at Sipoo Church in Finland. The strings were performed by the group called Trio NOX from Finland.


All these instrumental songs will be launched as animated videos, which were created by Dronicon Films. One by one every week, leading up to the first single release of the main album.


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The new instrumental song, "Keep Your Heart Safe From Me", is accompanied by an animated video created by Dronicon Films. Watch below:





Check out the instrumentals for "Woven Into Sorrow", "Moonflowers Bloom In Misery" and "Enemy", below:











Juha Raivio comments: “I know well that I should not say this, but I deeply hate this album. I hate where it takes me, how it makes me feel and what it stands for me personally. I wish it wouldn’t. But for all its honesty I got no option than also love it. That is all that matters to me with the music anyway and it doesn’t matter how it makes me feel, as long as it does. For me this album is like a mirror of a deep self-disappointment. Even I still want to believe that there is and could be more than this in me. But I don’t need or want to talk more about it. After all music means so different things to each one of us by how we have walked our own paths, and that is a beautiful thing about music. There is no right or wrong.


"After I had finished writing all the music for this record in the fall of 2020 I started to write these small instrumental versions of the album songs for the violin, viola, cello and piano. Mostly because I was wondering how it would feel like to hear all these songs first as these intimate versions instead of a full band album. It was really beautiful to see and hear these songs come alive in this way and form, recorded live in this big church in Finland. To be able to hear the echoes of this music reflecting from the church walls and feel the very soul of these old wooden instruments played by real people in this sacred place. Something about hearing the strings breathe this fragile beauty into these songs that carry so much pain otherwise. Now looking back, maybe I wrote these versions just for myself to be able to hear and feel at least some kind of a beauty and solace in these songs, maybe…


"I wanted to create the cover art of this album myself this time, so it would stand as brutally honest for me as the music is. So I painted the moon on the ‘Moonflowers‘ cover with my own blood and I decorated it with the flowers I picked up and dried on the spring of 2016. Maybe it isn’t the most outstanding looking piece of art ever made in this world, but for me it is everything. I wasn’t going to write any new music before I would have moved towards the right direction in my life, but finally all this music just forced itself out of me during the long nights of this hope crushing and neverending lockdown prison. Something grew out from that void eventually and writing these songs made me think a lot about moonflowers that bloom at the darkest hour of the night, so that name felt right to call the album also.


"All my love to you, take care."





Moonflowers tracklisting:


"Moonflowers Bloom In Misery"
"Enemy"
"Woven Into Sorrow"
"Keep Your Heart Safe From Me"
"All Hallows' Grieve" (Featuring Cammie Gilbert)
"The Void"
"The Fight Of Your Life"
"This House Has No Home"


Raivio further states, “In other news, unfortunately our busy brother Jaani will step aside from the band at least for this new album cycle, but we are happy to tell that you can hear Jaani’s backing vocals on the new album anyway.”


Jaani Peuhu adds, "Sadly, Corona virus messed up everything including the release schedules of my bands. Both the Mercury Circle and Swallow The Sun albums are being released at the same time, making it impossible for me to tour with both bands. For this reason, I decided that it’d be better for me to solely focus on MC for this release cycle.


"That being said, the upcoming Swallow The Sun album will be amazing, and I am so happy we could still do it together. I wish the best of luck to StS on their tour with it! See you in the audience!"





Lineup:


Juha Raivio - guitars
Matti Honkonen - bass
Mikko Kotamäki - vocals
Juuso Raatikainen - drums
Juho Räihä - guitars


(Band painting by Doppelganger-Art)





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Banger Films' documentary on legendary Canadian band Triumph, Rock & Roll Machine, will premier at TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) on Friday, September 10 at 9 PM at RBC Lakeside Drive-In at Ontario Place. Watch a video trailer below.





Canadian power-rock hitmakers Triumph revisit their ’80s heyday and prepare to meet devotees in this doc from Sam Dunn and Marc Ricciardelli.


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“Overkill has always been one of my philosophies.” So says Gil Moore, a founding member of Triumph, the Canadian rock band that announced its guitar-god ambition right there in its name. During a run from the late 1970s through the ’80s, drummer-singer Moore, singer-guitarist Rik Emmett, and bassist-keyboardist Mike Levine dropped hits like “Lay It On the Line,” “Hold On,” and “Magic Power,” which defined an era of muscle cars, tight jeans, and the anthemic yearnings of Canadian youth.


But something about Triumph’s sound generated a longtime, far-reaching fanbase. Even as the band members went on to new ventures, with Moore running a successful recording studio, where the likes of Prince, David Bowie, Drake, and Katy Perry have recorded, the fans begged for more. Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine chronicles the band’s past rock excess as the trio prepares to meet today’s ultra-fans - and their expectations - at an event staged at Moore’s Metalworks Studios.


Moore brings a sideways, unassuming sense of humour to recalling the band’s rise from modest beginnings. Pulling out one early single, he says, “This one went to number one in Dryden, Ontario.” But Triumph’s soaring, upbeat power rock soon drew legions of fans, taking the band on arena tours across North America right at the height of the genre’s heyday. The Jacksons went to see a Triumph show and immediately hired the band’s lighting crew.


As it builds to the moment when the fans meet their heroes, Triumph: Rock & Roll Machine delivers the enormous pleasure of revisiting a band that made hits, toured tirelessly, and never put themselves above their audience. For a whole generation, Triumph was the definition of that classic Canadian expression: “give’r.”


For the full TIFF schedule, head here.








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On September 24, Rivers Of Nihil will release their fourth full-length, The Work, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of the album, a video for the new single "Focus" (directed by David Brodsky) can be viewed below.


Brody Uttley (lead guitar, keyboards) comments: "For the 'Focus' video, we once again recruited Mr. David Brodsky, Allie Woest and the team at MyGoodEye. This video tells the story of an individual in a fractured state of mind confronting the darkest parts of his inner self and battling with a physical manifestation of his deepest fears and concerns; the worst parts of himself. This manifestation represents the presence in all of our heads that tries to pull us down into the throes of self-destructive behavior and patterns of thinking. The creature that he is interacting with becomes more apparent as the video progresses (with the main character slipping deeper into psychosis) until the end when he loses his battle and is plunged down into the blackness once and for all; existing permanently in the prison that his delusions have constructed for him...Perhaps finally at peace, or just as likely: never again at peace. See you guys on tour next month with The Black Dahlia Murder."





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Reading, Pennsylvania's Rivers Of Nihil have never fit neatly into a box, but with 2018's Where Owls Know My Name, they transcended all labels applied to them. Returning in 2021 with The Work, they have forged further into new territory, delivering an album that is as cerebral as it is visceral, and that covers a staggering sonic range, definitively placing them in a category of their own. Inarguably a very dense, heavy collection, The Work is far too dynamic to be considered a solely metal record, and there is a genuine warmth that shows through, particularly on "Wait" and the gorgeous "Maybe One Day," and the band have included far more clean vocals alongside the screaming that tears through many of the heavier tracks. Courtesy of their friend Zach Strouse, saxophone once again adds extra layers of atmosphere to the collection, utilizing baritone, soprano and alto saxes to great affect.


With guitars and synths/keys tracked at Uttley's home studio, the band then we went back for the third album in a row to Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio to do drums, vocals, bass, sax, and mixing.


"We've done so many sessions with those guys that they're basically an extension of our band at this point. They usually know what we like, and we always encourage them to roast us to make stuff better," says guitarist Brody Uttley.


Alongside the band, James Dorton from Black Crown Initiate provided some vocals on "Episode," Grant McFarland played cello on "The Void From Which No Sound Escapes", and Uttley's friend Stephan Lopez helped out with all of the field recordings, an integral part of the sonic textures of the record.





The Work can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:


- digipak-CD
- deluxe box set (hardcover box includes: CD digipak (w/ bonus track), blue w/ black & white splatter vinyl, 52-page photo book, slipmat, and exclusive download content)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- silver w/ blue & black splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- natural clear w/ black & red splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- crystal clear w/ white & turquoise splatter vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- red / white melt vinyl (EMP exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- transparent orange w/ black swirls vinyl (Eyesore exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- silver / black marbled vinyl (Impericon exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- aqua blue / canary yellow galaxy vinyl (US exclusive)
- white / cyan blue galaxy vinyl (US exclusive)





The Work tracklisting:


"The Tower (Theme from "The Work")"
"Dreaming Black Clockwork"
"Wait"
"Focus"
"Clean"
"The Void from Which No Sound Escapes"
"MORE?"
"Tower 2"
"Episode"
"Maybe One Day"
"Terrestria IV: Work"


"Clean" video:





Rivers of Nihil lineup:


Jake Dieffenbach - lead vocals
Brody Uttley - lead guitar, keyboards
Adam Biggs - bass, backing vocals
Jon Topore - rhythm guitar
Jared Klein - drums, backing vocals


(Photo - Mike Truehart)





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Frontiers Music Srl will release The Grandmaster's debut album, Skywards, on October 15. The Grandmaster sees the pairing of legendary metal guitarist Jens Ludwig (Edguy) together with renowned metal vocalist Nando Fernandes (Sinistra, Brother Against Brother) for the creation of a stunning melodic metal masterpiece.


Pre-order/save Skywards here, and watch a video for "The Tempest" below.


Of what inspired his performances on the album, Jens Ludwig says, "The songs were all the inspiration I needed. 'True North' and 'Lunar Waters' were the first songs I heard and they made me wanna participate immediately! In the end, I really felt like I had a great connection with everyone involved, especially with Alessandro [Del Vecchio]. Didn’t need much more. Right time, right place, right songs, right team… it just felt ‘right’ to be a part of it. And it‘s been about time for me…"


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"My inspiration came from the compositions themselves, especially the vocal melodies, where from the first listen I could see that my voice would fit perfectly in all the songs. And this inspiration only grew with each song recorded. I was really moved during this process. Some lyrics also touched me a lot and helped to make my performance really real. Another strong point was the quality of the musicians involved, it really made my job a lot easier," adds vocalist Nando Fernandes.


Continues Fernandes, "I believe that there are variations within the same work, from hard rock to traditional metal, from progressive to melodic metal. The repertoire is not stuck within a single aspect and this is what makes it very interesting for listeners. The variation brings different emotions for each track. I would love to hear this CD myself, if I wasn't part of it. For those who like to listen to songs with strong interpretations, emotional solos, and an aggressive feel, this is a full plate!"


"I guess I would call it melodic metal with all elements this genre has to offer. Diverse and powerful songs featuring an outstanding vocalist," adds Ludwig.


The Grandmaster is another exciting musical project put together by Frontiers President and A&R director, Serafino Perugino. Taking center stage this time is a musical alliance between the outstanding Brazilian singer Nando Fernandes, a vocalist whose style follows in the tradition of the great metal singers of the '80s and '90s (think Ronnie James Dio, Jorn Lande, Russell Allen, etc.) with one of the power metal genre's truly gifted, talented, and stellar guitarists, Edguy's Jens Ludwig.


The end result of this powerful combination is a muscular, melodic metal album which offers a great take on traditional German power metal with strong elements of melody incorporated into the musical mix.


With superb production courtesy of the multi-talented Alessandro Del Vecchio, The Grandmaster's debut album, Skywards is sure to be one of the most talked about melodic metal releases of the year.





Tracklisting:


“Lunar Water”
“The Tempest”
“Someday Somehow”
“Dead Bond”
“Cannot Find The Way”
“Song Of Hope”
“Skywards – Earthwards”
“True North”
“Surrender”
“Turn The Page”
“The Source”


“The Tempest” video:





“Someday Somehow” video:








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Metal vets, Trauma, have announced that the band has welcomed a new singer, Brian Allen, into their lineup, and are currently at work on a new album.


“We welcome Brian Allen to the Trauma camp,” says the band in a statement. “We are very happy to have Brian as our new vocalist and look forward to recording and playing on stages around the globe soon. He came highly recommended by our producer Juan Urteaga after the unfortunate passing of Trauma's original vocalist Donny Hillier. We cannot wait to hit the stage.


“Trauma’s new album was being written during the pandemic of 2020. We decided to include songs that had faster heavier riffs, blast beats, perhaps just a more modern approach. September 2020, vocalist Donny Hillier passed away. We were shocked by this tragedy, Don, wanted the band to go on. We almost didn't. However through management and friends, we decided to move forward and even come up with heavier sounding material. Also the addition of vocalist Brian Allen has added a different dimension within the band that we are very excited about. We have many things in the works and are looking forward once again to the future, keeping the torch lit!!! We are hopeful the fans will like what will be available to them soon. Along with some live dates.”


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The new Trauma lineup consists of Brian Allen - lead vocals, Kris Gustofson - drums, Greg Christian - bass guitar, Joe Fraulob - guitars and Steve Robello – guitars.


Kris also had the following to add about the addition of Brian: “We are delighted to have Brian Allen as our new vocalist. Our beloved brother, Donny Hillier, was not easy to replace, if not impossible. Brian is a veteran musician who has been on the scene for many years and was a member of Vicious Rumors, Dark Star Choir and others, and will be a new driving force within the band. Besides being a killer vocalist, He is a great guy and the perfect fit. We are looking forward to giving people a listen to what the new Trauma will sound like soon, along with live dates.”





And Brian himself had the following to add. “I am very honored and excited for this new journey as the vocalist for the legendary Bay Area metal band Trauma! I am surrounded by a great group of guys and seasoned veterans. We can’t wait to share the exciting things we have in the works with you all! Special thanks to the Trauma camp and organization for this new endeavour.”


Originally formed in 1981 in San Francisco, Trauma was part of the same scene that gave the world such thrash notables as Exodus, Metallica, and Testament. And the band’s original bassist was none other than the late/legendary Cliff Burton (who would later join Metallica). 1984 saw the release of the group’s debut album, Scratch And Scream, before the band parted in 1985. But in 2013, Trauma reunited, and have been back in business ever since.


And according to the band, fans will not be disappointed with what they will hear from their new music. “Trauma's new album along with new vocalist Brian Allen is going to melt your face off!!”





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Juno award-nominated symphonic death metal band, Ex Deo, will unleash their epic new full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero, out August 27 via Napalm Records. On The Thirteen Years Of Nero, the collective transports the listener back to Ancient Rome with 10 cinematic masterpieces that tell the conceptual story of the reign of Emperor Nero.


Today, following the release of their merciless new singles "Imperator" and "Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)" - featuring the powerful pipes of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes - the band offers a third new single, the sinister "The Head Of The Snake". The track showcases an ominous, unrelenting battery of symphonic swirls amid orchestrally accented riffage and choral passages.


Frontman Maurizio Iacono says: “The centerpiece of all things Nero was his mother, Agrippina. She manipulated the strings of the senate and conspiracies to make sure her beloved son Nero would rule the world, she was the head of the snake with her deadly fangs of deceit. The song travels through her calculated sadistic mind.”


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Ex Deo returns with more massive, brutal soundscapes than ever on their upcoming full-length album, The Thirteen Years Of Nero. The Canadian unit is led by founding frontman Maurizio Iacono (Kataklysm) and producer/guitarist Jean-François Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Despised Icon), with the stylings of Stephane Barbe (Kataklysm) on lead guitar, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc.) on drums, Dano Apekian (Ashes of Eden) on bass and Clemens Wijers (Carach Angren, Lindemann) manning the intense orchestral score.


The Thirteen Years Of Nero pierces through the silence with its first auditory spear, “The Fall Of Claudius”, immediately drawing the listener in with a savagely heavy, grooving riff, ground-shaking swells and warning strings and horns. Discordant harmonies collide as a mosh-worthy battle riff chugs and pinches through the center of the song, showcasing the ruthlessness to come. “The Head Of The Snake” and unforgivingly immense “Britannia: The 9th At Camulodonum” balance sinister, spectral-like channels with up-tempo elements, racing like a chariot of symphonic death metal influences that careen the listener back to a sonic dimension of time forgotten. Standout opus “Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)” features the deft vocal stylings of Unleash The Archers frontwoman Brittney Slayes, the album’s weightiest thunderous percussion work and a glistening guitar solo, while the embers of pulsing “The Fiddle & The Fire” spark as the track traverses methodically yet steadfastly, like an iron striking a blade. “Son Of The Deified” and “What Artist Dies In Me…” bestow some of the album’s most strikingly dynamic guitar work, as well as ominous instrumentals, orchestral and choral pathways, before closing with the superb epic “The Revolt of Galba”. The track ebbs and flows between grooving, eerie piano-laden riffs and crystal-clear flourishes bestrewn with soaring strings.


With The Thirteen Years Of Nero, Ex Deo have released their finest work yet while telling a timeless story of political intrigue, suspicion, evil and tyranny!


Maurizio Iacono says about The Thirteen Years Of Nero: “When it comes to Ancient Rome, the content is long, rich and extensive, the personalities reflect every society imaginable from just, fair and generous to greed, evil and merciless. The world we live in today was shaped by Rome – it doesn’t take much see it all around you in the simplest things. For this record, it was the proper time to fallow the timeline of one Rome’s most controversial figures, Nero. On this album, we follow him through his thirteen-year journey as emperor of Rome and unveil the true face of one of the world’s most worshiped villains.”





The Thirteen Years Of Nero will be available in the following formats:


- 4 page CD Digipack
- LP Gatefold Black
- LP Gatefold Marbled Black & White (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 300 worldwide)
- Deluxe Wooden Box Edition: Digipack, Bonus Orchestral CD, Roman Coin, Band Logo Patch and Roman Banner (Napalm mailorder only – limited to 500)
- CD Digipack & Shirt Bundle (RoW Napalm mailorder only)
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





The Thirteen Years Of Nero tracklisting:


"The Fall of Claudius"
"Imperator"
"The Head of the Snake"
"Boudicca (Queen of the Iceni)" Feat. Brittney Slayes
"Britannia: The 9th at Camulodonum"
"Trial of the Gods (Intermezzo)"
"The Fiddle & the Fire"
"Son of the Deified
"What Artist Dies in Me..."
"The Revolt of Galba"


"Boudicca (Queen Of The Iceni)" video:





"Imperator" video:





Ex Deo is:


Maurizio Iacono - Vocals
Jean-François Dagenais - Guitars
Stephane Barbe - Lead Guitar
Dano Apekian - Bass
Jeramie Kling - Drums
Clements Wijers - Orchestral Score


(Photo - Suzzy Iacono)





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AEROSMITH, the best-selling American hard rock band of all time, and Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced a new expansive worldwide alliance spanning the iconic group's entire discography, merchandise and audio-video projects, that marks the beginning of a new era in the band's celebrated and illustrious career.

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

UMG will also be the home of future music projects, as well as work with the band to develop, produce and distribute new film, television and other audio-visual content projects celebrating AEROSMITH's history and significant cultural impact. The partnership expects to announce details of those new music and audio-visual projects shortly. UMG will work hand in hand with the band to continue to introduce AEROSMITH and their rich musical legacy to new generations of fans around the world.

Since AEROSMITH's founding 50 years ago, the group has gone on to sell more than 150 million albums around the world; produced genre-defining music videos such as "Amazing", "Crazy", "Janie's Got A Gun", "Livin' On The Edge" and "Love In An Elevator"; launched extravagant record-shattering global tours, most recently with their ongoing smash hit Las Vegas residency. The band has broken numerous boundaries, including becoming the first rock band with a massive commercially successful hip-hop collaboration with RUN DMC on "Walk This Way" and the first hard rock band to appear during a Super Bowl Halftime Show with their 2001 performance, and in 1999, AEROSMITH became the first band to have their own themed attraction at Disney World in Florida, and later Paris with the launch of the Rock 'N' Roller coaster starring AEROSMITH.

With broad cultural influence, AEROSMITH has prominently appeared in films, television shows and video games, as well as influencing multiple generations of rock bands, both as style icons and acclaimed multi-instrumentalists. MusiCares honored the band in 2020 as Person Of The Year for their many artistic achievements and dedication to philanthropy, including Steven Tyler's initiative Janie's Fund initiative, which supports young women who've suffered the trauma of abuse and neglect.

Joe Perry, AEROSMITH co-founder and lead guitarist, commented: "It's been a long road but I'm extremely happy and proud to say on behalf of AEROSMITH we have been able to bring our 50 years of music under one roof by partnering with UMG. This will allow us to bring our music to our fans in ways we never were able to before. It's something we've dreamed about happening for a long time. It's a win for AEROSMITH, UMG and ultimately our fans. Needless to say we are very excited. It's an incredible way to celebrate 50 years and the many more years to come."

Sir Lucian Grainge, chairman and CEO of UMG, said: "AEROSMITH's global success places them in rarefied air among the all-time greatest rock icons. On the band's 50th anniversary, AEROSMITH continues to influence the course of music not only through their iconic catalog but also through film, television and video games and their inimitable style. On a personal note, I couldn't be prouder that they have chosen UMG as their global partner. We look forward to building upon their incredible legacy and ensuring their music continues to inspire fans around the world."

AEROSMITH manager Larry Rudolph said: "I couldn't be happier for the band members and their families. Not only are we bringing together the band's entire catalog in one place, but we're entrusting these recordings to the very capable hands of Sir Lucian, Bruce Resnikoff and the incredible UMG system worldwide. I would like to thank Sir Lucian for tirelessly working together to craft perhaps the most unique and mutually beneficial catalog arrangement in history and providing a huge commitment to AEROSMITH. The members of AEROSMITH and I thank him and we all look forward to many years of successfully continuing to share the catalog of the greatest American rock band in history with the world."

The partnership significantly expands AEROSMITH's historic relationship with UMG. The band recorded some of its biggest-selling albums for Geffen Records, including "Done With Mirrors" (1985), "Permanent Vacation" (1987), "Pump" (1989) and "Get A Grip" (1993). AEROSMITH additionally works with Bravado's Epic Rights for merchandise and has previously released concert films through Eagle Rock Entertainment. Additionally, AEROSMITH is part of UMG's partnership with YouTube bringing music videos into current video and audio standards, with recent releases, including "Dude Looks Like A Lady" and "Dream On".

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

Ex-CHILDREN OF BODOM guitarist Roope Latvala says that his former bandmates "were already dead" to him by the time Alexi Laiho passed away last December.

Latvala was a member of CHILDREN OF BODOM for more than a decade before being fired in May 2015. His exit came just as the band was preparing to enter the studio to begin recording its ninth album, "I Worship Chaos".

Latvala discussed his departure from CHILDREN OF BODOM in a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I was betrayed and kicked out… [I] never spoke a goddamn word [to any of them after that]. And if I tried to, they totally shut me down [and told me], 'You can talk to our lawyer.' So that's about that. So those guys, to me, they were already dead."

Asked if he was sad that he wasn't able to repair his relationship with the CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman before the 41-year-old's passing, Roope said: "Yeah, there was some stuff to settle. I still wanna remember and I still have dreams about those times when he used to be the best buddy of mine."

Latvala also talked about how he came to be fired from CHILDREN OF BODOM just prior to the studio sessions for "I Worship Chaos".

"I was already pretty much ready to go and start recording," he said. "So I knew every fucking thing. Except they kind of shut me out before; they didn't let me in the fucking rehearsals. So what Alexi was talking that I was never there, and that's bullshit. They didn't me let me. Because I had a couple of days that I didn't — maybe I was sick [or had a] hangover or whatever."

Asked if he thinks part of the reason the other members of CHILDREN OF BODOM shut him out was because he was drinking heavily at that time and they wanted to provide a supportive environment for Alexi to help keep him on track, Roope said: "All drinkers, when they play sober, they start this fucking hypocrisy, like moral Jesus stuff. And then when those Americans came around [referring to CHILDREN OF BODOM's management] and started taking over, Alexi started to… Fucking dudes that didn't know anything about shit. [Prior to that] we had German management, which [had] been [there] since the start. So we had a very relationship. And our crew and everything, we were all working like clockwork. First he fired a couple of crew guys — his closest friends again. And then our long-term relationship with Continental Concerts — that's a German firm. They were really cool. So he had to fire them because he started fancying those Americans. Everything that's American [was] cool; everything else is bullshit."

Back in 2017, Latvala said that he was dimissed from CHILDREN OF BODOM on the very day he was scheduled to join his then-bandmates for the start of the "Chaos" recording sessions. His termination from BODOM came as such a shock that he didn't play his instrument for two years as he started drinking more heavily to cope with his feelings of dejection and discouragement. As a result of being fired, Roope fell into a major depression.

Latvala joined CHILDREN OF BODOM in the middle of the group's world tour in 2003 following the departure of Alexander Kuoppala and made his studio debut on the band's 2005 album "Are You Dead Yet?"

Laiho addressed Latvala's departure from CHILDREN OF BODOM during an August 2015 interview with Artisan News. He stated at the time: "We were at a phase where we wanted to, sort of, have a new beginning and reinvent ourselves, on a certain level. And everybody — all four of us — were pushing it harder and putting more effort on the band and just working extra, extra hard. And he wasn't quite there with us, you know, as far as the level of work ethics and, you know, stuff like that. So we felt like everyone's better off if we part ways at this point, and that's what happened. And, yeah, it [happened] three days before we hit the studio [to record 'I Worship Chaos'], but it was not… I mean, it was something that everybody was sort of anticipating already. And I had… To be honest, I had decided, a month or so before that, that I was gonna do all the guitars on the album. Because, like I said, it wasn't just working out with him."

He continued: "I don't wanna talk shit or anything; it's just that that happens. It's life. And you can't dwell on it. It sucks. It really does, man. He was around for twelve years, and, for us, the band, it really is a family, and losing a member, it's a big deal for us. 'Cause we're not the type of band [where] we change members every other week. But, you know, you've gotta move on. And that's that, really."

CHILDREN OF BODOM in 2015 recruited Antti Wirman, the younger brother of the band's keyboardist Janne Wirman, to handle second-guitar duties for some of their shows. BODOM later named Daniel Freyberg (NAILDOWN, NORTHER) a permanent replacement for Latvala.

Alexi passed away on December 29, 2020 in his home in Helsinki, Finland. He died of alcohol-induced degeneration of the liver and pancreas connective tissue. Furthermore, Laiho had a cocktail of painkillers, opioids and insomnia medication in his system.

Alexi and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019. Last year, Alexi put together BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and shot one music video.

KK'S PRIEST, the new band featuring former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals), along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE), will release its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", on October 1 (postponed from the previously announced August 20) via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

The official music video for the fourth single from "Sermons Of The Sinner", a song called "Raise Your Fists", is available below.

"This video is emblematic of what you can expect to experience when the band hits the road," Downing said. "This song totally rejoices in everything rock and metal, and is a clear indication that the band is raring to go, so get ready to 'raise your fists' with us when we hit the road,"

The album cover features a mysterious figure robed in a monk's habit, who Downing slyly states may or may not be him, holding a book of sermons. He says the "sinner" in the title refers to his famous solo in that classic song of the same name and also reflects his sense of alienation from the groundbreaking group that he helped create. "The whole concept is the fact that I continue proudly to be who I am and what I am and do what I do," declares Downing. "It's been nearly 10 years. I'm back making music."

And his disciples are ready to receive his sermons. He's brought a former bandmate along for the ride, and they have unleashed an album with a modern sound that hearkens back to what fans have always loved about Downing and his music and which still sounds fresh. "All of my life, people always wanted an album that we've made in the past," muses Downing. "'What's the new album like? Will it be anything like 'British Steel'? Will it be anything like 'Sad Wings'?' People hoping you're going to make a record that you've already made. So in a way this record just sounds like something that has already been made or should have been be made. It does have a lot of things that are connected to the past. For example, 'Brothers Of The Road'. If you take all the lyrics off and just listen to the music, maybe you could be listening to 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''."

After years of quietly enjoying life away from the rigors of the road and intense studio recording, Downing emerged again on stage in August 2019. From there, the conversation led to Downing performing a few songs with Ross The Boss at Bloodstock Open Air. The performance electrified the crowd and reinvigorated Downing. In November of that year, he put on a show in Wolverhampton, U.K. with Owens, Binks, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and HOSTILE guitarist A.J. Mills. Downing had produced two albums for the latter band. Spanning JUDAS PRIEST's catalog, this superb and successful show sent shockwaves throughout the metal world: K.K. was back and the fans were clearly hungry for more.

Rather than simply rely on his past successes and go on the road performing classic JUDAS PRIEST songs, the renowned guitarist did what he has always done — make new music. And songs that fans would want to hear and sing along to in concert. Downing assembled Owens, Mills, Newton and Elg to create "Sermons Of The Sinner", an album that celebrates his classic metal roots and encourages us to cherish those iconic pioneers whom we still have with us. He jokes that KK'S PRIEST is "like a new old band. Or an old new band."

"The ultimate message is we've moved away from this music that we loved for so long and we're so dedicated to, and now we're in a situation where lots of people are actually passing away," explains Downing. "We've lost a lot of great people — [Ronnie James] Dio, Lemmy, I could go on — and that's gonna be accelerated over the coming years. Basically, enjoy everything that's left of this brand of metal including from me. It's not going to last forever."

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the '80s. (Can you pick them out?) After partnering with Explorer1 Music Group, the album was originally intended for release a year ago, but with the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing everyone's release and touring plans, Downing pulled back and spent two more months tweaking the album to how he wanted it. The extra time paid off.

High-speed album opener "Hellfire Thunderbolt" offers a fictitious take on how metal arrived before the masses were ready for it, so it gestated in the late '60s before exploding in the '70s and '80s. Rousing rockers like "Raise Your Fists" and "Wild And Free" revel in the passion and excess that metal fans embrace. The guitar interplay is intense and inspiring, and the band is firing on all cylinders.

"The Return Of The Sentinel" is a bold choice to close the album. Not only is it a sequel to the classic track from JUDAS PRIEST's 1984's platinum-selling "Defenders Of The Faith" album, it's a nine-minute epic that doesn't play by the rules. The first half is stirring metal, and the latter half is somber and subdued, which reflects the tale of a being who, once a dispenser of justice and death, now faces his own mortality.

Conversely, KK'S PRIEST is alive and vital. They have plans to tour later this year with some Ripper-era JUDAS PRIEST songs tossed into the mix, and Binks hopes to make appearances at shows.

"Les was able to do the short set at the Steel Mill," says Downing. "But he had a wrist injury after that and wasn't able to do the album. Les wants to jump on the stage and a play a couple of songs, although he is not going to be able to play a full set. He will be our special guest."

Downing is hoping to reach as many headbangers as he can worldwide — from Europe to North and South America. "Sermons Of The Sinner" is a love letter to the music he helped create and evolve and to the devoted followers who have supported it. "I'm talking about the diehard fans that are not going anywhere," says Downing. "They're not certainly going to jump on a different genre of music just because a lot of their heroes are unfortunately passing away. And that sentiment is in this album where we said in the title track, 'time is running out for us, things may never be the same, but the sermons of the sinner center can help us rise again.' Because you never know when the last gig is going to be the last gig, so to speak. I'm pretty optimistic. I'm working on material for the second album."

"Sermons Of The Sinner" track listing:

01. Incarnation

02. Hellfire Thunderbolt

03. Sermons Of The Sinner

04. Sacerdote Y Diablo

05. Raise Your Fists

06. Brothers Of The Road

07. Metal Through And Through

08. Wild And Free

09. Hail For The Priest

10. Return Of The Sentinel

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's upcoming 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

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

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

MEGADETH played its third show with bassist James LoMenzo in nearly 12 years this past Sunday night (August 22) in The Woodlands, Texas. "The Metal Tour Of The Year" concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion saw MEGADETH share the stage with co-headliners LAMB OF GOD, along with TRIVIUM and HATEBREED.

MEGADETH's setlist was as follows:

01. Hangar 18

02. Wake Up Dead

03. In My Darkest Hour

04. Sweating Bullets

05. Trust

06. Conquer Or Die!

07. Dystopia

08. Symphony Of Destruction

09. Peace Sells

10. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

Front-row fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of YouTube user Jay Jameson).

Produced by Live Nation, the rescheduled trek will hit a further 25 cities before wrapping in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on Saturday, October 2.

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

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

Mustaine has yet to reveal who played bass on the band's new album after Ellefson's tracks were removed from the LP following his dismissal from the group in late May.

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

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

In early May, on the same day that sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving Ellefson were posted on Twitter, he released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

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

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest departure.

The new issue of Classic Rock magazine celebrates 30 years of METALLICA's self-titled LP, better known as the "Black Album," with new interviews with both the members of the band and some of the album's famous fans. Among the other musicians paying tribute to the effort is KISS frontman Paul Stanley who shared what the album means to him.

"How could you not be a METALLICA fan?" he asked. "Eric Carr [former KISS drummer, who died in 1991] was the one that brought METALLICA into our realm, and he did that quite a bit earlier, in the early, early days of METALLICA. But in terms of becoming a worldwide phenomenon, I would have to say the Black Album was what did that.

"'Enter Sandman' — that song really flicked a switch, it changed something. It retained the grit, the passion and the rawness of what they had done until that point, but it managed to package it in a way that had a more widespread appeal. It wasn't a coincidence that Bob Rock produced that album. He became the go-to guy for bringing out the most commercial aspect of a band's sound, whether we are talking METALLICA or THE CULT.

"But the most important thing when you are a band or a creative person is to do what you want," Stanley added. "Kudos to METALLICA for that. Where they've gone since the Black Album, and factoring in their beginnings, is nothing less than amazing. Their appeal became massive, in capital letters, because it crossed boundaries. That's always a great plus."

The Black Album is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed records of all time. Its 1991 release not only gave METALLICA its first No. 1 album in no fewer than 10 countries, including a four-week run at No. 1 in the U.S., its unrelenting series of singles — "Enter Sandman", "The Unforgiven", "Nothing Else Matters", "Wherever I May Roam" and "Sad But True" — fueled the band's rise to stadium headlining, radio and MTV dominating household name status. The album's reception from the press was similarly charged, building over the years from the top 10 of the 1991 Village Voice Pazz & Jop national critics poll to becoming a constant presence in the likes of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time. The album's impact and relevance continue to grow — as proven by one indisputable fact: The Black Album remains unchallenged as the best-selling album in the history of Nielsen SoundScan, outselling every release in every genre over the past 30 years.

To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Grammy-winning, 16-times-platinum-certified Black Album 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 ca