This year, Calgary’s Ravenous is giving metal heads another reason to be famished after the long musical starvation experienced around the globe. They are releasing their new full-length album Hubris, which continues to reminisce about a time when metal was hungry.

This will be the second full-length release from Ravenous, following 2019’s Eat The Fallen, and 2017’s Eternal Hunger EP. Working collaboratively, so that the strengths of each musician can stand out and compliment the others, Ravenous have grown from doing basic fist-pumping heavy metal songs into writing complex, dense, and multilayered dark symphonic power metal anthems. The band doesn’t just caw about hunger, they take lyrical inspiration from personal experiences, books, movies, games, (especially Magic: The Gathering), classic poetry, folklore, and historical events. They explain the album in their own words:

“Lyrically, the album tells 10 stories from various sources all surrounding Hubris, the notion of arrogance and the hunger for power, resulting in the demise of the story’s main characters - beneath the surface, hidden messages are scattered throughout various lyrical lines that pertain to the band’s real-life experiences. Musically, the album is the marriage of European Anthemic Power Metal and American Speed Metal, with a penchant for speed and aggression accentuating the dynamics of the music.”

Hubris was mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström and the album artwork was done by Moch Luthfi of LuthSlaughterArt. It is recommended for fans of Blind Guardian, Falconer, and Powerwolf. 

Our first glimpse into this upcoming banger is the album trailer, which can be watched right now:

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

Tracklisting:

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

Japanese Version Exclusives

"Cakaw Te Partiro" 
"一瞬千撃"

(Photo credit - Monika Deviat)

 




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Selfmadegod Records has announced the signing of Wingless from Krakow, Poland. The band’s upcoming fourth full-length, Nonconform, will be released in September.

Wingless is a Krakow-based death/doom metal band, which was formed at the beginning of 2012. The band’s lineup is made of well-experienced musicians, who have performed or are still performing with some other groups being part of the local metal scene. At an early stage of development, the music of Wingless oscillated more around the cutting edge of modern metal, but with the passage of time, their compositional style gradually began tending towards being strictly influenced by death/doom metal.

The latter genres can be particularly heard on their latest album, Nonconform. It is a blend of dark and heavy sounds with a depressive aura, that ideally seems to represent the band’s present-day approach. Wingless is an ensemble perfectly aware of what and how they want to play, by consistently following their idea of creating death/doom metal music, without even avoiding inspirations from metal artists of the ‘80s and ‘90s.

From the very beginning, the band has unchangeably been fronted by its guitarist and leader Grzegorz Luzar. A recent shift saw longstanding vocalist Olaf Różański replaced by Michał “Xaay” Loranc of Redemptor. The lineup also includes drummer Piotr Wójcik, who has played with Wingless since 2018.

 




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Melbourne based Shotgun Mistress have today released their self-titled debut album via Crusader Records, which is available now on CD and all digital platforms. The album has immediately caused a huge stir upon release, crashing in at #7 on the Australian overall iTunes Albums Chart and #2 on the Rock Albums Chart! 

Shotgun Mistress is an explosive dose of pure indie contemporary hard rock at its most searing and exuberant. After a year of remarkable single releases, chart and radio play gains, Shotgun Mistress continues to solidify its position at the vanguard of Australian rock with this new album. 

To celebrate the release of the album, the band have released a video clip for their hit single "Bleed Me Out".

From the relentless charge of the opening track "Born And Raised", to the restrained haunting cadences of the closing "May She Never Walk Alone", this collection of songs utilizes a blistering sonic arsenal to explore heightened emotional and personal terrain. Shotgun Mistress’s amalgamation of Vesuvian guitar fire, supercharged bass and drums and unleashed vocals is at times cathartic, seen in "No Friend Of Mine", as well as intense and rousing, such as in the track that started it all - "Save Me From Myself".

Amid the myriad of grinding power riffs and chant-inducing choruses, alongside the thunderous dynamics and gritty narratives, the band’s full panoramic vehemence blazes. Voracious and uncompromising, Shotgun Mistress’s debut album is a definitive statement from a band beginning their ascent, a multi-layered yet single-minded rock album that both transcends the times, while maintaining a wildly coherent response to them. 

Tracklisting:

"Born 'N' Raised"
"Devil in Disguise"
"Bleed Me Out"
"No Friend of Mine"
"Collide"
"Natural Disaster"
"Save Me From Myself"
"Glorious Machine"
"Pretty Little Thing"
"Analyse"
"Grave Mistake"
"Technicolour Faded"
"May She Never Walk Alone"

Shotgun Mistress was formed by Matt Wilcock (The Berzerker, Akercocke, Abramelin), internationally renowned death-metal demon guitarist best known for playing at light speeds. He hooked up with “Diamond” David Lee on drums to jam out LA Strip-era rock. Ben Curnow (Earth) joined on bass, along with vocalist Glenn Patrick (Collegians).

Shotgun Mistress is the first Australian band to join Golden Robot’s new metal label Crusader Records.

 




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The surviving members of CINDERELLA have commented on the passing of the band's guitarist, Jeff LaBar.

LaBar was found dead by his wife, Debinique Salazar-LaBar, on Wednesday inside his apartment in Nashville. He was 58 years old.

Vocalist/guitarist Tom Keifer, bassist Eric Brittingham and drummer Fred Coury issued the following statement Wednesday night: "Heavy hearts cannot begin to describe the feeling of losing our brother Jeff. The bond between us over decades of creating music and touring the world is something that we as a band uniquely shared. Those memories with Jeff will be forever alive in our hearts. It's unimaginable that one of our band brothers has left us.

"We're sending his wife Debinique, his son Sebastian, family, and friends our deepest condolences.

"Jeff's memory and music will be with us forever.

"We all — band, family and management — appreciate the overwhelming outpouring of love. Rest in peace, Jeff."

Although CINDERELLA hasn't released a new studio album since 1994's "Still Climbing", the band started playing sporadic shows again in 2010 but has been largely inactive for the last few years while Keifer focused on his solo career.

Back in 2016, LaBar accepted blame for CINDERELLA's prolonged period of inactivity, explaining that his "drinking problem" caused a rift between him and his bandmates. He told "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley": "I can only speculate, but I believe it's all my fault. It's no secret that I've had a drinking problem. And it showed its ugly face on one of those [cruises that CINDERELLA played]. I guess that's what caused a rift… When I fell out on one of those cruise ships in front of everybody — like, basically O.D.'d — that's when the band, and mostly Tom, took notice and was, like, 'What the fuck?'"

Asked if he was sober at the time of the interview, LaBar said: "No, I'm not. Which is the problem. Which is probably the problem. Like I said, I can only speculate, because I don't talk to the other guys anymore. I talk to Fred every now and then. Eric lives 20 minutes from me. We haven't talked lately, but Eric and I have been the most consistent of all my bandmates throughout the past 32 years. It's just Tom and I that don't talk anymore. And I can only speculate that he's very disappointed and doesn't wanna see me die. He doesn't wanna witness me dying."

LaBar went on to say that the touring lifestyle "fed [his] appetite for partying… all the way back to the '80s." He explained: "I have a history. It's not just these past issues. I have a history of drinking and cocaine… In the '80s, it was cocaine abuse. In the '90s, it was heroin. I went through every cliché phase that a rock star could go through. It just wasn't highly publicized. I was arrested, I went through rehab, I did all the things MÖTLEY CRÜE did. I just didn't publicize it. I was MÖTLEY CRÜE and GUNS N' ROSES all wrapped into one. As a band, we tried to hide our dirty laundry, and most of our dirty laundry was me. We didn't try to hide it; we just didn't publicize it. We just didn't tell people. 'Oh, yeah, Jeff's in rehab. Jeff's in jail. Jeff's in… whatever.' We just didn't publicize it. We actually kept it to ourselves. It was our family. It was our family business, and that's how we treated it."

Despite the fact that he hadn't spoken to Keifer for a couple of years prior to the "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley" interview, LaBar said that he didn't hold a grudge against his longtime friend and bandmate. "I understand why he doesn't return my calls, and I don't blame him," he said. "I understand. And hey, you know, he's been the major talent of CINDERELLA all this time, and he deserves to be solo. Not deserves to be solo, but, you know, it was inevitable for him to go solo. He's just one of those guys — lead singer, main songwriter. It's inevitable that he should go solo and basically dump [laughs], dump the dead weight."

Keifer told RockRevolt Magazine that "some issues" within the band — "going back decades" — had effectively sidelined the group for the past several years. He explained: "We took some pretty extreme measures to right the ship and fix things, and we made a pact as a band in 2012 that we would not do anything as a band until the issues were resolved. That's how much it came to a head. The issues are unresolved, so that's all I can say about th

BUCKCHERRY has postponed the next couple of weeks' worth of tour dates after two members of the band tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Earlier today, the Southern California-based rockers released the following statement: "To The Fans - We just discovered that two of our band members have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of all involved, we will be canceling all shows until July 30th in Columbus to allow them to recover and to quarantine.

"While we know this is a disappointment, please know that the safety of our fans is of the utmost importance to us and we will use every effort to reschedule the 9 shows prior to that date.

"We greatly apologize for the inconvenience. Please hold on to your tickets and stand-by for more information."

Affected shows:

July 16 - Joplin, MO - Guitars

July 17 - Chickasaw, OK - Legends Event Park

July 19 - Memphis, TN - Lafayette's Music Room

July 20 - Baton Rouge, LA - Basin Music Hall

July 21 - Jay, OK - MAO Event Center

July 23 - Chesterfield, MI - Diesel

July 24 - Grover Hill, OH - Whetzel Motor Rally

July 25 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverfront Live

BUCKCHERRY's new album, "Hellbound", was released on June 25 via Round Hill Records. The follow-up to 2019's "Warpaint" was recorded last fall in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others.

Last summer, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July 2020.

In 2019, BUCKCHERRY recruited Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".




1/ To The Fans - We just discovered that two of our band members have tested positive for COVID-19. Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of all involved, we will be canceling all shows until July 30th in Columbus to allow them to recover and to quarantine.

— Buckcherry (@Buckcherry) July 15, 2021








2/ While we know this is a disappointment, please know that the safety of our fans is of the utmost importance to us and we will use every effort to reschedule the 9 shows prior to that date.

— Buckcherry (@Buckcherry) July 15, 2021








3/ We greatly apologize for the inconvenience. Please hold on to your tickets and stand-by for more information.

— Buckcherry (@Buckcherry) July 15, 2021

FOO FIGHTERS have postponed their July 17 concert in Los Angeles after a member of the band's organization tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Earlier today, FOO FIGHTERS released the following statement: "Despite having made every effort to follow CDC Covid protocols and local laws, there has been a confirmed Covid-19 case within the FOO FIGHTERS organization.

"Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the fans, Saturdays show at the Los Angeles Forum is being postponed to a later date. The new date will be announced shortly. Tickets for the July 17th date will be honored for the new date."

FOO FIGHTERS' concert at the Forum was supposed to mark the first full-capacity show at the iconic venue in more than a year.

The band played a sold-out show on June 20 at the Madison Square Garden in New York City. To warm up for the MSG gig, FOO FIGHTERS performed five days earlier at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California. Both venues required ticket buyers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend.

Last November, FOO FIGHTERS played a livestreamed concert for fans at The Roxy in West Hollywood, California. Six months later, they participated in the televised Live Vax concert at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

FOO FIGHTERS are continuing to promote their latest album, "Medicine At Midnight", which landed at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 64,000 copies in the U.S.

FOO FIGHTERS previously topped the chart with 2017's "Concrete And Gold" and 2011's "Wasting Light".

23,000 of "Medicine At Midnight"'s first-week sales came from vinyl LP sales, with CDs and digital albums registering 20,000 each.

"Medicine At Midnight" came out on February 5 via Roswell Records/RCA Records. The LP is a nine-song, 37-minute effort which was produced by the FOO FIGHTERS and Greg Kurstin.




Important information about the July 17th Forum show. pic.twitter.com/9EwtDorRDx

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) July 15, 2021

Frontiers Music Srl recently announced the release of the debut album, Overload, from Brazil's Spektra, a new, exciting project by BJ, a stellar vocalist from the modern Brazilian hard rock scene.

Overload will be released on August 6, but today, fans can get a look at the album with the release of the single and video for the track "Just Because". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Overload here.

Spektra is BJ’s musical brainchild and his first band built from scratch featuring original music inspired by his vast range of influences including Journey, Foreigner, Winger and other melodic and hard rock masters. The goal is to deliver pure stadium rock melodies and high driven hard rock vibes with music aiming straight for the hearts of melodic rock aficionados. Produced and overseen by the legendary singer Jeff Scott Soto and Italian mastermind Alessandro Del Vecchio, Spektra will introduce BJ’s amazing voice to the international scene in 2021.

"This is a very special album for me as a singer, for sure and in a special moment of my career. I can say that I love every note, every harmony, and also these songs represent the kind of music that I love. Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, AOR....everything is there in a modern way. I sang with all my heart, with all my love. I can't wait to sing these songs live! Big fans of Journey, Talisman, Kansas, Boston, Winger, Bon Jovi, Foreigner, W.E.T., and the like will love this album, I guarantee it! I have on my side in the band my big brothers, amazing musicians that I admire and trust as a family and also the best producers ever, my big brother Mr. Jeff Scott Soto and the unbelievable talent Alessandro Del Vecchio! This is my Dream Team," says BJ.

In Spektra, BJ brings along his longtime bandmates from Tempestt and the JSS Band, Edu Cominato (drums) and Leo Mancini (guitars) as well as Henrique Canale (bass), a well known Brazilian producer and composer.

BJ is well known and respected in Brazil for his phenomenal vocal abilities and his work with Tempestt and other projects and collaborations, but also recognised internationally, being a constant member of all of Jeff Scott Soto’s bands and projects (Jeff Scott Soto Band, S.O.T.O.) as a guitarist and backing vocalist since 2009. He has recorded and released several albums with Soto, either as part of the Jeff Scott Soto band ('A Night in Madrid' CD/DVD, 'Damage Control', 'Loud and Live in Milan') or S.O.T.O. ('Inside the Vertigo', 'Divak', 'Origami'). He is also a member of the latest iteration of Talisman (on keyboards and backing vocals) for their recent appearances at major European Festivals.

Since 2014, BJ has also been the lead singer for the Greek hard rock band Danger Angel with whom he has recorded and released one album (All The King's Horses). He has toured Europe and Latin America extensively while also participating in most of the major festivals including Sweden Rock, Graspop, Hard Rock Hell AOR, Monsters of Rock Cruise, Rock of Ages, Bang Your Head, etc.

BJ has also released a solo album of covers containing music from his heroes and influences, titled Acoustic Heroes.

Tracklisting:

"Overload"
"Runnin' Out Of Time"
"Just Because"
"Since I Found You"
"Our Love"
"Breakaway"
"Don't Matter"
"Back Into Light"
"Forsaken"
"Behind Closed Door"
"Lonely Road"

"Just Because" video:

"Overload" video:

Lineup:

BJ - Vocals
Leo Mancini - Guitars
Edu Cominato - Drums
Henrique Canale - Bass




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On September 3, Tuesday The Sky will release their new album, The Blurred Horizon, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the record, the new single, "Hypneurotic" - which features drummer Gavin Harrison - can be heard below.

Tuesday The Sky's origins could almost be considered accidental. Guitarist Jim Matheos, famed for his work with progressive metal giants Fates Warning alongside projects such as OSI and his collaboration with John Arch, Arch/Matheos, penned a few songs that did not fit in with any of his established outlets, and intrigued by this, decided to write more and see where this took him. The result was 2017's Drift, a record that drew influence from the likes of Brian Eno, Sigur Ros, Boards Of Canada and Explosions In The Sky, and now he returns with its successor, The Blurred Horizon. A mixture of ambient, electronica, post-rock and more, The Blurred Horizon is perhaps best described as a beautiful record, having a natural grace to it. While predominantly the work of Matheos, he is not the sole performer on the record, enlisting the help of other musicians where necessary.

"It's primarily a solo project, but with the idea of having different guests on each record to help fill it out and, hopefully, give each one a slightly different sound. With the first record, there was Anna Lynne Williams on vocals for a couple of songs, and Lloyd Hanney of God Is An Astronaut on drums. For this one, the live drums on five tracks were handled by Gavin Harrison of The Pineapple Thief, King Crimson, and Porcupine Tree. He's my absolute favorite drummer, so he was the first person I thought of when I decided that some of the songs could benefit from real drums. I originally was thinking of just one or two songs, but once I heard how good he made them sound, I kept asking him do more, which, thankfully, he agreed to. His playing added a whole new dimension to the songs, particularly on 'Hypneurotic', where he plays two different full drum kit takes, panned left and right, to achieve a kind of 'double drummer' effect."

"Everything Is Free" - the closing track and only one on the record to include vocals - is a cover of a Gillian Welch and David Rawlings song from 2001.

"Fates Warning were thinking about doing some cover tunes as bonus tracks for 'Long Day Good Night' (2020), and when that didn't happen, I kept this one in mind for a future project. It seemed to fit nicely here, even though it's an otherwise instrumental album, and the vocals are by Tim Bowness. Like Gavin, Tim is someone I've worked with in the past, with OSI and several other projects. He's got a beautiful voice and his gentle delivery is just what I wanted for this one."

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

- digipak-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- orange / red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- orange w/ black dust vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- turquoise marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- clear w/ green & white splatter vinyl (US exclusive)

The Blurred Horizon tracklisting:

"Half Remembered"
"Near Light"
"Cwmwl"
"Where the Enemy Sleeps"
"Laudanum Dream"
"Hypneurotic"
"Later, Then Now"
"Near Dark"
"Half Forgotten"
"The Blurred Horizon"
"Everything Is Free"

"Hypneurotic":




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Swedish metallers SABATON have released a cover version of MANOWAR's "Kingdom Come" as a tribute to the American metal heroes and as part of a video game collaboration.

Pär Sundström, co-founder of SABATON and bass player, states: "Our fans have spoken. YOU requested the release of this song everywhere, so this is for all of you!

"This recording was meant to be a tribute to MANOWAR and a collaboration with a video game bearing the same name when we recorded it a few years ago. We are happy to see that you appreciate the song so much, and we have paid attention to your wishes and requests. You asked for it, you got it!"

Even before its physical release on August 27, the limited black/red spot 12-inch vinyl became a popular collector's item with high scarcity value: the 666 copies were sold out within days. The EP includes "Metal Trilogy", a medley of three SABATON songs: "Metal Ripper", "Metal Crüe" and "Metal Machine".

SABATON is arguably the most important band to emerge from the modern Swedish metal scene, journeying forth with confidence on a steady ascendance that's rewarded them with five Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards (including "Best Live Band" three different years) and multiple nominations for the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards, the Grammis. In 2016, "The Last Stand" debuted at No. 1 in three different European countries and cracked the Top 3 in four others. Joakim Brodén (vocals), Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Tommy Johansson (guitar) curate a festival of their own, Sabaton Open Air, that started back in 2008, as well as their own forward-thinking Sabaton Cruise, that is being held since 2009. Their last album "The Great War" cracked the Top 10 in 11 countries, including No. 1 positions in Switzerland, Germany and Sweden.

SABATON announced its "Tour To End All Tours" two weeks ago: in spring 2022, SABATON will be visiting 26 cities in 17 countries, bringing their ground-breaking modern metal to the people and delivering breathtaking live shows in a setting that will once again set new bars for concerts of this kind. SABATON will be supported by Mongolian rock band THE HU and Finnish heavy metal veterans LORDI.

Frontiers Music Srl will release Circus Of Rock's debut album, Come One, Come All, on August 6. Circus Of Rock is a new band, or rather a massive musical project, masterminded by drummer Mirka Rantanen (King Company). Watch an official trailer below, and pre/order save Come One, Come All here.

"My musical influences in making Come One, Come All come from a mix of artists I've been exposed to over the years. My own bands which I've been involved in and, of course, my own musical idols. In music, I love more than anything classic melodic hard rock and that shows on this album. I wanted to make the kind of music I could stand behind completely. The intention was just to have fun with musicians I admire and have everybody perform great songs," says Circus Of Rock mastermind Mirka Rantanen.

"As for the recording of the album, last summer we had all the songs and demos ready. I recorded the drums in early autumn and then everyone else did their part in different studios or at home during autumn and end of the year. Since the album has almost 40 musicians, it was a bit of a challenge to keep everything in order when it comes to sessions. Dozens of tracks could arrive to me on the same day. I worked closely with mixer Kimmo Ahola so that we both kept up to date with what was coming in, what had been transferred, etc. It was quite a job and I still have to tip my hat to Kimmo for putting this puzzle together," continues Rantanen.

Come One, Come All has a killer line-up of singers and musicians, a full list of which you can see below. The amazing talents involved come from the likes of Amaranthe, Tyketto, Hardline, Nightwish, Leverage, and more, plus musicians from bands such as Stratovarius, Brother Firetribe, Masterplan, and others.

Hardline and Axel Rudi Pell frontman Johnny Gioeli handles lead vocals on first single "Desperate Cry". Rantanen explains, "'Desperate Cry' was called 'Why' at first, but when Johnny got it, he wanted to change the lyric a little bit and it became 'Desperate Cry'. This was the first song that came together for the album. It is written by songwriter/guitarist Ade Manninen and as soon as I heard the demo of it, I was absolutely sure it would go to Johnny. It fits his voice perfectly. Unfortunately, Ade died of cancer May 9th and will not be able to see the release of the song or the entire album. The guy in the video is a "stunt guitarist" because Ade was no longer able to participate in the video shootings due to his health. But he's in our memories now here and a few other songs he plays on. The song is about a relationship ending between two people and the pain involved with that, but after Ade's death, the story took on a whole new meaning, at least for me."

“A few years ago I started to think about recording a solo album; however, I didn’t want to do just a traditional solo album. That’s because people often think a solo album is mainly to allow the musicians to show off their fantastic skills and magnificent instruments, but I wanted to focus more on the great songs that don’t happen to have extra drum solos. I also wanted to include many fantastic colleagues with whom I have played over the years on this album, and in addition a couple of great guest singers. My intention is to get the album released in 2021, when I turn 50. And now this will happen thanks to the Frontiers label. The album will be a kind of milestone in my professional career, my long-term 'dream that is finally coming true' type of thing," says Rantanen.

Confirmed singers and musicians appearing on the album include:

- Jarkko Ahola
- Rick Altzi (Masterplan)
- Kimmo Blom (Leverage)
- Johnny Gioeli (Hardline)
- Marco Hietala (ex-Nightwish)
- Erik Kraemer (Simulacrum)
- Mark Quee
- Antti Railio
- Pasi Rantanen (Thunderstone)
- Elize Ryd (Amaranthe)
- Tommi “Tuple” Salmela
- Riku Turunen
- Danny Vaughn (Tyketto)

Mirka Rantanen has a long career in the Finnish hard rock scene. He has played on 40+ albums during his 30 year career, including releases by King Company, Raskasta Joulua, Kotipelto, Warmen, Northern Kings, Revolution Renaissance, and more. In addition, ten years ago he created the very popular heavy rock band for kids called Hevisaurus, for which he was awarded the Emma Award in 2011 (the Finnish equivalent of a Grammy).

Tracklisting:

"The Beat" (Feat. Riku Turunen)
"Desperate Cry" (Feat. Johnny Gioeli)
"Sheriff Of Ghost Town" (Feat. Marco Hietala)
"Never" (Feat. Kimmo Blom)
"In Times Of Despair" (Feat. Elize Ryd)
"Crossroads" (Feat. Pasi Rantanen)
"Caught In The Middle" (Feat. Danny Vaughn)
"Plywood Covered Windows And Crappy Shoes" (Antti Railio)
"Edge Of Love" (Feat. Rick Altzi)
"Set Me Free" (Feat. Jarkko Ahola
"Everafter" (Feat. Tommi “Tuple” Salmela)
"No Reason" (Feat. Marc Quee)
"Tears Of The Clown" (Feat. Erik Kraemer)
"Burning" (Bonus Track Digital)

"In Times Of Despair" (Feat. Elize Ryd):

"Desperate Cry" (Feat. Johnny Gioeli) video:




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Five Finger Death Punch have released an official lyric video for their song "Far From Home", originally released on the band's 2009 album, War Is The Answer. Watch below:

Z2 Comics further cements their place as the leading publisher of music-inspired books and graphic novels across all genres and formats with the announcement of this book of original poetry from Five Finger Death Punch’s Ivan Moody.

Presented in an exquisite hardcover format, Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry will be released this fall, with signed special editions available exclusively through the Z2 website.

Ivan Moody says, “Out of all the projects I’ve undertaken this is something truly out of the ordinary, completely unorthodox, and without ‘creative walls.’ It is by far the oddest thing I’ve ever done (and that’s saying something).

"I had no idea how this would turn out but thankfully - between Blake and myself - I’m ecstatic with this first edition of Dirty Poetry. I’m intrigued and excited to share this FULL DOSE of my thought provoking/chaotic and emotionally stimulating artistic vision with all of you. Welcome... to My rabbit hole.”

Ever wondered what really lies beyond “where the sidewalk ends?” From the wonderfully twisted mind of the front man of Five Finger Death Punch; Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry is a book of original poems punctuated with dark art that’s guaranteed to inspire upside-down dreamscapes in the minds of its readers. Written by Ivan Moody himself, with beautifully haunting ink and watercolor illustrations by Blake Armstrong, Z2 Comics offers this Halloween treat to readers everywhere this October.

Artist Blake Armstrong says, “Dirty Poetry definitely stands out as one of the more free and unique creative experiences I've had in my career. Ivan's overall vision for this book was so twisted and tantalizing it would have been hard to keep me away from it. Our collaboration was truly a blast and I think the love shows on every page. My only hope is that the readers enjoy the book at least half as much as we did working on it. It's gratifying to be a part of something so weird, unexpected and special.”

The Ivan Moody’s Dirty Poetry illustrated book comes in at 104 pages and will be released in a standard hardcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in October, as well as special deluxe and super deluxe editions available for pre-order now only through the Z2 website, here.

(Photo - Stephen Jensen)




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Dvne have released a riff rundown video for "Towers", from their sophomore album, Etemen Ænka, out now via Metal Blade Records. Watch below:

Etemen Ænka can be ordered here.

Etemen Ænka tracklisting:

"Enûma Eliš"
"Towers"
"Court Of The Matriarch"
"Weighing Of The Heart"
"Omega Severer"
"Adræden"
"Sì-XIV"
"Mleccha"
"Asphodel"
"Satuya"

"Towers" video:

"Sì-XIV" video:

(Photo - Calum McMillan)




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Swedish melodic death metal pioneers, At The Gates, have scored impressive international entry results in various sales charts with their newly released album, The Nightmare Of Being, out worldwide via Century Media Records.

Chart Entries:

Germany: #8
Austria: #18
Switzerland: #12
Sweden: #20
Sweden (Physical): #1
Sweden (Vinyl): #1
Sweden (Hardrock/Metal): #2
The Netherlands: #77
Belgium: #84
Finland: #21
Finland (Physical): #5
UK (Rock): #3
US (Current Hard Music Albums): #1
US (Current Rock Albums): #4
US (Current Album Sales): #14
US (Album Sales) - #28

Vocalist Tomas Lindberg Redant commented about the initial reaction to the release as follows: "Hey everyone! We’re so happy and humbled by the fantastic response to our new album The Nightmare Of Being! We have never experienced anything like this before... the reviews have been amazing and also the fantastic response from all of you. It is amazing to have such a genuinely curious and interested listener base! And, last but not least, we have gotten amazing chart position reports this last week, so thank you all very much for your amazing support. It means the world to us, especially in these days of isolation and no shows. It is also especially rewarding with this level of response, considering that The Nightmare Of Being is our most adventurous and challenging album to date. Thank you all again."

Order The Nightmare Of Being here.

The Nightmare Of Being tracklisting:

"Spectre Of Extinction"
"The Paradox"
"The Nightmare Of Being"
"Garden Of Cyrus"
"Touched By The White Hands Of Death"
"The Fall Into Time"
"Cult Of Salvation"
"The Abstract Enthroned"
"Cosmic Pessimism"
"Eternal Winter Of Reason"

The tracklisting for the live bonus:

"Red" (King Crimson cover, Live at Roadburn)
"The Scar" (Live at Roadburn)
"Koyaanisqatsi" (Philip Glass cover, Live at Roadburn)
"The Burning Darkness" (Live at Roadburn)
"Daggers Of Black Haze" (Live in Stockholm)
"Death and the Labyrinth" (Live in San Francisco)
"A Stare Bound In Stone" (Live in San Francisco)
"Heroes and Tombs" (Live in San Francisco)
"The Night Eternal" (Live in San Francisco)

“The Nightmare Of Being” video:

“The Fall Into Time” video:

“The Paradox” video:

"Spectre Of Extinction" video:

At The Gates lineup:

Tomas Lindberg Redant - Vocals
Jonas Björler - Bass
Martin Larsson - Guitar
Jonas Stålhammar - Guitar
Adrian Erlandsson - Drums

(Photo - Ester Segarra)




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One of heavy metal's greatest bands JUDAS PRIEST is set to release a mammoth limited-edition box set which will include every official live and studio album to date plus 13 unreleased discs. This is the most extensive release of previously unreleased music the band has made from its vast archives — a real treat for fans. Restored and mixed by Tom Allom at La Cucina W8 and mastered by Alex Wharton at Abbey Road Studios, this special release will be out on October 15 via Sony Music.

This special box set comes as JUDAS PRIEST finally gets the opportunity to celebrate its 50th anniversary with a headline slot at Bloodstock Open Air festival in the U.K. plus the launch of a U.S. tour this fall. The "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour is fueled by the highest-charting album of PRIEST's career, "Firepower", which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 and No. 5 in the U.K.

JUDAS PRIEST originally formed in 1970 in Birmingham, England (an area that many feel birthed heavy metal). The original nucleus of musicians would go on to change the face of heavy metal. Throughout the 1970s, PRIEST was responsible for helping trail blaze metal with such classic offerings as "Sad Wings Of Destiny" (1976), "Sin After Sin" (1977) and "Hell Bent For Leather" (1978) as well as one of the genre's top live recordings, "Unleashed In The East" (1979), among others.

It was during the 1980s that PRIEST conquered the world, becoming a global arena headliner on the strength of such all-time classics as "British Steel" (1980) and "Screaming For Vengeance" (1982) as well as being one of the first metal bands to be embraced by the then-burgeoning MTV plus performing at some of the decades biggest concerts (1980's Monsters Of Rock, 1983's US Festival and 1985's Live Aid) and being the first to exclusively wear leather and studs — a look that began during this era and would eventually be embraced by metal heads throughout the world. PRIEST's success continued throughout the 1990s and beyond with the addition of drummer Scott Travis, as evidenced by such additional stellar offerings as "Painkiller" (1990), "Angel Of Retribution" (2005) and "A Touch Of Evil: Live" (2009), the latter of which saw PRIEST win a Grammy Award for a killer rendition of the classic "Dissident Aggressor".

In 2011, new guitarist Richie Faulkner came in to replace K.K. Downing, who had left in 2010. The move seemed to have reinvigorated the band as evidenced by a show-stealing performance on the "American Idol" finale that also served as Faulkner's debut performance with the band (also in 2011 was the release of a new compilation "The Chosen Few" which included PRIEST classics selected by some of metal's biggest names) and the "Epitaph" concert DVD in 2013.

PRIEST's next studio effort would arrive in 2014 — "Redeemer Of Souls" — which was supported by another strong tour. In 2017 (and again in 2019), JUDAS PRIEST received a nomination for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and got ready to unleash its latest studio album, "Firepower" (produced by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom) which received global success and critical acclaim. In 2020, a fully official and authorized photographic book, "Judas Priest: 50 Heavy Metal Years", was issued.

A "Reflections" edition of the box set will also be available to purchase in CD and 2LP formats.

Said singer Rob Halford: "JUDAS PRIEST's curated box set representing 50 heavy metal years is the ultimate treasure trove defining the bands unwavering commitment to keeping and defending the heavy metal faith."

Added guitarist Glenn Tipton: "If there's one box set you should have in your heavy metal collection, it should be this one. It's immortal. Proclaiming and truly representing metal for over 50 years, flying the flag and proudly leading the way inspiring many bands throughout the years, this 42-CD selection says it all. It's a big part of metal history and as such will live forever."

Stated bassist Ian Hill: "AMAZING — 50 years of metal crammed into a small box!!"

During an appearance on Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, Scott Ian of New York thrash metal pioneers ANTHRAX, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, reflected on the evolution of the band's songwriting process. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I very much feel like we look at songwriting very much the same way as we did 40 years ago. We're just trying to do our best in the moment, we're trying to do the best we can in the time that we have to make a record.

"Every record is very much a photograph, or, if I wanna be more 'artsy fartsy' about it, a painting of that time in our lives and very representative of that time in our lives," he explained. "And it's the same going forward at this point, going into a record that will hopefully come out in '22."

Elaborating on ANTHRAX's approach with the material it is writing for the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album, Scott said: "We've been at it for a little while now. We actually started writing in '19 — pre-COVID — and kind of stepped away from things when COVID happened. We were all separate and apart and we would kind of revisit some of the demos, but we weren't actively working on it. And that's actually started up again over the last couple of months, as far as kind of reopening the books on the new material and thinking about it and working on it.

"Yeah, it's the same as it's always been," he said. "I would have to think by the time we get to the other side of the writing process and we decide we're ready to go record it, I would have to assume it's certainly going to represent this time in our lives. And the world having gone through a pandemic, I would imagine certainly that's in some way, shape or form going to come out through this next record. I can't tell you how yet, but I would have to think it's going to."

ANTHRAX is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

In a brand new interview with "The Chuck Shute Podcast", Jay Jay French was asked if thinks TWISTED SISTER will ever play live again, nearly five years after the band completed its farewell tour. "Look, I used to say 'never.' I'll never say never," he responded. "But we have never discussed it. We used to say it would never happen. I will no longer say that.

"We came back in 2003 for, basically, a two-year reunion which lasted 14 years," he explained. "It lasted longer than the original band lasted with [drummer] A.J. [Pero]. It was an incredible ride, and when we walked offstage, I personally just said, 'That's it for me.' But who knows?"

Asked if he misses playing live, Jay Jay said: "No. I don't even play around my house. I've got guitars everywhere, 'cause my wife said, 'You've gotta keep practicing.' I can go months without picking up a guitar. And I have 'em all over the house."

Three months ago, TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider told "Lipps Service With Scott Lipps" that he wouldn't rule out reuniting with his former bandmates to play "a song or two for a charity" event. "If [American talk show host Jimmy] Fallon called up and said — he's a big TWISTED fan — 'Hey, would you guys come on [my] show and do one of your Christmas songs?' or whatever, I would love to," he said. "Go out and do a 90[-minute] or two-hour set as TWISTED SISTER again? I don't see that happening."

In June 2020, guitarist Eddie Ojeda also didn't completely rule out a TWISTED SISTER reunion, telling Talking Metal: "I never say never, because you never know. It depends on the situation. You always miss it, no matter how much you've done it.

"The whole comeback — we were back together for 14 years, and we did a lot of shows in the last 14 years, and we were headlining all the shows," he continued. "We were bigger now than we were in the '80s. So it was a great time.

"I think it just got to the point where we just felt — maybe it was like [the American sitcom] 'Seinfeld': go out on a high note. But as far as that goes, THE WHO blows everybody away — they are the biggest liars of all time. [They played their farewell tour in 1983] and they [are] still touring. Forty tours later, and they're still saying, 'We mean it this time.' So if anybody's gonna complain, they'd better talk to THE WHO first."

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Snider, French, Ojeda and bassist Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of TWISTED's longtime drummer A.J. Pero.

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

Two years ago, French said that he was that "blissfully retired" from playing music. "I walked off stage at the last show in Mexico, and I gave all my guitars away to my crew," he told the "Neil Jones Rock Show". "I said, 'Guys, thank you. It's been great. See you later.' I never looked back. We didn't even meet in the lobby and have a drink. I was off stage in a golf cart with my wife on the way to the hotel. I was on a plane and out of here."

The surviving members of the classic lineup of TWISTED SISTER — Snider, French, Ojeda and Mendoza — reunited virtually on March 20 for a special episode of Mendoza's Internet TV show "22 Now". The hour-and-a-half-long program was a tribute to Pero, who died exactly six years earlier at the age of 55 while on tour with the band ADRENALINE MOB.

Prior to this past March's virtual reunion, the four surviving members of TWISTED SISTER reunited for two days and nights in November 2019 to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the band's classic album "Stay Hungry".

SAXON frontman Biff Byford has opened up about his hearing loss, saying that wearing a hearing aid after being exposed to loud music for over 40 years has greatly improved his overall quality of life.

He says: "Since forming SAXON in 1977, we have released a new album every 18 months and have no plans of slowing down. Performing at gigs, playing our new songs in front of crowds and hearing them sing along is one of the greatest feelings in the world. That's why I knew I had to get my hearing tested before our first gig back at Bloodstock Open Air Festival in August.

"I discovered heavy metal music as a teenager, so I've been around high decibels and loud equipment for over 50 years," he continues. "Back in the day at gigs sound restrictions didn't exist like they do now. Sometimes when performing we would put our heads right into the speakers and rock out.

"I remember being at an autograph signing session and the fans kept asking questions and trying to talk to me, but I couldn't make out what they were saying so I kept saying 'yes' over and over again. I knew my hearing was gradually getting worse, but I lived with it. I would be at the studio and my tinnitus would be awful, it sounded like someone was screaming in my ear. Some days were better than but the ringing.

"Then, one day, my whole perspective on health changed. I had a heart attack before undergoing an emergency triple bypass surgery.

"I was on my bike. I do a lot of biking and walking. Heart attacks aren't like what you see in Hollywood films, I was breathless and in a lot of pain. My doctor sent me straight to the hospital where I had a heart bypass. It took me a long time to recover. I told myself after that moment that my health comes first.

"My hearing problems were also affecting my personal life as well," Biff admits. "Dinner time with my family was especially hard. I found it difficult to keep up with conversation so gradually after time I just stopped trying. I would sit there and become more detached. It was lonely at times.

"In line with my new stance on life — 'health comes first' — I went to Hidden Hearing, a high street hearing specialist where I had a hearing test. The audiologist was great, very knowledgeable about frequencies and how music can damage the ears, so we were able to have a proper conversation. I knew I was in safe hands.

"Since I was fitted with my hearing aids Oticon More, I have been very impressed, especially with the Bluetooth as I can stream music straight from device to ear. Getting the aid is like turning back on the enjoyment button on life. I can hear things that I haven't heard in a long time, like the certain notes of a guitar string, instruments like base guitar and drums no longer sound flat. Another bonus is my tinnitus has got so much better, it's no way near as invasive as before. The aids have really helped reduce the severity with that.

"Music is a form of escapism, when you're at a gig it doesn't matter what is going on in the world all you care about is being there," Byford adds. "It helps people feel alive. The problem is many people attend gigs regularly, sometimes twice a week or used to before the pandemic, and your ears really feel the impact of that. Especially back in the day when there were no sound restrictions in venues. I know I'm not the only one who has experienced hearing loss as a result of attending shows! I would say to any fellow rockers or fans of ours if you're in your 50s or 60s, go and get your ears tested. It has made such a big difference to my life; I hardly even notice the hearing aid."

SAXON released a covers album, "Inspirations", in March via Silver Lining Music. The 11-track effort contains some of the classic rock songs that influenced Byford and the rest of the band.

Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".

Biff recently collaborated with his son Seb (NAKED SIX) on a new album, "Red Brick City", to be released later this month under the band name HEAVY WATER

Video footage of Steven Adler's entire July 10 performance at Susquehanna Valley Event Center in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania can be seen below. Joining the former GUNS N' ROSES drummer in his group are Ariel Kamin, the singer of Argentinian GN'R tribute band SON OF A GUN, plus guitarists Michael Thomas and Alistair James, and bassist Todd Kerns (filling in for Tanya O Callaghan).

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

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

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

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

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

UNDEROATH has been a formative voice in progressive, heavy rock for almost two decades. Today, they share their blistering new single "Damn Excuses" out on Fearless Records. This release marks the first new music from UNDEROATH since 2018's Grammy-nominated full-length "Erase Me", and launches a brand new chapter in the band's career. "Damn Excuses" was completely self-recorded and produced at guitarist Tim McTague's studio, Feral Sound, in Tampa, Florida. It evokes the beautiful chaos that so many fans have found special about UNDEROATH for years while still managing to break through new sonic and emotional boundaries.

Speaking on the track, keyboardist Chris Dudley states: "This song came out of nowhere for us. In hindsight, it probably stems emotionally from the anxiousness that a year of isolation will give you, and that 'wanting-to-explode' feeling came out with zero effort. It was therapeutic. This is us ready to get back into a loud room with sweaty people and experience something real together."

"Damn Excuses" was partly inspired by the band's critically-acclaimed "Observatory" livestream experience last year. As a global pandemic shook the foundation of the music industry in 2020, interest in the digital consumption of live music began to wane after a few months. With "Observatory", UNDEROATH breathed new life into the realm with a complete overhaul of the process — creating something equal parts intimate and monumental. It carried the weight of a sold-out arena show translated through vessels consumable in fan's living rooms. What made it all the more impactful was the fact that the entire initiative was dreamt up and brought to fruition largely by the band's internal team. Thus, providing another shining reminder of the innovation that the six members of Underoath are capable of pulling together.

This far into their storied career, UNDEROATH has unsurprisingly faced their fair share of adversity. Through the trials and tribulations, a commitment to their craft and a sense of accountability rooted in mutual respect for each other has ensured that each new chapter for the band continues to mold their legacy in a positive fashion. With their shared history of remarkable accolades and trying hardships continuing to shape who the individual members are as people, UNDEROATH is still just scratching the surface of what they can accomplish as a band. There are few acts in the annals of rock history that can say their best work is still ahead of them almost two decades into their career. Fortunately, UNDEROATH falls into that category. As the world opens back up in 2021, the band is deeply committed to living up to the high expectations that fans (and themselves) have come to expect for anything associated with the project. It will undoubtedly be something special to witness as this next chapter in the UNDEROATH story manifests.

Photo Credit: Nate Young

Dual twin harpists, Camille And Kennerly, return with another cover; this time taking on Lita Ford's "Stiletto". Watch the video below.

A message states: "'Stiletto' is our very first Lita Ford cover! We wanted to do justice to this classic, so we arranged the entire song including the solo, added some fun pitch bending using an actual knife blade, and even added distortion and polyphonic guitar effects pedals for a celestial resonance. We recorded this track on our electro-acoustic Concert Grand harps but filmed on our smaller electric harps since our filming location had too steep of a pitch for the safety larger harps. This song was a commission from our recent Kickstarter campaign. The commissioner (who prefers to remain anonymous) dedicates the arrangement to “The Wounded”. We greatly respect this dedication to all those who have been victims of domestic violence.

"This video was filmed by our mom. Everything you hear in our arrangement is exactly how we perform it live with our 2 harps: no backing tracks, loops, or harp overlays."




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French deathgrind masters, Benighted, have released a lyric video for "A Personified Evil", their brand new single featuring Francesco Paoli from Fleshgod Apocalypse.

Says the band: "2'53 of pure violence available in this lyrics video released by our friend Guilherme Henriques who did a great job!"

Get the track on your favorite platform, here.




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Napalm Records and Andrew W.K. recently announced the impending release of the iconic Party God’s fifth full-length studio rock album, God Is Partying. The nine track opus of maximalist rock grandeur is set for release on September 10.

Today, following the respective unveilings of his two bombastic new singles "Babalon” and “I’m In Heaven”, the one and only party-rock icon is back with another rager, this time in the form of the triumphant and metallic, "Everybody Sins". The hard charging track soars as a certified future hit with its divine harmonic attack juxtaposed with monster guitar riffs and undeniable vocal melodies.  

Andrew W.K. says: ”When we started working on the video for ‘Everybody Sins’, the director and I were scheming and straining over some of the choreography and camera moves. Now, I do realize some people will say life’s too short to scheme and strain like this. And others will say life’s too short NOT to scheme and strain. Still, other people will say both these approaches are incorrect. And what do I say? Everything I just said in the video for ‘Everybody Sins’.”

Watch the official music video for “Everybody Sins”:

Hovering in the fluorescent spotlight of his legendary party power, God Is Partying sees Andrew W.K. ransack the corners of the human psyche, reaching a triumphant apex in his catalog, 20 years after the release of his chart-topping 2001 full-length debut, I Get Wet. Emotive yet steadfast, ominous yet invigorating, God Is Partying embraces both the break-ups and break-downs of life, and Andrew W.K. once again provides his audience with the perfect soundtrack to celebrate life in all its perplexing and euphoric intensity.

Showcasing his indisputable musicality, God Is Partying features Andrew W.K. performing all the album’s instruments, in addition to co-producing the album with his long-time recording partner, Grammy Award-winning engineer, Ted Young.

Channeling the manic euphoria that has compelled Andrew W.K.’s auditory insignia for decades, God Is Partying is soaked with a flood of epic energy - often traversing seemingly impenetrable lyrical themes while remaining refreshingly relatable, inspiring, and vital for survival. From sinister metallic bastions like the buzzing single “Babalon”, to the timeless story telling of “Remember Your Oath”, the album will have fans embracing their own party power and reveling in the depths of musical euphoria. God Is Partying opens triumphantly with Andrew W.K.’s hyper-melodic keyboard stylings introducing the menacing and magical music of “Everybody Sins”, perfectly setting the scene for the dramatic immensity to follow. Tracks like the poetic, “No One To Know”, and the soaring tension of “Stay True To Your Heart”, transport the listener to the precipice of a paradoxically infinite sonic horizon - rising into synthesizer-infused epics of mega-jumbo rock music, each track showcasing another example of Andrew W.K.’s expanding abilities as a vocalist and songwriter. Only halfway through the album is the listener driven directly into fiery depths with the massive track, “I’m In Heaven”, before ascending back up and into the sonic stratosphere with the tracks “My Tower” and the album’s gargantuan closer, “And Then We Blew Apart”. God Is Partying is a true ode to the quiddity of Andrew W.K..

God Is Partying will be available in the following formats:

- 1CD Jewelcase
- 1LP Gatefold Marbled Transparent / Dark Green + Poster (Napalm Worldwide Mailorder only - limited to 800)
- 1LP Gatefold Marbled Red Transparent / Black + Poster (Andrew W.K. store only)
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

God Is Partying tracklisting*:

"Everybody Sins"
"Babalon"
"No One To Know"
"Stay True To Your Heart"
"Goddess Partying"
"I'm In Heaven"
"Remember Your Oath"
"My Tower"
"And Then We Blew Apart"

* Various formats will include additional bonus tracks “I Made It” and “Not Anymore”

“I’m In Heaven” video:

"Babalon" video:

(Photo - Herb Maximo)




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Swedish legends Opeth are celebrating two decades of Blackwater Park. The 20th Anniversary Edition of the album launches on July 16 via Music For Nations. The band has released an official lyric video for the song "Harvest", which can be fond below.

Special edition Blackwater Park double vinyl, t-shirts, merchandise and bundles are available for pre-order via the band's official webshop and at Music For Nations.

Music For Nations: "The reissue comes lovingly pressed onto heavyweight, audiophile approved vinyl, with a variety of deluxe finishes, and housed in a gatefold artwork sleeve, with updated liner notes and acknowledgements. The deluxe variants, including a hardcase CD, come furnished with an updated artwork booklet complete with new liner notes, never seen before memories from the band, and exclusive content provided by the Opeth fanbase. It remains a must for Opeth enthusiasts, completists and casual listeners alike."

Blackwater Park is Opeth's fifth studio album , released on March 12th, 2001. The album marks the first collaboration between Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson and the band, as Wilson had been brought in to produce the album. This contributed to a shift in Opeth's musical style. The songs "The Drapery Falls" and "Still Day Beneath the Sun" were released as singles. Although Blackwater Park did not chart in North America or the UK, it was a commercial breakthrough for the band and is often considered their masterpiece.

Tracklist:

"Leper Affinity"
"Bleak"
"Harvest"
"The Drapery Falls"
"Dirge for November"
"The Funeral Portrait"
"Patterns In The Ivy"
"Blackwater Park"

"Harvest" lyric video:




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Industrial-tinged extreme metal pioneers, Fear Factory, have released their tenth studio album, Aggression Continuum, via Nuclear Blast.

Watch Dino Cazares, Tony Campos and Mike Heller's playthrough video of the song "Recode", taken from the new album:

Aggression Continuum features guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder Dino Cazares; drummer Mike Heller; and former vocalist, lyricist, and co-founder Burton C. Bell. It was produced and engineered by Damien Rainaud (DragonForce, Once Human), with keyboards by Igor Khoroshev (ex-YES), and programming on two songs from longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber (Front Line Assembly). Aggression Continuum was mixed by A-list rock and metal producer Andy Sneap (Megadeth, Killswitch Engage, Trivium), who also mixed the album’s critically-acclaimed predecessor, Genexus. The artwork for the album was created by Francesco Artusato.

Order Aggression Continuum here. Save the album on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer here.

Aggression Continuum tracklisting:

"Recode"
"Disruptor"
"Aggression Continuum"
"Purity"
"Fuel Injected Suicide Machine"
"Collapse"
"Manufactured Hope"
"Cognitive Dissonance"
"Monolith"
"End Of Line"

"Recode" video:

"Fuel Injected Suicide Machine" visualizer:

"Disruptor" video:

"Disruptor" guitar playthrough video:

Fear Factory records are cinematic in scope; sonic landscapes, echoing the dystopian post-apocalyptic futures found in classic sci-fi literature and films, from Ray Bradbury to Blade Runner. Aggression Continuum, the tenth studio album, is the culmination of three decades of unforgettable songs, performances, and forward-thinking storytelling concepts, while simultaneously rebooting Fear Factory onto a brilliant and excitingly unpredictable new path. Like the liquid metal T-1000 in the Terminator franchise or the Academy-Award winning reboot of Mad Max, Aggression Continuum is a turning point where what “was” transforms into what will be. It’s Fear Factory’s own Fury Road.

Fear Factory is:

Dino Cazares - Guitar
Tony Campos - Bass
Mike Heller - Drums




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Extreme guitarist Nuno Bettencourt has checked in with the following update:

"Hey y’all … our music community lost a dear friend a while back: David Zablidowsky, who, as David Z, was the bassist for both the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and Adrenaline Mob. He was killed when a tractor-trailor struck Adrenaline Mob's RV. The band was en route to a gig at the State Theater in St. Petersburg at the time of the accident. 

His brother is doing an amazing keeping David’s memory with us by creating the DavidZFoundadtion.org. And to raise funds for kids in music ftom mentor programs, scholarships, instruments etc. musicians like myself pull together to do performances for the fundraiser. For all of you who contributed, thank you!

I wanted to share my performance of one of my favorite songs of all time, 'Creep', by one of my favorite bands of all time, Radiohead

I’m bummed me and the band still couldn’t be in the same room, but thanks @7venmartin @derekfrankbass and @colemartins.chopz for jumping in with and supporting a great foundation.

Enjoy."

The David Z Foundation presented it’s 4th Annual fundraising campaign with a star-studded online lineup live on the David Z Foundation Facebook page on Sunday, July 11th.

The event featured some of rock music’s biggest names including guest appearances and performances by Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme, Rhianna), Richie Kotzen (Winery Dogs), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Eric Singer (KISS), John Waite, Kip Winger (Winger), Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses), Wyzard (Mother’s Finest), Arnel Pineda (Journey), Chris Caffery (TSO, Savatage), Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo, TSO), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Sons Of Apollo), David Bryan (Bon Jovi), Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Slash), John Popper (Blues Traveler), Chris Barron (Spin Doctors), Jeff Plate (TSO, Savatage, Metal Church), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Cher, TSO), Brett Scallions (Fuel), Debby Holiday, Divinity Roxx (Cyndi Lauper, Beyoncé), Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (Sons Of Apollo, Guns N Roses), Piggy D. (Rob Zombie), George Lynch (Dokken, The Electric Freedom), Ira Black (Of Gods & Monsters, Lizzy Borden), Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, Machine Head), Uriah Duffy (Cee Lo Green, Alicia Keys) and many more.

David Zablidowsky, better known as “David Z.” tragically died in a roadside accident in 2017 while on tour with Adrenaline Mob.

Before joining Adrenaline Mob, David had been the bass player of Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Along with his brother Paulie Z, the two had been a part of the band ZO2 and starred in their own TV series “Z Rock” on the IFC network.

ZO2 plans to debut a never-before-heard song called “Complicated” which was written and sung by David Z. It was one of the newer batch of ZO2 songs that the band were planning on releasing before the band took a break in 2012. ZO2 had a secret reunion show planned for March 2018 in NYC where some of these songs were going to be played, but sadly that never happened as David was killed in the summer 2017. This song was one David was very proud of as it was centered around a very personal experience and showcased his radio friendly writing style.

David Zablidowsky was active in developing young people through music. To continue his legacy, the David Z Foundation was founded to offer education and financial need to young aspiring musicians.

Donations to the fundraiser can be made here.

The David Z Foundation is a non-profit organization created in memory of David Zablidowsky and dedicated to transforming lives through the magic of music. Our goal is to nurture that creative musical spark that a child has and help turn it into a sustainable reality. We are currently running our original music programming nationwide, including private instruction, rock band, songwriting, production, and music business. In addition, we prepare kids for the music world by pairing them up with professionals in the field and showcasing their creativity through the various events we produce. Our focus is on providing these services to low-income families and high-risk children while subsidizing the financial costs that come with it. We also offer scholarships through partnerships with music schools such as School Of Rock, Brooklyn College, and various other local organizations around the country.




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CINDERELLA guitarist Jeff LaBar has died at the age of 58. No cause of death has yet been revealed.

According to Metal Sludge, LaBar's passing was confirmed by his son Sebastian. He wrote on social media: "So i just got the call… Jeff LaBar, my father, my hero, my idol, passed away today. I'm currently at a loss for words. I love you pop!"

Jeff's father, Bob LaBar, also shared the tragic news. "We have been told that our son Jeff LaBar has passed away in Nashville", he wrote on his Facebook page.

TMZ reported that Jeff's friends and family were unable to reach him for the past few days before his wife, Debinique Salazar-LaBar, found him dead Wednesday inside his apartment in Nashville.

Although CINDERELLA hasn't released a new studio album since 1994's "Still Climbing", the band started playing sporadic shows again in 2010 but has been largely inactive for the last few years while frontman Tom Keifer focused on his solo career.

Back in 2016, LaBar accepted blame for CINDERELLA's prolonged period of inactivity, explaining that his "drinking problem" caused a rift between him and his bandmates. He told "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley": "I can only speculate, but I believe it's all my fault. It's no secret that I've had a drinking problem. And it showed its ugly face on one of those [cruises that CINDERELLA played]. I guess that's what caused a rift… When I fell out on one of those cruise ships in front of everybody — like, basically O.D.'d — that's when the band, and mostly Tom, took notice and was, like, 'What the fuck?'"

Asked if he was sober at the time of the interview, LaBar said: "No, I'm not. Which is the problem. Which is probably the problem. Like I said, I can only speculate, because I don't talk to the other guys anymore. I talk to Fred every now and then. Eric [Brittingham, bass] lives 20 minutes from me. We haven't talked lately, but Eric and I have been the most consistent of all my bandmates throughout the past 32 years. It's just Tom and I that don't talk anymore. And I can only speculate that he's very disappointed and doesn't wanna see me die. He doesn't wanna witness me dying."

LaBar went on to say that the touring lifestyle "fed [his] appetite for partying… all the way back to the '80s." He explained: "I have a history. It's not just these past issues. I have a history of drinking and cocaine… In the '80s, it was cocaine abuse. In the '90s, it was heroin. I went through every cliché phase that a rock star could go through. It just wasn't highly publicized. I was arrested, I went through rehab, I did all the things MÖTLEY CRÜE did. I just didn't publicize it. I was MÖTLEY CRÜE and GUNS N' ROSES all wrapped into one. As a band, we tried to hide our dirty laundry, and most of our dirty laundry was me. We didn't try to hide it; we just didn't publicize it. We just didn't tell people. 'Oh, yeah, Jeff's in rehab. Jeff's in jail. Jeff's in… whatever.' We just didn't publicize it. We actually kept it to ourselves. It was our family. It was our family business, and that's how we treated it."

Despite the fact that he hadn't spoken to Keifer for a couple of years prior to the "Another FN Podcast With Izzy Presley" interview, LaBar said that he didn't hold a grudge against his longtime friend and bandmate. "I understand why he doesn't return my calls, and I don't blame him," he said. "I understand. And hey, you know, he's been the major talent of CINDERELLA all this time, and he deserves to be solo. Not deserves to be solo, but, you know, it was inevitable for him to go solo. He's just one of those guys — lead singer, main songwriter. It's inevitable that he should go solo and basically dump [laughs], dump the dead weight."

Keifer told RockRevolt Magazine that "some issues" within the band — "going back decades" — had effectively sidelined the group for the past several years. He explained: "We took some pretty extreme measures to right the ship and fix things, and we made a pact as a band in 2012 that we would not do anything as a band until the issues were resolved. That's how much it came to a head. The issues are unresolved, so that's all I can say about that."




We have been told that our son Jeff LaBar has passed away in Nashville

Posted by Bob LaBar on Wednesday, July 14, 2021



Gone too soon.

RIP Jeff LaBar ??

Posted by Mark Slaughter on Wednesday, July 14, 2021



My sincere condolences to his family and friends. Damn.

Posted by Todd La Torre on Wednesday, July 14, 2021



Rest in peace Brother Jeff Labar. (Bottom left). In the bottom photo, he is on the right as we muster for the inaugural...

Posted by Bill Leverty on Wednesday, July 14, 2021



Just heard that my pal and Philadelphia Eagles compadre Jeff LaBar passed away today!!! This is a tough one!!!! A great...

Posted by John Corabi on Wednesday, July 14, 2021



I'm for a loss ... I can't even. Jeff LaBar / Chef Labar ... I love you buddy. Soooo many memories. I have always...

Posted by Kenda Brunette on Wednesday, July 14, 2021





In the middle of a TV shoot and on a break and just hearing now of Jeff LaBar passing away. Condolences to his family, friends and fans. Tragic sad news. Great guy who will be missed. RIP.

— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) July 14, 2021






And here I am...posting something I was hoping to never have to post. My hero, supporter, and friend is gone. It caught...

Posted by Jasmine Cain on Wednesday, July 14, 2021

Former KISS keyboardist Gary Corbett has died after battling a very aggressive form of lung cancer that had metastasized to his brain and hip.

Earlier today (Thursday, July 15), his family released the following statement: "It is with great sadness and the heaviest of hearts that the Cohen/Corbett family needs to let everyone know that after a hard-fought battle with cancer Gary Corbett passed away last night on Wednesday [July] 14, 2021

"Those who knew Gary know that we and the world of music have all lost a very talented, funny, kind and gentle soul.

"The pain cuts so deeply that our hearts are bleeding.

"A memorial event is being planned. The details will come at a later date

"Today is Gary's birthday. Please keep Gary and our family in your thoughts and your heart.

"Gary Corbett will be truly and deeply missed by all who know him.

"Lenora Corbett/Cohen and Mindy Cohen".

According to LA Weekly, Corbett played offstage keyboards and handled background vocals on KISS tours promoting late-'80s and early-'90s LPs "Crazy Nights", "Hot In The Shade" and "Revenge". Before that, his credits included co-writing Cyndi Lauper's Top 5 hit "She Bop" and working with the solo band of former FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm, who recommended Corbett to KISS frontman Paul Stanley.

"There seemed to be a trend in the '80s that bands didn't want the image of having a keyboard player onstage," Corbett told LA Weekly. "Some people think keyboards aren't as much of a rock instrument as a guitar. Gene Simmons is definitely of that mindset. At every soundcheck, if the soundman asked me, 'Could you just give me a couple of notes,' [Simmons] would immediately put his hands behind his back and act like he was ice skating around a rink."

In his interview with LA Weekly, Corbett recounted a particularly memorable experience playing with KISS at the 1988 "Monsters Of Rock" festival. "It was such a big show that they had big Diamond Vision screens on each side of the stage," he said. "So when the guys that were working the cameras on the side of the stage were roaming around and filming everything, I guess nobody told them that they weren't supposed to be filming me. So during 'Rock And Roll All Nite', I'm standing there singing and playing and having a good time. And later I found out I was on the big screens in front of, like, 60,000 people, which I don't think made the guys very happy."

After KISS, Corbett played with CINDERELLA until 2011. He also got a couple of Grammys for his work with reggae legends Damian and Stephen Marley.


Posted by Gary Corbett on Thursday, July 15, 2021

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN today revealed their brand-new track "The Writing On The Wall" with an eagerly anticipated global YouTube video premiere. The song was written by MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith and lead singer Bruce Dickinson, produced by Kevin Shirley and co-produced by MAIDEN bassist and founder-member Steve Harris.

Dickinson initially had a concept for the video which came to fruition in collaboration with two award-winning former Pixar executives and long-standing MAIDEN fans Mark Andrews and Andrew Gordon. The pair have over 50 years of animation industry experience between them at the very top-level including work on "The Incredibles", "Ratatouille", "Brave", "Monsters Inc." and "Finding Nemo". With partners lining up to get involved with the project they chose BlinkInk, a London based animation studio celebrated for their work with a variety of global brands from Adidas to Coca-Cola and a number of high-profile music videos.

In BlinkInk director Nicos Livesey, another longtime MAIDEN fan and kindred spirit, they found a man who shared the collective vision for the track — resulting in the final film which features the very first glimpse of a stunning new incarnation of Eddie in spectacular 3D form.

Bruce comments: "I had a pretty clear idea of the concept to accompany the song and when I met Mark and Andrew, on Zoom, it quickly became clear we were all very much on the same wavelength, and this was reinforced with the addition of Nicos and his young BlinkInk team. Our weekly team Zoom meetings were then usually both highly creative and a lot of fun!

"I'm very proud of the way the video turned out. It's more like a mini-film, really. I knew it was going to work out as soon as Mark brought my treatment to life with his incredible storyboards. I thought we could make something very special together. I think we did and hope our fans will agree. In fact, it's pretty much created by MAIDEN fans!!"

Director Nicos Livesey takes up the story: "We quickly found the expertise we wanted, and people were literally throwing themselves at me to work on a MAIDEN video — we had more than 60 people in 13 countries from Brazil to France and Romania to the U.S.A. to add something to the clip and I'd say their love, passion and understanding of the band shines through every frame. They were a dream team for the producers and myself to manage."

The intricate and painstaking process of the making of the video can be read about in more detail here.

This announcement follows weeks of online speculation amongst MAIDEN fans and the rock and metal press after posters emblazoned with "Belshazzar's Feast" first appeared at the Download Pilot festival. Since then, fans have been avidly following clues and sightings from around the world, with many sites seemingly linked to MAIDEN's rich history, such as Long Beach Arena in Los Angles and The Cart & Horses in London as well as 22 Acacia Avenue.

Dickinson wore the same image on his shirt during a Sky TV news piece, further heightening speculation, before he formally invited everyone to "Belshazzar's Feast" following a Twitter listening party of MAIDEN's "Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son" album on Friday night.

IRON MAIDEN hadn't released any fresh music since 2015's "The Book Of Souls" LP, which was recorded in late 2014 in Paris, France with longtime producer Kevin "Caveman" Shirley.

"The Book Of Souls" was the longest MAIDEN album, clocking in at 92 minutes, with lyrics heavily based in the themes of death, reincarnation, the soul and mortality.

Back in May 2019, Italian web site Maiden Concerts first speculated that IRON MAIDEN was putting the finishing touches on a new album. The site concluded that the LP was nearing completion after gathering social media evidence that all six members of the band, their wives and Shirley were in Paris at the same time. The producer even posted new pictures of Guillaume Tell Studios, where MAIDEN recorded "Brave New World" (2000) and "The Book Of Souls", saying he was finalizing a major project.

During MAIDEN's summer 2019 North American tour, Dickinson hinted at new material, telling the crowd at the group's Oakland, California concert: "New IRON MAIDEN songs — sooner than you think." At MAIDEN's Nashville show in August 2019, Dickinson said that fresh music from the band wasn't "beyond the bounds of possibility," adding that a new MAIDEN record was essentially a "certainty."

If the reports of a new MAIDEN album are true, it will mark the band's sixth to be produced by Shirley, who has worked with MAIDEN for the past two decades.

In addition to MAIDEN, Shirley has collaborated with dozens of notable acts, including Joe Bonamassa, JOURNEY, DREAM THEATER and LED ZEPPELIN.

During the making of "The Book Of Souls", Dickinson was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor at the back of his tongue. He recorded all the vocals for the album with the tumor before undergoing treatment and making a full recovery in time for the LP's release in September 2015.

U.D.O., the band led by former ACCEPT frontman Udo Dirkschneider, will release its new album "Game Over", on October 22 via AFM Records. The official music video for the disc's first single, "Metal Never Dies", can be seen

Not one for embellishment. Dirkschneider strikes a sour note on "Game Over". If mankind does not rethink several aspects, it may have fatal consequences. For example, "Kids And Guns" is about the increased gun sales and little regulation in the gun industry in the USA, which also leads to higher rates of child or adolescent gun violence.

Track listing:

01. Fear Detector

02. Holy Invaders

03. Prophecy

04. Empty Eyes

05. I See Red

06. Metal Never Dies

07. Kids And Guns

08. Like A Beast

09. Don't Wanna Say Goodbye

10. Unbroken

11. Marching Tank

12. Thunder Road

13. Midnight Stranger

14. Speed Seeker

15. Time Control

16. Metal Damnation

Last month, Dirkschneider told Via Nocturna about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2018's "Steelfactory" LP: "It will be a really good U.D.O. album. This is also the first time we are composing together with the two new members of U.D.O.," referring to bassist Tilen Hudrap and guitarist Dee Dammers. "Very interesting. And there are a lot of things there that will be a little bit of a surprise. But no, we are not changing the style, but a lot of little things are a little bit different. But it will be very interesting."

Last year, U.D.O. collaborated with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, the military band of the German federal armed forces, on an album called "We Are One", which was released in July 2020 via AFM Records/Soulfood Music.

U.D.O.'s current lineup includes Udo's son and drummer Sven Dirkschneider, Hudrap and guitarists Andrey Smirnov and Dammers.

"Steelfactory" was released in August 2018 via AFM.

Udo's DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG project, in which he is joined be fellow former ACCEPT members Peter Baltes (bass) and Stefan Kaufmann (guitar), recently released a new single and video, "Every Heart Is Burning".

DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG, which is rounded out by Udo's son Sven Dirkschneider (drums), Manuela Bibert (vocals) and Mathias Dieth (guitar), issued its debut single, "Where The Angels Fly", last September. A second single, "Face Of A Stranger", followed in April. On August 27, all three songs will be released as the "Arising" CD, a 12-inch vinyl and a download.

Ed Sheeran says that he might record a death metal album.

The 30-year-old singer/songwriter, who is one of the most successful musicians on the planet, floated the possibility of exploring a more extreme musical path while speaking to The Sun on Sunday's Bizarre column. He said: "I was really into death metal as a kid. I listened to CRADLE OF FILTH and SLIPKNOT and all that stuff. I'm not saying I could ever step into that world. I learnt all those riffs on guitar as a kid. That's something I've never thought about doing — but something I would not be opposed to creating."

Sheeran had previously dabbled in a variety of genres, including rock, dance, rap and reggae.

After The Sun published Sheeran's comments, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth posted a screenshot of an article headlined "Ed Sheeran is open to recording a death metal album after spending his youth listening to CRADLE OF FILTH" and wrote in an accompanying caption, "I'll believe it when I see it. Fellow Suffolk lad could come good in the end. 'Dracula's Castle On The Hill' anyone?"

Sheeran previously admitted to his love of SLIPKNOT in a 2017 interview with Gist. Speaking about the inspiration for his then-brand new album "Divide", Ed said: “I've had the concept for 'Divide' since 2010. I wanted the whole album to feel a bit schizophrenic. My first sort of music that I got into that wasn't from my parents was rap, metal, punk… I went one day listening to 'lowa' [from] SLIPKNOT and the next day listening to Damien Rice's 'O'. It was quite a switch."

As it turns out, SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor is also a Sheeran admirer, as he made clear in a 2017 interview with NME. Speaking about Ed's massive commercial success, Corey said at the time: "I'm stoked for people like Ed Sheeran — that kid worked his ass off, so why shouldn't he get the recognition?"
























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