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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In celebration of the 30th anniversary of METALLICA's "Black Album" and the upcoming "The Metallica Blacklist" 53-song covers album, GHOST, Juanes and RODRIGO Y GABRIELA have curated exclusive Apple Music playlists showcasing their love for METALLICA as well as tracks from other beloved rock icons.

GHOST frontghoul Tobias Forge includes METALLICA's "The Thing That Should Not Be" on his playlist and tells Apple Music: "This is one of METALLICA's darker songs, almost more in line with death metal… Definitely not the norm if you listen to the catalog. It's slightly different in tonality, which makes it stand out and makes it super heavy and evil. Very Lovecraftian lyrics. This song has been a huge inspiration of mine for over 30 years." Forge also includes cuts from SLAYER, MORBID ANGEL, VOIVOD, DEAD BOYS, BAD RELIGION and more.

In a 2019 interview with Impericon, Forge said that METALLICA is "one of the most important bands for me — has been for a long time. Definitely a band without whom I probably wouldn't do these things," he said. "I wanted to be a rock musician before I knew, or before I was enamored with METALLICA, but they definitely inspired me. When I was a kid and liked THE ROLLING STONES and PINK FLOYD and Jimi Hendrix and all that, they were clearly from another time doing something that sort of belonged to the past, whereas METALLICA, when I started listening to them, they were very much current and they were very now. They were the biggest band in the world at that time, and still are. But they inspired me in many, many ways. And nowadays, of course, I get the amazing opportunity to be inspired and be taught, firsthand, by a band that I've spent so many years learning from from a distance."

"'Master Of Puppets' changed my life forever," Colombian singer/songwriter Juanes tells Apple Music. "Without a doubt, it's one of the most important albums for me and one of the most influential in my life. I remember how the city smelled in those days, I remember what I was thinking, I remember my METALLICA T-shirts, I remember the photos I had in my room of the whole band. I remember wanting to practice to sound equal or better than them. It was an obsession, and it still is to this day, fortunately." Juanes's exclusive playlist for Apple Music shows off not just his love for METALLICA, but contemporaries like SLAYER, TESTAMENT, SEPULTURA and ANTHRAX, as well as forebears like LED ZEPPELIN and BLACK SABBATH.

"Our musical lives can be basically defined as BM and AM: Before METALLICA and After METALLICA," Rodrigo Sanchez of virtuosic acoustic guitar duo RODRIGO Y GABRIELA tells Apple Music. "We grew up listening to and loving classic rock in Mexico City, but everything changed for us when we first heard 'Master Of Puppets'. That album was, and remains, a huge influence for us. It set us on our musical path." Their exclusive playlist thighlights that album's "Battery", as well as tracks from other beloved metal and classic rock icons.

Stream all three playlists below, and for all things METALLICA on Apple Music, go to this location.

WE CAME AS ROMANS has shared the official music video for their brand new single "Darkbloom".

With sharp synths and riffs that could chip that paint off the wall, "Darkbloom" represents the next chapter for WE CAME AS ROMANS. In fall 2019, the band shared two new tracks: "From The First Note" and "Carry The Weight". These songs marked the first material the band released after singer Kyle Pavone's tragic passing in August 2018.

"The idea behind 'Darkbloom' is that even through the darkest, most difficult times of life, there is still the potential, or possibility, of personal growth," says guitarist Joshua Moore. "As long as we're not willing to completely concede to the negative emotion or thought that feels like it has taken over, then we can be strong enough to overcome and push through to a different future. This song is about having the mind to be able to acknowledge the reality of situations we're in, but having the strength to weather the adversity. It's about making the choice to keep putting the effort forth to move your life forward, in the face of the most difficult times you'll experience."

In other WE CAME AS ROMANS news, the band rebooted its anniversary tour celebrating their landmark, 2009-released album "To Plant A Seed". The tour was originally scheduled for spring 2020, but it was tabled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "To Plant A Seed" was a definitive sonic statement for WE CAME AS ROMANS and remains a fan favorite through this day. It's only fitting that the band commemorate the release with a tour.

The tour kicks off on September 29 in Philadelphia and runs through November 7 in the band's native Michigan. Support will come from THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA, DAYSEEKER and HOLLOW FRONT.

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.

Guitar World's Amit Sharma caught up with fromtman Mikael Åkerfeldt for a look back on composing the songs for the album. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

Mikael: "It’s weird talking about these songs now being 20 years old. I was living in a small one-bedroom flat and didn’t really have much going for me or the band. We’d done four records prior and there was little interest, I would say. I mean, the people who liked us really liked us but there were too few. We never had any feedback or any help. So to me our future looked bleak... just like the song! I didn’t have any high hopes, but I was proud of the material I’d written. I’d also kinda come to terms with the idea that 'it' might not happen for us. When we started, I was young and figured a record deal meant it was pretty much done… I wasn’t so much of a fuck-up or failure after all! But that didn’t turn out to be true. We’d done four albums and I was a complete loser (laughs)."

GW: "Bleak" has some similar moments, going from metallic thunder to chordal interludes like where you sing, "Help me cure you..."

Mikael: "It’s a good part. The main thing I remember is that the demo version had pretty shitty opening riff. It was bad. Listening back to it, I was thinking how our label could even agree to release it. But then (ex-drummer) Martin Lopez ended up playing me something by Kurdish singer called İbrahim Tatlıses. I guess it was Kurdish pop music, but to my ears it sounded evil. It had notes in their scales that you didn’t really find in Western scales, with bends that were in between notes. I immediately rewrote the beginning of 'Bleak'..."

GW: The solo for 'Harvest' is quite different in feel to other leads, with a gypsy-led bounce before it ends up somewhere more bluesy...

Mikael: "I wanted to surprise the listener with certain notes. Because the chords themselves are pretty standard – a lot of barre stuff, typical major and minor shapes. They weren’t hugely exciting in that sense. I wanted to write progressive weird crazy things and this song wasn’t that. But there was a nice melody and order to the chords. I knew I wanted a solo because one of my strengths as a guitarist, when I’m not shy, is to play slow and melodic. But I also wanted to play over something that wasn’t typical. I wrote it in the studio by fiddling around and seeing what fits – it was quite difficult. I couldn’t rely on my usual tricks. In the end, I think it came out pretty tasteful and exciting. It’s not your typical bluesy solo, and I love those too, but back then I was really trying to avoid moving in regular territory. It was my chance to dive into something weird. It worked... it didn’t fuck up the vibe of the song; it added something. It’s one of the solos I’m still happy with."

Read the entire Guitar World interview here.

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"




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In a new interview with Marci Wiser of the 95.5 KLOS radio station, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx spoke about the band's "The Stadium Tour" with DEF LEPPARD, which was originally scheduled to take place last summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"We really did wanna go this year," Nikki said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "It's a little scary to go out there and have the tour maybe get canceled half way. And I know a lot of bands are out there and they're testing the water and it looks really positive; I'm super excited.

"We have 30-some stadiums in America [booked for the tour]," he continued. "And we'll see. Maybe we might even drag it to Europe, South America, Japan — we don't know yet. Right now it's a little far off. But us and DEF LEPPARD are super close; that's great. And we'll just see what version of 'The Stadium Tour' might fit for other countries, if we decide to go. Maybe it'll be the same lineup. I know people are super stoked for the lineup. It's a good outdoor fun party evening."

As of January 30, 2020, "The Stadium Tour" had already grossed $130 million from one million tickets sold, plus another $5 million worth of VIP seats, according to Billboard.

Tickets ranged from $150 to $400, not counting some varied pricing that reflected demand as part of "dynamic pricing."

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

UK melodic rockers Blood Red Saints have returned to the Frontiers label, who originally worked with them in 2015 on their debut, for their next studio album. August 6 will see the release of the fourth studio album from the English rockers, Undisputed.

Musically, the album is a return to the melodic rock style as heard on the band's debut, Speedway, which earned them fan and critical praise from the broader melodic rock community. Today, fans can get another look at the album with the release of the single and video, "Breathe Again". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save the new album here.

"'Heaven in the Headlights' is the song that defined this album's direction. We wrote this and knew we had the first single. It's us trying to bring a feel good vibe in a world that is in need of a little fun," says vocalist Pete Godfrey. "The new album, Undisputed is Blood Red Saints doing what we do best and we could not be more proud of this album," he adds.

Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, the recording of Undisputed took place at guitarist Lee Revills' home studio. "We didn't set out to write a certain type of record, we brought ideas to the table and they happened to be melodic. As we lived through the process and can reflect on these songs, this feels like it is shaping up to be our strongest album to date," says Revill.

Adds vocalist Pete Godfrey, "Undisputed is the idea behind the artwork being boxing themed, but for sure it's no concept album. We loved the analogy of the music industry being a fight to get your music heard, to get it out there, and to fight back against the people who want to knock you down. We are back and we're coming for you!"

Blood Red Saints were formed at the end of 2014 by singer Pete Godfrey and bassist Rob Naylor from the band Angels or Kings. They quickly got to work writing their debut album. Their search for a name ended with the chance discovery of a semi-legendary Speedway team “The Blood Red Saints”, who were formed in the late 1920s in Brooklyn, New York. Their leader 'Freddie Rendetti' became synonymous with the team and was a fiery, colorful character who ultimately lived the fast life a little too fast. The band loved the name and ran with it.

James Martin of Vega came along and was instrumental in getting the band signed to Frontiers Music Srl for their debut album, Speedway. James and his twin brother Tom also co-wrote two songs on the album and none other than Harry Hess (Harem Scarem) took care of the mastering of the album.

The band’s debut album was an impressive slice of classic British AOR, following in the traditions of early Dare, FM, and Newman. The band then went on to record two well-received albums, Love Hate Conspiracies and Pulse, for AOR Heaven, but have now returned to Frontiers for their forthcoming fourth album, Undisputed.

Tracklisting:

"This Ain't A Love Song"
"Love Like War"
"Heaven In The Headlights"
"Breathe Again"
"Caught In The Wreckage"
"Karma"
"Come Alive"
"Alibi"
"Undisputed"
"Complete"
"All I Wanna Do"

"Breathe Again" video:

"Heaven In The Headlights" video:

Lineup:

Pete Godfrey - Vocals, Bass
Lee Revill - Guitar
Neil Hibbs - Guitar
Andy Chemney - Drums




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The year was 1998 when hard rock icons GREAT WHITE released "Great Zeppelin: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin", an electrifying live album that found GREAT WHITE frontman Jack Russell stepping into the vocal shoes of ZEPPELIN singer Robert Plant for a phenomenal full-length celebration of that British band's long lasting influence on Russell and company. The album quickly became a fan favorite and proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that Russell possessed one of the most powerful voices in rock music.

Since that time, over 20 years later, fans have been clamoring for a follow-up and now JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE is ready to deliver. "Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin" is the long-awaited sequel that rocks even harder than its predecessor and includes all-new covers of "Kashmir", "Houses Of The Holy", "Misty Mountain Hop" and more. Russell, of course, remains in top form and he's ably backed by stellar guitarists Robby Lachner and Michael Olivieri along with bassist Dan McNay and drummer Dicki Fliszar. The full album gets officially released on August 13 but the band is proud to share the first single, a killer take on the song that was recently honored as having "the greatest guitar riff of all time" by Guitar World magazine, "Whole Lotta Love".

Speaking about the project as a whole, Russell proclaims: "I'm really excited about 'Great Zep II'. We had such a great time recording it and took the opportunity to choose songs we hadn't covered on the first one. The band played beautifully and the sound, I believe, is first class. I'm hopeful everyone will enjoy listening to it as much as we did playing it."

"Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin" will be available on both CD in a deluxe digipak and on colored vinyl in a gorgeous gatefold jacket.

"Great Zeppelin II: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin" track listing:

01. Whole Lotta Love

02. Good Times, Bad Times

03. Misty Mountain Hop

04. Dancin' Days

05. No Quarter (CD only)

06. Kashmir

07. Houses Of The Holy

08. Trampled Underfoot

09. Moby Dick (CD only)

10. The Rover (CD only)

11. Stairway To Heaven (CD only)

12. Heartbreaker

13. Livin' Lovin' Maid (CD only)

14. Communication Breakdown

Released in 1998, "Great Zeppelin: A Tribute To Led Zeppelin" was a covers album dedicated to songs of LED ZEPPELIN. It was recorded live in December 1996 at the Galaxy theatre of Santa Ana, California and was made available through the French label Axe Killer.

Last year, Jack told Rockin' Metal Revival about his new collection of ZEPPELIN covers: "It's great, because it's different songs, and some of them are heavy ones and more keyboard-laden… 'Houses Of The Holy', 'Trampled Under Foot' — songs like that. 'Kashmir' — that came out brilliant, [it] came out amazing. So I'm really proud of that and I wanna get that out as soon as possible… It's a beautiful record. It came out really good — beyond my expectations."

Jack also reflected on GREAT WHITE's decision to perform a stripped-down version of ZEPPELIN's "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" during a 1990 appearance on "MTV Unplugged". Asked if he knew he and his bandmates were going to get the response they got from that performance, Russell said: "No, I did not. You know what was really weird? When they put it in regular rotation on MTV, and the weirdest thing was when they did a LED ZEPPELIN special and they put our version in the LED ZEPPELIN special. And I was blown away. I'm, like, 'There's no way they just did that.' I had goosebumps for days, thinking, 'This is incredible.' Robert Plant, I saw him a couple of different times commenting, 'Oh, that Jack Russell guy, he sounds more like me than I do.' Another one he said was, 'He sounds more like me on a good night.' And I heard this from people that I really respect and know and wouldn't make that stuff up. So it was great."

Russell was fired from GREAT WHITE in December 2011 (after being on hiatus from the group since 2009). He sued his onetime bandmates the following year over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Mark Kendall, Michael Lardie and Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell now performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE's debut album, "He Saw it Comin'", was released in January 2017 and featured the singles "Blame It On The Night", "Sign Of The Times" and "Love Don't Live Here".

Last year, JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE released "Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes", a very special acoustic album revisiting GREAT WHITE's 1987 multi-platinum masterpiece "Once Bitten" featuring some of the band's biggest and most recognizable hits, including "Save Your Love" and "Rock Me".



GREAT ZEPPELIN II: A TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN by Great White

After completing their highly dynamic concept album, Zodiac, One Hundred Thousand had one additional song to complete. Named for the 13th major constellation of the zodiac, “Ophiuchus” arrives as the album’s epilogue — a final daunting statement from the band’s Zodiac odyssey.

Just as the constellation sits among the zodiac signs, the song “Ophiuchus” is related to, yet divergent, from its counterparts.

The Zodiac album ends on a question mark. “Ophiuchus” wallows in the record’s abandonment and despair and offers the most grisly possible conclusion.

"With 'Ophiuchus', we wanted to bridge the gap between the sonic elements of ZODIAC, and what's to come next from us in the near future. This final bonus track encompasses the beauty and destruction that is Zodiac." – OHT

One Hundred Thousand recently released the full concert film performance of the album Zodiac.  Recorded in April 2021 by video crew Alex Dell’Aquila and Alex Ruiz at an undisclosed location in Totowa, NJ, One Hundred Thousand offers up this performance as a thank you to its growing audience, who connected with the band during the gloom of a global pandemic in 2020.

Zodiac is available as a full-double album everywhere digitally and on vinyl

"Aries" video:




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July 30th, 2021 sees the release of Common Ground, the self-produced new album from Big Big Train on their own label, English Electric Recordings. The new album, recorded during the worldwide pandemic, sees the band continue their tradition of dramatic narratives but also tackles issues much closer to home.

The new single, "The Strangest Times", sees singer David Longdon writing about the Covid lockdowns, the separation of loved ones, the passage of time, deaths of people close to the band.

"After the death of a collaborator Judy Dyble in July 2020, I time spent shielding with an ill relative. With everything that was happening around me and for the world with the relentless doomwatch tone of the news broadcasts, I spoke with Greg. I said I couldn't just be writing songs about historical figures and scenarios. I felt that I needed to write about the here and now. In 'The Strangest Times', I'm writing very directly about what has been happening globally and how I feel about it. The screaming media broadcasts made me want to avoid watching or listening to the news, but I made myself read the latest news once a day. I felt better when I was out of the house and walking by the brook and then visiting Watnall Wood in Nottinghamshire. I have always admired the directness of Pete Townshend's lyrics, and that very much fitted the tone of the song. The music has a driving piano feel to it. I wanted it to sound like an Elton John rocker with that pushing rhythm piano playing that he does. When Rikard and I spoke about this song and I mentioned Elton John, he referred to 'Grey Seal' from ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ as external stimuli. That track directly inspired Rikard's swift piano arpeggios. Dave Foster played electric guitar on this song, and when we met at Real World in November 2020, I said that I wanted the electric part to be Pete Townshend-esque, and Dave knew exactly what I was pushing for.”

Common Ground sees the band taking in wider musical and lyrical inspiration from artists such as Elbow, Pete Townshend, Tears For Fears, Elton John and XTC, as well as acknowledging their more progressive roots. As ever, Big Big Train will take listeners on a journey, be it waiting for the UK 5 PM pandemic press conferences (“The Strangest Times”) to the library of Alexandria (“Black With Ink”) to the bottom of the ocean (“Atlantic Cable”).

For the Common Ground tour, which will be their most extensive to date and which will culminate in the UK with a show at the prestigious London Palladium, Greg Spawton (bass), David Longdon (lead vocals, flute), Nick D’Virgilio (drums, vocals) and Rikard Sjöblom (guitars, keyboards, vocals) will be joined by Carly Bryant (keyboards, guitars, vocals), who contributes vocals to ‘Common Ground’, Dave Foster (guitars), who plays on two tracks on the new album, Clare Lindley (violin, vocals) and by a five piece brass ensemble. The band expect to announce North American tour dates shortly.

Big Big Train has taken lyrical and musical inspiration from periods of history that are recognised as great leaps forward. Now with Common Ground, they are making such a surge themselves. Pre-orders available on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“The Strangest Times”
“All The Love We Can Give”
“Black With Ink”
“Dandelion Clock”
“Headwaters”
“Apollo”
“Common Ground”
“Atlantic Cable”
“Endnotes”

“Apollo” video:

“Common Ground” video:

UK Tour 2022:

March
15 - York, UK - Barbican
16 - Cambridge, UK - Corn Exchange
18 - Birmingham, UK - Symphony Hall
19 - Bath, UK - Forum
21 - Glasgow, UK - Royal Concert Hall
22 - Manchester, UK - Bridgewater Hall
23 - London, UK - Palladium




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Fractal Universe have released a guitar playthrough video for "Interfering Spherical Scenes", featured on their new album, The Impassable Horizon, out now via Metal Blade Records. Watch the clip below:

The Impassable Horizon can be ordered here on CD, vinyl, as well as digitally.

Fans can also visit Fractal Universe's official store for additional vinyl and more.

The Impassable Horizon tracklisting:

"Autopoiesis"
"A Clockwork Expectation"
"Interfering Spherical Scenes"
"Symmetrical Masquerade"
"Falls Of The Earth"
"Withering Snowdrops"
"Black Sails Of Melancholia"
"A Cosmological Arch"
"Epitaph"
"Godless Machinists"
"Flashes Of Potentialities" (Unplugged)

"A Clockwork Expectation" video:

Fractal Universe have announced an upcoming livestream event in support of their new release. "The Impassable Horizon - Alive" is set to take place on Sunday, July 25 at 11 AM, PST/2 PM, EST/8 PM, CEST. This show will be the one and only time that the band performs The Impassable Horizon in its entirety. Tickets can be reserved at veeps.com. *Fans who can't watch the initial stream will be able to re-watch it through Veeps until August 8; additionally, an exclusive shirt design will be available for purchase during the show at Veeps.

Fractal Universe comments: "With the release of 'The Impassable Horizon', we received messages from fans all around the world asking us when we'll be able to perform in their countries. While we don't have an answer for that, with 'The Impassable Horizon - Alive' we want to give all of you the opportunity to experience a Fractal Universe show from home! We've prepared a unique setlist: this is our one and only time performing the new record in its entirety, alongside some of your favorites from our previous albums, all of that with our brand new stage production! So make sure not to miss it!"

Fractal Universe lineup:

Guitar/Vocals/Saxophone: Vince Wilquin
Guitar: Hugo Florimond
Bass: Valentin Pelletier
Drums: Clément Denys

(Photo - Anthony Dubois)




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German genrefluid visionaries, Lord Of The Lost, have released a drum playthrough video for "The Gospel Of Judas", featured on their new album, Judas, out now. Check it out below:

On Judas, Lord Of The Lost tell of this conflict from the perception of the character of Judas Iscariot, known as highly diverse, and the so-called Gospel of Judas, a paper that's said to consist of conversations between Jesus Christ and Judas Iscariot and casts a different light on religious history as it's told in the Bible's New Testament.

Lord Of The Lost on Judas: “Don’t judge a book by its cover. This sentence could hardly apply any better to someone in theological history than to the figure of Judas Iscariot, who represents only one thing at first glance: Betrayal. If you take a closer look, almost endless possibilities of interpretation open up here: from "Judas the murderer" to "Judas the redeemer" and "Judas the actual martyr", who, if you believe in it, could only find room in hell for his salvific betrayal after dying for what he did, in complete contrast to Jesus Christ. This field of tension and the apocryphal writings of the "Gospel of Judas" are the basis for a double album that not only illuminates the dark and light side of history, but above all the grey areas in between, in which we move emotionally and ideologically throughout our lives and try to find our place.”

Judas is available in the following formats:

- Deluxe Box (incl. 2-CD Mediabook, 1 CD The Sorrows Of The Young, 2 CD LOTL+, DVD Becoming Judas, Cover Alu Print) - strictly limited to 1500 copies worldwide
- 4 CD Earbook - strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide
- Double Music Cassette - strictly limited to 100 copies worldwide
- 2-CD Mediabook
- 2-CD Sleevepack
- Vinyl Box incl. 2x 2LP Recycled Black Vinyl Gatefold
- Digital Album

Judas tracklisting:

CD1: Damnation
"Priest"
"For They Know Not What They Do"
"Your Star Has Led You Astray"
"Born with a Broken Heart"
"The 13th"
"In the Field of Blood"
"2000 Years a Pyre"
"Death Is Just a Kiss Away"
"The Heart Is a Traitor"
"Euphoria"
"Be Still and Know"
"The Death of All Colours"

CD2: Salvation
"The Gospel of Judas"
"Viva Vendetta"
"Argent"
"The Heartbeat of the Devil"
"And it Was Night"
"My Constellation"
"The Ashes of Flowers"
"Iskarioth"
"A War Within"
"A World where We Belong"
"Apokatastasis"
"Work of Salvation"

"The Gospel Of Judas" video:

"Priest" video:

Next to the 2-CD Judas Mediabook and a cover alu print, the strictly limited deluxe box includes the special CD, The Sorrows Of The Young, double extra CD LOTL+, as well as the six part behind the scenes documentary bonus DVD, Becoming Judas. The Sorrows Of The Young features ten unreleased songs, written by Chris Harms at the age of 18, that have now been re-recorded, whereas LOTL+ showcases 32 completely different interpretations in terms of vocals and lyrics on the original song “Viva Vendetta”, written and performed by artists like Megaherz, Equilibrium, Lacrimosa, Subway To Sally, Nachtblut, Unzucht and many more.

The Sorrows Of The Young tracklisting:
"Catharsis"
"Syringes in the Sand"
"Deus Absconditus"
"Die Without Your Love"
"This Piece of Art"
"The Last Saviour"
"All I Am Is The Void"
"Obscularum Infame"
"Infinity"
"Supernova"

LOTL+ tracklisting:

CD1:
"Living a Lie" feat. A Life Divided
"Consume Hate" feat. Aesthetic Perfection
"Vergissmeinnicht" feat. AnnA Lux
"Still Life to Die For" feat. Ben Christo (The Sisters Of Mercy / Diamond Black)
"The Darkest Hour" feat. Chemical Sweet Kid
"Into the Dawn" feat. Simon Moskon (Cryptex)
"The Warrior" feat. Daria Trusova
"Old-School Pagan Spirit" feat. Robse (Equilibrium)
"Entität" feat. Erdling
"Doomed Love" feat. Erk Aicrag (Hocico / Rabia Sorda)
"Crimson Masque" feat. Face Time Police
"Your Skeleton Grin" feat. Faderhead
"A Pain That I Know" feat. Florian Grey
"Ohne Zweifel" feat. Heldmaschine
"Sadly Ever After" feat. Hell Boulevard
"Stolen" feat. Jaani Peuhu (Mercury Circly, Swallow The Sun, Iconcrash)

CD2:
"Alles wird gut, aber…" feat. Lacrimosa
"Dein Blick" feat. Letzte Instanz
"Pale Rider" feat. Lolita KompleX
"Revenge" feat. MajorVoice
"Aus und Vorbei" feat. Megaherz
"Bloody Flower" feat. Nachtblut
"Abandon Ship" feat. Night Laser
"The Shadow and the Sun" feat. OH FYO!
"Digging Deeper" feat. Scarlet Dorn
"It Starts with a Crack" feat. Solar Fake
"Fake Gods" feat. Soulbound
"Träume zu Tränen" feat. Subway To Sally
"Die Flamme" feat. Sündenrausch
"Feuerrot" feat. Tanzwut
"Während die Welt in Flammen Steht" feat. Unzucht
"Today" feat. Saku Solin (Turmion Kätilöt / Fear Of Domination)

Lord Of The Lost are:

Chris Harms - vocals, guitar, cello
Pi Stoffers - guitar
Class Grenayde - bass
Gared Dirge - piano, synthesizer, percussion, guitar
Niklas Kahl - drums




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FOZZY's Chris Jericho has weighed in on Vince Neil's disastrous comeback performance at an Iowa festival less than two months ago.

On May 29, the MÖTLEY CRÜE singer struggled to complete his solo concert at the Boone Iowa River Valley Festival in Boone. Based on fan-filmed video footage of the gig posted on YouTube, the 60-year-old rocker, who hadn't performed in more than a year and a half due to the COVID-19 pandemic, began losing his voice several songs into his set, which consisted exclusively of CRÜE classics and cover songs previously recorded by the band.

14 songs into the performance, Vince attempted to sing CRÜE's smash hit "Girls, Girls, Girls" but gave up mid-song, explaining to the crowd: "Hey, guys… I'm sorry, you guys. It's been a long time playin'. My fuckin' voice is gone… Eh… We love you, and we'll hopefully see you next time, man. Take care."

After Neil walked off the stage, his backing band — which still consists of bassist Dana Strum and guitarist Jeff "Blando" Bland from SLAUGHTER, along with drummer Zoltan Chaney — continued to play the song, singing along to what appeared to be pre-recorded backing vocals.

Jericho discussed Neil's return to the stage during a brand new interview with "Loudwire Nights". Asked how he felt after seeing the footage of Vince's gig, Chris said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's disappointing because I think everyone is pulling for Vince and they're pulling for MÖTLEY CRÜE. And it's gonna be tough doing ['The Stadium Tour' in 2022 with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS] because Joan Jett, I don't know if you've seen her recently, she's freakin' awesome. And Bret Michaels — I was just talking about POISON the other day; they're gonna steal the show. You'd better watch out for POISON, 'cause Bret Michaels is the best frontman out of all of those bands. And then DEF LEPPARD's DEF LEPPARD; they do what they do. And MÖTLEY CRÜE, they're gonna have to really step it up.

"I'm disappointed to see Vince the way he is, because I think if he lost some weight and did some training and came out there and was in some semblance of shape, a) his voice will sound better just from that alone, and b) people would go, 'Holy shit! Did you see Vince Neil? He looks great.'

"I think if he really wants to do it, he could do it," Jericho continued. "But I don't know if he does. And that's the thing. And it's up to him. And either way, it's MÖTLEY CRÜE — people are gonna go, and they're gonna love it. But to me, as a performer, I would take that as a challenge: 'I've got one year. Let's do this. It's been long enough. Let's do this for real. Let me call Phil Collen and Duff McKagan and other rock guys that have got themselves into great shape: 'How did you do it?'' And really follow up. It's great to have dieticians and stuff, but I would call Duff McKagan, a guy who is in wicked shape because his pancreas blew up and he almost died. That's what I would start doing. 'Let me start thinking how these other rock guys that we've partied with for years, and now they're super physical and they're the same age as me and the same mindset of being a rock and roll guy. How do you do it?' I think he could do it, but he has to want it. And I think, as a fan, it would be one of the greatest feel-good stories — no pun intended — in rock and roll history if Vince came out there and just looked like a killer and was, like, 'All right, mother-effers' [extends middle fingers of both hands] — I did.'"

"The Stadium Tour" was originally scheduled to take place last summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In December 2019, CRÜE manager Allen Kovac told Fox Business that "some of" the bandmembers had enlisted outside help to get in shape for the trek. Kovac was referring to criticism of Neil for his supposed diminished singing ability and weight gain, as well as the health status of guitarist Mick Mars, who has been dealing with a chronic form of arthritis that led him to undergo a hip replacement.

Kovac explained: "Some of them are working with a trainer, some of them are working with a nutritionist to make themselves the best they can be. The greatest insecurity for an artist is: Is anyone going to care about my music? Is anyone going to buy a ticket? We were in November [2019] when the discussions were happening, and these guys were already into regimens of how they get ready for a tour."

Speaking specifically about Neil, Kovac added: "Let's see what Vince sings like and looks like when the tour goes out."

CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx also said that Vince was "killing it" while working with "trainers" and "nutritionists" in preparation for "The Stadium Tour".

TIMES OF GRACE, featuring Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, will release its second album "Songs Of Loss And Separation", on July 16 via the band's own imprint label, Wicked Good Records, distributed by ADA worldwide.

Speaking to Australia's Heavy about the musical direction of the new TIMES OF GRACE songs, Adam said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's probably not what KILLSWITCH fans are expecting. It's a different sound than anything we've ever done before. So, it's not metal all the way through. Sorry, everybody. This is a labor of love, truly. Obviously, it's our side project, me and Jesse, and we can only work on it when we have free time to do so. And now that Jesse's the singer for both bands, we decided to take it into a different direction a little bit. There's a lot of more rock and roll-vibe jams, so don't expect blazing death metal all over the place."

Asked if there were specific goals that he and Jesse were aiming to achieve with "Songs Of Loss And Separation", Adam said: "There weren't really any set goals except just try to create something that we liked. We wanted to something different, obviously, like I was saying. We didn't want it to feel like KILLSWITCH. We wanted to show maybe even a more personal, darker side to who we are. We wanted to create some songs more so from painful things in our lives — almost like a cathartic thing to make for us. So, yeah, it's definitely much different. Whereas KILLSWITCH is a lot on the more positive, hopeful light, this is a lot of darkness and just tough things to go through."

TIMES OF GRACE's debut album, "The Hymn Of A Broken Man", arrived in 2011, nearly a decade after Leach's exit from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, the pivotal New Wave Of American Heavy Metal band the duo co-founded with friends in 1999. The first music from TIMES OF GRACE materialized during Dutkiewicz's arduous recovery from near-crippling back surgery. A collection of songs the multi-instrumentalist and producer knew would suit his once and future bandmate. The first album earned acclaim from BBC Music, The Aquarian and Rock Sound. It willfully upended expectations, with flourishes of shoegaze and ambiance in its songs.

"Songs Of Loss And Separation" benefits wildly from the powerhouse performance of ex-ENVY ON THE COAST drummer Dan Gluszak, who toured behind the first album and is now an official member of the band. A handful of years in the making, "Songs Of Loss And Separation" mixes stark confessions of struggle with narrative storytelling. The music is just as expansive, with Adam handling lead vocals on several songs and Jesse experimenting with a lower vocal range reminiscent of post-punk and goth.

Photo credit: Hristo Shindov

Former SEPULTURA drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera recently launched a video series, "Beneath The Drums", on his YouTube channel, where he dissects some of the best-known songs from his recording history. In the seventh episode, which can be seen below, he gives the backstory of the SEPULTURA song "Troops Of Doom" and also performs a playthrough video of the track, originally taken from the band's 1986 album "Morbid Visions".

This past January, Igor launched an account on Patreon, where he is offering exclusive content to his fans.

Igor's Patreon consists of two tiers. One of them is "Bloody Roots" ($30 monthly), where fans can obtain the drum tracks in Wav format to play together and learn, the complete list of all the equipment used in their recordings and several benefits to purchase limited merchandise products. They will also be able to participate in Patreon-only polls, watch behind-the-scenes content and livestreams. The VIP Patreon "Beneath The Drums" ($50 monthly) offers all the benefits of "Bloody Roots", plus online conversations via Zoom following each video premiere on YouTube. In the conversation with Igor, the fans will have a chance to learn in more depth how he worked on the track, followed by a question-and-answer session. They will also get early access to updates, tickets and releases.

Patreon is a crowdfunding service, where fans contribute pre-determined amounts to obtain exclusive access to content and rewards.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).

In 1996, Igor's brother, frontman Max Cavalera, exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

For a decade and a half, Igor has been part of the MIXHELL DJ/hip-hop/electro project with his wife Laima Leyton.

Two years ago, Igor teamed up with Wayne Adams (BIG LAD, DEATH PEDALS, JOHNNY BROKE) to form the PETBRICK project. The band's debut album, "I", was released in October 2019 via Closed Casket Activities in the U.S.

Igor's other current musical projects include CAVALERA CONSPIRACY (alongside Max) and SOULWAX.

GUNS N' ROSES has released a compilation of professionally filmed performance clips filmed during the band's fall 2016 tour of South America and Mexico. The 47-minute video is part of the GN'R web series dubbed "Not In This Lifetime Selects" featuring highlights from the four-year "Not In This Lifetime" tour. Among the featured songs is "My Michelle", recorded on November 5, 2016 at River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a guest appearance by the band's classic-lineup drummer Steven Adler. The previous night (November 4, 2016), Adler played "Out Ta Get Me" with the group at the same venue, although that video is not included in this compilation.

Featured songs:

00:01 Mr. Brownstone

04:07 You Could Be Mine

11:20 Better

17:44 Slash Solo / The Godfather

25:06 Sweet Child O' Mine

31:56 My Michelle (featuring Steven Adler)

35:40 There Was A Time

42:24 Don't Cry

During the 2016 U.S. leg of GN'R's "Not In This Lifetime" tour, Adler played "Out Ta Get Me" and "My Michelle" on three separate occasions. Those shows marked Adler's first appearances with GUNS N' ROSES since 1990, although he performed with members of the band at their 2012 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Until he performed with the group on the summer 2016 tour, speculation about Adler having some sort of involvement in the GUNS N' ROSES reunion had been rampant ever since the band made it official with a surprise April 1, 2016 show at The Troubadour in Los Angeles.

Adler was reportedly going to appear at that gig until he was sidelined by a back injury.

The regular GUNS N' ROSES drummer for a number of years has been Frank Ferrer, who is also part of the current lineup that boasts classic lineup members Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan.

Adler was thrown out of GUNS N' ROSES in 1990 due to his heavy drug use, a problem he struggled with for years after his dismissal.

In a May 2017 interview, Adler stated about his onstage reunion with GUNS N' ROSES the previous year: "That was so great. It was really, really amazing and a dream come true. 'Cause for twenty-five years, all I've been doing was praying that I would be able to do it. I just wish I could play more songs, 'cause I wanna do more with them. It's really hard… it's heartbreaking and hard on me to be standing on the side of the stage and watching somebody else [Frank Ferrer] play my songs. Which, he is great, but it's hard for me. It's, like, I'd like to play a few more songs. But I'm thankful I got to do anything at all, so my dream came true. But I do wanna do more. I hope… We'll see what they say."

Back 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 said that he expected to sit behind the drum kit for all the "Appetite For Destruction" material during the entire tour, only to be told he was out after he hurt his back during rehearsals. "Duff called me and said, 'Dude, you're not gonna play with us anymore,'" Adler said. "'You're not gonna do these shows.' And I was, like, 'You're the worst fucking person in the world.'"

Adler published an autobiography in 2010, titled "My Appetite for Destruction: Sex, And Drugs, And Guns N' Roses", in which he delved into his depression, suicide attempts, drug-related heart attacks, and the debilitating stroke that left him with muscular paralysis and permanently slurred speech.

STEEL PANTHER singer Michael Starr spoke to Ornella Carlone of Germany's Comebackstage about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2019's "Heavy Metal Rules" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Satchel [guitar] writes all the songs for STEEL PANTHER, and Stix [Zadinia, drums] and I write stuff to Satchel's music. So, we've been able to finish two songs so far in pre-production, and then we have about 12 more that we're gonna record. So what we're doing is we're having a different process right now because of COVID, and the different process is we normally don't demo up what Satchel writes. He'll make a demo, and then we usually just go in the studio and then we add our parts to it. But this time we're doing it in pre-production, which means he writes a demo for a song, he presents it to us, we learn what we wanna learn and then add our personalities to the songs. But now we're recording 'em at Stix's house. Because we don't wanna spend the money on doing it with a producer, 'cause right now we're just barely making it. And we're not signed to a label; we have our own label. So whenever we put out a record now, we pay for everything upfront. So that's why we're doing it this way, this process — making sure that we're totally ready to go, and then we're gonna take those 14 songs and go record 'em for real, in a real studio and a producer."

Starr went on to say that he and his bandmates are in no rush to get the new music completed.

"As far as a timeline for our new music is concerned, we don't really have one because we don't know what the fuck's gonna happen," he said. "'Cause everything could shut down. Tokyo shut down yesterday, U.K. is getting more cases, and you just never know. So we're just gonna keep going down this path."

As for the musical direction of the new STEEL PANTHER material, Starr said: "I can tell you this: the cool thing about the music that we're doing is it's a departure from what we normally do, but it's all based on the same thing: getting fucking high, getting laid and partying. What STEEL PANTHER sells is fun. And I think the people need this right now. I know I do. I wanna escape and laugh and have a good time and rock. So, for me, performing is great. It makes me forget about all the bullshit that's going on, and I can just be in that moment and enjoy being around other people."

Last December, STEEL PANTHER released a re-worked version of its song "Fuck Everybody" from "Heavy Metal Rules", now re-titled "Fuck 2020". The newly recorded version included updated verses that reflect the insanity of last year.

"Heavy Metal Rules" was released in September 2019. The disc, which is described in a press release as a "heavy metal version of a self-help manual and ultimate party album combined," was once again produced by Jay Ruston, who collaborated with the band on all of its previous recordings, including 2017's "Lower The Bar".

STEEL PANTHER specializes in imitating and exaggerating the less flattering aspects of 1980s hair metal, with unrepentantly crude, non-PC sexual content as a favorite lyrical theme.

The group's music has been described as "VAN HALEN meets MÖTLEY CRÜE meets RATT meets 'Wayne's World', complete with operatic shrieks, misogyny, shredding guitar solos and libidinal overdrive."

Thirteen years ago, STEEL PANTHER changed its name from METAL SKOOL to its current moniker and shifted the focus of its act from '80s metal covers to originals.

Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA will launch their first brand of coffee on Friday, July 9.

The iconic symphonic metal band has been at the forefront of its genre for almost 30 years now. Apocalyptica Coffee comes in time to celebrate the group's latest album, "Cell-0", and upcoming live performances.

APOCALYPTICA chose Helsinki Coffee Roastery's 50/60 to be its first own coffee. How and why did they choose the coffee, you might ask? It was by tasting. In their opinion, this was the coffee that best expressed APOCALYPTICA in a caffeinated form.

Apocalyptica Coffee is delivered in a black glossy bag with the band's official label. It's a perfect espresso for the traditional taste. Goes nicely in a latte as well as straight up as a strong shot like a digestive. Many coffee lovers have found its mouth filling creaminess to be great as a filter coffee too.

For more information, click here.

This past April, APOCALYPTICA released the official music video for its collaboration with PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix on a cover version of the CREAM classic "White Room". The track was produced by Howard Benson at West Valley Recording Studios in Woodland Hills, California and mixed by Chris Lorde-Alge.

"White Room" was the first release from APOCALYPTICA since "Talk To Me", which arrived last August. That song was a collaboration with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale.

APOCALYPTICA's latest studio album, "Cell-0", came out in January 2020. The effort was the band's first fully instrumental record in 17 years.

FOO FIGHTERS' will release "Hail Satin" exclusively for Record Store Day on July 17. The 10-track LP will contain the band's covers of five BEE GEES classics — "You Should Be Dancing", "Night Fever", "Tragedy" and "More Than A Woman" plus Andy Gibb's "Shadow Dancing" — as well as five FOO FIGHTERS' tracks from the "Medicine At Midnight" album recorded live at the band's 606 studio. The limited-edition vinyl will be packaged "era-appropriately in a dazzling rainbow mylar sleeve."

A new performance music video for FOO FIGHTERS' cover version of "You Should Be Dancing" can be seen below.

FOO FIGHTERS previously played "You Should Be Dancing" for the Jo Wiley's BBC show and "Shadow Dancing" for the Rock N' Relief livestream.

Frontman Dave Grohl explained how the "You Should Be Dancing" cover came about, saying: "We've been going down to our studio every day and filming things and recording things, and this one day we had our list of things we were supposed to do and it said, 'Record a cover song for Jo.' And while we were having this conversation, somebody said, 'Hey, have you seen that BEE GEES documentary?' And I was like the last person on earth — the only person that hadn't seen it! So I was, like, 'Why don't we just do a BEE GEES song?' And someone was just, like, 'Okay… how do you wanna do it?!' And I said: 'Well, let's do it like the BEE GEES.'"

He continued: "We started recording the instrumental track, and then I thought, 'Okay, well, I'm gonna go out and sing it…' and let me tell you, I have never, ever in my life sung like that, but it was the easiest song I have ever sung in my entire life! I sang the song, and it was like six minutes and I was done. I should have been singing like this for the last 25 years!'

"Hail Satin" track listing:

Side A - The DEE GEES:

01. You Should Be Dancing

02. Night Fever

03. Tragedy

04. Shadow Dancing

05. More Than a Woman

Side B - Live At 606:

01. Making A Fire

02. Shame Shame

03. Waiting On A War

04. No Son Of Mine

05. Cloudspotter

A list of participating record stores is available at the Record Store Day site.

Swedish metallers SABATON performed at the Exit festival in Novi Sad, Serbia on Friday, July 9. Professionally filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

42,000 fans from over 70 countries were expected to attend the multiple winner of the "Best European Major Festival" award, which also celebrated its 20th anniversary this year.

The complete techno-centric four-day program from July 8 to July 11 featured over 20 stages and zones. Live streams can be watched at Exit's YouTube channel and Facebook page.

This past April, SABATON released the English-language version of its latest single, "Livgardet" ("The Royal Guard").

SABATON's first new music since 2019's "The Great War", "The Royal Guard" honored the Swedish Royal Guards first established in the year 1521.

SABATON is arguably one of the most important bands to emerge from the modern 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, Sundström, Chris Rörland (guitars), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Tommy Johansson (guitars) 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.

SABATON's ninth album centered on World War I, often referred to as "The Great War." "The Last Stand" delved into various "last stands" throughout history. "Livgardet" strengthened the band's well-known reputation as experts, aficionados, and storytellers regarding the triumph and tragedy of battle.

SABATON headlined London's Wembley Arena in February 2020. JUDAS PRIEST chose them as main support on their "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour of North America, scheduled for September and October 2021. The group will kick off 2022 with an unprecedented 29-city tour of their home country.

METALLICA has shared "The Unforgiven (May 14th, 1991 Rough Mix)", taken from the "Rough & Alternate Mixes" 2CD included in the remastered deluxe box set of its self-titled fifth album — also known as "The Black Album" — due on September 10 via the band's own Blackened Recordings. Check it out below.

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. Remastered for ultimate sound quality, The Black Album remaster will be available in multiple configurations including 180-gram double vinyl LP, standard CD and 3 CD expanded edition, digital, and limited-edition deluxe box set (containing the album remastered on 180-gram 2LP, a picture disc, three live LPs, 14 CDs (containing rough mixes, demos, interviews, live shows), 6 DVDs (containing outtakes, behind the scenes, official videos, live shows), a 120-page hardcover book, four tour laminates, three lithos, three guitar picks, a METALLICA lanyard, a folder with lyric sheets, and a download card).

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

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

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

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

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

"The Metallica Blacklist" features the following tracks:

* ALESSIA CARA & THE WARNING - Enter Sandman

* MAC DEMARCO - Enter Sandman

* GHOST - Enter Sandman

* JUANES - Enter Sandman

* RINA SAWAYAMA - Enter Sandman

* WEEZER - Enter Sandman

* SAM FENDER - Sad But True (Live)

* JASON ISBELL - Sad But True

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

* ROYAL BLOOD - Sad But True

* ST. VINCENT - Sad But True

* WHITE REAPER - Sad But True

* YB - Sad But True

* BIFFY CLYRO - Holier Than Thou

* THE CHATS - Holier Than Thou

* OFF! - Holier Than Thou

* PUP - Holier Than Thou

* COREY TAYLOR - Holier Than Thou

* CAGE THE ELEPHANT - The Unforgiven

* VISHAL DADLANI, DIVINE, SHOR POLICE - The Unforgiven

* DIET CIG - The Unforgiven

* FLATBUSH ZOMBIES FEAT. DJ SCRATCH - The Unforgiven

* HA*ASH - The Unforgiven

* JOSÉ MADERO - The Unforgiven

* MOSES SUMNEY - The Unforgiven

* J BALVIN - Wherever I May Roam

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

* THE NEPTUNES - Wherever I May Roam

* JON PARDI - Wherever I May Roam

* SEBASTIAN - Don't Tread On Else Matters

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

* VOLBEAT - Don't Tread On Me

* THE HU - Through The Never

* TOMI OWÓ - Through The Never

* PHOEBE BRIDGERS - Nothing Else Matters

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

* DAVE GAHAN - Nothing Else Matters

* MICKEY GUYTON - Nothing Else Matters

* DERMOT KENNEDY - Nothing Else Matters

* MON LAFERTE - Nothing Else Matters

* IGOR LEVIT - Nothing Else Matters

* MY MORNING JACKET - Nothing Else Matters

* PG ROXETTE - Nothing Else Matters

* DARIUS RUCKER - Nothing Else Matters

* CHRIS STAPLETON - Nothing Else Matters

* TRESOR - Nothing Else Matters

* GOODNIGHT, TEXAS - Of Wolf And Man

* IDLES - The God That Failed

* IMELDA MAY - the god that failed

* CHERRY GLAZERR - My Friend Of Misery

* IZÏA - My Friend Of Misery

* KAMASI WASHINGTON - My Friend Of Misery

* RODRIGO Y GABRIELA - The Struggle Within

Back in 2017, METALLICA announced that it was preparing deluxe remastered versions of its "…And Justice For All" (1988) and "Metallica" (1991) albums and reached out to its hardcore fans for help to get content for the new editions. "…And Justice For All" has since been reissued for its 30th anniversary in 2018.

METALLICA's self-titled LP in 2014 became the first album to sell 16 million copies since Nielsen SoundScan started tracking sales in 1991.

"Metallica" was already certified 16 times platinum on December 13, 2012 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for shipments in excess of 16 million copies in the U.S.

The album in 2009 surpassed SHANIA TWAIN's 1997 record, "Come On Over", as the best-selling CD of the SoundScan era.

"Metallica" was the first of four collaborations with producer Bob Rock, with whom the band clashed throughout the recording of the disc.

METALLICA performed "the black album" in its entirety at a number of European festivals in 2012.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN have released another video teaser inviting their fans to the "Belshazzar's Feast".

"Belshazzar's Feast" is the story of the writing on the wall in the Bible, and IRON MAIDEN fans have been speculating that the band has been teasing the announcement of its 17th album, possibly to be titled "Writing On The Wall".

In the 14-second video message posted to MAIDEN's social media earlier today, the "Belshazzar's Feast" poster is removed from a wall to reveal the slogan "WOTW", which fans have theorized refers to "Writing On The Wall".

The latest clip comes less than a week after MAIDEN posted a video message from singer Bruce Dickinson teasing the July 15 Belshazzar's Feast event.

Late last month, Dickinson sported a "Belshazzar's Feast" shirt in a TV interview with Sky News. During the conversation, he teased MAIDEN's future plans, saying, "I can't tell you what it is, but it's right in front of you."

A number of other recent MAIDEN-related graphics have featured the slogan "WOTW". In addition, a "Belshazzar’s Feast" poster was spotted at the Download Pilot festival last month bearing the date "15/07" and the letters "IMXVII," which fans believe are a reference to IRON MAIDEN and 17 in Roman numerals.

IRON MAIDEN hasn'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.




pic.twitter.com/iFaFtrKgBK

— Iron Maiden (@IronMaiden) July 13, 2021

InsideOut Music/Sony Music has announced the signing of progressive rock legends JETHRO TULL. The band has already completed a new album titled "The Zealot Gene", which can be expected in early 2022.

Ian Anderson had this to say about the new signing: "After 54 years in the world of music recording, it is with great pleasure that I now sign JETHRO TULL to a record company which reminds me, in many ways, of the old Chrysalis label — both as an independent and in its later years in partnership with EMI. Here are real music guys with a passion for the best and most creative in rock music. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship and more releases to come."

InsideOut Music label manager Thomas Waber states: "Adding JETHRO TULL to the roster is an incredible honor for us. The band are true innovators of the genre and we are looking forward to working with them on their new album. We are sure their countless fans will be as excited about it as we are."

Anderson formed a blues and jazz fusion band in the mid-60s and the name changed frequently until an agent, with an interest in history, booked them as JETHRO TULL, and the name stuck. Ian took up the flute, as he felt he would never match Eric Clapton as a guitarist as and, with a coat purchased to keep out the cold in a draughty bedsit, the image of the tousled, flute-wielding minstrel was born.

TULL's debut album, "This Was", received favourable reviews and sold well upon its release in 1968. The commercial breakthough came the following year when "Living In The Past", with its unusual 5/4 time signature, reached number 11 in the singles chart and an appearance on "Top Of The Pops", performing the No. 4 hit "The Witch's Promise" brought TULL to a much wider audience.

Musically, a historical theme was developing which Anderson exploited as the creative force behind a series of critically acclaimed albums including "Stand Up", "Benefit", "Aqualung", "Thick As A Brick" and "Passion Play".

JETHRO TULL became one of the most distinctive and original bands to fall under the "progressive rock" umbrella and that still sets them apart as one of the best-loved bands of the genre.

Over 50 years on, Ian Anderson and JETHRO TULL continue perform some 70 to 100 shows each year around the world. Anderson's energy and enthusiasm for his music still makes JETHRO TULL concerts an experience to savor.

The band currently consists of:

Ian Anderson - Flute, acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals

Joe Parrish-James - Guitar

Florian Opahle - Guitar (album only)

Scott Hammond - Drums.

John O'Hara - Piano, keyboards and accordion

David Goodier -

Bassist Matt DiRito has announced his departure from Michigan rockers POP EVIL.

DiRito broke the news of his exit in an Instagram post over the weekend. He wrote: "So long, but not goodbye.

"The time has come for me to part ways with POP EVIL. The decision has been made that I will not be joining them on their upcoming tour, or any future tours.

"Walking away from something I've helped build is not easy- but it is the best thing for the band, myself and our respective futures," he continued. "POP EVIL will continue on and so will I, just not together.

"The details surrounding my departure are only known by a few people, and respectfully it will remain that way.

"Having the opportunity to meet so many fans across the world is something that has made a lasting impression on my heart," he added. "I would have loved to play for you all one more time, and I am sorry that it did not work out that way. I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your endless support and love.

"I wish POP EVIL nothing but success in all of their future endeavors and I am thankful for the time (2007-2021) that I was able to be part of it."

As previously reported, POP EVIL drummer Hayley Cramer will miss the first couple of weeks of the band's upcoming U.S. tour because of COVID-19 travel restrictions.

The U.K.-based musician, who joined the Michigan rockers in 2016, announced her absence from the first shows of the trek in a social media post on July 8.

She wrote: "Hey everyone! As I'm sure some of you have noticed, POP EVIL have started rehearsals yet I'm still here in the UK. So I just want to fill you all in with where we are at with regards to some travel logistics back to America.

"We have been able to secure a meeting with the consulate on the 21st of July to get my P1 visa renewed. The embassy is extremely backed up due to the pandemic, but our immigration team have really delivered. Some people are still waiting to obtain an appointment! This does mean unfortunately I will be missing the first couple of weeks of tour.

"I can't wait to get back to play shows in front of you all again. In the meantime, a fantastic drummer Jason Hartless will be filling in for me and will deliver a kick ass performance for sure!!

"I want to encourage you to continually show your love, encouragement and support to bands, musicians, crews and venues. We need all the help you can give to rebuild our precious yet vulnerable music industry. Live music in particular!

"Big love to you all. See you soon."

POP EVIL's "Versatile" tour will kick off on July 14 with an outdoor show in Lake County, Illinois and run across the U.S. until September 23 including stops at several of the major rock festivals — Rocklahoma, Aftershock and Inkcarceration — as well as supporting SHINEDOWN. Support on the trek will come from special guests ZERO 9:36, BRKN LOVE and LIKE MACHINES (on select dates).

POP EVIL's latest album, "Versatile", features the No. 1 mainstream rock hit single "Breathe Again" — the band's sixth No. 1 single to date — alongside heavyweight tracks "Set Me Free", "Let The Chaos Reign" and Top 10 single "Work".
























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Dave Mustaine says that there is no chance of David Ellefson ever rejoining MEGADETH again.

Mustaine addressed the possibility of his longtime bandmate returning to MEGADETH while filming a new video message on Cameo, which lets users hire celebrities to record brief, personalized video messages about virtually any topic.

Asked by Rock Feed if Ellefson could once again play with MEGADETH at some point down the line, Mustaine said: "Any chance on Ellefson coming back later on? The answer to that is no."

Ellefson laid down his bass tracks on MEGADETH's sixteenth LP in May 2020 at a studio in Nashville, Tennessee. A short time later, he raved about his performance on the record, telling the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire" that his musical chemistry with MEGADETH drummer Dirk Verbeuren was comparable to the interplay between Geddy Lee and Neil Peart on classic RUSH albums. "I feel like on the new MEGADETH record, me and Dirk have those same moments," he said. "It's MEGADETH — it's not RUSH, obviously — but in the field of what we do, there were these moments that I was just going, 'Oh, my God.' This is me as a kid going, 'This is my Geddy/Neil moment right here.'"

Last month, 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. He has since revealed that a mystery bassist has already re-recorded Ellefson's parts for the album, which is tentatively due before the end of the year.

Ellefson was dismissed from MEGADETH in late May, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter. The longtime MEGADETH member later released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan. He also filed a report with the police department in Scottsdale, Arizona alleging unlawful distribution of sexually explicit images of Ellefson by unknown offenders. In the report, Ellefson admitted that he had been exchanging sexual text messages with a Dutch teenager, who captured a video of several of their virtual "masturbating encounters" without his consent and shared them with friends. (According to Ellefson, the woman was 19 at the time of their first virtual sexual encounter.) The 56-year-old Ellefson, who lives in Scottsdale, first became aware of the video on May 9, when the claim "David Ellefson of MEGADETH is a pedophile" appeared on Instagram. Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14 by MEGADETH that the band would be parting ways with him. Three days later, he was fired.

On May 24, Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — announced the bassist's departure from the band, saying, "We do not take this decision lightly. While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward," Mustaine wrote. Two days later, Ellefson released a follow-up statement in which he vowed to file a "defamation lawsuit" against the person who "illegally posted a very private video" of the bassist and made "false allegations" against him. He also said he was working with the police in Scottsdale "in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted the video. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Ellefson wrote. He went on to say that he was "taking this time to be with my family" and wished his "bandmates" the best with their upcoming tour.

MEGADETH is currently scheduled to take part in "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with LAMB OF GOD, beginning on August 20 in Austin. MEGADETH is also slated to appear at the SLIPKNOT-curated Knotfest in September in Iowa.

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

David, who studied for a year at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in St. Louis nearly a decade ago, and his wife Julie Ellefson have been married for 27 years. They have two children.

EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting has undergone a successful total gastrectomy, less than five months after he started treatment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach.

Hunting's EXODUS bandmate Gary Holt took to his Instagram about 45 minutes after the completion of the surgery — which lasted between four and five hours — and said that "everything went according to plan." He added: "Gastrectomy complete, heavily sedated but all cancer and mesothelioma nodules removed. He's a warrior." He went on to thank the fans "for all the positive vibes."

According to Cancer.org, a total gastrectomy is done if the cancer has spread widely in the stomach. It is also often advised if the cancer is in the upper part of the stomach, near the esophagus.

On July 5, Hunting said that he had four rounds of chemotherapy and that "the mass [had] shrunk to less than half the size it was in March… After recovery [from gastrectomy], I get four more treatments, then I can resume my life cancer-free."

He added: "I can't wait to travel the world, playing music, enjoying every moment of this crazy journey!! I'll check in soon again and share how thing's are going. THANKS AND MUCH LOVE TO EVERYONE!!! CHEERS!!!!"

According to Cancer.org, a total gastrectomy involves the surgeon removing the entire stomach, nearby lymph nodes, and the omentum, and possibly removing the spleen and parts of the esophagus, intestines, pancreas, or other nearby organs if the cancer has reached them. The end of the esophagus is then attached to part of the small intestine. This allows food to move down the intestinal tract. But people who have had their stomach removed can only eat a small amount of food at a time. Because of this, they will need to eat more often.

A number of musicians, including members of EXODUS, MACHINE HEAD, TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, STONE SOUR, KING DIAMOND, OVERKILL, D.R.I. and FOGHAT, have donated ultra-rare signed custom guitars, drum heads, cymbals, sticks, jerseys, other merchandise and rare collectables to be auctioned to raise funds for Tom's mounting medical expenses. The ultimate bidding items are a Yamaha super-limited-edition 50th-anniversary drum set worth at least $12,000; TESTAMENT's Ultimate Backstage Pass Experience which includes two round-trip tickets to said show along with hotel accommodations for two nights on top of the tickets and backstage passes worth over $5,000.

Bidding has already begun and won't end until July 20, three days after the July 17 benefit concert for Hunting at Ace Of Spades in Sacramento, California. Appearing on the bill will be BLIND ILLUSION, BONELESS ONES (featuring former FORBIDDEN guitarist Craig Locicero and ex-MACHINE HEAD drummer Chris Kontos) and JESUS CRISIS.

A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses had previously raised more than $98,000 — including $5,000 from Tom's former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.

After Hunting went public with his diagnosis, Holt said that EXODUS will "delay" the release of its recently completed new album, "Persona Non Grata", "so that when Tom has defeated this, he will be back to full strength to hit the road and pummel his drums like only he can! When he has kicked cancer's ass like we know he will, we will resume kicking YOUR asses with the sickest record yet!" he said.

The squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach is a very uncommon entity, with worldwide incidence of 0.04% to 0.07% of all gastric cancers.

"Persona Non Grata" will be the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

"Persona Non Grata" was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap.
























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EUROPE frontman Joey Tempest has paid tribute to legendary heavy metal singer Ronnie James Dio by performing an acoustic cover version of the classic BLACK SABBATH song "Heaven And Hell". Check out the video below.

Ronnie passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with stomach cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

Dio's long-awaited autobiography, titled "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography", will be released on July 27 via Permuted Press. It was written with longtime friend of 30 years and esteemed music writer Mick Wall, who took up the mantle after Ronnie's passing.

EUROPE has released six albums since reuniting 18 years ago: "Start From The Dark" (2004), "Secret Society" (2006), "Last Look At Eden" (2009), "Bag Of Bones" (2012), "War Of Kings" (2015) and "Walk The Earth" (2017).

"Walk The Earth" was made available via Hell & Back Recordings (Silver Lining Music). It was recorded at famed Abbey Road Studios in London with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb (RIVAL SONS, Shooter Jennings, Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton).

Directed by "Temple Of Bleh" podcast host Jim Saxton, "The History Of Roadrunner Records" will tell the story of the Dutch-founded company, from its beginnings as a licensor of children's music in 1981, concluding with the label's 2012 shake-up following its acquisition by Warner Music Group.

Through a collection of new interviews with Roadrunner alumni (artist and employee alike), archival footage, and never-before-seen materials, the project will fill the knowledge gap left behind by metal's most disruptive independent label.

"I’m a huge fan of Jim Saxton's 'Temple Of Bleh' podcast," writes longtime Roadrunner Records SVP for A&R Monte Conner. "Even as someone who lived through all the history he digs up with each episode, I remember things I had long forgotten and gain new insight into Roadrunner's history via Jim's fresh perspective, sharp insight, and his uncanny ability to place the label's achievements into a historic framework from both an artist and business perspective.

"Roadrunner is a label success story like no other in the heavy metal world… and beyond, and it's about time its story is told in a manner that truly does it justice."

FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares writes: "I'm lucky to have been a part of the legacy of Roadrunner Records. Working alongside Monte Conner for the majority of my 30-year career has been epic. He gave FEAR FACTORY a chance when every other label rejected us. Then having to relive the history of the band through the 'Temple Of Bleh' podcast helped me to remember the details of the making of our classic album 'Demanufacture' and BRUJERIA's 'Raza Odiada'. I look forward to seeing the docuseries and learning more about the history of the label."

"The History Of Roadrunner Records" is currently slated for digital release in March 2

During a recent YouTube livestream for his 58th birthday, legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen was asked if he would ever consider making an album that is reminiscent of his earlier efforts, as requested by some of his biggest fans. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Obviously, I'm very flattered that so many people like what I do, but I'm also aware that a lot of people don't like what I do. So what I end up doing is I don't make albums on request — except [2019's] 'Blue Lightning' [which paid homage to those from the blues world who have inspired him] was a little bit like a request album, a little bit, although I did what I wanted anyway. But especially on this last album, 'Parabellum', it's a very, very honest album. It's exactly what comes out of me — exactly. And some people have heard it and they say that it reminds them of the older days. And that's fine. And if it doesn't, it doesn't. It wasn't intentional."

He continued: "I just do what I feel like doing. And what I've done in the past is in the past. And I'm not gonna go back, 'Oh, yeah, maybe I should do that. Maybe I should not.' I don't work like that. I actually let it flow naturally. It has to come to me like a spontaneous thing for me to love it. And even though I actually could do things on request — if you want me to, I can write a country and western song right now; I could do that, but I don't want to do that. I wanna make music that comes from within me as a spontaneous, honest expression. And if people love it, I'm very happy. If they don't, I won't change it anyway."

Yngwie's new album, "Parabellum", will be released on July 23 via Music Theories Recordings/Mascot Label Group. Only four of the songs on the LP feature vocals. The album title is Latin, translating as "Prepare For War".

After working with some of the top hard singers of the past four decades, Yngwie now handles much of the lead vocals himself in his own band, backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist/vocalist Ralph Ciavolino and drummer Brian Wilson.

Last month, Yngwie announced a month-long fall 2021 U.S. tour. Support on the trek will come from former MARILYN MANSON and current ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5.