Lee Aaron will release her new album, Radio On!, on July 23 via Metalville Records, delayed from the previously announced June 18 date. The first single from record, "C'mon", was released yesterday, May 21, and can be enjoyed below. Get your digital copy of "C'mon" now at this location.

Multi-platinum, award-winning Canadian vocalist Lee Aaron is back with a collection of 12 brand-new originals that invite you to tune into the heartbeat of your personal radio dial and hear the best of what this rock 'n' roll legend has to offer.

Like the FM stations that once ruled the airwaves, Radio On! is full of classic, melodic rock hooks, nasty guitar riffs, big harmonies, and inspired songwriting. Themes explored on the album include: mortality ("Radio On," "Twenty One"), materialism ("Devil's Gold"), empowerment ("Vampin'"), addiction ("Wasted"), love ("Cmon," "Had Me At Hello"), and society ("Soul Breaker," "Russian Doll").

Lee Aaron delivers these messages with memorable, soaring melodies and her extraordinary, versatile voice that has remained powerful and consistent throughout her career.

Like your favorite radio DJ coming over the airwaves on a hot summer night, Lee Aaron invites you to set your dial for a genuine rock 'n' roll listening experience… 12 tracks of melodic rock at its BEST!

Radio On! tracklisting:

"Vampin’"
"Soul Breaker"
"Cmon"
"Mama Don’t Remember"
"Radio On"
"Soho Crawl"
"Devil’s Gold"
"Russian Doll"
"Great Big Love"
"Wasted"
"Had Me At Hello"
"Twenty One"

Lineup:

Lee Aaron - lead vocals
Sean Kelly - guitar
Dave Reimer - bass
John Cody - drums

 




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BLACK SABBATH, JUDAS PRIEST, Nuclear Blast, MY DYING BRIDE, Laney, Epiphone, Earache, Sony/BMG, Razamataz, PRS Guitars, Live Nation/Download, 5BAM, Bravado and UK Metal Merger are among the international metal-music industry heavyweights who have donated over 1,000 items of "money-can't-buy" metal memorabilia, merchandise and rarities to #ILoveMetal, the world's biggest ever metal-music charity prize draw.

In partnership with Julie Weir of Music For Nations, the #ILoveMetal collection was collated by the UK Metal Merger "In Solitude" single supergroup collaboration, again with the motivation of raising funds for the Stagehand charity.

Stagehand is the only U.K. charity that specifically helps music stage and road crew, and is dedicated to providing severe-hardship funding and mental health support for live events industry workers.

The #ILoveMetal campaign is critical to supporting the "behind the scenes" workers in the live music industry that, right now, are in crisis. Without them, there won't be a live events industry, even when covid restrictions are lifted.

While providing the opportunity to win money-can't-buy prizes, #ILoveMetal is a way for the metal community to come together to support live music (a cause very dear to our hearts and ears!) giving back to the people who make these life-affirming events happen.

This is not an auction! It is a series of prize draws for each available bundle. With an auction, only fans with the deepest pockets get involved, whereas with a prize draw the whole international metal community can participate through £5 entries via the #ILoveMetal Crowdfunder page. If a fan enters multiple times, they stand a better chance of winning. The prize draw ends June 11 and the winners will be contacted June 18.

The limited-edition, unique items up for grabs are listed here, but include a limited-edition Tony Iommi Epiphone Signature SG Custom, and rare/exclusive BLACK SABBATH book, both of which personally signed by Tony Iommi, two VIP passes for Download 2022; a framed JUDAS PRIEST "Epitaph" presentation, personally signed by Rob Halford, Glenn Tipton, Richie Faulkner, Ian Hill and Scott Travis; a black PRS SE Standard Tremonti guitar signed by Richard Shaw of CRADLE OF FILTH, and a once-in-a-lifetime collection of MY DYING BRIDE rarit

Finland's Asphodelus has signed a worldwide deal with Hammerheart Records and will record a follow-up to 2019's Stygian Dreams during the summer of 2021. A release is expected early 2022.

Stygian Dreams received great reviews worldwide, comparing Asphodelus to the early version of Katatonia, being a doomed death/black band full of melancholy and melodies. Asphodelus is the continuation of Cemetary Fog, whom started out in 2012 and did a great EP for Iron Bonehead in 2016.

Together with Hammerheart Records, Jari Filppu (vocals/guitars) thinks Asphodelus will be able to deliver a big record that will appeal strongly to all fans of melancholic doom/death metal.

Original AC/DC singer Dave Evans has just released a new compilation album called "BADASS Greatest Hits". The effort, which can be ordered at this location, contains "20 massive hits on one album," including Dave's version of "Rockin' In The Parlour", the song that originally appeared as the B-side of AC/DC's debut single, 1974's "Can I Sit Next to You, Girl".

"BADASS Greatest Hits" track listing:

01. Hot Nights (Evans/Franceschini/Green)

02. Somebody Better (Evans/Franceschini)

03. Get Ready (Evans/Green)

04. Baby Blue Eyes (Evans/Green)

05. Sold My Soul For Rock 'N' Roll (Evans/Tinson/Croft)

06. Only The Good Die Young (Evans/Tinson/Croft)

07. Take Me Down Again (Tinson)

08. Back On The Firing Line (Tinson)

09. Rock 'N' Roll Or Bust (Tinson)

10. Another Boy On The Street (Evans/Tinson)

11. House Of The Rising Sun (Traditional)

12. Judgement Day (Evans/Tinson)

13. Shoot On Sight ( Evans/Tinson)

14. We Don't March To Your Drum (Evans/Tinson)

15. Put Up Or Shut Up (Evans/Appleton)

16. I Believe (Evans/Appleton)

17. Go Wild (Evans/Steigeoal)

18. Sunset Strip (Evans)

19. Rockin' In The Parlour (Young/Young)

20. Bad Ass Boy (Evans/Tipton)

Dave recorded AC/DC's first two singles, "Can I Sit Next To You Girl" and "Baby Please Don't Go". But in October 1974, less than a year after AC/DC's first gig, Evans was out of the group.

Evans was replaced by Bon Scott, who sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums and became a legend himself after his death in 1980.

In December 2019, Evans took to his Facebook page to shoot down rumors that he was hoping to come back to AC/DC, explaining that "the real essence of the band" died when founding rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young passed away in November 2017.

Earlier this year, Dave Evans was asked in an interview with The Rocker Diaries if he thought "that would be it" for AC/DC after Bon's death in 1980. He responded: "No, not at all. I mean, we all keep going. And AC/DC has had that many players through [the history of] the band. I don't know how many. 20? And three singers, plus a stand-in singer as well.

"We were always ambitious when we first started," he continued. "We always wanted to be the best in the world — all of us. And after me, Bon Scott got his chance. He did great with the band. And when he died, I just thought, 'Who are they gonna get?' I never thought [I would be approached about it] myself, because that's water under the bridge. And I was busy with bands as well at the time, and doing my own music and recording. I was just wondering who it would be. I had heard of [Brian Johnson's pre-AC/DC band] GEORDIE — just the name GEORDIE. I'd never heard of Brian. And then Brian popped up and, of course, the 'Back In Black' album came out, which was a massive album around the world, and they were off and running with Brian. But if Brian quit, they'd get another singer, and another singer. [They've gone through] different bass players [and] different drummers.

"The drive was always Malcolm Young," Dave added. "I remember Malcolm when I first met him. He was such a driving force. Just a tiny little guy — just a little touch over five foot tall — but, boy, he had a big heart and a big personality. And he was tough, too — Malcolm was very tough. And no matter what, he was AC/DC through and through. And, of course, once he passed away, which is very sad, AC/DC, of course, will never, ever be the same without Malcolm. How can it be?"

Former TESTAMENT bassist Greg Christian has weighed in on David Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH, saying "sometimes there are consequences to doing stupid shit."

Christian — whose acrimonious January 2014 exit from TESTAMENT was well publicized on these pages — addressed MEGADETH's decision to fire Ellefson while responding to questions on Facebook about his possible interest in auditioning for the vacant spot in the Dave Mustaine-fronted band.

On Monday (May 24), Christian took to his Facebook page to share MEGADETH's statement about Ellefson's departure, and he included the following message: "Before anyone else messages me about this ... I kinda feel bad for Ellefson about this but sometimes there are consequences to doing stupid shit. But whatever that's their issue not mine.

"My issue is: I'm about 99% certain that Dave (M) only wants a bass player that uses a pick. No fingers. In that camp, Dave is the General. He does what he wants and gets what he wants.

"I can play the shit out of the bass with my fingers but I'm pretty much useless with a pic. It is what it is. If it were different, my broke ass would've already reached out to him. C'est La Vie ... it'll be a good gig for someone. And I wish David (E) the best. I think it's unfortunate things ended up like this (but it's not unexpected)".

MEGADETH fired Ellefson on Monday, two weeks after the leak of the bassist's messages and videos featuring a woman who is not his wife.

Earlier in the month, sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving Ellefson 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.

Ellefson's statement was accompanied by a screenshot of a social media post from the woman involved, who denied any suggestions that she was underage at the time. The woman also revealed she recorded the intimate moments and shared them with a friend without Ellefson's permission, calling herself "naïve" for doing so and claiming that the contact between her and the musician was "all consensual and all online." She also called assumptions that she was "groomed" by Ellefson "misinformation".

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 17 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefeson's place for the album's touring cycle.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.


Before anyone else messages me about this ...

I kinda feel bad for Ellefson about this but sometimes there are...

Posted by Greg Christian on Monday, May 24, 2021

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen spoke to Kaaos TV about the upcoming comeback album from his long-running black metal project DARKWOODS MY BETHROTHED. Tentatively due before the end of the year, "Angel Of Carnage Unleashed" will be DARKWOODS MY BETHROTHED's first collection of new songs since the release of "Witch-Hunts", which came out more than two decades ago.

Regarding how he and his DARKWOODS bandmates decided that now was the right time for the group to return, Tuomas said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We did three albums in the mid-'90s, the latest one coming out in '98; 'Witch-Hunts', it was called. And since then, we have had this high-school-friends get-together almost every summer, since the past 15 years or so, and we always talk about the comeback of DARKWOODS and then forget it immediately. The summer comes, we talk about it, 'Now let's do it,' and then we forget about it. But last July, in 2020, we thought that it's really now or never. Because of this situation that the world is in, we finally might have the time and the means to actually realize this that we have been talking about for so long. And here we are."

According to Tuomas, the drums for "Angel Of Carnage Unleashed" were recorded in February at Petrax studios. "Then we spent a week in our place here in Kitee recording the guitars and the vocals," he said. "And now it's in the middle of the mixing process, to be finished in a couple of weeks."

Holopainen went on to emphasize that DARKWOODS MY BETHROTHED has never been his band. "Originally I was just a session musician back in the days," he explained. "And now, even though I'm a full-time member of the band, I still don't do any songs; it's the other guys who take care of that. I just play my parts with the keys… That's the dynamics of this particular band, and that's the way it works the best, because Jouni ['Hallgrim' Mikkonen, guitar], Teemu ['Hexenmeister' Kautonen, bass] and Pasi ['Emperor Nattasett' Kankkunen, vocals], the core of the band, they have such a strong vision of the songs and the lyrics and the overall atmosphere of what DARKWOODS is about. So they do the songwriting part, and then I just come in and spice up the whole thing with the keyboards, just the way it has worked in the past and on this album as well."

Asked what his relationship to black metal is nowadays and whether he still listens to the genre at all, Tuomas said: "I don't really listen to any kind of music anymore, for reasons I can't really explain. But back in the days, in the mid-'90s, black metal was a huge thing for me for a short period of time. Bands like EMPEROR, ENSLAVED, DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH. I don't even know if these bands want to be called black metal, because that's such a puritanic thing, but for me, I was highly influenced by that genre of music. And I still enjoy them a lot. But I just don't listen to music at home that much. And also I don't think that DARKWOODS MY BETHROTHED can be categorized solely as a black metal band. Musically, yes, but the lyrics are about something completely else."

NIGHTWISH's two interactive "An Evening with Nightwish In a Virtual World" concert experiences will kick off the "Human. :II: Nature." world tour this weekend. The band will perform in a tavern called "The Islanders Arms" built in a virtual world for two nights — Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29. On both nights, the fans will experience a one-and-a-half-hour performance, hearing songs live off the latest album, "Human. :II: Nature.", for the first time ever. These two nights will have their own, slightly different setlists.

Israeli metal collective Shredhead have returned with a neck-breaking single, “The Nothing We Are”, recorded, mixed and mastered by acclaimed Danish producer Tue Madsen (Meshuggah, The Haunted, Suicide Silence).

“Nothing shows how feeble and insignificant we all are like this past year has,” says frontman Aharon Ragoza. “It has stopped everything and everyone in their tracks, reminding everyone that no matter how big you are, there are bigger fish in the sea, no matter how special you are, there are thousands like you, and no matter how important we think we are, in the end, we are all just nothing. This is what this song is about.”

The new single comes as Shredhead announces a headline performance dubbed “Rise Up” on June 19 at one of Israel’s top venues, Zappa B-Side TLV club in Tel Aviv, with support from local artists Dukalaton, Matricide and DPS. “Everybody is naturally aching for a show, and we've felt like this is the perfect time to bring up our game and return to the stages with our biggest headline show to date,” says guitarist Razi Elbaz.

The hardworking Shredhead is a force to be reckoned with in Israel. Grinding their way to the top of Tel Aviv’s alternative scene with hundreds of domestic and international shows, including tours with Overkill, Crowbar and DevilDriver in Europe and Japan, packed local headline shows and official endorsement from metal guitar giants ESP, the band continues pushing forward with their new single.

“Everyone in the band is hyped about releasing this new single backed by a major ‘post-Covid’ comeback to the stages after this year and a half of a shitstorm,” says bassist Lee Lavy. “We can't wait. All five of us are working around the clock to put on the best show that we can for our fans.”

The band is also hard at work on their next full-length album. “This release and the upcoming show feel like a breath of fresh air after a long time working hard behind the scenes,” guitarist Yotam Nagor says. “‘The Nothing We Are’ is just a first taste of much more material to come from the band. Stopping or slowing down is never an option for us, so during this time we've been busting our asses to bring forth new material. For now, we can say we're at a very advanced stage in the production of our next title, and at this point it's safe to say new material from the band is coming soon.”

For further details, visit Shredhead on Facebook.

 




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Legendary vocalist and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Ann Wilson has unveiled a collection of unreleased archival songs made with the band that she was in before HEART. THE DAYBREAKS were a short-lived hard rock group fronted by Wilson in the late 1960s. They performed in various small venues, recorded a handful of songs and released a seven-inch single in 1969 before she left the band to form HEART with sister Nancy. THE DAYBREAKS EP is out now at all streaming platforms. A limited-edition 10-inch vinyl is available for order at annwilson.com with a digital redemption code.

"The Daybreaks" track listing:

01. Standing Watching You

02. I'm Gonna Drink My Hurt Away

03. Wonder How I Managed

04. Through Eyes And Glass

Wilson is jumping right back into live performances with the "Rite Of June: An Evening With Ann Wilson" Florida tour set for June. The dates are as follows:

June 22 - Fort Myers FL - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hal

June 24 - Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live Orlando

June 27 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheatre

Widely regarded as one of the greatest voices in the history of rock and roll, Ann Wilson is a true icon, known far and wide as lead singer and songwriter of the groundbreaking rock band HEART. Led by Wilson's extraordinary vocal power, HEART has thrilled audiences for over four decades, earning sales of more than 35 million and well-deserved induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013. Indeed, as lead singer of the first female-fronted superstar hard rock band, Wilson blazed a trail for generations of women to come, while her songs — including "Barracuda", "Crazy On You", "Straight O" and "Magic Man", to name but a few — have become part of the very fabric of popular culture.

Wilson made her stellar solo debut with 2007's "Hope & Glory", showcasing inventive covers of songs that inspired her own artistry alongside guest appearances from such friends and fans as Elton John, K.D. Lang, Alison Krauss, Wynonna Judd, Shawn Colvin and Rufus Wainwright. Her critically acclaimed second solo album, 2018's "Immortal", saw her teaming with longtime HEART producer Mike Flicker to put her unique stamp on songs made famous by David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, Amy Winehouse and more. A series of remarkable single releases have followed, including "The Revolution Starts Now" (written and originally recorded by Steve Earle) and Wilson's own mighty soul ballad "Tender Heart", earning applause from such high-profile media outlets as Rolling Stone, American Songwriter and Goldmine. "The Hammer" and "Black Wing" were also released shortly after.

As creatively energized as ever before, Wilson is currently working on additional new music and plans to return to the road as soon as possible, bringing her one-of-a-kind voice and classic songs to stages everywhere.

The eldest son of original SALIVA singer Josey Scott, died on Sunday, May 23 after a battle with COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

Josey, who left SALIVA at the end of 2011 after 15 years with the band, reportedly to pursue a solo Christian music career, announced his son's passing in a social media post. He wrote: "I don't even know where to begin in making this post. Our sweet Cody lost his fight with covid tonight, and the Lord has called him home. We are absolutely heartbroken, confused, grief stricken, angry, just every emotion you can imagine. Please keep us in your prayers, as we have some difficult days ahead. We are trusting Jesus to bring us peace that passes all understanding."

Josey first revealed his son's health battle on May 11. At the time, he shared a photo of Cody and wrote in an accompanying message: "Please, everyone, I beg you to please pray for my son Cody. He is in the hospital in Memphis with Covid pneumonia. He is 29 years old. He is my life, and I believe G-d can heal him, I just need everyone within the sound of my voice, and the viewing of this message, to please, please pray for my beautiful baby boy! He has always been so loving, and kind, and he is an amazing human being, and we look forward to years, and year more of the joy, and pleasure of his amazing presence, and company! Please remember my son in your prayers! #prayers #prayer #prayersforcody #covid_19 #healing #love #care #medicalstaff #essentialworkers".

After Scott left SALIVA, he was quickly replaced by Bobby Amaru, who can be heard on SALIVA's last four releases: "In It To Win It" (2013), "Rise Up" (2014), "Love, Lies & Therapy" (2016) and "10 Lives" (2018).

Formed in Memphis in 1996, SALIVA released a self-titled a debut album the following year. After selling 10,000 copies of the self-released album, Island Records took notice of the band. "Every Six Seconds" and its hit singles, the Grammy-nominated "Your Disease" and "Click Click Boom", catapulted SALIVA into the mainstream and is now certified double platinum.

Two months ago, it was announced that SALIVA had abandoned its previously announced plan to reunite with Scott.

Scott broke the news of his return to SALIVA in October 2019 during an appearance on "The Morning Dump", a podcast hosted by "The Big Mad Morning Show" in Tulsa, Oklahoma. At the time, Josey said that he wanted to get together with SALIVA and "write a badass record."

SALIVA guitarist Wayne Swinny addressed Scott's status with the band during a March 2021 interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station. Asked if there are still plans for Josey to reunite with SALIVA for a possible album and/or a tour, Wayne said: "There was preliminary discussions, but it never really got off the ground. We just basically had to make plans and keep this train rolling, so to speak. It didn't make sense to me to stop what we were doing. 'Cause this unit, we've been together, it's been almost 10 years now, with Bobby in the band. Brad came along shortly after that. We're tight. We get along. It's a well-oiled machine. We've got a great crew, a great bus driver. It would throw a monkey wrench into the actual SALIVA."




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DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen has released a music video for his version of "Quadrant 4", featuring his DELTA DEEP bandmates Forrest Robinson (drums) and Craig Martini (bass).

Says Phil: "I recruited drummer Forrest Robinson and bass player Craig Martini to accompany me on this track. We did a shred-guitar, hard-rock update of the 1973 jazz rock fusion classic 'Quadrant 4'. I've always loved the version from Billy Cobham's 'Spectrum' album that featured Tommy Bolin on guitar. We [DELTA DEEP] opened up our set with this song every night on Joe Satriani's 'G3' tour in 2018 and it was always a breakneck blast. I also wanted to let everyone know about some of the stuff I've been doing during COVID. This is just one of the amazing compositions I've recorded. More to come…"

Collen left school at 16 to work in a factory and as a dispatch rider. Influenced by guitar players such as Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix and Mick Ronson, he soon developed a flashy, aggressive style of playing rock guitar. Phil quit his day job he went on tour as a guitarist with the London-based post-punk glam rock band GIRL. Collen joined DEF LEPPARD in 1982 during the "Pyromania" album recording sessions, playing guitar solos on the hits "Photograph", "Foolin'" and "Rock Of Ages", among others. "Pyromania" was DEF LEPPARD's breakthrough album and turned the band into rock superstars almost over night. They spent the summer of 1983 at No. 2 on the Billboard chart, behind Michael Jackson's "Thriller", the biggest-selling album of all time. "Pyromania" sold in excess of 10 times platinum and received a diamond award in the U.S. and Canada.

Collen has been featured in outlets ranging from Rolling Stone, People, The New York Times to Guitar World, Inc., Iron Man and beyond. Phil is an outspoken advocate for music, music education, animal rights, health and fitness and sobriety. In addition to his duties with DEF LEPPARD, Collen continues to write, perform and produce with MANRAZE, DELTA DEEP, TESLA and others. Collen released his memoir, "Adrenalized: Life, Def Leppard, and Beyond", in fall 2015.

Canadian metal outfit SPIRITBOX will release its debut album, "Eternal Blue", on September 17. The band's music video for its latest single, titled "Secret Garden", can be seen below.

Speaking about the LP, SPIRITBOX vocalist Courtney LaPlante states: "We are very anxious to release our album. It is a body of work we have been accumulating for over two years.

"Having the recording process put on hold for so long due to the pandemic has made me see that I can never take the experience of tracking an album for granted ever again.

"I must say that although we never intended to wait so long to do this record, I think it did help the songs become stronger. I am so happy with every single song, I wish I could release each one as a single with a music video. They all reflect different moments and influences in our lives.

"We have had enough time to release the exact music we would like to put out into the world, with no need to compromise. Every single note and every single syllable is the music that we have always dreamed of making and we are very proud of it."

Regarding "Secret Garden", LaPlante adds: "I think this is the most scared I've been to put out a song, because I realize as we continue to release music in single format, listeners can start to assume what kind of band we are, and are alarmed when we do not meet those assumptions. I want to continue to showcase the fluidity that is inherent in heavy music, and even though this is just one part of a full body of work that may not sound exactly like this song, it is a song that we love and are obsessed with. I celebrate variation. 'Secret Garden' is exciting to me for this reason. I'm scared but excited, like I'm about to hit the big drop on a roller coaster, and I'm fully embracing that."

The latest announcement comes hot on the heels of SPIRITBOX's previous single release at the end of May for track "Circle With Me" which charted on Billboard at No. 1 Hard Rock Digital Song Sales, No. 5 Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 9 Rock Songs Core Genre, No. 12 Rock Digital Songs, No. 50 Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, No. 71 Digital Songs. The track has already clocked up 4.3 million streams to date.

Prior to "Circle With Me", SPIRITBOX released two break-out, hit singles last year the heartbreaking and otherworldly "Constance" and the unrelentingly brutal "Holy Roller", which debuted at No. 25 on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs and charted as the No. 1 song of 2020 on SiriusXM's Liquid Metal.

The band released "Constance Reimagined" this past weekend in conjunction with The Grammy Museum COLLECTION:live #spotlightsaturdays in partnership with BMG. The band performed an incredible acoustic rendition of the song featuring a string quartet and filmed in a church.

The husband-and-wife duo consisting of Courtney LaPlante and Michael Stringer made its debut with an independently released EP in October 2017, quickly building a cult following. In 2018, they found their musical counterpart in bass player Bill Crook and partnered with Pale Chord Music to continue to create and release music in single and EP formats, and in fall of 2020, signed with globally renowned label Rise Records.

Drawing its name from a device that some believe is capable of communing with the dead, SPIRITBOX has a paranormal undertone that runs through everything they do, using EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings both at its live shows and within its tracks.

Having toured the world many times over with their previous bands — metal outfit IWRESTLEDABEARONCE (Courtney and Mike) and pop punk band LIVING WITH LIONS (Bill) — SPIRITBOX absorbed the highs and lows of living as working musicians and decided to try a different and more sustainable approach when it came to releasing their music. They took the concept of supply and demand and applied it to their release model, focusing on making fans across the globe by using the social media tools available to them, releasing shorter bodies of music and removing touring from the plan until a demand was built. In doing so they quickly garnered a cult-like online following which has lead to over 66.6 million streams across all platforms and sell outs on every physical release and most merch items they've released to date.

In February 2020, SPIRITBOX jumped on a plane and finally went on tour in support of AFTER THE BURIAL across Europe, which was unfortunately cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite having to return to Canada early, SPIRITBOX has remained busy, recording the two new music, shooting the accompanying videos, launching their Patreon and working on their debut LP.

"Eternal Blue" track listing:

01. Sun Killer

02. Hurt You

03. Yellowjacket (feat. Sam Carter)

04. The Summit

05. Secret Garden

06. Silk In The Strings

07. Holy Roller

08. Eternal Blue

09. We Live In A Strange World

10. Halcyon

11. Circle With Me

12. Constance

The iconic band KISS return to comics in a haunting new tale, "Phantom Obsession", by writer Ian Edginton.

As a young man in 1978, Darius Cho attended a concert of his favorite band, a memory that has stuck with him to this day. Now he is a massively wealthy tech giant, but mysteriously reclusive. Some even believe he may not exist at all, simply serving as a ghostly facade for an endless consortium of corporations. At least until KISS receives an all-expense invitation to play an exclusive concert for him. Playing for an audience of just Cho, his assistant and a crowd of "Westworld"-style androids invented by the mega-billionaire, everything seems a little off… Especially when the band wakes up in luxurious accommodations, but with no way to leave, and their powerful talismans stolen from them!

"It was 1977, in the U.K., and I was 14. I actually discovered KISS in issues #12 and 13 of Marvel's Howard The Duck!," said writer Ian Edginton. "I didn't know who the hell they were, but loved the look. A friend of mine who knew his metal played me the 'Love Gun' album and I was hooked, which is why 'Love Gun' (song and album) has always been my favorite!"

Acclaimed writer Ian Edginton (X-Force, Iron Maiden) twists this mystery and more for readers in this rocking new series. He's joined by artist Celor (Hack/Slash, Zombie Tramp) as well as colorist Valentina Pinto and letterer Troy Peteri. With official collaboration and approval by the band, this is a series that KISS fans can't miss!

In addition to a concert scene, of course, and the band's fight to break free from Cho's captivity, Edginton is tackling some serious questions in the series. Delving into science fiction territory with an exploration of humanity and identity by way of the androids. Which ties right into the band's famous identities involving masks and makeup. Also featured will be a romp through a theme park, with reference and influence from major parts of Japanese culture like Godzilla and the horrific manga works of Junji Ito. But ultimately, Edginton confirms, "It sounds deep, but it's mostly about robots, monsters, and blowing shit up!"

No great rock album is complete without iconic cover art, and comics are no different! In addition to one by interior artist Celor, Jae Lee leads the pack, tapping into the Japanese influences of the story on his cover. KISS fan-favorite artist Stuart Sayger returns, following his contributions to previous series Blood & Stardust, The End and Kiss Zombies, all now available in graphic novels. Celor brings along his Hack/Slash collaborator, writer and artist Tim Seeley, for one too. Plus, of course, a photo of the band themselves, and a blank sketch cover for aspiring artists!

Kiss: Phantom Obsession #1 is solicited in Diamond Comic Distributors' June 2021 Previews catalog, the premier source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market, and slated for release in August 2021. Comic book fans are encouraged to preorder copies of the issue with their local comic book retailers. It will also be available for individual customer purchase through digital platforms courtesy of Comixology, Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Dynamite Digital, ComicsPlus, and more.

Leviathan Project is a powerful new metal ensemble, featuring, Bobby Koeble (Death), Matt Nardo (Producer), Tk (Britny Fox) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (guest vox, ex-Judas Priest) exploring the ongoing study of our human condition through music, writings, and visual communication. The result is an aggressive and captivating sound that combines traditional heavy metal with catchy melodies, haunting vocals and other worldly guitars.

Leviathan Project will release the first of two EP’s It’s Their World on June 4 digitally and as a Limited Edition (only 100 copies) cassette. Throwing it back to the early days of metal when you would discover the latest new band through tape trading, as Deko Entertainment president Bruce Pucciarello comments, “What a great example of how you can take a familiar musical genre to another level. Amazing writing is here, the sound explodes, it’s powerful and seductive! This is an insanely good project.”

The band have released a lyric video for the track “Solar Storm” and had this to say about the new release. Tim “Ripper” Owens: “Gotta say these were some fun tunes to sing on!! When Tommy called and asked if I wanna sing on a few songs and maybe even help write a few I said hell yea let’s do it! Always cool to be a guest singer on stuff you dig!”

Bobby Koelble: “I listened to the basic tracks and just went for it. I tried to keep the flow of musicality in whatever I play. It's a lot of fun to be a part of this music.”

Matt Nardo: “Being involved in the creation of Leviathan Project has opened up new worlds for me as a musician. When you build music with talents like Bobby, Tim, and Tk; how can it not be something that resonates?”

TK: “Leviathan Project is about the moment and letting yourself get lost in the music. I try to capture sounds and create songs that will take you somewhere else.”

Grammy Award-winning band GRETA VAN FLEET will embark on a series of specialty events, "Strange Horizons" — its only headline shows in 2021 — at iconic venues, including FirstBank Amphitheater in Tennessee; Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Connecticut; Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago, Illinois and Los Angeles's Greek Theatre beginning later this summer. These limited engagements follow the band's extensive touring history, which saw them sell more than one million tickets in five continents over the span of three years.

"It is truly a monumental time in history to be able to perform again," the band shares. "We are honored to experience these special shows with all of those who will be in attendance. Let us, once again, come together & celebrate the privilege of life."

Tickets are on sale this Thursday, May 27 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com. There will be a Peaceful Army fan presale on May 25, and a local venue presale on May 26.

Tour dates:

Aug. 05 - FirstBank Amphitheater - Franklin, TN

Aug. 27 - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater - Bridgeport, CT

Sep. 03 - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL

Oct. 26 - Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA

GRETA VAN FLEET's sophomore studio album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", came out on April 16 via Lava/Republic Records.

A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", "The Battle At Garden's Gate" came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017's "Highway Tune" led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.

Over the past three years, GRETA VAN FLEET — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka, and drummer Danny Wagner — played to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America and New Zealand. While driving to gigs, the first-time world travelers passed many unfamiliar sights, from the favelas in Sao Paulo to the Gold Coast of Australia and everywhere in between, meeting and enjoying conversations with fans and other musicians that opened up new worlds to them. To cap off the change-filled era, the quartet moved from Michigan to Nashville, immersing themselves in Music City's rich history. The melding of all these experiences opened their eyes to amazing new worlds of culture, history, philosophy and spirituality — and ushered in an entirely new way of looking at life and the approach to their music.

Accordingly, GRETA VAN FLEET poured everything they experienced into these new songs - the music reflects their spiritual and intellectual growth, increased awareness of the inequalities plaguing the modern world, and deep empathy for what other people are going through.

Sonically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" also feels bracingly modern, an embodiment of genre-blended musical freedom. Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (FOO FIGHTERS, PAUL MCCARTNEY), the album is ambitious and expansive, marked by epic journeys such as the second single, "Age Of Machine", and the Top 5 rock hit "My Way, Soon", which boasts a towering chorus hook and rip-it-up-and-start-again lyrics.

German/Celtic death metallers, Suidakra, have just finished working on their new album, Wolfbite, which is set for release on June 25 via MDD Records. They have checked in with the following update:

"Wolfbite pre-order starts today. We've promised you that we will start the pre-order of our album #14 this weekend. Guess what? Here comes the link to a very strong limited mega bundle package including our own red-wine here. To all of you that live outside the EU and don't like red-wine, we also have a cool package for you here."

After more than 25 years of history and more than 13 studio albums as well as worldwide tours, can a band reinvent itself or even release the unexpected? Well, Suidakra may not reinvent themselves completely in 2021, but on their new album Wolfbite they create a mixture of all their past musical work and a fresh breeze, which gives the impression that the band has risen from a fountain of youth.

Wolfbite is bursting with power, uncompromisingness and joy of playing. The collaboration with Aljoscha Sieg (Eskimo Callboy, Vitja, Gestört aber GeiL), which is certainly untypical for die-hard fans, results in a breathtaking, lively sound, which from the very first note makes any scepticism about whether Suidakra still sound like Suidakra in 2021 evaporate. With the proven concept story from the Realms Of Odoric cosmos, lyrically and visually realised by Kris Verwimp, of course, Suidakra 2.0 presents itself in a form that even old fans probably wouldn't have dreamed of.

With "Wolfbite", Suidakra succeed in travelling from the past into the future and surely present one of THE albums of the year 2021.

Tracklist:

"A Life In Chains"
"The Inner Wolf"
"Darcanian Slave"
"Faoladh"
"Crossing Over"
"Vortex Of Carnage"
"Resurgence"
"Redemption"
"A Shrine For The Ages"




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The Georgia Thunderbolts are riding high in their new video for “Take It Slow”. Directed by Jim Arborgast, the hard-charging video is the first taste of The Georgia Thunderbolts’ new set of material, slated for release later this year. “'Take It Slow' is about living life by the wayside,” explains guitarist Riley Couzzourt. “Life wasn’t meant to be fast lived, but to be enjoyed and memorable.” “This song is for anyone who wants to just let loose,” adds vocalist TJ Lyle. “The struggles of life sometimes seem overbearing, but the answer is to just sit back, relax and 'Take It Slow'.”

Whether it be on the banks of the Mississippi River or deep in the heart of the English countryside, rock ‘n’ roll lives, breathes, and burns on the outskirts. Hailing from Rome, GA at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, The Georgia Thunderbolts’ scorching signature style is steeped in raw rock, soulful southern swagger, and blistering blues. With a wide swath of inspirations, ranging from southern gospel and Hank Williams to Merle Haggard, Neil Young, Little Feat, Ozzy Osbourne, and Lynyrd Skynyrd, the band cut their teeth performing with everyone from The Kentucky Headhunters to Blackberry Smoke, resulting in a signature sound steeped in anthemic riffs, wild harmonica, and pulse-pounding drums.

“We’re going for that timeless and classic sound with a modern twist and newer attitude,” exclaims Lyle. “We all grew up on rock music,” Riley adds. “If I could think of three words to describe us, they would be ‘Hardworking, Determined, and Humble.’” Drummer Bristol Perry grins, “If I could think of three words, they would be ‘Rock and Roll.’”






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For years Faster Pussycat's aggressive touring schedule made it difficult for them to get into the studio to work on new material. When the Covid pandemic hit, and there were no live shows for the foreseeable future, the band immediate shifted gears and entered the studio.

The new single “NOLA” is a song inspired by the fabulous city of New Orleans, a city that fronman Taime Downe holds dear to his heart. When the band started working on making new music for a release “NOLA” was the obvious choice to lead with. Downe and guitarist Sam Bam Koltun began working together in the studio, tracking guitars on what would be the first new song from the band since 2006’s “The Power And The Glory Hole”.

The B-Side of the single is “Pirate Love” a cover of the Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers song, which was goes back to Faster Pussycat's club days, also inspired by the New Orleans theme, as Thunders passed away in New Orleans in 1991, and has had a major influence on Downe and the whole band.

The single, released on May 21st, is available in two formats - digital and 7” vinyl. Digital is available through Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon etc. The vinyl can be purchased exclusively via the band’s website: fasterpussycat.com.

To celebrate the release, Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z' Nuff are pairing up and coming Straight Outta Quarantine  throughout North America –  showing all the warts, scars and tattoos that only a package like this can, which have only grown deeper over the past year...

Featuring the MTV smash hits "House Of Pain", "New Thing", "Bathroom Wall" and "Fly High Michelle", the Straight Outta Quarantine tour, (which has been booked and routed with careful consideration of each venue's Covid regulations and the safety of all involved) is without question going to be one of the most long overdue rock and roll parties of our lifetime. Dates are as follows:

June
18 - Fremont Street Country Club - Las Vegas, NV *
19 - Leatherheads - Salt Lake City, UT *
24 - Edith Lucielle's - Cedar Rapids, IA
25 - The Scene Rock Bar - Kansas City, MO
26 - Diamond Music Hall - St. Peters, MO
27 - The Arcada Theatre - St. Charles, IL
29 - Live At 1175 - Kansasville, WI
30 - Phat Heads II - Green Bay, WI

July
1 - Hobart Art Theatre - Hobart, IN *
2 - Diesel Concert Theatre - Chesterfield, MI
3 - Big Indian Drive-In - Irving, NY
4 - M3 Festival - Columbia, MD
5 - The Vault - New Bedford, MA
6 - Reverb - Reading, PA
7 - Jergel's Rhythm Grille - Warrendale, PA
8 - Peecox - Erlanger, KY *
10 - King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH
11 - Thelma's Sport Nook - Sharpsville, PA
14 - Tally Ho Theatre - Leesburg, VA
16 - Amos Southend Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
17 - 37 Main Street - Buford, GA
18 - Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS
19 - Drew & Willies Sports Bar - Denham Springs, LA
21 - The Rail Club - Fort Worth, TX
23 - Sunshine Studios Live - Colorado Springs, CO
24 - The Venue - Denver, CO
27 - Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
29 - Cooters - Eagle Pass, TX
30 - Sam's Burger Joint - San Antonio, TX
31 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX

(* denotes Faster Pussycat only)

 




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Legendary hard rockers NIGHT RANGER will release their 12th studio album, "ATBPO", on August 6 via Frontiers Music Srl. "ATBPO" stands for "And The Band Played On", an ode to making music during the COVID-19 era. It will be available on CD and vinyl (several limited-edition, color vinyl versions), as well as digitally across all streaming platforms.

Today, fans can get their first taste of the album with the release of "Breakout", the first single and music video from the album.

NIGHT RANGER began writing the album in early 2020, amid the onset of the global pandemic. After narrowing down the song selection and tightening them up to their well-known rock and roll sound, the band hit the studio, although separately, due to the times we are in. Throughout "ATBPO", we hear NIGHT RANGER continuing their hot streak that kicked off with 2011's "Somewhere In California". Ten years on, and two highly acclaimed albums later, "High Road" and "Don't Let Up", the band's latest studio work shows them still burning with that high-octane hard rock energy they are known for. NIGHT RANGER has always had a knack for killer melodies, intricate instrumentation, and captivating lyrics; "ATBPO" delivers all of that and more.

"The process was strange but the outcome rocks," said Jack Blades.

Added Kelly Keagy: "This record was incredibly hard to do as we could not be in a room together with all the COVID-19 issues that were going on. But sometimes you do your best work when there's a deadline approaching."

States Brad Gillis: "It's been a crazy but fun task trying to write and finish this new record in a COVID situation. A few zoom video gatherings got us started. With everybody in the band having their own home studios, we were all able to elaborate and add our own textures to each song. As a vintage guitar collector, I was able to add some great classic sounds to rhythm and solos using my 57 Strat and 52 Goldtop! I hope everyone enjoys the record!"

Having sold over 17 million albums worldwide, performed across more than 4,000 stages, and enjoyed a radio audience that exceeds one billion, NIGHT RANGER has both epitomized and transcended the arena rock sound and style well beyond that era. With multiple songs having a significant impact on popular culture, NIGHT RANGER continues to grow its fanbase. The band is proof that powerful songs alongside incredibly talented musicians is the perfect formula for continued success.

NIGHT RANGER is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead and rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards), and Keri Kelli (lead and rhythm guitars).

A bonus track, "Savior", appears on the CD and LP versions of "ATBPO" only.

"ATBPO" track listing.

01. Coming For You

02. Bring It All Home To Me

03. Breakout

04. Hard To Make It Easy

05. Can't Afford A Hero

06. Cold As December

07. Dance

08. The Hardest Road

09. Monkey

10. A Lucky Man

11. Tomorrow

12. Savior (bonus track; CD and LP versions only)

TOTO and The Players Club/Mascot Label Group will release "With A Little Help From My Friends" on June 25. The performance captures one special night on November 21, 2020 when Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams and David Paich appeared with the new lineup of TOTO for a global event originating from Los Angeles, California.

A performance clip of the song "You Are The Flower", taken from "With A Little Help From My Friends", can be seen below.

Williams offers: "Among some of the deeper cuts is one of my all-time favorite songs, 'You Are The Flower' by the original — Bobby Kimball. Being a massive fan (and a good friend), I dedicate the performance to him."

Joining Lukather, Williams and Paich for this next chapter in their indelible history are new band members bassist John Pierce (HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight (GHOST-NOTE, SNARKY PUPPY), and keyboardist/background vocalist Steve Maggiora (ROBERT JON & THE WRECK). Keyboardist Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (PRINCE, GHOST-NOTE) and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) segued over continuing their tenure in the ensemble. This marks the fifteenth incarnation of the TOTO lineup in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited.

The pre-order is live now. Alongside LP pressings of the audio only, both a CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray package are available. The track listing features "Till The End", "Hold The Line", "Pamela", "Kingdom Of Desire", "White Sister", "You Are The Flower", "I Won't Hold You Back", "Stop Loving You", "Home Of The Brave", "Rosanna" and "With A Little Help From My Friends". In the DVD and Blu-ray releases, a documentary is featured alongside the performance, featuring thoughts from all members of the band that appeared that evening.

Steve Lukather, a.k.a. Luke, shares: "When the music is performed by great musicians, it honors TOTO. The documentary featured on the DVD offers great insights into our thoughts looking forward. David, who stands with us, alongside Joe and myself, desire to keep this music alive. And Paich could pop in any time for a show as a special surprise.

"When it came to plan this specific setlist, we picked an eclectic group of songs for this one night only show. Looking forward, we'll be selecting a broader mix from the TOTO catalog that includes deep cuts, the hits, and tunes from Joe and my recently released solo albums.

"Both of us could not be more thrilled with the global response to these records. They charted all over the world, and integrating some of the music in to the new TOTO set brings a fresh spice to the 'Toto: The Dogz Of Oz' world tour when we head back out to begin staging shows. Simply, both of us aim to bring the past TOTO to the present and beyond, and this first look at the new lineup sets the stage for a chapter in our history we can't wait to write."

Joe Williams offers: "It's always a complete joy to perform a TOTO show, but this one was special. Joining me, Luke and David last November were three new top-level, virtuoso musicians as well as a few returning geniuses.

"The show itself was born out of the need to play after being on COVID lockdown, but also served as the reason to build this new band. Right out of the gate, this group jelled and dug deep into the new and old TOTO material. Among some of the deeper cuts is one of my all-time favorite songs, 'You Are The Flower' by the original — Bobby Kimball. Being a massive fan (and a good friend), I dedicate the performance to him. Also back are a few of my favorite things, 'Till The End' and 'Pamela'. Played to perfection by the new cats. I have the best job in the band because when I'm not singing, I get to watch the most incredible players work!

"The TOTO model holds strong and true. A band of the very best musicians and singers writing and performing all manner of cool songs. That's how it began, and that's how it continues.

"This documentary explores that concept by talking with David, Luke, Warren, Dominic X, John Pierce, Robert 'Sput' Searight and Steve Maggiora about their experiences as players, and also about being a part of the TOTO legacy. And, of course discussion about the show as well. I think I'm in there too, saying how much I love these guys! Soon we'll to get back out to you, on stage, in the flesh expanding our set with some even deeper 'legacy' cuts as well as some new stuff from Luke's and my new records. We can't wait! In the meantime, enjoy a little TOTO history and current events."

Luke and Joseph Williams are life-long friends since they were kids, and bandmates sharing a deep colorful history that has thrived professionally on a global basis over the past decades. In front of staging this one night only appearance during the global pandemic, Luke offered: "We could not be more at peace with this move. There is a refreshing, optimistic enthusiasm to step into the future. At this moment, Joe and I are the only long-tenured members of the band that want to be on the road continuing to bring music to our multi-generational fan base.

"I've spent almost four and a half decades of my life as the only original member who never missed a show or an album nurturing this legacy while enabling the music to continually exist in the live concert setting. That is something I'll never stop doing, and when we inevitably return to the road it presents a rare opportunity to reimagine our personal futures while simultaneously preserving the deep connection that exists with the audience while likewise yielding continual discovery."

Williams shared: "Luke and I have been through a lot with one another. He's like a brother to me. Our creative partnership has always enriched our lives. As we look towards what's to come in unison, there is nothing but anticipation to bring everything in our minds to life. I can't think of anyone else on Earth I'd rather launch the next chapter with than with this lifelong, loyal and gifted friend and band mate. We're the last men standing…The Dogz of Oz!" Luke added: "Joe and I have been friends since I was 17, and Joe was 14. During the course of this pandemic, we've been reevaluating our career and how to move forward. People are either not with us anymore or have retired. We still feel like kids who want to be back on the road as soon as possible. It's where we live. Joe's growth as a producer, songwriter, engineer, singer and performer is inspiring. The timing of this move is perfect as Joe is at the top of his game, and he amazes me every day. We are enjoying this collaboration, and could not be more enthusiastic about the future."

"With A Little Help From My Friends" was produced by Joseph Williams, who also edited the accompanying long-form video. The band's longtime front-of-house engineer Ken Freeman mixed and captured the sound that evening.

Track listing:

01. Till The End

02. Hold The Line

03. Pamela

04. Kingdom Of Desire

05. White Sister

06. You Are The Flower

07. I Won’t Hold You Back

08. Stop Loving You

09. Band Introductions

10. Home Of The Brave

11. Rosanna

12. With A Little Help From My Friends

Dutch death metal veterans PESTILENCE will release their ninth album titled "Exitivm" on June 25 via Agonia Records. The official music video for the LP's latest single, "Deificvs", can be seen below. The clip was directed by Dariusz Szermanowicz of the Grupa 13 production house (KREATOR, BEHEMOTH, AMON AMARTH), with costumes by Prepostevolution.

Back in 1986, in the small town of Enschede in the Netherlands, near the German border, a true metal phenomenon was born. More than three decades later, not only is PESTILENCE alive and well, but about to once again reaffirm its place in the extreme metal pantheon, with "Exitivm", which is Latin for "total destruction."

As controversial as he can be to some, nobody will ever deny the band's undisputable driving force, Patrizio "Patrick" Mameli, and his constant ability to reinvent himself. Unlike most of the bands in the scene, PESTILENCE just keeps evolving. From the raging thrash leanings of their cult 1988 debut "Malleus Maleficarum" to the jazz-infused versatility of 1993's "Spheres" or 2009's "Resurrection Macabre" frontal assault, not to mention the fans' favorite and Scott Burns-produced "Testimony Of The Ancients" from 1991, he never did the same record twice. No matter who playes with him on any PESTILENCE album, Mameli always gets the best out of the musicians he is working with. But first and foremost, the man has a one-of-a-kind vision, instantly recognizable style and yet always stretching musical boundaries. And it's never more true than on "Exitivm".

After a vast reissue campaign in between 2015 and 2018 and an acclaimed new album "Hadeon", the band got seemingly stopped in their mission to conquer the death metal scene in early 2020, like everybody else, by the global pandemic, going as far as forcing some of the band's "Hadeon" lineup members to drop the towel. But what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger, and instead of letting that whole situation drag him down, Mameli chose to do the exact opposite and write the best and darkest album possible to date. And he just did that. With its ambitious lyrical concept about "global domination," "induced mental illness," "inner and outer demons" and malicious external entities, "Exitivm" is propelling the band one again to the forefront of the death metal movement with yet another original and brilliant artistic overhaul.

Mind you, as soon as you're past the very cinematic introduction "In Omnibvs", you're instantly caught up by "Morbvs Propagationem" whose intense riffing will take back to the "Testimony" days. Except that their core sound has been revived, with now extra layers of ominous soundscapes ingeniously suggesting an atmosphere of suspence and horror, boosted by Mameli's jazz-fusion impressive solo works and a renewed sense of urgency. This rejuvenation, with emphasis on "new musical landscapes but also sick and twisted riffs," as stated by Mameli himself, is no accident, though. Not only has Mameli been extremely inspired by the turmoil humanity had to face since March 2020 but with a lineup once again, entirely based in the Netherlands and made up of only super-seasoned players — besides former DEW-SCENTED and CREEPMIME bassist Joost Van Der Graaf and BLEEDING GODS' Rutger Van Noordenburg on lead guitar, former GOD DETHRONED drummer Michiel Van Der Plicht joined last year — PESTILENCE is more than ever a band where everybody feeds off of each other's musical talent.

With the exception of the drums — tracked by Van Der Plicht himself at his home studio — "Exitivm" was recorded over a period of two months in between June and August 2020 at Pitchnote Productions. The album was produced, like all PESTILENCE albums, by Mameli and is co-produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jory Hogeveen (SHINIGAMI and ANCIENT RITES).

"Exitivm" will be available in various formats, including supra-limited picture, pin-wheel, "firebreath" and clear vinyl versions. The cover artwork once again brought the band's iconic sphere and was done by Michal "Xaay" Loranc, known for his various cover for NILE, GOD DETHERONED and EVOCATION and who previously worked on "Hadeon".

"Exitivm" track listing:

01. In Omnibvs (Intro)

02. Morbvs Propagationem

03. Deificvs

04. Sempiternvs

05. Internicionem

06. Mortifervm

07. Dominatvi Svbmissa

08. Pericvlvm Externvm

09. Inficiat

10. Exitivm

11. Immortvos

12. Personatvs Mortem (Outro)

PESTILENCE lineup:

Patrizio Mameli - vocals, lead guitars

Rvtger Van Noordenbvrg - lead guitars

Joost Van Der Graaf - bass

Michiel Van Der Plicht - drums

Photo credit: Marc Van Peski

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson says that he is pursuing "revenge pornography" charges against the person who leaked his private messages and videos of his interactions with a woman who is not his wife.

MEGADETH fired Ellefson on Monday (May 24), two weeks after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving him 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.

Ellefson's statement was accompanied by a screenshot of a social media post from the woman involved, who denied any suggestions that she was underage at the time. The woman also revealed she recorded the intimate moments and shared them with a friend without Ellefson's permission, calling herself "naïve" for doing so and claiming that the contact between her and the musician was "all consensual and all online." She also called assumptions that she was "groomed" by Ellefson "misinformation".

Earlier today, Ellefson released the following statement: "Recently, a very private video was illegally posted on the internet and false allegations were made against me. The actions in the video were between two consenting adults and were recorded without my knowledge. I am working with Scottsdale Police Department in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted this video. Also, my lawyers are preparing a defamation lawsuit to be filed against this person. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

"I am taking this time to be with my family. I wish my bandmates the best with their upcoming tour."

In announcing MEGADETH's decision to "officially part ways" with Ellefson, the band's leader, Dave Mustaine, wrote: "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. We look forward to seeing our fans on the road this summer, and we cannot wait to share our brand-new music with the world. It is almost complete."

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.

MEGADETH has yet to announce a replacement for Ellefson, who was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 17 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefeson's place for the album's touring cycle.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares has weighed in on David Ellefson's dismissal from MEGADETH, saying "some stuff" was likely "going on behind the scenes that we just don't know about."

Cazares addressed MEGADETH's decision to fire Ellefson while being interviewed by Rocking With Jam Man about FEAR FACTORY's upcoming album, "Aggression Continuum".

When Jam Man opined that it's "not fair at all" that Ellefson lost his MEGADETH gig over allegations of sexual misconduct, Dino said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we don't really know what his relationship is with [MEGADETH leader] Dave Mustaine. I know that there's been a lot of water under the bridge with those guys; I know they've had some turmoil issues that were going on. So, who knows? Who really knows? I don't know. If it's just based on what happened, then I would say it's unfair. But I'm sure there's stuff behind the scenes that we don't know that's going on… As Dave [Mustaine] stated in the press release [announcing Ellefson's exit], he said it was a 'strained relationship,' so, obviously, some stuff was going on behind the scenes that we just don't know about."

Dino also offered his opinion on the so-called cancel culture — where public figures are torn down after publicly judged for transgressions, perceived or real. He said: "We're in a whole new era now [where] everybody's ready to destroy you and destroy your career without even giving anybody a second chance or without even actually finding out the truth. So, it's unfortunate that's where we're at these days."

MEGADETH fired Ellefson two weeks after the leak of the bassist's messages and videos featuring a woman who is not his wife.

On May 10, several sexually explicit videos of Ellefson were leaked by an anonymous third party on the Internet and shared to Twitter; at least two of the videos revealed him masturbating. The longtime MEGADETH member later released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because mainman Dave Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

"Aggression Continuum" will be released on June 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. The disc features 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 Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TRIVIUM), who also mixed FEAR FACTORY's previous album, 2015's "Genexus".

Long-running California rockers BUCKCHERRY have released the official music video for the title track of their new album, "Hellbound", due 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.

The "Hellbound" video, directed by Kurtis "KasterTroy" Imel and shot in Las Vegas, follows the release last month of the clip for the song "So Hott". The "Hellbound" track is available now for download and streaming on all DSPs.

"Hellbound" track listing:

01. 54321

02. So Hott

03. Hellbound

04. Gun

05. No More Lies

06. Here I Come

07. Junk

08. Wasting No More Time

09. The Way

10. Barricade

Speaking to Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, BUCKCHERRY guitarist Stevie Dacanay (a.k.a. Stevie D.) stated about "Hellbound": "We worked on this one with Marti Frederiksen, who's like the sixth member of AEROSMITH. So the feel is gonna be a little bit different as well [compared to previous BUCKHERRY albums].

"We banged one out in no time," he continued. "Josh [Todd, BUCKCHERRY singer] and I had been, since quarantine, we started writing. And by the time September came around, we were ready to start tracking another album. But what we did is we went to Nashville and we wrote another batch of songs with Marti Frederiksen, and we were all ready to go by October, to record. We were so ready that it literally took us less than 10 days to record the whole thing."

According to Steve, BUCKCHERRY wrote over 25 songs this time around but ended up recording only 10. "We thought about [releasing a double album], but right now, a lot of people aren't releasing full-length albums — a lot of people just release singles and videos," he explained. "So, we decided to cull the whole thing down to 10. The Japan release, we're gonna release two extras.

"I was talking with Josh, 'Which [songs] do you wanna give up? Which ones do you wanna keep for the next album to work on?'

"I just keep going," he said. "At some point in the writing process, you hit a brick wall, and that's when it's good to have these.

"We have a new process now with Marti that really works for us and that we really like."

Last November, Todd told Audio Ink Radio about about the musical direction of the new BUCKCHERRY material: "Well, it's not gonna change from a BUCKCHERRY rock record. Alls I can say is that we've just come leaps and bounds from the first record, as far as songwriting and how we put everything together. And just as far as the quality of songs, song to song, it's just so powerful. I can't wait for everybody to hear it. Marti Frederiksen is producing it. He produced a few records of ours back in the day. And it's been really great to be reunited with him, and he's a super talented guy. It's like having a sixth band member. So, it's been a lot of fun."

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.

Roentgen, who joined the California-based band in 2017, made his exit official in a social media post. He wrote: "Bottom line, I made this decision to come off the road and spend more time with my family. The guys understood this, and for that I'm thankful. Though my wife and daughter always one hundred percent supported me in this gig, they are quite happy now to have me home."

Roentgen joined BUCKCHERRY as the replacement for original guitarist Keith Nelson. Roentgen can be heard on "Warpaint", which was released in March 2019 via Century Media/RED Music. The 12-song record was produced by Mike Plotnikoff, whose previous collaboration with the band was BUCKCHERRY's multi-platinum third album, 2005's "15".

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".

German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION will release a new Blu-ray and CD, "Live Attack", on August 13 via Napalm Records. It follows their latest record, "Born To Perish", recalling a nearly two-hour livestream attack the band unleashed in January this year.

Dive deep into DESTRUCTION's history with the first crushing single and energetic live video for "Mad Butcher", originally released in 1983 as one of the first songs the band ever wrote.

Bassist/vocalist Schmier states: "'Mad Butcher' is one of the first songs we ever wrote, such a classic! I still love to perform it live; it is in my DNA meanwhile, I guess! There are a lot of memories that come along with this track and the history of the band. We brought back the double-lead section from the EP version into the solo part; many fans have reacted at that during the live shows, which is really cool! But this DVD will also have some nice surprises, some songs we have not played live in decades."

When the music world was forced to shut down venues and cancel tours for an indefinite period of time, DESTRUCTION came through to deliver its outstanding power via livestream to its loyal fans at home. Witness DESTRUCTION ripping through its live set of 22 songs, including beloved classics like "Mad Butcher", "Thrash Till Death", "Born To Perish" and many more. Filmed and recorded at the legendary Z7 venue in Pratteln, Switzerland, DESTRUCTION spares no expense or effort to bring you a live show experience that will make you bang your head like you're in the front row at the show, getting your ear drums penetrated by rumbling double-bass grooves. The Blu-ray is filled with exclusive pre- and aftershow insights and behind the scenes footage from DESTRUCTION's live show — a must-have for fans of true thrash metal.

DESTRUCTION comments on its first release for Napalm Records: "This show at our fave club, the Z7 in Switzerland, was a really special one in the middle of this dreadful pandemic! When we recorded it as a livestream on the 1st of January, it gave us hope back and connected us with the fans worldwide! Many supporters demanded to release it in physical form, so we had to make it happen. The setlist reflects four decades of DESTRUCTION with an almost two hour best-of setlist, which includes some really rare live tracks! It was for sure a night to remember… we hope you all enjoy it as much as we did!"

Track listing:

01. Born To Perish

02. Death Trap

03. Nailed To The Cross

04. Armageddonizer

05. Tormentor

06. Rotten

07. Mad Butcher

08. Reject Emotions

09. Thrash Till Death

10. Betrayal

11. Sign Of Fear

12. Damir’s Shred

13. Inspired By Death

14. Release From Agony

15. Life Without Sense

16. Antichrist

17. Invincible Force

18. Under Attack

19. Bestial Invasion

20. The Butcher Strikes Back

21. Curse The Gods

22. Total Desaster

Photo credit: Gorka Photography