Australian progressive metal band Teramaze, fronted by guitarist and band founder Dean Wells, along side Chris Zoupa, Andrew Cameron and Nick Ross, have released their new album, Sorella Minore, via the band’s own label Wells Music. Get it here, and listen to the song "Take Your Shot" below.

The album features four main vocalists, all hailing from Australia - including Dean Wells, Nathan Peachey, Silvio Massaro (Vanishing Point) and Jennifer Borg (Divine Ascension). Each vocalist added their own depth and unique flavours to each character in this instalment of the Her Halo story.

Tracklisting:

"Sorella Minore"
"Stone"
"Take Your Shot"
"Between These Shadows"

"Take Your Shot":

"Sorella Minore" video:

"Stone" visualizer:

Between These Shadows" video:




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Goth metal icon Jyrki 69 (The 69 Eyes) takes us down the rabbit hole on his new 7" single with guitar legend Steve Stevens (Billy Idol).

Featuring a dark and compelling rendition of Jefferson Airplane's psychedelic classic, "White Rabbit", preformed with Stevens b/w a new song in collaboration with
UK goth rockers Rosetta Stone.

Pre-order the limited edition black and white splatter 7" vinyl here, and watch an official visualizer for "White Rabbit" below:




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Frontiers Music Srl announces the signing of the Swedish melodic rock combo, Rian, to the label for a multi-album deal. The first release will be the band's sophomore album, Twenty-Three, on July 16. Fans can get their first look at the album via the release of the single and video for "Stop". Watch the clip below, and pre-order/save Twenty-Three here.

"Music is all about creating feelings. On this album we wanted to give credit to the desperate feeling we got listening to music when we were much too young to understand it," says vocalist/guitarist Richard Andermyr.

Twenty-Three took shape under the direction of producer Daniel Flores (Find Me, The Murder Of My Sweet) with these new songs being written during 2018-2020. They are based on melodies and lyrics written by vocalist/guitarist Richard Andermyr. The initial ideas from Richard were crafted into songs that the band arranged together, first with Richard and drummer Jan Johansson and later on with the full band.

Talking about the album's first single, "Stop", Andermyr continues, "I wrote the song 'Stop' in my living room, changing between acoustic guitar and my old upright piano. With the band, Janne just had to add that cowbell, Jonas came up with this cool bass riff, and Tobbe went crazy on the strat. In the studio, Daniel filled in the blanks on the keys. Seriously, all this stuff lifted the song from a nice rock track to the first single of the album."

Rian released their debut album Out Of The Darkness in July 2017, which was well received by fans and melodic rock media alike. The band made its live debut during 2018, which began the process of the band becoming more and more of a live unit. Add the amazing lead guitars of Tobias Jakobsson into the mix with the band and you have the cocktail that makes up the Rian 2.0 sound.

"We are really pleased to sign with Frontiers Music Srl. Since our first contact, the label has been nothing but helpful. We feel right at home with the support we’ve received so far and look forward to using this relationship to enable us to provide our fans with a steady supply of quality music for the years to come. Our sound can, in the easiest way, be explained as a modern version of classic melodic rock music, the way it was produced in the second half of the 80’s. The sound is American, but the melodies and chord progressions have very strong Swedish roots. Influences such as Bon Jovi, Dokken, Europe, Queensryche, Survivor, and Winger can be heard in the sound. Also, more modern vibes the likes of Alter Bridge have a presence in our music,” explains Richard Andermyr.

Tracklisting:

"Stop"
"In The Dark"
"Where Do We Run"
"Twenty-Three"
"For Your Heart"
"We Belong"
"My Ocean"
"Body And Soul"
"The Passenger"
"Stranger To Me"
"Your Beauty"

"Stop" video:

Lineup:

Richard Andermyr: Vocals / Guitar
Jan Johansson: Drums
Jonas Melin: Bass
Tobias Jakobsson: Lead Guitar




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Morten Veland, founder of the bands Sirenia and Tristania, has announced that after many years with no activity with his solo project, Mortemia, he finally found some time and decided to write music for this project again. He has also decided to try to release the music without a label this time, to try something new and exciting, as 2021 will allow it time-wise.

Says Morten: "After 11 years of silence, I finally found the time to activate my solo project Mortemia once more. I am back with a new and different concept this time. Each new song will feature a well known and highly profiled singer in metal. This new project is called The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions, and it will be released as a series of digital singles.

"It is my great pleasure and honour to introduce my first special guest Madeleine Liljestam from the Swedish band Eleine. The song is entitled 'The Enigmatic Sequel', and will be available on all digital platforms on the 14th of May 2021.

"Mortemia to me is kind of a journey back to the Nineties, as the songs are very much inspired by this decade musically, whilst my other band Sirenia is more of a journey into the future, musically speaking. This first song is just the beginning and I am very excited by all that will follow. I feel truly honoured and privileged to be working with such talented singers, and I can't wait to share more songs with you all in the time to come.

Updates to follow.

(Madeleine photo - Rikard Ekberg; Morten photo - AngstImWald)




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FOO FIGHTERS, THE GO-GO'S, Jay-Z, Carole King, Todd Rundgren and Tina Turner will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame this year. Additionally, LL Cool J, Billy Preston and Randy Rhoads will receive the Musical Excellence Award. KRAFTWERK, Gil Scott Heron and Charley Patton will get the Early Influence Award, and Sussex Records founder Clarence Avant will be given the Ahmet Ertegun Award.

The induction ceremony will be held at Cleveland, Ohio's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on October 30. It will be broadcast on HBO Max and streamed on HBO Max at a later date.

"This is our most diverse class in the history of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame," says chairman John Sykes. "It really represents the Hall's ongoing commitment to honor the artists that have created not only rock and roll, but the sound of youth culture."

Ballots were sent to an international voting body of more than 1,200 artists, including current living Inductees, historians and members of the music industry. Factors such as an artist's musical influence on other artists, length and depth of career and the body of work, innovation and superiority in style and technique are taken into consideration.

FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl was previously inducted into the Rock Hall as part of NIRVANA in 2014.

Rhoads is one of the most influential hard rock/heavy metal guitarists of all time.

The OZZY OSBOURNE and QUIET RIOT axeman and two others were killed on March 19, 1982 when the small plane they were flying in at Flying Baron Estates in Leesburg, Florida struck Osbourne's tour bus, then crashed into a mansion. Rhoads was 25 years old.

The Musical Excellence Award is given to artists, musicians, songwriters and producers whose originality and influence creating music have had a dramatic impact on music.

British heavy metal legends IRON MAIDEN were on the ballot for Rock Hall induction this year, but failed to receive enough votes to make the class of 2021.

Having been eligible for induction for a decade and a half, IRON MAIDEN is one of the biggest bands on the planet. Since the arrival of its self-titled debut album, MAIDEN has released a further 15 full-length studio records, and sold over 100 million copies.

To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1995 or earlier.

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal groups like MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that band's first year of eligibility.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until 2016.

Rob Halford says that he has accumulated enough material for his debut blues solo album. The JUDAS PRIEST singer is collaborating with the same team that assisted him during the making of his 2019 Christmas LP "Celestial", including his brother Nigel and his nephew Alex (son of PRIEST bassist Ian Hill).

Speaking to Kyle Meredith, Halford said about his upcoming blues record (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I love the blues. Everything comes from the blues. Rock and roll, it all starts with the blues. And what a great style of music that is.

"I've been working on — well, I say I, my brother, Nigel, and my nephew Alex, Ian Hill's son, on bass, and our friend [Jon] Blakey on guitar, those guys have been putting together the foundations for quite a while now," he continued. "We have enough material to make a record. I've just gotta find the words and put the voice on it at some point.

"The only thing that I threw at the guys was do what you feel you wanna do in terms of ideas. I did give 'em a list of some of my favorite blues styles and blues performers as a little bit of a template for the guys to bounce off of.

"It's all in [my] phone — I've got the album in this phone — and it's great. It's gonna be a special moment, 'cause I've always wanted to make a blues record.

"So, when time allows, and it's been very, very tough for so many musicians with what we've been dealing with with the COVID pandemic, and the glorious waiting-to-launch 50th-anniversary PRIEST tour and another PRIEST record, then we'll get into the blues [album]."

According to Rob, his upcoming blues album will be a varied effort covering a host of different styles and sounds. "You could go into one specific area and stay in that place and focus [on that and make] little subtle changes here and there, but much like the 'Celestial' album, I think this effort should just be a little texture of every taste of all these different blues flavors," he explained.

As for how his lyrical approach will be different for his blues album compared to the songs he writes for PRIEST, Halford said: "The blues is the blues. We all feel the blues, but you can have the happy blues as well as the sad blues, and you can have all of these characters in blues. The opportunities for stories for some of them, similar to the PRIEST inventions of fantasy, like the Sentinel or the Painkiller or any of those great characters that were created. You can throw your lyrics wherever you wanna throw them if they're connecting with the music.

"Messages in music are vital, 'cause we like to hear stories that we can relate to or attach ourselves to, in reality or in fantasy," he continued. "So that's gonna be an adventure for me. I love to sit down with a pencil and a piece of paper, 'cause that's how I do it, and just think. I have an idea, and I just throw some bullet words down instantly, and that's how the seeds start to grow."

A few years ago, Rob stated about his interest in making a blues record: "When I first became a musician in my late teens, I started to hear the extraordinary roots of the blues — Bessie Smith, Little Walter, Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters. They gave me the buzz… It's something I want to do because I want to explore what my voice can do in that wonderful world. That's how I learned to do a lot of that soaring, sweeping, and screeching. And also I discovered that I've got a voice that can go in different octaves, directions, and different kinds of projections. It's a combination of a sense of adventure and just being inspired by those guys, those wonderful singers. It's a mixture of everything but mainly a discovery of what the voice can do."

Back in 2015, Halford told Newsday.com that he was interested in recording a blues album and pursuing other non-heavy metal projects because he wanted to find out what his voice can do. He said: "I've always felt that [the blues is] very much a part of my background and musical roots. I don't know what kind of blues album I could do because there are so many different facets [to explore]. Maybe I'll just mix it up. As far as stuff out of the metal world, I'm a fan of people like Michael Bublé and Michael Feinstein. I've always been a fan of [Frank] Sinatra and Tony Bennett and Elvis [Presley]. I'd love to hear what my voice would sound like in that kind of musical mix, with wind instruments, trumpets and sax, piano, just that big-band sound."

Halford credited his vocal versatility and ability to take his voice in "different directions" as the main reason he was "so interested in trying these other opportunities." He said: I think if I had a voice that was different to what it is and was a little more in one focus, maybe I wouldn't be as adventurous about my ideas. But because my voice is able to do those different things, it's instinctive and natural to see what else I can do."

Halford released his autobiography, "Confess", last September via Hachette Books.

PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix spoke to Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3 about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's upcoming follow-up to 2019's "Who Do You Trust?" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We are done with the record. It's being mastered right now. And this record is — how do I explain it? It's the best PAPA ROACH album we've ever written and recorded in our entire career. I'll go as far as to say, like, if we ever made a record that could be nominated for a Grammy, this would be the record — straight up. It breaks boundaries, walls. It's so inspired. It's just got ill depth — moments where I was just, like, 'Do I just go there or do I hold back?' And it was no holds barred. It was just, like, 'Just go for it.' And I think that that's what really makes the album special — that we were willing to just take risks, but in a way that's not self-indulgent and, 'Oh, we're such artists now.' It's a ripping record."

He continued: "We've been wanting to write a song that's one of the lead singles for the album that would be the album opener and the show opener — one of those songs that just does all that. And we've been trying to do that since the beginning of our career, and we've never been able to land on it — never been able to write that song that could be that one. And we finally did. And it's just, 'Phew.' Just wait, dude. It's like the kabuki drop, the confetti cannons, the explosions, the glitter flying out of the sky — all that. It's just one of those moments that's gonna off in the show. And it's just one of those songs that we just channel some ferocious rock energy on it. It's just like a ticking time bomb, this album. It's gonna go off."

Jacoby went into more detail about the making of the new PAPA ROACH album, saying: "I went a little nuts, though. I fell off the wagon for a minute while we were making this record. I was really just anxious and stressed. I didn't start drinking again, but I was smoking weed for a while. And that stuff, it fucked me up, bro, to be honest, man — it messed me up. So I was, like, 'I've gotta get clean and sober. I can't just be sober. I've gotta be clean.' So I started over with my sobriety. I kind of had to pull myself out of this darkness for a minute. But this record, part of that process was me kind of losing myself a little bit. But it made for some really brutally honest, terrifying moments in my life. Sometimes that tortured self, in a sense, kind of makes for good art. And not that I went through that for the art; I just was kind losing it for a minute."

Last July, Shaddix told Rock Sound TV that PAPA ROACH's next album will be released through band's own record company. "We are in partnership with Warner/ADA, and so it's like an artist services group," he explained. "And we're gonna do that for an album and see how it works out. We've been super focused in the creative marketing behind what we do and the imaging and the videos and the messaging and everything, we were, like, let's take it in our hands and see where we can go with it and try it for an album."

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

PAPA ROACH's second greatest-hits collection, "Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The Better Noise Years", was released on March 19 on Better Noise Music.

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

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

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

ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian was asked in a new interview with The Sessions what keeps him motivated to play music 40 years after the band's formation. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, paying the bills is one thing. But I'm a blue-collar guy. I'm in a blue-collar band. We're not in that rare heir of huge, huge bands. But we're a band that has been able to make a living, and make our livings doing what we do the way we wanna do it, because nobody's sticking their fingers into our business in any way, shape or form, especially creatively. It's all about us.

"That's all I ever wanted to do with my life, was to have a job that I enjoyed that I would love to do," he continued. "I never wanted to be stuck in a profession where I hated it and I would come home every day miserable. I knew enough people who already had that; I knew enough of my friends' parents who were miserable in their work, in their jobs, and I said, 'I'm never gonna be that guy. I'm gonna do something that I wanna do,' and this is what I wanted to do. And I'm going on 40 years now of doing this."

Circling back to why he is still touring and recording with ANTHRAX, Scott said: "There are many motivating factors. But the enjoyment of it — the joy of being in a band; the joy of playing guitar; the joy of writing music; the joy of creating; the joy of traveling, even still; the joy of playing shows, which probably if I had to pick one out of all those things I just mentioned, that's still the best thing. That time on stage with ANTHRAX, that's the best. Because you don't get that anywhere else — only live music. Not even Broadway. Live theater doesn't get the reaction we get, that metal bands get. It's a much different, aggressive, bigger, powerful energy.

"I had that conversation with Gene Simmons [KISS] ages ago. He was, like, 'You know, Scott, only live music gets this. There's no other place on the planet where you can walk on stage and have 50 thousand people reacting this way to something that you created.' He said, 'It's only this — only this job where you can do that.' He goes, 'We're very lucky.' And I said, 'Believe me, I know.' And he said, 'And it's hard work.' And I said, 'Yeah, I know that too.'

"Yeah, it's all of those things," Ian added. "It's maintaining it, wanting to keep doing it. I love what I do, and I wanna keep doing it. I'm excited about making a new record. If it ever turned and I felt like, 'Oh, God. We're gonna make a new album,' if I ever have that thought in my brain, then I know I've gotta get out, because then I'm cheating everybody, including myself. But I couldn't be more excited about the idea that COVID is gonna go away at some point, hopefully soon-ish; it seems like there's a light at the end of the tunnel now, and we're gonna get to go back to work. And the thought of that is more exciting, I think, now than it's ever been in my life because it's never been taken away before. For everyone on the planet, in so many ways, freedom was taken away for the first time, and certainly in our lives, it's unprecedented what we've all lived through for the past year. And I've got nothing to complain about — it's an inconvenience for me — but the fact that… Look, live music is a big part of people's lives, and the excitement about playing again and I think the excitement about going to shows again, it's gonna be crazy when we get to do that again. It's gonna be amazing."

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

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four". The band has built a strong reputation with fans as well as the record industry. With the lineup including Ian, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna and guitarist Jon Donais, the band is being feted on their 40th anniversary by a wide range of friends and music contemporaries.

The finale will come as a very special livestream performance from ANTHRAX on Friday, July 16, featuring a deep cuts set that will pull from the band's entire career-spanning catalog.

Morgan Lander says that there could "absolutely" be new music from KITTIE at some point in the future.

After the London, Ontario, Canada-based metallers completed the touring cycle for 2011's "I've Failed You" album, KITTIE entered a long period of inactivity during which the guitarist/vocalist focused on a marketing job for a chain of fitness clubs, while her sister, drummer Mercedes Lander, worked in real estate and more recently at a software company. The group also began work on a career-spanning documentary, "Origins/Evolutions", which finally saw the light of day in 2018 via Lightyear Entertainment in North America.

Asked in a new interview with Pierre Gutiérrez of Rock Talks if KITTIE is still "on hiatus," Morgan responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "As of right now, yes. Since the documentary was filmed and has been released, there's been some changes. We are no longer a signed act. So if we were going to make new music, it would be released independently. But we do still have a number of legacy-type projects that we are going to be releasing and working on for the future. We love to be able to pay tribute to the things that we've done in the past. And I know that a lot of people are even just excited for re-releases of old stuff and whatnot. We're always looking for ways to reintroduce people [to KITTIE's music] and whatnot. So we do have a couple of things coming down the pipeline. I can't really give too many details yet, but there will be announcements and it will be awesome and it should be pretty fun. But no new music as of right now."

Regarding when KITTE fans can expect an announcement regarding said "legacy" projects, Morgan said: "I'm not quite sure, actually. It's still sort of in the development kind of stages, but it's just a fun legacy project that I think that certain people and collectors will be stoked about."

Morgan also confirmed that KITTIE is still very much alive, even if the band isn't active as a recording and touring entity.

"The thing is, especially for myself and for Mercedes, KITTIE is a part of our lives, and it never will stop being a part of our lives," she said. "Whether it's going into a deal to do some re-releases or the 'Live In London' concert that we did, or just digging through the archives to give people little snippets of the past. So KITTIE never will die because it lives within us still. We're still working on the KITTIE legacy, and we still live and breathe that every day. And so absolutely there could be new music. But I just don't think that — it's not the right time yet. But there's always a right time for everything, and I think it could very well happen."

Last October, Mercedes told the "Thunder Underground" podcast that there were no plans for KITTIE to reunite anytime soon. "I know that we're lucky to have the experiences that we have had," she said. And we had a really amazing time when we did that 'Live In London' show a couple of years, where we brought everybody back that wanted to come back. And we did like a 'travel through time' with all the different members and stuff like that. So that was really cool. We had a lot of fun doing that. But at this point, unless we got a really good offer… I don't think we would do anything unless it was a really great offer and we could include everyone, in one fashion or another. And I think because at this point, we're kind of one of those legacy bands, I feel like it would probably really help, or it would be really cool, if we could something with some of the past members as well. 'Cause right now, we don't necessarily have… I mean, besides my sister, myself and Tara, it's just the three of us, technically, in the band.

"It's kind of hard for us to continue on without Trish, because it would feel kind of weird not to have her there," she continued. "So there's a lot of stuff going on with that. But you never know what might happen. If somebody decides that they wanna give us a good offer, and it works out for us, and it's feasible for us and we're able to do it, I don't see why not. But at the same time, we wanna make sure that things are good for the fans as well. We wanna make sure that the people that are coming to the show are getting a good experience, 'cause it might be the last time. [Laughs] We don't wanna shortchange anybody and have a 'lesser than' experience, if that makes sense — we wanna make sure that everybody that comes to a show gets blown away. So we kind of have to outdo ourselves. But we'll see what happens. You never know."

Doan passed away in February 2017. The KITTIE bassist was only 31 years old at the time of her death.

Born in Gwangju, South Korea (about 270 kilometers from the capital Seoul), Doan joined KITTIE in 2005 and was in the band for two years before leaving in 2007 and then rejoining in 2012. She can be heard on KITTIE's 2006 EP "Never Again" and the 2007 full-length album "Funeral For Yesterday".

In early 2008, it was reported that Doan originally left KITTIE due to the eating disorder anorexia-athletica-nervosa, which she had been struggling with for almost two years.

Doan relocated to Australia in 2009 to get a degree and try to surf before returning to Canada in 2011. She apparently moved back to Australia in 2013 and kept an active Twitter account and Facebook page where she frequently posted about her life struggles and battles with depression.

"I've Failed You" sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 178 on The Billboard 200 chart.

JOURNEY vocalist Arnel Pineda has collaborated with guitarist Joel Hoekstra (WHITESNAKE) and bassist Billy Sheehan (MR. BIG) on a quarantine cover version of STEVE MILLER BAND's "Abracadabra", taken from the 1982 album of the same name.

Arnel said: "Big thanks to my good friends for this awesome collaboration."

Recording lineip:

Arnel Pineda - Vocals

Joel Hoekstra - Guitar

Billy Sheehan - Bass

Van Romaine - Drums

Ollie Marland - Keys/Backing vocals

Lenny Castro - Percussion

Mixed by Chris Collier

Video by Tony Dickinson

Born in the Philippines, Pineda has been fronting the legendary rockers since 2007 when JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon discovered him leading a Manila cover band on YouTube. A vocal doppelganger for JOURNEY's longtime vocalist Steve Perry, Arnel has helped put JOURNEY back in arenas once again. But some fans were not happy about the addition of Pineda, complaining about his ethnicity and dismissing his voice as a "copycat" of Perry.

As a member of JOURNEY, Pineda has co wrote and performed on a pair of studio recordings, 2008's "Revelation" and 2011's "Eclipse", as well as a concert DVD, 2009's "Live In Manila".

Arnel is also a philanthropist, whose foundation, Arnel Pineda Foundation, Inc. (APFI), is a non-stock, non-profit, and independent Philippine foundation that provides underprivileged children quality education, health services and medical attention.

Pineda has overcome a tremendous number of obstacles throughout his life including, the loss of his mother at a young age, homelessness and borderline starvation, making him an inspiration and providing hope for millions of people around the globe. Blessed with the ability to give back, Pineda mobilized his team to join the battle against poverty and its ensuing havoc on Philippine youth.

For millions of youth in developing countries like the Philippines, education is seemingly beyond reach. Poverty and inadequate government support stifle the future aspirations of Filipino children. Hence, Arnel Pineda Foundation, Inc. was formed in 2010, principally to address their sad plight by preparing them for a brighter future through education.

Fresh from the release of its remix EP "5G", NORTHLANE is backing it up with a new EP release called "2D". The five-track release, due out May 21 via UNFD, features acoustic versions of fan favorites from the band's "Alien" era, including "Rift", which fans can check out below.

NORTHLANE vocalist Marcus Bridge explains how "2D" adds another dimension to these tracks: "Recording an acoustic EP is something that we've wanted to do for quite some time and felt right with the personal nature of the songs from 'Alien'. I wanted to strip these songs back to the bare minimum to juxtapose the soundscapes of the album, a 2D version of sorts. A song like 'Rift' has a completely different energy in this context and took on new meaning with the recording in the depths of lockdown, now almost feeling like a cry of frustration and despair."

In addition, "2D" will feature a heartbreaking stripped-back version of "Sleepless", which originally debuted in the band's 2020 documentary "Negative Energy".

"2D" track listing:

01. Bloodline (acoustic)

02. Rift (acoustic)

03. 4D (acoustic)

04. Enemy Of The Night (acoustic)

05. Sleepless (acoustic)

NORTHLANE will celebrate the release of both "2D" and "5G" with a limited run of exclusive 12-inch colored LP offerings.

Meanwhile, NORTHLANE is set to headline the Full Tilt festival this summer in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney alongside IN HEARTS WAKE, HANDS LIKE HOUSES, THY ART IS MURDER, LUCA BRASI and more.

Roy Mayorga has confirmed that HELLYEAH is "on hiatus."

The 51-year-old drummer, who toured with HELLYEAH as the replacement for PANTERA drum legend Vinnie Paul Abbott, addressed the band's current status during an appearance on the latest episode of the "The New York Hardcore Chronicles Live!" Internet show.

Asked if HELLYEAH is still a functioning band these days, Mayorga said: "Not right now, 'cause [HELLYEAH singer] Chad [Gray] is on his way to go do [the] MUDVAYNE [reunion shows]. So those guys are on hiatus for right now."

Last December, Gray said during a Headbangers Con live virtual panel that HELLYEAH was "in a holding pattern right now [due to the coronavirus pandemic]. I don't have any new music," he admitted. "I've been telling Tom [Maxwell, HELLYEAH guitarist] to get me some riffs so I can write, because right now is a great time to fucking write. So we'll just have to see, man. Obviously, we need to get together and write some music. But, yeah, I mean, hopefully. It's all fucked up right now, nobody knows what's going on with anything."

Mayorga stepped in as Vinnie Paul's replacement for the touring activity in support of HELLYEAH's sixth album, "Welcome Home", which came out in September 2019.

In September, Maxwell told "The Ex-Man" podcast that he wasn't sure there would be a follow-up album to "Welcome Home".

"When [Vinnie Paul] died — I'm not gonna lie — my passion, my love affair died as well with him," Tom said. "I don't even know if I wanna make another HELLYEAH record without him.

Mayorga's addition to HELLYEAH was made official in May 2019. At the time, the band said Roy was the perfect guy to take Vinnie Paul's place. "These men had so much love and mutual respect for each other, this makes our transition so much easier," HELLYEAH said in a statement.

Mayorga previously played with HELLYEAH bassist Kyle Sanders in MEDICATION, the early 2000s outfit which also featured guitarist Logan Mader (MACHINE HEAD) and singer Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE).

Vinnie Paul died in June 2018 of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Not long before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for "Welcome Home".

Portuguese metal veterans Moonspell have checked in with the following update:

"As promised, here we have a double-treat for our fans: Moonspell live and streaming.

Lisbon - June 18th: Irreligious XXV Years
Listbon - June 19th: Hermitage Release Party

Streaming tickets + bundles are available here. Physical tickets are available here. 

Lisboa will be again under the spell!"

Due to high demand, Portuguese dark metal masters Moonspell (who just released their new album Hermitage via Napalm Records), have announced the official reissuing of their monumental record Extinct (2015), and its successor, 1755 (2017). Both masterpieces will be re-released on vinyl on July 2 via Napalm, but order yours soon - each will be limited to just 100 copies available worldwide.

With Extinct, the band’s 11th studio album, Moonspell set the world aflame. The worldwide chart topping album - which landed at #1 in Portugal for several weeks - represents the band at their most experimental and impassioned, and is one of their most successful records to date. Its enthralling mix of darkness and beauty, modern riffing, Fernando Ribeiro's somber vocals and blackened melodies showcase Moonspell’s grandeur in perfection - always one step ahead of the rest, always resisting all genre boundaries!

Two years later in 2017, Moonspell outclassed all standards with the colossal 1755. From the first weighty second, the conceptual dramaturgy of this record feels like a detonation of the mind. Playful and spirited, 1755 is an incomparable masterpiece. Telling the story of the year of horror, when a giant earthquake wrecked their home of Lisbon, naturally this album is performed completely in Portuguese. 1755 is an orchestral adventure including strings, bongos, epic choirs and vibrant grooves, and the grand guitars are just a tiny part of this amazing piece of work. The album also features Paulo Bragança, supplying his haunting voice to a Fado fallen angel who plays an important role in Portuguese culture. 1755 is an adventure of Portuguese medieval landscapes full of stunning highlights guarded by stirring hymns; emotional, technical and completely breathtaking.

"What I am most proud of in regards to all Moonspell records, is that nobody forgets about them,” says frontman Fernando Ribeiro. "Extinct and 1755 might have been sold out/out of print on LP for a few years, but they’re back on the market by popular demand, amazingly edited, and ready to be rediscovered and added to any proudly die-hard Moonspell fan collection. More to come, stay tuned under the spell!"

Pre-order Extinct and 1755 here.

Moonspell is:

Fernando Ribeiro - Vocals
Ricardo Amorim - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Pedro Paixão - Keys, Guitar
Aires Pereira - Bass
Hugo Ribeiro - Drums

(Photo - Rui Vasco)




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Toronto rocker Danko Jones has checked in with a new lockdown video:

"Check out this quarantine jam I did with Mikey And His Uke. It's a cover of the Dead Kennedys song 'Police Truck' featuring Darrin Pfeiffer, Eric Melvin from NOFX, Mikey And His Uke, and Norwood Fisher from Fishbone. An honour to sing one of my favourite DK songs with these gentlemen. Miachel Crusty put this video together."

Danko Jones recently released an official lyric video for their new single, "Flaunt It". Check it out below. "Flaunt It" is taken from their forthcoming album, Power Trio, which is due to be released on August 27. It was produced by Eric Ratz.

Danko: "I’m gonna be real here, it FUCKING RULES. I’m very proud we made this album and HOW we made this album."

Tracklist:

"I Want Out"
"Good Lookin'"
"Saturday"
"Ship Of Lies"
"Raise Some Hell"
"Blue Jean Denim Jumpsuit"
"Get To You"
"Dangerous Kiss"
"Let’s Rock Together"
"Flaunt It"
"Start The Show" (feat. Phil Campbell)

"Flaunt It" lyric video:

"I Want Out":




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Famous Underground / Creeping Beauty guitarist Darren Michael Boyd  released the official video for his solo single "Night Of The Neurotoxins" on May 9th. Check it out below along with a previously released behind-the-scenes clip.

"Night Of The Neurotoxins" is taken from Boyd's latest instrumental album, Wonders Of The Invisible World, released in late 2020. It is available on streaming platforms and via Bandcamp.

Tracklist:

"Wonders of the Invisible World"
"Earth Pads"
"Night of the Neurotoxins"
"Making a Homunculus"
"Disciplinary Measures"
"Ghost Notes"
"Ice Storm"
"Slithering"
"Arachnochakra"
"The Law of Three"

"Arachnochakra"




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Sweden's Horndal has premiered a new music video for "Rossen". Taken from their recently released sophomore album, Lake Drinker, the animated video was put together by Kalle Haglund (Bruto Studio). "Rossen"'s stark warning against big tech and tale of industrial decline is captured with unnerving and captivating aplomb through the high octane visual, as a solitary figure metaphorically embodies Lake Drinker's real life tragedy.

Lake Drinker is the heavy soundtrack to a true horror story about a small industrial town in Sweden being brutally murdered, left to rust away, and then fooled into believing in the false hope of prosperity, promised by big American tech. The follow up to 2019’s Remains, Lake Drinker is a cautionary tale about making a deal with the devil. But this story of urban decay is not a fairytale or fantasy, it’s rooted in the real lives of the citizens of Horndal, retold by a band whose own lives are umbilically linked to the town itself.

Recorded in the iconic Studio Gröndahl in Stockholm, Sweden with producer Karl Daniel Lidén (Bloodbath, Katatonia, Crippled Black Phoenix) taking care of recording, mixing and mastering, Lake Drinker is a worthy follow up to their debut. The songs are captured in a raw, organic form, making the album come alive as it weaves its tale, incorporating elements of sludge, death metal and furious punk attitude. The album features some guest contributions courtesy of Pelle Jacobsson from Sweden’s National Radio Symphony Orchestra (classical percussion), Christer Falk and Daniel Johansson (horn arrangements), Johan Jansson of Interment and Dreadful Fate (guest vocals), and last but by no means least the voices of Horndal’s own protesters.

This is a story about the town of Horndal, but there are many others just like it out there. Here’s to all rusty hometowns out there. Drink up.

Lake Drinker tracklisting:

"Rossen"
"Horndal's Blodbad"
"The Uprising"
"The Black Wheel"
"Kalhygget"
"Ruhr"
"Growing Graves"
"Home"
"Thor Bear"
"Town Burner"
"Ormön"

"Horndal's Blodbad" video:

Lake Drinker is available now via Prosthetic Records.

(Photo credit: Daniel Liljas)

 

 

 




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Well aware of the touring difficulties in 2021, internationally recognized solo artist and songwriter Mike Tramp has issued the following statement:

"It would be safe to say that there won't be many summer concerts in 2021. We all eagerly waited a year, only to wake up to one disappointment after another. So if there was ever a time when all the tricks apply, now is the time. Over the past 10 years I / we have sometimes ended up in a corner in a private house, garage or backyard. And it has been a great experience every time, including the audience. Therefore don't cheat yourselves out of live music this summer. Mike Tramp and Sebastian Groset are happy to come and entertain in your house / home / backyard etc. Send us an email if you're interested." 

To book Mike Tramp for a private performance, email: trampkoncert@outlook.dk

On May 21st, Mike Tramp presents his new compilation record, Everything Is Alright. Check out a TV spot video below:

Everything Is Alright will be released on vinyl (black LP), digipak CD and digital formats. Pre-orders can be placed now via Target Records.

Tracklisting:

"Give It All You Got"
"Trust In Yourself"
"If I Live Tomorrow"
"Cobblestone Street"
"Coming Home"
"Everything Is Alright"
"Dead End Ride"
"Take Me Away"
"The Road"
"More To Life Than This"

"Everything Is Alright" video:

"Dead End Ride":

(Photo: Franz Veisig)

 




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Jason Bittner spoke to the "Who's Your Band?" music podcast about the possibility of a reunion of SHADOWS FALL, the Massachusetts metal band originally formed 25 years ago. Explaining that there are no plans for SHADOWS FALL to work on any music at the moment, the drummer said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's not me. I'll tell you that right now — it's not me. Some other guys have another new band that they just announced not too long ago, so they're obviously preoccupied doing other things. With the pandemic, there's plenty of time sitting at home that I would think that there would be plenty of time to write other material too. But, hey… I don't wanna point any fingers; I'm not gonna push any buttons. What I can tell you is that we tried to get together last year for a reunion. We have a date again scheduled for this year. That's all I can tell you right now."

He continued: "We're not gonna say we're still gonna be on hiatus, but we're not gonna say we're active either. We wanna just try to play a show. That's the point of right now — can we play a show first, and then everything else that comes after that, like talk of writing a record or talk of writing an EP… We've already talked about this — we said, if anything, we would write an EP first. We wouldn't write a full-length; we'd probably just four-song increments or something."

Bittner, who has been a member of OVERKILL since 2017, went on to say that SHADOWS FALL is currently scheduled to play a reunion show at The Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts. "It's not till the end of the year," he said. "I don't know if it's even gonna happen. They asked us again. The date was held from last year, and they asked us again. We said we're down for it as long as it can be done properly, and as long as there's a chance to do that at that point. I mean, I really hope there is. By seven months from now, I really hope we can do at least a socially distanced show, or whatever, but if we can't, it would suck. The one thing I don't wanna do — I'll be quite honest with you — I don't wanna do a half-assed Palladium reunion show because of COVID just to do a reunion show, because what is the fucking point?"

SHADOWS FALL members Jon Donais and Matt Bachand recently launched a new project called LIVING WRECKAGE, in which they are joined by guitarist Matt LeBreton (DOWNPOUR), drummer Jon Morency (LET US PREY) and vocalist Jeff Gard DEATH RAY VISION.

In August 2015, SHADOWS FALL played a few reunion shows on the U.S. East Coast, one year after completing what was being billed at the time as the band's "final" European tour.

SHADOWS FALL released a statement in August 2014 in which the bandmembers explained that financial difficulties made it virtually impossible for the group to continue as a full-time concern.

SHADOWS FALL's latest album, "Fire From The Sky", released in May 2012 via Razor & Tie. The CD sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.

According to Rolling Stone, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS are are selling their publishing rights to Hipgnosis Songs Fund for around $140 million.

One of the most successful acts in rock history, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, which is singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith, and guitarist John Frusciante, have sold more than 60 million albums, including five multi-platinum LPs, and won six Grammy Awards, including "Best Rock Album" for "Stadium Arcadium", "Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group" for "Dani California", "Best Rock Song" for "Scar Tissue" and "Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal" for "Give It Away". The band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2012.

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' latest album, "The Getaway", debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Album Sales chart and at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 upon its release in 2016. "The Getaway" marked the band's seventh top 10 album and third No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart. The LP debuted at No. 1 in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, and New Zealand and at No. 2 in the United Kingdom and Germany.

Hipgnosis, which was founded by Merck Mercuriadis, is a Guernsey registered investment company established to offer investors a pure-play exposure to songs and associated musical intellectual property rights. The company has raised a total of over £1.1 billion (gross equity capital) through its initial public offering on in July 2018, and subsequent issues in April 2019, August 2019, October 2019, July 2020, September 2020 and February 2021.

Major artists, songwriters, and producers — including Shakira, Neil Young, Lindsey Buckingham of FLEETWOOD MAC, RZA of the WU-TANG CLAN and Debbie Harry of BLONDIE — have sold part or all of their catalogs to Hipgnosis

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many hard, not to say the least the musicians in Sweden. The rock band Velvet Insane wants to make a difference and has started the project Save The Noize together with some of Scandinavia's greatest rock musicians. All proceeds from the project goes to help musicians in need.

Save The Noize is a charity project started by the glam rock band Velvet Insane and Rasmus Harnesk Wiklund (Hårdrock - För Fan!-Podcast, Veritas). The project is in benefit of the Musikerförbundet’s crisis foundation and involves some of the biggest Nordic artists within the genre of rock & hard rock, coming together to record a song where all the income goes to the previously named foundation.

The idea was born during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has stricken hard against everybody, not to say the least against musicians in Sweden and around the world.  

Save The Noize is a modern and socially relevant hard rock song. A big refrain, catchy melody, and power, is the focus to give the feeling of musicians and culture creators in Sweden as well as around the world, coming together for a common cause. To support and help each other.

Save The Noize is performed by:
Velvet Insane
Jesper Binzer (D-A-D)
Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper, Solo, Roxie 77, Casablanca)
Guernica Mancini & Majsan Lindberg (Thundermother)
Pontus Norgren (Hammerfall)
Åge Sten Nilsen (Wig Wam, Solo, Ammunition)
Peo Thyrén (Noice, Easy Action, Sha-boom)
Martin Sweet (Crashdiet, Sweet Creature)
Tony Harnell (Solo, Starbreaker, Lovekillers, Westworld, TNT)
Nina Söderquist (Solo, Heartwind)
Georg Härnsten Egg (Dynazty, Joe Lynn Turner)
Marcus Berggren
Jimmy Strimell (Ex. Dead By April)
Love Magnusson (Dynazty, Joe Lynn Turner)
Matti Alfonzetti (Skintrade)
Scarlet
Eric “Cat Casino” Bäckman (Deathstars)
Olof Wikstrand (Enforcer)
Danny Rexon (Crazy Lixx)
Dag “Hell” Hofer (Bullet)
Jens Westin (Corroded)
Trond Holter (Wig Wam, Jorn)
Wildness
Rasmus Harnesk Wiklund & Jens Werner (Veritas)
Mikael Blanc (Degreed)




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Today is a good day for Dirty Honey. For the second time in their brief history, the band is nailing some impressive accomplishments.

In October, 2019, they became the first unsigned band to go all the way to #1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs chart with their very first single, "When I'm Gone." Today, the band sees its debut full-length album score the #2 spot on the Current Hard Rock Albums chart, #4 on the Current Independent Albums chart, and #5 on the Current Rock Albums chart.  And all without the support of a major label.

"It exceeded all of our expectations," said Dirty Honey's vocalist/lyricist Mark LaBelle about the release of the band's debut album, the Dirty Honey album.  "We're all really excited to release new music, especially after such a long wait, and it's great to feel the momentum again, with the 'California Dreamin'' single, the response to all of the new music, our social media...it's just a very exciting time."

But wait, there's more... Today, the band - LaBelle, John Notto/guitars, Justin Smolian/bass, and Corey Coverstone/drums - announces The California Dreamin' Tour, the first round of dates since the band's sold-out, headline trek back in January/February 2020.

The tour will kick off June 3 in Tempe, AZ  with fellow Californians Joyous Wolf supporting on all of Dirty Honey's headline shows. Ticket pre-sales are available tomorrow from 10 AM - 10 ,PM local; password is DREAMIN. General tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 AM, local; go here for all ticketing information for Dirty Honey's upcoming tour dates.

The Dirty Honey album features eight new songs that capture the lightning-in-a-bottle dynamics and energy of the band's live sound. "California Dreamin'," with its massive riffs and smoking guitar solos, "Tied Up," a sultry and soulful rocker, "Gypsy," that showcases plenty of swagger and gritty guitar work, "The Wire," leaving no doubt that Marc LaBelle is one of contemporary rock's best vocalists, and "Another Last Time," a mid-tempo, organ-fueled album closer with its bittersweet lyrics and bursting with soul, are just a few of the nuggets on this album.

Tracklisting:

"California Dreamin'"
"The Wire"
"Tied Up"
"Take My Hand"
"Gypsy"
"No Warning"
"The Morning"
"Another Last Time"

"California Dreamin'" video:

"Gypsy":

"Tied Up":

(Photo - Daniel Prakopcyk)




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Guitar legend Steve Vai has released the video below, featuring the Passion And Warfare album track, "For The Love Of God", processed and upscaled in 2021 from the original version by Mike Mesker.

Earlier this month, Via checked in with the following update:

"Hey folks, Steve here.  We are working on a huge coffee table book showcasing 100 of my best-known guitars. It's going to be an up-close look at each instrument through beautiful detailed photography. As we were deciding which guitars to include, it got me thinking about some of the guitars that I've parted with over the years. Some I've sold or auctioned for charity, and others have gone missing.

Check out our list below: We'd love to include some of these guitars in the book. If you're now the owner of any of these guitars (or know who is), please reach out to us at: missingvaiguitars@gmail.com."  

1. Little Annie Fanny Guitar

Vai: "Serial Number 01447 One of the most recognizable guitars from the “Eat ‘Em and Smile” days, the guitar is so named because it is covered with art from Little Annie Fanny comic strips. It was used mostly as a backup guitar on tour, and appears in many photos and posters from 1986. The guitar’s front & middle pickups were removed, and it features an early handle grip pre-dating the Jem. Its 22-fret maple fingerboard is scalloped, and it features a Floyd Rose tremolo. This guitar was sold by Rockstar Guitars. This guitar was one of 4 of the original Jem prototypes I assembled before I was working with Ibanez."

2. Jackson Soloist "Ike Turner"

Vai: "Serial #: J0334 This pink Jackson was used extensively on the Alcatrazz Disturbing The Peace tour, and re-appeared during the Eat ’Em And Smile Tour. It has also appeared in a few magazines and ads – namely a DiMarzio pickups ad with Billy Sheehan. It was once outfitted with a plastic wrist-rest, and had the words IKE TURNER written on the front of the pickguard in white lettering. Later the rest and pickguard were removed, the screw holes filled, and the guitar was repainted a lighter shade of pearlescent pink. A crack in the nut/back of headstock has been repaired – hence the extra set of screws in the back of the neck. This guitar was sold in the 2000’s by Rockstar Guitars. I also used this guitar on the recordings of 'Ladies Night in Buffalo' on David Lee Roth’s Eat 'Em and Smile record."

3. Zng Zng Guitar

Vai: "No Serial Number. This custom guitar made by my longtime buddy Joe Despagni, was used on the David Lee Roth Eat 'Em And Smile Tour – and can be seen in many photos from that tour. I auctioned this guitar on Ebay circa 2003/2004."

4. Lightning Bolt Guitar

Vai: "No Serial Number. Another Despagni custom, this was used on the David Lee Roth 1986 tour and can be seen in many photos from those days. In 2002 this guitar was auctioned for charity, and was purchased by Alex Lo of Illinois. Alex, we'd love to hear from you."

5. Swiss Cheese guitar

Vai: "The Swiss Cheese Guitar was made for me by my old friend Joe Despagni, and I used in the 'Yankee Rose video'. This guitar was slated to be taken on that tour but it was one of the ones that got stolen from our Pasadena rehearsal pad, Perkins Palace. I have never seen the guitar since, but maybe someone out there still has it.

6. "Stucco Blue"

Vai: "No Serial Number Built from various parts circa 1984/1985, this guitar was my first custom-made guitar and featured customized electronics and three humbucking pickups, which could be split to single coils if preferred. It was used on Flex-Able, and onstage during the Alcatrazz Disturbing The Peace tour in 1985. I have no idea what happened to this guitar, but would love to find it."

7. "Pumpkin"

Vai: "Unfortunately I loaned this guitar to someone and they pawned it, and then disappeared. This was a custom shop Jem where we were trying out different swirl colors.  The guitar has the Custom Shop logo on the back of the headstock with Mace Bailey's name (Ibanez Master Builder).  The headstock says 'Steve Vai' where it would normally have the 'Jem' logo. It does not have a Lion's Claw routing under the trem, but a standard routing. The Orange and Black pickups have the orange flaking off. In 1996, someone found it in a pawn shop and around 1998/1999 traded it for Peavy EVH Wolfgang. And then the trail went cold."

8. Floral Jem with a Roland GK-2A Synth controller

Vai: "Neck plate Serial #: 262339; Back of Headstock serial #: F0055388. This is a standard Jem 77 FP fitted with a Roland GK-2A Synth controller. The synth pickup sits between the bridge and humbucker pickup, and a small cable runs over the tremolo to the small controller module positioned to the right of the tone knob (and affixed with velcro). This guitar was part of my Harmony Hut arsenal, and was used on the Real Illusions album, but has since vanished."

If you're now the owner of any of these guitars (or know who is), please reach out to Steve Vai at missingvaiguitars@gmail.com.




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Endseeker recently released their new album, Mount Carcass, via Metal Blade Records. A guitar playthrough video for the track "Cult" can be seen below:

Having become one of the premier German death metal bands - and rapidly rising the ranks of the genre as a whole - Endseeker storm back into the fray with Mount Carcass. Building on the groundwork laid down on 2017's Flesh Hammer Prophecy and having the difficult task of besting 2019's stunning The Harvest, they have returned with a streamlined, powerful collection that further raises the bar.

Like both of its predecessors, Mount Carcass was recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Eike Freese at Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Going into the record, Endseeker knew they wanted something rawer and more organic than The Harvest, and while COVID was causing global havoc, the band embraced the time they would have otherwise spent touring, using it to rehearse and discuss what they wanted the record to be. From this process they knew they wanted the songs to be quite straightforward and even have something of a "punkish / crust feel, so to speak. The songs are pretty reduced to the core with all the ballast removed. Every part and every riff has a meaning and isn't just there for no other reason than extending the song. The album is also very melodic. There are a bunch of very strong guitar hooks and vocal compositions that really stick in your ears for days. It's way simpler and probably more easy to listen to compared to 'The Harvest' or 'Flesh Hammer Prophecy', but at the same time, it has a very spontaneous and lively attitude with a big chunk of personality."

To keep the genre sounding fresh in 2021, they focused on the production, having just a touch of the old school vibe to remain rooted, and they did not limit themselves too hard to the Swedish death metal style of songwriting they previously embraced, but also let other influences into their songs.

"You can hear all kinds of stuff that is inspired by bands like Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, Slayer, Dissection, Gorefest, etc. We listen to so many different bands, and somehow, a bit from all of this keeps adding to our music."

Mount Carcass can be ordered here.

Mount Carcass tracklisting:

"Unholy Rites"
"Merciless Tide"
"Bloodline"
"Mount Carcass"
"Count The Dead"
"Cult"
"Moribund"
"Frantic Redemption"
"Escape From New York" (John Carpenter cover)

"Count The Dead" lyric video:

"Unholy Rites" video:

Track-By-Track videos:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Get to know the band:

Endseeker lineup:

Lenny - vocals
Jury - guitars
Ben - guitars
Eggert - bass
Kummer - drums




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During an appearance at this year's Headbangers Con in March, former GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell spoke about the status of his long-awaited autobiography, "Dancing On The Edge". He said: "I just spoke to my writer today. We were working on it this afternoon. This is like my third writer that I went through. So, finally I got one that is gonna stick around and finish it. The other guys, they turned out to be just turds. It's a drag. I wasted a lot of my time."

Russell previously discussed his book in a 2016 interview, saying: "I'm just dumping everything in this book. And there might be a couple of lawsuits out of it, I would imagine. I'm gonna have to have my lawyers check it out before I release it. But, I mean, I don't really think that's gonna happen. 'Cause the book is about myself and what I've [gone through] and not so much about other people. But there are gonna be spots where somebody might raise an eyebrow and go, 'Hmmm….' It's gonna make some people upset. But it'll make more people laugh. If you're the butt of the joke, that's just the way it goes. [Laughs]"

Three years ago, Russell said that one of the main reasons he was writing a book was "because I want people to know that no matter how far down the ladder you fall you can always climb back up. You don't have to stay down," he told Daily Boom. "Whether you have a drug an alcohol problem or anything else for that matter, you can pull yourself out of it. You can accomplish so much in life if you just believe in it and visualize it. Nothing happens by chance, and I believe that everyone that you meet has some sort of message for you, if you listen closely enough. It might be a stranger that says something random to you that you shrug off, but if you sit and think about it, maybe they said something that you were supposed to hear. You just never know when you are being used as that voice of encouragement for someone else. I don't believe that anything happens by coincidence; it's all for a reason, both good and bad. Life isn't random; it's very well choreographed and we're here to learn."

Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 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 guitarist Mark Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer 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.

Evergrey / Silent Skies vocalist Tom Englund has checked in with the following update:

"I didn’t believe I would be writing these lines this quickly, but, me and Vikram Shankar are deeply in the final stages of writing, recording and producing the new Silent Skies album. And it sounds amazing! I’m already immensely proud of this record!"

Stay tuned for more updates, coming soon.

The Swedish-American collaborative project between Tom S. Englund, vocalist of Swedish progressive group Evergrey, and virtuoso classical pianist Vikram Shankar, feels at once lushly cinematic, warmly intimate, darkly melancholic and incandescently beautiful. It’s making is a story of a deep musical kinship between two seemingly divergent talents. Their first album, Satellites, is out now via AFM Records.

"Horizons"
"Endless"
"Dreams"
"Us"
"Solitude"
"Oceans"
"Here Comes The Rain Again"
"Walls"
"Distance"
"1999"

Satellites is available as Digipak and ltd. black/white double Vinyl. Order here.




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Melbourne hard rockers Stonetrip, having recently signed to powerhouse label Golden Robot Records, have just released their new single “Runaway”, which is now available on all digital platforms. 

Stonetrip produce a groove laden modern rock sound mixed with classic rock sensibilities. The band have an arena-ready sound and are set to reinvigorate the local rock scene.

The band comments: “‘Runaway’. The single describes the most compelling feeling of entrapment when you are not able to escape. Nowhere to go with your head constantly spinning within a relationship of emotional torment. The heart wrenching fight of the never ending argument with your partner: fighting yourself, returning to the words ‘don’t runaway’ and realizing ‘time is creeping’, ‘we’re not speaking’ and so you ‘shut the shades down’, finally moving on.”




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Actress Julie E. "Tawny" Kitaen, who is best known in the rock world for her appearance in WHITESNAKE's video for "Here I Go Again", has died at the age of 59. According to Variety, the Orange County, California coroner's office, which listed her as Tawny Finley, stated that she died at her home in Newport Beach on Friday morning (May 7), but a cause of death has not been revealed.

Tawny's children — Wynter and Raine Finley, whom she shared with ex-husband, baseball player Chuck Finley — confirmed their mother's passing, writing in a statement: "We are heartbroken and saddened to announce the death of our mom. We just want to say thank you for all of you, her fans and her friends, for always showing her such support and love. You gave her life everyday. We miss her and love her and we know her legacy will live on forever."

While WHITESNAKE was working on it 1987 self-titled album, the band's lead singer David Coverdale started dating Kitaen, who had recently starred opposite Tom Hanks in the movie "Bachelor Party". Kitaen soon appeared in several of WHITESNAKE's music videos, including those for "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love" and "Still Of The Night". Footage of Kitaen writhing around on the hood of a Jaguar in the "Here I Go Again" clip has been called one of the most iconic — and sexiest — video moments ever filmed.

Last June, Tawny told "Ouch, You're On My Hair" about how she ended up being featured in the WHITESNAKE videos: "Ironically, I started dating David. He was two million dollars in debt to David Geffen at that time. I was working and had more money than David at that time, so I kind of supported us a little. And when I heard the album and I was allowed to go in and help mix the album… You know how when you sing different tracks, they give you a piece of paper and you pick the word from the best track. So I was able to do that. And John Kalodner, who was the biggest A&R guy in the business, who works for David Geffen, in my 'E! True Hollywood Story' called me Yoko Ono — because I picked the album covers, I picked the single, I picked the photographer. I made the rule that no girls were allowed backstage, so the groupies must have hated me.

"I'll tell you how I came to be in the video," she continued. "Marty Callner, the director of all the WHITESNAKE videos, had it all planned out — had the girl, had everything. The night before the shoot, David said, 'Will you come with me to Marty, the director of the video's house? We have to go over the story boards.' So we went over to his Bel Air mansion, and he opens up the door, and without even saying hi or hello, he pointed at me and he said, 'You're her.' And I'm, like, 'I'm who?' And he said, 'You're the girl.' And I was already an actress. I had turned down a couple of bands from not being in their video, because I was an actress. 'I'm not gonna do a rock video. Are you kidding?' That was the mentality. But it was my boyfriend at the time's video, so I thought, 'All right, I've already helped my boyfriend on all the RATT album covers' — referring to her former boyfriend, late RATT guitarist Robbin Crosby — "why can't I help my boyfriend in his videos?' And so that's how it happened. And this poor girl got a call that she was no longer gonna be in it, and here I was."

In a 2019 interview with Consequence Of Sound, Coverdale confirmed that Kitaen was not the first choice for the female figure featured in the video. "Claudia Schiffer was supposed to be 'the WHITESNAKE woman,' when she was the Guess jeans girl," he said. "But that fell apart near the actual shoot. And I was taking Tawny out for dinner, when Marty Callner called me, and said, 'You have to stop by, we have problems.' We went to his house on the way to dinner, he opened the door, his jaw hit the floor — as you know, Tawny was an absolute beauty — and he said, 'That's her! She's the WHITESNAKE woman!' And I said, 'Marty, this is a friend of mine. She's an actress.' And she said, 'No, David. I'm happy to do it!' So, sorry Claudia — you did very well afterwards, too."

Coverdale and Kitaen tied the knot in 1989 but the union only lasted two years. Kitaen married Finley in 1997 and divorced him in 2002, not long after she was arrested for allegedly attacking her husband in their SUV a few blocks from their home. According to the Los Angeles Times, Kitaen pleaded not guilty to the charges of domestic violence, and the case was dismissed in 2003 after she attended court-mandated counseling. When she and Finley divorced, she released a statement saying she was being treated for a dependency on prescription drugs and vowed to become "the healthiest and the best mother possible" to her two daughters.

Prior to hooking up with Coverdale, Kitaen appeared in RATT's "Back For More" music video. She was also featured in several reality shows, including "The Surreal Life", "Botched" and "Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew". She had several other run-ins with the law, including a charge for cocaine possession in 2006 and driving under the influence in 2009.

One of the Jaguars from the "Here I Go Again" video was dusted off for WHITESNAKE's clip for "Shut Up & Kiss Me", from 2019's "Flesh & Blood" album.

Earlier today, Coverdale tweeted: "Just woke up to some very sad, unexpected news…Waiting on confirmation…but, if it is true, my sincere condolences to her children, her family, friends & fans…"

Just two months ago, Kitaen appeared on an episode of the Internet show "The Metal Summit". You can watch the episode below.


❤️

Posted by Tawny Kitaen on Saturday, May 8, 2021





Just woke up to some very sad, unexpected news…Waiting on confirmation…but, if it is true, my sincere condolences to her children, her family, friends & fans…??? pic.twitter.com/ioerp3ZRPa

— David Coverdale (@davidcoverdale) May 8, 2021






When I stare at you, it’s because I want to know what you’re thinking. And I want to know what you’re thinking, it’s...

Posted by Tawny Kitaen on Tuesday, May 4, 2021

JANE'S ADDICTION and PORNO FOR PYROS frontman Perry Farrell has announced his KIND HEAVEN ORCHESTRA's brand new single, "Mend". Working with friends Taylor Hawkins (FOO FIGHTERS), Elliot Easton (THE CARS) and David Bryan (BON JOVI) made this song special for Farrell.

Written with Hawkins, "Mend" addresses the relationship of a mutual friend falling apart. Lyrics like "I want to be with her again. In lovers' clouds, my head surrounded. Oh, that's the only way, I must see her again. So my broken heart can mend," shed light on his heartbreak.

Farrell says of his motivation: "I've tried to reach through his ribcage and examine the heart of a good friend. Tried to empathize with what he was going through. I tried to mend my friend."

This release comes in the wake of the compilation of Perry Farrell's work (outside of JANE'S ADDICTION and PORNO FOR PYROS) in his box set "The Glitz: The Glamour", which was released January 2021. More PORNO FOR PYROS music is forthcoming and post-pandemic JANE'S ADDICTION dates are currently being announced.

Due out on May 21, the "Mend" single can be pre-ordered/saved now at this location.

"The Glitz; The Glamour" is a 35-year retrospective of Perry's life, music and art — focusing on 68 tracks worth of his alt rock rarities and innovative artistic explorations. The retrospective is served up in the form of a vinyl and collectible box-set and is an art piece in its own right — in collaboration with fine artist Zoltar, this offering firmly puts Farrell's stake in the ground as the "godfather of alternative rock."

In addition to the deep groove vinyl recordings, the box-set includes a Blu-ray featuring 12 uncompressed Dolby Atmos mixes from "Kind Heaven" and three previously unreleased Atmos mixes, a photographic memoir hardcover book, a bandana, plus two exclusive Zoltar prints. "The Glitz; The Glamour" is out now via Last Man Music. Visit www.perryfarrell.com for more information.

German hard rock band, Fargo, have released "Gimme That Bone", their new single and video from their new studio album, Strangers D'Amour. The video features two special guests: former Fargo guitar player Hanno Grossmann and Torsten Lüderwaldt on keyboards, well known for his work for the band Fair Warning.

Bass player Peter Knorn says: “Compared to our comeback album Constellation, Strangers D'Amour sounds even more mature and rounded, with our typically driving beats and lots of melodious chorus parts, but also with a few little surprises thrown in, 'Gimme That Bone' has guitar player Peter Ladwig play a Hammond organ and Fender Rhodes, as well as his guitar."

Find the video below.

Strangers D'Amour will be released through SPV/Steamhammer on June 25 as CD digipak, LP in black vinyl and digital. There will also be an exclusive CD/LP bundle with a T-Shirt only available at the Steamhammer shop. Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Rain Of Champagne"
"Gimme That Bone"
"Closer To The Sun"
"Time"
"Mary Says"
"Law Of The Jungle"
"Homesick"
"Dear Miss Donna Vetter"
"No Reason To Cry"
"Car Expert"
"Why Don’t You"

"Gimme That Bone" video:




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