Bulgarian supergroup Intelligent Music Project, led by lead vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), have released the video for the song “Listen”, which is part of the band's latest album, The Creation. Watch the clip below.

The “Listen” video is dedicated to families with reproductive problems. The battle with the demographic crisis is one of the causes of the creator of the Intelligent Music Project and author of all the songs of the Project Dr. Milen Vrabevski:

“The battle with the demographic crisis is one of the areas in which I have been purposefully investing for many years. There is a need for active involvement of the state around this problem, but not only that - the progressive reduction of the population is a problem for all of us. With my foundation, we are trying to encourage the birth rate, and assisted reproduction is one way to solve the nation's demographic problems. With the ‘Listen’ video, we want to give more publicity to this topic, to attract more like-minded people in the fight to have more Bulgarian children.”

Thanks to the financial support of Dr. Milen Vrabevski and his Bulgarian Memory Foundation, 36 children have been born so far. The music video features some of the couples that Vrabevski supports and recreates some of the emotions that families with reproductive problems go through on the way to making their dream of having a child come true.

Introducing Intelligent Music Project VI - The Creation - features Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Rainbow), John Payne (Asia), Todd Sucherman (Styx), Carl Sentence (Nazareth) and Richard Grisman (River Hounds).

After the great success of the band's previous album, Intelligent Music Project V - Life Motion, the expectations of the rock fans for the new one are logically high and we dare say that they will be fully justified!

This was said by the creator, producer and author of the music and lyrics of Intelligent Music Project Milen Vrabevski, MD.

The Creation is the newest piece of rock art by the Bulgarian businessman, philanthropist and patron of arts. In his own words, this is an album about the creative approaches, a key to success in a meaningful life.

The album showcases the chemistry and the creative style of all five previous albums of the supergroup. The musical diversity and the positive messages of the twelve songs from The Creation make it exclusively interesting and attractive to listen. Moreover the sixth album again features well known, world famous, rock singers – Ronnie Romero (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Vandenberg, Lords Of Black), John Payne (Asia) and Carl Sentence (Nazareth).

Order the album here.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Chalice Of Sin is a sensational new heavy metal machine masterminded by vocalist Wade Black (Crimson Glory, Seven Witches, Leatherwolf), who started working on new music for the project in 2019.

After sharing some music with the Frontiers label, Serafino Perugino President and A&R director of Frontiers Records, hooked him up with the label’s in-house powerhouse producer Alessandro Del Vecchio and work really began in earnest on Chalice Of Sin. Once guitarist Martin Jepsen Andersen and drummer Mirkko De Maio joined the fray, the unit was solidified. The resulting album is a tremendous example of classic heavy metal sounds akin to Savatage, Crimson Glory, and Metal Church. An absolute must for all lovers of classic heavy metal music from the '80s/early '90s.

The self-titled debut is due out June 18, and today, fans can get their first taste of the album with the single and video for "Chalice Of Sin". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save Chalice Of Sin here.

"My writing partner, Rich Marks, and myself had a grand vision of how we wanted to approach this record.  Our inspiration came from a lot of different things.  Mostly the things affecting the world over the last year, as well as the challenges we face as humanity and the hardships that come with it.  Forging forward, the best that we can," says Black. "I was given an opportunity to work with a group of talented musicians in Alessandro Del Vecchio, Martin Jepsen Andersen, and Mirkko De Maio. The planets were aligned, and together, we created a stellar record that we are all very proud to be a part of.  We hope that everyone enjoys the album as much as we enjoyed creating it!" adds Black.

On the first single, "Chalice Of Sin", Black says, "As a whole, it is more of a statement that people of all standings in life go through hard times. No matter if you are a King or a commoner, we all go through bad times and the temptation to do the wrong thing is always there. You know it is sort of like the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other shoulder analogy. It's not the problem, it is how you solve it."

For more than two decades, Wade Black has cemented a name for himself in the heavy metal genre by fronting bands like Crimson Glory, Seven Witches, Leatherwolf, Leash Law, and War of Thrones. His voice is featured on more than a dozen albums and he has toured the world, performing at multiple metal festivals.

Wade first came to the attention of the metal community with his band Lucian Blaque, which formed in 1990 and had an initial run through 1995. When Lucian Blaque was put on pause, Wade put his knowledge of vocal techniques to work as an instructor at a music conservatory in Tampa, FL. His ability to soar through a three octave-plus range made him an in-demand instructor for aspiring vocalists of all genres of music.

In 1999, Wade took over as vocalist for the reactivated Florida metallers Crimson Glory, releasing the Astronomica album with them. Following a tour in support of the album, the band went on hiatus; however, not being one to rest on past glories, Wade forged ahead. His skills as a vocalist and frontman kept him in demand and he recorded and performed with established underground metal acts such as Seven Witches and Leatherwolf, as well as other collaborations within the metal community.

Now in the 21st century, Wade is prepared to bring the metal to the masses once again with his new project Chalice Of Sin.

Tracklisting:

"Chalice Of Sin"
"Great Escape"
"Whisky"
"Miracle"
"Sacred Shrine"
"Ashes Of The Black Rose"
"Through The Eyes Of A Child"
"I Stand"
"The Show"
"The Fight"
"Nightmare"

"Chalice Of Sin" video:

Lineup:

Wade Black - Vocals
Martin Jepsen Andersen - Guitars
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Bass, Keyboards
Mirkko De Maio - Drums




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Crystal Viper frontwoman Marta Gabriel announced the release of Metal Queens, her debut solo album which is a collection of cover songs, and a tribute to the female heavy metal and hard rock singers of the '80s.

"It's a celebration and tribute to some of my favorite female vocalists, and a solid piece of heavy metal that fans might enjoy even if they don't know original versions of those songs", says Gabriel. "It's not a random collection of covers - we made sure that it sounds like one big piece, like a real album, and it has this taking-no-prisoners attitude."

The album features Marta Gabriel on vocals and bass guitar, Eric Juris from Crystal Viper on guitars, and Cederick Forsberg from Crystal Viper and Blazon Stone on drums. Except that she invited three special guests: we will hear the Jag Panzer and Titan Force singer Harry Conklin in the Chastain cover "Light In The Dark", Riot V singer Todd Michael Hall in the Blacklace cover "Call Of The Wild", while Raven bassist John Gallagher plays bass in the remake of the Rock Goddess classic, "My Angel".

Marta Gabriel is a founder and frontwoman of the heavy metal act Crystal Viper, with whom she just released the new, eighth studio album, The Cult, via Listenable Records. She’s also a seasoned session musician, and performed with acts such as Jack Starr’s Burning Starr, Manilla Road, Vader, Majesty and Witch Cross.

Metal Queens will be released via Listenable Records on July 16 in Europe, and July 30 in North America, and will be available as vinyl LP, CD, and digital download. Listen to Marta's cover of Lee Aaron's "Metal Queen" below.

Tracklisting:

"Max Overload" (Acid)
"Metal Queen" (Lee Aaron)
"Call Of The Wild" (Blacklace)
"Light In The Dark" (Chastain)
"Rebel Ladies" (Zed Yago)
"My Angel" (Rock Goddess)
"Count Your Blessings" (Malteze)
"Goin' Wild" (Wendy O' Williams)
"Bad Attitude" (Hellion)
"Reencarnacion" (Santa)
"Mr. Gold" (Warlock) - CD bonus track

"Metal Queen":




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

German heavy metal/hard rock label Pride & Joy Music recently announced the signing of the Maltese hard rock group, Upper Lip.

Hailing from Gozo (the land of the Megalithic Temples in the heart of the Maltese Archipelago Islands), Upper Lip spurs nostalgic, groovy hard rock music with a passion to its genre. Their main influences derive from the splendid nature surrounding the beautiful Island and rock acts such as Rush, AC/DC, Rory Gallagher to The Smiths, Captain Beyond, and even Waylon Jennings.

Since their inception in 2013, the band has played several gigs and festivals on the Islands to a very warm welcome from the rock music fans which swiftly translate to more gig invitations. Fast-forward to 2019, the band embarked on a massive project to work on their first studio album. The recordings took place at Temple Studios (where the likes of Rammstein, Philip Boa, Mike Hedges, and Siouxsie and the Banshees had previously worked).
 
Upper Lip recorded 11 original tracks which portrays the groove and live energy that the band is so much noted for. The album, entitled Deep Within, will be released worldwide on May 21 via Pride & Joy Music, and a music video has already been released for the standout track, “Keep Going”, which can be viewed below.

The band has offered insight into each of the albums tracks (see below).

To order, download and stream the new Deep Within, head here.

Tracklisting (plus insight):

"Keep Going" - The first track on the album Deep Within. Starts with an energetic raunchy guitar riff and proceeds with the blistering raw vocal verses and the catchy chorus (Let’s keep going on). The lyrics speak about the spur of the moment, the electric connection between two people with all its ups and downs.

"Marble Arch" - A deep and personal song that focuses on the pain that is left behind when things go awry. The bridge and the melodious guitar solos lift the song and paint this picture of love gone by.

"Skinny Jeans" - The Zeppelinesque inspired riff, sets the mood for some old-fashioned blistering rock ‘n’ roll.  The song has a good time feel, typical of a crazy Saturday night out!  

"Eyes On Fire" - The song speaks about the magic of a rock ‘n’ roll show and the crazy people that sometimes are present. In this case a particular girl who with a kind of sinister stare. She surely enjoyed the show it was as if her eyes were literally on fire!

"What Makes You Smile" - ‘What Makes You Smile’ is a ballad that makes you reflect about moments in our life which are difficult and troublesome. It is also a song which gives hope and courage. Indeed the song takes two perspectives one that reflects on loneliness, “When you feel the pain inside, When you’re lonesome feeling angry” and the other that encourages us to take comfort in things which help us lift our spirits and that we should hang on when life becomes unbearable.

"Deep Within" (Instrumental) - The instrumental track situated right in the middle of the album! Is a guitar oriented track that started by an improvised guitar riff between songs during one particular concert. People loved it and it became a staple anthem during our shows.

"Mirrors & Masks" - The punkish vibe portrayed in this song reflects on some of the down sides of human nature, namely on people who wear a mask, who lie and who deceive and end up driving other people mad.

"Hide" - Another ballad within the album. Hide is an emotional song that reflects on the connection between two people who deeply care about each other, yet destiny brought them apart.

"Be Free" - Be Free is reminiscent of some of the 80’s anthemic rock songs. It is about moving on, being free from the things that drag you down. Thus, the motivational lyrics give a sense of hope and encouragement.

"Desert Song" - This song is a tribute to the Rock music legends of the past who still survive in the songs we write and in the music we play. Despite the current lack of appreciation (desert) that sometimes our genre faces it will still keep going strong.

"Never Lose Hope" - The longest and the final track of the album. The song is a sort of journey which ripples through time. Its long harmonious guitar solos evoke this sense of forlorn yet also create a sense of hope and courage.  

"Keep Going" video:

Upper Lip lineup:

Chris Portelli (vocals)
Joseph Azzopardi (lead guitars and main songwriter)
Paul Cini (rhythm guitar)
Marcel Paul Grima (bass guitar)
Silvio Cini (drums




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

On May 28, Tygers Of Pan Tang will release their album Majors And Minors, which continues the band’s legacy with a fine selection of songs that were written and recorded over the last eight years. Not just a "best of" compilation because the band wanted to offer something special to both loyal fans, collectors and those who have missed our latest records. “It’s like your best Tygers tracks, but all in one place!” - Robb Weir

And once again the stunning artwork will make the products and merchandise associated with the album things of beauty to behold.

The band chose songs on the album which they believed to be classics and to represent the renaissance of the Tygers boosted by having a Florentine on vocals! Partially written on the road, the tracks not only have killer riffs, balls and power pushing performances to the limit, but express the band’s creativity and musical chemistry for songwriting. Not afraid to even add Spanish Guitars and castanets if a track demands it this band are never boring.

Party songs, heavy songs, rock anthems, groovy rock n rollers, catchy songs cleverly constructed with accessible melodies, the band has packed all of this in to this meaty package. The contribution of Chris Tsangarides able to pull the best out of the band was instrumental. The band feel that this ‘new’ period of the band which has in fact lasted longer than the original lineup has produced songs which are indispensable to the history of the band. “It’s been a lot of fun putting this together, so get yourself comfy, press play and let the Tygers do the rockin.” - Robb Weir

The compilation includes "Plug Me In", never released on CD, a new orchestral version of "Spoils of War", "What You Say’" never released in an album format before and a live version of "Keeping Me Alive", recorded in 2018.

Known for their incendiary hit version of "Love Potion No.9" from The Cage album in 1982 which sold over 200,000 copies and gave the band two top 50 songs in the UK, Tygers remain a much loved hard rock band with their NWOBHM legacy and many loyal fans.

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Only The Brave"
"Destiny"
"She"
"Never Give In"
"Worlds Apart"
"Glad Rags"
"Let It Burn"
"White Lines"
"The Devil You Know"
"Keeping Me Alive"
"Hot Blooded"
"Damn You!"
"Spoils Of War" (Orchestral Mix)
"What You Say"
"Plug Me In"




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Acapella metal masters, Van Canto, return with their energetic and unique Rakkatakka-power and are set to release their eighth inimitable offering, To The Power Of Eight, on June 4 via Napalm Records. Prepare for an outstanding vocal attack as the unit has just dropped the new, rousing single “Falling Down”, along with an official music video.

Since 2006, Van Canto have delivered pure vocal power to the metal world and prove that heaviness does not necessarily need riffs and bass lines. “Falling Down” takes off at full speed as a stomping, heroic power metal anthem that leaves no muscle inactive. Both male and female vocals are given space to shine, but also harmonize together as one entity.

Van Canto on “Falling Down“: "'Falling Down' is a Van Canto powerhouse, a composition with powerful vocal riffing, endless harmonies and a dramatic arrangement. The lyrics describe the timeless moment of creativity when you feel a melody entering your brain to then materialize into music. We put our focus on all the details in the vocal arrangements, tying together Sly's heroic lead voice together with Hagen's rough power and Inga's epic smoothness like an eight-knot. 'Falling Down' combines Van Canto's trademarks and brings them to life by a combination of a rock'n'roll stage environment, on- and off-stage visuals and a lot of Power of Eight and more, thanks to all the people involved! It is inspired by all work Robert Naumann has done in all previous videos of Van Canto. Robs, we love you and we miss you."

Watch the official video for “Falling Down”:

To The Power Of Eight marks another milestone in the band's impressive career and presents Van Canto as a coherent entity stronger than ever! Starting out with their first full-length, A Storm To Come (2006), the unstoppable force set the stage for their very own genre and never failed in surprising their fans and beyond through the time being, while showcasing that metal can be heavy as hell without any riffage. With their previous full length, Trust in Rust (2018), the German rarity reworked its lineup, consisting of seven members since then. For To The Power Of Eight, the unit once again joined forces with Philip Dennis “Sly” Schunke, who had been the lead singer on their first six studio records. Sly joins lead vocalists Inga Scharf and Hagen Hirschmann on all twelve flawless tracks as third vocalist and special guest. It’s clear that this peerless piece of music was written with three voices in mind: To The Power Of Eight embodies a special sense of common bond and presents Van Canto in undeniable peak form.

Van Canto on the new album: “Being able to present an album after 15 years of band history, where three lead singers share the microphone hand in hand, makes us incredibly proud. Due to the pandemic situation we had a lot of time to work on To The Power Of Eight and put all our heart and soul into the compositions, the arrangements and the production. Originally we planned to have Sly as guest vocalist for one song – but it turned out to be twelve in total in the end. If someone would ask for one record to present Van Canto the most suitable way, we would choose To The Power Of Eight.”

From their own original speed driven tracks, like flaring “Dead By The Night”, raise-your-fist animated “Heads Up High” or mid-tempo, heart-warming “Turn Back Time”, to anthemic heavy metal covers such as Amon Amarth’s “Raise Your Horns”, Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills” or AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, Van Canto always manages to easily serve their own unique take with every output. On the one hand, To The Power Of Eight reflects a well experienced collective that has gathered several top 50 entries on the German album charts and played numerous shows around the globe and festivals like 70k Tons Of Metal, Wacken and Masters of Rock. But at the same time, it presents these energetic visionaries of acapella metal, who are far from resting on what they’ve achieved so far.

To The Power Of Eight will be available in the following formats:

- 1 LP Gatefold
- 1 CD Digipack
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

To The Power Of Eight tracklisting:

"To The Power Of Eight"
"Dead By The Night"
"Faith Focus Finish"
"Falling Down"
"Heads Up High"
"Raise Your Horns"
"Turn Back Time"
"Run To The Hills"
"Hardrock Padlock"
"Thunderstruck"
"From The End"
"I Want It All"

Van Canto is:

Hagen Hirschmann - Lead Vocals
Inga Scharf - Lead Vocals
Ross Thompson - Higher Rakkatakka Vocals
Stefan Schmidt - Lower Rakkatakka Vocals
Jan Moritz - Pad und Backing Vocals
Ingo Sterzinger - Bass and Backing Vocals
Bastian Emig - Drums and Backing Vocals

(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Guitarist Thomas Zwijsen has released the video below, featuring a classical guitar cover of Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man", featured on the band's 2000 album, Brave New World.

Zwijsen previously released the video below, an acoustic classical fingerstyle guitar cover of Alice Cooper's "Poison", from the 1989 album, Trash.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan has announced the reissue of remastered versions of Venom's 1989 - 1993 albums via RockMark Records

“It’s been a long road and one of persistent work but finally the road ended and we can present these recordings again. Prime Evil - Tear Your Soul Apart - Temples Of Ice - The Wastelands with original art - full lyrics - some nice bonus extras too. First time on vinyl - Kissing The Beast and extra surprises. This was never about money but about this important part of the history of a band and the recordings that went with that period finally being re-released so those who couldn’t find them or didn’t get the chance to own them or even hear them properly can now do that with these remastered but not remixed pieces of a history. Music is to be heard and to have fought so hard to free these recordings for you finally, is the ALL to me. Enjoy.”

Limited to only 166 copies he Demolition Years Collector's Edition Vinyl Box Set can be pre-ordered here.

Long awaited reissue of Venom's 1989 - 1993 releases with Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan, Mantas and Abaddon. Specially remastered for vinyl from original masters.

Includes:

- 5 x 12" 180 gram splatters in different colors + gatefold covers with lyrics (Prime Evil, Tear Your Soul Apart, Temples Of Ice, Kissing The Beast, The Waste Lands).

- Bonus vinyl Pentagram - Transparent UV print + inlay (real image coming soon) with 4 songs - "If You Want A War" (recorded during Prime Evil Session, 1989), "Surgery" (recorded during Prime Evil Session, 1989) + two live bootleg tracks, "Black Metal" and "Witching Hour".

- Exclusive 30 x 30 cm 16 page booklet with Tony Dolan notes/stories of those days in Venom and some rare photos.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Cassius King featuring vocalist Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Broken Teeth), drummer Ron Lipnicki, guitarist Dan Lorenzo (Hades, Non-Fiction), and bassist Jimmy Schulman will release their first album at the end of 2021 on California's Nomad Eel Records.

The band have a 7-inch vinyl single, "Traveler", with the Aerosmith cover "Sight For Sore Eyes" as the B-Side, coming out via Nomad Eel on April 30th. 

A snippet of the song "Join The Exodus", as well as "Traveler", can be heard below.

Traveler by CASSIUS KING

 




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his singer wife Toyah Willcox - joined by the mysterious stranger Sidney Jake - are back with another episode in their "Toyah & Robert’s Sunday Lunch" series. This time they take on The Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction". Watch below:

A selection of Robert & Toyah's previous Sunday Lunch videos can be seen below:




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

In a new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked when fans can expect to hear new music from the band. He responded: "We were preparing to do some of that last year, and things turned into the 30th anniversary of 'Rust In Peace'. This record has been simmering, and the sauce is getting pretty tasty. [Laughs]. It's an important record, and it really needed that time as a follow-up to [2016's] 'Dystopia'. We went into this one, being pretty hard on ourselves. With MEGADETH, we do not want to repeat ourselves. We don't sound like anyone else, and we are pretty tough on ourselves not to repeat a lyric, a riff, a melodic line, or structure from our past. That is where we get very critical to keep raising the bar on ourselves. We are 16 albums in, and there are only 12 notes on the scale. [Laughs]. We have sung a lot of words on a lot of topics. The first thing I'm sure people wanted to write is a COVID or a pandemic song, which is so obvious that I'm sure we will see a ton of records about that next year. The biggest thing now for us is touring this summer; we are told it will happen. As the tour happens, that unlocks the process of releasing new songs for the next record."

Ellefson also discussed the additional pressure on MEGADETH to deliver on the new album with its current lineup. "Dave [Mustaine, guitar/vocals], Kiko [Loureiro, guitar] and I have made a record before, but Dirk Verbeuren is new on drums," he said. "Dirk was a weapon in the arsenal that we really wanted to maximize. The drumming in MEGADETH has been held to a very high standard, with Gar Samuelson, Nick Menza, Jimmy DeGrasso and Chris Adler, as we have had some of the best in the business. Dirk is a guy who is a great writer who writes riffs and drum parts, and it was fun to push him to do things that were almost insanely impossible to play but were easy for him. It's great to have guys in the band that you can put anything in from of them, and they can play. That takes things to another level. We listened to all the tracks and were blown away. We could have released it as an instrumental CD, and it would be an amazing prog-metal record. It was enjoyable to listen to. I have learned a lot from making our MEGADETH records over the years as it's always this building process. It was a laborious and painstaking process in the beginning of writing songs, with the exception of 'Peace Sells'. Those songs didn't write themselves sitting in a room with everybody jamming. It was always built with bits and pieces, like putting the blocks in place to build a wall that would eventually would become a house. This band works differently than four guys getting into a room and jamming during a couple of afternoons to complete a record."

Read the entire interview at Metal Rules.

This past February, Mustaine said during an episode of his Gimme Radio program "The Dave Mustaine Show" that he had just received "a really cool lyric" from Ellefson that he was planning to turn into a song. In addition, he revealed that the upcoming MEGADETH album will include an as-yet-undisclosed cover track.

In January, Ellefson told the "Rock 'N' Roll Icons With Bode James" podcast the previously announced working title for MEGADETH's upcoming album, "The Sick, The Dying And The Dead", will likely end up getting changed before the LP is released.

The early sessions for the album took place in 2019 with co-producer Chris Rakestraw, who previously worked on "Dystopia".

"Dystopia", whose title track was honored in the "Best Metal Performance" category at the 2017 Grammy Awards, marked Loureiro's recording debut with MEGADETH.

The 46-year-old Belgian-born-and-now-Los-Angeles-based Verbeuren had played with SOILWORK for more than a decade before joining MEGADETH

In a new interview with Billboard, Bryan "Dexter" Holland spoke about THE OFFSPRING's 2016 decision to sell the rights to the band's entire catalog of Columbia Records master recordings and the publishing rights for all its songs to Round Hill Music, with the New York-based company paying $35 million. Asked if he is still happy with that decision, especially in light of the fact that there is a wave of artists selling their catalogs right now, Dexter said: "It certainly does seem to be fashionable now, huh? Or happening more often. In our case, we were very fortunate that when we signed to Sony, our records were licensed, so we technically owned them and knew they would come back to us after the delivery of our last album. We finished a seven-album deal with Sony — actually finished it! — and were just free agents. So after a few years we thought, what do we do here? At the end of the day, we just decided to sell it. I'm glad we did it, and Round Hill was the right partner to go with. And the great thing about being in a band is you can always make new songs."

THE OFFSPRING sold the recorded masters for the six albums it made for Columbia Records, along with the publishing rights to the songs on all nine of its studio efforts. The master recordings for the band's first three albums remain with Epitaph, the label that originally released them.

Among the Epitaph albums is 1994's "Smash", the breakout blockbuster that sold more than six million copies in the U.S. and featured the hits "Come Out And Play", "Self-Esteem" and "Gotta Get Away".

Included in the Columbia catalog are 1997's "Ixnay On The Hombre", which sold 1.4 million copies, 1998's "Americana", which moved five million, and 2000's platinum-selling "Conspiracy Of One".

THE OFFSPRING reportedly sold a total of 17 million copies of its first nine albums.

At the time of the catalog sale, Holland said in a statement: "We felt that having the right caretaker for our catalog, both the masters and the publishing, is incredibly important to the future of our career."

Round Hill Music chairman/CEO Josh Gruss said about the acquisition: "You won't get a more high-quality catalog than THE OFFSPRING. Also, we didn't have some American punk rock in our publishing portfolio, and this acquisitions helps broaden the genre representation."

THE OFFSPRING's tenth studio album, "Let The Bad Times Roll", arrived on April 16 via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was once again produced by Bob Rock, who also worked on the previous two LPs.

Holland, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, drummer Pete Parada and new bassist Todd Morse wrote and recorded "Let The Bad Times Roll" in the last few years at various locations, including the band's studio in Huntington Beach, California.

Photo credit: Daveed Benito

Roma Music Group has released Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star - Lullaby Versions Of Alice Cooper. The track "Poison" is available for streaming below. Buy/stream the full album here.

Tracklist;

"Poison"
"School’s Out"
"No More Mr. Nice Guy"
"I’m Eighteen"
"Feed My Frankenstein"
"He’s Back (The Man Behind the Mask)"
"Billion Dollar Babies"
"How You Gonna See Me Now"
"Only Women Bleed"
"I Never Cry"
"Under My Wheels"
"Welcome to My Nightmare"




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Having spearheaded the entire gore grind movement with their first two albums, UK legends Carcass later introduced more melodic elements to their sound. To this day, Heartwork is still one of the most vital and revered albums in death metal history.

Next month will see the release of Heartwork - Ultimate Edition, available on 2CD and double vinyl. Created with the full support of the band, this infamous album returns with our renowned Full Dynamic Range mastering, with a second disc containing 10 original demo recordings, now available on CD for the first time in more than 12 years and on vinyl for the first time ever.

Four colour editions of the vinyl are available exclusively via the Earache Webstore, including two stunning marble and merge effects, marking the first time this album has ever been available on multi-colour vinyl. Go to this location to pre-order.

Release Date: May 7, 2021

Heartwork - Ultimate Edition gatefold vinyl:

- Silver (limited to 100 copies)
- Blue (limited to 100 copies)
- Red / White marble
- White / Black merge
- Black

Track Listing:

Disc 1:
"Buried Dreams"
"Carnal Forge"
"No Love Lost"
"Heartwork"
"Embodiment"
"This Mortal Coil"
"Arbeit Macht Fleisch"
"Blind Bleeding The Blind"
"Doctrinal Expletives"
"Death Certificate"

Disc 2:
"Buried Dreams" (Demo)
"Carnal Forge" (Demo)
"No Love Lost" (Demo)
"Heartwork" (Demo)
"Deliverance" (Demo)
"This Mortal Coil" (Demo)
"Arbeit Macht Fleisch" (Demo)
"Blind Bleeding The Blind" (Demo)
"Doctrinal Expletives" (Demo)
"Death Certificate" (Demo)




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

"Here's a rare one from the Union vaults in celebration of us getting 'Around Again' to releasing the albums on vinyl," says the band. "We didn't play outside too much, but here's Union in broad daylight from September 26, 1998 in LaFayette, Indiana."

Union, along with Lindsley Records and Blackbird Entertainment, have announced an exclusive license with eOne Music to release both their self-titled debut album and The Blue Room on 180 gram remastered vinyl. There will be multiple formats, limited color vinyl, and tons of extras. Stay tuned for more details and release dates as they become available.

Union is comprised of vocalist / guitarist John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, The Scream), guitarist Bruce Kulick (KISS, Grand Funk Railroad), bassist Jamie Hunting (David Lee Roth, Vince Neil), and drummer Brent Fitz (Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Vince Neil).

Formed in Los Angeles, California in 1997, Union released two studio albums and one live album: Union (1998), Live In The Galaxy (1999), and The Blue Room (2000).

 

 




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Nightwish have checked in with the following update:

"Welcome to The Islanders Arms! Preparations are getting finalized and rehearsals are underway. We can't wait to open the doors for you all to this magical and special place! This venue must be the most unique place we have ever played in and we are excited to be able to share a little sneak peek with you all."

The interactive An Evening With Nightwish In a Virtual World concert experiences that will kick off the Human. :II: Nature. World Tour has been rescheduled from March to May due to changes in the band’s touring schedule. The new dates are Friday, May 28th and Saturday, May 29th.

Tickets purchased for the original dates are automatically valid for the new dates, or can be returned by March 12th. More details below. Two day tickets will be on sale for the current price until February 14th, 22:59 CET. After this the price will go up.

VIP packages will go on sale at the same time. The VIP package includes a virtual session with the yet unrevealed bass player of Nightwish’s Human. :II: Nature. tour, among other perks. The identity of the bass player will be revealed on the live virtual session included in the VIP package on Friday, May 28th.

Nightwish will perform in a tavern called The Islanders Arms built in a virtual world for two nights in May. On both nights, the fans will experience an unforgettable 1.5-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.

- Friday, May 28th: Europe: 8pm CET / 7pm GMT, duration approx. 90min
- Saturday, May 29th: North and South America: 8pm ET (UTC-5) / 5pm PT (UTC -8) / 10pm BRT (UTC-3) / 7pm CST (UTC -6), duration approx. 90min

Virtual VIP sessions with the bass player will be held on both dates before the show (schedule to be confirmed later).

The live events to be experienced at Burst.fi. A recording of the concert will be available for 48 hours after the event for all the ticket holders. More details and tickets at Nightwish.com.

Tickets purchased for the original March dates are automatically valid for the new May dates and do not need to be exchanged.

If you have purchased a two evening ticket and would like to upgrade to a VIP package:

Choose the addition option VIP Europe upgrade or VIP World upgrade on www.nightwish.com. Customers in Europe can choose either one of the options. VIP packages will go on sale February 15th. Limited quantity.

If you have purchased a two evening ticket + t-shirt bundle and would like to upgrade to a VIP package:

The t-shirt sold with the VIP package is different from the one in the prior ticket + t-shirt bundle (additional print on the back). It is not possible to cancel or exchange a previously purchased t-shirt for the shirt sold with the VIP Europe package. You can complement your order by choosing the addition option VIP Europe upgrade (in addition to a two evening ticket and a virtual session, you will receive 2 different shirts and a VIP pass) or VIP World upgrade (you will receive a two evening ticket and a virtual session, but not the VIP shirt or a VIP pass) on www.nightwish.com. Customers living in Europe can purchase either one of the options. VIP packages on sale February 15th. Limited quantity.

The t-shirts and VIP passes will be mailed during the spring.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Los Angeles rockers BLACK VEIL BRIDES have announced their next global virtual experience, "Unplugged" — the band's final streaming event of 2021. This announcement comes as BLACK VEIL BRIDES were just No. 1 on the BandsInTown X Billboard Top Livestream artists for the week of April 3. Recorded live in Los Angeles at the Den Studios, "Unplugged" will offer an in-depth look at the stories behind the songs from every part of BLACK VEIL BRIDES' catalog. Radio hits and fan favorites comprise the setlist for and even the song "Vale (This Is Where It Ends)" from the band's fifth studio album — which has never been performed live — makes an appearance at the acoustic event. The global virtual acoustic experience is scheduled for April 30 at 4:00 p.m. PDT (Los Angeles) / 7:00 p.m. EDT (New York City) / 12:00 a.m. BST (London).

"Growing up, I loved getting the opportunity to watch my favorite bands sit down and go into detail about their entire back catalog of material. Whether it was KISS on MTV's 'Unplugged' or Billy Idol on 'VH1 Storytellers' this format has always appealed to me," explains singer Andy Biersack. "We are so excited to give fans of the band a set list that spans our entire career and the stories behind the making of these records and songs."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES' new album, "The Phantom Tomorrow", is due on June 4 via Sumerian Records.

The cover artwork for "The Phantom Tomorrow" was created by Eliran Kantor, known for his work with TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, HAVOK and Andy Black, to name a few. "The Phantom Tomorrow" was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, DANCE GAVIN DANCE, BUSH) and co-produced by guitarist Jake Pitts.

Biersack told "Cutter's Rockcast" about the lyrical themes covered on "The Phantom Tomorrow": "It's a concept record. There is a comic book happening as well. I actually just got off the phone this morning with the publishing company for the comic book. We're developing all the artwork and everything for that. The story is essentially the idea… In our society, especially now, we have this love of building up heroes and obsessing over other people who often don't give a shit about you or anybody else, and we kind of have these false idols and heroes. And so the story is kind of about taking this mythological character and the people putting all of this power on to them, and then ultimately turning their back on the character because nobody can fulfill the dreams and ideas that you put on somebody else. So it's an alternate version of our own timeline where our obsession with heroes and the iconography of somebody that's aspirational kind of gets out of control and becomes our whole society."

Regarding how he came up with "The Phantom Tomorrow" concept, Andy said: "In January of last year, I just kind of sat down and started writing this story. I do a lot of drawing when I'm writing as well. I'm not great, but I like to be able to represent my ideas in that way. So I wrote out this whole story and drew character designs, and then, about a week and a half later, we were set to enter the studio, and it just kind of coincidental that this whole rush of this idea came to me. And so I went to the studio with everybody and said, 'Look, this is what I think we should do,' and laid out the story and the plot and the ideas. 'Cause we've done concept records before. The kind of method that we've found is best is I give the concept and the ideas, as far as the narrative perspective, to the band, and then that is how we write as a band together, to get tone and how we are gonna get through this journey. I will take those songs and then go basically write the lyrics to serve the story and plotlines along the journey from song one to the last song.

"There are unfortunate kind of shackles that are put on it — meaning that you've gotta write within the context of what you're writing," he continued. "But I tried to keep this one more open-ended where it's applicable… 'Cause I didn't wanna write about stuff I don't know; I wanted it to be about my experience. And there's really nothing about our story that doesn't mimic the current situation, whether it's on a personal level with people that I've known, or on a sociopolitical level, with the craziness of the world right now. The ideas are universal, and so that made it a little bit easier to kind of get through the journey. But as far as the comic book goes, it's kind of the same thing — I come up with the story and the artwork ideas, and then work with people who are much more talented than I am to make that a reality."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES celebrated the 10th anniversary of their debut, "We Stitch These Wounds", with a brand new, reimagined, re-recorded 2020 edition of the album titled "Re-Stitch These Wounds", released last July via Sumerian Records.

In November 2019, BLACK VEIL BRIDES announced the addition of bassist Lonny Eagleton to the group's ranks. He joined the band as the replacement for Ashley Purdy, who exited the group earlier that month.

Eagleton previously played with Biersack (a.k.a. Andy Black) on his solo tour.

Biersack's memoir, "They Don't Need To Understand: Stories Of Hope, Fear, Family, Life, And Never Giving In", arrived in December via Rare Bird Books.

Photo credit: Joshua Shultz

Several SLIPKNOT titles will get the jigsaw puzzle treatment next month.

On May 15, Zee Productions will release "Slipknot", "Iowa" and "Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)" as 500-piece jigsaws on its Rock Saws imprint.

All 500-piece puzzles come in a vinyl-box-set-sized box, perfect to fit alongside a vinyl record collection.

According to Toy News, Rock Saws was originally developed by Zee Productions' own self-proclaimed metalhead Steve Beatty.

"I want to make jigsaws that are for the music fan," Beatty said. "Vinyl came back and I loved the idea of making great record sleeve art into jigsaws, maybe stick the record on and do together."

Beatty launched Rock Saws in 2019, promising to "revolutionize" and "breathe new life into" the puzzles scene by delivering artwork from some of the rock and heavy metal scene's most iconic album covers. The mission started with the launch of puzzles featuring artwork from albums by SLAYER and IRON MAIDEN.

SALIVA has released the music video for the third single, "After Me", from "Every Twenty Years", an EP featuring re-recorded SALIVA classics with current vocalist Bobby Amaru to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the band's major label debut, "Every Six Seconds".

"Every Twenty Years" will be released on May 7 via Megaforce.

"In the 10 years I've been with the band, I've realized how strong our fan base really is," says Amaru. "I wanted to do something for the fans for embracing me with open arms. Fans have asked me all the time if we ever thought about recording some of the old hits with my voice. I've sang those songs enough that they have become an important chapter of my life. What better way than to revive this album with an EP to mark the 20th anniversary? People of my generation and all around rocked these tunes before and will continue to. 'Every Six Seconds' brought SALIVA abundant success and we are all grateful."

"Every Twenty Years" track listing:

01. Your Disease (2021 Version)

02. Click Click Boom (2021 Version)

03. After Me (2021 Version)

04. Greater Than/Less Than (2021 Version)

05. Spyhunter (2021 Version)

06. Spoonman (2021 Version)

Formed in Memphis is 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.

After nearly 15 years, SALIVA parted ways with vocalist Josey Scott. In 2011, Bobby Amaru stepped in to fill the roll, infusing SALIVA with new blood, spirit and an energy similar to that which launched the band's career a decade earlier. From modern metal to straight up hard rock, SALIVA continues to write in-your-face, anthemic songs, and win fans over through tours around the world with the biggest names in rock and appearances on the main stages at countless festivals and the most well-known motorcycle rallies.

Last month, 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."

SALIVA is:

Bobby Amaru - vocals

Wayne Swinny - guitar

Paul Crosby - drums

Brad Stewart - bass

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's Candice Night and Ritchie Blackmore are featured in a new three-part interview series in which they talk about their new album "Nature's Light". The first part can be seen below.

BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's eleventh studio album and the first in six years, "Nature's Light" was released on March 12 via earMUSIC.

The ten new tracks make for a quintessential BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album. Once again, Blackmore and Night successfully mix the tradition of folk music and their love for the Renaissance era, inspired by the myths and legends of ancient times.

While the album is rooted in a traditional approach, fans of Ritchie Blackmore's unique style will not be disappointed. Heartfelt ballads, such as a brand-new version of "Wish You Were Here", set the scene for the magical tales on "Four Winds" and "The Twisted Oak". On the two instrumental tracks — "Darker Shade Of Black" and "Der letzte Musketier" — Ritchie's guitar brilliance shines through.

"Nature's Light" was released on multiple formats. Among these is a strictly limited 2CD hardcover mediabook edition, including a bonus CD featuring a carefully selected set of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's masterpieces from their extensive back catalogue. Furthermore, the album has become available as a CD digipak edition, a strictly limited heavyweight 1LP gatefold edition on yellow vinyl, a 180g 1LP gatefold edition on black vinyl as well as digital.

"Nature's Light" track listing:

01. Once Upon December

02. Four Winds

03. Feather In The Wind

04. Darker Shade Of Black (instrumental)

05. The Twisted Oak

06. Nature's Light

07. Der Letzte Musketier (instrumental)

08. Wish You Were Here (2021)

09. Going To The Faire

10. Second Element

KANSAS, America's legendary progressive rock band, has announced the departure of guitarist Zak Rizvi.

Rizvi joined KANSAS in 2016, but his relationship with KANSAS goes back almost 20 years earlier when his band 4FRONT opened for KANSAS. Zak went on to work alongside producer Jeff Glixman on various KANSAS projects, including "There's Know Place Like Home", as well as the NATIVE WINDOW album, a project of KANSAS's Phil Ehart, Billy Greer, David Ragsdale and Richard Williams. This led to KANSAS asking Rizvi to co-produce the band's last two studio albums, 2016's "The Prelude Implicit" and last year's "The Absence Of Presence".

In a statement, KANSAS said: "The band KANSAS announces that guitarist Zak Rizvi has resigned and that he looks forward to pursuing new projects. We thank Zak for his many contributions throughout the years and we wish him well in his future endeavors.

"KANSAS carries on with original member Phil Ehart on drums, original member Richard Williams on guitar, Billy Greer on bass and vocals, David Ragsdale on violin, guitar and vocals, Ronnie Platt on lead vocals and keyboards, and Tom Brislin on keyboards and vocals."

KANSAS has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide and is famous for classic hits such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust In The Wind", to progressive epics like "Song For America".


The band KANSAS announces that guitarist Zak Rizvi has resigned and that he looks forward to pursuing new projects.

We...

Posted by Kansas on Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Florida death metal veterans CANNIBAL CORPSE have released the official David Brodsky-directed music video for the song "Necrogenic Resurrection". The track is taken the band's 15th studio album, "Violence Unimagined", which was released on April 16 via Metal Blade Records.

Comprised of eleven tracks, "Violence Unimagined" is state-of-the-art death metal played with passion and breathless precision, making for another flawless addition to what is inarguably one of the premier catalogues the genre has thrown up. "It really follows the path we've been going down for a few years now," states bassist and founding member Alex Webster. "I think we approach the writing in a similar way most every time: each of us try to write the heaviest, most memorable songs we can. We want each song to have its own identifiable character. Showing my age, I like to say you can 'drop the needle' on any point of one of our albums and quickly tell which song you're listening to."

While they continue to do what they do with aplomb, the one substantial change to CANNIBAL CORPSE is the addition of guitarist Erik Rutan to their ranks, joining Webster, founding drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz, guitarist Rob Barrett and vocalist George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher. Known for his roles in MORBID ANGEL, RIPPING CORPSE and most notably fronting the mighty HATE ETERNAL, Rutan has long established himself as one of the most dynamic forces in contemporary death metal. Simultaneously, he has built up a reputation as one of the most in-demand producers in metal, having previously produced four CANNIBAL CORPSE albums (in addition to "Violence Unimagined"), alongside the likes of GOATWHORE, SOILENT GREEN and BELPHEGOR. Filling in live on guitar since 2019, in 2020 he became a full member, contributing to the writing process.

"I think the most noticeable difference on this record will be the addition of Erik to the band. He wrote three full songs for the record, music and lyrics, and his song writing and guitar playing have added something new, and I think his musical style integrated into ours very well," Webster enthuses. This is not all that he brings to the band. "He's a great friend of ours, so on a personal level, he's been a perfect fit, as we knew he would be. Beyond that, he's one of the hardest-working people I know, in music or otherwise, and he maintains a high-energy, positive demeanor in challenging situations where other people might go in a negative direction. This energy and great attitude rubs off on the rest of us as well. That's really a perfect situation to have when you add someone to a band, or any kind of team: someone who's great at what they do, and also inspires the people around them."

Already well known for the level of extreme technicality they bring to every record, on "Violence Unimagined", CANNIBAL CORPSE has further upped their game, particularly in Mazurkiewicz's drumming.

"I think we all pushed ourselves a bit technically on this one, with Paul probably pushing the hardest," Webster says. "This album is probably the most drum-intense album we've done yet. Part of that could be a result of Erik joining the band. His songwriting style often features technically challenging drumming, probably owing to his years of experience in high-speed death metal." And with typically dark and warped lyrical content, Mazurkiewicz came up with the fitting title of the record, "summing up what the band is about in every facet, and taking violence to another level of extremity."

With Rutan in the band, having him produce the record was a no-brainer at Mana Recording in St. Petersburg, Florida — his central base of operation. Using the studio for pre-production, rather than their rehearsal space as usual, was a great benefit early on, allowing them to come into the actual recording process better prepared than ever before. However, their plans to record the album entirely together were interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with Webster forced to record his bass tracks in his home studio.

"I live on the other side of the country now, and that hadn't been an issue prior to the pandemic, I was still able to go to Florida whenever I needed to," Webster says. "So, I was scheduled to fly down for the recording in early April 2020, and of course that was at the very beginning of all of the lockdowns and travel restrictions in the USA, so I didn't go. Fortunately, I have a lot of experience recording bass tracks at home, so it didn't affect the sound of the album at all. I stayed in close contact with Erik and the other guys throughout the process, and it actually wound up being quite smooth. Of course, I'm looking forward to tracking in the big studio with the guys for the next album, but I'm glad this option worked well for us." And it would not be a CANNIBAL CORPSE album without striking artwork from Vince Locke, and "Violence Unimagined" is no different — this time, the cover featuring a mother eating her own baby, though Webster concedes that for censorship reasons, they have had Locke do a complementary piece that will be more widely released.

Now in CANNIBAL CORPSE's thirty-second year of existence, Webster still has the same hunger to tour, and though unable to do so while the COVID-19 crisis continues, the bassist hopes that not too much more time passes before they are able to get back on the road. Regardless, he is looking ahead and not to the band's past.

"We're very excited to continue this new chapter of the band with Erik on board," he says. "I think that a band should always be working to improve and trying to make whatever they're currently doing the best thing they've done, so that's what we'll do."

"Violence Unimagined" track listing

01. Murderous Rampage

02. Necrogenic Resurrection

03. Inhumane Harvest

04. Condemnation Contagion

05. Surround, Kill, Devour

06. Ritual Annihilation

07. Follow The Blood

08. Bound And Burned

09. Slowly Sawn

10. Overtorture

11. Cerements Of The Flayed

CANNIBAL CORPSE is:

Alex Webster – bass

Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums

George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher - vocals

Rob Barrett - guitar

Erik Rutan - guitar

Photo credit: Alex Morgan

Former METALIUM bassist Lars "Ratz" Ranzenberger died Sunday morning (April 18) after his ultralight "trike" airplane crashed in Mallorca, Spain.

According to We Publish News, the accident occurred around 10 a.m. next to the road from Palma to Manacor near Vilafranca, not far from the famous Es Cruce restaurant. Also nearby is the hangar of the airfield, which is also called Es Cruce, and where Ranzenberger used to park his aircraft.

The 53-year-old German-born musician-turned-entrepreneur, who has resided in Cala Santanyí, on the southeastern coast of Mallorca, for a number of years, reportedly died instantly. He was said to be the sole occupant of the plane.

Medical personnel, the fire brigade and police were quickly dispatched to the scene after but could not save Ranzenberger's life.

Spain's Civil Guard has opened an investigation into the causes and circumstances of today's accident.

Check out photos from Diario De Mallorca. Video footage can be seen below.

In recent years, Ranzenberger ran InterLED, Sounds & Visions SL, a company which provided installations in light, sound and TV.

On the musical front, Ranzenberger was most recently the producer and bass player for the Mallorcan band FYRE.

Formed in Hamburg in 1998, METALIUM released eight albums before breaking up in 2011.

Lars's former METALIUM bandmate Chris Caffery paid tribute to the bassist, writing on social media: "One of the many discussions I have had during the past year involved reunions and new records from bands I haven't recorded with in years. You all know the obvious by the posts that have been floating around. One of the others was conversations I had with Henning [Basse, vocals] and Lars Ratz about the possibility of a new METALIUM record and festival tour. I had actually began writing songs with this reunion in mind.

"I am shocked and saddened to have just received the very sad news that Lars Ratz has died today in a small plane crash.

"That first METALIUM record was a very huge part of my musical and personal past. Although the situation wasn’t always perfect Lars believed in me and was so proud that he had me there to be a part of that first albums creation and the very first shows.

"'Millennium Metal' was a classic record top to bottom.

"Lars loved risks. He kinda lived very heavy metal in many ways. He loved being a pilot. He can now take some of my friends in heaven on some of his flights. Fly with the angels my friend."




One of the many discussions I have had during the past year involved reunions and new records from bands I haven’t...

Posted by Chris Caffery on Sunday, April 18, 2021



Vor ein paar Tagen am Telefon haben wir noch gesagt, lass uns am Wochenende nochmal telefonieren, wenn wir mehr Zeit...

Posted by Henning Basse on Sunday, April 18, 2021



Posted by Lars Ranzenberger on Monday, September 30, 2019



Posted by Lars Ranzenberger on Wednesday, January 27, 2021



Whats a great moment !... Chilling with your little flyer ( Bautek) over the clouds of one of the most beautiful European islands listening to SAGA (music from the 80s...for all who don't know anymore ;-) )

Posted by Lars Ranzenberger on Wednesday, February 27, 2019



Posted by Lars Ranzenberger on Sunday, September 23, 2018

Progressive metal trio Appeal To Authority has revealed an extraterrestrial-inspired video for “Pulling Me Inside”, the first single from their debut EP, scheduled for release this summer. The clip, which is presented in a short film format, tells the story of a woman’s alien abduction, can be seen below.

“I had been binge watching a lot of Bob Lazar videos on YouTube and watching a lot of UFO documentaries and became very enthusiastic on the idea of life beyond ours on earth,” says bassist and backup vocalist Stan Martell. “The task of making a video to tell the lyrical storyline was a challenge we were willing to take.”

To assist with the massive undertaking, the band took the idea to Thomas Crane of Kill Devil Films (Todd La Torre, Saliva). Martell himself took on the task of CGI and video effects while Crane developed the film composition. “Thomas was able to take the idea and mold it into exactly what we were looking for,” Martell says. “He incorporated the CGI space scenes that I had built in after effects and flawlessly made the flow of the storyline. I then finished off the video with some added video effects to give it that alien feel. We are excited with the outcome and can’t wait to share it with the world!”

Formed last year in Jacksonville, FL, by guitarist/vocalist Larry Schroeder, bassist Stan Martell and drummer Shaun Taunton, Appeal To Authority is a unique blend of crushing riffs, complex arrangements, hard hitting grooves and aggressive prog elements. With influences such as Tool, Megadeth, Periphery, Gojira and many others, this energetic trio strives to push the boundaries using complex time signatures, technical rhythms and heavy tones to create a versatile and unique sound.

For further details, visit Appeal To Authority on Facebook.

 

 




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

The largest, most prestigious, award ceremony in the Norwegian music industry’s calendar, the Spellemannprisen awards were handed out last night (April 16th) during a virtual ceremony, and legendary black metal band Mayhem were announced as the Honorary Award Winner Of The Year. 

A Spellemannprisen statement reads:

"The jury's reasoning: Icon, legend, genre defining and world-class music. Since the band's start in 1984, the Honorary Award Winner of the Year has made music that has shocked, rocked and not least inspired. With their groundbreaking and experimental musical expression, they are to be regarded as the very founder of the subgenre's origins. They have inspired countless artists of all ages and around the world since the beginning of their careers. Unfortunately, the band's heavy history has often stood in the way of talent and external music, especially for those who would not put on this music voluntarily. But the band's topicality today, and their position in the metal genre on a global level, shows that the music itself is rock solid with both timeless classics and groundbreaking releases in the catalog. The band's music, both on record and from the stage, has created music history worldwide. New documentaries, books and magazines are constantly being made about the Honorary Award Winner Of The Year and about the genre they have helped to shape and define. It is almost inevitable to discover Norwegian Svartmetall, without coming across this year's Honorary Award winner, also for new fans today. One can only consider the band as a legend and as a greatness in Norwegian music. This year's Honorary Award goes to Mayhem."

Oslo-based OKKULTOKRATI won the metal genre award for their latest album, La ilden lyse.

The upcoming Northern Ritual MMXXI Tour - featuring black metal pioneers Mayhem and the undisputed inventor of dungeon synth Mortiis as direct support - has been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. New dates will be announced in due course.

Says Mayem: "While it surely will come as no surprise to anyone, we are yet again forced to postpone the European tour. We would have hoped to release new dates at this time as well, but we are still working on it and will announce them as soon as we possibly can. Hails to our fans for your support through these weird times. We hope to see you all soon again!"

“While it surely will come as no surprise to anyone, we are yet again forced to postpone the European tour. We would have hoped to release new dates at this time as well, but we are still working on it and will announce them as soon as we possibly can. Hails to our fans for your support through these weird times. We hope to see you all soon again!” comments Mortiis.

(Photo - Stefan Raduta)




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Prosthetic Records has announced the signing of The Day Of The Beast, and unveiled the release of the band's upcoming fourth full length album, Indisputably Carnivorous, due for release on June 18. The album is blackened riff-heavy death metal at its most extreme - and it’s here to sour your summer. Accompanying the album announcement, The Day Of The Beast have also released the lead single "Disturbing Roars At Twilight".

Speaking on the signing announcement, the band comments: "We’ve always had much respect for Prosthetic Records and the impact they’ve had in the world of extreme metal. We’re incredibly honored and proud to be part of the roster!"

On the single release, the band adds: "This is one of the faster, more melodic tracks on the record. Lyrically, the song is themed around the Lovecraft short horror story 'The Haunter Of The Dark'."

Dripping with pure aggression and channelling evil through all inputs, Indisputably Carnivorous is the soundtrack to every raging nightmare brought to life. Shining a light on the darkest, filthiest corners of the human psyche by way of apocalyptic, horror-inspired storytelling - The Day Of The Beast have created a monster. Each track revolves around its own specific tale or theme, with inspiration coming from the likes of Clive Barker, Bram Stoker, and Lovecraft. The album name is taken from the Graham Masterson novel The Wells Of Hell, and the title track is primarily based on that book.

Recorded August - October 2020, in Hampton Roads, Virginia with the band overseeing all elements of recording the meat of the album themselves, they then enlisted Tony Petrocelly of Trepan Studios to track vocals. The album was mixed and mastered by Zach Ohren at Castle Ultimate Studios. Taking control of production themselves allowed the band - which features Steve Redmond from fellow Prosthetic signees, Foretoken - to set their own pace - they took the time to look back over past output, cherry-picking the elements they rated the most and bringing them together in one cohesive rager of an album. The result is a whiplash inducing thrash-via-death metal record; celebrating the legacy of the genre whilst adding their own indisputably blood-thirsty, indisputably abominable, indisputably carnivorous spin on it.

Indisputably Carnivorous is due for release via Prosthetic Records on June 18, 2021. Pre-orders can be placed here.

Tracklisting:

"Corruptor Infestor"
"Disturbing Roars At Twilight"
"Indisputably Carnivorous"
"Enter The Witch House"
"Annihilation Prayer"
"Venomous Procession"
"On Top Many Layers Of Horror"
"Black Forms Materialize"
"Judas In Hell Be Proud"
"On Wyverns Wings To Oblivion"

The Day Of The Beast is:

Justin Shaw - bass
Jeremy Bradley - drums
Steve Redmond - guitars
Bobby Phippins - guitars
Steve Harris - vocals

(Photo credit: Chris Joao)




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Video footage of Scorpions performing "In The Line Of Fire / Kottak Attack", live in Brooklyn, New York in September 2015 as part of their Return To Forever tour, can be seen below:

Scorpions recently announced that their Sin City Nights Vegas Residency dates, scheduled for May 8 - 30, 2021 at Zappos Theater, have been rescheduled to March 26 - April 16, 2022 with special guests Queensrÿche.

"We can’t wait to be reunited with all of you then," says the band.

Fans who have purchased tickets to an affected performance will have their tickets automatically transferred to a new date with the exact same seats, including VIP packages where applicable. If you are unable to attend that date, please visit your original point of purchase for a refund. Those interested in purchasing tickets for the new dates can do so at ticketmaster.com/scorpionsvegas.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Karkaos / Kittie vocalist Morgan Lander is featured as a guest vocalist on the new We Are PIGS single, "MOOT". Check out the official video below.

We Are PIGS is an alternative trap / nu-metal hybrid with brutal riffs, brazen screams and ethereal melodies created by South African born producer, songwriter and artist Esjay Jones. As a producer, she recently worked on five songs for the enhanced recordings of Chester Bennington's pre-Linkin Park band, Grey Daze. Jones officially launched We Are PIGS in 2020 with a cover the Slipknot hit "Duality". She followe up with followed up with the original single, "Pulse Queen".

In October 2020, Lander performed a lockdown cover of the Prong classic "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" with Jeff Phillips (guitar, bass) and Michael Sage (drums / samples). The track was mixed and mastered by Doug Fury at Fortissimo Sound. It is available via Spotify and Apple Music via the links below.

- Spotify
- Apple Music

The song is taken from Prong's 1994 album, Cleansing.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Newly formed German rockers Ray Of Light have checked in with the following introduction:

"Ladies and gentlemen we proudly present: Ray Of Light. The new hard rock foursome consists of Robby Boebel (guitar), Stephan Bayerlein (drums) - both founding members of the '90’s German rock act Frontline - Thomas "Hutch" Bauer (bass / Frontline, Evidence One, Mad Max), joining forces with UK-born vocalist Gregg Cromack. Right now they are on the mission of creating an album that will contain 'Killers, no fillers'. The release of Ray Of Light's debut album is planned for the fall / winter of 2021.

As the band continue’s to write and record in the studio we are proud to present sound bites from 'Alive' and 'Falling From Grace', both very rough mixes we pulled together just to give you an idea of what Ray Of Light is all about. So, crank it up!

We hope you enjoy it. Watch out for more news soon & share the love!!"

Check out the band's official Facebook page here.

Photo by Evelina Bayerlein - Unikum Fotowerk



window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});