Red Fang have shared the tragic tale of Arnie Von Party, a pizza parlor mascot whose predilection for the company goods puts the fuzzy fiend in a world of hurt, via their new video for “Why”.

“Whoa!!! This video is JAM-PACKED with thrills, chills and spills. Our buddy Ansel Wallenfang, director of the music video/video game for our track, ‘Antidote,’ is back with a wild and hilarious, but also touching story about a special group of friends who play together as the in-house band for a casual pizza restaurant,” explains vocalist and bass player Aaron Beam. “Things get a lot darker than you might imagine. We hope it’s not too cheesy!”

Pre-orders for the album are available now, with Arrows available in a variety of formats, including standard versions of the LP, CD, cassette and digitally, as well as, a limited-edition liquid filled LP, deluxe CD (exclusive to Europe and Relapse.com), and two collectible bundles: LP with a limited Arrows blacklight poster and a Red Fang x Psycho Las Vegas limited-edition Texas Hold’em themed box set.

Dubbed the Fortune Hunter Gamblers Pack, the poker-themed package includes branded casino-quality playing cards, dice, collector's coin, custom boxing, and a card of authenticity (all featuring custom artwork by Ian Colazzo), as well as the LP, and t-shirt.

Physical pre-orders are available via Relapse’s webstore here, while digital downloads and streaming links can be found here.

Arrows album cover, artwork by Orion Landau.

Tracklisting:

"Take It Back"
"Unreal Estate"
"Arrows"
"My Disaster"
"Two High"
"Anodyne"
"Interop-Mod"
"Fonzi Scheme"
"Days Collide"
"Rabbits In Hive"
"Why"
"Dr. Owl"
"Funeral Coach"

"Why":

"Funeral Coach":

"Arrows" video:

Red Fang is:

Aaron Beam (bass/vocals/guitar/keyboards)
Bryan Giles (guitar/vocals),
John Sherman (drums)
David Sullivan (guitars)

(Photo - James Rexroad)




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According to Music-News.com, Ozzy Osbourne, Led Zeppelin members Robert Plant and Jimmy Page, and Queen guitarist Brian May are among those landing on The Sunday Times Rich List.

Paul McCartney tops the list with £820m, with Brian May landing at #13 with £210m. May's Queen bandmates also appear on the list, with Roger Taylor at #18 with £190m, and John Deacon at #22 with £155m.

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne take the #23 spot with £150m, while Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page sits at #25 with £142m, and Robert Plant at #30 Robert Plant with £117m.

Read more and view the full list at Music-News.com.




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Following yet more official appreciation, as acknowledged by the presentation of the German Record Critics’ Award, for their current album Genesis XIX (having garnered the prize once before with its predecessor Decision Day in 2016) and prior to their upcoming 40th band anniversary next year, Sodom have rarely been as energetic as in spring 2021.

Despite cancelled shows, despite the Covid-19 lockdown, despite the many imponderability's that these strange times bring about. In a phase when other bands appear to remain stuck in anguish, August 20 will see Tom Angelripper and band members Frank Blackfire (guitar), Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) release their brand-new Bombenhagel EP via Steamhammer/SPV, available on CD, 12” vinyl and for digital download.

“Originally we had planned to bring out the record in time for this year’s summer festival season, including a sticker with all confirmed tour dates. Of course, the way it looks at the moment, all festivals will be postponed until 2022. But the EP will be released anyway, as a sign of life. As a signal to our fans: We’re still around! The story continues,” explains Tom Angelripper.

Bombenhagel will be released on August 20 via SPV/Steamhammer in the following configurations:

- CD DigiPak
- 12" LP, 140 g, red vinyl, printed inner sleeve
- Download / Streaming
Pre-order here.

- 12" LP exclusive coloured editions only at the Napalm shop
Pre-order here.

- Exclusive CD/LP Bundle with a T-shirt only at the Steamhammer shop
Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Bombenhagel"
"Coup De Grace"
"Pestiferous Posse"

(Photo - Monsterpics - Fotografien)




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DEEP PURPLE performed on the closing night of Switzerland's prestigious Montreux Jazz Festival on July 16, 2011, re-imagining their classic catalogue with the help of a symphony orchestra. A treasured memory for fans in attendance, this special show is now available for DEEP PURPLE fans around the world, when Mercury Studios reissues "Deep Purple Live At Montreux 2011", which will be available for the first time on DVD+2CD set, on July 16, 2021.

The show has been preserved via high definition for the DVD release, with the CDs featuring superb DTS Surround Sound, Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Stereo audio. Included on the DVD is a bonus in-depth band interview.

DEEP PURPLE classics, including "Highway Star", "Strange Kind Of Woman", "Lazy", "Perfect Strangers", "Hush", "Woman From Tokyo", "Black Night", "Smoke On The Water" and 11 other gems are performed with the dramatic flourish of the orchestra behind them, inspiring the band to new heights. Ian Gillan (vocals), Ian Paice (drums), Roger Glover (bass), Steve Morse (guitar) and Don Airey (keyboards) are noticeably delighted with the results, as directed by Stephen "BK" Bentley-Klein.

This 115-minute concert is representative of the kind of shows that DEEP PURPLE is known for. It's what their fans have come to expect. The orchestral tour proved the band capable of transcending genre limitations to create unforgettable, theatrically presented events. DEEP PURPLE fans globally will be thrilled by this extraordinary pairing of symphonic textures and the classic hard-rock.

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE kicked off a five-date tour of Florida Sunday (May 23) at Key West, Florida's Coffee Butler Amphitheater. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below.

Remaining shows:

May 25 - Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center

May 26 - Orlando, FL @ Dr. Phillips Center

Jun. 01 - St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheater

Jun. 02 - St. Augustine, FL @ St. Augustine Amphitheater

Each venue is enforcing a social distancing policy, including the St. Augustine Amphitheatre concerts, which will have a limited capacity with distanced seating and enhanced safety measures. These changes include digital ticketing and mobile concession ordering.

This past January, Hagar told Radio.com that he was reluctant to play socially distant concerts, citing the example of a 10,000-capacity venue with 5,000 fans in the room.

"I just know that those 5,000 people are not going to stay in their seats and socially distance," he said. "The second we start getting it on and I start saying, 'Are we having any fun yet?' and holding the mic up in the air and [singing] 'Right Now', they're going to be at the front of the stage, all unsocially distanced. … It's going get criticized, or I'm going get sued or fined or something."

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE released their massively popular "Lockdown Sessions" as an album collection titled "Lockdown 2020" on January 8.

"Lockdown Sessions" began in March 2020, when the COVID-19 shelter-at-home order went into effect. With time on their hands and their upcoming tour in limbo, the band's legendary drummer Jason Bonham challenged Hagar, Michael Anthony and Vic Johnson to record a warmup jam they'd been playing backstage before concerts for several years. Equipped with iPhones and their respective instruments, they each laid down their individual tracks from the den, music room, closet and even showers of their homes, and "Funky Feng Shui" and the band's "Lockdown Sessions" were born.

"When we first start doing these lockdown sessions, it was only meant to stay in touch with the fans until we could get back out on the road again," Hagar explained. "But as the weeks and months drew on, it also became a fun way to keep the band together, musically and creatively."

Over the next eight months, their "Lockdown Sessions" became a hit with critics and fans alike, producing 10 tracks and reaching an online audience approaching 30 million. The sessions gave the band the opportunity to throw down raw and raucous compact covers of classic hits that they'd jammed to backstage but never planned to record, including THE WHO's "Won't Get Fooled Again", Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds", AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie" and more. When plans for an album came to fruition around the holidays, the band came together to record one more track, a cover of David Bowie's "Heroes" which they'd offer as an instant download or single purchase.

"With the addition of 'Heroes', it made sense to help those who are struggling from the effects of COVID-19," Hagar said. "It probably wouldn't have happened without it."

QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Parker Lundgren was absent from the band's concert this past Friday (May 21) at the Chiefs Event Center at Shoshone-Bannock Casino in Fort Hall, Idaho. Filling in for him was Mike Stone, who joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years. Mike was eventually replaced by Lundgren, a former member of original QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate's solo group who was also briefly married to Geoff's stepdaughter Miranda.

In 2017, Lundgren, who joined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2009, opened his own guitar shop called Diablo Guitars in the Seattle area.

After Friday's concert, QUEENSRŸCHE's other guitarist, Michael Wilton, took to his Instagram to write: "Our 1st show in 15 months at the SOLD OUT Fort Hall Casino, Idaho and it ROCKED ? #queensryche #1stshowin15months #soldout #forthallidaho #michaelwilton #whip #rychersrule #greattime #greatfans #wemissedperforming #beenalongtimecoming".

Lundgren previously sat out some of QUEENSRŸCHE's U.S. shows in September 2018 when the band was on tour as the support act for SCORPIONS.

Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson are the sole remaining original members of QUEENSRŸCHE, which split with Tate in 2012 and replaced him with ex-CRIMSON GLORY frontman Todd La Torre.

QUEENSRŸCHE has released three albums thus far with La Torre — 2013's "Queensrÿche", 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict".

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name. Original QUEENSRŸCHE members Wilton, Jackson and Scott Rockenfield (drums) responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform the albums "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Rockenfield hasn't performed with QUEENSRŸCHE in more than four years. The band has used former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo for touring purposes since April 2017.

The drum tracks on "The Verdict" were laid down by La Torre.


























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Z2 Comics further cements their place as the leading publisher of music-inspired graphic novels across all genres with the announcement of this summer's "Alter Bridge: Tour Of Horrors" In the grand tradition of comic horror anthologies like "Tales From the Crypt", "Creepy" and "Vault Of Horror", Marvel Comics writer Emily Ryan Lerner and a cast of top artists take fans on a fun-filled ride of thrills and chills.

The "Alter Bridge: Tour Of Horrors" graphic novel comes in at 120 pages and will be released in a standard hardcover edition in comic shops and bookstores alike in November 2021, as well special deluxe, super deluxe edition, and super-duper deluxe editions available for preorder now only through the Z2 web site, which will include a special exclusive first-time vinyl edition of the band's 2004 debut, "One Day Remains", in a strictly limited edition of 3,000 copies across three premium editions.

ALTER BRIDGE says in a statement: "After 17 years making music and touring the world, there aren't many opportunities for a rock band to do something they've never done before. After partnering with Josh and the whole Z2 staff to create 'Alter Bridge: Tour Of Horrors', we can now check create a horror comic off our bucket list. We can't wait for people to read this original story we came up with. It is equally exciting we are finally getting to release 'One Day Remains' on vinyl thanks to this incredible partnership."

When one of ALTER BRIDGE's roadies goes missing, they find a ghoulish replacement! And what better way to pass the time between gigs than with four terrifying tales that are sure to keep you up all night! Join ALTER BRIDGE, writer Emily Ryan Lerner (Marvel, HBO) and more for a spine-tingling ride through the supernatural!!!

Publisher Josh Frankel says: "'Alter Bridge: Tour Of Horrors' is another testament to our commitment to the vision of the artist. While some of our releases are directly tied to the storylines of the albums themselves, our mission is simply to provide a home for these musicians to expose their fans to a whole new side of their artistic palette, uninhibited by their previous musical work or otherwise. This book is guaranteed to please both fans of the classic horror anthology and ALTER BRIDGE fans seeking something new."

Frontiers Music Srl has announced the signing of a new AOR band from Norway, Zelbo to the label for a multi-album deal. Musically the band plays an excellent and varied AOR style, which draws influences from the giants of the scene and adds a healthy dose of Scandinavian influences (especially DaVinci of course, but also Stage Dolls, Europe, and Treat). 

"We are very excited to sign with a great record company like Frontiers Music,” says band mastermind Dag Selboskar. "We’re really proud to be a part of their AOR family”.

Zelbo was put together in 2018 by keyboard player Dag Selboskar (DaVinci, Street Legal) together with guitarist Ken Ingwersen (Wonderworld, Ken Hensley, ex-Street Legal). The two then completed the band's lineup with young rising vocal star Frode Vassel from Bergen, NO (who recently appeared on the TV show The Voice Norway) and the brilliant Sturla Nøstvik on drums.

The band is currently working on the post production of their debut album and the label tentatively plans to release it in the fall/winter of 2021.




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Diversion Podcasts, a division of Diversion Media, has released the latest episode of "Backstaged: The Devil In Metal". Hosted by bestselling author and music journalist, Jon Wiederhorn, this 12-episode podcast offers a one-of-a-kind journey through the history and culture of heavy metal. The podcast explores elements of darkness and extremism in the music and, examines how a generation of rebellious rockers took the phrase "sex, drugs and rock n' roll" to an entirely new level.

In this week's episode, Wiederhorn dives into the origins of BLACK SABBATH and the unique backstory of lead guitarist Tony Iommi. During the episode, Tony shares the highs and lows of his journey to becoming a metal legend, including the near career-ending injury that actually added to SABBATH's dark, demonic sound.

Later in the episode, hear from BLACK SABBATH lead vocalist Ozzy Osbourne as he recounts the early blues influence of the band which included a saxophone and a slide guitar player. Also featured in the episode, PANTERA vocalist Philip Anselmo and ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian praise the band for their fearless sound and explain how Iommi and BLACK SABBATH laid the foundation for every riff written in metal.

Speaking about his brief stint with JETHRO TULL in December 1968 after leaving EARTH, his pre-BLACK SABBATH band with Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, Iommi said: "I felt really weird not being with the other guys. I really missed them. But the thing was I felt a bit out of place 'cause I was joining basically an established band and I wanted to be a part of an established band; I wanted to be able to earn my own dues, if you like. I didn't wanna join a band that was already doing well and I was just gonna be the guitar player. I wanted to be in a band where you all worked together and you are a band. I didn't wanna be the guitar player in JETHRO TULL and like a side musician; I wanted to be a part of a team. So I said to Geezer, 'Let's get the band back together,' which is what we did. We called Ozzy and Bill from London, and we said we're coming back. 'If everybody's really serious about this, I'm willing to leave and we'll get back together again and really work at it. And that's what everybody suggests.' So that's what we did."

"Backstaged: The Devil In Metal" is a production of Diversion Podcasts with iHeartRadio. New episodes can be found each Friday on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and wherever you find your favorite podcasts.

Wiederhorn is a seasoned music journalist, having written about rock and metal for more than 30 years. He is the author of "Raising Hell: Backstage Tales From The Lives Of Metal Legends" and the celebrated classic "Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History Of Metal" (with Katherine Turman). Wiederhorn is a former editor at Rolling Stone, a former writer for MTV News and the co-author of "I'm the Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax" (with Scott Ian), "Ministry: The Lost Gospels According To Al Jourgensen" (with Al Jourgensen), and "My Riot: Agnostic Front, Grit, Guts & Glory" (with Roger Miret) and He has also written for Rolling Stone, SPIN, MTV, Guitar World and Revolver, among others.

During a recent appearance on the "Next Level Soul" podcast with Alex Ferrari, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson, a true polymath whose accomplishments include pilot and airline captain, aviation entrepreneur, beer brewer, motivational speaker, film scriptwriter, twice-published novelist and Sunday Times best-selling author, radio presenter, TV actor, sports commentator and international fencer, was asked what drives him to excel in a wide variety of pursuits away from his main job. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm just curious about how they work. And the only way to find out how something really works is to internalize it. And by internalize it, what I mean is it's very easy to be superficial about something. [It's] not a bad thing being superficial — it's just, like, I take an interest in blah, and I do it for one day a week for an hour and a half. And I'll never really be any good at it, 'cause you can't be any good at it if that's all you do. It's my hobby and then I'll give it up and find another hobby and blah blah blah. And that's great, but that pisses me off. I mean, me. Other people — fine; I'm not gonna condemn other people for doing what they do. But it seems to me to be pointless to invest your time in things at which you are not really passionate about. So the alternative is to be passionate about everything you do in some way. Which means that you end up having to make commitments, because that passion means there's a constant thirst to want to know more."

He continued: "What makes this beast tick? What is it really like to be in… For example, when I learned to fly. Lots of musicians learn to fly; lots of actors learn to fly. And then I thought it would be really nice to go and fly myself around to some gigs. Then it becomes more complicated, because you've gotta actually get there, and depending on the weather, you've gotta have more qualifications and blah blah blah… And then finally I got to the point where I thought there's so much more to learn here, the only way to learn, to dig really deep is to get a job and actually be a professional pilot. And not being John Travolta and being unable to afford to buy my own jet, I thought I've gotta get a job and fly someone else's. So, believe it or not, that's what happened via a series of chance and happenstance. Much the same way that I ended up getting the job in IRON MAIDEN is actually how I ended up getting the job in an airline."

Dickinson, who turned 62 last August, joined IRON MAIDEN in 1981, replacing Paul Di'Anno, and made his recording debut with the band on the 1982 album "The Number Of The Beast". He quit the band in 1993, pursuing several solo projects, and rejoined in 1999.

As previously reported, Bruce is teaming up with filmmaker Sacha Gervasi ("Anvil: The Story Of Anvil!" ) to co-write a narrative screenplay about the legendary concert Dickinson played with his solo band during the wartime siege in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Dickinson and his band came to Sarajevo with the help of UN troops in 1994 and held a concert at the Bosnian Cultural Centre. At the time, the city was cut off from the world, its citizens brutally terrorized by shooting, bombing and starvation with electricity and water supply being nothing short of a luxury. Bruce and his then-solo band drove through the frontlines and ultimately played a show for the people trapped in the city. What this gig meant to the people and how it changed Bruce and his band is told in the 2016 documentary "Scream For Me Sarajevo".

"Scream For Me Sarajevo" was released in 2018 on DVD, Blu-ray and digital via Eagle Vision. In addition, the music from the film was issued on CD/double LP via BMG.

In a new interview with RockSverige, Wolfgang Van Halen was asked if he is into bands like GOJIRA or MASTODON. He said: "Oh, yeah. I love GOJIRA. And I'm crazy about MESHUGGAH. PERIPHERY, I'm friends with those guys and they're a phenomenal band."

Wolfgang, who played all instruments on the upcoming debut album from his MAMMOTH WVH project, was also asked if he can work out the MESHUGGAH song "Bleed" on drums. "Oh, yeah. I can play it," he said. "As a drummer, MESHUGGAH is just like my favorite because it's like a math problem, as a song. As a drummer, it's really fun to figure out the polyrhythmic stuff going on in each song. It's a treat, and I love it."

Van Halen went on to confirm that he has seen the popular YouTube clip of MESHUGGAH's lighting guy at work during a 2012 show in Paris. "Yeah, it's amazing," Wolfgang said. "They've got a wonderful dude."

MAMMOTH WVH's self-titled debut album will be released on June 11 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Wolfgang joined his father Eddie Van Halen in VAN HALEN for the band's 2007 reunion tour with singer David Lee Roth, replacing Michael Anthony.

In November, Wolfgang confirmed that he asked his father for permission to use the MAMMOTH WVH band name for his solo project. MAMMOTH WVH is a nod to family history — Eddie and Alex Van Halen's band was called MAMMOTH when Roth first joined it in 1974.

MAMMOTH WVH's touring lineup will feature Wolfgang on guitar and lead vocals, Frank Sidoris (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS) on guitar, Garrett Whitlock (TREMONTI) on drums, and Ronnie Ficarro on b

During an appearance on episode 12 of "Tour Talk", ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante spoke about the importance of treating opening bands with respect.

"I think a lot of times bands who come into this world, into this business, and they think that it's gonna be this and it's gonna be that," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And then they go on tour with a band, and then that band doesn't cater to their every need. Look, sometimes this is how it is on a tour. I mean, we've been on tour opening for bands that, shit, our gear went up there five minutes before doors are opening. So, basically, your whole set is a fucking soundcheck. And then by the time you get to the last song, yeah, you sound good now. And then, of course, you get those people afterwards who come and say, 'Oh, God. You guys sounded like shit.' And it's, like, 'Ah, man.' And, again, sometimes bands that are on tour with us, sometimes they don't get to have a soundcheck because of the show, the day, just everything ran late and you didn't have it. But for the most part, we'll give a band as much time as we can possibly give them to get it together, to get a good sound. 'Cause we don't want them to sound like shit either. It's a whole thing that people are coming to see, so if the opening band sounds like shit, it kind of sets it off in not a good tone."

Benante also offered a piece of advice to up-and-coming hard rock and heavy metal bands looking to break into the music industry. "I would say go out in a van or something like that with the band — and, of course, some crew too," he said. "By the time that tour is done, you're gonna know who is going to make it in the band and who is not gonna make it. And we found that out too. So it's a good learning experience."

Benante's covers album, "Silver Linings", was released on May 14 via Megaforce Records. The 14-track effort features an all-star cast of "who's who" in the thrash, metal, and rock worlds, with all cuts culled from Benante's acclaimed "quarantine jam" video series.

ANTHRAX is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2021 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".

French president Emmanuel Macron attended a private concert by the "parody metal" band ULTRA VOMIT in the gardens of his Elysee presidential palace as part of a YouTube video by two comedians.

According to Reuters, Macron challenged two popular French YouTube comedians, McFly and Carlito, who have over six million subscribers on YouTube, to make a video about the need to wear masks, disinfect hands and keep a safe distance to slow the spread of the coronavirus. As an incentive, he promised they could film their next project in his Elysee palace if the video hit 10 million views.

McFly and Carlito won the bet and were allowed to shoot a 36-minute video, which ends with a stroll in the Elysee gardens, where ULTRA VOMIT performs a hard rock version of the French lullaby "A Green Mouse" ("Une Souris Verte"). Check out the clip below.

Hailing from Nantes, France, ULTRA VOMIT has recorded a few demos and three albums, "M. Patate" (2004), "Objectif: Thunes" (2008) and "Panzer Surprise!" (2017). Their style and lyrics are described as "totally crazy," generally inspired by cartoons or TV commercials. They have also made new versions of famous French children's songs like the aforementioned "Une Souris Verte" and "Bouba The Little Bear".

The At The Movies project - launched by Pretty Maids guitarist Chris Laney due to the COVID-19 pandemic - caught fire over the course of 2020, and project has now moved on to movie soundtrack covers from the '90s. Check out their take on the Backstreet Boys hit "I Want It That Way".

"OMG... we are down to the last song of the '90s! 23 songs in 13 months. Not bad, right?! We leave the 90's with Backstreet Boys’ smash hit 'I Want It That Way' (Max Martin, Andreas Carlsson) from the 1999 movie Drive Me Crazy. Now we take a small break, but we will be back, that's a promise!!"

The core At The Movies players are:

Björn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork) - lead / backing vocals
Linnéa Vikström Egg (Therion) - lead / backing vocals
Chris Laney (Pretty Maids) - guitars
Allan Sørensen (Royal Hunt, Pretty Maids) - drums
Morten Sandager (Pretty Maids) - keyboards
Pontus Norgren (HammerFall) - guitars
Pontus Egberg (King Diamond) - bass

Stay tuned for more.




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Cyhra / Red Wolf guitarist Euge Valovirta has checked in with the following update:

"The first single, 'The Bad Boy', from my forthcoming second solo album, Shooting From The Hip, (release date June 30th) is out now. Available on all major streaming & downloading platforms. And don't forget to pre-save the full album. The link will have more stores in the future than the ones it now has."

Pre-save the new album here.

Cyhra recently checked in with the following update:

"We are extremely happy and excited to announce that we are joining forces with our friends in Twilight Force touring Europe and the UK! Sadly, our 2020 No Halos In Hell Tour abruptly ended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. To finally announce that we are going back on the road again, feels almost  somewhat surreal.

Honestly, the happiness we are feeling about this upcoming tour is overwhelming! We can't wait to meet all the fans that have been away from live music just as long as us! Hope to see you all then!"

Loaded with melodic vocal hooks and heavy yet dynamic guitars that stay nailed to the brain for days, Cyhra's No Halos In Hell album proves Jake E (ex-Amaranthe), Jesper Strömblad (ex-In Flames), Euge Valovirta (ex-Shining) and Alex Landenburg (Kamelot) are a band ready to take the world by storm.

No Halos In Hell is available as 2 CD digipak, black vinyl or download. The bonus CD included in the limited digipak includes six additional songs, three of them being exclusive acoustic versions. You can order the format of your choice here.

Tracklisting:

"Out Of My Life"
"No Halos In Hell"
"Battle From Within"
"I Am The One"
"Bye Bye Forever"
"Dreams Gone Wrong"
"Lost In Time"
"Kings Tonight"
"I Had Your Back"
"Blood Brothers"
"Hit Me"
"Man Of Eternal Rain"

"Dreams Gone Wrong" video:

"Out Of My Life" video:

"Battle From Within" lyric video:

Album cover photo by Paulsensfoto




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Canadian rock and roll band The Damn Truth have officially released their ground-breaking music video for their current single "This Is Who We Are Now". The song is taken from the band's Bob Rock-produced album Now or Nowhere which is available from TheDamnTruth.com and streaming on Spotify.

The gravity-defying video utilises state-of-the-art technology that sees the band performing the single upside down in a 360 degree rotating custom-built room. 

"I don't know remember how the director said it," says the TDT's drummer Dave Traina. "But he just basically said, 'Guys, how comfortable are you performing upside down?'"

"They built an 8 x 10 circus ride just for us," commented TDT's bassist PY Letellier. "We call it 'The Damn Truth cube'."

The visually compelling video was created by I/O Studio, and you can get an insight into how it was made via the behind-the-scenes footage about the making of the video. 

“All members of the band were injured in the making of this video," says TDT's lead singer Lee-La Baum. "And they loved every minute of it."

On Wednesday June 9th at 8pm ET (1am UK) the band perform a virtual album livestream concert. Tickets are available now at this location. 

Six tracks on the new album, Now Or Nowhere, were produced by legendary Grammy Award winner Bob Rock (Metallica, Aerosmith, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, The Cult, The Offspring) at Bryan Adams’ recording studio, The Warehouse, in Vancouver, BC.

Now Or Nowhere chronicles the band as they navigate life, love, and everything else in a world gone seemingly upside down and sideways during the past year they were unable to finish the album with Bob because of COVID-19 restrictions, the band recorded the remaining three songs with help from Juno Award-winning producer Jean Massicotte (Patrick Watson, The Damn Truth) who mixed “Everything Fades”; and the rest of the mixing was done by Vance Powell (Jack White, Chris Stapleton), Nick DiDia (Bruce Springsteen, Rage Against The Machine), and Mike Plotnikoff (Van Halen, Cranberries, Three Days Grace).

Tracklisting:

“This Is Who We Are Now”
“Tomorrow”
“Only Love”
“Lonely”
“Everything Fades”
“The Fire”
“Look Innocent”
“Full On You”
“Shot ‘Em”

The band also issued a behind-the-scenes EPK about the making of the album:

(Photo by Adam Kennedy)

 




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Texas death metal quintet Cathexis has premiered "Given To The Colony," a track from their forthcoming debut album, Untethered Abyss, due June 25th on CD, vinyl, and digital formats via Willowtip Records.

Untethered Abyss is the culmination of six years of painstaking songwriting and a carefully selected cast of international talent amassed to bring forward a finely tuned and unrelenting piece of modern death metal.

Untethered Abyss is eight tracks of tightly focused death metal with a production that captures the humanity and unfiltered energy each musician displays in every performance. The band’s focus on holistic songwriting seeks to create naturally flowing and memorable tracks where every riff’s place within the song is carefully considered to maintain internal consistency and create meaningful arcs within the music, rather than meander through detached ideas.

Cathexis strives to make unique and forward thinking death metal that pays tribute to the genre's basest and most satisfying elements.

Tracklisting:

"Horizonless Realm Of Mechanical Retribution"
"Given To The Colony"
"Harrowing Manifestation"
"Red Hook"
"Library Of Babel"
"Mortuus In Perpetuum"
"Isolated Malevolence"
"Reanimated Kin"

Pre-orders can be placed at this location.

"Mortuus In Perpetuum":

(Photo by Chris Vickroy) 

 




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German heavy metal supergroup Hellryder have announced the release of their full-length album The Devil Is A Gambler, out on May 28, 2021 via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records. Pre-order here. 

Since 2017, Chris Boltendahl and Axel Ritt have been thinking about bringing a project to life which deals with the origin of metal. Usually extensively involved in their main band Grave Digger, unfortunately and due to the pandemic, 99% of all activities became canceled or postponed overnight. This unexpected time window of opportunities opened up and was finally used from Boltendahl and Ritt.

The first songs were recorded in September 2020 and Hellryder took shape; an idea led into a project and in November 2020 to a real band. With drummer Timmi Breideband (Gregorian, ex-Bonfire, ex-Freedom Call) and bass player Steven Wussow (Orden Ogan, ex-Domain, ex-Xandria), two absolute thoroughbred musicians could be won and complete the line-up into a real German metal supergroup. Hellryder stand for straightforward, metallically hard, diabolical and uncompromising traditional heavy metal.

They have released a teaser for the various formats of the physical release that are available. Check ot out below.

Formats:

-Digipak CD
-Limited digipak CD & T-Shirt Bundle
-Black Vinyl (LTD. 150) incl. signed A3 poster
-Transp. Yellow Vinyl (LTD. 150) incl. autograph card
-Orange/Red Splatter Vinyl (LTD. 200) incl. autograph card
-Digital streaming/download

Tracklisting:

“Hellryder”
“Sacrifice In Paradise”
“Night Rider”
“The Devil Is A Gambler”
“Jekyll & Hyde”
“Faceless Jesus”
“Chainsaw Lilly”
“I Die For You”
“Bad Attitude”
“Passion Maker”
“Harder Faster Louder”
“I Don’t Wanna Die” (Bonus Track)

"Hellryder" video:




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Brazilian heavy metal musician Max Cavalera, who has lived in Phoenix, Arizona since 1992, has slammed the country's president Jair Bolsonaro, comparing him to Donald Trump and saying the divisive Brazilian politician "embraces the negative stuff with pride."

The 51-year-old SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY frontman addressed the political situation in his former home country during a brand new interview with Landry.audio. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I watch a lot of — whenever I can — Brazilian artists in podcasts and things like that, and it was really shocking to me to hear them say in Brazil there's families that are being divided because of this guy. Because half of the family like him, the other half don't like him, they divide, they don't talk to each other.

"I'm the first one to say — this I know for a fact — almost anybody that gets in power in Brazil immediately goes into the corruption," he continued. "It's almost like it's a virus; it's like a disease; it's like a president's disease. Brazil cannot have a good president, even he tries to [be one]; he can't. But it seems like this guy is even worse. Because he's kind of like Trump, he embraces the negative stuff with pride — [he's] proud to kill people, [he's] proud to destroy the Indians. It's kind of scary because he's proud of those things.

"To me, I don't know any politicians. I never met any politicians. I don't wanna meet any politicians. They're all scumbags, the way I look at it. None of them really wanna help.

"It's not just the guy; it's the system behind the guy that goes with the guy.

"It sucks that it's dividing families and doing so much damage, just like Trump did so much damage here [in the U.S.]."

Max added: "I sang that on [the SOULFLY album] 'Primitive' back in 2002 — 'Back to the primitive. Fuck all the politics.' And I was referring to all the politics — [including] politics of music. I really think that's a career where you barely ever really look out for the people. You get corruption — you start corrupting, and you can get rich from it, and you just do for yourself, and that's it, man. And in the meantime, all the poor people are still dying, the problems are never solved.

"They say Brazil's gonna be a great country three hundred years from now. Hopefully I'll be reborn and I'll be born again three hundred years from now. I'll be in a good place. [Laughs]"

The conservative Bolsonaro has minimized the coronavirus's threat in his country, where more than 400,000 citizens have died from COVID-19. He has also been criticized for his comments on gays, women, and his nostalgia for Brazil's former military dictatorship. In addition, he has called for greater leeway for law enforcement to shoot and kill criminals.

In September 2018, Max told United Rock Nations that the SOULFLY song "Evil Empowered", taken from the band's latest album, "Ritual", was written "about the corruption of leaders." He explained: "Every leader that gets elected, pretty much, with the exception of very few, gets this corruption disease and they just use their power for evil means instead of for good, instead of for the people. Brazil has been a victim [of] that for many years now, since I was a kid. We only had one good president, and he was murdered after they took power. And it just goes to show, if somebody's good, they kill you; they don't want good people involved. It's the system; it's [how] the whole society, the whole system works. It's pretty much similar around the world, I think, everywhere.

"It's too bad, 'cause [Brazil is] a really great country, I think, with a lot of possibilities to be really, really good," Max added. "And it's kind of been wasted with corruption and just doing the wrong thing — instead of helping the country, they do the opposite. And it kind of sucks. Hopefully one day it will be better."

"Ritual" was released in October 2018 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

San Francisco Bay Area-based metal/heavy rock outfit DRESS THE DEAD has released two more songs, "There Goes The Sun" and "Promises & Kisses". Both tracks are available on every streaming platform through Blood Blast, a digital subsidiary of Nuclear Blast Records.

DRESS THE DEAD first announced the signing in December, along with a plan to release one new track per month for the first eight months of 2021. After the eight tracks are all released, they will become available in full album format as well.

"Promises & Kisses" is the fifth song released so far this year.

DRESS THE DEAD just spent a few days at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland with producer Zack Ohren tracking drums for eight of its newest songs and completely finishing three of them.

DRESS THE DEAD was formed in 2016 and has been playing live since the end of that year — first with vocalist Peter Dolving (THE HAUNTED), and then with Kayla Dixon fronting the band since 2018.

DRESS THE DEAD features Craig Locicero (FORBIDDEN, MANMADE GOD, SPIRALARMS) on guitar, alongside Mark Hernandez (FORBIDDEN, VIO-LENCE, RE:IGNITION) on drums, Mikey Rowan (INSOLENCE) on guitar, and James Walker (MANMADE GOD) on bass — all seasoned musicians with independent and major label experiences.

Locicero described DRESS THE DEAD's most recent studio experience as "pretty fucking awesome. While most people were staying away from one another during lockdown, we managed to put our collective noses to the grindstone and wrote some of our strongest material yet," he said. "We did it safely, of course, masked up and sending demos back and forth to Kayla, who lives in Portland.

"The time in studio turned out to be very productive. The songs absolutely CRUSH and everyone delivered! I couldn't be more proud of the growth that DRESS THE DEAD has shown over this last most trying year. Recorded in these sessions, the song 'Red Handed', will be our next release. That will come out in early June.

"In the meantime, check out our new remixed and partially re-recorded version of 'Promises & Kisses'. This was one of the first songs we wrote when the band started. It is also the last one that features Peter Dolving's amazing contribution to lyrics and melodies. 'Promises & Kisses' is very raw and emotional song that Kayla re-imagines with depth, tenderness and authority. All in equal measure."

Dixon is not only an enigmatic frontwoman with a powerful presence, she's an accomplished theatrical singer and actor. Her vocal qualities help give DRESS THE DEAD a unique sound that no other band possesses. Together they all complete the musical unit that cannot fall under any one category or genre.

Dixon started working professionally in her junior year and finished high school via home study. She then decided to immerse herself in theater and was soon working professionally. During her freshman year in college, she emerged to front a death metal band. Just as she mulled moving back to the East Coast to pursue more theater work, she heard the doom band WITCH MOUNTAIN was looking for a new vocalist. She nailed the audition and moved to Portland. Having relocated to the West Coast, Dixon was recommended to Locicero through a mutual friend. She initially worried that she was so different from Dolving she might face backlash from fans who wanted a certain thing. "In my mind, I thought I was going to be trolled, and I didn't know if I was ready to face that," she said. "But surprisingly there has only been positivity from the first song."

"I want to be continually creating," Dixon added. "When I heard '1969', I thought it was great. When Craig sent me the other songs, like 'Promises & Kisses', I was really in. I wanted it to be in a band that was heavy emotionally and sonically."

QUEENSRŸCHE's Todd La Torre has blasted the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a "joke of an organization".

The singer made the comment as the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame has come under increased criticism over its perceived lack of respect for the heavy metal genre.

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 bands like JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

The Rock Hall didn't induct BLACK SABBATH until 2006, and METALLICA followed three years later.

On Friday (May 14), La Torre took to his Twitter to write: "The Rock And Roll Of Fame [sic] doesn't really recognize many bands. Well, that door swings both ways. More bands do not recognize this joke of an organization, and rightfully so."

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.

JUDAS PRIEST was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction last year, but failed to receive enough votes to make the class of 2020.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was previously on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

IRON MAIDEN was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction this year, but didn't make the class of 2021.

Earlier this week, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame president and CEO Greg Harris denied that the heavy metal genre isn't respected enough by the Rock Hall, saying: "We celebrate all forms of rock and roll. We've nominated MAIDEN, JUDAS PRIEST have been nominated, we put DEF LEPPARD in… Those that are nominated, over 80 percent of them eventually do get inducted. So it's really a question of, let's keep nominating them, let's get 'em on the ballot, and let's get it out to the voting body."




The Rock and Roll of Fame doesn't really recognize many bands. Well, that door swings both ways. More bands do not recognize this joke of an organization, and rightfully so.

— Todd La Torre (@ToddLaTorre) May 14, 2021

Atlanta hard rock outfit, Pistols At Dawn, self-released their debut EP Nocturnal Youth last Friday, May 7, which coincided with the band revealing the music video for its third single “Now Is The Time”. In just three days, the video has garnered over 100k combined views - watch it below.

The EP was recorded with producer Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20) and mastered by engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More) and features four heavy-hitting electrified tracks that exemplify their uniquely powerful sound.

Tracklisting:

"Voices"
"Crown"
"Now Is The Time"
"Gone Black"

"Crown":

"Voices":

Pistols At Dawn was originally formed in 2015 but disintegrated after the tragic passing of guitarist Mike Buffa in 2018. The band reformed in 2019 with founding members, drummer Adam Jaffe, guitarist Devin White and bassist Billy Sullivan while adding Tommy Richardson on guitars and VH1 Rockstar Supernova finalist Chris Pierson on vocals.

Taking inspiration from universal hard rock acts such as Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin and Disturbed, the quintet headed to Cock The Walk studio in their hometown of Atlanta with Tomei in early 2020 to record three new singles that displayed their heart-pumping, radio-ready sound which they released later that year.

For further details, visit Pistols At Dawn on Facebook.

(Photo - Michael Mueller/M3 Creative)




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While concerts and cheering crowds seem to be a long lost echo from the past these days, melancholic progressive metallers, Amorphis, bring back some of the life and incomparable energy that many of us have been missing so desperately. Recorded during a special hometown show that took place on December 7th, 2019, little did the Finns know that this would be one of their last concerts before the pandemic outbreak in early 2020. With 15 tracks in total and a running time of over one and a half hours, Amorphis take you on a journey through their past, showcasing their best songs from the last 30 years that saw the band turn into one of Finland's finest metal exports.

Today, Amorphis reveal a lyric video for the live version of their all-time hymn, "House Of Sleep". Watch below:

"Helsinki Ice Hall, what can I say... the very same venue where we used to see bands like Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Metallica and many many more back in the 80’s when we were kids”, Tomi Koivusaari contemplates when thinking of the show. “I’m sure we all dreamed about playing there someday. In our hometown Helsinki, where it all started with Amorphis 30 years ago. So I’d say we had a special feeling at that gig, the last one of the tour in Finland for that year. I guess this recording is a very honest picture of us playing live, nothing is fixed afterwards, except mightily mixed and mastered of course. When I listened to it a while ago, I realized how much I miss playing live. And yet we have no idea when it will be possible next, in this crazy situation with Covid and all... So, stay healthy, take care and shine on you all, see you hopefully soon on tour. We will."

Live At Helsinki Ice Hall is available as 2CD digipak and download/stream. The 2LP version of this show is exclusively available in the "Vinyl Collection 2006 – 2020" boxset, out now.

Order Live At Helsinki Ice Hall here. Save Live At The Helsinki Ice Hall here. Order Vinyl Collection 2006 - 2020 here.

Live At Helsinki Ice Hall tracklisting:

"The Bee"
"Heart Of The Giant"
"Bad Blood"
"The Four Wise Ones"
"Into Hiding"
"Sampo"
"Wrong Direction"
"Daughter Of Hate"
"Against Widows"
"My Kantele"
"The Golden Elk"
"Pyres On The Coast"
"Silver Bride"
"Black Winter Day"
"House Of Sleep"

"Daughter Of Hate" video:

Lineup:

Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Esa Holopainen - guitars
Tomi Koivusaari - guitars
Santeri Kallio - Keyboards
Olli-Pekka Laine - bass
Jan Rechberger - drums




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All-Star Vivaldi Metal Project has unveiled the artwork for their upcoming album EpiClassica, created by artist Nello Dell'Omo “who captured the vision and spirit of the music so beautifully.”

Vivaldi Metal Project’s crowd-funding campaign page for the new album is officially live and running here and features exclusive prize packages that will only be available during this preorder campaign.

At this point in production, many renowned artists are already slotted to record. This list includes such sensations as Mike Portnoy, Rob Rock, Jeff Scott Soto, Mike Terrana, Mark Boals, Roy Z (B. Dickinson), Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Anders Johansson (Manowar), Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis/Temperance), Rolf Pilve (Stratovarius), Gerit Lamm / Aeva Maurelle (Xandria), Steve Di Giorgio (Testament), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), Emma Zoldan / Nils Courbaron (Sirenia), Coen Janssen (Epica), Jennifer Batten, Joe Stump (Alcatrazz), Nick Z Marino (Y. Malmsteen), Allan Sorensen (Pretty Maids), Chris Caffery (Savatage), Mark Cross (ex-Firewind), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Elina Siirala (Leaves' Eyes), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Jorn, Revolution Saints), Fabio D’Amore (Serenity), Melissa Ferlaak (Plague of Stars), Philip Bynoe (S. Vai), Kelly Simonz, Matt Bissonette (E. John/J. Satriani), Giacomo Voli / Roberto De Micheli (Rhapsody of Fire), Felipe Andreoli (Angra), David Folchitto (Fleshgod Apocalypse), Roger Staffelbach (Artension), Marco Sfogli (J. Labrie), Andreas Passmark (Royal Hunt), Marcelo Moreira (Z. Stevens), Bob Katsionis (Firewind), Henrik Klingenberg (Sonata Arctica), Milan Polak, Andrea Martongelli (D. Ellefson), and many more.

The Vivaldi Metal Project is an international symphonic-metal group conceived and produced by Italian keyboard player, composer and producer Mistheria (Bruce Dickinson, Roy Z, Rob Rock, Mark Boals, Artlantica, Joe Stump’s Tower of Babel).




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Breaking The Silent is a melodic metal band hailing from Edmonton, Alberta. The band formed in the fall of 2016 with writing influences such as Metallica, Slayer, Huntress, and Iron Maiden. The band has been honored to open for acts such as Wednesday 13, HED PE, Skarlett Riot, Into Eternity, and Fit For Autopsy.

The group debuted their first single/music video for "Cry Of Fear" in the fall of 2019, which was followed by a European tour. They released their debut 3-song EP in the spring of 2020 and played their last show at the Starlight Room in March 2020 before the pandemic shut all venues down.

Since then original drummer Shane Oranchuk has been replaced by special guest drummer Jono Webster (Striker, Tylor Dory trio), and Mariame K (vocals) also left the band and has been replaced by Kierston Graham (The Gemini Curse) on the new recordings.

"Avoid Her Wrath" is an eight-minute song about our mistreatment of mother nature and the inevitable consequence that we all will face one day. The song also features vocalist Stu Block "who we got ahold of right after Christmas 2020 to do the clean vocals,” the band remark. “He was an absolute joy to work with."




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To mark the release of their Broken Puppets EP on May 21, Artaban's Redemption have released a lyric video for the song "Shutting Down". It can be viewed below.

Artaban's Redemption is a band created by Alvaro Weik (Unbound) at the end of 2020. It was a personal project created to put out some songs composed during that year. Aside from Alvaro, this project includes Roberto Cappa (Dark Moor) on drums, Francesco Ferraro (Freedom Call, Vexillum) on bass guitar, Elena Alonso (Lethargus) playing keyboards, and Ivan Giannini (Vision Divine, Derdian) providing vocals, creating a combo of renowned heavy metal musicians.

Broken Puppets is a power metal EP with elaborated melodies, orchestral elements, fast double bass drums and high-pitched vocals, that pay tribute to the classic albums released during the 90s by bands like Gamma Ray, Edguy, Helloween and Running Wild. The 5 songs on the EP tell a futuristic story where machines - provided with AI - rebel against the increasingly selfish humans that treat them as rubbish once they get old.




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Swedish black metal band, Lord Belial, has signed with Hammerheart Records.

Lord Belial announced being an active band again in 2020 and will enter the studio this summer to record their ninth full-length album. This is up for a release in the beginning of 2022 .

Lord Belial these days has a lineup formed by the three founding members Micke Backelin (drums), Niclas Pepa Green (guitars) and Thomas Backelin (guitars & vocals).

Lord Belial was part of the Swedish black metal wave of the mid 90’s and started out on the legendary No Fashion Records, for which they released classic albums such as Kiss The Goat (1995), Enter The Moonlight Gate (1997) and Unholy Crusade (1999). In general all their albums released up to 2008 were consistently strong albums that found their way into the heart of many blackened souls worldwide.

Micke Backelin said that Lord Belial is back to form and is ready to record very strong material this summer. Hammerheart Records is looking forward to a killer album in 2022.




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Norwegian hard rock/metal band, World Of Damage, the solo project of guitarist Kjell Åge Karlsen (Jorn, Chrome Division) aka Mr.Damage, have released have released a lyric video for the new single 'Breathe (Little Angel)' featuring Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot) on vocals. Check out the song below.

The lyric video was made by Eirin Myklebust Lødøen. Drums by Aki Johannes Viitala and additional vocals by Aurora Amalie Heimdal.

World Of Damage will release their debut album, Invoke Determination, on June 11.

Invoke Determination featuring some of the greatest names within the modern rock and metal scene, including Shagrath (Dimmu Borgir, Chrome Division), Roy Khan (Kamelot, Conception), Björn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra), Maurice Adams (BreeD, Enigma Experience) and Chris Clancy (Wearing Scars) to name a few.

Mr.Damage has to say, "The idea of making this album goes all the way back to around 2016. I found myself in a situation were I wanted to make music without having to think about it fitting into Chrome Division or any other band, or form. I just wanted it to be my own music, being everything from rock and metal, to ballads and instrumental music. Kinda just let the music do the talking without analyzing it too much. When you are playing in a band, the music is a product of the style and the people of the band. But when you are on your own, everything is up to you, and you alone. It’s like painting a picture; it’s you, the brush, the colors, and the canvas. Not five people, with five brushes and five different buckets of paint. I am very pleased and proud of the album, and I can’t wait to show off, the World Of Damage."

All guitars and bass is played by Mr.Damage. Drums are hammered in by the great Aki Viitala from Shot At Dawn. The album is produced by Mr.Damage and mixed & mastered by Marius Strand (Chrome Division, The Wretched End, Susperia) at Strand Studio, Oslo, Norway.

Tracklisting:

"I Will Not Conform" (feat. Maurice Adams & Shagrath)
"Invoke Determination" (feat. Björn "Speed" Strid)
"The Petrol & The Blood" (feat. Bernt Fjellestad)
"Fire Burns My Name" (feat. Björn «Speed» Strid)
"Until The End Of Days" (feat. Chris Clancy)
"Breathe (Little Angel)" (feat. Roy Khan)
"Insanity" (feat. Pål «Athera» Mathiesen)
"Cancel" (feat. Bernt Fjellestad)
"Unleash The Rage" (feat. Thebon)
"Black Moon" (Instrumental)
"Spoke In The Wheel" (feat. Eddie Guz)
"I Will Not Conform" - (Bonus track feat. Maurice Adams, Shagrath & Derek Sherinian)

Kjell Åge Karlsen, or Mr.Damage has he prefers to be called (the name is given by his father after he managed to crash his car THREE times in one day!!), is best known for being the loud, wild and untamed lead guitar-player and co-songwriter in the doomsday rock n' roll band Chrome Division, along with his partner in crime, Shagrath from Dimmu Borgir.

Mr.Damage has a growing catalogue with band releases and several guest appearances, latest is co-writing and performing "Faith Bloody Faith" with Korn for the Norwegian final of ESC 2021.

This long haired, bearded, Norwegian Viking is now ready to unleash his first solo album upon the world.




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Toledo, Ohio heavy metal act, The Convalescence, is normally touring all over the world performing their unique blend of metal for fans alike. Their latest album, Monument Of Misery, has topped over 1 million views/streams to date.

As one of the busiest bands in metal, and a schedule that normally tops over one hundred live dates per year, the band, like all others, was forced to make a shift in routine. What became of such will be an epic upcoming studio session with famed Engineer/Producer Jason Suecof (All That Remains, Black Dahlia Murder, Whitechapel, and more). The still yet-to-be-titled album will feature 10 brand new tracks of hard-hitting aggression that the band had kept bottled up inside for over a year now.

When asked about the upcoming project, vocalist Keith Wampler has this to say: “During the time off from touring we have completed writing for a new full-length album and will be recording next month with Producer Jason Suecof at Audiohammer Studios in Florida. Jason has worked on so many albums we grew up listening to like The Black Dahlia Murder, Trivium, Whitechapel, Carnifex, Bury Your Dead, Devildriver, the list goes on forever. We are very happy with the new material and excited to work with Jason throughout the recording process. Although there is no set release date yet we hope to have the album out in late 2021 or early 2022.”

2021 will see The Convalescence finally return back to performing with a newly announced 10 Year headline tour as well numerous major festival appearances to finish off the year. Updates to follow.




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placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});