In the clip below, Stephen Pearcy of Ratt performs live at a private party throwback to the Sunset Strip at Fat Jacks Oyster And Sports Bar in Texarkana, Arkansas. The Ratt-loaded show took place on October 12. .


Setlist:


"Wanted Man"
"Slip Of The Lip"
"Way Cool Jr."
"The Morning After"
"You're In Trouble"
"You're In Love"
"Lay It Down"
"Lack Of Communication"
"You Should Know By Now"
"Lovin' You's A Dirty Job"
"I'm Insane"
"Nobody Ride For Free"
"Back For More"
"You Think You're Tough"
"In Your Direction"
"Round and Round"

Metal band Dystopica released their first full-length album, entitled Infinite Reflection, via Pavement Entertainment earlier this year. They have shared a cover of the Judas Priest classic, "Freewheel Burning". Check it out below.





Listen to Infinite Reflection here.




Singer Becky Brideau says, “Infinite Reflection is about reflecting on the past, taking hold of the present, and redefining the future.”


Heavy, aggressive, and melodic, Infinite Reflection elevates the band’s sound to a whole new level. It combines the strength of heavy metal, the driving force of thrash metal, and the complexity of progressive metal in a way that is unique and catchy.


With harmonized guitar riffs, epic guitar solos, vigorous drumming, and powerful female vocals, the band stays true to their core sound while further expanding upon it. Each song is very distinct from one another, but together they tell a story of evolving through time that parallels the evolution of Dystopica’s sound.


Catch Dystopica live on May 18 at The Beeracks for their album release show in East Haven, Connecticut. Special guests include Ellimist, A Well Oiled Machine, and American Amnesia. Doors open at 5:30 PM and tickets are $10.00.


Formed in 2019, Dystopica is made up of Becky Brideau on vocals, Rob Muller on guitar, and Erich Bender on drums. Lucas Dellaporta (bass) and Connor Sperry (guitar) will join the lineup on live shows. The band’s unique sound is a perfect blend of melodic, harmonizing guitar riffs and powerful female vocals while still pulling influences from classic heavy metal.





Tracklisting:


“Images Reflecting Within”
“Revenge”
“Awaken”
“I Am A Gemini”
“Far From Perfect”
“Episodic Waves”
“My Fault”
“Animosity”
“Infinite Reflection�

Hailing from Greece, modern death metal act, Caelestia, have signed a deal with Wormholedeath for the CD release of their EP, Infernalia. More info coming soon.


The word "Infernalia" is the exact antonym of "Caelestia" and marks the band's foundation to a more extreme and guitar-riff-based modern death metal style (with melodic & black metal passages). The EP consists of 4 tracks, which are indicative of the band’s new musical direction, aimed at reintroducing the band to the public. In terms of lyrics, the band explores a wide array of dark subjects, spanning from grim historical events to horror/dark literature, or insidious states of the human mind. Orchestral parts are still part of the music, but now they serve more as introductions or intervals, and not as the main foundation like in the ‘regigad’ releases. Prominent guitar riffs and variating bass lines intertwine with each other, setting the frame in which extreme drumming unfolds, outlining the clear and direct new song.

New Jersey hard rockers Who On Earth are back with a fierce new single, "DAWGZ," delivering a powerful anthem that takes a bold stance against corporate greed and corruption. The hard-hitting track channels a collective fury over profit-driven entities that prioritize wealth over the well-being of people, making "DAWGZ" a rallying cry for those demanding a better world.


With driving energy and impactful lyrics, "DAWGZ" calls listeners to stand together in the face of unchecked power. Bassist and songwriter Pete Rizzi explains, “'DAWGZ' is our way of saying 'ok, enough is enough.' Corporations own our government, and together, they control the medical industry that profits from our sickness. There’s no money in cures, no collective morality—just a drive to make money."


Lead vocalist Coosh adds, “We’re being pushed to the breaking point. We’ve been abandoned by the so-called caretakers of our country. We’re saying no more!”







The release of "DAWGZ" comes in the wake of a heartbreaking loss for the band. In July, Who On Earth completed recording their new material, only to lose their lead guitarist, Bruce Gatewood, to a sudden heart attack. Bruce was a beloved musician, friend, and mentor whose legacy is deeply embedded in the band’s music.


“Bruce will always live on in our hearts, and his contributions will be heard for many years to come,” reflects the band. “We’ve vowed to honor him by getting this music out to the world and keeping his memory alive.”


Who On Earth turned to direc

MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine has spoken fondly about his bandmates, saying that they "have become such good friends".

The 62-year-old MEGADETH leader, who is the sole remaining original member of the group, addressed his relationship with his current bandmates while checking in on social media from MEGADETH's Latin American tour on Monday (April 29). He wrote: "We have had the most righteous time down here in Latin America. The fans have been insanely loud. Every city has had a different set list, and we've practiced our fingers off on this tour! We hope that the fans got to hear their favorite songs, as well as some deeper tracks that we haven't play for some time.

"Fast forward to today. I was looking down at some papers on the hotel suite desk. and noticed something different about the rooming list. It stated that we are going home from here and I always feel melancholy when we do.

"The four of us have become such good friends, and we are all thriving together in MEGADETH. If I may elaborate...

"Dirk [Verbeuren] is an amazing drummer, and I often wonder how I got so fortunate to play with him (he is a lot like [late MEGADETH drummer] Gar [Samuelson]),he is a wonderful, humble man who I've learned a lot from.

"James [LoMenzo, bass] has been our anchor and my mentor for singing out here. He is a killer bassist, who sings so confidently that I can easily accept direction and criticism from him. He has learned every song we play live, note for note, and I love seeing him every morning out here.

"I can't say enough about Teemu [Mäntysaari, guitar], and I don't have to, because you have no doubt seen footage of us together. He is a mad scientist on guitar, he plays ALL previous guitarists parts effortlessly with finesse, and the utmost respect for his predecessor.

"The four of us play, and go over songs every day, reviewing, perfecting, and building up our repertoire to play for you. By the time we reach Europe this summer, we will have even more songs added, to provide the variety to our playlists of songs played in concert.

"Well, that's it for now. I have to get some rest for my body. Tomorrow we are going to take back the night in San Salvador! Mother Nature tried stopping us last time, with insane wind and sideways torrential rain, but the sun is out and we're back!

"Hasta mañana chicos!"

MEGADETH recently announced a North American tour "Destroy All Enemies", produced by Live Nation. Support on the 33-city trek, which includes stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston and St. Louis, will come from MUDVAYNE and ALL THAT REMAINS. The tour begins in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and runs throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28.

Finnish guitarist Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH last September after the band's longtime axeman Kiko Loureiro, announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that Mäntysaari would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

MEGADETH played its first concert with Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

Since its inception in 1983, MEGADETH has ascended from its raw thrash metal roots to become an unstoppable force in the heavy metal world. With founder Dave Mustaine at the helm, MEGADETH's journey has been marked by a penchant for pushing the boundaries of speed, technicality, and complexity in their music. Their groundbreaking album "Rust In Peace", released in 1990, is frequently cited as a seminal work in the thrash metal genre. Along with the critically acclaimed "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", it cemented MEGADETH's place in the annals of metal history.

Over four decades, the band's discography has earned numerous certifications, including platinum and multi-platinum awards, with albums like "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia" achieving widespread critical acclaim. 2016's "Dystopia" not only marked a high point with their first Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" after twelve nominations but also set the stage for their latest triumph, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" in 2022. MEGADETH's status as part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal underscores their trailblazing role in the genre, laying the groundwork for countless bands and musicians who have followed in their wake.

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In a new interview with Tom Power, host of "Q" on Canada's CBC Radio One, EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt spoke about how he felt when he first heard Eddie Van Halen's classic instrumental "Eruption". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's the shot heard around the world, man. That's the real shot heard around the world. When Edward Van Halen, when we dropped that needle on 'Van Halen 1', and we didn't know what spaceship had landed, what happened, what alien that was, and he just changed guitar playing forever, period. In a good way."

Asked why Van Halen was the guy that changed his life, as opposed to someone like Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton, Nuno said: "Well, because a lot of the guys you just spoke about, which were incredible and still are incredible at their generation, let's say, possibly a generation before me, were doing things, as guitar players, as creatives, almost in what they played and stylistically. Edward did the same thing, but he did one thing a little bit different. He changed the sound of a guitar player. He changed it in an innovative way, so innovative on the types of things we were hearing that we were confused about. It wasn't just like a blues scale that Clapton or [Jimi] Hendrix might have played that had been around for a minute from Chuck Berry and everybody else, but they were just taking that to a different place. When we heard Edward, and I'm sure as quiet as they were, the Claptons and the and the Jimmy Pages of the world, I'm sure they were doing the same thing we were doing — putting it on and going, 'Okay. What is this? What is he doing? What is going on?' Even though the guys before them, they were incredible and they were game changers and they were influential, we could still visualize and we could still intellectualize where the fingers were and what was going on. When we heard 'Eruption', we were just, like, 'Wait a second. Wait a second.' Go back. Listen to it again. Listen to it again. It was just a different level of technicality, but also creativity, and it was just so innovative. And you know what? For me, that stuff, 'Eruption', was one thing. I'm talking more about the rhythm playing. Edward was doing something where all the guys before him, while they were playing their rhythm tracks, if a change to a section happened, it was always the drummer who did a fill, who did something to make a change. Edward was now — we were hearing a guitar player and going, 'Wait a second. We can also have fun with rhythm playing?' He's doing fills, almost like drum fills, going into sections, having fun and putting a smile on your face and really being creative and playing little vignettes of solos for — I don't know — a bar or two in between sections. That was something really fresh and new. It made you go, 'I can be creative with rhythm playing.' That was wild."

Back in September 2023, Nuno once again dismissed suggestions that his is Eddie Van Halen's heir in the realm of rock guitar playing. Discussing the late guitar legend's legacy in an interview with Tony González of Made In Metal, the EXTREME guitarist was asked to share his thoughts on being referred to as Van Halen's successor, to which he replied: "I think when somebody like Edward changes guitar that much, I don't think there will ever be anybody — not me, not anybody else — that is gonna take that throne. But for guys like me who were influenced by him, the best thing we can do is keep that torch alive, keep the guitar playing alive and hopefully keep passing it on to other generations as well. We definitely don't want guitar to go away in that way, and we want people to keep inspiring younger generations to play. So I'm hoping at the very least that's something I can do — on behalf of Eddie Van Halen."

Nuno went on to say that Eddie has been a huge influence on his playing. "I wouldn't be playing the same way, the way I play, if it wasn't for Edward Van Halen," he said. "I wouldn't be playing the way I'd be playing if it wasn't for Brian May or Jimmy Page or Randy Rhoads or Neal Schon or Elliot Easton from THE CARS. There's so many guitar players that make up a part of who you are. Steve Lukather, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen — all these guys are influences."

Bettencourt previously addressed comparisons between him and Van Halen in June 2023 in an interview with Metal Edge. "I mean, I never asked for that," he said about being referred to as Van Halen's successor, "but listen, when [EXTREME's] 'Rise' [single and video] came out, I was getting some great responses on the solo and everything in general, and that felt really good. A lot of my peers and heroes, like Steve Lukather, Steve Vai and Brian May, sent me personal texts and e-mails after sharing the song, which was amazing. And then, I was starting to read everywhere that I was, like, 'the heir to the throne' that Edward left."

He continued: "I have to say that while that is gratifying, there is no heir to the throne of Eddie Van Halen. Nobody sits on that throne. Nobody takes that throne. Here's why it's different with Eddie: when a great guitar player passes, you just move on to another, right? But in this case, Eddie wasn't just a 'guitar player.' We're talking about a guy who changed culture and how we play guitar. He was like an alien coming in and fucking everything up so much that even the legends beforehand are like, 'Okay… what is happening here? What sorcery is this?'

"All I can say is that after seeing [Eddie] while I was working on 'Rise' and then hearing the news of his passing, I did feel a little bit of a responsibility," Nuno added. "It's not about me being 'the guy' or some great guitar player because there are lots of them, right? But I definitely felt that within my genre and my generation, I felt like that after Edward passed, I had at least a little bit of responsibility to set an example."

EXTREME's latest album, "Six", came out in June 2023 via earMUSIC. "Six" landed at position No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 12,500 copies. The set marked the band's first studio album since 2008. The act was last in the Top 10 with "III Sides To Every Story", which debuted and peaked at No. 10 back in October 1992.

Paul Di’Anno's manager Stjepan Juras, who yesterday (October 21) had the difficult job of announcing the passing of the former Iron Maiden vocalist, has checked in with the following update:


"Dear friends,


"Sometimes a man thinks he is strong and can handle anything. When I got the phone call yesterday morning about Paul's death, I stayed calm and tried not to break down, knowing that it was going to be a long day, a lot of phone calls, and something I had never faced before. All day and all night I answered literally thousands and thousands of messages, until I collapsed into bed in a sleepless dream. However, when I woke up in the morning and saw all the overwhelming messages of support, all the emotional memories and events, I couldn't stop crying, finally realizing how much Paul meant to people around the world and how much our frantic battle for his life meant to them.




"Paul definitely left too soon. Perhaps the year 66 sounded cool and close to his inimitable temperament, but there was much more ahead of him. I'm not trying to write his obituary, because that's impossible. Paul, both as an artist and as a person, is simply indescribable and those who never knew him personally will never be able to fully understand who Paul was and what Paul was like. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the nice messages and help from all over the world and all those who are interested in being informed that Paul will be buried at the City of London Cemetary and that way he will be close to his mother and his friend Clive Burr. We still don't know what day it will happen, but we will let all our friends know everything in time. After the funeral, we will all go together to the nearby Cart and Horses, to raise a glass in memory of Paul, and at the same time we will all be able to donate to cover the costs of his funeral.


"What I'm about to tell you now sounds completely crazy, but that's exactly what happened. The book you see in the picture is the story of Paul and his and our fierce fight for his life. The same morning, when the book came out of the press, I received the news of his death. Just a few days earlier, he and I had joked that the contents of this book would completely shock the world and that he didn't know if he was ready for it, but we decided that for his sake and his future life, people needed to know what was going on, because only on that way everyone can help him. Unfortunately, he left too early, he was unable to sign the copy that I intended to give him on the tour in a few days. While I was returning from the printing office with a book in my hand, my heart could not stand it when I passed the Westin Hotel, so I turned towards the hotel and sat on the terrace where we spent a lot of time in recent years. I did not expect that the news of his death spread so quickly that at the same moment all the waiters stood in line and came to bow, sharing with me some of their memories with Paul.


"If the death of Bon Scott ended one era of rock, with the death of Paul Di'Anno also ended another era. He will never, ever be able to be replaced. A book about him is available at www.maidencroatia.com and will be soon at www.pauldianno.co.uk and I will also be happy to help his family financially to give Paul a dignified burial.


"When we have official news about the date of the funeral, we will inform you, and you will be able to find the notice on the Cart and Horses pages. Together with his family, we are working on this and we thank you once again for your great support and help. I'm sorry that we will all have to see each other in such terrible circumstances, but once again we will remember Paul and toast everything he has done.


"I can firmly promise you that I will never allow his legacy to be neglected. As long as I live, the story of Paul will live on. On his official pages and social networks, we will always share memories and thousands of photos and videos that we have taken, and together with all of you, we will make him immortal, even though he already is." - Stjepan Juras





Stjepan issued the following statement on October 21, announcing Paul's passing:


"On behalf of his family, I am very sad to confirm the death of Paul Andrews, professionally known as Paul Di'Anno. Paul passed away at his home in Salisbury at the age of 66.


"Born in Chingford, East London on 17th May 1958, Paul first came to prominence as lead singer of English Heavy Metal band, Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981. He sang on their groundbreaking debut album Iron Maiden, and the influential follow up release, Killers. Since leaving Iron Maiden, Paul Di'Anno had a long and eventful recording career with Battlezone and Killers as well as numerous solo releases and guest appearances.


"Despite being troubled by severe health issues in recent years that restricted him to performing in a wheelchair, Paul continued to entertain his fans around the world, racking up well over 100 shows since 2023.


"In 2024 he published his new album with the band Warhorse, and only few month later his retrospective album. His first career retrospective album, The Book Of The Beast was released in September 2024 and featured highlights of his recordings since leaving Iron Maiden.


"I was so proud to call him my friend and I ask his legion of fans to raise a glass in his memory."





Iron Maiden paid tribute to their former vocalist, Paul Di'Anno, as news came down that the legendary metal singer had passed away.


Said Iron Maiden: "We are all deeply saddened to learn about the passing of Paul Di'Anno earlier today. Paul's contribution to Iron Maiden was immense and helped set us on the path we have been travelling as a band for almost five decades. His pioneering presence as a frontman and vocalist, both on stage and on our first two albums, will be very fondly remembered not just by us, but by fans around the world."


“It’s just so sad he’s gone,” commented Steve Harris. “I was in touch with him only recently

During an October 21 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt was asked which band should be included if the "Big Four" (METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX) were expanded and considered the "Big Six", and EXODUS and another group were added. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it's none of the Americans, I'll tell you that right now. It's DESTRUCTION and KREATOR. I put DESTRUCTION first. Me and [late EXODUS frontman Paul] Baloff were in love with DESTRUCTION long before we ever met them. And they were ripping these albums apart and killing it before these other bands. I mean, they all deserve a place in it — TESTAMENTOVERKILL — and they're all some of my best friends. In OVERKILL, Bobby ['Blitz' Ellsworth], the guy saved my life at Studio 54 [in New York City] from tumbling down the stairs. But OVERKILL used to wear corpsepaint. TESTAMENT used to do different things. The Germans get overlooked. SODOM as well."

He continued: "It's always centered on who should be in the 'Big Eight' or 'Big Seven', and they all have a spot there, they all deserve it. TESTAMENT sold more albums than probably anybody outside the 'Big Four', but they came years later. And DESTRUCTION and KREATOR were there in the beginning. So I'm always giving credit where credit's due to my friends from overseas. And, of course, TESTAMENT has a spot in there, as does DEATH ANGEL as does OVERKILL. And others, I'm sure. But I've gotta hand it to those guys — they were there in the beginning as well."

In a 2022 new interview with Yes! You CAN Play Guitar!, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked if the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal were ever expanded to a "Big Five," who would get the extra slot. He responded: "Well, I think if you opened that gate at all, it'd have to be 'Big Six', because you'd let in EXODUS and then you'd probably let in OVERKILL. 'Cause you'd have to get a West Coast [band] and an East Coast [act], 'cause I think it starts to go like that.

"If there was a 'Big Five', it would be EXODUS, for sure, because, look, from them came [METALLICA guitarist] Kirk Hammett. They were staples of the scene up there. I remember [SLAYER guitarist] Kerry King telling me, '[EXODUS drummer] Tom Hunting's the shit, man. Tom Hunting's the guy.'

"It's my opinion that after Kerry played with [MEGADETH in 1984], he met the EXODUS guys, he saw EXODUS play, he learned how Tom Hunting played, he went home and made [SLAYER drummer] Dave Lombardo play like Tom Hunting. [Laughs] That's why SLAYER got so fast. Those five shows Kerry did with us that brought us to the Bay Area opened his eyes to, like, 'Wow. This is how it's done.' And then he went back to L.A. and he carried on away from MEGADETH and he carried on with SLAYER. But he whipped SLAYER into shape, 'cause he had seen… 'Thine eyes had seen the glory' of what thrash metal really was from the Bay Area, and that helped SLAYER become SLAYER."

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal, the band's classic 1985 debut, "Bonded By Blood", inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal albums of all time.

EXODUS vocalist Steve "Zetro" Souza discussed his band's exclusion from the "Big Four" during a 2014 interview with the Argentinian radio station Rock & Pop 95.9 FM. At the time, he said: "Personally, I don't pay attention to that necessarily. I was in the Bay Area in the beginning, before I was even a member of EXODUS, so I remember who was the forefathers of thrash. I mean, Tom invented that drum beat. That [guitar] picking style was from Gary — that's where the genesis of that came from.

"I think what [the media] did [when they came up with the 'Big Four'] was they took the four bands who were probably the most successful in the initial period of thrash metal — from, say, '85 or '84 to '90," he continued. "If you were to go off popularity, if you were gonna go off record sales, you would have to say ANTHRAX, MEGADETH, METALLICA and SLAYER.

"Now, when you ask me that question, this is what I say: it's 'The Big One And The Other Three.' Sorry. Neither one of those bands — and I love every single one of them… But METALLICA sits on their own. So, to say the 'Big Four'? I don't know if you can say that. You have to say 'The Big One And The Other Three.'"

"And again, I was the singer for LEGACY, which turned into TESTAMENT, so I hired everybody in that band — even Chuck Billy. So my influence, as a writer and musician starting a band, was tapered after EXODUS and METALLICA. I didn't even know, really, that SLAYER or MEGADETH or OVERKILL or ANTHRAX existed. I lived in the Bay Area, so then that band which you all known now as TESTAMENT, the genesis of that band was because of EXODUS, so…"

In 2013, MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine spoke to Radio.com about which band should have been included if the "Big Four" were expanded and considered the "Big Five". He said: "You know, people will say there's a whole another generation, like the 'Medium Four' [laughs], and I think there's a lot of great bands that fit that bill, too. But I think probably EXODUS, because there was nobody else at the time that had that kind of pull or that kind of importance in the metal community. Granted, it was with Baloff, and Baloff had a voice that you had to have an acquired taste for, but you know, I liked him."

In a 2010 interview with Metal Asylum, Holt was asked if he feels the "Big Four" should have been expanded and considered the "Big Seven", including EXODUS, TESTAMENT and OVERKILL. "Well, I think it should be the 'Big Five' with EXODUS, because we were there at the start of thrash metal with METALLICA in the real early '80s," he said. "Same thing with MEGADETH because Mustaine was a part of METALLICA's birth and he also created MEGADETH. And SLAYER are SLAYER. ANTHRAX are also great and old friends, but if you listen to those first few records, they have definitely changed. TESTAMENT has every right to be part of the thrash metal legends, but it just came down to timing because they came later. And OVERKILL have been their since the beginning also. But I don't get hung up on that shit, because I know how it all started and I know where I was when the shit got created. We [EXODUS] certainly deserve to be part of the founding fathers, but you know who often gets excluded are the Germans — KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM. Everybody looks to America and forgets those guys. KREATOR, DESTRUCTION and SODOM all released records in the early '80s."

He continued: "Really, the "Big Four" is solely based on sales and the ones who sold the most. But if you compare records, I will put EXODUS' last few albums up against anybody's shit. SLAYER is always awesome; the last TESTAMENT album [at the time of the interview], 'The Formation of Damnation', was great; the new MEGADETH [2009's 'Endgame'] is one of their best; METALLICA are still finding their feet again, and their last album, 'Death Magnetic', was a step in the right direction. The new OVERKILL, 'Ironbound', is one of their best records ever; it's so good. And KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, and SODOM still make great new music. What I think it boils down to is the bands who've been doing this the longest still can do it the best. METALLICA are still a mighty force live, but they lost their way for quite a while. But then again I've never had to deal with the horrible problem of having millions of dollars. [Laughs] Maybe if I had that kind of money, it would distract my hunger for doing this kind of shit, too. But, unfortunately for me, I have to keep kickin' people in the teeth, I don't have the funds to go art-shopping. My version of fine art is a new edition of Hustler magazine. [Laughs]"

Also in 2014, Hammett was asked by U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine if it's strange to him how much METALLICA has eclipsed the other "Big Four" bands in terms of commercial popularity. "I try not to spend too much time thinking about stuff like that because whatever I think of is still not going to be a satisfying enough explanation," he replied. "It's just the way things are and how the chips fell.

"EXODUS in the '80s had some bona fide problems, but I think their first album ['Bonded By Blood'] is just as good as [METALLICA's debut] 'Kill 'Em All'. We were just playing the music we wanted to hear because no one else was playing it and it wasn't being played on the radio. It was only a small group of people who knew about it and it was almost elitist in that 'No posers allowed!' thing."

German hard rock legends SCORPIONS will celebrate their 60th stage anniversary with a big concert in their hometown.

The "60th Anniversary - Coming Home" event will take place on July 5, 2025 at the Heinz Von Heiden Arena in Hannover and will feature a number of special guests, including JUDAS PRIEST.

Tickets go on sale on Monday, October 28 at 10:00 a.m. via Eventim.de.

This past July, SCORPIONS guitarist and founder Rudolf Schenker spoke about the band's upcoming 60th anniversary in 2025 in a new interview with Spain's Mariskal Rock. He said: "60 years of SCORPIONS. Sounds like very old band. Maybe on one hand it is, maybe. But on the other hand, we always kept our mind fresh, to be on the spot. That's the very important point. Many bands came up and exploded and were so successful. But the problem is success is a very dangerous thing because the egos fighting in the band together. [THE] BEATLES, as an example. [THE ROLLING] STONES managed to stay together. So, and the same with the SCORPIONS. We started from Germany, very slowly. It was not easy for us to go in other countries then, but we managed it. By doing this, we made our personal SCORPIONS logo so strong that we, as people, Klaus [Meine, SCORPIONS singer] and me, and Matthias [Jabs, SCORPIONS guitarist], we became partners in crime, partners in friendship. And because we know how difficult it is to go around the world and make it, make success happening, but we made it with our own power, not make big managements or stuff like this in the first place. No — we did by our own. Out of that, we know what success is all about, and I think that's the important point. And that's the situation, is that when we celebrate next year's 60 years of SCORPIONS, there will be some interesting things happening."

Earlier that same month, Jabs told Graspop Metal Meeting about the secret to SCORPIONS' longevity: "Uh, we don't know when to finish. No, we tried. In 2010, we announced the final tour, which lasted only two and a half years. And then, you know, nobody wanted to let us go, which is nice. All the promoters from around the world said, 'You can't leave us now.' And the fans especially said, 'SCORPIONS, don't stop.' And that's 12 years ago [since the completion of the 'final' tour]. And we have so much fun doing what we are doing. And this year is the 'Love At First Sting' anniversary tour, a great new show. And then we are looking forward to next year where we are planning a few things like the big birthday parties with SCORPIONS and friends, but nothing definite yet."

Jabs also talked about the importance of making new music for a band like SCORPIONS, which released its latest studio album, "Rock Believer", in 2022. He said: "It's always to have good song material when you go out on the road, because, of course, we have to play the hits again and again and again; we couldn't do it without it. But for us it's nice, and I think for the fans too, to hear one or the other new songs. The 'Rock Believer' tour, we started with five or six new songs from that album. Now, since it's the 'Love At First Sting' anniversary tour, 40 years of 'Love At First Sting', we concentrate more on those songs and cut out a few of the 'Rock Believer' ones. But it's for us also — to keep being creative and play something that is new on stage."

During an April 2024 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Schenker confirmed that there was no more talk of retirement within SCORPIONS, as there was back in 2010 with what was purported to be a final album and a farewell tour that never quite took hold. He said: "You have to think about that what we didn't know when we made [that] farewell tour [almost 15 years ago], it was exactly the time when WhatsApp came up, when all this new technology [on the] Internet came, that people watching the SCORPIONS on WhatsApp and seeing young kids between 16 and 24 or whatever, [they were] finding [out about] the SCORPIONS. So, and what was happening on the final tour, on the tour, kids were in front of the stage. We said, 'What's happening here?' The older [fans] were up in the balcony or whatever, and we said, 'Hey, it's a complete new feeling on stage.' So then 'MTV Unplugged' came and then we said, 'Hey…' The chemistry was right, no question about this. That's a very important point, when the band has a great chemistry. And then you have fun when you go on the road."

In September 2023, Rudolf also seemingly dismissed any talk of possible retirement but acknowledged that SCORPIONS would not be able to continue indefinitely. The 76-year-old guitarist told Vikram Chandrasekar of Tales From The Road: "It's not a never-ending road. The road will be finished sooner or later; it's up to you and to our gods. But in 2025, that could be a great time for our 60th anniversary. 2025, it's the time when SCORPIONS is 60 years old. So, then, to celebrate 60 years of SCORPIONS could be a possibility, because I'm in contact with our very old drummer, who was playing on [SCORPIONS' 1972 debut album] 'Lonesome Crow', and the bass player, and use them also on stage to see the different kind of states we went through. Because we are very much connected still in all the different musicians, and that shows again, when we can make it, that music is always there for making friendships."

Back in May 2022, Meine told Jorge Botas of Portugal's "Metal Global": "We scratched that word [retirement] out of our [vocabulary]. It's not there. We don't think about it and we don't talk about it and we take it as it comes.

"We're just growing older and we do what we do and we hope our fans enjoy it as much as we do," the now-76-year-old Klaus continued. "But who would have thought we're still around after celebrating 50 years of being recording artists — our first album came out in 1972 and now 'Rock Believer' looks like it hits the big time with the fans and so many positive reviews from all over the world. And after all these years, who would have thought? And it's a wonderful thing.

"But all we know is [that] the road ahead is way shorter than what's behind us," Meine added. "And we never take it for granted — we never take success for granted. We work hard on what we do because we still love it and we still enjoy it. But it's what it is. And I think every artist knows what I'm talking about, because to go out there, play a great show for the fans and not let 'em down, it takes a lot of preparation, takes a lot of work. And being the singer, you try to make sure your pipes are in a good condition.

"It's a lot of things," Meine said. "And we don't know what the future will bring. Take a look at the next corner, and you never know what's going on. But right now, life is good. We have a great new album out there. And we have a lot of fun. We enjoy it."

Meine previously discussed SCORPIONS' aborted retirement in a 2018 interview with SiriusXM. "The thing is we have a much different view now," Klaus said. "And it's a young generation — that's the fuel that keeps us going, and it's really motivating.

"To be honest, every other year, you take a look around the corner: 'Can we do this?' 'Can we still deliver on the same high level, the way we used to do it?'" he admitted. "And that's the only way, and it's only fun if you can go out there and play a great rock show, wherever you do it. Like in the last couple of weeks, we had so much fun. But then you get sick on the road, like I did last year with the severe laryngitis. What can you do? There's not a chance. And then sometimes, of course, you ask yourself, 'How long can we do this?' Especially for singers — and I know I'm not the only one. But it's always, sometimes you ask yourself, 'Klaus, c'mon, how long can you keep up this level?' And then you go out there, everything feels good."

Circling back to SCORPIONS' 2010 "farewell tour" announcement, Klaus told SiriusXM: "Of course, we had our moment of doubt when we said, 'Okay. Maybe we should retire. Maybe this is a good moment.' And then we realized we were wrong, because there's still a lot of sting in the tail, so to speak, and it still feels good. There's such a demand for the SCORPIONS, and we're one of the few bands who play this global stage. If there wasn't this kind of demand, of course, there's no point after so many years, and you'd better go, 'Well, I go home and take it easy.' But there's such a strong demand and that really feels good and challenging — it's a challenge. Of course, you don't do it for the business. It's a good business, yes, but you don't do it for the business and for the money — you do it for the fun, you do it for what's inside of you, what's in your blood, what's in your veins, and that's the rock and roll music. And you wanna go out and play in front of an audience, because that's what it's all about."

SCORPIONS' only continuous member has been Schenker, although Meine has appeared on all of the band's studio albums, while Jabs has been a consistent member since 1978, and bassist Paweł Mąciwoda and drummer Mikkey Dee have been in the band since 2003 and 2016, respectively.

"Rock Believer" was released in February 2022. The album was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

Photo courtesy of Live Nation
05.07.2025 HANNOVER HEINZ VON HEIDEN ARENA

The Scorpions celebrate their 60th stage anniversary with a big concert in their hometown! In 2025, the cult band invites you to Hanover under the motto "60th Anniversary – Coming Home" with special guests including Judas Priest. pic.twitter.com/hHAd8p4Uc4

— Judas Priest (@judaspriest) October 25, 2024

In celebration of Halloween this year, AVENGED SEVENFOLD has shared its cover of the classic MISFITS song "Skulls".

In 2023, guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ and drummer Brooks Wackerman released their version of "Astro Zombies", while 2022 saw them reworking "Last Caress" and Halloween 2021 marked the release of a version of "Hybrid Moments".

AVENGED SEVENFOLD launched the 2024 leg of the "Life Is But A Dream…" North American tour on March 6 at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York. The band's 2024 run included AVENGED SEVENFOLD's first-ever performances in Manchester, New Hampshire; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Newark. The group performed in Des Moines, Iowa for the first time in 18 years; Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for the first time in 15 years.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has been touring in support of its latest album, "Life Is But A Dream…", which sold 36,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release to land at position No. 13 on the Billboard 200 chart. Written and recorded over the span of four years, it was produced by Joe Barresi and AVENGED SEVENFOLD in Los Angeles and mixed by Andy Wallace in the Poconos, Pennsylvania. The album is a journey through an existential crisis; a very personal exploration into the meaning, purpose and value of human existence with the anxiety of death always looming.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD made its first festival appearance in five years on May 19, 2023 at Welcome To Rockville at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD's first concert since June 2018 took place on May 12, 2023 at AREA15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

To date, AVENGED SEVENFOLD has sold over 10 million albums worldwide and earned two consecutive No. 1 albums on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart (2010's "Nightmare" and 2013's "Hail To The King") to go along with over a billion video views and a billion-plus Spotify streams, as well as multiple No. 1 singles on rock radio.

Finnish rockers THE RASMUS have shared their new track "Rest In Pieces" via Better Noise Music and Playground Music. The band have also released the song's accompanying lyric video, which can be seen below.

"Rest In Pieces" is an irresistibly heavy, dark and melodic song, marking the start of the next chapter in THE RASMUS's sonic evolution with a sense of fearless bravado and world-conquering intensity. Its hard-hitting and unapologetic lyrics stem from a place of anger and betrayal. Founder, frontman and lead singer-songwriter Lauri Ylönen shares: "This all started very organically, the story behind the music is that I was betrayed by a friend. I was sad and pissed off at the same time. I wanted to channel my frustration into the music and create what I call a 'f*ck you song' for revenge."

"That's usually the best thing for any artist or creator to do in that situation," he continues. "You take the emotion and turn it into something powerful. There's an impulse that comes through and you find the strength to capture it in the form of music to make art. It might seem negative at first, but I wanted this song to also feel empowering to anyone who hears it. There's that uplifting thing that we do. I would say 'Rest In Pieces' is very positive amongst all the intensity."

THE RASMUS will bring its unforgettable stage show to audiences worldwide in 2025 on the "Weirdo" global tour . Tickets are on sale now for its European leg, which will run from September 12 to December 6, 2025. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for additional dates.

Formed 30 years ago, THE RASMUS, led by founding frontman and songwriter Lauri Ylönen, immediately inked a major label deal after the release of their first EP in 1995. The band's fifth album, "Dead Letters", solidified them as a global force, achieving eight gold and six platinum certifications with over two million copies sold worldwide and breaking the record for performance royalties received abroad on a Finnish composition. Its lead single "In The Shadows" received six-times-gold and two-times-platinum certifications, selling over one million copies and was nominated for Kerrang! Awards "Best Single" in 2004. The album won in five categories at the 2004 Finnish EMMA Awards, earned the band "Best Nordic Act" honors at 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards and garnered two awards for "Best International Artist" and "Best International Newcomer" at the 2004 MTV Russia Music Awards.

Since then, THE RASMUS have continued to evolve their sound with the perfect mix of melody, edge and showmanship; they also possess the ability to perfectly blend across genres — from mainstream pop and electronica to explosive rock and hard-hitting metal.

Photo credit: Venla Shalin

Mark Morton, guitarist and lyricist of LAMB OF GOD and acclaimed solo artist, has released his powerful cover of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's iconic track "The Needle And The Spoon". This rendition showcases Morton's deep reverence for southern rock legends while infusing the track with his signature heavy sound featuring vocals from Neil Fallon of CLUTCH. Fans can watch a special visualizer for the song below.

As a native of small-town Virginia, Morton grew up on the sounds of southern rock, with bands like LYNYRD SKYNYRD shaping his musical foundation. For Morton, covering "The Needle And The Spoon" is not just a tribute to a classic; it's a personal reflection of his own musical roots and the lasting impact of SKYNYRD's bluesy, swaggering rock.

"As a small kid in the '70s and '80s, southern rock bands were the soundtrack of my youth. None of them resonated any deeper with me than LYNYRD SKYNYRD. Their signature guitar driven blues-rock has had a profound influence on my playing," says Morton. "It's hard to pick a favorite SKYNYRD song, but 'The Needle And The Spoon' is certainly on the list. Allen Collins's grimy, swaggering riff paired with Ronnie Van Zant's dark depiction of addiction are every bit as relevant and captivating today as they were when they were released 50 years ago.

"Having toured with CLUTCH for many years and having been a fan of their music for even longer, I've long wanted to work together with Neil. Covering 'The Needle And The Spoon' was something we were both excited to do together and we're thrilled with how it turned out. I hope you dig it!"

Fallon adds: "I was flattered when Mark asked me to sing LYNYRD SKYNYRD's 'The Needle And The Spoon'. I won't lie, though, I was nervous, because, well… Ronnie Van Zant. No one is going to equal his delivery. But I hope I did it some measure of justice. And if that doesn't convince you, then Mark's guitar solo surely will. It rips!"

The release follows Morton's acclaimed solo work and ongoing commitment to exploring genres outside of LAMB OF GOD's heavy metal focus. More new music from Mark Morton is expected soon.

In June, Morton released an autobiography, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir", via Hachette Books. "Desolation" is, at its core, about Morton's journey as a musician navigating self-doubt, anxiety, and the progressive disease of addiction, and ultimately finding relative serenity and gratitude.

Morton co-founded LAMB OF GOD, which was initially called BURN THE PRIEST, in 1994.

In 2019, Morton released his debut solo album, "Anesthetic".

LAMB OF GOD's latest LP, "Omens", came out in 2022.

Photo credit: Carly Squires

Modern metal band, League Of Distortion, have just released another electrifying banger from the upcoming album, Galvanize, out tomorrow, Friday, October 25, via Napalm Records. “Crucify Me”, which bribes with a stomping electronic rhythm, brings stunning vocalist Anna “Ace” Brunner (Exit Eden) to an angry yet catchy sing-a-long refrain. Once again, Jim "Arro" Müller’s (Kissin’ Dynamite) dynamic guitar riffs form an acoustic painting for a dramatic threat and depiction of circumstances written from the perspective of an AI and shows the human inferiority and hopelessness of this highly topical issue. “Crucify Me” ends with a brutal, superfast-passed breakdown which will guarantee heavy mosh pits on their upcoming headline tour in November.


Two years ago, the band entered the scene with their bombastic self-titled debut album, delivering a fresh sound and unique style that interprets modern metal in a creative way. Now, the German quartet is about to make a ferocious statement with their second album, Galvanize. Their most successful song, "Wolf Or Lamb”, has reached over 1 million streams, and beyond this, they demonstrated their raging live performance at major festivals like Metalfest, Rock Harz, Baltic Open Air and Castle Rock, as well as an absolute kick-ass show at Summer Breeze in 2023. In addition, they took various stages by storm as support for German stadium rockers Kissin’ Dynamite, metalcore heroes Caliban on their German tour, and the legendary Kamelot on their European tour. Later this year, League Of Distortion will hit various stages for their very first headline tour in fall and winter, kicking off November 15 in Cologne.
 
League Of Distortion on “Crucify Me”: “'Crucify Me' deals with the rise of artificial intelligence, written from the perspective of an AI that has outgrown its creators. It reflects humanity’s helplessness and inevitable inferiority in the face of this rapidly evolving force. The song is a bold statement on a pressing issue, exploring the unsettling realization that what we create might one day surpass and dominate us or maybe it has already.”


Watch the video for “Crucify Me” below:







League Of Distortion  is composed of the aformentioned, talented vocalist Anna “Ace” Brunner (Exit Eden) and exceptional guitarist Jim “Arro” Müller (Kissin’ Dynamite), who succeeds on this album as vocalist as well. Together with the strong and steady beats of drummer Tino “Aeon” Calmbach and edgy rhythm of bassist Felix “Ax” Rehmann, the quartet is ready to add to their wins with their newest onslaught.


Starting off, the brute title track sets the tone for this relentless album, as an electronic intro is followed by a stomping verse. This soon melds with a blasting chorus and catchy melody, as Ace’s forceful vocals unleash her power and incredible skills. Followed by previously released single "My Hate Will Go On”, the intense track is a raw onslaught embodying everything League Of Distortion stands for - sincerity, honesty and incredible power - topped by hard beats and bludgeoning guitar riffs. Interchanging and irresistible, soft and aggressive vocals fire with emotion, reflecting Ace’s inner “hate” that can no longer be contained. The indisputable center of the music is her voice, as the quartet bleeds the essence of League Of Distortion into the track - bravely reflecting on the painful, dark parts of life. But instead of falling deeper into despair, the musical force turns darkness into relentless power, taking these obstacles head on.


With intense and empowering tracks like the aggressive and forward stomping “My Enemy” and “Suck My Blood”, the band is self-assured with lyrics reflecting toxic relationships and defending against an oppressor. Thematically similar, speeding “The Crown” further impresses with incredible synthesizers evoking invincibility. Another standout track is “In our DNA”, featuring guest genre-mates Cypecore, which addresses the long-standing debate of nature vs. nurture and is underlined by stunning male and female vocal lines.  This potent combination can also be found on “Crucify Me”, which bribes with a stomping rhythm. Musically, the band doesn’t shy away from crossing genre-boundaries, proven on tracks like “What's Wrong With Her?”, which deals with the theme of envy and competitive behavior among women. The song boasts a reggae inspired intro before bursting into an intense modern metal wall of sound with electronic elements and rap-like vocals. Similarly, genre-fusing is “Anti-Hero”, with rap and hip hop-beats in the verses that build up to a hymnic metal chorus.


Galvanize is like a brutal thunderstorm of unbound energy, guiding the listener into eternal darkness while still shining with the bright, lightning-like energy that lies within. The quartet proves they’re a perfect modern metal match, combining creative performance, composition, provocation and pure emotion. It’s clear that this album is only the beginning of an untamable modern metal storm.


League Of Distortion on Galvanize: “We are excited and euphoric to share this second album with you. Yes, the relentless modern metal storm is raging on. Untamed and rampant we are again, openly and honestly speaking our minds, trying to process what's going on in this world, sharing very personal topics and lyrics and providing a badass sound-wall. Fearless of crossing lines and musically borders we created an album which has its own personality and sound.”





Galvanize will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Red
- CD Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Galvanize tracklisting:


"Galvanize"
"My Hate Will Go On"
"Chainsaw"
"Suck My Blood"
"My Enemy"
"What's Wrong With Her?"
"In Our DNA"
"Crucify Me"
"Anti-Hero"
"The Crown"


"Chainsaw" video:





"Galvanize" video:

Finnish melodic metal band Unén have shared their new single and accompanying lyric video, “In My Bones”, available today via Frontiers Music Srl.


Singer Stina Girs describes the new single, by saying: “‘In My Bones; tells what it feels like to be in a relationship with a narcissistic manipulator. When you love someone who exploits your love and trust, does terrible things, and even turns you against other people you care about. All of this leaves scars that linger beneath the surface for years, and the anger from it feels deep in your bones.”







Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Unén are a modern melodic metal band, whose music also incorporates elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound.


Unén was originally founded in late 2021, laying the foundation for the band's musical style. In 2022, Unén focused on composing and refining production independently, resulting in the release of two self-published tracks. However, after a rollercoaster year, there was a need to change the lineup to accelerate production.


The word "Unén" was derived from the band's original idea that lyrics would be based on the world of dreams. However, due to lineup changes, this concept took a different direction, but the name remained.


In the beginning of 2023, there was a shift in Unén's lineup due to the change of lead singer, which notably accelerated all activities. The band members coming together was a series of fortunate coincidences and determined searches, including encounters with old acquaintances. The right people had found each other.


Unén released their first single "Made Of Stone (cover)" in May 2023 with the new lead singer, Stina Girs. She became known during the IDOLS competition in 2011 and subsequently released two albums as a solo artist. The original song by Evanescence inspired this evolved lineup of Unén to showcase their unique sound and overall direction. Following this, the band focused solely on creating their own songs.


All members of Unén bring their own expertise and input to the band. Every song created is a sum of its creators, and there is no specific leader. The band members are united by their passion for making music, even though their day jobs are completely different.


Unén signed with Frontiers Music in February 2024, thus enabling the band to achieve the channel they sought to release their music to the worl

Singing in tribute to Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Ozzy Osbourne over the weekend was a full-on blast from the past for Billy Idol, reports Gary Graff for Classic Rock.


"I've been watching Ozzy my whole life," Idol – who sang "No More Tears" during the star-studded Osbourne segment of the Rock Hall's induction ceremony in Cleveland – tells Classic Rock prior to the performance. "I saw Black Sabbath one month before their first album came out – John Peel was playing it on the BBC before it came out – and I was right in the front row and the tassels of his coat were touching me.


"And getting to know him as well has been fantastic. He's just one of those people you really look (up) to in lots of ways. It's an amazing honour to do this for Ozzy tonight. Never could I have imagined, that 13-year-old kid, his tassels touching me, this is what it would lead to. Life is pretty amazing."




Ozzy returned to the stage for the first time in over a year during his induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame on October 19 in Cleveland, Ohio. The performance went ahead despite Ozzy struggling with mobility issues that make it difficult for him to walk or stand for extended periods of time.


Ozzy was inducted as a solo artist - by actor and Tenacious D frontman Jack Black - making it the second time he has been recognized by the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. He was inducted as a member of Black Sabbath in 2006.


Black offered the following in his introdu