Infinite & Divine is a new collaboration between two Swedes, musician/songwriter/producer Jan Åkesson and vocalist Tezzi (aka Terese Persson). Their debut album, Silver Lining, will be released on April 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. Listen to the single "I Feel Alive" below, and pre-order/save Silver Lining here.

"We are excited to finally get to share this album with you all. It’s been a great creative experience making this album and along the road sharing and learning about each other’s strengths and influences in music, with everything from '80s hard rock to modern metal. The collaboration just felt relaxed and natural from the start and the pieces kind of just fell into place. We’ve had a lot of fun creating this together and we’re not stopping here," say Jan and Tezzi.

In the summer of 2019, Jan and Tezzi met and shortly after that decided to join forces creating what is now their debut Infinite & Divine album, Silver Lining. The combination of Jan’s energetic heavy riffs and the variety in the music with Tezzi’s melodic, yet raw vocals creates a sound not quite like anything else. While the music style is very melodic, there are a few twists and turns that make it unique and appealing.

Jan started out as a songwriter while also appearing as lead guitarist in several bands, before he decided to step back from the live scene to focus on writing and producing songs. He started the band StoneLake, who released seven studio albums, while at the same time writing songs for other artists around the world, all who were performing different styles of music. In 2017, he also released the album Ascension by his solo project Shadow Rain.

At age 17, Tezzi started doing local troubadour gigs, but before that had already started writing her own songs and lyrics, which were soon recorded. Over the years, she appeared in many different musical projects both as a lead singer in metal and progressive rock bands, as well as doing backup vocals for various Swedish artists. In 2013, she also appeared on the second album, Fantasmagoria, from Epysode (featuring Mike Lepond of Symphony X, Simone Mularoni of DGM, and Tom Englund of Evergrey among others) as one of the five lead singers.

Tracklisting:

"I Feel Alive"
"Infinite & Divine"
"Keep On Moving"
"Not Too Late"
"Wasteland"
"Burn No More"
"We Are One"
"Off The End Of The World"
"You And I"
"While You’re Looking For Love"
"Perplexed Perfection"

"I Feel Alive":

"Infinite & Divine" video:

Lineup:

Tezzi - Lead vocals and backing vocals
Jan Åkesson - Guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals and Programming

Additional Musicians:

Jens Westberg - Drums

- Produced & Mixed by Jan Åkesson
- Mastered by Jacob Hansen




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In a new interview with Finland's Kaaos TV, drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz of veteran Floridian death metallers CANNIBAL CORPSE was asked if he will get the COVID-19 vaccine to help stop the novel coronavirus from spreading. He responded (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't know. I'm not one for that kind of stuff, so I don't know. I think we may have no choice, maybe, being who we are, kind of a thing. Before all this, obviously, going to certain countries, [they would tell us], 'Hey, you need that vaccine, you need that shot,' because of the diseases that may be happening — like in South America, or something like that — or you're not going to that country. So you had no choice. So that may be the reason for us to have to get the vaccine, is, 'Hey, you wanna come to Europe? Well, you have no choice.' So it kind of stinks.

"In a personal sense, I don't know if I would [get the vaccine], per se," he continued. "It's a good question. I'm not sure. The flu shot has been readily available, obviously, for years, and so many people always just got a flu shot, and I know a lot of them as well. But it wasn't anything that I felt that I neeed to get. So, yeah, I'm just weird about being forced to take something. It's a touchy subject, of course, so I don't know if I will get one or not, unless, like I said, I have to."

A new poll from the Pew Research Center showed that more than two-thirds of U.S. adults plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The poll, released on Friday, found that 69 percent of adults say they are going to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The Pew poll showed that 19% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 32% say they will definitely get the vaccine and 17% say they will probably get it.

The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has estimated that about 70-85% of Americans would need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity.

America's two main vaccines have shown 95% efficacy against the coronavirus.

As of late January, the CDC discovered that only 11 per 1 million people experienced severe reactions from the Pfizer vaccine, and only 2.5 per 1 million people who received the Moderna dose.

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, which became available in the United States earlier this month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave it emergency use authorization, was tested with new variants of COVID-19, and has shown to be effective against them; Pfizer and Moderna were tested prior to the emergence of these variants.

A DAY TO REMEMBER has shared an official Reel Bear Media-directed music video for its single "Everything We Need", which is featured on its recently released album "You're Welcome". Co-written by A DAY TO REMEMBER's Jeremy McKinnon with multi-platinum superstar Jon Bellion, Nick Long and Collin "Doc" Brittain, "Everything We Need" is an understated, yet uplifting exhale of emotion. The track is currently impacting Active Rock Radio, rising to Top 25 this week on the airplay charts and approaching 2.5 million streams worldwide. "You're Welcome" is available now on all streaming platforms, with exclusive merch bundles and multiple vinyl variants of the LP available in the band's official store.

Pegged as one of the "Most Anticipated Rock Albums of 2021" by Forbes, Consequence Of Sound, Kerrang! and more, "You're Welcome" is largely produced by Brittain and McKinnon. The 14-track collection represents another major step forward for the acclaimed quintet, and is highlighted by early singles "Brick Wall", "Degenerates", "Resentment" and "Mindreader". Additional album standouts include "Bloodsucker", which ravages with an infectious intensity, as well as "F.Y.M." which spouts punk energy through an unforgettable chorus. The band shows its versatility and multifaceted songwriting with towering stadium-sized tracks like "Viva La Mexico", while "Everything We Need" closes out the album with a plaintive melody and acoustic eloquence.

Having amassed over 1.6 billion global streams to date, A DAY TO REMEMBER is now inciting critical applause with "You're Welcome". Revolver declared, "['Brick Wall'] showcases the group's signature mix of post-hardcore heaviness and pop-rock hooks," while Consequence Of Sound wrote, "the Florida rockers' new LP will continue their wide-ranging sound that ranges from infectious pop-punk to crushing metalcore." Forbes put it simply, "It seems A DAY TO REMEMBER are only just getting started," and Billboard praised the band's "anthemic hybrid of post-hardcore and pop." Popdust avowed A DAY TO REMEMBER "have all but mastered their niche melding of pop melodies with hardcore music," while Kerrang! attested, "'You're Welcome' is the perfect soundtrack to this strange and uncertain world that we live in."

Earlier this year, A DAY TO REMEMBER unveiled ots first-ever acoustic livestream event, "A Day To Remember: Live at The Audio Compound". After premiering the stream on its official YouTube channel, the band surprised audiences everywhere by releasing the career-spanning nine-song performance as an acoustic live album, "Live At The Audio Compound", which is available now on all DSPs.

A DAY TO REMEMBER is: Jeremy McKinnon (vocals), Alex Shelnutt (drums), Kevin Skaff (guitar, vocals), Neil Westfall (guitar, vocals) and Joshua Woodard (bass).

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

CHEAP TRICK has released Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll, the latest single from the band's eagerly anticipated 20th studio album, "In Another World", arriving via BMG on Friday, April 9 digitally as well as on standard black vinyl and CD. Limited-edition blue and white splattered vinyl will be available at independent record stores nationwide. In addition, a limited-edition picture disc will be available exclusively via Target.

Produced by longtime associate Julian Raymond, "In Another World" sees CHEAP TRICK doing what they do better than anyone — crafting indelible rock 'n' roll with oversized hooks, mischievous lyrics, and seemingly inexorable energy. Trademark anthems like "Light Up The Fire" and "Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll" are countered by more introspective — but no less exuberant — considerations of times past, present, and unknowable future on such strikingly potent new tracks as "Another World" and "I'll See You Again". "In Another World" — which marks CHEAP TRICK's first new LP since 2017's double-header of "We're All Alright!" and "Christmas Christmas" — further showcases CHEAP TRICK at their most eclectic, touching on a myriad of distinct sounds and song approaches, from the swampy Chicago blues number "Final Days" (featuring fiery harmonica from Grammy Award-nominated singer and WET WILLIE frontman Jimmy Hall) to a timely rendition of John Lennon's still-relevant "Gimme Some Truth", originally released for Record Store Day Black Friday 2019 and featuring the instantly recognizable guitar sound of erstwhile SEX PISTOLS member Steve Jones. As irresistible and immediate as anything in their already awesome catalog, "In Another World" is CHEAP TRICK at their irrepressible best, infinitely entertaining and utterly unstoppable.

"In Another World" track listing:

01. Here Comes The Summer

02. Quit Waking Me Up

03. Another World

04. Boys & Girls & Rock N Roll

05. The Party

06. Final Days

07. So It Goes

08. Light Up The Fire

09. Passing Through

10. Here's Looking At You

11. Another World Reprise

12. I'll See You Again

13. Gimme Some Truth

CHEAP TRICK's current lineup includes three of its original members: singer Robin Zander, guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson. Drummer Bun E. Carlos stopped touring with the band in 2010 and was replaced by Nielsen's son Daxx.

Founded in 1974, CHEAP TRICK are an indisputable American institution, beloved around the globe for their instantly identifiable, hugely influential, brand of pop rock 'n' roll. The band are true pioneers with an unparalleled streak of certifiably classic tunes, from "He's A Whore", "California Man" and "Dream Police" to "Surrender", "I Want You To Want Me" and the worldwide #1 hit single "The Flame". 2016 saw CHEAP TRICK inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, a long-overdue acknowledgement of a nearly five-decade career that has earned them more than 40 international gold and platinum certifications, myriad awards and industry honors, featured appearances on over 20 movie soundtracks, and total record sales well in excess of 20 million.

CHEAP TRICK are, of course, one of rock's hardest working live acts, lighting it up at arenas, concert halls, and amphitheatres worldwide more than 150 nights each year. Alas, recent events have forced the band off the road for perhaps the longest hiatus of their storied history. CHEAP TRICK plan to return to the endless highway later as soon as they can, including North American and U.K. tour dates.

"This band is held together by music," says Zander. "It's the super glue that keeps us writing and putting records out. The reason we started the band in the first place was to tour and write songs and put records out. If all that went away, there would be no point then, would there?"

In September, CHEAP TRICK released a cover version of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel". The track was engineered and produced by Jack Douglas.

Back in 2018, CHEAP TRICK released a single called "The Summer Looks Good On You" and followed it up with 2019 updates of Harry Nilsson's "Ambush" and John Lennon's "Gimme Some Truth".

SION, the new project featuring former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones and modern guitar virtuoso/content creator Jared Dines, has released the official music video for its debut single, "The Blade". Check it out below.

Speaking about how their collaboration came about, Dines told Rock Feed: "Way back [in] 2018 was the TRIVIUM tour that I filled in for that Howard was on with his band LIGHT THE TORCH. And, of course, we met and we talked and we just kind of randomly started talking [about working together]. I think Howard mentioned, 'Down the road, let's maybe talk about doing something.' And, of course, I was, like, 'Yeah, that sounds awesome.' So that's kind of where it started. And then maybe just until [early 2020], I think [he] reached out and had said that [he] had some free time, and I had some free time, so we figured why not start now and start writing some songs. So that's kind of how it started. It was just very casual, and it's just been that way — very natural, and not, like, [with] any type of real plan."

Regarding SION's musical direction, Dines said: "I think there's a lot of natural influence I have from bands like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, AS I LAY DYING, et cetera, et cetera, because that's the era I grew up on, so that's kind of imprinted into my playing as it is. So it's very natural for me just to flow out these very, you could call it KILLSWITCH ENGAGE-sounding songs, but that's not the intent, what we were going for. But, yeah, they're going to sound, when you hear them, of course, because of Howard and because of my influence and my style, they will be similar to that sound — just naturally. [KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's third album, 2004's] 'The End Of Heartache', of course, for me, was my favorite and what influenced me the most, so I would say it's probably gonna sound more like that, as far as instrumentally. And whatever Howard wants to do with it, it's gonna sound like Howard. It's gonna sound like me and Howard, whatever that sounds like."

Jones left KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in 2012 and battled manic depression and bipolar disorder before forming a new project, DEVIL YOU KNOW, with guitarist Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and drummer John Sankey (DEVOLVED). Along with bassist Ryan Wombacher (BLEEDING THROUGH), they recorded and toured behind two well-received albums, 2014's "The Beauty Of Destruction" and 2015's "They Bleed Red". In 2017, the band changed its name to LIGHT THE TORCH following a bitter dispute with Sankey, a part owner of the name.

Asked what made him get back into music after leaving KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, Howard told Heavy New York: "Honestly, I think it was because I was just kind of tired of doing nothing and I don't do much else other than music. I felt like I needed to venture out because I was basically agoraphobic for three years. It's kind of well known. I went off the grid. I didn't have a cell phone for three years — I was gone. It felt, like, 'Okay, maybe I should dip my toe in. I don't have to do it full time. I don't have to do what I don't want to do.' That's all I was thinking. I started moving, I started doing things. It was definitely a struggle, especially for the first few years. I was, like, 'What am I doing?' There's been few things in my life that has been consistent other than music. I just did it. It just took some time, then all of the sudden, the spark showed up. I fell back in love with what I was doing. I really can't explain it. It just sort of happened."

In a 2014 interview with Fishing World, Jones stated about his musical influences: "Well, just about anything I can listen to. AC/DC and KISS were the first bands that introduced me to heavy music. After that, I just absorbed anything I could get my hands on. Some favourites are FAITH NO MORE, HIM, ALICE IN CHAINS, PORTISHEAD ... My taste is kind of all over the place."

Jones makes an appearance on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's latest album, "Atonement", contributing guest vocals to the song "The Signal Fire".

Dines has redefined the very idea of a guitar hero online. His YouTube channel boasts a staggering 2.92 million subscribers and more than 700 million views. He also has collaborated with everyone from Post Malone to BREAKING BENJAMIN. His recorded output includes "Rest", "Repose", "Daddy Rock" and "Dissimilator", to name a few. He made history as "the first YouTuber" to grace the cover of Guitar World magazine. Meanwhile, he teamed up with Music Man for a signature Stingray guitar.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has released a lyric video for "I Refuse". The song was included on the second instalment of FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's greatest-hits collection, "A Decade Of Destruction - Volume 2", which came out in October.

"A Decade Of Destruction - Volume 2" contains four previously unreleased tracks: "Broken World", the Steve Aoki remix of "Bad Company", a Joe Hahn remix of "Wash It All Away", a Felmax remix of "Trouble" and a new acoustic version of "Wrong Side Of Heaven".

In October, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH confirmed that it officially parted ways with guitarist Jason Hook back in February 2020, during the band's sold-out European arena tour. He has since been replaced by renowned British virtuoso Andy James, who is also featured on "Broken World".

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, "F8", was released in February 2020. The follow-up to 2018's "And Justice For None" capped a turbulent period for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in which singer Ivan Moody finally got sober after a near-fatal struggle with addiction, while co-founding drummer Jeremy Spencer bowed out of the band due to physical issues.

Much of "F8"'s lyrical content deals with Moody's battle with addiction, its aftermath and his recovery. The singer celebrated two years of sobriety in March.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new disc was once again helmed by Kevin Churko, the Canadian record producer/engineer and songwriter who currently lives in Las Vegas, where he works out of his private studio, The Hideout Recording Studio. The drums on the LP were laid down by Charlie "The Engine" Engen, who made his live debut with the group during its fall 2018 tour with BREAKING BENJAMIN.

In an interview with Berlin, Germany's Star FM, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist Zoltan Bathory spoke about the inspiration for the title of "F8". He said: "Originally, we were just gonna call it '8', sort of. We thought it's the eighth record, and if you wanted to be esoteric about it, we figured, well, if you turn the '8' sideways, it's the symbol of infinity. There was some play with the visuals. I do most of the design and the graphics for the merch in the band in general… So, I was playing around with the graphics and I thought it maybe needs a bit more. And we were bouncing around ideas, and we added the letter 'F.' So it was, like, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's eighth record. At the same time, if you want to read it phonetically, it could be 'fate.'"

Bathory told The Pulse Of Radio the band felt a different kind of vibe when it finally got into the studio to make "F8". "After eight records, I don't think we have to say, 'Well, we are here to stay,'" he said. "But there was this image of getting into the studio and 'Let's light this on fire.' This was this different sort of power, this different sort of energy that was driving us."

SCORPIONS have announced the rescheduled dates for their "Sin City Nights" Las Vegas residency. The run of shows, which was originally slated to take place in July 2020 and was later pushed back to May 2021, will now happen in March-April, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. Support will come from QUEENSRŸCHE.

"Sin City Nights" 2022 dates:

March26

March 30

April 1

April 3

April 7

April 9

April 12

April 14

April 16

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

SCORPIONS previously played a Las Vegas mini-residency in May 2016, consisting of five shows at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.

SCORPIONS' new album is tentatively due later in the year. The disc was recorded in part at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and will mark the German hard rock legends' first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of SCORPIONS' new and classic material.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the new album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, most of the work so far has been done remotely, with Fidelman taking part via Zoom.

Fidelman began his career as the guitarist and songwriter for RHINO BUCKET before launching his career as a producer, engineer and mixer, finding an early mentor in Rick Rubin.

SCORPIONS' last full-length collection of new recordings was "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.




Our Sin City Nights Vegas Residency dates May 8 - 30, 2021 at Zappos Theater have been rescheduled to March 26 – April...

Posted by Scorpions on Wednesday, March 10, 2021

CHEVELLE has released a lyric video for "Endlessly". The track is taken from the band's ninth full-length album, "Niratias", which is being released today (Friday, March 5) via Epic Records.

Prior to its arrival, the band unloaded a salvo of singles, all released to acclaim. Lead single "Self Destructor" has already eclipsed close to five million streams globally and over one million YouTube views on the music video. After emerging as the "#1 Most Added Song," it just broke into the Top 3 at Active Rock, adding to their robust catalogue of hits. Closing in on over two million streams, "Peach" garnered critical acclaim right out of the gate.

"Niratias" is an acronym for "Nothing Is Real and This Is a Simulation", and it represents CHEVELLE at its dimension-blurring best. The body of work twists and turns through crushing guitars and haunting melodies like a cosmically heavy roller coaster at the edge of existence. The instrumental opener "Verruckt" sets the tone with its gnashing distortion and laser-precise groove. "So Long, Mother Earth" doubles as a eulogy for our planet carried by an overpowering scream and searing solo. Clocking in at almost six minutes, "Ghost And Razor" culminates on one final distorted exorcism before a pensive spoken word echoes barely above a whisper on "Lost In Digital Woods".

"Niratias" stands out as CHEVELLE's most pummeling and provocative record yet. Teaming with longtime producer Joe Barresi, the band recorded throughout 2019 and 2020 and pieced together an intriguing and inimitable body of work, with themes that will reveal themselves soon. The album artwork is by Boris Vallejo. The famed and award-winning artist is responsible for the posters used for films like "Knightriders" and "National Lampoon's Vacation", as well as iconic '70s and '80s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal).

Throughout its career, CHEVELLE has transformed rock music as tried-and-true outliers. The Chicago rock band has generated close to 1.7 billion global streams, earned 11 number one hits, and sold out shows worldwide. Their catalog spans the double-platinum "Wonder What's Next" highlighted by the double-platinum smash "The Red" and platinum "Send The Pain Below" as well as the platinum "This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" and gold "Vena Sera". They've landed four Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, including "Sci-Fi Crimes" (2009), "Hats Off To The Bull" (2011), "La Gárgola" (2014) and "The North Corridor" (2016). The latter two each captured No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

GPB is reporting that Lou Ottens, who put music lovers around the world on a path toward playlists and mixtapes by leading the invention of the first cassette tape, has died at age 94, according to media reports in the Netherlands. Ottens was a talented and influential engineer at Philips, where he also helped develop consumer compact discs.

Ottens died last Saturday, according to the Dutch news outlet NRC Handelsblad, which lists his age as 94.

The cassette tape was Ottens' answer to the large reel-to-reel tapes that provided high-quality sound but were seen as too clunky and expensive. He took on the challenge of shrinking tape technology in the early 1960s, when he became the head of new product development in Hasselt, Belgium, for the Dutch-based Philips technology company.

"Lou wanted music to be portable and accessible," says documentary filmmaker Zack Taylor, who spent days with Ottens for his film Cassette: A Documentary Mixtape.

Ottens' goal was to make something simple and affordable for anyone to use. As Taylor says, "He advocated for Philips to license this new format to other manufacturers for free, paving the way for cassettes to become a worldwide standard."

But first, he had to invent it. Trying to envision something that didn't yet exist, Ottens used a wooden block that was small and thin enough to fit in his pocket as the target for what the future of tape recording and playback should be.

The result was unveiled to the world in 1963, and the "compact cassette" quickly took off: It was "a sensation" from the start, Ottens told Time in 2013, on the cassette's 50th anniversary.

"Lou was an extraordinary man who loved technology, even as his inventions had humble beginnings," said Philips Museum Director Olga Coolen. She noted that Ottens' original wooden prototype for the cassette "was lost when Lou used it to prop up his jack while change a flat tire."

Read more at GPB.org.




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Portland dark power metal group, Silver Talon, has the music video for “As The World Burns”, a new track from their forthcoming full-length debut album Decadence And Decay. The clip, which was directed by Brock Grossl (Visigoth, Unto Others), can be viewed below.

Decadence And Decay will be released on May 28. Pre-orders for digital, CD, cassette and limited-edition haze and smoke vinyl copies of the album are available here.

Decadence And Decay – the follow-up to the band’s 2018 debut EP, Becoming A Demon – builds upon the thrilling combination of heavy metal hooks and guitar-driven virtuosity displayed by the band on their earlier effort. Highlights include “Resistance 2029” – which features a guest appearance by guitarist Andy La Rocque (King Diamond, Death) – and the blistering leadoff track, “Deceiver, I Am”.

The complete track listing for Decadence And Decay – which features striking cover artwork from noted fantasy artist Gerald Brom (Doom, Diablo, Magic: The Gathering, World Of Warcraft) – is as follows:

"Deceiver, I Am"
"Resistance 2029" (feat. Andy La Rocque)
"As The World Burns"
"Next To The Sun"
"Divine Fury"
"Kill All Kings"
"What Will Be"
"Touch The Void"

"As The World Burns" video:

"Deceiver, I Am" video:

With a virtuosic triple-guitar attack, a rumbling rhythm section and powerful vocals, Silver Talon was birthed in 2017 after rising from the ashes of the acclaimed Pacific Northwest metal group Spellcaster. Guitarist Bryce VanHoosen joined forces with fellow ex-Spellcaster member Sebastian Silva – who also plays in goth-rockers Unto Others (formerly Idle Hands) – in a shared mission to keep the heavy metal flame burning brightly. Bolstered by the soaring vocal attack of Wyatt Howell (Sanctifyre), Silver Talon began 2018 by unveiling two demo tracks, “Devil Machine” and “Warrior's End”, which showcased the group's ability to create fist-clenching, head-banging heavy metal through a combination of masterful hooks, lush melody and technical dexterity.

Silver Talon subsequently built on this foundation with their self-released debut EP, Becoming A Demon. The EP saw the band return to the studio to re-record their original demos with Zach Ohren (Exmortus, Fallujah, Machine Head) alongside three new originals and a cover of Sanctuary's “Battle Angels” featuring that group's former guitarist (and future Nevermore/Arch Enemy guitar hero) Jeff Loomis.  

The group would further their reputation as masters of triumphant heavy metal with live performances alongside acts such as Exmortus, Unleash The Archers, Striker, The Absence, Powerglove and Hatchet, as well as a nationwide tour at the end of 2019 supporting Savage Master. VanHoosen's guitar prowess is also displayed through his YouTube channel, which is updated regularly with play-through videos, guitar covers and product reviews.




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Hundred Headless Horsemen is a psychedelic death metal band hailing from Helsinki, Finland. 'Cataclysm' is the first single from their first full length, a concept album titled Apokalepsia that will be released on May 21st via Inverse Records. 

The band blends together different subgenres from the past and present to create a unique brand of psychedelic death metal. Their musical approach mirrors the narrative of the album, that moves in multiple time and space dimensions based on fragments of articles about a formerly unknown psychoneurological condition.

"We were so sure of ourselves. So sure we were in control that we forgot we all were, first and foremost, biomass. Biomass that consisted of trillions of bacteria inside our own bodies whose sole reason for existence was to continue existing. We should have learned ages ago that we were never unaffected by the needs of what was living inside of us. In fact, how could we tell which of our desires were our own and which of them were born out of the other living mechanisms inside us?
 
If the larger biomass we all are a part of decided that it was time for us to self-destruct, would we wilfully do so? Although ecosystems do not decide things, they merely strive to survive. Why did we think we were above all these mechanisms, even if turning a blind eye to them proposed a direct threat to our existence?”
 
Step into the realm of Apokalepsia. HIC SUNT DRACONES."

'Cataclysm' was recorded at Sir Näs Studios in Helsinki, Finland and mastered by Magnus Lindberg Productions in Stockholm, Sweden. Check out the band's official Facebook page here.




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Metal songwriter, producer and keyboardist Adrian Benegas has released a lyric video for "Orphan of Life”, a soaring symphonic metal track featuring vocalist Herbie Langhans (Firewind, Avantasia) and producer Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Kamelot, Epica). It can be viewed below

About the new video, Adrian comments: "This video is not simply like other lyric videos. The whole video was programmed and designed from zero in 3D, it’s not the conventional lyric video with stock images on the background and lyrics pasted in front. For this one, our visual designer created this sort of 'energetic parallel dimension' where Herbie stands and performs the song amazingly! I'm very proud of what we've created together. This is a gift for the fans who are constantly supporting in good and bad moments (like these weird pandemic times), so thank you and I hope you’ll enjoy it."

"Orphan Of Life" is available on all digital platforms here. It is the first single of the upcoming production to be revealed, with more tracks being released in the coming months. 

Benegas is known for being the founder of symphonic metal act Tragul, as well as his debut solo album The Revenant. On these productions he has worked with numerous world class musicians including Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Henning Basse (Metallium, Mayan), Zuberoa Aznarez (Diabulus in Musica), Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody of Fire), and Oliver Holzwarth (Blind Guardian, Tarja).

For more information go to Benegas' Facebook page here.  




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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 the project has now moved on to movie soundtrack covers from the '90s. The clips below feature the band members discussing how they got involved with the At The Movies and revealing the songs they found the hardest to cover.

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

Check out a few of the covers below.




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Viking metallers Thyrfing are gearing up to release a new single, "Döp Dem I Eld". It will be their first release in eight years. Their label Despotz Records has checked in with the following update:

"The upcoming digital single 'Döp Dem I Eld' from Thyrfing will premiere on the Despotz Records YouTube channel on March 19th. This is exclusive; it is the band's first-ever official music video. This stunning piece of art was directed by Patric Ullaeus for rEvolver, featuring the talents of Fae Fire Group and a somewhat surprising cast..."

Check out the trailer below. Pre-save the single on a streaming service of your choice here.




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UK alt-metal upstarts, Vexed, instantly turned heads and took names with the release of two recent standalone singles - including the fearsome “Elite” featuring Thy Art Is Murder’s CJ McMahon - creating a palpable underground buzz and giving fans a hefty sample of what to expect in the future. Now, the wait is over - the crushing Hertfordshire foursome have resurfaced with the announcement of their aggressive and uncompromising debut full-length, Culling Culture, out May 21 via Napalm Records.

The band recently released their official video for "Hideous" and have followed up with a guitar playthrough video for the track. Check it out below.

With their devastatingly heavy first output, Vexed underline their refusal to be pigeonholed into sonically conformist categories. Their instrumental dagger is sharpened by unrelentingly adept, technical prowess, gripping you with assertive swagger and hyper-focused brutality. Moreover, for as confident as they are musically, Vexed is as poignant lyrically. The title of the album, Culling Culture, and portions of its contents deliver the band’s unfiltered response to the world’s latest social phenomena of public ostracism, “cancel culture”.

Facing very personal experiences, Culling Culture is a tribute to hate, betrayal and anger, whilst also reflecting post-modern society with strikingly honest songwriting and heavy groove. Their first single, “Hideous”, along with a captivating official music video, not only serves as a first taste and vicious wake up call, but also showcases that anger can either destroy you or provide real strength. With this offering, Vexed prove the latter.

Vexed on their first single: “It gives us great satisfaction to share with you our Grindhouse inspired music video for our debut single, 'Hideous'. Fueled by the feeling of ‘seeing red’ and having to decide how to react in moments of betrayal and rage, do you let your blood boil over or sit and wait for the killing instinct to pass?”

Unrelenting lead vocalist Megan Targett’s vicious vocal assault blending venomously low growls, soaring cleans and razor-sharp rap-like deliveries (see “Fake” and “Weaponise”) is backed by the pure technical proficiency of bandmates Willem Mason-Geraghty (drums), Jay Bacon (guitar) and Al Harper (bass). The warning instrumental “Ignorant” prefaces the record’s menacing atmosphere and provides a flawless basis for smashing wake up call “Hideous” and fiery, threatening tracks “Fake” and “Narcissist”. Ghostly “Aurora” and disrespectfully heavy album-closer “Lazarus” showcase Targett’s multi-faceted clean vocal delivery while clashing otherworldly auras with resonating, melodic rhythms. “Epiphany” blends both, offering a bold message of moving past self-loathing, while superciliously weighty offering “Weaponise” seethes between violent hatred and ambient darkness.

Pre-order Vexed’s debut album Culling Culture here.

Culling Culture will be available in the following formats:

- 1-CD Digipak
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl (Black)
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl (Orange transparent, strictly limited to 100 copies)
- 1-CD Digipak + T-Shirt Bundle
- Digital Album

Tracklisting:

"Ignorant"
"Hideous"
"Fake"
"Epiphany"
"Misery"
"Narcissist"
"Weaponise"
"Purity"
"Drift"
"Aurora"
"Lazarus"




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International melodic death metal band Act Of Denial have signed a deal with Crusader Records (part of Golden Robot Global Entertainment) which will see their debut album, Negative, released in 2021.

On top of the signing announcement, Act Of Denial will release a new single, "Slave", on March 29th which features a guest appearance by ex-Soilwork guitarist Pete Wichers. 

Act of Denial is an international melodic death metal group founded by lead guitarist and songwriter Voi Cox(Koziak, Victim) & guitarist Luger (Koziak, Benighted-Cro) in early 2020.

The band lineup is a metal who’s who and features vocalist Björn Strid (Soilwork), bassist Steve Di Giorgio (Death, Testament), drummer Kerim "Krimh" Lechner (Septicflesh) and keyboardist John Lönnmyr (The Night Flight Orchestra). The band also features other big names and special guests such as Bobby Koelble (Death), Peter Wichers (ex-Soilwork), Matias "IA" Eklundh (Freak Kitchen) and Ron ‘’Bumblefoot’’ Thal (Guns N' Roses, Sons of Apollo) who all contributed solos to the album.

The band's debut album has been preceded by three recent singles: "Puzzle Heart", "Controlled" and "Down That Line". Negative was mixed at Studio Fredman by legendary producer Fredrik Nordström (At The Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Arch Enemy). 

Tracklist:

"Puzzle Heart"
"Controlled"
"Down That Line"
"Negative"
"Reflection Wall"
"In The Depths Of Destruction"
"Lost Circle"
"Your Dark Desires"
"Slave"
"Clutching At Rails Of Light"

"Puzzle Heart"

"Controlled"

"Down That Line"




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Toronto rockers Danko Jones will release their new single, "I Want Out" on Friday, March 12th. The song is taken from their forthcoming album, Power Trio, which is due to be released on August 27th. It was produced by Eric Ratz.

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

Tracklist:

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

Danko Jones exists to rock. It’s his innate, guttural mode of expression. His daily ritual. His life’s work. Now, after 25 years, 10 albums, world tours with the rock gods like Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses and Motörhead, the band announces their return to the stage with two shows at Hamilton, Ontario's premiere venue, Bridgeworks.

Over the past 25 years, the band has made a name for themselves as a must-see live band and after a year with no shows, they're itching to get back out there. Danko Jones, the band's frontman and namesake comments, "2021 is the 25th anniversary of our band. 25 years of non-stop performing, touring and recording. To celebrate our silver jubilee, we are holding our first ever livestreams and we may even be premiering some new material… This has been the longest break in the history of our band so without a doubt, these livestreams will be like letting wild animals out of cages. Are you ready? We’re goddamn ready."

The livestream shows will take place on March 12 at 8 PM, EST // 5 PM, PST in North America, and on March 13 at 8 PM, CET in Europe, but you will be able to tune in to both shows from anywhere in the world. Tickets and information for North America can be found here,n and for Europe here.




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On April 23, Capra will release their debut full-length, In Transmission, via Blacklight Media / Metal Blade Records. New single, "Samuriah Carey" , can be streamed below.

In Transmission can be preordered in the following formats:

- jewelcase-CD
- white / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- yellow w/ black dust vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- clear w/ pink and black splatter vinyl (US exclusive)

Formed in 2016 by guitarist Tyler Harper and drummer Jeremy Randazzo, who had previously worked together in multiple projects, Harper had just come out of a 90-day stint in rehab and was looking to focus on something new. The initial idea was to create something that would be fresh while still giving listeners a sense of nostalgia for the sounds of the late 90's and early 2000's hardcore and punk scenes. After going through a few line-up changes, they ultimately added bassist Ben Paramore and vocalist Crow Lotus, and everything came together. "This band symbolizes that hard work, determination, passion, and drive can lead to success. We're all very outspoken on our past struggles and intend to help others that feel like they're in a hole so deep that they can't climb out of it," Harper asserts. In Transmission is literally the culmination of years of hard work, reflecting everything they have been writing and pouring into the band since solidifying the lineup. "We wanted it to be the heaviest and most complete record we could possibly lay down, composed of only the best songs we've written over years of playing together. It's the best set of songs we've ever had, and we're all extremely proud of them, and each other, so we hope it sounds like a total passion project - because it is," says Paramore.

Predominantly tracked in December 2019, In Transmission was recorded with Jai Benoit (Golgothan, Father Rust), then mixed by Taylor Young (Nails, Twitching Tongues) and mastered by Brad Boatwright (Pig Destroyer, Integrity, Torche, Idle Hands). The only exceptions were "Mutt," "Transfiguration," and "Deadbeat Assailant," which were recorded during the pandemic lockdown, and required the members to go into the studio individually to lay down their parts rather than all going in together. The hardest aspect of making the record turned out to be naming it. "We went through a plethora of titles trying to find what we felt was the perfect name," Paramore says. "We've been sitting on the majority of this record since the end of 2019 and had originally hoped to send it out to the masses mid-summer, but thanks to the pandemic, all of that obviously got pushed back. In a lot of ways, this is a message we've been trying to send out that has essentially been stuck or lost in transmission for a year now, and we're all ready for that message to finally be received."

Cover art by Ben Fruit:

Tracklisting:

“[Exordium]”
“Hollow Doll”
“The Locust Preacher”
“Medusa”
“Torture Ship”
“Paper Tongues”
“Mutt”
“Transfiguration”
“Red Guillotine”
“Deadbeat Assailant”
“Samuriah Carey” 

"Samuriah Carey":

“The Locust Preacher”:




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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. Preorder 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.

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)




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Ghosts Of Sunset have been on a roll lately. 2020 was a break-out year for the band with singles “Miles In-Between”, “Never Goodbye” and “Another Rock N Roll Show” clocking up several hundred thousand streams. To top that off, they recently released their debut EP Headed West, to strong fan and critical acclaim.

Now the band wants to give something back to the music industry.

With live music being taken away in 2020 and into 2021, Ghosts Of Sunset’s John Merchant and Todd Long were missing the stage and the fan interaction. With the help of friends Eric Jayk (Wildstreet) and Brandon Fields (Minefield), they wrote a song to do their part to help struggling music venues. The result is “All I Wanna Do Is Rock”, with proceeds going to Save Our Stages.

“All I Wanna Do Is Rock” will be released March 29 on all streaming platforms. Preorder / pre-save here.




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Grief Collector, featuring former Candlemass singer Robert Lowe, is streaming their new single “Wintersick”. The single is taken from their upcoming album, En Delirium, out May 14 via Petrichor Records. 

Grief Collector was formed by ex-members of Signs Of Rain (current guitar/bassist Matt Johnson), Among The Serpents (current drummer Brad Miller) and Candlemass/Solitude Aeturnus (Robert Lowe). Their aim was to combine doom, some sludge and feelings of sorrow and tragedy into a musical mix that could stand the test of time. This resulted in their first mini-CD From Dissension To Avowal. Grief Collector slowly established that they could no longer be ignored by simply displaying their unique sound. The band came in contact with Petrichor and a deal was struck to release the band’s latest offering En Delerium. The album will be released on all formats and the first pressing of the CD-version will contain the debut-MCD as a bonus. 

Album notes:

-LP comes as 180 grams audiophile vinyl with download card
-2-CD comes as a deluxe edition with slipcase
-The CD version contains the debut From Dissension To Avowal as bonus
-Engineered and mixed by Matt Johnson at Phantom Studio 
-Mastered by Toneshed Studio (Dead Head, Pestilence, Pentacle and more)




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Portland death metal band, Vitriol, are premiering their live video for “The Parting Of ANeck”. The track is off the band’s debut album, To Bathe From The Throat Of Cowardice, released in fall 2019 via Century Media Records.

"Being this far along in a world without live music we're feeling especially grateful that Dylan (producer) did such a beautiful job immortalizing this performance from our last tour. 'The Parting Of A Neck' has always been a special song for us and has since grown only more significant. The song debuted as a couch-bound playthrough and seeing it get the live treatment at this point feels like the perfect way to punctuate a long period of striving. A true then and now. Vitriol offers tremendous thanks to those of you who have shown your support in these formative times. We are hard at work on what's next,” states Vitriol frontman Kyle Rasmussen.

Fronted by the dual vocal assault given from guitarist Kyle Rasmussen and bassist Adam Roethlisberger, and driven by the inhuman drummer Scott Walker, Vitriol proved to make a successful strike at the genre's heart with their 2017 EP, Pain Will Define Their Death. Released via Italy's Everlasting Spew, it already provided a shockingly intense glimpse at the whirlwind that is To Bathe From The Throat Of Cowardice.

Lineup:

Kyle Rasmussen (vocals/guitars)
Adam Roethlisberger (vocals/bass)
Scott Walker (drums)




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Swedish rockers, Thundermother, will release a deluxe edition of their fourth album, Heat Wave, on May 21 via AFM Records.

The initial release of the Heat Wave album reached #6 on the official German charts. Feature guests like Jesper Binzer (D-A-D) und Dregen (Backyard Babies/Hellacopters) join the band on this Deluxe Edition. It contains as a bonus three brand new tracks, three live tracks from Wacken World Wide, one Japan bonus track and acoustic versions of famous evergreens.

Pre-order here, and watch a video for "The Road Is Ours" below.

CD tracklisting:

CD1:
"Loud And Alive"
"Dog From Hell"
"Back In ‘76"
"Into The Mud"
"Heat Wave"
"Sleep"
"Driving In Style"
"Free Ourselves"
"Mexico"
"Purple Sky"
"Ghosts"
"Somebody Love Me"
"Bad Habits"

CD2:
"The Road Is Ours"
"Show Me What You Got"
"You Can´t Handle Me"
"Driving In Style" (Acoustic)
"Dog From Hell" (Acoustic)
"Sleep Feat. Jesper Binzer" (Acoustic)
"Give Me Some Lights" (Live)
"Thunderous" (Live)
"Hellevator" (Live)
"Rock'n'Roll Heaven" (feat. Dregen & Pontus Snibb)

"The Road Is Ours" video:




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Tony Iommi says that he is "not at all happy" about the release of the Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH song titled "Slapback" which was uploaded to YouTube several days ago.

Gary Rees, the stepson and executor of the estate of SABBATH's longtime keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, shared the track last Friday (March 5), writing in an accompanying message that he had found it on a cassette tape that contained other material recorded during SABBATH's 1979 songwriting sessions for the following year's album "Heaven And Hell".

Asked in an interview with SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" on Thursday (March 11) what he could remember anything about this purportedly unreleased tune, Iommi said: "I'm not at all happy with [Nicholls's estate releasing the song] — at all. And it's left a really bad taste in my mouth. At that point, when we did that, Geoff wasn't even involved in the band; I hadn't even got Geoff over at that time. That is actually Ronnie playing bass on that… And that was just in the lounge recorded on a cassette."

As for why "Slapback" never saw the light of day before, Iommi said: "We had one or two things that we'd jam around on and play on and stuff, but it [wasn't] right for the album, so we didn't put it into shape; we didn't record it [properly] or anything," he explained.

Iommi's assertion that Dio played bass on "Slapback" seemingly contradicts Geezer Butler's claim that he is featured on the track. On Monday, the BLACK SABBATH bassist told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that "Slapback" was one of the songs he and his bandmates worked on before he exited SABBATH for a short time in order to deal with some personal issues. "It's probably the reason I did leave," he joked. "It was just one of those songs that didn't make the grade."

Asked if he in fact played bass on the recording that was uploaded to YouTube, Butler said: "Yeah, that was right before I left. It was just a one-off thing. We just jammed it and didn't think anything more of it. It didn't really work."

The "Slapback" upload came a month and a half after Rees shared a previously unreleased rehearsal recording of BLACK SABBATH playing the "Heaven And Hell" title track during the same sessions. That recording featured Nicholls on bass due to Butler's absence during the initial writing stage for the LP.

Butler went on to say that it's "incredible" to see both these recordings see the light of day more than 40 years later. "And it's quite good quality as well," he said. "I've heard the two songs from the Geoff Nicholls thing. It's reasonable quality."

Dio joined SABBATH for the first time in 1979 and quickly found kindred spirits in Butler, Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. When "Heaven And Hell" was released in April 1980, the album was met with effusive reviews for the band's return to form on metal masterpieces like "Neon Knights" and the title track. The LP reached No. 9 in the U.K. and No. 28 in the U.S., where it was also certified platinum.

Released on March 5, "Heaven And Hell: Deluxe Edition" added several bonus tracks that have never been made available in North America, including versions of "Children Of The Sea" and "Die Young" recorded live in 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut. The set concludes with live rarities like "E5150" and "Neon Knights" that originally appeared in 2007 on the Rhino Handmade's limited edition collection "Black Sabbath: Live At Hammersmith Odeon".

Nicholls died in January 2017 after a long battle with lung cancer.

Geoff, who played keyboards on all of SABBATH's albums between 1980 and 1995 and toured with them, was reportedly in remission from cancer at the time of his death but succumbed to the side effects of chemotherapy.

Nicholls's first appearance on a SABBATH album was on "Heaven And Hell". Although his main role with SABBATH was on the keyboard, Nicholls also played some rhythm guitar at concerts. In addition to not always being credited as a full member of the band, Nicholls rarely appeared on stage during SABBATH shows and would instead play on the side of the stage or backstage.

Nicholls's involvement with the band ended when Adam Wakeman (a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band) was chosen to play keyboards during SABBATH's 2004 and 2005 tours as part of Ozzfest.

Geezer Butler has confirmed that he is featured on a previously unreleased Ronnie James Dio-era BLACK SABBATH song titled "Slapback" which was uploaded to YouTube several days ago.

Gary Rees, the stepson and executor of the estate of SABBATH's longtime keyboardist Geoff Nicholls, shared the track last Friday (March 5), writing in an accompanying message that he had found it on a cassette tape that contained other material recorded during SABBATH's 1979 songwriting sessions for the following year's album "Heaven And Hell".

Asked in an interview with SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" on Monday (March 8) if he knew anything about this purportedly unreleased tune, Butler said: "Yeah, that was one of the songs that we did before I left," referring to the fact that he exited SABBATH for a short time during the "Heaven And Hell" sessions while he was dealing with some personal issues. "It's probably the reason I did leave. [Laughs] It was just one of those songs that didn't make the grade."

Asked if he in fact played bass on the recording that was uploaded to YouTube, Butler said: "Yeah, that was right before I left. It was just a one-off thing. We just jammed it and didn't think anything more of it. It didn't really work."

The "Slapback" upload came a month and a half after Rees shared a previously unreleased rehearsal recording of BLACK SABBATH playing the "Heaven And Hell" title track during the same sessions. That recording featured Nicholls on bass due to Butler's absence during the initial writing stage for the LP.

Butler went on to say that it's "incredible" to see both these recordings see the light of day more than 40 years later. "And it's quite good quality as well," he said. "I've heard the two songs from the Geoff Nicholls thing. It's reasonable quality."

Dio joined SABBATH for the first time in 1979 and quickly found kindred spirits in Butler, guitarist Tony Iommi and drummer Bill Ward. When "Heaven And Hell" was released in April 1980, the album was met with effusive reviews for the band's return to form on metal masterpieces like "Neon Knights" and the title track. The LP reached No. 9 in the U.K. and No. 28 in the U.S., where it was also certified platinum.

Released on March 5, "Heaven And Hell: Deluxe Edition" added several bonus tracks that have never been made available in North America, including versions of "Children Of The Sea" and "Die Young" recorded live in 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut. The set concludes with live rarities like "E5150" and "Neon Knights" that originally appeared in 2007 on the Rhino Handmade's limited edition collection "Black Sabbath: Live At Hammersmith Odeon".

In a recent interview with Songfacts, Iommi was asked how the songwriting compared to when Dio was the singer in SABBATH as opposed to Ozzy Osbourne. He responded: "It was different. With Ozz, we tend to jam usually, and then Ozzy would sometimes be in the room, sometimes he wouldn't. And sometimes he'd hear something and go, 'Oh yeah,' and start singing something to it. It depends on what periods. We'd play and come up with a format for a song, and then he'd listen to it and start coming up with a melody. With Dio, he was a little bit more involved because he played an instrument [bass] and was more musical. And that's not knocking Ozzy, because Ozzy was great at what he did, but Dio was a little more involved. I could sit down quietly and play something to Ronnie, and he'd say, 'Yeah, I like that.' He'd start singing, and then go, 'Can I go through a change now? What about that note there? Oh yeah, that's good.' We'd work together and bounce back with each other."

Nicholls died in January 2017 after a long battle with lung cancer.

Geoff, who played keyboards on all of SABBATH's albums between 1980 and 1995 and toured with them, was reportedly in remission from cancer at the time of his death but succumbed to the side effects of chemotherapy.

Nicholls's first appearance on a SABBATH album was on "Heaven And Hell". Although his main role with SABBATH was on the keyboard, Nicholls also played some rhythm guitar at concerts. In addition to not always being credited as a full member of the band, Nicholls rarely appeared on stage during SABBATH shows and would instead play on the side of the stage or backstage.

Nicholls's involvement with the band ended when Adam Wakeman (a member of Ozzy Osbourne's solo band) was chosen to play keyboards during SABBATH's 2004 and 2005 tours as part of Ozzfest.

In a new interview with the St. Louis, Missouri radio station KSHE 95, Paul Stanley spoke about his continued partnership with fellow KISS co-founder Gene Simmons — this despite their seeming like extremely different types of people. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He's my brother. His family is my family. I think of Shannon, his wife, as my sister-in-law. We've never been closer than we are now. We've come so far and done so many great things for each other, it would be ungrateful if we were anything less. We're there to cheer each other on and text each other. We're more than good."

Last July, Stanley admitted to "Live From Nerdville With Joe Bonamassa" that he "didn't particularly like" Simmons the first time they met. "But there was pragmatism involved," he said. "You have to prioritize and figure what's most important to you to reach your goal. And I knew that Gene and I were much stronger together than me alone. I'm not really sure that he knew that, but that became irrelevant. It was, 'How do I get where I wanna go? How do I achieve what I want?' And Gene was essential to it. And here we are 50-plus years later. It's astounding. We've created something that seems like it will outlast us."

In 2019, Stanley told Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast his relationship with Gene wasn't affected by the release of Stanley's 2014 memoir, "Face The Music: A Life Exposed".

"Gene's always been very accepting," Paul said. "And we've only gotten closer and closer over time, which is just terrific. I said things in the book that I felt were true, and I would stand by what I said. But it doesn't negate that in the scheme of things, he's been a terrific partner, he's a brother, and he's family. Certainly there were things that I spoke about in the book that aren't true anymore, but they were, to me, at some point. And that book was really my overview of my life. And I really didn't say anything to hurt anyone, and I didn't wanna throw anybody under the bus. There were a few people who walked under the bus — I didn't have to throw 'em. I think Gene has always respected that I have my own perspective. And, again, I couldn't be closer to him than I am now. Totally. I speak to him often.

"It would be crazy and sad to go through what we've done together and what we've accomplished and have ill will or animosity," he continued. "If anything, the two of us look at each other and go, 'Wow!' In those moments of candor, or when we're just talking to each other, or texting each other, there are those texts where it's, like, 'Wow! Look what we've done.' So, yeah, anybody who thinks otherwise is sadly mistaken. His family is my family. Shannon, I've known Shannon probably 35-plus years. [Gene's kids] Nick and Sophie, I feel like their uncle.

"Look, when [my son] Evan was born, the first person in the room to see him was Gene," Paul added. "Even when things have been tough, or there's been tensions in the past — and not in the near past — we always were family. When we had our big earthquake in the '90s, basically I wasn't talking to Gene at the time, and as soon as the ground stopped shaking, I called him. I said, 'Are you okay?' He said, 'Yeah.' And then we kept not talking to each other. But the most important thing was making sure he was okay.

"I'm very, very lucky to have him. And I don't necessarily agree with everything he does. But does anybody?"

In "Face The Music: A Life Exposed", Stanley insisted that his relationship with Simmons has slowly improved over time. But Paul also wrote: "[Gene] chose to ignore his underlying issues and instead committed himself to creating an external façade and persona that, unfortunately, he felt required to knock down anyone who threatened his singularity in the spotlight." He also dismissed the notion that Simmons is some kind of financial genius. "Gene's most successful venture in business was promoting the perception that he was a savvy businessman," Paul wrote.

A few years back, Paul admitted that he "read a little bit of" Gene Simmons's book when it first came out but that he had a different recollection of some of their shared history. While reading Gene's book, Stanley felt, "Gee, I thought I did that. I thought that was me. You thought you were me," he said.

KISS's farewell trek was launched in January 2019 and was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but is now expected to last well into 2022.

KISS last performed this past New Year's Eve in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The concert broke Guinness world records for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert.

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Simmons, alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Sammy Hagar received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today (Thursday, March 11).

The 73-year-old former VAN HALEN frontman took to his Instagram to share a video of him getting the final dose of the vaccine. He wrote in a caption: "I dislike shots as much as anyone. But I want to get back to playing live concerts, traveling the world without putting anyone at any risk my family my friends and myself Included. #2shot #moderna #bettersafethansorry #letitrock".

Last June, Hagar made headlines for an interview in which he said that he was willing to sacrifice himself to COVID-19 if it means saving the economy. At the time, Hagar was one of several musicians interviewed by Rolling Stone about staying at home instead of touring while coping with the uncertainties of the pandemic.

"I'm going to make a radical statement here. This is hard to say without stirring somebody up, but truthfully, I'd rather personally get sick and even die, if that's what it takes," Hagar began.

"We have to save the world and this country from this economic thing that's going to kill more people in the long run. I would rather see everyone go back to work. If some of us have to sacrifice on that, okay."

Hagar suggested that if the cost of human lives is necessary for the economy to fully recover, he was willing to die from the coronavirus. "I will die for my children and my grandchildren to have a life anywhere close to the life that I had in this wonderful country. That's just the way that I feel about it," he continued. "I'm not going to go around spreading the disease. But there may be a time where we have to sacrifice. I mean, how many people die on the Earth every day? I have no idea. I'm sorry to say it, but we all gotta die, man."

Sammy also said that he would be willing to play live concerts in packed venues "before there's a vaccine, if it's declining and seems to be going away."

After the Rolling Stone article was published, Hagar released a statement in which he revealed that the interview was done a month and a half earlier and insisted that he will do his part in "getting back to work in a safe and responsible way and getting this economy rolling again."

Sammy said: "I did that interview when we were already several weeks into the stay-at-home, which my family and I took very seriously, and things were starting to look up, the curve was beginning flattening. So when I was asked if I'd be comfortable enough to get back onstage before a vaccine was out, I was cautiously optimistic. I said, 'Yeah, not too soon. I want to make sure it's not escalating. When it's declining and seems to be going away.'

"Big picture, it's about getting back to work in a safe and responsible way and getting this economy rolling again. I will do my part. I stand by that. I employ 200 people directly and when we tour even more. Like everything today, it's a watch and see over the next few months but we remain cautiously optimistic that with the right improvements and safety measures in place, we might be able to play shows. That said, as things change, for the better or worse, we will appropriately adjust our plans."

Last year, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE's U.S. tour with NIGHT RANGER was officially canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Joining Hagar in THE CIRCLE are bassist Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT), drummer Jason Bonham (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING) and guitarist Vic Johnson (THE WABORITAS).

THE CIRCLE's first album of all-original material, "Space Between", was released in May 2019 via BMG.
























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Newly-formed death metal band, Inhuman Condition, has announced their guests that will appear on their anticipated debut album.

The trio, which features Terry Butler (Obituary, ex-Death/Massacre/Six Feet Under), Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc., The Absence, Goregäng), and Taylor Nordberg (The Absence, Goregäng) have moved into the post-production phase at Kling and Nordberg’s Smoke & Mirrors Productions in Spring Hill, Florida. Drummer and lyricist Paul Mazurkiewicz (Cannibal Corpse) is featured as a lyricist for two of the band’s songs, while whammy-shenanigan master and former Massacre/Death guitarist Rick Rozz supplies guest guitar solos for three songs.  

About the album, Kling said: “We have all 14 songs finished up, but not all of them will end up on the first album, so we’ll have the track-listing and other album info announced soon.  We decided to get Paul (Mazurkiewicz) involved in some of the lyric-writing for the album, which was a blast because he’s such a great lyricist.  We had been chatting with Rick (Rozz) after we split with Massacre last fall and one thing led to another and he ended up coming over and laying down some sweet leads on a few of the songs.”

Mazurkiewicz said: “It’s been a privilege and a pleasure contributing lyrics for Inhuman Condition. Taylor, Jeramie and Terry have created some killer music and skulls are going to be crushed!"

Rozz added: “This was an honor, and very flattering to be invited to do some whammy shenanigans over three killer tunes with the two great musicians that put this together.  Wishing the band all the best, until the end.  Cheers & Peace.”

A few weeks ago, the band released a teaser video with a demo of a new song which can be viewed below.  

Inhuman Condition is:

Terry Butler - bass
Jeramie Kling - drums/vocals
Taylor Nordberg - guitar




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Tom Hamilton received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today (Thursday, March 11).

The 69-year-old AEROSMITH bassist took to his Instagram to share that he got the final dose of the vaccine. He wrote in a caption: "Moderna #2! I'm invincible!"

A new poll from the Pew Research Center showed that more than two-thirds of U.S. adults plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine.

The poll, released last Friday, found that 69 percent of adults say they are going to receive the coronavirus vaccine.

The Pew poll showed that 19% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine, 32% say they will definitely get the vaccine and 17% say they will probably get it.

The nation's top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has estimated that about 70-85% of Americans would need to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity.

America's two main vaccines have shown 95% efficacy against the coronavirus.

As of late January, the CDC discovered that only 11 per 1 million people experienced severe reactions from the Pfizer vaccine, and only 2.5 per 1 million people who received the Moderna dose.

Johnson & Johnson's vaccine, which became available in the United States earlier this month after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave it emergency use authorization, was tested with new variants of COVID-19, and has shown to be effective against them; Pfizer and Moderna were tested prior to the emergence of these variants.
























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LAST IN LINE drummer Vinny Appice spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's third album. The follow-up to 2019's "II" is tentatively due next year via an as-yet-undisclosed record label.

"We got half the album pretty much done," Vinny said. "We're a band that has to be in a room together [to write music], so it's hard to send files back and forth to create something now. But we're doing that — we've got a cover song in mind that we're working on. And then we'll together soon and finish the rest of the record. And we're going for a new label as well — we've got a label that's [interested in releasing the album]… It looks like it's gonna happen. And then we've got some dates coming up."

Referring to the fact that LAST IN LINE features DEF LEPPARD guitarist Vivian Campbell, Vinny said: "We're waiting to see what DEF LEPPARD's schedule is. We don't know what's going on yet exactly with the big stadium tour; we don't know what they're going to do this year, since we usually play in between Viv's schedule with DEF LEPPARD. So we'll wait and see. But we have dates in October so far, and then if we open up, we'll do something maybe in the summer. Who knows? We'll have to wait and see."

Last month, Appice told Metal From The Inside that former DOKKEN and current FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson, who produced both "II" and 2016's "Heavy Crown", is not involved with the upcoming LAST IN LINE album. "We made a change," he said. "Actually, the guy who mixed the last record, Chris Collier — he's great; he's working with KORN — he recorded this record. And we're kind of producing it ourselves, between all of us.

"Jeff is great — Jeff's a great producer, and [he has] great ideas and stuff, but we just felt that we could probably do what we wanna do now that we're a band, we've been on the road, and we know what we wanna hear," he explained. "But it's coming out great. The stuff sounds fantastic.

"And yeah, I've been through a lot with Jeff Pilson. I've known him for years. He's a great guy. He's like my brother."

Also in February, LAST IN LINE bassist Soussan told the "Pat's Soundbytes Unplugged" podcast that the band was working on "a very, very special song that we're gonna be putting out fairly soon. I can't tell you any more than that, but it is something in the interim between us coming out with a new album, or releasing a new album, and now," he said. "So we'll do this as a video single."

As for the musical direction of the new LAST IN LINE material, Phil said: "The songs are another progression from the last album — the difference between 'Heavy Crown' and 'II', and now 'II' and whatever this next album is gonna be called; we don't know yet, by the way. But it's definitely evolved even more; it's gone into even more of an evolution, but we are always trying to keep the characteristics of LAST IN LINE there. I mean, you can't shake those things — you can't shake Vinny's drumming, you can't shake Vivian's playing. And I'd like to say the same thing about myself, and, of course, Andrew."

Some of the early recording sessions for LAST IN LINE's third album took place in January 2020 at Steakhouse studio in North Hollywood, California.

Formed in 2012 by Appice, Campbell and bassist Jimmy Bain — Ronnie James Dio's co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart" albums — LAST IN LINE's initial intent was to celebrate Ronnie James Dio's early work by reuniting the members of the original DIO lineup. After playing shows that featured a setlist composed exclusively of material from the first three DIO albums, the band decided to move forward and create new music in a similar vein.

LAST IN LINE's debut album, "Heavy Crown", was released in February 2016, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Initially, the release had been preceded by tragedy when Bain unexpectedly passed away at the age of 68 on January 23, 2016. LAST IN LINE, honoring what they knew would be Bain's wish to keep the band moving, brought in Soussan and committed to sustained touring in support of the album before beginning work on the follow-up release, the aforementioned "II"