Norway's Vreid have unveiled the title track from their upcoming opus, Wild North West. The song is accompanied by a thought-provoking music video, which is the first instalment of the band's unique and ambitious movie project. Watch the first chapter below.

Songwriter and bass player Jarle Hváll Kvåle comments: "After being locked up in our own twisted little world for a long time, I am over the moon to finally be able to share the first chapter from our new album/movie with you all. This is the start of a journey that I don’t know where will lead us, but hey, isn’t that the point? Life is an everlasting march forward, so let’s see where it takes us. We kick it all off with the title track, a heavy and bombastic track that we can’t wait to unleash when we return to the stages worldwide. For now, enjoy the song, the movie and join us into the Wild North West."

Wild North West is a concept album that developed alongside an entire movie. Inspired by both true events and pure imagination, the listener is taken on a whirlwind of a journey, diving deep into themes of war, fear, betrayal, loss, anxiety, and madness with thought-provoking lyrics that embody human nature. It captures the Nordic heart at the core of their sound, taking cues from Norway’s rugged landscape as it ricochets between eternal darkness and the solace of bracing light.

The cover for Wild North West was created by Remi Juliebø (Deformat Design).

Tracklisting:

"Wild North West"
"Wolves At Sea"
"The Morning Red"
"Shadows Of Aurora"
"Spikes Of God"
"Dazed And Reduced"
"Into The Mountains"
"Shadowland"

Trailer:

From its tumultuous inception, the Norwegian metal scene has always been about pioneering. While embracing the illustrious black metal history as part of their musical heritage, the many iconic bands have now evolved in various directions. Leading the black ‘n roll movement in Norway, Vreid are the perfect example of that. The band arose in 2004 from the ashes of Winder after the tragic perishing of Terje ‘Valfar’ Bakken. The Sognametal legends declared the mission of exploring new musical paths, which they have pushed to even greater heights on their new record Wild North West.

The ninth record is not just a collection of songs, but a concept album that developed alongside an entire movie. Throughout eight chapters you will be taken on a journey deep into the mountains, to a dark place where the borders between reality and fantasy fade and where death is only one step behind you: The Wild North West. Not just in sheer size of the project but also in terms of music videography, creativity, and determination, Vreid have done something truly unique and lifted their art to a new dimension.

On the concept, founder and bass player Jarle Hváll Kvåle states: "Wild North West is a concept story about life itself and its eternal shadow: death. It is built around the world of our fictional character E, but it is surely inspired by my own life, my band’s life, historical events and many tales that have inspired me over the years. Is it a true story or fictional? I would have to say both, and sometimes is hard tell the difference.”

Wild North West features the most extreme and intense work of the band to date, as well as heavy and melodic rock songs. These influences have always been a part of Vreid’s DNA, and it is this combination that makes up the spirit of Sognametal.  A remarkable homage to that same musical spirit is the song “Into the Mountains”. The ideas for that track were written in 2002 by Jarle ‘Hváll’ Kvåle and Terje ‘Valfar’ Bakken (Winder). Inspired by these ideas, Hváll wrote the song and included the original demo keyboard tracks from 2002, recorded back then by Valfar.

Vreid have always chosen a course of constant evolution that is marked by thematically denoted phases regarding their often historically inspired lyrics. This became particularly clear with albums ‘I Krig’ (2007) and ‘Milorg’ (2009), which both revolved around concepts dealing with resistance and liberation of Norway during World War II. With their following three records, the pitch black brigade returned to their Norse roots on ‘Sólverv’ which received high critical acclaim in 2015.

In 2018, the Norwegians teamed up with Season of Mist for their previous full-length ‘Lifehunger’, a record that successfully blended elements of 70’s rock, 80’s classic metal, and Norwegian black metal and which featured a remarkable guest contribution from Solstafir’s vocalist Addi Tryggvason on the track “Hello Darkness”.

Vreid have hammered out their success partly by being a heavily touring band. The four-piece performed more than 500 shows in 25 countries so far. Their everlasting march to conquer new territories has led the Norwegians to headline tours in Europe, North America, Japan, and India.

The band’s onward march did not come to a halt in 2020, a year that will go down as devastating for the international music scene. Vreid launched their own beer, which turned out to be the biggest success of the Balder Brewery as the first batches were sold out immediately. Instead of waiting to be able to tour again, the Norwegians invited the fans to their home region and hosted a massive streaming concert among the beautiful mountainous surroundings of the Sognefjord. The concert, ‘Into the Mountains of Sognametal’ took place in June 2020 was viewed by over 140.000 people from more than 40 countries.

In 2021, Vreid will once more invite the fans to their dark, cold, and wild universe but tread carefully as from these haunted mountains, no man can descend.

Welcome to the Wild North West.

Legendary Norwegian outfit TrollfesT is back, ready to deliver their energizing and K.A.O.S-infused sound to the masses. TrollfesT are set to release their new dual-themed EP, Happy Heroes (out March 19 via Napalm Records), proving themselves as masters of K.A.O.S and madness more than ever before (with a wee sense of humor to boot).

As a first glimpse of what can be expected, the Norwegian Balkan Metal outfit have released their cover of Bobby McFerrin’s universally loved hit song, “Don’t Worry Be Happy”. TrollfesT give the classic tune a unique twist, making for a truly insane and chaotic reimagining unlike you’ve ever heard before! Along with the single, TrollfesT have released a music video in which the band literally goes mental – providing only a taste of what’s to come on Happy Heroes. Watch the clip below.

Four vivid songs on Happy Heroes deliver a vast variety of spectacular musical romps, made evident by the catchy original title track “Happy Heroes”, wherein TrollfesT tells the story of evil, self-righteous troll superheroes whom you should probably not call if you’re in need of help. The EP then presents three re-energized cover songs – Balkan and folk metal re-imaginings of the world-famous “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, quite possibly the cheeriest song known to man, the newly released “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, by Bobby McFerrin, as well as the Aqua hit “Cartoon Heroes”. Each revitalized track keeps its original catchiness and will have you humming in K.A.O.S!

Happy Heroes will be released worldwide digitally, as well as on blue/transparent Vinyl (limited to 300 copies).

Pre-order here.

Happy Heroes tracklisting:

"Happy Heroes"
"Cartoon Heroes"
"Don’t Worry Be Happy"
"Happy"

"Don’t Worry Be Happy":

TrollfesT is:

John Espen Sagstad (Mr.Seidel) - Guitar
Fabian Jiru (Grimdrap Glutenfri Fleskeng) - Guitar
Jostein Austvik (Trollmannen) - Vocals
Eirik Renton (TrollBANK) - Drums/Vocals
Kai Renton (Fjernkontrollet) - Synth/Accordion
Dag Stiberg (DrekkaDag) - Saxophone
Øyvind Erik Strønen Johannesen (Lodd Bolt) - Bass/Vocals
Bjørn Dugstad Rønnow (Kjellkje) - Drums/Vocals

(Photo - Eirik Folkeda)

Emerging from the Finnish coastal town of Kotka, melodic death/doom metal strikers Marianas Rest will unleash their third studio album, Fata Morgana, on March 12 via Napalm Records.

After unveiling their first sophisticated offering, “Glow From The Edge”, the Finns now set free their next hauntingly melancholic output, “South Of Vostok”: Fata Morgana's final epos starts off with Finnish wording that underlines the origin of the six-piece. With feral yet sensitive vocals as well as a harmonizing instrumental performance, Marianas Rest skillfully create a cohesive symbiosis of sound that allows every note to unfold its captivating power in the most appropriate way. The song's name comes from a place in Antarctica and a Russian research station named Vostok located there - one of the coldest and most hostile places towards life in the whole world, if not the coldest of all.

The record's open ending goes along with the narrator's physical and mental journey. Will he just give up, or will he hold onto some spark of hope, looking towards the horizon to start a new chapter? It's up to every listener to decide in the end.
 
Marianas Rest on the new single:

“'South of Vostok' is the end of a story. A cathartic pondering on the edge of the world where frost turns to fire.” - Jaakko, vocals
 
“It is a mix of hope and desperation. A journey through ugliness towards something more beautiful.” - Nico M., guitar

Watch the official video for “South Of Vostok”

Fata Morgana marks the final chapter of a trilogy that began when Marianas Rest released their first full-length, 2016’s Horror Vacui, followed by the critically acclaimed full-length Ruins (2019). The series encompasses themes of isolation, eventual mental collapse and emergence from that woeful state, respectively - however, the band invites fans to experience the concept from their own perspectives.

The upcoming eight-song epos delivers atmospheric melodies that are as endless and fascinating as the overwhelming beauty of Finnish nature, which tracks like the expressive “The Weight” or authentic “Pointless Tale” are evidence of. Topped by guest appearances of Timo Virkkala, who shares his awesome cello magic, and the bewitching backing vocals of Lindsay Matheson/Schoolcraft (ex-Cradle Of Filth), Marianas Rest take their creative output to the next level and make Fata Morgana a must-have for fans of bands like Insomnium and My Dying Bride.

Marianas Rest on Fata Morgana: "Fata Morgana is a voyage into isolation. A passage to a place where minds get distorted by the cold."

This melodic melancholy is produced by Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and Marianas Rest, recorded and mixed by Teemu Aalto at Teemu Aalto Music Productions and mastered by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers, who received a Grammy nomination with Candlemass feat. Tony Iommi for Best Metal Performance.

Fata Morgana will be available in the following formats:

- 2LP Gatefold Marbled Black/White (Napalm Mailorder Only)
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- CD Digipack
- Digital Album

Pre-order your copy of Fata Morgana here.

Tracklisting:

"Sacrificial"
"Glow From The Edge"
"Pointless Tale
"The Weight"
"Horrokseen"
"Fata Morgana"
"Advent Of Nihilism"
"South Of Vostok"

“Glow From The Edge” video:

“Glow From The Edge” behind the scenes:

As a special bonus, Marianas Rest will release a limited edition reissue of their aforementioned second studio album, Ruins, on vinyl for the first time ever on March 12 via Napalm Records. Unleashed back in April 2019, the Finns’ full-length tells the story of how a mind slowly crumbles, about introversion, putting up mental walls and eventually disappearing inside your own head.

Available as a 2LP Gatefold Marbled Black/White vinyl (limited to 300 copies), this is a must have for fans of this somber manifest of heavy riffs and grieving melodies.

Pre-order Ruins here.

Tracklisting:

"Kairos"
"The Spiral"
"Hole In Nothing"
"The Defiant"
"Unsinkable"
"Shadows"
"Restitution"
"Omega"

Marianas Rest are:

Jaakko Mäntymaa - vocals
Aapo Koivisto - keys
Nico Mänttäri - guitar
Harri Sunila - guitar
Niko Lindman - bass
Nico Heininen - drums

(Photo - Miikka Järvinen)

Back in October 2020, progressive rockers The Flower Kings released their new double album, Islands, via InsideOutMusic, just a year after the group’s much celebrated Waiting For Miracles. Today, the band have launched a brand new video for the track "All I Need Is Love".

The band comments: “Hasse Fröberg - this is his contribution, 'All I Need is Love' - to the latest album Islands. The only member, besides Stolt, from the original first line up of The Flower Kings that started in 1994. Still with the band many moons later - vocalist, guitar-player,rock star. This video was recorded around Christmas time - some of it outdoors!  A traditional multi-part prog-rock song penned by Fröberg - that has all the elements that put the Swedish 'kings' on the progressive map worldwide.”

The 92-minutes long Islands features artwork by legend Roger Dean (Yes, Asia, Gentle Giant, Greenslade, Uriah Heep) and all trademark sounds and melodies, the band is renowned for. From vintage keys to epic guitar solos, from odd drum patterns to symphonic elements, The Flower Kings present a dynamic and complex record that is bold, bombastic and beautiful.

Islands is available as massive Limited 3LP & 2CD box set with slipcase and 180 gram vinyl housed in two gatefolds, one single sleeve; as Limited Edition 2CD Digipak and Digital Album. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

Disc One
"Racing With Blinders On"
"From The Ground"
"Black Swan"
"Morning News"
"Broken"
"Goodbye Outrage"
"Journeyman"
"Tangerine"
"Solaris"
"Heart Of The Valley"
"Man In A Two Peace Suit"

Disc Two
"All I Need Is Love"
"A New Species"
"Northern Lights"
"Hidden Angles"
"Serpentine"
"Looking For Answers"
"Telescope"
"Fool’s Gold"
"Between Hope & Fear"
"Islands"

"Black Swan" video:

"Morning News" video:

"From The Ground" visualizer:

"Broken" lyric video:

Lineup:

Roine Stolt - Vocal, Ukulele, Guitars, Additional Keyboards
Hasse Fröberg - Vocal & Acoustic Guitar
Jonas Reingold - Bass, Acoustic Guitar
Zach Kamins - Pianos, Organ, Synthesizers, Mellotron, Orchestrations
Mirko DeMaio - Drums, Percussion
Guest: Rob Townsend - Soprano Saxophone

Frontiers Music Srl will release Danish vocalist Ronnie Atkins' new solo album, One Shot, on March 12. The acclaimed Pretty Maids and Nordic Union vocalist is now streaming the new song, "Scorpio". Listen below.

Pre-order/save One Shot, including limited edition color vinyl, here (Frontiers EU and US Shops, as well as Nordic retailers, will have an exclusive Yellow vinyl. JPC in Germany has an exclusive Translucent Blue vinyl. For U. customers, the limited edition color vinyl is not available from Bandwear. It will be available for you to pre-order upon the imminent launch of Frontiers new US store).

"To be honest, I initially had no intention to do a solo album to begin with, but for various reasons and in particularly my own personal health situation I finally decided to have a crack at it," says Atkins.  

"Around Easter 2020 and only some six weeks after I was told that everything seemingly looked very positive for my health, I was unfortunately diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and told it was incurable, which was devastating news for me. Needless to say, that was a total game changer and I went into kind of a panic situation for a while! But when the dust had settled. I realised there were two ways to approach the situation. I could sit down, accept the facts, and feel pity for myself or I could pull myself up, set some goals, pursue my dreams, and carry on living! And with fantastic back up from my family and true friends, I went for the latter!" continues Atkins.  

With the global pandemic shutting down touring for the foreseeable future, Atkins knew a tour promoting the latest Pretty Maids album, Undress Your Madness
(2019) was not going to be in the cards anytime soon. Suddenly, the timing for working on a new solo album seemed to have presented itself.

"Well, I couldn’t change the facts by any means. The whole world was on a lockdown and the future prospects of concerts were very uncertain and still is to this day! Basically, that meant that if I was gonna carry out the idea of a solo album, it had to be now since I don't necessarily have all the time in the world. I had all these ideas recorded on my iPhone that I felt were too good to never see the light of day and I was writing a lot at the time to help ease my frustrations," says Atkins.

Ronnie's next step was to connect with producer (and Pretty Maids bandmate) Chris Laney to begin the work of putting these ideas together into songs. Chris is overseeing production, Jacob Hansen will mix, and musicians appearing on the album include, in addition to Laney, Allan Sørensen, Morten Sandager, Pontus Egberg, Anders Ringman, Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, John Berg, Linnea Vikström Egg, and Björn Strid.

"Not being able to handle the recordings myself since I’m old school and a complete idiot when it comes to IT, Pro Tools, etc. I hooked up with my PM friend and firesoul Chris Laney, who literally cheered me up and convinced me to go ahead with it. So, I decided to get moving and literally recorded my ideas on either piano or guitar and with a mellotron click to keep the beat and the accompanying vocal. Then I would send these along to Chris, who did the instrumentation in Stockholm and would then send back demos to me. Then, I recorded the vocals first, which is totally the opposite of what you’d normally do, but based on the uncertainty of my health situation, I wanted to get them down. After that we did the basic tracks, drums, guitars, keys, backing vocals, etc. Odd way of doing it, for me at least, but it worked. And so, this procedure slowly moved on during the summer and finally turned into an album of 12 new songs," explains Atkins.  

"I wouldn’t have been able to carry out this project without the enthusiasm of Chris, who has been my constant partner in this project from day one. On top of that, I had the pleasure of working with a variety of great musicians/singers such as Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, Pontus Egberg, Linnea Vickström Egg, Björn Strid, and at last, but not at least, my PM relatives Allan Sørensen and Morten Sandager," continues Atkins.  

"Musically and lyrically this album has been a different process for me, considering everything going on. Musically, it could have gone in various directions. It’s always a question of what you want it to be. A good song is a good song, so it’s really a matter of how it is packaged. But I decided to make it appeal to the fans, the supporters who’ve been following me for almost 40 years, so this is basically a melodic rock album with a heavy twist. Lyrically, it also has a different approach. I found it hard to write about sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll, etc. due to the situation I’m wrapped up in, so I guess it turned out a bit more personal and maybe melancholic at times. But it reflects my thoughts at the given time these lyrics were written," concludes Atkins.  

While the creation of One Shot is bittersweet for a variety of reasons, it's nonetheless another thoroughly wonderful melodic hard rock offering from one of the masters of the genre. Look for it in March 2021.

Tracklisting:

"Real"
"Scorpio"
"One Shot"
"Subjugated"
"Frequency Of Love"
"Before The Rise Of An Empire"
"Miles Away"
"Picture Yourself"
"I Prophesize"
"One By One"
"When Dreams Are Not Enough"

"Scorpio":

"One Shot" video:

"Real" video:

Lineup:

Ronnie Atkins: Lead and backing vocals
Chris Laney: Rhythm guitars, keyboards and backing vocals
Allan Sørensen: Drums
Morten Sandager: Keyboards
Pontus Egberg: Bass
Acoustic guitars: Anders Ringman
Lead guitars/solos: Pontus Norgren, Kee Marcello, Olliver Hartmann, John Berg, Chris Laney
Additional backing vocals: Chris Laney, Linnea Vikström Egg, Olliver Hartmann, Bjørn Strid  

Produced by Chris Laney
Mixed by Jacob Hansen

Guitarist Sebastian Ramstedt of Swedish blackened death metal veterans NECROPHOBIC recently spoke to Micha Kite of V13 Media about his distaste for most of the pop-tinted hard rock and heavy metal bands that ruled the Sunset Strip scene more than three decades ago.

"In the '80s, I hated all hair metal except for early MÖTLEY CRÜE and W.A.S.P.," he said. "You would watch '80s MTV, and there would be CINDERELLA, but you were waiting for SEPULTURA, and you hated it. But I don't have my guard up like that anymore, and those bands have very good guitar players. It takes a lot to write a great love song or an '80s metal song.

"The greatest guitar players at that time for me were Eddie Van Halen [VAN HALEN], George Lynch [DOKKEN], Warren DeMartini [RATT], and so on," he continued. "But Jake E. Lee [OZZY OSBOURNE] was my favorite, and his work on 'Bark At The Moon' and 'The Ultimate Sin' is the ultimate lead guitar work ever.

"I think Jake E. Lee is much better than Randy Rhoads, and you can't say that out loud, but I believe that," Sebastian added. "Other guitarists like George Lynch, who wasn't always heavy, had more fun in major keys, and they used the guitars in an unlimited way, which I admire. They didn't have to do fast songs or slow songs, evil songs or happy songs; they could do whatever they liked. If you only use one mode, like the gothic mode, it's very narrow what you can do with your music."

Rhoads played on Osbourne's seminal records "Blizzard Of Ozz" (1980) and "Diary Of A Madman" but tragically died in a plane crash when he was just 25 years old, on March 19, 1982. He influenced many musicians and is considered one of the greatest guitartists of all time. His death was a huge shock to the world and Ozzy wrote in his autobiography "I Am Ozzy" that he almost quit music after Randy's passing.

Lee, who was tapped by Ozzy to replace the Rhoads in Osbourne's band, played on two Ozzy records: 1983's "Bark At The Moon" and 1986's "The Ultimate Sin"

Alice Cooper spoke to Noise 11 about his decision to record a cover version of OUTRAGEOUS CHERRY's 2005 song "Our Love Will Change The World". The track will appear on his upcoming album, "Detroit Stories", due out February 26 via earMUSIC.

"Well, that song in particular was a really interesting song," Alice said (see video below). "We wanted to cover Motown, we wanted to cover punk, we wanted to cover blues — that's all Detroit, mostly hard rock. But that song came out of an '80s psychedelic punk band called OUTRAGEOUS CHERRY. And we heard the song, and we couldn't get it out of our mind — the song was so catchy. And so I listened to it, and I said [to my producer Bob Ezrin], 'Bob, listen to this. This song is so happy, but listen to the lyrics — the lyrics are totally subversive; the lyrics are totally dark, predicting the failure of our generation and all that. And I went, 'I love this. This is a good Detroit song. Let's put it on.'

"There's always one song on every album I do that doesn't belong, and that song sounds like the one song that doesn't belong," he addd. "But it's just so catchy that you can't get away from it."

Cooper previously said that "Our Love Will Change The World" is "one of the oddest songs" he has ever done. "It was so strange, because it was happy and what it was saying was anything but happy — it was simply a great juxtaposition," he explained in a statement. "And I got it immediately and said, 'Okay, this is going to be great.' The music saying one thing and the lyrics saying something else, I love that song. It is totally different from anything else on the album."

Named for the city that launched the original Alice Cooper group on the road to success, "Detroit Stories" follows 2019's "Breadcrumbs" EP as a modern-day homage to the toughest and craziest rock and roll scene there ever was. The LP, which was once again produced by Cooper's longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, features contributions by such Michigan talent as the MC5's Wayne Kramer, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's Mark Farner and Johnny "Bee" Badanjek of MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS. They also used the Detroit Horns and Detroit background singers.

Acclaimed guitarist Joe Bonamassa has blasted New York City's "Open Culture" program as "insulting" to "the hundreds of thousands of dedicated performers and professionals put out of work due to this pandemic."

Last week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and the city's Cultural Affairs Commissioner Gonzalo Casals officially introduced "Open Culture", which will open up to 115 designated streets in all five NYC boroughs to be used for promoted performing arts events.

Over the weekend, de Blasio tweeted out a short video of his chilly February 8 outdoor press conference, which was followed by a brief dance performance hosted by a local organization. Bonamassa shared the clip earlier today (Tuesday, February 16) and included the following message: "The fact that these folks don't realize how insulting this is to the hundreds of thousands of dedicated performers and professionals put out of work due to this pandemic is a real glimpse into how they do not value the arts and view it as some sort of 'hobby'."

Modeled on New York City's successful and nation-leading Open Streets program, Open Culture is a new permit type available from the Mayor's Street Activity Permit Office (SAPO) allowing for ticketed performances, rehearsals, classes, and workshops. Arts and cultural institutions, as well as entertainment venues, can secure a permit for single day, socially distanced performances at over 100 street locations throughout all five boroughs. Following the release of these draft guidelines, applications will open to eligible organizations March 1, 2021 and will extend through October 31, 2021. Eligible organizations include:

* Arts and Culture Institutions: Members of the Cultural Institutions Group (CIG); recipients of Cultural Development Fund (CDF) support; recipients of borough arts council funding in 2019 or 2020; or other groups are eligible for CDF grant funding but haven’t received before.

* Cultural Venues (Performance Venues): Entertainment facilities designed to be used for a performance in front of a live audience; this could include concert venues, theaters, and other establishments.

SAPO will accept applications on a rolling basis starting March 1, 2021. For complete guidelines, visit SAPO's web site.




The fact that these folks don’t realize how insulting this is to the hundreds of thousands of dedicated performers and professionals put out of work due to this pandemic is a real glimpse into how they do not value the arts and view it as some sort of “hobby”. https://t.co/LcNiGg2d3F

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) February 16, 2021








Oh please, get a life @BLABBERMOUTHNET You consistently prove yourselves to be the journalistic equivalent to carp fishermen. ?‍♂‍ https://t.co/nAx2CLniAp

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) February 16, 2021








My apologies to the carp anglers out there. I fish with you in solidarity. ?? https://t.co/cfvfeXgOCS

— Joe Bonamassa (Official) (@JBONAMASSA) February 16, 2021






Start spreading the news — join us in Brooklyn for a major announcement on arts and culture in New York City!

Start spreading the news — join us in Brooklyn for a major announcement on arts and culture in New York City!

Posted by Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday, February 8, 2021





I disagree. NYC is known for it's culture of street performers and having some live open performances like this can lift the spirits of a lot of depressed folks who are shut in due to the pandemic, who might be able to watch and listen from their windows or balconies from home.

— Rand Blues (@BlissRandall) February 16, 2021








Joe, this couldn't be any more spot on. My fianceé is a stagehand/gig worker, and spent her life in theater, and thought this was silly. This live action interpretation of the Foot Clan is embarrassing.

— ???? ???????? (@MattManzella) February 16, 2021

During an interview with Profil Prog, former Porcupine Tree frontman Steven Wilson - who now works as a solo artist - was asked if Porcupine Tree will ever reunite to record new music.

Porcupine Tree started as Wilson's solo project in 1987 but evolved into a critically acclaimed prog band. They releasd 10 srudio albums - the last one being 2009's The Inçident - and went on unofficial hiatus in 2015 / 2016 as Wilson preferred to focus on his solo work.

On returning to Porcupine Tree

Wilson: "What I always say to people is, 'When you least expect me to do something, that's probably when I'll do it.' I've always said Porcupine Tree, I can imagine we'll probably make another record one day. I don't know when. We'll probably do it at the moment everyone's least expecting it. 

Listen, I still love so-called progressive rock but I'm not there right now, honestly. I'm more excited by other music right now. But one thing I know from my past is that I go through cycles with things. Pink Floyd will always be my favorite group - always have been, always will be. My relationship with other progressive rock waxes and wanes. I could easily be excited by something like that again.

I can't have an allegiance to doing anything for very long because I get bored, and I think to me that the icons that I grew up admiring the most, people like Bowie, Zappa, Neil Young, were always changing - that's what they do. It's unusual in music to hop around genres, but the people that do, and the people that did, define their own musical world."

Ross Halfin and Rufus Publications have announced the publication of "Edward Van Halen By Ross Halfin", a 320-page celebration of rock's iconic guitar player, a man who changed the way rock music would be played forever. This extensive photo book features many classic and unseen shots chosen by Ross from his personal archive together with an exclusive introduction from Edward's friend and fellow player Tony Iommi. Respected journalist Mark Blake provides a career essay on Van Halen's hugely successful career.

Two editions of "Edward Van Halen By Ross Halfin" are available for pre-order. The first retails at £275 and features a 3D lenticular cover, a metal guitar-shaped slipcase, includes some photographic prints, and is numbered and signed by Halfin. The regular edition comes with a cloth-bound slipcase and is £89. The book measures 240mm x 345mm and is printed on 170gsm art paper.

"SABBATH were making the 'Cross Purposes' album, and we were doing a song called 'Evil Eye'," Iommi writes in his introduction. "I suggested Eddie have a go. He played it with us and started doing all the guitar parts and solos. I still have a recording of it somewhere, which we may put out at some point in the future."

"Edward Van Halen By Ross Halfin" will ship in June.

Eddie passed away in October at the age of 65. His death was announced by his son.

Eddie died at Providence Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California. Following his death, fans left flowers at his childhood home on Las Lunas Street in Pasadena, California. Additional flowers, candles and fan mementos were placed on Allen Avenue where Eddie and his brother, VAN HALEN drummer Alex, scratched their band's name into the wet cement of a sidewalk when they were teenagers.

In October, a City Council meeting was held in Pasadena, where a memorial honoring Eddie was discussed. City manager Steve Mermell was directed to come up with ideas for how to best honor the musician.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

LAST IN LINE bassist Phil Soussan spoke to the "Pat's Soundbytes Unplugged" podcast about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's third album. The follow-up to 2019's "II" is tentatively due later this year via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

"The new album is, of course, subject to a lot of whatever everyone has been going through," Phil said (see video below). "So we have a couple of challenges. We're in between record deals at the moment, so that's something we're working on; we have meetings about that, actually, tomorrow. In the meantime, we have written about half the record. We've written six songs, I think. Four are definitely completed, and the other two are in various stages of completion. We will have to get together for a session or two to write the remainder of the record. And we are working on — right now, as we speak — 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. 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 [Appice] drumming, you can't shake Vivian's [Campbell, guitar] playing. And I'd like to say the same thing about myself, and, of course, Andrew [Freeman, vocals]."

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".

In a new interview with Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA, SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman revealed that he has written five movie scripts that have not yet been developed. Asked if he would be interested in going into acting at some point in the future, Corey said (see video below): "I've done some movies. I've done a handful of them. Honestly, it's something that would probably make more sense after I'm off the road, which, ironically, here we are. I've done a couple of things, and, obviously, with any script that I write, I'll probably take a little, smaller role and kind of give it to myself. It's definitely what I'm doing with the script that I'm shopping right now, which is called 'Zombie Versus Ninja', and it's exactly what [the title] implies. And it's rad. I'm shopping that right now with a group of people who have actually helped me kind of tighten the script up. They've got the contacts. We're kind of doing that right now. But there's a couple of roles in there that I'll probably mess with. They're not the main roles, but they're just kind of tucked in the background, and people will go, 'Oh. Hey.' So it's stuff like that that interests me.

"Actually, I have no real interest in a big movie role," he explained. "To me, the interesting part is writing the story. The interesting part, for me, is creating the world, and then watching people kind of make that world a reality. That's what I wanna see.

"I always said one of my goals was to see a movie through soup to nuts — from script to pre-pro to post to the screen."

Last fall, Taylor starred in the Halloween horror anthology "Bad Candy" from production company Digital Thunderdome. The film was written and directed by Scott Hansen and Desiree Connell, and also features Zach Galligan, the star of the "Gremlins" and "Waxwork" franchises.

Taylor also stars in another horror film called "Rucker", which is currently in post-production. It is described as a genre-bending terror film about a serial killer trucker who attempts to salvage family relationships. Olympic College film professor Amy Hesketh serves as the film's director and fellow OC professor Aaron Drane produced the film. Both are credited with co-writing the screenplay.

A longtime fan of horror films, Taylor was featured prominently in the "In Search Of Darkness" documentary, which came out in 2019.

Corey told Syfy network's "Metal Crush Mondays" how he first got into horror movies: "My mom took me to see the 'Buck Rogers [In The 25th Century]' movie when I was a kid. I must've been four or five, but the trailer before the movie was John Carpenter's 'Halloween'. You've just got these incredible visuals, this sense of it's autumn, it's Halloween and there's just this dude in the background of every shot. I can remember as a five-year-old just being transfixed. Like, I suddenly didn't care about Buck Rogers. I think it was the one moment in my life that really galvanized my taste in what my young mind thought was cool. It was actually a couple years later that I actually got to watch it and to this day it's one of my favorite movies."

On March 12, The Crown will release their new album, Royal Destroyer, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of Royal Destroyer, a video for the new single, "We Drift On" (directed by Christoffer Tönnäng and Oskar Norberger), can be viewed below.

Guitarist Marko Tervonen comments: "I think that after 30 years, people are aware that we can play pretty brutal music. But we also sometimes like to take it down a notch and explore other areas. I guess in 2021, it's pretty difficult to 'surprise' people with a brutal song, so we hope to surprise you with this more mellow tune. Dare I even use the word 'ballad' *insert-fear-here*. OK. Lean back, drift on and enjoy."

Having celebrated their thirtieth anniversary in 2020 [their first eight years spent as Crown Of Thorns], The Crown have proven themselves one of the most enduring forces in death metal. In 2021, they further up the ante with Royal Destroyer, a record that sets a new standard for the genre. "It is our album number ten, so now we are in the big boys club," says bassist Magnus Olsfelt. "I think it in some ways is our crowning achievement, and it encompasses our sound across all albums on one defining record. It's got it all - the early 90s death metal stuff, the haunting melodies, the thrash, the punk, the grind, the heavy metal and the more epic and doomy stuff."

With 2018's Cobra Speed Venom, the band reached the same lofty heights as their 2002 landmark release, Crowned In Terror, but they were primed and ready to write its successor. "It surely set the bar up high for a follow up," Olsfelt explains. "But it's more inspiring than daunting. We have a real good vibe in the band, so we know we are capable of creating great stuff if we all just put our hearts to it and work hard." Confident, they pushed ahead, with the idea of making a sequel to Cobra Speed Venom - a sequel meaning "more of everything".

Together with legendary producer Fredrik Nordström, the band tracked the resulting 10 songs at Gothenburg's Studio Fredman. "We push ourselves to the limit, really trying to make everything as good as it can get, trying to make every song as impactful as possible," Olsfelt states. While he believes that people need to hear the album themselves to be able to accurately describe it, Olsfelt also asserts that The Crown have achieved something that makes for a "continuous whole" - while being diverse. There are also some surprises in store for fans. "We have some of the most intense stuff ever, like one song is about one minute long, and we also have a ballad!"

The new album can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- jewelcase-CD
- ltd. digipak-2CD (incl. 'Deathrace 13' bonus disc w/ 13 tracks)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- midnight blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 400 copies)
- red-hot orange marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- golden clear w/ blue and white splatter spot vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- clear w/ gold splatter vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- viole(n)t blue marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Royal Destroyer tracklisting:

"Baptized In Violence"
"Let The Hammering Begin!"
"Motordeath"
"Ultra Faust"
"Glorious Hades"
"Full Metal Justice"
"Scandinavian Satan"
"Devoid Of Light"
"We Drift On"
"Beyond The Frail"

"Motordeath" video:

The Crown lineup:

Johan Lindstrand - Vocals
Magnus Olsfelt - Bass
Marko Tervonen - Guitar
Robin Sörqvist - Lead guitar and backing vocals
Henrik Axelsson - Drums

(Photo - Ida Kucera)

On April 9, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live At Knebworth ‘76 as a DVD+CD, Blu-ray+CD, limited edition 2LP+DVD, and digital video, capturing the band’s historic performance in England on August 21,1976.

Featuring the legendary lineup of Ronnie Van Zant, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Steve Gaines, Leon Wilkeson, Artimus Pyle, Billy Powell, and The Honkettes, this set was part of a daylong festival which also boasted the likes of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia, 10cc, and headliners The Rolling Stones.

This footage, originally only available via the 1996 film Freebird...The Movie, was intercut with interviews and other performance footage. Now Live At Knebworth ‘76 presents the pure concert experience in its entirety, delivering the show as it happened that day. Kicking off with opening number “Workin’ For MCA,” Lynyrd Skynyrd ignited a powerhouse performance before over 150,000 attendees. Displaying the renowned triple guitar attack of Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, and Steve Gaines with Ronnie Van Zant’s signature vocals, Lynyrd Skynyrd: Live At Knebworth ’76 showcases fiery performances of such beloved classic rock anthems as “Sweet Home Alabama,” “Gimme Three Steps,” and of course, “Free Bird”.

As a bonus, the Blu-ray set also features the full-length documentary If I Leave Here Tomorrow: A Film About Lynyrd Skynyrd. Originally released in 2018, the film is an in-depth exploration of the band’s music and history.

Over 40 years after their inception, Lynyrd Skynyrd continues their legacy as icons of American music. Carrying on after the tragic 1977 plane crash, with sales beyond 30 million worldwide and 60 albums to their name, Lynyrd Skynyrd remain etched as pivotal forebearers of Southern Rock.

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Workin' For The MCA"
"I Ain't The One"
"Saturday Night Special"
"Searching"
"Whiskey Rock-A-Roller"
"Travelin' Man"
"Gimme Three Steps"
"Call Me The Breeze"
"T For Texas"
"Sweet Home Alabama"
"Free Bird"

Trailer:

Lynyrd Skynyrd lineup:

Ronnie Van Zant (Lead Vocals)
Gary Rossington (Guitar)
Allen Collins (Guitar)
Steve Gaines (Guitar / Backing Vocals)
Leon Wilkeson (Bass / Backing Vocals)
Artimus Pyle (Drums / Percussion)
Billy Powell (Keyboards / Piano)

Honkettes:

Cassie Gaines (Background Vocals)
JoJo Billingsley (Background Vocals)
Leslie Hawkins (Background Vocals)

EyeHateGod have set a March 12 release date for the band’s first new full-length album in seven years, A History Of Nomadic Behavior. The band have debuted a lyric video for the third single from the twelve song album, "Built Beneath The Lies". Watch below.

Singer Mike IX Williams said of the track: “’Built Beneath The Lies’ is another acidic Eyehategod song playing in the background while the back alleys burn with nervous alcoholic tension and people all over cancel their summer plans to stare at the wall...”

Mike IX Williams said of the songs on the album, “We’re not a political band, but it was hard not to be affected by the news from the past year. During this recording, I thought a lot about how stupid humanity has become and how America is now completely divided with these people who don’t believe in science and blindly follow liars and nonsensical ideologies. Some of those feelings may have found their way into these songs, but it is mostly subliminal.”

A History Of Nomadic Behavior follows a period that saw the New Orleans based band on the road for three years, preceded by Williams suffering liver failure and a transplant.

“We toured our asses off for three years and that’s where A History Of Nomadic Behavior basically comes from,” adds Williams before touching on his health challenge: “Death is a part of life, it’s a roll of the dice. Sometimes you take life as it comes, other times you fight to stay alive.”

The album was produced by Eyehategod, Sanford Parker (Yob, Voivod) and James Whitten (Thou, High on Fire), with mixing by Whitten. The band recorded at HighTower Recording and Hypercube studios.

Album pre-orders are available here, with the release available in a number of limited-edition iterations.

For North America:

- Black vinyl available via Amazon.com
- Limited edition glow-in-the-dark vinyl via Century Media U.S. store (250 available)
- Limited edition evergreen vinyl via retail (500 available)
- Limited edition brown swirled vinyl: via Revolver (300 available)
- Limited edition CD digipak
- Digital album

Outside of North America, the following physical formats are available:

- Ltd. CD Digipak
- Transparent coke bottle green LP+CD & Poster via CM Distro online store (200 available)
- Grey LP+CD & Poster Distro via CM Distro Wholesale and online store (200 available)
- Transparent magenta LP+CD & Poster via CM Distro Wholesale and online store (300 available)
- Lilac LP+CD & Poster via Kings Road Merch (200 available)
- Creamy white LP+CD & Poster via EMP and Nuclear Blast (200 available)
- Black LP+CD & Poster

A History Of Nomadic Behavior album cover artwork by Gary Mader and Mike IX Williams.

Tracklisting:

"Built Beneath The Lies"
"The Outer Banks"
"Fake What’s Yours"
"Three Black Eyes"
"Current Situation"
"High Risk Trigger"
"Anemic Robotic"
"The Day Felt Wrong"
"The Trial Of Johnny Cancer"
"Smoker’s Place"
"Circle Of Nerves"
"Every Thing, Every Day"

“Fake What’s Yours” visualizer:

"High Risk Trigger" visualizer:

(Photo - Travis Shinn)

After recently announcing their signing to Nuclear Blast, Silver Lake By Esa Holopainen has finally revealed further info about its self-titled debut album, scheduled for release on May 28.

Since 1990, Esa Holopainen has been the lead guitarist of the progressively-minded heavy metal innovators Amorphis. Thanks to the metallic and melodic beauty of such classic albums as Tales From The Thousand Lakes, Elegy and Skyforger, Holopainen's magnificent abilities to create enchanting atmospheres and innovative riffs have become widely known within the worldwide heavy metal circuit - and when the COVID pandemic forced Esa to cancel all plans for 2020, the renowned Finnish guitarist knew that the time had come to finally record a couple of songs he had kept in his drawer for several years.

"Over the last few years, I have been writing a lot of music, and some of the stuff hasn't exactly sounded like Amorphis. When Nino [Laurenne, owner of Sonic Pump Studios] called me late March, I already had three decent-sounding Silver Lake songs in stock. These tracks, entitled 'Sentiment', 'Ray of Light' and 'Promising Sun', worked as the backbone for the full solo album."

Although the making of the record had already started, some important decisions were still under discussion and Esa soon decided that he would need to invite some friends over to sing on his upcoming record. "At first, I really didn't know if the album would turn out to be purely instrumental or would there be vocalists as well. However, one thing was certain, I wouldn't be the singer of Silver Lake", Holopainen laughs. "Many times, when people think about a guitarist's solo album, they get the impression of technical stuff with a huge amounts of notes played extremely fast. Well, I‘m not a big fan of that kind of music. Whenever I write, I always want to pile up interesting songs, and not just shred for the sake of it."

With diverse styles ranging from 80's Dire Straits vibes to some heavy, melancholic and even poppy tracks, these 9 fresh creations obviously needed some strong vocal performances. Therefore Esa started to ask several friends and favorite singers of his that joined him from their home studios on these 9 new tracks to be featured on Silver Lake By Esa Holopainen.

With moody cover artwork created by Metastazis, the album that was recorded at Sonic Pump, produced and mixed by Nino Laurenne & Esa Holopainen, and mastered by Svante Forsbäck will be available on May 28, and the first single and pre-order will follow shortly.

Tracklisting:

"Silver Lake" (instrumental)
"Sentiment" (feat. Jonas Renkse of Katatonia)
"Storm" (feat. Håkan Hemlin of Nordman)
"Ray Of Light" (feat. Einar Solberg of Leprous)
"Alkusointu" (feat. Vesa-Matti Loiri)
"In Her Solitude" (feat Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis)
"Promising Sun" (feat. Björn 'Speed' Strid of Soilwork / The Night Flight Orchestra)
"Fading Moon" (feat. Anneke Van Giersbergen)
"Apprentice" (feat. Jonas Renkse of Katatonia)

(Photo - Juuso Soinio)

British singer and songwriter, Gary Hughes, will release his new solo album, Waterside, on March 12 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, he is streaming the new song "Electra-Glide", which you can hear below.

Additionally, Ten/Gary Hughes have announced the release of a double album best of collection, Decades, that encompasses three decades of his solo work in a newly remastered format. This double album offers some of the best Hughes' songs taken from his releases Precious Ones, Veritas, Once and Future King Parts I and II and his self-titled release, Gary Hughes. It also includes some rare tracks which were originally only released in Japan on the “In Your Eyes” EP. Decades is an album full of his influences and experiences and opens the door to the past while looking to his future at the same time.

Pre-order/save Waterside here. Pre-order/save Decades here.

"It is great to step back into solo mode again for a short while. The songs on my new Waterside album are filled with light and shade. Very much lighter than my heavier and deeper Ten material. We live in such testing times and I have tried to create a piece of Melodic AOR that might lift the spirits and allow for a little much needed escapism. There is definitely a positive feel good factor to this collection of songs and I truly hope the fans enjoy listening to it," enthuses Hughes The aforementioned feel good factor is never so prevalent as in the song and video for the title track 'Waterside'. Hughes explains, "The Waterside video is a very straight forward jacket, jeans and Fender Telecaster affair. A slice of Anglo-Americana. A nod back to the mid '80s and the golden age of laid back melodic rock. We enjoyed making this one immensely!"

Over the course of three decades in music, Gary Hughes has established himself as one of England's premiere Melodic Rock/Hard Rock singers and songwriters. With fourteen Ten studio albums, one rock opera (in two parts), and much more, the body of work that he has amassed during his career is truly impressive. Gary's work with his band Ten offers a hard rock sound which is rooted in the tradition of bands such as UFO, Whitesnake, and Rainbow. Historically, his solo material has offered a more melodic sound which has strong roots in the late 80’s AOR and Melodic Rock scene. The new solo album, Waterside, marks his long awaited return to Melodic Rock. This is also his first new solo album since his“Veritas" release well over a decade ago.

Musically, this is what you would expect from Gary as a follow up to his self-titled solo record and Precious Ones, but also it includes hints of early Ten (the more melodic moments of X and The Name of the Rose, as a reference point).

Assisting Gary in the creation of this new solo album are his Ten bandmates Dann Rosingana (guitars) and Darrel Treece-Birch (drums), with David Rosingana appearing on bass and Karen Fell and Scott Hughes helping on background vocals. If you like British Melodic Rock, then look no further, Waterside is an awesome example of how truly stunning the style can be!

Waterside tracklisting:

"All At Once It Feels Like I Believe"
"Electra-Glide"
"Lay Down"
"The Runaway Damned"
"Screaming In The Half Light"
"Waterside"
"Video Show"
"Save My Soul"
"Seduce Me"
"When Love Is Done"

"Electra-Glide":

"Waterside" video:

Decades tracklisting:

CD1
"First Light"
"Wrecking Machine"
"Perfect Ten"
"In Your Eyes"
"Veritas"
"Dragon Island Cathedral"
"The Night The Love Died"
"This Thing Of Beauty"
"Seducer"
"Look At The Rain"
"It Must Be Love"
"We Walk With Angels"
"Heart Of A Woman"
"The Everlasting Light"
"Precious Ones"

CD2
"Blonde Angel 93’"
"I Won’t Break Your Heart"
"Give My Love A Try"
"The Colours Of My Life"
"Divided We Fall"
"All I Want Is You"
"Wide Awake In Dreamland"
"There By The Grace Of The Gods (Go I)"
"Lies"
"The Miracle Is You"
"Be My Fantasy Tonight"
"This Time"
"Synchronicity"
"All Fall Down"

2x Grammy nominated band Gojira have announced details of their long-awaited new album, Fortitude, which will be released April 30 via Roadrunner Records. Today, the band has shared the forthcoming album’s first single, “Born For One Thing”, which is available on all streaming platforms and accompanied by a Charles De Meyer directed official music video shot in France and Belgium. Watch the clip below.

Available in multiple formats for pre-order today, Fortitude stands out as Gojira’s first album in five years and the follow-up to 2016’s Grammy nominated LP, Magma.

As if shedding skin and baring armour in its place, “Born For One Thing” represents a natural evolution for the acclaimed French band: hyper-focused but unhinged, confrontational and yet compassionate. “We have to practice detaching ourselves from everything, beginning with actual things,” vocalist / guitarist Joe Duplantier says of the song’s anti-consumerist message, which was partially inspired by the Tibetan and Thai philosophers he read in his youth back in France. “Own less possessions, and give what you don’t need away, because one day we’ll have to let everything go, and if we don’t, we’ll just become ghosts stuck between dimensions.”

Recorded and Produced by Joe Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio - Gojira’s Ridgewood, Queens, headquarters – and mixed by Andy Wallace (Nirvana, Rage Against The Machine), Fortitude is a collection of songs urging humanity to imagine a new world—and then make it happen. The band initially laid the foundation for Fortitude last year with the surprise release of the 2020 single “Another World.” Fortitude continues Gojira’s career-long tradition of harnessing their music as a vehicle for environmental activism with songs like “Amazonia” and “The Chant” not only surveying critical cases, but also catalysing listeners to take action.

On 2016’s Magma, Gojira found strength - and crossover success- through a singular commitment to self-reflection. The intensely personal record, penned in memory of the Duplantier brothers' late mother, was a painful significant turning point for the French group. The album earned the band two Grammy nominations - ‘Best Metal Performance’ and ‘Best Rock Album,’ and upon release, Magma took the #1 spot on Billboard's ‘Hard Rock Albums’ chart, a first for a French band.

Fortitude tracklisting:

“Born For One Thing”
“Amazonia”
“Another World”
“Hold On”
“New Found”
“Fortitude”
“The Chant”
“Sphinx”
“Into The Storm”
“The Trails”
“Grind”

"Born For One Thing" video:

In an October 2020 interview with BraveWords, Ayreon mastermind Arjen Lucassen revealed he was planning on returning to his Star One project, saying "each album I do is a reaction to the previous one, so I want to do a heavy album after Transitus. I want to do a colder album now (laughs). I think the last Star One album was 10 years ago, so I think it's time for a new one."

Lucassen has confirmed that a new Star One album is indeed in the works via the video message below.

Lucassen launched Star One in 2002 with the debut album, Space Metal, and followed it up in 2010 with Victims Of The Modern Age. The line-up included Lucassen, Russell Allen (Symphony X), Floor Jansen (Nightwish), Dan Swanö (Edge Of Sanity), Damian Wilson (Threshold), Ed Warby (Gorefest), Peter Vink (HDK) and keyboardist Joost van den Broek.

Star One toured for Space Metal in 2002, recording filming their show in Rijssen, Netherlands for the live album / DVD release, Live On Earth.

Behemoth - arguably the biggest extreme metal band in the world - have extended and expanded their contract with Nuclear Blast, who will now distribute the group’s music worldwide outside of their home country. The group originally signed with Nuclear Blast Europe prior to the release of 2009’s Evangelion, but their forthcoming album – which is tentatively set for a Fall 2021 release – will be their first to be released by the label outside of the Old Continent.

Formed in 1991 by then-teenage guitarist/vocalist Adam “Nergal” Darski, Behemoth shattered the glass ceiling of the European metal underground thanks to a combination of aggressive worldwide touring, fiery and theatrical live performances, visually captivating music videos and unwaveringly intense music. Albums such as Decibel Magazine Hall of Fame inductee Demigod (2005) and 2014’s The Satanist – hailed by Metal Hammer as the greatest extreme metal album of the 21st Century, and one of two Behemoth records to achieve gold-certified status in Poland – pushed blasphemous blackened death metal to heights previously thought unattainable. Those releases provided the group with no shortage of fierce ammunition to conquer all audiences in its path, whether in support of childhood heroes such as Ozzy Osbourne, Slayer and Danzig; on some of metal’s biggest festival stages around the globe; or more recently, in European arenas alongside fellow subversives Slipknot.

Despite numerous attempts to be silenced by Poland’s religious right, Behemoth has steadfastly refused to compromise, and Nergal believes that the best is yet to come. “Nuclear Blast has been a household name in metal for decades, and Behemoth has been part of that long and illustrious history,” he says. “But now is about the future, and we look forward to beginning Behemoth's next chapter with a refocused and revitalized team at Nuclear Blast!”

Adds Jens Prueter, Nuclear Blast Europe’s head of A&R, “It’s a great pleasure to extend our partnership for the worldwide release of Behemoth's upcoming studio albums. Their 30-year journey has not yet reached its pinnacle, and we are more than proud to assist them on their way to being not only the biggest extreme metal band, but also one of the most exciting rock acts of the next decade. There are just a few bands who have the vision and will to dominate the music scene. Special thanks also to their management powerhouse 5B – namely, Adam Foster and Justin Arcangel – for making this happen on all levels.”

Behemoth is currently working on the follow-up to 2018’s I Loved You At Your Darkest, whose “Wagnerian satanic metal” was praised as “glorious” in a four-star review by The Guardian. The group is also preparing for its biggest live production yet – a co-headlining tour with Arch Enemy that will see the bands play arenas across Europe.

Photo by Grzegorz Gołębiowski

Into Eternity guitarist / vocalist Tim Roth has checked in with a new update:

"Hi everybody. Hope you all are doing great! Check out this new 2021 Demo.
 
I have always wanted to sing this song as a cover. Stay Hungry was the very first heavy metal album that my parents bought my brother and I, back in 1984. It's our 25th Anniversary this year, so hopefully we'll get some new music out to everyone ASAP! Enjoy!"

In December 2020 Into Eternity resurfaced with a demo and playthrough video for the new song, "Nuclear", that is due to appear on the band's forthcoming seventh album. Check it out below.

In 2018 it was officially 10 years since Into Eternity unleashed 2008's The Incurable Tragedy on Century Media with former vocalist Stu Block (ex-Iced Earth). A decade later, it was the start of a new era for the band with their new album The Sirens, which features founding member and guitarist Tim Roth with a new lineup that includes: vocalist Amanda Keirnan (The Order Of Chaos), guitarist Matt Cuthberston (Untimely Demise), bassist Troy Bleich (Planet Eater) and drummer Bryan James Newsbury (Culled).

The Sirens features guest appearances by: former vocalist Stu Block, Cam Dixon (ex-Annihilator) and Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth) and sees Into Eternity firing on all cylinders. The album was co-produced, mixed and mastered by former guitarist Justin Bender, while longtime artist Mattias Noren (Evergrey, Epica, Kamelot) designed the cover and layout.

Metalcore band Slivers has released their official music video for single "Fragmented" off of their EP titled Worn Callous. The video was made by Deadlit Studios; check it out below:

Slivers is the culmination of years of collaboration between Kyle Skellington and Ron Hutchinson. After releasing Worn Callous in 2018 a full band was formed. With songs fueled by the sounds of current J-rock, metal, and post-hardcore of the past, the band looks to release new music and connect with the world for years to come.

Slivers is:
Kyle Skellington - Vocals
Ron Hutchinson - Guitar
Aero Marquez - Bass
Tomas Fonseca - Drums
Francisco Fonseca - Guitar

San Diego’s thrashers and winners of the 2019 Wacken Metal Battle USA, Monarch, will be unleashing their sophomore album Future Shock this year and have already released the first single/music video “Shred Or Die”.

“Shred Or Die” has been part of the band’s live show for a very long time and has stood out as a favorite and a good example of their aim as a band. This track is relevant to current events with lyrical content relating to civil unrest and power-hungry people ruling over others. The music video has received some pushback as it features heavy footage of the riots going on in America during the COVID-19 and Black Lives Matter protests. On the lighter side, it also features skateboarding around local San Diego skate spots.

Compared to their first, very DIY album, Future Shock was done professionally at Clarity Recordings in El Cajon, California, and is a big step forward for the band both musically and sonically. It explores the entire spectrum of Monarch’s creativity, with each song varying in sound but maintains a cohesive feeling. The band comments on the album:

“We’re all just super excited to get this album out to everyone because I think everyone right now needs something new to get excited about. At the time of this release, the world is still under quarantine from the COVID-19 virus in parts of the world and we think it will be a welcome escape from having to worry so much right now. We should all be cautious of course, but we can't make our lives not worth living. This album really inspires us to write even better and we're still amazed at how it came out. We look forward to hearing its response by fans and getting to play it live and loud again.”

Future Shock is out on April 16, 2021. CD / Vinyl preorder here.

Tracklisting:

“Blast The Seed”
“Khaos Warrior”
“Future Shock”
“Nuclear Warfare”
“Shred Or Die!”
“Multiverse”
“Fatal Vector”
“Collison Of Bones”
“Swarm Of The Whorenet”
“Metal Soul”

“Future Shock” video:

(Photo – Astrid Anaya)

Norwegian black / thrash metal band Valdaudr has released new single, "Kom, Bestig Vaare Fjell", which can be heard below. Valdaudr is comprised of vocalist / lyricist Vald, previously of Blood Red Throne, guitarist / bassist Død, and drummer Rune Nesse.  

The track is taken from the upcoming album, Drapsdalen, which is set to be released by Soulseller Records on CD / Digital formats on February 26, 2021. A vinyl edition is due on May 7.

Time-travel to the glorious '90s Norwegian black metal era with the epic debut album of Valdaudr.

Valdaudr has roots in the black metal project Cobolt 60, which was initiated by guitarist Død (Blood Red Throne, ex-Satyricon) back in 2000. Though the music is a continuation of Cobolt 60, Valdaudr is something different as new vocalist Vald (also known from his works with Blood Red Throne) has a totally different vocal style and even puts on some clean vocals here and there. It’s still old school and primitive black metal, but with some folk elements and epic themes. Think of Darkthrone meets early Ulver meets Primordial. 

Drapsdalen artwork and tracklisting:

"Liket Skulle Vaert Brent"  
"Trass Og Vrede"  
"Evig Langt Inn I Tiden"  
"Den Evige Ild"  
"Du Vantro Og Vrange Slekt"  
"Drapsdalen"  
"Kom, Bestig Vaare Fjell" 

"Kom, Bestig Vaare Fjell":

"Liket Skulle Vaert Brent":

For further details, visit Valdaudr on Facebook.

 

Joe Macre is best known as the original bassist for the progressive rock band Crack The Sky, whose debut was voted album of the year in Rolling Stone Magazine and is still included in the top 50 progressive rock albums of all time. 

The new release from Joe Macre is a collection of ten songs written and recorded at Joe Macs American Garage. Scheduled to drop March 1, 2021, Bullet Train is one of two albums written and recorded by Joe with friends who visited his American Garage studios. Made famous for housing cars, the garage has become a recording studio for musicians all over the world.

This album was written and recorded from 2019 to 2021. Many friends brought their talents to the garage and those shut in during the pandemic were recorded via the internet. The recording was recorded, mixed and mastered by Joe utilizing Pro Tools, of which Joe is an instructor. Visit Joe’s blog at joemacre.com for details on instruments and software incorporated on this album.

Joe Macre was a member of Crack The Sky from 1975–1980 and 2004-2009. Joe has also worked with The B. E. Taylor Group, Wild Cherry, King Friday, Jim Croce, David Sanborn, The Brecker Brothers, Marie Osmond, Grammy Award Artist, Oliver Wakeman (and Eddie Offord Yes), Andy Timmons (Danger Danger), Robert Schindler (Johnny Nash), Madukwu Chinwah (Erikah Badu), Keith Green, Clint Brown, and others.

Joe’s award-winning Mixing/Composing credits in films and commercials include “Monster in Law,” “House of D” and “Fire Down Below.” Super Bowl Tabasco’s “Mosquito”, Corona’s “Ship in a Bottle”, Nickelodeon, Showtime, Ford, McDonald’s, Corona, Hyundai, and Oprah Winfrey to name a few.

2018 Joe began work on his latest project Joe Mac’s American Garage with the debut album, Bullet Train featuring a cast of musicians including Chris Elliot and Jerry Oxendyne of 86 Bullets, Pete Hewllett (Billy Joel), Jeff Adams (Facedancer), John Palumbo, Rick Witkowski, Jimmy Griffiths, Bobby Hird and Joey D'Amico (Crack The Sky) and many talented friends who visited Joe’s American Garage Studios. 

Joe was inducted into the board of directors for SPARS (Society of Professional Audio Recording Services) with Leslie Ann Jones, Audio Director at Skywalker Sound, Kevin Mills at Larrabee West Studios, Tim Butler at Chicago Recording (CRC), Jeff Greenberg at The Village Recorder and Steve Davis at Crawford Communications Atlanta. Joe is an active member of AES and the American Federation of Musicians.

Joe’s second album entitled The Dream Is Free is scheduled for a spring release. Tours are also currently in the works.

Genghis Tron are streaming the new song "Ritual Circle", from their upcoming Dream Weapon full-length. Listen below.

Founding member Hamilton Jordan comments:  "When writing and recording this album, one of our aims was to create a deep sonic world the listener can really get lost in. 'Ritual Circle' embodies that for me - it still takes me to another place whenever I listen. Find some headphones, turn it up, and zone out!"

The band’s first new studio outing in over a decade, Genghis Tron’s Hamilton Jordan and Michael Sochynsky are now joined by two new collaborators: vocalist Tony Wolski and Sumac/Baptists drummer Nick Yacyshyn.

Together, the lineup perfects the unique mix of extreme rock and electronic music Genghis Tron has pioneered over their storied career. A melding of hypnotic rhythms and densely layered synth soundscapes, Dream Weapon was recorded and produced alongside long-time collaborator Kurt Ballou at God City Studio in Salem, Massachusetts, with additional production and engineering by Ben Chisolm (Chelsea Wolfe) JJ Heath (Rain City Recorders) and was mastered by Heba Kadry.

Dream Weapon is out March 26 on CD/LP/Digital. Physical pre-orders via Relapse.com are available here. Digital Downloads/Streaming are available here.

Tracklisting:

"Exit Perfect Mind"
"Pyrocene
"Dream Weapon"
"Desert Stairs"
"Alone In The Heart Of The Light"
"Ritual Circle"
"Single Black Point"
"Great Mother"

"Dream Weapon" video:

(Photo - Trevor Naud)

HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale has shared several photos from the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2018's "Vicious" album.

The pictures, which were taken by HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger, with whom Lzzy shares a home in Nashville, can be seen below.

HALESTORM's new LP is once again being helmed by producer Nick Raskulinecz. The team first worked together on 2017's "ReAniMate 3.0: The CoVeRs eP", and according to Hale, he has become their "fifth member."

In a message accompanying the new Instagram photos, Lzzy wrote: "It's been so freeing creating fresh music both at home and at @officialnickraskulinecz ‘s studio. Creation is where I'm happiest, especially since live shows are not an option right now. I've had to learn who I am without touring and live music, something that is not just place of joy for me, or a career, but an extension of who I am as a person. It's a huge part of my identity.

"During the 11 months I've had to get to know myself again, and reintroduce myself to the Lzzy OFF the stage. This courtship has not been easy. I haven't seen her in a while, and the last time she stuck around for this long was when I was 12. Literally I've never gone this long without being onstage in front of a crowd. I mean, even when we first started HALESTORM at age 13, I still had a bowling alley gig twice a month.

"Regardless of how odd it feels, I have transformed, I am not only 'Lzzy the rockstar' and I am not only Elizabeth at home... I am both at once. I do not have to choose. I've accepted myself as an artist and creative mind. Which might sound ridiculous but for most of us in the music industry, Accepting yourself as an Artist is difficult to do. Sometimes it feels like you are riding in the backseat while your life drives you, or that everything you create is not your own and solely meant for everyone else. Once I owned all of the things that make me who I am, and reminded myself of how important it is to be my true self, and create for me.... the songs exploded and took on a whole new life.

"I'm writing and finishing songs every single day. It's like I had built a wall in front of my heart...and the dam just broke! This is my personal metamorphosis. This is my Art. Pure...lawless... Art.

"I encourage all my fellow creators to accept that you were born to be an artist...it is YOUR purpose and pleasure, not anyone else's. Write and create what You want. Stop putting road blocks in your own way, stop following trends or chasing the radio, stop trying to predict what other people are going to connect with...and start connecting with your Truth. Because if you don't believe it, no one else will."

"Halestorm Reimagined", a collection of reworked HALESTORM original songs as well as a cover of "I Will Always Love You", the love ballad made famous by Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, was made available in August.

Lzzy and her brother Arejay (drums) formed the band in 1998 while in middle school. Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by bassist Josh Smith in 2004.

In December 2018, HALESTORM was nominated for a "Best Rock Performance" Grammy Award for its song "Uncomfortable".

In 2012, the band won its first Grammy in the category of "Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance" for "Love Bites (So Do I)". According to the Grammy web site, Lzzy became the first woman to earn a Grammy in the category.
























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A post shared by LZZY HALE (@officiallzzyhale)

Ronnie James Dio's long-awaited autobiography, titled "Rainbow In The Dark: The Autobiography", will be released on July 27 via Permuted Press.

Prior to his tragic death in 2010, Ronnie James Dio had been writing his autobiography, looking back on the remarkable life that led him from his hometown in upstate New York to the biggest stages in the world, including the arena that represented the pinnacle of success to him — Madison Square Garden, where this book begins and ends.

As Ronnie contemplates the achievement of a dream, he reflects on the key aspects that coalesced into this moment — the close gang of friends that gave him his start in music, playing parties, bars, frats, and clubs; the sudden transition that moved him to the microphone and changed his life forever; the luck that led to the birth of RAINBOW and a productive but difficult collaboration with Ritchie Blackmore; the chance meeting that made him the second singer of BLACK SABBATH, taking them to new levels of success; the surprisingly tender story behind the birth of the Devil Horns, the lasting symbol of heavy metal; his marriage to Wendy, which stabilized his life, and the huge bet they placed together to launch the most successful endeavor of his career…his own band, DIO.

Everything is described in great detail and in the frankest terms, from his fallout with Blackmore, to the drugs that derailed the resurrection of BLACK SABBATH, to the personality clashes that frayed each band.

Written with longtime friend of 30 years and esteemed music writer Mick Wall, who took up the mantle after Ronnie's passing, "Rainbow In The Dark" is a frank, startling, often hilarious, sometimes sad testament to dedication and ambition, filled with moving coming-of-age tales, glorious stories of excess, and candid recollections of what really happened backstage at the hotel, in the studio, and back home behind closed doors far away from the road.

"Everything Ronnie did, lyrics or anything, was always handwritten," Wendy told VH1 Classic Rock Nights back in 2010. "He didn't do anything on the computer. So he would handwrite it and then he'd give it to me and then I'd give it to my assistant, she'd type it up. So that's how it went and, of course, I'd read it along the way and it's very, very interesting. It's just interesting the way his stories are; he was a storyteller. Ronnie was always a storyteller and it's just great stories."

Ronnie James Dio passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Dio was renowned throughout the world as one of the greatest and most influential vocalists in heavy metal history. The singer, who was recording and touring with BLACK SABBATH offshoot HEAVEN & HELL prior to his illness, was diagnosed with cancer in late 2009. He underwent chemotherapy and made what is now his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

Paul Stanley received his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier today (Tuesday, February 16).

The 69-year-old KISS frontman took to his Twitter to share that he got the final dose of the vaccine. He posted a photo of him holding his COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card, and he wrote in an accompanying message: "I got my SECOND COVID SHOT this morning! So grateful and THRILLED. PLEASE, let's ALL stay safe as possible and continue to watch out for each other."

A recent Kaiser Family Foundation poll showed almost a third of U.S. adults are undecided on whether they'll get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The poll, released last Friday, found that 31 percent of adults are going to "wait until it has been available for a while to see how it is working for other people" before receiving the coronavirus vaccine.

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.

In recent months, Stanley repeatedly slammed people who refuse to wear a mask in public spaces to protect others from possible coronavirus infection. In December, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to write: "Frankly, I've had enough of the self-serving & politically motivated mask misinformation & BS about this pandemic. I don't want to hear about 'my freedom' & 'my rights' that then infringe on so many other's. Those 'rights' & choosing to gather at Thanksgiving got us here. Wake up".

Three months earlier, he took to his Twitter to share a CNN article about an Idaho pastor who was hospitalized with COVID-19 after calling himself a "no-masker" during a service and repeatedly questioning the veracity of coronavirus case reporting. Stanley added in a message: "YOU figure this one out. I can't. A hoax and non-existent virus has put this guy in the ICU. If you're so concerned with a loss of your freedom , Why do you stop at red lights? Don't let the government control you!! Drive right through!!! PUT YOUR MASK ON."

In early July, Stanley shared a photo of him and his then-eight-year-old daughter Emily wearing masks, and he included the following message: "Sunset at the beach with Emily. WEAR YOUR MASK! Don't listen to conspiracy theorists or graduates of The Internet University Of Medicine. While the credible authorities and experts continue to learn more about Covid 19 they remain in agreement about safety protocols. End of story".

Two months ago, Stanley's KISS bandmate Gene Simmons also criticized ongoing complaints about having to wear masks in the middle of a deadly pandemic, telling the "Jeremy White Podcast": "Believe what you want, but don't hang out around me. Okay? If you're a denier, stay in the shadows. I don't wanna be around you. 'Cause I don't wanna catch what you've got. It's not about you. It's not whether you believe it or not."




I got my SECOND COVID SHOT this morning! So grateful and THRILLED. PLEASE, let's ALL stay safe as possible and continue to watch out for each other. pic.twitter.com/pT3mZQGfPD

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) February 16, 2021