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

During an appearance on today's (Monday, February 15) episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" show, BLACK SABBATH's touring drummer Tommy Clufetos was asked why he did not record the drum tracks on the band's final album, 2013's "13", on which the drums were played by Brad Wilk of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. "That's show business," he said. "That's all you can say. Not everything works out, but in the end, it works out. I'm glad I got to do the tours, and I think I made a good dent, and I was very proud of what I did on stage with those guys. I can't think about what I didn't do. They made a great record, they had a Number One record, and you can't argue with that either. So there you go."

Asked if ever had any pinch-me, "holy shit" moments while performing with BLACK SABBATH during "The End" tour, Tommy said: "Yes and no. Meaning, the best thing about playing with those guys, it's not that it was BLACK SABBATH, it's that all three of those guys, they may have their differences, but when they go on stage, they are a hundred and ten percent into being a group together, more so than anybody I've ever played with. It's a unit up there — that's what makes them so great. Tony [Iommi, guitar] may lead a certain part of the set somewhere, or a song, Geezer [Butler, bass] may lead a part, and this guy may step back, and that guy may step forward. And they're backstage getting ready for the show. They're not worried about Instagram or meeting people. Everybody on that stage, myself included, was a hundred and ten percent. That's what made it so great. On top of that, playing amazing, legendary, iconic music with the guys who wrote it and created it was undeniably awesome, and it was a privilege, and it made me a better musician playing with those three guys together. And that was an honor — more so than it being BLACK SABBATH, if that makes sense, because that's a special thing, that's a rarity, and that's what makes them BLACK SABBATH."

He added: "You can't have a career that all of these guys have had — it's no mistake for any of them, why they're still successful and people wanna hear their music. It's no mistake why Ozzy [Osbourne, vocals] is still successful. It's 'cause he's awesome. Tony is awesome, [and] Geezer is awesome."

Back in 2013, Ozzy told Billboard that the way Clufetos's exclusion from the "13" album was dealt with "wasn't very fair on Tommy. [Producer] Rick Rubin just didn't want to work with him for reasons I don't know," Osbourne said. "He's a great drummer, and he's been with me for awhile now and I just felt that nobody discussed the decision about Brad to me, and it's not fair to Tommy. Tommy was promised the album... It's not because he was my drummer and my ego wanted him. It was just the fact the way it was dealt with. It just got me a bit, it got me pissed off about it. It's all right now. He's a great drummer. I don't know what the problem was."

As for Wilk, Osbourne said he "did a good job. I don't have anything bad to say. He's a very nice guy."

In an e-mail to Billboard, Rubin explained that "Brad is a muscular drummer with great feel and understands the groovy nature of their music — RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE is a groovy rock band, not a metal band — so it was worth a try. When they played together the first time, it was obvious he would do a great job in the seat [original SABBATH drummer] Bill [Ward] left vacated. Bill's a great drummer and I'm sure it would have been an amazing album with him. We all wanted him to participate."

Asked what happened with Bill Ward, who was announced as part of the band's reunion in late 2011 but bowed out a few months later, Ozzy told Spin, "To be absolutely truthful with you, I can't really remember. It was such a long time ago. There was the business side of it and the money side of it. We just didn't have the time to keep the people waiting another fucking ten years . . . We would have loved Bill Ward to step up to the plate, but it never worked out."

Ward claimed that he sat out the reunion because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

"13" was the first album in 35 years to feature Osbourne, Iommi and Butler all playing together.

In February 2017, SABBATH finished "The End" tour in Birmingham, closing out the quartet's groundbreaking 49-year career.

"The End" was SABBATH's last tour because Iommi, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 and is currently in remission, can no longer travel for extended amounts of time.

Last month, the FOO FIGHTERS were part of the virtual "Celebrating America" concert special for Joe Biden's inauguration, during which they performed "Times Like These". In a new interview with Tom Power, host of "Q" on Canada's CBC Radio One, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl stated about the experience (see video below): "You have to understand that sometimes it seems so surreal that I feel like I'm standing beside myself and watching it happen. I've actually written a little bit about how it's like your life flashing before your eyes as it's happening. So it's strange.

"It's hard for me to connect all of those dots, because there is a lot of 'full circle' going on there," he continued. "I grew up outside of Washington, D.C. My father was a Republican speech writer. He was involved in politics. I spent time on Capitol Hill.

"So, putting all those things together, with the the First Lady, Dr. Jill Biden, being a teacher, and my mother being a public school teacher for 35 years — retired now — all of these things kind of connected together to then this performance of a song that I wrote 18 years ago that's not a political song at all. It's just a song about hitting some crossroads in your life where you feel that you need some sort of rebirth, or some restart. But you have hope."

Grohl added: "I've always thought that when someone dear to you, someone close to you passes away, you have to start all over again. So you have to do everything in life all over again — your first cup of coffee since you've lost that person; your first trip to the grocery store since you've lost [that person]; and so on and so on and so on. It's basically what that song's about — about learning to love again, learning to live again; things like that.

"I think the reason why we were asked to perform was because, in the States, we need that. So it's a rebuilding in a hopeful way. And I think that's why they requested that we play that song. And it was an honor."

Back in 2018, Grohl said that he was "ashamed" of having Donald Trump as the U.S. leader, explaining that the billionaire real estate mogul "seems like a massive jerk."

"Today, the American Dream is broken," Grohl told the British GQ magazine at the time. "I've probably travelled internationally more than our current president and the one thing I understand that he doesn't is that the world isn't as big as you think it is. It is all in your neighborhood. India, Asia, Iceland aren't other solar systems. I am ashamed of our president. I feel apologetic for it when I travel."

In 2017, Grohl said in an interview with Switzerland's SRF 3 that criticism of Trump's extremist rhetoric by musicians and Hollywood stars only served to embolden and fuel his base. "I think that for years maybe they felt like the minority and now all of a sudden there's a voice that they can sort of attach themselves to, and the more pushback they get from that, it's like the stronger they feel in a lot of ways," Grohl explained. "So all you can do is fight the good fight every day when you wake up and try to be a good person and treat everybody with respect."

Asked how he, as a responsible parent, talked with his kids about the often-inflammatory behavior we saw from America's 45th president on a daily basis, Grohl told SRF 3: "I remember the night of the election, I had to sit down and have a talk with my daughter. She was terrified, man. And I basically told her what I'd just told you. I was, like, 'You can't give up hope. You just have to fight the good fight. And the things you believe in… You have to stand up and represent the things that you actually believe in.' That's what everybody should do. But I think it's hard for a kid to understand that."








Music has the power to change the world. So does voting.

Join us and many other performers for a concert to support @JoeBiden, @KamalaHarris and Democrats down the ballot.

Sign up here: https://t.co/icIBoF580w#VoteEarlyDay pic.twitter.com/QJGorHqDfa

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) October 24, 2020

QUEENSRŸCHE vocalist Todd La Torre was recently interviewed by Greece's "TV War" about his new solo album, "Rejoice In The Suffering". You can now watch the chat below.

Speaking about the lyrical inspiration for his solo song "Critical Cynic", Todd said: "I don't wanna sit here and talk shit about America, but I don't see it as prevalent in other areas of the world where you have such protests over wearing a mask, for example. Here, everything is open in Florida [where I live]. BUCKCHERRY, the band, they're playing a concert in two days down the street at a venue. Bands are playing live music, bars are open, restaurants are open, hair salons, fitness centers, the mall — everything's open.

"I was at a home improvement store, and there was a guy that didn't even [have the mask on]; it was, like, down [below his chin], the mask. And I said to the lady [at the store], 'Hey, what do you do about guys like that that don't wear the mask?' And she says, 'Personally, I don't wait on them.' I said, 'Can't you make them leave or put it on?' She says, 'We're not allowed to.' So a lot of places, their policy, even though some places will say, 'You have to wear it or you're not allowed to be in here.' But there are many places that they are afraid of retailiation with shootings, 'cause it's happened, where people say, 'Put your mask on or get out,' that person comes back with a gun and shoots them. And it's crazy."

La Torre, whose wife is from Greece, continued: "But getting more to the point of the song, higher education… Education in Greece, I know, is paramount. Generally speaking, it is stressed that your education is important and studies and the Panhellenic Exams and all of these things… And higher learning is revered. Science is important. Skepticism is important. But in America, people, they don't believe what's happened over the last several years. People have gone from skepticism to just complete disbelief of anything and everything they hear or see. So you can have an epidemiologist that spent their life as an expert in this field, and then you have other people that just think it's B.S. — they don't believe it. So you have this weird thing where, as a matter of public safety, [some people say] 'You are infringing on my rights. This is America,' and that kind of mentality. And you say, 'Wait a minute. Your rights stop when you are in a public place, and now public health and safety is the concern.'

"So that song, 'Critical Cynic', was written about science deniers and the people that are not taking the evidence… I mean, even in Greece, you guys have been very… If you wanna go to the market [in Greece], you need to go to the market in your area — you can't just go to wherever. Over here [in Florida], I can drive anywhere I want — I can go anywhere I want. There are no measures that are very strict, and let's try to be strong now and lock things down so that hopefully we can get this under control, and the long-sighted vision is that we'll try to get back to normal."

Asked if he thinks things will change in the U.S. now that a new administration has moved into the White House, Todd said: "I think so. I mean, let's be honest: it's a very divided country; this country is very polarized. And you have to be careful. I mean, people have been mad at me: 'Oh, he's a liberal,' and blah blah blah, and, 'I don't wanna support the band he's in anymore,' or, 'I don't wanna buy his record because he's against Donald Trump,' for example, or whatever.

"Look, the facts are the facts," he continued. "And the world — you're in Europe; I've traveled all over — wasn't so favorable. And trying to work with our allies and get back into things that we can agree on that are bad for the environment. And civil rights. You don't ban countries because of their religion from flying into our country. So there are things that are just what I consider right and wrong. But I think that this administration will get things back to zero, in my opinion. But one of the things that I always think is important should be some type of socialized health care system.

"I needed some things done, and it was eight hundred dollars here. I was in Athens with my wife and my in-laws, and I got a bunch of stuff, some tests done, and it cost me 50 euros," he explained. "You guys, in your constitution, have that health is a right, and everyone pays in for the betterment of the society as people. But over here, it's 'F.U. I'm not gonna pay for your kid to go to school.' 'I'm not gonna pay for you to get treatment.' And so it's a very different mentality.

"I don't think that Joe Biden is gonna quite go where I want it to go, but I think that it will start to give us some semblance of normalcy again, let things calm down without tweets every five seconds and all this divisiveness. I don't think it's good for any of us."

"Rejoice In The Suffering" was released on February 5 via Rat Pak Records. Todd created the LP with his songwriting partner Craig Blackwell and producer Chris "Zeuss" Harris.

Never a musician to waste any precious time, ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS vocalist Myles Kennedy used the recent pandemic downtime to finalize his sophomore solo album. The finished result is the exciting new offering, "The Ides Of March", which incorporates Myles's love of rock, blues and country and is slated for release on May 14 via Napalm Records.

During his time at home due to all touring being canceled, Myles created the framework for the song ideas that would make up "The Ides Of March". He then called up his cohorts from his "Year Of The Tiger" debut — longtime friend and drummer Zia Uddin and bassist/manager Tim Tournier — and the three musicians drove to Florida to record the album with longtime producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette.

From the slide guitar riffs of the album opener "Get Along" to the pensive blues style of closer "Worried Mind", it is clear that Myles has crafted a formidable follow up to his debut solo album. While "Year Of The Tiger" was more of an acoustic exploration through Myles's mind, "The Ides Of March" finds him strapping on his electric guitar and pushing himself as a guitarist/songwriter. Tracks like "A Thousand Words", "Wake Me When It's Over" and "Moonshot" showcase the diverse musical arrangements that have garnered Myles fans globally across all of his projects. The epic "The Ides Of March" clocks in at over seven minutes, and Myles, Tim and Zia showcase their musical chops on the track.

The first single, "In Stride", opens with Myles showcasing his slide playing before delivering a lyrical message to "take it all in stride." The video for "In Stride" marks a return by Stefano Bertelli (who created the recent "Native Son" video for ALTER BRIDGE) and shows an animated Myles as he takes the end of the world in stride.

"Chill out. That pretty much sums it up," explains Myles about the single. "The lyric paints a picture of a survivalist preparing for an impending zombie apocalypse. It was inspired by the first wave of lockdowns as everyone was buying vast amounts of toilet paper and supplies. I started to ask myself if it might be wise to try and gain some perspective and not overreact… keep calm and carry on."

"The Ides Of March" track listing:

01. Get Along

02. A Thousand Words

03. In Stride

04. The Ides Of March

05. Wake Me When It's Over

06. Love Rain Down

07. Tell It Like It Is

08. Moonshot

09. Wanderlust Begins

10. Sifting Through The Fire

11. Worried Mind

In November, Myles told Kylie Olsson about how "The Ides Of March" compares to "Year Of The Tiger": "It dawned on me last night as I was listening [to the new album], I was, like, 'You basically made a rock record.' [Laughs] I don't know if I went into it with that intention initially. And I feel like it definitely is still a continuation of the overall style that was established for the solo project on 'Year Of The Tiger'. There's a fair amount of acoustic instrumentation; there's a lot of lap steel [guitar]. I love the lap steel; I just love the way you can make it weep — it's got a very vocal quality. But then I realized there's just a lot of guitar and a lot more solos — you know, guitar geek stuff that I enjoy."

A month earlier, Kennedy told Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA that it was a joy to reconnect with Uddin, Tournier and Baskette for the making of the new LP.

"Oh, yeah, it was great," he said. "It was great, because we actually drove [to the studio in Florida]. So Zia, my drummer, who, we've played together for the last 30 years, off and on, since we were in high school. He's, in my opinion, one of the greatest rock and roll drummers alive; he's so good, it's mind-boggling. So we started driving. We left Spokane, with the gear in tow. And then we met Tim about halfway. I think we met somewhere in Tennessee, maybe. Then we after driving to Orlando, we all quarantined. Zia did his drums and then he went home, and then Tim finished up. He hung around for a little while. And then I was there for, I think, seven weeks with Elvis."

He continued: "It's a fun environment. We all love each other dearly. I'm serious when I say this: we're a bunch of middle-aged children. I mean, it's as if we've taken a time machine and we're in the seventh grade. And the humor is ridiculously silly. I don't even know how to articulate how ridiculous it gets when you put all of us in a studio together. [Laughs]"

Myles's tour in support of "Year Of The Tiger" featured music from the album as well as selections from Myles's work with ALTER BRIDGE, THE MAYFIELD FOUR and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS.

Photo credit: Chuck Brueckmann

According to Notes From Poland, BEHEMOTH frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski has been convicted for offending religious feelings by a court in Warsaw. The charges stemmed from an image the Polish musician posted on social media showing a foot stamping on a picture of the Virgin Mary.

Darski was ordered to pay a fine of 15,000 złoty (approximately $4,000) and court costs of almost 3,500 zloty (approximately $942). However, since Darski has contested the judgement, the case will now go to trial.

After Darski shared the image on his social media in September 2019, an ultraconservative legal group, Ordo Iuris, and an organization called the Patriotic Society (Towarzystwo Patriotyczne) notified prosecutors that Darski had "offended the religious feelings of four people," including a local politician from Poland’s conservative ruling coalition.

"In the course of proceedings, the aggrieved parties were questioned and they clearly stated that their religious feelings were offended," said the spokeswoman for Warsaw district prosecutor's office, Aleksandra Skrzyniarz.

Prosecutors also consulted an expert in religious studies, whose "opinion clearly concludes that treading with a shoe on the image of the Mother of God is an offence against religious feelings," Skrzyniarz added.

Article 196 of Poland's penal code says that "Whoever offends the religious feelings of other persons by publicly insulting an object of religious worship, or a place designated for public religious ceremonies, is liable to pay a fine, have his or her liberty limited, or be deprived of his or her liberty for a period of up to two years."

Amnesty International has previously called on the Polish authorities to repeal or amend legal provisions, such as article 196 of the Criminal Code, that criminalize statements protected by the right to freedom of expression.

According to Human Rights Watch, international human rights law permits states to impose certain restrictions on the exercise of the right to freedom of expression only if such restrictions are provided by law and are demonstrably necessary and proportionate for the protection of certain specified public interests (national security, public order, protection of health or morals) or for the protection of the rights of others (including the right to protection against discrimination).

This is not the first time Nergal has encountered legal problems in Poland related to his social media activities. Back in January 2018, it was announced that Nergal was being formally charged by Polish authorities in a case involving BEHEMOTH's "Republic Of The Unfaithful" tour artwork and merchandise, which was said to be "insulting" to the national coat of arms of Poland, a stylized white eagle with a golden beak and talons, and wearing a golden crown, in a red shield. Nergal and Maciej G., who, as the band's webmaster, promoted the tour online, were accused of publicly affronting the Polish national emblem, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison. Also charged was Rafał Wechterowicz, the graphic artist who worked on the BEHEMOTH artwork. Three months later, Nergal posted an update via Instagram, revealing that "all the absurd charges" against him were "dismissed."

In 2011, Nergal was acquitted in Poland on charges he insulted religious sentiment when he called the Catholic Church "the most murderous cult on the planet" during the band's September 2007 performance in Gdynia and tore up a copy of the Bible, calling it "a book of lies."




„Okoliczności czynu i wina nie budzą wątpliwości”

„Nergal” skazany na 15.000 zł grzywny i 3.453 zł kosztów za obrazę uczuć relig. przez znieważenie obrazu NMP - publikując zdjęcia zniszczonego obrazu nadepniętego obutą nogą.

Gratuluję interwencji @OrdoIuris i @DariuszMatecki! pic.twitter.com/5wP6EFpp3u

— Jerzy Kwaśniewski (@jerzKwasniewski) February 15, 2021






On the set

Posted by Adam Nergal Darski on Wednesday, September 25, 2019

KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch spoke to "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, about the role of music in his life, especially as someone who got sober and found faith more than a decade and a half ago.

"I just feel like music is so important for the human soul — for some more than others," he said (hear audio below). "We're all created different; we've all got different things going, different mechanisms, or whatever you call it, in us.

"I'm an emotional guy, and I feel greatly — I feel the highs and I feel the lows," he continued. "And so music has really been there for me to help carry me out of the lows and help me soar in the highs. And for now, I just feel like music balances me in a special way to center and focus on the internal, which is my mind and my emotions, to stay steady, to stay at peace. Contentment is the key word, I think, that I'm looking for in life.

"What I do is I go to this instrumental, atmospheric music, and I go to my contemplation and meditation, and I just center myself there," Welch added. "And every day I do it, and it's so beneficial for me. And then, when I wanna have fun, I listen to the crazy stuff. But music is so important for me — more than ever — especially during these times that we're in."

Welch left KORN in early 2005, at the same time announcing that he kicked his addictions to drugs and alcohol by becoming a born-again Christian. He rejoined the band in 2013.

Both Welch and KORN bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu have had highly public, though separate, conversion experiences, ones that have been greeted with a certain amount of skepticism.

Welch's LOVE AND DEATH project released its new album, "Perfectly Preserved", on February 12 via Earache Records.

Dark folk project, The Devil's Trade, has teamed up with industrial noise artist John Connor (LLNN) to collaborate on a new creative approach for the track "Dead Sister". With the incorporation of dark beats and other electronic additions, a new sonic version was born; "Dead Sister Merope". Watch the video below.

The band comments on the collaboration: "Only a handful of bands create such worlds I can relate to and when I saw LLNN in Budapest a few years ago, I immediately became a fan. So when Rasmus and Ketil asked me about their new electronic project, John Connor, I had a very hard time not to act like a crazy fanboy. Being a singer songwriter without a band I can build my songs up to a certain level but never to its full potential. They built it to a higher level where I am not able to go alone and where it became bigger than just a song."

Says John Connor: "With admiration for sci-fi music composers such as Alex North (Stanley Kubrick, 2001 - A Space Odyssey), Jóhan Jóhannsson (Denis Villeneuve, Arrival) and of course Brad Fiedel (James Cameron, Terminator) our creative approach was to launch 'Dead Sister' into space and in orbit. To create 'something else' light years apart from the original. Though still by maintaining the integrity and sincerity of the vocals. We’ve been enjoying the music from The Devil’s Trade for quite some time now, so it’s been a great experience to finally be working together. It's an interesting match of musical expressions formed by the same DNA."

The original version of "Dead Sister" is featured on the album Call Of The Iron Peak, released in August 2020. The album can be ordered here.

Tracklisting:

"The Iron Peak"
"Dead Sister"
"III"
"No Arrival"
"Expelling Of The Crafty Ape"
"IIIIIIIIIIII"
"Három Árva"
"Eyes In The Fire"
"IIIIII"
"Dreams From The Rot"
"The Call Of The Iron Peak"

Album stream:

Fuath, the atmospheric black metal offshoot of Saor’s Andy Marshall, will be releasing its upcoming full-length II, on March 19 via Season of Mist Underground Activists. Fuath is now sharing the official music video for the second single from the offering, "Into the Forest of Shadows," which can be seen below.

Originally slated as a one-off project after the release of 2016’s I, Marshall has decided to turn Fuath into a serious project. Written during the winter of 2019 and then recorded in August and September 2020 at Fortriu Studios in Scotland, II features Marshall handling vocals and all instrumentation except for drums, which were performed by Carlos Vivas in Spain. Whereas I dutifully remained within the boundaries of conventional black metal, II finds the songs going further into the frozen plains with elaborate doses of melody, ominous riffing and hypnotic blast-beat sections. II marks a huge progression for Fuath from I. When writing the debut album, Marshall was treading Fuath as a side-project and didn’t have a formalized idea of how he wanted it to sound. In contrast, II is an improvement across the board with better-crafted songs, sharper black metal vocals from Marshall and enhanced production values.

Tracklisting:

“Prophecies”
“The Pyre”
“Into The Forest Of Shadows”
“Essence”
“Endless Winter”

“Into The Forest Of Shadows” video:

“Prophecies” video:

On April 16, Endseeker will release their new album, Mount Carcass, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the record, a video for the new single, "Unholy Rites" (directed and edited by the band's own Ben Liepelt), can be viewed below.

After unleashing Mount Carcass, Endseeker will host a record release livestream show on Sunday, April 18 at 10 AM, PST/1 PM, EST/ 7 PM, CET. Streamed live from Knust, Hamburg, reserve your ticket here.

* Tickets are available only as bundles with purchase of CD or vinyl (shirt optional) via Kings Road

Endseeker comments: "We took all the frustration and despair over the cancelled shows and the whole misery COVID has brought upon us all and forged it into a bunch of straight forward, powerful songs that accompanied us through 2020 and will now be shared with the rest of the world. Mount Carcass is definitely our most focused - in a way, even the angriest - record so far, and 'Unholy Rites', with its uplifting zombie-vibe, is the perfect opener for this new chapter in the history of Endseeker. We'd of course love to start this new chapter with YOU, our fans. Sadly, there won't be a sweaty sold-out release show like last time, however, we're back at the Knust in Hamburg on April 18th for a special livestream event (more details to be revealed soon). Come and celebrate with us online until we see each other in the pit again!"

Having become one of the premier German death metal bands - and rapidly rising the ranks of the genre as a whole - Endseeker storm back into the fray with Mount Carcass. Building on the groundwork laid down on 2017's Flesh Hammer Prophecy and having the difficult task of besting 2019's stunning The Harvest, they have returned with a streamlined, powerful collection that further raises the bar.

Like both of its predecessors, Mount Carcass was recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Eike Freese at Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, Germany. Going into the record, Endseeker knew they wanted something rawer and more organic than The Harvest, and while COVID was causing global havoc, the band embraced the time they would have otherwise spent touring, using it to rehearse and discuss what they wanted the record to be. From this process they knew they wanted the songs to be quite straightforward and even have something of a "punkish / crust feel, so to speak. The songs are pretty reduced to the core with all the ballast removed. Every part and every riff has a meaning and isn't just there for no other reason than extending the song. The album is also very melodic. There are a bunch of very strong guitar hooks and vocal compositions that really stick in your ears for days. It's way simpler and probably more easy to listen to compared to 'The Harvest' or 'Flesh Hammer Prophecy', but at the same time, it has a very spontaneous and lively attitude with a big chunk of personality."

To keep the genre sounding fresh in 2021, they focused on the production, having just a touch of the old school vibe to remain rooted, and they did not limit themselves too hard to the Swedish death metal style of songwriting they previously embraced, but also let other influences into their songs.

"You can hear all kinds of stuff that is inspired by bands like Morbid Angel, Bolt Thrower, Slayer, Dissection, Gorefest, etc. We listen to so many different bands, and somehow, a bit from all of this keeps adding to our music."

Mount Carcass is available for pre-order here in the following formats:

- digipak-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- brick red marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- dark viole(n)t marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- orange / black dust vinyl (Limited to 200 copies)

Mount Carcass tracklisting:

"Unholy Rites"
"Merciless Tide"
"Bloodline"
"Mount Carcass"
"Count The Dead"
"Cult"
"Moribund"
"Frantic Redemption"
"Escape From New York" (John Carpenter cover)

"Unholy Rites" video:

Endseeker lineup:

Lenny - vocals
Jury - guitars
Ben - guitars
Eggert - bass
Kummer - drums

(Photo - Toni Gunner)

Italian power/progressive metallers, Secret Sphere, are back with a new studio album, Lifeblood, out March 12. The album, aside from the deft musical prowess on display, is also special because of the return of original vocalist Roberto Messina.

Today, the band has released a lyric video for the song, "The End Of An Ego". Check it out below, and pre-order/save Lifeblood here.

Now approaching nearly 25 years of existence, Secret Sphere has been steadily and reliably crafting epic, melodic European metal of the power and progressive variety for their entire careers. With a rejuvenated line-up for their latest album, Lifeblood shows a band breathing new life and enjoying themselves.

"I spent the past two years thinking about the future of Secret Sphere and there was something missing. I needed to rediscover the joy in writing music for this band that has been part of my life for more than 20 years. And I'm pleased to say I found it. Lifeblood is the celebration of the joy to compose music," says founding member and guitarist Aldo Lonobile

The new album also marks the return of vocalist Roberto Messina to the fold, who fronted the band from 1997 – 2012. The reunion with Roberto takes everything back to those glorious early days for the band, with the same joy and will to make music for fun. Lifeblood is the result of this new found power. The album celebrates the classical sound of Secret Sphere with more energy, bombastic arrangements, and memorable choruses. An absolute must hear for not only fans of the band, but European metal fans in general.

Vocalist Roberto Messina says, “Lifeblood is the album that celebrates my return to the band, to my old roots, and “home” where I feel inspired and free. It also marks the return of the band Secret Sphere itself to its early unique style of pure, energetic, creative, and melodic power metal. Ten songs composed by a team of true friends, with a fun and metal attitude, killer production, and performances. We kick things off with the direct and aggressive title track, which includes more structured compositions and dreamy atmospheres, all with the guiding thread of catchy riffs and refrains that will remain etched in your memory. What we started more than twenty years ago is stronger than ever today!"

Tracklisting:

"Shaping Reality"
"Lifeblood"
"The End Of An Ego"
"Life Survivors"
"Alive"
"Against All The Odds"
"Thank You"
"The Violent Ones"
"Solitary Fight"
"Skywards"
"The Lie We Love"

"The End Of An Ego" lyric video:

"Lifeblood" video:

Lineup:

Roberto Messina - Voice
Aldo Lonobile - Guitars
Andrea Buratto - Bass
Gabriele Ciaccia - Keyboards
Marco Lazzarini - Drums

Joel Hoekstra, best known to rock fans as the current guitarist for Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and also known for his work with Night Ranger and the Broadway show Rock Of Ages), returns with his second album, Running Games, from his electrifying solo project, Joel Hoekstra’s 13. Joined by Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards), Joel and company pick up where his debut, Dying To Live left off.

The new album is out now. Order here.

Hoekstra stopped by Guitar World to teach the solo to his new single, "How Do You", from Running Games. Check it out below:

On Running Games, Hoekstra once again handles the bulk of the creative process, overseeing production, songwriting and arranging (music and lyrics), and crafting his vision for this powerful hard rock gem. Add Chris Collier’s masterful mixing and the result is ‘70s/’80s classic hard rock with 2020’s muscle. As with the debut, Running Games features an all-star cast of musicians including none other than Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards). The amazing Jeff Scott Soto also lends a helping hand with background vocals.

Says Joel, “Years ago, I released three solo albums that were mainly instrumental guitar music. With Joel Hoekstra's 13, I have started to work on something that showcases my production, writing, and playing in the genre that I'm known for, which is melodic hard rock.”

Like Dying To Live, Running Games can be described as Dio’ish at it’s heaviest, but is also influenced by the blues- based sound of Whitesnake as well as melodic bands like Foreigner, Journey, and the like.

Hoekstra says, "‘Hard To Say Goodbye’ definitely represents the more melodic sound of the album, but rock fans can also look forward to some aggressive tracks."

On Running Games, lyrically Joel focuses on escaping problems both past and present by providing playful, imaginary, and serious takes on the situations.

Long hailed for his fiery, tasteful guitar playing, Hoekstra’s playing here raises the bar to a new level.

Tracklisting:

"Finish Line"
"I’m Gonna Lose It"
"Hard To Say Goodbye"
"How Do You"
"Heart Attack"
"Fantasy"
"Lonely Days"
"Reach The Sky"
"Cried Enough For You"
"Take What’s Mine"
"Running Games"
"Lay Down Your Love" (Bonus Track - Digital)

"How Do You":

"Finish Line" video:

"Hard To Say Goodbye":

Lineup:

Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake/Trans-Siberian Orchestra) - guitars
Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) - lead vocals, backing vocals
Vinny Appice (ex-Black Sabbath, DIO) - drums
Tony Franklin (ex-The Firm, Blue Murder) - bass
Derek Sherinian (Sons Of Apollo, Dream Theater, Black Country Communion) - keyboards
Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Appollo, Trans-Siberian Orchestra) - backing vocals

Special Guests:

Lenny Castro (Toto) - percussion
Chloe Lowery (Trans-Siberian Orchestra) - backing vocals
Dave Eggar (Evanescence, Coldplay) - cello
Katie Kresek (Adele, Five For Fighting) - violin, viola

Swedish heavy metal commando, Enforcer, will release their second live album, Live By Fire II, via Nuclear Blast Records on March 19. Today, the band releases a live video for the second single, "Destroyer". Watch below.

Olof Wikstrand comments: “'Destroyer'! The song where the title says it all. It’s another live classic from the previous five years that kicks the audience in their ass and get’s them going. Among my all-time favorites to open with and to play live.”

Live By Fire II offers an intense and passionate performance captured in front of a truly dedicated and wild audience in Mexico City, 2019. Live By Fire II lets you experience Enforcer at the top of their game and marks an outstanding live record documenting the group’s steady path to global recognition in recent years. It also serves as a stunning reminder of how many heavy metal anthems ENFORCER have crafted on their total of five studio albums so far! From the speed metal attack of "Destroyer." "Searching For You," "Midnight Vice" to perfect sing-alongs like "From Beyond," "One Thousand Years In Darkness." and "Take Me Out Of This Nightmare," the enthusiastic crowd and powerful sound of Live By Fire II result in a captivating and extremely entertaining listen.

Physical formats of the release will be including extensive booklets containing a tour program, liner notes and tons of photos compiled and designed by vocalist/guitarist Olof Wikstrand recapturing ENFORCER’s touring cycle for the albums From Beyond and Zenith during the years 2015-2020. Live By Fire II will be released as Gatefold 2LP with 16-LP sized booklet, CD with 28-page booklet, and digital album.

Pre-order the album in the format of your choice, here.

The full video of the entire show will be premiered on the release date. Set a reminder here.

Tracklisting:

"Die For The Devil"      
"Searching For You"     
"Undying Evil "  
"From Beyond"
"Bells Of Hades" + "Death Rides This Night"        
"Zenith Of The Black Sun"        
"Live For The Night"     
"Mesmerized By Fire"  
"One Thousand Years Of Darkness"  
Guitar Solo + City Lights Jam
"Scream Of The Savage"          
Drum Solo      
"Run For Your Life"       
"Take Me Out Of This Nightmare"       
"Destroyer"       
"Katana"           
"Midnight Vice"

"From Beyond" live video:

Lineup:

Olof Wikstrand - vocals, guitars
Jonas Wikstrand - drums, piano & keyboards
Tobias Lindqvist - bass
Jonathan Nordwall - guitars

Black Lodge Records announce the signing of Swedish death/thrash metal act, Siniestro, and their new album, Vortexx, which is set for a May 14 release.

The first track from the album, "One Last Bullet One Last Ride", will be out on March 19 along with a music video. The album will also feature guest appearances by Erik Grawsiö from Månegarm and Jens Järvinen from Järnblod.

Commander (vocals, guitar, bass, organ) comments: "We are proud to announce that we will release the new album Vortexx in 2021. We have signed and sealed the deal with Black Lodge Records. We're looking forward to the great journey we have ahead of us. Take no prisoners. Leave no one alive."

Pre-order Vortexx here.

Vortexx tracklisting:

"One Last Bullet One Last Ride"
"Vortex"
"Blod eld död"
"Black Acid Rain"
"Hiisi" (Instrumental)
"Escape by Death"
"Den svartaste flamman och renaste hat"
"Buried in the Bog"
"Anti Human Commando"
"My Innermost Sun" (Instrumental)

Temperance will release their new acoustic EP, Melodies Of Green And Blue, on February 19 via Napalm Records. The new single, “Paint The World",  is one of the six acoustic renditions of songs from their album, Viridian, found on the melodic/symphonic metal outfit’s new EP. After many years of band history and tours with genre giants like Nightwish, Luca Turilli's Rhapsodey and Tarja, Temperance will release Melodies Of Green And Blue – a gift to their loyal fans.

On this acoustic version, sparkling musical production hits multi-layered vocal harmonies in a dense and catchy acoustic composition. With “Paint The World”, Temperance invites you into a stripped back musical setting, offering glorious melodies and rich chords to pleasantly get lost in.

Singer Michele Guaitoli about “Paint The World”: "Together with the emotion of going acoustic, we also had the chance to write some brand new tracks for this acoustic EP, moving away from the original style of the band. Even though we released tracks like “Gaia” or “Scent Of Dye” before, “Paint The World” is a semi-acoustic ballad that would have been hard to include in any other Temperance’s record as it too much in between the acoustic world and the electric world. Like many other times in Temperance’s history, we immediately took advantage of this possibility that Napalm gave us, to experiment with something different and new. I believe in this song as you can clearly feel the influences of our youth, the alternative rock of the early 2000s, and the beginning of our musical dreams: the dreams of a bunch of kids who wanted to paint their own picture of this world.“

Watch the music video for “Paint The World” below:

Michele Guaitoli comments on the Melodies Of Green And Blue EP: "We’ve been talking about recording some acoustic versions of our tracks for a long time, as we all love the intimate and emotional feeling that this particular style can offer to any tracks. If you think of it, this is how most of our songs are composed: it’s Marco on his guitar or me on the piano. Everything for us begins in acoustic before going metal. This EP is a little dream come true, as we can finally show the heart of our music in its purest version."

Pre-order Melodies Of Green And Blue here.

Tracklisting:

"Paint the World"
"Evelyn"
"Let It Beat"
"I Am the Fire"
"Nanook"
"Start Another Round"
"My Demons Can't Sleep"
"Gaia"

“Evelyn” (Acoustic) video:

"Start Another Round" (Acoustic) video:

Temperance is:

Alessia Scolletti - Vocals
Michele Guaitoli - Vocals & Piano
Marco Pastorino - Guitar & Vocals
Luca Negro - Bass
Alfonso Mocerino – Drums

(Photo - Ermes Buttolo)

In August 2019, power metal newcomers Northtale released their successful debut album Welcome To Paradise and recently announced their new vocalist, 30 year old Guilherme Hirose from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Today, the band is happy to reveal a new clip of the song "Bring Down The Mountain" with Hirose on vocals. 

"After getting such amazing feedback on our new singer, you asked us to hear him singing some of the songs from Welcome To Paradise. Based on your feedback and your votes, we present you the first video of Guilherme Hirose singing 'Bring Down The Mountain'. That being said... just wait to hear him on our new album," comments guitarist Bill Hudson. 

Hudson issued the following statement regarding Hirose coming on board as Northtale's new singer:

"Guilherme blew my mind through his initial auditions, nailing the songs from the first album as if they were written for his own voice. But he really shined on our new songs. When he sent me the first recording, I knew he was the guy. I had no doubt. When I presented him to the band to get their opinions, they unanimously voted for him! We’re a band once again! We’re currently recording vocals at Dharma Studios in São Paulo, Brazil with engineer Rodrigo Oliveira partnering up with Dennis Ward to deliver amazing performances. We’re once again ready to hit the road!" 

Guilherme Hirose adds: "Well it’s just amazing being in a band with such great world class musicians. We’ve been talking since June, and in August I received a Bill’s call, telling I me was the chosen one. Things were shaping just great since, and the new songs sound just awesome (I know it’s a cliché, but that’s exactly how it feels). I’m very much looking forward to hitting the road, as soon as possible, having fun with the guys and with you in your city!"

Northtale recently announced European tour dates with Striker and headliners Unleash The Archers. Dates are as follows:

November
24 - Berlin, Germany - Columbia Theater
25 - Hamburg, Germany - Kronensaal
26 - Kassel, Germany - Goldgrube
27 - Zlin, Czech Republic - Winter Masters Of Rock **
28 - Wroclaw, Poland - Pralnia
30 - Ljubljana, Slovenia - Orto Bar

December
1 - Vienna, Austria -  Szene
2 - Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
3 - Geiselwind, Germany - Christmas Bash **
4 - Mannheim, Germany -7er Club
5 - Leipzig, Germany - Hellraiser
7 - Lyon, France - Warmaudio
8 - Paris, France - Backstage
9 - Toulouse, France - L’usine à Musique
10 - Bilbao, Spain - Stage Live
11 - Madrid, Spain Shoko
12 - Barcelona, Spain - Razzmatazz 2
14 - Milan, Italy - Legend Club
15 - Aarau, Switzerland - Kiff
16 - Siegburg, Germany - Kubana
17 - Aarschot, Belgium - De Klinker
18 - Eindhoven, Netherlands - Dynamo
19 - Munich, Germany - Backstage Halle

** Unleash The Archers only