One week ago, "An Epoch Ellipsis", the second single of The Amenta's forthcoming album Revelator, was unveiled. Now, Debemur Morti Productions presents a sinister and horror-esk video clip for the composition. The black and white visual components of The Amenta's art complete the nasty and unrelenting, yet often complex sonic approach. Together, the moving pictures and the aural attack form a tantalizing unity.

In contrast to the video clip for the first single "Sere Money", The Amenta decided to craft moving pictures in black and white for "An Epoch Ellipsis". This has a reason, as composer and keyboard player Timothy Pope explains elaborately:

"The black and white style for this film clip seemed to suit the track well, which is a much nastier affair than the last single ‘Sere Money’. Where that clip was a multi-coloured fever dream, this time we wanted to show something that was a bit darker and grimier, and the black and white style seemed the perfect way to show this while differentiating the two clips.

The last clip was filmed by our vocalist, Cain Cressall, in Perth where COVID was less of a concern and he was able to bring together a larger crew and cast. This time, we filmed in all the home states of the band and we were forced to be a lot more economical with our production as we had recently had some resurgence of the virus and couldn’t get out as much, but I don’t think that held us back. All it did was force us to dig into our subconscious to pull out images that are perhaps simpler, but effective on a gut level."

Taking a closer look at the perfomance of frontman Cain in this video clip, one cannot help but notice that some similarities to the rite of crucifixion exist:

"Cain’s shots were inspired by religious iconography, particularly Catholic images of the crucifixion, as they speak to even the irreligious on a primal level. I think that may be mixed in with some inspiration for films like Begotten and Andres Serrano’s Piss Christ images. All that inspiration goes into our brains and gets spewed out, alchemically changed as something new. When we are talking about imagery and themes, especially this time around, we’re less interested in what they mean, more interested in how the 'feel'. If the juxtaposition of images feels true in some primal sense then the meaning is inherent, even if it isn’t clear. Which is a fancy way of saying that the imagery is there to spark interest and confusion in equal measure. To shoot Cain’s parts, we once again worked with Garth Hurley (who also edited the film clip) who shot and directed the ‘Sere Money’ clip as well. Cain and Garth created a pool filled with blackened water. I don’t know what substance they used to blacken the water. Considering Cain’s predilection for maggots and rot, I’m too afraid to ask. The room was blacked out with black plastic, as all our shots were, and Cain tried to sing while drowning himself in the black pool," narrates Timothy Pope about the genesis of the clip.

Revelator will be released on CD, vinyl, tape and digitally on February 19th. Pre-orders can be placed now in both the band's EU shop and US shop.

Recorded by the band and mixed by guitarist Erik Miehs, Revelator is the most openly organic and crushing the band has sounded to date. Mastering has been meticulously crafted by Maor Applebaum (Faith No More, Sepultura) and the album features artwork by the legendary Metastazis (Morbid Angel, Behemoth). Graced with an incisively dynamic pummeling from drummer-extraordinaire David Haley (Psycroptic, Pestilence) and an avowedly contemporary, genre-defying performance from vocalist Cain Cressall, Revelator sees a band always dead-set on boundary-pushing reveling in a fresh sense of renewal as they combine harrowing concepts, inventively virtuous musicianship and immediate song craft into the landmark record of a lauded career.

Tracklisting:

"An Epoch Ellipsis"
"Sere Money"
"Silent Twin"
"Psoriastasis"
"Twined Towers"
"Parasight Lost"
"Wonderlost"
"Overpast"
"Parse Over"

"Sere Money":

 

Black Lion Records has announced the signing of The Unnamed Horrors and the upcoming release of their debut album, Lullabies For An Unsound Mind, later this year. 

Partly inspired by the tales of H.P. Lovecraft, the album conjures emotions of a visceral nature, projecting psychological trauma and detachment beyond the fringes of sanity. 

Founded by Grammy-nominated English guitarist Paul Allender (formerly of Cradle Of Filth and White Empress), The Unnamed Horors create a sense of existential dread by giving listeners a soundtrack to the void. Also joining Allender is Ken on vocals, Ben on drums, Todd on bass, Jeremy on guitar, and Adrian on keyboards, orchestra, and choirs.

Guitarist Paul Allender comments, "I'm excited to be working with Oliver and Black Lion Records. Oliver is a longtime friend whom I have known for many, many, years. This partnership will be fantastic, and I know he will do an amazing job with the TUH debut!"

Black Lion Records Founder Oliver Dahlbäck comments, "I am thrilled to announce the collaboration as it's been a bond slowly formed over the years. I've heard bits and pieces of the album, and everything is sounding super dark and nasty. Working with Paul is, in many ways, a dream come true as I've followed his career since my early teens and have been a massive fan. We're very excited to add Paul and The Unnamed Horrors to our family, and I'm sure everyone will be very eager to hear this one."

 

Paradise Lost released their 16th studio album, Obsidian, in May 2020. To commemorate the occasion, the band announced a very special, one-off gig at The Warehouse in Leeds, where they would play Obsidian live, in full, for the one and only time. 

That concert was originally scheduled to take place on September 17, 2020. Unfortunately, due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was pushed back to May 1, 2021. Now, sadly, with COVID-19 case numbers still rising at an alarming rate, the show has been rescheduled to February 5, 2022. A statement from Paradise Lost reads:

"Once again we regret to announce the postponement of our 'Obsidian' show at The Warehouse Leeds. Due to the uncertainty of live shows returning by May and travel restrictions, we have come to conclusion that it would be safest to reschedule for 2022. We hope by then things will have returned to some kind of normality and we will be able to be in the same room again! Original tickets remain valid."

On a brighter note, continuing the celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Draconian Times, Paradise Lost has premiered a brand new lyric video for "Last Desire".

The long-awaited 25th anniversary re-issue of the much adored Draconian Times by Paradise Lost was released in December 2020 via Music For Nations. Available lovingly pressed onto heavyweight audiophile approved vinyl, housed in a gatefold artwork sleeve, and presented on select and limited vinyl variants.

To celebrate this landmark, Paradise Lost  released a lyric video for the album's opening track, "Enchantment".

The special 25th anniversary edition also sees the vaults opened to provide a deluxe CD version that comes with a definitive disc of bonus, rare and unreleased material from the Draconian Times era. Furnished with new liner notes, never seen before deep dive into the album’s lyrical themes, and exclusive memories from Paradise Lost this is a must for fans and completists alike.       

Tracklisting:

Disc 1

"Enchantment"
"Hallowed Land"
"The Last Time"
"Forever Failure"
"Once Solemn"
"Shadowkings"
"Elusive Cure"
"Yearn For Change"
"Shades Of God"
"Hands Of Reason"
"I See Your Face"
"Jaded"

Disc 2

"Shadowkings" (BBC Live Session)
"Sweetness" (BBC Live Session)
"Once Solemn" (BBC Live Session)
"Yearn For Change" (BBC Live Session)
"The Last Time" (Demo)
"Forever Failure" (Demo)
"Shadow Kings" (Demo)
"I See Your Face" (Demo)
"Hallowed Land" (Demo)
"Hand Of Reason" (Demo)
"Last Desire" (Demo)
"Masters Of Misrule" (Demo)
"Walk Away" (Sisters Of Mercy Cover)

The remastered HD videos for "The Last Time" and "Forever Failure" can be seen below.

 

Progressive heavy metal vehicle, ​Interloper, recently released their debut EP, ​A Revenant Legacy. Stream/download the EP here, and watch a drum playthrough video for "Glasshouse" below.

Aaron Stechauner comments, "This is probably my favorite track to both play and listen to on the record. It has such a strange structure - no real chorus, no hook repeats - yet is so compositionally sound. There are a lot of callbacks, as well as some big developments throughout the song that make you feel 'at home,' even without those traditional (and rather necessary) song elements… for example, uhm, a fucking chorus! [laughs] In a way this song feels very much like one of those half-hour long 'prog epics,' all in the span of four and a half minutes."

A Revenant Legacy was recorded and produced in house at Sewn Shut Sounds by the band themselves, with mixing and production from producer, friend, and honorary ‘4th member’ ​Joey Virrueta. With a full length album completed and set for release in the near future, this EP serves as a stepping stone in the development of Interloper​ as a whole.

Tracklisting:

"An Emerald Flame"
"Silence"
"Wishful Thinking"
"Hand In Hand"
"Glasshouse"

"An Emerald Flame" drum playthrough video:

"Silence" visualizer:

Interloper is:

Miles Dimitri Baker ​| Guitar
Aaron Stechauner ​| Drums
Andrew Virrueta |​ Vocals, Guitar

Chicago-based power metallers, Redd Barron, will soon release their new album, Sands Of Time, via Heaven And Hell Records. The album consist of 11 tracks written back in the late 1980s/early 90s and finally recorded properly over 2019.

Redd Barron formed in February of 1987, in Romeoville, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago; Brian Lee (vocals) and Pete Alvarez (guitars), friends since their school days, formed the band with the intent of writing and performing the music they loved, classic metal. Rod Gardner (drums) and Rick Tampier (bass) rounded out the original lineup. After establishing themselves as a top Chicago live act, they added guitarist Greg Eichelberger. Later bassist Frank Masterson would join the band.

In 2018 Heaven And Hell Records would release a limited compilation CD consisting of all the band’s previously released material all remastered. That same year Redd Barron would make their triumphant return to the stage performing at the annual Legions Of Metal Festival in Chicago.
 
Now Redd Barron flies once again with a brand new album.

Tracklisting:

"King Of The Hill"
"The Edge"
"Shadowman"
"Not Enough Time"
"The Game"
"Sands Of Time"
"Same Old Story"
"Full Circle"
"Nightmare"
"Caution To The Wind"
"Man With Two Faces"

Dutch progressive rockers, Kayak, have announced they will return with their 18th studio album, Out Of This World, on May 7. Following the bands return in 2018 with a new lineup, new record label and first new album since 2014 in Seventeen, the band are excited to reveal its eagerly awaited successor.

Founding member Ton Scherpenzeel comments: “Many people seem to consider the past year as a lost year, due to COVID. I don’t. I am not saying it was great, but it made me realize, once more, how fragile we all are. How connected everything and everyone is, with actions and consequences that touch us all. And that, on a smaller scale, and much closer to home, the new Kayak album could only have turned out the way it did. More than ever, it is clear that working with each other on this level can never be taken for granted. It requires dedication, and respect for each other’s talents and input. That’s the foundation upon which Kayak in 2021 is built.”

Watch a short teaser for the new album below. The first single from Out Of This World and the album pre-order will launch February 19.

Out Of This World, the band’s eighteenth studio album, with 15 new tracks, spanning 70 minutes of energetic and incredibly diverse material- though still very much recognizable as Kayak. It is clear that the new found energy has gained even more momentum since Hans Eijkenaar rejoined the group. Although they were forced to cancel all tours because Ton Scherpenzeel suffered a heart attack at the end of 2019, and immediately after that because of the Covid pandemic, we’re hearing a band that, since the demise of Pim Koopman in 2009, has not sounded more together, balanced and motivated.

The current lineup of the band is as follows:

Ton Scherpenzeel - Keyboards, lead and backing vocals
Bart Schwertmann - Lead and backing vocals
Marcel Singor - Guitar, lead and backing vocals
Kristoffer Gildenlöw - Bass, lead and backing vocals
Hans Eijkenaar - Drums

German melodic hardcore outfit SETYØURSAILS have signed an official contract with premier Austrian rock and metal label, Napalm Records.

In November 2018, the four-piece released their smashing debut album, Enough, instantly garnering attention from genre-relevant press outlets. In 2019, the band went on to prove themselves via their energetic live performances on the main stages of popular Reload Festival and Traffic Jam Open Air, sharing the stage with bands like Walls Of Jericho, Jinjer and Hatebreed.

Fronted by powerful vocalist Jules Mitch, the band’s trademark sound floats between clean vocals, forceful shouts and truly catchy lyrics. SETYØURSAILS are just getting started - more to be announced soon.

SETYØURSAILS on the signing: “We couldn't be happier to work with the amazing team from Napalm Records. This signing means a lot to us and we can't wait to release new music with such a strong partner by our side. Since we've worked really hard to get to this point, it finally feels like it all paid off and our family just got bigger. Thanks to our entire management team and everyone who supported us. Rock's not dead, metal's not dead and never will be. Let's do this!”

SETYØURSAILS are:

Jules Mitch - Vocals
André - Guitar
Dominic - Bass, Backing Vocals
Dizzee Pascal - drums

(Photo - juliekeyphoto)

Devil Sold His Soul will release their fourth studio album, Loss, via Nuclear Blast Records on April 9. The album will be available in various formats. Pre-order here.

In this new video trailer, Ed Gibbs & Paul Green discuss sharing vocal duties on the album:

Singer Paul Green on the new album: "We're incredibly excited to announce the release of our 4th album, Loss, through Nuclear Blast Records. Loss comes from a dark place for us, life was cruel in the years before and during we wrote this record, this was our fuel for the songs. Loss is an honest snapshot of that time in our lives, and it is our way of paying respect to those we loved and who are no longer with us. We couldn't be more proud of these 10 songs and where they have pushed our songwriting, and we hope they truly connect with the listener. I don't think any of us imagined when we were writing this album, that we would end up signing to the biggest metal label in the world. It's given us that added validation that we've created something special, and we now have the platform to push it to where it needs to be.The belief that the team at Nuclear Blast has shown in the record is truly humbling, we're extremely proud to be a part of this great label, and to be on a roster alongside so many bands we love and respect."

Tracklisting:

"Ardour"
"Witness Marks"
"Burdened"
"Tateishi"
"The Narcissist"
"Beyond Reach"
"Signal Fire"
"Acrinomy"
"But Not Forgotten"
"Loss"

"Beyond Reach" video:

Devil Sold His Soul begin a new chapter in their highly-acclaimed career, signing to metal heavyweights Nuclear Blast Records. 2021 will see the band release their fourth studio album Loss, their first with the dual vocal attack of Ed Gibbs and Paul Green.

Devil Sold His Soul burst onto the UK underground metal and hardcore scene in 2004 growing a cult following from their first record, Darkness Prevails EP released through Visible Noise in 2005. Their debut album, A Fragile Hope, saw the band take their position as one of the most respected underground bands in the UK with their visceral and captivating live shows. Devil Sold His Soul’s sophomore album, Blessed And Cursed, elevated their sound and audience to new heights.

With Ed Gibbs departing the band early in the year, 2013 saw the first new material featuring singer Paul Green with single "Time", followed by 2014’s Belong Betray EP and 2016’s The Reckoning. After welcoming Gibbs back to sing on the 2017 A Fragile Hope anniversary tour, the band asked Gibbs to continue the dual vocals with Green for the remaining festivals and tours that year, with the lineup then becoming a permanent fixture.

2018 saw the band travel beyond Europe with their first touring in Asia, they also began to put the foundations down on what would become their new record Loss. Written about the struggles faced in recent years, Loss’treads familiar ground and explores exciting new territories for Devil Sold His Soul, including for the first time the dual vocals of Gibbs and Green on record. Recorded, engineered and mixed by guitarist Jonny Renshaw at his UK based Bandit Studios, Devil Sold His Soul have poured heart and sincerity into every atom of this their fourth album, with song writing elevated to new levels.

Devil Sold His Soul is:

Rick Chapple – Guitar, Piano
Jonny Renshaw - Guitar
Alex Wood - Drums
Jozef Norocky - Bass
Paul Green – Vocals
Ed Gibbs - Vocals

In a recent interview with Finland's Kaaos TV, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann was asked how the coronavirus pandemic has affected his "daily life." He responded (see video below): "It hasn't, really, to be honest. I'm a bit of a recluse myself anyhow. In my day-to-day work, I usually work by myself in my studio or in my office or in my house. I don't go out much. I don't go to many concerts, so it really is pretty much the same as always, except for when you go out, you have to put the mask on and do all that stuff. But of course, from the business side, it's terrible, because the tour to coincide with the release of this [new ACCEPT] album ['Too Mean To Die'] has been pushed back one year to 2022 now. So who knows when we the fuck we can go on the road again? And since the road is not only the main part of our income, it's also what we do — we're not really studio musicians; we're a live band — so right now, we're fucked. It's terrible."

Asked if he thinks if touring will return to how it was before the pandemic or if it will be different, Wolf said: "I have no idea, man. Everybody thinks it's going back to normal at some point, but sometimes I wonder. Is it ever gonna be like it was before, or is there gonna be a slow transition to a new normal? I wonder if there's ever gonna be a day when everybody says, 'It's over. We're done.' It might never come. It might always be some say it's over, some says it's not, and some people are gonna wear a mask, and some are not. Who knows, man?"

He continued: ""[It's] a given [that] there won't be any serious concerts before we have a vaccine [widely distributed], but even when there is a vaccine, there might be people who are not vaccinated yet. What I'm saying is there's never gonna be a day that somebody punches a clock and declares the virus to be over for good worldwide. There's gonna a little bit of this and little bit of that, and it's a gonna be a slow transition to God knows what."

"Too Mean To Die" will be released on January 29 via Nuclear Blast. The LP will be the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited ACCEPT in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik. ACCEPT's lineup has also been expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Uwe Lulis during 2019's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join the band permanently.

"Too Mean To Die" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with British producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH), who has been responsible for the magnificent studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.

ACCEPT's last album, 2017's "The Rise Of Chaos", marked the band's first release with Lulis and drummer Christopher Williams, replacing Herman Frank and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.

Ex-W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes says that he would never consider returning to the band unless Blackie Lawless agreed to pay him the publishing royalties that he allegedly owes him.

Holmes joined W.A.S.P. in 1982 and remained with the group until 1990. In 1996, the guitarist returned to W.A.S.P. and stayed with the band until 2001. Chris has not played with W.A.S.P. since.

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, Holmes spoke about his reasons for launching a fundraising campaign for his upcoming solo album. He said: "A lot of people think I made money from W.A.S.P. I've never gotten my royalties, or even my songwriting. All the stuff that I wrote, I've never gotten paid one penny. And you know whose fault it is? It's my my fault for not knowing the business, how it is. I trusted somebody.

"After every album, when the album is done, how they split up the publishing with the publishing contracts, the publishing companies — that's where the money comes from," he continued. "I was never told about when that meeting was. Because the other guys in the band never wrote — I was the only one [other than Blackie]. So I'm the only one that they have to screw over to get all the publishing. So I was never told. Then when I dug into it in about 2006 or [2007], I went into Sanctuary Music, had a lawyer go in to find out where all my publishing is, and I was written in as a session player into all the records. And if you don't know about it, and you're not told, and you don't see, you don't know. So I trusted Blackie Lawless about that. And when I found out, it really kind of yanked me wrong. It yanks me wrong — it makes me see he was sticking a knife in my back from the first day, from the first album, and not telling me, and being my best friend."

As far as Holmes is concerned, Lawless is solely to blame for him not getting his due from the W.A.S.P. records that he was involved with.

"If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be where he's at — I guarantee you that," Chris said. "And then he screws me like that. It's all right. It's been a long time. It's something that I will never, never get over. I'll take that to the grave with me. I'm pissed thinking about it.

"Anyway, that's the kind of person he is. Everybody thinks, 'Wow! He's got the greatest…' Yeah, he's got an outrageous voice, Blackie, yeah, but he turns his back on his bandmembers real bad — he screws 'em. I'm the only guy in the band that ever came back to get screwed twice, which I did. I came back for 'Kill.Fuck.Die', and I was promised half publishing on that album. Didn't get crap. Knowing that I couldn't get in to see what was written in the contracts, of course. That's why I wrote the song 'Two Faced Mother Fucker'. It's about him. It's on 'Shitting Bricks'. And I've got one on the new album. It's called 'The Truth'. It says, 'You can't handle the truth.' It's on my new [album]. I'm gonna write a song about him on every album."

Addressing the possibility of his return to W.A.S.P., Holmes said: "Everybody asks me about a W.A.S.P. reunion. Sure, I'd love to play a W.A.S.P. reunion — if he pays me my publishing. If it doesn't, then he can have a reunion with Randy Piper, Johnny Rod and [Steve] Riley and everybody else. I'm not gonna play it. It's not worth it.

"I came back to W.A.S.P. in '95. I got screwed again," he added. "Screw me once, screw me twice — you're not gonna screw me a third time."

During a November 2017 press conference in Moscow, Russia, Lawless was asked what he would say to those W.A.S.P. fans who continue to call for the band to reunite with Holmes. He responded: "People get divorced for certain reasons, and there's times when the kids want the parents to get back together, but sometimes it never happens. And this is one of those [times]. Sorry."

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash recently joined Sweetwater's Nick Bowcott for a special interview via Zoom. Asked how he has been dealing with the coronavirus crisis, Slash said (see video below): "I've been really busy. If anything, this whole episode has afforded me a lot of time to be creative. So it's been good."

Pressed about whether his creative endeavors have involved playing live with other musicians or it's been mostly virtual, Slash said: "I do a lot of stuff on my own, and then Todd [Kerns, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS bassist/vocalist] will drive in from [Las] Vegas and put bass on everything. And then I'll send that out to everybody. On occasion, we'll all get together and jam. We've done that a couple of times over this period."

According to Slash, being at home for most of the last year, has "definitely given me a lot of opportunity to write and to focus and to not be rushing out the door all the time. So it's been good," he said. "There's been a lot of good material that's come up through this."

Last month, Slash confirmed that SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS was putting together ideas for a new album. The effort will be the follow-up to "Living The Dream", which came out in September 2018 via Slash's own label Snakepit Records, in partnership with Roadrunner Records. The disc was Slash's fourth solo album, and third with Slash and his CONSPIRATORS bandmates Kerns, Myles Kennedy (vocals), Brent Fitz (drums) and Frank Sidoris (guitar and vocals).

In September 2019, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS released "Living The Dream Tour" on DVD+2CD, Blu-ray+2 CD, 3LP black vinyl, limited-edition 3LP red vinyl, digital video and digital audio via Eagle Vision. The set was shot on location on February 20, 2019 at London, England's Eventim Apollo.

GUNS N' ROSES' next studio album will be its first since 2008's "Chinese Democracy" and the first to feature Slash, bassist Duff McKagan and singer Axl Rose since 1993.

GUNS N' ROSES' has spent most of the last five years touring with classic-lineup members Slash, McKagan and Rose backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

James Durbin says that he wanted to stay with QUIET RIOT long enough to play shows in support of the last album he recorded with the band.

In September 2019, QUIET RIOT parted ways with Durbin and replaced him with Jizzy Pearl. Pearl previously fronted QUIET RIOT from 2013 until October 2016, when he was briefly replaced by Seann Nichols, who played only five shows with the group before the March 2017 arrival of "American Idol" finalist Durbin.

Durbin recorded two studio albums with QUIET RIOT — 2017's "Road Rage" and 2019's "Hollywood Cowboys" — during his three-year stint with the group.

Asked about his abrupt departure from QUIET RIOT just two months before the release of "Hollywood Cowboys", Durbin told Dr. Music (see video below): "There's just certain ways that some people do business. And I'm the type of person that is good to my word. I told them I'd make the commitment for this as long as I could and do it as long as I was still having fun. And I wanted to stay on board and promote that album and finish out the year, as I had promised. But that's not how they go about it. So to each their own, and I have to respect that decision, which I do. They made the decision that they thought would be the decision that was necessary for them to make. And business is business. We just couldn't come to an agreement on new terms or anything."

A month after Durbin's exit was made official, QUIET RIOT drummer Frankie Banali told LA Weekly that it wasn't odd for him and his bandmates to play shows in support of a new album when the group had just undergone a vocalist change. He said: "I reached out to Jizzy Pearl before looking at any other potential singers because I always thought that Jizzy was a really good fit for QUIET RIOT and is a total pro. He welcomed the opportunity to return to QUIET RIOT which made me very happy and we replaced our former singer in less than 24 hours."

Banali resurrected QUIET RIOT in 2010, three years after the death of founding member and singer Kevin DuBrow.

QUIET RIOT went through two vocalists — Mark Huff and Scott Vokoun — before Pearl's first three-year run with the band.

Banali, who joined QUIET RIOT in 1982 and played on its breakthrough album, 1983's "Metal Health", the first heavy metal LP to top Billboard's album chart, died in August 2020 after a 16-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

QUIET RIOT announced in September that it will carry on touring following Frankie's death. The band, which now features drummer Johnny Kelly (DANZIG, TYPE O NEGATIVE), played a couple of shows in October and has a string of dates booked in 2021.

QUIET RIOT initially featured the late guitar legend Randy Rhoads and went through some early lineup shifts before securing the musicians that recorded "Metal Health".

Durbin will release the debut album from his solo band, DURBIN, "The Beast Awakens", on February 12 via Frontiers Music Srl.

British singer and songwriter, Gary Hughes, recently announced that his new solo album, Waterside, will be released on March 12 via Frontiers Music Srl. Today, he has released the single and video for the title track, which you can below.

Additionally, Ten/Gary Hughes have also 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"

"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"

Steve Lukather (a.k.a. "Luke") and The Players Club / Mascot Label Group present the title track "I Found The Sun Again", the third and final instant gratification release from Luke's upcoming studio album, due out February 26. The accompanying video presents Luke and his girlfriend Amber Thayer (former wife of KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer), who is the inspiration for the composition.

"I Found The Sun Again" was co-produced by Ken Freeman, who also both engineered and mixed the new collection of repertoire. The players feature many dignitaries that have been in Luke's life for decades. Amongst those are drummer Gregg Bissonette, keyboardist Jeff Babko, and bassists Jorgen Carlsson and John Pierce. Lifelong friend and TOTO bandmate David Paich performs piano and organ across the album, while TOTO vocalist Joseph Williams sang on multiple tracks alongside writing string and horn arrangements and tracking keys on "Run To Me". Both Paich and Williams co-wrote that specific composition, while friend and band leader of the ALL-STARRS, Ringo Starr makes a special appearance on the recording and in the video. Other co-writers include Stan Lynch, Jeff Babko, and, of course, Joseph Williams.

Luke shares: "Never had so much fun recording in my life. Painless, fun and easy — and it just flowed." The repertoire features five new original compositions, and three covers personally selected by Luke. Those are TRAFFIC's "Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys", Joe Walsh's "Welcome To The Club" and Robin Trower's "Bridge Of Sighs". Lukather offers in the liner notes: "ALL these tracks were cut LIVE — no clix — no fix — No rehearsal — one run-thru — and record and the whole record was take 2. I did double a few guitar parts and 'produced up' a few tunes that are obvious but in the same time frame. I recorded the lead vocal right after we got the take same day. One song a day. Joe took it home and did some BG vocals but that's it.

"I wanted to make as honest a record as I could in 2020 with 1970s inspiration, and recording values, and techniques with a modern sound. Ken did that!"

Drummer Tommy Clufetos (BLACK SABBATH, OZZY OSBOURNE, ROB ZOMBIE, TED NUGENT, ALICE COOPER) will rejoin THE DEAD DAISIES when they hit the road in support of their new album, "Holy Ground". Clufetos previously toured with THE DEAD DAISIES in 2015.

Deen Castronovo, who laid down the drums on "Holy Ground" and 2018's "Burn It Down", is reportedly "resolving personal medical issues." It is unclear if he will return to THE DEAD DAISIES at a later date.

The news of Clufetos's THE DEAD DAISIES comeback was broken in a "Holy Ground" press release from Freeman Promotions earlier today. "The band can't wait to play these songs live!" THE DEAD DAISIES' publicists wrote. "When they do hit the road, returning to THE DAISIES amazing lineup is the monstrous, hard-hitting, powerhouse drummer, Tommy Clufetos (BLACK SABBATH, OZZY OSBOURNE). So strap in, this is going to be one hell of a ride!"

"Holy Ground" will be released on January 22. Recorded at La Fabrique Studios in the south of France with producer Ben Grosse, the LP is the band's first to feature Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION), who joined the group in 2019 as its new bassist and vocalist, replacing John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY).

Clufetos worked with such rock icons as Nugent, Alice Cooper and Rob Zombie before joining Ozzy Osbourne in 2010. That led to a spot as the drummer on BLACK SABBATH's last two world tours.

Castronovo's 17-year tenure with JOURNEY ended in 2015 when the group fired him after his arrest for a variety of charges involving his now-wife (including physical abuse, coercion, and unlawful use of a weapon).

In 2019, Castronovo, who had recorded and toured with THE DEAD DAISIES for the past three years, played several shows with JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon under the "Neal Schon's Journey Through Time" banner. Joining them were founding JOURNEY and SANTANA singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie, bassist Marco Mendoza of THE DEAD DAISIES and THIN LIZZY, a musician named Chris Collins (on guitar and keyboards) and super-producer Marti Frederiksen (multi-instrumentalist, voca

MSG have released a new trailer for the new album, Immortal, out now via Nuclear Blast. Watch the clip below, and order the new album here.

MSG is a legendary name. After two phenomenal records under the guise of Michael Schenker Fest, a true guitar hero is returning to his roots. By forming Michael Schenker Group (MSG) back in 1979, Michael Schenker laid the foundations for one of hard rock’s most glorious solo careers of all times. And while nobody expected anything less from a former guitarist for Scorpions and UFO, it’s close to impossible mentioning everything Michael has built over the past 50 years, or the countless people he influenced or played with. This, truly, is the stuff that hard rocking myths are made of.

“I never looked back,” is how Michael dryly sums up an extraordinary career. Due to this mindset, he only realised much later what a huge impact his playing had made on the world of metal and hard rock. Very few guitarists can be cited as a primary influence for the likes of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Dimebag Darrell, Slash or Kerry King. However, to understand Michael Schenker means to understand one primary thing: he’s not here to be worshipped or adored, he’s not here to get rich, he’s here to play. And at 65, he’s doing it with the same swagger, verve and dizzying artistry as always. “I’m still 16 in my head,” he laughs.

Right in time for his 40th anniversary as a solo artist and his 50th birthday as a musician, he resurrects the immortal Michael Schenker Group. Immortal is also the name of his new album, recorded by likely the strongest line-up in his long history. Its a lightning bolt of an album that sounds fresh, bloodthirsty and agile. Immortal showcases the gargantuan vocal talents of Chilean hard rock prodigy Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), backed by singers Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Deep Purple) as well as Schenker’s brother in arms, Michael Voss (Mad Max) who again produced the record alongside Michael Schenker – flawlessly, punchy and at full steam as if their very lives depended on it.

Next to Michael Schenker caressing his iconic black and white Dean Flying V, we hear bass player Barry Sparks (Dokken), keyboard player Steve Mann as well as the three drummers Bodo Schopf, Simon Phillips (ex-Toto) and Brian Tichy (ex-Whitesnake) pumping gallons of fresh blood through the tracks. And that’s not all, keyboard wizard extraordinaire Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Black Country Communion) gives the listener a baptism of fire in the blistering, heavy hitting opener “Drilled To Kill”, powered by Ralf Scheepers’ unbelievable vocal tornado.

Michael Schenker doesn’t live to play, he plays to live, and there’s no better way of summing up his relationship to his music than this – now for half a century and counting. The most emblematic representation of this relationship is the monumental closing track “In Search Of The Peace Of Mind”, a new recording of the very first song he ever wrote. “I composed this track in my mother’s kitchen back when I was 15,” he looks back half a century and smiles broadly: “The solo is just so perfect, I wouldn’t change a single note even today. This is the most important song of the last 50 years for me. It’s what started it all.”

When it finally got released in 1972 on the Scorpions’ debut Lonesome Crow, Schenker had already moved on to UFO. What followed were several decades of pure hard rock ecstasy on and off stage, featuring a rotating cast of stellar players, always pressing the pedal to the metal. Now, in 2020, he reaps what he sowed. Alongside many of his peers, friends and contemporaries, he is celebrating 50 years of hard rock – fittingly with an album that is something like a zeitgeisty reminiscence of everything he’s ever done. The massive midtempo smasher “Don’t Die On Me Now” sees Joe Lynn Turner going all in, Ronnie Romero works his magic in “Knight Of The Dead” while Michael Voss cuts a grand figure before the microphone as well as behind the mixing desk on the furious second single “After The Rain”.

Towering above them all, Michael Schenker and his guitar prove they’re truly and utterly invincible. The celebrated icon pulls out all the stops – including his legendary “howler”, the fabled magnet he’s used on his fingerboard for a while now. And here’s yet another thing that’s just so archetypically Schenker, when bringing up his fiery and dedicated performance on “Immortal” he nonchalantly shrugs it off: “I simply played from the heart, as always.” This, dear Michael, is the understatement of the year – all the more so for a record that is already one of the top contenders for hard rock/metal album of the year.

Tracklisting:

"Drilled To Kill" (feat Ralf Scheepers)
"Don’t Die On Me Now" (feat Joe Lynn Turner)
"Knight Of The Dead" (feat Ronnie Romero)
"After The Rain" (feat Michael Voss)
"Devil’s Daughter" (feat Ralf Scheepers)
"Sail The Darkness" (Feat Ronnie Romero)
"The Queen Of Thorns And Roses" (feat Michael Voss)
"Come On Over" (feat Ronnie Romero)
"Sangria Morte" (feat Joe Lynn Turner)
"In Search Of Peace Of Mind" (feat Ronnie Romero, Gary Barden,Doogie White, Robin McAuley)

"Sail The Darkness" lyric video:

"After The Rain" (feat. Michael Voss) video:

"Drilled To Kill" lyric video:

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL will release their 13th studio album, "Hermitage", on February 26, 2021 via Napalm Records. The official music video for the disc's third single, "All Or Nothing", can be seen below.

"All Or Nothing" brings back the ethereal and melodic sounds of MOONSPELL served by a beautiful musical landscape, and makes it most likely one of the deepest and most sincerely heart-breaking tunes the Portuguese dark metal titans have ever written.

"The video for 'All Or Nothing' was recorded in an empty theatre in Portugal and it's symbolic of our days," vocalist Fernando Ribeiro says. "Solitude dominates our lives and we divide our attentions and heartbeats at the groove of darkness and hope. At the mercy of all that can be and the nothing that we have to deal with right now. It's a song that relies on a more intimate melodic frame, emotional, autobiographic almost, about the joy and the sorrow that is being in a band."

He continues: "Life is a game you cannot win. You just have to play. Our job is done, we brought you joy. Every now and then."

While the world is struggling in the dark, MOONSPELL's forthcoming album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) at the Orgone Studios in the U.K. Building upon the sensitive facets of "Hermitage", one can expect an entertaining and revolutionary, yet epic journey through the darkest days of human existence. Beautifully crafted songs such as "The Greater Good" show us the modernity of the wolves in 2021, while other tracks embrace the MOONSPELL tradition of writing a dark, gothic metal record like no other band can. The ethereal and melodic sounds of MOONSPELL, while not straying away from their metal roots — influenced by underground metal bands such as BATHORY — make "Hermitage" most likely one of the deepest, surprising and most epic albums MOONSPELL has ever written.

With "Hermitage", MOONSPELL created a wonderfully intuitive and epic journey, but also a testament to what they've always loved the most: honest, emotional metal that binds us even in the darkest times.

Fernando said: "We know that we are entering the final years of our career as musicians: the winter of our lifetime. We don't care about people saying we're still young at heart, or 'leading' wolves in a pack. We are not! But we do care about how those around us feel about us, and this album is all about how we feel, our answers to your questions. Under these circumstances, we feel our musical stakes are higher than ever. For us, it's not about likes or algorithms, reach, or opportunity of growth. We only care about the music. Music does come first on this album you will hold in your hands soon enough."

He continued: "The record is about turning our backs to the conventions of modernity. We are currently convincing ourselves that it's all about us, that we (humanity) are everything. That the world revolves around us. However, ipsi facto, we are nothing and nothing revolves around us. Moonspell's goal, on these last turns around the Sun, are to write the best music we possibly can. To tell you a few stories with our lyrics, to be close to you in these times of distancing. We wish not to tease you or to influence you or to sell you our fish. We want to sit down with you at your table and feast together upon our notes and words. Like if we were close friends, like back in the time where music matters the most. In your bedroom listening to music, without having to post our smart remarks about it, inviting the hate in.

"'Hermitage' is an open-hearted invitation to simplicity. To be humble. To be thankful. To serve you solace. Provide you comfort, entertainment. We sincerely hope this call reaches you. That you kindly accept what we offer. That you take our music with you to the place you must feel as yours. To your secret place, to your hermitage. Blessed be."

"Hermitage" will be available in several highly limited and collectable deluxe editions, mediabook, cassette, all of them including the CANDLEMASS cover "Darkness In Paradise", but also as jewelcase and digital formats. The deluxe box will also include an etched seven-inch vinyl with another special bonus track, "The Great Leap Forward", as well as much more exciting additional collectable items.

"Hermitage" track listing:

01. The Greater Good

02. Common Prayers

03. All Or Nothing

04. Hermitage

05. Entitlement

06. Solitarian

07. The Hermit Saints

08. Apophthegmata

09. Without Rule

10. City Quitter (Outro)

+ Bonus tracks:

11. Darkness In Paradise (CANDLEMASS cover; available on LP, deluxe box, MC + mediabook)

12. The Great Leap Forward (7" vinyl; available in deluxe box)

Photo credit: Rui Vasco

Phil X, prolific studio guitarist, songwriter and renowned guitarist for Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees BON JOVI, and his band THE DRILLS will release a new single, "'I Love You' On Her Lips" on February 8 via Golden Robot Records. The track features Phil X on guitars and lead vocals, Daniel Spree on bass and backing vocals, and Gary Novak on drums. Gang vocals were laid down by Steve Ferlazzo, Joe Lester, Matt Starr and Marq Torien (BULLETBOYS).

"''I Love You' On Her Lips' is TOTAL DRILLS," Phil said. "A hooky, energetic, big guitar punch in the face with wit and a little silliness. Everyone knows someone who says one thing and feels another. This is that with a twist."

PHIL X & THE DRILLS recently completed work on their fifth album, "Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 2", which will be released in the near future on Golden Robot Records. Featuring a different drummer on every song, which reads like a who's who, with the likes of Tommy Lee, Liberty Devitto, Kenny Aronoff and Ray Luzier, the music promises to be extremely diverse.

PHIL X & THE DRILLS, have been enjoying a rapidly growing international fan base supported by the release of four strong albums: "Kick Your Ass In 17 Minutes" (2009), "We Bring The Rock N Roll" (2011), "We Play Instruments N Sh!t" (2012) and "Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 1" ( 2019).

First a prolific session guitar staple in Los Angeles, California, recording with the likes of Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Chris Cornell, among many others (and even extends to playing with Canadian rock royalty such as TRIUMPH, Aldo Nova, OUR LADY PEACE, Avril Lavigne, THEORY OF A DEADMAN and more), Phil X became known for hosting the "Fretted Americana" web show that boasted over 50 million collective views.

In March of 2016, Phil was invited to Electric Lady Studios in New York to record guitars and background vocals on the BON JOVI record "This House Is Not for Sale". The album was released later that year, reaching No. 1 on the charts, with the album artwork including Phil in the band shots, confirming his position in the band as an official member.

PHIL X & THE DRILLS are looking forward to delivering their "energetic guitar-driven rock that infects your senses with addictively great anthems" to the global masses.

Los Angeles, California's WEEZER will release its fourteenth studio album, titled "OK Human", on Friday, January 29 via Crush Music/Atlantic. The LP's first single, "All My Favorite Songs", can be heard below.

For anyone keeping score at home: 2020 was going to be the year of "Van Weezer" — the big riffs rock album WEEZER made as an homage to the metal bands they loved growing up — until, thanks to the global pandemic, it suddenly wasn't. The entire time, however, WEEZER frontman Rivers Cuomo was busy at the piano, writing a very different album that took inspiration from another vital musical touchstone of his youth: THE BEACH BOYS' "Pet Sounds". Throughout the summer of COVID-19, he and the band — along with a 38-piece orchestra — chipped away at masked recording sessions using all analogue technology until the record was complete. The result is an album called "OK Human" — a cheeky nod to RADIOHEAD's technophobic future-trip "OK Computer", but sounding nothing at all like that record.

Taking the listener bit by bit through parts of Cuomo's every day, it's a Technicolor symphonic spree that meditates on how over-and-under-connected we all are, particularly in a year where we can see each other with greater ease, but can't be physically near each other at all. In addition to it being the first time WEEZER have ever featured full orchestration on any of their records, "OK Human" is also packed to the brim with some of the best, most personal songs Cuomo has written in the last decade, all of which shine brighter and bolder with splashes of string and horn arrangements courtesy of album producer Jake Sinclair and arranger Rob Mathes. While showcasing Cuomo's impeccable songwriting skills, "OK Human" also has shades of beloved albums of yore — not just "Pet Sounds", but Harry Nilsson's "Nilsson Schmilsson"; Randy Newman's self-titled debut; the stacked harmonies of THE CARPENTERS' records; even tints of Francoise Hardy's "Message Personnel". It is possibly the only record ever created that waxes poetic on themes of loneliness, disconnection, and reaching middle age alongside references to Mrs. Dalloway, Blackpink, the La Brea Tar Pits, Audible, and vegetarian Indian takeout, among others.

It's hard to imagine any other band who came up in the alt haze of the '90s creating a simply perfect orchestral pop album, but that is exactly what WEEZER's done; "OK Human" is a testament to the excellent, enduring melodies Cuomo has written since WEEZER's inception, and the ones he continues to write today.

"OK Human" track listing:

01. All My Favorite Songs

02. Aloo Gobi

03. Grapes Of Wrath

04. Numbers

05. Playing My Piano

06. Mirror Image

07. Screens

08. Bird With A Broken Wing

09. Dead Roses

10. Everything Happens For A Reason

11. Here Comes The Rain

12. La Brea Tar Pits

WEEZER is Brian Bell (backing vocals, guitar), Rivers Cuomo (vocals, guitar, piano), Scott Shriner (backing vocals, bass) and Pat Wilson (drums).

WEEZER will be touring this summer as part of the rescheduled "Hella Mega" tour alongside GREEN DAY and FALL OUT BOY.

Ektomorf  have released the third single off their upcoming album, Reborn, out January 22 via Napalm Records. On “Smashing The Past”, the Hungarian thrash metal power machine is at their best: speedy, crushing guitar riffs and smashing drums upon angry, hateful vocals by singer and guitarist Zoltan “Zoli” Farkas, topped off with a dizzying guitar solo. This is thrash metal in its truest form.

Singer/guitarist Zoli Farkas says about “Smashing The Past”: “This was the very first song I wrote for Reborn - not a single note, nor a beat changed since the day of writing this song until the day we recorded this in the studio. You can still prominently feel the influences from our predecessor album Fury on this track: fast, aggressive, with a groovy breakdown and spiced with a killer solo to top it off! In my opinion, this it’s the perfect last single off the new album - pure thrash!”

Since their debut, Hangok (1994), the four-piece around singer/guitarist Zoltán “Zoli” Farkas has regularly delivered new power to their devotees. Only three years after the release of their chart-breaking full-length, Fury (2018), Reborn ignites a blazing fire with its heavy sound and harsh lyrics that will burn any genre limitations to the ground. Their 15th studio album breathes the spirit of the “Big Four” - Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax and Megadeth - while at the same time, beginning a completely independent new chapter of Ektomorf.

Reborn will be released worldwide on January 22 as a bundle digipak CD along with a patch and shirt, as well as an exclusive red/black splatter gatefold LP with a slipmat and signed poster, limited to 200. Pre-order here.

Be prepared for this thunderous onslaught! With Reborn, Ektomorf confidently kicks off a new chapter, taking along anyone who crosses the path of this thrash metal bullet with them.

Tracklisting:

"Ebullition"
"Reborn"
"And The Dead Will Walk"
"Fear Me"
"Where The Hate Conceives"
"The Worst Is Yet To Come"
"Forsaken"
"Smashing The Past"

“And The Dead Will Walk” video:

"Reborn" video:

Ektomorf is:

Zoltán Farkas - Vocals, Guitars
Szebasztián Simon - Guitars
Csaba Zahorán - Bass
Kàlmàn Olàh – Drums

(Photo - Natàlia Magda)

Avatar recently launched a series of concert streams, Avatar Ages - An Impossible Concert Experience, that is taking place over the course of January. The four-part concert film experience launched January 9 and features songs from Avatar’s celebrated catalog, starting with a performance of their latest album in full, Hunter Gatherer, out now via eOne.

Watch "Regret" / "House Of Eternal Hunt" from the January 16 show, below:

The subsequent January concerts will feature fan voted set lists - chosen by ticket purchasers - with songs from Avatar Country, Feathers & Flesh, Hail The Apocalypse, Black Waltz, Thoughts of No Tomorrow, Schlacht and Avatar. Tickets are now on sale here.

The schedule of Avatar Ages - An Impossible Concert Experience concert stream events is as follows:

- Saturday, January 23 - Age of Madness (Black Waltz and Hail the Apocalypse fan voted set list)
- Saturday, January 30 - Age of Memories (Thoughts of No Tomorrow, Schlacht and Avatar fan voted set list)

About the performances, frontman Johannes Eckerström says, “Nothing can top the feeling of standing eye to eye with the roaring beast that is a metal crowd, hungry for blood. Instead, what we are setting out to do is a series of shows we could never do on a normal stage. You will see Avatar as you've never seen us before. More music, more madness. We enter this with a game plan like no other, but ultimately the power is yours. This is something we'll create together. We have missed you.”

Concert stream tickets are available for individual shows and as a four-show package. Various ticket bundles are also available, offering exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies, vinyl, and a commemorative laminate. A limited number of exclusive virtual Meet & Greets with the entire band are also available.  Fans will be able to select their date and time period in advance, and after their personal Meet & Greet, they’ll receive a video file of their conversation, as well as the opportunity to take pictures during the experience. Visit AvatarAges.com for all details and to purchase tickets.

Each livestream debuts on its respective date at 1 PM, PT / 4 PM, ET / 10 PM, CET and remains on-demand for 72 hours.

Canadian tech death masters, Archspire, are now embarking on an exciting new endeavour and have launched their very own online cooking series, Good Morning Handsome!

Hosted by vocalist Oliver Rae Aleron and produced by guitarist Dean Lamb, the guys are now taking their technical skills to the kitchen to bring you the most unconventional and spicy cooking show that would have Julia Child rolling in her grave... and we mean that in a good way! You can watch the premiere episode, "Friends With Bennies", below.

"We are really stoked to announce the launch of our new cooking channel 'Good Morning Handsome,'" comments the band. "Although barking fast and noodling lots are our actual jobs, we wanted to make a show about cooking that's the opposite of horse shit like Gordon Dickhead Ramsey. We believe cooking should be fun and want to encourage everyone to learn about food in a non stressful or demeaning format. So subscribe to our channel and check out our pilot episode and hopefully learn a bit about how easy cooking actually is."

For more episodes, which will be rolling out in February, be sure to subscribe here.

Archspire recently completed the recording for the full-length follow up to 2017's JUNO Award nominated Relentless Mutation. The offering was once again recorded by Dave Otero and will be unleashed onto the masses in 2021. Stay tuned for more details.

"WE DID IT! We completed our 6-week sentence in Music Prison (Flatline Audio Studios in Colorado) with Tech Support Professional Dave Otero at the helm!" exclaims Archspire. "We went with Dave once again as a follow-up to our 2017 release: Relentless Mutation, where our deep love for him was first kindled. This album is a product of roughly two and a half years of writing, and we truly feel it's the most solid material we've ever created. This album is very fast, so please enjoy responsibly. Stay Tech!"

Moreover, the band has announced new European tour dates for November/December 2021. The band will be blasting through 12 cities at 350 bpm and a full list of confirmed shows can be viewed here, where tickets are now on sale.

Lineup:

Dean Lamb: guitar
Spencer Prewett: drums
Oliver Rae Aleron: vocals
Tobi Morelli: guitar
Jared Smith: bass

Australian metal band, Meshiaak, have announced the release of their brand new single, "Severed", via Wells Music. A visualizer for the song can be found below.

Says vocalist/guitarist Danny Camilleri: "It seems that over time, aggressive music in the style that Meshiaak creates has become somewhat watered down, like, there just seems to be not all that much conviction anymore or far too much contrast between a system of beliefs within the music compared to the system of beliefs within the band or writers, almost like bands these days are too scared to be literal, or stand behind their convictions, afraid to be open or honest, scared to offend anyone in a society full of people with no back bone anymore. Music is the last line of free speech, its the only place that you can be brutally honest about anything. Severed is our conviction, our honesty, our passion and our frustration, angst, hatred, whatever the hell you want to call it! Severed is our truth and we plan on offending everyone."

Produced / Mixed by Dean Wells
Mastered by Plec / The Panic Room, Sweden
Music / Lyrics: Wells / Camilleri

Meshiaak lineup:

Danny Camilleri - Vocals / Guitar
Dean Wells - Guitars / Vocals
David Godfrey - Drums
Andrew Cameron - Bass Guitar

As if announcing today’s new virtual performance stream wasn’t enough of an early holiday gift (see below for more information), Finnish melodic death metal mainstays Wolfheart are doubling their musical output with the announcement of their upcoming EP, Skull Soldiers, scheduled for release on March 5 via Napalm Records.

Wolfheart continue the heroic battle forged on their highly-acclaimed 2020 full-length, Wolves Of Karelia, with two new, frostbitten Winter War-inspired singles and two special rarities. The new studio tracks featured on the EP, “Skull Soldiers” and “Hereditary”, both explore new territory while maintaining the Wolfheart trademark sound - searing through the mountainous ice with colossal, guttural vocals, driving blastbeats and rhythms.

Today, the band has shared a brand new lyric video for the title track, “Skull Soldiers”, featuring guest vocals from Petro Solovey of Ukranian band Wolfanger. Blazing guitar leads and scorching guttural vocals burn as Solovey and frontman Tuomas Saukkonen tell the tale of a small unit of powerful Finnish soldiers who painted skulls and skeletons onto their helmets during the Winter War.

Wolfheart frontman Tuomas Saukkonen says about “Skull Soldiers”: "I wanted the first single to be as heavy and crushing as possible in our standards so it would reflect the theme in the best possible way. The lyrics also are heavily connected to the Skull Soldiers themselves, and Petro from Ukrainian band Wolfanger provided awesome guest vocals in his native language, adding another level to the brutality.”

Watch the lyric video for “Skull Soldiers” below.

The Skull Soldiers EP’s unrelentingly heavy offerings bring to life a sonic aura of freezing winter temperatures and the crushing weight of the Finnish army that was never willing to surrender. In addition to its aforementioned new studio tracks, the EP is also accented by two rarities: the first - an eerie new acoustic version of the Shadow World (2015) track, “Aeon Of Cold”, featuring the airy, chilling clean vocals of bassist Lauri Silvonen, and the second - a flawless live version of the Wolves of Karelia single “Reaper”, recorded during the band’s virtual concert stream performance that aired in 2020. Skull Soldiers is a must-have for diehard and new Wolfheart fans alike, staving off cravings until the band’s next offering!

Saukkonen says about the EP’s concept: "I did a lot of research about the Winter War for the Wolves of Karelia album, but after the album was out, a few reporters gave me some additional details during the interview cycle and it turns out I managed to miss some really cool hidden gems. One of them was a small "elite group", or "Winter War special unit", who called themselves Skull Soldiers - ninja level soldiers who painted skulls and skeletons on their helmets. I really felt that I had to write some kind of a sequel for Wolves of Karelia, and since lockdown brought a lot of free time, we decided to make an EP while waiting for the world to open up again for touring.”

He adds about the EP’s rarity tracks: “The acoustic version of ‘Aeon Of Cold’ is something we have been thinking for a while now. Our bass player, Lauri, has awesome clean voice and we would like to play a full unplugged gig at some point, and based on that idea we have already been arranging some of the songs with acoustic guitars. Since there are no gigs at the moment, we wanted to try out the idea in studio. Same goes with live version of ‘Reaper’. We did a multitrack recording when we did our first streaming gig last April and since we are unable to play live to our fans, this is the second-best thing we could offer."

The Skull Soldiers EP will be available in the following formats:

- 12 inch Vinyl EP in Silver + Patch (Napalm Mailorder - strictly limited)
- 12 inch Vinyl EP in Silver + Patch + Shirt (Napalm Mailorder - strictly limited)
- Digital EP

Pre-order here.

Skull Soldiers EP tracklisting:

"Skull Soldiers"
"Hereditary"
"Aeon Of Cold" (Acoustic)
"Reaper" (Live)

"Skull Soldiers" lyric video:

Watch Wolfheart’s Virtual Performance Stream today, here.

Wolfheart’s virtual studio performance stream is happening today at 12 PM, PST / 3 PM, EST / 9 PM, CET, so make sure to get your tickets now via TicketSpice.com! The stream will be available to view for 72 hours after its initial stream time. During this event, Wolfheart will perform their debut studio album, Winterborn, in its entirety, plus favorites and rarities scarcely ever performed live, in celebration of Winterborn reaching over 10 million streams via Spotify and YouTube combined. This is an absolute must-see for any diehard Wolfheart supporter! The stream will also include bonus footage such as fan-chosen multi-instrumental tutorials and exclusive band Q&As.

Wolfheart is:

Tuomas Saukkonen: Guitar, Vocals
Joonas Kauppinen: Drums
Lauri Silvonen: Bass, Backing Vocals
Vagelis Karzis: Session Guitar

(Photo - Valtteri Hirvonen)

New Jersey metallers, Attacker, have just released a brand new single, “Spiritual Warfare”, exclusively via their Bandcamp page. The new song features new vocalist Ski, formerly of Deadly Blessing and Faith Factor.

According to drummer Mike Sabatini, ”We were originally going to have Ski as special guest vocalist for the single but after some positive feedback about the combination of Ski and the band, we decided to get working on new material. This infusion of new blood has really gotten the creative juices flowing! We recorded & mixed the new song at Bandmother Recording, our in-house Studio.”

The band's plan is to get a new album together and recorded by years end for an early 2022 release and hoping things open up for the live shows that the bands and the fans miss greatly.

You can buy the new tune “Spiritual Warfare” here.

Spiritual Warfare by Attacker

Attacker is:

Mike Benetatos - Guitar
Jon Hasselbrink - Guitar
Brian Smith - Bass
Mike Sabatini - Drums
Ski - Vocals

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" video:

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)

In his new autobiography "Confess", JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford revealed that he was once arrested for cruising Venice Beach toilets (in a case of police entrapment) in search of sex, yet the cops didn't release the information to the media because they were PRIEST fans. The incident took place six years before George Michael was outed when he was arrested cruising a bathroom in Beverly Hills in 1998, the same year Halford came out voluntarily.

While promoting "Confess", Halford recalled to Yahoo! Entertainment how he was hoping to hook up with a gay lover when he was arrested as part of a police sting operation and taken into custody.

"[I was doing] this thing that we call cottaging in the U.K.; it's call cruising over here," Rob said (see video below). "And some gay men choose to do this thing where you go to a bathroom and you try and have a little bit of fun with another guy that's there for the same reason as you.

"The incident that we're talking about happened to me on Venice Beach," he continued. "I was living in Marina Del Dey at the time, and for my daily exercise, I'd get on my bicycle and go all the way up to Malibu and back, with a stop [laughs] in bathrooms. You've gotta laugh, because if you don't laugh… whatever. So I stopped, and I go in there. It's quite busy. I'm sitting on the loo, as we call it, and this really hot guy comes in. He's across from me and he's washing his hands. There was a mirror, and he's looking at me and kind of nodding and winking. And I'm, 'Oooh.' 'Hello.' 'Hello.' 'Over here.' And then he turns around and he looks at me and I look at him and he kind of acknowledges me and I acknowledge him. And then the next minute, he pulls out his badge and says, 'You're under arrest for indecent behavior.'"

According to Halford, "so many things" went through his mind right after his arrest. "They took me and put me in a little room that was behind the bathrooms in Venice Beach, and there was already, like, five or six guys in there," he recalled. "We all sat there for a couple or three hours chained to the bench. And then they took us in a van to some police station — I still don't know where it was. It was miles away; we seemed to drive forever. At the police station, I was still chained to the bench. We were all chained to the bench. And I saw these feet walk past me, and this guy pulls my baseball cap off. And he goes, 'Rob.' I go, 'Yes.' He goes, 'What are you doing here?' I'm, like, 'I've done something really dumb and stupid.' 'Come with me.' So internally, I'm thinking, 'Oh, great. I'm free.' No. They put me in a cell by myself, and then for the next hour, every cop in the police department came by the little glass window [and went], 'Yeah! PRIEST!'

"I didn't get off with it," Halford added. "I paid a fine, which I should have; I was put on probation, which I should have; I pled guilty, which I should have. And the police were really, really cool. 'Cause you get the TMZ at the time calling all the police departments [and going], 'You got any stuff?' And they very, very courteously kept that out of the press.

"It's something I have to talk about simply because it's poignant. It's kind of sad that I had to go to such extreme dangerous measures to get some kind of intimate physical contact."

"Confess" arrived on September 29 via Hachette Books. The book has been described by the U.K.'s The Telegraph as "one of the most candid and surprising memoirs of the year."