In a new interview with Antihero, DEF LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen was asked if he has ever thought about writing a book. He responded: "I have been asked a few times to author a book from publishers, but they all want a rock and roll tell-all book, and that's not something I'd like to do. I'd be interested in telling my story — the challenges, the triumphs, and what resiliency means to me — a book to help others. I suppose one day I will focus on that."

Last month marked 36 years since the life-altering accident suffered by Allen in which he lost his left arm in an auto accident in England. Allen had to relearn how to play drums and drum manufacturer Simmons worked with him to build a kit. The band stuck with Allen through the difficult time and the drummer persevered through an accident that would have ended most people's careers.

Allen spoke about his accident during a recent interview with Modern Drummer. He said: "I remember coming around in the hospital and then realizing what had happened to me after the accident, and honestly, I wanted to disappear. I didn't wanna do this anymore. And then I started getting these letters from all over the world… I got encouragement from everywhere — from my family, from the guys [in the band], from people all over the world. And I don't know what happened, but I discovered the power of the human spirit and just said, 'You know what? I can do this.' It was really a collective thing. It was all this encouragement I was getting from other people, and then it just manifested in wanting to succeed. And that's exactly where it came from."

Rick also talked about the support he received from his bandmates in DEF LEPPARD who stuck by him through his recovery and waited patiently for his return.

"They left the decision to me, whether I wanted to go on or not, and they gave me time to grow and develop, really, a whole new style [of playing]," Allen said. "And that's all I needed — I just needed the time. I needed the time to build my confidence and realize that I could do it. Nobody ever said, 'Well, you have to make a decision now.' I think that was the most important thing — just that time that they gave me just to find myself."

After visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2006, Allen dedicated himself to helping war veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of sustaining injuries similar to his own.

Allen told ABC News in 2012: "I didn't know what my life would be like after that terrible day. It was the darkest time in my life… My desire is to encourage a support system for warriors, de-stigmatize PTSD, share their stories and offers alternative ways to pave the road to resiliency and heal

Iced Earth and Demons & Wizards are no longer listed on Century Media Record’s website following guitarist Jon Schaffer’s participation in the Capitol riot earlier this month.

Century Media seems to have scrubbed all traces of the two bands, both of which include Schaffer as a founding member. Iced Earth and Demons & Wizards can not be found on the label’s current artists list, nor on Century Media’s roster of former artists. Merch from both acts is also no longer available via the Century Media webstore.

An official statement has yet to be released by the record label. We've reached out to Century Media for comment, but have yet to receive a response.

Jon Schaffer is currently under arrest by the FBI and is suspected of discharging “bear spray” during the pro-Trump riot. Schaffer faces six charges, including, Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority; Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business; Knowingly Engaging in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Engaging in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building; and Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in a Capitol Building.

Tiwanaku frontman Ed Mowery recently contacted BraveWords with the news that the band is making a return in 2021. They have checked in with a new press release:

Vocalist and master of the pipes, Daniel Heiman, formerly of Lost Horizon and currently of Warrior Path, will be guest appearing on Tiwanaku's debut album, Earth Base One on the song "Interdimensionsal".
 
In early 2019, Daniel and vocalist Ed Mowery were introduced by Brian "Progcop" Goldsmith. At the time Ed was playing guitar riffs he'd been working on and Brian said "You HAVE to use this on something!" Already knowing he wasnt't the right vocalist for the song, Ed asked Brian who he knew personally that could do it. Brian played three songs when Ed stopped him and asked "Who is THAT?! Lets contact him and see if he is interested." 

Brian got the two together and they all agreed that this was a fit. Daniel is currently in the studio recording his vocals to the music for "Interdimensional". 

Tragically and unexpectedly in August of 2019, Brian passed away, may he rest in peace. In his honor, Tiwanaku is dedicating Earth Base One and  "Interdimensional" to Brian. 

Brian is known for his kindness, dedication and compassion for music, metal radio, his involvement with Crimson Glory, and many other artists across the globe. 

Mowery: "This is your song Brian! I love you brother! I'll see you Interdimensional!" 

Mowery recently trevealed that former Death / Obituary / Testament guitarist James Murphy is part of the Tiwanaku line-up.

"Tiwanaku welcomes lead guitarist James Murphy, formerly of Death, Obituary and Testament. James has joined the band for their debut album Earth Base One. He is recording all the solo work on the album. James will also be making live appearances with the band in 2021/2022 in locations around the globe depending on when things open again. James was already set to be a guest on Earth Base One for one song and the timing worked out just right for him to take the spot.

The band is scheduled to mix and master the album in mid February and is currently in the studio recording Earth Base One for release in mid-2021. We are all siked to hear what James is going to do. Today he started his journey through all the songs and guitar solos. James and I have been friends for years and we've almost played together a couple times. Now we're finally gonna get the chance."

Tiwanaku is:

Ed Mowery - Vocals, Guitar
James Murphy - Lead Guitar
Chris Scales - Bass
Ryan J ONeill - Keyboards
Ryan Hurka - Drums
Liam Hurka - Drums

The Electric Boys are much loved for their idiosyncratic combination of hard rock and other forms of music such as funk beginning with their first album, Funk-O-Metal Carpet Ride, in 1989. On April 30th, the band will release worldwide their seventh album, Ups!de Down, which continues and advances this fusion of music styles to make something of their very, very own. 

Recorded at Ghost Ward studios like their successful previous album, The Ghost Ward Diaries, and co-produced with David Castillo the album showcases the songwriting and performing talents of founder members Conny Bloom on guitar and vocals and Andy Christell on bass, while also introducing "Slim" Martin Thomander on guitar. Jolle Atlagic plays all the drums on the album, as the band’s original drummer Niclas Sigevall - still very much part of the band - could not leave LA due to the pandemic.

The album reflects the turbulent times of this year and spontaneously and organically formed into a concept album tackling adversity and fear mongering and championing the human fighting spirit and ability to transcend even the most difficult situations to find hope and victory over life’s circumstances. As such, the album taps into the collective consciousness of 2020, being contemporary while also drawing on a wide variety of influences such as Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, Bowie, '50s Rock and Roll, late Beatles and even the Sisters of Mercy. Probably less funky than some of the band’s earlier material it is no less eclectic and provides a potent cocktail reflecting the history of rock and roll and the light and darkness of existence. 

Conny Bloom: “You can see the light at the end of the tunnel rather than simply the runaway train in songs like 'This Is Not The End'. When things are this big and seem out of control you can reverse it and gain control by letting it go.” 

The freethinking and rebellious spirit of the band is alive and well in this latest album and the belief in the power of the message of music and its ability to change the world. 

People commonly mention to the band that Electric Boys songs have changed their lives, inspiring them to take up instruments and how much the band’s songs have meant to their fans. Known for his fine guitar work and languidly cool persona Conny Bloom is also recognized for his work with Hanoi Rocks and Ginger in the Wildhearts. Andy Christell also joined Hanoi Rocks with Conny and with his distinctive top knot is the epitome of steady, bellbottom-fluttering rock bass.

The band has a tour planned in Sweden and is hoping to widen and include more dates worldwide as circumstances permit. 

Ups!de Down will be released in digital, LP (four different formats) and CD formats by Mighty Music on April 30th, 2021.

Tracklist:

"Upside Down Theme"
"Super God"
"Tumblin' Dominoes"
"Never Again Your Slave"
"She Never Turns Around"
"Globestrutter"
"The Dudes & The Dancers"
"Twang 'Em & Kerrang 'Em"
"It's Not The End"
"Interstellafella"

Photo by Sven Isaksson

 

"Happy New Year everyone," begins Orange Goblin vocalist Ben Ward. "It's been a bit quiet in the OG camp recently. Due to (UK Prime Minister) Boris (Johnson)'s tier system and the subsequent lockdown and uncertainty surrounding when it will all end, we are frantically looking at possible dates to reschedule the two live/live-stream shows in London that were originally planned for November and then December, keep checking here for updates on that as all tickets purchased will remain valid once we have new dates sorted. In the meantime Chris (Turner, drummer) and Joe (Hoare, guitarist) were forced to isolate after they and their families tested positive for Covid over Christmas and New Year, thankfully they have all now made a full recovery."

"Don't forget that you can still purchase the digital live album that we released last year Rough & Ready, Live & Loud via our official Bandcamp page and merchandise is also available there or via the shop on the official OG website Stay tuned for more news soon!"

Rough & Ready, Live & Loud artwork and tracklisting:

"Sons Of Salem"
"The Devil's Whip"
"Saruman's Wish"
"Made Of Rats"
"The Wolf Bites Back"
"Mythical Knives"
"The Fog"
"Some You Win, Some You Lose"
"The Filthy & The Few"
"Shine"
"Renegade"
"Time Travelling Blues"
"Your World Will Hate This" (Bandcamp Exclusive Bonus Track)

 

This past November, Halifax, Canada’s Ancient Thrones unleashed their concept album The Veil. The full-length is 57-minute descent into the afterlife telling the story of grief that people can relate to through dark and progressive blackened death.

Ancient Thrones explains:

“The record is a concept record so it’s meant to be listened to in its entirety to get the full experience of the story. Even the songs were written and laid out in a way that they seamlessly transition into each other. Almost as if it was just one long piece of music broken up into separate parts as tracks. We want people to headbang and mosh, but we also want to bring people on a journey through this world of purgatory and grief and understand each phase of grief the record represents through the ten tracks.”

Today, in support of "The Veil", drummer Sean Hickey is sharing his playthrough for the track "The Millionth Grave".

"I'm happy to showcase the drums for this playthrough of The Millionth Grave. It was filmed fittingly in our rehearsal space. The song itself is an eclectic blend of some of my favorite genres of metal, and in particular, I was inspired by bands like Beyond Creation to create the groove in the bridge of the song, which is still one of my proudest moments on the record. In our concept album The Veil, the track lyrically is the introduction to the character of death named Viduus and I wanted to establish that control and godlike power that character has with those crushing bomb blast chorus sections, as he showcasing his capabilities to our deceased character and taking the listener through a frenzy of tense aggression."  

The Veil is a natural evolution in sound, form, and change in style that led the band to become Ancient Thrones. This is unlike anything the members have released before. Recommended for fans of The Red Chord, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Wolves In The Throne Room.

Order The Veil on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Transient”
“The Sight Of Oblivion”
“The Millionth Grave”
“The Soul To Flesh”
“Viduus (The Veil)”
“Sentient”
“The River Of Rain”
“Divided/Dissolve”
“The Infinite Eyes”
“Permanent”

(Photo by: Matt LeBlanc)

Moonlight Haze have released an “8 bit” video clip for the song “The Rabbit Of The Moon”, taken from their latest record Lunaris (2020).

Guitarist Marco Falanga comments: “Heavy metal and videogames have always been an important part of our lives. Lately the circumstances have forced all of us to spend way much more time at home than usual, so we have been thinking about the good old times and how video games used to be real masterpieces, even though they were designed using only 8 bits. Long story short, we decided to revisit ‘The Rabbit Of The Moon’ and tried to elevate its power with the magnificence that only the ‘8 bit’ world can bring along, bearing the vivid memories of the past times in our minds. This is how ‘The Ra8bit Of The Moon’ was born. So today, more than ever, with tears falling down our faces we want to tell you that... 'All your base are belong to us!'”

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have signed French female-fronted Gothic doom/death metal act Wintereve. The new album, October Dark, is up now for preorder and will be released February 19 on CD and digital formats. October Dark was mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound Studio. Preorder the album on Bandcamp.

Hailing from France, Wintereve formed in 2013 and perform female-fronted Gothic doom metal. October Dark presents eight tracks that convey the innermost sense of artistic and poetic beauty through sorrow, darkness and depression. Wintereve showcase haunting melodies, soaring female vocals and growls of despair throughout 55 minutes of doom laden Gothic metal. October Dark was recorded by Didier at Mastercut studio.

Tracklisting:

“Olima”
“Sea Of Suffering”
“The Quiet Desperation”
“October Dark”
“Call Of The Void”
“Forgotten”
“To Die In Your Arms”
“Down The Path To Perdition”

“Call Of The Void”:

It’s been 30 years since four hard rock kids from Bridgeport, CT formed the influential metal outfit, Crossover. And with some new technology and a little help from Connecticut music pros, the band has returned to the spotlight with their original EP, Painkiller, completely remixed and remastered. While much has changed for the members and the entire rock scene, their music has truly stood the test of time. Listen to the title track below:

The re-released and redone EP includes three live bonus tracks, and their 4 original songs, “Painkiller”, “Identity”, “Too Many Fears” and “True Believer”. “It's gritty, raw, and as old school as it gets,” says Jay “Ice” Piccirillo. “If you like Metallica Kill Em' All meets DRI then this is a must listen! Enjoy and thank you all for the great memories!”

Purchase the EP here.

Crossover formed in Bridgeport, CT during the late-‘80s as part of the hardcore and metal scene that was beginning to flourish around New York City. Jay had an idea to put together a metal/hardcore/thrash/punk style band which, at the time, was labeled “crossover” music. Composed of Scott Smith (rhythm guitar/vocals), Bill Smith (drums), Scott Camara (guitar) and Jay “Ice” Piccirillo (bass), the band played everywhere from keg parties to clubs, and quickly gained a loyal following. 

During the fall of 2002, the band reunited for a live benefit show that would feature Crossover, Payback, Sonick Plague, Dresden, Lost Generation, Forced Reality, and 76 percent Uncertain. The band’s lineup that night consisted of Jay, Bill Smith, GB Hammond from Lost Generation, Charlie Taylor from Payback, and Andy Reitano from Blastmat. 

While the band’s lifespan was relatively short, their influence can still be felt today. Hatebreed singer, Jamey Jasta, bought Jay’s Mesa Boogie amp when they were in their beginning stages and told him he had a Crossover sticker on his bedroom door when he was 14 years old. Piccirillo recalls, “It was pretty damn cool hearing that.”
 
It is now 30 years later since the original demo was released and over the years technology has come a long way. Crossover now has the sound and mix they envisioned three decades ago, and are excited to share it with old and new fans alike.

Hard rock band, The Lonely Ones, have signed to Imagen Records.The band will release their first single, "Change The Station", through the label on February 5.

"We’re very excited to partner with Imagen Records in 2021. They put a deal on the table that was very artist friendly and their excitement about the band has been contagious. It’s a great team with Bob Winegard, Shauna O’Donnell, Steven Nathan and Morgan Rose. The music industry is constantly changing and these cats have their ears to the ground. We are looking forward to this new adventure with Imagen on our side," says Marty McCoy, vocalist/guitarist of The Lonely Ones.

"I’ve known Marty and the boys for most of my career. When the opportunity to sign them came up, I jumped at it. This band is stacked with hooks and tons of attitude. I can’t wait for the world to hear what they have to say," adds Morgan Rose, Head of A&R Imagen Records/ drummer for Sevendust.

"I am very excited to have The Lonely Ones on the Imagen Records roster. I knew from the moment I heard their songs that this band was something special. They are hit makers!," says Bob Winegard, President of Imagen Records.

Formed in the summer of 2019, The Lonely Ones are a four piece vocal-oriented hard rock band with an ear for melody and a taste for success. No strangers to the hardships of the music industry, The Lonely Ones know what they want and know how to get it. They released two singles, "Eternal Sadness" and "The Lonely One", independently in March of 2020.

The band released their re-imagined version of Queen's classic song "Flash" in July of 2020. The song/video was met with rave reviews including those of Brian May (Queen) and Sam J Jones (Flash Gordon, The Highwayman).

Brian May was quoted as saying, “What a fantastic cover! I didn’t realize they were going to go into The Hero and the whole reprise ... magnificent!"

Sam J Jones adds, "This is one of the best covers I have ever heard and seen. What a gifted group - The Lonely Ones are for everyone of us, from the 1980’s to right now!"

The video for "Flash/ The Hero" can be seen below:

In September , 2020, The Lonely Ones released another brand new single titled "Real Big Trouble."

The Lonely Ones are:

Marty McCoy - guitar / vocals
Tommy Johnson - drums
Jymmy Tolland - bass / vocals
Jake Earley - guitar / vocals

Metal Blade Records welcomes Kardashev to its worldwide roster.

A self-described "deathgaze" group, Kardashev is for fans of The Contortionist, Rivers Of Nihil, Devin Townsend, Alcest - among others. Their mission statement could be described as: "Attempting to create the most beautiful, heavy music through themes of love, loss and altruism in the metal spectrum."

Much of the band's lyrical content - found on their numerous EPs, singles, plus debut album (2015's Peripety) - is written about science, space and the human condition.

Kardashev comments: "We couldn't be more excited and grateful to be working with Metal Blade. They're the industry leader and life-long dream partnership for us as we've always looked up to their artists for innovation, direction, and image. Now, we get to be who we looked up to when we were young."

After releasing their latest EP, The Baring Of Shadows, last year, Kardashev has been hard at work writing their sophomore album - and Metal Blade Records debut - set to be released in 2022. Stay tuned for more Kardashev news coming soon.

(Photo - Zach Beam)

Ocean City, Maryland's Jarhead Fertilizer will release their debut album, Product Of My Environment, on February 26 via Closed Casket Activities. Pre-order here.

The band just shared the new song "Silence The Narc". It's a minute-long blast that will completely consume your senses. Listen below.

"'Silence the Narc' was the first song written for Product of My Environment," the band says. "Growing up, we've had many personal friends and family deal with the unfortunate act of entrapment. 'Short life for a big mouth.'"

The debut LP from Jarhead Fertilizer is a hot dose in your veins. Our modern dystopian reality meets a brutal mixture of death and grind with primitive groove with blistering low end. On Product of My Environment, Jarhead Fertilizer make a simple statement: Death is easy. Life is hard.

Tracklisting:

"Intro"
"Product Of My Environment"
"Trials And Tribulations"
"Silence The Narc"
"Paranoia Seeping"
"Embedded In Your Mind"
"Baptized By Fire"
"An End To Your Sacred World"
"Drowned In Your Blood"
"Agony Churning"
"Life Is Prison"

"Silence The Narc":

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 the single and video for the title track, which you can watch below. 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"

"Lifeblood" video:

Lineup:

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

Maestros of modern melodic/symphonic metal, Temperance, have released a brand new song off their upcoming acoustic EP, Melodies Of Green And Blue.

Among six acoustic renditions from Viridian, “Evelyn” is one of two brand new songs off the melodic/symphonic metal outfit’s new acoustic EP. After many years of band history and tours with genre giants like Nightwish, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody and Tarja, Temperance will release Melodies Of Green And Blue on February 19 via Napalm Records.

Right from the start of the song, “Evelyn” sets the tone for a one of a kind acoustic ballad. Alessia Scolletti, Marco Pastorino and Michele Guaitoli each show off their powerful vocal abilities before coming together for the final, cathartic chorus, backed by marvelous acoustic soundscapes.

Watch the Music Video for “Evelyn” (Acoustic) below.

Guitarist & singer Marco Pastorino about “Evelyn”: "I‘ve had that song in my mind for a long time, inspired by Evelyn McHale, the protagonist from one of the most famous photos ever, a girl who died jumping from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in New York. Evelyn is a sort of journey through her life, doubts, questions without answers, guided by a different song, a different style we‘ve never presented before. Close your eyes and begin to relax into this acoustic world..."

Singer 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"

"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)

At the beginning of December 2020, Chthonic singer Freddy lim and guitarist Jesse Liu performed with Flesh Juicer at the Roar Now! Bankah! festival in Taiwan. Together they played the song "Turn The Sun Off", which was originally included on Flesh Juicer's album, Fairy Tales Of Ocean Deep, and recently become very popular in the Taiwanese metal scene

The live pro-shot video below shows scenes from Taipei's oldest traditional festival, Chingshan King Pilgrimage and the historic site of Longshan Temple 
It creates a perfect amalgamation of metal music and traditional culture.

The day's performance was featured in French magazine Le Point, which showcased Taiwan's experience in epidemic prevention. With this remarkable achievement, released digitally worldwide, Freddy Lim - a member of Taiwanese partiament - hopes she can help the world learn more about Taiwan's metal scene and appreciate the traditional culture of Old Taipei.

"Taiwan's performance in epidemic prevention this year has made us better known. In the future, when the borders are open, please experience Taiwan, fall in love with Taiwan."

CATTLE DECAPITATION's music video for the song "Finish Them" can be seen below. Directed by Nicholas Vidler, the clip features live footage from the band's sold-out shows in Melbourne, Australia in early 2020. The track is taken from CATTLE DECAPITATION's latest album, "Death Atlas", which was released in November 2019 via Metal Blade Records.

Vocalist Travis Ryan comments: "When traveling to Australia to embark on our Australia/New Zealand/Japan tour in early 2020, we wondered what would await us on their soil as bushfires were raging, claiming the lives of millions of wild animals, altering the lives of many of our fans and citizens of Australia. What we didn't expect was record turnouts with serious rabid fans that I think just wanted to take their minds off the current state of affairs and do their best to have a good time given the utterly shit circumstances they were experiencing. We quickly organized meet-and-greets at the last minute and were able to raise well over $25,000AUD for the Cobargo Wildlife Sanctuary, who had pretty much lost everything in the fires.

"Thanks to the incredible support from our fans Down Under and through other folks ready to help, they were able to rebuild. We really felt like we had been given a gift by the fans, so we wanted to give back to these people who came out and raged with us by releasing our final music video for 'Death Atlas', which showcases how sick the shows were and how truly amazing our fans are. Look close, maybe you'll find yourself in the crowd!

"Looking forward to returning to the stage one day, hopefully soon!"

Produced once again by Dave Otero, "Death Atlas" features a number of guests: Laure Le Prunenec (IGORRR, RICINN), Riccardo Conforti (VOID OF SILENCE), Dis Pater (MIDNIGHT ODYSSEY), Jon Fishman (PHISH) — plus, brass instrumentalists from Ottone Pesante.

Ryan told New Noise about the making of "Death Atlas": "It’s morphed from one or two people writing most of it to the process including everyone, even myself. I might not write any riffs, but arrangements change big time when I bring lyrics into play, and we've all adapted to writing catchier songs. They keep me in mind when writing choruses, and I keep in mind things I could be doing when they're writing, and it all ends up coming together, mostly in the studio. We're making honest-to-god albums now instead of collections of songs. Not to take anything away from the previous albums; it's just different. We're more experienced now."

Few bands can claim to have an identity and sound as remarkable as Nine Treasures. Forming in 2010, one of the original Mongolian folk metal bands have one simple goal: to take Mongolian heavy metal worldwide.

Now, a decade on; three albums, millions of streams and several European tours and festival shows (Wacken Open Air, Woodstock Poland) later, Nine Treasures are well on their way, having led a Mongolian metal revolution. 

The band are celebrating their journey so far with their new Best Of record, Awakening From Dukkha, to be released March 19th. Collecting songs from their 3 album catalogue, Awakening From Dukkha is both a stellar introduction to a seminal band for the new listener, and a significant recognition of the group’s achievements so far.

Pre-order the album here.

Tracklist:

"Black Heart"
"Arvan Ald Guulin Honshoor"
"Fable of Mangas"
"Nomin Dalai"
"Tes River's Hymn" 
"Ten Years" 
"The Dream About Ancient City" 
"Praise For Fine Horse" 
"The End Of The World" 
"Wisdom Eyes" 
"The Stubborn" 
"Three Years Old Warrior" 

“We re-recorded and remastered everything, and added ton of details to make those songs as great as possible. Our fans deserve to hear us at our best, which is why we were so motivated to make this album. Now we’ve done that, we just want to keep Nine Treasures going as long as possible, make music that we’re proud of and spread a little positivity… and tour the world again!”

A celebration of the past it may be, but for vocalist/guitarist Askhan and his bandmates, this decade-spanning collection is also a rebirth for Nine Treasures:

“Our fans deserve to hear us at our best, which is why we were so motivated to make this album. Now we’ve done that, we just want to keep Nine Treasures going as long as possible, make music that we’re proud of and spread a little positivity… and tour the world again!”

“It’s always been about the music with us,” he says. “When I started this band I had no idea how things worked, and I thought it was all about marketing, promotion and fancy videos, but after 10 years of doing this, I’ve realised that everything revolves around the music itself. That’s why our focus is on making our music as great as it can be – we’re constantly progressing.”

The music Askhan speaks of is a unique combination of old school heavy metal and traditional Mongolian folk, which sees Nine Treasures utilise both conventional vocals and Mongolian throat singing. Likewise, guitars, bass and drums collide with traditional string instruments such as the balalaika and the morin khuur, resulting in a sonic kaleidoscope that follows no set template. Unlike much of contemporary rock and metal, there are no rules when it comes to Nine Treasures, and that makes the quality of the band’s output all the more impressive.

“It’s not as simple as just putting a guitar chord behind some Mongolian melodies,” Askhan explains. “Our music is so much deeper than that. We don’t follow a model, and we work to ensure the two distinct facets of our sound complement one another. I’ve changed the way I play the guitar in order to accommodate the Mongolian elements, and vice-versa. To do this takes a lot of analysis and experimentation.”

Named after a group of objects referenced in ancient Mongolian poems, Nine Treasures' music touches on the mythology and fairy tales of their homeland, but the band’s songs contain more universal references, too. Having recently begun practicing Buddhism – “It changed my life,” Askhan says – Nine Treasures' frontman is now intent on using their music to bring comfort and ease the suffering of others. 

“I want to share the teachings I’ve learned with others like me who have experienced anxiety,” Askhan continues. “We want Nine Treasures to bring some positive energy into the world – the greatest thing we can do with this is to help people.”

For more information go to the band's official Facebook page here.

Legendary rock band MÖTLEY CRÜE is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

It was January 17, 1981 when Nikki Sixx first jammed with Tommy Lee and vocalist/guitarist Greg Leon. Leon left, Mick Mars and Vince Neil were recruited. The rest, as they say, is history…

Commented Sixx: "In 'Kickstart My Heart', the lyrics say, 'When we started this band / All we needed, needed was a laugh / Years gone by, I'd say we've kicked some ass.'

"It's always been about great songs and over-the-top live shows for us. The fans were always right by our side. I don't know where all of the years went. It went by in a flash. What I can't forget are the four decades of fans who have counted themselves as Crüeheads from day one, supporting us through thick and thin. To them we are in debt and thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

He added: "40 years ago today in 1981 we started @motleycrue outta Hollywood California.

"I am beyond grateful to of [sic] done this journey with my brothers @thevinceneil @mr.mickmars and @tommylee. The places we've travelled to around the world together, the songs we've written, the ÖVER the top live shows and of course 4 generations of fans.

"Wherever I may be in the world when a possible non rock fan asks me 'Are you in a band?' and I tell them MÖTLEY CRÜE they always light up and say 'Oh, I know your music.'

"Beyond everything else those words mean the most. The SONGS.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brothers and to all the fans. And to so many many people along the way that kept this old warhorse rocking. MORE TO COME........."

Lee said: "Happy 40th my dudes.... what a fucking ride hey!?! Like a rollercoaster we been up down and all around this damn world touching hearts and many other parts hahah of people all around the globe! Cheers to touching more!!!!"

Neil said: "Happy Birthday to my brothers! 40 years!! A lifetime of memories!!"

Sunday, January 17, 2021 marks the 40th anniversary of this momentous occasion in the history of rock and roll and marks the beginning of a year of celebration of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band. Today is also the perfect time for music and movie fans alike to watch the band's hit movie "The Dirt" on Netflix and stream "The Dirt" soundtrack, as well as the band's iconic debut album "Too Fast For Love", which will celebrate its 40th birthday later this year, on November 10, 2021.

Any posts about the band are invited to add the hashtag #HappyBirthdayToCrüe.

Neil, Sixx, Mars and Lee are firmly ingrained in the fabric of rock history. MÖTLEY CRÜE has sold over 100 million albums worldwide, achieving seven USA platinum and multi-platinum albums, 22 Top 40 mainstream rock hits, six Top 20 pop singles and three Grammy nominations.

The band has had 1.6 billion streams across digital providers and has over 8 million social media followers. In 2006, the band was inducted into the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.

A stunning live act, MÖTLEY CRÜE has taken its incendiary show across the world, selling over 100 million tickets globally.

The band's biography "The Dirt: Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band", first published in 2001, became a New York Times best-seller and has sold over one million copies worldwide. In addition, the band members have authored three other New York Times best-sellers.

2019 saw "The Dirt" released as a feature-length biopic. The film became one of the biggest releases of that year and scored a 94% positive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The band remains a huge global draw. MÖTLEY CRÜE is set to co-headline a nearly sold out North American stadium tour with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and Joan Jett in June, July, August and September 2021.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's legacy and influence in the global music scene cannot be underestimated. 2021 is the year to celebrate the achievements of this extraordinary band.

Ted Nugent has once again praised President Donald Trump, saying that the billionaire real estate mogul represents "the heart and soul of the best American families out there."

The outspoken conservative rocker, who is a staunch proponent of gun ownership, discussed America's 45th president in an interview on Thursday (October 29) with InfoWars' "The Alex Jones Show", hosted by noted conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Speaking about his admiration for Trump, Nugent said: "I genuflect at the altar of this great man. He is just pulling off miracle after miracle. He's really touching the heart and soul and representing the heart and soul of the best American families out there. Just praise God for that. This is one of those divine intervention moments, like the founding fathers. Believe me when I tell you that.

"I've been so honored and humbled to spend time with the great man," Ted continued. "There's something very spiritual about this crazy guy. I say 'crazy' — he's crazy like you; he's crazy like me; he's crazy like this welder I know down the road that, no matter what welding job you have, he shows up early and he welds something that will never break, and then he goes to his next welding job, and he leaves a vapor trail of high energy, of positive spirit.

"The energy from this president… Like the founding fathers defined the history of slavery and tyranny and kings and emperors and despots, that was divine intervention, Alex. And I've witnessed this great commander-in-chief Donald J. Trump, and he goes from rally and rally, and he gets up there with piss and vinegar and vim and vigor… You should see the sparkle in this man's eye."

Nugent went on to say that Trump's appeal lies in his image as the bold, no-B.S. boss who tells it like it is and cuts a fair deal.

"Here's the bottom line: the most admirable attribute of a human being is believability," Ted said. "If you believe this man, you believe he believes in what he says and that he represents your beliefs, that identifies President Donald J. Trump. This man just wants to renegotiate global contracts to benefit the United States. He wants the United States to be the winner. He wants to have fair deals, and he wants to have fair trade. He wants to benefit the United States Of America, because this is the last best place. If we turn it over to the freaks like [Nancy] Pelosi and [Joe] Biden and [Kamala] Harris, if we turn it over to them, we are Venezuela overnight."

Nugent added: "[Trump] sees the threats to the American Dream. He sees the oath violating by elected employees who have turned the corner into criminality, from [Barack] Obama to [Eric] Holder to [Loretta] Lynch to Lois Lerner to Adam Schiff, Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton — we go right down the list of these gang bangers. I mean, it's MS-13, Black Lives Matter, Antifa in the Democrat party… [Trump] sees the threats to America and he's gonna use every maneuver, every trick, every law he can to stop the Marxists. He's saving his family from the wolves. That's his motivation."

A board member of the National Rifle Association, Nugent has drawn intense criticism for his controversial past remarks, including telling then-president Barack Obama to "suck on my machine gun." He also made inflammatory remarks about Hillary Clinton, calling her a "devilbitch" who "hates everything good about America."

In a lengthy Facebook post in 2016, Nugent said Obama and Clinton should be tried for treason and hanged over their handling of the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Last year, Nugent defended Donald Trump after the U.S. president was accused of making racist remarks about Democratic congresswomen from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.


See you all on Alex Jones radio live right now celebrating truth logic commonsense we the shitkicker people of America drenched in freedom!

Posted by Ted Nugent on Thursday, October 29, 2020

During an appearance on the "Jeremy White Podcast", Wolf Hoffmann clarified his recent comment that ACCEPT, and not the SCORPIONS, was the first heavy metal band to come out of Germany. He said (see video below): "I would say we were always heavier than the SCORPIONS. I mean, SCORPIONS were huge and successful. I didn't say we were the biggest band there; I just said we were the first heavier band to come out of [Germany]. Just around the time that heavy metal was really born and the term came into existence, I would say we were right there. I mean, there was the New Wave Of British [Heavy] Metal — all those bands — and there was ACCEPT in Germany, around the same time, releasing 'Breaker' [1981] and 'Restless And Wild' [1982]. And that was right in the middle when it all started. And the SCORPIONS were over in America doing their radio-rock-whatever mega shows — all good — but they weren't really part of that scene."

ACCEPT's new album, "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.

According to Jiu-Jitsu Times, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine now a purple belt in jiu-jitsu.

The 59-year-old musician was promoted to the new rank almost two years after earning the first stripe on his blue belt. He was promoted by Reggie Almeida, who leads Gracie Barra Spring Hill in Tennessee, near Mustaine's hometown of Franklin.

Almeida shared the good news on the gym's social media, writing last Thursday (January 14): "After 2 years as a blue belt and hard training and lots of ups and downs today I had the honor to promote Mr @davemustaine to his well deserved purple belt ! Congratulations kid !!!"

As the middle belt, purple is when a jiu jitsu player begins to form his or her identity within the grand scheme of the sport.

In a 2007 interview, Mustaine said he started training taekwondo in 1999 in Arizona and then moved to California, where he lived until a few yeas ago. "Before taking up taekwondo, I practiced kung fu and other martial arts," he said.

Mustaine told The Quietus in 2010 that he had "a first degree in Ukidokan karate. My sensei — Benny 'The Jet' Urquidez — has the style of karate, kung-fu, aikido, judo, ju-jitsu, taekwondo, Greco-Roman wrestling, Muay Thai boxing and American boxing," he said. "So it's all those things rolled into one. It's a nine-style discipline. My second black belt is in Songham taekwondo and I was an assistant instructor in that style, and then I taught it privately for a while."

Mustaine and his family moved to a suburn of Nashville in October 2014 after living in Fallbrook, California for a couple of years.




After 2 years as a blue belt and hard training and lots of ups and downs today I had the honor to promote Mr @...

Posted by Gracie Barra Spring Hill Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Self Defense on Thursday, January 14, 2021

In a new interview with DEATH ANGEL's Ted Aguilar as part of the "Alive & Streaming" YouTube series, Dino Cazares revealed that the new FEAR FACTORY album will arrive in the next "two or three months." A single will precede the full-length effort "soon."

Last September, singer Burton C. Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's long-awaited new album.

Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while. These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.

"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."

Pressed about whether there is any chance of a reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton said: "I'm done. I haven't spoken to Dino in three years. I haven't spoken to Raymond [Herrera, drums] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] in longer than that, and I have no intention to. I'm just moving forward with my life."

In October, Dino issued a statement in which he said that the door for Burton to come back to FEAR FACTORY wouldn't "stay open forever." The guitarist also revealed that Burton "lost his legal rights" to the FEAR FACTORY name "after a long court battle" with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. "I had the opportunity to do something right, and I felt that obtaining the name in full was the right thing to do for the both of us, so after nearly four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and to tour," he said. "That is why it is sad to hear that he decided to quit and, in my opinion, for whatever issues he has it seems like it could've been worked out."

In explaining his reasons for starting a fundraising campaign, Cazares said that all donations will go toward covering newly incurred production costs involved with the making of the new FEAR FACTORY LP, including re-recording the drums, guitars, bass and keyboards, as well as mixing and mastering by Andy Sneap. Burton's original lead vocals, which were recorded in full in 2017, will remain on the new version of the album.

FEAR FACTORY's fundraising campaign marked the first public activity from the band since it completed a 2016 U.S. headlining tour on which it performed its classic second album, "Demanufacture", in its entirety.

Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project released its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", last October via Dissonance Productions.

Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has paid tribute to former CHILDREN OF BODOM frontman Alexi Laiho, who died last month at the age of only 41.

In an eight-minute video posted to his YouTube channel, Gus said in part (see below): "It was a shock for me to read the news [of Alexi's passing]. I knew Alexi. I wouldn't say that we were close friends or anything, but we were definitely acquaintances through the years. We did a photo shoot together. We hung out a bunch of times at the NAMM shows or the Frankfurt [Musik]messe.

"It's really sad that he passed," Gus continued. "He was a very important figure in the metal world — a very influential guitar player of his generation. So I think he will be missed by many people, by many fans. I mean, he has left us a great musical legacy, and that will, of course, live on.

"It was very sad for me to hear about Alexi's passing, not only because he will be missed by, of course, his loved ones and his family, and he was so young. The guy was so young — I mean, he was only one year older than me, so we were the same generation. So it's a little bit of a shock when you hear somebody your age leaving this world.

"I think he had a lot more to give still — musically, he had a lot more stuff he could have given us," Gus added. "And I just kind of felt like at some point, our paths crossed there for a moment. At that time, [when I first met him] 15 or 17 years ago, I felt we were kind of part of this European new movement of metal guitar players, so I kind of connected with him on that level.

"Anyways, he was a great guy. He always treated me nice. He was always very cool.

"So, rest in peace, Alexi. And my condolences to his family, to his friends, to his loved ones. I'm grateful for the times that we got to hang out, and thank you for the music that you've given to the world."

Laiho died in his home in Helsinki. He had suffered from long-term health issues leading up to his death.

Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded CHILDREN OF BODOM in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019. Last year, Alexi put together BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT, which recorded three songs and shot one music video, to be released posthumously.

Besides CHILDREN OF BODOM, Laiho had played in such acts as WARMEN, SINERGY, KYLÄHULLUT and THE LOCAL BAND. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden God and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at the Helsinki Festival in 2015 in "100 Guitars From Hel" — a massive concert piece he composed.

BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT made its live debut last October at Rytmikorjaamo in Seinäjoki, Finland. The 17-song show consisted entirely of CHILDREN OF BODOM material.

During a recent appearance on "Vox&Hops", the podcast hosted by Matt McGachy, frontman of extreme metal band CRYPTOPSY, Peter Iwers, who runs a brewery called Odd Island Brewing with his ex-IN FLAMES bandmate Daniel Svensson and owns the Gothenburg restaurant 2112 with IN FLAMES guitarist Björn Gelotte, was asked if he ever misses being on the road. The bassist replied (see video below): "Yeah, absolutely. Well, 'miss' is kind of the wrong word. I loved being on the road for most of the years that I was with [IN FLAMES], and I miss the good times. I have no regrets as far as leaving, but, of course, sometimes I really miss just being free and out and playing shows and traveling to new places every day. But I have plans. Maybe this will happen again in the future — not with IN FLAMES, though, but, yeah, we'll see."

He continued: "I'm kind of not missing spending time thinking about stuff like that. I'm kind of more living where I am now, where I'm actually free to do whatever I can with my own time. I own my own time, as I like to say; I can plan it however I like it. And I'm kind of focusing on enjoying that rather than missing the past.

"It's fun to reminisce, but at the same time, it can take you down a dangerous road as well," Peter added.

Iwers left IN FLAMES in November 2016, saying in a statement that he was exiting the group "to pursue other endeavors."

In a 2017 interview with Ireland's Overdrive, Björn said that he wasn't surprised by Peter's departure from IN FLAMES. "It wasn't a 'shock,' so to speak, as we kind of knew that it was coming," he said. "I think he was just done with it all and not happy. No, 'happy' is the wrong word. He just wanted to pursue other things. Peter is a very, very busy guy. He has his own brewery with Daniel called Odd Island Brewing and he's also got four or five different musical projects happening, so he's really got his hands full at the moment."

Shortly after leaving IN FLAMES, Iwers joined CYHRA, the band featuring vocalist Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE) and guitarist Jesper Strömblad (ex-IN FLAMES). He announced his departure from that band in May 2018.

IN FLAMES' current lineup features American bassist Bryce Paul Newman, who has been playing most of the shows with the group since Iwers's exit.

David Lee Roth has shared a new piece of original artwork which was apparently inspired by the U.S. Capitol riot earlier this month. Check it out below.

For most of the last year, the VAN HALEN singer has been posting paintings on his Twitter account that reflect the times and channel the mass anxiety around the novel coronavirus.

This is not the first time Roth has shared some of his visual art with the public. Back in 2009, Roth released dozens of his own drawings and artwork, which he called at the time "authentic originals and incompetent imitations." He offered them up as "an official answer to the question 'what do you do in your spare time?'"

According to the Van Halen News Desk, the VAN HALEN frontman always been into art. Throughout his whole life, while touring the world, you could find him doodling on just about anything — setlists, tour riders, female body parts, etc. He was always a major part of the visual side of VAN HALEN, and always tried to make the stage show "look like the music sounds." He designed stage clothes, orchestrated photo shoots, came up with the stage choreography, etc. He also had a hand in designing VAN HALEN's early tourbooks and a few of their t-shirts.

Last March, Roth postponed the final six shows of his Las Vegas residency due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Roth performed as the opening act for the February/March 2020 North American leg of KISS's "End Of The Road" farewell tour.

VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen died of cancer in October at age 65.

Roth, who performed with VAN HALEN for the last time in 2015, tweeted shortly after Eddie's death: "What a long great trip it's been."




#SoggyBottom #DLR #DavidLeeRoth #DiamondDave pic.twitter.com/wwQPcvojYk

— David Lee Roth (@DavidLeeRoth) January 18, 2021

TIMES OF GRACE, the collaborative project featuring KILLSWITCH ENGAGE members Jesse Leach (vocals) and Adam Dutkiewicz (guitar), will release its long-awaited second album this spring. The timetable for the LP's arrival was revealed in a new video message (see below) and graphic on the band's social media.

Last month, Leach said that he and Dutkiewicz were "finalizing" things for the new record's release. He also blamed the album's delay on the fact that 2020 was "a shitshow," in part due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. "We just wanna make sure it comes out properly — the way that we want it to be presented, and have some good visual ideas and some good artwork," he explained. "And we found a good home at a label. So all of that is wrapping up."

Back in August, Dutkiewicz told the Metal Blade Live Series that he was "really excited" about the new TIMES OF GRACE material. "There's some pretty mellow vibes on that record, for sure," he said. "It's definitely one of the darkest things I've ever written topically."

In July, Leach told the "BREWtally Speaking Podcast" that the new TIMES OF GRACE album is "leaps and bounds better [than 2011's 'The Hymn Of A Broken Man']. It's more creative, it's more genuine, I feel," he said. "I feel like there was definitely a bleed-in of KILLSWITCH influence on that first record, and how could there not be, with me and Adam working together. And I feel like this new record sort of pulls away from that and really sort of defines us and our sound as TIMES OF GRACE, where I listen back to 'Live In Love' [from the first TIMES OF GRACE album] and certain songs like that, and you can hear the KILLSWITCH influence. And that's cool, and fans, I'm sure, appreciated that, but I'm very happy to pull away from that and do something different for this new record."

Leach went on to speak in more detail about TIMES OF GRACE's musical progression and the band's plans to release a full-length album and a separate EP.

"It's a mixed bag [of musical styles]," he told "BREWtally Speaking Podcast". "There's definitely some of that sort of bluesy [stuff] — definitely a lot of blues, I should say. But it comes in different forms. I'd say there's a mixture of a touch of some stoner vibes going on there. There's definitely a touch of, like, I guess the term would be 'post metal,' atmospheric metal — guitars with a lot of delay and space with big, heavy bass and slow-moving stuff. There's more rock and roll, more indie rock. And there's still traces of the metal that we're known for here and there."

He continued: "I think with the direction we're heading in, and why there's gonna be two releases, this first release we wanted to make sure it sort of didn't really have any of that heavy KILLSWITCH-y vibe to it. So the first record is going to be what I feel is our signature sound that we've sort of embraced, and it just kind of happened through Adam's writing. And then the EP will be a little bit more of the metal that you have come to know and reflect on the first record. So it's a real mixed bag. And I'm glad to say I don't think you can really put a genre on us because of that. We'll see. I'm sure people are gonna still call it metalcore. I don't even know what the fuck that term means anymore. But I'm happy to say that I think that we are no longer going to be called that style of music, because I think we're more of a heavy metal/rock band, if you will."

TIMES OF GRACE entered Signature Sound studio in San Diego, California in late 2017 to begin recording material for its new LP. Sitting behind the drum kit during the sessions was Dan Gluszak, who previously played drums for TIMES OF GRACE on tour and has since been named an official member of the band.

"The Hymn Of A Broken Man" was released in January 2011 via Roadrunner Records. The CD sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 44 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Dutkiewicz and Leach originally worked together on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's benchmark album, 2002's "Alive Or Just Breathing". That record has become definitive for an entire generation of American metal, with Leach's voice and uplifting lyrics serving as one of the key elements that propelled the album to "modern classic" status. Leach left KILLSWITCH ENGAGE shortly after "Alive Or Just Breathing"'s release but rejoined the group in early 2012 following the departure of his replacement, Howard Jones.

Ripple Music, one of the world's leading purveyors of doom and stoner rock, has names OZZY OSBOURNE bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson as its new executive vice president of A&R and special projects. A longtime connoisseur of the psych, stoner, doom, and heavy rock genres championed by the acclaimed Ripple Music roster and catalog, Blasko brings his extensive experience as a musician, manager, and curator to the California based label.

Blasko will work directly alongside Ripple Music cofounder and CEO Todd Severin to sign new artists and executive produce special projects with established acts in the newly created position. Concurrently, he continues his roles as bassist for the OZZY OSBOURNE band and manager for his roster of artists.

"I am thrilled to welcome Blasko to the Ripple Music team," says Ripple Music owner Todd Severin. "His impressive track record, experience, and knowledge reflect a deep commitment to artist development, a passion we share."

"Todd is a true innovator in the underground, and I hope to honor the Ripple Music legacy and contribute to its promising and ever-expanding future," adds Blasko. "I am privileged to participate."

Nicholson became a recording and touring musician at just 16 years old, first as bassist for seminal crossover thrash band CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, which released three albums with Metal Blade Records from 1986 to 1988. After stints in a handful of major label projects and a short time with DANZIG, Blasko became the first bassist for ROB ZOMBIE following the dissolution of WHITE ZOMBIE. He recorded and toured behind "Hellbilly Deluxe" (three times platinum), "The Sinister Urge" (platinum), and the Billboard Top 5 album "Educated Horses".

Ozzy invited Blasko to join his band in 2005, where he's remained ever since. Around the same time, he laid the foundation for a boutique management firm whose roster now includes Zakk Wylde, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and ZAKK SABBATH alongside CLUTCH, Grammy Award winners HIGH ON FIRE and gold-certified BLACK VEIL BRIDES. Blasko offers consulting and marketing work to a select number of businesses related to heavy music culture. He's also worked as a host and personality for music news outlets, radio stations, podcasts, and blogs.

Celebrating its tenth year in 2020, Ripple Music is the passion-driven imprint that leading heavy metal magazine, Decibel magazine declared "has made a splash in heavy rock and metal," and Alternative Control labeled "powerhouse taste maker". Metal Injection went so far as to predict, "they may very well be the future of rock and roll." Heavy hitters associated with Ripple Music include genre legend Scott "Wino" Weinrich, MOTHERSHIP, WO FAT, FREEDOM HAWK, MOS GENERATOR, desert rock progenitors YAWNING MAN, and many more.

In addition to the label, Severin oversees The Ripple Effect blog, Heavy Ripples Distro and Ripplefest events around the world. Ripple Music is headquartered in California's Bay Area. Blasko continues to live and work in Los Ange