With less than a month to go to the release of “The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder”, the much-anticipated third full-length album from Endezzma, Dark Essence Records have provided a further glimpse into the darkness the Norwegian Black Metallers are so adept at creating with the release of a new single taken from the album, along with an accompanying video.

The single, titled “Wild Glorior Death” can be streamed or downloaded at this location.

Whilst the video for “Wild Glorior Death” can be seen below.


The band point out that with its powerful build up to the climax, the video is the perfect visual accompaniment to the track:

“Wild Glorior Death” is a true manifest and a real gate to the core of the mythical and philosophical depth of the album. In this song you find the essential battle of strength, untamed forces and the unbound darkness.

A rapture of oppressive sonic splendour visualized by the video that follows the track. The journey builds up through a real violent and epic storm and through the thunder the listener will experience that the song represents the turning point in the storyline of the album. The Archer claims his throne through “Wild Glorior Death”

With “The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder”, Endezzma have taken massive strides with their song writing, and have produced an album that bridges the gap between dark anthems and primitive aggression.

Recorded at the Vika Studio and the Malpherno Studio in Norway, the album was mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at the Necromorbus Studio in Stockholm. Artwork is by Stefan Todorovic / Kahos Diktator Design, and the tracklisting is as follows:

Tracklist “The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder”:
01. The Awakening
02. The Name of the Night is a Strong Tower
03. Anomalious Abomination
04. The Archer, Fjord and the Thunder
05. Formless and Void
06. Garden ov Heathen
07. Wild Glorior Death
08. Open Your Eyes and Stab the Sight
09. Arrows of Equilibrium
10. Closure

Just prior to Christmas, legendary Canadian thrash metal quartet, Sacrifice, began streaming the demo version of a brand new song, "World War V", from their as yet untitled new album, which is presumably due sometime in 2021. 

The band has since taken that rough version of "World War V" offline and replaced it with a new, better mix which can be heard below. "A small sampler of what we've been up to since the travel bans came into effect," says Sacrifice. "Across the continent from our homes to yours. Enjoy." 

Sacrifice's last studio album, The Ones I Condemn, was released in 2009.

(Photo - Kieran Palmerston)

 

Having inked a deal with Prosthetic Records and released their first single, "Descend", back in October 2020, Summoning The Lich have now announced their debut album, United In Chaos.

With the album due out on February 26, the St Louis, Missouri four-piece have unveiled a new single, "The Nightmare Begins". United In Chaos is available to pre-order here.

Taking inspiration from the best elements of Lord Of The Rings, Magic The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and Adventure Time, and wrapping it up in a fantastical death metal parcel, Summoning The Lich has an attention to detail and commitment to storytelling that is second to none. United In Chaos tells the tale of the rise of the Lich and fall of the Kingdom Rodor - and the spread of his wicked influence across the land as his power grows.

Speaking on the release of The Nightmare Begins, the band comment: "'The Nightmare Begins' kicks off our album, United In Chaos, and introduces you to the Kingdom of Rodor and the unbounding malevolence about to be unleashed upon it. This single takes the perilous climb in an attempt to thwart the inevitable birth of the Lich and summons forth his power as we enter the new year. Huge thanks to Decibel Magazine for the premiere of our new single!"

On United In Chaos, Summoning The Lich haven’t just championed a fantasy world, they’ve created one in their own vision; this release marking merely the first chapter in a trilogy of albums that explores the outer limits of their imaginations. By inserting their storytelling chops into songs crammed with memorable hooks and meaty riffs, Summoning The Lich have invited listeners to roll the dice and join the adventure.

Tracklisting:

"The Nightmare Begins"
"Cult Of The Ophidian"
"The Gatekeeper"
"Demon Of The Snow"
"Predatory Reflection"
"Acid Reign"
"United In Chaos"
"Descend"
"Hymns (Of The Witches Of The West)"
"Death Crystal"
"Temple Of The Bone"
"The Lure Of The Necromancer"

"Descend":

For further details,visit Summoning The Lich on Facebook.

 

Finnish melodic metal band Evil Drive strikes back again! On their upcoming third album, they present themselves as more powerful, and with major musical and technical improvements. Demons Within will be launched and distributed worldwide on April 2nd, 2021 by Reaper Entertainment Europe. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

Available currently is the first digital single, "Rising From The Revenge". Check out the official music video below. The band states: "Choosing the first video from such a strong album was difficult this time. 'Rising From The Revenge' was chosen because it reflects the overall heaviness, melody and technicality of the new album."

Demons Within artwork and tracklisting:

"Payback"
"Breaking The Chains"
"Demons Within"
"Rising From The Revenge"
"We Are One"
"Too Wild To Live Too Rare To Die"
"Lord Of Chaos"
"Bringer Of Darkness"
"In The End"
"Ghost Dimension"

Evil Drive are:

Viktoria Viren - vocals
J-P Pusa - guitar
Ville Viren - guitar
Antti Tani - drums
Matti Sorsa - bass

For further details, visit Evil Drive on Facebook.

 

Majesty Of Revival's debut album, Through Reality, which was originally released in 2012 via Metal Scrap Records, has received a proper remix and remaster, and is available now on Bandcamp, with streaming services to be added soon.

Tracklisting:

"Meaning Of Life" 
"Self-Control" 
"The Moonlight" 
"The Code" 
"Masked Illusion I" 
"Blind" 
"Magnalia Dei" 
"Reality" 
"Epilogus I & II" 

"The material for this album was composed during 2009 - 2011," begins a statement from the band. "The first-ever MOR song was 'The Code' (originally called 'Divine Image'), so we had a bunch of time for arranging everything." 

"Since 2009, we had a lot of lineup changes and that caused a delay for the debut release. New members always did some changes to the songs, so most of them ended up with completely different sound. In fact, the first couple of demos and EPs were too experimental. We used to play some kind of avant-garde/crossover music - but since recording labels have no clue how to promote jazzy black funk circus metal and told us to choose one direction, we decided to use all of the melodic/symphonic metal stuff for the first record."

"So, as being said, before Through Reality we released a couple of demos, EPs and a promo album, which got some attention from record labels. Right before recordings, we changed the singer and keyboardist, so we entered the studio somewhere in September 2011. A couple of months later the production of the debut opus was finished. We made this album with little knowledge of how to mix everything properly - so the sound was not stellar." 

"Despite the production issues, the album was released in 2012 via Metal Scrap Records and received really good reviews (especially in Japan), which was a surprise for us. We played a couple of local shows and continued composing new material for the next album Iron Gods, but that's another story. Finally in 2020, Through Reality gets the sound it deserves!"

 

Former Delain guitarist Merel Bechtold, who left the band in June 2019, has launched Dear Mother with vocalist David Pear and drummer Joey Marin de Boer. They have released their first single, "12 Years In Exile" and the official video is available below. A second single will be released soon and Dear Mother debut album will be released some time in 2021.

Delain issued the following band statement when Bechtold announced her departure from the band:

"Today we are sharing the news with you that Merel has decided to leave Delain and focus on different musical ambitions. Merel’s performance with us at Graspop will be her last show as a permanent band member of Delain. We are aware this is very short notice, and this we regret for those of you who wanted to catch a last show with her as a part of the team. However, this is a friendly departure, and we are respecting Merel’s wishes in doing so. We had an amazing ride sharing the stage with this fireball and we are excited to see the results of her new endeavours."

"Although we will miss Merel on the road with us, we realize that our busy schedules require loads of time and commitment, and we understand and respect her decision to focus on her own path. We will continue performing live as a five-piece as before, and look forward to finishing the work for our upcoming studio album, the upcoming festival season, our US tour with Amorphis and Anneke van Giersbergen and our European Masters Of Destiny Tour. We hope to see you all soon! Thank you Merel, we wish you nothing but the best!"

Bechtold issued the following statement on he decision to leave Delain:

"After almost five amazing years the time has come for me to focus on my own dreams. Because of my previous band commitments my attention diverged from my own music and the path I want to follow, and I feel I need to give myself the time and opportunity to explore my musical ambitions. This is probably the hardest decision of my life, but in the end it’s important to follow your heart and be happy. I want to thank my bandmates and crew, I will miss you dearly! Also huge thanks to all the amazing people I’ve met on the road. And most importantly I want to thank YOU for all those amazing and warm memories! It’s been a pleasure."

Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess has posted another livestream video shot at home. This time he performs on his Korg Kronos and Opsix synthesizers.

Dream Theater have announced the Images, Words & Beyond Live in Japan 2017 streaming event, on January 30 at 7 PM, EST.

Filmed at the historic Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan, in September of 2017, this historic performance has never before been released worldwide. January 30, 2021 marks the first official release from Dream Theater’s Images, Words & Beyond tour, featuring a live performance of the classic album, Images & Words, captured in its entirety during their September 11, 2017 appearance in Tokyo. Don’t miss this presentation, in full HD, initially broadcast only for Japanese audiences, and now for the first time available to audiences worldwide.

Get tickets here, and watch a video trailer below:

King Diamond has posted a rare photo of him with his young son.

Earlier today, the legendary Danish heavy metal vocalist — who fronts both KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE — took to his Twitter to share a picture of him walking with four-year-old Byron. King captioned the photo: "A nice stroll with the young prince."

Byron's mother is King's wife, Hungarian-born singer Livia Zita. She has been performing with KING DIAMOND as a backing vocalist since 2003.

The boy was named after King's favorite singer of all time, late URIAH HEEP frontman David Byron.

King Diamond, whose real name is Kim Bendix Petersen, told the Danish web site BT.dk in a 2009 interview that he spoke to Livia for the first time around 19 years ago when she interviewed him over the phone for the Hungarian edition of Metal Hammer magazine. "We got along incredibly well. And afterwards I couldn't stop thinking about her," King said.

"We were both going through a hard time in our lives," he continued. "And we clicked. At some point, I asked her if she would send a photograph of herself. We had talked together for months. But I didn't know how old Livia was… nor how she looked, and when she told me how old she was, I simply couldn't believe it."

Despite the fact that the now-64-year-old King is 28 years her senior, Livia said that she was not concerned. "Our ages are just numbers," she said. "We are soulmates."

Regarding how their relationship developed, Livia said: "We talked at first over the phone. Then he went to Hungary, where he, on our first night together, proposed both in English and in German — so that my father would understand it. I, of course, said yes. He and I are just made for each other."

King, who has lived in suburban Dallas, Texas for more than two decades, told Metal Hammer in 2016 that he has "become a lot healthier" since he underwent open-heart triple-bypass surgery in 2010. He said: "I gave up smoking after my heart scare, my wife keeps me on a strict diet that I follow completely, and doctors are amazed at how healthy I am these days. Honestly, I think I am now healthier than I have ever been."

He continued: "I've also found that, since I made a real effort to have a healthy lifestyle, my voice has improved so much. I can now hit notes that were a struggle for me when I was younger. As for my sex life, that's just great now. And I am not saying that because my wife is sitting next to me!"




A nice stroll with the young prince.. Stay Heavy pic.twitter.com/E17I6so6Xd

— King Diamond (@kingdiamond) January 10, 2021

John Cooper, the frontman and bassist for the Grammy-nominated Christian rock band SKILLET, has criticized Twitter for permanently suspending President Donald Trump's account.

Earlier this week, the social media platform decided that the president had crossed a line too far continuing to use Twitter to repeat debunked conspiracy theories about the election, even after thousands of his supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol in an insurrection that left five dead. Twitter, which has a policy against inciting violence, undermining democratic processes and spreading election misinformation, announced it would no longer let Trump use its platform. Twitter suspended the president's personal account, @realDonaldTrump, citing "the risk of further incitement of violence."

Earlier today (Saturday, January 9), Cooper uploaded the latest episode of his "Cooper Stuff" podcast in which he suggested that Twitter's decision to restrict Trump from broadcasting his message directly to his tens of millions of followers was a form of censorship, and that it amounts to an attack on freedom of speech.

He said (see video below): "Look, I don't follow Trump on Twitter. I'm not into it. Some people love it; some people hate it; some people are in between; whatever you are, censoring the president from Twitter, no matter what they're saying…

"People say all sorts of weird stuff on Twitter — all sorts of violent, inflammatory stuff. Look, I get it. But that is not gonna lead to somewhere good, and I think it's got a lot of people really freaked out.

"To me, that's not the freakiest thing. The freakiest thing to me is all the subsequent things. I'm, like, wait a minute — what does this mean? If Twitter has the power to censor the president, what does that mean? I think that's what people are freaking out about.

"There's tons of people that are conservative that don't like Trump's tweets," he continued. "There's tons of people that kind of wish he wouldn't tweet so much. I don't think that's what people are freaked out [about]. I think people are, like, 'Wait a minute. If they can do it to him, what does that mean for everybody else?'

"Already, people are losing their jobs — it's been on the news; I'm sure you've seen it — people are losing their jobs depending on what they have supported. Because, basically, the idea is that if you are conservative, then that means you support the violence; you're responsible for the violence. If you are conservative, then you support the violence, which is a product of white supremacy now — is what they're saying.

"Freedom of speech is gonna be gone," Cooper insisted. "I don't know if you know, people are calling — even CNN and other famous people; we're not talking about just nobodies; we're talking about influential people in the cultural elite — calling for news sources to be yanked down. Even CNN is calling for Fox News to be yanked down from the cable stations. I don't know what this is gonna mean."

Despite Trump's claim that Twitter was violating his First Amendment right to free speech, private entities like Twitter have every right to take down or suspend user accounts, especially when they are being used for nefarious purposes.

"After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence," the company said in a statement.

The statement listed two of Trump's Friday tweets as the reasons for banning his account. The first was his tweet that read: "The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!"

The second was his announcement that he wouldn't attend the inauguration: "To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th."

Twitter said that both posts "must be read in the context of broader events in the country and the ways in which the President's statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior from this account in recent weeks."

Paul Stanley has defended his right to speak out on political issues, saying that he voices his opinions as a "proud citizen" of a country he loves deeply.

Earlier today, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to write: "If You Are A Fan Who Now Feels My Opinions Are Alienating You, that is sadly your choice & not my intention. Do the entertainers you enjoy have to share your beliefs? Would you like it more if you didn't know? In many cases you'd be fooling yourself. I won't do that to you or me."

Two days earlier, he wrote: "To All Those Who Don't Share My Views... You are not my enemy. A democracy needs those differences to make it better & ultimately stronger. Friendship doesn't need agreement. OUR enemy should be anyone who turns us against each other for their personal gain."

Back on January 4, Stanley expounded on his reasons for being so vocal on social media, writing: "I voice my opinions as a proud citizen of this country I love deeply. My profession should't disallow that as we all have that right so many have fought & died protecting. I also understand that the people who would like me to stay quiet are those who don't share my views. Sorry."

Earlier this week, Stanley called out Republican senators who stoked the election conspiracy theories that sparked Wednesday's violent attack by supporters of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.

On Thursday, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to slam Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Marco Rubio of Florida for being some of the leading senators who supported Trump's efforts to overturn the election.

This is not the first time Stanley has spoken out against Republican senators for enabling and encouraging Trump's efforts to overturn the results of November's election. Two months ago, the KISS frontman criticized GOP senators for not publicly recognizing President-elect Biden's win and for not countering the promotion by Trump and his campaign of unfounded claims that voter fraud disrupted the presidential election.

"Republican politicians who now cower before this president are the same ones that ridiculed & dismissed him in the 2016 primaries," Stanley tweeted. "Their silence IS a choice & not sharing their opinion IS a coward's way out. It feeds the mistrust that eats at the core of this country I love."




If You Are A Fan Who Now Feels My Opinions Are Alienating You, that is sadly your choice & not my intention. Do the entertainers you enjoy have to share your beliefs? Would you like it more if you didn’t know? In many cases you’d be fooling yourself. I won’t do that to you or me.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) January 10, 2021








To All Those Who Don’t Share My Views... You are not my enemy. A democracy needs those differences to make it better & ultimately stronger. Friendship doesn’t need agreement. OUR enemy should be anyone who turns us against each other for their personal gain.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) January 8, 2021








I voice my opinions as a proud citizen of this country I love deeply. My profession should't disallow that as we all have that right so many have fought & died protecting. I also understand that the people who would like me to stay quiet are those who don't share my views. Sorry.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) January 4, 2021








Kiss is dead! If a song even comes on the radio, I turn it off!! From someone who owned every kiss vinyl album ever made. Saw numerous Kiss concerts, NO MORE. You have LOST touch with the heart and soul of this country-it’s called the WORKING CLASS!!

— Ruth Hamilton (@hammy7613) January 10, 2021








It has surprised me, I never thought you or Gene would do anything to threaten the bottom line, but then you both know firsthand where such evil leads. Your bravery makes me proud to be a fan. Now, if you start playing bars of The Clash or RATM during LICK IT UP... ?

— W. Earl Brown (@WEarlBrown) January 10, 2021








Agreed Paul,you absolutely are entitled to personal beliefs. However most people are more interested in you as a musician. Why not have 2 accounts. 1 for politics and another for your career that most people identify you with?

— David Servello (@djservello) January 11, 2021








I often do not agree with your political opinions, and what you say doesn't change my mind on current affairs. I don't look at any musician as a news source. You certainly have the freedom to say it, and that's fine. Have at it. Opinions won't stop me from listening to KISS.

— Tara (Reilly) Adams (@TaraAdams24) January 10, 2021








It's not that man--I simply want a full escape from politics at times. If entertainers speak publicly about their political beliefs--it becomes impossible to separate the two. Of course--be you, be proud, believe what you prefer--it's just frustrating, love KISS

— Greg Young (@Ripskiddo) January 11, 2021








I realized a while ago that a significant % of KISS fans had fallen under the spell of the Trump cult. I had to shake my head when Ace began talking about his support for Trump. I think you and Gene are doing the right thing by speaking up the way that you have.

— Stephen Atchison (@statchison) January 10, 2021








I don't necessarily share all your feelings and views but I'm a fan fir your music. I can tell you are a good person and that's what really matters. We don't have to see eye to eye on everything for me to appreciate you and your music!

— Ryan Kerniskey (@Ski0861) January 10, 2021

German daily newspaper Die Welt has uploaded a video interview it conducted with ICED EARTH leader Jon Schaffer last November at a Washington, D.C. demonstration supporting President Donald Trump and protesting the 2020 presidential election results. The chat was recorded less than two months before Schaffer became a "person of interest" wanted by the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C. for his part in Wednesday's (January 6) unrest at the U.S. Capitol. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, clashing with law enforcement, breaching the building, and forcing lawmakers' temporary evacuation. One woman was shot and killed in the melee, and three others died during medical emergencies.

In the two-minute chat with Die Welt, which can be seen at this location, the 52-year-old musician told journalist Carolina Drüten: "My name is Jon Schaffer. I'm from Indiana. A group of thugs and criminals hijacked this country a long time ago. Now they're making their big move, and it's not gonna happen. And that's what it is. These are globalists. These are the scum of the earth. These are the criminals that are behind all the fraudulent fee on currency, they're behind all the wars, they're behind all the shit, they're behind divide-and-conquer tactics, behind the racial divide. It's all nonsense, it's all garbage. People need to wake up and snap out of the matrix, because they're going down. They've made the move. They're messing with the wrong people here — trust me on that. And we needed it to be open like this — open fraud, open theft. Because now we see you, and you're going down. Mark my words."

Asked if he was expecting some sort of violence or a clash with some other groups at the November event, Schaffer said: "If somebody wants to bring violence, I think there's a lot of us here that are ready for it. We don't want that, but if they bring it, we're gonna respond to that — trust me.

"I think this goes beyond President Trump," Jon continued. "President Trump is a populist. He's not your typical Republican. He's not establishment. He's not going out starting wars all over the place, like they do. Which is funny — where are all the Democrats that were anti-war? There's so much hatred for Trump, it's just ridiculous. He's dealing with a criminal mafia that has been in the shadows running the world, frankly, for a very long time. They wanna destroy all of our sovereignty and bring about global government. We're not having it. We can still do business together, the countries can still be at peace, but we're not gonna merge into some globalist, communist system. It will not happen. There will be a lot of blood shed, if it comes down to that — trust me. The American people will not go for that bullshit — once they understand what's actually happening. So, that's where we're at. Nobody wants this, but they're pushing us to a point where we have no choice."

Schaffer is being sought by the police in Washington, D.C. after a photo of him storming the Capitol building on Wednesday was posted online. In the picture, Schaffer can be seen at the front of a mob, sporting a hat from Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group, and pointing his finger pointed while yelling at someone out of the frame.

Back in 2009, Schaffer raised eyebrows when he launched his SONS OF LIBERTY project via an appearance on a radio show hosted by far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

More recently, Schaffer voiced his controversial views on the coronavirus crisis during an interview with MetalSucks's "The Quarantinecast", claiming that COVID-19 is "a psychological warfare campaign on the people more than it is a serious pandemic." Implying that a shadowy cabal of elites is using a global crisis as a cover to profiteer and entrench their power, Schaffer said: "I think there's a lot more going on than meets the eye here — in fact, I know there is. Legitimate doctors and scientists are being censored and banned on YouTube constantly. It's unbelievable levels of fraud."

In a September 2020 Facebook Live chat, Schaffer said that he didn't trust his government. "I don't give a shit if it's an 'R' or a 'D' next to the name of the person," he explained. "You can't put your hope into one president or one person, or a mayor or a governor or whatever. You've gotta be out there and actively put pressure on these people, let 'em know you're paying attention. If you're not paying attention, they're gonna rob you and steal everything. Your freedom too. Not just your money. They're gonna steal your fucking freedom. 'Cause they're a bunch of sick control frea

Sebastian Bach has once again taken a swipe at Chris Jericho, suggesting that the FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar bears some responsibility for the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol last week.

After writer and comedian Tony Posnanski tweeted that all supporters of President Donald Trump, including those who voted for Trump, donated to Trump, and wore any "MAGA" merchandise "are to blame for what happened at the Capitol," Bach chimed in: This includes wrestlers".

Last Wednesday, Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, vandalized the building and assaulted police officers. One woman was fatally shot by police and three people died of apparent medical emergencies. A Capitol police officer died after responding to the mob.

Many top political figures have accused Trump of personally inciting the attack by repeatedly intimating that his followers should take action.

Jericho, who was born in Manhasset, New York before his family moved to Canada (he currently resides in Florida), reportedly donated thousands of dollars to Trump's 2020 presidential campaign.

Last November, Jericho received criticism for claiming that he isn't "a political person" despite it being known that he was donating money to Trump.

This is not the first time Bach has called out Jericho on social media. Last July, Bach accused Jericho of using pre-recorded vocal tracks during the band's live performances. Jericho challenged Bach to a "singoff" with "no effects, no tuning, no bullshit" in response to Sebastian's allegation. "Bas is a great singer...but I'm better," Chris wrote on Twitter." The wrestler-turned-vocalist added: "I've never mimed anything ever! I will fucking sing in your face anytime, anyplace dude. I've been a fan & a defender of u since day one...but don't u ever question my rock abilities!" Bach fired back: " You're full of s*** bro. Every clip on the Internet is you miming to a tape. I will sing in your f****** face anytime. Wrestling is not rock and roll. I will show you f****** rock and roll. Check your texts set up The Sing-Off I am ready when you are".

Bach has frequently criticized Trump's policies in interviews and on Twitter. Six months ago, he told Esquire that he missed "smarts" in the White House. "I can't watch footage of JFK from 1962," he said. "I can't even watch that shit because I'll cry. Because motherfucker is so cool and so smart and hates racism. And then we have this fucking jackass. And it's just not fair to the country. I put Barack Obama in the same category. When I watch him speak, it rips my heart out because he makes you feel safe."

On Wednesday, Bach also called out Ace Frehley and Tim "Ripper" Owens over their support for America's 45th president in the wake of the Capitol mob attack.




This includes wrestlers https://t.co/tEDkAZDpqf

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) January 10, 2021








Shitty singing wrestlers I hope.

— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) January 10, 2021








pic.twitter.com/5L8gQd4zVO

— Appetite4Distortion (@TheAFDShow) January 10, 2021








I know of one wrestler that would crush your stupid skull. Hahaha pussy

— Rich Diaz (@CaptKrunch) January 10, 2021








You’re an idiot if you believe this. I supported the president from minute one, and not once did I ever encourage violence. What happened at the capital was ignorant. There was no point to do that. It was completely uncalled for. Same as BLM riots. Ignorance is ignorance. ??‍♂‍

— “Shockwave” Shaun Schoolfield (@Shockwave_Shaun) January 10, 2021

In a recent interview with The Razor's Edge, ex-FEAR FACTORY singer Burton C. Bell was asked if he would be open to working with any of his former bandmates again, including Christian Olde Wolbers, drummer Gene Hoglan, Byron Stroud and Raymond Herrera. He responded: "No, no, no. It's like going back to an ex-girlfriend. The thought of it for a second might be good, but once you get there, you regret it. People move on for a reason, and when I move on, I move on.

"I have a lot of great achievements, I have a lot of great times and great moments, but for me, if I wanna continue working, I wanna move forward," he continued. "And there's just things that you cannot change. And instead of changing it, I'm gonna move forward."

This past September, 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 FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino 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 and Christian 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." He 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.

Internationally renowned Canadian keyboard player Michael Fonfara has died in a Toronto hospital on January 8, 2021, due to complications from his two-year battle with cancer. He was 74.

Born in Stevensville, Ontario in 1946, the former Lou Reed keyboardist/bandleader appeared on nine of Reed's albums between 1974 and 2005, including his highest-charting U.S. album (#10) "Sally Can't Dance" on RCA, as well as "Rock And Roll Heart", "Street Hassle", "The Bells" (which Fonfara executive produced) and "Growing Up In Public" that was co-written and co-produced by Fonfara for Clive Davis' Arista Records in 1980.

A supremely talented musician, Fonfara loved many different styles of music, performing on British-American rock band FOREIGNER's iconic album "4", produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, including their Top 5 Billboard Hot 100 hit "Urgent". He also recorded with THE EVERLY BROTHERS, ROUGH TRADE, RHINOCEROS, ELECTRIC FLAG and was a current and 30-year plus member of Canadian blues legends DOWNCHILD, who are perhaps best known as the inspiration for Hollywood stars Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi's hit film "The Blues Brothers", until his untimely death.

"He's the best musician I've ever worked with," states DOWNCHILD leader and co-founder Donnie Walsh. Bassist Gary Kendall echoes that sentiment "Yesterday we lost a brother, a bandmate, a co-writer and a dear friend. If you met him, you loved him. A creative genius."

Fonfara's final recording was DOWNCHILD's "Live At The Toronto Jazz Festival", recorded at their 50th-anniversary party in 2019, where he performed live alongside special guests Dan Aykroyd, Paul Shaffer, David Wilcox, Kenny Neal, Gene Taylor and Erja Lyytinen. The new album was just released worldwide on October 16, 2020, as the final chapter of his illustrious career.

2018 Juno Award (Canadian equivalent of a Grammy Award) winners DOWNCHILD include some of the most well-respected musicians in Canada, who have performed together for over 25 years — guitarist, harmonica player, leader and co-founder of the band Walsh, lead singer and harmonica player Chuck Jackson, Pat Carey on tenor sax, Mike Fitzpatrick on drums, Kendall on bass, and Fonfara on keyboards.

Fonfara is survived by his wife Avril, his son Theodore, daughter Ciara, stepdaughter Ashley and his grandchildren Brooklyn, Camden, Jamie and Jaxon

Marsha Zazula, who co-founded Megaforce Records in 1983 with her husband Jon (a.k.a. Jonny Z), died earlier today (January 10) at the age of 68.

Marsha and Jonny's daughter Rikki Zazula confirmed her mother's passing, writing in a Facebook post: "RIP Mom April 21, 1952 -January 10, 2021 Your love, Your strength, Your memory and Your music has changed lives and will continue to FOREVER."

Megaforce is widely credited for launching the career of METALLICA by releasing the band's first two albums, 1983's "Kill 'Em All" and 1984's "Ride The Lightning", before METALLICA landed a major label deal with Elektra. Megaforce's roster has also included such artists as ANTHRAX, TESTAMENT, OVERKILL, Ace Frehley, MINISTRY, KING'S X, STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH and RAVEN.

METALLICA paid tribute to Marsha in an Instagram post, writing: "Rest In Peace, Marsha. Thank you for everything. Much love to @thejonzazula & the Zazula family."

ANTHRAX said: "It's with much sadness that we hear of the passing of Marsha Zazula. A true pioneer along with Jonny Z. Those two were responsible for changing all our lives. Hard to put into words what a world this might be without their belief and dedication to metal and all of us. Our love to her family."

Born in 1952, Jonny began his extraordinary journey as a renegade youth who went from living on the streets of the Bronx in New York City, to later working on Wall Street, and eventually (and unexpectedly) transitioning into the music business and discovering METALLICA, ANTHRAX and others.

After Wall Street, Jonny Z began selling records at a flea market store in 1981 to put food on the table for his family. Dubbed Rock N' Roll Heaven, the store eventually blossomed into a major record store that influenced the heavy metal movement as we know it today. In the winter of 1982, Jonny Z received an unexpected demo tape from unsigned underground band called METALLICA. Eager and determined to have the music heard by the entire world, Jonny and Marsha founded Megaforce the following year and released "Kill 'Em All". Through this release, Megaforce cemented its position as the de-facto music label in America for heavy metal.

Jon's acclaimed autobiography, "Heavy Tales: The Metal. The Music. The Madness. As Lived By Jon Zazula", was released in October 2019. The book tells the story of how the Zazulas ended up signing a band that shaped the sound of heavy metal for decades to come.

"It's all a blessing when you work hard and you stay smart and you go into the game and then eventually something comes your way and you're ready for it. And you're able to jump upon it and ride it," Jonny told Variety. "We were very fortunate, Marsha and I, that we have them to choose as a band that became the biggest band in the world. Not to mention a bunch of other great bands that made history."


RIP Mom April 21, 1952 -January 10, 2021

Your love, Your strength, Your memory and Your music has changed lives and will continue to FOREVER.

Posted by Rikki Zazula on Sunday, January 10, 2021

























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“ All of Exodus are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Marsha Zazula, one half of Megaforce records and legends...

Posted by Exodus on Sunday, January 10, 2021

Former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes, who has lived in Cannes, France with his wife since 2014, spoke to Duke TV about when fans in the U.S. can expect to see him perform again in his former home country. He said (see video below): "I see a lot of comments, 'Come back to L.A.,' or, 'Come back to North Hollywood.' I'll go back there to live. I don't know if I'll go back to play music, 'cause look at the Grammys — there's no rock in 'em. There's no rock in any of the shows. And I'm not knocking hip-hop; I'm not knocking rap. That's what people like in America. That's the kind of music it is. That's what the younger crowd likes.

"It'd be stupid for me to go play there if nobody comes to the shows," he explained. "I was booked to go to Canada [in 2020], and some of the shows were sold good. But the COVID came up, like, two months before, and bam, you can't go. So it's sad.

"I don't know when I'm gonna be able to play live again. I just have to wait. I'm still gonna play. I'm gonna play till I can't — till I can't stand and play my guitar or whatever."

The documentary film "Mean Man: The Story Of Chris Holmes", written and directed by French filmmakers Antoine De Montremy and Laurent Hart, will be made available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD on January 15. The project was born in 2014 after De Montremy and Hart had an opportunity to meet and direct Holmes in a music video for the Holmes-penned song "Let It Roar" in Cannes. At that time, the former W.A.S.P. guitarist had more or less disappeared from the music scene, leaving his home in the U.S. to seek a new beginning with his wife Sarah in France.

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.

During a November 2017 press conference in Moscow, Russia, W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless was asked what he would say to those 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."

Back in December 2012, HEART's Ann and Nancy Wilson delivered a moving rendition of "Stairway To Heaven", LED ZEPPELIN's signature song, at the Kennedy Center Honors. They were joined by Jason Bonham, son of original drummer John and the drummer for LED ZEPPELIN's 2007 reunion show. Their version of the track gradually grew to include a string section, a horde of backup singers and the Joyce Garrett Youth Choir. Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Paul Jones sat watching from the balcony and were visibly moved, particularly Plant, who had tears welling up in his eyes.

Jason reflected on the experience of performing for ZEPPELIN members in a new interview with Radio Forrest. Asked if it was a surprise to them that he was playing with HEART at the Kennedy Center Honors, he said (hear audio below): "It was definitely a surprise at that event. That's why you see their reaction. It was, like, 'You! What are you doing…?' I was hiding out.

"They don't usually honor the deseased member of the band," he continued. "But [it was] very special, the way the whole thing was put together.

"At the time, it wasn't gonna be Ann and Nancy — it was gonna be somebody else — and said, 'I want people who love the band to be doing it, if we're gonna do this song.' So I was so pleased that they got involved.

"It was very special," he repeated.

LED ZEPPELIN's December 10, 2007 performance during the Ahmet Ertegun tribute concert was chronicled on the band's 2012 "Celebration Day" CD and DVD. The set, which featured Jason subbing for his late father on drums, marked Plant, Page and Jones's first full-scale show together since John Bonham's 1980 death.

After the the O2 Arena concert, Page and Jones were looking for a way to keep working and tried out several singers, including AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler and ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy.

The option for a three-quarter ZEPPELIN reunion ended when Jones accepted an offer to form THEM CROOKED VULTURES with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. Page later said: "I guess that was a pretty definitive statement."

Paul Stanley has called out Republican senators who stoked the election conspiracy theories that sparked Wednesday's violent attack by supporters of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol.

On Thursday, the KISS frontman took to his Twitter to slam Ted Cruz of Texas, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Marco Rubio of Florida for being some of the leading senators who supported Trump's efforts to overturn the election.

He wrote: "Don't allow the political henchmen that fanned fatal flames to now distance themselves from the poisonous rhetoric, accusations & lies that could only have led us to where we now are. Their self serving deceit is responsible for a divided nation & lives lost. Cruz, Rubio, Hawley."

Stanley's comments came after Cruz defended his decision to object to the certification of the Electoral College votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania, saying: "The job I was elected to do is to fight for the people of Texas and what I was doing was debating on the floor of the senate election integrity. How we can protect the integrity of our elections? That has nothing to do with this criminal terrorist assault, which was wrong and needs to be prosecuted."

Cruz, who has been one of Trump's worst enablers, made an about-face following the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol, saying Trump "plainly bears some responsibility" in Wednesday's violent rampage.

"I do think the President's rhetoric and his language has been over the line," Cruz said. "I think it was irresponsible. I think it was reckless.... He plainly bears some responsibility. His rhetoric, his language has been over the line. I think it was irresponsible, I think it was reckless."

This is not the first time Stanley has spoken out against Republican senators for enabling and encouraging Trump's efforts to overturn the results of November's election. Two months ago, the KISS frontman criticized GOP senators for not publicly recognizing President-elect Biden's win and for not countering the promotion by Trump and his campaign of unfounded claims that voter fraud disrupted the presidential election.

"Republican politicians who now cower before this president are the same ones that ridiculed & dismissed him in the 2016 primaries," Stanley tweeted. "Their silence IS a choice & not sharing their opinion IS a coward's way out. It feeds the mistrust that eats at the core of this country I love."




Don’t allow the political henchmen that fanned fatal flames to now distance themselves from the poisonous rhetoric, accusations & lies that could only have led us to where we now are. Their self serving deceit is responsible for a divided nation & lives lost. Cruz, Rubio, Hawley.

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) January 8, 2021

Ewigkeit’s new EP “Depopulate” will be released on January 23rd via Death To Music Productions. Today, you can get a taste with the new lyric video for the opening track “Patent Of Death”. The EP was written & recorded during the lock-down period of the Covid19 Pandemic of 2019-to-20…

Timed to coincide with the global roll-out of the vaccine, “Depopulate” looks at the paranoia surrounding the virus, its social effects and the power wielded by the influential biotech industry.

Unlike the recent 70’s Rock-styled EP “XXIII”, the new EP “Depopulate” is a unique composite of Melodic Death Metal and post-Covid19 conspiracy theories with Blackened touches.

Ewigkeit is the long-running Experimental Metal band of James Fogarty, who also performs vocals / guitars / keys for Norwegian Progressive Metallers In the Woods, vocals and keys for English Cult Black Metal band Old Forest, and is the main-brain behind dormant Heraldic Templar Metal band Jaldaboath (amongst other projects).

The EP is released on all streaming platforms on 23/01/21, via Death To Music productions (www.DeathToMusic.com) – an antidote is not assured.

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI will release their new studio album, "Jylhä", on February 5 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official music video for the disc's latest single, "Niemi", can be seen below.

"Niemi" is a fast-paced and catchy neckbreaker which is reminiscent of KORPIKLAANI's heavier past, and it is accompanied by a good old-fashioned performance video that showcases KORPIKLAANI doing what it does best.

Singer Jonne Järvelä commented: "'Niemi' was one of the first songs for this album. I had a feeling after 'Kulkija' that a next album could be the fastest and hardest ever in KORPIKLAANI's history. I looked at my Flying V, picked it up and here we are!"

The meaning of "Niemi" ("The Cape"): "Lake Bodom 1960, "Bloody Pentecost". Four youngsters, Irmeli Björklund, Anja Mäki, Seppo Boisman and Nils Gustafsson were the target of a murderer on their camping trip. The sole survivor was Nils Gustafsson, who was badly injured. The summery triple murder on the lake side shocked the whole of Finland. In the story, the narrator is on a meadow near the lake spending a summer morning, when the surroundings come alive and the narrator hears the call 'Come to the end of the cape, terrible things have happened.' Everyone who heard the call quickly heads towards the murder cape. The story is carried by stagnant time and the momentary nature portraits. The murders of Lake Bodom remain unsolved."

Director Markku Kirves said: "In this video, I just wanted to capture the band's insane energy on stage. So here's KORPIKLAANI with cold and fire, smoke and leather!"

"Jylhä" — which has no direct meaning, can be described as "majestic" and it can also be described as wild, rugged in a strong beautiful way — will be available as a digital album, CD, black vinyl, and grass green vinyl (limited to 300 pieces).

KORPIKLAANI is unique. Their blend of Finnish folk music and heavy metal is like no other. Like traditional folk music that tells tales of joy, heartbreak, and stories of old, KORPIKLAANI brings new life to these tales adding the high energy of rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. What you hear on the record is what you hear live; authentic, honest, and a lot of fun. KORPIKLAANI is a natural representation of our journey in this life, bringing music and emotions that can have you dancing all night, to quiet moments of melancholy.

"Jylhä" continues this journey with a collection of tales of folklore, nature, celebration, and three stories of murder, including the infamous Lake Bodom murders.

Jonne states: "'Jylhä' is not just a battering heavy metal record, it's also our most volatile full-length album to date. For example, some of the new songs feature energetic punk rock influences and there are even some audible laid-back reggae-rhythms, like our first single, 'Leväluhta'."

"Jylhä" track listing:

01. Verikoira

02. Niemi

03. Leväluhta

04. Mylly

05. Tuuleton

06. Sanaton Maa

07. Kiuru

08. Miero

09. Pohja

10. Huolettomat

11. Anolan Aukeat

12. Pidot

13. Juuret

In October 2020, Motörhead celebrated the 40th anniversary of their legendary album, Ace Of Spades, by releasing deluxe editions of the ground-breaking, history-making effort. There were hardback book-packs in two CD and triple LP formats, featuring a previously unheard concert from the Ace Up Your Sleeve tour, the story of the album and many previously unseen photos. Also, the album was released as an ultimate fan, collector edition Ace Of Spades box set, containing a bevy of era-specific treasures and some 42 previously unreleased tracks!  

Some fans have been asking why the live version of "The Chase Is Better Than The Catch" from the Live In Whitla Hall, Belfast 1980 gig included in #aceofspades40, cuts out and in again? The answer, according to Motörhead: "Well, this was originally recorded on cassette from the sound desk and it was during this song that the tape ran out and had to be turned over. We left it in as it we thought it was authentic and happened all the time in the 1980s! Don’t you just love old tapes?" Listen for yourself:

The Ace Of Spades Deluxe box set contains:

- The Ace Of Spades album, half-speed mastered and created from the original master tapes.
- Two double-live albums of previously unheard concerts from the Ace Up Your Sleeve tour.
- A Fistful Of Instrumentals : A 10” EP of previously unreleased, instrumental tracks from 1980.
- The Good, The Broke & The Ugly. A double album of B-sides, outtakes and rare tracks.
- Ace On Your Screens: A DVD compilation of rare TV appearances from 1980-81, a live concert from 1981 and a 5.1 audio mix of the original album.
- The Ace Of Spades story. A 40 page book telling the story of Ace Of Spades through previously unpublished interviews with the people that were there. Includes never before seen photos and memorabilia.
- The Ace Up Your Sleeve tour programme
- The Motörhead Rock Commando comic.
- A set of 5 poker dice that can be played on the game board inside the box set lid.
- All encased in a classic Wild West dynamite box.
- A limited edition 7" reproduction of the Dutch Ace Of Spades, with a previously unreleased instrumental version on Side B (while stocks last).

 

Cyhra / Red Wolf guitarist Euge Valovirta has recorded an instrumental piece called "A Song For An Absent Friend", which can be streamed below. It was posted shortly after the news broke that Children Of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho had passed away. 

Valovirta spoke with BraveWords about composing the piece:

"It’s for Alexi, but also for all the late friends. And to my Grandpa, who passed away some time ago. This song actually got its start after my Grandpa’s passing and I came back to it now ‘cos I felt that I had to 'play my feelings out' somehow. So I finished the song and then filmed myself playing the lead guitar and just played from my heart.

I can’t really explain it but playing guitar always makes me feel better no matter what is going on. 

Alexi and I weren’t the closest friends but every time we met we always had such a great time. Whether it was playing on each of other’s albums, doing guitar clinics or playing occasional live shows or just hanging out. He was one the most caring, humble and nicest guys I’ve ever met and it feels so unfair that he isn’t with us anymore." 

The sound of the quintet includes elements between doom, sludge, death and post metal. Age Of Woe are already musically broadly positioned. But the band also breaks boundaries with its lineup, as members come from Sweden, Finland, and Germany.

With the addition of Keijo Niinimaa (Rotten Sound, Morbid Evils, Goatburner) the lineup has been completed prominently. Formed in the Gothenburg underground scene in the summer of 2010, the creative goal has remained the same over the past decade: Age Of Woe strive to frighten with gritty, raw heavy sounds. In doing so, the quintet looks for own solution patterns, which also let its punk and DIY ethics shine through.

Scheduled for release on February 26th, Envenom is the third full length from Age Of Woe and at the same time their Lifeforce debut. The eleven tracks reflect their genesis in the midst of the Corona pandemic with the accompanying fears and sometimes rising anger, but also the latent threat and alienation tendencies. The death metal-based style of play with its numerous widenings provides an ideal musical basis for this.

Envenom artwork and tracklisting:

"Inferno"
"Ghosts Who Hunt Alone"
"Förpestningen"
"Patriarch"
"A Feral Swarm"
"Avgrunden"
"The Twilight And The Dawn"
"Storm"
"Förbittringen"
"Envenom"
"Ljungeld"

"A Feral Swarm":