Jon Schaffer's ICED EARTH bandmates have distanced themselves from the violence and destruction of property at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday (January 6). The ICED EARTH guitarist and founder is among dozens of people wanted by the FBI for storming Capitol Hill that day.

Earlier today, singer Stu Block, bassist Luke Appleton, drummer Brent Smedley and guitarist Jake Dreyer released the following statement: "We want to thank those of you who have sent words of support in recent days. Some of you have been concerned by our silence, which we understand. We needed some time to properly process the information and find out some facts before we made a statement.

"First and foremost we absolutely DO NOT condone nor do we support riots or the acts of violence that the rioters were involved in on January 6th at the US Capitol building. We hope that all those involved that day are brought to justice to be investigated and answer for their actions.

"With broken hearts we are sending our love and compassion to everyone who has felt pain from the events on January 6th. We are deeply saddened and our hearts go out to the families of the lives lost that day. There are really no proper words to console. Just know we are with you in your shock, grief and pain. Much love to you all.

"Stu, Luke, Jake, Brent".

The FBI's Washington Field Office early Friday morning released 40 photos of people who are suspected of unlawful entry during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol carried out on Wednesday during the final Congressional vote recording for the 2020 general election. Among them is a picture of Schaffer taken by Roberto Schmidt of AFP. In the photo, 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 while yelling at someone out of the frame.

Less than two months ago, Schaffer was interviewed by German daily newspaper Die Welt at another Washington, D.C. demonstration supporting President Donald Trump and protesting the 2020 presidential election results. In the two-minute chat, the 52-year-old musician told journalist Carolina Drüten: "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."

He added: "I think this goes beyond President Trump. 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."

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 freaks."

Block — formerly of INTO ETERNITY — made his live debut with ICED EARTH in November 2011.

ICED EARTH's latest album, "Incorruptible", came out in June 2017 via Century Media.




Jon Schaffer from Central Florida metal band Iced Earth? pic.twitter.com/p7v2wRLWRJ

— Lars❄️#FBR??NEW account (@a_fly_guy_no) January 8, 2021

New Jersey-based symphonic metal outfit Everdawn - formerly known as Midnight Eternal - has issued the details for their Dan Swanö-mastered second album, Cleopatra, now confirmed for release on February 7th through Sensory Records. Check out the band's new video update below.

Everdawn is embodied by lead vocalist Alina Gavrilenko, guitarist/vocalist Richard Fischer, bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X), drummer Dan Prestup, and keyboardist Boris Zaks. Through the course of eleven epic new songs, the band delivers 48 minutes of progressive, symphonic excellence on Cleopatra.

The vocals for Cleopatra were recorded at Soundmine Recording, the guitars were recorded at Frightbox Recording with engineer Bobby Torres, the bass, drums, and keyboards recorded at RMF Recording Studios, the bass engineered by Richard Fischer and additional editing by Bobby Torres. Upon completion, the album was mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound (Opeth, Riverside, Katatonia), and is completed with cover artwork by Gyula Havancsák of Hjules Illustration and Design, and photography by Alexandra Hassan and Northern Luna. Additionally, Therion vocalist Thomas Vikström provides additional vocals to the track "Your Majesty Sadness".

Enjoy a brief teaser for Everdawn's Cleopatra:

Laser's Edge division Sensory Records will release Cleopatra on CD and all digital platforms on February 7th, 2021. Watch for audio previews, preorders, and more on the album to be issued over the weeks ahead.

"Ghost Shadow Requiem"
"Stranded In Bangalore"
"Cleopatra"
"Your Majesty Sadness"
"Infinity Divine"
"Pariah's Revenge"
"Lucid Dream"
"Heart Of A Lion"
"Toledo 712 A.D."
"Rider Of The Storm"
"The Last Eden"

For further details, follow Everdawn on Facebook.

(Photo by Aleks Hassan)

BAD WOLVES have officially parted ways with singer Tommy Vext.

The remaining members of the band confirmed the split in a statement earlier today. They wrote: "It is true that BAD WOLVES and vocalist Tommy Vext have parted ways. The four of us plan to continue making music and a new album is planned for later this year.

"Tommy has been a big part of BAD WOLVES and we are grateful for his contributions.

"There is not much else to report at the moment but to send love and gratitude to the fans who have supported BAD WOLVES from day one. We would not be here with out you.

"All the best, Chris, Doc, Kyle, and John".

Vext originally announced his exit from BAD WOLVES in a since-deleted Instagram Live video, insisting that he was forced out by his former bandmates and record label, Better Noise Music, over his conservative political views. The singer also announced plans to launch a solo career while claiming he wrote a significant portion of the new BAD WOLVES album, apparently referencing the band's upcoming third LP.

In recent months, Vext — who is black — has been vocal about his support for President Donald Trump while insisting he had never experienced racism in America and that it was all "manufactured." Last June, Vext posted a six-plus-minute video on Instagram in which he suggested, without evidence, that "Black Lives Matter" was created by people like George Soros, the Holocaust survivor and billionaire who is the subject of many right-wing conspiracy theories, along with the Clinton Foundation. He also offered up the debunked theory that they invest in "Black Lives Matter" to profit from media coverage. The singer said he made the video "after weeks of research & interviews with independent journalist(s), military personnel, entertainment industry professionals, a virologist & many ex Democrats."

BAD WOLVES guitarist Doc Coyle later took to his social media to "apologize to anyone who was hurt" by Tommy's comments and to offer up his perspective on what he called a "distraction" from BAD WOLVES' message of "inclusion and positivity."

More recently, Vext was accused of assault by a former girlfriend. He denied these allegations, and it was later revealed that his ex-girlfriend was granted a two-year domestic violence restraining order against him.

BAD WOLVES' second album, "N.A.T.I.O.N.", arrived in October 2019.

The band broke through in 2018 with a cover of THE CRANBERRIES hit "Zombie". CRANBERRIES vocalist Dolores O'Riordan was supposed to contribute to the track but died the day she was supposed to go into the studio.


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#BadWolves

Posted by Bad Wolves on Saturday, January 9, 2021

Rick Rozz, a founding member of DEATH and MASSACRE, recently recorded a guest solo on the new FEED THE CORPSES TO THE PIGS EP, "This Insidious Horror". The effort also features an appearance by guest drummer — and Miasma Records recording artist — Daniel Torgal (ANALEPSY, ENBLOOD).

"This Insidious Horror" is a grind/thrash/black EP with tales of tyrannical governments, plagues, and otherworldly terrors. FEED THE CORPSES TO THE PIGS pummels and brutalizes its listeners with its mix of old-school and new-school metal styles, with all the tracks clocking in at three minutes or under. "This Insidious Horror" captures the chaotic nature of the world today in song form, and the outlook is bleak.

Decades after forming the St. Louis thrash titan CICATRIX, guitarists Shawn Fink and Bill Dierker reunited in 2019 under the moniker FEED THE CORPSES TO THE PIGS to push their distinctive brand of extreme music. Adding grindcore/powerviolence veteran Eli Perea (CAMBODIAN DEATH SQUAD) and death metal veteran Lucas Boran (GRAVEWORKS), FEED THE CORPSES TO THE PIGS quickly became the top of the ticket in the New Mexico metal scene. Hailing from Albuquerque and featuring a raucous live show that combines dark humor and thrown body parts, FEED THE CORPSES TO THE PIGS brings the slaughterhouse to the stage. When they are not playing, you will find the band frequenting local and national shows where they are usually discussing their love of metal, punk, and horror movies over local craft beers.

Fink states about working with Rozz: "They say you should never meet you heroes, but man I am glad I did. He was so cool and humble through the process. Rick really cared about our band and gave us valuable advice. Sometimes with bands, it is a race to the bottom with an ego battle, but Rick just reinforced the idea that metal bands should work together and raise each other up."

Fink adds about working with Torgal: "Daniel was awesome. He understood the different metal styles that we were trying to cover and he captured everything we listed. He was professional and he really put his time into ensuring everything was exactly how we had been practicing it."

Regarding "This Insidious Horror", Fink says: "When we formed in the middle of 2019, we individually had taken some time off from the metal industry. We wanted to create some music quickly so we went in and made an EP that was really rough around the edges. We hadn't taken the time to become comfortable with each other, but we wanted something to show so we could get gigs. Over a year later, we've become much more comfortable with each other and have perfected the type of metal we want to make."

Wardruna—who are widely known for their ability to transcend music genres, cultures and languages while introducing innovative and genre-creating renditions of ancient Nordic traditions and using a broad selection of both traditional and historical instruments-- have revealed the monumental music video for the title track of their upcoming fifth full-length album, Kvitravn—which translates to ‘White Raven.’ The album is set for release on January 22, 2021 via By Norse Music in the U.S. and Sony Music / Columbia Records (worldwide excl. U.S.). The album continues where their Runaljod trilogy left off in 2016 with Runaljod – Ragnarok--which charted at #1 Billboard’s World Music charts in the U.S. and Canada.

Check out the fourth episode in a documentary series about Wardruna and some of the ideas behind the new album below.

“Kvitravn” was released on October 16th, 2020 across all digital platforms along with the exclusive premiere of its epic music video seen below. The video for “Kvitravn” was produced by Ragnarok Films--who also recorded the video for the single “Lyfjaberg” which the band wrote, recorded and filmed earlier this year amidst the pandemic. It was filmed at several locations across Norway and Russia.

“I am very excited to finally share this song with you,” states Wardruna founder/composer Einar Selvik. “‘Kvitravn’ is a song that explores traditions of animal-guides and the symbolism and legends of sacred white animals found in Nordic and other cultures all over the world. These highly regarded ghostly creatures, whether a raven, snake, bear, moose, reindeer, elephant or lion--are in animist traditions seen as prophetic, divine messengers, and guardians representing renewal, purity and a bridge between worlds.”

He continues with details on filming the “Kvitravn” music video: “Being fully aware of how rare it is to come across white ravens, we knew from the start that this would be an ambitious and challenging task to pull off. However, fate seemed to be on our side in this and the ‘impossible’ piece of the puzzle fell into place as if gifted from the divine. The video was shot in various locations in Norway and Russia and was produced by Ragnarok Film, the same team responsible for our previous video for the song ‘Lyfjaberg.’”

Selvik recently shared that he was enlisted to work on the score for the next installment of the Assassin’s Creed® franchise, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (released November 17). His track “Hrafnsmál – The Words of the Raven” is included on the game’s soundtrack EP Assassin’s Creed® Valhalla—Out Of The North which is out now via Lakeshore Records.

The prestigious Egil Storbekken´S Music Prize 2020–a national honorary award that was created in memory of the Norwegian musician, composer and cultural bearer Egil Storbekken was awarded to Selvik this year due to his extraordinary efforts and works with Norwegian folk music, especially the older folk instruments.

Pre-order options for Kvitravn are available via digital download here. The album is also available on CD and 180-gram 2LP gatefold vinyl (black or ltd. Edition white) here.

Tracklisting (with translations):

"Synkverv" (Turn-sight)
"Kvitravn" (White Raven)
"Skugge" (Shadow)
"Grá" (Grey)
"Fylgjutal" (Speech of the Fetch)
"Munin" (Memory)
"Kvit hjort" (White Stag)
"Viseveiding" (Song-hunting)
"Ni" (Nine)
"Vindavlarljod" (Song of the wind-bred)
"Andvevarljod" (Song of the Spirit-weavers)

"Grá" video:

(Photo - Kim Öhrling)

Finnish cello metallers Apocalyptica continue to dig through their archives. This week they have posted pro-shot video of their "I'm Not Jesus" featuring vocalist Franky Perez performance at the Pol'and'Rock Festival 2016.

It is with great regret, but obvious and necessary compliance, that Apocalyptica has had to postpone their upcoming North American tour a second time to August/September 2021 due to the ongoing restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that all tickets bought will remain valid for the rescheduled dates and tickets remain on sale.

Apocalyptica's performances will be comprised of new songs from most recent full-length Cell-0 as well as from the band's rich catalog. Lacuna Coil, who was scheduled to support on all North American dates, remain confirmed for the California, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Illinois, and Canadian shows. Support on the remainder of the tour is yet to be announced.

To keep the band's fans and everyone else involved with the tour safe at this time, the shows have been postponed to the following dates. Additionally, the Toronto show will now take place at Rebel.  

Dates:

August
16 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
17 - Plaza - Orlando, FL
19 - House Of Blues - Houston, TX
21 - Emos - Austin, TX
23 - Sunshine - Albuquerque, NM
24 - Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
25 - Mayan - Los Angeles, CA (with Lacuna Coil)
26 - The Regency - San Francisco, CA (with Lacuna Coil)
27 - Crystal - Portland, OR (with Lacuna Coil)
28 - Showbox Sodo - Seattle, WA (with Lacuna Coil)
29 - Commodore - Vancouver, BC (with Lacuna Coil)
30 - Commodore - Vancouver, BC (with Lacuna Coil)

September
1 - Midway - Edmonton, AB (with Lacuna Coil)
2 - The Palace - Calgary, AB (with Lacuna Coil)
4 - First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN (with Lacuna Coil)
5 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL (with Lacuna Coil)
6 - Rebel - Toronto, ON (with Lacuna Coil)
7 - Mtelus - Montreal, QC (with Lacuna Coil)
8 - Big Night Live - Boston, MA
9 - Webster Theatre - Hartford, CT
11 - Webster Hall - New York, NY

Hamburg-based Tragedian have released the single "Bringer Of Dreams" from their forthcoming album, Seven Dimensions. It features guest vocals from Wade Black (ex-Crimson Glory, ex-Leatherwolf)

Seven Dimensions features guest appearances by Black, Zak Stevens (Savatage, Archon Angel), Jules Down (Sleeping Child) and Zebrahead guitarist Dan Palmer.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Rising Rage"
"Aloneless"
"Out Of The Dark" (first guitar solo by Dan Palmer, backing vocals featuring Jules Down)

North Carolina rockers Shakey DeVille consisting of guitarist Curly, singer Dan Miller, drummer Brandon Bentley and bassist Jashwa Bradley have released their debut single “Shot’s Fired” from their upcoming debut EP, which is tentatively slated for release in March 2021.

The band states: “Me and the drummer [Brandon] pretty much came from the same local music scene here in Greensboro. We were in two different bands at the time but always played shows together, so eventually we started talking about getting together and jamming. Well fast forward, some things happened, and I ended up moving to California, but that’s a whole other story [laughs]! So I move back to Greensboro [North Carolina], but just recently met up with him around February of this year, and we started talking again. We eventually got together and jammed, and as soon as we started playing, I said to myself ‘Hmm, we don’t sound half bad playing together.’

“So we started talking more concrete plans, and went on the hunt for the other members. [Lead vocalist] Dan [Miller] was a friend of Dalton’s [lead vocalist for Pröwess] and we went to a party at his house one night. I remembered he came up on stage with Pröwess one day and asked if he’d be interested in coming out n jamming with me and Brandon. I showed him an original me and Brandon wrote together, which actually ended up being ‘Shot’s Fired’ [laughs] and he was instantly into it!

“Jashwa is the newest member of Shakey DeVille, replacing Dalton on bass. He was referred to me by Scott Roby [guitarist in Pröwess] a while back, so I finally decided to give him a call. He came in and nailed a couple of the originals, so we decided to keep him around for a while [laughs].

"Shakey DeVille won’t really interfere with anything Pröwess. I’m kind of a workaholic when it comes to playing music. I hate sitting still [laughs]. So when Pröwess has nothing going on, I try to fill the off day with something related to Shakey DeVille, and vice versa!”

In regard to how the band name Shakey DeVille came about, Staples stated: “The name came to me one day when me and my cousin were hanging out, you know, and talking about cars, and he mentioned that he’s a Cadillac kind of guy. And you know, I agreed, but mine would more than likely be all busted up, and run down. Junk falling off of it going down the road and things like that [laughs]. And that’s when Shakey DeVille popped in my head and it was perfect! It was really as simple as that [laughs].”

Sleek yet hard-hitting rock ‘n’ roll rooted in blues soul, The Dust Coda clutch the echoes of rock’s most beloved household names, from the pure, raw poetry of Led Zeppelin to the nasty muscle of Guns N’ Roses, and bring them kicking and screaming into the 21st century with enticingly unforgettable riffs, gravel-soaked vocal soul and sheer swagger. Earache Records capped off 2020 by signing the band to a worldwide deal.

Check out The Dust Coda's official video for "Breakdown", taking from their forthcoming album, Mojo Skyline, available worldwide on March 26th.

Label founder Digby Pearson comments: "Earache Records is thrilled to announce our signing of London's The Dust Coda.  Having scored chart placements in 2020 for Massive Wagons and Those Damn Crows, we can't wait to begin working with these frontrunners in the New Wave of Classic Rock and turn heads in the rock community and beyond with Mojo Skyline, which we're certain will become renowned as a modern rock classic."

Lead guitarist Adam Mackie comments: "As a band, when we finished making Mojo Skyline, we knew we had made something special and were super pumped and excited.  As a result, we didn't want to rush anything out and were keen to find it the rightful home that it deserved.  When Earache came along, it just seemed like a natural fit from the start.  Myself and John remember reading about Earache as teenagers in magazines like Metal Hammer and Kerrang!, and to now join their roster amongst some of the big hitters in the rock scene and the best up-and-coming bands, it's a great way to start the next chapter for The Dust Coda - things are only going to get louder from here!"

Check out the official music video for the single "Limbo Man".  Gleaming with sheer rock 'n' roll, the video sees The Dust Coda set loose at Dunsfold Park, the home of Top Gear, and in harmony with the adrenalised energy of "Limbo Man" with the help of classic Ford Mustangs.

The vivid album cover is extracted from the mind of artist Nick Dwyer, who is best known for his eye-catching designs for Beavertown Brewery's beloved brews such as Neck Oil and Gamma Ray. "I was trying to put across how these guys, who live and breathe destruction, dirt and chaos through their music might also spend their 'down time' inhaling weirdness from other not-so-obvious places," says Nick of the artwork. "They are on some sort of Natural Born Killers-esque trip, making a quick stop to watch a horror movie in the desert as the city disappears behind them.  It's a peyote sandwich washed down with whiskey and desert dust."

Tracklisting:

"Demon"
"Breakdown"
"Limbo Man"
"Dream Alight"
"Jimmy 2 Times"
"Rolling"
"Bourbon Pouring"
"I've Been Waiting"
"She's Gone"
"They Don't Know Rock N Roll"
"Best Believe It"
"It's A Jam"

Pre-order Mojo Skyline now here on a range of great formats, including limited edition coloured and signed vinyl. For further details, follow The Dust Coda on Facebook.

The Italian melodic power metal band Kalidia will release a re-recorded version of their debut album Lies' Device on February 5 via Inner Wound Recordings. The rerecorded version will be released on CD, limited vinyl and digital.

"Black Magic", the second single from the album can be streamed, below.

Lies' Device was originally released independently in 2014.

Tracklisting:

“The Lost Mariner”
“Hiding From The Sun”
“Dollhouse (Labyrinth Of Thoughts)”
“Reign Of Kalidia”
“Harbinger Of Serenity”
“Black Magic’
“Shadow Will Be Gone”
“Lies’ Device”
“Winged Lords”
“In Black And White”

“Black Magic”:

“The Lost Mariner” lyric video:

Dragon City Demo has released new single, “Can’t Cure Crazy”, by reformed ‘90s glam rockers Wett Cherry. The EP, The High And Divine, will be available in March on Bandcamp.

Wett Cherry formed in 1990 with the lineup of Andy Jaggs (Vocals), Dennis D (Lead Guitar), Bobby Hamm (Bass), Kevin Grisso (Drums), and were straighter up in the style of bands such as Mötley Crüe, Poison, and Hanoi Rocks. Their first gig was played at a local festival in New York City taking inspiration from such acts as early Mötley Crüe, KISS, Sweet and Alice Cooper. After the release of their self-financed single “Voodoo Queen”, they signed to independent label Mongol Records. Their debut record, Virgin, was released soon after in 1991 which then followed by more shows and an ever increasing fanbase. 

The band played heavily throughout the ‘90s at CBGBs Limelight Cat Club and many of the bars and venues of the greater New York City areas. 

Cant Cure Crazy by Dragon City Demo

With "Dance", Cellar Darling have created a song that takes up the “Death and the Maiden” theme of their 2019 concept album The Spell, but at the same time adapts it into the here and now: a "dance of death", an end-time vision.

In this epic 11-minute track, the Swiss heavy progressive rock trio takes the listener on a dark musical journey worthy of the band's name, combining mystical folk elements with heavy riffs and intricate structures. Once again, the highly unusual instrumentation typical for Cellar Darling, including a hurdy-gurdy, flute, and piano, colors their signature sound. Inspired by the dancing plague of 1518, their lyrics for the first time do not tell of an exclusively fictional world but represent an examination of both our history and current events. Thus, Cellar Darling continue to move in a new direction, resuming the radical path they have chosen since departing from Eluveitie in 2016.

"Dance" is available digitally now, and will soon be available physically in a strictly limited vinyl-only picture disc released directly from the band. Listen to "Dance" here, here, and below.

The band comment: "Darlings, this is it. This is the reason we've been so quiet these past few months. This is DANCE. We have never put so much work into one piece of music before. And although we always want our music to speak for itself, we'd like to share a few words with you about the journey this song has taken us on. The story of 'Dance' comprises three parts:

Chapter I - Past: "As you might have guessed, 'Dance' originated in the sessions for our concept album 'The Spell'. It was supposed to be another chapter of our story about a girl who falls in love with death, but the song ultimately didn't make the cut. It wouldn't quite leave us alone either, so about one year ago, we decided to dig it up and give it another go."

Chapter II - Present: "As rewarding and exciting as the intense work on the concept of "The Spell' was - from creating a storybook soundtrack to putting everything into prose — once it was completed, we were done with it. Anna was ready to let go of that story and rewrote all of the 'DANCE' lyrics and most of the music. This time, inspiration came from two sources: the dancing plague of 1518, which is a fascinating story in itself, and an engagement with our contemporary world: doesn't it sometimes feel like we're in the process of dancing ourselves to death?"

Chapter III - Future: "This song, which we share with you today for the time being only as what it is, i.e. without a flood of images, is only the first part of this extensive project. A collective of brilliant artists has interpreted 'Dance' visually and transformed it into their own world of images. Stay tuned for more…”

"Dance" was produced, recorded & mixed by Tommy Vetterli & Anna Murphy at New Sound Studio and mastered by Gavin Lurssen. The artwork was created by Thomas Ott.

Cellar Darling are:

Anna Murphy - vocals, hurdy-gurdy, multi-instrumentalist
Merlin Sutter - drums
Ivo Henzi - guitars, bass

(Photo - Urs Gantner)

Inglorious will release their new album, We Will Ride, on February 12. A video for the song, "Medusa", can be found below.

Pre-orders for We Will Ride are available now from the Frontiers EU and US webstores, as well as the band's webstore, including limited edition color vinyl.

Tracklisting:

"She Won't Let You Go"
"Messiah"
"Medusa"
"Eye Of The Storm"
"Cruel Intentions"
"My Misery"
"Do You Like It"
"He Will Provide"
"We Will Meet Again"
"God Of War"
"We Will Ride"

"Medusa" video:

"She Won't Let You Go" video:

Iconic guitarist Steve Hackett will release his new acoustic album, Under A Mediterranean Sky, on January 22 as a limited CD digipak, gatefold 2LP + CD + LP-booklet and digital album via InsideOut Music. Under A Mediterranean Sky is Steve Hackett’s first acoustic solo album since Tribute in 2008 and takes inspiration from his extensive travels around the Mediterranean with his wife, Jo.

Today sees the release of the third track from the album, and last before the album release. Watch the video for the enchanting "Sirocco" below.

Steve comments: “Visits to the vast and atmospheric Arabian and Sahara deserts of Egypt, Jordan and Morocco inspired this music.”

The album is available for pre-order here.

Working closely with long-time musical partner Roger King, Hackett has used his time during 2020’s lockdown to take us on an extraordinary musical journey around the Mediterranean, painting vivid images of stunning landscapes and celebrating the diverse cultures of the region. Famed for his rock roots with Genesis, and through his extensive solo catalogue, Hackett demonstrates the exquisite beauty of the nylon guitar at times venturing into the exotic ethnic and often supported by dazzling orchestral arrangements.

“A lot of acoustic ideas had been forming over the years, and it felt like the perfect time to create this album,” notes Hackett, “a time to contemplate the places we’ve visited around the Mediterranean with the kind of music which evolved from the world of imagination.

“Because we can’t really travel, substantially at the moment, I hope that the album will take people on that journey. Whether you sit down and listen to it or drift off to it with a glass of wine…”

Tracklisting:

"Mdina - The Walled City" (Steve Hackett / Roger King)
"Adriatic Blue" (Steve Hackett)
"Sirocco" (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)
"Joie de Vivre" (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett)
"The Memory Of Myth" (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)
"Scarlatti Sonata" (Domenico Scarlatti)
"Casa del Fauno" (Steve Hackett / Roger King)
"The Dervish And The Djin" (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)
"Lorato" (Steve Hackett)
"Andalusian Heart" (Steve Hackett / Jo Hackett / Roger King)
"The Call Of The Sea" (Steve Hackett)

"Mdina (The Walled City)":

"Andalusian Heart" video:

Our journey around the Med begins on the island of Malta, in Mdina - The Walled City.  It’s imposing strength is portrayed by Roger King’s dramatic orchestration while Hackett’s guitar weaves through the atmospheric streets describing the creativity, love and strength that held Malta together between all the waves of conflict.

With Hackett’s delicate guitar work, Adriatic Blue paints an enchanting view of stunning scenery as tall cliffs of forested mountains plunge into the deep blue sea along the Croatian coastline. Sirocco is altogether more atmospheric, inspired by the winds playing through the imposing structures of Egypt.

The lively Joie de Vivre expresses the unique sense of joy the French have through their wine, food and folk music, with paintings reflecting family gatherings, spectacular vistas and the vibrant colours of their cities. The art of dreaming is embodied in their sensual love of life.

“At first hand, I’ve marvelled at the mystical whirling Dervishes,” says Hackett.  Along with otherworldly beings such as the Djin (Genie) they sprang from Persia’s dreaming past. The Dervish And The Djin captures the extraordinary atmosphere of this most exotic of civilisations with the help of Hackett’s touring band regular - Rob Townsend’s soprano sax, the tar of Malik Mansurov (from Azerbaijan) and Armenian Arsen Petrosyan’s duduk. “Of course, those countries are virtually at war with each other,” Hackett adds, “and there has been something like a thousand casualties (at the time of writing) on both sides. Again, it’s a case of music being able to do things that politicians fail to do - something constructive.”

The Memory of Myth embodies the deep and rich history of Greece and features the violin of Christine Townsend (no relation) while Lorato - ‘love’ in the language of the African Tswana tribe - is a pretty folk tune.  Love is the force that heals and links all disparate peoples of the Mediterranean.

Hackett and his wife Jo were enchanted by the little Faun statue in the House of the Faun, Pompeii. “The villas there seemed to come back to life as we walked through those wonderful atriums and gardens,” inspiring Casa del Fauno and featuring the light and airy flute of Hackett’s brother John and Rob Townsend on flute.

The only non-original piece is Domenico Scarlatti’s Sonata. This embodies the Baroque music of Italy, a sensitive interpretation embellished with cross-string trills, a technique introduced to Hackett by the fine classical guitarist, the late Theo Cheng.

Hackett also expresses his admiration for the flamenco guitarists of Andalucía who are celebrated on Andalusian Heart. “One of the flamenco guitarists was showing me the extraordinary things they are able to do,” Hackett explains. “Seeing the gypsies playing and dancing in caves there, you get the feeling that these people are dancing for their lives.”

Our journey comes to an end with The Call Of The Sea, a gentle and peaceful reflection of the vast body of water that unites the many civilisations both ancient and modern.

Under A Mediterranean Sky features Steve Hackett playing nylon, steel string and twelve string guitars, charango and Iraqi oud. Keyboards, programming and orchestral arrangements are by Roger King. Featured musicians are John Hackett and Rob Townsend, flute (Casa del Fauno); Malik Mansurov, tar and Arsen Petrosyan, duduk & Rob Townsend, Sax (The Dervish And The Djin); Christine Townsend, violin (The Memory of Myth and The Call Of The Sea).  All tracks were produced by Steve Hackett and Roger King with all tracks recorded and mixed by Roger King at Siren.

“I had a great time doing this album, seeing it take shape, and I’m very pleased with the outcome. I’m very proud of it,” says Hackett. “The nylon guitar has a very individual sound but, within the compass of what the nylon-strung guitar can do, there are a lot of different tones. You can do the full-on attack, the kind of salvo that you expect from the flamenco players but, at the same time, it can also be very gentle, gentle as a harp. It’s shades of black and white.  It’s also exciting to play alongside instruments from around the world, as well as a wide range of orchestral sounds.”

Nuclear Blast announces the signing of progressive heavy metal vehicle, ​Interloper. Today, the band presents the first collective effort as a band; ​A Revenant Legacy EP. In celebration of the announcement, Interloper offers fans the visualizer for the single, "Silence". Watch below.

The band comments, "We are pleased to present to you, after much time, our first collective effort as Interloper: A Revenant Legacy. It has been a long time coming, to say the least. This band, as some of you may know, has undergone a variety of changes, the most important of which being the evolution of the music we write. Although the five songs that make up A Revenant Legacy came about over the course of a few years, the majority of them for one reason or another never saw the light of day upon completion. Rather than abandon them in the wake of the full length, we have decided to let them guide the way. The path our listeners would have otherwise taken over time all along, we now offer as one body of work. Please enjoy A Revenant Legacy - the journey traveled in the pursuit of what makes Interloper, Interloper."

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

Stream/Download A Revenant Legacy EP here.

Tracklisting:

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

"Silence" visualizer:

Interloper is:

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

After the first retrospective The Chronicles Of Eden (2007), Edenbridge, one of the most unique bands in their genre, deliver their second "Best Of" album, right on time to their 20th anniversary. The Chronicles Of Eden Part 2 is the quintessence of the studio albums 5-10 and again it was up to the fans to vote for their favourite tracks of each album.

Creative mastermind/multi-instrumentalist Lanvall: "The voting was not a major surprise and is more or less identical to the songs, we would also have chosen. Therefore 4 tracks of each album could be covered along with some older all out of print bonus tracks."

As a surprise, there are two new recorded acoustic versions of the hits "Higher" (over 4 million views on YouTube) and "Paramount" featured, among the Easter Version 2020 of the song "Dynamind", re-recorded by Sabine Edelsbacher.

Lanvall: "It was extremely fun to turn 'Higher' into a nearly jazzy piano/vocal version showing a different side of us, formerly unknown. 'Paramount' was one of the absolute fan favourites and so it was near to transform that song too and let it shine in a new light."

The 150 minutes of the double album cover the big range of the symphonic metal sound and the compositional substance and consistency, Edenbridge has been standing for 20 years. Atmospherically dense compositions, directed mainly by Lanvall and vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher, which combine melodies and grooves, toughness and sensitivity, emotions and intellect, spirit and the subconscious mind in a unique way.

Find an official video trailer below.

The atmospheric artwork for The Chronicles Of Eden Part 2 was inspired by a vision, singer Sabine had, linking the spiritual awakening to an Aurora Borealis.

Sabine: "After an own spiritual experience a couple of years ago and without an explainable reason, I felt a deep connection to the name Aurora. Subsequently I concerned myself with what the name stands for and relating it now to a heart quality, which might lead us to higher consciousness. Especially when there is a lot of negativity in the room, a possibility for transformation exists, through recognition and acceptance, respectively the self-responsibility for one's own feelings. Edenbridge always followed this path and especially now it is even more important to get into the own truthfulness."

The graphic direction of the cover artwork was again in the hands of drummer Johannes Jungreithmeier, who developed into the creative visual pole of the band since his entrance into the band in 2016. All tracks were produced by Lanvall and mixed by Threshold mastermind Karl Groom, with whom the band has been collaborating for 15 years now.

The Chronicles Of Eden Part 2 will be released worldwide through Steamhammer/SPV on January 15 as 2CD digipak version, download and stream. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

CD1
"Higher"
"On The Other Side"
"Shiantara"
"Alight A New Tomorrow"
"Until The End Of Time"
"Shadowplay"
"The Greatest Gift Of All"
"Dynamind (Easter 2020 Version) *Previously Unreleased
"Brothers On Diamir"
"Paramount (Acoustic Version 2020) *Previously Unreleased
"Tauerngold"
"The Bonding"

CD2
"Live And Let Go"
"Mystic River"
"Myearthdream Suite (For Guitar And Orchestra)"
"The Moment Is Now"
"Skyline's End (Solitaire)
"The Memory Hunter"
"Remember Me"
"Inward Passage"
"Paramount"
"Higher (Acoustic Version 2020)" *Previously Unreleased

Spain-based thrash metal band, Angelus Apatrida, returns with their seventh self-titled album, which is set for release worldwide on February 5 via Century Media Records.

Today, the band launches the album’s opening track, “Indoctrinate”, as the second single. Check it out in a video clip by Fernando Morales / Micoco Graphics below.

The band checked in with the following comment about the song: “When your new album is written and recorded during a global pandemic, you might expect some side effects on it. 'Indoctrinate' is the opening track of Angelus Apatrida and it’s probably the angriest song we ever composed! It reflects a mix of all feelings experienced throughout this past year and also how people were being radicalized via stupid extremist populism within society. There is no place for racism, fascism, homophobia or any other act of intolerance or bigotry in Rock music. Actually, there is no place for any of it in a civilized, democratic society. And it’s our responsibility to face it and not to look the other way. This is hostile music for hostile times.”

Angelus Apatrida ("/ˈan-je-lus - a-ˈpa-tri-da/") was produced by the band, recorded with Juanan López in September and October at Baboon Records, in Albacete, Spain and then mixed and mastered by Christopher "Zeuss" Harris (Rob Zombie, Overkill, Hatebreed, Municipal Waste, Shadows Fall) at Planet-Z in Wilbraham, MA, US. The album features 10 songs, sounding more determined, versatile and ferocious than ever before and on the verge of the group's 20th Anniversary.

Angelus Apatrida's artwork was created by Gyula Havancsák (Annihilator, Destruction, Stratovarius) and is available as limited CD Jewelcase in O-Card or as a 180g. vinyl LP with the album on CD as a bonus on either black vinyl or in limited edition colored runs (Creamy White vinyl: 100x copies from CM Webshop, Yellow vinyl: 200x copies from CM Distro and Red vinyl: 300x copies for Spain).

Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Indoctrinate"
"Bleed The Crown"
"The Age Of Disinformation"
"Rise Or Fall"
"Childhood's End"
"Disposable Liberty"
"We Stand Alone"
"Through The Glass"
"Empire Of Shame"
"Into The Well"

"Bleed The Crown" video:

Angelus Apatrida is:

David G. Álvarez (lead and rhythm guitars)
José J. Izquierdo (bass guitar)
Víctor Valera (drums)
Guillermo Izquierdo (vocals and lead/rhythm guitars)

(Photo - Fernando Morales)

Danish death metal outfit, Baest, have released “Meathook Massacre”, the second single of their upcoming album Necro Sapiens, out March 5. The single is accompanied by a live performance video recorded in their studio.

The band comments: "The video for 'Meathook Massacre' is from the recording process of the Necro Sapiens album. The whole album was recorded live, every one of us tracking simultaneously - and the observant listener is able to spot some tracks, that made it to the final cut as well! (Disclaimer: the lights weren’t as cool for the whole recording, sadly…)"

About “Meathook Massacre”: “In his den of violence, a specialist in pain and suffering resides. A torture mercenary, who lives to see the everflowing stream of malicious desires of the elite, satisfied. We welcome you, to his Meathook Massacre.”

Baest come from Aarhus in Denmark and have successfully established themselves as one of the country’s most promising metal acts in recent years. While deeply rooted in straight-forward classic death metal inspired by genre legends like Dismember, Entombed, Morbid Angel, Death, and Bolt Thrower, the 2015 formed band evolved from a Danish underground phenomenon to an internationally touring act (2018 tour with Abbath, 2019 EU/UK trek with Decapitated). Also, at festivals like Summer Breeze, Copenhell, Ruhrpott Metal Meeting, Roskilde, they left audiences impressed and begging for more. After their already praised debut album Danse Macabre, the band took it to the next level in 2019 and delivered Venenum, where they refined their already steamroller-like signature sound.

With the expectation-bar already set so high for their next record Baest truly drops their most anticipated and most important album so far.

The album is available in the following formats and can be pre-ordered here.

- CD Digipak – all outlets
- Black LP+CD – all outlets
- Digital Album – all platforms
- Glow in the dark LP+CD (limited to 500) – Official Band Shop
- Pink LP+CD (limited to 100) – CM Distro
- Olive Green LP+CD (limited to 300) – CM Distro
- Lilac LP+CD (limited to 200) – Metalvinyl.dk
- Deep Blood Red LP + CD (limited to 200) – all Danish outlets

Tracklisting:

"The Forge"
"Genesis"
"Necro Sapiens"
"Czar"
"Abattoir"
"Goregasm"
"Towers Of Suffocation"
"Purification Through Mutilation"
"Meathook Massacre"
"Sea Of Vomit"

"Abbatoir" visualizer:

Baest will join Philip H. Anselmo & The Illigals on their summer 2021 tour.

The band comments: “Somethings are goddamn awesome, but others are GODDAMN ELECTRIC - Baest are supporting the great southern trendkiller throughout Europe and beyond. 15 shows supporting Anselmo & the Illegals, when they perform a vulgar display of fucking hostile classics! This is what life on the road is about - getcha pull.”

Tour dates:

July
24 - St. Petersburg, Russia - A2 Green Concert
25 - Moscow, Russia - Adrenaline Stadium
29 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Metal Days
30 - Saint maurice de gourdans, France - Sylak Festival
31 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli

August
1 -   Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
4 -   Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
5 -   Belgrade, Serbia - Beogradski Sajam
6 -   Sofia, Bulbaria - Yunak
7 -   Brasov, Romania - Rockstad Extreme Fest
9 -   Vienna, Austria - Simm City
10 - Krakau, Poland - Studio
11 - Jaromer, Czech Republic - Brutal Assault Festival
13 - Derbyshire, UK - Bloodstock Festival
14 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival

Baest will set sail for Europe in February 2021.

Baest are:

Simon Olsen - vocals
Svend Karlsson - guitar
Lasse Revsbech - guitar
Mattias Melchiorsen - bass
Sebastian Abildsten - drums

(Photo - Anna Marin)

A video for the Dance With The Dead remix of The Dead Daisies' "Holy Ground" is available for streaming below.

Says the band: "Now we know that remixes might not be your thing but, our good mates, Dance With The Dead, have put their own spin on 'Holy Ground'. Its pretty cool, love the artwork and the video...  check it out!"

Learn more, and stream the single, here.

The Dead Daisies will release their new album, Holy Ground, on January 22. Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)"
"Like No Other (Bassline)"
"Come Alive"
"Bustle And Flow"
"My Fate"
"Chosen And Justified"
"Saving Grace"
"Unspoken"
"30 Days In The Hole"
"Righteous Days"
"Far Away"

"Holy Ground (Shake The Memory)" video:

“Bustle And Flow” video:

German pagan war machine Wolfchant share a brand new song/ animated video, called "70000 Tons Of Metal". It is their first new song in 4 years. As the name already implies, it's dedicated to 70000 Tons Of Metal event. Video created by students in the Bachelor of Design (Animation & Interactive Media) program at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia.

Wofchant commented: "Hey Friends, after 4 years without any new music from Wolfchant we present you our first new song today. We've dedicated a song to our friends and fellow Sailors of 70000 Tons Of Metal. We wish you a lot of fun with the song "70000 Tons Of Metal" and the crazy new cartoon video.''

Legendary Dutch death doom elite, Asphyx, will release their 10th full studio album, Necroceros, on January 22 via Century Media Records. The band have released a new single for the song “The Nameless Elite”, which can also be seen in a video created by Maurice Swinkels / Younique Film (Legion Of The Damned, Exodus, Kataklysm, etc.).

Frontman Martin van Drunen checked in about the song and clip as follows: “This third single of our forthcoming ‘Necroceros’ album is entitled “The Nameless Elite” and is about modern-day warfare, especially about the brave men and women in the many international elite units that combat any form of terror to protect us all against violent acts of insanity. We thought the location at the Overloon War Museum was a fantastic one to shoot a video for any kind of song dealing about war and the Sherman tank in the clip actually did serve during WWII on the battlefields in that area. It may not be directly related to the content of the track, but Asphyx is a band that has always and will always take on any subject concerning war, without glorifying it. War is Hell. We would very much like to thank the wonderful cooperative people of the Overloon War Museum in The Netherlands for giving us permission to shoot there, causing pleasant chaos with our noise and smoke!”

Necroceros was recorded at Tom Meier’s Tom Meier Studio and at Paul Baayens’ The Mörserstudio and then finally mixed and mastered by Sebastian “Seeb” Levermann at Greenman Studios. The album once again features front cover artwork by Axel Hermann.

Necroceros will be available in the following formats:

- Standard Jewelcase CD
- Digital Album
- 180g LP
- Limited Mediabook CD+DVD
- Strictly limited Deluxe Gatefold 2LP+DVD

The limited Mediabook CD edition comes with an expanded booklet of 40 pages as well as the Bonus DVD “0 Years of Death Doom Domination, with over 2 hours of playing time. The DVD contains 2017’s special Asphyx live-show for their 30th band-anniversary with raw and pure camera-sound, as well as rehearsal footage and interviews with all current and former band members who attended this remarkable event.

The strictly limited Deluxe 2LP version of Necroceros is available either as dark green-yellow-white splattered vinyl (Limited to 500x copies via CM Distro or the band) or as white-black marbled vinyl (Limited to 500x copies available from Nuclear Blast). Next to the 30 Years of Death Doom Domination Bonus DVD, this Deluxe format of the album will come in Gatefold packaging with a bonus 12” vinyl, featuring 2 bonus-tracks (“Full Death Metal Scenario” and “Triple D”) on side C and an Etching on side D. This edition also includes the double-sided A2 poster, an exclusive LP booklet of 24 pages as well as an originally signed Asphyx photocard.

The album’s LP version will come on 180g vinyl and with a double-sided A2 poster in the following variations and limitations:

- Black LP: Unlimited
- Clear LP: 200x copies (via CM Webshop Europe)
- Dark green LP: 400x copies (via CM Distro Europe)
- Transparent petrol green LP: 200x copies (via District 19 Webshop)
- Deep blood red LP: 200x copies (via EMP)
- Grey LP: 200x copies (via High Roller)
- Mint colored LP: 200x copies (via Supreme Chaos)
- Transparent blue LP: 200x copies (via Sound Of Records)       
- Olive green LP: 500x copies (via CM USA / All Outlets) *
- Brick red LP: 500x copies (via CM USA / Indie Outlets) *
- White LP: 200x copies (via CM USA / Revolver) *
- Transparent orange LP: 200x copies (via CM USA Webshop) *

* Please note that the US versions of the LP will be available as of February 12, 2021.

Pre-order Necroceros in all its various formats here.

Tracklisting:

"The Sole Cure is Death"
"Molten Black Earth"
"Mount Skull"
"Knights Templar Stand"
"Three Years of Famine"
"Botox Implosion"
"In Blazing Oceans"
"The Nameless Elite"
"Yield or Die"
"Necroceros"

"Knights Templar Stand" lyric video:

“Botox Implosion” video:

Asphyx lineup:

Martin van Drunen - Vocals
Paul Baayens - Guitars
Alwin Zuur - Bass
Stefan “Husky” Hüskens - Drums

More previously unreleased drum-cam footage of late Megadeth drummer Nick Menza playing along to the band's classic song "Holy Wars... The Punishment Due" can be seen below.

The HD video, shot in a three-camera-angle mix, was filmed in March 2014 at Uberbeatz Studios in Seattle, Washington and is believed to be some of the final studio drum recordings of Menza before he passed away more than two years later.

The footage was supposed to be used for the late drummer's first-ever instructional DVD, Intense Mega Drumming, that was to feature 10 re-recorded classic Megadeth drum tracks with tons of tips and tricks from Menza's arsenal to help teach anybody out there become a better player. The DVD, which was produced and directed by Kari Pearson and Menza's manager, Robert Bolger, has since been shelved.

The unreleased video footage and audio from the session will be a featured highlight in the recently announced official Menza documentary film This Was My Life - The Story of Nick Menza. It is described in a press release as "an unflinching exploration into the life of one of the most successful thrash-metal drummers of all time, authorized by the Menza family. From his childhood all the way through to the end of his life including a true blow-by-blow account of the repeated failed attempts of the classic Rust In Peace lineup."

This Was My Life will feature rare and never-before-seen photos and video footage from Nick's archived VHS tape collection, personally filmed by Menza himself from 1988 through 1991. Included will be exclusive content showcasing Nick working at the studio, personal home movies, casual time and party time with his fellow band members, as well as other well-known artists of the era that Nick toured with.

Bolger said: "I am very excited to be working with Screaming Butterfly Entertainment on Nick's official documentary. "There's a lot of published misinformation out there about Nick that isn't true and I am very happy to bring the truth forth. Nick loved his fans and always said without the fans none this would be possible. I really think Nick's fans will enjoy this journey through his life."

Executive producer Holly Mollohan from Screaming Butterfly Entertainment added: "As both a filmmaker, and fellow metalhead who deeply values the metal community, I am honored and excited to go on this journey alongside all of you."

Menza's official autobiography, Megalife: The Autobiography Of Nick Menza by J. Marshall Craig, was released in December 2018 via Post Hill Press.

Late in the evening on May 21, 2016, Nick collapsed after suffering a heart attack during a concert with Chris Poland and Robertino "Pag" Pagliari in their band OHM: at The Baked Potato in Studio City, California and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner said Menza died of hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Nick rightfully earned his place as one of heavy metal's fiercest drummers during Megadeth's 10-year commercial peak. The highlight of his career, Nick said, was playing Rock In Rio before more than 100,000 people. The lowest point was being fired by Megadeth mainman Dave Mustaine while he was still in a hospital bed after surgery to remove what doctors feared was a cancerous growth.

Virginia-based crossover maniacs, Enforced, open their Century Media account with their blistering new album, Kill Grid. Informed by an incredible cross-section of extremes - from thrash and punk to death metal and hardcore - the emergent outfit drop a nine-song cluster-bomb of thrashing death on apathetic times. After already releasing “Hemorrhage” right before the holidays, the band is unleashing an official video for “Malignance”, which you can watch below.

While the video is capturing the raw, but positive energy of an Enforced live show the song itself has a very serious background.

Knox Colby (vocals) explains: “’Malignance’ is about being on the wrong side of history, being led down the path of an ideology built on hatred and violence, only to end up with a bullet in your stomach. The lyrics about-face towards the end of the song and try to shake you out of it. Wake up, get a grip, understand and accept that you’re wrong. The chorus was inspired by a World War 2 prisoner-of-war torture tactic I read about. Soldiers who were captured were forced to smell the bodies of their friends and comrades, which became this strange introspective psychological torture that fit the narrative I was writing.”

Guitarist Will Wagstaff dives deeper into the music: “This song has an older Slayer type of vibe to me, maybe Show No Mercy/Haunt The Chapel era. This is a pure crossover song, ala Exodus/early Testament/Slayer. We knew we wanted to keep it fast for most of the song and it ended up coming together organically during a practice.”

First pre-orders are up for Kill Grid, which is scheduled for a release on March 12. Order here.

The following formats are available:

- 100 x olive green LP+CD via CM Distro onlineshop
- 200 x clear LP+CD via CM Distro wholesale and onlineshop
- 200 x bright gold LP+CD via EMP and Coretex Records
- 200 x red LP+CD via the Band
- Black LP+CD (In the US the black LP comes without a CD)
- Digital Album

Kill Grid came together over a two-year period while Enforced were marauding halls and dive bars across the East Coast and Canada. Indeed, inspiration came from different directions, but playing live with bands like Sacred Reich, Red Death, Iron Reagan, All Out War, and Integrity shaped what was to come out of the Richmonders. While it was the previous output that attracted the attention of Century Media, it’s Kill Grid, that’s going to put Enforced on top-lists of circle pit lunatics around the globe. To track their sophomore full-length, Enforced enlisted long-time friend and studio maven Bob Quirk (Iron Reagan) to engineer, as well as Philadelphia-based studio whiz Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera Conspiracy, Pissed Jeans, Eternal Champion, Ghostemane, Code Orange) to mix and master.

Tracklisting:

"The Doctrine"
"UXO"
"Beneath Me"
"Malignance"
"Kill Grid"
"Curtain Fire"
"Hemorrhage"
"Blood Ribbon"
"Trespasser"

"Hemorrhage" visualizer:

Lineup:

Knox Colby - vocals
Will Wagstaff - guitar
Zach Monahan - guitar
Ethan Gensurowsky - bass
Alex Bishop - drums

(Photo - Morgan Parrish)

September 25th, 2020 marked 25 years since Rammstein emerged from Berlin with its debut album, Herzeleid. To celebrate the anniversary, the RammWiki page on YouTube continues to roll out rare audio and video material from the band's career. The clips below are taken from the pre-Rammstein punk band Feeling B's album, Wir Kriegen Euch Alle. Feeling B featured guitarist Paul Landers, keyboardist Christian "Flake" Lorenz and drummer Christoph "Doom" Schneider as a guest musician. The band was rounded out by vocalist Aljoscha Rompem, drummer Winfried Knoll and bassist Christoph Zimmermann.

Feeling B was launched in the German Democratic Republic and was active from 1983 to 1994.

To celebrate Rammstein's first indelible impact on global hard rock history, the band and Vertigo/UMe released limited, remastered editions of the band’s groundbreaking debut on December 4, 2020. An official trailer for Herzeleid (XXV Anniversary Edition - Remastered) featuring the CD and vinyl LP versions of the album is available below.

Herzeleid (XXV Anniversary Edition - Remastered) features the album’s original tracklist on a single CD, housed in a lavish, cross-shaped digipak with deluxe slipcase, and, for the first time ever, the remastered album with HD sound is available digitally.

In addition, there is a 2LP version with a slipcase containing two 180 gram heavyweight black vinyl discs with blue splatter effect. The creator of the original artwork, Dirk Rudolph, is also responsible for the Anniversary Edition packaging. The booklets also contain the original band portraits shot by Praler. Both the CD and vinyl editions are strictly limited.

Tracklisting:

"Wollt Ihr Das Bett in Flammen Sehen"
"Der Meister"
"Weisses Fleisch"
"Asche zu Asche"
"Seemann"
"Du Riechst So Gut"
"Das Alte Leid"
"Heirate Mich"
"Herzeleid"
"Laichzeit"
"Rammstein"