Canada’s Plague Weaver embodies the frigid national landscape in their upcoming album Ascendant Blasphemy due to be unleashed in early 2021.

The first single from this formidable black metal act is the album opener, “Nothing Is Sacred”. This song starts off with a low-mid tempo, as it attempts to welcome the listener. The track quickly explodes into the verse sections with a faster tempo and more energetic vocals. The bridge introduces some extra guitar leads, and prepares the listener for the repetitive outro vocals, repeating the phrase ‘Nothing is Sacred’. Let it be done.’ Plague Weaver shares their expectations for the record’s reception: 

“We think fans who have heard the previous EP will enjoy this album. Ascendant Blasphemy is an evolution, no doubt. Definitely more aggressive, and more riff-driven overall, without abandoning Plague Weaver’s doom-inspired roots on songs like ‘In Exitium Caeli’ and ‘Of Quivering Doves’.”

Ascendant Blasphemy is a sure shot in its musical direction. It’s a journey from start to finish that is not without its own heaps and valleys. Vocalist JC explains that the lyrics are a loose concept that follows a series of Satanic philosophies or questions considered from a Satanic perspective, illustrated to a loose fictional idea he has been throwing around for a while. 

Punishing and grim, Plague Weaver is ideal for old school black metal fans and those who are particularly fond of  Dissection, Rotting Christ, and (old) Samael. Preorder the EP on Bandcamp.

Tracklisting:

“Nothing Is Sacred”
“Lay Fire”
“Blood Runs Not”
“Seek To Betray”
“Upheaval And Arson”
“Of Quivering Doves”
“Deicidal Usurper”
“In Exitium Caeli”

“Nothing Is Sacred”:

Aftershocks TV recently spoke with Meliah Rage guitarist Anthony Nichols about his new band Mexican Ape Lord, and he admitted that his more famed band, Meliah Rage, is officially on hiatus with his focus being on Mexican Ape Lord.

Says Nichols: "Meliah Rage is on hold for now. The candle hit the water. Never say never, but right now I'm focused on Mexican Ape Lord. We work well together, and I like it. I like John's unique vocals."

Nichols on Mexican Ape Lord vocalist Jon Hardy: "We're talking about how with Survival Cannibalism, people would look at the video and decipher what the lyrics are going to be about. With the first record, I'm scratching my head going "What is he talking about?" Jon's a brilliant guy. I'm telling you. He went to Georgetown. He's not a dumb guy. He's one of those guys where you walk into his house and his living room is nothing but shelves of books, and a little TV in the corner that he never watches. He's almost an intellectual. We've got stuff that we're working on, and he's going to come up with some stuff."

Mexican Ape-Lord - featuring Nichols, The Bags vocalist/bassist Jon Hardy, drummer named Steve Fry (Crotalus, Graveheart) and lead guitarist Dan Dykes (Triphammer), released their new album, Survival Cannibalism, via Unable Records. A profile page where you can connect with them on Spotify, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, as well as offering up merch for the new album can be found at this location.

The album is inspired by a true story of the Nottingham Galley shipwreck and the cannibalism that took place on Boon Island, Maine in 1710.

"I wanted to get inside the heads of these tormented guys, whose suffering drove them to do the unthinkable," says singer Jon Hardy. "It’s a grim subject, obviously, but a great one for Tony, Dan, and Steve, because they are masterful at covering the full range, musically - from utter darkness to the thrill of cheating death."

Survival Cannibalism tracklisting:

"Black Cloud"
"Situation"
"No Deliverance"
"So Much Wasted Rope"
"The Devil Does Divide Us"
"Stinkin’ Drunk On Blood"
"Dereliction"
"Mezzick And Drakelord"

"Black Cloud":

"The Devil Does Divide Us":

"No Deliverance":

"Stinkin’ Drunk On Blood":

"So Much Wasted Rope":

"Situation" video:

The Sonic Overlords are the latest carriers of the heavy metal/hard rock flag to come out of the country of Sweden, and M-Theory Audio has announced the worldwide signing of the band to its roster.

The group will unleash their debut album later this year, but the first taste of their combination of melodic rock majesty and thunderous doom can be experienced today with their debut single, “In My Darkest Room”. The song is available now on all digital streaming and download platforms here, while its music video can be viewed below.

“We are very happy to share the news about this worldwide record deal,” says the band. “We find that M-Theory Audio has done a great job of building up an impressive roster despite being a relatively new label, and we are very excited to now be a part of that! 'In My Darkest Room' deals with the theme of the struggle against your inner demons – something that might be even more relevant than usual in these current times. Musically, it is not so much a conventional single, but rather an introduction of the musical scope of the band. Keep your eyes and ears open for more news!”

The Sonic Overlords were founded in 2017 by Swedish rock guitarist Morgan Zocek. He began jamming with various musicians and writing songs inspired by classic hard rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s, but with a more modern approach to the production and sonics. The full sound of The Sonic Overlords began to solidify with the addition of Per Soläng on drums in 2018. This was followed by the addition in 2020 of vocalist Marcus Zachrisson Rubin, who had been playing with Zocek in an Ozzy Osbourne cover band for many years, and the rumbles of new bassist Daniel Ramírez.

The group self-released their debut single “In My Darkest Room” in October 2020, accompanied by a music video directed by Per Andersson. The song soon gained rock radio airplay throughout Scandinavia and spread through mainland Europe, the US and Australia as DJs and programmers were drawn to the group's combination of powerful doom riffs and the epic and melodic majesty of 'late '70s/early '80s heavy rock with influences from the likes of Dio/Martin-era Black Sabbath, Rainbow, early Candlemass, Yngwie J. Malmsteen/Rising Force, Scorpions and MSG. That blend of power, darkness, and musicality was recognized by former Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin via a recent shout-out to “In My Darkest Room” on his social media channels.

The Sonic Overlords are currently putting the finishing touches on their debut album, set for release later this year. More news will be unveiled in the weeks ahead.

Lineup:

Marcus Zachrisson Rubin - Lead Vocals
Morgan Zocek - Guitars/Backing Vocals
Per Soläng - Drums
Daniel Ramírez - Bass/Backing Vocals

(Photo - ziyu yu)

Unleashing the latest slab of their patented “bastardized” grindcore with their new album Pleine Noirceur this past November, Fuck The Facts have a new music video for the track "Dropping Like Flies". The song is a face-punching, fist-pumping smorgasbord of 90’s death metal, crust punk, and weirdness. Lyrically, the track was written by vocalist Mel Mongeon to tackle the reality of drug addiction and the opioid epidemic in certain parts of Canada pre-COVID times.

"The infection is spreading
Like a field infested with insects, with pests that multiply
Unable to treat the infection, it’s becoming larger...

...We hear you say you’re concerned, that you understand
But nothing is done
State of emergency; where are the resources?
It’s all talk
Help isn’t on the way

Communities will remain under strain
Pushed to the breaking point
Everyone is scrambling to save lives
As long as you feel their lives do not matter, they will keep dying"

Fuck The Facts has once again teamed up with director David Hall, who has been making videos for each of their albums since the release of Stigmata High-Five back in 2006.

"His unique approach to making videos has always been inspiring to us and we've always given him carte blanche (just watch our video for 'Everywhere Yet Nowhere''). For the 'Dropping Like Flies' video Dave manages to give the viewer an uncomfortable and satirical look at the devastating opioid epidemic. Highlighting just how much this issue is not taken seriously enough." says FTF's Topon Das.

Director David Hall adds: "The main inspiration for the video for 'Dropping Like Flies' came directly from Mel’s lyrics. She eloquently sings about addiction as an epidemic and society’s response: “help isn’t on the way.” I wanted to present a vision of hopelessness, the brutal ravaging of addiction, the pervasiveness of prescription meds, the economic forces that conspire, and show some faces not commonly presented as addicts: white people, senior citizens, the middle and upper class. Addiction transcends all demographics. God sends flies to wounds he should heal. Pills rain down from heaven."   

Pleine Noirceur is available via the band's very own label Noise Salvation. Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Doubt, Fear Neglect"
"Ailleurs"
"Pleine Noirceur"
"Aube"
"Sans Lumiere"
"Sans Racines"
"Everything I Love Is Ending"
"A Dying Light"
"Dropping Like Flies"
"L’abandon"
"An Ending"
"_cide"

"An Ending":

"Everything I Love Is Ending":

"Dropping Like Flies":

"Pleine Noirceur" video:

(Photo - Anndy Negative)

CHEVELLE has released its new single, "Self Destructor". The track, which can be streamed below, is taken from CHEVELLE's upcoming follow-up to 2016's "The North Corridor", "Niratias" (Nothing Is Real And This Is A Simulation), which is due on March 5.

CHEVELLE frontman Pete Loeffler told "Loudwire Nights"' Kevin Vargas about "Self Destructor": "The song was actually written in 2019 so it's just strangely coincidental that it fits so well with 2020 being what it was. It's hard not to find that in everything now. I'll give you one thing though. It focuses on science deniers, and you guys can run with that. Go delve into the lyrics and check it out. It's aggressive and I've had to learn how to play it all over again this past year with Sam [Loeffler], so fingers crossed that we can do that live too."

Regarding the overall lyrical direction of "Niratias", Pete said: "It has a lot of space to it, a lot of interstellar travel to it. You've got Elon Musk trying to get to Mars and that was completely fascinating to me so when I write lyrics, it's just kind of made its way in there. As you'll see with the cover, it's sort of space themed as well.

He added: "I love the idea of the cosmos and I love Carl Sagan and Elon Musk and Neil deGrasse Tyson and all these people that look beyond and look to the future. Getting off this planet is part of that future if we can do it. It's funny when you started to delve into it how difficult that really is. How are you gonna deal with radiation out in a spaceship for nine months or longer than that? It's fascinating. It just made its way into the music."

Back in 2018, Pete said that he wrote "about 25 songs" for the band's next disc, but that only eight had been recorded at that point at Joe's House Of Compression studio in Pasadena, California with producer Joe Barresi (KYUSS, MELVINS, THE JESUS LIZARD).

In December 2018, Pete explained to the Rock 100.5 The KATT radio station that "things take longer than we thought" and that the band would take a few more months to make sure the record came out "that much better."

Pete also spoke about his previous comment that CHEVELLE's next album was turning out to be a more melodic affair than "The North Corridor".

"I mean, that's the thing," he said. "You wake up… Everyone has to choose. You're, like, 'Am I gonna be in a good or a bad mood today?' At least in my family, we do… So, on the last two albums, it's been, like, I woke up and I was, like, 'I wanna play heavy shit.' And that's where we've been. But, honestly, the music is way more melodic on this one."

"The North Corridor" debuted at No. 8 on the Billboard 200 album chart and produced a No. 1 Mainstream Rock single, "Joyride (Omen)".

The band's album of rarities from 2002-2016, "12 Bloody Spies: B-Sides And Rarities", was released in October 2018 via Epic.

In September 2019, CHEVELLE bassist Dean Bernardini announced that he would "take a break from the road" after completing that year's shows with his bandmates. He added that he would "continue to work" in music in some form or another while also putting time into his art and furniture business at home.

Bernardini had been with CHEVELLE since 2005, even though 2007's "Vena Sera" marked his first studio recording with the band.

ICED EARTH leader Jon Schaffer is among dozens of people wanted by the FBI for storming Capitol Hill earlier this week.

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 (January 6) 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 (photograph #25 below), 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.

On Thursday, acting United States attorney Daniel P. Bubar and FBI special agent in charge David W. Archey jointly announced their condemnation of violence during Wednesday's events in Washington D.C. and requested information regarding individuals involved in potential criminal acts of violence.

"We strongly condemn the violence carried out by rioters yesterday at the U.S. Capitol, which was a reprehensible attack on our democracy," Bubar said. "Here in the Western District of Virginia, we are quite familiar with the use of the federal Anti-Riot Act, and are working with our law enforcement partners to identify and prosecute any individuals that traveled from the Western District of Virginia to Washington, D.C. to commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of these riots. We will continue to carry out our mission to support and defend the Constitution and the rule of law, undeterred."

The FBI is asking anyone who recognizes someone from the wanted posters or who witnessed any of Wednesday's activity to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit information online here.

Earlier today, German daily newspaper Die Welt uploaded a video interview it conducted with Schaffer last November at a Washington, D.C. demonstration supporting Trump and protesting the 2020 presidential election results. 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."

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."




#FBIWFO is seeking the public's assistance in identifying those who made unlawful entry into U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. If you witnessed unlawful violent actions contact the #FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit photos/videos at https://t.co/NNj84wkNJP. https://t.co/iSeA3UMeyz pic.twitter.com/TW7fma4QDE

— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) January 8, 2021








#FBIWFO is seeking the public's assistance in identifying those who made unlawful entry into U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. If you witnessed unlawful violent actions contact the #FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit photos/videos at https://t.co/NNj84wkNJP. https://t.co/aXKkUra3Se pic.twitter.com/mGj4Zx8C0L

— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) January 8, 2021








#FBIWFO is seeking the public's assistance in identifying those who made unlawful entry into U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. If you witnessed unlawful violent actions contact the #FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit photos/videos at https://t.co/NNj84wkNJP. https://t.co/ZmM6SRHP1I pic.twitter.com/vJQnUBmvRI

— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) January 8, 2021








#FBIWFO is seeking the public's assistance in identifying those who made unlawful entry into U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6. If you witnessed unlawful violent actions contact the #FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or submit photos/videos at https://t.co/NNj84wkNJP. https://t.co/KSUpFHyZZG pic.twitter.com/qS6cW0DX32

— FBI Washington Field (@FBIWFO) January 8, 2021

German metallers BLIND GUARDIAN — whose frontman, Hansi Kürsch, shares a long-running project with ICED EARTH's Jon Schaffer, DEMONS & WIZARDS — have released the following statement regarding the violence and destruction of property at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday (January 6):

"We are deeply shocked and our thoughts are with the relatives of the deceased. We expressly distance ourselves from any kind of violence irrespective if applied against institutions or persons. The incidents will be thoroughly investigated and the responsibles will be brought to justice. We ask for your understanding that in view of the hourly news situation we will not make any further comments at present."

As previously reported, Schaffer is among dozens of people wanted by the FBI for storming Capitol Hill. 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.

DEMONS & WIZARDS released its third studio album, "III", in February 2020 via Century Media Records. The LP marked the band's first collection of new material in 15 years.

In a 2019 interview with The Greene Room Magazine, Hansi stated about how DEMONS & WIZARDS was formed: "It started with a friendship. [Jon and I] met each other for the first time in 1991 when we toured together with ICED EARTH and BLIND GUARDIAN, and an immediate friendship came to happen because we were alike — in many ways, spiritual brothers from the beginning. And that goes for the two of us, but also for the two bands in general. We had a blast, and ever since, we established a very close friendship. We were not even talking about making music together. By whatsoever reason, more or less seven years later, Jon came to visit me, and we had a hangover morning he started playing guitar. I started humming to it, and we thought, 'Well, that might be the creepy melody to work on. Let's go to the BLIND GUARDIAN rehearsal room and try to do something with it.' Then we called it a song within a short amount of time; it was maybe three, four hours. That song was 'My Last Sunrise' which ended up on the very first album. When doing this song, we just recognized that there's not only a friendship, but a strong spiritual, creative chemistry between the two of us. We said, 'We may want to use that later on for whatever reason or purpose.' We thought about it for a while, and then we said, 'Well, let's use that creativity and do an album.' Then we started working on DEMONS & WIZARDS."

Schaffer talked about his collaboration with Kürsch in a 2020 interview with Myglobalmind. He said: "This is an exercise in brotherhood first and foremost. Hansi and I were very dear friends before we realized that we could write songs together. Writing together actually happened by accident. When it happened, the next question was, what are we going to do with it? The first song we wrote was 'My Last Sunrise' and it was the last song on the first DEMONS album. Initially, we talked about BLIND GUARDIAN and ICED EARTH, each doing a version, but at some point, I just said to Hansi, 'Let's just do our own thing and write a bunch more together.' It has always been about having fun and spending time together, but we do hold the pressure to ourselves in delivering something we are happy with. Nine times out of ten, the fans will be right on board. It's all about satisfying yourself as an artist first; then we let the dice roll."

Former ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens says that he "never talked politics" with Jon Schaffer while he was a member of the band.

Owens, who joined ICED EARTH in 2003 and stayed in the group for four years before being fired in December 2007, addressed his time with the band in an Instagram exchange with a fan.

Asked by the fan what it was like "working with a terrorist," a reference to the fact that Schaffer is suspected of being part of the pro-Trump mob that breached the U.S. Capitol earlier this week, Owens said: "crazy what he did wasn't if. All I can say is wow. See we never talked politics while I was in ICED EARTH because at that time we where on totally opposite sides. LOL. But I gotta say could of been way worse for me I could of been in a Band with Sebastian Bach".

When the fan expressed his incredulity over the fact that Owens and Schaffer never talked politics, especially considering the fact that Tim's first album with ICED EARTH, "The Glorious Burden", was a concept album exploring various moments in military history, the ex-JUDAS PRIEST frontman replied: "yea that was more of history and I actually learned a lot More then I did in school. Taking about politics at the time wasn't something I would get into. Opposite sides of the fence and I was working! I got fired anyways so it didn't matter. Haha".

In a 2012 interview with Australia's Loud, Owens said that his departure from ICED EARTH wasn't executed properly. 'It was handled poorly, I think, the situation," he said. "It could've been handled good and everybody could've looked good in the situation. But it was handled poorly, I think… I started getting all the blame when things weren't the same. Or things weren't what Jon thought they could be. And then, of course, it all came down on me. None of the blame ever came down on Jon. I'm fine with that, but the funny thing is that nothing really changed when I left anyway. I read numbers and I talk to agents, and the crowds are the same or smaller now. I think it was also me wandering a bit, knowing that ICED EARTH was kind of like a solo project. It's really Schaffer's band, and I knew that. And I started having my own: I started doing BEYOND FEAR, and pushing BEYOND FEAR when probably I should have been talking about ICED EARTH. I think Jon read a lot of that and he read into it that my heart and soul wasn't into ICED EARTH."

Schaffer discussed Owens's exit from ICED EARTH in a 2008 interview with Metal Exiles. At the time, he said: "Tim was great to work with in the studio, and from a standpoint of performing live, he was great as far as being an incredible vocalist, but he was not a true believer in this band. It was a job for him, and ICED EARTH is not about that… He was more interested in doing his solo thing — that was where his head was at — and it was becoming more and more obvious. This band was a means to an end for him."

As previously reported, Schaffer is among dozens of people wanted by the FBI for storming Capitol Hill earlier this week. 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 (January 6) 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.


























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A post shared by Tim Ripper Owens?? (@timripperowensofficial)

Sebastian Bach has called out Ace Frehley and Tim "Ripper" Owens over their support for President Donald Trump.

The former SKID ROW singer made his comments on the day that hundreds of pro-Trump rioters swarmed the U.S. Capitol Hill, leaving four people dead. Earlier that day, the president had urged his supporters at a rally outside the White House to march on Congress, while pushing unfounded claims of electoral fraud.

On Wednesday, Bach took to his Twitter to write: "yo @ace_frehley you've been my hero my whole life & have been blowing my phone up telling me how much you love Donald Trump and hate Joe Biden. Just want to know as a lifelong fan do you support what happened today in the USA? Sure am glad there were no cell phones in the 70s".

In a separate tweet, he added: "hey @TimRipperOwens love your voice man and I've had some great times with you. As a fan and a friend I just have to know are you still a Donald Trump supporter after what happened today in the United States of America? All of your fans are wondering thanks man".

Bach has frequently criticized Trump's policies in interviews and on Twitter. Last July, 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."

Last September, Frehley called Trump "the strongest leader that we've got." Two years earlier, the original KISS guitarist also expressed his support for America's 45th president during an appearance on the "Juliet: Unexpected" podcast. At the time, he said about Trump: "Whether you love him or hate him, if you're an American and you're a patriot, you should get behind your president. He was elected. We live under the Constitution of the United States, and you're supposed to support your president. Love him or hate him, you're supposed to support him, or go move to another country.

"Being American, we have the right to free speech, and I'm all for everybody putting their two cents in on everything," he added. "But when musicians or actors get really verbal and jump on a bandwagon against our government, I don't agree with that."

Owens weighed in on the U.S. presidential race back in 2016, saying that Trump was perhaps what America needed to move the country forward. Claiming that he wasn't a Democrat or a Republican ("I'm in the middle," he said), the former JUDAS PRIEST singer explained that he couldn't vote for Hillary Clinton because of "the way they tax people." He went on to say that America "had eight years of really bad" under President Barack Obama and opined that "a lot of American people" were "just trying to figure out something other than what [Obama] was doing."

Back in 2012, Owens revealed in an interview that he was voting for Mitt Romney in that year's election.




yo @ace_frehley you've been my hero my whole life & have been blowing my phone up telling me how much you love Donald Trump and hate Joe Biden. Just want to know as a lifelong fan do you support what happened today in the USA? Sure am glad there were no cell phones in the 70s ?

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) January 7, 2021








hey @TimRipperOwens love your voice man and I've had some great times with you. As a fan and a friend I just have to know are you still a Donald Trump supporter after what happened today in the United States of America? All of your fans are wondering thanks man ??

— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) January 7, 2021

ICED EARTH singer Stu Block has responded to fans who are outraged over the fact that the band's leader Jon Schaffer is suspected of unlawful entry during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol carried out on Wednesday (January 6) during the final Congressional vote recording for the 2020 general election.

A photo of Schaffer storming the Capitol building was posted online and he is now among the "persons of interest" sought for "unrest-related offenses" by the Metropolitan Police in Washington, D.C. 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 pointed while yelling at someone out of the frame.

Stu, the Canadian-born vocalist who has fronted ICED EARTH since 2011, shared an image of a red heart on his Instagram on Wednesday, along with the simple caption: "Nuff said #love". This led a number of his social media followers to weigh in on yesterday's events, with one person writing: "I unfortunately can no longer support the band you are in. Much love and respect for you as a person and a great singer but Jon no longer gets a dime from me. I will follow and support you in all future endeavors . I hope Jon realizes that being self centered and ideological does not just affect him but his extended family. God Bless you and your family." Block responded: "t[h]is is your decision and how you feel and I must absolutely respect that."

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.


























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Neal Schon has told Rolling Stone that he and his JOURNEY bandmates are "deep in" the writing and recording process for their next studio album. "It's coming along, man," the guitarist said. "It's really shaping up. Narada [Michael Walden, producer/drummer] and I have been working nonstop. Jonathan [Cain, keyboards] is also working from his houses in Florida and Nashville. Arnel [Pineda, vocals] is working from Manila. [Bassist] Randy Jackson is working mostly from L.A. And it's one of those Zoom sessions and it sounds phenomenal. It sounds like we're all playing in the room at the same time. I actually can't wait until we do get together and start putting the show together. The new single should be coming out mid-February."

Asked how the new JOURNEY members have changed the band's sound, Neal said: "You have to hear it for yourself. It still sounds very much like JOURNEY thanks to the songwriting, my guitar playing, and the vocals. But the rhythm section is definitely a powerhouse. Narada has been known for years, and Randy Jackson is a completely monstrous bass player. Some people may not be aware of his work, but they have credentials that go way, way back. Randy and I have always been pretty in tune, and Narada and I are in tune. And now it's coming together. It's got a new strut to it.

"There's nothing we really can't play," he added. "I've got a track I laid down with Narada the other day. I sent it to Arnel and he was freaking out. He said, 'This sounds like brand-new [Jimi] Hendrix or Prince. Please write more of that.' And I was just messing around. It was just a jam we did and it turned out to be monstrous. We're creating. We aren't afraid to go to new places. It's easy to stay safe and write where we have always been. We have a bit of that so we don't lose everyone, but at the same token, this is a new chapter of JOURNEY. I want to go where we have not gone before."

As previously reported, JOURNEY is scheduled to headline the 2021 edition of Lollapalooza's flagship event in Chicago on July 31.

Last March, JOURNEY parted ways with bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith after the two allegedly attempted a "coup" in order to gain control of the JOURNEY trademark.

The new JOURNEY lineup performed a socially distanced version of "Don't Stop Believin'" for UNICEF USA's virtual event "UNICEF We Won't Stop", which aired in May 2020 on MSNBC. That same month, JOURNEY was supposed to launch a North American tour with THE PRETENDERS, but canceled the trek amid the COVID-19 pande

Rolling Stone has published a lengthy new article in which RUSH drummer Neil Peart's bandmates and widow discuss his legacy and his final years for the first time since his passing.

Guitarist Alex Lifeson and bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee both said that they haven't been motivated to pick up their instruments in recent months. "I love playing, and I never, ever wanted to stop," Lifeson said. "And I thought, you know, 'One day, when I'm just sitting around shitting my pants, I'll still want to play guitar.' And that's kind of gone now. After he died, it just didn't seem important. But I think it'll come back."

"For the longest time," Lee said, "I didn't have any heart to play. … I still feel there's music in me and there's music in Big Al, but there's no hurry to do any of that."

Lee went on to say that RUSH is no longer a functioning band.

"That's finished, right? That's over," he said. "I still am very proud of what we did. I don't know what I will do again in music. And I'm sure Al doesn't, whether it's together, apart, or whatever. But the music of RUSH is always part of us. And I would never hesitate to play one of those songs in the right context. But at the same time, you have to give respect to what the three of us with Neil did together."

Peart died on January 7, 2020, nearly three and a half years after he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer with an average survival time of roughly 12 to 18 months. He was 67 years old.

Lifeson admitted that it was difficult to keep Peart's cancer battle a secret when talking to friends or doing interviews. "Neil asked us not to discuss it with anyone," the guitarist said. "He just wanted to be in control of it. The last thing in the world he would want is people sitting on his sidewalk or driveway singing 'Closer To The Heart' or something. That was a great fear of his. He didn't want that attention at all. And it was definitely difficult to lie to people or to sidestep or deflect somehow. It was really difficult."

RUSH announced Peart's passing on January 10, 2020, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

RUSH's final show took place at the Forum in Los Angeles on August 1, 2015 — approximately a year before Neil's cancer diagnosis. Peart indicated at the time that he wanted to retire while he was still able to play well, along with a desire to spend more time at home with his young daughter.

Peart joined RUSH in 1974. He was considered one of the best rock drummers of all time, alongside John Bonham of LED ZEPPELIN; Keith Moon of THE WHO; and Ginger Baker of CREAM. Peart was also RUSH's primary lyricist, drawing inspiration from everything from sci-fi to Ayn Rand

After more than 30 years, Toronto-based Chyld - who were part of the scene that gave us Slik Toxik, Sven Gali, Winter Rose and Slash Puppet - made a comeback in 2019 with a new single, "Burning Alive". Bassist Pete Dove has checked in with a new update:

"Great day tracking inside the Neal Busby (drums) Chyld studio bubble. Latest single 'Field Of Fire' in the final phases of mixing. Today's bass noise for a track tentatively titled 'The Last Riff', only coz it's the last riff I think we wrote back in '86, and coz it's what it says on the 35 year old cassette tape!"

Chyld recently released an official video for new song "Ride Out". The song features Famous Underground / ex-Slik Toxik frontman Nick Walsh on vocals. Check it out below.

Walsh: "After a hang with my old friend and Slik Toxik band mate Neal Busby, catching up and sharing stories, Neal talked about how he and another old friend of mine, Pete Dove (Slash Puppet), were resurrecting their traditional heavy metal band from the '80s, Chyld. That day and conversation led to what you are about to hear and see. A song that I believe was written in 1983 at the height of that 'new' sound called heavy metal is now primed up for 2020. When I had the opportunity to take part, I couldn't pass up feeling 16 yrs old again."

Line-up:

Nick Walsh - lead vocals
Pete Dove - bass 
Todd Lefever - guitars
Neal Busby - drums

From that era Chyld was born after guitarist Glen Cunningham met singer Rob Villemaire and joined forces with drummer Neal Busby. After a lengthy search bassist Pete Dove joined the ranks after his departure from another band. Chyld began rehearsals in Toronto with a diligent schedule that produced results very quickly, and with an arsenal of original songs they were ready to take on the Toronto metal club scene centered around the infamous venue, Larry's Hideaway.

In 1986 they recorded three songs, which resulted in the debut 7 inch single "Lite The Nite / Ye Morlok" being released on their own independent label Chyldysh Records. Sadly, it never got the attention it deserved at the time, but later achieved legendary status in the European metal world and sold on eBay for hundreds of dollars. Sadly, Chyld packed it in sometime in 1986 for reasons even the band cannot remember.

In 2012, inspired by the surge of interest in the old 7" single, Chyld reformed and recorded one old song, "Burning Alive". Tragically, it was the last song that singer Rob sang, as he passed away in 2017. His vocals sat in a computer for 7 years until drummer Neal Busby took the reins and decided the song had to be finished and recruited super fret demon Todd Lefever to record the guitars and get the song ready to be released to the world.

er7 has officially announced a King Diamond figure from the classic MERCYFUL FATE era of the early 1980s. This made-to-order deluxe 7" highly articulated figure as part of the ULTIMATES! Figures Collection is lavishly detailed and painted and features an epic assortment of interchangeable accessories:

* Body with sculpted vest with leather texture detail and bullet belt.

* Three (3) heads: Classic Corpse Paint, No Makeup with sunglasses, and Debut Mercyful Fate makeup (not shown)

* Soft Goods: Black Cape with red lining and high-collar, Cloth rags (not shown) for arms and wrists

* Two (2) pairs of fists

* Two (2) pairs of gripping hands (not shown)

* Two (2) pairs of Expressive hands

* One (1) right hand throwing “The Horns”

* Two (2) Necklaces: Crucifix and Pentagram Chains to go around his neck (not shown)

* Goat Skull

* Blood-filled Skull Chalice

* Bone cross Microphone

King Diamond will also come packaged in a deluxe slip case-style box.

King said in a statement: "Come into my coven and become Lucifer's Child. We bring you the Ultimates! Figures Collection by Super7."

Pre-order yours now at this location. The figure is expected to ship in the summer of 2021.

Super7 is the premier pop-culture design house and producer of lifestyle-oriented collectibles, toys and apparel based in San Francisco. Led by designer Brian Flynn, Super7 has harnessed the graphics, aesthetics and energy of his youthful obsession with science fiction, giant monsters, comic books, punk rock, skateboarding, robots and rebellion to build a unique and innovative business that crosses all categories and is not bound by traditional manufacturing boundaries. Besides its own branded products, Super7 has also designed, manufactured, and distributed officially licensed programs for "Star Wars", "Masters Of The Universe", the original "Alien" and "Planet Of The Apes" movies, as well as for music legends IRON MAIDEN, MISFITS and KING DIAMOND.

Cradle Of Filth drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka has posted live drum cam video of "Beneath The Howling Stars" shot at an undisclosed show. Check it out below.

The song is taken from the band's third album, Cruelty And The Beast, released in 1998.

In the wake of Brexit, which saw the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on January 31st, 2020, UK-based musicians are faced with increased costs for touring / work visas once the current global pandemic has been brought under control and live music is able to return. Cradle Of Filth have posted a bried message on social media:

"If you are a UK resident please sign this so that the music industry isn’t destroyed any further! Petition: Seek Europe-wide Visa-free work permit for Touring professionals and Artists: Parliament.uk/Petitions."

According to the page, British Parliament considers all petitions that get more than 100,000 signatures for a debate. At press time the petition had 222,286 signatures.

"This is an album I made 15 years ago," begins guitarist Zach Myers. "And after I joined Shinedown 15 years ago, I just never got around to putting it out. But for some reason, in those 15 years, a month didn’t go by where someone didn’t ask me when it was coming out... well... here’s an album I made when I was 23 years old." 

Get your copy now at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Beauty Of Falling Down"
"Hold On Tight"
"Untitled"
"Save My Life"
"This Goodbye"
"Diary"
"Your Last Song"
"The Worst Of You"
"Start All Over"
"Keep On Moving" 

Elaborating in greater detail, Zach offers the following:

"I started The Fairwell in 2001 after we broke up The Zach Myers Band, due to record label issues and a myriad of other things.

We had a made a few EPs / Demos, and by 2006, we had gone through the last lineup change that pretty much solidified Chris Allen and I were really the only two main members of the band, along with live members Zack Smith and Zach Kirk (a lot of Zachs).

I had been writing a ton between 2001 and 2006. I joined Shinedown around 2004 / 2005 as a touring guitar player with the original lineup... after a few long tours Brent (Smith, vocalist) and I talked one night and decided in 2006 that we should part ways.

The truth is. Neither of us wanted to not be playing together. But for the health of the original band, which was already massively on the decline sanity wise, we decided it was for the best.

At this time I called my friend Skidd Mills and decided Chris and I would go into 747 Studios and make The Fairwell album. We spent every day for months in the studio with Skidd. And really became a team in there... all these songs I had written about... love (being an emo), loss, relationships (good and bad), break ups... losing my cousin Justin to suicide... all of these things were in these songs. We finished and loved it... and planned on releasing it in 2007.

After only about three months separated from Shinedown... Brent and I talked on the phone one night and he asked if I’d come play with SD again, most likely on a permanent level... I was actually a bit hesitant to go back to do just past drama... and I was honestly considering taking an audition for Taking Back Sunday.

I ended up going to what felt like home... and all these years later Shinedown still feels like home But 2020 made me reflective on this record I made with Chris and Skidd 14 years ago.
And I realized as much as I’ve grown as a writer and a singer (I’m not much of either on this album)... I don’t think a month went by in those 14 years where someone didn’t ask me if I’d ever release it.

Well... without telling anyone... (including the band members), it comes out January 8th. It’s called Schizophrenic Love Songs because that’s what it sounds like. It’s been named that since 2006. These are songs I wrote when I was very young. And I was angry... I didn’t have the life I had now. But I still look back on them fondly.

Please be gentle listening...
ZM"

(Photo courtesy of Paris Visone)

Brutal Mind Records has announced the upcoming release of Oculus Rot, the debut album from Dutch death metal band Buried. Featuring former members of Pyaemia, Buried pays tribute to old school death metal, but with a unique, modern twist. Oculus Rot will be released on February 14th - Valentine's Day.

Lyric and guitar playthrough videos for album track "Retribution" are available below.

Buried released the following statement concerning the band's style and the forthcoming album:

"You may remember the brutal vocals of Joel Sta and the insane drumming of Robbe V, as they were part of the brutal death metal band Pyaemia. Now they’re up for something new: together with Worm on bass – who also played in Pyaemia - they have teamed up with Steve on guitars who adds a lot of groove in his songwriting."

"Bands like Suffocation, Revocation and Decapitated are big influences on our sound, and even Pantera comes to mind. We like it heavy, sometimes with odd time signatures and at the same time we want the audience to bang their heads," says Steve. "The lyrical theme is about all dark things we call upon ourselves," Joel adds. "Nothing new on that part, just brutal stuff!"

Soon after the recording of their debut album, Oculus Rot, Buried signed a deal with Brutal Mind. Now get ready for some sick death metal from The Netherlands! Pre-order your copy of Oculus Rot now at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Retribution"
"Anti Body"
"Tornado Of Blood"
"Buried"
"Oculus Rot"
"Leech"
"Splintered"
"Paradise"
"Tenebrous Worm"

 

“Something Else” is the single from Silvera’s debut album, Edge Of The World. "Something Else" is one of the strongest songs in the record, building the chorus in an extremely strong bridge, which is becoming to be the trademark of the Danish band. “‘Something Else’ is reflecting on those persons that are so devoted to one thing that they push everything aside,” vocalist Michael Krogh ponders on the theme. “On one hand it is truly admirable and inspiring and on the other hand you feel sad for all of the opportunities they are missing in life”, he concludes.

It’s time for a melodic hard rock injection. Silvera, from Denmark, is heavily inspired by classic hard/heavy rock music. A musical hybrid of American radio rock like Nickelback and Alter Bridge with a Scandinavian punch, not unlike fellow Danes Volbeat. Their debut album Edge Of The World is now here, following a brilliant trail of official song videos and singles that brought the band more than 1.000.000 plays on Spotify.

Michael H Andersen CEO from Mighty Music first reaction to the album: “I've completely fallen for the Silvera album! In no way had I imagined an album this strong. This has tremendous international potential and is some of the best Danish hard rock I've released ever. Both the songwriting, production, and completion.”

Jacob Hansen, of Hansen Studios (Volbeat, Pretty Maids), where Edge Of The World was recorded, was no less impressed: "Once in a while, you come across bands that are a total hidden gem. Silvera came out of nowhere with talent and work ethic out of the ordinary!"

The band was formed in 2017 by Michael Krogh, Simon Nilsson Krabbesmark, Rasmus Lindegård Hovde, and Jens Gade. The four have been playing together since 2015 as the Danish hard rock band Malfunction. Malfunction is now dissolved and thereby made way for not only a change in name but also a slight change in the music style, broadening the span from the softer style of ballad to the punching power of hard rock.

Edge Of The World is out now in digital, CD, and vinyl formats by Mighty Music.

Vancouver based glam punk quintet Dirtbag Republic has premiered their video for “Wannabees”, which can be viewed below.

The single, released January 8th, is the first release from the band’s forthcoming Tear Down Your Idols full-length album, due this Spring. The video was directed by Matt Leaf from Hadron Films (Mother Mother, The Pack AD) and shot in the band’s hometown of Vancouver, Canada.

Dirtbag Republic frontman Sandy Hazard on the making of “Wannabees”: "Filming a video in the middle of a pandemic was a logistical nightmare, but the stars aligned and we were able to bang off a simple to the point performance video in short order with a known director."

Dirtbag Republic is Sandy Hazard – lead vocals, Mick Wood – lead guitars, Mike Federici – rhythm guitars, Dave Worden - bass, and Ed Nijjer – drums, percussion. For further details, visit the band on Facebook.

 

Stone Whiskey is an American hard rock band, based out of Raleigh, NC. Building on the classic, time tested five-piece formula of hard hitting, rebellious rock 'n roll, the band's lineup consists of vocalist Alan Rueda, guitarists Bill Spears and Chris Clark, drummer Mike Ropelewski, and bassist Jim Hunter. Stone Whiskey's debut full length album is expected to be released in early 2021.

That as yet untitled album is being mixed and mastered by Anthony Focx (The Dead Daisies, Buckcherry, Steven Tyler, Vince Neil).

Check out the official music video for Stone Whiskey's debut single "Rebels Of The Sun". The clip was filmed at Vintage Noise Studio in Raleigh, NC.

Be sure to follow Stone Whiskey on Facebook, and also visit their official website.

 

"2021 is a meaningful one! Cadaveria celebrate two decades of activity! Thank you so much for your neverending support," says the Italian gothic metal band. "A gift for you is coming!"

Cadaveria was formed in 2001 by Cadaveria herself (vocals), one of the first women to hit the metal scene in the early '90s, and Marçelo Santos – aka Flegias – (drums), with the intent to create a virtual space where to freely express themselves as musicians and extreme artists. 

The video below is set to "Free Spirit", from Cadaveria's Silence album, released in 2014. 

In November 2020, Cadaveria, released their single, "Matryoshcada", to all digital platforms. A video for the track, produced by Morbid Vision, can be seen below. Download/stream the single here.

Says Cadaveria: "This video is dedicated to all the metalheads who have been close to me during my illness. It is also an opportunity for everybody to say goodbye to the 'previous me' and welcome the creature that I have become."

"Matryoshcada" concept in the singer's words: "Fragments of the past are recomposed for a moment... then they dissolve, giving light to a new creature, to a new powerful energy."

 

Blackened industrial doom collective, Culted, will be releasing their brand new full-length, Nous, on February 26. The band is now sharing the official music video for the new single, "Black Bird". The clip, which was created entirely by the band, can be seen below.

"'Black Bird' is about enduring the hardships of existence with a core that's been forged by fire," says the band. "Culted sift through the psychological noise of existentialism with a sound that hints at merging the primal essence of two iconic albums, namely, Darkthrone's 'Panzerfaust' and Swans' 'The Great Annihilator.' Culted, as both individuals and collective, symbolically sacrifice the ego to experience rebirth, and from those ashes arise with 'Black Bird.'"

Nous is available for pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Lowest Class"
"Lifers"
"One Last Smoke"
"Ankle Deep"
"Black Bird"
"Opiate the Hounds"
"Maze"
"Crown of Lies"
"The Grid"
"Crush My Soul" (Godflesh cover)

"Black Bird" video:

From the icy expanse of the Canadian prairies to the Nordic coast of Sweden, industrial blackened doom collective Culted have long been innovators of creating music remotely, transcending both literal and metaphorical boundaries for over a decade. Michael Klassen and Matthew Friesen were first approached by Daniel Jansson to collaborate on an international project and come 2008, these ideas began to coalesce, with fellow Canadian Kevin Stevenson joining the cult. The band soon recorded and unveiled their first LP, Below the Thunders of the Upper Deep (2009), as well as the EP Of Death and Ritual (2010.)
 
In 2013, sophomore full-length Oblique to All Paths was released upon being written, recorded, and produced in various closets, basements, dens, and domiciles. After forming a union with Season of Mist,  Culted continued their down-tempo exploration of blackened and industrial soundscapes with 2019’s mini-album, Vespertina Synaxis; A Prayer for Union and Emptiness, which was inspired by the isolation, alienation, and damnation that dominates the rime-encrusted lands Culted inhabit. Now, the band is ready to unleash their most devastating and personal opus yet, Nous.

Nous was born in turmoil after members of the band endured a period of extreme personal experiences, both psychological and physical. The creation process was informed by disease, death, and the resulting existential crises. Instead of predetermining the direction Culted would take with their third full-length, the band allowed the music to speak for itself as it came together organically. Nous was a result of its creators attempting to destroy or ignore the egoic (that chatter and everything outside of pure consciousness that attempts to sabotage you of peace and rob you of the moment) and instead, opening themselves up to the unidentifiable and nameless muse of sound.

Culted further explores their relationship with doom, black metal, and industrial on yet another experimental effort in which the band’s collective agony is translated into something both nihilistic and tangible through dissonant soundscapes. Each song is a nightmare in the abyss, dragging the listener through caverns of inexplicable darkness and suffering.

Exemplifying the themes, meditations, and diatribes of the human condition, Nous, which roughly translates to “common sense” or “practical intelligence,” explores both the religious and conspiratorial processes of the mind within the framework of critical thought. According to biblical scripture, Satan convinced Eve that the most powerful of conspirators - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - were secretly trying to keep the first humans shrouded in a veil of ignorance, preventing them from becoming “like God” and “knowing good and evil.” Eve became the first in a long line, from Gnostics to flat-earthers, to believe powerful forces were withholding secret information. Nous attempts to know God or the inner essence or principles of created things by means of direct perception. Nous must be carefully distinguished from reason as it does not formulate abstract concepts or argue them using deductive reasoning, but rather, it understands divine truth by means of immediate experience. Thelema of the gods.

To further solidify these introspective concepts, the cover art is an interpretation of the Temptation of St. Anthony who was one of the first monks to retire to the desert to devote himself to fasting and prayer, which is an often-repeated subject in the history of art and literature, especially concerning the supernatural temptation reportedly faced by Saint Anthony during his sojourn in the Egyptian desert. The art encapsulates both the music and lyrical concept, visually.

Culted is now inviting you to open your mind, abandon your religion, and to join the cult on this existential and devastating journey.

Lineup:

Matthew Friesen - guitar, bass, keyboards, noise and percussion
Michael Klassen - guitar, bass keyboards, noise and percussion
Kevin Stevenson - drums and percussion
Daniel Jansson - Vocals and noise

Richie Kotzen has spoken out about his battle with COVID-19, saying the novel coronavirus is "not a joke."

The 50-year-old guitarist/vocalist took to his social media on Monday (December 28) to reveal that he and his wife Julia Lage "just kicked the living PISS out of Covid-19." He also included a photo of him looking gaunt and disheveled, and added in a since-deleted message: "Self Quarantined, Chicken Soup, Hot Tea, ... ALL THAT!....still can't taste a fucking thing but I've never been much of a food guy! Today I feel 110%! Back to business as usual...Feeling refreshed, 15 lbs lighter and ready to grab 2021 by the fucking balls! Who's in?"

Earlier today, Kotzen returned to social media to share a new photo of him and his wife, and he wrote: "Hey folks! I'm sure some of you saw my post yesterday and my attempt at satire. Truth is, Yesterday I woke up feeling strong and a bit silly after a few weeks in bed and decided to take a 'comedic' photograph of myself talking about having Covid. Some of you didn't get my sense of humor and thought that photo was my 'new look' and a consequence of having the virus.

"This photograph is a more accurate representation of us after having a run in with Covid-19. All though we did lose a few pounds and stayed in bed a lot we thankfully did not get hit nearly as bad as some people did.

"Covid is NOT a joke!

"Please use your mask, stay safe and be careful.

"We wish you guys a healthy 2021!

"And thank you all for the thoughtful messages."

COVID-19 is said to be more contagious, more deadly and causes more long-term complications than influenza.

About 2 percent of diagnosed coronavirus cases are lethal, compared with 0.1 percent of diagnosed flu cases, according to The Washington Post.

A recent study showed that COVID-19 patients had an in-hospital death rate two times higher than that of influenza patients.

In September, Kotzen released a new solo single, "Raise The Cain". The track features a guest appearance by Kotzen's THE WINERY DOGS bandmate, drummer Mike Portnoy.

"Raise The Cain" marked the first new solo music from Kotzen since the release of his 22nd solo album, "50 For 50", which came out in February via his own custom label, Headroom-Inc. That three-disc set was just what the title implies: a collection of 50 previously unreleased compositions produced, performed and written by Kotzen in honor of his birthday.
























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Smackbound, the hard rock/metal band from the robust and acclaimed Finnish music scene, released their debut album, 20/20, via Frontiers Music Srl last June. A new video for the track, "Wind And Water", can be seen below:

The 20/20 album was recorded at Sonic Pump Studios, produced by Tuomas Yli-Jaskari mixed and mastered by Jesse Vainio (Sunrise Avenue, Apocalyptica, Poets Of The Fall).

Tracklisting:

"Wall Of Silence"
"Drive It Like You Stole It"
"Close To Sober"
"Run"
"The Game"
"Those Who Burn"
"Hey Motherfuckers"
"Troublemaker"
"Date With The Devil"
"Wind And Water"

"Run" video:

"Wall Of Silence" video:

"Close To Sober" video:

"Those Who Burn" lyric video:

"Drive It Like You Stole It" video:

"The Game" video:

Lineup:

Netta Laurenne - Vocals
Teemu Mäntysaari - Guitars
Rolf Pilve - Drums
Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards
Tuomas Yli-Jaskari - Bass

Drummer James Knoerl of progressive grunge rock outfit Gargoyl has shared a new drum playthrough video for the song "Ambivalent I". The track is taken from the band's debut self-titled full-length, which was released by Season Of Mist in October of 2020!.You can watch the clip below:

In addition, Knoerl has also announced a full album play-through via Twitch on Wednesday, January 13 at 4 PM, EST. You can watch it here.

Gargoyl's self-titled album can be streamed, downloaded and purchased here.

Tracklisting:

"Truth Of A Tyrant"
"Plastic Nothing"
"Cursed Generation"
"Electrical Sickness"
"Wraith"
"Ophidian"
"Nightmare Conspiracy"
"Waltz Dystopia"
"Ambivalent I"
"Acid Crown"
"Asphyxia"

"Plastic Nothing" video:

"Wraith":

"Electrical Sickness" visualizer:

Lineup:

Luke Roberts - Guitar, Vocals
David Davidson - Guitar
Brett Leier - Bass
James Knoerl - Drums

(Photo - Samantha Carcasole)

Italian metal quartet, Ultra-Violence, has returned with a new single, “The Storm”, which showcases a more mature sound reflective of the quartet’s decade-plus of experience as a band. The video for “The Storm” can be seen below.

“’The Storm’ is the first song we completed for this cycle,” explains vocalist and band founder Loris Castiglia. “We think it's the best way to present this new era of the band to the world. The song is all about how we ‘made it through hell’ being a band in the music industry for the past 10 years - starting at the age of 15, dreaming about touring the world and doing this for a living, and being slapped in the face year after year by how hard and discouraging this journey can be. But we won't stop. This music is what makes me feel alive and the fact that doing it in a sustainable way is super hard makes me want it even more.”

Visually inspired by artists like Scarlxrd and Bring Me The Horizon, Castiglia worked on his vision with director Damiano Affinito to create a simple yet impactful video for “The Storm.” Using a stark white background and hanging neon lights to contrast with the band’s carefully chosen dark, logo-emblazoned outfits, the video allows listeners to focus on the band’s fresh sound without distraction. “It's a super exciting moment because it's the beginning of a whole new chapter for the band,” Castiglia says. “I wanted something that felt futuristic and dark at the same time. That's probably because my vision for humanity's future doesn't look so bright, so I wanted to capture that with the band.”

Founded in 2009 at the age of 15, the quartet soon signed with Candlelight/Spinefarm Records. Since then, the group has release one EP (Wildcrash) and three full-length albums (Privilege To Overcome, Deflect The Flow, Operation Misdirection) and toured Europe as main support for various bands like Exodus and Jungle Rot, hit the stages at Europe’s biggest festivals and headed to the far east for two shows in Japan.

“We started thinking about new music pretty soon after the release of our latest album Operation Misdirection,” the singer says. “With that album we completed a trilogy of albums that we call ‘The Droogs Trilogy’ and we knew that we wanted to find a new sound and a new identity for the next chapter of the band. That was one of the most exciting things ever. It was like starting all over again. It felt like writing our very first songs again but with a lot more experience than we had when we actually started in 2009. We realized we could do pretty much anything with the music and we started exploring all the possibilities, every sound and idea, but we kept only what sounded fresh and exciting. Also, I was getting better at production so we knew we could start introducing new sounds and electronic arrangements to the songs.”

For the first time ever, Ultra-Violence brought in an external writer/producer in Bad Omens guitarist Joakim ‘Jolly’ Karlsson. With his own band’s tour halted by the pandemic, Karlsson delved into the plethora of tracks Ultra-Violence had already begun work on. After a few months of collaboration, a batch of songs that perfectly channel the band’s current-day messages and emotions were completed.

“We ended up rewriting some, scrapping some and writing a couple of new ones from scratch,” says Castiglia. “Working with Jolly was amazing; he brought new ideas to the table all the time and made me feel very inspired and excited. He would send me a riff idea, I would say ‘Cool, let me work on that,’ come up with a new part and send it back to him. Same with vocals, I would send him a chorus, he would say ‘What about this instead?’ So, at the end of the day it felt like writing two records, without releasing the first one. This way our evolution is two steps ahead.”

Ultra-Violence’s new release is slated for later this year.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley recently spoke to SiriusXM's Volume about the band's farewell tour, which originally kicked off in January 2019 and is now scheduled to last well into 2022.

He said (see video below): "Well, the 'End Of The Road' tour has been amazing in that we've managed to put together a higher technology than before in our shows.

"Look, no matter who you see on tour — bands or entertainers; whoever you go to see — you're seeing a KISS show. Because KISS DNA is in everything that's done nowadays," he explained. "So, for us, it's really a matter of always putting our stamp on it. You can always have a KISS show, but you don't get KISS. I think there's a big difference.

"We're really at the top of our game right now, and it really seemed the right time to — I don't know — maybe take a victory lap and enjoy seeing the world with all the people who've made this possible. Kind of celebrating what this band has been and what the fans have been to us and vice versa."

Regarding the fact that this will be fans' final opportunity to see KISS perform live, Stanley said: "Look, if we were wearing t-shirts and jeans, we could play into our 90s. But we're wearing 40-plus pounds of gear and running around like an Olympic marathon. So it's just not possible to continue doing this the way we do it.

"Look, when something comes to an end, people have a tendency to say, 'If I had only known…' Well, now people know, and the turnouts have not only been great, but the shows have been phenomenal and the reviews have been great. And it really has been a special night for us. Also to kind of validate for these people why they've stood by us. And for the people who are seeing us for the first time, you have a lot of people going, 'Gee, I wish I'd joined the party earlier.'"

KISS was forced to put its farewell tour on hold earlier this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and Gene Simmons (bass, vocals), alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Peter Criss (drums) and Ace Frehley (guitar), KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup.

In its 48-year career, KISS has accumulated 23 gold and platinum albums — more than any other U.S. band.

On February 26, Denmark's Iotunn will release their new album, Access All Worlds, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of the record, a video for the single "Voyage Of The Garganey I" can be found below.

Access All Worlds can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- digipak-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- "deep space" marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- "moonscape" marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- red / black dust vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- "uranus" blue / white marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Formed in 2015, Iotunn (which is old Norse for "Giant") entered the scene with their acclaimed EP, The Wizard Falls (2016), which was mixed by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel, Blind Guardian, Rainbow) at Sweet Silence Studios. After some line-up changes, the band found their voice and narrator in March 2018: Jón Aldará (Hamferd), plus bassist Eskil Rask (Sunless Dawn) in October 2019. The quintet - completed by Jens Nicolai Gräs (guitars), Jesper Gräs (guitars), Bjørn Wind Andersen (drums) - then began work on their first full-length and Metal Blade Records debut: Access All Worlds.

Mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström (In Flames, At the Gates, Dimmu Borgir) at Fredman Studios, Access All Worlds is seven songs driven by creative curiosity and artistic honesty, that also initiate feelings and reflections. An epic, cosmic and contemplative journey of energetic beauty and ferocity, Access All Worlds reflects on human existence, set in a storyline following daring space travelers. The music is grounded in roaring, colorful drumming and crushing bass, while the sonic horizon is painted with a vast spectrum of guitar-driven expression, all overarched by narration through diverse vocals. "We wanted to make an epic, strong and atmospheric yet rocking record both musically and lyrically. Jón came with the idea based on space travelers trying to find answers to the apocalypse, which reflects many of the impressions, feelings and thoughts human life holds that originates from something vast, mysterious, chaotic and breathtakingly spectacular. Everything just went berserk regarding the album theme. Is everything occurring in the lyrics just a dream? Is the album an allegory for any individual's chapters in life? Where does the album actually start and end? Stuff like that. We find that the album can be interpreted in various ways. For us, the album is a truly exciting journey, and we hope it will be for the listener as well, on his or her own terms", says guitarist Jens Nicolai.

Visually, Access All Worlds is completed by Nicole Kantor (design and layout) and Eliran Kantor (artwork), known for their work with Testament, Atheist, Hatebreed, Soulfly, etc.

Access All Worlds tracklisting:

"Voyage Of The Garganey I"
"Access All Worlds"
"Laihem's Golden Pits"
"Waves Below"
"The Tower Of Cosmic Nihility"
"The Weaver System"
"Safe Across The Endless Night"

"Voyage Of The Garganey I" video:

Iotunn lineup:

Jón Aldará - vocals
Jens Nicolai Gräs - guitars
Jesper Gräs - guitars
Eskil Rask - bass
Bjørn Wind Andersen - drums

(Photo - Mathias Mathayad)

Italian masters of Pagan folk metal start 2021 with some great news: after an extremely successful streaming event of pre-recorded concert, Live Invocations, in November 2020, Elvenking decided to make the concert available for all fans worldwide. The special live session took place at The Central Recording Studios in Crevada, Italy, and has been a heartfelt wish of the band in this devastating year for live music industry. Check out the video below.

This way, the band is able to connect to their fans worldwide and offer distraction from the whole situation since the November/December tour had to be canceled due to comprehensive restrictions.

Said Elvenking: "Dear Elvenlegions, as promised here is some news about the Live Invocations live studio performance stream. We know that some of you couldn't watch it the first time so we decided to make the stream available permanently to give you all the chance to experience it. It can also be a good occasion to re-watch it if you caught this event back in November."