Legendary English guitarist John Sykes (TYGERS OF PAN TANG, THIN LIZZY, WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER, SYKES) has released the official music video for a new song called "Dawning Of A Brand New Day". The track, which was recorded at least four years ago, is expected to appear on Sykes's long-awaited new solo album, "Sy-Ops", tentatively due later this year.

The "Dawning Of A Brand New Day" video was produced by Parker Thibault, with additional footage courtesy of Natasha Gregory and James Sykes.

Last year, Sykes parted ways with Golden Robot Records without releasing a single record through the label.

Sykes's partnership with the Australian company was first announced in January 2019. At the time, John promised that his his first album in two decades would arrive before the end of 2019. However, things apparently went south shortly after the signing, with Sykes later accusing the label of making "little attempt to move things forward despite our best efforts and patience."

"Sy-Ops" is expected to include such other tracks as "Believe In Yourself", "My Guitar" and "Out Alive".

Speaking to Reality Check TV at the January 2019 Hall Of Heavy Metal History event in Anaheim, California, Sykes stated about his absence from the rock scene: "I'm looking forward to getting out on the road and playing again. I kind of go underground and stay there for a while. I don't know, man. Sometimes I just take off and shut it all down. But I'm getting the itch, I've been having the itch to get back out and play, so I'm looking forward to that."

Asked about the musical direction of his new record, Sykes said: "It's kind of got flavors of old and new. But I think it'll be pleasing to a lot of people to hear it. I think it'll touch a fair few people if they check it out. It's a good, solid album — it's not just a couple of tracks and a load of fillers."

Sykes's band for his upcoming tour is expected to include his onetime BLUE MURDER bandmate Tony Franklin (bass) and Fred Boswell Jr. (drums), both of whom are pictured with John below.

John's best-known work was when he joined WHITESNAKE and co-wrote the band's self-titled seventh studio album, released in 1987. It produced a major power ballad hit, "Is This Love", along with the No. 1 hit "Here I Go Again". The album was a major crossover hit, eventually selling over eight million copies in the U.S. alone.

Sykes announced his departure from THIN LIZZY in July 2009, explaining that "I feel it's time to get back to playing my own music."

In a new interview with Terry "Beez" Bezer of Knotfest.com's "Mosh Talks With Beez", MOTIONLESS IN WHITE frontman Chris "Motionless" Cerulli spoke about how he and his bandmates have been staying busy during the coronavirus pandemic. He said (see video below): "We have done a few projects — just different kind of out there… like, 'Let's try something different.' We did some theatrical versions of some songs we did; we did a cover of a KILLERS song; we did a 'Creatures' anniversary song — all things that just felt like we had the unique time frame to try these things; let's go for it. And all those things have been really cool, 'cause they're just a different extension of what our band can do [and] just hasn't been able to touch on it, and just cool, creative moments."

According to Chris, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE has also been working on music for the follow-up to 2019's "Disguise" album. "But we're not really sure what to do right now," he admitted. "Do we do a record? Do we do singles? Do we hold off for a while? What do we do? That's kind of the scenario we're stuck in and still trying to figure out — what's next? We can do all these projects and all these different alternate versions of songs all we want, but at some point, there's gotta be another record. It's just when do we do that? Do we wait and see what happens with the pandemic? Do we do a record? Do we do a bunch of singles over the course of next year until there's more clarity in what's going on? What do we do? But in the meantime, we've just been writing, and shit's been really cool. I've personally done a bunch of heavy songs, which feels cool to be in touch with that again — like, really heavy songs. But, as I said before, the record will maintain its usual mix of heavy, experimental and whatnot."

Last week, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE released a brand-new standalone single, "Creatures X: To The Grave". The track arrived as the band prepared to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its acclaimed debut album, "Creatures", with a special "deadstream performance" on October 28, which saw the band performing the album in its entirety during the event.

Furthermore, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE has revealed a special 10th-anniversary reissue of "Creatures" — available on vinyl, cassette, and digital formats. The vinyl release features newly reimagined artwork, while the deluxe digital release includes three bonus tracks — "Dragula", "Creatures (Celldweller Beauty Remix)" and "Mallevs Maleficarvm (Tim Skold Remix)". The LP comes pressed on yellow, purple, and black-splattered vinyl, and is available on the band's official store alongside a limited edition run of 1,000 cassette copies.

Just last month, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE surprised fans with a cover of THE KILLERS' "Somebody Told Me" which is available on all streaming platforms with an official visualizer streaming on the band's YouTube channel. The cover followed the arrival of MOTIONLESS IN WHITE's "Another Life / Eternally Yours: Motion Picture Collection" EP, which was produced by Justin Deblieck and mixed by Steve Sopchak. For the EP, the acclaimed Scranton, Pennsylvania band reconstructed, reimagined, and reinvigorated two fan-favorite singles: "Another Life" and "Eternally Yours". Additionally, they included brand new cinematic instrumental tracks for both. For this big screen-worthy interpretation of "Another Life", they recruited dark pop Estonian artist Kerli to contribute an emotionally charged vocal. Over a bed of orchestral strings and sparse piano, frontman Chris Motionless locks into a haunting and hypnotic duet with her. The official music video offers a ghostly counterpoint and alternate view of the original as well.

Meanwhile, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE enlisted Australian vocalist Crystal Joilena to join this nocturnal take of "Eternally Yours". Classically inspired piano cuts through swells of strings as the vocals reach heavenly heights on a solemn promise. Punctuated by lasers and galactic vignettes, the accompanying visual complements the song’s otherworldly energy.

A highlight of the group’s latest album "Disguise", the original "Another Life" ascended to the Top 15 at Active Rock radio, becoming the band's highest-charting single to date. It has notably gathered 11.5 million views on the official music video.

KISS's New Year's Eve performance in Dubai, United Arab Emirates broke Guinness world records for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert.

"I can reveal that you achieved a grand total of 73," a Guinness representative told the band about the number of projections launched. "You are officially amazing." As for the height of the flame projections, the new benchmark is now "35 meters."

Landmarks Live Presents produced the $10 million spectacular, which was filmed with more than 50 4K cameras and 360-degree views and was held on a massive 250-foot stage at The Royal Beach at Atlantis. The show included "a million dollars' worth of pyro," according to frontman Paul Stanley.

KISS partnered with event company Tixr to beam the "Kiss 2020 Goodbye" show around the world.

Tickets to view the stream are currently on sale on the event's official web site.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons told The Oakland Press about the band's decision to play the Dubai concert: "We get offers all the time, thank goodness, and we've been saying no to everybody because it's just not safe — for us, for the fans. With this, we happened to be in the right place at the right time, and it all make sense. The folks in Dubai, which is a fascinating place, suggested something crazy and said, 'You can do anything you want here, no restrictions.' And we said, 'Wait a minute. You mean we can put on the biggest pyro show of all time, since Krakatoa and the Big Bang? You mean we're gonna be safe going over there?' They said 'yeah,' so there you are."

Landmarks Live creator, director and executive producer Daniel E. Catullo told KhaleejTimes.com that this wasn't his first time collaborating with the rock legends.

"I worked with KISS back in 2005 and I wanted to have a crack at doing a bigger show with them," he said. "Somehow, I developed a reputation of producing challenging shows, whether doing one with Andrea Bocelli at Palazzo Vecchio, the FOO FIGHTERS at the Acropolis or pulling off the biggest show of the year in the middle of a pandemic. Hosting the KISS show in Dubai was a logical step. The United Arab Emirates is among the world leaders in mitigating the spread of COVID and continues to effectively manage the pandemic given the government’s extraordinary response measures. It [made] sense for us to bring Landmarks Live to the UAE."

Catullo went on to say that working with KISS has been "a dream come true" for him. "To be able to capture them in such an explosive and record-breaking way will certainly be a highlight of my career," he said. "Logistically, this was the largest undertaking I've ever done, and during a pandemic made it all the more challenging. Our crew is comprised of over 400 people, most of whom are based in Dubai. It has been a very complex show to put together: almost five months of planning, hundreds of working crew, coordination with the Dubai government, major coordination with the band; this show will go down in the record books. We're also filming a documentary on how we are pulling this show off. We're doing the biggest production in KISS's history.

"The most arduous task has been developing a safe COVID compliance protocol amid the pandemic to ensure no virus transmission among the crew. The crew will essentially create a bubble for the show setup, particularly the few staffers who will be in direct contact with KISS. American Hospital is conducting daily testing. We have to take beyond-extraordinary measures to keep people safe."








#KISS2020Goodbye broke the #GuinessWorldRecords for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert! Watch it at https://t.co/ttra65NC7P@ATLANTIS @LandmarksLive @visitdubai @Dubai_Calendar @emirates @AHDubai pic.twitter.com/6PNf9Ioceo

— KISS (@kiss) December 31, 2020

TESLA bassist Brian Wheat, who is promoting his just-released autobiography, "Son Of A Milkman: My Crazy Life With Tesla", spoke to OC Sound Radio about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting.

"When we put out 'Bust A Nut', which was '94, and all of a sudden people were telling us our career was over, it was pretty discouraging," Brian said (hear audio below). "Because we had thought we had made this great record, we thought we had made what was gonna be our breakthrough record, and it sold close to eight hundred thousand records, which is nothing to sniff at. But because it didn't do double platinum, like the one before it, and you had these new bands come out that everyone was going crazy over, including our record company, it was a bit discouraging for us, so we got kind of kicked to the curb, if you will. Our manager said to me point blank, 'It's over, dude. It's over for you' — my manager, Cliff Burnstein. I remember just thinking, 'Wow, how can he say that? That's not very encouraging.' It was so nonchalant: 'Well, your career is over now.' I'm thinking, what did we do wrong? What did we do? Why is it over? They loved us last year.

"So that was hard, and I think that contributed a lot to [TESLA's] breakup in 1995 and during that. It definitely fucked wih our psyches. And then, obviously, we had the problems with Tommy [Skeoch, then-TESLA guitarist] at that time, which we always had problems with Tommy, it seems like, but that's when they first started. And it fucked with our psyche, and eventually we broke up."

Asked if the sharp downturn in TESLA's critical and commercial fortunes contributed to his alcohol abuse, Wheat said: "The alcohol abuse was kind of always there. It got worse as it went on. But it certainly led to the drugs. So the last year the band was together [before the split], if you had asked the guys in the band, 'Does Brian do blow or does he smoke pot or any of that?', they'd say, 'No, he just likes to drink.' But that last 18 months, [after] it was basically laid out to me, 'Look, your career is over,' I started doing drugs. I remember, there's a story where I called the band's blow dealer and I go, 'Hey, can you bring me over an eight ball?' and he's, like, 'I've been told to stay away from you, that you don't do this stuff, and you're absolutely against it.' And I went, 'I'm telling you, man. I'm not against it. Bring over the eight ball, please.' So, I think I just got deflated. And then that started that kind of spiral effect of getting on that slippery slope and almost losing control of it all."

In June, the members of TESLA got together — virtually — to jam out a quarantined version of "Breakin' Free" as part of their online series "Home To Home".

The original recording of "Breakin' Free" appeared on TESLA's 2008 album "Forever More".

"Son Of A Milkman: My Crazy Life With Tesla" arrived on December 15 via Post Hill Press. In this 304-page hardcover book, Wheat lifts the lid on living the rock 'n' roll life while struggling with anxiety, depression and other issues seldom discussed by musicians.

"Son Of A Milkman" features a foreword by DEF LEPPARD vocalist Joe Elliott, and was co-written with award-winning journalist and author Chris Epting, whose titles include "Adrenalized" (co-written with DEF LEPPARD's Phil Collen) and "Change Of Seasons" (co-written with John Oates).

Wheat co-founded TESLA, which became one of the biggest bands of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Brian owns a recording studio by the name of J Street Recorders in Sacramento, California. PAPA ROACH, TESLA, PAT TRAVERS, DEFTONES, KODIAK JACK, FLASHFIRES and many others have recorded there.

TESLA spent most of last year touring in support of its latest album, "Shock", which was released in March 2019 via UMe. The follow-up to 2014's "Simplicity" was produced by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen.

SEVENDUST frontman Lajon Witherspoon has released his new solo single, a cover of British singer Jacob Banks's 2017 song "Chainsmoking". You can now listen to it below.

This past September, Lajon told Talking Metal about his long-in-the-works debut solo album: "The solo thing for me has been fun. I've not had any pressure. It hasn't been something that, 'Oh, I have to do this.' This is something I've done on my own.

"I've been working with a very close friend of mine, Sahaj [Daniel Ticotin], [who] is the lead singer from the band RA, which I think a lot of people out there would know," he continued. "[He's] an incredible friend and artist, and we write well together."

Asked about the musical direction of his solo material, Lajon said: "You can be on the avenue and hang out with my solo stuff. It's rock. It's a little bit of heavy, but I think it lends more towards a bluesy, soulful, more radio friendly… I'm not saying SEVENDUST isn't radio friendly, but I think this is more of a radio friendly… I don't know. It's a lot, a lot, a lot of melody. It's cool."

Witherspoon released the standalone solo single "Love Song" in 2017.

SEVENDUST's 13th studio album, "Blood & Stone", was released in October via Rise Records. The follow-up to 2018's "All I See Is War" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

In the latest issue of Classic Rock magazine, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich promised the follow-up to 2016's "Hardwired...To Self Destruct" will be the best album he and his bandmates have ever made.

"It's the heaviest thing, the coolest," Ulrich said. "But all kidding aside, if it wasn't because we thought that the best record was still ahead of us, then why keep doing it?

"In METALLICA, we love the creative process, and it’s hard for me to imagine that we'll ever stop making records."

Last month, Ulrich said in an interview with Rolling Stone that METALLICA was nearly a month into "some pretty serious writing" sessions for its next studio album. A couple of weeks earlier, Lars told Kara Swisher at the CNBC Evolve Summit that he and his METALLICA bandmates have been working on new music for "the last six [to] eight weeks virtually." But he admitted that they have encountered a myriad of technical issues which have slowed their progress.

"Being a rock and roll band and working virtually is not super easy," Lars said. "Time delays, all these things make it really hard. The main thing we miss is being able to hear each other. [Laughs] So if we're all four in a room together, we can connect with each other and we can hear each other. If I'm playing here in San Francisco, and Kirk [Hammett] and James [Hetfield], our two guitar players, are either in O'ahu or Colorado, there are significant time delays. It's very hard for us to play at the same time. If I'm doing what we call steering, which means that I'm playing a beat and they're playing to me, I can't hear what they're playing, and vice versa. We can't all hear each other in a universal fashion. So there are some significant complications we have. Our recording team and our production team are speaking to software makers all over the world [about] how to crack the code on this. Nobody has quite figured it out yet."

In early May, the four members of METALLICA overcame social distancing to record a new version of their song "Blackened", with each member separated in his own home. The split-screen video was posted to the band's social media channels. That same month, Ulrich told Swedish talk show host Fredrik Skavlan that he and his bandmates were "sending ideas to each other via e-mail and via Zoom and [trying to] make music in these unusual situations."

In August, METALLICA broadcast a show to hundreds of drive-in and outdoor theaters across the U.S. and Canada, as part of the "Encore Drive-In Nights" series. The concert was filmed nearly three weeks earlier, on August 10, at the Gundlach Bundschu winery, about a 30-minute car ride from the band's headquarters in San Rafael, California, and was subsequently edited and mixed by the band's award-winning production team to the highest standards possible.

METALLICA's "Live & Acoustic From HQ: Helping Hands Concert & Auction" was streamed live from the band's headquarters on November 14. The special acoustic show benefited METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundat

Japanese pop-metal band BABYMETAL will play 10 shows at Tokyo's famed Nippon Budokan venue next year as part of the group's 10th-anniversary celebration. The shows, which will mark the final chapter of the "Metal Resistance" era, will kick off with two dates in January (19 and 20) and four concerts in February (16, 17, 19 and 20) before continuing later in the year.

BABYMETAL previously played Budokan twice in early 2014 ("Red Night" and "Black Night"), becoming the youngest female artists ever to perform at the legendary indoor arena.

BABYMETAL's Moametal told Billboard about the upcoming concerts: "I consider the Budokan shows as the period we properly display everything we've gained in our journey over the past 10 years, and our gratitude to everyone who encountered us along the way."

BABYMETAL recently released a greatest-hits album titled "10 Babymetal Years". Ten songs are featured on ten special editions of the LP, including a Regular Edition released on CD and vinyl; First Press Limited Edition A, containing a Blu-ray with all 16 of BABYMETAL's music videos on it; First Press Limited Edition B, which comes in a special vinyl-size CD cover containing ten newly taken photos of Su-metal and Moametal; and First Press Limited Edition C, which includes a Blu-ray featuring 10 Legend Movies, a special video of ten songs chosen by fans in the 10 Legend Songs Tournament. Members of the BABYMETAL fan club, The One, can also purchase The One Edition A, which includes a karuta battle set (Japanese playing cards); and The One Edition B, which comes with the "Chronicle Set", featuring a video containing interviews with the bandmembers. Also being made available are the Su-metal Edition, Moametal Edition, and Kobametal Edition, each of which comes with all three different Prophet Cards included in all the other editions mentioned and each with unique serial codes. These three bandmember editions also contain ten songs chosen respectively by each member of their personal favorite tracks the band has released. A special X Edition will arrive at a later date and will come with a mystery item that "Only The Fox God Knows", which will serve as the final piece of the puzzle to "10 Babymetal Years".

A book about the first ten years of BABYMETAL, "Bessatsu Kadokawa Souryoku Tokushuu", was released in Japan in October. It contains a long interview with Su-metal and Moametal as well as never-before-heard stories from band producer Kobametal from BABYMETAL's decade-long history, photos taken from live shows, a discussion between Demon Kakka and Kobametal, and much more.

BABYMETAL's third studio album, "Metal Galaxy", was released in October 2019 via earMUSIC/Edel. The follow-up to 2016's "Metal Resistance" is based on the concept of "The Odyssey Of Metal Galaxy".

"Metal Galaxy" hit No. 19 in the U.K. official album chart, No. 1 No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, becoming the first Asian act to land at No. 1, and No. 18 on the German chart.

In the U.S., "Metal Galaxy" earned 28,000 equivalent album units (of which 27,000 were in album sales) in its first week of release. The album also topped the Hard Rock Albums chart.

"Metal Galaxy" entered the all-format Billboard 200 chart at No. 13. The group's previous disc, 2016's "Metal Resistance", peaked at No. 39.

"Metal Galaxy" contains 14 songs, including four singles that were released prior to the LP's arrival: "Pa Pa Ya!!", "Starlight", "Distortion" and "Elevator Girl". The album expresses light and darkness, emotions like duality and ambivalence, and "new metal" created by various chemical reactions as other entities evolved and expanded in this album.

The album includes five songs that feature guest appearances from worldwide musicians who were perfect to the character of each song. Vocalist Joakim Brodén from SABATON is featured on "Oh! Majinai". Guitarist Tim Henson and Scott LePage from POLYPHIA are featured on "Brand New Day". Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz from ARCH ENEMY is featured on "Distortion". Rapper F.Hero is featured in "Pa Pa Ya!!"

In 2018, BABYMETAL announced the departure of Yuimetal, who was formerly one of the members of the Japanese group's core trio. She exited the band, explaining in a statement that she would go on to pursue a solo career as Mizuno Yu.




#NHK紅白 で「イジメ、ダメ、ゼッタイ」を披露しました?

復習は、ぜひ21年開催 #BABYMETAL 武道館10公演にて?

『10 BABYMETAL BUDOKAN』DOOMSDAY ‒ I～VI

オフィシャル先行受付中（2021年1月3日23:59まで）?https://t.co/nh6LfI2iSs#BABYMETAL #BABYMETAL_BUDOKAN pic.twitter.com/XW2CrBrKuR

— BABYMETAL (@BABYMETAL_JAPAN) December 31, 2020

EDGUY and AVANTASIA frontman Tobias Sammet has lamented the devastating impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the music industry, with canceled concerts, tours and music festivals, all leaving hundreds of thousands of crew members out of work.

In his end-of-year message on social media, Tobias wrote: "Friends, here's to a better 2021! May you be healthy and happy.

"2020 was difficult, for my job, for our whole industry, for many people's personal economic and mental situations, but probably even more devastating for those who lost loved ones or had to fight hard for their health.

"It's been a dark year but even though there is shadow in this world, where there's a shadow there is light. I know many people who have supported each others, who silently put their own needs or beliefs second in order to prevent further damage, no matter how heavy a wind would blow into their faces doing so.

"Whatever your conviction and belief is, as long as respect and love prevails, hope is going to prevail.

"Who knows what the future holds? I have no clue, but I have hope. We are many! Shine your lights into the darkness... and if the storm descends upon you, so be it! Light prevails!

"Love and health to all of you, you may keep distancing but don't let your hearts keep a distance!

"A coffee-cheers from the studio and whatever 2021 brings, it will for sure bring the best AVANTASIA album of the year!"

This past March, Sammet revealed that he was working on a new album from his AVANTASIA project. The disc will be the follow-up to "Moonglow", which came out last year. In addition, the German singer and songwriter said that his long-running band EDGUY was "on hiatus."

"Moonglow" was released in February 2019 via Nuclear Blast. The album debuted at No. 1 in Germany and also cracked the Top 10 in Sweden, Switzerland, Austria and Spain.

"Moonglow" featured guest apppearances by Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE), Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS), Jørn Lande (MASTERPLAN), Eric Martin (MR. BIG), Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN), Bob Catley (MAGNUM), Candice Night (BLACKMORE'S NIGHT), Hansi Kürsch (BLIND GUARDIAN) and Mille Petrozza (KREATOR).


Friends,

here's to a better 2021! May you be healthy and happy. 2020 was difficult, for my job, for our whole industry,...

Posted by Avantasia on Thursday, December 31, 2020

GUNS N' ROSES has released video footage of the band's October 2019 performance at the Exit 111 festival in Manchester, Tennessee. The 32-minute clip is part of the GN'R web series dubbed "Not In This Lifetime Selects" featuring highlights from the four-year "Not In This Lifetime" tour.

Featured songs:

01. Live And Let Die (WINGS cover)

02. Shadow Of Your Love

03. Black Hole Sun (SOUNDGARDEN cover)

04. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (BOB DYLAN cover)

05. Paradise City

In a recent interview with Guitar Player's "No Guitar Is Safe" podcast, Slash spoke about what it felt like for him to step back out on stage with GUNS N' ROSES for the first time in over two decades at the band's April 2016 concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California.

"That was our first gig back," the guitarist said. "I think probably the last time that we ever played there was in 1985. I don't think we even played there in 1986. Probably '85 was the last time we played there. "[The April 2016 concert was] our first show together after 20 years. We obviously had more gear and more crew than we did back in the day, I'll tell you that much. And it was loud. But it was a lot of fun. It was an almost poignant moment to fucking stand there and look at that crowd in that sort of room and have that kind of nostalgic feeling."

Last year, Slash told Guitar.com that his first concert back with GUNS N' ROSES was an "overwhelming" experience. "It was so cool," he said. "Because it was a long time — we're talking more than 20 years from the last show in 1994… it was 22 years since the last time we'd played together. And obviously I'd played with [bassist] Duff [McKagan] [since then] but there's a certain dynamic in the three of us together. It was awesome, and it's a really great experience."

In July, GUNS N' ROSES announced the rescheduled dates for its North American stadium tour.

GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour recently became the No. 3 highest-grossing tour in the history of Billboard Boxscore.

"Not in This Lifetime" featured classic-lineup members Slash, McKagan and singer Axl Rose backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

GUNS kicked off its long-rumored and long-awaited reunion tour with the aforementioned club show in Hollywood and appearances in Las Vegas and at California's Coachella festival.

The band is now reportedly working on a new studio album — the first under the GUNS banner since 2008's "Chinese Democracy" and the first to feature Rose, Slash and McKagan since 1993.

Photo credit: Katarina Benzova

The legendary Danish studio where JUDAS PRIEST recorded parts of its "Ram It Down" album has been destroyed in a fire (see photos from Pressefotos.dk below).

According to Foreigner.fi, the Puk Recording Studios complex, located in Gjerlev, north of the city of Randers, in western Denmark, burned down early Monday (December 28). It was not known what caused the fire, and there were no reports of any people being injured.

Puk was established in a converted farmhouse in 1978 by John "Puk" Quist, and at one point was considered one of the most technologically advanced studios in the world.

Other artists who recorded their albums at Puk include Elton John ("Sleeping With The Past"), George Michael ("Faith"), DEPECHE MODE ("Violator" and "Music For The Masses"), Gary Moore and THE KINKS. The last LP recorded at Puk was MESHUGGAH's "The Violent Sleep Of Reason", which came out in 2016.

According to Discogs.com, Quist sold the studio in 1992, and in 1994, a separate mastering studio was added and branded as Puk Digital Mastering. Peter Iversen bought the studio in 1999 and remained the owner until Puk's ultimate closure in 2016. Iversen moved all the studio equipment elsewhere and sold the complex to a windmill company.


Det legendariske Puk Studio ved Kærby nord for Randers er brændt ned natten til i dag, 28. december 2020.

Hele det...

Posted by Pressefotos.dk on Monday, December 28, 2020

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman spoke to "That Jamieson Show" over the summer about how he has been dealing with the coronavirus crisis. In the interview, which has just been uploaded to YouTube, the singer offered his prediction on what the concert industry will look like post-pandemic, saying: "I'm confident as hell that once there is a vaccine of some sort that people will come out in droves; I think people are starving for live experiences and gatherings like never before. But here's the harsh reality of it: my wife and I, we have friends of ours that they lost their entire family in a week — seven people; all died. And if you go ahead and you buy in to the whole 'it has something to do with genetics and blood type,' well, then it makes a whole lot of sense. This poor girl lost all seven members of her family in a week — they all dropped dead from the virus. Not complications from the virus — from the virus. So it's a very real thing."

Draiman, who resides in Hawaii with his wife and their son, also touched upon how protests against police violence and racial injustice, as well as other mass demonstrations, could play a role in the spread of the virus.

"Whether it's protesting peacefully, or real protesting, or whether it's gathering for a rally or any other reason, these public gatherings, if they're not dealt with in the right way — and even if they are dealt with in the right way — you get a whole bunch of people together, socially distanced from one another, screaming their lungs out, maskless or not, enough of that particular matter is gonna get in the air and you're gonna fucking catch something; it's gonna happen," he said.

"If everything the scientists are telling us is true, people just need to calm the fuck down on every level when it comes to this right now. Just chill — chill the protests, chill the gatherings. Until we figure out how to really best deal with this thing, and until people that we love stop dying for unnecessary reasons, there's no other way around it."

Draiman went on to imply that he understands why some people hold the view that any cure involving a loss of economic momentum is worse than the disease itself.

"There's a very delicate balance between how much do you accept of death from the disease before it ends up becoming death from depression and suicides and loss of revenue and loss of businesses and all the things that go along with the other side of this," he said. "It's like the perfect storm of shit. There's no good answer to any of this. That's the saddest part."

This past June, Draiman told Download Festival TV that he has spent some of his downtime during the coronavirus pandemic "having conversations with the other guys in DISTURBED about getting some new material going, and we've got some stuff in its infancy. One song, definitely, that's killer in our back pocket; we just haven't tracked it," he said. "And we've got a few more song ideas, [but] nothing that's been hashed out enough."

Draiman went on to say that making music over the Internet has presented its own set of problems, especially since most of DISTURBED's last couple of albums were composed with the core members in a room together bouncing ideas off each other.

"We kind of need to get back into the rhythm of being able to do stuff like this in Zoom format or online as opposed to in person," he said. "At least it's some kind of real-time connection so that you can be creating together improvisationally to an extent, but there's still issues with audio — it's not as clear as you want it sometimes, there's too much compression and you lose level; it's a challenge — and the vibe isn't there. There's nothing that replaces you being in front of your co-songwriter and being able to feed off each other's energy and create in person."

In September, DISTURBED released a cover version of Sting's 1993 single "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You".

Back in May, DISTURBED's "The Sickness 20th Anniversary Tour" was postponed until summer 2021 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Reunited San Francisco Bay Area thrashers VIO-LENCE will enter Trident Studios in Pacheco, California on January 18 to begin recording their new EP, tentatively due in late summer via Metal Blade Records. Helming the sessions will be producer Juan Urteaga, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, MACHINE HEAD and EXODUS, among many others.

Singer Sean Killian previously described VIO-LENCE's new material as "a cross between 'Eternal [Nightmare]' [1988], 'Oppressing [The Masses]' [1990] and also our '93 demo. It's fast, it's heavy. We've got a couple of good chunk riffs and stuff like that," he explained. "We wanna get stuff in that's gonna start a pit up too. But we think people are gonna go crazy when they hear it. We've got some heavy lyrics, some heavy subjects. I mean, we're not a political band by any means, so when I say 'heavy,' it's just heavy shit that comes out of my demented head."

Back in May, guitarist Phil Demmel told EXODUS frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza's YouTube channel, Zetro's Toxic Vault, that VIO-LENCE was taking its time coming up with the best material possible. "When [the songs are] ready, they're ready," he said. "This [coronavirus pandemic] has given us more time. But still, it's gotta be fucking killer. I had a riff that the [other] dudes were kind of digging, and I'm all, 'I don't got a boner with this one.' I want a 10-foot boner with everything that we're doing now. It's gotta be better, it's gotta be fucking kick-ass… I don't wanna put out some crap."

This past August, VIO-LENCE released a new digital single, "California Über Alles", a cover version of the DEAD KENNEDYS classic. The band also filmed a music video for the song with director Scott Kirkeeng.

In January, VIO-LENCE parted ways with guitarist Ray Vegas and replaced him with Bobby Gustafson (ex-OVERKILL). The band's current lineup also includes drummer Perry Strickland and bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY).

VIO-LENCE released three studio albums between 1988 and 1993. The group reunited soon after Demmel left MACHINE HEAD in late 2018.

VIO-LENCE performed its first comeback concert in April 2019 at the Oakland Metro in Oakland, California and spent the last year playing select shows in the U.S. and Europe.

Although MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn was part of VIO-LENCE's classic incarnation and played on the band's debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", he wasn't approached about taking part in any of the comeback shows.

Killian underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in March 2018. The year before, Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, which was caused in part by a genetic condition called hemochromatosis.

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"Rock Camp: The Movie" from filmmaker Doug Blush will be released in January.

Summer camp meets "Spinal Tap" as we journey to Rock' N' Roll Fantasy Camp, where dreamers from across America and around the world gather to shred with their heroes — and learn to rock like the legends.

Rock Camp is an institution and cultural phenomenon that has been going on in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities since 1996. Rock Camp is the brainchild of music producer David Fishof. It boasts a jaw-dropping array of rock star "counselors" that include Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson, Joe Perry, Jeff Beck, Slash, and countless other rock legends.

Directed and produced by Blush, co-directed and edited by Renee Barron, and produced by Jeff Rowe, "Rock Camp: The Movie" takes us back more than four decades to the beginnings Fishof's career as a sports agency and eventually an entertainment executive and music producer. Fishof founded Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp, which has been making dream comes true for more than 25 years. The camp brings together musicians from all walks of life for an unforgettable experience with legendary rock stars. These musicians teach, inspire, and jam with the campers over four days., concluding with a live performance at a famed venue.

The experience takes music lovers from spectator to the stage, sharing the limelight with their musical heroes. "Rock Camp: The Movie" follows four campers (and their families) through their journeys to shred with their heroes and see how they overcome their fears and transform their lives.

Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, and cinematographer. His credits include, as editor, the Oscar- and ACE Eddie Award-winning "20 Feet From Stardom" (2013), as executive producer, the Oscar-winning "Period. End Of Sentence." (2018) and, as consulting producer and editor, the Oscar-winning "Icarus" (2017).

Theatrical Bookings – Virtual Cinema Release

Opens Friday, January 15, 2021

Bedford, NY - Bedford Playhouse

Bellingham, WA - Pickford Film Center

Bethlehem, NH - Colonial Theater

Billings, MT - Art House Billings

Buffalo, NY - North Park

Chicago, IL - Music Box Theater

Cleveland, OH - Cleveland Cinemtheque

Cleveland, OH - Cedar Lee Cinemas

Columbus, OH - Gateway Film Center

Concord, NH - Red River

Dallas, TX - Angelika Anywhere

Dayton, OH - Neon Theater

Detroit, MI - Cinema Detroit

Florence, OR - City Lights Cinemas

Honolulu, HI - Angelika Anywhere

Lake Forest, IL - Gorton community Center

Lakeland, FL - Polk theater

Larkspur, CA - Lark Theater

Los Angeles, CA - Laemmle Theaters

Miami, FL - O-Cinema

Montclair, NJ - Montclair Film

New York, NY - Angelika Anywhere

Newburgh, NY - Downing Film Center

Newport, RI - Jane Pickens

Orlando, FL - Enzian Theater

Oxford, MS - Oxford Film Festival

Pelham, NY - Picturehouse

Phoenix, AZ - Film Bar

Sacramento, CA - Angelika Anywhere

San Diego, CA - Angelika Anywhere

San Francisco, CA - Balboa

San Francisco, CA - Vogue Theater

Sarasota, Fl - Burns Court Cinema

Seattle, WA - SIFF Cinema

Tucson, AZ - Loft Cinema

Vancouver, WA - Vancity Cinema

Washington DC - Angelika Anywhere

Opens Friday, January 22, 2021

Chicago, IL - Gene Siskel Film Center

Denver, CO - Sie Film Center

Phoenix, AZ - Cinema Society

Salina, KS - Salina Art Center

San Diego, CA - Cinema Society

The countdown begins! Sign up now at LeppardVault.com to unlock the Def Leppard Vault on January 13. Check out the following preview:

The Def Leppard Vault is the first ever collection of the band's artifacts and related stories, curated from and told by Joe, Sav, Rick, Phil and Viv. The Def Leppard Vault will serve as a constantly curated museum, including special installations where fans can gather to see the band’s history from 1977 to now.

Below is the initial trailer for The Def Leppard Vault:

 

The At The Movies project - launched by Pretty Maids guitarist Chris Laney due to the COVID-19 pandemic - caught fire over the course of 2020, with many fans asking that the '80s soundtrack covers be made available as digital platform streams, or on CD and vinyl. The project has now kicked off Season 2, as they call it, which will feature movie soundtrack covers from the '90s. 

Check out the first shot for 2021, a cover of "Waiting For A Star To Fall" by the pop duo Boy Meets Girl, originally released in 1988 and taken from the 1990 movie Three Men And A Little Lady"

The core At The Movies players are as follows:

Björn "Speed" Strid (Soilwork) - lead vocals
Linnéa Vikström Egg (Therion) - backing vocals
Chris Laney (Pretty Maids) - guitars
Allan Sørensen (Royal Hunt, Pretty Maids) - drums
Morten Sandager (Pretty Maids) - keyboards
Pontus Norgren (HammerFall) - guitars
Pontus Egberg (King Diamond) - bass

Stay tuned for more.

Canadian rock icons Helix premiered their official video for "The Tequila Song" on New Year's Eve. Check it out below.

Prior to the release, the band announced a new swag contest:

"To coincide with the video release we're going to be giving away a Helix swag package worth over $400.00:

- 20 Helix CDs
- 3 Helix shirts (different sizes; no choice on size - sorry)
- 2 Helix DVDs
- Vollmer's Get Yer Hands Dirty vinyl LP
- Bastard Of The Blues - blue vinyl LP
- Helix hat 
- Helix fridge magnet
- Helix patch

How to win: Like, share this post and name who played the part in the comments. Correct answers will be entered in the draw).

1) Jose Quervo Baby -
2) Bartender -
3) Minister -
4) Shot Glass Sitter -

Contest runs until the end of january, draw in February."

Enter the contest via the official Helix Facebook page here.

Helix frontman Brain Vollmer checked in with the following update:

Helix recently released the Eat Sleep Rock CD on Perris Records, a compilation album with some of singer Brian Vollmer’s personal favorite songs recorded since leaving Captiol/EMI in 1990. The album was recorded at bassist Darryl Gray's own Dawghouse Studios, mixed by Siegfried Meier and mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem). The artwork was done by ex-Helix guitarist Brent Doerner with photos by Victor Azziz Studios. "Brent is a very creative guy," states Vollmer. When he was in the band writing songs, he was with us for I think 16 or 18 years. I've always found him as a person who thought outside the box when it came to creativity so it's great still having him involved with Helix projects. He's like a 6th member."

Eat Sleep Rock adds the new track "Eat Sleep Rock" and includes "The Story Of Helix," a rap that Brian wrote a couple of years ago to kick off the acoustic show. "Eat Sleep Rock" is the first to feature new Helix guitarist Gary Borden, a veteran of the Canadian music scene who has played with Sass Jordan, Toronto and The Guess Who, worked with Gowan, and fronts his own original act Blood Of VanGogh. Brian continues, "Kaleb left last year, he was a solid member for over 10 years and he is still involved with the band writing for the next studio album. Gary is a great guy and he fits right in. It's great having guys with personalities like Gary and Chris (Julke, guitarist) to bring you up as it's tough when you are out there doing it all weekend long, travelling, playing, getting up early and flying. I got a great bunch of guys behind me."

For anyone that missed the August 14th BraveWords video premiere for "Eat Sleep Rock", check out the clip below.

Keep up to date with all things Helix in their newly designed website at Planethelix.com.

Smackbound, the hard rock/metal band from the robust and acclaimed Finnish music scene, released their debut album, 20/20, via Frontiers Music Srl back in June. The band's full performance, shot and edited by Topias Kupiainen at Sonic Pump Studios, Helsinki, 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

Sicilian Artists For Charity project is back with a new bombastic Christmas cover song, rearranged in a symphonic metal style.

The Sicilian combo, with a new lineup, featuring lyrical singer Laura Macrì (MaYaN), presents “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)” the well known Christmas anthem written by John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Once again this cover version has been arranged for the orchestra by Salvo Grasso (Hypersonic, Metatrone, Astralium) with the collaboration of the guitarist Salvo Calà.

Mixed & nastered by Riccardo Samperi at TRP MUSIC Studio. Video editing by Antonio Gueli, Salvo Grasso and Salvo Calà.

Sicilian Artists For Charity will be donating all profits from downloads and streams to “Amici delle missioni Sicilia” ONLUS Associazione, made up of health care workers (doctors and nurses) and secular people from Sicily (Italy) who support through health aid and economic /social support activities (construction of schools and water wells, long distance adoptions, nutritional centers, maternal/child support) some populations of Guinea Bissau.

Below, the payment details through Bank and Post Office:

IBAN: IT67 U 05036 84150 CC10 318 68602
Intestazione: Ass. Onlus “Amici delle Missioni Sicilia”
Istituto: Banca Agricola Popolare di Ragusa, Agenzia di Ramacca (CT)
Bic/Swift: POPRIT31103
IBAN Posta: IT47 T067 0116 9000 0101 9940 715
Intestazione: Ass. Onlus “Amici delle Missioni Sicilia”
Istituto: Ufficio Postale Ramacca
Bic/Swift: BPPIITRRXXX

New Year, New Beginnings! Sex Slaves bassist / vocalist Del Cheetah takes a moment to remind us what's important this year as he covers the Lynyrd Skynyrd classic, "Simple Man".

On a much lighter note, back in May 2020, Del Cheetah introduced the world to Monster Cock Millionaires. Check out their debut video, "I Like Girls".

"I Like Girls" appears on Monster Cock Millionaire's debut three-song EP, Quarantine Dreams. The cover art and tracklisting are as follows:

"WDMF"
"I Like Girls"
"On The Floor"

For further details, including how to obtain your own copy of Quarantine Dreams, visit MonsterCockMillionaires.com, or take a peek on Facebook.

 

"It's 'The Uh-Oh Song'," begins Alice Cooper guitarist Ryan Roxie in reference to his just-released, solo video. "Even though this past year has been a bit of an 'uh-oh' type of year, I think the lyrics in this one will give us some hope and peace of mind that hey...'THIS Year, things will be different' (remember?)"

"'The Uh-Oh Song' is the 10th and final video release for the Imagine Your Reality album. Can you think of any other album (other than a Greatest Hits) where there was an 'Official' video made for each and every song? That's got to be some sort of record, or at least be rewarded with a 'participation ribbon' of some sort... ha!"

"A swampy riff-rock anthem that beckons its audience to utter only two words... although there are plenty more than just two guitars that fill the airwaves. 'The Uh-Oh Song' was produced by Kristoffer Folin at Purple Skull Studios in Stockholm, Sweden."

"Heart's In Trouble":

"Nevermind Me":

"Look Me In The Eye":

"Big Rock Show":

"God Put A Smile On Your Face":

"Me Generation":

"To Live And Die In L.A.":

"Over And Done":

"California Man":

 

The New York Times correspondent Julia Jacobs reports:

Ticketmaster has agreed to pay a $10 million fine to resolve charges that it intruded into the computer system of one of its competitors, prosecutors said on Wednesday (December 30), ending a yearslong legal battle over claims that the company illegally interfered in the business of a ticketing start-up called Songkick.

More than two years ago, Ticketmaster reached a settlement with Songkick in response to a lawsuit that accused the concert giant of abusing its market power to control the sales of tickets. In addition to settling for $110 million, Ticketmaster acquired some of Songkick’s remaining technology assets and patents for an undisclosed sum.

The court battle also involved accusations of corporate espionage that led to an investigation by federal prosecutors in New York.

Prosecutors for the U.S. attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York said in court documents that the computer intrusions were spearheaded by a former Songkick employee who left the start-up in 2012 and later started working for Ticketmaster, which is owned by Live Nation. The employee was said to have disseminated Songkick’s login information to other Ticketmaster employees so they could access an app called an artist toolbox, which provided data on purchases of presale tickets through Songkick, the documents said.

The employee also was accused of sharing URLs that led to drafts of Songkick’s ticketing web pages. In response to that information, prosecutors said, a Ticketmaster executive wrote that the goal was to “choke off” their competitor and “steal back” one of Songkick’s key clients.

To read the complete report, click here.

 

Swedish rockers, Thundermother, rocked out for Wacken World Wide during the pandemic summer of 2020. You can watch the band's full set below.

Setlist:

"Give Me Some Lights"
"Thunderous"
"Revival"
"Whatever"
"Racing On Main Street"
"Hellavator"
"Fire In The Rain"
"Rip Your Heart Off"
"Deal With The Devil"
"Rock 'N' Roll Heaven"
"Shoot To Kill"
"Driving In Style"
"We Fight For Rock 'N' Roll"

Thundermother's latest album, Heat Wave, is available via AFM Records.

Tracklisting:

“Loud And Alive”
“Dog From Hell”
“Back In ‘76”
“Into The Mud”
“Heat Wave”
“Sleep”
“Driving In Style”
“Free Ourselves”
“Mexico”
“Purple Sky”
“Ghosts”
“Somebody Love Me”
“Bad Habits”

"Into The Mud" video:

Last Temptation, featuring guitarist Peter Scheithauer (Killing Machine, Belladonna, Temple Of Brutality), vocalist Butcho Vukovic (Watcha, Showtime), bassist Julien Rimaire (Los Dissidentes Del Sucio Hotel), and drummer Vince Brisach (Mitch Ryder), have released a lyric video for "How I Am", a track from their self-titled debut, released in 2019 via earMUSIC. Get the album here here, and watch the new clip below.

Tracklisting:

"I Win I Lose"
"Bring Your Light Out"
"Blow A Fuse"
"Never Say Goodbye"
"How I Am"
"Faster and Faster"
"Locked Up In Myself"
"Nobody Is Free"
"Coming For You"
"Hell Is Walking In My Shoes"
"The Exit"

"How I Am" lyric video:

"I Win I Lose":

"Blow A Fuse":

Last Temptation have signed a world-wide deal with Crusader Records (part of the Golden Robot Global Entertainment Group). "We are beyond excited to be a part of Crusader Records / Golden Robot Records family," says the band. "After a few talks, it was clear that GRR would be Last Temptation's home. A label and a team that understand what rock 'n roll is all about, and mostly understand our needs. We can't wait to share the new songs we have been polishing during those down times! And once we get a green light, the roads are calling us to meet with our fans and get that party rolling."

To celebrate the announcement, Last Temptation have released a sample of their upcoming single, "Main Attraction".

The new album has been recorded and includes guests such as Kenny Aronoff among others and will be released in mid-2021.

(Photo - Benjamin Hincker - Photographie)

In a sea of new metal bands, these four, or “Fore”, metal heads have come out with a classic punk rock band and debut album.

Featuring former Kreator bassist Christian “Spiesi” Giesler, Jeramie Kling (Venom Inc, ex-Massacre, The Absence) on drums, Taylor Nordberg (ex-Massacre, The Absence) on guitar, and rounded out by Brian “The Canadian Glenn Hughes” Stephenson on vocals, the band has formed, written, recorded and released their debut full-length album, Hombres.

Self-released back in August, Hombres features twelve blistering punk anthems in the vein of Bad Religion, Pennywise, The Offspring, and NOFX. Today we receive the first official music video for the single “Today We Rise (No Tomorrow)”, which features the Tampa Rejects skateboard team.

Watch the video below. You can order Hombres digitally at forepunk.bandcamp.com, or on CD through the band’s social media pages. Details on a vinyl release will be announced soon.

Organizers for the annual Rock Meets Classic tour through parts of Europe have posted another previously unreleased clip, this time from their 2017 run.

"At the end of this year, we would like to thank all of you for the loyalty! Have fun with a very special song by Uriah Heep and see you again in the new hopefully better year." 

Check out Uriah Heep guitarist Mick Box and vocalist Bernie Shaw performing "July Morning" from the band's 1971 album, Look At Yourself, with the Rock Meets Classic orchestra.

Rock Meets Classic recently confirmed Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider for the 2021 run of the annual tour. Snider will perform a Best Of Twisted Sister set for the duration of the tour.

Rock Meets Classic also confirmed that Europe frontman Joey Tempest will return as the headliner for the annual tour in 2021. This will be Tempest's second time with Rock Meets Classic, having headlined the 2016 run. Mike Tramp (White Lion), Midge Ure (Ultravox, Thin Lizzy) and Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Lords Of Black) have also been confirmed.

Below is the curent tour schedule for RMC 2021.

Snider previously performed with Rock Meets Classic with a special one-off set at Wacken Open Air 2015. Check out pro-shot footage below.

Canadian rock veterans Econoline Crush, fronted by Trevor Hurst along with talented members Ziggy Sigmund (guitarist, 1997-2002, 2009-present) and drummer Dayvid Swart (Todd Kerns Band), are back after recording their first full-length album in over a decade. They recently released a new single, "Fight Like The Devil", which is available digitally here. Check it out below.

Hurst: "While quarantined during the ongoing pandemic I found myself watching a lot of television, just to witness so many tragic events leaving people feeling like they weren’t being heard, let alone respected and equal. These events led to activists and protesters taking to the streets in frustration, and we stand with them. 'Fight Like The Devil' was written for those brave souls who march and protest so we can dream of a future where we all have an opportunity to pursue our dreams and live our lives without fear of intimidation or discrimination. 

Delivering their first single "Get Out Of The Way", the rock alumni are ready to hit the stage again with an arsenal of new songs released on indie start-up Amalien Records, and fresh takes on their chart topping hits.

“We decided to re-record 'Get Out Of The Way' (from 2008) to launch our deal with Amalien Records. We think the song suits the times we live in, and helps amplify the voices of those trying to build a better world for everyone. It just felt like the perfect song for this moment in time" says Trevor.

Despite their absence the sound of Econoline Crush is still there, but now with a more transformed and enhanced resonance.

“There's still the industrial sound,” adds Trevor, “but it's drifted towards more classic elements of rock. We're evolving into a more organic direction. The songs are taking a lead role.”

Adaptable as well, the band is a full-on rock assault, with gritty guitars and crashing percussion, but they can also switch to acoustic, soulful rock in a moment’s notice. Entering a new era of production as well, Econoline Crush takes classic rock, industrial and electronica, and melds it to create something both unique and appealing to their legacy of fans, and new music fans of today.

Along with the release of the new album and single, diligent lead vocalist Trevor Hurst worked tirelessly on an upcoming documentary film, slated for release in 2021. Flatlander sheds a light on what the singer has been doing in the years between live performances and songwriting. It’s an admirable journey from a man who has toured with Alice Cooper, opened for KISS at New York’s Madison Square Garden and headlined his own tours, but Trevor Hurst is now also a registered psychiatric nurse. Reconciling the pursuit of rock stardom with the desire to connect with people and make a difference, Hurst and Econoline Crush are reemerging now as a revitalized band, with a deeper sense of purpose.

On the latest efforts by the band, Hurst says “I realized what a great gift was bestowed upon us as a band and as individuals, to have this ability to make music and to entertain. I don't take this for granted. That's why everybody in the band feels this is not an opportunity to waste.”

Fallen Arise has released a new lyric video for “Forever Winter”. Created by HK Visual Creations, the track is featured on their new album, Enigma, released on April 10. Order Enigma here.

Fallen Arise wanted their music to sound as contemporary as possible, but at the same time to remain faithful to the kind of music they play. Pop aesthetics are always something they are willing to implement in their craft, keeping in mind that pop music is a huge influence on the band's compositions. All this combined with the elements that define metal music and the orchestral idea which is still present in the band had provided this end result. The choice of collaborators for the creation of the “Enigma” was very thoughtful and targeted in order to achieve the result the band sought. The band's photo session and "Reborn" video shooting took place at rEvolver studios (Sweden) with the mighty Patric Ullaeus behind the camera. 

Fallen Arise comment on this experience: “The least we can say is that we had an unforgettable time there and it was a unique experience for us working with such an amazing and talented guy.”

For almost 40 years, Queensrÿche has been hailed as one of the forefathers of American progressive hard rock and metal music. But the band’s complete story has never been told—until now. NW Metalworx Music is proud to announce it will publish the first-ever Queensrÿche biography in late 2021, as part of the NW Metalworx book line.

Written by James R. Beach, with Brian L. Naron and Brian J. Heaton, Building An Empire: The Story Of Queensrÿche, takes a deep dive on Queensrÿche, from its original members’ musical beginnings in the high schools of suburban Seattle, to the group’s rise to stardom in the 1990s. The book will cover how Queensrÿche evolved from album to album, the various events that led to the band’s fracture and declining popularity, and the amazing heavy metal revival period Queensrÿche has enjoyed over the last several years.

Paul Suter, the acclaimed writer from Kerrang! who broke Queensrÿche’s story in early 1983, will write the tome’s Foreword. Heaton, the founder of AnybodyListening.net, a historical retrospective on Queensrÿche’s original lineup, penned the Afterword.

Beach and Naron are fresh off publishing Rusted Metal, their mammoth 900-plus page guide to hard rock and heavy metal bands from 1970-1995 in the Pacific Northwest. Heaton joins the duo for the foray into Queensrÿche’s past, serving as one of the band’s unofficial historians over the past quarter-century.

“We were looking for the next book to write and were shocked to discover no one had told Queensrÿche’s story,” said Beach. “For us, it was a no-brainer to tackle their rich history, especially off the work we did researching the band for
Rusted Metal.”

“As we finished Rusted Metal, James and I realized we had so much more to say about Queensrÿche,” added Naron. “I've been a fan since 1982, and ebbed and flowed with the band. But after revisiting each Queensrÿche record and tour cycle for the book, I've fallen in love with the band all over again. Queensrÿche has always been a secretive band, and it has been fun talking to people who have helped unlock their past."

“The thing the three of us agreed on, was that Queensrÿche’s story is one of perseverance,” Heaton said. “The band’s music and personal history is rooted in change and overcoming obstacles, and that makes it a compelling story to write, and we hope, for everyone to read.”

Building An Empire: The Story Of Queensrÿche is an unauthorized account, featuring interviews with the band members themselves, and various associated people from Queensrÿche’s almost 40-year history—including managers, producers, crew members, family, friends and peers. The book weaves existing interviews from the band’s career with new ones, resulting in an all-encompassing, objective look at Queensrÿche’s career.

The book is slated for a fall 2021/winter 2022 release on NW Metalworx Music’s website, nwmetalworxmusic.com, Amazon.com, and other retailers.