GHOST frontman Papa Emeritus IV (a.k.a. Tobias Forge) joined THE HELLACOPTERS earlier tonight (Friday, January 22) on Swedish national broadcaster SVT's "På Spåret" (On The Track) quiz show to perform a cover of THE ROLLING STONES' "Sympathy For The Devil". You can watch video of his appearance below.

Last month, GHOST shared an end-of-year Facebook update indicating that announcements about new music and live shows will be forthcoming in the next few months. The Swedish act has been working on "several big things" for 2021 and will be issuing sporadic updates throughout the year.

Last October, Forge told Sweden Rock Magazine that he was planning to enter the studio in January to begin recording GHOST's fifth album. "The actual recording will last around six weeks and then there's two to three weeks of mixing and mastering," he said. "So sometime in March the record should be finished, but it won't be released until after the summer. As it looks now, knock on wood, we will then go on tour. We won't release an album until we know that we are actually going on tour. The album release will coincide with the start of a tour. Of course, we could announce an album release date and then, for some reason, it might not be possible to tour, but that's a whole other matter."

In March 2019, at the final concert of GHOST's "Prequelle" album cycle in Mexico City, the band introduced the new character who will front the act for its next LP phase: Papa Emeritus IV.

Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle" album.

In October 2019, Forge confirmed to U.K.'s Kerrang! magazine that there would be a new character fronting GHOST by the time the group's next LP sees the light of day.

"Prequelle" debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and features the chart-topping singles "Rats" and "Dance Macabre".

In December 2018, GHOST nabbed two Grammy nominations, "Best Rock Album" for "Prequelle" and "Best Rock Song" for "Rats".

Five years ago, GHOST became the first Swedish rock band ever to win a Grammy — 2016's "Best Metal Performance" for the song "Cirice".

A box set containing previously unreleased music written and sung by Bon Scott has just been made available via Cherry Red Records.

Founded in Australia, rock band FRATERNITY will forever be associated with Scott, who would later join AC/DC and enjoy worldwide fame. However, Scott's tenure with FRATERNITY has been poorly documented on the reissue market. Of the two albums the band had issued at the time, "Livestock" and "Flaming Galah", neither album has been released officially. And their story has never been told accurately. Half a century later, "Seasons Of Change - The Complete Recordings 1970-1974" finally seeks to amend this oversight.

Curated in conjunction with surviving band members (Bruce Howe, John Freeman, Sam See, John Bisset, Uncle John Eyers and the estate of Mick Jurd) and their original manager Hamish Henry, this three-CD set seeks to offer the complete recorded output of FRATERNITY, including both their albums from 1971-72 (originally issued on Sweet Peach and RCA, respectively), utilizing the original master tapes and best possible remastering sources, adding all relevant non-albums singles As and Bs and EP tracks. Bonus tracks feature FRATERNITY backing THE VALENTINES' Vince Lovegrove and their victory at the National Battle Of The Sounds competition where they claimed the title of Australia's No. 1 band.

In addition, research by Victor Marshall for this package uncovered the long-lost Hamish Henry cache of session tapes which have been curated into FRATERNITY's third album "Second Chance". "Second Chance" also features live tracks recorded at PT Lincoln, South Australia as part of their historic Country Arts Tour and unheard songs including vocals and song writing contributions from Bon Scott. Famous artist Vytas Serelis, designer of the "Flaming Galah" cover returns with original cover artwork for "Second Chance".

Musically, from their base in Aldgate, South Australia, FRATERNITY ran the gamut of musical styles in vogue on the rock scene at the dawn of the 1970s, from proto-heavy metal to country and soft rock, progressive music and a nod here and there to the earlier psychedelic boom.

"Seasons Of Change - The Complete Recordings 1970-1974" is beautifully presented, with exhaustive 18,000-word sleeve notes and unseen photos of the band from The Grape Organisation, which has worked in conjunction with Cherry Red's Lemon label to create this new 50th-anniversary collection.

Disc One: Livestock

01. Livestock

02. Somerville

03. Raglan's Folly

04. Cool Spot

05. Grand Canyon Suites

06. Jupiter Landscape

07. You Have A God

08. It

Bonus tracks

09. Why Did It Have To Be Me?

10. Question

11. Seasons Of Change (Single Version)

12. Somerville (Single Version)

13. The Race Part 1

14. The Race Part 2

Disc Two: Flaming Galah

01. Welfare Boogie

02. Annabelle

03. Seasons Of Change

04. If You Got It

05. You Have A God

06. Hemming's Farm

07. Raglan's Folly

08. Getting Off

09. Somerville R.I.P.

10. Canyon Suite

Bonus tracks

11. The Shape I'm In

12. If You Got It

13. Raglan's Folly

14. You Have A God

15. Seasons Of Change / If You Got It (Hoadley's Battle Of The Sounds 1971)

Disc Three: Second Chance

01. Second Chance

02. Tiger

03. Going Down

04. Requiem

05. Patch Of Land

06. Cool Spot (Alternative Version)

07. Hogwash

08. Chest Fever

09. Little Queenie

10. The Memory

11. Just Another Whistle Stop

12. No Particular Place To Go

13. Livestock

14. Rented Room Blues

15. Get Myself Out Of This Place (Alias Getting Off)

16. That's Alright Momma

Original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward has released a New Year's Day poem called "Happy New Year". Check it out below.

Ward has released a number of poems in recent months, some inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and others celebrating the fall–winter holiday season, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Bill was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced nine years ago, but backed out soon after. The drummer later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

All four original members of SABBATH were present when the band announced its reunion in late 2011. But Ward split from the group in 2012, citing an "unsignable" contract, and singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler carried on with their Rick Rubin–produced "13" LP and extensive international touring without him.

Ozzy told The Pulse Of Radio during SABBATH's last tour that Ward was not in shape to participate. "Bill Ward has got the most physically demanding job of the lot of us, 'cause he's the timekeeper," he said. "I don't think personally he had the chops to pull it off, you know. The saddest thing is that he needed to own up to that, and we could have worked around it, whether we had a drummer on the side with him or something."

It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, something that Iommi confirmed in 2017 during a question-and-answer session about SABBATH's "Ten Year War" box set.

In 2015, Ward released his first solo album in 18 years. Titled "Accountable Beasts", the record can be purchased on iTunes.

In November 2017, Ward's band DAY OF ERRORS released its first two songs, "Day Of Errors" and "Blaspheming At Creation", via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and Google Play. Two more tracks, "Dark" and "Ghost Train", followed in 2019.




#newyear pic.twitter.com/0bOVjH7K4N

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) January 22, 2021








✨Happy Holidays✨ pic.twitter.com/50Ihmv0ku5

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) December 17, 2020








? Happy Thanksgiving ? pic.twitter.com/q2QdiQ6WZ1

— Bill Ward (@billwarddrums) November 26, 2020

On March 12, BLACKMORE'S NIGHT will release "Nature's Light", its eleventh studio album and the first in six years, via earMUSIC. Today, the band, founded in 1997 by award-winning vocalist Candice Night and legendary guitar icon Ritchie Blackmore, has revealed the disc's second single, "Four Winds".

"'Four Winds' is the story of two girls, actually inspired by two of my oldest friendships," says Candice. "One who left Long Island and moved to California, and one who left to move to Virginia. Going to across the country to California and living on the water was where the first girl felt the call to her soul, being able to watch the dolphins in the water and living the life by the ocean, while the other one took a very different path and felt the call to the woods inspired by wolves and other woodland creatures. They both have equal importance in this storyline and are ultimately a part of me and perhaps of everyone, being pulled away from the stress of their current surroundings and looking for escape.

"If you feel stagnant or repressed in your surroundings, it's important to take a break from the mundane and go where your heart leads you. It allows you to recharge and begin again with fresh and renewed energy. For some, it is the ocean, for some the woods, for some feeling the sun on your face, others need to immerse in moonlight. Ultimately, we are all a part of the same story, the same picture, and as the song says, 'we're all part of the trees and part of the seas and ready to start again...'."

The ten new tracks make for a quintessential BLACKMORE'S NIGHT album. Once again, Blackmore and Night successfully mix the tradition of folk music and their love for the Renaissance era, inspired by the myths and legends of ancient times.

While the album is rooted in a traditional approach, fans of Ritchie Blackmore's unique style will not be disappointed. Heartfelt ballads, such as a brand-new version of "Wish You Were Here", set the scene for the magical tales on "Four Winds" and "The Twisted Oak". On the two instrumental tracks — "Darker Shade Of Black" and "Der letzte Musketier" — Ritchie's guitar brilliance shines through.

"Nature's Light" will be released on multiple formats. Among these is a strictly limited 2CD hardcover mediabook edition, including a bonus CD featuring a carefully selected set of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT's masterpieces from their extensive back catalogue. Furthermore, the album will become available as a CD digipak edition, a strictly limited heavyweight 1LP gatefold edition on yellow vinyl, a 180g 1LP gatefold edition on black vinyl as well as digital.

"Nature's Light" track listing:

01. Once Upon December

02. Four Winds

03. Feather In The Wind

04. Darker Shade Of Black (instrumental)

05. The Twisted Oak

06. Nature's Light

07. Der Letzte Musketier (instrumental)

08. Wish You Were Here (2021)

09. Going To The Faire

10. Second Element

STITCHED UP HEART frontwoman Alecia "Mixi" Demner has told Portugal's Underground's Voice that the band is planning to release an expanded edition of its latest album, "Darkness". The original LP, which came out in March 2020 via Another Century, was produced by FROM FIRST TO LAST singer/guitarist Matt Good (producer of ASKING ALEXANDRIA and HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD).

"We wrote 70 songs for that album, so we plan to release a deluxe version of it with, I think, five new tracks," Mixi said. "They're a lot heavier; there's a lot more energy. It's a little different.

"The reason that they didn't make the record is because they weren't in the lane that we wanted the record to sound like specifically," she explained. "But they're still great songs. So we decided that we're just gonna release some of the ones we didn't put on the album. It's a lot of fun."

"Darkness" includes the song "Lost", which features a guest appearance by Sully Erna of GODSMACK.

Last year, Mixi told Consequence Of Sound about the "Darkness" album title: "A lot of the lyrical content on this album ties into one of the songs on the album that's called 'Darkness', and it's about going through dark times over and over again and not being afraid anymore, because you know you've made it out before. Lyrically, it isn't a sad album, but it's not like everything is okay and there's sunshine and rainbows. There's stuff you have to go through to get to this place and be strong."

Asked how the initial vision for "Darkness" evolved throughout the recording process, Mixi said: "It completely changed. Originally, I wanted to go into this album with the strength that you can do anything and nothing can stop you, but the songs I was writing were not coming out authentic. I can be strong sometimes, but it takes a lot of dark stuff to get to that strength and know you can overcome it. So, the vision changed to pulling from those things that made us strong."

In the clip below courtesty of Guitar World, Vinnie Moore focuses on the intro rhythm part from the song "Gainesville Station", from his latest record, Soul Shifter. Guitarist Steve Gaines from Lynyrd Skynyrd was a big inspiration for Moore, and he wrote this song as a tribute to Gaines' incredibly soulful playing style.

Moore, best known for his solo albums and work with rock icons UFO, recently released a new video for “Same Sun Shines”, from Soul Shifter.

Says Vinnie, “I wrote this song at a time when I was struggling to find some light at the end of the tunnel. It was me trying to lift myself up and reconnect with feeling positive and focusing on the good things. I was looking up at the sun and thinking about how it’s always there; always has been. We all go through cloudy patches, but just have to remember that beyond those clouds the light is still there and continues to shine. You will lose it at times, but can always find it again. Hopefully the song is uplifting to others as it was for me. It is one of my favorite songs on the Soul Shifter album and my first choice for a video. We’re all living through unprecedented times right now unfortunately, but have to believe we’re eventually going to come out the other side and find brighter times again.

“Wayne Joyner put this video together for me and created some very cool graphics which he mixed in with footage of me playing. He has also done videos for Kansas, Sevendust, Fozzy, LA Guns, Black Stone Cherry, Dream Theater, Robby Krieger, Jon Anderson, and Devin Townsend.”

Vinnie Moore released his new album, Soul Shifter, earlier this year via Mind’s Eye Music / Cargo Records UK. The follow-up to Aerial Visions (2015) is Vinnie's ninth solo album features guest appearances by legendary artists Rudy Sarzo and Jordan Rudess, with Richie Monica on drums, Michael Bean (bassist from Vinnie’s Time Odyssey album), John Cassidy (keyboards), and John Pessoni (drums).

Tracklisting:

"Funk Bone Jam"
"Same Sun Shines"
"Kung Fu Grip"
"Mystified"
"Brother Carlos"
"Gainesville Station"
"Soul Rider"
"Mirage"
"Heard You Were Gone"
"Across The Ages"

British rock singer Chez Kane has announced the release of her self-titled debut album on March 12, 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by Danny Rexon of Crazy Lixx, Chez Kane is a melodic rock record that harkens back to the glory days of the '80s when the genre was known for having multiple incredible frontwomen playing the style. She recently released the single and music video for “Too Late For Love”. A one-take vocal performance of the track is available below.

A talented, young vocalist who fronts, with her two sisters, the band Kane'd, Chez was brought to the attention of the label after conversations with Danny Rexon of Crazy Lixx about the possibility of him scouting and producing some exciting new talent. Subsequently, Danny started working on some demos with Chez and the label did not pass up the opportunity to get involved with this incredible talent. Chez's debut solo album embraces the melodic rock style that both she and Danny so admire, while adding a new twist to the current takes on the genre.

“I feel so excited to have been asked to collaborate with Danny for a solo album. The second I heard the music, I instantly knew it was for me and I’m thrilled at the opportunity to launch my solo career this way. I am so humbled to have Frontiers on board. This is going to be killer and I can’t wait!” says Chez.

Producer Danny Rexon says, “Until now, I had only worked on the production of Crazy Lixx, but with this I can take a whole other role where I’m working on building up a brand new solo artist, which is quite refreshing....especially when we’re talking about creating something with a talented and hardworking singer like Chez.”

The concept behind the album started with a vision that Danny had in mind. “I’ve long felt that the contemporary melodic rock scene is missing an important piece of what I think made the genre, at least to some extent, so great in the late 80’s and early 90’s, and that is the quintessential female rocker. There are tons of bands in the melodic rock genre, but I feel like we’re missing that great female solo artist singing hard rock. A kind of Lee Aaron, Lita Ford, or Robin Beck for the new decade. So, the mission was clear to me from day one: Give the fans a female rocker that will remind them of the powerful rock anthems of the past. Having found Chez and discovering the potential in her voice, I have great faith in this endeavour and no doubt that this album will resonate well with fans both of my own band, Crazy Lixx and of the retro melodic rock genre at large.”

Chez adds that even “though I was born in the ‘90s, I have always had a major soft spot for that infectious ‘80s style, so from that aspect Danny’s songwriting fits me really well. We have the same vision, drive and passion to make this album an absolute belter!”

So what can listeners expect? “If you’re a fan of my stuff with Crazy Lixx, I bet you’ll enjoy the Chez Kane album too,” explains Danny. “I’ve written and arranged every song on the album, so it’s bound to have my signature style to it. However, this album will be a lot more radio friendly (at least if you go by what was considered radio friendly in 1989), a lot more keyboard oriented and of course, the fact that it’s a powerful female voice singing the songs will give the album a whole other dimension. And if you, like myself, are a fan of Lee Aaron, Vixen, Saraya, Chrissy Steele, Lita Ford, and similar artists and feel like the genre’s missing out this vital component, you’re going to love the debut album from Chez Kane!”

Tracklisting:

“Better Than Love”
“All Of It”
“Rocket On The Radio”
“Get It On”
“Too Late For Love”
“Defender Of The Heart”
“Ball N’ Chain”
“Midnight Rendezvous”
“Die In The Name Of Love”
“Dead End Street”

“Too Late For Love” video:

Former AC/DC bassist Mark Evans guested on Let There Be Talk this week. He goes deep into his history with AC/DC including his audition, the early tours, frontman Bon Scott, and the recording of Let There Be Rock. Evans is now playing with the Australian legends Rose Tattoo and hopes to be back out on the road this year.

Evans: "After I got sacked from the band, it became pretty obvious I wasn't the right guy for the band, and it's very obvious that Cliff (Williams) is. That's one of the things I'm really pleased with. I think the line-up of the band now is exactly how it should be. In the perfect world, you've got Mal (Malcolm Young) there too, but it's pretty much, basically, Stevie's in for Malcolm - that's basically the Back In Black line-up I think, isn't it? And that's the way it should be and it's natural.

I like a philosophical attitude. Some people could get bent out of shape by something like that (getting fired), but I look back and I've just nothing but good memories. A lot of love and respect for the band."

Evans was a member of AC/DC from 1975 - 1977, performing on four albums: T.N.T. (1975), High Voltage (1976), Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap (1976), and Let There Be Rock (1977).

In a new Classic Rock interview celebrating the 40th anniversary of DIAMOND HEAD's "Lightning To The Nations" album, Lars Ulrich was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for METALLICA's follow-up to 2016's "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" LP. He responded: "[It's been] glacial. These are the craziest of times and nothing is letting up. There's a little bit of movement [in that direction], but it's hard to do a lot when we're not together."

This past November, 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."

Last 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 in November. The special acoustic show benefited METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundat

HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale says that she is honored to be able to see Kamala Harris became the first female vice president in American history.

On Wednesday, after watching the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States, Lzzy took to her Instagram to share a photo of Amanda Gorman, who became the youngest person to deliver a poem at a U.S. presidential inauguration, and she included the following message: "Let's hear it for the Arts!!

"I know that the last few years have changed me. And the last year has taken a huge bite out my soul. Some challenges have had beautiful silver linings, others have brought my darkness to the surface. I've been carrying a heaviness in my heart. But today, I felt a little bit of that weight being lifted.

"The lightning bolt that struck me most during the inauguration today was a poem recited by the young but wise beyond her years @amandascgorman It moved me and coaxed my tears to fall. It reminded me once again that Art heals, Art Saves, Art is a doorway to change, enlightenment and understanding. Art is Hope.

"Today I'm so proud to be an artist, I'm proud to be an American, Im proud to be a woman, and I am proud stand beside you all as we take our first steps together into this new world.

"I am honored that I am able to see our first women Vice President step into office in my lifetime. A notion, that just a moment ago seemed like an impossible dream.

"Well, again I say...Nothing is Impossible! So, Go after your crazy dreams, chase your happiness... and Be your truest self!!

"I'm looking forward to seeing more petty barriers being broken down and I welcome a brighter future with open arms! We are in this together! United States!!

"Congratulations to our 46th President Joe Biden @potus, and Vice President Kamala Harris @kamalaHarris

"May compassion and love for your fellow humans guide you.

"Love, Peace & Rock n Roll."

In October, Lzzy urged her fans to vote for Biden in the 2020 presidential election, saying it was time to "vote against idiocracy."

About a month before the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Lzzy said that she was "into equality" and insisted that she couldn't "out of good conscience" vote for anybody who built his or her empire on "division and hate and inequality."

Although she initially said that she was a Bernie Sanders supporter, Lzzy later expressed concern that he would "die the first year in office" if he got into the White House. Hale went on to say that she would "definitely not" vote for Donald Trump, explaining that she has "just never been a fan."
























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A post shared by LZZY HALE (@officiallzzyhale)

In a new interview with the "Three Sides Of The Coin" podcast, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked how he and his bandmates have managed to keep the group together for five decades. He responded (see video below): "It's been tough. It's no different to KISS. Everybody has their ups and downs, especially bands that have had the great joy and incredible fan support. Because, as Gene [Simmons, KISS bassist/vocalist] said to me many, many years ago, 'Without your fans, you've got nothing,' and that's a fact. So the music is what represents you; the music is what it's all about. And as difficult as those times are when you do have a change in the lineup, the music is still there. That's your reference point, and that's what leads you on, that's what keeps you together. No matter how you are presenting yourself, you are keeping the band together in a musical sense. So when PRIEST go out now, we play songs from 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' or even 'Rocka Rolla' — you never know — to the present day. And the lineup has changed over the years, but the music hasn't; the music is still the same. The music is the reference, and that's a really important thing to remember."

Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and guitarist Glenn Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003.

JUDAS PRIEST's latest album, "Firepower", was released in March 2018 via Epic.

Halford is promoting his autobiography, "Confess", which arrived on September 29 via Hachette Books. The book has been described by the U.K.'s The Telegraph as "one of the most candid and surprising memoirs of the year."

Last month, JUDAS PRIEST and Rufus Publications announced the publication of the first-ever official JUDAS PRIEST book documenting the band's extensive history over the last 50 years. Titled "Judas Priest - 50 Heavy Metal Years", the book has been put together by David Silver, Ross Halfin and Jayne Andrews.

Prior to being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, JUDAS PRIEST's spring/summer 2020 European tour was scheduled to kick off on May 30 in Helsinki, Finland and conclude on July 28 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The band was also slated to headline the U.K's Bloodstock Open Air festival on August 9 at Catton Park, Derbyshire.

The U.S. leg of PRIEST's "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour was due to launch September 9 in Oxon Hill, Maryland and wrap up on October 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In a newly posted interview with music writer Joel Gausten, VOIVOD singer Denis "Snake" Bélanger discusses a variety of topics, including how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the band and its members.

It was a really difficult year for us and every band out there," Snake said. "I think we postponed four tours last year, but, of course, we have to be careful and be safe. During the confinement and lockdown, we did a stream from home at one point. Then we did another live stream of a full show in August on my birthday. As soon as we heard we could book a show, it was a maximum capacity of 250; that's what we were allowed to play. So, we booked two shows at a big place that holds like 1,500. We sold out for 250 people with the distancing and whatever. Finally, just a few weeks before it happened, we had to reconfine back to square one. It's so frustrating in a sense, but I guess that's the way it is."

He continued: "It's been a bit scary; the whole music industry is suffering a lot from it. I'm not just talking about bands — it's also promoters, venues and everything that goes around it. It's really hard, and some might not survive if it keeps going like this. Maybe in 2021… I don't know, maybe it's a psychological thing, but it's a step. Maybe — and I fucking hope so — there's going to be a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm conscious that there are a lot of things that won't be the same anymore. That scares me a little bit, but I'm staying confident. We have no choice."

VOIVOD drummer Michel "Away" Langevin recently told Metal Pilgrim that the band "recorded improvisations and bits" of new songs in January and February, and spent the last few months working on these "templates."

VOIVOD released a new live album, "Lost Machine - Live", in November via Century Media Records. The disc was recorded in Québec City during the worldwide touring cycle for "The Wake".

Last summer, VOIVOD released a new three-track 12-inch vinyl and digital EP titled "The End Of Dormancy" via Century Media Records. The EP is centered around a special "Metal Section" version of the title track (off VOIVOD's latest album, "The Wake") with added trumpets, saxophone and trombones. The complementary songs on this release are exclusive live versions of "The End Of Dormancy (Metal Section)" and the group's classic "The Unknown Knows", recorded at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019.

"The End Of Dormancy" EP came with artwork by Langevin and is available on 180-fram 12-inch vinyl.

"The Wake" was released in September 2018 via Century Media Records. The disc was recorded and mixed by Francis Perron at RadicArt Recording Studio in Canada. The album's artwork was once again created by Away

Swedish dark rock pioneers, Lake Of Tears, will release their first new album in 10 years, Ominous, on February 19 via AFM Records. Pre-order here, and watch a lyric video for the song "In Wait And In Worries" below.

The new release is the perfect soundtrack for short, grey days and long, cold, dark nights. After nearly a decade of silence, Daniel Brennare, head and heart of the band, finally reveals his sinister world of thought.

"This is not a record where you should primarily listen to the individual songs. Instead it is a whole, where the artwork and songs are puzzled together," states Daniel.

Tracklisting:

"At The Destination"
"In Wait And In Worries"
"Lost In A Moment"
"Ominous One"
"Ominous Too"
"One Without Dreams"
"The End Of This World"
"Cosmic Sailor"
"In Gloom"

"In Wait And In Worries" lyric video:

"At The Destination" lyric video:

Former Iron Maiden vocalist Blaze Bayley will release his 11th studio album, War Within Me, on April 9th. Pre-orders, in six different configurations, including CD, Vinyl and Deluxe Fanpack, are available now at this location. 

War Within Me is not a concept album but does include a positive thread throughout. In Blaze’s own words: "This is an album that I want to put on and feel very positive about. Whatever song you choose there’s some good feeling about it. As fans of metal music we tend to be damaged, strange and different in some way, and this album is (as I say in my live intro to the song 'Futureal') about taking your future in your own hands. It’s one of the things that really connects with people at my live shows." 

War Within Me was recorded during 2020 with work split between Blaze’s studio at home in the West Midlands and Christopher Appleton’s studio in Greater Manchester. The now very consistent line-up, chosen from British metal band Absolva, played on the album - Christopher Appleton (guitar, backing vocals), Martin McNee (drums), Karl Schramm (bass). Blaze and Appleton shared the work mixing and producing, whilst Ade Emsley (Iron Maiden, Tank, British Lion, Voodoo Six) handled the mastering.

The album features art design by Akirant Illustration.

Tracklisting:

"War Within Me"
"303"
"Warrior"
"Pull Yourself Up"
"Witches Night"
"18 Flights"
"The Dream Of Alan Turing"
"The Power Of Nikola Tesla"
"The Unstoppable Stephen Hawking"
"Every Storm Ends"

For further details, follow Blaze Bayley on Facebook.

Photo by Artur Tarczewski

FOZZY guitarist Billy Grey has praised Donald Trump as the "best president" of his lifetime.

Grey, who has previously shared memes questioning mask mandates and suggesting the presidential election was somehow stolen, made his comments as Trump left the White House for the final time of his presidency, ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. He then took a helicopter to the nearby Andrews base, where he spoke, and then boarded the Air Force One plane for Florida.

Earlier today, Billy took to his Facebook page to write: "I don't care what you think about this and I'm gonna say it, GODBLESS TRUMP! BEST PRESIDENT IN MY LIFETIME!"

Grey is apparently not the only member of FOZZY to have supported Trump in his re-election efforts. Singer Chris Jericho, who was born in Manhasset, New York before his family moved to Canada (he currently resides in Florida), reportedly donated thousands of dollars to Trump's 2020 presidential campaign, as well as to WinRed and Trump committees.

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

Earlier this month, Sebastian Bach took a swipe at Jericho, suggesting that the FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar bears some responsibility for the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol.

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

FOZZY spent the last few months putting the finishing touches on its new studio album for a 2021 release.

Chris recently revealed that FOZZY's next LP will contain 12 songs, including one cover.

Guitarist Rich Ward and producer Johnny Andrews are once again "doing the lion's share" of the songwriting for the new LP, which is being recorded primarily in Atlanta, Georgia.

Released in August 2019, "Nowhere To Run" was FOZZY's third single to hit Top 10 on rock radio, following "Judas" and "Painless".

In addition to producing "Judas", Andrews previously co-wrote FOZZY's "Lights Go Out" track back in 2014. He has also written songs with the likes of ALL THAT REMAINS, THREE DAYS GRACE and HALESTORM.

FOZZY is Jericho, Ward, Grey, Frank Fontsere (drums), and Randy Drake (bass).


I don't care what you think about this and I'm gonna say it,

GODBLESS TRUMP! BEST PRESIDENT IN MY LIFETIME!

Posted by Billy Grey on Wednesday, January 20, 2021



Posted by Billy Grey on Monday, January 18, 2021



Posted by Billy Grey on Saturday, December 5, 2020



Posted by Billy Grey on Monday, November 30, 2020

SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian has slammed Donald Trump for granting Turkey legal rights over the vast religious-cultural heritage of the region's indigenous peoples and other minority populations, among them Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, Jews and Kurds. The move was strongly opposed by a host of cultural rights and museum groups.

The U.S.-Turkey Memorandum Of Understanding was signed by the Trump administration in its final hours, and it came in response to a request by the government of Turkey, submitted over a year ago.

An Armenian immigrant born in Lebanon and re-rooted in Los Angeles, Serj took to his social media late Tuesday (January 19) to share a statement from the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) about the "disastrous" cultural property agreement, and he included the following message: "Thanks Trump. In your last minute you decided to grant Turkey my people's indigenous cultural heritage including ancient churches and stone crosses as a reward for them trying to exterminate us. Never seen a president suck so much cock."

Tankian's views on the Trump presidency are diametrically opposed to those of SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan, who has repeatedly defended America's 45th president, saying that Trump opponents "perpetuated and instigated a total shutdown of the economy" in the hopes that it would crash and that he would be blamed. Dolmayan also praised Trump and accused Democrats of "demonizing" the president and "blaming him for everything under the sun." In addition, John called Democrats "the true bigots" who "fought to maintain slavery" and were "directly responsible for 70 plus million abortions, a large majority of whom were black." Dolmayan also supported Trump's claim that his administration had done more for the African-American community "than any president since Abraham Lincoln."

In October, Serj told Forbes that it was "frustrating" for him to see John so publicly supportive of Trump, especially considering Dolmayan is Armenian as well. "But that's having to do with American politics," Serj explained. "When it comes to Armenian issues, we're on the same exact page. We know what injustice is happening, we work together. We're doing different auction activities and working together on many fronts. The Armenian nation is united, whether you voted for Republican, Democrat or neither."

Last year, Tankian called for Trump to resign and described him as "completely useless" over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.


Thanks Trump. In your last minute you decided to grant Turkey my people’s indigenous cultural heritage including ancient...

Posted by Serj Tankian on Tuesday, January 19, 2021

Five CHEVELLE singles were certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) on January 15 for accumulating 500,000 certified units. The songs in question are "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)" (originally released in January 2005), "Jars" (April 2007), "I Get It" (June 2009), "Face To The Floor" (October 2011) and "The Clincher" (August 2004).

According to the RIAA, one equivalent song unit is equal to a single digital song sale, or 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams.

As a testament to CHEVELLE's sustained success and influence, the band also recently scored other multiple platinum and gold certifications. Their now-classic 2002 album "Wonder What's Next" and breakout single "The Red" both reached double-platinum status, the single "Send The Pain Below" garnered a platinum certification, 2004's "This Type of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" went platinum, and 2007's full-length "Vena Sera" is now gold.

CHEVELLE has transformed rock music as tried-and-true outliers. The multiplatinum Chicago rock band has generated nearly half a billion streams, earned seven No. 1 hits, and sold out shows worldwide. They've landed four Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top 200, including "Sci-Fi Crimes" (2009), "Hats Off To The Bull" (2011), "La Gárgola" (2014) and "The North Corridor" (2016). The latter two each captured No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums chart.

Earlier in the month, CHEVELLE released its new single, "Self Destructor". The track is taken from CHEVELLE's upcoming follow-up to "The North Corridor", "Niratias", which is due on March 5.

"Niratias" stands out as CHEVELLE's most pummeling and provocative record yet. Teaming with longtime producer Joe Barresi (TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE), CHEVELLE recorded throughout 2019 and 2020 and pieced together an intriguing and inimitable body of work, with themes that will reveal themselves soon. The album artwork is by Boris Vallejo, the famed and award-winning artist who was responsible for the posters used for films like "Knightriders" and "National Lampoon's Vacation", as well as iconic '70s and '80s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal).

"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 b

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French has called Donald Trump a "white supremacist president" whose tenure at the White House was a "long national nightmare."

Early this morning, Trump left the White House for the final time of his presidency, ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. He then took a helicopter to the nearby Andrews base, where he spoke, and then boarded the Air Force One plane for Florida.

Late Tuesday night (January 19), French took to his Twitter to write: "in a little over 12 hours, the long national nightmare of the Trump presidency will be over. The stain he leaves behind will need time to be exorcised from our lives. A White supremacist president and the racism he has endorsed has been exposed needs to be ultimately eradicated."

This is not the first time French has blasted Trump in one of his tweets. Last July, the musician, who had written a bi-weekly column for Inc. magazine's web site for nearly six years, wrote: "I'm so tired of people writing about #LeadershipMatters #leadership #leadershipskills who recycle the same old cliche's but have never ever run a company. Stop #Phonyleadership advice NOW!! Especially those who have run companies into the ground, had racist hiring practices, filed multiple bankruptcies, sexually harassed dozens of women, paid off porn stars and screwed every vendor and lending institution. Who is Trump international!!"

French is not the only member of TWISTED SISTER to be openly critical of Trump. Singer Dee Snider, who got to know Trump personally after appearing more than once on "The Celebrity Apprentice", said that he was "extremely disappointed" with the way Trump handled the coronavirus pandemic. "A lot of this could have been avoided," he said. "I mean, certain things were inevitable — the virus was coming, sickness was coming, death was coming. That was inevitable, but the way it was handled, many deaths could have been prevented and we could have been ahead of things instead of behind things. Right now, it feels like, in my country, that we're constantly trying to catch up to the virus as it does what it does. This could have been very different, but we didn't learn from the lessons of others, unfortunately."

Back in November 2017, Snider said that he could no longer be friends with Trump because he did not share the president's views on important issues, including the Trump administration's harsh immigration policy.

Snider found himself in the middle of controversy in 2016 when he asked Trump to stop using the 1984 TWISTED SISTER anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It" in his campaign. The singer said at the time that Trump was very gracious about the request.

French has four decades of experience as the manager, guitarist and director of licensing, publishing and touring for TWISTED SISTER. He is also a keynote and motivational speaker, reinvention expert and entrepreneur, as well as the founder of The Pink Burst Project, a nonprofit.




in a little over 12 hours, the long national nightmare of the Trump presidency will be over. The stain he leaves behind will need time to be exorcised from our lives. A White supremacist president and the racism he has endorsed has been exposed needs to be ultimately eradicated.

— Jay Jay French (@jayjayfrench) January 20, 2021








Money doesn't buy morality.

Stay ignorant...

— Jay Jay French (@jayjayfrench) January 20, 2021