VENOM INC., the band featuring original VENOM guitarist Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (guitar) and ex-VENOM bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan, is continuing to work on its new album. The follow-up to 2017's "Avé" will once again be released on Nuclear Blast Records. The recording is being done between England, Portugal and America and it will have Dunn at the helm as producer once again.

In a new interview with the "Heavy Demons" radio show, Dunn stated about the making of the new VENOM INC. LP: "So far, we have 24 brand new songs, and they are all at the first preliminary mix stage. But we need to get the vocals done. Tony usually comes to Portugal to do vocals in my studio, but with all the restrictions at the moment [due to the coronavirus pandemic], it's just not possible. So we're just gonna have to wait."

According to Dunn, the new VENOM INC. material is "sounding great. Dare I say this, it sounds better than 'Avé'," he said. "I think it does."

Jeff went on to say that there is no release date yet for the new VENOM INC. disc. "It's pointless saying to people, 'Oh, yeah, it'll be out in the spring,' 'Yeah, it'll be out in the summer,'" he explained. "We just don't know — we really don't know. At the moment, the U.K. looks like it's possibly locked down until March, so nobody's going anywhere. And Portugal have shut their borders to a lot of countries, so getting in and out of places is just so difficult at the moment. So it may come down to Tony having to find a studio somewhere in London or whatever. I really don't know.

"Like what we did with 'Avé', I had a lot of the lyrics written for that album already, and then when Tony came over, then any gaps that were there, we filled them in together," he continued. "We tend to work on the vocals and the phrasing and all that kind of stuff together. So maybe it'll just be down to Tony this time. I don't know. We'll have to see how the restriction situation goes. We'll have to keep a close eye on it and see what happens."

The new album marks the second recording under the name VENOM INC., while Dunn and Dolan have a long history as recording artists together in VENOM, M:PIRE OF EVIL and Mantas solo projects. It also marks the VENOM INC. recording debut of drummer Jeramie Kling (also of MASSACRE), who joined the band in 2018.

Back in 2018, VENOM INC. recruited Kling to fill in for drummer Anthony "Abaddon" Bray on a European tour while Abaddon stayed home to spend time with his newborn daughter. VENOM INC. has since completed several tours with Kling without making any official announcements about Bray's possible return to the group.

Dunn, Bray and Dolan released three albums as VENOM between 1989 and 1992 — "Prime Evil" (1989), "Temples Of Ice" (1991) and "The Waste Lands" (1992).

VENOM INC. is not to be confused with the Conrad "Cronos" Lant-fronted version of VENOM, which is continuing to tour and make albums under the VENOM moniker. Joining Cronos in that group are Rage (a.k.a. Stuart Dixon) on guitar and Danté (a.k.a. Danny Needham) on drums.

BEATALLICA, a satirical mashup act whose hilarious schtick marries the songwriting prowess ofn THE BEATLES to the deep-throated rock growl of METALLICA, has signed with Metal Assault Records. The band's fourth full-length album — and its first in more than seven years — will be released later in 2021.

Metal Assault first got introduced to BEATALLICA in 2010 when the band toured the West Coast and performed at the now-defunct Key Club in West Hollywood, putting on the kind of performance only they can. Subsequently, Metal Assault interviewed BEATALLICA and kept track of the band's progress over the years, as they took their show on the road all over the world, garnering a global fanbase, to go with heaps of praise from members of METALLICA and the like, as well as from journalists everywhere.

While we wait for the new album to get ready for release, Metal Assault Records has added BEATALLICA's three existing full-length albums for purchase at the band's new Bandcamp store.

BEATALLICA's third full-length album, "Abbey Load", was released in April 2013 via Oglio Records.

Back in 2005, the members of BEATALLICA received help from METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich in their dispute with Sony Music over BEATALLICA's "unlawful use" of the group's compositions "without authorization or license." Sony Music accused BEATALLICA of violating copyright laws, demanded that their webmaster pay "unspecified damages," and forced the band's ISP to shut down their web site. Thanks to Ulrich's efforts, BEATALLICA was soon back online, and the legal debacle was over.

"The Internet is a swamp of piracy, so you send out cease-and-desist letters all the time," METALLICA lawyer Peter Paterno said at the time. "Someone at Sony probably saw this site and sent out a letter and once they realized what was on it they decided it was not something worth picking a fight over. They got that this is different from someone selling BEATLES CDs and not paying royalties."

BEATALLICA frontman Jaymz Lennfield (a.k.a. Michael "Tinker" Tierney) later told River Cities' Reader that he believed his band's music had the legal protection of parody. "We think we're making something new, especially lyrically," he said. "It's definitely a creative process... Legally and creatively, stuff like this hasn't been done befo

Imonolith features drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project), guitarist Brian ‘Beav’ Wadell (Devin Townsend Project), Jon Howard (Threat Signal), guitarist Kai Huppunen (Methods of Mayhem, Noise Therapy) and Scott Whalen (Econoline Crush). They have checked in with the following update:

"Here’s some sneak peek footage of Ryan Van Poederooyen laying down brand new Imonolith music at Hipposonic Music Studios in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Expect brand new music from Imonolith and other news to be announced very soon." 

A video update from Huppunen is also available below.

The collective of heavy-hitting players is at the top of their game, recently releasing their debut album, State Of Being. The album features special guest appearances from Jens Kidman (Meshuggah) and famed Swedish vocalist Johannes Eckerström and is made up of 10 hook-laden, riff-heavy tracks that center around the theme of how people deal with various stages of life.

Tracklisting:

"State Of Being" (intro)
"Becoming The Enemy" (feat. Johannes Eckerstrom)
"Instinct"
"Dig"
"The Mourning"
"Forgone"
"Breathe"
"The Reign" (feat. Jens Kidman)
"We Never Forget"
"Hollow"
"Persevere"

"Hollow" video:

NERVOSA's music video for the song "Under Ruins" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Perpetual Chaos", which will arrive on January 22 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded in Malaga at Artesonao Casa de Grabación Studio by Martin Furia, who also produced the new full-length with founding guitarist Prika Amaral. The LP was mastered by Yarne Heylen.

NERVOSA's new lineup consists of Amaral alongside Diva Satanica on vocals, Mia Wallace on bass and Eleni Nota on drums.

"Perpetual Chaos" is described in a press release as "a heavy, incontrollable vortex" which "strikes with inexorable full femme power, showcasing [NERVOSA's] ability for critical and straightforward lyricism mixed with an intoxicating blend of thrash spiced with remarkable death metal assaults."

Amaral commented: "It was a wonderful experience with these girls. They are all very talented and did an excellent job. I have never been so happy with the final result of a record.

"I chose Artesonao studio in Malaga, because it is isolated and in an extremely beautiful place, we worked hard but we had the best vibe between us."

Diva Satanica commented on the album recording: "It was undoubtedly a very intense process in every way. Not only did we learn to work together, but also to get to know each other and live together.

"I am very lucky to be able to be part of a project like this and I am sure that with the release of this album, NERVOSA will take a very important step in its career.

"Working with Martin Furia was incredible. He helped me to find nuances in my voice that I didn't know I had.

"Get ready for a new era, more powerful than ever!"

Guided by a marvelous force of uncompromising thrash and death metal, the raw power of "Perpetual Chaos" has its finger on the pulse of time: lyrically, NERVOSA does not hesitate to tackle issues that impact the very core of society as we know it. From political grievances and amplifying the voices of minorities to protesting against factory farming, capitalism and succumbing to the ill-informed musings of social elites — these commanding women do not mince words. Tracks like the airtight opener "Venomous", the fast-twitching "Until The Very End" and "Time To Fight" prove that NERVOSA's revitalized identity experiments with both fresh new elements and crucial auditory foundations without succumbing to any clichés. "Genocidal Command" perks ears with Diva Satanica's vocal eloquence, accented by the outstanding range of Schmier (DESTRUCTION) while mirroring a rousing thrash metal manifest. A tremendous outcome awaits with brawl-brushed guitar lines, blisteringly fast drums and critical lyricism — striking the listener in a way only NERVOSA could.

"Perpetual Chaos" track listing:

01. Venomous

02. Guided By Evil

03. People Of The Abyss

04. Perpetual Chaos

05. Until The Very End

06. Genocidal Command

07. Kings Of Domination

08. Time To Fight

09. Godless Prisoner

10. Blood Eagle

11. Rebel Soul

12. Pursued By Judgement

13. Under Ruins

NERVOSA is:

Diva Satanica (Vocals)

Prika Amaral (Guitar)

Mia Wallace (Bass)

Eleni Nota (Drums)

Photo credit: Barbara Ciravegna

GRETA VAN FLEET has released a new live/performance music video for its latest single, "Age Of Machine". The track is taken from the band's second album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", which will be made available on April 16 via Lava/Republic Records.

A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", "The Battle At Garden's Gate" came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017's "Highway Tune" led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.

Over the past three years, GRETA VAN FLEET — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka, and drummer Danny Wagner — played to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America and New Zealand. While driving to gigs, the first-time world travelers passed many unfamiliar sights, from the favelas in Sao Paulo to the Gold Coast of Australia and everywhere in between, meeting and enjoying conversations with fans and other musicians that opened up new worlds to them. To cap off the change-filled era, the quartet moved from Michigan to Nashville, immersing themselves in Music City's rich history. The melding of all these experiences opened their eyes to amazing new worlds of culture, history, philosophy and spirituality — and ushered in an entirely new way of looking at life and the approach to their music.

Accordingly, GRETA VAN FLEET poured everything they experienced into these new songs - the music reflects their spiritual and intellectual growth, increased awareness of the inequalities plaguing the modern world, and deep empathy for what other people are going through.

"We realized that while growing up, we had been shielded by many things, and we were unaware of a lot of things," says Wagner. "And then we were thrown out into this huge world, and it was a bit of a culture shock at first. But as we started to travel a lot, meet new and different people and experience different cultures, our definition of 'normal' changed."

"I suppose that everything has changed except what got us here in the first place," adds Sam Kiszka. "Everything — our perception of the world, perception of life itself, what it means to be an artist, what it means to be part of a beautiful, gorgeous society. We've gained a larger understanding of why we're all here."

In general, the album's arrangements are spacious and leisurely, giving the music pleasing dynamics, as the band touches on all manners of rock 'n' roll. "The Battle At Garden's Gate" is cinematic, capturing the breathtaking energy of an exciting fight scene or the smoldering passion of a brooding, heroic protagonist saving the day. The new music also illustrates that the members of GRETA VAN FLEET are paving the way for a new generation of musicians — ones that use rock 'n' roll's foundational elements to build an entirely new sonic blueprint.

Sonically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" also feels bracingly modern, an embodiment of genre-blended musical freedom. Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (FOO FIGHTERS, PAUL MCCARTNEY), the album is ambitious and expansive, marked by epic journeys such as the second single, "Age Of Machine", released today, and the Top 5 rock hit "My Way, Soon", which boasts a towering chorus hook and rip-it-up-and-start-again lyrics.

Josh explains: "It's very dynamic, lyrically speaking. And that's the human experience. It's much more than pain or fear; it's also beauty. People need people, and love is important." Lyrically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" muses about the influence of technology on modern life; the role conflict plays in the global sphere; the deceptive fulfillment of tangible riches; and philosophical questions about life, love and power.

"There was a lot of self-evolution happening during the writing of this album that was prompted by experiences I had, experiences we all had, so a lot of contemplation occurred," Josh says, while Jake adds, "It's reflecting a lot of the world that we've seen, and I think that it's reflecting a lot of personal truth. What Josh does very well with the lyrics is telling ancient tales with a contemporary application."

For Josh, working with Kurstin provided the confidence he needed to push his songwriting into these vivid dimensions. "I'm always a little bit hesitant about my abilities as an artist; I think a lot of artists feel that way," he says. "But Greg hovering over me while I'm on the piano, taking an interest in what I was doing — that was really important for me."

That added confidence is obvious. Josh sounds commanding on each song, stretching his already-acrobatic voice to newer heights, while the instrumentalists fearlessly push themselves into new territory. Easy going organ and acoustic folk-rock riffs drive one song, while another ends in a torrent of guitar noise that rivals Neil Young's onstage guitar freakouts with CRAZY HORSE. "For all of us, the performances — and the aspects of them that are captured — preserve where we're at musically in time right now," Jake says.

The future is unwritten, and the sky's the limit for these curious travelers and truth-seekers. Josh says, "certainly after this, we've grown in so many ways. This album has taught us a lot, about life in general, about ourselves, about all of us, about the world we live in."

Photo credit: Alyssa Gafkjen

According to WISH-TV, ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer made his first court appearance today and will remain in jail until at least Friday (January 22) in connection with his role in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Schaffer turned himself in to police in Hamilton County and has since been moved to the Marion County Jail. In the coming days, he will go in front of U.S. magistrate, who could release him on bail.

The musician, who resides in Columbus, Indiana, turned himself in to authorities around 3 p.m. Sunday (January 17), Chris Bavender, public affairs specialist for the FBI Indianapolis Field Office, said.

According to the FBI, Schaffer was among the rioters who sprayed United States Capitol police officers with "bear spray," a form of capsaicin pepper spray sold by many outdoors retailers, as part of their efforts to push the officers back inside the Capitol and breach the Capitol building themselves.

Schaffer was photographed and captured on surveillance video carrying "bear spray" and engaging in verbal altercations with Capitol police officers inside the Capitol building. Schaffer is seen holding what the FBI describes as "clear sunglasses" in one photograph, and "bear spray in other photographs."

These are the six charges Schaffer is facing, according to the FBI:

1) Knowingly Entering or Remaining in any Restricted Building or Grounds Without Lawful Authority

2) Disrupting the Orderly Conduct of Government Business

3) Knowingly Engages in an Act of Physical Violence Against any Person or Property in any Restricted Building or Grounds

4) Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building

5) Engage in an Act of Physical Violence in a Capitol Building

6) Parade, Demonstrate, or Picket in a Capitol Building

On January 8, the FBI's Washington Field Office released 40 photos of people who were suspected of unlawful entry during a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol carried out on January 6 during the final Congressional vote recording for the 2020 general election. Among them was a picture of Schaffer taken by Roberto Schmidt of AFP. In the photo, Schaffer could be seen at the front of a mob, sporting a hat from Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia group, wearing black leather fingerless tactical gloves and pointing his finger while yelling at someone out of the frame.

Schaffer is believed to be one of at least 200 people who are being investigated by FBI officials over their roles in the insurrection. Additionally, the FBI has received roughly 140,000 digital media tips from the public.

While Schaffer has not yet said anything publicly about his involvement in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates put out a statement on Instagram and Facebook opposing the insurrection.

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

Earlier in the month, German daily newspaper Die Welt uploaded a video interview it conducted with Schaffer last November at a Washington, D.C. demonstration supporting Trump and protesting the 2020 presidential election results. In the chat, the 52-year-old musician said that "a group of thugs and criminals hijacked this country a long time ago" and warned that "they're messing with the wrong people here. Because now we see you, and you're going down. Mark my words."

Schaffer also seemingly threw his support behind Trump, saying "he's not your typical Republican" and claiming that America's 45th president is "dealing with a criminal mafia that has been in the shadows running the world, frankly, for a very long time. They wanna destroy all of our sovereignty and bring about global government," he added. "We're not having it… It will not happen. There will be a lot of blood shed, if it comes down to that — trust me. The American people will not go for that bullshit — once they understand what's actually happening. So, that's where we're at. Nobody wants this, but they're pushing us to a point where we have no choice."

Finnish news publication Ilta-Sanomat is reporting that Children Of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, who passed away in late December due to ongoing  health issues, was still married to former Sinergy bandmate Kimberly Goss at the time of his death. According to Finnish law Laiho was not officially married to Australian Kelli Wright-Laiho, although she has appeared in public in Finnish and international media as well as on social media.

Laiho married Goss on February 1st, 2002, and according to the IS report the couple never officially divorced. Goss confirmed this information directly with IS

The news of the continuation of the marriage, which took place 19 years ago until the death of Laiho, is surprising, as the guitarist has been in the public eye in recent years together with the Australian Kelli Wright-Laiho. Wright-Laiho has made it clear through her social media updates, that she has been married to Laiho since 2017.

Goss and Laiho were still close after the end of their romantic relationship, Laiho's close circle told IS. Goss agrees:

"During his last ten months, we talked almost daily. Nothing went unsaid," Goss tells IS. "It means a lot to me."

They were still in contact in December on the day Laiho died. He passed away in Helsinki, while Goss was in her current home in Chicago, IL. Kelli Wright-Laiho, who appeared in public as the wife of Laiho in recent years, was in Australia at the end of December.

The Finnish Marriage Act states: "Before the marriage, it must be ascertained that there are no obstacles to the marriage. An obstacle to marriage is defined as, among other things, a previous, valid union. No one is allowed to marry if his or her previous marriage is still valid. Nor may a person whose registered partnership is valid enter into marriage. ”

According to Finnish law, Laiho had not been able to marry Kelli Wright, as Laiho and Goss had not officially divorced. The wedding photos published by Kelli Wright-Laiho on Instagram in December 2017 are therefore not images of an official marriage from the point of view of Finnish law.

Goss lived in Finland during and after Sinergy's active career. She did not move back to the United States until 2012. According to official documents, the marriage ended about eight months after the wedding: Alexi Laiho filed for divorce alone in November 2002. However, he quickly withdrew the application. There was no time to give the divorce a reflection period, but it was only at the notification stage in the direction of Goss. The decision on the canceled divorce application was registered in the Helsinki District Court in March 2003. The couple remained together until 2004 and Laiho made no subsequent divorce applications, therefore the marriage was thus in force when he died at the end of December 2020.

Laiho spent the last ten months of his life in Finland.

According to IS, Kimberly Goss and Kelli Wright-Laiho do not know each other. However, Goss has a message for Wright-Laiho:

"For those in Australia who knew him during the times he visited there, I wish you nothing but peace and light. I’m not looking for a public feud. Let’s not taint his legacy with nastiness. He would not want a spectacle made of this and anyone who truly knew him would know this." 

Goss posted the following tribute to Laiho when news of his passing became public:

"My first true love, my bandmate and my best friend. The silver lining throughout this entire pandemic is that we were given the gift of having so much quality time together. Our marathon FaceTime calls, the endless text messages and phone calls at all hours of the day and night will stay with me forever. I am so comforted by the fact that we were able to reflect on our lives together both on and off the stage and to cherish our continued friendship that has remained in tact for all these years. Allu, my heart is both full and broken at the same time. Not many people are able to have nothing left unsaid with someone whom they had such a long, rich history with. You gave me peace and left me with zero regrets in the months and weeks before your tired body finally gave out. I thank you so very much and I’ll love you forever and always.

You and Tommi are together again and I can hear the joy and laughter coming from the two of you, as if it were yesterday. You will always remain in the hearts of us who knew and loved you and your legacy will live on forever in the music you blessed the world with. Close your eyes my darling. You’re asleep now and finally at rest."

As expected, fans have taken to social media to express their condolences to Laiho's family and friends. Anyone who would like to see photos Goss has posted along with her written tribute, or offer their condolences, prayers and well-wishes is asked to go to the Instagram page that has been set up specifically for that purpose.

Please direct all messages, public or private, and friend requests to Instagram.com/kimvoxrox.

Alexi Laiho and drummer Jaska Raatikainen founded Children of Bodom in 1993, and the band was one of the most internationally acclaimed metal acts in Finland up until their very last farewell concert in December of 2019. Last year Alexi Laiho put together Bodom After Midnight, who recorded three songs and shot one music video, which will be released later on posthumously.

Besides Children of Bodom, Laiho was known for acts such as Warmen, Sinergy, Kylähullut and The Local Band. Awarded with a Metal Hammer Golden Gods and several other international prizes, the guitarist was also the main star, leading a group of one hundred guitar players at Helsinki Festival in 2015 in 100 Guitars From Hel – a massive concert piece he composed.

"We are crushed by the sudden passing of our dear friend and band member. Words cannot describe this shock and the profound sadness that we feel", Daniel Freyberg, Mitja Toivonen and Waltteri Väyrynen from Bodom After Midnight state.

Laiho recently completed work on the debut album for Bodom After Midnight, the band launched following Children Of Bodom's demise in 2019.

His death comes as a devastating blow to the metal world and the BraveWords family, as some of us knew Alexi personally. Rest in peace, Wildchild.

According to PUBLIC tax information, Alexi Laiho earned his music well in the last years of his life. In the past decade, his taxable income peaked in 2013, when the Bodom bowler earned an annual income of more than 200,000 euros. In the most recent completed taxation for 2019, Laiho's total earnings were EUR 89,683.

FOO FIGHTERS have released the official music video for their latest single, "Waiting On A War". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Medicine At Midnight", which will be released on February 5 via Roswell Records/RCA Records. The nine-song, 37-minute effort was produced by the FOO FIGHTERS and Greg Kurstin.

If "Waiting On A War" seems to have an especially emotional heft to its lyrics, well, that's because it does. Dave Grohl recounts the personal anecdote that inspired the song: "Last fall, as I was driving my daughter to school, she turned to me and asked, 'Daddy, is there going to be a war?' My heart sank as I realized that she was now living under the same dark cloud that I had felt 40 years ago.

"I wrote 'Waiting On A War' that day.

"Every day waiting for the sky to fall. Is there more to this than that? Is there more to this than just waiting on a war? Because I need more. We all do.

"This song was written for my daughter, Harper, who deserves a future, just as every child does."

"Medicine At Midnight" track listing:

01. Making A Fire

02. Shame Shame

03. Cloudspotter

04. Waiting On A War

05. Medicine At Midnight

06. No Son Of Mine

07. Holding Poison

08. Chasing Birds

09. Love Dies Young

The first single from the disc, "Shame Shame", was released in November. An accompanying music video for the song was directed by Paola Kudacki and co-stars Grohl and Sofia Boutella. "Shame Shame" renders in stunning black and white an interpretation of a recurring dream that's haunted Grohl since his childhood days.

Grohl told SiriusXM's Alt Nation about the "Medicine At Midnight" musical approach: "It's our 10th album, and it's our 25th anniversary. We're. like, okay, let's look back at all the stuff that we've done before. We've made that loud sort of noisy punk rock fast stuff. We've made the sleepy acoustic kind of gentle acoustic record stuff. We've done the three- or four-minute-long bubblegum rock and roll, pop, single thing before. And it was, like, well, what haven't we done? And we had never really made a groove-oriented sort of party record.

"It's hard to put the words 'dance' or 'funk' or 'disco' in the same sentence as the FOO FIGHTERS; it scares the shit out of me," Dave admitted. "But all of us grew up loving rock and roll records that you could like bounce around to, like THE CARS. Like, oh my God, we love THE CARS. Or David Bowie's 'Let's Dance'. Or POWER STATION. Or THE [ROLLING] STONES' 'Tattoo You' — things like that. We're, like, 'All right. We've never really explored that territory before. Let's do it.

"We're lucky in that everybody in the band has diverse influences and everybody loves different kinds of music, but I honestly think we're capable of doing almost anything," he said. "So if we put our minds to it, we can kind of chameleon and turn into a death metal band, or we could be like THE CARPENTERS. So we just have to come together and make the decision, like, 'All right, which way do we wanna go? Which way are we gonna turn the wheel?' And this time we did it to make this party record."

Progressive / power metal quartet Immortal Guardian has filmed a new sing-through / lyric video showcasing vocalist Carlos Zema as he performs the song “Read Between The Lines” from their upcoming new album, Psychosomatic.

The band urges fans to visit their online shop to pre-order their new album, Psychosomatic, which will be released on February 12th via M-Theory Audio. 

Immortal Guardian previously unveiled a music video for “Lockdown”, the second single from their forthcoming concept album, Psychosomatic. The clip, which showcases the group cleverly adapting to the same stay-at-home conditions that are affecting millions of people around the world at this moment can be viewed below.

"Rich or poor, it doesn't matter, every human this year experienced some kind of lockdown/isolation during this insane year,” says guitarist / keyboardist Gabriel Guardian. “We couldn't even just meet up because our borders were on lockdown for international travel. Thank god for the internet, as we were able to still create music and keep each other company online even with thousands of miles between each member. 'Lockdown' talks about all of the same questions we all have been asking ourselves since the start of the pandemic. Where did this all come from? Who's to blame? Is the lockdown saving more lives than it's destroying? We can only keep making music through these crazy times and hope for a better tomorrow."

Tracklisting:

"Psychosomatic"
"Read Between The Lines"
"Lockdown"
"Phobia"
"Clocks"
"Self-Isolation"
"Goodbye To Farewells"
"Candlelight"
"Find The Reason"
"New Day Rising"

After winning over new audiences with their acclaimed 2018 debut full-length Age of Revolution and touring relentlessly alongside fellow shredders such as Marty Friedman, Powerglove, and Exmortus, Immortal Guardian gathered in Las Vegas earlier this year to begin recording their second album. As the spread of COVID-19 and the subsequent pandemic began to ensue, each member of the band retreated to their respective hometowns. With shutdowns around the world being enforced, the band completely scrapped the record that they had been working on and were heavily inspired to write and create a new thematic record about their emotions surrounding current events.

The video for “Read Between The Lines” - produced and directed by SBLGA - also saw the members of Immortal Guardian contributing remotely from their respective homes, and shows off the continued refinement of their full-frontal assault of anthemic melodies, technical rhythms, furious shred and high-flying vocals.

Psychosomatic is the next step in Immortal Guardian’s evolution while still capturing the band’s exhilarating trademark melding of melodic power metal with progressive / shred tendencies.

Immortal Guardian is:

Gabriel Guardian – guitars / keyboards
Carlos Zema – vocals
Justin Piedimonte – drums
Josh Lopez – bass

 

Ferocious riffs set the metalcore sound on fire for Seasons and their latest video / single "Killing Season". The vicious lyrics and scorching performance give "Killing Season" its complete story. "Killing Season" was written from the perspective of Jason of the Friday The 13th franchise. The latest installment, Friday The 13th: Vengence 2, will be released in the fall of 2021. "Killing Season" is sliced and ready to make you scream!

"This song was written from the perspective of the fictional masked murderer Jason Voorhees from the Friday The 13th franchise." says Seasons. "The song is loaded with references to different aspects of Jason and events that happen to the character throughout the movie franchise. We are very excited and proud to say that the song will be featured on the soundtrack for the movie Friday The 13th: Vengeance 2. This movie is expected to be released in the fall of 2021."

For further details, visit Seasons on Facebook.

 

L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns has checked in with a brief update bound to please fans. It reads: "Happy New Year to everyone. Hang tight as we are trying to get the new record finished and out before summer. Rock n Roll!!!"

The as yet untitled effort will be the follow-up to The Devil You Know, released in 2019 via Frontiers Music.

In 2020,  L.A. Guns, featuring Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns, released a new single, "Let You Down". The song was written and recorded while the band is in the midst of work on their next studio album. LAG was so struck by the song that they felt the need to release it immediately, rather than sit on it for the next studio album. It may or may not appear on said album.

Of the song, Phil Lewis says, "This is our new single, 'Let You Down,' a deep haunting work and words from a tormented soul. It was recorded during quarantine, so Tracii laid down his guitar tracks in Denmark, I did my vocals at home in Las Vegas, and Adam Hamilton played drums and mixed it in LA. Under normal circumstances, it would have been recorded in a more traditional way, but somehow the isolation adds to the atmosphere of this very cool song. I’m sure you’re going to love it. Cheers."

Tracii Guns adds, "This song just appeared at the right time, while we were writing and recording on different continents. Also, we won’t be performing anytime soon and it seems like the type of song that our fans can hold on to for awhile."

L.A. Guns lineup:

Phil Lewis - vocals
Tracii Guns - guitars
Ace Von Johnson - guitars
Johnny Martin - bass
Scot Coogan - drums

(Photo - Dustin Jack)

 

On January 29, Demon Head will release their new album, Viscera, via Metal Blade Records. In the new video below, vocalist Marcus Ferreira Larsen and bassist Mikkel Fuglsang discuss the music, art, and creative process for the album.

Viscera can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- hardcover digisleeve-CD
- 180g clear deluxe edition vinyl w/ o-card, backpatch, and poster (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- clear ash grey marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- dark red / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 250 copies)
- clear / black dust vinyl (Kings Road exclusive - limited to 100 copies)
- clear brown marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Demon Head is comprised of five internationally based and widely acclaimed musicians; Mikkel Sander Fuglsang, Birk Gjerlufsen Nielsen, Marcus Ferreira Larsen, Thor Gjerlufsen Nielsen and Jeppe Wittus. Though hesitant to compromise the description of the music they perform through generalizing terms of genre, they've coined the term "diabolic rock" as an appropriate presentation.

Their fourth full-length - Viscera - is a new beginning for Demon Head. Recorded during the first months of 2020 between the legendary Sweet Silence Studios by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica, Morbid Angel, Rainbow) and a remote country house in Sweden, the album was mixed by Martin 'Konie' Ehrencrona (In Solitude, Tribulation, Nifelheim). The production shows the impeccable qualities of joined forces, where old techniques meet new aesthetics, and major label possibilities meet underground, uncompromising DIY dedication. The resulting 10 songs showcase acoustic instruments, flourishing mellotron strings, brass instruments, tape manipulation and church organ - displayed in equal measure to the sound of the crushing drums of J.W, cryptic guitars of brothers B.G.N and T.G.N, pounding bass lines of M.S.F, and the vocals of M.F.L combined with the eerily captivating falsetto and baryton of B.G.N.

Demon Head comments: "We are now ready to offer You 'Viscera'. It contains more of us than any album we have made before, and we hope that You will welcome it as sincerely as it will welcome You."

Viscera tracklisting:

"Tooth And Nail"
"The Feline Smile"
"Arrows"
"Magical Death"
"The Lupine Choir"
"A Long, Groaning Descent"
"In Adamantine Chains"
"Black Torches"
"Wreath"
"The Triumphal Chariot Of Antimony"

"The Feline Smile" video:

"The Triumphal Chariot Of Antimony" video:

Demon Head will play a release show on January 30 at Pumpehuset in Copenhagen. "A release ceremony will take place in Copenhagen when this year is newly dead. Tokens for the passage are available here."

Demon Head lineup:

Mikkel Sander Fuglsang - bass
Birk Gjerlufsen Nielsen - guitars
Marcus Ferreira Larsen - vocals
Thor Gjerlufsen Nielsen - guitars
Jeppe Wittus - drums

(Photo - Adrian Utzon)

UK metal band, Sorceress Of Sin, have released a lyric video for "Empyre of Stones", the track is taken from their debut album Mirrored Revenge, which was released on November 27, 2020. Watch the video below.

Sorceress Of Sin is an up-tempo, fast paced melodic power metal band of original and constantly morphing quality material up to that of a world class standard. The music capitalizes on dynamic tempo changes, searing guitar riffs, dynamic bass lines and animalistic vocals. Sorceress Of Sin deliver emotion and meaning with every track and writing music together is the sole passion of each member of this exciting and driven band.

Mirrored Revenge was produced and mixed by Tom Maclean (Haken, To-Mera, Psion) at Twelve Tone Studios. The artwork was made by GazJackson of Sinister Arts.

Tracklisting:

"Vixen Of Virtue"
"Multifaceted Survival"
"Mirrored Revenge"
"Wicked Distortion"
"Splintered Shard"
"Aradia"
"Echoes Of Existence"
"Parallel Lies"
"Cold Carnality"
"Empyre Of Stones"

"Empyre Of Stones" lyric video:

Sorceress Of Sin is:

Lisa Skinner – Vocals
Constantine Kanakis – Guitars
Paul Skinner – Drums
Topher O’Meagher – Bass (ex Gehitka)
Tom Maclean – Bass, Orchestral Backing

Nervosa have released an unboxing video for the vinyl edition of their upcoming new album, Perpetual Chaos, out January 22 via Napalm Records. Watch  below:

The band's talented new lineup - featuring founding guitarist Prika Amaral and talented new members Diva Satanica on vocals, Mia Wallace on bass and Eleni Nota on drums - strike with inexorable full femme power, showcasing their ability for critical and straightforward lyricism mixed with an intoxicating blend of thrash spiced with remarkable death metal assaults.

Perpetual Chaos was recorded in Malaga at Artesonao Casa de Grabación Studio by Martin Furia, who also produced the new full-length with Prika Amaral - the explosive outcome is mastered by Yarne Heylen.

Vocalist Diva Satanica on the album process: “It was undoubtedly a very intense process in every way. Not only did we learn to work together, but also to get to know each other and live together. I am very lucky to be able to be part of a project like this and I am sure that with the release of this album, Nervosa will take a very important step in its career. Working with Martin Furia was incredible, he helped me to find nuances in my voice that I didn't know I had. Get ready, for a new era more powerful than ever!”

Guided by a marvellous force of uncompromising thrash and death metal, the raw power of Perpetual Chaos has its finger on the pulse of time: lyrically, Nervosa does not hesitate to tackle issues that impact the very core of society as we know it. From political grievances and amplifying the voices of minorities to protesting against factory farming, capitalism and succumbing to the ill-informed musings of social elites - these commanding women do not mince words. Tracks like the airtight opener “Venomous”, the fast-twitching “Until The Very End” and “Time To Fight” prove that Nervosa’s revitalized identity experiments with both fresh new elements and crucial auditory foundations without succumbing to any clichés. “Genocidal Command” perks ears with Diva Satanica’s vocal eloquence, accented by the outstanding range of Schmier (Destruction) whilst mirroring a rousing thrash metal manifest. A tremendous outcome awaits with brawl-brushed guitar lines, blisteringly fast drums and critical lyricism - striking the listener in a way only Nervosa could. Viva Perpetual Chaos.

Perpetual Chaos will be available in the following formats:

- Deluxe Edition: LP Gatefold Vinyl Splatter Blue/Red + 7 Inch incl. Bonustrack, Sticker and Patch - strictly limited to 300 copies  
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Red Transparent - limited to 500 copies
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Blue Transparent
- CD Digipack
- CD Digipack + Shirt Bundle
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Venomous"
"Guided By Evil"
"People Of The Abyss"
"Perpetual Chaos"
"Until The Very End"
"Genocidal Command"
"Kings Of Domination"
"Time To Fight"
"Godless Prisoner"
"Blood Eagle"
"Rebel Soul"
"Pursued By Judgement"
"Under Ruins"

"Guided By Evil" video:

“Perpetual Chaos” lyric video:

Perpetual Chaos documentary series:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Lineup:

Diva Satanica (Vocals)
Prika Amaral (Guitar)
Mia Wallace (Bass)
Eleni Nota (Drums)

Norwegian old school heavy metallers, The Cult Of Destiny, featuring members of The Carburetors and Chrome Division, have released a video for the track, "Rock Europe Rock". Watch below.

Says the band: "This video is our contribution to the Red Alert Moment and our way to try to bring us all together in this situation. This whole situation has really fucked up our lives. The single I'm coming out with is called 'Rock Europe Rock'."

The Cult Of Destiny recently released a lyric video for "Coming From The North", featured on the band's self-titled debut album, available via The Cult Of Destiny Records. Find the new clip below.

The album was recorded by Arslan Qureshi and Jørgen Henriksen at Laidback Studios. Mixed and mastered by Robert Hauge at Badabing Studio.

Tracklisting:

"So It Begins"
"The Armageddon Is Here"
"Suman The Council"
"Into The Armageddon"
"Coming From The North"
"Brother"
"The Cult Of Destiny"
"Stand With Me"
"Set The Demon Free"
"Welcome To The End"
"Exit Armageddon"
"I Was Made For Lovin' You" (Bonus - KISS Cover)

"Coming From The North" lyric video:

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" video:

The Cult Of Destiny is:

Eddie Guz - Vocals (The Carburetors, Chrome Division)
Chris Marchand - Guitars (The Carburetors, Shot At Dawn)
Mr. Damage Karlsen - Guitars (Chrome Division, Breed)
Mads Mowinkel - Bass (Chrome Division, Breed)
Jon Erik Bokn - Drums (Chrome Division, Breed)

Heavy metal act, Crystal Viper, have released a lyric video for "Asenath Waite", which can be seen below. The song is taken from the band's forthcoming studio album, The Cult, which will be released on January 29 in Europe, and on February 12 in North America, via Listenable Records.

The CD and digital version of The Cult will include an exclusive bonus cover version of King Diamond classic "Welcome Home" (recorded with special guest, King Diamond guitarist Andy La Rocque), while the vinyl bonus track will be a cover version of legendary UK act Satan's ultimate classic, "Trial By Fire". Preorders are available here.

The Listenable mail-order exclusive bundle (available with either CD or vinyl LP), includes additional instrumental CD, with the "Shred Version" of the album.

"It is NOT a karaoke version of the album, where we simply muted the vocals" says frontwoman, Marta Gabriel. "We officially have 3 guitarists in the band right now, and our drummer Ced is a brilliant guitarist as well, so we decided to play that card, and we did alternate versions of all new songs, with lots and lots of extra lead guitar parts, solos and harmonies" she adds.

Tracklisting:

"Providence"
"The Cult"
"Whispers From Beyond"
"Down In The Crypt"
"Sleeping Giants"
"Forgotten Land"
"Asenath Waite"
"The Calling"
"Flaring Madness"
"Lost In The Dark"
"Welcome Home" (King Diamond cover - CD bonus)
"Trial By Fire" (Satan cover - vinyl bonus)

"The Cult" lyric video:

Crystal Viper are:

Marta Gabriel - vocals, guitars
Andy Wave - guitars
Eric Juris - guitars
Blaze Grygiel - bass
Cederick Forsberg - drums

Sick Drummer Magazine has released a series of videos, in which artists remember Rush drummer Neil Peart... a year later.

Sick Drummer Magazine CEO, Ian Macdonald, states: "2020 was a mess. We went to NAMM just a few days after learning of the passing of Neil Peart. A legend, icon, influence on another level. The atmosphere, at least in the drumming community at NAMM, was somber, yet hopeful. There was a definite rift in the normal vibe. You could sense the loss in every interaction, whether it was talked about or not. We walked around just wondering what the next interaction would be like, as most of the people we generally interact with, all share a love for Neil.

"Got home from NAMM only to hear more tragic news only a week or so later. I was in my office still decompressing from NAMM and organizing media from the trip and I got a call from a strange number in California. I wasn’t going to answer but I did at the last second. It was Sean’s husband, Thomas, calling to tell me that Sean had just passed away. It was one of the worst phone calls I’ve ever received, and it has taken its toll on all of us.

"Enter COVID-19… We have all felt the impact of this pandemic in one way or another, and it sent me spiralling to another level. I’m sure you can all relate. Literally, all of our drumming and industry friends started suffering right then, and continue to suffer today. Our sincere love and condolences to all who have lost a loved one due to this virus.

"So, our intention was to record a ton of these Neil Peart tribute videos during NAMM and after, but that’s just not what happened. Having said that, why not publish them now? We could think of no good reason to keep them private, so here you go…

"Thanks to all the guys who took a minute to talk with us about Neil, it was truly appreciated. Mr. Chip Ritter, Daniel Cece of Krosis, Davier Perez of The Mirage Theory, Will Dorsey of Body Count, Jeremy Colson of Steve Vai Band, Matt Thompson of King Diamond, Randy Black of Destruction, RVP of iMonolith (ex-Devin Townsend), Samus Paulicelli, and Ken Schalk of Candiria.

"Rest in Peace Neil and Sean. We will at some point be publishing another tribute to Sean Reinert, but not sure on the timing. As soon as all the guys we want to include have had the time to partake, we will make it happen."

Rest In Peace
Neil Peart: 9/12/1952 - 1/7/2020
Sean Reinert: 5/27/1971 - 1/24/2020

Norwegian band, Slaves To Fashion, will release the concept album, The History Of Heavy Metal, on February 13. The album is a fictional journey in time through 50 years of metal from 1970 to 2020.

The songs on the album are inspired by and pay tribute to the different time periods and sub-genres of the great heavy metal genre and legendary producers like Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica), Beau Hill (Warrant, Winger, Ratt) and Tommy Hansen (Helloween) mixed the thrash metal, glam metal and power metal song, respectively.

The cover artwork for the album is now revealed. It was painted by the talented and dedicated artist Dimitar Nikolov and explores many of the symbols of the heavy metal genre.

Watch an lbum trailer below, and stay tuned for further details.

Fotis Anagnostou, former Nightfall, Casus Belli and Spitfire bass player has sadly passed away at the age of 49. You can read the bands statements down under.

Nightfall's statement: ''It is with deep sadness in our hearts that we have to bring you the news that our friend Fotis Anagnostou has passed away this morning after a short but brave fight. We are all devastated and it is unbelievable for everybody who knew him.

"Fotis Anagnostou recorded bass guitar in Diva Futura album and appeared with us in Wacken Open Air 2001."

Casus Belli commented: "A day of sadness and grieving! My heart goes out to you brother. Another Star in the sky tonight. Sleep tight brother Fotis. Rest assured that your Thoughtfulness, Kindness, and inspiration will stay in my heart forever. I love you, my brother. Αντίο αδερφέ μου Φώτη."

Los Angeles alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME has released the music video for "IDK". The track will be available to purchase and stream on Friday, January 22 via Another Century.

GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom states: "'IDK' plays with the double entendre, 'I decay' and 'IDK' (I don't know) to illustrate the Voltaire quote, 'The more I read, the more I acquire, the more certain I am that I know nothing.'"

GEMINI SYNDROME drummer Brian Steele Medina adds: "'IDK' opens the door to the idea that we have to be willing to discard our old ideas and identity to give space for new ideas to grow and allow a more evolved identity to flourish. The last thing we want to do is to get stuck in old patterns of thought and behavior. This is an essential principal as we progress through the various degrees of the initiatory traditions."

GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing the final installment of its long-planned three-album trilogy. They retreated to Medina's Las Vegas home studio, where they meticulously crafted song after song, relentlessly reworking and rearranging the musical arrangements until they were fully satisfied. After an exhaustive writing process, GEMINI SYNDROME relocated to Good Sounds Studio in Tempe, Arizona, where producer Matt Good would help realize the collection of songs. Medina recalls: "We absolutely loved working with Matt, and he completely understood where we wanted to take this album creatively and what it was going to take to bring the third chapter of this trilogy to light. Our actual collective blood, sweat and tears went into its creation."

"IDK" follows the release of "Reintegration" and is the band's first new music since the release of their sophomore album "Memento Mori" (2016), which hit No. 1 on Billboard Heatseakers chart and spawned five singles: "Eternity", "Anonymous", "Alive Inside", "Sorry Not Sorry" and "Remember We Die".

GEMINI SYNDROME is Aaron Nordstrom (vocals, keyboards), Brian Steele Medina (drums, programming), Alessandro "AP" Paveri (bass), Miguel "Meegs" Rascón (guitar) and Nicholas Paul Arnold (touring guitar).

Led Zeppelin guitar legend Jimmy Page is featutred in a new career spanning interview with GQ conducted by Dylan Jones. An excerpt is available below.

On his vision for Led Zeppelin

Page: "I think one of the things that was really key was that I’d had a lot of experience, both on my own and with bands, especially with The Yardbirds. Robert Plant and John Bonham were slightly younger than us. But because we had the time to rehearse, we quickly developed how the band should sound. We also did a little tour, which was something The Yardbirds would have done if they hadn’t broken up. So we could go out and showcase what we wanted to record. It gave us a lot of confidence to go in on that first set of recording sessions, because it was already tried and tested. That’s why the album was done really quickly

But I did have a whole sort of audible vision of what I was trying to achieve with it, because having played with The Yardbirds in America, I could really feel what the scene was over there. And with the advancement of FM radio, which was starting to play album tracks, I could see where it was all going. They weren’t yet playing the whole sides of albums, but I thought, 'They will! They will!' I was aiming at the album market and I figured if you have something that is so interesting that one track leads into the next and it’s not just the same sort of vibe on every sort of song, if you are giving variety, and with all the different styles of guitar I played... That’s what I wanted to showcase on the first album. I wanted everybody to feel that they’re going to be able to reinvent themselves and play the best they’d ever played, which is of course what happened. It was the start.

I really did know what I was trying to do with each album and the important thing was making sure they were different from the one that preceded it. We had made a policy not to release singles and so we never worried about recording one."

On John Bonham's death and the end of Led Zeppelin

Page: "It was like staggering away from the vacuum caused by a great explosion, with your eardrums ringing. I found myself standing on a street corner, clutching 12 years of my life, with a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye, and not knowing which way to go. It was a most peculiar experience, because I knew that the dream was over and everything was gone. It was just a memory."

Read the complete in-depth story here.

Formed in London in 1968, Led Zeppelin consisted of vocalist Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page, bassist and keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham. Together they became one of the best-selling bands with estimated record sales of 300 million units worldwide. In 1995 Led Zeppelin was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for their innovative and influential impact on the entire music industry.

Nikki Sixx has paid tribute to Sylvain Sylvain, one of the founding fathers of punk rock as guitarist of legendary band the NEW YORK DOLLS, who died on Wednesday, January 13 at the age of 69. He had battled cancer for two and a half years.

Earlier today, the MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist took to his Instagram to write: "As a kid discovering The DOLLS was some of guidance I needed to head to LA and lean on not only them but so many great 70’s bands with punch and flair to start my own bands. . It was an honor to have The NY DOLLS open for @motleycrue and always a joy to sit backstage and talk to #sylvainsylvain. He was kind. Loved rock n roll and reminded me why I loved that band in the first place. RIP Rockstar."

The NEW YORK DOLLS were called many things — glam, proto-punk, hard rock — but are probably best understood as a "dirty rock and roll" band. Combining an aggressively androgynous style with street-smart New York attitude and campy humor, the NEW YORK DOLLS ushered in the era of CBGBs, heroin chic, loud guitars and referential lyrics which gave rise to Patti Smith, the RAMONES, TELEVISION and many more. Fans of the band range from GUNS N' ROSES to Morrissey, who organized the reformation of the band when he curated Meltdown festival in 2004.

Born Sylvain Mizrahi, Sylvain remained with the NEW YORK DOLLS until the group's breakup in 1977. He later worked on various projects, including a band called THE CRIMINALS and another group called THE TEARDROPS. Sylvain reunited with NEW YORK DOLLS in 2004 and played on the band's last three albums, "One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This", "Cause I Sez So" and "Dancing Backward In High Heels".

Sylvain's autobiography, "There's No Bones In Ice Cream", was released in 2018 via Omnibus Press.

In April 2019, a fundraising campaign was launched for Sylvain, who revealed at the time that he had been battling cancer for nearly a year.
























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Todd La Torre, who joined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2012 as the replacement for original vocalist Geoff Tate, spoke to the "Music Mania" podcast about what the last nine years have been like. He said (see video below): "Obviously, it was life changing. I had an upholstery business, and that was my trade that I did for, at that point, 22 years or something. So when I got into the band, it was, like, 'We're playing a show this weekend,' or, 'We're playing a show next weekend,' and I would have to say to myself, 'Okay, this is something where I might have to stop doing my career, and this is just like a full-time thing where I'm not home.' And I was never in a full-time touring band before. So that was a whole change in my life. And being gone eight, nine months out of the year sometimes where you don't see your family and your friends, it's a very different kind of a life.

"Obviously, it's amazing," he clarified. "I'm in a band that was one of my favorite bands growing up. We're like family. They're my good friends. We've shared amazing experiences together. I got to do things that most people dream of doing. I don't take it for granted at all. So I'm extremely thankful, and also thankful for the people that have embraced me, 'cause that's not an easy thing, when a band that you like changes a member like that.

"Overall, it's been an awesome experience. It is an awesome experience. And I wouldn't take it back. But it's definitely a different like.

"During the pandemic, I love being home," Todd added. "On the one hand, I don't miss touring at all, because I get to see my wife every day, I get to see my mom during the week and my sister and some of my really close friends, and be home in my own house. And I love that. On the other hand, I really miss the camaraderie and the whole experience that goes on where you're all together with the band and playing shows and that sort of thing.

"I wouldn't change it at all, but it has its pros and cons, like anything else in life. If you're a person in a business that travels — whatever your line of work is that requires travel — you might enjoy it 'cause you get to go around and see different places, but there's a sacrifice too. We miss birthdays, we miss certain holidays with our family, and it can be lonely."

Todd also confirmed that he and guitarist Michael Wilton are hard at work on material for QUEENSRŸCHE's next album. The disc will be the follow-up to 2019's "The Verdict", which marked QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with La Torre.

"Michael's here at my house right now — he's in my studio — and Zeuss [producer Chris Harris] is here [as well]," Todd said. "We're working on new QUEENSRYCHE stuff, and they thought it would be a good idea to come down to Florida for a week or so. So we're just songwriting that way."

"The Verdict" was released in March 2019 via Century Media Records. The disc was produced, mixed and mastered by Zeuss at Uberbeatz in Lynwood, Washington; Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Watershed Studio in Seattle, Washington.

The current QUEENSRŸCHE lineup features two original members, bassist Eddie Jackson and Wilton, along with La Torre and guitarist Parker Lundgren.

La Torre will release his debut solo album, "Rejoice In The Suffering", on February 5 via Rat Pak Records.

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched to help raise £20,000 (approximately $27,000) so former IRON MAIDEN vocalist Paul Di'Anno can undergo his long-delayed knee surgery.

A message on the JustGiving page reads: "Paul waited for the past 5-6 years to get this surgery done but now it looks the only way to get it done and quick is privately.

"Please donate as much as you can so we can make it happen for Paul.

"We know times are hard for everyone now but every little helps. If we all get together we can make this happen for him."

Di'Anno has battled a number of health issues in recent years. He reportedly underwent an operation in 2016 to remove a "rugby ball-sized abscess" on his lungs and required a knee-replacement operation on both knees after getting involved in several motorcycle accidents over the years. As a result, Di'Anno was forced to sit down while performing at his most recent shows.

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN before being replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

In March 2011, Di'Anno was sentenced to nine months in a U.K. prison after he falsely collected government benefits by claiming he suffered nerve damage to his back that prevented him from working.

Di'Anno completed his first North American tour in early 2010, 17 years after he was deported following a prison term for guns and drug offenses.

In a December 2019 interview with the Spanish web site Mariskalrock.com, Di'Anno said that he was lucky to be alive after developing a deadly infection several years ago.

"I nearly died four years ago," Paul revealed. "I had sepsis in Argentina. I was very, very sick. I just about made it home to England and then straight to hospital. I've been in and out of the hospital for four years now. I had operations done on both legs. I [haven't been able to] walk for four years. It's been very, very tough for me at the moment. Because of the sepsis, I keep getting infections, so they can't do the operations on my legs and stuff like that when they want to do them. And it's been very difficult. At the moment, I've only got one knee. The other knee has been taken out, but there's no new knee put in, so it's been a cement thing. But I wanna play, obviously, but I can't do that until I'm fixed. I haven't stopped playing music, and I've got no plans to retire — I wanna keep playing — but I need to get well."

Elaborating on his recovery process, Di'Anno said: "I'm not getting better and better — not yet, until I've had both of my knees operated on. The next operation is gonna be to take my left knee out and then put a replacement straight away, which then I've gotta do rehab to try to stand up on that one leg. And then I can sort of move about on crutches after a while, which would be fantastic. I may have to sit down on the stage, but if I can get up on one leg, it makes it easier for flying and things like that. I still may have to travel around on a wheelchair a bit, but if I'm playing on stage in a wheelchair, at least I can hop about on the crutches and then maybe sit down and sing. But I caught another infection two weeks ago, which they will not operate on you while you've got an infection. Unfortunately, this is gonna be the rest of my life, because of sepsis. I was so lucky. The sepsis really hits you hard, and on the London plane home from Argentina, everyone was saying to me, 'Hello, sir. Are you okay? Are you okay?' And I'm, like, 'Yeah, why don't you fuck off and leave me alone?' sort of thing. I didn't realize I was actually dying. And when I actually got home and I collapsed on the floor, I had my cell phone with me. I was on my own, 'cause my wife and kids were over in America. I got the ambulance people. They came down and they kicked my door in and took me to the hospital. I spent eight months in that hospital... And you've got 45 minutes to pump you full of antibiotics or you'll die. I just about made that. Eight months recovery there, then into a care home for another three months, and then I moved into this new house of mine, which is adapted for wheelchair users at the moment... And then it's been unlucky with the infections; otherwise I would have been up and running by now. But they won't operate on me for two years, with sepsis, because you have to make sure it's completely clear of you. And now I've got this other thing called MRSA, which you get from being in hospital, which is unfortunate. But, anyway, at the moment, I'm clearing out very well, so I'm waiting for the next call I get, which will be for surgery, and get things done".

Pressed about whether he is optimistic that he will be able to return to the stage someday, he told Mariskalrock.com: "Yeah. Fuckin' damn right. If I can't play music, I might as well fuckin' kill myself. So, yeah, I'm fine. As I said, once they have taken the left knee out and then put the replacement one in, I've got rehab to do. And the rehab will be learning to stand up and use crutches and move around with one leg, 'cause the other one, it's a very complicated operation on the right leg... I'm waiting for the surgeons to call me in. This operation will take about three hours to put the knee in, and then it's all rehab, rehab, rehab to strengthen my leg and [be able] to stand up on that one leg, 'cause the other one, I can't put it down on the floor, 'cause it's only got cement inside of it. There's no knee in the right one either, so that will be taken out. That one is a complicated operation — about nine hours. But this first one, if I can stand on crutches and get used to it after… I'll be in hospital for two weeks, and then it's all rehab, rehab — strengthen the left leg up, so I can hop about on the crutches and move around. It makes it easier for me to fly, and then I can go on stage. I may have to sit down on the stage in a chair, but at least I can go back on stage… And then, when they do the right leg, then I'll be all right to do everything. It's gonna take time. Unfortunately, it's two years where they will not operate on anything 'cause of the sepsis. And that's a two-year gap. And now all these infections are fucking me