In a new interview with Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco Bay Area radio station 107.7 The Bone, KK'S PRIEST vocalist Tim "Ripper" Owens spoke about the band's decision to not do meet-and-greets on its recent tours. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Some] people are against paid meet-and-greets. [They believe] fans shouldn't have to pay for it. But I have a different look at it. I mean, I don't wanna do them either, cause I wanna chill. But it's their opportunity. You're offering it to them. They don't have to [buy it]. And the one I wanna do is totally different than everybody else's. Now someone's going to steal this idea; I'm going to put it out there. But I said to Ken [KK'S PRIEST guitarist and leader Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing], we do 10 people — that's it — a night. Backstage, right after we're done on stage, we have pizza, beer, sodas in the room. They walk in with us. They have some pizza. They get a poster, an eight-by-ten [photo], a signed setlist and a laminate. But sitting and having pizza and beer and taking photos, I mean, how cool is that? It's great. And it would be pretty fast."

Owens continued: "The other problem nowadays [why] people have to do [paid meet-and-greets] is to fund the tour. I mean, it's so expensive to tour nowadays. We're out here with a semi and a bus and a full crew and screens and this and a stage setup. And it's really expensive. But [K.K.'s] got that and he doesn't wanna do it, and I think it's cool, because he has that right. It's, like, 'This is it. I don't want to make the fans have to pay for it.' That's his thinking… [But the fans] wanna pay for it. They wanna do it. I mean, that's all we get — people are so pissed off that we don't do it. Oh my God. We get [that question] just nonstop: 'Are you doing meet-and-greets?'"

Owens previously discussed KK'S PRIEST's decision to not offer paid meet-and-greets last December in an interview with Kevin McKay of Florida's 99Rock WKSM radio station. He said at the time:  "We usually don't do meet-and-greets. I know it's the big thing to do nowadays. And I would be all right doing meet-and-greets, but I know K.K.'s not a big fan of 'em. He likes to get in, do the show and get out."

When McKay noted that a lot of artists nowadays offer meet-and-greets as a way of making extra money on the road, Owens said: "Well, absolutely. And I'm all for that. [Laughs] Listen, I tried to talk [K.K.] into it. I said, 'Listen, we should do 'em. And we get some good money out of this and we can see the fans.' Listen, that's all I've been getting on social media is people asking, 'Is there gonna be meet-and-greets?' And I think everybody does it. I mean, it's a different era. You don't sell records like you used to and everything's so expensive and everybody takes a giant merch cut out of your merch. So it's ways to make extra money."

After McKay pointed out that a KK'S PRIEST meet-and-greet without K.K. "would kind of defeat the purpose," Owens concurred. "Yeah, we're not gonna do it like that," he said. "I think most of the people seem to want K.K. and myself to be doing them. And if I would just show up, some people would be all right, but K.K. is the [person everyone wants to meet]."

McKay then joked that "it doesn't even sound like" he can sneak backstage and eat KK'S PRIEST's food, to which Owens replied: "I imagine you can get back. I mean, we'll meet people and stuff like that. Ken and myself usually, [when] the show ends, we usually walk right out the door with our bag and go to the hotel. I do it because it's singing; I do anything I can to sing good. But yeah, we still get the people, especially people like the radio hosts and the people who [have] put time in the helping us out, we always love to say hello to all you guys."

KK'S PRIEST, which also includes guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),and German/American metal legends ACCEPT have joined forces for a North American tour. The massive run began on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

KK'S PRIEST's first-ever U.S. headlining tour, which featured support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES, kicked off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and concluded on March 24 at Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.

KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.

KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.

Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

Former JOURNEY singer Steve Perry's holiday album, "The Season", will be re-released as "The Season 3" for the 2024 holiday season with six additional songs.

Due on November 8, 2024 via Dark Horse Records, the effort will include the following tracks:

01. What A Wonderful World
02. The Christmas Song
03. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
04. This Christmas
05. Jingle Bell Rock
06. Call Me Irresponsible
07. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
08. Auld Lang Syne
09. Silver Bells
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas
11. Let It Snow
12. Maybe This Year
13. Winter Wonderland
14. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer
15. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
16. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

The official video for "What A Wonderful World", the first single from "The Season 3", with animation by Magdalene Kennedy, can be seen below.

In 2022, Perry released the deluxe edition of "The Season", an exquisitely curated holiday album that reveals him as a flawless interpreter of the classic Christmas songbook. "The Season (Deluxe Edition)" contained two brand-new recordings: Steve's first-ever holiday original called "Maybe This Year" and a soulful new cover of the Donny Hathaway classic "This Christmas".

Primarily recorded at Perry's home studio, "The Season" came to life in collaboration with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa) and Dallas Kruse (a multi-instrumentalist who also worked with Perry on his acclaimed 2018 album "Traces"). While most of the album encompasses an understated sonic palette — piano, strings, upright bass — each track leaves an indelible impact thanks to the soulful sincerity of Perry's vocal work.

"One of the things I love most about those traditional recordings is they're not coming at you like a rock song — they're just sitting there quietly and inviting you in," says Perry. "I'd never sung with that much simplicity before, and it was incredibly thrilling to bring that kind of expression to these songs."

Steve's stirring interpretations of these holiday staples capture their timelessness, while simultaneously putting his own personal spin on each track.

"Music has always been something that rescues me in difficult times," says Perry. "I hope when people hear this record, they're teleported in the same way I was when I recorded all these songs — I hope it brings them back to those golden moments with their loved ones and gives them that feeling of joy and connection and comfort that we all need so much."

One of the most iconic voices in rock and roll history, Perry has captivated generations with the sheer power of his range and extraordinary warmth of his tone. One of Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Singers Of All Time," he fronted JOURNEY during the band's massively successful era and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Perry returned to music in 2018 with the release of his Fantasy album "Traces" which debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard album charts and No. 6 overall — a personal best for his solo work.

One of Melbourne's most intriguing progressive metal bands, Teramaze, have released a video for "Untied" (Acoustic Version), featured on their new release, Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1. Watch the clip below.





Announcing Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1, the band stated: "Introducing Teracoustic Sessions Volume 1, the brand-new acoustic album from Teramaze that promises a fresh and intimate listening experience. In this special release, Dean and Nathan have carefully selected nine standout tracks from our extensive catalogue and reimagined them in their purest form. Stripped down to just acoustic guitar and vocals, this collection offers a raw and unembellished take on our music—no frills, no effects, just the essence of Teramaze.




"The result is a collection that’s not only a testament to the strength of our songwriting but also something you can enjoy with family and friends who may not be familiar with our usual sound. We're thrilled with how these tracks have come together, and we believe you will be too. Teracoustic Sessions Volume 1 invites you to experience Teramaze like never before, in an intimate and personal way that highlights the beauty and emotion of our music."


You can order Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1 here.

The eagerly awaited follow-up to FOGHAT's "Sonic Mojo" album is here. After 32 weeks in the Top 10 on the Billboard Blues Album chart, FOGHAT has written and recorded a brand-new song, "On Tonsils & Sneakers", dedicated to original lead singer and guitarist Lonesome Dave Peverett, who passed in 2000. The song's affectionate title is inspired by Peverett's infamous stage introduction, "On Tonsils and Sneakers, I'm Lonesome Dave," and pays homage to the iconic shiny silver or gold sneakers he always wore on stage.

"On Tonsils & Sneakers" is being released on seven-inch 45 RPM Red Translucent vinyl and on the B-side will be "Black Days & Blue Nights" from "Sonic Mojo", which pays tribute to the band's original slide guitarist Rod Price, who passed away in 2005.

"On Tonsils & Sneakers" was written by FOGHAT's current lineup: founding drummer Roger Earl, lead singer/guitarist Scott Holt, slide guitarist/engineer/co-producer Bryan Bassett, bassist/vocalist Rodney O'Quinn. The song is out today on all digital outlets, and the vinyl version will be released November 29 (Black Friday/Record Store Day) on FOGHAT's own label, Foghat Records, with distribution by Select-O-Hits in the U.S. and by Proper Music in the U.K. It will also be released in Europe on Metalville Records both digitally and on clear seven-inch 45 RPM vinyl on November 29.

FOGHAT chose to release both songs as a heartfelt tribute to their two original members. Founding member Roger Earl continues to keep the music alive, always paying respect to the bands roots and acknowledging the lasting contributions of Dave and Rod to the band's enduring legacy.

"When Lonesome Dave sang and played with this band, he gave nothing less than 100%," declares Roger Earl. "I loved playing with Dave. All I had to do was have fun playing drums. Yeah… Lonesome Dave on Tonsils and Sneakers!"

"Every once in a while, you meet someone who changes the whole trajectory of your life," proclaims Bryan Bassett. "Lonesome Dave Peverett was that person for me. From the day we met in the late '80s, our friendship blossomed, I became his touring partner, I met my future wife and became a part of the FOGHAT family. This song 'On Tonsils & Sneakers' is our tribute to him and was his unique way of introducing himself from the stage. Oh… and he loved designing his stage tennis shoes!"

"This song that the boys came up with really is a brilliant tribute to my Dad," says Jason Peverett, Dave's son.

"Sonic Mojo" was released November 10, 2023, and remained on the Billboard Top 10 Blues Albums chart for 32 weeks. It is the first time the band — which originated in 1971 — has ever landed at No. 1 on any of Billboard's charts after a new album release. Even "Slow Ride" never reached No. 1.

"Sonic Mojo" has been submitted for a Grammy nomination in the Contemporary Blues category. The band is truly honored and incredibly surprised and grateful by the support given by their fans for this new release. That the band has come full circle since their SAVOY BROWN days is evident with the addition of Scott Holt (formerly of Buddy Guy) on vocals and guitar. Interestingly, included on this record are a few songs written by the late Kim Simmonds of SAVOY BROWN, who gave Roger his first shot. Kim sadly passed away before he could record with them. The band has included a few new songs in their live set, and the fans are as enthusiastic about these songs as they are about the older catalog!

The album's four singles — "Drivin' On", "She's A Little Bit Of Everything" (co-written by the late Kim Simmonds from SAVOY BROWN),"Black Days & Blue Nights" and "I Don't Appreciate You" — are streaming on the band's official YouTube page.

"Sonic Mojo" is available in various formats, including a single CD boasting 12 electrifying tracks in a stunning six-page digipak and digital copies. For vinyl enthusiasts, there's a limited edition 180gram, neon purple vinyl version featuring 11 tracks and a gatefold jacket, as well as extra special CD and vinyl bundles.

Vintage Guitar has immense praise for the recent music. "Few things in life are guaranteed — but one is that drummer Roger Earl will keep FOGHAT truckin'…FOGHAT's trademark sound is here, with fresh twists planted in the blues – and even country… FOGHAT's blistering guitar-boogie boogies on!"

And as Riffmagazine.com declares, "Filtered through the lens of FOGHAT, the album has a cohesiveness to it. A sense of immediacy adds a personality that gives it its ‘mojo.' Holt brings an authenticity to both his vocals and his bluesy guitar playing; though that's no surprise for this one-time member of blues legend Buddy Guy's band. He and Bassett clearly have the chops, trading lead guitar parts and solos. The tones are crisp and the band sounds tight on each track."

The band's journey began in 1971, and their legacy is written in rock and roll history with eight gold records, one platinum record and one double-platinum record. Through ups and downs, tragedies, and triumphs, one thing remains constant: FOGHAT's unwavering dedication to music. It's all about the music, always has been and always will be.

Photo credit: Sam Johnston

Bon Jovi have released a music video for "The People’s House", featuring country duo, The War and Treaty.


The video, directed by Bojan Vanovac and produced by Laura Vanovac and Vano Projects, features footage of Jon Bon Jovi and the duo in spots throughout Nashville, including the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge, where the frontman recently helped save a woman from jumping into the Cumberland River.


"The People’s House" is featured on Bon Jovi's latest studio album, Forever, released back in June via Island Records. Watch the video below:







Bon Jovi recently re-released its classic compilation album, Greatest Hits.


Bon Jovi first unveiled Greatest Hits on October 29, 2010. Upon arrival, it bowed in the Top 5 of the Billboard 200 in addition to capturing No. 1 on the US Top Rock Albums Chart and the US Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. It also eventually earned a platinum certification from the RIAA and logged an impressive 352 weeks on the Billboard 200. Across the pond, it crashed the charts at No. 2 and reached quadruple-platinum status.


The album collects seminal anthems from the band’s first three decades, spanning everything from “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name” and “Bad Medicine” to “It’s My Life,” “Always” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” in addition to a pair of songs specifically recorded for Greatest Hits: “What Do You Got?,” which became a top 10 hit, and “No Apologies.”


Order on the group’s official D2C store

Today, House Of Lords release their twelfth studio album, Full Tilt Overdrive, via Frontiers Music Srl. Recorded and produced once again by the band’s singer and mastermind, James Christian along with keyboardist Mark Mangold, Full Tilt Overdrive does not change nor alter the band’s winning formula but instead offers an inspired and credible album that stands shoulder to shoulder with the best albums from the band’s repertoire.


To celebrate the release, the band shares a fresh track called "State Of Emergency," alongside a brand new visualizer, available below:







House Of Lords is now formed by the legendary singer James Christian – the sole member who appeared on all the band’s albums - guitarist Jimi Bell, who has been with the band since their return with World Upside Down, the charismatic keyboardist and songwriter Mark Mangold (Touch, Michael Bolton, Drive, She Said) along with Swedish drummer Johan Koleberg (Lions Share, Ignition, Therion). This is the same lineup that appeared on the previous album Saints And Sinners. however they are now definitely more gelled and have produced a more focused and extremely ambitious new album with no weak points.


House Of Lords stands for superb hooks and majestic atmospheres that bring back the memories of their stellar debut album, monumental guitar riffs, and a production to die for. All these ingredients you will find in abundance on Full Tilt Overdrive, especially with songs such as the 9-minute epic closer “Castles High” and the lead single “Bad Karma”, not forgetting “Taking the Fall” which has a nod to the band’s biggest hit “Can’t Find My Way Home” and the riveting title track.


Order Full Tilt Overdrive here.





Full Tilt Overdrive tracklisting:


"Crowded Room"
"Bad Karma"
"Cry Of The Wicked"
"Full Tilt Overdrive"
"Taking The Fall"
"You're Cursed"
"Not The Enemy"
"I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye"
"Still Believe"
"State Of Emergency"
"Castles High"
"I Don't Wanna Say Goodbye" (Acoustic Version) Bonus Track Japan


"Taking The Fall" visualizer:





"Bad Karma" video:





"Crowded Room" visualizer:





House Of Lords debuted in 1989 with the release of their self-titled album, a record that is still regarded as one of the best arena rock releases of the 1980s. The colossal sound, the soaring vocals of Christian, and the instrumental capabilities of the band (which featured ex-Angel and Giuffria keyboardist Gregg Giuffria, along with luminaries Lanny Cordola, Chuck Wright, and Ken Mary), were reminiscent of such frontrunners as Whitesnake, Deep Purple and Van Halen and immediately brought the band to th

Queen performed "Modern Times Rock 'n' Roll", live at the Rainbow Theatre in London, March 1974. This concert marks a pivotal moment in Queen history as it is the earliest professionally filmed footage of Queen performing live and captures the band just before they reached worldwide fame. It serves as an essential record of Queen’s evolution into one of the greatest live acts in rock history.





Queen’s groundbreaking 1973 debut album, Queen, remixed, remastered and expanded in a 6CD+1LP box set Queen I Collector’s Edition will be released on October 25.







The 6CD + 1 LP Queen I box set contains

ICE NINE KILLS has unleashed a new single, "A Work Of Art", the official track for the highly anticipated slasher sequel "Terrifier 3", which hits theaters nationwide today. Along with the single, the band has dropped a brand new, blood-soaked 14-minute extended cut of the accompanying music video, the original version of which debuted in over 300 theaters nationwide during exclusive, one-night-only, back to back screenings of "Terrifier 2" and "Terrifier 3" last night at select AMC and Marcus theaters.

The music video, a cinematic spectacle in its own right, is directed by longtime collaborator Jensen Noen, and stars stars David Howard Thornton ("Terrifier"'s infamous Art The Clown),Catherine Corcoran ("Terrifier"),Leah Voysey ("Terrifier 2"),SiriusXM's Jose Mangin and Vincent Rockwell, Richard Christy (drummer for DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED),and also features Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET) who lent his legendary bass playing to the track. Special effects for the video were created by Academy Award winner Christopher Nelson ("American Horror Story", "Halloween 2018", "Suicide Squad", "Kill Bill"). In true ICE NINE KILLS fashion, the video not only serves up unprecedented gore and an unrivaled kill count but seems to also be setting the stage for a new chapter of the ICE NINE KILLS cinematic universe with the additional footage on display in the extended-cut version.

Speaking on the collaboration, ICE NINE KILLS creative visionary and frontman Spencer Charnas shares: "Creating a track for 'Terrifier 3' is like stepping into the ultimate horror playground. The film and our new single, 'A Work Of Art', reflect the same twisted, unrelenting energy that fans of both ICE NINE KILLS and the 'Terrifier' franchise thrive on. And having our music video play in theaters after the movie at special screenings last night was the ultimate honor and the best way to pay homage to the cinematic terror that has inspired me and this band. The extended cut of the video marks a new era of INK-related terror, but what that means shall remain in my nightmares.... for now. Psychos, we present to you what may well be our most glorious and goresome offering yet, sure to leave you both tongue-tied and terrified — 'A Work Of Art'."

To commemorate "A Work Of Art", ICE NINE KILLS have dedicated their monthly Nightmare On The Ninth merch capsule to the collaboration with a collection of officially licensed items. Head to www.nightmareontheninth.com.

ICE NINE KILLS and the "Terrifier" franchise make a perfect match — each known for their unapologetic embrace of horror, bloodshed, and dark humor. "A Work Of Art" perfectly channels the chaotically unhinged essence of Art The Clown, creating a deliciously depraved, blood-drenched soundtrack for the horror icon's latest rampage. Explore at your peril.

ICE NINE KILLS will be joining METALLICA and LIMP BIZKIT in stadiums next year on select dates of the 2025 leg of the "M72" world tour.

Photo credit: F. Scott Schafer

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the genre-defying, alternative metal collective led by Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN),has released the music video for the song "Cry". The track is taken from SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET's self-titled debut album, which has just been made available via Sumerian Records and 1336 Records.

"Cry" is a visceral dive into anguish, longing, and despair. The song's harrowing intensity is mirrored in its lyrics, delving into the suffocating distance between two souls, and the raw pain of holding on to something that's slowly slipping away. It further displays the phenomenal range, both sonically and thematically, on display on the band's first full-length .

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET said about the single: "'Cry' captures the agony of trying to hold on to something that's already broken, that inevitable downfall when love turns into torment. It's about being locked in a space of emotional suffocation, where every attempt to hold on only pulls you further into the abyss. This is the pain we wanted to channel — a song for anyone who's ever felt like they’re drowning in their own emotions."

Shavo is joined in the group by vocalist Taylor Barber (LEFT TO SUFFER),WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist Michael Montoya (a.k.a. Morgoth Beatz, a producer and songwriter who has previously collaborated with Travis Barker, JuiceWrld, Lil Xan, Jonathan Davis, ISSUES and many more),guitarist/backing vocalist Alejandro Aranda (a.k.a. Scarypoolparty, "American Idol") and drummer Josh Johnson (WINDS OF PLAGUE).

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET made its live debut on Monday (October 7) at the SiriusXM Garage in Los Angeles, California.

Shavo recently told RIFF Magazine about how SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET came about: "It was funny. My number's 22, so that's why I have the [cannabis] brand 22Red. So on February 22nd, 2022, we threw a party and the day of the party, I did a live radio show on KROQ here in Los Angeles. And that evening, we were throwing the party for 22Red, but I did that show before and I invited the host to the party. He asked me if he could bring a friend. I said, 'Sure.' He brought his friend. It was Morgoth Beatz who ended up being the producer and now my rhythm guitar player in the band and co-songwriter in some of them songs and stuff. So he and I decided we can write music that day together. So we exchanged numbers and we got together like a month later, wrote a song, and then we did another one a week later. And then it just became this thing where it was gonna be like one song we were going to sell to another artist, 'cause that's what he does; he writes a lot of music and he passes it on. But it became this thing. And he mentioned, he's, like, 'Man, why don't you do a Shavo record? Like something with all of the songs that you wrote instead of just one or two songs. These are coming out great.' And at that point, I wasn't really thinking about doing my own record like that, 'cause I've done so many other projects. And another thing is I've never done heavy music outside of SYSTEM. It's been heavy, but never the same genre. I've always tried to stay against the grain, and I've done EDM, I've done hip-hop, I've done rock-metal shit, but I haven't really just focused on that, which actually is my forte. I close my eyes and it just happens, which is how we did this."

Shavo continued: "So I was at his studio. I have my own studio. I gave him the key. I said, 'Come through. We're gonna start working on this record.' And a year and a half later, we have a full record, plus another half a record for album two. We have a full band. I started my own label and I signed it to Sumerian, who has worldwide distribution to Virgin, which is amazing for me. That's what I kind of wanted with the control. I've been doing this for 30 years, so I kind of knew how I wanted it, and I'm building it. And that's how it started. And that's where we're at right now. It started off as a passion project [and it] became my thing."

Regarding how the songwriting process for SYSTEM OF A DOWN was different from how he approached his previously projects, Shavo said: "Yeah, usually I'll write at home and then I'll bring it to the band. Or my other projects, I've just written at home and then brought it to the rest of the guys. This one, I would just have him play a beat that he made, or even just a 4/4, or even a loop or something, and then I just kind of… I mean, I just started strumming and the music just came out of me. So we just recorded everything I did. And whenever something was amazing, we knew it. I was, like, 'Okay, make that a thing.' So we highlighted that moment. And then afterwards I wrote a part that goes with that, and then kind of arranged it, wrote it all in the studio. So artistically it was really refreshing. There was no boundaries, no law, no rules. I just did it. It just came out so organically. Everything about it has been organic and not planned. And that's what the beauty of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET."

On the topic of how he came up with the name of the SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "He [Morgoth Beatz] wanted to call it SHAV or SHAVO, so people know it's me, and I wrote 95 percent of it. But still, I always like a unit, I like a band. I think it's cooler. And plus he helped me a lot. These guys, they came in and did their part, and it just works perfectly. So I like the collaboration. I've never had the ego, where it's, like, 'me, me, me.' I've never done that. I've never said that. So I like it. It's us. And it became a band. And SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the acronym, is S.H.A.V. So that's cool. So they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted. I got a band, the cool name mysterious, but it also has a meaning, but I'm never gonna explain the meaning. It's kind of one of those things. There's many meanings you can think of what 'Violet' is — it could be a female, it could be a thing, the color, an event, it could be anything, and it's kind of cool. So there is some deep meaning to it and maybe one day we'll explain it, but at the moment, I like it where we are."

Regarding the other members of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "My singer, Taylor Barber, he comes from the world of deathcore and the growling. His voice is an instrument, and he's a wonder. He's like the new wonder of the world that no one knows yet that's there. He does have a following and he comes from another band called LEFT TO SUFFER, which is a grindcore band. But he sings like a canary as well. His range is so huge. He's the perfect member. He's the perfect singer that came in and can do all the parts. And then also we got Alejandro Aranda, who, he is just this musical genius who came in. He was the last member, and I didn't even know I needed that member, but, now it's, like, of course I needed him. Of course he fit perfectly. He does side vocals. He sings along with Taylor perfectly. So it's like a two-vocal band now, two-vocalist band. And we got Josh Johnson on the drums, and he's amazing. He hails from a band called WINDS OF PLAGUE; he used to play with them. So he's talented as hell. So, yeah, I'm honored and lucky to have these guys around me and for us to be able to do this music together."

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET will next perform at this year's Mayhem festival, set to take place on October 12 at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino. "And we are gonna do some shows around it, and then we do have some outside-of-the-U.S. stuff already planned," Shavo explained. "So, yeah, this will be a touring band. 'Cause that's kind of the purpose why I put the band together the way I did. The original idea was to make the music and then have like a DJ Khaled kind of album, but rock and metal, where I have features, guest vocalists coming on; each song has somebody else. But when the songs started developing, I was, like, 'This should be a tour. This should be a touring road band as well.' But you could never do that with guest vocals, so we needed someone to be the singer. So that's why we went ahead and searched for the singer. And that's how we got Taylor. So, yeah, we got the Mayhem coming up. That one's announced, but we are booking a little U.S. thing around it. 'Cause you don't wanna just do one show, but that would be the big one. We're on the main stage. I can't wait. And then we've got some outside-of-the-U.S. ideas too. So yes, more coming."

When the universe aligns, magic happens. This was certainly the case when Odadjian, the legendary bass player of SYSTEM OF A DOWN, crossed paths with platinum-selling producer, songwriter and guitarist Morgoth at a party on 2.22.22. Their initial sessions were a spontaneous combustion of creativity, transforming from a potential solo venture into a full-fledged band. Shavo recalls: "We wrote a song right away. It wasn't like any writing session I had been part of before; riffs were just flowing out of me without me even having to try. Every time I felt like I couldn't write anything. Morgoth would hand me a guitar and say, 'Go, go, go'. I needed that, you know? I needed someone to push me when I wasn't pushing myself. "

As music continued to pour out in torrents, with Shavo writing and performing all the guitar and bass parts and Morgoth producing and providing the beats, atmospherics and FX, Morgoth suggested they turn it into a Shavo solo project. However, with his eye now firmly set on the live arena, Shavo decided to create a full band.

Finding the right vocal talent to complement the musical landscape created by Shavo and Morgoth was crucial. Morgoth's recommendation of Taylor Barber from LEFT TO SUFFER was a game changer. Shavo was blown away. "He was singing in falsetto one minute and growling the next — it was ridiculous," the bassist states. "He became the singer because he knocked every song out of the park."

With Shavo on bass and Morgoth on guitar, the band also brought in Morgoth's WINDS OF PLAGUE bandmate Josh Johnson on drums and Alejandro Aranda, known for his solo project SCARYPOOLPARTY and as runner-up on "American Idol", as lead guitarist and backing vocalist.

Once the new music was complete, mixed by Zach Jones and mastered by Maor Applebaum, Shavo partnered with Avildsen to create 1336 Records, with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET being the first signing.

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is:

Taylor Barber - Vocals
Morgoth - Guitar, Production
Shavo Odadjian - Bass
Alejandro Aranda - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Josh Johnson - Drums

BMG, in partnership with Rhino Entertainment, has shared "Reach For The Sky", a previously unreleased track recorded during the sessions for RATT's 1984 debut album "Out Of The Cellar". The song will be included on limited-edition versions of the "Out Of The Cellar" 40th-anniversary release celebrating RATT's massively successful first studio album, due on November 8, 2024.

Formed in Los Angeles, RATT was featured as an unsigned act on Uncle Joe Benson's "Local Licks Drive Time" show on KLOS-FM. This was their first time on radio and led to their signing to Atlantic Records.

Featuring the classic lineup of Stephen Pearcy (vocals),Warren DeMartini (guitars),Robbin Crosby (guitars),Juan Croucier (bass/vocals) and Bobby Blotzer (drums),RATT exploded on to the national scene in 1984 with the release of "Out Of The Cellar".

Featuring an undeniable hook and legendary music video, the lead single "Round And Round" hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Out Of The Cellar" reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified triple platinum. Two more charting singles followed with "Back For More" and "Wanted Man".

"Out Of The Cellar" became a huge success, and after the album was released, the band went on a world tour, selling out stadiums and arenas worldwide and sharing a stage with acts such as OZZY OSBORNE, IRON MAIDEN, MÖTLEY CRÜE, TWISTED SISTER and more.

This limited edition of "Out Of The Cellar" is being released on November 8, 2024 in red-and-black splatter vinyl with a lenticular cover and an additional neon orange 7" with the previously unreleased track "Reach For The Sky", as well as a limited-edition CD format with lenticular cover and unreleased track.

"Out Of The Cellar" 40th-anniversary reissue track listing:

01. Wanted Man (Cristofanilli/Crosby/Pearcy)
02. You're In Trouble (DeMartini/Pearcy/Crosby)
03. Round And Round (DeMartini/Pearcy/Crosby)
04. In Your Direction (Pearcy)
05. She Wants Money (Croucier)
06. Lack Of Communication (Croucier/Pearcy)
07. Back For More (Pearcy/Crosby)
08. The Morning After (DeMartini/Pearcy/Crosby)
09. I'm Insane (Crosby)
10. Scene Of The Crime (Crosby/Croucier)
11. Reach For The Sky (Crosby/Pearcy/Torien) (bonus track)

Also available are brand new limited-edition color vinyl versions of the albums "Reach For The Sky", "Invasion Of Your Privacy", "Detonator" and "Dancing Undercover".

RATT returned in 1985 with its second full-length album, "Invasion Of Your Privacy". Certified double platinum and also reaching No. 7 on the Billboard 200, "Invasion Of Your Privacy" also featured the classics "Lay It Down" (No. 40 on Billboard Hot 100) and "You're In Love".

"Dancing Undercover" followed in 1986 as RATT toured North America with a then-brand new Los Angeles band called POISON as the opening act. Lead single "Dance" hit the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned another music video hit with "Slip Of The Lip", while "Body Talk" was featured in a key scene in the Eddie Murphy film "The Golden Child". "Dancing Undercover" became RATT's third consecutive platinum album and reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200.

1988's "Reach For The Sky" saw RATT return to the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 album charts, peaking at No. 17. Driven by the bluesy hit and MTV favorite "Way Cool Jr.", "Reach For The Sky" was also certified platinum and became RATT's fourth album in a row to move well over a million copies. "I Want A Woman" was also a successful single and the video captured the excitement and energy of RATT live.

RATT released its last full-length record of the Atlantic era, "Detonator", in 1990. Music was changing, but "Detonator" was still a success, peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and going gold. It was the first RATT album to feature major outside songwriting contributions (Desmond Child, Diane Warren) and guests (Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Schenker). Lead single "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job" hit No. 18 on the rock chart while the power ballad "Giving Yourself Away" reached No. 39.

In 1991, they released the single "Nobody Rides For Free" from the hit film "Point Break", starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.

In January 2021, Pearcy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he was open to the idea of making a new RATT album with all the surviving members of the band's classic lineup.

RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" LP.

In a new interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth revealed that the band's long-awaited new single and accompanying music video will arrive on October 22. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[It] is great — great video, great song. It's gonna be the first of a few singles before the [new CRADLE OF FILTH] album drops at the end of March, beginning of April."

Regarding how he thinks fans will react to the new CRADLE OF FILTH material, Dani said: "I think they're gonna love it. It's just part of the evolution of CRADLE. I mean, people ask me to describe it and it's very hard to describe it. I'm not gonna say, 'You know what? This is our 'Cold Lake'," referencing CELTIC FROST's much-maligned 1988 album. "It's just the next evolutionary step for CRADLE. It's got everything. There's a lot of things that hark back atmospherically and indeed musically in places to early CRADLE stuff. But then there's a lot of very modern CRADLE. It's got everything."

Asked if it is still important for him and his CRADLE OF FILTH bandmates to make new music to challenge themselves, Dani said: "I don't think it's about challenging ourselves. It's just finding an outlet for all this pent-up emotion. We're not gonna be stopping with this record. The reason this record and the last record were slightly delayed was obviously because we had that fucking great pandemic happen. We're actually writing new material now. We're trying to speed up the process. So we'll have a new record in '27, beginning of '27, if not sooner. But, obviously, there are events and especially milestones as well. So it's very important not to overcook the pudding and do too much and dilute. And everything we do, we wanna make it as good as possible. We don't release an album until we're happy with it."

Dani continued: "People are gonna love the production on this record. The production is fucking amazing. And it's got everything. It's got some really catchy songs. It's got some really — well, even the songs that are catchy have really fucking heavy parts in them. And catchy doesn't necessarily mean not extreme. So, yeah, it's another CRADLE OF FILTH record, but it's more than just another CRADLE OF FILTH record. It's another milestone."

This past May, Filth told Australia's Heavy about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2021's "Existence Is Futile" album: "We've already done our [collaborative] track with [pop superstar and noted CRADLE OF FILTH fan] Ed Sheeran, although that'll be probably coming out on the special edition of the new album, but I can't really talk much more about that, all legalities and what have you."

He continued: "The album we started [in] July [2023], and our record company was, like, 'Why are you taking so long?' It's, like, 'Well, because we're on tour.' We started the album [and then] we literally went off on tour for two months. So, yeah, we've been very, very busy."

Asked about the musical direction of the new CRADLE OF FILTH material, Dani said: "It's a step on from the last record. Same production values, same producer, although we always approach it from a different way, so it does sound a lot different. I can't go too much into it because no matter what I say, it's not really gonna justify or do do justice to the tracks on there. It's very hard to explain. It's got [elements of] 'Dusk... And Her Embrace' vibe-wise. Vocally, it's a bit of everything. It's an aggressive record. It's a very catchy record. Yeah, it's just something that's gonna really please our fans. We've worked very hard on it. And the last record was received really well, 'Existence Is Futile'. It's an advancement from that. But it's not because I'm being told, 'Keep it calm. You can't talk about the record yet.' It's very difficult to talk about something that's got so much in it."

Last year, CRADLE OF FILTH released its first live album in over 20 years, "Trouble And Their Double Lives", via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded between 2014 and 2019 at different performances in the USA, Europe, Australia and beyond during the band's "Cryptoriana" world tour and dates following. Produced, mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios, with recording captured by Danny B, the effort not only featured a slew of fan favorites encompassing the band's discography but also two bonus tracks and two entirely brand new songs, "She Is A Fire" and "Demon Prince Regent".

Asked in an interview with Decibel if the two new songs on the record indicate what the next CRADLE OF FILTH album will sound like, Dani said: "Maybe a little bit but no. It's pretty hard to explain, I can't really talk about it. The new album has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' vibe to it. But no, we moved on from that. We started writing as a collective after that, these were stopgap songs that originally were intended toward a new album but because of the pandemic, it delayed everything and they found themselves out there. We just thought it was best to put them on the new record."

He added: "A record takes up so much of your time. It's a monument to a band's career, a lot of effort gone into it, a lot of time gone into it. It deserves its own sort of place and each album will have its own unique identity that's in place due to whatever outside due influence is happening at the time. People in the band, when they recorded, there's so many things that determine what an album's about. Of course each and every one is hopefully going to have a very strong and different identity to the previous one and also the future one."

In May 2023, Dani was asked by BLABBERMOUTH.NET if he envisions the next CRADLE OF FILTH studio album staying in the same vein as "Cryptoriana" or "Existence Is Futile". He responded: "It's not going to be a million miles away from that. I've been working on some of the material today. We're putting the finishing touches on the songs we're going to record, whether all of them make the grade or not. It has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' vibe to them. Musically, it plays across 'Dusk' and 'Midian', but lyrically, and the vibe of it, it has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' feel to it. I don't know why. History repeats itself. Maybe it's because we wrote 'Dusk' around this particular time of year, but it has that vibe. It sounds great, but I would say that, wouldn't I?"

Photo credit: Anthony Ponce

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In a new interview with DJ Ramo (a.k.a. Omar Rodriguez) of The Metal Mixtape, bassist D.D. Verni of New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL was asked about how he and his bandmates go about seeking replacement musicians for their group, particularly as it relates to drummer Jason Bittner's recent decision to leave OVERKILL. Verni responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we knew about this for months — a long time, for a long time — so it wasn't really that big a thing. And usually for us, the first thing we do is you start going down names on lists.

"The main thing for us at this point where we are is — there's a million great drummers out there; they're everywhere," he continued. "But is this somebody that we can get along with, somebody that can hang out with us, get along with the crew and the band and kind of fit into the family? Because I don't care how good a drummer you are or how good a musician you are or a producer or anything else, if you're not fun to be around… We have a really good group of guys with OVERKILL — our crew, the band, we're all kind of best buddies, best friends. We get together, there's a lot of laughs, there's a lot of fun. And the crew, too, is part of our family. And it's a good time on an OVERKILL tour. And so that's kind of the main thing, is us finding somebody who can kind of gel with us. And that's why [new OVERKILL drummer] Jeramie [Kling, formerly of VENOM INC.], who's in the band now, we've known him for years and years. And so he was our first call because we knew he was a good player, but we liked him personally. So, we just finished up a tour in Europe, and things couldn't have been better. Really, really good."

OVERKILL played its first concert with Kling on August 30 at the Posada Rock festival in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania.

When OVERKILL announced Kling's addition to the band on August 23, the group said in a statement: "We're gearing up for an epic European and North American tour this August through December and are excited to announce a special addition for the tours. Here comes a thunderous old friend, who had done work with us, as well as THE ABSENCE & VENOM INC. Please welcome, with drum sticks in hand, Jeramie Kling!"

Jeramie added: "Words cannot express how stoked I am to share the stage with my good friends in OVERKILL. We will be laying waste to everyone throughout Europe and North America (with KING DIAMOND). Check the dates online and come out to see an unforgettable night of metal \m/".

A founding member of THE ABSENCE, Kling appeared on VENOM INC.'s second album, 2022's "There's Only Black", and has played with such acts as FORE, RIBSPREADER, GOREGÄNG and NECROMANCING THE STONE. He was also briefly affiliated with the reunited Florida death metal band MASSACRE, which led to the formation of INHUMAN CONDITION, alongside Terry Butler (OBITUARY, ex-DEATH) and Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE). In addition to being a drummer, Kling is a recording engineer, producer and live sound engineer.

Bittner joined OVERKILL in 2017 and played drums on the band's last two studio albums, 2019's "The Wings Of War" and 2023's "Scorched"

When Bittner has announced his departure from OVERKILL on August 5, he said in a statement: "On August 1, 2024, I played the Vagos Metal Fest in Portugal, and it was the last show I will play in the band OVERKILL.

"For a while now I have been juggling a few different bands along with OVERKILL, and I knew at some point something would have to give since I simply can’t be three places at once. Over the course of this last year, my schedule has reached that breaking point.

"At this time SHADOWS FALL is working towards completion of our new material that will take us back out on the road sometime in 2025, as well as our fall shows we have booked for the rest of this year celebrating 20 years of 'The War Within'. Compounded on top of this is my new band, Metal Blade recording artists CATEGORY 7, whose album just hit the shelves last month and will start touring soon through 2025. All of this adds up to something having to 'take a break', so as of today I no longer play drums in OVERKILL so I can concentrate solely on the bands that I am a full member/owner of.

"Now don't worry — they currently have another great drummer already learning the material, and he will be ready to do battle for the upcoming tours.

"I would like to thank EVERYONE in the OVERKILL extended family for 7 1/2 years of laughs, killer shows, and fun around the globe. All our crew members throughout my run, our agents Dolores Lokas and Mike Monterulo, my tech Animal for always having my back (Shake and Bake),as well as all of our crew past and present, the SKULLKRUSHERS (much love Jurgen),and all the fans who supported my tenure in the band, I love you all, thank you, and will miss you on the European and KING DIAMOND tours… but I'll see you out there with SHADOWS FALL and CATEGORY 7."

Black Sabbath legend, Tony Iommi, has reissued the two albums he recorded with Glenn Hughes - The 1996 The Dep Sessions and Fused, available via BMG. This is the first time the albums are available on vinyl.


You can order the titles here, and listen to the official audio for the Fused track, "Wasted Again", below.










The 1996 Dep Sessions tracklisting:


"Gone"
"From Another World"
"Don’t You Tell Me"
"Don’t Drag The River"
"Fine"
"Time Is The Healer"
"I’m Not The Same Man"
"It Falls Through Me"


"Time Is The Healer":





"I’m Not The Same Man":





"It Falls Through Me":





"From Another World":





"Gone" lyric video:

In a new interview Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey, POP EVIL singer Leigh Kakaty spoke about the band's longevity and perseverance, nearly two and a half decades after POP EVIL's formation in North Muskegon, Michigan. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it's that blue-collar mentality, that Midwest kind of roots, where we come from. We came around in a different era, in a different time for rock, and the fact that we're still here, it's humbling and it's exciting at the same time. We feel like we're just tipping the iceberg about the best music for POP EVIL in the future. And the [changes in the band's] lineup, obviously — not to get into the whole COVID talk, but that really… Obviously, there was a lot of negative, but there was so much positive that came out of that for the band and we needed to go through it to kind of clean the air and trim the fat, so to speak. And those that wanna be here and move forward on the vision stayed and those that didn't kind of left, and it was awesome to finally kind of [be] able to have some of those tough talks, it was awesome to finally be able to kind of be shaken a little bit, the fact that this can go away like that. So it kind of, really, again, humbled us and made us grateful for those things that we really wanted to come after moving forward, if we had another shot to play, and here we are, and again, that blue-collar mentality is still here, but there's a resurgence and an energy here that just hasn't been in the past. We're definitely excited about the future and what we're hopefully on the verge of here for POP EVIL."

Kakaty also talked about the addition of Blake Allison to POP EVIL. Allison replacing departed drummer Hayley Cramer, joining Kakaty and fellow bandmates, guitarists Dave Grahs and Nick Fuelling, and bassist Joey "Chicago" Walser. He said: "There's such a commitment to be in a rock band in this day and age that people's lives change in it. You're basically growing up in the public eye. So you're changing it, and you're touring for — I mean, in the early POP EVIL days, we were touring over 200 shows a year. So there's a huge commitment that, people's goals, identities, they all kind of evolve and you grow and you change and you adapt. And, yeah, obviously we've had issues with drummers just kind of coming and going, and it's a tough position 'cause it's the root, it's the foundation of any house. It could be any reasons. And again, Hayley, we're obviously still close to Hayley. She's such a talented, talented person, both on and off the stage. Obviously, we all know her as a drummer, but for the for the bandmembers, we know her as Hayley. And when she wanted to kind of step down, it was definitely a surprise to me, I'm not gonna lie. But her and I talked about it, and it just felt like it was time for her. She's dealing with her own things, both on and off the stage, that she will have to explain, but for us, for POP EVIL, it's very important that we just keep we keep rolling. The people that wanna do it stay… And whether people come and go for good or bad reasons, that's up to them. I can only speak for myself, and it's always scary losing a bandmember. Certainly someone like Hayley, who is such a big part of the band — she's been for so long — but it opened up another door for someone to come in. And, obviously, having Joey from EGYPT CENTRAL and DEVOUR THE DAY in the band — unbelievable rhythm section that he's a part of in his other bands with Blake Allison, and Blake's an incredible drummer. But he hadn't played drums in a few years. It's been a minute."

This past August, POP EVIL released a new single, "What Remains".

It's the dawn of a new era for POP EVIL, which the band promises will be its most sonically heavy.

POP EVIL first rose to international prominence with debut album "Lipstick On The Mirror", featuring RIAA-certified-gold single "100 In A 55". After Kakaty famously tore up the band's major label contract onstage, POP EVIL signed with eOne Music (now MNRK Heavy). 2011's "War Of Angels" debuted in the Top 10 of the Rock Albums chart and produced three Top 10 singles.

The band's 2013 album, "Onyx", put them in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the first time and boasted three consecutive No. 1 rock songs, two RIAA gold singles, and one platinum single "Torn To Pieces". POP EVIL's next release, "Up", was the No. 1 Independent Album in America and made it to No. 25 on the Billboard 200. It featured several Top 5 rock songs and a chart-topper with "Footsteps", which also went gold.

POP EVIL's 2018 self-titled set included the No. 1 hit and newly certified gold single "Waking Lions" and two other Top 10 hits. 2020's "Versatile", meanwhile, scored two No. 1 rock songs: "Breathe Again" and "Survivor". In 2023, the band released its seventh studio album "Skeletons", which spawned their eighth and ninth No. 1 singles: "Eye Of The Storm" and "Skeletons".

When Hayley announced her exit from POP EVIL, she wrote in a statement that "reached a point" where she wanted "to branch out and find new paths and adventures - into the unknown!"

Cramer joined POP EVIL in May 2016 as the replacement for Josh "Chachi" Marunde, who exited the group in April that year.

Photo credit: Nick Fancher

Guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Richie Kotzen has premiered the official music video for "Nomad", the title track of his highly acclaimed new solo studio album, out now via BMG. The clip sees Kotzen bathed in the Californian sunshine as he performs the song in the same hills above Los Angeles where the album cover was shot.

"I'm very happy to have arrived at a place where we can share the single 'Nomad' with a visual to go along with it," says Kotzen. "I originally wrote and recorded this song some time after releasing my album '50 For 50' and I always knew it was something that deserved special attention against the kind of music I'm know for releasing in more recent years. It was sort of driving me a bit nuts having this tune in the back burner for so many years and not having the right platform to release it. Now here we are not only putting it out with a video but also as the title of my latest album, so I suppose it was held up for good reason.

"Being primarily known as a rock and sometimes jazz fusion guitarist, I found myself taking a different direction on the solo. I really did not want to find myself soloing over standard chord changes which seem so fitting for a song with this type of singable chorus. By introducing an entirely different set of changes for the solo I was able to stretch out in ways that I normally could not by playing over the typical or expected progression.

"As a guitar player, I feel like I am really connecting by turning off the distortion pedal and soloing with a more pure clean tone. For my taste I feel like this song is the 'guitar moment' of my new album and I'm excited to share this new video/single with you all."

Written, recorded and produced by Kotzen, "Nomad" features eight new tracks showcasing Kotzen's multi-faceted musical styles with Kotzen playing almost every instrument on the album. On "Nomad", Kotzen expresses his diverse techniques and influences, from hard rock to '70s-infused soul and funk, jazz fusion to R&B. It's all intertwined with his own unique playing and songwriting approach, while retaining his ever-evolving signature style.

"I came up exposed to soul, funk and R&B music extensively but at the same time I was a hard rock fan all the way," explains Kotzen. "So I've got this sort of interesting dynamic happening with my music where you hear elements of PARLIAMENT or Curtis Mayfield but then at the same time you've got the BAD COMPANY early Rod Stewart influence as well. Then when I started taking the guitar more seriously, I was drawn into fusion bands like THE DIXIE DREGS, RETURN TO FOREVER and Allan Holdsworth's work. It is a wacky mixture but that is the formula for Richie Kotzen."

Earlier this year, Kotzen released the first two tracks from the album, hard-driving single "Cheap Shots" and follow-up single, "On The Table", a heavy-hitting rocker that had been living on his hard drive, waiting for the perfect lyric to complete it. A subconscious memory of his Brazilian father-in-law's first English words "The book is on the table" sparked inspiration and perfectly tied it all together.

While "Nomad" has no shortage of heavy guitar rockers, the sheer diversity of the album as heard on tracks such as "Nihilist", "This Is A Test" and the title track "Nomad" showcases not only Kotzen's musical range and vocal prowess, but his fearless imagination as a producer/arranger. Already globally renowned as an extraordinary guitarist, with "Nomad" Kotzen stands tall as a truly remarkable all-round lyricist-producer/arranger and singer.

"Nomad" track listing:

01. Cheap Shots
02. These Doors**
03. Insomnia
04. Nomad*
05. Escape
06. On The Table
07. This Is A Test
08. Nihilist

* Dan Potruch plays drums on "Nomad"
** Kyle Hughes plays drums on "These Doors"

Michael Kachko, BMG senior vice president says: "After working with Richie on the successful SMITH/KOTZEN project, we knew what an incredible songwriter and artist he is so we were excited to hear what he was working on as a solo artist. When he played us the new material, we knew immediately we wanted to be involved."

Kotzen states: "I was very much elated with the news that BMG wanted to release this album as I envisioned it without artistic compromise. I love the fact that the BMG team put their creative trust in me and my vision without re-design. So many times the business side of things can really interfere with the creative progress of a writer and with a team like this the focus is on what can we do to help you beyond what you've already done as a recording artist. The attitude seems to be, 'you've done the work as a writer, producer [and] musician, now let us take the ball and run'. This feels like the beginning of an amazing journey for me and a bit of a re-set in an industry that is becoming more complex to navigate for a lone artist."

Photo credit: Jürgen Spachmann

POWERFLO — vocalist Senen "Sen Dog" Reyes (CYPRESS HILL),vocalist/guitarist Billy Graziadei (BIOHAZARD),bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY) and drummer Fred Aching — will release its new album, "Gorilla Warfare", on November 1 via New Damage Records. The LP's second single, "War Machine", can be streamed below. The track features a guest appearance by guitarist Phil Demmel (KERRY KING, ex-MACHINE HEAD),who previously played with Olde Wolbers in VIO-LENCE.

Graziadei states about the deeper meaning encased within the grooves and riffs: "Sen, Christian, and I have been through war with our careers. Living and dying for the music we create has taken its toll, and yet, every morning, we wake up to do it all again. Live for something or die for nothing!"

The "Gorilla Warfare" title track features Ernie C of BODY COUNT.

"We bring it to a new level with 'Gorilla Warfare'," Graziadei previously said about the album. "The second record always defines a band, I'm proud as hell of this release. Metal, punk, and hardcore all held together by the power flow of Sen Dog spitting mad verses all over it! The album is the best of CYPRESS HILL, BIOHAZARD and FEAR FACTORY, all combined into one massive beating! We even have a bit of BILLYBIO mixed into the fray."

As for the title track and first single, he continued, "I finished working on the song but felt it needed something else. After working on some ideas, I wasn't feeling it so I called up buddy Ernie C from BODY COUNT to see if he was down for helping me out. He came into the studio, loved the vibe and laid down some pure fire! That became the title track and the first single!"

"Gorilla Warfare" track listing:

01. I'm A Killer
02. You Ain't My Judge
03. Gorilla Warfare (feat. Ernie C)
04. War Machine
05. The Wrong One
06. Head Strong
07. Isolation
08. Big Dog
09. Fuck Em All
10. Drinkin' Beer And Gettin' Loud

POWERFLO combines the passionate, chaotic, and authentic urgency of a brand-new band with the unrivaled experience of its trailblazing members. All the members are genre giants who shaped heavy music and hip-hop and continue to innovate in this band. Their collective creative fingerprints are all over subculture, including early mashups of hardcore and rap, metal and industrial, and more.

"POWERFLO's mix of agit-rap, thrash metal, and punk attitude is a revelation to those who only know Sen Dog from his CYPRESS HILL joints," wrote long-running metal tastemaker Revolver. "His vocals are clear and sharp, and he drives the band's full-throttle crunch like a natural-born frontman. POWERFLO are energetic, pissed off, and built to last, with bite and hooks.

The blistering second album, "Gorilla Warfare", is a full-circle moment for the guys and the genre.

The groundbreaking "Judgment Night" soundtrack, released in 1993, was an early building block of the rap-metal mashups to come and featured both CYPRESS HILL and BIOHAZARD. Sen appeared on BIOHAZARD's classic third album, "State Of The World Address" (1994). Christian appears on CYPRESS HILL's "Skull & Bones" (2000) and "Stoned Raiders" (2001) and performed as part of their live band many times.

POWERFLO's self-titled debut arrived in 2017. Produced and recorded by Billy and mixed by Tue Madsen (MESHUGGAH, DARK TRANQUILITY, SICK OF IT ALL),the second album came together with even more confidence, ambition, and fearlessness. "Gorilla Warfare" cements POWERFLO as a heavy hitter with a bright future and career, even as it brings its members full circle with a genre they helped pioneer.

As Billy points out, "The three of us are survivors. We've experienced many great times and challenges. POWERFLO is so enjoyable because we have a blast doing this band together."

Photo credit: Melissa Castro

SiX By SiX, the progressive power trio comprising Ian Crichton (Saga), Nigel Glockler (Saxon) and Robert Berry (3.2), recently released their sophomore album, Beyond Shadowland, via InsideOutMusic. Today, the band share the official music video for the song, "Spectre". Check it out below:





Robert Berry previously detailed "Spectre" in the video below:







For Beyond Shadowland the band reconvened in Berry’s own Soundtek Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023 to bend, shape, hammer and caress their diverse musical talents into 11 impressive new tracks.  With this album, they continue to define and build upon their unique melodic space, welding guitar-driven rock, metal and prog into a unique and powerful sonic setting.


Beyond Shadowland is available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g Black 2LP (featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks) and as a Digital Album. Order