Toby Knapp took to social media to pay tribute to his former Onward bandmate, Chris Payette, who has passed away at 49 years of age.

Says Toby: "Last weekend the Heavy Metal community lost a true warrior and I lost one of my dearest friends. Chris Payette passed away, he was 49.

"Chris was one of the kindest people I've ever known. It's a loss for so many. My heart goes out to his family and countless friends. He bonded us with his wisdom, humor and compassion.

"Thirty years ago this month I met him and his band, Forced Religion. They played in my hometown, with no lead guitarist, and I convinced him to give me the gig. This was the start of a long lasting collaboration and friendship with him. He played bass in my mid-nineties Black Thrash Metal band, Defiled. A few years later he would join me again in the band, Onward. He relocated us to Las Vegas and fulfilled all the tour dates for our album, Reawaken.

"He was a walking encyclopedia of rock music and I loved conversing with him for hours on everything from the mixing mistakes on early Grand Funk Railroad albums to the various incarnations of Venom. To me, and I'm sure many,  he was the epitome of cool. I could go on forever.

"We will miss you Chris and I will celebrate you for the rest of my days. Thank you my friend. Toby."

Chris Payette, June 14, 1971 - December 12, 2020.

On January 29, Tribulation will release their new album, Where The Gloom Becomes Sound, via Century Media Records (worldwide excluding North America). For a preview of the record, a video for the new single "Hour Of The Wolf" - directed by Gustav Ohman Spjuth / Fanny & Alexander Productions - can be viewed below.

Tribulation commented: "The Hour Of The Wolf is upon us! Feast your eyes on this, the second single of our upcoming album..."

Where The Gloom Becomes Sound is available for pre-order here.

Tribulation entered Linus Björklund's Studio Ryssviken in April and exited (informally) nearly two months later. The group - guitarists Adam Zaars and Jonathan Hultén, Johannes Andersson (vocals/bass), and Oscar Leander (drums) - used the first 10 days of their studio time to rehearse. Once the bone-oil had sufficiently run its course, the group and co-producer Jamie Elton started to hammer into the rudiments of the recording process. Elton, who also serves as Tribulation's soundman and is a long-time friend, took the reins from Martin Ehrencrona, who helmed the 2018 Down Below sessions. Together, they crafted a well-appointed production, one that's luxuriously grim and auricularly inviting. Where The Gloom Becomes Sound”was then given to Grammy-nominated producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Rammstein) to mix at Psalm Studios. Once the mixing was finished - Dalgety would send over versions from his studio in Wales - Tribulation re-enlisted Magnus Lindberg at Redmount Studios in Stockholm to master.

The band's resulting fifth full-length indisputably elevates the Swedes to the highest echelons. The source of their glinting darkness: a yawning, bottomless rift deep within. "We immersed ourselves in the world of myth and magic," says Zaars. "With a specific focus on elemental magic, and the elements, in general, from both the Western and Indian esoteric traditions, not the Buddhist four elements but the five elements. Myth and magic are obviously not something new in the world of Tribulation, but it got a bit more specific on this album. We just present it from a slightly different perspective."

Where The Gloom Becomes Sound isn't representative of monumental change, but rather the accrual of ambition over time in conjunction with continued exposure to and profound experiments with crossroads devilry. Being their most expressive and inventive album to-date, where it will take them is only to greatness and with reverence.

Where The Gloom Becomes Sound tracklisting:

"In Remembrance"
"Hour Of The Wolf"
"Leviathans"
"Dirge Of A Dying Soul"
"Lethe"
"Daughter Of The Djinn"
"Elementals"
"Inanna"
"Funeral Pyre"
"The Wilderness"

Bonus tracks:

"The Dhampir, Pt. I" *
"The Dhampir" **
"Månvisan" ***

* Bonus on Ltd. CD Mediabook, First chapter of the song
** Bonus on Ltd. Deluxe LP Artbook, Complete version of the 18-minute song
*** Bonus on Ltd. Deluxe LP Artbook, Instrumental song

"Leviathans" video:

Album teaser:

As previously announced, guitarist Jonathan Hultén has amicably parted ways with Tribulation, and Joseph Tholl has taken his place. This new lineup (Johannes Andersson, Adam Zaars, Joseph Tholl, Oscar Leander) will hit the road in support of Where the Gloom Becomes Sound later next year.

Tribulation lineup (from left to right at top):

Johannes Andersson - vocals, bass
Adam Zaars - guitars
Joseph Tholl - guitars
Oscar Leander - drums

(Photo - Ester Segarra)

Danish death metal band, Baest, announce the release of their new studio album, Necro Sapiens, out on March 5, while dropping the bone-crushing first single “Abattoir”.

The band comments: "Necro Sapiens is ultimately the most Baest-sounding record. The influences are there, but this is by far the record, where we sound the most like ourselves. The best Baest there is!"

About "Abattoir": “Far from earth and out of reach, The Abbatoir lays the foundation of the necro sapiens enslaved existence. A nocturnal breed inhabits this parliament, who has one goal in sight; misanthropic and totalitarian domination.”

“Abbatoir” is now available on all digital platforms, here. Watch the visualizer below:

Baest come from Aarhus in Denmark and have successfully established themselves as one of the country’s most promising metal acts in recent years. While deeply rooted in straight-forward classic death metal inspired by genre legends like Dismember, Entombed, Morbid Angel, Death, and Bolt Thrower, the 2015 formed band evolved from a Danish underground phenomenon to an internationally touring act (2018 tour with Abbath, 2019 EU/UK trek with Decapitated). Also, at festivals like Summer Breeze, Copenhell, Ruhrpott Metal Meeting, Roskilde, they left audiences impressed and begging for more. After their already praised debut album, Danse Macabre, the band took it to the next level in 2019 and delivered Venenum where they refined their already steamroller-like signature sound.

With the expectation-bar already set so high for their next record, Baest truly drops their most anticipated and most important album so far. Stay tuned for more info.

Baest will join Philip H. Anselmo & The Illigals on their summer 2021 tour.

The band comments: “Somethings are goddamn awesome, but others are GODDAMN ELECTRIC - Baest are supporting the great southern trendkiller throughout Europe and beyond. 15 shows supporting Anselmo & the Illegals, when they perform a vulgar display of fucking hostile classics! This is what life on the road is about - getcha pull.”

Tour dates:

July
24 - St. Petersburg, Russia - A2 Green Concert
25 - Moscow, Russia - Adrenaline Stadium
29 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Metal Days
30 - Saint maurice de gourdans, France - Sylak Festival
31 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli

August
1 -   Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
4 -   Budapest, Hungary - Barba Negra
5 -   Belgrade, Serbia - Beogradski Sajam
6 -   Sofia, Bulbaria - Yunak
7 -   Brasov, Romania - Rockstad Extreme Fest
9 -   Vienna, Austria - Simm City
10 - Krakau, Poland - Studio
11 - Jaromer, Czech Republic - Brutal Assault Festival
13 - Derbyshire, UK - Bloodstock Festival
14 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz Festival

Baest will set sail for Europe in February 2021.

Baest are:

Simon Olsen - vocals
Svend Karlsson - guitar
Lasse Revsbech - guitar
Mattias Melchiorsen - bass
Sebastian Abildsten - drums

(Photo - Anna Marin)

Virginia-based crossover maniacs, Enforced, open their Century Media account with their blistering new album, Kill Grid. Informed by an incredible cross-section of extremes - from thrash and punk to death metal and hardcore - the emergent outfit drop a nine-song cluster-bomb of thrashing death on apathetic times.

Today, the band are unleashing a first taste of Kill Grid, check out the visualizer clip for “Hemorrhage” that will pay extra detail to the striking artwork by Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Vitriol and many more).

The band comments on the track: “The first half is about the death of innocence, or the death of an innocent person, due to the surge of distrust, outrage, and skepticism of a society”, says Knox Colby (vocals). “While people arrogantly and pompously saber rattle over trivial things, real people are getting hurt and caught in the crossfire.” Guitarist Will Wagstaff further explains: “Musically we wanted to write a song that was driving and pummeling and the original vibe to the beginning was ‘Death Camps’ Cro-Mags inspired. This was one of the first songs written and completed for the album.”

Kill Grid came together over a two-year period while Enforced were marauding halls and dive bars across the East Coast and Canada. Indeed, inspiration came from different directions, but playing live with bands like Sacred Reich, Red Death, Iron Reagan, All Out War, and Integrity shaped what was to come out of the Richmonders. While it was the previous output that attracted the attention of Century Media, it’s Kill Grid, featuring a striking Joe Petagno (Motörhead, Vitriol) cover, that’s going to put Enforced on top-lists of circle pit lunatics around the globe.

Pre-orders will be launched in early 2021.

Formed in Richmond in 2017 out of shreds of disbanded hardcore and punk bands, Enforced quickly found their calling between the undying support of regional punk/hardcore scenes and their respective record collections. Whether it’s Sacred Reich and Integrity or Bolt Thrower and Amebix, “Pure Crossover Death,” as Enforced call their devastating din, devastatingly speared its way through two demos (Demo 2017 and Retaliation) and their no-holds-barred debut, At The Walls.

Lineup:

Knox Colby - vocals
Will Wagstaff - guitar
Zach Monahan - guitar
Ethan Gensurowsky - bass
Alex Bishop - drums

(Photo - Morgan Parrish)

During an appearance on the latest episode of "The Jasta Show", hosted by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED), former SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera reflected on the band's legendary December 1989 concert at Arena López Mateos in Mexico City during the "Beneath The Remains" tour.

"That's one of the craziest shows we ever played, because there [were] a few things [that happened]," Igor said (see video below). "It was this little place where they had Lucha Libre, which is like the Mexican wrestling style. So it was a little arena — two thousand [people] max. The dressing rooms were shrines for the Mexican fighters, so it was super bizarre being in this thing.

"Another fun fact about this show was that when we were getting ready to start, the promoter comes in and he was, like, 'Guys, the opening band just blew up the P.A.'," he continued. 'And we were, like, 'What?' [He] was, like, 'Yeah, yeah. It's gone.' And we were, like, 'Oh, shit. What should we do now?' I mean, we flew all the way to Mexico. So, we were, like, 'Man, we have to play.' And I remember, all that's happening is with the sound from the stage — there's no P.A. So there's no P.A. at that concert. I think it was either a guitar or a bass cab that Max [Cavalera, then-SEPULTURA guitarist/vocalist] plugged in his microphone, but at one point, kids were singing way louder than Max. We were listening to the kids singing, but not listening what Max was saying.

"And the crazy thing also, I can see in that video, it's the era where some people would still go to the show and just headbang," Igor added. "I remember watching MOTÖRHEAD, like 'Iron Fist', where the front row was just these guys headbanging. And you can see in that gig also, there's a massive pit that's people going crazy, the front, it's all the old-school headbangers, just listening, singing the lyrics and just headbanging. And they don't care. These people were jumping, or they don't wanna go on stage; they just wanna be there receiving that sonic thing."

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).

For more than a decade, Igor has been part of the MIXHELL DJ/hip-hop/electro project with his wife Laima Leyton.

Last year, Igor teamed up with Wayne Adams (BIG LAD, DEATH PEDALS, JOHNNY BROKE) to form the PETBRICK project. The band's debut album, "I", was released in October 2019 via Closed Casket Activities in the U.S.

The current SEPULTURA lineup — featuring guitarist Andreas Kisser and bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. alongside Derrick Green on vocals and Eloy Casagrande on drums — released its latest studio album, "Quadra", in February via Nuclear Blast.

In a new interview with Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked to weigh in on original PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing's new band with ex-PRIEST drummer Les Binks, as well as the reason for Downing's relative absence from Halford's recently released autobiography, "Confess". Rob responded (see video below): "Well, naturally, I've got my thoughts about all of this. And I think it's fatal to go into that arena, only because of the way that I know people's emotions are affected naturally — mine included. And I don't really think it serves any purpose. Opinions can be valuable, but at the end of the day, what's an opinion? It's just your opinion. It's my opinion. It could be totally different to another person's opinion.

"As far as who was mentioned and who was not mentioned in the book, we did not steer of any avoidance, per se," Halford explained. "We just talked about every aspect that we felt was important and useful to the book itself. So there was never, 'Oh, we won't talk about that person.' There was never any kind of dismissiveness for whatever reasons. So I think there's my answer."

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

Earlier this year, Downing announced the formation of KK'S PRIEST, in which he is joined by Binks and former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens. The band, which pays homage to Downing's past, is rounded out by guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE) and bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX).

Last year, Halford didn't rule out Downing's reunion with PRIEST, saying "what will happen will happen."

Bassist Ian Hill has said that there are no plans for PRIEST to invite Downing to return to the band.

"Richie took over from Ken," Hill told Riff Magazine. "He's done an absolutely tremendous job, he really has. And he's made Ken's parts his own now. He's got his own angle on the lead breaks. Ken's part's been taken, and there's no plans to have Ken back, really. Hey, listen, never say never. But at the moment, we're going along quite well without Ken, so it could stay like that, I think, at least for the foreseeable future."

In 2018, Downing dismissed as a "load of bollocks" Hill's explanation for why K.K. wasn't invited to rejoin the band after fellow guitarist Glenn Tipton's Parkinson's diagnosis was made public.

"We were like brothers; we went to infant school together and secondary school together, and we lived our career together," Downing said. "But I'm not totally happy about what's being said. Ian seems to be [saying] things like, 'None of the fans are missing K.K.,' and, 'Richie has brought a new energy to the band.' And I'm going, 'Ian, dude, on that last tour, I was the energy. I slowed down because people weren't keeping up with me.'… So I'm thinking, Ian, get a grip with yourself, mate. You've just replaced the energy with some energy. Fine — well, great. But that's not moving forward, Ian."

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease six years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in February 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of PRIEST's latest album, "Firepower".

Two years ago, 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 Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

"Confess" was released in September via Hachette Books. It was written with Ian Gittins, co-writer of "The Heroin Diaries" by Nikki Sixx.

Downing's autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", arrived in September 2018 via Da Capo Press.

According to Rolling Stone, a new documentary about SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian, "Truth To Power", will be released on February 19, 2021 via Oscilloscope Laboratories. With unique and exclusive access to the man behind the music, award-winning director/writer/producer Garin Hovannisian ("I Am Not Alone") captures both intimate and historic public moments, including Serj's role in inspiring the massive peaceful protests of 2018's Velvet Revolution in his native Armenia which successfully ousted an oligarchic regime.

"Truth To Power" also includes appearances by SYSTEM OF A DOWN bandmembers John Dolmayan and Shavo Odadjian, the band's manager David "Beno" Benveniste, filmmaker/journalist Carla Garapedian, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Tom Morello, and famed record producer Rick Rubin. The feature documentary is executive-produced by Academy Award nominee Joe Berlinger ("Paradise Lost" trilogy, "Metallica: Some Kind Of Monster"); and Live Nation Productions' Ryan Kroft (Emmy winner for "The T Word"), Michael Rapino ("A Star Is Born", Emmy nominee for "Believer"), Damian Vaca and Vaughn Schoonmaker.

Millions fill stadiums across the world for the sound of Tankian, the Grammy-winning lead singer of SYSTEM OF A DOWN. With exclusive interviews, adventures, and original footage personally filmed by Serj, "Truth To Power" allows audiences backstage access to an international rock star whose faith in music not only revolutionized heavy metal, but also world events. Throughout his life, the musician has pursued social justice, harnessing the power of his songs and celebrity for real political change. Serj's voice is equally likely to take on American corporate greed as lambast the corrupt regime of his homeland. His decades-long campaign for formal U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide was finally approved by Congress last year. Governments hate him. People love him.

Set to the iconic music of SYSTEM OF A DOWN and the propulsions of an original soundtrack composed by Serj, "Truth To Power" is also an artist portrait with a revealing look at the musician as he writes a song from idea to reality and pursues ambitions outside of the band. It includes memories from Rubin on SYSTEM OF A DOWN's early years and its unlikely breakthrough, the bandmates' candid insights about the splinters and highpoints for the group, and stories from Morello on his bond with Serj as social justice advocates and their Axis Of Justice nonprofit. Running time is 79 minutes.

PUDDLE OF MUDD frontman Wes Scantlin spoke to Tucson, Arizona's Rock 102.1 KFMA radio station about how he has been spending his coronavirus downtime. He said (see video below): "I really didn't actually have a problem staying at home. All I can really do is write. I'm bothering the crap out of my freakin' roommates — writing and stuff. Most girlfriends that I actually date or whatever, they totally, just at one point or another, get completely sick of me continuously and constantly writing at whatever hour it is. It doesn't really matter anymore. They're tired me of hearing me freakin' write songs and stuff. It's pretty funny. Last night was hilarious. Me and my friend, we almost got into a big fight and stuff — it was ridiculous. Everything is cool now, but it was fun."

Elaborating on how he gets the inspiration to compose music, Wes said: "It comes in different segments of time. You can't really [say], 'Okay, I'm going to start writing songs at this particular time, from this time to this time. I guess I need to write at these times, so maybe I should actually check people's time sequences in my writing style.' It just kind of comes to me — it comes and goes. I get on the writer boat, and that's when it happens. But not everybody really likes the way it goes down a lot of times — especially women. It happens in those weird windows where you're just getting ready to fall asleep, and you come up with this insane cool idea, and then, all of a sudden, you're pissing everybody off in the house."

PUDDLE OF MUDD was formed in 1991 in Kansas City by Scantlin, the only original member still with the band.

The group's first studio album in ten years, "Welcome To Galvania", was released in September 2019 via Pavement Entertainment.

Wes had almost non-stop problems with the law, alcohol, finances and other issues, before finally getting sober in 2017. After changing his life around and getting the band back in order, Wes and PUDDLE OF MUDD rebuilt a touring base, which paved the way to new music and a new album.

PUDDLE OF MUDD broke into the mainstream with 2001's "Come Clean", which yielded three hits — "Control", "Blurry" and "She Hates Me".

SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian has confirmed to Rolling Stone that his previously announced solo collection of rock songs, "Elasticity", will finally be released in February. The EP will arrive three months after the release of "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", SYSTEM OF A DOWN's first new songs in 15 years. The SYSTEM tracks were motivated by the recently erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years.

Speaking about how "Elasticity" came about, Serj said (see video below): "'Elasticity', the songs on that EP were written many years back. When I wrote them, the original concept, for me, was, 'What rock songs can come out of me right now that I can possibly work with SYSTEM on?' So the intention was, actually, to sit down, and I've played them for the [other] guys [in SYSTEM], and we even kind of messed around with some of 'em, and whatnot. And, obviously, we were unable to see eye-to-eye on continuing the future recordings of SYSTEM, except for, obviously, these two songs for the cause that we've done, and that was before — obviously, a couple of years before. So these songs, I decided to finish them myself and release them. And they are really interesting and beautiful songs — going from really heavy type of SYSTEM-esque type of music to really beautiful, ballady — including pianos and string arrangements and stuff like that. So, it's quite diverse for just five songs. And thematically, it's quite diverse as well — a song about terrorism; a song about protests in Armenia years ago; a song about my son Rumi, kind of also cut with the poet Rumi, in a way — it's an homage to the poet Rumi and his namesake, basically, in a way. And a few other pieces. So it's kind of all around the place, as everything I do is."

Serj went on to say that "Elasticity" "was supposed to come out in October, but when the war started, and when we decided to put out two songs with SYSTEM, that took priority for me. And I just called the record company that we're working with and just said, 'We need to push this. Can we make this work?' And they were very cool about it," he explained.

"Elasticity"'s title is a play on SYSTEM's massive 2001 album "Toxicity". Serj told SPIN: "I'm gonna call it 'Elasticity' just because I wanted to do it with SYSTEM and it didn't happen. For me, it's not 'Toxicity' but it is 'Toxicity'. [Laughs]"

SYSTEM OF A DOWN hasn't released a full-length album since the "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" LPs, which came out in 2005.

In 2018, guitarist Daron Malakian publicly accused Tankian of not wanting to record, with Tankian responding that creative and financial issues with Malakian led to the stalemate. In a message on Facebook, Tankian wrote that Malakian wanted to control SYSTEM's creative process, take more of the publishing money and be the only band member to speak to the press.

Within a week of their release, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz" landed at positions No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, on Billboard's Hot Hard Rock Songs chart.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN is planning to film a music video for "Genocidal Humanoidz" this month. "I've written out the storyline, and I've got a couple of surprises that I'm gonna be putting [in there]," Odadjian told geopolitical analyst Richard Èlmoyan in a recent interview.

FOO FIGHTERS' "Shame Shame" has topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Songs airplay chart. The track marks the band's ninth Mainstream Rock Songs No. 1 and first since 2017's "The Sky Is a Neighborhood".

"Shame Shame" is taken from FOO FIGHTERS' new album "Medicine At Midnight", which will be released on February 5, 2021 via Roswell Records/RCA Records.

Regarding the track, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl told Kerrang!: "When we first started recording the record, we were recording songs that were recognizable as the FOO FIGHTERS. Actually, the first song that we recorded is the first song on the record: 'Making A Fire'. And that really kind of set the tone, like, 'Okay, this is really up and really fuckin' big, and let's keep moving in that direction.'

"And after a few weeks I came in with this idea, which is originally based on a simple guitar riff and this unusual rhythm which is a drum set recorded in a stairwell, but then there's this finger-snapping and stomping and clapping loop that's behind it," Dave continued. "Those two things started coming together, and rather than load a lot of things on top of it, we kept it really simple: there's an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, a bass, a vocal, and also this keyboard part.

"It was noticeably different than anything we've ever done, and I always think that when you're releasing a song before an album, you want it to give a little bit of pretext for things to come; you want to present this to your audience as some sort of indication that we're not just making the same FOO FIGHTERS record again. And there was something about it, with the vibe and the rhythm, that just seems like new territory for us."

Earlier this month, Grohl told Planet Rock about FOO FIGHTERS' musical approach on "Medicine At Midnight": "I started thinking about the direction that we should take for the next record. And I looked at our back catalog, and I thought, okay, we've covered a lot of territory in 25 years. We've made acoustic albums; we've made noisy rock records; we've made sort of midtempo singalongs. And you look back, and you can use it as reference, but you don't necessarily wanna revisit these places that you've already been. And so of all the things that we've done, I thought the one album we haven't made yet is sort of a groove-oriented party album. I mean, if you were to hear the rest of the record, a lot of it is rooted in these grooves that come from SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE and disco and two-step shuffle sort of thing. As a drummer, I always think about that as a foundation, because that can really create the aesthetic or the vibe of an album. So I thought, okay, a lot of our favorite rock and roll bands over the years have that one record that's a rock and roll record that you can really dance to — whether it's THE ROLLING STONES' 'Tattoo You' or David Bowie's 'Let's Dance' or a POWER STATION record; things like that. I thought, 'We haven't really done that yet.' A lot of our albums are really driving and sometimes kind of morose and melancholy, introspective. I was, like, 'Fuck that! Let's have a party. Let's make that record where you can bounce around.'"

Photo credit: Danny Clinch

AS I LAY DYING frontman Tim Lambesis is recovering at a Southern California hospital after sustaining burns to 25 percent of his body in a freak accident.

The 40-year-old singer was apparently pouring gas into a bonfire when the top slipped off and the liquid ended up getting all over his clothes.

Earlier today, Lambesis shared a photo of him lying in a hospital bed, and he included the following message: "Keep your head up no matter what! I'm doing the best I can to make a thumps up on my way to surgery (in about 30 minutes).

"I apologize to my friends that I have not had the time to fill in yet on what happened. The entire gas cap fell off when trying to use a little from the trickle tip to get a bonfire started. Gas got all over my clothes and I ended up burning 25% of my body.

"I've been in the hospital since Saturday night, and I will be here for a couple more weeks most likely. Today's surgery is to remove the remaining dead skin that we were unable to scrub off during dressing changes this week. It will be for the best so that we won't have to scrub so hard during dressing changes, and that is a big relief for me. I am extremely thankful for the Burns center workers who are taking care of me.

"I will try to update on my recovery. It will be a long road, but I will get back to full strength eventually."

Lambesis was famously convicted in 2014 for his role in a murder-for-hire plot against his estranged wife.

In May 2014, Lambesis was sentenced to six years in jail after pleading guilty to paying a San Diego police officer posing as a hitman $1,000 to kill his wife. Approximately two and a half years later — on December 17, 2016 — he was discharged from a California detention facility and was transferred to the Division of Adult Parole Operations.

In June 2018, AS I LAY DYING played its first show with Lambesis in five years and released a new single. Lambesis also owned up to his crimes in a long apology on the band's Facebook page after his release.

In September 2019, AS I LAY DYING released its seventh full-length album, "Shaped By Fire", via Nuclear Blast.

Although most AS I LAY DYING fans have welcomed the group's return, some resistance remains; in late 2018, the band was dropped from the lineup of Spain's Resurrection Fest, and in early 2019, a venue in Memphis, Tennessee called off AS I LAY DYING's performance after it faced online backlash.

The return of AS I LAY DYING raised some questions, particularly since guitarist Nick Hipa categorically denounced the band's disgraced frontman as a "sociopathic narcissist in definite need of rehabilitation" in a social-media post back in 2014.
























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In a new interview with Eonmusic, legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes once again looked back on his 2016 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, where he was honored along with other former and current members of DEEP PURPLE.

"It was a little difficult, because of, let's call it personality problems," he said. "It was David [Coverdale] and I holding hands, and the other guys, unfortunately. We just don't get along with the other guys at all. So, we kept ourselves to ourselves — David and Glenn, with our wives — and it was great. David and I, what a great time. And we closed the show with CHEAP TRICK and Sheryl Crow, and our friends in CHICAGO.

"You know, it's a touchy subject," he continued. "It was not an easy night for us. If you look at the body language, it's pretty obvious. But again, David and I have been thick and thin for so long; I just dearly love him. Regarding DEEP PURPLE, I have no idea what they're doing, and I don't really care."

Hughes's latest comments come less than two months after David expressed his exasperation at PURPLE over how he and Glenn were treated by their former band ahead of the Rock Hall induction. The singer, who played with DEEP PURPLE along with Hughes from 1973 to 1976, said: "Glenn Hughes and I were told, 'Well, we don't want you singing with us.' Initially, I'd spoken to Ian [Gillan] about coming up and singing the backgrounds of 'Smoke On The Water', because originally they were going to close the show. So, that suddenly was pulled. They tried to stop us doing speeches, and my wife was fucking furious, apart from the fact she spent a fortune on posh dresses. [Laughs]"

DEEP PURPLE's first three lineups were inducted into the Rock Hall, including guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, drummer Ian Paice, keyboardist Jon Lord, and various singers and bassists — Rod Evans, Gillan, Roger Glover, Coverdale and Hughes.

DEEP PURPLE's acceptance speeches included turns from Gillan, Glover, Paice, Coverdale and Hughes before the current lineup of DEEP PURPLE — Gillan, Glover, Paice, guitarist Steve Morse and keyboardist Don Airey — took the stage and played a short set consisting of "Highway Star", "Green Onions" (with an image of Lord behind them), "Hush" and "Smoke On The Water".

Known as the "voice of rock," Hughes spent key years of his career as the beloved bassist and vocalist of DEEP PURPLE, appearing on the classic albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste the Band". More recently, he has been playing various hits and deep cuts from the DEEP PURPLE catalog, including "Burn", "Stormbringer", "Sail Away" and "Smoke On The Water", as part of his "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live" tour, which was launched in 2017.

Photo credit: David Pickles

GOOD CHARLOTTE has returned with a new single, "Last December", out now via the band's MDDN label. Marking GOOD CHARLOTTE's first new music since their acclaimed 2018 album "Generation Rx", the track is an introspective rock anthem that fittingly arrives during this year's 20th anniversary of the group's debut album. GOOD CHARLOTTE has also unveiled an accompanying music video for the song, which can be viewed below.

"2020 being the 20th anniversary of our self titled debut album, really made us feel like we wanted to release something for those fans who've gone on this journey with us," says guitarist/vocalist Benji Madden. "The holidays can be a rough time of year. Thinking of the ones we've lost and longing for moments that have passed us by, is definitely a part of the joy and melancholy. This song for us speaks to both sides of those holiday feelings and we hope it brings some solace to anyone who needs it."

"Last December" kicks off the newest chapter for the band; one that evolves the signature punk spirit, vulnerability and cinematic ambition that's flowed through the veins of all of their music to-date. Comprised of brothers Joel (vocals) and Benji Madden, Billy Martin (guitar), Paul Thomas (bass) and Dean Butterworth (drums), GOOD CHARLOTTE has garnered countless accolades, sold out tours across the globe and gone platinum a dozen times over. With nearly two and a half decades in the game, the group continues to prove their status as a linchpin for rock music.

First formed in 1996 by the Madden brothers, Maryland's GOOD CHARLOTTE soundtracked the turn of the century and empowered a generation with one cleverly catchy anthem after another. 2000's landmark self-titled debut earned a gold plaque and quietly set the stage for worldwide superstardom. In 2002, they unleashed the now-classic "The Young And The Hopeless", which eventually went RIAA triple-platinum and would be lauded in the Top 20 of Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums" and Buzzfeed's "36 Pop Punk Albums You Need to Hear Before You F--ing Die." 2004's "The Chronicles Of Life And Death" bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and reached platinum status as "Good Morning Revival" (2007) and "Cardiology" (2010) repeated that Top 10 success and brought the band around the world multiple times in front of countless screaming fans. Along the way, everyone from N.E.R.D. and THREE 6 MAFIA to AVENGED SEVENFOLD and TONIGHT ALIVE jumped at the chance to collaborate. To date, cumulative album sales have exceeded 11.5 million worldwide, while accolades encompassed everything from Kerrang! Awards to an MTV VMA. Following a six-year hiatus, they made a much-lauded return with their first independent offering "Youth Authority" in 2016, followed by the poignant record "Generation Rx" in 2018, their first album to be released under a partnership with BMG.

Photo credit: Ville Juurikkala

In a new interview with Pete Pardo of Sea Of Tranquility, STYX drummer Todd Sucherman spoke about the musical and lyrical direction of the upcoming follow-up to 2017's "The Mission" album. He said: "It's really great songs and great songwriting. There's definitely some progressive leanings. There's some beautiful melodies. Some songs, lyrically, sound like they were written in the middle of the pandemic, but they were written before the pandemic. I know a lot of people are gonna probably read things into the lyrics, and go, 'Oh, they're singing about that.' Prophetically, it was written months before that. But that's really all I can say. Top to bottom, there's not a dog in the batch."

This past October, Shaw told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that the new STYX album was "done. Unfortunately, we're gonna have to wait [to release the LP] until we can go out and perform and help to promote the album," he said. "'Cause otherwise, we're just handing it to Spotify. We put a lot of time, energy and resources into doing this and would like an opportunity to be able to sell some albums and that sort of thing, and not come back with a 15-cent check at the end of the year."

Released in June 2017, "The Mission" marked STYX's first new LP in 14 years. It was recorded at Blackbird Studios in Nashville, co-produced and co-written with Will Evankovich, a longtime collaborator of Shaw's in the SHAW/BLADES band and who also plays with THE GUESS WHO.

During the late 1970s and early 1980s, four straight STYX albums sold at least two million copies — "The Grand Illusion" (1977), "Pieces Of Eight" (1978), "Cornerstone" (1979) and "Paradise Theatre" (1981). The band eventually replaced original singer/keyboardist/songwriter Dennis DeYoung in 1999 with Lawrence Gowan.

Stryper frontman Michael Sweet has recorded an acoustic cover of the Stryper song, "Passion", which appears on the band's 2005 comeback album, Reborn. Speaking with V13 about the re-recording, he said "'Passion' has always been one of my favorite songs. It’s powerful yet simple and its message is so timely right now. I wanted to release a brand new version of this song hoping that it will shine brightly in a darkened world. I pray that it speaks to you during these troubled times."

Sweet has revealed more details for his 5th annual Christmas concert, with new partnership with VenueNet, a brand new premier social platform for concert live streaming.

This fully interactive concert experience brings the spirit of Christmas and the music you love right to your laptop or mobile device.

Michael’s Christmas show has been a success for years in the Massachusetts area but now fans across the globe will have an opportunity like never before to be a part of this yearly celebration. Featuring original music and Christmas classics (with a twist) this once in a lifetime experience is an opportunity for fans to see Michael like never before as he streams directly from the newly opened state of the art Bank Of New Hampshire Stage in Concord, NH.

For this unique fully interactive concert experience fans will have three price options to choose from that will offer them varying degrees of access to Michael during the live concert experience.

$10.00 – General Admission

- Access to view the livestream on VenueNet
- Access to watch the Re-Play until December 25

$25.00 – Front Row

- Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on the fan wall (full stage LED Video wall) that the band will be performing to
- Access to the replay until December 25th

$100.00 – VIP Experience

- Access to view the stream and, using your devices camera, have your image featured on one of two freestanding video displays directly in front of Michael that the band will be performing to
- Access to the fully interactive (two-way communication) Post Show VIP talk back session
- Access to view the replay for an unlimited amount of time

Get your tickets here.

Spanish death metal band Unbounded Terror has issued a video for the song "Infernal Judgment" as an advance single from their upcoming CD, Infernal Judgment, scheduled for release on January 19, 2021 through Xtreem Music.

"Infernal Judgment" is a new song taken from Unbounded Terror's new CD (not a new album) that will contain said new song, four re-recordings of songs from their 1992 debut Nest Of Affliction, and three live tracks from their latest album Faith In Chaos, recorded in 2020 during the middle of the pandemic.

Infernal Judgment artwork and tracklisting:

"Infernal Judgment"
"Dreamlord" (2020)
"Fear" (2020)
"Slaves Of Sufferage" (2020)
"Sarcastic Souls" (2020)
"They Will Come From The Pain" (Live)
"Silent Soul" (Live)
"Hated In Hell" (Live)

For further details, visit Unbounded Terror on Facebook.

 

"Let's get festive with a Ramones holiday classic performed by Night Manger," says guitarist Todd Kerns (Toque, The Age Of Electric).

Check out the following quarantine jam of "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" courtesy of Couch Riffs. 

Night Manger is:

Vox: Frankie Clarke (Frankie And The Studs)
Drums: Timo Ellis (Netherlands)
Bass: Jon Sullivan (Sully Guitars)
Guitar 1: Todd Kerns (Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators)
Guitar 2: Mike Squires (Couch Riffs)

Ramones first released "Merry Christmas (I Don't Want To Fight Tonight)" on their 1989 album, Brain Drain. The original video can be enjoyed below.

 

They've rocked stadiums, toured the world, produced 10 multi-platinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits. Now, FOREIGNER can add headlining the first socially distant music festival to their impressive history.

On March 23 and March 24, 2021, a year after live music, theater, performances and tours were canceled and closed down across the country, FOREIGNER will take to the stage to reignite the concert scene at Frontyard Festival at Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida.

"We are so happy to be able to perform live again because we and our fans really miss the experience," says FOREIGNER lead singer Kelly Hansen. "We saw how the team at Dr. Phillips Center cared about the health of their audiences and innovated socially distant concerts, and that's why we chose it as our first show for 2021. There's nothing like it anywhere else in the country. We are so excited to connect with our fans in a safe manner, and can't wait to play live again at the Frontyard Festival."

The Frontyard Festival is a new purpose-built, live entertainment event designed to re-engage artists and guests in a safe, socially distanced setting. It takes place over six months in a specially built, three-acre outdoor theater. The Frontyard Festival pays homage to the fact that our yards have become gathering places, where we see our friends and family in an open-air setting. Accordingly, the design elements — sleek woodfencing, stainless steel accents and lush greenery — are inspired by sunny, outdoor patios and front porches. The venue will feature hundreds of private, elevated boxes placed six feet from one another, allowing guests to enjoy a concert while keeping a healthy distance from others.

COVID-19 health and safety protocols — developed with guidance from federal, state and local health authorities — will be strictly enforced, including touchless temperature and bag checks at the entrance points, mask wearing outside guest boxes, and increased sanitation. And guests can order food and beverages from a group of on-site restaurants and have their orders delivered right to their boxes.

"COVID-19 has created significant challenges for performing arts centers and stages around the world," said Dr. Phillips Center president and CEO Kathy Ramsberger. "To keep our mission moving forward, our team has come up with a unique way for guests to re-connect and re-engage with one another and enjoy live entertainment and culture again. This big idea is gaining fantastic support by sponsors, partners and artists."

In addition to live entertainment plus health and wellness programs, several local restaurants and popular food trucks will be on site each day, offering seasonal menus, beer, wine and cocktails for purchase.

After a devastating year in which the entire live performance industry has been decimated, this heralds a new era for music, theater and the performing arts. It will also shed light on efforts and funding needed to sustain live venues and entertainment organizations across the country. And there's no better ambassador for the music industry than FOREIGNER.

FOREIGNER is universally hailed as one of the most popular rock acts in the world with a formidable musical arsenal that continues to propel sold-out tours and album sales, now exceeding 80 million. Responsible for some of rock and roll's most enduring anthems including "Juke Box Hero", "Cold As Ice", "Hot Blooded", "Waiting For A Girl Like You", "Feels Like The First Time", "Urgent", "Head Games", "Say You Will", "Dirty White Boy", "Long, Long Way From Home" and the worldwide No. 1 hit, "I Want To Know What Love Is", FOREIGNER still rocks the charts more than 40 years into the game with massive airplay and continued Billboard 200 album success.

Video of DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie belting out a cappella versions of three of the band's songs — "Metropolis Pt. 1", "Forsaken" and "Innocence Faded" — can be seen below.

LaBrie sang a couple of lines from each track while filming a new video message on Cameo, which lets users hire celebrities to record brief, personalized video messages about virtually any topic.

Cameo reportedly features more than 20,000 celebrities — from musicians and actors to drag queens and from YouTubers to Olympic gold medallists — who, for fees from $1 to $2,500, will offer video messages that mention another person by name. Happy birthday messages are common, as are baby announcements, but some celebrities have also recorded messages for Cameo users looking to quit their jobs or ask a potential date to a prom. The price for a video is determined by the celebrity.

LaBrie charges $55 for each of his Cameo videos.

Last month, guitarist John Petrucci confirmed that DREAM THEATER is using the coronavirus downtime to commence the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to last year's "Distance Over Time" album.

"Distance Over Time" marked DREAM THEATER's first album for for Sony Music's progressive imprint InsideOut Music. The group spent the past 25 years recording under various labels in the Warner Music Group system, most recently Roadrunner Records, which released five albums by the band between 2007 and 2016.

DREAM THEATER recently released its ninth career live album, "Distant Memories - Live In London". Recorded at DREAM THEATER's sold-out show at the Apollo Theatre in London, the live release documents the band's popular world tour in support of "Distance Over Time" and the 20th anniversary of their seminal concept album "Metropolis Part 2 - Scenes From A Memory".

After celebrating the anniversary of the 1995 classic Imaginations From The Other Side, Germany's  metal stars Blind Guardian present a special treat for Xmas as vocalist Hansi Kürsch explains: 

"In my opinion, Slade created the ultimate Christmas song with 'Merry Xmas Everybody', a timeless, jolly tune with the perfect dose of cheesiness and almost untouchable in its greatness. Usually, it is prohibited in the Kürsch household to play Christmas songs prior to the Advent season, but as it's mid-November now, and I am just out of the studio doing this cover, I guess I'm breaking a tradition. 

 

What you are about to hear now, is our attempt at paying tribute to the glam rock Santa Clauses Slade, and while the original version is just perfect, its chorus was tailor-made for Blind Guardian as we do understand quite well how to go big. So, why have sausages with potato salad when you can have the Xmas goose? Well, check it out yourselves and Merry Xmas Everybody!"

Get the disgital single here.

Blind Guardian released the special 25th anniversary edition of their Imaginations From The Other Side album on December 11th. This edition contains live recordings and other special versions of the Blind Guardian classics featured on the album.

"A brilliant album celebrates its 25th anniversary and it is great to celebrate this in such a bombastic manner. Luckily we filmed our 2016 show in Oberhausen when we performed the entire album live. This is the perfect moment for us to present this masterpiece in so many different ways. An ideal resurrection of precious memories long gone, but not forgotten. This album is made for eternity… I hope. Enjoy", says vocalist Hansi Kürsch.

Imaginations From The Other Side 25th anniversary edition is available in the following formats:

- Earbook (40p Earbook LiveCD, RemixedCD, original instrumental/demos CD, Blu-ray - limited to 2000)
- CD-Boxset (Box incl. 40p Earbook (LiveCD, RemixedCD, original instrumental/demos CD, Blu-ray) + puzzle - limited to 1000)
- 2LP Black Vinyl
- 2LP Picture Vinyl (limited to 1000)
- 2LP Burgundy Vinyl (limited to 500)
- 2LP Pearl White Vinyl (limited to 500)
- 2LP Bronze Vinyl - Band Exclusive (limited to 300)

"Born In A Mourning Hall" video:

"Another Holy War"

Veteran Swiss hard rockers KROKUS will release a new CD/DVD, "Adios Amigos Live @ Wacken", on February 19, 2021.

There is probably no band that doesn't dream of playing at Germany's Wacken Open Air, the biggest festival in the metal world. KROKUS rocked there for the second time in August 2019, this time on the main stage. What belonged together came together and the guys, who have played over 2,000 concerts worldwide in their 46-year career, experienced one of their strongest moments ever.

Says bassist Chris Von Rohr: "It was a magical day for us! From the first song on we felt that the feeling, the connection and the sound were right. Conclusion: a huge hard rock party."

Adds guitarist Fernando Von Arb: "Often the best concerts are not recorded or something goes technically wrong. Everything just fit here."

"Adios Amigos Live @ Wacken" track listing:

01. Headhunter

02. Long Stick Goes Boom

03. American Woman

04. Hellraiser

05. Winning Man

06. Hoodoo Woman

07. Fire

08. Bedside Radio

09. Rockin' in The Free World (Neil Young cover)

10. Eat The Rich

11. Easy Rocker

12. Heatstrokes

13. Drumdog On The Loose

14. Quinn The Eskimo (Bob Dylan cover)

This past April, KROKUS was forced to postpone its last-ever concerts in USA and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic that is sweeping the globe. The 13-date trek was originally scheduled to kick off at Canton Hall in Dallas, Texas on September 18 and conclude at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 10.

Singer Marc Storace says: "We will definitely finish this tour, whenever that may be. KROKUS want to end their career worthily and properly. There is still too much fun and power in there. It's not over till it's over."

Back in September 2018, KROKUS announced that it was going to embark on a farewell tour dubbed "Adios Amigos" before calling it a day. At the time, they said their final show would take place on December 7, 2019 at the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland. However, in June 2019, KROKUS frontman Marc Storace posted a message on Facebook indicating that the band would play additional concerts beyond the Zurich date.

When KROKUS first announced its decision to embark on a farewell tour, the band explained in a statement: "KROKUS shows have always been special and should stay that way. That's why we decided to stop when it's still really good. That's how the fans should remember us."

Since 1975, KROKUS has stood for high-quality, honest-to-goodness, hand-made power rock. No other Swiss rock band sells albums and its back catalogue worldwide like KROKUS. The band has sold over 15 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. The milestones in their rock career are dotted around the world: from Australia and the USA to Mexico, Russia, Japan, and China. KROKUS was the first Swiss band to sell out the legendary Hallenstadion in Zurich and has received a Diamond Disc for selling one million albums in Switzerland alone.

1980 saw the band set out to conquer America, Canada, and England, quickly consolidating its reputation as a strong, no-nonsense live band. Soon they were part of unforgettable headline tours and on the same bill as incredible bands such as AC/DC, VAN HALEN, RUSH, TED NUGENT, JUDAS PRIEST, MOTÖRHEAD and many, many more. These were wild times, full of big adventures, which saw the band not only going gold and platinum in the U.S. and Canada, but also being made honorary citizens of Memphis, Tennessee.

But it hasn't all been one long high: death, sickness, and internal strife pushed the band to the brink of collapse. The story of KROKUS is like no other. It is full of highs and lows, sell-out stadium concerts and sweaty club gigs. These five musketeers of rock have outlasted trends and survived treacherous U.S. managers, tough splits, bad deals, shady lawyers, drugs, awful fast food, endless bus trips, disco, grunge, grotesque record companies, and double-dealing advisors.

In the course of its legendary career, KROKUS has rocked over 2,000 shows on five continents, countless cities, unique locations, crazy gigs, and loyal fans.

English rock journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: "If you look at the long-term output of this band, KROKUS is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years."

British heavy metal vocalist Blaze Bayley, who fronted IRON MAIDEN more than 20 years ago, will release a new studio album, "War Within Me", on April 9, 2021. All songs were written and produced by Blaze and guitarist Chris Appleton. The LP was mastered by Ade Emsley and features art design by Akirant Illustration.

"War Within Me" track listing:

01. War Within Me

02. 303

03. Warrior

04. Pull Yourself Up

05. Witches Night

06. 18 Flights

07. The Dream Of Alan Turing

08. The Power Of Nikola Tesla

09. The Unstoppable Stephen Hawking

10. Every Storm Ends

Last month, Bayley spoke to the "Brutally Delicious" podcast about the progress of the recording sessions for his new solo LP.

"We had the plan, two years ago, we said, 'Right, this is when we're going to do the next studio album,'" he said. "And in March, I did my last show — I didn't know it was my last show — in London, a sold-out show, my 'X Factor' [25th-]anniversary concert," referring to the 1995 IRON MAIDEN LP he appeared on. "[It was] absolutely fantastic. And since then, it's, 'Oh, this festival is postponed,' 'That gig is postponed.' Well, what happened is, because we were scheduled already to do our album, it meant every time something got postponed or canceled, well, that's another three days we've got for the album, which we didn't think that we would have. Something else has happened — oh, that's another week that we've got that we didn't think we would have. And so we've had a lot more of the time, which you rarely get, and it's this cooking time, where you walk away from the songs, you leave them, you come back a couple of weeks later and go, 'Now, with a fresh perspective, how do I feel? Does it still make sense to me? Or is that riff really only there because it reminds me of something METALLICA did 30 years ago?' And that's it."

Bayley fronted IRON MAIDEN from 1994 until 1999. The two MAIDEN albums he appeared on, "The X Factor" and "Virtual XI", sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including three under the moniker BLAZE and seven under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort.

In April, Blaze released "Live In Czech", a live album and DVD recorded last fall at the Melodka venue in Brno, Czech Republic. The theme of the tour followed on from Blaze's "Infinite Entanglement" trilogy of albums and the setlist particularly featured some of the more epic songs from the trilogy which hadn't previously been included in concert setlists. The set also contained a selection of songs from his albums with IRON MAIDEN during the 1990s.

Blaze recently reissued his 2002 album "Tenth Dimension" with new packaging and upgraded artwork. There was also a vinyl version for the first time.

Swedish guitarist and producer Ola Englund, renowned for his work with Six Feet Under, The Haunted and Feared, will release his second solo album titled Starzinger in early 2021. 

Mixed and mastered by Clawfinger’s Jocke Skog, Starzinger follows-up Englund’s debut solo album, Master Of The Universe, released in early 2018 and features Delta Empire on drums along with a number of guest appearances, including guitar virtuoso Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, Nevermore).  

Portraying the artwork of Costin Chioreanu (Paradise Lost, At The Gates, Emperor), Starzinger sees Englund merging influences of prog with '80s rock and metal. "Compared to the previous album Master Of The Universe, Starzinger will just be way more heavy, more of the chunky metal that people are more used to when they see and hear about me," says Englund about this new effort. "Prog elements are still there though. But emphasis is still about making car-riding music fit for any type of journey."  Pre-orders are now available here.

Leading single “Stars & Ponies”, featuring Brandon Sills on electronics and synths, is curently available on all digital platforms.

 

Finnish folk metallers KORPIKLAANI will release their new studio album, "Jylhä", on February 5, 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. The official music video for the disc's latest single, "Sanaton Maa", can be seen below. The darkly atmospheric and folklore-laden music video features actor Yrjänä Ermala in a lead role.

Accordion player Sami Perttula comments: "'Sanaton Maa' is meant to be a throwback to the '80s with a folky twist: I wanted to write a classic-sounding mid-tempo hair metal song with a killer chorus that includes all the elements I like to hear in a good song. While listening to this, I can travel back in time on the back seat of an old Honda Accord that was cosmetically fixed with way too much putty and barely worked…. On the other hand, that didn't matter, because it was also tuned with woofers more expensive than the car. Happy ending!"

Singer Jonne Järvelä chimes in: "All I needed to do after that was add fuzzy dice to it!"

Video director Markku Kirves adds: "'Sanaton Maa' is the third Korpiklaani video with the same main character, and this time I wanted to tell something about his profession. In this video, we see a blacksmith with his young apprentice, to whom he is now passing his knowledge. On the way to the smith, the boy sees something stunning under the water. As a warning, man decides to tell him an old legend about what happened at the same spot a long time ago. But does our apprentice really listen...?"

The story behind "Sanaton Maa": "Folklore tells a story of a young man named Matti plowing a field along a river. When finished, he took the horse to the pen walking past the bathing spot on the river. The men on the other side of the river were making hay and at the same time heard a voice from the water saying, 'Time has passed but no man has come.' Matti, having not heard the voice, decided to go swimming. Men on the other side told him he shouldn't because they had heard such a voice. They said a man from the village had drowned in that place a long time ago. Matti replied that he was not going to swim after all, but was at least going to wash his hands and face. He leaned towards the water, had a heart attack and sank into the water. The legend is known at least in Kaukola and Valkeala."

"Jylhä" — which has no direct meaning, can be described as "majestic" and it can also be described as wild, rugged in a strong beautiful way — will be available as a digital album, CD, black vinyl, and grass green vinyl (limited to 300 pieces).

KORPIKLAANI is unique. Their blend of Finnish folk music and heavy metal is like no other. Like traditional folk music that tells tales of joy, heartbreak, and stories of old, KORPIKLAANI brings new life to these tales adding the high energy of rock 'n' roll and heavy metal. What you hear on the record is what you hear live; authentic, honest, and a lot of fun. KORPIKLAANI is a natural representation of our journey in this life, bringing music and emotions that can have you dancing all night, to quiet moments of melancholy.

"Jylhä" continues this journey with a collection of tales of folklore, nature, celebration, and three stories of murder, including the infamous Lake Bodom murders.

Jonne states: "'Jylhä' is not just a battering heavy metal record, it's also our most volatile full-length album to date. For example, some of the new songs feature energetic punk rock influences and there are even some audible laid-back reggae-rhythms, like our first single, 'Leväluhta'."

"Jylhä" track listing:

01. Verikoira

02. Niemi

03. Leväluhta

04. Mylly

05. Tuuleton

06. Sanaton Maa

07. Kiuru

08. Miero

09. Pohja

10. Huolettomat

11. Anolan Aukeat

12. Pidot

13. Juuret

The official "quarantine" music video for the song "Someone To Love" from veteran hard rock vocalist Jeff Scott Soto can be seen below. The track is taken his new album, "Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)", which was released on November 6 via Frontiers Music Srl. Produced by and written with Alessandro Del Vecchio, the release is the best of all the combined worlds of Soto's previous solo albums and will delight his loyal melodic rock following.

"Alessandro and I made sure to revisit the best of what my overall fans love and expect of me while adding some other influences and contemporary sounds," Jeff says. "This lucky number seven for me is one of my favorite releases to date."

CD versions of the album also include a bonus live album recorded at Frontiers Rock Festival in 2019, "Live At Frontiers Rock Festival 2019", which was released in digital format only this past April.

"Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)" is the seventh official solo album by Soto. The singer, who has more than 85 albums under his belt as a lead vocalist, along with numerous collaborations and recordings, has established himself as a consummate professional who manages to expertly deliver with his vocal performances across multiple musical genres, from metal to hard rock to progressive rock and even funk. For "Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)", Jeff has incorporated many of his past influences and blends melodic rock/AOR with hard rock influences throughout. The album was recorded and written together with (and produced by) Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE, JORN, REVOLUTION SAINTS).

Soto's career spans over 35 years, beginning as the vocalist for guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen in 1984 before fronting bands such as TALISMAN, SOUL SIRKUS, SOTO, SONS OF APOLLO (featuring Billy Sheehan, Mike Portnoy, Derek Sherinian and Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal), as well as an ongoing membership in TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA and a stint as the lead singer for the legendary classic rock band JOURNEY.

In 1995, Soto released his first solo album, "Love Parade", followed years later by the acclaimed "Prism" (2002), then "Lost In The Translation" (2005), "Beautiful Mess" (2009), "Damage Control" (2012) and "Retribution" (2017).

Soto is an extraordinary performer and amazing vocalist. He delivers on hard-rocking tracks with incredible energy and easily transitions to a powerful performance on epic ballads.

"Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)" track listing:

CD 1

01. Someone To Love

02. Mystified

03. Love's Blind

04. Without You

05. Lesson Of Love

06. Paper Wings

07. Love Will Find A Way

08. Between The Lines

09. Living In A Dream

10. Wide Awake (In My Dreamland)

11. Desperate

CD2

01. Drowning (live)

02. 21St Century (live)

03. Believe In Me (live)

04. Look Inside Your Heart (live)

05. Eyes Of Love (live)

06. Band Intros (live)

07. Soul Divine (live)

08. Our Song (live)

09. Holding On (live)

10. I'll Be Waiting (live)

11. Stand Up (feat. Dino Jelusick) (live)

Lineup:

Alessandro Del Vecchio - Bass, Keys, Guitars, Backing Vocals

Fabrizio Sgattoni - Guitar

Edu Cominato - Drums

Jeff Scott Soto - Vocals

August Zadra - Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar On "Between The Lines"

Photo credit: Lexie Boezeman Cataldo

Norway's Enslaved have checked in with the following update:

"Yesterday's two shows in Håkonshallen, Bergen marked the halfway point of our short but otherworldly Norwegian tour, Jól i Utgard. It is not just incredible to be able to play and travel with one's best friends in band and crew - it is also a very strong experience to meet the people at the venues; both the promoters and the audience. We hand-picked the places we thought would be up for the out of the ordinary-task of hosting a show on a tour in the middle of all this; and they came through. Each and every one. The sheer enthusiasm and burning passion for live music we see unfolding among staff and fans alike, is one of the most inspiring experiences we have had in decades. We cannot wait to visit the remaining cities and venues on the tour - we are on the ferry now on the beautiful and rainy drive south towards Stavanger. See you on the remaining shows!

Enslaved's new studio album, Utgard, was recently released into the world, the concept of which explores the esoteric place in Norse mythology that celebrates the rebirth of the individual - a place where one goes for unification of that which is above and that which lies below. A reckoning of dark and light, of night and day.

In continued celebration of Utgard's release, tied in with the upcoming Winter Solstice (a Pagan holy day marking the symbolic death and rebirth of the Sun), the band are proud to announce a Winter Solstice streaming event for Saturday, December 19 via the Revolver Magazine Facebook page, which will be followed by a live Q&A with some band members.

The digital event will feature all three parts of Enslaved's recent Cinematic Summer Tour, the revered filmed performances titled Chronicles Of The Northbound, Below The Lights and Utgard The Journey Within.

The performances will be repeated the next day, Sunday, December 20, on the Enslaved YouTube channel. The events are also collaborations with respected European festivals Roadburn, Beyond The Gates and Summer Breeze.

Stream the Winter Solstice event here on Saturday, December 19th at 12 PM, PT / 3 PM, ET / 9 PM, CET.

Tune into the live band Q&A here on Saturday, December 19 at 2:30 PM, PT / 5:30 PM, ET / 11:30 PM, CET.

Watch the Winter Solstice repeat here on Sunday, December 20 at 11 AM, PT / 2 PM, ET / 8 PM, CET.

Sign up to the event Facebook page, here.

Enslaved's Ivar Bjørnson commented: "We are moving towards the end of a year where many of us have experienced disappointments and perhaps a feeling of something being lost. In our part of the world one could easily start feeling as if the daily decrease in daylight hours is a double underlining of the misery that will be forever associated with 2020. There is no point in sweeping it under the rug; the pandemic has been, and still is, a total and utter bummer. It is affecting, and in the most negative of ways: our basic social needs, our instinct to move around travel, to do our job; you want to do it - Corona will stop you.

"But we do our best, and we find new paths in the dark. That is what humans do - and more often than not we are helped by not only those close to us - but by larger groups formed and joined by common interests, for example. The enormity of the support, and the strength of the community we have felt and experienced as Enslaved this year, has been fantastic. With fond new memories of a vibrant and expanding Enslaved-community throughout the very same year that tried so hard to bring us all down - perspectives start to change and brighten: these shorter and shorter days are definitely not a count-down to some impending doom on the horizon: they are reminders of the change that lies ahead of us. They will keep on darkening until that Shortest of Days - Winter Solstice. Whether you are guided and inspired by old traditions and rites like us, or if you prefer to stick to the scientific observations of Earth’s poles reaching their maximum tilt away from the Sun, before starting the way back towards warmer and sunnier days - we hope you will join us in what we expect to the be a very special and highly charged celebration of the Death and Rebirth of the Sun this year.

"It does not matter if the troubles are not “over” yet - we will celebrate through music and our bonds; that we have made it through 2020, that we are still here, that we still have our community and that we make each other strong. That strength will carry over, into yet another new solar cycle - and make us ready to face whatever the coming times have in store for us."

Photo by Otto Egil Sætre

On Friday, December 18th at 5pm PST / 8pm EST, Butcher Babies were scheduled to livestream their first and last full show of 2020 as part of an online pay-per-view event. Sadly, the concert will not go ahead as planned. A statement from the band reads:

"We were so excited to perform our livestream for you this Friday, but unfortunately, even after taking the recommended safety precautions, a member of the Butcher Babies team has tested positive for Covid. As a result, we must cancel and postpone to ensure everyone’s safety. We are currently all in quarantine and taking necessary measures for our and our team's health. This comes as a giant shock and huge bummer as we have been planning this for months. Stay safe out there! We love you and we will be back in the new year! Refunds are available through Ticketmaster, or you have the option of holding your spot for the TBD rescheduled date in February."

Metal mainstays Butcher Babies have released their new single, “Sleeping With The Enemy'', which showcases the musical diversity the band has developed over the years. 

Vocalist Carla Havey says, “‘Sleeping With The Enemy’ is one of the most vulnerable songs we’ve ever written. The song is the ultimate 'own your own bullshit' song... because the first step in change is always admitting there’s a problem, right?”

Co-vocalist Heidi Shepherd adds, “When face to face with what you presume as your enemy; who is it? Is it you? In ‘Sleeping With The Enemy’ the devil and angel on my shoulders met. This song is about hypocrisy and self realization. We can get so caught up in the rat race of life, as humans we tend to lose track of ourselves and our core values along the way. There comes a point where you look at the perceived problems in your life and realize there is one common denominator; yourself! Whether it’s in the lens you look at life through or an overall attitude, there comes a point where we must turn a negative into a positive. This song is that for me.” 

Guitarist Henry Flury adds, “And just when you thought we weren't going to be heavy anymore... BOOM! This is definitely a song for the stage. Can you sing and circle pit at the same time?”

 

British rock band, Vega, released their new album, Grit Your Teeth, earlier this year via Frontier Music Srl. Order the album here and watch a lyric video for the track "Man On A Mission" below.

Tracklisting:

"Blind"
"(I Don't Need) Perfection"
"Grit Your Teeth"
"Man On A Mission"
"Don't Fool Yourself Again"
"Consequence Of Having A Heart"
"This One's For You"
"Battles Ain't A War"
"Save Me From Myself"
"How We Live"
"Done With Me"

"Man On A Mission" lyric video:

"How We Live" video:

"Don't Fool Yourself" video:

"(I Don't Need) Perfection" Video:

"Grit Your Teeth" lyric video:

Lineup:

Nick Workman (Vocals)
Martin Hutchison (Drums)
Marcus Thurston (Guitar)
Michael Kew (Guitar)
Tom Martin (Bass)
James Martin (Keyboards)

Enigmatic dark metal outfit, Deathwhite, has shared a new video for the title track of their latest album, Grave Image. The video, which was made by Guilherme Henriques, can be found below.

Comments the band: "The themes reflected in both the video and song are indicative of the world we currently occupy - the pandemic of 2020 simply amplified those matters. The havoc wrought upon this planet via the denial of science and facts will have an adverse effect for generations to come. As suggested in the accompanying lyrics for 'Grave Image' the song, these wanton acts are far from an illusion, but instead are now a part of everyday, real life.

"With 2020 about to bow out, we are looking toward the future, namely our third studio album, as well as the ongoing promotion of Grave Image. We are currently deep in the throes of demoing and immensely look forward to putting the finishing touches on these compositions. The early verdict is that these songs are slower, doomier, and, dare we say more 'atmospheric' than before.

"We would also be remiss if we did not thank those who supported Deathwhite in 2020. We are forever in your debt."

Oder the Grave Image album here.

Tracklisting:

“Funeral Ground”
“In Eclipse”
“Further From Salvation”
“Grave Image”
“Among Us”
“Words Of Dead Men”
“No Horizon”
“Plague Of Virtue”
“A Servant”
“Return To Silence”

"Among Us" video:

"Plague Of Virtue":

"Funeral Ground" video:

“Further From Salvation”: