In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill spoke about the songwriting and recording process for the band's latest album, "Invincible Shield", which was laid down largely during the pandemic. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it was it was a longer gestation period, definitely, because of the pandemic. The big problem was that Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] and myself were stuck on this side of the pond and everybody else was in the States. We weren't allowed to travel. So, I was rushed a little bit. The other guys managed to get around it. Of course, Scott [Travis, PRIEST drummer] and Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist] are in the Nashville area now, so it was quite easy for them to get their parts done. Well, not easy, but more straightforward. Nothing's ever easy. And Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer], of course, he's out there in Phoenix, and that was comparatively straightforward as well. But when it came to the bass lines, we went straight out of sort of the pandemic and straight into the 50th-anniversary tour, and the bass lines ended up being done in hotel rooms on the European tour on days off. I mean, Andy's [Sneap, PRIEST touring guitarist and producer] with us anyway, the producer. Of course he got his laptop with all the information on it. I only ever DI [Direct Input] the bass anyway; that goes straight into the desk. Any effects, it'll just go on afterwards sort of thing. So it was a straightforward thing. I just carried a bass around with me, went to Andy's room. He was set up. One song, one day. It was great. Richie came in from time to time, just to nod his head and see how we were getting on. And it was done like that throughout the European tour. So it was, like I say, a very tranquil way of recording. You don't have other people — there's six or seven other people, whether it's a studio person or whatever — breathing down your neck. So, yeah, it was great. It turned out really well. And Andy was pushed, obviously, 'cause he went straight out of the tour and straight into the studio to start to produce it and put his magic to the completed project. But it worked out well. I mean, the main thing was Richie and Glenn had more time to finesse the songs. We had very little messing around in the studio. We knew pretty much what the songs were gonna be, which made things more straightforward for myself when I came around to do my part, and Scott as well, to put the drum patterns down. So, yeah, it had its plus points as well, the pandemic, as well as the minus ones."

JUDAS PRIEST recently kicked off leg two of its "Invincible Shield" tour with special guest SABATON. The all-time greats are taking over new markets in North America this fall with an additional 23 performances. Produced by Live Nation, the tour launched on September 13 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec and makes stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona and more before wrapping up with three shows in Texas on October 22, 24 and 26.

JUDAS PRIEST kicked off the spring 2024 U.S. leg of the "Invincible Shield" world tour on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut.

"Invincible Shield" entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".

Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.

PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.

"Invincible Shield" was JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).

"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.

Los Angeles-based eclectic rock conjurors. Spirit In The Room. will release their Passengers EP on October 25 through Housecore Records.


If you ever wondered what goes on in the head of a film noir hitman, horror novel asylum inmate, or a golden age silver screen villain, it might sound something like Spirit In The Room. The vision of Louisiana-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Dennis R. Sanders unfurls through cigarette smoke, cheap booze, and distortion like an anachronistic fever dream soundtracked by a collision of gothic vocal hues, immersive alternative architecture, and jarring metallic catharsis. It’s scary at times. It’s sad at other times.


The Passengers EP includes three previously unreleased tracks (“Creepy Phone Calls,” “Show Me You,” and “Covenant”) as well as three additional tracks (“I Have A Heart,” “Affectionate Projectile,” “You Caught Hell”) that have been released throughout the years on YouTube, Bandcamp, and SoundCloud but never before available as a proper collection.




Notes Sanders, “I wanted to call the EP 'Passengers' because that’s what these particular songs are to me. They aren’t ‘drivers,’ that’s for sure. They’re a little drab, a little bleak, a little haunting, a little meek…”


In advance of the EP’s release, today Spirit In The Room unveils a lyric video for “Show Me You”.


“‘Show Me You’ is more or less about an infatuation with the idea of an individual,” offers Sanders. “Who we think they are. Who they think they are. And vice versa. I’ve met people in real time that I’ve found to be quite interesting only to become friends on social media and find them incredibly unattractive and insufferably typical. As much as we like to think that it’s all fake, people really show you who they are on social media. You just have to know better.”


Watch the lyric video below.


All tracks on Passengers were written, recorded, performed, mixed, and mastered by Dennis R. Sanders. Passengers will be released digitally. Find pre-orders here, and a

with Nuclear Blast, resigning with the label for a new deal that for the first time encompasses worldwide rights.


The news comes during a busy fall. The band is currently on a 10-day US trek with Dark Funeral, which will be followed by a 23-date European Tour with UADA. Ghost Bath will continue their momentum into the new year with a full North American tour.


Ghost Bath comments, "We are thrilled to announce our resigning with Nuclear Blast, this time for a worldwide deal. They have been amazing

Swedish/Canadian/American extreme metal titans ARCH ENEMY played a brand new song, "Liars & Thieves" live for the first time at the opening show of their European tour on October 3 at the O2 Academy in Glasgow, United Kingdom. Fan-filmed video of the performance is available below.

"Liars & Thieves" is taken from ARCH ENEMY's twelfth studio album, "Blood Dynasty", which will arrive on March 28, 2025 via Century Media Records.

The first single from "Blood Dynasty", a song called "Dream Stealer", arrived on July 31.

ARCH ENEMY founder and guitarist Michael Amott commented: "This new album pushes the boundaries of what we've done before — it's everything you've come to expect from this band, and then some! We can't wait for you to hear it and feel the energy we've poured into every track. Welcome to the 'Blood Dynasty'!"

"Blood Dynasty" track listing:

01. Dream Stealer
02. Illuminate the Path
03. March Of the Miscreants
04. A Million Suns
05. Don't Look Down
06. Presage
07. Blood Dynasty
08. Paper Tiger
09. Vivre Libre
10. The Pendulum
11. Liars & Thieves

Next to the limited deluxe editions that feature two exclusive bonus tracks, fans can direct their attention to the limited liquid blood vinyl that is exclusively available in the band stores and limited to 666 copies.

"Dream Stealer" marked ARCH ENEMY's first new music since the release of the "Deceivers" album, which came out in August 2022.

"Dream Stealer" was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The video was directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus.

Two months ago, Amott told Pulp Magazine about "Dream Stealer" and ARCH ENEMY's plans for new music: "We've been staying busy for sure and are really focused on writing and recording new stuff in between the touring we're doing. I'm kind of always coming up with new musical and lyrical ideas though — I just keep going as it's what I enjoy doing anyway. Making music is a natural process, and it's pretty much a daily thing, so it can be hard to pinpoint exactly when everything was conceived. I do, however, actually remember that the initial seed for 'Dream Stealer' was written during a songwriting session I did with Daniel [Erlandsson, drums] in Los Angeles, California, two years ago, and then it's been rearranged and updated a lot till it reached its final state that you're now hearing."

Asked if it was a conscious decision to go back to the "classic ARCH ENEMY" direction and approach with "Dream Stealer", Amott said: "I've seen some seriously great feedback from the fans, and that's always very encouraging, of course. Personally, I don't know if I’d necessarily say 'Dream Stealer' is a throwback to the sound of the past, but I get what they mean — the song has the energy and speed that is very exciting and infectious. Maybe there is a hint of vintage ARCH ENEMY in there, and why not? I'm looking forward to playing it live on stage — I think it is going to be intense as hell."

ARCH ENEMY is currently taking part in the "Rising From The North" co-headline tour with Swedish melodic death metal pioneers IN FLAMES, as well as special guests SOILWORK, before they head over to Mexico for another extensive headline run.

ARCH ENEMY played its first concert with new guitarist Joey Concepcion on April 24 at Musinsa Garage in Seoul, South Korea. The show was part of ARCH ENEMY's 2024 Asian tour.

Last December, ARCH ENEMY announced that it had "amicably" parted ways with longtime guitarist Jeff Loomis.

Jeff, who was the main songwriter in his previous group, NEVERMORE, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014, but was not involved in the writing for the latter act's last two albums, 2017's "Will To Power" and the aforementioned "Deceivers".

ARCH ENEMY is:

Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals
Michael Amott - Guitar
Joey Concepcion - Guitar
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums

In the summer of 1965, Ray Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with Jim Morrison, a young poet whom he knew when they were both students at UCLA's film school. Jim told Ray he had been living on a friend's rooftop writing songs. Though Morrison had never intended to be a singer, he sat down on the beach and sang the new songs to Ray, including "Moonlight Drive". Manzarek thought they were the best rock and roll lyrics he ever heard. At that moment, they both agreed to start a rock band and call it THE DOORS, taking their name from Aldous Huxley's psychotropic monograph "The Doors of Perception" and William Blake's "The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell". Guitar player Robby Krieger and drummer John Densmore, who'd played together in the PSYCHEDELIC RANGERS, were recruited soon thereafter. After months of rehearsals, they landed a gig as the house band at a small Sunset Strip club called the London Fog. By May 1966, they had graduated to their dream gig — house band at the Whisky A Go Go. Soon after, Elektra Records president Jac Holzman and producer Paul A. Rothchild saw the band performing at the Whisky and signed THE DOORS to the label. Over the course of a week, THE DOORS recorded their debut album at Sunset Sound Recording Studios in Hollywood, putting on tape the songs they had been playing night after night at the Whisky. With an intoxicating, boundary-pushing sound, provocative and uncompromising lyrics, and mesmerizing stage presence, THE DOORS would go on to have a transformative impact on both music and culture.

Beginning next month, THE DOORS will kick off the 2025 60th anniversary with a new anniversary logo, a series of physical releases, an extraordinary anthology book, and much more to come.

"The Doors 1967-1971" 6-LP set will arrive as the latest installment in Rhino's acclaimed High Fidelity audiophile vinyl series on November 22, featuring all six of the band's original studio albums cut from the original analog master tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearant Audio. The vinyl was pressed at Optimal Media and the box includes a heavyweight gatefold jacket featuring rare photos and liner notes by DOORS archivist David Dutkowski. Only 3,000 copies of the limited-edition set will be available exclusively at thedoors.com and rhino.com.

Additionally, for Record Store Day's Black Friday on November 29, THE DOORS will release "The Doors - Live in Detroit", featuring the band's performance from the Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan on May 8, 1970. This 4-LP set will be available on vinyl for the first time.

Captured on tape during the band's 1970 U.S. tour, it was one of the band's longest performances. In fact, the band played for an hour past curfew and were then banned from the Cobo Arena on future tours. The fiery set includes a number of blues covers, including "Back Door Man", Junior Parker's "Mystery Train" and "Crossroads" by Robert Johnson. THE DOORS also tear through a 17-minute-plus version of "The End", as well as an over 19-minute version of "Light My Fire" and other rare tracks such as "Love Hides". This collection captures the band at their absolute zenith.

THE DOORS' eponymous debut album — which the BBC and Rolling Stone have each hailed as one of the greatest debuts of all time — released in January 1967 and features the chart-topping smash hit "Light My Fire", the bluesy, growling "Back Door Man" and seminal live-set showstopper "The End", with its legendary Oedipal spoken-word section.

Having cemented their place in the rock pantheon and the psychedelic rock revolution, THE DOORS returned to the studio resulting in the anticipated follow-up, "Strange Days", which went to No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and featured "Love Me Two Times" and "People Are Strange".

In 1968, the band released "Waiting For The Sun", their first No. 1 album featuring the chart-topping single "Hello, I Love You", along with "Love Street" and "Five To One".

THE DOORS then dove further into uncharted psychedelic territory with 1969's string and horn-laden album "The Soft Parade", which included the Krieger-penned hit "Touch Me".

1970's "Morrison Hotel", which boasts fan favorites "Roadhouse Blues" and "Peace Frog", took the band back to its bluesy roots. 1971's "L.A. Woman", the band's final album with Morrison and recorded in the band's rehearsal space, features "Riders On The Storm", "Love Her Madly" and the title track.

During their brief time together, THE DOORS delivered six studio albums before Morrison's untimely death in Paris in 1971. Their electrifying achievements in the studio and onstage remain unmatched in the annals of rock, and today they remain as one of the best-selling bands of all time with over 100 million records sold worldwide.

In 1993 the band was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Several years later, the songs "Light My Fire" and "Riders On The Storm" along with THE DOORS' debut album were inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame. The Library of Congress also recognized the band, selecting their self-titled album for inclusion in the National Recording Registry in 2014. THE DOORS also received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame in 2007.

Created to commemorate the upcoming 60th anniversary, THE DOORS' first-ever complete anthology book "Night Divides The Day" will illuminate the band's archives like never before with rare photography, intimate interviews with Robby Krieger and John Densmore, and meticulously sourced archival text from Jim Morrison and Ray Manzarek. With unlimited access granted by the band, "Night Divides The Day" includes a unique collection of historical ephemera — including childhood photos, song lyrics, poster artwork, movie stills, and much more — which adds context to the wealth of rare photography that documents the band's musical odyssey.

Joining Robby and John are a host of contributors, with a foreword by NIRVANA bassist Krist Novoselic, and afterword by maestro Gustavo Dudamel. The anthology is presented in a limited-edition of only 2,000 numbered box sets, each hand-signed by Densmore and Krieger. Each set includes the 344-page signed edition, a seven-inch vinyl record with rare demos of "Hello, I Love You" and "Moonlight Drive", and other assorted historical memorabilia. Available for pre-order now and shipping early 2025.

Stay tuned for more news coming soon from THE DOORS and Rhino this year, and as the 60th anniversary kicks off in the new year.

“Awesome album! I can safely say this will be a fave of the year for me!” – Mike Portnoy


Neal Morse & The Resonance is the new band from Neal Morse (Transatlantic, Flying Colors) and a brand new set of young musicians from his local Tennessee area, who brought with them a sense of newness and immediacy. The new album entitled No Hill For A Climber will be released on November 8, and the title is taken from a resonant line in Barbara Kingsolver’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Demon Copperhead.


Now, the band are pleased to share the second single from the album, “Thief,” one of the most unique sounding tracks on the album, as Neal explains:




“Thief had an interesting writing process. I woke up from a very deep afternoon nap with this idea of people singing ‘thief’ in these high voices and then saying stuff in between. It was really weird. But I thought it might be cool. So I wrote the beginning part and then had no idea where to go. I phoned Chris Riley who lives close by and he came over and he had the idea to put in the kind of evil sounding middle section. The drum beat has a kind of hip-hop feel which was not my idea at all. I had written it with a swing feel, and when Joe Ganzelli came in to do a drum track on it, that was his idea! I think it really makes the song special and different. Neal Morse with a hip-hop feel? Love it!”


Watch the video for “Thief”:





Faithful to any Neal Morse prog album, No Hill For A Climber features two epics (the 28 minute "No Hill For A Climber" and "Eternity In Your Eyes", which clocks in at 22 minutes) as well as three shorter songs: "Ever Interceding", "All The Rage" and "Thief". The latter, Morse admits, is his current favorite: “It’s so different… it’s in all these different sections, and I’m really happy with the way each part has come out. It’s pretty crazy. There’s even a really cool King Crimson-style instrumental bit in the middle that Chris Riley originally came up with at the Radiant School a couple of years ago.”


For all of these reasons, Morse believes that the whole album is unique, but notes that “if I was going to compare its structure to an album I've done in the past, it might be along the lines of Bridge Across Forever or Spock's Beard’s V; it’s not that it sounds at all like those albums, it’s just structurally similar. It has voices and playing styles and soundscapes that many people will have never heard before! Everyone you work with changes you a little bit, so even I sound a little different on this one, but I hope that everyone will love it!”


Watch the video for the first single “All The Rage” below.


The album will be available as Limited 2CD Digipak (incl. a second disc of instrumentals), Standard CD Jewelcase, Gatefold 2LP & as Digital Album. Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Eternity In Your Eyes"
"Thief"
"All The Rage"
"Ever Interceding"
"No Hill For A Climber"


"All The Rage" video:

African metallists, Skinflint, return on October 25 with their latest album, Baloi, which will be immediately supported by almost a month’s worth of live dates in the US, when the trio tours with Soulfly.


Comprised of guitarist/vocalist Giuseppe Sbrana, bassist Kebonye Nkoloso, and drummer Cosmos Modisaemang, Skinflint’s latest album is their seventh release overall (and issued via Into Records). Pre-order here.


"Baloi is the rawest and most aggressive album we have done," explains the group's long-time leader, Giuseppe Sbrana. "We recorded it in as few takes as possible. This was done intentionally as we wanted to capture the spirit of the band, in its most natural way as possible. This is who we are, without any masks, in our rawest form and without inhibitions. Baloi is glorious in its imperfection."




And it turns out that one of the album's standout tracks, "Sangoma Blood Magic", has been issued as a music video, which can be viewed below.


"Everywhere you go in Africa, you will hear of Sangomas and we chose this track as the music video, because it shows a prominent aspect of African culture and spirituality," explains Sbrana. "The song was originally composed in a non-metal way, using traditional drums and chanting. We have included this track in the album also (traditional) to show the origins, the skeleton of the song that led to the inspiration for Sangoma Blood magic. I think it's a very powerful track and is deeply rooted in African tradition. It was the best choice for the video."


And lastly, Skinflint is very much looking to hit the road once more with Soulfly.


"It's an honor to play with Soulfly," Sbrana adds. "We are excited for the tour and looking forward to our return to the US. We are going to focus on the upcoming tour and album launch for now. We plan to do more tours in support of 'Baloi' and start writing new mus

Black Sabbath legend, Tony Iommi, has reissued the two albums he recorded with Glenn Hughes - The 1996 The Dep Sessions and Fused, out today 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 1996 Dep Sessions tracks, "Time Is The Healer" and "I’m Not The Same Man", 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":





"From Another World":

Metal Hammer has issued a new feature on Danish metal icon, King Diamond, reflecting on a 2016 interview in which he looked back on supernatural encounters, near-death experiences, Metallica’s approval and run-ins with Gene Simmons.


In the following excerpt, King reflects on the time he was nearly sued by KISS:


It was also in 1988 that King was reportedly threatened with a lawsuit by KISS. At that time, KISS had been out of make-up for six years. But, KISS being KISS, had their image trademarked. On his 1988 album Them, King had his face painted in a design that bore a strong resemblance to that used by Gene Simmons.




“They might have wanted to sue me,” he says. “But lots of people used make-up before KISS, and they were not the ones that inspired me. It was Alice Cooper and Peter Gabriel. But I don’t hate KISS; I still listen to them.”


In the end the lawsuit never materialized. King believes he knows why. “I didn’t have much to be sued for,” he says, laughing.


Find the full feature at Metal Hammer.


King Diamond will embark on a long-awaited North American headlining tour this month. The Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920 trek will commence on October 15 in San Antonio, Texas and run through December 6 in Dallas, Texas. Support will be provided by Overkill and Night Demon. Additional backing vocals for the King Diamond set will be provided by the special guest, Myrkur.


Secure your tickets at kingdiamondcoven.com.





Tour dates:


October
15 - Boeing Center at Tech Port. - San Antonio, TX
16 - Bayou Music Center - Houston, TX
18 - Andrew J Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
19 - The Factory - St. Louis, MO
20 - The Midland Theater - Kansas City, MO
22 - Murat Theatre At Old National Center - Indianapolis, IN
23 - The Louisville Palace Theatre - Louisville, KY
25 - The Eastern - Atlanta, GA
26 - Duke Energy Center for the Arts - Mahaffey Theater - St. Petersburg, FL
28 - The Fillmore - Silver Spring, MD
30 - Kings Theater - Brooklyn, NY
31 - Roadrunner - Boston, MA *


November
2 - MTelus - Montreal, QC
3 - The Theatre At Great Canadian - Mississauga, ON
4 - The Masonic Temple - Detroit, MI
6 - The Agora Theatre & Ballroom - Cleveland, OH
7 - The Chicago Theatre - Chicago, IL
8 - The Riverside Theater - Milwaukee, WI
10 - The Fillmore - Minneapolis, MN
11 - Vibrant Music Hall - Waukee, IA
14 - Mission Ballroom - Denver, CO
16 - The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
18 - Orpheum - Vancouver, BC
20 - Edmonton Convention Center - Edmonton, AB
21 - TCU Place - Saskatoon, SK
22 - Grey Eagle Resort And Casino - Calgary, AB
24 - Keller Auditorium - Portland, OR
25 - Moore Theater - Seattle, WA
27 - Fox Theater - Oakland, CA
29 - YouTube Theater - Los Angeles, CA
30 - The Theater At Virgin Hotels - Las Vegas, NV


December
1 - Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre - San Diego, CA
2 - The Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
4 - REVEL - Albuquerque, NM
6 - The Factory In Deep Ellum - Dallas, TX


* no Overkill


King Diamond is quite possibly the most recognizable and prolific personality ever in heavy metal. Revered by icons as big as Metallica and Pantera to inspiring newer upstarts globally, King Diamond, the man and the band, have left an indelible mark on the history, and now again, the future of heavy metal.


In August of 2008, King Diamond joined Metallica on stage at Ozzfest in Dallas to perform the Mercyful Fate medley made famous from the Garage, Inc. album. Additionally, King Diamond was featured alongside Motӧrhead's Lemmy Kilmister as a

Symphonic metal storytellers, Delain, today share a brand new live version of evocative, fan-favourite song, "Moth To A Flame".


The live track is included on their upcoming EP, Dance With The Devil, due for release on November 8 via Napalm Records, and sure to excite fans further as they look forward to the group's headline tour coming up fast next month. The song’s original version was released on their latest full-length opus, Dark Waters (2023), which debuted at #9 on both the US Hard Music Albums chart and the Official German Album Charts, marking it the band’s most successful record to date.


Keyboardist, founder, and main songwriter Martijn Westerholt says, “’Moth To A Flame’ has been such a great surprise for us because the fans have responded to it with a ton of enthusiasm! It quickly became a fan favourite and always sparks an especially loud response from the crowd when we play it live. It even claimed a recurring place on national radio in Finland which is amazing. In short, after this successful festival season it definitely deserves a special spot in the Delain catalogue.”




Delain return to the UK and Ireland in November for seven headline dates. Joining them for all dates will be West Mids rock squad Stone Broken and progressive metal musician Damian Wilson. Dates and tickets here.


Listen to "Moth To A Flame" (Live)" below:





The new EP showcases the best of Delain’s discography while boldly striding into a promising future that explores more synth-driven soundscapes than ever before.


As their second release with a revitalized lineup, anchored by founding member and band mastermind Martijn Westerholt, Dance With The Devil features a thrilling collection of two brand new tracks, two newly-presented favourites, nine electrifying live performances, and two instrumental bonus tracks, displaying the best of their catchy, melodic signature sound with extensive, electronic synth elements and fresh, modern nuances.


The offering opens with two gripping new tracks, heartfelt anthem “Dance With The Devil” and emotional whirlwind “The Reaping,” which expresses disillusionment with society's current path towards inescapable consequences. The EP then presents a brand-new version of "Sleepwalkers Dream", revealing Diana Leah’s breath-taking full vocal glory. Dance With The Devil continues with nine live performances, featuring massively-streamed hits from the breadth of the band's acclaimed catalogue. These include "Burning Bridges", "The Quest And The Curse", "Moth To A Flame", and their enormo-hit "April Rain", which has been streamed over 10 million times, along with "Queen Of Shadow". In addition, the digipak edition features instrumental versions of “Dance With The Devil” and “The Reaping”, as well as an alternate ending version of “Underland”. Delain’s new EP impressively underlines the group's impeccably high-class standing in the scene and without a doubt, will make fans fall in love with them all over again.


Martijn Westerholt comments, “We’re really excited and eager to share this new Delain song with the world. It captures the recognisable and signature sound of Delain but with a fresh and modern touch.” He continues, “We're thrilled to have brand new material ready to be released! In addition to the new songs, it was fantastic to have captured some magical live moments of our European tour earlier this year as live tracks for the EP. We’re definitely very excited for this release and are really looking forward to bringing the new music to the stage!”





Dance With The Devil will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl, Split Color Black and Red incl. 12'' Booklet 16p – limited to 100 copies worldwide (Napalm Mailorder only)
- 1LP Gatefold Vinyl, Black
- Bundle Digipak + T-Shirt             
- Digipak
- Digital Album   


Additional formats available on the band’s store.


Pre-order here.

Dutch singer-songwriter, Charlotte Wessels, who parted ways with Delain in February 2021, released her new solo album, The Obsession, on September 20 via Napalm Records. BraveWords caught up with Wessels a couple days before the release to discuss the record, which sees her reunite with former Delain bandmates Timo Somers (guitars, additional arrangements), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) and Joey Marin de Boer.


In an excerpt from our interview, Charlotte discusses what it was like taking on the role of producer / director in the studio when they recorded The Obsession.


"They were very in tune with the material," says Charlotte. "I realized that because there were certain moments where I would listen to what they were doing, and the way they were working, and I actually got emotional because they elevated the songs. I was trying to say something and they helped me to communicate even better. I feel really privileged to be working with them."




BraveWords: Given that you're working with your former bandmates - and the new album's heavier than expected sound - some fans regard this new chapter your career as Delain 2.0. Does that bother you?


Charlotte: "I think the way people regard the album in the end is outside of my influence, so it doesn't really matter how I feel about it. I was in that territory, that is me, and I'm not going to do something different to avoid that comparison. I'm very proud of what I did with Delain, so there's no part of me that wants to pretend that didn't happen."


Watch for the complete interview, coming soon.


After chart-breaking success and ruling stages worldwide with Delain, Wessels takes her solo career to the next level with her first traditional full-length, full-band solo album. Having already gained a devoted following with her previous solo offerings, The Obsession is sure to impress fans and critics alike. The multifaceted record marks an exciting and touching listening experience and, together with its honest storytelling, it acts as Wessels’ most mature solo offering so far.


While still writing and producing the songs in her Six Feet Under basement home studio and sharing their first incarnations with her patrons, Charlotte Wessels now takes the songs from her new album, The Obsession, to the next level with a band of her fellow ex-Delain cohorts Timo Somers (guitars, additional arrangements), Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) and Joey Marin de Boer (drums) as well as Sophia Vernikov (piano/hammond), contributing to the new heavier sound. The album also features arrangements by Vikram Shankar (Silent Skies, Pain of Salvation), cello by Elianne Anemaat, was mixed by Guido Aalbers (Muse, Coldplay, The Gathering) and was mastered by Andy VanDette (Porcupine Tree, VOLA, Dream Theater).             


Charlotte Wessels about the new album: "On the one hand, this album tells a very personal story – through its unintended theme of fear, obsessive thoughts and the escapes from them – and at the same time it represents the joy of finding the song's true forms with everyone involved in the making of this record. That’s why I chose The Obsession as a title. It refers to my personal challenges with OCD that inspired many of the songs - but I’ve also started referring to the band as The Obsession - because there were moments in the studio with them that truly reminded me of why I'm obsessed with making music in the first place."


Themes of fear, obsessive thoughts and escapism run rampant on the album, presenting dark and heavy on songs like “The Exorcism”, “The Crying Room” and “Ode To The West Wind” (feat. Alissa White-Gluz of Arch Enemy). In addition, there are songs that offer a more upbeat approach to the subject – like “Dopamine” (feat. Simone Simons of Epica) which deals with SSRI-induced numbness, or “Praise” – which sings the gospel of needing external validation in order to feel anything. The reimagining of fan-favorite “Soft Revolution” won’t leave a dry eye in the room, while “Soulstice” and “Serpentine” present an unprecedented dark sensuality. Each song itself functions like an exorcism, an attempt to cast out a little of the fear it deals with.    


Charlotte Wessels about the guests: “I’m extremely grateful and proud to add Simone Simons and Alissa White-Gluz to the line-up of this album. They are creative powerhouses that I have so much love and respect for. Whenever we get to work together is an absolute treat and they really elevated the songs with their performances.”








The Obsession will be available in the following formats:


- Gatefold 2-Vinyl Splatter + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched – ltd. to 200 copies worldwide *Napalm Records Mailorder Only*
- Gatefold 2-Vinyl Recycled Black + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched
- Gatefold 2-Vinyl Inkspot + 2 Bonustracks (“Backup Plan” + “Breathe; Extended“), D-Side Etched *Patreon Exclusive*
- Digisleeve + Shirt Bundle

Former Van Halen frontman Sammy Hagar turns 77 on October 13, and he kicked the celebrations off early with two career-spanning shows in Las Vegas, NV this past weekend. He performed at the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort on Friday and Saturday as a prelude to his annual birthday bash at his Cabo Wabo Cantina in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.


Rick Springfield joined Hagar on Friday, October 4 to perform "I've Done Everything for You" which Hagar released in 1978. Springfield covered the song in 1981 and it became a Top 10.


Fan-filmed video can be viewed below courtesy of Las Vegas Explorer.







It's been 15 proud years of Cabo Wabo Las Vegas and to celebrate, Sammy Hagar, aka the Red Rocker, received the Key to The Las Vegas Strip on October 4th. The ceremony took place at Hagar's Cabo Wabo Cantina. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below.


Hagar: "Bringing Cabo Wabo Cantina to Las Vegas has made me feel like a local since day one. Cabo Wabo Cantina was created as a plac

With the release of his third solo album, The Art Of Letting Go, just days away, vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Myles Kennedy – known for his work with rockers Alter Bridge and Slash And The Conspirators – is releasing his final pre-release track, “Saving Face.” The song is a blazing rock track that is built around Myles’ driving guitar riff as Tim Tournier’s distorted bass and Zia Uddin’s drums push the verses towards an unforgettable chorus. The song talks about continuing to mark your place in the world today regardless of what others around are doing to drag you down. It is the life lesson that wisdom you gain after being on the planet for a while is every bit as important as youthful exuberance is.


An animated lyric video incorporating the enthralling album cover artwork is now available.


From the opening guitar riff of the title track “The Art Of Letting Go” to the haunting melody of album closer “How The Story Ends,” Myles Kennedy is back with a collection of songs that is sure to cater to old and new fans alike. Songs like “Mr. Downside,” “Miss You When You’re Gone,” and “Eternal Lullaby” showcase the memorable storytelling that has become synonymous throughout all of Myles’ projects. The Art Of Letting Go marks the return of Myles, backed by his band comprised of Zia Uddin on drums and Tim Tournier on bass. The debut single – the upbeat rocker “Say What You Will” – brought Myles his highest solo chart position ever and is the most spun single of Myles’ solo career. The album is scheduled for release via longtime label home Napalm Records on October 11.




Watch the animated lyric video for “Saving Face”





The Art Of Letting Go will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Splatter Royal Blue Die Hard Edition with Artprint, Record Butler, Slipmat (Napalm webstores only - limited to 300)
- 1LP Gatefold Fuchsia (Napalm webstores only - limited to 400)
- 1LP Gatefold Cristallo + signed card  (USA Newbury Comics exclusive - limited to 500)
- 1LP Gatefold Royal Blue (USA Best Buy exclusive - limited to 500)
- 1LP Gatefold Baby Blue (USA and Canada indie exclusive - limited to 500)
- 1LP Gatefold Marble Rose (band webstore only - limited to 300)
- 1LP Gatefold Marble Blue (band webstore only - limited to 300)
- 1LP Gatefold Marble Violet Black (band webstore only - limited to 300)
- 1LP Gatefold Solid Viola (band webstore only - limited to 400)
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- 1CD Digisleeve Boxset with Bookmark, Note Book, 3 Pencils, Pin (Napalm webstores only - limited to 300)
- 1CD Digisleeve + sticker and guitar pick (USA Walmart exclusive - limited to 1000)
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album





Tracklisting:


"The Art Of Letting Go"
"Say What You Will"
"Mr. Downside"
"Miss You When You’re Gone"
"Behind The Veil"
"Saving Face"
"Eternal Lullaby"
"Nothing More To Gain"
"Dead To Rights"
"How The Story Ends"


"Miss You When You’re Gone" video:





"Say What You Will" video:





"Nothing More To Gain" lyric video:





To celebrate the release of The Art Of Letting Go, Myles Kennedy and his trio will be hitting the road in support of the new album. A six-date UK run with support from Devin Townsend recently went on sale for November and December. 20 more newly announced dates are being added to The Art Of Letting Go Tour 2024 all across Europe starting in October. The additional European dates will feature support from Black River Delta and Cardinal Black. The band will also be bringing the tour to North America with dates set for January and February 2025. The 2025 dates will feature special guest Tim Montana.


More information on all shows including links to tickets and VIP packages can be found at MylesKennedy.com.


Myles Kennedy The Art Of Letting Go Tour 2024:


October
27 - Hamburg, DE - Gruenspan ^
28 - Copenhagen, DK - Pumpehuset ^
30 - Gothenburg, SE - Valand ^


November
1 - Stockholm. SE - Debaser ^
2 - Oslo, NO - John Dee ^
5 - Berlin, DE - Columbia Theater ^
7 - Warsaw, PL - Club Progresja ^
8 - Prague, CZ - Palac Akropolis ^
10 - Budapest, HU - Akvarium Klub ^
11 - Vienna, AT - Arena ^
13 - Milan, IT - Alcatraz ^
14 - Zurich, CH - X-Tra ^
16 - Munich, DE - Technikum ^
17 - Luxembourg, LU - Rockhal ^
19 - Frankfurt, DE - Zoom +
20 - Tilburg, NL - 013 +
22 - Cologne, DE - Kantine +
23 - Paris, FR - Le Cabaret Sauvage +
25 - Glasgow, UK - SWG3 #
27 - Manchester, UK - Academy #
29 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City #
30 - Birmingham, UK - O2 Academy Birmingham #


December
2 - Cardiff, UK - The Great Hall, Cardiff Uni Students Union #
3 - London, UK - O2 Forum Kentish Town #
5 - Dublin, IE - The Academy +
6 - Belfast, IE - Limelight +

Mammoth Grinder have returned with a new EP, Undying Spectral Resonance— five tracks of pure grime and grit, a mix of snarling, punk infused old school death metal— out November 15 on Relapse.  Today, they share the album's pummeling second single "Corpse Of Divinant."


Undying Spectral Resonance strives to pick up where 2018's Cosmic Crypt left off. “I was trying to draw from the last record because I felt like I found our sound on that one," says Mammoth Grinder's founding member Chris Ulsh (Power Trip, Devil Master, and more.) Ulsh played all the instruments and performed all the vocals on Undying Spectral Resonance, which was recorded at long-time collaborator Arthur Rizk’s new home studio outside of Philadelphia.


The title Undying Spectral Resonance references a theory about supernatural energy retention. “It’s about the sinister ambience of a place where something morbid has happened, how it can be a gateway between earth and the immaterial world,” Ulsh explains.




Mammoth Grinder breathes new life into the project with a revamped lineup, which now includes Sebastian Phillips of Noisem/Exhumed on guitar and Andy Horn of Richmond rippers Loud Night on bass. Ryan Parrish of Iron Reagan is still on drums, while Ulsh has switched from bass back to guitar while of course retaining the vocal position. Undying Spectral Resonance also boasts a guest solo from Rizk, who engineered, mixed and mastered the EP.


Ahead of the EP's November 15 street date on Relapse, Mammoth Grinder will play select shows in the US and Canada, featuring a run with Nails that leads to New England Metal & Hardcore Fest. Dates below.


Pre-order the new EP here.


Cover art by Rotting Reign.





Undying Spectral Resonance tracklisting:


"Corpse Of Divinant"
"Undying Spectral Resonance"
"Call From The Frozen Styx" (Interlude)
"Decrease The Peace"
"Obsessed With Death"


"Corpse Of Divinant":

Jack Ponti, the American musician, songwriter, record producer, manager, label executive, and consultant, has passed away at 66 years of age.


Ponti began his career playing guitar in The Rest, the late 70s New Jersey band that also featured a young Jon Bon Jovi.


In the 80s and 90s, he wrote and co-wrote songs for artists including Bon Jovi ("Shot Through the Heart"), Keel ("Somebody's Waiting"), Bonfire ("Sweet Obsession", "Hard On Me"), Babylon A.D. ("The Kid Goes Wild"), Baton Rouge ("The Price of Love"), Alice Cooper ("Hey Stoopid", "Love's A Loaded Gun"), Doro ("Enough For You", "Bad Blood", "Last Day Of My Life", "Ceremony", "In Freiheit Stirbt Mein Herz"), Eric Gales Band ("Paralyzed") and more.




Ponti is credited for producing albums by Baton Rouge, Doro, Kittie, Otep, and others.


An obituary from New Jersey's Thompson Memorial Home states:


Jack Ponti (Giacomo Pontoriero), an influential American musician, songwriter, producer, and manager, passed away on October 7, 2024. While widely recognized for his musical genius, it was his boundless love for his family, generosity of spirit, and fierce loyalty that truly defined him.


Born in Newark, NJ, Jack grew up with an ear for music and a heart full of compassion. His early passion for the guitar led him into a remarkable career, where his talent and vision helped shape the sounds of iconic rock bands like Bon Jovi, Alice Cooper, Nelson, and Skid Row. Jack’s greatest pride, however, was not found in the music industry but in the love he had for his family. Jack’s family was his true legacy, and his love for them was palpable in every conversation, every meal he cooked, and every smile he shared.


He is remembered by his wife, Tatyana, his daughter, Neva, his cherished granddaughter, Jordyn, and his sister Nikki. He is predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Dorothy Pontoriero, and his many beloved dogs.


Jack had a rare ability to make people feel seen and valued, whether in the music studio or at home. His generosity extended beyond his family, as he was always ready to offer advice, lend a hand, or simply bring laughter to those around him. His warmth and wisdom will continue to resonate through the countless lives he touched, long after the music fades.


Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 10th from 4-7 pm at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701.


Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, October 11th at 10 am at St. James Church, 94 Broad St, Red Bank, NJ 07701. Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Middletown, NJ.


 



Jack Ponti has sadly passed away at the age of 66.

Jack was the guy who put Jon in the band 'The Rest' and was a songwriter and producer for many other rock bands after this band folded.

'Shot Through the Heart' from the album 'Bon Jovi' is co-written with Jack Ponti too! pic.twitter.com/DOsGqCVT3f
— BonJoviTalk (@BonJoviTalk)

According to Billboard, LIMP BIZKIT frontman Fred Durst has filed a lawsuit against the band's record label Universal Music Group, claiming he is owed millions in unpaid royalties.

The lawsuit, which was filed in California federal court on Tuesday, accuses UMG of implementing a "systemic" and "fraudulent" policy that was "deliberately designed" to conceal royalties from artists and "keep those profits for itself." The lawsuit also seeks compensation for other artists who worked with UMG through Durst's Flawless Records.

Durst claims that he's never received any royalties from Universal throughout his career, despite the fact that the band has sold over 45 million records and its songs have accumulated more than 450 million streams on Spotify so far this year.

Durst and his bandmates are seeking $20 million in damages. However, they claim that the total amount owed to them by Universal could "easily surpass" $200 million.

According to the documents, UMG allegedly told Durst's representatives that approximately $43 million still needs to be recouped in order for Durst to get any royalties. Because of this, representatives for Durst were allegedly told that there would not be any royalties since UMG wasn't "required to provide them since his account was so far from recoupment." However, Durst's team says it found out that the band's original label, Flip Records, has earned millions from profit-sharing with Universal Music Group.

"Given the vast amounts of money collected by UMG in relation to sales of LIMP BIZKIT's and Flawless Records' albums over the years … UMG is liable to plaintiffs for tens of millions of dollars in copyright infringement, if not more," the lawsuit reads. "Indeed, Plaintiffs allege that the amounts owed to them by UMG following the rescission of these agreements will easily surpass $200 million."

UMG is being accused of rescission, violating a contract recording agreement, fraudulent concealment, breach of fiduciary duty, intentional misrepresentation, negligent misrepresentation and copyright infringement.

Thrash metal icons SLAYER pulls back the curtain on over four decades of brutal, malevolent, and inhumanly fast thrash and invites their fans to take the plunge into the abyss with the official launch of their new online museum, Slaytanic Verses.

In partnership with Definitive Authentic/Inveniem, this exclusive virtual museum offers a behind-the-scenes look at memorabilia rarely seen by the public, straight from the band's personal archives.

There's nothing quite like a SLAYER concert and for fans yearning that thrill, the museum's first collection, "Live Assaults: 1981 Through Today" will evoke memories of past concerts and provide a new perspective, by taking them backstage with items dating to the band's 1981 inception in Huntington Park, California. This collection will be constantly updated with new memorabilia and stories uncovered from the many years Slayer spent touring in front of audiences all over the world.

Slaytanic Verses is a bonified virtual journey through SLAYER's amazing 40-plus years of mayhem, and will be updated regularly with new collections and artifacts, as it explores different facets of the band's career. Fans are encouraged to check back often for an even deeper dive into the world of SLAYER.

Throughout SLAYER's history, the band has never faltered in unleashing its extreme and focused sonic assault and has remained crushing and brutal, steadfastly refusing to cater to the mainstream. SLAYER's founding member, guitarist Jeff Hanneman, passed in 2013, and EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt has been filling in for him since. Paul Bostaph, SLAYER's drummer from 1994 to 2001, rejoined bassist/vocalist Tom Araya and guitarist Kerry King in 2013 and is back behind the kit to the very last show.

In January 2018, thrash titans SLAYER devastated metalheads across the globe announcing they were calling it a day, along with a mammoth final world tour. Launched on May 10, 2018, by the time the 18-month tour wrapped on November 30, 2019, SLAYER had played 148 shows, saying goodbye to fans in 34 countries and 146 cities around the world and in 40 U.S. states. After 37 years, 12 studio releases, five Grammy nominations and two wins, an abundance of gold albums and "Best..." awards from media outlets all over the world, including Kerrang!, SPIN, Metal Hammer, Revolver, Loudwire and Esquire, SLAYER's place in music history was secure as one of the "Big Four" (alongside METALLICA, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX): they helped define the thrash-metal genre. Even among peers of that quality, SLAYER still proudly stands alone and remains one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history. With Araya's unmistakable vocals, Bostaph's hostile drums, King and Holt's slaughtering guitar riffs, and-nasty-as-f**k lyrics, SLAYER always whipped its fans into anarchistic, antichrist-fueled frenzies unmatched by any other act on the planet. All hail SLAYER.

Photo credit: Alex Solca

In a new interview with Kahler Guitar And Bass Bridges, guitarist/vocalist Miland "Mille" Petrozza of German thrash metal veterans KREATOR spoke about how he and his bandmates survived the 1990s, widely considered the decade that forced thrash to go underground or die. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were all terrified at the time. I mean, it's not that I thought it was over. I remember in the '90s, I tried to sell one of my Jacksons at the time. Nobody wanted to buy it. [Laughs] Everybody wanted Les Paul or Fender, like a traditional…"

He continued: "I'm so happy that the '90s are over. There's certain metal bands that always go, 'Grunge killed metal.' I don't think so. I think what killed it was maybe certain people in the industry that didn't want metal to be there anymore. And nowadays with everything being more global through the Internet though, through your own social media, you can do so much more.

"We still need some of the industry, of course, and nowadays people who are working in record companies are metalheads," Mille explained. "Back then there was mostly businessmen that didn't really know about music unless it sold a lot of copies. So nowadays it's a lot cooler because the scene created itself. There's people working in the industry that actually love the music, and you don't have to rely on people that just love whatever sells the most."

Petrozza previously spoke about grunge's impact on the metal scene in a 2013 interview with DeadRhetoric.com. He said at the time: "Some people said it was the grunge phase that killed it all, but I don't think it was only that. I think some metal bands were mistaken for the glam stuff. Like the real metal bands were labeled with the idiots that were around at the end of the '80s that made metal look bad. In my opinion, that's what they did. A lot of the glam stupidity took people off of metal. I think it has to do with the MTV era. Most of it here in America was the POISON, RATT, WHITESNAKE, then you had your one spot of SLAYER, EXODUS and KREATOR. It was mostly that and people would think, 'This is metal.' They want their glam stuff. I didn't listen to it, and I didn't want to have anything to do with it."

A couple of years ago, Mille told Metal Hammer magazine that he felt restricted by the confines of thrash during the 1990s. "We saw potential in experimenting and adding new influences," he explained. "I wouldn't say we outgrew thrash metal, but I got tired of being labelled. You've got to understand, at the time there were so many shitty thrash bands jumping on the bandwagon. It was so trendy, I was bored by it."

Regarding the challenges he and his KREATOR bandmates faced during the 1990s, Mille said: "People were thinking, was this thrash thing just a phase? I always took it seriously, I never thought of quitting, but the world around me fell apart; lots of bands split up. Grunge was coming in, being a metalhead wasn't in fashion. I saw a lot of bullshit in the '90s. MTV still had a huge influence, the industry was dictating the musical taste of the people, but some bands kept fighting."

KREATOR and TESTAMENT have joined forces for the North American leg of the "Klash Of The Titans" tour. The 33-date trek kicked off on September 12 in Reno, making its way across the U.S. and including seven Canadian dates before concluding in San Francisco on October 27. Joining the night are special guests San Francisco Bay Area death metal pioneers POSSESSED.

KREATOR is continuing to tour in support of its fifteenth studio album, "Hate Über Alles", which was released in June 2022. The follow-up to 2017's "Gods Of Violence" was recorded at Hansa Tonstudio in Berlin, Germany. Helming the sessions was Arthur Rizk, who has previously worked with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, CODE ORANGE, POWER TRIP and SOULFLY, among others.

The "Hate Über Alles" cover artwork was created by Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.

"Hate Über Alles" marked KREATOR's first album with bassist Frédéric Leclercq, who joined the group in 2019.

KREATOR played its first show with Leclercq in October 2019 in Santiago, Chile.

Before joining KREATOR, Leclercq rose to fame with U.K.-based extreme power metallers DRAGONFORCE for whom he handled bass duties from 2005 until August 2019.