Megadeth guitarist Kiko Loureiro has posted a new instructional video, How To Practice Hybrid Picking On Electric Guitar. Watch below.

Says Kiko: "In this live I will cover fingering, patterns and exercises to help you master hybrid picking! Use your index, major and ring fingers in addition to your pick and you will sound like more than one guitar player and come up with innovative ideas and riffs."

In a previous clip, Kiko offers a full tutorial on how to practice sweep picking, including the five most common mistakes:

Kiko Loureiro's new solo album, Open Source, is out now. Order your copy here, and find a full audio stream below.

Tracklisting:

"Overflow
"EDM (e-Dependent Mind)"
"Imminent Threat"
"Liquid Times"
"Sertão"
"Vital Signs"
"Dreamlike"
"Black Ice"
"In Motion"
"Running With The Bulls"
"Du Monde"

"In Motion" playthrough video:

Album stream:




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Chicago rockers Trip 6 released their new album Spit on November 6 via Dark Star Records. New lyric video for "Terrorizer" is streaming below.

Grim Reaper's Steve Grimmett, "I was looking forward to hearing this Spit from Trip 6 as I had a first hand experience at hearing the boys live for several weeks but I wasn’t ready for this assault on the senses that I got, this hard hitting powerhouse of an album blew me away."

Steve continues with his review on "'Terrorizer', I like this track because it’s heavy as fuck but also has great melody and drives all the way and this song is right up my street, nice one boys ride until we die!"

Jeffrey A. Swanson / President / Dark Star Records adds, "The new album Spit by Trip 6 is angry and heavy as Hell!"

With major influences such as Black Sabbath, Slayer, Pantera and Motörhead to name a few. Trip 6 is heavy hitting right out of the gates.

With a lineup of Victor Pedraza on drums aka Vulgar Vic… the destroyer of drum sets with his hard pounding beats. He is well known in the music scene and was part of numerous local bands such as D-Connect and then Vulgar. Next to the stage is Chicago’s own Kevin Munster aka The Show.  Born of many homegrown bands such as Gagging Maggots, Mary Janes, The Infamous and Vulgar. If you like a deep throbbing bassline, Kevin is your guy. Many people have compared his style to the famous Geezer Butler. Bringing in the talent of Nate DeVan from Philly... yes Philadelphia adding in creative lyrics and a killer front man style.  You’ll enjoy every song as Nate gives the audience every ounce of energy. Add in Tim Matlock from Bludgeon, Hazardous Youth and Vulgar.  Tim is always bringing it to the stage showcasing his hard core riffs that will grab you instantly. Mix it all up and you get an incredible sound, a modern touch to old school metal...Trip 6.  

Order the new album here. 

Tracklisting:

"The One"
"Spit"
"Manic"
"Hit Man"
"Push Back"
"Terrorizer"
"Dead To Me"
"Stand Up"
"Hatred"
"Junkie"

Trip 6 is:

Victor Pedraza - drums
Kevin Munster - bass
Nate DeVan - vocals
Tim Matlock - guitar




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Scott Stapp says that he and guitarist Mark Tremonti wrote almost an album's worth of material for CREED nearly a decade ago before abandoning the band and focusing on their respective individual projects.

Scott discussed his old group during a new appearance on the "Stop! Drop & Talk" podcast, co-hosted by HALESTORM drummer Arejay Hale.

Addressing the possibility of CREED making a comeback — eight years after the band completed a tour in support of its fourth album, 2009's "Full Circle" — Stapp said (see video below): "I actually was just with Mark and [CREED drummer] Scott Phillips Friday. Everything is good. Everything is positive. We are friends. And communcation is there.

"Nothing is planned," he continued. "Right now, there is nothing on the schedule. There is nothing that I am keeping from you.

"When there's an announcement to be made [about a possible reunion], I promise you guys will know."

Asked if it's true that there was some material left over from the "Full Circle" sessions that was never used, Stapp said: "Mark and I got together, I think it was in 2012, and I actually crashed at his place for, I wanna say, a couple of weeks — I can't remember exactly — and we wrote eight or nine songs. So we've got some stuff that we put together in 2012. I was listening to a couple of 'em the other day, and I was, like, 'You know what? It doesn't sound old to me.' It's something we could demo for a new record. I'm not saying that that's gonna happen. Don't put words in my mouth. I'm just saying we did write some songs, and we're sitting on those."

This past June, CREED updated its Facebook profile with an old photo, igniting rumors of the band's imminent return. Nearly five months later, Phillips confirmed that there has been "some chatter" about renewed activity from the group, but cautioned that there are "no specific plans" for CREED to perform or make music again.

CREED disbanded in 2004 but reunited five years later for the aforementioned "Full Circle" LP and an extensive tour. Stapp has since toured and recorded as a solo artist, although he suffered a drug-related mental breakdown in 2014 and spent several years recovering from that.

Last year, Tremonti said in an interview on Jamey Jasta's podcast that he was sitting on an album's worth of material for CREED. Asked whether CREED could reunite again, Tremonti said, "People say, 'Is it done? Is it over? Is there new music coming out?' I'm sitting on an entire CREED album... When we were together doing the reunion tour, we put a lot of music together and I have like really sketchy little demos of probably 13 songs. I listened to them maybe a year ago and they're good songs."

Tremonti added: "It's just, there's no time. Is it good enough for me to put everything on the back burner that I've been working on for the past 14 years? No. Is it good enough to maybe 10 years from now or seven years from now... or some big resurgence happens or there's an anniversary where everybody's like, 'We want to see CREED and the world demands it like they used to.' I wouldn't say no."

Tremonti, who also leads his own self-named band and plays in ALTER BRIDGE with the other instrumental members of CREED, told The Pulse Of Radio a while back he doesn't see CREED working again anytime soon. "I'm just so full of commitments between TREMONTI and ALTER BRIDGE, and juggling these two bands writing-wise and just touring-wise, it's like almost impossible to do all three, and I'm very satisfied with what I'm doing now," he said.

Former GUNS N' ROSES and current SIXX:A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba, who has just released a new single, "A Christmas Storm", spoke to Darren Paltrowitz about the inspiration for the holiday track. He said (see video below): "I was never good at learning other people's music. I'll be the first to admit it. I'm not that guitar player. The GUNS N' ROSES gig fit more like a glove than probably any other style of music, just because I was such a fan of the music growing up, so Slash's style — that very bluesy, pentatonic style — really fit me, and I felt like I could bring something to the table and do whatever I could to at least do that justice.

"But, yeah, learning other people's songs, I've never actually had a big desire to do it," he continued. "I've always just, since I was young, tried to write my own stuff; it's just always kind of been in my blood. And I would study every kind of music — all kinds of different genres — I never just listened to rock. I just loved music. And I never was intrigued solely by guitar ever — I was always intrigued by orchestra music. I was always listening to John Williams and Danny Elfman. I loved composers, and I just loved Christmas music and that whole theatrical feel behind it; when you go to Disneyland, that feel that that music gives you. It could be June, and I could put in a Christmas song and it just makes me feel good. There's something cool about Christmas and Christmas songs that has always kind of touched me. Maybe it reminds me of my childhood — I don't know — but I was really happy to tap into a single, to be able to put out a single."

Previously released singles "Hypnotic" and "Let's Dance" will appear on ASHBA's first full-length effort. According to DJ, he will promote the LP by embarking on a tour on which he will be joined only by a VJ.

Although Ashba initially started work on the project as a collaboration with SIXX:A.M. vocalist James Michael — under the band name PYROMANTIC — it has since evolved into an Ashba solo venture, with Michael announcing in 2018 that he was stepping away from the group.

Ashba joined GUNS N' ROSES in March 2009 following the departure of Robin Finck and stayed in the band until July 2015.

Four years ago, Ashba told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that there were "multiple reasons" why he left GUNS N' ROSES, "the biggest" one of which was that "I needed to get back to my roots, back to what I really truly believed in, and that was playing songs I helped write with [SIXX:A.M. bandmates] James [Michael] and Nikki [Sixx]."

During the "Trunk Nation" interview, Ashba also once again claimed that he was approached about being part of GN'R's "Not In This Lifetime" tour, but that he declined, citing his desire to pursue SIXX:A.M. full time.

"Axl [Rose] called me and he really wanted me a part of the reunion, and I turned it down," Ashba said. "I felt if Slash is coming back, that's great — that's what the fans want, and I can go off and do what I really wanna do now… And we left [off on good terms]; everything is good. And I couldn't be happier for the fans out there. I'm a fan. Half of the band reunited, which excites me."

Photo credit: Michael Pool

Former GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal says that the band's much-maligned 2008 album "Chinese Democracy" is a "one-of-a-kind" record that will be looked upon more favorably by fans as time goes on.

Thal joined GUNS N' ROSES in 2006 and played on "Chinese Democracy", an album which contained music that had been written before he came into the group. The disc took 13 years to make and was only a modest seller, moving just around half a million copies.

Thal discussed his views on "Chinese Democracy" during an appearance on Music Is Win's "Guitar Villains" podcast. He said (see video below): "At the time, people were still just going on about how it took this long to make, and it took this much money, and all that nonsense. And I always said, wait 20 years. People are gonna forget about all of this stuff, all of this baggage that they're trying to attach to this record. And they're just gonna listen to it for what it is and just listen to it as music, and they're gonna hear so many layers of things and such an interesting combination of parts and people and changes in even style and technology that was happening over the course of many years — let's say 10-ish years, [from] when they started writing to [when] it actually was on the shelves in stores. And I don't think any other album in the history of rock went through those kind of changes. So it's a very special album with a lot of history just within each song that has layers to it. And I'm grateful that they had me on it."

Thal never officially announced his departure from the GN'R, but a source confirmed to Detroit music writer Gary Graff back in 2015 that the guitarist had been out since the end of the band's second Las Vegas residency in 2014.

Thal later revealed that he was focusing on his solo career and other projects after spending eight years playing in GUNS.

In a 2017 interview with Meltdown of the Detroit radio station WRIF, Thal said that it would feel "kind of weird" if he went to see the reunited partial classic lineup of GUNS N' ROSES perform in concert. "I quit the band and they moved on and I moved on. It's not like we quit pretty," he explained. "And also, what am I gonna do? I'm gonna stand in the audience and everyone's gonna be, like, 'Hey, you used to be there.' It's too weird, man.

"I wish 'em well and all, but to actually physically go [and see them], after hundreds of times on the stage with them, it just feels very surreal," he continued. "I always describe it like going to see your ex-girlfriend's wedding. And I don't mean any disrespect by that, and I do wish them well and I'm happy that they're doing so, so good. But for me to go and see it, it would just stir up a lot of stuff. So it's better that I'm just doing my thing, they're doing their thing and everybody just wishes each other well from afar. And I get lots of good reports from friends and everything and I'm still in touch with people in the camp. I'm real happy for them — they're on top of the world right now, so good for them."

Back in September, Thal told Jam Man that he "sometimes did" and "sometimes didn't" get along with the members of GUNS N' ROSES while he was in the band. "When a bunch of dudes are living together for months at a time, traveling from place to place and living such an intense life while you have this whole other life that's happening back home that needs you, there's a lot of things that can wear a person down, individuals," he explained. "And when that person gets worn down, they're not gonna be at their best. And other people, depending on who they are, the way they react to people who are worn down and not at their best, it will trigger things in them and maybe not bring out their best. And it's very easy for the stress to get the best of people in a group environment — whether it's a band, whether it's an office, whether it's anyting. That's just the nature of human beings. The way we feel is very contagious. If one person is foul, everyone gets foul. If one person is happy, everyone can get happy. If one person is laughing, everyone starts laughing. So it's very easy for us — and when I say 'us,' I mean any group of people — to react to each other in any direction.

"So, yeah, there were times when we got along great, [and] some times when we really didn't, and everything in between," he continued. "But ultimately, when you get on stage, most of the time, you forget everything and you just get lost in the music and you're having a great time in that moment, just making music and being a part of something that's bigger than ourselves and more meaningful than whatever you're going through. And you're there for hundreds or thousands or tens of thousands or whatever it is, that many people, that are there to be happy. And it's hard not to be when you're part of that."

Thal is currently a member of SONS OF APOLLO, which also features drummer Mike Portnoy, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and bassist Billy Sheehan. SONS OF APOLLO released its second studio album, "MMXX" (pronounced: 20/20), in January via InsideOut Music/Sony.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante has been using his coronavirus downtime to connect virtually with other metal musicians and share videos of them covering various pop, rock and metal tracks, including those by RUSH, IRON MAIDEN, Billie Eilish and Tom Petty.

Speaking to TrickyKid TV about how the idea for his quarantine jams first came about, Benante said (see video below): "Back in, like, February, March, I was getting really depressed, and it was starting to affect me and everyone around me. And then Carla [Harvey, BUTCHER BABIES singer], my girlfriend, said, 'You've gotta turn off the news. This is really messing with you.' I was watching news the whole time to see what was going on, what we were gonna do here, and I found myself going down this hole. So I started making videos and calling friends and saying, 'You wanna play this song with me?' and stuff like that. And then I got energized and I started becoming creative again, which is what we should be doing. And that's how I got out of it."

He added: "I've been pushing my fellow musicians [about getting involved] too, who I feel have it in them, but maybe they just didn't have the right vehicle to do it."

ANTHRAX has spent most of the last four years touring in support of its latest album, "For All Kings", which was released in February 2016. A follow-up effort is expected in 2021.

Earlier this month, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian clarified his previous comment that the group likely won't release any music until the coronavirus pandemic has subsided and he and his bandmates are able to tour in support of the effort.

He told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie: "I know I said that in an interview [about not releasing an album if we can't tour], but it's not like anything is written in stone. That's where I am personally right at this moment. Six months from now, who knows where the world is gonna be? We don't know. Maybe things will be closer to being back to normal; maybe they'll be further away from back to normal. Nobody has an answer to this, so anytime someone asks me about that, I really don't have an answer.

"In my brain, I don't wanna put a record out until I can play shows," he continued. "That's what I wanna do, but, of course, I don't control the world and I don't control what's gonna happen with COVID. I think I can safely say we will certainly be ready to make a record next year. So I think we will probably go do that once we're ready to go do it. There would be no reason to have a record [written] and then just sit around and not record it. So, I think once we actually feel like we're ready to go into the studio, we'll do that, regardless of where things are at on the planet, and then just take it from there. At least it'll be in the can, and then we'll be able to make a decision on what the best course is for us to take at that point.

"[Everybody is] in the same boat. There's no rules anymore. It's a completely different playbook, and everybody's gotta figure out what's gonna work."

Asked to describe the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material, Scott said: "It's always hard for me to answer that, because it's more ANTHRAX songs, 'cause it always just sounds like ANTHRAX to me. And I don't really go much deeper than that. If I had to describe it, let's say comparing it to the last record, it's definitely riffier. There's more riffs; the songs have more riffs, I feel like, than the last record. There's already definitely more uptempo and fast stuff, but then again, we also aren't finished writing. That doesn't mean the fast stuff we've written is gonna go away. We're gonna probably write more songs, and then we'll see what the album's gonna be. But it's definitely riffier, and I think it's definitely faster, if I had to come up with two ways to describe it compared to 'For All Kings'."

At last year's Download festival in the United Kingdom, Benante said fans can expect to hear some surprises on ANTHRAX's next disc. "There's some extreme stuff on this record that we touched on," he said. "There's different things that we're gonna try and do that's gonna make it next level."

Earlier last year, Benante told Australia's "Everblack" podcast that ANTHRAX's new music is shaping up to be "a little more in the aggressive style."

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the band experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

In December, AC/DC will release the official "Back In Black" world tour diecast truck. This authentic Mack super-liner 60" flattop sleeper cab diecast metal replica model comes paired with a Kentucky storage trailer and features an opening hood with authentic engine detail, poseable front wheels, accurately detailed cab interior, pivoting fifth-wheel for trailer attachment, functioning trailer landing gear/jack stands, and detailed chassis and undercarriage. The replica is decorated with a sable metallic black paint scheme with matte black accents. You can see the band's iconic logo and thunderbolt throughout the truck. It features bandmembers' signatures on the driver side of the trailer and the track listing of the album on the passenger side of the trailer. The replica comes in custom AC/DC packaging. The 1/64 scale replica measures approximately 12.25" long, 1.75" wide, and 3.5" high.

AC/DC's "Back In Black" diecast truck is available for preorder for $129 and is expected to ship during the second week of December.

In December 2019, AC/DC's 1980 breakthrough album "Back in Black" was certified by the Recording Industry Association Of America for U.S. shipments of 25 million copies.

"Back in Black" first went platinum in October 1980 and had previously been certified 22 times platinum in December 2007. The RIAA lists "Back In Black" as the fourth biggest-selling album of all time.

On July 25, 1980, AC/DC released "Back In Black" in the U.S., followed by the album's U.K. release on July 31. It was the band's first album without lead singer Bon Scott, who had died a few months earlier after passing out and choking on his own vomit following a long night of drinking.

The group quickly decided to press on and hired Brian Johnson from the band GEORDIE to take over on vocals, and they headed to the Bahamas for about six weeks to do the album. AC/DC had made some serious headway in America before Scott's death, but no one knew how "Back In Black" would be received.

Johnson told The Pulse of Radio that he didn't have a clue how successful "Back In Black" would turn out to be. "I'd just melted me brain in there, and I didn't know if it was good or bad," he said. "That was the first time I'd been in the Bahamas, anyway, or near America, you know, and you (have to) remember, I was just fascinated by the whole culture and all, and I had no idea what the hell I was doing! And (laughs) lucky, really — I was a bit lucky, I think."

"Back In Black" included the singles "You Shook Me All Night Long", which peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Back In Black", which peaked at No. 37.

Despite its massive success, it never got higher than No. 4 on the album charts. The band's next album, "For Those About To Rock", reached No. 1.

"Back In Black" was produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, who went on to produce DEF LEPPARD, FOREIGNER, THE CARS, and BRYAN ADAMS.

In 2012, "Back In Black" was added to The Recording Academy's legendary Grammy Hall Of Fame collection.

Foreigner lead singer Kelly Hansen is giving fans a chance to own part of his signature wardrobe by selling off his stage worn pants and sneakers. The items are signed by Hansen and all net proceeds go directly to the Foreigner Crew. Purchase the items here.

 

Our lead singer, Kelly Hansen is giving you the chance to own a part of his signature wardrobe! These are stage worn pants and sneakers, signed by Kelly. All net proceeds go directly to the Foreigner Crew. Click the link below to place your bid. https://t.co/ZqWmBQqppS pic.twitter.com/uOn6gmhGDY
— Foreigner (@ForeignerMusic) November 25, 2020

 

With 10 multi-Platinum albums and 16 Top 30 hits, 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 #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 Top 200 album success.




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Eddie Van Halen’s 2000 black Ferrari 550 Custom Race Car is up for auction at GottaHaveRockAndRoll.com.

 A description reads: “Here's an opportunity of a lifetime to own something that belonged to Guitar God Eddie Van Halen. His 2000 550 Ferrari custom 6 speed race car with only 28,000 miles. Imagine owning and driving Eddie Van Halen's Ferrari! This is the ultimate collector's item. The Ferrari is in excellent working condition. VIN ZFFZS49A7Y0118483, and has been maintained and treated with care. The car has been serviced by the top Ferrari mechanic. The seats were custom racing seats ordered specifically by Eddie so he could race with his brother! The Ferrari comes with the original registration in the name of Edward Van Halen and an original renewal in Eddie's name. This Ferrari can be the highlight of any collection, museum, or car show! Also comes with a Gotta Have Rock & Roll® Certificate of Authenticity.”

Total Guitar has published a Top Ten showcase of guitar icon Eddie Van Halen's career:

"Eddie Van Halen’s death is an enormous loss to the guitar community. While there will never be one indisputable Best Guitarist In The World, no one can deny that Eddie changed the face of rock guitar. His contributions to guitar technique, guitar and amplifier design, and songwriting, are some of the greatest of all time. Here are 10 ways Eddie changed the game for every guitar player who followed."

Check out an excerpt from the rundown below.

"Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love"

"Some virtuosos forget the power of a simple song and a catchy hook, but EVH knew when to keep things simple. 'Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love' (from the debut Van Halen album) is played by palm muting and picking the notes from an open A-minor chord. The singable solo is played on one string. Melodic genius."

"Beat It"

"Michael Jackson and producer Quincy Jones wanted rock credibility, and there was only one name to call. Eddie hung up on Jones three times, believing him to be a prank caller. Once in the studio, EVH nailed the solo on the second take and refused to take any payment."

"Hot For Teacher"

"Almost all would-be Eddie clones lacked two things: the groove and the sense of fun. It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing, as Eddie and Alex learned from their father, a virtuoso swing clarinettist. 'Hot For Teacher', from 1984, is as funky as Chic, but at 260 bpm."

Check out the complete rundown here.

(Photo - Mark Gromen)




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Keyboardist David Garfield has played with everyone from Larry Carlton and Steve Lukather to George Benson and Smokey Robinson. According to a new report by Guitar World, one of the highlights of his career came in the late '90s, when he recorded with Eddie Van Halen. Now, for the first time, Garfield is releasing that track, a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s "If 6 Was 9".

The cut appears on Garfield’s new EP, Guitar Heroes OTB - Vol. 1, and features singer / guitarist Michael Landau, bassist Will Lee and drummer Simon Phillips. Eddie contributes an absolutely wild and psychedelic guitar performance to the Hendrix classic up front.

This extended cover "If 6 Was 9" was recorded in 1996. 

Garfield spoke to Guitar World about how the track came about, explaining that he first met Eddie "at a local cigar store and we got to talking." At the time, Garfield was working on a project titled Tribute to Jeff Porcaro, in honor of the late Toto drummer. He recalls, "I mentioned it to Eddie, asking if he’d like to participate. Eddie’s response was a resounding 'yes!'"

Garfield: "I went up to his house to work on the tracks with him, and he was so cool. We bonded as keyboard players, too. After that session, we played a live gig together at the Baked Potato, along with Steve Lukather and Michael Landau. We continued to stay in touch, and often he would call me out of the blue, asking for help with keyboard related stuff. I even found a guy to travel with him on tour and play additional parts offstage, as well as be his keyboard tech. 

I'm sure sorry we lost him way too soon; I was hoping to collaborate with him again. Rest in peace, my brother Ed."

(Photo - Mark Gromen)




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Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, saying that the legendary VAN HALEN axeman was a huge influence on him and millions of other guitar players.

Gus discussed his appreciation for the groundbreaking musician in a brand new video posted on his official YouTube channel. He said: "Obviously, it's been way over a month since [Eddie's] passing, and I've seen a lot of tributes online. Since he died, he's been all over the news all over the world, all the magazine covers, everything. You can see what a big of an impact this man has had in the music world, and, of course, for the guitar community. You don't need me to tell you that he was such a pioneer and an innovator. All these words, actually, they describe somebody like Eddie Van Halen perfectly. He has done so much, he has given us so much in music, and he has done so much for the guitar. From introducing the modern-age sort of hard rock/heavy metal guitar; the way he used whammy bar techniques; introducing tapping techniques to the world. There's no way you're playing hard rock or heavy metal and you're not using some stuff that he popularized — there's just no way.

"I was shocked when I read the news, obviously, and I was kind of lost for words," he continued. "Eventually, I wrote a few words for some magazines that have done some specials on him, some tributes. But I haven't posted anything on my own web sites, on my own social media or anything.

"I can go on and on about how Eddie has influenced me and millions of other guitar players. I just wanna take this chance to say thank you, Eddie, for all that you gave us. Unfortunately, and sadly, I never got to see VAN HALEN live. I'm not even go into about meeting them — I never to meet Eddie or anybody from the band — but I never got to see VAN HALEN live either, because I live in Greece, and VAN HALEN very rarely played in Europe; they mainly toured in America. And when I was spending a lot of time in America, I never got a chance to see them. Even when they did the last reunion a few years back, I was never in town to catch their show. So that's one thing that I regret; I wish I'd seen them on stage.

"But regardless, Eddie, thank you — thank you for all that you did for the music world and for the guitar community," Gus added. "Your legacy lives on."

Eddie died on October 6 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with his son, Wolfgang, and Alex, Eddie's brother and VAN HALEN drummer.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, saying that he misses his friend "more than anything."

Lukather discussed his appreciation for the groundbreaking musician in a brand new interview with Metal Master Kingdom. He said (see video below): "It's hard for me, man, 'cause the wound is still very deep. I'm very honored to have been Ed's friend — really a friend; not just a guitar buddy who had a beer with him once. [There is] 40-plus years with him, Al and I.

"I know all the guys [in VAN HALEN]. I love all the guys. I'm Switzerland [when it comes to their relationships with each other]. I was just on Sammy's [Hagar] show. He was beautiful to me. Mike's [Anthony] always nice to me. The brothers [Ed and Al] and I have always stayed very close. I've been in touch with Al more than anybody. And Janie [Eddie's widow] sent me some wonderful pictures of Ed and I when we were younger that she found somewhere. And I've been in touch — I talked to Wolf [Eddie's son] once. I'm gonna leave him alone. He's got his mom.

"This is a hole in my heart that won't go away. He was a real friend of mine, okay? We didn't get together and talk about guitars and stuff unless we wanted to play each other something new or brag about our kids. And really, we spent the last half of our relationship bragging about each other's sons, 'cause they both play. We always had that in common — the sons and the guitar. We have a lot in common off the gig that has nothing to do with [music].

"I loved the man. There's nothing to argue about how great he was as a musician. I don't have to. Who's gonna argue? He was one of the greats to ever pick up rock and roll guitar — he changed everything. And he was my friend. And I miss my friend more than anything. I miss the roar of one of his vehicles scaring the fuck out of my neighbors. And the way he laughed, and the way he fucking hugged me whenever he came by...

"The last thing I have in my phone is just a heart that he sent me.

"It's hard for me to talk about because it's an open wound. But I imagine how his family [feels]. My heart goes out to everybody in the Van Halen family."

Eddie died on October 6 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California at the age of 65. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with his son, Wolfgang, and Alex, Eddie's brother and VAN HALEN drummer.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

Rolling Stone magazine ranked Eddie Van Halen No. 8 in its list of the 100 greatest guitarists.

On December 18, the legendary heavy metal duo of Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales will release their super limited on 300 copies, handcrafted 12” black vinyl EP, Throne Of Iniquity, that comes with the brand new Ashes Of Ares song “Throne Of Iniquity” and two cover tracks, Chicago's “25 Or 6 To 4” and “Dust In The Wind” by Kansas.

For the recordings, the duo was reinforced by Kyle Taylor on drums and Ray Hunter of Bastion's Wake who plays the acoustic guitar on “Dust In The Wind”. This EP will be also available as digital stream/download and is the forerunner of the band’s third full-length album that will follow later in 2021.

Says Matt Barlow: “Freddie and I would like to thank all of the folks that made the Throne Of Iniquity EP come to life. It is our honor to have been able to work on two classic rock cover songs, from bands that helped shape music history. We are also very excited to give you a brand new AoA tune that will help introduce you to our next full length

Throne Of Iniquity will be released Via ROAR! Rock Of Angels Records, physically and digitally worldwide on December 18. Pre-order links here.

Tracklisting:

Side A:
"Throne Of Iniquity"

Side B:
"25 Or 6 To 4" (Chicago cover)
"Dust in the Wind" (Kansas cover)

Ashes Of Ares is:

Matt Barlow - Vocals
Freddie Vidales - Guitars, Bass

- Drums recorded by Kyle Taylor
- Acoustic guitars for "Dust In The Wind" recorded by Ray Hunter




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Canadian prog-rock band, Saga, will release of their new studio album, Symmetry, on March 12 via earMUSIC.

After going on tour in spring 2020, Saga went straight into their home studios - the result: An album full of acoustic originals. Symmetry offers a unique listening experience by bundling complex and delicate arrangements with familiar melodies and sounds.

Symmetry gives the listener the possibility to explore and discover Saga classics like “Wind Him Up”, “Say Goodbye To Hollywood” and “Tired World” once more and in a completely new way. Saga managed to create more than just new versions of their songs; they created a sonic world full of little details that invites the listeners to dive deeper into the complex musical phenomenon that is Saga.

Ian Crichton about the album: “After opening for 'ourselves' Saga, on our 2017 European tour acoustically, the decision to record an acoustic record was born. This is different Saga everyone! We invited from Ontario Canada, Shane Cook on fiddle, and Stefany Seki, Beth Silver on cello to accompany us on our offside interpretation of music we've played for years, had a lot of fun doing so! Acoustic Saga!?!?!... it’s like construction work for an electric guitar player.”

Symmetry” will be available as CD Jewelcase, 2LP Gatefold and Digital. Pre-order here.

Tracklist

"Pitchman"
"The Perfect Time To Feel Better"
  "Time To Go"
  "The Perfectionist"
  "We Hope You’re Feeling Better"
"Images – Chapter 1"
"Always There"
"Prelude #1"
"Say Goodbye to Hollywood"
"Prelude #2"
"The Right Side of the Other Hall"
  "Footsteps in the Hall"
  "On the Other Side"
  "You Were Right"
"La Foret Harmonieuse"
"Wind Him Up"
"No Regrets – Chapter 5"
"Tired World – Chapter 6"




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Stone Sour have released a demo version of "The Uncanny Valley", which is available for streaming below.

Guitarist Josh Rand states: "'The Uncanny Valley': The Selfish Side begins to breakdown, but the cracks are starting to show. The bluster it had showed before is wearing as thin as air."




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Canada’s Red Cain is finishing their “Kindred” saga with the release of Kindred: Act II . The album was originally slated to be unleashed on December 4, but due to interruptions caused by this year's main culprit, COVID, the band has decided to push back their second studio album's digital sales date to January 22, 2021, along with announcing the CD physical release will be done by Sliptrick Records at a later date in the new year.

The band comments: “We are very excited to partner with Sliptrick Records yet again for the physical release of our next album, with this partnership helping us to sell over 1,000 copies of Kindred: Act I in Europe over the past 6 months. To make sure we coordinate properly and deliver to all our fans worldwide, we are delaying the official album release to Jan 2021. But fear not, Varyags - because we will fill the gap with a monster single that we are particularly proud of, to thank you all for your patience.”

Kindred: Act II follows Red Cain's 2019 album Kindred: Act I also unleashed via Sliptrick Records. Over the past few months of this year, they have shared four singles off the forthcoming full-length “Sunshine (Blood Sun Empire)”, “Demons”, “Kindred” and “Varyag And The Shrike”, which can be heard below. Recommended for fans of Kamelot, Mastodon, and Amaranthe.

Kindred: Act II album pre-order will be available on Bandcamp.

Described as a vehicle of “melancholy and rage” and born out of the emerging music scene of Alberta, Canada, 2017 YYC Awards Metal Recording Of The Year winner Red Cain is a power/progressive metal project with Russian roots. With intricate songwriting, a heavy yet melodic feel reminiscent of progressive acts, and elements of Slavic myth and Russian paganism in the storytelling tradition of the cult of Veles, Red Cain champion a fluid, dynamic, and unique musical style centered around telling dark, conceptual Faustian sagas and constructing those into an unforgettable live experience.

Stated by frontman Evgeniy Zayarny as wanting to bring back the “Devil’s music” mysticism all too often missing in modern metal acts, Red Cain delivers flair, groove, and an intricate, lethal edge in their music. Listeners might well pick out elements reminiscent of such luminary acts as Kamelot, Symphony X, Tesseract, Amaranthe, Alter Bridge – whipped into a venomous new shape. The current incarnation of the band is all of these influences mixed with a lot of vodka and Eastern European melancholy, shaken and stirred.

Tracklisting:

"Kindred"
"Demons"
"Precipice Of Man"
"Baltic Fleet"
"Varyag And The Shrike"
"Sons Of Veles"
"Sunshine (Blood Sun Empire)"

(Photo - Ravenkin Photography)




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Whitesnake brings together some of the most-passionate music of its multi-platinum career on Love Songs, a new collection that contains remixed and remastered versions of the group’s best love songs. It’s the second release in the band’s Red, White and Blues Trilogy, a series of compilations organized by musical themes that began this summer with The Rock Album (white) and will conclude next year with The Blues Album (blue).

David Coverdale unboxes Love Songs in this new video:

The new collection includes a mix of hits and deep tracks that were originally released between 1987 and 2011 on five Whitesnake studio albums and David Coverdale’s third solo album, Into The Light.

Love Songs is available here as a CD , as a double-LP set pressed on 180-gram red vinyl, and digitally.

Love Songs tracklisting:

CD:

“Love Will Set You Free”
“The Deeper the Love”
“All I Want, All I Need”
“Too Many Tears”
“Can’t Go On”
“Is This Love”
“With All of My Heart” *
“Summer Rain”
“Your Precious Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“Don’t You Cry”
“Midnight Blue”
“Easier Said Than Done”
“Yours For The Asking” *
“Let’s Talk It Over” *

LP:

Side One
“Love Will Set You Free”
“The Deeper the Love”
“All I Want, All I Need”
“Too Many Tears”

Side Two
“Can’t Go On”
“Is This Love”
“With All of My Heart” *
“Summer Rain”

Side Three
“Your Precious Love”
“Now You’re Gone”
“Don’t You Cry”
“Midnight Blue”

Side Four
“Easier Said Than Done”
“Yours For The Asking” *
“Let’s Talk It Over” *

* previously unreleased

"Love Will Set You Free" (2020 Remix) video:

"The Deeper The Love" (2020 Remix) video:

"Now You're Gone" (2020 Remix) video:

"Easier Said Than Done" (2020 Remix) video:

"Is This Love" (2020 Remix) video:




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Divided have released another music video from their 2020 album, Behind Your Neon Eyes, this time they've worked together with Pyogenesis lead vocalist Flo V. Schwarz. You can read about the song's background story and find the band's comments below.

"A vast, desolate wasteland in the 28th century. However, things have become a bit more bearable and the smog cleared up a few years after the last settlers were gone, and by when Divided showed up on the desert planet with the crew, the atmosphere already healed. Nature claimed back what once was hers. Ivy was blooming on the cracked building walls, the fences around them were embraced by tree branches and moss took over the elderly people turned to stone when the last nuclear winter hit the premises. Because that’s what happened...the Sun turned cold and humanity is now spreading across the galaxies like dandelion seeds. What could be a better scenery for shooting a video when the stars turn cold, the Autumn solitude creeping into everything, giving a chill down to the bones? No one roams these plains but Brother Belmont, psyKlone, v0id, Sol, and Stalkher Jr. And of course their precious guest, Flo V. Schwarz, the voice of Pyogenesis and the camera crew: Krisztián Maráczi, Jan Borowski and Gréta Vaskó. This video was created by them for you. And us of course, directed and edited by Belmont, it all came from our hands. Let this video be an ode to oblivion, a dirge for freedom and let it give you strength while everything is under lockdown. We are not alone in the unknown."

The ideas behind "Until The Stars Turn Cold: came from guitarist v0id; his comments about the song:

"In a nutshell, this song is dealing with passing. Or more likely how to deal with the process of passing and finding the catharsis of it.

"The backbone of the song was written in Finland during a particularly dark and rainy Winter while watching a movie about sunshine. Even though I talk a lot, I’m not a good lyricist, I’m much better at expressing my emotions through soundscapes.

This mess of synesthesia had been sorted out by psyKlone and Belmont, giving the song a proper structure and adding beautiful lyrics to it.Then I topped it with another challenge - coming up with a lead guitar part that could spice up the aura of the song.

"The last piece of the puzzle got in its place when we arranged Flo to lend his talents to the song, turning it to a wonderful duet between him and Belmont. "




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In support of their upcoming livestream event, Trans-Siberian Orchestra are streaming "Music Box Blues" from The Christmas Attic (1998). Listen below:

In August, Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO) was forced to make the heartbreaking announcement that, for the first time in more than 20 years, the group will not be able to tour during the holiday season. The multi-platinum, critically acclaimed, progressive rock group, is proud to make an exciting announcement today - to keep its rock holiday tradition alive, TSO will bring a performance right into fans' homes with the world premiere of its first-ever livestream event, Christmas Eve And Other Stories Live In Concert, on Friday, December 18.

TSO performing an all-new staging of its beloved album Christmas Eve And Other Stories, means that fans, despite missing so much in 2020, won't have to miss their favorite holiday tradition. This electrifying livestream will bring some much-needed rockin’ Christmas spirit to fans everywhere. In addition to the full album concert, fans will view special pre-show content including behind-the-scenes footage and classic interview segments.

General public on sale begins today. Keeping the TSO tradition of offering huge entertainment value for a low ticket price, advance tickets for TSO’s “Christmas Eve and Other Stories Live In Concert'' will be offered as a family-friendly $30 all-in ticket. For fans unable to view the livestream’s debut on Fri., Dec. 18, TSO will make the performance available for streaming on demand through midnight on Sun., Dec. 20.  In addition to purchasing the stream, fans will have the option to purchase gift packages, including T-shirts, ornaments, and masks, plus livestream tickets can be sent digitally to friends and family as presents. For more details and to purchase tickets and packages, visit trans-siberian.com.

TSO’s Music Director & lead guitarist Al Pitrelli said, “So many things have changed in 2020. Masks, social distancing, home schooling, and of course live entertainment. What will not change is all of us being able to celebrate the holidays together. It will just be in a different way.  For 21 years we’ve had the privilege of bringing our tours, including Christmas Eve And Other Stories, to hundreds of cities and millions of people. This year we will bring this timeless story to your living rooms. We will miss seeing all of you in person, but like Paul O’Neill always said, ‘adapt, overcome, and improvise.’ That’s exactly what we are going to do. This will be an opportunity to see your favorite holiday story up close and personal. We can’t wait to share this with all of you. In the meantime... Stay safe. Stay healthy. We’re on our way!”

This special event will bring together members of both the East and West bands for the first time since 2000 when TSO first began touring with two full groups. For the livestream, Bryan Hicks will narrate and Al Pitrelli (guitar) and Derek Wieland (keyboards) will serve as musical directors. The band will feature Chris Caffery (guitar), Mee Eun Kim (keyboards), Johnny Lee Middleton (bass), Asha Mevlana (violin), and Jeff Plate (drums). Vocalists will be Russell Allen, Nate Amor, John Brink, Erika Jerry, Chloe Lowery, Georgia Napolitano, and Jeff Scott Soto.

A product of the vision and imagination of TSO’s late founder, composer, and lyricist Paul O’Neill, Christmas Eve And Other Stories gave birth to the unique format O’Neill called “Rock Theater.” The story is set on Christmas Eve when a young angel is sent to Earth to bring back what is best representative of humanity.  Following favorite TSO themes of “strangers helping strangers” and “the kindness of others,” “Christmas Eve and Other Stories” takes listeners all over the world to help reunite a young girl with her distraught father. The album features such fan-favorites as both of which have not been performed live in recent years. The rock opera also features such TSO classics as "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24," "O’ Come All Ye Faithful," "Good King Joy," "Promises To Keep," "This Christmas Day," “Ornament,” and the epic “Old City Bar.”

The debut studio album of Christmas Eve And Other Stories is available as a part of "The Christmas Trilogy," a three-album collection that also includes definitive TSO albums The Christmas Attic and The Lost Christmas Eve. "The Trilogy," which has been out of print for several years, will be available on November 20, and is available for pre-order now.

Since its historic touring debut, TSO has played approximately 2,100 concert dates for more than 17 million fans and has sold in excess of 12 million albums and DVDs.




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Hatebreed are set to release their eighth studio album, Weight Of The False Self, this Friday, November 27, via Nuclear Blast. The 12-track album is stacked with pit-starting anthems and is available for pre-order here.

In the new video trailer below, Jamey Jasta discusses the artwork and meaning of title of Weight Of The False Self:

Weight of The False Self proves that over 20 years deep into an iconic career, Hatebreed remain as vital as ever.

Renowned for their ability to provide an intense and cathartic release for their fans, Hatebreed challenged themselves and their writing style in order to produce material that is exceptionally relatable in a contemporary world flooded with overstimulation, emotional dampening, and lack of social patience.

"Weight of The False Self is a perfect representation of Hatebreed in 2020, a fresh onslaught of soon-to-be classics with all the elements that led you here since day one," explains guitarist Frank Novinec.

Drummer Matt Byrne shares, "There's no shortage of beefy riffs and adrenaline-fueled drums on this record. I'm proud to say that we will consistently provide a soundtrack to which you can mosh in your living room and destroy your apartment."n this record. I'm proud to say that we will consistently provide a soundtrack to which you can mosh in your living room and destroy your apartment."

The album artwork was created by Eliran Kantor.

Tracklisting:

"Instinctive (Slaughterlust)"
"Let Them All Rot"
"Set It Right (Start With Yourself)"
"Weight Of The False Self"
"Cling to Life"
"A Stroke of Red"
"Dig Your Way Out"
"This I Earned"
"Wings of The Vulture"
"The Herd Will Scatter"
"From Gold to Gray"
"Invoking Dominance"

"Instinctive (Slaughterlust)" video:

"Weight Of The False Self" lyric video:

Hatebreed are:

Jamey Jasta - Vocals
Chris Beattie - Bass
Frank Novinec - Guitars
Wayne Lozinak - Guitars
Matt Byrne - Drums




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Football legend Diego Maradona, one of the greatest players of all time, suffered a cardiac arrest today and passed away aged 60. According to Football Italia the former Argentina attacking midfielder and manager suffered a heart attack at his Buenos Aires home. He had successful surgery on a brain blood clot earlier in November and was to be treated for alcohol dependency. Maradona was captain when Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, scoring the famous 'Hand of God' goal against England in the quarter-finals.

Queen paid tribute to Maradona via the band's official website, writing, "Another who set football stadiums alight with his talent. Rest In Peace, Diego."

RIP Football legend Diego Maradona 🙏

Photograph by Neal Preston © Queen Productions Ltd pic.twitter.com/A3o8A6pO2s
— Queen (@QueenWillRock) November 25, 2020

(Photograph by Neal Preston © Queen Productions Ltd)




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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 - Roy Bjørg)




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Status Quo’s John ‘Rhino’ Edwards is releasing a brand new single to help some of those ignored by the Government in these challenging times. Rhino’s Revenge’s new song, "Super Smashing Great", is raising money for the backbone of the live music industry.

Says Edwards: "The live music industry is on its knees. That’s a fact. It’s one of the few areas we have left where Britain is still a world beater, but we’re well down the pecking order of Government help. We have to do something. We can moan as much as we like, but actions speak louder than words.

"I’ve written a new song for Rhino’s Revenge, the band I play with when I’m not playing with Status Quo. The song’s called ‘Super Smashing Great’ and pretty much sums up my feelings on the present situation. Have a listen to it and a look at the lyric video below. Hopefully, it will put a smile on your face.

"What I’d really like you all to do is BUY it. You remember that? When we all used to BUY music? It won’t even cost you a quid. Less than the price of a small beer.

"‘Super Smashing Great’ was recorded to raise money for the backbone of the live music industry - the crews-– in these extraordinary times. All proceeds from views and sales of the song will go directly to them via the charity Stagehand’s COVID-19 Crew Relief Fund.  Please support it by forwarding the video link to everyone in your contacts books, across all media, social and otherwise.

"Donate directly to the fund here. Buy ‘Super Smashing Great’ here.

"If you want the live music scene to come back, put your hand in your digital pocket. Spread the word, make a difference and Rock Out To Help Out. Thank you."




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Moving into yet another artistic medium, modern rock storyteller Claudio Sanchez of Coheed And Cambria has announced a partnership between his comic book brand, Evil Ink, and leading action figure manufacturer and collectible producer NECA to release the inaugural line of The Amory Wars action figures. Pre-orders are live today on the band’s official site and are expected to ship for the holidays.

This fulfills a dream for Sanchez, as he integrates the sci-fi concept behind his band’s concept albums (The Amory Wars) into the toy space for the first time. Story protagonists, Coheed and Cambria Kilgannon come to life as intricately detailed 8-inch fully posable action figures with detachable weapon accessories.

To promote the figures, the band shared a throwback nineties-style “Action Figure commercial” featuring the heroic husband and wife duo as a nostalgic nod to the toy renaissance of their youth. Watch it below.

Regarding the partnership with NECA Sanchez commented, “Lights, Camera, Action... Figures! I’m very happy to announce the release of our collaboration with NECA in bringing The Amory Wars line to life. As a child, toys played an integral role in the foundation of who I am now as a storyteller and the excitement never fades when I get to take this step with any of my creations.”




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Sahil Makhija aka Demonstealer has released a brand new song and video, "A Festering Wound", off of his upcoming And This Too Shall Pass EP. "No God will save you," screams Makhija halfway into this scathing, blastbeat-heavy ripper that channels his abject hatred for religion and all the ill it's spawned.

Makhija adds, “It refers to humanity and how we're almost like a cancer on this planet; how we've created God, religion and blinded the masses with these man made creations.”

The video for "A Festering Wound" is now available to stream on Demonstealer's Facebook page, or below:

And This Too Shall Pass EP is set for a worldwide release on December 11.

The 4-song EP is being self-released with the help of a crowd-funding campaign that Makhija personally set up in July earlier this year. It was the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown in the country that provided Makhija with a new perspective and the inspiration to write new music. And This Too Shall Pass sees Makhija return to his absolute roots. All music on And This Too Shall Pass has been written, played and recorded by Makhija — making it truly a solo effort — a feat he hasn’t performed since his debut album released in 2008. Pre-orders for the digital release are now available here.

Tracklisting:

"This Crumbling Earth"
"A Festering Wound"
"Systemic Failure"
"From Flesh To Ashes"

"This Crumbling Earth":

Credits:

All music written, played & arranged by Demonstealer
All music recorded by Demonstealer at Demonic Studios, India
All music mixed & mastered by Hertz Studio, Poland
Album artwork & layout by Adi Dechristianize

(Photo - Ashish Kamble)




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MSG have released a first video trailer for the new album, Immortal, out January 8 via Nuclear Blast. In the clip, Michael Schenker discusses the recording of the album. Watch below.

MSG is a legendary name. After two phenomenal records under the guise of Michael Schenker Fest, a true guitar hero is returning to his roots. By forming Michael Schenker Group (MSG) back in 1979, Michael Schenker laid the foundations for one of hard rock’s most glorious solo careers of all times. And while nobody expected anything less from a former guitarist for Scorpions and UFO, it’s close to impossible mentioning everything Michael has built over the past 50 years, or the countless people he influenced or played with. This, truly, is the stuff that hard rocking myths are made of.

“I never looked back,” is how Michael dryly sums up an extraordinary career. Due to this mindset, he only realised much later what a huge impact his playing had made on the world of metal and hard rock. Very few guitarists can be cited as a primary influence for the likes of James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Dimebag Darrell, Slash or Kerry King. However, to understand Michael Schenker means to understand one primary thing: he’s not here to be worshipped or adored, he’s not here to get rich, he’s here to play. And at 65, he’s doing it with the same swagger, verve and dizzying artistry as always. “I’m still 16 in my head,” he laughs.

Right in time for his 40th anniversary as a solo artist and his 50th birthday as a musician, he resurrects the immortal Michael Schenker Group. Immortal is also the name of his new album, recorded by likely the strongest line-up in his long history. Its a lightning bolt of an album that sounds fresh, bloodthirsty and agile. Immortal showcases the gargantuan vocal talents of Chilean hard rock prodigy Ronnie Romero (Rainbow), backed by singers Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Deep Purple) as well as Schenker’s brother in arms, Michael Voss (Mad Max) who again produced the record alongside Michael Schenker – flawlessly, punchy and at full steam as if their very lives depended on it.

Next to Michael Schenker caressing his iconic black and white Dean Flying V, we hear bass player Barry Sparks (Dokken), keyboard player Steve Mann as well as the three drummers Bodo Schopf, Simon Phillips (ex-Toto) and Brian Tichy (ex-Whitesnake) pumping gallons of fresh blood through the tracks. And that’s not all, keyboard wizard extraordinaire Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Black Country Communion) gives the listener a baptism of fire in the blistering, heavy hitting opener “Drilled To Kill”, powered by Ralf Scheepers’ unbelievable vocal tornado.

Michael Schenker doesn’t live to play, he plays to live, and there’s no better way of summing up his relationship to his music than this – now for half a century and counting. The most emblematic representation of this relationship is the monumental closing track “In Search Of The Peace Of Mind”, a new recording of the very first song he ever wrote. “I composed this track in my mother’s kitchen back when I was 15,” he looks back half a century and smiles broadly: “The solo is just so perfect, I wouldn’t change a single note even today. This is the most important song of the last 50 years for me. It’s what started it all.”

When it finally got released in 1972 on the Scorpions’ debut Lonesome Crow, Schenker had already moved on to UFO. What followed were several decades of pure hard rock ecstasy on and off stage, featuring a rotating cast of stellar players, always pressing the pedal to the metal. Now, in 2020, he reaps what he sowed. Alongside many of his peers, friends and contemporaries, he is celebrating 50 years of hard rock – fittingly with an album that is something like a zeitgeisty reminiscence of everything he’s ever done. The massive midtempo smasher “Don’t Die On Me Now” sees Joe Lynn Turner going all in, Ronnie Romero works his magic in “Knight Of The Dead” while Michael Voss cuts a grand figure before the microphone as well as behind the mixing desk on the furious second single “After The Rain”.

Towering above them all, Michael Schenker and his guitar prove they’re truly and utterly invincible. The celebrated icon pulls out all the stops – including his legendary “howler”, the fabled magnet he’s used on his fingerboard for a while now. And here’s yet another thing that’s just so archetypically Schenker, when bringing up his fiery and dedicated performance on “Immortal” he nonchalantly shrugs it off: “I simply played from the heart, as always.” This, dear Michael, is the understatement of the year – all the more so for a record that is already one of the top contenders for hard rock/metal album of the year.

Pre-order the new album here.

Tracklisting:

"Drilled To Kill" (feat Ralf Scheepers)
"Don’t Die On Me Now" (feat Joe Lynn Turner)
"Knight Of The Dead" (feat Ronnie Romero)
"After The Rain" (feat Michael Voss)
"Devil’s Daughter" (feat Ralf Scheepers)
"Sail The Darkness" (Feat Ronnie Romero)
"The Queen Of Thorns And Roses" (feat Michael Voss)
"Come On Over" (feat Ronnie Romero)
"Sangria Morte" (feat Joe Lynn Turner)
"In Search Of Peace Of Mind" (feat Ronnie Romero, Gary Barden,Doogie White, Robin McAuley)

"Drilled To Kill" lyric video:

(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)




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Hailing from the metal hotbed of Montreal, Synastry are no stranger to the flourishing scene, having been a part of it in the early 2000s for close to a decade before retreating into the shadows. With newfound vigor, they have returned with a new EP Civilization’s Coma and before its official release on November 27, its full stream can be heard via its premiere on BraveWords!

Civilization's Coma by SYNASTRY

The heavily groovy modern metal will be familiar to existing fans of the band while encouraging new listeners to embrace them. This reintroduction will give metalheads a taste of what's to come while being able to stand on its own merit. Synastry shares their thoughts about the release:

“We are very excited to be able to release this EP at the tail end of 2020. It’s been a long, strange year for everyone, and we thought it was time to unleash these songs for everyone’s listening enjoyment. We have been working hard on getting the stars to align with the work we have created, and are looking to get back into everyone’s ears. The lyrical content is from an individual’s view out onto society, and the responsibility of the individual to create a better world.”

This EP is just the start for Synastry who hopes they can bring their energetic live shows back to crowds far and wide post Covid times.

Recommended for anyone who enjoys groove and melodic metal, especially those with an existing fondness for Within The Ruins, Fear Factory and Slipknot.

Preorder the EP on Bandcamp. Spotify pre-save available here.

Tracklisting:

“Civilization’s Coma”
“Dead To Me”
“Narcomancy”




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In a new interview with Rustyn Rose of MetalNation.com, guitarist Brian Tatler of British metal veterans DIAMOND HEAD was asked to name his favorite METALLICA album of all time. He said (see video below): "I'll probably say the 'black' album is my favorite, because — partly, the production is incredible, and it's chock-full of good songs. I saw them quite a few times on that tour as well — the 'black' album tour in '91 and '92 — so I'd get to hear things like 'Wherever I May Roam' or 'Through The Never'. I think they did 'Through The Never' live. I like 'Through The Never'. And, obviously, they played '[Enter] Sandman' and 'Sad But True' and 'Nothing Else Matters'. I've seen them do the 'black' album live as well, where they do it in reverse order, which was great."

As for the "most underrated" METALLICA album, Tatler said: "I don't know. '…And Justice For All' gets a bit of bad press, doesn't it, because of the sound. There's no bass. It's a strange album to get used to. I think the songs are great. And my favorite METALLICA song is 'One', which is on that album. But even me, when I put it on, [I go,] 'Turn the bass up or something.' People have been talking about this for 20-odd years, and I agree that it sounds bass-light; they mixed poor old Jason [Newsted] down for some reason. Maybe that one. 'Load''s good as well; it's got some good tunes."

DIAMOND HEAD influenced a slew of early '80s thrash metal bands, in particular METALLICA, which recorded the band's "Am I Evil" as a B-side to their 1984 "Creeping Death" single and again included on the band's multi-platinum 1998 covers album "Garage Inc." METALLICA would record three additional DIAMOND HEAD songs: "Helpless" ("Garage Days", 1987), "The Prince" ("One" single B-side, 1989) and "It's Electric" ("Garage Inc." , 1998).

According to Brian, the royalties that he receives from the DIAMOND HEAD back catalog, including the METALLICA recordings of his songs, are enough for him to live on. "It's my biggest source of income," he revealed in a 2019 interview. "It's great and I don't know what I would do without it. It gives me the freedom to do what I like. I'm very grateful."

DIAMOND HEAD's latest album, "The Coffin Train", was released in May 2019 via Silver Lining Music. The album was recorded at Vigo Studios in Walsall, Circle Studios in Birmingham and Raw Sound Studio in London.

FIRSTBORNE, the band featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Adler and fellow MEGADETH alum James LoMenzo, has released its thrashy cover version of the JOURNEY classic "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)".

FIRSTBORNE features Girish Pradhan on vocals and guitar, Myrone on guitar, LoMenzo on bass, and Adler on drums.

Adler stated about FIRSTBORNE's decision to cover "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)": "It's hard to not appreciate JOURNEY. As a musician I've always greatly appreciated their individual talents that combined into something so contagious. I've always wanted to cover a JOURNEY song and always thought of 'Separate Ways' as their 'heaviest.' The problem was always the same: no one can sing it. When I met and performed with Girish across India, I knew I'd met one of very few people in the world that could take this on and make it his own. That's the goal of the group. We can do anything — let's have fun and share."

The FIRSTBORNE self-titled EP included five songs and two lyric videos. The EP represented several years of dedicated introspection and refined effort to the idea of a heavy and positive message.

As might be expected, Adler chose his bandmates in this endeavor meticulously.

Recently, Adler shared the stage across the Middle East with LoMenzo in HAIL! Prior to that, LoMenzo and Adler orbited each other for years traveling together on tours crossing the globe. The connect was inevitable.

Adler and Myrone began collaborating in early 2019 after Myrone noticed Adler's e-mail address attached to a Bandcamp sales notification email. Adler had been a fan of Myrone's talent for years prior and as soon as they connected, it was game on.

A chance meeting in India, almost a second home to Chris after eight visits, was the spark needed to form the international group FIRSTBORNE and for Chris to return to the studio. Adler met and shared the stage with Pradhan during a six-week clinic tour of India in the fall of 2019. After the first show of the clinic tour, Adler immediately called Myrone, noting he'd "struck gold" in their search for a singer for the then-unnamed project.

Girish Pradhan is the glue that united FIRSTBORNE. Pradhan on vocals represents an almost unprecedented international collaboration.

Pradhan is an established and well-known recording and touring artist in India and resides in Bengaluru. His band GIRISH AND THE CHRONICLES made international headlines earlier this year with their new album "Rock The Highway" and music videos "Rock 'N Roll Is Here to Stay", "Identity Crisis" and "Rock The Highway".

Speaking on his experience creating with FIRSTBORNE, Myrone explains: "Every single part of this experience has been extremely surreal for me. Girish is one of the best metal vocalists on the planet, Chris is one of the most influential drummers of the last 25 years, and JLO can play anything from MEGADETH to John Fogerty to Motown and everything in between. I can't believe I get to share space on a .wav with them."

Myrone is a Los Angeles-based producer/guitarist who pioneered the "soft shred" genre. In the last six years, he has released seven albums and two EPs of instrumental guitar music and racked up millions of Spotify streams. In addition to his own recordings, he has collaborated with Rivers Cuomo (WEEZER), SZA, Little Boots, Michael Christmas and Deaton Chris Anthony. Most recently, Myrone was Guitar #1 in the L.A. production of "Rock Of Ages", the 29th-longest running show in Broadway history.

LoMenzo is a veteran touring/recording musician since his multi-platinum band WHITE LION in the 1980s. Lomenzo is one of the most in-demand rock bass players in the world. His list of credits includes WHITE LION, Zakk Wylde's BLACK LABEL SOCIETY/PRIDE & GLORY, MEGADETH, Jerry Cantrell, David Lee Roth, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT, LYNCH MOB, FREHEY'S COMET and more. Recently he's been the touring/recording bassist for the legendary John Fogerty and can be seen in the live concert film "John Fogerty : My Fifty Year Trip" recorded live at Red Rocks.

LoMenzo had this to say about his collaboration within his new band, FIRSTBORNE: "I first met Chris in 2006 on MEGADETH's 'Gigantour'. I was playing bass with MEGADETH at the time. Watching Chris on that tour, I recall being struck by the creativity, speed and power of his drumming with LAMB OF GOD. In contrast, I found him to be a gentle, thoughtful soul. Years later, I had the opportunity to finally play with Chris, performing in the Middle East with the all-star metal band HAIL! We had a great time. At this time, Chris mentioned he was looking forward to exploring making all kinds of music. I suggested he keep me in mind. Next thing I know I'm being introduced to Myrone through a demo that Chris forwarded to me. I was immediately drawn to the music. Myrone's guitar is uniquely untethered to any one style. He's a brilliant and capable amalgam of classic rock, new and classic metal. Girish on top of all this had me stunned! A soaring, powerful voice that while uniquely his own, conjures images of the greatest singers of metal, blues and classic rock. His voice is a powerful, emotive vehicle to inform through his heartfelt and socially conscious lyrics. To my ear, the combination of all this musical talent is wonderfully unique and perfectly familiar. I'm very proud and excited for music fans to hear this new musical collaboration."

Adler added: "I've been incredibly fortunate in my creative endeavors. From the start, I sought out the best players I could find to work alongside. It's been an incredible journey that is clearly not over. Some things have changed. This may not be exactly what people expect from me right now, and I'm aware and embrace that. It's time for something new. I'm have a platform to present something important, true and collaborative. Creating FIRSTBORNE beckons cohesiveness as a mission statement. This is not about being mad all the time, egos or fabricating polarizing drama. 'This is right' is now my alarm clock. Girish, Myrone and James have the exact locker room mentality of 'kill 'em all! but let's make sure everyone is okay and having a kick-ass time' that I try and bring to everything I do. FIRSTBONE is the result of all of my experiences, both positive and negative, and I'm proud of what we are doing together."

Adler is a Grammy-winning American metal drummer from Richmond, Virginia. Chris founded LAMB OF GOD in 1994 and helped usher in what critics have dubbed the "New Wave Of American Heavy Metal." LAMB OF GOD's discography with Chris includes multiple gold records and platinum DVDs as well as five Grammy nominations.

Chris received a Grammy for playing drums on legendary thrash metal band MEGADETH's 2016 record "Dystopia". Chris also toured with MEGADETH in support of the record while juggling and occasionally combining tour dates with LAMB OF GOD.

Chris has collaborated and contributed to records with PROTEST THE HERO, TESTAMENT, THAIKKUDAM BRIDGE, Michael Angelo Batio and Ron Jarzombek.

In 2018, Chris created an artist management firm Kintsugi Management.

FIRSTBORNE is:

Vocals: Girish Pradhan

Guitar: Myrone

Bass: James LoMenzo

Drums: Chris Adler

Los Angeles party legends HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD have announced the "Hollywood Undead House Party" — a wild, no-holds-barred virtual global party event on December 18, featuring classic UNDEAD hits and new never-before-seen favorites from their forthcoming album "New Empire Vol. 2", and maybe even some very special party-crashing guests. The event, produced in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents, is now on sale with a variety of party-themed packages ranging from standard tickets to merch and party packs, as well as a limited amount of virtual meet-and-greet packages.

Gather your best buds and let the good times roll by getting tickets from www.HollywoodUndeadLive.com. Early bird prices start at $12.99 (valid now through Cyber Monday, November 30 only) and increase at 12:01 am on Tuesday, December 1.

Speaking on the house party to end all house parties, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD's Johnny 3 Tears says: "While we can't get everyone together in a venue to party, we wanted to do the next best thing and host a night they'll never forget — but won't remember the next day."

For fans wishing to take the party to the next level, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD are offering a variety of suitably awesome merch bundles:

* Ticket and t-shirt, with rolling papers

* Ticket and hoodie, with rolling papers

* Ticket, T-shirt and House Party Pack (that includes a bandana, a dozen branded red solo cups, 2 Ping Pong Balls, Rolling Papers and a deck of cards)

* Ticket, T-Shirt, House Party Pack and virtual meet & greet with a keepsake video. (limited availability). The first 150 purchasers will also receive a surprise, one-of-a-kind item captured right at the party!

As the second installment of the critically acclaimed "New Empire" two-part opus, "New Empire Vol. 2" was produced by Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS) and will be released on Friday, December 4 via BMG/Dove & Grenade. HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD recently released tracks from the forthcoming album such as the genre-bending hit "Idol" featuring preeminent rapper Tech N9ne and the star-studded track "Heart Of A Champion", featuring Jacoby Shaddix of PAPA ROACH and Spencer Charnas of ICE NINE KILLS, which has already garnered nearly 5 million global streams and 1.5 million views on YouTube.

"New Empire Vol. 1" was released in February of this year to enthusiastic acclaim, Consequence Of Sound claiming "New Empire Vol. 1" "finds the band in a much heavier setting than usual", Inc. magazine stating "Fifteen years in, and in an industry where careers are often measured in months, [they're] releasing a killer new album," and Billboard asserting "HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD shows no signs of slowing down." They hit the road for a mammoth European tour with PAPA ROACH and ICE NINE KILLS in support of "Vol. 1" but it was unfortunately cut short when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The "Hollywood Undead House Party" co-producers Danny Wimmer Presents recently entered the digital content curation space, promoting pay-per-view concert streams and creating the popular digital series "Offstage With DWP". DWP is known worldwide for its stellar portfolio of music and lifestyle events, which includes Aftershock, Bourbon & Beyond, Epicenter, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival and Welcome To Rockville.