The official music video for "Sacred Lights", the new single from FIRSTBORNE, the band featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Chris Adler and fellow MEGADETH alum James LoMenzo, can be seen below. The track is the second to be released following the arrival of FIRSTBORNE's self-titled debut EP, which came out earlier this year and marked the acclaimed drummer's first dedicated band release since his departure from MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD.

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

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

LIFE OF AGONY singer Mina Caputo has released a new solo album, titled "The Mones". Fans can check out the new record exclusively via Caputo's Bandcamp.

After garnering a massive following as the vocalist for the world-renowned rock-alt/metal outfit LIFE OF AGONY, Caputo's honed a reputation for touching listeners to the very depths of their souls with her poetry; her heartrending live performances are well-earned. Within a single show, she is capable of inciting arena-sized mosh pits in addition to breathless silence.

Throughout the last twenty years, Mina has recorded sixteen diversely influential albums — not including demos, live records or EPs — with an impressive who's who of industry veterans. On the festival circuit, she has shared stages with multitudes of varying genre titans, among them COLDPLAY, NINE INCH NAILS, Björk, David Bowie, PIXIES, VELVET REVOLVER, BUSH, SLIPKNOT, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, Laura Jane Grace, MODEST MOUSE, APHEX TWIN, FOO FIGHTERS, and more. With distinctive influences ranging from LED ZEPPELIN and THE DOORS to Arthur Rimbaud and William S. Burroughs, Mina is unafraid to mine new musical territory, as evidenced by her most recent releases, "A Fondness For Hometown Scars", "As Much Truth As One Can Bear", "Love Hard" and her 2020 release "The Mones".

Mina also has frequently co-collaborated with Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist producer Andy Kravitz (CYPRESS HILL, Billy Joel, Imogen Heap, Julianna Hatfield), whom she met during the LIFE OF AGONY "Soul Searching Sun" recording sessions in the late 1990s. Kravitz co-produced and was heavily present on her last three albums, "Love Hard", "As Much Truth As One Can Bear" and now "The Mones", which also features such guests as John (Norwood) Fisher (FISHBONE), Rick Boston (Joe Cocker) and longtime frequent collaborator Rob Mastrianni. Kravitz was also involved on her ambient-infused rock fusion duo side project with Ryan Oldcastle as THE NEPTUNE DARLINGS, bringing their two releases, "Chestnuts And Fireflies" and "Principium Sequentia".

Obsessed with hard truths, Caputo remains an intrepid conquistador of her own pain. Orphaned by heroin-addicted parents, Mina was forced to grow up in a dark world of poverty, violence and crime. And while themes of abuse and abandonment may seem familiar to those who follow her work, Caputo innovatively sheds new light on these subjects with every song she creates. As unorthodox as her lyrical content can sometimes be, the most surprising aspect about Mina is her undying romanticism — her unwavering insistence on seeing the silver lining in every cloud. As Caputo herself says: "From my own feelings of displacement, dissatisfaction and yearning comes a vast sea of compassion."

LIFE OF AGONY's latest concept record, "The Sound Of Scars", was released in October 2019 via Napalm. The disc acts as a "chapter two" to LIFE OF AGONY's iconic debut, "River Runs Red", which came out in 1993.

2017's "A Place Where There's No More Pain" was LIFE OF AGONY's first release since Mina — formerly known as Keith Caputo — came out as transgender in 2011.

The Mones by Mina Caputo

British heavy metal legends SAXON are putting the finishing touches on a cover album titled "Inspirations".

Singer Biff Byford broke the news of the project's completion in a video message on Tuesday (November 17). He said (see video below): "I wanna tell you about a project we're getting really excited about. We're just finishing it; I'm just finishing the vocals off now. It's gonna be a cover album.

"Somebody had the idea of doing something a bit of fun, because our new SAXON album has been put back till next year," he explained. "So, yeah, we're gonna call it 'Inspirations', and it's a collection of songs that inspired us and influenced us to go down the rock and roll highway, looking for fame and fortune. So, yeah, there's some big songs on there, there's some surprises, some really difficult songs to play and to sing. But we like doing it."

Biff continued: "I just finished the last vocal tonight. We did it the old way — old Marshall amps, old Marshall amps, real drums in a huge hallway in a big stately home that we used near York. So there's gonna be a video about that soon. Hopefully you're gonna be able to pre-order the album before release. And we're gonna drop a single soon, so keep your eyes open on social media for that."

This past June, Byford told Metal Rules that SAXON had "11 songs that are done and ready to go" for the follow-up to 2018's "Thunderbolt" album. He said: "It's coming along nicely. There is no pressure at the moment, to be honest, as I work better under pressure. We are recording our bits and pieces. I did most of the writing, and I'm just waiting for the lockdown to be over so we can go to the studio and finish it off."

Last March, Biff told The Metal Voice about the musical direction of the new SAXON material: "It's heavy. I would say the direction is the same as 'Thunderbolt' and 'Battering Ram' [2015] [and] 'Sacrifice' [2013]. It's heavy and it's quite British[-sounding]; we like to retain that. Me and [bassist] Nibbs [Carter] wrote most of the songs again."

He continued: "What I do, I have a start time when I want the boys to start writing, and that's how we do albums. And Nibbs is just a fiend with it — he just writes so many ideas down; it's crazy. I'm getting ideas from all the boys, but predominantly most of them are from Nibbs.

"So, yeah, it's heavy," he added. "There's some great guitar playing on it from the boys. And Nigel's [Glockler] drumming is up there with much younger drummers, if you know what I mean — he's pushing himself very hard with it… Andy Sneap is producing it. So we'll see how it goes."

Byford and guitarist Paul Quinn are the sole remaining original members in SAXON's current lineup.

Originally from South Yorkshire, England, SAXON has gone on to sell about 23 million albums and has produced such classic songs as "Denim And Leather", "Princess Of The Night", "Wheels Of Steel" and "Power And Glory".


Saxon - News from Biff

A few words from Biff on The Mighty Saxon’s upcoming project "Inspirations"!

Stay tuned for more news…

#themightysaxon #inspirations #saxon

Posted by Saxon on Tuesday, November 17, 2020

JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill spoke to U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to 2018's "Firepower" album. He said: "A lot of the material is already done, but with just six people allowed to be together at one time, I don't know when we can record it. We will probably get the anniversary celebrations out of the way, and then, when there are no distractions, make a start on it. Some great songs were left over from 'Firepower' and we might use a few of those. They weren’t omitted as inferior, they just didn't fit 'Firepower'."

Hill also confirmed that PRIEST will once again work with the "Firepower" team of British producer Andy Sneap, the band's longtime collaborator Tom Allom and engineer Mike Exeter (BLACK SABBATH). "All being well, that's the plan," he said. "Tom and Andy did a tremendous job with 'Firepower'. We're in good shape with the next album."

"Firepower" was the second LP to feature guitarist Richie Faulkner, who was selected to fill the void left by founding guitarist K.K. Downing following his exit in 2011.

Last month, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford told Talking Metal that he, Richie and guitarist Glenn Tipton came up with some strong material nearly a year ago.

"We had some great writing sessions at the start of this year back in the U.K. at Glenn's setup, his studio," Rob said. "And, man, it was boundless opportunities that were coming out of those writing sessions. We did a lot of demos. I've got pretty much an [album's worth] of [new] JUDAS PRIEST [material] on this phone right now. And it's just amazing.

"I've gotta give a shoutout to the fans, as we always do," he continued. "We can't be who we are without you guys looking after us and giving us the inspiration and the motivation. Because we came off that 'Firepower' tour so energized, and we still were feeling that when we started the writing sessions early this year, and we got a lot of work done.

"On average, we usually have three or four big writing sessions of a month or so at a time. And so we got the first one down, and we've got a lot of material. It's incredibly fierce. I think that energy was just being channeled, especially from Richie. Some of his riffs and some of the core of the songs, they're absolutely lethal. I feel textures of the 'Painkiller' experience in some of the songs, and the classic elements again. It'll have its own legs, like they all do — they've all got their own character. And I think whatever this album is called and whenever it's released, it'll be another great metal milestone for JUDAS PRIEST."

Rob also said that he would be thrilled to collaborate with Sneap, Allom and Exeter again.

"It was a great experience working with Andy and Tom Allom, because they have two different approaches as producers," Halford said. "And we didn't even know if that was gonna work when we started to think about putting them together. But what a great idea that was, and they made some special things happen in terms of production. Me personally, I'm happy to replicate that thing over again, because I think we just touched the surface of it with the 'Firepower' production team, with Mike Exeter as well, who had just come off the SABBATH '13' album. So, anything can happen. But I just feel it's gonna be another very, very extra-strong record when we finally get it made."

In September, Faulkner told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that the creative process for PRIEST's next LP was halted by the coronavirus outbreak, which disrupted global travel.

Halford resides in Phoenix, Faulkner in Nashville and Tipton still calls his native United Kingdom his home.

"Firepower" entered the Billboard 200 chart at position No. 5, making it PRIEST's highest-charting album ever. "Redeemer Of Souls" debuted and peaked at No. 6, while 2008's "Nostradamus" landed at No. 11 and 2005's "Angel Of Retribution" came in at No. 13.

"Firepower" moved 49,000 equivalent album units in first week of release. Of that sum, 48,000 were in traditional album sales, just shy of the 54,000 copies sold by "Angel Of Retribution" in that album's first week. The "Firepower" chart position was bolstered by sales generated from a concert ticket/album sale redemption offer in association with the band's spring 2018 North American tour.

Across the pond, "Firepower" landed at position No. 5 on the U.K. album chart. It marked the band's highest ranking, and first time in the Top 10, since "British Steel" reached No. 4 in 1980. Elsewhere, "Firepower" also became PRIEST's first-ever No. 1 in Sweden.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, JUDAS PRIEST's Rob Halford broke down his top 10 favorite albums, and explained how they helped make him who he is. Among the records included on the list are LED ZEPPELIN's debut LP (1969), QUEEN's "Queen II" (1974), THE BEATLES' "A Hard Day's Night" (1964), THE ROLLING STONES' "Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out!" (1970), DEEP PURPLE's "Machine Head" (1971), THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE's "Axis: Bold As Love" (1967), David Bowie's "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars" (1972) and CREAM's "Disraeli Gears" (1967).

Speaking about BLACK SABBATH's classic 1970 self-titled debut album, Halford said: "They were local guys from the same neighborhood, the same neck of the woods as PRIEST. We literally grew up together, inventing this great music that we love and cherish so much called heavy-metal music.

"I chose the 'Black Sabbath' album just because, like so many bands, your first one or two records really establish who you are as a band. It's a bit like PRIEST with 'Rocka Rolla' and 'Sad Wings Of Destiny'; 'Sad Wings Of Destiny' becomes the one we love so much because it becomes defining. With 'Black Sabbath', here was the first example of what heavy-metal music should sound like, just the texture, the tone, the structure of all of the material, Ozzy's [Osbourne] very unique voice. It's just become a very important record in the discography of BLACK SABBATH."

Regarding PANTERA's 1990 effort "Cowboys From Hell", Rob said: "PANTERA came about around the early nineties. They were together before then, but they suddenly started to crush with the impact of 'Cowboys From Hell'. If you know your music and your rock and roll, great things happen at the start of every decade. So when I got an earful of 'Cowboys From Hell', I knew that this was going to be a shifter. This actual display of the style of music that these guys were playing was literally going to shake up the world, which it did. We all know so many beautiful things about the band, especially Dimebag [Darrell, guitar], who I think was the driving force behind that band. What everybody was doing was just a full-on assault and attack, which got even stronger and more potent as they moved on to 'Far Beyond Driven', 'Great Southern Trendkill', and all of those other great records later on. But this one, this first one, really does the business for me."

You can watch video of Halford discussing his favorite albums at Rolling Stone.

Halford is promoting his autobiography, "Confess", which arrived on September 29 via Hachette Books. The book has been described by the U.K.'s The Telegraph as "one of the most candid and surprising memoirs of the year."

In September, JUDAS PRIEST and Rufus Publications announced the publication of the first-ever official JUDAS PRIEST book documenting the band's extensive history over the last 50 years. Titled "Judas Priest - 50 Heavy Metal Years", the book has been put together by David Silver, Ross Halfin and Jayne Andrews.

Prior to being canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, JUDAS PRIEST's spring/summer 2020 European tour was scheduled to kick off on May 30 in Helsinki, Finland and conclude on July 28 in Tilburg, the Netherlands. The band was also slated to headline the U.K.'s Bloodstock Open Air festival on August 9 at Catton Park, Derbyshire.

The U.S. leg of PRIEST's "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour was due to launch September 9 in Oxon Hill, Maryland and wrap up on October 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Gene Simmons has defended some U.S. governors' decision to mandate mask-wearing in their states, saying people who are defiantly skeptical of wearing face coverings are putting all of our health at risk.

After the KISS bassist/vocalist shared a news story about Republican Iowa governor issuing a mask mandate after previously disparaging face covering restrictions as "feel-good" measures, a fan asked Gene on Twitter, "Why do you have to mandate what is obviously a personal choice?" Simmons responded: "Interesting question. Answer: We all have to stop at a red light. That's because if we don't, it, it would effect others. Jets don't allow smoking. Even if you don't feel like it...Wearing a mask, protects others from YOU...Even if you don't feel like it."

Last month, Simmons spoke about the resistance to mask-wearing edicts at places like grocery stores and retail stores, with some store customers reacting negatively when approached by staff who request them to "mask up," and customers attacking other customers for non-compliance to wearing masks.

"Be kind to each other," Gene told Edmonton, Alberta, Canada's K-97 radio station. "C'mon! Seeing these YouTube and TMZ videos of everybody going insane. I know the nerves are up, 'cause we're all scared — what's gonna happen and all that stuff. It's okay. The sun is gonna come out one of these days. It's all gonna get better. And just be kind to each other. That doesn't take much effort. And wear your goddamn masks. It ain't about you.

"If you sneeze, you put your hand over your mouth," he explained. "Why wouldn't you cover your face for something that might be life-threatening. 'Well, you can't tell me what to do.' Actually, you get told what to do all the time. When there's a red light, you're told to stop the car. 'Well, I don't wanna stop the car.' It's not about you. 'Cause if you go through a red light, you're gonna kill somebody, possibly. So when there's a red light, you're told to stop.

"Wear a goddamn mask. It's not about you; it's about the rest of us," he reiterated.

This past summer, the U.S. Surgeon General urged people to wear face coverings, saying they will promote freedom during the coronavirus pandemic.

In a study published in June, researchers from Texas A&M University, the California Institute of Technology and the University of California San Diego, concluded "that wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission."

President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19 last month after refusing to follow his own government's public health advice to wear a mask during the coronavirus pandemic.

According to a recent New York Times poll, a majority (59 percent) of Trump voters support requiring masks (only 18 percent are opposed), and 81 percent of Trump voters who support mandatory masking think Trump does as well.




Republican Iowa Governor issues mask mandate after disparaging it as 'feel good' measure https://t.co/Zr6BJXcNoR

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) November 17, 2020








Interesting question, Van Answer: We all have to stop at a red light. That’s because if we don’t, it, it would effect others. Jets don’t allow smoking. Even if you don’t feel like it...Wearing a mask, protects others from YOU...Even if you don’t feel like it. ? https://t.co/Fac2gB8QdF

— Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) November 17, 2020








Love you Gene Simmons! But I’m sorry the data on stopping at red lights, and now smoking in confined places, overwhelmingly point to a consensus. That’s not true with COVID - there is no legitimate or untainted data, no consensus among professionals, and therefore no need.

— Daniel Stecklein (@DanielStecklein) November 17, 2020








I refuse to wear a mask because it's my right to decide if I want to or not Plus I don't want to be a puppet on a string. stubborn damn right I am proud of it to. it's my choice not yours got it.

— Wompishocki Mukquoshim (@mukquoshim) November 17, 2020








Your hair and moustache, whilst your free choice, is a great indicator of how free choice isn't always a good thing

— Graham Lees (@glees5150) November 17, 2020

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has blasted White House coronavirus task force member Dr. Scott Atlas, a neuroradiologist and senior fellow at the University's Hoover Institution, after he wrote a tweet that many interpreted as potentially inciting violence.

On Sunday, Atlas tweeted: "The only way this stops is if people rise up. You get what you accept. #FreedomMatters #StepUp." The tweet came in response to the announcement of new COVID-19 restrictions made by Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer as cases spiked in the state. Whitmer was targeted in an alleged kidnapping plot by so-called militia members which was foiled by the FBI just before the election.

About three hours after the original tweet, Atlas attempted to walk back his comment as the criticism poured in, saying he wasn't talking about violence but was trying to encourage people to peacefully protest and vote.

On Monday, Stanley tweeted: "Dr. Scott Atlas... You are a NEURORADIOLOGIST. In keeping with the Hippocratic Oath and 'doing no harm' you should stick to an expertise in MRIs, Ct scans and X-rays. In spite of a misbegotten appointment, COVID and infectious diseases are out of your field and you ARE doing harm".

He added in a follow-up tweet: "I was actually going to say 'Don't Embarrass Yourselves' to anyone who thinks my having an opinion is the same thing as someone appointed and misrepresented as an expert spouting harmful politically based hyperbole as fact. If you're that confused KEEP IT COMING! For now..."

In the past, Atlas, who has no background in infectious diseases or epidemiology has issued statements on the coronavirus pandemic that run counter to widely accepted guidance and the administration's own health experts. He has criticized lockdowns and restrictions in response to the pandemic, downplayed mask use, and claimed that only those who are vulnerable need protection from the virus.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top expert on infectious diseases, told NBC's "Today" program Monday he "totally disagrees" with Atlas.




Dr. Scott Atlas... You are a NEURORADIOLOGIST. In keeping with the Hippocratic Oath and “doing no harm” you should stick to an expertise in MRIs, Ct scans and X-rays. In spite of a misbegotten appointment, COVID and infectious diseases are out of your field and you ARE doing harm

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) November 17, 2020








I was actually going to say “Don’t Embarrass Yourselves” to anyone who thinks my having an opinion is the same thing as someone appointed and misrepresented as an expert spouting harmful politically based hyperbole as fact. If you’re that confused KEEP IT COMING! For now...

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) November 17, 2020








Dr. Atlas received a BS degree in biology from the University of Illinois in Urbana‐Champaign and an MD degree from the University of Chicago School of Medicine. Where is your medical degree from? Love your music not too interested in your medical opinion.

— Brian Johnson (@jcrew4) November 17, 2020








As a physician I would say that any neuroradiologist (they’re pretty smart) usually keeps up w trends in medicine and know more than you’re 3 chords and sex talk pal. Stay in your lane Starchild.

Sincerely, a life long fan

— Kevin ?⚾️? (@thekevinbrown75) November 17, 2020








As long as Dr Atlas has an unrestricted license, this is in his field. My license says physician and surgeon. That is all you need. Saying Dr. Atlas must stick to neuroradiology is the same as saying KISS can only play rock and roll and can not play any other type of music.

— Scott Avery (@ScottAvery1) November 17, 2020








Really Paul? You, in an act of complete hypocrisy, are going to publicly, advise someone, (in the medical field) to , as the kids say, "Stay in your lane"!!?Dafuk is that about?!

You are out of touch Sir ✌️

— Michael (@mike13lewis) November 17, 2020








Please when it comes to saving lives & educating the Masses continue what you are doing...being responsible & supporting humanity

We people need to fully understand so we can make good choices for our health. This is Not Red/Blue political issues it's Human Health issues Wisdom

— Mrs Miguel (@MrsMiguel2) November 17, 2020

During an appearance on the latest episode of the "In The Trenches With Ryan Roxie" podcast, STEEL PANTHER guitarist Russ "Satchel" Parrish was asked if he can ever see his band transitioning into a more pop-influenced sound. He responded (see video below): "If you listen to our records, you can tell the radio's never gonna play us. We made that choice a long time ago, and it's a double-edged sword.

"It's even harder to get attention and to be heard as a new artist now than it was when we started, and we started more than 20 years ago, really," he continued. "And that was still when you could sell records; now you can't really sell records. So, really, just to get people to pay attention to you is a very, very difficult thing. But we made that choice a long time ago.

"We were always irreverent and we were edgy and we used a lot of cutting-edge, politically incorrect humor in our live show, and for me, the goal was to write songs that matched what we did as a live band. 'Cause we started as a live band, we've always been a live band first, and we have a great time live, and I wanted our records to match what we did live and write about the shit that we talk about live, which is sex and drugs and partying.

"Of course, we go straight for the jugular," Satchel added. "We don't use clever wording. That's the whole thing — we talk about exactly what we're talking about. There's no confusion when you hear STEEL PANTHER singing about something, and that's the beauty of it.

"You're always gonna have fans that tell you your new album sucks compared to your old album, 'cause that's just standard. But we just do stuff for ourselves at this point. And if we all love the songs, then we'll put 'em out. And if we don't, then we'll probably write more songs and put out songs that we dig. But that's also the beauty of where the music business is now.

"I don't personally feel pressure to write songs to get on the radio, 'cause there's not a whole lot of money in that anymore. We are a live band, and we write songs for our fans. Our fans are gonna get those songs for free anyway, so we just want people to enjoy it, and we wanna enjoy it. And if I wanna write a song about a gang bang at an old folks' home, I'm gonna do it, and I do it. It's part of the fun."

STEEL PANTHER's latest album, "Heavy Metal Rules", was released in September 2019. The disc, which is described in a press release as a "heavy metal version of a self-help manual and ultimate party album combined," was once again produced by Jay Ruston, who collaborated with the band on all of its previous recordings, including 2017's "Lower The Bar".

STEEL PANTHER specializes in imitating and exaggerating the less flattering aspects of 1980s hair metal, with unrepentantly crude, non-PC sexual content as a favorite lyrical theme.

The group's music has been described as "VAN HALEN meets MÖTLEY CRÜE meets RATT meets 'Wayne's World', complete with operatic shrieks, misogyny, shredding guitar solos and libidinal overdrive."

Twelve years ago, STEEL PANTHER changed its name from METAL SKOOL to its current moniker and shifted the focus of its act from '80s metal covers to originals.

BUTCHER BABIES have released the official music video for their latest single, "Bottom Of A Bottle". The song is the first taste of the band's forthcoming fourth studio album, tentatively due in early 2021 via an as-yet-undisclosed record label.

BUTCHER BABIES vocalist Heidi Shepherd stated about the writing process for "Bottom Of A Bottle": "It was a beautiful, summer evening in the Arizona desert when 'Bottom Of A Bottle' was created. I sat outside watching the sunset while sipping on a drink and realized that all the inspiration I needed was all around me.

"This song is a product of the environment it was created in," she continued. "In that moment, I was the guy at the end of the bar telling stories from yesterday-year. I've been there a time or two so the lyrics just flowed. This song holds a special place in my heart because of that exact moment. We've been sitting on this song for a long time so I cannot wait for our fanbase to take the trip with us!"

Added co-vocalist Carla Harvey: "Haven't we all been at the bottom of the bottle at some point? Name a better way to to commiserate about it than by writing an anthem that turns the heartache into a celebration. We are pumped to finally release some new tunes that showcase a different side of who we are, yet remain uniquely BUTCHER BABIES."

Asked in a recent interview with Syfy Wire's "Metal Crush" how BUTCHER BABIES' new LP differs from 2017's "Lilith", Shepherd said: "It differs a lot. You still have the classic BUTCHER BABIES metal behind us, but I found myself wanting to sing more.

"When I first started BUTCHER BABIES, I was an angry young girl, and I had a lot to scream about. I'm a happy 35-year-old woman now, so I have a lot that I wanna sing about."

BUTCHER BABIES next album will be the band's first since its split with Century Media over a year ago.

This past April, Shepherd told ELUVEITIE's "Corona Talk" that "it was a hard decision to part ways with Century Media." She explained: "Here in the U.S., the label doesn't exactly exist much here anymore. And so it was a really difficult decision. We were with them for our entire career; we've been a band for 10 years. It just wasn't working here in the States. But we do love our Century Media family."

"Lilith" was produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SUICIDE SILENCE) and marked BUTCHER BABIES' recording debut with drummer Chase Brickenden, who replaced Chris Warner in 2016.

In July 2019, longtime BUTCHER BABIES bassist Jason Klein announced his departure from the band. He has since been replaced by Ricky Bonazza.

Frontiers Music Srl announces the signing of singer James Durbin to the label for a multi-album deal under the moniker 'Durbin'. James is currently putting the finishing touches on his label debut, which will be a pure, unadulterated, headbanging heavy metal affair where James proudly wears his influences on his sleeve while simultaneously forging his own path.

“I am awakened,” says James Durbin. "The opportunity to begin to write the next chapter of my musical life with Frontiers has given me the creative recharge I’ve needed. We are establishing the musical direction I’ve been envisioning in my head for all these years and I’m so happy to have finally found a home for it.”

James Durbin is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Santa Cruz, California. Many associate his name with his appearance on Season 10 of American Idol, where he was unabashedly flying the flag for heavy metal. In fact, on the finale, he appeared with undisputed metal gods Judas Priest for rousing renditions of "Livin' After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law". James has also worked and performed alongside many incredible musicians including Stevie Wonder, Don Was, Zakk Wylde, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, Bob Babbitt of The Funk Brothers, and Steel Panther, just to name a few.

Durbin’s signature vocal prowess and powerful stage presence have earned him stamps of approval and praise from rock and metal royalty like Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Rob Halford, and more. He has four full length albums to his name, in addition to lending his voice to a handful of various albums.

James Durbin is an artist on the rise and a performer you don't want to miss. Expect his debut record under the name Durbin in early 2021. Fans of heavy metal revivalists like Haunt, Eternal Champion, Sumerlands, Enforcer, and the like, as well as hard rock and classic heavy metal fans in general are in for a treat.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Royal Hunt will release their new studio album, Dystopia, on December 9 via King Records (Japan/SE Asia) and on December 18 via NorthPoint Productions (Europe/N & S America).

A concept album offering a considerable expansion of the band's trademark sound and featuring performances by guest vocalists: Mats Leven (Candlemass, TSO, Skyblood), Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire), Henrik Brockman (Royal Hunt, Evil Masquerade, N'Tribe), Kenny Lubcke (Narita, Zoser Mez) and Alexandra Andersen (Royal Hunt, JSP).

A lyric video for "The Art Of Dying", featuring Mats Leven, can be found below.

Dystopia will be released on regular CD (jewel case), various deluxe editions / bundles and a gatefold, heavy vinyl LP. Pre-order at royalhunt.com.

Royal Hunt keep intriguing fans with their adventurous endeavours and the band's 15th studio album is no exception: a monumental concept opus featuring symphonic, progressive yet hard hitting compositions full of impeccable performances, wrapped tightly into immediately accessible format and a lush, contemporary production.

The addition of some extraordinary guest singers and their outstanding performances combined with vastly extended orchestrations creates a truly conceptual, cinematic feel throughout each and every track.

Tracklisting:

"Inception ℉451"
"Burn"
"The Art Of Dying"
"I Used To Walk Alone"     
"The Eye Of Oblivion "
"Hound Of The Damned"
"The Missing Page" (Intermission I)
"Black Butterflies"
"Snake Eyes"
"Midway" (Intermission II)

"The Art Of Dying" lyric video:




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL have revealed details of their 13th studio album, "Hermitage", due on February 26, 2021 via Napalm Records.

While the world is struggling in the dark, MOONSPELL's forthcoming album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) at the Orgone Studios in the U.K. Building upon the sensitive facets of "Hermitage", one can expect an entertaining and revolutionary, yet epic journey through the darkest days of human existence. Beautifully crafted songs such as "The Greater Good" show us the modernity of the wolves in 2021, while other tracks embrace the MOONSPELL tradition of writing a dark, gothic metal record like no other band can. The ethereal and melodic sounds of MOONSPELL, while not straying away from their metal roots — influenced by underground metal bands such as BATHORY — make "Hermitage" most likely one of the deepest, surprising and most epic albums MOONSPELL has ever written.

The first single from "Hermitage", the album opening track "The Greater Good", can be streamed below.

Lead singer Fernando Ribeiro states: "'The Greater Good' is a sociological concept implying the benefit of the public, of more people than oneself. To do which is better and more correct. Unfortunately, a lot of wrongdoing and pure evil actions were taken on behalf of this principle both by world leaders, and citizens. With a 'screenplay' designed by myself, and put together by director Guilherme Henriques (GAEREA, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, SCHAMMASCH) 'The Greater Good' strikes at the deep contrast of our priorities as human beings. The plot evidenciate the daily clash between the problems we could never or never wanted to solve; and our 'first world preoccupations.' The cult of the body versus the African famine; the killing of the innocent versus the second amendment; the beauty of monuments against the ugliness of violence.

"We are all responsible for the things we see here. For the greater good, for the greatest evil. It's not a question of race, gender, class or education. It's a question of conscience. It's vital we renew our communities' ties, our humanly behavior. Only we can save us from ourselves."

Like this first appetizer showcases, with "Hermitage", MOONSPELL created a wonderfully intuitive and epic journey, but also a testament to what they've always loved the most: honest, emotional metal that binds us even in the darkest times.

Fernando says: "We know that we are entering the final years of our career as musicians: the winter of our lifetime. We don't care about people saying we're still young at heart, or 'leading' wolves in a pack. We are not! But we do care about how those around us feel about us, and this album is all about how we feel, our answers to your questions. Under these circumstances, we feel our musical stakes are higher than ever. For us, it's not about likes or algorithms, reach, or opportunity of growth. We only care about the music. Music does come first on this album you will hold in your hands soon enough."

He continues: "The record is about turning our backs to the conventions of modernity. We are currently convincing ourselves that it's all about us, that we (humanity) are everything. That the world revolves around us. However, ipsi facto, we are nothing and nothing revolves around us. Moonspell's goal, on these last turns around the Sun, are to write the best music we possibly can. To tell you a few stories with our lyrics, to be close to you in these times of distancing. We wish not to tease you or to influence you or to sell you our fish. We want to sit down with you at your table and feast together upon our notes and words. Like if we were close friends, like back in the time where music matters the most. In your bedroom listening to music, without having to post our smart remarks about it, inviting the hate in.

"'Hermitage' is an open-hearted invitation to simplicity. To be humble. To be thankful. To serve you solace. Provide you comfort, entertainment. We sincerely hope this call reaches you. That you kindly accept what we offer. That you take our music with you to the place you must feel as yours. To your secret place, to your hermitage. Blessed be."

"Hermitage" will be available in several highly limited and collectable deluxe editions, mediabook, cassette, all of them including the CANDLEMASS cover "Darkness In Paradise", but also as jewelcase and digital formats. The deluxe box will also include an etched seven-inch vinyl with another special bonus track, "The Great Leap Forward", as well as much more exciting additional collectable items.

"Hermitage" track listing:

01. The Greater Good

02. Common Prayers

03. All Or Nothing

04. Hermitage

05. Entitlement

06. Solitarian

07. The Hermit Saints

08. Apophthegmata

09. Without Rule

10. City Quitter (Outro)

+ Bonus tracks:

11. Darkness In Paradise (CANDLEMASS cover; available on LP, deluxe box, MC + mediabook)

12. The Great Leap Forward (7" vinyl; available in deluxe box)

Photo credit: Rui Vasco

EXODUS has set "Persona Non Grata" as the title of its long-awaited new album, due in the summer of 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' next disc will be the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was their first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

"Persona Non Grata" was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and it is currently being mixed by Andy Sneap.

EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt shared the album title in an Instagram post, writing in an accompanying caption: "Early indications are this monster sounds fucking sick! Doing some spot vocal stuff tomorrow with @zetrodus and then tracking is DONE. Gonna be a long wait until the release of this beast on @nuclearblastrecords".

Souza recently said about the musical direction of the new EXODUS material: "This album has everything that a heavy metal fan and EXODUS fan wants. It's very brutal, it's very violent, it's very fast. The lyrics are very aggressive and really deep subject matter. It doesn't disappoint.

"As for Gary Holt, him being the major songwriter and the main songwriter, I feel that he's written an absolute masterpiece — an absolute thrash metal masterpiece," he continued. "It's got all of the elements that an EXODUS record should have. It's not even done yet, and I'm really already proud of it."

"Persona Non Grata" will feature a guest appearance by ex-EXODUS guitarist Rock Hunolt.

Longtime EXODUS fans will recall that Hunolt — the other half of the famed EXODUS "H-Team" who is on every studio recording from 1985 through 2004 and co-wrote some of the band's best-known songs such as "A Lesson In Violence" and "Deliver Us To Evil" — left EXODUS after the band's highly acclaimed 2004 reunion album, "Tempo Of The Damned". Following his departure, Hunolt was replaced by HEATHEN guitarist Lee Altus.

Back in April 2019, Hunolt rejoined Holt and other EXODUS members Tom Hunting (drums) and Steve "Zetro" Souza (vocals) to perform several of the group's classic songs during a METAL ALLEGIANCE concert in San Francisco, California.

"Blood In Blood Out" was notable for featuring a guest appearance by former EXODUS guitarist Kirk Hammett, who left the band in 1983 to join METALLICA.

Three years ago, Hunting was asked by Metal Wani if the next EXODUS disc could include another collaboration with Hammett. He responded: "We'll bring Kirk back, if he wants to come in and do a solo, for sure. And there might be a Rick Hunolt sighting on the new record too; you never know.

"At this point, we feel like it's good to celebrate the history of the band and all the important people that have been in the band along the way," Tom explained.

The original lineup of EXODUS consisted of guitarists Hammett and Tim Agnello, Hunting and vocalist Keith Stewart. Guitarist Gary Holt joined the band in 1981, while Kirk left two years before EXODUS's debut album, "Bonded By Blood", saw the light of day.

Souza is now on his third stint with EXODUS, having previously fronted the band from 1986 to 1993 and 2002 to 2004. A decade following his second departure, Souza returned to the fold in 2014, just in time to appear on "Blood In Blood Out".

"Persona Non Grata" will be EXODUS's first since the completion of SLAYER's final tour. In 2011, Holt began filling in for Jeff Hanneman at SLAYER live shows, and became the band's full-time co-guitarist as of 2013, while remaining a member of EXODUS.
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Gary Holt (@garyholt_official)

Saskatoon's Saintvicious has a topical new single out, “Sticks + Stones”; it’s a modern metal song depicting the growing polarization in Western culture, and how mob mentality has challenged our ability to be critical without the “you’re with us or against us” blowback.” The track was mixed by Josh Wildhorn (Designer Disguise, Reanimations) and mastered by Grammy-nominated Tyler Smyth (I Prevail, Falling In Reverse, Blessthefall).

The new single will be very familiar to previous releases, with the addition of synthesizers for texture and as a lead instrument; allowing the band to push creative boundaries. “Sticks + Stones” is melodic, raunchy, riff-driven rock; it’s a big sounding song that provides an immersive listening experience. The band explains the track in their own words:

“It’s a loud, aggressive, fast-paced look at the frustrations of our current world. A world where being right is the be-all, end-all, and punishing those who don’t agree. It’s about wanting to be the smartest person in the room and the hypocrisy that follows someone who thinks they are never in the wrong.”

In the early days, the intention behind Saintvicious was to play high energy rock 'n’ roll, like a flashback to ‘80s radio rock, but having performed in metalcore and thrash bands before, those elements started coming out. Now, Saintvicious is a summation of their metal influences, but within the boundaries of a standard rock formula.

BraveWords is premiering the new track; check it out below!

The single will be available for stream and download as of November 20 on Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music.

(Photo by: Brian Snell)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Welcome to a hard gritty look at the state of the world in 2020 from the eyes of Truth Decayed, a newly formed thrash metal outfit from Durban (South Africa).

Their debut EP, Modern Day Illusion was recently released (on October 23), and BraveWords is hosting the premiere of the official music video for their second single “Opposing Direction”!

Founder, vocalist, and guitarist Ryno Theron shares that "‘Opposing Direction’ was originally written by our guitarist and my long-time friend Warren Jones, about one of his guitars. He would buy it, then sell it again ... and so on (several times). He eventually decided to keep it, as he has real love for this instrument. Then, with the formation of the band, Warren decided to re-apply this same boomerang concept (aligned to the vision and lyrical theme of Modern Day Illusion), to mature the song about how your words and actions can also have a boomerang effect (especially on social media)! It is also the same social commentary we've approached and applied to date, but with an ever deeper look at the psychology of it all."

Modern Day Illusion is the debut EP from Truth Decayed, who have seemingly come out of nowhere and has taken the metal scene by storm, raking in an African Metal Week Award with BurgStudio Radio, triumphantly earning a Band Battle Accolade with The Metal Lab in the UK and receiving international airplay for their debut single on various stations (and all this before their debut EP even released)!

No stranger to hard graft and sonic success, A.S. Guitars Ambassador and solo artist Ryno Theron heads up this new outfit as vocalist and guitarist. Long-time friend and muso compadre Warren Jones takes up fellow Guitar Duties, perfectly complemented by Johan Maree on Bass and Backing Vocals as well as Brandon Carey on Drums.

Ryno Theron states that "the songs are made up from old riffs Warren and I wrote some years ago. Hearing our respective songs come to life has been an awesome experience, giving birth to the Truth Decayed sound, combined with the input from Johan and Brandon.”

Guitarist Warren Jones comments that "I'm glad these songs turned out the way they did. Great bunch of guys turned these riffs into something unthinkable."

Drummer Brandon Carey adds that "It was really fun and interesting working with Ryno and Warren on these songs with Johan bringing in a fresh take on bass. The songs with every member's different backgrounds in music influences shines through and gives a unique sound that I'm sure people will enjoy. Keep it brutal!"

Bassist Johan Maree concludes that "It has been an amazing trip so far to work with friends, making music we love. I look forward to the future and the experiences ahead."




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Pitch Black Process, formerly known as Affliction, has released the second single from their SIR EP, which is a cover of “Buselik Makamına”. It is one of the most renowned and classical songs of MFÖ, who is one of the best-loved, iconic and oldest bands from Turkey.

The SIR EP, produced and recorded by Daniel Bergstrand at Dugout Studios-Sweden, will be released by Rakun Müzik.

The video clip of “Buselik Makamına” is directed by well-known Turkish director Ender Mıhlar, who also directed the video clip of “Zahid Bizi Tan Eyleme”. Two successful and beloved actors Celil Nalçakan and Sitare Akbaş, are also featured in the video.

Statement from the band:

“Hello everyone,

“First of all, although we thought about postponing the release of our new song due to the disastrous earthquake in which we also have friends and acquaintances who lost their lives and homes, that happened just three days ago; we decided to go ahead as planned, for the reason that art is the product of the human being’s strivings of making sense of life and existing.

“However hard it is to prepare this announcement which we’ve thought to make to give information before the release of our new song on Wednesday; we would like to say a few things about the song and the EP, which includes that song, that we put a lot of effort into, the publication process of which is an ‘adventure’ in itself and which is very precious to us, because of this process and effort.

“The song you’re about to listen to is one of three songs waiting for more than five years to meet you which we wanted to put on the Derin album, but couldn't. Since we think that these three songs deserve to be shared with you, we’ve added “Zahid Bizi Tan Eyleme” alongside these three songs and returned to Sweden to record the SIR EP.

“We already released ‘Zahid Bizi Tan Eyleme’ from SIR as a single in March 2019. However, after that, since the conditions we expected were not met, we didn't deliver the rest of the EP to you.

“In addition to this situation, it took us a very long while to solve the puzzle that emerged later in the story, which will definitely be told in the future, of the song that we prepared the video for in May 2019. The adventure, which lasted almost 2.5 years in total, finally resulted in a happy ending last month.”




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Greek epic/heavy/power metallers Paladine have announced that the second full-length studio album, Entering The Abyss, will be released in March 2021 via No Remorse Records.

The concept is based on Dragonlance, the best-selling epic fantasy novel series written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

The cover artwork was designed once again by Singaporean artist, Jim Ling:

Tracklisting:

“Raistlin’s Ambition”
“War Of The Lance (Bringer Of Fire)”
“Between Gods And Men”
“Mighty Heart”
“Entering The Abyss”
“Hourglass In The Sky”
“Darkness And Light”
“Brother Against Brother”
“Sacrifice Of A Hero”
“The Return”
“River Of Souls”




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Bay area experimental metal quartet Gürschach have revealed a video for their cover of Metallica’s controversial single “St. Anger,” reimagined with a Gürschach twist.

“‘St. Anger’ was actually the first Metallica song I heard, and it was the whole reason I got into the band,” says guitarist/vocalist X. “It's still one of my favorite songs by the band, but I couldn't deny the issues that many people have with it. I just wanted to address all the common complaints with the album in order to show people that the song has more potential than most people think.”

The video has also received more than 40,000 reviews, and as expected, not everyone has been happy with Gürschach’s audacity to tamper with the might Metallica. The quartet has not taken the criticism to heart, though, even offering up a 20-minute video where band members read and react to the harsh criticism, which is balanced with a healthy dose of admiration for their version. Check out the “Hate Comments” video below:

“We knew that when we covered the song that there would be hate, because a lot of Metallica fans are extremely dedicated and would reject our version, whether they liked the original or not,” says vocalist/bassist Scotty McRib. “The joke's on them though, we got a good kick out of hate comments!”

Originally formed in 2011 by X, guitarist Leyland Reid and drummer Daniel Justo- Sanchez, Gürschach’s lineup was finally complete in 2014 when they welcomed Scotty McRib to the fold.

With a vision to create an unfamiliar yet captivating listening experience, Gürschach independently released their debut EP, Beautiful Nightmares, in 2015. After touring through 2016 and 2017, the foursome returned to the studio to complete their first full-length, Dark Matter, in December 2017. The band continued to tour through 2018 and 2019, embarking on the Kiss Our Jobs Goodbye Tour in 2019 and joined festivals such as Redwood Metalfest before releasing the “St. Anger” cover this year. Keep an eye out for more material soon.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

In support of their upcoming livestream event, Trans-Siberian Orchestra have released a new visualizer featuring "A Mad Russian's Christmas" from Christmas Eve And Other Stories (1996) with narration. Watch 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.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

The Polish pagan black metal group Varmia – who pay tribute to their Baltic roots by combining black metal sounds with traditional instruments such as the goat horn and the tagelharpa - has signed with M-Theory Audio. The band's third album, “bal Lada,” will be released in spring 2021. An early taste of the spirits soon to be summoned can be seen in this video showcasing the making of the album:

Varmia was formed in 2016 by vocalist/guitarist/composer Lasota with a mission of fusing black metal with musical influences that pay tribute to the ancient Baltic tribes of the historical Warmia region of northern Poland. On vocal duties, Varmia emits harsh growls that shroud the band's music and native Polish lyrics in a visceral aura, the only breaks from this vocal assault occurring when using the traditional, ancient technique of “whitevoice” clean singing as utilized during ancient East-Central European rituals, rites of passage and festivals. Meanwhile, the power of the band's metal influences are enhanced on “bal Lada” by traditional ethnic instrumentation of the Baltic Rites via sounds of tagelharpa, goat horn, wood tuba and krivula. The final result is a compelling mix of dark metallic sounds that channel the spirit of early Enslaved, Satyricon, and Wolves in the Throne Room and folk elements that drive acts such as Wardruna.

Varmia has released two albums to date – 2017's Z mar twych and 2018's W ciele nie. The group records all of their music in culturally significant remote locations throughout their native Poland, and bal Lada continues that practice, as the 11 tracks of ominous and atmospheric pagan black metal contained within were recorded in a makeshift studio set up by the band in an old 19th-century manor in Northern Poland, where they recorded while playing together as a live unit with no sound editing.

With the forthcoming release of bal Lada, M-Theory Audio is set to spread the band's native sounds to a worldwide audience. Says Lasota, “With two releases so far, Varmia has shouted out the voice of our land mainly on the Polish soil – the voice of disquiet, passion and agitation. It is now time to hear it echo throughout the whole world. Varmia still has many stories to tell, and we are very excited to work with such well-respected people from overseas. We have many spirits yet to summon.”




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Stone Sour have released a demo version of "'82", which is available for streaming below.

Guitarist Josh Rand states: "'’82': Also one of the ‘Personality Voices’, it is much more positive and strives to remind The Human that the strength it holds is much older and deeply rooted in his soul."




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Italian hard rock/heavy metal band, Hell In The Club, have released a lyric video for "Lullaby For An Angel", from their new studio album, Hell Of Fame, available via Frontiers Music Srl. Order the album here, and watch the video below.

Hell In The Club released their first album in 2011. Hell Of Fame is their fifth album and introduces their strongest material to date. Combining and taking to the next level the freshness of previous releases Let The Games Begin (2011) with the maturity of Devil On My Shoulder (2014) and Shadow Of The Monster (2016) and the professional approach of 2017's See You on the Dark Side (their last album and most popular release to date), Hell Of Fame sees the band angling for the world stage. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Simone Mularoni (DGM) at Domination Studio in San Marino, Italy, the new album is an explosive hard rock statement.

Featuring members of acclaimed folk metallers Elvenking, progressive metallers Secret Sphere, and heavy metallers Eternal Idol, Hell In The Club have earned their place in the scene over the course of four albums, but their music stands out as something totally different: they mix classic hard rock and modern sounds, heavy metal and party songs, fifties rock’n’roll, and anything in between. Who said metal can't be fun?

Tracklisting:

"We'll Never Leave The Castle"
"Worst Case Scenario"
"Here Today, Gone Tomorrow"
"Joker"
"Last Of An Undying Kind"
"Nostalgia"
"Lullaby For An Angel"
"Mr. Grouch"
"No Room In Hell"
"Tokyo Lights"
"Lucifer’s Magic"

Track-By-Track video:

"Nostalgia" video:

"We'll Never Leave The Castle" video:

Lineup:

Dave - Vocals
Andy - Bass
Picco - Guitars
Mark – Drums




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Leviathan Records, the label run by guitarist David Chastain, has posted more live footage from the archives.

A message states: "Chastain featuring Leather (Leone) on vocals met up in Cincinnati, Ohio shortly after the release of their debut album, Mystery Of Illusion, for a concert at Bogart's. The band also consisted of David T. Chastain (Guitar), Russell Jinkens (Guitar), Mike Skimmerhorn (Bass) and Les Sharp (Drums) aka CJSS. While this was a fan video transferred from a beta tape we still consider it a rare find despite the lower quality video equipment of the time. Definitely metal history."

Watch "I've Seen Tomorrow", "The Black Knight", "Endlessly", "I Fear No Evil", and "Mystery Of Illusion" from the same show below:




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

After three decades, it’s time for No Return to show their live prowess on record. Thus, they bring you, Live XXX, which is much more than a “simple” live record. With a chronological setlist, which traces the career of the French band from the debut album Psychological Torment (released back in 1990) to the latest The Curse Within, Live XXX was recorded in La Manufacture, in the French city of St. Quentin, in December 2019.

Watch a live video for "The Crimson Rider" below.

“Live XXX is the first live album in the history of the band. People have been asking us for it for a long time and we are very happy to finally be able to release it,” guitar player Alain Clément comments. “We are very excited by the release of this live concert because it really shows the energy and aggressiveness of No Return on stage.”

Live XXX will be released in digital and CD formats by Mighty Music on December 18. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Mutants' March"
"Vision Of Decadence"
"Memories"
"Civil War"
"Fanatic Mind"
"Disillusion"
"Disease"
"Don't Judge Me"
"News Item"
"Inquisitive Hegemony"
"Stronger Than Ever"
"Submission Falls"
"Paint Your World"
"The Crimson Rider"
"Despise Your Heroes"

"The Crimson Rider" live video:




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Reigning as one of the most well-known and highly acclaimed experimental instrumental groups out there with a respected musical legacy spanning nearly 20 years, Irish four-piece God Is An Astronaut will reach a career benchmark upon the release of their 10th studio album, Ghost Tapes #10, out February 12 via Napalm Records.

Along with an artful black and white music video (by Chariot Of Black Moth), the hypnotizing first offering “Burial” captivates with atmospheric yet melancholic, bewitching instrumental lines, and God Is An Astronaut’s full extent of power. The seven-minute piece showcases the band’s unique ability to explore plaintive wistfulness and shuddering riffs, forming a perfect storm whilst also creating intense sonic-spheres that are second to none. Watch the video for "Burial" below.

Ghost Tapes #10 is certainly the most ferocious God Is An Astronaut full-length to date – it still retains all the rich musical and emotive elements the band is known for by wheeling around luminance, but offering its harsh and deep reminiscences as well. Works of art like “Burial”, “In Flux” and “Barren Trees”, with additional guitars by Jimmy Scanlan, amongst others are proof of these creations of sound. The album’s closer, the atmospheric “Luminous Waves”, captivates in a trance-like mindset – putting one deeply in touch with their inner self, drifting away to stirring tunes of guest cello virtuoso Jo Quail.

The artwork was illustrated by David Rooney, who has worked with the band in the past, and plays into the sense of the foreboding and uncertain times we live in. Ghost Tapes #10 will be available as a four-page digipack as well as in multiple limited LP options. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Adrift"
"Burial"
"In Flux"
"Spectres"
"Fade"
"Barren Trees"
"Luminous Waves"

"Burial" video:

God Is An Astronaut are:

Torsten Kinsella - Guitar, Piano/Synths
Niels Kinsella - Bass
Lloyd Hanney - Drums
Jamie Dean - Guitar, Piano

(Photo - Brian Meade)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Costas Varras featuring Mark Boals will release the new single, "Rock You Hard", on December 3 via Lion Music. The single will be available on limited edition CD as well as streaming/download. A lyric video for the song can be found below.

Costas Varras was asked, who is Costas, what have you done musically before?...

"I’m a guitarist, songwriter & a band leader. My musical style is a blend of metal & cassical music. I was born in Athens, Greece in 1983. I started playing guitar when I was about 12 years old and by age 13 I started taking guitar lessons at a conservatory in Athens. I spent 12 years in education for music and in 2008 I graduated from Musicians Institute in Hollywood CA. I started playing shows with my band in Athens in 2001 and in 2006 I moved to Los Angeles to pursuit my career! In 2001 I had a self release Demo (7 tracks) under the name of “Perpetual” which was also my band’s name. In 2004 Sonic Age Records released my first solo album Overlord’s Perpetual. In 2009 I went to Kent, England to record my second solo album with legendary Producer Chris Tsangarides. These recordings were never released though. Years later in 2015 i worked again with my old time friend Bob Katsionis on new music and in 2018 Symmetric Records finally released Costas Varras’s second solo album entitled Neon-Classical. At the moment I am working on my 3rd album and now your label is going to release my new single featuring the great American singer Mark Boals.

"I love metal & rock music since 1991. I grew up listening bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, Black Sabbath, Manowar, Stratovarius, Rainbow, Dio, Iced Earth, Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, W.A.S.P., and many other famous and underground bands. My favourite artist thought was and still is Yngwie Malmsteen! I listen to other guitar players as well... like: Joe Stump, Paul Gilbert, Marty Friedman, Randy Rhoads, Scott Henderson, Frank Gambale, Steve Vai and others. On that point I have to mention that during the years I explored other styles of music as well like: classical music mainly baroque, jazz rock fusion, blues, modern RnB and pop.

"I’m planning to release my 3rd solo album and then later on to go on tour in Europe, North America and Japan! I’m already talking with two booking agencies but things are not clear now cause of COVID... so hopefully in 2022 I will go on tour... In general I want to release more records in the future and eventually become a famous musician! That’s my target since I was very young!

"I had the idea for this song back in 2007. I was at an airport in Germany and I wrote some of the lyrics there. This song is about a friend of mine from L.A. who wanted to become a rock star but his girlfriend couldn’t keep up with his dream and they finally broke up. I dedicate this song to those who want to be rock stars and they are having problems with their girlfriends! Anyways..s o I did the demo for the song back then but I never finished with the whole thing and in 2019 I recorded it at the studio and now is finally published! I really love this song and it brings me back memories from my first years in Hollywood.

"I met Mark in L.A. when he was singing for Uli Jon Roth in 2007 and 2008. We talked several times there but later on I lost the contact with him. So two months ago I was looking for a singer and I thought that it would be great if Mark would sing on my song! So I have a very good common friend with him from Berlin and I asked him to get me in touch with Mark and that was it! So thanks to my friend Mike Dimareli! It’s an honor for me having Mark Boals singing on my music! Mark is a legend you know..

"I’m playing only with Fender Stratocasters since 1997... before that I was playing with Gibson flying V. But yeah Fender Stratocasters are my favourite ones till now! So bad I don’t have an endorsement with Fender yet!! As far as amplification goes I use mainly Marshall."




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

New Jersey-based hard rock quartet Weapons Of Anew will release their sophomore album Art Of War in early 2021. The band - which consists of seasoned musicians guitarist Freddy Ordine (ex-Axiom, ex-HavocHate) and vocalist Ray West (ex-Spread Eagle) along with bassist Stefan “Reno” Cutrupi and the newest addition, drummer Chad Szeliga (ex-Breaking Benjamin, ex-Black Label Society) - have revealed its debut single, a cover version of The Chainsmokers’ “Sick Boy”, premiering through BraveWords!

The band’s single is presently streaming nice numbers (over 250,000) via the Spotify play listing on New Noise, Rock Hard, Best Of Rock, along with Apple’s Breaking Hard Rock - and the track is inside the top 40 and climbing on active rock radio.

Art Of War was produced by longtime band collaborator Grammy Award-nominated Mike Ferretti (Sevendust, Warren Haynes, Saliva), mixed by multi-platinum Grammy-winner David Bendeth (Papa Roach, Paramore, Bring Me The Horizon) and mastered by A-list mastering engineer Ted Jensen (Evanescence, Korn, Lamb Of God). With its profoundly personal but accessible lyrics, the album creates an unadulterated fusion of hard rock with hints of p-funk and thrash creates a loose yet focused atmosphere of good times.

“There is a line in the song where it says, ‘How many likes is my life worth,'” shares Ordine. “The reality of that line hit home like few songs have in my life because of the pressure people have on them to be relevant at all costs. It was awesome and cathartic to be able to recreate such an awesome song and I hope it connects with people and makes them think, like it did with me.”

Stream/download “Sick Boy” here. 

(Photo - Elena Jasic)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

About a year ago, the German progressive metal band Vanden Plas delivered the music world part one of their two part concept album, The Ghost Xperiment. Entitled The Ghost Xperiment - Awakening, the album ended on a cliffhanger, where during a séance, Gideon Grace, the main character, at last encounters the ghosts who have haunted him since his childhood. Ghosts? Exactly! Now comes the dramatic conclusion of the story with their new album, The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination, out on December 4.

Watch a video for the album opener "When The World Is Falling Down" below, and pre-order/save The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination on CD/LP/Digital here.

"For years, I've felt driven by the idea of writing a ghost story that casts a different light on the genre, and .. at the end leaves the audience with a plausible explanation," author and Vanden Plas lead vocalist Andy Kuntz elucidates. As for his inspiration for the story, Kuntz came across the Phillip-Experiment, an authentic and credibly documented investigation of necromancy... literally, conjuring dead spirits. "I knew immediately that I had found the basis for the story that I had been seeking for so long."

Thus developed the story for The Ghost Xperiment, which continues in the second part Illumination, and reaches its startling conclusion. But of course these intelligent, inventive story telling lyrics need a strong musical vehicle for delivery and Vanden Plas astounds in that respect. While the orchestral arrangements in the first album in the  saga had been reduced compared to the two previous Chronicles Of The Immortals series, this time the progressive aspects of the band’s sound are even more apparent. Along with the band's brilliant musicians, Stephan Lill (guitar), Günter Werno (keyboards), Andreas Lill (drums), and Torsten Reichert (bass), prestigious guests also add to this incredible showing. Alea from the leading German medieval rock band Saltatio Mortis joins Kuntz for a duet on the bonus track "Krieg kennt keine Sieger", Snow White Blood singer Ulli Perhonen shines in "Black Waltz Death" and "The Ghost Engineers", and the backing vocals team is made up of longtime musical colleagues including Oliver Hartmann from Avantasia and Herbie Langhans from Firewind.

This highly concentrated musical power, paired with unexpected twists such as in "Black Waltz Death" or the 13-minute long "The Ouroboros" is what makes The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination so incredibly gripping. In addition, with the opener "World is Falling Down", Vanden Plas has created an unbelievably driving steam hammer engine and with "Under the Horizon", a true prog anthem. After hearing its hypnotic refrain just once, it's already impossible to imagine the band's musical universe without it.

In short, Vanden Plas continues to dedicatedly pursue their own unique path.

The band’s creativity has not been deterred by the current pandemic. Theater engagements naturally had to be temporarily suspended, but in the months preceding, Vanden Plas had already showcased their own rock opera Everyman in Pforzheim, Der Herbst des Winterkönigs (The Autumn of the Winterking) in Amberg, and American Idiot at the Prinzregententheater in Munich as well as at the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck. Those kinds of productions are no small undertaking, but despite the limits being pushed, the band performed Concerto For Group and Orchestra, the masterwork from Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, in Kaiserslautern and also found time to finalize the song material for The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination.

Even in a time of crisis, the band has managed to progress, to give their best, and to present their fans with another glorious work that literally explodes with variety and vitality. The Ghost Xperiment - Illumination is precisely the medicine that we all need right now.

Tracklisting:

"When The World Is Falling Down"
"Under The Horizon"
"Black Waltz Death"
"The Lonely Psychogon"
"Fatal Arcadia"
"The Ouroboros"
"Ghost Engineers"
"Krieg kennt keine Sieger" feat. Alea/Saltatio Mortis (Bonus Track)

"When The World Is Falling Down" video:

"Under The Horizon" lyric video:

Lineup:

Andy Kuntz - Vocals
Stephan Lill - Guitar
Günter Werno - Keyboards
Andreas Lill - Drums
Torsten Reichert - Bass




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Royal Hunt will release their new studio album, Dystopia, on December 9 via King Records (Japan/SE Asia) and on December 18 via NorthPoint Productions (Europe/N & S America).

A concept album offering a considerable expansion of the band's trademark sound and featuring performances by guest vocalists: Mats Leven (Candlemass, TSO, Skyblood), Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire), Henrik Brockman (Royal Hunt, Evil Masquerade, N'Tribe), Kenny Lubcke (Narita, Zoser Mez) and Alexandra Andersen (Royal Hunt, JSP).

Dystopia will be released on regular CD (jewel case), various deluxe editions / bundles and a gatefold, heavy vinyl LP. Pre-order at royalhunt.com.

Royal Hunt keep intriguing fans with their adventurous endeavours and the band's 15th studio album is no exception: a monumental concept opus featuring symphonic, progressive yet hard hitting compositions full of impeccable performances, wrapped tightly into immediately accessible format and a lush, contemporary production.

The addition of some extraordinary guest singers and their outstanding performances combined with vastly extended orchestrations creates a truly conceptual, cinematic feel throughout each and every track.

Tracklisting:

"Inception ℉451"
"Burn"
"The Art Of Dying"
"I Used To Walk Alone"     
"The Eye Of Oblivion "
"Hound Of The Damned"
"The Missing Page" (Intermission I)
"Black Butterflies"
"Snake Eyes"
"Midway" (Intermission II)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

LED ZEPPELIN's Jimmy Page has said in a new interview that he is "worried" about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected younger artists, particularly as it relates to the lack of opportunities to perform live.

"It's such a very sad and desperate time and what this virus has done internationally to families, to the arts, and everything we love and hold dear and the whole concert situation, it does worry me," he told GQ magazine for its December print issue. "I will never be one of those people who'll record alone and send someone a file. I never went into music in the first place to do that, it was for playing together and this is what it means.

"We need to play with people, we need gigs and we need community. Because without that, music means nothing," he continued. "Playing live is so important for young musicians. When we were young, we all had these little gigs, hoping to play somewhere bigger and it's such an important part of that communion of musicians playing together."

He concluded: "For me, it's always been the most important thing."

Page is widely considered to be one of the greatest and most influential guitarists of all time, and one of the most important record producers and songwriters in rock history. Page first picked up a guitar aged 12 and performed with Neil Christian and THE CRUSADERS as soon as he left school. He honed his craft as a session musician in London and, by the mid-sixties, was one of the most sought-after guitarists in Britain. He was a member of THE YARDBIRDS from 1966 to 1968 and then, in late 1968, founded LED ZEPPELIN, one of rock's most successful and enduring bands, who have sold more than 300 million records to date.

Following LED ZEPPELIN, in the 1980s Page went on to produce a film soundtrack, "Death Wish II", toured with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck on the fundraising "A.R.M.S." tour, formed bands THE FIRM and COVERDALE PAGE, and released a solo album, "Outrider". From 1994 until 1998, Page reunited with LED ZEPPELIN bandmate Robert Plant on two albums and two tours as PAGE AND PLANT. Since then, Page has collaborated on a wide range of projects, including performing with Sean Coombes, THE BLACK CROWES and at the closing ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics with Leona Lewis. Jimmy Page has been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame twice, once as a member of THE YARDBIRDS (1992) and once as a member of LED ZEPPELIN (1995). In 2005, Page received an OBE from the Queen, then also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Surrey (2008); in 2012 he received America's highest award for the arts, the Kennedy Center Honors, from President Barack Obama at the White House and an Honorary Doctorate from Berklee College, Boston (2014). More recently, Page produced and remastered LED ZEPPELIN's nine studio albums with companion discs, rereleased in 2014 and 2015, and in 2019, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's remarkable "Play It Loud" exhibition featured some of his most iconic guitars.