METALLICA's Lars Ulrich says that he is no longer bothered by people's criticism of his drumming abilities. Speaking to METALLICA's So What! fan-club magazine, the Danish-born musician said: "Unlike years ago, I basically don't read any of the interviews that the other guys [in METALLICA] do. 20 or 30 years ago, we would all sit and fucking read every page of Kerrang! and every page of Circus magazine, see what so-and-so's saying and what the other band members were saying, what James [Hetfield, METALLICA guitarist/vocalist] was saying about this and that. Now there's just none of that. I also don't really read what people say about METALLICA.

"I'll say that occasionally, once every six months or something like that, it's kind of fun to go through the trolling section just because of the ridiculousness of all of it, but it's not something that I do regularly anymore," he revealed. "20 years ago, it would've been, 'Oh, my God, somebody said something bad,' or, 'That person said a nasty comment in the comments section,' or whatever. Now, none of that really means anything to me."

When interviewer Steffan Chirazi interjected that he thinks it's "really pathetic" when he sees someone blathering on about Napster for the hundredth time — and getting it very wrong," Ulrich said: "But I'm so over — I'm literally immune to it. We just did a bunch of interviews, and sometimes, if I am being interviewed by a journalist who is also a fan, they'll say, 'When people say Lars Ulrich is a shitty drummer, I defend you.' Which is cool, but I've got to tell you, 20 years later, 30 years later, it just doesn't register anymore. I am so comfortable with who I am, I'm so comfortable with who METALLICA is, I'm so comfortable with our place in all of it. I've got an incredible wife, three great kids, my dad and [his partner] Molly, incredible friends, and lots of cool acquaintances. It's all good. I've got nothing left to prove, so it just doesn't register anymore."

Back in 2016, Ulrich, who has gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, told the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast that he went through a period in the mid-1980s "that probably culminated in the 'Justice' album where I felt sort of compelled to try to show ability."

According to Lars, part of the reason for him feeling insecure about his abilities was the increased competition from some of his peers.

"Listen, when you've got Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante breathing down your back, it was, like, 'Okay, I've gotta…' I tried to step it up a little bit and tried to do my own thing and do all this crazy shit," he said. "I was trying really hard to push the drums kind of into the foreground. And then, after like a year or two of that, I was, like, 'Okay. Seriously? Just do your thing. Chill out. Support the riffs. Do what's best for the song.' So since around I guess the late '80s — so I guess it's been, like, 25 years now — the only thing that's really interested me is just doing the best thing for the song."

Asked in a 2008 interview with U.K.'s Rhythm magazine if he was troubled by the fact that he's gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, Lars said: "It used to, back in the day — and I spent a lot of time overcompensating for that on the early records. But then you wake up one day and you're like, whatever. It hasn't bothered me for [many] years. I'm no Joey Jordison, I'm no Mike Portnoy, and I have nothing but love and respect and admiration for all those guys. When I hear some of the young dudes, they blow my mind with what they can do with their feet and stuff — but it's not something that makes me go, 'I need to feel better about myself so I'm gonna learn how to do what they do with my feet.' I'm not a particularly accomplished drummer but I am very, very, very good at understanding the role of the drums next to James Hetfield's rhythm guitar. I guarantee you I'm the best guy in the world for that, and that's enough for me!"

Ulrich stated about his playing ability in a 2012 interview with DRUM! magazine: "I usually feel like I've regressed. [Laughs] I'm like, 'Why can't I do that anymore?'" He continued: "I can't say that I necessarily sit down to practice, like, 'I'm going to play and practice so I can get better.' What happens is that I just sit down and kind of play to just more stay in shape."

Ulrich added: "You know, METALLICA was up to two or three months off [in 2011], and I would sit down, I have an iPod next to my drums so I can play along to all kind of crazy stuff, and try to see if I can land in the same zip code of some of that stuff occasionally. But I can't say that I sit down to necessarily practice to sort of get better. For most of my stuff, it's about listening and about interpreting stuff that I'm listening to. So all the kind of sitting down and, you know, 'Now I'm going to do thirty-second-note paradiddles standing on my head — you know what I mean? I don't do that kind of stuff so much. For me it's more about the regimen of staying in shape, running every day, eating healthy, you know, being on top of that side of it."

The Metal God, Rob Halford of Judas Priest recently "confessed" all kinds of stories during his recent appearance on the Talk Is Jericho podcast. These stories include what it was like to live a secret, double life as a closeted gay man, and what happened when he was finally able to speak his truth. He talks about his surprise departure from Judas Priest, the road to reconciliation, and his relationship with Tim “Ripper Owens. Halford also has tales about Fight, filling in for Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath, and an update on guitarist Glenn Tipton’s health. Plus, he remembers the first time he ever heard Van Halen and what it was like sharing the bill with them at the 1983 US Festival. And, of course, he explains why he decided now was the right to time to put out his autobiography, Confess.

On the Fight debut album, War Of Words, from 1993:

"I put all of that music together in my bedroom here, in Phoenix, in my bedroom. Sometimes I'd get out of the bed in the middle of the night very primitively, lay down these riffs you know, that's how War Of Words came about. And I was really pleased with the whole experience because as I said, musicians are always searching for what we're able to do, and that was important for me to go through."

On Fight guitarist Russ Parrish, better known as Steel Panther's Satchel:

"He was (an) amazing, phenomenal guitar player, still is today. I mean, I love that band; there is only one Steel Panther."

Check out the interview here.

Confess: The Autobiography is available via Hachette Books. A description of the book follows...

Most priests take confessions. This one is giving his.

Rob Halford, front man of global iconic metal band Judas Priest, is a true 'Metal God'. Raised in Britain's hard-working heavy industrial heartland he and his music were forged in the Black Country. Confess, his full autobiography, is an unforgettable rock 'n' roll story - a journey from a Walsall council estate to musical fame via alcoholism, addiction, police cells, ill-starred sexual trysts and bleak personal tragedy, through to rehab, coming out, redemption... and finding love.

Now, he is telling his gospel truth.

Told with Halford's trademark self-deprecating, deadpan Black Country humour, Confess is the story of an extraordinary five decades in the music industry. It is also the tale of unlikely encounters with everybody from Superman to Andy Warhol, Madonna, Jack Nicholson and the Queen. More than anything else, it's a celebration of the fire and power of heavy metal.

Rob Halford has decided to Confess. Because it's good for the soul.




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IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, who spent his childhood fishing with his father, was asked in a new interview with Blue Fish Radio when he first became interested in becoming a musician. He responded (hear audio below): "When I was about 14 or 15, I was kind of a clueless, your usual type of teenager and I didn't know what I wanted to do in my life. And I sort of wandered into my older sister's bedroom to check out her albums, which were normally soul records — THE TEMPTATIONS and [other] Motown [artists]. And then I noticed she had some new records, and one of them was a DEEP PURPLE record called 'Machine Head'. So I put the album on a little record player, and I just couldn't believe what I was hearing. That was it, really. It sort of changed my life. I thought, 'Well, I'd love to be out doing that one day.' The fishing had kind of tapered off. In those days, I couldn't imagine my heroes, like Ritchie Blackmore from DEEP PURPLE, and people like that going fishing. So I thought, 'Well, I'll give it up and I'll give all my time to try and make it as a professional musician.' So that's what I did."

Smith's memoir, "Monsters Of River & Rock", was released in September via Virgin Books.

Smith is well known in the community as a fisherman, and a former cover star of coarse-fishing bible the Angler's Mail (biggest chub of the season, August 2009). In his first, very personal, riverside memoir, "Monsters Of River & Rock", Smith takes us with him on his incredible journey, through the highs and lows of life on tour, and on the river-bank, as his fishing gear travels with him across the world.

Adrian got hooked on fishing as a child growing up in East London, plundering ponds and bomb craters on the Hackney Marshes for newts and sticklebacks and catching perch from the Grand Union Canal whilst on outings with his father. Things began to get more exotic when the young angling enthusiast grew up to become lead guitarist in one of the most successful rock bands in history, and started travelling the world playing to many millions of fans. But once a fisherman, always a fisherman. The gear went with him, the fish got bigger, the adventures more extreme.

Welcome to the world of Adrian Smith, as he clocks in to his day job furthering the geographical boundaries of hard rock, and clocks off to explore far-flung rivers, seas, waterways, lakes and pools on his fearless quest for fishing nirvana. His adventures range from his first sturgeon, a whopping 100-pounder from Canada's swirling Fraser River that nearly wiped him out mid-MAIDEN tour, to a close shave with a large shark off the Virgin Islands whilst wading waist-deep for bonefish. Not to mention an enviable list of specimen coarse fish from the U.K.

Charming, funny, and moving in equal measure, "Monsters Of River & Rock" is the ultimate fishing-fantasy armchair read, and is also the story of a rock star in a fast-moving world who seeks peace and tranquillity at the water’s edge — wherever he is.

Smith was born in Hackney, East London, on February 27, 1957. He joined IRON MAIDEN at the end of 1980. Adrian is the bandmember who has collaborated on the most side projects outside of IRON MAIDEN, as well as writing and recording a series of albums in the early '90s, before rejoining the band. IRON MAIDEN has sold 100 million albums, and tour the world playing to millions of fans. Onstage, Adrian uses Jackson and Gibson guitars. Offstage, he is an avid tennis player. However, his main hobby is fishing. He takes his rod and gear out on tour with him wherever he goes.

Listen to "E317 Iron Maiden Adrian Smith Monsters of River and Rock" on Spreaker.

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has accused Donald Trump of "winding up his 70 million voters."

More than a week after major news networks declared Joe Biden the nation's president-elect, Trump still refuses to concede the election, citing baseless allegations of voter fraud.

On Sunday night (November 15), Nikki took to his Twitter to write: "You realize Trump will leave the White House Jan 20th.Right now he's just winding up his 70m voters so they will follow him when he launches his own network so he can pay off his debt from the advertising dollars…None of this personal."

Sixx's MÖTLEY CRÜE bandmate Tommy Lee apparently agreed with him, sharing Nikki's tweet and adding: "my brother speaks the truth!!!!!!!"

Some people have speculated that Trump will launch his own TV network now that he has lost the U.S. presidential election. Trump's senior advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is "talking up" the idea of a Trump-branded media company, Business Insider reported last month.

The presidential race ended with a victory for Biden with 306 electoral votes. Biden had received nearly 79 million votes across the country — the most votes cast for any presidential candidate in history — compared to 73.1 million votes for Trump.

On Sunday, Trump for the first time acknowledged Biden's victory while continuing to falsely blame his loss on a string of conspiracy theories.

"He won because the Election was Rigged," Trump tweeted. "NO VOTE WATCHERS OR OBSERVERS allowed, vote tabulated by a Radical Left privately owned company, Dominion, with a bad reputation & bum equipment that couldn't even qualify for Texas (which I won by a lot!), the Fake & Silent Media, & more!"

Despite Trump's claims to the contrary, there were poll watchers and observers allowed during vote counting across the country, and there is no evidence that problems associated with Dominion Voting Systems, which makes software, caused widespread errors in counting.

Since Election Day, Trump's campaign and allies have filed at least 16 lawsuits in an attempt to block certification of Biden's victory in the Electoral College. On Friday alone, Trump's campaign lost in courts in Michigan and Pennsylvania and dropped a challenge in Arizona as judges found the Trump campaign's arguments and evidence that there was widespread fraud and irregularities with the vote to be lacking. That same day, a senior federal election security official who was appointed by Trump blasted the president's false post-election claims, calling them "baffling," "laughable" and "insulting."




You realize Trump will leave the White House Jan 20th.Right now he’s just winding up his 70m voters so they will follow him when he launches his own network so he can pay off his debt from the advertising dollars…None of this personal.

— —Nikki Sixx— (@NikkiSixx) November 16, 2020








my brother speaks the truth!!!!!!! https://t.co/JywrjU7qgI

— T?mmy L33 (@MrTommyLand) November 16, 2020

Every holiday season, AUGUST BURNS RED — JB Brubaker (lead guitar), Brent Rambler (rhythm guitar), Matt Greiner (drums), Jake Luhrs (lead vocals), and Dustin Davidson (bass) — celebrates the most wonderful time of the year by offering up its unique and thoroughly metallic takes on Christmas classics. This year, the band takes on pop icon Mariah Carey. The Lancaster, Pennsylvania quintet has delivered its instrumental rendition of a modern holiday smash — Mimi's beloved "All I Want For Christmas Is You".

"This year, we decided to take a crack at the legendary Mariah Carey song 'All I Want For Christmas Is You'," says Brubaker. "This turned out to be one of the most fun holidays songs we've ever done, and a real head spinner for me on the guitar leads. I'm proud of how it came out and think it will be a staple for people looking for a little more metal in their holiday playlists."

AUGUST BURNS RED has also revealed the details of its annual "Christmas Burns Red" show. This year's event is going online, due to the pandemic. The "Christmas Burns Red" 2020 livestream event takes place on Saturday, December 12 at 8 p.m. EST / 5 p.m. PST.

During the "Christmas Burns Red" 2020 livestream event, ABR will be playing songs from its 2020-released album "Guardians" live for the first time. It will also feature the biggest and most festive "Christmas Burns Red" stage setup ever. There will be a brand new line of merch, a VIP option, and limited-edition items.

"Doing an annual holiday show has been a long-standing tradition for ABR," says Brubaker. "This will be our 15th consecutive year, and we didn't want to let COVID-19 end the streak. While we are bummed we can't play for everyone in person, we are doing everything we can to make sure that this year's 'Christmas Burns Red' is bigger and better than ever. This will be our first time playing a bunch of new songs off of 'Guardians', and we are putting the finishing touches on our biggest stage production to date. We can't wait to play for you again!"

ABR's latest full-length, "Guardians", is out now through Fearless Records. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Music Albums chart, the Rock Albums chart, and the Vinyl Albums chart upon release. ABR also graced the cover of the spring 2020 issue of Revolver.

Swedish metallers AVATAR have announced a series of concert streams, "Avatar Ages - An Impossible Concert Experience", that will take place over the course of January 2021. The four-part concert film experience launches January 9 and will feature songs from AVATAR's celebrated catalog, starting with a performance of their latest album, "Hunter Gatherer", in full. The subsequent January concerts will feature fan-voted setlists — chosen by ticket purchasers — with songs from "Avatar Country", "Feathers & Flesh", "Hail The Apocalypse", "Black Waltz", "Thoughts Of No Tomorrow", "Schlacht" and "Avatar".

Tickets are now on sale here.

The schedule of "Avatar Ages - An Impossible Concert Experience" is as follows:

* Saturday, January 9 - "Age Of Dreams" ("Hunter Gatherer" from start to finish plus Avatar's biggest songs)

* Saturday, January 16 - "Age Of Illusions" ("Feathers & Flesh" and "Avatar Country" fan-voted setlist)

* Saturday, January 23 - "Age of Madness" ("Black Waltz" and "Hail The Apocalypse" fan-voted setlist)

* Saturday, January 30 - "Age Of Memories" ("Thoughts Of No Tomorrow", "Schlacht" and "Avatar" fan-voted setlist)

About the performances, frontman Johannes Eckerström says: "Nothing can top the feeling of standing eye to eye with the roaring beast that is a metal crowd, hungry for blood. Instead, what we are setting out to do is a series of shows we could never do on a normal stage. You will see AVATAR as you've never seen us before. More music, more madness. We enter this with a game plan like no other, but ultimately the power is yours. This is something we'll create together. We have missed you."

Concert stream tickets are available for individual shows and as a four-show package. Various ticket bundles are also available, offering exclusive merchandise such as t-shirts, hoodies, vinyl, and a commemorative laminate. A limited number of exclusive virtual meet-and-greets with the entire band are also available. Fans will be able to select their date and time period in advance, and after their personal meet-and-greet, they'll receive a video file of their conversation, as well as the opportunity to take pictures during the experience. Visit www.AvatarAges.com for all details and to purchase tickets.

Each livestream debuts on its respective date at 1:00 p.m. Pacific / 4:00 p.m. Eastern / 10:00 p.m. CET remains on demand for 72 hours.

Fan voting for the "Age Of Illusions", "Age Of Madness" and "Age Of Memories" concert stream setlists will be open to ticket purchasers through December 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Fans will be emailed a link to activate fan voting after purchasing their virtual concert ticket. Purchasers will be able to choose their 10 favorite songs for each set list and submit directly to the band. Fan voting is only open to those who purchase a livestream ticket or bundle.

AVATAR's current album, "Hunter Gatherer", out now via Century Media, marked the darkest and most thought-provoking release of the band's over-decade-long career. A striking and bold manifesto, the album is an unflinchingly ruthless study of a clueless humankind’s ever-increasing velocity into an uncertain future, furthering the reach of the band's always-expanding dark roots. In 2019, AVATAR reunited with producer Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, ANTHRAX) at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles, California, where the foundation for each song on "Hunter Gatherer" was laid with the band performing altogether, as they'd done only once before, on "Hail The Apocalypse" (2014). The old-school method of playing as one in the studio, more akin to how they are on stage, captured the essence of AVATAR. Recorded entirely to two-inch tape, "Hunter Gatherer" exhibits everything that makes AVATAR standouts in the vast, rich landscape of heavy metal's past and present.

Dee Snider and HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale have teamed up for their thoroughly rock 'n roll rendition of the Snider-penned holiday classic "The Magic Of Christmas Day". This version features lots of bells, rowdy riffs, and the two iconic vocalists playing off one another for an unforgettable offering. This festive and fiery duet is sure to find itself on repeat on the Christmas playlists of rockers, rollers, and headbangers everywhere this holiday season.

The official music video for the song, which is now available at all DSPs via BFD/The Orchard, can be seen below.

"Originally written and recorded as a Christmas gift for my wife Suzette with no plan for commercial release, years later 'The Magic Of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)' was discovered and recorded by Celine Dion for her holiday record 'These Are Special Times', which went on to become the biggest selling holiday album in history — and is the reason we refer to her as 'Saint Celine' in my house. When it was recently suggested that I should finally record this song myself, I knew I needed to bring in a young powerhouse vocalist to not only duet with me, but light a Yuletide fire under my ass! I only knew of one rock vocalist who could deliver on all those fronts, and she did in spades: the incredible Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM!"

Hale weighs in, saying: "If you're ever in your life gonna go full-on, all-gas, no-brakes 'Christmas Cheer,' you do it Dee Snider-style. I was so honored to get the call from Dee on his holiday classic 'The Magic Of Christmas Day'. After exchanging a few very affectionate '[email protected]&k yous' as we rediscovered our respect and admiration for each other's talent, the final recording produced by the legendary Jeff Pilson is insanely epic. Thank you so much to everyone for having me. And considering we will ALL be experiencing a very different holiday season in 2020, I hope that this song brings you joy and puts a smile on your face. God bless us everyone!"

This past August, Snider said during an appearance on the "Behind The Vinyl" podcast that he was recording a new version of "The Magic Of Christmas Day" with ex-NIGHTWISH frontwoman Tarja Turunen.

Dion reportedly heard "God Bless Us Everyone" from a sound engineer and wanted to record it for her first Christmas album, 1998's "These Are Special Times". Snider gave his blessing, but he asked that nobody reveal his identity, because he feared Dion would change her mind if she discovered the man behind the tune was a controversial rocker. The song, retitled "The Magic Of Christmas Day (God Bless Us Everyone)", went on to sell 10 million copies worldwide. The album credit reads D. Snider.

The next year, Dion and Rosie O'Donnell redid the song as a duet on Rosie's Christmas album and opened O'Donnell's Christmas special on ABC with it.

EYEHATEGOD, "the quintessential Southern sludge band" (Pitchfork) that Rolling Stone dubbed one of "America's great live bands," has returned to Century Media Records, with an eye towards a spring 2021 release for the group's first album in seven years: "A History Of Nomadic Behavior".

EYEHATEGOD said in a statement: "EYEHATEGOD are pleased to announce we've signed a licensing deal with Century Media Records USA and Europe...! We welcome the new changes along with the new year coming, and want this union to benefit everyone involved, especially our rabid and disturbed fans across the globe!"

Phillipp Schulte, director of Century Media Records, added: "We're happy to announce solidifying our worldwide relationship with EYEHATEGOD. While Century Media has worked with the guys in the past, we're excited to begin a new chapter with a record that easily ranks amongst this hard-working, heavy-touring band's best. We are very much looking forward to releasing EYEHATEGOD's 'A Historic Of Nomadic Behavior'."

"EYEHATEGOD are survivors on every level," says Century Media Records vice president of A&R Mike Gitter. "Since 1988, they've been part of the framework of extreme music and 'A History Of Nomadic Behavior' will be no exception. Theirs is a tough and turbulent road that would have stopped most bands dead in their tracks. Not these NOLA legends. Century Media has been part of their career from the early days and we're excited to be working together again. EYEHATEGOD is here to stay."

The cover art for "A History Of Nomadic Behavior" has been revealed as the band and label prepare to share additional details about the album in coming weeks.

Last March, EYEHATEGOD scrapped the last three shows of its European tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The band later blamed "bumbling dolt" Donald Trump for announcing a ban on travel to the U.S. from 26 European countries, which caused chaos at European airports as Americans, fearing being caught up in the ban, attempted to travel home early.

EYEHATEGOD's last album, a self-titled affair, came out in 2014. It arrived a decade and a half after its predecessor, 2000's "Confederacy Of Ruined Lives".

EYEHATEGOD's 1990 "In The Name Of Suffering" and 1993 "Take As Needed For Pain" studio albums are considered their seminal works and are often cited as pillars of the American sludge sound alongside ACID BATH, BUZZOV*EN and CROWBAR.

Perry Farrell has told Classic Rock magazine that fans can expect to hear new music from JANE'S ADDICTION in 2021. Asked if there might be another album from JANE'S ADDICTION in his future plans, the 61-year-old singer said: "I wouldn't think albums, I'd think songs.

"We've got so much JANE'S material in the can," he explained. "We'll be releasing a couple of tracks, maybe writing some new ones. Not this year, 'cause we're getting late in the year. But I can tell you in the next month or so I'm gonna be finishing up a couple of JANE'S ADDICTION tracks."

In the same interview, Farrell revealed that he had his voice box removed during a recent operation on his vertebrae. The vocalist underwent successful surgery for "crushed discs in his neck," a condition caused "mostly from partying and leaning back my head to rip out notes, and surfing and dancing around," he said.

"They had to remove my voice box and put it on a table," Farrell explained. "That was daunting. They literally exposed my skeleton, took the discs out and put in artificial discs. So now I am a quarter inch taller and twice as attractive to my wife."

This past August, JANE'S ADDICTION played two songs during Lollapalooza's Lolla2020 livestream, a free four-night broadcast event which took place on the original dates of the Chicago-based festival. Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Chris Chaney reunited for their first public appearance in three years to perform "I Would For You" and "Stop!"

Formed in 1985 in Los Angeles, JANE'S ADDICTION has been firmly embedded in the collective pop culture consciousness for 35 years now. Farrell stands out as one of music's most forward-thinking and enigmatic frontmen. Navarro remains a veritable guitar god. Perkins's tribal stomp has also influenced a generation of percussionists. The hugely influential band has sold in excess of seven million records in the U.S. alone. When Farrell created the traveling Lollapalooza festival, it galvanized the alternative rock movement and brought it to a whole new level.

JANE'S ADDICTION was signed to Warner Bros. after garnering critical claim for its release on the independent Los Angeles label XXX. Under their Warner Bros. deal, they recorded two more critically lauded but sometimes controversial albums, "Nothing's Shocking" and "Ritual De Lo Habitual".

JANE'S ADDICTION released its last album, "The Great Escape Artist", back in 2011.

"The Great Escape Artist" sold around 24,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 12 on The Billboard 200 chart.

"The Great Escape Artist" was JANE'S ADDICTION's first all-new studio effort since 2003's "Strays", which opened with more than 110,000 units to enter the chart at No. 4.

"The Great Escape Artist" was only JANE'S ADDICTION's fourth album of original material in 20 years.

The current JANE'S ADDICTION lineup features original members Perkins, Farrell and Navarro.

Although founding bassist Eric Avery initially returned to the band when it reactivated in 2009, he quit the following year.

Dave Sitek of TV ON THE RADIO played bass on and co-produced "The Great Escape Artist", while Chaney has returned as touring bassist.

In a new interview with the "Jeremy White Podcast", Rob Halford was asked if there are any plans for JUDAS PRIEST to release a special deluxe edition of the "Painkiller" album to celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. The singer responded (see video below): "We're looking at all the opportunities. I'll tell you, these kind of things [album anniversaries] creep up on you… But 'Painkiller' is a very special album to PRIEST and to the metal world for everything that it stands for and still gives to people. And we're aware of that. So we as a band and management and the label, we're always looking at opportunities to celebrate these milestones. And so we just direct everybody to the main PRIEST account on Instagram and Facebook and whatever, Twitter, and that's where all the news is. But there's definitely gonna be some kind of a party."

Halford also talked about the classic drum into to the "Painkiller" title track, which opened the album and introduced PRIEST's then-new drummer Scott Travis. Asked if PRIEST made a conscious decision to come up with a way to spotlight Travis or if the intro happened organically, Rob replied: "It happened organically. We were writing all the songs for the record. We finished doing all the writing. And then back in the album world, making albums, like we still do as a band — we make records which are called albums which take you through the songs that we represent ourselves with at that time, whenever we do it — this 'Painkiller' track, which ended up being the title track… And sometimes the title track doesn't necessarily have to lead the record off. But it just felt such a potent statement. In all of the songs that we'd written, we felt that this had so much to say and that because it needed this kind of extraordinary opening — the drums instead of a screaming voice or wailing guitars — we thought, 'Let's go for it.' And what a great way to introduce Scott for the first time, as it was then, with PRIEST, with that particular record. It still lights up the room. Whenever we play 'Painkiller' live and Scott's there by myself on the stage doing that opening thing, fans go absolutely nuts. It's a bit of metal iconography right there. It's a glorious statement."

"Painkiller" was PRIEST's twelfth studio album and it marked Halford's last recording with the band for more than decade, as he left PRIEST in May 1992 to pursue a solo career. The album received a Grammy nomination for "Best Metal Performance" at the 33rd annual Grammy Awards, losing to METALLICA's cover of the QUEEN song "Stone Cold Crazy".

According to Wikipedia, "Painkiller" was recorded at Miraval Studios in Brignoles, France and mixed at Wisseloord Studios in Hilversum, the Netherlands. It was produced by the band and Chris Tsangarides, marking the first time since 1978's "Killing Machine" that PRIEST had not worked with Tom Allom and the first time since 1976's "Sad Wings Of Destiny" that PRIEST and Tsangarides worked together.

"Painkiller" was certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) in January 1991. A remastered version of the album was released in May 2001, including a live recording of "Leather Rebel" and a previously unreleased song, "Living Bad Dreams".

Sweden-based melodic death/doom metal band, Coldbound, recently announced that Liv Kristine (solo, ex-Theatre Of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes), Markus Riihimäki (KanteleScape), and Meiju Enho (Mamyth, Mythrian, Greenrose Faire, ex-Ensiferum) have joined the ranks of Coldbound as full members.

They have issued the following update along with a brief trailer featuring new music, found below.

"Since the birth of this project, 8 years ago, everything was uncertain. Expanding the project into a full band seemed so distant and yet again utopic; at least impossible.

As some of you have noticed lately, Coldbound is currently preparing a new work that has engaged a big amount of respectable guest appearances so far. Some of these guest appearances became real friends. Friends that one can rely on, friends that one can express all the worries and wishes, friends that somehow appear in your life the right time. Throughout the music, which we use a channel to transcript our dreams, hopes, fears and worries; we found the missing ingredient to form a musical quintessence.

As melodies and ideas are flowing endlessly, we already start planning our future journey. The passport is already claimed. One would ask; how? 

Well. there is recorded music from all of us that will be presented to you very soon in our new album. Once the music was written and recorded, we start thinking and talking about it in the most realistic way possible. At the point that we all realised that this is as real as it gets. Eventually, it all became reality in the most unexpected and beautiful way. While carving a new sound and a new approach, skilled people are required; no doubt. But what we got here is the vision that we all share. This is the vision that will lead our path. A very own creation of ours."

Coldbound's line-up:

Liv Kristine (vocals)
Markus Riihimäki (kantele)
Meiju Enho (orchestration, keyboards, vocals)
Pauli Souka (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, programming")

Pauli Suoka comments: "Liv Kristine, the voice of my adolescence. A real angel down on earth with a heart of pure gold. A fantastic friend that shares the same visions. The perfect balance of all frequencies.

Markus Riihimäki,  fiery presence. A hell of a composer and a hard working professional with clear vision and zero sign of procrastination when it comes to music production. The person that will ring me anytime to hit me up with new ideas that he will actually put down on paper right away. The brother that I never had.
 
Meiju Enho... if forests had a sound, Meiju would have been the conductor. An extremely charismatic composer with a great ability to create unique soundscapes. The voice of reason. A true blessing to be in the same musical project with! With visions and frequencies perfectly aligned.
 
As our times face a dramatic swift and things around us change, so we also change; minute by minute, day by day. But changing towards a more complete entity, throughout all the hardships that we might face and through every single obstacle we succesfully pass, losing ourselves, losing our passion of what we love doing, would be an absolute devastation.

Here we are; to create enchanting melodies.Here we are; to share our vision. We are Coldbound, The Band!"




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German progressive metallers M.I.GOD. performed a livestream show on Saturday, November 14th over YouTube, Facebook and Instagram. Check out the full show below; it begins at the 6:20 mark.

M.I.GOD's latest album, Specters On Parade, was released in February 2019 and is the first of two concept albums from M.I.GOD. It features 21 tracks in total, 13 being full songs connected with short interludes to tie the concept together. Specters On Parade in the follow-up to M.I.GOD.'s 2012 album, Floor 29, marking an epic return following the tragic death of bassist Matt Weber that sidelined the band.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Vertigo"
"The Solitary Ghost"
"Tongues Of Poison"
"We All Belong To The Dark"
"Embracing The Neon"
"Titans Of The Void"
"The Sleeping Cruelty"
"Atelier Macabre"
"Specters On Parade"
"Sonata In Tenebris (Interlude I)"
"Tears Of Today"
"What's Your Favorite Scourge"
"Chances"
"The Call"
"Weight Of A Million Souls"
"Cluster (Interlude II)"
"Bound To A Daydream"
"Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea"
"The Threshold"
"Terminus Life"
"I Feed You My Love"

For information and updates on M.I.GOD. go to the band's official Facebook page here.




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Lisbon’s premier heavy rockers Miss Lava will release their new full-length, Doom Machine, this January via Small stone.

The perfect soundtrack for the post-lockdown world, the band’s fourth album and follow-up to 2017’s Dominant Rush EP stands as their densest output to date doused in kaleidoscopic riff explorations and hypnotic interludes; a multi-textured sonic journey that’s at once deep, heavy, mesmerizing, and cathartic. Captured live at Generator Music Studios in Sintra, Portugal by Miguel “Veg” Marques, the record carries with it the warmth and soul of a band full of fresh vigor and perhaps the demons of these tumultuous times.

The record is loosely focused on the tragic death of guitarist K. Raffah’s baby son and the other members’ children born during the creative process. "Doom Machine is a very emotional experience for us...,” Raffah shares. “[My son] was only here for a month and a half, but his light was very bright. We feel his presence every time.” Thematically, vocalist Johnny Lee adds, “This album reflects on how each one of us can breed and unleash our own self-destructive force, assembled to be part of a giant Doom Machine.”

In advance of the record’s release, today the band is pleased to unveil a video for first single, “Fourth Dimension,” noting, “this is a riff raff explosion that urges people to get out of the cave allegory they live in.”

Directed by José Dinis, the video is streaming below.

Doom Machine will be released on CD and digitally via Small Stone with Kozmik Artifactz handling a limited vinyl edition.

Tracklisting:

“Fourth Dimension”
“In The Mire”
“Magma”
“Brotherhood Of Eternal Love”
“Sleepy Warm”
“The Great Divide”
“Karma”
“The Fall”
“Alpha”
“The Oracle”
“Terra”
“Doom Machine”
“God Feeds The Swine”*
“Feel Surreal”*
“Red Atlantis”*

*CD, digital bonus tracks

“Fourth Dimension” video:




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Bark is a metal band from Antwerp, Belgium, which had its beginning in late 2014 and was born from the ashes of the rock ‘n’ roll band Aguardente. Drummer Ward Van der Straeten and guitarists Rui Da Silva and Martin Furia (ex-Jesusmartyr and Furia), began to play and laid the foundations for a new band. Given the nature of the short, rabid songs they were making, they decided to call the band Bark.

With a view to the release of Written In Stone, their third full-length material that will be released on December 10, the group presents the official video for the song "I'm A Wreck", the first single of the aforementioned album in question.

The track is a brutal and faithful demonstration of the essence of the band. Aggressive riffs, forceful drums and fierce voices are some of the features present in the first single of the new Bark LP, which acts as a prelude to everything that the audience will be able to find on the album.

The band recorded their new LP where the limits have been pushed even further, turning it into an album of extremes, in which brutality meets melody in a more than wild way. Produced, mixed and mastered by Martín Furia (Nervosa, Evil Invaders, Destruction, Flotsam and Jetsam) at Trix in Ambers, this LP will set the bar high for the whole.

Written in Stone will be Bark's third studio album and will be available on December 10 on all digital platforms.The album cover was designed by the Brazilian artist Alcides Burn, who has worked with such artists as Krisiun, Obituary, Lockup, among others.

Martín Furia, guitarist and producer of the album, had the following to say regarding this release:

“After two albums with great reception in Europe, we are very excited that" Written in Stone "can be released in Latin America. We are proud to have done it entirely from songwriting to final mixing ourselves. We think this is the best example of what the band is capable of, from brutality and intensity to groove and melody. "

(Photo by: Christophe Brysse)




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US glam rockers Wildstreet have released a brand new music video for “Still Love You”, it's the full version of their new single which was released in October via Golden Robot Records.

Order/stream the single here.

Wildstreet is:

Eric Jayk – Vocals, Guitars
Jimmie Marlowe – Guitars, Vocals
Jonny D – Bass, Vocals
Dom – Lead Guitars, Vocals
Lock – Drums, Vocals




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In March of 1990, four hard rock kids got together and recorded a four-song demo titled "Painkiller". 30 years later, with some new technology and some help from Connecticut music legends, Mike Z Livingston and Static Era’s Jay Reason, Crossover is re-releasing their EP and bringing it back to life with more balls than ever.

The EP includes three live bonus tracks, and their four original songs, “Painkiller”, “Identity”, “Too Many Fears” and “True Believer”. “It's gritty, raw, and as old school as it gets,” says Jay “Ice” Piccirillo. “If you like Metallica Kill Em' All meets DRI then this is a must listen! Enjoy and thank you all for the great memories!”

Purchase the EP here.

Crossover formed in Bridgeport, CT during the late ‘80s as part of the hardcore and metal scene that was beginning to flourish around New York City. Jay had an idea to put together a metal/hardcore/thrash/punk style band which, at the time, was labeled “crossover” music. Comprised of Scott Smith (rhythm guitar/vocals), Bill Smith (drums), Scott Camara (guitar) and Jay “Ice” Piccirillo (bass), the band played everywhere from keg parties to clubs, and quickly gained a loyal following. 

During the fall of 2002, the band reunited for a live benefit show that would feature Crossover, Payback, Sonick Plague, Dresden, Lost Generation, Forced Reality, and 76 percent Uncertain. The band’s lineup that night consisted of Jay, Bill Smith, GB Hammond from Lost Generation, Charlie Taylor from Payback, and Andy Reitano from Blastmat. 

While the band’s lifespan was relatively short, their influence can still be felt today. Hatebreed singer, Jamey Jasta, bought Jay’s Mesa Boogie amp when they were in their beginning stages and told him he had a Crossover sticker on his bedroom door when he was 14 years old. Piccirillo recalls, “It was pretty damn cool hearing that.”

It is now 30 years later since the original demo was released and over the years technology has come a long way. Crossover now has the sound and mix they envisioned three decades ago, and are excited to share it with old and new fans alike.




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Two Minutes To Late Night is back, this time with a cover of Thin Lizzy's "Emerald", lifted from the band's 1976 album, Jailbreak.

A message states: "Body Positivity Lizzy! We covered 'Emerald' with some old friends, new friends, and a couch you've all become very concerned for over the past 9 months. This is our 30th (!!!) bedroom cover made with the support of Patreon. With so many musicians stuck at home with no outlets, we're going to keep producing these style videos and use Patreon to give some money to everyone who has a part in them. Please support our friends by donating to our newly redone Patreon at honorableswords.com.

This cover features Nate Garrett and his puppies (Spirit Adrift), Santos Montano (Old Man Gloom), Jeff Matz (High On Fire), Brett Campbell (Pallbearer), Jeff Martin (Lo-Pan), and Jordan Olds aka Gwarsenio Hall.




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Joe Satriani has released the new video below, along with the following message:

"Kieran Johnston jumps into some 'Perfect Dust' seamlessly switching between modern, blinding-fast runs and tasteful classic rock phrasing. He always shreds with taste and style."

"At the heart of it is my love for composing unique and moving music for the electric guitar. I love the journey as much as the end result. With this compilation of backing tracks you get to peak behind the curtain a bit and experience that journey as I built the songs in the studio. And, of course, you can play along!" - Joe Satriani

Stripped x Three features full backing tracks from the complete Shapeshifting, Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards and"Is There Love in Space? albums, a special digital compilation booklet with original liner notes and credits and it is all packaged within a replica Joe Satriani Ibanez signature guitar USB stick and custom case. Pre-order here.

Satriani on Stripped x Three: "This collection represents three albums of backing tracks released years apart from each other spanning 16 years: Is There Love In Space? from 2004, Black Swans And Wormhole Wizards from 2010, and 2020's Shapeshifting. Three remarkably different albums recorded and mixed in remarkably different locations. At the heart of it is my love for composing unique and moving music for the electric guitar. Each album project I undertake pushes me to discover new ways to write , play, produce and record. I love the journey as much as the end result. With this compilation of backing tracks you get to peak behind the curtain a bit and experience that journey as I built the songs in the studio. And, of course, you can play along!"




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Season Of Mist announces the signing of American death metal icons Pessimist (ft. Kelly McLauchlin of Death, Possessed, I Am Morbid, etc.). In addition to a new full-length, which the band is currently writing, the label will be releasing the band's early full-length records in the coming months. Stay tuned.

Guitarist Kelly McLauchlin comments, "We're very excited to announce we are signing with Season Of Mist. It's truly a great honor to be among their legions of legendary and influential bands. We look forward to working with such an awesome and well-respected label as Season Of Mist, and can't wait to bring our fans some brand-new Pessimist, some of our most extreme music ever recorded."

For a glimpse of what to expect, you can stream the band's discography here.

One of the premiere bands to emerge out of the early Baltimore, MD death metal scene, with their 1993 demo Dark Reality, Pessimist played their first shows opening for national acts Incantation, Deicide, and Malevolent Creation. In 1995, the band self-released the EP Absence of Light on cassette  and landed gigs opening for Testament, Forbidden, Suffocation, and Napalm Death.

In 1997 Pessimist signed to Lost Disciple Records and released their debut CD Cult of the Initiated, which charted on CMJ Top 40 Loud Rock Charts, and received acclaim from around the world. The band continued to play shows in the Mid-Atlantic region, opening for Cryptopsy, Nile, Gorguts, Dying Fetus, Vader, Monstrosity, and festival appearances at Milwaukee Metalfest XII, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest - and the band's first European tour with Fleshless (Cz) in 1999.

Pessimist released their second CD, Blood For The Gods, in 1999, which soared into the CMJ Top 30. Pessimist became recognized for their unique brand of brutal and technical black/death metal, with old-school thrash influences, an emphasis on quality songwriting, powerful live shows and a dark, evil sound.

In 2001, the band traveled to Tampa, FL to record with producer Erik Rutan, for their third CD, Slaughtering The Faithful, which featured a re-vamped lineup and a faster, more extreme musical direction. More shows followed with Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral, festival appearances at March Metal Meltdown, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest, and November To Dismember.

Pessimist returned in 2008 with the Evolution Unto Evil CD, a compilation of rare/live demo recordings and tributes to Kreator, Death, Megadeth, and Possessed, which was co-released on Pathos Prod and Deathgasm Recs. This was followed by appearances at New England Deathfest and Hostile City Deathfest. In 2009, the band returned to Europe for their second European tour with label-mates Pandemia (CZ).

In between downtime with the band, founder/guitarist Kelly McLauchlin had also been a member of bands such as Unholy Ghost, Diabolic, filled in live with Angelcorpse, and had later joined Death Metal legends Possessed, touring with the band from 2011-2013.

In 2018, Pessimist returned to the stage at Maryland Deathfest, headlining Las Vegas Deathfest, Rage of Armageddon Fest (NY), and Ruinfest (CA), and in 2019 released a new single, "Keys To The Underworld", which featured studio drummer Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus, Suffocation) and bassist Kelly Conlon (Monstrosity, Death).

Now, in their latest incarnation, the current Pessimist lineup includes founder/guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (I Am Morbid, Possessed, Death, etc.), drummer Pat Shea (Master), new bassist recruit Andrew Bowen (Carnal Necrosis) ,and vocalist Ivan Alison aka "The Evil One" (Black Mass).

The band is currently writing music for the next full-length album, Keys To The Underworld.

(Photo - Ember Lorraine Contreras)




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A boisterous, uncontrollable thrash/death metal assault led by the four women of Nervosa strikes another raging round with the release of their second single, “Perpetual Chaos”, cut from their upcoming full-length of the same name, out on January 22 via Napalm Records.

Along with a stunning lyric video, the powerhouse quartet delivers an undeniable round-house kick of uncompromising thrash and death metal elements, illuminating listeners worldwide with their bold and thought-provoking lyricism denouncing social evils. Their brand-new offering showcases the extremely multifaceted and indefatigably brutal vocal power off their new singer Diva Satanica, guided by the massive axe attack off founding member Prika Amaral and thundering support of Mia Wallace on bass and Eleni Nota on drums.

Their upcoming full-length album, Perpetual Chaos, marks the beginning of a new era whilst also underlining their critical, direct lyricism and style: From political grievances and amplifying the voices of minorities to protesting against factory farming, capitalism and succumbing to the ill-informed musings of social elites - these commanding women do not mince words.

Enter a thrashing world of destruction and be a part of the next generation of Nervosa!
 
Guitarist Prika Amaral comments: “It was a wonderful experience with these girls, they are all very talented and did an excellent job, I have never been so happy with the final result of a record. I chose Artesonao studio in Malaga, because it is isolated and in an extremely beautiful place, we worked hard but we had the best vibe between us.”
 
Watch the official lyric video for “Perpetual Chaos” below:

Perpetual Chaos was recorded in Malaga at Artesonao Casa de Grabación Studio by Martin Furia, who also produced the new full-length with Prika Amaral - the explosive outcome is mastered by Yarne Heylen.

Vocalist Diva Satanica on the album process: “It was undoubtedly a very intense process in every way. Not only did we learn to work together, but also to get to know each other and live together. I am very lucky to be able to be part of a project like this and I am sure that with the release of this album, Nervosa will take a very important step in its career. Working with Martin Furia was incredible, he helped me to find nuances in my voice that I didn't know I had. Get ready, for a new era more powerful than ever!”

Guided by a marvellous force of uncompromising thrash and death metal, the raw power of Perpetual Chaos has its finger on the pulse of time: lyrically, Nervosa does not hesitate to tackle issues that impact the very core of society as we know it. From political grievances and amplifying the voices of minorities to protesting against factory farming, capitalism and succumbing to the ill-informed musings of social elites - these commanding women do not mince words. Tracks like the airtight opener “Venomous”, the fast-twitching “Until The Very End” and “Time To Fight” prove that Nervosa’s revitalized identity experiments with both fresh new elements and crucial auditory foundations without succumbing to any clichés. “Genocidal Command” perks ears with Diva Satanica’s vocal eloquence, accented by the outstanding range of Schmier (Destruction) whilst mirroring a rousing thrash metal manifest. A tremendous outcome awaits with brawl-brushed guitar lines, blisteringly fast drums and critical lyricism - striking the listener in a way only Nervosa could. Viva Perpetual Chaos.

Perpetual Chaos will be available in the following formats:

- Deluxe Edition: LP Gatefold Vinyl Splatter Blue/Red + 7 Inch incl. Bonustrack, Sticker and Patch - strictly limited to 300 copies  
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Red Transparent - limited to 500 copies
- LP Gatefold Vinyl Blue Transparent
- CD Digipack
- CD Digipack + Shirt Bundle
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Venomous"
"Guided By Evil"
"People Of The Abyss"
"Perpetual Chaos"
"Until The Very End"
"Genocidal Command"
"Kings Of Domination"
"Time To Fight"
"Godless Prisoner"
"Blood Eagle"
"Rebel Soul"
"Pursued By Judgement"
"Under Ruins"

"Guided By Evil" video:

The band has launched a documentary series, which will be released in four parts. Part 1 can be seen below:

Lineup:

Diva Satanica (Vocals)
Prika Amaral (Guitar)
Mia Wallace (Bass)
Eleni Nota (Drums)

(Photo - Barbara Ciravegna)




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Dream Theater have released an official video trailer for their upcoming ninth career live album, Distant Memories - Live In London, scheduled for release on November 27. Check it out below:

Recorded at their sold-out show at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, London, the live release documents the band’s popular world tour in support of their latest critically acclaimed studio album Distance Over Time and the 20-year anniversary of their seminal concept album Metropolis Part 2 - Scenes From A Memory.

Distant Memories - Live In London is the band’s first live album since 2014’s Breaking The Fourth Wall. The new release will be available in various configurations including digital only, a 3-CD and 2 DVD multibox, a 3-CD and 2 Blu-Ray digipak with slipcase, a limited deluxe 3-CD + 2 Blu-Ray + 2 DVD Artbook and a limited 4-LP and 3-CD box set. The video components will also feature a Behind The Scenes look at the band as they get ready for the shows.

All formats of Distant Memories - Live In London are now available for pre-order here.

Distant Memories - Live In London tracklisting:

"Untethered Angel"
"A Nightmare To Remember"
"Fall Into The Light"
"Barstool Warrior"
"In The Presence Of Enemies - Part 1"
"Pale Blue Dot"
"Scenes Live Intro"
"Scene One: Regression"
"Scene Two: I. Overture 1928"
"Scene Two: II. Strange Déjà Vu"
"Scene Three: I. Through My Words"
"Scene Three: II. Fatal Tragedy"
"Scene Four: Beyond This Life"
"Scene Five: Through Her Eyes"
"Scene Six: Home"
"Scene Seven: I. The Dance Of Eternity"
"Scene Seven: II. One Last Time"
"Scene Eight: The Spirit Carries On"
"Scene Nine: Finally Free"
"At Wit’s End"
"Paralyzed" (Bonus Track)

“Fatal Tragedy” live video:

"Pale Blue Dot" live video:




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On November 15th, UK-based electro-metal band Season Of Ghosts performed a short acoustic set live for an Original Rock charity effort. All money raised on the day went directly to Pancreatic Cancer UK. Check out their set below.

Season Of Ghosts recently released an official video for "How The Story Ends" exclusively through BraveWords. Check it out below. The track is taken from the band's second studio album, A Leap Of Faith, released October 23rd, 2018.




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In a new interview with Hakos Pervanidis of Greece's "TV War", ALTER BRIDGE guitarist Mark Tremonti was asked to pick his favorite albums of all time and talk about his childhood memories for each one of them.

Speaking about SLAYER's 1986 masterpiece "Reign In Blood", Mark said (see video below): "That is my third favorite record of all time. I think it could be the best album ever for metal guitar riffs. Tom Araya's vocals are just nasty, angry, evil and angry. When I was a kid, that was a scary record. I wanted to find the heaviest thing I could find, and that was it; there was nothing heavier than that record when I found it. When my parents came by my bedroom, I had to turn the volume down. [Laughs] So that [was] definitely a key record for my growing up, for sure."

Regarding METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets", Mark said: "[That's] my favorite record of all time. I've listened to it thousands of times. That's the record that turned me into a music fanatic. Before I heard that record, I was listening to the BEASTIE BOYS, I was listening to the J. GEILS BAND and whatever was popular on the radio, and I came across that record and from that point on, I've been a metalhead, looking for the heaviest thing that I could find. And I think METALLICA 'Master Of Puppets' is METALLICA at their best. Every single song on that record is a 10 out of 10."

Mark's latest comments echo those he made in 2012 when he told Noisecreep that "Master Of Puppets" was the record that helped shape him musically. "From there, I searched for the heaviest, darkest, meanest sounding stuff I could find," he said. "I grew up in Detroit and my friends listened to SLAYER and TESTAMENT — I got into punk, too, like BLACK FLAG and MINISTRY. And I got really into black metal. I got into CELTIC FROST, KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE. I loved that stuff. I'd have to control the volume though so I'd turn it down when they said 'praise Satan' or whatever to keep my parents from taking my records away. [Laughs]"

When asked if there were there specific metal guitarists that influenced him and his riffs, Mark told Noisecreep: "[METALLICA's] James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, for sure. That down stroke thing they do is one of my core sounds — my rhythm playing is very rooted in the METALLICA-based style. And SLAYER's approach, too. Some of my favorite riffs of all time are on SLAYER's song 'Raining Blood' and that really inspired me to write man of the menacing metal riffs that I have over the years. That's really what turned me on when I was younger, that kind of music."

ALTER BRIDGE has just released a new seven-song EP, "Walk The Sky 2.0", via Napalm Records.

In a new interview with Rock Titan TV, singer Ron Keel once again spoke about the time he nearly joined BLACK SABBATH in 1984 while the legendary heavy metal act was looking for a replacement for Ian Gillan.

"For the longest time, I didn't mention it until some books and web sites — the Internet — came along and people were mentioning it online in the late '90s," he said (see video below). "And a couple of books came out where I was included in the history of BLACK SABBATH. And I thought, 'Well, they're talking about it,' and I started getting questions about it in every interview. So I started addressing it, told the story in my own words many times over. But the coolest thing about it is that I finally got to sing those songs with some members and former members of BLACK SABBATH on a new project called EMERALD SABBATH. It's a tribute record featuring all the alumni — all the ex-members of SABBATH. Dave Walker is on the record, Vinny Appice. Rudy Sarzo played bass on 'Die Young' on this record I did. I actually did three songs on the record — 'Hole In The Sky', an Ozzy [Osbourne] track; and 'Trashed', an Ian Gillan song from 'Born Again'; and I got to cover Ronnie James Dio with 'Die Young'. So to be able to cover all three of those iconic BLACK SABBATH singers with some of the players — Vinny Appice did the original 'Heaven And Hell' album. So it was an amazing experience for me."

Ron went on to say that there is a tentative plan for his solo band to perform some of the BLACK SABBATH classics on tour next year, once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided.

"We already do some BLACK SABBATH in the show — there's a little BLACK SABBATH segment in the RON KEEL BAND show on occasion when the time is right," he said. "Not every gig, but especially at the rock club gigs where I know the fans are gonna get off on that, we'll throw some BLACK SABBATH into the show. And maybe next year a full-on KEEL SABBATH — is what I'm calling it — where we'll do the entire song list that Tony Iommi [SABBATH guitarist] gave me in 1984. Tony gave me a song list and said, 'Learn these. This is the show for the new tour.' And I still have a cassette tape that I made of those songs in order. I know the opening song was 'Neon Knights'. So I'd like to do that, just for the challenge of it, the fun of it. And the fact that I think the fans would get off on it. I know I would dig it. You do the whole BLACK SABBATH tribute show and then finish off with some KEEL, STEELER, RON KEEL BAND songs for the big finale. That could very well happen in 2021, if anything happens in 2021."

This past May, Keel told Canada's The Metal Voice that being considered for the lead singer position in SABBATH was "an amazing experience. I was in the studio recording the KEEL demos, at Pasha Studios, where [producer] Spencer Proffer had recorded the QUIET RIOT 'Metal Health' album. And Spencer was the hot hand in Hollywood at the time — he was the guy — and he had signed on to produce the new SABBATH album after Ian Gillan left. Spencer had chosen me for the vocal position in SABBATH, and we cut a demo of some songs, and Tony and Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] heard it. I signed a contract. I met with their management. I spent days with Tony and Geezer.

"Spencer Proffer, for whatever reason — ego, probably — was trying to turn BLACK SABBATH into an '80s 'hair' band, trying to push outside songs on them and make them into an MTV-type [band]," Ron revealed. "That's not SABBATH, man — SABBATH is who they are. They are the iconic founding fathers of heavy metal. You don't take SABBATH and turn them into an '80s 'hair' band like RATT or MÖTLEY CRÜE. Spencer was trying to do that at the time — not necessarily with me and my voice and my presence in the band, 'cause I think I would have been a good fit. And you can hear that on the tracks for the new EMERALD SABBATH album, which we just released, featuring former members of SABBATH coming together to create a BLACK SABBATH tribute record. And I was very fortunate that I was able to sing three songs on the record: an Ozzy [Osbourne] song, 'Hole In The Sky'; an Ian Gillan song, 'Trashed', off 'Born Again'; and I got to sing 'Die Young', the Ronnie James Dio classic from 'Heaven And Hell'. So I got to cover each one of those vocalists with guys like Rudy Sarzo on bass and Vinny Appice on bass.

"So, for me, the BLACK SABBATH story is never gonna be over; I get to talk about it in every interview, and I get to sing these iconic songs with some of the guys that are part of that SABBATH history," he added.

"My time with the band was very short. I am very thankful that KEEL survived that, 'cause that was right when we first put KEEL together, and I had to tell the guys in the band, 'Guys, I'm joining SABBATH, and I can't turn this opportunity down. This is the chance of a lifetime.' And the guys in my band understood it. We thought that April 7th, 1984 was gonna be our first and last show. But the deal fell apart. Spencer Proffer was fired. BLACK SABBATH said, 'Screw you. We're not having any of this. We're gonna do what SABBATH does.' And I got caught in the crossfire, 'cause Spencer was the guy who got me the gig. He was the producer of the project, and when he got fired, I got caught in the crossfire."

In his 2011 memoir, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath", Iommi stated about Keel: "Ron actually did have a career [after he auditioned for SABBATH], because he's a good singer as well. He just wasn't what we were looking for at the time."

During an appearance on The MetalSucks Podcast, Motörhead drummer Mikkey Dee spoke about the band’s 40th anniversary of Ace Of Spades and why 2002’s Hammered record is not one of his favorites. 

Asked if there is an album that was overlooked, he says, “Well, I think all the records that we did from the Bastards (1993) record and forward did get pretty decent, I mean, we got great reviews on every record, and I think we got enough.

"I mean, of course, I could tell you, 'Why didn't we get a Grammy for every record,' you know, but that's not really the deal. I still think that we got recognized decently for every record because we cared about the fans.

"And from the fans' point of view, they loved every record basically, and then you have a few albums maybe, for instance Hammered is not one of my favorite because it got a little too dark for us.

"And it was that time, 9/11 in New York, it was not a very happy time in the US, it was just weird. So that record is probably my least favorite, but everything else, you know, I got good attention, I think."




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During an appearance this morning (Monday, November 16) on SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show", Wolfgang Van Halen revealed that his father, Eddie Van Halen, had contemplated a "kitchen-sink tour" that would have included bassist Michael Anthony, as well as vocal turns from both Sammy Hagar and David Lee Roth. There was even talk about bringing back Gary Cherone, who sang with the band on one poorly received album, 1998's "Van Halen III".

Unfortunately, Eddie's health setbacks, which included injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident as well as a brain tumor diagnosis, prevented the tour from ever taking place. "If only things had been better, it would have been amazing," Wolfgang said.

Wolfgang also said that his father left "a shit-ton of tapes" of unreleased material that "will take a very long time to go through" and decide if there is anything there that could eventually see the light of day. He added: "That's not the priority right now. I can't put a timeline on it. There will be a time we go through it. Not for the foreseeable future."

Wolfgang said that some of his father's unreleased material is "ideas that probably aren't out there for good reason," but added that "I'm sure there's amazing shit in there."

Hagar replaced Roth in VAN HALEN in 1985 and recorded four studio albums with the band — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

Sammy, Eddie, Alex and Michael last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

Early last year, rumors were rampant that the classic-era lineup of VAN HALEN would reunite for the first time since 1984.

Eddie died on October 6 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. His wife, Janie, was by his side, along with Wolfgang and Alex, his 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.

AC/DC's Angus Young has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, saying that the death of the legendary VAN HALEN axeman "leaves a big hole."

Young discussed his appreciation for the groundbreaking musician in a brand new interview with Radio.com.

He said (see video below): "Eddie was, I would say, besides his guitar playing to the world, he definitely was innovative with his guitar style. And to the world, he reinvented the way guitar had to be, and he influenced a lot of people that you would know out there.

"I think, really, the first time I met him was in the '90s, I think, when we did some touring through Europe; we were doing shows together," Angus continued. "And he was just such a warm person. The first thing you noticed about him was, as soon as you saw him, he had a big smile, a big laugh, and he gave me a big hug. He was excited to see you.

"To the music world, it's a big loss. But again, for those of us lucky to have met him, it's an even probably bigger tragedy. And also for his family and everyone close to him.

"When you hear the news that cancer had come back to him, you're really hoping and you're praying the guy gets through it.

"But that's what I always remembered [about] him," Angus added. "And I remember seeing him also when we toured in America, on [the] 'Black Ice' [tour], and he came out to Los Angeles, and he came to the shows to see us. And he was still the same — big smile, happy, and he was ever so happy to see [us]. And he was very fond of [late AC/DC guitarist] Malcolm [Young].

"It's a tough thing. And he definitely leaves a big hole. If you knew him, he does leave a big hole in a lot of people."

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.

BLACK STONE CHERRY's Chris Robertson has reflected on the passing of Eddie Van Halen, saying that the legendary VAN HALEN axeman "rewrote the guitar handbook" with his signature instrumental "Eruption".

Robertson discussed his appreciation for the groundbreaking musician in a brand new interview with Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind.

He said: "I never got to meet him or see them play live, but I can say without Eddie, I would never have become a lead guitar player.

"When I was playing guitar, I always wanted to learn how to solo. There were always so many notes to learn on a big fretboard and how to use a whammy bar. I learned how to play guitar using an Epiphone Telecaster. I was listening to 'Van Halen I', starting with 'Runnin' With The Devil', then 'Eruption', then 'You Really Got Me'. After that, you have 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love', and I was floored because of his solo in that song. I could pick out the notes he was playing. He rewrote the guitar handbook with that solo for three decades with 'Eruption'.

"When they came out, everybody tried to be Eddie Van Halen. It is the most melodic solo. It made me think you don't have to do blazing solos all the time. You can learn at your own pace and put these things in as you feel comfortable.

"Eddie could have easily put the most blistering solo of all time in 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love' or in 'Running With The Devil'. The guy played complementary solos to the song, and that defined him as one of the greatest. Even though he could do 'Eruption', and it was his forte, he could play melodically and captivate you with just a hand full of notes.

"I'm a guitar player, and we can be the vainest group of people; we dictated that we are going to take a few extra minutes in a song to showcase what I can do. [laughs] I'm that guy as well as the lead singer. Guitar solos have always just been a thing in our band. I'm glad they are, because I honestly love them. Ben [Wells, BLACK STONE CHERRY guitarist] and I really enjoy doing them."

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.

Max Cavalera says that he doesn't keep in contact with his former bandmates in SEPULTURA.

SEPULTURA's classic lineup fell apart in 1996 with the exit of Max after the rest of the band split with his wife Gloria as their manager. His brother, drummer Igor Cavalera, stuck around with the group for another 10 years before leaving SEPULTURA and re-teaming with Max in CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

Although SEPULTURA has maintained a diehard fanbase in all parts of the world throughout the band's three-and-a-half-decade-plus history, Max-era albums "Roots" and "Chaos A.D." were by far SEPULTURA's most commercially successful, having both been certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of five hundred thousand copies.

Asked in a new interview with the "RRBG Podcast" if he stays in touch with the guys in SEPULTURA nearly 25 years since his departure from the band, Max said (hear audio below): "Not really. When [we went our] separate ways, it's a bit like — I've never been divorced, but I assume that would be what a divorce is like. You don't really wanna see your ex-wife, and you don't wanna keep tabs on who she's dating or whatever. So I don't really follow them. Whatever they do, it's all right by me, man. I've got so much on my plate, I'm plenty busy here that I don't need to be looking at them, be measuring what they are doing to what I am doing. In the end, I think things just kind of went that way.

"I'm super proud of the time we had together," he continued. "We made some magnificent records, man — stuff that influences people forever. I'm in contact with a lot of young, upcoming bands that really love the old stuff — guys from CREEPING DEATH and NECROT, they always mention especially the early era [of SEPULTURA]: 'Bestial Devastation', 'Morbid Visions', 'Beneath The Remains', of course, 'Arise'. So it's cool to know that we did those records. But there's so much more to do."

This past January, SEPULTURA bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. said that he has had "zero" contact with Max, adding that a reunion with the band's original frontman would have to happen "naturally."

Back in 2017, Igor Cavalera told The Salt Lake Tribune that he and Max "believe SEPULTURA doesn't really make sense nowadays, to do what they're doing." The drummer also downplayed the possibility of a reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, saying: "Unless it's something really solid — and we haven't seen that from their part — of doing something totally professional and coming together, trying to do something like that. At the end of the day, it would be special for the fans, so it's not like a closed door, but at the same time, we have no time to spend energy with this kind of thing. So we just move forward."

Max echoed his brother's sentiments, telling The Salt Lake Tribune that he doesn't even think about his former bandmates much. "For a time — for a long time — there was a war in the press, like, 'He'll talk this, I'll talk that,'" he explained. "I got really tired of it, honestly. I'm not gonna do that anymore. So let them go their way and do their thing, and we're gonna do our thing, and I think that's the best for everybody."

While stopping short of completely ruling out a reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, Max said: "Right now, we don't even need it. It's been so much of that kind of bad vibes through the years that I don't even know how that would even really work out. I think what [Igor and I] are doing is the closest thing to that, and it works great, it works like a charm. It's amazing."

Igor and Max have spent much of the last five years celebrating the 20th anniversary of SEPULTURA's "Roots" and 30th anniversary of "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise", respectively, on tour all over the world.

SEPULTURA's latest album, "Quadra", was released in February via Nuclear Blast Records.

A week ago, SYSTEM OF A DOWN released "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", the band's first new songs in 15 years. The tracks were motivated by the recently erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years. Produced by guitarist/vocalist Daron Malakian, who also wrote the music and lyrics, both songs are streaming now on all DSPs and are available for purchase on Bandcamp with band royalties earmarked for the Armenia Fund.

In a new interview with BBC Sounds, Malakian stated about the fan response to the new SYSTEM OF A DOWN songs: "We hadn't put out music for 15 years, so for people to still give a damn, it's really flattering — it really is. I've been hearing through the years so much from the fans, 'Please, new album. New album. New album.' No matter what we post or what we do or what other projects we have, it's always, 'New album. New album.' It's not a new album, but it's two news songs to the catalog that I'm very proud of that I feel stand up well with anything else that we've ever put out. And I feel like the fans have accepted it that way as well. It wasn't, like, 'Oh, yeah, new songs, but ah, they're horrible,' or anything like that. Fifteen years later, that can happen."

Asked if the making of the two new songs opened the doors to the possibility of SYSTEM OF A DOWN recording more music in the not-too-distant future, Daron said: "It's not that simple, I guess. I wish it was. It should be; it should be. But it gets a little bit more complicated than that. I don't wanna get into, like, 'Well, it's this person and that person.' We did this for a noble reason, and we did this for the right reasons. We didn't make any money off this — everything we've made from these songs we've donated straight into Armenia Fund. So it wasn't like a money grab; it wasn't trying to get fame and attention, and, 'Hey, we're gonna break the Internet,' or nothing like that. It was totally for the noble reason of our country needs us, and that was really the driving force and the motivation for this — it wasn't really about, 'Wow, we're so excited to do a new SYSTEM OF A DOWN record again.' But the fact that it happened so smoothly and everything like that, I personally do walk away and say it's a shame that certain things can't come together to make that happen, let's just say. 'Cause we did do these two songs in a really comfortable, smooth [way]. Everyone got along."

"Protect The Land" a was originally written by Malakian for the next album by his other group, SCARS ON BROADWAY, while "Genocidal Humanoidz" was penned three or four years ago when Malakian, drummer John Dolmayan and bassist Shavo Odadjian convened for a jam session that produced several songs, only to abandon them when singer Serj Tankian wouldn't commit to an album.

The music video for "Protect The Land" incorporates recent footage of the protests and on-the-ground fighting in Artsakh, but in a very personal and aesthetic way. As he did for all previous SYSTEM OF A DOWN releases, Odadjian executive-produced the music video and curated the cover and brand art for the project.

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

Photo credit: Clemente Ruiz