Everybody has a name they are born with. Having one of the most recognizable names in entertainment, Wolfgang Van Halen has been preparing to release music from his solo band MAMMOTH WVH for some time. That plan was altered when his father and guitar icon Eddie Van Halen called him and told him his cancer had returned. Wolfgang decided to put everything on hold to be with his father through his battle. During that time, Wolfgang was writing material for his upcoming solo album (available via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records in 2021) for which the first single "Distance" would be born. The song is available via all digital service providers.

"As my pop continued to struggle with various health issues, I was imagining what my life would be like without him and how terribly I'd miss him. While the song is incredibly personal, I think anyone can relate to the idea of having a profound loss in their life," explains Wolfgang Van Halen.

Writing the song and performing all of the instrumentation and vocals for MAMMOTH WVH, "Distance" is an open letter to his father — one Wolfgang was fortunate to play for his dad and would become a favorite of Eddie's — declaring "no matter what the distance is, I will be with you." The video for the song is created from a collection of family home movies through the years and offers an inside look in to one of music's most notable personalities. Chronicling the family through the years, the video ends with a touching voicemail left from Eddie to his son.

"I never intended 'Distance' to be the very first piece of music people would hear from me, but I also thought my father would be here to celebrate its release. This is for him. I love and miss you, Pop."

An organization that is very close to the Van Halen family is the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation. Eddie was very supportive of the organization via numerous donations throughout his lifetime. Following in his father's footsteps in another way, Wolfgang is donating his portion of all proceeds from "Distance" to the foundation.

Felice Mancini, the president and CEO of The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, said: "Our connection with Eddie grew out of his generous nature, his delight in seeing kids learn and play music, and ultimately understanding what's important in life. Eddie lived out loud through his music, and I believe that he wanted to see that kind of expression ignite in the students. Music saved him and he loved giving back through what we do for kids through the power of music. Thank you, Eddie. We'll never forget you."

First impressions last a lifetime. Wolfgang Van Halen has prepared a lifetime to make his first impression with his solo band MAMMOTH WVH. The songwriter, vocalist, and multi-instrumentalist worked tirelessly on material that would become his debut album — scheduled for release in 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. Playing every instrument and singing each and every note, his music presents a personal and powerful perspective, balancing memorable hooks and tight technicality. As many times as audiences have experienced his talent alongside the likes of TREMONTI, Clint Lowery, and of course, VAN HALEN, Wolfgang prepares to step into the spotlight with his own brand — MAMMOTH WVH — for the very first time now.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

Toronto-based black metal band Astaroth Incarnate were forced to postpone their planned November 14th livestream, featuring two full sets, due to new COVID-19 quarantine regulations put into motion in Toronto and Peel Region that day. It will now take pkace on December 19th at 8:00pm EST.

A message from the band:

"Tickets are priced at $6.66 CAD and you can purchase them from the ticket link at the event page! All of the earnings from this show will go directly towards funding our first 60 minute long full length album. This will be a full production theatrical Astaroth Incarnate show with four rotating cameras, lighting, live pro audio mix and our Blood Witch sacrifices.

We will be playing two full sets. First with our entire debut EP Omnipotence, followed by a live interview where you can talk to us directly! Finally, new songs from our Ascendance EP and one never before played song from our upcoming full length album.

You made this possible! We couldn't have survived this long without your undying support spawns. So join us for this very special night!"

Go to this location for all event details and ticket links.




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EVANESCENCE will host its first public performance of the COVID era, a livestream concert experience dubbed "Evanescence: A Live Session From Rock Falcon Studio", on Saturday, December 5 at 1 p.m. PT, 4 p.m. ET, 9 p.m. U.K. and 10 p.m. CET. The livestream will be available through Tuesday, December 8 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The band, which postponed their massive 2020 international tour earlier this year, safely assembled from Nashville, Sacramento, and Germany to perform live renditions of songs from their upcoming album "The Bitter Truth" for the first time, as well as some fan favorites and a few can't-miss surprises.

Advance early-bird tickets are only $9.99 and can be purchased at www.EvanescenceLive.com. Fans are encouraged to buy early before prices increase on December 1 to week of show pricing.

And check out a special sneak peak of the event with the band's first live performance video of "Use My Voice", out today, below.

Hosted at Rock Falcon Studio in Nashville where the band have been recording their new album, "The Bitter Truth", the intimate performance gives an up-close view of EVANESCENCE in the studio. In the live setting, Amy Lee's powerful vocals blend seamlessly with the group's raw, emotional arrangements, making it clear why she is "one of rock's definitive voices" (Rolling Stone). Featuring new songs as well as universally known anthems like "Bring Me To Life", the event delivers a powerful, timely performance that transitions effortlessly between guitar-driven bangers and piano ballads to bring the EVANESCENCE live experience home.

So far this year, EVANESCENCE has released three singles from "The Bitter Truth": "Wasted On You", "The Game Is Over" and the current Top 15 radio single "Use My Voice", which have garnered early praise from The New York Times, Elle magazine, Rolling Stone, and more. "Wasted on You" earned an MTV Video Music Awards nomination in the "Best Rock" category, and "Use My Voice" was this fall's get-out-the-vote anthem for HeadCount, the music industry's biggest non-partisan, nonprofit voting rights organization.

EVANESCENCE's new music is being produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

EVANESCENCE spent much of the last two years recording and touring in support of 2017's "Synthesis", which contained some of the band's best-loved songs — as well as a couple of new ones — reinvented with full orchestra over a deep electronic landscape.

Christian-metallers Stryper recently announced they will be streaming a multi-camera live performance of their new album, Even The Devil Believes, in its entirety on November 19th at 8pm EST. Tickets are on sale at Stryper.Veeps.com. They have followed up with an update:

"If you can’t watch at that particular time/day, you’ll have 48 hours to watch. Also, we’re planning on doing this with every album. From start to finish. If you want to help us achieve this goal, go to Patreon.com/Stryper and subscribe. God bless you guys." 

Go to this location for event details.

The official music video for Stryper's single, "Do Unto Others", has surpassed 1 million views on YouTube. In case you haven't seen it, the clip can be found below.

Stryper recently released their 13th studio album, Even The Devil Believes, which debuted #1 on Billboard's Top Christian Albums and #2 on Billboard's Current Rock Albums. "Do Unto Others" is the lead single from the album.

Even The Devil Believes tracklisting:

"Blood From Above"
"Make Love Great Again"
"Let Him In"
"Do Unto Others"
"Even The Devil Believes"
"How To Fly"
"Divider"
"This I Pray"
"Invitation Only"
"For God & Rock 'N' Roll"
"Middle Finger Messiah"

"Do Unto Others" video:

"Blood From Above" lyric video:




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Audio brand V-MODA has teamed up with the Jimi Hendrix estate to release a new line of headphones inspired by the singer and guitarist’s lyrics, artwork and enduring legacy, reports Tim Chan of Rolling Stone.

Three pairs of Hendrix-branded headphones are being released as part of V-MODA’s first installment of its new Artist Series. The exclusive designs, named “Peace, Love and Happiness,” “Wisdom,” and “Soul,” allow Hendrix fans and audiophiles alike to rep the musician on custom V-MODA Crossfade 2 Wireless headphones.

The officially-licensed collaboration stemmed from a meeting between members of the Hendrix family and the business development team at Roland, V-MODA’s parent company. According to a rep for the company, “Roland and the Hendrix estate were immediately intrigued with the idea of creating something together that honored the Hendrix legacy [and] as ideas were researched, an image of Hendrix wearing headphones in the studio inspired further discussions.”

“We’re thrilled to have the privilege of showcasing an icon such as Jimi Hendrix as the first in our new Artist Series, and to be incorporating these three new designs into our acclaimed headphones,” says Luca Bolognesi, VP of Marketing Technology of V-MODA. “With the addition of the quality and versatility of the Crossfade 2 Wireless, this line is perfect for music-lovers who want to extend their appreciation to what they wear, rather than just what they listen to.”

Learn more at this location.

 




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New for the Horror-Days and availale now at this location - Have a very Misfits Christmas!

Wearing a long tailored robe and a removable Santa hat, the Misfits 'Holiday Fiend' is dressed for a trip to your Christmas tree this season! Standing at 8" tall, this poseable figure comes with a fabric present sack and two sets of hands. Also included are two interchangeable heads, creating both the classic look of the Fiend, and a highly stylized version rendered in artwork painted by the late, great, Basil Gogos, featured on the window box packaging.

Plus new resin Fiend Ornament and Mini Bust, 'Holiday Fiend' enamel pin and scare freshener, as well as official Misfits face masks in a variety of designs.






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Devin Townsend has returned with another installment of his sporadic yet ongoing Quarantine Project, this time with the new song called "Precious Sardine".

Devin: "Here's another quarantine song =) Drums are Morgan (Agren), backing vocals by Aman Khosla and Tanya Ghosh. Its about sardines or something… I’m not entirely sure."

Check out some of Townsend's previous Quarantine Project releases below, and check out the new BraveWords feature on Canada's first Strapping Young Lad here.




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According to Hollywood Reporter, United Talent Agency is suing its insurers over their denial of pandemic-related coverage without doing a meaningful investigation of its claims - and says it stands to lose more than $150 million because of COVID-19 shut downs.

"At least 13 UTA employees, five spouses, and some of their dependents have tested positive for COVID-19," writes attorney Kirk Pasich in the complaint. "As a result of the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the Closure Orders, UTA suffered losses from cancelled live events - including cancelled tours by Guns N' Roses, Post Malone, Toby Keith, Pitbull, Burna Boy, Monsta X, and 3 Doors Down - and cancelled television and motion picture production. UTA currently estimates that its financial losses, including lost profits, lost commissions, and lost business opportunities, approximate $150,000,000, and are continuing."

UTA is suing Vigilant and Federal insurance companies for breach of contract and tortious interference. Pasich argues that Vigilant and Federal's parent company Chubb National Insurance has "adopted a universal practice of denying coverage for all business interruption claims" associated with the pandemic. (Pasich in September filed a complaint against Chubb over coverage issues on Ben Affleck-led Hypnotic.)

Read the full story at HollywoodReporter.com.




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Judas Priest metal god Rob Halford is featured in a new interview with Mark Dean at AntiHero Magazine. An excerpt from the chat is available below.

On new music from Judas Priest

Halford: "We’ve always felt that going through the process of writing and recording keeps you vital. You’re not living on your past glories. That first writing session back in March was absolutely brilliant. We had a ton of ideas and because of what’s happening now, there’s still, much like this (solo) blues record, there are still pieces being accumulated and going back and forth, but we’ll get the job done."

On the widespread support he has experienced since releasing his new autobiography, Confess

Halford: "It just shows you; it just shows you how this unconditional love is within metal, within our metal community. We’re a special bunch of people, and we look after each other and we support each other. So, when I did come out as a gay guy officially all those years ago, I really wasn’t sure what the reaction was going to be because everybody’s different. But I think any concerns that I had were completely wiped away because I had nothing but acceptance, and people just saying, 'Robbie, okay. It’s all about the music. It’s all about the metal that matters.' Which is what it should be."

On how he retains "that voice"

Halford: "I don’t know, it’s like a heavy metal miracle isn’t it? I’ll be turning 70 next year. I’m excited and I’m thrilled that I’m still able to do what I want to do. There are some things I can’t do like I could do as a younger singer because I’m an older guy and your body changes, especially your vocal cords. But I’m encouraged, and I’m whipped along by Andy Sneap and Tom Allom in the studio to get the best out of me. So, I’m just very grateful because, again, some of my mates have had difficulties over the years with voice nodules and things that happen to you that really aren’t in your control. So, I just count my blessings that I’m still able to give it another crack at it every time we do a show or make a record."

Check out the complete 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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On October 29th, X Japan drummer Yoshiki uploaded pro-shot video of the band performing their classic single "Week End" live without an audience. This was part of a live broadcast. Check it out below, watch for more footage in the near future.

In a new commercial campaign for Asahi's Wonda Coffee, which began on September 3rd, Yoshiki transforms into a super-powered titan. Based on the worldwide hit anime series Attack On Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin), the 3D CG animated character was modeled after Yoshiki, and the thundering drum sounds were recorded live by the X Japan drummer himself.

Check out the commercial below.




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Cathedral vocalist Lee Dorrian and guitarist Gaz Jennings have recently been trolling through their archives and are in the process of getting some old 8mm, Video 8, VHS and Mini DV clips transferred. A lot of this cool stuff will be added to the Cathedral YouTube channel in the coming months. First up is this rarely seen promo clip for "Utopian Blaster", which was filmed during their first ever Australian show at The Roxy in Brisbane, March 12th 1996. Enjoy! 

They cut out "Huggy Bear Oh Yeah!" for some reason?

"Utopian Blaster" originally appeared on Cathedral's third album, The Carnival Bizarre, released in 1995 on Earache Records.

 




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Danish power metal outfit, Savage Machine, participated in the Wacken Metal Battle 2015 and placed fifth. Watch the band's performance of the songs "Iron Forest" and "Prisoners Of War", below:




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

A message states: "Chastain exploded onto the metal scene with the release of their epic debut album, Mystery Of Illusion, in 1985. Shortly after the release of that album the band met up in Cincinnati, Ohio to play a concert at Bogart's. The band for the show was David T. Chastain on guitar, Leather Leone on vocals, Mike Skimmerhorn on bass, Russell Jinkens on second guitar and Les Sharp on drums.

"The concert was actually a showcase for a major label that Mike Varney had arranged. We recently found this concert on a Beta tape and had it transferred to digital format. Considering the show was 35 years ago and shot on one camera by a fan, it obviously has some technical flaws but we decided to release it for its "historical" importance. Leather's performance alone is worth the price of admission!

"'I've Seen Tomorrow' features the bands speed metal chops. Mystery Of Illusion has just been reissued on CD by Divebomb Records."

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




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Brazil-based animator Val Andrade has released his latest Iron Maiden cartoon clip featuring the title track to the band's Brave New World album, originally released 20 years ago in 2000. Check it out below:

A selection of Andrade's previously released Iron Maiden-based cartoons can be seen below:

 




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Coming December 15 on CD and to all digital stores and streaming media, will be the new KISS tribute album, Buffalo Rock City. The recording’s proceeds are geared to help the Compass House Foundation, a charitable organization which helps the homeless youth in Buffalo, New York.

Lifelong KISS fan and tribute band, KISS This! founder and guitarist, John Jeffrey, assembled the album. He felt it important to have a quality, KISS related release, which was large in part, represented the Western New York music scene.     

Collaborating locally and via remote locations, Buffalo Rock City was carefully recorded, to ensure the final product would sound like a complete album of work. To create a solid foundation, ALL the drum and bed tracks were recorded in the SAME studio on the SAME day.

Being that Buffalo Rock City serves a greater purpose, it was decided the songs would, generally, elevate those in need. The choices are all NON-cock rock KISS songs. John Jeffrey says, “While KISS is famous for their tongue-in-cheek innuendo, it made sense to record songs which resonate with the struggles some people may experience, and interpersonal things most people may struggle with, day to day.”

The album presents hits and great B-sides from KISS’ entire history as a recording band. This includes songs from their 1974 self-titled debut, all the way up to the last ever (so far) KISS studio album from 2012, Monster. The album features remakes of songs that were first sung by all four original members of KISS (Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, Ace Frehley & Peter Criss). It includes songs originally played by all members of the group: all five lead guitarists (Ace Frehley, Vinnie Vincent, Mark St. John, Bruce Kulick & Tommy Thayer) and the focal drummers from the band’s studio recordings: Peter Criss, Eric Carr, Eric Singer, and Anton Fig.

Buffalo Rock City features the "best of the best" musicians from Western New York. In addition to KISS This!, there’s DoDriver, an all original act, handpicked by KISS members and their manager Doc McGhee, to open for KISS on the Sonic Boom tour at Darien Lake on August 13, 2010.

Contributions to the collaboration album were also made by national/worldwide recording artists, Robby Takac (vocals), Tommy Henriksen (vocals/bass), Tommy Denander (guitar), Deen Castronovo (vocals), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (guitar), Philip Shouse (bass/guitar), Jeremy Asbrock (guitar), Ryan Spencer Cook (vocals) & Mitch Weissman (vocals). These "celebrity guests" have toured and recorded with Asia, Ace Frehley, Alice Cooper, Doro, Accept, Gene Simmons, Guns N' Roses, Journey, Ozzy Osbourne, The Hollywood Vampires, Goo Goo Dolls, Michael Jackson, Toto, The Dead Daisies, Paul Stanley, and Beatlemania.

Mitch Weissman's lead vocals in his “While The City Sleeps” marks a significant note in "KISStory." His song originally appeared on KISS' 1984 release, Animalize. This is the first time a KISS co-writer re-recorded a new studio version of a KISS song that he wrote with the band!    

Another legend in KISS recording lore is Jay Messina. Messina, who mastered Buffalo Rock City, has been working with KISS since 1976, engineering and mixing the band's breakout album Destroyer. He engineered and mixed 1979’s Dynasty and co-mixed the next album, Unmasked (1980).

John Jeffrey says, “Jay Messina knows what a KISS album should sound like; he did an amazing job in the mastering process of Buffalo Rock City."

In tradition with the great KISS album covers, comic artist Kevin Conrad did the pencils and inks for the front cover of Buffalo Rock City. A life-long KISS fan, Kevin’s known for his work with Todd McFarlane, who hired him to ink all 31 issues of his KISS - Psycho Circus comic book series. The cover art depicts KISS This! musicians wearing their favorite era costumes for the KISS member they personify. The band follows the iconic KISS Destroyer poses in front of Buffalo's City Hall.

The Compass House Foundation is the charity recipient of proceeds of Buffalo Rock City. Located in Buffalo, NY, its mission is to provide runaway, homeless and street youth with safe shelter and services, in an environment that supports dignity, respect and self-reliance.

The upcoming release is available for pre-order now. All ordering information can be found at BuffaloRockCity.com.

Tracklisting:

"Black Diamond" (Bumblefoot & Deen Castronovo)
"Detroit Rock City" (KISS THIS!)
"Hard Luck Woman"  (Robby Takac)
"New York Groove 78/80"   (Tommy Henriksen & Tommy Denander)
"Dirty Livin'" (Ryan Spencer Cook & Philip Shouse)
"Hard Times"  (Philip Shouse)
"I've Had Enough (Into the Fire)" (Various artists)
"Back on the Streets" (Various artists)   
"Street Giveth and the Street Taketh Away" (Various artists)  
"Jungle"   (DoDriver)
"It's My Life" (Jeremy Asbrock)
"Freak" (Various artists)
"While the City City Sleeps" (Mitch Weissman) *  

* bonus collector's track




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On November 13, Accuser released their new self-titled album via Metal Blade Records. Get it here.

To celebrate Accuser's release, the band is now offering a free live show for fans via YouTube. Featuring new and classic songs, be sure to check out the performance below.

Accuser comments: "In fact, you all have read a statement like this one several times over the last months. With COVID-19 still being, well, all over the place to put it mildly, we as many other bands are not able to do what we love the most- being on stage, performing and having a great time with you, the fans. With our new record out, one we are really, really proud of, we'd like to give you at least a glimpse at how the new songs sound on stage. Together with our long time supporters, Vortex Surfer Club and Kulturbüro Siegen-Wittgenstein, we are happy to present you what might be called 'Thrash In A Box'. 4 guys on stage, 9 songs and tons of riffs! Cheers and thanks to all involved. We hope you enjoy our take on this weird thing called streaming shows, we surely did!"

Since they began flying the flag for German thrash in the '80s, Accuser have gone on to prove themselves one of the most enduring forces in global metal. With eleven full-lengths behind them, they return in 2020 with their latest masterwork: a blistering collection that captures everything that makes the band so vital, produced by longtime collaborator Martin Buchwalter (who has worked on five Accuser albums) and mastered by Dan Swanö.

"You stay fresh through curiosity," states vocalist/guitarist Frank Thoms. "Writing new songs keeps you fresh, and it is always exciting how things develop and how the listener reacts to them afterwards. This process never gets boring. It is always exciting and invites you to try new things."

The result is a dynamic album that is very much rooted in thrash, but still takes the listener through various moods and styles, further cementing Accuser's status as leaders, not followers.

The return of lead guitarist René Schütz to the band's ranks - who appeared on multiple Accuser records prior to 2011 - only served to up the ante on Accuser.

"We are very, very happy to have him back in the band, and as you will be able to hear, his leads are definitely over the top. From my perspective, he is one of the very, very few thrash metal guitarists who are able to combine technique and feeling in a proper way."

With writing for the new record commencing as soon as 2018's The Mastery was completed, Thoms pushed himself until he was in "100% concentration mode", knowing he is on the right path when he forgets his daily routine and normal life falls away. With no structure or plan envisaged, the songs came together naturally, as they always have.

"The Accuser sound is in our DNA, and at the end of the day, it is our own blend of thrash metal. To be honest, that's what I like best during the process of making a record, seeing how the music develops and how the album is taking shape."

The shape Accuser took is definitely versatile, and perhaps sounds simpler than it actually is.

"We managed to make well thought-out songs sound simple. Crazy things don't seem like a disturbance or a foreign body. In addition, we have inconspicuously processed various genres of metal. Ultimately, we just tried to offer the essence of the band, the groove from 'Repent' (1992), the riffs in the veins of Who Dominates Who (1989), plus structures that could be found on the first album The Conviction (1987) and stylistics that could be from Reflections (1994) or Taken By The Throat (1995) - everything put together in catchy songs."

The combination of these elements that shout back to earlier Accuser releases - without repeating or copying themselves - alongside the return of Schütz, led Thoms to believe this album "must be called Accuser".

Accuser tracklisting:

"Misled Obedience"
"Phantom Graves"
"Temple Of All"
"Lux in Tenebris"
"Be None The Wiser"
"Rethink"
"Psychocision"
"Contamination"
"The Eliminator"
"Seven Lives"
"A Cycle's End"

Album stream:

"Phantom Graves" video:

Accuser lineup:

Frank Thoms - vocals/guitars
René Schütz - guitars
Frank Kimpel - bass
Olli Fechner - drums




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Sweden's Avatarium might not have been able to set the European stages on fire with their magical live show this year due to obvious reasons - however, instead, they'll bring the best tracks from their four studio albums right into your living room now.

After previously releasing their Live In Stockholm show as downloadable concert via Blackbox in August (still available here, the band has now announced that their first official live release, titled An Evening With Avatarium, will be available on all streaming platforms on December 4.

Guitar master Marcus Jidell comments: "This concert was recorded right before the outbreak of COVID-19; it’s the tour we should have made 2020. In these hard and challenging times we hope you’ll get some good energy and power from our doomy, intense, dynamic and heavy show!!"

In case you weren't able to download the full show yet, get a glimpse of Avatarium's live show with the haunting classic, "Moonhorse":

Lineup:

Jennie-Ann Smith - Vocals
Marcus Jidell - Guitar
Andreas ‘Habo’ Johansson - Drums
Rickard Nilsson - Organ
Mats Rydström - Live Bass

(Photo - Phil Jamieson)




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Canedy, the solo project of Rods drummer Carl Canedy, have released a lyric video for "In This Sign", a track from the new album, Warrior, available via Sleaszy Rider Records. Watch the clip below.

Canedy is comprised of Mike Santarsiero (lead vocals), Charlie Russello (guitars, synth), Tony Garuba  (bass, vocals, cello), and Carl on drums. And as evidenced by the material on Warrior, it is a decidedly vintage metal sound with a modern approach that the quartet specialize in.

Order CD and vinyl copies of Warrior here

Tracklisting:

“Do It Now”
“Not Even Love”
“Lies”
“Hellride”
“Warrior“
“3rd Times A Charm”
“Out For Blood”
“In This Sign”
“The Prize”
“Attia”

“In This Sign” lyric video:

“Warrior“:

Canedy’s name is long-familiar with metalheads worldwide - as he was the drummer for the Rods (and a brief early drummer of Manowar). But it is as a producer that Canedy is most known - as he oversaw the recording of classic recordings by the likes of Anthrax (Fistful Of Metal, Armed and Dangerous and Spreading the Disease), Overkill (Feel the Fire), and Blue Cheer (The Beast Is Back) in the ‘80s.

And now, Canedy is putting both his production and artistic talents to good use on ‘Warrior.’ “I am really proud of this album and the fact that we can do these songs justice live. I'm looking forward to people hearing the album and catching a live performance. I'm thrilled to be part of a band that is as strong live as it is in the studio!” The album was mixed by Chris Collier who has previously mixed albums for Korn, Prong and Last in Line.




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Killer Be Killed - Max Cavalera (Soulfly/ex-Sepultura), Ben Koller (Converge/Mutoid Man), Greg Puciato (The Dillinger Escape Plan/The Black Queen) and Troy Sanders (Mastodon/Gone Is Gone) - will release their new album, Reluctant Hero, on November 20 via Nuclear Blast.

In this new trailer, the band discuss the album, artwork and vocals:

Reluctant Hero pre-orders are available here, with the release available in a variety of limited edition vinyl variants, as well as on CD and a 2LP black vinyl version. Pre-save, listen and download on all digital platforms here.

Reluctant Hero tracklisting:

"Deconstructing Self-Destruction"
"Dream Gone Bad"
"Left Of Center"
"Inner Calm From Outer Storms"
"Filthy Vagabond"
"From A Crowded Wound"
"The Great Purge"
"Comfort From Nothing"
"Animus"
"Dead Limbs"
"Reluctant Hero"

"Inner Calm From Outer Storms" video:

“Dream Gone Bad” video:

"Deconstructing Self-Destruction" visualizer:




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Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante has released the new video below, featuring a cover of U.K.'s "Presto Vivace".

Says Charlie: "U.K. were a late seventies British progressive rock supergroup. It featured singer/bassist John Wetton, Eddie Jobson, Allan Holdsworth and drummer Bill Bruford, who was later replaced by drummer Terry Bozzio. I can't tell you what their first two records and their live album Night After Night meant to me. The version of 'Presto Vivace' from the live album has always been a favorite of mine, probably because of Terry Bozzio’s drumming. I asked Alex (Skolnick) and Ra (Diaz) to rock this one out and they NAILED it. We needed someone to play this crazy keyboard part… hmmmmmm... WHO? Alex suggested Jordan Rudess, how AWESOME! Jordan was into it and he also NAILED it. I hope you dig this short but fiery blast of notes and hits; just an awesome display of musicians having fun!"




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British blackened death metal pioneers, Hecate Enthroned, are mourning the passing of their original guitarist, Marc, who appeared on the band's 1995 demo An Ode For A Haunted Wood, their 1995 EP Upon Promeathean Shores (Unscriptured Waters), and their 1997 debut album The Slaughter Of Innocence, A Requiem For The Mighty

A message from the band states: "With the deepest of regrets, we have the hardest time to let you know that Marc, our original guitarist (An Ode to A Haunted Wood, Upon Promeathean Shores, The Slaughter Of Innocence) has sadly passed away.

"Nige (Dennen) formed Amethyst with Marc which started their musical adventure way back around 1992, which was a precursor to Daemonum, as you know, later became Hecate Enthroned.

"Marc had no ego. He was a true, genuine friend and one that people could relax around and be able to be yourself - an important trait in a band. He had a raw passion for music and especially his guitar playing which was based on the “feel” of the music and a fine pairing for Nige as they were very similar often pre-empting each other’s riffs. The band experienced pivotal musical moments with Marc and together formed a forever bond - the witnessing of the, then, new wave of Black Metal and living that lifestyle.

"We are eternally saddened by the passing of our metal brother... Until we meet again.

“…Drink deep, in the promises of Midnight.”

 

 

 

 



View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Hecate Enthroned (@hecateenthronedofficial)

 




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Harrisburg, PA-based heavy rock band, Eternal Frequency, has released the official music video for their cover of Queen's 1991 hit single, "The Show Must Go On."

Self-directed and filmed and edited by Eric DiCarlo, 100% of "The Show Must Go On" proceeds will go to NIVA - National Independent Venue Association to help #SAVEOURSTAGES.

Says the band: "Our cover of 'The Show Must Go On' (originally performed by Queen) is a tribute to all of our fellow musicians, roadies, technicians, stage hands, managers, venue owners, and most importantly the listeners and fans that are being affected by this pandemic. We essentially wanted to send a message that things will get better. That is why we are donating 100% of the song proceeds to NIVA - National Independent Venue Association."

Download / stream "The Show Must Go On" via Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Music. Watch the video below:

Eternal Frequency is a young, up and coming band hailing from Harrisburg Pennsylvania who use anthemic rock and metalcore as their muse to formulate a fresh, modern, hard rock sound of their own. In just under two years of being a band they have released several singles including "Down", “Temptations”, and the lastest "Parasite" which garnered over 140,000 views on YouTube. They have continued to develop their following in the Pennsylvania market and continue to expand their fan base through means of digital strategy during the current pandemic.

Accompanying the drive and power of their songs, they also bring a strong, energetic stage presence with them when they perform live. "The biggest test to us is to deliver to our fans an experience that they will never forget. We should be complimenting what we create."

The band during it's tenure has shared the stage and opened for established artists such as Of Mice And Men, Smile Empty Soul, Vixen, and Sponge. In January of 2020 the band was awarded Best New Artist/Band for the annual Central Pennsylvania Music Awards.

2020 has been a great starting point for Eternal Frequency. It is only a matter of time before they break out onto the national scene.




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Shark Island was once the house band at the world famous Gazzaris on the Sunset Strip. Signed to Epic Records in 1989 the band released their debut album, Law Of The Order, and also saw the tracks "Dangerous" and "Father Time" featured in the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, as well as the song "My City" from the movie Point Break.

Richard Black would go on to be part of the short lived supergroup Contraband which also featured Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO), and members of L.A. Guns, Ratt and Vixen. They released one album in 1991 before disbanding.

In 2018 the band started work on Bloodline which was recorded in Croatia and Los Angeles. It was limited to self release before being picked up by Deko Entertainment, and fans and critics are liking what they hear.

Richard states this about the new video and song, “Written as a companion song to ‘On And On’, ‘Someday’ is a song about procrastination and our fleeting life as it passes before our eyes.”

View the video for "Someday' below.

Bloodline 2.020 is out now and features the unreleased extended version of “Rocks on the Rocks” and the newly recorded “Someday”.

As part of this deluxe 2.020 version, they are making available limited edition Mega-Bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered here.

This bundle includes the following items:

- One (1) Shark Island Bloodline 2.020 CD
- One (1) Shark Island Fandana
- One (1) Shark Island T-Shirt
- One (1) Shark Island Signed Poster
- One (1) Shark Island Sticker
- One (1) Shark Island Bracelet

Bloodline 2.020 tracklisting:

"Make A Move"
"Fire In the House"
"Policy Of Truth"
"Aktion Is"
"7 Tears"
"Crazy 8’s"
"Rocks On The Rocks"
"Butterfly"
"When She Cries"
"Law Of The Order"
"On And On"
"Someday"
"Rocks On The Rocks" (Producer’s Cut)

"Someday" video:




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New York City-based collective VRSTY (pronounced "Varsity") - Joey Varela (vocals), Javy Dorrejo (bass), Chris Cody (drums), and Paul Gregory (guitar) - will release the Cloud City EP via Spinefarm Records on December 4. The band has just dropped the new track "Massive." Listen here, and below. The song is currently in SiriusXM Octane's Test Drive program.

"'Massive' is literally all of my frustrations coming to the surface," Varela says of the song's powerful source of inspiration. "It's years of doing favors and helping other's elevate their careers - only to be told I'm just a copy of 'insert whatever vocalist here' or to be called a background player. Not this time. I remember writing 'Massive,' and the only thought in my head was, 'They don’t take you seriously - but they'll wish they did.'"

VRSTY's music unexpectedly blends metallic grooves and R&B vocal swagger. The band has been grinding in the scene for over five years now, releasing the Lights EP in 2015 and heading on tour to earn their road stripes. They dropped Blck and Blck Deluxe in 2019, with "You & I" (412K Spotify streams), "Colorblind" (311K Spotify streams), and "Nola" (278K Spotify streams) quickly establishing themselves as indie fan favorites. The band has tallied over 2 million total streams and looks to open things up even more with the Cloud City EP, which serves as its Spinefarm Records debut.

Cloud City EP tracklisting:

"Massive"
"Dig"
"Shameless"
"Pathos"
"Wilt"
"Cloud City"
"Wilt (Cloud City Remix)" (Feat. Gina Fritz)

"Massive":




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METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich joined Kara Swisher at the CNBC Evolve Summit on November 10 to explain how the music industry has changed over his career and how the band incorporates cutting-edge technology to take the fan experience to new heights.

Asked if the coronavirus crisis has enabled METALLICA to have more control and more interaction with fans, Lars said (see video below): "I guess there's two ways to go with that answer. As far as METALLICA is concerned, we have our own record label. We pretty much try to control all the different elements in our little bubble and our little ecosystem. We have a P&D [Pressing & Distribution] deal with Universal in Europe, but we try to maximize and do the best thing that we can in all the different parts of the world. And so we like to control. We're financially independent.

"We sort of model our existence, somewhat, on GRATEFUL DEAD, who really considered themselves to be living outside of the mainstream and just [functioned] in their own world," he explained. "And that's been our dream — to just be independent, autonomous, to be able to create the music, not owe anybody any money, and just really be independent in every sense of that word.

"So when you say who has the control, we like to think in our bubble that we do, but, obviously, we're also very fortunate in that we can channel the success that we're so grateful for into financial independence."

Ulrich also talked about the fact that anyone can release music independently now, which has given some artists more control and transparency over their work but has also led to oversaturation.

"Obviously, the tech companies and the media companies have an incredible amount of control," Lars said. "To me, it's all about the context of the conversation. So when you talk about control, what does it really mean, and what are your goals and what are your motives?

"It's an incredible thing that in 2020, if you and I wanted to make a record together, you and I could make a record together through the wonders of Zoom and we could have a record in a few weeks and we could put it out on YouTube, we could put it on SoundCloud, we could probably get it on Spotify, if we really wanted," he continued. "So we have the independence and the ability to be much more the creators of our own destiny. At the same time, what the record companies did 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago was that they were able to finance it, they were able to back it, they were able to promote it, they were able to publicize it, and they were able to make each thing stand out in a way that would show up on people's radar.

"So if you and I made a record together, there's a pretty good chance that not a lot of people would hear about it. But in the age of the record companies, they would be able to promote it and pay for MTV videos and do this whole publicity exercise.

"The good news is that these mediums are available to so many more people," Lars added. "The bad news is that nothing really stands out, because there's so much more content available. And therein lies that kind of push and pull. What are you more in favor of? Of just complete independence and autonomy as a creative person? Because the record companies obviously had a function, which was that they were able to get your stuff out there and on people's radar."

In early May, the four members of METALLICA overcame social distancing to record a new version of their song "Blackened", with each member separated in his own home. The split-screen video was posted to the band's social media channels. That same month, Ulrich told Swedish talk show host Fredrik Skavlan that he and his bandmates were "sending ideas to each other via e-mail and via Zoom and [trying to] make music in these unusual situations."

In August, METALLICA broadcast a show to hundreds of drive-in and outdoor theaters across the U.S. and Canada, as part of the "Encore Drive-In Nights" series. The concert was filmed nearly three weeks earlier, on August 10, at the Gundlach Bundschu winery, about a 30-minute car ride from the band's headquarters in San Rafael, California, and was subsequently edited and mixed by the band's award-winning production team to the highest standards possible.

METALLICA's "Live & Acoustic From HQ: Helping Hands Concert & Auction" will be streamed live from the band's headquarters on Saturday, November 14. The special acoustic show starts at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time and will benefit METALLICA's All Within My Hands foundation. If you are not able to watch the show live, your ticket will allow you to watch the show as many times as you like within a 48-hour period once you start the stream.

In the clip below, Metal Express Radio’s George Dionne talks with Diamond Head guitarist Brian Tatler. Tatler discusses the band’s upcoming release Lightning To The Nations 2020, what it was like recording and self-releasing the original, and whether he thinks some fans will reject its re-recording.

On covering Metallica's "No Remorse" for the album

Tatler: "I wanted to pick a track from their debut album, Kill 'Em All, because they only covered songs from our debut album. I just thought it'd be better in the long run to revisit something from their early days, and something that sounded a little bit like Diamond Head. And I thought there was some DNA of Diamond Head in the writing for 'No Remorse'.

I settled on 'No Remorse' partly because I wanted to sort of share a bit of love on one of the more less-famous tracks rather, and also one that really suited Diamond Head. So I asked everybody to learn 'No Remorse' and when we got to rehearsal, we played it and it sounded great! It was pretty good straight away, and we were almost surprised, with how that sounded great. And of the four covers, that one sounded the best first. So I think I chose the right one, and we've managed to do a good version. I'm happy with it."

As the 40th anniversary of Diamond Head's Lightning To The Nations loomed, the album's resonance and importance have long been established. A celebration was in order. Thus in 2019, drummer Karl Wilcox devised an idea and pitched it to Adam Parsons (Siren Management): to re-record the whole album with the band's current lineup and bring the songs into the twenty-first century. The result - Lightning To The Nations 2020 - is quite simply, a scintillating shot of fresh metal vigor, with Diamond Head utilizing all their skill, experience, and revitalized energy and breathing so much new life into these freshly recorded takes, it feels like experiencing the earth shaking all over again. Lightning To The Nations 2020 is set for release via Silver Lining Music on November 27.

"Am I Evil?" is the second single to be released from the album. Founding member Brian Tatler reminisces: "'Am I Evil?' is one of the songs that Metallica covered. I got a call from Lars Ulrich on September 20th,1986 to say that Metallica were playing that evening as part of the Master Of Puppets tour, at the Birmingham Odeon which was the best venue in the Midlands to see bands. Lars invited me along, so I caught the number nine bus, picked up my backstage pass, and was shown into Metallica's dressing room. I was then introduced to James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett, and Cliff Burton. Lars suggested that I get up and play 'Am I Evil?' on stage with them in the encore. I, of course, agreed and, after watching their amazing set for an hour, I went backstage again where the guitar techs strapped James' white Flying V onto me. Then Lars ran to the center-vocal mic and introduced me as, 'the guy who wrote this next song!' The five of us played 'Am I Evil?' up to the fast section then Metallica went into 'Damage, Inc.' and I scarpered off stage. It was a brilliant experience!"

Tatler continues, "It's been a really great experience to revisit and re-record 'Am I Evil?' and the Lightning To The Nations album for 2020. It's also about time that Diamond Head's biggest song finally has a video. Thank you to Andy Pilkington [Very Metal Art] for this mini epic."

Lightning To The Nations 2020 will be released on November 20,via Silver Lining Music in CD digipak, double gatefold vinyl, and digital formats as well as special D2C bundles. For pre-orders, head here.

Recorded over several sessions between various locations from France to band member home studios, Lightning To The Nations 2020's central hub was Andersen's Raw Sound Studios in London. It's where Tatler and Andrew "Abbz" Abberley did the guitars in February and March of this year. With the COVID-19 chaos striking, Andersen worked on the album between April and July, with Tatler's watchful ear inspecting final mixes and tweaks in early August before sending off to mastering at Metropolis Studios. It is, however, fair to say that the crunch, scream, and crackle of the production is yet another feather in Andersen's producer hat.

"How I hear music when I produce is that I look for a certain density and weight, because that's what I want;" says Andersen. "I want it to be like a brick house that literally lands on your face when you listen to it. And there are techniques and methods to do that. To me, that's a lot of layers. It's about emphasizing certain parts and making a dynamic shift. In 1980 you had very different recording capabilities."

Lightning To The Nations 2020 tracklisting:

"Lightning To The Nations"
"The Prince"
"Sucking My Love"
"Am I Evil?"
"Sweet And Innocent"
"It's Electric"
"Helpless"
"No Remorse"
"Immigrant Song"
"Sinner"
"Rat Bat Blue"

"It's Electric" video:

Lineup:

Brian Tatler - lead, rhythm guitars
Rasmus Bom Andersen - vocals, orchestration, additional guitars
Karl Wilcox - drums
Andrew "Abbz" Abberley - rhythm, lead guitars        
Dean Ashton - bass, organ

(Photo - Nic Gaunt)




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In a new interview with Metal-Net, legendary hard rock bassist Rudy Sarzo was asked what advice he has for up-and-coming musicians who are looking to make it in the music industry. He responded (see video below): "That is so hard, because I learned that I learned from experience and not from advice. Sometimes advice can be a little bit of mind control. And we all have different references. I can tell you something based on my reference that might be so alien to somebody else because they did not experience my references. That's why I really stay out of politics, because I have certain references that very few people have. And I make decisions and I look at the world because of my own personal experience that has nothing to do with other people. So it's very hard for me to say, 'Well, you've gotta do this because…' Because you're not gonna get it. Even if I tell you what you've gotta do, you have no idea what I'm talking about, and what I experienced and my emotions and how it's shaped me into who I am today.

"We all have different journeys in life, and they should all be respected," he continued. "And I respect other people's journeys. And I will be the last person to say, 'This is the way you've gotta do [it].' No. I will say this is what I've done and what has happened to me based on these other experiences, and that's my reference in life. But I don't expect anybody else to be able to absorb that, internalize it and become me. No. Everybody's different. Be you. Think for yourself."

Sarzo, who was born in Havana, Cuba and He emigrated to the United States in 1961 at the age of 11, added: "From my childhood, I learned very early, once my thoughts were picked… When [Fidel] Castro came in, they used to keep us kids after school — and I was nine, so we're talking about fourth grade — and asked me, 'What do your parents think about Fidel? What do you think about the revolution?' And you grow up really quickly when your country's changing overnight. That are so many things I can tell you about that are my own personal preferences. But I'm just trying to encapsulate that experience. So I told my parents, 'What's going on? Why are they asking me these questions about what you guys think about or what we're talking about at home?' So I learned about mind control very early on and freedom of thought… So I would be the last person to wanna get inside somebody else's head… You have to think for yourself. It's your journey. It's your life."

In 2006, Rudy released the book "Off The Rails: Aboard The Crazy Train In The Blizzard Of Ozz", a first-hand account of his friendship on and off the road with Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne.

A collector's edition of "Off The Rails", was made available in August 2008 via TooSmart! Publishing.

The book was originally due in 2005 but was delayed after Sharon allegedly applied pressure to have it pulled.

Sarzo — who began playing bass for Osbourne in 1981 (the same year he toured with MOTÖRHEAD) — joined THE GUESS WHO in 2016. His first album with the group, "The Future IS What It Used To Be", was released in September 2018 via Cleopatra Records.

Image courtesy of Sweetwater

In a new interview with "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee spoke about how she has evolved as a human being and as a songwriter in the two and a half decades since the band's formation.

"I always try to challenge myself every time to be more honest and be more raw and be more open and be more vulnerable in the words that I'm writing," she said (hear audio below). "I feel better the more that I open up and let that happen. That's something I've strived for from the beginning. I feel, in a way, that that's happening now more than ever before.

"Perspective is huge," she continued. 'I've been through a lot as a human; this band has been through a lot as a band over all these years. To be here now and to recognize what it means to be here now… I've had a lot of losses in my life. I had a son; I'm a mom now. A lot of things have happened since the last time we've put out an album, so there's a lot to say. And there's a lot happening in the world too.

"I feel a different kind of strength and confidence," Amy added. "After just having made it to this point, there's a little bit of a new element of just not giving a shit. You kind of get to a point, after a certain point, where it's just, like, enough is enough, and life is too short. So perspective has been good for that. It's also good just for knowing what to appreciate, knowing what things in your life are worth fightning for — being able to see how tough it can be and how wonderful it can be. Living in the moment is hugely important."

EVANESCENCE has been releasing singles from its upcoming album, "The Bitter Truth", incrementally, with "Wasted On You", "Use My Voice" and "The Game Is Over" arriving over the course of the last few months.

EVANESCENCE's new music is being produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

"Use My Voice" was written to celebrate the power of speaking out in order to promote more justice in the world. The track, featuring contributions from THE PRETTY RECKLESS's Taylor Momsen and HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale, was chosen by HeadCount in the USA to encourage voters to register, check their registration, or find out about their remote voting options amid the COVID-19 pandemic at UseMyVoice.org.

EVANESCENCE spent much of the last two years recording and touring in support of 2017's "Synthesis", which contained some of the band's best-loved songs — as well as a couple of new ones — reinvented with full orchestra over a deep electronic landscape.

Angus Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC recently joined Zane Lowe on Apple Music to discuss their 17th studio album, "Power Up", which was released today (Friday, November 13). They spoke about deciding to release the LP now, Johnson's return after suffering hearing loss, being grateful to GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose for filling in, and wanting to perform live. They also reflect on Malcom Young and Bon Scott and their ongoing influence on the band. A few excerpts from the chat follow.

On making new AC/DC music:

Angus: "I get very excited with doing something new and going, 'Well, it's AC/DC, but it's got a little bit of a different angle on it.' So that's always, for me, the big puzzle — finding something that's AC/DC, but it's something you've not heard AC/DC [do] before. So you try to look for new ways of doing riffs, and you experiment a little bit with those, but then when you get something, you go, 'That's definitely AC/DC,' and you know that you've cracked the puzzle there. That gives you a little bit of excitement and a little bit of a rush. And then I go, 'Okay, you've done that now. On to the next thing,' and then find another song idea that you can go, 'Right. I've gotta now get better than what I did with the one before.' So it's a constant puzzle."

On deciding to release "Power Up" several months into the coronavirus pandemic:

Angus: "Well, we depended mainly on what our record company [was telling us]... They were the ones giving the advice, and they said, 'We can do it now.' Because originally, we had geared up for it [to be released a few months ago]. It was going to come out early. We had done all promo, video stuff for it, and we were even planning maybe if we [would] do some shows, if it worked. We were geared up to go earlier, but the virus thing kicked in big time, and so it was a case of leaving it up to [the label]. When they thought they had the clearance when putting into the production and getting CDs and whatnot, if they had all the tools to do that. And they said, 'We should be able to do that at this point.' We were depending on them. And that's when I said, 'Well, if you believe you can do it, we'll do our best to help you promote it.'"

On Johnson returning to music after suffering hearing loss:

Brian: "When [the hearing loss] happened to me, it was sudden. Well, it was building up. I knew it was getting worse and worse. And then it suddenly came to the point where I had to stop [performing] — I was told to stop. And it's horrible, and it's cruel. And you're suddenly by yourself. You're by yourself. You have family, [but] your family's gone. But at the same time, I had to be realistic about it. I said, 'Listen, this isn't anything terminal. I've still got me health. And I've been very lucky to have got this far in life.' I think I was 68 years old at the time, which is quite an age. And I looked around, and a lot of people, friends of mine, had passed. And that very week that it happened to me, me best friend passed away with cancer at the age of 59. And that was like a double blow. And it was all pretty rotten. I just thought I'd man up and just have to go through it. It was painful and horrible, but as I've said before, I just buried my head in a bottle of whiskey for a couple of months. And I did. And it was painless. And I didn't take drugs or go and see a psychiatrist — do all that rock and roll, what you're supposed to do… And then, through all of that, and I'm just like you and Angus, and did you think anything was going to happen? Well, of course I didn't. I thought that was it. And then, really, it was only about 18 months after that, and I was just kind of still missing and wondering what to do next, if anything. 'Cause I'm like Angus — I've gotta do something. I'm just an itchy kind of guy. And I got the call from Angus and the office, [from the] management, asking if I would like to do an album. And, of course, I thought surely this couldn't be another great chance in life to do what you love doing. And it certainly was. And that's why I'm so appreciative of the lads and everybody to just give you a chance to get in there and show you can try your stuff out in the studio."

On the technology that enabled him to return to performing live:

Brian: "I've gotta tell you, it was just lucky. When this wonderful gentlemen came up and was looking for me; he was an audio professor. And he wanted to try this new technology. And he said, 'Listen, we could do it together, if I can come down and visit you.' And I thought it might have been all smoke and mirrors, somebody trying it on, but he was the actual, genuine article, and he did fly down all the way up from Denver, Colorado. And we sat there for two days, and I just couldn't believe the results. But, unfortunately, it was the size of a car battery, so we spent the next two years basically miniaturizing, which is the hard thing. And anyway, it worked well.

"When we'd done the album and we'd shot a video in Amsterdam, Angus said, 'Do you wanna do a rehearsal?' Because I didn't wanna go through what I went through again. I said, "Yeah.' And then Angus put the whole backline up. And they were saying, 'Well, we're gonna start quietly,' and we said, 'No, no. I want full battlefield conditions.' And we put it in, in the ears, and we were expected at least maybe two days of screwing around with, but boy, oh boy, it worked straight away… I don't have the words. I really don't have the words to tell you how I felt. But I know 'happy' was one of them. It was really good."

On Axl Rose stepping in for Brian on the last couple of dozen shows of the "Rock Or Bust" tour:

Angus: "We could have just stopped and said, 'We'll cancel, and hopefully we'll get another chance.' But we knew there would still be even a lot of insurance and legality there. Or we can look at other options, maybe. And somebody said, 'Well, maybe we could get somebody who might guest. We might have some people who you could try out, who might be able to do the role and get you through.' So, we had to look at those options. And then, out of the blue, we got a message that Axl Rose would help. If nothing interfered with his commitments, he would gladly help us out. So, we got a rehearse place and tried out, and he put a lot of effort in everything.

"I'd only met him a long time ago in the '80s. He had come to a show and, to me, he was very, very nice and everything. Basically, that's how it came in to be. That allowed us to finish off those dates. So, for us, it was a heaven sent. It was a little bit like a lifesaver. Even though he had done his foot in before he started, he borrowed a chair. He was determined he was gonna go, so I thought... The first show we had to do, I think it was in Portugal, and it was a horrible day. It was raining and everything, it was open air. Everyone was going wrong, and then, just at the last minute, the sky cleared, the storm went away. We got on stage, and got through. He performed from the chair, gave it his best shot, and we got through. So, for the band, we'll be forever grateful. And he helped us get through all of those shows."

"Power Up" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and "Rock Or Bust".