Video of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor performing a cover version of the MOTÖRHEAD classic "Ace Of Spades" with his solo band can be seen below.

Taylor will play at The Forum in Los Angeles on Friday (October 2) as part of the "Forum Or Against 'Em" global pay-per-view streaming event. Tickets are on sale now from watch.thecoreytaylor.com. Fans can also purchase ticket bundles that include a t-shirt, hoodie, poster, and access to watch an exclusive Taylor acoustic set. A limited number of one-on-one video chats with Corey are also available with some bundles.

"Forum Or Against 'Em" will be a full arena production complete with a visual feast of pyrotechnics, a stacked set list featuring all tracks from Corey's debut solo album, "CMFT", select fan-favorite cuts from Taylor's SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR catalogs, a handful of covers and an incendiary guest performance from rock n' roll girl-gang dance squad THE CHERRY BOMBS. Special event merch and bundles will be available during the stream. Kicking off the event's festivities will be a special pre-show event hosted by presenter/journalist Beez that will feature exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes footage.

Speaking about his upcoming streaming extravaganza, Taylor said: "I've been saying since the beginning I'd find a way to bring this music and this band to the people. And I'm honored that The Forum let us do just that. It's 'CMFT' in its entirety. It's songs I've shared over the years. It's a celebration, and I'm so stoked to party with all of you."

In the rapidly evolving sphere of streamed events, "Forum Or Against 'Em" is set to be an industry first, as Corey Taylor and his management team at 5B Artists & Media partner with Danny Wimmer Presents, the largest independent festival producer in the United States, to put on this one-of-a-kind, pay-per-view concert experience. In utilizing The Forum for this special steaming event, the team are not only able to put together a world class rock extravaganza with a massive arena production, in total, they are also providing work to approximately 80 event staff.

Speaking on this groundbreaking partnership, 5B Artist & Media founder and CEO Cory Brennan said: "When Corey sent me a text saying 'Forum Or Against 'Em', I knew we had something truly special and unique. The Forum is one of the most iconic venues in the world and I can't think of a better way to celebrate his debut solo album!"

"To do a rock show on this scale, with an icon like Corey Taylor — while putting some of the behind-the-scenes heroes of the concert industry back to work — is an exciting step into the future," says Danny Wimmer, founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. "We believe that pay-per-view is here to stay and we couldn't think of anyone better to help us launch our new digital platform than Corey Taylor. He's a global star, and his music with SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR, as well as our amazing relationship with 5B, has helped to fuel DWP's growth over the past decade. We can't wait to get this show started."

"CMFT" will be released on October 2 via Roadrunner Records. Taylor recorded the effort with his band consisting of Jason Christopher on bass, Dustin Schoenhofer on drums, and Zach Throne and Christian Martucci (STONE SOUR) on guitar. The LP was completed at Kevin Churko's The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and STONE SOUR, among others.

SLIPKNOT recently canceled all of its previously announced summer 2020 tour dates, including the "Knotfest Roadshow", Knotfest UK and Knotfest At Sea, due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.




Can’t thank @CoreyTaylorRock enough for lending his new track Culture Head off the his new album CMFT (OUT TOMORROW!) as the #NXTLOUD theme for #NXTTakeOver: 31 ... but this one is for Lem... #AceOfSpades @mymotorhead pic.twitter.com/tc6RBEvLbK

— Triple H (@TripleH) October 1, 2020

In a new interview with Fox Sports 910's "Freak Nation", MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine reflected on the fact that he was sued in 2004 by the band's original bassist, David Ellefson, for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

"I think forgiveness is a super-cool thing," Mustaine said (hear audio below). "When David Ellefson sued me for 18 and a half million dollars, and the judge dismissed it and then made him pay a bunch of money on top of that, he got his ass handed to him in public. And I was really, really, really hurt by the things that he said about me. And I thought, 'You know what? If I never see him again, I guess I'll be okay.' And I was sad, but I figured he was gone. One day, I was flying home from Dallas, and the flight stopped in [Ellefson's hometown of] Phoenix, and for some stupid reason, I called him up and I said, 'Hey, you wanna have dinner?' And he said, 'Yes.' So we went out. And the first thing he said was, 'I wanna tell you, it was the stupidest thing I ever did suing you, and I wanna apologize.' And I looked at him and I waited a beat, and I said, 'Dave, I forgive you. I completely forgive you. I love you.' And it was over like that. And I think that that's really something great that people should take with them today, anybody listening to this. There may be somebody you need to forgive or somebody you need to apologize to, but I'll tell you what – it makes [you feel] a lot better at the end of the day."

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 16 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefeson's place for the album's touring cycle.

In his 2004 lawsuit against Mustaine, Ellefson claimed that he "attempted to resolve his differences with Mustaine on an amicable basis and offered to continue to perform with [MEGADETH]." However, his "offers were met with verbal abuse, threats, lies and continued invective from Mustaine." Ellefson also said that Mustaine — a veteran of at least 17 drug rehab stints, according to the bassist — resented Ellefson, a former drug addict, for having kicked his own habit. According to Ellefson's court papers, the battle of the band spread to the Internet when Mustaine posted on Megadeth.com that Ellefson was trying to extort him.

Mustaine gave his version of why the 2004 reunion with Ellefson didn't pan out in a message posted on the MEGADETH web site. In lengthy essay, Mustaine claimed that Ellefson missed several deadlines to accept his offer, which included 20% of the artist royalties on "The System Has Failed", none of the publishing royalties and a $2,500-a-week salary while the band was on the road.

In his first book, Ellefson admitted that he became a salaried employee upon his return to MEGADETH 10 years ago. He told Metal-Rules.com in an interview: "Going from being a co-founding owner to just a sideman musician was initially why I didn't come back in 2004. I was not happy with the participations that were presented to me. In recent times, coming back, I found great joy in doing music with a lot of other people in other settings that helped me fall back in love with playing music. Now I can come back into or go into musical situations and be able to be there for a purpose and level of pay. Being a sideman absolves you from being involved in all the other stuff. At this point in my life, I would rather leave that stuff on the sidelines. Like American Express says, 'membership has its privileges,' being a sideman has its benefits. In my case, it helps retain a friendship too. In order to have a friendship, I had to give up some ownership."

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has listed his Westlake Village, California house for $5.7 million.

The 61-year-old rocker and his 35-year-old wife and How2Girl founder, Courtney Sixx, spent $4.125 million on the home in 2014.

According to The Agency, which has the listing, the property has 10,300 square feet of living space, sits on a 1.2-acre lot and was built in 1996. There are five "delightful bedrooms, including a towering master suite on the first level equipped with a formal entry, private living room with fireplace, luxurious master spa, a grand walk-in closet and direct access to the grounds," the official description reads. "The second level features an incredible private theater and lounge set in a stylish narrative energized with epic honors."

Earlier this week, Sixx confirmed to the 95.5 KLOS radio station that he and his wife and their one-year-old daughter Ruby recently moved to Wyoming. Nikki said that the least populous U.S. state is filled with "no-B.S. type of people." He explained: "Everybody is extremely outdoors-driven — fishing, hunting, hiking, going on the river, going up the lake. Everyone's extremely healthy. And there's no entertainment business here, so you're not dealing with any of that kind of stuff — you're just dealing with blue-collar people. I relate to it 'cause I came from Idaho in the '70s, which it's 40 minutes to Idaho from where we live. And it's a lot of the same environment. I go back, I go on the road, I still see these beautiful cities, but as far as being a musician and a painter and a person who writes books, I felt it was maybe time, and a better place to raise my daughter."

Sixx's latest comments echo those he made last month when he told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about what it has been like to live away from Los Angeles for the first time in decades: "It's great for the creativity. I feel like all kinds of ideas are just floating around the air. Kind of like Keith Richards said — he said he's never written a song; he just plays guitar all the time, and then the song just shows up. And that's kind of what it's like for me up here in Wyoming. I'm just writing, and stuff's turning into possibly a book and stuff's turning into songs. And you don't know where it's going, and that's really exciting."

He continued: "I feel like being back in Los Angeles, everything is about business: When is the deadline? When do the rehearsals start? When does the tour start? When? When? When? And I'm, like, that's great — I understand — but I kind of need to step back and just let some creative juices flow. I don't know. Maybe I don't have any more songs in me; maybe I do. [There's] only one way to find out, and that's to be in a place that's not so chaotic."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Stadium Tour" with DEF LEPPARD, POISON and JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS " was originally scheduled to take place this summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Swedish death metal outfit The Crown has entered Studio Fredman in Gothenburg to record their as yet untitled eighth album, which will be the follow-up to Cobra Speed Venom from 2018. Behind the scenes videos from the first couple of days have surfaced online.

Day One:

Day Two:

The Crown 2020 lineup:

Johan Lindstrand - vocals  
Marko Tervonen - guitar
Robin Sörqvist - guitar
Magnus Olsfelt - bass
Henrik Axelsson - drums

 




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ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello has confirmed that he is working on material for his debut solo album. "Just before COVID hit, I was actually gonna go and record a couple of songs with a producer," he revealed during an appearance on a video podcast hosted by Todd Kerns, the bassist of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS (see video below). "And COVID hit, and I kind of backed out. It really hit New York in January and February. I had studio time booked and we were gonna do it, and long story short, I just felt weird. All the musicians involved, we all just decided, 'You know what? Let's hold this until we're a little more clear about what's going on.'"

According to Bello, he was going to record his first solo material in New York City, but he changed his plans amid the coronavirus pandemic.

"I had some great, great players play on it," the 55-year-old musician said. "And it's even better now, because I can even write more right now. So let it simmer."

Regarding the musical direction of his solo material, Bello said: "It's funny, because it's sounding a lot like ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE [Bello's side project with MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson]. It is more in that vein — heavy rock and roll… I grew up on this stuff. It'll be rock and roll with a heavier edge to it, and that's fine, 'cause that's what I'm into."

Bello's solo LP is expected to be issued via Megaforce, which released ALTITUDES & ATTITUDE's debut album, "Get It Out", in January 2019.

Born and raised in the Bronx, Bello started playing when he was 12, learning bass parts on guitar; idolizing bass heroes such as Geddy Lee, Steve Harris and Geezer Butler; and frequently jamming with his uncle, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante. Bello joined ANTHRAX in time for 1985's "Spreading The Disease" album, and fans loved his high-energy stage presence and deftly inventive bass style. Since that time, ANTHRAX quickly reached the upper echelons of metal stardom with a series of classic punk/speed metal albums fueled by Bello's ferociously riffing bass work. On stage and off, Bello is a veritable bass ambassador who doesn't pull any musical punches.

ANTHRAX is working on material for its next studio album, tentatively due in 2021. The follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" will be ANTHRAX's third full-length release since the 2010 return of singer Joey Belladonna, who came back into the fold for the "Big Four" shows with METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH, in the process helping inspire a new wave of creativity.

Norwegian trio, Communic, will release their new album, Hiding From The World, on November 20 via AFM Records. A lyric video for the first single, "My Temple Of Pride", can be found below.

The album is another skillfully crafted combination of progressive, power, thrash and a bit of doom metal. A great mix up of traditional Communic power and emotional depth.

Communic are one of the household names in the European metal scene and have been so from the beginning. The musical style of Communic is rich in both emotional depth and musical broadness and includes many elements from various metal genres. Catchy vocal melodies, thrilling bass and guitar lines colliding with power, thrash, progressive and a bit of doom and groovy metal. The music has a progressive touch in some experimental form, yet easy to listen to, quite moody, mellow and emotional.

Tracklisting:

"Plunder Of Thoughts"
"Hiding From The World"
"My Temple Of Pride"             
"Face In The Crowd"
"Born Without A Heart"
"Scavengers Await"
"Soon To Be"
"Forgotten"

"My Temple Of Pride" lyric video:

(Photo - Morten Fasseland)




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Gibson TV, the iconic, American-made guitar maker's first-ever, award-winning, worldwide online network, features original series from the world's best storytellers. Gibson TV has a trailer for the latest episode of "Icons", a longform interview series featuring some of the most iconic artists, producers and music business pioneers in the world.

In the trailer for the new episode of "Icons", Gibson TV sits down with Kirk Hammett to discuss his early days in the San Francisco metal scene, the formation of EXODUS and his 37 years as the lead guitarist of METALLICA.

Hammett was a member of EXODUS's original lineup before replacing Dave Mustaine in METALLICA in 1983. In fact, Hammett was not only the person who came up with the EXODUS name, but also the first from the band to meet original EXODUS singer Paul Baloff and brought him into the group. With Hammett on guitar, METALLICA went on to record its debut album, "Kill 'Em All", later in 1983.

In a 1994 interview with Metal Hammer, Hammett said his EXODUS bandmates were less than happy about his decision to leave the band.

"It was April 1st, April Fool's Day, and I was sitting on the toilet," recalled Hammett. "I got the call from [METALLICA sound engineer] Mark Whitaker, and after I hung up, I was like, 'I can't believe I just got that phone call. Was that an April Fool's Day prank?' A couple of days later, I got this tape from them, but I already had the demo and I already knew two thirds of the songs on there.

"I told the guys in EXODUS and they were pissed," continued Hammett. "They were pissed. I remember Paul Baloff was so pissed that he poured a beer over my head. He said, 'I can't believe you're doing this, Kirk', then poured his beer over my head. I just took it, 'Yeah, yeah, I know…'"

SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman Corey Taylor spoke to Kyle Meredith of Louisville's 91.9 WFPK radio station about the lack of political lyrical themes on his upcoming debut solo album, "CMFT", which will be released on October 2 via Roadrunner Records.

He said (see video below): "Honestly, I actually hint at it on 'Culture Head', and I come at it from the standpoint of being in the middle. Obviously, I'm much more liberal than people would even realize, but I have problems on both sides. With all of the rhetoric kind of flying over my fucking head, it's really about looking around and going, 'Really?'

"At this point in time, we need to be looking for things to fucking bring us together — not tear us apart," he continued. "But that comes from leadership. And, obviously, we've seen that the Cheeto can't lead unless there is… Well, he can't lead — period — but he's not comfortable when there's not a ton of drama and a shit-ton of chaos going on. And that's not the way to run a country — it just isn't."

Corey has been vocal about his distaste for the former "Celebrity Apprentice" host for at least the past six years, telling a Des Moines, Iowa radio in a 2015 interview that he would "emigrate" if Trump became president.

Last year, Taylor made it clear that he held an equally low opinion of America's 45th president and Trump's supporters. "You can paint him as racist, or egotistical, or a tyrant, or all of this shit: He's a moron, and the people who fucking voted for him? Fucking morons too," Corey said. "It doesn't matter why they voted for him, whether they are racist, or they want money. They've done more to set us back even further globally than anything I've ever seen in my fucking lifetime. And that's coming from somebody who wrote a whole fucking song about George W. Bush. This guy, it's going to take us 20 years to fucking undo half the shit that he's done."

Corey, who is often referred to as the "Great Big Mouth" due to his outspoken views, previously said that he wasn't worried about alienating any of his fans with his comments. "That's part of being an American," he explained. "I mean, nothing drives me more crazy than when somebody says to celebrities or whatever, 'Why don't you just stick to acting?' And I'm, like, 'What? Leave politics to you? Why don't you stick to writing bad reviews in your mom's basement? Just shut your mouth. I'm just as American as you are, I have every right to say what I want, and you can shove that kind of attitude straight up your ass."

Taylor recorded "CMFT" with his band consisting of Jason Christopher on bass, Dustin Schoenhofer on drums, and Zach Throne and Christian Martucci (STONE SOUR) on guitar. The LP was completed at Kevin Churko's The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and STONE SOUR, among others.

Judas Priest have released a new lyric video for "Painkiller", the title track of the band's twelfth studio album, released in September 1990. Watch the clip below:

In a recent interview with NME, Rob Halford offered an update on the follow-up to Judas Priest's 2018 album, Firepower.

Says Halford: “We already have a strong selection of songs - practically a complete album - to go when we’re able to reconvene at some point. But we need to do a lot more work on it before we even get to the full production stage yet.”

Read more at NME.




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SEETHER gets up close and personal in a new episode of "Fantasy Flashcards", launching today at Fantasy Records YouTube page. Produced by Fantasy Records, this revealing, six-minute episode features SEETHER answering fun, unusual, thought-provoking questions that reveal a different side of the best-selling hard rock band.

SEETHER's latest album, "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" ("If You Want Peace, Prepare For War") was released August 28 to glowing reviews from fans and critics alike. The aggressive first single "Dangerous" continues to resonate across rock radio, holding firm at No. 3, marking the multi-platinum rock band's 18th Top 5 single over the course of its impressive 20-year career. "Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum" is available in CD, vinyl and digital formats.

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, SEETHER will release three of its classic albums — "Disclaimer II", "Karma And Effect" and "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" — on vinyl for the very first time on November 13, 2020 via Craft Recordings. Released early in the band's remarkable run, these three albums exemplify the distinctive musicianship and songcraft for which SEETHER is best known and helped solidify them as one of the most successful hard rock bands in the world. Pre-order "Disclaimer II", "Karma And Effect" and "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" on vinyl here.

Since forming in Pretoria, South Africa in 1999, SEETHER has amassed a global fan base that has grown organically with the quartet's sense of purpose and commitment spreading outwards, offering their fans around the world camaraderie, comfort and a sense of personal power. While others of their ilk faded away, SEETHER maintains a strong sense of self, ignoring trends and critics in favor of a consummate devotion to their craft. Their impressive sales and chart history includes three platinum and two gold albums, 15 No. 1 singles (including 2017's "Let You Down", 2014's "Words As Weapons" and 2011's "Tonight"); 19 Top 5 multi-format hits, with U.S. singles sales topping 17 million and over 1.5 billion streams worldwide across all platforms.

They are also creators of the Rise Above Fest, founded in 2012 to raise awareness for suicide prevention and mental illness. Past headliners of the annual gathering include Slash, GODSMACK, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, PAPA ROACH and many more. Since conception, the Rise Above Fest has turned into a broader movement, expanding its presence at additional music festivals around the globe. All SEETHER shows donate $1 of ticket sales to benefit the SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices Of Education) organization.

Better Noise recording artist Hyro The Hero has released the official music video for his new single "We Believe" featuring DISTURBED frontman David Draiman.

Over a turbulent riff, Hyro decries "Internet activists" with a venomous flow before launching a caustic and catchy call-and-response with Draiman on the hook. Chillingly, it culminates on a scream of, "I can't breathe."

"It's actually about hope," Hyro states. "We all have decisions to make. Everybody pulls you one way or the other. You have to pick the lesser of two evils in all situations. Personally, I'm trying to find a way.

"I can't believe I'm rapping on a song with David, but I really can't believe I'm singing a song with him. It's a special moment, because I tried something new with my voice."

Draiman says of the collaboration: "I'm incredibly honored. Hyro is a truly amazing artist and I had a blast working with him. This track is exactly what the world needs right now. It's time to believe again."

The video for the track was directed by Matt Mahurin, an award-winning filmmaker, photojournalist and illustrator who has had work in Time magazine, Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Esquire and more. His unique vision is the visual merging of the raw poetry of the rapper with the raw power of the rocker, with Hyro and Draiman representing the duality of our daily lives. While the video explores the world's struggles, the final message is one of not only revealing the fear, anger, and intolerance of humanity's worst, but also reveling in the joy, love, and power of change through humanity's best.

As hard rock and hip-hop co-mingle more than ever before, the time feels right for Hyro The Hero.

In addition to acclaim from Kerrang!, BBC, Revolver and Afropunk, Alternative Press praised Hyro among "19 Underrated Bands From The 2010s Who Deserve Another Listen" and claimed, "You know that band who other groups flock to so they can watch from the side of the stage? That's Hyro."

After non-stop touring in support of his last album, Hyro dove right into the studio with producer Matt Good (ASKING ALEXANDRIA, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, FROM FIRST TO LAST). Under a flurry of inspiration, they recorded an entire album over the course of just two weeks. In the process, he expanded his sound dramatically.

"You can see and hear the growth in this album," he says. "I had to go through everything that brought me to this point and I've really learned how to focus on storylines and approach records structurally and lyrically. All of my experience built up respect to work with some of my heroes on the new material." He grins and says, "I want to have my name in this game for a lifetime."

During a conversation with Ultimate Guitar's David Slavković, members of Unleash the Archers - singer Brittney Hayes and guitarists Grant Truesdell and Andrew Kingsley - talked about the band's new album, Abyss, the gear they're using, the state of the music sphere amidst the ongoing pandemic, and more. Following is an excerpt.

UG: Brittney, your voice on this record is just impeccable, as usual. Was there any song in particular on Abyss that was the most challenging to record?

Brittney: "Thank you! There were definitely parts that were more difficult than others, but I think the song that probably had the most was 'The Wind That Shapes the Land.' That song is one of the longest on the album and had the most diversity. It was a challenge to write and a challenge to record, due to the fact that it goes through so many emotions and there are a lot of dynamics to it. Softer parts can often be hard to nail, but also the super-powerful parts in the middle were arduous as well. Funnily enough, it turned out to be one of my favorite tracks on the record so I guess it pays to apply yourself!"

UG: When it comes to music in general, are there any "guilty pleasures" that you guys are into?

Brittney: "Personally, when it comes to music, I don't think there is such a thing as a guilty pleasure. All music contributes to society in some way, and even if you think it's the worst thing ever, somewhere out there it probably helped someone feel better or battle some hardship in their life so, I think all music has a place in the world. That being said, I think it is extremely important to continue to find new music, and search to discover new genres and artists, because if you walk into a conversation about music and the only bands you tout are from the '90s then you might want to think about your 'guilty pleasure' albums and realize they might actually the only albums you know (laughs)."

Read more here.

Unleash The Archers, recently released their fifth full-length album, Abyss, via Napalm Records. Part 2 of a track by track video series is now available. Watch two segments below:

Part 1:

Part 2:

Abyss was engineered, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen of Hansen Studios in Denmark (Volbeat, Delain, Amaranthe), with production by guitarist Andrew Kingsley. Order Abyss in available formats here.

As mentioned, the Deluxe Earbook edition of Abyss features two bonus tracks - synthwave and gothic folk-pop versions of “Abyss” and “Soulbound”, respectively. This is something Unleash The Archers has never done before, turning their singles into something completely different!

Abyss tracklisting:

"Waking Dream"
"Abyss"
"Through Stars"
"Legacy"
"Return To Me"
"Soulbound"
"Faster Than Light"
"The Wind That Shapes The Land"
"Carry The Flame" (feat. guitarist Andrew Kingsley on guest vocals)
"Afterlifev (feat. orchestration by Francesco Ferrini)

"Faster Than Light" video:

"Soulbound" video:

"Abyss" video:

Lineup:

Brittney Slayes - Vocals
Scott Buchanan - Drums
Grant Truesdell - Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley - Guitar, Vocals, Synth

(Photo - Shimon Karmel)




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In a recent interview with Zane Lowe of Apple Music, Marilyn Manson spoke about the importance of art as the alternative to "propaganda and bullshit" in today's highly charged political climate.

He said (see video below): "If all artists decided to stop making art, the entire world [would] fall apart. Well, not just musical artists, when you think about it, [but also] architects, painters, clothing designers. Everybody who does something that adds to the world is the opposite of most politics and religion, which was my initial, I guess, hard-on or anger against the world. Because I was unsatisfied with seeing politicians who are older people that… It's not about because they're older — it's just people that are not of the culture they're representing.

"I feel that sticking to art is being on the right path, because all we have right now, we have art, music, movies and books and paintings and whatever it is that inspires you," he continued. "But without that, all we have is just propaganda and bullshit. And it doesn't really matter who's right or who's wrong. It's not even worth having a conversation about. But the conversation should be about, everyone should figure out who they wanna be, who they were, and forget about your childhood scars — mentally, physically, whatever they are — and rise above. Because now is the time for people to come together, and not in a hippie way, as much as in a united way with art. Because if you didn't have art, you wouldn't have anything. We wouldn't have this camera that's filming us. We wouldn't have the couch you're sitting on."

Manson released his eleventh studio album, "We Are Chaos", on September 11 via Loma Vista Recordings. Produced by Grammy Award winner Shooter Jennings (Brandi Carlile, Tanya Tucker) and Manson, the ten-track opus was written, recorded, and finished before the coronavirus pandemic hit the entire world.

David Coverdale spoke to Kyle Meredith of Louisville's 91.9 WFPK radio station about the cancelation of all of WHITESNAKE's previously announced touring activities, including this summer's U.S. trek with SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE and NIGHT RANGER, so that he could undergo surgery for bilateral inguinal hernia.

He said (hear audio below): "Of course I'm missing performing. I'd just had the most successful ticket sales in WHITESNAKE's history in 2020, and it was devastating to have to cancel that tour. But I had to cancel for health reasons — it was prior to the world closing down because of the coronavirus. My issue started when I started the tour in Melbourne, Australia earlier this year, and the second song was 'Slide In In'. As I started projecting the song, I felt this unusual, uncomfortable pop in my nether regions, and my hernias had just popped out. It was very painful. So it was a necessary thing for me to do before the pandemic closed everything down.

"It's devastating," he continued. "To cancel one show is heartbreaking. To cancel a whole sold-out tour — just devastating. And particularly the kind of circumstances."

Coverdale also addressed the fact that the majority of people in the live events industry have lost all of their income since the COVID-19 shutdown, with indoor concert venues slated to be the last to fully reopen once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided.

"We're all in the same boat in uncharted waters looking for a safe harbor," he said. "This is a time when we should be working together with a sense of community.

"I'm appalled by the political divisiveness that's being utilized with this dreadful virus that's going on — on both sides of the Atlantic. It's horrifying to me. This is one of the most challenging times in our species' history, and people are being told they could go out without a mask. No, it isn't. You're endangering other people — if you have it or you're gonna get it. It's indiscriminate. It baffles me — it really does.

"My wife and I have adhered to a lockdown, isolated protocols for [a few] months now. [I've had] my studio disinfected, cleaned. Everybody we work with is temperature tested. We're taking it really seriously. Why? Because it's necessary.

"The sooner we get that done, which I think is gonna be multiple vaccines, then we can all safely go and hang out together again in rock shows. You can't do a rock show to car park full of cars, with people in there. One of the things that people go to a WHITESNAKE show for is to let off steam, have a drink, have a good night."

Coverdale had both his knees replaced with titanium in 2017 after suffering from degenerative arthritis. He later explained that he was in so much pain with arthritis in his knees that it hampered his ability to perform live.

WHITESNAKE had been touring in support of its latest album, "Flesh & Blood", which was released in May 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.

WHITESNAKE recently launched the "Red, White And Blues" trilogy, a series of fresh, new collections organized by musical themes that will include "Love Songs" (red), "The Rock Album" (white) and "The Blues Album" (blue).

"The Rock Album" was made available on June 19 on CD ($14.98), and as a double-LP set pressed on 180-gram, white vinyl ($31.98). The music is also available through digital and streaming services. The collection features the debut of "Always The Same", a previously unreleased song that was recorded during the 2019 sessions for "Flesh & Blood".

METALLICA has announced a new donation of $250,000 to help wildfire relief efforts in California and other parts of the western United States.

The band made the donation through its All Within My Hands non-profit foundation, which was launched in 2017 to help creating sustainable communities by tackling the issues of hunger and workforce education and encouraging volunteerism.

Says METALLICA: "Wildfires have become a cruel and unwelcome annual benchmark in California, and this year we have seen them tragically extend across the entire west coast of our country. This is the fourth consecutive year, dating back to the formation of the Foundation, that All Within My Hands has activated to support fire relief: the critical local services component of our mission.

"This year, we will be donating a sum of $250,000 to five organizations on the front line of this environmental crisis that has made its way into the lives and homes of far too many. The organizations include the California Community Foundation's Wildfire Relief Fund, the Oregon Community Foundation's Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County's Fire Response Fund, the North Valley Community Foundation Wildfire Relief and Recovery Fund, and the Community Foundation of North Central Washington NCW Fire Relief Fund.

"We would like to encourage you to join us in supporting those in need and our first responders in any way you can by donating money, non-perishable food, clothing and other supplies, or by giving your time volunteering or providing safe, temporary housing. Every little bit helps."

METALLICA previously donated $100,000 in 2018 and 2019 to help wildfire relief efforts in the state of California.

Three years ago, METALLICA headlined a wildfire relief concert in San Francisco.




Communities across the west coast of our country are suffering. The @AWMHFoundation is donating $250,000 to assist in wildfire relief efforts. To learn more, visit https://t.co/vBaDmRgyz4. #AWMH #MetallicaGivesBack https://t.co/4QCScSN2DN

— Metallica (@Metallica) September 28, 2020

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has dismissed misinformation about voting by mail, some prompted by the president, including false claims it will lead to widespread fraud — despite evidence showing such fraud is extremely rare. Experts say mail voting has proven remarkably secure.

Earlier today, Stanley tweeted a link to The Hill article headlined "Let's put the vote-by-mail 'fraud' myth to rest", and he included the following message: "THIS is the reality..."

Even though people have been voting by mail in the United States for nearly a hundred years, many states are expanding mail-in voting due to safety concerns about in-person voting during the pandemic. According to NPR, all states allow at least a portion of their voting population to vote by mail. Some states allow all registered voters to receive a mail ballot (also known as an absentee ballot), and some states require an excuse or reason.

Trump has repeatedly attacked state efforts to expand voting by mail, calling mail-in ballots "dangerous," "unconstitutional," "a scam" or rife with "fraud." This despite the fact that numerous independent studies and government reviews have found voter fraud extremely rare in all forms, including mail-in voting, according to The New York Times.

This is not the first time Stanley has spoken out on political issues. Back in August, he blasted Trump for claiming his opponents may steal November's election. A month earlier, he encouraged his social media followers to vote in November, saying that "we have a responsibility to our past and to our future." In April, Stanley blamed a shifting media environment for sharpening partisan divides, saying that Fox News and CNN viewers and live in "different realities."

"Any conversation I've had with somebody who feels contrary to [a particular point of view], they stick to their guns because their reality is based on information that they're getting from a source that has their own agenda," Stanley said during an appearance on Richard Marx's "Social Distancing" talk show. "I'm not saying that CNN is guiltless. It's really become the network of the Democrats versus the network of the Republicans, and your reality and what you see as the truth, not coincidentally, is based upon which network you watch. And that's terrible. We're living in separate universes. If you go from one channel to the other, you think you're in a different time.

"If I were to watch whatever network I watch that's called 'The News,' it's going to feed me what I believe to be reality," he added. "That's the basic truth of it. And, unfortunately, there seems to be different realities, alternate realities… There's gotta be a truth."




THIS is the reality...https://t.co/s3yN18ldtV

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) September 26, 2020

FEAR FACTORY singer Burton C. Bell has blasted people who are defiantly skeptical of mask wearing, saying they are delaying a return to normalcy for the rest of us.

"I hope that this pandemic nonsense gets finished quickly, and I hope everyone does the smart thing and helps everyone so everyone can get back to work properly," Bell told The Underground Australia in a new interview (hear audio below). "Because these fools who are going around not trying to stay safe, musicians are the ones they'll hurt the most. The music industry was the first industry closed, and it's gonna be the last one open."

He continued: "It's not hard to wear a mask — easier than putting on shoes."

During the same chat, Bell also confirmed that there are plans for him to hit the road with his ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project, which will release its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", on October 9 via Dissonance Productions.

"We are scheduling shows as early as we can," he explained. "Everyone is talking now that September of next year is a good time to actually start booking again. So my question is all those bands that had tours booked and rescheduled them for spring, are those gonna happen now? I don't know. If things change in the next couple of months, whatever we book can be moved up, depending on what the climate of the pandemic is. But, yeah, we are planning to tour it and make things happen. We are in the process of coming up with a plan to do a live stream from the [250-year-old] Court Colman Manor in Wales, so I'm just trying to figure out how to make that happen. But I'm gonna make it happen. We're just in the early planning stages."

"Apocrypha" was recorded at Northstone Studios, based in the countryside of South Wales, connected to the Court Colman Manor, the studio built by renowned U.K. solo artist Jayce Lewis's own hands using the ancient stones of the monastery that once stood there.

The making of "Apocrypha" has been a decade-long journey of writing and recording, from California, Pennsylvania, New York and Wales. In 2018 the band decided to utilize the crowdfunding platform PledgeMusic to jumpstart the project. After a very successful campaign, raising 124% of their goal, PledgeMusic went into administration, eventually declaring bankruptcy. and in turn, would never release any of the funds dedicated to ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS. Nevertheless, ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS persevered to complete the album.

Earlier this month, Bell distanced himself from the upcoming release of the long-awaited new FEAR FACTORY album, saying that his priority is ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS.

A 20th-anniverary reissue of LINKIN PARK's debut album, "Hybrid Theory", will be made available on October 9 via Warner Records. A demo version of the song "In The End", taken from the upcoming reissue, can be streamed below.

The set comes in multiple physical and digital formats, including a super deluxe box set, super deluxe vinyl box set and deluxe CD that all come with the original "Hybrid Theory" as well as the "B-Side Rarities" with 12 previously released tracks from the album era.

"It's incredible to think it's been 20 years since 'Hybrid Theory' was released," says the band. "All gratitude to our fans who made this epic journey we started 20 years ago possible. We dedicate our music to you. We rededicate our 'Hybrid Theory' to you."

The limited-edition super deluxe box set will consist of five CDs, three DVDs, three vinyl records, an 80-page illustrated book featuring previously unseen photos, a replica tour laminate and a poster of late frontman Chester Bennington, and three lithographs of new art by Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn and "Hybrid Theory" art director and reissue art director Frank Maddocks. The vinyl box set will feature "Hybrid Theory", "Reanimation" and "B-side Rarities" on vinyl.

One of the never-before-heard demos, "She Couldn't", can be streamed below.

Super deluxe box set:

5 CDs

01. Hybrid Theory

02. Reanimation

03. B-Side Rarities

04. LPU Rarities

05. Forgotten Demos

3 DVDs

01. Frat Party At The Pankake Festival

02. Live Projekt Revolution 2002 (never-before-released)

03. Live At The Fillmore 2001 // Live At Rock Am Ring 2001

3 LPs

01. Hybrid Theory

02. Reanimation

03. Hybrid Theory EP

Extras:

* 80-page book featuring contributions from the band and previously unseen photos

* Cassette reproduction of original 2-track street team sampler

* 18x24 Poster of Chester Bennington

* 3 Lithographs featuring new art by Mike Shinoda, Joe Hahn, and Frank Maddocks

* Replica tour laminate

Super deluxe vinyl set:

3 LPs

01. Hybrid Theory

02. Reanimation

03. B-Side Rarities

Side A

01. One Step Closer (Rock Mix)

02. It's Goin' Down

03. Papercut (Live from the BBC)

04. In The End (Live BBC Radio One)

05. Points Of Authority (Live BBC Radio One)

06. High Voltage

Side B

07. Step Up (1999 Demo)

08. My December

09. A Place For My Head (Live at Docklands Arena, London)

10. Points Of Authority (Live at Docklands Arena, London)

11. Papercut (Live at Docklands Arena, London)

12. Buy Myself Remix (Marilyn Manson)

Deluxe CD:

2 CDS

01. Hybrid Theory

02. B-Side Rarities

Digital:

All audio tracks on the album will be available to stream or download.

"Hybrid Theory" — the band's original name before it was changed to LINKIN PARK for legal reasons — was issued in October 2000 and was a breakout success for the group, which had formed in 1996 and had played the Los Angeles club scene for several years. The album yielded four massive hit singles — "One Step Closer", "Crawling", "Papercut" and "In The End" — while going on to sell more than 12 million copies in the U.S. alone.

LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington and Shinoda spoke to The Pulse Of Radio a while back about some of the challenges of making their debut album.

"We walked into every song with a fresh, you know, outlook on it and we focused equal amounts of energy on every song," Bennington said. "And that at times was quite interesting, and also difficult at the same time. So we really learned how to push ourselves to new levels, and that was an accomplishment."

"Our biggest obstacle was putting something together that we felt was strong from beginning to end and doing our best to give each song its proper attention," Shinoda added.

Bennington was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home on July 20, 2017 after hanging himself. LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring.

GODSMACK's "Bulletproof" single was certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) on September 24 for accumulating 1 million certified units. According to the RIAA, one equivalent song unit is equal to a single digital song sale, or 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams.

"Bulletproof" was released February 28, 2018 as the first single from GODSMACK's latest album, "When Legends Rise"; the track was previously certified gold in the U.S. and was also the most-played song at rock radio in 2018. The song shows the band — Sully Erna (vocals, guitar), Tony Rombola (guitar), Robbie Merrill (bass) and Shannon Larkin (drums) — doubling down on their combination of tightly wound riffs, rhythmic fury, naked emotions and pushed-to-the-edge vocals, all fired up with melodic precision and tight songcraft.

"The plan from the beginning of this cycle was to try and step outside our comfort zone and explore new sounds and melodies in hopes of reaching new fans, without alienating our core audience," Erna says. "'Bulletproof' really set the tone and paved the way for how well that vision has been executed."

"Thanks first and foremost to our fans for making this song a smash!" Larkin adds. "That it was received so well motivates us and makes us super proud. Hitting platinum in this day and age is a big deal to us, and a ray of light in this otherwise dreary year of pandemic. Thanks also to Paul [Geary, GODSMACK's manager] and everyone at Shelter Music, all the folks at BMG, John Branigan at WME, and our producer Erik Ron. The team is strong, the future is bright."

"It is indisputable that GODSMACK is one of the few truly great core artists at rock radio," says Nick Attaway, VP of radio promotion/BMG. "Earning four consecutive No. 1 singles from 'When Legends Rise' proves that they are on top of their game. Not only did the first single 'Bulletproof' go platinum, but it will forever be the most played song at rock radio for 2018."

Originally released April 27, 2018 via BMG (the band's debut on the label), "When Legends Rise" marked GODSMACK's first album in four years. The smash album earned career milestones for the group: four No. 1 rock tracks (an accomplishment that makes GODSMACK one of only four rock acts to achieve this), and a record 11th No. 1 singles in the band's career with the album's fourth single "Unforgettable".

"Unforgettable" follows three previous No. 1 singles from "When Legends Rise": "Under Your Scars" and "When Legends Rise" plus "Bulletproof". "When Legends Rise" entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the top ten (No. 8), with four No. 1 placements on other charts: Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Music Albums, Top Independent Albums and Top Alternative Albums.

KORN frontman Jonathan Davis has released the country version of his solo single "What It Is". The original song was included on his debut solo album, "Black Labyrinth", which came out in May 2018 via Sumerian. It also appeared on the soundtrack to a film called "American Satan", which arrived in January 2018.

The solo music represents a natural step for the Bakersfield, California singer, songwriter, composer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. Davis quietly compiled ideas for what would become this solo effort beginning back in 2007. Writing and recording on the road, he personally contributed guitar, keys, and anything else he could get his hands on to the record. Moreover, the music was primarily recorded live, a departure from KORN's heavily calculated, meticulous, studio approach to creation.

Inspired in part by the Ganzfeld Experiment, and the out-of-body experiments and hallucinations that often accompany it, Davis focused on religion, consumerism and apathy throughout the album.

"There's a level of enlightenment I want to achieve," he confessed regarding "Black Labyrinth". "With all of the bullshit going, everyone is stuck on their fucking cell phones. This takes us way out of that. No matter how hard you try to fight bad things in your life, life will be what it is. It's up to you to accept that, combat it, and move forward, or it's up to you to be in denial. Then it becomes a thorn in your side until you finally deal with it. This is it. Just deal with it."

Davis told Express & Star about "Black Labyrinth": "I've been waiting 11 years for this to come out. It's really good to finish something which I started so long ago. It's something I'm really proud of. I've been very patient with it. It's been sat on my laptop for many years, so it feels really good to be able to finally release it, to talk about it and play it live."

Asked why he chose to make a solo record instead of using the material for KORN, Jonathan said: "'Cause it's completely different — it's not for KORN. You've heard 'What It Is' — that's not a KORN song. So this is stuff that's completely different. There's stuff I've brought to KORN before, like from these sessions, the song 'Take Me', on [2016's 'The Serenity Of Suffering'], was one of these songs, but we took it and the guys — [KORN guitarists] Head and Munky — got it, they tore it apart and made it their own. It's totally different. Sometimes it works. But the majority of the stuff wouldn't have worked for KORN."






Very excited to release my alternate country version of “What It Is” – streaming everywhere now: https://t.co/nDsD5k7Wlc pic.twitter.com/lv1gSagAFo

— Jonathan Davis (@JDavisOfficial) October 1, 2020

Trust Records, a new label from punk and industry vets Matt Pincus and Joe Nelson, has announced its debut release — 1980's landmark "Group Sex" from Los Angeles hardcore stalwarts CIRCLE JERKS. Out October 30, the genre-shaping fifteen-minute album was the first release for vocalist Keith Morris (OFF!) after leaving BLACK FLAG and was a key record to the early hardcore punk movement. Backed by Greg Hetson (ex-REDD KROSS, ex-BAD RELIGION), Lucky Lehrer (ex-BAD RELIGION, ex-WASTED YOUTH, ex-REDD KROSS) and Roger Rogerson, "Group Sex" is nothing less than a crucial record to the hardcore punk movement.

Trust Records was formed to give classic punk and hardcore records the home that they deserve. The great records of the genre sprung from DIY roots to influence millions of disaffected kids around the world. Unfortunately, many of these seminal records of this great genre have been treated poorly in the streaming age — out of print, under-monetized or not properly accounted for. Trust Records' mission is to correct this problem and treat punk and hardcore with the same reverence that other great genres like folk, jazz and blues have received.

"Before they had a name for the label Matt and Joe came to [us] with an opportunity of a lifetime," says Morris. "So choosing the name Trust Records is very appropriate as they've been nothing short of trustworthy and people of their word. That's insanely important when navigating through the music branch of showbiz world!"

In celebration of "Group Sex"'s 40th anniversary, Trust will present the seminal release with deluxe packaging by Robert Fisher, designer of NIRVANA's "Nevermind", a bonus recording of a 1980 rehearsal, a 20-page booklet including unreleased photos and anecdotes from Tony Hawk, Mike Patton, Shepard Fairey, Ian MacKaye, Lars Frederiksen and many more, in addition to a quality repackaging in a limited colored vinyl schema. The remastered audio will be released across all digital retailers and vinyl format.

CIRCLE JERKS' official anniversary tour, originally set for this summer, has been rescheduled for 2021. The run currently covers Europe, United Kingdom, Japan, Riot Fest and is subject to change. The lineup will consist of Keith Morris (vocals), Greg Hetson (guitar), Zander Schloss (bass) and drummer to be announced.

"Group Sex" track listing:

Side A

01. Deny Everything

02. I Just Want Some Skank

03. Beverly Hills

04. Operation

05. Back Against The Wall

06. Wasted

07. Behind The Door

Side B

08. World Up My Ass

09. Paid Vacation

10. Don't Care

11. Live Fast Die Young

12. What's Your Problem

13. Group Sex

14. Red Tape

15. What's Your Problem (1980 Band Rehearsal)

16. Red Tape (1980 Band Rehearsal)

17. I Just Want Some Skank (1980 Band Rehearsal)

18. Beverly Hills (1980 Band Rehearsal)

19. Live Fast Die Young (1980 Band Rehearsal)

40th-anniversary tour dates:

Jul. 28 - Lisboa, Portugal - RCA Club

Aug. 01 - Le Garric, France - Xtreme Fest

Aug. 02 - Paris, France - Paris Punk Rock Summer

Aug. 04 - Camden, United Kingdom - Electric Ballroom

Aug. 05 - Blackpool, United Kingdom - Rebellion Festival

Aug. 06 - Duffel, Belgium - Brakrock Ecofest

Aug. 07 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Melkweg

Aug. 09 - Kӧln, Germany - Gloria-Theater

Aug. 10 - Hamburg, Germany - Knust

Aug. 11 - Berlin, Germany - SO36

Aug. 13 - Tolmin, Slovenia - Punk Rock Holiday

Aug. 14 - Igea Marina, Italy - BayFest

Aug. 16 - Helsinki, Finland - Tavastia Club

Sep. 03 - Musashino, Tokyo, Japan - Club Seata

Sep. 05 - Kobe, Hyogo, Japan - Harbor Studio

Sep. 17-19 - Chicago, IL - Riot Fest

Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend will release "Order Of Magnitude - Empath Live Volume 1" on October 23, a document of his winter 2019 European tour that saw him taking on possibly his most ambitious live show to date.

Today sees the launch of the second clip from the release, and you can watch Devin and the "Empath Volume 1" live band performing the track "War" below.

Devin comments: "Hello folks, here's another song from the 'Order Of Magnitude' Blu-ray.

"Amidst the chaos of recent times, I look back at this concert as being another world in a lot of ways, and although the DVD has many different feels throughout the concert, this song, 'War', is indicative of the beginning vibes of the show.

"The whole idea with this concert was to experiment with playing songs from my catalog that didn't rely on backing tracks or clicks, so assembling 10 people onstage to do this was no small feat.

"I wanted to create an experience for band and audience alike that was creative and without boundaries (to the best of our abilities), and I am very proud of it.

"The next song we will release will be a different vibe, but for now, please enjoy this take on a song of mine from the 'Infinity' era. It was originally about fighting back against your own self-destructive mechanisms and thoughts, so maybe that's appropriate for what has been going on recently.

"Again, thank you for the support and I hope you are finding the strength to get through this chaotic year."

Recorded in December 2019 in London, U.K. on the penultimate night of the tour in support of his latest album "Empath", this run of shows saw Devin joined by an incredible lineup of musicians. The band was made up of guitarists Mike Kenneally (ex-FRANK ZAPPA) and Markus Reuter (STICK MEN, THE CRIMSON PROJECT), drummer Morgen Agren (KAIPA, MATS & MORGAN, FRANK ZAPPA), bassist Nathan Navarro, HAKEN keyboard player Diego Tejeida, and guitarist/vocalist Ché Aimee Dorval, as well as vocalists Samantha and Anne Preis and Arabella Packford.

Devin's plan for the "Empath" touring cycle was to divide it up into three "Volumes," and this was Volume 1. The idea behind the shows was a simple one: none of the backing tapes or click tracks that had long been necessary to bring the kaleidoscopic cacophony in his head and on his records to life in the flesh. This would just be Townsend and a band of genius-level musicians getting up there and trying to keep it from spinning off into outer space. Or maybe just letting it spin off into outer space for the sheer hell of it.

"The whole objective was that I wanted to make that statement: This is by the seat our pants," he says. "Because it's important to me to represent this hyper anal-retentive music that I've made over the years, but in a human way. Rather than it just being, 'Well, here it is, perfectly done.'

"I was overwhelmed by the fact that all these brilliant people that I have so much respect for were willing to come together and play this weird shit with me," says Devin. "I had these unique players and this interesting instrumentation that allowed us to interpret the music in different ways. It was clear to me that I could just have fun and be me and know that they would be effortlessly be able to follow that."

That sense of fun and freedom was evident to anyone who was there on the night. Visually, it was an assault on the senses in the best possible way. A digital screen projected vivid images throughout the show. A giant gleaming mirrorball hung from the ceiling. There were multiple costume changes and a tiki bar onstage (a tiki bar!).

"Order Of Magnitude - Empath Live Volume 1" will be released as a limited deluxe 2CD+Blu-ray+DVD artbook (including expanded artwork and photos), limited 2CD+DVD digipak, standalone Blu-ray, gatefold 3LP+2CD vinyl box-set and as a digital Album. The Blu-ray disc includes a bonus behind-the-scenes documentary, and both DVD and Blu-ray feature a 5.1 Surround Sound mix.

The track listing is as follows:

01. Borderlands

02. Evermore

03. War

04. Sprite

05. Gigpig Jam

06. Coast

07. Gato

08. Heavens End

09. Ain't Never Gonna Win

10. Deadhead

11. Why?

12. Lucky Animals

13. Castaway/Genesis

14. Spirits Will Collide

15. Disco Inferno

16. Kingdom

In June, "Empath – The Ultimate Edition" was released, the definitive version of Devin's latest studio album. It features a glorious 5.1 Surround Sound mix with accompanying visuals, plus a host of bonus material including mixing lesson, documentary, as well as a live set filmed during his April 2019 acoustic tour.

Imperishable is a brand new extreme metal band out of South Carolina. Created by Nile guitarist Brian Kingsland, they are off to a solid start with plans to release the EP Revelation In Purity (release date to be determined). Before presenting the final cut, the band is introducing themselves with their debut single, “Exclusion Continuum”. The track is dark, aggressive and catches the overall feel of the forthcoming EP, which summons riffs molded around power rather than flash. No overthinking, just pure unadulterated metal.

Joined by Alex Rush (bass) and Tommy Harrison (drums), the trio is determined to deliver ferocious material while retaining memorable hooks. Grinding, yet, groovy this mindset allows the group to focus on what inspires them; head banging compositions.

When asked what fans can expect from them, Kingsland responds:

“If you enjoy lots of technical wanky guitar, overly polished production; you won’t enjoy this record. This album will be more old school and raw. Topics lean heavily on self-confidence and strength in one’s beliefs. We shred, but only when it fits the composition. This band is all about the riffs and songwriting.”

Recommended for fans of Angelcorpse, Emperor, and Obituary, Imperishable is getting your attention with a swift kick in the teeth.

(Photo by: Kevin Nealey)




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Exactly two years after the release of their latest album Midnight Ghost, German power metal masters Brainstorm have now entered the Greenman studios of producer Seeb Levermann (Orden Ogan) to work on the successor.

The new album will be titled Wall Of Skulls, and is expected to arrive in summer 2021.

"We really can’t wait to see the songs shaping into their final form over the next weeks during the album recordings“, says guitarist Torsten Ihlenfeld. "The whole songwriting process and the album pre-productions were awesome and we can already say: If you liked Midnight Ghost you will LOVE Wall Of Skulls!"

Stay tuned for updates.




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The new Brazilian metal band, The Damnnation, have released a video for the single, "Apocalypse". The track is part of the Parasite EP, which will be released in November via Xaninho Discos.

"Apocalypse" brings a new and extremely heavy sound, a different style within the extreme metal being difficult to classify in just one specific genre. The single is available on all digital platforms.

The band also recently announced that they will be performing at the 7th Edition of the Roadie Crew Online Festival, which takes place on October 9 at 7.30 PM on the official Roadie Crew Youtube Channel.

The Damnnation is a female power trio that brings a versatile sound that mixes several strands of extreme metal. Three insane girls making metal without labels, aware and consistent with themes about depression, injustice and politics. With influences from Testament, Megadeth, Nervosa and Kreator.

The band started after guitarist Renata Petrelli (Marie Dolls, ex-Sinaya) and drummer Cynthia Tsai (Little Room, ex-Sinaya) decided to found a new band in early 2019, where they invited Camis Brandão, (Charlotte killed a guy ), to join forces and make a type of metal flexible and more organic, without clinging to stereotypes, putting all the good influences of the group and making new songs, with a unique sound and a lot of personality. With a focus on other projects, Cynthia and Camis leave the band, which now has Aline Dutchi (bassist) and Leonora Mölka (drummer).

Lineup:

Renata Petrelli (Vocal and Guitar)
Aline Dutchi (Bass and Vocal)
Leonora Mölka (Drums)

(Photo - Jessica Mar)




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California's Thanatopsis have unleashed the new single, "Consequence", off their upcoming debut album Initiation, due out October 23 via Extreme Metal Music.

The band comments about the song: "'Consequence' is one of the newer songs that was written for the 'Initiation' album. 'Consequence' is basically about the uprising of the common man against population control perpetrated by the ruling class and the subsequent formation of an underground resistance. The epic nature, aggressiveness, and twists in this song make for a listening experience that we believe will resonate with our audience."  

After a hiatus, 3/4 of the band has reunited along with the new addition of drummer Jason Borton (Jungle Rot, Arkaik) to offer their debut full-length, which features past recordings that are given a second life and a chance to be heard by a broader audience along with new unheard material. The album was recorded at Trident Studios with renowned producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Testament, Machine Head).

The overall album experience shares eight old school thrash/death metal influenced tracks that are an emotionally twisted ride of violently catchy brutality. With themes that include corruption, occultism, murder, revolt, and loss of faith, Thanatopsis delivers an album that keeps the listener engaged from start to finish, with a sound unlike any other.

The band comments: "It has been a long time in the making and we are very excited to present to the world the first official full-length Thanatopsis album Initiation. This album contains timeless songs that fans, both old and new, will appreciate. Bringing our sound to the masses has been a collective dream of ours for a long time. In a scene that is saturated with bands, we are proud to release something that is unique in character to the metal world at large."

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

“The Age Of Silence”
“Embodiment”
“Consequence”
“Malfated”
“Initiation”
“Your Demise”
“Grim”
“Suffer System”

“Embodiment”:




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The official music video for "The Undertaker", the new single from German/American metallers ACCEPT, can be seen below. The track is the first taste of the band's upcoming studio album, "Too Mean To Die", which will be released on January 15, 2021 via Nuclear Blast.

"The Undertaker" video was filmed in an abandoned castle in Poland and at an old cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee. The mid-tempo number will captivate fans with its mesmerizing build and stirring vocals. Sing-a-longs are guaranteed, and the track is sure to deliver some future memorable live moments! According to ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, "The Undertaker" is one of the most catchy and pleasing pieces on the new album.

Hoffmann states regarding the album title "Too Mean To Die": "We wanted to approach the corona situation with a twist. ACCEPT are the 'Metal Soldiers' — we march on and on. We are 'too mean to die'."

The album cover is still top secret and lies deeply buried by the "Undertaker" — safely underground. But from today onwards, ACCEPT fans have the unique opportunity to reveal the cover, so it can see the light of day! The more often they stream "The Undertaker" on Spotify, the faster and deeper the gravedigger works, until finally at 500,000 streams, the "Too Mean To Die" album cover artwork appears. On top of this, fans can also win an exclusive Zoom meet-and-greet with the entire band as well as some other goodies. So start digging!

The single will be released in a two-track format, with a previously unreleased live version of "Life's A Bitch" recorded in Oulu/Finland 2019. It is available digitally and as exclusive seven-inch vinyl in three colors, each limited to 300 pieces. Colors for Europe are gold and marble and red for the USA.

The single and album were recorded in Nashville, Tennessee with British producer Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, MEGADETH), who has been responsible for the magnificent studio sound of ACCEPT since 2010.

ACCEPT's latest album, 2017's "The Rise Of Chaos", marked the band's first release with guitarist Uwe Lulis and drummer Christopher Williams, replacing Herman Frank and Stefan Schwarzmann, respectively.

ACCEPT's upcoming LP will be the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited the group in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik.

ACCEPT's latest release was "Symphonic Terror - Live At Wacken 2017", featuring the band's performance at the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany.

ACCEPT 2020 is:

Wolf Hoffmann - Guitar

Mark Tornillo - Vocals

Christopher Williams - Drums

Uwe Lulis - Guitar

Martin Motnik - Bass

Philip Shouse - Guitar

JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford has shot down the suggestion that being gay is something that can be chosen or ever changed, insisting that sexual orientation is a product of "nature" rather than "nurture."

The science of human sexuality is complex and there have been no definitive answers as to the exact biological reasons why individuals can be sexually attracted to people of the same sex as themselves, to persons of the other sex, or to people regardless of their sex.

Halford, who came out as a homosexual during an MTV interview in 1998 and has long since been an outspoken advocate for gay rights, addressed the controversial issue of choice in sexuality during a recent interview with KNAC.COM. Asked what he has to say to people that say that being gay is a choice and not something that you are born with, Halford said: "Absolutely rubbish. You are born with it. Different people like me get murdered in front of buildings. Why would I choose to be that kind of a person? It's ridiculous.

"It's great to be gay," he continued. "It's wonderful to be gay because there are so many conflicting views about this particular thing that we have today. But I can say categorically that it's not a choice. It's a fact. It's in your DNA. It's something that you're born and blessed with, and I'll say God made me this way. Thank you."

A recent poll showed that a quarter of Americans identify as something other than straight. In the U.K., meanwhile, one in five young people identify as somewhere between straight and gay.

In his new autobiography, "Confess", Halford revealed that he knew he was gay since age 10 during a time when gay men were "full-on persecuted" in his native United Kingdom. He came out to his parents three years later.

"God made me this way," he told People. "This was placed inside of me. This is who I am."

Although a 2019 study claimed to dispel the notion that a single gene or handful of genes make a person prone to same-sex behavior, it reinforced the understanding that same-sex sexual behavior is simply "a natural part of our diversity as a species."

Zeke Stokes of GLAAD, the world's largest LGBTQ media advocacy organization, told Forbes this new research "provides even more evidence that being gay or lesbian is a natural part of human life, a conclusion that has been drawn by researchers and scientists time and again. The identities of LGBTQ people are not up for debate. This new research also reconfirms the long-established understanding that there is no conclusive degree to which nature or nurture influence how a gay or lesbian person behaves."

Swedish modern metal force AMARANTHE has just released its new album "Manifest", via Nuclear Blast. The official music video for the disc's fourth single, "Fearless", can be seen below.

AMARANTHE comments: "So, we come to it at last! We are so very proud and happy to finally unveil 'Manifest' to the world, an album written with so much pure joy and enthusiasm, and yet very nearly did not see the light of day.

"When faced with the decision to record the album despite a worldwide pandemic, the answer was the same as when we canceled tours that were supposed to promote the album: we HAVE to release this album in 2020! As our longtime listeners are well aware of, AMARANTHE believes in positive, energetic, and uplifting music, and we feel that such sentiments are more needed than ever before! Easily our most confident and convincing album to date, this is music born out of pure passion and eagerness to create. This is our manifesto, and all our aesthetic aspirations made apparent — this is 'Manifest'."

Regarding the "Fearless" video, AMARANTHE says: "Fear — perhaps the most primal of instincts and most ancient of proclivities, and yet despite all our recent technological marvels our tendency towards fear only grows. Perhaps the great paradox of our time: we have never been materially safer, yet never more exposed to the ills and misfortunes of our truly global civilization. This very primal urge is the pure currency for both political and financial gain, and the more we give in to fear, the more it enslaves us. However, inside each and every one of us, there is also courage, conviction, and determination. It is in the face of adversity that we grow the strongest — so heed your inner warrior, pay homage to bravery — and transform into the 'Fearless'!"

"Manifest" is available as CD, media book with four bonus tracks, media book bundle with patch (limited to 250 units, mailorder exclusive), gold vinyl (limited to 300 units, mailorder + wholesale exclusive), blue/black marbled vinyl (limited to 300 units, EMP exclusive), cyan vinyl (NB USA exclusive) as well as six individual band member vinyl (limited to 150 units each, bandshop exclusive).

AMARANTHE comments: "'Manifest' is the latest step in the evolution of AMARANTHE, and across the board it is the boldest statement: We are here to stay, we are utterly passionate about what we do and we will take no prisoners in our strive for musical excellence! An all-out metal rollercoaster, 'Manifest' does not hold back in any regard — from the first second to the last, it is brimful with some of the heaviest AMARANTHE riffs to date, soaring and emotional vocals and unrelenting metallic fury. We hope you will enjoy this album as much as we enjoyed making it!"

"Manifest" track listing:

01. Fearless

02. Make It Better

03. Scream My Name

04. Viral

05. Adrenaline

06. Strong (feat. Noora Louhimo)

07. The Game

08. Crystalline

09. Archangel

10. BOOM!1

11. Wake Up And Die

12. Do Or Die

Bonus Tracks:

13. 82nd All The Way (SABATON cover)

14. Do Or Die (feat. Angela Gossow)

15. Adrenalina (Acoustic)

16. Crystalline (Orchestral)

AMARANTHE has spent the last decade establishing itself as a formidable, positive and fervently melodic force for metallic good. From their explosive self-titled debut in 2011 to the more sophisticated, streamlined likes of 2014's "Massive Addictive" and its immaculate follow-up "Maximalism" (2016), AMARANTHE has masterfully blurred the lines between melodic metal, crushing brutality, cinematic sweep and futuristic sparkle. Led by the endlessly ingenious songwriting of guitarist Olof Mörck and powerhouse vocalist Elize Ryd, their rise to prominence has been a joy to behold.

Widely acclaimed as a dazzling live act, the Swedes reached a new peak of creativity on 2018's hugely successful "Helix": an album that pushed the band's vision to new heights, breadths and depths, while showcasing the brilliance of Elize and her co-vocalists, Henrik Englund Wilhelmsson and recent recruit Nils Molin.

Not just a glorious return but a wholesale upgrade for their exuberant sound, "Manifest" is simply the most daring, dynamic and unforgettable album that AMARANTHE have released to date. The perfect antidote to the nagging anxieties plaguing us all in these troubled times, it's a technicolor celebration of metal's ageless power, blazing with all of life's colors and chaos, but delivered with utmost artistry and skill.

Helsinki-based Oceanhoarse likes to keep busy. After the touring plans for this fall were put on hold due to the pandemic, an idea struck somewhere in between the relentless songwriting and the upcoming studio-sessions: Let's just jam on a couple of Ozzy songs – and film them!

Guitarist Ben Varon tells the story behind the concept: "All four of us in the band are big time Ozzy Osbourne fans. His work with Black Sabbath is of course legendary, but it’s Ozzy’s solo material in particular that has a special place in our hearts. Those iconic songs are some of the covers we have played frequently at our rehearsal place just for fun, and occasionally these tunes have ended up in our live set, too. We just released our latest single, 'Locks', in September and we are planning to release the next one in November, so that left us wondering what shall we do in October. Well, how 'bout Ozztober?! And this year being the 40th anniversary of Blizzard of Ozz, Ozzy's amazing solo debut, we couldn't think of a better time to pay homage to the Prince of Darkness.”

The idea of bringing in some guest stars came from necessity: to properly cover "Shot In The Dark", you need to have keyboards. And with the band's motto being "Fuck Your Backing Tracks", using pre-programmed synths wasn't an option. So, a call was made to the best keyboard player in town: Janne Wirman of Children Of Bodom.

Janne: "My buddy Jyri, 'Snakehair' as we call him, asked me to come over and play an Ozzy cover with his band Oceanhoarse. I had no other option but to agree, as I have asked Jyri a plethora of favours over the years, including everything from dropping snow from my roof to being the designated driver! Children of Bodom has covered the track years ago as well, and since the keyboards are not the lead instrument on this song by any means, I had a great time chilling and jamming with the Oceanhoarse dudes at their rehearsal place."

Janne being on board, the band then expanded the idea of bringing in guests for the other songs as well. The task was fairly easy, considering the fact that in the metal scene, everybody seems to love Ozzy. The idea is that Ozztober wouldn't be just an Oceanhoarse thing: everyone is welcome to join in!

"We know there are many fellow Ozzy fans out there, so welcome aboard! Let’s fill social media with all things Ozzy for this Ozztober!” guitarist Varon invites and prompts: ”We’d love to see you playing your favourite Ozzy guitar riff at home or doing a full band cover, or whatever you feel like doing that fits under the hashtag #ozztober. The world needs more Ozzy!"

Check out Oceanhoarse featuring Janne Wirman playing "Shot in the Dark" below.




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