The CJSS track, "Welcome To Damnation", was always a fan favorite. Originally on the album World Gone Mad, this is a live version recorded at Bogart's in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Band lineup:

David T. Chastain - guitar
Russell Jinkens - vocals
Mike Skimmerhorn - bass
Les Sharp - drums




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Forged in Scotland Artist Management and Promotions is presents Bastyon, a 3-piece powerhouse heavy rock/metal band from Fife in Scotland. They have just released their self-titled debut album.

Featuring the guitar talents of Andy Johnson (also lead vocals), Bastyon have created a unique sound that combines the best of old school and modern rock and heavy metal. Often compared to Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth and Metallica, Bastyon make an incredible noise and are a formidable live act.

Since the release of their debut self titled album they have had great feedback and orders for their CD have been flooding in from all over the world. Bastyon are particularly  popular with lovers of heavy rock/metal in Greece, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Sweden, USA, Portugal and of course their home country of Scotland.

Tracklisting:

"Bastyon"
"Ghost And The Darkness"
"Firedancer"
"What Used To Live"
"The Flame"
"Allegro Diabolico"
"Contortion"
"Sinking In The Drowning Pool"
"Vesuvius"
"Eternity's End"

Bastyon are:

Andy Johnson - Guitar and Vocals
Noddy Ward - Bass Guitar
Garrie Day - Drums




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One of the revelations of hard rock today, 5th Machine, was formed in 2013, after a reunion between friends. The band currently has six friends making modern hard rock with footprints from the 80s, full of striking melodies. With influences from Ratt, Dokken, Racer X, Savatage, and Winger.

The inspiration for the band's name came after a trip that vocalist Fábio Cabral made to a historic village in Paranapiacaba / SP, where in this small village, there was a 19th century building called Quinta Machina. In this building, all creation and developmental projects related to the functioning of a locomotive, its tracks and all the railway interlocution in the country, were born in this house.

5th Machine debuted in music with the first single “Back In Time”, a hard rock song full of AOR elements with striking melodies and inspired guitar solos. In addition to being one of the style's representatives in Brazil, the band has been gaining notoriety around the world for its modern style, which was praised by vocalist Edu Falaschi, who nominated them for the musician and producer Thiago Bianchi (Noturnall / ex-Shaman ), resulting in an invitation to record an album.

The album, Back In Time, was released in June via Lions Pride Music, and is available on all digital platforms. The band was scheduled to tour this year, but due to the new coronavirus pandemic, unfortunately it was canceled. They are currently working on new compositions and will soon release the music video for the song “Mirros And Bones”.

Tracklisting:

"5th Machine"
"The Wind"
"The Song Of A Beggar"
"Mirrors And Bones"
"Until The End Of Time"
"Say No To time"
"Home"
"Take Me Away"
"Dreaming Nights"
"For All The Young"
"Back In Time"

Lineup:

Fábio Cabral  (Vocals)
Tiago Fusco (Guitar)
Guma (Guitar)
Carol Fusco (Keyboards)
Eder Zavanella (Bass)
Boris Boroski (Drums)

(Photos - Alini Galli)




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On September 15,  Mexican thrash masters Strike Master took the stage to livestream a full set of brutal thrash metal, beamed to the living rooms of metalheads world wide. A full HD, multi-angle performance intended to raise spirits and help fill the void left behind from the lack of live shows.

Watch the performance below:

In addition, Strike Master also launched a new autumn merch line which can be found here.

The band plans on doing more live streams, but its expensive and have set up a link for donations to help make it happen here.




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On September 17th, Six String Salute premiered a virtual concert to support and celebrate the touring and venue crews who are the backbone of live music and depend on shows to make a living. Six String Salute brought together guitarists and guitar-centric bands to share exclusive performances and great rock and roll stories in support of Crew Nation, a global relief fund for live music crews.

Check out Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake / guitar), Dino Jelusick (Trans-Siberian Orchestra / vocals), Tony Franklin (Blue Murder / bass) and Virgil Donati (Planet X / drums) in a lockdown performance of the Deep Purple classic "Stormbringer".  

 




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In a new interview with Newsradio WOOD 1300 and 106.9 FM, outspoken conservative rocker Ted Nugent was asked to name the biggest issues facing voters in this year's presidential election. He responded (hear audio below): "I'll be 72 here in a couple of months, but I'm cocked, locked and ready to rock, doc. I so love this country. I so demand freedom. I so understand the vision of the founding fathers. And what the Nugent family pursues in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, it's ubiquitous. It's not universal, because you've got your terrorists. You've got your 'Black Lives Matter' that don't care about black lives. Everybody I know actually does care about everybody. We don't look at anything as colored — color doesn't matter to anybody I know. So the most important issues right now are law and order, supporting the heroes of law enforcement that provide safe communities and secure streets. Law and order is number one. Constitutional accountability.

"How dare they engineer recidivism, then compromise our right to keep and bear arms, and then defund the sheepdogs who protect our neighborhoods," he continued.

"This wouldn't make a 'Planet Of The [Apes]' [meets] '[One Flew Over The] Cuckoo's Nest' [meets] 'Clockwork [Orange]' [meets] 'Twilight Zone' movie, it's so stupid and so irresponsible, so anti-American.

"So, if you believe in freedom, if you believe in 'we the people' and demanding accountability from our elected employees, you've got to raise hell. You've got to register. You've gotta hammer your senator and your congressman and your mayor and your governors that we believe in law and order, we believe in law enforcement. We don't wanna defund the cops; we wanna defund these terrorist organizations and put 'em in cages."

This past July, Nugent was forced off the program of a rally to support law enforcement in East Meadow, New York after some critics brought up his record of allegations against him of racism, anti-Semitism and other controversial actions. Nugent, who was scheduled to perform the national anthem, had been heavily promoted on pro-cop social media sites.

Both the Nassau and Suffolk County Police Benevolent Associations released statements condemning Nugent, with James McDermott, president of the Nassau County PBA, stating that his PBA would not participate in or support a rally Nugent attends.

A board member of the National Rifle Association, Nugent has drawn intense criticism for his controversial past remarks, including telling then-president Barack Obama to "suck on my machine gun." He also made inflammatory remarks about Hillary Clinton, calling her a "devilbitch" who "hates everything good about America."

In a lengthy Facebook post in 2016, Nugent said Obama and Clinton should be tried for treason and hanged over their handling of the terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

Last year, Nugent defended Donald Trump after the U.S. president was accused of making racist remarks about Democratic congresswomen from black and minority ethnic backgrounds.

In a new interview with Australia's Heavy, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley was asked to name the defining album of his career. He responded (hear audio below): "Probably my first solo album, with 'New York Groove'. That was my biggest hit, and I think it was the biggest surprise to all the KISS fans that my album did the best. Considering I wasn't the main lead vocalist or the frontman of the band, I think people maybe thought Paul's [Stanley] or Gene's [Simmons] album was gonna be number one and number two, but my album actually surpassed all of 'em in sales and popularity. So I think that was a very defining album for me. Plus, it also made me realize I was more creative away from those guys than with them. Me and Eddie Kramer pretty much did that whole record. Then we got Anton Fig to do the drums."

Co-produced with frequent KISS collaborator Eddie Kramer, "Ace Frehley" is widely hailed as the best of the four KISS solo albums released simultaneously in 1978. It peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 and outsold the solo efforts of his three bandmates.

"Origins Vol. 2", the sequel to Ace's 2016 collection of cover songs that inspired the former KISS guitarist, was released on September 18 via eOne. Frehley told Canada's iHeart Radio about the effort: "These albums are becoming fun. I just re-signed with eOne, and they want an 'Origins Vol. 3' after the next studio record, which I've already started writing songs for. But it's become a really fun process. It's much easier than doing a studio record where you have to write the material yourself. I'm basically just taking other people's material that influenced me as a kid and putting my stamp on it."

Frehley also talked about the status of his next all-original album. The record will be the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.

"I've only written about three songs, and they're not finished," he said. "My studio's not gonna be done for another month. Now that I'm [living] on the East Coast [after moving to New Jersey from Southern California], my engineer only lives an hour from me, Alex Salzman, who worked with me extensively on this last record, and he played a lot of bass guitar as well, So it's gonna be even easier, 'Origins Vol. 3' and the next [original] record."

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons co-wrote two tracks on "Spaceman", "Without You I'm Nothing" and "Your Wish Is My Command", the latter of which also features Simmons's bass playing.

The Agonist vocalist Vicky Psarakis has checked in with the following update:

"Aaaand it's out! Check out my cover of 'Only For The Weak' by In Flames! 

I first heard this song over half of my life ago. Clayman was one of the albums that I blasted on repeat as a teenager and a big reason for me getting into death metal! Really happy to have worked with Quentin Cornet on this one. He did an excellent job on recording and mixing the entire track!

This is just the beginning of much more to come!"

September 2019 saw melodic death metal juggernaut, The Agonist, release their sixth studio album, Orphans, via Rodeostar Records.  With Orphans the band delivered their most extreme, melodic, and larger-than-life sounding record to date.

The band recently unveiled the video for the title track of Orphans. Filmed in haunting black and white, the video dances between striking, dramatic and abstract images of frontwoman Vicky Psarakis as she delivers the eerie message of the track: “The story behind 'Orphans' was inspired by the novel, We Have Always Lived In The Castle, by Shirley Jackson. It emphasizes the feeling of "not belonging" and the social and physical isolation that comes as a result of that. Even though we've all felt like outcasts at some point in our lives, it's important to remember that we're never truly alone and that there's always someone there for you. We're all "orphans", but we're in this life together.”

Order Orphans here.




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Throughout the early 1990s, Boston-born/New York-raised Billy Graziadei was forging a path of change with his band BIOHAZARD. On a quest to make the world a better place, one song at a time, the band would eventually become well known for its socially conscious lyrics. In due course, Graziadei formed another band, POWERFLO, with CYPRESS HILL singer Sendog, and not soon after, branched out with his own solo career as BILLYBIO.

In a parallel universe, there was a 15-year-old, Edward Davis, mowing lawns in Southern Illinois while listening to BIOHAZARD's "State Of The World Address" on his yellow Walkman. Music was always a huge motivator for Davis to power through daily life, and he can distinctly remember blasting the "Judgment Night" track by BIOHAZARD and ONYX to get pumped up before a game. Growing up in Middle America, the opportunities to experience live music were sparse unless you had the means to travel two or more hours to a venue. By the late 1990s, Davis had somehow managed to recruit the shy, quiet girl from his high school PE class, Angela Andrew, to be his concert-going companion. Davis and Andrew ultimately became a husband-and-wife power couple who would vow to make the world a little better as a team. They continued their schooling together and became teachers, and their education careers eventually led them to Las Vegas, allowing them to make positive changes with their students for many years. When they were ready to extend their reach beyond the classroom, they began developing a plan to make a positive impact on disadvantaged communities, one sock at a time. Little did they know that this plan would lead them to a very full circle moment in the near future.

Fast forward through several stage dives at BIOHAZARD shows, the Davises at long last met up with Graziadei after a show and bonded over their love for music, their mutually active lifestyles, and changing the world in each of their ways. They shared their idea with Graziadei of how they wanted to start a sock company based on the philosophy of giving back. Graziadei loved the idea and gave them his full blessing, wishing them well on their new adventure as he shared his own stories about starting new projects.

After a lot of research, hard work and late nights, Cru Sox was born. The Davises sent Graziadei a box of Cru Sox and he immediately fell in love with everything that they had created. The dynamic duo soon became a triple threat powerhouse, and the threesome put their nose to the grindstone and haven't looked back since!

Socks are one of the most needed articles of clothing for individuals experiencing homelessness and are therefore one of the most requested items by charitable organizations that support and serve that population.

When you purchase pairs of Cru Sox, the company's unique "give back" formula allows it to donate socks to those in need. When you buy one pair, we donate one pair. When you buy two pairs, Cru Sox donates three pairs. When you buy three pairs, Cru Sox donates five pairs and so on as your order increases. Cru Sox's specially designed "give back" sock donations only go to reputable charitable organizations that will distribute them responsibly, and that are working toward positive change in their communities.

For more information, visit www.crusox.com.

Experimental metal duo Douaumont has revealed details on its second album, DSCH: String Quartet No. 8, an avant-garde, metallic take on 20th century Soviet composer’s Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8, available September 25 via Pale Noise Media.

“Our objective with this record is to provide a modern and stylized reinterpretation of Shostakovich’s compositional masterpiece,” Douaumont’s Andy Meyer and Matt Wees say. “Focusing on the attempt to retain the same gravity as it did in the 1960s when Shostakovich was left alone, weeping, having just heard the Borodin Quartet give him a private reading of his work.”

A video for “Largo” from DSCH: String Quartet No. 8 can be seen below.

While caught in the middle of the emerging Soviet regime, Shostakovich found himself contemplating heavy and abstract principles of life through his compositions - most clearly seen in works not infected by the influence of his corrupt government. This can be morally and philosophically reflected in the present as groups are still actively fighting for basic human rights and equalities.

“Inspiration found us in this respect most recently with the large-scale movements in our home state of Minnesota,” says the band. “There is much to be said about the egregiousness in our current political structure, and much that can be disgraced about certain individuals who thrive on the toxic global pedestal. Sound and art are a non-optional resource to use while expressing and existing through periods of change, uncertainty, and the cruelties along our timelines. It is our hope with this record, as all others, to inspire the same thoughts and reflections we used in creating it.”

Tracklisting:

I. "Largo"
II. "Allegro Molto"
III. "Allegretto"
IV. "Largo"
V. "Largo"

Douaumont was born of Meyer and Wees’ passion to create a new project under their Pale Noise label – one with more immediate composition and aesthetic world-building, as opposed to their death metal inspired Rictus project. Given a desire to further explore Meyer’s seven string bass, Douaumont effectively replaces the role that a guitar has in most modern metal outfits.

“Douaumont exists in a constant state of immediate reflection on moments through life,” the duo explains. “While this could be said about all of our projects, Douaumont aims to create a sharper image of a shorter window in time, and there is no preconception as to what a Dou release will sound like before going into pre-production. Experimentation has been present in our workflow since we started working together in 2014, but never so aesthetically grounded/accessible while still being able to effectively do whatever we want to like in Douaumont.”

DSCH: String Quartet No. 8 still follows this model of experimentation, but also attempts to capture the feeling Meyer and Wees experienced while listening to and studying the original work. “This string quartet piece is often referred to as ‘the metal string quartet’ by a lot of people even outside the genre, and the goal here was to really MAKE it that,” the band says.

Pre-orders for DSCH: String Quartet No. 8 are available now via Pale Noise Media’s Bandcamp page. 

 




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Chyld / former Slik Toxik drummer Neal Busby recently found some rare pro-shot live footage of Slik Toxik on YouTube, which was uploaded back in August 2020. 

Busby: "Amazing what you find on YouTube, pro-shot mini concert from the Phoenix Concert Theater in Toronto from 1991. I can't remember why it's a shortened set and why I'm not playing my own drum kit. I think we were playing with some other bands? Anyways, the band sounds great, in its prime with the original line up, enjoy!"

Former Slik Toxik frontman Nick Walsh chimed in after Busby's initial social media post:

"It is dated incorrectly. This was not 1991. I actually have this 'bootleg' show and it was circulating as though it was Phoenix, AZ on some labels."

Walsh later confirmed the footage is from a JUNO Awards Canadian Music Week launch party.

After more than 30 years, Toronto-based Chyld - who were part of the scene that gave us Slik Toxik, Sven Gali, Winter Rose and Slash Puppet - made a comeback in 2019 with a new single, "Burning Alive". They recently released an official video for new song "Ride Out". Check it out below.

The song features Walsh reunited with Busby, who orginally launched Chyld with bassist Pete Dove

Walsh: "After a hang with my old friend and Slik Toxik band mate Neal Busby, catching up and sharing stories, Neal talked about how he and another old friend of mine, Pete Dove (Slash Puppet), were resurrecting their traditional heavy metal band from the '80s, Chyld. That day and conversation led to what you are about to hear and see. A song that I believe was written in 1983 at the height of that 'new' sound called heavy metal is now primed up for 2020. When I had the opportunity to take part, I couldn't pass up feeling 16 yrs old again."

Line-up:

Nick Walsh - lead vocals
Pete Dove - bass 
Todd Lefever - guitars
Neal Busby - drums

From that era Chyld was born after guitarist Glen Cunningham met singer Rob Villemaire and joined forces with drummer Neal Busby. After a lengthy search bassist Pete Dove joined the ranks after his departure from another band. Chyld began rehearsals in Toronto with a diligent schedule that produced results very quickly, and with an arsenal of original songs they were ready to take on the Toronto metal club scene centered around the infamous venue, Larry's Hideaway.

In 1986 they recorded three songs, which resulted in the debut 7 inch single "Lite The Nite / Ye Morlok" being released on their own independent label Chyldysh Records. Sadly, it never got the attention it deserved at the time, but later achieved legendary status in the European metal world and sold on eBay for hundreds of dollars. Sadly, Chyld packed it in sometime in 1986 for reasons even the band cannot remember.

In 2012, inspired by the surge of interest in the old 7" single, Chyld reformed and recorded one old song, "Burning Alive". Tragically, it was the last song that singer Rob sang, as he passed away in 2017. His vocals sat in a computer for 7 years until drummer Neal Busby took the reins and decided the song had to be finished and recruited super fret demon Todd Lefever to record the guitars and get the song ready to be released to the world.

Check out Chyld on Spotify here.

Photo by Ron Boudreau




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Detroit-based crossover death thrashers, Plague Years have unleashed the video accompaniment to "Paradox Of Death". The latest bruiser comes off the band’s raging Circle Of Darkness full-length, available now via Entertainment One (eOne) on CD, digital, and vinyl formats – click here for ordering options. 

Notes guitarist Eric Lauder of the track, "'Paradox Of Death' is a mid-tempo stomper. This is one of my favorite tracks and highlights Mike [Jurysta]’s incredible drumming. The song is a story about killing a snitch after he’s betrayed his people. Loyalty should never be broken. No mercy for rats. Never fold, never bend."

Mining the subterranean depths once unearthed on classic Sepultura albums like Beneath The Remains and Arise, with the vicious bite of Germanic slabs like In The Sign Of Evil by Sodom and the Hall of Fame ‘80s output of Slayer, the devilish and down-tuned death worship within Plague Years serves as a demonic calling card for the foursome; a brutal counterbalance to their otherwise likeminded thrash revivalists. On Circle Of Darkness, the band’s full-length debut, Plague Years reunites with engineer Arthur Rizk, whose work with Power Trip, Tomb Mold, Candy, and Cavalera Conspiracy has propelled him to the front of the horde amidst the resurgence of crossover thrash.

Plague Years pays homage to Detroit forebearers Negative Approach and modern contemporaries Hellmouth in equal measure, while infusing the proceedings with a brutal spin of their own design. In terms of lyrical aggression, songs like "Play The Victim" and "Paradox Of Death" blend traditional death metal blood-and-gore fantasy with the unrestrained bravado of Detroit’s grittier contributions to rap, like LOM Rambo and Motown upstart Icewear Vezzo.

Like an icepick to the face, Plague Years arrives with an electric surge of sudden pain. An unrelenting end of the world assault of the cataclysmic convergence of thrash and hardcore, with bits of blackened death and midtempo madness to spare, the band summons the primitive spirit of the singular moment when the heaviest of metal first smashed into a circle pit. Plague Years reignites that flame with sharp fury.

Circle Of Darkness tracklisting:

"Play The Victim"
"Witness Hell"
"Paradox Of Death"
"Eternal Fire"
"Circle Of Darkness"
"Evil One"
"Incantation"
"Nrftl"
"World In Blood"
"Urge To Kill"

"Play The Victim" video:

"Incantation" lyric video:

(Photo - Rian Staber)

 




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Swedish heavy metallers Freaks And Clowns have unveiled their new video "Justice Elite". The track is the first to be shared from the band's second album, Justice Elite, set for international release on October 16th via Metalville Records. 

Classic hard rock meets modern power metal: this is the sound of Freaks And Clowns. The band, founded by Astral Doors drummer Johan Lindstedt and singer Chrille Wahlgren, who is popular in his homeland of Sweden, is completely dedicated to honest, straightforward heavy metal.

It all begin in 2017, when the two met in the studio in their hometown of Borlänge to exchange some song ideas. It soon became clear that the influences of classic heavy metal combined with modern sounds would be the path they wanted to follow together in the future. In addition to guitarist Mathias Henrysson, guitarist Mats Gesar and bassist Ulf Lagerström were two more Astral Doors musicians who joined the band.

After the self-titled debut album, released by Metalville in October 2019, Freaks And Clowns set about putting the still-abundant ideas for new songs into practice. The 11 tracks on the follow-up, Justice Elite, which will be released on October 16th, are once again taking no prisoners and pushing forward at full speed from the very first moment. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

"Justice Elite"
"Man With The Power"
"Welcome To The Freakshow"
"Guardian Angels"
"I'm Alive"
"The End Song"
"One For All - All For One"
"Hell Yeah"
"Flames Of Fury"
"Am I The One Or The Victim"
"Madman On Vacation"
"More Than Meets The Eye"

 

 




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Minefield has released their debut single and lyric video "Alone Together", available now via Golden Robot Records.

Minefield was founded in 2020 by Brandon Fields. It's more of a musical collective than a band or a solo project. For the debut album, Fields (vocals / guitar) is accompanied by Todd Kerns (vocals / bass), Jeremy Asbrock (vocals / guitar) and Matt Starr (drums).

Brandon Fields has spent the last several years touring as a solo artist. He is also the lead guitarist in Detroit, Michigan based band Whiskey A Go Go.

Todd Kerns has served as the bassist in Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators since 2010. Kerns also fronted Canadian rock groups The Age Of Electric and Static In Stereo, he presently serves as the singer / guitarist in Toque.

Jeremy Asbrock is currently the guitarist in former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley’s solo band. Before this, Asbrock was in Gene Simmons’ solo band as well.

Matt Starr has been a staple in Ace Frehley’s solo band for the last decade while also playing with the supergroup Mr. Big.

Get "Alone Together" now at this location.

 




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For one of the few times, if not the only time, Chastain performed the Black Sabbath classic, "War Pigs". You can watch the performance below.

The band - featuring singer Leather Leone, guitarist David T. Chastain, bassist Mike Skimmerhorn, and drummer Les Sharp - played a show in a small club on an off night in New Jersey in September 1988. Fortunately it was being recorded for history. Even if it was a single camera video and in mono.

Divebomb Records recently released the 30th Anniversary edition of For Those Who Dare, adhering to Chastain's original intent by restoring Steve Fontano's (Prairie Sun Studios) more balanced mix - as well as additional background vocals, ad libs, and "ear candy" that have long been missing from the Roadrunner release in 1990.

As usual, the disc has also been remastered by Jamie King Audio, and is packaged alongside a detailed booklet - revised and expanded from Divebomb's initial 2010 reissue to include additional photographs and a retrospective interview with David T. Chastain and Leather Leone. For the fans, by the fans!

Order the CD here

here.

Tracklisting:

"For Those Who Dare"
"Night Of Anger"
"I Am The Rain"
"Please Set Us Free"
"Secrets Of The Damned"
"Light In The Dark"
"The Mountain Whispers"
"Barracuda"
"Not Much Breathing"
"Once Before"

Bonus Demo Tracks
"Play Their Games"
"I Cast No Shadows"




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Ace Frehley, KISS co-founder and 2014 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee, continues his reflections on a lifetime in music with "Origins Vol. 2". No stranger to cover versions throughout his musical history — having recorded, rebranded and repossessed such notable nuggets as "New York Groove", "Do Ya" and "I Wanna Go Back" over the course of his eight previous studio efforts — this new collection presents a thoughtful and exciting selection of songs that inspired and helped shape the legendary guitarist. Foremost of importance to the original Spaceman is delivering an album his fans will enjoy, but one where every song also has a place in his life's jukebox.

The second single from "Origins Vol. 2", in the form of a cover of THE BEATLES' 1965 B-side "I'm Down", can be streamed below.

Describing the process in selecting the songs on this album, Ace comments: "I just thought about the songs that I used to play in clubs when I was doing other people's material. I went through my album collection and thought about the songs that influenced me the most. It was fun picking out the songs. It's a pretty well-rounded record and I think the fans will enjoy it." That spirit of fun is carried through with exquisite execution and guitar aficionados are going to enjoy Frehley's fresh interpretations of these classic songs.

As the second volume focusing on his musical origins, Ace has also grown since "Origins Vol. 1" was released in April 2016. That album hit No. 23 on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming his fourth Top 40 and second-highest-charting solo album — and there's no questioning Ace's productivity with this album being his fifth recorded work in a decade. Ace chuckles: "Since I had one covers album under my belt, the process of doing 'Origins Vol. 2' was easier because I had put together a formula, picking guest stars and so on." The challenge for him was to put a suitable personal stamp on the material, and "Origins Vol. 2" is replete with special touches that both honor and embellish the material.

Perhaps appropriately, "Origins Vol. 2" kicks off with LED ZEPPELIN's "Good Times Bad Times". Ace is very much aware of that song being the first song on the first side of the first ZEPPELIN album, and the first single that the band released in the United States (backed with "Communication Breakdown", it reached No. 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in April 1969). Ace recalls: "Right off the bat, 'Good Times, Bad Times' by LED ZEPPELIN came to mind, because it was the first LED ZEPPELIN song on the first album they released. So, that was at the top of my list. I just wasn't sure I was going to be able to be able to sing it, but somehow I pulled it off." It contrasts well with "Bring It On Home", recorded for "Origins Vol. 1", and Ace has added some lyrics at the end of the song, "directed at people over the years who have done me wrong." These match the fierce vocal and fiery soloing on a cut that includes his solo band guitarist Jeremy Asbrock and drummer Matt Starr.

MOUNTAIN's "Never In My Life" follows — utilizing the lyrics from the Japanese album insert Never In My Life with the more appropriate "bolt of lightning" reference. For some this song is less well known than the signature "Mississippi Queen", but it features a riff that Jimi Hendrix purportedly dug on hearing while MOUNTAIN worked in the studio in 1970. Fans of the heavier Frehley-penned KISS classic "Strange Ways" should dig the riff too. For Ace, the song ties back to his youth. "I distinctly remember in high school, I went to see a friend's band, and they were performing it on a stage in the basement of a church," he says. "I wasn't that familiar with this song, but the guitar player in the band was playing it really good, so I went home and learned it."

In addition to connecting with old songs, Frehley has also reconnected with old friends on "Origins Vol. 2". The first of these making an appearance is keyboard player Rob Sabino, who has performed with the likes of Peter Frampton and SIMON & GARFUNKEL. Sabino had been involved in both the CRAZY JOE & THE VARIABLE SPEED BAND album (the first project to feature Ace outside of KISS in 1980) and the FREHLEY'S COMET debut (1987). On "Origins Vol. 2", Rob takes on the role of DEEP PURPLE's late Jon Lord on "Space Truckin'", one of a pair of tracks recorded at The Creation Lab in Turlock, California. Ace notes: "'Space Truckin'' was actually recorded years ago and then I just re-recorded some parts and changed it a little. We never ended up putting it on a record, so it was just sitting around. It turned out very well. Rob Sabino is a very accomplished studio musician and we actually grew up in the Bronx together, so we go way back."

Longtime fans may be surprised at the inclusion of a BEATLES song, the 1965 non-album single B-side "I'm Down". Under questioning, Ace laughs: "Everyone was telling me, 'You gotta do a BEATLES song, Ace. You didn't do one on the first record.' The early BEATLES inspired me more than the later records, because they were more raw and more rock and roll. I decided to tackle 'I'm Down' and I thought it came out great. John 5 did a great solo on the song, and then we riffed out at the end." In addition to the stellar contribution to the song by John 5, it is also one of several tracks on which engineer Alex Salzman performs bass. When recording, there's no plan, Ace details. "I normally try and keep the bass lines pretty simple and pretty close to the original recordings," he says. "Usually, when I record, it's just me and Alex in a studio and then we add the drums last. Alex is a very accomplished musician, he plays keyboards, guitar, and bass. But I'd sometimes say, 'Alex, why don't you throw the bass down?' I just got finished doing a guitar solo or a vocal. And I guess a little of it has to do with it is that sometimes I'm just lazy!" There's certainly no laziness in the performance that does more than a little justice to the original and Ace gets the opportunity to rip out a rocking traditional guitar solo.

Another non-album single follows, originally recorded by THE ROLLING STONES in 1968, with Ace tackling "Jumpin' Jack Flash". The exquisite Lita Ford returns on vocals for her second "Origins" project with Ace, who's very fond of her. "Lita's like my sister," he says. "I've known Lita since she was in THE RUNAWAYS and we've always remained friends over the years. She did a great job on 'Wild Thing', so I decided to bring her back for this record. She actually stayed over at my house in San Diego and I coached her on the vocal for two days. I think it came out great!" And throwing out another playful Frehley tease, Ace ad-libs "Kick out the Jams Motherf**ker!" at the end, the starting lyric of the legendary MC5's best-known track. Ace had met the MC5's Wayne Kramer at the MAP Fund Rockin' For Recovery benefit at the Club Nokia in Los Angeles in May 2014 and the two have remained friends. According to Ace, "If the record company decides they want an 'Origins Vol. 3' somewhere down the road, you wouldn't be surprised if I did that song."

In terms of his musical history, one of Ace's first concerts was MURRAY THE K's "Music In The Fifth Dimension" in March 1967 at the RKO Theater in Manhattan. On the bill that day, far below headlining Mitch Ryder and Wilson Pickett, were CREAM and THE WHO, who were both making their U.S. debut during the nine-day engagement. Guitarist Eric Clapton made a lasting impression on Ace, even though CREAM only performed a couple of songs during a short set. More than half a century later, Frehley makes a lasting impression with the power of his cover of "Politician". Ace is adamant: "I try not to get involved with politics. I think it dilutes rock 'n' roll and should be kept separate. If people want to interpret any type of political message in my songs, so be it, but I don't do it on purpose." However, musically, the song allows space for both he and guest John 5 to shine with some stunning guitar interplay. One notable part of the track is the crossfaded double solo which Ace notes: "We used an auto-crossover plug in that comes with Pro Tools. If you listen to that long solo with headphones, our solos crisscross back and forth, left to right. We didn't plan it; it was like one take and it just worked out that way. He [John] didn't step on my parts and I didn't really step on his parts." John has become something of a regular on Ace's "Origins" projects, and not without reason. "John is a really talented musician and he can play many different styles of music," Ace says. "He's a much more versatile guitarist than myself, so I respect him for that — plus he's a good friend! He's very fast in the studio."

"My daughter Monique thought that this was the best song on the album. I did 'White Room' on 'Origins, Vol. 1', and I was trying to decide on another CREAM song to do. I started jamming on that riff and it just seemed so strong. I wasn't sure of whether or not I'd be able to sing it, so we spent 15 minutes tracking the riff and then I tried the vocal and was actually able to sing it."

Ace's humor is clearly present with the inclusion of THE KINKS' "Lola". A Top 10 hit in 1970, the then controversial but tongue-in-cheek song was always a favorite of his. "I always thought that it was a great song and when I was a kid it was a big hit," he says. "I just started fooling around with it and realized I could sing it — which is a prerequisite. My new girlfriend is a great singer as well, so after the album was recorded, I had her replace the original background vocal." Lara brings special vocal seasoning to that song, and "Good Times, Bad Times".

Sentimentality is also represented with a smoking cover of HUMBLE PIE's "30 Days In The Hole", which features CHEAP TRICK's Robin Zander on lead vocals. Not only had CHEAP TRICK opened for KISS on tour in the 1970s, Ace and CHEAP TRICK were both a part of the 2017 "The Children Matter" benefit concert for hurricane victims. At the time, Robin had expressed an interest in working with Frehley, so "Origins Vol. 2" brings together the two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame stars. Ace, a lifetime fan of Steve Marriott, knew he'd need some help on the track. He admits: "I tried singing it a couple of times, but there's no way I was going to be able to do it justice, so I gave Robin Zander, an old friend of mine from CHEAP TRICK, a call. And he killed it." Once again, the song is firmly rooted in Ace's personal musical journey: "I've always been a huge fan of HUMBLE PIE and was present both nights they recorded live at the Fillmore. I was lucky enough to meet Steve Marriott at a party in New York City. I've always idolized Steve Marriott's voice and his range. He was such a little guy, but he could really belt it out."

Over the decades, Ace has interacted with fellow guitarist Bruce Kulick on numerous occasions. The two also share a common love for Jimi Hendrix, and a song like "Manic Depression" was the perfect vehicle for both guitarists to shine, with Ace delivering a perfect vocal for the mood. Originally released on "Are You Experienced" (1967), Ace recalls: "Bruce offered his services and I thought that it was a great idea. I've been friends with Bruce through thick and thin, and when Bruce told me he would love to do a track I was happy to accommodate him. He did the bulk of the solo, and then he and I soloed off together towards the end." Bruce executes a dynamic solo with plenty of the elements fans of both guitarists will appreciate.

Like the studio version of KISS's "Rock And Roll All Nite", the PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS hit "Kicks" didn't originally include a guitar solo. This limitation didn't prevent Ace from developing the arrangement and adding a perfect "three-part harmony guitar solo that really Ace-i-fies the song." The first of two Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil compositions on the album, the song was noted for being an early antidrug anthem ahead of its time (1966). And, of course, the song has a fabulous immediately noticeable riff! Ace comments: "They had that look like THE KINKS had in the early days. I always thought that it was a great song and it always stood out and had a catchy riff, so I decided to put that on this record. I think that it's a good message for the youth of today."

The second of the Mann/Weil songs is the Vietnam-era anthem "We Gotta Get Out of This Place". Originally recorded by THE ANIMALS, the song hit No. 13 on the charts in October 1965 and was later included on the U.S. version of "Animal Tracks". Ace delivers a raw vocal matched by his solo, one that he performed very early during his musical career. He recalls: "I always liked that song by THE ANIMALS. It was one of the first songs that I performed live when I was in a band with my brother. We even had a guy playing a Farfisa organ. It brings back good memories and I didn't even think about its political connotations, I just think it's a great song. I recorded that one a while back when I did 'Space Truckin''."

Rounding out the album is the bonus track "She". This song was performed by KISS at their very first show at the Coventry in January 1973 and was revamped for inclusion on "Dressed To Kill" a couple of years later. It's perhaps even more fitting than the KISS songs included on "Origins Vol. 1", dating back to the very genesis of his time in that band. Ace, however, is pragmatic about its inclusion. "It was a song that we had decided to perform live the last three or four months we were touring, before everything got shut down," he says. "We were having a lot of fun doing it live, so 'She' was one of the first songs that popped into my mind as a KISS bonus track for the album." And with its inclusion, Ace allows his solo band members — Jeremy Asbrock, Ryan Spencer Cook and Philip Shouse — an opportunity to shine, while answering the demand of many fans to get the popular performers on a KISS-related record together!

"Origins Vol. 2" is a well-thought-out, but not over-thought, album. For Ace, keeping things organic is an important part of crafting an album's atmosphere. "I just let it happen," he says. "Things evolve when I start doing these records and I try not to plan too much ahead. I like spontaneity. I like coming up with ideas off the top of my head. It's the same way I write guitar solos. When things are fresh and spontaneous, they always come out better for the listener."

Ace gets the last word with a direct message to his fans: "I'm happy with the end result and I hope the fans like it as well."

Track listing:

01. Good Times Bad Times (LED ZEPPELIN)

02. Never In My Life (MOUNTAIN)

03. Space Truckin' (DEEP PURPLE)

04. I'm Down (THE BEATLES)

05. Jumpin' Jack Flash (THE ROLLING STONES)

06. Politician (CREAM)

07. Lola (THE KINKS)

08. 30 Days In The Hole (HUMBLE PIE)

09. Manic Depression (THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE)

10. Kicks (PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS)

11. We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (THE ANIMALS)

12. She (KISS) (bonus track)

The fourth annual Heavy Music Awards, presented by Amazon Music UK, premiered as an ambitious virtual event, streamed live on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel. It featured a live interactive pre-show hosted by Kerrang! Radio presenters Sophie K and Jon Mahon and live performances from the studios of AfterLive Music by THE HUNNA, HOLDING ABSENCE, HEART OF A COWARD, WARGASM, COLDBONES and HAWXX. Due to originally take place at London O2 Kentish Town Forum, the night marked another year of success and celebration of talent across the entire creative landscape in the rock and metal communities, with 12 awards handed out in total.

SLIPKNOT enjoyed the greatest success on the night, taking home "Best International Band" and "Best Album" for their acclaimed 2019 LP "We Are Not Your Kind". In his acceptance video, SLIPKNOT's Shawn "Clown" Crahan said: "It only means what it means when it's voted by you, the fans, all around the world."

Sheffield's BRING ME THE HORIZON made Heavy Music Awards history by becoming the first artist to retain an award — picking up "Best UK Band". Frontman Oli Sykes echoed SLIPKNOT's sentiment about fan participation in a video message from his home.

German heavyweights RAMMSTEIN landed the "Best Live Band" award, following a series of seminal stadium shows in 2019. In a collective message, RAMMSTEIN said: "It's always special to receive recognition for doing something you believe in, and when that recognition comes straight from the fans, it means a great deal."

In a brand new category for 2020, "Best Video", DON BROCO landed their first Heavy Music Awards in recognition of their clip for "Action". Frontman Rob Damiani was effusive in his praise of director Benjamin Roberds and producer Katie Gregg: "We've made six videos in total with them, and by far it's been the best experience we've ever had making music videos."

Pennsylvania's BARONESS were the recipients of the "Best Album Artwork" gong for "Gold And Grey", with its jawdropping cover created by the band's frontman John Dyer Baizley. On winning their first-ever Heavy Music award, the charismatic vocalist said: "This means the world to us. It's been an incredibly strange year, and we cannot wait to get back out on tour!"

The two "Breakthrough Band" awards were picked up by acts at the opposite ends of the heavy music spectrum — with Australian metalcore five-piece POLARIS landing "Best International Breakthrough" award, while NOVA TWINS — fresh from their performance at the Heavy Music Awards in 2019 — were victors in the fiercely contested "Best UK Breakthrough" category.

NOVA TWINS' Amy Love saw significance in their win: "It's so incredible for us, especially as women of color, winning these rock awards, because you don't see it that often. Let's keep pushing forward, keep diversifying the space — there's room for everybody."

Love's bandmate Georgia South added: "It feels like a win for the whole community of POC alternative fans, the LGBT community, any minority group that feels that the doors were not open for them — this is another door open for us all."

Meanwhile, speaking from Sydney, POLARIS's Jamie Hails and Rick Schneider were humbled by the win: "This snuck up on us with everything that's been going on, but it's reminded us of all the fans we have out there and it really does mean a lot."

History was made in the "Best Producer" category, with Catherine Marks — who has worked with the likes of FRANK CARTER & THE RATTLESNAKES, THE AMAZONS and Frank Turner — becoming the first woman to win the award. Accepting the award at her studio in London, Marks was quick to praise the other six finalists before adding: "This is such a shock, this is huge — thank you so much, this is such an honor. You don't know how much this means to me. Thank you!"

Hugely respected metal snapper Ester Segarra, also became the first woman recipient in her category taking the "Best Photographer" award, one of the most hotly contested awards. Speaking from Stockholm, Segarra was quick to highlight the sense of unity among the metal community: "It means a lot to have got this award this year. Let's stand united, because united we never shall fall."

In the "Best Festival" category, Download festival took the award for the second time in four years — the first time since the inaugural Heavy Music Awards in 2017 — and the event's mastermind Andy Copping was reflective in his acceptance speech: "It really means a lot to us. A very bizarre year this year, of course, with no festival taking place, but fingers crossed we're going to be back next year, bigger and stronger than we've always been."

And finally, The H — a special award recognizing exceptional positive contribution to the heavy music scene — was given to Dom Frazer and Space, the husband-and-wife team behind Guildford's much-loved Boileroom, a music venue paired with a vibrant creative space that has done a huge amount to empower local and national talent. Alongside her partner Space — who Heavy Music Awards followers may also know as the producer of IDLES' album "Joy As An Act Of Resistance" — Frazer said: "We'd like to accept this award on behalf of all of the crews, and all the people who work tirelessly to make our cultural landscape so amazing. Keep doing what you're doing and together we'll get through this. This means so much. Thank you."

The Heavy Music Awards is an entirely democratic, independent awards program recognizing the year's best in rock and metal. For HMA20, over 600 invited industry insiders nominated their favorites to create the finalists' shortlists, before more than 150,000 votes were cast from over 150 countries to decide the winners. Originally due to take place at London O2 Kentish Town Forum in May, organizers pivoted this year due to COVID-19 to bring the event which is now an integral part of the live calendar direct to fans' homes.

Japanese pop-metal band BABYMETAL will release two live albums next week. Captured on its "Metal Galaxy" world tour, the "Extra Show Legend - Metal Galaxy" was a two-day event held at Makuhari Messe (Japan) on January 25 and January 26, 2020. "Legend - Metal Galaxy [Day 1]" and "Legend - Metal Galaxy [Day 2]" will both arrive on Wednesday, September 9 via Cooking Vinyl.

Playing to 50,000 people across the two shows, BABYMETAL delivered two completely different set lists each night, dedicating one show to their Light Force and one to their Dark Force, in front of a huge LED projection of the "Metal Galaxy" odyssey.

Track listings for the albums are as follows:

"Legend - Metal Galaxy [Day 1]"

01. Future Metal

02. Da Da Dance

03. Elevator Girl

04. Shanti Shanti Shanti

05. Oh! Majinai

06. Yava!

07. Brand New Day

08. Gimme Chocolate!!

09. Megitsune

10. Night Night Burn!

11. The One

12. Road Of Resistance

"Legend - Metal Galaxy [Day 2]"

01. In The Name Of

02. Distortion

03. Pa Pa Ya!!

04. Karate

05. Kagerou

06. Bxmxc

07. Syncopation

08. Headbangeeeeerrrrr!!!!!

09. Starlight

10. Shine

11. Arkadia

12. Ijime, Dame, Zettai

BABYMETAL's third studio LP, "Metal Galaxy" hit No. 19 in the U.K. official album chart, No. 1 No. 1 on Billboard's Top Rock Albums chart, becoming the first Asian act to land at No. 1, and No. 18 on the German chart.

In the U.S., "Metal Galaxy" earned 28,000 equivalent album units (of which 27,000 were in album sales) in its first week of release. The album also topped the Hard Rock Albums chart.

"Metal Galaxy" entered the all-format Billboard 200 chart at No. 13. The group's previous disc, 2016's "Metal Resistance", peaked at No. 39.

"Metal Galaxy" was released in October via earMUSIC/Edel. The follow-up to 2016's "Metal Resistance" is based on the concept of "The Odyssey Of Metal Galaxy".

"Metal Galaxy" contains 14 songs, including four singles that were released prior to the LP's arrival: "Pa Pa Ya!!", "Starlight", "Distortion" and "Elevator Girl". The album expresses light and darkness, emotions like duality and ambivalence, and "new metal" created by various chemical reactions as other entities evolved and expanded in this album.

The album includes five songs that feature guest appearances from worldwide musicians who were perfect to the character of each song. Vocalist Joakim Brodén from SABATON is featured on "Oh! Majinai". Guitarist Tim Henson and Scott LePage from POLYPHIA are featured on "Brand New Day". Vocalist Alissa White-Gluz from ARCH ENEMY is featured on "Distortion". Rapper F.Hero is featured in "Pa Pa Ya!!"

Czech black metal revelation Somniate is offering a full stream of its debut album, The Meyrinkian Slumber, released on June 30 via Lavadome Productions and Cloven Hoof on CD/LP/MC/Digital formats.

The inspiration and the concept for the album comes from the novel, The Golem, written by Gustav Meyrink between 1907 and 1914. The album's five tracks represent a sophisticated black metal flight above the esoteric plot of the writer´s masterpiece. A tale of searching for the ascension through identity shifts, alchemical concepts and suffering, all set in a distorted vision of Prague.

Mixed and mastered at the infamous BST Studio (Aosoth, The Order of Apollyon, Totalitarian).

The iconography of the album's coverart was crafted by View From The Coffin:

Tracklisting:

“The Sleepless Stone”
“Rephaim”
“In Bone Incorruptible”
“A Penitentiary Triptych”
“Of Fragrance And Light”

“Of Fragrance And Light”:




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Vajra, the darkly hypnotic New York-based band, will release Irkalla, the first in a trilogy of releases slated for 2021, on January 15 via Thunder Cult Records.

The group, which is fronted by Annamaria Pinna, have shared a video for “Maya” as a preview of the forthcoming album. “The video for Maya is the second chapter of a larger film inspired by the Sumerian classic hero myth, Descent of Inanna,” explains Pinna. Pinna, with bass player Dave Sussman, produced the clip, which features performance artist Erin Ellen Kelly (Serpentine Slacker Gallery/Indianapolis Museum of Art). The single was produced and mixed by Sahaj Ticotin and mastered by Latin GRAMMY-Award winner Camilo Silva.

Irkalla will be available digitally and physically on CD/vinyl. Physical pre-orders, which will be available soon, include an additional trio of tracks dubbed the Shadow Queen Ritual Music.

Tracklisting:

“Irkalla”
“Maya”
“Crown Or Crucify”
“Wavering”
“Sever The Tie”
“Win”

“Maya” video:

(Photo by: Max R. Sequiera)




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Norway's Gaia Epicus are back with another cover. This time they take on the Thin Lizzy classic "Jailbreak". Watch the video below:

The band previously released their covers of the Dio classic "Holy Diver", and the 80s hit "I Melt With You" by Modern English.

Gaia Epicus recently announced the addition of drummer Mike Terrana (Tarja, Rage, Axel Rudi Pell, Vision Divine) for the upcoming new album, Seventh Rising.

Thomas Chr. Hansen: "I am very honored and proud to annouce that Mike Terrana is the drummer for the new Gaia Epicus album, Seventh Rising.
Mike has done a great job in making this album come to life.

It's also a great honor to announce that Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth) Is making a guest performance on the track called 'Gods Of Metal'.

We are about to start mixing the album in the upcoming weeks. I am looking to make a deal with a bigger label so if anyone is interested get in touch with me. If no new deal is made then the album will be released through Epicus Records later this year."

Gaia Epicus recently revealed the tracklist for Seventh Rising. This is the follow-up to the band’s latest album Alpha & Omega which was released in December 2018. The new album is the seventh studio album from Gaia Epicus and it will contain 11 tracks. Release is expected by the end of 2020.

Tracklisting:

“Like A Phoenix”
“Rising”
“Nothing To Lose”
“From Ashes To Fire”
“The Dream”
“Invisible Enemy”
“Dr. Madman”
“Number One”
“Gods Of Metal”
“We Are The Ones”
“Eye Of RA”

Album lineup:

Thomas Chr. Hansen - guitars, bass and vocals
Lukky Sparxx - lead guitars
Mike Terrana - drums

Special guest:

Tim "Ripper" Owens - vocals




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NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger has once again clarified his comments about his desire to make a super-heavy album with his band one day.

Back in January 2019, Kroeger told Australia's Wall Of Sound that metal is "what I listen to without fail," adding that "if we could actually sink in and do a metal album, all four of us would love it. I know that we're all — on differing scales — metalheads at our core. We all know everything about the 'Big Four' — METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER. I would do a SLAYER cover album if I could. That's where my heart lies. There are just never enough hours in the day to do everything, but let's just say I wouldn't count it out."

Kroeger later offered a different take on the possibility of recording a SLAYER covers album, explaining that he never said NICKELBACK as a band would partake in such a project. He has now doubled down on those comments, telling the WSOU radio station in a new interview (hear audio below): "There was a little bit of context manipulation in that Wall Of Sound interview. What I said was that I, Mike, personally would like to do a SLAYER cover record — not NICKELBACK. And that was maybe a mistake on my part, 'cause I left it too easy to be reinterpreted. But the fact is when we did [NICKELBACK's 2017 album] 'Feed The Machine', there was a real intent to make it firmly a rock album — a hard rock record. That was really what we wanted it to be. And we, I think, executed that, and our fans have given us the approval that we did, in fact, make a good hard rock record.

"Now, as far as NICKELBACK going ahead and making a power metal album, that isn't gonna happen. I wouldn't mind being involved in something like that personally, just because that's the kind of music I listen to, but the rest of my band doesn't share my taste in things like SLAYER. Well, the drummer does; Daniel [Adair], he likes SLAYER.

"I think it was more of a clickbait thing than anything else, because just consider it — a guy from NICKELBACK says they wanna make a SLAYER cover album. The entire metal community is in uproar. [Laughs] It's so easy, right? You wanna get some clicks? That's one way of doing it."

Asked if he thinks the next NICKELBACK album will follow a heavier direction, like "Feed The Machine", or if it will feature a more commercial sound, Mike said: "I really hope it's heavier, just 'cause that's what makes my pulse go up. I don't know yet. It's not like we have the thing in the can — it's not all recorded — so we're still finding out what's gonna happen. We don't know yet.

"If I had to predict, I would say there's probably gonna be a wide-ranging body of work here," he added. "There's gonna be the songs that people will wanna listen to when they're having a fun social event, and there's gonna be other songs when you wanna do the steering-wheel drums and bash away at something that's got a heavy metal kind of bent to it. I think we're gonna have everything across the board, really. I believe that's probably what's gonna happen. As much as I would just like to make cover-to-cover metal, there's probably gonna be songs for the people who like the more melodic love songs, and there's probably gonna be the heavy stuff too."

NICKELBACK guitarist Ryan Peake said in April that the band's documentary — which has been in the works for at least a couple of years — was "very close to being released."

Last month, NICKELBACK released a music video for its cover version of THE CHARLIE DANIELS BAND classic "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". Honoring Daniels, who passed away in July, NICKELBACK invited guitarist Dave Martone to join them on a cover of the infamous classic story — paying homage to Daniels's influence on their careers and the legacy left behind.

As previously reported, NICKELBACK's "All The Right Reasons: 15th Anniversary Expanded Edition" will be released as a two-CD set on October 2 and will also be available digitally on all streaming platforms. The collection features a newly remastered version of the original 2005 album, a selection of B-sides and a 2006 live concert recording.

Resurrect The Faithful is the provocative new album from EMN (Every Mother's Nightmare)! 11-tracks of larger-than-life new music featuring the first single "Breathe" and a new recording of their top hit "Love Can Make You Blind". With each album EMN (Every Mother's Nightmare) continues to capture fans and take them on a never ending musical ride. Resurrect The Faithful takes the band to new musical heights. Resurrect The Faithful is due out October 23 on HighVolMusic.

Resurrect The Faithful can be pre-ordered at this location.

Recorded at Supernova Sound Memphis, Resurrect The Faithful differs from any of its predecessors. With a unique wall of guitars and a thunderous rhythm section, Resurrect The Faithful stands above anything the band has written and crosses various musical boundaries. The lyrical content delves into profound subject matter that can be determined by the listener as it relates to their own lives and situations. Each song takes on a life of their own – 11 scorching tracks of pure rock ‘n roll bliss at its finest and perhaps the most defining record in the bands career.

Resurrect The Faithful may be a shock to many; including the 2020 re-record style of the hit "Love Can Make You Blind".

Tracklisting:

"Getaway"
"Breathe"
"Here's To The Ones"
"Sin In My Heart"
"When It Goes Away"
"Resurrect The Faithful"
"Fray"
"Sorry Today"
"Unstained"
"Drown By Luv"
"Love Can Make You Blind" (2020)

“Resurrect The Faithful is a true testament of everything that EMN is today,” says vocalist Rick Ruhl. “This is the best album of my career; it is perfect in every way – at least for us. There isn't a song on it that I wished I could go back and fix or do differently. All of these songs were written and recorded during some very dark times both personally and all around. Only the strong survive and EMN is still here.”

Bill Chavis President of HighVolMusic said, "Over the past five years, I’ve had the honor to establish a true friendship with Rick Ruhl and have a tremendous respect for him. I've learned where he's been, how he got there, how he fought back to save himself, his band, and his career. I was awestruck by his simple approach towards life, his industry experiences and in a way that has now inspired me in making some of my own decisions. The man is a true talent, a rock star and smarter than he will ever let on. No one knew what to expect when we signed our record deal but as a team we have set goals and conquered them. I have had the privilege of watching EMN roar back to life and here we are right now at this point in time. Resurrect The Faithful is by far the best album from EMN."

Here's To The Ones - A Documentary, is a tell all story in the making of the latest album Resurrect The Faithful by the American hard rock band Every Mother's Nightmare. The documentary will make its worldwide premiere September 27th on the Bravewords.com social networks.

Written by Bill Chavis, directed by Nick Hein and Bill Chavis, Here's To The Ones - A Documentary, is a project developed by HVM Entertainment in 2020 showing the behind the scenes look at the creation process of the band's most pivotal album of their career. 

Filmed on location at Supernova Sound Memphis in Tennessee, the film shows the band discussing their demo, writing and recording processes for the new material as well as who and what EMN is as a band today.

Plans for release include a Roku release, a stand-alone DVD version packed full of additional footage, and never scene before live performances just in time for the holiday season.




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Dark Rites released their new album, The Dark Hymns, on September 11th via Brutal Records. The band has just issued a lyric video for the track "Shadow God":

On The Dark Hymns, Dark Rites shape their music with the highest proficiency in intense death metal that varies its texture and pauses inertia long enough to ram a militant and uncompromising aesthetic down the throats of their listeners.

Rippling textures of chords thrust home like a battlefield execution form the raw skin from which this band twist phrases that contort, transform and rediscover their origins as they mutate over the course of a song.  

The gavel-beat of fuzz-blasted vocals pulses alongside a loping bass and speeding guitar tremolo, forming a seething mass of impenetrable diatribe which alights above the head of a listener like a killing mood. As Dark Rites brings forth the ferocity of death metal with an unrelenting barrage of old school technique, this music even at its most inflected is nearly monochromatic in its continuous rage.

The Dark Hymns artwork and tracklisting:

"Divine Duplicity"
"Goliath The Coward"
"In Stasis"
"Moira"
"Scars"
"Serena"
"Shadow God"
"The Devil's Heroes"
"The Great Halcyon War"

"Goliath The Coward" lyric video:




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LEAVES' EYES published their new single/video "Chain Of The Golden Horn" from the upcoming “The Last Viking” album to be released on October 23 via AFM Records.

“The Last Viking” is the 2020-monumental-piece of LEAVES’ EYES. The setting of the symphonic metal masterpiece couldn’t be more tremendous. With their cult-albums “Vinland Saga” (2005) and “King of Kings” (2015) they already turned Leif Erikssons discovery of America and the life of Norway’s first king into music. Now, LEAVES’ EYES bring the Viking Sagas to their bombastic finale.

LEAVES’ EYES have always played in a league of their own. They have toured all populated continents, frequently reach top positions in the album charts and with every output they deliver a multimedia masterpiece when it comes to video clips and artwork. With “The Last Viking” they surpass their own standards with the original film documentary “Viking Spirit”.

This album won’t be the closure of LEAVES’ EYES – it only fuels expectations what these geniuses will come up next with. With “The Last Viking” LEAVES’ EYES set up their own musical monument that is just as captivating and strong as the saga of the last Viking King itself.

Tracklisting

01 Death Of A King
02 Chain Of The Golden Horn
03 Dark Love Empress
04 Serpents And Dragons
05 "Black Butterfly (feat. Clémentine Delauney)"
06 War Of Kings
07 For Victory
08 Two Kings One Realm
09 Flames In The Sky
10 Serkland
11 Varangians
12 Night Of The Ravens
13 The Last Viking
14 Break Into The Sky Of Aeon

San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans HEATHEN have released the official Costin Chioreanu-directed music video for the song "Sun In My Hand". The track is taken from the band's fourth studio album, "Empire Of the Blind", which came out on September 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.

HEATHEN comments: "Thanks to all of the HEATHEN fans and headbangers everywhere for your legendary patience over the last 10 years. The moment has finally arrived, and we are very proud to share our new creation with you via the best metal label on the planet, Nuclear Blast Records! Without the support of the fans, heavy metal would have no voice. So lift your fucking glasses high, grab your copy of 'Empire Of The Blind', and in the immortal words of Rich Burch, 'bang that head that doesn't bang!' Cheers!"

"Empire Of the Blind" was for the most part engineered, produced, mixed, and mastered by Christopher "Zeuss" Harris at Planet Z Studios. Additional details — rhythm guitars, etc. — were put to digital "tape" by Kragen Lum at SubLevel Studio in Little Rock, Arkansas. The album features guest appearances by Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER), Rick Hunolt (ex-EXODUS) and Doug Piercy (ex-HEATHEN). The cover art to "Empire Of the Blind" was once again handled by renowned artist Travis Smith (OVERKILL, EXHORDER).

The band previously commented: "It's been another 10 years but we are finally back with a new HEATHEN album. Fine wine takes time! Everyone in the band worked their asses off on this record. Zeuss absolutely nailed it and more than realized our vision for the sound. Travis Smith perfectly captured the bleak atmosphere that we imagined for the artwork. It was a year in the making and we couldn't be more proud of the outcome."

"Empire Of the Blind" track listing:

01. This Rotting Sphere

02. The Blight

03. Empire Of The Blind

04. Dead And Gone

05. Sun In My Hand

06. Blood To Be Let

07. In Black

08. Shrine Of Apathy

09. Devour

10. A Fine Red Mist

11. The Gods Divide

12. Monument To Ruin

"Empire Of The Blind" is the follow-up to "The Evolution Of Chaos", which was released as a 10th-anniversary remastered reissue on January 31 via Mascot Records. The effort was made available on CD/DVD, 2LP and digitally with a previously unreleased bonus track, "Seasons Of Purgatory". The CD/DVD was accompanied by a two-hour "making-of" documentary on the album as well as a live performance from 2009's Thrash Domination in Japan.

When "The Evolution Of Chaos" was originally released back in January 2010, it was HEATHEN's first full-length collection of new material in 18 years and saw them ride a wave of the resurgent thrash scene.

HEATHEN is often credited — alongside EXODUS, TESTAMENT, FORBIDDEN, DEATH ANGEL and VIO-LENCE — with being one of the leaders of the Bay Area thrash metal scene of the mid-to-late 1980s.

Since its 1984 inception, HEATHEN has gone through several lineup changes, leaving Altus as the only constant member.

To date, HEATHEN has released three studio albums: 1987's "Breaking the Silence", 1991's "Victims Of Deception" and the aforementioned "The Evolution Of Chaos".

HEATHEN in 2012 inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

Altus has been a member of EXODUS since 2005. He joined the group as the replacement for Rick Hunolt, who left EXODUS to concentrate on his family life.

HEATHEN is:

David White - Vocals

Lee Altus - Guitar

Kragen Lum - Guitar

Jason Mirza - Bass

Jim DeMaria - Drums

Aimée Osbourne, the eldest daughter of Ozzy and Sharon, has announced her debut album, "Vacare Adamare", released under the ARO banner. The album, Latin for "to be free and loved," is due out October 30 on Make Records. The disc's latest single, "House Of Lies", can be streamed below.

Aimée says "House Of Lies" is "about feeling those ties to someone that you don't particularly want to feel. And you tell yourself that they're not there, but they very much are the same."

ARO will play a show on September 26, livestreamed from Los Angeles's Hotel Cafe. The show is in support of her "House Of Lies" single release, but will include songs from her upcoming album. Tickets and more information can be found here.

Last month, Aimée opened up about her decision to not participate in the family's reality TV show, "The Osbournes". Aimée, who was only 15 years at the time, reportedly went as far as to move out of the family home in an effort to stay away from the cameras.

"To me, I'd grown up around having a pretty well-known dad anyway, and I always really valued my privacy within that family," the now-36-year-old told New York's Q104.3 radio station. "For me personally, for who I am, as far as morally, and also just to give myself a chance to actually develop into a human being as opposed to just being remembered for being a teenager, it didn't really line up with what I saw my future as. It definitely worked great for the rest of my family, but for me and who I am, I just knew it was never something that I would have been able to consider realistically."

This is not the first time Aimée has spoken about her refusal to appear in "The Osbournes". A few years ago, she said: "I want to be a singer, and I felt if I'd stayed with 'The Osbournes' and done the whole thing, I would have been typecast right away."

She elaborated in a 2015 RollingStone.com interview, saying: "I don't think I will ever cross-contaminate my private life and my family life with my public and professional worlds. For me, nothing's more important than having a very clear boundary between the two. That's just part of who I am."

During an episode of "The Talk", Sharon admitted that she had feelings of guilt over her daughter's decision to leave home because she couldn't stand filming "The Osbournes".

"I know that my eldest girl, Aimée, left home at 16 and she couldn't live in our house because we were filming and it drove her insane," she said. "She felt, too, that she didn't want to grow up on camera. She hated the idea; it was appalling to her. And so she left at 16 and I regret every day that she did."

The "fly-on-the-wall" TV series, which became the highest rated original program in MTV's history, started in 2002 and ended in 2005. The show followed the lives of the BLACK SABBATH singer and his family, including Sharon's battle with cancer, as well as younger children Kelly and Jack Osbourne's stints in rehabilitation for drug and alcohol abuse.

"The Osbournes" was credited with being the first show where cameras followed celebrities around and led to a number of copycats like A&E's "Gene Simmons Family Jewels", which followed the life of KISS bassist Gene Simmons and his family, and A&E's "Growing Up Twisted", about the family of TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider.

BUTCHER BABIES took part in the European Metal Festival Alliance fundraising event last month to benefit the "beleaguered" independent festival sector. Video footage of the band's entire performance can now be viewed below.

The setlist was as follows:

01. Lilith (quarantine style)

02. Monsters Ball (live from Las Vegas)

03. The Butcher (live from Las Vegas)

04. Korova (live from Las Vegas)

05. I Smell A Massacre (quarantine style)

06. The Huntsman (live from Las Vegas)

07. Pomona (Shit Happens) (live from Las Vegas)

08. Jesus Needs More Babies For His Warmachine (featuring ANTHRAX's Charlie Benante) (quarantine style)

09. Controller (live from Las Vegas)

10. Look What We’ve Done (live from Las Vegas)

11. They're Coming To Take Me Away (live from Las Vegas)

12. Magnolia Blvd. (live from Las Vegas)

13. Underground And Overrated (live from Las Vegas)

BUTCHER BABIES are scheduled to release a new single in the coming days. The song will be the first taste of the band's forthcoming fourth studio album, tentatively due in early 2021 via an as-yet-undisclosed record label.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chilean metal outfit Nuclear have released their new single "Facing Towards You", from their upcoming album Murder Of Crows.

After five years of silence, the band returns with a new album which will be released through Black Lodge Records / Sound Pollution on November 13th.

The band stated about the new single: "It was very difficult choosing the first single, but we think ‘Facing Towards You’ represents pretty much the spirit of the new album. It is simple, fast and brutal, just a little glimpse of what’s to come”. Murder Of Crows release date is getting closer and you can pre-order it here."

Murder Of Crows is Nuclear’s sixth studio album and most extreme proposal to date. Obliterating all boundaries, Nuclear’s new music ingrains the vicious cutting-edge guitars of thrash and the sonic brutality inherent to death metal’s golden years. With unyielding tones feeding a display of unhinged savagery, Murder Of Crows is set to become one of thrash’s uttermost deliveries of 2020.

Tracklisting:

"Pitchblack" (Intro)
"Murder Of Crows"
"No Light After All"
"When Water Thickens Blood"
"Friendly Sociopath"
"Abusados"
"Misery Inc."
"Facing Towards You"
"Hatetrend"
"Blood To Spare"
"Useless To Mankind

For further details, visit Nuclear on Facebook.

 




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