KINGS NEVER DIE release “Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall”, the first pre-single taken from the upcoming studio album “The Life & Times”, out on October 25th on Metalville Records.

Dan Nastasi about the song: “Personal story about someone I know really well. Tried the Tough Guy Bullshit and realized he wasn’t all that. I’d always tell him.. The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall. Can’t fake tough. You either are or you aren’t.”


Following the release of their debut LP ‘All The Rats’ in 2023 and their European tour together with ‘Dog Eat Dog’, ‘Kings Never Die’ began work on their follow-up album. After drummer Danny Schuler left to return to ‘Bioharzard’, Dan Nastasi asked his long-time friend John ‘Booge’ Milnes (Mucky Pup) to help with the recordings.

Nastasi says, ‘The writing and recording process has been very different for us from the first EPs to “All The Rats” to now. And this album was no different. We basically had 10-15 new songs in the works. After we got home from tour at the end of November, we decided it was best to start working on a new album right away. I basically locked myself in my home studio for 4 weeks and got into the writing process, writing new songs and working on ideas we already had. After that me, Evan and John Milnes rehearsed with the rhythm section for 4 weeks and then immediately went to Shore Fire Studios in Long Branch NJ to start recording. 3 days later we headed to PA to Rock Hard Studios and finished the rest of the guitars and vocals. We drove back to NJ and mixed the album.’

The result is „The Life & Times“. And although it is not a concept album, the album is exactly what the title suggests. Side A, the life side, with the title track ‘The Life & Times’ and other songs based on personal stories. Side B, the time side, really reflects on the times we live in and takes a good look at the youth or younger generations and the struggles they may face in the future.

Nastasi said. „One thing I’ve learnt from working with Danny Schuler is that every word you write or every lyric in a song has to have a meaning to you or something that people can relate to. I feel like it really helped me tell a story through the lyrics that I wrote on our last album, but especially on „The Life & Times.“

Arguably the most important songs on ‘Life & Times’ are without a doubt ‘Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall’, which was originally intended for the previous album. The title track and ‘Empathy’ are also anthem-like tracks with catchy vocals and bounce. ‘Underdog’ was written by Nastasi as a thank you to his late father for his life experiences and in recognition of the drive and ambition he instilled in him.

„Most people think that this album is a return to our original hardcore and punk rock style“, says the band, and it’s obvious that vocally they have returned to a two-singer style, with Gadino and Nastasi sharing vocals.

KINGS NEVER DIE is 100% authentic and it’s obvious that the music comes from the heart, both lyrically and emotionally. ‘The Life & Times’ is clearly the band’s greatest achievement to date.


TRACK LISTING

01 The Life & Times
02 Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall
03 Never Let Go
04 Empathy
05 Can I Get A Witness
06 Underdog
07 Kill The Cowards
08 War & Youth
09 The Rights
10 Slow Crawl
11 If God Is Dead

MUSICIANS
Dan Nastasi – Guitar/Vocals (original Mucky Pup/Dog Eat Dog)
Dylan Gadino – Vocals
Evan Ivkovich – Bass (Wisdom in Chains)
Larry “The Hunter” Nieroda – Guitar
Dougie Beans – Drums (originally Murphys Law)

As The Laser’s Edge prepares for the November release of Hiding In Plain Sight, the debut from Herin – the progressive/post-rock solo venture of Tiles/Discipline guitarist Chris Herin – the cavalcade of notable special guests continues as recent Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and legendary guitarist Peter Frampton contributes his emotive melodicism to the album’s third video/single, “The Heart of You.”


A conceptual work recounting Chris Herin’s difficult walk alongside his father’s ten-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, Herin’s Hiding In Plain Sight combines distinctive prog and art rock influences that alternate from sophisticated orchestral arrangements and polyrhythmic complexity to contrasting cinematic soundscapes and ambitious guitar workouts.


Teaming up with Herin are renowned producer Terry Brown (Rush) and Grammy award winning mastering engineer Peter Moore (Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell) who give Hiding In Plain Sight a luxurious and dynamic sonic landscape. For the attentive and patient music enthusiast each listen gradually reveals the album’s cache of nuanced and subtle details. Complementing the reflective and occasionally disquieting lyrics is Hugh Syme’s (Rush) whimsical and engaging imagery, the artwork capturing the album’s sensibilities of time and place for a compelling and enigmatic visual counterpart.




Hiding In Plain Sight is a collection of thoughtful observations and somber meditations while Herin sidestepped through the debris field and collateral damage of the growing Alzheimer’s storm. Eleven watershed moments that echo the fragile impermanence of life and encourage the listener to turn inward in sympathetic introspection. Musical adventure abounds as sprawling vocal hooks glide over angular riffs, richly textured instrumentation, and brooding ambient orchestrations.


Lending their exceptional talents to Hiding In Plain Sight is an impressive cast of nearly thirty musicians, including Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame members Peter Frampton and Alex Lifeson (Rush), plus Martin Barre, John O’Hara, and Doane Perry (Jethro Tull), Michael Sadler (Saga), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster), Cody Bowles and Kevin Comeau (Crown Lands), Jeff Kollman and Shane Gaalaas (Cosmosquad), Tim Bowness (No-Man), Colin Edwin (Porcupine Tree), Randy McStine (Porcupine Tree), Kevin Chown (Tarja, Chad Smith), Matthew Parmenter (Discipline), Hugh Syme, Johnathan Blake (Kenny Barron), Ben Riley (Mohsen Namjoo), Gary Craig (Bruce Cockburn), and many more.





Embracing a prog rock spirit that appeals to both the heart and mind, Hiding In Plain Sight is a bold and adventurous fusion of musical palettes as the distinguished roster of guest artists propels Herin's songs into inspired and expansive directions. A portion of this album’s proceeds will be donated to Alzheimer’s charities.


The third video from Hiding In Plain Sight is the buoyant and infectious “The Heart Of You” – a slight departure from the previous singles that veers ever-so-slightly into pop rock territory. Featuring the instantly recognizable tone and touch of Peter Frampton on lead guitar, the song is a collaboration between Herin and his old college chum turned professional songwriter Terry Sampson. Frampton shared a deep personal connection with Sampson’s poignant lyrics lamenting the loss of his dementia-stricken mother while still celebrating her enduring place in his heart. Throughout the song, Frampton’s spirited melodies lend an extra voice to the music’s undercurrent of emotional tension – culminating in a bittersweet homecoming as his guitar jubilantly soars during the song’s final solo.


Chris Herin states of the song, “Many years ago, I tagged along with Terry as he played coffee houses and dorm lounges at Central Michigan University (CMU). After graduating he moved to LA and became a staff writer for Warner Brothers and enjoyed a successful songwriting career. We lost touch, but a few years ago I noticed the songwriting credits on my daughter’s Winnie The Pooh CD and thought, 'Could that be the Terry Sampson I know?' Yes, it was, and thanks to social media I was able to easily get in touch with him. It was quite a pleasure to work with a professional songwriter as I turned him loose to work his magic writing lyrics and vocal melodies to my musical framework. The good fortune of Terry Brown bringing Peter Frampton on board made the song and whole experience even more special!”


The video for “The Heart Of You” was directed by Mathew Kennedy. Watch below.


Hiding In Plain Sight will be presented in a limited full-color digipack CD including a 8-page booklet and digitally on November 1.


Pre-orders are available at The Laser’s Edge webshop here and Bandcamp – the standard digital

(0) is a Danish band that breaks down the boundaries between black, progressive, drone, and post-metal, completing its unique sound with Danish lyrics and growl vocals. All of this comes to life when (0) in a dark sphere fuses intense, raw sound with a massive use of lighting and impressive visual elements to create a spectacle of a live performance.

After a four-year release hiatus, (0) is now back with its second full-length album,
KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS (Danish for BREAK.DARKNESS.AGAINST.LIGHT), adding further dimensions to the enigmatic band’s artistic work. Today sees the release of the album’s first single ‘Det Sortner’ (‘It Blackens’ in Danish), which is accompanied by a lyric video conveying the song’s dark theme, which according to the band is “..about hating yourself so much, that you don’t want to exist, and about how long time and how much strength is takes to move on from there.”

KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS will be released on vinyl and digital formats, and both are now available for pre-orders. The vinyl version comes in two editions with one being black version limited to 200 copies, which can be pre-ordered HERE, and a Green Marble version limited to 100 copies which can be pre-ordered HERE. The album can be pre-saved and pre-ordered on digital formats HERE. Also, (0) will be announcing forthcoming shows in near future.

Metallica have shared the official video below, featuring the band's live performance of "King Nothing", filmed at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 20.





"We’re kicking off year three of M72 with 21 North American shows across April, May, and June of next year," begins a recent M72 2025 update from Metallica. "This leg will stop in 14 cities with 18 shows in the round, plus two festival stops, seven No Repeat Weekends, and seven one-night-only stops.




"We’re continuing the M72 tradition of unique support acts - a mix of Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills - and setlists for each No Repeat Weekend show. The Snake Pit will remain in the center of the stage for all in the round (non-festival) stops. And we’ll be sure to have plenty of extracurricular events planned for the Metallica Family to stay busy around the shows.


"Enhanced Experiences ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit will be available. The I Disappear Ticket is back for the fan who wants to run away with us for all the shows. And new to M72, travel packages, including hotel, ticket, and shuttle options, will be available for most locations.


"North America is not our only stop in 2025, as this year, we will return to Australia and New Zealand after far too long away!!! Stay tuned for the full announcement coming VERY soon."





Tour dates:


April
12 - Las Vegas, NV - Sick

Pig Destroyer have announced the 20th anniversary reissue of their landmark third full-length album, Terrifyer.


Terrifyer is now available as an immense, limited edition 4LP box set. The deluxe reissue, strictly limited to 500 copies, features expanded packaging + artwork from original album artist Cris Crude (pageninetynine, Planes Mistaken for Stars, Portayal of Guilt) liner notes from the band, and newly remastered audio of both Terrifyer & Natasha, plus 20 unreleased demo and bonus tracks.







Today, the band shares the previously unreleased digital song, “Untitled”. Listen below, and pre-save & pre-order Terrifyer here.


Relapse.com pre-orders are out November 15 on DLX 4LP/2LP/2CD and available here.


J.R. Hayes comments: "We crammed just about everything we could find in this box set. How much more Terrifyer could it be? None more Terrifyer."


Scott Hull adds: “We’re stoked to be given the chance to dig up all the extra material related to Terrifyer for this release. It captures a time when we reeled in all the ideas we could and threw them in the boat.  We hope you enjoy seeing inside the process. “


On Terrifyer, Pig Destroyer’s frighteningly compelling mix of metal, grind, thrash and punk rock seethes with an intensity that will unnerve the unprepared. Pig Destroyer's deranged, vicious attack envelops the listener in a cocoon of grisly nihilism. Natasha, originally released in 5.1 surround sound, as a supplement to Terrifyer, is a 35+ minute track of slow-motion, punishing Doom/Sludge and a

Kreator has dropped a powerful live video for the title song of their most recent album, Hate Über Alles, taken from their monumental performance in Chile in April 2023. Fans can relive the mayhem and massive circle pits that erupted throughout the night, showcasing the raw energy that only Kreator and their Chilean Hordes can command.


This video is a preview of Kreator’s full live performance in Chile, which will be released as a live album via streaming services on November 19.







The Klash Of The Titans makes its triumphant return to North America. Fans will enjoy an epic night of metal with thrash royalty Kreator and Testament co-headlining the run. The 34-dat

West Coast-based glam rockers, Prophets Of Addiction, have release a new video and single, "Superhero", via BraveWords Records. They teamed up with BraveWords to world premiere the video. Watch the clip below, and stream/buy "Superhero" here.


The band enlisted the services of Lonny Paul Johnson to create the animated piece. "We felt an animated video captured the whole theme of the song and something I always wanted to do and this was the perfect fit," states POA main man Lesli Sanders.







"Superhero" is the first single and video from the forthcoming Prophets Of Addiction album, Face The Music, which the band tracked with longtime producer Phil Soussan (bassist for Ozzy Osbourne, Beggars and Thieves, Billy Idol, Vince Neil, Rod Stewart and others) at Blue Cat Studios in Las Vegas, NV.


Prophets Of Addiction's fourth album sees Sanders and company (guitarists G.G Sleaze, Tchad Drats, Terry Bratsch and drummer Wayne "The Stoke" Stokley going back towards the glam, punk and roots the band is most closely associated with. "I've always wanted to do a dark powerful acoustic record with a message and I think we achieved that with our last record. And now with a very strong lineup that is ready to move forward it's time to get back to rocking," remarks Sanders.


The "Superhero" single / video is the first release in the band's new relationship with BraveWords Records. "When searching for a home for the new release we wanted a place that 'gets it' and we felt Giles and BraveWords was the best fit for this album that we've put so much time and effort into creating," says Lesli.


While the general public may know Prophets Of Addiction mainman Lesli Sanders as a lifetime rocker, dating back to the mid 80s and his underground success with bands such as Talks Cheap and Queeny Blast Pop, he's had a passion for BMX racing even longer than that.


Sanders reflects on that passion for BMX bikes: "My passion for BMX began in the 1980s, where I quickly found success as a young racer, earning a #2 district plate before shifting my focus to a successful music career. After stepping away from music to care for my ailing stepfather and mother, I turned back to BMX racing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite initial injuries, my determination led me to collect numerous accolades, including Gold Cup Plates, State Plates, and a district #1 plate. Now, I rank in the National Age Group top 10 for both the 56-60 cruiser class and 56+ expert category, thriving once again in the sport I loved as a teenager."





Face The Music tracklisting:


"Flavor Of The Danger"
"Let's Get High"
"Slippin' Away"
"Walk The World"
"Maggie May"
"Superhero"
"I Want You To Know"
"Hollywood"
"Wasted Tears"
"Last One In The Bar"
"Take Me To Your Leader"


The Players:


Lesli Sanders: Lead Vocals, Guitars
Phil Soussan: Bass, Piano, Mandolin,Percussion, Backing Vocals
Wayne Stokely: Drums,Backing Vocals
Tchad Drats: Guitar, Ebow, Backing Vocals
G.G. Guitar, Backing Vocals
Terry Bratsch, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Steel, Backing Vocals





About BraveWord

Legendary bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) was recently interviewed by Atma Nambi, a contemporary spiritual master from India, widely respected for his profound knowledge and practice of meditation and spirituality. Asked how his "singing itself is functioning like a meditation," Glenn responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, when I'm singing, I'm definitely immersed in the song. I'm immersed in the lyrics I'm singing.

"I may have written some of these lyrics 50 years ago, but I don't go back in form, but when I'm singing a song, I'm in the song," he explained. "I have to be immersed in the song completely to sing it. And by the way, I don't have any thoughts when I'm singing. I'm in the song and I'm inside the music. And that's two hours of my life every day. If I could have that in the other 22 hours, everything would be fine.

"People ask me, 'What's going on up there when you sing?' And I said, 'I don't know.' I don't think about the next indicated thing I'm going to sing," Hughes added. "I never think about the next note because that note may be really high or low. If I think about the next note, I'm not gonna sing it. Now, I know a lot of soccer players, very famous soccer players, that told me if they're gonna make a really great statement with the game on the pitch, if somebody is gonna take a penalty in soccer, if they think they're gonna miss, they're gonna miss. So I never think about what I'm gonna sing. I know the melody I'm going to sing, but I never think about anything other than… I'm in the moment singing. I am completely in the moment… I am at the most blissful. Because when I walk up on the stage, I'm free. I'm free all the time, but I'm free up there. And people ask me, 'Well, how do you do that?' I said, 'How do I do what?' I guess I'm expressing myself. So, if you're a musician and you're genuinely in the moment, if you are in the moment, or even if you're not a musician, if you're just doing whatever you do, if you can stay in the moment, and this is something I've been working on now for 10 years, about staying in the moment, in that next breath — the breath is vital for me."

Hughes recently completed work on his new studio album, tentatively due in early 2025. The long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "Resonate" was recorded in June in Copenhagen, Denmark. Accompany him during the sessions were guitarist Søren Andersen, drummer Ash Sheehan, and keyboardist Bob Fridzema.

"Resonate" was released in November 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl. It featured Glenn's then-live solo band members, Søren Andersen (guitars and co-producer),Pontus Engborg (drums) and Lachy Doley (keyboards),in addition to longtime friend Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),who joined them in the studio for the opening and closing numbers.

Last year, Hughes launched his solo tour under the banner "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Album Burn". Glenn performed DEEP PURPLE's legendary rock album "Burn" and also ran through DEEP PURPLE MKIII and MKIV songs.

Hughes spent key years of his career as the beloved bassist and vocalist of DEEP PURPLE, appearing on the classic albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band".

Hughes, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016 along with fellow DEEP PURPLE members Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice, spent more than three years recording and touring as the frontman of the supergroup THE DEAD DAISIES.

Glenn's BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION supergroup with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) released its fifth album, "V", in June.

Image credit: George s Pogacich

Legendary rockers KISS have announced a special edition of their Destroyer 45th Super Deluxe Set pressed on white vinyl with red and yellow splatter. The new 6LP set comes at a staggering $940.48.


The set is available with new Destroyer themed merch. Shop at shopkissonline.com.

In a recent interview with The Charismatic Voice, NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen spoke about which other musicians she would like to collaborate with. She said: "I would love to work with [HALESTORM's] Lzzy Hale. We've met once at a festival in the U.K. And there I felt a little starstruck, 'cause ever since I heard that beginning note of [the HALESTORM track] 'I Miss The Misery', that song where she's, like, [hitting that high note], I was, like, 'Okay, yes. Yeah.'"

Jansen previously expressed her admiration for Hale in a 2023 interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. After naming HALESTORM's 2012 LP "The Strange Case Of..." as one of the ten records that changed her life, Floor said: "I'm not sure exactly how I stumbled upon 'I Miss The Misery', but that was the first thing I heard from HALESTORM. The first thing Lzzy Hale does in the song is this howl, and she really got me on the first note — that's rare. I was, like, 'Okay, damn!' It's very American-produced and that hook of 'whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh' is pretty cheesy, but it totally works."

She added: "I've seen her live and all I can think is, how on Earth does your voice survive? She screams and kicks and grunts and everything she does is super cool. Lzzy is a powerhouse. She stands for being feminine in a man's world and describing her feelings quite to the point in her lyrics."

In November 2022, Floor revealed that she was "cancer free" after undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed following a breast cancer diagnosis.

In October 2023, Floor and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcomed their second child, Lucy. Jansen and Van Dahl also have a seven-year-old daughter named Freja, who was born on March 15, 2017.

In April 2023, NIGHTWISH surprised fans by announcing that the band was not going to be playing any live shows for the foreseeable future and would be not be touring in support of the group's latest studio album, "Yesterwynde", which arrived on September 20, 2024 via Nuclear Blast.

DEFTONES frontman Chino Moreno joined SMASHING PUMPKINS on stage last night (Wednesday, September 25) at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon to perform "Jellybelly", a song from SMASHING PUMPKINS' third studio album, 1995's "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness". Video of his appearance can be seen below.

SMASHING PUMPKINS are supporting GREEN DAY on the San Francisco Bay Area band's "Saviors" world tour, which finds the veteran pop-punk outfit celebrating the 30th anniversary of the group's third album, "Dookie", and the 20th anniversary of its "American Idiot" album. The tour takes its name from GREEN DAY's 14th album, "Saviors", which came out in January.

SMASHING PUMPKINS are touring in support of their new album "Aghori Mhori Mei", which features the band's original members Jimmy Chamberlin, James Iha and Billy Corgan. The group completed the recording of "Aghori Mhori Mei" amidst an expansive international touring schedule across the last few years. The album has garnered significant praise worldwide, reaching Top 10 on Spotify's U.S. and global album debut charts, while the album's single "Sighommi" was the No. 1 most-added track across the U.S. at both Alternative and Rock Radio.

This past summer, SMASHING PUMPKINS trotted across Europe with a combination of arena and headline festival dates and later this fall, the band's upcoming multi-city Latin American fall tour will see the band play to their fans across South and Latin America for the first time in nearly a decade.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS are one of the most iconic, iconoclastic, and influential bands of all time, shaping alternative music and culture. Since forming in Chicago during 1988, the group has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and garnered two Grammy Awards, two MTV VMAs and an American Music Award. Their catalog includes seminal offerings such as the platinum "Gish" (1991),the quadruple-platinum "Siamese Dream" (1993),the diamond-certified "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" (1995),the platinum "Adore" (1998) and the gold "Machina/The Machines Of God" [2000]. Rolling Stone cited both "Siamese Dream" and "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" among its "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time." It would also be impossible to envision alternative music and culture without their signature iconography such as the idyllic album artwork for "Siamese Dream", the black Zero shirt, the laissez-faire bliss of the "1979" music video, the gothic metamorphosis of "Ava Adore" or the multi-dimensional live shows that sell out worldwide to this day. 2018 saw THE SMASHING PUMPKINS unveil "Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / Lp: No Past. No Future. No Sun." and launch the immensely successful "Shiny And Oh So Bright Tour", which packed arenas. Maintaining this momentum, the band released their eleventh full-length double album "Cyr" (2020),representing yet another evolution, and more recently, "Atum" (2023),the sequel to 1995's "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" and 2000's "Machina/Machine Of God".

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After the release of their first energy packed debut single, “I’ll Give You Hell”, Finnish modern metal act, Arctis, is ready to unleash their second single taken from their upcoming self-titled debut album, out November 1 via Napalm Records. The new track is a cover of Swedish alternative rock band Lambretta’s hit single, “Bimbo”, which has amassed over five million streams to date in its original form. Arctis are set to add to the song's impressive reception with the release of their own rendition alongside a new official music video.


Arctis fuses nature and technology, inspired by Finland’s seasonal extremes, capturing the imagination of fans through storytelling that goes beyond the music itself. With their talent, the band will soon head out on a tour with Finnish metal masters Apocalyptica to present their self-titled debut album live on stage - cementing their status as a must-see act. Arctis was produced by Jimmy Westerlund (Sturm und Drang), mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein), and mastered by Svante Forsbäck (Rammstein).


Join Arctis on a thrilling adventure that combines elements of both nature and technology.




Arctis comment on their new single: “We are thrilled to announce the release of our brand new single, a cover of the 2000s hit ‘Bimbo’ by Lambretta! This song was a standout track back in the day, and we felt it deserved to be brought back for a new audience to enjoy. By bringing in the intensity of our sound, we’ve reimagined this track, while keeping its original spirit alive. We can’t wait for everyone to hear our take on it and hope it brings the same excitement and nostalgia it gave us. Get ready for an epic journey — our version Bimbo is out now!"


Watch the official video for “Bimbo”:





Arctis is more than just a band—it’s an otherworldly experience, led by the enigmatic and powerful Ice Queen, Alva. Draped in her shining white battle suit, Alva’s ethereal presence transcends the stage, her voice weaving through realms both known and unknown, pulling her followers into a captivating journey. By her side stand the dark-clad warriors: Björn the Captain, whose unshakable command leads the band into uncharted sonic territories; Michael the Magician, a mysterious figure whose fingers conjure sounds that transport audiences across time and space; Mats the Rambler, the wild-hearted spirit who channels untamed energy into every note; and Mika the Sage, whose rhythmic pulse guides Arctis through the mystical realms they explore.


Together, these figures form a force unlike any other—a powerful and dynamic energy that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. On stage, they do not simply perform, they create an experience—one that immerses fans in the Arctis universe, where music, story, and atmosphere collide, leaving a lasting imprint on all who witness their journey. Arctis is not just a sound; it is a feeling, a moment suspended in time, an escape into a world where legends come to life.


Drawing inspiration on northern themes as metaphors, Arctis explores mental struggles and the internal battles within modern chaos. The strong opener, “I’ll Give You Hell”, delves into the complexities of romance, highlighting the inevitable downfall that arises from a relationship, where honesty and commitment are lacking. With its original version already amassing 5 million streams to date, Finnish modern metal act Arctis is set to add to the song's impressive reception with the release of their own rendition of “Bimbo" (Lambretta cover). With a 2000s pop-rock vibe, “Remedy” addresses drug addiction and the steep price one is willing to pay for it. The mystical “Tell Me Why” paints a starry landscape of anger and self-deception while the enchanting “Frozen Swan” showcases personal musical talent while exploring the concept of self-freedom. This smoothly transitions into the upbeat “Fire”, which explores the risks of drug consumption, before flowing seamlessly into “When The Lights Go Out” lyrically exploring nocturnal metaphors through vivid passages. Closing the album, “Theatre Of Tragedy” features powerful guitar riffs, underscoring the limitations of personal human struggle.


Whether through music, artwork, or storytelling, Arctis creates a multi-dimensional world that fans can immerse themselves in and explore, transcending genre boundaries and offering a truly unique experience. Prepare for an onslaught of powerful riffs, epic melodies, and the raw energy that has never been seen before.


Arctis about their debut album: “The moment we've been dreaming of is finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you all. It’s been a long road, filled with hard work, late nights, and an unbreakable passion for music, but we’re thrilled to announce that our first single is out, our debut album is on the way, and we’re hitting the road for our first tour. Now, we’re ready to take on the world, bring our music to life on stage, and connect with each and every one of you. This is just the beginning, and we’re so happy to have you with us as we start this next chapter. Get ready, because we’re coming in full force – and we can’t wait to see you on the road.”





Arctis will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Aquamarine
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album

Blood Incantation have finally released a preview into their forthcoming album, Absolute Elsewhere which sees its release next Friday via Century Media. Its first movement, The Stargate is available today in its entirety across digital retailers and comes with an exquisite short film, The Stargate which was directed by award winning cinematographer Michael Ragen (Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities: The Viewing) and features mesmerizing analog fluid effects by Chris Parks (The Fountain).


“The Stargate” Side One: A violent storm invokes the familiar before a grand cosmic key turn for a hint of sweeping scope to come with spiritual acknowledgement and accompaniment by Tangerine Dream’s Thorsten Quaeschning on synths on the song’s second tablet. Musically as violent as it is mediative, with subtle spoken passages flitting between Nicklas Malmqvist’s (Hällas) busy synthesizer keys and Mellotron strings invoking both the modern and ancient, and it is all given sharp focus by Arthur Rizk’s powerfully dynamic and enveloping mix. 







Blood Incantation depart extreme metal’s traditionally antiquated waystation, warping their way towards “Genre of One'' stature, as “The Stargate” intones the disembodiment of consciousness itself, careening through the stargate towards Samsara-like reincarnation, punctuated by the occasional growl from Sijjin/ex-Necros Christos mainman, Malte Gericke.


The Stargate short film is unlike anything you have experienced before. It presents the saga of a mysterious artifact and its victims in a hallucinatory synthesis of science fiction and folk horror, where mind bending imagery and unsettling atmospheres converge in a surreal tale of primeval blood magic, interdimensional travel and grotesque otherworldly technology beginning in the Dark Ages and journeying into voids of deep space.


Blood Incantation recently announced an extensive North American tour crossing both coasts and more, plus a special hometown release show to launch.


The band says, “At last, prepare yourself to experience the entirety of our new album across North America this fall. Joining us on the premiere leg of the worldwide Absolute Elsetour campaign will be the singular and prolific Midwife, presenting a dichotomy of sonic extremities destined to take you deep into uncharted cosmic realms.


Ahead of this, our inaugural voyage into the Absolute Elsewhere timeline will be christened by none other than the enigmatic Master of Silence, Mr. Steve Roach, who will open the Stargate alongside us at the Boulder Theater on October 4th, in a unique and exploratory event truly showcasing Cosmic Music for Cosmic People.”


Tickets available here.





Blood Incantation Absolute Elsetour dates:


October
4 - Boulder, CO - Boulder Theater * (Record Release Show)


November
7 - Portland, OR - Hawthorne ~
8 - Vancouver, BC - The Rickshaw ~
9 - Seattle, WA - Substation ~
11 - Berkeley, CA - Cornerstone ~
12 - Los Angeles, CA - The Regent Theater ~
13 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole ~
15 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It ~
16 - Dallas, TX - Echo ~
18 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade ~
19 - Tampa. FL - The Orpheum ~
21 - Asheville, NC - Orange Peel ~
22 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club ~
23 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage ~
25 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts ~
26 - Brooklyn, NY - (Absolute) Elsewhere ~
27 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall ~
29 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount ~
30 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace ~


December
1 - Detroit, MI - Magic Stick ~
3 - Chicago, IL - Metro ~
4 - Minneapolis, MN - Fine Line ~
5 - Omaha, NE - Bourbon Theater ~


* with Steve Roach
~ with Midwife





Blood Incantation’s new album, Absolute Elsewhere, sees its release October 4 via Century Media. Hovering at nearly 45 minutes, their longest full length recording yet, the album’s two sprawling movements  -  "The Stargate" and "The Message"  -  are as confounding as they are engaging, exponentially expanding upon the formulas laid down by their scene-shattering debut Starspawn (2016) and landmark follow up Hidden History Of The Human Race (2019).


As Blood Incantation’s Paul Riedl tells, “Absolute Elsewhere is our most potent audial extract/musical trip yet; like the soundtrack to a Herzog-style Sci-Fi epic about the history of/battle for human consciousness itself, via a 70s prog album played by a 90s death metal band from the future.”


For inspiration, the group looked to the mid-70’s progressive rock collective, Absolute Elsewhere (best known as a celestial stopover for King Crimson drummer, Bill Bruford) as the album’s namesake. For the uninitiated, Absolute Elsewhere’s obscure 1976 album, In Search Of Ancient Gods, was constructed as a musical accompaniment to the works of Chariots of the Gods author, Erich Von Daniken, and his theories of non-terrestrial humanoid prompts towards mankind’s evolution. The subject matter of which should serve as no surprise to anyone familiar with Blood Incantation’s cosmically philosophical leanings. But make no mistake, the four musicians working under the Blood Incantation banner for the past decade – guitarist and vocalist Paul Riedl, drummer Isaac Faulk, guitarist Morris Kolontyrsky and bassist Jeff Barrett – have successfully left the microgravity of genre behind and are re-writing the Rosetta Stone of extreme music with a new language entirely. Demonstrations like their 2022 all-synth show or 2024’s Roadburn Festival headlining appearance where they played back-to-back death metal and ambient made it clear: Blood Incantation have honed their abilities to go boldly where few bands have gone before, and reveal no signs of slowing down.


Pre-order Absolute Elsewhere here.


Absolute Elsewhere Worldwide Formats:


CD
Ltd. Deluxe 3CD + Blu-ray Artbook
Ltd. CD Digipak


Digital
Digital album
Digital album (Dolby Atmos)


US LPs
Gatefold black LP & Poster
Ltd. Gatefold transp. red LP & Poster (All US Outlets)
Ltd. Gatefold golden LP & Poster (US Indie Retailers // Ltd. 1500 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold ultra clear LP & Poster (All Blood Incantation // Ltd. 1000 Units)


EU LPs
Gatefold black LP & Poster
Ltd. Gatefold transp. turquoise LP & Poster (All EU Outlets)
Ltd. Gatefold transp. green LP & Poster (All UK Outlets)
Ltd. Gatefold clear-lilac splattered LP & Poster (cmdistro.de & various // Ltd. 700 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold transp. magenta LP & Poster (cmdistro.de // Ltd. 300 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold transp. glow in the dark LP & Poster (Bandcamp // Ltd. 500 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold Sparkle Universe LP & Poster (Kings Road Merch // Ltd. 500 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold transp. sun yellow-red splattered LP & Poster (EvilGreed.net // Ltd. 500 Units)
Ltd. Gatefold neon orange LP & Poster (Available from hrrecords.de // Ltd. 300 Units)





Tracklisting:


“The Stargate”
“The Message”


In case you missed it, Blood Incantation recently announced their documentary All Gates Open: In Search Of Absolute Elsewhere. The 73 minute feature film tells the story of their time in Berlin during the summer of 2023, recording Absolute Elsewhere at the legendary Hansa Studios. It will be available on Blu-Ray with the album's deluxe mediabook package and will also include the documentary’s original soundtrack, All Gates Open (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) which includes 60 minutes of exclusive new music distinct from the new album. This special edition will also include Blood Incantation’s 2023 maxi-single, "Luminescent Bridge” for the first time ever on CD, and of course, Absolute Elsewhere in both standard and Dolby Atmos / 5.1 mixes, alongside exclusive liner notes, exclusive interviews, behind the scenes photos and a forward by Ross Dolan of Immolation.


Watch the All Gates Open: In Search Of Absolute Elsewhere trailer below:





For Absolute Elsewhere, the band’s first full-length since their cinematic Timewave Zero EP (2022) and epic Luminescent Bridge maxi-single (2023), Blood Incantation decamped to the celebrated Hansa Tonstudios in Berlin, Germany in July 20

Check out the new Quireboys single, "I Think I Got It Wrong Again", available to download and stream now.


The song is taken from the new album, Wardour Street, which can be pre-ordered ahead of the October 25th release date on vinyl, CD, box set and digital from Cadiz Music.







Wardour Street artwork and tracklisting:





"Jeeze Louise"
"Happy"
"Raining Whiskey" (Feat. Frankie Miller)
"I Think I Got It Wrong Again"
"Howlin' Wolf"
"Like It Or Not"
"Myrtle Beach"
"You And I"
"No Honour Amongst Thieves"
"It Ain't Over Now"
"Wardour Street"

Swedish death metal icons, The Crown, will unleash their Crown Of Thorns full-length on October 11th via Metal Blade Records.


At the end of August, The Crown released "Churchburner" - the first single and video from Crown Of Thorns. Now, drummer Mikael Norén has uploaded a playthrough video of that song, which can be seen below. 


Guitarist Marko Tervonen commented, "We have been blessed with amazing drummers in this band! Check out Mikael going total beast-mode here!"







Enjoy the official music video for "Churchburner".





Crown Of Thorns serves as the band's twelfth studio album as The Crown and is the dynamic, groundbreaking follow-up to 2021's Royal Destroyer. The band made distinctly different creative choices to ensure that the LP's ten songs would stand as a unique collection. "For me, Cobra Speed Venom and Royal Destroyer are like siblings," says guitarist Marko Tervonen. "[We wanted] to make sure that we would take a step forward, get a bit more out of our comfort zone on Crown Of Thorns. We really wanted this to sound like a new, fresh album and I believe we did it."


The approach was full circle and inventive. "I had the idea that we should work a bit backwards. I pushed to create the artwork very early in the process. We wanted the album cover to include a bridge from our hometown Trollhättan called Strömkarlsbron. It has this cool statue on it named 'Strömkarlen' [a water spirit]. It made sense to loop it all back to the town where everything started; as most people know, we were called Crown Of Thorns for a few years before we had to shorten the name."


Giannis Nakos' final cover proved inspirational, as The Crown focused on the music that most complimented the piece. "I wanted something really fast, melodic, heavy, epic, punky," explains Tervonen, "areas we've touched before, but step it up to a new level. And to throw in a few surprises was also part of the process."


Musical dynamics are also on a new level with the 2022 addition of drummer Mikael Norén and bassist Mattias Rasmussen as well as the return of lead guitarist Marcus Sunesson, rejoining longtime members Tervonen and vocalist Johan Lindstrand. "With Mikael, we managed to bring back a bit more of that crazy 'Janne Saarenpää' feel to the drumming, so that was a really cool energy boost. Mattias comes more from a punk/crust background, and he wrote 'I Hunt With The Devil' and 'Mind Collapse,' which turned out great. This is definitely a step up in many ways, changing the way we worked on the CSV and RD albums."


Another change is the guitar tuning: "We decided to tune up to D from C," Tervonen points out. "We played standard E tuning on our four first albums, then we slowly went over to D and from Possessed 13 and forward we tuned down to C. So now we have reversed the course and are climbing slowly back to E! But the lighter D tuning added so much better chugs and tones that we felt might be missing a bit on some of the latest records."


The outcome of the revitalized process and personnel is evident on the first single, "Churchburner." "'Churchburner' starts out with a nod to 'Postmortem' [Slayer] but then explodes into quite a different type of monster," notes Tervonen. "It has a great groove to it, and it basically has a tempo/beat that we don't use that often. It's mostly in triplets. It's a very strong song with Johan being on fire here and Marcus adds a killer solo as well."





Crown Of Thorns was recorded by

e news was announced by Tyler Reiner, who shared the social media post below. Details on his passing are currently unavailable. Condolences to his family, friends, and fans from all of us here at BraveWords.





Dave Allison was a member of Anvil for 10 years and recorded sev

In a new interview with Matt Zaniboni of Metal Express Radio, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera spoke about his plans for the band's follow-up to 2022's "Totem" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm working on it right now. A lot of people have been asking me [about it]. It is a little bit of return to the early SOULFLY. I feel there was a magic around those early records that kind of got lost in the shuffle of the years. And because I do have stuff like [side projects] GO AHEAD AND DIE and CAVALERA to satisfy my extreme underground flavor, I can actually let SOULFLY be SOULFLY again, let it be what it was in the beginning, which is this really powerful, free band with a lot of heavy tribal parts. We kind of went away from that, and I think it's cool to return to that all those years later and really make a record that is… To me, when I'm creating this new record, for me, this is the album that should have been made after [2000's] 'Primitive'. So, I feel like like I have a chance to make the third record all over again, and I'm making it more towards the vibe I had on [1998's] 'Soulfly' and 'Primitive'. So, it's gonna be cool, man. I'm excited for that."

SOULFLY will embark on the "Superstition" U.S. tour in October. Support on the trek will come from EYEHATEGOD (from October 22 until November 6 only),MUTILATION BARBECUE and SKINFLINT.

SOULFLY is continuing to tour in support of "Totem", which came out in August 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by Max Cavalera alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP),and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.

In a recent interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, Max spoke in more detail about the musical direction of the band's upcoming follow-up to "Totem". He said: "I really liked the early SOULFLY stuff because it was more tribal and more groove. And now because I have [the] CAVALERA and GO AHEAD AND DIE [projects], I can be as heavy as I want with CAVALERA that it leaves me SOULFLY to be something quite different. I can mold SOULFLY a bit different now where SOULFLY is really kind of like more of a groove-oriented tribal band. And I think that's really, in a lot of people's perception, that was the best of SOULFLY was like that. So, it's not that I'm jumping on the bandwagon of nu metal; it's not really that. It's just that I think that the early SOULFLY had some kind of magic that, through the years we kind of lost that magic. And I think we're trying to bring it back with this new record that is gonna come out next year."

Elaborating on what fans can expect to hear on SOULFLY's upcoming thirteenth album, Max said: "I think it's gonna be cool because it's also influenced by other stuff I'm listening to at the moment, like KUBLAI KHAN and JESUS PIECE and KNOCKED LOOSE, JUDICIARY. So there's really heavy breakdown grooves together with tribal drums. It's gonna be cool, man. It's gonna be a real cool album that I am very excited to create. And, of course, also the fact that my mother passed away last year, I'm gonna make this album for her. It's a homage to her. So it's gonna be also a spiritual record for me because of that. So it's gonna be a special record, for sure. It's been [two] years since 'Totem'. 'Totem' was our last record. I think we are inspired to create something special next year."

This past March, Max was asked by Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", if guitarist Mike DeLeon, who has been touring with SOULFLY for more than a year, will be featured on the band's next LP. Max responded: "I'm leaving it open for now. Mike is gonna jam with us. We have some festivals in the U.S. I think we're doing, and we're also doing the LAMB OF GOD boat [Headbangers Boat], the cruise. That should be fun as hell. And Mike will play with us for that. He's a great guy. I love Mike."

He continued: "I don't know. It's too early to know where I'm gonna go with this record — if I'm gonna try to find somebody else to record or if we're just gonna roll with Mike. We don't know yet. I haven't even — I [only] have a few riffs written [so far]."

Asked if he writes music for I whatever record or project he is working on or if he puts riffs aside for certain records, Max said: "When I lock in on a project, I get very obsessed with the project. I become so obsessed that everything I'm writing is for this and I know exactly what it needs, what kind of sound I'm looking for. And SOULFLY, I'm kind of planning a little bit of a return to the early sound. The big-groove tribal sound will return to SOULFLY. I think a lot of fans want that. I love that. I think it's kind of like a trademark of SOULFLY that kind of got lost in the shuffle through the years. We went more into the trashier side of stuff. But now I have [my side project] GO AHEAD AND DIE that I can trash all I want in it. I can have SOULFLY be a little bit more what it was in the beginning — more about that, the whole tribal thing, which is really cool and unique. It's a unique thing that SOULFLY has. So we're gonna probably go back more to that, which should be really cool."

Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.

In February, Max told Ghost Cult's Keefy that SOULFLY's follow-up to "Totem" likely wouldn't arrive before 2025.

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has released the official music video for the song "Panic Hysteric". The fiery new tune comes off the band's tenth studio album, "Servitude", which came out on September 27 via Metal Blade Records.

"Panic Hysteric" is a modern, classic THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER waltz in the time-honored Swedish style. "Lyrically, it's a tribute to the fear and outrage that rock 'n' roll ignited in mid-century America," elaborates vocalist Brian Eschbach. "I was reading quotes from Frank Sinatra, who really didn't like rock 'n' roll, and was pretty eloquent about it. I quoted him a couple of times in the song. That was a fun Sunday writing those lyrics. I'm not gonna lie — vodkas and Shirley Temples were involved."

With the tragic passing of the band's frontman and co-founder Trevor Strnad in 2022, Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy and producer/guitarist Brandon Ellis were faced with a decision: close the door on one of the most beloved death metal bands of the last twenty years, or carry on in their fallen brother's charismatic spirit?

"Everyone that's in the band now is someone that Trevor and I searched for," Eschbach says. "We spent so much time on the road together that everyone understands the mission statement. We don't really need to talk about it. We just need to make great music and try to make people happy playing it."

After a period of profound grief and deep soul-searching, Eschbach moved from guitar to vocals, setting aside his lifelong identity as a live guitarist for the survival of the band. Former THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER member Ryan Knight returned to the fold to take Eschbach's place on guitar. The new lineup made their debut in the band's hometown of Detroit in late October 2022 for a tribute show for Strnad.

Fast forward to right about now: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's new album is the one that many would have thought impossible. "Servitude" marks Eschbach's recorded debut as THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's lead vocalist and lyricist — and their first with Knight on guitar since 2015's "Abysmal".

"I just had to lean into it hard," Eschbach says of approaching 'Servitude' in a completely new role. "Honestly, writing the lyrics for this album was easier for me than writing the music for the three songs that I wrote music for. I'd pick a subject, research it, and just kinda dive in. Even though it's not something I'd really ever done before, there was a natural flow to it once I started."

You can hear the thrilling results on "Aftermath" the ripping lead single, which envisions a post-apocalyptic cannibal scenario. "We wanted that one to be heard first because it's one of the faster songs on the album, if not the fastest," Eschbach says. "We wanted that very aggressive BLACK DAHLIA melodic death metal feel coming right at you. Lyrically, it's about a meteor that fucks up the whole planet, but there's still people living. Kind of like 'The Walking Dead', but with no zombies — so you get right to how people deal with it. And by the end, they're eating each other."

The members of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER know that some will be skeptical of an album without Trevor's inimitable presence. But many fans have already embraced the band's decision to move forward.

"More than pressures or expectations from the fanbase, I feel their trust and support," Ellis says. "We've always done what we do for them, and they've appreciated our consistency over the years. The global outcry following Trevor's passing has shown us how important the band's music has been to so many people, and how important it is that we continue in his honor. Under all that weight, I think we all knew what needed to be done."

"We put in everything we had, and this is the album that felt right to make," he adds. "I'm proud of it and proud of the five of us. You can never please everybody, but I know that this music will be a healing and positive force for those who embrace it!"

The guitars, bass, and vocals for "Servitude" were recorded at Ellis's home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. "Servitude" was mastered by Ted Jensen.

"Servitude" was released on digipak CD, cassette and digital formats as well as vinyl.

"Servitude" track listing:

01. Evening Ephemeral
02. Panic Hysteric
03. Aftermath
04. Cursed Creator
05. An Intermission
06. Asserting Dominion
07. Servitude
08. Mammoth's Hand
09. Transcosmic Blueprint
10. Utopia Black

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER will join DYING FETUS for a North American co-headlining tour this fall. The "Beg To Serve 2024" tour will commence on October 3 in Cleveland, Ohio and make its way through over two dozen cities, the journey coming to a close on November 10 in Chicago, Illinois. Support will be provided by SPITE, ANGELMAKER and VOMIT FORTH.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is:

Brian Eschbach - lead vocals
Max Lavelle - bass
Alan Cassidy - drums
Brandon Ellis - lead guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Knight - rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Photo by Marshall Wieczorek

For more than 20 years, vocalist/guitarist Michael Poulsen has been spearheading Danish rock and roll machine VOLBEAT, releasing eight full lengths, selling millions of albums, and filling stadiums worldwide. Before fronting VOLBEAT, however, Poulsen formed death metal band DOMINUS, which recorded four fast, brutal albums in the mid-1990s.

When Poulsen was putting together songs for VOLBEAT's 2021 album, "Servant Of The Mind", he wrote a bunch of death metal riffs and saved them on his phone. Then, when he was done with the VOLBEAT record, he reopened the rusty gates to Armageddon and started putting together songs for his new death metal band ASINHELL, whose debut album "Impii Hora" (Latin for "Ungodly Hour"),is a tribute to Poulsen's favorite old-school groups.

"Impii Hora" was released September 29, 2023 via Metal Blade.

Today, the band has shared the video for the title track. Watch it below.

The video comes on the first anniversary of the album release. The footage was shot in Berlin during the band's recent European tour.

"It means 'Ungodly Hour' in Latin and the song is about all these evil, vile, and terrible acts that get committed in this Ungodly Hour," shares Poulsen about the title. "It's definitely an anti-religion song. Basically, we are not churchgoers, but on the other hand, I totally respect people who believe in something. But religion, to me, is the oppression that comes with being a part of the church. That's the oppressive thing, not the belief in some high, holy spirit. To me, the anti-religion stuff is more about what people have done to believers — trying to manipulate people to follow them, which is an autocratic kind of thing."

It follows last spring's video for "Pyromantic Scryer".

Poulsen has rekindled the death metal fire that fueled his first band DOMINUS. He began jamming on riffs with longtime friend and neighbor, drummer Morten Toft Hansen (RAUNCHY). The two started playing in Morten's tiny garage: no mics, no P.A. — just a drum kit and a combo amp turned all the way up like they used when they were teenagers. Soon, the pair were completing a new song every time they got together. When it came time to add vocals, Poulsen turned to his good friend, who also happened to be one of his all-time favorite death metal growlers: Marc Grewe (INSIDIOUS DISEASE, ex-MORGOTH).

"I had known Michael quite a long time and he always mentioned that we should do a death metal project one day, but I never took him too seriously because he was so busy with VOLBEAT," Grewe says. "Then he called for real and said, 'Yeah, I want to do it now. Are you up for it?' Immediately, I was like, 'Yes, of course!'"

With ASINHELL fully formed, the three convened with VOLBEAT producer Jacob Hansen to produce, mix, and play bass on their debut album. When it was time to add lead guitar to the album, Michael looked no further than friend and THE ARCANE ORDER axeman Flemming C. Lund.

ASINHELL made its live debut on May 30 at Pumphuset in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Joining ASINHELL on the road were Hansen on bass as well as Lund on lead guitar, making the band's first live incarnation the same lineup that performed on "Impii Hora".

Fan-filmed video of CANNIBAL CORPSE's entire September 29 concert at the Roundhouse in London, England can be seen below.

As previously reported, CANNIBAL CORPSE guitarist Erik Rutan has left the band's European headlining tour after his home in St. Petersburg, Florida sustained "catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene".

Hurricane Helene barreled through the Southeast on Friday, September 27, causing flooding in Florida, Tennessee and Georgia. The Tampa Bay area of Florida, particularly St. Petersburg, was hit hard.

According to the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg experienced more than six feet of storm surge, and more than 100 miles of flooded roads.

On Saturday, September 28, CANNIBAL CORPSE released the following statement via social media: "Due to catastrophic damage to his home from Hurricane Helene, Erik Rutan has left the tour to be present with his family at this time. Our hearts go out to Erik and his wife as they deal with this situation."

In a separate post on his Instagram, CANNIBAL CORPSE frontman George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher wrote: "My heart hurts so much for @erikrutanofficial and his wife but let me tell you this….he is the toughest guy I know and he will come out of this stronger than ever.

"This man has done so much for me personally, for my musical career and for that I will forever be grateful. I've had so many laugh till it hurts moments in the studio with him that it didn't even feel like we were working on records.

"When I was at my lowest point and wanted to give up, on one knee in the recording booth nearly in tears, he came from behind the console, put his hand on my shoulder and reminded me of who I am and urged me back on my feet and never give up. He never lost confidence in me and we finished the record with a lot of laughs and I never doubted myself again. He taught me how to conduct myself in a lot of areas I was deficient in and is no doubt the biggest reason I am the vocalist people say I am.

"I did not intend for this to be a long read, I was only going to repost what our CC insta posted but I really felt the need to share a story and a few words about what Erik means to me personally.

"We will continue the tour without him onstage but he will be there in our hearts and I urge everyone reading this to please send positive energy his way."

CANNIBAL CORPSE's European tour with MUNICIPAL WASTE, IMMOLATION and SCHIZOPHRENIA kicked off on September 20 in Oberhausen, Germany and is scheduled to end on October 20 in Frankfurt, Germany.

Rutan was named a permanent member of CANNIBAL CORPSE in 2021. He joined the band as the replacement for CANNIBAL's longtime guitarist Pat O'Brien.

Rutan, one of the death metal's most acclaimed guitarists, is known for his time as part of MORBID ANGEL throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as handling vocals/guitars for HATE ETERNAL. He is also an acclaimed producer, working mostly out of his Mana Recording facility in St. Petersburg.

Hurricane Helene is one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the United States, with wind gust speeds of 140 mph and heavy rain.

The organizers of the annual Wacken Open Air festival have announced that for the 2025 edition of the event, set to take place from July 30 to August 2 in Wacken, Germany, is completely sold out.

A total of 34 artists have been announced for the 34th edition of Wacken Open Air, including MACHINE HEAD, PAPA ROACH, GOJIRA, APOCALYPTICA, SAXON and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

Earlier today, the following message was posted on the Wacken Open Air social media: "Dear metalheads, it's time to say thank you again! This year we celebrated the 33rd edition of the Wacken Open Air with you during best weather conditions and the new arrival concept also worked and took you all to the Holy Ground without any problems and traffic jams. Now we can also announce that Wacken Open Air 2025 is completely SOLD OUT and we are once again more than grateful for your endless support and trust!

"You are the best fans in the world! We are incredibly proud to be able to put on the most spectacular metal event for all of you next year!"

Confirmed bands so far for Wacken Open Air 2025:

MACHINE HEAD
SALTATIO MORTIS
PAPA ROACH
GOJIRA
APOCALYPTICA
SAXON
WITHIN TEMPTATION
DIMMU BORGIR
MINISTRY
MICHAEL SCHENKER (My Years With UFO)
PEYTON PARRISH
BEYOND THE BLACK
CLAWFINGER
GRAVE DIGGER (45th-Anniversary Show)
AUGUST BURNS RED
OBITUARY
WIND ROSE
BROTHERS OF METAL
TARJA & MARKO HIETALA
HANABIE
DECAPITATED
DESTRUCTION
CELESTE
ORANGE GOBLIN
ANGEL WITCH
DOMINUM
EXHORDER
NIGHT DEMON
MIMI BARKS
SEVEN SPIRES
CLOWNS
DOOL
CROWNSHIFT
MIDNIGHT

A total of 85,000 tickets were sold for Wacken Open Air 2024.

German hard rock legends SCORPIONS headlined this year's edition of Wacken Open Air, which takes place annually in Wacken, a village with a population of just about 2,000.

The first Wacken Open Air event in 1990 drew less than 800 people, but it has since grown to become the biggest open-air festival of its kind.

Around 30 percent travel from other countries to the festival, which over recent years has been growing in popularity.

Wacken Open Air was forced to take a break for two years due to coronavirus restrictions.

Wacken Open Air normally does not announce the names of its headliners before tickets go on sale. Still, the festival usually sells out within hours.

The festival also doesn't sell VIP access or upgrades and all purchases are for all the days without a single-day ticket option, something they did away with two decades ago.

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A post shared by Wacken Open Air (@wackenopenair.official)

British heavy metal legends SAXON have announced the extensive "Hell, Fire And Steel" 2025 European tour.

The band states: "The tour will see us perform our classic album 'Wheels Of Steel' in its entirety on what will be its 45th anniversary, plus all the hits, fan favorites and songs from our new album 'Hell, Fire And Damnation'. This is a SAXON tour like no other and one you are not going to want to miss!"

The "Hell, Fire And Steel" tour kicks off in Bremen, Germany on February 4 and concludes on March 5 in Leipzig, Germany.

Tickets are available via general on sale Friday, October 4, with various pre-sales prior, with Sweden general on-sale Monday, October 7.

"Hell, Fire And Steel" 2025 European tour dates

Feb. 04 - Aladin Music Hall, Bremen (DE)
Feb. 06 - Amager Bio, Copenhagen (DK)**
Feb. 07 - Conventum, Orebro (SE)
Feb. 08 - Värmekyrkan, Norrköping (SE)
Feb. 09 - Slagthuset, Malmö (SE)
Feb. 11 - Rockefeller, Oslo (NO)
Feb. 13 - Trädgär'n, Gothenburg (SE)
Feb. 14 - Folkets Park, Huskvarna (SE)
Feb. 15 - Cirkus, Stockholm (SE)
Feb. 17 - Docks, Hamburg (DE)
Feb. 19 - Lucerna Music Bar, Prague (CZ)**
Feb. 20 - Studio, Kraków (PL)**
Feb. 21 - Gasometer, Vienna (AT)**
Feb. 23 - Progresja, Warsaw (PL)**
Feb. 25 - Muffathalle, Munich (DE)
Feb. 26 - Live Club, Milan (IT)*
Feb. 28 - Volkshaus, Zurich (CH)
Mar. 01 - Central, Erfurt (DE)
Mar. 02 - 013, Tilburg (NL)*
Mar. 04 - Huxleys, Berlin (DE)
Mar. 05 - Haus Auensee, Leipzig (DE)

* Tickets on sale for Milan and Tilburg as of Tuesday, October 1
** Tickets on sale for Copenhagen, Prague, Kraków, Vienna and Warsaw as of Wednesday, October 2

For tickets and more information, visit www.saxon747.com/tourdates.

SAXON's critically acclaimed 24th studio album, "Hell, Fire And Damnation", came out in January via Silver Lining Music.

"Hell, Fire And Damnation" is an album which sees SAXON investigate all areas of history and mystery amidst ten of their most confident and thunderously powerful songs yet.

On "Hell, Fire And Damnation", singer Biff Byford delivers his richest vocals in years, Nigel Glockler and Nibbs Carter on drums and bass, respectively, lay down the rhythmic law with bombastic power, and the guitars of Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler are fresh and fiery, a perfect complement to each other, carrying an overall energy and fury which will have fans salivating. Musically, SAXON bring it all to the table. There's a furious tribute to actual heavy metal in the denim-and-leather-coated super-sprint "Fire And Steel", a wonderful nod to the NWOBHM's birth in the electric mid-pace "Pirates Of The Airwaves", but maybe the true treasure amidst the jewels is "There's Something In Roswell", with the sort of expansive groove and embrace which deserves arenas.

Produced by Andy Sneap (JUDAS PRIEST, EXODUS, ACCEPT) and Byford, with Sneap mixing and mastering, "Hell, Fire And Damnation" strides the perfect line between confident, current power, and gloriously irreverent flexing of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal muscle which SAXON co-created.

"I think this album's one of the best he's done sound-wise, and he's done a lot of albums," Biff declared. "It has a really raw, vibrant sound... if you compress the total time making this album, it was four weeks tops… you can hear everything brilliantly, nothing's overcomplicated, nothing's over compressed. The guitar sounds are fucking immense, they're just great, raw guitar sounds. And we haven't done a lot of overdubbing on there, it's just playing. I really, really like it."

Early last year, SAXON guitarist Paul Quinn announced that he was stepping back from touring with the band. As a result of his decision, SAXON canceled its April 2023 South American tour as well as the appearance at the Monsters Of Rock cruise. Quinn has since been replaced on the road by DIAMOND HEAD's Brian Tatler.

Brian has already joined fellow guitarist Doug Scarratt, drummer Nigel Glockler, bassist Tim "Nibbs" Carter and Byford for a number of shows in 2023 and 2024, but will continue to be a member of DIAMOND HEAD.

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

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