California glam metal jokesters STEEL PANTHER are bringing their debaucherously fun concert experience to Pennsylvania this September. The band will perform live at two Pennsylvania area drive-ins this coming September as part of the "Fast Cars & Loud Guitars Tour": at the Starlite Drive In in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on September 11 and the Circle Drive In in Scranton, Pennsylvania on September 12.

STEEL PANTHER will rock live on stage as the performance is broadcast on the movie screen with the audio available via an outdoor P.A. system as well as in everyone's car via FM transmitter. This will help to keep all attendees socially and sexually distant.

Ticket information for both drive-in shows on the "Fast Cars & Loud Guitars Tour" can be found at this location.

"Bring your hot rod and hot dates to the concert event of the weekend," STEEL PANTHER says. "This ain't your momma's NASCAR. This is STEEL PANTHER live and out of our cage in Los Angeles. You're welcome, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the local government has informed us that it is totally ILLEGAL to attend this concert naked. They blamed COVID; so please STILL wear a mask when you're around strangers!"

STEEL PANTHER drummer Stix Zadinia recently said that the band has been using the coronavirus downtime to work on new music.

STEEL PANTHER will take a break from writing music to stage another virtual concert event, "Rockdown In The Lockdown", on Sunday, August 16 from the Drum Channel Studio at Drum Workshop, located in Oxnard, California.

"Rockdown In The Lockdown" is being sponsored by Monster Energy, and all tickets and VIP upgrades are available here.

STEEL PANTHER's latest album, "Heavy Metal Rules", was released last September. The disc, which is described in a press release as a "heavy metal version of a self-help manual and ultimate party album combined," was once again produced by Jay Ruston, who collaborated with the band on all of its previous recordings, including 2017's "Lower The Bar".

STEEL PANTHER specializes in imitating and exaggerating the less flattering aspects of 1980s hair metal, with unrepentantly crude, non-PC sexual content as a favorite lyrical theme.

The group's music has been described as "VAN HALEN meets MÖTLEY CRÜE meets RATT meets 'Wayne's World', complete with operatic shrieks, misogyny, shredding guitar solos and libidinal overdrive."

Twelve years ago, STEEL PANTHER changed its name from METAL SKOOL to its current moniker and shifted the focus of its act from '80s metal covers to originals.

LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda will release the second installment of his "Dropped Frames" album series on Friday, July 31.

Earlier today, Shinoda revealed the "Dropped Frames Vol. 2" track listing via his social media. It is as follows:

01. Transitions

02. Crystalina

03. Julio's Revenge

04. Isolation Bird (featuring Money Mark)

05. Side Scrolling

06. Dungeon Crawler

07. Dog Whistles

08. Astral (featuring Elise Trouw)

09. Sunset Drive

10. Channeling Pt. 2 (featuring Dan Mayo)

11. King Paprika

12. Party Meow

Mike recently told Forbes that he would release "at least three" "Dropped Frames" albums. He explained: "I've got the second one done and the third one is in progress. And I say in progress — basically, it's just tightening up and mixing stuff that I made on the stream. But certainly it's a thing I wouldn't have done unless I was in this situation that I'm in right now."

He added of the all-instrumental direction on these records: "I grew up since I was three, as you know, I grew up drawing and painting and I went to school for art. A lot of times when I was doing homework, instrumental music is a great companion to drawing and painting because it doesn't lyrically lead you in a direction. Your mind is free to wander to other things. Maybe we need more of that these days."

Mike's full-length solo album called "Post Traumatic", came out last year. Some of the disc was inspired by the death nearly three years ago of LINKIN PARK singer Chester Bennington. The latter was found dead in his Los Angeles-area home on July 20, 2017 after hanging himself. LINKIN PARK headlined an all-star tribute concert for Bennington in October 2017 in Los Angeles but has not announced any future plans for recording or touring.






Tracklist for “Dropped Frames Vol 2.” Album comes out this Friday!

Once you listen to the tracks, join the album release party on Friday @ 10am PST on Twitch. pic.twitter.com/umVfB1Zg5k

— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 29, 2020

THE TROOPS OF DOOM, the new Brazilian band featuring former SEPULTURA guitarist Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz, will release its debut EP, "The Rise Of Heresy", on October 9 via Nuclear Blast's digital subsidiary, Blood Blast Distribution. The effort, which was mastered by Øystein G. Brun (BORKNAGAR) at Crosound Studio in Norway, contains four new original songs and cover versions of two early SEPULTURA classics, "Bestial Devastation" and "Troops Of Doom".

THE TROOPS OF DOOM also includes acclaimed graphic artist Marcelo Vasco on guitar, Alex Kafer (ex-NECROMANCER, EXPLICIT HATE, ENTERRO) on vocals/bass and Alexandre Oliveira (SOUTHERN BLACKLIST) on drums. The band's goal is to revisit the essence of 1980s-style death metal, exploring a more primitive sound that takes listeners back to that era, while remaining fresh and genuine.

A lyric video for THE TROOPS OF DOOM's first single, "Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea", can be seen below.

Comments Guedz: "I'm really stoked about this first single. It's part of something that I've dreamed of for a long time and it's finally a reality, one that was born in the middle of this pandemic, which is crazy. At least we're taking something positive from all this.

"There's much passion and dedication on this work with THE TROOPS OF DOOM. The whole band and team is beyond fantastic, which drives me to push myself to the edge, putting out this feeling through the music somehow.

"This first song is a trip back to the 'old days,' and the EP in general will bring listeners back to that nostalgic vibration, in a very good way, of course.

"We want to offer a full experience where the listener can feel as though they're in time machine, exploring that primitive and nasty metal sound from the '80s, inspired by my own SEPULTURA years as well as all those iconic bands we love like SLAYER, KREATOR, CELTIC FROST, SODOM, POSSESSED and DEATH, among others. It's a true homage to the old! That's what we're trying to revisit with this debut and I hope the diehard metalheads catch this and enjoy it, playing loud!"

"The Rise Of Heresy" track listing:

01. Whispering Dead Words

02. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

03. The Confessional

04. The Rise Of Heresy

05. Bestial Devastation (SEPULTURA Cover)

06. Troops Of Doom (SEPULTURA Cover)

THE TROOPS OF DOOM is:

Jairo "Tormentor" Guedz - guitar

Alex Kafer - bass, vocals

Marcelo Vasco - guitar

Alexandre Oliveira - drums

SEPULTURA was formed in 1984 in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais. Jairo joined the group the following year and played on the band's first two releases, 1985's "Bestial Devastation" EP and their 1986 full-length debut, "Morbid Visions". He also participated in the early songwriting sessions for 1987's "Schizophrenia".

In early 1987, Jairo quit SEPULTURA after losing interest in playing death metal and was replaced by São Paulo-based guitarist Andreas Kisser.

Chris Jericho (FOZZY), Nita Strauss (ALICE COOPER), Phil Demmel (VIO-LENCE, ex-MACHINE HEAD), Johnny Christ (AVENGED SEVENFOLD) and Nita's longtime boyfriend Josh Villalta, who also plays drums in her solo band and manages her career, have formed a new "supergroup" called THE WHEELBLOCKS. The band's first recording, a cover version of the IRON MAIDEN classic "Aces High", will make its online debut on Thursday, August 6 at 11:00 a.m. A teaser clip is available below.

Asked in a recent interview with Rock 95 if it was true that Alice Cooper himself is involved with THE WHEELBLOCKS, Jericho said: "Well, that's not quite true. It's kind of still under wraps. But it's another supergroup. If [Jericho's other side project] KUARANTINE is the worst supergroup ever, I'd have to say THE WHEELBLOCKS is a lot more star power in that one. And Alice Cooper is not involved, but a prominent member of his band is involved. It's probably the second most recognizable person from that band, if you've seen Alice Cooper live over the last three or four years."

Jericho is also a member of another rock "supergroup", the aforementioned KUARANTINE, which performs cover versions of songs from the non-makeup era of KISS. That band has released two singles so far, "Heart Of Chrome" and "No No No", via Madison Records with distribution by The Orchard. Jericho is joined in KUARANTINE by drummer Kent Slucher (LUKE BRYAN), guitarist Joe McGinness (KLASSIK '78) and bassist PJ Farley (TRIXTER).




Quarantine jam?? Don’t mind if we do ✈️

Get ready to fly with me, @IAmJericho, @DemmelitionMH, Johnny Christ, and my @thejoshv! Aces High cover and video premiere Thursday 8/6 on @loudwire pic.twitter.com/aIj3KZ3glE

— Nita Strauss (@hurricanenita) August 3, 2020

ALICE IN CHAINS' Jerry Cantrell has paid tribute to James Hetfield on the METALLICA guitarist/vocalist's 57th birthday. Speaking to Metal Hammer magazine, Jerry said: "What makes James such a great frontman is his physical presence. Nobody else commands the same kind of respect and attention without it being self-seeking or egocentric. He's all about the music; all about the fun and the celebration and the connection with the fans. And that, to me, is really inspiring. Especially because he's done this for so long, and he's been at the top of his game for so long and he continues to search for a deeper meaning. He took an underground thing and took it worldwide.

"METALLICA is a huge thing for me and for any hard rock or metal band," he added.

"Will he go down in history as a rock icon? He already has — he's the godfather, man."

Fourteen years ago, Hetfield joined ALICE IN CHAINS on stage twice to perform the song "Would?": at the Rock Am Ring festival in Nürburgring, Germany, and at the Warfield in San Francisco.

Asked by Revolver magazine if he had a close relationship with late ALICE IN CHAINS singer Layne Staley, Hetfield replied, "I wasn't really close with Layne, but I remember going to see ALICE IN CHAINS many times. I remember when we were down in L.A. [in 1991, making 'The Black Album'], I left the studio early to see them play on 'Clash Of The Titans' with SLAYER. I was driving like a madman in this rented van, going on the median and scaring the shit out of my friend — 'We gotta get there!' And we get there, and they'd just got off. I was like, 'Aw, man!' [Laughs] I hung with them a little bit, always just loved their music, and I'd say that Jerry and I share some life experiences, like getting a second chance at life and realizing how cool things can be. So we've got kind of a kinship that way. And seeing them play — I just love hearing those songs. Those songs are awesome and should be heard, you know? They were so unique, so ahead of their time. And out of all the Seattle stuff, that stuff is the most timeless. Unfortunately, Layne just loved the junk too much, man, and that was that. I just read in his lyrics his obsessiveness about it. And he knew where he was goin'! It's like, in the school of driving, look where you want to go — and that's what he was doing, it seems like."

In a recent interview with Italy's Radio Freccia, legendary rocker Alice Cooper spoke about how he goes about putting together a live show in 2020. He said (see video below): "I think that anybody can buy a show — you can go out and buy the lights, you can buy the explosives, you can buy all this. But the way Alice Cooper does it is the songs, the lyrics tell me what's going to happen on stage. So I write the show much more like a story.

"This new show, it looks like an old dark castle," he continued. "All of a sudden, Alice comes through this thing. Every single lyric is what Alice literally does on stage. So I let the lyrics be the script of the show. And it doesn't have to be a huge show. I like the idea of the show being almost more intense. Like, if you take my show into a theater, it's much more of a theater piece. Except the fact that the band is the best band I've ever worked with. Nita Strauss, she just got voted guitarist of the decade. Glen Sobel, my drummer, got voted best drummer in rock and roll. Ryan Roxie and Chuck Garric and all these guys, they are so good. And on top of it, they're all best friends, so there's never any ego problems, there's never any arguments… There's no stress. The stress is not there. It's just fun."

Last month, Cooper said that his new album, "Detroit Stories", was "99 percent done and just being polished." The LP, which is once again being produced by Cooper's longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin, features contributions by such Michigan talent as the MC5's Wayne Kramer, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD's Mark Farner and Johnny "Bee" Badanjek of MITCH RYDER & THE DETROIT WHEELS. They also used the Detroit Horns and Detroit background singers.

This past May, Alice released a new single, "Don't Give Up". Produced by Cooper's longtime collaborator Bob Ezrin using remote technology, the song is a spontaneous reaction to the challenges facing us all right now.

A strictly limited "Don't Give Up" seven-inch vinyl picture disc will be released on August 14 on earMUSIC.

Last September, Cooper released a six-track EP called "Breadcrumbs", described as a tribute to the garage-rock heroes of his hometown of Detroit.

French metallers GOJIRA have released a new standalone single titled "Another World". Produced by the band's own Joseph "Joe" Duplantier and mixed by Andy Wallace, the new track is available today on all streaming platforms and is joined by an animated official music video directed by Maxime Tiberhgien and Sylvain Favre, which is streaming now on GOJIRA's YouTube channel. The release marks the group's first original music since the release of their Grammy-nominated LP "Magma" in 2016.

Regarding the song, vocalist, guitarist, and producer Joseph Duplantier commented: "It is with great excitement that we're presenting our new track 'Another World'. Ferdinand Magellan once said: 'It is with an iron will that we'll embark on the most daring of all endeavors, to meet the shadowy future without fear and conquer the unknown.' Is humanity doomed, or will we survive nature's wrath? Take a glimpse into our shadowy future by watching our take on 1968's Planet Of The Apes… Another World!"

A year ago, GOJIRA drummer Mario Duplantier told the Idaho rock radio station KBear 101 that the band was continuing to work on the follow-up to "Magma". "It's going well," he said. "I cannot give too much details because we still have to be on the same page with all the partners, and we have to give a collective [release] date and et cetera. But I can tell you that, yeah, we are working very hard on the new stuff. Work is in progress, and we are very, very, very happy and super proud of it. We just can't wait to give you more details."

"Magma" earned GOJIRA its first-ever Grammy nominations for "Best Metal Performance" and "Best Rock Album." GOJIRA's crushing track "Silvera" received a nomination for "Best Metal Performance", while "Magma" was nominated for "Best Rock Album" at the awards.

Back in August 2018, Joseph Duplantier told Metal Injection that the band started to work on new music almost three years ago. "Usually we write 12 songs and record 12 songs and release 12 songs," he said. "Now it looks like we're going to write 100 songs. It's a different approach and it's fun. We have new desires and a new way of doing things. I like to think it's going to be awesome. I feel it's going to be really exciting, for us at least. I don't know what people are going to think."

In the same interview, Joseph said that GOJIRA was planning to explore some new territory on the upcoming album. "I want to go back to some of the older influences that we have," he said. "We were always not a death metal band. Before that, I was a DIRE STRAITS fan, Michael Jackson. We have that in us and some progressive stuff too. We have all these things and we need to express that somehow, mixed with our own special sauce. We're working with stuff that sometimes is a bit surprising, even to us. Sometimes it's, like, 'What is this?' I don't know, let it sleep a little bit and go back to it. After this, we're going to go back into the studio and see what's going on."

Three years after launching what DEEP PURPLE considered to be an extended farewell tour dubbed "The Long Goodbye", singer Ian Gillan has told Cleveland.com in a new interview that he and his bandmates no longer have definitive plans to retire.

"I think a few years ago there was some kind of effort from our business connections to sort of get an exit plan — we were all a bit under the weather, physically, so we decided on a goodbye tour," the 74-year-old rocker explained. "But the operative word is 'long,' so, yeah, very long. We've got a bit to go yet. I think things are gonna be on the shelf for awhile, but then I think we'll be back for a bit of fun."

Two years ago, guitarist Steve Morse said that he personally saw "The Long Goodbye" as "a farewell tour. As for the other guys, I think they will still be playing, perhaps in other groups, special projects or as guests," he told Koztimes.com. "I also plan to stay in music, but not so actively as now. But you do realize that, when the music for so many years is the most important place in your life, [it's] impossible in one day to abandon it. In general, I know that the guys are not going to retire. They would rather die onstage than in bed."

DEEP PURPLE will release its new album, "Whoosh!", on August 7 via earMUSIC. The LP was once again helmed by Canadian producer Bob Ezrin (KISS, PINK FLOYD, ALICE COOPER), who also worked on the band's last two studio albums, 2017's "Infinite" and 2013's "Now What?!"

"Whoosh!" will be available as limited CD+DVD mediabook (including the one-hour feature "Roger Glover And Bob Ezrin In Conversation" and, for the first time, the full live performance at Hellfest 2017 as video), 2LP+DVD edition, limited box set and digital.

TWISTED SISTER frontman Dee Snider has once again slammed President Donald Trump over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Trump has been criticized by some parts of the media for downplaying fears about COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, or actively spreading misinformation about its repercussions. Last month, he shared a viral video showing doctors spreading unsubstantiated information about the coronavirus, including that the hydroxychloroquine is a "cure for COVID." The president has also resisted wearing a mask when in public places, to much criticism from those who say he is setting a poor example for supporters and furthering the politicization wearing a mask.

Snider — who got to know Trump personally after appearing more than once on "The Celebrity Apprentice" — was asked for his opinion of Trump's coronavirus response in a new interview with Consequence Of Sound. He said (see video below): "We've been at each other's throats. The country's been split in two over so many different things. The political divide has been massive. And [this is when] you're supposed to say, 'You know what? We can argue about these other things and disagree, but this is affecting and hurting all of us. We need to come together and fight this as one people,' as Americans have done throughout history. Yet the president's response, the White House response has been to politicize it and separate us more and make it about politics instead of about joining together and helping each other. So this was an opportunity to really bring the country together over something really important, that rises above all the other B.S. in the world. And he failed to do that, and we're seeing the results.

"I live in Belize now, and Belize is a little country and we're COVID-free," he explained. "They shut the borders. They made wearing a mask mandatory — $5,000 fine first offense; prison — for real — second offense. Curfews, military police on the streets. If you're on the streets, you go to jail. [They were] arresting people on the streets if you stay out past curfew. As a result, we have no COVID.

"You have to make the punishment strong, but people were following it, and we have no COVID — we're not in fear for our lives.

"This situation required a powerful effort from the governing bodies, and [the Trump administration] failed to deliver it," Dee added.

The coronavirus pandemic upended the music industry, forcing theaters, concert halls and most live performance venues to go dark. This has had a massive economic effect on the majority of professional recording artists and performing musicians, who rely heavily on touring and live performances as their main source of income.

"The destruction that this is doing to the independent art scene, whether it's music, film, painting, whatever it is, we'll eventually recover, but I don't know when because it can't afford what's happening to it," Snider told Inlander last month. "What we're going to be left with is the corporate world that has the resources to survive, but without independent art on every level — and that's what creates the next fad, the next movement, the next style.

"It comes from independents. The independent labels, independent bands, independent venues, and they're all suffering death blows right now," he continued. "You can't stop rock 'n' roll — I've said it, and it's true, whether it be in basements, garages or bedrooms. It'll never die. But this is a very brutal blow right now. I hope we come out of it into some semblance of dignity and inspiration because we need young minds, fresh ideas."

Dee is currently promoting "For The Love Of Metal Live!", which was released on July 31 via Napalm Records. The DVD/Blu-ray and accompanying live album (available in various formats) features audio captured from several Snider festival performances worldwide — from the United States to Europe, Australia and beyond. In addition to tracks from Snider's solo catalog, like "I Am The Hurricane" and "For The Love Of Metal", TWISTED SISTER favorites such as "I Wanna Rock" and "We're Not Gonna Take It", and even a cover of AC/DC's "Highway To Hell", the audio portion of "For The Love Of Metal Live!" also features a brand new original studio track, "Prove Me Wrong".

MOONSPELL singer Fernando Ribeiro spoke to A&P Reacts about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's next album. He said (see video below): "When we could get together again in our studio [during the coronavirus pandemic], our main priority was to write new music. We had written a lot of stuff back in 2019, which was cool stuff, but I thought it could be much better. So I talked with Pedro [Paixão, keyboards] and Ricardo [Amorim, guitar], and I said, 'Well, let's change a little bit. Let's take what's really, really excellent and get rid of all the other parts,' and then we started a bit anew. So we still have a lot to do about this album, to define the concept. I think it won't be an album like [2017's] '1755', which was a concept album sung in Portuguese; this one will be sung in English. Also, it follows up much more, lyrically, stuff like [2008] 'Night Eternal', [2012's] 'Alpha Noir', [2015's] 'Extinct'. So the new album will be about solitude, which is a coincidence, because I thought about writing about this way before the COVID left us hanging in our own places — not alone, but not in society. So the album will be a little actual about it."

MOONSPELL will tentatively enter the studio in September to record its new LP with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, ULVER, GHOST). An early 2021 release via Napalm Records is expected.

"[Jaime] did the last PARADISE LOST, 'Obsidian', he did the first GHOST, 'Opus [Eponymous]', he did CATHEDRAL — he did a lot of bands, he has a great curriculum, and he's definitely a very nice guy," Fernando said. "So we start working with him in September, and probably around Halloween time, we'll already have the master for the new album, which I think will be out in February of 2021."

The upcoming MOONSPELL album will be the band's first with Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando) who replaced original drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar earlier in the year.

MOONSPELL's latest release was the "Lisboa Under The Spell" live DVD/CD, which came out in August 2018 via Napalm Records. The live DVD/Blu-ray/3CD package captured MOONSPELL's performance before 4,000 fans at the sold-out Campo Pequeno arena in their hometown of Lisbon, Portugal on February 4, 2017.

MOONSPELL's fourth album, 1999's "The Butterfly Effect", will be re-released on August 7 via Napalm Records. The reissue will include two new remixes, a completely re-designed cover and layout artwork, as well as an exclusive excerpt from the Butterfly FX chapter of the band's official biography, "Wolves Who Were Men".

MOONSPELL's most recent studio album, "1755", came out in November 2017. The Portuguese-language disc was written about the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, also known as the Great Lisbon earthquake, which occurred in the Kingdom of Portugal. In combination with subsequent fires and a tsunami, the earthquake almost totally destroyed Lisbon and adjoining areas.

Photo credit: Rui Vasco

According to Rolling Stone, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE will perform live for the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic on September 18 as the headliner of Rockin' Fore The Kids at Cleveland's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Also scheduled to appear are the OHIO WEATHER BAND, country music duo BROTHER TROUBLE and Ira Dean along with sports figures Jim McMahon, Bret Saberhagen, Larry Johnson and Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini.

Now in its 17th year, the annual Rockin' Fore The Kids concert provides support for the Akron Children's Hospital Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer And Blood Disorders. According to a press release, the event will "be produced according to all COVID-19 guidelines."

This past spring, Hagar made headlines when he told Rolling Stone that he was willing to go out and play shows before the pandemic has subsided. "I'm not going to go around spreading the disease," he explained. "But there may be a time where we have to sacrifice. I mean, how many people die on the Earth every day? I have no idea. I'm sorry to say it, but we all gotta die, man."

Sammy also said that he would be willing to play live concerts in packed venues "before there's a vaccine, if it's declining and seems to be going away."

Hagar later released a statement in which he insisted that he will do his part in "getting back to work in a safe and responsible way and getting this economy rolling again."

In May, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE's U.S. tour with NIGHT RANGER was officially canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

Joining Hagar in THE CIRCLE are bassist Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT), drummer Jason Bonham (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING) and guitarist Vic Johnson (THE WABORITAS).

THE CIRCLE's first album of all-original material, "Space Between", was released in May 2019 via BMG.

LAMB OF GOD has collaborated with Nightflyer Roastworks to create its first small batch single origin coffee, Memento Mori, grown in El Salvador and roasted in Charlotte, North Carolina.

With a life on the road, members of LAMB OF GOD have found themselves frequenting coffee shops around the world and brewing from their own espresso machine on the tour bus. A longtime passion of guitarist Willie Adler, Memento Mori brings to fruition years of home roasting and blending in a true collaboration with friend Paul Waggoner, owner of Nightflyer Roastworks and guitarist for BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

For more information on Memento Mori, visit lambofgodcoffee.com.

LAMB OF GOD's new, self-titled album was released on June 19 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. The follow-up to "VII: Sturm Und Drang" marks LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band in July 2019 as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.

"Lamb Of God" was recorded with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) and includes special guest appearances by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and Chuck Billy (TESTAMENT).

As previously reported, LAMB OF GOD's North American tour with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES has been rescheduled for 2021.

JANE'S ADDICTION played two songs during Lollapalooza's Lolla2020 livestream, a free four-night broadcast event taking place on the original dates of the Chicago-based festival.

On Saturday night, singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and bassist Chris Chaney reunited for their first public appearance in three years to perform "I Would For You" and "Stop!"

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

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

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

Ensiferum recently released their new album, Thalassic, via Metal Blade Records. Check out a full LP stream below, and order the new album here.

Thalassic tracklisting:

"Seafarer's Dream"
"Rum, Women, Victory"
"Andromeda"
"The Defence Of The Sampo"
"Run From The Crushing Tide"
"For Sirens"
"One With The Sea"
"Midsummer Magic"
"Cold Northland (Väinämöinen Part III)"
"Merille Lahteva" (Bonus Track)
"I'll Stay by Your Side" (Bonus Track)

LP stream:

"For Sirens" lyric video:

"Andromeda" video:

"Rum, Women, Victory" video:




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Virginia-based heavy rockers, Valkyrie, released their anthemic, riff-driven new album, Fear, on July 24 via Relapse Records. A full album stream can be found below. Orders can be placed via Relapse.com, with digital downloads and streams available here.

Recorded at Earth Analog in Illinois, Fear showcases the tone-rich, organic songwriting process Valkyrie honed over the course of their career. A warm analog sound permeates each of the album's eight tracks, as blistering twin leads, soaring guitar harmonies by Pete and Jake Adams, poignant lyrics, and a relentless rhythm section result in a highly textured and timeless collection of heavy rock. With Fear, Valkyrie takes the next step in their evolution as one of the most creative and dynamic forces in the hard rock scene today. Tracks such as "Feeling So Low," "The Choice," and "Evil Eye" showcase Valkyrie expanding their sound, infusing their take on classic hard rock with a penchant for remarkable melodies and creative hooks.

Tracklisting:

"Feeling So Low"
"Afraid To Live"
"Loveblind"
"The Choice"
"Fear And Sacrifice"
"Brings You Down"
"Evil Eye"
"Exasperator"

Album stream:

"Evil Eye" lyric video:

"The Choice" visualizer:

Lineup:

Jake Adams - Guitar/Vocals
Pete Adams - Guitar/Vocals
Alan Fary - Bass Guitar
Warren Hawkins - Drums/Percussion

(Photo - Savo Raouf)




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The lockdown performance below features Vikram Shankar (Redemption, Lux Terminus), Ross Jennings (Haken, Novena) and Derrick Schneider (Next To None, Tallah) covering the Journey classic "Faithfully".

Jennings: "I made a promise to Derrick Schneider over 3 years ago (probably around the time we toured together with Shattered Fortress and Next To None) that I would jump on his YouTube channel and do a Journey cover. I subsequently became rather busy and the promise never materialised... until today! I was thrilled to learn that Vikram Shankar was to perform the piano parts for this track. Vikram and I have recently become acquainted and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that a future collaboration is on the cards somewhere down the road...watch this space."

Progressive metal act, Redemption, led by guitarist Nick van Dyk and fronted by legendary Tom S. Englund (the charismatic frontman of Swedish dark melodic metal band Evergrey), will release Alive In Color on BluRay/2CD and DVD/2CD sets on August 28 via AFM Records. An official live video for the song "Walls" can be seen below.

From AFM Records: "'Walls' is definitely a favorite song for many Redemption fans and should not be missing in their live sets – so here it is… powerful, heavy, intelligent and deeply emotional!"

Co-headlining the ProgPower USA festival, Redemption's Alive In Color captures the perfect musicianship of all members in the band, making this concert a real treat for fans of progressive metal.

Alive In Color is available for pre-order here.

BluRay/DVD tracklisting:

Intro / "Noonday Devil"
"The Suffocating Silence"
"The Echo Chamber"
"Damaged"
"Someone Else’s Problem"
"Little Men"
"Long Night’s Journey Into Day"
"Threads" (feat. Ray Alder)
"Black & White World"
"Indulge In Color" (feat. Chris Poland)
"Walls"

+ Extras

2CD tracklisting:

CD1:

Intro / "Noonday Devil"
"The Suffocating Silence"
"The Echo Chamber"
"Damaged"
"Someone Else’s Problem"
"Little Men"
"Long Night’s Journey Into Day"

 

CD2:

"Threads" (feat. Ray Alder)
"Black & White World"
"Indulge In Color" (feat. Chris Poland)
"Peace Sells (But Who’s Buying)" (feat. Chris Poland)
"Walls"
"Threads" (feat. Tom Englund)
"Indulge In Color" (Simone Mularoni Solo)

 

"Indulge In Color" video:




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One of Montreal's most iconic DIY metal bands, Endast, officially called it quits in April 2015. Since their birth in 2004, the band's career spawned four albums (The Promise EP - 2005), Odds Against Tomorrow (2006), Black Cloud (2011), Thrive (2014), a DVD release Where I Belong (2012), 600,000 kms for over 1300 gigs, countless tours across Canada and the US that included festival appearances at Heavy MTL and TO and not to mention the many notable bands Endast bled the stage with.

The band performed their last show ever - at least that was the intention - on April 25th in Hamilton, ON at Absinthe.

Endast has returned with a new single, "Standby To Get Some". Check out the official video below.

Vocalist “Big” James Arsenian comments on the band's return:

"My brother Chris presented me and the other boys in the band with the idea of writing a new Endast tune. We haven't written music together in years, so we were all pretty stoked to put this together, even if we had to do it remotely and apart from each other. The result is a familiar sound with a newfound level of aggression. This is just the start."




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Corey Taylor has offered some surprising words of support to Kanye West, whose behavior in recent weeks has been increasingly erratic, including divulging deeply personal details about his family and marriage.

Last month, West announced that he was running for president, and he delivered a lengthy monologue at a campaign event, during which he told the crowd he and his wife, Kim Kardashian, considered having an abortion when she was pregnant with their oldest daughter. The 43-year-old rapper then went on multiple Twitter tirades, alleging that Kardashian and her mom Kris Jenner had tried to "lock him up," and claiming that he had been considering divorcing his wife.

Taylor, who made headlines in 2015 when he slammed West for claiming to be "the greatest living rock star on the planet," was asked about Kanye's latest outburst during a recent interview with "Loudwire Nights".

The SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR singer said (hear audio below): "Obviously, people know that I've had my issues with Kanye for a long time. But I'm watching this now very closely.

"I remember when he first announced [that he was running for president] in that weird rant that he did on MTV when he was given a 'Thanks For Showing Up' award [in 2015]. When he first announced it then, I laughed, but then seeing this behavior that is happening right now, that worries me. That's not the normal behavior of someone who is… That seems like someone who's having a mental break, to be honest. It sounds like someone who is borderline. I don't wanna say it's a borderline personality disorder, but it almost feels bipolar. When you exacerbate it with fame and money and all of these different things, people have a right to be concerned. He's got a family; he's got people who care about him and worry about him.

"It's one thing to laugh about it from afar; it's another thing to watch a breakdown happening in real time, especially with someone who is loved by so many people, and a lot of his actions are taken very seriously," Taylor added. "So when he says some of that shit, people take him seriously. It's like [President Donald] Trump — people take what he says very seriously, and that's a danger. So we have to be very, very careful and watch what's being said.

"I just hope that he gets the help that he needs, let's put it that way."

Last month, Kardashian issued a lengthy statement on Instagram defending West, explaining that he has bipolar disorder, a lifelong mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs and lows.

In a recent interview with Forbes, Kanye addressed his mental health, saying, "You know I was out there, ended up in the hospital, people were calling me crazy. I'm not crazy."

Two years go, West told The New York Times that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2017.

West had previously compared himself to visionaries in the fields of art, fashion, technology, sports and business.

During a 2013 concert in Paris, the outspoken rapper called himself Picasso, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney and Basquiat.

IMMORTAL members Harald "Demonaz" Nævdal and Reidar "Horgh" Horghagen are involved in a legal dispute over the rights to the band's name.

One of Norway's first and most successful black metal acts, IMMORTAL was formed by Demonaz and Olve "Abbath" Eikemo in 1990. Horgh joined the group in 1996. Six years ago, Abbath and the rest of the group went through a bitter breakup.

The highly publicized legal battle in 2014 over the rights to the IMMORTAL name pitted Abbath against Demonaz and Horgh, with Abbath claiming the pair abandoned IMMORTAL after they moved their gear out of the band's rehearsal space. The Norwegian court systems determined otherwise, and awarded the IMMORTAL name to Demonaz and Horgh.

According to documents uncovered by Norway's VG, a new conflict has arisen between the two remaining IMMORTAL members, with Demonaz registering IMMORTAL with the Norwegian Patent Office as his exclusive trademark in July 2019. The registration was approved, and he was therefore given the exclusive right to use the band name commercially. However, Horgh chose to appeal the registration, and the matter was ruled in his favor, meaning that Demonaz no longer has the exclusive right to the IMMORTAL name.

Horgh told VG that he had no advance knowledge of the registration made by Demonaz.

"It could never have occurred to me to register the trademark by myself, as Nævdal has done here, but I have found myself having to fight to keep the rights I have earned through a long career in this band," he said. "It is, and after all has been for many years, a large part of my livelihood."

Demonaz told VG that he disagrees with the decision, pointing out that he is "the band's only remaining original member. I am also the only one who has been on all of the band's releases," he said.

The Norwegian Patent Office ruled that the rights to the IMMORTAL name belong to the band as a whole, and not to the individual members.

"We have jointly as a band built up the trademark IMMORTAL, and it is therefore right that the trademark should be a joint ownership," Horgh said.

The drummer went on to say that he is hopeful IMMORTAL can perform live again.

"It has been my goal all the way, and I know that this is something IMMORTAL fans want and have been waiting for a long time," he said. "I hope in the long run that we can manage to put these disagreements behind us, and again look ahead as a band."

IMMORTAL's first album without Abbath, "Northern Chaos Gods", was released in July 2018 via Nuclear Blast.

Two months ago, Abbath told Norway's Dagbladet newspaper said that he wasn't opposed to an IMMORTAL reunion.

"I got a text from Horgh saying it was great that I got sober," he said. "Harald and I haven't spoken at all. But there's no evil blood or bitterness on my part anymore. I realize that I was a part of the problem. Things are great for me now. But am I open to an IMMORTAL reunion? Yes, of course. But it has to be something special. I just wish we could sit down and have a talk about things when it all went to hell, instead of involving lawyers."

Abbath used to be married to Demonaz's sister, and they share a son, Torbjørn.

Abbath is now the frontman of his namesake band, which released its second album, "Outstrider", in July 2019 via Season Of Mist.

Florida-based metallers TRIVIUM are using profits generated from last month's livestreamed concert to purchase a decommissioned airplane hangar. The Orlando facility will ultimately serve as the band's headquarters for both recording and rehearsing, in addition to being a place where TRIVIUM can store its equipment.

TRIVIUM frontman spoke about the band's plans for the hangar in a brand new interview with U.K.'s Rock Sound. He said (see video below): "The hangar we're getting is huge. And the first step, we'll build in and enclose in a section of it where we're able to rehearse in there, and it's an all-in-one spot. And then well gradually build downwards, build a recording studio below that, and then we'll build outwards. And I imagine it would take three to five years of building that most outwards section of the hangar where the airplane would fit, we'd make it look like that Full Sail [livestreamed] show. So we'd eventually have it fully equipped. And then hopefully things keep progressing, even despite whatever the fates might be throwing at us that we can turn it into where there's full cameras set up, there's full soundboard, everything is ready to go, so if we wanna do the full event, we can do the full event from there and it's ready to go."

Asked how one goes about buying an airplane hangar, Matt replied: "Man, that's a great question. We've been renting at a pretty sketchy place. Most bands, I think, are in the kind of position that we are that you rehearse somewhere that you don't love; it's kind of crappy; you're paying rent to someone else. Just thinking to ourselves, we don't wanna be paying rent — we wanna be investing in ourselves and our future, and we've always wanted a headquarters where we could do everything. And we've talked about the idea of a place where we can rehearse and also store but eventually make records in. And then when we started seeing how much we love livestreaming, it's a place that we can stream every single thing from — we can stream our tour rehearsals or do special little sets there that are still free on our channels.

"I contacted our real estate agent, who helped my wife and I get our house way back, who just helped Paolo [Gregoletto, bass] move," he continued. "Paolo actually lives nine minutes away from me now, which is amazing — he just left Chicago during the pandemic; he got in a car and he was, like, 'I'm outta here. I'm [moving] by you guys.' So we contacted her and we were looking at commercial real estate. I saw a bunch of different places.

"I'm not saying now is the time to buy, but I kind of figured now might be an okay time to look," Matt added. "And we're very, very smart with our money. We're not a loaded band by any means. I am not living in a mansion. We have just what we need. We love just having what we need. And the same idea was for the practice thing. So we were, like, 'Let's find something that is exactly what we need — exact size, exact shape, somewhere where we can do exactly what we wanna do.' And so she kind of led me to this one agent where I found a bunch of places, and I talked about the idea of an airplane hangar, 'cause I saw one hangar at a different airport. And I mentioned it to my mother-in-law just in passing, and she was, like, 'You know who owns one of those?' [My wife] Ashley's uncle. So I contacted Ashley's uncle and his son, and I've been dealing with his son now. They happen to own multiple of these extra hangars. So it's buying from my family, which is even better. So we're setting it up with one of our family members, and the process is kind of going through. We're very close now. It's not complete. It's not the size of a commercial plane — it's not the IRON MAIDEN-size hangar like that; it's more modest than that. But it's good that we're able to keep it all in the family; we're actually able to support our family, so TRIVIUM can buy from them. They're acting as the agents, and we can work from there."

TRIVIUM's ninth full-length album, "What The Dead Men Say", was released on April 24 through Roadrunner Records. The LP, which was produced by TRIVIUM and Josh Wilbur, is the follow-up to "The Sin And The Sentence". That effort marked the band's first release with drummer Alex Bent, who joined TRIVIUM in 2016.

As previously reported, TRIVIUM's previously announced North American tour with MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD and IN FLAMES has been rescheduled for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's 2015 album, "Got Your Six", has been certified silver in the United Kingdom for equivalent sales of 60,000 units.

The platinum, gold and silver certifications awarded by the British Phonographic Industry in recognition of sales milestones have included audio streaming data since June 2015, with 1,000 streams counting as one "sale."

Back in 2015, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH singer Ivan Moody told The Pulse Of Radio about the "Got Your Six" title, a military term: "It was just perfect, you know, because it started off with, you know, being the sixth album — you know, most people didn't expect us to have a second album, so it really went to that point. And then Zo [Zoltan Bathory, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH guitarist] kind of looked at it like, we've had each other's back for almost 10 years now and, you know, in the military, instead of saying, 'we got your back,' it's 'we got your six.' And since we also are affiliated with so much, you know, involvement in the military, it just seemed like a no-brainer."

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, "F8", was released in February. The follow-up to 2018's "And Justice For None" capped a turbulent period for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in which Moody finally got sober after a near-fatal struggle with addiction, while co-founding drummer Jeremy Spencer bowed out of the band due to physical issues.

Much of "F8"'s lyrical content deals with Moody's battle with addiction, its aftermath and his recovery. The singer celebrated two years of sobriety in March.

FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's new disc was once again helmed by Kevin Churko, the Canadian record producer/engineer and songwriter who currently lives in Las Vegas, where he works out of his private studio, The Hideout Recording Studio. The drums on the LP were laid down by Charlie "The Engine" Engen, who made his live debut with the group during its fall 2018 tour with BREAKING BENJAMIN.

TOTO guitarist Steve Lukather has confirmed to Tone-Talk that he has completed work on his eighth solo album. The follow-up to 2013's "Transition" is due in the coming months via Mascot.

Lukather said (see video below): "I was lucky to get in the studio and cut everything live with the guys before this virus took over.

"My whole point with this record was, I've done the over-produced records, and I love all that shit, and when I say that, I don't mean it in a negative way. I like big productions; all my favorite albums are big productions. So I make no apology for that.

"My concept with this was I wanted to hire some cats and my friends — no rehearsal," he explained. "Me and [Jeff] Babko and Joseph [Williams, TOTO] and [David] Paich, we wrote some things, and Jeff did some charts, and we got everybody in the studio. Jeff Babko on keyboards; David Paich on organ and piano. We didn't use any synthesizers on the record. Jorgen Carlsson from GOV'T MULE played bass. Gregg Bissonette played drums. It was all done live; I did all my solos live. I made myself do it. No click tracks. Old school — '70s. I went for a '70s thing, and I even did a couple of '70s cover tunes for fun, of some of my favorite artists, just to set the tone for everything.

"At this point in the game, it's a vanity record for people who like our stuff," Steve added. "Joseph's on it, and Joseph's new album, he's been spending so much time meticulously producing it and making it great. This is his first big musical statement, and he's really grown so much as a musician. I'm so proud of him. [He's] one of my best friends — one of the only people I allow into my house at this point. He comes up every day and my girl feeds him. I love him to death. He's just family.

"I played on his record, so these records are gonna come out on the same level, and we're gonna go out and work together. [And there will be] surprises to come down the line."

"Transition" featured an all-star cast of A-list musicians, including Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) and Phil Collen (DEF LEPPARD).

In addition to his work with TOTO, Lukather has played on hundreds of albums with some of the biggest stars and legends in music, including VAN HALEN, Whitney Houston, Alice Cooper, George Benson and Rod Stewart. He even played guitar on Michael Jackson's multi-million selling milestone album "Thriller".


























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front row: Gregg Bissonette- Jeff Babko- Me- Jorgen Carlsson- Back Row: Ken Freeman- David Paich The team for my new record. 5 tracks ready to be mixed. A song a day - vocals - live solos .. Fun !!!

A post shared by Steve Lukather (@stevelukatherofficial) on Feb 28, 2020 at 2:55pm PST

Original MACHINE HEAD drummer Tony Costanza has died. He was 52 years old.

Costanza's passing was confirmed by his former CRISIS bandmate Afzaal Nasiruddeen, who wrote in a Facebook post: "It is with a very heavy heart that I have to accept and inform everyone concerned that I lost my brother, band mate, home boy and family today.

"Tony Costanza was one of a kind. A man with a huge heart, love and loyalty for the ones close to him.

"I cannot relate to this reality of loss yet. I know he had a lot of admirers, and I was one of his biggest. He would have literally taken a bullet for me. Thats the kind of gangster brother he was.

"Tony died in his sleep this morning so I am sure he was at peace and in no pain.

"I wish his Mother all the strength she can muster as she will need every ounce of it.

"I will be starting a GofundMe page for her and Tony's funeral expenses. Please help if you knew him and care.

"Please hold your loved ones close as the sense of loss is insurmountable sometimes.

"Tony my friend, I will love you and cherish our memories together, forever. Hope you are in a better pace now. Rest In Peace."

Costanza joined MACHINE HEAD in 1992 and sat behind the kit for the band's first three shows — a punk rock house party on Woolsey Street in Oakland on August 15, 1992; at The Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 29, 1992; and at Los Angeles Metalfest at Gazarri's in Hollywood, California on October 4, 1992. He left MACHINE HEAD in October 1992 and was replaced by Chris Kontos, who made his live debut with the group the following month.

MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn said that "a big chunk" of the band's classic debut album, "Burn My Eyes", was written with Costanza, who stepped in because Kontos —Robb's first choice and then still a member of ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT and GRINCH — didn't have time to devote to MACHINE HEAD.

"Tony was from Vegas and he had heard of us and was like, 'Dude, I'll come out right now,'" original MACHINE HEAD bassist Adam Duce said. "We wrote eight songs with him. But then he left because he lacked experience and there were also some personal problems between him and some of the other guys. At the same time, Chris started to gain interest again, and he was the one we wanted in the first place. Tony quit because he felt like he was going to be fired. So, then Chris came back and worked on the record with us."

Earlier today, Kontos issued the following statement: "R.I.P. Tony Costanza. I'm thankful that you and I remained in contact over the past 27 years. Im so sad to hear about your passing bro.

"After I played on the very first MH demo ever some time in June 1992 I moved to NYC for a short time. In that time Tony became the first drummer of MACHINE HEAD. They did a demo and a video for Fuck It All. He played the first string of live shows/parties in the Bay Area.

"When I came back home in October 92' I actually was Tony's drum tech for a few shows. Shortly after that the drum position became available for what ever reason it makes no difference now, that's when I became the second drummer for MH. We wrote some more songs together and then recorded the 'Fuck It All' demo that got the band signed. He came up with some really great drum parts. He had a very powerful style and it was a challenge to put my own spin on his contributions to the music and for sure kept a few of his parts.

"Tony was a very kind person and always supported and encouraged me over the years with music and then with BMX. We have both confided in each other when we hit hard times over time. Im thankful for his friendship and brotherhood. He was a great drummer. Our legacy is forever connected by our participation in MACHINE HEAD and the Fuck It All/Burn My Eyes 1992-1995 moment.

"Be thunder bro...be thunder!"

Costanza was also a member of CROWBAR during the early 2000s, and appeared on the band's 2001 album "Sonic Excess In Its Purest Form".


Posted by Tony Costanza on Monday, February 12, 2018

Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend has revealed that he is working on a new album

Devin describes the material he has come up with so far as a "weird, alien sounding, effervescent, sunny load of oddness."

Late Monday night (August 3), Townsend took to his Twitter to write: "I think I'm writing an album, unexpectedly, called Lightwork that is abstract and a stream of conscious. Still significantly far away from anything, but it's determinedly taking shape. It's been odd though, as every record is a reflection of the time it was conceived.

"And this is clearly a weird time. It's strange, abstract, meandering and weird. If I try to curb it and write something more disciplined, it would be a dumb rehash of stuff I'm clearly bored of. So I follow this where it wants to go.

"Almost seems like it would make sense for it to be a continuous, shifting, colourful beast as opposed to a collection of songs – more like songs in a highly elaborate and sort of alien stream of conscious: no real beginning or end."

Devin continued: "But regardless: as much as I have tried to shift my motivations from this weird collection of work to something more ‘palatable' it seems clear that this is what's in my path now, so I'm going to finish it in the way that it insists.

"I suppose considering the strange unique intensity of this period, it makes perfect sense when I hear it.

"Anyways, the next album will be called Lightwork and though it's still being discovered, it's a weird, alien sounding, effervescent, sunny load of oddness. Alien as in: 'this makes no traditional sense but seems to have an underlying order'

"Visually, I see a weird kind of muted Winnie The Pooh type landscape with endless processions of characters, objects, people, creatures etc wandering from one side of the page to the other – an endless parade of dissimilar things, and just kind of watching them go by."

This past June, Devin released "Empath - The Ultimate Edition". This comprehensive version of 2019's acclaimed album contains the original record and bonus disc across 2 CDs, plus 2 Blu-ray discs.

Townsend released "Empath" in March 2019 and embarked on the "Empath - European Tour Vol. 1" last November.

"Empath" saw Devin incorporating all the styles that make up his current interests in one place.




I think I’m writing an album, unexpectedly...called ‘Lightwork’ that is abstract and stream of conscious. Still significantly far away from anything, but it’s determinedly taking shape. It’s been odd though, as every record is a reflection of the time it was conceived

...

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








...and this is clearly a weird time. It’s strange, abstract, meandering, and weird. If I try to curb it and write something more disciplined, it would be a dumb rehash of stuff I’m clearly bored of. So I follow this where it wants to go...

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








Almost seems like it would make sense for it to be a continuous, shifting, colourful beast as opposed to a collection of songs, more like songs in a highly elaborate and sort of alien stream of conscious: no real beginning or end...

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








But regardless: as much as I have tried to shift my motivations from this weird collection of work to something more ‘palatable’ it seems clear that this is what’s in my path now, so I’m going to finish it in the way that it insists

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








I suppose considering the strange unique intensity of this period, it makes perfect sense when I hear it...

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








Anyways: the next album, unexpectedly, will be called ‘Lightwork’ and though it’s still being discovered, it’s a weird, alien sounding, effervescent , sunny load of oddness...

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








Alien as in: ‘this makes no traditional sense but seems to have an underlying order’

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020








Visually, I see a weird kind of muted ‘Winnie the Pooh’ type landscape with endless processions of characters, objects, people, creatures etc wandering from one side of the page to the other, an endless parade of dissimilar things, and just kind of watching them go by.

— Devin Townsend (@dvntownsend) August 4, 2020

BLACK VEIL BRIDES guitarist Jeremy "Jinxx" Ferguson spoke to Robert Cavuoto of Myglobalmind about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to 2018's "Vale" album. He said: "We have been writing up a storm. I can't talk too about what we envision for the next album, but we are revisiting the idea of another concept record like we did with [2013's] 'Wretched And Divine'. It would be fun to do another concept CD, but we'll see how things pan out. We have six solid songs written, and we are still writing. Once we do this show ['Re-Stitch These Wounds' record-release concert on August 1], we will head back into the studio to write some more. We have been doing it all ourselves. Jake [Pitts, guitar] will be producing it, and we are tracking vocals and guitars at his studio. I'm recording the strings at my studio."

He continued: "With COVID going on, we have all been quarantined and working at home, but when we do get together, it's just us and maybe our wives. When we are all in the same room bouncing ideas off each other, it's a never-ending flood of inspiration and ideas. I'm excited for fans to hear what we are coming up with."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES celebrated the 10th anniversary of their debut, "We Stitch These Wounds", with a brand new, reimagined, re-recorded 2020 edition of the album titled "Re-Stitch These Wounds", released on July 31 via Sumerian Records. The cover artwork for the disc was reimagined by illustrator Luca Solo Macello.

"We Stitch These Wounds" was issued in July 2010 via StandBy Records and was BLACK VEIL BRIDES' only studio album to feature drummer Sandra Alvarenga before she left the band and joined MODERN DAY ESCAPE.

Last November, BLACK VEIL BRIDES announced the addition of bassist Lonny Eagleton to the group's ranks. He joined the band as the replacement for Ashley Purdy, who exited the group earlier that month.

Eagleton previously played with BLACK VEIL BRIDES singer Andy Biersack (a.k.a. Andy Black) on his solo tour.

Last fall, BLACK VEIL BRIDES released the first in a series of "duologies," essentially two-song singles that will be released with greater frequency. The first duology consisted of the songs "The Vengeance" and "Saints Of The Blood".

Grindcore/hardcore punk veterans VENOMOUS CONCEPT — featuring members of BRUTAL TRUTH and NAPALM DEATH — will release their fourth full-length album, "Politics Versus The Erection", on August 28 via Season Of Mist. The disc's third single, "Simian Flu", can be streamed below.

Track listing:

01. Simian Flu (03:20)

02. Hole In The Ground (00:53)

03. Eliminate (02:00)

04. Lemonade (03:42)

05. Colossal Failure (03:20)

06. Promise (03:24)

07. Septic Mind (03:15)

08. Dementia Degeneration (02:24)

09. Carrion (02:17)

10. Broken Teeth (02:09)

11. Shadows (02:46)

12. Mantis Toboggan (01:36)

13. Politics Versus The Erection (02:37)

If the state of today's society is reflected in music, VENOMOUS CONCEPT has returned to the stage with a fitting soundtrack. The band's fourth full-length frontal assault, "Politics Versus The Erection", manifests a no-nonsense and outspoken voice, resonating with the chaos that reigns over the world today.

Starting out in 2004, the band was conceived as something like a grind punk supergroup — if that term can even be applied to a bunch of people with clear counterculture preferences. The name was chosen to pay homage to the legendary POISON IDEA.

At the core of VENOMOUS CONCEPT, you will find BRUTAL TRUTH vocalist Kevin Sharp and Shane Embury, the iconic bass player of NAPALM DEATH. The two musicians had bonded over beer and pizza as well as their mutual love of punk heroes such as BLACK FLAG, SYSTEMATIC DEATH, GBH, SIEGE, and, of course, POISON IDEA.

The duo soon set about plotting its own assault on the style. Armed with bucketloads of coffee, the pair roped in Danny Herrera of NAPALM DEATH on drums, as well as MELVINS guitarist Buzz Osborne. A record deal was signed with Mike Patton and VENOMOUS CONCEPT's first album, "Retroactive Abortion" (2004) was followed by a split-CD with Japanese grind band 324 (2006) and another in 2008 with BLÖOD DÜSTER.

Buzz Osborne eventually went on a hiatus, but he never really left and there is always a chance for his return — schedules permitting. Shane switched to guitar when longtime friend Dan Lilker (BRUTAL TRUTH, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, ex-ANTHRAX) joined on bass. Next, VENOMOUS CONCEPT brought in John Cooke of CORRUPT MORAL ALTAR on second guitar for touring. Sophomore full-length "Poisoned Apple" hit the stores in 2008.

A quiet spell followed, but the band returned fully charged and ready for attack with their third record "Kick Me Silly - VC III" in 2016, which saw VENOMOUS CONCEPT continue in their trademark grindcore punk style. Following a European tour with BRUJERIA in 2019 and several festivals shows, the musicians headed back into the studio to write and record their fourth album.

With over 30 minutes of short, sharp musical blasts, venomous lyrics, satirical animations, and by offering their candid views, VENOMOUS CONCEPT has again created a record that breathes a true hardcore punk spirit.

VENOMOUS CONCEPT is:

Kevin Sharp - Vocals

Shane Embury - Bass

John Cooke - Guitar

Danny Herrera - Drums

"Two Minutes To Late Night", which bills itself as the world's only heavy metal-themed talk show, has uploaded a cover version of the MISFITS classic "Earth A.D." recorded in quarantine by members of HATEBREED, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, along with Max Weinberg, drummer for Bruce Springsteen's E STREET BAND and father of SLIPKNOT's Jay Weinberg.

Featured musicians:

* Max Weinberg (BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E STREET BAND, "Conan")

* Frank Iero (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FRANK IERO AND THE FUTURE VIOLENTS, LEATHERMØUTH)

* Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, GIRAFFE TONGUE ORCHESTRA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES)

* Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED, JASTA)

* Jordan Olds (a.k.a. Gwarsenio Hall)

Says "Two Minutes To Late Night": "What an absolute dream.

"This is our 16th bedroom cover made with the support of Patreon. With so many musicians stuck at home with no outlets, we're going to keep producing these style videos and use the Patreon to give some money to everyone who has a part in them. Please support our friends by donating to our newly redone Patreon."

Scott Roberts says that he left BIOHAZARD because he "wasn't happy" anymore.

Roberts, who played guitar on BIOHAZARD's 2005 album "Means To An End", rejoined the band in June 2011 as the replacement for bassist and co-vocalist Evan Seinfeld. Scott fronted BIOHAZARD for nearly four years before exiting the group in February 2016.

Roberts addressed his latest departure from BIOHAZARD in a new interview with the "Aftershocks" podcast. Asked if he was burnt out from being in a band at the time of his BIOHAZARD exit, Scott said (see video below): "I wasn't burnt out at that time. I just wasn't happy with BIOHAZARD at that time. There was one guy that I wasn't getting along with very well, and it made touring not fun anymore for me. My reason to stick around was to make a new record that was great and I'd be proud of and all that stuff, and then it became kind of clear that wasn't gonna happen, so I was, like, 'What am I doing it for?' So I quit."

According to Roberts, BIOHAZARD was "doing really good" on the live circuit before his decision to leave the group.

"I was actually in the band longer than anybody else that wasn't the original four guys," he said. "I was in the band twice, actually; I played guitar the first time. So I was in the band, like, seven years, I think. The second time, when I was singing, at first, we were, like, 'Is this gonna work?' 'Cause it's really hard to replace a singer. In history, how many times has that actually worked? IRON MAIDEN, AC/DC… a handful of times. At first, it was definitely weird; people didn't know what to expect. But in time, the shows were getting bigger again, we were headlining festivals again — it was rolling, it was happening, it was working. But it all kind of fell apart."

In a 2017 interview with "The Ex Man" podcast, BIOHAZARD guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei discussed Roberts's split from the group, saying that the other members of the band "got into some issues" with Scott once work began on a new studio album. "He just grew out of it," Billy claimed. "He was a fucking rigger in New York in the union, making tons of money, and leaving his family to go on tour for making a little bit of money, it didn't pay for him. So I think that started harboring some issues with him. And eventually we were in the studio doing the new record, and we had some exhanges back and forth, and he quit. And we were, like, 'Fuck! Here we are again.'"

Scott later responded to Billy's comments, saying that he quit BIOHAZARD because it was no longer fun. "I was okay with losing money on tour as long as I was enjoying myself," Roberts wrote on his Facebook page. "I would have kept doing that. The real problem was I wasn't getting along with one of the members and wasn't enjoying myself on tour with them anymore. The only other reason for me to keep doing it, was to make a new record that I was into and proud of. When another member of the band made it clear to me that wasn't going to happen, there was no reason for me to do it anymore. That's the simplest way I can explain it."

He added: "The only reason to be in a band is for the love of it. Not because it's a career. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, you shouldn't do it. That's my opinion, for what's it worth."

In "The Ex Man" interview, Billy said that BIOHAZARD's collaboration with Roberts "just worked. The band without Evan, in a small, hardcore way, it's like VAN HALEN without David Lee Roth. It was different, it was something new, but it was different… Scott had the fire that we all had, and it just seemed to work, and people accepted him. He was great, he fit great, his vibe was great, he was all about the music, loved hardcore, loved what we did, he was really into it, and it was fucking awesome. So we toured, we kept doing it. And we saw the crowds getting bigger and the people accepted him and the BIOHAZARD name... the brand started growing again; instead of being stagnant or declining, it started to grow. And the shows kept doing better and better. And we were, like, 'Cool. Let's keep this going.'"

Seinfeld made his final recorded appearance with BIOHAZARD on 2012's "Reborn In Defiance" album, which marked the first LP featuring the band's original lineup in 18 years.

Roberts is currently playing guitar and singing for a New York power trio called THE TAKE. The band, which is rounded out by Will Shepler (MADBALL, AGNOSTIC FRONT) on drums and Carlos Congote (ROYAL HOUNDS, LEGION 76) on bass, released its self-titled debut album (which was produced by Roberts) in July 2019.

Canadian-American rockers PALAYE ROYALE have released a haunting cover of the TEARS FOR FEARS smash hit "Mad World". Despite the original being released nearly 40 years ago, the timeless content of the song is just as relevant today as it was back in 1982. Now, PALAYE ROYALE has put its own indelible stamp on the classic track, honoring the original version but with an undeniably modern and unique twist.

PALAYE ROYALE released its third studio album titled "The Bastards" back in May. The LP had an incredibly successful first week, hitting No. 1 on both the Alternative Albums and Rock Albums Charts, No. 4 on Independent albums and No. 12 on the Top 200 Alternative Chart. Since its release, "The Bastards" has hit 43 million total streams with 1 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Worldwide, the band has a total of 170 million streams with all albums combined.

Musically, "The Bastards" is an enormous step up for the band. It is, in turn, dark, lush, angry, vulnerable, caustic and warm. From the grandiose Bond-theme-esque "Tonight Is The Night I Die" to the darkly jarring "Anxiety", from the quietly heartbreaking refrain of "Lonely" and the massive fuzzed up, distorted guitars of "Nightmares (Coming Down)" , "The Bastards" demonstrates just how far the band have expanded their writing and musical dexterity, rounding out their already accomplished arson with flourishes of electronics, metal beat-downs, drum n bass beats and haunting string arrangements. There are singles on the album, luminous highlights, but it's also a piece of work that works beautifully when listened to as a whole.

Lyrically, the album addresses a number of important issues, prevalent to today's youth — struggles with mental health, the gun violence epidemic, substance use as a means to escape a difficult reality and parental abandonment all play a part in the album's rich lyrical tapestry.

Speaking about the band's refreshingly honest and open approach to writing on the new album, vocalist Remington Leith says: "We need a little honesty and a little truth. The world is getting so tainted by everyone trying to be so fucking perfect and so goddamn PG and trying to walk this line of not trying to of end anyone. People need to be themselves, just for 20 minutes at least."

"Saigon Metalhood", an hour-long documentary which follows three generations of Vietnamese metalheads through the origins of heavy metal in Vietnam to the current struggles of today's scene, is now available for streaming on Amazon and Vimeo.

Grizzled Saigonese rock legend Trung Thanh Sago got his start as a teen shredding for U.S. soldiers in the old South Vietnam, and represents the "past." He tells his life story, walking us through the origins of rock and metal in Vietnam, and the significant obstacles himself and the scene have faced. Now in the later stages of his life, he speaks about losing his friends to emigration and death, ongoing health problems, and the scene today. Characterising the "present" is former vanguard of Vietnamese extreme music, the luminary Trung Loki, recently back on the scene after a habitual absence. Initially cautious and brooding, he puffs on cigarettes while opening up about lost love, methamphetamine addiction, harrowing rehab experiences and the derailment of the scene he was so instrumental in both building and destroying.

War, politics, infighting, addiction, and an indifferent, often hostile society all contribute to the woes of the metal community in Vietnam, but in the words of Loki: "People don't care about us… and we don't even care about them."

Lair Of The Alchemist, a YouTube channel dedicated to discussing all things heavy metal and hard rock, recently had the chance to interview the "Saigon Metalhood" filmmakers. You can check out the chat below.






Sometimes a band must pass away...

Trung Loki shares his thoughts on bands growing old and drops a hot take about Metallica.

Watch Saigon Metalhood now on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/saigonmetalhood

Posted by Saigon Metalhood: Vietnamese Metal Documentary on Wednesday, April 29, 2020