Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, the company which creates "beautiful lullaby versions of your favorite artists," has just released "Lullaby Versions Of Sabaton" via Roma Music Group.

"Lullaby Versions Of Sabaton" track listing:

01. To Hell And Back

02. The Last Stand

03. Bismarck

04. The Red Baron

05. Primo Victoria

06. The Lost Battalion

07. Ghost Division

08. Carolus Rex

09. Attero Dominatus

10. The Final Solution

The song "To Hell And Back" can be streamed in the YouTube clip below.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star was born for the parent that wants to pass along their biggest passion to their child, music. Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star transforms popular music into instrumental lullabies perfect for babies, yoga or just relaxation. Now, parents can enjoy the music from LADY GAGA to METALLICA in soothing lullaby style. With over 135 titles to choose from, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star is the largest line of pop, rock, metal and jamband music lullabies in the world.

These aren't novelty recordings. They are cute, they are soft but these are serious recordings. Roma Music Group, which releases Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star, is run by two music industry veterans who put the fidelity of these recording at the top of the priority list. Let's face it, much like the brand name clothes you buy for your infant, this music is really for you. Whether you are raising a metal baby, rocker or hippie baby, Twinkle Twinkle Little Rock Star has your music transformed from arena anthems into nursery classics.

Former TRISTANIA singer Vibeke Stene has teamed up with ex-BORKNAGAR drummer Asgeir Mickelson in a new doom metal band, VEIL OF SECRETS.

VEIL OF SECRETS' debut album, "Dead Poetry", is set to be released on CD and vinyl through Crime Records this coming fall.

"Dead Poetry" was recorded by Mickelson and mixed by Børge Finstad at Toproom Studio. On the album, Mickelson handled guitars, drums, and bass, Sareeta (RAM-ZET, ex-ÁSMEGIN) played violins, and Erling Malm (ARTICULUS, ENDOLITH) handled grim vocals. The cover illustrations were painted by Kjell Åge Moland. The album is currently being mastered at Dub Studio by Endre Kirkesola.

Stene comments: "After some years with no music production or dissemination, I strongly felt an inner longing to create and feel alive through music. So I started to seek a resolution.

"When Asgeir contacted me for the project GOD OF ATHEISTS, we started to share music and ideas, which led to a satisfying process of expressions.

"I've taken the chance to believe that my words, my thoughts, and dreams, could have any value combined with my inner tones.

"The composing process of' 'Dead Poetry' was deeply founded on honesty and trust, and therefore I'm very proud to finally share VEIL OF SECRETS."

Mickelson comments: "Most people know me as a drummer, but I started originally out as a guitarist. After I switched to drums, I didn't play guitar for years, so when I picked up again in 2002, I quickly started writing doom metal riffs.

"To me, there are only two real doom metal albums, which are the CANDLEMASS classics 'Epicus Doomicus Metallicus' and 'Nightfall', so that style is my starting point when it comes to writing slow-paced metal — meaning guitar-driven songs with melancholic and somber melodies.

"For years, I wrote riffs on and (a lot more) off without a real plan, so when Vibeke expressed interest in the songs, it made sense to use them as the basis for a new band. We then went through the material, decided on the initial eight songs, and made some final adjustments before Vibeke breathed new life into them. Then Sareeta lifted the songs even further with her violin melodies. It's not become symphonic — it's still pure doom metal — and I cannot wait to let you finally hear it!"

Wacken Open Air 2020 with its 75,000 festival visitors from over 80 nations cannot take place as originally planned this summer. But no reason to be quiet!

Metalheads from all over the world travel annually to Wacken to celebrate heavy metal, but this year the organizers and long-term partner Telekom are bringing a completely new Wacken experience as revolutionary digital festival directly to the fans‘ homes: Wacken is coming home with the biggest mixed reality metal show of all times!

The first edition of the digital streaming festival Wacken World Wide will take place in the originally scheduled festival period from July 29 to August 1, and is shaped completely independently of the actual W:O:A festival. This special event is live and available for free online and via app on wacken-world-wide.com, MagentaMusik 360 and MagentaTV.

Unique and exclusive shows of W:O:A classics and all time favourites such as Blind Guardian, Heaven Shall Burn, In Extremo, Kreator and Beyond The Black on innovative, spectacular virtual stages, as well as promising newcomers of Wacken Metal Battle and Wacken Foundation result in a brilliant and varied overall programme with exclusive interviews, talk rounds and behind-the-scenes content. The fully digital approach creates mixed reality show concepts exclusively designed for a virtual stage never seen before. With its innovative design and technical implementation this is set to be a world premiere in the live music business!     

Thomas Jensen about the new event format: “It is a huge pleasure for us to finally be able to unveil the news today. The entire team has worked with great ambition and motivation over the past few weeks and months to implement the new Wacken World Wide concept in order to put together an overall package never seen before!” says the W:O:A festival co-founder.

Holger Hübner states: "After the cancellation of this year's festival season, the new format is a ray of hope that allows us to celebrate with our loyal fans, partners and artists in an unprecedented way," adds the W:O:A festival co-founder. "We look forward to your feedback and reactions and can't wait to bring Wacken around the world!"

In terms of music and content there is of course a full dose of heavy metal in good old Wacken style as unique mixed reality concept. It’s not about Wacken as a village nor the festival itself, it’s all about the but the unprecedented, authentic experience.

Immersive technology connects artists and fans worldwide. Artists play live, are filmed in real time with precise camera tracking and integrated directly into the virtual set. The innovative XR-technology brings the stage to life. The LED back wall, LED floor and fan interaction create an authentic stage feeling for artists and fans alike. Active hands-on programs and other exciting interactions keep fans close to the artists and virtually in front of the stage so they become part of this authentic live experience. For the perfect festival look WWW merchandise, original festival wristbands and special souvenir-tickets can be found on Metaltix.com.   

More info on Wacken World Wide is coming soon. The biggest Wacken ever starts on July 29 on wacken-world-wide.com, MagentaMusik 360 and Magenta TV, as well as #DABEI. Keep your eyes and ears open! Wacken is coming home.

     

(Photo - pepbonet)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

"Dirty Like The City", the new music video from the hard-hitting, melodic heavy metal band ALCATRAZZ, can be seen below. The song is taken from the group's upcoming album, "Born Innocent", due on July 31 via Silver Lining Music.

Frontman Graham Bonnet comments: "Steve Vai sent us about 60 songs. Out of all of them, 'Dirty Like The City' was the one that stood out right away for me, and after a good listen, I just knew it had to be included in the album."

Keyboardist Jimmy Waldo adds: "I loved this piece when Steve Vai sent it to us, and knew right away that ALCATRAZZ would eat it alive. It was a perfect fit with all the other material on the album."

Alongside the unique vocal prowess and range of star frontman and founding member Bonnet, ALCATRAZZ's first studio venture since 1986's "Dangerous Games" features fellow founding members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea. And from the classic album art, featuring the mighty rock itself, "Born Innocent" is a journey into the sort of heavy, melodic and supremely articulated hard rock that is a cornerstone of the likes of RAINBOW and the MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP, territory ALCATRAZZ successfully strode in the 1980s before going on hiatus.

Debuting on "Born Innocent" is the latest of the illustrious ALCATRAZZ guitarists to bring their extreme six-string talents to the band, with Boston-based Berklee College Of Music assistant professor of guitar, and one-man metal impresario Joe Stump perhaps proving the finest of a list which includes the likes of Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai.

"The name ALCATRAZZ is a brand name," announces Bonnet. "People know what ALCATRAZZ delivers, and on this album you have the original ideas of ALCATRAZZ but played in a modern way with new inspiration."

Mixed and mastered by Andy Haller, "Born Innocent" also sees former stars from Bonnet's long career making guest appearances, from Chris Impellitteri, who wrote the music and played all guitars on the arpeggio-powered "Born Innocent" with Bonnet's vocals soaring to old-school heights, and Bob Kulick, who wrote and laid down guitar for "I Am The King". Virtuoso Japanese guitar maestro Nozomu Wakai — a new invitee to the party — similarly wrote and played guitars on the double-kick steel-plated Irish warrior ode "Finn McCool", while Vai wrote "Dirty Like The City". Meanwhile, "Something That I Am Missing" and "Warth Lane" were written by — and feature the guitar work of — Italian six-string hero Dario Mollo, with RIOT bassist Don Van Stavern playing bass on the title track, "Polar Bear", "Finn McCool", "London 1666", "Dirty Like The City" and "Paper Flags". Add D. Kendall Jones's writing and guitar work on "We Still Remember" and even a quick solo by another new invitee to the ALCATRAZZ mega-sound, ANNIHILATOR's Jeff Waters on "Paper Flags" (the second one, to be precise), and it's clear that studio ALCATRAZZ 2020 is one giant piece of rock for sure.

Besides the supreme musicianship, "Born Innocent" features genuine storyteller lyrics courtesy of Bonnet who revels in showing he loves the scent of an entertaining tale, proudly illustrated on the storming lead single "Polar Bear", which bristles with robust old-world adventure. "Take the song 'Polar Bear'," explains Bonnet, "I heard those words 'polar bear' and thought it's an intriguing title because it sounds all cuddly and nice, but it's not. It's a story of how when the Eskimo got too old, they would take their lives by sitting in snow, freezing to death and letting the polar bear take the body. The polar bear was very prominent in their lives as a God and also as a way of committing suicide, which is kind of awful. But when an Eskimo loses all his teeth and he could no longer eat, he would lose his strength obviously and then become a weak old man. He could no longer contribute to the tribe, he'd feel his life was useless and so he'd walk out into the snow and sacrifice himself to the bear."

"Born Innocent" track listing:

01. Born Innocent

02. Polar Bear

03. Finn McCool

04. We Still Remember

05. London 1666

06. Dirty Like The City

07. I Am The King

08. Something That I Am Missing

09. Paper Flags

10. The Wound Is Open

11. Body Beautiful

12. Warth Lane

13. For Tony

ALCATRAZZ is:

Graham Bonnet - Vocals

Joe Stump - Guitars

Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards

Gary Shea - Bass

Mark Benquechea - Drums

Produced by Giles Lavery and Jimmy Waldo

Mixed, mastered and edited by Andy Haller

Photo credit: Alex Solca

With the release of their 21st studio album "Whoosh!" approaching, legendary rockers DEEP PURPLE embark on the next part of their journey by releasing their new single, "Nothing At All", on July 10.

The lyrics of "Nothing At All" sound like an observation of what we humans have done to Mother Earth in our short time of existence.

After exploring the subject of time and space with "Throw My Bones" and following the concerned look into the future of the second single "Man Alive", "Nothing At All" brings a big philosophical question: is it really "nothing at all"?

With the videos for the two previous singles "Throw My Bones" and "Man Alive", DEEP PURPLE has sent its spaceman on a very special journey, and rumor has it that the spaceman's story is going to be continued soon.

"Whoosh!" will be released 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?!" Together they created the most versatile album in their collaboration. DEEP PURPLE "stretched out in all directions" without any limitation, letting their creativity go.

"DEEP PURPLE is putting the Deep back into Purple" was the half-joking motto in the studio after the first songs made it clear that Ezrin and PURPLE were on their path to creating an album pushing the boundaries of time, while voicing their resentment about the current situation of the world and addressing all generations.

"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 boxset and digital.

"We've included everything that made the whole band smile, including Bob Ezrin. We've always enjoyed making music and having the incredible luxury of a loyal audience," said guitarist Steve Morse.

Track listing:

01. Throw My Bones

02. Drop The Weapon

03. We're All The Same In The Dark

04. Nothing At All

05. No Need To Shout

06. Step By Step

07. What The What

08. The Long Way Round

09. The Power Of The Moon

10. Remission Possible

11. Man Alive

12. And The Address

13. Dancing In My Sleep

Norway's progressive black metallers ENSLAVED have released the second single, "Jettegryta", from their upcoming studio album "Utgard". The single is accompanied by a frost-bitten video, in which an Icelandic pristine glacial landscape is darkened by sinister events.

Grutle Kjellson commented on the clip: "Iceland was the perfect place to shoot the video for 'Jettegryta'.

"'Jettegryta' translates to Giant's Cauldron and refers to a phenomenon in nature, where rivers/running water — over a long period — create an often cylindrical hole in solid rock.

"In ancient Norse folklore, the Jette/Jotun (giants) made these cauldrons to cook in. Although these particular nature phenomena don't exist on the volcanic island of Iceland, there are plenty of other places on this magical island that could lead to the dwelling of the giants.

"When Norse settlers came to Iceland in the 8th and 9th century, the fumes and fog from the hot streams and the volcanos clearly told them that this island was inhabited by elves, dwarves and giants! This reminded them of the stories of 'Utgard'. To them, Iceland was on the doorsteps of 'Utgard', the outer borders of the world of men; a gateway.

"The lyrics of the song deal with entering such a mythological and esoteric place; deep within your own mind and imagination, a gateway into the dreams, the unconscious and the realm of chaos. We have tried to transform these words into this clip, and maybe you can feel a glimpse of what those early Icelanders felt when they first entered this realm."

"Utgard" is due on October 2 via Nuclear Blast.

Regarding the "Utgard" album title, the band commented: "'Utgard' bears countless meanings to us; an image, metaphor, an esoteric 'location', a word on its own, etc. — on different levels and layers. From Norse mythology we know it as a landscape were the giants roam; where the gods of Asgard have no control; dangerous, chaotic, uncontrollable and where madness, creativeness, humor and chaos dwells.

"The album is a journey into and through 'Utgard'. It is a place of unification of that which is above and that which lies below. It is not about avoiding fear of the pitch-black darkness (it will keep on growing until the next confrontation), but to go into the darkness itself. This is the rebirth of the individual. In a world that has become so obsessed with the false lights of greed, jealousy and egotism this is a necessary journey.

"'Utgard' is not a fairytale, it is a vital part of both your mind and your surroundings, and it has been since the dawn of mankind. Acknowledging that this realm exists and is a vital part of the self, has inspired us deeply since the early days of our lives. Enjoy our journey to the outer limits."

ENSLAVED unveiled the "Utgard" album cover in a social media post in March. The band stated: "This is the 9th consecutive album cover artwork done by Truls Espedal — and like the album itself it is definitely on the wavelength of the long-distance pulse from the ENSLAVED generator. It is a piece of art that mirrors a massive concept and a band that is also more lyrically and philosophically inspired than ever before. That Truls is a master of his art is established a long time ago, but he has truly outdone himself on this interpretation of our Utgard. Just looking at how the colors and techniques are used to create the depth and grandiosity of the horizon. The perfect travelling companion into these uncharted territories."

"Utgard" track listing:

01. Fires In The Dark

02. Jettegryta

03. Sequence

04. Homebound

05. Utgardr

06. Urjotun

07. Flight Of Thought And Memory

08. Storms Of Utgard

09. Distant Seasons

ENSLAVEDs' last LP, "E", came out in 2017.

Today, Helloween kick off the pre-order for Unarmed, Straight Out Of Hell and 7 Sinners, that will be re-released on September 4th via Nuclear Blast. Below you can find the formats and track-lists for each of the albums.

Unarmed formats:
- CD-Digi
- LP (Clear, God-Black Marbled, Orange-Black Splatter)

Tracklist:
"Dr. Stein" (acoustic)           
"Future World" (acoustic)
"If I Could Fly" (acoustic)      
"Where The Rain Grows" (acoustic)
"The Keeper's Trilogy" (Medley) (acoustic)
"Eagle Fly Free" (acoustic)  
"Perfect Gentleman" (acoustic)        
"Forever And One" (Neverland) (acoustic)  
"I Want Out" (acoustic)        
"Fallen To Pieces" (acoustic)                             
"Why" (acoustic)

Straight Out Of Hell formats:
- CD-Digi
- LP (Clear, Orange-Black Bi-colored, Red-Gold Splatter)

Tracklist:
"Nabataea"           
"World Of War"   
"Live Now"            
"Far From The Stars"        
"Burning Sun"
"Waiting For The Thunder"            
"Hold Me In Your Arms"  
"Wanna Be God"
"Straight Out Of Hell"       
"Asshole"              
"Years"    
"Make Fire Catch The Fly"              
"Church Breaks Down"     
"Another Shot Of Life"     
"No Eternity"       

7 Sinners formats:
- CD-Digi
- 2LP (Clear, Orange-Black Marbled, Clear-Orange Splatter)

Tracklist:
"Where The Sinners Go" 
"Are You Metal"  
"Who Is Mr. Madman"     
"Raise The Noise"              
"World Of Fantasy"           
"Long Live The King"         
"The Smile Of The Sun"    
"You Stupid Mankind"      
"If A Mountain Could Talk"            
"The Sage The Fool The Sinner"   
"My Sacrifice"      
"Not Yet Today"  
"Far In The Future"           
"I'm Free"             
"Faster We Fall"

Pre-order the re-releases in the formats of your choice here.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Canadian thrash legends Anonymus unleashed their 12th album, La Bestia, on June 12th via label Bam&co Heavy. Known for their discography of both French and English releases, La Bestia is their first full length that is completely in Spanish. You may be asking why a Spanish album? Well since 3/4 of the band speaks Spanish, drummer Carlos Araya is Chilean born, and Oscar (lead vocals, bass) and Dan Souto (guitars) are sons of Spanish immigrants, it was time to make one. Today, the band shares their new music video recorded live in-studio for their track “Máquinas” 

The band reveals the story behind the track:

"This song is inspired by all the movies that we saw over the years that related to the machines that are taking over humans. We are not very far away from that, except that it’s not happening in the way that we thought. I mean who can live now without an iPhone or iPad or living without the internet and Google, YouTube, Facebook. Ok maybe it’s not like the movies in which humans were attacked by malefic robots, but it’s a different attack and we are losing the battle."

The album's tracks were produced mainly by guitarist Jef Fortin as well as Colin Richardson who also produced 1999's Instinct and Jean-Francois Dagenais (Kataklysm) who produced 2006's Chapter Chaos Begins. The album also features the bilingual song “Violencia Versus Violence” with the participation of Carlos Maldos of Lethal Creation (MX) and Arno Dhenain Le Bourhis of Black Bomb A (FR) along with a second bilingual track “Tierra” with Marco Calliari singing in Italian.

Anonymus explains their thoughts on the release: “We always try to surpass ourselves as musicians and we always try to write the best songs we can. It’s important to be loyal to what we do but we listen to the new bands and how the metal scene evolves. I think over the years we can feel an evolution in the band’s sound.”

Tracklisting:

“Bajo Presión”
“Bicho Loco”
“Sobrevivir”
“Violencia Versus Violence” (featuring Carlos Maldos of Lethal Creation (MX) and Arno from Black Bomb A)
“La Bestia”
“Máquinas”
“Cada loco con su tema”
“Tierra”
“Terremoto”

“Terremoto” video:

“Sobrevivir” video:

(Photo Credit: Dani Rod)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Former Cradle Of Filth backing vocalist / keyboardist Lindsay Schoolcraft has checked in with the following update:

"Ok, so I am really excited. That’s because I just finished listened to the harp album before we send it off to get mixed and mastered! I can’t believe it! The time has finally come!

I think you will really enjoy this album because it’s very stripped down and raw compared to what I’ve done before with the full rock band. This harp album is such a nice way to commemorate 10 years of being a solo artist. It’s been quite the journey and I’m trying to capture that by deciding the track order at the moment.

The team and I are about to buckle down and make sure this album gets released by the autumn months of this year. Many more announcements will be on the way this summer.
 
I’ve been back at the classical piano studies in order to better perform on the upcoming Antiqva single. If you’re into symphonic black metal then this could be for you: click on the band name and give us a like/follow.

That’s it for now! Wishing you all a safe and healthy summer."

Lindsay's solo album,

Martyr is available for streaming via Spotify here. Purchase physical copies of the album at SchoolcraftShop.com.

The limited edition storybook digipack version of the album includes extra pages in the booklet that tell the tale of the album’s beginnings and a page signed by Lindsay. Each copy is auto-numbered and will not be printed again. It is limited to 500 copies.

Tracklist:

"Savior"
"Dangerous Game"
"Stranger"
"Into The Night"
"Blood From A Stone"
"Dawn"
"Remember"
"See The Light" (feat. Xenoyr)
"Where I Fall"
"My Way Without You"
"Lullaby"

Bonus tracks:
"Warn Me"
"Betrayal"

Martyr was co-written with former Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray.

For further details, visit Lindsay Schoolcraft on Facebook.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Last year, Swedish prog-metal / rock legends Opeth released their stunning new album, In Cauda Venenum, which is available in both Swedish and English. Today, they announce a European tour for March 2021, on which they will be accompanied by retro rockers The Vintage Caravan from Iceland. More dates to follow.

Tickets will go on sale on Monday, July 13th at 09:00 CET here.

Opeth frontman, Mikael Åkerfeldt ,will compose music for the upcoming Netflix series, Clark. The show is co-written and directed by Jonas Åkerlund, who also took the band's recent promo photos for In Cauda Venenum.

A press release states: Netflix announced Clark - a six episode drama series about the Swedish criminal Clark Olofsson who has been referred to as a “celebrity gangster”, has given rise to the concept of Stockholm syndrome, managed to escape prisons and committed robberies all over Europe.

Clark Olofsson will be portrayed by Bill Skarsgård, who is best known for his terrorizing and iconic portrayal of “Pennywise” in the Stephen King saga It. Later this year he stars in the Netflix film The Devil All The Time and in the Sundance hit Nine Days for Sony Pictures Classic. On television, Skarsgård most recently starred in Hulu’s Castle Rock, a psychological drama series from J.J. Abrams and Stephen King.

Internationally acclaimed Jonas Åkerlund, who’s visually driven signature style often pushes the boundaries of the status quo, will be directing. Production company is Scandinavian Content Group.

Based on the truth and lies of Clark Olofsson’s autobiography, the Swedish language series will feature Clark’s early years until present day. The notorious gangster started his criminal career in the 1960s and became one of the most controversial personalities in contemporary Swedish history. Convicted of several counts of drug trafficking, attempted murder, assault, theft and dozens of bank robberies, he has spent more than half his life behind bars and has left behind a trail of trauma, heartbreak, disappointment and general devastation. In the 1970s Clark gave rise to the idea of “The Stockholm Syndrome” during a failed bank robbery in Stockholm - and has ever since kept his position as celebrity criminal fooling all of Sweden to fall in love with him. Just like he desired.

Jonas Åkerlund, director: “Clark is the story about the most politically incorrect man, who lived the most politically incorrect life. These are the kinds of stories I always look for. It’s an ultra-violent, witty, emotional, real and surreal biography to put a face to the name Stockholm Syndrome, but it isn’t just about the Norrmalmstorg Robbery. It’s about his whole life and what made him who he is, the truth and lies of his incredible career. Bill Skarsgård is the perfect match for this and he will bring the Stockholm Syndrome to the role. And Netflix is the perfect platform, they are not just the biggest streaming service, they also have the boldness to tell this incredible story.”

Bill Skarsgård: “Clark Olofsson is, for good and bad, one of Sweden's most colourful and fascinating individuals. I accept this challenge with delight mingled with terror and think that with Jonas and Netflix in the back, we can tell a groundbreaking story with a pace and madness we may not have seen on TV before. Clark's life and history is so incredible and screwed that it would even make Scorsese blush.”

Tesha Crawford, Director of International Originals Northern Europe at Netflix: “We really look forward to continuing our great collaboration with Jonas Åkerlund and Bill Skarsgård. We can not imagine a better team to tell the complex story about Clark Olofsson and how he became one of the most controversial personalities in modern Swedish times.‘’

Clark will be produced by Scandinavian Content Group and directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Screenwriters: Fredrik Agetoft, Peter Arrhenius, Jonas Åkerlund et al.

Producers: Börje Hansson and Patrick Sobieski
Line producer: Erich Hörtnagl
Music: Mikael Åkerfeldt
Executive producers: Hans Engholm, Jonas Åkerlund and Bill Skarsgård

The series is based on Clark Olofsson’s autobiography Vafan var det som hände and will launch exclusively on Netflix.

(Photo - Jonas Åkerlund)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Carnal Beast, a sub-label of Spiritual Beast Records, will release the new Hell Freezes Over album, Hellraiser, in August / September. It is currently available for pre-order worldwide here.

The tracklist is as follows:

"Hellraiser"
"Roadkill"
"End The Breath Of The Night"
"Grant You Metal"
"Burn Your Life"
"The Last Frontier"
"Phantom Helicopter Attack"
"Hawkeye"
"Overwhelm"
"Eternal March Of Valor"

Check out the official Hell Freezes Over website here.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Dark folk project, The Devil's Trade, will be releasing the sophomore full-length, The Call Of The Iron Peak, on August 28 via Season Of Mist, marking its debut to the label. The project is the brainchild of singer/musician Dávid Makó. The song  "Három Árva" is available for streaming below.

Dávid Makó comments on the track: "'Három Árva' is a cover of a Hungarian folk song, so called legend ballad from Kalotaszeg, Transylvania. It is about three orphans maltreated by their stepmother so trying to connect their dead mother to call her back. Christianity and occultism lives perfectly together in this song. The orphans manage to talk to their mothers but she can’t help them. I heard this song from Maria Sebestyén and Gergely Agócs but I never thought of singing it. If you listen to those two sing any songs you would understand why. It is another dimension of vocals that I feel blasphemy to try to enter.  Also there is nothing wrong with a little blasphemy so I made my own version of the song. There are folk songs that will find their way into your life no matter how hard you try to avoid them."

The Call Of The Iron Peak formats:

- Digipak
- LP in various colours
- Digital

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"The Iron Peak"
"Dead Sister"
"III"
"No Arrival"
"Expelling Of The Crafty Ape"
"IIIIIIIIIIII"
"Három Árva"
"Eyes In The Fire"
"IIIIII"
"Dreams From The Rot"
"The Call Of The Iron Peak"

"Dead Sister":




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Italy's Lionville have released a lyric video for "I'll Never Give My Heart Away", a track from  their new album, Magic Is Alive, available via Frontiers Music Srl on August 7.  Watch below. Pre-order/save Magic Is Alive here.

Melodic rock/AOR fans have always held Lionville in high regard and Magic Is Alive will do nothing to dissuade them from this line of thinking. Pardon the pun, but a truly ‘magic’-al release, Lionville once again prove why they are one of the leaders of the melodic rock movement.

Lionville was started in 2010 by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in Genova, Italy and his brother Alessandro. Thanks to the incredible songs Stefano had managed to write, he got none other than Lars Säfsund (Work Of Art, Enbound) involved as the lead vocalist, which was a true coup for the band.

After two indie releases, in 2017 Lionville finally signed with the Frontiers label, who managed to give the band’s releases larger support and distribution for the band’s third album A World Of Fools. Lionville also appeared live at Frontiers Rock Festival in 2018 and became one of the new highest profile projects dedicated to pure AOR on the entire Frontiers roster.

The new album is certainly going to excite all the melodic rock/AOR lovers out there. With a sound that draws strong influences from classic AOR acts such as Toto, Richard Marx, Giant, Bad English, Survivor and Boulevard, Magic Is Alive shows the winning combination of strong songwriting, stellar musicianship, and of course magnificent lead vocals.

Tracklisting:

"Nothing Without You"
"You're Not Alone"
"Runaway"
"Finally You're With Me"
"Every Little Thing (Leads Back To You)"
"If You Don't Know Me"
"Living With The Truth"
"Reaching For The Sky"
"I'll Never Give My Heart Away"
"Into The Night"
"Magic Is Alive"

"I'll Never Give My Heart Away" lyric video:

"Nothing Without You" video:

Lineup:

Stefano Lionetti - Guitars, Vocals, Keyboards
Lars Säfsund - Lead & Backing vocals
Michele Cusato - Guitars
Fabrizio Caria - Piano & Keyboards
Giulio Dagnino - Bass
Martino Malacrida - Drums




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Albert and Joe Bouchard are best known as founding members of Blue Öyster Cult. The original lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart ,“Burning For You”. Both contributing to songwriting, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as Albert’s vocals on “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll”, and Joe’s on “Hot Rails To Hell”.

Albert’s infamous cowbell part in “Don’t Fear The Reaper” was the basis of the classic Will Ferrell skit on SNL, which also starred Christopher Walken. With “The Reaper,” an all-time classic on YouTube and every other digital platform, with zillions of views, the Bouchard brothers are forever cemented in pop culture.

Now they are ready to embark on their next venture together with RockHeart Records. With multiple albums being readied for release, the Bouchard’s manager, Jeff Keller, suggested the idea of forming a new imprint label that would be owned and operated by the Bouchards, with Keller’s assistance.

Keller sought a partnership with a label that could assist with the new imprint label and the distribution, manufacturing, and marketing. “I had previously worked on a release with Deko Music and I was impressed with their team, experience, and the enthusiasm. Deko loved the idea of the imprint label and their team was excited to work with us,” said Keller. This led to the birth of RockHeart Records and a new partnership with Deko Music.

Deko Entertainment president Bruce Pucciarello states, "Deko is thrilled to be partnering with RockHeart Records in releasing Joe and Albert’s new music. Having been fortunate enough to preview this material I can promise fans (because I am a big one) that they won’t be disappointed.”

Joe Bouchard will release his brand new solo album, Strange Legends, on July 31. A video for the song "Forget About Love" can be seen below:

For the last two years, Joe has worked tirelessly on his 6th and best solo album. For the production of this album he enlisted the help of Micky Curry, a drumming powerhouse, who has played with Hall & Oates, Alice Cooper and more. He is currently the drummer for Bryan Adams, playing on all of his big hits. He has over 40 gold records in his archives.

Several of the songs were written by Joe Bouchard and lyricist/sci-fi writer John Shirley. John Shirley is a long-time lyricist for Blue Öyster Cult, and has written dozens of sci-fi novels. He was the co-screenwriter for The Crow, starring Brandon Lee. Other songs on the album were written by the late John Elwood Cook, a very prolific songwriter, who wrote many songs on Joe’s earlier solo albums. Joe’s album also includes a cover of Ray Davies and the Kinks’ “All Day And All Of The Night.”

Joe says, “I really got to explore the production and mixing of this album like nothing I’ve ever done before. The guitar sounds are especially well produced. I play all the bass on this album, one thing that many of the Blue Öyster Cult fans miss on other projects, and wanted to hear more of. The vocals and guitars fit so well with Micky’s drums. It’s the best I’ve ever done.”

There are limited edition bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered here.

Product Includes:

- One (1) Joe Bouchard - Strange Legends (Autographed) CD
- One (1) Joe Bouchard - Signature Guitar Pick
- One (1) Joe Bouchard - Strange Legend Poster
- One (1) Joe Bouchard - Strange Legends Shirt
- Exclusive early download of "Forget About Love"

Strange Legends tracklisting:

"The African Queen"
"Forget About Love"
"Walk Of Fame"
"Hit And Run"
"Racin' Thru The Desert"
"She's A Legend"
"All Day And All Of The Night"
"Once Upon A Time At The Border"
"Bottom For The Bottomless"
"Strangely In Love"
"Winter"

"Forget About Love" lyric video:




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Just months after Lost Symphony raised the bar on classical-infused metal with their debut, Chapter I, the ensemble has returned with a new single, “Conflagration”, from the upcoming Chapter II release. Listen below.

Primarily composed before, yet eerily perfect for the age of the Pandemic, the eight-track opus - due out October 16 - strains beauty through aural apocalypse. The collective founded by multi-instrumentalist and producer Benny Goodman and comprising his brother Brian (compositions, arrangement), Cory Paza (bass, guitar), Kelly Kereliuk (guitar), Paul Lourenco (drums), and Siobhán Cronin (violin, viola, electric violin) has once again welcomed a revolving cast of virtuosos to join them for the next phase. This instalment includes Marty Friedman, David Ellefson, Jeff Loomis, Bumblefoot and many more.

“Conflagration”, which features the late Oli Herbert, Matt LaPierre and Conrad Simon, ignites Chapter II with a firestorm of rapid soloing that slices right through a hammering beat before the shredding subsides into an ominous cry.

“When I hear the song, I just think of the whole world burning,” Benny Goodman says. “Basically, the guitar players are getting us out. It has the most testosterone. It was literally blowing up my speakers like a ‘Conflagration.’ The adrenaline speaks for itself.”

Lost Symphony was set in motion when Benny Goodman invited guitarists Kelly Kereliuk and Conrad Simon to add another dimension to the classical demo he had composed. An early recording of “Leave Well Enough Alone,” which appears on Chapter II, made its way to All That Remains co-founder and guitar hero Oli Herbert, who quickly jumped aboard as a chief collaborator. Upon arrival, Chapter I immediately received widespread critical acclaim.

“With All That Remains, I'm doing about 16 bar solos on every song, so I have a very modest amount of time to say what I need to say,” Herbert previously said. “With this, [Ben]'s like ‘Hey man, I want you to play over like 64 bars.’ So, I have to really think differently about my structure and approach. It's kind of like more is more, and it lets me really get that side out of me. It really made me consolidate all my resources and put down as much material as possible. I think it's made me a much better player and musician.”

Chapter II pre-orders are available here.

Chapter II tracklisting:

"The World Is Over" (feat. Marty Friedman & Jeff Loomis)
"Leave Well Enough Alone" (feat. Jason Costa & Conrad Simon)
"Negation Delirium" (feat. Oli Herbert, Joey Concepcion & Jimi Bell)
"No Exit" (feat. David Ellefson, Jeff Loomis & Jimi Bell)
"The Garden Of Earthly Delights" (feat. Oli Herbert, David Abbruzzese, Rusty Cooley, Jimi Bell, Joey Concepcion, Matt LaPierre & Conrad Simon)
"Conflagration" (feat. Oli Herbert, Matt LaPierre & Conrad Simon)
"A Murder Of Crows" (feat. Jon Donias, Matt Bachand & Jimi Bell)
"The Long Wait For The End" (feat. Oli Herbert, Conrad Simon & Matt LaPierre)

"Conflagration":

(Photo - Eric Snyder)




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

It might seem hard to fathom in a post-djent era, but once upon a time, it was unthinkable to mix progressive metal and technical death metal, two decidedly distinct sub-genres of heavy metal whose disparate fan bases overlapped little, if at all.

The pioneering “extreme progressive metal” group Into Eternity, however, showed that it was not only possible, but inconceivable that no one had done so sooner. Bridging the gap between Death and Dream Theater, the influential Canadian band - founded by guitarist Tim Roth - paved the way for scores of today's genre-agnostic acts while also introducing one of metal's most celebrated vocalists.

Following the success of the band's acclaimed 2018 comeback album The Sirens,”M-Theory Audio is proud to honour Into Eternity's continued legacy by reissuing two of their most significant albums on August 14. The group's 1999 self-titled debut, originally self-released, has never been properly released in North America until now. In addition to its first-ever LP release - a limited-edition (300 copies) pressing on gray haze colored vinyl - the album will also be issued on CD. Both formats include newly-written liner notes by Roth and two of his former bandmates, as well as three bonus track demos.

Pre-orders are available now at m-theoryaudio.com/store and intoeternitysk.bandcamp.com/merch.

Says Roth, “This is a very special release for me personally, and it's a dream come true to finally have it released properly. Originally, we pressed 1000 copies that we sold primarily in Canada, so it's exciting to think that the album will now be available worldwide. Most of these songs were written in my parents' basement. I was only 20 years old when we recorded, and we tried to do the best that we could. A $3000 loan was all it took to get us started. I'd say that was a worthy investment! The demos included as a special bonus are the only Into Eternity recordings that we recorded on 4-track tape. It's awesome to have these old recordings available for everybody in 2020!”

Also available now for pre-order is the first-ever vinyl release of the band's 2008 concept album The Incurable Tragedy, their second recording with dynamic vocalist Stu Block (now in Iced Earth). The record - which also features drummer Steve Bolognese (Ross The Boss, Witherfall, Death Dealer) - was written after three years of nonstop touring that saw the group share the stage with many of metal's A-list acts, including Megadeth, Lamb Of God, Opeth, Dream Theater, Arch Enemy, Overkill and Symphony X. On paper, things couldn't have seemed better - but over a three-month span in late 2006, cancer claimed the lives of Roth's father and two best friends, events which led to the most emotionally charged recording of the band's career. Commemorating its cancer theme, the album will be released on limited-edition (300 copies) lavender-colored vinyl.

“This was the darkest, most difficult record of our career, but looking back 12 years later, it was an important album for us,” Roth says. “At the time, there was incredible personal tragedy happening, which is why the album turned out as dark as it did. Still, I have so many great memories of this lineup touring the world together and playing all over Europe, Asia, Mexico, Canada and the USA. We'd be out touring on a death metal package and then we'd go right into a Hammerfall/Edguy Tour. There were no limits for us at the time. I hope every Into Eternity fan will enjoy revisiting this album.”

True extreme music pioneers, Into Eternity showed the world just how limitless metal could be - and also how glorious it could sound in the process.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

On August 7, Fates Warning will release "Original-Series" LP reissues of their classic albums The Spectre Within, No Exit, and Inside Out via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order your copies via the links below:

- North America
- EU

Available formats:

The Spectre Within "Originals-Series" LP reissue:

- sky blue marbled vinyl (USA exclusive)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- night blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- violet / blue marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- blue / white melt w/ red & white splatter vinyl (EU webshop - limited to 100 copies)

No Exit "Originals-Series" LP reissue:
- signal red / white marbled vinyl (USA exclusive)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- opaque deep red vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- light grey / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- silver / blackdust vinyl (EU webshop - limited to 100 copies)

Inside Out "Originals-Series" LP reissue:
- grass green marbled vinyl (USA exclusive)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- dark brown marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- opaque beige marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- green / brown / red melt vinyl (EU webshop - limited to 100 copies)

The Spectre Within tracklisting:

Side A
"Traveler In Time"
"Orphan Gypsy"
"Without A Trace"
"Pirates Of The Underground"

Side B
"The Apparition"
"Kyrie Eleison"
"Epitaph"

No Exit tracklisting:

Side A
"No Exit"
"Anarchy Divine"
"Silent Cries"
"In A Word"
"Shades Of Heavenly Death"

Side B
"The Ivory Gate Of Dreams"
I. "Innocence"
II. "Cold Daze"
III. "Daylight Dreamers"
IV. "Quietus"
V. "Ivory Tower"
VI. "Whispers On The Wind"
VII. "Acquiescence"
VIII. "Retrospect"

Inside Out tracklisting:

Side A
"Outside Looking In"
"Pale Fire"
"The Strand"
"Shelter Me"
"Island In The Stream"

Side B
"Down To The Wire"
"Face The Fear"
"Inward Bound"
"Monument"
"Afterglow"




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Bay Area power thrash metal act, Hexx, have released a visualizer for "Night Of Pain", taken from the forthcoming limited edition 7" single. The clip can be seen below.

"Night Of Pain" is a remake of the classic early Hex song, that originally appeared on the No Escape LP from 1984. B-side of the single, which will be released on August 21 on High Roller Records, includes another remake, "Terror". Both tracks were recorded during the sessions of the new album, Entangled In Sin, which is coming out later this year, but the band decided to release them as a standalone single.

In September of 2020, Hexx will release the brand new studio album, Entangled In Sin, via High Roller Records.

(Photo - Glenn Herring)

 




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Netherlands-based extreme metal band, AntropomorphiA, have released the video below, featuring a performance of Venom's "Warhead".

Says the band: “While forced to remain in the shadows, cancel or postpone most of our activities, we decided to spend most of the lockdown period in our rehearsal bunker. During one of those lockdown sessions, we came up with the idea to record one of our favorite Venom tracks.

"We chose Venom's ‘Warhead’ not only because it's one of our favorite Venom tracks, but also its overall apocalyptic feel, the pounding drums of threatening doom, its filthy raw nightmarish screams, the sludgy mayhemic guitars... it all makes this a fitting soundtrack to these plague ridden times. Ad Me Venite Mortui.”




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Australian melodic death metal institution, Be’lakor, will release reissues of their full-lengths Of Breath And Bone and Stone’s Reach on September 18 via Napalm Records.

The 2009 album Stone’s Reach marked the pure energy of Be’lakor’s filigree - sophisticated tunes without falling for any clichés of death metal. Meticulously arranged instrumental compositions, underscored by George Kosmas's recognizable voice, prove that the Melbourne five-piece successfully enthrals the masses. Their second offering also doesn't shy away from extended tracks and inspires until the 10-minute epilogue.

Their third studio-album, Of Breath And Bone, cemented the band’s success and their musical strength. Be’lakor’s guitar lines are diverse and surprisingly light-footed, whilst deep growls are exploding in hard-hitting harmonies. The fan-favorite track “Abeyance“ now hits nearly four million streams on Spotify and YouTube und underlines the band’s smashing success.

Those two milestones of modern melodic death metal shouldn’t be missed in any well-groomed collection and will be available on vinyl in multiple colors. Pre-order your version of Stone’s Reach and Of Breath And Bone here.

Stone’s Reach will be available in the following formats:

- 2 LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
- 2 LP Gatefold Swirl Black / White Vinyl (limited to 300 copies - Napalm US & RoW Mailorder only)
- 2 LP Black + Shirt Bundle
- 2 LP Swirl Black/White + Shirt Bundle
[2 LP Swirl Black/White + Shirt Bundle - Napalm Records Mailorder ONLY]

Of Breath And Bone will be available in the following formats:

- 2 LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
- 2 LP Gatefold Split Red/ Black Vinyl (limited to 300 copies - Napalm US & RoW Mailorder only)
- 2 LP Black + Shirt Bundle
- 2 LP Split Red/Black + Shirt Bundle
[2 LP Split Red/Black + Shirt Bundle - Napalm Records Mailorder ONLY]

Be’lakor are:

George Kosmas - Vocals, Guitar
Shaun Sykes - Guitar
John Richardson - Bass
Elliott Sansom - Drums
Steven Merry - Keyboard




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

John Lodge is bass guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the iconic Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame 2018 inductees, The Moody Blues. Songwriter of such mega Moody Blues hits from “Ride My SeeSaw” to “I’m Just A Singer (In A Rock and Roll Band)”, “Isn’t Life Strange?” and many more, Lodge has been performing and recording with The Moody Blues for more than five decades, selling in excess of 70 million albums. Lodge has been voted one of the “10 most influential bass players on the planet,” and has been the recipient of many awards, including ASCAP (American Society of Composers and Publishers), an Ivor Novello Award, to name just a few.

“In These Crazy Times (Isolation Mix)” is available to download on Amazon and iTunes, and on all streaming services. Being stuck ‘in isolation’, the track was recorded by John in his home studio, and John performed not just vocals and guitars, but also keyboards and drums. Joining John on the track are his wife, Kirsten, on backing vocals, and his son, Kristian, on lead guitar, both of whom have never recorded before! John was also delighted to have Jon Davison, of YES, add backing vocals and harmonies. With each of them recording in their own homes the track truly is an ‘Isolation Mix’, but is about people working together, and it is John’s hope that the track resonates with everyone, as it did with him.

To download and stream the song, head here. In the video below, John explains how the new song was constructed during the lockdown period.

In John’s words: “In 1967 The Moody Blues recorded Days Of Future Passed, and we were in the studio in lockdown 24 hours a day creating an album that changed my life. Being in lockdown now reminds me of the creativity and solitude that took place during that period of my life. So I have taken the opportunity, given by this lockdown period, to write and record a new song about these difficult days, days that stretched into weeks and months. The song is called 'In These Crazy Times'.

"When the pandemic came I had just finished up my US tour and the Rock And Romance cruise and within three days my wife and I were ‘stranded’. Music is my life, and without a studio (or my band), I decided to perfect my use of ‘Garageband’ to create all the instruments, and record my guitars and vocals in my “home studio”.

"As I believe we are all in this together, I thought what a great idea to involve all of my family. My wife Kirsten is singing backing vocals (for the first time!), my son Kristian is playing lead guitar, his wife, Inga, took the photo for the cover (with social distancing!), Jon Davison, from the band YES, has joined me on vocals, and Emily, my daughter is managing the whole thing.

"The track was recorded at my home and Kristian and Jon added their parts in their homes, before we sent it to Ray Nesbit, my Front of House Sound Engineer for him to mix at his ‘home’ studio. It truly is an ‘Isolation Mix’. My wish is that we can all be together again soon, and then I hope that my 10,000 Light Years Band and I can get together and make a ‘Freedom Mix’.

"I hope you all can relate to this song as another step in life’s strange and mysterious path, and help you continue to keep the faith that we can do it together.” - John Lodge, June 2020




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

AEROSMITH's previously announced 50th-anniversary concert, which was originally scheduled for September 14 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, has been postponed to next year.

"Out of an abundance of love and caution our 50th Anniversary Fenway show is being rescheduled to 14th September 2021," the band said in a statement. "It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret, for the safety of our families, for our crews, for the fans and for the Blue Army. All tickets will be honored for the new date so hold onto yours! Or if you are unable to make it, you'll be able to request a refund. Ticket holders will be emailed with all details. Until then, stay safe and stay healthy. Big love from the Bad Boys of Boston... AEROSMITH."

AEROSMITH was the last of nine artists to either postpone or cancel summer shows at the venue amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The legendary rockers were recently honored as the MusiCares Person Of The Year for their considerable philanthropic efforts and undeniable impact on American music history.

AEROSMITH is one of the best-selling American rock bands of all-time, having sold over 150 million albums worldwide and been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. With 25 gold albums, 18 platinum albums, and 12 multi-platinum albums, they hold the record for the most total certifications by an American band and are tied for the most multi-platinum albums by an American band. The band has scored 21 Top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including nine No. 1 Mainstream Rock hits. They are the recipients of countless awards including four Grammys, six American Music Awards, four Billboard Awards, 10 MTV Video Music Awards and now MusiCares Person of the Year, among many other honors. Proving that they can cross genre-boundaries with ease, these rock legends have even taken home a Soul Train Award for "Best Rap Single" for their remix of RUN-DMC's "Walk This Way".


Out of an abundance of love and caution our 50th Anniversary Fenway show is being rescheduled to 14th September 2021....

Posted by Aerosmith on Thursday, July 9, 2020

Iin the clip below, shot in downtown Toronto on July 8th, Famous Underground / ex-Slik Toxik singer Nicholas Walsh performs David Bowie's "Life On Mars" and Queen's "Love Of My Life." 

"We do this to show our reverence for the Frontline Workers and our respect for the changing times. We also do this because we miss everyone!" 

The peformance begins at the 8:00 minute mark.

Founded in 2003 by Craig Martin and based in Toronto, Classic Albums Live has become the ultimate destination for music lovers wanting to hear the greatest albums performed live without all the gimmickry and cheesy impersonations. Relying only on the music, using what Martin refers to as "the world's best musicians," Classic Albums Live has defined itself as a mainstay in Performing Arts Centres across North America.

Go to this location for more information.




(function() {
var zergnet = document.createElement('script');
zergnet.type = 'text/javascript'; zergnet.async = true;
zergnet.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https:" : "http:") + '//www.zergnet.com/zerg.js?id=70729';
var znscr = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
znscr.parentNode.insertBefore(zergnet, znscr);
})();

Four and a half years ago, former ACCEPT and current U.D.O. frontman Udo Dirkschneider announced that he would embark on a special tour during which he would perform ACCEPT songs one last time under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner before closing that chapter for good. Asked in a new interview with Talking Metal if DIRKSCHNEIDER is now officially retired and whether we will ever see him singing ACCEPT classics again, Udo responded: "It was planned to come to America with U.D.O. in November/December. We had a six-week tour going on in America, but we had to cancel this [due to the coronavirus pandemic]. But I will tell you the truth. [Laughs] All the promoters and all the people said, 'Please, please, can you please play two or three ACCEPT songs also with U.D.O.?' And I said, 'Yeah.' I mean, to do a show in America, a gig in America, without playing 'Balls To The Wall', it's nearly impossible. [Laughs] Yeah, it was their big wish. They said, 'Please, please, please…' Maybe only this song ['Balls To The Wall']. This is very important. So we said, 'Yeah.'

"Normally in Europe, definitely with U.D.O., we don't play any ACCEPT songs," he continued. "The good thing is, if we want, we can say, 'Okay, we come under DIRKSCHNEIDER again and we play only ACCEPT songs.'"

When he first announced the DIRKSCHNEIDER tour, Udo said that had "to make a clear break for myself — close the book and this is it. And I have the problem that people come to me and ask me to play more ACCEPT songs," he explained. "Other people ask me why I play ACCEPT songs at all, because there are [more than] fifteen U.D.O. records. I want to avoid such things and avoid the repeating questions concerning ACCEPT. I just can't stand that anymore. There is nothing more to be said. U.D.O. exists longer than ACCEPT. We have more records than ACCEPT."

While acknowledging that some ACCEPT fans want to hear the band's classic songs performed by the group's original singer, Dirkschneider explained that "you always have these comparisons [between how these songs are played by ACCEPT and U.D.O.]. I don't want this anymore either. [The current lineup of ACCEPT] also play 'Metal Heart', they play 'Balls To The Wall' and 'Princess Of The Dawn'. And then some people tell me, 'Oh, [current ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo] is doing it better than you.' And I go, 'That's fine. Enjoy yourself.' But I don't want this anymore. And to avoid all of this in the future, I said, 'We are doing this one more time.'"

Dirkschneider said that his vow to never play ACCEPT material again came with one caveat. "If the band ACCEPT dissolves one day in the near future and I am still around with U.D.O., then there is a chance that I put ACCEPT songs back in the setlist," he said. "But currently there is ACCEPT, so go see them [if you want to see those songs performed live]. They are playing these songs."

Udo previously said the original plan was for DIRKSCHNEIDER to only "a few shows," and "then [the tour] got bigger and bigger [due to demand]." But, he added, "I don't want to complain about that."

Back in 2018, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann declined to comment on Dirkschneider's decision to embark on one final tour during which the singer would perform nothing but ACCEPT songs. "I have lots of thoughts about that, but I'm not gonna share 'em with you," he told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". "I'd rather not comment on that, because that seems so much 'back and forth,' and I think I should stay away from it… You can draw your own conclusions all day long, but I'm not gonna get into it; it's just not worth it.

"I get asked [about Udo] so many times, and, man, it's been so many years — it's such an old story by now," Wolf continued. "We've moved on way past that, and we've had 10 brilliant years [with Mark Tornillo], we're making cool albums; I think we're doing fine. So I don't spend any time thinking about it.

"I'm very proud of the history we have together and all that, but I'm just not gonna get into the current 'he said, she said' whatever — it's not worth it," Hoffmann concluded.

Swedish metallers AVATAR have released the official music for a new song called "Colossus", which serves as the third single from their eighth full-length, "Hunter Gatherer", due out August 7 via Entertainment One (eOne). Unsettling electronic instrumentation sets the tone as Johannes Eckerström provides the introduction to the track, from which the band bursts into chugging guitar lines, eerie verses and soaring choruses — culminating in one of the most dynamic tracks on the album.

The "Colossus" clip mirrors the dystopian reincarnation of the band as it explores humanity's vicious and complex relationship with technology and control. "Colossus" serves as the dark counterpart to previously released singles from "Hunter Gatherer" — "God Of Sick Dreams" and "Silence In The Age Of Apes".

From the very first riff of the explosive lead single "Silence In The Age Of Apes", listeners will find a darker, futuristic, and entirely new version of AVATAR. Their bold manifesto, "Hunter Gatherer", is an unflinchingly ruthless study of a clueless humankind’s ever-increasing velocity into an uncertain future, furthering the reach of the band’s always expanding dark roots. The forthcoming album is the darkest, most sinister version of the band yet, with deep studies of cruelty, technology, disdain, and deprivation.

In 2019, AVATAR reunited with producer Jay Ruston (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT, ANTHRAX) at Sphere Studios in Los Angeles, California, where the foundation for each song on "Hunter Gatherer" was laid with the band performing altogether, as they'd done only once before, on "Hail The Apocalypse" (2014). The old-school method of playing as one in the studio, more akin to how they are on stage, captured the essence of AVATAR. Recorded entirely to two-inch tape, "Hunter Gatherer" exhibits everything that makes AVATAR standouts in the vast, rich landscape of heavy metal's past and present.

Track listing:

01. Silence In The Age Of Apes

02. Colossus

03. A Secret Door

04. God Of Sick Dreams

05. Scream Until You Wake

06. Child

07. Justice

08. Gun

09. When All But Force Has Failed

10. Wormhole

Late last year, AVATAR singer Johannes Eckerström told Loudwire about the lyrical themes covered on the upcoming album: "I'm trying to put across certain emotions that maybe, myself as a lyricist, maybe I wasn’t comfortable with in the past. Saying there’s something wrong over there is different than turning a finger and pointing it at yourself. It takes some maturity to start to do that and maybe revisit places I was at in the past and shine a more honest light upon it. It's full of those things that I have never done before, we have never done before, and thus it's completely different again."

He added: "There is no joking around with this, and it pulls us back into reality. It deals more with darkness, sadness, detachment, alienation and the anxiety of thinking of the world at large. It's all these things that don't necessarily fit into the 'let's write this love letter to heavy metal and share our inside joke that we call Jonas The King.'"

AVATAR's live album, "The King Live In Paris" , was released in May 2019 via eOne. The 11-track set was recorded at the 2018 Download Festival in Paris, France.

The group's most recent studio album, "Avatar Country" , came out in January 2018.

Last fall, AVATAR completed a North American tour as the support act for BABYMETAL.

Another prized jewel in THE ROLLING STONES' unmatched catalog will be restored to its full glory and more with the September 4 multi-format release of their 1973 classic "Goats Head Soup". The album will be available in multiple configurations, including four-disc CD and vinyl box set editions, with a treasure trove of unreleased studio and live material.

The reissue follows the huge success and acclaim for THE STONES' "Living In A Ghost Town" single and their universally admired lockdown performance of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" in Global Citizen's April special "One World: Together At Home".

The box set and deluxe CD and vinyl editions of "Goats Head Soup" will all feature ten bonus tracks, which include alternate versions, outtakes and no fewer than three previously unheard tracks. The first of these to be unveiled, "Criss Cross", is available as an instant-grat track today with pre-orders of the album, and on all streaming and download services. The official "Criss Cross" video is out now. Watch it below.

STONES devotees worldwide will be thrilled by the inclusion, on the box set and deluxe editions, of the previously unheard "Scarlet", featuring guitar by Jimmy Page, and a third newly unveiled song, "All The Rage".

The layered guitar textures of "Scarlet" make for a track that's as infectious and raunchy as anything the band cut in this hallowed era. As well as Jimmy Page guesting alongside Mick and Keith on the track it also features on bass Rick Grech of BLIND FAITH fame.

"All The Rage" has a wild, post-"Brown Sugar" strut and the percussive "Criss Cross" rocks and swaggers as only THE STONES can. The bonus disc of unreleased material also sheds new light on tracks such as "100 Years Ago" and "Hide Your Love", with further unissued mixes by STONES insider and acclaimed producer Glyn Johns.

The box set editions of "Goats Head Soup" will also include "Brussels Affair", the 15-track live album recorded in a memorable show in Belgium, on the autumn 1973 tour that followed the album's late August release. This much-sought-after disc, mixed by Bob Clearmountain, was previously available only in THE ROLLING STONES' "official bootleg" series of live recordings in 2012.

The Brussels show features the already-classic "Tumbling Dice", "Midnight Rambler", "Jumping Jack Flash" and many others, and includes a sequence of tracks from the then-new album. "Star Star" is followed by "Dancing With Mr. D", "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)" and "Angie".

Additionally, the CD and vinyl box sets offer the original ten-track album in 5.1 Surround Sound, Dolby Atmos and Hi-Res mixes, along with the videos for "Dancing With Mr. D", "Silver Train" and "Angie". An exclusive 120-page book will feature a remarkable array of photographs, essays by writers Ian McCann, Nick Kent and Daryl Easlea and faithful reproductions of four tour posters from 1973.

As McCann writes: "'Goats Head Soup' was released with plenty of fanfare. Despite what you may read today, the kids weren't entirely absorbed by glam rock, metal, prog and Philly soul back in 1973, and they bought the album in their thousands, sending it to No. 1 in the USA and in the UK, their fifth consecutive British chart-topper."

Their 11th U.K. studio album, recorded in Jamaica, Los Angeles and London as their last collaboration with producer Jimmy Miller, "Goats Head Soup" came in the wake of THE STONES' landmark 1972 double album "Exile On Main St." The new set was introduced by the single that became one of their most exalted ballads, the endlessly elegant "Angie", completed by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards during a songwriting sojourn in Switzerland.

The timeless love song, showcasing Jagger's yearning lead vocal and Nicky Hopkins' beautiful piano motif, topped the charts in the U.S., where it was certified platinum, and went to No. 1 across Europe, Australia and beyond. "We decided to do something different, and it worked," Richards told Rolling Stone of "Angie". "Maybe a lot of people bought it that would never buy a STONES LP." Interestingly in a recent interview with The New York Times, Bob Dylan chose "Angie" as one of three ROLLING STONES songs he wished he had written.

"Goats Head Soup", with its famous David Bailey sleeve, featured THE STONES' vintage 1969-1974 line-up of Jagger, Richards, Mick Taylor, Bill Wyman and Charlie Watts, with the addition of some essential collaborators. On an album on which their trademark rocking sound was often augmented by more low-key, reflective material, there were no fewer than four featured piano players: Hopkins, Billy Preston, Ian "Stu" Stewart and Jagger himself.

"Angie" was the only single to be released from the LP in the U.K., where it spent two weeks at No. 5 in September. In the U.S., the exhilaratingly funky, horn-filled "Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)", featuring Mick Taylor's wah-wah lead guitar, followed it into the top 20 in February 1974.

The many other highlights of the album included the majestically brooding opener "Dancing With Mr. D", the lithely strutting "100 Years Ago" and "Star Star" and the graceful "Winter". Richards' rueful lead vocal on "Coming Down Again" featured another STONES stalwart, saxophonist Bobby Keys. "Silver Train", the b-side of "Angie", would be revived after a gap of some 40 years, during THE STONES' "14 On Fire" tour of 2014, when Mick Taylor reprised his original guitar part in shows in Tokyo and Brisbane.

When the album was first released, reviewers lined up to sing its praises. "This is music which could only come from good musicians who know each other really well," ruled the late and esteemed writer-broadcaster Charlie Gillett in Let It Rock. "THE STONES succeed because they rarely forget their purpose — the creation of rock & roll drama," said Bud Scoppa in Rolling Stone. "It's deepening and unfolding over the coming months will no doubt rate as one of the year's richest musical experiences."

Stephen Demorest in Circus said that the album "rushes and rambles with all the power and finesse that have become the signature of the hardworking band in performance." Forty-seven years on, the expanded reissues of "Goats Head Soup" prove that's still true, and then some.

2CD deluxe track listing:

2020 Stereo Mix

01. Dancing With Mr D

02. 100 Years Ago

03. Coming Down Again

04. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker)

05. Angie

06. Silver Train

07. Hide Your Love

08. Winter

09. Can You Hear The Music

10. Star Star

Rarities & Alternative Mixes

01. Scarlet

02. All The Rage

03. Criss Cross

04. 100 Years Ago (Piano Demo)

05. Dancing With Mr D (Instrumental)

06. Heartbreaker (Instrumental)

07. Hide Your Love (Alternative Mix)

08. Dancing With Mr D (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

09. Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker) (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

10. Silver Train (Glyn Johns 1973 Mix)

The official music video for the song "Die Young" from EMERALD SABBATH, the ambitious epic rock and classical music tribute to BLACK SABBATH, can be seen below.

Founded and produced by Michael Suilleabhain, an Irish nuclear construction safety inspector, EMERALD SABBATH's "Ninth Star" disc features 10 former members of BLACK SABBATH, The English Chamber Choir and much more.

The recording lineup for EMERALD SABBATH's "Die Young" consists of Ron Keel on vocals, Vinny Appice on drums, Rudy Sarzo on bass, DC Cothern on guitar, Pete Rinaldi on guitar and Ellen Morgan on keyboards.

In a recent interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, Keel spoke about the time he nearly joined BLACK SABBATH in 1984 while the legendary heavy metal act was looking for a replacement for Ian Gillan. He said: "It was an amazing experience. I was in the studio recording the KEEL demos, at Pasha Studios, where [producer] Spencer Proffer had recorded the QUIET RIOT 'Metal Health' album. And Spencer was the hot hand in Hollywood at the time — he was the guy — and he had signed on to produce the new SABBATH album after Ian Gillan left. Spencer had chosen me for the vocal position in SABBATH, and we cut a demo of some songs, and Tony [Iommi, SABBATH guitarist] and Geezer [Butler, SABBATH bassist] heard it. I signed a contract. I met with their management. I spent days with Tony and Geezer.

"Spencer Proffer, for whatever reason — ego, probably — was trying to turn BLACK SABBATH into an '80s 'hair' band, trying to push outside songs on them and make them into an MTV-type [band]," Ron revealed. "That's not SABBATH, man — SABBATH is who they are. They are the iconic founding fathers of heavy metal. You don't take SABBATH and turn them into an '80s 'hair' band like RATT or MÖTLEY CRÜE. Spencer was trying to do that at the time — not necessarily with me and my voice and my presence in the band, 'cause I think I would have been a good fit. And you can hear that on the tracks for the new EMERALD SABBATH album, which we just released, featuring former members of SABBATH coming together to create a BLACK SABBATH tribute record. And I was very fortunate that I was able to sing three songs on the record: an Ozzy [Osbourne] song, 'Hole In The Sky'; an Ian Gillan song, 'Trashed', off 'Born Again'; and I got to sing 'Die Young', the Ronnie James Dio classic from 'Heaven And Hell'. So I got to cover each one of those vocalists with guys like Rudy Sarzo on bass and Vinny Appice on bass.

"So, for me, the BLACK SABBATH story is never gonna be over; I get to talk about it in every interview, and I get to sing these iconic songs with some of the guys that are part of that SABBATH history," he added.

"My time with the band was very short. I am very thankful that KEEL survived that, 'cause that was right when we first put KEEL together, and I had to tell the guys in the band, 'Guys, I'm joining SABBATH, and I can't turn this opportunity down. This is the chance of a lifetime.' And the guys in my band understood it. We thought that April 7th, 1984 was gonna be our first and last show. But the deal fell apart. Spencer Proffer was fired. BLACK SABBATH said, 'Screw you. We're not having any of this. We're gonna do what SABBATH does.' And I got caught in the crossfire, 'cause Spencer was the guy who got me the gig. He was the producer of the project, and when he got fired, I got caught in the crossfire."

In his 2011 memoir, "Iron Man: My Journey Through Heaven And Hell With Black Sabbath", Iommi stated about Keel: "Ron actually did have a career [after he auditioned for SABBATH], because he's a good singer as well. He just wasn't what we were looking for at the time."

After a storied career that began as lead vocalist for STEELER, which would also go on to include guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, and selling millions of records under his eponymous KEEL with classic albums "The Right To Rock" and "The Final Frontier" (both produced by KISS's Gene Simmons), Keel veered off into brave new territory with the decidedly southern rock/outlaw country feel of "Metal Cowboy".

Keel went on to form RON KEEL BAND, with a new powerhouse band featuring the best players the Midwest has to offer.

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

In the new episode of "Icons" out today, Gibson TV sits down with one of the most iconic rock musicians of our generation, Jerry Cantrell to learn about his early years in Spanaway, Washington and the birth of the Seattle sound. The show takes a deep dive into his 30-plus year career in music as the guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter of ALICE IN CHAINS, and as a solo artist.

Cantrell's career outside of ALICE IN CHAINS has consisted of two solo albums and contributions to major film soundtracks. Jerry's first solo album, "Boggy Depot", was released in 1998, followed by his second album, "Degradation Trip" (2002). In addition to his solo artist work, Cantrell has released music on soundtracks for several films, including "Spider-Man", "The Cable Guy", "John Wick 2", "Last Action Hero" and "The Punisher".

Earlier this year, Cantrell returned to the studio to continue working on a new solo album. The upcoming effort will mark his first full-length release since "Degradation Trip", the epic solo album he made in 2002 with future METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo and FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin.

Cantrell discussed his plans to record and release new solo music during a pair of interviews he gave in January. While chatting with Gibson about his new collaboration with the guitar maker, Cantrell touched upon his solo activity, saying: "There's gonna be some cool things happening this year. I've already done a couple of shows in L.A. in December with a great group of friends. My friend helped me put together a really cool group of people, and we did a couple of solo shows.

"I've been in this band, in ALICE IN CHAINS, since 1987, so 33 years. And that's always been my first love and my commitment, but I did have the opportunity to make a couple of solo records, and since we started the band back up, I really didn't have the opportunity to revisit that," he continued.

"[ALICE IN CHAINS] just finished touring in September off of 'Rainier Fog', and we generally take about a year off when we're done touring anyway — just give it a rest for a second and then get it reinvigorated and focus on what's new. So we're gonna take a year off, so I thought I'd maybe do some shows and I'm working on some music as well. And there's gonna be some exciting things. I don't wanna say just yet what's happening, but I can tell you that there's gonna be some cool shit happening this year."

In a separate interview with People TV on the red carpet of the MusiCares benefit honoring AEROSMITH, Cantrell said that he tries to stay away from listening to other artists while putting together new material. "I'm working on a new record myself, so, generally, when I'm in that sort of a mode, I pretty much don't listen to anything until I'm done, so nothing creeps in there," he explained.

"I did a couple of shows December 7th and 6th at The Pico Union Project in L.A. with some friends, and I got to play some of my material from my solo records.

"When I'm with ALICE, I'm with ALICE, and that takes the majority of my time. This year, we're taking a little time off, so... If you liked any of the solo work that I did or the work with ALICE, I'm sure you might like some of this stuff too."

Back in 2018, Cantrell told Billboard that he wasn't in good headspace when he made "Degradation Trip". "I was just really fucked up back then, to be honest with you, and you can totally hear it on that record," he said. "It was done right before I got sober, and it was also done right when I was dealing with the death of my band, and then the unhappy coincidence of Layne [Staley, ALICE IN CHAINS frontman] passing away right after I released that record. So it was not a good time in my life, and it totally comes across on that record."

Cantrell added: "It's a record I don't listen to a lot anymore because of all those things I mentioned," revealing that he got sober a year after it was recorded. He continued: "But it's a record that's important to me, and I'll see Robert and Mike every once in a while and they're like, 'We should do some fucking shows, man. Some 'Degradation Trip' shows.' [Laughs] I tell 'em we'll do it someday."

ALICE IN CHAINS regrouped in 2006 with William DuVall joining the band, and released its third LP with DuVall in the lineup, "Rainier Fog", in August 2018.

Dee Snider says that President Donald Trump is viewed as "a joke" by the public in many countries.

The TWISTED SISTER frontman, who got to know Trump personally after appearing more than once on "The Celebrity Apprentice", took to his Twitter on July 6 to share a meme showing Donald Trump embracing Vladimir Putin, who is dressed in leather. He wrote in an accompanying message: "Honestly, I travel all over the globe and it's embarrassing how they view the president of our country. To see pictures like this in papers, online, on t-shirts, posters, coffee mugs all over the world is humiliating to me as an American. #MAKEAMERICAAMERICAAGAIN"

Earlier today, one of Snider's Twitter followers weighed in, writing: "I actually communicate with quite a few Europeans on Facebook, and most of them say that Trump hate in their countries is highly exaggerated in American press." Snider disagreed, firing back: "Do your really want to compare passport stamps with me & @TraciiGuns ? You're reading shit on your twitter feed, while we are traveling the damn world, walking the streets, meeting & conversing with world citizens. They don't think Trump is a joke, THEY THINK HE'S A FUCKING JOKE!"

A January 2020 report from the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan U.S.-based opinion pollster, showed that only 29% of countries expressed confidence in Trump last year. The report was based on a survey of nearly 37,000 individuals across 33 countries from May to October of last year.

This is not the first time Snider has been critical of Trump. Earlier this month, the rocker blasted the billionaire real estate mogul as "a commie-loving traitor" who is prostituting our democracy.

Back in November 2017, Snider said that he could no longer be friends with Trump because he did not share the president's views on important issues, including the Trump administration's harsh immigration policy.

Snider found himself in the middle of controversy in 2016 when he asked Trump to stop using the 1984 TWISTED SISTER anthem "We're Not Gonna Take It" in his campaign. The singer said at the time that Trump was very gracious about the request.




Honestly, I travel all over the globe and it's embarrassing how they view the president of our country. To see pictures like this in papers, online, on t-shirts, posters, coffee mugs all over the world is humiliating to me as an American. #MAKEAMERICAAMERICAAGAIN https://t.co/bwV1vWzGjv

— Dee Snider (@deesnider) July 6, 2020








Do your really want to compare passport stamps with me & @TraciiGuns? You're reading shit on your twitter feed, while we are traveling the damn world, walking the streets, meeting & conversing with world citizens. They don't think Trump is a joke, THEY THINK HE'S A FUCKING JOKE! https://t.co/NrroW5wzmg

— Dee Snider (@deesnider) July 9, 2020

The Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund, founded in memory of the late rock legend, will commemorate what would have been Dio's 78th birthday on July 10 with a video in which rock music celebrities talk about what Ronnie and his music has meant to them. Dio lost his months-long battle with gastric cancer 10 years ago, and the charity founded after his passing has raised more than $2 million to fight the disease that took his life.

Largely compiled from red carpet interviews with celebrity guests at various Dio Cancer Fund events, including the 10th-anniversary awards gala held at the Avalon in Hollywood in February just before the pandemic shutdown, the video contains special video messages from Rob Halford and Geezer Butler, who were close friends of Dio's. Among those also expressing their thoughts are Dave Grohl, Jack Black, Rudy Sarzo, Craig Goldy, Scott Warren, Simon Wright and Vinny Appice of the DIO band, Fred Coury, Robbie Crane and Ricky Warwick of BLACK STAR RIDERS, Ahmet Zappa, Joey Vera, Glenn Hughes, Jeff Pilson, Doug Aldrich, Terry Ilous and Eddie Trunk, who hosts most of the Dio Cancer Fund events.

In addition to its two annual events plus gala dinners more intimate fund-raising efforts and, of course, direct support from the vast community of Dio fans worldwide, the Dio Cancer Fund was also the beneficiary of proceeds from the 2014 platinum-selling tribute album called "This Is Your Life" containing songs written by Ronnie James Dio that were recorded and donated by major rock and metal recording artists. The "This Is Your Life" album resulted in a 2015 Grammy win for "Best Metal Performance" for TENACIOUS D (actor/musicians Jack Black and Kyle Gass) and their rendition of Ronnie James Dio's "The Last In Line" from the tribute album.

Dr. David Wong, professor and associate dean for research, UCLA School of Dentistry and director for UCLA Center for Oral/Head & Neck Oncology Research (COOR), was among the honorees at this year's 10th-anniversary awards gala. He and his dedicated team of researchers have been developing a simple, non-invasive saliva swab test for the early detection of specific cancers, a concept that is tailor-made for the Dio Cancer Fund's mission. He believes this simple test, called a liquid biopsy, can and should become part of any routine physical examination conducted in a primary care physician's office. During his acceptance speech at the gala, Dr. Wong announced that the financial support from the Dio Cancer Fund had resulted in their research obtaining $8.2 million in additional funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and that he expected a saliva test with "the ability to screen for the earliest sign of gastric cancer" will be available for medical use within the next three years.

In its early stages, the Dio Cancer Fund committed funds over a three-year period to specific gastric cancer research at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston where Ronnie James Dio was treated for the last six months of his life. Additionally, the Dio Cancer Fund donated seed money to the Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, via its relationship with the T.J. Martell Foundation, to support research for a blood test to detect gastric and esophageal cancers that the hospital was able to parlay into a multi-million-dollar grant from the NIH.

Ronnie James Dio, the world-renowned voice behind such iconic heavy metal bands as BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW, HEAVEN & HELL and his own band, DIO, valiantly battled gastric cancer for some six months after a devastating terminal diagnosis. The Dio Cancer Fund, created in his memory, has made it its mission to help eradicate this disease through education and by association with ground-breaking research into early detection. As Dio Cancer Fund's founder/president Wendy Dio regularly says: "Early detection saves lives."