SEVENDUST has unveiled a new lyric video for its cover of the SOUNDGARDEN classic "The Day I Tried To Live". The song is the first piece of new music from SEVENDUST since 2018's critically acclaimed "All I See Is War" album. The band chose the track to return to the airwaves with after seeing the societal changes happening around the globe. The lyrical message of learning to live a better life is as relevant today as they were when the song was first released in 1994.

SEVENDUST's version of "The Day I Tried To Live" was produced Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who first worked with the band on "All I See Is War". The lyric video for the song was created by Wayne Joyner (known for his work with DREAM THEATER). It features a lone figure walking down a road thinking about his life with clips of the band woven throughout.

"SOUNDGARDEN is such an important band to all of us in SEVENDUST and this love for them goes all the way back to when we were starting," explains vocalist Lajon Witherspoon. "We discussed trying to do one of their songs and our producer Elvis suggested 'The Day I Tried To Live'. I would have been fine with any of those songs personally. When I first heard it, I thought the lyrics were timeless. The lyrics are about trying to experience new things and change the way you live, and we see examples of that every day with what is happening around the world. To have the chance to cover this song and release it is so special to all of us. Thank you, Chris Cornell and SOUNDGARDEN."

SEVENDUST guitarist Clint Lowery told the 96.7 KCAL-FM radio program "Wired In The Empire": "Cornell, man, is definitely in the top five artist, singer, songwriters. I love everything that he's ever done. In terms of musicianship from Kim [Thayil] and everyone else, there was a unique pot of talent in that band that just created some amazing material… Just overall, SOUNDGARDEN just could do no wrong — still can't do no wrong. From the first release to the last, I just love everything."

SEVENDUST is known for its high-energy live shows, and even though the COVID-19 crisis has stalled most touring globally, the band has some dates announced. They are scheduled to be part of the Rebel Rock 2020 festival in Orlando this September and has dates in Australia booked for February 2021.

"All I See Is War" was released in May 2018. It marked the group's first album for Rise Records, the Oregon-based metal and hard rock label which was purchased by BMG in 2015.

SEVENDUST released four singles and videos from "All I See Is War": "Dirty", "Not Original", "Medicated" and "Risen".

In 2016, SEVENDUST received its first-ever Grammy nomination after two decades together as a band. "Thank You", the debut single from 2015's "Kill The Flaw", got the nod for "Best Metal Performance".

Sugarbowl, the debut album by Shadow & The Thrill will be released August 14th thru Deko Entertainment (ADA/Warner Music Group). The band is currently riding high off the success of two tracks that have netted the band 75,000+ Spotify spins and videos that have hit the 100,000 mark via YouTube, Facebook, IG and Vimeo. Fans of Aerosmith, Rival Sons, Dirty Honey, Chris Cornell and guitar legend Gary Moore will gravitate to Shadow & The Thrill’s use of blues, rock and emotionally driven arrangements.

Recorded in New Orleans, the band embraced the city’s influences to help guide its flavor, with the majority of the production handled by both Tony Cardenas-Montana (guitars, vocals, bass and harmonica) and Brentt Arcement (drums, B3 organ), with Jack Miele and Cedrick Courtois engineering the album, and the iconic Grammy award winning Sylvia Massey (Johnny Cash) overseeing the mix. Tracks like the moody and melodic “Sugarbowl” coexists with rockers like “Just Enough” and the acoustic “Ready To Roll” while a heavy blues take on the groundbreaking Gnarls Barkley’s track “Crazy” will cement the band’s wide-ranging abilities.

The first single “Just Enough”, takes a rolling blues rock riff and pairs it with soaring vocal harmonies and super charged guitar solo. It’s an extraordinary time in the world, so it’s the right time for this extraordinary new act to enter our lives. Tony states, “‘Just Enough’ is one of my favorite songs to play live. It’s got an aggressive riff and groove, with attitude.”

The band talks about the subject of “Just Enough”: “I view the song as a rallying cry, rising up out of something that is harmful, into the unknown, with conviction. This track is ostensibly about trying to regain one’s freedom and individual identity – the lyrics outline the end of an affair, and the tendency of both parties to put in ‘just enough’ effort in a waning relationship.”

BraveWords is premiering the electric new video from these exciting rockers:

Fans pre-ordering the entire album will receive a bonus track not available on CD or digital versions of the record, while the LP version will feature an additional bonus track exclusive to the vinyl copy. There are also autographed bundled items available (while supplies last) which can be ordered via their store link here.

Shadow & The Thrill will continue live-streaming chats, performances and special engagements until the touring industry re-opens, when the band will find itself taking Sugarbowl on the road.

Shadow & The Thrill’s future is largely dictated by the past of the two men behind the band. Tony, as a Grammy Nominated (Great White), certified multi-platinum, Billboard charting writer and musician, and Brentt (Fiona Apple, LIVE, Bullet Boys, Black Molly’s) as a tireless and sought after touring and session drummer and producer. Together they have created an album experience that rivals their iconic rock and pop influences.

Tracklisting:

“Lovesong”
“Misery”
“The Grind”
“Sugarbowl”
“Ready To Roll”
“Just Enough”
“Crazy”
“Mississippi”
“Unaware”
“Sugarbowl” (acoustic, LP only)




(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);
})();

Swiss folk metallers Eluveitie have checked in with the following update:

"Hey everybody! Legends don’t die! We're excited our dear friends, fellow countrymen and thrash / death metal icons Messiah are back! They’re not only back, but just finished recording some brutal music for all of us. Their first releases in 26 years!

Their upcoming EP, Fatal Grotesque Symbols - Darken Universe, will be out on August 7th and, among other treasures, contain a re-recording of the unparalleled Messiah classic 'Extreme Cold Weather' sung by none else than our Chrigel Glanzmann together with Messiah‘s Andi Kaina.

Watch the EP trailer below. Their full-lenght album, Fracmont, will follow on September 11th.

Don’t forget to check them out! You can pre-order both releases here here.

A heartfelt & brutal cheers!"

 

 

 

 



Sieh dir diesen Beitrag auf Instagram an

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And yet another nice collaboration to be announced! Quite exciting news! 😊🤘🏻 I hope you‘ll enjoy! Have a nice evening you all! . . https://www.hrrshop.de/messiah #eluveitie #messiahthrashingmadness #deathmetal #metal #oldschooldeathmetal #oldschoolthrashmetal #metalvocalist #metalsinger #guestappearance #guestvocalists #extremecoldweather

Ein Beitrag geteilt von Chrigel Glanzmann (official) (@chrigelglanzmann_official) am Jun 25, 2020 um 8:50 PDT

 




(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);
})();

Edmonton death metal duo Tales of The Tomb have been a two-man wrecking crew for a while now with Trez Thomas (guitar, vocals) and Corey Skerlak (guitar, vocals), but earlier this month they announced they have become a trio with the addition of bassist Jonnii Guns. Over the last few months, the band has been unleashing guitar and bass playthrough videos in support of their latest EP, Volume Two: Mendicium, released in September 2019. 

The band reveals their next duo guitar playthrough for the track "The Nightmare Hall", which can be viewed below.

Tres Thomas comments:

"'The Nightmare Hall' is one of the most technical songs we have written as of yet. It’s so amazing to finally release the playthrough for this song to showcase the merciless riffs in this duo playthrough. The video also features every guitar that was on the album, and more!"

Painting their canvas of extreme music with inspirations of real-life stories of murder, conspiracy, supernatural horror, and terror, Tales Of The Tomb's new EP Volume Two: Mendicium is a vicious bite of grinding blast beats, technical shredding accompanied by venomous guttural lows. Inspired by true events, the duo offer up gore-filled lyrics with a quivering soundscape. The EP was mixed and mastered by Cryptopsy guitarist and head engineer/owner at The Grid Studios Christian Donaldson along with featuring artwork by Tony Midi of Tonymidi Artworks.

Tracklisting:

“The Nightmare Hall”
“Faul”
“Sinful Messiah”
“Dyatlov Pass Incident”
“Nine Eleven”
“Mermaid In A Manhole”

"Mermaid In A Manhole" lyric video:

"Dyatlov Pass Incident" video:

“Nine Eleven” 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);
})();

Influenced by the upbeat, party rock n roll of the '80s (yet mixed with a refreshing soulful sound), Sacramento’s Red Voodoo are ready to take on the world with their debut single, “Rise Up”, produced by Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon.

Comprised of members Dino McCord (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Davin Loiler (guitar), Andrew Edwards (bass), and Nick Pesely (drums), the group is working on a full-length debut album – also under the guidance of Hannon.

Formed in 2018, Red Voodoo features the lead vocal skills of 17 year old Dino (who is influenced by Sam Cooke, Mark Farner of Grand Funk, and Otis Redding, thus bringing a very unusual vocal ability to a band of this age group), the band places a huge emphasis on quality vocals. This is also heard in the harmony backing vocals of Davin and Andrew to enhance the band’s sound. Nick’s drumming however leans more to the progressive influences of Neil Peart, and this brings a colorful melodic tom tom approach to his drumming which is also a rarity in today’s music.

Being fans of '80s music and local icons Tesla, Dino had heard about Frank’s skills as an engineer and producer of studio recordings from his father. As it turns out Frank had recorded demos for Dino’s father in local bands 30 years ago. Dino and his dad attended a Frank Hannon solo concert and Dino sat in to sing the Tesla classic “Getting Better”. The guys then discussed the idea of having Frank coach the band on songwriting and recording a debut single for Red Voodoo. Now the team is working on developing the band even further.

And concerning the composing of their lead-off song, the band explains its creation as, “We wrote ‘Rise Up’ to express our confusion and our feelings during this recent pandemic that turned the world upside down. With the Coronavirus COVID-19 affecting everyone in different ways, we wanted to have a message of hope for all human beings and make people feel better. We feel that music should be a positive uplifting experience and we hope this song will help anyone ‘Rise Up’ from feeling down.”

And what about the story behind the band’s name? “We heard the song ‘Red Voodoo’ by Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas. We thought it had a good ring to it for a band name. Even though Sammy may have his own meaning to the term ‘Red Voodoo’, for us it describes the magic of creating fun rock and roll music and the energy we put into it in during our live show. Red Voodoo prides ourselves in being a high energy live band in concert.”

Prior to the social distancing and lockdown of live concerts due to COVID-19, Red Voodoo had been performing regularly around the Northern California club scene and building a local following. Turning heads with their unusual talents for their age, nightclubs such as Holy Diver and Ace Of Spades were bringing the band in as direct support for national shows with Uli Jon Roth, Enuff Z’ Nuff, and Faster Pussycat.

For further details, visit Red Voodoo 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);
})();

Phil X needs no introduction, having been an integral full-time member of Bon Jovi since 2016, after also filling in for Richie Sambora on the 2011, 2013 and 2015 Bon Jovi tours. Phil and his band The Drills recently released their new single "Right On The Money" via Golden Robot Records. 

Now Phil along with  Daniel Spree (bass/backing vocals) and Brent Fitz  (drums/backing vocals) who recorded the song together, have put together an official Quarantine / Fan Video for "Right On The Money". Fans sent in videos of themselves singing the chorus to ROTM and a lot made the cut.

The story behind "Right On The Money"  is that Phil  X  (guitar/lead vocals),  Daniel Spree and  Brent Fitz went into the legendary Capitol Studios with Chris Lord Alge so Chris could do a 'Mix  With The Masters' master class on how to track a band. "Right On The Money" was one of three songs recorded that day.  With an uncertainty of the arrangement and very few overdubs,  an incredible energy and urgency was captured by the band with Chris' direction and here it is as a single for you, the fans.

"Right On The Money", the latest instalment from Phil X & The Drills, is an explosive and dynamic addition to the band’s already legendary discography, featuring fast, punchy guitars, and vocal energy impossible to ignore.

Stream or purchase the single here.

Phil X & The Drills have finished their fifth album, Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 2, which will be released in the near future on Golden Robot Records. Featuring a different drummer on every song, which reads like a who’s who with the likes of Tommy Lee, Liberty Devitto, Kenny Aronoff and Ray Luzier, the music promises to be extremely diverse.

 




(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);
})();

Behold Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess' classical rock fusion based on Chopin's Nocturne Opus 27 No. 1 (arranged and all tracks performed by Jordan Rudess).

"I've always wanted to work on a collection of classical / rock fusion pieces," admits Rudess. "Here is my first track based on Chopin's Nocturne, Opus 27, No. 1. I love all of Chopin’s nocturnes and it was great fun to fuse it into my musical brain and see what evolved." 

"The video is by Wayne Joyner, who also created the video for my solo album, Wired For Madness, and all of the video from the last Dream Theater tour."

Rudess recently launched a new page on Patreon.

Rudess states: “First of all, thanks so much for listening to my music and supporting my musical life.

“This time at home has been the longest stretch that I can remember ever going without having to pack a suitcase. I've been keeping myself really busy working on new music, playing livestreams and enjoying my Steinway piano. THE MUSIC NEVER STOPS!

“Today, I launched my Patreon page. If you aren't familiar with Patreon, it's a really great platform for creators to connect directly with the people who support their work. There are membership options for listeners and learners. All of my Patreon tiers include behind-the-scenes content, early access to my new music and other ways to directly connect with me. You can choose to have access to my livestreams or join the new Wizdom Music Academy… or both!”

Rudess performed a solo concert from lockdown on May 8th, which was streamed on Dream Theater’s official Facebook page. As a part of The Mercury Insurance Concert Series, the show featured Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, and other prog rock classics.

Check out the entire show below.

The setlist was as follows.

"Hey You" (Pink Floyd)
"Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes" (Dream Theater)
"Blood On The Rooftops" (Genesis)
"Moonchild" (King Crimson)
"Wait For Sleep" (Dream Theater)
"And You And I" (Yes cover - II. Eclipse)
"Hourglass" (Liquid Tension Experiment)
"Entangled" (Genesis)
"The Silent Man" (Dream Theater)
"Life On Mars?" (David Bowie)
"The Cinema Show" (Genesis - Part I)
"The Court Of The Crimson King" (King Crimson)
"Soon" (Yes)
"Tarkus" (Emerson, Lake & Palmer cover) (I. Eruption)
"Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance Of Eternity" (Dream Theater)
"Begin Again" (Dream Theater)
"Supper's Ready" (Genesis)
"Over The Rainbow" (Harold Arlen)




(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);
})();

Season Of Mist has announced the signing of Dutch extreme metal outfit, Autarkh. The band will release its debut album in 2021. A small glimpse of what's to come can be found below.

From the fertile grounds of Tilburg rises new contemporary metal outfit Autarkh, a group of musical extremists that keep pushing the boundaries. Autarkh is the brainchild of Michel Nienhuis, founding member and composer/guitarist of Dodecahedron. He comments on the signing:

"We are very glad to announce our signing to Season Of Mist - a record label with an excellent staff that continues to be a true flagship of underground culture. I have been collaborating successfully with Season of Mist and Doomstar bookings for many years with Dodecahedron so it was an easy choice to continue both relationships in this new form. We are currently in the final stage of producing our debut album and are looking forward to release it in 2021."

Death and illness was closing in on Dodecahedron, revealing that a transformation of concept was necessary in order to effectuate artistic development. Autarkh is built on the artistic foundation of Dodecahedron but expands on new horizons in regard to vocal and rhythmic content.

Teaming up again with record label Season Of Mist and booking agent Doomstar bookings, the band is bound to carve their own path and ignite a new flame within the landscape of the heavy music industry. Embracing a clear vision on extravert and introvert expressions Autarkh desires to speak to their audience on multiple levels.

Autarkh is currently working on a 10-track debut album that explores the implementation of electronic beats within the spectrum of extreme metal and revolves around spiritual growth and the inner self.

(Photo - Steph Byrn)




(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);
})();

Germany's Rising Insane have released a metal cover of Michael Sembello's "Maniac", taken from the film Flashdance. Watch the video below.




(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);
})();

Sylosis released their fifth studio album, Cycle Of Suffering, earlier this year via Nuclear Blast. Today, guitarist and frontman Josh Middleton has premiered a playthrough video for the title track of the album. Watch below:

You can find Cycle Of Suffering order options here.

Cycle Of Suffering tracklisting:

"Empty Prophets"
"I Sever"
"Cycle Of Suffering"
"Shield"
"Calcified"
"Invidia"
"Idle Hands"
"Apex Of Disdain"
"Arms Like A Noose"
"Devils In Their Eyes"
"Disintegrate"
"Abandon"

"Calcified" video:

"I Sever" video:

Sylosis lineup:

Josh Middleton - Vocals/Guitars
Alex Bailey - Guitars
Conor Marshall - Bass
Ali Richardson - Drums

(Photo - Jake Owens)




(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);
})();

Ayreon will be releasing a brand-new sprawling and epic studio album, titled Transitus, on September 25 via Music Theories Recordings.

The album will be available on 2CD, 2LP gatefold red transparent vinyl and a 48-page Earbook which includes 5 discs; 2CD album, 1CD instrumental versions, 1CD guide vocal versions, and a DVD with bonus footage which includes a behind the scenes video, a videoclip, trailer and a 5.1 audio and hi-def stereo mix of the album.

The release will be accompanied by a 28-page graphic novel which will be included in the Earbook as well as the 2LP. The physical pre-order will launch on June 25, where digital will go live on July 16. Watch a video trailer below.

In 2017 Ayreon released The Source, which revisited the Forever/Planet Y saga, but now three years later it is time for something completely different…

“The year is 1884, these are dark, troubled times, fraught with greed, envy and prejudice…” begins our narrator and storyteller, Tom Baker…

Transitus is built around an entirely new story, not connected to the Ayreon universe although as always it does have some subtle links. The sci-fi theme makes way for a gothic ghost story set (partly) in the 19th century with elements of horror and the supernatural. It’s on a dark thunderous night where our story of Abby and Daniel begins.

From the mastermind of Dutch multi-instrumentalist Arjen Lucassen, Transitus is inspired by supernatural movies such as The Others, The Changeling and Ghost along with the music of soundtrack composers John Carpenter (Halloween), Ennio Morricone (Once upon a Time in the West) and Jerry Goldsmith (Omen). “And of course, I revisited all my favorite rock operas such as JC Superstar, Tommy, War of the Worlds and the Wall,” Lucassen adds.

Transitus is narrated by one of the most iconic and recognizable voices in sci-fi history, most known from his eight-year stint as Doctor Who, Tom Baker. “I was looking for a real storyteller with a mature, deep, warm voice. As a kid, I was a huge Doctor Who fan and my favorite doctor was Tom Baker. I couldn’t believe my luck when he agreed to do it! We went to the UK to record him, and it was one of those unforgettable experiences.”

As with any Ayreon album, it is an explosive and expansive affair and features Tommy Karevik (Kamelot) as Daniel and Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber) as Abby. The all-star cast also features Simone Simons (Epica), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Joe Satriani, Marty Friedman, Johanne James (Threshold), Noa Gruman (Scardust), Marcela Bovio (MaYan), Caroline Westendorp (The Charm the Fury), Paul Manzi (Arena), Michael Mills (Toehider) and Amanda Somerville (Avantasia, Trilium) amongst many others.

“When I started this, I just had no idea that it was going to take me this long! It took about 3 years from start to finish, and it pushed me out of my comfort zone musically and creatively. But I always need that challenge, the harder it is, the more fun for me to work on it!,” comments Lucassen.

Like many people of his era, it was hearing The Beatles and Pink Floyd that sparked Lucassen’s youthful musical imagination. And in turn, it was hearing Ritchie Blackmore’s incendiary performance on Deep Purple’s ‘Made In Japan’ album that made him want to pick up the guitar. From then, there were several early musical forays before his first big break came in 1980 when he joined Dutch metal band Bodine. Four years later he was poached by fellow metallers Vengeance, where he stayed for eight years and four studio albums, before deciding to try things his way.

It was the Ayreon albums, centered on conceptual themes from their creator’s vast imagination that began to attract the attention of a burgeoning audience interested in new progressive sounds. Having set out his stall with the first two Ayreon albums The Final Experiment (1995) and Actual Fantasy (1996), it was 1998’s Into The Electric Castle where Lucassen began what is now his standard MO of working with an array of popular artists from the prog and metal worlds, namely Fish, Anneke van Giersbergen, Sharon den Adel, Edward Reekers, Damian Wilson, Thijs van Leer, Ton Scherpenzeel and Clive Nolan. This was the masterstroke that would bring his musical vision the wider acclaim he so clearly sought.

Since then, Lucassen has hardly looked back. The two-part Universal Migrator albums, released in 2000, saw the likes of Bruce Dickinson, Floor Jansen, Russell Allen and Neal Morse join the ever-impressive list of musicians featured on Ayreon albums. Later on, he would add such luminaries as Mikael Akerfeldt, Devin Townsend, Steve Hackett, Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman on albums like The Human Equation (2004), 01011001 (2008), The Theory Of Everything (2012) and The Source (2017).

He launched the more reflective, Celtic flavored Ambeon project with the album Fate Of A Dreamer in 2001. The prog metal meets space rock of Star One saw the light of day in 2002 with Space Metal. His next side project was putting together Stream Of Passion, who released Embrace The Storm in 2005. In 2009 Lucassen’s Guilt Machine released their sole album, On This Perfect Day. He even found time in 2012 to release a second solo album, Lost In The New Real, and his Gentle Storm project with Anneke van Giersbergen released The Diary in 2015.

Through all the extravaganzas that flow through his discography, Transitus is Lucassen’s most ambitious work yet, “This is without a doubt the most cinematic and outrageous album I’ve ever done,” he affirms.

Continuing he adds; “I always start with finding singers first before I write the vocal parts, because I write the parts specifically for their vocal strengths. Because I was going for a theatrical feel for this album, this time I picked the singers not just because they are amazing singers, but because they had a certain charisma and were able to act. “

Transitus is accompanied by an amazing graphic novel drawn by the renowned artist Felix Vega. “Because Ayreon’s music is so visual, I’ve always wanted to do an Ayreon graphic novel/comic book,” he says.

Although best known as a studio-based musician, Lucassen slowly countered his fear of performing live when he first joined long-time collaborator Anneke van Giersbergen for some live dates in 2015, before tackling the more elaborate theatre staging of his 2004 Ayreon album The Human Equation in Rotterdam over four nights the same year (on which he served as special advisor). He went even further in 2017 when he appeared on stage with his star-studded ‘Ayreon Universe’ shows at Tilburg’s 013. Electric Castle Live And Other Tales followed in March 2020, the set of last year’s spectacular live performance of the third Ayreon album Into The Electric Castle. Over four nights at Tilburg’s 013 venue (the scene of Lucassen’s Ayreon Universe series of live shows in 2017) Lucassen, his band and one of modern progressive music’s most emphatic of casts celebrated the 20th anniversary of Into the Electric Castle in front of 12,000 adoring fans from 64 different countries who had flown in from around the world.

Reflecting on the approach to Transitus he says, “I love my last Ayreon album The Source. I often say that it sounds so much like Ayreon... if someone else would have released it I could have sued them for copyright infringement and won easily! But “our genre” is called progressive, which for me means breaking new ground and experimenting musically. So, in the true prog spirit, I set out to try something entirely different than a “typical Ayreon,” I wanted to do something more theatrical, almost like a musical. “

Tracklisting:

CD1
"Fatum Horrificum"
  A] Graveyard
  B] 1884
  C] Daniel And Abby
  D] Fatum
  E] Why?!
  F] Guilty
"Daniel’s Descent Into Transitus"
"Listen To My Story"
"Two Worlds Now One"
"Talk Of The Town"
"Old Friend"
"Dumb Piece Of Rock"
"Get Out! Now!"
"Seven Days, Seven Nights"

CD2
"Condemned Without A Trial"
"Daniel’s Funeral"
"Hopelessly Slipping Away"
"This Human Equation"
"Henry’s Plot"
"Message From Beyond"
"Daniel’s Vision"
"She Is Innocent"
"Lavinia’s Confession"
"Inferno"
"Your Story Is Over!"
"Abby In Transitus"
"The Great Beyond"

Trailer:

(Photo - Lori Linstruth)




(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);
})();

Tel Aviv’s dark metal band Tomorrow's Rain is making waves in underground doom circles with their recent track “Fear” (feat. Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride). Now the band returns with their follow-up single “In The Corner Of A Dead End Street,” which features guests Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost) and Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ). The impressive collaborations are found on Tomorrow's Rain’s forthcoming, debut album, Hollow out September 11th via AOP Records. Watch the new lyric video below.

Commenting on the new song, vocalist Yishai Swearts states: “‘Corner Of A Dead End Street’ is one of the first songs we wrote as a band and the first song we ever played live, this song is like a scene from a film to me, we tried to capture the vibe of a dead end dirty street in evening hours, the cars pass you by as you cross the street alone, everybody's at home watching the screen, and you keep on walking, thinkin' and diggin' in your own painful thoughts... and yes, i used the word YOU but in fact it's ME and i remember myself going through this many times... We felt that the song needs a long solo so i invited Greg Mackintosh from Paradise Lost to write the solo for this song as he always been a huge influence since the Gothic album, and i called my Athenian brother Sakis Tolis from Rotting Christ to do some vocals as well, so i will not feel so lonely in the Corner Of A Dead End Street...”

Hollow boasts an assortment of guest musicians including Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride), Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost), Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy/Nevermore), Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell), Spiros Antoniou (Septicflesh), Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ), Mikko  Kotamaki (Swallow The Sun), Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land), Anders Jacobsson (Draconian), Shlomi Bracha (Mashina) and Lisa Cuthbert (live session vocalist for Sisters Of Mercy).

Available formats:

- Black Vinyl LP
- Limited Vinyl LP color versions through AOP Records, EMP and Napalm Records
- Cross Shape Digipak CD
- Wooden Box Set w/Bonus CD & Patch (Limited to 300)

Pre-order links below:

- Europe
- North America
- Digital

Hollow tracklisting:

"Trees" feat. Shlomi Bracha (Mashina)
"Fear" feat. Aaron Stainthrope (My Dying Bride)
"A Year I Would Like To Forget"
"In The Corner Of A Dead End Street" feat. Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost), Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) & Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land)
"Misery Rain" feat. Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell) & Mikko Kotamaki (Swallow The Sun)
"Into The Mouth Of Madness" feat. Jeff Loomis (Nevermore/Arch Enemy) & Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land)
"Hollow" feat. Spiros Antoniou (Septicflesh)
"The Weeping Song" feat. Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land), Anders Jacobsson (Draconian) & Lisa Cuthbert (Live Female vocals of The Sisters Of Mercy)
"Fear" (Acoustic Version)

"In The Corner Of A Dead End Street" lyric video:

"Fear" lyric video:

Tomorrow's Rain was formed by Yishai Sweartz and The L.A Mastering Engineer Maor Appelbaum (Mayhem, Sabaton, Cynic, Abbath), present and past band members have previously played in acts such as Nail Within (Listenable), Distorted (Candlelight), Salem (Morbid Rec/System Shock) and Orphaned Land (Century Media).
 
Band lineup:

Yishai Sweartz - Vocals
Raffael  Mor - Guitars
Yoni Biton - Guitars
Yaggel Cohen - Bass
Shiraz Weiss - Keyboards
Nir Nakav - 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);
})();

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT have launched a new video series called "Roadies In Lockdown". You can now watch the first episode below.

The band writes: "In this first episode we meet from his kitchen as well as from backstage and on stage Andy Bews, Stage Show Manager, whose role in the QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT touring production crew involves a myriad of different elements. Andy gives un an insight into what his job involves and we also have the very rare opportunity to see the band close up in soundchecks in Australia, South Korea and Japan. He also gives insight into crew attire which appears to favour Hawaiian shirts (only on a Friday … which is called Hawaiian Shirt Friday on tour), but there are limits to taking a casual approach.

"Tour Video Director, Steve Price has worked with QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT since 2014 and at this time should be manning the controls behind the stage as he directs all the video elements of the show for the band on their sold out European summer tour. However, as we all know, the band and crew are currently off the road, so to keep him in the groove we set him the task of creating a 'lockumentary' focusing on what it is like being part of the 'Rhapsody Road Crew'...

"This exclusive series, only available on QUEEN's Official channel, explores the roles of various crew members on the road and behind the scenes with one of the world's most successful touring acts. Enjoy a VIP AAA pass and get to see at close quarters the backstage and front of house complexities, magic and hard work that goes in to putting on these huge productions that are a QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT live show. They explain what they do to make the shows happen. Look out also for a few well known faces and cameo appearances along the way.

"The backstage footage has been shot at different venues across the globe, however due to the recent pandemic the interviews with the crew have taken place at home during lockdown and further demonstrates the effect the shutdown has had on the live music business, not just for musicians and fans, but the often unseen and unsung heroes that make up the touring crew.

"Setting out to highlight their individual and collaborative skills, it soon becomes obvious one thing clearly binds them together — a sense of humour."

QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT recently recorded a new version of "We Are The Champions" — retitled "You Are The Champions" — as a tribute to workers on the frontline fighting coronavirus.

All proceeds made from the song will go towards the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.

Since Adam Lambert first shared the stage with QUEEN for the 2009 "American Idol" final, his dynamic performances have reinvigorated the band and delighted fans worldwide. Starting as they meant to go on, their first full show together in June 2012 thrilled a crowd of half a million strong in the Ukraine capital city of Kiev. Since then, May and Taylor's musical fireworks have been matched by Lambert's vocal prowess and stage presence, making for an explosive combination. Over 200 gigs later, the partnership has remained a commercial and critical triumph, playing to enraptured full houses in every corner of the world.

Photograph by Xavier Vila

Video of California rockers PAPA ROACH performing the song "Snakes" as part of their second live streaming experience iteration called "Infest In-Studio" can be seen below. The program was a special virtually ticketed, live HD broadcast, which took place June 20 from Sacramento, and it featured PAPA ROACH performing its multi-platinum, classic album "Infest", live in its entirety to celebrate the LP's 20th anniversary, along with exclusive discussions and reflections in a unique studio environment.

"We couldn't take not performing any longer," said frontman Jacoby Shaddix. "Having performed the 'Infest' album in full as a surprise one time before (during the band's sold-out 2015 gig at London's Roundhouse on the album's 15th anniversary), we decided to open this infestation to every living-room in the world to celebrate the 20th anniversary with us!"

PAPA ROACH's first live streaming event, "Infest In-Conversation", broadcast on the 20th anniversary of "Infest"'s release (April 25, 2020), drew 1.8 million live viewers on five platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, Twitch, YouTube and VK. That program featured the band showing rare videos and photos and reminiscing with each other for nearly four hours along with members of DEFTONES, LINKIN PARK, AVENGED SEVENFOLD, KORN, as well as with Dave Buckner (the band's original drummer and founding member) and director Marcos Siega (Grammy-nominated director of the "Last Resort" and "Broken Home" music videos).

"Infest In-Studio" was co-produced by Papa Roach Productions and 10th Street Entertainment and directed by Push. It is available for streaming exclusively via VierLive.com.

"Infest" peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and has been certified triple platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) for sales in excess of three million copies in the U.S. alone. The album featured the iconic hits "Last Resort" and "Broken Home" plus fan favorites "Blood Brothers" and "Between Angels & Insects".

This past February, Shaddix said that plans were afoot for PAPA ROACH to mark the LP's two-decade milestone.

"We've done some really cool things in the studio around some of the previous recordings, and we have some awesome stuff to release here throughout the year, so we're going to celebrate this album for sure — one hundred percent, definitely," the singer said.

Shaddix also spoke about the enduring popularity of "Infest"'s rap-rock anthem "Last Resort", which recently passed 100 million views on YouTube.

"That's our classic," he said. "That thing, it's given us such a relevance, even in pop culture. People are making memes — 'Cut my life into pizza.' I love that. 'Cause now I don't take it all too seriously, because it's embedded itself into pop culture, but then also the reality is that it's spoken to a lot of people's hearts that have been in that darkness, and going, 'Hey, man, there's some hope. You can come out of this. You don't have to stay in there.'"

Earlier in the year, PAPA ROACH completed a European tour with ICE NINE KILLS and HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD.

San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans HEATHEN will release their fourth studio album, "Empire Of the Blind", on September 18 via Nuclear Blast Records. The lyric video for the first single, "The Blight", can be seen below.

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

The band comments: "We are very pleased to announce 'Empire Of the Blind'! It's been another 10 years but we are finally back with a new HEATHEN album. Fine wine takes time! Everyone in the band worked their asses off on this record. Zeuss absolutely nailed it and more than realized our vision for the sound. Travis Smith perfectly captured the bleak atmosphere that we imagined for the artwork. It was a year in the making and we couldn't be more proud of the outcome. The first single 'The Blight' is just the beginning... behold the rising Empire!"

"Empire Of the Blind" track listing:

01. This Rotting Sphere

02. The Blight

03. Empire Of The Blind

04. Dead And Gone

05. Sun In My Hand

06. Blood To Be Let

07. In Black

08. Shrine Of Apathy

09. Devour

10. A Fine Red Mist

11. The Gods Divide

12. Monument To Ruin

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

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

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

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

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

HEATHEN in 2012 inked a deal with Nuclear Blast Records.

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

HEATHEN is:

David White - Vocals

Lee Altus - Guitar

Kragen Lum - Guitar

Jason Mirza - Bass

Jim DeMaria – Drums

The official lyric video for "Blood From Above", the new single from openly Christian hard rockers STRYPER, can be seem below. The song is taken from the band's forthcoming album, "Even The Devil Believes", which will be released on September 4 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Filled with the band's signature riffs, harmony-laden melodies and positive themes, the 11-track project is STRYPER's first studio album with Perry Richardson (FIREHOUSE) on bass and background vocals.

"We're incredibly happy to write a new chapter in the book of STRYPER," says vocalist/guitarist Michael Sweet, who has served as the band's primary songwriter since its inception in 1983. "This album was recorded during the pandemic, and I believe the message pertains to the times we are living in so perfectly. It's a recording of hope and inspiration and a light in the darkest of times."

Sweet, who also produced the new album, revealed that the band members delivered focused determination, a collaborative spirit and spot-on execution for the new record. The result is a collection of remarkable songs that will leave a strong impact on listeners.

"It has an energy unlike any other album we've done," he asserts. "We even pulled a song from the past that has never been heard or released, and by doing so we brought a little bit of 1989 back into the mix."

Standout tracks include "Blood From Above", "Make Love Great Again", "Do Unto Others", "How To Fly", "Divider" and the heart-stirring ballad "This I Pray".

"The music and lyrics are rock-solid," says Sweet. "God really blessed this one and hopefully it will bless everyone who hears it as well."

"Even The Devil Believes" track listing:

01. Blood From Above

02. Make Love Great Again

03. Let Him In

04. Do Unto Others

05. Even The Devil Believes

06. How To Fly

07. Divider

08. This I Pray

09. Invitation Only

10. For God & Rock 'N' Roll

11. Middle Finger Messiah

Most of the recording sessions for STRYPER's new LP took place at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts with engineer Danny Bernini.

Formed 37 years ago, STRYPER is the first overtly Christian metal band to go mainstream. The group's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen" and "God Damn Evil".

Sweet's tenth solo album, "Ten", was released in October via Rat Pak Records in North America and Frontiers Music Srl in Europe.

Swedish heavy metal heroes SABATON have released the official lyric video for the song "Devil Dogs". The track is taken from the band's ninth full-length album, "The Great War", which came out in July 2019 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band's 20th-anniversary record is a concept effort covering stories from the First World War.

SABATON stated about the "Devil Dogs" clip: "On this day, in 1918, the Battle of Belleau Wood ended. Though unconfirmed, it has been widely accepted the U.S. Marine Corps' nickname, the 'Devil Dogs', originated from the Germans at the Battle of Belleau Wood for the Marine's relentless tenacity as vigorous shock troops and remarkable marksmen."

SABATON started recording "The Great War" exactly 100 years after the end of the First World War (November 11, 1918) and took three months of intensive work to complete the album with longtime producer and collaborator Jonas Kjellgren at Black Lounge studios. The disc was mastered by Maor Appelbaum and the artwork was once again created by Peter Sallaí.

"This is not the first time we sing about stories from this period in time, but now we felt the timing was right to make a full concept album about this war," the band said.

SABATON's latest disc is the group's first with guitarist Tommy Johansson (GOLDEN RESURRECTION, REINXEED), who replaced Thobbe Englund in 2016.

Audio samples of three new songs from STATIC-X, "Regeneration", "Worth Dyin' For" and "Terminator Oscillator", can be streamed below. All three cuts will appear on STATIC-X's upcoming album, "Project Regeneration Vol. 1", which will be released on July 10. The effort can now be pre-ordered digitally on iTunes and Amazon, and fans will receive immediate downloads of the songs "Hollow" and "All These Years". Limited-edition marble vinyl, physical CDs and digital copies can be pre-ordered online at this location, with immediate download of both tracks as well.

The first of two volumes, "Project Regeneration Vol. 1" features 12 brand new tracks, containing many of the final vocal performances and musical compositions of late STATIC-X frontman Wayne Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup of bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay, and guitarist Koichi Fukuda. Both volumes are being worked on by longtime STATIC-X producer Ulrich Wild.

"Project Regeneration Vol. 1" track listing:

01. Regeneration

02. Hollow (Project Regeneration)

03. Worth Dyin' For

04. Terminator Oscillator

05. All These Years

06. Accelerate

07. Bring You Down (Project Regeneration)

08. My Destruction

09. Something Of My Own (Project Regeneration)

10. Otsego Placebo

11. Follow

12. Dead Souls

In total, "Project Regeneration" volumes one and two will consist of more than 20 brand new or previously unreleased STATIC-X songs and will feature all of the remaining works left behind by Wayne Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" band lineup. The individual albums are expected to contain creative packaging elements that will allow fans to marry the two volumes together.

Last year, STATIC-X wrapped up a world tour comprised of nearly 100 mostly sold-out dates in celebration of the 20th anniversary of its platinum-selling debut album "Wisconsin Death Trip". The shows also served as a traveling memorial for Wayne, who passed away more than five years ago.

While the identity of STATIC-X's touring singer Xer0 has not been officially revealed, strong rumors suggest that DOPE frontman Edsel Dope is the one performing with Jay, Fukuda and Campos and appearing in all of STATIC-X's promotional videos.

Static died after mixing Xanax and other powerful prescription drugs with alcohol, according to the coroner's report. The 48-year-old Static, whose real name was Wayne Richard Wells, was found dead in his Landers, California home on November 1, 2014.

Static founded STATIC-X in 1994 and achieved commercial success with "Wisconsin Death Trip", which included the rock radio hit "Push It".

The group issued five more studio albums before disbanding permanently in June 2013. Static had been pursuing a solo career at the time of his death.




Three weeks to go...

Project Regeneration Vol 1 out 7.10.20

Pre-order NOW: https://t.co/Ua1uE9NPRA pic.twitter.com/XpYSgiCel9

— Static-X (@OfficialStaticX) June 18, 2020








There’s no hope there is no survival

Give me something that’s #WorthDyinFor

Project Regeneration Vol 1 out 7.10.20

Pre-order NOW: https://t.co/Ua1uE9NPRA pic.twitter.com/4Aj8TkkM6U

— Static-X (@OfficialStaticX) June 20, 2020








RUN RUN RUN#TerminatorOscillator

Two weeks to go...

Project Regeneration Vol 1 out 7.10.20

Pre-order NOW: https://t.co/Ua1uE9NPRA pic.twitter.com/kfKhEVlW6b

— Static-X (@OfficialStaticX) June 26, 2020

EVANESCENCE will release a new single, "The Game Is Over", on Wednesday, July 1.

Anyone who pre-saves the song will get a chance to hear it first on a Zoom call with the band.

EVANESCENCE's long-awaited new album, "The Bitter Truth", will arrive later this year. The disc's first single, "Wasted On You", came out last month and was said to be the first in a series of songs that the band will make available from "The Bitter Truth" incrementally, culminating in the release of the full album.

The video for "Wasted On You" was shot by each band member — singer Amy Lee, bassist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, guitarist Troy McLawhorn and guitarist Jen Majura — on their iPhones while currently in isolation at their homes.

EVANESCENCE's new music is being produced by Nick Raskulinecz, who also worked on 2011's self-titled LP.

Lee told Loudwire about the musical direction of the new EVANESCENCE material: "It's a combination of a lot of things. It's definitely one hundred percent us, but it's also taking risks. And I think it's meaningful — it's deeply meaningful. But at the same time, a lot of it has attitude. I don't know if I can explain that super well, but some of our music is like that. If you can listen back and think about, especially some of the later music, like 'What You Want' or 'Call Me When You're Sober', there's a track or two in there that is the next step from that in its feeling, I would say."

This past January, EVANESCENCE returned with its first new rock recording in eight years, "The Chain (From Gears 5)". The band recorded its signature-rock version of the FLEETWOOD MAC classic following Lee having lent her vocals to the launch trailer for the Xbox Game Studios' "Gears 5" for Xbox One, Windows 10, and Steam, from the massively popular "Gears Of War" series.

EVANESCENCE spent much of the last two years recording and touring in support of 2017's "Synthesis", which contained some of the band's best-loved songs — as well as a couple of new ones — reinvented with full orchestra over a deep electronic landscape.




THE GAME IS OVER 7.01.20. Pre-save for a chance to join a Zoom call with the band and hear #TGIO first. https://t.co/Zn1PFzMfVE pic.twitter.com/XRMMxFgnmm

— Evanescence (@evanescence) June 26, 2020

While in quarantine, PEARL JAM bassist Jeff Ament has written and recorded a solo EP, which was announced today (June 26). "American Death Squad" features five songs, including "The Divine Perfume", which can be heard below. Half of the EP was performed on guitar, while the other was on piano.

"In the days following the postponement of our tour, I found it necessary to find an outlet for the energy we had created going into the tour," Ament said in a statement. "Pivot was the word of March. So, every morning, I retreated to the studio with the goal of writing a song every day, no matter how shite.

"Days of isolating and watching the news of the destruction courtesy the virus (and the ineptitude of our leadership or as named here, the American Death Squad) made for vivid dreams and a helplessness. These were some of the first songs out of the gate. Raw and succinct."

The 7" EP pre-order, digital EP, and links to stream are available at this location.

Track listing:

Piano - Side A:

01. The Divine Perfume

02. No Papers

Guitar - Side B:

01. Loss Leader

02. Killer

03. Revenge

PEARL JAM played live for the first time in two years on Wednesday (June 24) as part of "All In WA: A Concert For COVID-19 Relief", a musical benefit broadcast locally in Washington state and livestreamed online. The full show is also available at Amazon Prime.

PEARL JAM released "Gigaton", its first album in seven years, this past March. The band was slated to begin a world tour that same month but those plans were scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic.

New Jersey-based rock and roll trio THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX will release a new studio album, "Scorpio", on August 28 via Tee Pee Records.

The group, which originally formed in the mid-1990s, consists of lead vocalist/bassist Chris Kosnik, drummer Bob Pantella and guitarist Garrett Sweeny, all of whom are past or present members of the band MONSTER MAGNET.

"Scorpio" is the follow-up to THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX's 2017 full-length "Force Field", and it is the band's eighth studio LP overall, spanning more than two decades.

"Scorpio" track listing:

01. Hope You Die

02. Energy

03. Ninja

04. Scorpio

05. Easy Action

06. Crash

07. Super Sonic

08. You Got It

09. Betting Man

10. Instant Death

In a busy three years since THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX issued "Force Field", the band has toured the U.S. and Europe multiple times over, taken part in fests far and wide, and blown past the 20th anniversary of its self-titled debut album.

"Scorpio" acknowledges the two-decade milestone in its opening revamp of the first song the band ever wrote with vocals, "Hope You Die", the crash-in of which will be immediately familiar to anyone who's seen the band live. A generation later, it still gets the message across. From then on, it's all-go on nine fresh-made burners, Kosnik, Sweeny and Pantella toying with tempo subtly to lace songs like "Betting Man" and "Easy Action" and "Energy" with signature-style memorable hooks amid instrumentals "Ninja", "Crash" and "Instant Death", the head-spinning turns of which push ahead in the aggressive stance THE BITCHWAX began to present in 2015's "Gravitron" while still remaining imbued with new character and the loyalty to classic heavy rock that underlies all their work.

Tracked in January 2020 at Sound Spa in Edison, New Jersey, with Stephen DeAcutis engineering, "Scorpio" is a righteous next stage of the momentum THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX have been building through hard touring and release after release of gauntlet-throwing-down rock and roll. This is a band that never stops moving, and only ever moves forward.

Death metal trailblazers, Venom Prison, have announced a new release, Primeval, out via Prosthetic Records on October 9.

The 11-track album will feature re-recordings of tracks from their early EPs, Defy The Tyrant and Primal Chaos, as well as two brand new tracks. The first track from Primeval is a re-working of "Defy The Tyrant", which is streaming everywhere now, and features an accompanying video which can be viewed below.

Of the track, Venom Prison comment, “This song is not only criticizing organized religion and Christianity as a whole but also the ways in which it was spread across the whole world; resulting in genocide, rape, colonialism, slavery, misogyny and homophobia. It is this spirit of inherent superiority that characterized the attitude of the European nations as they expanded overseas, competing for colonial power and the conversion of “heathen” natives. Rather than standing up against the trans-Atlantic slavery, the church helped perpetuate the practice, endeavouring to support slavery on biblical grounds.  Defy the Tyrant is as relevant today as it was five years ago. As long as there is a master in the sky, there will be slaves on earth.”

Since 2016, Venom Prison have gone from strength to strength; debut full length Animus catapulted them into the consciousness and record collections of discerning death metal fans the world over. Their follow up release, Samsara, solidified them as a serious force to be reckoned with in the world of metal, paving the way for a string of high profile shows and festival slots around the globe. On Primeval, Venom Prison revisit the earliest days of the band, capturing the same intensity and visceral energy they possessed from day one and adding an additional layer of sophistication to their sound by re-recording, re-mixing, and re-mastering those old favourites with producer Tom Dring in late 2019. Artwork is once again handled masterfully by Eliran Kantor.

Of their decision to revisit their earliest tracks, the band explain, “Primeval is a snapshot of the earlier days of Venom Prison, simpler times where we locked ourselves in a room for days on end to create the early incarnation of what would be our first collection of songs.  Our first release/demo Defy The Tyrant was subsequently born, and we never thought this would lead onto being picked up by Prosthetic Records or touring the world. This became a starting gun for touring and festivals in between the studio to write, including what would become The Primal Chaos.  Given the current climate and the global pandemic situation we felt it was appropriate to package together our early material so that it is presented in a form of how it was always intended. This is what you hear now. Our previous EP’s plus two new tracks to give you an idea of what is to come in future.  Our new chapter awaits, the grind must continue.”

Primeval will be available digitally and on CD/LP. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Usurper Of The Throne"
"Life Suffer"
"Mortal Abomination"
"Path Of Exile"
"Defy The Tyrant"
"Babylon The Whore"
"Daemon Vulgaris"
"Narcotic"
"The Primal Chaos"
"Defiant To The Will Of God"
"Slayer Of Holofernes"

"Defy The Tyrant" 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);
})();

Canadian bashers Sven Gali, who reunited back in March 2018, released their comeback EP, entitled 3, on June 12. The band didn't waste any time after the release, and here they are with a freshly released video, containing their uncompromised stage act, for the single, "Now".

Sven Gali built a name fast with their live shows; drawing growing crowds on the Canadian and US circuit while building their songwriting chops and a wild reputation. David Bendeth signed the band to BMG Music Canada in 1991 and produced the self-titled debut, released in 1992.

The masterful debut album includes the hit, which was MuchMusic Best Metal Video award of 1993, "Under The Influence" and the emotional sweet balladry of "Love Don't Live Here Anymore", a song that became the #6 CanCon song of 1993. Following their profound release, the band was nominated for Hard Rock Album Of The Year and Most Promising Band at the Junos. Sven Gali went gold in Canada that year.  

Following extensive touring worldwide, being a major event on stages with legends (April Wine / Foreigner / Pearl Jam / Def Leppard), Sven Gali didn't stop there, and continued their journey with release of their sophomore, InWire, in 1995.

Just recently, after a long time in the shadows, twenty-five years after their debut album went Gold in Canada, in 2018 Sven Gali came back rockin', kicking out the jams with modernized edged rock covered in metal with "Kill The Lies", and a year later, serving "You Won't Break Me".

It appears that Sven Gali are here to take on the 00s, and it has been evident with sold out Canadian shows in 2018 and 2019 and a promise to continue to play solo and festival dates in North America and Europe through 2021 and beyond.

Order the 3 EP via the following links:

- Physical
- Digital

3 tracklisting:

"Kill The Lies"
"You Won't Break Me"
"Now"
"Hurt"

EP stream:




(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);
})();

Mike LePond's Silent Assassins have released their brand new full-length, Whore Of Babylon, via Silver Lining Music. Forging a union between the mighty worlds of heavy metal and ancient history, Whore Of Babylon serves as the band's third studio album and is a no-holds barred, gauntlet-thrown, true heavy metal mission led by LePond, known worldwide as one of the foremost bass virtuosos in heavy metal music and a member of progressive metal band Symphony X.

In celebration of its release, the band has delivered a new video for the track "Tell Tale Heart." Offers LePond, "Take the ultimate journey through darkness and death with my metal movie score to Poe's classic story. This song is epic and one of my proudest moments."

Whore Of Babylon is available on CD, digital formats, and special D2C bundles. Order here.

Whore Of Babylon trackisting:

"Dracul Son"
"Ides Of March"
"Tell Tale Heart"
"Night Of The Long Knives"
"Champion"
"Ironborn"
"Lady Bathory"
"Power Of Steel"
"Whore Of Babylon"
"Avalon"

"Ides Of March" lyric video:

"Ironborn" lyric video:

"Dracul Son" lyric video:

Mike LePond's Silent Assassins:

Mike LePond - four/eight-string basses, rhythm/acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Alan Tecchio - lead/backing vocals
Lance Barnewold - lead guitars on tracks 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8
Rod Rivera - lead guitars on tracks 4, 5, 10
Sarah Teets - flute, lead, backing vocals on track 5
Michael Romeo - drum programming, keyboards, orchestration, mandolin
Michael Pinnella - piano on track 3, organ on track 10, backing vocals

(Photo - Jatzi Nieto)




(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);
})();

Another member of Attila is being accused of rape. After frontman Chris Fronzak was accused of grooming an underaged girl earlier this month, drummer Bryan McClure has been accused by his ex-girlfriend of years of drunken verbal abuse, and anally raping his girlfriend at the time, while on speed, in the back of the Attila tour bus.

Eileen Anderson has posted a statement on her social media, detailing the relationship she had with McClure from early 2017 to early 2018. She accuses McClure of being an alcoholic and turning abusive while doing so, not remembering any of it the next morning.

She claims that she got pregnant early on in the relationship with his child, and Bryan said that members of Attila told him that if he were ever to get a girl pregnant, he would be kicked out. She had the abortion while he was on the road on Warped Tour.

She eventually joined him on the tour, and said the two would abuse drugs on the road. She claimed one night they accidentally did speed, thinking it was cocaine and the night ended in her being anally raped while she was passed out, leading to bleeding the next morning. Here is that passage of the story she released:

One night we thought we were doing coke with a couple of other guys and it ended up being speed which no one wanted. It was time for the buses to leave and we are drinking and having fun on the bus and out of nowhere Bryan gets blackout again and starts saying "you don't fucking like me, you only want me because of the band I'm in". Looking at one of the techs and other band members and just going off on his usual degrading tangents. I remember someone telling him "no dude, she loves you and that's not how it is". It was an extremely awkward situation for everyone involved and he wouldn't stop.

We started fighting and he got up to yell at me in my face and the bus swerved and he accidentally fell into me hard which caused me to start gushing blood everywhere out of my nose. His guitar tech and guitarist were the ones who took care of me immediately while he didn't even notice right away because he was all worked up and angry. While blood is getting cleaned up off me and I'm crying the lights turned back on mentally for him and started getting emotional and trying to care for me saying "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry!" Trying to hug me and I'm extremely angry at him for his usual drunk actions.

I go into the back lounge to get away from him and he soon follows after. He tries to hug me and I go "don't you fucking touch me" "get the fuck away from me". Then we start fighting again and I was just so emotionally done that I laid on the couch in the fetal position crying until I completely passed out.

I woke up some time later and my pants were somewhat pulled down thinking it was weird and got into the bunk where he was asleep still angry at him but didn't want the band to see what was going on. I woke up the next day to use the restroom and wondered why it stung to pee and hurt really bad to sit down. I wiped myself and saw blood. Then I started wiping more and realized I wasn't just vaginally bleeding. I don't like anything anally done to me and it just internally clicks why my pants were pulled down earlier and I start crying.

I come back and everyone on the bus is laughing because they have photos of a blacked out Bryan completely naked walking around the bus coming from the back room that night. I'm so isolated and sad feeling and don't know what to do because I just found out I was raped by my boyfriend. Bryan also made a lot of points to tell me his band mates didn't like me so I already felt like an unwanted guest in their "home".

Eileen admitted she was addicted to being in an abusive relationship. She would eventually break it off with Bryan, but not after suffering more abuse. She claimed that she tried to get Bryan sober, and agreed to get back with him on the condition of sobriety and if he admitted to his band members what he did to her that night.

Suicide Silence have announced the final batch of dates for their previously announced Virtual World Tour, that includes unique sets, exclusive merchandise and custom experiences in each market. All dates are listed below.

Each show will include:

- 90 min. multi-camera live stream
- Full live-production with pro audio/video & light show
- Skits & exclusive media content
- Fully-integrated chatroom with opportunity to request songs
- Video Q&A
- Exclusive sneak peek into the upcoming "Live Life Hard" DVD
- Exclusive tour merchandise
- Ticket purchasers receive 15% merch store discount

The band comments, "We're only a week away from delivering these unique virtual experiences to our favorite markets around the world! We'd like to give a special thanks to Nuclear Blast Records, Bandsintown and all of the companies & individuals that have helped us put this all together. The comedic sketches we've been working on have been quite entertaining & we're very much looking forward to launching this SuicideSilenceTV presentation to the masses. This goes much further than your typical live stream & we're amped to melt your "virtual" faces off with something completely new & different!"

Watch the new Virtual World Tour trailer below. Purchase your ticket at SSVirtualTour.com. All shows are in local time.

Below you will find the complete list of geo-gated dates.

Thursday, July 2, 2020
New York, NY (7PM, EDT)

Friday, July 3.  2020
Boston, MA (7PM, EDT)
Los Angeles, CA (7PM, PDT)

Sunday, July 5,  2020
Norfolk, VA (7PM, EDT)
Las Vegas, NV (7PM, PDT)

Monday, July 6, 2020
London, GB (8PM, BST)
Baltimore, MD (7PM, EDT)

Wednesday, July 8, 2020
Atlanta, GA (7PM, EDT)
Phoenix, AZ (7PM, MST)

Thursday, July 9, 2020
Stuttgart, DE (7 PM, CEST)
Santiago, CL (7 PM, GMT-4)

Saturday, July 11, 2020
Chicago, IL (7 PM, CDT)

Sunday, July 12, 2020
Tokyo, JP (1PM, JST)
Buenos Aires, AR (6PM, GMT-3)
Philadelphia, PA (8PM, EDT)

Tuesday,  July 14, 2020
Dallas, TX (7PM, CDT)

Wednesday, July 15, 2020
Sydney, AU (2PM, AEST)
Orlando, FL (7PM, EDT)
Edmonton, AB (8PM, MDT)

Friday, July 17, 2020
Des Moines, IA (7PM, CDT)

Saturday, July 18, 2020
Bangalore, IN (11AM, IST)
Columbus, OH (7PM, EDT)
Albuquerque, NM (8PM, MDT)

Sunday, July 20, 2020
Montreal, QC (7PM, EDT)
Denver, CO (8PM, MDT)

Monday, July 21, 2020
Lawrence, KS (7PM, CDT)
Portland, OR (8PM, PDT)

Thursday, July 23, 2020
Memphis, TN (7 PM, CDT)

Friday, July 24, 2020
Bangkok, TH (12 PM, ICT)
Mexico City, MX (7 PM, CDT)
Vancouver, BC (8 PM, PDT)

Sunday, July 26, 2020
Minneapolis, MN (7 PM, CDT)

Monday, July 27, 2020
Jakarta, ID (12 PM, WIB)
Charlotte, NC (7 PM, EDT)
Salt Lake City, UT (8 PM, MDT)

Wednesday,  July 29, 2020
Paris, FR (9 PM, CEST)  
São Paulo, BR (7 PM, BRT)

Thursday, July 30, 2020
Moscow, RU (9 PM, MSK)
Toronto, ON (7 PM, EDT)

(Photo - Hristo Shindov)




(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);
})();

The latest episode in the new series, Ivan Moody’s Guitar Zero: Legends Of The Fail, can be seen below. Join Five Finger Death Punch frontman Ivan Moody on his journey to learn to play guitar.

"Ivan receives an in-depth video lesson from Brian "Head" Welch of Korn and should be jamming in no time! "

Watch previous episodes below:




(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);
})();

“Bloodity” is the new official video of Norwegian death metal masters Blood Red Throne, premiered through BraveWords! “Bloodity” is a take of BRT’s current album Fit To Kill, out now via Mighty Music. The video was made by Ivan “Meathook” Gujic and Meathook Productions.

Guitar player Meathook has compiled many clips from his own camera, as well as videos sent to the band from fans around the world. The video is a part of a longer video to be released in July that takes you to the center of what it’s like to hang with Blood Red Throne. It doesn't really show Blood Red Throne from a good side, but it is indeed, the right side.

About “Bloodity”, singer Bolt states “‘Bloodity’ is yet again a title with a word I made up. This one is a nod to Bowie who passed, and the work title for me was ‘Face Bloodity’, but that was not clever, and it became ‘Bloodity’, that I didn't tell anyone before was inspired by ‘Space Oddity’. The song is about my never ending hatred for religious warfare, death and terror for ‘god’ and so on. It doesn't shine through by ear, since my singing is not so understandable, but I always try to write clever lyrics getting my thoughts or emotions out, or describing fictive ugliness to empress a certain emotion on the ‘reader’ in the booklets.”

Line-up:
Død - guitar
Meathook - guitar
Bolt - vocals
Freddy - drums
Gunner – bass




(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);
})();

Mike Portnoy is walking you through his latest vinyl collection is a series of eight videos. Episode #3 focuses on new reissues, F - L. Watch below:

Episode #1 focuses on new reissues, A - B:

Episode #2 focuses on new reissues, B - F:

BPMD - the new juggernaut featuring Portnoy, along with heavy metal icons Bobby Blitz (Overkill) on vocals, bassist Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) and guitarist Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) - released their full-length album of '70s rock covers, American Made, last Friday via Napalm Records.

It’s evident within the initial seconds of BPMD’s American Made, as the legendary Bobby Blitz chants the introductory lyrics to Ted Nugent’s “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” in his signature skyscraper-high howl, that he and his equally iconic bandmates are here to have a damn good time. Featuring 10 unforgettable rock classics reimagined as heavy bangers, American Made is a party on wax. Tracks such as the raucous “Toys in the Attic” (Aerosmith) and rager-ready “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) prove that BPMD not only manages to capture the essence of each original track on the album, but skillfully transforms each classic into an unforgettable metallic anthem for a new age. The seasoned quartet flex their musical muscles on renowned classics such as “Saturday Night Special” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “We’re an American Band” (Grand Funk Railroad) and “Walk Away” (James Gang), and introduce a whole new heavy generation to deeper cuts like blues standard “Evil” (Cactus/Willie Dixon) and “Never In My Life” (Mountain). Channeling nostalgia while maintaining a fresh attitude, American Made is a summer soundtrack for all ages.

After connecting over their mutual love for the classics and forming their current line-up, the members of BPMD traveled to drummer Mike Portnoy’s home studio in Pennsylvania and set up shop. Since the whole concept of the band was born the night Menghi was listening to “Saturday Night Special”, BPMD were determined to record the song for the album. Beyond that, each musician picked two ‘70s rock tracks and everyone had to learn them!

American Made was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, also known for his work with Metal Allegiance (featuring Mark Menghi), as well as artists such as DevilDriver, Trivium, and many others.

American Made is available in the following formats:

- 1-CD Jewel Case
- 1-LP Gatefold Black
- 1-LP Gatefold Red/White/Blue Splatter (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
- American Made T-Shirt + Jewel Case Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
- American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Black Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
- American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Red/White/Blue Splatter Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
- Digital Album

Order here.

American Made tracklisting:

"Wang Dang Sweet Poontang"
"Toys In The Attic"
"Evil"
"Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers"
"Saturday Night Special"
"Tattoo Vampire"
"D.O.A."
"Walk Away"
"Never In My Life"
"We're An American Band"

"We're An American Band" lyric video:

"Evil" guitar playthrough:

"Evil" drum playthrough:

"Evil" lyric video:

"Toys In The Attic" video:

"Toys In The Attic" drum playthrough video:

"Toys In The Attic" guitar playthrough video:

“Absolutely f*cking brilliant! God bless the real music krankers of America! Godspeed!" - Ted Nugent

”Turbocharged version of D.O.A. by BPMD. These guys are rocking!” - Michael Anthony (Chickenfoot, ex-Van Halen)

(BPMD photo - Scott Diussa)




(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);
})();

Intromental Worldwide has announced the signing of the Portuguese progressive masters, Sullen.

Despite their roots, Sullen seek for new approaches and wander along darker and taciturn paths, without constituting a resignation to the ethereal. Sullen want, essentially, for the music to reflect their perception of the world, reality, of matter and spirit - a very personal journey which covers a diversity of experiences and moods; of tension and revolt; of purge and peace.

Sullen lineup: 
David Pais - Vocals
Pedro Mendes - Guitars
André Ribeiro - Guitars
Ricardo Pinto - Bass
Marcelo Aires - Drums/percussion/keys




(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);
})();