French doom metallers THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND have announced their upcoming new album “Clans Of The Alphane Moon”, set to be unleashed on November 1 through Sleeping Church Records.

Delving into the essence of their creative journey, the band shares insights into the theme of their upcoming opus: “For this album, on the level of inspiration, we started off with a delirium of ‘concept album,’ around SF, news from the 60s and 70s, old ‘Metal Hurlant,’ with redundant riffs, a bit disgusting leitmotifs that are found from one track to another. Ben’s lyrics, and the cover made again by our friend Tetar, also reflect this Space/SF atmosphere. This album was intended to be a mix of ‘Blood for the Bloodking’ and ‘Lost n’ Drunk’: strong, big heavy riffs from the first album, and big psychedelic space songs from the second. We still have time to put this one, almost 5 years, since we are big wankers and we are not able to organize ourselves haha! Now, we’re gonna let the old dog go back to his belly, lie down at the bottom of the bar, let him fall asleep, and bother him for a while.“


Tracklist:

Ride The Leviathans
Crawling End
To The Solar System
Castle Made Of Corpses
The Technosorcerer
Flames Of Sagitarius
The Dying Earth
Crafted under the meticulous guidance of Guyome (drums in THE BOTTLE DOOM LAZY BAND) at The Cripple Room in France, the album’s recording, mixing, and mastering promise a refined auditory delight that will serve as a harmonious backdrop to the band’s distinctive sonic tapestry. Noteworthy collaborators, like Tetar, renowned for his visual marvels with CHILDREN OF DOOM, and the talented layout designer Tos, known for contributions to projects like BARABBAS and PRESUMPTION, have lent their artistry to create a captivating visual journey to complement the evocative musical narrative.

For the past three decades, Defiled have kept their blade sharp. Ever since Tokyo’s underground lost their minds over the band’s grotesque arsenal of finishing moves, Yusuke Sumita and his death metal samurai set off on a war path that’s left nothing but inevitable ruin in their raw wake. They’ve ransacked Milwaukee Metal Festival and joined forces with their fellow legends in Mayhem, Incantation, Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse.

Having now churned out three albums in almost as many years, metalheads can be forgiven for believing that Defiled had already reached the highest level. But the Japanese legends have topped themselves again on their eighth album. Horror Beyond Horror comes out this Friday, September 20, but you can hear all 14 slicing and dicing songs today by listening to the full album stream on Season of Mist’s YouTube channel.


Pre-order & Stream the album at https://orcd.co/defiledhorrorbeyondhorror

After they first took to the stage in 1995, Defiled needed nearly a decade before finally erupting with wrath on their debut album. But ever since the band’s lineup solidified around original member Yusuke Sumita, they haven’t stopped to look back and admire all the ugliness they’ve revealed. Horror Beyond Horror comes hot on the heels of the album they released just last year, which Metal Injection listed as one of the can’t-miss releases of 2023.

Like a poisonous dart, Defiled come shooting out of the shadows on Horror Beyond Horror. Blast beats pummel at unforeseen angles amidst “Smoke and Mirrors”. “Every lie has been revealed”, fearless frontman Shinichiro Hamada shouts, taking aim at perpetual frauds and tyrannical technocrats. The band charges into the pit behind bassist Takachika Nakajima’s greasy groove, which is snapping plenty of necks on their current Japanese tour.

“We wanted this album to be natural and realistic”, Sumita told New Noise. “We did not use any editing or artificial techniques in the recording process”.

With 30 years and eight albums under their belt, Defiled know where to stick the blade on Horror Beyond Horror. The album’s title track shreds through the corrupted torment of mind control with riffs that are honed from the jagged influence of ’80s thrash and hardcore. “The time has come”, the band spit at their captors with utter disgust. “Death strikes you with derision”.

Defiled aren’t afraid to crack open people’s skulls, either. Horror Beyond Horror descends deeper and deeper into the psychological shadows the further you go down the track list. “Syndicate” conspires around a greasy, pit-dwelling breakdown but drummer Keisuke Hamada never stops chopping up the tempo. “The path to your elimination”, Shinichiro Hamada cries, digging in amidst a flurry of blast beats during the album’s final boss “To See Behind the Wall”. Whether they’re slicing, dicing or leaping into a furiously fast solo, the band’s riffs take no prisoners.

“We still love death metal and are very proud to be recognized as a death metal band”, Sumita tells Antichrist Magazine. “At the same time, it’s clear from our songs that we do not follow trends. Who would be interested in a Japanese bands that follows Western trends? We have our own perspective, and we have been going our own way for many years now, and we are convinced that we are on the right path”.

On Horror Beyond Horror, Defiled unleash the kind of old-school ass-kicking that only true masters can deliver.


Cover Art by Wes Benscoter
Tracklist1. Smoke and Mirrors (2:35) [WATCH]
2. Horror Beyond Horror (4:01) [WATCH]
3. Syndicate (3:59)
4. The Alchemy (2:47)
5. Demagogue (2:13)
6. The Terminal Phase (2:18)
7. Trojan Horse (2:35)
8. Spectrum of Fear (2:30)
9. The Crook and Flail (3:08)
10. Replicator Dynamics (2:42)
11. Equinox (3:04)
12. The Chains (3:16)
13. Psychopomp (3:14)
14. To See Behind The Wall (2:45) [WATCH]

In customary fashion, this fall, Defiled are welcoming Horror Beyond Horror with a tour of Japan. Watch these legends shred through “Horror Beyond Horror”, “Smoke and Mirrors”, “To See Beyond the Wall”, “Syndicate” and other nasty rippers off their new album for the very first time.

The band also have two very special shows planned for later this year. In November, they’ll bang heads with fans in Bangkok alongside Batushka and Malevolent Creation. Then, to cap off what’s already shaping up to be another gloriously hellish year in their 30-year history, Defiled will share the stage with Hellchild and Satanic Hell Slaughter in a joint celebration of Japan’s historic death metal scene.

“As a Japanese death metal band, we wanted to reflect on where our scene started”, says Yusuke Sumita, who’s been Defiled’s guitarist since the band started in 1992. “Hellchild and Satanic Hell Slaughter are legends who built the Japanese death metal scene in the early ’90s. We are honored to have them return to share the stage with us. We want the young Japanese metalheads to come to this show. Don’t miss it”.

Former BUTCHER BABIES singer Carla Harvey has launched a new project called THE VIOLENT HOUR. At least some of the early recording sessions for the project have been overseen by producer Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and URIAH HEEP, among many others.

Harvey shared the news of THE VIOLENT HOUR's launch in a social media post on Saturday (September 21). She wrote: "It's coming. I've put my heart and soul into my new project THE VIOLENT HOUR over the last 6 months. I can't wait for you to hear it. Keep your eyes peeled for updates. This is a slower process than I'd like...but...I'm pumped!"

BUTCHER BABIES announced their split with Harvey in July, saying in a statement that "Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band," and wishing "her all the best in her future endeavors."

Carla, who co-founded BUTCHER BABIES in 2010 with fellow vocalist Heidi Shepherd, confirmed her exit from the band in a separate post, saying that she was "super proud" of her work with BUTCHER BABIES and adding that she was "not done making music and performing."

Last fall, BUTCHER BABIES completed a European tour without Carla, who sat out the trek in order to undergo emergency surgery on her left eye.

BUTCHER BABIES recently embarked on a three-week European tour, starting on July 27 at the Stonehenge festival in The Netherlands.

This past January, Harvey and ANTHRAX and PANTERA drummer Charlie Benante announced that they were officially engaged.

BUTCHER BABIES released a double album "Eye For An Eye..." and "…'Til The World's Blind", in July 2023. The double album celebrated the tenth anniversary of BUTCHER BABIES' critically acclaimed debut, "Goliath", released on July 9, 2013 via Century Media Records.

Smitten with tales of the Sunset Strip, Harvey made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles from her Native Detroit to play a little rock and roll…and instead found herself the entertainment report for a groundbreaking cable TV news program. After hosting two series and acting in a variety of television programs, movies and commercials, Harvey took a break from showbiz to earn her degree in mortuary science. She embarked on a successful career in embalming and funeral directing before going back to her first love: music.

In addition to writing and recording, Carla has a passion for drawing and penning comic books. Her love affair with the genre started when she discovered the Incredible Hulk at four years old. She spent the majority of her teenage years holed up in her room listening to PANTERA and developing an affinity for drawing her own scantily clad comic book characters. Dubbed a "comic book master-mind" by Hustler magazine, Harvey's first published comic book "Butcher Babies" (a fantasy, horror concept surrounding her now-former band),premiered and sold out at its Comic-Con San Diego debut, leaving fans chomping at the bit for her next comic, "Soul Sucka". Shortly after, she released her first full-length novel, "Death And Other Dances", to rave reviews. Carla's art has been featured in Famous Monsters magazine and has graced the cover of iconic Heavy Metal magazine.

It's coming 😈 I've put my heart and soul into my new project The Violent Hour over the last 6 months. I can't wait for...

Posted by Carla Harvey on Saturday, September 21, 2024

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In a new interview with Mark Kadzielawa of 69 Faces Of Rock, SEPULTURA guitarist Andreas Kisser was once again asked about the possibility of reuniting with original frontman Max Cavalera and drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera for a final show to cap off the band's ongoing farewell tour. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I hope [we can make it happen]. Yeah, it'd be great. We're working on it. And I think we have the plan to go till 2026. We'd like to go everywhere, really to explore all the stuff that we can on this last goodbye. And hopefully at the very last show, which will be in Brazil, we have the participation on all the ex-members, including the brothers, of course. That'd be great for the fans and for everyone involved. And hopefully we could celebrate together this amazing history."

Asked what his relationship with Max and Igor is like at this point, Andreas said: "There's no relationship at all. We have just a communication between our managers and stuff, and that's it. Very respectful. But no friendship or no communication."

When Kadzielawa noted that it would be "nice" for SEPULTURA to reclaim the "great friendships" between all the current and former bandmembers by the time the final SEPULTURA concert rolls around, Andreas said: "Well, I don't know if that's possible, but all I can tell is what SEPULTURA is today is that: friendship. We love each other, band and crew. And this is the SEPULTURA way of being. This is the SEPULTURA spirit. No fucking separate buses and separate dressing rooms, and I don't talk to this guy, I don't talk to that guy — you know, that bullshit. We very much love each other. We have dinners together. We do stuff together. We jam together. We are on tour together. It's great. The vibes are amazing, and that's the way it's supposed to be in a celebration. So [I'm] very happy with everything that's going on the way it is."

Pressed to name his "favorite phase" or "favorite thing" he has done as a member of SEPULTURA, Andreas said: "Today. Yeah, that's the only time that I deal with my past and my memories. I have so many great memories. I mean, I had my dreams when I was teenager, but the reality of SEPULTURA was much further and much better than that I could ever dream, could possibly imagine all the stuff that happened in our history. It's fantastic. And the feeling is today. It's now. That's the present. That's the most important thing of all. That's where life happens. And today is the best of all. You look back and you see this 40 years of history — so much amazing things that happened, all the people that I met and my family that I built around the music and traveling, all the friends that we made. That's today. I mean, that's why we're celebrating today. We can go back and really pinpoint some special moments, but everything resumes to today."

The classic SEPULTURA lineup fell apart in 1996 with the exit of Max after the rest of the Brazilian four-piece split with the vocalist/guitarist's wife Gloria as their manager. Max's brother Igor stuck around with the group for another ten years before leaving SEPULTURA and re-teaming with Max in CAVALERA CONSPIRACY.

Kisser previously addressed the possibility of the Cavalera brothers performing with SEPULTURA at the band's final show this past June in an interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. He said at the time: "I won't deny that it would be great to have a very last show with their participation, but it has to be great. It has to have people who are there to celebrate and not trying to discuss who was right or wrong on decisions from the past. In the end, we are celebrating now as the SEPULTURA of today. If they want to be a part of it, it would be amazing."

Kisser's comments came less than two weeks after Max was asked by Sakis Fragos, publisher/chief editor of Rock Hard Greece, if he has been approached by SEPULTURA's current lineup to take part in what will eventually be the band's final concert at the end of the farewell tour. He responded: "I have not [been approached]. In fact, I think I saw one thing Andreas, of course said [in an interview], like, 'Why are we gonna ask them [Max and Igor to take part]? They're gonna spoil the party,' which is very typical [laughs] of Andreas to say that.

"I don't know. I think I'm gonna let things happen the way they're gonna happen," he continued. "I'm not gonna force anything, and if there comes a time where we feel that we should make a reunion — okay, fine, as long as we do it the right way. Just like with these re-recordings [of early SEPULTURA albums that Igor and I are doing under the CAVALERA name]. I think we made them the right way — honest, proper, from the heart.

"So right now I'm not thinking about that [a reunion]," Max added. "I know they announced the end of the band. I don't understand this idea. I don't know if they were forced to do it, or if it's a mutual decision of just stop playing 'cause you don't wanna do it anymore. I don't know. I myself cannot live without music. I need to play live. It's like the air I breathe.

"I love what I'm doing right now with Igor, with CAVALERA, and we're gonna continue," he concluded.

Max previously discussed the possibility of a classic SEPULTURA lineup reunion in a February 2023 interview with Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of Rock Interview Series. He said: "I'm very, very busy right now with all the projects, 'cause I've got so many — SOULFLY being my main band, but also GO AHEAD AND DIE with my son Igor, and KILLER BE KILLED. And I'm already playing a lot of the old stuff with my brother; that, to me, right there, it fills the void anyway.

"So, yeah, I don't think about that at all," Max said in regard to a SEPULTURA reunion. "At this moment, I don't need to do anything like that. I think at this moment I'm so busy with the stuff that I have in front of me, and the fans love all the stuff that I've been doing anyway. There's no point, really. 'Cause I haven't even thought of that idea in a long time. But I think that my main thing right now is SOULFLY… And I love the fact that SOULFLY just keeps getting stronger and stronger with every record. And I look forward to the time to write the next one. It'll be another challenge and another chance to make something good again."

In the summer of 2022, Igor told the "Mike Nelson Show" about the possibility of him and Max returning to SEPULTURA: "I have to be honest with you, man. The reunion, in my opinion, it's me and my brother — that's the person that I wanna be united with. So, for me, if the other stuff, it doesn't happen, I can't really be too bummed about it. Of course, it would be amazing, but the real reunion for me is just me and my brother being together. That's what makes me happy."

Although SEPULTURA has maintained a diehard fanbase in all parts of the world throughout the band's nearly four-decade history, Max-era albums "Roots" and "Chaos A.D." were by far SEPULTURA's most commercially successful, having both been certified gold in the U.S. for sales in excess of five hundred thousand copies.

Max was asked in a December 2021 interview with "General Population With Marco Lesher" what he thinks of his replacement in SEPULTURA, vocalist Derrick Green. "It doesn't bother me," he insisted. "It is what it is. At the end of the day, the fans know what the band was and what it is now, the difference [between the two]. And I really don't care. I'm not bitter. They do what they do; I do what I do. It's been like that for a long time now. But you can't touch the classics; those records that we did [in the 1980s and 1990s]. It still goes, but it is what it is.

"If you wanna really hear something that sounds close to what it was, you have to come see me and Igor play," he added. "That's the only thing that is gonna be close to what it was, to that time."

Igor and Max have spent much of the past decade celebrating the 20th anniversary of SEPULTURA's "Roots" and 30th anniversary of "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" albums on tour all over the world.

In 2020, SEPULTURA bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. said that he has had "zero" contact with Max, adding that a reunion with the band's original frontman would have to happen "naturally."

Back in 2017, Igor told The Salt Lake Tribune that he and Max "believe SEPULTURA doesn't really make sense nowadays, to do what they're doing." The drummer also downplayed the possibility of a reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, saying: "Unless it's something really solid — and we haven't seen that from their part — of doing something totally professional and coming together, trying to do something like that. At the end of the day, it would be special for the fans, so it's not like a closed door, but at the same time, we have no time to spend energy with this kind of thing. So we just move forward."

Max echoed his brother's sentiments, telling The Salt Lake Tribune that he doesn't even think about his former bandmates much. "For a time — for a long time — there was a war in the press, like, 'He'll talk this, I'll talk that,'" he explained. "I got really tired of it, honestly. I'm not gonna do that anymore. So let them go their way and do their thing, and we're gonna do our thing, and I think that's the best for everybody."

While stopping short of completely ruling out a reunion of SEPULTURA's classic lineup, Max said: "Right now, we don't even need it. It's been so much of that kind of bad vibes through the years that I don't even know how that would even really work out. I think what [Igor and I] are doing is the closest thing to that, and it works great, it works like a charm. It's amazing."

In December 2023, SEPULTURA announced that it would celebrate its 40th anniversary this year by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

SEPULTURA's current lineup comprises Kisser, Green, Pinto Jr. and touring drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who officially replaced SEPULTURA's longtime drummer Eloy Casagrande in February.

This past January, Max was asked by Scott Itter of Dr. Music if he has heard any of the SEPULTURA albums that were recorded following his departure from the group. He responded: "I haven't. It's like… People say if you break up with your wife and she marries somebody else, you don't really go on Facebook and go see what they're doing. [You keep your] distance. I feel kind of like that. So I have no interest. I've got a lot of stuff to keep me busy. It's a fair question, and I'm sure a lot of people wonder about that, but, yeah, I haven't [heard anything]."

Max previously addressed the question of whether he has heard any of the music SEPULTURA recorded after his exit from the group nearly three decades ago in a 2015 interview with Sticks For Stones. At the time, he said: "Fuck no! I don't give a shit about SEPULTURA or what they're doing. I just heard from fans that people don't like their albums, and they're shitty, and the band's just going down and down, and, I don't know… I really can't care, can't care less what they're doing. It don't concern me at all. I've got my things going, and, for me, it's just so sad to see a band that was so important and special in the '90s turn to shit like that so fast. But whatever, that's what they're doing. But I've got my things, I've got my things to do, and I'm proud of what I did with them. We did great records and we did cool stuff, and that's there forever, and I'll leave it at that."

KK'S PRIEST, which features former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),performed on September 18 at Mickey's Black Box in Lititz, Pennsylvania. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

KK'S PRIEST, which also includes guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),and German/American metal legends ACCEPT have joined forces for a North American tour. The massive run began on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

KK'S PRIEST's first-ever U.S. headlining tour, which featured support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES, kicked off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and concluded on March 24 at Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.

KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.

KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.

Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

ProgPower USA 2024 took place from September 4 - 7th, 2024, at Center Stage, in Atlanta, GA. Aristsi on the bill included Amorphis, Winger, Dream Evil, Frozen Crown, Elegy, Soen, Striker, Pagan's Mind and more.


Fan-filmed video of Elegy's entire show on September 6 can be viewed below.


Setlist:




"Equinox" 
"Trust" 
"The Grand Change" 
"Visual Vor

Finland's Where's My Bible release their long-awaited second full-length studio album, Kave, on September 11th via Inverse Records.


They have shared an official release show aftermovie, shot at Möysän Musaklubi in Lahti, Finland on September September 13th.







Kave is a blackened death metal album that combines brutal sounds with beautiful melodies. This multi-layered work features ancient instruments and uses Nordic and Finnish mythologies as metaphors. The album follows a shamanistic cycle, beginning in the darkness of night and culminating in the ominous flames of dawn. It  delivers a heavy northern atmosphere and explores the darkness of the human mind. Where's My Bible introduces a new approach to mythology and folkloristic metal.


Vocalist Jussi Matilainen comments: "'Kave' was the first track completed for the new album. It immediately became the centerpiece and highlight of the record. In terms of the story, we find ourselves in a moment of a full moon at midnight, where the Kapeet (Kave) perfectly draws the moon in the sky. It’s also a turning point before we plunge into complete darkness.


The song's message is powerful: if you focus only on searching for the lost sunlight, you might miss the light that illuminates your path at night. The story encourages us to be open to life's possibilities and to see the solutions that are right in front of us. So remember to keep your mind and eyes open."


Check out the official video for "Kave" below. Pick up  the album here.





Tracklist:


"Yö"
"Màni"  
"Fenrir"
"Suden Hetki"
"Creator of Abyss"
"Waves"
"Musta Kuu"
"Kave"
"Deyr Sjalfr It Sama"
"Ghost From The Past"
"Rahko"
"Runo"
"Sòl"
"Aamu"


"Kave"

The "Experience Hendrix" tour, the all-star tribute to guitar legend Jimi Hendrix, kicked off its first outing in five years on Thursday, September 19 at the Paramount in Hendrix's hometown of Seattle. Front-row video of the entire concert — courtesy of SeattleStoodios— can be seen below.

While there was a one-off event date in Austin, Texas in 2022, the last full-fledged (pre-pandemic) "Experience Hendrix" tour took place in 2019.

Featured songs in the video below:

00:00:00 - Foxy Lady w/ Henri Brown, Mato Nanji & Chuck Cambell (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
00:06:23 - Stone Free w/ Ayron Jones, Mato Nanji & Henri Brown (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
00:11:23 - The Wind Cries Mary w/ Ayron Jones (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
00:17:09 - Killing Floor w/ Taj Mahal & Mato Nanji (Howlin' Wolf cover)
00:22:17 - Hey Joe w/ Taj Mahal & Mato Nanji (The Leaves cover)
00:29:12 - Catfish Blues w/ Taj Mahal, Calvin Cooke, Chuck Campbell & Mato Naji (Robert Petway cover)
00:37:20 - The Sky Is Crying w/ Calvin Cooke, Chuck Cambell & Mato Nanji (Elmore James & his Broom Dusters cover)
00:45:02 - Manic Depression w/ Zakk Wylde (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
00:50:17 - Little Wing w/ Zakk Wylde (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
00:58:58 - Purple Haze w/ Zakk Wylde (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:09:30 - Have You Ever Been (To Electric Lady Land) w/ Eric Johnson & Dylan Triplett (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:13:08 - Bold As Love w/ Eric Johnson & Dylan Triplett (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:18:00 - Are You Experienced w/ Eric Johnson (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:25:10 - Spanish Castle Magic w/ Eric Johnson (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:32:34 - Red House w/ Ayron Jones, Mato Nanji & Calvin Cooke)
01:39:39 - Them Changes w/ Henri Brown, Ayron Jones & Mato Nanji (Buddy Miles cover)
01:46:35 - Gypsy Eyes w/ Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Noah Hunt & Mato Nanji (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
01:50:48 - Come On (Part 1) w/ Kenny Wayne Sheppard & Noah Hunt (Earl King cover)
01:56:22 - I Don't Live Today w/ Kenny Wayne Sheppard & Noah Hunt (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
02:02:57 - Voodoo Chile / Voodoo Child (Slight Return) w/ Kenny Wayne Sheppard & Noah Hunt (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)

The concept for the "Experience Hendrix" tour dates back more than 25 years; what started as a single concert at San Diego's Street Scene in 2001 and 2002 expanded by 2004 into a full-fledged national tour. This year's outing marks the 20th anniversary of the "Experience Hendrix" tour. This year's tour bring the music of Jimi Hendrix to audiences in the Pacific Northwest, California, Nevada, Arizona New Mexico and eastward through Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee concluding in Georgia and Florida.

The tour presents a host of great artists collaborating and interpreting Hendrix's legendary songs as part of a powerhouse, three-hour concert experience. The wide range of multi-generational artists who participate in a reflection of the ecumenicism of Jimi Hendrix's classic repertoire and the diversity of those whose lives have been indelibly affected by his music. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is one of the major players in forthcoming edition of the "Experience Hendrix" tour and a veteran of previous "Experience Hendrix" outings.

Shepherd, a five-time Grammy nominee and recipient of two Billboard Music Awards, commented: "I'm excited to rejoin the 'Experience Hendrix' tour this year. It's always been a great tour with exceptional artists honoring Jimi Hendrix, the greatest guitar player of all time, and his amazing and expansive catalog of songs. Being able to do a tour with friends always makes for a great time and this show is not to be missed."

Other notable artists who are part of the tour this time out include the legendary blues icon Taj Mahal, Zakk Wylde, founder of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY and most recently part of the reformed PANTERA, Mississippi-born blues wunderkind Christone "Kingfish" Ingram who is both a Grammy Award winner and was named Contemporary "Blues Male Artist Of The Year" at least year's Blues Music Awards, guitar greats Eric Johnson and Dweezil Zappa, Mato Nanji from INDIGENOUS, Calvin Cooke and Chuck Campbell of the SLIDE BROTHERS, standard bearers of the "sacred steel" musical tradition, and vocalist Henri Brown. Participating artists vary for performance dates so "Experience Hendrix" concert goers are encouraged to visit experiencehendrixtour.com for specifics about each of the tour stops.

This year's tour will also present a host of rising stars including Texas born and raised blues sensation Ally Venable, who headlined the 60-date "European Blues Caravan" tour when she was just 20 years old, vocalist Dylan Triplett, Seattle guitarist Ayron Jones, young Brazilian blues rock guitarist Arthur Menezes and 20-year-old Mathias Lattin, winner of the Blues Foundation's 2023 International Blues Challenge. Other artists joining the tour for select dates include Blues Music Award winner Samantha Fish and Stanley Jordan, the noted jazz guitarist who is an exponent of the two-handed tapping technique. Beyond these artists, special guests will drop in over the course of the tour. These include country music sensation Hunter Hayes, legendary DOORS guitarist Robby Krieger and many others to be announced.

The 2024 "Experience Hendrix" tour is sponsored by Marshall, Fender, Dunlop, Hal Leonard, JMH Productions, Experience Hendrix and Authentic Hendrix. Marshall amps have long been associated with Jimi Hendrix and were his amplifiers of choice during his career. Fender is now celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Fender Stratocaster, the guitar most often associated with Jimi Hendrix. Dunlop makers of gear and accessories, recently launched line of Authentic Hendrix '68 Shrine Series of stomp boxes/effects pedals while Hal Leonard, the world's largest print music publisher, has long had an association with Experience Hendrix, L.L.C.

2024 "Experience Hendrix" remaining tour dates:

Sep. 21 - Forest Grove OR- Grand Lodge
Sep. 22 - Reno NV - Grand Theatre/Grand Sierra Resort
Sep. 25 - Santa Rosa CA - Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
Sep. 26 - Saratoga, CA - The Mountain Winery
Sep. 27 - Las Vegas NV - Smith Center
Sep. 28 - Highland CA - Yaamaya Theater
Sep. 29 - Tucson AZ - Fox Theatre
Oct. 01 - Anaheim CA - City National Grove
Oct. 03 - San Diego CA - Rady Shell
Oct. 04 - Mesa AZ - Mesa Arts Center/Ikeda Theater
Oct. 05 - Albuquerque NM - Kiva Auditorium
Oct. 06 - Colorado Springs CO - Pikes Peak Center
Oct. 09 - San Antonio TX - Majestic Theatre
Oct. 10 - Houston TX - Bayou Music Center
Oct. 11 - Ft. Worth TX - Will Rogers Auditorium
Oct. 12 - Tulsa OK - River Spirit Casino
Oct. 13 - Shreveport LA - Shreveport Municipal Auditorium
Oct. 15 - Nashville TN - Ryman Auditorium
Oct. 16 - Evans GA - Columbia Country Performing Arts Center
Oct. 17 - Clearwater FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Oct. 18 - Pompano Beach FL - Pompano Beach Amphitheater
Oct. 19 - St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Amphitheater

War, the latest project from former Attika and Onward vocalist Rob Van War, have released their debut single "Even After the Pain." This track marks a bold departure from the sounds of Attika, introducing fans to a new era of hard-hitting, classic-inspired metal that is both fresh and familiar.


"Even After the Pain" captures the essence of hard rock and metal, drawing inspiration from the legendary sounds of KISS, Accept, and classic Judas Priest. The track features powerful riffs, soaring vocals, and anthemic choruses that hark back to the golden age of metal while pushing the genre into exciting new territories.


This single is just the beginning for Van War, a band that is ready to make a significant impact on the hard rock and metal scene. With a sound that blends the raw energy of traditional metal with modern intensity, Van War is poised to capture the attention of fans old and n

In a new interview with Hear 2 Zen, SKID ROW guitarist Scotti Hill was asked if there are any singers that he and his bandmates would like to approach about guesting with them for a few shows, similar to what they did this past May and June with Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we've got some names in the hat that we're actually speaking to. But I can't announce anything yet. But that whole idea [of playing concerts with guest singers] is really cool. And that all came about by mistake. Well, accidentally."

Scotti continued: "[As far as having] a wish list [of guest singers to play with], yeah. Some of them aren't realistic and we've named some people that would probably love to do it, but can't do it because their style, it just doesn't match or maybe they don't have the range. That's the whole thing, is the range of those vocals. They're very hard to sing."

When the interviewer brought up SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor as someone who could potentially do it, Hill said: "Yeah, I know. Well, see, that's a name that came up. And he's a good friend of Rachel's [Bolan, SKID ROW bassist]. They're tight." The interviewer also named former MÖTLEY CRÜE and current THE DEAD DAISIES frontman John Corabi, although he noted that SKID ROW would likely have to tune down to accommodate Corabi's voice. Scotti said: "I believe his name was brought up also. And we could tune down. When Johnny [Solinger, former SKID ROW singer] was in the band, we tuned down a half step. I wouldn't tune down any more than a half step, 'cause then you can hear it. I mean, I can hear when a band is tuned down a half step. I can totally hear it. I don't not like it, I don't disagree with it, but I can hear it. So, yeah, I think [it should] sound as close to original as it can, as far as tempos and pitch."

As for some fans' constant calls for a reunion with former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach, Scotti said: "I understand why people want that, but it wouldn't be how they remembered it. It wouldn't be what they expected. They would be disappointed. We would be unhappy. We just saw what happens when you try to do something like that, and we're talking about JANE'S ADDICTION [and the recent onstage altercation between singer Perry Farrell and guitarist Dave Navarro]. And it's terrible what happened to those guys; I feel terrible for them. But some reunions maybe shouldn't happen. I don't know… And there's a lot on the line. Their whole crew — I mean, those guys… Boom, just like that, 'Okay. You're out of work.' That's affecting a good amount of people and affecting their families, it affects the band, the people that put tours together. The average fan doesn't understand how many parts there are to make this thing happen. So, yeah, it's, it sucks what happened with that whole thing, but I hope everybody comes through it healthy and back on their feet. When I saw that go down, I could relate to it on many different ways — many ways. I've been on both sides of that coin."

SKID ROW is currently searching for a new singer following the recent exit of Erik Grönwall. Erik, who was SKID ROW's fourth frontman since Sebastian Bach's departure, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021. As a result, he is immunocompromised, which made touring difficult.

Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY. In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of bassist Rachel Bolan, guitarists Dave "Snake" Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside drummer Rob Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger. SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I. Theart was fired from SKID ROW in February 2022 and was replaced by Grönwall, who was previously a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T.

Earlier this month, Hill told "Appetite For Distortion" podcast that he and his bandmates are "looking at" a few potential singers. "We've got a nice list of people that we're gonna sit down with," he said. "And we're continuing to look. But it's not like SMASHING PUMPKINS and we're just inviting the whole world in to throw their tapes on our desk. That's a little over the top."

Asked if singers have reached out to him and his SKID ROW bandmates about trying out of for the group or if they are actively seeking out potential vocalists, Scotti said: "Lots of people have reached out. I understand why. But I'm not the guy to get in touch with. I love SKID ROW. SKID ROW is my family, it's my life, but when I'm not with SKID ROW, I'm in here [at my home] doing stuff. So I kind of keep my fingers out of that whole thing. But a lot of people are getting in touch with us and some of them are really good. Some of them are not really good. But with YouTube and Instagram and such, you can go out and find people quite easily. It wasn't like the old days where you had to put an ad in every music paper in the country and word of mouth and all that stuff, pre-Internet. It's much easier now."

As for whether there is a preference of whether it's a "name" singer or not, Scotti said: "No. It doesn't even have to be a guy. Look at Lzzy. I mean, she came and rocked it. It could be a woman."

This past May, Sabo ruled out a reunion with Bach telling The Hook Rocks podcast: "It's not gonna happen… I choose my happiness, my willingness to continue to be a really good friend to my best friends and a really good husband and a really good dad and bandmate and person. And I don't wanna endanger that in any way. So the people that we choose to play with, those choices are made in order to keep those particular things in line for all of us."

Four years ago, Bolan confirmed that he and his bandmates "were entertaining the idea" of reuniting with Bach following Harnell's departure. But Rachel shot down the possibility of a rekindling of his friendship with Sebastian, explaining: "Well… Here's the soundbite for Blabbermouth. I wouldn't say we were friends [when we were in a band together]. We were bandmates. You know what I mean? We're two very different people." Bolan added that he hadn't seen Bach "in years."

The Linkin Park hit, "What I've Done", has been given the jazz lounge treatment by Postmodern Jukebox vocalist Robyn Adele Anderson and her band. Check out this new rendition of the song, performed live and in one take, below.


Robyn: "Did you hear that Linkin Park has a new lead singer? She’s pretty badass, but I would have loved to have been in the running! Consider this video my unofficial audition." 







Linkin Park - Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Phoenix, Joe Hahn, alongside new members Emily Armstrong [of Dead Sara] as co-vocalist and Colin Brittain [songwriter/producer for G Flip, Illenium, One OK Rock] as drummer - performed their new single, "The Emptiness Machine”, last night (Tuesday, September 17) on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Watch below:





Linkin Park’s first album since 2017, From Zero, will be released on November 15. Pre-order / pre-save here via Warner Records.





Tracklisting:


"From Zero" (Intro)
"The Emptiness Machine"
"Cut The Bridge"
"Heavy Is The Crown"
"Over Each Other"
"Casualty"
"Overflow"
"Two Faced"
"Stained"
"IGYEIH"
"Good Things Go"


Without expectations, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell, and Hahn quietly began meeting up again in recent years. Rather than “trying to restart the band,” their instinct was to simply spend more time together, and reconnect with the creativity and camaraderie that has been at the core of their friendship since college. During this time, they invited various friends and cohorts to join them in the studio; among the guests, they found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain. A natural chemistry drew these musicians back into its gravitational pull as they logged more and more hours in the studio. It was the sound of lifelong musicians rediscovering the uncontainable energy of a new beginning once again. Over this season, From Zero was born.


About the new era, Shinoda stated, “Before Linkin Park, our fi

In a new video shared by former Skid Row frontman Erik Grönwall, he performs the Celine Dion version of the Eric Carmen song, "All By Mself", originally released in 1975.


Celine Dion's version of the song was released as a single in 1996, taken from her fourth English-language studio album, Falling into You. 







Live In London, Skid Row's first official live album and concert film in a 35+ year career, is now available on heavyweight 2LP gatefold, CD + DVD, digital download and all streaming services via earMUSIC.


"Youth Gone Wild" is the latest video from the full program, and captures the rapture of a sold out 02 Forum Kentish Town London gone wild for the Skids and the culmination of a dream years in the making.


"As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and CBGB in New York City... our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from," the band says.





Following the release of their critically acclaimed, hugely fan-embraced 2022 album The Gang's All Here, the band took the 02 stage on October 22 and delivered a Skid Row set for the ages. Running through their multi-platinum career, the packed venue could barely contain the band's and the fans’ energy on "18 And Life," "Monkey Business," "I Remember You" and so many other peak Skid Row moments.


Live In London is a defining live rock album... a band playing at the top of their game in front of a crowd that expected no less. Both Skid Row and the 02 public went far beyond expectations...and now the world can share in that moment.


Order/save the album now on Vinyl, CD, and all digital formats, here





Live In London tracklisting:


"Slave To The Grind"
"The Threat"
"Big Guns"
"18 And Life"
"Piece Of Me"
"Livin' On A Chain Gang"
"Psycho Therapy"
"In A Darkened Room"
"Makin' A Mess"
"The Gang’s All Here"
"Riot Act"
"Tear It Down"
"Monkey Business"
"I Remember You"
"Time Bomb"
"Youth Gone Wild"


"Slave To The Grind" (Live In London) vide

Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time performing the Alphaville hit, "Forever Young", originally released in 1984. 





Majestica are back with their first new music of 2024. The Swedish power metal quartet proudly presents their latest single, "A New Beginning", which is the band's first release since 2021. Therefore, the song name not only fits in relation to this, but also speaks about a new beginning and letting things come to an end. Paired with musical elements reminiscent of the 80s, Majestica unleashes a new catchy tune upon their fans that puts the band back on the radar.







As if the release of this brand new single wasn't enough, Majestica have also delivered a brand new music video for their single, which you can watch below.


Tommy

US hard rockers SteelCity have released their new studio album, “Reverence”, via Frontiers Music Srl. The new track “No Angel” and the accompanying visualizer are also out now.


Bassist Jason Cornwell describes the track as “a musical piece that showcases a perfect blend of technical precision and emotional depth, with the added bonus of a memorable hook.”


Order the album here.




Initially started as a solo project by founding member, principal songwriter, and guitarist Mike Floros, SteelCity evolved into the band that it is today. Their influences include such melodic and hard rock heavyweights as KISS, Europe, and Winger. The name SteelCity is derived from the hard-working, blue-collar, Mid-Western town of Youngstown, Ohio.


By carefully assembling the most skilled, talented rock musicians available, Mike molded a band that became a vaunted force in the melodic hard rock underground. Enter Roy Cathey, lead vocalist extraordinaire. As a member of the early-90s sensation Cold Sweat, his Herculean voice has been appreciated by audiences worldwide.


Holding down the bottom end is Jason Cornwell, an experienced studio and touring musician, “The Boston Bassman” has shared the stage with such luminaries as Eric Martin. Skilled drummer Anthony White, also of Cold Sweat fame, completes the rhythm section.


Rounding out the group is Tony Stahl, whose keyboards bring texture and depth to SteelCity’s songs, thus completing the shape of their sound.





“Reverence” Tracklist:


"I Ain’t Dreamin’ Bout You"
"Hammer’s Fallin’"
"No Angel"
"Dizzy"
"Walk Away"
"B.A.N.K."
"Midnight Dancer"
"Broken"
"Losing Control"
"Blinded"
"The Journey"


"No Angel" visualizer:





"Walk Away" visualizer:

The new album from Norwegian black metal monsters Mork is out today on Peaceville. The album, titled Syv, was written, performed and recorded entirely by Mork mastermind Thomas Eriksen.


Alongside the release of the album today, Mork have shared an animated video by Matt Vickerstaff that hearkens back to the brutality of days gone by. About the video, Eriksen said “How to settle an argument or a feud in the old days, fight til death. Two men on a small isle. The boat will only carry one man back. A historical theme wrapped in a simple and yet traditional sounding soundscape. Holmgang!”


Following on from Thomas Eriksen’s self-titled Udåd project debut earlier this year; a dark release which explored the more underground & murkier-sounding waters of primitive black metal from a by-gone era, Syv emerges as the new pinnacle of Mork’s and Eriksen’s ever-evolving journey, as well as a creative expansion both sonically & compositionally over all prior works.




Syv also undoubtedly represents Mork’s most expressive and diverse works to date, with exquisite melodies interspersed with brutal and even occasionally progressive riffs amid an ever-present air of melancholy. This forms a perfect backdrop for Eriksen’s thematic dive through the contemplations of looming mortality, and digressions through the depths and contrasts of human existence; from the blackness of despair, to the pride & strength in overcoming, as well as absorbing additional inspiration from tales of old.


“We have reached the seventh chapter of the Mork saga. As I have stated earlier, it has been important for me to let the music evolve over the span of albums. It has really been a rewarding couple of years writing and recording Syv. When listening back the finished product I felt a great satisfaction. Brutal riffs meeting melancholy and melodic passages with a slight progressive approach. Lyrically scraping the bottom of human existence and frailty as well as touching an immense pride and strength. This is probably my most varied album to date. Which in my mind makes a perfect outcome and addition to the Mork catalogue.” – Thomas Eriksen


Syv was performed, recorded & mixed by Eriksen himself, with engineering assisted by Freddy Holm (who also contributes with strings and synths). Mastering work on the album was carried out by studio mastering guru Maor Appelbaum (Sepultura) in collaboration with Jack Control at Enormous Door (Darkthrone).


Syv is available on black vinyl gatefold LP, cream white vinyl gatefold LP, jewel case CD with 12-page booklet and digitally. Order at this location.





Tracklisting:


“I Tåkens Virvel”
“Holmgang”
“Heksebål”
“Utbrent”
“Med Døden Til Følge”
“Ondt Blod”
“Tidens Tann”
“Til Syvende Og Sist”
“Omme”


"Holmgang" lyric video:





“Utbrent” video:

Portland, Oregon's Unto Others spent their seasons in the abyss and arise from the other side with their third full-length Never, Neverland, out today via Century Media.   


The record is equally drey while never letting go of the energy and darkness that is Unto Others; one that owes as much to The Cure as it does to self-professed influences like The Sisters of Mercy and Iron Maiden.  Simply put: this is the record where Unto Others prove themselves far more than just a one-trick, blackened steed, but instead, a band on the verge of something wickedly terrible and utterly timeless.


To celebrate Never, Neverland's release, Unto Others have shared an electrifying performance video for album single "Suicide Today."  Gabriel Franco comments, "The song is about bad decisions, and how they can proliferate into a hard life, or a sad death. Living in a big city, you see a lot of sadness and despair. So much you can bathe in it if you want.  I used to be fascinated with these things, and it comes out in a lot of our music. But I as I get older I am more interested in the silver linings that surround it all. The beauty of someone lending a helping hand, or a simple kind gesture. These are the ways one person can make a difference. 'Suicide Today' is a positive song. I hope someone who needs it can take something from it worthwhile."







Never, Neverland also marks a new epoch for Unto Others (rounded out by guitarist Sebastian Silva, bassist Brandon Hill and drummer Colin Vranizan). Having emerged in 2017, the band turned heads with the Don't Waste Your Time EP, followed by the beloved 2019 full length Mana and 2021's heavy hitting Strength LP.  Now, Unto Others build upon the seductive and beguiling foundation they've hewn out of a bedrock of goth, classic rock, punk, black metal and heavy metal.  


Bringing in producer Tom Dalgety for Never, Neverland was a welcome change for Franco and crew. The results of the month spent in Portland’s Falcon Studios (where they recorded Mana) with Dalgety deliver majestically on Unto Others’ shadowy promise— guitars swell and thrash with color and shape while a newfound confidence and dimension creeps into Gabe’s vocals.  Never, Neverland weaves a spell of its own and cements Unto Others as the reflectively-bespeckled visage of goth today.


Order on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Butterfly”
“Momma Likes The Door Closed”
“Angel Of The Night”
“Suicide Today”
“Sunshine”
“Glass Slippers”
“Fame”
“When The Kids Get Caught”
“Flatline”
“Time Goes On”
“Cold World”
“I Am The Light”
“Farwell”
“Raigeki 雷撃”
“Hoops”
“Never, Neverland”
“Pet Sematary” (Bonus cover version)


"Momma Likes The Door Closed":





"Angel Of The Night":





“Raigeki 雷撃” video:





See Unto Others on tour across the globe this fall. Buy tickets here.


Unto Others lineup:


Gabriel Franco - Vocals, Guitars
Sebastian Silva - Guitar

LINKIN PARK played a new song called "Heavy Is The Crown" live for the first time during the band's concert earlier tonight (Sunday, September 22) at Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

"Heavy Is The Crown" will be the theme song of League Of Legends' World Championship 2024 esports tournament and will also appear on LINKIN PARK's upcoming album "From Zero", which will arrive on November 15 via Warner. It will mark LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.

The studio version of "Heavy Is The Crown" is expected to be released later this week. A teaser for the recording is available below.

Earlier this month, LINKIN PARK released the first single from "From Zero", a song called "The Emptiness Machine".

Hamburg marked the third concert of LINKIN PARK's comeback mini-tour, following dates in Los Angeles and New York. All three shows featured LINKIN PARK performing a two-hour set on a high-tech stage shaped like an aircraft carrier, allowing for a unique production as well as a greater-than-usual number of tickets sold at each venue.

As was the case with the Los Angeles and New York shows, tonight's gig showcased LINKIN PARK's new singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who have joined returning members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Joe Hahn in the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder is filling in for Delson at all LINKIN PARK concerts for the foreseeable future.

The Hamburg show will be followed by stops in London; Seoul; and Bogota, Colombia. A longer tour is promised for 2025.

In an interview with Billboard about LINKIN PARK's comeback, Shinoda explained that drummer Rob Bourdon — who had founded the band with Mike and Brad — had decided to exit LP.

"Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band," Shinoda said. "And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The 'Hybrid Theory' re-release [in 2020] and 'Papercuts' release [this April], he didn't show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best."

According to a press release, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell and Hahn "quietly began meeting up again in recent years" and "rather than 'trying to restart the band,'" they worked with numerous musicians and "found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain."

Regarding the band's new lineup and future plans, Shinoda said in a statement: "Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was XERO. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future — embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead."

"The Emptiness Machine" is said to "channel the DNA of LINKIN PARK." Shinoda said the band feels "really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we've made together," adding that they are "weaving together the sonic touchpoints we've been known for and still exploring new ones."
Sneak peek of the studio version of the Worlds 2024 Anthem, "Heavy Is The Crown" by Linkin Park | #LeagueOfLegendspic.twitter.com/k7bFYgRTJ2

— League of Legends Leaks & News (@LeagueOfLeaks) September 22, 2024

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was joined by AC/DC singer Brian Johnson at the inaugural Sky Arts Awards at the Roundhouse in London, United Kingdom on Tuesday (September 17) to perform a cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor". Professionally filmed video of the performance — courtesy of Johnson's official YouTube channel, Brian Johnson TV — can be seen below.

Slash collaborated with Johnson on a cover of "Killing Floor" for the guitarist's latest solo album, "Orgy Of The Damned", a collection of 12 revitalized blues classics. The track features Johnson on vocals and AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler on harmonica.

Regarding how he got Johnson and Tyler to appear on "Killing Floor", Slash told Steve Migs of Audacy Check In: "That's a good question. I had the song and I was trying to think who would be great to do it. And Brian came to mind. And I've known Brian for a pretty long time now. And he just has that great kind of grit to his voice. And I called him up and it turns out that he's a huge fuckin' Howlin' Wolf protégé. And so he had been in cover bands before AC/DC and even before GEORDIE. And also, he was telling me that he's doing something at present where he's putting together sort of a blues-orchestra thing. Don't quote me on that, but something to that [effect]. Anyway, and so he was excited to do that particular song anyway. And that's the key thing that you're looking for, is that when you call any of these great artists up and you have a cover song that you want to attack and if they would be willing to participate, that the song speaks to them, that it has meaning to them too, not just me. And that's how it was with Brian. He was, like, 'Oh, fucking great. Yeah, let's do this.' And then Steven Tyler came in. He came to my studio after Brian had already done the vocal. And I'm trying to remember exactly… I mean, he came in to do the harmonica or he just happened to have a harmonica with him. I can't remember, but I played him the track. It was, like, 'This is great.' So it was very spontaneous. It was very just sort of inspired in the moment, which is a great thing to be able to capture, especially nowadays because people just, by and large, don't make records like that now. Everything is very well thought out and cultivated and homogenized and produced, and this was just very, very off the cuff."

Released in May via Gibson Records, "Orgy Of The Damned" also features such guest vocalists as Iggy Pop, THE BLACK CROWES' Chris Robinson, Gary Clark Jr., ZZ TOP's Billy F Gibbons, Dorothy, BAD COMPANY's Paul Rodgers, pop star Demi Lovato and country artist Chris Stapleton.

The video for "Killing Floor", which can be seen below, offers a look at Slash and his blues band — Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),Michael Jerome (drums) and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar) — recording the song in the studio.

Slash previously said about the track: "'Killing Floor' is one of my favorite Howlin' Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I've always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp."

Johnson stated: "When Slash asked me to sing on 'Killing Floor', I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven's harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on."

Cleanbreak, the unit consisting of powerhouse singer James Durbin and guitarist Mike Flyntz (Riot V), today shares a new single, "Unbreakable". This is the second single off the band's upcoming new album, We Are The Fire, out October 11 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch a lyric video below:





Since their 2022 debut album Coming Home, Cleanbreak has continued to craft music that pays homage to more traditional American heavy metal sounds like Riot and Fifth Angel. We Are The Fire, the band's second chapter, continues that trajectory, again showing off the immense talent of both Durbin and Flyntz. They are joined by Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline, Vanden Plas) on bass, keyboards, and backing vocals while Nicholas Papapicco (Robin McAuley, Toby Hitchcock) completes the lineup on drums.




About the album, Durbin comments: "This is a great collection of songs that I had the pleasure of singing and interpreting. Mike Flyntz is an absolute beast on guitar and it’s been an honor working with him. Thank you to all of our collective fans and the Cleanbreak fans. We love making music for you!"


Pre-order We Are The Fire here.





Tracklisting:


"Warrior's Anthem"
"Never Gone"
"Unbreakable"
"Can't Lose Hope"
"Breathless"
"Deal With Yourself"
"Love Again"
"Bide Our Time"
"Start To Breathe"
"We Are The Fire"
"Resilience In Our Souls"


"Warrior's Anthem" lyric video:

ProgPower USA 2024 took place from September 4 - 7th, 2024, at Center Stage, in Atlanta, GA. Aristsi on the bill included Amorphis, Winger, Frozen Crown, Elegy, Soen, Striker, Pagan's Mind and more.


Promoter Glenn Harveston has shared the following message in the aftermath:


"There has been universal praise across social media that Winger not only had the best sound this year, but perhaps in the history of the fest. Every single thing was crystal clear and pitch perfect....and zero backing tracks.




There are two reasons:   


1) Their soundman is world class.


2) They took this show so seriously that they went out and rented the exact FOH board that Center Stage has and rehearsed with it for a few days prior to the fest. They soundchecked for 45 mins on Saturday morning without even going through a full song - just jumped around to certain verses and choruses of different songs: 'Third chorus, A- minor...' and they instantly started on that spot.


I have never seen anything like it. They were just testing various sound aspects they had worked on prior to even walking in the door. No one has ever done that at the fest and I doubt no one ever will again."


Check out Winger's full set below, which featured the band's Pull album performed in its entirety.


Setlist:


"Blind Revolution Mad"
"Down Incognito"
"Spell I'm Under"
"In My Veins" (live debut)
"Junkyard Dog (Tears on Stone)"
"The Lucky One" (live debut)
"In for the Kill" (first time since 2002)
"No Man's Land"
"Like a Ritual"
"Who's the One"
"Rainbow in the Rose"
- guitar solo -
"Black Magic" (Reb Beach song)
"Headed for a Heartbre

National Album Day has announced the exclusive list of limited edition albums that are being released for the annual event celebrating the art of the album on Saturday, October 19, this year themed on Great British Groups. Among them are Judas Priest's classic 1980 album, British Steel.


The special titles will be available to purchase in retailers across the UK on NAD itself, with some already available for pre-order. National Album Day is presented in association with official broadcast partner BBC Radio 2.


Last week, iconic alternative rock band Shed Seven were announced as the first album champions to celebrate this year’s theme and most recently, it was announced that Kilimanjaro Live, one of the UK’s leading music promoters, will be the official live partner for this year.




Celebrating their 55th anniversary as a band, English heavy metal icons Judas Priest are reissuing their seminal sixth studio album, British Steel, on transparent, black and white splatter vinyl. Originally released in April 1980, it features the singles "Living After Midnight", "Breaking The Law" and "United". In 2017, it was ranked third on Rolling Stone's

In a recent interview with former THE HOURGLASS guitarist Rudi Messiah, DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier spoke about METALLICA's evolution from thrash metal pioneers to one of the biggest rock bands in the world with their 1991 self-titled LP, commonly known as the Black Album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think they've always been the first ones doing something. I think when they created their style of thrash metal, they've been one of the first bands and they did it very good. They made the right decisions on producers and stuff. And also when they changed, when the big change came with the Black Album, they chose the right producer for it. And it was a very different album, but it has great songs. So, I think it's a lot of making the right decisions and having the right producer, having the right team around you. But also, you have to write good songs. And they've been writing a lot of great songs. In the last years, not so much, I think. The last years of METALLICA, the last albums, they don't really touch me so much. The last album [2023's '72 Seasons'] is not bad, I have to say… There's this one song that sounds like DIAMOND HEAD, the first single ['Lux Æterna']. It's actually a pretty cool song. But, yeah, I think they're there because they were one of the first bands doing something new. And when they changed, they changed to amazing songwriting and amazing production with Bob Rock at that time. So they did they did a lot of things right, of course, at the right time. And that's how the world works — the right timing is always most important."

Back in 2019, Schmier was asked by Finland's Rauta about why American thrash bands like METALLICA and SLAYER achieved greater success than German acts such as DESTRUCTION and KREATOR. He responded: "You have to understand the Americans are sellers — they know how to sell themselves when it comes to image, when it comes to catchy songs. I mean, look at METALLICA — they started to write catchy songs, and then they became famous… They still fill stadiums. And SLAYER, of course, they had their 'cult' status at one point, and then they were up on this [level] that is kind of untouchable, basically. I think the American bands, if you look at the age, they are all a little older than us. We were the little kids when the American bands were, like, two years older than us, three years older. So, they were all technically also the better players at that time, because we were just 17 and they were already 21. So, I think that is one of the reasons why the American metal was more famous. The big wave came from America; the big labels were from America. The productions were flawless at the time. The first METALLICA albums still sound great. Even the guy was a Danish guy who produced them. They did a lot of things right. And I think that made the American bands, of course, a little bit ahead of the time, ahead of the schedule. And that's why they're so legendary nowadays."

DESTRUCTION, known as one of the "Teutonic Four", alongside KREATOR, SODOM and TANKARD, was reunited with the other three acts at the "Klash Of The Ruhrpott" concert on July 20 at Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

In a January 2023 interview with Felipe Canales of Chile's iRock, Schmier was asked if he and his DESTRUCTION bandmates have ever considered changing their sound in order to reach a wider audience. He responded: "In Germany, we say, 'Don't change your winning recipe. Stick to the guns. Stick to what you can do best.' And for me, what I can do best is playing thrash metal. Every album we do sounds a little bit different, but it always will sound like DESTRUCTION.

"When you get older, it's very easy to slow down," Schmier explained. "A lot of musicians, when they [get] older, they wanna slow down; they wanna play blues; they wanna play more mellow music. For me, that's never been the case. I think the older you [get], the more you go crazy about it. You wanna still show the young kids how it's done. When we go out there to the festivals, we compete… To all those young bands, I could be [their] father, so I have to be the role model. So that's how I see it. Slowing down and changing something is not what we do."

As for whether it's harder for him to play physically challenging music as he gets older, Schmier said: "It's like in football — the old, experienced player, he has the feel for it. The young player runs more and runs faster. The old player has the eye and the brain. And it's the same in music. Of course I have to train harder to go on stage, but my experience of my age is great because I have better voice control. I know more what I want. I know what I don't want and where the band belongs. So this experience of a certain 40 years in the music business is, of course, a great one."

DESTRUCTION's latest studio album, "Diabolical", came out in April 2022 via Napalm Records.

In August 2021, DESTRUCTION officially parted ways with founding guitarist Michael "Mike" Sifringer and replaced him with Martin Furia. The Argentinian-born, Belgian-based Furia is best known for his work as sound engineer and producer for such bands as NERVOSA and EVIL INVADERS.

Sifringer was the only member of DESTRUCTION to have remained constant throughout the band's career. Schmier appeared on DESTRUCTION's first three albums before exiting the band and being replaced by POLTERGEIST vocalist André Grieder. André's sole recorded appearance with DESTRUCTION was on the "Cracked Brain" album, which came out in 1990. Schmier rejoined DESTRUCTION in 1999.

Photo credit: Jennifer Gruber

MEGADETH and Peter Frampton both had their concerts canceled at Virginia Credit Union Live! at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia earlier in the week.

On Sunday, September 15, MEGADETH wrote on social media: "Due to unexpected and unpredictable circumstances, our show tonight, Sunday, Sept. 15, in Richmond, Virginia, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled."

Two days later, Frampton, who was scheduled to perform on Tuesday night, also called off his show.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, our show tonight at Virginia Credit Union Live has been cancelled," a post on Frampton's Facebook page read. "We apologize for the inconvenience. Refunds will be available at point of purchase."

After Frampton's cancelation, AEG Presents, which handles booking for the 6,000-capacity venue, did not respond to requests for comment from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. But the English-American guitarist and songwriter addressed the cancelations while performing at the The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday (September 19). Frampton told the crowd at the gig: "So, we had a show canceled the other day because of weather. And also MEGADETH did a soundcheck, I think a couple of days before our show, and after they finished their soundcheck, there was structural damage to the stage. I'm not blaming them — could have been another band — but it looks pretty like it. So, sorry, MEGADETH. I had to rat on you."

In 2017, Virginia Credit Union Live! celebrated its 25th anniversary by forging a multi-year partnership with AEG Presents. The partnership brought new acts to the venue as well as continued the tradition of being the hub for outdoor concerts in Richmond.

Richmond Raceway and AEG Presents are in the eighth year of an exclusive 10-year booking agreement for Virginia Credit Union Live!, which is said to be the only covered amphitheater in the greater Richmond region.

Virginia Credit Union, a financial cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, continues its multi-year agreement on the naming rights of the amphitheater. As a partner since 2018, Virginia Credit Union is actively a part of the concert experience with the distinctive Virginia Credit Union Live! brand represented throughout the facility to colorfully convey the energy and excitement of the venue. Virginia Credit Union members also get exclusive access to pre-sales and free parking for concerts.

In May 2019, Richmond Raceway unveiled a completed $500,000 amphitheater redevelopment at Virginia Credit Union Live! The capital investment included a reseating of the venue to create flexible seating and additional aisles to offer fans the best views and concert experience. The new removable padded seats in the front half of the venue have provided flexible options for the amphitheater to offer reserved seating, general admission seating or a standing pit area. The expanded pit area has allowed more rock and alternative shows to perform at the venue.

Additional improvements to Virginia Credit Union Live! include a new stage, speaker system on Commonwealth Mall, new landscaping along the seating entrance, new restroom open on the hill and new backstage fencing. Past improvements include a porta bar on the hill overlooking concerts, public WiFi, updated public restrooms and redeveloped back of house to improve the experience for entertainers with updated star rooms and other new features.

Due to unexpected and unpredictable circumstances, our show TONIGHT, Sunday, September 15th, in Richmond, Virginia, has...

Posted by Megadeth on Sunday, September 15, 2024

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who joined the band a year ago as the replacement for Kiko Loureiro, was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for MEGADETH's follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, actually, already a while back Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] started talking about making the next album and kind of starting to do pre-production. And as soon as he mentioned that, and kind of before that already, once it was clear that I'm gonna be staying with the band, then I kind of started putting my ideas down and just recording any riff ideas that I feel like could be something that could be used in MEGADETH. And by now I have a bunch of riffs and ideas that I've gathered. And then Dave told me that he likes to work the way that everybody does their riffs and then at some point we're gonna get together and then review things and see which riffs are gonna work together and then work out the parts between the riffs to kind of connect things and then that way come up with the skeletons for the songs. And I'm really looking forward to doing that and hearing how he feels about my ideas as well. But what I've done so far is whenever I have a moment to sit down, I usually just record a little video of myself playing a riff idea and then when we have a day off at the hotel, then I would record that properly and then just like have this folder of riffs that we can look into at some point. So, [I'm] really looking forward to that. And Dave has been really supportive and sounds like he wants to have all the guys' input on the next album, which is really exciting."

Last month, Mustaine was asked by Chuck Armstrong of "Loudwire Nights" how the dynamic within MEGADETH has changed since Mäntysaari's addition to the band. Mustaine responded: "Well, we are a band again. It doesn't feel like me and some side players or some session guys. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears that I had. I feel like Kiko did us a really huge courtesy by helping us find Teemu because with Kiko needing to step down… I thought I was gonna finish my career out with Kiko, and when things came up with him, he couldn't tour anymore because he needed to be home for his kids. So I see he's touring again, which I'm happy that he's still playing. But he had to go home. And when he did, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was an even closer connection between me and Teemu than Kiko and I had. We'll [Kiko and I] always be friends, but this new relationship I have is — it harkens me back to the days when we had Marty Friedman in the band and the four of us actually felt like a band."

Mäntysaari stepped in September 2023 for Loureiro, who announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the 37-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Earlier last month, Mustaine was asked by Kyle Meredith what Mäntysaari has brought to MEGADETH that wasn't there before. Mustaine responded: "God, he's such an amazing talent. And as far as being a human is concerned, he's a really humble guy. He's fun to be around because he's kind of — there's this 'greenness' to him, if that's a word, greenness. He makes it really fun because he's gone from being in a band that was pretty well known to being in MEGADETH. And so everything's very new for him at this level. And for us, we get to kind of enjoy ourselves, because we sometimes forget where we're at and then you see other people that, 'Wow, the bread is round and so is the meat,' that kind of shit. And it just makes him really happy, and it just reminds you of how good you have it."

Regarding how much a lineup change like that actually alters the musical DNA of the band, Dave said: "Well, it depends on who the new player is. If they're willing to learn the parts, then the songs either, they stay where they are or they get better. And a lot of times when you have a new player, like when Teemu came in, he played everything identical to the original players. So, he's been one of the best guitar players to step in and play somebody else's stuff. I don't know what his stuff's going to sound like yet, which I'm looking forward to finding out."

This past June, Mustaine told Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece that he thinks Teemu will contribute to the songwriting process on MEGADETH's next studio album. "I think he's gonna be a great addition to MEGADETH," Dave said. "He already has. We're playing more songs now than we were playing before. And that has nothing negative to say about any of the previous lineups. It just says that he knew more about the band and understands the metal backbone of so many of these songs more than some of the other people would understand it."

He continued: "When you're a metal guy, I think you understand metal compositions more than somebody who, say for example, knows progressive rock like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Chris Broderick does, or somebody who knows bossa nova, which Kiko does, or somebody that plays jazzy, like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Glen Drover would play, maybe Al Pitrelli. These guys all have their strengths."

Mustaine added: "I've often thought, although I've never said it, I do believe that when somebody gets singled out by me, that's pretty much it for them. They've been indoctrinated into the world of great guitar players, and from that moment on, their life will change."

In early October 2023, Mustaine told Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho about Teemu's addition to MEGADETH: "People are losing their minds over how things are going right now 'cause we have a really good chemistry together."

In September 2023, Mustaine was equally full of praise for Mäntysaari, telling Wes Styles in a separate interview: "He's really great. And I'm super excited with what Teemu has brought. And it's uncanny because he plays a lot like Marty. And it's really exciting. At certain times I just close my eyes during the set and I just hear these songs played, whether like Kiko in the past or Teemu now, it just sounds really magic because these guys have learned these songs and they're not just going out there and just banging their guitar around; they actually learned the solos from some of the virtuosos that I've played with over my career."

ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna made his live debut with DIO DISCIPLES on August 1 at the 2024 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. Professionally filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Featured songs:

00:00 Holy Diver
05:58 Heaven And Hell
13:23 Rainbow In The Dark

DIO DISCIPLES consist of members of Ronnie James Dio's band, supplemented with top-shelf musicians who have more than earned their stripes. In addition to keyboardist Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, WARRANT) and drummer Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, UFO),the band's current lineup is completed by vocalist Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB),bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, QUIET RIOT),guitarist Ira Black (BULLETBOYS, LIZZY BORDEN, VICIOUS RUMORS, VIO-LENCE) and the latest addition, the aforementioned Belladonna.

Billed as a "celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio," DIO DISCIPLES have been playing Ronnie's music on tour in a bid to keep their old bandmate's memory alive.

Four years ago, Wright told The Metal Voice that the proposed DIO DISCIPLES debut album had been put "on hold" so that he and his bandmates could focus on the "Dio Returns" tour. At the time, Simon said that "about four or five demos" had been laid down of "different songs" that he and former DIO guitarist Craig Goldy had been working on. As for the material's musical direction, Wright said: "It's difficult to pin it down, because some of [the tracks] are a little different. Still a little bit of [the] DIO [sound], the way Ronnie would write, obviously, 'cause that's rubbed off on Craig, and I hear things too. But at the moment, it's a little bit eclectic. So that was gonna be one thing we were gonna approach. We need to consolidate it and make it into a DIO DISCIPLES sound. So that was a conversation we were having: 'We need to figure out where we're going with this.' At the moment, it's a bit all over the place. But they sound good. They're great ideas."

Several years ago, Goldy revealed DIO DISCIPLES were planning to start work on a project of original material, and they debuted three of the new songs during their May 2016 appearance at the "Ride For Ronnie" motorcycle rally and concert in Encino.

Craig previously told "Talking Metal" that he has been collaborating with fellow former DIO member Jeff Pilson on the material for the debut DIO DISCIPLES album.

Goldy joined DIO during the "Sacred Heart" tour in 1986 after original guitarist Vivian Campbell was fired from the band following a contentious business disagreement with the singer and Ronnie's management.

Pilson is best known for playing bass with DOKKEN and FOREIGNER, but he also toured with DIO in the 1990s and performed on three of the group's albums — "Strange Highways" (1993),"Angry Machines" (1996) and the group's tenth and final studio release, "Master Of The Moon" (2004).

Owens told Canada's The Metal Voice about DIO DISCIPLES' forthcoming LP: "We're not making a DIO record. We couldn't do that. The best thing is, we've all done different types of records, but there's always some similarity to the classic metal and classic rock format, because we have this in us. But we still always move forward a little bit. But that's what it's gonna be. JUDAS PRIEST, DIO, AC/DC — all these influences are in us, and they're not gonna leave us. It's just us writing songs. It's not us writing songs to sound like something; it's us going in and writing songs."

In 2018, Wendy said that DIO DISCIPLES' debut album would be released via BMG.

Belladonna recently launched a tribute band to Ronnie James Dio. The new group played four shows in Florida in August, performing music from DIO, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW.

A decade ago, Belladonna spoke to Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner about the ANTHRAX frontman's involvement in "This Is Your Life", the tribute to album to Ronnie James Dio. Asked why ANTHRAX chose to record a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights", Belladonna said: "I think I suggested it. When we talked about doing something, collectively, we all like the song, so it was a no-brainer. We could pretty much pick anything… I went for the heavier."

Asked if recording the "Neon Knights" cover was a more emotional experience than some of the other cover versions ANTHRAX had recorded over the years, Belladonna said: "For me, no. I just love doing that type of thing, and it was another day for me to sing something of his. Obviously, I'm excited, because it is a record, but I don't think I did it any different. In fact, I only did a couple of takes. I mean, I actually have on video the first time I tried it, and it pretty much sounds like what it sounds like already. It was business as usual for me."

Regarding what Ronnie meant to him, Joey said: "Ronnie's an inspirational singer for me." He added: "I really believe that as you grow up, you're inspired by the people that perform and things that you would like to hear yourself be in that kind of category and have such a talent like he did and just be inspired. [He was a] great human being, great musician — just all that… He was just the slickest. He was so heavy but melodic, as well as his attitude about everything. He had great charisma."

Belladonna also spoke about the first impression Ronnie made on him. "He made me laugh big time," Joey said. "He just want[ed] to be funny. And yet he [was] so sincere and [could] have that serious point of view. You need to be enthralled with that when you're around him, to have him speak to you with that kind of attitude and spunk that he had. And I'd been around him when things weren't so good, which I won't bring up right now, but to have him share that with me, which was more private, about being in his band — things like that. Just to engage in that with me and run that by me."

Belladonna, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the influential thrash metal group's classic lineup (alongside guitarists Dan Spitz and Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante),which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over 10 albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's founding bassist Mike Dean has announced his departure from the band.

Dean revealed his decision to leave CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in a statement posted on social media on Friday (September 20).

He wrote: "Recently I made a decision to step away from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, a band started 40-odd years ago by Reed Mullin, Woody Weatherman, and myself.

"I'm extremely proud of everything we've done together, and look forward to hearing more from the band going forward.

"When I rejoined COC for the finishing touches of the 'Deliverance' album, I moved back to Raleigh, NC for an all-in creative campaign, but time, distance and side projects and life in general has changed all of that.

"Ever since Reed drifted away from the band and then passed away, it's been difficult for me to collaborate on new material with bandmates who live hundreds of miles away.

"I look forward to putting together a new Raleigh-based outlet to create new music with more alacrity and with more of an emphasis on my own ideas than in recent times. Also, I look forward to continuing to record and produce other artists.

"All the best to Woodroe, Pepper, and COC crew, and most importantly, many big thanks to the fans of all iterations of the band, who have made this real for all of these years. Salute!"

The remaining members of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY — Pepper Keenan (vocals, guitar) and Woodroe "Woody" Weatherman (guitar) — added in a separate statement: "We, Woodroe and Pepper, are in full support of Dean's future endeavors and wish him all the best in the quest. Thankful for the music made and (R)evolutionary paths created. That being said, this book of CORROSION is not finished, nor will the train stop.

"The opportunity to play music and create is something that we don't take lightly, and we will not waver. New COC recording is well underway and will be released in 2025.

"Much love and respect to all the free thinkin' beer drinkin' friends and fans worldwide, looking to making more. Without you, we are just growing deaf in a garage.

"See you on the horizon.

"Stay tuned, stay heavy."

A year and a half ago, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY confirmed the return of drummer Stanton Moore for its upcoming album. The "brutal-sounding" follow-up to 2018's "No Cross No Crown" is tentatively due in 2025.

Mullin died in January 2020 at the age of 53. The drummer, who co-founded CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1982 as a hardcore punk act alongside Weatherman and Dean, had missed a number of shows in the preceding four years due to a variety of health issues, including an alcohol-related seizure he suffered back in June 2016.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of Weatherman, Dean and Mullin to hit the road hard. "Reed called me and mentioned maybe playing a couple shows," Keenan recalled back in 2017. "I said, 'Let's just go to Europe and see if it works.' So we went to Europe and then ended up going back four times in one year... We toured for a year and then started tracking."

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recorded "No Cross No Crown" in about forty days over the course of a year at a North Carolina studio with longtime producer John Custer.

Photo credit: Dean Karr
pic.twitter.com/u9kGgETVdX

— C.O.C. (@coccabal) September 20, 2024

Hot on the heels of their most successful tour to date — spanning more than 60 shows across North America and over 100,000 tickets sold — and a year after the release of their chart-topping fifth album "The Surface", which earned the band their first pair of No. 1 singles at U.S. Active Rock radio ("Might Love Myself" and "I Was Alive") and nominations at the Heavy Awards and Libera Awards, BEARTOOTH has even more good news to share with fans.

The platinum-selling and billion-streaming Columbus rock band — Caleb Shomo, vocals; Zach Huston, guitars; Will Deely, guitars; Oshie Bichar, bass; and Connor Denis, drums — has dropped "The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" today, September 20, via Red Bull Records.

The expanded edition of the album features the brand new song "ATTN.", along with an accompanying music video, which can be seen below.

In classic BEARTOOTH fashion, it's rife with hooks, supremely catchy verses, arena-filling, sing-along choruses, and monster breakdowns. The anthemic highs are reflective of Shomo's introspective journey to finding and loving his authentic self.

The high-energy video sees Shomo voyage through the subway system to his next stop, before taking an elevator back to the streets above — a metaphor for his professional and personal path from ground zero to the top.

"'ATTN.' is about the ultimate conclusion that I've come to after this whole album cycle and living with these songs for as long as I have now," says Shomo, who has spent the past few years diligently cultivating a positive mental attitude after years of sharing his inner demons via his lyrics. "I think self-love has led to a deeper understanding of my value as a person, to myself and to others. I will always be proud of my art, and I will always be proud of the work that I've put in to say what matters to me. I think that's a great lesson for anybody to take in their own work and their own life."

Shomo continues: "Other people's perception of what you do does not dictate whether something is good or bad — that is only somebody's view. What matters is you, yourself, believing in your work and if it makes you happy and pushes you to be a better version of yourself. That is all that matters at the end of the day. Chasing that feeling and trusting it and finding a group of people that will empower you in that journey is what it's all about."

"The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" also includes new mixes of beloved album tracks and live cuts, the latter of which truly capture the band in its natural habitat — on stage and laying all of its cards face up on the table with and for their fans. The live renditions on the package were recorded at the Hard Rock in Sacramento, where they brought an unforgettable performance to a sold-out crowd. This fall, they'll bring "ATTN." to audiences for the first time, as they embark on an 18-date run hitting iconic venues like Alexandra Palace.

Lastly, the track "In Between" is now officially an RIAA-certified platinum single with over one million song sales in the U.S.

"The Surface" was released in October 2023 on Red Bull Records. It has garnered 190 million streams to date, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Hard Rock Albums, Luminate Alternative Albums, and Luminate Record Label Independent Current Albums, as well as No. 5 on Billboard's Top Album Sales. The single "I Was Alive" landed at No. 1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Airplay chart and the U.S. Mediabase Active Rock radio chart. Just six months prior, the album's previous single, "Might Love Myself", also hit No. 1 and was the band's first-ever chat topper at the format. BEARTOOTH achieving back-to-back, chart-topping singles at radio was a huge testament to their decade of growth and the power of "The Surface".

Like its predecessors, "The Surface" was an intensely personal and powerful journey for Shomo, who has never shied away from sharing his demons in his music and with his fans. However, the frontman has turned a corner with a more optimistic outlook and demonstrates exceptional growth as both an artist and a human being through the songs that comprise the album.

"The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" track listing:

01. The Surface
02. Riptide
03. Doubt Me
04. The Better Me (Feat. Hardy)
05. Might Love Myself
06. Sunshine!
07. What's Killing You
08. Look The Other Way
09. What Are You Waiting For
10. My New Reality
11. I Was Alive
12. ATTN.
13. I Was Alive (Live In Sacramento)
14. I Was Alive (Low Gain Mix)
15. Look The Other Way (Ambient Mix)
16. Might Love Myself (Live In Sacramento)
17. Might Love Myself (Smooth Mix)
18. Sunshine (Live In Sacramento)

Shomo first turned the pain of his struggle with mental health and self-image into music in 2013.

BEARTOOTH began as a living document, a diary, a journal of repressed rage and depression. Alone in his basement studio, screaming and singing, playing all the instruments, and self-producing a batch of furious but melodic songs filled with reflection and confession, the Ohio native stared into the abyss, initially with no intention of returning to the heavy music world that burned him as a teen. A decade later, the different pieces of his body of work connect in title, sound, and spirit. As the frontman approaches 32, BEARTOOTH's 2023-released fifth album, "The Surface", completes this era. It kicked off a new chapter filled with surprising optimism and just as honest. Depression is a sick, disgusting, aggressive disease below the surface. Shomo stands ready to bask in the light.

Like NINE INCH NAILS, BEARTOOTH remains a one-person band in the studio. On the heels of the introductory "Sick" EP (2013),"Disgusting" (2014) produced the band's first gold single, "In Between". "Aggressive" (2016) and "Disease" (2018) expanded on the desperation and pain, each a step closer to a balance between the blood and tears of classic recordings and the shimmer of modernity.

Rolling Stone heralded BEARTOOTH as one of 10 Artists You Need to Know. The rabid response to Shomo's music demonstrated how many people related to his struggle for self-acceptance. "Below" (2021) topped the Rock and Alternative charts and several Best Rock/Metal Albums Of The Year lists. As of 2024, the BEARTOOTH catalog boasts more than one billion streams across all platforms.

BEARTOOTH began as both bomb and balm, an outright refusal to suffer in silence, weaponizing radio-ready bombast, delivering raw emotion mixed with noise-rock chaos. Other bands play the "devastating riffs and catchy hooks" game, but this music is the difference between life and death, and now, a sort of life after death while still here. The band Forbes sees "inching towards a tipping point of becoming the latest arena headliner" is now one step closer.

Photo credit: Jamie Waters