Tommy Baldwin has released his debut video and single, "Save Me", featuring Dug Pinnick (King's X, KXM) and Elijah Pollard. Baldwin played on Pinnick’s Tribute To Jimi record released last year. Watch a video for "Save Me", directed by Alison Roberto (13 Reasons Why) and Sébastien Paquet (Korn, KXM), below.

"Save Me" is the debut single from Baldwin’s upcoming record, Phases, set for release on June 1. The album was produced by Dug Pinnick and also features Pinnick. Order the album via iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Spotify.

Tracklisting:

"Save Me"
"Gun In Your Hand"
"Love Has No Shame"
"Separate Ways"
"Inner You"
"Working In Progress"
"Sometimes I Feel Like"
"Not Much Time Left"
"I Am Yours"
"New Life"
"Celebrate"

"Save Me" video:




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The National Wrecking Company featuring members of The Lizards, Cactus, Humble Pie & The Plasmatics are releasing their debut album. The new release features one of the final recordings by guitar legend Bernie Torme, best known for his work with the Ian Gillan Band and Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away this year. The song is a bonus preview track from the upcoming National Wrecking Company II release Overture/Mechanized Confusion.

“A heavy diverse discourse on the current state of politics, war, religion and greed. The view from our vantage point of a global catastrophic claustrophobic dystopia.

“We've included this ultra-special bonus preview title track of National Wrecking Company II:(Overture/ “Mechanized Confusion”). In dedication to and featuring Bernie’s simply stunningly artful fretwork.

“God bless Bernie Tormé, a true gentleman and a monumental talent.” 

All songs were written on bass first, then arranged by JZ Barrell. He also produced, recorded, mixed and mastered the album. The band features 2 guitarists; 23 year old shred prodigy Jesse Berlin and Phil Bader, a 60 something finger stylist in the vein of  Beck and Knopfler. The bass is handled by Randy Pratt, best known for his work with The Lizards and harpist for classic rock legends Cactus. The drummer TC Tolliver is best known for his work with Wendy O Williams & The Plasmatics. Drums are also handled by Neil Cicione. Jimmy Kunes is featured on lead and backing vocals and Scott “The Doctor” Treibitz on keyboards. Together the National Wrecking Company crank out some weird and extreme metal.




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Sunset Strip music legend and long-time Spiders & Snakes front man Lizzie Grey (third from left on the top photo) – probably best known for penning the Mötley Crue hit song “Public Enemy #1” - passed away in his sleep this morning at a Las Vegas hospital surrounded by his wife Jennifer and daughters Ariel and Annabelle. Lizzie (aka Stephen Perry) had long been suffering from a rare brain disorder known as Lewy Body Disease and had been undergoing treatment for years. Surviving are his son Alex Perry, mother Jeanne Perry, brother Robert Perry and sister Susan Brandon.

“Lizzie was not only a legend in the world of music, but an amazing father, husband, and friend to many, and words cannot express how much we will miss him” said his wife Jennifer. Lizzie’s bandmember of 27+ years in Spiders & Snakes, Tim Yasui, added “it was a blessing to witness to how many adoring fans Lizzie had during our three decades together as Spiders & Snakes – it never ceased to amaze me that where ever we were on the road, people would approach us with stories about wanting to play guitar because of Lizzie – he literally influenced an entire generation of musicians from all over the world – and the world is a much better place because of him”

Lizzie Grey first hit the Hollywood spotlight in the late ‘70s with the band London that he formed with Nikki Sixx – a band that Sixx would soon depart to form his own band which became Mötley Crue. Grey remained on and off with London for the next decade, recording several albums before leaving the very band that he founded in 1988 to start another band called Ultra Pop. Ultra Pop recorded two critically-acclaimed albums back to back in ’88 and ’89, before changing the name of the band to Spiders & Snakes in 1990. From 1990 to 2017, Spiders & Snakes recorded nine studio albums, a cover song compilation album as well as a live album. In 2018, with Lizzie’s progressing complications from Lewy Body Disease, the band collectively decided to call it quits rather than moving on without Lizzie. 

Spiders & Snakes surviving band members Phil St Vincent (bass and vocals), Chris Sheridan (Guitar and vocals) and Yasui (drums and vocals) will reunite for one night this fall/winter at the Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood to raise money and awareness for Lewy Body Disease. An announcement on the date and its specifics will be posted on Facebook.

For more information on how to donate to money towards finding a cure for Lewy Body Disease, please visit this location.




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The sounds of ‘80s metal and shred are on full display throughout the debut full-length by guitarist Duane Morano. Entitled Incognito, the 13-track album will be released on Friday, May 17, and can be pre-ordered here. The album features input from some very well-known/respected names within the rock and metal worlds.

“Morano doesn't really have any members,” explains the band leader. “It's a bunch of revolving people based on who's available. The main lineup on this record are Michael Foster, Pat Badger, Danny Vaughn, Terry Ilous, Bryan Cole, Keith Horne, Dan Michaels, Chris Lester, JK Northrup, with other guests such as Nita Strauss, Shane French, Kevin Figueiredo, and Eric Clemenzi playing on a track or two.”

“I wanted my first record to be about the music that inspired me to play. I've played everything from 50's doo wop to country to modern pop as a hired gun over the years, but the 80's was where music really began for me, so I wanted to celebrate that.”

And celebrate it he does, as such standout tracks as “After The Love”, “Face The Fire”, and “Don’t Believe You” bring to mind the sounds and stylings of some of Morano’s top influences, including Van Halen, Def Leppard, Journey, and Night Ranger.

But the talented Morano didn’t just appear out of nowhere. “Back in 1991 Dan Michaels and I were in a band together called Shattered Image. We were in the studio recording a 4 song demo to submit to labels when one of the tracks, ‘Manhattan,’ became a favorite of local Tampa Bay radio DJ Austin Keys after hearing us play the song at a local club. We gave him the demo and he put the song into rotation on 98 Rock. From there, It spiraled to several other stations in the southeast but the face of music changed less than a year later and so were the hopes to release a record.”

Times have changed, however, and Morano (whose 30-instrument strong collection is includes his main axe, which is a 1987 Ibanez RG570) looks to take full advantage of the ‘80s metal resurgence. “I think this genre continues to be popular due to the underlying energy in the music. It's happy sounding and there's an organic quality to it. You didn't have the amp simulators, auto tune, and the ability to time slip musical performances to make them artificially tight. The human element of the player got lost.”

And as evidenced by the arrival of Duane Morano’s Incognito - and with possible live work on the horizon - the genre is most certainly alive and well.

Tracklisting/lineup:

"After The Love"

Vocals: Danny Vaughn
Guitar: Duane Morano
Bass: Pat Badger
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Bryan Cole

"Cookie Jar"

Vocals: Bryan Cole
Guitars: Chris Lester, Duane Morano
Bass: Tony Franklin
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Dan Michaels

"Love Is A Lie"

Vocals: Terry Ilous
Guitars: JK Northrup, Duane Morano
Lead Guitar: Eric Clemenzi
Bass: Chris Lester
Drums: Michael Foster

"Face The Fire"

Vocals: Danny Vaughn
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Keith Horne
Drums: Kevin Figueiredo
Backing vocals: Bryan Cole

"Giovanna"

Vocals: Danny Vaughn
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: John Morano
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Bill Leverty

"Don’t Believe You"

Vocals: Bryan Cole
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Keith Horne
Drums: Michael Foster

"Barely Breathing"

Vocals: Danny Vaughn
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Chris Lester
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Dan Michaels

"Kid Gloves"

Vocals: Danny Vaughn
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Pat Badger
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing Vocals: Bryan Cole
Spoken word: John Surabian

"I Want Love"

Vocals: Terry Ilous
Guitars: JK Northrup, Duane Morano
Bass: Tom Appleman
Drums: Kevin Figueiredo

"Hearts"

Vocals: Terry Ilous
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Tony Franklin
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Dan Michaels, Bryan Cole

"Manhattan"

Vocals: Dan Michaels
Guitars: Nita Strauss, Duane Morano
Bass: Pat Badger
Drums: Michael Foster

"Why"

Vocals: Terry Ilous
Guitars: Duane Morano
Bass: Keith Horne
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Bryan Cole

"Sincerely Yours"

Vocals: Bryan Cole
Guitars: Shane French, Duane Morano
Bass: Pat Badger
Drums: Michael Foster
Backing vocals: Bryan Cole




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Reporting for The Metal Voice, Kenny Kessel interviewed former guitarists of Riot, Lou Kouvaris and Rick Ventura, of the newly formed group, Riot Act, at the Warehouse bar in Amityville, New York on August 2nd.  This was Riot Act's second show where the band played songs from the first three albums: Rock City, Narita and Fire Down Under.

Lou Kouvaris played and wrote on the Riot debut album, Rock City, and wrote on the band's second album, Narita  Rick Ventura played and wrote on the Riot albums Narita, Fire Down Under, Restless Breed, and Born in America.

On how Riot Act was formed

Ventura: "It came about from Riot V. Guitarist Mike Flyntz invited me to perform with Riot V as a guest at B.B. King's club and I got to play 'Swords And Tequila' and 'Warrior' on stage after so many years, and it just escalated from there. Then, Lou was invited to perform with Riot V in Japan. So our performances lit a fire under our butts." 

Kouvaris: "I went to Japan in 2015 with Riot V as special guest, I did a little tour with them. Riot V was very gracious and the rest is history. I did ask Rick to do this in 2011 but he was busy doing something else, but it took the Riot V people to ignite us."

On the possibility of recording new material

Kouvaris: "We are going to do an album, resurrect some old and bring in some new songs. Rick and I have tons of material and we can probably collaborate on."

Ventura: "It's about getting new material ot there not just playing not just playing old stuff, but right now we are playing older material because fans want to hear it. Lou and I never worked together, we never played on the same stage together, so playing those classic Riot songs is fun. We are having a blast, it reminds you of how great and intense those songs were."




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Fast-rising North Carolinian instrumental progressive metal band, Anamorph, recently announced the upcoming release of their ambitious, otherworldly full-length album, Lucid, scheduled for independent release on September 6.

The Raleigh-based quartet - featuring Sean Parkinson and Cole Lohmann on guitars, James Agusta on drums and Griffin Daniels on bass - deftly weave notes of prog-rock, prog-metal, tech death, math rock, post rock and other influences together, making the 57-minute Lucid an intriguing listen for any fan of thought-provoking metal.

Lucid, which was recorded by renowned producer Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, Scale the Summit, The Contortionist), is available for pre-order now via the band's website, Bandcamp and iTunes, and the album will be available to stream upon release via Spotify.

A bass playthrough video for the track "Overcome" can be seen below. Bassist Griffin Daniels says: "When it comes to bass, 'Overcome' takes place all over the fretboard. Both my right and left hands put forward a massive amount of work throughout the entire song. Overall this is one of my favorite songs from the album, and there wasn't another choice that could've fit bass better. From the pirate-like beginning, to the technical hectic side of the middle, and finally getting sent off with the big epic phrase at the end, this song is a whirlwind of techniques and musical feeling."

The video was filmed in Umstead State Park in Raleigh, NC, and behind Griffin is the base of a tree that was once nearly 100 feet long, dating back at least a century. Rather than letting the tree rot after it fell, a park ranger hired artists at Smoky Mountain Art to use chainsaws to create the art seen now. Turned slightly orange by Australian timber oil, the old oak features 20 feet of carvings.

Anamorph likens themselves as "a band about the world" - writing music that is deeply reflective, with themes and motifs that span the scope of the human condition - wide ranges of emotions, states of mind, thought processes, and perspectives. Anamorph emulates the world at large, drawing attention to triumphs and shortcomings, beauty and destruction, the struggles of growth, and the uncertainty that encompasses us all as we drive forward into the future.

Agusta adds: "These themes can all be found on the album, which plays and develops as a progression of thought. Musical and thematic motifs can be found throughout the album, which create ties and links between the overarching theme of the record."

Anamorph wastes no time kicking off the album with "Reverie" and "Myopia", two different entrancing examples of heavy prog-metal/rock mixed with experimental ethereals. Tracks like "Hubris" show off the band's jazz metal inspiration, while songs like "Fading Azure" and the outright ripping "Feasting a Ravaged Earth" delve into total tech death. Listeners can expect this and more on Anamorph's truly astonishing new offering.

Lucid tracklisting:

"Reverie"
"Myopia"
"Hubris"
"Fading Azure"
"Twilight's Somber Gaze"
"Feasting a Ravaged Earth"
"Breakthrough!"
"Endogenous Change"
"Sublimate"
"Overcome"
"Civilized Sociopath"
"Catharsis"
"In Time"

"Breakthrough!" video:

Anamorph have honed their performance chops by supporting artists such as Felix Martin, Consider The Source, Sarah Longfield, Toothgrinder and more. The band is scheduled to hit the road on a tour of the US east coast this September, performing with various artists along the way such as Stellar Circuits and others. See below for a full list of confirmed dates.

September
5 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook
6 - Augusta, GA - The Epicenter
10 - Toms River, NJ - The Clubhouse
11 - Boston, MA - O'Brien's Pub
12 - Wallingford, CT - Cherry St. Station
14 - Dayton, OH - Blind Bob's
15 - Charlotte, NC - The Milestone

(Photo - Brian Krahe)




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Scott Stapp has released "Gone Too Soon", the final advance track from his first album in six years, "The Space Between The Shadows". Thus far, radio single "Purpose For Pain", "Name" (about the cycle of abuse and abandonment), and uplifting rocker "Face Of The Sun" have been revealed to fans, who have responded to the tune of three million plays across global, cross-platform, streams, and socials. The album is available for pre-order and will be released July 19 via Napalm.

"Gone Too Soon" speaks about unexpected tragedies and the solace in honoring those lost, vowing to help others, and the promise of reuniting in the hereafter. The sentiment applies to great voices — Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, Prince — as well as near-daily headlines about fallen soldiers and victims of inconceivable violence, PTSD and/or addiction.

Having passed the five-year milestone of his sobriety, these losses weigh heavy on Stapp's heart, who once walked his own razor's edge. As a Grammy-winning songwriter, Scott turned to music for catharsis.

Stapp told Billboard: "Somewhere around the time Chester passed, and we had already been reeling from Cornell's passing, I was flipping through the news and saw the suicide rate for (U.S. military) vets was skyrocketing, and all these people are OD-ing from heroin, drug addictions, opioids. The school shootings. It was just a collection of things that all hit me at once. So it was inspired by a series of events that just came together to impact me as a human being, all at once."

Scott takes his own words to heart — in his daily life he is a mentor to those seeking sobriety and he continues his work with his With Arms Wide Open Foundation, which focuses largely on military members and their families dealing with PTSD.

"The Space Between The Shadows" was co-produced by Scott Stevens and Marti Frederiksen, with additional production on "Purpose For Pain" by Kevin "Thrasher" Gruft. The album was recorded at Sienna Studios and Poppy Studios in Nashville, Tennessee and The Cabin in Los Angeles. It was mixed by Chris Baseford and mastered by Howie Weinberg and features ten original songs and two original bonus tracks.


Stapp is known as frontman for CREED (over 50 million albums sold worldwide), and for his work as a solo artist who released the platinum-certified "The Great Divide" (2005) and "Proof Of Life" (2013), which featured his first solo Billboard No. 1, "Slow Suicide".

Stapp went through a highly publicized, drug-inflamed meltdown in 2014, after which he entered into an intensive rehab program. Stapp also lost custody of his three children during this period, while also missing a court hearing and allegedly threatening to kill President Obama.

Stapp is now sober and in intensive therapy. He takes medication for bipolar disorder — a condition that causes unexpected shifts in mood, energy and activity levels — works through a 12-step program, and meets with a sponsor, saying, "Nothing is more important than my sobriety."

Photo credit: Jennifer Curtis

Reactivated Minneapolis alt-rockers, Flipp, have set the final release date for The Best Of The Worst Of Flipp, in stores July 5 via EMP Label Group, in collaboration with Rocksteady Records, on CD/Digital, and as a limited-edition, 12” picture disc vinyl.

The collection will include 16 tracks spanning the band's 20 plus year career, as well as the brand-new track “The Ride”. Available for pre-order here. Watch a teaser video below.

The packaging will include expanded liner notes featuring direct input from the band members themselves, including details of some of the bizarre and grandiose stunts that they have executed in and around a live setting throughout the years, assorted Flipp trivia, and a chronological timeline of the band’s history.

Flipp is a Minneapolis a rock band formed in 1994. Known for their penchant for elaborate stunts and theatrics, they would find themselves often featured on MTV and other major outlets; the band is also remembered for its love of extreme volume, cartoonish outfits and bizarre onstage behavior; culminating in a style of music which has been described as Cheap Trick meets The Sex Pistols.

The band experienced success in the 90’s with the almost accidental popularity of their homemade music video for their sludgy cover of The Who's "My Generation"; which received regular airplay on MTV’s 120 Minutes and proceeded to secure the band a record deal and subsequent support slots for a wide range of artists including White Zombie, Cheap Trick, Oasis, Evanescence, Green Day, and Everclear.

As announced by the band earlier this year, "We are happy and proud to be teaming up with the EMP label group and fellow Minnesotan David Ellefson as well as our good friend Thom Hazaert (Director of Operations for EMP) for this upcoming special release. It has been a long time coming. We can't wait for all of you to hear our new single "The Ride,” and to see all of you out at a show someplace soon!”

Says EMP’s Thom Hazaert, “Being from the Midwest, FLIPP has always been a staple of the Rock scene here, and truly are a Minneapolis institution. Just an all-out ass-kicking Rock band, who have always pushed the envelope as far as it could go.“

While under management by the legendary Bill Aucoin (KISS, Billy Idol), the band had radio success with their single “Freak”, from their Art Alexakis (Everclear) co-produced album, Volume; landing at #38 on Billboard, as well as #1 in 8 different cities. In an unsuspected turn, their record label at the time went under before a final push for the single was to be had, which led to a series of events that resulted in the eventual dissolution of the band in late 2003.

After a 13 year hiatus, Flipp regrouped in spring of 2016. Since then they have remained active, recording new material and appearing on concert stages alongside such rock legends as Cheap Trick, Gene Simmons, Ace Frehley and the Michael Schenker Group, and are currently booking additional live appearances into spring and summer 2019.

Tracklisting:

"Give It To Me"
"Clone Me"
"Freak"
"I Wish I Was A Planet"
"I Still Love Rock N Roll"
"Half A Brain" (Live)
"All In My Head"
"Zoom"
"Mr. Potato Head"
"My Generation"
"Rock N’ Roll Star"
"I Don’t Care"
"La De De"
"Change"
"Just Let It Be"
"The Ride"

Teaser:

Flipp is:

Brynn Arens: Vocals and Guitar
Cherry Forever: Bass and Backing Vocals
Kilo Bale: Drums
Spry: Multi-Instrumentalist and Backing Vocals




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Leo Viridi's debut hard rock/heavy metal album, LV1, will be released on Friday August 2. The album features guest performances from former members of Megadeth and Dream Theater, vocalists from Firewind, Mutiny Within, and Dissension Rising, and more.  

Tracklisting:

"Something To Prove"
"April Showers"
"Disillusioned"
"Blood Of Warriors"
"From The Inside"
"The Belligerent Dr. Ink"
"Fazed And Distressed"
"Self Centered"

Personnel:

Leo Viridi - Rhythm and Bass Guitar (all tracks), Lead Guitar (tracks 3, 4 , 6-8)
Shawn Drover (ex-Megadeth, Act Of Defiance) - Drums (all tracks)
Glen Drover (ex-Megadeth/King Diamond) - Lead Guitar (tracks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8), Keyboards (track 2)
Derek Sherinian (ex-Dream Theater, Sons Of Apollo) - Keyboards (track 3)
Henning Basse (Firewind) - Vocals (track 4)
Chris Clancy (Mutiny Within/Wearing Scars) - Vocals (track 8)
Devin Mysyk - Lead Guitar (track 6)
Danni Carroll (Dissension Rising) - Vocals (tracks 1,2, 5, 7, 8)
Keith Garrett (Dissension Rising) -Lead Guitar (tracks 5,6,8)

(Photo - Leo Viridi Facebook)




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Detroit grind ensemble Shock Narcotic will release their debut full-length, I Have Seen The Future And It Doesn't Work, on August 16th via Housecore Records.  

Forged in 2018, Shock Narcotic features former The Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Jeff Tuttle, Child Bite vocalist Shawn Knight, current Shit Life / former The Black Dahlia Murder drummer Zach Gibson, and Battlecross bassist Don Slater, spewing forth a vicious synthesis of grind, metal, and hardcore.

Mastered by Brad Boatright (Converge, Integrity, Obituary) with guest backing vocals by Full Of Hell's Dylan Walker, the fourteen tracks that make up I Have Seen The Future And It Doesn't Work are a whirlwind of dystopian dread and existential nihilism. 

The first single from I Have Seen The Future And It Doesn't Work, a song called "Pray For Paralysis", can be streamed via the audio player below.

I Have Seen The Future And It Doesn't Work by Shock Narcotic

The cover art and tracklisting for I Have Seen The Future And It Doesn't Work are as follows.

"I Have Seen The Future"
"Erratic Smearing Vitals"
"Seed Shooters"
"Mutually Beneficial Subterfuge"
"Aimless Slogging"
"Offspring Hobbled"
"Smegma In The Shape Of A Man"
"Pray For Paralysis"  
"Sliced Self / Multiple Lives"
"An Obsession Supreme"
"As Good As Gone"
"Perpetual Regression"
"Failure As Tradition"
"Everyone Is Forgotten" 

For further details, visit Shock Narcotic on Facebook.

 




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“We are not a rock band, we are a rock n’ roll band.” Los Angeles’ The Jacks - Jonny Stanback (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Tom Hunter (lead guitar, vocals), Scott Stone (bass guitar, vocals), Josh Roossin (drums/percussion) - stand by that claim, thanks to a heavy influence from the British Invasion of the ‘60s and ‘70s mixed with Southern Rock.

To blend those influences seamlessly, the band joined forces with legendary producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5, Blackberry Smoke) and mixer Andrew Scheps (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Adele, Hozier) at Los Angeles' famed Sunset Sound Recorders for their self-titled debut EP, which is being released June 28 on Edgeout Records/UMe, the label is spearheaded by veteran music executive Tony Guanci who signed an exclusive global deal for the new label with UMG. The first single, “Walk Away”, is available today on all digital retail outlets. A lyric video for the song will be available soon.

“Working with Matt Wallace was an incredible experience. He was able to take our vision for our songs and record them exactly how we’ve imagined for the past few years,” adds The Jacks. “And it was a true honor to work with the legendary Andrew Scheps. We couldn’t be happier with his influence on the upcoming EP. We now have an amazing team with Edgeout and UMe, and are so excited for the world to hear our music.”

As Wallace remarks, “The Jacks deliver up lean, rugged rock & roll with songs that feel like instant classics that make you want to move, with earworm hooks and melodies that will have you kinda upset when you find yourself unintentionally and inappropriately humming their songs at work, in church, in court, or at wakes. If the Strokes, Cage the Elephant, and the Stones had an equally talented, but more handsome baby, it would be named The Jacks!”

The mix of songs on the EP is fitting since The Jacks got their name from a fan telling them that they were "jacks of all trades" when it came to playing different styles and blending their songs with those of their idols at their early concerts, and each of these tracks shows off a different side of the ensemble. From the hard-edged rockers to the more melodic numbers, you can hear how the band members have poured their hearts into each of the songs.

And the way they see it, playing rock at a time when pop and hip-hop are dominating the charts is an act of defiance. If any band is poised to help bring authenticity back to rock & roll, it's The Jacks. The quartet has been making a steady ascent since forming in Los Angeles in the summer of 2016, selling out gigs at legendary hometown venues like the Troubadour, Roxy and Viper Room, supporting legends like the Doors' Robby Krieger (who told them personally that he liked their music) and playing big festivals like Aftershock and Louder Than Life. At one gig, they ran into John Fogerty who told them, "It's cool to see some rock & roll again."

“We’re trying to push the boundaries of the rock & roll genre by incorporating modern elements, but still keeping the core structure of a four-piece band,” Stanback says. “We are creating a sound you’ve never heard before, but feels familiar.”

Since the quartet has been able to test-drive their songs on the road, they zeroed in on five that exemplify The Jacks experience for the EP. Lead single "Walk Away" has a big, catchy chorus and lyrics about feeling stuck and trying to move on. “That song is about a very frustrating relationship, where you keep falling into the same routine even though you know you should just get out of it,” Stone says. “It’s time to get out of it, but you keep going back to the same thing over and over and you’re frustrating that you keep doing that to yourself.”

Hunter and Stone started jamming together on Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and AC/DC covers in middle school. They kept it going through their college years at USC (Stone majored in Philosophy, Hunter majored in accounting), and one day when Stone was running sound for an open-mic night, he spotted Stanback (who also graduated from USC with a Master’s Degree in Geology). "He had a natural stage presence and a unique voice," the bassist says. "His singing could be growly, but also very sultry." The next day, Stone called up the singer-songwriter and said they were supposed to play a house party at the end of the week and asked if Stanback would play with them. Soon the three of them and their drummer at the time discovered that they shared a unique set of influences - the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Who, Oasis, the Black Keys. They got together on a Monday and played their first gig that Friday. They eventually recruited Roossin, who'd gone to high school with Hunter and Stone, to join them on drums when their previous stickmen left to pursue another career path. "The day I left school (Univ of Boulder where he majored in psychology), I flew home and had my first rehearsal, right off the plane," Roossin says. “I finished up my first semester of grad school and committed to fully doing music.”

On the strength of these early live performances, eventually the band entered a local radio station’s battle-of-the-bands competition in 2017 - and won a recording contract. Instead, they passed and continued to tour and work on their songs. Earlier this year, they were tapped to perform at the NFL pre-Super Bowl and NHL Winter Classic events. For the remainder of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs, The Jacks’ music has been chosen to be heard during the games’ broadcasts, highlight reels, and commercial bumpers.

"There isn't an end goal for us, we just want to continue to write the music we love, share it with as many people as possible, and hopefully be remembered for it," guitarist Tom Hunter says. "We hope that we can one day inspire other musicians to do the same. Oh ... and we want to sell out Wembley."

On Friday, May 17, The Jacks will be performing in Columbus, OH at MAPFRE Stadium as part of the first-ever Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival along with Foo Fighters, The Cult, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, The Hives, The Struts, and many others. Their set begins at 12:45 PM on the Echo Stage. Stay tuned for more news about their forthcoming US tour dates.

(Photo - Ashley Osborne)




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Czech post-black metal band Chernaa has premiered a new track called "Ominous" today. The song is found on their forthcoming debut album, Empyrean Fire, that's due out on June 7th via Noizr Productions.

The band comments on the song, "The music is taken from higher planes of consciousness. Raw emotions played through saddened guitar riffs and wistful melodic combinations drag the listener through the forest of thoughts. It was created to enjoy those beautiful and painful melancholic desolations around us.”

Chernaa is a post-metal/post-black act from Prague, Czech Republic. The band has an international lineup, including musicians from the Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Russia. The recording of the album Empyrean Fire took place at the Jaro Sound studio in Prague. The artwork for the release was created by Anna Levytska, known for her work with Blut aus Nord. Information about the album pre-order will be announced soon.

"Three guys from the Czech Republic and a guy from Ukraine currently living in Prague, creating the instrumental base for the band, while the vocalist is from Russia, Krasnoyarsk, recording vocals from afar. We bring the post into your black. We dive into the void and bring the existential dread."

Tracklisting:

"Pink Powder"
"Ominous"
"Alice Syndrome"
"As I Succumbed"
"Mania"
"Camus"
"Discrepancy"

"Ominous" video:

"Pink Powder" video:

(Photo - Jiří Hula)




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Veteran West Coast metallers Skelator have signed with Gates Of Hell Records for the release of their fifth studio album, Cyber Metal. The album is due June 14th in European territories and June 21st in North America. 

Formed in 1998, Skelator has capably flown the flag of never-say-die true metal, harnessing Jason Conde-Houston’s stratospheric vocal range, dueling guitar harmonies and battle-tested rhythms. Skelator originally met Cruz Del Sur Music/Gates Of Hell owner Enrico Leccese in 2013, who relayed word that Slough Feg leader Mike Scalzi suggested the label sign the band. Fast-forward six years and the two parties have joined forces for Cyber Metal. 

“Creating Cyber Metal was a long process for us, not just recording and writing, but finding the right lineup as well,” says Conde-Houston. “We started writing for the album in 2016 but had two incidents of needing to find a bass player to round out the lineup which effectively put a stop to the writing process. Luckily in 2017, we found Darin Wall and he brought the driving bass that we needed to solidify the lineup. His playing immediately locked in with Pat’s [Seick] ‘rock bomb’ drumming style and enabled Robbie [Houston] and Rob [Steinway] to focus in on delivering the guitar harmonies and heavy riffs and allowed us to shape the band’s sound into what we have always wanted. I can say without hesitation that this current lineup of the band is the most talented and cohesive that it has ever been.” 

With the goal of making Cyber Metal their “most polished effort to date,” Skelator has assembled a batch of songs that deftly combine modern German power metal (Grave Digger, Primal Fear) as well as classic influences such as Judas Priest and Riot. The result is an album with no shortage of screaming vocals, high-flying guitar solos, thunderous bass, gated drums and even extra doses of keyboards. 

The album was recorded throughout 2018 between a variety of studios, including drums at Hangar 12 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington and vocals with Matt Roach at Rain City Recorders in Vancouver, British Columbia. The rest of the tracking was handled by the guitar duo of Houston and Steinway, who eventually put the finishing touches on the album this past December. “It was a long grueling process but it was well worth it because now we have the best sounding Skelator record to date,” says Conde-Houston. 

Thematically, Conde-Houston says Skelator had one rule: No songs about swords, unless they are laser swords. “We touch on movies and comics that have inspired us since we were kids in the ‘80s. Songs like ‘Akira’, ‘Highlander’ and ‘Seven Scars’ are all obvious nerd-out lyrics based on decades of watching the same movies over and over. But the songs are still anthems and we still have at least one track about playing true metal.” 

Now past the 20-year mark as a band, Cyber Metal finds Skelator at the top of their game with the same drive and passion as when they started. “The hard part about keeping a band together for 20 years is the fact that we are all getting older and have more and more responsibilities,” concludes Conde-Houston. “But the beauty of having this band for so long is that we have a great legacy of albums to share with the world, and we all enjoy what we do and have the drive to keep doing it. As hard as it was to create this new album, it is a joy to listen to. This is our most ambitious record and the catchiest as well. I think it will please Skelator fans new and old. Even if you are a ‘Give Me Metal Or Give Me Death’, purest you’ll be still be singing along to tracks like ‘Cast Iron’ or ‘Cyber Samurai’.”

Tracklisting:

“Cyber Samurai”
“Cast Iron”
“The Hammer”
“Highlander”
“Akira”
“Erlkönig”
“Seven Scars”
“Psychic Silver Wheels”




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Professionally filmed video footage of JOURNEY guitarist Neal Schon performing the band's song "Lovin' You Is Easy" during the debut "Journey Through Time" concert, which took place in February 2018 at The Independent in San Francisco, can be seen below.

The first "Journey Through Time" tour will kick off this weekend. Schon will take the stage alongside founding JOURNEY and SANTANA singer/keyboardist Gregg Rolie, ex-JOURNEY drummer Deen Castronovo, bassist Marco Mendoza of THE DEAD DAISIES and THIN LIZZY, a musician named Chris Collins (on guitar and keyboards) and super-producer Marti Frederiksen (multi-instrumentalist, vocals).

Following a warm-up gig at the Jackson Rancheria Casino in Jackson, California on February 22 and the tour's official opening night at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California on February 23, the musicians will perform at The Van Buren in Phoenix, Arizona on March 1 and at The Orpheum in Los Angeles, California on March 2.

"Journey Through Time" tour dates:

Feb. 22 - Jackson, CA @ Jackson Rancheria Casino

Feb. 23 - Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater

Mar. 01 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren

Mar. 02 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Orpheum

"Neal Schon's Journey Through Time" will perform all the greatest JOURNEY hits we've all come to love. They will also perform choice selections from their earliest recordings.

"We're really going to play anything that's in our repertoire — anything that JOURNEY has recorded," says Schon. "I plan on mixing it up a lot and not playing the same set. Stuff from our first three records — we're going to update that a little bit — and have some fun jamming!"

Explaining his decision to play shows away from JOURNEY, Schon wrote on his blog: "I was told by management [John Baruck] that we all would take all of 2019 off, except for possibly a few dates near the end of the year leading into 2020 and that Jonathan Cain [and] Steve Smith [had] other things they wanted to do. At that point, I decided to go out and have some fun with Gregg Rolie, Deen Castronovo, Marco Mendoza, Marti Frederiksen and Chris Collins and dip into our catalog — deep tracks (from the beginning and beyond)."

Neal referred to Deen as "the baddest ass singing drummer on this planet," while Castronovo commented on his participation in "Journey Through Time", saying: "I will do the best I can with the songs you and I love, grew up with, and cherish. I'm no [Steve Perry] nor an [Arnel Pineda] but will try to honor the 'voices' and the legacy. I owe you all this."

JOURNEY and DEF LEPPARD's 2018 North American co-headline tour grossed $97.1 million from 1,003,198 tickets sold, according to figures reported to Billboard Boxscore. The trek included 56 dates across the United States, plus two shows in Canada.

Drum legend Simon Phillips will be releasing a 6 CD box set on April 12 via Phantom Recordings. This truly deluxe set celebrates the 30th anniversary of Protocol, the powerhouse jazz-rock vehicle for the music of legendary drummer Simon Phillips (Jeff Beck, Toto, The Who, Mike Oldfield, Hiromi).

Included are all of the previous Protocol releases (I, II, III & IV), remastered for an even better sonic experience. Plus two full CDs of previously unreleased demos, with the embryonic tunes that would later become finished material for the Protocol II, III & IV albums. Protocol 4, included, was nominated for a Grammy in 2018 for Best Contemporary Instrumental Recording.

Phillips himself composed the liner notes of a glorious 24-page booklet with historic photos, providing deep insight into the genesis of the band, the tunes and recording processes. An absolute must-have collector's item for Simon's devotees worldwide.

Previously Unreleased Demos:

Disc 5 - Protocol II & III Demos

"Wildfire"
"Funk Tune #1"
"Six Eight"
"Pump Type"
"Thirteen"
"Herbie Type"
"Ballad"
"Three Four"
"Zawinul"
"Mystery"
"Protocol Blues"
"A Perfect Flush"
"Circle Seven"
"Pilatus"
"Stir Crazy"
"Fast Five"

Disc 6 - Protocol IV Demos

"Six Eight"
"Pentangle"
"Indian Theme"
"7 Four Funk"
"Intro + Celtic Boogie"
"Blues"
"Ballad"
"Jan Type"

Protocol's 6-CD set is available worldwide wherever you shop for CDs. Please note that the bonus material will not be available digitally.




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In 2010, with four albums and ten years of performing as the former frontman for Helsinki-based hard rock band Naked under his belt, Camu was ready for change. When the band's manager, Bill Aucoin (KISS, Billy Idol), suddenly passed away in the same year, everything immediately fell apart. It was time for Camu to take a break and focus on his personal life.

Now refreshed and returning with a new lease on life, Camu has revealed a trilogy of new anthemic rock songs and corresponding videos telling the story of his life and the changes he has experienced during his hiatus. The three tracks - entitled "Empire State Of Sound", "The One You Leave Behind" and "The Future Proves The Past" - are available for download now via Spotify and iTunes. "The Future Proves the Past" can also be downloaded via Amazon.

Camu has released two new music videos for the tracks "Empire State of Sound"  and "The One You Leave Behind", and he's wrapping up the trilogy with a music video for the final track - melodic rock anthem "The Future Proves The Past". The video, which features Camu's four-year-old son acting as his past self and scenes of Camu taking on New York City, is available to view below, along with the previous clips.

The "The Future Proves The Past" video was filmed by Camu, Geoffrey Jean-Baptiste (Empire, Cardi B), Kevin Vonesper and Kyel Bracero. The song was written, recorded and produced by Camu, and mixed and mastered by Petri Majuri, with production and recording assistance by Dimi Dallas.

Camu says about the video: "Since the song has a time travel element to it, it seemed fitting to go full out with it. My four year old son Makani stars in it as me in the year 1988. He's not one to sit still as he's high on life, but he did an excellent job and single handedly took the video to another level.

"As far as my part in the present day, I just hit the streets of NYC and winged it. I had a fun time making this video. The video was filmed by myself and my friend Geoffrey Jean-Baptiste who's worked on shows like Empire and filmed music videos for Cardi B. I also wanted to get the same NYC feel as the "Empire State Of Sound" video so I used Kevin Vonesper again for some of the on street scenes. Kyel Bracero, who worked with me on the "The One You Leave Behind" video, also ended up filming the last scene of the video. Came together great and gets the point across that you need to be brave and go with the flow designated to you by the universe."

Camu adds about the song itself: "I wrote 'The Future Proves the Past' in my head while driving to the zoo. I knew it was special right away, I just had to bring it home. It turned out to be an anthem about my journey through life, a fitting track to wrap up the "Trilogy" release with.

"I believe we are all dealt a pre-destined path, however it's up to the individual to stray or stay on the path, that's the tricky part. 'Future' is a song I am really proud of, it sounds killer and conveys the emotion and attitude I think everyone could use more of in order to make the matrix a more awesome place. It's not easy to preserve the light you carry inside of yourself through your life, harness it by enjoying yourself. This song is probably my favorite song I have recorded, it sets the stage for what is to come."




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Raleigh, NC metal band Lightning Born, featuring bassist Mike Dean (Corrosion of Conformity), vocalist Brenna Leath (The Hell No), drummer Doza Hawes (Mega Colossus, ex-Bloody Hammers; ex-Hour of 13) and guitarist Erik Sugg (Demon Eye) will release its debut LP, Lightning Born, on June 21st via Ripple Music. Lead track and first music video “Shifting Winds” is streaming below. The animated clip was created by artist Costin Chioreanu for Twilight13 Media (Ghost, Darkthrone, Triptykon).

Formed in 2016, Lightning Born plays heirloom doom metal forged by previous generations and full of practiced rawness, washed out and sandblasted with layers of fuzz. The band's sound is based in an offshoot blues language, gently mournful, that descends into iconic gloom, buttressed by the commanding vocals of Leath, whose lyrical landscape aerates themes of revolution, mortality, brotherhood, consequence, colonization, nihilism, oppression, and revolution.

As to Lightning Born's formation, Dean explains, "I share a studio, where we have done most of the work on the last several COC records. I traded some studio time for a 2” analog tape machine and started making records with local musicians. One of those was Brenna Leath, whose voice and songwriting blew me away when she came in with her punk band, The Hell No."

"On another occasion I had the opportunity to work with an accomplished retro doom / proto-metal band called Demon Eye. They recorded an album called “Prophecies and Lies” with me. Singer / guitarist Erik Sugg mentioned that he and Brenna were teaming up on some new material with a drummer namer “Dozer” or “Dosa”, something like that. It turns out to was Doza Hawes whose main gig, outside of writing robotics manuals, was playing over the top Iron Maiden style drums in Mega Colossus. My impression was that this would be a retro alternate universe aesthetic and I was excited. They mentioned they needed a bass player and I must have invited myself to try out. We made recordings on the run, after work, and between tours. Eventually we had a record, and we are, Ripple Music recording artists."

As for the band's name, Hawes explains: "My son Evan and I were watching 'Carl Sagan’s Cosmos' and he got really excited about the theory that lightning spawned the first complex molecules that eventually led to life on Earth. He said, “we are all born from lightning" and I thought that was a cool phrase. So we flipped that around into Lightning Born, which sounded like a proper, timeless rock band name. Who says watching old school public TV is a waste of time?"

Tracklisting:

“Shifting Winds”
“Renegade”
“Silence”
“You Have Been Warned”
“Salvation”
“Magnetic”
“Out For Blood”
“Power Struggle”
“Oblivion”
“Wildfire”
“Godless”

“Shifting Winds” video:

(Photo by: Randy Ada)




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"Reflections Doubt", the debut demo from QAALM, the new atmospheric doom metal band featuring ACT OF DEFIANCE and ex-SCAR THE MARTYR singer Henry Derek Elis (on guitar), can be streamed below.

Starting a band these days may seem like somewhat of an unadorned idea. But among two creative and passionately involved music aficionados materialized a kinship over various genres, which would eventually lead to precisely that. Henry met Pete Majors shortly after moving to Los Angeles. After attending a gig and later playing a show with his previous band HARASSOR, the two connected and sure enough there was talk of a potential endeavor.

The early stages of the band consisted of various musicians and the underdeveloped tone of the band proved to be partially incomplete. Something was missing… and after a while, things came to a halt. Henry took a year off to focus on ACT OF DEFIANCE and write new material from scratch. After some soul searching and a renewed approach to writing, Henry laid down the first demos with the help of Christopher Jon, whom he met several years prior through a mutual industry acquaintance. Chris had expressed interest in wanting to venture into a heavier direction after the demise of his project I, PARASITE.

Pete ultimately introduced a second guitarist, Brock Elmore, into the fold. After a relentless run with his previous band, SEVEN SISTERS OF SLEEP, he would go on to forever change the dynamic of the band. With the addition of David Huet on bass, the band would continue to cultivate new ideas and expand sonically. The initial objective of creating an atmosphere and inevitably maintaining a stern approach to a "heavy sound" became the band's mission. They would go on to incorporate baritone octaves, melodic overtones, dissonant chords, harrowing vocals and ambient textures to intensify the overall sound. Etay Levy would prove to be the final piece of the puzzle to complete the line-up on drums… and at last, QAALM was born.

Lyrically, Pete's presence cannot be overshadowed. Implementing the echoes of his own personal experiences, depression and adverse aspects of humanity, his voice in essence is the pinnacle of reason. Alas, in the eye of every storm, lay many questions. Some of which cannot easily be answered. The definition of QAALM's sound may very well be one of them. The band persists in reliance of all of their influences to help forge and perfect the aesthetic execution of it's prominent core. Utilizing elements of sludge, black metal and post-rock, QAALM would outgrow any breed of stereotypical commotion regarding style over substance. The band clearly has both and isn't shy about delivering the goods. Having no shortage of shows and an album in the works, QAALM's own brooding brand of doom cannot be silenced.

QAALM is:

Pete Majors - Lead Vocals

Henry Derek Elis - Lead Guitar

Christopher Jon - Keys & Samples

Brock Elmore - Guitar & Backing Vocals

David Huet - Bass

Etay Levy - Drums

Reflections Doubt [demo] by QAALM

Post Pulse is a unique death metal band hailing from Helsinki, Finland. Consisting of members Antti Karhu (ex-The Man-Eating Tree), Sam Roon (Hung), Tapani Rantanen and Anttoni Välimaa, the multi-cultural lineup produces a sound that marries American and Finnish death metal styles. The result is a rhythm-heavy, aggressive, and impactful body of work that stands out among bands in their genres on both sides of the ocean.

Today (July 15th) they release their new EP, The Price You Paid, which includes a cover of the classic Jimi Hendrix cut "Crosstown Traffic". It is available as a free download from the Post Pulse Bandcamp page, or via all digital platforms
 
"The Price You Paid" is an aggressive track and in your face by design, and includes a few truly special epic moments that encourage you to smash things around you. "Crosstown Traffic" was carefully crafted to pay homage to the original Jimi Hendrix classic, while remaining true to the Post Pulse sound.
 
The EP is mixed by Ryan Kelly at Garden Sound Studio and mastered by Andreas Andersson at Servant Studio (www.servantstudio.com).
 
Post Pulse's own Antti Karhu has once again put together some amazing videos for the tracks. "The Price You Paid" has an original style for a lyric video, and "Crosstown Traffic" pays tribute to the original Jimi Hendrix music video.




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Victoria, British Columbia-based metallic hardcore outfit Vultures has completed their ravenous second EP, titled Hunger. The band is preparing the record for release on October 4th in conjunction with an extensive West Coast North American tour in support of the EP. The details for Hunger including a brief trailer for the EP, as well as the tour dates surrounding its release, have all been issued.

Vultures conveys an unapologetic and visceral energy through their brand of hardcore. With sonic inspirations that include the likes of Converge, Dead And Divine, and The Dillinger Escape Plan, the band combines the technicality and bite of metal with the attitude of hardcore punk in order to deliver performances with unrivalled potency and aggression.

Initially playing local DIY house shows as a means of introducing themselves in 2016, Vultures has since proceeded to support metal heavyweights Enterprise Earth, Fall City Fall, Hideous Divinity, and Depths Of Hatred on a series of Canadian tours, and has shared the stage with eminent groups '68 and Archspire.

Vultures now prepares to release their second EP Hunger. Boiling with six tracks that put forth an attack of driving riffs and incendiary finger-pointing in just under twenty minutes. Hunger was produced, mixed, and mastered by Tim Creviston (Misery Signals, Spiritbox), and fitted with artwork created by Dusty Ray and arranged by Kevin Moore of Soft Surrogate. The EP also includes a guest vocal feature from Larissa Stupar (Venom Prison, Wolf Down).

The Hunger EP will see independent release on CD and all digital platforms via the band on October 4th. Watch for audio samples, preorders, official videos, and more to be issued in the weeks ahead.

Since recording Hunger the Vultures lineup has shifted slightly, as bassist Ian Bezpalko has left the band. Bradley Seabrook has taken his place with guitarist Cole Lamb, drummer Graham Scanlon, and vocalist Alex Pearce.

In the wake of this upcoming release, the band is looking to broaden its horizons and make waves worldwide. Vultures will embark on their largest tour yet in support of the EP. Canadian dates will include notable performances with the likes of Cancer Bats in Victoria September 21st and Despised Icon in Vancouver September 23rd, leading into the band's first ever foray into the United States. The bulk of the tour begins in Kelowna on October 2nd and runs down the coast and back ending in Seattle on October 21st.

Tracklisting:

“Push”
“Acceptance”
“Rat King”
“Bitter Breath”
“This Hunger”
“V.P.D.”




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Former Quiet Riot vocalist, Mark Huff, has resurfaced in a new group called Steel Mountain Crossing, along with Tiger Claws guitarist Dennis D, bassist David Leighton and drummer Grant Dubois. A message follows:

“To Bravewords, it's readers and to all our metal brothers and sisters worldwide, Mark Huff and Dennis D here... We’re still alive and well. We wanted to say hello and let you know we are doing a new project called Steel Mountain Crossing.

"Dennis is an amazing guitarist. For years, he has been undoubtedly New York City’s best studio / session secret weapon guitarist of trade and worked for everyone from Notorious Big, Lil Kim, P Diddy to Mayhem. He is a very diverse guitarist and he assembled a great rhythm section featuring Grant Dubois on drums and David Leighton on bass whom are some of the best studio session musicians in Seattle.

"We just finished recording an album we are releasing in November. It’s a bit of a different direction from Quiet Riot. This music has nothing to do with hair metal from the ’80s. This is new and much heavier than anything we’ve done, yet there are ballads and rockers as well. Dennis wants to add ‘hello’ and mentions that is great to be here in Seattle and to offer our music and that it’s been a good time recording with Mark. Seattle is an amazing place with extremely talented and dedicated local musicians.

"We wanted to say thank you to all the readers for the support in the past and the continued support in the future. It means so much to us. We truly love you all and can’t wait to get back out and see you all again. Thank you so much. Peace and be well.”

Huff was in Quiet Riot from 2010 to 2012. Wikipedia states the following about his time in the band (with slight edits): Despite his previous insistence that Quiet Riot could never return as a live performing entity, Banali announced a new version of Quiet Riot in September 2010 with himself on drums, Chuck Wright on bass, Alex Grossi on guitar, and newcomer Mark Huff (formerly of the Van Halen tribute band 5150) on vocals. The band has sought the blessings of the DuBrow family, and DuBrow‘s mother encouraged Banali to revive the band. In July 2011, this lineup toured Germany as support for Slayer and Accept.

On January 12, 2012, whilst Huff was awaiting brain surgery, Quiet Riot released a statement, announcing that they had parted ways with Huff, and they were replacing him for upcoming dates with Keith St. John (formerly of Montrose). Huff found out about his firing online. In March 2012, Banali hired unknown vocalist Scott Vokoun to fully replace Huff.

Tiger Claws released the full-length albums, Tiger Claws in 2017 and Animal Instinct in 2018, along with the EP Hot Sex in 2018.




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Sleeping Giant Glossolalia has set a July 26 release date for the self-titled debut album by NASTIE BAND.

With leather, chains, macabre makeup, and a cast of characters including an 81-year-old vocalist, shirtless twin brothers, and iconic keyboard player Roddy Bottum (FAITH NO MORE, IMPERIAL TEEN), NASTIE BAND is one of New York City's most thrilling new spectacles.

The sound: spine-chilling dirges, for fans of the creepiest depths of SUNN O))) or TODAY IS THE DAY's early work. The album opens and closes with songs featuring octogenarian Chris Kachulis's croon — a damaged, pining voice, in the spirit of the late Scott Walker. Fans of early electronic music know Kachulis as a collaborator of Bruce Haack; he sang on Haack's 1970 album "The Electric Lucifer", among other things.

"I've often stopped and wondered why I appeal to men / Men cluster to me like moths around a flame / And if their wings get burned I am not to blame," he intones maniacally on NASTIE BAND's first track.

Over seven songs, the band descends deep into dungeon atmospherics and minimalist metal, punctuated by Bottum's icy, signature synths. From the hypnotic throb of "Shapeshift" to the battle march of "Circle Of Knives" to the dance-terror of "Relapse", NASTIE BAND's art-doom crackles with the type of danger, darkness, and drama that once defined New York City.

Masterminded by Sandy Smiles — the alter ego of visual artist Frank Haines, whose body of work includes film, stained glass, performance art, and more — NASTIE BAND's lineup has morphed since its inception and still might change from show to show. Appearing on the album are Haines, Kachulis, Bottum, guitarist Patrick Delaney (ex-VILLAINS, POLLUTION), twin brothers David and Tradd Sanderson (ex-CREAM ABDUL BABAR), drummer Elsner Nino (ex-MERCHANDISE, POLLUTION), artist Reuben Lorch-Miller, and vocalist Inyang Bassey (MOBY). Since the time of the recording, drummer Hisham Bharoocha (BLACK DICE, SOFT CIRCLE) has taken over the drum throne from Nino.

"Nastie Band" was recorded at Seizures Palace in Brooklyn by Jason LaFarge (SWANS, DEVENDRA BANHART, OPENING BELL) and mastered by James Plotkin (MERZBOW, SUNN O))), GNAW).

First single, "Shapeshift", will be released June 14 on cassette as a maxi-single containing ten remix versions of the song, by members of NASTIE BAND, DÄLEK, OPENING BELL and ORNAMENT.

"Shapeshift RMXXXD" maxi-single track listing:

01. Shapeshift - original album version

02. Shapeshift - Castrati remix

03. Shapeshift - DSwarm remix

04. Shapeshift - Decimation Blvd remix

05. Shapeshift - Ornament remix

06. Shapeshift - M.A.L. remix

07. Shapeshift - PFV remix

08. Shapeshift - Sandy Smiles remix

09. Shapeshift - Ancient Remains remix

10. Shapeshift - Opening Bell remix

11. Shapeshift - Activated Corpse remix

"Nastie Band" album track listing:

01. Falling In Love

02. Shapeshift

03. Lucifer's Grotto

04. Circle Of Knives

05. The Widening

06. Relapse

07. A Summer With A Thousand Julys

NASTIE BAND will play an official "Shapeshift RMXXXD" release show on June 13 at Brooklyn Bazaar in New York.

Cover art and photos by Jonathan Grassi

Ad Infinitum have signed a worldwide contract with Napalm Records. "We are proud to have signed with one of the most talented symphonic power metal outlets in 2019!"

Ad Infinitum was founded in 2018 in Montreux, Switzerland as Melissa Bonny’s solo project that became a solid band, when she joined forces with Adrian Theßenvitz, Jonas Asplind and Niklas Müller. Now it’s time to push it to the next level! Ad Infinitum are already planning an album for early next year, which will be released via Napalm Records.

Says the band: "As the work on our album comes closer to its end, we are thrilled to announce that its arrival will be in good hands. We couldn’t hope for a better collaboration for this release than with Napalm Records. And cherry on the cake, the promotion of the album will start with a European tour with three talented bands. Stay tuned! Adrian, Niklas, Jonas & Melissa."

Melissa Bonny, known from Rage Of Light and as guest-musician at Warkings, created Ad Infinitum as powerful mix between the beauty and magic of symphonic melodies and hard metal riffs. Melissa enchants her fans with her extremely changeable and unique voice.

Get in the Ad Infinitum vibe and watch “I Am The Storm” below:

Melissa masters everything from quiet tones to deep growls, as she beyond others proved as Queen Of the Damned, accompanying the Warkings on their success single "Sparta".

Ad Infinitum are:

Melissa Bonny - vocals
Adrian Theßenvitz - guitars
Jonas Asplind - bass
Niklas Müller - drums

(Photo - Alex Annen)




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Grammy-winning songwriter, powerhouse frontman for CREED, and platinum-certified solo artist Scott Stapp dropped by the studios of Springfield, Missouri's Q102 radio station on his national tour to perform a special acoustic version of his new single, "Purpose For Pain". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

"Purpose For Pain" is taken from Stapp's upcoming album, "The Space Between The Shadows", due on July 19 via Napalm Records.

"It's a bangin' rock track," Stapp iHeartRadio heritage rock station WJRR about the song. "I kind of went in some slightly new directions musically and vocally. It's a song, I think, that really was inspired about times that have been difficult in my life and how I got through it, 'cause I get asked that a lot. And for me, during those difficult times, those painful times in life, I found that if I began to think about the other side — like, 'When this is over, how can I use this experience to help somebody else?' That became my purpose in that moment. So although I was still feeling the pain and still enduring whatever struggle or adversity or traumatic life experience that we all go through at times, not getting sucked in completely to the pain, but changing my mindset to, 'You know what? I'm gonna get through this and I'm gonna learn something so I can help somebody else when I get to the other side.' That was just enough hope to get me through some of the darkest days, man, and so it ended up becoming a song."

Stapp went on to say that a long time passed before he was able to develop a more positive mental attitude while he was battling his demons. "It took me years before that became a mindset, so there was years of doing it the wrong way," he explained. "And so it was kind of an epiphany that happened, and also other people sharing their experience and strength and hope with me. And I think [AEROSMITH singer] Steven Tyler was really the first person to kind of put that seed in my mind back in 2010, but it didn't really blossom and I didn't really fully understand what he was talking about until years later. He reached out to me when I was going through a tough time and shared his experience and stayed in touch with me for probably a month. We spoke five or six times over the phone, and he was really encouraging, and in reflection, he kind of put that in my brain, but I didn't hear it — I wasn't ready. And so years later, it finally clicked, and it's really been a game changer for me in my life and inspired this new song."

Stapp is known as frontman for CREED (over 50 million albums sold worldwide), and for his work as a solo artist who released the platinum-certified "The Great Divide" (2005) and "Proof Of Life" (2013), which featured his first solo Billboard No. 1, "Slow Suicide".

Stapp went through a highly publicized, drug-inflamed meltdown in 2014, after which he entered into an intensive rehab program. Stapp also lost custody of his three children during this period, while also missing a court hearing and allegedly threatening to kill President Obama.

Stapp is now sober and in intensive therapy. He takes medication for bipolar disorder — a condition that causes unexpected shifts in mood, energy and activity levels — works through a 12-step program, and meets with a sponsor, saying, "Nothing is more important than my sobriety."

Circle II Circle bassist Mitch Stewart has completed work on a new solo album, Lost In This Life. The first single, "Death Of Me", was released on June 21st along with an official lyric video. Check it out below.

A second single, "Chains", is set to be released on August 16th along with an official video. Stay tuned.

Speaking exclusively with BraveWords, Stewart opened up about Circle II Circle's current status. The band released Reign Of Darkness in 2015 but have not been very active in recent years.

Stewart: "We are on a bit of a hiatus. Bill (Hudson / guitars) is doing NorthTale, Zak (Stevens / vocals) is doing Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Henning (Wanner / keyboards) has his Ozzy tribute and COP UK. We're all just taking a much needed breather. I have written several songs for a new CD. Just waiting on Zak to give the thumbs up. For now though, we're all just doing our own thing."

In 2012, Circle II Circle featuring Savatage frontman Zak Stevens performed at Germany’s Wacken Open Air festival. The set featured highlights from the album, The Wake Of Magellan, and video footage of the full performance is available for streaming below.

Setlist:

“The Ocean”
“Welcome”
“Turns To Me”
“Morning Sun”
“Compliant In The System”
“The Wake Of Magellan”
“Anymore”
“The Hourglass”
“Black Jack Guillotine”




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The long awaited third album of Risen Prophecy, Voices From The Dust is being released through Metal on Metal Records on July 25th. 

Commented the label: "These British power/thrashers pick up where they left off with Into The Valley Of Hinnom in 2015. Their new album brings more extremity to their overall sound with brutal and crushing riffs, as well as a stronger sense of melody, highlighted by choirs supporting the charismatic singer with a wide vocal range and theatrical delivery. This time, they offer almost an hour of brilliantly composed and executed music that redefines epicness. They still can be compared mainly to Iced Earth, but fans of bands like Unearthed from Florida (who were like early Iced Earth), Sindrome, Sabbat (Uk), Artillery, Testament, Demons & Wizards, Falconer or Forbidden should enjoy them as well."

The cover art was painted by Dan Goldsworthy (Gloryhammer, Accept, Alestorm, Hell, Xentrix).

Tracklisting:

“Summoning Whispers”
“The Flames Of Consummation”
“Eternity In Script”
“The Waters”
“Contemplation”
“The Tower In Shinar”
“The Eye Of Hades”
“Vengeance From Above”
“The Ancient Curse”
“Unveiling”
“Voices From The Dust”

“The Eye Of Hades”:

“The Tower In Shinar”:




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Freddy And The Phantoms are embarking on a new journey with their latest single "First Blood Universe", premiered through BraveWords!

Having mastered their own hybrid of southern blue srock on their four previous albums, the Copenhagen 4-piece are now ready with the psychedelic hard rocker "First Blood Universe" comprising their ‘70s fascination of proto-metal and existential nihilism. 

Fans of Black Sabbath or the fellow Scandinavians Graveyard will definitely approve of this jaw dropping performance.

"First Blood Universe" is the first single off their coming 2020 album A Universe From Nothing and was Recorded in Medley Studios (Glenn Hughes, D-A-D, Mike Tramp). The band is also opening for Rival Sons this week in Helsingør, Denmark.




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Featuring the soaring powerhouse vocals of Englishman Pete Shoulder and drummer Brian Tichy, who has played with everyone from WHITESNAKE, OZZY OSBOURNE, Slash, Billy Idol, FOREIGNER and many more legendary artists, along with bassist Daniel Spree, SILVERTHORNE has delivered a monstrous debut single in the shape of "Tear The Sky Wide Open".

With its ominous riff, huge chorus, driving bass, weighty drums and a groove that evokes the vast expanse of the Southern California canyons from where the band was born, "Tear The Sky Wide Open" has already got fans salivating. The teaser video for the track received over 20,000 views in its first 24 hours of release across the band's social media platforms. That figure doubled the second day.

With influences ranging from deep blues to hard rock, and acoustic folk to metal, SILVERTHORNE describes its sound in the following way: "With our studio located in the sprawling canyons on the outskirts of Los Angeles, the canyons and surroundings have an effect on the music we make. That atmosphere gives us space and solitude to focus on creating music with openness and freedom. No rules, no distractions, no limits!

"You may hear elements that are not unlike being at a LED ZEPPELIN concert with CREAM and FREE opening, while SOUNDGARDEN and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE hang at the bar."

"Tear The Sky Wide Open" is just a taste of the soulful and earthy rock songs to be found on SILVERTHORNE's forthcoming debut EP. Music that tips its hat to the classic rock bands of yesteryear as well as looking firmly to the future.

SILVERTHORNE is:

Pete Shoulder - Vocals/Guitar

Brian Tichy - Drums

Daniel Spree - Bass

KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch has confirmed to "Good Company" that he is "almost done" recording his new solo album. "I'm working with Jasen [Rauch] from BREAKING BENJAMIN," he said (see video below). "And I'm talking to Spencer [Chamberlain] from UNDEROATH about possibly doing something. And Lacey [Sturm] from FLYLEAF… She is singing on a cover song, but I can't tell you which song it is. It's gotta be a surprise."

Welch's last non-KORN release was the "Lo Lamento" single from his LOVE AND DEATH project, which came out in March 2016. Joining Welch on the track were Rauch, who produced the song, JR Bareis (from ISLANDER) and Dan Johnson from RED. Head shared vocal duties on the track with Bareis.

"Lo Lamento" was given away as a free download to everyone who purchased Welch's "With My Eyes Wide Open: Miracles And Mistakes On My Way Back To Korn" book.

Welch's first solo album, "Save Me From Myself", came out in 2008.

LOVE AND DEATH's debut full-length, "Between Here & Lost", was released in 2013.

KORN has teamed up with ALICE IN CHAINS for a co-headlining amphitheater tour across North America. The trek kicked off on July 18 in Del Valle, Texas and is hitting nearly 30 cities before wrapping on September 4 in Mountain View, California.

KORN's new album, "The Nothing", will be released on September 13 via Roadrunner/Elektra. The follow-up to 2016's "The Serenity Of Suffering" was once again produced by Nick Raskulinecz.

Circle II Circle bassist Mitch Stewart has completed work on a new solo album, Lost In This Life. The new single, "Chains", was released today (August 16th) along with an official video. Check it out below.

Check out the previously released lyric video for Stewart's first solo single, "Death Of Me":

Speaking exclusively with BraveWords, Stewart opened up about Circle II Circle's current status. The band released Reign Of Darkness in 2015 but have not been very active in recent years.

Stewart: "We are on a bit of a hiatus. Bill (Hudson / guitars) is doing NorthTale, Zak (Stevens / vocals) is doing Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Henning (Wanner / keyboards) has his Ozzy tribute and COP UK. We're all just taking a much needed breather. I have written several songs for a new CD. Just waiting on Zak to give the thumbs up. For now though, we're all just doing our own thing."




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