QUEENSRŸCHE was joined by FATES WARNING singer Ray Alder on stage at the Neptune Theatre in Seattle, Washington to perform the classic QUEENSRŸCHE song "Take Hold Of The Flame". The April 3 concert marked the final show of the two bands' joint U.S. tour. Fan-filmed video footage can be seen below.

QUEENSRŸCHE latest album, "The Verdict", was released on March 1 via Century Media Records. The disc was produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (ROB ZOMBIE, ICED EARTH, HATEBREED) at Uberbeatz in Lynwood, Washington; Planet-Z in Wilbraham, Massachusetts; and Watershed Studio in Seattle, Washington.

"The Verdict" marks QUEENSRŸCHE's third full-length release with singer Todd La Torre, following the departure of Geoff Tate in 2012.

For the past two years, drummer Scott Rockenfield has been taking time off from QUEENSRŸCHE's touring activities to spend time with his young son, who was born in early 2017. Filling in for him is former KAMELOT drummer Casey Grillo.

La Torre, who has played drums since the age of 13, laid down the drum tracks on "The Verdict".

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES — the band led by world-renowned guitarist John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON) — was joined by Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, THE CIRCLE), Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR), Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN) and Fred Coury (CINDERELLA) during its concert last night (April 6) at Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Odadjian played a cover of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" with John 5 and drummer Logan Miles Nix, while Anthony, Taylor, Coury and John 5 tackled several VAN HALEN classics: "Runnin' With The Devil", "Take Your Whisky Home" and "You Really Got Me" (originally by THE KINKS).

In introducing Anthony to the crowd, John 5 called the former VAN HALEN bassist "my hero," saying that he has "listened to this guy more times than anybody — more times than KISS, more times than anybody. My favorite, favorite guy in the whole word, Mr. Michael Anthony."

Fan-filmed video footage of the show can be seen below (courtesy of Alex Vigil).

Last year, John 5 told Loudwire's "Gear Factor" that he was "blown away" when he first heard VAN HALEN's debut album. "I couldn't believe it," he said. "I was just, like, 'Oh my God, that's so incredible.' It just moved me and it was totally an epiphany for me. I still listen to it all the time. It was a game-changer. It was something that changed music forever.

"I don't think any of us had ever heard a guitar sound like that before," he added. "Everyone's trying to get the sound, and the right amp and the right pedal and the right cord and the right pick and the right strings and I really do believe it's just all in his hands. Because I've heard him play through a little practice amp, and it sounds just like Eddie Van Halen!"

He continued: "Not only was Eddie an unbelievable musician and songwriter, but think about this: what an inventor he was. Look at the design he came up with: the striped guitar. Dude, it's unbelievable. That's one of the most iconic symbols: you see that [guitar], and you're like, 'Oh! Van Halen!' The black and white, and then the black and yellow, then the red, white and black one, it's just totally iconic."

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES — John 5, Logan Miles Nix and bassist Ian Ross — kicked off their North American "Invasion" tour on February 26 at Club Red in Mesa, Arizona. At the opening-night concert, they were joined by Alice Cooper for a performance of the JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE classic "Foxy Lady".

JOHN 5 AND THE CREATURES' new album, "Invasion", will be released this summer. Just like 2017's "Season Of The Witch", the new disc — produced and mixed by Barry Pointer — is being made available via a series of music videos.

AEROSMITH kicked off its "Deuces Are Wild" Las Vegas residency Saturday night (April 6). Prior to the band's performance at at the Park Theater at Park MGM, a half-hour documentary was shown to attendees, featuring interviews with members of AEROSMITH, along with various other artists and celebrities.

AEROSMITH's 16-song set included early classics such as "Mama Kin", "Back In The Saddle" and "Sweet Emotion" as well as later hits such as "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" and "Dude (Looks Like A Lady)". The show concluded with "Dream On" and "Walk This Way".

Grammy Award-winning producer Giles Martin, known for creating the soundscape for "The Beatles Love" by Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas is working on the show as producer.

AEROSMITH teamed up with THX and L-Acoustics for the residency at Park Theater to deliver the world's first THX Certified live performance presented in L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound.

"Deuces Are Wild" opening-night setlist:

01. Train Kept 'A-Rollin

02. Mama Kin

03. Back In The Saddle

04. Kings And Queens

05. Sweet Emotion

06. Hangman Jury

07. Seasons Of Wither

08. Stop Messin' Around (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)

09. Cryin'

10. Livin On The Edge

11. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing

12. Love In An Elevator

13. Toys In The Attic

14. Dude (Looks Like A Lady)

15. Dream On

16. Walk This Way

AEROSMITH will play 34 more shows in Las Vegas dates before the end of the year — eight in April, five in June, four in July, four in August, four in September, four in October, seven in November, and two in December. The band also has multiple-night "Deuces Are Wild" engagements booked at MGM properties in National Harbor, Maryland; Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Springfield, Massachusetts.

In addition to the "Deuces Are Wild" shows, AEROSMITH is scheduled to make two festival appearances in July: July 14 at the Roxodus Music Fest in Edenvale, Canada; and July 19 at the Twin Cities Summer Jam in Shakopee, Minnesota.

In 2017, AEROSMITH announced a run of dates called "Aero-Vederci Baby!", but stopped short of calling it a final tour.

AEROSMITH hasn't released a new studio album since 2012's "Music From Another Dimension!"

THE END MACHINE, the new band featuring three members of the classic DOKKEN lineup — George Lynch (guitar), Jeff Pilson (bass) and Mick Brown (drums) — along with former LYNCH MOB and current WARRANT singer Robert Mason, made its live debut this past Thursday night (April 4) at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California. Brown was unable to make the current run of shows and is being temporarily replaced by EVANESCENCE's Will Hunt.

The group's setlist was as follows:

01. Leap Of Faith

02. River Of Love

03. Unchain The Night

04. No Game

05. Tangled In The Web

06. Hold Me Down

07. Into The Fire

08. Alive Today

09. Ride It

10. It's Not Love

11. Tie Your Mother Down

12. Wicked Sensation

13. Tooth And Nail

Fan-filmed video footage of the entire Whisky A Go Go concert can be seen below.

THE END MACHINE's debut album was released on March 22 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Pilson said: "We think that, notwithstanding the obvious nod to our past experiences together, THE END MACHINE sound has a unique identity. Sonically, this is not just ex-DOKKEN members with a different singer or a rebooted incarnation of LYNCH MOB. This is a new sound. Everyone has been doing great on the album and there is a lot of energy and a lot of focus."

Mason concurred, saying: "This is decidedly not me 'stapled' on to a DOKKEN record. I wouldn't have been involved if that was the intent. Fans will hear bits of our styles in this collection of songs, and while reminiscent signatures are undeniable, THE END MACHINE was purposely built to stand apart and on its own merit."

Asked if the songs for THE END: MACHINE's debut album were written for the recent reunion of DOKKEN's classic lineup, Pilson told "Rock Talk With Mitch Lafon": "I will say that the very early songwriting sessions, with George and I writing the music, we were thinking, 'Well, this could be DOKKEN. Who knows?' We just got together and started writing. But the thought in the back of our mind was, 'Well, maybe there is…' There was a lot of talk, and there was business talk about a possible DOKKEN record. So we wanted to just start writing. We wanted to write and that was kind of probably foremost on our mind. But we also realized very quickly, 'Well, this is kind of becoming its own animal.' And then when Robert got involved, it totally became its own animal. So, I would say it's kind of branched out of the writing that we did for the [recent DOKKEN CD, DVD and Blu-ray, 'Return To The East Live (2016)'], but not very much — only a slight degree."

Pilson also talked about the musical and songwriting chemistry between him, Lynch, Brown and Dokken, saying: "What's so funny about the bonus track ['It's Just Another Day'] on the DOKKEN record ['Return To The East Live (2016)'] is that was one of the least painful recordings DOKKEN has ever made. [Laughs] It was so comfortable and natural — Don's vocals happened very quickly. It's ironic, really, because the band supposedly has so much strife within it or whatever. But on a musical level, chemistry-wise, we kind of can't help but do what we do. Don has a very distinctive voice, and very distinctive melodic sense, George has such a distinctive way of playing, and I think when Mick and Don and I sing, it's very unique. I mean, that is the chemistry — but that was the beauty of DOKKEN, and we appreciate that; we all do. And the thing is, [fans] have to realize is we're still kids at heart, so when George and I get together and start writing, we wanna keep writing. So if the DOKKEN thing doesn't happen for whatever reason, we wanna keep writing. And that's kind of where [THE END: MACHINE] sort of came into being, and that's a good thing — that's music happening organically. And I love that. And that's how I feel about this whole record — it just organically became what it is. It goes from very simple, straight-ahead groove-oriented rock to some kind of musical little adventures that are very, very cool. And, like I said, I'm just really, really proud of it."

According to Jeff, who has been a member of FOREIGNER since 2004, the plan is to develop THE END MACHINE into a full-fledged band, with more albums and touring activity to follow. "I look at it in a very long-term way, 'cause I love playing with these guys — I just do," he said. "And yes, for the time being, the amount of live shows we could do will be limited — there's no question. I mean, FOREIGNER has no signs of slowing down yet. But I love playing with these guys and I love making music with these guys. So, yeah, I'm looking at it in the long term; I'm not just thinking of us as a side project for one record. We're looking at it as a band — a band that has contraints because of everyone's schedules, but that doesn't mean we don't have plans and hope in the future to nurture this into something more. There's only one challenge, but it is by far the biggest, and it's very overwhelming, and that's scheduling. The amount I tour with FOREIGNER, which, as I said, will not slow down, at least for the next couple of years. That's a very daunting challenge — it's very hard to work things out."

DAY OF ERRORS, the three-piece band led by original BLACK SABBATH drummer Bill Ward, will enter the studio later this month to record some new music.

The news of DAY OF ERRORS' recording plans was revealed by KILL DEVIL HILL singer Jason "Dewey" Bragg at last month's "Rock Against MS" benefit concert in Los Angeles.

Asked by "The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show" if there will be more music coming out soon and possible live shows from DAY OF ERRORS, Bragg said (see video below): "I know that we're going in the studio [next] month to record some more. I believe there will be music to download and/or purchase. Tour, I don't think that's gonna happen. But there will be some music coming out soon."

Bragg also shared what he gleaned from playing with Ward for the past two years. "Honestly, Bill is a phenomenal songwriter — singer and songwriter," he said. "He's written all the lyrics, all the melodies, all the music, all the guitar parts, obviously, the drum parts… It's an inspiration to see someone that you've listened to your whole life, and then you get to actually stand in a room with the guy and watch him perform and write and produce. It's amazing. I'm very blessed and happy to have that opportunity to do that with him. Especially one of the members of BLACK SABBATH. I mean, that's like hanging out with one of the dudes from LED ZEPPELIN, man. Give me a break. It's awesome."

In November 2017, DAY OF ERRORS released its first two songs, "Day Of Errors" and "Blaspheming At Creation" via iTunes, Spotify, Amazon MP3 and Google Play.

The band made its live debut in June 2016 at Gaslamp in Long Beach, California.

The group, which was formed by Ward "in the desire to have my drumming spirit continue to live," also features Joe Amodea on guitar/vocals and Bragg on vocals.

Bragg joined DAY OF ERRORS in early 2017 following the departure of bassist/vocalist Nick Diltz (ALL HAIL THE YETI).

Ward was on board for the SABBATH reunion when it was first announced in November 2011, but backed out soon after. He later claimed that he sat out the recording and touring sessions because of unfair contractual terms, although the members of SABBATH have hinted in other interviews that he wasn't physically up to the task.

It was rumored that SABBATH wanted to bring a second drummer on the road to share duties with Ward, which he allegedly balked at.

Ward in 2015 released his first solo album in 18 years. Titled "Accountable Beasts", the record can be purchased on iTunes.

Multi-camera video footage of LAST IN LINE performing on March 23 at the Token Lounge in Westland, Michigan can be seen below (clips edited and produced by George S Pogacich).

LAST IN LINE's sophomore album, "II", was released on February 22 via Frontiers Music Srl. As with 2016's "Heavy Crown", the new disc was produced by DOKKEN and FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson.

LAST IN LINE was formed in 2012, when Vinny Appice, Jimmy Bain and Vivian Campbell — Ronnie James Dio's co-conspirators and co-writers on the "Holy Diver", "Last In Line" and "Sacred Heart" albums — teamed up with esteemed vocalist Andrew Freeman. The debut album "Heavy Crown" was released in February 2016, landing at No. 1 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Initially, the release had been preceded by tragedy when bassist Jimmy Bain unexpectedly passed away at the age of 68 on January 23, 2016. LAST IN LINE, honoring what they knew would be Bain's wish to keep the band moving, brought in renowned bassist Phil Soussan (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE) and committed to sustained touring in support of the album, hitting festivals, headlining clubs, and sharing the stage with metal luminaries such as SAXON and MEGADETH.


In late 2017, the band gathered in Los Angeles to start the recording of the second album, which was produced by the band members and Jeff Pilson (FOREIGNER, DOKKEN), who also helmed the debut album. Having really jelled as a band while touring in support of the first disc, the songwriting came readily to the members. They've created a record that shows a big progression in sound, while immediately being recognizable as LAST IN LINE thanks to Appice's rhythms, thunderous bass from Soussan, amazing vocals from Freeman, and the roaring guitars of Campbell.

"The musical style of 'II' is different from 'Heavy Crown', but it wasn't something that we planned to do," explains Campbell. "Phil is a more intricate player than Jimmy was and that, together with the natural growth and development of the band led us to the songs on the album. As always, we simply started to jam on ideas and see where they led us. But it's fair to say that the songs on this album sound more developed, with more parts and more experimentation than the songs on 'Heavy Crown'. The first album set a tone, but on 'II' we developed that idea and took it to the next logical stage."


Appice, on the sound of the new record and songwriting process, says: "I always sound like me. Viv and I have been playing together for years and have the same feel and pulse and attitude. Now with Phil on bass, he allows a more melodic approach on the bass parts making the songs even more interesting. He fits in perfectly being from the same musical family and time as me and Viv. Mr. Freeman sings from his soul and completes the band's sound with his melodies and amazing range."


He continues: "The songwriting process was the same as DIO's 'Holy Diver'. First, we have fun writing together. We get in a room and jam on riffs and chords until we hit on something good, then continue to build it into a song. Andy puts his magic on it and it all works out very well."


Soussan says about how it was joining LAST IN LINE and the development of the songs: "It was refreshing to be able to write songs in such an organic fashion — by jamming and developing ideas as a group, without bringing in preconceived songs — something I haven't done for ages. The result was a true collaboration, a concept that is so rare these days! Vinny has a unique style of drumming that, beyond keeping beats, inspires riffs and arrangements and Vivian has a way of playing that has a conviction to every note. He is able to turn every riff into a signature. Andrew was creative and unrestricted, focusing his contemporary influences into vocal stylings and hooks that are outside the classic rock clichés. He is very much a perfectionist. Beyond trying to remain true to Jimmy's playing and to the heritage of the relationship between Viv and Vinny, everyone was completely open to exploring any possible idea. I am honestly prouder of our efforts on this album than anything in which I have been involved in for a very long time. With 'II', I would like to think that we have stretched out from 'Heavy Crown' to test some uncharted waters.... the evolution of LAST IN LINE!"

Hear the roar from the hard rock kings of northern Sweden. "Meant For Trouble" is the second single from Pretty Wild's upcoming album, Interstate 13.

Swedish hard rock act Pretty Wild started their journey back in 2007. The road has been long since then and Pretty Wild have conquered their way through Europe and across the sea to The States. Twelve years later and they are releasing their third album, Interstate 13. Pretty Wild have put all their energy, blood and sweat into this album, by spending two years working on it. 

Interstate 13 contains twelve tracks of pure hard rock; the album will be released on May 31st via Black Lodge Records / Sound Pollution Distribution. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

Interstate 13 artwork and tracklisting:

"Let’s Get It Out"
"Meant For Trouble"
"Superman"
"Wild And Free"
"Give It All Tonight"
"Stand My Ground"
"The Way I Am"
"Thanks To You"
"Shot Me Down"
"Walk The Edge"
"I Love It"
"Break Down The Walls"

For further details, visit Pretty Wild on Facebook.

(Photo: Agnes Orre, Felicia Püshl)

 




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Former Annihilator bassist Russ Bergquist, who was with the band from 1999 – 2003 and 2005–2007, has released a new solo album under The Russ Bergquist project. It is now available for purchase via CDbaby. Following is an update from Bergquist:

"This track is called 'Caged'. Track 5 off The Russ Bergquist Project. This is the shortest track on the album. Mark Petri on vocals, Scott Webb on lead guitar, Ryan Van Poederooyen on drums and me on bass, rhythm guitars and background vocals."

The complete tracklist of the album is as follows:

"Suicide Shift"
"Lost At Sea"
"Shreddies"
"Hunted"
"Caged"
"Stabbed In The Back"
"Cassini"
"What I Say"
"Who You Are"

Purchase the album here.




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Helix frontman Brian Vollmer has checked in with the following update:

"Next week we go into 'mix mode' on the new Helix album, Old School. I must say, Daryl has done a great job recording the tracks and playing/singing his parts, as have Kaleb and Chris. Former Helix guitarist Brent Doerner executed all the artwork and blew everyone away (as usual).

I should also mention here that this album is being dedicated to Paul Hackman. Paul and I wrote most of these songs and he plays on two of them here: 'Games Mother Never Taught You' and 'Your Turn To Cry'. He was an underestimated guitar player (what feel!) and an even better songwriter. I once heard someone say that when Paul died, so did the sound of the band. I don't think that's 100% true, but we certainly lost a lot when we lost him. Who knows what we'd sound like in 2019 if he was still around or what songs we'd be writing - that's all hypothetical conjecture - but this album going to be a nice flashback for fans, as none of these songs have ever been released before.

I should also mention here that I talked to Greg Campbell of Merch In Motion yesterday and he tells me that advance orders have taken all the product I had planned to give him. In other words, we're sold out of the 3 pack deal (Old School / Breaking Loose / White Lace & Black Leather). I had 100 units of each of these titles. What this means is that I will have to get more pressed - a good thing."

Old School is comprised of songs written from 1981-1989, but never were released. It was produced by Helix's longtime bass player Daryl Gray and mixed by Juno award winning Siegfried Meier. Mastered by Harry Hess of Harem Scarem. Three of the tracks were recorded for the Back For Another Taste album but never released and have Paul Hackman playing guitar on them.

Tracklisting:

“Coming Back With Bigger Guns”
“Whiskey Bent & Hell Bound”
“If Tears Could Talk”
“Your Turn To Cry”
“Tie Me Down”
“Closer”
“Games Mother Never Taught You”
“Southern Comfort”
“Hound Dog Howlin’ Blues”
“Cheers”




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PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix recently spoke with Meltdown of the Detroit, Michigan radio station 101 WRIF. The full conversation can be streamed below. A few excerpts follow (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On whether, after being sober for seven years, he's developed a new "addiction":

Jacoby: "I ain't trying to drink. Every time I do, it just destroys my life, so I'm just going to try to stay the course... I'm just always trying to have sex with my wife. My wife's vagina... that's my addiction, honestly. I've been married to this woman for, like, 21 years now, and I just can't get enough. Outside of that... I like to ride my bicycle. That's kind of my thing when I get out there on tour. I didn't take it out this winter because it's freezing freakin' cold, but I'm about to bounce over to the UK, and I like to take my bike out and just go cruise the cities and see so much of the cities. That's my new thing — the bicycle."

On the importance of planning ahead:

Jacoby: "For us, we try to plan our stuff out about a year in advance. That's the best way for us to operate. That's what a lot of bands are doing — you're just looking far out. Sometimes, it does chomp off other opportunities, but you've got to have your vision of what you want to do, and for us, we try to stay a year out from where we're at right now. We're already talking about next winter, next spring, just trying to be responsible so we can some with the plans and let people know well in advance so they can get their priorities straight and get their butts to the PAPA ROACH show."

On guesting on "Anesthetic", the debut solo album by LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton:

Jacoby: "I had the honor of singing on Mark's record, and what a great record it is. One of the coolest parts of this album to me is the track he did with Chester Bennington. That was, I believe, the last song Chester recorded. I think there's something really special about that. I love Mark — Mark is a great guitar player. LAMB OF GOD, they are my favorite metal band, period. To be able to collaborate with Mark and to meet him and just hang and stuff like that, he's just such a great guy, and I think the world of him. I think he's dope."

On Bennington:

Jacoby: "It's an incredible tragedy that we lost him. He was just a great guy. He and I struggled with some of the same things. Just to know that he made that choice really gutted me. I look back on that and I'm like, 'Man, I wish I could have just called him up or chatted with him'... It's a tough situation. [I] miss him; [I] love him. I just went on my morning run today and was listening to LINKIN PARK, just vibing on Chester. [It] bums me out, man."

On the strangest place he's ever heard a PAPA ROACH song:

Jacoby: "In a doctor's office. I'm going, 'What the hell is going on?' 'Scars' came on, and I'm sitting in the waiting room, and I see these people looking at their phone, and they're looking up at me, and I'm just going, 'Oh my god. What the hell? I'm here to get my blood tested. Come on.'"

Morton's solo debut, "Anesthetic" – which features Shaddix on the song "Sworn Apart" – was released March 1. Shaddix also appears on "The Reckoning", the first single from WITHIN TEMPTATION's recently released album "Resist".

PAPA ROACH's tenth studio album, "Who Do You Trust?" , was released on January 18 via Eleven Seven.

Guitarist Doug Aldrich (Burning Rain, The Dead Daisies, ex-Whitesnake) spoke with Ultimate Guitar's David Slavković about his days in Ronnie James Dio's band, as well as his time spent in the Whitesnake fold. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

UG: You played with Dio (in the early 2000s). What was it like working with Dio?

Aldrich: "It was great. I mean, Ronnie... he brought the best out in everybody, he always did. And he brought really good things out of me for sure. I'm grateful for the chance to work with Ronnie. If it wasn't for Ronnie, I probably wouldn't have gotten the Whitesnake gig, for one. He was great. I learned a lot from Ronnie. I learned how to control... to basically control the stage and own the stage. And... I miss him. A lot."

UG: You were basically at the same time part of two really big bands. You were in Dio's band and at the same time, you were in Whitesnake. That sounds like it's very difficult. What was it like handling these two bands at the same time?

Aldrich: "Pretty much I was in Whitesnake, it was my full-time gig. David (Coverdale) would let me go off and do a tour or such with Ronnie if Whitesnake was not busy. Kind of like now I'm in Dead Daisies and I'm able to do Burning Rain if the Dead Daisies is off."

UG: What would be the main difference between working with Coverdale and Dio?

Aldrich: "I would say that the biggest difference is with Ronnie. He was very set on what he wanted to do and he was very focused about trying to get a specific sound, a specific thing. With David, it was a little more open. He liked to experiment a lot. He tried different things. But they're both bigger-than-life personalities and I was the right-hand man. Especially with David. I felt really honored that he chose me to help him resurrect Whitesnake. I was trying to keep the bluesy side more alive because the last Whitesnake music that I had heard was with Steve Vai and it was kind of going in a different direction than the original Whitesnake started. So I just brought it to the way I thought it should be."

Read the complete interview here.




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CREED frontman Scott Stapp says that he doesn't pay attention to his critics.

The Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum songwriter and vocalist, who will release his new album, "The Space Between The Shadows", in July via Napalm Records, made the decision nearly two decades ago to dismiss the disparaging reviews that have become par for the course in the Internet age.

"I got to a point years and years ago — before social media — that I wasn't gonna read any positive press and I wasn't gonna read any negative press," he told Andy Hall of the Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3 (hear audio below). "That was a decision I made in my mid-20s. And then today, man, I don't read any press that comes out. I'll flip through my social media at times and see what the fans are saying about new material or shows or touring, and through all that, it's been so supportive and positive. So I'm just fortunate."

While Stapp feels "there's a lot of positives" to social media offering fans greater access to their favorite artists, he says that "there is a lot of hate out there that surfaces. And if you come across it, in one ear, or in one eye and out of your head," he said. "In the eyes and out of your head. You can't let it affect you emotionally, and you just focus on the positives."

The visualizer video for Stapp's new single, "Purpose For Pain", can be seen below.

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 twelve-step program, and meets with a sponsor, saying, "Nothing is more important than my sobriety."

Scott will embark on a cross-country summer tour in late June.

Chad Kroeger has told Billboard that NICKELBACK is in no rush to begin work on the follow-up to 2017's "Feed The Machine" album. "Now there isn't this urgency," he said. "It's not like you have this amount of time you have to make a record because we're going to go tour. It's not [snaps fingers a few times] rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat, with pressure from management, booking agents, record company. That's not there anymore. It's so nice and it really allows me a lot of time to, er — drink."

Kroeger co-founded NICKELBACK in 1995 in Alberta, Canada with his brother Mike, who plays bass for the band. They have released nine albums, six of which have gone platinum. With more than 50 million units sold, NICKELBACK is the 11th best-selling music act and second best-selling foreign act in the U.S. in the 21st century behind THE BEATLES. "How You Remind Me" was named Billboard's top rock song of the decade and reached No. 4 on the Top 10 songs of the 2000s list.

Besides nine Grammy Award nominations, the band has received three American Music Awards, a World Music Award, a People's Choice Award, twelve JUNO Awards, seven MuchMusic Video Awards and induction into Canada's Walk Of Fame.

NICKELBACK is continuing to tour in support of "Feed The Machine", which was released in June 2017 via BMG.

Finnish goth rock legends THE 69 EYES are mixing their twelfth studio album for a September release via Nuclear Blast. The first single from the disc will be made available at the end of May.

THE 69 EYES singer Jyrki 69 told Capital Chaos about the new disc (hear audio below): "I'm thinking it's probably the best record we've ever done. Even though that's our twelfth record, for Christ's sake, so it's nothing new for us."

According to Jyrki 69, he drew some of the lyrical inspiration for THE 69 EYES' new album from the "fucked-up world" that we live in. "It's inspiring to live in this world — it's very inspiring for me to come up with some cool things for the album," he said. "But there's a safe dose of cult movies and cartoon rock and roll there as well, and horror movie references. So it's a 69 EYES album, but it's really fresh, very rocking, raw and powerful."

THE 69 EYES will embark on a U.S. tour for the first time in a decade later this month. Support on the trek will come from MXMS and THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR.

The band recently teamed up with DEVILDRIVER frontman Dez Fafara and his wife Anahstasia's The Oracle Management.

THE 69 EYES' eleventh album, "Universal Monsters", was released in April 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

THE 69 EYES is:

Jyrki 69 - vocals

Bazie - guitar, backing vocals

Timo-Timo - guitar

Archzie - bass, backing vocals

Jussi 69 - drums

In a recent interview with Guitar.com, Slash spoke about what it felt like for him to step back out on stage with GUNS N' ROSES for the first time in over two decades at the band's April 2016 concert at the Troubadour in West Hollywood, California.

"Oh man, it was overwhelming — it was so cool," Slash said. "Because it was a long time — we're talking more than 20 years from the last show in 1994… it was 22 years since the last time we'd played together. And obviously I'd played with [bassist] Duff [McKagan] [since then] but there's a certain dynamic in the three of us together. It was awesome, and it's a really great experience."

GUNS N' ROSES' "Not In This Lifetime" tour features classic lineup members Slash, McKagan and singer Axl Rose backed by guitarist Richard Fortus, drummer Frank Ferrer, keyboardist Dizzy Reed and second keyboardist Melissa Reese.

Both Slash and Fortus have said in recent interviews that there is material in the works for a new GUNS album, which would be the first under the band's name since 2008's "Chinese Democracy". The last collection of original music to feature Axl, Slash and McKagan was 1991's "Use Your Illusion" albums, and the last LP of any kind to feature the three was the 1993 covers set "The Spaghetti Incident?"

Last month, McKagan told satellite radio program "Trunk Nation" that he "heard some magnificent stuff that Axl has — really cool stuff he'd been working on" for GUNS' next record. "So I'm excited about the possibilities with that, of course. I don't mean to get anybody rabid. [A new album] will happen when it happens, that's for sure."

GUNS N' ROSES' latest studio album, "Chinese Democracy", came out in 2008 and featured only Axl from the classic lineup.

The last album on which Rose, McKagan and Slash appeared together was 1993's covers set "The Spaghetti Incident?"

Slash released his fourth solo album and third with his band THE CONSPIRATORS, "Living The Dream", last September.

RETURN OF THE COMET, the new band featuring former FREHLEY'S COMET members John Regan (bass), Tod Howarth (guitar/lead vocals) and Richie Scarlet (guitar/lead vocals) along with ex-ACE FREHLEY drummer Steve Werner, performed live for the first time last night (Friday, April 5) at the Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Fan-filmed video footage of the concert can be seen below (courtesy of Mike Brunn).

Original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, Regan and world-renowned drummer Anton Fig formed FREHLEY'S COMET in 1984. The band went on to sell well over 1.5 million albums and had multiple MTV music videos in heavy rotation from 1987 to 1990.

Now for the first time ever, FREHLEY'S COMET alumni Regan, Howarth and Scarlet, along with Werner, are celebrating their writing, recording, touring and co-production contributions to the FREHLEY'S COMET legacy by performing the hits and classics from the FREHLEY'S COMET catalog and more under the name RETURN OF THE COMET.


RETURN OF THE COMET is:

* John Regan (FREHLEY'S COMET, ACE FREHLEY, PETER FRAMPTON) - bass

* Tod Howarth (FREHLEY'S COMET, CHEAP TRICK, TED NUGENT) - guitar/lead vocals

* Richie Scarlet (FREHLEY'S COMET, ACE FREHLEY, MOUNTAIN) - guitar/lead vocals

* Steve "Budgie" Werner (ACE FREHLEY, LESLIE WEST, HINDENBERG) - drums

Scarlet was in FREHLEY'S COMET from 1984 to 1985 and played in three of the band's seven different lineups. Howarth was in FREHLEY'S COMET from 1986 to 1988 and was in the group's last three lineups. Both Frehley and Regan were members of FREHLEY'S COMET for the duration of the band's four-year existence.

Frehley told Ultimate Classic Rock that the keyboards on FREHLEY'S COMET's debut album were a result of "Howarth's influence." He explained: "I tried to keep the keyboards to a minimum, because I'm really not a keyboard guy. KISS never really used them, except on a couple of songs. I always wanted to follow the same direction with my career as I had with KISS musically. It was almost like I had to fight to keep more keyboards off the record, because I was there with three other band members and my producer."

In a 2017 interview with the Poughkeepsie Journal, Regan — who met Frehley in the mid-1980s at a friend's recording studio in White Plains, New York — described Ace as "a kook, in a good sense. In a world full of copies, he's a one-off. He's an original."

Frehley reunited with Regan and Howarth to perform the songs "Rock Soldiers" and "Cold Gin" during his September 2017 concert in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Bridges To Bremen was announced today by The Rolling Stones for release on June 21. Presented by Eagle Vision, the previously unreleased concert film has been completely restored, remixed and remastered and will be available on digital, DVD + 2CD, Blu-ray + 2CD, triple vinyl and digital audio. Pre-order here, and watch a video trailer below.

Bridges To Bremen captures a complete show from the final leg of the Rolling Stones year-long tour in support of their Bridges To Babylon album, which achieved Platinum and Gold status in multiple markets upon the album’s original release in 1997.

Ever the innovators, The Bridges To Babylon Tour was one of firsts - the first time the band went on the road with a permanent, and now infamous, B-stage, and also the first time that fans could vote on the band’s website for a track they wanted to hear at the show - “Memory Motel” in the case of the Bremen fans, making each show on the tour unique.

Opening with “Satisfaction”, a snake-hipped Jagger, sporting a bright yellow shirt & scarf, is a streak of canary-colored lightning, while Keith prowls the stage in a tiger print duster coat. Lisa Fisher accompanies Jagger on vocals for a storming version of “Gimme Shelter”, and Bridges single “Saint of Me” receives a rousing welcome. By Stones standards, Bremen was an intimate show, a 40,000 fan-strong hot ticket, for which the band enthusiastically kicked out 155 minutes of unadulterated rock ‘n’ roll.

This concert film has been meticulously restored from the original masters, and the audio remixed and remastered from the live multitrack recordings. Four tracks from the band’s Soldier Field performances in Chicago are included as bonus features on all physical visual formats.

Tracklisting:

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
"Let's Spend The Night Together"
"Flip The Switch"
"Gimme Shelter"
"Anybody Seen My Baby?"
"Paint It Black"
"Saint Of Me"
"Out Of Control"
"Memory Motel"
"Miss You"
"Thief In The Night"
"Wanna Hold You"
"Its Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)"
"You Got Me Rocking"
"Like A Rolling Stone"
"Sympathy For The Devil"
"Tumbling Dice"
"Honky Tonk Women"
"Start Me Up"
"Jumpin' Jack Flash"
"You Can't Always Get What You Want"
"Brown Sugar"




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Los Angeles-based outfit 3TEETH will release its new album, "Metawar", on July 5 via RED Music.

The first single from the the Sean Beavan-produced (NINE INCH NAILS, MARILYN MANSON) disc is "American Landfill", an unrelenting song frontman Alexis Mincolla says is intended to convey the feel of "getting buried under the ruin of a fallen empire." The track is available as an instant download with pre-orders.

Mincolla said: "If our debut album was focused on man vs. the world, and our sophomore album was man vs. himself, then I really wanted to 'Metawar' to focus on the idea of world vs world, and the notion that if man doesn't create his own world then he's often crushed by the world of another.

"This album is meant to be sonic attack on the wide scale perception management systems that currently grip our respective worlds. It's a sort of counter-measure in the invisible silicon war of ideology that is constantly moving avatar pawns on the battleground of our large-scale prosthetic digital nervous system. Thematically, it's centered largely around concepts of accelerationism and the political heresy of inviting the end as an opportunity as a fresh start. 'Metawar' is here to tear down the walls of our memetic concentration camps."

3TEETH released its self-titled debut album in 2014, seeing the 14-track album top the iTunes electronic charts and garnering the attention of TOOL guitarist Adam Jones, who offered the outfit a spot on his band's 2016 U.S. tour. Being handpicked by one of rock music's biggest acts led to a new level of attention, with Rolling Stone profiling the band, saying 3TEETH's music is "a mix of state-of-the-art sensory overload with a take-no-prisoners level of aggression." TOOL audiences were so receptive to 3TEETH's powerful live show, the rising band was invited to return for the next leg of the tour. Once off the road, the 3TEETH members locked themselves in the studio to crank out their sophomore release, "". The album hit No. 23 on Billboard, and landed them tours across North America and Europe — headlining, and supporting acts such as RAMMSTEIN and DANZIG.

"Metawar" track listing:

01. Hyperstition

02. Affluenza

03. Exxxit

04. American Landfill

05. President X

06. Altær

07. Time Slave

08. Bornless

09. Surrender

10. Sell Your Face2.0

11. Blackout

12. The Fall

13. Pumped Up Kicks

3TEETH is Alexis Mincolla (vocals), Xavier Swafford (keyboards), Andrew Means (modular synth/bass), Chase Brawner (guitar) and Justin Hanson (drums).

Photo credit: Sequoia Emmanuelle

The transaltlantic trio that is KING HOBO will release its new album, "Mauga", on May 31 via Weathermaker Music. The disc was produced by Tobias Strandvik and recorded at his studio in Varberg, Sweden.

KING HOBO consists of Thomas Juneor Andersson (KAMCHATKA) on vocals, guitars and percussion, Per Wiberg (KAMCHATKA, SPIRITUAL BEGGARS, CANDLEMASS, ex-OPETH) on vocals, bass, and keys, and Jean-Paul Gaster (CLUTCH) on drums.


The "Mauga" album cover is designed by Wiberg himself. He says: "I wanted to pay homage to all the great labels that inspired the music we play, like Chess, Atlantic, Vee-Jay, Prestige and Blue Note, for example. All these labels had a classy design in their heyday which was immediately recognizable. That's why our image is in tri-tone, and the names of the bandmembers together with the label and stereo logo are mentioned on the front cover. The sci-fi imagery is our little twist."


"Mauga" track listing:


01. Hobo Ride

02. Dragon’s Tail

03. King Blues

04. Good Stuff

05. Mauga

06. How Come We’re Blind

07. Listen Here

08. Move To The City

09. Twilight Harvest Pt. I & II

10. New Or-sa-leans *


* Bonus track on the digital release only


The first single from "Mauga" is "Hobo Ride" and will be released April 19 as an instant-gratification track at iTunes and Amazon. That single will be followed by "Listen Here" (May 3), and "Dragon's Tail" (May 17).


Weathermaker Music will release a limited 12-inch LP in a gatefold format which has been autographed by the three musicians on the inner sleeve, and a digital 10-track version that includes the song "New Or-sa-leans" as a bonus.


Gaster on how KING HOBO began: "Per and I met in 2003 when SPIRITUAL BEGGARS and CLUTCH were touring Europe together. Within the first hour of meeting him, he and I had an in-depth conversation about the blues and funk and how the BAD BRAINS were one of the most important bands of all time. Even though we grew up in countries thousands of miles apart, we had an immediate kinship thru our love of the music.


"In the summer 2005, CLUTCH and OPETH were on the 'Sounds Of The Underground' tour. Per was playing with OPETH at the time. After the show, he and I would often hang out enjoying a cold beer and listening to everything from CAPTAIN BEYOND to BLACK UHURU and Miles Davis. On a hot and humid evening somewhere in the Midwest, one of these listening sessions led to us setting up gear in the bus parking lot and holding an open jam in what we called the funk tent. These jams are where the KING HOBO seeds were planted.


"It was at one of the 'Sounds Of The Underground' tour dates that Per played me a new release by a Swedish band called KAMCHATKA. I was blown away by the man playing guitar! He had a soulful voice and played like Stevie Ray Vaughn. This was my introduction to the powerhouse singer and guitarist Thomas Anderson."


Andersson on the sound of KING HOBO: "In a metaphorical way, this is the sound of two continents meeting; Europe, particularly Sweden, and the United States and here particularly the East Coast. When we play, all hell breaks loose. Our music can, at times be intense and loud, and then again almost like a whisper.

"Per and J.P. are my role models, as persons and musicians and it's a huge honor to play with them. We play what we feel and that's the sound of this album. We are three musicians from different parts of the world, friends actually, who are having a musical conversation, as grown-ups do."


Wiberg on the recording of "Mauga": "We recorded this album the same way as the first, live in the rehearsal room. It's quite a liberating process compared to how a lot of albums are recorded these days. We set up our gear in a circle and go full on, no headphones or screens to seal off the amps or drums. We jam all through the day to see what we come up with, arrange it on the spot and record. I really like the fact that it doesn't feel like a regular recording situation with monitors, click tracks and whatnot. It feels a lot more exclusive and kinda like a proper gig actually, plus we don't have to worry what it's gonna sound like live either, 'cause this is live in the raw! The hang-out part and easygoing vibe adds a lot to how we play together as well and none of this would happen if we didn't have a guy we trusted in the studio. Toby Strandvik did a tremendous job this time with the technical side of things as this way of recording might not be an engineer's wet dream, so to speak. The journey is just as much worth as the destination to us and I think we found the HOBO way of capturing the moment."

U.K.'s Zee Productions has launched a new range of rock and metal jigsaw puzzles, Rock Saws.

The first collection includes jigsaws based on some of the greatest albums in heavy metal history from IRON MAIDEN, MOTÖRHEAD, JUDAS PRIEST and SLAYER.

IRON MAIDEN

* "The Number Of The Beast"

* "Powerslave"

* "Somewhere In Time"

SLAYER

* "Reign In Blood"

* "Seasons In The Abyss""

* "South Of Heaven"

JUDAS PRIEST

* "Painkiller"

* "Defenders Of The Faith"

* "Ram It Down"

MOTÖRHEAD

* "Bomber"

* "Overkill"

* "Orgasmatron"

The artwork from each of these legendary albums is now available as a 500-piece jigsaw puzzle printed on high-quality board.


Pre-order yours now at this location.

According to the Los Angeles Times, a Connecticut house that was once owned by original KISS drummer Peter Criss is on the market for $1.875 million.

The Normandy-style home in Greenwich has four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms and overlooks a small pond with a waterfall and an arched wooden bridge.

Across the grounds, there's a 650-square-foot cottage with a kitchen and lofted bed space.

In 1977, Peter and his first wife Lydia Criss purchased the house and dubbed it "Country Comfort." The couple split a short time later, with Lydia telling Backstage Auctions: "I felt like we got this house for nothing. We ended keeping the house for eight years, which I loved, I loved. I moved out of it. I rented it for two years or a year and a half and then I moved back into it."

Criss moved out of the house shortly after meeting his second wife, Playboy centerfold and Coppertone model Debra Jensen, at a 1978 party thrown by Rod Stewart.

Lydia later told People magazine: "Communication between us just stopped. He denied her existence for four months, but deep down I knew it was another woman. Then someone close told me, 'It's too bad, you've worked all these years and she’s going to step into your shoes.'"

After Peter served Lydia with divorce papers, the couple agreed to a $1 million-plus out-of-court settlement. As part of the settlement, Lydia was awarded the Greenwich house.

Criss first left KISS in 1980. Since then he's worked with other bands and released solo albums. He teamed up with KISS again for a reunion tour in the 1990s and most recently in 2004. He was replaced by Eric Singer.

The four original members of KISS were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in April 2014 by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello.

Criss, who was known as "Catman," released his last solo CD, titled "One For All", in 2007. Peter produced the album himself for the first time, and was joined by guest musicians that included keyboardist Paul Shaffer and bassist Will Lee of "Late Night With David Letterman". The album featured a range of styles, from rock and jazz to blues and Broadway, and included covers of "What A Difference A Day Makes" and "Send In The Clowns".


?JUST LISTED I'm excited to share my newest listing, an enchanting Normandy home located at 6 Carpenters Brook Rd in...Posted by Tuck Keating Real Estate on Wednesday, April 3, 2019

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and JOURNEY member Jonathan Cain will release his fourth solo album in as many years, "More Like Jesus", on May 3 via Identity Records with The Fuel Music distribution.

Last month, Cain released "More Like Jesus"'s title track as the first lyric video and single to digital retailers and streaming outlets internationally. Following its release, "More Like Jesus" was immediately dubbed a "Hot Track" by iTunes and was added to multiple Spotify playlists, including New Music Friday Christian.

Written in response to Cain asking himself what he should pray for and what would be his ultimate New Year's resolution in 2018, "More Like Jesus" became his personal anthem that helped carry him through a huge, 58-city arena/stadium tour with JOURNEY that played to over one million people last year. An integral part to one of the most popular American rock bands of all time, Cain is intent on "walking his life out more in the mind of Christ."

"These days that's what I'm writing, and I'm having a blast with it," Cain told Billboard. "I'm recording in my new studio and I get to play with the A-list players in Nashville… I'm just writing all the time, y'know — for JOURNEY, too, but this thing with worship music is really fun. It's another gig that I don't get burned out on, and I have a lot of energy I can offer when I come back to JOURNEY."

Writing all the songs and recording and producing "More Like Jesus" in his state-of-the-art Addiction Sound Studios in Nashville with engineer David Kalmusky, known for his work on multiple platinum albums, Cain's new album features 65 minutes of music. Songs like "Now Unto Him" and "Tell Your Mountain" have already become worship favorites at New Destiny Christian Center in Orlando, Florida, where he leads worship and his wife, Paula White, is the senior pastor.

The featured track "Unleashed" was originally written last year for White's Unleashed Conference where Cain will again lead the song and more new music. This year's conference begins May 2, the day before "More Like Jesus" launches. The album further includes "Remove Every Veil", which was originally a bonus track from the acclaimed album "What God Wants To Hear", and "Better Man" and "Take These Ashes" from Cain's "The Songs You Leave Behind", released last year.

"More Like Jesus" track listing:

01. Unleashed

02. More Like Jesus

03. Now Unto Him

04. Tell Your Mountain

05. Kingdom Come Down

06. Love Carries The Cross

07. Beautiful In Every Way

08. Only In The Arms

09. Alive

10. Unshaken

11. Already Victorious

12. Take These Ashes

13. Better Man

14. Remove Every Veil

15. For He Has Risen

The track "Kingdom Come Down" can be streamed below.

The world has changed, but Axel Rudi Pell hasn't. For three decades, the Bochum, Germany-based guitarist has ticked and worked like a Swiss clock, consistently releasing critically acclaimed, hard-rocking albums. Like his anniversary offering, a live document of his most recent tour. And it will come out on the same record company as his debut in 1989; his contract with legendary label SPV/Steamhammer having lasted longer than the average marriage these days.

"SPV and I have grown together, we have witnessed highs and lows and we've managed to get through them all," the 58-year-old musician states with a smile. "Never change a winning team" is the secret of his success. Having sold more than 1.6 million records so far, Pell also has a ridiculous amount of online streams: his songs have been streamed more than 37.5 million times, figures he would never have dreamt of when he first started out.

"XXX Anniversary Live", his 30th album release in as many years, will see the light of day on June 7. A milestone by all accounts and a stunning document of his most recent tour which he did not plan at all, but the recordings, from Bochum and Budapest among others, were so good that he felt he just couldn't scrap them. They are a worthy follow-up to "Magic Moments", his three-hour anniversary show at the Bang Your Head!!! festival in 2014, where he celebrated 25 years as a solo artist.

"XXX Anniversary Live" track listing:

CD1

01. The Medieval Overture (Intro)

02. The Wild And The Young

03. Wildest Dreams

04. Fool Fool

05. Oceans Of Time

06. Only The Strong Will Survive

07. Mystica (incl. Drum Solo)

08. Long Live Rock

CD2

01. Game Of Sins / Tower Of Babylon (incl. Keyboard Solo)

02. The Line

03. Warrior

04. Edge Of The World (incl. Band Introduction)

05. Truth And Lies

06. Carousel

07. The Masquerade Ball / Casbah

08. Rock The Nation


Lineup:

Johnny Gioeli - Lead and Backing Vocals

Axel Rudi Pell - Lead, Rhythm and Acoustic Guitars

Ferdy Doernberg - Keyboards

Volker Krawczak - Bass

Bobby Rondinelli - Drums

Toledo-based, Symphonic Deathcore masters, The Convalescence are proud to unleash “The Return” (feat. Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy), from the upcoming full-length, Monument Of Misery out June 28th on LEGEND Recordings.  "We are very proud of this new album,” says vocalist Keith Wampler.  “We believe it's the best we've ever done by far and having Matt McGachy of Cryptopsy joining us on vocals for a verse just makes it that much better. We have a lot more new music and a lot more tour dates coming soon so stay tuned!" Stream the single through various outlets here.

 

Consisting of Wampler, Guitarist Zac Lunsford, Guitarist Toby Wright, Bassist Ron Buckley, Drummer Charles Webber, and Keyboardist Katie McCrimmon. The Convalescence has spent the last several years touring nearly non-stop and earning a rapidly growing worldwide fan base.  The band has toured with Goatwhore, Testament, Sepultura, Cryptopsy, Ill Nino among many others.

Tour dates:

April
10 - Cincinnati, OH - Northside Yacht Club
11 - Little Rock, AR - Vino's
12 - Arlington, TX - Diamond Jim's
13 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
14 - Houston, TX - Acadia Bar & Grill
15 - Metarie, LA - The Twist Of Lime
16 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
17 - Nashville, TN - The End
18 - Bedford, IN - Eagle's Club
19 - Lakewood, OH - Spring Bash N Thrash Festival
20 - Tonawanda, NY - Stamps
21 - Rochester, NY - California Brew Haus
22 - Providence, RI - The Alchemy
23 - Brooklyn, NY - The Kingsland
24 - Greencastle, PA - Breathing Room
25 - Battle Creek, MI - Dead Fest
26 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom
27 - Toledo, OH - Toledo Deathfest

 




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In the wake of the mighty Bal-Sagoth’s epilogue, Kull was forged by four members of Bal-Sagoth (all except for Byron), together with Dyscaphia’s guitarist and composer Tarkan (vocals in Kull). Epic symphonic black metaller Kull strongly follow the musical tradition already established by the Maudling brothers during their tenure in Bal-Sagoth.

Debut album, Exile, presents us a memorable journey through intrinsic melodies and obscure atmosphere, all orchestrated by Chris Maudling and Jonny Maudling with sharp production, mixed and mastered at Wayland’s Forge. Originally planned as the 7th Bal-Sagoth album, Exile’s music not only inherits all the greatness from the members’ former glories, but also injects new blood into the mix with the addition of new soldier, elevating the music to yet a higher level.

Exile sees its release on April 30th on CD format under the banner of Black Lion Records.

Tracklisting:

“Imperial Dawn”
“Set-Nakt-Heh”
“Vow Of The Exiled”
“A Summoning To War (Dea Bellorum Invicta)”
“Horde’s Ride”
“An Ensign Consigned”
“Pax Imperialis”
“By Lucifer’s Crown (Lapis Exillis)”
“Of Stone And Tears”
“Aeolian Supremacy: Wrath Of The Anemoi”
“Of Setting Suns And Rising Moons”

“Vow Of The Exiled”:




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Canadian multi-instrumentalist Robb Finlayson, who recently released his new solo album The Beauty Of Rage, has issued an update on his Skye Asylum project.

"As some of you know, while writing my last album, The Beauty Of Rage, I started to also write movie trailer type music and add my own twist to it. This is when I created Skye Asylum. It’s still just me doing all the composing and instrumentation, but with a ton of cross-genre influence. In order to pull all of this off I needed to find the perfect vocalist that can sing opera, classical, theatrical, rock, pop, ambient, etc. I was so fortunate to hear the music of Alexa Ray. Thinking it was a long shot, I emailed her to see if she would be interested and to my surprise she was... with that said I am so honoured to have a vocal talent such as herself to sing the stories of The Under Dark, which is the album's official name."

Check out a clip of Finlayson's work with Alexa Ray, also featuring Imonolith / Devin Townsend Project drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen, released on March 1st.

Finlayson recently checked in with the following:

"The Beauty of Rage is now available everywhere on all streaming platforms. A whole year of writing and recording boils down to these 10 songs. Crank it up and enjoy! The title track The Beauty Of Rage is below."

Special thanks to:

Ryan Van Poederooyen - Drums
Jon Howard - Vocals
Jess Ruin - Vocals
Brett Reid - Producer
Young Bros. Productions - Co-Producers
Jason Van Poederooyen - Mix and Master Engineer

Finlayson recently spoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai about the follow-up to his Winter's Apprentice album, which is currently in the works, and his Skye Asylum project.

Finlayson: "My second solo album, The Beauty Of Rage, is in the middle of being mixed right now and is a much heavier album than my first one, with Jon Howard (Threat Signal, Imonolith) doing the majority of the vocals. Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project, Imonolith) plays drums on all the tracks. I went all out as I felt the material I wrote was strong and needed the best I could find to support the music. Plus, Ryan is good friend of mine. I don’t have a release date yet but I'm sure it'll be some time in March. I recorded The Beauty Of Rage at the famous Sunset Sound Studio in Hollywood in Studio 2, which was used by Led Zepplin, Slipknot, Van Halen and Rage Against the Machine.

I created Skye Asylum, which again is just me doing the songwriting and playing. I created a different name so I can explore the symphonic / cinematic  music with a metal edge; something along the lines of Nightwish and some of the gaming music from things like Skyrim, etc. It’s going to be heavy in spots, symphonic throughout, and follow a strict storyline. One song I have called 'Eberron' is almost 20 minutes long. I will start recording mid-year as I have most of the material written and scored but needs arranging and lyrics added. My 'solo' stuff will remain heavy metal and the Skye Asylum stuff will have elements of that but be more experimental and symphonic."




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New York-based progressive metal fusion quartet Valence recently announced the release of their upcoming album, Cognitive Dissidents, out April 12th. Expertly fusing genres like metal, rock, jam, classical, jazz, and more, Valence's varied yet cohesive influences offer every listener a passport to a new state of mind that is cerebral and emotive, while not sacrificing accessibility.

Valence have revealed a third new track from Cognitive Dissidents, entitled "Walrus", which is available to stream below.

Guitarist Geoffrey Schaefer says about the track: "'Walrus' is one of the more eclectic songs on Cognitive Dissidents that really highlights the way we incorporate jam band influences in with the progressive metal. You can really hear this about two and a half minutes into the song, as well as with the section that comes about five minutes in. It's also one of the longer songs on the album, but one that we don't think feels long."

Cognitive Dissidents, the ambitious follow-up to their Independent Music Award-winning 2014 EP, Laser Baron, was recorded and produced at Westfall Studios in Long Island, NY.

Tracklisting:

"Damnit, Lana!"
"Prelude: Parlance Of Our Time"
"I. If You're Not Into The Whole Brevity Thing"
"II. Calmer Than You Are"
"III. Preferred Nomenclature"
"Walrus"
"Red Sky At Morning"

"Walrus":

Valence wastes no time in launching Cognitive Dissidents intro the stratosphere with lead single "Damnit, Lana!", setting the course for what is about to be one hell of a ride. Rock technicality blends into a seductive Latin fusion-inspiredsection driven by multi-talented percussionist Chris Romano, only to finish as an unrelenting metal opus. "II. Calmer Than You Are" shows the softer side of Valence, illustrating a synth-laden soundscape led by bassist Wilhelmus Sapanaro. The band continue to flex their tech-muscles on tracks like "III. Preferred Nomenclature", in which guitarists Michael Buonanno and Geoffrey Schaefer burn through over five minutes of deft ebb and flow - fluxing between absolute mano-a-mano, battle-like shreddery, deep grooves and classically-influenced passages. "Walrus", amid its journey, provides an unexpected mid-track jam trip before the album closes with "Red Sky at Morning" - a 14+ minute sonic escapade that can only be described as positively monumental.

Rather than utilizing samples, bassist Wilhelmus Sapanaro performed upright bass and cello, and guitarist Michael Buonanno performed violin and viola on Cognitive Dissidents to maintain an organic sound.

Valence has performed across the eastern United States and Canada with artists like: Scale The Summit, Sarah Longfield, Consider The Source, Felix Martin and more, and will soon expand their national footprint later in 2019. In the meantime, Valence has several U.S. performances booked this spring. See below for all confirmed tour dates:

April
13 - Poughkeepsie, NY - Darkside Records - Record Store Day
26 - Holbrook, NY - Rams American Pub
28 - Philadelphia, PA - Milkboy
29 - Orange, VA - 3 B's Bar & Grille

May
1 - Raleigh, NC - Slims
2 - Atlanta, GA - Smith's Olde Bar
3 - Asheville, NC - Odditorium
24 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus - with Black Crown Initiate / Album Release Show

Visit Valence on Facebook for further details.




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Beasto Blanco; the band comprised of Chuck Garric (long time Alice Cooper bassist) on guitars and vocals, Calico Cooper on vocals, Brother Latham on guitars, Jan LeGrow on bass and Sean Sellers on drums, will release their third studio album, We Are, on May 24 via Rat Pak Records.  

We Are is the follow-up to their 2016 self-titled sophomore release. Produced by Ryan Greene, the new album is available for pre-order in various bundle configurations including vinyl, cassette and hand autographed CDs, here.

Influenced by bands such as White Zombie and Motörhead, Beasto Blanco’s music is a potent mix of heavy riffs, driving bass and melodic choruses. From the album opener “The Seeker” to the closer “I See You In It”, it is clear that Beasto Blanco wear their influences on their sleeve. Tracks like “Solitary Rave”, “Perception Of Me” and “We Got This” showcase that vocal interplay between Garric and Cooper, something that separates Beasto Blanco from these influences. A bonus version CD and digital downloads will feature a bonus track “Halcyon”. A video for the first single “The Seeker” will be released later this month.

Regarding the new album Chuck Garric comments, “We spent a lot of time channeling, dissecting and arranging the songs from our new album. The idea was, “Let’s make 'our' record - not necessarily what’s popular now or what we think other people will like. We said, let’s make a record for us and our fans. Our fans are loyal and our sound is our sound."

Guitarist Brother Latham adds, “We Are is a novel record for us. It shows maturity in the band, without surrendering our reckless abandon and love of rock n’ roll!”

Calico Cooper adds, “This record has teeth. It’s got a bite to it that I love. It’s message is from the people we see around us every day, it’s heartbeat is so loud. It says We are strong. We are indestructible. We are here. We Are!“

We Are tracklisting:

"The Seeker"
"Solitary Rave"
"Ready To Go"
"Down"
"Perception Of Me"
"Let's Rip"
"Half Life"
"We Got This"
"Follow The Bleed"
"I See You In It"
"Halcyon" (Bonus track on CD & download versions)

Beasto Blanco will be touring the US and Canada in support of We Are, opening for Halestorm and Palaye Royale. The tour begins April 18th at the Verizon Center in Mankato, MN and takes the band through spring with additional headlining shows, as well as an appearance at this years Rocklahoma.

(Photo - Victor Chalfant)




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UK heavy metal power trio, Black Sheets Of Rain, have released the first single, "No Rest", from their upcoming debut EP, In The Ey Of The Storm, out on April 26 via W.A.R. Productions. Watch a lyric video for "No Rest" below, and order the EP here.

Taking their musical cues from classic acts like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Kings X, Thin Lizzy, Accept, Metallica, Iron Maiden, UFO, Anthrax and Dio, Black Sheets Of Rain's focus is on writing memorable songs delivered with relentless energy. Their sound distils influences from across the metal spectrum, from doom to thrash, into a hard-hitting contemporary sound. Pounding drums, rumbling bass, biting guitars and gritty vocals underpin the band’s heavy, melodic material.

A power trio in the vintage mould, the band feature David Nuttall (Drums/Vocals, ex-Toy Dolls), Matt Lambourne (Bass / Vocals, ex-Solomon Groove) and Rich Davenport (Guitar/Lead Vocals, ex-See Red, Atomkraft). Songs from their forthcoming debut EP have already met with an enthusiastic reception at live shows supporting established UK Metal bands Eliminator, Seven Sisters and Conjuring Fate.

The track "Through The Storm" is featured in Surprise, a recent horror movie from Hermitage Wanderer/Greenhouse Films, which premiered in Manchester in November 2018 and will be sent to film festivals in 2019.

The band members have gigged extensively over the years in the UK and abroad, and have worked on a number of self-released albums, singles and EPs in previous projects. Shows will be forthcoming to promote the release of their debut EP, with a view to following this with a full-length album in 2020.

Featured on "No Rest" is a guest vocal from Davenport’s former Atomkraft bandmate, Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan (Venom Inc.).

The EP was produced by Tony Wilson, producer of Tommy Vance’s legendary Friday Rock Show, and of countless sessions for John Peel’s long-running BBC radio show. Wilson has continued to work extensively as a producer, and the band enlisted him for the EP due to his expertise in producing radio sessions and live concert broadcasts which captured the energy and spontaneity of bands like Thin Lizzy, Dio and Iron Maiden, coupled with his knowledge of contemporary studio techniques.

Lyrically, many of the songs on the EP are about surviving difficult times ("Still Spark Something", "Through The Storm", "Force Of Habit".) The track "Weight Of Shadows" talks about the experience of dealing with depression, and will be released as a single in aid of Ian’s Chain, a charity which counsels those struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts, and supports people who have lost a loved one to suicide. For more information please see www.ianschain.co.uk

The song "No Rest" offers a more light-hearted contrast, with an Edgar Allan-Poe inspired slice of gothic horror. The band are also collaborating with horror author A.C. Chambers on a series of linked songs based on his novels.




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