South African extreme metal titans, Vulvodynia, have released a video for "The Randlord", the new single from the band's new album, Entabani, out now via Unique Leader Records.


Says the band, "'The Rand Lord' is written from the perspective of a wealthy, glutinous, maniacal, narcissist who has discovered that mass monetary gain directly coincidence with absolute positions of power. The concept is based on the European financiers and capitalists who took control of the diamond and gold mining industries in South Africa from the late 1800s. We wanted the vibe of this track to have a certain braggadocious swagger whilst simultaneous showcasing the brainwashed perspective of the citizens that have turned into devote followers of The Rand Lord. During our most recent North American tour, we filmed all the footage of this video in various venues to multiple amazing crowds. After the release of this video we are set to hit the road once again and bring our live show to Asia, Australia and New Zealand."







Entabeni marks a pivotal moment for Vulvodynia, as they weave together their most ambitious work to date. The album showcases a fusion of African folklore and extreme metal, a thematic exploration deeply rooted in the band’s heritage and collective creativity.


Reflecting on the album’s significance, Vulvodynia states, “Entabeni is a very important album for us, it sees us at crossroads in our career. We’ve fully embraced the idea of writing as a collective, exploring every member’s ideas, experiences and formed them all together to create what we think is our most ambitious album yet. We wanted to explore the concept of African folklore on this album and based a lot of the songs off of old stories found in poems, books and even through word of mouth from our vocalist Lwandile’s older family members.”


Known for their unique, uncompromising blend of technical proficiency and straight-up deacthcore brutality, Vulvodynia has carved a significant niche in the global metal world. ‘Entabeni’ promises to propel them even further, providing listeners with an innovative blend of visceral intensity and rich, cultural storytelling.


Buy/stream the new album here.





Tracklisting


"Imbawula"
"Devil Tree"
"The Randlord "
"It Follows"
"Isandlwana" (feat. David Simonich of Signs of The Swarm)
"Mamlambo"
"Adamaster" (feat. Kyle Medina of Bodysnatcher)
"Entabeni" (feat. Damonteal Harris of Peeling Flesh)
"Mangled and Maimed"
"Generational Segregation"


“Isandlwana” visualizer:

40 years ago today, W.A.S.P. played its very first show at the Woodstock in Anaheim, California. To celebrate the milestone, W.A.S.P. leader Blackie Lawless took to the band's official web site to share the following: "40 years ago today my life changed. To change in ways I had dreamed, but also to end up different than I had imagined.

"It's impossible for anyone to foresee the totality of ways life will change when those dreams become reality.

"It was 40 years ago today W.A.S.P. played its first show, Aug. 28th 1982, at a long gone club called the Woodstock. The lineup at that time was Tony Richards on Drums, Chris Holmes on Lead Guitar, myself on Guitar and Vocals and Don Costa on Bass. This was our humble (if you wanna call it that) beginning.

"Many of you have heard me say that when we first started we never had any intention of ever playing live shows. In Los Angeles at the time it was mostly impossible to get a record deal from only playing live. Ironically, our true intention was only to make records and we knew from having lived in L.A. for such a long time that the only real way to get a record deal was to make the best demo tape you could make. So that's what we did. We made a demo of songs that would end up being mostly our first album, but we had sent those tapes out to labels a couple of months earlier and we got no response from any of them. So in our impatience, we said, well we think these songs are pretty good, why don't we take them out and play them live a see what happens. So again, that's what we did! A month later we would move up into Hollywood at the Troubadour.

"For us that were part of this historic night, the importance of this show cannot be overstated. We were a group of musicians that had no idea of what or how we would look in a live show. All that would come later over the course of the next few weeks. I would like to personally thank the band and all the crew that were involved that night for that first show. All of our destinies would change that night.

"I'll explain more next month in a segment that I'll do to mark the first show we did at the Troubadour. For what most of the world knows that's really where the band began, but this show too is significant because it was the real beginning of the band in its 4 decade long journey. This show would be the first night anyone would hear, 'Love Machine', 'On Your Knees', 'Hellion' and 'School Daze'. I remember taking the stage that night and thinking, nobody knows who were are and nobody knows these songs. From this night, almost 2 years to the date of the release of our first album, all that would change!"

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the release of W.A.S.P.'s first album, W.A.S.P. will, for the first time in 40 years, play the entire album from top to bottom, start to finish, on a fall 2024 North American tour, dubbed "Album ONE Alive", this fall. Support on the trek will come from ARMORED SAINT and UNTO OTHERS.

Asked if he would be open to any of the former W.A.S.P. members who played on the "W.A.S.P." album — guitarist Chris Holmes, guitarist Randy Piper and drummer Tony Richards — making guest appearances at any of the shows on the upcoming tour, Blackie told Chris Akin Presents…: "I remember specifically having this conversation with someone who had been through the same thing. And he had basically lost his original band and had to rebuild it with studio musicians. And I remember him telling me at that point, he goes, 'These guys are ringers. They're killers, these musicians.' And it wasn't until years went by that I began to understand what he was saying and would compare his original band to what he had built later on with really ringers, musicians. And he was right.

"Here's what happened to us," Blackie continued. "When we started, and this goes back to what we were saying earlier on in the conversation about crafting your skill as a songwriter, getting better as a musician, learning how to use the studio as a tool, all those things you learn, the records get better, but the records get more complex. You reach a point where the musicianship starts to grow. Not everybody in the original incarnation of a band grows together, or do they grow in the same direction.

"Everybody's heard the age-old adage about, 'Well, we broke up because of musical differences,' and as corny as that may sound, a lot of times there is truth to that. And you really find people either growing in different directions or some guys can't keep up with the rest of the class. And so, for one reason or another, if nothing else, just attrition will start to weed guys out, especially when you start getting into more complicated material.

"You can't really compare the band… As much as whatever the first record that we did, the magic that is on that, and I recognize that not as a fan, but as the person who created it," Lawless added. "Again, you're never gonna see it like the average audience member does, because you can't — you're in a bubble. You cannot see it the way they see it. And you have to really open your ears and listen to them when they talk. Whether you agree or not, you have to listen and you have to try to take what they're saying into consideration. But when you reach a point where that band grows — in our particular case, you go from the first record to [1989's fourth album] '[The] Headless [Children]', the band that created that first record could not create 'Headless'. It was impossible. The musicianship that was required to make 'Headless' was vastly different than what created that first album. That first album was done with attitude and snot and spit. That was an angry record made by an angry band. But it kind of reminds me of… In the movie 'Rocky 3', where Rocky wants to fight Mr. T and Burgess Meredith, who plays his manager Mickey, he tells him, he goes, 'You can't,' he goes, 'You can't fight Mr. T. You can't win.' And Rocky goes, 'Yeah, I can. Yeah, I can.' He goes, 'Listen, kid.' He goes, 'Every fighter thinks they got one more good one in 'em.' He goes, 'The worst thing that could ever happen to a fighter happened to you. You got civilized.' That happens to rock bands.

"You mentioned early on in this conversation about the first five years of bands together. If you go back and you look at most bands that you like, their bones were made the first five years they were together," Blackie explained. "Almost every band fits that description. There are a few exceptions. And that doesn't mean that they cannot go on to make great records after that five-year period, but their bones are made those first five years they're together, and then they start moving and growing in different directions and it changes and it morphs.

"I appreciate the energy level that came out of that first [W.A.S.P.] record — I really do. But how do I go back to guys I've been playing with for 25 years and say, 'Your tenure in this band has been five times as long as the guys that I worked with originally, but you can't play on this tour.' I cannot do that. And secondly, we're gonna do the show in two halves. The first half is the first record in its entirety. The second half is like a best-of set. The band that's gonna play that first set has to be able to play that second set as well.

"Listen, I totally get the idea of the romance that people have in people's heads about what an original lineup could be, but me as the person who's on stage has to understand that no matter how much the audience may want that to be the way it was, my responsibility to them as ticket buyers, I have to give you the best show possible. I have that responsibility to you. No matter what you think it is you may want, I know I have to deliver for you. And again, especially when people have been out of the game for a long time, for us to do what is being suggested, that the original band do it, I would think that that would be pretty much an impossibility. Forget the marriage/divorce scenario that you first suggested [about reuniting the original lineup being akin to going on a family vacation with an ex-wife to make the kids happy], which is not altogether untrue, because there is a lot to be said for that, but as time goes on, unless you stay in this game and you stay active, you start to lose it. And we've all seen situations of something we thought would be great and then when you see it, you realize, no, it can never be what it once was. Unless you're working with people who have stayed constant, who stayed in shape, that have done whatever it is they need to do to keep that edge, they're gonna go out there and it's not gonna be very good. And I cannot do that to our fanbase."

Along with bassist Mike Duda and lead guitarist Doug Blair, whose tenures in the band are 29 and 26 years respectively, W.A.S.P. is joined by longtime drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester.

The 39-city run kicks off on Saturday, October 26 in San Luis Obispo, California, making stops across North America in Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; and more before wrapping up on Saturday, December 14 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

W.A.S.P. will again offer fans VIP tickets that give fans a chance to meet Blackie Lawless, get a personal photo with Blackie, autographs and take part in a very personal question-and-answer session with Blackie. VIP tickets can be purchased at waspnation.myshopify.com.

Because of the extensive back injuries Lawless suffered during the European leg of W.A.S.P.'s 40th-anniversary tour, the band's previously announced 2023 U.S. tour was canceled.

W.A.S.P.'s massive European leg of the 40th-anniversary world tour wrapped on May 18, 2023 in Sofia, Bulgaria at Universidada Sports Hall.

W.A.S.P. wrapped up its first U.S. tour in 10 years with a sold-out show on December 11, 2022 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. This marked the 18th sold-out shows for the U.S. tour, which kicked off in late October 2022. W.A.S.P.'s performances included the return of the band's classic song "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)", which hadn't been played live in over 15 years.

W.A.S.P.'s latest release was "ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol)", which came out in February 2018. It was a new version of the band's classic 1992 album "The Crimson Idol", which was re-recorded to accompany the movie of the same name to mark the 25th anniversary of the original LP's release. The re-recorded version also features four songs missing from the original album.

W.A.S.P.'s most recent studio album of all-new original material was 2015's "Golgotha".

42 years ago today W.A.S.P. played their very first show!

Blackie Lawless shares his memories -...

Posted by W.A.S.P. Nation (Official) on Wednesday, August 28, 2024

InTheosis is the brainchild of Norwegian Grammy-nominated Extol vocalist, Peter Espevoll, and Australian Gold producer Jon Reichardt. On paper it would seem like an unlikely fit, as the two have found success in very different musical genres, but in reality the collaboration makes perfect sense.


Today, they have shared their second single, "Purge(d)". Watch the video below.







"Peter and I wanted to do something heavy and straightforward," says Reichardt. "I had been listening to a lot of Spiritbox's and Northlane's more recent releases and wanted to hone in on combining the heavy low-tuned guitars with synths and big drums. Thematically, we drew from the biblical idea that all must pass through a metaphorical fire in order to be cured from the traumas and darkness we face and carry in this life. We'll all be 'purged' one day."


He continues, "While 'Mysteria' displays versatility, 'Purge(d)' is a heavy, groove-oriented modern metal track with a big melodic hook. We wanted listeners to hear early on that although we have some prog elements in several of our songs, this project very much embraces pop sensibilities and simplicity if the song calls for it. We hope fans enjoy 'Purge(d)' and get some head-banging out of their system!"





The band previously shared the debut single "Mysteria". A visualizer can be found below.


Despite living on opposite sides of the globe, the two have more in common than most. Both are third culture kids having faced years

JUNO Award winning metal band, Anciients, will release their third album, Beyond The Reach Of The Sun, on Friday (August 30) via Season Of Mist. Pre-order / pre-save your copy now at this location, and find an advanced album stream below.





Tracklisting:




“Forbidden Sanctuary”
“Despoiled”
“Is It Your God”
“Melt The Crown”
“Cloak Of The Vast And Black”
“Celestial Tyrant”
“Beyond Our Minds”
“The Torch”
“Candescence”
“In The Absence Of Wisdom”


Album stream:





"In The Absence Of Wisdom" visualizer:





“Melt The Crown” (Official Guitar Playthrough):





“Cloak Of The Vast And Black” (Official Guitar Playthrough):





When they announced their new album, Anciients assured us that after eight years of soul-searching deep within the Canadian wilderness, they were ready to hit the road hard and fast.


This fall, the heavy, heady and heartfelt progressive metal band are playing three special shows in their hometown of Vancouver  to welcome Beyond The Reach Of The Sun. The band have announced a co-headlining tour of Western Canada with their fellow Canucks, Bison.   


"We are beyond excited to play our new album in a live setting for the very first time," says vocalist / guitarist Kenny Cook about the band's upcoming shows. "It's going to be epic!"





Beyond The Reach Of The Sun Western Canada Co-Headlining Tour 2024:


October
10 - Kamloops, BC - Blue Grotto
11 - Vernon, BC - BBDBS
12 -

Grammy Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, producer, and Gov’t Mule frontman, Warren Haynes, has officially revealed the details for his new solo album, Million Voices Whisper, and has shared the first single, "This Life As We Know It".


The new song is Warren’s universal message for embracing the positivity of change and looking forward through a new lens – one that starts within. Listen here and watch the in-studio performance video, below, featuring behind-the-scenes content from the recording of This Life As We Know It at Power Station New England.


Million Voices Whisper, produced by Haynes, will be released November 1 digitally and on CD via Fantasy Records, with vinyl shipping on November 15, marking Warren’s first solo album in almost a decade. A deluxe CD version will also be available including four bonus songs. Pre-save and pre-order here.




“It felt great to go into the studio to capture this material with this new band who are all fantastic players,” shares Haynes. “This album is quite different than my previous solo records. There's a lot of soul music influence but very song oriented with subtle nods to a few of my heroes. And what a treat to get back into the studio with my brother Derek. Big shoutout to him as well as Lukas and Jamey for being a part of it. I'm really proud of this new album.”


Of This Life As We Know It, he adds, “It has a very uplifting message and musically, as well, it is just a very positive feeling song. One that I feel we can all relate to. It’s about moving forward and getting past a lot of things but feeling good about life and feeling good about yourself.”


On Million Voices Whisper, the fourth solo album in Warren’s esteemed career catalog, Haynes sounds as energetic and focused as ever, powering through an 11-song set of soulful blues-rock. Accompanying Warren on the collection are members of his current all-star band including John Medeski on keyboards, longtime drummer Terence Higgins (of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) and Gov’t Mule bassist Kevin Scott. Million Voices Whisper also features guest appearances from his Allman Brothers Band compatriot Derek Trucks, whose unmistakable guitar sound toughs up three tracks on the album that were co-produced with Haynes, and his Last Waltz Tour co-stars Lukas Nelson and Jamey Johnson, who are featured on the forceful Day of Reckoning. Joining Haynes in the studio for the first time since the final sunset of the ABB, one of the featured tracks with Trucks on guitar is Real Real Love, a song initially co-written with Gregg Allman that Warren finished in Allman’s style and methods as if Gregg were singing it to honour his friend.


Buzzing through the forthcoming album is the question of how to make things better – in love, in life, in the world – led by Haynes’ soaring vocals and the poignancy of his six-string mastery. Million Voices Whisper opens with These Changes, a co-write with Trucks, leading into Go Down Swinging, co-written with Johnson, which features a horn section and a Van Morrison vibe. Then, there’s the soulful power ballad Till The Sun Comes Shining Through driven by Warren’s impassioned vocals and slide guitar skills. The expressive pipes of touring backup singer, Saundra Williams, are also heard on multiple tracks including the new single This Life As We Know It. Among the four bonus tracks on the deluxe CD version is a new version of the Trucks-Haynes composition Back Where I Started featuring Warren on lead vocals and slide guitar and the power trio of Haynes, Nelson and Johnson covering the CSNY classic, Find The Cost of Freedom, into an extended version of Day of Reckoning. Full track listing for Million Voices Whisper below.


Haynes and his band, including Greg Osby on sax, will support the release of Million Voices Whisper with a 16-date fall headlining tour. The Million Voices Whisper Tour kicks off September 19 and stops throughout the east coast before wrapping October 12. Tickets and specially curated fan packages are available now. Following the band’s tour, Haynes will head to Los Angeles to perform at The Kia Forum on October 17 for the Robbie Robertson Life Is A Carnival celebration event. See below for full list of upcoming tour dates and visit www.warrenhaynes.net for more information and to purchase tickets.


Before launching their fall tour, Haynes will resume his Now Is The Time Tour featuring The Warren Haynes Band & The Dreams and Songs Symphonic Experience on September 10 with a special stop at Red Rocks Amphitheatre with the Colorado Symphony. Led by conductor Rich Daniels of Chicago’s City Lights Orchestra, the brand-new show features nearly three hours of music – two full symphonic sets with the orchestra followed by a full set showcasing Haynes’ signature rock/soul blend with just the WHB and background singers Saundra Williams and Mayteana Morales. The Now Is The Time Tour explores all aspects of Warren’s incredible catalog and career, including music from Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band, The Dead, his solo albums, and more, set to new arrangements, and finds Haynes revisiting compositions from the groundbreaking Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration tour.


Million Voices Whisper is a set of powerful, soulful tracks that combine the eloquent musicianship of a triple-threat blues-rocker with the glowing spirit of a vital creative artist at the peak of his powers. It is Warren Haynes’s best album yet.

Swedish hardcore punk icons, Wolfbrigade, today unleash the title track of their upcoming new full-length, Life Knife Death, set for release on September 13 via Metal Blade Records.


Forged in 1995 in the small Swedish city of Mariestad by key players from Sweden's legendary hardcore scene, Wolfbrigade - previously known as Wolfpack until 1999 - stands among Scandinavia's most respected, influential, and reliable purveyors of real-world brute-force tumult.


On Life Knife Death, thirty years of skill are honed to a fine edge and dispatched with greater style and intensity than ever before. Most immediately, there's the sheer velocity and barely controlled rage pumping through dynamic d-beaten blood-shakers like “Ways To Die“ and “Your God Is A Corpse,” the furious attack assisted to heart-fluttering greatness by a newly loosened sense of raucous spontaneity.




The band's disparate influences are drawn together with unifying solidity - the remorseless rhythms of Discharge, the blue-collar rock 'n' roll of Motörhead, the heads-down bludgeon of classic Entombed - even the Beatles get a look in, albeit in subverted form, with the splendid title “A Day In The Life Of An Arse.”


Comments the band on the track, “Life Knife Death,” “mankind casts a long shadow of bloodshed and brutality. From a whack on the head with a mammoth’s thigh bone to a drone strike against a children’s hospital. Life’s gonna life, human’s gonna knife.”





In a 2019 Bandcamp interview to promote Wolfbrigade's last LP, The Enemy: Reality, bassist Johan Erkenvåg observed that, "the political climate in the world these past few years has been the worst that we've ever experienced in our lifetimes." After half a decade of war, pestilence, catastrophe, and terror, it's as if the world heard Erkenvåg's assertion and said, "hold my beer." Mounting global chaos may have us all darkly fearing the end times, but it has also seemingly created the ideal circumstances for a hardcore punk LP as coruscatingly brutal as Wolfbrigade's Life Knife Death.


"Well yeah, who could've known! The five years that have passed since our last album have served as a pretty good backdrop for a new punk record or misanthropy in general," affirms the band, adding a wry reference for the Bill Hicks fans, "Mankind - a virus with shoes. As always, our lyrics are fueled by the ever-growing disgust we feel about humanity. The everyday realization that we are a part of this fear-animalistic stupidity that drives the world further into oblivion. The inspiration just keeps raining down from the sky, killing the masses. Waking up to this every day makes us want to scream in horror."





Life Knife Death will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following formats:


- White (US)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Orange Marbled (EU - Ltd. 1000)
- 180g Black (EU - Ltd. 500)
- Dark Grey Marbled (EU - Ltd. 500)
- Clear w/ Red/White splatter (EU - Sound Pollution Exclusive Ltd. 200)
- Orange w/ Red Splatter (EU - Evil Greed Exclusive Ltd. 300)
- Orange/Black Dust Splatter (EU - 200)
- Orange/Black Split (EU - TNOR Exclusive - 200)


Find pre-orders here.





Life Knife Death tracklisting:


"Ways to Die"
"Disarm or Be Destroyed"
"Life Knife Death"
"A Day in the Life of an Arse"
"Unruled and Unnamed"
"Skinchanger"
"Your God Is a Corpse"
"Nail Bomb"
"Cyanide Mess

Swedish death metal band, Demonical, is gearing up to release its first ever live record, Victorious Death - Live In Latin America, on August 30 (CD/MC/Digital) and September 27 (LP) via Agonia Records. The album constitutes tracks recorded during a tour of the eponymous region, which took place in September 2023, and is led by the single "Sun Blackened" (Live), available now on streaming platforms. Stream the entire album below.


The audio received a full-scale treatment featuring mixing at Wellbay Studios with Johan Hjelm, and mastering at Pentagram Music Studios by George Emmanuel (Lucifer's Child, ex-Rotting Christ, ex-Necormanita). The album artwork was created by Chris Kiesling.


Demonical mastermind Martin Schulman commented: "After eighteen years and several hundred shows world-wide it’s finally time for the first Demonical live full-length! We are very proud of this album - which was recorded during our ravishing Latin America tour in September last year - as it catches us in the raw and brings forth our Swedish death metal darkness in a pure and relentless way. We would like to thank our fans and followers for the support and dedication during all these years. You are the best, this album is for you!"




Demonical was spawned in 2006 by then-former Centinex members, Martin Schulman (bass), Ronnie Bergerståhl (drums) and Johan Jansson (ex-guitars & ex-vocals), with a mission to return to the roots of death metal. The now-five piece has made good on that promise with a vengeance, traversing a HM2-beaten path of melodic, Swedish death metal, replete with darkness and brutality. Their last release, 2023's Into Victory, crowns a discography of seven studio albums and three EPs, interlaced with regular tours. The last of them, Titans Of Darkness Tour, has seen the band journey across Europe with Inquisition in spring 2024, with majority of shows sold-out.





Victorious Death - Live In Latin America formats:


- CD
- LP
- MC
- Digital


Pre-order here.





CD/MC/Digital tracklisting:


"Towards Greater Gods"
"We Conquer the Throne"
"Into Victory"
"Aeons Of Death"
"The Order"
"Fallen Mountain"
"Wrathspawn"
"Unfold Thy Darkness"
"Sun Blackened"
"My Kingdom Done"
"All Will Perish"
"By Hatred Bound"
"Välkommen Undergång"
"Somebody Put Something in My Drink"


LP tracklisting:


"Towards Greater Gods"
"We Conquer the Throne"
"Into Victory"
"Aeons Of Death"
"The Order"
"Wrathspawn"
"Unfold Thy Darkness"
"Sun Blackened"
"Välkommen Undergång"
"Somebody Put Something in My Drink"


Album stream:





"Sun Blackened" (Live) video:

On August 14, Pain performed at Summer Breeze 2024 in Dinkelsbühl, Germany. ARTE Concert has uploaded professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set.


Setlist (as per Setlist.fm):


"Same Old Song"
"Push The Pusher"
"End Of The Line"
"Monkey Business"
"The Great Pretender"
"Go With The Flow"
"It's Only Them"
"Zombie Slam"
"Suicide Machine"
"Party In My Head"
"Have A Drink On Me" (Blues Version)
"Shut Your Mouth" (Drum Extended Outro)







Pain's new album, I Am, is available via Nuclear Blast Records. Filled with anthems like "Don't Wake The Dead" and the hit single "Party In My Head," alongside atmospheric tracks such as "I Am" and "Fair Game," the album seamlessly blends uplifting catchiness with introspective moments, marking Peter Tägtgren's most personal and boldest work to date.


I Am can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


"I Just Dropped By (To Say Goodbye)"
"Don't Wake The Dead"
"Go With The Flow"
"Not For Sale"
"Party In My Head"
"I Am"
"Push The Pusher"
"The New Norm"
"Revolution"
"My Angel"
"Fair Game"


"Don't Wake The Dead" video:

On paper, it’s one of the unlikeliest unions you could imagine.


On the one hand, there’s Melanie - the First Lady of Woodstock, who was indeed the first unaccompanied female performer to set foot on stage that weekend, and one of just two to do so all festival long. And on the other, there’s Cactus, the hard rocking leviathan formed by legendary drummer Carmine Appice in 1969, and whose latest album Temple Of The Blues: Influences And Friends links them up with the likes of Ted Nugent, Dee Snider, Pat Travers and more. And, on the third hand (because why not?), there’s Jimi Hendrix, whose "Purple Haze" stands as one of the defining statements in all of rock history. What could possibly go wrong?


Melanie originally recorded “Purple Haze” back in the mid-1990s for her Silver Anniversary retrospective album. But, though she kept it acoustic, the electricity that runs through her performance literally screamed out for a band.




Or, as Carmine puts it, “After knowing Melanie’s other doings and releases, when I hear this version of her and the screams she did… it blew me away. It was easy to put a kick ass Cactus band track behind her. It does kick butt.”


There’s history behind it, as well

In a new interview with Mike Hsu of the 100 FM The Pike radio station, ACCEPT singer Mark Tornillo was asked to clarify his recent comment that "the United States is just not metal territory anymore." He explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "During that interview, I was actually being interviewed by a couple of guys who I know. And that was just a line in passing. It was, like, 'Why don't you guys play here more often?' Well, the fact of the matter is that we can't really afford to play here that often, because we make way more money in Europe, South America and the rest of the world than you do in the United States. And if you think about it, most metal bands are playing smaller venues here, unless you team up together and you go out and you play the sheds, or you're METALLICA with PANTERA and you can sell out arenas.

"The things that are being pushed is not metal," Mark continued. "The music, not so much the radios and stuff, but the record companies in this country do not push metal. They push whatever flavor of the week it is and aim towards kids. If they aimed metal towards kids, I think it would sell. So it's hard to say. But I certainly didn't mean it in a derogatory way. I just meant that it's very difficult for us to get to get a good tour together now."

Referencing the fact that ACCEPT is about to embark on a U.S. tour with KK'S PRIEST, Tornillo added: "Luckily, we got two good bands together that are gonna go out and we're gonna kick some ass. We are on the same page. Ripper [KK'S PRIEST singer Tim Owens] and I are becoming pretty good friends and we're looking forward to doing this."

When Hsu noted that he "didn't want to make it sound" like Mark was "dissing anybody or anything" in his original remarks, Mark said: "But Blabbermouth did. Blabbermouth runs with it — that's the headline [Editor's note: The actual headline was 'ACCEPT's MARK TORNILLO: 'The United States Is Just Not Metal Territory Anymore'']. It was just a comment in passing. But they're bottom feeders. That's what they do."

Mark's original comment came this past March when he gave an interview to Canada's The Metal Voice. Asked about the challenges of touring North America for a band like ACCEPT, especially in the last few years, the now-70-year-old New Jersey-based singer, who joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for the group's original frontman Udo Dirkschneider, said: "It's always been difficult to tour North America. It's mostly promoters and the fact that we need to play at least a big enough room where we're gonna make some money. But it's gotta have the turnout to do it. But we're gonna make it happen this year no matter what. I know that. We've all decided that if we have to take a cut, we'll take a cut. But we've gotta play — we've gotta play for the fans."

He continued: "We have no trouble selling tickets in South America. [We have] no trouble selling tickets in Europe, or else. I think it's just that the United States is just not metal territory anymore. I don't know why."

Tornillo added: "I would love nothing better than to tour the U.S. every year. But we'll see how it plays out."

ACCEPT's tour with KK'S PRIEST, which features former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),will begin on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

Tornillo can be heard on ACCEPT's last six studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017),"Too Mean To Die" (2021) and "Humanoid" (2024).

Kobra And The Lotus vocalist Kobra Paige is celebrating the release of her debut solo album, Like No Other. She has checked in with the following update:


"This record and body of art have been a deep process of self-reckoning, healing, and redefining my identity within the world. I have taken another step closer toward alignment and who I came here to be. 


Life is short, too short to not daringly create and bring forward what is inside of us. My wish for everyone is to courageously self-express and not pay mind to the boxes society may have placed you in. 




The most valuable part of this creative experience for me has been learning that: no matter the outcome, no matter how difficult the journey is, there will be no reward higher than being authentically 'you'. That is the place of true empowerment. You decide what you’re living for and you are ALWAYS the gift.


With that, I just want to say my biggest thank you to everyone who has chosen to support and cheer me on throughout this journey. I passionately and humbly recognize that my life and what I create, are the great summation of creative collaboration.


I Am Like No Other."


The album is available via streaming platforms here.





Tracklist:


"Rebirth" (intro)
"Under One Sun" 
"Love What I Hate"
"HOTT."
"Like No Other" 
"Shakedown" 
"Thank You" 
"Unbreakable" 
"Dreamer" 
"Epiphany" 
"It's Not Bluegrass Anymore" 
"Liberation" 
"Freedom" 
"Genesis" 


Like No Other was produced by Grammy Award winner Brian Howes (Skillet, Linkin Park, Simple Plan). It is mixed by Grammy Award winner Neal Avron (Machine Gun Kelly, Twenty One Pilots, Yungblud) and mastered by Grammy nominated Chris Gehringer at Sterling Sound (Miley Cyrus, Muse, Drake).


Check out the singles "HOTT." and "Under One Sun" below.


"HOTT."

Former GREAT WHITE bassist Tony "Montana" Cardenas, who also played with recently deceased original GREAT WHITE frontman Jack Russell in JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, has released the following message via social media: "I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and bandmate, Jack Russell. We had been preparing for this moment for a long time. It was obvious to him, and all of us, that his faculties were deteriorating and that as much as he wanted to perform for his fans and fans of GREAT WHITE music, it was just not tenable any longer.

"In the wake of Jack's retirement post on 7/17, we all, including Jack, had discussions about dealing with previously booked shows. For legal purposes we would have to have a different entity name to do those shows. Thus, the ONCE BITTEN band name was put into service, and we hit the road with Jack's blessing.

"I have seen some online speculation that is critical of the apparent timing of our changeover. Truthfully, these things had been in the planning stages for months prior, and that Jack was not only aware of this, but encouraged it. If your captain on the ship becomes incapacitated, the first officer takes the wheel. That was Captain Jack's instruction. And that's where we're at.

"As to my involvement, as a corporate member of the band in its heyday, I am of the mind that it is still appropriate to go out and play the songs. Songs that I either had a hand in the writing, the recording, or songs that I helped to make hits.

"Both I and Jack's band, JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, have a great respect for the legacy of Jack, of his GREAT WHITE contribution, and we will continue playing as long as you want to hear the legacy songs of GREAT WHITE.

"When I first met Jack Russell in 1987, I had just turned 21, and had no idea what I was in for. It was a great first ride, Jackie Blue! Touring the world, seeing ourselves on TV, hearing ourselves on the radio. But good times, and great sales, come to an end eventually. After 5 years we had reached the commercial pinnacle of GREAT WHITE's career. Yet, in the past 12 years since I rejoined Jack, he and his loyal band have still flown 1000 plus flights, logged hundreds of thousands of miles in the air, on land and on sea, to keep bringing GREAT WHITE music to our friends and fans. We are so blessed and grateful.

"Jack's band is in the midst of planning a musical celebration of life show for him here in the Los Angeles area where the boy and the band were born. The venue and participants TBA. We hope all his fans, friends, and associates can make it out!

"Jack's band, and I, want to express our heartfelt thanks for the outpouring of love and support. Jack Russell's voice, humor, and zest for life will be sorely missed by us all. We all sail on. We Sail Away."

Tony first came on the scene as the bassist for GREAT WHITE on the tour for "Once Bittten…" and was part of the band through its most successful period. After spending time away, he reunited with Russell, first playing bass and then guitar in JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE.

Russell's death was announced by his family in a social media statement on August 15.

The news of Jack's passing came less than a month after he announced that he was retiring from touring following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.

Russell was performing with his version of GREAT WHITE when a pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people at a 2003 concert in Rhode Island. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. Guitarist Mark Kendall, who founded GREAT WHITE with Russell in 1982, later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. Guitarist Ty Longley died in the blaze.

Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell most recently performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

In October 2022, GREAT WHITE officially named Brett Carlisle as its new lead singer. Carlisle joined the band as the replacement for Andrew Freeman, who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months.

Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Russell's autobiography, titled "The True Tale Of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative", was recently released via Gatekeeper Press. Penned by author Katelyn Louise "K.L." Doty, it features a sentimental foreword by Lita Ford, with additional commentary from Eric Singer, Eddie Trunk, John Kalodner, Kip Winger and others. The book, with a cover photo by legendary rock photographer Mark Weiss, is available in paperback, hardcover and e-book form.

For more information, visit www.jackrussellbook.com.

Posted by Tony "Montana" Cardenas on Monday, August 26, 2024

Today, on August 23, 2024, black metal act SPECTRAL WOUND unveil their highly-anticipated fourth studio album, “Songs Of Blood and Mire”, as a follow-up to the critically acclaimed “A Diabolic Thirst” (2021).

The band has made the album available for streaming in its entirety on the Profound Lore YouTube channel.


Montreal, Québec -based SPECTRAL WOUND play black metal. Furious and visceral, untrammelled by esoteric posture or grasping idealism. It is music for the poisoned, the futile, the debauched and profane. The blooming of a flower of corruption, torn by cold winds.

Following the raw early offering of “Terra Nullius” (Arcane Angels/Out of Season 2015) SPECTRAL WOUND continued their path of creeping, opulent decay and searing melody, weaving strands of Métal noir Québécois with the weft of the Scandinavian canon. Refining its sound over “Infernal Decadence” (Vendetta, 2018) and the towering, exultant melancholy of “A Diabolic Thirst” (Profound Lore, 2021), with “Songs Of Blood and Mire” (Profound Lore 2024) the band delivers an elegy of the void, seething with the venom and clamour of an ever-emptying world.


Track listing:

Fevers and Suffering
At Wine-Dark Midnight in Mouldering Halls
Aristocratic Suicidal Black Metal
The Horn Marauding
Less and Less Human, O Savage Spirit
A Coin Upon the Tongue
Twelve Moons in Hell
“Songs Of Blood and Mire” was recorded and mixed by Patrick McDowall (Guitarist in Spectral Wound) at his studio Black Gate and mastered by James Plotkin. The album is out now via Profound Lore Records.

Released in CD, vinyl LP, tape and digital formats, the album is available for purchase at: https://linktr.ee/songsofbloodandmire

European album release shows:
October 24th – London, UK
October 25th – Copenhagen, DK
October 26th – Leipzig, DE
October 27th – Maastricht, NL @Samhain Festival – SOLD OUT

SPECTRAL WOUND are:
Jonah – vocals
Illusory – drums
Patrick – guitars
Sam – bass
A.A. – guitars

Swedish metalcore act Awake The Dreamer have announced their new album Holocene, due for release on 27th September via Arising Empire. The band have also released their new single ‘Take My Hand’.

Pre-order Holocene here: https://arisingempire.com/holocene

‘Take My Hand’ blends haunting melodies and powerful riffs, complemented by dynamic vocals that weave through a narrative of internal struggle and emotional turmoil. This track not only sets the tone but also highlights the band’s evolved sound, seamlessly integrating raw post-hardcore energy with melodic elements.

‘Take My Hand’ is available now on all major streaming platforms and serves as a compelling introduction to what fans can expect from Holocene. The upcoming album promises to explore deeper themes and showcase Awake the Dreamer‘s firm hold on the metal scene, with their innovative sound and powerful storytelling.


Formed through childhood and high school friendships in 2015, Stockholm-based quartet Awake The Dreamer released their Grow EP the following year, leading to tours in Europe and Asia alongside bands including Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept and Crystal Lake.

In 2019, Awake The Dreamer released their debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. The 10-track release featured guest appearances from Adept‘s Robert Ljung (‘Vigilant’) and Crystal Lake’s Ryo Kinoshita in (‘Atmosphere’).

Building on their robust musical journey, Awake The Dreamer are set to elevate their artistic expression with the release of their upcoming album Holocene. This new record promises to deepen their exploration of intense emotions and complex themes, setting a new benchmark for their signature sound in the metal scene.

Kings Of Thrash/ex-Megadeth guitarist, Jeff Young, has posted footage of he and vocalist Sherri Klein performing the Christopher Cross hit, "Ride Like The Wind", on the streets of Las Vegas.


Says Jeff:


1. "This song, RULES. Thanks Christopher for such a fine jam."
2. "What happens in Vegas, shouldn't always stay in Vegas..."







Kings Of Thrash recently announced their "Anarchy In The UK" tour with special guests Andry and Hellgrimm. The tour is set to kick off October 24 and run through November 2. This tour will feature none other than Grammy Award winning bassist David Ellefson and guitarist Jeff Young, drummer Fred Aching and vocalist/guitarist Chaz Leon.


The tour promises an electrifying experience for fans as Kings Of Thrash makes its debut in the United Kingdom, paying homage to the birthplace of heavy metal. This tour holds special significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the groundbreaking album Youthanasia, platinum (US) and gold (UK) a milestone in Ellefson's illustrious career.


"We are super thrilled to finally bring Kings Of Thrash to the UK, in many ways the origins of heavy metal," said David Ellefson. "Even more so, celebrating some highlights of the 30th anniversary of the 'Youthanasia' album. The UK has been such a fantastic supporter for more than 40 years of our music, so it'll be great to bring to our fans rare tracks and highlights of some of the most monumental albums in thrash metal history."


Says Jeff Young, “I can’t wait to get back to the UK! The last time I played there was with Megadeth in 1988 at Castle Donington for the “Monsters of Rock” festival, so this return trip is long overdue!”


In addition to commemorating the Youthanasia anniversary, the tour will also showcase select cuts from"Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good, So Far...So Good... So What!, and Peace Sells...But Who's Buying? promising an unforgettable experience for both longtime fans and newcomers alike.


The "Anarchy In The UK" tour will be a testament to Kings Of Thrash's enduring legacy and their unwavering commitment to delivering high-octane performances that captivate audiences worldwide.


Limited edition VIP upgrades, Stage Used basses, Best Of The West on CD digipack and LP will be available. For ticket information and tour updates, visit KingsOfThrash.com.





Dates are as follows:


October
24 - The Camden Underworld - London, England
26 - The Waterloo Music Bar - Blackpool, England
27 - Old Fire Station - Carlisle, England
28 - La Belle Angele - Edinburgh, Scotland
29 - Opium Live! - Dublin, Ireland
30 - Limelight 1 - Belfast, N.Ireland


November
1 - Corporation - Sheffield, England
2 - Academy 3 - Manchester, England







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In a new interview with AARP, Tom Hamilton spoke about AEROSMITH's recent announcement that he and his bandmates were finished with touring for good due to Steven Tyler's vocal injury. Asked how much hope AEROSMITH has of future activities on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being "doubtful we'll do anything" and 10 being "Yes, we'll be doing something", the AEROSMITH bassist said: "On the hope scale, I'm somewhere between 7 and 9. We won't be doing any tours from now on, but I'll always have hope that other types of opportunities will come along. This isn't the first time black clouds have been on our horizon — and somehow the sun managed to come out. Time and hope are all we have at the moment."

But when asked about the possibility of AEROSMITH doing more Las Vegas residencies, Hamilton said that although he loved the band's time in Sin City, "I have doubts that there are any more in the future." He also seemingly poured cold water on the idea that AEROSMITH could record a new album, saying "so far there hasn't been any talk" about going back into the studio, 12 years after AEROSMITH released its last LP, "Music From Another Dimension!"

Despite the fact that AEROSMITH will never tour again, Hamilton said that he holds out hope he and his bandmates can keep AEROSMITH alive.

"Steven has a way of powering through challenges like this one," Tom said. "He's done it before. You never know. We won't be touring, but there are a lot of other ways to be and do AEROSMITH."

The legendary Massachusetts rockers made the announcement that they were retiring from touring on August 2 — nearly one year after the now-76-year-old singer fractured his larynx during a September 2023 show.

Earlier this month, Hamilton told Charlie Kendall's Metalshop about AEROSMITH's decision to retire from touring: "First let me start by clearing up some information on Steven's injury. We were playing the third show of our 'Peace Out' tour last September. During the third song of the set Steven had a fall that resulted in a fracture to his larynx. Somehow he finished the show. Don't ask me how. It's a testament to his strength and desire to give the people what they came for. It wasn't a case of him blowing his throat out by doing something wrong. He has been healing well and working his ass off to get ready to go back out on the road but it just wasn't possible. We don't know what the future holds but it won't include touring."

Asked how much of the decision to retire from touring was made by the management as opposed to the bandmembers themselves, Tom said: "The decision was made by the team which includes the band and our dedicated management."

Hamilton went on to say that AEROSMITH's "magnificent crew and everyone who works for the band were informed" of the band's decision "within a day or two."

Tom also shot down the possibility of AEROSMITH carrying on with another singer, as there had been talk about doing a decade and a half ago when AEROSMITH fell out with Tyler after a canceled tour and Steven's stated intention to work for two years on a solo project. Tyler subsequently entered rehab for an addiction to painkillers.

"There's been no talk at all about going on the road with another singer," Hamilton stated. "I can't imagine it."

Asked what he will do now that AEROSMITH will no longer tour, Tom said: "I'm sure all of us have music in our future and it will manifest itself in ways that we haven't planned yet. I've been playing in a band with some good friends. We have a bunch of really good songs and we hope to be putting them out soon and hopefully doing some gigs."

In AEROSMITH's original retirement announcement, the band wrote: "As you know, Steven's voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.

"We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision - as a band of brothers - to retire from the touring stage," the statement continued. "We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time."

The band also thanked its fans for their constant support.

"Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades," the statement read. "Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock 'n' roll history."

"It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives," the statement continued.

The "Peace Out" tour came to a halt after what turned out to be a final gig in Elmont, New York on September 9, 2023. That show came just three dates into the trek, which was supposed to last through February 2024. Tyler said in a statement at the time that the injury caused bleeding but that he hoped he and his AEROSMITH bandmates would be back on the road after postponing a few shows.

The rescheduled "Peace Out" tour was due to begin September 20 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with special guests THE BLACK CROWES.

Tickets for remaining dates of the "Peace Out" tour will be refunded through Ticketmaster. If fans purchased tickets through a third-party reseller like StubHub or SeatGeek, refunds will be available through that point of purchase.

Tyler released a solo LP in 2016.

Danish hard rock veterans D-A-D have released the official video for the song "Keep That Mother Down". The track is taken from the band's thirteenth album, titled "Speed Of Darkness", slated for release on October 4, 2024 via AFM Records.

D-A-D, which celebrated its 40th anniversary earlier this year, has written 40 songs since its last album, "A Prayer For The Loud", released in 2019. Out of these songs, the four musicians have selected 14 of the best ones for "Speed Of Darkness".

D-A-D vocalist/guitarist Jesper Binzer states: "I am totally stoked about this new collection of songs. I can't wait for the fans to hear this album. It is so much D-A-D — and so much better!"

D-A-D drummer Laust Sonne adds: "I think that we have taken a collective step up, on many parameters, with 'Speed Of Darkness'. We have never played better than we do on this album. Our songwriting is top notch, and this collection of songs is our strongest in many years. Sound- and production-wise, we have cared deeply for every little detail. It has both power and finesse. All of this makes us sleep soundly at night and just look forward to presenting 'Speed Of Darkness' in its entirety to all of our fans."

"Speed Of Darkness" track listing:

01. God Prays To Man
02. 1st, 2nd & 3rd
03. The Ghost
04. Speed Of Darkness
05. Head Over Heels
06. Live By Fire
07. Crazy Wings
08. Keep That Mother Down
09. Strange Terrain
10. In My Hands
11. Everything Is Gone Now
12. Automatic Survival
13. Waiting Is The Way
14. I'm Still Here

Teaming up with producer Nick Foss once again, D-A-D guitarist Jacob Binzer reveals: "He says that this is the strongest pool of songs in a long time, and he has, after all, been in the game since 1988." Jacob adds that he agrees with the producer: "Although you can't really judge albums before one to two years after their release, I also think that this is a strong pool. Some of these songs have surprised me positively while we recorded them, and that is very promising."

Jesper Binzer agrees with his brother: "For the first time in three to four albums, I am totally excited about our material, and I look forward to going into the studio every single day. We have an excess of both songs and ideas, and this is a place that I have wanted to reach with the last three to four D-A-D albums. It's crazy how things are circular that way. I thought that everything was done, and I thought that we were just old guys who were doing whatever we could, but a new necessity has arisen."

Jesper adds that cooperation is the operative word: "There is no Kim Larsen (a famous Danish musician) in D-A-D, but four Franz Beckerlees. We are forced to cooperate, since none of us can do it all, and that's also beautiful. New flowers are added to the bouquet every time we gather up in the studio."

"Speed Of Darkness" was mastered by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, POWERWOLF). D-A-D drummer Laust Sonne says: "Jacob Hansen is really good at producing drum sounds, and he has a recording room designed for drums. There are not a lot of studios like that left out there, as most of it is done on computers in people's living rooms these days. It is hard for drummers like me, who hit hard and make a lot of cymbal noise, to find studio people trained for it, but Jacob is one of them. The more I let loose, the better I sounded, so that was really awesome."

On August 16, Feuerschwanz performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set, courtesy of ARTE Concert.


Setlist:


"SGFRD Dragonslayer"
"Memento Mori"
"Untot im Drachenboot"
"Metfest"
"Bastard von Asgard"
"Valhalla Calling"
"Ultima Nocte"
"Schubsetanz"
"Kampfzwerg"
"Berzerkermode"
"Highlander"
"Uruk-Hai"
"Dragostea Din Tei"
"Die Hörner Hoch"
"Warriors of the World United"
"Rohirrim"
"Das Elfte Gebot"












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As fans continued to mourn the death of Children Of Bodom frontman Alexi Laiho, who passed away in December 2020 at the age of 41, remaining members Jaska Raatikainen, Janne Wirman, and Henkka Seppälä shared the following announcement about an unexpected, but altogether welcome venture aimed at preserving the band's legacy: They opened the Bodom Bar & Sauna in Espoo, Finland in November 2022.


A&P Reacts caught up with Wirman to discuss the  inspiration behind creating Bodom Bar & Sauna, the possibility of expanding beyond Finland's borders, and Children Of Bodom's legacy. In addition, Wirman gave a tour of the bar. Check it out below along with the previously released interview.










Following is the band's original announcement for the launch of Bodom Bar & Sauna:


"We toured actively from 1998 until 2019. We have visited a bar in almost every town we ever played in. From Hard Rock Café Tokyo to a dive bar in the outskirts of Milwaukee. Everything from the legendary Rainbow Bar and Grill in West Hollywood to the Crobar in London UK.


Almost everyone in our profession dreams of opening their own bar at some point and we were no exception. When the active career of CoB was already coming to an end we started looking into it a bit more seriously. We had a warehouse full of memorabilia and we thought that a lot of people would want to see some of this stuff that used to be and still was very meaningful to us and the career of the band.


A thought of a museum felt a bit foreign but an idea of a bar that works as a museum displaying our gear and memorabilia seemed quite natural at this point. We had almost given up on this dream when the power duo of Jykä Peltonen and Kimmo Helistö emerged and were ready to provide us with their know how in the matter. Together we will build this unholy concoction of hard rock café and dive bar with a lot of Bodom in it. The new HQ of CoB will combine a museum and a bar but also include the possibility to experience the Finnish sauna culture. Situated naturally in Espoo only a stone´s throw away where the band started their career.


Bodom Bar & Sauna is being built in Espoo into a location with easy access to a Metro station. The establishment will also include three saunas. There will be no entry fee to the Bar and no age limit. There will be a fee for the sauna experience. We will open the Bar on 10.11.22."


Bodom Bar & Sauna opened according to plan, and some attendees have posted photos from their visit, which can be viewed below. In addition, Tuonela caught up with Raatikainen, Wirman and Seppälä to discuss the venture. Check it out below.











Follow Bodom Bar & Sauna on Facebook for updates as they emerge.





Top photo by Mika Jussila







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INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"

Sankt Velten is the musical alter ego of Arnd, guitarist and original member of the German Essen-based thrashers, Darkness. Sankt Velten releases a new single and announces a changed lineup with a new bass player (formerly Holy Moses).


Sankt Velten's debut album, The Discreet Charm Of Evil, released in 2019, has received consistently good reviews. After a five-year break due to the pandemic and various lineup changes that made new productions, concerts and tours impossible, the band with Arnd and original member Eldar Ibrahimovic (War-Head, Definat) has found a new member.


The new man on bass is none other than Tom Becker, who recorded the successful album, The New Machine Of Liechtenstein, as bassist for German thrashers Holy Moses, he was bassist for Angel Dust and has played with greats such as Jörg Michael (Running Wild, Saxon, Stratovarius, among others), Matthias Moser (S.A.D.O.) and Leszek Szpigiel (Mekong Delta, Scanner).




Tom and Sankt Velten, aka Arnd, already know each other from the Darkness days, they recorded the Darkness album Defenders Of Justice together.





“What If” is the first single by Sankt Velten in the new lineup as a trio, recorded and produced by Eldar and Tom. Sankt Velten remain true to their style and are best categorized as speed and power metal, with a dash of NWOBHM. Watch the official lyric video below:










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INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




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Jawbreaker Records are proud to announce the release of three new tapes from Mindless Sinner, thus making the complete discography of this forerunner of Swedish heavy metal available on cassette for the first time ever.





Swedish heavy metal legends Mindless Sinner are mostly known for being one of the most important bands of the First Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal (FWOSHM/FVASHM) movement and for their cult 80s releases – the 1983 EP Master Of Evil and the 1986 debut full length album, Turn On The Power.




By the end of the 80s, Mindless Sinner called it quits and it took until 2015 for the original lineup to reunite once more. Since then, two new full length albums have materialized – The New Messiah (2015) and Poltergeist (2020) – with great songs that are on level with the 80s material. These two albums are now finally getting their well deserved cassette treatment through Jawbreaker Records, together with the 2018 live album Keeping It True.


Each of the three new tapes is limited to just 100 copies, so be quick or be dead. Released in conspiracy with Turborock Productionsere, who has designed the incredible layout of this release.







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Italian death metal act HUSQWARNAH unveil their new punishing single “Reincarnation Of Sin Pt. II“. The song features Enrico Di Lorenzo from HIDEOUS DIVINITY. Stream it HERE.

HUSQWARNAH‘s sophomore album, “Purification Through Sacrifice”, is set for release September 16th 2024 via Time To Kill Records.

Tracklist:

​01. Intro
02. To Protect And Severe
03. Wheel Of Torture
04. Lawn Mower Massacre
05. Graboids
06. Mass Grave
07. Reincarnation Of Sin Pt. II
08. Soldier 039
09. Tower Of Suicide
10. The Jackal’s Grin
​11. Outro

Pre orders:

https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/husqwarnah
https://husqwarnah.bandcamp.com/album/purification-through-sacrifice

The band was formed in 2019 from an idea of ​​musicians who at the time were part of acts such as Black Rage, In-sight, Atlas Pain and Sojourner. After a debut show supporting Asphyx and some line-up changes, the band entered the studio to record their debut album “Front: Toward Enemy” in 2020. After its release in 2021, HUSQWARNAH kept themselves busy on the live front, sharing stages with acts such as Mortuary Drape, Baest, Discharge, High On Fire and Voivod. The latter show was recorded and then independently released under the title “Live At Bloom” in 2023.

HUSQWARNAH‘s death metal is as genuine and convincing as it can possibly get, paying homage to certain traditional formulas dating back to the early nineties, with songs that are particularly compact in structure and dynamics, ideal for being performed live and thus reminiscent of bands such as Asphyx, Bolt Thrower and Benediction.

Line-up:

Maurizio Caverzan – Vocals
Lorenzo Corno – Bass/Backing Vocals
JP Lisi – Guitar
Emanuele Biondi – Guitar
Riccardo Rjillo – Drums

On August 15, Brazilian death metal outfit, Crypta, performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set, courtesy of ARTE Concert.


Setlist:


"The Other Side of Anger"
"Lord of Ruins"
"The Outsider"
"Lullaby for the Forsaken"
"Stronghold"
"Trial of Traitors"
"From the Ashes"







The Hatebreed 30th anniversary celebrations continue deep into 2024. The Grammy-nominated hardcore icons, who are one of the most impactful and enduring bands of the modern era, have announced their Fall 2024 headline tour plans.


The band will embark on a full, 30th anniversary trek that kicks off on September 26 in Portland, Maine and runs through October 27 in Norfolk, VA and includes stops in Canada. The band will be playing fan favorites and dragging deep cuts out of their beloved catalog.


Special guests for the fall run include Carcass, Harms Way, and Crypta. Get tickets here.





Hatebreed dates with Carcass, Harms Way, Crypta:


September
26 - Portland, ME - State Theatre
27 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
28 - New York, NY - Terminal 5
29 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS
30 - Toronto, ON - Rebel


October
2 - Cleveland, OH - Agora Theatre
3 - Royal Oak, MI - Royal Oak Music Theatre
7 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogart's
8 - McKees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre
10 - Sauget, IL - Pop's
11 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
12 - San Antonio, TX - Vibes Event Center
14 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
15 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
16 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium
18 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
19 - Vancouver, BC - Vogue Theatre
20 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
22 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
23 - Denver, CO - Fillmore Auditorium
24 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater
25 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
26 - Greensboro, NC - Piedmont Hall
27 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa







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Drumeo has shared another For The First Time challenge featuring Decrepit Birth drummer, Samus Paulicelli. Check it out below. 


Drumeo: "Take a sneak peek into the mind of 66Samus. Watch as he listens to 'Achilles Last Stand' by Led Zeppelin for the very first time and attempts to play along. How does he immediately craft an appropriate drum part? Tune in and find out!"


"We put these videos together in order, as they happen in the Drumeo studio to give you the most transparent look into every drummer's creative process. Samus' episode was particularly interesting because his learning process was different from every other drummer who's participated in the format so far."







Paulicelli, who runs a YouTube channel under the name 66Samus, recently shared a vlog documenting his visit to the Drumeo studio, located in Abbotsford, British Columbia.





Drumeo has been building its brand for over 10 years and has become an industry leader in the field of online music education. Go to the official Drumeo website here to check out the programns they have on offer.













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With their new single, "Don't Look Back", Noa Gruman and producer Nino Helfrich have released another spectacular song from Helfrich's upcoming collaboration album, Shadow Empress, which features 13 female vocalists from around the globe. Noa Gruman, singer of the Israeli prog metal band Scardust, delivers a breathtaking vocal performance on the new track. Despite its relatively short length, the song deviates from a regular arrangement, taking the listener on an emotional journey.





The accompanying music video for "Don't Look Back" brings the song’s emotional theme to life with stunning visuals that are sure to captivate audiences. Once again, the song was written, produced, recorded, and mixed by producer and guitarist Nino Helfrich at Skull Tone Studios, promising an unforgettable listening experience. Mastering was done by both Jens Bogren (Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth) and Nino Helfrich (Inner Axis, Rise of Kronos), ensuring top-tier sound quality.




Released on August 23, Shadow Empress includes performances from some of the best female vocalists in today's metal scene, including Vicky Psarakis (Sicksense, ex-The Agonist), Britta Görtz (Hiraes), Nastassja Giulia (Enemy Inside), Laura Guldemond (Burning Witches), Helle Bohdanova (Ignea), and many more.







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International deathcore/power metal dynamos, Dragoncorpse, are back and armed with a vibrant new EP, The Fall Of House Abbarath. Set for a November 1 release on Shattered Earth Records, the EP is nothing short of a game changer for the quintet.


The official video for EP single, "A Quest For Truth," is out now and available below.


On the new EP, the band took its already innovative, energetic sound, created through the fusion of deathcore and power metal, and sharpened it to a fine point on The Fall Of House Abbarath. Dragoncorpse took the feedback gathered from the release of debut EP, The Drakketh Saga, to heart and used it to refine their approach.




"For new fans, I believe we've added more elements of deathcore and power metal while adding more excitement into the music for an authentic listening experience like no other band," bassist Noah Nikolas Laidlaw explains. "We put a lot of emphasis on the atmosphere of the music," adds drummer Justin Gogan. "Throughout the entire EP there is a medieval theming that resonates in the music that keeps the tracks feeling refreshing and fun. With the addition of Mark on keys/orchestration, he brought with him a completely different approach to songwriting that I am sure fans are going to appreciate!"


Preorder at the Shattered Earth Records webshop.


Artwork by AveIllustration:





Tracklisting:


“An Introduction To [ HEROISM ]”
“Welcome Home”
“I Live…AGAIN!”
“A Quest For Truth”
“Whisper On The Wind”
“Fear And Hunger”


“A Quest For Truth” video:





Lineup:
Mardy Leith - Vocals
Kris Chayer - Guitars
Noah Nikolas Laidlaw - Bass
Justin Gogan - Drums
Mark Marin - Keys and Orchestration 


(Photo: ScrewSocietySam)







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Deko Entertainment has teamed up with Slash, in conjunction with Universal Studios, for the first-time vinyl release of the "Music Of Universal Studios - Halloween Horror Nights". This is limited for sale at the Hollywood Universal Parks location, but Deko will have 100 of these amazing-looking vinyls available directly on their site.


It goes on sale to the public on September 5th, but subscribe to Slash's page on the Deko Entertainment site here, as it will be made available first to subscribers.







Tracklisting:


SIDE A
"Universal Monsters Rising"
"Live Again"
"The Monster Reborn"
"The Gypsy Theme"
"Sweet Licks"
"Dracula's Brides"


SIDE B
"The Danse Of The Dead"
"Kharis The Mummy"
"Silent Screams"
"We Belong Dead"
"The Final Scare"





 







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