In a new interview with Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne, FORBIDDEN guitarist Craig Locicero once again confirmed that he is working on new music from the resurrected band. He is collaborating on the material with the rest of the new FORBIDDEN lineup, consisting of Matt Camacho (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Norman Skinner (vocals) and Chris Kontos (drums). Asked if fans can expect the new FORBIDDEN album in 2025, Craig said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's a plan. It's been pushed back a few months, but everything's laying out the way I was hoping it would. We're writing [the material], and I've got the beginnings for a lot of [songs]. And when I say beginnings, I mean they're structured and we just need to work out all the parts for everybody else. Some are more put together than others, but that's the way FORBIDDEN has always been. And I just wanna jell for the next six months and then get in the studio and nail it. And we're gonna release a couple of songs at the beginning of the year on our own."

Regarding FORBIDDEN's decision to remain independent, at least for the time being, Craig said: "We don't have a record label. I don't want a record label yet. I have an opportunity to finally do this with no monkey. And we're a better band than we were at any point recently because of all the things that have kind of brought us together. It feels different, and that's no knock on anyone. But from the top down, with Russ [Anderson, former FORBIDDEN singer] going through what he went through, that's kind of the stigma that stayed on us for a while. He wasn't feeling a hundred percent. So now you have Norm who's up there, he's, like, 'Yeah.' He's not trying to be anybody, and there's just a whole positive groundswell."

Elaborating on why FORBIDDEN has no interest in aligning itself with a record label right now, Craig said: "It's important to say that we have no delusions of grandeur either. I think that we understand more than anybody how much the industry has changed.

"I don't wanna get caught in the machine, and the machine can chew you up before you get creative," he explained. "You can get stunted creatively if you agree too quickly. 'Cause we've been approached already. And I'm, like, 'Not yet.' We're not gonna go there yet.

"It's important for us to feel like we got our album done and artistically put together, lyrically," Craig added. "No one needs to fucking tell us how to do it. And I feel good about our chances of at least reigniting and kind of reforging our path again. 'Cause there's a spot for us. 'Cause we've got all our Bay Area brothers, but we're that band, we're a little more heavy metal, a little more melodic. We do things a little differently. So we have our own little spot. And I hope to have it all land where it's supposed to be."

The reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans recently recruited VOIVOD's Daniel Mongrain to step in as a temporary replacement for guitarist Steve Smyth.

Smyth exited FORBIDDEN last month, saying in a statement that he "decided it's time to part ways with FORBIDDEN, and return to my band ONE MACHINE as priority, along with other projects on the horizon, and of course session work, and teaching music as always."

The most recent FORBIDDEN lineup made its live debut at a "secret" show in July 2023 at Baltic Kiss in Richmond, California under the TWISTED INTO EVIL banner.

Originally founded in 1985 as FORBIDDEN EVIL by Anderson, guitarists Locicero and Robb Flynn, bassist John Tegio and drummer Jim Pittman, the quintet started playing house parties and Bay Area clubs such as the legendary Ruthie's Inn soon after. After a couple of lineup changes (Paul Bostaph on drums and Matt Camacho on bass) in '86, the band quickly rose through the ranks of Bay Area thrash to gain a massive following and worldwide notoriety. In 1986, the band added Glen Alvelais as the second guitarist. It was this lineup that cemented itself into the Bay Area scene and soon after recorded 1988 release "Forbidden Evil" for Combat Records, changing the band's name to simply FORBIDDEN. In May of '89 while on a European tour with SACRED REICH, FORBIDDEN made their first appearance at the legendary Dynamo Open Air in Eindhoven, Netherlands. It was here that FORBIDDEN made their European mark and recorded the "Raw Evil" EP. The band returned Stateside and replaced Alvelais with Tim Calvert. Calvert was a missing ingredient that brought the band closer together as a team. They continued to tour the U.S. first with EXODUS and then again with SACRED REICH with Calvert on second guitar. The band went on to release "Twisted Into Form" in 1990, "Distortion" in 1994 and "Green" in 1996. However, the band, having gone though many lineup changes, disbanded in 1997.

In 2008 Craig being inspired at a screening of the movie "Get Thrashed", called the other members of the band and suggested getting back on stage to see if they could reignite the FORBIDDEN machine. With Anderson, Locicero, Camacho back in the mix along with new additions Glen Alvelais and Gene Hoglan they played two sold-out DEATH ANGEL shows in San Francisco. Steve Smyth came into the mix in place of Alvelais and Mark Hernandez took Hoglan's place. The band then released "Omega Wave", the fifth in the catalog and went on a U.S. tour with OVERKILL. European festivals were next but afterwards Hernandez had to walk away due to personal reasons leading to a tour cancelation. Sasha Horn was the answer to fill the drummer's spot.

After playing "Bonded By Baloff" with EXODUS and one Bay Area show, FORBIDDEN embarked for Chile to play the Metal Fest in Santiago. It was on this flight back home that Russ informed the band that he couldn't tour anymore because of the physical toll it was taking on him. With that, the band dissolved once again for 11 years.

When FORBIDDEN's "rebirth" was first announced in April 2023, Locicero said in a statement: "First off, I did NOT see this coming. When FORBIDDEN quietly disbanded the second time in 2012, I figured it was over. While I always apply the 'never say never' mantra to my life, Russ made it clear that he was completely finished with touring. My wingman and main dude from the conception of FORBIDDEN EVIL, Russ was my mentor and the guy who bought me beer when I was 15! I couldn't imagine FORBIDDEN without him, so I had little hope of a future with FORBIDDEN. Today Russ is happily retired and living the sober life. I have nothing but love for that and him. Everyone needs to respect his wishes like we do.

"So then ….. fast forward 11 years after our last show, Bay Area vocal talent Norman Skinner walks in to help us rehearse and sing a few thrash classics for the BAY AREA INTERTHRASHIONAL set at Dynamo MetalFest 2022. WHAMMO! That's when it all happened by accident. Truly. Then it happens AGAIN when Norman sings 'Chalice Of Blood' onstage alongside WARBRINGER at the one Bay Area show of BAY AREA INTERTHRASHIONAL. Holy fuck!"

Back with more music, BLINK-182 will release "One More Time… Part-2" on Friday September 6, 2024 via Columbia Records. The group notably expands its 2023 blockbuster Billboard 200 No. 1 album "One More Time…" with eight brand new tracks on "Part-2".

Heightening anticipation, they will also share the first single off "Part-2", "All In My Head" this Friday August 23, 2024.

"One More Time… Part-2" arrives in multiple physical configurations in addition to digital. These include the two-LP complete deluxe edition (featuring all 27 tracks available on limited-edition blue balls colored vinyl in a gatefold jacket with a printed insert),and the one-LP deluxe tracks only variant (which includes 10 tracks on vinyl for the first time — namely the eight brand new tracks plus two bonus tracks previously only available digitally). The deluxe tracks only vinyl variant will be pressed on limited-edition red rocket colored vinyl in a gatefold jacket with a printed insert.

"One More Time…" not only marked the first album to feature the group's iconic lineup — Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker — since 2011, but it also kickstarted the comeback of the decade. Last year, the album crashed the Billboard 200 at No. 1, notching the band's third career No. 1 debut on the respective chart. Given this stratospheric success, it concluded 2023 as "the biggest rock album of the year," registering over one billion streams to date.

The album also received widespread critical acclaim. In a coveted "Hear This" review, Rolling Stone raved, "The California pop-punk pioneers hark back to the thrashing sound of their most beloved albums, 1999's 'Enema Of The State' and 2000's 'Take Off Your Pants And Jacket', as they tackle death, existential crises, and DeLonge's return to the band after a hiatus that began in 2015," going on to profess, "'One More Time…' offers the perfect opportunity to take one last stab at it all: the smart-ass attitude, the genre-defining music, and the rock-star dreams." Spin proclaimed, "this reconciliation feels fresh, fun — and hits like a goddamn freight train," and Kerrang! hailed it as "one of the best, most consistent records of their whole career." Slant claimed, "its brightest, most exhilarating spots are a welcome reminder of what made the trio so iconic in the first place." Brooklyn Vegan summed it up as an "enjoyable record that celebrates this band's career and friendship, and it's full of moments that are endearing and heartwarming, especially to longtime fans."

Meanwhile, they have sold out stadiums on multiple continents, launching the biggest, boldest, and best world tour of their career in support of "One More Time…"

Coming back together, surviving tragedy, and triumphing as loudly as possible, BLINK-182's union as bandmates and brothers is stronger than ever. With "Part-2", they deliver the definitive version of "One More Time…" and show no signs of stopping or slowing down either.

"One More Time… Part-2" (*digital album and complete deluxe 2-LP vinyl)

01. Anthem Part 3
02. Dance With Me
03. Fell In Love
04. Terrified
05. One More Time
06. More Than You Know
07. Turn This Off!
08. When We Were Young
09. Edging
10. You Don't Know What You've Got
11. Blink Wave
12. Bad News
13. Hurt (Interlude)
14. Turpentine
15. Fuck Face
16. Other Side
17. Cut Me Off
18. See You
19. Childhood
20. No Fun
21. All In My Head
22. Can't Go Back
23. Every Other Weekend
24. Everyone Everywhere
25. If You Never Left
26. One Night Stand
27. Take Me In

"One More Time… Part-2" (*deluxe tracks only 1-LP vinyl)

01. Cut Me Off
02. See You
03. No Fun
04. All In My Head
05. Can't Go Back
06. Every Other Weekend
07. Everyone Everywhere
08. If You Never Left
09. One Night Stand
10. Take Me In

Italian black-thrash metal trailblazers NECRODEATH have today announced their intention to break up after one final album and a farewell tour in 2025.

Throughout the next 18 months the band will celebrate 40 years of existence by releasing a new full-length album via Time To Kill Records and by heading out on a tour that’s purported to be their last one ever.

Frontman Flegias commented: “Following a prolific career and hundreds of concerts, we decided to stop here to make room for new up and coming acts and enjoy a well-deserved rest. We are aware that we are delivering bad news to our most loyal fans, but this should also please those who always said we should have broken up after the first demo tape. We will say goodbye with one last album and a series of concerts that will last from January to December 2025”.

Drummer Peso added: “We don’t last forever! I’m sure that we said everything we had to say, for better or for worse. For 40 years we lived the underground without compromising with anything or anyone, although at times it would perhaps have been appropriate to be more accommodating in order to get more visibility. But this is the story of my Necrodeath, a group of friends who have always played with passion, coherence and dignity. See you around for one last time”.

Watch for more details on the new album release, new tour updates, and more news on other upcoming NECRODEATH activities to be posted shortly.

Biography:

The moment you hear it, you know it’s NECRODEATH. Formed back in 1984, the Italian act is one of the real iconic black-thrash metal bands. With a career of 40 years, the band has helped to shape the Italian metal scene and the international underground as it is today. In 1985 NECRODEATH released a cult-demo tape titled “The Shining Pentagram” and obtained an incredible success in the underground. The demo is still considered a real gem in the thrash and black metal history. Tons of tributes in major magazines, fanzines and other underground outlets highlighted the release of the first two legendary albums “Into The Macabre” (1987) and “Fragments Of Insanity” (1989).
New records and international and national tours followed one another non-stop until 2020. Like many other acts, the band was forced to interrupt a workaholic path in the underground metal scene. During that period the band reached out to Time to Kill Records for the release of the last two albums, starting with “Singin’ in the Pain” in 2023. One final record will kick off a farewell tour which will conclude at the end of 2025.

Finnish one-man black metal band Valontuoja is set to unleash the debut album Luonnon armoilla on November 8th 2024 via Inverse Records.

The first official single ‘Kodistani karkoitettu’ is now out on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/valontuoja-kodistani

Music & Lyrics by Jal’zoroth
Cover art by JTR
The man behind Valontuoja, Jal’zoroth comments the single:
“This haunting track channels the raw, primal force of exile and unrelenting longing, set against the desolate beauty of Finland’s unyielding wilderness. The lyrics, dripping with sorrow and defiance, narrate the torment of a soul exiled from its homeland, aching for the harsh cliffs, icy lakes, and untamed rivers that once offered solace.”

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

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

Asked if that means that he and Teemu have started writing new material together yet, Mustaine replied: "Well, we've been we've been dissecting songs, which is kind of writing in reverse."

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

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

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

Asked if he saw any signs that Kiko would leave MEGADETH permanently or if it came as a surprise to him, Dave said: "Well, it wasn't really a surprise, because it started to become clear that his family was gonna need him. And I'm a dad too, so I saw it and I knew that his wife and babies all needed their daddy. And Kiko is a good husband, he's a good dad, and he needed to do what was right for him and for his family. And I applaud him for doing what he did. A lot of people would not have the guts to walk away from being a rock and roll star to take care of their kids. They would somehow sacrifice something, and it probably would not be their family."

Mustaine also once again seemingly ruled out the possibility of former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, who made a couple of guest appearances with the band last year, rejoining MEGADETH at some point in the future.

"We played together for a couple of tracks, which was fun, and it was a very natural feeling," Mustaine said. "But I know that Marty, when we got together in Japan and we talked, Marty's changed a lot; he's a different man. And it'd be really fun to play with him every once in a while, see what's going on. But the problem is a lot of fans will misunderstand us doing something with Marty and think that there's some hope of Marty joining MEGADETH again, and there's not, that there wouldn't be, because Marty is doing his own thing in Japan and I am 100 percent satisfied with Teemu right now, and I've already told the world that he's our new guitar player."

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

This past May, Teemu told Italy's Poisoned Rock webzine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I definitely was aware of MEGADETH for a very long time. They were one of the first bands that I got into when I discovered metal. I think, for most people, at least my generation or our generation, when they get into metal, it's usually the biggest bands, and MEGADETH, of course, being one of them."

Regarding his first show with MEGADETH, which took place on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mäntysaari said: "That was a very nice venue. We had a day there before, before the show, for production rehearsals, to rehearse on stage, and then on the next day we had the show. So that was nice and relaxed. I think we played through the whole setlist once before the show, the day before, and then played the show. And yeah, it felt very good from the beginning. And I felt like I was prepared. I was confident with my skills and confident with everything. The guys were so helpful and welcoming and, yeah, everything felt to kind of click and fall in the right place. So, it was really nice."

During the interview, which was conducted before MEGADETH's recently completed South American tour, Mäntysaari spoke about the band's plans for the coming months, including the possibility of new music. He said: "Right now we have been working on getting some new songs to the setlist, like old songs that the band hasn't played in a long time, or even some that they never played before. So that's been really exciting. I'm having some daily calls now lately with Dave Mustaine, going through the songs together. So that's really nice. And then once we get together on the tour, I think then we're gonna start talking about some riff ideas and putting some ideas together. So let's see what happens."

Earlier this year, Teemu told Guitar World magazine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I never thought something like this would happen to me. But at the same time, I've always felt like being prepared was important in case a big band like this did call me."

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

"I have a specific skillset where I can learn fast, jump into new situations, and be comfortable," Mäntysaari told Guitar World. "I've always liked doing that. I love teaching, and I've been on many cover projects, so being detail-oriented is part of my skillset."

Regarding his preparation for the way he approached playing the MEGADETH material, Teemu said: "[We'd] look at the small details of how they groove, the moods, and the technical side. We talked a lot about what Dave [Mustaine] wants to project, picking directions, being very aware of down-picking, alternate picking, and, in many of the songs, being aware of both. We also talked about things like dampening, the flow of songs, creating contrast, hand positions, and trying to get things right fingering-wise, all of which I enjoy doing. There's a bit of detective work involved, and to get that information from the source in Dave was amazing."

This past February, Mustaine told Brazil's A Rádio Rock about how Teemu ended up landing the MEGADETH gig: "Kiko had recommended Teemu, and Teemu is an exceptional guitar player. Kiko was at the top of his game when this happened, so we were obviously disappointed, but it is what it is. If Kiko would have said, 'I don't know anybody, and you're on your own,' that would have been a lot harder. But Teemu is the right guy for MEGADETH. And Kiko knows that Teemu is the right guy for me. So, he actually did us a really big favor, and I love him and I wish him the best with everything that he does."

Kiko announced his decision to step back from MEGADETH in a social media post in November. He wrote in part: "Dear MEGADETH fans, I want to share with you a decision that hasn't been easy for me. In September, I had to step away from the U.S. leg of the tour for family reasons. Looking ahead, during 2024, we anticipate an even heavier touring schedule for MEGADETH. After thorough reflection and discussions with Dave Mustaine and MEGADETH's management, we have collectively agreed that it is the right move to extend my absence. I don't want to hinder any of the band's plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour."

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

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

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

During an appearance on the August 15 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless was asked if he had any idea METALLICA would become as big as they did when the James Hetfield-fronted outfit supported W.A.S.P. on a U.S. tour in early 1985. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Honestly, I don't think anybody has the ability to look into a crystal ball and see that. I see it differently. I mean, for me, METALLICA is James. And I don't say to slight any of the rest of the band — certainly not at all — but being a singer, I relate to the singer. And even to this day, I listen to how James drives songs and that singer lingo for when we drive a track, that means we're pushing the crap out of it. We're really hitting it hard, using the vocal to carry the track. And the way James drives it, I mean, he had that even then.

"Just before I came on the air here, there was that commercial for the '80s thing, and the first thing I heard was [late QUIET RIOT singer] Kevin DuBrow's voice," he continued. "Kevin was one of the best at driving a track there ever was. I mean, the power that comes out of these guys, I mean, it's just — it's unrelenting and it's a force to be reckoned with. So James had that even then. So, like I said, I could see that early on, but predicting what that would become? No, of course not.

"To be completely honest about it, METALLICA did not become METALLICA until about '…And Justice For All', at least not in the mass sense that we know it now," Blackie added. "Did they have a following before that? Of course they did. But to get into where it became supersonic, like it is now, no. And it takes a while for that to happen. And literally the planets aligned for them. I mean, they had done '…And Justice For All. The 'Black Album' comes out, and it's got that song ['Enter Sandman'] on it, man. And history is rewritten at that point."

During a "VIP Experience" question-and-answer session before one of W.A.S.P.'s concerts on the band's fall 2022 U.S. tour, Lawless spoke about his memories of playing with METALLICA on January 30, 1985 at Sherwood Country Club in Indianapolis, Indiana. He said: "We had gotten there late. We had a long drive the night before. Nobody got soundchecks that day. We were scrambling to try to make it happen. So we were flip-flopping [with METALLICA] every night [on that tour] — one night they'd close, one night we'd close — and this happened to be one of the nights we were closing. The dressing rooms were all downstairs, and it was like a maze down there; I mean, nobody knew where they were. Usually you get in early in the afternoon, and everybody gets kind of a feel for what's going on, signs are posted with arrows going this way and that way, what's where. I'm in there shaving and I hear METALLICA's intro start. And I'm looking up in the mirror and I'm shaving; I've got the razor at my throat. The door flies open behind me. There's Cliff [Burton, METALLICA bassist] standing there with his bass on. Now, their intro was playing. And Cliff's standing there. He goes, 'Blackie, Blackie, how do I get to the stage? How do I get to the stage?' I didn't know. I hadn't been up there yet. And I looked in the mirror. He was behind me. And I said, 'Cliff, honestly, I don't know.' And he goes, 'Oh, fuck you, Blackie.' He thinks I'm busting his chops. Two minutes goes by. I'm still down there shaving. They are already into the first song, and I hear the bass finally come in."

W.A.S.P. will embark on a North American tour, dubbed "Album ONE Alive", this fall. Support on the trek will come from ARMORED SAINT and UNTO OTHERS.

August 17, 2024, marks the 40th anniversary of the release of W.A.S.P.'s first album. To celebrate this classic metal 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 "Album ONE Alive".

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 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.

In August 2023, Blackie underwent a successful surgery to treat two herniated discs and a broken vertebra.

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. / Metallica / Armored Saint
January 23 , 1985
Mid Hudson Civic Center ... 🤘😎

Posted by The Chance Theater on Saturday, March 27, 2021

On this date in 1985:

The historic Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, Illinois, hosted W.A.S.P. Nation (Official),Metallica, and Armored Saint.

Posted by Metal Nexus on Friday, February 9, 2024

While on tour this summer with ALICE IN CHAINS' legendary guitarist Jerry Cantrell, Tim Montana performed the band's smash single "Rooster" with Jerry, alongside Greg Puciato (BETTER LOVERS, THE BLACK QUEEN, ex-THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee on August 9. Video of the performance can be seen below.

Tim released his debut rock album, a collection of gritty and grungy, '90s-inspired rock anthems titled "Savage", in July. Some of Tim's biggest influences growing up were bands such as NIRVANA, ALICE IN CHAINS, GUNS N' ROSES and SOUNDGARDEN, so it only makes sense he wrote an album that pays homage to his rock heroes. "Savage" also includes the track "Devil You Know", which Loudwire called "one of the 30 best rock and metal songs of 2023." The breakout single had Tim reassess his music career and he got back in touch with his rock 'n' roll roots after being in the country scene for over a decade.

Tim is scheduled to play Rocklahoma festival on Friday, August 30. He'll also be on tour this fall with SEETHER and will play as support to Myles Kennedy in 2025.

Armed with grit, guitars, and a hunger for glory, Montana has been endorsed by Dave Grohl and ZZ TOP's Billy F Gibbons, booked by David Letterman, and had his anthems used by the MLB and NHL. His moody, crackling, '90s-influenced riffs and whiskey-soaked vocals reel fans in while his storytelling keeps them. "Savage" is a custom and combustible cocktail, served in a dirty, cracked glass that proves why Montana earned iHeartRadio's "On The Verge" accolade.

Montana forges a new frontier for hard rock. Following a tumultuous and downright unbelievable childhood in a trailer off-the-grid, the singer, guitarist, and entrepreneur left his home state of Montana in the rearview at barely 18 years old. Driven by a restless work ethic, he quietly carved out a niche without comparison. Along the way, he performed on "The Late Show With David Letterman" at the behest of the host (practically unheard of for a totally independent artist),collaborated with everyone from Gibbons to Kid Rock (cracking the charts for the first time),made a fan out of Charlie Sheen (who directed the "Mostly Stoned" video),and even attracted his idol Grohl to his corner. Soon, he found himself booked for tours with STAIND, SEETHER, SAINT ASONIA, BUSH and Cantrell (another hero of Tim's). Simultaneously, he and Gibbons purchased an historic bar and hotel Wise River Club in Wise River, Montana. Coming back home to Montana inspired him to go even wilder on his 2024 full-length album "Savage". The hooks hit harder, the distortion was cranked up louder, and the spirit became freer.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante and guitarist Scott Ian spoke to Metal Hammer magazine about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album. Charlie said: "There's a song which has the same kind of epic feel as 'In The End' [from 2011's 'Worship Music'] and 'Blood Eagle Wings' [from 'For All Kings']. It revolves around the journey we've been on in the band. And there are three songs that don't sound like anything we've done before. One called 'The Edge Of Perfection' I had way before COVID, and it has just stayed with me — the melody and the chords, but also the aggression."

Ian added: "None of the songs are actually finished-finished. Joey's [Belladonna, vocalist] sang on nine of them. I've got lyrics to write for four of them. I think all the songs will be good enough to come out in some way, shape or form."

This past January, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello told Rodney McG about the long delay in getting new ANTHRAX music out: "There wasn't a rush, obviously. I know it's been eight years since our last record, but we wanna make sure it's right, and it is [right]. We are very confident. I'm not worried about how right it is. It's right on exactly where I think, and the rest of the band think, we need to be. I love that it's more complicated for me to play. I love the challenge of that. I think we stepped it up a little bit, the heaviness. Again, everybody's gonna prop their record. Doing this for so long, this is how I feel.

"I don't wanna get complacent," he continued. "I want the challenge, 'cause I'm a fan. I'm a fan, and it has to stimulate me. And it has to get me going on stage."

As for the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material, Bello said: "On this record, there's stuff that we've never done before. I'm just saying right out — there's stuff, in a heavy way, which I'm very proud of. I like that we went that way with it and just went, 'What the fuck was that?' Some of the things that Charlie Benante does on drums, Scott and I were just, 'What the fuck was that?' And that's great, 'cause you wanna raise your game after that. I think it makes everybody step up a little bit. I'm doing some bass stuff that I had some fun with on this that I would never have done. I think there's a lot of cool stuff that's going on vocally, melody-wise. I'm really happy where the next ANTHRAX record is going."

Last October, Ian told "THAT Rocks!" that he and his ANTHRAX bandmates had "only really been working on" their new LP "for a year-ish, I would say… But then once lockdown and all that stuff happened, we just all walked away; nothing creative was happening at all with us through that whole period," he explained. "And then, slowly but surely, when we started playing shows again in '21 and going into '22, that's when we started working again, really. And then in the last year, we really started to put stuff together and Charlie and Frankie and I getting together and having writing sessions and arranging stuff."

In September, Belladonna was asked by Tulsa Music Stream if he is typically presented with finished lyrics to sing or if he gets to contribute a lot lyrically to the content. Joey said: "I love doing lyrics, but there's a lot of lyrics that Scott — he just loves to do it. It's his thing. He just digs into such — these topics that he likes to go and get into, and we all kind of have our own little thoughts on the songs. But I get in there and I really kind of — I dig into the whole thing a lot further. There's a lot of stuff that I have to… When you start singing on something, you really have to find the pockets of what you wanna do, what kind of tone I wanna throw on it and how I wanna go for a certain range for certain things and how I approach it is very important. There are lyrics, but at the end of the day, I have to go in there and still sing as good and catchy and appropriate as I can to make this stuff my thing, my style. Obviously, we're not the hit-oriented type of thing, but I'm always going for something cool to catch you off guard and neat and different. I have my own style, so I just kind of do my thing."

During an August 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Ian said about the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material: "Certainly of the nine [songs] we've tracked so far, from a riff point of view, it's definitely — I mean it's riffs with all capital letters. Like if you were going to write, you would write 'riffs' in all capitals with an exclamation point. The riffs are killer. It's very riff-centric. There's a lot of faster uptempo material, certainly."

Ian added: "I will say there is a song — I won't say any titles yet, 'cause it's still probably a working title — there's definitely one song, it's the fastest thing we've ever done. There's another song that we haven't recorded yet that's also in the vein, more of a 'Gung-Ho' or a 'Caught In A Mosh'. Because Charlie and I talk all the time. I said, 'We still need something that's like a three-and-a-half-minute just ripper. You know, something like that.' And then we come up with something like that and I'm, like, 'Hey, I forgot I'm 60 now, and now I have to play this song for the next three years.' Just make my life harder."

Earlier last year, Benante was asked by Robert Cavuoto of Metal Rules why it has taken so long for ANTHRAX to complete the writing process for a new LP. Charlie said: "If we didn't get hit with this whole global pandemic thing, it would have been out probably two years ago, three years ago. But we all know what happened. But now, being that some of the songs were [written] before the pandemic hit, they're old to me. So now there's a bunch of new songs that kind of came in the mix. So that's a good thing. You can never have enough… We're still working on the older ones because we really like a lot of those."

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with
NTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

Photo courtesy of HERFitz PR

Indianapolis melodic death/doom purveyors, Mother Of Graves, return to the surface with The Periapt Of Absence, a new and prolific dose of melancholy set to be unleashed on October 18 via Profound Lore Records.


The Periapt Of Absence delivers Mother Of Graves' most in depth and significant material to date. The follow-up to 2022’s critically lauded Where The Shadows Adorn, The Periapt Of Absence serves as a testament to Mother Of Graves' evolutionary journey and steadfast dedication to crafting their profoundly personal and enthralling rendition of death/doom metal.


Highlighted by Brandon Howe's soul crushing and poetic vocals, the offering transcends boundaries, delving deeper into realms of sorrow and introspection than their previous works. The album expands upon the band’s notoriously engrossing atmospheres, crushing passages that shine light on their death metal roots, monumental hooks, and melodies that will resonate for years to come. Each song provides a poignant exploration of the human experience, where moments of despair are illuminated by glimmers of hope and fleeting beauty. Through eight cathartic tales of heartache, love, and loss, Mother Of Graves beckons you to delve deep into the recesses of their dark and gloomy world.




In advance of the record’s release, today the band unveils first single, “Upon Burdened Hands”.


Notes Howe, "‘Upon Burdened Hands’ is a tale of severance and longing. Perseverance in the midst of uncertainty. Being separated from the one thing tethering you to this earth, but somewhere - still connected. It is one of our more melodic and hooky songs on the record, which I love, while holding an equal amount of heaviness and grit. I think we found a really nice balance of those things here. Included before the last half of the song is a reading of The Dream by Theodore Roethke, a favorite poet of mine. His work among select others solaced me through difficult times, and I thought this one in particular was a fitting piece for this song. Sink into the melancholic romance and let it take you where it may."


Listen to the single below.


The crushing production work of The Periapt Of Absence, provided by the band's Ben Sandman with dynamic mastering by the legend Dan Swanö, amplifies the monumental rhythm section anchored by drummer Don Curtis and bassist Corey Clark, while illuminating the intricate guitar harmonies skillfully woven by guitarists Ben Sandman and Chris Morrison.


The Periapt Of Absence will be released on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find pre-orders here.





The Periapt Of Absence tracklsting:


"Gallows"
"Shatter The Visage"
"A Scarlet Threnody"
"Apparition"
"The Periapt Of Absence"
"As The Earth Fell Silent"
"Upon Burdened Hands"
"Like Darkness To A Dying Flame"


"Upon Burdened Hands":





Mother Of Graves is:


Brandon Howe – vocals, keyboards
Chris Morrison – guitar
Ben Sandman – guitar
Corey Clark – bass
Don Curtis – drums


(Photo - Kristie Vantlin)







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video

In a new interview with Jaimunji of Australia's Metal Roos, IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris was asked how he and his bandmates continue to maintain such a high energy level on stage in their late 60s and early 70s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The first couple of weeks is always the toughest, fitness-wise, of any tour. 'Cause you can… I mean, I go running and I still play football and tennis and everything like that, whatever, but you can't really train for what you do on stage, and you just have to get out there and do it. So it is tough, the first two weeks, I think. But once you get into it and you get into your stride, it's all right. But the first two weeks is also exciting for that very reason as well — it can be a little bit edgy because you're still sort of finding your feet, I suppose. I think a lot of the fans come along hoping there's gonna be a couple of mistakes here and there that they can talk about for the rest of their days. Hopefully that won't happen, from our point of view, but it is what it is. It doesn't matter how much you rehearse or get ready or whatever you do, whatever preparation, there's nothing like playing a live show."

Founded in 1975 by Harris, IRON MAIDEN has released 17 studio albums, 13 live albums and 47 singles which have sold in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. They have played over 2000 live shows in 59 countries and have been the recipients of a Grammy Award and a Brit Award, among others. The band's very own Trooper beer, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, has sold in excess of 35 million pints and is distributed in 68 countries.

IRON MAIDEN's "The Future Past Tour", which includes songs from both the band's most recent studio album "Senjutsu" as well as 1986's seminal album "Somewhere In Time", alongside other fan favorites, played to over 750,000 fans at more than 30 sold-out shows across Europe in the summer of 2023. The band also performed in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver alongside their highly praised appearance at California's Power Trip festival this October which had Consequence stating: "IRON MAIDEN set the bar high at Power Trip" and The Desert Sun saying "IRON MAIDEN didn't disappoint and delivered a hard-hitting performance to open the festival on a high note." Featuring one of the most spectacular stage productions of the band's career, it has received rave reviews in every city and country that IRON MAIDEN visited.

"Senjutsu" came out in September 2021. It marked MAIDEN's second consecutive double album behind 2015's "The Book Of Souls" which is the longest MAIDEN album, with a running time of 92 minutes.

IRON MAIDEN's first album in six years, "Senjutsu" was recorded in 2019 in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by bassist Steve Harris. It features three tracks whose running time exceeds 10 minutes each.

For "Senjutsu" — loosely translated as "tactics and strategy" — the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai-themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Harris.

"Senjutsu" bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, charting higher than even the band's early classics like "Powerslave" and "The Number Of The Beast". Nearly 90 percent of the LP's 64,000 equivalent album units earned came from pure album sales. The critically acclaimed double album debuted one place higher than 2015's "The Book Of Souls" and 2010's "The Final Frontier", which both peaked at No. 4.

"Senjutsu" was MAIDEN's 13th album to top in the Top 40 in the U.S.

Harris has been playing sporadic shows with his side project BRITISH LION, which released its second album, "The Burning", in January 2020 via Explorer1 Music (E1). The LP was recorded, engineered and mixed at Barnyard Studios by Tony Newton and produced by Steve Harris.

BRITISH LION's first U.S. tour took place in January and February 2020.

BRITISH LION comprises singer Richard Taylor, guitarists David Hawkins and Grahame Leslie, Harris on bass and keyboards, and drummer Simon Dawson.

In a new interview with Oran O'Beirne of Bloodstock TV, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked when he was first introduced to the music of MOTÖRHEAD and how he was influenced by MOTÖRHEAD's iconic frontman Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "So I was probably 15, maybe 16, and that was a really pivotal time. I had a little band in Minnesota, where I grew up, and there was a guitar player in the town north of us that he was the guy who could play. So he joined our band and he turned me and my band on to DIAMOND HEAD, MOTÖRHEAD, TANK, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, the first DEF LEPPARD record where [DEF LEPPARD drummer] Rick Allen was, like — I don't know — 15 or 16 years old. And quite honestly, that album is what made me and my friends go, 'We can do this,' 'cause we were the same age. DEF LEPPARD was so young. And then, of course, along with it, I think probably 'Ace Of Spades' was the first MOTÖRHEAD record that came in the band rehearsal room, and then immediately followed by 'No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith' and then 'Bomber', of course. So those were the — kind of that whole era. And then the SCORPIONS, BLACK SABBATH with Ronnie James Dio. So that was my era — kind of '78 to '80, those records in that era. And I got turned on to them probably around '80 or '81. That was it, man."

Offering his opinion of Lemmy as a bass player, Ellefson said: "METAL ALLEGIANCE, another group that I have, we had a run of dates in early January of '16. And [Lemmy] passed the day after Christmas [of 2015] or something. Yeah, it was very kind of unexpected, 'cause they had a big [birthday] party for him at the Whisky [A Go Go in West Hollywood]. Everybody was there. Then he passed right after Christmas. And then our shows were like 10 days later. And so the Whisky, which also own the Rainbow, they called us and they said, 'Hey, would you guys be the tribute-to-Lemmy band?' like the house band. So we kind of flipped our setlist with METAL ALLEGIANCE to basically be mostly a MOTÖRHEAD set. So, [MOTÖRHEAD drummer] Mikkey Dee came, [SLIPKNOT's] Corey Taylor, a bunch of people came and joined us. And what I realized learning a bunch of MOTÖRHEAD songs in a way that I never knew as a kid learning them is that Lemmy played the bass like an acoustic guitar. 'Cause he was a singer/bass player, similar to [THIN LIZZY's] Phil Lynott. Bass players that were singers as well as bass players, they played with the plectrum… But Lemmy really played more like an acoustic guitar player… And it was the way he strummed and his up strokes on things was much more like how an acoustic guitar player would play. And it really changed my whole scope about him. When you learn songs from somebody, you kind of try to find where's the heart of who they are. What is their thing? And that, to me, that's when it clicked. And then every MOTÖRHEAD song after that, I kind of just clued in to that, and it became a lot easier to learn because I didn't just think about the bass part, I thought about what he's singing over top of it. Paul McCartney, Gene Simmons, Phil Lynott, Lemmy, these iconic bass players, they're also lead singers. So for them, the bass isn't just the only thing that they do. So, to me, you kind of have to take the whole package. So Lemmy is a singer as well as just a bass player."

When METAL ALLEGIANCE paid tribute to Lemmy during the band's January 9, 2016 concert at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, they were joined by special guests from SLIPKNOT and SEPULTURA, along with Dee, who asked for a moment of silence in honor of Lemmy.

Eight and a half years ago, Ellefson spoke to About Heavy Metal about the Lemmy tribute. He said: "As it would turn out, Lemmy passed suddenly and unexpectedly just after Christmas, and we got the call from the venue saying, 'Hey, we would love it if METAL ALLEGIANCE would accommodate a tribute to Lemmy. You're kind of set up for it with the lineup of the band. There's going to be a lot of guests, and other celebrated metal musicians around,' and we said, 'Absolutely we should do it.' It's a no-brainer. It's pretty easy for us. They had the funeral at Forest Lawn. They had the memorial up at the Rainbow, and we held the wake down at the Whisky."

Asked if it was pretty emotional when MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee got up there to play a song with METAL ALLEGIANCE, Ellefson said: "It was. Mikkey's such a terrific guy, and such a great drummer. In fact, I remember just before we were releasing the [MEGADETH] 'Peace Sells' record back in 1986, we did a tour leading up to that with KING DIAMOND in the summer of 1986, and Mikkey Dee was the drummer. That was when we in MEGADETH first got to meet Mikkey, then, of course, watching him move over to be the MOTÖRHEAD drummer."

He continued: "MOTÖRHEAD drumming and the MOTÖRHEAD lifestyle is not for the faint of heart, and he survived both very well. Just such a monster player, and such a cool guy. He held a moment of silence for Lemmy. It was really a moving moment when you get a bunch of loud, raucous, metal heads into a room who are respectfully, honestly giving a moment of silence. It was really a moving moment for sure, and followed by, 'Okay, now let's go make some noise.' Then he hopped behind the kit, and we blazed out a tune.

"We had some of the best guys there, obviously. Mike Portnoy [DREAM THEATER], Mikkey Dee, Dave Lombardo [SLAYER] came down to play drums. Corey Taylor [SLIPKNOT] flew over from Las Vegas just to be a part of that, and jumped up and sang some songs with us. Everybody joined in with the best intentions, and really with a big heart in all the things in honor of Lemmy."

Under the motto "Witches & Warlocks" the sold out Wacken Open Air 2024 took place from July 31 to August 3, 2024. Watch 85,000 Metalheads from all around the globe celebrating the biggest metal party in the world in a tiny village in northern Germany.


Says organizers: "With this offial aftermovie a huge "Thank You!" goes out to all participants and followers of Wacken Open Air 2024! See you in Wacken - rain of shine!"


Get your ticket for Wacken Open Air 2025 here.












window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails',
placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});




L

What happens when the musical universe fuses members of Lady A, Skid Row, Third Eye Blind, Sturgill Simpson, The Smashing Pumpkins and Wang Chung together? This Wild Darkness.


United in a moment of musical brilliance, members of this supercollab rock outfit, This Wild Darkness, led by musical alchemist Tommy Marz, is a collective born from the pure joy of creation, where legendary musicians from diverse backgrounds converge to craft something poignant and dynamic. With a lineup boasting Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind), Chuck Bartels (Sturgill Simpson), Jack Hues (Wang Chung), Jeff Schroeder (The Smashing Pumpkins), Scotti Hill (Skid Row), And Slim Gambill (Lady A), the group has harnessed their vast experiences to produce a powerful and evocative upcoming 5-song concept EP, The Notorious Memphis Rains, set for release on October 25.


The project’s title hints at the profound themes explored within the five-track collection, drawing inspiration from the historic tragedies of Memphis, TN, and West Memphis, AR. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the death of Elvis Presley, and the haunting story of the West Memphis Three served as a foundation for Marz as he crafted the character "Memphis Rains," symbolizing the collective sorrow of these events.




"The entirety of this project is a concept based on searching for something that you want and being willing to do whatever it takes to get it," says Marz, who also produced the album. "It also explores the consequences of those actions that may not be clear when you are in pursuit."


"Tommy made it easy to be relaxed and creative," says Bartels as he reflects on the collaborative process. "I felt like nothing was off the table, part-wise."


"I couldn't have been more flattered when Tommy asked me to contribute to this record and project," shares Hill. " It’s been so much fun!"


Nashville-based guitarist Slim Gambill, known for his work with country group Lady A shouts: "Finally! I get a rock track sent to me where I get to take the gloves off!"


Beginning at a charity show, "For The Crew," to raise money for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in 2021, Schroeder, HILL, and Marz ended the evening with a rousing jam of "Cold Gin" by KISS. This event - which raised over $15,000 for out-of-work road crew members affected by the pandemic - also highlighted collaboration between Schroeder and Salazar, as well as Hues and Marz. These moments laid the foundation for a group that would reunite and create together over the years. Marz and Schroeder have since collaborated on several tracks, charting four times on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Mainstream Radio Airplay and Digital Sales charts.





The Notorious Memphis Rains tracklisting:


"The Wild Darkness"
"Dawn Rider"
"Phantom Moon"
"Night Drive Rx"
"The Wild Darkness (Reprise)"


(Album image - Judi Perkins)







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"

In a new interview with link textUltimate Classic Rock, former MÖTLEY CRÜE and current THE DEAD DAISIES frontman John Corabi spoke about the recent passing of original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell. He said: "That sucks. It was probably about a year ago, I did an acoustic set. It was me, [former DANGER DANGER vocalist] Ted Poley and Jack with [his guitarist] Robbie Lochner. I was shocked. I hadn't seen Jack in a while. He came in and had two crutches and just looked super frail. But you know what? He got in there, sat down on a stool and sang his balls off. I was just, like, 'Wow.' It's amazing. He looked physically frail, but if you closed your eyes and listened to him, it didn't sound like [any time had passed]. It sounded like old Jack. But yeah, I was sad when I heard that [about his passing]."

He continued: "Listen, I respect anybody that can get out and do what we do and have some success at it. GREAT WHITE was one of the first bands I saw when I moved to L.A. I saw them at the Roxy and they were kind of in between record deals. I think they were writing for what became ['Once Bitten']. They were just kind of in between. I saw them play the Roxy and I was just like, 'Wow.' Then they did some [LED] ZEPPELIN stuff and I just thought it was amazing. It's sad, dude. You know, you hate to see any of your heroes or musical peers [die]. We're all getting up there in age, man. So we're starting to lose 'em all."

Russell's death was announced by his family in a social media statement on Thursday (August 15). The statement read: "With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend.

"Jack passed peacefully in the presence of his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik.

"Details of a public memorial will be announced at a later date.

"Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.

"His family asks for privacy at this time."

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.

Lewy body dementia is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease.

Lewy body dementia impacts memory, decision-making and ability to solve problems. It has led to motor and muscle weakness and rigidity. It also can cause sleep disorders and hallucinations.

Lewy body dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease due to its early similarity to those other neurodegenerative diseases.

After actor and comedian Robin Williams took his own life in August 2014, autopsy results revealed he was suffering from LBD.

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 guitarist Mark 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.

On August 16th, Delain 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 Cold"
"Suckerpunch"
"Burning Bridges"
"The Quest and the Curse"
"Invidia"
"Get the Devil Out of Me"
"Army of Dolls"
"Queen of Shadow"
"The Gathering"
"Don't Let Go"
"Moth to a Flame"
"We Are the Others"







Delain continue to grace stages around the world in support of their latest opus, Dark Waters, out now via Napalm Records. The band is thrilled to announce their return to North American shores with a newly announced headline tour, set to take place in early 2025. The run will also feature support from special guests, symphonic metal patriots and label mates Xandria, who are touring in support of their latest album, The Wonders Still Awaiting.


Fans should expect to hear Delain and Xandria fan favorites, the latest hits, as well as brand new material from both bands during this tour, so don't miss out. Kicking off on March 7 in Phoenix, AZ, the tour will visit several major cities across North America, ending in Austin, TX on March 29. Tickets are on sale now, here.


Delain's Martijn Westerholt says: “After such a warm welcome & meeting so many amazing fans, performing new music and introducing our new members to the metal masses of North America last year, we are absolutely stoked to return to the United States and Canada to meet again! This time, we’re thrilled to share this experience with our special guests and good friends Xandria. Each night will be stunning for all - don’t miss this one!"


Marco Heubaum of Xandria adds:"We are delighted to come back to the USA and Canada, and even better, with our good friends Delain! We are super excited to bring this package to the North American fans! This is going to be amazing!"





Dates:


March
7 - Phoenix, AZ - The Nile
8 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
9 - Sacramento, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
10 - Portland, OR - The Bossanova Ballroom
11 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
13 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
14 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
16 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
17 - Detroit, MI - The Token Lounge
19 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
20 - Toronto, ON - Axis
21 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
22 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
23 - New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
24 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
25 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell)
28 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
29 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"

Long time friend Tommy Vext (formerly of Bad Wolves, pictured above) will be filling in on lead vocals for Ill Niño's upcoming European Tour. Marcos Leal will not be performing on the upcoming European Tour.


Ill Niño and Vext got their start on the East Coast, in the early days of the NY/NJ hardcore scene, and Vext opened for Ill Niño when he was just a teenager. This multi-cultural urban landscape helped cultivate the band's sound. Ill Niño's Revolution and Confession-era songs are no stranger to Vext, as they share a 25-year brotherhood.


Tommy Vext has had great international success with the multi-platinum cover of "Zombie." Dave Chavarri says "We are excited to have Tommy perform with Ill Niño across all these European stages."




Find Ill Niño's complete tour itinerary here.










window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"

SILVERA concludes their album run with the electrifying single and official video, “Show Me How to Live”. This track embodies one of Silvera’s trademarks: a catchy chorus that stays with you long after the song ends. The powerful vocal arrangements add depth and intensity, showcasing the band’s remarkable synergy and musical craftsmanship.

“Show Me How to Live” is poised to be a hit, with its radio-friendly appeal and widespread resonance among fans. It’s a definitive track that not only captures the essence of Silvera’s sound but also has the potential to reach an even broader audience, solidifying their mark in the music industry.

Enjoy the video premiering here:

Defiled have released a video for "Horror Beyond Horror", the title track of their upcoming new album, out September 20 via Season Of Mist. Pre-save / pre-order the album here, and watch the new clip below:





When it comes to Japanese death metal, there is no shrewder sensei than Defiled. Since they started their training in the world's most vulgar of art forms back in the early '90s, the band have toured everywhere from their native Tokyo to Milwaukee Metal Fest with the likes of Mayhem, Incantation, Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse.




Now, after 30 years of destroying the opposition at the highest level, these self-proclaimed samurai of death metal are back with their eighth album. Horror Beyond Horror is the kind of good ol' fashioned ass-kicking that only a true master can deliver.     


After they first took to the stage in 1995, Defiled needed nearly a decade before finally erupting with wrath on their debut album. But ever since the band's lineup solidified around original member Yusuke Sumita, they haven't  stopped to look back and admire their war path. Horror Beyond Horror comes hot on the heels of the album they released just last year.


Anyone who took The Highest Level at face value will be pleasantly surprised to hear that Defiled have only added another grimy coat of blood to their blade. "To See Behind The Wall" is the final boss on Horror Beyond Horror, but the album's first single wastes no time charging into the fray behind a barrage of old-school death metal. Whether they're slicing, dicing or leaping into a furiously fast solo, the riffs take no prisoners.   


"The path to your elimination", Shinichiro Hamada cries, digging in amidst a flurry of blast beats, before unleashing an ungodly war cry.


"What is behind the wall?", Defiled ask on their new single. "The truth that has been hidden? Our sanity as human beings? Are we, who are inside the wall, now in a world of deceit and madness?"





Tracklisting:


"Smoke And Mirrors"
"Horror Beyond Horror"
"Syndicate"
"The Alchemy"
"Demagogue"
"The Terminal Phase"
"Trojan Horse"
"Spectrum Of Fear"
"The Crook And Flail"
"Replicator Dynamics"
"Equinox"
"The Chains"
"Psychopomp"
"To See Behind The Wall"


"Smoke And Mirrors" video:





"To See Behind The Wall" video:





From the depths of Tokyo's darkest alleys, Defiled have emerged once again, claws sharpened, eyes bloodshot, ready to unleash a fresh dose of unadulterated savagery with their latest full-length studio album, Horror Beyond Horror. Marrying the grotesque with technical prowess, these samurais of sickness are poised to carve another notch into the archives of death metal's sordid history.


Since crawling from the primordial soup of the underground scene in the early '90s, Defiled have forged a path littered with broken souls. Their journey of destruction first sank its teeth into the international jugular with Erupted Wrath, mixed by the masterful Jim Morris in Tampa, Florida. This brutal assault opened gates to a global bloodletting, from leveling stages in South Korea to crushing skulls at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and not even the November to Dismember fest could foresee the carnage they'd bring.


Commandeering the technical tightrope between anarchy and precision, Defiled evolved, much like an aberrant spawn isolated on the Galapagos, grotesque yet ultimately superior. Their subsequent onslaughts — Ugliness Revealed, Divination, and the sheer violence of In Crisis — built a monument to atrocity that ascends to new heights with Horror Beyond Horror.


Taking no prisoners in their three-decades-long campaign of terror, Defiled have become the indestructible behemoth of Asia's death metal scene, powered by the relentless engine of their old school roots and the twisted wreckage of technical thrash and progressive rock innovation.


But enough with the history lesson, you came here for the carnage, didn't you? Horror Beyond Horror is a 14-track massacre, riddled with riffs sharp enough to slit your throat and a rhythmic onslaught that'll pulverize your pathetic bones. Each track, from the visceral "Smoke And Mirrors" to the haunting "To See Behind The Wall", is a calculated strike, precision-engineered to leave no survivors. Let's not forget the eponymous "Horror Beyond Horror", a track that cements Defiled's legacy as harbingers of the apocalypse.


With a sound as raw as exposed nerve endings and as unrefined as a mass grave, Defiled stands defiantly apart from the polished poseurs and shameless sellouts. They don’t peddle in cheap gimmickry or nostalgia; they deal in the currency of pure, unfiltered destruction. As they look out upon the charred landscape of the genre they’ve helped to define, Defiled is not content to rest on their laurels. Horror Beyond Horror sees them, once again, ascending to the blood-soaked throne of death metal sovereignty.


(Photo - Shigenori Ishikawa)







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails',
placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});




Latest Reviews

VENDED, the band fronted by Griffin Taylor, the 21-year-old son of SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor, will release its self-titled debut album on September 20. The official Derek Rathbun-directed music video for the LP's latest single, "Serenity", can be seen below.

The record will arrive in the midst of VENDED's North American tour dates with SLIPKNOT and KNOCKED LOOSE and subsequent headline run with WRISTMEETRAZOR and LIE.

Commenting on their debut full-length, Griffin says: "There's a level of aggression and emotion that's missing from music right now, and we aim to fill that void on this album. It represents everything that VENDED are about. 'Fuck your ignorance, just grab ahold of it.' You're either with us or against us. VENDED is a unit aimed at world domination, and this album is the first step. Welcome to VENDED."

VENDED's LP was produced by Chris Collier (KORN) and features 13 rage-fueled tracks, including previously released singles "Am I The Only One", "The Far Side" and "Nihilism", that restores some faith in the metal scene.

Since VENDED's inception in 2018, the band came out swinging with singles replete with relentless energy and unparalleled ferocity that lit a firestorm of excitement. Now, the five-piece is ready to unleash a level of fury unseen in modern metal. This band gives no fucks; just pure unrestrained mayhem.

"Vended" track listing:

01. Intro
02. Paint The Skin
03. The Far Side
04. Am I The Only One
05. Going Up
06. Nihilism
07. Pitiful
08. Serenity
09. Disparager
10. Where The Honesty Lies
11. Ones'...
12. Downfall
13. As We Know It

VENDED's lineup is completed by Simon Crahan (son of SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan) on drums, Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar, Jeremiah Pugh on bass and Cole Espeland on lead guitar.

In an interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Corey spoke about Griffin's work with VENDED, saying: "I cannot tell you how proud I am of that boy. And, of course, being a typical Taylor, on one hand I'm super proud of him, but I still can't get him to clean anything, dude; he's just such a nightmare.

"The funny thing is you and I were talking the day after he was born. And I keep going back to that night, going, 'What's he gonna be? Who's he gonna be in life?' And now [21] years later, , and he is this crazy metal pirate, just like I was," Corey continued. "And I'm just, like, 'Oh, I failed as a father. What did I do?' I kept trying to push him to be anything other than what I do. And, yeah, dude, he's crushing.

"I've heard the new stuff that he just recorded with [producer] Chris Collier, and it is so good," Corey added. "VENDED, their new stuff is so rad. Not only Griffin, man, but Simon's [Crahan] drumming sounds incredible. All of the guys — Cole [Espeland] and Grod [Connor Grodzicki] sound great [on guitar]. The guitars have just gone above and beyond. J.J.'s [Jeremiah Pugh] crushing it on bass. I'm really, really proud of those guys, man. And then to be able to watch my boy get out there and just be himself and crush. It's so easy for him, and it just makes me angry. Because he's got all the great stuff that I never had when I was… He can wear anything. It's just criminal. I'm just, like, 'You don't know how good you've got it, kid. The carbs haven't caught you yet.'"

VENDED's five-track debut EP, "What Is It / Kill It", arrived at DSPs in November 2021. The collection was recorded with Griffin Landa of THE ACACIA STRAIN. The two singles bookended VENDED's first U.S. headline tour, after which the band went on to open the day's proceedings at the huge Knotfest Los Angeles show at the Banc Of California Stadium, playing alongside SLIPKNOT, BRING ME THE HORIZON, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333, CODE ORANGE and CHERRY BOMBS.

Formed in February of 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa, VENDED had its first mainstream exposure in 2020 when they performed as part of Knotfest.com's virtual "Pulse Of The Maggots" festival.

VENDED played its first headlining show in March 2020 at the iconic local club Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa.

Griffin, who looks a lot like his father, previously showcased his skills when he joined Corey onstage during STONE SOUR shows in 2017 and 2018. He's also played cover tunes with Simon Crahan, while Clown's daughter Alexandria Crahan-Conway has snapped some of VENDED's previous press pics.

Photo credit: @ras_visual

Extinction A.D., New York's relentless purveyors of ferocious hardcore tinged thrash metal, have released a mini-documentary in support of their single, "Burnt Sienna", featured on their new album, To The Detested, available via Unique Leader Records.


Speaking on "Burnt Sienna", Rick Jimenez shared, "This entire song was a crazy journey from start to finish. From conception of incorporating Bomba into our typical metal style, to singing in Spanish, to diving into the "personal turmoil turned pride in exploration” of my Puerto Rican heritage and my upbringing in an unwelcoming environment, to putting together the exposition video doc of the creation of the song, to choosing this as a single. It’s a lot of personal exposition and being raw about my own individual experiences and evolution as I grow older in this world while simultaneously coming to terms with some things and discovering others."


Watch the new mini-documentary, as well as the "Burnt Sienna" music video, below:










Speaking on the release of the album, Jimenez stated: "This album took on a life of its own very quickly and is by far the freshest one of our career. There was no second guessing or laboring over anything, it was pure unbridled energy from the first note of the first song we wrote to the final sound we recorded. We’ve never pulled any punches musically or lyrically but this is a whole new level of intensity, vitriol and honesty. It is not for the thin-skinned or the weak hearted. This record is in fact our declaration to the detested."





To The Detested tracklisting:


"Desperate Grasp"
"Escape From New York"
"Epidemic Of Mutation"
"Apocalypse Rising"
"Impervious (Unrepentant)" feat. Matthew Kiichi Heafy
"Fill The Void"
"Burnt Sienna"
"Shepherding Swine"
"Behind The Veil Of Sanctity"
"The Cure Or The Cause"


"Impervious (Unrepentant)" video:





Extinction A.D. is not for the faint of heart and the intensity of these New Yorkers has yet to be tempered. The bands signature level of ferocity has reached new levels on their fourth album To The Detested, which follows their EP Ruthless Intent from earlier this year.


So many different worlds shaped this band; from writers like Alan Moore and George Orwell; lyricists like Wreak Havoc and Chuck D; to directors like Tarantino and John Carpenter. But musically, Extinction A.D. hook up a tube of early 90s era of metal into their veins. Not just bands like Pantera and Machine Head, but the often overlooked 90s offerings from Testament, Sepultura and Slayer.


Thrashing just as hard as their predecessors, the band also break their surroundings down and deliver some heavy as hell riotous mosh; hitting that all-important sweet spot mixture of 80s thrash, 90s extreme metal and New York hardcore, all encompassed into one.


Never afraid to speak their minds amidst a divisive world, Extinction A.D. bring a decisive power to match their frenetic energy. The endgame is not just rebellion but revolution.







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More

The Mojo Dojo has released a new video for David Lee Roth's "Mississippi Power". A message from animator Ramses Rios follows:


"A very rare, but amazing track by David Lee Roth from the YFLM (Your Filthy Little Mouth) album (Non-LP track). It has been around for ages, but not many are aware of this gem the Diamond blessed us with. Dave has always had an incredible bluesy voice, and he hits it out the park every time. Enjoy this track if you have not already heard it. Illustration by myself - a little tip of the hat to the art portrayed on the YFLM booklet (Moon)."












window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails',
placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails',
target_type: '

Danish hard rockers Black Oak County are ramping up for the release of their anticipated third album “III”, with their highly energetic new single and video “Boom Boom Baby”, featuring Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Aries Descendant, Danish Eurovision preliminaries).

““Boom Boom Baby” is kind of a silly party song based on an experience a friend of ours had in our teenage years. It’s a comedic and cheeky song with plenty of balls (literally!), a bad-ass riff, one of the catchiest choruses of the album. We had such a fun time writing and recording this tune with Nicklas, and felt this was the perfect song for him to join in on!” says the band, currently gearing up for another run of shows in Denmark and Germany later this summer.

With its intense, groovy and dead-simple riff and its massive chorus, hook and melody, “Boom Boom Baby” marks a venture into new musical territory for the Danish quartet – who decided to take a step further in a new direction, by having their very first feature artist on a track.

“With the theme of the lyric and the hookline, we felt like this song could be even better by having a sort of “antagonist” join in for the third verse – and Nicklas’ vocals just fit our sound perfectly. He blends amazingly with both René and Niels in the final chorus, and in some cases felt like a third voice in the band like he’d always been there. His gritty vocal performance perfectly summarizes the climax of the song, and not only that – he plays a kickass guitar solo on “Boom Boom Baby” as well! We couldn’t be happier with how this collaboration turned out!”.

“III” was written in collaboration with Sonne, who co-produced, engineered, mixed and mastered the album, which is set to release on October 25th, 2024 through Mighty Music.
Catch Black Oak County on tour, as they head out into Europe for a series of dates in Denmark and Germany, with the year culminating in a nationwide tour of Denmark with Danish guitar legends Electric Guitars. For more information, head to http://www.blackoakcounty.com

US-based metalcore band, Dead Rabbits, has released the new single, “Oxygen”, featuring Attila‘s Chris Fronzak (AKA Fronz) on vocals. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, Redefined,, whose release date has not yet been revealed. The album was produced by heavyweights Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace under their Judge & Jury label.





Stream/download "Oxygen" here, and watch the music video below.




Craig Mabbitt (frontman of Dead Rabbitts and Escape The Fate) has stated about the new track: "'Oxygen' is a song about bottling the shit that life throws at you up so much you feel like you can’t breathe, playing pretend and wearing a mask with a smile when you’re feeling the complete opposite, an empowering tune to help push you through and find that strength inside again and there’s no better feature I could’ve asked for when it comes to giving the middle finger to life’s bullshit and living your best life than Fronz. He absolutely crushed it.”


“I'm stoked to announce that I had the honor of working on the new single “Oxygen” with the incredible Dead Rabbitts," Fronz adds and continues, "This track is straight fire, and it was an absolute blast collaborating with Craig for the first time. Craig's an absolute beast on the mic, and his energy brought out the best in all of us. Can't wait for you all to hear it!”










window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video

CWF is a supergroup featuring TOTO's Joseph Williams, former CHICAGO vocalist Bill Champlin and Swedish guitarist/producer Peter Friestedt. The band emerged following the success of their first studio album and a chart-topping live DVD in Sweden. Williams, known for his work with TOTO and as the singing voice of adult Simba in "The Lion King", brings his acclaimed vocals to the project. Friestedt, an accomplished session player and producer with two successful solo albums, has collaborated extensively with Williams. Champlin, a 25-year veteran of CHICAGO and Grammy-winning songwriter, rounds out this remarkable AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) trio, bringing together decades of musical expertise and success.

Today, the legends of CWF release "Brighter Day", marking the first single off their upcoming opus "CWF III".

One of the most anticipated releases of 2024, "CWF III" is set to become a milestone in the AOR/West Coast genre. This highly anticipated album, due on September 27, follows the tremendous success of "CWF II", which achieved impressive chart positions in Sweden and Japan, along with the chart-topping "Live In Concert" DVD.

The album features an impressive lineup of iconic artists, making it a true celebration of the AOR/West Coast sound. Alongside Williams, Champlin and Friestedt, contributions from CHICAGO's Jason Scheff on vocals and bass, legendary drummer John "J.R." Robinson, and Grammy Award-winning songwriters Randy Goodrum and Bill Champlin ensure top-notch production quality and a stellar listening experience.

Musically, the album offers a rich journey through rock, soul, and classic AOR elements. Key tracks include the TOTO-flavored "Brighter Day", featuring stellar lead vocals from Joseph Williams, the CHICAGO-sounding ballad "Find The Love" and the straightforward rock anthem "Wings Of Tomorrow". Another highlight is the soulful duet "I Will Find You There", performed by Michael Ruff and Bill Champlin.

"CWF III" track listing:

01. Brighter Day
02. Sure
03. Wings Of Tomorrow
04. Find The Love
05. Carrie
06. I Will Find You There
07. Stay With Me
08. Almost Had Me There
09. Fly Away Now
10. Moments Of Joy
11. The Last Unbroken Heart

Canadian thrash metal gods, Triskelyon, have returned, delivering stainless steel fury on their highly anticipated third album, Shattered Elysium this coming September 27th from Moribund Records.


Founded in 2021 by guitarist Geoff Waye of the acclaimed true metal band Category VI, Triskelyon burst onto the scene with a self-titled EP, quickly securing a deal with Moribund Records for their radio chart-topping debut album Downfall (2022). In the following year, they demolished expectations with their masterful sophomore release, Artificial Insanity, which earned rave reviews and dominated the radio charts for six weeks!


Triskelyon is again back to enthralling the metal world with Shattered Elysium. With their lethal third strike, Geoff Waye once again drafted some of the finest emissaries of the Canadian metal scene. Enlisting the vocal talents of guests Amanda Kiernan (Into Eternity, The Order of Chaos), Eric Forrest (E-Force, ex-VoiVod), Tiina Teal (Détente), Amanda Jackman (Category VI), Armin Kamal (Infrared), Dale Drew (Sea Dogs), Fíochmhar (Artach), Des Mason and Pete Healey, this album detonates as a pure and true thrash metal masterpiece. The record features a unique style along with refreshing variations of thrashing classics! Traditional, yet intricate, drum duties are exceptionally executed by Raul Marques (Burning Torment), while Dwayne Pike, Keith Jackman (Category VI), Rick White, and Darrin Pope are conscripted on bass.




Shattered Elysium runs the gamut from pure 80’s thrash and speed metal to classic power metal, and traditional heavy metal, and even includes some brutal death-thrash. It attains an impressive new milestone in classic thrash metal, with far-reaching appeal across all heavy metal sub-genres. Shattered Elysium truly resurrects the glory days of the 1980s, while maintaining a fresh and modern sound!


In keeping with Triskelyon's tradition of closing their albums with an iconic cover, this release delivers a thunderous metal rendition of Duran Duran's mega-hit, “Hungry Like the Wolf.”


Check out the first single, "Anarchy Avenue" below. 





Geoff Waye comments on the track:


"For 'Anarchy Avenue,' I was thinking more about issues like urban decay, homelessness, corruption, the rich-poor divide, and how these factors contribute to the destruction and deterioration of some parts of cities. Problems like increased violence, crime, drug use, etc., all become more prevalent in such environments, as you can see in most cities. The vocals on this track are by returning guest Armin Kamal from the band Infrared. As always, he delivers a stellar performance with some guttural parts and plenty of soaring melodic thrash—how can you not love it?"





Tracklist:


"Beyond Shattered Elysium (Intro)"
"Endgame Euphoria"
"Anarchy Avenue"
"Hellbound Hellions"
"Sealed Hypocrisy"
"Under His Eye"
"Eternal Conflict"
"The Battle for Monte Cassino"
"Phantom Serenade"
"Whispers from the Shadows"
"Hungry Like the Wolf" (Duran Duran cover) 


Pre-order Shattered Elysium bhere.







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More

On August 15th, The Black Dahlia Murder 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:


"Aftermath"
"King's Of The Nightworld"
"Mamooth's Hand"
"What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse"
"Statutory Ape"
"Nightbringers"
"Everything Went Black"
"I Will Return"
"Deathmask Divine"







"Mammoth's Hand" is the latest single from The Black Dahlia Murder. The track comes by way of the band's upcoming tenth studio album, Servitude, set for release on September 27 via Metal Blade Records.


"Mammoth's Hand" is partly inspired by a scene from Don Coscarelli's 1982 swords 'n' sorcery epic, The Beastmaster. "We usually like to give some idea of what kind of diversity is gonna be on the album with the first two tracks we release," vocalist Brian Eschbach offers. "[guitarist] Ryan Knight wrote the music for this, and the slow rhythm made me think of these barbaric warriors riding mammoths out in the snow or that scene from The Beastmaster when the Jun horde takes the village."


Eschbach further elaborates, "'Mammoth's Hand' is a romp through a fictitious frozen tundra in which a clan of nomadic mammoth riding cannibals conquer villages in a time devoid of technology. The slow groove of this song is a vibe not often implemented by the group but immediately inspired a vision in my mind of a slow moving yet gigantic and powerful beast of antagonistic nature."


Watch The Black Dahlia Murder's video for "Mammoth's Hand," created by Marco Pavone:





The guitars, bass and vocals for Servitude were recorded at guitarist Brandon Ellis'  home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. Servitude was mastered by Ted Jensen.





Servitude will be released on digipak CD, cassette, and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants and special editions:


- Electromagnetic (US)
- Rising Smoke (US)
- Transcosmic Blue (US)
- Endless Tide (US)
- Utopian Black (US)
- Cursed Creation (US - Exclusive Band Tour Variant)
- Limited Edition Box Set *(with Ephemeral vinyl variant and a bonus LP that Includes 3 Live Tracks (US - Ltd. 400 / EU - Ltd. 600)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Bloody Pulp (EU - Ltd. 1000)
- Nature's Grain (Impericon Exclusive - Ltd. 300)
- Blood Spray (EMP Exclusive - Ltd. 200)
- Stone Cold (EU - Ltd. 200)
- Lost Nobility (UK - Ltd. 300)


Find pre-orders here.





Servitude tracklisting:


"Evening Ephemeral"
"Panic Hysteric"
"Aftermath"
"Cursed Creator"
"An Intermission"
"Asserting Dominion"
"Servitude"
"Mammoth's Hand"
"Transcosmic Blueprint"
"Utopia Black"


"Aftermath" video:










window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blo

Chilean metal masters, Sinner’s Blood, have shared their new single, "Dark Horizons", the title track of their second album, out on September 27 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the official video below.


Guitarist Nasson explains the meaning behind the song: “'Dark Horizons' opens up the range of what we achieved on the album. This song is about uncertainty and doubts about the future, even when wanting to escape from the past, and this is beautifully portrayed by our friend/director Daniel Pino on the music video. Musically, it is one of the heaviest on the record and a very emotional ride with lots of different textures and moments”.







Sinner’s Blood emerged at the end of the ‘10s as a project conceived by James Robledo, Chilean vocalist and producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Nasson (Chaos Magic). Robledo is renowned for always bringing a powerful and emotional performance rooted in the vein of heavy metal singers like Ronnie James Dio, Jorn Lande, and Russell Allen. He has also released two solo albums on Frontiers Music, Wanted Man in 2021 and Broken Soul in 2023.


Nasson is a Chilean producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist with over 15 years of work in the metal scene, collaborating with several world renowned artists. His most recent collaborations with Caterina Nix on the last two Chaos Magic releases and his solo record Scars (2022) received international acclaim and showcased the breadth of his talents.


Rounding out the lineup is bassist Nicolás Fischer, who has been performing for years as a singer and guitarist for a variety of progressive music acts.


Sinner’s Blood delivered their impressive debut album, The Mirror Star, in October 2020. Drawing influences from Symphony X, Primal Fear, Evergrey and early Masterplan, the band managed to create a truly fresh and exciting debut, a mixture of all of the band’s hard rock favourites with a touch of modern vertigo. The quartet supported the release with a Chilean tour, including shows with Symphony X and other renowned acts.


Their sophomore album Dark Horizons takes where the first album has left off, offering the listeners a massive and contemporary approach to melodic metal with strong songwriting and of course outstanding vocals from James Robledo.


Every song Nasson wrote for this album is a different beast and, with James’s voice, they are truly brought to life. With lyrics that are honest and emotional and superb production, Dark Horizons contains some of the most powerful songs ever crafted by Sinner’s Blood.





Dark Horizons tracklisting:


"Bound"
"Enemy"
"Not Enough"
"It Comes In The Dark"
"Dark Horizons"
"The Man, The Burden And The Sea"
"Victim Of The Will"
"Poison"
"The Voice Within"
"The Firestorm"
"Redemption Or Fire"


"Enemy" video:





Lineup:


James Robledo - Vocals
Nasson - Guitars, Vocals & programming
Nicolás Fischer - Bass & Vocals
Guillermo Pereira – Drums


(Photo - Claudio Poblete)







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-right

German thrashers Eradicator have released their new single "Beyond The Shadow's Void." The song is the third to be revealed from The Paradox, the band's forthcoming new studio album to be released on September 20th via Metalville Records. The official video for "Beyond The Shadow's Void" can be seen below.


"Beyond The Shadow's Void" is not only the third single from the new Eradicator album, The Paradox, but also the opening track of the thrashers' sixth long-player. The lines of the track were inspired by the reporting of significant misdemeanors by great artists and driven by the question of whether one can still consume the cherished art without hesitation. Long before Jon Schaffer of US metal pioneers Iced Earth was involved in the storming of the Capitol in January 2021 and Til Lindemann used his position of power to pressure women into sexual acts, the master of morbid horror stories Howard Phillips Lovecraft was already surrounded by obvious xenophobic and anti-Semitic tendencies. The lyrics deal with the moral challenge that a reflective consumer of the art in question must face in this case. The special thing about it is that the lyrics are inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writing style and choice of words. 







Eradicator begin the song with an atmospheric rain backdrop that introduces the melancholic clean-guitar intro. The brute walls of guitars shatter the calm, and the storm develops into a pounding headbanger. The anger with which the lyrics are spat at you drives the verses forward. The patience to experience the approaching chorus is rewarded with a catchy melody and twin guitars with earworm potential. Until the last note, "Beyond The Shadow's Void" builds up to a furious thrash metal thunderstorm.


The Kraken dethrones the master. For the illustration of this single cover, Bianca Rother used the depiction of the immortal monster god Cthulhu from Lovecraft's stories. The single, as well as the entire album, was mixed/mastered by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (Orden Ogan, Asphyx, Brainstorm) and produced together with Seba Stöber. 





The Paradox is undoubtedly the most versatile album by thrashers Eradicator. It will be released in the year of the band's 20th anniversary. The ten new songs deal lyrically with the contradictory nature of being human and present many musical facets, not only of thrash metal. 


The Paradox bears the signature of Eradicator and shows their unbroken joy of playing. The band has now also made a name for itself live. However, the four guys from the Sauerland region in Western Germany are not afraid to refine and develop their new compositions stylistically. On The Paradox, Eradicator begin atmospherically with "Beyond The Shadow's Void": The track develops into a pounding headbanger, only to finally erupt into a thrash thunderstorm. In addition to death metal growls, including in the title track, "The Eleventh Hour (Ramble On)" is the first half-ballad in the band's repertoire. However, Eradicator have by no means forgotten how to swing the thrash club, as they tirelessly prove with "Drown In Chaos", "Hell Smiles Back" and "Fake Dealer," among others. 


The lyrical themes on The Paradox reflect the dichotomy and ambivalence of human action and thought. "Perpetual Sacrifice" is about denigrating the weaker in order to make oneself feel greater and about the reversal between victim and perpetrator. "When The Shooting Begins" is about the paradox of wanting to create peace through war - whereby the truth is usually one of the first victims after the outcry of the weapons. The concluding "Debris Of Demise" is a fictional tale of mankind having to evacuate the planet due to environmental destruction, but the saving ark being unable to leave orbit due to the large amount of space debris. Singer / guitarist Seba Stöber comments: "We don't want to make a name for ourselves as moralizers, but rather reflect the issues and problems of our time. As artists, our task is also to stimulate a discourse!"


Like its predecessor, the album was mixed and mastered by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (Orden Ogan, Asphyx, Brainstorm), who once again managed to give Eradicator an authentic sound. After 20 years, the four musicians know what they want to sound like, and that's exactly what The Paradox sounds like. 





Tracklist:


"Beyond The Shadow's Void"
"Drown In Chaos"
"When The Shooting Begins"
"Kill Cloud"
"The Paradox"
"Hell Smiles Back"
"The Eleventh Hour (Ramble On)"
"Perpetual Sacrifice"
"Fake Dealer"
"Debris Of Demise"








For further details, visit Eradicator on Facebook.


 







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More

Italian metal titans Kryptonomicon have just unleashed their new music video for the track "Satanama". The song appears on the band's new album Daemonolatria, released on June 30, 2024, under the banner of Punishment 18 Records.


For fans of Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Venom, Kreator, and Slayer, Kryptonomicon’s latest offering promises an unrelenting assault of raw and aggressive metal that harks back to the golden era of the genre.







Led by Stefano Rumich on vocals and guitars, Frank on vocals and bass, and Randy on drums, Krytponomicon delivers a sound that is both obscure and atmospheric, blending the raw energy of early thrash, black, and death metal with their own unique edge. Daemonolatria is a 39-minute journey through ten tracks of pure sonic devastation, crafted to immerse listeners in an intense and evil auditory experience.


Stefano Rumich, the mastermind behind Krytponomicon, shares, "Our new album is very different from the previous one. Now we are a trio and have chosen to feature two vocalists, much like early Kreator. Both Frank and I bring distinct vocal styles, which has driven the songs to be faster and more aggressive. We believe our fans will appreciate this new direction."





Tracklisting:


"Satanama" 
"Between Five Candles" 
"The Emperor Rising" 
"The Spreading Wind Of Epidemic" 
"There’s No Life,There’s No Death" 
"Lord Of Flies" 
"The Sea Of Creeping Evil" 
"Blood For The Fire" 
"Necromantical Suicide" 
"Daemonolatria"


Cover artwork by Paolo Girardi. For further details, visit Kryptonomicon on Facebook.


 







window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-a',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails-feed',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails Feed',
target_type: 'mix'
});
















Featured Video







INFRARED - "Demon's Blood"




View More





window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'alternating-thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-right-rail-thumbnails',
placement: 'Right Rail Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});




Lates

In a new interview with John The Metal Mailman, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari was asked if there has been any talk of him and his bandmates working on new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, that's actually the plan. Right now everybody's gathering their own riff ideas, and then, at some point, we're gonna put them together and probably record in Nashville. And the plan is to get the next album done next year."

Asked if he has been writing riffs for possible new MEGADETH music, Teemu said: "I've got a bunch of stuff. What I do is I just pick up the guitar, I usually improvise and come up with ideas, then I record it on my phone, just the video. And I leave it there maybe for a week or two so I forget it. I wanna forget it, and then when I look back at it, then that maybe inspires me to look at the riff from a different perspective and maybe I get another idea from that. And then I record it down on my computer, laid out with the click track and do double-tracked guitars, and then save it in the folder of ideas. And what we've been talking about is that Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] often wants to work in this riff-based idea, not necessarily that everybody brings full songs, but you bring riffs and then we listen to them together and then we pick things that might go together well. And then that's how the songs start to actually form."

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

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

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

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

Asked if that means that he and Teemu have started writing new material together yet, Mustaine replied: "Well, we've been we've been dissecting songs, which is kind of writing in reverse."

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

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

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

Asked if he saw any signs that Kiko would leave MEGADETH permanently or if it came as a surprise to him, Dave said: "Well, it wasn't really a surprise, because it started to become clear that his family was gonna need him. And I'm a dad too, so I saw it and I knew that his wife and babies all needed their daddy. And Kiko is a good husband, he's a good dad, and he needed to do what was right for him and for his family. And I applaud him for doing what he did. A lot of people would not have the guts to walk away from being a rock and roll star to take care of their kids. They would somehow sacrifice something, and it probably would not be their family."

This past May, Teemu told Italy's Poisoned Rock webzine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I definitely was aware of MEGADETH for a very long time. They were one of the first bands that I got into when I discovered metal. I think, for most people, at least my generation or our generation, when they get into metal, it's usually the biggest bands, and MEGADETH, of course, being one of them."

Regarding his first show with MEGADETH, which took place on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mäntysaari said: "That was a very nice venue. We had a day there before, before the show, for production rehearsals, to rehearse on stage, and then on the next day we had the show. So that was nice and relaxed. I think we played through the whole setlist once before the show, the day before, and then played the show. And yeah, it felt very good from the beginning. And I felt like I was prepared. I was confident with my skills and confident with everything. The guys were so helpful and welcoming and, yeah, everything felt to kind of click and fall in the right place. So, it was really nice."

Earlier this year, Teemu told Guitar World magazine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I never thought something like this would happen to me. But at the same time, I've always felt like being prepared was important in case a big band like this did call me."

"I have a specific skillset where I can learn fast, jump into new situations, and be comfortable," Mäntysaari told Guitar World. "I've always liked doing that. I love teaching, and I've been on many cover projects, so being detail-oriented is part of my skillset."

Regarding his preparation for the way he approached playing the MEGADETH material, Teemu said: "[We'd] look at the small details of how they groove, the moods, and the technical side. We talked a lot about what Dave [Mustaine] wants to project, picking directions, being very aware of down-picking, alternate picking, and, in many of the songs, being aware of both. We also talked about things like dampening, the flow of songs, creating contrast, hand positions, and trying to get things right fingering-wise, all of which I enjoy doing. There's a bit of detective work involved, and to get that information from the source in Dave was amazing."

This past February, Mustaine told Brazil's A Rádio Rock about how Teemu ended up landing the MEGADETH gig: "Kiko had recommended Teemu, and Teemu is an exceptional guitar player. Kiko was at the top of his game when this happened, so we were obviously disappointed, but it is what it is. If Kiko would have said, 'I don't know anybody, and you're on your own,' that would have been a lot harder. But Teemu is the right guy for MEGADETH. And Kiko knows that Teemu is the right guy for me. So, he actually did us a really big favor, and I love him and I wish him the best with everything that he does."

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

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

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Broderick's exit from the group.