During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Rock And Roll Geek Show" podcast, which is hosted by former EXODUS bassist Michael Butler, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt opened up about the recent departure of singer Steve "Zetro" Souza. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " People ask [why we fired Zetro] — everybody wants to know because we've chosen not to tell anybody. All I ever tell people is, marriages don't often work. And just 'cause you saw a married couple out in public that seemed happy, you don't know what's going on at home. I don't know if the wife's throwing frying pans at his head or he's fucking drunk out of his ass, fucking screaming at him and slapping the kids. You don't know. Just 'cause they go out in public and they put on a happy face.

"We've got nothing but respect for Zetro, and we've got love [for him] and I'm honored to have made some great music [with him]. But I'm also 60 years old, and the five of us need to be on the same page. And now we are."

After Butler suggested that musicians sometimes have different personalities and "people can get on your nerves sometimes", Holt clarified: "It's not even a matter of [anything] like that because we all get on each other's nerves. It's just as you get older, this job, either you still love it or it becomes incredibly difficult… For me, [it's] fucking not [difficult] at all. And so, for whatever our reasons, four guys had a reason to do what we did."

Asked if he personally called Zetro to tell the singer he was fired, Gary responded: "I don't really wanna go into all that. [Laughs] There's no hate involved. It's just the fucking marriage didn't work. Sometimes you get along with your ex. Sometimes you don't hate your ex; you just can't be married to them anymore… Sometimes the wife still likes him and he's a good father, but God, what a fucking crappy husband. Or what a bad life. But she was good with the kids and she's a member of the PTA. Who fucking knows?

"What's funny is online people are coming up with their conspiracy theories [about why Zetro was fired]," he continued. "It's like Pizzagate. It's fucking crazy. Like that it had something to do with that he just got married. Like, 'Rob Dukes got married right when he got fired, and Zetro got married [before he got fired]. Hmm. Pattern?' Dude, I've got grandkids. Like I fucking have a problem with my singer being married. Fucking stupid. I had one guy, when it happened, he got on my Instagram and he broke down his timeline of how we treat singers. Well, the first thing he said was, 'Gary Holt's just all about the money.' And if you fucking think parting ways with your singer is a fucking path to financial security, you're fucking high. What the fuck's wrong with you? And then he broke down his whole timeline. And I politely corrected his timeline for him. I don't respond to fucking people — I ain't got time for — but the guy goes, 'Band hires Paul [Baloff]. Fires Paul.' True. Paul was fired. Paul's life was a mess. In hindsight, we later became just as big a mess as he ever was. And then he said, 'Band hires singer, Steve Souza.' And he goes, 'Band fires Steve Souza.' No, we broke up [after] 'Force Of Habit'. He goes, 'Band rehires Paul Baloff. Band fires Paul Baloff.' I'm, like, 'He fucking died. We didn't fire him. He died.' And then he said, 'Band hires Steve Souza. Band fires Steve Souza.' No, he quit… In his eyes, we fired the dead guy. And I was, like, 'Just fuck off,' you know?, I politely said, 'Hey, buddy, let me correct your timeline for you.' I didn't go, 'Fuck you, dude.' I just said, 'Let me fix your timeline.'

"People are dumb," Holt added. "And I don't like to be mean to people. I've done stupid shit myself. But people fucking create whatever theories they can come up with in their little brains."

Regarding why he and his EXODUS bandmates decided to bring singer Rob Dukes back to the group, Gary said: "I'm 60 years old. The idea of getting an unfamiliar person in the band would not be an option… I think we all reached out when we became apparent. And sure, I could have found some 30-year-old dude who could still jump off a drum riser and has washboard abs and is not all fat like the rest of us. But I need someone who's close to my own age. I'm too old to have to like fucking educate some young kid on music that I like."

Holt also talked about the progress of the recording sessions for EXODUS's follow-up to 2021's "Persona Non Grata" album. He said: "Personally, I have two more songs of rhythm guitars to do. Lee [Altus, EXODUS guitarist] still has some. We're literally racing, trying to record two albums at once. Even if we don't finish it, we'll have the second album close to ready. Maybe we'll have to do some solos or vocals later, but we won't have to do this whole process again. Now I'm thinking, like, all right, we're gonna finish the album, get the guitars and drums done for album two. And then when it's time to think about releasing the album, we don't have to do this whole process again. Even before then, when we have a break, we can go and finish this stuff so that when we normally would start recording an album, maybe I can finally go on a vacation. I never had one."

When asked if all the songs are written for both albums, Holt said: "Yeah. Yeah. We've got a couple more to finish, but we write and record through the whole process. We don't stop. [Drummer Tom Hunting and I are writing it, along with] Lee. Lee's writing a whole lot of stuff for this record.

"A lot of bands, they go in, the record's done, they do the drums, and the drums go away. And now we're on the guitar stuff. But we don't do that anymore," Gary explained. "We leave the drums up the whole time so we could write the whole time. Because sometimes our best stuff happens at the end. I just finished a new [song] yesterday. It's just the most furious thing in the world. It's fucking insane. This shit is fucking heavy. The one I wrote yesterday, Lee heard my little demo and he asked if I started icing my wrist down yet. It's fucking heavy. But there's some really great songs on it. It's not just heavy. Right now I think we're at 18 songs, with two more to finish. That's two albums.

"I look at it like this: I'm getting older," Holt added. "And you start worrying about shit like mortality and if I fucking died. Between this album and the next one, there's Gary Holt's final fucking release and put some money and earn some royalties for my grandkids and my kids and my wife, because, of course, your albums sell better when you're dead."

Souza joined EXODUS in 1986 after previously fronting the band LEGACY (which later became TESTAMENT). He remained in the band until their hiatus in 1993, but rejoined them for two years from 2002 to 2004. Dukes had joined EXODUS in 2005 (following Souza's departure) and remained until 2014, when Souza rejoined.

When EXODUS announced Souza's latest departure on January 15, the band wrote in a statement: "We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.

"And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he's looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.

"Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue."

Dukes joined EXODUS in January 2005 and appeared on four of the band's studio albums — "Shovel Headed Kill Machine" (2005),"The Atrocity Exhibition... Exhibit A" (2007),"Let There Be Blood" (2008, a re-recording of EXODUS's classic 1985 LP, "Bonded By Blood") and "Exhibit B: The Human Condition" (2010).

Although EXODUS rarely gets mentioned alongside the so-called "Big Four" of 1980s thrash metal — METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX — the band's debut album, "Bonded By Blood", inspired the likes of TESTAMENT, DEATH ANGEL, VIO-LENCE and many others to launch their careers and is considered one of the most influential thrash metal LPs of all time.

In a recent interview with Germany's Metal Hammer magazine, guitarist Andreas Kisser spoke about SEPULTURA's plans for the remainder of the Brazilian band's farewell tour, which launched in early 2024. Asked where the final SEPULTURA concert will take place, Andreas said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We are planning to do a very big show in São Paulo, Brazil, or in [SEPULTURA's original hometown of] Belo Horizonte. We're still balancing these ideas. But at the end of 2026, we'd like to do this last show. We'd like to stretch [out the tour]. There's no reason for us to stop in a hurry just because we announced [the] last [tour] two years ago or so. We had a great time last year. This year is already looking great…. We're doing Lollapalooza in South America — Brazil, Argentina and Chile. We have a few shows in Central America, a few festivals this year in Europe, a few special concerts. In 2026 we'd like to do all the big festivals and finish in Brazil."

Regarding what the farewell tour has been like so far, Andreas said:  "It's amazing. And it's great to feel and to see that SEPULTURA is important in so many people's lives. A lot of people are very emotional coming to the shows, remembering the first show or the first shirt, the first song they ever heard. Some people that met their wives in a SEPULTURA concert, they got married, they bring their kids. It's amazing.

"Heavy metal, it's a big family, not only the SEPULTURA fans, but all the metal community," he continued. "It's a big family. And it's great to see that a lot of people that never seen SEPULTURA before are coming to see SEPULTURA for the first time, which is great. And not only young people — people that are following SEPULTURA for so many years, they've never seen SEPULTURA live, and now that we say this is the last [tour we will do], they are leaving their houses to come to see us. So it's great. We're having the best times. And everything is the way it's supposed to be, the way we planned — to celebrate. It's not a sad or melancholic situation. We feel great. We are having the best time of our lives and celebrating. It's a very thankful feeling for our fans."

Less than two months ago, Kisser was asked by Reality Check TV about the possibility of reuniting with original SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera and drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera for a final show to cap off the band's ongoing farewell tour. He said: "I hope so. The idea is to do a very last show [in 2026] in São Paulo, Brazil, where we have all the guests, friends to celebrate our history."

He continued: "There's no reason to be fighting. We just go on stage, enjoy ourselves. We know how to play the songs. It's gonna be a party for the fans. Forty years of history, it's a lot — many albums, many different changes and different styles of music. And it's gonna be an amazing party — I hope so — and hopefully everybody will be a part [of it]."

SEPULTURA kicked off the North American leg of the massive "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour on September 17, 2024 at the Concord Music Hall in Chicago, Illinois. The band played a career-spanning set that honors SEPULTURA's 40 years of existence. Joining SEPULTURA on this tour were Florida-based death metal veterans OBITUARY, iconic New York hardcore pioneers AGNOSTIC FRONT, and São Paulo, Brazil's death/thrash metallers CLAUSTROFOBIA.

SEPULTURA is putting together a live album commemorating their last run of shows. The band is recording 40 songs in 40 different cities for what will be a "massive compilation of our best, most energetic moments on stage," according to a statement released by SEPULTURA in December 2023.

Asked in a new interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion if SEPULTURA's final show will also be included in the package, Andreas said: "Who knows? Everything is possible. We did three big shows in São Paulo [Brazil] before we went to the States. And we recorded the whole show — the cameras, DVD and stuff. Of course, this stuff that we're recording for the live album is audio only. And we are planning to have the last farewell show in São Paulo in 2026, so we like to go places, we like to visit places that we've never been before. We like to do our goodbye in a relaxed mood — no hurry. There's no reason really to rush anything. We are enjoying the moment so much. We are celebrating the momentum. It's fantastic. It's amazing. So it's something that is gonna be on the recording as well, this great vibe, the connection we have with the crowd and stuff. But, yeah, everything is possible. I mean, of course, the last show, [it] would be great to have a register. We like to invite all the ex-members, including the brothers, Cavalera brothers. Let's see what happens. We're working towards that, to have a big celebration for the fans."

Acknowledging the fact that SEPULTURA had an acrimonious split with Max Cavalera nearly 30 years ago, Andreas said: "We don't care who is right or wrong. We're never gonna get to that point. [Laughs] We have different point of views and different perspectives about same historical events and stuff. So let's jam, let's have a good time for the fans, for us, for ourselves, and really close this amazing 43 years or 44, whatever it's gonna be at the time, in peace with ourselves, and really reach for something different afterwards. At least in my point of view, I like to, of course, continue with music and everything, but maybe do something different. Who knows?"

In a recent interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Kisser and vocalist Derrick Green were asked about their plans for after the completion of the farewell tour. Andreas said: "I don't know, and it feels great. I want to study acoustic guitar, and to create instructional material on the SEPULTURA music. I've done small things here and there, but not a complete overview of my guitar playing and writing. I will decide when the time comes, but right now it is time to celebrate the moment."

Derrick added: "I want to do a lot more with the TV show I'm working on, 'Highway To Health'. I've also been interested in doing voiceover work in animation or commercials. Musically, I'd like to do something outside of metal with more singing, but if somebody approaches with something I think is intriguing, I'm definitely open to that, because I never want to step away from music."

Asked if Andreas and Derrick will still work together in the future, Kisser quipped: "Nah. We only talk to each other by contract. When the contract is done, we're done. [Laughs] No, of course there are a lot of possibilities. I would love to work with Derrick outside of SEPULTURA. We have the idea for a reggae project on the cards, which we have a great name for. The comfort zone is the worst thing that can happen to an artist. It would be boring to stop SEPULTURA and do something else that is SEPULTURA-like."

SEPULTURA kicked off its farewell tour on March 1, 2024 at Arena Hall in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The sold-out show marked the band's debut performance with drummer Greyson Nekrutman, who previously played with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES.

SEPULTURA announced drummer Eloy Casagrande's departure on February 27, 2024, explaining in a statement that he was leaving to join "another project", with Eloy later confirming that he is the new drummer of SLIPKNOT.

The news of Eloy's exit from SEPULTURA came just two months after the band announced it would celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2024 by embarking on a "farewell tour" which will cover the entire globe.

In SEPULTURA's statement, the remaining bandmembers expressed their shock over Casagrande's departure, saying they were "taken by surprise" that their now-former drummer would "abandon everything related to SEPULTURA" less than a month prior to the start of the tour.

Photo credit: Edu Defferrari

EVANESCENCE has released a brand-new song, "Afterlife", co-written by critically acclaimed producer, songwriter and musician Alex Seaver, professionally known as Mako, and EVANESCENCE's Amy Lee and co-produced by Nick Raskulinecz and Seaver.

"Afterlife" will be released by Netflix where an alternate version will appear multiple times in the upcoming adult animated urban fantasy action television series "Devil May Cry". The song will be available on all audio streaming services at midnight and the soundtrack album for the series will be released on April 3.

In this animated adaptation of the popular Capcom game and from the vision of Adi Shankar, sinister forces are at play to open the portal between the human and demon realms. In the middle of it all is Dante, an orphaned demon-hunter-for-hire, unaware that the fate of both worlds hangs around his neck.

In a recent interview with Audacy Music, Lee stated about how "Afterlife" came together: "Netflix, via Mako, who is a guy that did score work on this series, 'Devil May Cry', had this song started and reached out to me and was, like, 'Hey, we'd worked together once before on a Lindsey Stirling track during the pandemic.' So, I made vocals to it, and we were kind of just communicating via e-mail. I still haven't met the guy in person. But he was, like, 'Hey, check it out. Would this be cool? Would you sing on this?' And that just snowballed into finishing the song together and then getting it, like, 'This is an EVANESCENCE song. Let's get the band in here. And let's just take this all the way.' And us getting to go into the studio with [producer] Nick Raskulinecz, who we did our last two albums with and love working with him. He is right here in Nashville, so it's fun and easy for me and I could just keep going over there and annoying him. And it kind of just happened, kind of fast."

Lee went on to say that she and her EVANESCENCE bandmates are "very excited to have new music. This is the first of many [new tracks]. We are working on a lot of songs right now for the new album, but this came up through Netflix, and we were just really excited to have an excuse to get in there right away."

Asked if there is a new EVANESCENCE album in the works, Amy said: "Yeah. I don't have a date for you. We are just working. We got off the road in November or something, and we've been just creative.

"When we book shows and we happen to have time in between that makes sense, like we have a show on a Saturday and we have another show, but it's not till the next Thursday 'cause it's festivals or whatever, it's, like, 'Hey, let's stick around, get an Airbnb and get some instruments together and see who's got an idea.' So we were doing some of that, and that can be fun and productive," she explained. "We got some cool locations out of it. We did one in Italy. But really spending the time in the studio, me just focusing and us taking the time to turn some of those ideas into real songs has been happening since. So, we've got a lot cooking, lot cooking. I don't have a date for you, but there'll be more and more and more music coming out."

Delivering a number of dynamic rock hits over the last two decades, EVANESCENCE recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of its landmark debut album, "Fallen", originally released in 2003. They recognized the milestone with a special anniversary edition of the smash album, which spawned gigantic rock hits like "Bring Me To Life", "Going Under" and "My Immortal", kickstarting a thriving career they're still carrying out today.

To date, EVANESCENCE has released a total of five studio albums, including the multi-platinum "The Open Door" (2004) and "Evanescence" (2011),both of which topped the Billboard 200. In 2021, the band thrilled fans with their first album of new material in a decade, "The Bitter Truth". Now 20 years on, EVANESCENCE continues to scale new heights. Featuring a lineup of Amy Lee (vocals, keyboards),Tim McCord (guitar/bass),Will Hunt (drums),Troy McLawhorn (guitars) and Emma Anzai (bass, backing vocals),the band continues to travel the globe, staging some of the most successful shows of their career, having wrapped a run of sold-out shows in Latin America, including Allianz Parque, a soccer stadium in Sāo Paulo, Brazil, which was the biggest headline show of EVANESCENCE's career to date, drawing 40,000 fans.

Shortly following its release in March 2021, "The Bitter Truth" rose to the top of the iTunes Album charts in 22 countries and also landed the top spot on Billboard's Top Hard Rock Albums chart.

EVANESCENCE first topped the Hard Rock Albums chart in October 2011 with its self-titled effort. The album stayed atop the list for three weeks.

"The Bitter Truth" was recorded during the pandemic and confronted the dark realities of the world head-on. Yet its resounding message was one of light: pushing through is better than giving up.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li has confirmed that there are tentative plans for him and his bandmates to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their third and most commercially successful album, "Inhuman Rampage", by performing the LP in its entirety on a 2026 tour.

During a March 18 livestream on YouTube, Li said about the prospect of playing "Inhuman Rampage" from beginning to the end (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Why is it good? Well, first we've gotta play 'Through The Fire And Flames' not last. That would be a great change. And I do like those songs. I think they're great songs. I'd love to play some of them again. Of course, we played 'Revolution Deathsquad' recently. We've been playing… Oh, shit. That's right. 'Cry For Eternity' will be on it. Is 'Cry For Eternity' on that album? Yes. Well, that's the bad thing. I've gotta learn that song finally — I've gotta shut up and learn it. But 'Operation Ground And Pound', we played that song, we played 'Body Breakdown', we played all those songs before. So it shouldn't be too hard to learn mainly, and it would be kind of cool."

Li also revealed that he would welcome the return of the "Inhuman Rampage" touring lineup for a 2026 tour celebrating the LP's 20th anniversary. Herman said: "I'll ask the people that were part of that tour lineup to see if they would do it too. So we will see what result I'll get. But I have started asking people to see if they wanna be part of it."

He explained: "Life has changed for a lot of people that was once on that tour lineup. So, we'll see what happens. But I'm telling you, I will ask them, I will talk to them. If this doesn't happen with them, it's not my fault. I have asked them. So, that's the plan."

Li added: "So we're still in the early stage of planning. We'll see if we can get a tour for that too."

Herman then asked the people viewing his livestream if they would rather get a new DRAGONFORCE album in 2026 or if they would prefer to see the "Inhuman Rampage" 20th-anniversary tour. After glancing over the results of his "non-technical survey", Li said: "This is interesting. I'm putting this in my mind. I'm calculating what this all means." He added: "Well, from what it seems from the chat right now in my mind is you guys don't give a fuck about us making any more new songs. That's right. I'm just kidding. I'm just kidding. But it seems like a lot of people wanna see 'Inhuman Rampage' being played from beginning to the end."

Regarding the possibility of "Inhuman Rampage" vocalist ZP "Zippy" Theart taking part in the 20th-anniversary tour, Herman said: "We will ask Zippy to see if he wants to be part of it. That's all I can say. What's the probability of him being on that tour, that he would like to do it? Mm, I don't know. We'll find out. Like I said, people's lives change — one minute they wanna do it, one minute they don't wanna do it. I don't know. Maybe they wanna do it again. Maybe next they don't wanna do it. But we'll see. If not, we've gotta find a way to do it."

Back in July 2017, "Inhuman Rampage", which came out in 2006 via Roadrunner, was officially certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

"Inhuman Rampage" sold almost 10,000 copies in its first week of release to land at position No. 103 on the Billboard 200 chart. A song from the LP, the aforementioned "Through The Fire And Flames", received rock radio and Fuse TV airplay and was featured as a playable track (along with "Heroes Of Our Time") on the videogame "Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock". The platinum-selling single brought the Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim.

In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.

Earlier this month, "Through The Fire And Flames" was released as a Jam Track in the video game Fortnite, available to players participating in the game's new "Spring Raid" event.

"Inhuman Rampage" was the second to last album to feature Theart, who exited the band in 2010 and was replaced by Marc Hudson.

Only Li and fellow DRAGONFORCE guitarist Sam Totman remain from the "Inhuman Rampage" recording lineup. They are joined in group's current formation by Hudson, drummer Gee Anzalone and bassist Alicia Vigil.

DRAGONFORCE's latest album, "Warp Speed Warriors", was released in March 2024 via Napalm Records.

"Warp Speed Warriors" was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Totman and Li.

Upcoming DRAGONFORCE shows:

Apr. 10 - CN, Shanghai - Bandai Namco Shanghai Base Dream Hall
Apr. 12 - CN, Jinan - YOMA Spring World Festival
Jun. 6 - SE, Sölvesborg - Sweden Rock Festival
Jun. 8 - DE, Dortmund - FZW
Jun. 10 - FR, Toulouse - Zenith*
Jun. 11 - FR, Lyon - Halle Tony Garnier*
Jun. 13 - SK, Presov - Dobry Festival
Jun. 14 - AT, Nickelsdorf - Nova Rock Festival
Jun. 16 - FR, Meisenthal - La Boite Noire
Jun. 17 - FR, Lille - Zenith*
Jun. 18 - DE, Bremen - Modernes
Jun. 20 - DE, Rostock - Stadthalle*
Jun. 21 - BE, Dessel - Graspop Metal Meeting
Jun. 22 - SE, Huskvarna - Folkets Park *^
Jun. 24 - SE, Uppsala - Fyrishov *^
Jun. 27 - FI, Helsinki - Tuska Festival
Jun. 30 - PL, Lodz - Atlas Arena *~
Jul. 2 - HR, Zagreb - Tvornica
Jul. 3 - HU, Dunaujvaros - Rockmaraton
Jul. 5 - DE, Ballenstedt - Rockharz Festival
Jul. 6 - NL, Utrecht - Tivoli Ronda
Jul. 9 - DE, Nurnberg - Hirsch
Jul. 10 - CZ, Vizovice - Masters of Rock Festival
Jul. 11 - DE, Balingen - RV Bang Festival
Sep. 19 - USA, Louisville, KY - Louder Than Life Festival
Oct. 4 - USA, Sacramento, CA - Aftershock Festival

* With POWERWOLF
^ With AMARANTHE
~ With EPICA

California rockers PAPA ROACH have released a music video for a "reimagined" version of their first single in three years, "Even If It Kills Me", directed by Jesse Davey and Ed Shires.

In a recent interview with the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about the lyrical inspiration for "Even If It Kills Me", which was released in late January via the group's own label New Noize Records/ADA. He said: "This one was started about two years ago, the music part of it, and I heard it first from the first musical just vibe with the strings. I was, like, 'It sounds cinematic. This sounds like it's about to be a journey we're taking the fans on.' So I hit the boys up instantly. I'm, like, 'Dude, I can't wait to get in the studio on this one.' Then life happens, and some stuff goes down. My older son went through this really traumatic heartbreak breakup. Just his whole world was leveled, and I watched my son just crumble. And that was a tough one. But to also have to go, 'Hey, man, there's some hard truths about life, and sometimes people aren't what they show themselves as, and there's two sides to people sometimes. And you got one, and then eventually discovered that other dark side of them and you were hurt.' And that was really hard for me to watch my son just fall to pieces. And that song was born from that moment of going, 'I wanna be able to help you, but I also know that you kind of gotta walk through the fire.' And knowing that, 'I'm not gonna leave you. I'm here for you, but I'm also gonna stand in that fire with you.' And I wanted to shoulder the pain. I wish I could, but sometimes we have to go through those moments in life that build character. Who are you? Can you get back up? Well, my son got back up."

PAPA ROACH recently completed the European leg of the "Rise Of The Roach" tour. The trek saw PAPA ROACH bring its biggest-ever production and journey deep through their vast music catalogue, including a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the band's iconic breakthrough album "Infest". Special guests for the global tour were WAGE WAR in Europe and will include RISE AGAINST and UNDEROATH in the U.S.

In a separate interview with Germany's Rock Antenne, Shaddix was asked if fans can expect to see a new studio album from him and his PAPA ROACH bandmates in 2025. He responded: "Definitely. At some point [in 2025], there will be a new record. Probably not — it won't be till the end of the year at the soonest. But we're really proud of the stuff that we've done. And I think the fans will be surprised. The fans that are coming to the shows are gonna be surprised at what we're doing too. And so it's gonna be a good time.

"As we evolve the music and push things forward, you never know what's gonna happen in the studio," he added. "And I've gotta tell you, what happened in the studio this time around has been just exciting.

"We've had a really good run with our [last] album, [2022's] 'Ego Trip', and a lot of successes, especially here in America as well, as well as Germany, we've had some great successes on that record, and it's just been one of those records that our fanbase has been really excited about. And so we're taking that momentum and going back into the studio and creating again, it's been a really good feeling."

PAPA ROACH are two-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling leaders in alternative hard rock music. PAPA ROACH are not unfamiliar with calling attention to mental health and have been doing so since the seminal release of their first hit single "Last Resort". Since then, the band has gone on to create 10 studio albums, their most recent, "Ego Trip", on their own label New Noize Records.

Photo credit: Bryson Roatch

Multi-platinum rock band CHEVELLE is back with its first new music in four years.

Today, the band has dropped the video for the new single "Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)".

It's a gnarly, riffy rager with more hooks than a tackle box and alternately snarling and melodic vocals. Push and pull tension define the song, which leads to thrilling, dissonant breakdown at the end of the song. Put simply, it was worth the wait.

Watch the accompanying visualizer below.

CHEVELLE says: "How about we all put on our tinfoil hats, slam a Dunkies, and go deep doomscrolling. If that sounds like your sorta thing, we've got a new song for you called 'Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)'. Enjoy."

Earlier this week CHEVELLE announced its return to the stage with special guests ASKING ALEXANDRIA and DEAD POET SOCIETY. Produced by Live Nation, the 38-city tour kicks off on August 7 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, making stops across North America in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and more before wrapping up in Airway Heights, Washington at BECU Live at Northern Quest on October 2.

During an appearance on a December 2024 episode of the "Anti-Heroes With Zach Blair" podcast, CHEVELLE frontman and main songwriter Pete Loeffler spoke about the status of the band's new studio album, which is tentatively due later in 2025. The follow-up to 2021's "Niratias" will mark CHEVELLE's first release through Alchemy Recordings following a long run with the Epic label. Alchemy Recordings is a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States.

Pete said: "We don't know when [the new CHEVELLE album will be released], but we're hoping to get a single out there real soon, in the next month. So, if everybody in our team sort of agrees on which one that is."

Pete went on to say that CHEVELLE is "actually in the process of talking to managers again." He explained: "We don't have management at the moment. We've just been rolling, dude, since '21. We just let everybody go. I mean, we have all the other team members — agents — and we just started interviewing some management. And that's hopefully going to be a good thing. We'll see about that."

Last July, CHEVELLE drummer — and Pete's brother — Sam Loeffler told TribLive.com about the band's next LP: "We kind of did expect to have it done [already]. It's like pulling teeth. This is what I described: Writing an album and doing all that is like pulling your hair out and then trying to put it back in. Writers love having written, is what I learned. It's just torturous on my brother. It's torturous because there's just so many factors to making something great. And then the longer you can live with it, the more changes you're gonna make. So that makes you never want to put it out. You never want to pull the pin and throw the grenade because you're like, well, it gets better every time I look at it."

As for what the 10-song album — which was produced by the CHEVELLE members themselves — sounds like, Sam said: We're always skewing towards heavy. [But] these [last] two songs that we've been working on right now are definitely different from everything we did, although 'Niratias', our last album, I think was a really important snapshot of what we've been learning about writing and about music and stuff. This one definitely sounds different than just rock music, definitely different."

Back in 2022, Sam told Knotfest's Cori Westbrook about CHEVELLE's songwriting process: "Well, Pete's our songwriter so he's our lyricist and everything. Basically, he just writes about what's going on around him. If he's taking the garbage out that night or has a bad day driving, he's watching a documentary that really affected him, he hears a podcast — so he's writing about those kinds of things. So if you're able to internalize that kind of a thing, I think you have a lot to write about. It doesn't just have to be a relationship that — a relationship with your dad or your significant other. I think those are some pretty powerful feelings — I get it — but if you are able to bring in all those other things in from your everyday life, there's a lot more to write about. So as far as inspiration goes, it's not hard to find; it's everywhere; it's all around you. And especially nowadays, we have so much access to what's going on around us that there's even more ideas to pull from."

In a separate interview with Heavy New York, Sam said that he and Pete had "a whole bunch of music written... Because that's what we do — you put music out, you write… It'll be our first record in a long time not with a major label, which is just neither here nor there," he added. "Epic Records did a lot of good stuff; we were with them for a long time, but we're finished with that contract now. So now we're doing something different. And we'll see how different it is."

Released in March 2021 via Epic Records, "Niratias" was recorded throughout 2019 and 2020 with longtime producer Joe Barresi (AVENGED SEVENFOLD, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE). The album artwork was designed by Boris Vallejo — the famed and award-winning artist is responsible for the posters used for films like "Knightriders" and "National Lampoon's Vacation", as well as iconic '70s and '80s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal).

Over the course of its career, the Chicago rockers have generated nearly half a billion streams, notched seven No. 1 hits, and sold out shows worldwide. Their catalog spans the double-platinum "Wonder What's Next", which boasts the double-platinum smash "The Red" and the platinum hit "Send The Pain Below". "This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" attained platinum status, while "Vena Sera" was certified gold. CHEVELLE has landed four Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, including "Sci-Fi Crimes" (2009),"Hats Off To The Bull" (2011),"La Gárgola" (2014) and "The North Corridor" (2016). The latter two each captured the No. 1 slot on the Top Rock Albums chart.

In a new interview with Chile's PowerOfMetal.cl, vocalist Todd La Torre was asked what he thinks his "biggest contribution" has been to the evolution of QUEENSRŸCHE since he joined the band in 2012. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the key word you said there was 'evolution' because I was gonna say I think I've brought back a lot of the vocal acrobatics that were missing for a long time. As far as the evolution of the band, I don't know how to answer that other than the fact that the band is free to write as heavy a music as they want or not. There was a long period of time where heavy ideas were being stifled and were not being accepted. And so when I got into the band, I think that the chains were taken off and these guys felt like they could write whatever they wanna write without being told it's too heavy, which I think is, again, contributing to that evolution. But I don't know how I've contributed to the evolution other than just embracing the old catalog and performing those songs in standard tunings, like the records go, and really embracing the [debut QUEENSRŸCHE] EP record and performing it, or the entire album 'The Warning', things like that — playing all these songs that fans love to hear that they haven't heard in a long time."

Regarding what fans can expect from QUEENSRŸCHE in the coming months, Todd said: " Same as we've been doing for the last 13 years. We write records, so we're working on a new record now, and then we'll go tour on it. It's just kind of way the nature of the beast is. We tour year round and try to find pockets of time to write new music and then record it and put it out and promote it and do videos, that kind of thing. So same thing that we've been doing. We're just working on the next record now."

Last August, La Torre told Canada's The Metal Voice that he has been embraced as the singer of QUEENSRŸCHE by most of the band's fans, more than a decade after he joined the group as the replacement for original frontman Geoff Tate.

"Look, any time you have a singer change in a band, especially one where the singer was a huge part of that sound, you're gonna have people that, right off the bat, they're just gonna be very skeptical," Todd explained. "They're not gonna like it. It bothers their feelings because they have all these memories with that band, with that singer, with those songs and that voice. And I totally get it. And yeah, there's times where we play shows and some guy's got his arms crossed, like 'Impress me, bro' kinda look. Like, shitty-looking attitudes. And I'll look right at 'em and I'll go, 'Smile dude. We're having a good time.' And they won't even smile at me back. And then, a couple songs later, I'll reach out like that to fist bump them, and they'll do it — nine times out of ten they'll do it. And they see, like, 'Hey, this guy's all right.' Their guard is down a little more and they're a little more receptive to just listening to the vocal on its own merit.

"Let's say that I had a recording of the original singer's voice pumping through the P.A. and I was faking it to his voice. People would still say, 'Ugh, he sucks,'" La Torre continued. "It's, like, you're literally hearing the original guy. I would love to do that as a test one day as a spoof, but I wouldn't. And then after a while, people are, like, 'All right. That was really good.'

"I'm never gonna be the original guy, and that's okay," Todd said. "I told that to Geoff when I saw him in Spain [in 2017 when Tate had a chance encounter with his former bandmates at a festival]. We talked, and I told him what I told him. I said, 'Yeah, I can hit the high notes, but you're the original guy. You recorded some of the best records ever. I don't care if you ever sing another high note again. You don't have anything to prove as far as I'm concerned.' But it's everybody else that tries to compare and pit people against each other. And he said I sounded amazing. So to the people that wanna say I don't, your boy is saying I sound really good. And at the end of the day, man, I know when I sing well, and I know when I have a bad night or an off night.

"There are people, a lot of times, that say, 'Hey, I owe you an apology.' I don't even know who they are," La Torre added. "'I said some really horrible things about you. And I didn't wanna like you, but you won me over, and I'm a fan now.' Awesome. And those people will champion you 10 times harder because they were, like, 'Oh, I didn't like him either, but you've gotta listen to this,' or, 'You haven't heard what he did with that,' or whatever. And let's be honest, we play everything in the standard tuning. Some people say, 'Oh, he can't hit those notes.' Yeah, I can. I do it every night."

Asked to explain what it means when he says that QUEENSRŸCHE plays all of its songs in "the standard tuning", Todd said: "Most guitars are just, you strum and they're just E — standard tuning… And listen, back then, '80s and rock was very much always in E — maybe E flat where you downtune it a half step. And singers that struggle a lot of times will say, 'Hey, we're gonna need to tune this one down.' So the song, all the music gets tuned down. You tune the music, the key, the instruments down a little. And then when you play those same chords, you play the guitar the same way, but it's just a little bit in a lower key, and so it makes it easier for a lot of singers to sing those songs still, just not in the standard tuning that they were originally recorded… There's nothing wrong with that, if that's what you have to do to to make it work. What's not cool is when you act like you didn't do it, and there are singers that do that, or it's frustrating when people will say, 'Oh,' whatever band it is, 'that guy's still hitting the notes like the record.' And they don't realize that, no, he's not. It's tuned down. It's not the same. And you can compare 'em — you can 'A-B' 'em and listen. You think he's killing these high notes. He's not. He's singing lower note that still sound good, but let's make no mistake. It's not how it was recorded. And again, that's fine. There might be a point in my life where, yeah, I can't do that. But you can still sing it really, really well. At [51] years old, I still — when I feel good and I'm not ill and tired and everything — I can sing all the QUEENSRŸCHE stuff in standard tuning and it's fine. It's not a big deal."

QUEENSRŸCHE's sixteenth studio album, "Digital Noise Alliance", came out in October 2022 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and 2019's "The Verdict" LPs.

Guitarist Mike Stone, who rejoined QUEENSRŸCHE in 2021, contributed guitar solos to the band's latest studio album.

Since late May 2021, Stone has been handling second-guitar duties in QUEENSRŸCHE, which announced in July 2021 that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."

Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.

For the past eight years, drummer Casey Grillo has been filling in for original QUEENSRŸCHE drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.

In October 2021, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against guitarist Michael Wilton and bassist Eddie Jackson, alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. A few months later, Wilton and Jackson filed a countersuit against Rockenfield, accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit. That dispute has since been settled out of court.

Image credit: CaPa

Candice Night has released the official music video for the song "The Last Goodbye", featuring her husband, DEEP PURPLE and RAINBOW legend and her BLACKMORE'S NIGHT bandmate Ritchie Blackmore, on guitar. You can now watch the clip below.

"The Last Goodbye" is taken from Candice's upcoming studio album "Sea Glass", which due on April 25 via earMUSIC.

In her career as a musician, vocalist, composer and lyricist, Candice is perhaps most famously known as the multi-instrumentalist and voice of BLACKMORE'S NIGHT.

"Sea Glass" finds Candice at a new plateau in her life and music.

Inspired by a lifetime of challenging musical adventures as well as the magic and demands of everyday life and family, Candice has crafted an album that observes life through a prism — looking through a kaleidoscope of sea glass colors with their own special glow. Much like an alchemist, she melds together her various influences and experiences to create music that is contemporary yet eternal.

Candice says: "We go through so much in life, we break, we shatter, our pieces tossed and tumbled by forces all around us, smoothing our edges, teaching us lessons. And though some pieces may be lost, most return to be changed, different, worn by time, and yet…brilliant treasures in who we have become…"

The album draws from rock and country influences on tracks such as first single "Angel And Jezebel" (featured on the album in two versions) as well as deft acoustic pop with "Unsung Hero (She'll Never Tell)". Thematically "Sea Glass" touches on themes of loss and love ("The Last Goodbye") as well as the bond between parents and children and their wishes and dreams for the future ("Promise Me", which, fittingly, features contributions from Candice's son and daughter).

"Sea Glass" features nine Candice Night compositions and a version of the beloved standard "Nature Boy", brought together by Candice in the role of producer on what may be her most personal album to date. It is a journey across time and tides.

"Sea Glass" track listing:

01. Sea Glass
02. Unsung Hero (She'll Never Tell)
03. The Line Between
04. Angel And Jezebel (Rock Version)
05. Promise Me
06. Dark Carnival
07. The Last Goodbye
08. When I Want To Fly
09. Another Day
10. Nature Boy
11. Angel And Jezebel (Country Version)

Infinite Reality™ (iR), an innovation company powering the next generation of digital media and ecommerce through extended reality (XR), artificial intelligence (AI), and other immersive technologies, announced today the company has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the iconic online music brand Napster for $207 million.

Napster, a fully-licensed independent music service, delivers over 110 million high fidelity tracks from the top artists in the world to its loyal global subscriber base. Over the past two decades Napster has paid over $1 billion to artists and songwriters worldwide, establishing itself as a cornerstone of the music streaming industry and the longest operating digital music service. Infinite Reality plans to transform Napster beyond streaming into a social and interactive music platform, leveraging its immersive technology and audience network of digitally native fans. This includes the millions engaged with iR’s entertainment assets, such as the Drone Racing League (DRL) and top esports organizations competing in titles like Call of Duty and League of Legends.

The newly-reimagined Napster will differentiate itself from competitors by serving as a social music platform that prioritizes active fan engagement over passive listening, allowing artists to connect with, own, and monetize the relationship with their fans. Through this acquisition, Napster and Infinite Reality plan to offer artists the tools to:

– Create branded 3D virtual spaces where fans can enjoy virtual concerts, social listening parties, and other immersive and community-based experiences
– Sell both physical and virtual merchandise, exclusive digital content, and event tickets
– Leverage AI-powered customer service, sales, and community management agents for greater personalization
– Access enhanced analytics dashboards to better understand fan behavior
– Integrate gamification to increase fan engagement and loyalty
– Leverage iR’s audience network — including DRL and top esports teams — to seamlessly cross-promote and bridge fan communities
– Offer brands innovative sponsorships that connect with millions of young, digitally savvy consumers

“By acquiring Napster, we’re paving a path to a brighter future for artists, fans, and the music industry at large,” said John Acunto, Co-Founder and CEO of Infinite Reality. “This strategic move aligns with Infinite Reality’s vision to lead an internet industry shift from a flat 2D clickable web to a 3D conversational one – giving all creators modern tools to better engage, monetize, and measure their audiences. I firmly believe that the artist-fan relationship is evolving, with fans craving hyper-personalized, intimate access to their favorite artists, while artists are searching for innovative ways to deepen connections with fans, and access new streams of revenue. We’re creating the ultimate music platform where artists can thrive in the next wave of digital disruption.”

As part of this acquisition, Napster CEO Jon Vlassopulos will continue as CEO of Napster, and will take on a broader role for iR globally. Appointed CEO of Napster in 2022, Vlassopulos oversaw the restructuring of the company and led its evolution into new business areas, driving innovation in artist-fan engagement and next-generation immersive music experiences. Previously, he served as Vice President and Global Head of Music at Roblox, where he pioneered immersive experiences for leading artists and brands that reached over 100 million fans, driving tens of millions of dollars of net new revenue for the music industry. Vlassopulos started his career as an executive at BMG and invested in the original Napster when he was at Bertelsmann. A seasoned entrepreneur, executive, and investor, he has a track record of delivering industry firsts that sit at the intersection of technology, music, gaming, entertainment, and marketing.

“Napster revolutionized digital music in the nineties, and now, with Infinite Reality, we’re ready to do it again. The internet has evolved from desktop to mobile, from mobile to social, and now we are entering the immersive era. Yet, music streaming has remained largely the same. It’s time to reimagine what’s possible,” said Jon Vlassopulos, CEO of Napster. “Imagine stepping into a virtual venue to watch an exclusive show with friends, chat with your favorite artist in their own virtual hangout as they drop their new single, and be able to directly buy their exclusive digital and physical merch. With Infinite Reality’s expertise in immersive 3D technology, we will transform Napster into a next-generation platform where fans don’t just listen on their own—they experience music in entirely new ways. This isn’t just a new chapter for Napster, it’s the beginning of a more interactive and social music experience for the next era of the internet.”

“We are delighted that Napster is now going to be a part of Infinite Reality, validating a new paradigm for music and media,” said Steve Kokinos, co-founder of Algorand and Chairman of the Board of Napster. “We always believed in Jon’s long held vision and experience from Roblox that the next frontier of digital music and super fan experiences will be more immersive, more social, and more shoppable. Excited to see what they create together!”

“As we think about leading a sectoral shift from 2D web to 3D web, no other community is more critical than creators who are always at the forefront of leveraging innovation to express themselves and disrupt legacy systems,” said Amish Shah, Chief Business Officer of Infinite Reality. “The endurance of the Napster brand stands as a testament to its resilience, and we are honored to build upon its pioneering spirit and unparalleled expertise in the music industry. We can think of no better use case for our technology than putting it in the hands of music artists who are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”

Founded in 1999, Napster forever changed the music industry with its peer-to-peer file sharing technology, giving fans their first access to digital music and digital music communities. After being acquired by Rhapsody, the first legal music streaming service licensed by all the recognized major record labels, Napster evolved into a leading independent digital music service, with access to more than 110 million tracks, available in 34 countries. Together, Infinite Reality and Napster plan to evolve the brand even further, becoming the leading immersive music platform for artists, fans, and curators.

About Infinite Reality:

Infinite Reality (iR)™ is an innovation company powering the next generation of digital media and ecommerce through spatial computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and other immersive technologies. iR’s suite of cutting-edge software, production, marketing services, and other capabilities empower brands and creators to craft inventive digital experiences that uplevel audience engagement, data ownership, monetization, and brand health metrics. The company is backed by an impressive roster of investors including RSE Ventures, Liberty Media, Lux Capital, Lerer Hippeau, MGM, T-Mobile Ventures, Courtside VC, Exor, Terracap, IAC, Live Nation, as well as notable individuals such as Steve Aoki, Imagine Dragons, NBA player Rudy Gobert, and globally-ranked tennis player Taylor Fritz. For more information, visit theinfinitereality.com

About Napster:

In 1999, Napster changed the music industry forever when it launched the world’s first peer-to-peer music sharing service. Peaking at 85M users, for many, Napster was not only their first experience of digital music but also their first real social media experience.Napster went on to be combined with Rhapsody, resulting in the first legal $9.99 music streaming service. Operational now for 20+ years, Napster is currently available in 34 countries and across a wide range of connected devices from computers to cars. Napster is now once again poised to revolutionize the music industry, evolving music streaming from being an access-based monthly subscription model to a social music platform and marketplace that connects artists and fans, unlocking unprecedented new creative and commercial opportunities. For more information, visit Napster.com.

The wait is almost over! The hard rock force that is Spider Rockets is set to unleash the band’s most explosive album yet, Dirty And Bad, on May 23rd via FireRock Music Group. Known for their high-energy performances and raw, unapologetic attitude, the band has crafted a record that refuses to be ignored. A fusion of blistering riffs, driving rhythms, and fearless songwriting, Dirty And Bad promises to take fans on a wild ride.

“Writing and recording is a wild, love-hate rollercoaster for me,” shares vocalist Helena Cos. “On one hand, I live for the final product—that moment when everything clicks, and the music finally comes to life. But getting there? It’s like hacking my way through a dense, sweltering jungle with my comrades in arms as we battle relentless obstacles, dodge unseen dangers, and as I wrestle with my own creative demons. Every song is a fight, every session is a test of endurance. But when we finally emerge on the other side—bruised, exhausted, victorious—I feel like we are stepping into Valhalla, where all the struggle suddenly feels worth it.”

The album’s creation was anything but conventional, with Spider Rockets recording in two distinct studios, each bringing its own energy. Four tracks came to life in the polished and expansive Soundmine Recording Studio (PA), while the remaining six tracks were forged in the raw, no-frills Frightbox Recording (NJ), adding a level of grit and intensity that defines the album’s sound.

“Spider Rockets are one of those rare finds. They are the total package—great musicians, extremely talented. Their new album, Dirty And Bad, takes you on a musical journey matched by only a few. This truly is a breakout album, with superb songwriting and electrifying performances. Each song shows how brilliant they really are as songwriters. We were excited to sign them and feel the time is now for the Spider Rockets to show the world what they are made of.” – Tom Collier, President of FireRock Music Group

For Spider Rockets, Dirty And Bad isn’t just an album, it’s a battle cry. A statement. A call to arms for rock fans everywhere. Mark your calendars for May 23rd and prepare for the ride.



Tracklisting:

Dirty And Bad
Monster Of Your Dreams
The Storm
Rock Your Ass Off
Casual Violence
Do Your Thing
Sucker
Everything To Everyone
Drive
Welcome To The Show

Fistful Of Metal magazine's Oran O'Beirne spoke to legendary SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo prior to the release of the new VENAMORIS studio album — a project that he and his wife, Paula Lombardo, created.

Below are some excerpts from the article, which can be found in the latest issue featuring cover stars MOTÖRHEAD. Issue No. 18 is now available in WH Smiths (U.K.),Barnes & Noble (Canada and USA) and online via www.fistfulofmetal.co.uk.

On the new VENAMORIS album, "To Cross Or To Burn":

Dave: "This is such a personal album, that is born and created in our home. We have full control of sounds, rhythms, atmospheric drones and textures, etc. We decide on everything and that makes it so special. The fact that these are Paula's lyrics also is kind of scary for her, as it's some very personal lyrics for her, and that can be very daunting to show the world. Making this album was a very liberating experience for both of us. I'm used to a producer breathing down my neck, or a tight deadline for some projects, but with VENAMORIS everything was on our terms."

On his approach to his long relationship with Mike Patton (MR. BUNGLE, FAITH NO MORE, FANTÔMAS) and creating new music:

Dave: "I've worked with Mike on so many projects, and he always told me to follow my instincts and not to be afraid to put out my art into the world. That made a huge impact on my confidence, and was a big part of the decision process when it came to my solo stuff. I'm also very aware that social media is a monster and as good as it can be at times, it can also destroy artists. So that's always in the back of my mind, but then that punk attitude kicks in and I just don't give a fuck of what anyone thinks."

On what led him to working with other bands in the late '80s:

Dave: "Way back in '89, after touring month after month with SLAYER, I was feeling a little frustrated after doing the same old thing day after day. It became so repetitive and I really had an overwhelming urge to do something different. Something that really challenged my ability. I wanted to branch out and work with other musicians, so in the early '90s, I started working with TESTAMENT and FANTÔMAS. I felt that I was a little bit of a chameleon, where I could just adapt to so many different styles of music and work with a varied range of guitar players and tempos — especially with FANTÔMAS. The dynamics change so fast with FANTÔMAS, so I had to adapt very quickly to the arrangements, and I'm so thankful that Mike saw my ability to do just that. It was a lot of fun working together back then, and still is today. I'm eternally grateful to him for inviting me along for this wild ride — not to mention introducing me to John Zorn [jazz-metal composer]. That was really the moment for me that changed so much. This was what I was really hungry for when I think back to that frustrated feeling in '89."

"To Cross Or To Burn" came out on February 28 via Ipecac Recordings.

While Dave drafted the blueprint that would define thrash metal drumming, he's also applied his finesse to solo percussion (2023's "Rites Of Percussion"),hip-hop and classical music, as well as boundary-pushing recordings and performances with everyone from John Zorn's ensembles to punk icons MISFITS and MR. BUNGLE.

Lombardo, who has spent most of the recent years between EMPIRE STATE BASTARD, crossover pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, horror-punk icons MISFITS, hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS and MR. BUNGLE, was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other bandmembers. He was later replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001.

Photo credit: Hannah Verbeuren

Our new Official Motörhead issue is available at London's only true Heavy Metal VINYL / C.D RECORD SHOP- Raven Records...

Posted by Fistful Of Metal Mag on Friday, March 7, 2025

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor played what he said was his first acoustic solo show in over three years on Saturday, March 22 at the HorrorHound Weekend convention in Cincinnati, Ohio. Fan-filmed video of his performance can be seen below.

Taylor's solo album of covers and B-sides from the "CMF2" album sessions, titled "CMF2B… Or Not 2B", was released digitally in May 2024. The effort was previously made available on April 20, 2024 via BMG as part of last year's Record Store Day.

Corey spent much of the last half of 2023 touring in support of his sophomore solo album, "CMF2", which was released in September of that year. Taylor's first album for BMG and the first on his own label imprint, Decibel Cooper Recordings, was produced by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER, AMON AMARTH),who also helmed STONE SOUR's 2017 LP "Hydrograd" as well as 2020's "CMFT".

Taylor began tracking the follow-up to 2020's "CMFT" LP in early January 2023 at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas, Nevada with Ruston. Joining Corey in the studio was the rest of his solo band — bassist Eliot Lorango, drummer Dustin Robert, along with guitarists Christian Martucci and Zach Throne.

"CMFT" featured the No. 1 Billboard mainstream rock single "Black Eyes Blue" and streaming sensation "CMFT Must Be Stopped" (feat. Tech N9ne and Kid Bookie). The LP hit No. 6 on Billboard's U.S. Top Rock Albums chart.

Back in January 2024, Taylor canceled his previously scheduled North American solo tour, citing struggles with his mental health. He later told Alternative Press that he hit "a real dark point" early last year and that he needed to make some changes to the way he worked for his well-being, including touring. He told the magazine: "I found that my pursuit of work and all things ego was killing me. And nearly killed me. So I've reinvested my life to the point [where] I'm only going to work so much. I'll never be gone from home for more than two and a half weeks. I'm putting importance back on the things I really value. That is the greatest gift I could give myself and my family."



I will be performing at HorrorHound Weekend this Saturday night, opening up for Corey Taylor!

Posted by Little Punk People on Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Keyboardist Derek Sherinian was recently named “Best Keyboardist” in Japan’s BURRN! Magazine 2024 Readers Poll (an award he also received previously, in 2020, 2022, and 2023). Derek was also voted “Greatest Keyboardist Of The 21st Century” and #8 “Greatest Of All Time” by MusicRadar.com, and also was ranked #9 “Greatest of All Time” in PROG Magazine.

Sherinian has distinguished himself by his versatility, and aggressive “guitaristic” approach to his signature keyboard style.

MusicRadar.com declared, “His virtuoso playing has seen him dubbed the keyboard-playing version of Eddie Van Halen.” David Coverdale claims that, “Derek plays the Hammond organ like the son of Jon Lord.” Glenn Hughes has called Sherinian, “The best living rock keyboardist.”

Starting his pro career with Alice Cooper in 1989 on the “Trashes The World” world tour, Sherinian proceeded to tour and record with KISS, Dream Theater, Yngwie Malmsteen, Billy Idol and Whitesnake.

He has also released nine solo albums, and was the co-founder of Planet X, Sons Of Apollo, and supergroup Black Country Communion (also featuring Joe Bonamassa, Glenn Hughes, and Jason Bonham), who will be touring in Europe this summer.

For a listing of BCC tour dates and ticket links, visit here. Also, the video for “Stay Free” off Black Country Communion’s 2024 album BCC V can be viewed below.