MASTODON played a "secret" concert under the BIG HAIRY ELEPHANT banner last night (Tuesday, July 16) at Star Bar in Atlanta, Georgia. The show served as a warm-up gig for MASTODON's "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headlining tour with b>LAMB OF GOD, which will kick off on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas. The trek finds the two iconic bands join forces to celebrate the 20th anniversary of two seminal releases: LAMB OF GOD's biggest-selling album "Ashes Of The Wake" and MASTODON's acclaimed sophomore album "Leviathan", which were both released on August 31, 2004. Both bands will perform their respective albums in full. Special guests KERRY KING and MALEVOLENCE will support throughout the tour, with UNEARTH on select dates.

MASTODON's setlist for the Star Bar concert was as follows:

01. Blood And Thunder
02. I Am Ahab
03. Seabeast
04. Ísland
05. Megalodon
06. Naked Burn
07. Iron Tusk
08. Aqua Dementia
09. Hearts Alive
10. Joseph Merrick (live debut)
11. More Than I Could Chew
12. Circle Of Cysquatch
13. Steambreather

Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.

The "Ashes Of Leviathan" North American arena and amphitheater run will take MASTODON and LAMB OF GOD through the U.S. and Canada, culminating on the exact 20th anniversary of each album on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska at the Astro Amphitheater. The tour will notably make stops at iconic venues such as Denver, Colorado's Red Rocks Amphitheatre and Los Angeles, California's Kia Forum. See below for full tour routing.

In addition, both bands will be supporting a charity of their choice throughout the tour, and fans will have the opportunity to opt-in to donate at check out when buying their tickets.

MASTODON will support the Hirshberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research. After their manager Nick John tragically passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2018, MASTODON partnered with the organization and has raised nearly $60,000 to fight the disease and support researchers and patients around the globe. The Hirshberg Foundation For Pancreatic Cancer Research is focused on finding a cure for pancreatic cancer, and empowering patients and families whose lives are touched by this disease. Founded in 1997, the Hirshberg Foundation funds groundbreaking scientific research, provides patient education and support, and sustains hope that this cancer will be eradicated once and for all.

"Leviathan", released on Relapse Records, was MASTODON's first concept album, loosely based on the 1851 novel "Moby-Dick" by Herman Melville. Three magazines named the LP "Album Of The Year" in 2004: Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer. In 2009 and 2015, MetalSucks named "Leviathan" the best metal album of the 21st century. "Leviathan" was also released with an audio DVD in a limited-edition set with a black-and-gold slipcase.

MASTODON's latest studio album, "Hushed And Grim", a double LP recorded at the band's Atlanta studio, West End Sound, was produced by David Bottrill (TOOL, RUSH, MUSE, PETER GABRIEL). This album, their most expansive song-cycle to date, features 15 distinct tracks and achieved their third consecutive No. 1 debut on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart. "Hushed And Grim" also earned them a Grammy Award nomination for the track "Pushing The Tides". Additionally, the album's single "Teardrinker" secured a top 10 position on the rock radio charts, a further testament to the band's widespread acclaim.

Saw Big Hairy Elephant ~Mastodon~ at the Star Bar last night. Great tunes! Saw some old friends! Had a blast with my husband ❤️

Posted by C.J. Gentry on Wednesday, July 17, 2024

Reverb, the largest online marketplace for musical instruments, announced today that former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted will be selling more than 60 electric, bass and more guitars. The official Jason Newsted Reverb shop will launch on July 24, featuring a selection of stunning vintage guitars, several one-of-one items — including guitars hand-painted by Newsted — and more unique pieces used throughout the Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer's illustrious career.

"I'm teaming up with Reverb to sell some pieces from my collection for the very first time. The last 30 or 40 years as I've traveled around playing music for people, I've gathered some cool shit," Newsted said. "I traveled the world to collect these pieces and many of these pieces have traveled the world with me. I'd like to get them into the hands of other players because I can only play so many at once, and wonderful guitars such as these should not live in cases forever…they deserve to be enjoyed!"

According to Newsted, nearly all of the instruments that will be available in the official Jason Newsted Reverb shop have been used in the studio, in music videos, on album covers or posters, or on stages across the world by Newsted and a host of other musicians you'd likely recognize. Among the items that will be for sale is a 1992 Alembic Europa Custom 10-string bass that Newsted says was used on the tour to support the critically acclaimed "Metallica" album (commonly known as The Black Album.) Of the bass guitar, Newsted says, "This is a very special piece of metal history and it's one of one. This thing is a beast…you have to be a straight badass to carry it, let alone play it."

Also featured in the Reverb sale will be one of Newsted's first Alembic basses, a 1989 20th anniversary model with the serial number six of just 200 that also appeared in the "A Year And A Half In The Life Of Metallica" documentary, as well as a rare cherry sunburst-finished PRS bass that was used on the "…And Justice For All" tour. There will also be Newsted's five-string fretless Zon bass that he played when METALLICA recorded "Until It Sleeps", with the settings markings from the studio still taped on the bass.

"This is a piece of metal lore right here," Newsted says. "You have the song in your collection [and] that's the bass that played it."

METALLICA fans can previewNewsted's collection now before his Reverb shop opens on July 24.

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001 but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with guitarist/vocalist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, guitarist Kirk Hammett, and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.

In May 2023, Jason performed with his NEWSTED project for the first time in nearly a decade at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Newsted, who plays bass and sings in the project, was joined at the gig by original NEWSTED members Jesus Mendez Jr. (UNDERLORD) on drums and Jessie Farnsworth (UNDERLORD) on guitar, along with new guitarist Humberto Perez.

NEWSTED's sole full-length effort, "Heavy Metal Music", sold nearly 8,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to land at position No. 40 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD was made available in August 2013 in North America via Chophouse Records/Collective Sounds and in Europe through Spinefarm Records.

Following the release of the powerful new song and music video for "New West Order" in June, Grammy-nominated rock band FEVER 333 is following it up with "Higher Power" — a rally cry to the contributions of black, brown and Asian people to the nation and call for reparations. The song's chorus reinforces the message of empowerment and unity, encouraging listeners to embrace and share this inherent strength. Its music video invites you to a FEVER Function, hosted in a church in South Central, Los Angeles, led by Jason Aalon Butler.

"There are no diamonds to be produced without pressure," says Butler on the new song. "No lessons to learn without trials. 'Higher Power' revolves around these ideas and reveres the beauty in the adversity induced magic performed by marginalized communities. To exist in a world that challenges your very existence every day to some degree is one of the most magical acts I have ever witnessed. Here is my 2:43 soundtrack offering to that act."

FEVER 333 recently announced headline dates across the United States and Europe. Taking place in the fall and kicking off October 17 in Los Angeles, the tour will hit all major cities across the country, wrapping up on November 8 in Brooklyn, New York.

November 14 will kick off their run of shows taking place in Europe, hitting cities in U.K., Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland and more.

FEVER 333 has proven consistently that it is one of the most captivating acts in modern music today. Now, in 2024, FEVER 333 is set to embark on its most exciting chapter yet with a plethora of new music on the way.

FEVER 333's current lineup includes drummer Thomas Pridgen (THE MARS VOLTA, THUNDERCAT, TRASH TALK),bassist April Kae and guitarist Brandon Davis joining frontman Jason Aalon Butler to accentuate the band's visceral live performances.

"New West Order" and "Higher Power" have been made available via 333 Wreckords Crew and Century Media Records.

Photo by: Solo Nichol

In a new interview with "Paltrocast" host Darren ‪Paltrowitz ‬, GUNS N' ROSES' Dizzy Reed was asked if it's true that Brett Tuggle, known for his onstage keyboard playing for FLEETWOOD MAC, inspired him in his quest to not be relegated to being the offstage keyboardist for GUNS N' ROSES. He responded: "Um, it was a fight, let me put it that way. I think maybe some of the guys, maybe the crew, the production, I think, there was some talk about that, and I just… I don't know. I think, with Axl's [Rose, GUNS N' ROSES singer] support, Axl behind me, that didn't happen. And hopefully that opened the door for other keyboard players to not be put behind the curtain."

When Paltrowitz noted that Reed's answer implied that the Tuggle rumors weren't true, Dizzy clarified: "I knew that there was other guys that were behind the curtain. And I just didn't want that to happen. So, in a way Tuggle did inspire me, I guess."

Six years ago, Dizzy spoke about the fact that he has always been treated as an important part of the GUNS N' ROSES live show and wasn't hidden off stage or relegated to the shadows on the side stage. He told Australia's Lock In at the time: "I've gotta give Axl credit for all that, man. He wanted me in the band, and I think he saw that I really wanted to be a part of the band. And I'm not saying that the other guys didn't wanna put me behind a curtain on stage; I don't know that for sure, I can't say that for sure. There was a little bit of talk of possibly me being a little bit… my head poking out [from behind the curtain]. But Axl, I think, saw how badly I wanted it and wanted to be a part of the band and wanted to add to it, and I give him all the credit for that, man. And I'm happy to be, if not the first [keyboard player], one of the first guys to actually be on stage, be a part of the band, and hopefully open the door for the other keyboard players that came after me. We add to the music what we can, and I think it's always an important part of it."

Reed is the longest-serving member of GN'R after singer Axl Rose. He joined the band as a touring member in 1990, during the "Use Your Illusion" era, and has played with most of the original members as well as in all the later editions of the group and the current reunion lineup.

The Pulse Of Radio asked Reed how he's managed to stay in the band for so long. "I get asked that a lot and it's really just, I just never really thought about doing anything else, you know, on sort of a permanent basis," he said. "You know, I kind of feel like I'm in GUNS N' ROSES and that's where I was meant to be."

In 2012, Dizzy was inducted into the the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame as a member of GUNS N' ROSES.

Last month, Dizzy released a new solo single, "D.I.B.". The track, which is part of a full album that will be made available in late August, features a guest appearance by former DELTA ROSE frontman Spencer Krasch.

Reed's debut solo album, "Rock 'N Roll Ain't Easy", was released in February 2018 by Golden Robot Records. The disc featured guest appearances by musicians from W.A.S.P., QUIET RIOT, PSYCHEDELIC FURS, THIN LIZZY, NO DOUBT, THE REPLACEMENTS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, and more.

Video of JUDAS PRIEST's Richie Faulkner performing the ELEGANT WEAPONS song "Do Or Die" live for EMGtv can be seen below. Also available is the previously released video of him performing "Horns For A Halo".

ELEGANT WEAPONS features Faulkner on guitar and Ronnie Romero (RAINBOW, MSG) on vocals, alongside Dave Rimmer (URIAH HEEP) on bass and Christopher Williams (ACCEPT) on drums.

ELEGANT WEAPONS' debut album, "Horns For A Halo", was released on May 26, 2023 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was recorded with bassist Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) and drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and was helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, EXODUS and MEGADETH, among many others.

In a recent interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, Faulkner spoke about a possible second album from ELEGANT WEAPONS. He said: "We've already started. We've recorded drums for the second record. We got together in March, I think, of [2023]; I think it was March — I'm not sure. We got together in the studio and played together to record the drums, get the drums recorded. So it's been started."

Asked if the second ELEGANT WEAPONS LP will arrive in 2024 or 2025, Richie said: "I don't know. Maybe [in 2024]. Back in the day, bands used to release a record every year, sometimes two in a year. I know we don't do things under the same cycle anymore. But the ideas are there for the songs. We all were together, and we thought why not get at least the drums going. We got the drums and we got the guitars, and stuff like that, so why not start the process?

"It was important for me, really, when I started the band… It was a band that it wasn't just a one-record type thing," Faulkner explained. "It was a band that plays live and records — hopefully — multiple records and grows and evolves together moving into the future. So the next record is just a part of that sort of process, really."

Richie went on to say that he plans on focusing on ELEGANT WEAPONS full-time once PRIEST has officially called it a day.

"PRIEST music is gonna be around a lot longer than we are," he said. "It's legendary music. They're genre-defining musicians and it's a genre-defining band. It will be around for a long time. But none of us gets out of this alive. That's just the reality of it. So if one day that call comes in and that's the last tour or the last album, whatever it is… I mean, I joined the band on what was the farewell tour. Luckily it wasn't, and we're still here 12 years later. [It's] fantastic. But at the time, I think I would have been silly not to consider what I was gonna do after the band, because of the circumstances of the tour. It was a farewell tour — it was [supposed to be] the last tour — so what am I gonna do after? So it's always been in the back of my mind. And this is a band that seems natural to me to continue with if that call ever came in."

ELEGANT WEAPONS played a number of shows in Europe in June and July 2023, including performances with PANTERA, festival appearances and headlining gigs.

ELEGANT WEAPONS made its first two festival appearances on June 16, 2023 at Hellfest in Clisson, France and on June 18, 2023 at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium.

In a new interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights, LAMB OF GOD singer Randy Blythe revealed that he is "in the process of final edits" on his second book. "It took me 10 fucking years," he added (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "So, it will be coming out next year, supposedly in February. So it's done. I'm editing. And then I'm gonna start on another book and not take 10 years in between them."

Asked if the upcoming book is "a memoir of sorts", similar to his 2015 book "Dark Days: A Memoir", which focused on his ordeal in a Czech Republic prison and his subsequent acquittal, Randy said: "I don't know if you'd call it a memoir. It's a collection of — not essays, I would guess, but individual chapters that are self-contained stories. It was a lot harder to write than my last book. 'Cause the last book, there's a narrative arc and I knew exactly what was gonna happen. I knew the story. I had already lived it. When I started writing this book, I had ideas about what I wanted to say, but I wasn't exactly sure what ground I was gonna cover. So, it was a lot harder. The last one, I had the roadmap in front of me. This one, it was a little bit more open-ended. And it's a shorter book — thank God."

"['Dark Days' is] around 500 pages," he continued. "My contract called for 80 to 100 thousand words. I turned in 257 thousand words, so he had to amputate a bunch of shit. I can get a little bit longwinded. My editor reined it in this time, which I was very happy about. I need someone to rein me in. It's like in a band when you need a producer."

Blythe explained that he wanted "Dark Days: A Memoir" to be different from other rock autobiographies by not focusing exclusively on LAMB OF GOD and the band's touring lifestyle.

"Long after LAMB OF GOD is done, I will still be writing books," he said. "So when I wrote ['Dark Days'], I wanted to write it, and I know some people were upset there's not more stuff about LAMB OF GOD and heavy metal and all that other bullshit — I wanted the book to be able to be read by a much wider audience than just metalheads, and I wanted it to stand the test of time, be a sort of universal human story that people could read and think about. If I sit there and talk about nothing but touring with this band and getting drunk here and all that, it's gonna be, like, 'Ah, great, whatever. It's another fucking music story.' But one of the most gratifying things about that book to me was that a lot of the reviews said you don't have to be a metal fan to read this, to enjoy this, you don't have to know who the band is to read this, enjoy it. 'Cause I write records for the metal fans; I already do that. I wanna write books, although they [metal fans] are a sizable contingent of the people who bought the book — I wanna write books for everyone."

Back in November 2022, Blythe told Metal Hammer magazine that he was working on two new books. The first was said to be "a long-term project" called "Frontman", which, as its title suggests, focuses on other people who share his profession. The second was a sort-of sequel to "Dark Days: A Memoir".

"The last book was about personal accountability," Randy explained at the time. "The vehicle to that was the story about me getting arrested and going to trial. This book is about perspective — the core theme is perspective and changing it to a healthy one. In recent years, I've been listening to other people's perspectives rather than just trying to figure out everything myself, because I'm not going to. The book is a collection of stories about different experiences I've had with people and what I've taken away from those experiences."

In October 2022, Blythe told the Illinois Entertainer that he was working on a new "non-fiction book." He added: "I wanted to write fiction, but my agent said, 'You need another non-fiction book.' And he was pushing me toward what they call, I guess, an 'inspirational memoir' or whatever. So I'm writing this book, and it's about different perspectives from other people that I've tried to incorporate into my own life and take something from. Something positive from — things I have learned from people other than me. And it's been very difficult to maintain any sort of positivity for a while now. It really has."

In May 2022, Blythe was asked by Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show how writing prose is different from writing lyrics. He responded: "Well, they're two different things — two very different things. I always say that writing a book makes writing an album look like going to kindergarten. It is a much more intense, much more sustained [and] much more nerve-racking extended creative effort. There's pros and cons to it, of course. And the thing that I dislike about it, just as a lazy bum, is I'm having to do it all by myself. If there's something bad in the book or it doesn't work, then I can't blame it on my bandmates. 'Cause we're a democracy — we really are a democracy — and if someone is unhappy with something, then we won't move forward with it creatively, if they're really emphatic about that. That being said, we make a lot of compromises with each other in order to work as a band. So, if there's something that I don't particularly like in one of our songs or on an album or a song that I'm not particularly feeling great about but the rest of [the guys] love the song, then I'm, like, 'Oh well. So be it.' It's part of the business of being in a band. And then if it comes out and I still don't like it, I can be, like, 'Well it was their decision, not mine.' When you write a book, if you screw up something or something's not good or something later you review and it doesn't pass muster, that's on you. So it's a bit more nerve-racking. No, conversely, that's kind of the same thing I like about it, because I don't have to bounce my ideas off of anyone else. I say exactly what I want to say without having to go through any sort of filtration process with anyone else — it's just me. So, in a way, it's a much more creative process — or a purely creative process, I would say — because it's just you and the blank page. But it is nerve-racking — it really is. And also, as I get older, I just enjoy quiet more and more and more, and writing is a very quiet and solitary activity — at least it is for me. So I enjoy that. My ears don't ring after writing a book, but they sure as hell do after writing an album."

In July 2021, Blythe said in an Instagram post that he was about to begin writing his second book. The now-53-year-old singer wrote: "It's been six years since my 1st book, Dark Days, came out. I've been kinda busy but I can't screw around any longer- it's finally time to write a new one. The proposal is done, the publishers accepted it, & the contract is hammered out & in the mail.

"Shit- that means I actually have to write this thing! All I'll say is: A) it's another non-fiction book, & B) I just spent over two weeks utterly consumed by writing the freaking introduction. 2,296 words in 15 days- that not a lot, but I want it to be RIGHT. Plus, I'm just stretching the old muscles, getting back in shape for the brutal long haul that lies ahead. The sustained creative heavy lifting required to write a book makes writing the lyrics for an album look like preschool finger painting. Plus, if what you're doing is turning out shitty, you can't just blame the rest of your band. (sorry dudes)

"Most books on writing of are bullshit, collections of pointless 'exercises' from people who haven't sold any other books of their own (I should know, I've bought most of them.) No book on earth is gonna turn you into a good writer. There is no magic pill. Just like playing music, shooting photos, or pursuing any other creative endeavor- the ONLY way to find out if you're any good is to DO IT. You gotta write, & the hardest part of writing is sitting your ass down to do it, & then repeating that process day after day after day."

In 2012, Blythe was arrested in the Czech Republic and charged with manslaughter for allegedly pushing a 19-year-old fan offstage at a show two year prior and causing injuries that led to the fan's death. Blythe spent 37 days in a Prague prison before ultimately being found not guilty in 2013.

Blythe's prison experience inspired two songs on LAMB OF GOD's 2015 album "VII: Sturm Und Drang": "512", one of his three prison cell numbers, and "Still Echoes", written while he was in Pankrac Prison, a dilapidated facility built in the 1880s that had been used for executions by the Nazis during World War II. It also led him to write the aforementioned "Dark Days", in which he shared his whole side of the story publicly for the first time.

Loudwire has shared a new Gear Factor video. Check it out below. 


Loudwire: "Guitar legend Marty Friedman (ex-Megadeth) plays his favorite riffs, from the ones that inspired him to pick up a guitar, classics from throughout his career and even recollects some interesting advice a guitar teacher once gave him." 







Friedman issued the following update back in May:


"After an exhaustive and seemingly endless process, I’m beyond excited to let you know that I’ve just turned in the final manuscript for my autobiography, Dreaming Japanese.


I`ve always kept my private life completely out of the media, so with nervous excitement, I am thrilled to share the story about my upbringing, home life and career for the first time. You will enjoy the deepest dive into never before revealed details about my life in Megadeth and the personal relationships within the band written with alarming clarity. Same goes for all of my other bands, from the very beginning.


I outline the entire story why - and exactly how - I dropped living the high life in a multi-platinum band to start from scratch in Japan dreaming to play J-Pop, and how that spiraled into eventually exceeding even my loftiest goals, even becoming a government appointed Ambassador. It`s a complete immersion into my daily Japanese life as I guide you through the inner workings of the Japanese television industry and music scene, from my my unique and unprecedented perspective.


The book releases December 3 and I can’t wait for you to read it. We’re working on the cover now and I’ll share that soon. In the meantime, Dreaming Japanese is available now for pre-order here."


Friedman has unveiled the cover artwork for Dreaming Japanese. It can be viewed below.





Book description: Marty Friedman’s upbringing was as atypical as his career. Growing up in a Jewish household in Maryland, the son of an NSA executive, he lacked motivation until he accidentally discovered the guitar and immediately found his calling. Enjoying a hazy adolescence overflowing with partying, music, and teen antics, he achieved local stardom in Deuce, then burst onto the national scene by pioneering a radically new style of playing, bringing attention to the guitar aficionado label, Shrapnel Records. Acclaim didn’t breed success or money, but undeterred, Friedman moved to California, and after attempts to join Madonna, KISS, and Ozzy Osbourne, finally scored a gig in Megadeth at a time when the band members were just recovering from the verge of self-destruction, and Marty was in and out of homelessness. Friedman is the most revered guitarist to play in any Megadeth lineup. During his ten years, his exotic, innovating style helped define the sound of their biggest albums, and while it elevated him to guitar hero status with all the accompanying perks, it came at a significant cost. As the only clean and sober member, Friedman vividly recalls the triumphs and trials of each album cycle and more, bringing to light previously undisclosed personal feelings surrounding the circumstances that forced the band into hiding in the midst of the Countdown to Extinction Tour and the brutal effort it took to get the band back up and running. His profound and complicated relationship with frontman Dave Mustaine was symbolic of the band’s insane dynamic, and Marty poignantly and generously shares his experiences within the band’s inner sanctum during the highs, lows, and daily routines. But, Dreaming Japanese is far more than a memoir about Friedman’s multi-Platinum years in Megadeth. The riveting narrative captures his relentless perseverance as he struggles to start again from nothing. Spontaneously leaving his home in the US and feeling lost in the middle of Tokyo, with few connections or concrete plans, the story traces his journey to acclimate and assimilate into the inner core of an alien society, language and culture, almost like a double agent spy. In fascinating detail and clarity, Marty shares how he gradually made inroads into the Japanese entertainment industry, becoming a household name and fixture on mainstream television and earning respect as a highly influential solo artist. Dreaming Japanese follows the wildly entertaining, inspiring, and above all, unprecedented path of a rock and roll guitar player who took the biggest risk, leaving worldwide success to start over from scratch in a country, culture and society far from his own, ultimately becoming an official ambassador of Japan.

Avenged Sevenfold have wrapped their Life Is But A Dream... Tour across Europe ad the UK. They have shared a new video recap video, and you can check it out below.





Avenged Sevenfold played the final show of their Life Is But A Dream North American Tour in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center on March 31st. YouTube user Jim Powers has shared video of the entire show. Check it out below.




Setlist:


"Game Over"
"Mattel"
"Afterlife"
"Hail to the King"
"We Love You"
"Shepherd of Fire"
"The Stage"
"Roman Sky"
"Blinded in Chains"
"Bat Country"
"Nobody"
"Nightmare"
"Unholy Confessions"
"Save Me"
"Cosmic"

Pioneering Christian metal band STRYPER will release a new studio album, "When We Were Kings", on September 13.

The LP's second and third singles, "Loves Symphony" and "Grateful", have just been made available and can be streamed below.

About "Loves Symphony", STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet states: "We're always trying to merge the past with the present. Trying to incorporate the classic sound that older fans miss with the modern sound that newer fans hope for. 'Loves Symphony' is a great combination of both. It not only represents who we were but also who we are. We really are excited about this one and we hope you all are too."

About "Grateful", Sweet adds: "'Grateful' is an answer to all the fans that have been wanting to hear a throwback to songs like 'Calling On You'. It's a different side of the band musically with a straight-ahead, pop/rock melody and groove. It's also a message of gratitude and being grateful for what you have, no matter who you are."

"When We Were Kings" track listing:

01. End Of Days
02. Unforgivable
03. When We Were Kings
04. Betrayed By Love
05. Loves Symphony
06. Trinity
07. Rhyme Of Time
08. Raptured
09. Grateful
10. Divided By Design
11. Imperfect World

About the album's first single, "End Of Days", STRYPER said: "'End Of Days' is a heavy track musically and lyrically. It has a classic sound with a few modern twists and turns along the way. Lyrically, it's probably the most fitting message according to the times we are living in. It really does feel like the 'End Of Days' in many ways. We're not only a divided nation, we're a divided world. It's time to make things right."

STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour dates will begin this fall. After an appearance at the Alive Music Festival in July, tour dates kick off September 11 in Greenville, Tennessee and conclude November 16 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour will be a celebration of both classic hits and new-era fan favorites, including outfit changes and an exciting new show production. In most cities, this will be a two-set "evening with"-style show.

In a recent interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet spoke about the musical direction of the band's recently completed follow-up to 2022's "The Final Battle" album. He said: "I think what it's always been in the past 10 years, 12 years. It's kind of similar to the last album and the album prior to that. But this album has some different twists and turns to it. And you have to hear it to understand that. When I was writing the songs, I wanted to make sure the choruses kind of went from — the verses might be in a minor chord, a little more on the darker side, and the choruses go to a major chord, a little bit more on the lighter side. Not lighter, but happier side— more major, melodic, more of an anthem, sing-along kind of thing. Then when it comes back to the verse, boom, it darkens up a little bit. You hear more of that kind of stuff."

Regarding the lyrical content on the upcoming STRYPER LP, Sweet, who is responsible for almost all of the songwriting in the band, said: "[There are] a couple of twists and turns. There's a song called 'Betrayed By Love'. It's a dark song, musically and lyrically. It's not a happy, typical STRYPER song that people might expect, like 'Honestly'. It's a song about being betrayed by someone you loved or love. And I think people will hear that and think, 'Oh, wow. This is different.' It's a great song. It's really cool. But there's little twists and turns here with the lyrics. The lyrics are a little different. And really cool. I can't wait for people to hear it."

This past March, Sweet wrote in an online post that he was "a little nervous" about his voice prior to the recording sessions for the new STRYPER album, "but in all sincerity, it seems fine to me," he said. "I didn't have any trouble tracking vocals and if anything, it seemed a little easier this time around.

"I have to say that this album has a very special signature," he added. "It has a heaviness yet at the same time, a very melodic approach and a bit more of a 'sing-along' style when it comes to the choruses. I'm really pleased with the results and I truly believe it will be at the top of everyone's 'best of' list. There are some stand out tracks to my ears already but I won't go into details quite yet. Bottom line, a KILLER new STRYPER album is coming!"

Last September, Michael said that he wanted "to branch out a bit" on the next STRYPER album "and try some new things and I also want to get back to some 'pop metal' on a few tracks as well."

In December, Sweet underwent partial thyroidectomy, the surgery to remove part of his thyroid gland. It is the most common surgery for thyroid cancer.

The follow-up to 2020's "Even The Devil Believes", "The Final Battle" was produced by Sweet and was once again recorded at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Formed 41 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."

STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil" and the aforementioned "Even The Devil Believes" and "The Final Battle".

Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitar) and Perry Richardson (bass).

STRYPER's "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" kicked off in late May. For the first time ever, the Christian rockers staged a full tour where they performed their hits and fan favorites acoustically.

Photo credit: Alex Solca Photography

CREED kicked off its first tour in 12 years, "Summer Of '99". Wednesday night (July 17) at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

The band's 16-song set included seven songs off CREED's diamond-certified second album, 1999's "Human Clay", four each from CREED's debut, 1997's "My Own Prison" and 2001's "Weathered", and just one song from the band's most recent LP, 2009's "Full Circle".

CREED's setlist was as follows:

01. Bullets
02. Torn
03. Are You Ready?
04. My Own Prison
05. What If
06. Never Die
07. Weathered
08. Say I
09. Faceless Man
10. One
11. What's This Life For
12. Rain
13. With Arms Wide Open
14. Higher

Encore:

15. One Last Breath
16. My Sacrifice

With more than 53 million albums sold worldwide, CREED remains one of modern rock's most successful acts. Now, 30 years into their incredible journey, CREED is bigger than ever. In late 2023, the Texas Rangers made "Higher" their unofficial anthem, as it spurred them to their first World Series win. Earlier this year, the song appeared in a high-profile Paramount+ Super Bowl commercial, while a NASCAR Daytona 500 campaign also incorporated the hit single. Along the way, CREED has gained a new generation of fans, thanks to countless TikTok videos that feature their songs.

Last summer, after an 11-year hiatus, CREED announced their long-awaited reunion — returning to the stage for the first time in April 2024 at the sold-out Summer Of '99 cruise and Summer Of '99 And Beyond cruise. In May, meanwhile, the band's multiplatinum-selling "Greatest Hits" collection made its wide debut on vinyl (via Craft),this month landing the collection back into the Billboard Top 200 (currently No. 166, in a list of the most consumed albums in the U.S.),as well as hitting Top Hard Rock & Alternative Albums (No.48),Top Alternative Albums (No. 21),and moving up the Top Hard Rock Albums rankings (No. 11). Originally issued in 2004, the 14-track compilation spans the band's first three albums (1997's "My Own Prison", 1999's "Human Clay" and 2001's "Weathered"). In the months ahead, fans can catch the band on their "Summer Of '99" tour, running from July through September, where they'll be joined by the likes of 3 DOORS DOWN, FINGER ELEVEN, SWITCHFOOT, FUEL, BIG WRECK and DAUGHTRY. The band will be heading into arenas this November and December on the "Are You Ready?" tour with 3 DOORS DOWN and MAMMOTH WVH in the U.S. and MAMMOTH WVH and FINGER ELEVEN in Canada.

In a recent interview with Ryan McCredden of the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, singer Scott Stapp spoke about the fact that younger generations of fans have discovered CREED's music in the 12 years since he and his bandmates played their last concert. He said: "Yeah, a hundred percent. And the analytics don't lie. We've started seeing, in late 2020, CREED beginning to go viral on TikTok, Instagram and then Facebook. And then it just seemed like every two or three months… The first couple months in 2021, we went viral again, and it just kept happening every two or three months. And then you look at the analytics, and you realize that when you look at the numbers, it's three generations. And now it's gotten down into high school kids. And so, what a gift and what a blessing. And I do not take that for granted. I understand how rare that that is. And I think I can speak for all of CREED, because we've had these conversations in private, that it's something we definitely understand is a gift, it's rare and we're not taking it for granted and we're just so grateful and appreciative that this has happened. And I think we're in the nurture phase of this whole thing and not taking a single bit of it for granted and just want to just share how grateful we are and fortunate we are that all these years later [so many people are discovering our music."

Stapp went on to discuss the overwhelmingly positive response to the announcement of CREED's first shows together in 12 years.

"I learned this from Mark [Tremonti, guitar] the other day in a Guitar World interview that we did together," Scott said. "One thing about Mark, and I hope he doesn't get mad at me for sharing, but he's always in touch with our long-term agent from day one, Ken Fermaglich at UTA. He started with us when we were doing clubs and nobody was showing up, and he's still our agent today. And Mark checks in with him to get analytics and get numbers. And Ken shared with him that right now we are bigger in terms of sales and how things are moving than we were at our peak in 2001, 2002, which blows my mind. It still doesn't seem that way to me, but Mark made a comment. He goes, 'Oh, well, you'll see it when you step out and there's 25,000 people in front of you.' And I said, 'Don't scare me, man.' It's been a long time since I've stepped in front of an audience that big."

When McCredden suggested that "the social media world of TikTok and Instagram" played a huge part in generating interest in a CREED reunion tour, Stapp said: "I've learned in my journey in sobriety and in recovery that… I believe in God and I believe that God has a plan. And looking at this from a thousand-foot perspective, it just all just seems, to me, without a doubt that God's had a hand in it. And I'm just grateful that I'm included on the ride and I'm just not gonna take a moment for granted and [I'm gonna] try to deliver every night and give the fans what they're asking for."

A week after DISTURBED shared a new photo from the recording studio, prompting speculation that the band was working on the follow-up to 2022's "Divisive" album, guitarist Dan Donegan took to Instagram Live to clarify that a new DISTURBED LP likely won't arrive until 2025 at the earliest. "[We're] kind of working on some material," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I can't really say. There's no timeframe. I know there was a post earlier of us in the studio and that was just us kind of getting the ball rolling. No planned date, so sorry to burst your bubble. I'm not prematurely getting you too excited about it other than we have some downtime, so it was fun to get together and get creative for a moment. Things went amazing, but we're not planning on any release any time soon. It was just an opportunity to get in a room and get creative again. So [I'm] very, very excited about what we're coming up with, but there's not gonna be a release this year, let me be clear on that."

On July 3, DISTURBED singer David Draiman shared a couple of photos of him, Donegan and drummer Mike Wengren in the studio with producer Drew Fulk (MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LIL PEEP, HIGHLY SUSPECT) and he included the following caption: "Epic shit alert @disturbed @dandonegan @mikewengren #ithasbegun".

Back in February 2023, Donegan talked to Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA about DISTURBED's decision to work with Fulk on its eighth studio album "Divisive", which came out in November 2022. He said: "It's always challenging because… The early part of our career, we worked with Johnny K, who did the first three albums with us. He's a hometown friend, out of Chicago. I knew him growing up, being a local guy, doing the demos for bands locally. And then we kind of self-produced throughout the years. Then we went to Kevin Churko in Las Vegas, who's done FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH [and] IN THIS MOMENT — a lot of great bands — out of Vegas. So, at this point, we just felt like we needed new life, we needed another person in there. So to let somebody in from the outside, to kind of become that fifth member of the band, is always challenging. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to our music, and to let somebody in and to try to allow them to have an opinion and trust them and respect what they do and bring to the table… I think we've opened up a lot more over the years. The older we get, we've kind of opened up to say, 'Hey, we can trust this person to throw ideas at us. It's gonna challenge us and push us too.'"

The guitarist continued: "It's a bit of a learning curve in the beginning. And I kind of was seeking out producers, trying to think who was catching my attention currently. And I thought Drew was kind of a younger guy in his 30s. I liked what he was doing [with] WAGE WAR and then MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, and he did a couple of one-off songs with PAPA ROACH and POP EVIL and stuff like that. So I really liked what he was doing with those bands, what he brought to the table with the production of them. And I thought that this could be a really good marriage between him and DISTURBED.

"We wanted to get back to some of the core elements of what DISTURBED is — those signature elements of… that animalistic side to David's vocals," Donegan explained. "Even though he's still very melodic, bringing out that animalistic side to him, bringing the heavy riffs with the syncopation in the rhythm section and then with the modern-day production. And we thought Drew would be a good marriage and a good addition to this band. And it was. I flew out to California to meet with him — it was just me and him — just to hang out, not even work together. I just wanted to see if we just vibed as people. And we just hit it off right away. I picked him as the producer. I told the [other] guys [in the band] my opinion: 'I think that Drew is the guy that we should at least enter the studio with and see how it goes.' And it was just a short period of time of being in the studio once we started the writing process that we felt his opinions, his contribution was something that we were gonna benefit from. And it just became a great friendship and working relationship with him. It was amazing. I've never had a better experience in the studio than being with Drew. Him and I had a great chemistry, and it really got the ball rolling for us to kind of create those ideas to give David a bed of music that was gonna inspire him melodically and lyrically."

"Divisive" was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

According to Billboard, "Divisive" sold 26,000 equivalent album units in its first week of release, with 22,000 units via album sales.

On the all-format Billboard 200 chart, "Divisive" debuted at No. 13.

DISTURBED has had five No. 1s on the all-genre chart, beginning with "Believe" in 2002.

Dan's recent divorce inspired the "Divisive" song "Don't Tell Me", which is a duet with HEART's Ann Wilson. In two decades, it breaks ground as the first-ever guest collaboration on a DISTURBED record.

"It was very personal to me," Dan previously said. "I was going through my divorce, and I wanted to touch on the fact I was in a very long marriage to a wonderful woman. She's a great mother to my kids. We were together for 18 years. Even though the marriage was in a tough spot, it was hard to leg go, because we'd invested so much into each other. I felt like listeners could relate to it."

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Intergalactic shock rock legends GWAR made a record-breaking sixth appearance at the AV Club studios, again showcasing their unique take on a hit song far outside their usual realm. The return of AV Club's "Undercover" series, after a seven-year hiatus, is a testament to the unparalleled "genius" of GWAR, who have no equal when it comes to reinterpreting songs.

On this visit, GWAR played with dolls, taking on the American icon Barbie, as they covered the hit song "I'm Just Ken" from the "Barbie" movie soundtrack. Of course, GWAR made it all their own. Watch the video for "We're Just GWAR" below.

"I couldn't think of a better way to bring back AV 'Undercover' than with the band responsible for one of my favorite episodes," says Paste Media president Josh Jackson. "GWAR once again knocked it out of the park, completely making a song from the 'Barbie' movie all its own."

GWAR vocalist Blöthar The Berserker states: "We've been fans of Ryan Gosling since the 'Mickey Mouse Club' days, and like most terrifying intergalactic heavy metal superstars, we simply adore musical theater. This just made sense."

Previous visits to the AV Club have seen GWAR showcase their versatility by taking on unexpected hits such as "Carry On, Wayward Son", "Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car", "West End Girls", "She Bop" and "If You Want Blood". Each performance was a unique interpretation that only the lords and masters of GWAR could deliver.

GWAR will embark on "The Stoned Age Tour" this fall in support of their most recent album, "The New Dark Ages". The trek will launch on October 17 in Las Vegas, Nevada at House Of Blues and then wrap up the tour on November 20 in Nashville, Tennessee at the Brooklyn Bowl. The tour features support from black metal royalty DARK FUNERAL and hardcore noise machine SQUID PISSER along with CANCER BATS picking up select dates.

GWAR recently announced the reissue of the band's landmark masterpiece album "Hell-O!", with 2024 being the LP's 36th anniversary. The new release will be blood-spattered clear vinyl and includes expanded artwork featuring never-before-seen photos from the time, including the original album release show in Richmond.

"Hell-O! (36th Anniversary Edition)" will be available in physical form only with limited runs of both CD and vinyl. It is due out September 13 on the band's own label, Pit Records.

To help celebrate this momentous release, the iconic heavy metal collective is also reprinting the "GWAR Must Die" t-shirts made oh-so-famous back in their original pillaging days by human rabble everywhere.

As some of you may know, Blöthar The Berserker once inhabited the earthly form of GWAR's original bass player Beefcake The Mighty. Blöthar The Berserker stated about this momentous occasion: "It was the '80s. I was so young and scared. I will always remember wandering around the seedy sex arcades of Times Square, pants around my ankles, tears in my eyes…little did I know, I was working on the most important record in the history of shock rock. We were polishing a turd for the ages…we wanted to call it 'Beat The Meatles', but the record company said no…and 'Hell-O' was born."

GWAR released a tenth-anniversary edition of its "Battle Maximus" album last September via Pit Records. This new version is completely remixed and remastered, and features the final recorded vocal performance of Oderus Urungus on the previously unreleased and never-before-heard song "Tammy, Queen Of Dirt".

GWAR's latest album, "The New Dark Ages", was released in June 2022 on CD/digital and was made available on vinyl and cassette in September 2022 via GWAR's own Pit Records.

"The New Dark Ages" chronicles GWAR's adventures in the Duoverse, where the band rediscovers old powers such as Blöthar's terrifying Berserker Mode, and encounter new allies, such as the murderous maven known as The Cutter. Along the way, they battle the living monuments of a lost cause and armies of undead soldiers who rise again to fight a new civil war.

The album concept is tied to a companion graphic novel "GWAR In The Duoverse Of Absurdity", which was also released in June 2022 by Z2 Comics. In the graphic novel, the bandmembers are sucked off into an alternate universe to do battle with their evil twins and the specter of rogue technology.

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus, was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia in March 2014. According to Virginia's State Medical Examiner's Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Brockie was last remaining original member of GWAR, which was founded 40 years ago. He was 50 years old.

The satirical metal band earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes, offensive lyrics and graphic, gore-soaked shows, in which the bandmembers performed as the descendants of alien warriors who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race.

Metal On Metal Records has signed Dread Ogre, a new traditional doom metal band from Sweden featuring members of Stonegriff and Grand Magus. Their first full-length titled Get Ready For The Storm is set for July 25 release date.


The label stated: 


"What a great surprise it was to receive an e-mail from a musician from a band we've worked with in the past, that has been long-time inactive! Well, that band (Stonegriff) is unfortunately still on hiatus, however, when we heard the album, we would have thought it's the third full-length of Stonegriff, if we hadn't been told otherwise.




We are therefore extremely happy to announce the signing of Dread Ogre, featuring two ex-members of Stonegriff: Jacob Kramsjö (vocals and guitars) and Michael Lang (bass), as well as the drummer of Grand Magus and Spiritual Beggars, Ludwig Witt. This Swedish traditional doom metal trio is sure to please not only the Stonegriff fans, but also fans of Grand Magus, Krux, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Pentagram, Spiritus Mortis, Iron Man and the like. 


They keep it simple and effective, with huge, molten riffs, thundering drums and charismatic, sinister sounding vocals. Their album's 'replay factor is especially strong with just 37 minutes playing time. Get Ready For The Storm was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by the legendary Andy LaRocque."


Here's what the band had to say:


"We are very proud to announce that Metal On Metal have signed us and will release our debut album "Get Ready for the Storm"! Having recorded an album you are very proud of and believe strongly in makes you careful when approaching labels. We could not have found a better label than Metal On Metal. A label that stands for true uncompromised metal, and nothing but metal."


Get Ready For The Storm will be released on July 25 on CD, Bandcamp and all relevant digital platforms. Stay tuned for more details, three new songs and preorder information in the coming days.

Longtime BRUJERIA vocalist and samplist Ciriaco "Pinche Peach" Quezada has died at the age of 57.

Earlier today (Thursday, July 18),BRUJERIA's leader Juan Brujo released the following statement via social media: "I never thought I would have to do something like this. This is not easy for me. So here I am with very heart breaking news. This news hurts more then anything else Ive ever announced here before...

"Pinche Peach of BRUJERIA passed away last night from serious heart complications.

"As a long term member of BRUJERIA he was the unmasked face of BRUJERIA! He was the 'star' of all our song videos. Videos like 'La Migra' to 'El Patron del Reventon'.

"The band and I will miss you dearly. We love you and loved working with you! You will not ever be forgotten!! He was my best friend, my bro, my bandmate, and my cousin."

BRUJERIA released its fifth full-length album, "Esto Es Brujeria", last September via Nuclear Blast Records.

In a 2015 interview with The Moshville Times, Brujo said that BRUJERIA was never meant to be a touring band. "We only ever meant to make some records. What it was, was back in L.A. in 1989, there was a metal scene which included grind and hardcore stuff. There was a band called TERRORIZER, and they wouldn't let them play in the normal clubs so they'd play in backyards in the Mexican parts of town. We would go — in the backyard of someone's house — and none of the fans there watching the show spoke English. All these Mexicans — there are a lot of Mexicans in L.A., so we just thought, 'We have to start a band that sings in Spanish. Give them what they want.'

"There were issues with some of the guys — 'I've got a contract with my other band,' 'I might be on the road' — but we were only ever going to make music; we were never going to tour it. Just make music in Spanish and see how it went. We did the first record in a day at the studio. We had nothing written; we had no drummer… we just showed up. Someone who'd never played drums in their lives was playing drums. We recorded four songs and when we left, we gave a copy to a Mexican kid and a white guy — one of those hardcore dudes, just someone who didn't speak Spanish. The next day we met the hardcore guy again and he had a patch on his arm. He'd got a BRUJERIA tattoo. He wanted to be the first guy with a BRUJERIA tattoo. The day after we recorded the songs. The Mexican guy — he didn't speak any English — we saw him a couple of days later and he'd memorized all the words. I mean, they're really [makes harsh vocal noises] but he'd listened to them about a thousand times and worked them all out. He was singing them to us there and that's when we thought, 'This thing is gonna work.'"

BRUJERIA's most recent lineup also included Jessica Pimentel, the American actress best known for her role as Maria Ruiz on the Netflix original series "Orange Is The New Black".

Photo credit: Hannah Verbeuren

I never thought I would have to do something like this. This is not easy for me. So here I am with very heart breaking...

Posted by Brujeria on Thursday, July 18, 2024

Britney Spears has called the Osbournes "the most boring family known to mankind" after Ozzy, Sharon and their kids criticized the pop singer's social media videos.

On the latest episode of "The Osbournes" podcast, the BLACK SABBATH frontman and his family described clips of Spears dancing as "very sad".

The Osbourne family spent some of the time on the episode by answering listeners' questions. The first question was directed to Ozzy and Sharon's daughter Kelly, asking whether or not she would ever post TikTok dances.

"I don't know how to do TikTok dances. I don't know where anybody would ever think that I would," she said.

Sharon stated: "It seems to me that TikTok when it first started, were people doing silly dances, but now it's developed into so much more." Jack Osbourne added, "You're just saying that because you're the biggest TikTok junkie, and you're just trying to be, like, 'But there's more to it than that.'"

"There is," Sharon replied.

"I'm fed up of seeing poor old Britney Spears on YouTube," Ozzy said before Sharon clarified he was discussing her "dancing."

"Every fucking day," Ozzy added. "It's sad, very, very sad."

"Save Britney," Jack commented, apparently referencing Spears's former conservatorship. Kelly offered: "I know. I feel so sorry for her."

"Poor little thing," Sharon said, with Jack quickly adding, "Very sad indeed." Sharon continued, "It's heartbreaking."

On Wednesday (July 17),Spears addressed the Osbournes' comments in a lengthy Instagram post. She wrote: "I'm gonna … tell the Osbourne family who is the most boring family known to mankind to kindly fuck off!"

Spears has been mostly inactive in the entertainment world since the end of her controversial 13-year involuntary conservatorship in 2021.

In her tell-all memoir, Spears revealed how she quietly rebelled against the conservatorship through which her father controlled her life for nearly 14 years. One form of rebellion took place on social media, with Spears letting people know that she "was still a real person … by sharing more of my life on social media."

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VERNI, the solo project of legendary bassist D.D. Verni, better known as the bassist and a founding member of thrash metal legends OVERKILL, will release its second album, "Dreadful Company", on July 26 via
M-Theory Audio.

D.D. has held the bottom end of OVERKILL for four decades and been key in writing the band's material and overseeing much of their business over the years. VERNI gives D.D. the chance to step more into the spotlight and express himself without limitations.

"Dreadful Company" will be released on digital, CD and limited-edition vinyl (either black/white marble or traditional black) with insert and digital download card. As a bonus, if you preorder via M-Theory Audio's webstore or through Bandcamp you'll get an individually signed D.D. Verni photo, while supplies last.

As a follow-up to the insanely infectious "Lunkhead", Verni is back with another track to share from his forthcoming solo album. Check out "Cemetery Safari" below.

"So 'Cemetery Safari' is another fun one," Verni states. "Tongue-in-cheek lyrics with a RAMONES groove, written about running around the world playing music for all these years and even now, how fun it still is to do. Feels like a summertime song to me, and driving down the Jersey shore with the windows open and cranking the tunes! Hopefully it brings some of that energy to the listener."

Much like his first solo album, 2018's "Barricade", D.D. wrote all the songs on "Dreadful Company" in addition to singing, and playing guitar and bass. While this album bears some resemblance to "Barricade", D.D. lets his punk roots shine through on this album, which leads to 11 blistering tracks chock full of electrified songs and infectious sing-alongs.

Verni said: "This one has been a long time comin'. So psyched to finally do a punk-ish record. The best thing about these solo ventures is to be able to try out different stuff.

"When Covid came, I found I had a lot of time in the studio, which is not normally the case, so I used it to really ramp up on writing stuff and getting to some things on my bucket list done...this was one of 'em.

"The mantra for the record was write it like a punk band and play it like a metal band. So, when I was writing there was no palm mutes or metal twinged anything, all wide-open RAMONES chords and then big melodies, then I came back later and started to add in the metal flavor, and more how I typically play guitar. I asked Jason Bittner (OVERKILL, SHADOWS FALL) to do the drums 'cause I knew he would kill it, and told him the same thing — play it like you would do it... only parameter I had was no double kick, which I think kind of made it interesting for him too, because that's out of his norm too."

When the LP's first single, "Lunkhead", was released in early June, Verni said: "I did most of the solos, but I knew I didn't want to do 'em all. I thought about the last solo record I did where I had kinda a lot of shredders, and that didn't make sense on a lot of these songs. So, I started to think outside the box: who do I know who can slip from punk to metal easily? I'm driving scanning through stuff that is kinda punk/metal mix, like VOLBEAT, MOTÖRHEAD, some of those METALLICA MISFITS cover tunes, etc., and S.O.D. [STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH] comes on... and I'm like, oh yeah forgot about them and I love that S.O.D. record! Who doesn't? I remember the credits saying Charlie Benante drums and one solo, and so I thought… 'I wonder if Charlie would do it.' I reached out and he was into it, so I sent him a few tunes. He gravitated to 'Lunkhead' and just went for it. It's great, I think! I wish he had the time to do more of 'em. So, for the lead song of the album, it's a bass player and two drummers doing all the tracks hahaha! Awesome!"

In addition to Benante, VERNI have enlisted a few more famous friends throughout the forthcoming record, including the diverse bunch of Virus (DOPE),Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X) and Charlie Calv (ANGEL, THE BRONX CASKET CO.) on a few more select tracks.

"Dreadful Company" is truly a glimpse into another side of D.D., who even produced and engineered, with mixing and mastering by Chris "Zeuss" Harris (HATEBREED, MUNICIPAL WASTE, SOULFLY) and cover artwork/design by Travis Smith (OPETH, DEVIN TOWNSEND, NEVERMORE).

D.D. added: "It was great doing a deal with M-Theory Audio, too. They are just good people and have a good (and believe it or not) a fair system for artists to be able to release product. It's nice to work with people that actually get it!

"Back in the day a label supported their artists with whatever venture they were pursuing. It's just not that way anymore, labels approach everything as a math problem instead of an art project, which is a shame because so many of the so-called 'side projects' like S.O.D., for instance, were just amazing stuff. Megaforce got behind it because ANTHRAX was their artist, as they should, and the result is we all got these great records."

Photo courtesy of Secret Service Publicity

Lamb Of God, who launch their Ashes Of Leviathan co-headlining tour with Mastodon tomorrow in Austin, have shared a second preview of Ashes Of The Wake (20th Anniversary Edition) with today’s release of “Laid To Rest" (HEALTH Remix). Stream the track here, and watch a visualizer below.


“When we were discussing ideas for the 20th anniversary of Ashes of the Wake, a HEALTH remix was one of the first things we thought of. Thanks to those guys for being a part of the anniversary release,” Randy Blythe shares about the reimagined track from the L.A.-based industrial rock band.


“Laid To Rest” remains one of Lamb of God’s most popular songs, consistently appearing on multiple outlets’ best-of lists.




HEALTH added: “Before you get angry with us for ruining your favorite song, please try to remember that Lamb Of God asked us to do this remix. Enjoy!”





Roundly regarded as a cornerstone of modern metal, Ashes Of The Wake also features beloved songs such as “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For,” “Omerta,” and the blistering “Hourglass.” Epic Records and Legacy Recordings mark the two-decade anniversary of the pivotal release with Ashes Of The Wake (20th Anniversary Edition), featuring new mixes by Justin K Broadrick (Godflesh/Jesu), HEALTH and Kublai Khan TX and Malevolence, as well as demo and live versions of the album’s classic songs.


Lamb Of God’s webstore features a trio of exclusive items marking the 20th anniversary: Yellow Smoke 2LP vinyl, a 2CD set, and a commemorative Ashes Of The Wake t-shirt. Two additional vinyl variants, a standard black and a Project M exclusive white/black/red swirl offering, as well as 2CD, and digital, are also available now for pre-order.


All formats include the trio of new remixes and live recordings of “Remorse Is For The Dead” and “Now You’ve Got Something To Die For,” while the 2CD and digital versions include demo versions of “Laid To Rest”, “Ashes Of The Wake”, and “Remorse Is For The Dead”.





Ashes Of The Wake (20th Anniversary Edition) tracklist:


"Laid To Rest"
"Hourglass"
"Now You’ve Got Something To Die For"
"The Faded Line"
"Omerta"
"Blood Of The Scribe"
"One Gun"
"Break You"
"What I’ve Become"
"Ashes Of The Wake"
"Remorse Is For The Dead"
"Laid To Rest" (Pre-Production Demo) *
"Ashes Of The Wake" (Pre-Production Demo) *
"Remorse Is For The Dead" (Pre-Production Demo) *
"Another Nail For Your Coffin" (Feat. Kublai Khan TX & Malevolence)
"Laid To Rest" (Health Remix)
"Omertá" (Justin K Broadrick Remix)
"Remorse Is For The Dead" (Live in Richmond, VA)
"Now You’ve Got Something To Die For" (Live from 2007)


* Exclusive to 2CD & Digital


“Another Nail For Your Coffin" (Feat. Kublai Khan TX & Malevolence):





Lamb Of God join forces with Mastodon, who released their sophomore album, Leviathan, on the same date (August 31st) that Ashes Of The Wake arrived in 2004. The tour, dubbed Ashes Of Leviathan, also features openers Kerry King and Malevolence. Tickets for all shows are on-sale now with ticketing links available here.





Ashes Of Leviathan tour dates:


July
19 - Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust CU Theatre
20 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
21 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall
23 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily’s Place Wed
24 - Orlando, FL - Orlando Amphitheater
25 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
27 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater
28 - Richmond, VA - Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
31 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens


August
1 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
3 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
4 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena
6 - Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheatre
8 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena**
9 - Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion**
10 - Sterling Heights, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hall**
13 - Moorhead, MN - Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater
15 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
16 - Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Centre
17 - Kent, WA - accesso ShoWare Center
18 - Portland, OR - Theater of the Clouds
21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Kia Forum
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre
24 - Rio Rancho, NM - Rio Rancho Events Center
25 - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
27 - Magna, UT - The Great Saltair
29 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
31 - Omaha, NE - The Astro Amphitheater


** No Malevolence, Support from Kerry King & Unearth


(Photo - Travis Shinn)

The AC/DC classic "Thunderstruck" has been given the bluegrass treatment by Postmodern Jukebox vocalist Robyn Adele Anderson and her band. Check out this new rendition of the song, performed live and in one take, below.





AC/DC is one of the bestselling rock acts of all time all around the world—and that’s especially true when looking specifically at the US, reports Forbes. The band has the receipts to show just how successful they are - and now they claim one of the most coveted and impressive awards in the music industry, which also highlights their incredible popularity.




The Australian group earns their first diamond-certified single as “Thunderstruck” collects the honor. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) certifies tracks and albums once they hit certain consumption thresholds, and the organization recently named the smash a diamond hit.


In the US, both albums and individual tunes can be certified diamond after shifting 10 million equivalent units. That number now includes both pure sales and streaming activity.


“Thunderstruck” is AC/DC’s first diamond-certified single in America. Amazingly, the tune had not earned a single certification before it went diamond. The RIAA awarded it gold (for half a million), then platinum (for one million), and then diamond, all at once.


Read more at Forbes.





AC/DC's Back In Black album was certified 26x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association Of America on July 8. The album has now shipped 26 million copies in the US.





Back In Black, the band’s seventh studio album, was released in July 1980, and was their first to feature vocalist Brian Johnson, following the death of Bon Scott. The album, produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange, spawned the singles "You Shook Me All Night Long", "Hells Bells", "Back In Black", and "Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution".

Chilean metal masters, Sinner’s Blood, announce the release of their second album, Dark Horizons, out September 27 via Frontiers Music Srl. The first single and accompanying video, “Enemy”, are available now. Watch the clip below, and pre-order the new album here.


Guitarist Nasson commented on the track: “Enemy is one of the most energetic songs on the album! The song talks about watching the downfall of an antagonizing figure due to its own faults. We thought it was a great idea to accompany it with a video showing the energy of the band when we perform and having a great time at the studio. It’s a good first taste of what Dark Horizons is about!”.


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)

Melodic power metal band, Signum Regis, have released a music video for "Ministry Of Truth", taken from their latest album, Undivided.


Ronnie König of Signum Regis comments:"'Ministry of Truth' is a song written by our guitarist Filip Koluš. I did the lyrics and since the song is so heavy, I immediately thought about linking it to a heavy topic. As the title suggests, it criticizes the people in power who have appropriated the right to be the arbiters of truth. Unlike most of our previous music videos, this one is story-driven and features professional actors. It was done in Brazil and the production looks great. We hope you will like it."







Undivided was released on CD, limited vinyl editions and digital in November 2023 via Ulterium Records.


Undivided received excellent feedback from media and fans around the world and most agree that this is the strongest release from the band so far.


The album was produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Kamelot, Evergrey) and the epic artwork was created by Uwe Jarling (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy). Guests on the album includes guitarists Jimi Cimbala (No Control) and Daniel J. Fries (Affector) and vocalist David Åkesson (Moonlight Agony, Quantice, Symphonity).

"Hell Is Full Of Fire" is the new single from South Carolina hell bringers, Demiser. The apocalyptic new hymn comes by way of the band's Slave To The Scythe full-length, set for release on August 23 via Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records.


The Demiser collective features Demiser The Demiser (occult liturgic blasphemy), Gravepisser (six-stringed Satanic fukklord), Phallomancer (abysmal rhythm of death), Defiler (dismal baritone curator), and Infestor (purveyor of percussive bile). The nine-track Slave To The Scythe is a devastatingly intense slab of work; an aural harbinger of hellish intent that sees the band blend '80s thrash, first-wave black metal, death metal, and a healthy dose of NWOBHM.


Latest album teaser, "Hell Is Full Of Fire," is an epic tale of a demonic war, featuring the lines, "Call in the hordes, prepare for victory; The vermin Christ and his servants; Will soon plead as their blood spills; By the will of my steel." The band further elaborates, "This was one that started with a riff Phallomancer brought to practice and we all jumped in and got it fleshed out. Lyrically, we were making up dumb song titles we thought Demiser The Demiser would write and somehow he dropped this gem out of his ass. We ran with it. We still regret it."







Slave To The Scythe was recorded in the summer of 2023 with Chase McGuckin at Seaboard Recording Studio in West Columbia, South Carolina. "We record one at a time with scratch tracks and clicks and all. We recorded with minimal AC so it was hot as f*cking sh*t." The band sees Slave To The Scythe as the perfect followup to Through The Gate Eternal. "We feel like it's a continuation of our first album and upholds the same ripping sound," they say.


Demiser will be releasing three singles from the new opus, beginning with the face-ripping "Infernal Bust" - a sort of Rosemary's Baby for a gore-loving audience that includes the lyrics, "Rot your womb, spread the seed that Satan seeps; Flesh grows pale, fruit of man wilts."


Slave To The Scythe will be available in CD and Digital formats, as well as Vinyl in "Carbureted Fire." Find pre-orders here.





Tracklisting:


"Feast"
"Slave To The Scythe"
"Carbureted Speed"
"Phallomancer The Phallomancer"
"Interlude"
"Total Demise"
"Hell Is Full Of Fire"
"Infernal Bust"
"In Nomine Baphomet"


"Infernal Bust" video:





(Photo by Savannah Bockus)