In a new interview with Chile's iRock, CLUTCH bassist Dan Maines spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to the "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach" album, which was released in September 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're kind of in the middle of some deep writing sessions. We've been getting together quite a bit, but it's all focusing on new material, trying to write songs for a new album. It's going really well. We get together in a studio and we are just recording every single idea that we have. If it gets to the point where we've got two parts together that kind of resemble a verse and a chorus, and everyone's happy with it just music-wise, we'll record those ideas. And then we put that aside and move on to something else. And we upload those files so that all four of us can listen to them at home. And Neil [Fallon, CLUTCH singer] will take a good hard listen to them and think about vocal ideas for those parts. And we start piecing together things. Sometimes he'll listen to something from one day that he thinks might work really well with something from the previous week. And if it requires tempo changes or key changes to kind of blend those two parts together, we'll work on that. But, yeah, it's kind of a very organic process. Right now I would say we have probably about a solid 10 ideas that you could call songs, but they definitely need a little more fleshing out. But, yeah, it's exciting."

Offering a rough timetable for the rest of the writing sessions for CLUTCH's next LP, Maines said: "We'll go down to South America for the week's worth of shows [in late July 2024] and then come back and try to do some more writing before we get into full kind of tour mode, which is summertime. We're heading over to Europe for European festivals, and then we have a lot of touring that picks back up in the fall here in the U.S. So we're trying to get all of our writing done now as much as possible. And it's going pretty good."

Asked what music inspires him and his CLUTCH bandmates these days, Dan said: "Anything, everything. Between the four of us, we kind of draw from a lot of different sources and we try to take those influences, whether it's blues or something more heavy, doom-oriented or something funky, and just kind of put it in a blender and create something new out of it. But sometimes, like the last time we got together, we were thinking, 'Well, let's try to write something uptempo, something above 100 beats per minute.' And at the end of the day, we came out with something that we all thought was great, but the tempo was, like, 70. So you can go in with one idea or one direction, but at the end of the day, what you end up with could be completely different. You just never know what's gonna come out."

"Sunrise On Slaughter Beach", which was recorded at the The Magpie Cage Recording Studio in Baltimore, Maryland, was produced and mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Tom Dalgety (GHOST, ROYAL BLOOD, PIXIES),with additional engineering by J Robbins (JAWBREAKER, AGAINST ME!, THE SWORD).

This past April, Fallon confirmed to TotalRock's "Hobo On The Radio" show that he and his bandmates were working on new music. "I am definitely the slowest out of the bunch as far as writing lyrics, 'cause I try the same lyrics on different songs and try to find out where they can live," he said.

He continued: "We probably — we won't be recording until next year. And I'm gonna say hopefully the album will come out in the third quarter or fourth quarter of 2025. Which sounds like it's far away, and I guess it is, to a degree, but that's gonna come around pretty quick for us. We're gonna do it with Tom Dalgety again. He was awesome. But that never stops us from playing these [new songs] live, which they'll inevitably will be everyone's favorite version and they'll hate the record's version, but that's just the way it goes."

Vision Divine will release the new album Blood And Angels' Tears on September 20 through Scarlet Records.


The finest Italian prog-power metal prime movers are back for good, once again delivering a handful of glorious and smooth progressive power metal. An epic saga unfolding across two monumental records, with Blood And Angels' Tears as its first part: set in a distant epoch before known civilizations, the narrative revolves around three angels banished from heaven for their indecision during the cataclysmic war between Lucifer and Archangel Michael.


Each album is a chapter in a grand movie-like tale: themes of redemption, unity and resilience permeate the melodic orchestrations and haunting vocals. Experience the cinematic majesty of Blood And Angels' Tears where each note and lyric merges to evoke a timeless struggle and a heroic journey through the realms of ancient myth and fantastical imagination.




Blood And Angels' Tears will be released in the following formats:
- digipack CD
- vinyl LP: 350 marbled red (retail exclusive), 150 marbled blue (mailorder exclusive)
- digital


Artwork by Augusto Silva:





Tracklisting:


“Chapter I: War In Heaven”
“Chapter II: The Ballet Of Blood And Angels’ Tears”
“Chapter III: Once Invincible”
“Chapter IV: Drink Our Blood” (feat. Bulldozer’s AC Wild)
“Chapter V: When Darkness Comes”
“Chapter VI: Preys”
“Chapter VII: A Man On A Mission”
“Chapter VIII: Go East”
“Chapter IX: The Broken Past” (Feat. Fates Warning’s Ray Alder, Twilight Force’s Alle Conti)
“Chapter X: Dice And Dancers”
“Chapter XI: Lost”


(Photo – Andrea Falaschi)

PowerOfMetal.cl has shared the video below, in which former Stratovarius guitarist, Timo Tolkki, performs "The Hands Of Time", from the 1992 Stratovarius album, Twilight Time.


Says PowerOfMetal.cl: "This performance took place at Club Subterraneo on July 5th as part of Timo Tolkki's tour in Chile. This tour marks the return of this classic song to his live set, the last time being back in 2003."


Watch below:

New Zealand hard rock powerhouse, Black Smoke Trigger, have a brand new song out today, "Sun Cries Red", as well as the release date for their debut album Horizons, due August 2, 2024.


Watch the In-Studio Performance Video of "Sun Cries Red":







Black Smoke Trigger peels apart the layers of "Sun Cries Red":


"'Sun Cries Red' came to life while we were in pre-production for the album Horizons. After the initial writing session, we stayed up all night recording the demo. Dan finished his bass part and went to bed; and the rest of us continued on in an alcohol fueled recording session. After going over and over the song adding different layers in our Air-BnB in Nashville, Dan burst out of his room absolutely pissed off that we had been going so long and so loud which was kind of hilarious. We needed to finish the demo so we of course just continued on.


A couple days later when I was recording the guitar solo in the studio, he said, 'Where did that solo come from!?' which was possibly one of the funniest moments from recording the album. After explaining it was written when he was all pissed off that he couldn't sleep, he said, 'Well I didn't realize you were writing epic stuff like that,' it was good fun.


The song lyrically is about looking back at something that is important but neglected, seeing something in a shadow of its former glory. Continuing the recording process, producer Nick Raskulinecz suggested we experiment by adding a string section to the song, Josh ended up writing all those parts and it really took the song to another level."





Black Smoke Trigger will release their debut album, Horizons, on August 2, 2024. Pre-order your copy on CD or Vinyl here. Artwork and tracklisting are as follows:





"Phantom Pain"
"K.M.T.L"
"The Way Down"
"Perfect Torture"
"Proof Of Life"
"Learn To Crawl"
"Set Me On Fire"
"Psycho"
"One More Chance (Don't Let It Slip Away)"
"Never Dies"
"Sun Cries Red"
"Promise"














For further details, visit Black Smoke Trigger on Facebook.


(Photo - Andhe Chandler)


 

Lzzy Hale says it was "sweet" of Jon Bon Jovi to say that she should join SKID ROW as the band's new singer.

The 40-year-old Hale, who has fronted her band HALESTORM for more than two and a half decades, handled the vocal duties for SKID ROW for four shows only after the group's fourth frontman since Sebastian Bach's departure — "Swedish Idol" contestant Erik Grönwall — quit the band to focus on his health. She later took to social media to thank SKID ROW for the opportunity and express her hope to rejoin them at some point, but ruled out a full-time position in SKID ROW for the time being.

In a June 2024 interview with Rock Sound where he answered interview questions from some of the magazine's cover stars, including Hale, Jon praised Lzzy, saying: "She should please join SKID ROW. Please, Lzzy Hale, join SKID ROW. Put the two bands [HALESTORM and SKID ROW] together, if you need to. But this is the best thing that happened to Snake [SKID ROW guitarist Dave Sabo] since he met me. [Laughs]"

Recounting how Jon ended up mentioning her name, Lzzy told Heavy Consequence in a new interview (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I got asked to send in a question, a random question, to Jon Bon Jovi, 'cause they were trying to gather questions from musicians to ask him for this interview. And so then the interview comes out, and so I'm getting all these like Google alerts for this interview. I'm, like, 'Oh, cool. I'll listen to what he said to answer my question,' 'cause it's not just me asking questions. And then they mentioned me to him and he's, like, 'Oh, please join SKID ROW. You are the best thing to happen to Snake since he met me.' And all of this stuff about what I can do. And my internal teenager's, like, 'Jon Bon Jovi knows who I am. Oh my God.' And then I'm, like, 'Oh my God. How sweet of him to say all these things.' And then from that, then I'm hearing from my dad, who's, like, 'I remember you blasting…' We [HALESTORM] used to cover [BON JOVI's] 'Living On A Prayer' back in PA [Pennsylvania] bars and stuff, and, and he's, like, you used to listen to [SKID ROW's] 'Slave To The Grind'. What are you thinking right now?' I'm, like, 'I don't know what to think. This is crazy.'"

She continued: "It's like this full-circle… In 1996, if you had told me that this was going to be this beautiful bookend to this story of my journey in rock, I would have said, 'You're a liar. That will never happen to me.' And so the fact that it has, it's so much more than just, like, 'Oh, look, I got mentioned by some rock stars.' It became this beautiful thing that now I can carry forever. That's great. I get to put that on my tombstone. [Laughs]"

A short time after Jon's interview with Rock Sound was first posted online, Lzzy shared the clip on her social media and she wrote in an accompanying message: "What a compliment, what an honor, and what a tremendous piece of advice! Thank you for your kind words and candor @jonbonjovi watch the full interview at @rocksound".

Back in December 2022, Sabo looked back on his childhood friendship with Jon Bon Jovi and how it inspired him and his bandmates to become better songwriters. He told Colombia's W Radio: "First of all, [Jon and I] have been best friends since we were children. He grew up three streets away from where I grew up, so we've known each other for an awfully long time — well over 40 years now. His work ethic and his commitment to music and his perseverance showed me and showed us that it was possible to be able to have success in the music business. He was very, very helpful at the very beginning with our band and he's always been a great mentor to me. And he's always been one hundred percent honest with me regarding all aspects of our relationship. We would always play him our music that we were writing and he would always give us his honest opinion. And he was the one who, at the very beginning, was really pushing us to be better songwriters, to be better musicians, to be a better band. And he was the guy that really instilled in us that being just good isn't good enough. You've gotta aspire to be great. And that was him teaching us that."

Despite the fact that the 1989 debut album from the Sebastian Bach-fronted SKID ROW went five times platinum and produced several hit singles — including "18 And Life", "I Remember You" and "Youth Gone Wild" — there was initially a lot of bitterness surrounding its success, largely due to the fact that in return for the helping hands of Jon Bon Jovi, SKID ROW reportedly had to enter a publishing deal with Jon's then-newly established Underground Music Company in which they waived their rights to publishing royalties. All money was paid to Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. After a public dispute, Sambora gave his share of the money back to SKID ROW.

Around a decade ago, Bach reflected on the business arrangement he and his then-bandmates made with Bon Jovi, telling ArtScenics TV: "Bon Jovi took us on our first tour and we signed some papers with him that he got a cut of, if we made it big, that he would get compensated for helping us out. Nobody expected us to get as big as we got. Nobody thought that we would become a big band. That happens all the time in the music industry. Jon was, like, 'We'll take you on tour, but if you guys make it big,' then he gets a cut of it. So I was bitter about that for awhile, but then I realized that we probably wouldn't have made it as big, or maybe at all, if he didn't take us."

Back in 2015, Bach told Rodney Holder of Australia's Music Business Facts that he no longer harbored any resentment toward Bon Jovi over the publishing royalties generated by the "Skid Row" album.

"We signed a publishing deal with Bon Jovi's company, which gave him an extremely large cut of the first album," he recalled. "And when that happened, none of us realized it, really, and we were very bitter when we found that out. But our next record debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, so quit your fucking whining. [Laughs] It's, like, I look back… He took us on tour… Nobody thought we'd make it. There was a million bands. We could have been BANG TANGO or TIGERTAILZ or… We could have been… There's a billion bands. We could have been BABYLON A.D. … Anyway, so, the fact that we were one of the bands that did make it was like a needle in the haystack. So for Bon Jovi to put us on the road in front of his crowd every night, that's how we made it. So he deserved to get paid for that. He could have taken any other band. So we re-did all those deals after the first album — for 'Slave To The Grind' and 'Subhuman Race' and the best-of album. We re-did all those."

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A post shared by LZZY HALE (@officiallzzyhale)

Orange County, CA-based classic metal band, Leatherwolf, have released a video for "Nobody", a track from their 2022 album, Kill The Hunted.


Says the band: "Today is the day! ⚡ Here's the full 'Nobody' video we've been promising you. Hope you all dig it and share the heck out of it so we can reach as many metalheads out there as possible. Rawk!" 🎸🎸🎸


The clip, directed by Èric Boadella, can be found below.







Kill The Hunted tracklisting:


"Hit The Dirt"
"Nobody"
"Kill The Hunted"
"Only The Wicked"
"Madhouse"
"Medusa"
"The Henchman"
"(Evil) Empires Fall"
"Road Rage"
"Lights Out Agan"
"Enslaved"


"Nobody" video:





"Only The Wicked" video:





Leatherwolf issued a limited edition double vinyl version of Kill The Hunted, including a bonus track remake of their 1989 Street Ready classic, "Thunder". Retitled "Thunder (MMXXII)", the song features a lead guitar special guest appearance by Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake, Iconic, Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Copies are available on the band's Big Cartel store, here.

In a new interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen spoke about the band's latest single, "Just Like 73". The track, which features a guest guitar solo from Tom Morello, can be heard below.

Regarding how the Morello collaboration came about, Collen said: "Well, Tom heard my original demo of the song with just me on it, and maybe Joe [Elliott, DEF LEPPARD singer] doing a vocal. And he's, like, 'Oh my God, this is great.' So he told our friend Brian Monaco, who is actually president of Sony Music, and Brian's, like, 'What do you think about Tom being on it? He loves this thing.' And it was, like, 'Yeah, that'd be awesome.'

"You know, I love RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE. I think Tom's really, really cool and his guitar style is so unique and he really didn't let us down. I remember talking to him about it. He said, 'Well, what do you hear?' and I said, 'Well, you gotta do your Tom Morello thing.' And he did. [I] heard it back and said, 'This is absolutely perfect.'

"The song is about us discovering the music that kind of shaped our lives, you know, the [David] Bowie/T. REX period of the very early '70s, and he totally got it, and kind of nailed it. So we're overjoyed about that."

Asked if there is more new music to come from DEF LEPPARD, Phil said: "There is. That was kind of left over from the 'Diamond Star Halos' [album sessions], and we actually hadn't finished it off. We only finished it off this year with everyone playing and singing on it. So, yeah, it was like almost there but not quite for that album.

"We've got this thing now where we write. I was on with Joe on Sunday in Dublin. I was in California, and we were writing a song together and coming up with backing vocal ideas for something else. We are so excited about new stuff. So, it's growing, you know, it's expanding, our whole thing, as opposed to people getting writer's block or something. We're having the complete opposite experience. We're just getting more excited about what we're doing."

Last month, Collen told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the writing process for "Just Like 73": "We started it when we were doing [2022's] 'Diamond Star Halos' [album], and anyone who doesn't know, that's a line from a Marc Bolan song [from] T. REX. He says 'hubcap diamond star halo'. And me and Joe [Elliott, DEF LEPPARD singer] have always used that phrase to describe the time that we got really baptized into music. I remember seeing [David] Bowie on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' and 'Top Of The Pops' and was, like, 'Oh my God. This is my guy.' I was, like, 14 or 15. I'd already seen DEEP PURPLE; it my first concert, which was amazing. So, then all of a sudden this glam stuff came out. So we would always describe that as 'Diamond Star Halos'."

Phil continued: "I was writing a song with Dave Bassett, who I wrote 'Kick' with. And the same deal — I really want to put a SLADE slant on the backing vocals and just make it very much about '72 or '73. And Joe heard the demo and he's, like, 'Why can't you have both?' So we did, and then Joe started writing some lyrics because he's obviously really tapped into that, and all the verse lyrics and all the imagery from exactly that 'Diamond Star Halos' period ends up on this song. We actually hadn't finished it, so the rest of the band hadn't even heard the demo, and we played it to everyone and they all loved it. They all put their stuff on it. Viv [guitarist Vivian Campbell] played guitar, Sav [Rick Savage] did [his bass tracks], Rick [Allen, DEF LEPPARD drummer] put his part on and then we had some vocals — everyone had sung on it — and before you know it, it came out like this. So, we're really thrilled. It actually sounds better than the stuff on 'Diamond Star Halos', to my ears. So I'm really excited about that. And it seems that everyone really digs it as well."

Asked if this is a one-off single or the seed of another DEF LEPPARD full-length album, Phil said: "Oh, it's absolutely the seed of another DEF LEPPARD record. I mean, it was a leftover from the album before, but it was also the start of a new album. So, without a doubt. [Joe and I] write all the time. We send each other things. Sav gets in on there. Just between the three of us, there's just a lot of stuff floating around already. So we've, yeah, got a bunch of stuff. It's really exciting. And it's a great place to be. It's never that thing where, 'Well, we've got to sit down and write an album.' It's, like, 'Wow, I can't wait to play this to the guys and see what the reaction is.' And we keep pushing the boat out even further."

Regarding whether he envisions a new DEF LEPPARD full-length album coming out this year, Phil said: "This year would be pushing it, I think this year. But once we kind of get into the groove, I think — yeah. Who knows? Next year [or] early the year after. But you know how these things go. We have these tours and everything, but we've got a new song. So that's really exciting. So that'll be on the go pretty soon."

"Just Like 73" will arrive on seven-inch vinyl on August 2, 2024 and will be available in a special color variant only through the band's D2C store and in black at all retailers.

DEF LEPPARD teased "Just Like 73" on social media earlier in June, sharing an image with two different phone numbers for U.S. and U.K. fans to call.

"Light up the fuel. Just Like 73. Hotline Now Open," the band wrote in an accompanying caption.

Fans who called the phone numbers were able to hear Elliott singing lyrics from the song, which marks the band's first new original music since 2022's "Diamond Star Halos" album.

DEF LEPPARD's 23-city trek with JOURNEY kicked off on July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri and will continue through September 8 in Denver, Colorado. Along the way, the two Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees will bring their show to stadiums in major cities like Chicago, Nashville, Boston, Toronto, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and more. CHEAP TRICK will play two shows at the beginning of the tour and two concerts at the end of the trek, while STEVE MILLER BAND will join the bill for the majority of shows.

The DEF LEPPARD/JOURNEY tour is being promoted by AEG Entertainment.

Both bands are offering VIP packages through their respective web sites.

DEF LEPPARD's VIP experiences include a premium seat, personal photo with the band, exclusive merchandise and more.

DEF LEPPARD's 12th studio album, "Diamond Star Halos", came out in 2022. A year later, the band followed it up with "Drastic Symphonies", a collection of reimagining of some of DEF LEPPARD's greatest hits with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at Abbey Road. The album spent 15 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Current Classical chart.

DEF LEPPARD's 2022 stadium tour across North America with MÖTLEY CRÜE reportedly sold more than 1.3 million tickets.

Today, Jim Peterik & World Stage share "Your Own Hero", the second single from their new album, Roots & Shoots Vol.2, hitting streets August 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. The album follows up the release of Roots & Shoots Vol.1, whose notable guests included Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Don Barnes (.38 Special), and Mark Farner (Grand Funk).


Volume 2 presents Jim's collaborations with Mike Reno, Jason Scheff, Toby Hitchcock, The Ides of March, Cathy Richardson (Jefferson Starship), and Neil Donnell (of Chicago). Among the “Shoots,” Sophia Sheth and Kevin Farris appear along with Marc Scherer, who recorded a great album with Peterik in 2015 entitled Risk Everything. Additionally, Dave Mikulskis sings the anthemic opener “American Dreamer”, which was initially released alongside a visualizer which is available below.


World Stage, a concept rooted in musical and spiritual collaborations among artists and friends, is the best representation of Jim Peterik's truly outstanding musical legacy and a testament to his songwriting abilities as one of the true wizards of melodic rock.




Check Out the video for "Your Own Hero":





The Jim Peterik & World Stage concept arose from the idea that the musical and spiritual collaboration of great artists and friends could be truly special.


This idea created a string of records that followed the now close-to-legendary debut album released in the year 2000, where Peterik managed to present his collaboration with such rock luminaries as Dennis DeYoung (ex-Styx), Kevin Cronin (REO Speedwagon), Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Don Barnes (.38 Special), Tom Kiefer (Cinderella) and many more.


That concept resurfaced in 2019 on the Winds of Change album when Jim Peterik was joined by giants of American rock such as Dennis DeYoung again, Kevin Chalfant (ex-The Storm), Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, Kelly Keagy (Night Ranger), Mike Reno (Loverboy), Jason Scheff (ex-Chicago) and more.


Later on, Peterik decided to dedicate an entire album to the 'Women who Rock the World' giving birth to the awesome album Tigress which showed his collaboration with such outstanding singers and musicians like Jennifer Batten, Chloe Lowery, Rosa Laricchiuta, Chez Kane and so many more.


All those albums spotlight the many talents of Jim Peterik, enhanced and embellished by a cast of noted singers and musicians.


Pre-order the new album here.





Roots & Shoots Vol.2 tracklisting:


"American Dreamer" (feat. Dave Mikulskis)
"Your Own Hero" (feat. Mike Reno with Jim Peterik)
"Stronger Than You Know" (feat. Jim Peterik and Dave Mikulskis)
"All That's Mine To Give" (feat. Toby Hitchcock)
"Been To The Mountain" (feat. Jason Scheff)
"Forever Endeavor" (feat. Jim Peterik with Toby Hitchcock)
"Rise Again" (feat. Kevin Farris)
"We Can Fly" (feat. The Ides Of March with Jim Peterik)
"Love Lives" (feat. Jim Peterik with Cathy Richardson )
"Until" (feat. Neil Donnell)
"Hit Of Freedom" (feat. Sophia Sheth)
"The Road To Forever" (feat. Jim Peterik)


American Dreamer" visualizer:





Jim Peterik, through the years, has written or co-written some of rock's most memorable songs: "Vehicle" by The Ides Of March (on which he was lead vocalist), "Eye Of The Tiger," "The Search Is Over," "High On You," and "I Can't Hold Back”. He penned hits for .38 Special such as "Hold On Loosely," "Caught Up In You," "Fantasy Girl," and "Rockin' Into The Night" as well as "Heavy Metal" with Sammy Hagar, and many, many more.


Peterik, now a part of Pride Of Lions with vocalist Toby Hitchcock, is one of the most esteemed and loved recording artists and songwriters on the Frontiers Music label and in the larger melodic rock community.

German thrashers, Eradicator, have released the new single, "The Paradox". The song is the title track of the band's forthcoming new studio album, to be released on September 20th on Metalville Records. The official video for the track can be viewed below.


Lyrically, the first single from Eradicator's sixth album describes the processes of industrial animal fattening and slaughter: the mechanically monotonous and deadly efficiency of a slaughterhouse, inspired Henry Ford to produce his cars on assembly lines. The paradox here is that the godfather of the "assembly line" is animal slaughter. Although the processes of meat production are sufficiently documented, consumers can still ignore the largely cruel facts through selective perception. The text has no claim to moral authority, but rather a descriptive character. Everyone can and may draw their own conclusions from what is being sung about.







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


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


The lyrical themes on The Paradox reflect the dichotomy and ambivalence of human action and thought. "Perpetual Sacrifice" is about denigrating the weaker in order to make oneself feel greater and about the reversal between victim and perpetrator. "When The Shooting Begins" is about the paradox of wanting to create peace through war - whereby the truth is usually one of the first victims after the outcry of the weapons. The concluding "Debris Of Demise" is a fictional tale of mankind having to evacuate the planet due to environmental destruction, but the saving ark being unable to leave orbit due to the large amount of space debris. 


Singer / guitarist Seba Stöber comments: "We don't want to make a name for ourselves as moralizers, but rather reflect the issues and problems of our time. As artists, our task is also to stimulate a discourse!"


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





Tracklist:


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

Progressive death metal duo ENTHEOS has announced a new EP, "An End To Everything", scheduled for release on October 25 through Metal Blade Records.

Merging elements pulled from countless genres — including death metal, groove, grunge, electronica, slam, gothic rock, jazz, prog, and more — and pushing progressive death metal in ever more imaginative directions, ENTHEOS continues to progress with each new release.

Comments vocalist Chaney Crabb on their latest output: "'An End To Everything''s title and lyrics are significant on a personal level and depict an era in my life that ended with the death of a close friend because of addiction. This person had thrived in life against many odds, but ultimately succumbed as a result of their own poor decisions. 'An End To Everything' is about the nature of the darkness of life and the human experience.

"Musically, our goal on this EP was to write five songs that could both stand on their own as singles and be cohesive as a collection. As always, we aimed to incorporate many different musical influences and blend them in a succinct way. Over the span of three months, we worked from the demo stages to completion alongside Mark Lewis, who co-produced and engineered the EP, to make five tracks that are uniquely 'ENTHEOS,' and we are incredibly proud of the result."

In advance of the release, the band today unveils a video for the track "All For Nothing". Crabb elaborates: "'All For Nothing' is a song about existential reflection and the idea that, no matter how significant the things that we seek in this life seem, they may serve no purpose in the grand scheme of things. Musically, we wanted to write a more straightforward, catchy death metal song and incorporate a 'big chorus' ending."

Watch ENTHEOS's "All For Nothing" video, directed by My Good Eye Visuals, below.

"An End To Everything" track listing:

01. An End To Everything
02. All For Nothing
03. Life In Slow Motion
04. A Thousand Days
05. Return To Me
06. Absolute Zero (Live In Nashville) *
07. In Purgatory (Live In Nashville) *
08. I Am The Void (Live In Nashville) *

* Vinyl-only track

ENTHEOS is currently on tour in the U.S. as the support act for AS I LAY DYING. The journey commenced on July 9 and runs through August 10. Additional support is being provided by CHELSEA GRIN. The band has also announced several headlining shows throughout the trek.

ENTHEOS is:

Chaney Crabb - vocals
Navene Koperweis - drums, guitar

In a new interview with the "Broken Record" podcast, SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian was asked if it makes him sad that he and his bandmates haven't been able to make a new studio album, nearly two decades after the arrival of "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" LPs, which came out in 2005. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Creatively, I keep on making music and making art and doing creatively what I'm meant to do. And if the opportunity arises for us to work together in an egalitarian fashion in the right way with the right vibe and the right influence, then we'll do it.

"In 2020, we put out two songs because there was the invasion of Artsakh and Armenia happening by Azerbaijan during COVID, and people didn't know about what was going on so we used the band and putting out new music as an opportunity to spread awareness and we were successful in doing so," he explained. "So hopefully it's not just the decimation of our people that's gonna take SYSTEM OF A DOWN writing new music, but I think when that time is, and I don't know if it is ever or if it will be, that would be amazing. But I don't get sad by it, because to me it is what it is. When it's right, then it happens. When it's not, it shouldn't happen."

Asked if he would be okay with SYSTEM OF A DOWN going on without him, with a different singer in his place, Serj said: "Absolutely. I've offered them that opportunity and been very supportive of it many years. If they wanted to do that, if they wanted to continue in a way that I didn't — for example, if they wanted to tour a lot and I just wanna do a couple of shows here and there, because I'm not into touring a lot, to be fair to them, if they wanted to do that, I'm totally open to it still. I'm not sure they want to do that. They haven't until now, and I think it would take something away from the prestige and legacy of the band itself, but as friends and as someone who cares very much about my partners, I would be okay with it."

Regarding what it is about the four members of SYSTEM OF A DOWN as individuals, the alchemy of them together, that makes the band so great as a unit, Serj said: "Everything that each person is — from their personality to their playing style to how they think, how they feel and the combination thereof — make SYSTEM OF A DOWN what it is. If you take any particle away from this compound, it's not going to be SYSTEM OF A DOWN. It could be calledSYSTEM OF A DOWN, but it's not going to really be SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Even the stubbornness and the creative differences, everything, the push and pull, the manicness, the calmness, all of the above is what makes who we are."

Last month, Serj was asked by Metal Hammer magazine about comments from his SYSTEM bandmate John Dolmayan last year in which the drummer claimed that Serj "hasn't wanted to be in the band for a long time." Serj said: "John means the world to me. He's my brother-in-law, I love him, and I saw him just yesterday, but there are times he's got mad and said fucking shit. And look, there's times I've gotten mad and said fucking shit, too. The option has always been there for the band to move on without me, and John knows that.

"In the end, to me SYSTEM OF A DOWN is beyond the band," he continued. "It's our relationship together. And it means more to me than the band itself, or even the music itself. And that is hard for other people, maybe even other people in the band, to understand. But, as I saw from the stage at Sick New World [festival in Las Vegas] last year, the multi-generational appeal of the music we have made is mind-blowing, bro. Our music is more timeless than we ever imagined, and that is the hugest compliment for any artist."

In his recently released memoir, "Down With The System", Serj revealed that his SYSTEM OF A DOWN bandmates had auditioned a new vocalist after he had asked out of the group in 2017. Serj said that his disdain for touring led to his decision to tell his bandmates to carry on without him so they could continue living their dream. Tankian later learned that the band had begun looking at new singers, and he also shared that in "more recent years", he had pitched a close friend as a potential replacement but he didn't think the band ever seriously considered the offer.

Two months ago, Serj spoke to the Soul Boom With Rainn Wilson podcast about his reluctance to embrace the touring lifestyle that characterized SYSTEM OF A DOWN's early years. He said: "We've had incredible, unexpected success as a very far-flung kind of progressive metal band with our 'Toxicity' record in 2001 and touring and doing what we did. And after many years of touring, when we were making the last few records which we made together, 'Mezmerize' and 'Hypnotize' — those recordings were done at the same time, then released as two records within six months of each other in 2005 and 2006 — before those sessions, when we first started those sessions, I told the [other] guys [in the band], 'Guys, this kind of cyclical thing that we're doing with making records for a year, touring for two years at that time, doing all this promo publicity,' it was just cyclical. It was, like, 'I've gotta stop. And I also wanna do my own thing. I have other artistic adventures that I wanna get on.'"

He continued: "Part of it was we had so much creativity and input coming into the band, specifically with Daron's [Malakian, SYSTEM OF A DOWN guitarist and vocalist] songwriting and me wanting to bring in music as well, because, over time, he became a better lyricist and I became a better musical songwriter, a better composer, so it became kind of like a push and pull, which is really good for bands, actually, 'cause it's a yin-and-yang kind of thing — two strong, creative forces. And it also broken up so many bands. So, before 'Mezmerize' and 'Hypnotize', I basically told the guys, 'Listen, I'd like to take a hiatus. I'm not saying I never wanna do this, but I'm saying I can't do this right now anymore. And I wanna do my own thing and also take time off and have a life, and all of that stuff.' It wasn't taken well at the time. I won't get into that. But years later, we started touring again in 2011, and it became a fun thing, 'cause it left… Nothing was totally resolved creatively, but it became a fun thing because we at least put everything to the side and said, 'Look, we're friends, we're brothers. We've known each other for a long time. We still respect and love each other. Let's go have fun and tour together.' And we've been doing that since. Not as much as they would like, let's say, or I'm not gonna speak for each and every person of the band, because that wouldn't be fair of me either. But generally I'm the least person that wants to tour. Part of that is physical, because it's tiring. I've done it for 20, 25 years, and I had back surgery a few years ago. I'm much better now and all of that. But part of it is that. Part of it is that it's artistically redundant after a while, because it's 'Groundhog Day'; you're repeating yourself. David Bowie said the first two weeks of every tour is basically — I'm paraphrasing — creative; after that, it's redundant, kind of thing, which is correct. So it's that. But I do enjoy playing with the guys, and when it's a one-off, it's actually fun, 'cause there's no pressure to do this whole rigamarang of a long tour or press or anything. You just rehearse together, make your dumb jokes, have food together, and then go and play that one show and it becomes a hoorah. So that's what we've been doing. And I'm grateful for that."

Tankian, who is promoting his memoir, previously addressed how his relationship with Malakian has evolved over the years, particularly as it relates to their collaborative partnership, in May in an interview with Tom Power, host of "Q" on Canada's CBC Radio One. He said: "Well, changing the dynamic is basically years of time and the progression of the band, the success of the band, everything that happened in between the day that we met and now, basically, so 25, 30 years. A lot changes in that time. And so I think that's a part of it.

"Daron's been a lifer and he's incredibly serious about his music and he's incredibly protective of his music and vulnerable due to his music," Serj explained. "All of those things kind of go together. So it's those things, I think, that created some of the creative differences that we started finding. And it's also our progression. Listen, when Daron and I started working together, I didn't really write a lot of instrumental music — I mostly wrote lyrics; I was the lyricist; I was the singer. And he didn't write any lyrics; he just wrote music. But as time progressed and I played more musical instruments and I started becoming a songwriter/composer and he started writing more lyrics, we started kind of covering each other's territory. And I was okay with that. If he wrote lyrics, I was trying to encourage him to write more, because I believe in artistic growth. I believe in progression. I don't believe in things staying the same way, for music's sake. Otherwise the music becomes the same thing over and over again. That progression is necessary in every artist's life or in every group's life. So I was very encouraging of that. And I just wish that I got some of that back. And so that wasn't the case, and it was disappointing. And it became a creative difference over the band's path, and whatnot, over time."

Asked why he wanted to write about this in his book, Serj said: "A lot of it has been publicized in a very sensationalist format by media, music media mostly, and I kind of wanted to put it in a proper perspective and grounding perspective, but with love and with balance and understanding that these things happen. This is normal. You have a relationship and you have differences in opinion as [to] how you wanna go forward, whether it's a band or a marriage or whatever it is. And these things happen. And so I wanted to take that aspect out, I wanted to take the sensationalist aspect out of the whole thing and be, like, this is not only what happened, but this is how I see things."

Tankian also addressed the fact that SYSTEM OF A DOWN has toured intermittently since ending its hiatus in 2011, but has only managed to record two songs in the last 19 years, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz". Released in November 2020, the tracks were motivated by the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, with all proceeds supporting humanitarian efforts in SYSTEM OF A DOWN's ancestral homeland of Armenia. Along with other donations from fans on their social pages, they raised over $600,000.

"We haven't been making new music," Serj said. "We only put out two songs when the invasion of Artsakh, Nagorno Karabakh happened in 2020 by Azerbaijan, because we felt like the Azeri trolls, the government-sponsored trolls were taking over social media and the news networks, and the victims of these attacks weren't getting the word out. So we became kind of obsessed with getting the word out, because we were seeing our people suffer. So we put out those two songs because of that and we donated a lot of the proceeds for that to the cause as well."

Asked how he balances the love and obligation he might feel toward his fans, those who love SYSTEM OF A DOWN, and the internal struggles within the band, Tankian said: "That's an incredibly smart question. It's really hard catering — when you're an artist, it's really hard catering. If you're an entertainer, catering is [what you do], but if you're an artist, then you're just creating what comes to you. You're almost unaware of what people want. Yes, if it's something heavier, you know people are gonna like it more. But if you're a good songwriter, you could do both. I do orchestral music, I do film music, I do rock music — I do it all. So I enjoy 'em all, but I know that if I do rock, more people are going to listen to it than a piano, instrumental orchestral piece of music, soundtrack kind of music. But it doesn't mean that you don't do both, as an artist. So it's hard to really cater to people's feelings. What I love is, and I know that I can speak for the rest of the guys in the band, that no matter what's going on with our creative difference or the band not making new music or not touring fully or whatever, everyone's incredibly appreciative of what we have in terms of the love that we get from our fans and the way that people react to our music and the way that we get all these e-mails about how it's changed people's lives and all of that stuff, and that is mind-blowing. It's the biggest honor. And when I meet people on the street, I'm still incredibly honored that someone would pick me out and look at me in a positive light, not knowing who I am personally, but knowing me through my music, through our music, let's say. And I think that's a great fucking honor. I feel blessed for it. But it doesn't mean that that thing should continue forever either."

SYSTEM OF A DOWN played its first live show in 11 months on April 27 as one of the headliners of the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second year in a row.

"Down With The System" was released on May 14 via Hachette Books.

Cleveland, Ohio-based masked metal masters MUSHROOMHEAD recently announced their brand-new, upcoming ninth album, "Call The Devil", due out August 9 via Napalm Records. 30 years into their groundbreaking history, the band shows no signs of slowing down, proving innovative without losing sight of their trademark sound and imagery.

Following the album's hard-hitting first single "Fall In Line" — which Revolver dubbed "groove-heavy" and Consequence called "a pummeling barrage of industrial metal" — today, MUSHROOMHEAD unveil their second new nü metal-laden single "Prepackaged". The song shines as one of the band's heaviest new offerings, cementing their renown with massive riffs, aggressive growls and a catchy chorus.

MUSHROOMHEAD mastermind Steve "Skinny" Felton says about "Prepackaged": "'Prepackaged' turned out extremely heavy, aggressive and haunting. Full of dark sonic textures. Both the video and the song are delightfully dark, foreboding and unrelentingly grim."

Returning after a 12-year hiatus, longtime guitarist Dave "Gravy" Felton — who performed on several of the band's biggest albums and is credited as a primary songwriter on classic anthems like "Along The Way", "Sun Doesn't Rise" and "The Dream Is Over" — contributes his trademark skills to two "Call The Devil" album tracks. The album once again features production by band mastermind/drummer Steve "Skinny" Felton, as well as the return of Matt Wallace (FAITH NO MORE, 3 DOORS DOWN) on mixing, also recognized for his work on MUSHROOMHEAD's iconic album "XIII". The album is also the band's first to feature mastering from Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, EPICA, ARCH ENEMY).

MUSHROOMHEAD's "Fall In Line" music video offered a first-person look at the band's new masks, featuring design elements and sculpting by Jordan Patton and guitarist Joe Gall. The track pummels with electro-industrial injections and spine-tingling keys, boasting a twisting vocal attack balancing both brutal and melodic sounds from vocalists Scott Beck and Jackie LaPonza.

Steve "Skinny" Felton said about "Fall In Line": "One of my favorite things about the 'Fall In Line' video is the use of the color red. It's a powerful and emotional color palette. 'Fall In Line' was actually the last song we recorded for the LP. It came together really fast. Upbeat, aggressive and fun."

Resulting in debuts at No. 2 on the U.S. Current Hard Music Albums chart and No. 8 on the Current Rock Albums chart, and with the unveiling of the band's first woman vocalist, Jackie LaPonza, MUSHROOMHEAD introduced a whole new slew of accessible, hard-hitting anthems on the "artistic breakthrough" (Loudwire),"A Wonderful Life", and have only aimed to expand on it with their ninth auditory onslaught.

Bursting with ominous intensity, album opener "Eye To Eye" launches with warning sirens and a grooving riff provided by Gravy, proving the band wastes zero time with filler on "Call The Devil". Eclectic tracks like the emotive, surprisingly jazzy anthem "Emptiness", dramatic carnival creeper "UIOP (A Final Reprieve)" and haunting "Hallelucination" showcase the more experimental side of MUSHROOMHEAD, while heavy burners such as the gripping "Prepackaged", charging and melodic "Hideous" and aggressive drum-forward "Torn In Two" cement the band's lauded metal renown. Featuring guitar work and writing from Gravy, the winding, dark "We Don't Care" proves to be a future live favorite with its chanting chorus and earworm hook as vocalists Steve Rauckhorst and Jackie LaPonza split leadership duties. "Call The Devil" brings the cinematic, signature style of musical mastermind and bassist/keyboardist Ryan "Dr. F" Farrell to the forefront, exploring piano-driven balladic auras and compelling with eerily Vaudevillian three-part vocal achievements on songs like "Decomposition", "Grand Gesture" and "Shame In A Basket", eventually veering into welcomed bizarre territory with album closer "Doom Goose".

Steve "Skinny" Felton said about the album title: "We played around with a few different album titles, and apparently 'Shout At The Devil' was already taken... so we figured we'd just try calling."

"Call The Devil" track listing:

01. Eye To Eye
02. Fall In Line
03. Emptiness
04. We Don't Care
05. UIOP (A Final Reprieve)
06. Prepackaged
07. Decomposition
08. Grand Gesture
09. Hallelucination
10. Hideous
11. Torn In Two
12. Shame In A Basket
13. Doom Goose

MUSHROOMHEAD recently announced a slew of tour dates.

MUSHROOMHEAD is:

Steve Rauckhorst - Vocals
Scott Beck - Vocals
Jackie LaPonza - Vocals
Dave Felton - Guitar
Joe Gall - Guitar
Ryan Farrell - Guitar, Bass, Keys
Aydin Kerr - Drums, Percussion
Robert Godsey - Drums, Percussion
Steve Felton - Drums, Percussion, Keys, Vocals

Last year, Steve "Skinny" Felton told Cleveland.com about MUSHROOMHEAD's longevity: "All I can say is that we have been very blessed to be able to do this. Whether it's 10, 20, 30 years — pretty much any time at all — anyone who gets to do this for any length of time knows how blessed and lucky and fortunate they are and to really soak in that.

"If there's a secret, it's to wake up every day with the goal of figuring out how to make your band, brand or artwork a little more accessible," Felton said. "To have an opportunity to create art with multiple people — to have their attention, time and creativity for a while — while chasing that creative element, staying inspired, believing in yourself and being true to your art is what does it, from my point of view."

Photo credit: SK1

STÖNER, the supergroup formed by desert rock godfathers and long-time compadres Brant Bjork (founding member of KYUSS, also former member of FU MANCHU),Nick Oliveri (MONDO GENERATOR, former member of KYUSS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) and Ryan Güt, will release a new live album "Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch", on October 11 via Heavy Psych Sounds.

The LP's first single, a cover of KYUSS's "Green Machine", can be streamed below.

STÖNER previously released two studio full-length albums and one EP on Heavy Psych Sounds.

Celebrating three studio records and three years of intensive touring across Europe, North America and Australia/New Zealand, STÖNER is ready to embark you on their groove-laden live experience with "Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch". Coming in a gorgeous double LP gatefold edition, the album features the band's greatest hits as well as their acclaimed covers of the KYUSS classics "Gardenia" and "Green Machine". It was recorded live at Altroquando in Treviso, Italy by Matteo Pillon, engineered, mixed and mastered by Tommaso Mantelli and Max Ear at Lesder Studio. It will be issued in ultra-limited colored vinyl (two versions),limited magenta vinyl, classic black vinyl, CD digipack and digital.

"Hittin' The Bitchin' Switch" track listing:

01. A Million Beers
02. Party March
03. The Older Kids
04. Rad Stays Rad
05. Evel Never Dies
06. Night Tripper vs No Brainer
07. Stand Down
08. Own Yer Blues
09. It Ain't Free
10. R.A.M.O.N.E.S.
11. Tribe - Fly Girl
12. Strawberry Creek
13. Nothin'
14. Gardenia (KYUSS cover)
15. Green Machine (KYUSS cover)

STÖNER's debut album, "Stoners Rule", came out in June 2021 via Heavy Psych Sounds. A follow-up effort, "Totally...", arrived in May 2022.

Released in 2023, the "Boogie To Baja" EP comprised of five songs recorded in the same sessions as "Totally..."

Brant told Outlaws Of The Sun about how STÖNER came together: "Nick called me up and wanted to jam. So we got together and we were having a blast and this felt right. It was cool all of us playing together. It felt like we were kids starting out again just playing for the fun of it without any outside pressure.

"We all put our musical influences into this via original jam sessions," he added. "This feels like a mixture of punk rock, metal, blues rock and hard rock. Some stuff we're already known for and some stuff that will surprise and hopefully entertain people."

Brant went on to call STÖNER "a full-time thing. We've got long-term plans for STÖNER and the music that we create."

According to Bjork, "it's been nothing but fun playing with Nick and my drummer Ryan Güt. I wanted to do something different and STÖNER allowed me the opportunity to do this," he said. "This project feels right for me. It feels good vibing new ideas off Nick, who is one of my closest friends."

In a new interview with Janne Innanfors of the Swedish radio station Rockklassiker, MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx addressed his recent tongue-in-cheek comment that new music from his band had been described as "a powerful cross between country and hip-hop". The 65-year-old CRÜE bassist, who is the band's chief songwriter, said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "When we were doing some interviews, when we were getting ready to drop the ['Dogs Of War'] single, I said to Tommy [Lee, MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer], I said, 'You know…' 'Cause we kept getting asked that question [about the sound of the new CRÜE music]. And I said, 'Man,' I go… I'm the most sarcastic human being I know. And that sometimes doesn't always come across in a tweet or something. And I said we got so much media because it was such a lark, such a weird thing that was a joke. And I'm, like, God, that's really kind of fucked up where we're at today. No media checked, nobody called the office and said, 'What's going on? I hear they got new music. It sounds like country and hip-hop.' I mean, everybody at the label and management company would have just started laughing. They would have gone, 'You fell for one of Nikki's jokes.' But the irony is, isn't that how people get pressed now? People just love negativity. And I find it interesting. I don't wanna play in to it, to be honest with you, but that was a fun one… People run with whatever they think they can get some juice out of, and it's okay. Hey, if you're talking about our band, that's a good thing, negative or positive."

Regarding the mixed response to "Dogs Of War" from the MÖTLEY CRÜE fans, Nikki said: "We like the fact that there was kind of a knee-jerk reaction, because at least people were listening. It's a very strange time now where, whether it's a news cycle or socials, everybody has turned into a critic. And I always say, they've never erected a statue of a critic. It's never happened, right? It's always the artist. But now everybody's a critic. So within a short amount of time, we get, 'We love it.' 'We hate it.' 'You're over.' 'You've reinvented yourself.' 'It sounds like 'Shout At The Devil'. 'It sucks.' And we just kind of sit there and go, 'That's cool, guys, but we didn't really ask for any input from you.' We're just artists writing music, and we're pretty cool. I'm happy with it. I like it."

The "Dogs Of War" music video, which can also be seen below, is an animated, all-CGI affair directed by Nick DenBoer.

During an appearance on SiriusXM Fight Nation's "Busted Open" show, Sixx spoke about "Dogs Of War", which was made available on April 26 via MÖTLEY CRÜE's new deal with Nashville's Big Machine Records. He said: "A lot of people said it's a different sound, but I'll be honest with you, I don't necessarily agree with that. If you listen to the verses, they're very similar to a lot of stuff that we've done — that simple, grinding thing with those almost CHEAP TRICK melodies. And the riff, I mean, it could be off of 'Dr. Feelgood'. So I don't really feel like it's that different. I think what's different for people is that when we were working on the song, Tommy [Lee, CRÜE drummer] had the idea to just let the bottom fall out in the verses, which is not really what we do. We usually go for it, and [it's] really unique for Vince [Neil, CRÜE singer]."

Vince chimed in: "I don't ever sing like that. But it works in the song." He added that "Dogs Of War" "was very easy to sing."

Nikki elaborated on the CRÜE songwriting process, saying: "I think what we do together is we all kind of know each other so well, we know each other's strengths and weaknesses. And for me as a lyricist, I'm always thinking about Vince and his tempo as I write. So it's not like out of the wheelhouse, but it's nice to know each other so well, if that makes sense."

When "Dogs Of War" was first released, Neil described the track as "like old school meets new school. It's got that old-school vibe about it, but it's new music. Nikki came up with it and he sent me the music and I thought it was really cool. So I started singing it and we got in the studio and it turned into the song I think the fans are really gonna like it."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's new deal with Big Machine Records sees the band working together again after making the 2014 project "Nashville Outlaws: A Tribute To Mötley Crüe", which featured CRÜE tracks covered by country stars RASCAL FLATTS, FLORIDA GEORGIA LINE, Darius Rucker and more. Big Machine also partnered with MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist John 5 for the release of his 2021 album "Sinner".

MÖTLEY CRÜE's last studio album was 2008's "Saints Of Los Angeles", which was followed by a 2009 "Greatest Hits" compilation.

In 2018, MÖTLEY CRÜE recorded four new songs for "The Dirt" movie, including the single "The Dirt (Est. 1981) (Feat. Machine Gun Kelly)", "Ride With The Devil", "Crash And Burn" and the band's own spin on Madonna's "Like A Virgin".

John 5 joined MÖTLEY CRÜE in the fall of 2022 as the replacement for the band's co-founding guitarist Mick Mars. Mick announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 as a result of worsening health issues.

"John brings a lot," Neil told Billboard. "He's an amazing, creative guitar player. He hears stuff us normal people don't hear. He brings a lot to the song and a lot to the band, and we're just so happy to have him."

John 5, who previously collaborated with Sixx on various songs for SIXX:A.M. as well as other projects, and co-wrote the three new songs on "The Dirt" soundtrack, said about his addition to CRÜE: "I love MÖTLEY and I've known Mick, Tommy and Nikki for so long, it's just like playing with your friends, Their music is something I care about. I care about the history and I care about the future of this band, so I want to do things with the utmost respect and make sure everything is done right and execute it to the ability it deserves."

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

KISS's classic song "I Was Made For Lovin' You" has joined Spotify's "Billions Club".

Billions Club is a playlist first launched in 2020 which includes all of the songs on Spotify that have surpassed one billion streams on the platform. After the achievement, Spotify gifts artists the Billions Club plaque.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" joins other tracks — including METALLICA's "Nothing Else Matters", AEROSMITH's "Dream On", SURVIVOR's "Eye Of The Tiger", PAPA ROACH's "Last Resort", GUNS N' ROSES' "Paradise City", BON JOVI's "You Give Love A Bad Name" and EVANESCENCE's "Bring Me To Life" — to be featured in Spotify's "Billions Club". The milestone has reportedly been achieved by at least 500 songs so far.

"I Was Made for Lovin' You" originally appeared on KISS's 1979 album "Dynasty". It was released as the A-side of their first single from the album. It was the band's second gold single, selling over 1 million copies. The single reached No. 11 on the U.S. Billboard singles chart. The song also became a Top 10 hit in Australia, reaching No. 6 on the ARIA charts in 1979. The song fared the best in Western Europe (Where it became a Top 20 hit in Sweden, a Top 10 hit in Norway, made it to the No. 2 position in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, and in Holland it became a No. 1 smash).

In 2018, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said that he hated performing "I Was Made For Lovin' You" because he was forced to sing like his grandmother. Asked in an interview with OK! magazine to name a song that he wasn't initially crazy about that ended up becoming a hit, Gene said: "Well, Paul Stanley comes in and he says, 'Did you write any songs?' I go, 'Oh, yeah. I've got one called 'Almost Human'.' 'Yeah? How does it go?' 'I'm almost human. I can't help feelin' strange.' 'Yeah, that's cool. That's a Gene song.' 'How about you, Paul?' He goes, 'I've got one. [It goes] 'Tonight.'' "Ooooh. That's cool. What's the next line?' 'I'm gonna give it all to you.' 'Oh, yeah. I know what 'it' means — I know exactly what you mean.' 'In the darkness.' [Claps] 'Love that!' 'There something I wanna do.' 'Yeah, I know what that 'something' is. Wow! That's a cool song. Okay, what's my part?' [Sings] 'Do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do, do.' 'You're killing me. Really? I'm gonna sing like my grandmother?' [Sings] 'Do, do, do…' I hate playing that song to [this] day. Stadiums full of people jump up and down like biblical locusts — they go nuts — with tattoos and grills on… 'Ahhhh!' They're all jumping up and down, and I'm going, 'Do, do, do, do, do, do… Kill me now.' Still — still to this day I hate that song."

After the female interviewer pressed him on whether the song ever grew on him after performing it for the last four decades, Gene said: "Well, how about you sing that song? You're a girl. I wanna sing guy stuff."

Stanley admitted in 2017 that the success of "I Was Made For Lovin' You" was "a double-edged sword, because it became such a massive hit but it was also so contrary and contradictory to what we had done before." He added: "The funniest thing is when we do festivals sometimes in Europe where it's very much… the bands are quite heavy, well, when we do an encore of 'I Was Made For Lovin' You', you suddenly have all these people with spikes in their eyeballs or bones through their noses singing along. So it's a song that seems to transcend everything — although it went through a period, certainly, of a big backlash against it."
I Was Made For You Lovin' You has just surpassed 1 billion streams on Spotify. Not bad for a song no one seems to like! #KISSpic.twitter.com/0xokz3Gy5y

— Luscious Jonny B (7-10) (@jonnybgoode82) July 9, 2024

Singer-songwriter Ryan Adams performed a stripped-down cover version of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's "Clean My Wounds" on June 21 at Meymandi Concert Hall in the band's original hometown of Raleigh, North Carolina. You can now hear his rendition in the YouTube clip below.

"Clean My Wounds" was released as the third single from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's fourth studio album, 1994's "Deliverance". Written by lead vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan, "Clean My Wounds" was a hit on rock radio, peaking at No. 19 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, the band's highest-charting single along with "Albatross" (which also peaked at No. 19).

A North Carolina native who grew up on punk rock and heavy metal, Adams told BLABBERMOUTH.NET about his decision to cover the track: "Some folks have sports teams they follow for life, through thick or thin. For me that's C.O.C. In memory of Pepper's father passing, I covered 'Clean My Wounds' in NOLA and the Carolinas. They mean more to me than I could ever say. Most C.O.C. fans feel that same way. C.O.C. are always and will aways be my team and I'll fly the flag forever."

Pepper was equally full of praise for Adams, saying: "I've been a friend and fan of Ryan's music and skills for a very long time. C.O.C. and Ryan sharpened our teeth in the same neck of the woods in the Old North State as youngsters. I consider Ryan to be one of the best singer /songwriters out there. Knew it back then, still do. To hear him do his thing to one of our songs in such a beautiful and haunting way, as well as dedicating it to my father, was quite moving to say the least. Honestly stopped me dead in my tracks. Very special on many levels and emotions. Thank you for that brother. Love and respect always."

Jerry Pepper Keenan (pictured below) passed away on June 7 at the age of 83.

Pepper joined CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1990, but he did not become the band's lead singer until the recording of the aforementioned "Deliverance".

On his current tour, Adams is playing his albums "Love Is Hell" and "Self-Titled" in celebration of their respective 10th and 20th anniversaries. He is also performing classics and fan favorites.

Adams is a seven-time Grammy-nominated artist with 22 studio albums to his name. He has produced albums for musicians such as Willie Nelson, Jesse Malin and Jenny Lewis. Adams has also collaborated with a number of other artists, including WEEZER, FALL OUT BOY and AMERICA.

Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Adams began his music career in local bands before gaining prominence with the popular country group WHISKEYTOWN in the mid-1990s, releasing several critically acclaimed albums, including "Faithless Street" (1995) and "Strangers Almanac" (1997). He released his debut solo album, "Heartbreaker", in 2000, receiving widespread acclaim with songs like "Oh My Sweet Carolina" and "Come Pick Me Up".

Adams has had a very public love affair with metal over the past decade and a half. He has hosted a mock cable access show called "Night Sweats" and even attended Ronnie James Dio's funeral. He had also previously performed stripped-down versions of IRON MAIDEN's "Wasted Years", RATT's "Round And Round" and DIO's "Holy Diver".

Back in 2010, Adams released what was described at the time as a "first fully realized sci-fi metal concept album" called "Orion" that was recorded in 2006 and featured artwork by Michel "Away" Langevin from Canadian metal innovators VOIVOD.

After a nearly 20-year-long break from releasing albums, Jethro Tull reunited and began making music again several years ago, reports Forbes. In addition to new studio albums, the rock group has also continued to score wins on the charts with re-releases, deluxe editions, live recordings, and more. It’s clear that the band still claims a sizeable fan base in the US, as they have been racking up one bestseller after another for the past several years, including a new one in 2024.


Jethro Tull is back on the "Top Album Sales" chart this week. The rockers return to Billboard’s list of the bestselling full-lengths and EPs in the nation with Jethro Tull Live: Bursting Out, which launches at #33.


In the past tracking week, Luminate reports that Jethro Tull Live: Bursting Out sold just under 3,200 copies. That’s up significantly from the period before when the title barely sold anything - though that’s not surprising for a decades-old title.




Jethro Tull Live: Bursting Out sold just over single-digit copies in late June. In one seven-day period, the live recording’s sales grew by just under 29,000%, as interest in the title soared thanks to a special drop from the group.


Read more at Forbes.


Reissue specialist label Madfish recently shared details of 8314 Boxed, a limited-edition deluxe box set tribute to Jethro Tull frontman Ian Anderson’s treasured solo works.


The package, set for release for August 23, will include:


-Exclusive first-time vinyl releases of Divinities: Twelve Dances With God, The Secret Language Of Birds (2LP), and Rupi’s Dance (2LP)
-Walk Into Light, Divinities: Twelve Dances With God and Homo Erraticus remastered at half speed by Air Studio
-Roaming In The Gloaming LP offers previously unreleased live recordings from 1995-2007
-Beautiful side D etchings on 3 of the 10 records
-96-page book with foreword by Ian Anderson, extensive liner notes by Paul Sexton and exclusive pictures


Pre-order here.


Ian Anderson’s solo albums explore different sonic landscapes and instrumental line-ups, each record in this box set standing as a testament to his versatility. From the electronic experimentation in Walk Into Light and the profound narratives of Homo Erraticus, to the acoustic serenity of The Secret Language Of Birds, these albums are a reflection of Anderson's unending creativity and his ability to seamlessly blend diverse musical styles into cohesive, captivating works.





8314 Boxed 10LP breakdown:


Walk Into Light (1983) – half-speed remaster
Divinities: Twelve Dances With God (1995) – first time on vinyl, half-speed remaster
The Secret Language Of Birds (2LP) (2000), etching on side D – first time on vinyl
Rupi’s Dance (2LP) (2003), etching on side D – first time on vinyl
Thick As A Brick 2 (2LP) (2012), etching on side D
Homo Erraticus (2014) – half-speed remaster
Roaming In The Gloaming (previously unreleased live shows from 1995-2007)


“Hey, but someone has to try oddball things, don’t they? Might as well be me...” - Ian Anderson


Ian Anderson’s mind as a listener, which would mature into a lifetime of format-blurring creative ingenuity, was opened when he was a mere six-year-old. By then, already relocated with his family from his birthplace in Dunfermline to Edinburgh, he heard an old family 78 rpm disc of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra's irresistible gem of 1939, In The Mood.


“My father had a few treasured wartime records, mostly big-band stuff,” he told Prog magazine. “I remember having an epiphany, because ‘In The Mood’ introduces you to the elements of blues, effectively. That was my first moment of thinking: ‘Hmm, this music is something special.’”


A word from Ian Anderson on 8314 Boxed:


“Since 1983, I have made a few solo albums, not as dissatisfaction with fellow musicians or the group identity but usually just to try something a bit different, whether sonically, stylistically or in terms of instrumental line-up. These records all stand out for me as being quite different from each other and in some ways demonstrate a broader depth of my songwriting. The flute instrumental Divinities record is one of my favourites to this day.”

On July 8, 2024, AC/DC's 1980 breakthrough album "Back In Black"was certified by the Recording Industry Association Of America for U.S. shipments of 26 million copies.

"Back In Black" first went platinum in October 1980 and had previously been certified 25 times platinum in December 2019. At the time, the RIAA listed "Back In Black" as the fourth biggest-selling album of all time.

Several other AC/DC albums and singles were newly certified by the RIAA on July 8, 2024. The full list is as follows:

AC/DC's newly RIAA-certified albums

* "The Razors Edge" (six times platinum)
* "Live" (four times platinum)
* "High Voltage" (four times platinum)
* "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (seven times platinum)
* "Highway To Hell" (eight multi-platinum)
* "Live - Collector's Edition" (four times platinum)
* "Back In Black" (26 times platinum)

AC/DC's newly RIAA-certified singles

* "It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock N'' Roll)" (platinum)
* "You Shook Me All Night Long" (six times platinum)
* "Back In Black" (seven times platinum)
* "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" (double platinum)
* "Shoot To Thrill" (double platinum)
* "Thunderstruck" (diamond)
* "Highway To Hell" (six times platinum)
* "T.N.T." (triple platinum)
* "Hells Bells" (triple platinum)

On July 25, 1980, AC/DC released "Back In Black" in the U.S., followed by the album's U.K. release on July 31. It was the band's first album without lead singer Bon Scott, who had died a few months earlier after passing out and choking on his own vomit following a long night of drinking.

The group quickly decided to press on and hired Brian Johnson from the band GEORDIE to take over on vocals, and they headed to the Bahamas for about six weeks to do the album. AC/DC had made some serious headway in America before Scott's death, but no one knew how "Back In Black" would be received.

Johnson told The Pulse of Radio that he didn't have a clue how successful "Back In Black" would turn out to be. "I'd just melted me brain in there, and I didn't know if it was good or bad," he said. "That was the first time I'd been in the Bahamas, anyway, or near America, you know, and you (have to) remember, I was just fascinated by the whole culture and all, and I had no idea what the hell I was doing! And (laughs) lucky, really — I was a bit lucky, I think."

"Back In Black" included the singles "You Shook Me All Night Long", which peaked at No. 35 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Back In Black", which peaked at No. 37.

Despite its massive success, it never got higher than No. 4 on the album charts. The band's next album, "For Those About To Rock", reached No. 1.

"Back In Black" was produced by Robert "Mutt" Lange, who went on to produce DEF LEPPARD, FOREIGNER, THE CARS, and BRYAN ADAMS.

In 2012, "Back In Black" was added to The Recording Academy's legendary Grammy Hall Of Fame collection.

Silver Stallion Videos and Singular Vision Productions have released videos of LYNCH MOB's entire July 6 concert at Riverside Golf Club & Banquet Center in Battle Creek, Michigan. Check out the footage below.

Featured songs in the Silver Stallion Videos video:

* Lightnin' Strikes Again 0:34
* River Of Love 4:08
* No Good 11:06
* When Heaven Comes Down 16:55
* All I Want 21:06
* Dance Of The Dogs 29:24
* Paris Is Burning 33:25
* The Synner 40:53
* For A Million Years 46:24
* Mr. Scary 56:00
* Rain 1:01:22
* It's Not Love 1:07:28
* Wicked Sensation 1:16:24

Earlier this year, LYNCH MOB announced "The Final Ride", a farewell tour celebrating the band's 35-year legacy. The tour will conclude in March of 2025 on the Monsters Of Rock cruise.

George Lynch stated: "After 35 years since the inception of LYNCH MOB, I feel the time is right to let this chapter of my musical life fade off into the sunset. I feel the timing is right because of the solidarity and camaraderie of our current lineup. It ensures that we're leaving a powerful legacy with no regrets.

"Jimmy D'Anda has been my partner and brother for many decades. Jaron Gulino feels like he was designed in a laboratory to be the perfect bassist for this band. Gabriel Colón defies every lead singer stereotype by being one of the sweetest, kindest and most humble lead singer I've ever worked with, yet goes out every night and morphs into a stage stalking, golden-throated lord. We laugh hard, work hard, and know we can step on to any stage at any time and own it. With our latest record. I feel at peace knowing that we've documented the final chapter in the 35-year legacy of the MOB."

"There's been so many iterations of LYNCH MOB since the first lineup in 1989 of Oni Logan, Mick Brown, Anthony Esposito and myself. Putting LYNCH MOB together was just an extension of what I'd always strived for in a band: the best possible musicians, chemistry, and brotherhood. My bands have not only been my best friends, but also family. When we come up together and work hard and struggle together, we create a bond that lasts a lifetime. I think that's the thing I love the most about my musical journey... creating music in the studio, stepping on stage, and sharing that bond with my friends through music. Thank you to everyone who has been in my band. I really feel it's ours."

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

Released on October 20, 2023, "Babylon" is LYNCH MOB's eighth studio album overall and the first since 2017's "The Brotherhood".

LYNCH MOB is:

Gabriel Colón: Vocals
George Lynch: Guitars
Jimmy D'Anda: Drums
Jaron Gulino: Bass

New Jersey's own Jaron Gulino brings the East Coast attitude and energy to LYNCH MOB. He has prospered in a long career as the bassist in a variety of bands, most notably post-grunge rock band TANTRIC. Gulino achieved chart topping success with multiple releases from TANTRIC, as well as performing on many high-profile tours and events with numerous other acts. He is also currently the bassist for Philadelphia hard rockers HEAVENS EDGE.

His bandmate and partner in crime in the rhythm section is none other than original BULLETBOYS drummer Jimmy D'Anda, who is known for his ability to bring a fantastic element of groove while maintaining the powerful hard rock vibe of LYNCH MOB.

Gabriel Colón is a Puerto Rican singer who started his career with a band called FAST TAKER. Since then, he has showcased his wide range of vocal talent with many rock acts including GOTHIC KNIGHTS, CULPRIT, WHITE WIZZARD and Rowan Robertson. Gabriel is a true talent and a great fit to fill the shoes of his extremely talented predecessors in LYNCH MOB.

For much of 2021 and 2022, George had played dates around the U.S. under the name ELECTRIC FREEDOM, which he previously said was the new name of his "touring entity" after deciding to retire the LYNCH MOB band name in 2020. However, more than a year and a half ago, it was reported that Lynch was once again playing shows under the LYNCH MOB moniker.

In August 2020, Lynch announced that he was ending LYNCH MOB due to the racial insensitivity of the moniker, saying he would no longer record or perform under that name.

German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION have released a cover version of ACCEPT's classic song "Fast As A Shark", alongside a new visualizer video. The song is featured on the two-track 12-inch vinyl in the very limited fan edition, "No Kings - No Masters".

DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier states about "Fast As A Shark": "When this song came out in 1982, it changed our world. There it was: The first German speed metal anthem and what an intense harmony solo!!!!

"I still love this track like on the first day I heard it, so to finally cover it was a manifested desire. We did it the DESTRUCTION way, 'cause the original will always be the best version! This is a tribute to one of the originators of heavy music and shows how important this tune was for the whole metal world! Enjoy!"

"No Kings - No Masters" track listing:

01. No Kings - No Masters
02. Fast As A Shark (ACCEPT cover)

Last month, DESTRUCTION released the official music video for "No Kings - No Masters".

DESTRUCTION's massive career has seen many successes, with the band hitting stages at the world’s biggest festivals around the world like Hellfest, Wacken Open Air, Graspop Metal Meeting and México Metal Fest. They are more than prepared for their next milestones. Stay tuned for more news about an upcoming album, due in early 2025.

DESTRUCTION, known as one of the "Teutonic Four", alongside KREATOR, SODOM and TANKARD, will be reunited with the other three acts at this's "Klash Of The Ruhrpott" concert on July 20 — a show that promises to celebrate thrash metal in its purest form and solidify their legacy in the genre. Don't miss out on this event promising to become a legend and the rare occasion to witness the "Teutonic Four" united.

Schmier stated about "No Kings - No Masters": "The new single starts the countdown for the new album a bit early, but we wanted to show our fans that we are working on a kick-ass new record. Yes, it will be worth the wait.

"'No Kings - No Masters' is a razor-sharp riff monster with tons of crushing guitars and neck-breaking speed! Next-level DESTRUCTION!!!

"We hope this beast will keep you excited for the new output in early 2025. PLAY IT LOUD!!!"

In a January 2023 interview with Felipe Canales of Chile's iRock, Schmier was asked if he and his DESTRUCTION bandmates have ever considered changing their sound in order to reach a wider audience. He responded: "In Germany, we say, 'Don't change your winning recipe. Stick to the guns. Stick to what you can do best.' And for me, what I can do best is playing thrash metal. Every album we do sounds a little bit different, but it always will sound like DESTRUCTION.

"When you get older, it's very easy to slow down," Schmier explained. "A lot of musicians, when they [get] older, they wanna slow down; they wanna play blues; they wanna play more mellow music. For me, that's never been the case. I think the older you [get], the more you go crazy about it. You wanna still show the young kids how it's done. When we go out there to the festivals, we compete… To all those young bands, I could be [their] father, so I have to be the role model. So that's how I see it. Slowing down and changing something is not what we do."

As for whether it's harder for him to play physically challenging music as he gets older, Schmier said: "It's like in football — the old, experienced player, he has the feel for it. The young player runs more and runs faster. The old player has the eye and the brain. And it's the same in music. Of course I have to train harder to go on stage, but my experience of my age is great because I have better voice control. I know more what I want. I know what I don't want and where the band belongs. So this experience of a certain 40 years in the music business is, of course, a great one."

DESTRUCTION's latest studio album, "Diabolical", came out in April 2022 via Napalm Records.

In August 2021, DESTRUCTION officially parted ways with founding guitarist Michael "Mike" Sifringer and replaced him with Martin Furia. The Argentinian-born, Belgian-based Furia is best known for his work as sound engineer and producer for such bands as NERVOSA and EVIL INVADERS.

Sifringer was the only member of DESTRUCTION to have remained constant throughout the band's career. Schmier appeared on DESTRUCTION's first three albums before exiting the band and being replaced by POLTERGEIST vocalist André Grieder. André's sole recorded appearance with DESTRUCTION was on the "Cracked Brain" album, which came out in 1990. Schmier rejoined DESTRUCTION in 1999.

DESTRUCTION 2024 is:

Schmier - Bass, Vocals
Martin Furia - Guitars
Randy Black - Drums
Damir Eskić - Guitars

Photo credit: Jennifer Gruber

Las Vegas-based heavy rock outfit Swaggermouth will release their debut album Never Shut Up September 18 via Rock Avenue Records USA. The album features Chris Slade (AC/DC) on drums, who also co-wrote the album alongside the band’s frontman Jason Ebs (who’s previously toured as a vocalist and guitarist with Peter Criss) and frontwoman Janea Chadwick Ebs (Joe Cocker). Pre-save Never Shut Up here.


BraveWords is premiering the music video for new track “Turnin’ On A Dime”. The single is out tomorrow, June 10. Pre-save “Turnin’ On A Dime” here.


Jason Ebs on the track: “The premise of ‘Turnin' On A Dime’ has a dark twist to it, with a warning to watch your back and protect those that you care about, as life is full of people trying to get what they want at your expense. We understand that we as people are looking to get ahead in life, but it shouldn't be at the cost of others. ‘Not at my expense’ is one of my favorite quotes and is a mantra by which we live. Our belief is that if you're lucky enough to have a tribe of trustworthy people around you, then we all need to watch each other's backs in life.  To me, that's what a band is all about -- it's an extended musical family of people creating & watching out for each other as we tour through life. I learned this early on in my career while singing for Peter Criss on the 'Bad Boys Tours'.  When we'd get ready for the road, he'd say ‘Ok boys, we're going to battle so we need to all look out for each other.’ So, that's what we did, and the philosophy stuck.”




On the video’s concept Jason shares: “In the video, there is a Death-masked Man that symbolizes a dark force that lurks among our tribe, shaking hands while secretly brandishing a dagger. This entity represents those who smile upon you while preparing to stab you in the back to get what they desire. There's a scene where Janea has my back, saving me from the creature who administers poison, representing what we do for the people that we care about on a daily basis.  I think that we can all relate to somebody from our inner circle turning against us at some point in our lives. With friends like that, who needs enemies?  Mean people suck...”





Swaggermouth will perform at Sturgis Rally 2024 on August 7 and August 8 at Kickstands in Sturgis, SD. Entry is FREE!


(Photo – Michael Gaskell)

Gamm Ray, led by Helloween guitar legend Kai Hansen, performed at Barcelona Rock Fest 2024 in Barcelona, Spain. Fan filmed video of the band's entire show can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Land of the Free"
"Last Before the Storm"
"Rebellion in Dreamland"
"Master of Confusion"
"Dethrone Tyranny"
"Empathy"
"Heaven Can Wait"
"Somewhere Out in Space"




Encore:
"Send Me a Sign"


 


Go to this location for Gamma Ray's complete tour schedule.

Reactivated San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans FORBIDDEN have parted ways with guitarist Steve Smyth. Stepping in for Smyth as his temporary replacement for FORBIDDEN's next batch of European dates in August will be VOIVOD's Daniel Mongrain.

Steve said in a statement: "Hey everybody, I've said this before in my career, but all things do reach their end at some point. As hard as this is to write this, I've decided it's time to part ways with FORBIDDEN, and return to my band ONE MACHINE as priority, along with other projects on the horizon, and of course session work, and teaching music as always.

"FORBIDDEN was always a place I considered home, from the very first gig I played with the guys, the Thrash Of The Titans festival, back in 2001, touring across 2009/2010 with Russ [Anderson, vocals] and Mark [Hernandez, drums], writing and releasing the 'Omega Wave' album, the touring that followed 2010-2012, and the last year. It's a home I'll miss, but the memories will remain.

"ONE MACHINE is my own home that I've built myself, from before, and after my first stint with FORBIDDEN, from 2009-2012. We are preparing to release a new EP, with touring starting up in September across Europe.

"Prior to rejoining FORBIDDEN, I declared my intention to move between FORBIDDEN and ONE MACHINE, in between schedules. It now appears those schedules are conflicting.

"I'd like to thank YOU the fans for all of your support over the years! I couldn't do ANY of this without you! Craig [Locicero, guitar] and Matt [Camacho, bass] especially for welcoming me back to FORBIDDEN!

"To new additions Chris [Kontos, drums] and Norman [Skinner, vocals], Tim Healy, the crew, every promoter and agent, thank you for making the last year of music and travelling the world happen!

"I wish FORBIDDEN all the best for the future, and all it may bring!"

The remaining members of FORBIDDEN added in a separate statement: "We understand and accept Steve's decision to walk away for his own personal reasons and to finish what he started with ONE MACHINE.

"Steve had been by our side creating and playing music from the end of 2008-2012 and for the rebirth in 2023. He contributed much greatness along the way. We understand his situation better than most people possibly could.

"We all wish Steve the very best and success with ONE MACHINE. His Baby.

"Much love, respect and gratitude for the years Steve spent with FORBIDDEN will always endure.

"With Steve Smyth stepping away, FORBIDDEN intends on not missing a beat. Daniel Mongrain from VOIVOD will be stepping in for our next batch of European dates upcoming in August.

"Daniel is an astonishing & accomplished guitarist. His work in MARTYR & VOIVOD is otherworldly! We are very happy to have him aboard for these dates. Daniel will be a great addition for the gigs and we must thank the guys in VOIVOD for letting us borrow him.

"See you in Europe soon!"

Mongrain said: "It's a great honor for me to join FORBIDDEN this summer in Europe! As a fan from the early days, I'm grateful for the opportunity and will do my best to pay respect to all the amazing talented guitar player who played in the band, Glen Alvelais, Tim Calvert (RIP),and Steve Smyth. See you soon!"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Statement
FORBIDDEN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Steve Smyth and Forbidden amicably part ways.

Steve:

“Hey everybody,...

Posted by Forbidden on Monday, July 8, 2024