Legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB) joined Stephen Pearcy on stage during the RATT singer's July 5 concert at the Bay City Fireworks Festival in Bay City, Michigan to perform the RATT classic "Round And Round".

Stephen has since shared video of Lynch's appearance, and wrote in a description accompanying the YouTube release of the clip: "After a sudden thunderstorm during the George Lynch set, the Bay City Fireworks Festival was ready to cancel headliner & birthday boy Stephen Pearcy due to safety concerns. FLASH FLOODS and terrencial downpour blew through the Festival for aprox 1 hour. Then suddenly, the clouds cleared just in time for Stephen's 8pm set, and what started as an almost canceled show ended up being an 80's reunion for 2 of the eras' biggest names. The Stephen Pearcy Birthday Bash and The Bay City Fireworks Festival ended its 2-day event with a Bang and a Night to Remember for 80's fans everywhere!"

In a 2019 interview with Waste Some Time With Jason Green, George confirmed that he had received an offer to play with RATT in 2018 following Warren DeMartini's most recent departure from the group. "We were talking about it," he said. "But they wanted a hired-gun guy that was working for a not-great salary. And I'm not that guy. I've never been a hired-gun guy. If you want me, I'll be part of the band and I will write songs and I will be an integral part — one of the big cogs in the wheel — but if you want a hired gun, I'm sure you can get somebody to do that. But that's not me. And that's where it fell apart. The guy they got" apparently referring to Jordan Ziff — "is unbelievable. I've played gigs with this guy. He's fucking amazing."

Lynch went on to say that he thinks he would have made for a respectable replacement for DeMartini, who had a short stint with DOKKEN in the early 1990s when Lynch was out of the band. "It would have worked, I think — outside of personalities and politics of being in that band, 'cause they're probably worse than DOKKEN [when it comes to internal] issues," George said. "So that's something I probably wouldn't have enjoyed and wanted to get involved in. But if it was a clean situation where it didn't have a bunch of drama… Musically, I'm very confident I would have been a good fit. [Warren and I] have similar styles, obviously, and kind of come from the same place. I get what he's doing. We go for kind of the same tone. I think it would have worked in a way. It would have been a little different, but it would have been a decent fit, I think."

Pearcy and bassist Juan Croucier were the sole remaining original members in RATT's most recent lineup, which made its live debut in July 2018 in Mulvane, Kansas.

RATT — featuring Pearcy, Croucier and DeMartini — played a number of shows in 2017 after reforming a year earlier in the midst of a highly publicized legal battle with drummer Bobby Blotzer over the rights to the RATT name. They were joined at the gigs by guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played on 2010's "Infestation" album, and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who previously played with Y&T, WHITE LION and MEGADETH, among others.

Today’s the day for Stephen Pearcy wsg Lynch Mob. The Bay City Fireworks Festival will be selling GENERAL ADMISSION...

Posted by The Bay City Fireworks Festival on Friday, July 5, 2024

From the dark alleys and dead ends of Los Angeles, EXCEL have been delivering maximum crossover since crossover first crossed over. Their classic albums "Split Image" (1987) and "The Joke's On You" (1989) remain linchpins of the genre decades after their release. The band continues to pack venues across the globe and appear at European festivals. On July 19, fans will have a chance to hear EXCEL's long-lost album.

Originally released in 1995 while grunge dominated airwaves and MTV, "Seeking Refuge" offers a glimpse at an EXCEL many have never heard before. Out of print for decades, "Seeking Refuge" will finally get its due, complete with a guest shot from H.R. of BAD BRAINS (on "Take Your Part Gotta Encourage") and a video starring Tony Alva for the anthemic single "Unenslaved".

"A lot of people who know EXCEL don't necessarily know about this record," bassist Shaun Ross explains. "It's been out of print since '95, and it was just kind of forgotten."

At the time that "Seeking Refuge" was recorded, Ross was working for Fuct streetwear and living in their warehouse. "One of the owners had a friend who knew H.R. from BAD BRAINS, and they just dropped him off at the studio," the bassist recalls. "He ended up living with me for the better part of the year in the Fuct warehouse. It was a crazy time." (As a result of H.R.'s appearance on "Seeking Refuge", Dan and Shaun would soon witness firsthand the reunification of the BAD BRAINS.)

H.R. makes a guest appearance on "Take Your Part Gotta Encourage" while EXCEL incorporate elements of rock, funk, and grunge on tracks like "Plastic Cracks" and "Drowned Out". For lead single "Unenslaved", they hit a hallowed Dogtown landmark to shoot a video starring skate pioneer Tony Alva. They re-emptied the Gonzales Pool, a.k.a. Gonzo Pool, where some of Alva's most famous moments had been captured in the movie "Thrasher".

Produced by Ron Champagne (JANE'S ADDICTION, ALICE IN CHAINS),"Seeking Refuge" didn't fit into any of heavy music's prefab categories circa '95. "We didn't get a great response," Ross recalls. "Between '90 and '95, the market for thrash and even punk kinda died with grunge becoming so popular. And we didn't use our original logo, which in retrospect was a big deal because it didn't look like an EXCEL record. We fixed that for the reissue."

In late 2023, Ross and Clements welcomed two new members to the EXCEL family: Greg Cerwonka of Chula Vista thrashers TAKE OFFENSE will take over on guitar, while Damon DeLaPaz of pop punk vets FENIX TX will handle drums.

"We've already started writing," Ross enthuses. "The goal is to record in 2024 and have a new album out by 2025."

EXCEL's "Seeking Refuge" was reissued by Southern Lord for Record Store Day 2024 and sold out. It will be available on red vinyl and on all digital platforms via Southern Lord, Southern Lord EU and Bandcamp.

"Seeking Refuse" track listing:

01. Unenslaved
02. Hair Like Christ
03. Plastic Cracks
04. Take Your Part Gotta Encourage
05. Drowned Out
06. United Naturally in True Youth
07. Riptide
08. Overview
09. Downpressor

New Year's Day, 1985: Venice crossover upstarts CHAOTIC NOISE change their name to EXCEL after vocalist Dan Clements and guitarist Adam Siegel recruit bassist Shaun Ross and drummer Greg Saenz to join the band. Clements is working for SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' merchandising company, Triple M and Dogtown Skateboards, when ST frontman Mike Muir invites EXCEL to appear on the soon-to-be-legendary "Welcome To Venice" compilation alongside NO MERCY, BEOWÜLF, LOS CYCOS and ST themselves.

"Welcome To Venice" put EXCEL on the map.

"The early '80s bands that were popular in L.A. were kind of falling off around this time," Ross says. "We walked into the perfect window of opportunity with punk/metal crossover becoming a thing. The first wave of hardcore bands were already established, and then we stepped in and came up locally pretty quick."

EXCEL's early demos, "Personal Onslaught" (1985) and "Refuse To Quit" (1986),were, along with an appearance on Thrasher magazine's "Born To Skate (Skate Rock 5)" (1987),already circulating among those tapped into the thriving speed metal underground. Pushead reviewed them for Maximum Rock N' Roll, giving EXCEL instant cred.

Muir went on to release EXCEL's full-length debut, "Split Image", on ST's own Suicidal Records. Hitting like a fist to the face in '87, the album was produced by studio overlord Randy Burns, who'd helmed game-changers like POSSESSED's "Seven Churches", DEATH's "Scream Bloody Gore" and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' self-titled debut.

"Randy produced a lot of stuff we grew up listening to, so that was a big deal for us," Ross recalls. "He made us sound good."

They started writing their next album immediately after "Split Image" came out. Titled "The Joke's On You", it added new dimensions to EXCEL's signature sound.

"With 'The Joke's On You', we had more influences," Ross explains. "We were able to hone in on our own thing. We came up with weird time changes without making it fusion-y. We were also influenced by bands like JANE'S ADDICTION and FAITH NO MORE, but we were still coming from the punk/hardcore side. We were also graffiti artists that listened to hip-hop. I think our lifestyle and our influences all came together on that album."

Released by Caroline Records in 1989, "The Joke's On You" put EXCEL on the international stage. They toured the U.S. and Europe with the likes of MEGADETH, OVERKILL, VIO-LENCE and DARK ANGEL while becoming reliable attendance boosters for major California promoters.

"We could play metal shows and punk shows — we were very versatile in that way," Ross says. "If Goldenvoice wasn't selling enough tickets for a particular show, they'd just put us on the bill."

In 1992, Siegel and Saenz left the band. At the same time, Clements's and Ross's tastes were evolving. Both changes became evident on "Seeking Refuge".

"Dan and I had to find a new lineup and write a new album, but the drummer we hired couldn't play fast so the album ended up being all midtempo," Ross explains. "At the same time, grunge happened between '90 and '92, plus we were hearing bands like KYUSS and SLEEP, and we'd been doing hardcore forever. We just kinda wanted to do something different. I think it's a very '90s record, but it still sounds like EXCEL."

Photo credit: Becky DiGiglio

Video of Myles Kennedy's June 28 acoustic performance at Oak City Grille in Royal Oak, Michigan for Detroit's WRIF radio station can be seen below.

Featured songs:

00:00 - Intro / Interview
01:41 - Devil On The Wall
05:56 - Interview
08:11 - Say What You Will
12:01 - Interview
13:54 - Year Of The Tiger
18:21 - Interview
20:20 - Addicted To Pain (ALTER BRIDGE cover)

In a recent interview with the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, Myles — known for his work with rockers ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS — spoke about his upcoming third solo album, "The Art Of Letting Go". The LP marks the return of Myles, backed by his band comprised of Zia Uddin on drums and Tim Tournier on bass. The album is scheduled for release via longtime label home Napalm Records on October 11, 2024, and is available for pre-order in multiple configurations.

Regarding the lyrical themes covered on "The Art Of Letting Go", Myles told I-Rock 93.5: "The first two solo records were, they were kind of concept records. The first, 'Year Of The Tiger' [2018], was a record kind of dealing with the loss of my father as a child. And then the second record, 'The Ides Of March' [2021], was dealing with kind of the state of the world about three years ago. But with this record, I wanted it to be a collection of songs and with a narrative that shifted from song to song. I really like that, because then for one thing there were a handful of tunes I had sitting around for a few years that just didn't have a home and didn't fit the storyline. So I was, like, 'Oh, I can pull that now and use that in this batch of tunes.' But it also just made it so that… I feel like because it's more of a riff-based record, it's more about the intensity of the music. I didn't feel like it lived or died as much by the narrative of the lyric. So it's really about just making a compelling riff and a good vocal melody first and then filling in the blanks with the words. But with that said, I never phone it. I'm not the guy who's like… I hear these stories about really good songwriters who are, like, 'Yeah, he sat in his truck for 20 minutes before he had to cut the vocal and wrote the lyrics.' I'm, like, I'm not that guy. I will obsess and rewrite and re-edit. 'Cause I have to know that if I'm gonna sing and I'm going to go tour it that I'm believing it night after night that it's honest. And I'm happy with the cadence and the rhymes and it's not just a bunch of hoo ha ha."

From the opening guitar riff of the title track "The Art Of Letting Go" to the haunting melody of album closer "How The Story Ends", Myles Kennedy is back with a collection of songs that is sure to cater to old and new fans alike. Songs like "Mr. Downside", "Miss You When You're Gone" and "Saving Face" showcase the memorable storytelling that has become synonymous throughout all of Myles's projects. The debut single — currently impacting radio around the globe — is the upbeat rocker "Say What You Will". The song is now available via all DSPs.

The "Say What You Will" music video was directed by Gordy De St Jeor (MAMMOTH WVH) and tells the story of a bullied and timid student who breaks out of her shell with the help of a teacher, janitor and lunch person portrayed by Kennedy, Uddin and Tournier in the school talent show.

The track listing for "The Art Of Letting Go" is:

01. The Art Of Letting Go
02. Say What You Will
03. Mr. Downside
04. Miss You When You're Gone
05. Behind The Veil
06. Saving Face
07. Eternal Lullaby
08. Nothing More To Gain
09. Dead To Rights
10. How The Story Ends

To celebrate the release of "The Art Of Letting Go", Myles Kennedy and his trio will be hitting the road in support of the new album. A six-date U.K. run with support from Devin Townsend recently went on sale for November and December. Twenty more newly announced dates are being added to "The Art Of Letting Go" tour 2024 all across Europe starting in October. The additional European dates will feature support from BLACK RIVER DELTA and CARDINAL BLACK. The band will also be bringing the tour to North America with dates set for January and February 2025. The 2025 dates will feature special guest Tim Montana.

As a prolific songwriter, powerhouse vocalist, and proficient guitar player, Kennedy tunes into the rhythm of his surroundings and goes with the flow. Fronting ALTER BRIDGE, his soaring vocals, open-hearted lyrics, and airtight riffs have fueled the group's global impact as a gold-certified, arena-filling force of nature over two decades-plus. On the microphone for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, his towering range has consistently stunned audiences since 2010. Becoming a celebrated collaborator, he's the rare presence just as comfortable on a track with DISTURBED, HALESTORM and SEVENDUST as he is with GOV'T MULE and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. It's why he's generated over one billion cumulative streams, earned gold and platinum certifications worldwide, uplifted countless fans, and Kerrang! christened him "one of rock's finest vocalists." It's also why he's carved out his own lane. 2021 saw him deliver his acclaimed sophomore opus, "The Ides Of March". It impressively notched a total of four No. 1 debuts across three countries, toppling the Billboard U.S. Top Current Hard Music chart, the U.K. Official Rock & Metal chart and Official Independent Album chart, and Canada's Hard Music Albums chart. Beyond generating 10 million-plus streams, it incited unanimous critical applause from American Songwriter, Guitar.com, Loudwire, Guitar World and more. RIFF hailed it as "a fantastic and must-listen record," while Classic Rock magazine awarded it "4.5 out of 5 stars," going on to attest, "'The Ides Of March' confirms Myles Kennedy as a musical powerhouse."

Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "Whiplash" on June 26 at the Tons Of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway during the 2024 leg of the band's "M72" tour can be seen below.

In support of METALLICA's latest album, "72 Seasons", the band has been playing two-night, no-repeat shows in each city— first in Europe , then in North America and now back in Europe — as part of the "M72" tour. Each concert sees METALLICA performing on a massive ring-shaped stage, with the Snake Pit in the center, and four drum sets which are equally spaced out around the circular stage so drummer Lars Ulrich can get closer to the audience at various points in the show.

METALLICA frontman James Hetfield spoke about his mindset going into the 2024 leg of "M72", telling "The Metallica Report":  "What I'm going into is unknown. I know how big the stage is. I know we have breaks here and there. I know what we're walking into. When we first started with this, with the 'M72' stage, in the round in the stadium, from between setting up cones, walking around thinking, 'Oh, this is how big the stage is gonna be.' 'Oh, this is cool.' 'This'll be great.' 'This is too skinny,' and this and that. And then, between that time and then actually seeing it built, where it's kind of too late, 'Oh shit, this thing is so big.' The anxiety level was off the charts at the beginning of the 'M72' tour. Like, how are we gonna cover this stage? And, of course, my ego saying, 'Well, the other guys don't have to sing. They don't have to run over there. They don't have to do all this. And no one knows the woes I have and all the worries.' But as soon as I share them with the other guys, they're, like, 'Yeah, but I got this and I got this.' It's like, 'Oh, okay. Okay. I want mine back. That's okay.' So it's a known. We know what we're up against and we know what shape we need to be in. And it's just fun. Now it's just fun. We broke that stage in. It's well trodden on and it's worked fantastically. And so we just get to step back into it and do what we do best."

Asked if there have been any modifications to the "M72" stage at all since the 2023 shows, Hetfield said: "There have been a few things here and there that have changed — extra microphones, whatever monitors that we need. And that's typical on any stage, though. The lighting tends to show things that you don't see before: 'Yeah, we need to drape that off' or whatever it may be, just things to make it better. Just like anything we do, you wanna improve on it. So that that was the first couple months of the first touring with the 'M72' stage."

Regarding how he prepares for a METALLICA tour, especially when it comes to performing around 32 songs at each stop on the ongoing "M72" trek, Hetfield said: "Obviously, before heading out on tour, sitting there, trying to remember the myriad of pretty awesome songs we have, and then just trusting that once we get together, it's, like, 'Oh, yeah.' It's muscle memory. But, yeah, over the last month, I will say that the normal thing happens where I start to doubt myself. I start to feel insecure that, 'Whoa, we're old. We can't do this,' and blah, blah, blah, all that bullshit that everyone tells themselves before they go into something that they care about and is important. So having the nightmares of, 'I'm the only one who cares about what we're doing here. Where is everybody?' I show up at the gig. Everyone's goofing off or there's 200 people backstage. And where's my stuff? Where's the setlist? What songs are we doing? And then typical things like the guitar neck is made of rubber, and there's only two strings on it. And where's my roadie? And the guitar cord won't let me get to the microphone. You know, silly stuff like that that has to happen, and I don't freak out over it. All you do is you practice and that comes back pretty quickly."

After Munich and Milan, METALLICA continued touring throughout Europe for the first part of summer, with stops in Spain, Denmark, Norway, France and Poland, among others. Another round of North American dates will begin on August 2 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with stops in Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Edmonton. METALLICA will close out the 2024 touring season with four shows in Mexico City at the end of September.

According to Billboard, METALLICA's production travels in 87 trucks — 45 for the band and its setup, plus two groups of 21 each for the steel stage and towers. There are 130 people in the band's crew, plus 40 steelworkers, local hires and truck drivers.

METALLICA's manager Cliff Burnstein told Billboard that between 80% and 90% of fans at each concert attend both shows.

The "M72" tour launched in late April 2023 in Amsterdam.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, who has been living and recording music in Japan since 2003, has reflected on being an American living outside of his original home country.

The 61-year-old musician marked Independence Day by sharing a message that addressed his experiences being immersed in a very different culture. He wrote: "Happy 4th of July!

"Some of my activities as Ambassador of Japan Heritage are speaking or playing at cross-cultural events, like I just did here in Tokyo. These things often make me reflect on being an American living outside of America.

"When you tour as much as I do, you'll find that there are Americans living in all sorts of different countries," he continued. "If there is one thing they have in common, I believe it's that they all are glad to have been born in America, just like most people are glad that they were born in whichever country they were born in. It's natural. Having that foundation, makes it easy to explore other countries and cultures, because you instinctively want to leave a good impression of your home country to people wherever you go.

"One thing that I believe is key to living happily outside your home country is that realizing that you will never 'belong' to another culture — and that's not a negative thing at all. I talk about this in great detail in my upcoming autobiography. (shameless plug) Being able to co-exist within a culture you were not born in is extremely rewarding. Yes you are different, but you bring unique things with you that are valuable to people in your new surroundings. This is not because I'm any kind of 'rock star', it applies to all people, as everyone has built-in knowledge that is valuable to people of other countries.

"I was lucky enough to be live in Germany for a while as a kid, so I had first hand experience being an outsider in an unfamiliar place," Friedman added. "It was a wonderful life lesson in co-existing. I'm here to tell you that if it is your dream to explore other cultures on the long or short term, at any age, you should go for it!"

Friedman first became known as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band MEGADETH, which sold over 10 million copies and earned multiple Grammy nominations during his tenure. His overwhelming love of Japanese music and the Japanese language, in which he became fluent, led him to move to Tokyo more than two decades ago. He soon became a fixture on Japanese TV, featured in hundreds of television programs, commercials and even motion pictures. In 2017, the Japanese government appointed him Ambassador Of Japan Heritage, and he is the first foreigner ever to receive this title. With his home base in Tokyo, he continues to do concert tours around the world every year.

In a March 2023 interview with Greg Prato of Consequence, Friedman was asked what it is about Japan that drew him there in the first place. He responded: "It was definitely the music. I wanted to make Japanese music, and the only way to do that is to be here and be completely immersed in it. When I came here, I got very lucky and I joined the band of one of my favorite Japanese singers, Aikawa Nanase. So, I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, pretty much as soon as I got here — six or eight months or something. And that just put my foot right where I wanted to be in J-pop music. I started to work with all of my favorite artists and all of my favorite producers playing live and recording and writing music. And then once I branched into doing television, the whole world really opened."

Friedman also talked about his status as a popular television personality in Japan. He said: "I didn't start off wanting to do that at all, actually. Like I said, I joined the band of one of my favorite J-pop singers when I first got here, and when you do that, people start seeing you. That kind of started a lot of new eyes coming on me, and one of the new eyes was a television production company that put me on a new show. I was initially not really into doing it, because I wanted to just focus on playing music — J-pop music. J-pop, when I say the word 'pop,' it's really very heavy metal. There's a lot of heavy metal influence. People get scared when they hear the word pop, but there's guitar going crazy in it. I was loving it. I wanted to concentrate on that, but they said, 'Just try this TV thing. Your Japanese is very good, and you have a very interesting viewpoint. Just give it a try.' And the first thing out of the box was a really big hit. It was a show called 'Heavymeta-san', which turned into 'Rock Fujiyama'. It lasted for six seasons. For a new show, it's unheard of. So, other offers came up, and my management over here started filling things up, and the next thing you know, more people know me from television than music. And it's still the case… Doing television has facilitated the fact that I can leave for two months and tour America with my own music — and not have any problems with that. It's allowed me to live the exact life that I want to do. It's given me a lot of freedom. Of course, you never know when people come up to you, what they know me from. But my real gig is making music, and I love making music more than anything else."

Back in November 2021, Friedman was asked if he experiences culture shock when he returns to his former home country of America. Marty said: "When I moved to Japan, I completely was encompassed by Japanese culture. No one I worked with spoke English. No one around me spoke English. The only time I spoke English was when I was doing international promotion or international tours or international interviews. So 24/7, it was all Japanese. And when that goes on for years and years, you start to dream in Japanese. My wife's Japanese, and we speak only Japanese. So, cultural things also become a part of you, because when you live somewhere, you become a part of the culture. And the things that matter in Japan are not the things that matter in America. Or the things that matter in Europe are not the things that matter in South America. So things that matter on a day-to-day basis are different. So culture 'shock' is kind of a shocking word, so I don't really feel shocked. But I feel like I'm very blessed, because when I go to America, I'm an American, so I can feel all the great things about being American. But I've lived in Japan for [more than] 20 years, and before I came here, I've been in so many Japanese situations that there's a definite part of me that is really a part of the Japanese culture so I can really feel both of them.

"You should never think that you're trying to belong," he continued. "Because it doesn't matter how perfect my Japanese is — and it's not perfect — but I'm never, ever gonna be Japanese. I feel a part of me is definitely influenced by Japan very much, but if your goal is to belong in another society, I think you're gonna be let down very, very much. Because as hard as you try, Japan is a one-race society and you just look different and you're born in a different place and you have different things in you. So the goal is not belonging; the goal is to add what you have to Japan. If you're trying to belong to something like that, I think you're gonna be let down. But it's not a letdown. You only really belong to yourself. And belonging to something is overrated. So I think you'll enjoy your Japan experience a whole lot more if you celebrate your differences while understanding Japan and enjoying the great things that you're able to enjoy about Japan. And don't be let down when sometimes people are not necessarily so friendly to foreigners. This happens to every country. You just have to let it be; it's just the way it is, especially with older generations. They're, like, 'Oh, the world is changing. Now there's English in the taxicabs. Oh my God.' People fear change. But you can't let that bother you. It's never bothered me once. I'm completely fine being a gaijin [a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese citizens in Japan, specifically non-East Asian foreigners such as white and black people]; it hasn't stopped me from anything. So culture shock, it's not really as bad as people think it is. I enjoy being in America, and I enjoy being in Japan because both things have given me a lot of great things in my life. So learning English — English is the language of the world, so that's helped me everywhere. But in Japan, it's the opposite — in Japan, Japanese is the language, so it's a must. So culture shock is not really that big of a thing."

Following his move, he landed a starring role for a new TV comedy "Hebimeta-san" ("Mr. Heavy Metal") and its spinoff, "Rock Fujiyama", which ran for six seasons and propelled him into the living rooms of Japan's mainstream. He has since appeared in over 800 TV shows, movies and commercials, including a two-year campaign with Coca-Cola for Fanta, authored two best-selling novels and was the first-ever foreigner to be appointed as an ambassador of Japan heritage and perform at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Marathon. At the same time, Marty has continued his career in music with several solo albums in addition to writing and performing with the top artists in Japanese music, racking up countless chart hits, including a No. 1 with SMAP, two No. 2 songs with MOMOIRO CLOVER, a No. 2 with SOUND HORIZON — just to name a few.

Happy 4th of July! Some of my activities as Ambassador of Japan Heritage are speaking or playing at cross-cultural...

Posted by Marty Friedman on Thursday, July 4, 2024

A new video trailer for "Iommi - The Photographs" from Rufus Publications can be seen below.

Tony has collaborated with renowned photographer Ross Halfin to produce a 340-page luxury book encompassing the very earliest days of BLACK SABBATH through to his most recent partnership with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Featuring exclusive written contributions from Sir Brian May, Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield and Philip Anselmo, the book will be available in both Standard and Deluxe signed limited editions.

Each copy of the Deluxe signed edition is personally hand-signed by Tony Iommi. This deluxe edition is numbered from 1 to 500 copies worldwide. The book measures 245mm x 345mm, with a luxury slipcase and gold foil embossing, and features a recycled black leather spine. Each book comes with a 3D lenticular suitable for framing. The book sells for £250 plus shipping and, if pre-ordered before July 31, 2024, will be discounted to £200.

The Standard edition features the same content as the Deluxe edition with a printed hardback cover and slipcase. This edition sells for £99 and, if ordered before July 31, 2024, will be discounted to £80 plus worldwide delivery.

Iommi is synonymous with heavy rock; his innovative, de-tuned, dark riffs are considered to be the blueprint for hundreds of bands that followed. As Anselmo says: "With a thick sound and crushing, bending riffs — riffs that paint the insides of our memory banks black with sacred knowledge — Tony changed the landscape of what was acceptable for a mere guitar to sound like."

For the last two years, Tony has been working with renowned music photographer Ross Halfin to compile this luxury 340-page, photographic book of his musical career; from the very early days of BLACK SABBATH through to the opening of the Birmingham Royal Black Sabbath ballet in 2023. This suitably heavy tome is a celebration of one of music's most innovative guitarists and, as Ozzy notes in his exclusive epilogue: "If someone asked me, who was the leader of BLACK SABBATH, it'd have to be Tony, wouldn't it? We all contributed, of course, but without Tony's riffs, we wouldn't have had a chance."

The book is a compendium of carefully selected images compiled from all eras of Tony's career, many from Ross Halfin's own archive, and the book also features further exclusive written contributions from some of music's leading talents and friends of Tony. These include Sir Brian May, James Hetfield and Philip Anselmo. As Sir Brian May notes in his introduction: "Ross Halfin has captured images of Tony in a huge number of settings over the years, as you will see in this book. The pictures show a man of great power and presence, as befits a giant riffmeister."

Iommi himself says: "I really appreciate all the work Ross has put in, both as a photographer and editor of the book. These photographs represent my career and the memories they conjure up remind me what a fantastic journey we've been on. So often I'd look down from the stage and there in the middle of the moshpit would be Ross fighting his corner to get just the right shot. Cheers, Ross, the book is a testament to our long friendship and the many defining moments in my life you've captured."

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NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) veterans BLITZKRIEG will release their new, self-titled album on September 6 via Mighty Music. The fist digital single from the album, "The Spider", is out today. Check it out below.

Unrepentantly flying the flag for classic British metal since the release of their 1981 "Blitzkrieg/Buried Alive" demo, BLITZKRIEG were a pivotal influence on countless heavy metal bands for decades to come: most notably METALLICA, who released a cover of the band's eponymous track "Blitzkrieg" both on the "Garage Inc" compilation album, and as a B-side on their 1984 single "Creeping Death".

Formed in Leicester in late 1980 by lead vocalist Brian Ross (who remains at the helm of the band to this day),the band would take a four-year hiatus when Ross left to join NWOBHM legends SATAN, recording their classic album "Court In The Act" (Roadrunner) and touring extensively, before reuniting with bassist Mick Moore to form AVENGER.

1985 saw the release of BLITZKRIEG's long-awaited debut album "A Time Of Changes" on legendary British label Neat Records, which remains a cult classic to this day. Further success would follow with 1991's "Ten Years Of Blitzkrieg" (Roadrunner) and a three-album deal in 1995 with Neat Records.

The band continued to champion classic metal throughout the turbulent 2000s, with albums like 2002's "Absolute Power" (Hellion) and 2007's "Theatre Of The Damned" (Armageddon),the latter of which was co-produced by SAXON frontman Biff Byford after BLITZKRIEG opened for SAXON on their U.K. tour the year prior. All the while, the band remained a mainstay on the international festival circuit, with appearances at Wacken Open Air, Headbangers Open Air, Keep It True, Hard Rock Hell and countless others, along with regular tours in four continents.

Returning from a hiatus in the wake of their critically acclaimed releases "Back From Hell" and "Judge Not", BLITZKRIEG are as vital, powerful and ferocious as the day they were founded over 40 years ago. Longtime members Alan Ross (son of Brian Ross) and powerhouse drummer Matt Graham are joined by bassist Liam Ferguson and virtuoso guitarist and producer Nick Jennison. Their new album "Blitzkrieg" is set for release in summer 2024 via Mighty Music, and if early previews are to be believed, is their best work since 1985.

"Blitzkrieg" will be released on CD, LP (black, green and red vinyl versions available, each limited to 200 copies) and digital. Pre-orders are available now.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich commented that BLITZKRIEG was one of his band's main musical inspirations, along with DIAMOND HEAD.

Brian, the only remaining founding member of BLITZKRIEG, said: "Lars Ulrich phoned me up and asked if they could cover the song.

"METALLICA were, and still are, big fans of the band. We have met up with them a few times over the years and I am really pleased that they still play 'Blitzkrieg' at gigs."

Brian said that he tried to give the then-unknown METALLICA a helping hand in the early 1980s.

"They sent me their demo when they were still unsigned, asking for my help to get them on our label," he said. "But the label turned them down, saying they'd never go anywhere.

"I met up with the guy who made that call a few years ago and he says it is the biggest mistake of his life."

BLITZKRIEG 2024 is:

Brian Ross: lead vocals
Nick Jennison: guitar, vocals
Alan Ross: guitar, vocals
Liam Ferguson: bass
Matthew Graham: drums

In the latest episode of Gibson TV 's "The Collection", host Mark Agnesi is in the KISS warehouse to explore Paul Stanley's impressive guitar collection.

KISS is an American icon. They have sold over 100 million records, earning them more gold records than any other band in history, and Stanley was at the front and center for all of it. He has toured the globe for nearly 50 years with one of the most influential rock bands in the world, so you know he has a guitar collection that is made for lovin'.

Join Agnesi at the KISS warehouse to get a personal tour of his impressive collection of guitars from the Starchild himself in this new episode of Gibson TV's "The Collection".

Watch as Stanley shares some of his favorite Gibson Les Paul guitars, shows us what he regards as his "best-sounding guitar" in the form of his Korina Flying V and reflects on the importance of being a great rhythm guitar player, a skill he honed over decades of performing. Hear the story of his first SG Les Paul, the heartbreak of losing vintage Burst Les Pauls, the story of his mirrored Ibanez PS-10 signature guitar, and see his newest addition, a Custom Shop 1961 Les Paul SG Standard.

Asked when guitars first showed up on his radar and when he went, "Oh, I wanna do that," Paul replied: "When I was a little kid and I saw Eddie Cochran on TV. For some reason, he seemed like an even more dangerous Elvis [Presley]. There was something about him that was rogue and seemed ruthless, a great attitude. 'Summertime Blues' and 'C'mon Everybody'. So that was really the start of my introduction to guitar, although I grew up in a family with a lot of folk music and bluegrass and opera and classical music and all. But I was convinced I could play the guitar when I had no knowledge of the guitar, just because there was some sort of connection. Guitar really is the instrument of the blues, which gave birth to rock and roll."

Asked when he finally got his hands on a guitar, Paul said: "Oh my gosh. I kept telling my parents. My 13th birthday was coming up, and I kept saying, 'I really want a guitar, an electric guitar.' Right around my birthday, my mom said, 'Look under your bed,' and I looked under the bed and my heart began to break 'cause I saw this big cardboard case. And I pulled it out and opened it up, and it was a used nylon-string guitar. I was shattered 'cause you can't play rock and roll on this. And I closed it and pushed it back under the bed. A couple of months later, I said, 'Let me let me give that a go.' So that was really the start, was a nylon-string guitar, and I was probably 13 years old… I took to it really quickly. I took a few lessons, and I wanted to go faster, and for some reason, the teacher was, 'No. You have to stay at this pace.' So he went and the guitar stayed."

This episode is a treasure trove for KISS fans and vintage guitar lovers alike, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the storied history of one of rock's most recognizable musicians and his amazing guitar collection. If you've ever wanted to know what guitars Stanley plays, don't miss this intimate and revealing exploration of Stanley's guitar collection, the stories behind them and his enduring love for Gibson guitars.

KRYPTOS frontman Nolan Lewis comments: "Take a ride with Kryptos on our latest single "We Are the Night" as we battle through the highs and lows of touring with a never say die attitude and pure metal spirit."

KRYPTOS, who was formed in 1998 in Bangalore, India, have long been considered one of the spearheads of the Indian heavy metal revolution. With six critically acclaimed albums under their belt, they have supported some of metal’s biggest names, like Iron Maiden, Testament, Kreator, Exodus and many more, earning themselves a reputation as a fiery and exciting live act.



The band released their debut album ‘Spiral Ascent’ in 2004 and ‘The Ark of Gemini’ in 2008 before heading out on their first European tour in 2010, making them the first Indian heavy metal band to do so. After signing with AFM Records in 2012, the band unleashed four more frenetically-acclaimed studio albums, are a welcome live act at Wacken Open Air and played their first, extensive European headline tours, including numerous sold-out shows in Scandinavia and central Europe.

Their high-voltage, seventh album Decimator continues where the band left of with their critically-acclaimed, 2021-album ‘Force Of Danger’, and sees them combine crushing riffs, barbwire vocals and powerful songwriting that grabs the 80s by the throat and drags it kicking and screaming into the modern age. If you’re a fan of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept and Kreator, this album will snap your neck in half and have you raging into the night like you’ve never raged before!

“Decimator is without question our finest hour so far." Lewis says. "We’ve sharpened our songwriting to a razor point and the album is absolutely exploding with pure heavy metal power and attitude. Once you’ve popped it into your stereo, you’re going to be raising your fist, air-guitaring to the riffs and humming the solos all year long. It’s as perfect a combination of classic 80s metal and caustic thrash sensibilities as you’re ever going to get!

Strap in and bang your heads to the raging new Kryptos album "Decimator". Expect nothing less than pure traditional heavy metal that echoes back to a time when riffs were king and the nights crackled with power!"

Toronto-based powerhouse, Selias, is set to shake the metal world with their highly anticipated debut album Headshot, out today via Sleaszy Rider Records. The band have also released a video for the song "Twisted Path", which can be found below.


Combining elements of melodic death metal, groove metal, and metal, Selias delivers a sonic experience that is as diverse as it is powerful. Helmed by Steve Elias, the band pushes the boundaries of the genre with their dynamic range of skills and unbridled passion for heavy music.


Headshot is a journey through the depths of the human psyche, with each track offering a glimpse into past situations or stories from distant worlds. From blistering riffs to haunting vocals, Selias captivates listeners with their ability to blend aggression and melody seamlessly.




Drawing inspiration from bands like In Flames, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, and Parkway Drive, Selias creates a sound that is both familiar yet entirely their own. With Headshot, they invite listeners to immerse themselves in a world where metal meets storytelling, where each song is a chapter in an epic saga of sound and emotion.


Sleaszy Rider Records, known for their roster of legendary bands like Motorhead, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake, is handling the release of Headshot. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Selias as they join the ranks of esteemed artists under the label's banner.


Steve Elias, guitarist for Selias, expresses his excitement about the release: "We've poured our hearts and souls into Headshot, and we can't wait for the world to hear it. This album is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share it with our fans."


Selias stands poised to make their mark on the global metal scene. Prepare for an auditory assault like no other as Headshot explodes onto the airwaves, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.





Tracklisting:


"Headshot"
"Revenga"
"Twisted Path"
"Guilty"
"Mega"
"Clipped Wings"
"Conclusion"
"Grateful"
"Interlude"
"Hype"


"Twisted Path" video:





For more on Selias, visit the band's official website, here.


Live lineup:


Steve Elias - Guitar
Zac Culp - Vocals
Tyler Reiner - Drums
Cesar Silva - Vocals
James Roy Daley - Bass

Canadian roots, rock, blues and soul band Bywater Call release the Southern rock banger “Everybody Knows”, their fourth single of the year taken from their upcoming studio album Shepherd. Stream the song here and watch the video below.


Opening with an infectious guitar riff and a burst of horns, imagine a cross between the swagger of The Black Crowes and Rolling Stones and the soul of Aretha Franklin. “Everybody Knows” is classic Southern Rock with a fierce female vocal.


“Told in three vignettes, connected by the chorus of ‘Everybody knows the bed they sleep in’, this song is about how you can tell yourself whatever you want to hear, whatever makes you feel better,” says Bywater Call’s guitarist, Dave Barnes, “but ultimately, the truth is always waiting for you at the end of the day.”




"Everybody Knows” was recorded and mixed by Bywater Call drummer Bruce McCarthy at The BeatFarm in Toronto, Ontario.





Released worldwide on August 9, 2024, Shepherd features a captivating collection of ten original songs, that showcases Bywater Call’s continual exploration, experimentation, and reach beyond the boundaries of music genres, further developing their own unique voice. The new songs illustrate their growth, while still paying tribute to their historical and contemporary influences. Pre-order links can be found at BywaterCall.com.


Shepherd artwork and tracklisting:





"Everybody Knows"
"Colours"
"Sweet Maria" 
"Holler"
"For All We Know"
"Roll" 
"Turn It Around"
"Now and Never"
"As If"
"Sign Of Peace"

















Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.  


The band was UK Blues Award nominated for the 2024 International Blues Artist of the Year. They have toured extensively in Europe where Dutch, German, and UK media praised their shows, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.


Bywater has been busy. In 2023 alone, they played a total of 96 shows in 10 countries, 89 cities, 19 US states and 3 Canadian provinces, including Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean Cruise.


Catch Bywater Call live on their Summer 2024 Tour. Confirmed dates are as listed:


July
5 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Blues Fest
11 - Burlington, IA - The Washington
12 - Omaha, NB - Playing With Fire
13 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
19 - Brezoi, Romania - Brezoi Open Air Festival
23 - Syracuse, NY - Club 443 - SOLD OUT
24 - Syracuse, NY - Club 443 - SOLD OUT
25 - Saranac Lake, NY - Waterhole
26 - Athens, NY - Summer Music Series
27 - New Rochelle, NY - Summer Sizzle
28 - Norwood, MA - Fallout Shelter - SOLD OUT


August
2 - Pomeroy, OH - Big Bend Blues Bash
3 - Nashville, TN - City Winery
4 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Riverboat
9 - Nanaimo, BC - Nanaimo Blues Festival
11 - Wheeling, WV - Heritage Music Blues Fest
16 - Norwich, NY - Chenango Blues Fest
17 - Thornton, NH - White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Fest
18 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
24 - Ontonagon, MI - Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
29 - Pelham, ON - Fonhtill Bandshell Concerts


September
6 - Port Credit, ON - Southside Shuffle
7 - Drumheller, AB - Canada Badlands Roots, Blues And BBQ


Bywater Call is a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada.  The band is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, John Kervin (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet) and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).





(Live photo by Marty Moffatt, portrait photo by Juan Perez-Fajardo)


 

In a new interview with The Good The Band & The Ugly podcast, former MEGADETH guitarist Jeff Young spoke in more detail about the "original band" he formed with fellow ex-MEGADETH member David Ellefson (bass),both of whom are also playing together in KINGS OF THRASH. Regarding the musical direction of the new band's music, Young said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's got everything. It's got all of our influences. Some of it's as heavy as MEGADETH, but it wouldn't be authentic if we just took [Dave] Mustaine's style. And I've seen some ex-MEGADETH members go do an album that sounds like MEGADETH, but that wasn't really their bag. And, of course, that's an influence 'cause we went through that whole process and we were part of that history and we played on the music. But it sounds like all the stuff that we've grown up on. Plus David and I have lived 10 different lives since MEGADETH. We've done a lot as musicians, so we're gonna bring all the stuff. We're not bringing a 27-year-old mindset or 25-year-old. I think I was 25, [2]6 when I was in MEGADETH."

He continued: "We wanna give the fans, 'cause we know we have a lot of fans in that genre — that [MEGADETH] album ['So Far, So Good...So What!'] went platinum, so there's a million people out there that know us by that. So we wanna give them some of that, but we also wanna give them all the other stuff that we have to offer.

"It's a diverse album, and we're really excited to introduce the other musicians on that as well," Jeff added. "And we'll have to wait a while for that. We're gonna be starting to record drums for that hopefully, I think, beginning in July. We've got more than an album demoed, like probably close to two albums demoed, so it's gonna be a fight to what makes it on the record."

Regarding the other musicians who will appear on the album, Jeff said: "I can tell you, I'll tell you one thing for sure: the drummer and the singer are neither one from America. And there was a thing floating around that it was a Brazilian singer, and it's not a Brazilian singer."

Young went on to say that he and David intentionally didn't want to put together a so-called supergroup. "This is a whole different thing," he explained. "This isn't like a put-together package deal with every superstar. The two other guys have done stuff, but they're not household names by any means, which we like that. You don't want someone who's already stereotyped and already has a brand. And the second they hear the singer or the drummer, like, oh, they think of the other band."

Young first spoke about his new original band with Ellefson last September in an interview with Jaime Poulos of Metal Express Radio. At the time he said: "Everyone's saying KINGS OF THRASH is coming out with an original album, and it's not KINGS OF THRASH. Chaz [Leon] is our singer for that, for doing the MEGADETH stuff [with KINGS OF THRASH], but for the original stuff, Ellefson and I have been writing for over a year; we've been working on some songs. We're using this guy from Brazil that's gonna blow you guys away. He sounds kind of like [Ronnie James] Dio meets Chris Cornell meets Rob Halford. He's got perfect pitch, so he never hits a bad note. It's crazy."

Asked what it's like to play with Ellefson again after so many years, Jeff said: "It's super cool. We didn't really get a chance to know each other back in the day because I think Dave Mustaine was like the toxic thorn in the middle. But now that that's out of there, we're not only seeing… 'cause we probably lived ten different lives since then. We're different people. We're more mature and we're getting to know each in a whole different time and space. So it's like nostalgia plus it's brand new."

KINGS OF THRASH recently completed a couple of tours during which it performed MEGADETH's classic albums "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!" A live CD/DVD package called "Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go" was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15, 2022 and was released in March 2023 via Cleopatra Records. The DVD, which was directed by Michael Sarna for Inmotion Entertainment, includes an appearance by another former MEGADETH member, Chris Poland (guitar).

In some recent interviews, Ellefson suggested that the upcoming original material from him and Young may not be released under the KINGS OF THRASH moniker. "Because, look, it doesn't have to be thrash," he told KNAC.COM. "It doesn't even have to be from a MEGADETH origin, really. Even though that was kind of the origin story, it doesn't have to sound like that. It should be us, who we are now today, I think. So, we've decided KINGS OF THRASH, for sure, is this [touring project] playing the music of yesterday. And then we're just deciding now, okay, this new music, to fit within that, should it be Jeff Young and David Ellefson doing something together? You know — ELLEFSON-YOUNG."

Last September, Young told Metal Edge about KINGS OF THRASH: "Let me put it this way: What's happening now is a win for all of us — Dave [Mustaine] included. He gets to make money off the publishing from the MEGADETH songs we play. Dave knows that, so he's very aware of us."

Young continued: "He hates what KINGS OF THRASH is doing. But it doesn't matter because, eventually, we'll delete a lot of the MEGADETH from our set, and we'll keep writing new stuff. But Dave is feeling the heat because we're getting attention, and the KINGS OF THRASH album will be better than anything MEGADETH has done recently. And we're playing all the MEGADETH songs better than he has in years. It's not just me saying that — read the reviews."

In January 2023, Young told Ultimate Guitar that he and Ellefson had not received any feedback from Mustaine about their new band or their recent live shows. "We couldn't care less… and it's a win-win for him," Jeff said. "Because all the publishing, for example, on the 'Best Of The West', he's getting all that money. We're making him money and he doesn't have to do anything. So, we're performing the songs because they're part of our history and the fans want to hear them and we will benefit from that, and so will he, so it's a win-win. How much cooler can anything be than that? So, if he has something to say about it… I wouldn't imagine it would be very objective… not that anything he's ever said has been objective."

Jeff's comments were similar to those he made in 2022 when he told Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series that he and Ellefson were "really not concerned" about Mustaine's reaction to KINGS OF THRASH. "I don't pay attention," he said. "I haven't really paid attention or followed MEGADETH since, I think, I heard the 'Rust In Peace' album a couple of times, and then what you might hear on the radio or in the press.

"For us, this isn't about any spite or retaliation; it's a celebration of the music that we were all a part of, that we helped create," he explained. "And it's fun for us to do this.

"People said, 'You should do this.' And we said, 'Hey, yeah, you're right. We should do this.' It's a win-win — it's a win for us, and it's a win for [Mustaine], because any performance royalties, anything… If we did include live tracks, he would make money off that. It's promoting albums that hopefully fans will go back and buy, which is putting money right in his pocket. Especially 'Killing Is My Business', I think a lot of people are gonna go back and wanna rediscover that album after this tour.

"For us, it's all about positivity," Young added. "We're all in this moment — we're living in the moment, and we're not looking beyond. We're not reading any of the comments on Blabbermouth or any of the stuff. Because we know what our intent is, and intent is everything. And our intent's positive. We like playing together. We know we're crafting original music. We're not relying on this; we don't need to ride the coattails of this. This is just something that the fans wanted, and you wanna give fans what they want."

Ellefson told Yes! You CAN Play Guitar! that the intention behind KINGS OF THRASH is not to stick it to his former bandmates. "This is a celebration, not a retaliation," he explained. "This is a good moment. This is a happy moment, to celebrate these songs and these tracks and these records. So we go at it with just fun… It's, like, 'Wow. Wouldn't it be fun if we went out and played these records?' And we're doing it. So it's meant to be this celebration and bringing people together. And honestly, that was kind of always my role in MEGADETH. Dave [Mustaine] always called me 'The Ambassador', and I was always that guy, and I am that guy. So it's, like, let me just continue that role in our community and have one of good will."

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH more than three years ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the MEGADETH leader shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.

Young's entire career with MEGADETH was spent recording and touring in support of the band's 1988 platinum-selling album "So Far, So Good...So What!"

Jeff made headlines in December 2009 for accusing Mustaine of, among other things, "dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble." He also disputed Mustaine's claim in an interview that Young's drug problem led to MEGADETH's 1988 Australian tour being called off and the group being "banned" from performing in the country.

Greek power metal titans, Sirius, have unveiled their electrifying lyric video for the track "Desdichad." This is just a taste of what's coming from their upcoming album, A Quest For Life, which is set to be unleashed on July 26th via WormHoleDeath Records.


"Desdichado" is a song based on the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. It is the story of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for Sir Wilfred's allegiance to King Richard the Lionheart. It is the first song of many to follow The Pilgrim and unfold his journey of betrayal, salvation, and restoration.


Watch the lyric video for "Desdichado" below.







Sirius, formed in 2007 by guitarist/singer Dimitris Napas in Athens, Greece, released their debut EP, Wings of Fire, on December 2, 2017, with a sold-out show at Remedy Live Club. In August 2019, they released an acoustic version of "The Last Angel" and a studio performance video, followed by an opening for Luke Appleton of Iced Earth. They've played at various festivals, including Under The Quarry.


Currently, Sirius is set to release A Quest for Life via WormholeDeath Records, featuring Tim "Ripper" Owens and Derek Sherinian. The album's artwork is by Jon Toussas and Graphic no Jutsu, recorded at Made in Hell studio with David Prudent handling the production.


Sirius is:


Dimitris Napas - vocals / lead and acoustic Guitars
Dimitris Stathopoulos - rhythm guitars
Dimitris Simiakos - bass
Nick "Yngve" Samios - drums


Photo by Jiries

In August of 2023 while on tour in Europe, heavy psych- and progressive rock masters Elder were invited to record a live session at the legendary BBC Maida Vale Studios for the Radio 1 Rock Show with Dan Carter. The resulting session is a snapshot of the band’s powerful live performance and setlist from that tour. Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios will be released on August 30, 2024 through Stickman Records.


"We recorded a few tracks from the live set we had been playing at that time and were very happy with the results - a very 'live' sounding version of the tracks, which can be sometimes a bit ambitious to pull off live,“ the band states. "Most folks missed the radio broadcast, so we figured we'd put it to vinyl and CD as well."







Tracklist:


"Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra"
"Lore"
"Thousand Hands"


Live at BBC Maida Vale Studios by Elder


The limited edition 180gr. tricolor green marbled vinyl will be available only via the Stickman Records webstore. There will also be a standard edition of solid red. The vinyl edition includes a full size poster and download code. Pre-order your copy here.


For digital orders, visit Bandcamp.


Photo by Maren Michaelis

SynlakrosS have revealed the cover art and release date for their new album, Mental Parasites. After their Ideas Are Bulletproof EP it's time for yet another full-length and this melodic deathmetal/metalcore band is still going strong. Mental Parasites will be released on October 3.


This is the fifth full-length album of the band's career and this is what they have said about it: "The songs on this album are inspired by personality disorders, as well as thoughts and attitudes that parasitize our mind, turning it into a hostile place and making us live in hell. They invite self-reflection in an entertaining way. Totally SynlakrosS dark mojo!"







Songs to appear on the album include (listed alphabetically, not final tracklisting):


"Bunnies And Bows"
"Cherry On Top"
"Dickhead"
"Drama Queen"
"Freak"
"Mental Breakdown"
"Paranoid"
"Popcorn"
"Razor Blade"


The band add: "We have played, experimented and tried new things on this album. Some things are going to surprise you! It has been a lot of fun and we are convinced that it is our best album so far! It has been produced by Facundo Novo who has done a spectacular job! Briliant! Album cover by our singer Patricia Pons.


"New singles will be released very soon. Pre-sale will begin soon. Stay tuned!”

Brazil's Loss will release their new album, Human Factor, on August 23.


The sound of the band is rock influenced by the classics but with modern references. Marcelo Loss's heavy vocal and remarkable bass added to Adriano Avelar's powerful guitar and Teddy Bronsky's consistent drumming give rise to a sound that takes us back to the origins of the style, but brings a breath of modernity to rock. The three musicians show in the songs all their influences: classic rock, stoner, metal, hard rock, groove and so on.







Tracklisting:


"Reboot"
"Segredos"
"Hold Me"
"Leaving"
"Material Delight"
"The Storm"
"Right Or Wrong"
"Deus"
"Novena"
"The Mirror"
"Human Factor"


Loss is:


Marcelo Loss: Vocals
Adriano Avelar: Guitars
Teddy Bronsky: Drums


(Photo - Flavio Charchar)

Unleashing their new album, Versus Entropy, this past June after a 12-year hiatus, Montreal, Canada's Derelict have released a new drum playthrough from Tommy McKinnon for the record's title track via Sick Drummer Magazine.


"I decided to choose this track because I thought it represents the album very well as far as style. It mixes groove, melody, and brutality. When I reached out to Ian at SDM, he was very enthusiastic about the song. The drums on the video are recorded in one take, and I left the timing 100% natural. I wanted this to be sort of a "live" version of the song and the sound has no triggers at all," says McKinnon.







Known for their brutal melodic technical death metal, Versus Entropy is a testament to the collaborative synergy between Burnet and guitarist Max Lussier. Each song on the album is a joint effort, with contributions from bassist Sébastien Pittet and drummer Tommy McKinnon adding layers of complexity and depth.


The album unfolds in two distinct chapters, the first four songs can be considered a pure evolution of what they did on 2012's Perpetuation. It is then separated by an instrumental piece “Attunement” that offers a breather and a bridge to the last four tracks that feature probably the band's most brutal, southern, thrashiest, and old-school prog death songs ever written by them.


Lyrically, the album delves into both global and personal themes, from climate change and social injustice to introspective explorations of identity and emotion. “Versus Entropy” was produced by Burnet and Lussier, mixed and mastered by JF Dagenais (Kataklysm), with the album artwork done by Cate Francis.


"We think our existing fans will be surprised and happy to hear new music from us. It’s been 12 years since our last full-length, although we teased our return with the 'Clear Cut' single in 2022. I think fans will find that we matured while keeping our core sound. There’s more diversity in what we’ve done here than on older material," adds the band.





Tracklisting:


"Versus Entropy"
"Infinite Dread"
"Terminal"
"Workhorse"
"Attunement"
"Dans les Dents"
"Spectrum"
"Derelict"
"The Escapist"

Swedish melodic death/thrash metal band, Bloodcrown, has dropped the video for "Other I". The track is featured on the new album, Sound Of Flesh And Bone“, out July 26th via Gruesome Records.


The band on the new song: "'Other I' is a song about meeting the other self. That part you don't show, that no one else knows about. Who am I when no one sees it? Often it is the part of you inside that you are ashamed of, a voice of darkness and sometimes an action. Sometimes it is so foreign to you that you see it as another person, but it is you, your darkness.”


Watch the video below, and pre-order the album here.




The album revolves around a lot of human existential thoughts. Everything from mental illness, social critical conspiracies, liberation from the slavery of social order to a struggle beyond our physical world. A real darkness that rules spiritually behind the scenes.


Sound Of Flesh And Bone features 11 tracks for over 41 minutes of playing time in the veins of The Haunted, Terror 2000, At The Gates, Entombed, and The Crown.





Tracklisting:


"When Wolves"
"Sword Cut"
"Other I"
"Sound Of Flesh And Bone"
"Hypnotized In Chains"
"Momentary"
"Paralysis"
"Purge"
"Obscenity"
"Evil Pandemic"
"Fire Of Resistance"


"Other I" video:





Bloodcrown is:


Barry Halldan - Vocals
Johan Wold Ylenstrand - Guitar, Bass
Rickard Gustafsson - Guitar, Bass, Vocals
Jachin - Drums


(Photo - Rebecka Gustafsson)

Italy's Secret Rule have released a video for "Time Zero", lifted from their new album, UNInVERSE, released last November via Lucky Bob Records / SPV.


Says the band: "'Time Zero' is an anthem of resilience and rebirth. In a world teetering on the edge of chaos, the song urges you to rise, confront your inner demons, and ignite the fire within. As stars fall and darkness looms, remember that you are forged from the very essence of the cosmos. Embrace the storm of life, find strength in your struggles, and be reborn from the flames. This is your moment to shine, to become immortal, and to conquer the void. Join us on this epic journey of survival and renewal!"


Watch the clip below.







Tracklisting:


"Disorder"
"Equilibrium"
"Shards Of Time"
"Gravity On Us"
"Uninverse"
"I Am"
"Time Zero"
"Multiple Me"
"From Null To Life"
"Black Hole"


"Time Zero" video:





Full album visualizer:





"I Am" video:





Lineup:


Angela Di Vincenzo - Vocals
Andy Menario - Guitar / Vocals
NicK Pedron - Bass / Vocals
Sebastiano Dolzani - Drums

Last summer, MUDVAYNE frontman Chad Gray celebrated two years since he quit drinking. The 52-year-old musician, who was born in Illinois but currently resides in Las Vegas with his Shannon Gunz, a radio host for several SiriusXM channels, opened up about his battle with the bottle in a new interview with the "Scandalous" podcast. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "I really don't talk about it, and I really haven't talked about it — this would be the first time I talked about it — but I quit drinking two years and 10 months ago. This probably will be the most vocal I've been about it, in this podcast or whatever. I'd mentioned it, but I haven't really talked about it.

"I grew up in that shit that I was in, and my grandmother, who was the love of my life, helped pull me out of that," he continued. "She helped get me the fuck out of that mess. And she was just devastated. I was her whole fucking world. I was her little boy, and she was mine. And I was taken very far away from her, and we were both just fucked up. And eventually I got pulled out of that mess and basically started living with her. And she got the most broken, destroyed fucking kid that you could ever get. And all of a sudden now I've got this fucking freedom, and I got some love around me, which I hadn't felt a long, long time. And I just went fucking crazy — like, I went crazy. I started fucking drinking. I was fucking 13, 14 years old. I started drinking, and probably the first time I drank, the first time ever, [I was] not drinking a beer or whatever. I probably just poured an old bottle of fucking vodka down my throat. First time I ever got drunk was probably fucking vomiting and fucking blacked out and fucking maybe close to fucking death. I don't know. But that's just how it was for me. It was helping with the pain. And because of all the crazy shit that I went through down there and that I'd been through my whole life up to that point, it gave me confidence. I mean, you ask anybody, the shyest motherfucker on the planet, you pour a couple of drinks down their throat and all of a sudden they're talking. Because it's liquid confidence. So I liked that aspect of it. So, I got addicted to that. I got addicted, because I've always been very much 'square peg round hole' most of my life and most of my situations, and I still have that, where I very much feel like I don't fit in. So I'm always kind of struggling with that. So that gave me that confidence to be able to fit in. I was funny as shit, and I was a lot of fun to be around. I had a lot of fun when I was drinking, and then it just kept progressing. And then, all through my life, 14 fucking on, my 20s. I was just a fucking wild man, period. I was just out of my fucking mind. You can ask anybody, even in this business or whatever, that knew me at the end of my drinking days. It's, like, 'That mother fucker was like…' I was the guy you didn't wanna invite to your party because I'd probably come into your house and fucking kick all your shit over and jump off your table. [I was] just a fucking wild man. I was just crazy."

Chad added: "But that was my whole thing. So all through my 20s and shit. And then I get in a band and then we start touring and that fucking lifestyle. And I just embraced the fuck out of it — drink, drink, drink, drink, drink as much as I could drink, some drugs. But it just continued to grow and grow and grow and grow and grow. There are different relationships that I had or whatever that were just fucking blown up. I'm quite sure that my drinking had something to do with it. It might not have been the full-blown reason, but it was definitely in the ballpark. It was definitely something that added to it. And then I met [Shannon], and when we met each other, we just fucking went for it every night, man. We just fucking partied our ass off, honeymoon stage. It just like fucking fun and having fun and shit like that. And then it just got to the point where it was just, like, she's gotta pick up all the fucking pieces from [what] destroyed me. And in alcoholism, there's a lot of self-centeredness, and I've never thought of myself as a self-centered person. I've always been very humble. I have humility. I think it's the most powerful trait any fucking human human being can have, is humility. I've always kind of prided myself in being approachable. I always treat my fans with a lot of respect and I just treat people in general with a lot of respect, unless I'm fucking drunk and turn into a fucking wild man. So I never looked at myself as a self-serving, self-centered type of person, and then I started thinking about, after I got sober, looking back on it, and it's just, like, I knew for a fact that when I [got] right out of bed, right the fuck out of bed, crack[ed] a beer or fucking [did] a shot or whatever, right before I took that drink, just looking at it and going, knowing in my head that at some point I'm gonna take this drink and I don't know if it's gonna be beer fucking eight, beer 15, shot fucking 10, whatever, at some point I'm gonna go off the rails. I'm gonna make shit uncomfortable and I'm gonna fucking bring all of you motherfuckers down with me — anyone who's hanging out with me. I don't know how much more self-centered you can get than that. I knew it every day, but I still fucking did it. That is fucking selfish. Any person I came in contact with, I would burn a fucking bridge down. I would burn bridge after fucking bridge after bridge. And then it happened to some really close friends of mine. And they're literally looking at me going… because of my behavior, my drunken psychotic fucking behavior that's still — I guarantee you — still fueled by a life of chaos from the time as far back as I can fucking remember, I burnt some bridges with some really fucking close people, and they literally looked at me, like, 'You know what?! I'm fucking done with you, man. I'm fucking done with you. I'm not gonna sit and watch you fucking kill yourself with booze. You're gonna die alone. You're gonna be alone. You're gonna lose everything because of what you're doing. You're gonna lose it all.' Fucking tough love. And at that moment, I was, like, 'Fuck this. Last time.' At that moment, I was, like, 'This is it. I'm done.' And I did it. And I quit."

Chad previously discussed his sobriety last September in an interview with Australia's "Everblack" podcast. He said: "I haven't really spoken about it yet 'cause I'm not one for a bunch of fucking fanfare. But I haven't even posted or done anything, but I've been sober now for two years. I just passed my two-year mark. The last day of ['The Psychotherapy Sessions'] tour [in late August] was my two years. And I just didn't make any — I haven't told anybody. I haven't really gone to the wire and been, like, 'Hey.' 'Cause I don't want a bunch of people to go, 'Fucking great, man'; I don't need all that. It's been two fucking years."

He continued: "You wanna think that when you quit drinking and shit — 'cause I was insane; I was a madman. I drank and I was volatile and I was fucking crazy as fuck and not a great drinker. I was just an asshole. I was just crazy — period. And I just got fucking fed up with that dude. I quit to try to help myself and to be a better me and to live a better life, and it just doesn't work that way. You wanna think that you stop doing shit like that and all the voices get quiet, and it's, like, dude, they're screaming. And everything becomes more amplified — all the feelings, all the emotions, all the depression, all the fucking shit, you know."

Gray added: "I've done so many things in my life to try to figure it out and be better. Am I better today than I was yesterday? I hope so. I assume I am. Am I better today than I was two years ago? Absolutely. I know that for a fucking fact. But I still have a lot of work to do on myself and I still have a lot of therapy to do on my own. And my therapy is writing those thoughts down and fucking creating and connecting. It helps me to be open and to be honest knowing that I'm going to connect with someone and knowing that I'm gonna help someone. And that's the reason that I want to continue to write music. My biggest thing is that — the connection that I know that I'm gonna make with someone. And that's my inspiration. And that's my muse."

Back in 2017, while Chad was fronting HELLYEAH, he told Antihero that he was "not drinking on the road anymore. I quit partying," he claimed. "I just came to the terms with myself like that. I wanted to give, be the best that I can when I'm playing. So I do all of the things that I do just to play. To give you, all the fucking kids that are standing in front of me, the best show possible. And it's hard to do when you're drinking. You're dehydrated, you're fucking hung over. I just feel better. I feel more confident in my voice and I feel better about myself. I look better. I lost weight. It's 'good good good'. The only bad is no drinking."

MUDVAYNE formed in 1996 and has sold over six million records worldwide, earning gold certification for three albums ("L.D. 50", "The End Of All Things To Come", "Lost And Found"). The band is known for its sonic experimentation, innovative album art, face and body paint, masks and uniforms. MUDVAYNE is Gray, Greg Tribbett (guitar, backing vocals),Matthew McDonough (drums, synthesizer) and Ryan Martinie (bass).

Gray spent a decade and a half fronting HELLYEAH, which released its sixth studio album, "Welcome Home", in September 2019 via Eleven Seven Music. The disc marked the group's final effort with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who passed away more than six years ago.

Slovenian heavy metal band, SkyEye, will release their new studio album, New Horizons, on July 19 via Reaper Entertainment.


Some bands play heavy metal. Some bands are heavy metal. Enter Slovenian powerhouse SkyEye, the best example of category two one could wish for. With their third record, New Horizons, just around the corner, the sworn brotherhood is officially and successfully applying for the role of heavy metal’s latest and most courageous defenders of the faith, a force of steel that was simmering ever since it started out back in 2014.


These past years, SkyEye have wasted no time in stating their claim of becoming heavy metal’s next global ambassadors. And that in itself is no small feat for a band from Slovenia with its vibrant yet internationally shamefully under-represented scene. But fear not, SkyEye are gonna change that – with vigour, stamina, and some of the best traditional heavy metal you have heard in a long time. “The whole band consists of passionate metalheads”, mastermind Jan Leščanec emphasises. “The seed of heavy metal was planted in our youths and we nurture it since then.”




Founded back in 2014 as a band of brothers wishing to play the music they love, things quickly picked up pace. Their debut Digital God served as a first warm-up round in 2018, gigs and confidence followed suit. Ever since their 2021 release Soldiers of Light, their debut for Reaper Entertainment, SkyEye rose to prominence beyond Slovenian borders as well, winning fans worldwide, taking the band closer to the top step by thundering step. Today, SkyEye consist of Jan Leščanec (vocals), Marko Kavcnik (guitars), Urban Železnik (guitars), Primoz Lovsin (bass) and Jurij Nograsek (drums). A five-piece ready to take on the world.


Their latest offering, New Horizons, sets a huge exclamation mark behind this iron will of spreading the gospel of true heavy metal: SkyEye combine the grandeur of Iron Maiden with the punch of Judas Priest and the youthful vigour present on the first Hammerfall – indeed their latest album very much feels like the Swedes’ 1997 breakthrough album Glory to the Brave in terms of zeal and ambition. No doubt: A new power has risen in the east, a heavy metal thunderstorm screaming with vengeance and hell-bent on taking the throne of traditional steel. New Horizons is their crown jewel in an already impressive collection, following the prestigious “Newcomer Of The Year” award by Metal Hammer magazine back in 2021. “That was quite the shock for us – in a positive way,” Jan laughs. “We did not expect it to happen in a million years. It was and forever will be a great honour and a confirmation that we are on the right path and of course it is a huge boost for our motivation in the future.”


No doubt: New Horizons happily exceeds the expectations glued to that award. “The new album is a continuation of what we’ve established as a band in the past years,” Jan states. “Every song on the album is its own world and carries its own story.” As the uplifting title already hints, this one is about new beginnings, big changes and gigantic challenges, a record full of blistering riffs, jubilant screams, thundering drums and soaring melodies. “This took the band members on a journey to find new horizons,” the vocalist says. It also meant that founding member and main driving force in the band’s early days, Grega Stalowsky, needed to step aside to let the band fully grow and blossom. “He is the true metal warrior and we know the decision was not easy for him to make,” Jan says, “but we fully support his decision to step off the train. With that in mind we wanted to make the best album to date. To be completely honest, there were some hard times during the making of the album because Grega was on his way out. But we persevered. It’s indeed as the saying goes: The pearl is born from the pain.” As a farewell gift and a sign of his enduring legacy, three of the album’s eleven tracks are written by Grega.


While the opener “The Descenders” already is a hot-blooded and massive beast of a song, lead single “Railroad of Dreams” serves as the best introduction to this band – a compact and melodic uptempo song retelling the heroic journey that lead SkyEye to this point. Jan: “This train is a metaphor for the decade long of our band that has taken us through thick and thin and towards these new horizons.” Equally storming and crushing, yet a tad more dark, “Far Beyond” is a fiery and galloping brand of heavy metal that ticks all the boxes of majestic storytelling. And while “Nightfall” crosses classic era Helloween vibes with a mystical and primordial aura, it’s the title track that’s pulling all the stops in terms of an epic, huge metal anthem, connecting the themes from this fierce third release with that of the debut. Mark that one for your top picks of the year already!


SkyEye may have been around for a decade already. And yet New Horizons feels like a genuine beginning, like a first milestone of many more to come. Be there to witness the start of something truly spectacular. You will regret it later if you don’t. And that’s a promise. Or, as the band puts it: “We are more than happy with this record and we hope that the fans will enjoy listening to it as much as we do. In the name of SkyEye, let there be heavy metal!” Amen.





Tracklisting:


"The Descenders"
"Fight!"
"Far Beyond"
"Railroad of Dreams"
"Saraswati"
"New Horizons"
"The Voice from the Silver Mountain"
"Forgotten Nation"
"Nightfall"
"The Emerald River"
"1917"


"Nightfall" video:





"Far Beyond" lyric video:





"Railroad of Dreams" video:





Lineup:


Jan Lescanec - Vocals
Marko Kavcnik - Guitar
Urban Zeleznik - Guitar
Primoz Lovsin - Bass
Jurij Nograsek - Drums

Spain-based brutal/technical death metal act, Wormed, will release their new album, Omegon, tomorrow, Friday, July 5, via Season Of Mist. A full album audio stream can be found below.


Space – the final frontier. Yet, when Wormed reach out into the void, the results sound far more like a dark space opera inhabited by bizarre aliens, genetically and technically evolved meta-humans struggling for power and survival in galactic empires. Now, the nano-technological war has been unleashed in the void to defeat the last sower of human life, Krighsu!


Odd-time signatures, avalanches of breaks and complex rhythmical as well as melodic patterns will excite every aficionado of extreme technicality, while growls down-tuned strings and double-bass assaults will more than satisfy extreme metal connoisseurs. While being outstandingly skilled musicians Wormed are avoiding any self-indulgent show of prowess for its own sake. Instead, the five-piece from Madrid clearly lays its emphasis on creating atmospheric songs, which develop and grow along the underlying story.




Originating from Spain's capital Madrid in 1998, Wormed immediately made an impact in the death metal scene with the release of their Floating Cadaver In The Monochrome MCD (1999). Following a promo CD under the title Voxel Mitosis (2001), the first studio album Planisphaerium received high acclaim by critics and fans alike in 2003. In the wake of their debut full-length, the Spanish received invitations to international festival shows and touring around the globe. Wormed performed in Japan alongside Goratory and Vomit Remnants and afterwards hit Europe with Malignancy and Despondency.


A creative hiatus, partly due to lineup changes and filled with reissues of their previous released as well as the single "Quasineutrality" (2010) finally ended, when their sophomore album Exodromos came out in 2013. On their third full-length Krighsu (2016), the fast-rising Spanish sci-fi tech death prodigies are telling a dystopian cosmic story with lyrics and music joined into an overarching concept. Its intense brutality, dissonant dynamic riffing, and tremendous heaviness combined with an amazing futuristic concept, which introduced the character Krighsu – last human in the cosmos, harvested top reviews and saw Wormed headlining in the US and co-headlining in Europe.


In the summer of 2019, Wormed brought their ultra-technical cosmic sonic onslaught to new heights on their 4-track EP Metaportal, released through Season of Mist. Praised as a monstrously satisfying addition to their catalogue, the EP bridged the gap between their previously released 2016 Krighsu and their newest project. Atmospheric yet faithful to the skull-crushing mind-boggling textures they’ve given fans over the years, Metaportal allowed Wormed to come to terms with the loss of Guillermo Calero in 2018 and move forward.


On Omegon, Wormed’s upcoming 2024 release, they continue the story of Krigshu, a timeline hacker entangled in manipulation by cosmic forces. As viciously as the aggression they bring on their technically impressive instruments, Krigshu battles his way to unlock the mysteries of Omegon, a mysterious cosmic substance holding ultimate power. With 9 tracks of ultimate interstellar chaos, a story unfolds and Wormed prove yet again that they reign supreme on the technical death metal genre.


Available Formats:


- Digital Download
- CD Digipak
- 12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
- 12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - White
- 12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent Blue
- 12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Blue, Black & White Marbled


Order here.





Tracklisting:


"Automaton Virtulague"
"Pareidolia Robotica"
"Protogod"
"Pleoverse Omninertia"
"Malignant Nexus"
"Virtual Teratogenesis"
"Aetheric Transdimensionalization"
"Gravitational Servo Matrix"
"Omegon"


Album stream:





"Automaton Virtulague" video:





Lineup:


Phlegeton - Vocals
Migueloud - Guitars
D-Kazar - Guitars
Guillemoth - Bass
V-Kazar - Drums

In a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine, THE OFFSPRING guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman spoke about the band's upcoming eleventh album, "Supercharged", which will arrive on October 11 via Concord Records. Regarding the recording process for the follow-up to 2021's "Let The Bad Times Roll", he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it was good. We worked with Bob again, Bob Rock, our producer. We've been working with him for, like 15, 16 years now. And we just get together every so often for, like, a couple of weeks, two, three weeks. He comes to Huntington [Beach, California] or we go up to Vancouver. There's a studio called The Warehouse that he likes to work at up there. We have our own studio in Huntington. And we just hang out. We talk about music and then we turn on record and try different things and see what happens.

When the interviewer noted that it seems like there is a "relaxed" vibe in the studio, Noodles clarified: "We work hard on what we're doing, especially Dexter [singer Bryan Holland]. He focuses a lot on just minute details. I don't know how he holds all those details in his head. I'm, like, 'Man, I love it. Great beat. Great groove. Let's go.' He's, like, 'Well, there's one drum hit that's that needs to be fixed here.' Like, 'Whoa, dude. Okay.'"

Asked if they ever end up in arguments because of differences of opinion, Noodles said: "There's times when we all disagree, and Dexter will disagree with Bob, Bob will disagree with me and him, but it's always… It's never… I wouldn't even say argument. There's disagreements, but we just discuss it and we try different things. If Bob makes a suggestion, we'll try it and see where it works. And sometimes you have to sit on that. Like we'll try something new, then we go home and listen to it and go, 'Ah, you know what? I did like it better before,' or go, 'You know what, Bob? You were right. That one part needed to be fixed.' And that's how we work. And it's always good-natured."

Asked if he and his bandmates ever discuss the musical direction they want to take when working on new music, Noodles said: "Each song is is viewed separately. And then once you have a bunch of songs, then you kind of see where the record is going And then you just try to build on that. I don't think we've ever changed that much. We've never done a concept record. We never went, 'All right, we're done with this punk rock pop stuff. We wanna be metal now.' There is at least one song on this record that I would call metal. It's just thrash metal. It's called 'Come To Brazil'… It's one of the most metal. I don't know [about] heaviest. We've got a lot of heavy punk rock songs as well, but this one's probably one of the heaviest metal ones for sure. There's another one too called 'Get Some', which is pretty riff rock, almost metal."

At last month's Download festival in the United Kingdom, Holland spoke to James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound magazine about "Supercharged". Addressing the fact that the LP will be released just three years after "Let The Bad Times Roll", which came out nearly a decade following 2012's "Days Go By", Dexter said: "The last one took a really long time, and I'm not sure exactly what it was, but I think it had a lot to do with that I went back to school and I didn't realize how much time that was taking. [Editor's note: Dexter resumed his studies and earned a PhD in molecular biology in May 2017.] And before you know it, it's been years and years since you put out a record. And so this time we were, like, 'We're determined to get something out more quickly this time.' So it was, for us, very quick — it was, like, three years… In rock years, like dog years, that's like three months."

Asked if the newly released song "Make It All Right" from "Supercharged" was the obvious choice for a first single from the album, Dexter said: "No, I thought it was gonna be another [track], actually. And we just kind of — you know, you start playing it for people around you, your, your friends and family or whatever, and then eventually the people at the label that are gonna promote it, and 'Make It All Right' was the one that kind of kept on coming back as, like, 'We think this is the one.' And I think people like it because it's very immediate — it's not hard to figure out what's going on in this song. And I think that's kind of cool. I like the idea of putting out what I would call almost a summer song. It's just kind of a feel-good song. It doesn't always have to be dark and gloomy or something that's really deep that you have to figure out. Sometimes you just wanna kind of — the joy of life, I guess, is kind of the vibe going on."

When "Supercharged" was first announced, Dexter said in a statement: "We wanted this record to have pure energy — from the start to the finish! That’s why we called it 'Supercharged'. From the height of our aspirations to the depths of our struggles, we talk about it all on this record…in a way that celebrates the life that we share and where we are now. Our single 'Make It All Right' is a great example of this because it talks about the people in our lives who make us feel strong when we are feeling low — our partners in crime who make us feel all right."

He continued: "The album was recorded in three different locations this time: Maui, Vancouver, and our home studio in Huntington Beach, and together with our producer Bob Rock everything came out awesome. I feel like this is the best we have ever sounded! We've been rocking out and headbanging to it for months! And we can't wait for you guys to hear it!"

Dexter previously told the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast about the musical direction of the band's eleventh studio album: "I think it's a David Bowie quote, who said, 'You've gotta make it the same, but different.' It's funny, 'cause it's true. 'Cause if you sound too much like your other record, they go, 'Oh, it just sounds like this record.' And if you change too much, it throws people. And, of course, you've gotta ultimately satisfy your own creativity, what you wanna do. And luckily, I think that we've really expanded the circle of what we can do. We did 'Gone Away' on 'Ixnay [On The Hombre]' and we've done piano stuff and all that, but I think you have to balance that desire to grow with — you don't wanna necessarily be too grown up, if that makes sense. You don't wanna all of a sudden go, 'I'm gonna make a record like U2.' That doesn't necessarily work the best for who you are as a band. We're trying to keep that all in mind."

He continued: "When people ask me, 'What does your new record sound like?', I'll just say 'Ignition', 'cause people go, 'Oh, cool. I love that record.' So, it's not like that. It's a mixture. I think punk is the core of what we've always been, so there's always some of that on a record. And then we usually throw in a couple of oddball songs, but it's always about trying to make the song as good as it can be."

"Let The Bad Times Roll" was a huge global success, hitting career-high chart debuts with seven Top 5 and ten Top 10 international debuts and nine Top 10 debuts in the U.S. The album peaked at No. 3 on the U.K. chart and hit No. 1 on the Alternative Albums chart in the U.S.

THE OFFSPRING first achieved worldwide success in the 1990s with the release of their album "Smash", which sold over 11 million copies. Following "Smash", they continued to release hit after hit, popularizing rock at a mainstream level.

Throughout THE OFFSPRING's career, they've sold over a staggering 40 million albums, and toured arenas, and built a global fan base. "Let The Bad Times Roll" marked the band's tenth studio album and third album produced by Rock.

Originally formed under the name MANIC SUBSIDAL, THE OFFSPRING's lineup consists of Holland, Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn.

Canadian glam metal band, Gelatin Skelatin, is pleased to announce the release of their new album, Big Trouble, this coming August via SRS/MVD Entertainment. The album contains nine tracks including the lead single / music video "VHS", a song that hearkens back to the summer of '89.


"It makes the listener mentally revisit the days when going to the beach and requesting 80s hard rock on the radio was the way we spent our time. It was some of the best times of my life and I wanted to capture that feeling in song," says frontman/vocalist Brett Kelly.


Also featured on the band's debut full-length are songs "Ship Of Fools" and "Scream And Scream Again", written by Juno Award-winning singer Mike Trebilcock of Canadian band The Killjoys along with mastering by Harry Hess of Harem Scarem fame.




Treating every show like an arena rock show, regardless of size, fans can always expect a lot of running around and lots of leather. The brainchild of Ottawa-based vocalist Brett Kelly. He is joined by guitarists Sebastien Thisdelle and Myles "Slam" Rourke (ex-Annihilator), bassist Billy Jessup and drummer Joel Agnew.


"I had the idea to form an old-school glam metal band brimming for over a decade, and I finally decided to take the plunge around 5 years ago. This record is for the love of the retro glam experience. I want fans to remember the good old days when rock was fun and rock stars looked like rock stars. People who want that arena rock experience should get a kick out of us." adds Kelly.


Recommended for fans of KISS, Alice Cooper, Winger, and Warrant, Gelatin Skelatin's debut album Big Trouble is due out on August 9 via SRS/MVD Entertainment and is available for pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"VHS"
"80s Ladies"
"Bad Alphabet"
"Ship Of Fools"
"If You See Kay"
"Last Call For Love"
"Scream And Scream Again"
"If You Can't Do What's Right (Do What's Left)"
"That's Rock n Roll"


"VHS" video:





Live dates:


August
10 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey


September
13 - Brockville, ON - Rocking the River Party Cruise
14 - Pembroke, ON - Legends at Finnigans


November
8 - Ottawa, ON - Brass Monkey (opening for Trixter)


Live band lineup:


Brett Kelly - Vocals
Slam - Guitar
Joel Agnew - Drums
Billy Jessup - Bass
Sebastien Thisdelle - Lead Guitar


(Photo - The Photowitch)

The Covers Challenge is back with this impressive version of "Lunch" by Billie Eilish, performed by Six Burning Knives.


A message states: "In response to the enthusiastic reception of The Covers Challenge, a groundbreaking initiative by El Jevilongo in collaboration with Art Gates Records, we are thrilled to announce the launch of an exhilarating new metal version.


"Six Burning Knives has embraced the challenge of transforming Billie Eilish's song, 'Lunch', infusing it with their distinctive metal edge, showcasing their versatility by transforming a synth-pop/electro-rock anthem into a definitive metalcore rendition.




"In this vocal performance, Noel demonstrates his full vocal prowess, highlighting his adaptability and powerful delivery."