For The Metal Voice, Kenny Kessel spoke to Mark and John Gallagher from the NWOBHM band, Raven on April 27 in New Hope, Pennsylvania at John & Peters club. Watch video below.


When asked about their third album, All for One: "This year is the band's 50th anniversary, this album is 41 years. We came out with this album and it made an impact and in some ways we are still competing with this album, we are up against that history of that record. For us, All For One made a little bit of a first step into the USA. All For One is a seminal record, that third album. It's really a stamp of who we are and that is not taking anything away from our other albums. And of course it's the title track, 'All for one, one for all.' It's like we are connecting with the people who come to see us. We are all kind of together. I still look back fondly on this record. We're doing a box set for this record. It's going to be a little bit of everything but it also includes a lot of rare stuff that's beyond what's on this record."


When asked about seeing former Raven drummer Rob 'Wacko' Hunter for the first time in 35 years: "We never talked to Rob after he left for 5 years. Then I had a business thing come up, got him on the phone and we were on the phone for 3 hours. It was kind of nice to reconnect with Rob (recently on this tour). We picked right up where we left off. It has been 37 years since I have seen him."




When asked about Raven having the same song title as Metallica, 'Seek & Destroy' on 83' tour: "Yeah we did laugh about it. We never heard either one's (song before). All we heard from Metallica was No Life Til Leather (demo)."

The Devil Wears Prada have shared a new version of "Reasons", the collab track they released with electronic artists Excision and Wooli back in April 2023. The new version features LØLØ. Stream/download here, and watch a visualizer video below.





"When we made 'Reasons' with Excision and Wooli, we knew we had to play it live because the energy was just so high," the band explains. "We revamped the song to work in a TDWP set, and it went off so well that we decided to hit the studio and capture this new live version of the song."




They continue, "Bringing in the amazingly talented LØLØ as a feature has breathed even more life into the song, resulting in a song that defies genre and captures the spirit of how the song feels in a full room going absolutely nuts. We know that our fans will enjoy this version of 'Reasons' as much as we love playing it every night."


LØLØ offers her insight into this unique collaboration, saying, "I was really excited when TDWP asked me to feature on this track. I've always thought they were so awesome but never thought I'd end up collaborating on a track with them. I think I probably just got a lot cooler."





TDWP will appear at major upcoming festivals - So What?! in Texas in June and When We Were Young in Las Vegas in October. They will also be appearing at Sundown Fest and Furnace Fest. All upcoming tour dates and performances are here.


(Photo - Imani Givertz)

In January 2023, Nicko McBrain, who has been the drummer for the heavy metal band IRON MAIDEN since 1982, was at his home in Boca Raton when he suffered a stroke with partial paralysis. That was the beginning of a challenging journey of physical rehabilitation that followed rapid and precise treatment by stroke specialists at Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton, Florida's Boca Raton Regional Hospital, part of Baptist Health.

Speaking to Baptist Health, McBrain reflected on that fateful morning. He said (see video below): "It was about probably 8, 8:15. I had a sleep. I woke up about quarter to 9. And as I got turned over, my arm wasn't moving. And I thought, 'What's going on?' And I pulled my hand up. I could feel — I had sensation in my hand. And I thought, 'Well, where's the pins and needles? Why has it gone to sleep?' And I started to [squeeze my hand]. And I let my hand go, and it just dropped. And I thought, 'Uh oh.'"

Nicko went on to say that he didn't know if he would be able to recover from the stroke quickly enough to join his MAIDEN bandmates on a tour they had scheduled for that spring.

"I did honestly think that was it," he admitted. "Now I'm laying in the bed, and I'm trying to move, move my hand, at least my fingers or something, encourage my body to, 'Come on, you can do this. You can do this.' Because we had scheduled this tour two years prior. And we were starting in May, and we were gonna do rehearsals starting the last week of April. So I thought, 'Well, I've got three months to see if I can at least play again.' And even holding a drumstick, there was nothing there."

McBrain previously talked about his post-ministroke recovery last December in an interview with Metal Hammer magazine. At the time, he said: "Well, it was very, very difficult. When it first happened, I thought, 'This is it. I'm not going to be able to play. I've got a tour coming up in three months' time.' I had a lot of time for reflection in the hospital. My wife was really my bastion of strength and encouragement and she was with me throughout. I did a lot of strength exercises, a lot of stretches with weird weights that they have and I got my stamina back."

McBrain told Metal Hammer that his MAIDEN bandmates, especially bassist Steve Harris, were very supportive during his recovery.

"Through all this period of time I was in touch with Steve, obviously all the guys, and I'd have a bit of a chat with them on the phone and they were all very, very encouraging, and none more so than Steve," Nicko said. "He said, 'Look, the most important thing is that you get well and work on getting yourself together.'"

Last October, Nicko spoke about his latest health scare during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation Power Trip Special". Asked how the shows on MAIDEN's "The Future Past Tour" have been, Nicko said: "It's going great. It started off a little shaky for me, but as the time [went on] and the more shows we performed, I started to get a little bit more strength and they'd been really rocking out well. And the last couple of months have been fantastic."

The 71-year-old McBrain also talked about his recovery in more detail and touched upon how his health setback affected his drumming. He said: "[I'm] doing good [right now]. I'm still probably — I'd say I'm 85 to 90 percent back to strength, but I still have a little less dexterity with speed in my fingers. My fingers are the ones that — this is the last thing to strengthen up. But I had to change certain drum fills. Some fills that everybody knows me for on certain songs, I've had to improvise those at rehearsals to be able to actually play the songs. So now I'm starting to actually be able to kind of embrace it a bit more. And I can't do that live. I have to wait until we start doing some rehearsals again or whatever it is. But I'm definitely getting stronger. And I've had great support from [MAIDEN manager] Rod [Smallwood], the band, and all of the fans out there. They've been absolutely — they've shown me so much love, it's amazing."

When Nicko first went public with his stroke in August 2023, the drummer said in a statement that the episode left him "paralyzed" down one side of his body and "worried" that his career with the band was over.

McBrain's statement read as follows: "I hope this message finds you all well!

"The reason I'm writing to you all today is to let you know of a very serious health problem that I have been through. In January I had a stroke, thank the Lord it was a minor one referred to as a TIA. It left me paralyzed on my right side from my shoulder on down, of course I was very worried that my career was over but with the love and support from my wife, Rebecca and family, my doctors, especially Julie my OT (Occupational Therapist),and my MAIDEN family I was able to bounce back to somewhere near 70% recovered. After 10 weeks of intense therapy it was almost time to start rehearsals for our tour.

"I feel it's important to let you know about this now instead of earlier as I was mainly concerned with doing my job and concentrating on getting back to 100% fitness. I'm not there yet but by the grace of God I'm getting better and stronger as the weeks go by.

"Thank you all for a most wonderful and magical tour so far, you have all been so amazing.

"Well that's it from me. God bless you all, stay safe and well and I look forward to seeing you all somewhere in time. "

Smallwood added: "The rest of the band and l think that what Nicko has been able to achieve since his stroke shows incredible belief and willpower and we are all very proud of him. With this new and musically very complex set to learn ahead of him, he just got his head down and concentrated on recovery. We honestly did not know if he would be able to play a whole show until band rehearsals started in May and there was just so much support for him from the band and then genuine relief for all when we saw he was going to be able to do it!

"Nicko being Nicko he did not want to make a fuss and cause any distraction to the tour at the time but, now that he is sure he will soon get there, he thought you fans should know straight from him rather than by any rumours! We are all of course delighted he battled through this so well and look forward to many more tours together!"

Four years ago, McBrain was diagnosed with stage 1 laryngeal cancer and opened up about it in a single interview in 2021 but otherwise kept it mostly under wraps. The musician received his cancer diagnosis after undergoing an endoscopy at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University Of Miami Health System and the Miller School of Medicine. Within a week, McBrain's cancer was surgically removed and he now gets check-ups every few months to make sure the cancer hasn't returned.

McBrain, who had the cancer in a part of his vocal cords, isn't the first member of MAIDEN to beat cancer. Back in late 2014, IRON MAIDEN's Bruce Dickinson was diagnosed with throat cancer. The singer, who had a golf gall-size tumor on his tongue and another in the lymph node on the right side of his neck, got the all-clear in May 2015 after radiation and nine weeks of chemotherapy.

In a 2015 interview with Overdrive, McBrain admitted that he thought MAIDEN was over when it was discovered that Dickinson had a cancerous tumor. "Well, I'd be a liar if I didn't think for a minute that IRON MAIDEN [was] finished," he said. "[But] I thought more about the possibility of losing my friend than anything else, to be honest. Then later, I was thinking, 'God forbid if the worst ever happened, the legacy would be the last 16 albums.'"

McBrain, who is a dedicated Christian, continued: "I've got to be honest, I did question his mortality at one point and thankfully that didn't last long. Honestly, I got down on my knees and said a prayer, picked my thoughts up and got positive about it all, thinking to myself, 'If anyone can beat this, it's Bruce.' He's so positive about everything he's ever done in his life, or whatever he is about to do. Basically, I prayed for him and my prayers were answered, as well as everybody else that knows and cares for him."

In a new interview with Associated Press entertainment journalist Alicia Rancilio, Jon Bon Jovi opened up about the vocal cord deterioration he experienced a few years ago which caused him to have surgery in 2022. He said: "It was heartbreaking, because I had done everything that I could. It's almost like shadow boxing or fighting an invisible enemy. I didn't know what it was. And I had done everything I could think of holistically. And I pride myself on being a vocalist, not a stylist. I've been fortunate enough to have sung with [legendary opera singer Luciano] Pavarotti. I know how to do it. So, as I knew it wasn't going well, and I thought if I just get myself back into touring shape and I go out there, maybe I'll pull the muscles back into what they need to be. It still wasn't working. It was after that 15 shows when the frustration became realization that I finally went back to the doctor that I had started to see. And he says, 'Now we can talk about surgery.' And that's when I loved him more because he wasn't one of these cut-happy doctors. And he said, 'As long as you've come to terms with that you've exhausted everything that you knew how to do, we can save this. I give you no guarantees, but this is the path.' And I wholeheartedly sunk myself into it since."

Jon went on to say that his February 2 appearance at the MusiCares "Person Of The Year" ceremony marked the first time he had sung in public in nearly two years.

"I'm still in deep vocal therapy. But I'm doing great," he said. "The [upcoming BON JOVI album 'Forever'] was easy to do. The process has been steady. Would I like it to be a light switch? Yeah. I mean, I'd said to the doctor, like, 'I've been a good boy. I wanna flip the switch and be done with this.' It's just not how it works. So like an athlete coming back from an ACL [injury] or whatever, it just takes time. This is the way it's gonna be. But yeah, the therapy is still intensive, and yet I'm confident that it gets progressively better."

Elaborating on the throat surgery and rehabilitation that he underwent to save his singing voice, Jon said: "Everybody's different. This was a unique situation. It's not a nodule. This is something much different where literally one of my cords was atrophying. So that was the bitch, is that, if theoretically, both of them are supposed to look [the same size], one of them [was much thinner than the other]. So the strong one was pushing the weak one around. And suddenly my inabilities were just exacerbated. Where'd that come from? I didn't understand it. But through modern medicine and an implant to bring this one back to the strength of this one, it's every day sort of like doing curls with weights and just getting them both to be the same size and to function together. So that's what it is."

BON JOVI's 16th studio album, "Forever", will arrive on June 7. The new LP is now available for pre-order where fans can find exclusive colored vinyl options, CDs, cassettes, and limited edition signed copies. An extremely limited run of Ocean Waves colored vinyl will include a one-of-a-kind instant photo of Jon Bon Jovi.

Produced by Jon with John Shanks, "Forever" features Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They are joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" contains 12 new songs, including the hit lead single "Legendary".

The Jim Powers YouTube channel has uploaded video of JUDAS PRIEST's May 19 concert at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. Check out the clips below.

PRIEST's 18-song setlist included three songs from the band's latest album, "Invincible Shield": the title track, "Panic Attack" and "Crown Of Horns".

JUDAS PRIEST kicked off the U.S. leg of the "Invincible Shield" world tour on April 18 at Toyota Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford, Connecticut.

In a recent appearance on The Break Down With Nath & Johnny podcast, JUDAS PRIEST bassist Ian Hill was asked who in the band has the final say when it comes to picking a setlist for the PRIEST live shows. He responded: "Well, it is probably Rob [Halford, PRIEST singer], really. But then again, we've got a whole spectrum now. You've got the younger element with Richie [Faulkner, PRIEST guitarist]. He's the same age as my eldest son. And then comes Scott [Travis, PRIEST drummer] and you've got Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist], of course. He can't do it anymore [due to his battle with Parkinson's disease]. [But] he's still sharp as a pin between his ears. Then Andy [Sneap, PRIEST touring guitarist] and Rob and myself. So you've got a full spectrum there of ages. So everybody has their own favorites and their own types of JUDAS PRIEST song. We all sort of [go], 'Yeah, like that. No, don't like that one.' And then we'll go. If someone's adamant that they really don't wanna do something, well, you don't wanna do something, and vice versa — if someone really wants to do a particular track, you do it. Like I say, you've got the ring-fence tracks there that you've gotta do — the 'Breaking The Law's and the 'Living After Midnight's and things like that, that you have to do. It's what brings people to the shows, basically. And then you've got your other sort of classic PRIEST songs, which is a little bit easier because you can swap and change those between — do a month maybe using one song, change it to another one of a similar kind. And then try to get some new stuff in there — three, maybe four maximum is about as much as you can get at any one time. I'm sure there'll be more than that, that we'll go through. And just swap and change as we go."

Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Original guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Faulkner.

"Invincible Shield" entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".

Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.

PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.

"Invincible Shield" was JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).

"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.

Golden Robot Records announced the signing of the fiery, full-blooded Polynesian metal band, Shepherds Reign, in 2022.


Hailing from South Auckland, New Zealand, Polynesian by birth and blood; Filiva’a James (vocals/keytar), Gideon Voon (guitar), Oliver Leupolu (guitar/production), Shaymen Rameka (drums) and Joseph Oti-George (bass) are the real thing, a band who put their hearts and lives into their songs.


The band has shared an official video for the song "Ala Mai" accompanied by the message below:




"'Ala Mai' ('Awaken') is a call to our forefathers for strength and guidance, uniting not only Samoans but the entire Polynesian community. These stunning visuals were produced by the talented Bahador Borhani and made with the support of NZ On Air Music.


Join us on our journey to awaken the world to the spirit of Polynesia and inspire peace and resilience."


Shepherds Reign are famous in the Southern hemisphere for their primal performance, one which evokes many aspects of their cultural heritage and fierce Polynesian pride. Coupled with their enormous intimidating physical presence, there’s tribal roars, gargantuan riffs, twisting dual melodies, virulent virtuosity and crushing, bombastic rhythms, which all give Shepherds Reign their propulsive, dynamic metal sound. There is a special passion and power in every note struck, and in every word sung.


Ala Mai  waas released on August 25th, 2023 via Golden Robot Records.


"Ua Masa'a"

Five Finger Death have released the new video below, recapping Day 1 of their 2024 European tour:





The band's next show is scheduled for Tuesday (May 28) at Hallenstadion in Zürich, Switzerland. Find the band's tour itinerary here.




Five Finger Death Punch recently released the digital deluxe version of their acclaimed album, Afterlife, via Better Noise Records. Stream/download Afterlife: Deluxe here.


In the video below, FFDP take fans behind-the-scenes of their music video for "This Is The Way (Feat. DMX)":





The deluxe edition includes the original 12 tracks recorded with the band’s longtime producer, Kevin Churko (Ozzy Osbourne, Disturbed), in addition to four bonus tracks including three acoustic versions of the album’s songs "The End", "Judgement Day", and "Thanks For Asking", plus the brand new highly anticipated single, "This Is The Way", featuring the late legendary rapper DMX. Five Finger Death Punch recently shared the music video for "This Is The Way (feat. DMX)" directed by none other than highly influential filmmaker Hype Williams, a longtime friend and close collaborator of the late DMX. Hailed by the New York Times in 2024 as "The Nineties Wunderkind", Hype Williams is known for his seminal work with luminaries like Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, and Jay-Z amongst others. Watch the video below.





“Music is meant to be universal and without boundaries, and it starts at the top with us, the artists,” says Five Finger Death Punch guitarist Zoltan Bathory. “We have always embraced the mixing of genres, whether it be the remake of LL Cool J's "Mama Said Knock You Out" featuring Tech N9ne as a guest, or our collaboration with blues warrior Kenny Wayne Shepherd, country star Brantley Gilbert, and Brian May, the legendary guitarist of Queen, on the song ‘Blue on Black.’”


“The idea of collaborating with DMX had been in discussion for years, and it was a long and winding road to turn this particular item on our wish list into reality. He was a lyrical warrior, a true original who spoke his mind incorruptibly. We have always viewed DMX as “the metalhead of hip-hop’ because of his aggressive, raw, and untamed style. He growled and snarled, aiming to rattle some cages–an attitude we share, as Five Finger Death Punch has always been drawn to the fearless and the real. It made all the sense in the world, but today this is more than just a song; it's a salute to a legend, a way to honor DMX's memory.”


When playing the song for other hip-hop legends, DMC of Run DMC, one of the originals to do it first with “Walk This Way” with Aerosmith said, “The sound of the music, what Ivan is singing about, and what X is talking about, is how X lived his life. The struggle, the dark with the light, the bad with the good, the pain with the joy. This song is very emotional, very musical, it’s very well rounded.”


Order/save AfterLife: Deluxe here.





AfterLife: Deluxe tracklisting:


"Welcome To The Circus"
"AfterLife"
"Times Like These"
"Roll Dem Bones"
"Pick Up Behind You"
"Judgment Day"
"IOU"
"Thanks For Asking"
"Blood And Tar"
"All I Know"
"Gold Gutter"
"The End"
"This Is The Way" (feat. DMX)
"Judgment Day" (Acoustic)
"The End" (Acoustic)
"Thanks For Asking" (Acoustic)


"Judgement Day" (Acoustic):

Circus Maximus renowned for their progressive metal sound entwined with symphonic and power metal influences, formed in 2000 in Oslo, Norway. Returning from a hiatus from playing live since 2019, the quintet is preparing for ProgPower USA XXIII 2024 and new music to be released later this year.


On returning to writing music, vocalist Michael Eriksen shares: "Eventually things started to get back to 'normal,' but there was a new 'normal,' things had changed, it wasn't as easy as you would think to get back on the horse and write new music. We got the band back on track because of ONE show, ProgPowerUSA! We've played PPUSA 7-8 times and knowing that we would meet up with our fans and friends again triggered us to write new music, so now we are writing and having fun again. And lots of big plans; new management, more dates being scheduled... the circus is back in town!"


Bassist Glen Møllen comments: "I am really excited for the future of the band. We have had a good long break, a much needed one after so many years of not letting off the gas pedal. I think it was a healthy choice. But now we are back in the saddle, re-energized, eager to write new music, tour the planet and take the band to the next level. I hope people are as jazzed up for the next chapter of this band as we are. Can't wait to get the Circus rolling again!"




Drummer Truls Haugen adds:  "For me the hiatus gave me time to pursue other musical endeavors. In retrospect, I think I needed that break. Then came the offer to return to the US, to Atlanta and the ProgPower festival, this time as a co-headliner. One thing led to another and now we have a lot of exciting things coming, including new music and touring. Will I see you there?"


Guitarist Mats Haugen further stated: "We got a call from ProgPower USA. This festival is more or less where Circus Maximus was born; our stepping stone if you would. It feels really great to be back doing what we love the most, which is writing new music and playing shows. We can't wait."


Across their career spanning more than two decades, Circus Maximus have achieved four studio albums, two live albums, an EP, and two live DVDs to date. Successfully making their mark on both national and international charts with their catchy hooks and fierce riffs, the outfit are no strangers to the live stage, having performed on numerous occasions, notably at ProgPower's USA and European festivals. Circus Maximus will return to ProgPower USA XXIII taking place September 4th-7th, 2024 with further live dates to follow.





 

One of Melbourne's most intriguing progressive metal bands, Teramaze, have revealed the video for the new single, "The Will Of Eli", from their 11th full-length album, Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace, out now via Wells Music. Order the album here, and watch the video below.


A message states: "Experience the magic of music with 'The Will Of Eli', brilliantly crafted by the immensely talented Wayne Joyner, who has previously worked with giants like Dream Theater, Sevendust, Alter Bridge! It's not just a music video, it's a visual journey through rhythmic storytelling that entrances and transforms you into an integral part of the melody. This captivating masterpiece has left us completely in awe. Don't miss the chance to embark on this mesmerizing musical voyage today!nA special thanks goes out to our brother Wayne Joyner for putting his heart and soul into our video."







Eli: A Wonderful Fall From Grace is a concept album that finishes the trilogy of their Halo storyline, following 2015's Her Halo and 2021's Sorella Minore.


Commenting on the album's thematic direction, the band states: "We began with a story of betrayal, love, and wonder told through the album Her Halo. We continued that tale through to a climactic finish with the epic suite Sorella Minore. And now, we have finally brought to you the third instalment of the Halo Saga, to bring the whole story together. We take you not forward in time, but to the very beginning...


“Eli - A Wonderful Fall from Grace takes us to A Place Called Halo, the circus where it all began in the height of it's popularity. Eli, a shipwreck survivor discovers the travelling tented landscape, and becomes the star attraction... but at a terrible price.


“Along with a full length concept album, we finally release the short story that sparked this spell binding concept all those years ago.


“Every story has a beginning, and so is Eli - A Wonderful Fall from Grace."





Tracklisting:


“A Place Called Halo”
“The Will Of Eli”
“Step Right Up”
“I Mantissa”
“Madam Roma”
“Standing Ovation”
“Hands Are Tied”
“A Wonderful Fall From Grace”


"Step Right Up" video:





"Standing Ovation" video:





Teaser:

"Song For The Girls" (unplugged), the new single by Seraina Telli featuring Lee Aaron, unites two of the best female singers in their respective countries.


Seraina's nomination for the "Swiss Music Award 2024" and Lee's, among many other awards, induction in "Canada's Walk Of Fame" 2023 underline the exceptional status of the two artists.


The original of "Song For The Girls" comes from Seraina Telli's #1 album Addicted To Colour, which was released in August 2023 on Metalville Records. The new version is now available via all known streaming providers and can be listened to below:

In a new interview with Jeff Gaudiosi of MisplacedStraws.com, former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach was asked how he woud define success for his upcoming solo album "Child Within The Man". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's already successful and it's not even released yet. [Laughs] I can't believe it. I can't believe that [the music video for the first single, 'What Do I Got To Lose?', has] got over one million views. I mean, in '89, if you sold a million records, that's a platinum album. Nobody can buy this record yet. Well, you can preorder it, but you can't buy it. But they're, like, 'Well, I've gotta hear it.' So, to me, that's the same kind of thing. I mean, really."

He continued: "I don't know what to say. Just the fans have shown me that I can be like Willie Nelson or George Strait or Neil Young or Sammy Hagar. I can be like that, dude. I can keep doing this when I'm 70, 80 — God willing that I'm still around. But I know how to sing. I know how to warm up my voice to get it to do what you guys want it to do and what I want it to do. There's no difference for my vocals. The only difference is, is that because everybody's filming everything, I can't run around as much. [Laughs] But it was always like that. It was like that in SKID ROW. If I'm jumping off the drum riser, it's not gonna sound like the record, but there's something to be said for jumping off the drum riser. It's not 'either or'. People would be fucking bored if I just stood there. So I've gotta figure out how to do it both. And it's physically very challenging. Ask anybody who tried to replace me."

"Child Within The Man" will arrive on May 10 via Reigning Phoenix Music. The LP was recorded in Orlando, Florida; produced and mixed by Michael "Elvis" Baskette; engineered by Jef Moll, assistant engineered by Josh Saldate and mastered by Robert Ludwig of Gateway Mastering. Bach wrote or co-wrote all the album's 11 tracks and sang all lead and backing vocals.

"Child Within The Man" features guest appearances from John 5 (MÖTLEY CRÜE, ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON),Steve Stevens (BILLY IDOL) and Orianthi (ALICE COOPER, MICHAEL JACKSON) — who all co-wrote their respective tracks with Bach — and two tracks co-written with ALTER BRIDGE's Myles Kennedy ("What Do I Got to Lose?" and "To Live Again"). Devin Bronson (guitars),Todd Kerns (bass) and Jeremy Colson (drums) round out the players on the album. The album will be available on jewelcase CD, cassette, and double LP in a variety of colour options.

"What Do I Got To Lose?" was co-written by Sebastian, Kennedy and Baskette, the latter of whom also served as the track's producer.

In advance of the album's release, Bach will hit the road in 2024 for an international tour with dates in Latin and North America. The "What Do I Got To Lose?" tour is a mix of solo gigs and festival appearances that kicks off with an international run of performances in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile before North American shows in the U.S. and Mexico. The stateside tour gets underway May 10 in Jefferson, Louisiana before wrapping June 29 in San Diego, California.

Bach performed "What Do I Got To Lose?" live for the first time during his February 24 concert at Palace Theatre in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Bach released the official music video for "What Do I Got To Lose?" in December. The clip was directed by Jim Louvau and Tony Aguilera. For the video, which shows Bach cruising through the desert in a convertible and performing with a full band, Sebastian was joined by his former SKID ROW bandmate, drummer Rob Affuso. The clip also features an appearance by actor and comedian Craig Gass and Sebastian's wife Suzanne, who plays a scantily clad car wash attendant.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.

During an appearance on the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to 2022's "Ego Trip" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " I'm going to visit my son for a few days and then right after that, I'm going back in the studio and writing new music. We've got seven songs, seven pieces of music already in the can. Well, not in the can necessarily, but four of them probably could be finished up. Three of them are already finished. And so we have a good momentum of creativity that we really wanna take advantage of. 'Cause we're not on the road. So it's good for us to get together and be creative and make music and just keep flexing that muscle. 'Cause I think if you don't, you lose it. And so we're committed to, once every other month, get together and write music together, and I think that that's gonna make for… By the end of this year, shoot, we'll have more than a record, I feel like. Is it all gonna get released? Maybe some of it we're gonna co-write for other artists, and some of it maybe we'll try to pitch it for a film or something like that. There are some that are definitely P-ROACH in the batch, and then there are definitely some that we're, like, 'Oh, this is a bigger vision.' And that's exciting in that way."

Earlier in the month, Shaddix told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, that he and his PAPA ROACH bandmates have "gone into the studio three times now so far... One of the sessions we went in, and we were, like, 'Let's just go write the heaviest, most savage, insane, brutally just out-there PAPA ROACH. And we went and wrote this track. It's so savage, and it's fun."

He continued: "I love this creative process that we go through and digging and finding what we can do creatively. And so this year is just about, where can we go creatively and experiment and find what direction we're pushing this thing. And I love that process.

"2025 is gonna be a big year for us," Jacoby added. "And so we're not doing any touring during '24. And so just gearing up for 2025. [It'll be the] 25th anniversary of our first album 'Infest'. We'll be dropping a bunch of new music. And we've got a book as well that we're gonna be dropping in 2025. It tells the story of the early years of 'Infest', from 1994 to, let's say, 2002, it tells that story. And it's told from many standpoints — all the bandmembers, A&Rs, other musicians. And so really cool.

"We've got a lot of things in the store. And it's fun being creative when we're away from the road.

"I definitely am starting to miss the road, but I look forward to it. 2025 is gonna be a big one."

This past January, PAPA ROACH shared a brand new live version of their hit single "Scars" featuring a guest appearance by Chris Daughtry.

"Scars Featuring Chris Daughtry (Live)" is not only a fresh take on one of the band's biggest hits, but it also serves as the latest release on the band's "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" EP.

In February, PAPA ROACH's "Leave A Light On" became the band's 10th career No. 1, and its fourth from "Ego Trip", on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

"Ego Trip" debuted at No. 6 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in April 2022.

Previous PAPA ROACH radio hits include "Between Angels And Insects", "Gravity", "Getting Away With Murder", "She Loves Me Not", "Falling Apart", "Help" and "Last Resort".

The Old School VHS YouTube channel has shared video of the MSG (McAuley Schenker Group) show at Rock N' Roll Heaven during the Perfect Timing touir in Toronto, Ontario. The show took place on May 5th, 1988.


Check out the (almost) complete show below.


Setlist:




"Armed And Ready" (missing)
"Cry For The Nations"
"On And On"
"Into The  Arena"
"Time"
"Follow The Night"
"Get Out"
"Gimme Your Love"
"Courvoisir Concerto"
"Lost Horizons"
"No Time For Losers"
"Rock 'Til You're Crazy"
"Doctor Doctor"
"Rock Bottom"





Band:
Michael Schenker - guitar
Robin McAuley - vocals
Mitch Perry - guitar
Rocky Newton - bass
Bodo Schopf - drums

CAVALERA, the band featuring former SEPULTURA members Max and Igor "Iggor" Cavalera, has become synonymous with extreme metal music, a name that to this day still holds the highest regard, a family legacy built upon decades of musical aggression. In 2023, Max and Igor achieved what some would say was an impossible feat; they revisited their earliest SEPULTURA releases, "Morbid Visions" and "Bestial Devastation", and re-recorded them with bone-breaking intensity. A risk that few would dare to even attempt, yet they artfully and prolifically attained their trademark raw sound by means that could only be described as magic or time travel.

It seems that the ball would not stop rolling as now they are entering the final chapter of their early-days trilogy. SEPULTURA's "Schizophrenia" is an iconic album in terms of early thrash and death metal, a household name for those of us invested in extreme metal. This was the point where the Cavaleras refined their dark, dingy, speed-influenced songs, into something a bit more mature, developed, and technical. Decades later, they have once more unlocked the asylum that is "Schizophrenia", opening the doors to that banished, twisted recording which will be unleashed unto to world on June 21 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Today, CAVALERA released the pummeling second single titled "From The Past Comes The Storms". Costin Chioreanu was once again enlisted to create the animated music video.

Max Cavalera states: "'From The Past Comes The Storms' is a ferocious album opener. It is a pioneer song using the '80s metal movement's mentality. I love the apocalyptic vision in Costin's video, bringing the circle of life and death and war and pain. This is going to be a banger to play live!"

Igor Cavalera comments: "'From The Past Comes The Storms' was one of the first songs we wrote for 'Schizophrenia', also included in a demo version. I love the rawness between the old school black/death metal influences mixed with thrash. The video illustrates the vibe of the song very well!"

Max previously said about the "Schizophrenia" re-recordings: "The Third World Trilogy is finally complete with 'Schizophrenia', 'Bestial Devastation' and 'Morbid Visions', all three Brazilian underground gems! To me, 'Schizophrenia' is the ultimate death/ thrash experiment! I was inspired to take on the world and this recording shows my commitment is relentless! This one is for all the generations to enjoy! Play at max volume!"

Igor added: "1987 was a very progressive year for metal, with releases like CELTIC FROST 'Into The Pandemonium', VOIVOD 'Killing Technology' and BATHORY 'Under The Sign Of The Black Mark', so it was no surprise on how we approached 'Schizophrenia' pushing our boundaries from a black/death metal sound to a more thrash metal aesthetics. We still had some ideas from 'Morbid Visions' and some new songs. I'm very proud of the songwriting and even more proud of our re-recordings."

CAVALERA's "Schizophrenia" track listing:

01. Intro - Re-Recorded
02. From The Past Comes The Storms - Re-Recorded
03. To The Wall - Re-Recorded
04. Escape To The Void - Re-Recorded
05. Inquisition Symphony - Re-Recorded
06. Screams Behind The Shadows - Re-Recorded
07. Septic Schizo - Re-Recorded
08. The Abyss - Re-Recorded
09. R.I.P. (Rest In Pain) - Re-Recorded
10. Nightmares Of Delirium - New, never released

No stranger to collaborations, the Cavalera brothers enlisted Travis Stone (PIG DESTROYER) on lead guitars, and that choice becomes obvious within the first song. The full lineup would consist of more Cavalera alumni, as Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD AND DIE, HEALING MAGIC) once more brought his talents on bass to the fold. Thundering and thrumming the low end with brute force, it is clear that the double Iggor and Igor combination is a rhythm section to be reckoned with.

It should come as no surprise that the CAVALERA brothers always felt that these songs deserved a fresh take with modern production. From April 15 to June 5, 2023 the band re-recorded the album at Focusrite Room in Mesa Arizona. Mixing and mastering was handled by Arthur Rizk (SOULFLY, GO AHEAD AND DIE, TURNSTILE).

"Schizophrenia"'s album cover has obsessed and fascinated fans for decades. The brothers left no stone unturned and no detail unnoticed, also revisioning the original cover artwork of the album, restored in hand-painted watercolors by Eliran Kantor.

This summer, CAVALERA will be traveling across Europe and the U.K. on their "Third World Trilogy" tour. The trek will kick off on June 12 in Leichester and will make stops in Wroclaw, Oslo, and Barcelona before ending in Switzerland on July 21.

CAVALERA is:

Max Cavalera - Vocals, Guitar
Igor "Iggor" Cavalera - Drums, Percussion
Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass
Travis Stone - Lead Guitar

Photo credit: Kevin Estrada

In a new interview with Made In Metal, DEEP PURPLE singer Ian Gillan was asked how he feels about the band's current guitarist Simon McBride performing songs that were originally written and recorded by Ritchie Blackmore. Ian responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, first of all, Simon is a genius. He's absolutely fantastic. He's got all the energy and articulation and musical skills and creative skills that you could ever dream of. You can't compare Ritchie with Simon or with [former DEEP PURPLE guitarist] Steve Morse or with [ex-PURPLE touring guitarist] Joe Satriani, the players that we've had in a band. And I think that Ritchie has to have all the credit in the world. He's a genius. He was fantastic. I thought he was brilliant. And he was my roommate and we partnered and we shared a lot together. And then things, for some reason, went wrong later on. And I'm sure half of it was my fault, so those days were dim and distant. But as far as the guitar is concerned, Simon interprets these songs very, very brilliantly."

He continued: "For a start-off, when you're playing… Steve Morse had this same difficulty. When you're playing a well-known solo or a well-known guitar part, or any part for that matter, the thing you have to do, the trick is to play the recognizable parts, the parts that everyone knows that are significant in that solo, and then you can freeform in between. But you've gotta pick up and show respect for the song and the original record, because that's how people like it. If you meander around a bit in the solo, that's also fine, but you've gotta start and end and do the bits that people know. Apart from that, Simon's approach to every song has just been to throw himself at it.

"Steve Morse said a good thing when he joined the band and somebody said, 'How does it feel like stepping into Ritchie Blackmore's shoes?' And Steve said, 'I think Ritchie took his shoes with him when he left.' And that, that applies to everyone — that applies to Simon now."

Gillan added: "Simon's unbelievable. We're so lucky to have him. He's just amazing."

Asked if there is any possibility of Morse coming back to DEEP PURPLE, Ian said: "No, no. Simon is our permanent guitar player now. And we've just finished making a new record, which will come out later in the year. But Simon is a fantastic contributor to the band. It's one of the best things that could have happened."

McBride spoke about how he landed the much-coveted DEEP PURPLE gig in an April 2023 interview with Colombia's El Expreso Del Rock. He said: "I know [PURPLE keyboardist] Don Airey very well. I played with Don for [about] 10 years now. And I also know Ian Gillan very well, and I played with him off and on. I also know Roger [Glover, PURPLE bassist] and I know Paicey [PURPLE drummer Ian Paice] as well. I've known them all, I've played with them all, but never at the same time. And I get on very well [with them]… I think I was kind of the natural fit for the band because… as I know Don and played with him and played with Gillan and I know the rest of the guys. We all get on very well. But, yeah, it was still… When I got a call to do it, it was just a bizarre feeling. I think I was jumping for joy."

Regarding how he feels being a member of such a legendary band, McBride said: "It's a great thing to be part of DEEP PURPLE. The name DEEP PURPLE is just iconic, and I'm very lucky that I can put my name through that, as being a part of it. But, yeah, the guys are great, and all the crew. It's like a big family on the road. And we all have a lot of fun and we all get on very well. Yeah, I'm very honored to be a part of the whole thing."

Simon previously recounted the initial call he received to fill in for Morse in an October 2022 interview with Andrew Daly of Vinyl Writer Music. At the time, he said: "Well, there was talk of me stepping in for Steve temporarily towards the end of 2021, but I never really thought much of it. I never thought much of it because it was always a case of, 'It may happen or it may not happen,' because it depended on Steve's wife's condition as to whether he would be able to tour. But it just got to the stage where Steve decided enough was enough, and he needed to look after his wife, which is an amazing thing he's doing. So, I knew it was possible, but I didn't know for sure; I only really found out recently that I was being confirmed as a permanent replacement."

McBride went on to say that the chemistry was "immediate" between him and the other members of DEEP PURPLE. "We had a few days of rehearsal in May [2022], and that's all we needed. And then we did a few shows in Israel, and places like that, which were my first shows, and all we had was those few days of rehearsal. I know Don very well, and I've played with Ian [Gillan] and Roger for a long time, so it clicked quickly. But yeah, it was a funny thing — we did the three or four days of rehearsals, but we really only needed one. After the first day, we all looked at each other and said, 'Well, we think it sounds pretty good. We don't really need two extra days.' We got to work straight away, and everybody was very happy. It helps that I'm a very easygoing person, and I get on well with everybody, I think. So, there was never an issue or a thought about if I would get on with them or not. And as I said, I've met them before, knew their personalities, and knew what to expect, so it's been a great atmosphere."

In August 2022, McBride spoke to the "Scars And Guitars" podcast about what it has been like for me him to step into the shoes previously filled by Ritchie Blackmore, Tommy Bolin, Joe Satriani and Steve Morse. Regarding his approach to playing DEEP PURPLE's classic songs, Simon said: "At the end of the day, for me, with this gig, there's been lots of people saying, or asking me will I play like Ritchie or will I play like Steve or will I do this like Tommy or Satriani or whatever. So that thing initially kind of confused me a little bit; I didn't know what to do. It was only when I was talking to [DEEP PURPLE keyboardist] Don Airey about it, and he just said, 'Forget about it all. Just be you. Play your own thing.' That's it. Which I did. And I kind of started to relax a little bit and just be myself.

"When you start to think about who else has been in the band, you get a little bit confused what to play or when to play or what to do or 'should I play this like Ritchie?' or 'should I play it like Steve?'" he continued.

"Everybody has their own opinion on the guitar players in DEEP PURPLE and which ones worked better or whatnot. I [am] respectful to everybody who's played there, because they're all good players — every single one of 'em — so whether it's Ritchie or Tommy or Steve, I just kind of [am] respectful to what they've done in the past, and I just do my own thing most of the time.

"There's certain things you have to play. Like 'Highway Star', for example, I'm not gonna play anything different to what's there in the original, because why the hell would I? [Laughs] That's my attitude. If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

McBride, who had previously toured with both Gillan and Airey, among others, added: "I learned a lot from Don Airey over the years, playing with him, because when he plays some of the Jon Lord parts, he's, like, 'Well, have you heard the keyboard solo?' I was, like, 'Yeah.' And he said, 'Well, why in the hell would you change it?'

"Some people can be, like, 'Oh, I need to do my own thing.' And I go, 'Well, I'm sorry. But these guys spent a lot of time in the studio, or wherever it is, creating these pieces of music that fit the song. So why would I be so arrogant to say, 'I'm gonna change that just because I wanna play my own thing'? 'Cause I know, really, I wouldn't come up with anything better.

"It's case of just… I just go on and do my thing and I don't really think about it too much, what people say. People will either like me or hate me. I don't know."

As for the response he has gotten from the DEEP PURPLE fans, the Irish blues-rock guitarist said: "To be honest, everybody's been so nice and so cool and so kind, especially on the social media stuff where it's all been very positive. You get the odd negative one, but I don't read a lot of it anyway. But it's really cool that people accept me, because it is a legacy band and they've been around a long time. I really appreciate that people are digging what I do, and I feel it every night onstage. Some of the shows we've done, some of the audience reaction has been incredible.

"We played a show in Macedonia. We came off. We did an encore and stuff. And then 20 minutes later, the audience are still shouting," he recalled. "I'd never heard this my entire life — 15, 20 minutes of 10 thousand people shouting for more, just constantly, and they wouldn't leave. Even Don Airey and Roger Glover were standing there in shock, going, 'We haven't heard this in a long, long time.' I'm not saying that's all for me; I'm just saying that's just for the band.

"I'm very [happy] that people like what I'm doing because it is always hard stepping into a band where you've had [laughs] Ritchie Blackmore, Steve Morse, Joe Satriani and Tommy Bolin. They're not small names by any means, so it's always very… I think if you just play and have fun, that comes across and people respect that and people will really see.

"I'm [45], so I kind of grew up in that old-school playing method anyway. 'Cause I grew up in the '80s and '90s, so I guess I'm still part of that older generation, if you wanna call it. So the way that I play would still fit very well, whereas maybe some of the new, modern players wouldn't fit. I don't know.

"Yeah, the response has been brilliant. I can't complain at all. And I thank every single person that has said a nice thing about me."

In July 2022, Morse officially left PURPLE to care for his wife, Janine, who was battling cancer. She has since passed away.

Morse's announcement came four months after the guitarist said that he would be taking a hiatus from the band, in the hope of rejoining his bandmates once his wife's health improved. He was then replaced on the road by McBride.

Morse effectively took over Ritchie Blackmore's DEEP PURPLE slot in 1994 and had since been in the group longer than Ritchie.

McBride, who is guitar player, singer, songwriter and a band leader all in one, hails from Belfast in Northern Ireland — a place that resonates of the best music traditions like Gary Moore and Rory Gallagher, as well as bands such as THIN LIZZY, STIFF LITTLE FINGERS and obviously U2. His biography tells many stories — from his band touring with no sound engineer, driver, or roadie, playing 30 shows in 35 days, to him regularly sharing stages with Gillan and Airey.

DEEP PURPLE's first studio album with McBride, "=1", will arrive on July 19 via earMUSIC.

Germany's Beyond The Black have shared a live video of the song "Human", which was filmed in Oberhausen in 2022. Check it out below.





After the release of their very successful self-titled album Beyond The Black, which was released in January 2023 the band followed up with a deluxe edition of their album. The deluxe edition features three bonus tracks “I Remember Dying (Stranger Reprise)”, “Wide Awake (Piano Version)”, and “Raise Your Head (String Version)”. BTB has also released their brand new video for “Raise Your Head (String Version)”. Their Dancing In The Dark tour starts in April 2024. 







Jennifer Haben comments about the deluxe edition:


"How quickly time flies. It’s been a year since the release of our 5th studio album Beyond The Black. We are very pleased that we can now give our fans a special gift for its anniversary with the digital deluxe edition including 3 exceptional bonus tracks."


Jennifer Haben states about “Raise Your Head (String Version)”:


"From the bottom of my heart, in my opinion, this bonus ‘String Version’ is one of - if not THE best bonus song we’ve ever released. 'Raise Your Head' is a call to everyone who feels trapped in their lives and is looking for a way out. It's a reminder that we are all capable of breaking free from societal expectations and forging our own path. If only we have the courage to look behind the illusions and ‘raise our heads’."


Stream the album here.

Norwegian black metal veterans SATYRICON have recruited Frank Bello (ANTHRAX) to play bass for the band for their upcoming European festival appearances, including next month's Sweden Rock Festival in Sweden, Mystic Festival in Poland, Hellfest in France and Tons Of Rock in Norway.

Earlier today, SATYRICON shared what appears to be a post-rehearsal photo of SATYRICON's current touring lineup, including Bello, and wrote in an accompanying message: "There is smoke in the chimney at the SATYRICON HQ every day. Next week we will fire up the engine again, starting at Sweden Rock and Mystic Festival. From there we go to Hellfest, Tons Of Rock, ARTmania Festival, Grieghallen/Beyond The Gates (two nights in a row),Brutal Assault, Hellsinki Metal Festival, Alcatraz Festival, Bloodstock Open Air and finally Næstved Metal Fest. In November we come to Latin America.

"As you can imagine, we look immensely forward to seeing all SATYRICON Ultras across the world again.

"If we're not playing anywhere near you, maybe you will travel to see us, if not we will meet later some day. This is going to be THE summer!"

This past weekend, Bello shared a photo of him visiting the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo. He captioned the picture: "Had a great day checking out the @naturhistorisk_museum_oslo and walking around Oslo today..#goodtimes #metal".

In April and early May, Bello sat out ANTHRAX's South American tour as well as two U.S. festival dates due to "personal reasons." Filling in on those shows was ANTHRAX founding member and original bassist Dan Lilker, marking his first appearance with the band in 40 years. Lilker, who co-wrote and played on ANTHRAX's debut album "Fistful Of Metal", was also a member of STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH with ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante and guitarist Scott Ian.

Last July, Frank and his wife Teresa celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They share a son, Brandon, who just turned 18 earlier this month.

Bello released a memoir, "Fathers, Brothers, And Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, And Anthrax", in October 2021 via Rare Bird. The foreword to the book was written by KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons.

Born into a family of five, Frank grew up in difficult circumstances. His father abandoned his wife and children, and Frank's mother moved heaven and earth to keep them fed and educated. Left with no male role model, Frank found inspiration in heavy metal bass players, following their example and forging a career with ANTHRAX from his early teens — first as a roadie, and then as the group's bass player.

International stardom came Frank's way by the mid-to-late 1980s, when he was still in his early twenties, but tragedy struck in 1996 when his brother Anthony was murdered in New York. Although the case went to trial, the suspected killer was released without charge after a witness, intimidated by violent elements, withdrew his testimony.

Bello's mother Rose died in April 2023.

Rosie was the older sister of Benante, who enlisted Frank to join ANTHRAX in 1984.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Satyricon (@satyriconofficial)



View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Frank Bello (@thefrankbello)

August 17, 2024, marks the 40th anniversary of the release of W.A.S.P.'s first album. To celebrate this classic metal album, W.A.S.P. will, for the first time in 40 years, play the entire album from top to bottom, start to finish, on their North American tour, dubbed "Album ONE Alive", this fall. Support on the trek will come from DEATH ANGEL and UNTO OTHERS.

Formed in 1982, W.A.S.P. is set to bring this universally acclaimed "classic" album to life. Lead vocalist Blackie Lawless says: "It was an angry record made by an angry band. It was a record that not only reflected the attitude of the band members who made it, but also a record that reflected its time." This record became a central piece of the 1980s metal scene and remains one of the best metal debut albums of all time.

Along with bassist Mike Duda and lead guitarist Doug Blair, whose tenures in the band are 29 and 26 years respectively, W.A.S.P. is joined by long-time drummer extraordinaire Aquiles Priester.

Lawless and company will deliver the ultimate incredible spectacle, bringing W.A.S.P.'s most colorful history to life by performing this revered album in its entirety… ONE more time… ONE last time… Album ONE Alive!

The 39-city run kicks off on Saturday, October 26 in San Luis Obispo, California, making stops across North America in Vancouver, British Columbia; Toronto, Ontario; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Dallas, Texas; New York City; Orlando, Florida; and more before wrapping up on Saturday, December 14 at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California.

A special BLABBERMOUTH.NET presale will begin on Thursday, May 30 at 11:00 a.m. local time and end on Thursday, March 30 at 10:00 p.m. local time. When prompted, type in the presale code "HELLION" to access tickets before the general public. Check back here on Thursday for ticketing links for individual shows. General on-sale will be Friday, May 31 at 10 a.m. local.

W.A.S.P. will again offer fans VIP tickets that give fans a chance to meet Blackie Lawless, get a personal photo with Blackie, autographs and take part in a very personal question-and-answer session with Blackie. VIP tickets can be purchased at waspnation.myshopify.com.

"Album ONE Alive" 2024 tour dates:

Oct. 26 - San Luis Obispo, CA @ Fremont Theater*
Oct. 28 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
Oct. 29 - Seattle, WA @ Moore Theatre
Oct. 30 - Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre
Nov. 01 - Calgary, AB The Palace Theatre
Nov. 02 - Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
Nov. 03 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
Nov. 04 - Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot
Nov. 05 - Denver, CO @ Paramount Theatre
Nov. 07 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
Nov. 08 - St Charles, IL @ The Arcada Theatre
Nov. 10 - Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre
Nov. 11 - Toronto, ON @ History
Nov. 13 - Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
Nov. 14 - Quebec City, QC @ Theatre Capitole
Nov. 15 - Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
Nov. 16 - New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom At Manhattan Center
Nov. 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Franklin Music Hall
Nov. 19 - Cleveland, OH @ The Agora Theater
Nov. 20 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE
Nov. 21 - Stroudsburg, PA @ The Sherman Theater
Nov. 22 - Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore
Nov. 23 - Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore
Nov. 24 - Orlando, FL @ The Plaza Live
Nov. 26 - Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium
Nov. 27 - Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern
Nov. 29 - Houston, TX @ House Of Blues
Nov. 30 - San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre
Dec. 01 - Dallas, TX @ The Factory in Deep Ellum
Dec. 03 - Little Rock, AR @ The Hall
Dec. 04 - Wichita, KS @ The Cotillion
Dec. 06 - Albuquerque, NM @ REVEL
Dec. 07 - Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee Theatre
Dec. 09 - Tucson, AZ @ The Rialto Theatre
Dec. 10 - San Diego, CA @ House Of Blues
Dec. 11 - Reno, NV @ Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
Dec. 12 - Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl
Dec. 13 - San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield**
Dec. 14 - Los Angeles, CA @ Hollywood Palladium**

* No support acts
** DEATH ANGEL not performing

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

Because of the extensive back injuries Lawless suffered during the European leg of W.A.S.P.'s 40th-anniversary tour, the band's previously announced 2023 U.S. tour was canceled.

W.A.S.P.'s massive European leg of the 40th-anniversary world tour wrapped on May 18, 2023 in Sofia, Bulgaria at Universidada Sports Hall.

W.A.S.P. wrapped up its first U.S. tour in 10 years with a sold-out show on December 11, 2022 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. This marked the 18th sold-out shows for the U.S. tour, which kicked off in late October 2022. W.A.S.P.'s performances included the return of the band's classic song "Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)", which hadn't been played live in over 15 years.

W.A.S.P.'s latest release was "ReIdolized (The Soundtrack To The Crimson Idol)", which came out in February 2018. It was a new version of the band's classic 1992 album "The Crimson Idol", which was re-recorded to accompany the movie of the same name to mark the 25th anniversary of the original LP's release. The re-recorded version also features four songs missing from the original album.

W.A.S.P.'s most recent studio album of all-new original material was 2015's "Golgotha".

Ted Nugent joined NIGHT RANGER on stage this past Saturday (May 25) at at Optimist Ice Arena in Jackson, Michigan to perform the DAMN YANKEES song "Coming Of Age" and the Nugent classic "Cat Scratch Fever". Video of Ted's appearance can be seen below (courtesy of the Shor'Line YouTube channel).

DAMN YANKEES was the 1990s supergroup that both Nugent and Blades were part of, alongside STYX's Tommy Shaw and Michael Cartellone.

During a March 2023 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Shaw was once again asked about the possibility of a reunion of the DAMN YANKEES. He responded: "I think we kind of ran that thing until the wheels fell off of it. And I'd like to just keep it like that. It was a fantastic run. It was just wild and wooly. We made those two records. The first record, that was the shit. The second record, it just started to lose the thing that it had on the first album. And I think everybody else knew that it was probably time to go back to your regular job."

Pressed about whether he would be open to revisiting DAMN YANKEES for a one-off tour or concert, Shaw said: "Michael is a permanent fixture in LYNYRD SKYNYRD, and DAMN YANKEES without Michael Cartellone just wouldn't be right. And we [in STYX] do 90 to 120 shows a year, and you have to go home some time. It's like having two wives, your two families.

"As far as I'm concerned, we had our day. We had big records, we sold a lot of records, we got a lot of airplay, and I just don't know how we would be able to fit all that in," Tommy explained. "I wouldn't wanna tell the guys in my band [STYX], 'Sorry, guys. We can't play any shows for a few months.' 'Cause that's what everybody wants to do."

DAMN YANKEES formed in 1989 and released two albums, an eponymous debut and the 1992 follow-up "Don't Tread". Hit singles included "Come Again", "High Enough" and "Coming Of Age".

DAMN YANKEES has reunited twice since its early-'90s heyday — in 1998 and 2010.

In 1999, A&R guru John Kalodner tried to reunite the DAMN YANKEES for a new album for the Portrait Records imprint, but Shaw's commitments to STYX prevented him from taking a major part in the writing and the recording. Kalodner later told Melodic Rock about the aborted effort: "I didn't think it was quite good enough, and at the time with 80's style rock, you'd have to come up with something pretty spectacular. I was disappointed in the record mostly because of Tommy Shaw's non-participation. I say that was probably the greatest problem. Tommy was totally an integral part of it. He was busy with STYX and it was sort of my mistake because I just couldn't control him. It's one of those projects that I failed on. I mean the buck stops here. It lacked the input of Tommy Shaw."

Shaw previously discussed a hypothetical DAMN YANKEES reunion during a June 2020 appearance on "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". At the time, he said: "Well, we never broke up… We are all still best of friends. [So] who knows? It's hard, because with STYX, we work so much, and to do that [a DAMN YANKEES reunion], it would mean putting [the members of STYX] out of work for a while. So it's a tough one. But every once in a while, we wind up on the same stage."

Asked if he feels there is some "unfinished business" with DAMN YANKEES creatively and whether he would like to do a record or a song with the band to "put a button on it," Shaw said: "Well, we can always do more. I don't think you can ever put a 'we're done' button on any of the members of the DAMN YANKEES. Who knows? Never say never. And we haven't said never."

If you haven’t heard, Jackson was invaded late last night at the conclusion of the Night Ranger show by members of the...

Posted by John Reasoner on Sunday, May 26, 2024

SATURDAY NIGHT!

Going to be a special night with legendary rock band Night Ranger! We can’t wait!

📍 Optimist Ice Arena

https://raineproductions.ticketspice.com/night-ranger

Posted by Country Boots & Bands on Monday, May 20, 2024

SLIPKNOT's new drummer Eloy Casagrande has shared a drum-cam video of him performing the song "Disasterpiece" with his bandmates during one of their recent festival appearances. Check it out below.

In a recent interview with Tone-Talk, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root spoke about how Casagrande came to join SLIPKNOT and his impact on the band's overall sound. He said: "We didn't even try anybody else. Eloy's name came up. He contacted us, actually, about wanting to be a part of it and started sending a bunch of videos in. I think him and our bass player [Alessandro 'Vman' Venturella] might've had a little bit of a relationship before. I think they knew each other. They had mutual friends. And Vman's really in tune with a lot of really great, proggy, heavy musicians that are passionate about their instruments. And it just seemed like a no-brainer. And he's really respectful of the legacy of [SLIPKNOT's original drummer, the late] Joey [Jordison], and Joey was a huge influence on him. And he's so humble. The dude has so much humility. And you could tell he just lives and breathes his craft, to the point where I see his passion and it ignites my passion for my instrument. And Brazilians, South Americans in general, are so passionate about what they do. Our manager told me, he was out to dinner with four or five promoters from South America, and they were all really stoked. They're all, like, 'It's so good you've got a Brazilian drummer in SLIPKNOT now. We kind of feel like we've won the World Cup.' It's a cool feeling. And God, he just fits in so well. I don't know, man. I mean, there's a lot of things I can say about it. I'm just glad it happened when it did. And we're lucky to have him — we are really lucky to have that dude."

For its 2024 gigs so far, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer more than two months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."

The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA three and a half months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.

"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," the band said in a statement.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA nearly 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

SLIPKNOT's latest album "The End, So Far", arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.

SLIPKNOT recently announced the North American portion of the "Here Comes The Pain" tour. The band is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its seminal debut album, "Slipknot", which catapulted the band back in 1999.

In addition to recently announced dates across the globe, the "Here Comes The Pain" tour, produced by Live Nation, includes arena plays nationwide this summer. Highlights include New York City's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles's Intuit Dome, Austin's Moody Center and more with direct support from Kentucky's young and vibrant hardcore/metal forerunners KNOCKED LOOSE. ORBIT CULTURE and VENDED are confirmed as support on select dates.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Eloy Casagrande (@eloycasagrande)