One of Melbourne's most intriguing progressive metal bands, Teramaze, have released a visualizer for "Esoteric Symbolism" (Acoustic Version), featured on their upcoming release, Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1. Watch the clip below.

Announcing Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1, the band stated: "Introducing Teracoustic Sessions Volume 1, the brand-new acoustic album from Teramaze that promises a fresh and intimate listening experience. In this special release, Dean and Nathan have carefully selected nine standout tracks from our extensive catalogue and reimagined them in their purest form. Stripped down to just acoustic guitar and vocals, this collection offers a raw and unembellished take on our music—no frills, no effects, just the essence of Teramaze.


"The result is a collection that’s not only a testament to the strength of our songwriting but also something you can enjoy with family and friends who may not be familiar with our usual sound. We're thrilled with how these tracks have come together, and we believe you will be too. Teracoustic Sessions Volume 1 invites you to experience Teramaze like never before, in an intimate and personal way that highlights the beauty and emotion of our music."


Due for release on September 27, you can pre-order Teracoustic Sessions / Volume 1 here.


















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 Canadian rockers, Sierra Pilot, have announced they will be joining Pop Evil and Bad Wolves as direct support on their “Animal Instinct” tour this fall. The trek kicks off on October 30 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and runs through November 30, wrapping up in Lexington, Kentucky.


“We were thrilled to be invited by Pop Evil to tour with them again this year," says Sierra Pilot’s singer/leader Taylor Leith. “We were fortunate enough to tour with Pop Evil earlier this year on a 9-date tour of the US and Canada and we can’t wait to get back out on the road with them along with Bad Wolves and Canadian progressive metal band Oni.


Sierra Pilot will be treating new US audiences to songs from their latest EP, Karma, which was released in April, as well as from their album Phantom Pains, released in 2023. The latest single from the EP, “Hollow”, is a fast-paced, aggressive, guitar-driven anthem about the problematic people in your life and that moment you decide it’s time to move on.




Watch the lyric video for "Hollow" below. The hard-hitting track features a vocal guest appearance by Taylor Perkins from Bleeker, who co-wrote the track with Leith and producer Brian Moncarz.





Leith and his bandmates are excited to bring out their heaviest songs for this tour, including a brand new single to be released ahead of the tour. "We are going full octane on this one,” says Leith. “This tour is going to be an unforgettable ride!"





Tour dates:


October
30 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans*
31 - Spartanburg, SC - The Hall*


November
3 - Greensboro, NC - Hangar*
6 - Cincinnati, OH - Bogarts
7 - Pittsburgh, PA - Roxian
8 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
9 - Albany, NY - Empire
10 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
12 - Cleveland, OH - TempleLive
13 - Indianapolis, IN - Vogue
14 - St Louis, MO - Red Flag
15 - Huntsville, AL - Mars Music Hall
16 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen
17 - Tuscaloosa, AL - Druid City
19 - Fort Smith, AR - TempleLive
20 - Wichita, KS - TempleLive
22 - Springfield, MO - Gillioz
23 - Milwaukee, WI - Rave II
24 - Omaha, NE - Admiral
26 - Nashville, TN - Brooklyn Bowl
27 - Ft Wayne, IN - Piere's
29 - Columbus, OH - The Bluestone
30 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall


* no Bad Wolves







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During August 22 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Michael Anthony was asked if he has been in contact with Alex Van Halen since the former VAN HALEN bassist launched a tour with singer Sammy Hagar, guitarist Joe Satriani and drummer Jason Bonham that focuses largely on the music of VAN HALEN. Michael responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, I haven't. In fact, the last time I tried to get a hold of Alex, I tried to get a hold of him on his birthday in May, and I did not hear back from him. So, I don't know. I didn't wanna push it or keep trying to get a hold of him or whatever. I figured he knew that I tried to get ahold of him, I think, so I just kind of left it at that. God, at this point, I'm just waiting for his book to come out, so I can read that."

Anthony went on to say that he doesn't know much about the book, "Brothers", which will be released on October 22 via HarperCollins Publishers. "I know as much as everybody else," he said. "The book's coming out in October and I'm looking forward to reading it myself."

Asked if he was surprised when he first heard that Alex was going to release a book, Michael said: "I was surprised when I first heard about it, yeah. I was very surprised. And then when I heard he was selling all of this gear, and when I checked into that, I mean, it was like he was selling everything right down to the last drumstick and backstage pass that he had, whatever. That really kind of surprised me, but maybe that's his way of just — that's gonna be his closure on the whole thing, doing that and the book now."

Anthony continued: "Alex, basically, like myself — I've never been one to wanna talk smack about the band or whatever, 'cause I choose to remember all the good stuff and all the good times that we had. And I'm hoping, and I'm pretty sure that that's probably what the book will focus on and not any dirt or whatever, 'cause Alex really was never that kind of guy anyway."

This past May, Michael told Greg Prato of Ultimate Guitar that he hadn't spoken with Alex "in a while, probably about a year. And I actually texted him on his birthday [in May 2024], and I didn't hear anything back from him. But yeah, I was pretty surprised when I heard about this auction [via Backstage Auctions] that he's going to be holding in the beginning of June. Somebody had sent me the link to it, and it appears like he's selling everything right down to his last drumstick. So, I don't know. I really couldn't tell you. I know that he continues to grieve today over Eddie's [Van Halen, VAN HALEN guitarist] passing. And basically, Eddie was the only person that he actually ever played music with."

Michael continued: "I never really knew Alex to be a person to go out and jam with other people or other bands. Unless Eddie was a part of it. Maybe he feels that... Since his brother's gone, he doesn't feel the desire to go out and play anymore. But I can only speculate. When I found out about this auction and started checking it out, it is pretty sad, because it truly means that it's the end of anything that that could have been as far as tribute-wise, you know?"

Asked if he was looking forward to reading Alex's upcoming book, Michael said: "Yeah, I actually am. I heard that the title is 'Brothers'. And knowing Alex, he'll probably speak about the band and everything. But I think that he might be focusing more on just his and Eddie's relationship growing up and moving here with their family to the States. And just the relationship that he had with his brother."

Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy, "Brothers" is described in a press blurb as the 71-year-old drummer's "love letter to his younger brother, written while still mourning his untimely death."

"Brothers", which includes never-before-seen photos from the author's private archive, will also be made available as a 720-minute audiobook and an eBook.

Alex and Eddie formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, Anthony.

VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

According to Modern Drummer, Alex was instrumental to VAN HALEN's electrifying, dramatic sound, leading the rhythm section on standout hits like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Unchained" and "Panama". His double-bass pedal work throughout "Hot For Teacher" was deeply influential, combining technical prowess with a restless, thoroughly original drum composition.

Back in 2021, Hagar said that he had tried to reach out to Alex after Eddie's death but that he was rebuffed.

"Alex just seems to he just doesn't want to communicate with anybody," Sammy told Ultimate Classic Rock. "You know, Mike has reached out, and I reached out many times. I don't know. I'm sure he's still in pain from the whole thing, but I'm not dogging him. I'm just saying he just really doesn't want to be friends or doesn't want to communicate. I don't know why, but we've still got the rest of our lives to work this out."

When Alex turned 68 in May 2021, he commemorated the occasion by sharing the following statement: "First birthday without you, Ed. The view from my drum set will never be the same. VH forever!"

Eddie passed away in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. Alex was by his side, as was Eddie's son, Wolfgang. The axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

Eddie's final Instagram post was a tribute to Alex. On May 8, 2020, the guitarist shared a black-and-white photo of him and his brother to his followers to wish the drummer a happy birthday.

He captioned the picture: "Happy Birthday Al!! Love Ya!! #vanhalen #alexvanhalen #birthday #may #drummer #musician #musicians #family #rock #classicrock #rockband #love".

In early 2022, it was confirmed that Alex had been in talks with Roth and guitarist Joe Satriani to put on a special show in honor of Eddie. However, Wolfgang later said that it was "in such an early stage that it never even got off the ground."

According to Van-Halen.com, the audiobook version of "Brothers", the upcoming book from legendary VAN HALEN drummer Alex Van Halen, will contain a previously unreleased song composed by Alex and his brother, legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen. Titled "Unfinished", it is the last piece of music they wrote together and can be heard as Alex narrates his story.

Due on October 22 via HarperCollins Publishers, the 384-page book is categorized under "Biography & Autobiography" and currently has a list price of $32.00.

In this intimate and open account — nothing like any rock-and-roll memoir you've ever read — Alex shares his personal story of family, friendship, music, and brotherly love in a remarkable tribute to his beloved brother and bandmate.

Told with acclaimed New Yorker writer Ariel Levy, "Brothers" is the 70-year-old drummer's love letter to his younger brother, legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Edward "Eddie" Van Halen, written while still mourning his untimely death.

In his rough-yet-sweet voice, Alex recounts the brothers' childhood, first in the Netherlands and then in working-class Pasadena, California, with an itinerant musician father and a very proper Indonesian-born mother — the kind of mom who admonished her boys to "always wear a suit" no matter how famous they became — a woman who was both proud and practical, nonchalant about taking a doggie bag from a star-studded dinner. He also shares tales of musical politics, infighting, and plenty of bad-boy behavior. But mostly, his is a story of brotherhood, music, and enduring love.

"I was with him from day one," Alex writes. "We shared the experience of coming to this country and figuring out how to fit in. We shared a record player, an 800-square-foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic. Later, we shared the back of a tour bus, alcoholism, the experience of becoming famous, of becoming fathers and uncles, and of spending more hours in the studio than I've spent doing anything else in this life. We shared a depth of understanding that most people can only hope to achieve in a lifetime."

There has never been an accurate account of them or the band, and Alex wants to set the record straight on Edward's life and death.

"Brothers" includes never-before-seen photos from the author's private archive.

Fans who order this book from VanHalenStore.com will receive a free exclusive collectible as a bonus.

"Brothers" will also be made available as a 720-minute audiobook and an eBook.

The "Brothers" book cover was first shared by Rolling Stone and can be seen below.

Alex and Eddie formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony.

VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.

VAN HALEN was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

According to Modern Drummer, Alex was instrumental to VAN HALEN's electrifying, dramatic sound, leading the rhythm section on standout hits like "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", "Unchained" and "Panama". His double-bass pedal work throughout "Hot For Teacher" was deeply influential, combining technical prowess with a restless, thoroughly original drum composition.

Back in 2021, Hagar said that he had tried to reach out to Alex after Eddie's death but that he was rebuffed.

"Alex just seems to he just doesn't want to communicate with anybody," Sammy told Ultimate Classic Rock. "You know, Mike [Anthony, former VAN HALEN bassist] has reached out, and I reached out many times. I don't know. I'm sure he's still in pain from the whole thing, but I'm not dogging him. I'm just saying he just really doesn't want to be friends or doesn't want to communicate. I don't know why, but we've still got the rest of our lives to work this out."

When Alex turned 68 in May 2021, he commemorated the occasion by sharing the following statement: "First birthday without you, Ed. The view from my drum set will never be the same. VH forever!"

Eddie passed away in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. Alex was by his side, as was Eddie's son, Wolfgang. The axeman died from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

Eddie's final Instagram post was a tribute to Alex. On May 8, 2020, the guitarist shared a black-and-white photo of him and his brother to his followers to wish the drummer a happy birthday.

He captioned the picture: "Happy Birthday Al!! Love Ya!! #vanhalen #alexvanhalen #birthday #may #drummer #musician #musicians #family #rock #classicrock #rockband #love".

In early 2022, it was confirmed that Alex had been in talks with Roth and guitarist Joe Satriani to put on a special show in honor of Eddie. However, Wolfgang later said that it was "in such an early stage that it never even got off the ground."
EXCLUSIVE: Alex Van Halen's new memoir, 'Brothers,' due Oct. 22, will tell the story behind one of the closest family partnerships in rock.

"We shared a record player, an 800-square-foot house, a mom and dad, and a work ethic."

More: https://t.co/HUKzN0Z7Xdpic.twitter.com/9s5qOWfi0d

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 29, 2024

German hard and classic rock act, Voodoo Circle, has announced the release of its forthcoming, seventh studio album, entitled Hail To The King, due out on November 15 via AFM Records. A lyric video for the band's first album single, "Let It Rock", is now streaming below.


Band mastermind and guitarist Alex Beyrodt comments: "With our new album, we have taken a step forward musically. I tried to add a more modern touch here and there without damaging or losing the classic rock roots. It was a lot of fun, but also a lot of work in parts."


Every album has its own history, and this one not only tells of Voodoo Circle and its musicians, but also – indirectly, of course – of Whitesnake, Deep Purple, Rainbow and Led Zeppelin. Without trying to disguise their influences, Voodoo Circle consciously follow in the footsteps of these iconic acts and their great international status. Their upcoming album Hail To The King doesn’t even try to hide the obvious source of inspiration that spawned the twelve tracks on the recording, but presents with pride, bravura and impressive stylistic confidence the brand of timeless hard rock coined by those groups. Beyrodt states: “Our aim is to continue in the great tradition of this music and translate it into a contemporary context.”




The history of Hail To The King includes an interesting anecdote: Two of the twelve new album tracks were penned by former Rainbow keyboardist Tony Carey. Beyrodt remembers, looking back almost 25 years: “At the beginning of the 1990s, we were in Tony’s studio to record material for a Sinner album, including the two Carey compositions, ‘All For One’ and ‘Billy’s Song’, which were only released in Japan at the time. I still remember how, in my mid-twenties, I couldn’t believe that I was standing in a recording studio with a legend such as Carey, watching him play the Hammond organ for us, headbanging away. Both songs have been at the back of my mind ever since, just waiting for the right moment to record them again. And since I also wanted to listen to the Rainbow side of me for ‘Hail To The King’, that perfect moment seemed to have arrived.”


At the same time, the new Voodoo Circle album contains not only the usual Whitesnake reminiscences but also a powerful dose from the Led Zeppelin direction. As always, Beyrodt proves to be an outstandingly versatile guitarist, adding: “Ultimately, each song decides which guitar I play. The days when musicians stood for one specific type of guitar are long gone. Nowadays, it’s all about doing justice to the song and its story.”


The first-rate mix courtesy of Achim Köhler, which – like the impressive cover artwork – captures the spirit of this powerful rock disc perfectly, also underlines this claim. Finally, let’s not forget to mention that Voodoo Circle will be going on tour in November 2024, because one thing is obvious: These songs belong on a stage, where hard rock à la Voodoo Circleis truly at home.


Pre-order Hail To The King here.





Tracklisting:


"Lay Down Your Lovin'"
"Let It Rock"
"On The Edge"
"Sweet Little Sister"
"Castles Made Of Glas"
"Stand Your Ground"
"Black Country"
"Billy's Song"
"Strangers In The Night"
"All For One"
"The Sound Of The Eagles"
"Hail To The King"


"Let It Rock" lyric video:





Live dates:


November
13 - Bensheim, Germany - Musiktheater Rex
14 - Göttingen, Germany - Exil
15 - Regensburg, Germany - Eventhalle Airport
16 - Waldbronn, Germany - Soundcheck One
17 - Dortmund, Germany - Musiktheater Piano







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On August 14th, Swedish metal vikings Brothers Of Metal performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set, courtesy of ARTE Concert.


Setlist:


"Death of the God of Light"
"Prophecy of Ragnarök"
"Njord"
"Ride of the Valkyries"
"Powersnake"
"Theft of the Hammer"
"Concerning Norns"
"Yggdrasil"
"The Other Son Of Odin"
"The Mead Song"
"One"
"Defenders of Valhalla"







November 1, 2024 will see Brothers Of Metal release their forthcoming album, entitled Fimbulvinter, via AFM Records. Pre-order here.


Following the previously-released first album appetizer "Heavy Metal Viking", today, Brothers Of Metal are premiering a lyric video for their latest single "Nanna's Fate".


Vocalist Mats Nilsson reveals: “‘Nanna's Fate’ is very special for me since some parts of the song was written already 25 years ago. The intro I wrote when I was 15 but I never found the right song to connect it with until me, Ylva Dawid started writing the song. The lyrical theme is about a love so strong that it persist even through death. The god Balder dies and on his funeral ceremony his wife Nanna dies from sorrow as his ship is set ablaze. She is put together with him on his ship so that they can reunited in death."


Brothers Of Metal's Fimbulvinter showcases all of the eight-piece’s strengths, but also includes some significant new elements.


“The core sound is still there, but we’ve also evolved as songwriters, so the songs have more depth and width than before,” Nilsson points out. “Our songs follow the same themes as before even though we’ve ventured into new territories and explored new stories, as it were. We always aim to have one song that fits everyone on each album, with the result that our hymns tend to sound like a lot of different genres of metal. That’s how we like it. We’re Brothers Of Metal, we can play whatever we want to!”
 
Most of the songs for the record were penned by guitarist Dawid Grahn and singer Ylva Eriksson. The other band members were also involved in the songwriting process, namely Mats Nilsson and Joakim Lindbäck Eriksson (both vocals), guitarist Pähr Nilsson, bassist Emil Wärmedal, drummer Johan Johansson and some additions from new live guitarist Christian Larsson.


Fimbulvinter was recorded at the Massiv Musik’s Studio in Mockfjärd, Sweden and, like its predecessors, produced by Erik Berglund. Artist Sallai Péter contributed the cover design again, emphasising the tracks’ Nordic flair visually.


Finally, one question remains to be answered: What exactly is a ‘fimbulvinter’? Mats Nilsson explains: “Fimbulvinter is ‘the great winter’ in Norse mythology. A winter that is colder and darker than all other winters and lasts for three years. It’s one of the first significant indications that Ragnarök is coming.”





Tracklisting:


“Sowilo”
“Flight Of The Ravens”
“Giantslayer”
“Heart Of Stone”
“Rivers Of Gold”
“Blood Red Sky”
“Ratatosk”
“Chasing Light”
“Heavy Metal Viking”
“The Other Son Of Odin”
“Berserkir”
“Nanna’s Fate”
“Fimbulvinter”


“Nanna’s Fate” video:





“Heavy Metal Viking” video:





Brothers Of Metal lineup:


Ylva Eriksson (vocals)
Joakim Lindbäck Eriksson (vocals)
Mats Nilsson (vocals)
Dawid Grahn (guitar)
Pähr Nilsson (guitar)
Emil Wärmedal (bass)
Johan Johansson (drums)
Christian Larsson (live/guitar)







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QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE have canceled all remaining 2024 concerts in order for frontman Josh Homme to "prioritize his health" following his recent emergency surgery.

The band states: "QOTSA regret to announce the cancellation and/or postponement of all remaining 2024 shows. Josh has been given no choice but to prioritize his health and to receive essential medical care through the remainder of the year.

"Josh and the QOTSA family are so thankful for your support and the time we were able to spend together over the last year. Hope to see you all again in 2025."

As for festival ticket holders, fans are advised to "visit specific event sites for updated information. Ticket holders for QOTSA shows will be contacted by point of purchase with further information about the new dates."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE previously canceled all July and August 2024 concerts of the band's European tour for the same reason.

Last year, Homme revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and had undergone a successful treatment. He did not specify what type of cancer he was battling. Last fall, he told ITV that he had been given the "all clear" and was feeling "the best I've felt all year."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE last performed on July 6 in Milan, Italy, after canceling their appearance at the AMA Music Festival the previous night due to unspecified illness.

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE's "The End Is Nero" tour is in support of the band's eighth studio album, "In Times New Roman…", hailed by Variety as "self-produced by band founder Homme and one of his strongest QOTSA lineups ever, is one of the rawest and heaviest albums the band has delivered."

QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE performed live for the first time in more than three years on May 26, 2023 at the Sonic Temple festival in Columbus, Ohio. Prior to the Columbus gig, Homme and his bandmates played one gig in early 2020, their first since 2018.

Festival ticket holders are advised to visit specific event sites for updated information. Ticket holders for QOTSA shows will be contacted by point of purchase with further information about the new dates.

Posted by Queens of the Stone Age on Friday, August 23, 2024

Metallica have released the official video of their performance of "The Call Of Ktulu", filmed at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on August 11. Check it out below:





Metallica's M72 World Tour arrives in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) this weekend, Friday, August 23 and Sunday, August 25. A message from the band detailing the weekend can be found below.







"The Metallica Machine is making its way to Edmonton for a No Repeat Weekend starting Friday, August 23, with special guests Pantera and Mammoth WVH! Then, two days later, we’ll take the stage again - after special guests Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills - to perform an entirely different setlist!


"But if you know us… you know that when we come to town, there will be plenty of festivities off the stage as well. Keep reading for all the details you need to know about our time in Alberta."


Still need tickets? Get tickets for Night One, Night Two, or 2-Day Tickets.


Enter to Win a Meet & Greet:


Enter for your chance to win a Meet & Greet Pass for the August 23 and/or August 25 show in Edmonton. Entry period runs until Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at 10 AM, MDT. Winners will be drawn randomly and e-mailed with more details by end of the day on August 21, 2024.*


* Meet & Greet Fine Print: You may enter to win a Meet & Greet pass for as many shows as you like, but you are only allowed one entry per contest per person. Multiple entries per contest will result in the removal of all entries, revocation of your website privileges, and termination of your membership. You can only win once every 365 days. Choose wisely - if you win a pass for this show and do not attend, you may not win a pass again. Only one (1) pass will be given out per Fifth Member - sorry, no guests. You must have your own ticket to the show. Passes are non-transferable.


Enter to win here


Enter to Win Snake Pit Passes:


Enter for your chance to win a pair of Snake Pit Passes for you and a guest for the August 23 and/or August 25 show in Edmonton.


Entry period runs until Thursday, August 22, 2024, at 10 AM MDT. Winners will be drawn randomly and e-mailed with more details by end of the day on August 22, 2024.**


** Snake Pit Fine Print: You may enter to win a Snake Pit Pass for as many shows as you like, but you are only allowed one (1) entry per person. Multiple entries per contest will result in the removal of all entries, revocation of your website privileges, and termination of your membership. You can only win once every 365 days. Choose wisely - if you win a pass for this show and do not attend, you may not win a pass again. You must have your own ticket to the show. Passes are non-transferable.


Enter to win here.


M72 Pop-Up Store:


Thursday, August 22 - Sunday, August 25
10 AM - 7 PM
11714 - 82 Street | Edmonton, AB


Says Metallica: "Fans visiting this year’s Pop-Up Shop can expect to see even more than last year! Not only has the tour merch line expanded to include new designs, but you can also expect to see new Pop-Up Shop exclusive items!


"This year, each shop will feature its own splatter vinyl edition of 72 Seasons and a completely exclusive screen-printed poster and event tee. Edmonton’s design is courtesy of artist Sara Deck. We’ll also have a collection by fan-favorite artist Squindo, including shirts, skateboards, and hats.


"Premium items including Dixxon flannel and vintage women’s apparel by Daydreamer will also be available. Plus you’ll find staples you’ve come to expect from the Metallica Pop-Up Shop, including a full selection of new and classic merch and high-quality M72 branded Yeti products.


"And don’t forget to pick up a Fan Card during your visit for a chance to win awesome prizes including Snake Pit Passes!"


* Please note that there will be a limited daily quota of vinyl, posters, and skateboards on sale, and each will be limited to one per customer.


Interactive #M72 Map:


"Plan your time in Edmonton with our new #M72 interactive map that will guide you to all the Metallica spots you’ll want to see. Keep an eye out… we’re told that there will be a little scavenger hunt hidden in the map, where lucky fans can win prizes! The map will update with new places to visit in each city on the tour, so if you’re heading out to see another show, make sure to check back."


View the Interactive Map here.


Metallica Takeover:


Metallica Film Fest: Three Films - Three Eras
The Rec Room at South Edmonton Common
1725 99 St NW | Edmonton, AB T6N 1K5
Saturday, August 24 | Doors 4 | Show 4:30


Cliff ‘Em All
Cunning Stunts
Orgullo, Pasión, y Gloria


Bastardane & Ottto
The Starlite Room
10030 102 St NW | Edmonton, AB T5J 0V6
Saturday, August 24 | 7 PM


Disposable Heroes
Midway Music Hall
6107 104 St NW | Edmonton, AB T6H 2K8
Saturday, August 24 | Doors 7:30 PM | Show 8:30 PM


Find Metallica Takeover details here.


Official Show Posters:


"Just like the two completely unique setlists you have to look forward to in Edmonton, there will also be two completely unique posters—one for each show—designed by artist Kathleen Goff. (This is in addition to the Pop-Up Shop exclusive poster!)


"Like our last North American run, we won’t be receiving poster inventory throughout this tour, which means they won’t be available for sale online. So if you’ve got your eye on a poster, you better pick it up at the gig!


"If there are any leftovers when this leg is all said and done, we’ll collect them and offer a very small amount of bundles online."


Find Blackened in Venue:


"If you’re 21+, look out for signature Blackened cocktails at select bars and concession stands throughout Commonwealth Stadium so that you can enjoy Metallica's award-winning whiskey at the show!"


Photos & Videos from the Show"


"As always, photos shot by our #MetOnTour reporters will be posted on Metallica.com the day after the show, and videos will begin appearing on our YouTube channel after we receive the fancy professional audio mix back from our merry band of audio engineers."


Pre-Order the Live Recording:


Pre-order a professionally mixed audio recording of the shows at Metallica.com or LiveMetallica.com. Pre-order here.







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Sixteen years ago, DEF LEPPARD teamed up with a teenage Taylor Swift for an episode of CMT's "Crossroads". At the time, Taylor was a country music superstar whose songs were just starting to become pop hits. In a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, DEF LEPPARD frontman Joe Elliott reminisced about working with the then-18-year-old star. Asked if he could see back in 2008 where Taylor was headed, Joe said: "I don't think anybody could. You look at it now and it kind of makes sense. But if you think back to 2008, there was no such thing as what she's accomplished. I know anybody that was there when THE BEATLES and THE [ROLLING] STONES came over will go, 'Wait a minute…' But for people born this century or in the '90s, this is a phenomenon that's never been seen before — technically bigger than THE BEATLES and THE STONES combined, at least commercially. It's insanity, the amount of tickets she sells. But I always knew she'd be big. And for all the hardships she's gone though — the people who've tried to trip her up over the years at certain parts of her career — she's just dusted herself down. She's a fantastic role model for a generation of kids."

Elliott was wearing a black Taylor Swift T-shirt at the time of the Los Angeles Times interview, a souvenir from the "Eras" tour date in Dublin where he introduced his eight-year-old daughter to the pop megastar. "It was a very magical moment," Elliott said, "and I will be forever be grateful to Taylor for making Daddy look cool for a couple of days."

Elliott previously discussed DEF LEPPARD's collaboration with Swift in April. He told Japanese music critic and radio personality Masa Ito of TVK's "Rock City" at the time: "It's a strange thing. My kids, who are 14, 7 and 4, have never seen me with Taylor Swift. And I've told them. They didn't believe me. [Laughs] Because my kids are Swifties. And they didn't believe that daddy had sung with Taylor Swift. So I had to pull the DVD out and put it on. And they were just like this. [Opens his mouth wide]

"I hadn't seen it since 2009 or whatever — [it had been] 15 years since I saw it — and I watched the whole performance, and it was way better than I remembered it being," he admitted. "I didn't think it was bad [at the time], but sometimes things don't age well. This looks great. She looks amazing, she sounds great, the band was on fire, and we played together with her band. So a lot of interesting arrangements came out of that, different textures. It was great to do it differently. But, yeah, we performed ['Photograph'] — in fact, it was the opening track of the show. And it was good fun doing that show. I really enjoyed it, 'cause she got to sing some of ours and I got to sing some of hers. And it was a really interesting week we had together. It was about four days of rehearsals, and then we shot the show twice. They picked the best bits from the two nights.

"Who knew how big she was gonna be?" Elliott continued. "She was popular then, but now she's in a different stratosphere to what she's ever been in before, or most other artists have ever been in. So, we can always look back on that and go, 'Hey, DEF LEPPARD, little old DEF LEPPARD, once got to play with Taylor Swift.'"

Back in 2018, Joe was asked by Rolling Stone magazine what signs he saw that Swift was going to basically conquer the world, Elliott said: "Well, she was already pretty big, so the conquer the world was something that was either gonna happen or wasn't. In fairness, she really did go out, full bore, and conquer the world. Good luck to her for doing that, you know?

"The whole thing came together because somebody walked into our dressing room with a laptop… He goes, 'It's Taylor Swift, she's doing this interview, and she said there was only band that she would ever do a 'Crossroads' with, and it was DEF LEPPARD.' We went, 'Wow, okay, get in touch with her, see what she thinks.' Lo and behold, couple of months go by and, all of a sudden, we're doing this show.

"We've always been that poke-noses-out-of-joint kind of band. I loved the idea of something that's gonna either piss people off or they go, good for you for doing something different. If you're gonna do collaborations, I don't see the point in us doing a song with BON JOVI. Do you know what I mean? It's like, I'd prefer the idea of Jon doing a song with, like, Tom Waits. Us doing something with Loudon Wainwright III or Leonard Cohen. Somebody completely off the wall. Or Elvis Costello and MOTÖRHEAD. Can you imagine what that would sound like?"

Asked how it all worked, Joe said:"Getting hooked in with Taylor was great. She was 17 years old. We were more than willing to do this. We got a new record just out. It was a bit of fun. It was a four-day project. It was two days of rehearsals. It was two shows and everybody did their homework. We turned up knowing all the chords, knowing all the lyrics. There weren't really any difficulties. There were a couple of moments where we sat down, me and Taylor sat down, and she says, 'I can't sing that line,' 'cause it was a bit too risqué, in ['Pour Some Sugar On Me']. So we'd swap things around. And the fact that I was actually singing from the male point of view in some of her stuff, like in 'Love Story'. As you say, I'm not going to sing something and half-ass it. I'm going to give it my all. Because it doesn't matter. It's a one off project and you've got to sell yourself in the right light. It makes no difference to me whether it's a RAMONES song or a Taylor Swift. I'm gonna do it the best I can."

DEF LEPPARD and JOURNEY have joined forces for a summer 2024 North American tour. The 23-date trek kicked off on July 6 in St. Louis, Missouri and is hitting cities including Orlando, Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles and more before wrapping in Denver on September 8. Openers include STEVE MILLER BAND and CHEAP TRICK, which will vary by city.

DEF LEPPARD's latest album of all-new material, "Diamond Star Halos", sold 34,000 equivalent album units in the U.S. in its first week of release in May 2022 to land at position No. 10 on the Billboard 200 chart. It marked the band's eighth top 10 LP.

Of "Diamond Star Halos"' 34,000 units earned for the week, album sales comprised 32,000, SEA units comprised 2,000 (equaling 2.7 million on-demand official streams of the album’s songs) and TEA units comprised less than 500 units.

DEF LEPPARD's previous Top 10 albums included "Pyromania" (which peaked at No. 2 in 1983),"Hysteria" (No. 1 for six weeks in 1988),"Adrenalize" (No. 1 for five weeks in 1992),"Retro Active" (No. 9; 1983),"Rock Of Ages: The Definitive Collection" (No. 10; 2005),"Songs From The Sparkle Lounge" (No. 5; 2008) and "Def Leppard" (No. 10; 2015).

Swedish veteran rockers Europe performed live at the 20th anniversary of Rock In Rio Lisboa in Lisbon, Portugal on June 15. Check out pro-shot video below of the entire show:


Setlist:


"On Broken Wings"
"Rock The Night"
"Walk The Earth"
"Scream Of Anger"
"Sign Of The Times"
"Hold Your Head Up"
"Carrie"
"Last Look At Eden"
"Ready Or Not"
"Superstitious"
"Cherokee"
"The Final Countdown"







The official music video for "Hold Your Head Up" offers a glimpse into the brand-new documentary that the band have been busy filming with producer / director Craig Hooper (Deep Purple / Saxon) for Coolhead Productions simply entitled Europe - The Movie. The film will tell the story of the band, from formation until present day, telling of their rise to success in the mid ‘80s, through hard times and heartache, to coming back in the millennium, and the current successes the band has achieved. This is set for release in early 2024.


Watch "Hold Your Head Up" below.





"Hold Your Head Up" was recorded at the Atlantis Studios in Stockholm with producer Klas Åhlund (Ghost, Robyn), it is a punchy up-tempo rocker with reminiscent elements of early Europe. The song was mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Def Leppard) who also mixed Europe's Secret Society album.


"'Hold Your Head Up' is an up-tempo guitar driven rocker about pulling through in difficult times and the influence my father had on me to always do my best and persevere,” offers Joey Tempest. “It’s been six years since our last release Walk The Earth recorded at Abbey Road, and we had a great time in the studio with producer Klas Åhlund. He really brought out a hungry, engaged band that’s ready to continue an amazing journey. We can’t wait to play this song on tour and incorporate it on our next album. We’re very proud of this track.”










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Prisoner is a high-energy Canadian rock band bringing you hard-hitting riffs and unmistakably tight grooves. They have their new EP House Of Cards out now, complemented with a video for their first single “Skies are Blackened”. 


The EP is a conglomeration of music with multiple elements from varying sub-genres. It bridges the gap between emotion and life experience to truly connect music to the individual. 


The band comments further:




“We think the EP will be received quite well from music fans. There is something for everyone in regard to genre and song range. We have songs that we believe did not fit in an LP structure but were all great together in their own way, Thus the House of Cards EP. With anthemic themes, fast riffs, and glassy acoustic guitar, each song offers something different for your casual rock fan to die-hard thrash headbanger.”


The band's journey began in 2016 under the name "Bad Omen," evolving into "Prisoner" with the release of the song "Prisoner Of Time." The name reflects the universal experience of being constrained by various aspects of life. 


Frontman Murray Emery, who started the band, formed the original lineup in London, Ontario, after attending OIART for audio engineering. Following several lineup changes and a move to Los Angeles, Emery returned to Calgary and solidified the current lineup with guitarist Jeremy Hartmann, bassist Trevor Macdonald, and drummer Karl Pflug.


Prisoner's dedication to their craft is evident in their unparalleled stage presence and their commitment to engaging with their audience. The band thrives on crowd interaction and creating an electric atmosphere at their shows. Off stage, they value connecting with fans and being part of the rock community. They are recommended for fans of AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Metallica.


The EP is available on all major digital platforms.





Tracklisting:


“Skies Are Blackened”
“On A Sunday”
“House Of Cards (The Game Pt.2)”


“Skies Are Blackened” video:





(Photo: Mikayla Loschuk)







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Much-loved UK modern metal quartet Skarlett Riot return with their brand new album “Caelestia” on October 25th, 2024 via Despotz Records.

With the release of their upcoming album, ‘Caelestia‘, UK-based alt-metal quartet Skarlett Riot feel their stars have aligned, literally, this time! A band that has always put 100% into every release thus far, ‘Caelestia’ is, in the band’s own words, ‘the best Skarlett Riot release yet’. It’s an album that the band have worked hard on for many months. Bouncing back and forth on studio dates, working up a few songs at a time.

Which also gave the band time to be super critical and rework songs where they needed to. ‘Skarlett Riot’s sound is created by just 4 people infusing our influences and ideas together to create something we personally connect and relate to’ singer Skarlett states, clearly very proud of what she and the band have come up with , featuring brothers Luke (drums) and Danny Oglesby (guitars/screams) and bassist Tim Chambers. The band have consistently sought to develop, expand and grow their sound. Built around Skarlett’s always spectacular voice, the band add harsh vocals to add some aggressive colour to their palette, in amongst the tight rhythms and powerful guitar work.

The album is called ‘Caelestia’ (Latin for ‘Celestial’) and features artwork (by longtime SR art collaborator Christiane Gilbrook) that emphasises the band’s connection, not just in their music, but also personally. ‘If you look closely at the album artwork’ Skarlett offers, ‘you’ll see four constellations which represent our individual zodiac signs’. It’s an attention to detail that the band has cast over everything surrounding the album. From the way the songs were written, to the production and the way the band will present it to the world.


Guitarist Danny is ordinarily the main song writer, and he has contributed the bulk of the songs on ‘Caelestia’, although singer Skarlett has added some of the more personal songs this time around. Her lyrics reflecting a lot of upheaval in recent times, especially in her personal life. All of which has added some extra bite to the tracks featured on the album. With several singles already garnering great support at radio and across YouTube and social media, the foundations for this release have been laid. Tours with the likes of Esoterica, and several sold out headline shows have primed the band’s fanbase for the new record. ‘We’ve been working hard on this for a while now, Skarlett adds, ‘we are so excited to introduce our new album ‘Caelestia’ into the world!’

The band recorded their new album at Treehouse studios (Bullet For My Valentine, While She Sleeps, Fightstar).

The album ‘Caelestia’ is released worldwide on October 25th. It will be available on CD, LP, digital download and streaming.

Tracklist:

1. Chemicals (SEXTE2300401)
2. Spiralling (SEXTE2400303)
3. Lullaby (SEXTE2400301)
4. Run (SEXTE2400304)
5. Hold Tight (SEXTE2300402)
6. Limits (SEXTE2400305)
7. Who Do You Think You Are (SEXTE2400306)
8. Shatter (SEXTE2400302)
9. Violence (SEXTE2400307)
10. Luminate (SEXTE2400308)

Germany’s Burn Down Eden are quickly moving up the ranks in the thrash metal hierarchy upon the release of their much-anticipated, new EP, Epiphany, which is set for a 6th December release via Seek & Strike. This is the successor to their Dismal EP, which was released earlier this year.

It’s dynamic first single, ‘Epistrophy,’ highlights a more diverse side of the band and takes you on a different path completing the story started with the previous EP. It’s overall an epic journey of extreme metal bliss that covers a wide array of melodic and technical prowess.

Burn Down Eden state: “The first single, ‘Epistrophy,’ is about a side quest in the game Cyberpunk, where you have to re-establish the protagonist’s connection with seven different rogue vehicles. Nerd shit, haha. You can quickly tell that this EP starts a little bit brighter. Can’t be death and slaughter all the time! Its video to the song supplements the whole theme of just having fun and leaning into the good times.

“With the Epiphany EP, we pick up right where we left off with the Dismal EP released earlier this year. The technical and musical level is higher than ever. Epiphany has the same overall dark vibe as Dismal, but with a slightly brighter touch to it, which is why these specific five songs were chosen to be on this second EP. Together, the two EPs result in the desired full-length album.

“Once Epiphany drops in full on Dec 6th, you’ll finally be able to listen to it as a full-length album, which was the way we originally envisioned. It feels like one thrilling flow from start to finish or you can listen to both EPs back to back. It doesn’t matter! In the end, what you’re having is a cauldron full of technical Death Metal riffs, neoclassical shredding, exotic scales, clever harmonies, groovy headbangers, lethal high-speed blasts and atmospheric counterpoint Black Metal layers garnished with lyrics that show the ugly face of humanity. That’s what BURN DOWN EDEN is all about!”

Epiphany track list:

1. Epistrophy
2. Fake News For Breakfast
3. Tears Of Persephone
4. Burn Down Eden
5. Suckbox

Kosmodome, a rising star in the firmament of Norway’s flourishing prog music scene, have signed a deal with Stickman Records, who will proudly release the band’s sophomore studio album “Ad Undas” on October 11, 2024! The album pre-sale will start on September 6th.

The brainchild of the two Sandvik brothers, Sturle on guitars and vocals, and Severin on drums, Kosmodome’s music is riff-based rock with stoner elements all of which are placed within a progressive universe to great effect. Together, the duo bridges the gap between the explosive drive of bands such as Mastodon with melodic magic and retrospective, clever songwriting.

Today, the band is premiering a first single, the album closing track “Fatigue”, which Severin Sandvik describes as “a hard hitting song that captures the relentless grind — where every push feels like progress, but the weight of expectations and how you handle them pulls you under. It depicts the toll of constant striving and the need for balance in a hectic life. It’s the anthem of burning out, yet refusing to give up. Heavy psychedelic rock as well as progressive and stoner are genres that describe it.“

Listen to “Fatigue”, out now on all digital streaming services at: https://bfan.link/fatigue


Hailing from Bergen, Kosmodome‘s astonishing debut album from 2021 heralded the arrival of a melodic progressive powerhouse of a different stripe. While endlessly groovy, the band sidesteps the stoner genre by virtue of their sheer creativity, crafting extremely catchy but still unpredictable tracks topped by excellent vocals. With an explosive drive in which the melodious contrasts the hard and heavy music, Kosmodome came to blow minds with their psychedelic sounding, 60s atmosphere-coloured rock!

In recent years, the band has reached out beyond the Norwegian west coast and is now ready with their second full length album “Ad Undas”. On this album, they are less confined by genre expectations, but still sound like Kosmodome. Growing up with all types of music genres in a musical home from world music to metal is something the songwriting reflects.

Musically the record shows what else lives inside the progressive universe Kosmodome are building, where one/the goal is to avoid being stuck in genre expectations. Seeking a more dynamic and melodious sound than earlier, the songwriters – brothers Sandvik, but appearing as a stellar four piece live band – still deliver an album with heavy riffs, aggressiveness and many surprises.

Lyrically it delves into personal struggles with self-doubt, the pressures of societal expectations, and the existential battles of modern life. The songs touch on different aspects of the human condition, from the fear of failure and the need for growth to the turmoil of modern living and relentless self-exertion in a chaotic world. Ad undas is a Greek term meaning “to the waves”, but in Norway it is used as an expression when everything goes “to hell” or fails (everything goes south).


Kosmodome have played concerts on different stages in Norway and abroad, and are ready for more live performances after a studio hiatus in 2023 working on their much-awaited, second album, “Ad Undas” , set to be released on Stickman Records on October 11, 2024!

“Ad Undas” Tracklist:

Neophobia
Hyperion
Obsternasig
Dystopia
Turmoil
Fatigue

Just in time for the 25th anniversary of the band, the melodic deathers BATTLESWORD present themselves and their followers with a new album! “(XX)V – Of Tales And Tragedies” already alludes to the festive occasion in the album title as well as to the fact that this is their fifth longplayer.

Musically, Battlesword continue unperturbed where they fortunately never left off: There is the typical Battlesword sound, which has been expanded with new elements from time to time. From almost doomy parts to merciless blasts, the stylistic variety is not overused on the one hand, but is still multi-layered enough to never get bored with the 11 songs over the entire running time. So be prepared, first tunes will be available soon! On the occasion of the combination of anniversary and album release, the band is also organizing a two-day special record release event at RKW Viersen on October 4th and 5th. You should definitely mark the date in your calendar, more information will be available soon on the band’s social media channels!

In a new interview with The Razor's Edge, CLUTCH bassist Dan Maines spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the group's follow-up to the "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach" album, which was released in September 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've been pretty busy this year getting together when we're not touring, getting together and just kicking ideas around. And we have a nice setup at home to where we are basically rehearsing — I shouldn't say 'rehearsing', 'cause we don't rehearse, but jamming — in a studio setting so that whenever we're together and one of us comes up with an idea that we like, we can record it immediately. And so we just kind of are constantly creating this bank of ideas. And we don't dwell on it as it happens. When something comes up that seems worthy of documenting, we record it and then we forget it, move on to something new. And then, after a month or so, having collected these ideas, we'll start going through them. And we've been doing that since the beginning of this year. And I would say we have at least half of an album's worth of solid ideas, and probably more than that. But yeah, I'm excited about it. The stuff that we're cooking up right now, I think it's really good. The plan, if all goes well, is to record something, album-wise, if not the end of this year, then early next year."

Earlier in the month, CLUTCH frontman Neil Fallon confirmed to Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne that he and his bandmates recently completed the first demoing session for CLUTCH's next LP with producer Tom Dalgety. He said: "We're gonna try to maybe do [another session] in January and then another one right before we record. Hopefully we'll have 15 tracks and then we'll pick maybe the 10 best release those and maybe save some for a rainy day."

Regarding CLUTCH's working relationship with Dalgety, Neil said: "Tom's great. I think sometimes working with a producer, personality is half the battle because they can have all the skills in the world but if they're an asshole, you don't wanna work with them. Tom is anything but that."

As for whether CLUTCH fans can expect to see the band's next studio LP in the spring or summer of 2025, Neil said: "No, it would be probably the third quarter. Nowadays, you've gotta have such a buffer. It's getting better with vinyl, but we have to plan that in way in advance."

O'Beirne also asked Fallon about the possibility of CLUTCH playing some of the new material live before it is released. He said: "Yeah. we try to. That doesn't always happen. Playing a song live in front of people is a much different animal than doing it in a studio where you can stop and say, 'I have to go to the bathroom.' There's an urgency that will change a song. Sometimes something sounds great and then you put it on stage and it may be not so much, or vice versa. So we like to do that."

Last month, Fallon told Neil Jones of TotalRock that he and his bandmates have "been getting together, on and off this year, just writing. And then that sometimes that just means writing a riff, not necessarily a song," he explained. "But right now, as we speak, behind me, Tom Dalgety, he flew in from Bristol [United Kingdom] a couple nights ago and he's done a load of albums, he did our last record, 'Sunrise On Slaughter Beach'. We're doing a pre-production session this week. We'll do another one probably in January. And then again, right before we record, hopefully in March. And what that means is we're just kind of fleshing out these demos. So when it comes time to record them, we know them and don't have an excuse to say, 'I don't know how to play this song.'"

Asked how far back the musical ideas on those demos were originally captured, Fallon said: "I think maybe the first ones are maybe from March of last year, but it was pretty piecemeal 'cause we'd go out on the road and then no one really wants to get together after a show and say, 'Hey, let's jam.' So, it was kind of piecemeal, like I said. But there's a riff that Tom said we did on the last session almost three years ago that he'd like to kick around that was actually from — I think we've been kicking that riff around since [2015's] 'Psychic Warfare'. It's sort of like this orphan riff that — it's good; it just needs to find some friends to live with."

Regarding how he comes up with the themes for his lyrics, Fallon said: "I wish I knew there was a very succinct system on doing this. But I'll come up with lyrical ideas. I'll jot 'em down in a notebook or in a voice memo on my phone and I'll come up with an idea for lyrics. And sometimes they seem to write themselves. Other times I'll say, 'Well, they don't really sound that good. Let's try it on this song.' And eventually, it's like… I don't know. You whittle away at stuff until you find its final form. I find that songs that have stood the test of time are the ones that were the quickest to write. The ones that take months, but usually those don't last very long as far as live rotation on stage."

Asked if he and his CLUTCH bandmates are thinking at all, while they are working on new material, about how the songs are going to go down in a live setting, Fallon said: "No. And I think that's one of the things that CLUTCH fans like about us. I think there's a sincerity. If you kind of premeditate it, then it becomes less of an artistic enterprise and more of a marketing scheme. And I think because if we like it, then by extension CLUTCH fans like it, because that's what we're all here for, as far as this band goes. There's been occasions where we've had songs and I've listened to it, and I said, 'I don't know. I don't know about this thing.' And then that became to be some of the most popular songs that we put out. And so I'm not a good judge of that."

Earlier last month, CLUTCH drummer Jean-Paul Gaster told Colombia's El Expreso Del Rock about his relationship with his bandmates: "We see each other all the time… Typically, we will finish a tour and maybe take a week, maybe two weeks off. We just kind of go home and do home stuff, but then we're back in the jam room again, and it's usually three times a week. And usually when we get together, we're writing new music. Unless there's a show coming up, we just start playing riffs. And we have all the equipment always mic'd up, the computers, they're ready to go. So the minute somebody has an idea, boom, I go push 'record' and we document that idea. And sometimes that idea becomes a song, and sometimes that idea is just something that we did for an hour. But it's okay, because you have to keep playing."

He continued: "Sometimes I play with musicians in projects and stuff, and they become sort of very focused on one idea: 'Oh, this is the song and this is the idea, and this is the only one that there is.' We try not to do that. We try to come up with many ideas. 'Okay, that idea is cool. Great. Let's try something else. Let's see what this idea will be like.' And we just try to put as many of these things together. And then when it comes time to make a record, then we go through those things. We say, 'Oh, well, that thing we did last month was really cool.' And then, 'Neil, you have this new riff. Okay, well, let's put those together. That might be cool.' And that's the way it works. It's very organic. There's not a set way that things come together."

In a separate interview last month, Maines told Chile's iRock that he and his bandmates were "in the middle of some deep writing sessions. We've been getting together quite a bit, but it's all focusing on new material, trying to write songs for a new album," he revealed. "It's going really well. We get together in a studio and we are just recording every single idea that we have. If it gets to the point where we've got two parts together that kind of resemble a verse and a chorus, and everyone's happy with it just music-wise, we'll record those ideas. And then we put that aside and move on to something else. And we upload those files so that all four of us can listen to them at home. And Neil will take a good hard listen to them and think about vocal ideas for those parts. And we start piecing together things. Sometimes he'll listen to something from one day that he thinks might work really well with something from the previous week. And if it requires tempo changes or key changes to kind of blend those two parts together, we'll work on that. But, yeah, it's kind of a very organic process. Right now I would say we have probably about a solid 10 ideas that you could call songs, but they definitely need a little more fleshing out. But, yeah, it's exciting."

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

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

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

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

THE OFFSPRING has released a professionally filmed video of the band's August 16 collaboration with Yungblud at the Openair Gampel festival in Gampel-Bratsch, Switzerland.

The British singer, songwriter and musician — whose real name is Dominic Richard Harrison — joined the California pop-punk act for a rendition of THE OFFSPRING song "Self Esteem".

Prior to launching into the track, THE OFFSPRING singer Bryan "Dexter" Holland introduced Yungblud to the crowd by saying, "We met this great young man today, we thought we should bring him out to play a song with us." Yungblud, for his part, called the opportunity to perform with THE OFFSPRING a "dream come true".

THE OFFSPRING's new album, "Supercharged", will arrive on October 11 via Concord.

2021's "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, guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn.

Nigelpoll has uploaded video of Ace Frehley's entire August 16 concert at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden, Washington. Check it out below.

Featured songs:

01. Shock Me
02. Deuce
03. Cherry Medicine
04. Rock Soldiers
05. Detroit Rock City
06. Rocket Ride
07. New York Groove
08. Rip It Out
09. Love Gun
10. Cold Gin
11. Ace Frehley Guitar Solo
12. Rock And Roll All Nite

The original KISS guitarist is continuing to tour in support of his latest solo album, "10,000 Volts", which was released in February via MNRK Music Group (formerly eOne Music). The LP was produced by Ace and Steve Brown (TRIXTER).

Ace previously praised "10,000 Volts", telling VRP Rocks: "I'm very happy with the way the record turned out. Now, a lot of times I've recorded records where sometimes you look at three or four songs on the album and you consider them not as good as some of the other ones and you kind of consider them as filler. But I don't think there's any filler on this album. I think every song has merit to it."

He added:  "I think it's one of the best albums I ever did. I mean, I think it's probably as good as my solo album in 1978, which everybody seems to think is my best album to date. But I think this new album is equally as good as my 1978 solo album, and I think there's more than one hit single on the album."

Ace's new all-original album is the follow-up to "Spaceman", which was released in October 2018 via eOne.

KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons co-wrote two tracks on "Spaceman", "Without You I'm Nothing" and "Your Wish Is My Command", the latter of which also features Gene's bass playing.

Frehley recently revealed that his next release will be a third "Origins" volume, covering songs by artists who influenced him. He will once again work with Brown on the project, which is tentatively due in 2025.

In an interview with Billboard, Frehley said that he is at one of the best points of his career. "Y'know, here I am at age [73] and I'm putting out one of the best records I've ever recorded," he said. "The playing is great and the singing is some of the best vocals I've ever done. It really doesn't make any sense, but I'm the kind of guy that's always broken rules, y'know?"

ACE FREHLEY IN WASHINGTON TOMORROW! Legends Ace Frehley and Steven Adler take the stage at The Northwest Washington Fair...

Posted by Ace Frehley on Friday, August 16, 2024

On Monday, August 19, Gene Simmons and his solo band played a headlining concert at the historic West Herr Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, New York. The performance was part of a fundraising event to benefit the venue's new lobby expansion project.

The day before the show, North Tonawanda mayor Austin Tylec said: "As many of you know, there's an ongoing expansion there, and Gene and his entire band is going to put on a fantastic show, bring in a lot of people, a lot of money that will go towards our future expansion there. So, from North Tonawanda, we want to say thank you for coming here to our community and helping our local arts and further expansion of our community."

The current lineup of Simmons's solo band features guitarists Brent Woods (SEBASTIAN BACH, VINCE NEIL) and Jason Walker plus drummer Brian Tichy (WHITESNAKE, FOREIGNER).

The group's setlist typically includes a number of KISS classics alongside covers of MOTÖRHEAD's "Ace Of Spades" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Communication Breakdown".

In late April, the GENE SIMMONS BAND performed at the grand opening of the Rock & Brews restaurant at the Ilani dining and entertainment destination in Ridgefield, Washington. It marked the KISS bassist/vocalist's first live appearance since the legendary rock act concluded its "End Of The Road" farewell tour at New York's Madison Square Garden in December.

Back in 2017 and 2018, the GENE SIMMONS BAND played a number of shows with a lineup that consisted of Simmons alongside guitarist/bassist Jeremy Asbrock, guitarist Ryan Cook, guitarist Phil Shouse and drummer Brent Fitz.

Six years ago, Simmons stated about his solo shows: "Doing these smaller concert halls, which hold a thousand to three thousand people, means they get filled up by real diehard fans. They don't want to hear the 'same old, same old.' They want to hear nuggets, as they say. It's a hoot for me because I've never really had a chance to do this stuff live. It's been a lot of fun." Gene told the Chicago Sun-Times: "By the end, I get the chance to bring as many people from the audience as we can fit on the stage to sing with me."

Regarding how the idea for a solo tour came about, Simmons told Australia's Advertiser in a 2018 interview: "The GENE SIMMONS BAND was not a plan or anything. About a year ago, a corporate event asked me to be keynote speaker … then they said, 'Won't you get up and sing a few tunes?' I explained that you can't just do that, you've got to have a band and rehearse and all that. They said, 'Well, we'll pay you X dollars more,' and I said, 'I like you!' "So I put together a band from Nashville — these guys back up Kid Rock and lots of other people — and without a single rehearsal, I just told them which songs I wanted to do and they learned them. It just sounded natural — there is such a thing called chemistry. They don't teach that anywhere — I mean, they do teach 'chemistry' but not the kind I'm talking about. It felt right and as soon as the videos went on YouTube and such, people were calling. This little GENE SIMMONS BAND never tried to be KISS… It was just a little bit of fun and stuff. Now all of a sudden, we're headlining festivals in the Czech Republic, Canada, Germany… It's crazy."

KISS played the final concert of its "End Of The Road" farewell tour on December 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

On Sale Today at 10:00am! 🎸🔥

Posted by West Herr Riviera Theatre on Friday, April 19, 2024

SKID ROW had shared "Piece Of Me", the second single and video from "Live In London", the band's first official live album and concert film. earMUSIC will release the concert — which took place on October 24, 2022, at London's O2 Forum Kentish Town — as a 2LP set and CD/DVD digipack worldwide on September 20.

"Piece Of Me (Live In London)" is a fiery rendition of a standout track from SKID ROW's multi-platinum debut album, captured in front of an electrified, sold-out audience. This blazing performance is just one track from the live album that SKID ROW fans — both old and new — have been waiting over 35 years for, and this show, in this instant, is exactly what they've delivered.

SKID ROW drummer Rob Hammersmith states: "Like our heroes before us, SKID ROW has always taken great pride in delivering a high-energy, in-your-face live show. We're very excited to finally have a live album as a snapshot of that approach to performing, and we couldn't think of a better place than London! Cheers to all our fans who help create these shows with us!"

"Live In London" captures unforgettable, definitive performances of their timeless classics including "18 And Life", "Monkey Business" and "I Remember You", as well as new fan favorites like "Time Bomb" and "Tear It Down" from their latest, Nick Raskulinecz-produced album "The Gang's All Here".

A dream for the band and fans — in the heart of the city that so inspired the members of SKID ROW.

SKID ROW says: "As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, and CBGB in New York City… our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from."

SKID ROW crossed the Atlantic to find a fierce crowd awaiting them to experience the power of a band truly committed to rock 'n' roll, past present, and future. "Live In London" is a classic live album from a band that continues to innovate, grow and fire up audiences around the globe.

Set opener "Slave To The Grind" was chosen as the first single and video. From the moment the band hits the stage, the energy is undeniable. And it just gets more intense from there. "Live In London" is the live album SKID ROW fans — old and new — have been waiting more than 35 years for… and this show, this instant, is what they've delivered.

SKID ROW bassist Rachel Bolan says: "London has always been a home away from home for us. We are very excited to finally capture a live show on video for the rest of the world to see."

SKID ROW guitarist Dave "Snake" Sabo says: "After the release of 'The Gang's All Here' album, we realized that something special was happening. This record perfectly captures that moment in time. Thank you, London! You always deliver!! Onward and upward."

"Live In London" track listing:

01. Slave To The Grind
02. The Threat
03. Big Guns
04. 18 And Life
05. Piece Of Me
06. Livin' On A Chain Gang
07. Psycho Therapy
08. In A Darkened Room
09. Makin' A Mess
10. The Gang’s All Here
11. Riot Act
12. Tear It Down
13. Monkey Business
14. I Remember You
15. Time Bomb
16. Youth Gone Wild

"Live In London" marks SKID ROW's final release with Swedish singer Erik Grönwall, who quit the band five months ago.

In a March 29 video message, Erik, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, offered a lengthy explanation for his decision to leave SKID ROW, saying: "The main reason why I've decided to leave the band is because it's been very hard and it's proved very challenging to prioritize my health and full recovery being the lead singer of the band. And it's not like I woke up yesterday and decided to go, 'Ooh. That's a horrible idea. What time?' This is something I've been considering for a long time. The first time I brought it up and requested a better balance in the touring was in 2022.

"So most of you guys who follow me, you already know this, but for those of you who don't, let me give you some background info," the 36-year-old continued. "In 2021, I was undergoing treatment against leukemia, and as a result of the treatments and the bone marrow transplant that I did, my immune system was impaired. You can think of my immune system as a four-year-old kid bringing home all kinds of shit and viruses from preschool. So I pretty much get everything. It takes a while for the immune system to build up that resistance again, but my immune system is getting stronger every day. So that's the good news. However, I'm still doing regular checkups, like blood tests, at the hematology department at my hospital in Sweden. But that part has proved very challenging while keeping up with the SKID ROW schedule and demand. And as I'm sure you all understand, I have way too much respect for my medical history and for my health to push myself to the limit.

"But I also wanna say that this illness came with a lot of good things. And one of the best things that I want to mention here is that it gave me a superpower called perspective. I remember sitting at the hospital, and I was in a really fucking dark place. And I was looking out my window and I saw all these people going to work in a hurry, stressing. And I remember asking myself, watching all these people, and I was, like, 'What are we stressing about? What are we chasing?' So right there I felt like I had so much perspective on things and actually a gratitude towards — it's weird to say it, but a gratitude towards my illness. I remember going, 'Thank you for giving me this perspective this early in life.' Anyway, so I was sitting there, and I remembered that the samurai had a code of honor that they called Bushido that they lived by. And so with the perspective I had at the time, I wanted to create my own Bushido. My goal was always, okay, 'I'm gonna get through this and I'm gonna get healthy,' but I wanted to remember the perspective, that feeling of gratitude and perspective I had at the time, because I know that we're human beings and we move on and we forget things, but I didn't wanna forget this; I wanted to remember this for the rest of my life. So what I did was I created my own Bushido at the hospital, and on top of that list, it says 'health first'. And back to SKID ROW, that's exactly why I had to make this decision.

"I've had to look at that list a lot of times this last year," Erik added. "Actually, to be honest, since I joined the band. And I've been questioning myself if I'm really living according to those values. And at the end of the day, I realized that the answer was no.

"And I just wanna say, before the media starts with all this fucking clickbait shit, let me be perfectly clear. Listen carefully: I am not sick. And it's not like I don't wanna tour. I love being on the road. I just need a better balance. And, of course, we have tried to find the right balance together as a band multiple times. But at the end of the day, I realized that it was better for me to just step aside.

"There's a lot of people that are relying on making a living from SKID ROW. And being on the road is mainly where the money is nowadays. So, I totally understand that people have to keep touring. And I feel like it's hard to say this without sounding like, um, like a martyr. Is that the word I'm looking for? Yeah, I think so. But I feel like I need to say it to let you guys know the thoughts I've had recently.

"It's actually been a bit of a burden to tour with a new immune system — not only knowing that I'm intentionally pushing myself, but also knowing that if I get sick on the road, which I'm more likely to with a new immune system, there is no one who can fill in for me. We've had our amazing guitar tech, and I can't express how much I love this guy enough, but our guitar tech, Casey, he filled in for both Snake [Dave Sabo, guitar] and Rachel [Bolan, bass] when they got sick. But when I got sick on the road, we had to cancel, reschedule shows, and, honestly, it's not a fun position to be in. So, wait? All of this is happening because of me? It's not good for the band, it's not good for the crew, it's not good for the fans, it's not good for the promoters, it's not good for the SKID ROW team. All of that also made it less fun for me. I didn't really enjoy myself out there.

"I love singing," Erik concluded. "I love being an artist. I love touring, but I wasn't happy. I understand and respect that SKID ROW is a touring band, but like I told the guys, if I can't prioritize my health, then I'm not the right guy for the job."

SKID ROW's longtime friend Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM) handled lead vocals for the band's four concerts in late May and early June.

The SKID ROW members said in a statement that they are "proud of what they have created and accomplished with Erik over the past two years" and "wish nothing but the best to him and his health."

Grönwall, who was a member of the Swedish hard rock band H.E.A.T. for nearly a decade before exiting the group in October 2020, announced in September 2021 that he was cancer free after receiving a bone marrow transplant one month earlier.

In late March 2022, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song was the title track of the band's latest album, which arrived in October 2022 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.

During an August 21 appearance on "The Kelly Clarkson Show", Jon Bon Jovi reflected on his return to the recording studio after surgery to repair his damaged vocal cords. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was hard because you speak and you say, 'Okay, I sound like me.' When you hear yourself back through the speakers, that's when you hear yourself for the first time. And I didn't sound like me. But that was 15, 16 months ago. So that threw me for a loop. And by the time I got around to making the [latest BON JOVI] record ['Forever'], it was all good. But the initial reaction was a shock because of the change. And so you have to get over that. And the healing wasn't done yet. That's all."

Two months ago, Jon told The Guardian that his damaged vocal cord is still not healed enough for him to resume touring.

"It's a work in progress," he said. "There's no miracle. I just wish there was a fucking light switch. I'm more than capable of singing again. The bar is now: can I do two and a half hours a night, four nights a week? The answer is no."

Bon Jovi went on to say that making music will always be part of his life, regardless of whether he is able to return to full-scale touring.

"It lights you up when you're out there. As long as I have the ability, I will write songs and make records."

In a separate interview with NBC journalist Willie Geist, Jon said that he would like to get back out on the road "in a controlled manner. Regardless of how great I can sing or not, I don't think there's ever going to be a 240-show tour again," he explained. "But when I look at THE [ROLLING] STONES and U2 and Bruce [Springsteen], that kind of thing, I could do that. Yeah, that would be all right."

Back in May, Jon opened up about the vocal cord deterioration he experienced a few years ago which caused him to have surgery in 2022. He told Associated Press entertainment journalist Alicia Rancilio: "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 [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" arrived on June 7. 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".
Celebrating 40 years of @BonJovi today with the man himself, @jonbonjovi! PLUS Jennifer Esposito and a performance from The Outsiders! pic.twitter.com/W6BWZMdY3I

— The Kelly Clarkson Show (@KellyClarksonTV) August 21, 2024

New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL have recruited Jeramie Kling (VENOM INC.) as their new drummer. Kling joins the veteran outfit as the replacement for Jason Bittner, who announced his exit from OVERKILL earlier this month.

OVERKILL said in a statement: "We're gearing up for an epic European and North American tour this August through December and are excited to announce a special addition for the tours. Here comes a thunderous old friend, who had done work with us, as well as THE ABSENCE & VENOM INC. Please welcome, with drum sticks in hand, Jeramie Kling!"

Jeramie added: "Words cannot express how stoked I am to share the stage with my good friends in OVERKILL. We will be laying waste to everyone throughout Europe and North America (with KING DIAMOND). Check the dates online and come out to see an unforgettable night of metal \m/".

A founding member of THE ABSENCE, Kling appeared on VENOM INC.'s second album, 2022's "There's Only Black", and has played with such acts as FORE, RIBSPREADER, GOREGÄNG and NECROMANCING THE STONE. He was also briefly affiliated with the reunited Florida death metal band MASSACRE, which led to the formation of INHUMAN CONDITION, alongside Terry Butler (OBITUARY, ex-DEATH) and Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE). In addition to being a drummer, Kling is a recording engineer, producer and live sound engineer.

Bittner joined OVERKILL in 2017 and played drums on the band's last two studio albums, 2019's "The Wings Of War" and 2023's "Scorched"

When Bittner has announced his departure from OVERKILL on August 5, he said in a statement: "On August 1, 2024, I played the Vagos Metal Fest in Portugal, and it was the last show I will play in the band OVERKILL.

"For a while now I have been juggling a few different bands along with OVERKILL, and I knew at some point something would have to give since I simply can’t be three places at once. Over the course of this last year, my schedule has reached that breaking point.

"At this time SHADOWS FALL is working towards completion of our new material that will take us back out on the road sometime in 2025, as well as our fall shows we have booked for the rest of this year celebrating 20 years of 'The War Within'. Compounded on top of this is my new band, Metal Blade recording artists CATEGORY 7, whose album just hit the shelves last month and will start touring soon through 2025. All of this adds up to something having to 'take a break', so as of today I no longer play drums in OVERKILL so I can concentrate solely on the bands that I am a full member/owner of.

"Now don't worry — they currently have another great drummer already learning the material, and he will be ready to do battle for the upcoming tours.

"I would like to thank EVERYONE in the OVERKILL extended family for 7 1/2 years of laughs, killer shows, and fun around the globe. All our crew members throughout my run, our agents Dolores Lokas and Mike Monterulo, my tech Animal for always having my back (Shake and Bake),as well as all of our crew past and present, the SKULLKRUSHERS (much love Jurgen),and all the fans who supported my tenure in the band, I love you all, thank you, and will miss you on the European and KING DIAMOND tours… but I'll see you out there with SHADOWS FALL and CATEGORY 7."

We’re Gearing up for an epic European and North American tour this August through December and are excited to announce a...

Posted by Overkill on Friday, August 23, 2024

Acclaimed guitarist, songwriter and podcaster Doc Coyle has just released his debut solo single, a daring cover of AEROSMITH's iconic "Livin' On The Edge". Accompanied by a cinematic music video inspired by the 1993 film "Falling Down", this release marks the latest chapter in Doc's illustrious and multi-faceted career. Known for his work with the groundbreaking metalcore band GOD FORBID, the chart-topping BAD WOLVES, and most recently on tour with ICE NINE KILLS, Coyle is a musician who refuses to be confined by any single label. His decision to tackle AEROSMITH's 1993 classic as his first solo project marks a significant moment in his career.

"The story of how I came to cover AEROSMITH's classic tune 'Livin' On The Edge' is a peculiar one," says Coyle, reflecting on the origin of the project. "I am a massive AEROSMITH fan, but as an avid teenage MTV viewer, I truly identify with the records they made during the '90s. During the pandemic, I recorded an instrumental of the song for BAD WOLVES, but we didn't have a singer. It was suggested that I lay down vocals for the song. I was intimidated but also enthused by the opportunity."

However, Coyle's rendition of "Livin' On The Edge" almost never saw the light of day. "Ultimately, the band did not want to release the song, so I decided to keep it for myself," Coyle explains. This decision would spark a creative journey that took on a life of its own. His vision culminated in a captivating music video that pays homage to "Falling Down", Michael Douglas's unforgettable portrayal of a man who snaps under the pressures of society.

"Stemming from who knows where came a vision of making a music video of the song based on the 1993 film 'Falling Down'," Coyle shares. "The film took a dark path, but I wanted to repurpose the themes for something more positive. The song conjured feelings of adventure and empowerment. Take everything that went bad in the film and flip it. I wanted to recreate the journey of the original film as much as possible."

The video, directed by Myles Erfurth, was shot in a run-and-gun, guerilla-style fashion across the urban landscape of Los Angeles, channeling the raw energy and tension of "Falling Down".

"We had a small window in the summer of 2024 to make this happen," Coyle recalls. "I had waited long enough. The world needed to hear and see what I had created. Now is the time.".

Coyle's reinterpretation of 'Livin' On The Edge' is more than just a tribute to AEROSMITH — it's an ode to the idea that, no matter how overwhelming life may seem, there is always an opportunity to take control and rewrite the narrative. The song's themes of living on the edge of chaos and stability resonate even more deeply in today's turbulent world, and Coyle's bold, intense delivery captures that balance perfectly.

His cover of the staple hit is only the latest addition to an extraordinary career that has seen him rise to prominence in the heavy music scene. He first gained international recognition as the guitarist for the metal band GOD FORBID, a staple in the American metalcore movement of the 2000s. Doc's professional career experience expanded performing as a fill-in and touring guitarist for heavyweights LAMB OF GOD on a tour opening for METALLICA in 2009, as well as stints on bass guitar, filling in with TRIVIUM in 2009, UNEARTH in 2012, lead guitar duty for DARKEST HOUR in 2017, 2nd guitar with Mark Morton of LAMB OF GOD's solo band in 2019, and most recently handling rhythm guitar and backing vocals for horror-themed metalcore giants ICE NINE KILLS on their 2023 stadium world tour supporting METALLICA.

Doc also began songwriting for other notable artists contributing to BODY COUNT's (featuring Ice-T) 2017 Grammy-nominated album "Bloodlust" on the track "This Is Why We Ride" and HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta's solo album "The Lost Chapters" on the track "Chasing Demons", featuring Howard Jones, formerly of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. After departing GOD FORBID, Coyle re-emerged with BAD WOLVES, a band that skyrocketed to success with their breakout cover of THE CRANBERRIES' "Zombie", which has since garnered over a billion streams.

Beyond his band work, Coyle has become a multi-talented creative force, contributing to other projects as a songwriter, podcaster, and even a member of THE WEDDING BAND, performing alongside METALLICA's Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo. Now, with his first solo release, Coyle continues to expand his artistic reach.

"The song and the video represent a new chapter for me," Coyle says. "I wanted to take something familiar and make it my own, while still paying homage to the original. I think I've accomplished that with this release."

MÖTLEY CRÜE will release the "Cancelled" EP on October 4. The three-song effort contains the title track, MÖTLEY CRÜE's cover version of the BEASTIE BOYS classic "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" and "Dogs Of War", which was made available in April. All three songs were recorded in April 2023 with longtime producer Bob Rock.

"It was really great getting in the studio and working on some tracks together," MÖTLEY CRÜE offered in a joint statement. "What started out as a couple demo ideas turned into this EP produced by Bob Rock. We look forward to getting back into the studio again soon and writing more new music, as well."

MÖTLEY CRÜE's version of "Fight For Your Right" has quickly become a fan favorite since the band first debuted the song live during their secret 2023 club show at The Underworld in London, U.K. At its premiere, 450 lucky, sweat-drenched fans who came out to see a band advertised as DÖGS OF WAR got the surprise of a lifetime when MÖTLEY CRÜE took the stage with the BEASTIE BOYS classic in their set list.

The veil of speculation surrounding the DÖGS OF WAR pseudonym was finally lifted when the band released their first new single since 2019 by the "Dogs Of War" name in the spring of 2024. "Dogs Of War" subsequently became a Top 5 Rock Radio hit, accompanied by a highly acclaimed music video by director Nick DenBoer. The cutting-edge visual, which is entirely CGI-based, features the members of MÖTLEY CRÜE navigating an exhilarating post-apocalyptic world.

"Cancelled" EP track listing:

01. Cancelled (Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, John Lowery)
02. Dogs Of War (Tommy Lee, Nikki Sixx, John Lowery)
03. Fight For Your Right (Adam Horovitz, Rick Rubin, Adam Yauch)

MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee told Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast last year that he and his bandmates felt inspired to write a song called "Cancelled" because they were surprised it never happened to them.

"There was this article that was like, 'How did MÖTLEY CRÜE ever not get cancelled?'" he said. "And we were like, 'Fuck, we've gotta write a song about that because we didn't ever get it.' We snuck in under the whatever threshold, wherever that was, where we got away with fucking murder."

The "Cancelled" EP will be made available via MÖTLEY CRÜE's new deal with Nashville's Big Machine Records

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Ross Halfin
🔥 MÖTLEY CRÜE RETURNS WITH 'CANCELLED'! 🔥
BRAND NEW EP FEATURING TOP 5 RADIO HIT 'DOGS OF WAR' AND NEW SINGLE COVER OF BEASTIE BOYS' CLASSIC ‘FIGHT FOR YOUR FIGHT’ AS WELL AS TITLE TRACK ‘CANCELLED’

🥊 HITTING ALL PLATFORMS 10/04

LISTEN TO 'FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT' HERE :… pic.twitter.com/gPnhFqk6qw

— Mötley Crüe (@MotleyCrue) August 23, 2024

Prepare to be engulfed by a wall of brutal sound.! The UK blackened metal outfit VULGARIS ignites a rebellion with the release of their scorching music video for “Seat Of The Fire,” the title track from their critically acclaimed sophomore album.

“Seat Of The Fire” serves as the epic conclusion to the album’s narrative. The song chronicles the vengeful fury of Prometheus, the mythical titan condemned for gifting humanity with fire. Having endured eternal punishment for his act of defiance, Prometheus unleashes a cataclysmic inferno upon the world, inciting a fiery war fought in his name.

The visually stunning lyric video, created by Drain Hope, perfectly captures the song’s intensity. Blending fire and fury with mythological imagery, the video brings the album’s story to a blazing climax.

Blind Guardian recently released Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, which includes a complete re-recording of this classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record in the history of the band.


They have shared video of frontman Hansi Kürsch recording the vocals for "Time What Is Time" for Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited. Check it out below.







Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited, which was recorded in 2022 and 2023, is a refreshing and powerful tribute to one of the most influential albums in German metal history. It paved the way for Blind Guardian’s international career that is still going strong today and this re-recording impresses with all the class and quality these pioneers have been known and respected for since forming as Lucifer’s Heritage three decades ago.


Watch a live video for the revisited version of their most popular track, "The Bard's Song - In The Forest":





Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited is out today and can be listened to in full at any streaming service or purchased in physical form. Get it here





Tracklisting:


"Time What is Time" (Revisited)
"Journey Through the Dark" (Revisited)
"Black Chamber" (Revisited)
"Theatre of Pain" (Revisited)
"The Quest for Tanelorn" (Revisited)
"Ashes to Ashes" (Revisited)
"The Bard’s Song – In the Forest" (Revisited)
"The Bard’s Song – The Hobbit" (Revisited)
"The Piper’s Calling" (Revisited)
"Somewhere Far Beyond" (Revisited)


"The Quest for Tanelorn" (Revisited) video:





"Ashes To Ashes" live at Hellfest 2022 video:





About Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited:


Right on time with their show at 2024’s edition of Wacken Open Air, Blind Guardian proudly announce the release of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited on August 2 which includes a complete re-recording of this classic as well as a live celebration of 1992’s Somewhere Far Beyond, a landmark record for Germany’s heavy metal titans. After three albums on No Remorse Records, it was the band’s major label debut via Virgin Records and opened the doors to the Japanese market resulting in a wider availability and presence on the global metal scene. After finding the right balance of speed, heaviness, melodies, drama, and irresistible choruses on 1990’s Tales From The Twilight World, Somewhere Far Beyond honed this approach to perfection, evolving further on a conceptual level and increasing Blind Guardian’s sonic range. On Somewhere Far Beyond the band experimented with keyboards, orchestrations, and folk elements, the latter manifesting in the group’s best-known song and live staple, "The Bard's Song (In The Forest)", whereas other tracks like "Ashes to Ashes", the rapid "Journey Through The Dark" or "The Quest For Tanelorn" connected well with previous mostly fast-paced albums yet offered an additional push in dynamics.


Fast forward 30 years! Prior to releasing the much lauded opus The God Machine in September 2022, Blind Guardian had been performing Somewhere Far Beyond in its entirety at Rock Hard Festival and Hellfest in Summer 2022 in front of tens of thousands of fans singing along to each track. Both shows were filmed and recorded professionally and aired via WDR and ARTE. For the limited triple-disc-edition of Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited the Hellfest material was newly edited by the band’s long-time videographer Dirk Behlau using additional multi-cam footage.


The idea of re-recording the album originated from the rehearsals for these shows as Hansi Kürsch explains in the detailed liner notes: “The original idea wasn’t to do a re-recording. When rehearsing for the anniversary gigs, corona hit and we couldn’t be certain that those shows would take place. We still wanted to celebrate the anniversary of the album and if we wouldn’t be able to include a live version, we initially thought we could at least record the rehearsals.”


Not 100% satisfied with those rough versions, Blind Guardian decided to go all in, knowing the risk of being frowned upon by fans who consider re-recordings utter blasphemy. “We tried to recapture what we did in 1992 but compensate youth with skillful experience, though in a hungry way. We never discussed any major changes but with over 30 years of experience, and our current line-up, those ingredients already add a new flavor to it.” With the basic tracks recorded in a live setting, Somewhere Far Beyond Revisited is leaner and more focused on impact in terms of guitar arrangements yet retains all the harmonies and melodies essential to the original. “We finally ended up with this cool hybrid version”, André adds. “We combined how we play the songs today, but at the same time, really tried to retain that speed metal spirit of the early 90s!”







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Prepare to be exorcised! Norwegian black metal upstarts ODIO DEUS are here to tear down the walls of hypocrisy with their blistering new lyric video for “The Con Man,” the latest single from their critically acclaimed album “Spiritual Syphilis,” out now via Wormholedeath Worldwide.

“The Con Man” is a sonic inferno that dissects the life and dark deeds of Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism. The track exposes Smith’s alleged manipulation and controversial practices, culminating in his violent demise.

Silent Skies co-founder / Redemption keyboardist Vikram Shankar has shared an update on his progressive metal side-project, Lux Terminus:


"Our first Lux Terminus song in six years is out today. What a joy it is to be out in the world once more. Give it a listen wherever you listen to music, and enjoy your daily cinematic progressive serotonin fix."


Go to this location to stream or purchase "Mosaic Mind".







Silent Skies recently released  their new full-length, Dormant, via Napalm Records. One of the tracks featured on the album is a dark cover of the Iron Maiden classic, "The Trooper". Shankar spoke exclusively with BraveWords about remagining the song.


Shankar: "That specific somg choice came from Tom because he has a close attachment to Iron Maiden. I like and I respect Iron Maiden, but I don't have the same relationship with their music that Tom does. It's a great song, and when we were choosing the covers - we chose a lot more than the three on the album - I think we picked songs that people wouldn't expect us to do, typically because they're very different instrumentation. The way 'The Trooper' sounds originally is not the way we do it. It steps outside of metal and rock." 


Listening to our version, people might say 'I don't know if I've heard or ever appreciated or understood that there is something here.' Some metalheads who hear it might say 'This is weird, it's not doing anything for me.' But with all the covers we have done or will do, it's about thinking of the emotional essence behind the song, going into that core and seeing what's there. To see if we can express it in a potent way."


'The Trooper' is such a sad song. It's so sad, and you don't necessarily hear that when you watch Maiden sprint on stage all guns blazing, so to say. The story it tells is so sad, it's from history, and as we know history repeats itself. We especially started talking about doing 'The Trooper' when we heard about the invasion of Ukraine. It was foremost on our minds to see if we could give it the Silent Skies treatment."





Silent Skies’ third offering is melancholic and calming, yet effervescent and incandescent, expanding the duo’s sonic universe in every direction - it is the result of brave sonic experimentation married to the tastefully artistic aesthetic that defines the group. Throughout the varied peaks and valleys of their compositions, it is their powers of expression, and reflection on the human experience - in their own words, “conversations with life, about life” - that give their music the power to speak to a vast array of lived experiences, and reach people with diverse tastes, as long as they are interested in appreciating art as a reflection of life itself.


Silent Skies on Dormant: “We are thrilled to present Dormant, our third record, crafted with immense joy and offered with satisfaction and eagerness to share our heartfelt dedication over the past 18 months. With Dormant, Silent Skies propels itself further into more uncharted territory, embarking on a journey whose destination remains unknown even to us. Like passengers on a train, we embrace the excitement and exhilaration of the ride, relishing in the uncertainty of our future direction. The freedom of creativity is a vital source of energy for us during the composition and production journey for our music. Within Dormant, you will find a multitude of intricate details, a plethora of musical landscapes, and an abundance of concepts, all waiting for you to dive in and explore their depths. At its core, Dormant delves into the awakening of a sleeping or forgotten consciousness, urging it to be present and take action in the now.


It is an album that, from the early stages, felt like a profound conversation with life, about life. It encapsulates the ongoing dialogue and introspection with our inner selves as we seek equilibrium and harmony. Ultimately, it is a realization that what we yearn for is a stillness of the mind and soul — a sense of contentment, pride, and connection with what is our most authentic selves. We believe that you will find resonance with many of the reflections we share within Dormant, and we eagerly anticipate continuing this dialogue with all of you.


This journey has only just begun. Let’s awaken together. Tom & Vikram”


Dormant is available in the following formats:


- 1CD Digisleeve
- 2LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album


oOrder here.





Dormant tracklisting:


"Construct"
"New Life"
"Churches"
"Just Above The Clouds"
"Reset"
"Tides"
"The Real Me"
"Light Up The Dark"
"Dormant"
"The Last On Earth"
"The Trooper" (Bonus Track)
"Dancing In The Dark" (Bonus Track)
"Numb" (Bonus Track)


“Churches” video:





“Construct” video:





"Numb" visualizer:










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German power metallers PRIMAL FEAR have parted ways with guitarist Alex Beyrodt, guitarist Tom Naumann, drummer Michael Ehré and bassist Alex Jansen.

Earlier today, Beyrodt, Naumann, Ehré and Jansen released the following statement via social media: "Dear fans and friends of PRIMAL FEAR, we unfortunately have to inform you today that Alex Beyrodt, Tom Naumann, Michael Ehré and Alex Jansen, who helped us on bass for the last two years, are no longer part of the band PRIMAL FEAR. Triggered by decisions within the band that we do not agree with, this step was anything but easy for us to take. We would like to make it clear that despite the differences of opinion, there was no argument or bad blood.

"We would like to thank you for the time we spent together, the numerous albums, the tours, shows and festivals that have taken us around the world together, and of course for the love of the fans. We wish Mat and Ralf all the best for the future!"

Singer Ralf Scheepers and bassist Mat Sinner (a.k.a. Matthias Lasch),who also serves as PRIMAL FEAR's producer, have yet to announce replacements for the departed musicians.

Earlier today, Sinner shared the following message via his social media: "Soon we will can reveal some surprising PRIMAL FEAR news. We will focus now on recording a new album and we're totally excited! Have a great sunny weekend my friends, have a nice drink and crank up some cool music!"

This past June, it was announced that PRIMAL FEAR had officially signed a deal with new record label Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) for the release of the band's next studio album.

PRIMAL FEAR's latest album, "Code Red", came out last September through Atomic Fire. The 11-track follow-up to 2020's "Metal Commando" included the single, "Cancel Culture", themed around a topic that has been heavily discussed in recent years.

Recorded in Germany at Sebastian "Basi" Roeder's Backyard Studios, with the helping hands of Scheepers as well as Mitch Kunz, "Code Red" was produced by Sinner and co-produced by Scheepers and Naumann. Longtime PRIMAL FEAR collaborator Jacob Hansen once again took care of mixing and mastering at his own Hansen Studios in Denmark. Additionally, Stan W. Decker, who created previous works for the band, including 2017's "Angels Of Mercy - Live In Germany", 2018's "Apocalypse" and 2021's "I Will Be Gone", provided the record’s magnificent artwork.

Back in August 2021, PRIMAL FEAR announced that it was scrapping all of its previously announced dates for 2021 and 2022 "due to a serious illness issue." Four months after canceling the concerts, Sinner revealed that he had spent the previous eight months in eight different hospitals.

In April 2021, PRIMAL FEAR released a five-track single called "I Will Be Gone". Also made available was the official music video for the title track, featuring a guest appearance by former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen.

Formed by Sinner in 1997 as an outlet for Scheepers (who had left GAMMA RAY and was a rumored candidate for the then-open JUDAS PRIEST vocal spot, but was considering early retirement from metal),PRIMAL FEAR has emerged as one of the most consistent European metal bands, rarely straying from its core PRIEST-styled power metal sound.

For more than a decade, Sinner had been the musical director and co-producer for the prestigious European arena tour "Rock Meets Classic".

Photo by Alex Kuehr

***English Version Below***

Liebe Fans und Freunde von Primal Fear,
wir müssen Euch heute leider mitteilen, dass Alex...

Posted by Alexander Beyrodt on Friday, August 23, 2024

Soon we will can reveal some surprising Primal Fear news. We will focus now on recording a new album and we're totally...

Posted by Matthias Lasch on Friday, August 23, 2024