A representative for Polygram Entertainment has confirmed to Variety that the Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne biopic is still moving forward, and that "they're currently in negotiations with a director, which could be confirmed very soon."

It was reported by Variety back in October 2021 that Ozzy and Sharon had partnered with Sony Pictures and Polygram Entertainment for the film, which will focus on the love story between the BLACK SABBATH frontman and his wife and manager. It will be scripted by Lee Hall, who previously worked on Elton John's "Rocketman".

Ozzy and Sharon, along with their children Jack and Kelly, discussed the biopic in an April 2024 episode of their revived podcast.

"By the time they finish this film, I'll be dead… I wanna be alive to fucking see it," Ozzy said at the time. "Movies take forever to make. Forever," Sharon added.

Asked which actress she would like to play her in the biopic, Sharon said: "Florence Pugh or the little girl from 'Game Of Thrones'."

The film is being produced by Sharon and her children Jack and Aimée Osbourne via their label Osbourne Media (which was also behind the Showtime documentary "God Bless Ozzy Osbourne" and A&E's "Biography: The Nine Lives Of Ozzy Osbourne"),alongside Michele Anthony and David Blackman on behalf of Polygram Entertainment. Andrea Giannetti is overseeing development for Sony.

Variety also pointed out that music from BLACK SABBATH and Ozzy's solo career will be featured in the film.

In 2020, Ozzy stated about the biopic: "From what I understand, it's about Sharon and I and our relationship. It's how we met, fell in love, and how we married. She's my other half. She grew up a lot with me, and I grew up a lot with her."

"I hope it will be a story that everybody can relate to," Sharon said. "You don't have to be a fan of the music, because it's a story about a survivor. No matter what life throws at you, you pick yourself up and you start again. It's just an amazing story of overcoming everything that's thrown at you in your life."

Sharon added that the film will be "a lot more real" than the QUEEN biopic "Bohemian Rhapsody". "We don't want it to be squeaky, shiny clean and all of that," she said. "We're not making it for kids. It's an adult movie for adults."

Back in January 2019, Sharon told Variety that she had approached Danny Boyle ("28 Days Later", "Sunshine", "Trainspotting") about directing the film. "It's the madness of my childhood, growing up in the industry with a powerful father who was somewhat violent," she said.

Sharon went on to say that she "would get a complete unknown" to play Ozzy. "It's Ozzy at a very young age," she explained. "It's Ozzy at 20."

Sharon's father, former music mogul Don Arden, became known as the "Al Capone of pop" and the "English Godfather" for his tough-guy business practices while overseeing the careers of acts ranging from ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA to BLACK SABBATH. Arden and his daughter became estranged in 1982 after she took over the management of Ozzy's solo career, also marrying the singer. Father and daughter were not on good terms for nearly 20 years until reconciling in 2002.

Sharon had to pay her father $1 million in a court settlement after she gained control of Ozzy's affairs.

Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate also reportedly said the 76-year-old musician suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A little over a month ago, Osbourne reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Grammy-nominated heavyweights TRIVIUM — vocalist/guitarist Matthew K. Heafy; guitarist Corey Beaulieu; bassist Paolo Gregoletto; and drummer Alex Bent — have announced the release of their forthcoming, three-song EP "Struck Dead". It arrives on October 31 via longtime label Roadrunner.

While it may only be three songs in length, in typical TRIVIUM fashion, it packs a powerhouse punch, thanks to masterful riffing and the dual-style vocal prowess the band has built its nearly three-decade reputation on. It was produced by TRIVIUM and recorded with Mark Lewis at the band's Hangar Studios in Orlando, Florida. It was mixed and mastered by Josh Wilbur.

Today, the band also shares the video for the first single "Bury Me With My Screams". The song premiered via Heafy's "Chaos Hour" show on SiriusXM Liquid Metal and will be debuted live in the band's headline set at Bloodstock Open Air festival this Friday night. Watch the music video below.

"In 2023, we decided it was finally time to take the next step with The Hangar space we purchased — it was time to turn it into a full studio," says Gregoletto. "We brought in designer Roger D'Arcy, thanks to an introduction from Mark Lewis, and set out on a year-long build. While construction was underway, we were deep in rehearsals for 'The Poisoned Ascendancy' tour, celebrating 'Ascendancy''s 20th anniversary. What started as an idea to release one single during the tour quickly grew into two, then three, as we kept writing while we were waiting for the build-out to be completed."

He continues: "During that time, the energy of revisiting 'Ascendancy' started bleeding into these new songs. Matt poured a lot of his personal struggles from the past year into the music, and we used the writing process as a cathartic release. Those sessions evolved into a three-song EP that we're incredibly proud of, and we can't wait to debut 'Bury Me With My Screams' live at Bloodstock Open Air festival."

"Struck Dead" EP track listing:

01. Bury Me With My Screams
02. Struck Dead (Pain Is Easier To Remember)
03. Six Walls Surround Me

While TRIVIUM may be debuting their brand new track at Bloodstock Open Air festival this weekend, its exposure won't stop there. European fans can also be in with a chance of witnessing this new era on a string of European dates this month, with USA appearances close behind.

TRIVIUM will embark on "The Ascend Above The Ashes" trek that kicks off October 31 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and runs through December 14, with an epic hometown show in Orlando, Florida. Special guests are JINJER and HERIOT.

Five years ago, TRIVIUM used profits generated from a livestreamed concert to purchase a decommissioned airplane hangar. The Orlando facility is now serving as the band's headquarters for both recording and rehearsing, in addition to being a place where TRIVIUM can store its equipment. In a recent interview with Neil Jones of TotalRock, Gregoletto was asked if having no time constraints due to TRIVIUM owning a professional recording studio made it harder for him and his bandmates to finalize ideas and put the finishing touches on new recording projects. He responded: "I would say that we are pretty good at that, where we kind of know when it's time to kind of do stuff. So I guess, in a good way, there's always some sort of clock ticking. We're just kind of, like, 'Okay, we have this tour coming up' or 'we have these festivals coming up', let's say we have five or six months, we know we have this much time. It's enough time to put the level of attention into the songs to jam it, blah, blah, blah, but not enough time to be, like, 'Okay, we're making 'Chinese Democracy' again here, and we're taking 10 years.' And of course, even owning a studio and owning all these things, we can't afford to have top producers and mixers at our disposal for years at a time. So we're pretty good, I think, at getting in, doing the work, but we always just wanna play the songs a lot more, kind of feel it out. And I think our best stuff is just when we jam together as a band and we're, like, 'Oh, it feels good. Bringing that energy into the studio is where the magic is, at least for us."

Asked if he and his TRIVIUM bandmates have ever considered producing one of their albums themselves and not working with an outside producer, Paolo said: "Well, this [upcoming TRIVIUM] EP, I don't wanna say it was fully self-produced, but it's probably the most we've done. It kind of was just, like, we were building the studio and we really had no sort of… We weren't, like, 'Okay, this is the start of the record.' We were kind of, like, 'We're gonna go in there. We're gonna record at least one song,' because that was always the goal, is have one song to drop during 'The Poisoned Ascendancy [Tour]' [with BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE] at some point. And it became two songs. Then it became three songs. Then we were, like, 'Well, maybe this is the start of the [full-length] record.' And then we kind of got in there and started recording, and then we got on tour. And then we were, like, 'Okay, this feels like a good EP.' We've never done an EP before, and it felt like these songs were, like, this is our test run of the studio. This is kind of, like, day one, studio's open. We're doing stuff for the first time. And then we were, like, 'Let's just give ourselves a little more time for a new album.' But we didn't wanna keep people waiting too much with new music, so it was kind of a fun new thing for us. And it's been a fun experiment because an EP, it's different. You don't have the full expectations of a full record. But we spent a lot of time — we spent about two or three months just on the three songs, just writing, jamming, waiting for the studio to be built and finished. And then we went in there and it was a pretty hectic last half of the year, last year going into the tour. I had a kid, our second, Alex [Bent, TRIVIUM drummer] had a kid, his second, so it was, like, we were in between babies being born and lots of crazy stuff. We were, like, 'Okay, get in there and do the drums. Okay. We'll see you in a couple weeks. Come back. Okay, we'll get the guitars and the vocals.' So it was a wild end of the year. But it was fun, man. It was just, like, 'Oh, man, we're in our own studio right now. This feels awesome.' It's as comfortable as being home."

Earlier in July, Beaulieu was asked by U.K.'s Primordial Radio if TRIVIUM's recent tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's second album and Roadrunner debut, "Ascendancy", affected the songwriting process for TRIVIUM's new music. Corey said: "Well, last year we would get together and we were rehearsing 'Ascendancy', and in between the rehearsals we started writing some new songs. 'Cause, obviously, we've got the studio being built. When it gets done, we wanna have something ready to kind of break it in, get the studio up and running. So we started writing some songs. And there was no real, I guess, game plan, 'cause we weren't in the head space of, 'We're writing a record.' It was just, like, 'Hey, let's just write some songs and just kind of let it be what it is.' We'd rehearse 'Ascendancy' on a Monday and then Wednesday we would be, like, 'All right, we're just gonna work on writing some stuff.' And we kind of summed it up as the couple songs that we wrote, it was kind of like spirit animals of 'Ascendancy', where it was, like, we were rehearsing 'Ascendancy' and we kind of used the energy and playing those songs, and we were, like, 'Oh, let's kind of parlay that into new music.' And the new stuff definitely has kind of the spirit of 'Ascendancy', but also a lot of kind of what we do now kind of blended in. So I think just focusing on playing 'Ascendancy' definitely carried over into the writing of just trying to, I guess, capture that intensity and energy of what that record was. And when we played the stuff to some friends and stuff like that, they were just, like, 'Oh, shit.' This has got some pretty intense stuff. The first song coming out definitely is a very — I guess maybe the closest comparison might be 'Rain', in a sense of just something right in your face, fast, very aggressive. So, it's definitely gonna be cool."

Elaborating on TRIVIUM's plans to release new music, Corey said: "When we did the stuff, the intention was we thought we were gonna be doing the 'Ascendancy' tour from January to December, doing a full tour. And then the idea was we were gonna record a couple songs and then just release 'em as singles kind of as the year goes on for the tour, kind of, like, 'Hey, we're coming to South America.' Oh, new song drops. Or we're going there, and just releasing standalone singles. 'Cause it's been so long since we put out a record, it was kind of, like, 'Hey, let's give the fans some new stuff to listen to while we're doing the anniversary stuff.' And then once that abruptly ended, we kind of pivoted to doing an EP. So we're just gonna put everything out at one time. We're working on some really cool, special vinyl stuff, some collectible stuff. So kind of do a little special mini-release before we are able to get a [full] record done. So, kind of wanting to give the fans, since it's been a little bit of a wait to get 'em some new stuff to listen to, hold 'em over until we're able to finish up a new album."

TRIVIUM's latest album, "In The Court Of The Dragon", came out in October 2021 via TRIVIUM's longtime label Roadrunner Records. The record was produced and mixed by Josh Wilbur and recorded in the fall of 2020 at Full Sail University in Orlando. The album cover is an original oil painting by French artist Mathieu Nozieres.

TRIVIUM and BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE recently teamed up for "The Poisoned Ascendancy" tour during which the two bands celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Ascendancy" and "The Poison" albums, respectively, by playing them in full.

Produced by Live Nation, the North American leg of "The Poisoned Ascendancy" kicked off on March 30 at PNE Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, making stops across North America in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, North Carolina at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 18.

Released in March of 2005, TRIVIUM crafted a classic in the form of "Ascendancy". It concluded 2005 as Kerrang!'s "Album Of The Year," went gold in the U.K., and has since surpassed global sales of 500,000 copies. Opening the main stage of Download festival that year, the Floridian four piece — barely out of their teens — delivered a set that left all who witnessed it in no doubt that they were looking at future legends, with Kerrang! readers later voting it as the tenth best gig of all time.

"Ascendancy" ignited a string of six consecutive Top 25 debuts on the Billboard 200 and five straight Top 3 debuts on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart, culminating on 2017's benchmark "The Sin And The Sentence". That album elevated the group's total stream tally past a quarter of a billion. Additionally, "Betrayer" received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Metal Performance". Unanimous acclaim followed from Decibel, Loudwire, Ultimate Guitar, MetalSucks and Metal Hammer, who dubbed them "quite simply one of the best bands in modern metal." 2020 brought LP "What The Dead Men Say". The album was produced by TRIVIUM and Josh Wilbur and debuted at No. 35 on the Billboard 200; at No. 2 on the Top Current Albums chart, and at No. 3 on both the Hard Rock Albums chart and Top Rock Albums chart.

TRIVIUM has performed alongside METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, and many others, and graced the main stages of Download, Bloodstock, Knotfest and beyond.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley is the featured guest on the latest episode of "Howie Mandel Does Stuff", the podcast co-hosted by the comedian and his daughter Jackelyn Shultz. Referencing the fact that countless KISS tribute bands profit from the goodwill of the legendary rock act, Stanley said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " There are some KISS tributes that we've allowed to continue. It's a matter of giving them the license to do it that can be revoked at any time, because all the makeups, all those personas are trademarked and nobody can use those for any purpose."

Asked by Mandel if the KISS camp has ever had to revoke the license from any tribute band that had perhaps crossed the line in the way they presented the KISS tribute show, Paul said: "If it becomes big business, that goes beyond a tribute. Yes, it's okay to make some money, but your heart has to be in the right place."

Back in 2016, Stanley touched upon KISS tribute bands while discussing the possibility of KISS continuing with all-new members once he and KISS co-founder Gene Simmons had stopped touring. Regarding how he would go about finding someone to replace him in KISS, Paul said at the time: "Honestly, I think all the KISS tribute bands are great, but none of them have a good 'Paul.' So I'd like to see somebody who incorporates what I've done with a lot of the things that inspired me. And it's not a matter of a puppet being me; it's somebody who comes in and contributes and adds something new to it while still following the template that's been set."

KISS recently announced that the band's "KISS Army Storms Vegas" event will "transform" into "KISS Kruise: Landlocked In Vegas". Set to take place November 14-16, 2025 at Virgin Hotels in Las Vegas, this special fan experience is being created with co-producers Pophouse, creators of boutique music vacations Topeka and music-led destination experience company Vibee.

Newly included activities include a special acoustic KISS "kick-off" set on Friday, November 14, along with performances from former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini performing the music of RATT, ex-SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach, QUIET RIOT, BLACK 'N BLUE, Chris Jericho's KUARANTINE, KISS tribute bands MR. SPEED and KISS NATION, School Of Rock, comedian Craig Gass and DJ Noiz.

There will also be question-and-answer sessions with Simmons and Stanley, as well as longtime KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer manager Doc McGhee. Other panelists include KISS producer Bob Ezrin, KISS photographer Lynn Goldsmith and KISS Army founders Bill Starkey and Jay Evans.

The "everything KISS" paradise, which also includes support artist meet-and-greets, curated KISS gifts and so much more, will take place in celebration of KISS Army's 50th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of the first KISS fan convention. Since retiring from touring in December 2023, this will be the first time KISS has performed together and will be a one-of-a-kind moment for fans to experience KISS "unmasked" acoustic and electric shows featuring Simmons, Stanley and Thayer as special guests.

KISS had previously set a 12-show residency at Planet Hollywood Las Vegas in 2021 and 2022 but ultimately canceled all of the dates.

Simmons told Rolling Stone in a November 2023 interview that the second Madison Square Garden "End Of The Road" concert would mark "the final KISS-in-makeup appearance."

Kulick was a member of KISS from 1984 until 1996.

According to Billboard, Kulick is one of only two musicians to have not worn makeup while a member of KISS, the other being Mark St. John.

Kulick had performed with the band again at their Kiss Kruise events in 2018 and 2021.

DISTURBED paid tribute to Ozzy Osbourne by performing a cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Paranoid" during the David Draiman-fronted band's set Tuesday night (August 5) at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, South Dakota.

Earlier today, DISTURBED shared video of the group's "Paranoid" performance and included the following message: "Ozzy Osbourne isn't just the Godfather of Metal. He was the father to many of us, he was someone that we could look up to, he was an idol, he was someone that inspired us. Last night marked two weeks since he left us. Thanks for sharing this moment with us, Sturgis".

This past March, Draiman was asked in an interview with "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, to name something that he observed and took away from touring with Ozzy in the past. He responded: "So much. Ozzy is the godfather of metal. He's like a father to all of us. I love the man. I love his family. I couldn't have more reverence for any human being on this planet.

"I think that one of the times that definitely stays in my mind that taught me that sometimes you just need to find the strength to push through was one particular Ozzfest — I think it was our third one — and Ozzy wasn't feeling so well that day," he continued. "He was having a little bit of difficulty. And I remember Zakk [Wylde, Ozzy's guitarist] and Sharon [Osbourne, Ozzy's wife and manager] coming over to me, asking me if I would be willing to take over the set. And I'm, like, 'No. They want Ozzy. They don't want me.' I'm, like, 'I haven't rehearsed.' I said to her, 'I haven't rehearsed. I don't know all the songs by heart.' And she's, like, 'Well, there's a goddamn teleprompter on the stage. Just read the words.' I'm, like, 'Yeah, well, it's not that simple.' And then Ozzy had retreated back into his little vocal area, his little draped off area, and he was gargling and using a spray and trying to get himself clear. And he took a few more minutes and then he came back out and he started belting it out, and it's like he pushed through whatever frog was in his throat, and his face lit up, and the energy immediately changed. And he ended up not only finishing the set, but I think playing an additional 15 or 20 minutes, and, and it was inspiring — it really was."

Addressing the fact that he was going to appear at the "Back To The Beginning" charity show on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, which marked the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and Ozzy's last appearance as a solo artist, Draiman said at the time: "The man has been through so much. The man has done so much, and between Ozzy, SABBATH, you're talking about the most seminal frontman and the most seminal band for hard rock and heavy metal in existence.

"I couldn't be more honored [to take part in the show]," he added. "I couldn't be more humbled to be a part of it. And I'm going to be like a kid in a candy store that day. It's very, very surreal for me."

In February, David told Billboard that he was "elated to be part of" "Back To The Beginning", "humbled and honored. It's the most seminal frontman and band for hard rock and heavy metal," he said. "The second record I ever bought, right after KISS 'Destroyer', was [SABBATH's] 'We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll'. I love Ozzy. I love the Osbourne family. They've been so supportive, such a huge part of we've become who we've become. We could not have done it without them, so I'm intensely grateful. We all are. I hope that I can just do my little part to pay tribute to their legacy."

When Draiman sang Ozzy's "Shot In The Dark" and BLACK SABBATH's "Sweet Leaf" at "Back The Beginning" as part of one of the day's all-star supergroups, he was greeted with audible boos from some audience members. While the reason for the reaction to Draiman wasn't clear, it likely stemmed from his support of the Israeli government's ongoing attack on Palestinians in the Gaza strip, and the singer's decision to sign IDF (Israeli Defense Force) bombs with the words "Fuck Hamas" during a visit to Israel in June 2024. Draiman later acknowledged the response that greeted his appearance, but he hit back at claims that he was booed offstage.

In a new interview with Charlie Kendall of Charlie Kendall's Metalshop, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson touched upon how the pervasive influence of social media has been increasingly linked to the amplification of narcissistic traits. He said: "Now we have the crazy thing where people are observing themselves and TikTok and all the rest of it, and the influencers who need no qualifications whatsoever to be an influencer and influence people with oftentimes dumb opinions. This crazy world in which we're so obsessed with influencing other people. And this kind of narcissistic [attitude of], 'Hey, look at me now. '  I stand in front of like 50,000 people and go, 'Hey, look at me.' But when I step off stage, that's it.  It's over. It's done. I don't think that that has any value other than what I'm actually doing. The reason you look at me, hopefully, is 'cause I'm singing some stuff or I'm telling you a story or whatever, but when it's done, it's done. I don't need to walk around with the equivalent of a mirror attached to my face to know that I'm a good person."

Dickinson continued: "I just get worried about people's mental health with the stuff that goes on in the web. I just think it puts too much pressure on people and people forget how to be a community anymore. That's why in MAIDEN, we're trying to say to people, 'When you come to a show, why don't you just keep your phone in your pocket and try and look at everybody else around you and join the show and be there for the people that you are with?'"

Asked by host Charlie Kendall
if putting away the phone is "a requirement now to attend" an IRON MAIDEN show, Bruce clarified: "It's not a requirement. It's a request. It's a polite request.  What is the point in paying all this money and turning up and staring at a tiny little box for, like — I don't know — however long. I mean, first of all, MAIDEN's show is two and a bit hours long, so your arm's gonna get real tired."

This past May, MAIDEN manager Rod Smallwood took to the band's web site to share a post titled "Put away your phones and get ready to Run For Your Lives!" in which he urged fans to experience the shows "in the moment" rather than on smaller screens at a later date.

"We really want fans to enjoy the shows first hand, rather than on their small screens," Smallwood wrote. "The amount of phone use nowadays diminishes enjoyment, particularly for the band who are on stage looking out at rows of phones, but also for other concertgoers.

"We feel that the passion and involvement of our fans at shows really makes them special, but the phone obsession has now got so out of hand that it has become unnecessarily distracting especially to the band. I hope fans understand this and will be sensible in severely limiting the use of their phone cameras out of respect for the band and their fellow fans."

Less than two weeks later, Smallwood called out fans for their concert phone etiquette, thanking those who "kept their phones down" and respecting "the band and their fellow fans" and shading those who didn't obey during the opening show of the European leg of MAIDEN's "Run for Your Lives" tour.

"It is so much better when they can see you unencumbered and that drives them on without that distraction," he wrote of the band. "For the selfish few that didn't and just had to keep videoing... I wish you nothing but a very sore arm!"

Smallwood clarified that the concerts don't need to be completely phone-free. "As I said before, by all means take the odd quick pic as a memento of a great night," he added, "but otherwise please keep your phone in your pocket."

In the same statement, Rod thanked fans for the "amazing welcome" they've given MAIDEN's new touring drummer Simon Dawson, who "felt your support from the start — and asks me to thank you all."

MAIDEN's request for fans to put away their phones comes just months after Swedish rockers GHOST enacted a phone ban for anyone attending shows on their ongoing "Skeletour". Fans are required to place their phones in locking Yondr pouches for the duration of the show, which unlock after each show ends.

Back in 2012, Dickinson blasted a fan at a MAIDEN concert in Indianapolis, Indiana for paying more attention to his cell phone than to the band's performance. "You've been texting for the last fucking three songs," Bruce said. "You're a wanker."

In a new interview with WDR Rockpalast, former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke about the lyrical inspiration for the band's classic third album, 1988's "Operation: Mindcrime". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " Well, 'Operation: Mindcrime' was born in the middle '80s, really. It was a tumultuous time, not just in America, but worldwide. Very extreme things were happening, governments were falling, people were out of work. It was a difficult time economically for millions and millions of people around the world. And the story really came from that, from the struggle between trying to survive, really, in a modern world when so many things were happening. I think at one time in the '80s there was something like 15 different war wars that were being fought — primarily a lot of them were the United States being part of them. Anyway, the album came from that tumultuous time. It's a story of struggle between the power and the powerless, really. A classic story, really."

Regarding the songwriting process for "Operation: Mindcrime", Tate said: "I had moved to Montreal after a tour, the 'Rage For Order' album tour. And I needed some time to sort of reflect in maybe a place to feel creative. So I moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and I was living there in the snow. It was very, very cold, very dark all the time. I'd walked down to the grocery store on the corner to get some groceries, and I heard this church music coming from a church across the street. And I was curious about the sound. And I went to the church. I walked in and there was a choir performing and practicing. And I sat down and I was so cold, I was shivering. But I sat there and listened and kind of closed my eyes and — boom — I had the idea for the album. I rushed out of the church, ran home, didn't even go to the grocery store, and I spent four days writing and came up with the idea. Some of the songs already started to happen, and I wrote out the whole story. And it was all finished in my head at that time. And then later, a few months later, I took it to the band and presented them the idea and they got on board. And before long we had an album."

On the topic of his 2012 split with QUEENSRŸCHE, Tate said:  "30 years is a long time to be in a band. I think most bands don't last that long. And QUEENSRŸCHE, with me, lasted 30 years, which is a lifetime. And I think it's inevitable that people develop different likes and dislikes. They have different interests, different things that move them and different ways they want to experience creativity. And so I think it was sort of an inevitable parting of ways, really, which I have no regrets. I think we made some amazing albums in 30 years. We wrote so many wonderful songs and had so many great experiences traveling the world — 66 countries, traveling around the world. [It was a] pretty impressive time. And I have no regrets. It was a wonderful experience."

Geoff also talked about the upcoming third and final chapter in the "Operation: Mindcrime" album series, which he has been working on for at least the past year.

"'Operation: Mindcrime III' is the story from the lead character Dr. X — it's from his perspective," Tate explained. "'Mindcrime I' and 'Mindcrime II' were really from the character Nikki's perspective. And so that's what we know. But with the new album, we see why we know what we know and what was the inspiration for Dr. X to create 'Operation: Mindcrime' in the first place, which is pretty exciting, pretty intense."

Originally released in May 1988, QUEENSRŸCHE's third studio album, "Operation: Mindcrime" took the quintet to an entirely new level. The concept, revealed through the songs, revolves around the character of Nikki, a recovering drug addict disillusioned with a corrupt society. Drawn into a cult-like revolutionary group headed by Dr. X (voiced by the late and beloved British actor Anthony Valentine),Nikki is manipulated to assassinate political leaders until his friendship with nun Sister Mary finally opens his eyes to the truth. Regarded as one of the greatest concept metal albums of all time, "Operation: Mindcrime" was certified platinum in 1991 in the U.S. and was ranked in the "Top 100 Metal Albums Of All Time" by both Kerrang! and Billboard magazines. Rolling Stone included it on a similar list, noting that "nearly 30 years after its initial release, 'Mindcrime' feels eerily relevant."

The original "Operation: Mindcrime" album weaved themes of religion, drug abuse and underground, radical politics. By contrast, 2006's "Operation: Mindcrime II" was regarded as an unnecessary sequel that many felt cheapened the original album, despite being a decent record in its own right.

Tate previously discussed his plans for "Operation: Mindcrime III" in a November 2024 interview with "Rock Of Nations With Dave Kinchen And Shane McEachern". Speaking about the musical direction of his new solo material, Geoff said: "I would say it has more of an early QUEENSRŸCHE feel. [The new songs are] super heavy, and some of 'em are incredibly technical. They're like algebra. [Laughs] You need a calculator when you're listening to the song. [Laughs] And, of course, some of them are very emotional. It's the last chapter in the 'Mindcrime' series. So it's following the exploits of Dr. X and Nikki and Sister Mary, and picks up at a particular point in their story and kind of does the microscope of what is happening at that particular time with them. And I am just in love with it. I am so happy with everything so far, and I can't wait for people to hear it."

Asked if there will once again be "some of those political interplays" within the lyrical themes on "Operation: Mindcrime III", Tate said: "Oh, I think so. Yeah, I think that people will be able to detect little bits of what's happening around them. And it's an interesting time right now — very interesting. Especially next week [after the 2024 U.S. presidential election], it's gonna be really interesting [laughs] what happens. So, we'll see."

Pressed about whether "a familiar voice" will play Dr. X on "Operation: Mindcrime III", Geoff said: "I can't tell you, actually. But thanks for asking. [Laughs]"

In a 2016 interview with East Valley Tribune, Tate said that he looked back fondly on "Operation: Mindcrime II". "I haven't listened to that album since I recorded it," he admitted. "However, it was a new story. Overall, it went down well live with the audience. I have no complaints or regrets about it."

During QUEENSRŸCHE's 2012 legal battle with Tate over the rights to the band's name, guitarist Michael Wilton submitted a sworn declaration in which he said the idea to make "Operation: Mindcrime II" was first brought to the table by Geoff's wife and QUEENSRŸCHE's then-manager Susan Tate. "The band was hesitant and did not want to lessen the original," the guitarist claimed. "But Susan Tate and Geoff Tate hired a budget producer and took control without really any other input. Scott Rockenfield [drums], Eddie Jackson [bass] and I were squeezed out of having any input in the musical direction or business decisions, thus the project suffered. During the initial writing phase, I would show up to bring my input to the creative process only to find that the producer, the new guitar player (who were both staying with the Tates at the time),along with Geoff Tate had been up late the night before or up early that morning and had written the songs without me. I was then told my ideas were not needed as the songs were now done. I could, however, 'bring my own style' in during the recording after learning to play what they wrote for me. In frustration, I gave up on the writing process knowing that I would at least get to make changes in the studio to bring back the QUEENSRŸCHE sound into these songs that we were known for. The final straw was when they refused to let me to be a part of the final recordings and mixes. I was shut out and they had the nerve to replace some of my parts on my songs. They denied me flying to San Francisco to be a part of my band, telling me that everything was ready to go and I was not needed. Had the communication been better, and had I been aware that parts needed to be recorded or rewritten, I would have been there. It was not until years later that I even became aware of the issues during the final recording and mixing of 'Operation: Mindcrime II'. It was all under the control of Geoff and Susan Tate. Call it delusions of grandeur, but they were convinced that this was going to sell three times more than the original, and to date (six years later) this album has sold fewer than 150,000 copies. The original album sold over 500,000 copies within a year."

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012. Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson responded with a countersuit. The settlement included an agreement that Wilton, Rockenfield and Jackson would continue as QUEENSRŸCHE, while Tate would have the sole right to perform "Operation: Mindcrime" and "Operation: Mindcrime II" in their entirety live.

Tate's replacement, Todd La Torre, has released four albums thus far with QUEENSRŸCHE: 2013's "Queensrÿche", 2015's "Condition Hüman", 2019's "The Verdict" and 2022's "Digital Noise Alliance".

Seven different Black Sabbath albums have returned to the U.K. charts following the death of Ozzy Osbourne on July 22, Forbes reports.

Sabbath compilation The Ultimate Collection made a number of lists while classic Paranoid, self-titled debut, and Master Of Reality appeared on different charts. Volume 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Greatest Hits reentered the Official Rock & Metal Album Charts.

Forbes relays:

“Among them, The Ultimate Collection, one of the band’s most popular compilations, manages the greatest number of comebacks. It breaks back onto five of the half dozen lists on which it appears. On two of those tallies — the Official Albums Streaming and Official Albums Downloads charts — it reaches a new peak.

“Paranoid, the band’s self-titled effort, and Master of Reality all reappear on a trio of charts this week. The collections land on different tallies from one another, although there is quite a bit of crossover.

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, as well as Volume 4 and Greatest Hits, reenter the Official Rock & Metal Albums chart. The sets come in at Nos. 12, 28, and 35, respectively, on the list of the bestselling projects in those styles across the U.K.”

SHINEDOWN has teamed up with Smokey Bones restaurant to bring the band's coveted Devour Pineapple Jerk Sauce to the masses. Starting August 5, Smokey Bones will carry the SHINEDOWN-branded sauce to create a one-of-a-kind wing experience.

SHINEDOWN has not one but three hot sauces, all carried by Torchbearer Sauces, that are named after their past songs, including Symptom Chipotle Garlic Sauce and Attention Attention This Is Hot!!! Mango Habanero Sauce in addition to their Devour Pineapple Jerk Sauce.

On the collaboration, the band said: "Football and wings. This season, Smokey Bones and SHINEDOWN have partnered up to deliver you the best wings you will put in your mouth. Devour Pineapple Jerk hot sauce and perfectly smoked wings. Let's go!!"

"We couldn't be more psyched to partner with SHINEDOWN," Brittany Ryan, senior director of Smokey Bones, added. "The guys, their sauce, and everything they stand for directly aligns with Smokey Bones manifesto, making it the perfect partnership. We can't wait for our guests to try their award-winning sauce."

As part of the excitement, Smokey Bones is rolling out an unbeatable wing deal — get a 6-piece bone-in wing order for just $5.49, available in-store and online. Guests can choose from any of Smokey Bones' signature sauces, including the new limited-time Pineapple Jerk flavor

Smokey Bones and SHINEDOWN are teaming up to deliver the ultimate fan experience with the upcoming "Meet & Eat" Sweepstakes. One lucky winner will score a VIP prize package that includes travel, accommodations and backstage access to a SHINEDOWN concert. The winner will also get to taste SHINEDOWN's exclusive signature sauce while enjoying the bold flavors of Smokey Bones.

To enter the "Meet & Eat" Sweepstakes, scan the in-store QR code or visit iHeartRadio.com/SmokeyBones. Entries accepted between August 5 and November 10, 2025. One grand prize winner will be selected.

Currently, SHINEDOWN is on the road kicking off the second leg of their "Dance, Kid, Dance" tour. They released three brand new singles this year, including the chart-topping hit "Three Six Five", record-breaking "Dance, Kid, Dance" and the latest song, "Killing Fields".

The "Masters Of Meat," Smokey Bones is a full-service restaurant delivering great barbecue, award-winning ribs, crave-worthy cocktails , and memorable moments in 51 locations across 16 states. Smokey Bones serves lunch, dinner, and late night every day. Smokey Bones also has a full bar featuring a variety of bourbons and whiskeys; a selection of domestic, import, and local craft beers; and signature, handcrafted cocktails. Smokey Bones offers a 20 percent discount to active duty and veterans with valid military ID.

Photo credit: Gilbert Sanchez

CROWBAR frontman Kirk Windstein has revealed that he will be "sitting down" when he and his bandmates started their U.S. co-headlining tour with EYEHATEGOD later this week. The trek, which will kick off on August 7 in Orlando, Florida and wrap up on August 31 in Pensacola, Florida, will include a performance on the Rocks Off Concert Cruise on August 14 in New York City.

On Tuesday, August 5, Kirk released a video message in which he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "Hey, this is Kirk Windstein from CROWBAR here. [I'm] super excited for the upcoming CROWBAR/EYEHATEGOD co-headlining tour. It's gonna be amazing.

"A little quick bit of info. I have sought medical attention both at the hospital and through my chiropractor, who I really love, and I either have, at the worst, a bad sciatica flare-up or potentially a ruptured disc in my lower spine. I don't know either way, but, well, I don't call in sick. I'm there to give y'all a hundred percent and please the fans the best I can. So I'm probably gonna have to start this tour, which begins Thursday in Orlando — a sold-out show, by the way; thank you all — I'm probably gonna start this tour sitting down, but we'll be singing and playing top-notch the best I can do. I can't walk right now, and that's the truth. I've got a cane, I've got a walker, and I've never had this kind of pain in my life. I'm 60 years old, and I've never had this pain in my life. But anyway, I think positive; I don't think negative. So it's gonna be great, and we're gonna kick ass every night. So thank y'all so much.

"Get your tickets," he added. "Shows are selling out quickly. And let's go rock with CROWBAR and EYEHATEGOD and do this thing. Thank you all."

In a 2020 interview with Kerrang! magazine, Windstein said that he finally addressed his substance abuse issues around 10 years earlier. "I started drinking at home instead of going out to bars, because it was easier for me to avoid cocaine if I didn't go out to where it would be," he explained. "I erased all the dealers from my phone. I quit drinking hard liquor for the most part, but I had a little hangout room where I would watch sports, play guitar and drink beer. Before that, I would go to a bar, not realize how I'd got home, pass out on the couch and wake up with two bags of coke. Then, of course, I'd go to the store to buy beer, because if I've got cocaine, I've got to have beer. And vice versa — if I went to a bar, I'd have two beers, then I'd be calling a guy trying to score. It was an ugly thing to go through, but they say that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and I really do believe that to be true."

Back in 2011, Windstein told the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner that he didn't go to rehab to beat his addiction. "I was in a downward spiral for years and years and years, and you know, you get to a point of, 'This is enough,'" he said. "I always make damn sure to say this: If I was a regular guy working at Home Depot and had a drinking problem, people wouldn't talk about it. But because I'm in a band... For me, I'm in a good place and take it a day at a time. It's a lifestyle change in general, not just about alcohol. It's about getting my life in order, eating right, working out right, getting out of debt, and try to be the best father I can be, the best musician. You live and you learn…. I never want to be back to where I was, let's put it that way. It hits you like a hammer, and it's not a good thing where you're a physical slave to drinking. You need to do a lot of soul-searching and find what works for you."

Windstein told Metal Hammer magazine that the support from his peers in the music industry "has been great. They all understand it," he said. "Everyone I've met in this business, they all understand it. It's part of it. It's like an occupational hazard. It's in your face 24⁄7, and what used to be fun, partying and cutting up with the guys became a really bad thing. Enough is enough. That's it."

CROWBAR released its most recent studio offering, the critically lauded "Zero And Below", in April 2022 via MNRK Heavy. Produced, mixed, and mastered by Duane Simoneaux at OCD Recording And Production in Metairie, Louisiana, "Zero And Below" was the band's most unforgivably doom-driven record since their 1998 landmark effort "Odd Fellows Rest". Led by riff lord and vocalist Kirk Windstein, with guitarist Matt Brunson, bassist Shane Wesley and drummer Tommy Buckley, songs like "Chemical Godz", "It's Always Worth The Gain" and "Bleeding From Every Hole" are unapologetic emotional outpourings, with a bare-knuckle resolve alongside its soul-searching vulnerability, reliably delivered with crushing heaviness.

Five years ago, Windstein told the "Does It Doom?" podcast that he was really happy with the band's then-just-completed new album. "It's really a killer record — I love it," he said. "It's got a lot of [guitar] harmonies and it's got a lot more doomy riffs. We only had one proper fast song — one of our more upbeat, hardcore-type, MOTÖRHEAD speed, I call it, type tunes; we've only got one like that. Out of all 10 tracks, besides that one tune, there's only maybe two other fast, what I would consider fast, songs on the whole record. So it's kind of a throwback but a modern, more mature touch on it."

He continued: "We're all super, super happy with the way it came out. The production's amazing, again from Duane Simoneaux. The guitar tone's amazing. The songs themselves are great; I'm really happy. It's really one of the only CROWBAR records that I'm really happy with everything — every riff, I'm happy with the tones, with the production, with the lyrics, with the way I sang; the whole nine yards. So I'm really just loving it, to be honest — I really am."

Earlier in 2020, Windstein told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show that he got "a lot of help" from Brunson and Wesley during the songwriting process for CROWBAR's latest album.

In a new interview with Portugal's Look magazine, guitarist Esa Holopainen and keyboardist Santeri Kallio of Finnish metal veterans AMORPHIS discussed their upcoming album "Borderland", set for release on September 26 via Reigning Phoenix Music. Regarding how the process of making "Borderland" was different to the way AMORPHIS created some of its previous LPs, Esa said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it was the first album now that we did with a Danish producer, Jacob Hansen, and it was a very nice experience. We did three albums with Jens Bogren. He's a splendid producer as well, but we wanted to sort of find some new nuances and elements to our production. So we switched over to a Danish producer, and Jacob was a great guy, amazing guy, and it was really nice to work with him. [He's a] really easygoing guy, and he pretty much brought that extra little flavor, I guess, what we were looking for, to our sound. Creative-wise, I think we worked pretty much as we have before. Each guy works on their own with the songs and then we put all the songs to Google drive and the producer goes from there."

Asked how AMORPHIS chose the 12 tracks to record for "Borderland" after coming up with 24 songs during the pre-production process, Santeri said: "Well, that's one of the reasons why we use the producer… We self-produced 'Far From The Sun' and 'Eclipse' and 'Silent Waters' and 'Skyforger' and 'The Beginning Of Times', and actually making the albums was relatively easy, but we couldn't agree… We had a lot of fights and disagreements about the bonus tracks and which will end up to the album and which will be singles and which order we have. And then we started to use the external producer in the circle with Peter Tägtgren. And I think the main reason to start to use the producer was that he makes the big decisions because we can't really… There's six guys in the band. Everybody has a strong mind, and we listen to all kinds of different music and we don't agree about… and some songs are somebody's babies, some songs you like because they're heavy. And so the producer actually has to select the songs for the production from the 25-song pile, and then he has to select the songs for the album. And then he has to select a track list, like which order and the bonus tracks. So that's one of the producer's jobs in AMORPHIS, because we maybe could do it, but with endless fights."

The follow-up to 2022's "Halo" was recorded in late 2024 and early 2025 at Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark with producer Jacob Hansen. The cover artwork was designed by Dutch artist Marald Van Haasteren (METALLICA, BLACK SABBATH, KVELERTAK, ALCEST).

"Borderland" track listing:

01. The Circle
02. Bones
03. Dancing Shadow
04. Fog To Fog
05. The Strange
06. Tempest
07. Light And Shadow
08. The Lantern
09. Borderland
10. Despair

Bonus tracks (digipak CD and vinyl only)

11. War Band
12. Rowan And The Cloud

Since forming in Helsinki in 1990, the Finnish sextet has fearlessly explored musical frontiers — from raw death metal roots to melodic, progressive and folk-tinged heavy rock, and far beyond. At every turn, AMORPHIS has expanded musical and lyrical boundaries without compromising their artistic identity.

Now, after an unrelenting 35-year journey, AMORPHIS — guitarists Esa Holopainen and Tomi Koivusaari, vocalist Tomi Joutsen, keyboardist Santeri Kallio, bassist Olli-Pekka Laine, and drummer Jan Rechberger — stands on the cusp of a compelling new chapter: welcome to the captivating realm of "Borderland".

AMORPHIS's fifteenth studio album marks both a continuation and a reinvention of the band's legacy. With acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, ARCH ENEMY, AMARANTHE) at the helm for the first time and a revitalized creative spark within the group, "Borderland" sees AMORPHIS fully embracing their melodic sensibilities while venturing into fresh, uncharted sonic landscapes.

"When the writing period began, there was no grand master plan," said Holopainen. "We ended up with 24 demo tracks, and Jacob helped us select the ones that felt the most vital. The end result is dynamic and diverse."

Kallio elaborated: "I feel there was a shared, almost subconscious desire to focus on rich atmosphere and strong melodies. Compared to the previous record 'Halo', the new album feels more organic and straightforward — and definitely catchier."

"It's more accessible than 'Halo' and has a modern and fresh feel — yet completely true to who we are," stated Rechberger. "The atmosphere in the studio was relaxed. The songs were pretty much finished when we arrived at Jacob's seaside recording facility, so we could focus on the interesting details and recording itself."

Koivusaari added: "Jacob had a vision for the big picture, but he gave us the space to bring our own strengths — and that freedom is reflected in the final result."

Joutsen's performance is nothing short of revelatory on "Borderland" — a career-defining vocal tour de force that ranks among his finest moments since joining the band 20 years ago.

"This was the most demanding AMORPHIS album I've ever recorded — at least in terms of work hours," he admitted. "Looking at the record now, one of my personal favorites is the title track 'Borderland'. Musically, it's classic AMORPHIS — delay-drenched guitars, melodic keyboards, and the interplay between clean and growled vocals."

With deep respect for the past and eyes firmly on the future — and with extensive touring ahead — AMORPHIS continues to shape the landscape of heavy metal with grace, finesse and integrity.

"After three and half decades, we still follow our instincts," Koivusaari concluded. "And honestly, 'Borderland' might be the most AMORPHIS-sounding album we've ever made. After such a long and successful career, that feels pretty damn great!"

AMORPHIS is:

Tomi Joutsen - vocals
Esa Holopainen - guitars
Tomi Koivusaari - guitars
Olli-Pekka "Oppu" Laine - bass
Santeri Kallio - keys
Jan Rechberger - drums & percussion

Photo credit: Sam Jamsen

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and acclaimed metal vocalist Jeff Scott Soto have once again joined forces and are set to release their second album, "Unbreakable", on August 15 via Rat Pak Records. The duo ELLEFSON-SOTO is joined by Italian guitarist Andy Martongelli and Paolo Caridi on drums and features 11 studio tracks with guest appearances from Tim "Ripper" Owens (KK'S PRIEST, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH) and BURNING WITCHES frontwoman Laura Guldemond.

The official music video for the album's second single, "Shout", can be seen below. The clip delivers a hard-hitting performance piece that captures the raw energy, chemistry, and sonic force the pair have become known for.

Soto says: "'Shout' is another call to those who refuse to take smack from anyone and everyone. This is our war cry theme to the world we live in today, most around the world have something to stand up for or shout about and that’s what this song represents!"

Ellefson adds: "In a world of division and negativity, we chose to take the approach with this song that we are better together. Standing united, our voices can and will be heard."

During a recent appearance on Rock Camp: The Podcast, Ellefson stated about ELLEFSON-SOTO:  "We started writing [the material for the first album], I think, [a few] years ago up in Wembley. The guitar player of the group, Andy Martongelli, is out of Italy. So we started composing. We had a record, and he said, he goes, 'Dude, just call Jeff Scott Soto to sing.' And this was back in 2021 during COVID. So I hit Jeff. We sent some stuff back and forth. It sounded great. We just kept sending stuff. And finally [Jeff] just said, 'Rather than me just sort of being the hired singer here, I'd really like to just be a part of this.' It was music to our ears. I'd rather do that too. I could pay you to sing on every song, but I think we've got something pretty cool here."

Ellefson continued: "So the first record, of course, is always about kind of finding each other, so really it's me and Jeff and Andy Martongelli — and our drummer Paolo as well; he's also from Italy. So half the band's Italian, half the band's American, I guess. As that first record came out, it really had a great response to it, and so Andy and I started writing the second one. And we got it finished up back… I wanted to get everything done before Jeff went on tour with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA back in November [of 2024]. So that was kind of our goal and our deadline, which we did. We mixed the record in the New Year and got it all teed up and ready to go and shot the videos and everything."

Regarding how "Unbreakable" compares to 2022's "Vacation In The Underworld", David said: "The second record, you feel a little more comfortable with each other, 'cause you're just musically more comfortable, personally you're more comfortable. And we didn't know if there's ever gonna be a second record."

Ellefson went on to say that he loves the "Unbreakable" album title. "I think it speaks to a lot of my life for sure, and I think it speaks to all of us," he added. "I hope our audience relates to it, that together we're stronger. And no matter what kind of stuff we go through, we all go through stuff. It's called life. It's called being human. And I think as long as you just kind of keep moving forward…

"I remember watching a yoga DVD one time and the instructor said, he goes, 'As humans, we're wired to think forward, and forward is where hope is.' That's why when you think it's over, that's when your hope's gone and dreams die and it's over," David explained. "So I think as humans, at least in my life, it's, like, just always say yes, always keep moving forward because that keeps the hope alive. It keeps the fire burning and the target is always ahead of you, not behind you and lamenting and wishing that it would've been different. And it's always about moving forward. So I think 'Unbreakable' is very much a representation of us just keep moving and keep making music."

The official music video for the "Unbreakable" title track — produced, directed and edited by Jamie Brown for Smoking Gun Inc. — can be seen below.

Recorded at Rogue Studios in Wembley, U.K. by Alessio Garavello and produced by Chris Collier (MICK MARS, KORN, FLAT BLACK),"Unbreakable" is a sonic assault packed with catchy riffs, melodic vocals, and thoughtful lyrics that blends their classic metal roots with modern rock intensity.

"This album digs even deeper," Ellefson said in a press release last month. "It's heavier, more personal, and shaped by everything we've experienced on and off the stage." Soto added: "The energy we poured into this one — it's the sound of two lifetimes colliding in riffs, rage, and redemption."

Ellefson further commented: "One of the things I like most is I feel like you can hear a real sense of brotherhood on our records, that we're really in the creative process together as a band. The consistency of our sound has remained intact while allowing us to further build upon each other's strengths from our debut album. It's an honest, organic approach that blends well and lets us explore new sounds and musical paths. At the end of the day, I don't think there is anything that an artist desires more than that!"

"Unbreakable" will be available on all major streaming platforms with limited edition autographed vinyl, CD and cassette bundles exclusively through Rat Pak Records.

Track listing:

01. Unbreakable
02. SOAB
03. Shout
04. Hate You, Hate Me
05. Poison Tears (featuring Laura Guldemond of BURNING WITCHES)
06. Ghosts
07. Vengeance (feat. Tim "Ripper" Owens of KK'S PRIEST)
08. Snakes And Bastards
09. It's Over When I Say It's Over
10. The Day We Built Rome
11. Death On Two Legs (bonus track) (CD and vinyl)

In a March 2025 interview with Scott Itter of Dr. Music, Soto spoke about the status of the second album from ELLEFSON-SOTO. He said at the time: "The record's in the can.

"The way Erik Martensson, he's the ringleader, the overseer [of Soto's W.E.T. project], David is that with ELLEFSON-SOTO," Jeff explained. "He pulls the songs together, he gets the timing together, he gets the label side, all the industry-side stuff together. I just have to relax and sit back while I'm doing all the million of other things that I'm doing, and I come in and then I dive in and I put my input.

"I love working with David and Andy [Martongelli], who's our guitar player and also co-writer in the band. And I love the fact that they allow me to be me.

"I've proven myself as an artist, producer, writer, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, but there are still times where I'll do something and they'll go, 'Hmm, [it's] not really what I thought you were gonna do. Can you try more of this? Try more of that?' I don't mind that at all, because whatever is good for the song, the best thing for the song, of course. But when it comes to ELLEFSON-SOTO, I'm really, really headstrong on the ideas I come up with, and when I send it to David, [I'm] like, 'Oh, God, I hope he doesn't say, 'Oh, I don't know, man.'' And every time, him and Andy say, 'Home run. You knocked that one out of the park. That's awesome.' And that's what motivates me to wanna do more and to give my all into that, even that situation, because I know if I'm making them happy with what I'm turning in, I know in the end, it's gonna be a cohesive sound and project."

Regarding the songwriting approach on the second ELLEFSON-SOTO album, Jeff said: "It's weird because the first album, when we did it, it wasn't supposed to be an album. I was doing songs with David and Andy. We were just writing songs and recording songs during the pandemic. And it turned into, 'Hey, we're on to something here. We can't give these songs to someone else or just use 'em as catalog music. We have something here.' And that's what made us put that out as an album. This time around, we actually went in to record and write an album. We didn't say, 'Let's just write songs and see where it goes.' We actually went in and said, 'This is the sound. This is what we created on the first album. Now let's expand on it.'"

He added: "It's really, really good. I don't listen to my own stuff that often unless I have to learn songs for a tour or a show, but I actually find myself listening to this record just to listen to it."

ELLEFSON-SOTO's debut album, "Vacation In The Underworld", was released in October 2022 via Rat Pak Records. The duo was joined by Martongelli on guitar and keyboards and Paulo Caridi on drums. Giada Jade Etro from the Italian power metal band FROZEN CROWN made a guest appearance on the song "The Day Before Tomorrow". Steve Conley and Ken Mary from FLOTSAM AND JETSAM performed on the title track, "Vacation In The Underworld".

"Vacation In The Underworld" was produced by Chris Collier and featured eleven tracks and three bonus recordings.

To officially launch the project, Ellefson and Soto played concerts in September 2022 in Italy where they performed some of the music as well as ran through various catalog highlights, including selections from MEGADETH and Yngwie Malmsteen. They were joined by Martongelli as the musical director, as well as Caridi on drums and Valerio De Rosa on rhythm guitar.

In March 2021 — two months before David was fired from MEGADETH — Ellefson and Soto announced that they had been collaborating on some new material under the moniker ELLEFSON-SOTO. The ELLEFSON-SOTO version of the RIOT classic "Swords & Tequila" was simultaneously released across all digital streaming outlets via Ellefson's Combat Records.

When Ellefson's collaboration with Soto was first announced, David said in a statement: "Jeff and I have been friends for so many years that it's great to finally collaborate on some material together. He has such a distinctive voice and perfect style for some new ideas my guitarist Andy Martongelli and I have been composing. We are excited about the progress of it all and thought this would be a perfect time to give a little sneak preview."

At the time, Jeff added: "As COVID-19 became a big negative around the globe, it actually offered many artists a chance to finally collaborate with one another that might have never happened otherwise… As I have known David for many years, I knew from our other efforts outside of our day jobs that we could come up with some badass jams…and here we are, letting you in on our cool little secret."

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

During an appearance on this morning's (Wednesday, August 6) episode of "The Howard Stern Show" to announce the launch of METALLICA's own SiriusXM channel, the band's drummer Lars Ulrich was asked if there was any truth to the rumor that METALLICA is in talks for a Sphere residency in Las Vegas in the fall of 2026 after the group's scheduled "M72" world tour dates conclude with another European run next July. Lars said: "I'm not going to confirm anything, because there's nothing to confirm. But I'm not going to deny it, because we're all such fans of this venue. All of our managers and our production people have been there and looked at it. It's something that we're considering, [but] nothing is etched in stone or green-lit. It's something that we're looking at at some point when the 2026 tour is done."

Ulrich continued: "I was there seeing U2 the first night, when they took that stage, I wanted to see it for myself before I saw it on YouTube or read about it. I was there, like everybody else that was there that night, I was completely blown away, and felt that was the beginning of another chapter in live performances.

"I'm not going to bullshit you, I would fucking love to do it, let there be no question about it," Lars added. "It's not signed, sealed and delivered, but speaking to me and asking my opinion, I would fucking love to do it."

Asked by host Howard Stern if METALLICA would be interested in performing during the halftime show at the 2026 Super Bowl, which will take place in the legendary heavy metal band's longtime hometown of San Francisco," Ulrich said: "Fuck yeah — of course we would. First of all, we would do it. Second of all, to do it in San Francisco would be a dream come true and would be the right fit. We haven't been approached. ... Certainly as somebody who's represented San Francisco all over the world and shouted for decades about San Francisco and our love for the Bay Area, that part of it is the right fit. Ultimately it's not our decision."

This past April, METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett was asked by The Hollywood Reporter if he and his bandmates would entertain the possibility of performing at the Las Vegas Sphere, the 17,600-capacity venue which has transformed live entertainment since opening in September 2023. He responded: "Oh, heck, yeah! That's a great example of how venues are changing. That's using modern technology to the fullest, to really up the levels of production and entertainment, connected to A.I. and making it a crazy experience."

A massive, spherical venue known for its immersive entertainment experiences, including concerts and films, featuring a state-of-the-art 16K resolution wraparound screen and a powerful sound system, the Las Vegas Sphere is nestled near the Venetian Resort and Wynn Las Vegas just off the Las Vegas Strip.

The Sphere has already hosted residencies from a number of legendary rockers, including U2, PHISH, DEAD & COMPANY and THE EAGLES.

U2 opened the building with 160,000-square-foot LED screens and 4D features, playing to more 700,000 fans across 40 sold-out dates from September 2023 through March 2024. The shows commemorated one of U2's most successful albums, the chart-topping 1991 release "Achtung Baby", played in its entirety, along with select tracks from other U2 LPs.

A global news event which saw the world's biggest rock band open the world's most state-of-the-art venue, "U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere" quickly became a pop culture moment and a must-see for music lovers everywhere. The show's stunning visuals and live music performance, combined with the venue's immersive technology elements, including the world's most advanced audio system, became an instant social media sensation as hundreds of thousands of fans shared their "U2:UV" experience across multiple platforms generating billions of impressions, making "U2:UV" a truly global phenomenon. One of the band's most ambitious creative projects to date, it saw them work once again with longtime creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams, artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard and Marco Brambilla, and longtime partner and producer Brian Eno.

The first sports event to take place was the NHL Draft with the UFC following in September 2024.

Sphere's next-generation technologies include the world's highest-resolution LED display that wraps up, over and around the audience, creating a fully immersive visual environment. The venue also features the world's most advanced concert-grade audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which delivers audio with unmatched clarity and precision to every guest.

Last October, Sphere Entertainment, the company behind Sphere Las Vegas, announced plans for a new venue in Abu Dhabi.

U.S. doom and heavy metal icon Scott "Wino" Weinrich — the voice of THE OBSESSED, SAINT VITUS and SPIRIT CARAVAN — will release his fourth solo album, "Create Or Die", this October 24 via Ripple Music. The LP's first single, "New Terms", can be streamed below.

Weinrich strips it down to the raw essence on his new solo album. What began as an intimate, unplugged journey soon demanded the fiery pulse of drums and electric guitars, resulting in a powerful blend of haunting introspection and unshakable conviction.

"When a friend ended a letter to me with the phrase 'Create Or Die', I realized that simple slogan summed up my philosophy completely," Wino said. "Whether it's making music or art, that's what I do. It's what I live for."

These songs are personal, passionate commentaries on life, delivered with Wino's signature grit and soul. Featuring contributions from close friends and the unwavering support of Ripple Music, this album is a testament to the creed he's lived by: create or die. Wino says: "There are songs on this record that are old and new, as sometimes I carry song ideas around for years before I can call them finished. For others, when concept, music, and lyrics come together right then and there, that's what I call the divine inspiration."

About the first single "New Terms", Wino comments: "In my head, I had always heard the Irish bodhrán drum — a traditional instrument I love — on this tune. I mentioned this to my engineer and friend Frank Marchand. It turns out that for years, Frank had been the sound engineer for the enormously successful traditional-yet-modern Irish folk band WE BANJO THREE. He suggested sending the track to them and having the brothers lay down the drum and a traditional Irish banjo. They were glad to do it, dug the song, and here it is. I want to thank Frank Marchand, Fergal Scahill and Enda Scahill for making this song shine!"

"Create Or Die" was produced and engineered by Frank Marchand and Wino. Mastered by Alan Douches, it will be issued on vinyl, CD and digital formats, with preorders available now via Ripple Music.

Wino formed his first band THE OBSESSED in 1978, starting the reign of "heavy and slow" decades before doom grew into a flourishing worldwide genre unto itself. A few years later, he moved to California to join SAINT VITUS, with whom he released the seminal "Born Too Late" (1986),one of the most powerful statements in doom's early history, with Wino's raspy, heartfelt and punk-charged vocals booming loudly above the crowd of howling, gimmicky Ozzy Osbourne copycats.

Following a reformation of THE OBSESSED and a brief major-label flirtation in the early 1990s, which included a piledriving update of BLACK SABBATH's "The Wizard" alongside Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Rob Halford, Wino formed yet another influential outfit, SPIRIT CARAVAN. The new band fused his trademark sludgy churn with an increased soulfulness, beginning to lay the groundwork for his eventual exploration of acoustic and expansive songwriting. During this time, Dave Grohl also invited Wino to join his all-star PROBOT project alongside Lemmy Kilmister, King Diamond, Max Cavalera and other notables.

Numerous world tours with his various bands later, the creative source remained inexhaustible as Wino embarked on a new direction with the release of his solo debut, "Punctuated Equilibrium", quickly followed by a second solo LP, "Adrift", in 2010, a series of collaborations with German folk songwriter Conny Ochs, and "Forever Gone" in 2020. Wino embarked on extensive European and North American tours as a solo act, continuing to maintain his thriving solo output even with the arrival of a much-heralded and welcomed re-constitution of THE OBSESSED formed for the third time in 2017. THE OBSESSED, now a four-piece, has toured extensively since 2020, and released its latest studio album, "Gilded Sorrow", to great acclaim in 2023 on Ripple Music.

Today, Wino is respected all over the world as the godfather of doom and one of underground heavy music's most revered lifers. Worldwide festivals like Roadburn, Hellfest, Psycho Las Vegas, Desertfest, Maryland Deathfest, Rock Hard Festival, Monolith On The Mesa and countless others keep inviting Wino back through his various sonic incarnations year after year.