"A Chill That You Can't Taint" is the new single from depressive black / doom metal overlords Forgotten Tomb, released in anticipation of the band's upcoming studio album Nightfloating, due out July 12th on Agonia Records. The song is available now on streaming platforms and is accompanied by a lyric video, which can be seen below.


In the words of frontman Ferdinando "H.M." Marchisio: "It was difficult to pick a second single from the album since we really love every song on it, but 'A Chill That You Can't Taint' is one of our favourites; my lyrics on it are some of the most personal on the record and the song has got that urban malaise which is typical of our best material. It's a rather elaborate song, with many twists and turns and a lot of the band's trademark melodies."







Nightfloating comes after four years from the critically acclaimed Nihilistic Estrangement and it's an accurate picture of where the band stands these days, artistically; reinterpreting its depressive black metal roots - a genre the band helped to define in the early 2000s with its classic first three records - in the light of its 25 years' experience, Forgotten Tomb reinvigorates itself with a record that blends past and present, exploring darker territories and different shades of gray. From atmospheric cuts such as the anthemic title-track and the blistering "This Sickness Withered My Heart", to intricate yet harrowing songs such as "A Chill That You Can't Taint" and "Unsafe Spaces", the band tops it off with the surprising dungeon-synth detour of "Drifting" and the 10-minutes epic "A Despicable Gift", crafting an uncompromising yet refreshing album and setting itself apart once again from all bands that followed in its footsteps. From the first note to the last, "Nightfloating" sounds unmistakably like Forgotten Tomb.


The majestic cover artwork has been hand-drawn by Greek artist Satta La Main Verte, perfectly complementing the mood of the record and its lyrical themes that follow the band's caustic tradition while touching on various subjects, from more introspective meditations to all-out misanthropic aggression.


"We are proud of this new record, it's been a lot of work and the fact that it's gonna be released during the band's 25th anniversary makes it even more special," Forgotten Tomb comments. "It doesn't get more Forgotten Tomb than this record, it sounds like you would expect, but at the same time it's got a fresh approach to the subject matter. There are a lot of details to be discovered throughout the tracks and we can't wait for our fans to listen to it."


The album was recorded at Elfo Studio in Italy between August 2023 and January 2024, and produced by Daniele Mandelli and Forgotten Tomb. Daniele Mandelli, Ferdinando Marchisio and Alessandro Comerio mixed the album. Davide Tavecchia mastered it at Twilight Studio in February 2024.


Formats:
- Jewelcase CD
- Box CD
- Tape
- Grey LP
- Red LP
- Transparent LP


Pre-order at ForgottenTomb.store.





Tracklisting:


“Nightfloating”
“A Chill That You Can’t Taint”
“This Sickness Withered My Heart”
“Unsafe Spaces”
“Drifting”
“A Despicable Gift”


“Nightfloating” video:





(Photo – Emma Marino)


 

A clear vinyl 2LP edition of Black Sabbath's California Jam album will be released on September 20 via the Expensive Woodland label.


Black Sabbath is regarded as one of the pioneers of heavy metal, the British band helped define the genre. This fantastic 2LP set features the band's legendary performance at the California Jam Festival in 1974. Includes "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Paranoid" and more. Ozzy and the gang at their peak - you can't miss this.


Pre-order here.







Tracklisting:


Side A:
"Tomorrow’s Dream"
"Sweet Leaf"
"Killing Yourself To Live"
"War Pigs"


Side B:
"Snowblind"
"Sabbra Caddabra"


Side C:
"Sometimes I’m Happy"
"Supernaut"
"Iron Man"


Side D:
"Orchid"
"Sabbra Caddabra" (Reprise)
"Paranoid"
"Children Of The Grave"

In a new interview with Scott Itter of Dr. Music, legendary conservative rocker Ted Nugent was asked about his exclusion from various lists of the best guitarists of all time. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Let's examine that. Let's examine that for a minute. Let's talk about a guitar player list where an interviewer a couple of years ago said, 'Well, Ted, have you seen the Rolling Stone guitar player list?' I said, 'No, I haven't seen that.' He said, 'Well, Joan Jett's on there, but you're not.' And that pretty much says all you need to know. And I said, my response, I said, 'I love Joan.' I said, 'I love Joan Jett. She's the real McCoy. If you want a shitkicker garage band, especially by a lesbian, that's the ultimate.' I said, 'I love Joan Jett.' And then around the world, everybody said, 'Nugent spews hate for Joan Jett.' How about this? And then when I recommended to the interviewer who should be on [the list], I never mentioned me. I said Derek St. Holmes should be on there, Jim McCarty should be on there. Dave Amato should be on there. Rickey Medlocke should be on there. Mark Farner should be on there. Dick Wagner should be on there. Rik Emmett of TRIUMPH should be [on there]. I mentioned all these unbelievable guitarists. I never even mentioned me, and everybody goes, 'Ah, Nugent's ego. He just thinks it's all about him.' I never even fucking mentioned me."

Nugent continued: "And how about this? So, when they do an AXS TV [ranking] of the top bands of the '70s, I was the number one-grossing band in the world, '77, '78 and '79. They've never even mentioned that I exist. And these are not sour grapes. That means absolutely nothing to me personally, but it's dishonest. And when they do a review of the incredible Meat Loaf, they mention his career but not where it started, on [Nugent's 1976] 'Free-For-All' album [which featured a guest appearance by Meat Loaf]. Are you fucking kidding [me]? And then Howard Stern will [say], 'Oh, Nugent was jealous of Eddie Van Halen. He was pissed off and he tried to turn the P.A. down.' Just the opposite. I've raved about Eddie Van Halen. He and I jammed together. And when he got out of rehab. I was the first person he called to thank me for pushing him to get clean and sober."

Nugent added: "So my point is because I believe In God, family, country, I believe in self-defense. I believe in all the perfect things. I believe in conservation. I believe venison is a better diet than anything from the FDA or USDA. The left hates me because they're helpless to debate me. And so they try to hurt me, but you know what? You see the smile on my face? It doesn't hurt me. It's like what they're doing to [former U.S. president] Donald Trump. It doesn't hurt him. The world sees that they're liars, that they're making up felonies that never existed before for anyone else, because Uncle Sam is so evil and [current U.S. president] Joe Biden is such a devil snake that he's trying to destroy democracy by not letting us choose who we want and he's gonna try to put him in jail and demonize him with the lying, hateful, treasonous power of the media, Big Tech, Hollywood, academia and the government. They hate freedom, and Donald Trump spotlights cockroaches that abuse power, just like I do. So they wanna pretend I'm a homophobe, a racist, a pedophile, a draft dodger. Lies. Lies. Lies. I couldn't be more proud.

"Here's the problem. I'm Schindler and the Nazis hate my list," Ted concluded.

In a video he posted in December 2021, Nugent brought up a list originally published by Rolling Stone's David Fricke in December 2010 where Jett came in at No. 87 while Ted was not included at all. "You have to have shit for brains and you have to be a soulless, soulless prick to [include] Joan Jett," Nugent said. The now-75-year-old musician added: "How do you list the top 100 guitar players and not list Derek St. Holmes? How do you do that? You do that by lying. The same way you get Grandmaster Flash in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. You do that by lying. You have to be a liar."

When asked in a 2022 interview with NME to comment on Nugent's claim that she shouldn't be on the list, Jett said: "Neither should he.

"Is that his implication," Jett asked, "that he should be on the list instead of me? Well, that's just typical — it's what I've dealt with my whole life, being written off. Ted Nugent has to live with being Ted Nugent. He has to be in that body, so that's punishment enough."

After a brief pause, she added: "He's not a tough guy. He plays tough guy, but this is the guy who shit his pants — literally — so he didn't have to go in the Army." She then summoned her longtime manager Kenny Laguna to "help," imploring Laguna to relay the full tale of Nugent's supposed Vietnam War draft-dodging tactic (which the alleged pant-shitter himself shared with High Times magazine in 1977 and later retracted).

"So this," Jett concluded, "is the tough guy who's running around America, stirring things up against each other."

In May 2022, Nugent responded to Jett's comments, calling her "stupid" and once again denying that he dodged the draft. Speaking during a YouTube livestream, he said: "All I expressed in an interview on WRIF was how I love Joan and her killer rocking band. She's got a great rocking band. Great songs. The best garage band maybe ever, except for maybe GREEN DAY. [I] love Joan — all I said is how I love her. But I used her as an example — along with Joni Mitchell. [I] love Joni Mitchell… People love that music. People love Joan Jett and Joni Mitchell. I love them. I expressed I love them. But she can't be in the top 100 guitar player list — either of them. They play nice strumming guitars; they play nice guitars. I like it. They're good. But top 100 before Rik Emmett of TRIUMPH? That's a lie.

"Joan Jett, I love you," he continued. "Don't get all upset. She calls me a racist and [says] I'm jealous. I didn't even mention that I should be on the list. Let's pretend that I don't play guitar. Let's pretend I'm just a keyboard player, or maybe a gay conga player. I never mentioned my name [as being excluded from] the top 100 guitar list — though someone might. But Joan, would you just relax?

"Maybe the plastic has gone to her brain," Ted added, apparently referencing the rumor that Jett underwent plastic surgery. "I don't know. I just didn't think she was that stupid. I never said anything about how stupid she was. I didn't think she was stupid; now we know how stupid she is.

"Joan Jett and Joni Mitchell cannot be on the top 100 guitar player list before Derek St. Holmes or Rickey Medlocke or Jimmy McCarty or Mark Farner. Certainly. Or Jared Nichols. Or Chris Duarte. This isn't an opinion. There's no room for an opinion here. I'm mentioning guitar players that are world-class monster virtuosos of undeniable musical authority and guitar prowess."

Nugent went on to say: "How about — Paul Reed Smith is a better guitar player than Joni Mitchell or Joan. I don't mean to hurt your feelings, guys, but your drummer, Joan, is a better drummer than I am. I shouldn't be on the top 100 drummers list. All my drummers should be — all my drummers are amazing. [Laughs]

"But don't you see what goes on? I guess they seek and accomplish the eternal terminal menstrual cycle — you know, the menstrual cycle that the governor of Washington and Oregon thinks that they should have tampons in the boys' bathrooms. That's where we are — you know that's where we are. That's not where we are, but it's where they are steering our great country, our once-great country.

"So, Joan, just relax, honey. I love you," Nugent added. "You make great music. But you're not a top 100 guitar player. You must know that. Joni Mitchell, you must know that — I love you, Joni. But you're in the top 100, maybe the top 20 folk singers, certainly. And Joan Jett would be in the… certainly Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and maybe the top 20 garage bands. THE AMBOY DUKES were a garage band, so that's not a negative; that's a positive. NIRVANA would be maybe number one garage band. BROWNSVILLE STATION number two. Joan Jett maybe number three. GREEN DAY maybe three and a half.

"See, I'm not knocking these people; I'm just telling you the truth. [Laughs] I didn't know they were that stupid."

Ted also once again shot down the allegation that he dodged the draft, saying: "No, I didn't. I didn't get drafted, but I didn't dodge the draft. [In the High Times interview] I was telling a story about a drummer friend who shit his pants and I don't know what else he did. It's a funny story. Plus I gave the story to a writer — I'm being awfully generous with that term — for High Times magazine. You're gonna have a serious interview with High Times magazine?

"See, they cling to these lies and hate 'cause they've got nothing else. Which is why they are absolutely helpless to debate me."

According to Watch I Love, Franck Muller, the renowned Swiss luxury watchmaker, has unveiled two limited editions honoring AC/DC's 50th anniversary. Commemorating the legendary rock band's unmatched success, these limited editions of 50 pieces each, are available in polished stainless steel and brushed titanium with black PVD treatment.

Encased in a sleek and distinctive 43 mm tonneau-shaped case, a hallmark of Franck Muller's design philosophy, this horological masterpiece houses an automatic movement with a date window at 6 o'clock, embodying the pinnacle of Swiss watchmaking excellence.

The dial, an artistic homage to AC/DC's enduring spirit, is adorned with the signature Franck Muller numerals, skillfully hand-painted by the artisans at the manufacture in Switzerland. Enhanced in the iconic red hue that originated from the first logo lightning bolt in 1974, synonymous with AC/DC's legacy, these numerals infuse the timepieces with timeless elegance.

Delve deeper into the dial's intricate details, and you'll uncover a narrative of the band's extraordinary odyssey. The black center of the dial showcases a vinyl-like engraving reminiscent of their seminal debut album, "High Voltage" released in 1975. Atop the vinyl, the silver-accented six strings of a guitar take center stage, symbolizing the soul-stirring chords that have reverberated through five decades. Inspired by the legendary Gibson guitar played by Angus Young, whose energetic performances and iconic stage outfits have become synonymous with the essence of AC/DC, this detail pays homage to his electrifying presence on stage.

With the addition of the "50 Years" tagline under the logo, these limited-edition celebrate the golden anniversary in style. This emblem exudes opulence and embodies the band's rock spirit, making this Swiss masterpiece an indispensable accessory for devoted fans of the band.

Packaged in a flight case recalling AC/DC's on-stage presence, these timepieces introduce a true rock flair and symbolize the band's mastery of memorable live performances and extensive concert tours, which have captivated audiences worldwide for decades. The flight case comes in a drawstring bag.

Franck Muller is renowned for exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs. Franck Muller watches are celebrated for their intricate complexity, exquisite aesthetics, and attention to detail, making them a favorite among collectors and connoisseurs of fine horology. Additionally, the experts at Franck Muller value innovation as much as they honor tradition. This reverence is beautifully embodied in their latest collection, which seamlessly melds a crypto cold wallet with the classic wristwatch.

The Franck Muller Vanguard AC/DC 50th Anniversary is a numbered series of 50 pieces in each metal and costs $9,000.

For more information, visit www.franckmuller.com.

Following the breakout success of their eighth studio album and Napalm Records debut, 2020's "A Wonderful Life", Cleveland, Ohio- based masked metal masters MUSHROOMHEAD return with 2024's cinematic "Call The Devil" — laying waste to any preconceived notions of where the band is headed in their third decade of reign.

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 years into their groundbreaking history, MUSHROOMHEAD show no signs of slowing down, proving innovative without losing sight of their trademark sound and imagery. "Call The Devil" boasts everything from bangers to ballads, providing a strong variety that every heavy music fan will have on repeat!

"Call The Devil" track listing:

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

MUSHROOMHEAD recently announced a slew of tour dates. See below for all currently booked performances.

Jul. 19 - Mansfield, OH @ Ohio State Reformatory (INKcarceration Festival)

2024 European tour with DYMYTRY* and SILENZER**:

Aug. 09 - Bochum, Germany @ Rockpalast Bochum *
Aug. 10 - Kotka, Finland @ Dark River Festival
Aug. 11 - Southampton, UK @ EngineRooms * / **
Aug. 12 - Birmingham, United Kingdom @ O2 Institute2 * / **
Aug. 13 - London, United Kingdom @ O2 Academy Islington * / **
Aug. 14 - Haarlem, Netherlands @ Patronaat * / **
Aug. 15 - Sullingen, Denmark @ Reload Festival
Aug. 16 - Moravsky Krumlov, Czechia @ Rock Castle
Aug. 17 - Warsaw, Poland @ Proxima *
Aug. 18 - Kraków, Poland @ Klub Kwadrat *
Aug. 19 - Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia *

2024 USA tour with UPON A BURNING BODY, THERE IS NO US and MIND INCISION:

Oct. 04 - Buffalo, NY @ Rec Room
Oct. 05 - Hampton Beach, NH @ Wally's
Oct. 06 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium Upstairs
Oct. 08 - Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho
Oct. 09 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom
Oct. 10 - Lititz, PA @ Mickey's Black Box
Oct. 12 - Pittsburg, PA @ Preserving Underground
Oct. 13 - Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts
Oct. 15 - Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection
Oct. 16 - Belvidere, IL @ Apollo Theater
Oct. 18 - Green Bay, WI @ Epic Events Center
Oct. 19 - Joliet, IL @ The Forge
Oct. 20 - Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Oct. 22 - Moline, IL @ The Rust Belt
Oct. 23 - Bloomington, IL @ Castle Theater
Oct. 24 - Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs*
Oct. 25 - Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
Oct. 26 - Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater*

* No UPON A BURNING BODY

MUSHROOMHEAD is:

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

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

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

Photo credit: SK1

Prepare to raise your swords and pledge your allegiance to the realm of metal as Denver's Siege Perilous unleashes their latest single “Oathsworn” – premiered exclusively through BraveWords – off their upcoming EP Creation’s Call, coming out August 23, 2024. 


The single is a thunderous anthem of loyalty and brotherhood, which will transport listeners to the heart of battle as the band explains:


“‘Oathsworn’ really highlights so much of what we as a band are about in one song. Firstly, it’s based on a major plotline from our Live-Action Roleplaying Game (LARP) and one that really shook the foundation of the world in which we were playing in which made it incredibly easy to transition into a great song. We really love the driving intensity of this song as it comes out of the gate swinging and doesn’t stop.”




“Oathsworn” tells the story of a world-ending evil that can only be stopped by going back in time to prevent its rise. It has darkness and epicness in equal measure and will suck fans into Siege Perilous’ fantasy world and share a dark adventure with them.





As the drums of war thunder and the guitars cry out in defiance, Siege Perilous rallies their fans to stand tall in the face of adversity. They beckon listeners to take up arms and march alongside the warriors of metal. Metalheads, raise your banners high and heed the call of the “Oathsworn”, which is especially recommended to those who enjoy Manowar, Iron Maiden, and Wind Rose.


Pre-save at distrokid.com and preorder at siegemetal.com.





Tracklisting:


“Oathsworn”
“Across The Rubicon”
“Sons Of The Verdant”
“Creation’s Call”
“Brothers Of The Five”


“Sons Of The Verdant” lyric video:





Band Lineup (Album and Live): 
Shaughnessy McDaniel - Vocals 
Scott Hancock - Guitar
Cody Martinez - Guitar 
Eric Fischer - Bass 
Mark Girard - Drum


(Photo – Underhill Imagery)

Pirate metallers Alestorm have shared a live video for "Under Blackened Banners", shot at O2 Academy in Glasgow, Scotland on March 3rd. Check it out below.


The song is taken from Alestorm's 2022 album, Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum.







Alestorm released their new EP, Voyage Of The Dead Marauder, back in March. It breaks loose with the epic title track - an accelerating anthem featuring an appearance from returning guest favorite Patty Gurdy, giving the track some extra spice with a hurdy-gurdy performance and captivating vocals. The crew sails forth with “Uzbekistan”, delivering a classic Alestorm track in trademark pirate metal style, breaking into an intense middle passage before unleashing a wild, synth-laden pirate party breakdown full of intense screams. “The Last Saskatchewan Pirate” will transform any gathering into a packed pirate pub with its jolly flute melody, conveying a freeing, energetic mood, before “Sea Shanty 2” uplifts with an instrumental interlude. But don’t fret - listeners who clamor for the band’s most raucous anthems will have their needs met, as closing track “Cock” fully balances out the EP’s more serious tracks with its delightfully foul lyrics. Get on board landlubbers, and embark with your favorite pirate crew on this seaworthy adventure.





Voyage Of The Dead Marauder is available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold SPLATTER + 16p Booklet, Artprint
- 1LP Gatefold GREEN + 16p Booklet
- 1LP Gatefold BLACK
- 1CD Digisleeve + Shot Glass Set
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital EP


Order here.


 





Voyage Of The Dead Marauder tracklisting:


"Voyage Of The Dead Marauder"
"Uzbekistan"
"The Last Saskatchewan Pirate"
"Sea Shanty 2"
"Cock"


"Voyage Of The Dead Marauder" video:





Make sure to Catch Alestorm live on tour.





Alestorm are:


Christopher Bowes - vocals, keytar
Gareth Murdock - bass
Mate Bodor - guitar
Peter Alcorn - drums
Elliot Vernon - keyboard

Melodic death metal outfit, Apocryphal, have unveiled the first single and music video, “All Is Empty”, off their upcoming new album, Facing The End. Watch the video below, and stream the single here


Facing The End will be the band’s first since the 1999 debut Black Dreams Of Silence, and will feature the powerhouse vocals of Soilwork's legendary frontman, Björn "Speed" Strid. It will be released in November on CD, vinyl and digital formats via The Circle Music.


The artwork for Facing The End was done by Valnoir of Metastazis, while the mastering for the album was done by Nino Helfrich at Skull Tone Studios.




The band said: "You can finally have a first taste of our album with the track 'All Is Empty'. Lyrically, the song deals with heavy topics of depression, suicide, isolation and relationships in these painful times. Musically, though, it feels more upbeat and catchy packed with riffs and solos. Hope you enjoy and raise your horns to it with us!


“Our new album may come as a surprise to those who know us, but all the ingredients that make us unique are there. Perhaps less atmospheric, but more effective, the mix of melody and aggression will make every song stick in your head from the first time you listen to it.”


Pre-order the album here. Pre-save the digital here.





Tracklisting:


"Smells Like The End Of The World"
"All Is Empty"
"He Forgot You"
"It Wasn’t So Complicated"
"Plague Doctor"
"My Hero Inside"
"Just Behind"
"Swallow My Lies"
"Taste My Hate"


"All Is Empty" video:





Formed in 1992 as Post At Funerals, Apocryphal found their current name by 1994. Their early releases, including the 1995 demo "From Depths", showcased their blend of death metal, atmospheric, and progressive influences. After a period of inactivity following the release of their 1999 album Black Dreams Of Silence, the band reformed in 2022 and recruited legendary vocalist Björn "Speed" Strid of Soilwork for their new album set for release in 2024.

With Michael Anthony being so close with Sammy Hagar over the years, one would think that he'd strongly prefer Van Hagar over David Lee Roth-fronted Van Halen, reports Greg Prato for Ultimate-Guitar.com. After all, the two will be touring together, along with Joe Satriani and Jason Bonham, under The Best Of All Worlds banner this year, featuring a Van Halen-heavy set.


However, during our recent chat, the bassist said that both David and Sammy have their stronger sides and also reflected on how he felt about David bringing in an impressive lineup for his solo band after leaving Van Halen.


Ultimate-Guitar.com: How would you compare working with David Lee Roth and Sammy Hagar, what are the main differences in terms of the creative process and playing live?




Michael Anthony: "Well, Dave, he read books, magazines, everything under the sun. So, as far as lyrics and stuff like that, Dave, that's all he was really about.


"When Sammy joined the band, Sammy being a guitar player, his knowledge of chord structure and stuff like that brought a different element to Van Halen. Because where Dave focused mainly on his lyrics and trying to do a melody for that, Sammy would be like, 'Well, what if we try this chord or try this progression?' So, it was a different experience between the two."


"As far as singing goes, Sammy sings how he sings, Dave sings how he sings. But I really enjoyed how Sammy brought that other musical element to the band."


Read more at Ultimate-Guitar.com.


Produced by Live Nation and featuring special guests Loverboy, the 28-date The Best Of All Worlds tour will commence on July 13 in West Palm Beach, FL and will conclude on August 31 in St. Louis, MO. For tickets and more details, go to RedRocker.com.


The tour follows on the heels of the chart-topping success of The Collection II, the box set released in October 2023, featuring newly remastered versions of the four consecutive #1 albums released during the Hagar era of Van Halen: 5150 (1986), OU812 (1988),  For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge  (1991), and Balance (1995). A reminder to fans of the arsenal of hits, many which haven’t been played live since the band’s 2004 reunion tour. Collectively, Anthony, Satriani and Bonham have played together in nearly every phase of Hagar’s career including Van Halen, Chickenfoot and The Circle, so fans can expect a setlist which draws from some of the biggest rock anthems of the last 4-decades, including, "Finish What Ya Started", "5150", "Your Love is Driving Me Crazy", "Best of Both Worlds", "Poundcake", "Sexy Little Thing", "One Way To Rock", "Right Now", "Good Enough", "Eagles Fly" and more. They’ve also enlisted legendary Australian musician, Rai Thistlethwayte on keyboard and backing vocals. The tour represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see this band of brothers deliver one of the most legendary hits-packed live shows of their career.


“It’s crazy to think that it’ll be 20 years since Mikey and I played these songs with Van Halen on the 04’ Best of Both Worlds Tour,” said Hagar. “With Joe on board, we can take a deeper dive into those years. We’re going to touch on some hits from my entire career but seeing fans old and new really embrace the new collection set off something in Mikey and I. We were at my Birthday Bash in Cabo for my 76th and looked at each other and high fived, like ‘let’s do it.’ We pulled out a couple of them and it was an instant lovefest with the fans from our first riffs. The music we created is going to outlive us all. They deserve to be heard so it's time we go out and serve the fans that music, while we still can."





Tour dates:


July
13 - West Palm Beach, FL - iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre
14 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre          
16 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre                                   
19 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
20 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
22 - Saratoga Springs, NY - Broadview Stage at SPAC  
24 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater                       
26 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
27 - Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center                                
29 - Cuyahoga Falls, OH - Blossom Music Center                                
31 - Toronto, ON - Budweiser Stage                             


August
2 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
3 - Tinley Park, IL - Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
9 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena                         
11 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre               
13 - Spokane, WA - Airway Heights, WA BECU Live at Northern Quest
14 - Ridgefield, WA - RV Inn Style Resort Amphitheater            
16 - Wheatland, CA - Toyota Amphitheatre
17 - Concord, CA - Toyota Pavilion at Concord            
19 - Los Angeles, CA - Kia Forum
20 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resorts Amphitheatre           
22 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
23 - Houston, TX - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion   
25 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP                      
27 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
28 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena                          
30 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
31 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre


(Van Halen photo - Leah Steiger)

Canadian metal legends, Anvil, will release their new studio album, One And Only, on June 28 via AFM Records.


"Just when you thought Anvil wasn't heavy anymore," says charismatic frontman, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow, and following previously-released, first album appetizers "Feed Your Fantasy" and "Truth Is Dying", Anvil are now presenting their new single, "World Of Fools".


Stream the song via digital providers here; listen below:







When it comes to the most influential bands in the history of heavy metal, authorities on the subject regularly vote Anvil among the top positions. The group from Toronto, Canada, with its two masterminds, Steve ‘Lips’ Kudlow and Robb Reiner, and bassist Chris Robertson, not only looks back at an impressive career with countless highlights – as well as a number of well-documented difficulties – but has also had a lasting influence on lots of internationally renowned musicians, from Metallica to Slayer and beyond.


Their forthcoming, 20th album is aptly entitled One And Only: Anvil are and will always be one of a kind and are continuing to shape the contemporary metal scene just as impressively as they did at the beginning of their career. How they achieve this? Thanks to their straightforward metal fuelled by cutting riffs and catchy hooks, which the musicians continue to celebrate with admirable effortlessness and great passion.


“We’re more like our old selves than we’ve been in years,” comments frontman Lips Kudlow on the new album, adding: “We’ve dropped all our more modern aspects, particularly the 90s version of Anvil. No sexual topics and no thrash speed songs like they featured on past albums.”


One And Only sees the band provide first-rate Anvil entertainment: While Guitarist/vocalist Lips is considered to be one of the most creative and interesting storytellers of the metal genre, Chris Robertson and Robb Reiner keep the up the pace with their usual confidence, providing the perfect rhythm section for Lips. Although they have experienced the tough and frequently merciless side of the music industry on a number of occasions, Anvil never lost their idealism, motivation and energy, which is immediately evident on One And Only.


Like its four predecessors, One And Only was produced by Martin ‘Mattes’ Pfeiffer (U.D.O., among others) and Jörg Uken at his Soundlodge studio. As far as Lips is concerned, Pfeiffer and Uken are “... our one and only choice. As usual, Mattes and Jörg did a great job in choosing our best playing and making sure it has top notch sound. Great guys who understand the band and know what suits us best.”


Pre-order the album here.





Tracklisting:


"One And Only"
"Feed Your Fantasy"
"Fight For Your Rights"
"Heartbroken"
"Gold And Diamonds"
"Dead Man Shoes"
"Truth Is Dying"
"Rocking The World"
"Run Away"
"World Of Fools"
"Condemned Liberty"
"Blind Rage"


"Truth Is Dying":





"Feed Your Fantasy" video:





In support of their upcoming record, Anvil will be touring the US with festival dates in Europe such as Hellfest, Vara in Rock Sweden and Metal Hammer Paradise in Germany. Head here for all upcoming shows.


(Photo - W. Cliff Knese)

Legendary SoCal punk rock band THE OFFSPRING has shared the official lyric video for its new song "Make It All Right". The track is the first single from b>THE OFFSPRING's eleventh album, "Supercharged", which will arrive on October 11 via Concord Records.

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

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

"Supercharged" track listing:

01. Looking Out For #1
02. Light It Up
03. The Fall Guy
04. Make It All Right
05. Ok, But This Is The Last Time
06. Truth In Fiction
07. Come To Brazil
08. Get Some
09. Hanging By A Thread
10. You Can't Get There From Here

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

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

THE OFFSPRING guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman previously discussed the progress of the recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2021's "Let The Bad Times Roll" album three months ago in an interview with Colombia's Radioacktiva. At the time, he said: "It's not like we go in and work for a whole bunch of months with Bob and then don't see each other for a couple years. We get together every couple of months and go in the studio and work for a week to two weeks. That's just how we like to work. And it's always fun hanging out with Bob. He's just a great guy. And we just talk about music, talk about ideas, what makes a song great — that sort of thing."

Bob Rock previously helmed three THE OFFSPRING LPs, including "Let The Bad Times Roll".

Last October, Noodles was asked by Rock Sound if there was anything he and his THE OFFSPRING bandmates learned from the making "Let The Bad Times Roll" that they wanted to "lean more into" this time around. Noodles said: "What we learned is when we are not able to go out and play live, we really miss it. And we learned to make the most of our time in the studio and just have fun. It was a really, really creative time for us, actually. Right at the end of making 'Let The Bad Times Roll', ideas were just coming, and we've just been having a good time in the studio since then — and on the road too. It's so good to be back playing live music again."

In September 2023, Noodles was asked by "The Jesea Lee Show" if the new OFFSPRING material follows an "old-school" vein or if it represents "a new era of OFFSPRING". He said: "It's a little bit of both — all that. The last song we did definitely sounds like an old-school — sounds kind of like 'Come Out Swinging'. Definitely some old-school stuff and then some rocking stuff and then some kind of poppy punk stuff too, for sure."

In August 2023, Holland told The Orange County Register about the overall musical and lyrical direction of the new THE OFFSPRING material: "Sometimes you just start writing songs and you don't realize how an album is coming together until it's almost there. Like on 'Americana'. 'Americana' was one of the last songs I wrote because I didn't realize until then all the other songs like 'Why Don't You Get A Job?' and 'Pretty Fly', they were describing American society. I didn't really realize that's what the album was about until I got almost done and thought well, I'll call it 'Americana' because that's like 'Americana' means American culture. This was my vision of what I thought American culture was doing in the late '90s. We're kind of still in that phase with the songs, but we've always liked the energy of punk music and the rebelliousness. What I'm focusing right now on is just melody. I want the songs to be really good."

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

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

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

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

Press photo credit: Daveed Benito

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, the supergroup featuring legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH),guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL),has shared the official music video for its new single, "Letting Go". The track is taken from BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's fifth studio album, "V", which is being released today (Friday, June 14).

Resonating with the band's signature fusion of hard rock and soul-stirring blues, "Letting Go" stands as a testament to BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's growth and mutual admiration, symbolizing their commitment to producing music that is authentic, heartfelt, and reflective of their shared experiences and vast musical expertise.

"This band allows me to embrace all of it," comments Bonamassa. "It's funny because the four musicians up here — everybody brings a certain thing to this that’s very specific. Every part is irreplaceable. For me, it's about playing old-style rock guitar, loud."

Hughes adds: "We make music for the five of us. We make music that we love and like, hoping it registers with everyone else. We don't make it for record companies, or this guy or that guy." Sherinian credits producer Kevin Shirley for keeping the band's creative energies focused, adding, "We've got to give Kevin Shirley massive credit because he controls. He keeps it all flowing."

Produced by Shirley, "V" marks a monumental chapter in the band's storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band's journey, stating: "For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks! It's the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that's going to be the benchmark for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION." Glenn agrees: "In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun and a magical recording. Meet you inside the music.”

"Stay Free", the lead single, is a powerhouse track that blends hard rock's raw energy with a heavy dose of blues, channeling the spirit of legends like AC/DC and LED ZEPPELIN. It sets the tone for what fans can expect from "V" — a testament to the band's dynamic synergy and creative evolution.

Since their debut in 2010, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group's ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with "V" reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.

Shirley's insight into the recording process highlights the unique chemistry and camaraderie within the band. "When we convened in 2023 to start recording the album 'V', it really was like picking up the day after the most recent gig," Shirley reflects. "The camaraderie is immediately evident. Once they start playing, everyone is deadly serious, and the music sounds like this band, and nothing else sounds like it."

"V" is a milestone that celebrates the journey, talent, and vision of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. As the band embarks on this new chapter, they invite fans old and new to join them in experiencing the depth and power of "V".

"V" track Listing:

01. Enlighten
02. Stay Free
03. Red Sun
04. Restless
05. Letting Go
06. Skyway
07. You're Not Alone
08. Love And Faith
09. Too Far Gone
10. The Open Road

During an appearance on an August 2023 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Hughes stated about the musical direction of the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION material: "It sounds like BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. There's not too many left turns, there's nothing happening that's weirdly different. We followed a vibe of the first four albums, so it it's an extension, but it's really a progression, if you can call it a progression. Everybody's playing out of their skin. The vibe in the camp has never been so friendly and fun. It's a really, really great vibe in the band. And we had a great time at Sunset Sound [studios] in Hollywood. And I can't wait for you to hear it."

Bonamassa told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION album: "The thing about BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, whether you like the way we sound or not, when we all get together, it has a very specific thing that it does. Everybody brings a very specific thing to the table, and it's a special band."

According to Joe, he brought the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members back together to make the follow-up to "BCCIV", which was released in September 2017 and marked BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's first studio effort since 2013's "Afterglow". "I was the one that kind of initiated the text, be, like, 'Hey, is there anybody interested in doing a fifth one?'" he said. "And Derek got back to me. Jason got back to me pretty quickly. And Glenn called me and said, 'I can't do anything until this DEAD DAISIES situation goes one way or the next.' And I said, 'Fair enough.' So when Glenn left THE DEAD DAISIES [in 2022], that was kind of the green light for us to get back together."

Regarding the songwriting process for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's fifth album and how it compared to that on the band's previous efforts, Joe said: "This was the same. I went over to Glenn's house about six times and we hashed out some ideas — pretty rough, loose ideas. Nothing in stone. And so I had a playlist on my phone, voice memos, BCC 1 through 10. And that was it. So, so day one, we just [said], 'Okay, let's start with BCC 1.' And we sat in the courtyard at Sunset Sound — they have this really nice courtyard with a bunch of chairs — and we sat out there with an acoustic guitar and a couple of things and we just bashed out the arrangement. We were, like, 'Okay, that's cool.' We went in, played it three or four times and that was it. Nobody charted anything; we just kind of memorized it and did it. And we would go into the control room, listen a little bit, maybe tweak something, but once it fired up and after the second day, we really hit our stride, going, 'Okay, the band's back.' 'Cause we hadn't played together in six years."

As for the recording process for the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION disc, Joe said: "There's not a lot of overdubs. I rarely double the guitars, 'cause Glenn's bass sound is so big and distorted, you know what I mean? It's, like, why do I need to double the guitar? Same thing with Derek. It's almost like playing in the band FREE. All of the sound comes from the four of us. And Jason takes up a huge amount of bandwidth; he's such a big drummer."

In a September 2022 interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Bonamassa stated about what it is about a "band situation" that appeals to him, considering he has spent most of his career as a solo artist: "I like nothing more than to be a member of a band and playing guitar. I don't have to front it; I don't have to sing all the time. And it's a lot less pressure than being the front person. Being the person in front is a special skillset. You have to be an entertainer. You can't just sit up there and stare at your guitar and go, 'Wow. Look, I can play guitar pretty good.' That's not gonna fill the theater. You have to put on a show. And to put on a show requires being an entertainer. So being in a band, the sum of the parts is greater than the single entity. So this thing where Glenn co-fronts BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, I can just sit back and play rhythm guitar and watch him do his thing. He's a legend. And then conversely, Glenn doesn't have to sing all night; I'll sing three or four [songs]. So we kind of spread out the whole workload a little bit."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's inception took place when Hughes and Bonamassa fused their styles on stage in Los Angeles for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King Of The Blues event. With the help and guidance of Shirley, they further added to their rock lineage by recruiting Bonham and Sherinian.

In a 2017 interview, Hughes talked about the chemistry between the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members, especially since all the musicians have had successful careers prior to launching the group.

"This band was meant to be," Glenn said. "It was formed out of a friendship with Joe and I. We got the [other] guys to come in, and it's always been a strong brotherhood. And we're just very lucky and fortunate to have met. I've known Jason since he was [a kid]. I just think that these four guys in this band are the right guys to play in the band."

Photo by Rob Bondurant

Writing, "No more pencils, no more books, no more forgetting the School's Out hooks," Alice Cooper has shared a new lyric video for his end of school year classic, "School's Out". Watch below:





Earlier this week, Alice released the video below, stating: "Be a part of the Wild Party and stay in the loop with Alice's presidential campaign! Stay tuned for updates on his campaign kick-off, ongoing virtual rallies, Q&A sessions and more!"




Sign up now at AliceForPresident.com to receive updates on the campaign kick-off, ongoing virtual rallies, and Q&A sessions. Be the first to hear about the latest news and events.

Megadeth have released the video below, stating: "Bucharest, Romania 🇷🇴 What a night! Thank you for an amazing show."





Megadeth's Destroy All Enemies US Tour kicks off August 2 in Rogers, AR. For information and to purchase tickets , visit Megadeth.com.







Destroy All Enemies US tour dates:


August
2 - Rogers, AR - Walmart AMP
3 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall
5 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheatre
6 - Denver, CO - Ball Arena
8 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
9 - Los Angeles, CA - YouTube Theater
10 - Concord, CA - Toyota Pavilion at Concord
12 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
13 - Bend, OR - Hayden Homes Amphitheater
16 - Las Vegas, NV - Bakkt Theatre at Planet Hollywood
17 - Salt Lake City, UT - Maverick Arena*
20 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
21 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
23 - Macon, GA - Atrium Health Macon Amphitheater*
24 - West Palm Beach, FL - IThink Financial Amphitheatre


September
3 - Tinley Park, IL - Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
5 - Huntington, WV - Marshall Health Network Arena*
6 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion
7 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek
9 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena*
10 - Albany, NY - MVP Arena*
11 - Boston, MA - Leader Bank
13 - Bethel, MY - Bethel Woods Center For The Arts
14 - Wantagh, NY - Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
15 - Richmond, VA - Virginia Credit Union Live!*
17 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
18 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
20 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
21 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
24 - Minneapolis, MN - The Armory
26 - St Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre STL
27 - Southaven, MS - Bankplus Amphitheater at Snowden Grove*
28 - Nashville, TN - Nashville Municipal Auditorium       


* non Live Nation dates

In the Metal Injection video below, Evergrey guitarist Henrik Danhage shares the riffs that shaped the vibe of his playing from Van Halen, Yngwie Malmsteen, George Lynch and Black Sabbath.





Sweden's Evergrey have unveiled a video for “Cold Dreams” from their new studio album, Theories Of Emptiness, released on Friday, June 7 via Napalm Records. This sonic majesty cut from the new album showcases an out-of-this-world vocal performance by band leader and vocalist Tom Englund, alongside a guest appearance by Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) and Englund’s daughter, Salina – contributing lush backing vocals that enhance the song’s dynamics and highlighting another intense facet of the album.               




Theories Of Emptiness stands as the distinguished successor to their worldwide chart-topping release, A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), and is leaving critics breathless all over the world. With Theories Of Emptiness, Evergrey have crafted an absolute masterpiece and goose-bump generator, solidifying their legacy as they continue to shape metal history after 30 years in the industry.


Tom Englund on “Cold Dreams”: “’Cold Dreams’ is probably the darkest piece of music on Theories Of Emptiness. Its somber power is quite overwhelming. It's a composition that honestly leaves me feeling a bit uneasy. To have Jonas Renkse of Katatonia singing words describing fates that we both encountered makes it even more special and intriguing. Jonas' unique voice of sadness spreads like a disease and to hear him growl, again, is just fucking great! To balance the darkness, we decided to bring in some angelic qualities, and at the time of composing, I couldn't imagine anything more suiting than my daughter Salina Englund's voice. We cannot wait to hear what you feel after these 6 minutes and 46 seconds of soul searching. Enjoy!”


Watch the official video for “Cold Dreams”:





Theories Of Emptiness was produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, and was mixed by Adam "Nolly" Getgood (ex-Periphery), who worked closely with the band from the start - bringing out the vividness of the album’s overall sonic profile. Rounding out the album’s production, mastering was helmed by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra, Onslaught, The Gems, Eleine and many more).


Theories Of Emptiness follows its chart-topping and critically acclaimed predecessor, 2022’s A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), which entered charts worldwide at #3 in Sweden (Metal), ranked #5 on the Top New Artist Albums charts in the United States, entered #7 in Finland and #12 in Germany.


“For us, progression is paramount”, states Tom S. Englund when discussing the eleven track opus, Theories Of Emptiness. “We're dedicated to ensuring that our music remains innovative and avoids stagnation. With each album, we strive to introduce something new — a unique flavor, a different key or chord, fresh voices in our writing, or innovative production techniques.”


In fact, no stone has been left unturned. Tracks are created to balance each-other mutually: from the aggressive tones of “Misfortune“ contrasting the light-hearted opening of “To Become Someone Else“, to the ballad “Ghost of My Hero“ leading into the furious riffs of “We Are the North“. Album opener “Falling From The Sun” and “Say” interweave heaviness with mesmerizing keyboards and unpredictable instrumental parts, as also heard on “The Night Within“. On “Cold Dreams”, Englund’s distinctive voice is accompanied by Jonas Renkse of fellow Swedish metal icons Katatonia, splicing the song with a stellar performance that underlines another intense facet of the album. In addition, Englund’s daughter Salina provides lush backing vocals that enhance the song’s dynamics even more. Ending on a quiet note, Theories Of Emptiness depicts exactly what emptiness is about, first with the immersive “Our Way Through Silence“, and then with “A Theory of Emptiness” which, with timid piano, makes us rationalize our innermost feelings. Navigating realms of darkness and light, Theories Of Emptiness takes listeners on a carefully balanced roller coaster ride - showcasing Evergrey's ever-evolving sound in 2024 and beyond.      


Tom Englund adds: “Our new album is soon to be yours! We can’t wait for that to happen, there are so many new and refreshing elements on it as well as respect paid to every part of our past. We have just refined what we always have done and tried to make it as contemporary as we possibly could to please ourselves and our sonic expectations. With the presence of Adam ”Nolly” Getgood, we felt fired up, hungry and eager to do our utmost to ensure that we would write the best songs we possibly could - I really feel we have achieved that. Sound quality wise we feel that it is on par with the best the world has to offer today. It is a brave statement that I will stand behind for the rest of my life. Taking Evergrey into a new cycle feels just as when I did it the first time. We are more motivated than ever, and with a lot of touring to be announced very soon, we cannot wait to come and play this new music for you. Finally, we need to mention that we couldn't be prouder to announce our guest vocalist for this album. Jonas Renkse has graced Katatonia's music with his unique atmosphere for decades. Now we in the band and the fans of Evergrey get to experience the same and we couldn't be more excited! You might even get to hear Jonas growl for maybe the first time in many years… Much love, Tom”





Theories Of Emptiness will be available in the following formats:  


- Deluxe Bag incl. 1CD Digisleeve, 1CD Cardboard Sleeve with 2 Bonus Tracks, Pendant, Patch Album Artwork, Sunglasses with band logo, Artprint DIY Puzzle, all packed in exclusive cotton bag – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide)
- 1LP Die Hard Gatefold Purple/White Splatter incl. 24pp booklet, record butler – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide)
- 1LP Gatefold Translucent – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide)
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Theories Of Emptiness tracklisting:


"Falling From The Sun"
"Misfortune"
"To Become Someone Else"
"Say"
"Ghost Of My Hero"
"We Are The North"
"One Heart"
"The Night Within"
"Cold Dreams"
"Our Way Through Silence"
"A Theory Of Emptiness"


"Say" video:





"Falling From The Sun" video:

Danish deathcore maniacs, Cabal, are back with their new masterpiece, "Sort Sommer". For the new song they teamed up the Danish band Fabräk and the song is written in Danish. It's probably not the sound you have in mind when you think about Cabal but the guys show once again their boundless creativity and impress with new sounds.





Singer Andreas Bjulver about the new song: "'Sort Sommer' is a very special track to us as it's done completely in our native tongue (Danish) and is a track made in collaboration with our good friends in Fabräk and it sounds very different from what most people would expect from a Cabal track. It's a track that while exploring some heavy subjects is build around friends having fun and pushing boundaries for their respective genre in the studio."




He continues about the collabortaion with Fabräk: "So the collaboration happened since one of the singers used to be a bassplayer in a metal band that was on the same management as cabal so we've known each other from the scene since forever, also our bass player is their live guitarist and I live with the other singer, so even though our sounds are quite different this probably the band that we are the most intertwined with."


Stream "Sort Sommer" here, and watch the video below:





Cabal is:


Andreas Bjulver Paarup – Vocals
Christian Hammer Mattesen - Guitars
Chris Kreutzfeldt - Guitars
Lui Broch Larsen - Guitars
Dennis Hursid - Bass
Nikolaj Kaae Kirk - Drums


(Photo - Christoffer Rosenfeldt)

ALL THAT REMAINS made an triumphant return last month with the release of the explosive new single "Divine". Watch the video here. The track was lauded by Metal Hammer as "swinging for the fences... with a chorus that is begging to be screamed by thousands of fans," while Revolver concurred that "it's an all-power anthem of pinch-squealed technicality and stadium-ready sing-along hooks — makes for a righteous metalcore return." Elsewhere, Consequence labeled it what it truly is — "a dynamic return."

Today, the band has dropped another brand new banger with "Let You Go". The track was produced by Josh Wilbur (PARKWAY DRIVE, LAMB OF GOD, TRIVIUM, A DAY TO REMEMBER),who also helmed "Divine".

Watch the video for the song, which kicks off with a gnarly riff and then goes for the jugular with a stadium-sized chorus and monster breakdown, below.

"As a lyricist, I find songs about the human condition to be most compelling," says ALL THAT REMAINS singer Philip Labonte. "'Let You Go' is a great example of that. So many can relate to being in a bad relationship that you can't seem to break out of. Be it with a substance (or with a person) and this song speaks to that struggle so many of us are familiar with."

The "Let You Go" video was directed by Tom Flynn (I PREVAIL, AS I LAY DYING, LAMB OF GOD).

"Divine" marked ALL THAT REMAINS' first original new material since the passing of their longtime guitar player Oli Herbert. "Divine" also ushered in a period of rebirth for ALL THAT REMAINS, which is, for the first in its career, 100 percent independent and will be releasing future material on its own label — All That Remains Records.

When "Divine" was first made available, Labonte said in a statement: "It's been a long time since ALL THAT REMAINS released new music. A lot has changed...in both the band, ALL THAT REMAINS, and in the world around us. When we lost Oli in 2018 it was hard to envision a path forward, six years later and I am proud to share 'Divine' with you. ALL THAT REMAINS has new life, and that is thanks to the fans for their years of support. We would not be here without them. Go listen to 'Divine' and hit me up on twiX with your comments."

Four months ago, Labonte spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for follow-up to 2018's "Victim Of The New Disease" album during an interview with Rock Feed. He said at the time: "Right now I'm sitting in one of the dressing rooms at Henson [Recording Studios] in Los Angeles. It's a historiful place [being the former headquarters for A&M Records and the location of A&M Recording Studios]. I mean, Charlie Chaplin's lot is here. Studio A, they did 'We Are The World' in. They mixed [METALLICA's] Black Record here. They mixed [Dr. Dre's] 'The Chronic' here. So I'm in this awesome place with all this history.

"This is our second trip here doing drums," he continued. "We did four songs the first trip and that was in June [of 2023]. And now we're doing four more, and then we've got another session booked in March to finish up the drums. And that should be the last of actual tracking. Everything should be done. We might have some odds and ends, like maybe some solo stuff and noodley stuff. But we should be done tracking by the middle of March."

Regarding why it has taken six years for ALL THAT REMAINS to complete a new album, Phil said: "It has been a long time coming because — well, I mean a million reasons: because of COVID, because we had some legal actions with our label. We're no longer on a label. We're self-releasing it. So we're self-financing. We're gonna own it, which is a huge milestone. We had a great agreement with our label. We were supposed to have another record, but they let us go and they let us venture out on our own, which was awesome. I've got tons of love for Fearless and Concord Music Group and stuff, 'cause they let us do our thing. So that's awesome. And we're gonna get it out as soon as we can. We don't want to rush it."

Labonte added: "We started the sessions [for the new album] — really, the first time that I got together with Josh Wilbur, who's producing it. Josh Wilbur, you guys know him from TRIVIUM, from LAMB OF GOD, from a ton of [other bands]. He's worked with us [before]. He did [2015's] 'The Order Of Things', he produced that one, he mixed 'Victim Of The New Disease', so we've got a lot of history with him. But he's here [in Los Angeles], and we started with him — I think it was 2021, is actually when we started with him. He came out the first time and started working on some riffs and some ideas. And then we got our first like real song together in February of last year, where I got with Josh and wrote lyrics for a song. It was actually a song that Jason [Richardson, ALL THAT REMAINS guitarist] wrote the whole thing and kind of gave it to us. And so that's gonna be — that'll probably be the first one. I'm not gonna give out the name yet. But it's gonna be a great debut for Jason Richardson."

Speaking about the addition of Richardson, who replaced late ALL THAT REMAINS guitarist Oli Herbert more than five years ago, Phil said: "He's super creative, so it's a ton of fun. And this being his debut with us, we wanted it to be right. Not only is it the first record that we've put out without Oli Herbert, which took us a long time to kind of get used to the idea and figure out what that means and what it looks like and all kinds of things that had to happen since Oli passed away. But this being the first record that comes out with Jason, we want it to be right. There's not gonna be any half-assed [songs] on this at all. There's not any deep cuts — nothing at all. Right now we're eight songs in and there's zero deep cuts. Every single song that we've got, if someone else was, like, 'Oh, let's put this one out as the first single,' it'd be fine. That would work as a first single. And that's a big, big deal. Usually you'll hear three or four songs or five and you're, like, 'Yeah, we've got some killer songs on this record. We've got six great songs.' And there's 10 or 11 songs on the record and you're, like, 'Yeah, these other ones are cool, but we didn't have the time to do with them what we wanted. They didn't quite come out the way we want, and the record label wants to have this many songs on the record, so we don't have time to…' blah, blah, blah. 'We've got a deadline.' So you end up making compromises, and because we're doing it ourselves, putting it out ourselves and we've got a career and we're super fortunate that people still listen to our music and we've still got people out there that support us, so we can take the time to deliver the record that the fans deserve."

Last July, longtime ALL THAT REMAINS drummer Jason Costa announced his departure from the group, citing "deeply personal" reasons that "have nothing to do with any drama or anything within the band."

Jason was the featured drummer on the last six ALL THAT REMAINS albums: "Overcome" (2008),"For We Are Many" (2010),"A War You Cannot Win" (2012),"The Order Of Things" (2015),"Madness" (2017) and "Victim Of The New Disease" (2018). He is notable for being one of the few heavy metal drummers to play solely with the "traditional grip."

Back in March 2022, Costa left ALL THAT REMAINS' U.S. tour in order to "deal with some personal matters." He was temporarily replaced by Anthony Barone, who had previously played with BENEATH THE MASSACRE and SHADOW OF INTENT.

Earlier last year, ALL THAT REMAINS's breakthrough album "The Fall Of Ideals", was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association Of America (RIAA) for sales in excess of 500,000 copies in the United States.

In 2022, ALL THAT REMAINS embarked on "The Fall Of Ideals" 15th-anniversary tour.

"The Fall Of Ideals" was reissued in November 2021. The best-selling title features such fan favorites as "This Calling", "Six" and "The Air That I Breathe".

Oli was found dead on October 16, 2018 at the edge of the pond on his Stafford Springs, Connecticut property. He was reported missing by his wife about 3 p.m., and his body was found by police face down at the edge of the pond where the water was only a few inches deep. The medical examiner's office conducted an autopsy showing that Oli had three prescription drugs in his system — the antipsychotic olanzapine, the antidepressant citalopram, and Ambien. It also said: "Mr. Herbert's past medical history is reportedly significant for marijuana use."

ALL THAT REMAINS and MUDVAYNE will support MEGADETH on a 33-city, nationwide tour, "Destroy All Enemies", this summer. Produced by Live Nation, the trek will begin in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and run throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28.

Apocalyptica have released the video below, stating: "Our new album Plays Metallica Vol. 2 is out since June 7th. It's been an incredible journey since this album really emphasizes the past, the present and - who knows - also the future of Apocalyptica. We hope you can see and feel what this means to us by watching this documentary."





Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2 is out now via new label Throwdown Entertainment. Get the album here.







Tracklisting:


"Ride The Lightning"
"St. Anger"
"The Unforgiven II"
"Blackened"
"The Call Of Ktulu" (in memory of Cliff Burton)
"The Four Horsemen" (ft. Robert Trujillo)
"Holier Than Thou"
"To Live Is To Die"
"One"
"One" (Instrumental)


"The Call Of Ktulu" visualizer:





"One" video:





"The Unforgiven II" video:





"The Four Horsemen" video:





In the lore of heavy metal, only a handful of artists can claim to have changed history, and even fewer can say they’ve done so twice. Enter Apocalyptica, and one of metal’s greatest, most unlikely success stories. By any account, it’s the stuff of legend, and it’s about to come full circle as Apocalyptica announces their "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour" across the United States, featuring support from guitar virtuoso Nita Strauss. Full routing and ticketing information is available below.


Formed in 1993 at the world-renowned Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, Apocalyptica began as a loving, lo-fi nod to Metallica from four classically trained musicians. Their debut album, Plays Metallica By Four Cellos, released in 1996, was a game-changer. As founding band leader Eicca Toppinen explains, "We just loved Metallica and we wanted to play it with the instruments we were able to play, which just happened to be cellos. We played a metal club in Helsinki, and then we were asked to do an album. Five months after it was released, we were opening for Metallica. It’s still unbelievable to me."


Fast forward to today, and Apocalyptica has released eight rapturously received records, sold six million albums, and toured relentlessly. Now, they continue their unique homage to Metallica with Plays Metallica, Vol. 2, featuring powerful collaborations with Metallica members and using original tracks from the legendary Cliff Burton. The album came out June 7, 2024 to rave reviews.


The band looks forward to playing these fresh interpretations of Metallica songs for their US fans in 2025. The "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour" will kick off on February 6, 2025, in Washington, DC, and will visit major cities across North America.


Tickets will be available starting with a Citi presale beginning today. The general onsale begins on Friday, June 14, at 10 AM, local time. Citi is the official card of the "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2 Tour." For complete presale details, visit citientertainment.com.





Tour dates:


February
6 - Washington, DC - Warner Theatre
7 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore Philadelphia
8 - Boston, MA - Orpheum Theatre
11 - New York, NY - Brooklyn Paramount
12 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS
13 - Toronto, ON - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
14 - Cincinnati, OH - The Andrew J Brady Music Center
15 - Chicago, IL - Athenaeum Center
16 - Detroit, MI - The Fillmore Detroit
18 - Minneapolis, MN - Uptown Theater
19 - Winnipeg, MB - Burton Cummings Theatre
20 - Saskatoon, SK - Coors Event Centre
21 - Edmonton, AB - Midway Music Hall
22 - Calgary, AB - Grey Eagle Event Centre
24 - Vancouver, BC - Queen Elizabeth Theatre
25 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
26 - Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
27 - San Francisco, CA - Palace of Fine Arts
28 - Los Angeles, CA - The Orpheum Theatre


March
1 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
3 - Denver, CO - Paramount Theatre
5 - Austin, TX - ACL Live - Moody Theater
6 - Dallas, TX - The Majestic Theatre
8 - Houston, TX - Bayou Music Center

DEF LEPPARD has released a new single, "Just Like 73". You can now listen to the track, which features a guest guitar solo from Tom Morello, below.

The song arrives on seven-inch vinyl on August 2, 2024 and will be available in a special color variant only through the band's D2C store and in black at all retailers. Making a splash, BBC Radio 2 just world premiered the track as a "Global Exclusive" this morning.

"Just Like 73" notably marks the first collaboration between the iconic rock titans and the legendary guitarist, sonic innovator and co-founder of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE and AUDIOSLAVE. The single revolves around a classic DEF LEPPARD stomp fueled by a robust stadium-size beat, thick riffing, and a signature chant, "Rock with me, just like 73!" Meanwhile, a knockout gang vocal gives way to a signature fret-scorching solo from Morello. The instantly recognizable whammy bar wheezes as he shreds at lightspeed into one last head-nodding hook.

Of the collaboration, DEF LEPPARD singer Joe Elliott shares: "It encapsulates a time that burned deep into our DNA. We wanted to celebrate that very important and glorious time."

DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen adds: "When I saw David Bowie on TV between 1972 and 1973, everything I thought I knew about music went from black and white to vivid Technicolor. Our song 'Just Like 73' represents that awakening."

Morello says: "I had a blast rocking a solo on 'Just Like 73'. I played 'Rock Of Ages' in my college cover band almost 40 years ago and here DEF LEPPARD are still killing it in stadiums with a brand new tune that's one of their best."

Next up, DEF LEPPARD will present a high-octane animated music video for "Just Like 73", premiering on June 20 at 16:00 BST. It features the band (and Morello) like you've never seen them before.

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

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

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

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

Elliott previously shared that DEF LEPPARD's set on the 2024 tour will celebrate specific parts of the rockers' history. "We may even have a surprise or two up our sleeves," he said in a statement.

JOURNEY recently completed a number of dates as part of its 50th-anniversary "Freedom" tour.

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson has announced a limited-edition CD release for his new solo single, "Resurrection Men", out on July 26 via BMG.

"The surf guitar at the intro — the Dick Dale bit — that's me!" explains Dickinson about "Resurrection Men" in between dates on his hugely acclaimed first solo tour of Europe in two decades. "We were just mucking around with the tremolo setting, we put the chords down and I went, 'Okay, that's kinda cool!' It was, like, 'What if Quentin Tarantino made a metal record?' Then it goes somewhere different, we get a bit heavy, and we did this whole middle section and it was, like, 'Were you just channeling Geezer Butler in another life?' It was early [BLACK] SABBATH — 'Behind The Wall Of Sleep'. Just, 'Oh my god, that's heavy!'"

The three-track CD comes in gatefold digi-sleeve and includes a limited number of double-sided Mandrake "Movie Posters" (375mm x 285mm) for pre-orders via the official Mandrake Project store only, reflecting the comic book artwork for episode 3 which will be released via Z2 comics on July 17.

The two CD bonus songs, "Afterglow Of Ragnarok" and "Abduction", have been recorded live at Dickinson's show in São Paulo, Brazil on May 4, 2024 as part of his current world tour for his latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project".

"Resurrection Men" single track listing:

01. Resurrection Men
02. Afterglow Of Ragnarok (Live)
03. Abduction (Live)

After playing two warm-up shows at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, Dickinson officially kicked off his first solo tour in more than 20 years on April 15 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California.

Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on the trek is his current backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Prior to the April 12 Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

During an appearance on the April 16 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Bruce was asked if there are plans for him to stage a full U.S. tour in support of "The Mandrake Project". He responded: "I brought the [booking] agents and the promoters, and everybody came down and saw the Whisky show [in West Hollywood, California over the weekend], and now they know what they've got to deal with in terms of doing a U.S. tour. So, we're looking at it, we're planning it.

"I absolutely wanna do a full U.S. tour with 'The Mandrake Project'," he added. "I obviously can't do one for the rest of this year [due to commitments in other parts of the world and MAIDEN's upcoming touring activities], but there's '25 and there's numerous opportunities that will crop up. So the answer to that is yes, of course, we wanna come and do the U.S."

Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).

O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson last year as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.

Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.

Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.

"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1 via BMG.

Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's last solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Photo credit: John McMurtrie

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the new project featuring SYSTEM OF A DOWN bassist Shavo Odadjian, vocalist Taylor Barber (LEFT TO SUFFER),WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist Michael Montoya (a.k.a. Morgoth Beatz, a producer and songwriter who has previously collaborated with Travis Barker, JuiceWrld, Lil Xan, Jonathan Davis, ISSUES and many more),guitarist/backing vocalist Alejandro Aranda (a.k.a. Scarypoolparty, "American Idol") and Josh Johnson (WINDS OF PLAGUE),has dropped its debut single, "Paradise". The release also marks the launch of Shavo's new joint label venture 1336 Records in partnership with Sumerian Music Group.

Speaking about "Paradise", Shavo says: "The song opens the album and showcases the various dynamics we explore throughout which makes it the perfect introduction to SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET.

"I've been making music for over 30 years. I wanted to do something super heavy but melodic and come back to my roots. Until this band, every side project I've done has been outside of the walls of heavy music. I steered away from anything heavy because SYSTEM OF A DOWN is heavy. Once I got I started with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, I had to let go of that. I said, 'Let me go with my gut and do what I'm best at.' For the first time ever in my career, I just said, 'As long as I love it, I don't give a fuck what anybody else thinks,' and that was extremely liberating. SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is the result. It's my favorite thing I've done since SYSTEM and I can't wait for the world to hear it."

The accompanying music video for "Paradise" is a collaborative effort with creative direction being overseen by Shavo and Adam Mason, who also shot the video. Editing was handled by Arben and Kuj Durollari of BOND, who are also working with the band to design their creative assets.

Shavo describes the creative process: "The video for 'Paradise' is a little trippy, it's a little psychedelic, it's a little dark and beautiful all at once. We shot it with only two takes per band member, but despite those restrictions, I think we made a really cool video."

The launch of 1336 Records is a significant milestone for Shavo. He says: "I didn't just want to sign the band to a label, which is why we signed the deal with Ash Avildsen and Sumerian. I now have my new imprint called 1336 Records. It gives me a lot of creative control and also the ability to bring other acts that I find interesting on board later in the future, so I'm really excited about that."

Sumerian Music Group founder and CEO Ash Avildsen adds: "SYSTEM OF A DOWN is one of the most important and influential bands of my generation, as well as one of my all-time favorites. When I first heard Shavo was putting together a group of young, cutting-edge musicians around him to form a new band, I immediately got excited just as a fan to hear what it was. After a first listen of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET and seeing who the metal group of Avengers he assembled around him to play in it, I knew it had to be on Sumerian. So I pursued it hard and after one epic lunch together at the Sunset Marquis, Shavo and I were creative business partners ready to unleash the next great thing in heavy music together. I am humbled and honored he has chosen to team up with Sumerian to launch SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET and 1336."

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET will make its live debut at this year's Mayhem festival, set to take place on October 12 at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino.

When the universe aligns, magic happens. This was certainly the case when Odadjian, the legendary bass player of SYSTEM OF A DOWN, crossed paths with platinum-selling producer, songwriter and guitarist Morgoth at a party on 2.22.22. Their initial sessions were a spontaneous combustion of creativity, transforming from a potential solo venture into a full-fledged band. Shavo recalls: "We wrote a song right away. It wasn't like any writing session I had been part of before; riffs were just flowing out of me without me even having to try. Every time I felt like I couldn't write anything. Morgoth would hand me a guitar and say, 'Go, go, go'. I needed that, you know? I needed someone to push me when I wasn't pushing myself. "

As music continued to pour out in torrents, with Shavo writing and performing all the guitar and bass parts and Morgoth producing and providing the beats, atmospherics and FX, Morgoth suggested they turn it into a Shavo solo project. However, with his eye now firmly set on the live arena, Shavo decided to create a full band.

Finding the right vocal talent to complement the musical landscape created by Shavo and Morgoth was crucial. Morgoth's recommendation of Taylor Barber from LEFT TO SUFFER was a game changer. Shavo was blown away. "He was singing in falsetto one minute and growling the next — it was ridiculous," the bassist states. "He became the singer because he knocked every song out of the park."

With Shavo on bass and Morgoth on guitar, the band also brought in Morgoth's WINDS OF PLAGUE bandmate Josh Johnson on drums and Alejandro Aranda, known for his solo project SCARYPOOLPARTY and as runner-up on "American Idol", as lead guitarist and backing vocalist.

Once the new music was complete, mixed by Zach Jones and mastered by Maor Applebaum, Shavo partnered with Avildsen to create 1336 Records, with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET being the first signing.

SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is:

Taylor Barber - Vocals
Morgoth - Guitar, Production
Shavo Odadjian - Bass
Alejandro Aranda - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Josh Johnson - Drums

In April 2023, Odadjian spoke to the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire" about his solo LP, saying: "I started this solo project with Morgoth Beatz; he's my producer and he's also the guitar player for the group. And it's heavy. I'm back to my roots — no hip-hop. I think it's the heaviest I've ever been, and it's just flowing out of me.

"We have a track with — I'm gonna say it — Jonathan Davis [of KORN]," Shavo revealed. "I'm working on that one right now. We have the choruses and the first verse, and I'm gonna do a little breakdown, and I think we've got one. That's 12 — number 12. So we're 12 songs into the solo record. I'm very excited about that."

Photo credit: Max McGuire

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello will release a new solo single, "Soldier In The Army Of Love", on June 28. The song, which was co-written with his "guitar wizard son" Roman Morello, was described by Tom as "a generational rock anthem from the Morellos."

"Soldier In The Army Of Love" is the first single from Tom's first-ever full-length solo rock album, due later in the year.

Last year, Tom Morello shared footage to Instagram of the 12-year-old Roman playing RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's "Killing In The Name" with Tom's RAGE bandmates Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk while the band was on tour in 2022.

"Upon our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction I'd like to say thank you to all the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE fans who over the course of 30+ years have been the heart and soul of the music," Morello wrote in the clip's accompanying caption.

"One of my favorite memories is my son Roman (who became a fan on tour) rocking Killing In The Name with Tim & Brad at a soundcheck in 2022."

In March 2023, Tom told Rolling Stone magazine that Roman could already outplay him when it came to lead guitar, despite the fact that he was only 11 at the time.

"I've been very inspired by my 11-year-old son," Tom told the magazine. "I've been relegated to being the rhythm guitar player in my family now because my 11-year-old can shred circles around me. I've been inspired by him. He's been writing some riffs, and I've been writing some riffs. It's been fun."

Roman Morello previously recorded a solo on fellow child prodigy Nandi Bushell's 2021 single "The Children Will Rise Up". The pair worked with the elder Morello to write the original anthem on which a swell of children's voices promised that they would not be silenced when it came to shouting from the rooftops about environmental injustice.

Tom was the sole member of RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE who attended the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last November at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's Rock Hall induction came after the band appeared on six ballots.

In October 2022, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE canceled its North American tour, three months after singer Zack De La Rocha severed his left Achilles tendon, leaving a mere eight inches of the tendon intact.

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE's comeback tour, which was first announced in 2019 and then delayed several times due to the pandemic, marked the first time the reunited rap-metal quartet had hit the road together since 2011.

Excited to announce that SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF LOVE, the debut single from my first ever full length solo rock album,...

Posted by Tom Morello on Wednesday, June 12, 2024