KITTIE has released the official music video for the band's new single, "One Foot In The Grave". The new track is the fourth to be released from KITTIE's long-awaited new studio album, "Fire", their first in over 13 years, due on June 21 via Sumerian Records.

KITTIE vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander comments: "The excitement is palpable in anticipation of our forthcoming album release, with the unleashing of our latest offering 'One Foot In The Grave'. It's a feisty, high-energy song about coming back from the dead and rising from the ashes, so to speak, paralleling our real-life experiences as of late. Letting go of the demons of the past to begin anew is something that resonates with us deeply."

When "Fire" was first announced earlier in the month, Morgan said in a statement: "10 years ago, if someone would have told us that we would be releasing new KITTIE music in 2024, we'd have dismissed them right away. It feels like something deeper than fate that's brought us together again, allowing us to create something fearless and magical for you. We've worked incredibly hard over the past year, and surrounded ourselves with the ultimate dream team to make this album a reality. We cannot wait for you to lose yourselves in the passion and strength of 'Fire'."

"Fire" is available to pre-order now with a variety of merch bundles including exclusive vinyl colorways, t-shirts, a cassette tape, a sticker pack, guitar pick pack, laminate and two metal lunch box designs.

"Fire" track listing

01. Fire
02. I Still Wear This Crown
03. Falter
04. Vultures
05. We Are Shadows
06. Wound
07. One Foot In The Grave
08. Are You Entertained
09. Grime
10. Eyes Wide Open

Last month, KITTIE announced an exclusive run of North American headline dates. The long-awaited shows will see the band perform in five cities across the U.S. and Canada this July and August, giving fans a very special and rare chance to see the band play a full headline set that will include their recently released singles "We Are Shadows" and "Eyes Wide Open" as well as classic hits and some deep cuts not played live since the band's early days.

Last November, it was revealed that KITTIE was working on a new studio LP with producer Nick Raskulinecz at Nashville's Sienna Studios.

Raskulinecz, who moved to Nashville from Los Angeles around 16 years ago, had previously worked with such acts as RUSH, ALICE IN CHAINS, KORN, RISE AGAINST, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE, SKID ROW and the DEFTONES.

Regarding the overwhelmingly positive response to KITTIE's live shows and music since the band's return in 2022, Lander told Metal Hammer: "I just think that the world is ready for us now. A lot of the things that we were doing 25 years ago were still... I don't want to say controversial, but they seemed so new. It definitely has a lot to do with a shift in thinking and acceptance and representation in the years since the very first time that KITTIE came out. Sometimes it just takes the world a bit of time to catch up and appreciate those things."

In March, Morgan told The MetalSucks Podcast about KITTIE's plans for the rest of 2024: "To be honest with you, this all just feels brand new again. I know that we're veterans of the music industry and whatnot, but we've sort of stepped into a new age and a new era of music releasing and record labels and things like that. So I think the goal is just to just enjoy — for us, for sure — enjoy the process and just — I don't know — put some smiles on people's faces, really. All of the things that come along with releasing new music and an album, like new merch and shows, headlining stuff, album-release stuff, all of that is definitely coming down the pike. But I think ultimately the goal for us is just to sort of enjoy the ride. All of those tangible things will come. It all feels so new and exciting again. So, yeah, we're just here to enjoy the ride."

Asked how she views all the platforms, with social media and music streaming services, now compared to how it was when KITTIE last released new music nearly a decade and a half ago, Morgan said: "Well, I feel like in 2011 [when 'I've Failed You' came out] and 2009 [when 'In The Black' was released], those last two albums, I actually really don't know that Spotify and music and streaming platforms were catching on. And so it was this weird sort of interim period where they may have existed but nobody cared and people were definitely still buying tangible CDs. And, yeah, so now we're in this new era of streaming, and I really feel like music is more accessible than ever and I think more people are listening than ever before, because things are just so easy to find; everything that you need is on a streaming platform. And so I definitely think that it does have its benefits. I mean, as far as being an artist and on the serving-the-artist side of things, it doesn't pay great, but I feel like the audience is greater than ever before. Way back, when we were active, I guess you could say the first time, the industry was definitely a different beast. And this time around, I feel like a lot of people, since we put out our last albums, have discovered the band, a lot of young people as well. And so because streaming [is so widely available], they've had this ability to discover and listen to our old catalog and continue to keep those songs popular and alive. And ultimately, it's that sort of simmering growth that's allowed us to have this opportunity that we have today. So, I don't think that it's a bad thing. I'm excited for the weirdness of the future."

In an interview with Knotfest's "She's With The Band" podcast, KITTIE drummer Mercedes Lander and Morgan spoke about the musical direction of the long-awaited follow-up to "I've Failed You". Mercedes said: "I'm gonna say that we are just really stoked to write 1,200 percent bangers. I think that's just where we're at now. We want people to feel good. We want people to feel what we're feeling. I feel like bangers, that's what we're good at."

Asked by host Tori Kravitz about the possibility of KITTIE combining some of the old-school sound from the band's early days and mixing it up with a fresh approach, Morgan said: "I think marrying some of the ideas, 'cause I don't think we're ever going to put our JNCOs [jeans] on again. But, yeah, the idea of marrying some of those ideas — like who we are now with the ideas of who maybe we used to be and kind of being able to meet somewhere in the middle, but in a way that will just create something brand new again. I'm excited for it to be unleashed upon the world."

KITTIE played its first concert in five years in September 2022 at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.

Joining Morgan and Mercedes in KITTIE's current lineup guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Ivana "Ivy" Vujic.

Prior to Blue Ridge, KITTIE had not performed since its reunion show at London Music Hall in the band's native London, Ontario in 2017, celebrating the group's documentary "Kittie: Origins/Evolutions".

Vujic joined KITTIE in 2008 and appeared on the band's fifth studio CD, 2009's "In The Black". She also wrote and recorded bass for KITTIE's sixth album, 2011's "I've Failed You".

In January 2022, the original lineup of KITTIE — Morgan, Mercedes, Fallon Bowman (guitar) and Tanya Candler (bass) — reunited for an online chat to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of its gold-certified 2000 debut album, "Spit".

Candler left KITTIE after the release of "Spit" in order to finish high school and was replaced by Talena Atfield.

Bowman exited KITTIE in 2001 and started her own industrial/electronic project, AMPHIBIOUS ASSAULT.

After KITTIE completed the touring cycle for "I've Failed You" album, the band entered a long period of inactivity during which Morgan focused on a marketing job for a chain of fitness clubs while Mercedes worked in real estate and more recently at a software company. The group also began work on a career-spanning documentary, "Origins/Evolutions", which finally saw the light of day in 2018 via Lightyear Entertainment in North America.

"I've Failed You" sold 3,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 178 on The Billboard 200 chart.

Photo credit: Dante Dellamore

Power metal veterans DRAGONFORCE have teamed up with "Brawl Stars", a hit multiplayer mobile game with over one billion downloads, to celebrate a brand new character entering the game with an electrifying new song "A Draco Tale" and music video.

Rocking his way into the "Brawl Stars" universe from today, Draco is the game's first guitar-wielding Legendary Brawler. With Draco's love for heavy metal, extreme sports and "Dungeons & Dragons", DRAGONFORCE's new exclusive original track is the perfect headbanging song to welcome this dragon-rider in the most epic, heavy metal way.

DRAGONFORCE co-founder Herman Li, famed for lightning-fast guitar solos inspired by video game soundtracks, is a lifelong gamer who has amassed an impressive Twitch following. The collaboration came about as the game team at Supercell, the company behind "Brawl Stars", are huge fans of DRAGONFORCE and invited the band to announce the addition of a new character. The song blends DRAGONFORCE's high-octane sound with the chaos of "Brawl Stars" and is being released on the game's YouTube channel, which boasts 16.5 million subscribers. The epic music video features the five-piece band and special animations of the new character Draco.

Li says: "'Brawl Stars' is a hectic, fast-paced game that I love playing in my spare time so when the developers asked us to record a new song about a heavy metal-loving character, we jumped at the chance. I think 'Brawl Stars' fans are going to love this new Legendary Brawler."

Drew Haycock, Supercell community manager, adds: "I've personally been a fan of DRAGONFORCE for almost 20 years now and was stoked when they said they'd record a new song for Draco. Working with the band was an awesome experience and it was incredible seeing them do their thing at the video shoot! They were hyped about the project from the start and are the perfect band to bring Draco's quirky charm into the musical world."

DRAGONFORCE's latest album, "Warp Speed Warriors", was released in March via Napalm Records.

On "Warp Speed Warriors", DRAGONFORCE — composed of of guitar virtuosos and founding members Li and Sam Totman, singer Marc Hudson, bassist Alicia Vigil and drummer Gee Anzalone — explore a wider range of varying musical styles than ever before, evolving their sound throughout the exciting musical journey while still staying true to their roots.

"Warp Speed Warriors" was produced, mixed and mastered by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited in Los Angeles, California with Sam Totman and Herman Li.

DRAGONFORCE's platinum-selling single "Through The Fire And Flames" brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on "Guitar Hero III".

In March 2019, the "Through The Fire And Flames" music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE's first music video to do so.

"Through The Fire And Flames" is the leadoff track from 2006's "Inhuman Rampage" album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

In a new interview with the Battleground Podcast, GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash weighed in on a debate about people using an A.I. (artificial intelligence) music generator as a tool to create melodies, harmonies and rhymes based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithms and machine learning (M.L.) models. Slash said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm not super excited about this new development, only because I just know that people, for the most part, are gonna use it so much that it's gonna… For one, it's gonna be confusing and misleading. And then there's just gonna be too much of the same kind of look or sound for different things. I see it happening already.

"I'm the guy that likes to go into a studio and record a band live and do it analog, like [my new blues] record ['Orgy Of The Damned'], so the idea of A.I., I can't think of any application where it makes any sense to me for what it is that I do," he continued. "And I'm interested to see who comes up with something really great and unique and useful for me. But having A.I. reproduce anything or actually produce anything original in terms of music does not really thrill me. You can have it write lyrics, you can have it do anything but you doing the actual work and it doesn't thrill me."

Slash clarified that "the technology itself is a human achievement. I mean, it's amazing," he explained. "And technology all the way down the line is always showing some great possibilities with things, but it's how people use them, at the end of the day, as a mass application, that's where you've gotta start worrying."

"Orgy Of The Damned" was released on May 17 via Gibson Records.

This summer, Slash will bring his brand-new "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to cities across the U.S. throughout 2024. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is an anagram and stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance. The festival is a celebration of the blues, featuring an all-star line-up that will vary. On all dates, Slash will perform alongside his blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Slash formed the "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the blues, and to perform with other blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, as well as to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected: The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute and War Child. "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival has partnered with Plus1.org to support these charitable endeavors.

Joining Slash at various stops on the tour will be WARREN HAYNES BAND, Keb' Mo', Larkin Poe, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Samantha Fish, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales and Jackie Venson.

The trek will kick off on July 5 in Bonner, Montana and wrap up on August 17 in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Slash will visit Amoeba Music in Hollywood, California to play a special acoustic set celebrating his star-studded new album "Orgy Of The Damned". On Wednesday, May 29 at 5:00 p.m., Slash and his blues band vocalist/guitarist Tash Neal will perform live at the legendary record store. Capacity is limited, and tickets are required for entry to the event.

Although Slash's latest LP is his second under the "Slash" banner, he has released a handful of albums with his long-running band SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, in which he is joined by ALTER BRIDGE frontman Myles Kennedy.

In February, Slash resumed touring with SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Kennedy, Brent Fitz (drums),Todd Kerns (bass, vocals) and Frank Sidoris (guitar, vocals).

Photo credit: Gene Kirkland

Hard rock veterans L.A. GUNS have announced a new partnership with renowned indie label Cleopatra Records for the next chapter of their historic career. Vocalist Phil Lewis and founder/guitarist Tracii Guns are set to continue the band's renaissance that began in 2016 and continues to revitalize L.A. GUNS' massive fanbase as never before.

L.A. GUNS' next studio album will be the first fruit of the band's reunion with Cleopatra Records, a label known for its diverse roster and innovative approach to music production. The collaboration comes at a pivotal moment for L.A. GUNS, featuring a mix of classic members and fresh faces, which is set to deliver an album that both honors their legacy and explores new creative horizons.

Brian Perera, owner Cleopatra Records, Inc., said: "I'm thrilled to have L.A. GUNS back home, completing a full circle journey with them. From my early days printing their t-shirts in my parents' garage — side by side with GUNS N' ROSES — to now, I am genuinely excited to welcome them home with a new recording contract at Cleopatra Records. It's not just a signing; it's a celebration of our shared history and a promising future together."

Tracii added: "Brian and I go back to the '80s when he began in the business making t-shirts. Since then, we have done multitudes of recordings together, including L.A. GUNS! Coming back to Brian and Cleopatra's creative environment really feels like coming home now 40 years later and our excitement once again for the future is through the roof! LET'S GO!!!"

L.A. GUNS' latest studio album, "Black Diamonds", came out in April 2023. It was the fourth studio album since the much-welcome reunion of the band's core foundation of Lewis and Guns. It followed the well-received studio albums "The Missing Peace", "The Devil You Know" and "Checkered Past", plus the live release "Made In Milan", and a covers EP "Another Xmas In Hell".

In April 2021, a settlement was reached between drummer Steve Riley and Guns and Lewis over the rights to the L.A. GUNS name. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Guns and Lewis continue to operate under the L.A. GUNS trademark, while Riley and his bandmates from the other version of L.A. GUNS were allowed to perform and record under the new name RILEY'S L.A. GUNS. Riley died last October at the age of 67.

L.A. GUNS was formed in 1983 and have sold over six million records, including 1988's "L.A. Guns" and 1990's "Cocked And Loaded", both of which were certified gold. "Cocked And Loaded" contained the hit single "The Ballad Of Jayne" that went to No. 33 on Billboard's Hot 100 and No. 25 on the Mainstream Rock charts. From the mid-'90s to the mid 2000s, L.A. GUNS continued to tour and release new music. Following their successful performance at SiriusXM's Hair Nation festival in September 2016, L.A. GUNS went into the studio to record the critically acclaimed "The Missing Peace", which was the highest-selling release for Frontiers Music Srl in 2017. Their 12th album, "The Devil You Know", was released in 2019 to the same critical acclaim. Since reuniting, Tracii and Phil continue to tour around the world with L.A. GUNS, which currently includes Johnny Martin (bass) and Ace Von Johnson (guitar).

Progressive death metal duo, Entheos, today unleashes their latest single, "Life In Slow Motion". The track, and accompanying video, follows the band's crushing "An End To Everything" single released last month and serves as a precursor to the music to come later this year.





Elaborates vocalist Chaney Crabb, "'Life In Slow Motion' is a song about seeing life through the eyes of drug addiction and the ways that it affects not only the addict, but the people who surround them. It's about wanting to return to a moment in life where the addiction took over and pondering what could have happened if things went another direction. Musically, this is one of the heaviest and fastest songs that we've written. We wanted the music to make listeners feel the tension that builds in the track, which ultimately is released with one of our heaviest breakdowns."




Watch the "Life In Slow Motion" video, directed by My Good Eye Visuals, below:





Watch the band's previously released video for "An End To Everything":





Entheos will return to the road this July on a US summer tour supporting As I Lay Dying. The journey runs from July 9 through August 10. Additional support will be provided by Chelsea Grin. The band has also announced several headlining shows throughout the trek.





Headlining dates:


July
5 - 89th Street - Oklahoma City, OK  
6 - Jakes - Lubbock, TX
8 - Sinwave - Las Vegas, NV     
18 - Lefty's - Des Moines, IA w/ He Is Legend
19 - The Cabooze - St. Paul, MN
22 - Preserving Underground - Pittsburgh, PA


August
1 - Southport - New Orleans, LA





Dates with As I Lay Dying:


July
9 - Santa Cruz, CA - The Catalyst
10 - Sacramento, CA - Ace of Spades
12 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
13 - Tacoma, WA - Temple Theatre
14 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
15 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex
16 - Denver, CO - Summit
17 - Kansas City, MO - The Truman
19 - Grand Rapids, MI - Upheaval Festival
20 - Mansfield, OH - INKcarceration
21 - Chicago, IL - House Of Blues
23 - Albany, NY - Empire Live
24 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
25 - Philadelphia, PA - Theater of The Living Arts
26 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
27 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa
29 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
30 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
31 - St. Petersburg, FL - Jannus Landing


August
2 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
3 - Dallas, TX - The Factory in Deep Ellum
4 - San Antonio, TX - Vibes Event Center
6 - Albuquerque, NM - El Rey Theater
7 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
8 - Los Angeles, CA - The Belasco
10 - San Diego, CA - The Observatory Northpark

In a new interview with Monsters, Madness And Magic, SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian was asked to name some of the "most impactful" live shows that he has seen as a fan. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, there's a few. The first one that I ever saw, my first rock show I ever saw was IRON MAIDEN in 1984, I'd like to say — 1984, maybe. My girlfriend at the time was a huge MAIDEN fan and I, at the time, didn't even listen to much rock music. I hadn't even smoked pot. It was the first time I started smelling pot outside. I was a 4.0 good kid in school. So that was impactful for me because of the timing more than anything. And you'll hear those kind of horses galloping within SYSTEM's music that's influenced by MAIDEN as well; everyone in rock has been influenced by MAIDEN. Roger Waters [PINK FLOYD], seeing him do the whole 'Wall' [album] more recently — like maybe 10, 15 years ago, 10 years ago, maybe. That was incredible, just the performative aspect of it. The whole theatrical aspect of it was incredible. But I had seen PINK FLOYD way, way before as well — the flying pig. Just so many. I can't even think now."

Tankian previously reflected on his introduction to MAIDEN in a 2012 interview with The A.V. Club. At the time, he said: "[The first concert I attended was in] 1984, IRON MAIDEN, at Irvine [Meadows] Amphitheater, which is now the Verizon [Wireless] Amphitheater in Orange County, California. I went with my girlfriend at the time. She took me, actually. She was an IRON MAIDEN fan."

He continued: "I thought it was one of the craziest things I'd ever seen. [Laughs] I'm, like, 'This is madness! What is this? Everyone, hide!' At the time, I wasn't actually a metal fan at all. I thought, 'Wow, this is really noisy music, I don't get it.' To be completely honest, I wasn't in love with it. And now I'm a huge IRON MAIDEN fan, and I know Bruce Dickinson and see the guys on tour and whatnot. But time changes. It's interesting. But at the time, I wasn't a metal or even a rock fan, to be honest."

Asked what he was into back in 1984, Serj said: "I was into different types of music, but I didn't really go to shows. I think over time, the exposure to rock and metal obviously changed my mind. And it's funny, years ago I saw that ex-girlfriend. She was my first girlfriend, like, my high-school love and stuff. Years ago, I saw her and she was like, 'Do you remember IRON MAIDEN?' And I'm, like, 'Shut up.' [Laughs] She's, like, 'You didn't really like it at the time and now everyone knows you're the metal singer — how funny.' I'm, like, 'Life is funny, you know. It's true.' That's how life is."

Tankian's memoir, "Down With The System", was released on May 14 via Hachette Books.

Tankian is best known as the lead singer of the Grammy Award-winning rock band SYSTEM OF A DOWN, but he is also a solo artist, composer, activist, painter, poet, and filmmaker. Since launching on to the rock scene in 1993, he's performed for millions of fans and sold more than 42 million albums worldwide. He's also a proud Armenian-American and a dedicated activist; along with Tom Morello, Tankian co-founded the non-profit organization Axis Of Justice, which strived to bring together musicians, music fans, and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. He has composed scores for many films and television series, had his paintings exhibited in galleries in the U.S. and New Zealand, and released two books of his own poetry. He has also been an executive producer on multiple documentaries, including "I Am Not Alone", which tells the story of Armenia's 2018 revolution and which won awards at the Toronto International Film Festival, DOC NYC, American Film Institute Festival, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival, among others. Tankian lives with his wife and his son, splitting their time between Los Angeles and New Zealand.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN has toured intermittently since ending its hiatus in 2011, but has only managed to record two songs in the last 19 years, "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz". Released in November 2020, the tracks were motivated by the conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, with all proceeds supporting humanitarian efforts in SYSTEM OF A DOWN's ancestral homeland of Armenia. Along with other donations from fans on their social pages, they raised over $600,000.

Heading towards the end of next week’s album release, San Diego-based black metal aggregation, Mythraeum, release another sampling from their anticipated debut. “Beyond The Void” is released as a digital single today, accompanied by a new video highlighting their live show.


While “Beyond The Void” retains all of the benchmarks black metal fans have come to love about the genre, Mythraeum aim to build upon those influences with some shred- and folk-inspired guitar work to elevate the track and making it a tad more interesting than the rudimentary traditions.  


“’Beyond The Void’ is a very dark and personal song that deals with being shown the very truths of existence,” cite Mythraeum. “By letting go of these collected memories over time that chain us to this earth, we can shed our humanity and traverse Beyond The Void to seek out our cosmic self. That being said, we felt a live video was perfect for this song because it shows our raw authentic selves and we want to share that with the world.”







"Beyond The Void" follows first single/video "Skies Torn Asunder" in giving a peek at what these US Wacken Metal Battle winners have in store on their awaited full-length, Oblivion Aeternam.


Recorded by Mythraeum and Ethan Stouder, the album was mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklsym, Malevolent Creation, Exodus) and is ripe for fans of classic black metal like Emperor, Dimmu Borgir, and Dark Funeral as well as taking inspiration from groups like Wintersun and Kalmah.


“This album means so much to us as we have worked diligently on it for two years now! Being able to finally unleash our first full-length upon the world has us very ecstatic and anxious for everyone to hear it,” states Mythraeum. “The album itself shows the progression of an already failing society falling into the hands of an armageddon where the earth is reclaiming its throne and cosmic deities have this sort of reign on any last grasp of humanity. All the while, the protagonist of our story is fighting off any evil that roams the lands only to be met with a crushing sense of existentialism. We feel as though these dark and romantic ideas that tantalize our own existence definitely mirror the musical prowess of this album. We hope that through ‘Oblivion Aeternam’ you may embody these emotions and become one with us... for we are all Mythras!!!”


Oblivion Aeternam’will be released on June 6 on Digital, Digipak CD w/booklet and a special 2LP pressing, limited to 300 copies of pure denim colored vinyl, which adds Mythraeum's 2023 EP Halls of Mythras as a bonus for side 4.


Pre-order here.





Tracklisting:


"Dawn Of Reckoning"
"Crown And Sepsis"
"Harbinger's Chant"
"Halls Of Forgotten Will"
"The Hunter's Dream"
"Halls Of Mythras (Reincarnation)"
"Terrestrial Despair"
"Skies Torn Asunder"
"Through The Nether"
"Beyond The Void"


"Skies Torn Asunder" lyric video:

Multi-platinum rock band, Staind, was presented with commemorative plaques in celebration of their #1 rock album and two #1 singles at Sonic Temple music festival in Columbus, OH.


Staind’s latest album, Confessions Of The Fallen, released in 2023, reached #1 on Billboard’s Rock Album chart. So far, the album has generated two #1 singles, “Lowest In Me” and “Here and Now” on the Active Rock Radio singles chart.


The band’s latest single, “Better Days” is currently Top 20 moving up quickly on the active rock radio chart. The track is consistently streaming over 500,000 plays per week in the US.







Staind’s co-headline tour with Breaking Benjamin and special guests Daughtry and Lakeview, kicks off September 10 in Burgettstown, PA.


Dates:


September
10 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
11 - Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
13 - Noblesville, IN - Ruoff Music Center
14 - Tinley Park, IL - Credit Union Ampitheatre
18 - Gilford, NH - BankNH Pavilion
19 - Wantagh, NY - Northwest Health at Jones Beach Theater
21 - Raleigh, NC - Coastal Credit Union
22 - Charlotte, NC - PNC Music Pavilion      
26 - West Palm Beach, FL - ITHINK Financial Amphitheatre
28 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre


October
1 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
3 - Denver, CO - The JunkYard
5 - West Valley City, UT - Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
6 - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Amphitheatre
8 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
9 - Portland, OR - Moda Center
13 - Anaheim, CA - Honda Center
15 - Las Vegas, NV - Bakkt Theater at Planet Hollywood
18 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Ampitheatre
19 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheatre
22 - Dallas, TX - Dos Equis Pavilion
24 - The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
25 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater


(Pictured at top from left to right: Sal Giancarelli, Staind; Danny Wimmer, Danny Wimmer Presents; Aaron Lewis, Staind; Joe Guzik, Alchemy Recordings; Mike Mushok, Staind; Johnny April, Staind; Ryan Harlacher, CAA; and manager Ben Kitterman of Vector management)

Canadian modern power metal icons, Unleash The Archers, released their massive sixth studio album, Phantoma, on May 10 via Napalm Records. The album has hit the charts in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and Switzerland. 


Napalm Records: "Congratulations to Unleash The Archers on their amazing chart success! Their latest album has stormed the charts, and we couldn't be prouder. Thank you to all the fans for your incredible support."


Check out the new BraveWords feature story on Unleash The Archers, featuring an interview with vocalist Brittney Slayes, here.







The band ushered in release week with the epic album closer anthem "Blood Empress". The track tells a bittersweet tale with spine-tingling, grooving choruses before closing with a grandiose blastbeat attack amid a sea of voices.


On the new concept album, listeners join protagonist Phantoma, a Phase 4 / Network Tier 0 unit - model A, on an inspiring yet harrowing journey as she discovers the brutal truths behind the manufactured sheen of social media posturing on a dystopian, near-future planet earth. With the band’s one-of-a-kind blend of power metal, traditional heavy metal, modern prog and pop sensibilities, Phantoma spins a web of sharp musicality, high sci-fi concept and important social commentary.


Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers says about “Blood Empress”: "This was the last song that we wrote for the album and we wrote it together in our Airbnb while we were recording. We always like to save one song to write together in the studio to give a kind of snapshot of the headspace we were in while recording, and this one was a ton of fun. We wanted to do a bit more of a radio rock track and have it be something simple that would be a blast to play live and potentially end the set with. The album story ends with Phantoma having destroyed both The Collective and the Human Council that once stood against her, but now she had all of robotkind and humankind looking to her for where to go next. We wanted the song to feel dark but also triumphant, and to hopefully be catchy enough to make the listener want to start the album all over again. The video was filmed once again by RuneGate Studio and they did an awesome job with finding a set that could parry between both the synthetic and the human sides of the story. We all love this track in UTA and hope that you all can bang your heads to it too!"


Watch the official music video for “Blood Empress”:





Intertwining reality with imagination, Unleash The Archers were inspired to utilize elements of AI during the creation of Phantoma, in keeping with its innovative theme. Frontwoman and lyricist Brittney Slayes conjured the album's concept in 2021; before the swarm of pressing commentary surrounding AI began to reach an all-time high.


The band weaved electronic and synthwave elements throughout the album’s 10 colossal anthems, which - in line with its theme - prove much darker and heavier in comparison to the bright positivity of Abyss. Album opener “Human Era” sets the tone with imagery of a bleak, windswept futurescape that crescendos headlong into the breakneck pace of power metal bastion “Ph4/NT0mA” - a masterwork of dueling guitar solos and vocal acrobatics. Trad-metal influenced “Buried In Code” lights the way with pummeling rhythms before the album’s path turns dark on heavy metal hardened “The Collective”, with Brittney Slayes’ warm tones inviting the listener to ‘join or stand aside’! Hair-raising first single “Green & Glass” unveils the truth before the upbeat 80s flavored “Gods In Decay” and the extraordinary balladic anthem “Give It Up Or Give It All” showcase the varied song writing prowess of Unleash The Archers’ modern era. A trifecta of concept closers begins with the moody “Ghosts In The Mist”, leading into the soaring yet menacing “Seeking Vengeance” before closing with the bittersweet tale of “Blood Empress”.


Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in their towering musical trajectory.





Phantoma will be available in the following formats:      


- Earbook Edition with 2CD (2 Bonus Tracks and instrumental version of the album), 7" Single (2 bonus tracks on Black vinyl), 60 pp booklet (Napalm Mail Order only - limited to 1000)
- -2LP Gatefold in Phantoma Cristallo Multicolored Splatter (Napalm Mail Order only - limited to 300) - NEW!
- 2LP Gatefold in Marbled Orange Red with 24 page vinyl booklet and artprint (Napalm Mail Order only - limited to 300) - SOLD OUT!
- 2LP Gatefold in Glow In the Dark (Napalm Mail Order only - limited to 300)
- 2LP Gatefold in Splatter Aquamarine Orange (Napalm International Mail Order only - limited to 300)
- 2LP Gatefold in Transparent Lime Green (Napalm North American Mail Order only - limited to 300)
- 2LP Gatefold in Silver (North American indie retail only - limited to 700)
- 2LP Gatefold in Black      
- Cassette Tape Edition in Fluorescent Green with White Print (Napalm Mail Order only - limited to 200)
- Jewel Case CD Edition
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.





Phantoma tracklisting:


"Human Era"
"Ph4/NT0mA"
"Buried In Code"
"The Collective"
"Green & Glass"
"Gods In Decay"
"Give It Up Or Give It All"
"Ghosts In The Mist"
"Seeking Vengeance"
"Blood Empress"


“Seeking Vengeance” video:





“Ghosts In The Mist” video:





"Green & Glass" video:





Unleash The Archers will tour across the globe in 2024, with dates already announced in North America, Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. See below for all currently booked tour dates.


European Festivals:


July
5 - Ballenstedt, Germany - Rock Harz
6 - Knislinge, Sweden - Time To Rock
12 - Visovice, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock
19 - Laukaa, Finland - John Smith Fest
21 - Baile Figa, RO @ Celtic Transylvania


August
2 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air
9 - Villena, Spain - Leyendas Del Rock
10 - Walton-On-Trent, UK - Bloodstock


Supporting Powerwolf in North America:


August
29 - Los Angeles, CA - The Hollywood Palladium
31 - Denver, CO - The Ogden Theatre


September
3 - Chicago, IL - The Riviera Theatre
4 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora Theatre
5 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
7 - Tampa, FL - Jannus Landing
8 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade
9 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
12 - Philadelphia, PA - The Fillmore
13 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
14 - New York City, NY - Brooklyn Paramount
15 - Laval, QC - Place Bell





Unleash The Archers lineup:


Brittney Slayes - Vocals
Scott Buchanan - Drums
Grant Truesdell - Guitar, Vocals
Andrew Kingsley - Guitar, Vocals
Nick Miller - Bass


(Photo - Shimon Karmel)

In a new interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, SOULFLY leader Max Cavalera spoke about the musical direction of the band's upcoming follow-up to 2022's "Totem" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I really liked the early SOULFLY stuff because it was more tribal and more groove. And now because I have [the] CAVALERA and GO AHEAD AND DIE [projects], I can be as heavy as I want with CAVALERA that it leaves me SOULFLY to be something quite different. I can mold SOULFLY a bit different now where SOULFLY is really kind of like more of a groove-oriented tribal band. And I think that's really, in a lot of people's perception, that was the best of SOULFLY was like that. So, it's not that I'm jumping on the bandwagon of nu metal; it's not really that. It's just that I think that the early SOULFLY had some kind of magic that, through the years we kind of lost that magic. And I think we're trying to bring it back with this new record that is gonna come out next year."

Elaborating on what fans can expect to hear on SOULFLY's upcoming thirteenth album, Max said: "I think it's gonna be cool because it's also influenced by other stuff I'm listening to at the moment, like KUBLAI KHAN and JESUS PIECE and KNOCKED LOOSE, JUDICIARY. So there's really heavy breakdown grooves together with tribal drums. It's gonna be cool, man. It's gonna be a real cool album that I am very excited to create. And, of course, also the fact that my mother passed away last year, I'm gonna make this album for her. It's a homage to her. So it's gonna be also a spiritual record for me because of that. So it's gonna be a special record, for sure. It's been [two] years since 'Totem'. 'Totem' was our last record. I think we are inspired to create something special next year."

This past March, Max was asked by Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", if guitarist Mike DeLeon, who has been touring with SOULFLY for more than a year, will be featured on the band's next LP. Max responded: "I'm leaving it open for now. Mike is gonna jam with us. We have some festivals in the U.S. I think we're doing, and we're also doing the LAMB OF GOD boat [Headbangers Boat], the cruise. That should be fun as hell. And Mike will play with us for that. He's a great guy. I love Mike."

He continued: "I don't know. It's too early to know where I'm gonna go with this record — if I'm gonna try to find somebody else to record or if we're just gonna roll with Mike. We don't know yet. I haven't even — I [only] have a few riffs written [so far]."

Asked if he writes music for I whatever record or project he is working on or if he puts riffs aside for certain records, Max said: "When I lock in on a project, I get very obsessed with the project. I become so obsessed that everything I'm writing is for this and I know exactly what it needs, what kind of sound I'm looking for. And SOULFLY, I'm kind of planning a little bit of a return to the early sound. The big-groove tribal sound will return to SOULFLY. I think a lot of fans want that. I love that. I think it's kind of like a trademark of SOULFLY that kind of got lost in the shuffle through the years. We went more into the trashier side of stuff. But now I have [my side project] GO AHEAD AND DIE that I can trash all I want in it. I can have SOULFLY be a little bit more what it was in the beginning — more about that, the whole tribal thing, which is really cool and unique. It's a unique thing that SOULFLY has. So we're gonna probably go back more to that, which should be really cool."

Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.

In February, Max told Ghost Cult's Keefy that SOULFLY's follow-up to "Totem" likely wouldn't arrive before 2025.

"Totem", came out in August 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by Max Cavalera alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP),and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

The Europa Press Andalucía YouTube channel has uploaded professionally filmed video of AC/DC performing the song "If You Want Blood (You've Got It)" earlier tonight (Wednesday, May 29) at Estadio La Cartuja in Seville, Spain. Check it out below.

The setlist for the show was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
02. Back In Black
03. Demon Fire
04. Shot Down In Flames
05. Thunderstruck
06. Have A Drink On Me
07. Hells Bells
08. Shot In The Dark
09. Stiff Upper Lip
10. Shoot To Thrill
11. Sin City
12. Rock 'N' Roll Train
13. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
14. High Voltage
15. Riff Raff
16. You Shook Me All Night Long
17. Highway To Hell
18. Whole Lotta Rosie
19. Let There Be Rock

Encore:

20. T.N.T.
21. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

The "Power Up" European tour marks AC/DC's first with the band's new touring lineup consisting of singer Brian Johnson, guitarists Angus and Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and the latest addition to the group's touring lineup, bassist Chris Chaney.

The 24-date trek will run through August. The trek will hit the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland before landing at London's Wembley Stadium for a pair of shows on July 3 and 7, then moving on to Germany, Slovakia and Paris and winding down at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The European tour is the first run of gigs since AC/DC's return to the stage at last year's rock Power Trip festival in Indio, California.

AC/DC's last tour took place in 2015 and 2016 and had a $180 million gross, with 2,310,061 sold tickets reported to the Pollstar box office.

Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alanis Morissette, Alice Cooper, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and Vasco Rossi. Matt moved to Los Angeles after graduating from South Florence High School in 1986 and after attending college in L.A., Matt became a sought-after studio drummer.

In 2001, Laug supported AC/DC as part of SLASH'S SNAKEPIT on the North American and European legs of the "Stiff Upper Lip" tour.

In its announcement about Laug's addition to the band's Power Trip lineup, AC/DC offered no explanation for the absence of the band's longtime drummer Phil Rudd, who rejoined AC/DC for the recording of the group's comeback album, "Power Up", which came out in November 2020.

Rudd was ousted from AC/DC when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band's "Rock Or Bust" tour by Chris Slade, who had previously served as AC/DC's drummer between 1989 and 1994, playing on the album "The Razor's Edge".

Rudd, who appeared on all but three of AC/DC's 18 previous studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job". It was the release of that album that led indirectly to Rudd's arrest, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.

AC/DC postponed the last 10 dates of its spring 2016 North American trek after Johnson was advised to stop playing live or "risk total hearing loss." The band went on to complete the European and North American legs of its "Rock Or Bust" tour with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist." At the time, Johnson had been AC/DC's singer for 36 years, ever since replacing the late Bon Scott in 1980 and making his debut on the classic "Back In Black" album.

To enable him to perform live with AC/DC again, the now-76-year-old Johnson worked with audio expert Stephen Ambrose, who said he could help resolve the singer's hearing problems.

Ambrose, who invented the wireless in-ear monitors that are widely used by touring artists today, claimed to have invented a new type of ear-bud that would allow Johnson to perform without causing further damage to his eardrums. After three years of experimenting and "miniaturizing" the equipment, Johnson previously said the technology could allow him to tour again.

Chaney is best known as the bassist of JANE'S ADDICTION and as a member of Alanis Morissette's touring and recording band. Chaney was also a member of TAYLOR HAWKINS AND THE COATTAIL RIDERS and CAMP FREDDY, as well as being a prolific and versatile session musician, having played with artists including Joe Cocker, Shakira, Slash and Avril Lavigne to Sara Bareilles, Gavin Degraw, Cher, SHINEDOWN and Celine Dion. Chaney is also a founding member and partner in the all-star supergroup ROYAL MACHINES along with Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION),Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY),Josh Freese (FOO FIGHTERS) and Billy Morrison (BILLY IDOL).

Bassist Cliff Williams announced his retirement at the end of AC/DC's 2015-2016 "Rock Or Bust" tour, which also saw Johnson leaving. However, Williams — and Johnson — took part in the recording sessions that resulted in "Power Up". Both of them were also part of the AC/DC lineup that performed at Power Trip.

During an October 2020 interview with Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, Cliff was asked if Johnson's departure from the road was what led to his desire to stop touring. Cliff responded: "It was before then. I spoke to Angus about it initially. I was at a point — and this is at the beginning of the 'Rock Or Bust' tour — that I just felt, for me, it was time to hang it up. I knew that I didn't wanna keep doing these two-year tours, and I didn't wanna hold them back, so I made them aware of the fact that this was gonna be my last go-round. It was a tough tour to finish. God bless Axl for coming in and helping us out, finish it up. He did a great job. And at the end of that, I was definitely — that was it for me. Done — just done. That compounded the whole thing."

According to Williams, he wanted to take part in the recording sessions for "Power Up" as a tribute to Angus's late brother, founding AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who died in 2017 from effects of dementia at age 64. Malcolm is credited as a writer on all 12 tracks on "Power Up".

"If 'Back In Black' has [late AC/DC singer] Bon Scott all over it, for me, 'Power Up' has got Malcolm Young," Cliff said. "This is for him. And it's the band that we played together with for 40-plus years. And I wanted to do that — I wanted to come back and do that.

"We did some rehearsals earlier [in 2020] before this darn COVID thing popped up, and we had great rehearsals," he continued. "The band was playing really well. So [they asked me], 'Do you wanna do a few shows? 'Sure'. A few shows. We were planning on doing that. Everyone goes home to their respective homes, and bang, we've been here ever since [because of the coronavirus-related shutdown]."

Cliff went on to confirm that his commitment to AC/DC was only for "a few" dates in support of "Power Up".

"For both [my mental and physical] health," he said. "I definitely have some physical issues, which I won't bore you with the details of. But, yeah, it's tough. I'm very grateful for everything. It's been fantastic. But I just don't wanna do that anymore."

Williams previously revealed that a "terrible" bout with vertigo contributed to his 2016 retirement. He also admitted the return of both Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd convinced him to rejoin the group. "It was like the old band back together," he told Rolling Stone. "It was not like starting over again, but as close to the band that's been together for 40-plus years as we can possibly make it. I didn't want to miss that."

The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust", "Power Up" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and "Rock Or Bust".

Black Lodge Records proudly announces the signing of Thermality, a rising force in the realm of melodic death metal. Hailing from the heart of Sweden, Thermality brings a fresh and innovative approach to the genre, blending nostalgic elements with a contemporary edge.


To celebrate, the band shares a new track "Stranger", the first single from their forthcoming studio album, The Final Hours. Watch a lyric video below.


Since their inception in 2020, Thermality has ascended swiftly, garnering plenty of acclaim for their debut album, Before I Get To Rest, released in February 2023. Building upon this success, in June of 2023 the band unveiled their first EP, Tales From The North, which received widespread praise from fans and critics alike.




With their upcoming album The Final Hours, set to be released August 16, Thermality invites metal enthusiasts worldwide to embark on a journey of old-school aggression and modern innovation. Recorded at the esteemed Studio Fredman and expertly mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström, this album represents a pinnacle of the band's creative prowess.





The Final Hours tracklisting:


"MMXXIV"
"Weeping Angels"
"Thorns Of Salem"
"Fire Will Reign"
"Stranger"
"Windigo"
"Clones"
"Forsaken"
"Nightfall"
"The Hunter & The Nightmare"
"The Guardian"
"Divinity Pt.1"
"Divinity Pt.2"


"Stranger" lyric video:





Thermality are:


Hampus Sätterlund - Drums
Ludvig Sommar - Vocals
Noel Hoflund Jonsson - Guitar
Ture Skärfstad Stål - Bass
Walter Hamilton - Guitar


(Photo - Anna Synnerö)

In a recent interview with Brazil's Sonoridades Inc., singer Cristina Scabbia of Italian goth metal veterans LACUNA COIL weighed in on a debate about people using an A.I. (artificial intelligence) music generator as a tool to create melodies, harmonies and rhymes based on artificial intelligence (A.I.) algorithms and machine learning (M.L.) models. Cristina said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I still have to know more about A.I. My first impression is that I hate it deeply. I think that it could be interesting and useful in many ways. But what humans are capable of, it's never 100 percent good. So I know that it will go downward. I mean, we could use it to explore galaxies, we could use it to get better in medicines and science, but I know that a lot of people will be using it for bad reasons.

"Speaking about music, I am confident that the creativity that a human being with emotions, with a soul can have will not be comparable, hopefully ever, to A.I.," she continued. "I think about songs like — I don't know — the one of THE POLICE, 'De-do-do-do, de-da-da-da, is all I want to say to you.' And A.I. would be scratching the forehead, if it had one, and say, like, 'What is this? What does it mean?' But it sounds good. It's rhythmically good. It works with that voice.

"There are so many things you have to bring together to write music, to [put] emotion [across to] other people, to give the emotion that for A.I., it's difficult to bring this emotion because it doesn't have one — yet," Scabbia added. "But my actual opinion is just, like, I want to continue to write music without A.I. for a long time… Maybe it can be helpful. This is my first opinion because I don't know that much. Maybe I don't want to know that much about A.I. I just want to keep it there, just like, 'Eh. I don't know if I wanna know you.'"

During the same chat, Cristina revealed that she and her LACUNA COIL bandmates have completed the demoing process for their follow-up to 2019's "Black Anima" album. She said: "If everything goes as projected, before the end of the year [the new LP] will be released."

LACUNA COIL has just completed the "Ignite The Fire" U.S. tour with support from NEW YEARS DAY and OCEANS OF SLUMBER.

Last month, LACUNA COIL released another new single, "In The Mean Time", featuring Ash Costello of NEW YEARS DAY. The song's title is a reference to the mean times the world is living in, as well as a reference to the state the band itself is in, between cycles.

Last July, LACUNA COIL released the official lyric video for "Never Dawn". For the track, LACUNA COIL partnered with CMON, the renowned board game publisher behind the popular game "Zombicide".

LACUNA COIL has spent some of the last couple of years promoting "Comalies XX", the "deconstructed" and "transported" version of the band's third album, "Comalies".

"Comalies XX" was made available on October 14, 2022 via Century Media Records.

LACUNA COIL celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Comalies", by performing it in its entirety at a one-night-only concert on October 15, 2022 at Fabrique in Milano.

"Comalies" was originally released on October 29, 2002 through Century Media Records. The LP, which featured the band's breakthrough single "Heaven's A Lie", has reportedly gone on to sell over 300,000 copies in the United States alone.

Burial Extraction provides listeners with five ruthless songs for their new EP, Expelled, to be released on June 17.


Serving as a bridge to close the gap between their debut, A Shadow Of Things To Come, and their next full-length, the tracks they unleash here include the acclaimed "Out Of The Way" and four more that will assault your ears with the sonic razing the new kings of old school death metal have come to be known for.


Not only was this recorded and produced at the renowned Corzine Studio, multi-instrumentalist Derek Corzine officially joins the ranks of Burial Extraction to add another level of ferocity to their sound.




"I also already have another full-length record done. I thought the songs on the EP worked together better, so I wrote those after I wrote the record. So the record is already written, but I side stepped it to write the EP. I think records and EP's should have some coherence, and so, if a song doesn't fit, I set it aside until there's enough other songs to fit it with," shared lyricist and chief songwriter Brian Lyda.


You can pre-order Expelled on CD/Digital here





Tracklisting:


"Out Of The Way"
"Behold"
"Maggot Infestation"
"Creeping In Unnoticed"
"Expelled"


"Out Of The Way" video:

Reverend Horton Heat released a cover of the Motörhead classic "Ace of Spades" on Fun-Guy Records on May 21st. It is now available on all digital platforms.


The band had a long relationship with Lemmy Kilmister, the lead singer and bassist for Motörhead. Frontman Jim Heath comments: 


"Lemmy was always at our L.A. and Hollywood shows which was really flattering for us Then, that friendship eventually led to us recording with him, having him join the band onstage for a tour and a North American tour with Motörhead. During our rehearsals for the tour where we backed up Lemmy, I asked him if we were going to play 'Ace of Spades'. Lemmy said in his somewhat gruff English accent, 'No, we won’t be doing that song!' I replied, 'C’mon Lemmy, 'Ace of Spades' is probably your biggest song, that’s just giving the people what they want!' Lemmy then said, 'Never give them what they want, give them what they need!' 




"Looking back on what he said, I still don’t think I understand what he was talking about! But we had worked up the song already – we knew it. So, we would play it sometimes with friends sitting in and singing, then I just decided one day that I would sing it. Now, it has become a staple of our set, so we decided to record it."


In April of 2024, the band with Jimbo Wallace on bass and Jonathan Jeter on drums went into Empire Sound in the Dallas area and recorded "Ace of Spades". It’s a rollicking and fast rendition with a bit of the Reverend Horton Heat’s own style mixed in with much of the same arrangement as the original Motörhead version. Heath says, "We did kind of morphed our approach more toward a metal type of feel, but it’s obviously still us. It’s fun. It’s all about fun."

Verikalpa has released a lyric video for "Noijan Sauna", a single from the new album, Tuomio, released in April via Scarlet Records. Watch below:





Tuomio is the most accessible record ever in Verikalpa's discography, and yet another intense and aggressive display of power. The new album showcases an exceptional guitar work and a pristine production, enhancing the majestic melodies for which they are known for and taking their songwriting to the next level.




Lyrically-wise, this is a mixed bag of fictional stories about drinking, partying, fighting, and of course a bunch of crazy Finnish folklore creatures setting up the stage. A very fun and easy collection of songs & tales to listen to, alongside rivers of beer and weird Northern liquors.


Artwork by Alvaro Valverde/AV Art Ilustracion (Unanimated, Night Crowned, Krilloan, Drown In Sulphur):





Tracklisting:


“Arvon Tuomari”
“Laulava Vainaja”
“Noijan Sauna”
“Sammalysnti”
“Tuhkakruunu”
“Tulimerten Taa”
“Hakkaa Hakkaa”
“Maat Hauraan Hautaa”
“Eksyneet”
“Veritonttu”
“Kaunan Valta”
“Tuomio”


“Arvon Tuomari” video:





“Sammalysnti” video:





Verikalpa:
Jani Ikonen - vocals
Sami Ikonen - guitar
Janne Niva - guitar
Jussi Sauvola - keyboards
Sami Knuutinen - bass
Jari Huttunen - drums


(Photo – Jani Kakko / Kaja Films)

In a new interview with the Nothing Shocking podcast, PARALANDRA vocalist/guitarist Casandra Carson spoke about the status of her THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT in which she is joined by STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "As of just less than a week ago, Josh is back playing guitar. He had back surgery that he'd been out of commission for a little over a year at this point, so we've just kind of been waiting for his recovery. So now the plans are to continue writing. We've already got, like, five songs that have been written and recorded that we just haven't released 'cause we wanna be able to actually go out and tour and support it when we do release it. So, yeah, [we're] kind of getting back into the swing of things, but I'm super excited. It's some good music."

Regarding how she balances PARALANDRA and THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, Casandra said: "It's difficult. PARALANDRA is my baby and I live in Springfield [Missouri], and that's where everybody lives for PARALANDRA. So it's much easier to get together twice a week to have practices. And we write songs organically right there in the garage, whereas with Josh, it's, like, you send off the track to get drums recorded and then you send it off to get the bass done. It's a very different process. So I'm kind of in two different worlds, but I do try to do both of them at the same time as often as I can."

In September 2022, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT released a new single, "Dying Of The Light".

Earlier that year, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT completed a run of U.S. dates as the support act for ALICE IN CHAINS, BREAKING BENJAMIN and BUSH.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT made its live debut on April 30, 2022 at The Riff in Springfield, Missouri.

In an interview with HardDrive Radio's Lou Brutus, Rand stated about THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT: "In a sense, it was just something that I started doing a [few] years ago, just writing music myself. And then I just decided I wanted to get a female vocalist, basically, to work on these songs and sing on them. And I found Casandra through a mutual friend — actually, STONE SOUR's [then-]A&R person, Dave Rath — and we hit it off. And then we've just been working on stuff kind of just here and there.

"So, that's really what it's about," he continued. "It's just me musically trying different stuff, but also getting back to where I originally came from, as far as my musical journey. So it's kind of getting back to my roots and just having fun with it. That's what THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is for me — it's a different vehicle to express myself, I guess, artistically with truly no boundaries, but leaning more towards, musically, I think, coming at it as an educated teenager. What I mean by that is it's the fire of that teenager — that drive, that style of music that I was playing 30 years ago — but now doing it with the experience, the knowledge and all that. So it's kind of like revisiting the past, in a way, or going home in some ways."

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT released a four-song EP, titled "Big F.O.U.R.", in March 2022 via Bloodblast. The collection featured a clutch of cover versions, one each from heavy music's pioneering icons METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX.

Rand previously stated about the EP: "Recording a 'Big F.O.U.R.' cover EP is something that I have wanted to do for a very, very long time, and [in the] fall [of 2021] I decided to finally do it with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT.

"Without these four bands (METALLICA, MEGADETH, ANTHRAX and SLAYER),my musical career wouldn't be where it is today. In some ways, you could say this project is paying homage to them or, how I see it, a return to where it all started in my parents' house as a teenager trying to learn just a piece of the music.

"Each of the four songs that I picked were pivotal in my development as a musician, whether it was learning the intro to 'One' on guitar, drums on 'Symphony [Of Destruction]' or bass lines in 'Caught In A Mosh'.

"This EP was a true love and passion project for myself. I feel I captured the vibe and the spirit of the original but with THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT sound. Hopefully you hear it too!"

Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's debut self-titled EP came out in the summer of 2021 and was made available exclusively through the band's webstore or via the Nuclear Blast store.

Josh and Casandra's debut single, "The Nothingness", was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's "Test Drive" show on release.

“This is not a side project. It’s a new touring and recording band, and with Forever We Burn, our debut studio album, we’re showing our love for all things gothic and grand, along with a collective belief that dark music doesn’t have to be confined to the shadows.” - Aaron Stainthorpe


Behold the revelation! Behold the birth of ‘death pop'! High Parasite emerges into the light, unveiling its debut album, Forever We Burn, set for release via Candlelight / Spinefarm on September 27.


Lighting the way is the inaugural single, "Let It Fail", a nihilistic anthem fusing big riffs, choruses, and grooves with electronic and industrial influences, whilst the ethereal vocals of Heather Thompson (Tapping The Vein) nod to her previous work with Paradise Lost. This cry of anguish to a world scarred beyond repair is accompanied by a video directed by Shaun Hodson (Loki Films).




Listen to the track here, watch the video below.


Forever We Burn features 10 new tracks, all produced by Gregor Mackintosh (Paradise Lost), who also adds some signature guitar lines; as a body of work, it both delves into the darker recesses of the human condition and heralds the arrival of a new name and a familiar, formidable voice.


The name (an acknowledgment of mankind as parasite-in-chief) is High Parasite; the voice is Aaron Stainthorpe – longstanding frontman with doom metal maestros, My Dying Bride.


As a revered and founding pillar of My Dying Bride, with a legacy spanning over three decades, the spotlight will doubtless focus on Aaron’s distinctive profile, initially at least; pull back the red velvet curtains, however, and another force emerges in the form of bassist/vocalist/songwriter Tombs – a key player in the creation of High Parasite as a livin’, breathin’ entity.


Every song bears the indelible stamp of Stainthorpe and Tombs, their collaboration forming the dark, pulsating core of this five-piece ensemble, fleshed out by Sam Hill (rhythm guitar), Jonny Hunter (lead guitar), and Dan Brown (drums).


Comments Aaron, “The band has been lurking in the shadows, developing, growing, and evolving, and is now ready to unveil its own brand of darkness to the world. Skating the lines between metal, gothic rock and dark synth-pop, High Parasite is here, and death pop is born!”


Pre-order Forever We Burn here.





Forever We Burn tracklisting:


"Forever We Burn"
"My Syndrome"
"Grave Intentions"
"Wasn’t Human"
"Concentric Nightmares"
"Hate Springs Eternal"
"Parasite"
"Let It Fail"
"Widowmaker"
"We Break We Die"


"Let It Fail" video:





High Parasite will take their realm of dark music to major venues across the UK and Ireland in October and November in support of Cradle Of Filth. Don’t miss the special Halloween performance at London’s O2 Forum Kentish Town on October 31. Check out the full list of dates below.


October
27 - Bristol, England - O2 Academy
28 - Bournemouth, England - O2 Academy
29 - Birmingham, England - O2 Institute
31 - London, England - O2 Forum Kentish Town


November
1 - Swansea, Wales - Patti Pavilion
2 - Manchester, England - Damnation Festival
3 - Nottingham, England - Rock City
5 - Belfast, Ireland - Limelight
6 - Dublin, Ireland -Academy
7 - Glasgow, Scotland - SWG3
8 - Newcastle, England - NX


(Photo - Andy Ford)

In a recent interview with Brazil's Headbangers News, guitarist Andrew Craighan of English doom metal pioneers MY DYING BRIDE was asked when fans can expect to see him and his bandmates on tour in support of their latest album, "A Mortal Binding". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm sorry. I really, really don't have a real answer for that. To try and give you some understanding that MY DYING BRIDE is not a full-time band. We all have very much normal jobs and sadly that drags on our time, as you can imagine. And, obviously, it means we have to ask permission to leave work and all those kind of things. So that's one difficulty. And also the distance, because we would need more than one gig for the promoters to make it make sense and all those kinds of things. So the sad and real answer is I don't have an answer. But on the plus side on this, if there is a light at the end of this well, we do think about it. We do try, and our agent does listen to various promoters and tries to get things going. But like everybody else, we're at the mercy of how it all works and how our professional jobs keep us sort of — not necessarily held back, but it's all got to align."

He added: "I mean, we have some problems to sort out. Some people have some personal problems that we need to sort of overcome. It's not insurmountable… I know people are concerned because obviously people, they care for the band in ways that we didn't expect. But I reckon we'll be okay. Everything's a little bit messy right now. We have some things that we have to organize and iron out, let's say, but it's not insurmountable."

Last month, MY DYING BRIDE issued an official statement regarding the recent revelation that they were canceling all of their previously announced 2024 tour dates, including an appearance at this year's Maryland Deathfest. The band said: "The production of this latest album was arduous and challenging to such an extent that it has revealed fractures within the band. These tensions had already been observed during the creation of the previous 2 albums and were only exacerbated during the Covid period. Over the past few months, they have intensified, causing a profound sense of discontent among the band members. The resulting stress and the pervasive feeling of burnout, along with the physical and mental malaise it creates, necessitated a period of time off which unfortunately impacts on live shows.

"The reason for the lack of an official statement until now is because the band has truly hoped to resolve these internal issues and perform some shows this year while trying find a resolution in time to satisfy all parties involved. Sadly, this resolution is yet to be found.

"Regrettably, a lack of understanding and poor communication from our professional partners has resulted in an untimely and chaotic mess from which a recovery is challenging. However, the promoters have now been officially contacted and it is hoped that steps can be taken to minimise the impact on you all.

"We apologise for keeping you in the dark, but these are indeed challenging times."

The follow-up to 2019's "The Ghost Of Orion", "A Mortal Binding" came out on April 19 via Nuclear Blast Records.

MY DYING BRIDE hired "The Ghost Of Orion" studio wizard Mark Mynett to produce, mix, and master "A Mortal Binding". The group holed up at Mynett's Mynetaur Productions (PARADISE LOST, ROTTING CHRIST) in Manchester, U.K., where they tracked the album consecutively from July to September 2023.

MY DYING BRIDE is:

Aaron Stainthorpe - vocals
Andrew Craighan - guitars
Lena Abé - bass
Shaun MacGowan - keyboards, violin
Neil Blanchett - guitars
Dan Mullins - drums

My Kingdom Music is proud to announce the signing of French evocative black metal duo, Berlial. Their sophomore album, Nourishing The Disaster To Come, will be released in the early days of 2025 on digipakCD, LP & digital format.


Here is what the band says: "We are happy to announce our agreement with My Kingdom Music and above all to present our new album soon because behind it there has really been a huge amount of work, full of details that make it an extremely personal and unique creature."
 
Nourishing The Disaster To Come was built with a sort of cinematic narrative. Its atmospheres, the samples, the spoken speeches, the music built like a wall of sound, make everything extreme, oppressive and delirious but at the same time with a truly unique oniric dimension.


What Berlial offer with it is a polymorphic and very iconoclastic black metal with electronic, post-rock and dungeon synth elements which brings them alongside bands such as Dødheimsgard, Akhlys, Blut Aus Nord, Deadspace, Afraid Of Destinity, Raven Throne, Decline Of The I.







Lineup:


Hsod - guitars, bass, programing, back vocals
CzH: lead vocals, keyboards


Special guest: Bargnatt XIX (Ophe, Område, Ecr.Linf) - additional voice

After a ten-year hiatus, Birmingham’s heavy metal heavyweights, Under Blackened Skies, are back with a thunderous return. Marking their resurgence, the band is set to re-release "Part Together", a track that has remained a fan favorite since its original debut in 2010.


"Part Together" captures the essence of Under Blackened Skies' powerful sound and profound lyrical depth. The song delves into themes of chaos, self-discovery, and unity, resonating deeply with listeners through its intense and evocative lyrics that remind listeners that We are together, WE STAND AS ONE!!


The re-release of "Part Together" not only celebrates the band's legacy but also introduces their raw and potent sound to a new generation of metal fans. The track's intricate composition and powerful message exemplify Under Blackened Skies’ mastery in blending fierce instrumentation with thought-provoking storytelling.




Under Blackened Skies is a metal band formed in Birmingham, UK, in 2008. Known for their intense live performances and thought-provoking lyrics, the band has garnered a dedicated following worldwide. With a renewed lineup and a passion for pushing musical boundaries, Under Blackened Skies continues to make waves in the metal scene.


"We are excited to bring back Under Blackened Skies, a huge piece of our lives, we are revitalised and itching to show you what we have been working on." says lead vocalist Manu. "‘Part Together’ is about the journey of self-discovery and the power of unity. In a world that often feels divided, we hope this song brings people together, reminding them that they are not alone in their struggles."


"Part Together" will be available on all major streaming platforms starting Friday, May 31. A visualiser video will premiere that morning.





To celebrate their comeback, Under Blackened Skies will perform a special return show at Dead Wax in Birmingham on Saturday, July 13t with Hands Of Attrition and Elyrean also joining the lineup.


Under Blackened Skies are:


Manu Patel - Vocals
Aaron Sheldon - Guitar
Chris Locke - Guitar
Dan Carter - Bass
Andy Davies - Drums

In a new interview with Andrew Daly of ClassicRockHistory.com, Kerry King was asked about his outlook on SLAYER's upcoming reunion shows. He said: "It's not really much different at all. It's the same heads, same cabs, same pedals, same guitars. You know, there will be a lot of fire when SLAYER plays, and I think, yeah, those shows will just be fun. It'll be fun to play with Gary Holt [SLAYER guitarist] for a few gigs; I haven't seen him in almost five years, so that will be cool. And it'll be cool to get together with Tom Araya [SLAYER bassist/vocalist] and spit some hate out at people, but don't get used to this being a yearly event."

Earlier this month, King was asked by SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" if he thinks SLAYER's upcoming reunion shows will have a positive or negative impact on the promotional efforts for his debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", which arrived on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. He responded: "I see it both ways. We've [SLAYER] been turning down [reunion] offers for the last four years. Unfortunately, when the right offer came around, this one, it was right as my project was releasing. So there's certainly people, like my management and booking agents, who say, 'Oh, that's great. It's gonna boost your solo thing.' And I'm, like, 'Well, I don't know the business side of it, but it is what it is.' And every time I talk about it to journalists and magazines and stuff, I say, 'Listen, SLAYER is not gonna make another record. SLAYER is never gonna tour again.' May SLAYER do a one-off here or there? Maybe. I told my [solo] band when [the SLAYER reunion shows] came up, I'm, like, 'Listen, this is a blip on the radar to me. This isn't a solo project that's gonna recycle musicians every record cycle. You guys are with me till you don't wanna be.'"

Asked if he envisions SLAYER as the type of thing where the band will do one or two shows a year when a great opportunity comes up, Kerry said: "I'm not even talking yearly. I'm, like, every two years, every three years, every five years. I don't know. 'Cause I'm gonna be super busy with [my solo band] once 2025 rolls around."

On the topic of whether he has spoken to Araya since SLAYER's reunion shows were announced, Kerry said: "I'll tell you the truth, 'cause you know that's how I roll. No, we haven't. But you know what's weird about that? It's not weird. [Laughs]"

He continued: "We'll go probably rehearse off and on for a couple weeks [before the first show], 'cause even though me and [SLAYER drummer] Paul [Bostaph, who is also in Kerry's solo band] will be sharp from playing, playing with different people, you've gotta get sharp together."

Elaborating on his belief that SLAYER's comeback shows will not lead into a full-fledged reunion for the legendary thrash metal act, Kerry said: "The way I look at it, and when I tell you this, it puts it into perspective for a lot of people, I see it as three five-year anniversary shows of our last tour."

Five years after SLAYER played the last concert of what was being billed as the band's farewell tour and just weeks after the SLAYER guitarist unveiled the details of his solo project, Kerry and his longtime bandmates announced that they will play at the Aftershock, Riot Fest and Louder Than Life festivals in September and October.

King previously addressed the SLAYER reunion while speaking to Revolver magazine about "From Hell I Rise". Asked if he had known about these shows well before they were officially announced, King said: "If you ask promoters, they're going to have another answer. If you ask booking agents, they'll probably have a third answer. But to me, it kind of came out of nowhere. Have we been getting offers the past few years? Yeah, we turn down offers every year, probably every month of every year. These three festivals are right around the five-year anniversary of our last tour, which I thought was kind of cool. So, I thought this might be the right time to test the water. It will be great to play for the fans again."

Regarding whether the upcoming SLAYER shows will steal some of the thunder away from the touring his solo band will do in support of "From Hell I Rise", Kerry said: "Well, time will tell, and my answer would be, 'hopefully not'. The funny thing is, it never occurred to me until the day the SLAYER announcement came, but [Phil] Demmel [guitarist in Kerry's solo band] said, 'Dude, is this real?' And I'm, like, 'It's just a few weekends and that's it.' Of course, Paul knew. But I didn't tell Phil, I didn't tell Kyle [Sanders, KERRY KING bassist] and didn't tell Mark [Osegueda, KERRY KING singer] — and I said to the guys, 'There's no master plan here.' I didn't want anybody to start getting cold feet. I said, 'This is a little moment in time, and yeah, KERRY KING is going to be touring, you know, hopefully later in the year, as well. But SLAYER is an entity and I'm just a person.' But hopefully, we drive on with the solo project."

King also spoke about the SLAYER reunion in an interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine. Admitting that the announcement of SLAYER's comeback "was not my favorite timing", Kerry said that the SLAYER reunion "is not going to translate into recording and it's not going to translate into touring. For me, it's three shows marking five years since our final shows, a fun, 'Hey, remember us from before the pandemic?' celebration."

Kerry also explained in more detail why he still has not spoken to Tom since the news of SLAYER's reunion was announced. "It's not like I'm angry with him or anything," King clarified. "We're very different people, and we evolved into business partners at the end of the day. He has very different interests from me, and very different outlooks. Does that make me hate him? No. But I don't need to talk to him every day… We just don't have much in common. When it comes time to rehearse, I'll have no problem showing up. We're professionals, and that's what we do."

When Kerry's solo project was first announced, King told Rolling Stone that he was almost positive he and Tom would never resurrect the band. "I can pretty much a hundred percent say no because I have a new outlet, and it's not SLAYER, but it sounds like SLAYER," King said of a potential SLAYER reunion.

The lineup for SLAYER's comeback will be the same as the one which last toured in 2019: Araya and King, along with guitarist Gary Holt (also of EXODUS) and longtime drummer Paul Bostaph.

Days after SLAYER's reunion was announced, Tom Araya's wife wrote on social media that she "harassed him for over a year" before he "agreed finally" to play more shows with the band. "We shared that news with SLAYER's awesome managers and they did the rest!" she explained. "So yes without Tom it wouldn't have happened.. without me BUGGING HIM it wouldn't have happened."

Both Gary and his wife Lisa Holt were among the hundreds of people who "liked" Sandra's Instagram post, with Lisa sharing three heart emojis in response to Sandra's message.

In a statement confirming SLAYER's return, Tom said: "Nothing compares to the 90 minutes when we're on stage playing live, sharing that intense energy with our fans, and to be honest, we have missed that." King added: "Have I missed playing live? Absolutely. SLAYER means a lot to our fans; they mean a lot to us. It will be five years since we have seen them."

The same day that SLAYER's comeback was announced, Holt's wife Lisa Holt took to her social media to write: "Yes, it's true..and an exciting adventure for the band and fans !

"To all the people saying 'they are liars' 'they must have ran out of money' 'its not SLAYER without so and so' ..I have an idea for you all...DON'T GO.. and for all the people who did go to the final tour dates and enjoyed it...awesome!!

"This isn't a 'TOUR' it's some dates..and GREAT NEWS!!!" she added. "And everyone that thinks they know all the inside info..you can't possibly know. so just enjoy the fact that this amazing band will play some amazing shows this year...go or don't..nobody cares!!!!!"

Three weeks before SLAYER's reunion was announced, Kerry told Rolling Stone that he didn't foresee SLAYER coming back together for the foreseeable future.

"Will SLAYER tour again? I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. Could SLAYER play a show again? I'm sure there's a scenario," King said, adding that he hadn't spoken to Araya since that final show. "Am I looking for it? No, I'm just getting ready to start my [solo] career. So if that happens, it happens. But I'm going to be doing this for the next 10 years at least."

SLAYER played the final show of its farewell tour in November 2019 at the Forum in Los Angeles. One day later, Kerry's wife Ayesha said that there is "not a chance in hell" that the thrash metal icons will reunite for more live appearances.

SLAYER's final world tour began on May 10, 2018 with the band's intention to play as many places as possible, to make it easy for the fans to see one last SLAYER show and say goodbye. By the time the 18-month trek wrapped at the Forum, the band had completed seven tour legs plus a series of one-off major summer festivals, performing more than 140 shows in 30 countries and 40 U.S. states.

All material for "From Hell I Rise" was written by King, who was accompanied during the recording sessions by Bostaph, Demmel, Sanders and Osegueda. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

Swedish metallers SABATON will release "The Tour To End All Tours" concert film in partnership with All Things Live!The film will hit theaters on October 11, 2024, and tickets will be released on August 26, 2024.

Titled "Sabaton - The Tour To End All Tours", this concert film holds a special place in SABATON's hearts. It was recorded at the sold-out Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam, where thousands of fans gathered to watch the band. For those who know SABATON well, you'll understand the profound significance of this concert. When SABATON first performed in the Netherlands six years after the formation, they played to a small crowd — only a handful of people. Reflecting on this incredible contrast from then to now truly blows SABATON's minds.

Now, SABATON invites you to embark on a heavy metal journey like no other and celebrate the largest tour to date! "Sabaton - The Tour To End All Tours" will throw you straight into the heart of their explosive live performance. If you're looking for energy, pyrotechnics and heavy metal with a side of history, look no further. SABATON's got you covered.

Watch the trailer for "Sabaton - The Tour To End All Tours" below.

SABATON bassist and manager Pär Sundström says: "In 2023, we embarked on our biggest tour ever, and in Europe alone, we covered over 50,000 kilometers with a dedicated team of 170 amazing people, nine buses, 12 trucks, and even a tank! 'The Tour To End All Tours' was an unforgettable journey for each of us — unique, thrilling, and deeply eye-opening. We wanted to share this extraordinary experience with everyone, especially those who couldn’t attend our live shows for whatever reason."

He adds: "Coming from humble beginnings, performing at the sold-out Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam was a surreal and monumental achievement for us. We hope you enjoy the SABATON experience and we're confident you won't be disappointed! October 11th. Mark that date on your calendar."

In the more than two decades since the band's launch, SABATON has achieved quadruple-platinum sales, headlined major festivals and sold-out arena concerts across the globe, and earned a legion of loyal fans by carving out a reputation as one of the hardest working bands in rock. SABATON combines standout stage design and production with epic concept albums, linking real-life historical war events with classic kick-ass metal. To date, the band has released ten studio albums, amassed six gold, two platinum, and one four-times-platinum awards, seen eight of its albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5. The band has earned eight Metal Hammer/Golden Gods Awards nominations, taking home the award for "Breakthrough Artist" in 2011 and "Best Live Band" in three different years, and a Grammis nomination (Swedish equivalent to the U.S. Grammy) as "Best Heavy Metal" band. SABATON has also accumulated more than two billion streams across all streaming platforms.

PUSCIFER has unveiled a brand new original track. Titled "The Algorithm", the new release is crafted exclusively for the soundtrack of Sumerian Comics' hugely popular "American Psycho" comic book series. This dynamic partnership between musical and visual storytelling realms provides an enhanced and immersive experience for fans of the comic book series, delivering an atmospheric, sensory depth.

Watch the music video for "The Algorithm" below.

Nathan Yocum, president of Sumerian Comics, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, sharing: "Joining forces with the legendary rock band PUSCIFER for our soundtrack to the 'American Psycho' comic book series is an electrifying collaboration. This original song brings an intensity and depth to the narrative, elevating the experience for fans and readers alike. We're thrilled to amplify the story's impact with PUSCIFER's signature sound, creating a fusion of music and storytelling that will further captivate audiences."

The "American Psycho" comic book series by Sumerian Comics is a bold reimagining of Patrick Bateman's notorious saga. The five-issue series delves into a dual storyline format; one tracing the chilling exploits of Bateman, and the other introducing a contemporary narrative featuring Charlene Carruthers — a social media-savvy millennial whose descent into violence mirrors the chilling escalation of her predecessor. This innovative take reinterprets the iconic tale with a story written by Michael Calero ("Quested"),vivid artwork by Piotr Kowalski ("The Witcher", "Bloodborne", "Sex") and striking colors by Brad Simpson ("Kong Of Skull Island", "Stray Dogs", "Blade Runner Origins").

"The Algorithm" by PUSCIFER, joins previously released tracks from the soundtrack from UNLIKE PLUTO who covered EURYTHMICS' "Sweet Dreams", PERTURBATOR, who covered "Dangerous" by DEPECHE MODE and RAMSEY, who covered LEADBELLY's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Between them, the previously released tracks have racked up over 677,000 streams with current sales for the graphic novel series topping 80,000 units.

Fans of the "American Psycho" franchise can look forward to more from the accompanying soundtrack for the comic book series that perfectly complements the visual frenzy and deepens the narrative's impact, making each issue a multifaceted experience of sight and sound.

Sumerian is an American comic book and graphic novel publisher headed up by Behemoth Comics co-founders Nathan Yocum and Ryan Swanson, alongside Sumerian Records founder and film director Ash Avildsen. Sumerian's titles are distributed worldwide by Diamond Comic Distributors to the comic market and Simon & Schuster to the book market. Sumerian averages over half a million physical comic books sold yearly.

When he's not fronting TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE, Midwest-bred singer/songwriter Maynard James Keenan exorcizes his demons with a third project dubbed PUSCIFER. As an outlet for the darker and more personal musings that don't quite fit into the TOOL and APC molds, PUSCIFER blends introspective reflection and sophomoric humor in a way that is distinctly Keenan, apparent in the titles of releases such as the 2007 debut "V Is For Vagina", 2013's "Donkey Punch The Night" and 2015's "Money $hot". By 2020, in light of world events, Keenan and company buckled down and got a little more serious for their fourth set, "Existential Reckoning".

PUSCIFER is:

Maynard James Keenan - Vocals
Mat Mitchell - Guitar/Keyboards
Carina Round - Vocals/Keyboards

In a new interview with Larry Mac of the 96.1 KLPX radio station, WARRANT singer Robert Mason spoke about the challenges of the touring lifestyle, particularly since much of WARRANT's schedule nowadays consists of fly-in dates. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The travel is the only part, I think, that can get on our nerves. This is not like a commercial or an advertisement; it's not fantasy. That's my commute to work. So if you slug it out on the freeway with so many other people, just to get to your office or your job or wherever that is, and throughout the day you deal with that, rush hour, whatever, I wake up at two, whatever time zone I'm in, or earlier sometimes in the morning. That's when your day starts. Your alarm rings. You're, like, 'Oh.' If you're in a hotel, it's, like, shower, vans, race to an airport, hopefully get a little something to eat or relax, and then you're on a plane or two or three to either go to work or come home or to go to your next show from the last show."

He continued: "I'm not bitching by any means because I love my job — I really do love my job — but the thing that everyone else finds… This is the tie-in — the things that everyone else finds exciting, like packing your luggage, going on a trip. Like, you're going to Hawaii or you're going to whatever — you're going to Disney World or whatever you're doing, like, even growing up as a kid., those things are for a traveling salesman, which is basically what I am, those are the things that you become accustomed to that you have to do for your work. And like a delay in a flight or crap weather, and you're sitting in an airport and for how many hours before you actually get on a plane to then go to your next city, then you go there and [you check in to] a new hotel.

"I have to take cell phone pictures sometimes of the hotel door to know what room number I am," Mason admitted. "'Cause I will get in the elevator and go to floor six instead of floor eight and walk right up to my yesterday's hotel number and go, 'Oh, this is yesterday. Sorry.' And I go back to my room. It's not that I have a terrible memory, but it's that cliché of, like, 'What city am I in today to go to work?'"

"Everything runs uphill towards the culmination of your entire day, which is getting on stage," Robert added. "And as a singer, I have a little bit more maybe precaution to take, and I have to take it easy. I don't drink, and I've never been a drug guy — I was raised an athlete — and maybe that gives me somewhat of an advantage to be kind of a little bit more together by the time I have to go to work. But, yeah, man, it's funny 'cause everything leads to that… I sometimes refer to it to friends or people that don't understand your job, like, 'What do you do?' Half the time I don't wanna tell 'em, but if they ask, it's, like, the 22 and a half hours of total B.S. to get on stage for an hour and a half. And everything else is just that other time, which is hotels, a workout, the shower, warming up, show prep, all that stuff that leads up to, like I said, your day schedule from that wake-up in the morning, whenever that might be, to be able to do the flights, do the van rides, do the whatever that all leads up to, we're sitting in the dressing room and everybody's warming up and I go… I'm always looking at my watch, like, 'Eight minutes,' and that's eight minutes till the time the intro tape runs. Or Joey [Allen, WARRANT guitarist] will go, like… It's funny. He's, like, 'Mason, what time is it?' 'Cause he's been noodling and warming up, and everybody's getting ready and we're all — the five of us and very few other people, if ever… We lock down the dressing room the last little bit before the show and kind of get that last little bit of bonding and all that stuff off stage. And then we do the walkup. It all leads up to that moment where the lights go on."

This past March, Allen told the "Rimshots With Sean" podcast that there was "nothing going on" with regard to WARRANT making the follow-up to 2017's "Louder Harder Faster" album.

Last December, WARRANT guitarist Erik Turner revealed to Robert Miguel of Uvalde Radio Rocks that he and his bandmates were "not sure" what they were going to do as far as new music was concerned. "It's just been a little bit — there's just been some stuff going on where we haven't really been doing any new music," he revealed. "We have some riffs [being thrown] around. We have some half-finished songs going on. Due to some personal stuff going on, we're just kind of on hold as far as the new record goes. Nothing horrible, but just band stuff."

Three years ago, Mason told the "Thunder Underground" podcast that there wasn't "a defined schedule" for WARRANT's next studio album, but he added that he and his bandmates are "always writing."

"Louder Harder Faster" was released in May 2017. The disc was recorded with Jeff Pilson — a veteran bassist who has played with DIO, FOREIGNER, DOKKEN and T&N, among others — and was mixed by Pat Regan, except for the song "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink", which was mixed by Chris "The Wizard" Collier (FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, PRONG, LAST IN LINE).

Mason replaced original WARRANT frontman Jani Lane in 2008 and has brought a degree of stability to the band after Lane's unceremonious departure and subsequent 2011 death.