P.O.D. frontman Sonny Sandoval joined EVANESCENCE on stage Thursday (May 16) at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio to perform the latter band's breakthrough 2003 hit "Bring Me To Life". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Canada's iHeart Radio, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee reflected on "Bring Me To Life", which featured guest vocals from Paul McCoy of 12 STONES. She said: "When we first did the song, I didn't wanna do the rap. That was like a concession kind of a thing with the label, trying to find a place for us. And LINKIN PARK was hot on the radio at the time. That was part of their [the label's] calculation of what was gonna help break a female through. And it was hard for me, actually. I got to write it. I was a part of it, like all of it, Paul was wonderful — still wonderful. But it was something that I like had an internal struggle with. But all these years later, with just — I don't want to use the word 'success', 'cause it's deeper than that, but the life that that song has had and all of these live shows, now that we're at this point now, 20 years later, and playing festivals with so many… It's just really, really, really an amazing gift to have our big song be a duet, because whenever we're out with somebody who's even remotely kind of in the realm of that would fit that voice, we get to have them up on our set. So that's been this really fun guest finale moment a lot. And even if the person isn't like the most famous person — it's cool when that happens — but when it's not, too, it just changes the energy of the song and is this easy, plug-in, really fun… I don't know. I don't know if that's the answer you were looking for, but I've gotten to a point where I'm super grateful that we have that song for that reason. The crowd goes nuts and everybody knows it, so it's super fun to have it be a collab."

Back in February 2022, EVANESCENCE's music video for "Bring Me To Life" surpassed one billion views on YouTube. The Philipp Stölzl-directed clip, which was uploaded to YouTube in December of 2009, was filmed in Romania in January 2003. It features Amy in a night gown and barefoot, in her room, inside a tall building in the city at night. The rest of the band is playing on a higher floor of the building.

The album version of "Bring Me to Life" was included on the soundtrack of superhero film "Daredevil".

In 2021, Amy spoke to Germany's Sonic Seducer about the lyrical inspiration for "Bring Me To Life". The song reached No. 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and was EVANESCENCE's first U.K. No. 1 single.

"I remember what I wrote 'Bring Me To Life' about, because I wrote it about my current husband before we were married," she said. "There was this moment — I was in a tough place and in a bad relationship. And my husband now, Josh, at the time was just a friend and a person that I barely knew; it was maybe the third or fourth time we'd ever met. And we went in to go grab a seat at a restaurant while our friends parked the car. And we sat across from each other, and he looked at me and he just said, 'So, are you happy?' And it took me so off guard, and I just felt like it pierced my heart, because I felt like I had been pretending really well, and it was, like, somebody could see through me. And then that whole first verse came out of it: 'How can you see into my eyes, like open doors.' It really made me feel and recognize the sense of yearning that I had to get to a better place. And it really kind of set me out on a journey. And it's amazing that that became the song, the first song that broke us on to the scene and made everyone hear of us, because it was about something — I don't know — something so personal that I was recognizing in my life."

In March 2021, Lee told Alternative Press that EVANESCENCE's original record label Wind Up threatened not to release the group's debut album, "Fallen", if she and her bandmates didn't add a male voice to lead single "Bring Me To Life" to make it more palatable for radio.

"Fallen" sold 17 million copies and won two Grammys, including "Best Rock Performance" for "Bring Me To Life".

EVANESCENCE's latest album, "The Bitter Truth", arrived in March 2021 via BMG. It was EVANESCENCE's first album of original music in ten years.

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman joined Nita Strauss, the guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, on stage Thursday (May 16) at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio to perform their collaborative song "Dead Inside". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.

Draiman previously sang "Dead Inside" with Strauss in November 2021 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.

Released in October 2021, "Dead Inside" marked Nita's first new music since the release of her critically acclaimed debut solo album "Controlled Chaos" in 2018. It kicks off with Nita's inimitably intricate lead guitar work and, as the intro builds, begins to snake its way around the ground-shaking, headbanging lead riff as Josh Villalta's technical and bombastic drums kick in. Then comes the unmistakable vocal prowess of Draiman as he delivers his unique signature brand of enormously catchy vocal melody and a stadium-conquering chorus. The song ebbs and flows through sonic and emotional dynamics and culminates with a brutally heavy beatdown into a final rendition of the chorus, ensuring that the lead hook will be replaying over and over in the listener's head for days.

Speaking about the collaboration, Strauss previously said: "This is my first time releasing my own music with a vocalist, and I am so honored to take this step alongside a legend like David Draiman. David's voice and powerful lyrics took this song to a level I could never have imagined! And we are so excited to unleash this song on the world."

Draiman added: "Serendipity can be really cool. We've been friends for years. Nita sent me the track… I didn't have time to work on it right away… then, in literally a couple of days, while killing time in Santa Monica, the whole thing just came together. Incredibly proud of how it turned out and honored to be a part of it."

With "Dead Inside", Nita became the first female solo artist to have a No. 1 single at rock radio in 32 years.

In a recent interview with Rob Rush of Long Island's 94.3 The Shark radio station, Nita spoke about the challenges of writing and recording songs with vocals for her sophomore solo album, "The Call Of The Void", which came out last July via Sumerian Records. While Strauss's first LP, 2018's "Controlled Chaos", was all instrumental, her latest effort sees the Alice Cooper guitarist teaming with a different vocalist on at least half of the tracks — Cooper, Draiman, ARCH ENEMY's Alissa White-Gluz and HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale, among others.

Nita said: "Yeah, it was a really educational experience as a songwriter, going in and not writing songs that were only for myself, if that makes sense — thinking a lot about the structure of the song and the format of the song and what key it would be in for the singer not to be too high or too low or too fast or anything like that. [That part was] completely [ to me] — I mean, not entirely new. I've been in bands before, but as far as writing as a solo artist, it was a completely new experience, because as an instrumental solo guitar player, you can just write whatever you want — you can write a one-minute song, you write a 10-minute song. It's not gonna go to radio — there's no format for it. So it's just stream of consciousness. It doesn't have to have a beginning, a middle, an end, a chorus — it's just whatever you feel. And so working in this new medium, for me, was almost like learning how to write a haiku when you're used to just doing like a beat poem. So I'm out there in the corner of the coffee shop with my beret on, just feeling my poetry out, and all of a sudden it's, like, 'Okay, now you've got to have the syllables and lines and the rhymes and the stuff.' So I found it really educational learning how to do it, and I think I grew a lot as an artist and a creator over the course of making that record. So I'm just so excited that it was as well received as it was."

The Los Angeles-born guitarist has become a force to be reckoned with, dazzling over a million audience members per year around the world. Fans may recognize Nita as the touring guitarist for rock legend Alice Cooper and superstar Demi Lovato, the official guitarist of the Los Angeles Rams, as well as her successful career as a solo artist. She has played multiple sports events, including NASCAR races and WWE pay-per-views, most notably her critically acclaimed performance at "WrestleMania 34" in 2018.

"The Call Of The Void" debuted as the No. 1 Top New Artist album on the Billboard chart, No. 1 on the iTunes Rock chart, and No. 4 on the overall iTunes chart, behind only Taylor Swift.

Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths".

In March 2023, it was announced that Nita would return to Alice's band for his 2023 tour and beyond.

Nita spent eight years playing with Alice before joining Demi Lovato's band in the summer of 2022.

Strauss had been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.



So awesome seeing David Draiman with Nita Strauss

Posted by Jennifer Darst on Thursday, May 16, 2024

Nita Strauss and David Draiman making us feel ALIVE INSIDE 💀

📸: @stvthrasher / @nathanzucker

Posted by Sonic Temple on Thursday, May 16, 2024

Legendary hard rockers DEEP PURPLE played their new single, "Portable Door", live for the first time on May 1 at the Singapore Rockfest 2024 at Fort Canning Park in Singapore. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

"Portable Door" is taken from DEEP PURPLE's upcoming album, "=1", due on July 19 via earMUSIC. The song marks DEEP PURPLE's first material with new guitarist Simon McBride, who stepped in two years ago following Steve Morse's departure.

McBride said: "The new album will reflect what the five of us create in the rehearsal room. Many of the songs, like 'Portable Door', were written in the first sessions and literally came together in 5 or 10 minutes. It all was so easy and natural."

Frontman Ian Gillan added: "Throughout DEEP PURPLE's history, our best songs have always been those that were written in no time at all. We've played what felt good and developed songs as we have always done."

DEEP PURPLE continues its charge of recent years, releasing hit albums and filling arenas around the world, adding yet more layers to its 100-million-album-selling legacy. The band is credited as one of the key originators of heavy rock and has constantly progressed its boundaries of music. They are fronted by Gillan, whose vocals have defined generations, accompanied by the masterful bassist Roger Glover, the powerhouse drummer Ian Paice, and the maestro on keyboards Don Airey.

"=1" is the band's first album with McBride, who seamlessly slotted in when longtime member Morse left due to personal circumstances. Since 2022, Simon has already played to DEEP PURPLE audiences totaling more than half a million people.

But DEEP PURPLE is more than just their members and "=1" embodies the essence and attitude of their 1970s incarnation possibly more than any other album in recent memory. With the legendary Bob Ezrin once again producing, the record evokes the pioneering band's classic sound, without relying on nostalgia.

The enigmatic title "=1" symbolizes the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one. Its full meaning will be revealed in the coming weeks, with the artwork also playing its part. Fans have already been speculating after mysterious equations and depictions of multiverses appeared in London, Paris and Berlin in recent days.

With three consecutive No. 1 albums in their back pocket and a resurgent new energy powering them forward, this is DEEP PURPLE at their pinnacle. "Now WHAT?!" (2013),"inFinite" (2017) and "Whoosh!" (2020) have sold over one million copies worldwide, making DEEP PURPLE one of the most successful rock bands currently active. The latest studio album, "Whoosh!", reached No. 1 on the album charts in seven countries and charted in the top 10 in another 12.

"=1" will be released as a limited CD+DVD (digipak),CD (jewel case),2LP gatefold (black, 180g),limited purple 2LP gatefold (180g),limited crystal clear 2LP (180g) and limited box set (CD+DVD digipak, 2LP black gatefold, 3x exclusive 10" vinyl editions feat. live recordings from DEEP PURPLE's 2022 tour, exclusive collector's T-shirt, 2x exclusive guitar picks, 1x exclusive art print, 1x exclusive lanyard, and the chance to win a Golden Ticket giving access to all shows on the DEEP PURPLE "=1 More Time" tour). All LPs include a rich 12-page vinyl sized booklet. The bonus DVD features the approximately 60-minute documentary "Access All Areas" joining DEEP PURPLE backstage on tour and providing an exclusive look behind the scenes.

"=1" track listing:

01. Show Me
02. A Bit On The Side
03. Sharp Shooter
04. Portable Door
05. Old-Fangled Thing
06. If I Were You
07. Pictures Of You
08. I'm Saying Nothin'
09. Lazy Sod
10. Now You're Talkin'
11. No Money To Burn
12. I'll Catch You
13. Bleeding Obvious

There simply aren't enough superlatives to properly acknowledge the contribution DEEP PURPLE has made to rock music. Having sold more than 100 million albums and filled global arenas for decades, there's little wonder that the respected British radio station Planet Rock named the group the "Fifth Most Influential Band Ever". The band were also presented the Legend Award at the 2008 World Music Awards and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016. DEEP PURPLE truly are "rock royalty".

With a body of work spanning seven decades, DEEP PURPLE has helped pioneer and define the hard rock genre while progressively moving into new areas, both keeping their sound fresh and attracting new fans to the legions who have remained loyal since the band's inception. The celebrated MKII line up of Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore were responsible for creating many of the defining rock albums of the early 1970s, including "Made In Japan", universally accepted as one of the most important and influential live albums of all time.

Known as one of the hardest working bands ever, DEEP PURPLE has continued to release No. 1 albums and tour globally since forming in 1968, with little rest. In 2007 (almost 40 years after being formed),the band performed 40 dates in France to an award-winning audience, and they continue to spend much of their year on the road selling out arenas across the globe.

DEEP PURPLE has stayed true to its musical roots taking from an eclectic mix of styles to create a distinctive sound that defines the band today, but which in turn, has created a legacy that very few bands could ever hope to replicate. The band has written and produced so many "classic", well-known songs, that its audience range widely in age and background — something the band has readily embraced.

DEEP PURPLE's recent studio album "Whoosh!" (2020) followed their worldwide chart-topping albums "inFinite" (2017) and "Now WHAT?!" (2013). 2024 sees the release of their brand-new album "=1". On all albums, DEEP PURPLE joined forces with producer Bob Ezrin, who has worked with the likes of KISS, PINK FLOYD, Lou Reed and Alice Cooper.

Furthering their collaboration with Ezrin, in 2021 and during the pandemic the band recorded a collection of cover songs from their own homes (normal for most bands nowadays, revolutionary for a band that records everything together in the studio),creating an eclectic and celebratory history of their roots in music, in the shape of "Turning To Crime".

In 2022 came the sad news of Steve Morse's departure due to personal circumstances, but DEEP PURPLE, never a band to let a set back throw them off course, sought out the masterful skills of guitarist Simon McBride and played the year out in style, exciting crowds with a new energy and excitement.

Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey and Simon McBride continue with renewed vitality, pushing the boundaries of hard rock to audiences around the globe, proving that DEEP PURPLE are very much here to stay.

🤘 Don’t miss Deep Purple at Singapore Rockfest 2024! 🎸 Catch them on May 1st, 2024, 8pm at The Star Theatre. 🌟 All you...

Posted by LITE (Malaysia) on Friday, April 19, 2024

Legendary group STYX has announced the addition of Terry Gowan as the replacement for longtime bassist Ricky Phillips. Terry completes STYX's seven-man lineup consisting of James "JY" Young, Tommy Shaw, Lawrence Gowan, Chuck Panozzo, Todd Sucherman, Will Evankovich and Terry Gowan.

Terry Gowan declares: "It is within an honor and somewhere beyond a dream come true to be joining JY, Tommy, Chuck, Will and my brother Lawrence — and to be reacquainted with decade-long GOWAN bandmate Todd — in taking on the mantle as the new bassist of the legendary STYX. Here's to many years ahead on the STYX adventure!"

"I'm very pleased and proud to have my brother Terry join STYX," says Lawrence Gowan. "Terry played on four of my six solo GOWAN albums. He's on records that include some of the world's most renowned musicians: Tony Levin, Jerry Marotta, Jon Anderson and Alex Lifeson, as well as touring with GOWAN from 1985 to 1990 and again 2010 to this year of 2024. It's really great to have him aboard!"

Tommy Shaw exclaims: "We're all looking forward to the Canadian shows that are coming up soon and introducing Terry Gowan on bass guitar and vocals as the newest STYX member!!! Are you ready to rock? We are too! See you soon!"

Sucherman adds: "I've had the pleasure of being a rhythm section partner with Terry Gowan for several years in GOWAN's band, and I look forward to welcoming this talented multi-instrumentalist into the fold."

STYX begins its tour in the Maritimes and Quebec this evening and will play shows in Moncton (May 17),Summerside (May 18),Halifax (May 19),Laval (May 21),Trois-Rivières Rivières (May 22),Alma (May 24) and Quebec City (May 25). Juno Award winner and bilingual artist from Fredericton David Myles, heir to Johnny Cash, JJ Cale and Buddy Holly will open for all shows.

Starting June 11, STYX will join up with FOREIGNER and special guest John Waite for the "Renegades & Juke Box Heroes" co-headlining trek produced by Live Nation.

The seven band members are committed to thrilling audiences around the world as they begin their second decade with an average of more than 100 shows per year.

STYX has five decades of hits and immortal rock songs. Like a symphony reaching a crescendo, a STYX show covers a wide range of styles. From "Suite Madame Blue" to "The Grand Illusion", including "Lady", "Blue Collar Man", "Renegade", "Miss America", "Lorelei", "Crystal Ball" and, obviously, "Come Sail Away", the band has a virtually limitless supply of classics.

"Crash Of The Crown", STYX's most recent album released in 2021, reached #1 on the Billboard Rock chart after its release.

Phillips announced his departure from STYX in March after a 21-year run. The 71-year-old musician said in a statement that he was "taking a break from the road" but was "not retiring."

In a 2014 interview with Times Record, Phillips stated about the prospect of more lineup changes in STYX: "If something happens to one of us, it will definitely change the dynamic of STYX. When one of us isn't there, even if it's for a soundcheck, something changes and it's weird. We realize what we have, and in STYX, we appreciate it."

Photo credit: Jason Powell (courtesy of ABC Public Relations)

In a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick once again confirmed that he wasn't asked to perform at the band's final show and wasn't invited to attend the event, which was held last December at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

"I got a sense that it wasn't gonna happen for quite a while," Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "Because certainly if there was gonna be an invitation, you don't do that the week of — you don't. And that doesn't even mean even if I lived there in New York — I don't. And then when I would say to [KISS drummer] Eric Singer — we always keep in touch — and I'd be, like, 'All right, well, I guess I'll see you when you get back.' And he'd say, like, 'Yeah, I should be home on…' So he didn't hint around, 'Well…'

"They missed a really huge opportunity," Bruce continued. "I talked about it quite a bit In January when I finally came out to tell everyone I'm not in GRAND FUNK [RAILROAD] anymore, and here's my take on what happened on that last KISS show, because I didn't say nothing for about a month or so. And it's not just about me — [late KISS drummer] Eric Carr, mention [original KISS members] Ace [Frehley] and Peter [Criss], and [late KISS manager] Bill Aucoin. Come on. Terrible. They really missed making a better feel-good evening for everyone when it was much closer to every night before. And those who say, 'Well, I saw you up on the screen.' They'd been doing that for years where they'd have little things. So they didn't feel it was important. I feel they missed an opportunity."

Bruce added: "I know they really respect everyone I just mentioned — it's not that they don't — but the fact that they didn't understand that that's what you're celebrating along with, 'Wow, this current band made it through all this. And look at us with the with the multimillion-dollar show. And now we're going to show you the avatar.' I think that that was a big part of them dropping the ball in looking at the past. I applaud them in thinking broad and big and future. Okay. Fine. I knew that they would never want to find, 'Let's start a TV show, find the best Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons.' I knew they wouldn't do that because there's something, like, 'Ewww' — for them to be a part of that or judge that, it would be very awkward, but to take them and then make them avatars, it totally made sense to me that they did it. It was an extra 'ouch' for me when all of a sudden I saw some videos the next day of how they [ended the concert]. I mean, they said, 'Good night. We are immortal.' And then, all of a sudden, a lot of smoke and you don't see anything. And then the screen opens. But what do you hear first? My guitar playing 'God Gave Rock 'N' Roll To You'. My big appearance. But 'God Gave Rock 'N' Roll' was their choice, was the right song. I'm sure that was chosen probably in collaboration with the people who are helping make [the avatars]. So it wasn't, like, 'Oh, let's do 'Shout It Out Loud'.' And especially that's a song that they don't generally do much; they've done it on occasions. So there you go. I'm a part of it. All the guitar parts are there, and I was, like, 'Whoa, this is really weird.'"

Bruce said: "So, what can I say? Missed opportunity. I think they presented the future in a very probably unique and unusual, clever way because that clearly is the future, but they kind of ignored the past. and that was, I think, a missed opportunity. That's all."

Kulick previously discussed his exclusion from KISS's final show this past January in an interview with Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!. At the time, he said: "When the interviews started regarding the final 50 shows [of KISS's 'End Of The Road' farewell tour], [KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee] was very clear when asked point blank by a podcaster, 'What about Bruce Kulick? Do you think he could come up and play with the band on the final show?' And he said, 'Well, KISS doesn't jam. It's not a jam band.' And that's outrageous because I wouldn't jam with them. Of course I'd know the song and we'd know what we're doing and I've done it on the cruise [Kiss Kruise] three times. That's not what he means. He means they don't want anybody else up on stage with them. I have to know that, because how could he say something that is factually incorrect? You think I wanna go up there and have a slopfest? 'Where do I plug in? What do I do?' You see what I'm saying? 'Yeah, but they're not a jam band.'

"Now I get the optics of me getting up on stage when they're seven feet tall in their outfits, and I get that, but I wasn't asking for that," Bruce continued. "I wasn't looking to play with them on the final show, but it was asked to Doc. And then he turns it into, 'Well, KISS doesn't jam.'"

Kulick went on to say that the way the final KISS show was presented was far different from the approach KISS leaders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons took with the band's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction in 2014.

"Let's be clear that the narrative from the Hall Of Fame, right or wrong, and they did it to other bands, and of course they broke that rule with other bands too, where they allowed everybody [who was in the band to be inducted], but they clearly were not gonna do [that with KISS]," Bruce said. "They didn't even want KISS in the Hall Of Fame. So I remember Paul being very vocal, and I actually thanked him for being that way about all the eras not being represented by the Hall Of Fame. When've you got Eric Carr doing all those years and being in makeup even, and then myself, et cetera, et cetera, but at the Hall Of Fame, it was only those [original four] guys. They refused to play, which was an opportunity, of course, that people hoped for, but I knew why it couldn't happen. And then even better, which connects to the final show, which is part of why I was a little surprised that nothing about my Kisstory was really fairly represented with a shoutout or a video montage. I was never expecting to play and be invited on stage [at the final show] — I really wasn't. Not after what Doc said. But I was flown out by the band first class to be with their entourage to be at the Hall Of Fame as they were celebrating the band and their Kisstory. And Tom Morello gets up there [and gives the induction speech for KISS], gives a shoutout to every member. Gene mentioned my name. You see what I'm saying? So. At that event, yeah, they didn't play and they all posed and took their picture, but there I was with [current KISS members] Tommy [Thayer] and Eric [Singer] at the table and part of that event. And it meant the world to me. And I was so grateful to the guys. And, of course, I knew I wasn't going there to get inducted, but I was part of Kisstory that night. It felt really great. And I think Paul taught that narrative of the whole 'missed opportunity here. They didn't get it. This band's much bigger than that,' et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. 'And they should have done more. But we all know how the Hall Of Fame is.'"

Circling back to KISS's final show, Kulick said: "I wasn't invited. I wasn't gonna crash that party. I wasn't gonna go to the Garden. I wasn't crushed in any way, because I knew already from what Doc said, 'This ain't going to happen.' People invited me to, and they wanted to pay me to be at some events that were going on around the Garden final show. I don't wanna be there like that. I mean, it's nice to get paid for an autograph signing and to be part of… And then everybody was, like, 'You're going to the Garden?' Well, I wasn't invited. I'm not gonna crash a party. I wasn't invited. Would Eric have given me tickets if I asked him? Of course. But that's a lot different than you asking them for tickets, saying, 'Can you get me in?' I had personal friends who know those guys well and who were backstage asking me, 'Hey, you're in New York? Did you come? And I said, 'No. Just have a great show. I'm not there.' I didn't gripe about it."

Bruce added that KISS fans "expected more of Kisstory" at the final Madison Square Garden concert. "That did not happen. And sadly, I really feel that it was a missed opportunity by the band. But that was their choice. They're this machine that was out there doing the 'End Of The Road' tour. The last night was a big, big setup for their future. But the missed opportunity was not honoring and respecting Kisstory. And all I would have hoped for — and I'm hearing this from fans; this isn't, 'Oh, Bruce was in the band for 12 years.' This is from fans. Why they couldn't say or show a video montage featuring all those great eras of the band. How do you do an event like that and not mention Eric Carr or represent him? How do you not mention Ace and Peter? That's even bigger.

"Now we know there was all this drama, very public with Ace talking about [how he was never invited to take part in the final KISS show]… I have no facts about who of them, if [Ace and Peter] were ever contacted or they had a discussion. I have no clue. They claimed they didn't; they did. It doesn't matter to me. All I can tell you is I was never contacted. That's a fact. And that is nothing to lie about. But regardless, you can't go out there and say, 'Well, I would do it, but I've gotta get a quarter of a million dollars, like Ace said. And I'm just, like, 'That's not good optics for anybody.' I know what he feels like. He feels like he should be compensated because he created the Spaceman with them.

"I could never put myself totally in Peter Criss's and Ace Frehley's shoes," Bruce added. "I could never. Because they started this incredible band. Now, of course, they couldn't do it without the four of them. We all know that. And we all know that Paul and Gene took it over, nurtured it, took care of it. When Gene was running off doing movies and everything else, Paul was steering the ship and rightfully so, and that was the start of my era kind of, 'cause Gene got more into other things."

Kulick concluded by saying that he looks back fondly on his time with KISS.

"I have nothing to be ashamed of in my 12 years," he said. "I'm very proud of it."

In 1984, Bruce joined KISS, where he remained as their lead guitarist for twelve years, accompanying the band on the "Animalize" tour and continuing with the band until the 1996 reunion tour. Bruce is heavily featured on "Kissology – Vol. 2" and "Vol. 3", the band's DVDs spanning their historic 45-year career.

In an April 2020 interview with Sleaze Roxx, Kulick said that he was "relieved" he wasn't approached to rejoin the band after Frehley left for good back in 2001.

"When I had to leave in '96 after the success of the KISS 'Unplugged' performance, people were aware of the musicianship that existed in the band between Eric Singer [drums] and I, but after 20 years of people hearing about KISS in makeup, it was kind of like 'Star Wars' when it was rebooted people went to see what it was all about," he said. "I understood that it was the original guys, they put the makeup on and people were excited to either see it again or see it for the first time. That carried on, then it carried on and it carried on. [Laughs] It then reached a point where Gene [Simmons] and Paul [Stanley] couldn't continue with Peter [Criss] so they called on Eric Singer to step into the role and the makeup.

"Eric is such a tremendous drummer," he continued. "I was genuinely happy for him. I still am. Then when Ace started dropping the ball, it was seamless for them to go with Tommy Thayer who does such a fantastic job as the 'Spaceman.'

"If I had been asked to step into the 'Spaceman' role, it would have been really awkward for me. I get asked by the fans a lot, 'Well, why aren't you there?' I think Tommy stepping into the role was a lot more natural than Bruce Kulick becoming the 'Spaceman' and shooting rockets off of my guitar. I would have had to play the songs note for note like Ace. I don't think I could do that and remain happy in the band. Tommy does that to perfection. I was never required to learn the classic stuff note for note, but if you're going to be the 'Spaceman,' it would have to stay true to the way Ace plays it. That's not to say that I don't play the classic songs with respect. I play the GRAND FUNK RAILROAD songs with respect, while injecting my own style into them, like I did in my time in KISS. I would lose my 'liberties' if I stepped into the 'Spaceman' role.

"I'm friends with Tommy, Bruce added. "We've gotten closer over the years on the 'Kiss Kruise'. We've spoken a lot on the 'Kruise'. He once said to me, 'Hey, I never got into the Floyd Rose whammy bar thing. How do you play 'Crazy Nights'?' I said, 'Don't worry about it. Play it how you play it. It's what works for you. I don't take any offense and you don't need to copy how I do it.'

"Tommy's style is so much closer to Ace's than mine. I have a unique style to my approach you can hear it on 'Tears Are Falling', 'Who Wants To Be Lonely', 'Unholy' and even the acoustic solo on 'Forever'. I am proud of my body of work for that era of KISS. I'm embracing it. The fans are embracing it. It's all good."

Kulick went on to say that he is at peace with the fact that he will never be part of the makeup era of KISS.

"I was relieved [when they didn't ask me to step in after Ace left]," he said. "I think if I had been asked and done it, I think it would hurt. I know that Tommy and Eric avoid… I'm close to both but I'm closer with Eric. They avoid reading things online. Their best medicine is to just do a great job every night and not read that stuff. I'm shocked that sometimes someone will leave a snarky comment toward me. I'm, like, 'Really?' I don't get into that stuff and I don't like anything negative on social media and I never do or post anything negative. I won't allow anything negative. There's times I read something and I choose to ignore it. Everyone has a voice these days. They have a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone.

"I was relieved, but how could I not have 'entertained' the idea if I was asked? At the time when they swooped Tommy right in, I was already in GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and I was and still am pretty happy with my role in the band. Sure, it wasn't KISS, but it's a great gig. Now think of it from this angle. Let's say they made the right proposition and I took it, then Ace wanted back into the band. Where would that have left me? No KISS gig and no gig in GRAND FUNK."

The 2024 leg of Greta Van Fleet's Starcatcher World Tour, produced by Live Nation, kicked off on Saturday, April 27 in St. Louis. The band has shared the recap video below:





Next stop for the Starcatcher World Tour is Thursday, May 16 in Louisville, KY at KFC Yum! Center. Find the band's complete tour itinerary and ticket links here.

On Saturday, April 20th, Heart embarked upon their Royal Flush World Tour at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. On May 13th they performed at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland; fan-filmed video of the entire show courtesy of Jim Powers can be viewed below.


The setlist was as follows:


"Bebe Le Strange"
"Never"
"Love Alive"
"Little Queen"
"This Is Now" (Ann Wilson & Tripsitter song)
"Straight On"
"Let's Dance" (David Bowie cover)
"These Dreams"
"Dog & Butterfly" 
"Dreamboat Annie" 
"Going To California" (Led Zeppelin cover) 
"4 Edward" (Nancy Wilson song) 
- drum solo -
"Mistral Wind"
"Alone"
"What About Love"
"Magic Man"
"The Ocean" (Led Zeppelin cover)
"Barracuda"







Heart recently added new dates to their Royal Flush Tour. Select shows will include special guests Cheap Trick, Bachman-Turner Overdrive feat. Randy Bachman, and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening. Tickets available at Heart-Music.com.





Dates:


September
26 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center
28 - Los Angeles, CA - Crypto.com Arena
29 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center


October
2 - Lubbock, TX - United Supermarkets Arena
4 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
5 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
8 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
10 - Austin, TX - Moody Center
12 - North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena
14 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
16 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
17 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Coliseum
19 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden


November
13 - Birmingham, AL - Legacy Arena at BJCC
14 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
16 - Wichita, KS - Intrust Bank Arena
19 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
21 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena at The MARK
22 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
24 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
27 - Saskatoon, SK - Sasktel Centre
29 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
30 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome


December
3 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
5 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
7 - Boise, ID - Extra Mile Arena
9 - Sacramento, CA - Golden1 Center
12 - Bakersfield, CA - Mechanics Bank Arena
13 - San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena
15 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas


Heart previously announced the Royal Flush Tour 2024 dates listed below, with special guests Cheap Trick and Squeeze (support varies by market).





May
15 - Schottenstein Center - Columbus, OH
17 - Allstate Arena - Rosemont, IL
18 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY
21 - Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI
23 - PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA
24 - Hard Rock Live - Atlantic City, NJ


June
20 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Antwerp, BE
22 - UberEats Music Hall - Berlin, DE
24 - Grona Lund - Stockholm, SE
25 - Ice Hall - Helsinki, FI
27 - Tons of Rock Festival - Oslo, NO


July
1 - The O2 - London, UK
3 - Utilllta Arena Birmingham - Birmingham, UK
5 - Capital FM Arena - Nottingham, UK
6 - AO Arena - Manchester, UK
8 - First Direct Arena - Leeds, UK
9 - OVO Hydro - Glasgow, UK
11 - Rockhal - Club - Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU
12 - Bospop Festival - Weert, NL
30 - Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH (with Def Leppard & Journey)


August
1 - Canadian Tire Centre - Ottawa, ON
2 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON (with Def Leppard & Journey)
5 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA (with Def Leppard & Journey)
7 - Videotron Centre - Quebec, ON
8 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
10 - MVP Arena - Albany, NY
11 - KeyBank Center - Buffalo, NY
13 - Heritage Bank Center - Cincinnati, OH
15 - Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, WI
16 - Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater - Hinckley, MN
18 - Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, NE
21 - The Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI
23 - Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center - Charleston, WV
24 - Thompson - Boling Arena at Food City Center - Knoxville, TN
27 - Scope Arena - Norfolk, VA
28 - The Allentown Fairgrounds - Grandstand - Allentown, PA


Heart's current touring lineup consists of:


Ann Wilson - lead vocals, flute
Nancy Wilson - guitar, vocals
Ryan Wariner - guitar
Ryan Waters - guitar
Paul Moak - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Tony Lucido - bass, backing vocals 
Sean Lane - drums

Cyhra guitarist Euge Valovirta has released the new solo single, "Fast Living, Slow Suicide", featuring Reckless Love vocalist Olli Herman. Watch the official video below. 





"Fast Living, Slow Suicide" is taken from Valovirta's forthcoming solo album, Hardtones, which will be released on May 31st. Pre-order CD, vinyl LP and bundle formats here.







Tracklist:


"Testify" (feat. Samy Elbanna)
"The Game" (feat. Joonas Kosonen & Ben Varon)
"Gone Without A Trace" (feat. Nico Hartonen)
"⁠Pasadena ’78" (feat. Jules Näveri)
"⁠Rock & Roll Unites" (feat. Jake E)
"Fast Living, Slow Suicide" (feat. Olli Herman)
"⁠Going Down The Hole" (feat. Nico Hartonen)
"⁠⁠Not My Time" (feat. Joonas Kosonen & Ben Varon)
"Wake Up" (feat. Pekka Heino)
"⁠Flesh From The Bone" (feat. Samy Elbanna)
"⁠Road Song II" (feat. Nico Hartonen)


"The Game"





"Testify"

Swedish power metal veterans Sabaton have checked in with the following update:


"Can you believe Heroes has been around for a whole decade? Ten years ago today (May 16) we released this album into the world and that fact simply blows our minds!In celebration of this huge milestone, we’re happy to announce that a special a Limited 10th Anniversary vinyl print of Heroes is dropping on July 5! This double LP has been pressed on unique transparent violet vinyl, and the really cool thing about it is that it features three bonus tracks, 2 of which have never EVER been released on digital platforms. Want one? Pre-order yours now here!"










Sabaton are celebrating their 25-year milestone in the music industry. They have shared a recent livestream video along with the following message:


"Grab your beer, grab your buddies and let’s listen to our fifth studio album, Coat Of Arms, on FULL BLAST! Thobbe our new (and old) guitarist is joining us for this session! You’ll hear us discuss the complex recording process for the album as well as a whole bunch of album anecdotes. Throw a bit of banter into the mix too and you’ve got a winning combo!"





Founded in Falun, Sweden, in 1999, Sabaton's journey has been nothing short of legendary. Their music industry adventures have been fuelled by powerful anthems, 10 studio albums, passionate historical storytelling, and explosive international shows and tours, not to mention out-of-the-box initiatives and projects, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering support of their dedicated fan base across the globe.


To mark this momentous milestone, Sabaton have embarked on a year-long celebration. Fans around the world can look forward to a series of celebratory events and an abundance of surprises.

October Noir collaborated with American gothic rock singer Myke Hideous (frontman of the gothic rock band The Empire Hideous, and previous member of the Misfits), alongside mixing engineer Kfir Gov, and mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum to create their new single “The Ages”, a brooding, dark, and gothic song that transcends traditional rock and metal to create an entirely new sound. Tom and Myke had been planning on creating music together since their side project Momento Morti several years back, and finally found their iconic sound together with this single. 


Watch the music video below, and pre-order the compact disc release of the single here.


The music video footage for "The Ages" was taken at the Dark Force Festival in New Jersey earlier this year. It is a collection of footage from the crowd's cell phones. It's the first time Myke Hideous has taken the stage since 2019.







With the help of mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Yes, Meatloaf, Sepultura, Sabaton), whom October Noir had met through working on their third album Fate, Wine, And Wisteria, the song was taken to a whole new level. Maor eventually introduced the team to mixing engineer Kfir Gov, owner of Evil Snail Studios and lead singer of Seek Irony, who helped the team tune into their rock and metal influences to achieve the sound they desired.


The group teamed up to create a sultry gothic, slow-burning romantic anthem, filled with feelings of yearning and what could have been. Lyrics like “Within this box remains a key, to unlock my distant memories. For just one moment I held your hand, and the ages passed between us,” showcase the talented writing from Myke Hideous, while slow, brooding guitar exemplifies the classic goth/doom-rock influence of October Noir. The music video showcases a live performance from October Noir, and slow-motion head-banging and guitar strumming entrances the crowd, and the listener.


“Tom and I talked on the phone and discussed our joint musical influences, and as someone who grew up on the likes of Type O Negative and Paradise Lost, I immediately connected with his vision and fell in love with 'The Ages' and October Noir's musical style. It was my pleasure working in close touch with Tom and Maor while paying close attention and responding to the band's and Myke's feedback, as we collectively brought their artistic and sonic vision to life in this song.” - Kfir Gov, mixing engineer for “The Ages” and owner of Evil Snail Studios.





"As the creator of the lyrical content for the song 'The Ages', I find it to be a passionate love story like no other. I've written many of broken heart songs before with my bands, The Empire Hideous & SpySociety99, but this song was kind of different. It will have different meanings for other people than it does for me. But that's just the way I've always written song lyrics. I allow the listener to define the song’s lyrics into their own personal meaning" - Myke Hideous, writer of “The Ages”.


“I was approached by the band to work with them on mastering this song. I heard it and dug into it so much that I wanted to help them out by recommending a mix engineer who can really take it to the next level. So I recommended Kfir from Evil Snail Studios to mix the track. Kfir did a great job that I was very happy with, and I just sprinkled sugar on it by doing the Mastering.” - Maor Appelbaum, mixing engineer for “The Ages”


“The inspiration, for me, was everything happening sonically and lyrically. There is just something about it and I didn’t want it to go to waste. My interpretation of it was from the main wording 'and the ages pass between us.' It just hits home and is very heavy. Like sitting in the clouds of lament and watching life escape you. You try to grip for control, but you find that nature, ultimately, controls all things; human or otherwise. Fate has a funny way of removing the things that you find are the most important.” - Tom Noir, founder, bassist, and lead vocalist of October Noir


For further details, visit October Noir on Facebook.


 

West Virginia progressive sludge metallers Horseburner release an explosive second track taken from their forthcoming new album Voice Of Storms, due out June 21st on Blues Funeral Recordings. Check out "Hidden Bridges" below.


Horseburner's new album, Voice Of Storms, is an allegorical commentary on the mistreatment of women across history. It’s the story of a girl being sold into child marriage who is imbued with the spirit of ancient Greek hunt goddess Diana, unleashed and wreaking havoc on a society that regards females as objects or currency. Drummer Adam Nohe reflects on their new single "Hidden Bridges": “It turned into a song that everyone in the band loves, I think it’s a universal favorite. Story-wise, we’re looking at our protagonist being led through an interdimensional crossroads where she can see all universes and timelines happening simultaneously. Here she learns of how she came to exist and it sets her on her mission through the rest of the story.”







Voice Of Storms is a sludge-prog triumph, ready to immerse listeners in a fluid amalgam of blistering tempos, fearless hooks, outstanding vocal harmonies and burly crush. This is Horseburner blazing into sonic territory that few bands ever reach, with a mind-boggling skill for displaying epic songcraft, technicity and lyrical brilliance in equal measure — a must-have for fans of Baroness, Howling Giant and Mastodon.


Voice Of Storms will be released on June 21st in vinyl, CD and digital formats, with pre-orders available now through Blues Funeral Recordings. The band recently announced a series of US shows in support of the release, including four dates with Nashville psych-metal giants Howling Giant:


May
17 - Cleveland, OH - 5 O’ Clock Lounge


June
20 - Columbus, OH - Spacebar *
21 - Parkersburg, WV - Tracey’s Pub *
22 - Johnson City, TN - Capone’s *
23 - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House *
28 - Buffalo, NY - Area 54/Amy’s Place
29 - Youngstown, OH - Westside Bowl


* release weekend with Howling Giant





Tracklisting:


"Summer’s Bride"
"The Gift" 
"Heaven’s Eye"
"The Fawn"
"Hidden Bridges"
"Palisades"
"Diana"
"Silver Arrows"
"Widow (The Hunt & The Prize)"





For further details, visit Horseburner on Facebook.


 

Season Of Mist welcomes Oak, Ash & Thorn.


Out of Denver, Colorado, from along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, Oak, Ash & Thorn arose with a collective passion for heavy metal and a shared pagan worldview.


Inspired by the likes of Týr, In Flames and Immortal, the band released their first album in 2018. May Every Altar Linger established a patented blend of anthemic riffs, athletic drumming, dueling clean vocals and death growls. In 2021, their EP To Gaze On Stars Of Frost refined their sound further. Fabian Jiru of Trollfest handled production duties so masterfully that he was brought back for their next EP Eternal, which was released by Lost Future Records.




Last month, Lost Future released Oak, Ash & Thorn's second album. Our Grief Is Thus is tighter while also pushing beyond the band's pagan roots and blackened death metal foundation. Songs like "Dying Culture" and "Auras" pulls from the galloping energy of crust punk, power metal's soaring triumph and the unconventional melodies of progressive rock. The end result is a powerful, unique sound that is fully their own, as melodic and memorable as it is heavy and crushing.


Now, Oak, Ash & Thorn are taking the next step in their journey by signing with Season Of Mist. As they continue to tour in support of their latest album, the band will begin writing what's bound to be a highly-anticipated follow-up.


"We are thrilled to sign with Season Of Mist," says Oak, Ash & Thorn. "It's long been the home of some of our biggest influences, and it is a tremendous honor to now stand alongside them at one of the most reputable metal labels in the world. To say that we're living out our dream is an understatement."





Tracklisting:


"Dying Culture"
"Like The Sea, I Raged"
"Ten Years On The Tundra"
"Bury Deep My Tired Bones"
"Light My Pyre"
"Auras"
"Distant Mountains, Distant Gods"
"Unchain The Wolf"








While only loosely constructed as a concept album, with Our Grief Is Thus, Oak, Ash & Thorn have built a monumental record. Every song deals with grief in some fashion. "Dying Culture" is about the decay of tradition by way of urbanization and generational decline. "Light My Pyre" tackles betrayal and the dissolution of friendship. "Auras" deals with the erosion (and rejuvenation) of honor and identity in the face of withering familial ties.  


Oak, Ash & Thorn recorded their latest album in Ft. Collins, Colorado, at the Blasting Room, which was founded by Black Flag and Descendents drummer Bill Stevenson. Our Grief Is Thus marks the first time in the band's history that they have walked out of a studio with an album fully representing their vision.


Having now signed to Season Of Mist, they're ready to take their spirited brand of blackened pagan power metal to even greater heights. 


(Photo by Tony Gomez at Shoot & Destroy Photography)


 

Nova Sons, the Kentucky based dynamic blues rock duo hailed for their electrifying performances and soul-stirring compositions, has released the latest single and music video off of their upcoming, debut EP, Take A Chance. The title track is embodied with the essence of raw energy and heartfelt lyricism.


"Take A Chance" marks a significant milestone in Nova Sons' musical journey, encapsulating their signature blend of blues-infused rock with a modern twist. With pulsating rhythms, searing guitar riffs, and soulful vocals, the song takes listeners on an inspiring sonic journey.


"We hope this track encourages you to never give up on your dreams," says Nova Sons.







In conjunction with the single release, Nova Sons has unveiled a music video that complements the song's intensity and emotion. Shot against a backdrop of urban landscapes and dimly lit alleyways, the video captures the essence of the band's raw and unbridled performance style, offering viewers a front-row seat to their electrifying stage presence.


"Take A Chance" was written by guitarist and frontman Vincent Langdon, with Jon Lawhon (former founding member of Black Stone Cherry) producing; the track was recorded at Monocle Studios in Edmonton, KY, with mixing and mastering courtesy of Edison Video (Mind2Mass Studios).


Two bluegrass boys hailing from the backwoods of Kentucky and a heap of rock 'n' roll — that’s what Kentucky-bred duo, Nova Sons, is all about. Armed with passion, a gritty take on modern rock, and enough swagger to rival the legends, they're not just here to shake up the music scene; they're here to remodel it. Comprising Vincent Langdon on guitar and vocals, and Austin Bruce on drums, Nova Sons is a powerful fusion of raw talent, relentless ambition, and a distinct musical prowess that stands out even in a saturated genre. 





For further details, visit Nova Sons on Facebook.


 

Jarmo Puolakanaho, guitarist for Finnish melodic death metallers Eterrnal Tears Of Sorrow, has shared a new post here marking the band's 30th Anniversary. Read the message in full below.


Jarmo: "It’s been some time since I last wrote about Eternal Tears of Sorrow, whether individually or on behalf of the entire band. Our seeming inactivity over the past decade plays a part in this silence.


Today, I bring you a mix of news.




First, the cheery part: 'Good news, everyone!' (Those who have watched Futurama know that unfortunately, this phrase is often followed by bad news.)


This month marks three decades since the inception of EToS—certainly a cause for celebration! Or it is actually 32 years if you count from the early days of our forerunner, Andromeda, which began its journey in early 1992.


However, this is tempered by the less cheerful revelation that we have been on hiatus for about a year—a decision that we hadn’t publicly disclosed until now. Hence, there are no official celebrations for this milestone.


Each band member has their reasons for this break. Personally, I feel we might have reached our creative zenith; continuing as before might merely mean repeating ourselves in every conceivable way—songwriting, performing, recording, and the like.


Despite our efforts over the past few years to produce new songs, perhaps aiming for a single or an EP, these did not yield the hoped-for results. The new material seemed either too derivative of our past work or lacked the necessary collective enthusiasm, suggesting we might have exhausted our potential as EToS.


Yet, this period was far from fruitless for me. I’ve significantly honed my songwriting skills and learned to inject new life into our music. These lessons are invaluable as I embark on new projects. Each of us is now exploring different musical avenues through various bands and projects.


As for myself, I’ve been developing a new project since the onset of the pandemic, envisaging something that might echo EToS but with a heavier, more progressive, or even experimental twist. The project will certainly have stuff that hasn’t been possible with EToS, or stuff that I couldn’t even imagine during our active years. So, I’m filled with fresh ideas and enthusiasm for this new direction, exploring where these paths might lead. And this may not be the only project on the horizon for me—I have numerous new ideas that could take many different forms. Only time will tell.


So, I hope to release information of this band/project – or even more projects or bands – next year, as I turn 50 years then.


As to when the EToS hiatus might end, that remains uncertain. We will resume when we all feel the moment is right, perhaps with a reimagined sound and approach to ensure everything feels fresh and invigorating.


In the meantime, I invite our fans to stay connected through our official social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.


Thank you for your steadfast support over these three decades. It has been a profound honour to share this journey with you. Expect us when you see us."


Best regards,
Jarmo Puolakanaho & Eternal Tears of Sorrow


Eternal Tears of Sorrow released seven albums between 1997 and 2013. Work on the follow-up to 2013's Saivon Lapsi began in 2018 but, as mentioned above, the new music was put on hold.

Rockshots Records presents Auro Control, a new prog / power metal band from Brazil. With its fast, precise, melodic, virtuous, and energetic sound, Auro Control delivers an amazing auditory experience that leaves a lasting impression.


Scheduled for release on May 31st, The Harp is an ambitious album, uniting the greatness of power metal with the depth of prog metal and the richness of percussion from Bahia-Brazil, resulting in a unique and surprising sound. The album produced by Thiago Bianchi, will feature the participation of Bianchi himself (Noturnall, Shaman), Aquiles Priester (W.A.S.P., Angra), Felipe Andreoli (Angra), and Jeff Scott Soto (Art Of Anarchy, Soto, Sons Of Apollo). The new single and video, “Not Alone” featuring Jeff Scott Soto, is available below.







The Harp artwork and tracklisting:





"Aurum Regium"
"Feel The Fire"
"Not Alone" (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)
"Rise Of The Phoenix" (feat. Aquiles Priester)
"The Harp" (feat. Aiace & Felipe Andreoli)
"Afterglow"
"Head Up High"
"Conception"
"Runner"
"Breaking Silence" (feat. Thiago Bianchi)


Pre-orders can be placed here.


 

Lawrence Mackrory, singer for Swedish metal band Darkane, has announced his departure from the group. He posted the following statement to social media earlier today, May 16th:


"The time has come to announce my departure from Darkane. I’ve struggled to find the passion and dedication these last few years and that’s why I have decided that the best thing to do is to hand in my resignation. If I can’t do it 100% why do it at all? That’s always been my motto and continues to be."


"It’s been so much fun making music, touring, and hanging out with some of my best friends since I rejoined the band in 2011. And they are the ones I will miss the most. But meeting all the dedicated Darkane fans has been the highlight. There are so many of you out there who are passionate about the band and to you I give a big heartfelt THANK YOU!”




The remaining members of Darkane commented:


"Lawrence handled the vocal duties for Darkane on the debut album Rusted Angel (1999), The Sinister Supremacy (2013), and Inhuman Spirits (2022). He’s been a huge part of the Darkane history and the rest of the members would like to say a huge thank you! We wish him all the best with everything. He is a very talented vocalist, song writer, producer, engineer, mastering wizard and a very good friend. Much love from Peter, Christofer, Jörgen and Klas."








(Photo - Mathias Blom)

Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson has released his new single and music video, "Burn". Watch the clip below.


Says Lars: "2 minutes and 59 seconds of classic hard rock with just guitar, bass, drums and vocals."







As a tribute to Russian Opposition leader and hero Alexej Navalnyi, Mattsson felt he had to write a song which can also be seen as a tribute to fallen heroes everywhere who have died defending our freedom.


Sonically, "Freedom" is built around a string arrangement with cellos in the forefront but also enhanced by brass and woodwinds so it is a bit of a different soundscape compared to most of Lars' other music. But as you know, he has never been afraid of broadening his horizons.

RivetSkull have released the new single, "The King is Dead". This is the third single from their upcoming album, Absence Of Time, due for release on June 14.


Commenting on the new single, RivetSkull had this to say: "The metal gallop returns with a vengeance in 'The King Is Dead.' The song’s relentless drive mirrors its theme: the unquenchable thirst for power that’s plagued humanity throughout history. There are two instruments you probably wouldn’t expect in a metal song: an electric sitar guitar and an old B-3 Hammond. Both were in the studio just begging to be included!"







RivetSkull on the new album: "Absence Of Time feels like a culmination of everything we've been building towards. It's not just a collection of songs, it's a unified statement of who we are. Heavy metal has always been a lifeline for us, a way to channel our struggles and find strength in a community of like-minded souls. With this record, we want to extend that lifeline to our listeners. We want them to hear the experiences they share, the battles they've fought, and know that they're not alone. This is heavy metal as catharsis, as connection, and as a celebration of the power of shared experience."


Absence Of Time was recorded by Jonathan Plum at London Bridge Studio (Queensryche, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains) and produced by the Matt Hyde (Deftones, Slayer, Hatebreed, Seether), with album artwork by Josh Graham at Suspended in Light (Soundgarden, Eagles of Death Metal).


Pre-order at this location.





Tracklisting:


“Hellbound”
“Isolation”
“Not Gonna Run”
“My Darkest Hour”
“Eyes Of A Fallen Angel”
“The King Is Dead”
“Swimming In Mortality”
“Time Will Tell”
“The Unwinnable War”


“Eyes Of A Fallen Angel” lyric video:





"Hellbound" lyric video:





The band spends the month of June on tour with Artillery as part of their 40th anniversary tour. They will be opening the dates alongside fellow support Vapor and War Curse.





(Photo – Mike Savoia)

Whom Gods Destroy, the formidable progressive metal group formed by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, and vocalist Dino Jelusick, along with the potent rhythm section of bassist Yas Nomura and drummer Bruno Valverde, recently released their debut album, Insanium, worldwide via InsideOutMusic.


Today, the band share a bass playthrough video for album track, "Hypernova 158". Watch below:







Insanium is available on Standard CD Jewelcase, Digital Album, Ltd. 2CD Mediabook (with the bonus track “Requiem”, as well as the entire album as bonus instrumental disc) and as Gatefold 2LP & LP-Booklet on 180g. vinyl in the following variants:


- Black 2LP
- Dark Green 2LP (Ltd. 500x copies from www.insideoutshop.de & various other retailers)
- Custard Colored 2LP (Ltd. 1000x copies at all US outlets)


Order here.





Insanium tracklisting:


"In The Name Of War"
"Over Again"
"The Decision"
"Crawl"
"Find My Way Back"
"Crucifier"
"Keeper Of The Gate"
"Hypernova 158"
"Insanium"


“The Decision” lyric video:





"Crawl" video:





"Over Again" video:





"In The Name Of War" video:





Whom Gods Destroy lineup:


Bruno Valverde - Drums
Yas Nomura - Bass
Dino Jelusick - Vocals
Derek Sherinian - Keyboards
Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal - Guitars

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, Alex Lifeson confirmed that he has been "playing a lot of RUSH songs" with his longtime bandmate Geddy Lee at the bassist/vocalist's house in Toronto in recent weeks. "We're together in a room like we've always been," the guitarist said. "That's been really good, but there's no chance that we're going to get a drummer and go back on the road as the rebirth of RUSH or something like that. And if we wanted to write new material, nobody cares about new material anymore. They just want to hear the old stuff from guys like us."

When the interviewer noted that RUSH fans "would care", Lifeson clarified: "Maybe the feeling is that it's just really about taking people back to an earlier time in their lives that they have very fond and vivid memories of, and I get it and that's great. And then you do it for the money. And that's not what we were ever about or what we would want to do. Offers come in all the time, but I don't know. I don't think that's something that we're really interested in."

Elaborating on why he is opposed to the idea of performing RUSH music with a new drummer, Lifeson said: "I just don't know if doing something like that would wreck it. Or wreck the legacy that RUSH has left. When it happened, it was disappointing for us. And then Neil [Peart, late RUSH drummer] got sick and all of that stuff, but our legacy is intact that we went out on a high note. That tour was great. It looked great. We played really well. We bonded even more so with our audience. I'd rather have that and the sadness of not doing it again, than doing it again and sitting on a chair on stage because I can't stand. [Laughs] I'd rather be remembered for that than something that's more current."

Alex went on to say that he and Geddy are continuing to have conversations about the possibility of performing together again. "We talk about it, but at the same time, he's my best friend and he loves me and he cares for me," he said. "He knows that I do have issues both physical and emotional with this whole idea. And he respects that we have so much respect and love for each other. I would do something like that, that he wanted to do, because I love him and I want to make him happy. But he knows that I wouldn't be happy. It's the bond that we have."

He added: "I don't think I would be happy in my heart if we were to do something like that. I really would feel like we were doing an injustice to our fans and that would be just a money grab.

"We get offers all the time, and they're pretty substantial, but I don't know. It's not enough for me. How much do you need? I'm trying to get rid of stuff. I sold the bulk of my guitars. I had some cars. I sold those. I had a house in the country that I sold. I want to be slimmer and a little tighter in, in my life with fewer anchors around my neck."

This past January, Lifeson didn't rule out the possibility of playing with Lee again, telling Greg Prato of Ultimate Guitar: "There's certainly a lot of interest in us doing something. I think for a lot of RUSH fans, they've been hoping for… Geddy had his book tour. I went out on a few of those dates with him. I think that's kind of sparked more interest in us working together.

"Ged's a very busy guy," Alex continued. "He's written a couple of books over the years. He has a lot of stuff that he's into. This is my studio in my apartment. I've been working on the ENVY OF NONE stuff as well as a few other projects. So I've been playing and recording for all these years.

"When he's ready, he always says, 'Come over for a coffee and we'll go down to the studio and bash around a few notes.' Yeah, call me. And so far he's been so busy, but I think maybe in the new year — or this is the new year — maybe soon we'll find the time to sit down and see what happens," Lifeson added. "Maybe nothing happens. Maybe it's not there anymore. Maybe it's gonna be amazing. I don't know. We'll see. Honestly, it's not a priority for us. We're happy in our lives. So, it's not like we need to go back to something. And that's my fear. That if we — that would be the expectation, this is like RUSH 2. But by necessity it has to be something different. And it can never be RUSH. Without Neil [Peart, late RUSH drummer], it can never be RUSH. That's it. It's over. But you never know what can happen. So we'll see."

For the past couple of decades, Lifeson has been suffering from psoriatic arthritis, a chronic, autoimmune form of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and occurs with the skin condition psoriasis. During an appearance on the January 10 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", the now-70-year-old Canadian musician opened up about the severity of longtime physical ailments, saying: "I would say that's slowly getting worse, as to be expected. I have psoriatic arthritis, and I've been dealing with it for quite a while — for almost 20 years. I'm on two biologics [biologic drugs for the treatment of arthritis], so sort of like a double whammy in dealing with it. And it's been very, very effective. Despite the side effects and all of that, it's been a really effective regimen for me, and it's really helped my hands. I have times where the inflammation has its own mind, and that's when you'll see me shaking my hands [while I am playing]. But it is what it is, and I can still get by, and I'm so used to it, I don't really even think about it that much anymore. "

Lifeson also talked about the possibility of him returning to the road, either with Lee or with another project. He said: "[After] 40 years of touring, I'm not interested in touring anymore. I enjoyed it when we did it. There were lots of ups and downs. The gig is great, the show is great, and for the other 21 hours in a day, you're just waiting for those three hours. And it gets tiring, especially when you have a family and you have loved ones at home that you're estranged from for months and months and months at a time. I don't miss that aspect of it. Do I like playing in front of people? Yeah. I still like that — maybe not to the point where I have to do it. But when [Geddy and I] did the Taylor Hawkins benefits and we did the 'South Park' thing in Denver, and I do these Christmas shows with Andy Kim and lots of great musicians that I get to play with, then it's fun. I really enjoy that, and it's controlled, and it's great. To make a big deal and do a tour and get back into that thing, I don't really have an interest in that. I know Ged would like to play again and he would like to spend some time writing. But beyond that, honestly, we haven't talked about anything beyond just getting together and having a coffee and just bashing out a few notes."

Alex continued: "[Geddy] has a lot of stuff in his life. He's a very busy person. He's really enjoying this phase of being [a book] author. He's on the go, go, go, go all the time. And I'm here, and I'm playing on all these different projects. So, in a way, I've continued being that musician, and he's gone off to do other things. So, whenever he's ready, like usual, I only live five minutes away from him, like we have all our lives. I go over and hang out and we'll turn the recorder on and do some stuff, but there's no plan for a tour. There's no plan for anything. And I know rumors get started and people have their desires and lots of people would love to see us get back and play again. Well, I don't know. I don't know. Who knows? Maybe if we're together, we're messing around and we get excited… Certainly after we did those gigs, it was quite heady and very exciting. But I really love my life right now, and I don't know if I'm gonna disrupt it by being away from the things that I'm really enjoying, for any reason."

Lifeson also reflected on RUSH's final tour, which concluded in August 2015 in Los Angeles. According to Rolling Stone, the trek took the novel approach of presenting the band's music in reverse chronological order, meaning Alex and his bandmates — Lee and drummer Neil Peart — began the show with songs from their most recent albums and slowly worked back to their earliest material. As time went backwards, stagehands would swap out the backdrop to match the period they were visiting. That meant by the time they reached the encores, it looked like they were playing in the high school gyms of their youth.

"The last tour I thought was a terrific tour for RUSH," Alex said. "I thought we played really well. I thought the show was really fun. Going back in time to the beginning was a great way to celebrate the end of the band. I don't know if, at 70 years old, 10 years later, if I can play like I played back then. I haven't played that material in nine years. And if I can't play it like I played it nine years ago, then I really have no interest in doing it. I think RUSH has a strong legacy because of the way things ended. We ended on a high note, and that's the way people remember us. And I think that that also is partly the reason why so many people would love to see us back out, because that's the memory they have of us. We were dedicated to what we were doing. We practiced a lot. We were passionate. We played our hearts out. Physically, ten years later, at this stage, [after] these ten years, I don't know if we can do that. I don't know, can Ged sing like he did? Can I play guitar? Can he play bass like he did? I don't know. Unless we did a big rehearsal and tried to do all that stuff, we'll never know. But just thinking intellectually how this would work, I'm not keen on doing it, really."

Peart died on January 7, 2020, after quietly battling brain cancer for three and a half years. RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

In 2022, Geddy revealed that Neil wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis a secret prior to his death.

Lee went on to say that he and Lifeson had to be "dishonest" to fans in order to protect Peart's privacy.

Fan-filmed video of SLIPKNOT's entire May 12 headlining performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida can be seen below.

Featured songs:

00:00 - People = Shit
05:32 - Eyeless
10:03 - Disasterpiece
17:15 - Before I Forget
22:03 - Custer
27:54 - Psychosocial
33:15 - The Devil In I
39:15 - The Heretic Anthem
45:19 - Unsainted
49:45 - Wait And Bleed
53:53 - Vermilion

Encore:

1:01:31 - Duality
1:06:04 - Spit It Out
1:09:40 - Surfacing

Welcome To Rockville marked SLIPKNOT's third show with the band's new drummer, former SEPULTURA sticksman Eloy Casagrande.

Prior to Welcome To Rockville, SLIPKNOT played on April 25 at Pappy + Harriet's in Pioneertown, California and on April 27 at theSick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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

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

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

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

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

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

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

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

Fan-filmed video of Sebastian Bach's May 12 performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida can be seen below.

Bach's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. What Do I Got To Lose?
02. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW song)
03. 18 And Life (SKID ROW song)
04. Here I Am (SKID ROW song)
05. Monkey Business (SKID ROW song)
06. I Remember You (SKID ROW song)
07. Youth Gone Wild (SKID ROW song)

Bach kicked off his "What Do I Got To Lose?" spring 2024 North American tour on May 10 at Southport Music Hall in Jefferson, Louisiana.

Bach's 14-song set in Jefferson included two tracks from his new solo album, "Child Within The Man" — "What Do I Got to Lose?" and "Everybody Bleeds" — along with 12 SKID ROW classics.

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

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

In an interview with "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, Sebastian spoke about the inspiration for the "Child Within The Man" title. He said: "Well, my wife calls me man-child. That's kind of been a theme for me my whole career. I bring a youthful energy to the stage when I get up there. People are smiling and excited and hooting and hollering. But the line 'child within the man' is a line of one of the songs on the record. And I scream it like bloody murder. And it kept haunting me. "

Sebastian also talked about the "Child Within The Man" artwork, which holds special meaning since it was designed by Bach's father, noted visual artist David Bierk.

"I have a lot of my dad's artwork," Bach said. "He's no longer alive. And we all, all of his kids, we got a lot of his art when he passed away. And I unrolled a roll of paintings that I knew had the SKID ROW 'Subhuman Race' painting in it, and I wanna take care of it and make sure it's preserved. But in that roll was this painting that I remember my dad doing of me when I was 10 in a field next to this beat-up old Cadillac car in the field and then behind the car, it's Jesus ascending into heaven, and I'm running next to the car. It looks like an album cover. And then he also did a painting of me from Circus magazine, the first centerfold of me on stage at Giants Stadium. He did a gigantic painting of that, like 12 feet high. And so the cover is gonna be me running as a child into me on stage as a man, and it's child within the man. And it just reminds me of the '70s, like child in time, and it just reminds me of a good '70s album cover. And the fact that I can bring back a painting from the year 1978 and make it into artwork in 2023, 2024, that's really mind-blowing to me."

Bach's "What Do I Got To Lose?" tour is a mix of solo gigs and festival appearances. The stateside tour will wrap June 29 in San Diego, California.

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

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

ATREYU will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band's 2004 sophomore album "The Curse" by performing the gold-certified LP in its entirety at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California on October 18. Support at the gig will come from EIGHTEEN VISIONS, which will play the group's "Obsession" album in its entirety to celebrate the LP's 20th anniversary, and DEATH BY STEREO, which will kick things off with a 25th-anniversary performance of that band's 1999 debut, "If Looks Could Kill, I'd Watch You Die".

Pre-sale tickets will be available tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) using the code "CURSE20". The general on-sale will follow this Friday, May 17.

Back in December 2014, ATREYU celebrated "The Curse"'s tenth anniversary by performing the album in its entirety at the Observatory in Santa Ana, California.

2002's "Suicide Notes And Butterfly Kisses" established ATREYU as an influential force, while "The Curse" sold more than half a million copies as the group rose to global renown. 2006's "A Death-Grip On Yesterday" and 2007's "Lead Sails Paper Anchor" both bowed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Top 200, with the latter garnering a gold certification from the RIAA — a highly rare accomplishment for a 21st century rock band.

Following a hiatus post-"Congregation Of The Damned" in 2009, the musicians returned, firing on all cylinders with "Long Live" in 2015. It crashed the Top 30 of the Billboard Top 200 and earned widespread acclaim from Revolver, Loudwire, AXS and Kerrang!, who dubbed it "a hell of a return." Along the way, the boys sold out countless headline shows in addition to sharing the stage with everyone from SLIPKNOT and LINKIN PARK to Chris Cornell and AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

ATREYU's latest album, "The Beautiful Dark Of Life", came out last December via Spinefarm.

"The Beautiful Dark Of Life" is an emotional journey through three distinct phases accompanying ATREYU's previously released three-part EP series — capturing the essence of despair on "The Hope Of A Spark", the pursuit of hope on "The Moment You Find Your Flame" and the triumphant self-discovery and purpose on "A Torch In The Dark".

The album features sonic numbers that touch every corner of the heavy music sphere — from metal to punk and alternative, via '80s classic rock and with shades of industrial, hip-hop, and unashamed pop — speaking more than ever to a generation of music fans who care little for the traditional constraints of genre.

Through the expression of deeply personal feelings and emotions, the album is soul-baring and empathetic and offers escapism, and empowerment through songs that speak openly about anxiety, depression, self-belief, love, and identity that includes three new songs, "Dancing With My Demons", "Insomnia" and the title track.

Photo credit: Micala Austin

Join us as we celebrate 20 years of The Curse with a special hometown show, where we'll be performing the album in its...

Posted by Atreyu on Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Billy Idol did an exclusive performance of his classic hit, "Rebel Yell", exclusively for Vevo. You can watch the clip below:





Billy Idol is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, Rebel Yell, with a deluxe expanded edition, out now via Capitol/UMe.




Billy Idol is a perfectionist… and that sometimes gets him into trouble. Hear why he stole the tapes to Rebel Yell from his record label in this edition of the uDiscover - Beyond The Bus series.





Available to order here, the reissue includes a selection of previously unreleased songs and demos, the Poolside remix of Idols smash hit "Eyes Without A Face", and the never-before-heard Billy Idol/Steve Stevens original "Best Way Out Of Here" from the original sessions.


Originally released in November 1983, Rebel Yell is the twice-platinum follow-up to Idols self-titled debut. The album features the iconic singles "Eyes Without A Face", "Flesh For Fantasy", "Rebel Yell", and "Catch My Fall". The reissue is available in 2xLP, 2xCD, and digital formats. See below for complete tracklistings.





Rebel Yell (Expanded Edition) tracklistings:


2xLP:


Disc 1, Side A
"Rebel Yell"
"Daytime Drama"
"Eyes Without A Face"
"Blue Highway"


Disc 1, Side B
"Flesh For Fantasy"
"Catch My Fall"
"Crank Call"
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows"
"The Dead Next Door"


Disc 2, Side A
"Best Way Out Of Here"
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
"Daytime Drama" (Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Demo)


Disc 2, Side B
"Catch My Fall" (Early Version)
"Crank Call" (Demo)
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows" (Demo)
"Eyes Without A Face" (Poolside remix)





2xCD/Digital Album:


Disc 1
"Rebel Yell"
"Daytime Drama"
"Eyes Without A Face"
"Blue Highway"
"Flesh For Fantasy"
"Catch My Fall"
"Crank Call"
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows"
"The Dead Next Door"


Disc 2
"Best Way Out Of Here"
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
"Daytime Drama" (Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Demo)
"Catch My Fall" (Early Version)
"Crank Call" (Demo)
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows" (Demo)
"Rebel Yell" (Session Take)
"Blue Highway" (Original Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Session Take)
"Catch My Fall" (Original Demo)
"Motorbikin" (Session Take)
"Eyes Without A Face" (Poolside remix)


"Best Way Out Of Here" visualizer:





Flesh For Fantasy” demo:





"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" visualizer:





Billy Idol will embark on his transcontinental Rebel Yell Canada 2024 arena tour this summer, beginning July 30 in Vancouver and running through August 25 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.


Produced by Live Nation Canada, Idol’s show will include a myriad of hits from across his career with a focus on the landmark Rebel Yell album, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Joining Idol is his longtime backing band, including his lead guitarist and collaborator of over 40 years, Steve Stevens. Canadian Walk Of Fame inductees Platinum Blonde will appear as special guest across all stops.





Dates:


July
30 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena


August
1 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
2 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
5 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Centre
6 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
9 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
10 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
14 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
16 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
19 - Quebec City, QC - Videotron Centre
21 - Moncton, NB - Avenir Centre
23 - Halifax, NS - Scotiabank Centre
25 - St. John’s, NL - Mary Brown’s Centre

During an appearance on the May 13 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke about the rumors which circulated for a while that PANTERA's Philip Anselmo would sing on the debut album from King's solo project. Asked how far those conversations with Philip got, Kerry said: "It didn't get real far. And everything you saw online, that was just all rumors, because it never got past me and Phil talking about it.

"I've known Phil decades — I've known Phil before [PANTERA's] 'Cowboy From Hell' [album] came out," King continued. "He's been a friend of mine throughout the years. And all the business suits wanted me to go that way — my manager, my record company, my promoter, everybody — because it's it's gonna put massive butts in seats, so to speak. But talking to [Phil] about it, I know this is too thrashy a project for him. I'm not saying he can't do it; I'm saying I don't think he wanted to do it. But we did a little bit of legwork on it, and especially once [the] PANTERA [reunion] came up, that just blew it out of the water."

Kerry previously discussed the possibility of Philip singing on his solo album back in February during an interview with Rolling Stone. At the time, King acknowledged that a collaboration with Anselmo "was considered. My management, my promoter, my record label all wanted Phil," he explained. "Phil's a good friend of mine, but I always thought he's not the right guy. That has nothing to do with his ability; I just knew he wasn't the right guy. When you hear Mark [Osegueda, DEATH ANGEL singer] on this record, you know that's the guy.

"I had to do due diligence, because at the end of the day, had Philip been the guy, we'd be in arenas immediately because we could play new stuff, we could play PANTERA, we could play SLAYER, and fans would've been happy. It ended when the PANTERA thing came up."

Pressed about the rumors that Kerry was at one point going to be part of the PANTERA reunion, the guitarist replied: "I won't confirm or deny that."

King went on to say that Mark "was on board early on" for Kerry's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise". "I just didn't pull that trigger," Kerry said. "I was, like, 'Let's see what happens.' Say for instance, [JUDAS PRIEST's] Rob Halford calls me and says, 'Hey, I would love to be your singer,' I'd have to go that way.

"Mark knew how I expected the songs to be performed. On my demos, I sing with very good conviction, but I don’t have pipes; that's why I don't sing. With 'Residue', he sounded so good I had to ask him, 'Is this sustainable? I don't want you to blow your load on this record and then blow your voice out every third show.' And he swore up and down he could do it. He went on to some of the harder ones and did the same thing on those, so I went, 'Okay.'

When the interviewer said that Mark's vocals make King's music album like SLAYER, Kerry said: "Well, that's me putting the vocals together. Tom [Araya, SLAYER frontman] could scream his ass off. I'll never take that away from Tom. His conviction might come and go — and I'm not looking to jab at Tom, that's not the point — but Mark just showed up every fucking day and is on point every fucking second of every song."

"From Hell I Rise" will be released on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. All material for the LP was written by the 59-year-old SLAYER guitarist alongside the rest of his solo band, consisting of Osegueda, drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),guitarist Phil Demmel (MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE) and bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH).

Kerry's new band played its second show ever on May 9 at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida.

King's first-ever festival solo appearance came just two days after his solo group made its live debut at Reggies in Chicago, Illinois.

As was the case with Reggies, King's setlist for Welcome To Rockville included SLAYER tracks as well as several of the 13 songs that appear on "From Hell I Rise".

KERRY KING will be special guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour. The six-week run will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska.

KERRY KING will next play at the Sonic Temple festival on May 16.

Kerry King photo credit: Andrew Stuart

New Zealand hard rock powerhouse, Black Smoke Trigger, have shared their new single "Learn To Crawl", accompanied by an evocative music video. Stream the new track here, and watch the video below.


Speaking on the new single, Black Smoke Trigger guitarist and band leader Charlie Wallace shares, “'Learn To Crawl' is about somebody who has pretended to be an angel in your life, but as time goes on, you learn who they really are. The inspiration came from a situation I found myself in a few years ago but it seems that everybody who hears the song, makes up their own meaning with an experience they’ve had in their own life. So this is really one of those songs where the listener gets to decide what and who it’s about. Musically it’s very different from everything else we have done so far, lots of layered vocal harmonies really add a haunting quality to the track. The music video was filmed in my house, the setting just seemed to fit the song so well, and really focuses on the performance of the track.”







Black Smoke Trigger continue to ride the high of their dynamic rock, anchored by the distinctive guitar work of Wallace and the commanding vocals of Baldrick combined with their pummelling rhythm section courtesy of bassist Dan Fulton, and drummer Josh Te Maro. Fast becoming known for not only smashing out certified 10/10, arena-ready rock bangers, Black Smoke Trigger are also quickly garnering a reputation for creating incendiary and often death defying music videos and for being a must-see act thanks to their high-octane live shows.


Black Smoke Trigger start their invasion of the UK and Europe this week. Kicking off proceedings will be the band's debut UK headline show at The Corn Exchange in Hertford tonight, followed by a run of support dates with Bruce Dickinson that begin tomorrow in Wolverhampton.





(Photo - Andhe Chandler)

Chicago’s Harm's Way is pleased to unleash a video for “Terrorizer”. The track comes by way of the band’s Common Suffering full-length, released last fall via Metal Blade Records. Watch the clip below, and order the album at metalblade.com.





Tracklisting:




“Silent Wolf”
“Denial”
“Hollow Cry”
“Devour”
“Undertow”
“Heaven’s Call”
“Cyanide”
“Terrorizer”
“Sadist Guilt”
“Wanderer”


"Terrorizer" video:





"Undertow" video:





"Devour" video:





“Silent Wolf” video:





Harm's Way s currently in the midst of a US tour supporting Kublai Khan TX. The journey, which began on May 11 in Charlotte, North Carolina, will run through May 26 in Dallas, Texas. Additional support is being provided by Pain Of Truth and Justice For The Damned. In July, the band will play this year’s edition of Sound And Fury Fest before joining Hatebreed and Carcass on a month-long North American Fall tour with additional support provided by Crypta.





(Photo - E. Aaron Ross)

Las Vegas-based heavy rock outfit, Swaggermouth, are ready to share their unique brand of “controlled chaos” on their debut album, Never Shut Up, due in late July via Rock Avenue Records USA. The album was produced, mixed, and mastered by frontman Jason Ebs (who’s previously toured as a vocalist and guitarist with Peter Criss on the “Bad Boys of KISS” tour with Ace Frehley) at his newly acquired studio he named, Dragon Castle Studio, which was the former studio of platinum-selling rockers Imagine Dragons.


It features Chris Slade (AC/DC) on drums, who also co-wrote the album with Jason and frontwoman Janea Chadwick Ebs. The band have today, May 15, shared its lead track “Let It Roll,” showcasing Jason and Janea’s intertwined vocals and melodic upbeat sound which Jason describes as “Slammin’ Pop.”


Stream it now here at your preferred digital platform. Watch the video below.




Speaking about Never Shut Up, Jason shares: “Musically it covers the gamut of human emotions, from super heavy to tender to angry and maybe even a little happy, just like real life. We called it Never Shut Up because lyrically we like to address topics of today's society, and as Americans we've painted ourselves into a corner and find ourselves afraid to speak and having to watch everything that we say. We must always maintain our ability to use our voices and to stand up for what we believe but as I like to say, must also ‘Examine Society and Question Authority.’ ‘Enough with the Normalization of Madness.’”


Swaggermouth have also shared the captivating music video for “Let It Roll,” seen streaming below. The video was filmed at Vegas locations including Ebs’ studio, the abandoned mining site Wheel of Misfortune in Las Vegas, the youth music school Rockstars of Tomorrow, and features Vegas’ iconic showgirls from Vintage Vegas Entertainment. The video highlights Swaggermouth’s live lineup consisting of Jason (vocals/guitars), Janea (vocals), Borgi (keyboards), Joseph Nile (bass), and Billy Kessner (drums).





Below, Jason Ebs talks about the new music, working with Chris Slade, and filming the video.


Q: Tell us what inspired you to write “Let It Roll” and how you chose it to be the first new music from Never Shut Up?


Jason Ebs: “‘Let It Roll’ is one of my older riffs and one of the last ones I wrote in our LA studio before moving to Vegas. Once I set up my first studio here in Vegas, I would record a batch of songs by laying guitars and bass to a click and Chris Slade would lay drums to them when he came to town. This session happened to be the last one before he was called back into AC/DC for the tour in 2015.


"I had loved the music to it and I always had the title ‘Let It Roll’ but the lyrics never came to me or Janea. It sat unfinished for years as we adjusted to life in Las Vegas and went through the pandemic, locked away in the studio while finishing the other songs on the record. After listing to all the other songs, I felt like the record was unfinished. I happened to pull up the music to ‘Let It Roll’ and it hit me like a steam roller! Suddenly after all these years, the words flowed out of me with a new melody. I felt like we had officially landed here in Vegas, and I wanted to capture that in the song. Janea and I played it for the rest of the band and everyone said, ‘this is the one!’  It became the song that we feel properly represented us out of the gate as a brand-new band out of Vegas. ‘The Vegas Knights are showing anything can happen, you make your wishes with a role of the dice…’”


Q: How did you pick the locations to shoot the "Let It Roll" music video and was there something special that drew you to them?


Ebs: “We wanted to capture our version of Las Vegas in our debut single and video, so for our first location I wanted to film an after-hours party scene here at our newly acquired studio that I named Dragon Castle Studios since it was formerly a studio band house owned by Imagine Dragons. Having it be the hallowed ground where they recorded and produced several of their hit records, we wanted to establish it as the new home base of Swaggermouth by christening it with a party of select friends, industry peeps, and Vegas staples like Showgirls, who raced from a Golden Knights playoff game directly to our video shoot set. Imagine Dragons had left two huge bottles of champagne in the fridge for us when we moved in, and you can see us opening one of them in the video in the party scene.


“For Location #2, our bass player Joseph Nile mentioned this kick ass place called the ‘Wheel of Misfortune’ and sent me a link to preview. I LOVED it immediately, as it's graffiti ridden ruins matched the heaviness & grittiness of ‘Let It Roll.’ Vegas is a place that you come to roll the dice either for money or success, but pitfalls or bad luck can take you down, so it was a perfect match in its Mad Max ‘end of the world’ way. It matched where I feel that we are in society now… livin' on the edge.


"I believe in keeping music and creativity in the minds of our youth, as music is what got me through my childhood and entire life for that matter. So, when my friend Marissa invited me to do a walkthrough of RockStars of Tomorrow here in Las Vegas, I thought that it would be another perfect location to shoot some concert footage and help spread the word by featuring some of the Rock Stars of tomorrow! The kids were all really excited about it and have been telling all their friends about the experience...so mission accomplished!”


Q: Can you share how you met Chris Slade and what it was like co-writing the album and having him perform on drums?


Ebs: “I've actually known Slade longer than Janea, believe it or not! I used to play weekly at the Burbank Bar and Grille and Slade would come in with Geoff Downs & John Payne, as he was playing drums in ASIA at the time. Meanwhile, Janea and I had formed a new band Ecotonic and we’d just finished our debut record. The band imploded just as the record was completed. I was at NAMM with Janea when Slade sat down across from us. I happened to have an Ecotonic CD with me, so I went over and said hello, told him about the band and that we were looking for a drummer and gave him the music. He called me the next day saying he loved it and two days later he brought his kit over and we started recording the CD with him on it.


“Slade is very other worldly and of a higher consciousness, which always leads us to deep conversations that turn into new songs. He is super easy to write with, as there's no ego or bullshit, only creativity and flow with everyone going for the best result. He used to drive to our studio house in the hills of Glendale all the way from Orange County, and he'd arrive at the door humming new song ideas saying, ‘quick, get something to record this"...and 10 minutes later we'd have a new song.


“I am always humbled thinking of the people that Slade has played drums for whose spot I was standing in--Jimmy Page, David Gilmore, Angus Young--and it’s always a bit of a thrill every time we jam together. Janea and I are so grateful for him as a human and for his talents, and I'm honored to be playing drums on the same record as him. He's a forever friend and an extended family member.”


(Top photo layout by Karen Fishof, photo by Laura McKenzie)

New Zealand's global metal frontrunners, Alien Weaponry, recently released their sophomore full-length album, Tangaroa. This important album - which continues the band's preservation and amplification of the history and culture of their home country's indigenous Māori people - followed the trio's breakout 2018 album, Tū. Its debut led to #1 chart entries and massive critical acclaim, in addition to award nominations and wins. But how did they get there, what has life been like behind the scenes for this fast-rising phenomenon up until now, and where are they headed next?


Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara, a new documentary film from director Kent Belcher and producer Nigel McCulloch, provides an intimate deep dive beneath the surface of Alien Weaponry's past, present and fast-approaching future. The film features appearances from metal elite like Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe, Testament's Chuck Billy and Gojira's Joe and Mario Duplantier.


Befitting a culturally vital band like Alien Weaponry, the 97-minute documentary will see its global premiere at the world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival in New York City on June 6 at the Village East Cinema (8:45 PM, 181-189 2nd Avenue). The premiere will include a special Q&A with the film's director, writer/producer, and editor. The film will also be shown at various additional local theaters throughout the festival's duration.




For more information on how to catch a showing or the premiere itself, click here.


Alien Weaponry says: "We are so excited to finally share this documentary we have been working on for years with you. The film captures our journey of navigating the world of music, showing the highlights, the hardships, and everything in between."


Director Kent Belcher adds: “After six years of traveling with, living with and filming the Alien Weaponry family, to finally be able to share that with audiences and showcase Māori culture in a vibrant and heartfelt way is just so rewarding. To have my first film as director premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival is an absolute dream come true. What makes our film is the family aspect. The ups and downs, the strains of being on the road with your family and then pulling through because you’ve all got a common goal. They’re an amazing, powerful group of people and they’ve taught me a hell of a lot. I’m so privileged to be part of this. I can’t put it into words how lucky I am to have met these people, be able to film these people and then being able to learn stuff about myself. It has honestly been the best experience of my life.”


Alien Weaponry: Kua Tupu Te Ara is an intimate portrait of the most important six years in the life of this band and, in particular, the two brothers at the band’s core — from the release of their debut album, Tū, as they take their music to the world, touring through Australasia, Europe and America. It is an insight into what impact constant touring, teenage angst and creating music has had on the boys and their family around them.


From the privileged position of being embedded with the band on the road, the film has unique access to the family, their shows and their touring. This is an exclusive view from the inside, showing a band on the rise. More importantly, this is a portrait of a normal, down-to-earth kiwi family who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances. On the one hand, they are living a life that may see Henry and Lewis realize all of their dreams, but on the other, this could be a path that could ultimately end up changing who they are entirely.


Alien Weaponry are:


Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals  
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals          
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar


(Photo - Piotr Kwasnik)