BULLETBOYS have made a name for themselves with their loud guitars, boisterous vocals, and shredding solos. Now, the band is blazing a new trail as they join forces with SongVest, giving fans a chance to level up with an opportunity to invest in the music.

The band's current lineup features founding member, vocalist Marq Torien along with guitarist Ira Black (LIZZY BORDEN, METAL CHURCH, DOKKEN),bassist Brad Lang (Y&T) and drummer Fred Aching (POWERFLO). Teaming up with fan investment platform SongVest, the BULLETBOYS offer music lovers the ability to purchase fractional royalty shares in two new recordings. Melophiles who purchase various amounts of shares will unlock access to signed memorabilia, online experiences, and even a private acoustic performance.

"We wanted to offer our fans more than just another t-shirt and poster," explains Torien. "BULLETBOYS fans have been inspiring us for over 35 years, and 'Smooth Up' was the catalyst for all of that fandom. When we first engaged in a conversation with SongVest about our catalog, their CEO just said, 'Empower your fans with ownership. They've earned it.'"

In addition to a re-record of "Smooth Up", BULLETBOYS are also offering shares in their hard and heavy cover recording of Frida's 1982 hit "I Know There's Something Going On", a song that reached No. 1 in Belgium and Switzerland and peaked at No. 13 on the U.S. charts.

"I have been a longtime fan of ABBA and singer Frida and have always wanted to cover and put our twist on this song," shares Torien.

"Phil Collins produced the original song; I wanted to stay true to his drum sound and style. I feel like I achieved this in the production, and in the end, we also made it sound like a modern BULLETBOYS song," says Black.

Fans can currently reserve SongShares at this location. Reservations close on May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT, after which the SEC qualification process begins. Fans who reserve shares will have the first chance to purchase their SongShares, and if there are any shares left, they will go on sale to the general public.

"SongVest is excited to work with BULLETBOYS on these two songs," notes CEO Sean Peace. "Rock fans are some of the most diehard and activated, always looking for ways to connect with their favorite bands. SongVest allows the BULLETBOYS and their fans the ultimate ownership in the music they love."

SongVest is on a mission to democratize music investing. They are the first music marketplace to offer unprecedented access to purchase fractional shares of music royalties from your favorite artists. Learn more at www.songvest.com.

BULLETBOYS formed in 1988 at the very peak of the Los Angeles glam metal movement. As a collection of talented musicians, BULLETBOYS were able to quickly capture the attention of music fans around the world. Unlike other rockers of the day, the BULLETBOYS possessed more hard rock-blues fusion than pure hair metal. Thanks to comparisons to the likes of AEROSMITH and VAN HALEN, talent scouts came running and the band quickly received their first major label contract.

BULLETBOYS' self-titled debut was released in 1988 via Warner Bros. and peaked at number 34 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned two hit singles, a cover of the O'JAYS classic "For The Love Of Money" and "Smooth Up in Ya", both of which charted on the Mainstream Rock chart and saw regular airplay on MTV. BULLETBOYS went on to release two more albums, 1991's "Freakshow" and 1993's "Za-Za", before splitting up.

The new BULLETBOYS lineup made its live in January 2022 at RokIsland Fest in Key West, Florida.

In June 2022, BULLETBOYS released the official music video for its latest single, "Holy F*ck". The track, which was written by Black and Torien, produced and mixed by Black, and mastered by multi-Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Howie Weinberg, was made available via Rock Avenue Records USA. The clip was co-produced and co-directed by Black and Arron Kinser from Studio Vista.

Fan-filmed video of ARCH ENEMY's April 24 concert at Musinsa Garage in Seoul, South Korea can be seen below. The show was the first of ARCH ENEMY's 2024 Asian tour and marked the band's first live appearance in eight months.

Featured songs in video below:

00:00 Deceiver, Deceiver
03:59 The World Is Yours
09:07 Ravenous
12:53 War Eternal
15:22 House Of Mirrors
16:37 My Apocalypse
18:15 The Watcher
19:40 The Eagle Flies Alone
21:36 Handshake With Hell
23:59 Sunset Over The Empire
27:45 As The Pages Burn
32:00 We Will Rise
36:48 Enemy Within
40:23 Burning Angel
44:36 Snow Bound
47:04 Nemesis
51:09 Fields Of Desolation

Last December, ARCH ENEMY announced that it had "amicably" parted ways with longtime guitarist Jeff Loomis.

ARCH ENEMY founder and chief songwriter Michael Amott said in a statement: "It's been a joy having Jeff play with ARCH ENEMY for close to a decade, we truly had a blast touring around the world together! We were friends long before we played music together and we remain even closer buddies now, which feels great. We respect that he's in a place and time in life where he needs to step out of ARCH ENEMY and we all wish him nothing but the best moving forward.

"The only constant is change, and this is one of those moments where things had to change a little to move forward in a satisfactory way for everyone involved. With all that said, we are extremely pleased to announce that we have recruited Joey Concepcion as our new guitarist! Joey's a phenomenal talent and has been a friend of the band for a long time, he even filled in for Jeff on a couple of European festival shows back in 2018.

"We have touring and a myriad of other exciting things coming up on the horizon with ARCH ENEMY for 2024 and beyond and are thrilled to move forward, creating the next chapter and keeping the metal flowing!"

Loomis commented: "My time in ARCH ENEMY has come to an end. I have had a great time (9 years!) of playing and touring with them, but now it's time to enter a new chapter in my life. I wish Alissa, Michael, Sharlee and Daniel the very best and consider them all lifelong friends. I'd also like to thank the crew that have always been nothing but kind to me. Their hard work and dedication towards the band is incredible, and we wouldn't be able to put on the great shows without them. Thank you again for all your support over the years and Happy New Year."

Lastly, Joey Concepcion had the following to say about joining the ARCH ENEMY fold: "It's an honor and a privilege to be working with ARCH ENEMY and I'm very much looking forward to shredding stages across the globe together, playing for and meeting all the fans!"

Jeff, who was the main songwriter in his previous group, NEVERMORE, joined ARCH ENEMY in late 2014, but was not involved in the writing for the latter act's last two albums, 2017's "Will To Power" and 2022's "Deceivers".

In a 2018 interview with All That Shreds, Jeff said that he had "a lot of musical ideas" that he was hoping to contribute to ARCH ENEMY in the future. "I did write three or four songs for ['Will To Power'], but they didn't make it, only because it wasn't in the style that they were looking for," he said. "Fortunately enough, I was able to play guitar solos on the latest album, so that makes me happy."

Seven years ago, Amott said that Loomis is "a strong songwriter" in his own right, "but not in the style of ARCH ENEMY, I feel. He's always writing and recording with his own stuff," he explained. "He has a project called CONQUERING DYSTOPIA, he has his solo stuff, [and] he obviously wrote most of the NEVERMORE stuff. I've always respected him, and continue to respect him, as a guitar player — he's amazing and an amazing human being; he fits in perfectly. [There's] a great chemistry [between us]. But, you know, I've always written most of the music, so it's difficult to… I don't really wanna change the sound of the band too much. The band sort of started around my songwriting and my ideas, and those continue to be the most dominant ones, I guess. But, you know, who knows [what can happen] in the future?"

Loomis's second and latest solo album, 2012's "Plains Of Oblivion" was produced by Aaron Smith (7 HORNS 7 EYES) and featured cover artwork by Colin Marks of Rain Song Design, who had previously worked with ALL SHALL PERISH, THE END and XERATH.

Fan-filmed video of Sebastian Bach's April 26 concert at the Summer Breeze festival at Memorial Da América Latina in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.

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

01. What Do I Got To Lose?
02. Big Guns (SKID ROW song)
03. Sweet Little Sister (SKID ROW song)
04. Here I Am (SKID ROW song)
05. 18 And Life (SKID ROW song)
06. Piece Of Me (SKID ROW song)
07. Everybody Bleeds
08. Slave To The Grind (SKID ROW song)
09. American Metalhead
10. Monkey Business (SKID ROW song)
11. The Threat (SKID ROW song)
12. Rattlesnake Shake (SKID ROW song)
13. Wasted Time / By Your Side (a capella)
14. I Remember You (SKID ROW song)
15. Tom Sawyer (RUSH cover)
16. Youth Gone Wild (SKID ROW song)

The former SKID ROW singer will release a new solo album, "Child Within The Man", on May 10 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

"An album more than 10 years in the making," according to Bach, "Child Within The Man" 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 will be available on jewelcase CD, cassette, and double LP in a variety of colour 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."

The album's first single, "What Do I Got To Lose?", was co-written by Sebastian, Kennedy and Baskette, the latter of whom also served as the track's producer.

In advance of the album's release, Bach will hit the road in 2024 for an international tour with dates in Latin and North America. The "What Do I Got To Lose?" tour is a mix of solo gigs and festival appearances that kicks off with an international run of performances in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and Chile before North American shows in the U.S. and Mexico. The stateside tour gets underway May 10 in Jefferson, Louisiana before wrapping 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.

Bach released the official music video for "What Do I Got To Lose?" in December. The clip was directed by Jim Louvau and Tony Aguilera. For the video, which shows Bach cruising through the desert in a convertible and performing with a full band, Sebastian was joined by his former SKID ROW bandmate, drummer Rob Affuso. The clip also features an appearance by actor and comedian Craig Gass and Sebastian's wife Suzanne, who plays a scantily clad car wash attendant.

Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in March 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc 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.

Gene Simmons and his solo band played their second concert of 2024 last night (Friday, April 26) at the Summer Breeze festival at Memorial Da América Latina in São Paulo, Brazil.

In addition to Simmons, the GENE SIMMONS BAND members include guitarists Brent Woods (WILDSIDE, SEBASTIAN BACH, VINCE NEIL) and Zach Throne (COREY TAYLOR) alongside drummer Brian Tichy (LYNCH MOB, THE DEAD DAISIES, WHITESNAKE, BILLY IDOL, FOREIGNER, PRIDE & GLORY, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT).

The GENE SIMMONS BAND played a number of KISS classics alongside covers of MOTÖRHEAD's "Ace Of Spades" and LED ZEPPELIN's "Communication Breakdown".

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist was as follows:

01. Deuce (KISS song)
02. Shout It Out Loud (KISS song)
03. War Machine (KISS song)
04. Detroit Rock City (KISS song)
05. Cold Gin (KISS song)
06. Calling Dr. Love (KISS song)
07. I Love It Loud (KISS song)
08. Parasite (KISS song)
09. Communication Breakdown (LED ZEPPELIN cover)
10. Lick It Up (KISS song)
11. Are You Ready (Gene Simmons song)
12. Ace Of Spades (MOTÖRHEAD cover)
13. Love Gun (KISS song)
14. 100,000 Years (KISS song)
15. Let Me Go, Rock 'N' Roll (KISS song)
16. I Was Made For Lovin' You (KISS song)
17. Rock And Roll All Nite (KISS song)

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

Prior to the Ridgefield appearance, Simmons told ABC Audio about the show: "There are no rules, which is my favorite thing in life. Anything is bound to happen. I may jump off the stage and get into the audience. We may pull some folks out of the audience. You wanna sing 'I Was Made For Lovin' You'? Here's the mic. Good luck."

Regarding the setlist for the concert, he said: "We get a chance to play songs KISS has never played and some songs have never been recorded. So it's a very exciting event."

GENE SIMMONS BAND will next launch a European tour on July 27 in Kuopio, Finland.

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

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

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

KISS played the final concert of its "End Of The Road" farewell tour on December 2, 2023 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Regarding why now was the right time for KISS to call it quits, Simmons told USA Today: "The touring band that is KISS with the makeup and the dragon boots and fire-breathing, that has to stop and that has to do with Mother Nature and Father Time. If we were a blues band or I was blessed to be Keith Richards in THE ROLLING STONES, I'd show up in my comfy sneakers and T-shirt and stand still and play. But we're different bands. Physically, we are the hardest-working band on the stage. We idolize [Mick] Jagger and Bono and the great showmen, but if you put those guys in my outfit, they would pass out in half an hour. It's 40 pounds of armor and studs and seven-inch dragon boots that are about the weight of a female bowling ball. So you've got 20 pounds on your feet and then you've got to spit fire, fly through the air and the entire band is doing that for two-plus hours. If you have any love for the fans, get off the stage before it's too late. How many boxers have stayed too long in the ring? We're doing the right thing."

In a new interview with Angi Taylor of Chicago's Rock 95.5 radio station, MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx discussed their decision to hire guitarist John 5 as Mick Mars's replacement following the latter's decision to no longer tour with the legendary rock act. Speaking about how it has been like touring with John 5 for much of the past year, Vince said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "He's a good fit for the band. He's a wonderful human being. He's a great guy and he's so talented, it's scary. On stage, when he's doing the solos, I usually go sit in the back and have some water and stuff and kind of kick it, but when he does the solo, I've gotta be out there watching him because he's mesmerizing. He's got that thing about him."

Addressing Mick's departure from MÖTLEY CRÜE, Nikki said: "We didn't see this coming. We were out doing our stadium tour, and Mick had decided to leave. And we really had to sit down and go, 'Well, what do we do? Do we fold? Do we fold on the fans and [concert promoter] Live Nation [and 2022 and 203 tourmates] DEF LEPPARD?' John, we've all known John. I've worked with John. We kind of talked about it. And if we had to move on, it's moved on in a such a beautiful way. It's been great."

On the topic of MÖTLEY CRÜE's future plans, Nikki said: "We're having a great time. We're getting ready to leave on tour pretty soon. We're not doing a lot of shows this year. We're doing, like, what? 17 or 20 shows. We've got some surprises coming up, which we can't tell you about… But we've got some really fun stuff coming up at the end of the year we're really excited about that we're keeping just between us. And it's gonna be a great year, and new music. And then next year we've got a lot of fun stuff planned. So it's just a great time in the band."

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

Mars suffers from Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS),a chronic and inflammatory form of arthritis that mainly affects the spine and pelvis. After years of performing through the pain, he informed the other members of MÖTLEY CRÜE in the summer of 2022 that he could no longer tour with them but would still be open to recording new music or performing at residencies that did not require much travel.

When Mars announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, in early April 2023 the now-72-year-old musician filed a lawsuit against CRÜE in Los Angeles County's Superior Court claiming that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.

Earlier today, MÖTLEY CRÜE released the official music video for its new single, "Dogs Of War". The track was made available via MÖTLEY CRÜE's new deal with Nashville's Big Machine Records.

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

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

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

In early 2023, MÖTLEY CRÜE recorded three new songs with legendary producer Bob Rock, including "Dogs Of War" and a cover of BEASTIE BOYS' "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)".

MÖTLEY CRÜE debuted its cover of "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!)" during a "secret" June 30, 2023 club performance for 450 lucky fans at the Underworld in London, England.

In a new interview with Ethan Dometrius, CREED guitarist Mark Tremonti was asked what the catalyst was for the band's latest reunion after two previous "fairly lengthy breakups". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were trying to get this back together about three years ago, right before COVID hit, so it kind of took things till now. But it's always something in the back of our minds. Every time we get going and we're doing promotions for new projects, everybody always asks us about new CREED music, new CREED tours. And it would be a shame not to get out there and continue to do it. I think just enough time has passed where people are dying to see CREED again, and we're very excited about it."

When Dometrius suggested that Mark and his CREED bandmates must have "a lot of CREED songs" in their "back pocket waiting to see the light of day," Tremonti said: "The last time we got together [more than a decade ago], we put together almost an entire another record, but it's just kind of sitting there on my laptop waiting to be dug back into. But I thought, honestly, if we wrote some new music, we could do better than that. And we'll kind of see what happens."

CREED played its first two shows in 12 years earlier in the month as the headliners of the Summer Of '99 cruise.

CREED will perform aboard a second cruise, the "Summer Of '99 And Beyond", traveling from Florida's Port Canaveral to Nassau from April 27 to May 1. A full-fledged tour, also dubbed "Summer Of '99" tour, produced by Live Nation, will kick off on July 17 and will run through September 28.

In a recent interview with Ryan McCredden of the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, CREED frontman Scott Stapp spoke about the fact that younger generations of fans have discovered the group's music in the 12 years since he and his bandmates played their last concert. He said: "Yeah, a hundred percent. And the analytics don't lie. We've started seeing, in late 2020, CREED beginning to go viral on TikTok, Instagram and then Facebook. And then it just seemed like every two or three months… The first couple months in 2021, we went viral again, and it just kept happening every two or three months. And then you look at the analytics, and you realize that when you look at the numbers, it's three generations. And now it's gotten down into high school kids. And so, what a gift and what a blessing. And I do not take that for granted. I understand how rare that that is. And I think I can speak for all of CREED, because we've had these conversations in private, that it's something we definitely understand is a gift, it's rare and we're not taking it for granted and we're just so grateful and appreciative that this has happened. And I think we're in the nurture phase of this whole thing and not taking a single bit of it for granted and just want to just share how grateful we are and fortunate we are that all these years later [so many people are discovering our music."

Stapp went on to discuss the overwhelmingly positive response to the announcement of CREED's first shows together in 12 years.

"I learned this from Mark the other day in a Guitar World interview that we did together," Scott said. "One thing about Mark, and I hope he doesn't get mad at me for sharing, but he's always in touch with our long-term agent from day one, Ken Fermaglich at UTA. He started with us when we were doing clubs and nobody was showing up, and he's still our agent today. And Mark checks in with him to get analytics and get numbers. And Ken shared with him that right now we are bigger in terms of sales and how things are moving than we were at our peak in 2001, 2002, which blows my mind. It still doesn't seem that way to me, but Mark made a comment. He goes, 'Oh, well, you'll see it when you step out and there's 25,000 people in front of you.' And I said, 'Don't scare me, man.' It's been a long time since I've stepped in front of an audience that big."

When McCredden suggested that "the social media world of TikTok and Instagram" played a huge part in generating interest in a CREED reunion tour, Stapp said: "I've learned in my journey in sobriety and in recovery that… I believe in God and I believe that God has a plan. And looking at this from a thousand-foot perspective, it just all just seems, to me, without a doubt that God's had a hand in it. And I'm just grateful that I'm included on the ride and I'm just not gonna take a moment for granted and [I'm gonna] try to deliver every night and give the fans what they're asking for."

Stapp, whose road to sobriety kicked off in 2014 after issues with drugs and drinking, along with thoughts of suicide, credited his recovery with providing him with the necessary tools to reach new heights with his CREED bandmates. "Absolutely," he said. "In my experience, that's the only way you really learn. And, really, you have no other option. You have to get back up, no matter what you do and deal with the consequences, of course, but learn from it and grow. And one thing I'm looking at when I reflect back on my career is it kind of happened in reverse. With CREED, it was instant. It was first single 'My Own Prison', within 11 months, we're in arenas. But then there's been this 15-year drought for me where I went all the way back as a solo artist playing in small clubs and just duking it out, sweating it out in clubs and bars for over a decade. I mean, man, since 2005 or [2006]. So, I mean, we're talking 17, 18 years. So, it's happened in reverse, and I think that's how it needed to happen, because I think it really gave me a different perspective on how I wish I could have approached this from day one back in the day. But it is what it is, and I'm just gonna enjoy it now and be grateful for it."

CREED's enormous success is largely due to the prolific writing team of Stapp and Tremonti, who founded the band together in 1993. Their winning combination of driving guitar riffs, rousing hooks and introspective lyrics earned them legions of loyal fans around the world. Following the release of their first two albums, the four-piece — which also included bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips — became the first band ever to have seven consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks. CREED's third album, "Weathered" (2001),also debuted at No. 1, and produced several popular singles, including Top Ten hits "My Sacrifice" and "One Last Breath". Though CREED announced its breakup in 2004, the band briefly reunited in 2009 to release "Full Circle". Heavier than their previous albums, "Full Circle" debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, proving the incredible staying power of the band.

CREED disbanded in 2004 but reunited five years later for the aforementioned "Full Circle" LP and an extensive tour. Stapp has since toured and recorded as a solo artist, although he suffered a drug-related mental breakdown in 2014 and spent several years recovering from that.

In a new interview with France's Loud TV, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke about the fact that he is about to release his debut solo album. Due on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music, all material for "From Hell I Rise" was written by the 59-year-old SLAYER guitarist, who was accompanied during the recording sessions by drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH),guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD) and Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL) on vocals. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.

"It's kind of funny, right?" Kerry said about the prospect of launching a solo career (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "It's kind of funny to have 40 years in this business at all, let alone be starting a new band. It's funny, our first show in Europe is gonna be on my 60th birthday at the only venue I've ever canceled in my life, which is super ironic."

Referencing the fact that SLAYER hasn't released a new studio album since 2015 and hasn't played any live shows since 2019, King added: "I'm obviously not done. I've got lots more music and lots more things to say, a lot more people to piss off and argue about. So, let's start this new endeavor now. Move on."

When the interviewer noted that it takes "courage" to launch a new project several decades into his career, King concurred: "It is a lot more difficult than I thought. I've been kind of pampered for the last at least three decades. And starting over, even though I have a gigantic history in SLAYER, starting over, you're still starting over — you're lower on the bills, you're not making the [same kind of] money. Having to figure out how to make sure everybody in my band makes money so it's worth their time. But, yeah, never for a second did I consider not going on, because at this point in life, any record could be your last. I don't think this is my last record, but I have to move on like it is. So put it out, hope the fans like it, hope the fans show up. I like it. I think the fans are gonna like it, and I think we're gonna have a lot of good times."

Asked if the lineup for his solo band is made up of "friends", Kerry said: "Absolutely. The thing that meant the most to me about moving forward in this project was getting my friends. I could get anybody in the biz — I can get people I don't know, people I've never met, but I have enough friends in this business to know that I could put a band together of outstanding musicians that are friends that, after the show, we can get on the bus and have a drink and just have fun. No drama. Nothing weird is gonna happen that we don't foresee. I look forward to getting out on the road with these guys and having a good time."

Pressed about which member of his solo band was "the most surprised" when Kerry called him to offer him a spot in the group, Kerry said: "I think the most surprising moment was when I finally gave Mark the gig. Mark put his name in the hat very early, and he's the only one that did demos with me and Paul. We had him come down every six weeks or so, and he would just come down and sing the songs he'd already sang and just every time he'd come down, make 'em better. But I didn't tell him until, like, 14 months ago that he got the gig. And I was super nonchalant about it. He was at my place in [Las] Vegas, and I said, 'Dude, if you still want the gig, I guess you can have it.' And he was super excited, super excited, like almost fan excited. He was so excited, he texted his mom and texted me by accident. [Laughs] And I said, 'I love you too, man. It's cool. It's cool.' So we went in and recorded, like, two months after that."

When the interviewer remarked that Mark sounds like he is really pushing himself vocally on "From Hell I Rise", Kerry said: "Like I said, we did demos, and we always made the demos better. And then we got to the studio in Hollywood, and I was in another room doing something, and he sang 'Residue'. And the producer got me and says, 'Hey, I want you to hear where the song is.' And I went, 'Okay, cool,' expecting to hear what I was used to hearing. And I hear the first verse and I'm going, 'How did you guys get to this register?' It's, like, I'd never heard that before. He was, like, 'Well, that's where he started singing and felt comfortable.' So I went to Mark immediately and I said, 'Hey, dude, you can recreate this, right?' It's, like, 'You're not setting yourself up to fail the first show and blow your voice out and be canceling shows all over the place.' And he assured me he can do it. So, he carried on and went on and did even crazier performances on the later songs that he sang. So, apparently, he's very confident in what he can do. And I think it sounds great. So, I'm anxious to get out and start doing it."

"From Hell I Rise" track listing:

01. Diablo
02. Where I Reign
03. Residue
04. Idle Hands
05. Trophies Of The Tyrant
06. Crucifixation
07. Tension
08. Everything I Hate About You
09. Toxic
10. Two Fists
11. Rage
12. Shrapnel
13. From Hell I Rise

King told Rolling Stone about the decision to call the band KERRY KING: "It was going to be KING'S REIGN for a long time, which is really cool. But even with that one, I went to the guys, like, 'I'm not a vain dude. I don't want my name to be a part of it.' We talked about BLOOD REIGN for a while, but it didn't work. Every time I came up with anything remotely cool, it was taken by some obscure band in Eastern Europe. It became KERRY KING because I love that logo."

King said the album is about "various religious topics, some war entries, heavy stuff, punky stuff, doomy stuff, and spooky stuff, with Herculean speeds achieved," adding, "If you've ever liked any SLAYER throughout any part of our history, there's something on this record that you'll get into, be it classic punk, fast punk, thrash, or just plain heavy metal."

King added there's more to come, too. "Even with a record in the can, I've still got so many songs that need to be finished," he said. "This is what I know how to do…number one being music, number two being metal. It's been a part of my life for 40 years, and I'm nowhere near being done."

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 make the band's 2024 concert debut next month, beginning with a recently announced club show at Reggie's in Chicago on May 7 that will serve as a warm-up to the band's Welcome To Rockville festival appearance on May 9. KERRY KING will also play Sonic Temple on May 16.

Cream classic "Sunshine Of Your Love" has been given the bluegrass treatment by Postmodern Jukebox vocalist Robyn Adele Anderson and her band. Check out this new rendition of the song below.


Robyn: "This was my first time having three horns on a video and it took everything to a whole other level! So happy to have my bestie, Emily Pecoraro, on saxophone to help turn this ‘60s groovy tune into a Latin dance number."


"Sunshine Of Your Love"  is taken from Cream's best-selling second album, Disraeli Gears, released in November 1967.







Cream legend Jack Bruce's Smiles And Grins, Broadcast Sessions 1970-2001 was released on March 29 in a 4CD/2Blu-Ray Video remastered box set.


The set features all the surviving BBC radio and television appearances made by Jack between 1970 and 2001, along with a wonderful un-broadcast session recorded for the German TV show Beat Club by Lifetime (also featuring Tony Williams, John McLaughlin and Larry Young) filmed around the time of the album “Turn it Over”.


The BBC material includes two legendary In Concert recordings. The first concert dates from 1971 (with friends Chris Spedding, Graham Bond, John Marshall and Art Themen) and is included in its entirety with the full 18-minute version of “Powerhouse Sod” presented on CD for the first time, the second concert dates from 1977 and features the band Jack assembled for the “How’s Tricks” album. Also featured are both audio and video recordings of the 1975 Old Grey Whistle Test special concert with Jack’s band featuring Carla Bley, Mick Taylor, Ronnie Leahy and Bruce Gary. The set also includes a concert from 1981 recorded for The Old Grey Whistle Test, a TV appearance from 1982 and the complete Jazz in Britain sessions from 1971 and 1978 featuring Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman and John Surman, along with a session for Later with Jools Holland from 2001.


Smiles & Grins is the most comprehensive collection of Jack’s broadcast sessions ever released and it includes an illustrated booklet and essay – a fitting celebration of the musical legacy of Jack Bruce, a much-missed master of his craft.


Order here.





Tracklisting:


Disc One:


BBC Sessions 1971, In Concert August 1971
"You Burned the Tables on Me"
"Smiles and Grins"
"Folk Song"
"A Letter of Thanks"
"We’re Going Wrong"
"The Clearout"
"Have You Ever Loved a Woman?"
"Powerhouse Sod"
"You Sure Look Good to Me"


Disc Two:


Sounds Of The 70s – July 1971
"Theme for an Imaginary Western"
"You Burned the Tables on Me"
"Folk Song"
"A Letter of Thanks"
"The Clearout"


Jazz in Britain – 10th August 1971 – Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman & John Surman
"Baru"
"Powerhouse Sod"
"Oom Bham She Bam Bom"
"Jack’s Gone"
"Clearway"
"Walkabout"


Disc Three:


Old Grey Whistle Test Concert – 6th June 1975
"Can You Follow"
"Morning Story"
"Keep it Down"
"Pieces of Mind"
"One"
"Spirit"
"Without a Word"
"Smiles and Grins"


Jazz in Britain – 4th September 1978 Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman & John Surman
"Fifteen Minutes Past Three"
"Ten to Four"


Disc Four:


BBC Radio 1 In Concert – 30th April 1977
"Madhouse"
"Without a Word"
"Times"
"Baby Jane"
"Born Under a Bad Sign"
"Lost Inside a Song"
"Something to Live For"
"How’s Tricks"
"Spirit"
"Out into the Fields"
"You Burned the Tables on Me"


Jazz in Britain – 4th September 1978 Jack Bruce, Jon Hiseman & John Surman
"Twenty Past Four"


Disc Five:


Lifetime – Beat Club, Bremen un-broadcast performance – 24 November 1970
"Smiles & Grins"
i Devotion
ii Smiles & Grins (reprise)
iii Dance of Maya 2 One Word


The Old Grey Whistle Test Concert – 6th June 1975
"Can You Follow"
"Morning Story"
"Keep it Down"
"Pieces of Mind"
"One"
"Spirit"
"Without a Word"
"Smiles and Grins"


Disc Six:


The Old Grey Whistle Test Jack Bruce & Friends in concert – University of Surrey, Guildford – 9 June 1981
"White Room"
"Hit and Run"
"Soul Blues"
"Living Without Ja"
"Dancing on Air"
"In This Way"
"Theme for an Imaginary Western"


B.A. In Music – 30 August 1982
"Theme for an Imaginary Western"


Later With Jools Holland – October 2001
"52nd Street"
"Sunshine of Your Love"

SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist Serj Tankian has blasted former U.S. president Donald Trump, calling him "an absolute maniac" who is "only interested in himself".

The 56-year-old Lebanese-born Armenian-American musician and songwriter made his comments less than two months after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, securing more than half of the total GOP delegates after the primary elections.

Speaking to Metal Hammer 's Paul Brannigan, Tankian said: "Donald Trump is an absolute maniac. He's only interested in himself, his own ego, his own everything. He doesn't even care about other Republicans, it just happened to be the party that he took. He's a showman, he's almost unreal, but he is very dangerous."

He added: "I'm not saying that I'm a big fan of Joe Biden and what the Democrats have done either.

"I just heard a figure that there are more independents in America than ever in American history, because both parties have been completely missing the point of what's going on.

"There are other candidates that have a lot more potential like RFK Jr., for example," referencing Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the scion of the famed Kennedy family, who initially sought the Democratic Party's nomination for president but dropped that effort in October and re-entered the race for the White House as an independent, "but these two parties have a stranglehold on the system, as in [the U.K.] Parliament.”

Circling back to Trump, Tankian said: "But I would say that the propensity of Trump, liking authoritarianism, enjoying authoritarianism, would be dangerous for the world, because he would be on the side of people that think that way, whether it's [Russian president Vladimir] Putin, or [Recep Tayyip] Erdoğan in Turkey, or [Ilham] Aliyev in Azerbaijan. Plus he has hotels in those places, he's got business dealings: again, it's all about himself.

"To me, in a perfect world, someone like RFK would take over, and not be a Democrat nor a Republican," Serj said. "But if the choice is between Joe Biden and Trump, there is no choice. Trump is very dangerous, very dangerous. I consider Trump an extremist, he's a right-wing extremist, he's not a center-of-the-road Republican or Democrat. And to see a country, half of a country, whatever the numbers are, gravitate around an extremist in a country like the United States is incredibly disconcerting. It's a threat to democracy, it's a threat to the world. I can't think of a world where Trump takes over again, I really can't."

According to NPR, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been widely criticized for promoting debunked theories, misleading claims and outright falsehoods, including suggesting that Wi-Fi causes cancer and "leaky brain," antidepressants are to blame for school shootings, chemicals in the water supply could turn children transgender and AIDS may not be caused by HIV.

Tankian's views on the Trump presidency are diametrically opposed to those of SYSTEM OF A DOWN drummer John Dolmayan, who has repeatedly defended America's 45th president, saying that Trump opponents "perpetuated and instigated a total shutdown of the economy" in the hopes that it would crash and that he would be blamed. Dolmayan also praised Trump and accused Democrats of "demonizing" the president and "blaming him for everything under the sun." In addition, John called Democrats "the true bigots" who "fought to maintain slavery" and were "directly responsible for 70 plus million abortions, a large majority of whom were black." Dolmayan also supported Trump's claim that his administration had done more for the African-American community "than any president since Abraham Lincoln."

In October 2020, Serj told Forbes that it was "frustrating" for him to see John so publicly supportive of Trump, especially considering Dolmayan is Armenian as well. "But that's having to do with American politics," Serj explained. "When it comes to Armenian issues, we're on the same exact page. We know what injustice is happening, we work together. We're doing different auction activities and working together on many fronts. The Armenian nation is united, whether you voted for Republican, Democrat or neither."

In 2020, Tankian called for Trump to resign and described him as "completely useless" over his handling of the coronavirus outbreak.

Tankian's memoir, "Down With The System", is due on May 14 via Hachette Books. The book is described in a press release as an exploration of "the myriad influences which shaped both [Serj's] creative journey and his activism while sharing his unique perspective on the band's unlikely rise to fame."

Full Of Hell burst forth with incredible force from Ocean City, Maryland, 15 years ago. Over five full-lengths, five collaborative full-lengths, and countless splits, EPs, singles, and noise compilations, they’ve evolved at extraordinary speed, their music becoming more complicated and technical without ever slowing down or losing its soul. Everything on a Full Of Hell album feels like a blur: smears of guitar, harsh noise shaken like gravel in a bag, singer Dylan Walker’s snarl and bite carrying him into outer space or into the core of the earth. They’re coiled, interlocking, impossible to penetrate, and they move with alarming speed.  They have now reached terminal velocity.


Having created their own context, Full of Hell are now able to walk around within it, to survey its terrain, to visit far corners and see who’s nearby. Their new album, Coagulated Bliss— out today on Closed Casket Activities— sounds like Full of Hell, but it’s nothing like any Full of Hell record that’s come before it. These songs are trimmer, less freighted with anxiety, more interested in opening up than speeding away. Its bile is sometimes funneled into traditional song structures. It never shies away from the extreme harsh noise, unrelenting spirit, and pitch-black sadness of previous Full of Hell records; if anything, the leanness of these songs makes them feel even heavier. Nevertheless, there are tracks here you might find yourself whistling hours after listening. It’s an extraordinary and unexpected evolution in sound for a band who made their name on rapid metamorphosis, and it’s the logical endpoint of everything Full Of Hell has covered so far.


For release day, the band has shared a music video for "Fractured Bonds To Mecca."  The video's concept was co-written by Full of Hell multi-instrumentalist Sam DiGristine who says the video is "...about an endless cycle of struggle, trying to find your way in a familiar place yet still feeling lost. Alienated by your loved ones and giving it all for a chance at salvation. Inspired by films such as ' The Incredible Melting Man,' 'The Holy Mountain' and 'Altered States.' The journey never ends. The cycle continues."




Dylan Walker continues, “This song is about a genetic curse. Having to live through inherited flaws and bearing witness to your own familial destruction. Lyrically, it’s very inspired by Thee Silver Mt. Zion at their darkest and most honest moments, speaking about our own inhumanity.”





Coagulated Bliss can be ordered here. See Full Of Hell on the road in April + May with Dying Fetus (dates below) and look for more news soon.


Coagulated Bliss,cover art by Brian Montuori.





Coagulated Bliss tracklisting:


"Half Life Of Changelings"
"Doors To Mental Agony"
"Transmuting Chemical Burns"
"Fractures Bonds To Mecca"
"Coagulated Bliss"
"Bleeding Horizon"
"Vomiting Glass"
"Schizoid Rupture"
"Vacuous Dose"
"Gasping Dust"
"Gelding Of Men"
"Malformed Ligature"


"Coagulated Bliss" video:





"Doors To Mental Agony" video:





Full Of Hell is Spencer Hazard (guitar/electronics), David Bland (drums/vocals), Samuel DiGristine (bass/sax/vocals), and Dylan Walker (vocals/electronics/lyrics), with new guitarist Gabriel Solomon joining following the album’s completion.


Full Of Hell tour dates:


April
26 - Sayerville, NJ - Starland Ballroom ^
27 - Syracuse, NY - The Song & Dance ^
28 - Albany, NY - Empire Live ^
30 - Quebec City, QV - Theatre Capitole ^


May
1 - Montreal, QC - Beanfield Theatre ^
2 - Ottawa, ON - The Brass Monkey ^
3 - London, ON - London Music Hall ^
4 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre ^
5 - Buffalo, NY - Electric City ^
7 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom ^
8 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs ^
9 - Joliet, IL - The Forge ^
10 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave ^
12 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre ^
13 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis ^
14 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room ^
15 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre ^
17 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre ^
18 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon ^
19 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater ^


July
13 + 14 - Los Angeles, CA - Exposition Park (Sound & Fury)


^ with Dying Fetus


(Photo - Zachary Jones)

In early April, long-running ‘80s had rock and FireHouse announced the tragic death of singer Carl “C.J.” Snare. 


The band wrote on Facebook: "Today is a sad day for rock n’ roll. It is with great sorrow we are letting the world know we have lost our brother: CJ Snare, the rock and roll warrior, lead vocalist, and a founding member of Firehouse.  


CJ snare passed unexpectedly at home Friday night, April 5th, 2024. He was a young 64 years old. 




As you are all aware, CJ was expected to be back on stage with the band this summer after recovering from surgery.


We are all in complete shock with CJ's untimely passing.


CJ was was arguably one of the best vocal talents of a generation, touring the world with Firehouse non stop the past 34 years.


Our heartfelt condolences go out to the entire Snare family, Katherine Little, friends, and all our beloved fans all over the world.


'Reach For The Sky' CJ! You will be forever missed by family, friends, fans and your band mates. You’re singing with the angels now."


On April 25th, Christian rockers Stryper paid tribute to Snare with a performance of Firehouse's "All She Wrote" during their show at the House Of Blues in Orlando, FL. Stryper features former Firehouse bassist, Perry Richardson, who was with the band from 1990 - 2000.

Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan has shared a live video of "Tenderness" performed at Easy Street Records in Seattle, WA. Check it out below.


"Tenderness" is the title track of McKagan's second solo album, released in 2019.







McKagan recently announced a solo headline UK / European tour in support of his latest album, Lighthouse, released last year. The tour schedule is available below.


September
30 - Dublin, Ireland - Academy


October
2 - Glasgow, Scotland - Oran Mor
3 - Manchester, UK - Academy 2
5 - London, UK - Islington Assembly Hall
7 - Utrecht, Netherlands - Tivoli
8 - Köln, Germany - Kantine
9 - München, Germany - Freiheitshalle
11 - Brno, Czech Republic - Sono Centrum
13 - Warsaw, Poland - Stodola
14 - Berlin, Germany - Heimathafen
16 - Milan, Italy - Magazzini Generali
17 - Solothurn, Switzerland - Kofmehl
19 - Liege, Belgium - OM
20 - Paris, France - Trianon
22 - Stockholm, Sweden - Nalen





McKagan has announced an expanded digital edition of his third solo album, Lighthouse, available now at all DSPs and streaming services. The deluxe release includes eight additional tracks along with three exclusive live performance videos filmed last December at Easy Street Records in McKagan’s hometown of Seattle, WA.


Lighthouse (Expanded Edition) is highlighted by a stripped-down acoustic rendition of the album standout, "I Just Don't Know," transformed from its powerful original version into a soaring, reflective ballad which showcases the vulnerability of the lyrics and McKagan’s vocal performance.


"I Just Don't Know (Acoustic Mix) is a song I landed upon, that seems to encapsulate somehow, my own personal thoughts about what’s next in life, and what is OUT there in general," says McKagan. "It’s the core of the human existence to ponder the afterlife. I like to have fun with the possibilities."


Lighthouse now also features "This Is The Song", "It Can't Come Too Soon", and "Pass You By" (all originally found on McKagan’s This Is The Song EP, released last May to honor Mental Health Awareness Month), along with the previously unheard "C'mon Boys" (featuring outlaw country badass Jesse Dayton) and live versions of the fan favorites, "I Saw God On 10th Street", "Just Another Shakedown", and "Longfeather". All three live tracks are accompanied by official videos from the intimate hometown event. In addition, a complete video capturing McKagan’s live in-store performance can be viewed in its entirety below.


Lighthouse is available now in a wide range of formats including streaming, download, CD and LP. A number of deluxe versions and bundles featuring official Certificates of Authenticity signed by McKagan are also available. An exclusive line of brand-new Lighthouse merch – is available now at duffonline.com.


"It’s very nice for me to add the This Is The Song EP from earlier last year, into the mix here of the Lighthouse record itself," says McKagan. "Playing Easy Street Records in December was made much cooler when my erstwhile producer Martin Feveyear came up with the idea to record the show. We have included that recorded live show to this expanded release. There is also a studio track called 'C'mon Boys' that really only became a song when legendary Austin blues man and rockabilly god Jesse Dayton stopped by the studio with his guitar and voice!"





Tracklisting:


"Lighthouse"
"Longfeather"
"Holy Water"
"I Saw God On 10th Street"
"Fallen"
"Forgiveness"
"Just Another Shakedown"
"Fallen Ones"
"Hope" Featuring Slash
"I Just Don't Know" Featuring Jerry Cantrell
"Lighthouse Reprise" Featuring Iggy Pop
"This Is The Song" *
"Pass You By" *
"It Can't Come Too Soon" *
"I Just Don't Know" (Acoustic Mix) *
"C’mon Boys" (Featuring Jesse Dayton) *
"I Saw God On 10th Street" (Live From Easy Street Records) *
"Just Another Shakedown" (Live From Easy Street Records) *
"Longfeather" (Live From Easy Street Records) *


* Bonus Tracks Exclusive To Expanded Edition

On August 12th, 2023, Crowbar took the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2023 and turned it into a seismic event. Their set was a masterclass in raw energy and heavy riffs, capturing the essence of what makes Crowbar a standout in the metal scene. Their performance at Bloodstock 2023 serves as a testament to their enduring appeal and ability to captivate audiences, whether you're a die-hard fan or discovering them for the first time. 


Check out "To Build A Mountain" from Crowbar's set below.







Concrete Spew interviewed Kirk Windstein (Crowbar, Down, Eye Am, Kingdom Of Sorrow) a few hours ahead of Crowbar's April '24 US tour finale with Morbid Visionz in Virginia Beach, VA.


During the chat, Windstein offers an update on forthcoming new music from New Orleans' supergroup Down - which also features drummer Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod), vocalist Philip H. Anselmo (Pantera), guitarist Pepper Keenan (Corrosion Of Conformity) and bassist Pat Bruders (Goatwhore).


Concrete Spew: "The other big news, couple months ago, you and the guys from Down reconvened to start fleshing out new material.  Are you able to give any sort of an indication, even if vague, as to what some of those songs are sounding like?"


Kirk Windstein: "To me, it sounds more old-school Down and the reason I say that is, I think we got to a point where we, like, the Nola record is so simple and it just wrote itself; it was so simple and that's how this is coming about which is great. We're not overthinking it; we're not trying to make things too complex. Philip's not trying to write so many lyrics and things and we're not trying to have... You know, we just kind of got - I hate to say 'got away,' because anything we do is Down, but to me, we kind of got a little bit... like, we needed to go back and look at each other and just go, 'let's just get in the room and do it like we did from the beginning,' and that's what it feels like to me. It's very magical. The ideas and working together just bounce off of one another.  It's a natural thing."





Drummer Jimmy Bower (Eyehategod) recently revealed that Down have seven new songs in the bag during an interview with Laughingmonkeymusic, which can be viewed below.


Said Bower: "We got together about a month or two ago, and we were practicing with just me, Pat, Kirk and Pepper. Phil lives on the other side of the lake, you know. We got together over at his house for a weekend, and we have seven songs, man. We're supposed to get together again in April, and then, you know, talk about recording, trying to get this thing out."

The official Rock Am Ring YouTube channel has shared pro-shot video of Bullet For My Valentine's entire show at the 2023 festival at the Nürburgrinf in Nürburg, Germany. Check it out below.


Setlist:


"Knives"
"Over It"
"Piece of Me"
"4 Words (to Choke Upon)"
"You Want a Battle? (Here's a War)"
"Shatter"
"All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)"
"Scream Aim Fire"
"The Last Fight"
"Rainbow Veins"
"Don't Need You"
"Your Betrayal"
"Tears Don't Fall"
"Waking the Demon"







Bullet For My Valentine recently checked in with the following update:


"We are thrilled to announce that in 2025 we present to you The Poisoned Ascendancy UK Tour, alongside our brothers in Trivium. Both bands will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut albums by playing them in full. Get excited people, it's gonna be special and we can't wait to celebrate with you all."


Now, they have followed up with a message for their European fans:


"Europe, we didn’t forget about you. Excited to bring The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour to you next Feb. We’re also happy to be bringing Orbit Culture along for the ride. Your local pre-sales will start on April 24th, with a general sale at 10am CET next Friday!"


The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour dates are as follows:


January 
26 - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena 
27 - Cardiff, UK - Utilita Arena
28 - Glasgow, UK - OVO Hydro
30 - Manchester, UK - Co-op Live 
31 - Birmingham, UK -  Utilita Arena  


February 
1 - London, UK - The O2
2 - Düsseldorf, Germany - Mitsubishi Electric Hall
4 - Stuttgart, Germany - Scheleyer-Hall
5 - Zurich, Switzerlamnd -  The Hall
7 - Paris, France - Le Zenith
9 - Antwerp, belgium - Lotto Arena
10 - Hannover, Germany - Swiss Life Hall
11 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - AFAS Live
13 - Hamburg, Germany - Sporthalle
14 - Berlin, Germany - Max-Schmeling-Halle
15 - Frankfurt, Germany - Jahrhunderthalle
17 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
18 - Munich, Germany - Zenith
19 - Vienna, Austria - Stadthalle
21 - Gliwice, Poland - Arena
22 - Prague, Czech Republic - Forum Karlin
23 - Luxembourg - Rockhal
26 - Lisbon., Portugal - Campo Pequeno
27 - Madrid, Spain - Vistalegre

The Arin Sarris YouTube channel has uploaded front-row video of KITTIE's April 27 performance at the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Featured songs:

00:00 No Name
01:32 Spit
04:38 Vultures
07:53 Charlotte
11:48 We Are Shadows
16:00 Brackish
19:22 We Are The Lamb

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

In early April, KITTIE released "We Are Shadows", a powerful follow-up to the band's explosive comeback single "Eyes Wide Open", which was made available in February via new label home Sumerian Records. The new track continues the group's triumphant return offering a further look into their musical evolution after a 13-year hiatus.

"We Are Shadows" speaks to the fading certainty in a world shrouded by looming challenges and increasing division. It is both a reflection and a reckoning — a compelling narrative crafted with the band's signature intensity and a profound lyrical depth.

"We Are Shadows" and "Eyes Wide Open" will both appear on KITTIE's first album in 13 years, titled "Fire" and due later in 2024 via Sumerian Records.

Morgan told Metal Hammer magazine about the musical direction of KITTIE's upcoming LP: "There's a lot of variety. I think the kind of variety that you will expect from KITTIE. If you listen to the production of 'Eyes Wide Open', that kind of visceral, raw, but very modern sound is prevalent throughout all of the songs. The songwriting is definitely next level."

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

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

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

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

Joining Morgan and her sister, drummer Mercedes Lander, in KITTIE's current lineup guitarist Tara McLeod and bassist Ivana "Ivy" Vujic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KITTIE will play other North American festivals this year, including Welcome To Rockville, Sonic Temple and Havoc Fest.

In a new interview with Nikki Blakk of San Francisco's 107.7 The Bone radio station, Brendon Small — writer, director, producer, musician, actor and stand-up comedian who best known for co-creating the animated series "Metalocalypse", a dark comedy that ran on Adult Swim from 2006 to 2013 — spoke about how the emergence of generative artificial intelligence models will massively disrupt the future of the entertainment industry. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "This is such a crazy time that we're talking, because a lot people are kind of waiting to see what happens, a lot of people are waiting to see what happens with A.I. Will people have a job in the future? I'm talking to my compositor, we're talking about A.I. stuff and we're going, 'Oh my God, the things that we're doing, the things that we're rendering, all these little minuscule things can be solved with the prompts, and maybe this won't be a job anymore.' The compositor that I'm working with is also teaching classes at UCLA on compositing, and he's wondering, what does the future look like? But the truth is that I think you always need a person sitting there and sorting stuff out and getting your logic together and telling the story because nobody else knows. Even people get so granular and minuscule in the moment of what it is that they're creating that the bigger picture always has to kind of come out. And if you're not telling a human story, then what's the point of anything?"

Small added: "I think the truth is that things that looked like they cost millions of dollars to make are now going to be very readily available. And the fact that our iPhones have really good cameras that really capture light well and everything, that's crazy. Basically, it's not gonna cost a lot to make something. That's kind of the good news. But the question is what's the quality? Because you look at movies now and you see movies that are dropping out, they're coming out, franchise movies, and you're wondering to yourself, is this a passion project? Is this somebody trying to second-guess an audience? Is this somebody dumbing down stuff because they think we're dumb? But I really do believe there are artists out there that really have great voices. They're gonna do what they're gonna do no matter what. And they're gonna tell stories and try to communicate with us. So I don't think A.I. is going to change any of that stuff. It may fool people and it may be dangerous for an election, A.I. can be dangerous for a lot of different reasons, but there are gonna be things where… I mean, I have played with A.I., with prompts and everything, and it's just insane."

"Metalocalypse" is a cartoon series about a fictional death metal band called DETHKLOK that's bigger (and far more powerful) than THE BEATLES. The show ran for seven seasons, with the final episode being an hour-long rock opera, "The Doomstar Requiem".

After "Metalocalypse"'s rise in popularity, Small assembled DETHKLOK as an actual live band to play the music featured on the show, with Small himself handling vocals and guitar.

DETHKLOK's first three albums charted in the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 and the third release, "Dethalbum III", peaked at No. 10, making it the highest-charting death metal album of all time. In addition, "The Doomstar Requiem: A Klok Opera Soundtrack" made it to No. 7 on Billboard's soundtrack chart in 2013.

After several years of dormancy, DETHKLOK returned last year with a new album, "Dethalbum IV" and an animated movie, "Metalocalypse: Army Of The Doomstar". It was hard fought since Adult Swim abruptly pulled the plug on "Metalocalypse" show a decade ago, despite its rabid following amongst the metal crowd, many of whom came to appreciate the show's regular easter eggs and voice appearances from the likes of King Diamond, METALLICA's Kirk Hammett and CANNIBAL CORPSE's George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher. Indeed, "Metalocalypse" may be the only quasi-mainstream show to be truly catered to a metal audience, which can explain its enduring popularity and the steady drumbeat of requests for its revival.

As previously reported, DETHKLOK will embark on the "Mutilation On A Spring Night" tour in the spring. Running from April 7 through May 3, the trek, produced by Live Nation, will see support from DRAGONFORCE and NEKROGOBLIKON.

Last year's "Babyklok" co-headlining trek with BABYMETAL was the first DETHKLOK tour in over a decade.

THE DEAD DAISIES will release "Light 'Em Up", the first single and title track of their upcoming album, on May 10. The full-length disc will follow on September 6 via Germany's SPV and Japan's Ward Records.

THE DEAD DAISIES frontman John Corabi said: "Hey, gang. We are releasing our first single 'Light 'Em Up' on May 10th, from our new record, aptly titled 'Light 'Em Up' as well! It's a kick-ass, straight-ahead rock and roll tune, just how we like it!!! Turn it up, and get ready to bang your head and break shit!!! Hope ya like it!!! Love you guys!!"

Produced by Marti Frederiksen in Nashville, the "Light 'Em Up" album consists of in-your-face rock tiunes packed with huge hooks, Doug Aldrich's giant intense guitar riffs and John's distinctive vocals that will leave no audience in their seats when played live.

June 6 will see THE DEAD DAISIES kick off their global touring for the year, with a limited run of their favorite markets and venues in the U.S. THE DEAD DAISIES' most ambitious and biggest U.K. tour to date will launch on Friday, September 6, with special guests THE TREATMENT and THE BITES. The band will then embark on a run of mainland Europe, kicking off on Friday, November 1 with the final show of the year in Frankfurt, Germany. Special guests for these shows are BEASTO BLANCO and Mike Tramp (performing the songs of WHITE LION).

Aldrich said: "Our 2024 tour has been locked and we're gonna have some great nights of kick-ass rock!!!! Can't wait to play the new songs for you guys! See ya there!!"

Last month, THE DEAD DAISIES announced the return of drummer Tommy Clufetos (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK SABBATH).

Twelve years ago, THE DEAD DAISIES burst on to the music scene with a mission to gather some of the finest musicians in the world and simply put, play some good old-fashioned, no-bullshit rock and roll. After more than a decade of recording and touring the planet, there have been some incredible one-offs and special highlights including sharing stages with some of the world's biggest rock bands. To mark this milestone, a collection of songs from six of the band's previous studio albums have been chosen. The "Best Of" album, which was made available in August 2023, includes some of the collective's favorite tracks and others that have become a staple part of every DAISIES touring setlist. Two previously unreleased tracks from the last recording session are also included.

A year ago, it was announced that Corabi, former lead singer of MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE SCREAM and UNION, had officially rejoined THE DEAD DAISIES.

Corabi joined THE DEAD DAISIES in early 2015 and remained in the group until January 2019, during which time he recorded three studio albums with the band: "Revolución" (2015),"Make Some Noise" (2016) and "Burn It Down" (2018). In the summer of 2019, THE DEAD DAISES announced that they were being joined by legendary DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, who appeared on the band's last two studio albums, 2021's "Holy Ground" and 2022's "Radiance".

Last August, Corabi told Metal Talk about how he came to rejoin THE DEAD DAISIES: "We talked through the whole time that they had Glenn in the band. At one point, they were getting ready to tour with Glenn, and he was sick. I don't know if he had COVID or what his deal was, but he wasn't feeling well. I went up to New York for a week with the guys, and I helped them. I sang with them to help them prepare for their tour with Glenn, just to get their music together."

John went on to say that it was April or May of 2023 that Lowy visited him in Nashville. "He basically told me that Glenn was going back to do his DEEP PURPLE thing and BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION," John said. "He asked me if I was rested and said, 'We'd love to have you come back and keep this train moving.' So I said, 'All right. All good.'"

HALL AFLAME, the rock band led by METAL CHURCH founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, will release its sophomore album, "Amplifire", on May 3 via Rat Pak Records. The official music video for the LP's second single, "1974", can be seen below. The clip was filmed, produced and edited by Rick Moyer in Aberdeen, Washington.

Originally formed in 1989, HALL AFLAME garnered commercial success with its debut LP, "Guaranteed Forever", which was well received by fans and industry peers alike and quickly found themselves opening for ZZ TOP on their 1991 "Recycler" tour for a number of dates. As with many bands from that era, facing a decline in interest for AOR rock due to the onslaught of the "grunge" scene, the band went on a lengthy hiatus and reunited again in late 2023 to begin working on a handful of songs.

"Amplifire" offers 12 new studio tracks and reunites Kurdt with original bassist Brian Smith, along with drummer Bill Raymond and frontman Scott Nutter.

Vanderhoof comments: "This album came about as a project to document all the songs that we had written for the second album that never came to be. We revisited the songs and realized they had to be recorded properly. Then it blossomed into something much better than we had even hoped! So that led us into reforming the band instead of just having it be a project."

Smith adds: "I think anyone that is a fan of 'Guaranteed Forever' will see this record as a new and improved 'Part II' of HALL AFLAME. Great songs, great production and we had a ton of fun putting this together!"

Nutter says: "A good hard rock album should lift you, make you want to sing along and rock out! That's what this album does for me!"

From the driving album opener "Helltown" to the powerhouse outro track "Keeping Them All Away", HALL AFLAME shines with its signature brand of rock and roll. Tracks like "Ripcord", "In The Same Gutter", "It Ain't Enough" and "Gunnin'" are filled with memorable hooks and melodies, while songs like "Pullin Me Apart" and "1974" showcase their unique, classic rock songwriting abilities. With influences that range from BAD COMPANY to THIN LIZZY, "Amplifire" is best described as the perfect blend of classic rock with a modern-day edge.

Track listing:

01. Helltown
02. Ripcord
03. 1974
04. This Ain't Love
05. The Same Gutter
06. It Ain't Enough
07. Gunnin'
08. Pullin' Me Apart
09. Long Way Down
10. Keeping Them All Away
11. Cowboy (bonus track) (CD and digital)
12. Paradise On Ice (bonus track) (CD and digital)

Breaking the silence with a roar, Thy Will Be Done emerges from the depths, unleashing their long-awaited sonic onslaught upon the world! After years of anticipation, the dark horse of metal is back with a vengeance, ready to conquer eardrums and ignite souls with their ferocious, bone-crushing new track, "Prelude To Apostasy". The song comes out via the band’s Eye.On Lion Recordings with KMG Distribution handling the worldwide distribution, through which the band recently released their entire back catalog on streaming platforms for the first time; all newly remastered by George Richter.


Brace yourselves as Thy Will Be Done returns, not just with new music, but with an accompanying video. Check it out below.


Dive headfirst into the abyss of cinematic allegory with Thy Will Be Done's haunting music video for their blistering new track, "Prelude To Apostasy", helmed by the visionary director, Chariot of Black Moth (Steve Von Till, Napalm Death). Prepare to be captivated by a visual feast that seamlessly blends the enigmatic allure of Soviet montage theory with the mind-bending magic of the Kuleshov Effect. This is not for the faint of heart.




Being only their second music video in nearly two decades, and enthralled by the director's visionary flair, the band deliberately selected him for his seamless alignment with the song's essence, masterfully translating their conceptual musings into a cinematic monument.


Viewers are advised to brace themselves for a visually stunning journey that pushes boundaries, yet may provoke deep emotions, making it a riveting watch for those ready to confront the unexpected.





“It really casts a light on the intricate dance of cognitive dissonance within societies, illuminating the nuanced interplay of conflicting ideologies and beliefs,” says vocalist and lyricist J.Costa, “To alleviate the discomfort caused by inconsistency in one’s thoughts and emotions, some people mentally compartmentalize their feelings, allowing them to continue about their lives while avoiding thoughts or images related to violence and suffering. Or, perhaps some are just desensitized.”


“With meticulous attention to detail, Jakub (Chariot of Black Moth) weaves together a tapestry of selected imagery that challenges our perception and leaves us questioning the very fabric of reality.” J.Costa continues, “Each cut, each sequence, is designed to elicit a visceral response and ignite the imagination.”


But it's not just the technical mastery that sets this music video apart—it's the reverence for the cinematic pioneers who paved the way, “Through subtle nods to Kuleshov and Eisenstein, Jakub pays homage to their legacy while pushing the envelope of visual storytelling into uncharted territory.”


Stream "Prelude To Apostasy" on all platforms here.





For further details, visit Thy Will Be Done on Facebook.


(Photo credit: Jeremy Saffer)


 

Brann Dailor was live in the Drumeo studio for the first time ever. Join Brandon and Brann as they discuss his career with Mastodon and break down some of the band's biggest hits.


Dailor discusses his musical influences, his approach to learning drums, songwriting, singing and drumming. He also performs Mastodon's "Capillarian Crest", "The Wolf Is Loose", "The Last Baron", "The Motherload" and "Pushing The Tides".







Lamb of God and Mastodon recently announced the Ashes Of Leviathan North American tour, celebrating 20 years of Ashes Of The Wake and Leviathan. Both albums will be played in full, with special guests Kerry King, Malevolence and Unearth (on select dates).  


Pre-sale tickets and VIP packages go on-sale today. Use code LOG20 to access pre-sale. General on-sale this Friday at 10 AM local time. Pre-sale tickets here.





Dates:


July
19 - Grand Prairie, TX - Texas Trust CU Theatre
20 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
21 - Houston, TX - 713 Music Hall
23 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily’s Place Wed
24 - Orlando, FL - Orlando Amphitheater
25 - Alpharetta, GA - Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
27 - Raleigh, NC - Red Hat Amphitheater
28 - Richmond, VA - Virginia Credit Union LIVE!
30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
31 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens


August
1 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
3 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
4 - Manchester, NH - SNHU Arena
6 - Bangor, ME - Maine Savings Amphitheatre
8 - Reading, PA - Santander Arena**
9 - Cleveland, OH - Jacobs Pavilion**
10 - Sterling Heights, MI - Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre @ Freedom Hill**
13 - Moorhead, MN - Bluestem Center For The Arts Amphitheater
15 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
16 - Penticton, BC - South Okanagan Events Centre
17 - Kent, WA - accesso ShoWare Center
18 - Portland, OR - Theater of the Clouds
21 - Los Angeles, CA - The Kia Forum
23 - Phoenix, AZ - Arizona Financial Theatre
24 - Rio Rancho, NM - Rio Rancho Events Center
25 - El Paso, TX - El Paso County Coliseum
27 - Magna, UT - The Great Saltair
29 - Morrison, CO - Red Rocks Amphitheatre
31 - Omaha, NE - The Astro Amphitheater


** No Malevolence, Support from Kerry King & Unearth

SixMixSix began as an experiment, with The New Black guitarist Fabian "Fabs" Schwarz uploading instrumental compositions with no expectations beyond his own artistic satisfaction. Slowly but surely, he found his new comfort zone and SixMixSix evolved into a full-on project.


Fabs has checked in with a new SixMixSix update:


"This is first single from my upcoming SixMixSix album called 'Battlefield'. It's all about the epic battle between humans and aliens....yes, i'ts aliens! Get ready for a lot of heavy guitars and wicked industrial sounds. Get ready for the Battlefield!"




Battlefield by SIXMIXSIX


In 2022, Fabs unleashed a full length SixMixSix album, ROAR!, via RetroSynth Records. The album cover artwork, tracklist and the line-up of guest vocalists for ROAR! are available below.





Tracklist:


"Hate Me In Return" (Fludid / The New Black)
"Skull And Bones" (Bina / Savanna Skean)
"Third Eye" (Alen Ljubic / Gloomball)
"A Man Of Power" (Charly Steinhauer /Paradox)
"Home Is Not A Place"
"Laserlust" (Fludid / The New Black)
"Runaway" (Bina / Savanna Skean)
"Disco Blue" (Fludid / The New Black)


"Hate Me In Return"





The New Black is a hard rock band hailing from Würzburg, Germany, launched in 2007 by Schwarz and guitarist Christof Leim. They have released four albums to date via AFM Records: The New Black (2009), II: Better in Black (2011), III: Cut Loose (2013) and A Monster’s Life (2016).

British singer, songwriter and musician Yungblud — born Dominic Richard Harrison — puts his unique take on a KISS classic, releasing an explosive cover of "I Was Made For Lovin' You", featured in Universal Pictures' new 87North film "The Fall Guy", and on the "The Fall Guy Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" (Backlot Music). The track is released today, ahead of the May 3 release of the film's soundtrack and the North American theatrical release of the film. The track is available across all digital platforms from today.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" follows Yungblud's recent announcement of his first-ever Bludfest, a music festival founded by Yungblud and set to take place Sunday, August 11 at the iconic Milton Keynes Bowl in the U.K. Joining Yungblud on the lineup is Grammy-nominated Lil Yachty, following the pair's collaboration on latest single "When We Die (Can We Still Get High?)" Acclaimed British rock duo SOFT PLAY, legendary punk band THE DAMNED and rising stars Nessa Barrett, Lola Young and Jazmin Bean are also set to perform.

Alongside the stellar music lineup, the festival will be home to activations to encourage community and connection, including a "Make A Friend" tent that encourages fans to connect and make new friends, free photobooths to document their Bludfest experience, a Yungblud museum that will showcase artifacts from across his career, and much more to be announced. The groundbreaking event will go beyond the music, creating a safe place, creative haven, and truly unforgettable experience.

About "The Fall Guy": He's a stuntman, and like everyone in the stunt community, he gets blown up, shot, crashed, thrown through windows and dropped from the highest of heights, all for our entertainment. And now, fresh off an almost career-ending accident, this working-class hero has to track down a missing movie star, solve a conspiracy and try to win back the love of his life while still doing his day job. What could possibly go right?

From former real life stunt man and director David Leitch, the blockbuster director of "Bullet Train", "Deadpool 2", "Atomic Blonde" and "Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw" and the producer of "John Wick", "Nobody" and "Violent Night", comes his most personal film yet. A new hilarious, hard-driving, all-star apex-action thriller and love letter to action movies and the hard-working and under-appreciated crew of people who make them: "The Fall Guy".

Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling ("Barbie", "La La Land", "Drive") stars as Colt Seavers, a battle-scarred stuntman who, having left the business a year earlier to focus on both his physical and mental health, is drafted back into service when the star of a mega-budget studio movie — being directed by his ex, Jody Moreno, played by Oscar nominee Emily Blunt ("Oppenheimer", "A Quiet Place" films, "Sicario") — goes missing.

While the film's ruthless producer (Emmy winner Hannah Waddingham; "Ted Lasso"),maneuvers to keep the disappearance of star Tom Ryder (Golden Globe winner Aaron Taylor-Johnson; "Bullet Train") a secret from the studio and the media, Colt performs the film's most outrageous stunts while trying (with limited success) to charm his way back into Jody's good graces. But as the mystery around the missing star deepens, Colt will find himself ensnared in a sinister, criminal plot that will push him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.

Inspired by the hit 1980s TV series, "The Fall Guy" also stars Winston Duke ("Black Panther" franchise) and Academy Award nominee Stephanie Hsu ("Everything Everywhere All At Once").

From a screenplay by "Hobbs & Shaw" screenwriter Drew Pearce, "The Fall Guy" is produced by Kelly McCormick p.g.a. ("Bullet Train", "Nobody", "Atomic Blonde") and David Leitch p.g.a. for their company 87North, by Guymon Casady p.g.a. ("Game Of Thrones", "Steve Jobs" and executive producer of "Ripley") for Entertainment 360 and by Ryan Gosling. The film is executive produced by Drew Pearce, Cecil O'Connor and Entertainment 360's Geoff Shaevitz.

The film is based on the television series by Glen A. Larson.

Yungblud photo courtesy of High Rise PR

Following on from the band’s 1997 debut, Through Times Of War, Keep of Kalessin’s sophomore release, Agnen, presented eight tracks of hyper-speed dark and epic black metal at its best, incorporating elements of thrash along with eerie discordant riffing in a relentless storm of brutality. 


The band’s themes were inspired by The Earthsea Quartet, the fantasy created by respected American writer Ursula K. Le Guin; an ancient world of magic and conflict between darkness and light.


Keep Of Kalessin was originally formed by Obsidian C. (also previously known for his work with Satyricon) and Ghash in Trondheim, Norway in 1994, with the band achieving significant success in the black and extreme metal scene throughout their thirty year existence. Agnen was recorded at Brygga Studios, Trondheim (The 3rd and the Mortal) in October/November 1998. 




This edition of Agnen: A Journey Through the Dark marks 25 years since its original release, and is presented on limited green vinyl. Order at burningshed.com.





Tracklisting:


Side A
“Pain Humanised”
“As Mist Lay Silent Beneath”
“I Deny”
“Dryland”
“Orb Of Man”


Side B
“Dragonlord”
“Towards I Roam”
“Agnen”

MR. BIG recently completed the European leg of its farewell tour, dubbed "The BIG Finish", which sees the veteran band — singer Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan, along with drummer Nick D'Virgilio, who has taken over for deceased original member Pat Torpey — performing MR. BIG's 1991 album, "Lean Into It", in full, along with other cuts from the group's history.

Regarding how the farewell tour has been going so far, Martin told Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire": "It's been a bro love fest… Everybody loves each other. We're going out on top.

"I don't wanna tour like we're touring now," he explained. "I'm okay with it 'cause I've had a couple of weeks break to just chill out, rest the larynx, have a couple of beers and just hang out with my family. And I'm raring to go. We're going to South America, doing the West Coast USA, and I'm looking forward to it. But, man, this is a long-ass tour. It started last year in Asia. Then I did some solo things where I went to Japan, and then I came home and sang the 10 songs or 11 songs that are on the new studio album. But I don't wanna tour like this."

"He added: "We're touring all the way up to August 23rd, I think. And then right after that, I got other projects, but no more MR. BIG. No more MR. BIG touring-wise."

Regarding the possibility of MR. BIG still making new music after the completion of the farewell tour, Eric said: "Everybody was saying, 'Hey, we could still continue to make records.' I'm, like, 'Yeah, that would be fun.' Well, the record was hard to put together because of everybody's scheduling, but it came together pretty quickly. The thing that took the longest was the album cover. Nobody could agree on it. It was ridiculous. I mean, our creative juices were poured out long time ago for any kind of artwork. And Paul Gilbert is kind of a cartoon artist, and I asked him, I go, 'Just draw pictures of us in cartoon form and we'll give it a name.' We couldn't even think of a name. Anyway, that took the longest. So hopefully we'll do another record, but I don't know. The album cover thing was painful."

When MR. BIG announced "The BIG Finish" tour last year, the bandmembers said that it was "time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy" after Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's disease in 2018. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.

As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins's place in GENESIS and played on their "Calling All Stations" album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK'S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.

Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil's "Totem" as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.

In May 2020, Sheehan gave an interview to the "Music Mania" podcast in which he claimed that a "mastering problem" with MR. BIG's latest album, "Defying Gravity", which came out seven years ago, made the LP "unlistenable." He went on to say that "the label ruined the record" by insisting on having the album and "putting it out when it's not ready." He explained: "If we had another day to get it to proper mastering and get it done right, it would have been fine. 'Cause I was there for the final mixes — I went in there every day and listened to mixes. Pat was there with us too. We went through the mixes, and they were sounding great. And, unfortunately, we got screwed.

"I've seen it before in many other situations with many other bands," he added. "We've got the marketing department and they're ready to go and they've gotta have the record now. And then I've also seen other bands just say, 'No. The record is not done. You're out of luck.' And I wish we would have just said that, because I just don't think the record had the kind of life it had when I heard the final mixes."

A short time later, Frontiers Music Srl released a statement clarifying that it wasn't the label responsible for "ruining" "Defying Gravity", which marked Torpey's final recorded appearance with MR. BIG.

"Defying Gravity" was released via Wowow Entertainment, Inc. in Japan and Frontiers Music Srl in most of the rest of the world.

After announcing his Parkinson's diagnosis in 2014, Torpey continued to write, record and perform with MR. BIG.

CAVALERA, the band featuring former SEPULTURA members Max and Igor "Iggor" Cavalera, has become synonymous with extreme metal music, a name that to this day still holds the highest regard, a family legacy built upon decades of musical aggression. In 2023, Max and Igor achieved what some would say was an impossible feat; they revisited their earliest SEPULTURA releases, "Morbid Visions" and "Bestial Devastation", and re-recorded them with bone-breaking intensity. A risk that few would dare to even attempt, yet they artfully and prolifically attained their trademark raw sound by means that could only be described as magic or time travel.

It seems that the ball would not stop rolling as now they are entering the final chapter of their early-days trilogy. SEPULTURA's "Schizophrenia" is an iconic album in terms of early thrash and death metal, a household name for those of us invested in extreme metal. This was the point where the Cavaleras refined their dark, dingy, speed-influenced songs, into something a bit more mature, developed, and technical. Decades later, they have once more unlocked the asylum that is "Schizophrenia", opening the doors to that banished, twisted recording which will be unleashed unto to world on June 21 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The first taste of the reissue comes in the form of the live music video for the single "Escape To The Void". Fans will enjoy footage filmed by Costin Chioreanu and Olivia Chioreanu from the band's chilling performance at 013 Venue in Tilburg, Netherlands in 2023.

Max Cavalera states: "The Third World Trilogy is finally complete with 'Schizophrenia', 'Bestial Devastation' and 'Morbid Visions', all three Brazilian underground gems! To me, 'Schizophrenia' is the ultimate death/ thrash experiment! I was inspired to take on the world and this recording shows my commitment is relentless! This one is for all the generations to enjoy! Play at max volume!"

Igor comments: "1987 was a very progressive year for metal, with releases like CELTIC FROST 'Into The Pandemonium', VOIVOD 'Killing Technology' and BATHORY 'Under The Sign Of The Black Mark', so it was no surprise on how we approached 'Schizophrenia' pushing our boundaries from a black/death metal sound to a more thrash metal aesthetics. We still had some ideas from 'Morbid Visions' and some new songs. I'm very proud of the songwriting and even more proud of our re-recordings."

CAVALERA's "Schizophrenia" track listing:

01. Intro - Re-Recorded
02. From The Past Comes The Storms - Re-Recorded
03. To The Wall - Re-Recorded
04. Escape To The Void - Re-Recorded
05. Inquisition Symphony - Re-Recorded
06. Screams Behind The Shadows - Re-Recorded
07. Septic Schizo - Re-Recorded
08. The Abyss - Re-Recorded
09. R.I.P. (Rest In Pain) - Re-Recorded
10. Nightmares Of Delirium - New, never released

No stranger to collaborations, the Cavalera brothers enlisted Travis Stone (PIG DESTROYER) on lead guitars, and that choice becomes obvious within the first song. The full lineup would consist of more Cavalera alumni, as Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD AND DIE, HEALING MAGIC) once more brought his talents on bass to the fold. Thundering and thrumming the low end with brute force, it is clear that the double Iggor and Igor combination is a rhythm section to be reckoned with.

It should come as no surprise that the CAVALERA brothers always felt that these songs deserved a fresh take with modern production. From April 15 to June 5, 2023 the band re-recorded the album at Focusrite Room in Mesa Arizona. Mixing and mastering was handled by Arthur Rizk (SOULFLY, GO AHEAD AND DIE, TURNSTILE).

"Schizophrenia"'s album cover has obsessed and fascinated fans for decades. The brothers left no stone unturned and no detail unnoticed, also revisioning the original cover artwork of the album, restored in hand-painted watercolors by Eliran Kantor.

This summer, CAVALERA will be traveling across Europe and the U.K. on their "Third World Trilogy" tour. The trek will kick off on June 12 in Leichester and will make stops in Wroclaw, Oslo, and Barcelona before ending in Switzerland on July 21.

CAVALERA is:

Max Cavalera - Vocals, Guitar
Igor "Iggor" Cavalera - Drums, Percussion
Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass
Travis Stone - Lead Guitar

Photo credit: Kevin Estrada

Long-running Arizona metallers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have released a new single called "I Am The Weapon". The song is the title track of the band's 15th album, due later in the year via AFM Records.

The band comments: "We're very excited about this new album, 'I Am The Weapon'. We put a great amount of effort and thought into the music, and we can't wait to start unleashing this metal assault on the music community."

More information about the "I Am The Weapon" LP will be revealed on May 24.

In June 2022, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM frontman Eric "A.K." Knutson stated about the band's plans for the next LP: "My guitar players, for [2021's 'Blood In The Water'], I think they wrote 40 songs and we only put 12 on the record. So we have a lot to choose from. Most of them will be taken apart, pieces stolen out of 'em and stuff like that. But we have enough music to keep going for a long time.

"We're about halfway written with the new record," he stated at the time. "We have a formula going on right now that's really working for us, and we're gonna probably stick to the same formula this time. The last three records have really done some good for us."

"Blood In The Water" was once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, POWERWOLF).

It's been 38 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, released its landmark debut, "Doomsday For The Deceiver", the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to METALLICA while the band released "No Place For Disgrace" in 1988. "Cuatro" (1992),"Drift" (1995),"High" (1997) and "My God" (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016's self-titled "Flotsam And Jetsam", followed by the crushing 2019 successor "The End Of Chaos" that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt.

In 2019, Knutson told Glendale Star about FLOTSAM AND JETSAM's career: "We've been through a lot of crap. For a while I had a lineup with me who was just together to go out on vacations then have the promoters pay for it. And it's a little different now. We are back to a real band making a stab at growing and becoming a bigger entity in the music industry. Our goal in writing a record is to put out the coolest music we can. 'The End Of Chaos' hits the mark."

Guitarist Michael Gilbert said: "We're making a bit of a comeback. They're starting to revisit and buy the new stuff as well. We're seeing a lot of younger people at the show. They're in the front row, singing songs that were out 20 years before they were born. It gets us all excited. That was happening when we did the self-titled album. There's this spark again. The power metal music fans are digging A.K.'s voice."

MAMMOTH WVH frontman Wolfgang Van Halen joined SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS on stage last night (Monday, April 29) at Zenith in Paris, France to perform a cover of the AC/DC classic "Highway To Hell". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.

Earlier in the night, SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS frontman Myles Kennedy came up on stage during MAMMOTH WVH's set to play the song "Take A Bow".

Paris was the final night of MAMMOTH WVH's month-long European tour as the support act for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS.

Back in March 2021, Myles spoke to the 105.5 WDHA radio station about the overwhelmingly positive response to "Distance", the debut single from MAMMOTH WVH. He said: "It's very exciting. And it's nice when you've been having discussions with people, and then they see it, and they're, like, 'Yeah.' I mean, it's true — [Wolfgang is] just this force of nature; he can do it all.

"Yeah, I'm absolutely thrilled for him. And I'm really happy to see how — it's given me faith in humans again. After his father [legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen] passed away and everybody just poured in with so much love for the guy, and then he releases this beautiful song, and it's found its place in the world. It's a beautiful cycle of just good, positive energy.

"So, yeah, I'm super proud of Wolfie. And he's gonna have a good run."

This past December, MAMMOTH WVH announced headline tour dates for 2024 in support of its second album, "Mammoth II". The first leg, which took place February 21 to March 10, marked the return of special guest Nita Strauss. The second leg, scheduled for May 4 to May 17, will welcome rockers INTERVALS as special guests.

"Mammoth II" was released in August 2023 via BMG. The 10-track record was recorded at the legendary 5150 studio and was produced by Wolfgang's friend and collaborator Michael "Elvis" Baskette.

MAMMOTH WVH's touring lineup features Wolfgang on guitar and lead vocals, Frank Sidoris (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS) on guitar, Jon Jourdan on guitar and vocals, Garrett Whitlock (TREMONTI) on drums, and Ronnie Ficarro on bass.

Since the release of MAMMOTH WVH's debut album in 2021, the band has headlined shows in North America, played arena gigs with ALTER BRIDGE and stadium concerts with both GUNS N' ROSES and METALLICA.

In November 2020, Wolfgang confirmed that he asked his father for permission to use the MAMMOTH WVH band name for his solo project. MAMMOTH WVH is a nod to family history — Eddie Van Halen and Alex Van Halen's band was called MAMMOTH when singer David Lee Roth first joined it in 1974.

STAIND frontman Aaron Lewis has released the official music video for "Over The Hill", one of the tunes included on his latest solo album, "The Hill".

"'Over The Hill' is the realization that we all make mistakes, take different paths and learn as we go," explains Lewis. "I've embraced it with no regrets. I hope my fans enjoy the music video. It's a great visual element to a song that really sums up my life perfectly."

According to Forbes, "The Hill" debuted at No. 175 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 8,133 equivalent units, a combination of pure album sales and on-demand streams. It marks the lowest-charting record on the Billboard 200 of Lewis's solo career so far.

Notably, "The Hill" had 6,826 pure album sales in its first week, enough to land the LP at No. 5 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart, which ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales.

According to Forbes, Lewis previously reached the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 twice as a solo artist, with his "Town Line" EP, which reached No. 7 in 2011, and with "Sinner", which peaked at No. 4 in 2016. He also landed in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 with "The Road" (No. 30 peak),"State I'm In" (No. 19) and "Frayed At Both Ends" (No. 39).

"The Hill" track listing:

01. Let's Go Fishing (written by: Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson)
02. Over The Hill (written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson)
03. Made In China (written by: Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson)
04. Spinnin' (written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele)
05. Over Me (written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele)
06. Outlaw (written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson)
07. Up To Me (written by: Aaron Lewis, Bobby Pinson)
08. That's My Life (written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele)
09. Only In My Mind (written by: Aaron Lewis, Ira Dean, Jeffrey Steele)
10. Little More Mine (written by: Aaron Lewis, Matt McGinn, Bobby Pinson)

"Made In China" — written by Lewis and Bobby Pinson — offers the loud-and-proud declaration that some things are still made in the USA. The song features such lyrics as "I ain't made in China / From all the cheapest parts / I ain't one for driving them imported foreign cars / I'm more like American muscle from 1966 / I ain't made in China / I'm American as it gets / I ain't made by Uyghur kids for pennies on the dollar / I'm made in the USA / It says so on my collar / Tried and true, red, white and blue / My roots run way too thick / yeah, I ain't made in China / 'Cause I'm American as it gets."

"The best songs come from a place of authenticity," explained Lewis. "This one started as a conversation with friends as we picked up items around the room with 'Made In China' stamped on the bottom. And we put pen to paper."

The "Let's Go Fishing" lyrics find the 52-year-old Lewis — an outspoken conservative rocker who reinvented himself as a solo country artist in the last decade — singing about "making America great again", "turning off CNN" and using the "Let's Go, Brandon!" catchphrase, which was coined by American conservatives to criticize President Joe Biden.

Lewis made headlines in September 2021 when he urged his fans to chant "Fuck Joe Biden" during a STAIND concert in Pennsylvania.

In March 2022, Lewis told the Los Angeles Times that he doesn't blindly listen to information that is delivered by the mainstream media.

"I'm not uneducated; I'm actually really smart, and I look for myself. I seek other options of information," he said. "I refuse to believe that a huge, gigantic corporation has our best interest in mind."

Asked where he gets his news, Lewis said: "I have news feeds and people that I follow on Telegram. Dan Ball. Andrew Wilkow. Mark Levin. If I'm gonna watch any sort of news source on television, it's Tucker Carlson."

At some of his solo concerts, Lewis has been taking the stage while wearing a black hat with white mesh and white lettering on the front clearly stating "FUJOE," an expletive directed toward Biden.

Photo credit: Jim Wright

In a new interview with The Mistress Carrie Podcast, NEW YEARS DAY singer Ash Costello opened up about the personal tragedy and trauma that she went through during and after the pandemic. She said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't talk about that stuff publicly ever, really. We were announced [for this year's] Rockville. Welcome To Rockville is a really amazing Danny Wimmer festival. We're playing with MÖTLEY CRÜE and JUDAS PRIEST. And the last time we were on Rockville, we had to cancel — we had to cancel all of our festivals last summer. And I saw the comments, like, 'Oh, NEW YEARS DAY's gonna pull out again.' 'I don't trust they'll ever make it.' 'How come they always cancel?' And I just wanna reach out to those people, like, you have no idea the personal battles I was going through that summer."

She continued: "I had to really learn to prioritize myself and my health. I went through a pregnancy. I went through a pregnancy loss, which was really traumatic because it was like a prolonged — tons and tons of tests, and it just kept getting worse and worse. And it was like an all-summer stressful event. And then a divorce and moving to another state. And there's just so much that happened, and I just wanna reach out to those people and be, like, you have no idea what any artist you're idolizing is going through. We're all human beings facing battles you know nothing about. But that was a big lesson for me because I was never putting myself first, and it showed. So now I put myself first, and we're getting way more creative, which I'm excited about."

Elaborating on her pregnancy loss, Ash said: "I didn't know how common it was. And although common, still not fun.

"I had plans to be on that 'Kiss Of Death' tour [with ICE NINE KILLS and IN THIS MOMENT last fall] seven months pregnant. That was gonna be the plan. I was gonna rock it. I was actually really into the idea of it, even though I'm sure it would have been really hard, but I was gonna do it. And everyone was on board and everyone was supportive. And then it just didn't…

"Life gives you what you need and taketh away what it's supposed to take away, and looking back, everything happens as it should, even though it's still sucky, but everything goes exactly as it should," Costello philosophized. "And it's not something I talk about. It's how you said, it's important to have a community of women in the rock world talking about their real womanly issues that go on in our lives. I don't talk about this in general, but this is a girl's podcast. So I feel super comfortable talking about mental health and self-care and prioritizing yourself and not sacrificing your happiness and your mental health just to grind."

Ash also talked the difficulty in maintaining romantic relationships while being in a touring band. She said: "I'm not a dater. I've never been. I hate dating. I don't do it. I'm the kind of person where it's, like, 'All right, we get married or not, 'cause I've got somewhere to be.' I've always been like that. And if someone freaks out over that, I'm, like, 'Cool. You're not my person. Next.'

Addressing specifically the breakdown of her marriage, three and a half years after she tied the knot with Jered Boeving, Ash said: "It was harder to make a marriage work while being in a band with maybe a person who's not from the industry and doesn't necessarily understand… 'Cause I always said I'm not gonna date anyone in a band. I'm gonna go with someone in a totally different field. And then that also came with its cons as well, because it was a little hard for the other person to understand what it takes. And I'm a very friendly person. I've always been one of the guys, just because I've always been in bands. And so that can be a bit jarring for someone who maybe doesn't understand what the camaraderie is actually like while you're traveling and stuff like that. So definitely difficult to navigate. It's gonna take a very understanding person or just someone in the industry."

NEW YEARS DAY's fifth studio album, "Half Black Heart", arrived on March 1.