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.

DEEP PURPLE has shared the official music video for the band's new single, "Portable Door". The track is taken from the British hard rock legends' upcoming album, "=1", due on July 19 via earMUSIC. The song marks DEEP PURPLE's first material with new guitarist Simon McBride, who stepped in two years ago following Steve Morse's departure.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"=1" track listing:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Photo credit: Jim Rakete (courtesy of The Outside Organisation

SLIPKNOT has confirmed the identity of the band's new drummer.

As widely speculated, a new post on SLIPKNOT's Instagram account of all nine members notably includes a tag for former SEPULTURA sticksman Eloy Casagrande, who abruptly left that latter band in early February, just days before the start of the Brazilian/American outfit's farewell tour.

Interestingly, there are only eight tags in the new Instagram photo corresponding to all but one of the nine bandmembers, and the missing band member's account is that of Craig Jones's as-yet-unknown replacement.

SLIPKNOT made its first festival appearance of 2024 Saturday night (April 27) as one of the headliners of Sick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada. The show marked SLIPKNOT's second performance with Casagrande.

Prior to Sick New World, SLIPKNOT played an intimate show Thursday night, April 25 at Pappy + Harriet's in Pioneertown, California.

For both the Pappy + Harriet's and Sick New World gigs, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

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

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

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

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

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

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

In February 2020, SEPULTURA singer Derrick Green told Australia's Everblack Media that Casagrande had had "a tremendous impact" on the group since he joined in 2011. "It's undeniable because he's such a strong force," he said. "He loves playing metal music. He's one of the most talented drummers I've ever seen, honestly. That power is consistent from beginning to the end. It really has rubbed off on all of us to really push ourselves further. He's such a perfect match for the band. He really is always influencing us in so many ways to really go beyond — above and beyond."

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

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

Symphonic metal veterans NIGHTWISH will release their new album, "Yesterwynde", on September 20, 2024 via Nuclear Blast. It marks the band's tenth studio album, following on from the release of "Human. :II: Nature." in 2020.

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen states: "'Yesterwynde' is a fantastical voyage through time, memory, and the better angels of human nature.

"Three years in the making, we're thrilled beyond words to soon share our tenth album with the world!"

The album's first single, "Perfume Of The Timeless" will arrive on May 21.

"Yesterwynde" track listing:

01. Yesterwynde
02. An Ocean Of Strange Islands
03. The Antikythera Mechanism
04. The Day Of...
05. Perfume Of The Timeless
06. Sway
07. The Children Of 'Ata
08. Something Whispered Follow Me
09. Spider Silk
10. Hiraeth
11. The Weave
12. Lanternlight

In January, NIGHTWISH drummer Kai Hahto spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2020's "Human. :II: Nature." album in an interview with Laureline Tilkin of Tuonela Magazine. He said: "At least it's not gonna be the same as 'Human. :II: Nature.', so… Probably, let's say that we go back to more heavy, heavier things on the new album, but also there's a lot of, again, new winds to blow, so to speak. So, different new elements. But, of course, it's still NIGHTWISH, but, of course, we brought back the big symphony orchestra again to the new upcoming tenth album. Yeah, it's gonna be exciting. And quite challenging music to play as well."

Asked if he is "in a way happy" that he doesn't have to play the new NIGHTWISH songs live right now, in light of the fact that the band is taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future, Kai said: "No, no, no. Totally opposite. I would love to go and play it live. But hopefully the time will come when we go back, charging the batteries first. Of course, it's nice to be home with the kids and wife and dogs, but still, of course, I've always been a player, so I also like to play for the people. But I believe I'm not gonna be bored. So I have a lot of things in the back of my head. Even NIGHTWISH is now taking a break. So, I'm not gonna be bored."

Earlier in January, Hahto told Chaoszine that "it looks like" NIGHTWISH won't play any shows in the next two or three years.

In April 2023, NIGHTWISH surprised fans by announcing that the band was not going to be playing any live shows for the foreseeable future and would be not be touring in support of the group's next studio album.

NIGHTWISH's statement read as follows: "As the 'Human :ll: Nature - World Tour' is drawing to a close, we feel now is the time to tell you of our plans for the next phase in our journey.

"After the planned shows for June 2023 we will be 'hanging up our spurs' for an indeterminate time, as far as live concert performances go, and won't be touring the next album.

"The reasons for this decision are personal, but, we all agree, vital to the wellbeing and future of the band. Be assured that we still love working together, and this decision has nothing to do with Floor's pregnancy or our other individual projects.

"However, an album of 12 new songs will see bright daylight in 2024, as will 3 music videos! The band is positively hyped beyond words over this new upcoming musical adventure."

In December 2022, Holopainen said NIGHTWISH's upcoming follow-up to "Human. :II: Nature." will be the third part of a trilogy that began with 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album. He told Metal Hammer: "I immediately knew after getting that album ['Endless Forms Most Beautiful'] done that, 'Okay, we have to do more songs about this, because there's so much more to explore and tell the world. We're not done with this.' And the same thing happened after 'Human. :II: Nature.'; we're still not done. So let's do one more. At least one more.

"In a way, [the next album] is the third part of a trilogy, which started with 'Endless Forms…' and then 'Human. :II: Nature.' There are some major surprises there again, but it feels like a natural continuation to 'Human. :II: Nature.'"

According to Tuomas, NIGHTWISH's next LP will cover previously uncharted ground while continuing in the more cinematic style that has characterized some of the band's recent efforts.

In September 2022, Tuomas was asked if NIGHTWISH's upcoming LP will once again be an exploration of evolutionary science, as was the case with the previous two releases. Tuomas said: "Yes and no. It sails on the same waters, but there's some new surprises there as well."

In August 2022, Tuomas told Rock Sverige that he spent "about a year" working on the music and lyrics for the next NIGHTWISH album.

Asked if he got any kind of inspiration from the pandemic, Tuomas said: "Yeah, lyrically there's a couple of things that reflects the pandemic, but not in the way you would expect."

"Human. :II: Nature." was released in April 2020. The follow-up to 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters, on CD 2.

In August 2022, NIGHTWISH announced the addition of Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of the band. Koskinen, who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band's two interactive experiences, had spent the previous year touring with NIGHTWISH as a session musician.

In November 2022, singer Floor Jansen revealed that she was "cancer free" after recently undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed following a breast cancer diagnosis.

This past October, Floor and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucy. Jansen and Van Dahl already have a seven-year-old daughter named Freja, who was born on March 15, 2017.

Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)

Priest has released "Black Venom," the third single off of their fourth studio album Dark Pulse set for release on May 31, 2024 via Label Blue Nine.


"Black Venom" is a hi-octane track with gothic lyrics, haunted samples and drugged beats. It delves deep into the human struggle to transcend the shadows of the psyche. It’s a testament to the cathartic potency of music exploring the enigmatic depths of the human spirit.







Dark Pulse is Priest’s fourth studio album and is produced by Simon Söderberg (ex-Ghost). It’s a dark synth pop album with rave elements and heavy industrial notes.


Heavily inspired by cyberpunk and Goth culture, it dives into the dark and seductive night life that can be found specifically in Berlin. Dark Pulse explores themes like alcohol addiction, surviving narcissism, forbidden love etc. connected to a past flamboyant lifestyle that just won't let go. With a signature blend of eerie synthesizers and pulsating hardware, Priest delves deeper into the shadows of dystopia and human-machine symbiosis. 


Priest is a synth band that creates music rooted in the vastness of electronic dreams. The goal of their multifaceted prophecy is to safely guide humanity unto the next evolutionary step – the merging with machines.


The occult techno-pop act from Sweden, containing ex-members from Ghost, will throw you into the neon lights of 80 ́s sci-fi mixed with gothic soundscapes. With several praised global tours and critically acclaimed releases like New Flesh and Body Machine they’ve successfully generated an ever growing fanbase worldwide.


Priest has toured with bands like Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps, Combichrist, Deathstars and Front Line Assembly among others. Priest is also featured on Cleopatra Records tribute albums for Rammstein, Depeche Mode and The Cure and has remixed tracks for Pure Obsessions & Red Nights, Aux Animaux and Sjöblom.





Tracklisting:


“Burning Love”
“Black Venom”
“Demon’s Call”
“Dungeon Dance”
“Golden Gate”
“Just A Game”
“Your Devil”
“Enter Your Body”
“A Demonic Game”
“Chaos Reigns”


"Just A Game"

SUM 41's Deryck Whibley, whose battle with alcohol addiction landed him in the hospital with kidney and liver failure, is celebrating the tenth anniversary of his getting sober.

Earlier today (Saturday, April 27),the 44-year-old singer/guitarist shared the following message on his social media: "10 years of sobriety.

"This post is a little late for two reasons. One, I've never counted the days of my sobriety. There's nothing wrong with counting. It just didn't suit me. And two, I rarely know what the actual date is, ever!

"10 years ago on April 15th, I went into the hospital with liver and kidney failure due to what had become excessive drinking. My drinking didn't start out that way, it usually doesn't. But eventually I crossed the invisible line and went from functional and in control, to addicted and dependent. Most of you know, i was in pretty bad shape.

"So today, I couldn't be happier to be able to say that I haven't picked up a drink since that fateful day and now have a full decade of being sober, healthy, physically and mentally strong and most importantly really happy.

"With a ton of work, and the huge help from my friends, family, fans and as always @sum41 mum I'm in the best place I've ever been in my life. I have the love and support of my amazing wife @aribarbara and we have two incredible children together to share our love and happiness with.

"And I couldn't be happier and more proud of what we've done in SUM 41. The band is in the best place we've ever been. 10 years ago we were at our lowest point personally and professionally. Not on speaking terms and couldn't even be in a room together. Members gone and quitting, tours not selling and no prospects of being played on the radio anymore and the future looking less than zero.

"As I laid in that hospital bed looking at the tatters my life had become, I vowed that if I survived this mess I created for myself and got out of here, I was going to fight, work and scrape our way back to the top again. I was determined not let the story end there.

"Today, our song 'Landmines' went #1 on Billboard in both the U.S. and Canada across multiple formats making it our highest charting single, beating out 'Fat Lip' and 'In Too Deep'. Our record 'Heaven :x: Hell' came out and beat all of our old chart records in countries everywhere. Our shows are selling out all around the world and in some cases we're adding 2nd nights in multiple cities.

"I write this not to brag, but to recognize and be grateful for the moment. I'm glad it was hard to get here. I'm happy it took a lot of work and wasn't easy. And most of all i'm thankful for all the help.

"My younger self would've thought this moment was 'cool' and just moved onto the next. My present self understands how incredibly lucky i am.

"I really want to thank the few people who really helped me out at the very beginning and made me feel like I was not alone. @tommylee @iggypopofficial @mattsorum @duffmckagen @johnfeldy".

In a recent interview with People magazine, Whibley reflected on the worst moments of his alcohol addiction, saying that he often drank as a means to subside the symptoms of his long-lingering back pain.

"Because it was just nonstop touring, I never really took care of it," he said. "Things got worse, and I got to a point where we just put out a record, and I injured my back again for I think the third time. And it was really, really bad and really painful. The only options were to go home, cancel the rest of the years of touring and let that album just die, or take heavy painkillers. I don't remember what they were, but after seeing what became of the [oxycodone] epidemic across the U.S., I didn't really want to take any of that stuff."

"What I did notice was, when I had a couple drinks at night, my back pain would go away," he continued. "So I just thought, you know what? I can get through the tour because I pop some Advil, have a couple drinks, and I think I'll be fine. I just kept going on the tour."

As his pain got worse, "my drinking started earlier in the day," he said. "It just kept getting earlier and earlier because I was trying to self-medicate, trying to get through the tour…. All of a sudden if I didn't have a drink, my body starts shaking, my hands are shaking, and I would say to myself, 'I don't really want to drink right now.' But I had realized like, 'Oh my God, I'm having withdrawal syndrome, so I have to have a drink.' Then everything would mellow out. I'd feel better. But then you also feel good, because you just had a drink or two and you're like, 'Man, well, let's have another one. I've already had two. What's three?' And then, 'What's one more?' It just gets worse and worse and worse."

As previously announced, SUM 41 will make stops in the United States, Japan, Mexico, Germany, Italy, and more, and will perform their largest show to date in front of a sold-out crowd of over 35,000 at Paris La Défense Arena in France later this year before the official Canadian leg of the tour and their final shows as a band in Toronto, Ontario, on January 28 and 30, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena.

Released on March 29 via Rise Records, "Heaven :x: Hell" is the most ambitious album from SUM 41 yet — "Heaven" is 10 tracks of snarling high-energy pop punk, while "Hell" consists of ten heavy metal anthems spiked with fret-burning solos, thrashing riffs, and fist-pumping hooks. The band has been straddling the line of pop-punk and metal for their entire career, and "Heaven :x: Hell" Is a testament to their innovative sound and unmatched skill, proving them as pioneers 27 years after the bands inception.

SUM 41's storied 24-plus-year career includes over 15 million records sold worldwide, multiple Billboard-charting releases, a Grammy Award nomination, two Juno Awards (seven nominations),a Kerrang! Award in 2002, as well as multiple Alternative Press Music Awards.

Photo courtesy of Big Picture Media

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SYSTEM OF A DOWN played its first live show in 11 months Saturday night (April 27) as one of the headliners of the Sick New World festival in Las Vegas, Nevada for the second year in a row.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN opened its 27-song set with "X", a partial rendition of "Suite-Pee" and "Prison Song", before performing "B.Y.O.B." and following it up with the first airing of "Innervision" since 2019, and later playing "Bubbles" and "CUBErt" for the first time in almost a decade.

The full setlist was as follows:

01. X
02. Suite-Pee (partial)
03. Prison Song
04. Holy Mountains
05. Soldier Side - Intro
06. B.Y.O.B.
07. Innervision (first performance since 2019)
08. Dreaming (breakdown only)
09. Needles
10. Deer Dance
11. Radio/Video
12. Bubbles (first live performance since 2015)
13. CUBErt (first live performance since 2015)
14. Hypnotize
15. ATWA
16. Bounce
17. Suggestions
18. Psycho
19. Chop Suey!
20. Lonely Day
21. Kill Rock 'n' Roll (first performance since 2017)
22. Lost in Hollywood
23. Aerials
24. Genocidal Humanoidz
25. War?
26. Toxicity
27. Sugar

Last November, SYSTEM OF A DOWN frontman Serj Tankian addressed his comment from a year earlier that he wasn't interested in touring due to some health issues. Asked if those issues are still affecting him, Serj told Revolver magazine: "Some of my back stuff is a lot better, in terms of health, which is cool. I have some other things I'm dealing with right now, which may or may not be affected by travel or touring.

"It wasn't just a health-related decision as far as cutting down on touring, but also a lifestyle decision," he explained. "Based on family and vision.

"I've been touring for 20-something years, on and off, of course. Not every year. And it's fun, it's profitable, it makes a lot of people happy in terms of being out there and sharing the music and [seeing] the reaction, and people really enjoying it and getting that feedback. But after years of doing it and the travel that's involved, it's one of those things where it's not the top priority on my list in life."

Asked if that means that he wants to spend more time with his son, Serj said: "Travel takes you out of… you could take your family with you if you're doing a small tour, I guess. And that's something that we have done, even when our son was really young. But it's just about prioritizing life and what you really want to do.

"Some people like to tour until they're ready to go from this plane, and that's not how I see myself going," he explained. "To me, doing different things in measured form allows me to be more creative than to take something that's repetitious and do it for a long period of time. And that includes everything that I do."

As previously reported, Serj's memoir, "Down With The System", will be released on May 14, 2024 via
Hachette Books.

SYSTEM OF A DOWN vocalist/guitarist Daron Malakian has resurrected his SCARS ON BROADWAY project for its first live appearances in five years: October 5 at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles as the support act for KORN, and October 11 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

During an appearance on the April 24 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Robert Trujillo, who had a seven-year tenure with Ozzy Osbourne before joining METALLICA in 2003, was asked about the recent announcement that the legendary heavy metal singer will be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame later this year as a solo artist in its 2024 class, marking his second entry into the organization following BLACK SABBATH's induction in 2006. Robert said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Ozzy is family. I love him. I wouldn't be where I am without him. If I think about it, even going back to INFECTIOUS GROOVES back in 1991, we were recording the first album, which is called 'The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move'. And Ozzy was recording 'No More Tears', and we were in the same studio complex [in North Hollywood]. It was called Devonshire Studios. So we were like a fraternity back then, hanging out in the same studio. Zakk [Wylde, then-Ozzy guitarist] was there, Mike Inez [then-Ozzy bassist] — we were all there. And he used to sneak away from his recording session and come and join us and hang out in the INFECTIOUS GROOVES room. And that's why you hear him on the [INFECTIOUS GROOVES] song 'Therapy' — that's how he ended up on 'Therapy'. And it was just so much fun back then. And there's some crazy stories that we won't get into now, but that kind of started it all back then. And then from that, I ended up being able to audition and join Ozzy's band and work with him for almost seven years. And still till this day, occasionally we do some stuff together. I co-wrote his last record, a few years [ago] — it was, like, three years [ago] now. And I know Ozzy really did help METALLICA too. And he's just always been there to help bands coming up and sort of help young artists grow into themselves into bigger bands. And he did that with KORN, and he's done that for so many people. So, God bless him, and congratulations to Ozzy. He deserves that."

During his time in Ozzy's band, Trujillo appeared on the "Down To Earth" and "Live At Budokan" albums, as well as the 2002 reissues of "Blizzard Of Ozz" and "Diary Of A Madman". The latter two were widely panned by Osbourne fans when Ozzy's wife and manager Sharon had Trujillo re-record original bassist Bob Daisley's parts after Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake sued Ozzy and Sharon over royalties. They were restored for the 30th-anniversary editions.

Asked in a 2022 interview with Revolver how Ozzy has influenced his creative development, Robert said: "Well, I was fortunate to be able to work with Ozzy for many years, and, you know, Zakk and I played together in the '90s in Ozzy's band. I was always really inspired by the bass playing of Bob Daisley and the rhythm section. [Daisley played on and co-wrote 'Blizzard Of Ozz' and 'Diary Of A Madman' and continued to work with Ozzy until the early '90s.] Ozzy used to tell me, [affects an Ozzy accent] 'Rob, you know, I'm your best friend, man. I'm your best friend because I love the bass. I don't want you to turn it down. I want you to turn it up!' [Laughs] You know, singers never say that. [Laughs] I mean, the only other singer that's ever said that to me was Lady Gaga when we jammed with her with METALLICA — and James [Hetfield] kinda looked over and was like, What? [Laughs]"

Robert clarified: "James loves bass. He just doesn't want to hear the bass when he's trying to sing and have that kind of taking over his sonic bubble, you know. But yeah, so I was already in heaven [with Ozzy], because here is this singer saying, 'Play louder … I want to hear more.' But you know, I would have to definitely say that the style of bass playing on Ozzy's solo records is an important ingredient to the recipe. You hear songs like 'No More Tears', where it's a prominent melodic statement in the song, and even the powerful accents on songs like 'Crazy Train' or 'S.A.T.O.'

"So bass was very important to both bands: Ozzy solo and BLACK SABBATH. And for me as a bass player, you're a kid in a candy shop, you know what I mean? You can't go wrong. It's a very special place to be. A lot of times people say, 'Oh, it's about the guitar in Ozzy's bands.' But no, it's also about the bass … it's about everything. It's like a power trio with a great, incredibly soulful singer."

Asked what his favorite Ozzy album is, Robert said: "'Diary Of A Madman' … I love that song 'Diary Of A Madman'. To me, it's the classic Ozzy song. It's just got a balance of everything. I love what the rhythm section's doing on there and the counterpoint or sort-of pulse rhythms. The dynamic range of that song is really, really powerful."

Regarding the first time he met Ozzy, Trujillo said: "The first time? Well, oh God, let's see… That's a good question. The very first time I crossed paths with Ozzy was at the Concrete Convention. I believe it was in L.A., but they had different venues around town, and you'd have different gigs and Ozzy was playing one of the convention gigs. I remember crossing paths with him and meeting him there, but … I don't count it as the official meeting because it was so brief. I was in SUICIDAL TENDENCIES at the time, and we were going to see him play. Somehow, we were able to get backstage, maybe through management or something, and have a quick hello."

The 2024 Rock Hall induction ceremony will be held on October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will air live on Disney+. An edited version will run on ABC at a later date, and will be available on Hulu the day after.

Artists are eligible to be inducted into the Rock Hall after at least 25 years have passed since their first record was released.

In 1999, Ozzy attempted to take BLACK SABBATH's name off the Hall Of Fame's nomination list that year, deeming the institution's nod "meaningless."

When BLACK SABBATH finally earned its induction in 2006, the band went in with LYNYRD SKYNYRD, Mike Davis and BLONDIE.

Legendary Ozzy guitarist Randy Rhoads was posthumously inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame during the 2021 ceremony. Rhoads, who played in Ozzy's band more than four decades ago, received the Musical Excellence Award at the October 2021 event.

Ozzy Osbourne photo credit: Ross Halfin

Professor Reggie Almeida of the Renzo Gracie TN Brazilian jiu-jitsu school in Tennessee, who has been traveling with MEGADETH on the band's recent tours, has uploaded video of the Dave Mustaine-fronted outfit's visit to the Observatorio Manuel Foster, or Manuel Foster Observatory, prior to the group's April 9 concert at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile. Check it out below.

The Manuel Foster Observatory is an astronomical observatory constructed on Cerro San Cristóbal near Santiago, Chile in 1903. The observatory is named for Dr. Manuel Foster Recabarren, who purchased the facility in 1929 and later donated it to the Catholic University.

MEGADETH recently announced a North American tour "Destroy All Enemies", produced by Live Nation. Support on the 33-city trek, which includes stops in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Boston and St. Louis, will come from MUDVAYNE and ALL THAT REMAINS. The tour begins in Rogers, Arkansas on August 2 and runs throughout the month before wrapping in Nashville, Tennessee on September 28.

Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari joined MEGADETH last September after the band's longtime axeman Kiko Loureiro, announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that Mäntysaari would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

MEGADETH played its first concert with Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.

Since its inception in 1983, MEGADETH has ascended from its raw thrash metal roots to become an unstoppable force in the heavy metal world. With founder Dave Mustaine at the helm, MEGADETH's journey has been marked by a penchant for pushing the boundaries of speed, technicality, and complexity in their music. Their groundbreaking album "Rust In Peace", released in 1990, is frequently cited as a seminal work in the thrash metal genre. Along with the critically acclaimed "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?", it cemented MEGADETH's place in the annals of metal history.

Over four decades, the band's discography has earned numerous certifications, including platinum and multi-platinum awards, with albums like "Countdown To Extinction" and "Youthanasia" achieving widespread critical acclaim. 2016's "Dystopia" not only marked a high point with their first Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" after twelve nominations but also set the stage for their latest triumph, "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" in 2022. MEGADETH's status as part of the "Big Four" of thrash metal underscores their trailblazing role in the genre, laying the groundwork for countless bands and musicians who have followed in their wake.

HELLO from Manuel Foster Observatory, Chile! 😎👋 🇨🇱

#davemustaine
#jameslomenzo
#megadeth
#crushtheworldtour2024

Photo credit:
James LoMenzo 📷 ©️

Posted by Thrashing to Megadeth on Monday, April 8, 2024

Periphery has released a two-song single, Acoustic Singles, featuring stripped down versions of “Scarlet” (from Periphery II) and “It’s Only Smiles” (from Periphery IV: Hail Stan).


The single, which arrives with a performance video for “It’s Only Smiles” also feature a guest performance from Mike Dawes.







“We had Mike Dawes out with us on tour last fall and we decided to have an acoustic break in our set where Mike would come out and perform these two songs with me,” explains vocalist Spencer Sotelo. “The crowd response was electric every night! We figured we’d try and capture that magic in the studio and recreate the whole vibe. The songs actually ended up taking on a whole new feel once they were recorded, and ended up sounding so fresh and unique that we’ve even talked about possibly doing more in the future. I hope everyone enjoys them as much as we do.”


Dawes is regarded as one of the world’s most creative modern acoustic guitarists, and has been named “Best Acoustic Guitarist in the World” multiple times by Total Guitar and MusicRadar’s reader polls. His next solo record and U.S. solo tour is scheduled for this summer.


“I’ve been a fan of the guys in Periphery as musicians and humans for well over a decade so recording these was extra special,” adds Dawes. “Back in 2016, I realized a solo cover of ‘Scarlet’ as a way to showcase the melodic side of heavy music to my, at the time, pretty anti-metal fanbase so it’s cool to have rearranged it along with ‘It’s Only Smiles’ to introduce the modern acoustic playing to Periphery’s fans. The November tour opening up for the guys was such a blast, and Spencer and I locked into a kind of synergy you can only really get through gigging. Too bad there wasn’t time to track our neurotically profound Backstreet Boys’ covers. Maybe someday.”


Acoustic Singles is also available as a limited edition (500 copies) 7” single on white and gold vinyl available exclusively at the Periphery webshop.


Periphery return to the road next month for The Wildfire Tour ’24, an eight-date trek in support of their recently released album Periphery V: Djent Is Not A Genre





The Wildfire Tour ‘24 tour dates:


May
8 - Asheville, NC - The Orange Peel
10 - Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse
11 - Tampa, FL - Jannus Live
13 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
14 - Columbus, OH - Newport Music Hall
16 - Toronto, ON - The Danforth Music Hall
17 - Montreal, QC - MTelus
18 - New York, NY - Palladium Times Square


(Photo - Ekaterina Gorbacheva)

French heavy metal frontrunners, Nightmare, have shared a brand new single, the opening track "Nexus Inferis" of their forthcoming, twelfth studio album Encrypted, due out June 7 via AFM Records.


"Today we are very excited to share with you our second single, ‘Nexus Inferis’... taken from our forthcoming album, Encrypted!" The band comments. "This track is our album opener and has a hell of a riff matched with catchy melodies on the whole song. Lyrically, it is highly connected with the ‘Encrypted concept’: What if the end was just the beginning or a passage to hell (inferis)?"


Founded in 1979, Nightmare have been an integral part of the European metal scene for the past three decades, and have been prolific with their album releases, all the while updating and evolving their sound.




The band released eleven much acclaimed studio albums and toured worldwide, playing some of the biggest metal festivals like Wacken, Hellfest, 70000 Tons Of Metal, Motocultor Open Air or Gods Of Metal, and supporting the likes of Def Leppard, Sabaton, Saxon, Grave Digger and Blind Guardian to name just a few. 2020 saw Nightmare release their latest album, Aeternam, via AFM Records. At the end of 2022, the band parted ways with singer Madie and welcomed their new, exceptional vocalist: Barbara Mogore, who transcends Nightmare onto a total new level.


As the band states: “…We have decided to move to new heights in terms of musical approach to make Encrypted our most ambitious album to date in terms of production, musical direction and achievement… You can find here some traditional power metal riffing in the trademark of Nightmare but also extreme metal parts and some highlights even reaching melodic death metal… making Encrypted our most varied opus so far, beyond all boundaries and expectations…”


Encrypted was mixed and mastered in Simone Mularoni’s Domination Studio in Italy. Preorder at the AFM Records webshop.





Tracklisting:


“Nexus Inferis”
“The Blossom Of My Hate”
“Voices From The Other Side”
“Saviours Of The Damned”
“Wake The Night”
“Encrypted”
“Incandescent”
“White Lines”
“Borderlines”
“Eternal Winter” (2023 Version)


"Nexus Inferis":





“Saviours Of The Damned” video:





“Eternal Winter” (2023 Version):