Greek heavy/power metallers Subfire have announced the release of the first official lyric video for the track “Samurai” taken off from the upcoming album Blood Omen, which is set to be released on May 17, 2024 by Symmetric Records. Preorder on Bandcamp.


The lyric video has been created by Manthos Stergiou of ManSter Design, who previously worked with artists such as Sakis Tolis, Tardive Dyskinesia, On Thorns I Lay, Jinjer, Powerwolf among others.


Guitarist George D. Larentzakis Comments:  “The song ‘Samurai’ marks the glorious days of Hatori Hanzo who lived by the samurai code (Bushido). Before taking on the dirty work as the Shogun's right-hand and getting lost in his dark plans to rule Japan by force.”




Subfire have also announced the launch of their own festival, Sinister World Festival, which will be held at the Temple Club, Athens, Greece, on Saturday, May 18, 2024 presenting live the new album. Featuring bands would be Spanish thrash/heavy metallers Apotropaico as special guests, folk metallers Kosmogonia, heavy/speed metallers XenoVenous & melodic heavy metallers Nightkill.


The concept of the Blood Omen deals with the Sinner finding himself in the 16th century in the land of the rising sun always looking for the existence of a higher power, the one they call God.


The album production and mixing has been once again handled by Bob Katsionis (Stray Gods, Warrior Path, ex-Firewind) while the mastering has been made by Nasos Nomikos at VU Productions. Blood Omen also features the guest appearance of the charismatic Ralf Scheepers of Primal Fear.


The cover artwork, which you can check out below, has been created by Alexis Alifragis aka Perverend SlumberSlut (Obduction, For A Dozen Matters, Goateatgod).





Tracklisting:


“Tides Of Alibis”
“Rage Of Emotions”
“Samurai”
“Path Of The Assassin”
“Iga Land”
“Rise”
“Unbreakable”
“Black Edged Meitu”
“Hunter Of Dreams”


“Samurai” lyric video:

Indiana’s thrash/power/prog metal band Idol Throne will drop its new full-length, entitled A Clarion Call, on May 31 via Stormspell Records. The new album, follower of the 2022’s debut LP The Sibylline Age, is composed of eight tracks for almost 50 minutes of playing time and will delight the fans of Symphony X, Heathen, Angra, and Fates Warning.


Through the band’s inception in 2018 to the release of debut LP The Sibylline Age in 2022, Idol Throne has sought to blend Bay-Area thrash, US power, and progressive metal into a unique sound to call its own. With the new album A Clarion Call, the quintet simultaneously hone and expand everything that made the debut work special, while evolving the boundaries of what the band is and can be.


Idol Throne takes the listener on a sonic journey across 8 diverse tracks, from aggressive, pummeling thrashers and haunting neoclassical excursions to grandiose and powerful multi-part epics and progressive-rock inflected soundscapes. A Clarion Call is the sound of a band firing on all cylinders and ready to truly break out onto the scene.




“To me, A Clarion Call is Idol Throne taking the sound we developed on The Sibylline Age and expanding upon it in a way that showcases the growth of this band over the past few years. Not every band makes it to a second album, and not only did we get there, but we created something that I feel truly makes a statement. That’s an accomplishment I couldn’t be happier with,” says co-lead guitarist and keyboardist Martin Bowman.


A Clarion Call was produced by Martin Bowman and Jason Schultz. Mixed and mastered by Pete Grossmann at Bricktop Recording. Artwork by Mark Erskine/Erskine Designs. Photo by Kyle Bergfors/KB Imaging Co. Band logo by ModBlackMoon Logos, Marble effect by Daniel “Pitforge” Porta.





Tracklisting:


“Ecliptykon”
“Covenant Of The Immortal”
“King Among Jackals”
“Petrified”
“The Last Voyage”
“A Clarion Call”
“System Simulacrum”
“Falconer’s Cry”


“The Last Voyage” lyric video:





Idol Throne is:
Jake Quintanilla - Vocals
Martin Bowman - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals
Jason Schultz - Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Background Vocals
Trevor Kuta - Bass
Aaron Grove - Drums and Percussion


(Photo – Kyle Bergfors)

MEGADETH played the second concert of its 2024 South American tour on Tuesday, April 9 at at Movistar Arena in Santiago, Chile.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!
02. Skin O' My Teeth (first time since 2018)
03. Dystopia
04. Hangar 18
05. Sweating Bullets
06. This Was My Life
07. Angry Again
08. She-Wolf
09. Trust
10. À Tout Le Monde
11. Tornado Of Souls
12. Symphony Of Destruction
13. We'll Be Back

Encore:

14. Peace Sells
15. Mechanix

Encore 2:

16. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due

4K fan-filmed video of the Santiago concert can be seen below.

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.

MEGADETH's sold-out shows at Movistar Arena in Buenos Aires on Saturday, April 13 and Sunday, April 14, 2024 will be broadcast live on Veeps. Fans will also have the exclusive opportunity to snag MEGADETH merch, including a poster and a limited-edition tee, that will only be available for purchase on Veeps during the livestream. Veeps All Access subscribers can access the shows for free as part of their subscription. Otherwise tickets are on sale for $14.99 for each show or $24.99 for both shows on veeps.com/megadeth.

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.

"Megadeth: Live From Buenos Aires" will be available for free for Veeps All Access subscribers, or fans can buy an individual show ticket for $14.99 or a ticket to view both shows for $24.99 at veeps.com/megadeth. The shows will air live on Veeps on April 13 and April 14 at approximately 9 p.m. Argentina Time (ART). The shows will be available on Veeps for two years after the original air dates, with a seven-day rewatch period for individual ticket purchasers.

Video of New Jersey thrashers OVERKILL rehearsing with their stand-in bassist David Ellefson (ex-MEGADETH) on April 9 can be seen below.

In a recent interview with Metal & Rock Zone, Ellefson spoke about the announcement that he was recruited by OVERKILL to play bass for the band on their "Scorching Latin America 2024" tour. The former MEGADETH member will be filling in for original OVERKILL bassist D.D. Verni, who is unable to make the shows as he is recovering from shoulder surgery.

Regarding how he ended up being asked to fill in for Verni, Ellefson said: "I got approached before the end of the year. It was just brought to my attention that D.D. was going to go through this surgery. They didn't know if he was gonna be better or not. So I was kind of put on alert that, 'Hey, we may need some help.' And we grew up together, OVERKILL and MEGADETH. I remember the 'Peace Sells' tour, OVERKILL was our direct support. So we've been good friends, all of us. And I always said, look, if there were gonna be two more added to the 'Big Four' [of 1980s thrash metal], it would be EXODUS in California and OVERKILL on the East Coast. So, to me, these are brothers in arms. So, when they hit me a few weeks ago about it, I said, 'Sure. Count me in if you need me to do it.'"

OVERKILL's 10-date "Scorching Latin America 2024" tour will kick off on April 11 in Guadalajara, Mexico and will include stops in Costa Rica, Chile and Peru before closing on April 28 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When Ellefson's addition to OVERKILL's touring lineup was first announced, OVERKILL singer Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth said in a statement: "South, Central America and Mexico, with D.D. on the mend from surgery and the opportunity in front of us, where to go but back to the roots of THRASH! Please welcome Mr. David Ellefson to the OVERKILL, touring ranks this April 2024! 'David, can you help?' The answer: 'Yes, let's go!' We can't wait to see you guys! Horns up!"

Verni commented: "Bummed to not be able to thrash it up with our Latin America fans, but gotta get this wing workin!!....but who better than one of the great original thrash bass players, and old friend, David Ellefson to fill in."

Ellefson said: "It's an honor to fill in for my friend, the mighty D.D. Verni, as he takes time to heal up right now. OVERKILL always brings the fury and I'm looking forward to scorching Latin America with them!"

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH nearly three years ago, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.

MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine ended up hiring TESTAMENT's Steve DiGiorgio to re-record Ellefson's bass parts on MEGADETH's latest album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!"

In May 2022, MEGADETH announced bass player James LoMenzo as a permanent member of the band. LoMenzo was MEGADETH's bass player in the mid-2000s and initially stepped back in as a touring member for "The Metal Tour Of The Year".

In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the frontman shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.

Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.

Rehearsals begin today for Overkill 's Scorching Latin America Tour!! It's an honor to fill in for my friend, the mighty...

Posted by David Ellefson on Monday, April 8, 2024

Ross Valory, regarded as one of rock's best bass guitarists and an original member of the multi-platinum band JOURNEY until his 2020 departure, has released the official Michael Cotton-directed music video for "Windmill". It's the latest single from the bassist and songwriter's debut solo album, "All Of The Above", due out on April 12 via OID Music.

Says Ross: "'Windmill' is another Latin-inspired tune that takes us to Brazil. It was written on guitar and as a result this is the first time I've recorded guitar."

Valory always had pieces of music tucked away that he had written, although songwriting contributions to JOURNEY slipped away after the first three "experimental" albums. As a member of JOURNEY, Valory concentrated on shaping the rhythm section and contributing his baritone vocals to the background blend.

During the band's second coming following the 1995 reunion album "Trial By Fire", Valory began sorting through his files and polishing up some of his old notes. In between tour dates, he pulled together a tight-knit group of collaborators and slowly began to finish what he started. After a lifetime in music, Valory scrupulously etched "All Of The Above". The album was produced by Valory and co-produced by Jacob Stowe and Eric Levy.

Valory developed a repertory company of musicians over the years that came together at his studio. He cultivated individual numbers like sprawling projects, experimenting with different arrangements played by an assortment of musicians. Sometimes spending years jamming on these ideas, the pieces took shape slowly. Different ideas were tried and discarded, remodeled and refurbished. The basic concept was to find the heart of the material and expand upon it until Valory could refine and shape the music's path to his supreme satisfaction. He cast specific musicians to specific parts. The studio became his laboratory and the compositions his experiments.

From the Latin-fired intensity of "Wild Kingdom" to the ethereal dirge of "No One Wins A War", the raucous party on "Low Rider" or the brilliant reprise of SANTANA's "Incident Of Neshabur", the album presents an evolved artist fully in command of his vision, a lifetime of experience behind the project, augmenting his core associates with guest musicians such as Gregg Errico of SLY & THE FAMILY STONE, drummer Steve Smith, and saxophonist Marc Russo. The nine tracks on the album represent the full maturity of Valory's musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with JOURNEY. He is stepping out from behind his bass and, for the first time in his more than half-century as a professional musician, representing his vision and his compositions.

Ross says: "I have been revisiting material that has been accumulating, and I am sharing some of my favorite songs for the first time!"

Valory left JOURNEY in 2020 and the bandmembers worked out their issues in a peaceful mediated settlement. Valory, who spent most of his life as a member of JOURNEY, has no regrets. He counts his blessings at having spent an amazing career with a remarkable group of musicians who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.

"All Of The Above" track listing:

01. Wild Kingdom
02. Nightflower
03. Tomland
04. Touched, Part II
05. Windmill
06. Incident At Neshabur
07. Low Rider
08. No One Wins A War

Photo credit: Jérôme Brunet (courtesy of SRO PR)

In a new interview with Pierre Gutiérrez of Rock Talks, founding DROWNING POOL guitarist C.J. Pierce discussed the progress of the songwriting sessions for the new music that he and his longtime bandmates — drummer Mike Luce and bassist Stevie Benton — have been working on with singer Ryan McCombs. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have three new songs that we're working out right now. One of 'em is pretty much ready to go there. There's two we're still touching on. So I was hoping to get that going for this [upcoming] run [of shows]. We'll definitely have that ready to go by May, 'cause we're doing two weeks now and then when we get back home for the other two weeks, we're gonna be in the studio finishing that up. I'm hoping to have new music out for everybody by June, but I definitely wanna pop in and play it at shows and give people a taste. So that's gonna be a sporadic thing too."

Regarding the musical direction of the new DROWNING POOL material, Pierce said: "Oh, man, it's been so great, dude. It's intense as ever, man. It's awesome having Ryan McCombs back in the band. It's been a good 13 years since we had the chance to write music together again. And when he came back in last year — the whole thing is Ryan was gonna come back, [we were] gonna do some reunion shows with him, and he walked in the door and we just started writing together. So we have a lot of music on the plate. We just got it down to the first three here. But, dude, it's just intense. A lot has gone on in everyone's lives in the last 13-plus years, and all of us, we worked together as a band. It was awesome doing this. We're sitting down, doing the final touches on some of the new songs, all four of us at a table, spitballing lyrics and ideas, bouncing off each other as a full band. So I love that about our band. It's fun to work with my other brothers and all of us have a say-so in the song, and that's what makes it a DROWNING POOL song."

Pierce also talked about how the new DROWNING POOL music compares to "Strike A Nerve", the band's first record in seven years, which came out in September 2022 via T-Boy/UMe. It marked the band's third album with singer Jasen Moreno, who joined DROWNING POOL in 2012. Asked if the material is "more balanced" than "Strike A Nerve", C.J. said: "I wouldn't say more balanced. With Jasen Moreno on the last couple of records, we just started going up a heavy thing. Plus our career, just things that were going on at that time — I write what's going on in my life at the time; it's art, it's music — and just things were getting more intense with Jasen. Not just Jasen, but the music business, everything. So the music got intense as well, as you hear. And then with Ryan back in here, we still have that same intention, but Ryan brings a different kind of aspect and the delivery to the songs. There's definitely the style that we had on the two records we did with Ryan that's there, but we still have that heaviness going on as well. So it's definitely the heaviest stuff we've done with Ryan, for sure. So it's all heavy, brother. There's definitely a few songs that may be… We had '37 Stitches' and songs like that with Ryan. We have one or two songs that are kind of more in that mellow zone with him as well that we're working on. But, yeah, the last few records, we were pretty much just slamming, just full-on super-heavy stuff, man, which I enjoy as well. So you're gonna get a mix of it. I feel like with Ryan, we can get more of a mix of styles in there as well… It's intense, man. It's intense music. That's what we write."

McCombs played his first shows back with DROWNING POOL in March 2023 at Club L.A. in Destin, Florida and at the inaugural Throwdown At The Campground festival in Fruitland Park, Florida.

The longtime SOIL frontman, who has lived in Swindon, England since 2018, originally joined DROWNING POOL in 2005 and appeared on two of the band's studio albums, "Full Circle" (2007) and "Drowning Pool" (2010),as well as a live album, 2009's "Loudest Common Denominator". He rejoined SOIL after exiting DROWNING POOL in 2011.

McCombs is continuing to front SOIL and will carry on recording and performing with both bands.

DROWNING POOL's debut album, "Sinner", was certified platinum within six weeks of its release in 2001, while the CD's first single, "Bodies", was one of the most frequently aired videos on MTV by a new band. DROWNING POOL reached out to an ever-greater audience with dynamic performances at Wrestlemania XVIII and Ozzfest during the summers of 2001 and 2002. Unfortunately, their streak of success was not to last. Shortly after rousing the crowd at Ozzfest in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 3, 2002, vocalist Dave "Stage" Williams was found dead of natural causes on the tour bus.

The Jordan's Rock Vault YouTube channel has uploaded video of LYNCH MOB's entire April 6 concert at The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan. You can now watch the footage below.

Featured songs:

00:00 Lightnin' Strikes Again
03:50 River Of Love
09:28 For A Million Years
17:00 Just Got Lucky
22:20 No Good
27:34 Band Jam/Fire Master
38:00 All I Want
44:30 Paris Is Burning
49:30 Time After Time
55:40 Sweet Sister Mercy
01:00:50 Dance Of The Dogs
01:04:45 Mr. Scary
01:09:30 It's Not Love
01:19:20 Wicked Sensation

LYNCH MOB recently announced "The Final Ride", a farewell tour celebrating the band's 35-year legacy. The tour will conclude in March of 2025 on the Monsters Of Rock cruise.

George Lynch stated: "After 35 years since the inception of LYNCH MOB, I feel the time is right to let this chapter of my musical life fade off into the sunset. I feel the timing is right because of the solidarity and camaraderie of our current lineup. It ensures that we're leaving a powerful legacy with no regrets.

"Jimmy D'Anda has been my partner and brother for many decades. Jaron Gulino feels like he was designed in a laboratory to be the perfect bassist for this band. Gabriel Colón defies every lead singer stereotype by being one of the sweetest, kindest and most humble lead singer I've ever worked with, yet goes out every night and morphs into a stage stalking, golden-throated lord. We laugh hard, work hard, and know we can step on to any stage at any time and own it. With our latest record. I feel at peace knowing that we've documented the final chapter in the 35-year legacy of the MOB."

"There's been so many iterations of LYNCH MOB since the first lineup in 1989 of Oni Logan, Mick Brown, Anthony Esposito and myself. Putting LYNCH MOB together was just an extension of what I'd always strived for in a band: the best possible musicians, chemistry, and brotherhood. My bands have not only been my best friends, but also family. When we come up together and work hard and struggle together, we create a bond that lasts a lifetime. I think that's the thing I love the most about my musical journey... creating music in the studio, stepping on stage, and sharing that bond with my friends through music. Thank you to everyone who has been in my band. I really feel it's ours."

LYNCH MOB was formed in 1989 after Lynch parted ways with his former band DOKKEN. Their debut release, "Wicked Sensation", was met with critical and fan acclaim and went on to be certified gold in sales by the RIAA. The band would continue on through the years with a cast of talented players joining Lynch throughout their musical journey over the course of six more studio albums.

Released on October 20, 2023, "Babylon" is LYNCH MOB's eighth studio album overall and the first since 2017's "The Brotherhood".

LYNCH MOB is:

Gabriel Colón: Vocals
George Lynch: Guitars
Jimmy D'Anda: Drums
Jaron Gulino: Bass

New Jersey's own Jaron Gulino brings the East Coast attitude and energy to LYNCH MOB. He has prospered in a long career as the bassist in a variety of bands, most notably post-grunge rock band TANTRIC. Gulino achieved chart topping success with multiple releases from TANTRIC, as well as performing on many high-profile tours and events with numerous other acts. He is also currently the bassist for Philadelphia hard rockers HEAVENS EDGE.

His bandmate and partner in crime in the rhythm section is none other than original BULLETBOYS drummer Jimmy D'Anda, who is known for his ability to bring a fantastic element of groove while maintaining the powerful hard rock vibe of LYNCH MOB.

Gabriel Colón is a Puerto Rican singer who started his career with a band called FAST TAKER. Since then, he has showcased his wide range of vocal talent with many rock acts including GOTHIC KNIGHTS, CULPRIT, WHITE WIZZARD and Rowan Robertson. Gabriel is a true talent and a great fit to fill the shoes of his extremely talented predecessors in LYNCH MOB.

For much of 2021 and 2022, George had played dates around the U.S. under the name ELECTRIC FREEDOM, which he previously said was the new name of his "touring entity" after deciding to retire the LYNCH MOB band name in 2020. However, a year ago, it was reported that Lynch was once again playing shows under the LYNCH MOB moniker.

In August 2020, Lynch announced that he was ending LYNCH MOB due to the racial insensitivity of the moniker, saying he would no longer record or perform under that name.

THIS SATURDAY!!! at The Machine Shop... I will be doing merch for Lynch Mob....stop by...grab a drink..and listen to some music🤘

Posted by Brian Sarazin on Monday, April 1, 2024

U.S. rockers HIGH ON FIRE have released the official music video for the title track of their upcoming album, "Cometh The Storm". The clip was directed by Phil Mucci of Diabolik Films and can be seen below.

"Cometh The Storm" will be released on April 19 via MNRK Heavy. The Grammy Award-winning group, celebrating its 25th anniversary, recorded the LP at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts with producer Kurt Ballou. The 11-song effort — the band's ninth studio album — marks the release of the first new HIGH ON FIRE music since 2018's "Electric Messiah" and the first to feature drummer Coady Willis (BIG BUSINESS, MURDER CITY DEVILS),alongside bassist Jeff Matz and guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike.

"'Cometh the Storm' was built from a riff I started playing on bass at practice," Matz commented. "I was noodling around with this melancholic harmonic minor line, just hammering the notes with my left hand, when Matt yelled out, 'Are we recording this!?'

"The chorus riff was something Coady and I came up with when we were jamming in L.A.," he continued. "Matt then came in and worked up some rough lyrics and came up with the vocal line. For the chorus, I used this fretless bass I'd acquired. The weight of the low frequencies this thing produced was insane — how it blended with the guitars and drums, it was like being hit with a sledgehammer."

"Cometh The Storm" track listing:

01. Lambsbread
02. Burning Down
03. Trismegistus
04. Cometh The Storm
05. Karanlık Yol
06. Sol's Golden Curse
07. The Beating
08. Tough Guy
09. Lightning Beard
10. Hunting Shadows
11. Darker Fleece

"I think this band's always had a really good drive," stated Pike. "It's a different entity. It's its own thing. Which, I think, makes all of us very proud to be a part of it. It's not an average band."

"Being a fan of each other's bands for a long time, it feels like all bets are off and anything goes which is a liberating feeling," shared Willis. "That feeling of making something out of all of these imperfect parts and it becomes this magical, weird, new idea that none of us ever anticipated. Against all odds. That's the joy of it."

"It's interesting, whenever there's a lineup change in a band," offered Ballou. "It can take a little while to rebuild. But it's also an opportunity to reinvigorate the band and I think that's what's happened here."

Universally recognized as one of the most potent acts in music today, HIGH ON FIRE creates dynamic metal that merges primal fury and aggression, hesher bombast and hall of fame heaviness. Described as "a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume," HIGH ON FIRE has rewritten the hard rock rule book since its formation in 1998, forging a style and sound that is both critically celebrated and unique. The group features vocalist and cult guitar hero Matt Pike (also a founding member of the famed underground band SLEEP) singular bassist Jeff Matz and powerhouse drummer Coady Willis.

HIGH ON FIRE's most recent studio album, "Electric Messiah", was released on October 9, 2018, and won a Grammy for "Best Metal Performance", placing HIGH ON FIRE among the ranks of groups such as BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD and METALLICA as winners of the prestigious award, presented by The Recording Academy to recognize achievements in the music industry.

Photo credit: James Rexroad

A day after announcing that his original G&L guitar had gone missing, Jerry Cantrell says that it turns out that the instrument was actually just misplaced.

Late Wednesday (April 10),Cantrell shared a video update on his Instagram, with the ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist/vocalist speaking while standing next to the newly recovered legendary electric guitar.

Jerry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We found the damn thing. There it is. God, what a relief. It was misplaced over the weekend during transit between photo shoots and the studio. I'm working on a record right now, and I really thought this thing had gone missing. So, thankfully it was just misplaced.

"It's so amazing to me, everybody's outreach and support and a willingness to get the word out," he continued. "I've been through a stolen guitar thing before with an EVH and it took me 18 years to get it back. So many of my brothers like Zakk [Wylde] and [Tom] Morello and [Billy] Corgan and et cetera have similar stories, and I was worried to death that this thing was gone over the weekend. So, I think the headline here is how important this guitar is not only to me, but to everybody else. And it just makes me feel fucking very fucking special to have so many great people in my life and so many people care.

"So happy to cry wolf," he added. "It was misplaced. I hope you understand my concern. The thing is okay. There it is. And we will be rocking together very shortly for you. And, thanks again. Bye."

Cantrell's aforementioned EVH guitar, which had been gifted to him by Eddie Van Halen, went missing around 2002 and wasn’t returned to him until nearly two decades later.

"A couple of AIC fans and collectors tracked it down and tried to do a sting on this kid who had it and was trying to sell it," Cantrell later told Guitar World. "He went dark on the first guy, who was from Florida. The second guy was a separate collector from San Diego. Between the two of them, it took about two weeks for me to get that guitar back… after 19 years!"

While the G&L guitar was recently on display at Seattle's MoPOP Museum, Cantrell discussed the importance of his Blue Dress Rampage, saying: "I bought that in 1985. That guitar has been on everything I've ever recorded, pretty much — 98.9% of every song, that guitar's on there somewhere. I tried for decades to wreck it and it still exists. I've surfed it across the stage, jumped in the audience with it, fans running up and getting their hair caught in the keys, and then trying to jump back in the audience pulling me with them…"

"It's nothing fancy. There's plenty of fancier, cooler guitars, but it’s just a meat and potatoes guitar," Cantrell told Total Guitar in 2014, "and that's always felt comfortable for me to play from the get-go."

Beyond the instantly identifiable riffs and equally recognizable vocals, Cantrell will always be known as a songwriter, first and foremost. Those songs comprise his influential catalog as co-founder, vocalist, and lead guitarist of the iconic ALICE IN CHAINS and as a solo artist whose music resounds across culture. He penned three acclaimed solo albums — "Boggy Depot" (1998),"Degradation Trip Volumes 1 & 2" (2002) and "Brighten" (2021) — and appeared on chart-topping records by everyone from METALLICA and DEFTONES to Ozzy Osbourne.

His music can be heard in the films of Academy Award winner Cameron Crowe and Judd Apatow in addition to blockbuster franchises such as "John Wick" and "Spider-Man". Throughout his career, he’s garnered eleven Grammy Award nominations, logged multiple No. 1 hits at radio, sold north of 30 million records, and received the 2020 Museum of Pop Culture Founders Award as part of ALICE IN CHAINS. Not to mention, Guitar World cited him as one of the "100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time." He has also received the Stevie Ray Vaughan Award from MusiCares in addition to supporting numerous charities over the years.

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During an appearance on the "Rig Biz Podcast", NICKELBACK rhythm guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger were asked about past feuds with other famous rock bands and whether any of it ever came to blows. Ryan responded, "Oh, nothing that you haven't already read that we don't wanna replicate." Mike chimed in, "There's personalities", before Ryan continued: "Have you seen two lead singers get together? It's like a cockfight." Mike added, "Regrettable things get said on all sides and everybody kind of looks stupid. I wouldn't go on about it. But it is a game of egos, guys — it just really is. And sometimes those egos are fragile, and they get messy sometimes."

Back in May 2017, Chad Kroeger slammed STONE SOUR as "NICKELBACK Lite" and challenged Corey Taylor to "write a hit song." The NICKELBACK frontman, who is Mike's brother, made his comments while being interviewed by Sweden's Metal Covenant in Stockholm. As he was discussing NICKELBACK's musical versatility, Kroeger told the site: "I can't think of another band that's as diverse as we are. I can't. And I don't think that's me talking from pride or ego. I mean, you're sitting across the table. You know what you're talking about." He then asked the journalist to name another band that covers such a wide musical palette as NICKELBACK.

After the writer mentioned STONE SOUR as an example of a band that is also "very diverse," Chad shot back: "Yeah, 'cause they're trying to be NICKELBACK." He then took a swig from his beer and directed his comments at the STONE SOUR singer: "Corey Taylor has said some really nasty things about me before in the press. He talks about how easy it is to write a hit song. Well, show me. Show me. Write one. I have yet to hear one. They're okay. But they're not as good as NICKELBACK. They sound like 'NICKELBACK Lite.'"

Kroeger went on to point out that NICKELBACK and Taylor's other band, SLIPKNOT, launched their respective careers while signed to the same label (Roadrunner). He added: "They had to put on masks and jump around. How good can your music be if you've gotta beat each other up on stage, throw up in your own masks every night…? I mean, music shouldn't come with a gimmick; music should just be music. None of my favorite music comes with a gimmick. And he got tired of sitting behind a mask — he wanted people to know what he looks like — so he started STONE SOUR."

A short time later, Corey told the 93.3 WMMR radio station that Chad's NICKELBACK bandmates "called and apologized" after Chad's comments made the news. "They were, like, 'It's not us. We promise. It's this guy. We don't…' And I had hung out with the band before, and they're super-cool dudes," he said. "So I was, like… Well, I figured it wasn't them. So I don't want people holding it against the band, because it's not them. It's Captain Ego from Planet Douche."

Asked if there was any sort of "beef" between him and Chad prior to Kroeger's comments to Metal Covenant, Corey told the station: "No, not really. I mean, I said something maybe, like, fifteen years ago, but I was drinking then; nobody was listening to me then. And I hadn't said anything since; I don't even think about him. For real. This came so far out of left field that I woke up to everyone, like, blowing me up. And I was, like, 'Really?'"

In a 2002 interview with Rock Sound magazine, Taylor seemed to suggest that Roadrunner was spending more time and resources promoting NICKELBACK than they were getting behind SLIPKNOT. "I'm glad they could use our money to make fucking NICKELBACK happy," he said. "That's a very, very bitter subject for me, and if I ever see any of those fuckers, it's going to be brutal." He continued: "I'm happy for them, but at the same [time], we went out and bust our asses to make what we did. If they're still here in a couple years then, hey, good for them, but this band isn't going anywhere, and when the record label basically fucks your loyalty in the ass, it's really bitter — especially when we went out and fucking bled, sweat and earned every fucking album that we sold. MTV won't fucking touch us, radio barely fucking touches us and here comes those fucking pretty boys... and the lead singer looks like Shaggy from 'Scooby Doo'... and what the fuck am I supposed to do? Am I not supposed to feel bitter when I have broken bones and fucking torn corneas? It's bullshit, and the record label just smiles at you and goes 'Yeah, yeah whatever...' It's fucking not right, dude."

Taylor added: "It's just the fact we could have used the help. We have fucking fought for everything we have fucking made, when is someone going to help us, and when is someone going to step up and fight for us? The record label doesn't do that for us. It'll go to bat for fucking NICKELBACK, but when it comes to us, it's fucking shutdown. It's, like, what the fuck? I'm fucking proud of what we've done, but goddamn it, when are we going to get given a hand? I'm so fucking tired of it."

CATEGORY 7, the new band featuring former MACHINE HEAD and current KERRY KING guitarist Phil Demmel, ex-ADRENALINE MOB guitarist Mike Orlando, ARMORED SAINT/ex-ANTHRAX singer John Bush, OVERKILL/SHADOWS FALL drummer Jason Bittner and EXODUS bassist Jack Gibson, has inked a deal with Metal Blade Records.

The origins of CATEGORY 7 began with discussions between Demmel and Orlando of their mutual desire to form a twin lead guitar hard rock unit harkening back to bands of the 1970s such as THIN LIZZY. Bittner was next to join the conversation followed by Gibson. After composing some early music, it was obvious that the only vocalist that would fit the concept would be Bush.

Notes Bush: "Mike Orlando's and Phil Demmel's awesome riffs made writing lyrics over the music a piece of cake. The rhythm tandem of Bittner and Gibson rounded out the sound and the connection felt like it was put together in the stars. Obviously, everyone being a veteran of the metal scene made it that much easier."

Based on Demmel's and Bush's long-term relationships with Metal Blade Records, it seemed to be the perfect home for the band. The label agreed and a union was quickly forged.

Comments Metal Blade Records founder Brian Slagel: "Happy to welcome CATEGORY 7 into the Metal Blade family. Of course, some of them are already in! Seriously love working with this crew and it's great stuff!"

As crushing and confrontational as an armed rebellion and as fiercely melodic as infectious riffs and aggressive vocals can be, CATEGORY 7 is a new breed of hard rock that lives up to the storied histories of its members. CATEGORY 7's debut will see release this summer with their first single to be unveiled on May 2.

Demmel spoke about CATEGORY 7 in an August 2023 interview with former EXHORDER and PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS guitarist Marzi Montazeri. Regarding how the musicians first came together, Demmel said: "I [was] doing a one-off [show], [filling in as the guitar player for] OVERKILL, and this is just right after things are opening up. It's in Jersey, so we go up to Dingbatz, or what's… there's the bar and then there's the venue. So whatever the bar is, we go to the bar. And Orlando comes and meets us, and it's Corey Pierce from GOD FORBID. And so we're there all getting loaded. And at a certain point, it was just, like, 'Man, we got the band right here, man. Why don't we do something? Why don't we write music together?' And we're all, 'Yeah, let's do.' And then the next day, we're kind of hung over, going, 'Hey, man, did we mean it? Did we mean that? Yeah, let's see can happen.' And I came back [to the East Coast]. I forget what I was doing when I came back. And me and Orlando got together and we just got in the room and started throwing riffs at each other and came up with, like, a dozen or so riffs that he took back. And you know Mikey O — he's got his own studio, and he gets behind something. And he's got such a great ear. He's a phenomenal guitar player. And he's got a great ear for music and melody. So he starts putting the shit together. And we're, like, Damn, this is fucking cool.' … And then so we're thinking, it's, like, all right, well, bass player and vocalists. Vocalists, who would you guys want? Let's make our list. Start at the top.' And then bang, bang, bang. All at the top was 'John Bush', 'John Bush', 'John Bush'. We're, like, 'Hmm.' I said I know him from [playing together in] METAL ALLEGIANCE. We broed down a little bit — we talked sports and stuff — so I said, I know him enough to call him up and ask him. So I did. And he was super… We were in the friend zone for a while — you know, non-committal. And it's been bit by bit by bit."

Phil went on to describe the new band's musical direction as "heavier than the early VAN HALEN and the early PANTERA stuff that's on the — you know, the shuffle beat. It's on the upbeat; a lot of it's on the upbeat, not on the down. So it's the head-bobbing type of type of BPMs, you know? So it's different. Nobody's really doing that now."

Orlando was the guitarist/founding member of the hard rock group ADRENALINE MOB. As owner of his own recording studio, Sonic Stomp Studios, he handles everything from engineering, producing, mixing and mastering.

Demmel left MACHINE HEAD at the end of the band's fall 2018 North American tour. He was in MACHINE HEAD for nearly 16 years, during which time he played on five of the group's studio albums: "Through The Ashes Of Empires" (2003),"The Blackening" (2007),"Unto The Locust" (2011),"Bloodstone & Diamonds" (2014) and "Catharsis" (2018).

Widely known as the drummer from American metal band SHADOWS FALL, Bittner has won numerous awards, including Modern Drummer magazine's No. 1 Metal Drummer in 2005 and 2006, No. 1 Up-And-Coming Drummer in 2004 and 2005, and No. 2 Clinician for DRUM! magazine in 2011. In 2014, Bittner hooked up with the thrash metal band FLOTSAM AND JETSAM and has since joined OVERKILL.

Bush continues to record and tour with ARMORED SAINT, which he co-founded in 1982.

John fronted ANTHRAX between 1992 and 2005 but was sidelined when the group reunited with Joey Belladonna for a 20th-anniversary tour. When that collapsed, and relationships disintegrated with next frontman Dan Nelson, Bush returned for a time before Belladonna took the job back in 2010.

In 1996, eight albums into EXODUS's career, Gibson joined the band and has remained with the group ever since. In addition to his work EXODUS, he has fathered a bluegrass brainchild, COFFIN HUNTER, a band that combines Gibson's love for Nashville music and for playing banjo, giving off a vibe of true Americana like a mix of C.W. McCall, Jerry Reed and Sergio Leone.

Photo by Rob Shotwell

During an appearance on "The Greg Hill Show", DEF LEPPARD drummer Rick Allen was asked if he thought he was done playing drums when he famously lost his left arm to amputation after a near-fatal auto accident in England in 1984. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I did. I honestly thought that was it. When I finally realized that I'd actually lost my arm when I came around in hospital, I really didn't wanna be here and I didn't want to see anybody. I think the only person I wanted to see was my brother and my parents, but I just wanted to disappear. I felt so self-conscious. And then a friend of mine, [Robert John] 'Mutt' Lange, our producer, he came in to see me, and he just lifted me up, and he turned my attention to what I could do, whereas I was sort of obsessing on everything that I couldn't do, and he really helped me really dig in and find the power of the human spirit and that's what kind of lifted me out of it."

Regarding the fact that he was able to return to drumming at world-class level with DEF LEPPARD, Rick said: "When I look back now, I realize what that must look like from the outside. But I was very fortunate that all that information of having two arms was in my head, and it was almost like this natural thing. All the information that used to go to my left arm kind of went to the rest of my limbs, so I was able to express myself, even though it was in a in a different way, but I was still able to emulate a lot of the things that I did prior to losing my arm."

Allen also talked about what it has been like to serve as an inspiration to people with disabilities or facing challenges in life in the four decades since he has had to re-learn his drumming skills.

"Well, I have to go back to the early days of feeling defeated and hopefully leading through example and doing what I do, people catch that and hopefully they can dig in and find that part of themselves that is inspired," he said. "And I think any of us as human beings, that's all we need is just the spark of inspiration and just take that to the next level. And I think one of the most important things for me at that time was I stopped comparing myself to how I used to be, and I tried to stop comparing myself to others and embrace the idea of what I was doing or what I was doing is really unique and kind of grabbing a hold of that. Nobody can play the way that I play, so kind of reframing it, and that was a really big help and that helped me get through it."

Allen lost his arm after he was thrown through the sunroof of his car, and his left arm got caught in the seatbelt when it came undone during the crash. As a result, the arm was severed from his body. Initially, doctors reattached the arm but they would eventually have to amputate because of an infection.

After Rick's life-altering accident, he had to relearn how to play drums and drum manufacturer Simmons worked with him to build a kit. His DEF LEPPARD bandmates stuck with Allen through the difficult time and the drummer persevered through an accident that would have ended most people's careers.

Allen spoke about his accident during an interview with Modern Drummer. He said: "I remember coming around in the hospital and then realizing what had happened to me after the accident, and honestly, I wanted to disappear. I didn't wanna do this anymore. And then I started getting these letters from all over the world… I got encouragement from everywhere — from my family, from the guys [in the band], from people all over the world. And I don't know what happened, but I discovered the power of the human spirit and just said, 'You know what? I can do this.' It was really a collective thing. It was all this encouragement I was getting from other people, and then it just manifested in wanting to succeed. And that's exactly where it came from."

Rick also talked about the support he received from his bandmates in DEF LEPPARD who stuck by him through his recovery and waited patiently for his return.

"They left the decision to me, whether I wanted to go on or not, and they gave me time to grow and develop, really, a whole new style [of playing]," Allen said. "And that's all I needed — I just needed the time. I needed the time to build my confidence and realize that I could do it. Nobody ever said, 'Well, you have to make a decision now.' I think that was the most important thing — just that time that they gave me just to find myself."

After visiting the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in 2006, Allen dedicated himself to helping war veterans who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result of sustaining injuries similar to his own.

Allen told ABC News in 2012: "I didn't know what my life would be like after that terrible day. It was the darkest time in my life… My desire is to encourage a support system for warriors, de-stigmatize PTSD, share their stories and offers alternative ways to pave the road to resiliency and health."

In a new interview with LA Lloyd, PAPA ROACH frontman Jacoby Shaddix spoke about how his band and other groups like DISTURBED are still waving the rock flag as bright as ever. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've done our best through the years, and, and it's just dope 'cause at this point now we're seeing this resurgence happen in rock music, and it's exciting. I almost feel like it's like early 2000s in a way, just 'cause it's, like, the guitars are pumped way back up. You mentioned DISTURBED. I was chatting with Dave [DISTURBED singer David Draiman] the other day and talking about [their] tour, and it's just, like, they're packed to the rafters every night. And then you've got this new artist FALLING IN REVERSE that's coming up, and there's a lot of younger [bands] — BEARTOOTH, BRING ME THE HORIZON, and a lot of very inspired younger bands — BAD OMENS — coming up. And I think the future of rock is exciting — rock and punk rock music. It's just bubbling, man. And so, it's a good time to be in rock and roll."

This past January, PAPA ROACH shared a brand new live version of their hit single "Scars" featuring a guest appearance by Chris Daughtry.

"Scars Featuring Chris Daughtry (Live)" is not only a fresh take on one of the band's biggest hits, but it also serves as the latest release on the band's "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" EP.

In February, PAPA ROACH's "Leave A Light On" became the band's 10th career No. 1, and its fourth from PAPA ROACH's latest album, "Ego Trip", on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

"Ego Trip" debuted at No. 6 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in April 2022.

Previous PAPA ROACH radio hits include "Between Angels And Insects", "Gravity", "Getting Away With Murder", "She Loves Me Not", "Falling Apart", "Help" and "Last Resort".

The wait is almost over. Cult US heavy metallers, Riot V, will finally unleash their much-anticipated studio album, Mean Streets, upon the world in four weeks - on May 10 - via Atomic Fire Records.


Before the band kick off the live festivities in support of the new material later this week, they have unveiled the official lyric video for their new digital single, "Love Beyond The Grave". Stream/purchase the track here, and watch the official lyric video below.


"I wanted to write something that was heavy as hell. Something like a mix between Judas Priest and Riot's 'Hard Lovin' Man.' I asked myself, 'What would Reale do?'," recalls guitarist Mike Flyntz the song's creation.




Bass player Donnie Van Stavern adds, "Mike wrote a cool eerie dual lead guitar intro leading into a heavy rocker riff in the Riot tradition with a pop-ish bridge and a great heavy chorus chant."


Drummer Frank Gilchriest, who also contributed to the song's lyrics, comments, "On this song, we explore a macabre fantasy of forbidden love trapped between this world and beyond."





Mean Streets contains 12 tracks which were recorded by Bruno Ravel in New Jersey. Ravel also mixed the album while Bart Gabriel took care of its mastering.


Artwork was provided by Gyula Havancsák, who captured the galloping style of the new material skillfully - without missing the band's typical seal style, of course.


Mean Streets will be available in the following formats:


- CD-digipak (EU)
- jewelcase CD (US)
- coloured vinyl [black | "electric blue" (transparent/blue/red-transparent) | yellow/black splatter | "seal white" (white; US-excl.)]
- digital


Pre-order the album in the physical format of your choice, pre-save it on your favourite DSP or pre-order it digitally, here.





Tracklisting:


"Hail To The Warriors"
"Feel The Fire"
"Love Beyond The Grave"
"High Noon"
"Before This Time"
"Higher"
"Mean Streets"
"Open Road"
"Mortal Eyes"
"Lost Dreams"
"Lean Into It"
"No More"


"Feel The Fire" video:





"High Noon" lyric video:





Riot V are:


Todd Michael Hall - vocals
Mike Flyntz - guitars
Nick Lee - guitars
Don Van Stavern - bass
Frank Gilchriest - drums


(Photo Collage Credit: Randy Caballero | Doug Julien | Anthony Lopardo)

Deadline Music has announced the May 31 release of a new Ratt collection, entitled Rarities, on Limited Edition Red Marble 12" Vinyl, CD, and Digital.


From the ’80s metal vault comes this collection of vintage demos and live recordings of one of the scenes biggest hitmakers, Ratt. Features the earliest known recording of the band’s signature hit, "Round & Round", complete with alternate lyrics and melody, as well as vintage performances of classics like "Body Talk", "Wanted Man" and more.


Order all formats via Bandcamp here, or order via Cleopatra on Vinyl, Vinyl Test Pressing, and CD.







Tracklisting:


"Tell The World" (Studio 1983)
"Round & Round" (Rehearsal 1982)
"I Want It All" (Demo)
"In Your Direction" (Live 1987)
"Round & Round" (Live 1987)
"Body Talk" (Live In Germany 1987)
"Drive Me Crazy" (Live 1987)
"Wanted Man" (Live 1985)
"Love On The Rocks" (Demo 1989)

The Drumeo YouTube Channel has shared a new video featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers / Chickenfoot drummer Chad Smith performing the RHCP hit, "By The Way". Check it out below.


Drumeo: "Released as the title track of their 2002 album, it quickly became a fan favorite and a staple in their live performances. But what makes this song stand out to drummers? Chad Smith blends elements of funk, rock, and punk seamlessly, creating a dynamic groove that underpins the entire song."







Smith was recently in the Drumeo studio to discuss some of his favorite drum tracks he’s recorded with groups other than the Red Hot Chili Peppers - and some may surprise you. Join Chad as he breaks down parts from Wu-Tang Clan, Ozzy Osbourne, Dua Lipa, and more.


Songs featured include "Soap On A Rope" (Chickenfoot), "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthing Ta F' Wit" (Wu-Tang Clan), "Break My Heart" (Dua Lipa), "Frenzy" (Iggy Pop), "Patient Number 9" (Ozzy Osbourne), "Invincible" (Eddie Vedder), "I'll Be Your Domino" and "I Make My Own Rules" (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

The Brazilian symphonic death/black metal band Tellus Terror is celebrating the release of their second full-length studio album, the conceptual DEATHinitive Love AtmosFEAR, with the debut of a new music video for the dark and powerful song "Empty Nails".


The music video was shot while the band was performing at the João Bosco Cultural Arena in Vista Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, as a support act for American singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, a former member of Judas Priest, at an event produced by THC Productions, organized by Themys Barros and Bruna Rocha.


"Empty Nails" tells the story of an 89-year-old man dealing with the loss of his beloved wife in a song that delves into the depths of human pain. At her funeral, he discovers that she had been cheating on him over the years, adding to his torment. Upon his return home, he removes from the walls the pictures of false moments of happiness with his recently deceased and unfaithful wife, leaving only empty nails on the walls. As an elderly man, he realizes that he is too old to recreate his happiness, inheriting his wife's painful anticipation of loneliness and death.







Sharing his perspective on the song, the band's vocalist and lyricist Felipe Borges said: "‘Empty Nails’ is an emotional journey of hurting and losing. We wanted to convey the intensity of these feelings not only through the music but also through the visual storytelling of the music video."





DEATHinitive Love AtmosFEAR marks an evolution in the sonic and visual identity of Tellus Terror, combining elements of symphonic death/black metal with a dense, harmonious, and engaging conceptual lyrical approach that oscillates between the delicate (loving) and the malicious (diabolical), conceptually and chronologically in a troubled human life. Released by Xaninho Discos, the album is now available on all music streaming platforms and in physical CD format.


"This new album brings a dark, gloomy, malevolent, and vampiric aura to its essence, while addressing an unusual theme in extreme metal, both in a negative and positive way, which is love and how it affects our lives in different ways throughout our life cycle,” concludes Felipe.


(Photo – Diogo Yoshio)

Polish pagan black death metal veterans North have announced their return with a brand new EP, We Are, We Remain…, set for release on April 29, 2024 via Pagan Records in standard jewel case CD and Digital versions. Preorder at the Pagan Records webshop.


This release marks North's triumphant return after a recording break, and the beginning of a prolific new chapter for the band. "We are happy to cooperate with Pagan Records again," says the band. "After a long break, we're excited to finally unleash a torrent of new material we've been working on relentlessly."


North haven't been idle during their time away. They've been composing, rehearsing, and delivering electrifying live performances, all while crafting a full-length album and stockpiling enough songs for future releases. 




We Are, We Remain… serves as a potent reintroduction for North. This 32-minute-long EP, featuring a mix of brand new tracks, a re-recorded classic “Hymn To Winter” (from the debut ‘92 demo) and a Bathory cover, showcases the band's signature sound – a blend of pagan black metal and death metal fury, delivered with powerful Polish lyrics. Thematically, the EP delves into pagan lore and history, drawing inspiration from the works of 19th-century Polish poet Roman Zmorski, a figurehead of the "black romanticism" movement.


Established in 1992, North are veterans of the Polish black and extreme metal scene with five full-lengths under their belts - they're known to be one of the co-creators of the Polish Black Metal wave of the early 1990s.


With We Are, We Remain… North promises a ferocious and evocative return to form. This is just the beginning – stay tuned for more punishing new music from North.





Tracklisting:


“Czas By Powstali / It’s Time For Them Arise”
“Stulecia We Krw / Centuries In Blood”
“Horda Duchów / Horde Of Ghosts”
“Hymn To Winter” 
“A Fine Day To Die” (Bathory cover)

Paul Di’Anno, the former lead singer of Iron Maiden, has a fantastic life story, although it would hardly serve as an example, reports News Rebeat. Discoveries, excesses, drugs, prison, loud music, accidents, falls, recoveries; It contains the essential ingredients for a story on a streaming platform, and in fact he himself is collaborating on a documentary that he says can be seen in May.


“I don’t take anything away,” says Di’Anno, “because life is as it has been, with its triumphs, its failures, its sadness and its joy.”


Logically the four years in which Di’Anno was the lead singer of Iron Maiden between 1978 and 1981 will be very important in the script because it is what attracts, what brings people to the cinema, and also what makes tickets cut at the shows he gives in Europe, but especially in South America, where he has many fans where he has been. the task of cultivating and fascinating, tour after tour, show after show, even at the risk of his life.




“I almost died in Buenos Aires! Remember, I was already returning to England, but my fans kidnapped me for ten days, so I did another ten shows without knowing that I had a serious infection, which made everything worse. By the time I got on the plane I had already gone into sepsis and when I arrived in England I had about 45 minutes to live, that I used them to go to the hospital, get antibiotics and start recovering."


Di’Anno comes with a vengeance to Buenos Aires as the headliner of the From Hell Fest festival, a four-date festival that will begin with Di’Anno tonight, Friday, February 2, at Arena Sur (Av. Sáenz 459, CABA) with other metal bands.


Read more at News Rebeat.


Last year, BraveWords.com announced the launch of BraveWords Records, and their debut signing of Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse. Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse will release their first title for BraveWords Records this year.


The core of the band and founders are Paul Di'Anno (vocals), Hrvoje Madiraca (guitar) and Ante Pupačić Pupi (guitar).


BraveWords Records founder "Metal" Tim Henderson: "How excited were you to hear that Paul Di’Anno was back with a new band called Warhorse?! I was so happy to see him back in action again and getting his life back to normal. The beast roared back and BraveWords Records is honoured to have him and his new band as the inaugural signing to the label. There are so many great things brewing behind the scenes, so stay tuned!”





Paul Andrews, a British singer better known by his stage name Paul Di’Anno, his nearly half-century-long career began explosively with Iron Maiden, when with the EP The Soundhouse Tapes, and the albums Iron Maiden and Killers forever cemented the foundations of heavy metal. With timeless hits like "Iron Maiden", "Remember Tomorrow", "Running Free", "Phantom Of The Opera", "Killers", "Wratchild", "Murders In The Rue Morgue", "Purgatory", etc., they influenced numerous musicians and bands and were responsible for the creation or development of many subgenres in metal music.


Paul is known as one of the most productive singers, who has a huge number of albums and other releases behind him, either as a solo artist or a member of bands such as Gogmagog, Di’Anno’s Battlezone, Praying Mantis, Killers, Rockfellas or Warhorse. In all his incarnations, Paul always knew how to find a way to the fans, with numerous hits, uncompromising singing, which is confirmed by his successful career and furious live shows around the world.


For the last eight years, Paul faced serious health problems that almost ended his career, but thanks to his loyal fans and his strong will to overcome the disease, Paul is on a big world tour again, and he recorded a new album with his new band Warhorse. This icon of heavy metal with the heart of a punk rock rebel never spared himself in his life, but he always gave everything for music and fans, which is why they have followed him faithfully for almost fifty years.


BraveWords Records have agreed to physical distribution deals with Plastic Head in Europe and MVD in North America.





About BraveWords:


The seed was planted in 1994 with the launch of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles Magazine which ran for nearly 15 years and became the longest-running and biggest hard rock and heavy metal magazine in Canadian history. At its peak, BW&BK produced 40,000 copies in 40 countries, almost every magazine containing a unique full-length CD sampler called KnuckleTracks, which included the finest heavy music of the day. The magazine interviewed and featured all the heavyweights of the genre including AC/DC, Metallica, Slayer, Led Zeppelin, Megadeth, Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motörhead, KISS, King Diamond, Opeth, Dimmu Borgir, Sepultura, Iced Earth, In Flames, Behemoth, Slipknot and many more!


With the rapid spread of the world wide web, BraveWords.com was born in 2000 and quickly became the CNN of heavy metal. With its team of global writers and photographers, the site flourished with 24/7 updated news, features, reviews, audio, video and the Metal Market which has become instrumental for fans to find their favorite music. Today the site has seen a 25% increase in recent months and proudly serves 10,000 visitors a day from around the world; the top 5 countries being the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany and Sweden. The site caters to a wide age demographic from the late teens into those metalheads in their 60s, with a nearly 50/50 between men and women. A true United Nations of heavy metal!


Over time, BraveWords has worked with thousands of labels, bands, promoters, publicists, marketing companies around the world and its prolific partners include Iron Maiden’s Trooper Beer, Metal Reels Gaming, 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise and Germany’s Summer Breeze Open Air.


25 years and counting, BraveWords wears their metal heart loudly on their sleeve, as they celebrate the greatest genre of music with the most dedicated and passionate fans on the planet!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Strauss played her first full live show with Demi in August 2022 at the Grandstand at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois.

Nita made her live debut with Demi in July 2022 with a performance of "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".

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

Iconic heavy metallers Armored Saint have shared a live video of “Raising Fear” from their March 29 show in San Francisco, CA at Great American Music Hall. “Raising Fear” is the title track to their 1987 album and the video was filmed by Doug Stock.





Armored Saint is in the midst of a run as direct support to Queensrÿche. The trek commenced on March 27 in Anaheim, California, and includes twelve Armored Saint headlining shows scattered throughout.




Comments Joey Vera, “We're super stoked to be going back out on the road with our good friends Queensrÿche! We've done several tours in the past and we always have a great time being on the road with these great musicians and friends! We're looking forward to playing some cities we've never played before and also, we'll be playing some of these dates as headliners! We'll be pulling out some deep cuts and playing an extended set so we hope to see you come out to all of these shows! We've been busy writing new music so keep your ears peeled in the near future for some new SAINT! Until then, we'll see you up front!"


Tickets are on sale now with VIP upgrades available here. See all confirmed dates below.


Tour dates:


April
9 - Coronado Performing Arts Center - Rockford, IL
10 - Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL
11 - The King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH **
12 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
13 - State Theater - Kalamazoo, MI
14 - Majestic - Detroit, MI
16 - Bogart’s - Cincinnati, OH
17 - House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH
19 - Phoenix Theater - Toronto, ON
20 - Theater Beanfield - Montreal, QC
21 - Elements - Kitchener, ON
23 - Tally Ho Theater - Leesburg, VA **
24 - The Roxian - Pittsburgh, PA
26 - Empire Live - Albany, NY
27 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
28 - Toad’s - New Haven, CT
30 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ


May
1 - Keswick Theater - Glenside, PA
2 - Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY **
3 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY
4 - Lovedrafts - Mechanicsburg, PA **
5 - The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC
7 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
9 - Jannus Live - St. Petersburg, FL
10 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
11 - Culture Room - Ft Lauderdale, FL
12 - The Ranch - Ft Myers, FL
15 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX **
16 - Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys
17 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys
18 - The Shrine - Tulsa, OK **
20 - Nile Theater - Phoenix, AZ **
21 - Count’s Vamp’d - Las Vegas, NV **


** Armored Saint headlining show








Armored Saint lineup:


John Bush - vocals
Jeff Duncan - guitars
Phil Sandoval - guitars
Joey Vera - bass
Gonzo Sandoval - drums


(Photo - Stephanie Cabral)

The American progressive/heavy metal adepts Halcyon Way will return with a three track digital EP titled Night Crawling, set for release on May 31 via Agonia Records. The EP features two brand new compositions and a cover of Miley Cyrus’s song, which can be listened to below.


“Like just about every band out there, the pandemic was a huge kick in the dick for Halcyon Way, and we had a lot of tours canceled or postponed,” comments guitarist Jon Bodan. “We had a period of serious writer’s block that we finally punched through and we’re hard at work on a new record for a 2024 release. However, we decided to have some fun recording a cover version of Night Crawling by Miley Cyrus and we decided to release an EP with that as well as 2 more tracks. So we hope you enjoy the new tunes and we will see you on the road soon!”


Night Crawling was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, Bad Wolves, Threat Signal). The song “Night Crawling” was mixed by Zach Householder.







Tracklisting:


“Night Crawling” (Miley Cyrus cover)
“Insufferable”
“Stand For Something”


“Night Crawling”:





Line-up: 
Steve Braun - vocals
Jon Bodan - lead guitars, backing vocals, programming
Max Eve - rhythm guitars
Skyler Moore - bass, backing vocals
Aaron Baumoel - drums

Babylon A.D. announce their brand new studio album, Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day, to be released May 17 via Perris Records.


It’s been six years since the last studio album, Revelation Highway, came out and the band has grown a lot since then. The live album that was released last year, Live Lightning really super-charged the band to get back on their game and they really put a lot of time and effort into the album and it really paid off. The band had over 20 songs to choose from and they picked what they believe are the best 11 tracks to represent the band's sound and direction.


Songs like the opening adrenaline rushed driving track, “Wrecking Machine”, the slow burn metal rocker “Pain”, and the atmospheric “Crashed Into The Sun”, really capture the bands diversity of musical tastes and the input of the band members contributions. While songs like “Face Of GOD”, “I Will Never Break Again” and “Sometimes Love Is Hell” are all great ballad musical arrangements and really have some interesting lyrical content and visual story telling that Vocalist/Songwriter Derek Davis has written for the listener. The big hook choruses the band is known for like the title track “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”, “White Hot Bullet" and the very melodic track “Looking For A Heartbeat” reminisce their first album.




Derek Davis is really excited about the new record, "The fans are really gonna love the new Babylon A.D. album. You know what they say’ “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” and this album took some time but “man was it worth the wait! We got real lucky to have Grammy award winner David Donnelly ‘DNA Mastering’ to master the album, he’s done many top records we’ve all heard, Motley Crue, Chicago, Aerosmith, Slas” and a whole lot more bands we all know. This guy has got a great ear and knows his turf."


Tom Mathers, Perris Records President shared his thoughts on the new album, "The new Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day studio CD is what the Babylon A.D. fans have been waiting for. It is like the band went back in time and captured the style and influence of their debut "Self titled" release on Arista Records. The opening track 'Wrecking Machine' is a hard driving rocker & 'Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day' has a HUGE killer chorus that you will be singing along with. This release guarantees every Babylon A.D. fan will not be disappointed."


Babylon A.D. can’t wait to start playing the songs live and have some very exciting shows coming up. Current dates listed below.





You can pre-order the autographed CD bundle at perrisrecords.com/babylon-a-d.





Tracklisting:


"Wrecking Machine"
"Pain"
"Sometimes Love Is Hell"
"Rome Wasn't Built In A Day"
"Looking For A Heartbeat"
"I Will Never Break Again"
"White Hot Bullet"
"Crashed Into The Sun"
"Face Of GOD"
"Shut Up"
"Super Beast"



 
Album details:


Produced, Mixed, Engineered by Derek Davis @ The BADMOFO’s Recording Studio, Pleasanton, CA.
Drums recorded by Gabriel Shepard @ 25th Studios Oakland CA.
Mastered By David Donnelly, DNA Mastering Los Angeles CA.
Photos - Angela Probst - Studio A
Vintage Artwork Concept Design - Derek Davis


Band Members:


Derek Davis - Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar
Ron Freschi - Lead Guitar, Background vocals
John Mattews - Lead Guitar
Craig Pepe - Bass, Background vocals
Dylan Soto - Drums / Background vocals


Background vocals on "I Will Never Break Again" - Lane Borchard


Tour dates:


May
18 - Retro Junkie - Walnut Creek, CA


June
7 - Whisky go Go - Hollywood, CA


August
3 - Fulton 55 - Fresno, CA
25 - Monster On Mountain - Gatlinburg, TN


September
21 - Horsefest - Newark, CA


About Babylon A.D.:


Formed in 1987, Babylon A.D. hail from the San Francisco Bay Area, CA. Original members, Derek Davis vocalist/songwriter, guitarist's and music writers John Mathews and Ron Freschi drummer James Pacheco and bassist Rob Reid met in high school before they began playing together as "The Persuaders" making a name for themselves with their powerful live performances and catchy songwriting skills becoming one of the top drawing original Hard Rock bands in the Northern CA.


In 1989 the band changed their name to "Babylon A.D." and caught the attention of Arista Records President and industry music mogul “Clive Davis”, who signed them at a live showcase in Los Angeles thanks to their impressive three song demo and a home made video. John Mattews departed the band and was replaced by another high school friend Dan De La Rosa just before their self-titled album Babylon A.D. was released in 1990. The album included their hard rock classic hits "Bang Go The Bells”, “Hammer Swings Down” and “The Kid Goes Wild”, which featured Screaming "Sam Kinison" and was the trailer song and promotional video for Orion Pictures (Robo Cop 2). The band scored three #1 songs at Metal Radio and reached Gold status on their first release, which spent 38 weeks on the Billboard top 200, peaking at # 46. Their sophomore effort (Nothing Sacred) was produced by the legendary "Tom Werman" and released in 1992, it produced two more top-ten metal rockers. “Bad Blood” and “So Savage the Heart”. Constant touring throughout the early 1990s and several MTV videos made them one of hard rock fans favorite bands.


In 1999 the band and released Live In Your Face on Apocalypse Records, a compilation of live tracks recorded at various cities’ across America. Their next release American Blitzkrieg soon followed in 2002 and both records were well received by critics and fans alike. In 2008 the band released Babylon A.D. In The Beginning on Perris Records, a compilation of songs from the original demo tapes that secured them their recording contract with Arista Records.


After a long hiatus the band started playing and recording again in 2014. Touring across the States and Europe releasing the four song EP Lost Sessions. in 2018 John Matthews rejoined the group and the band signed with Frontiers Records for their forth studio release Revelation Highway. Four singles/ videos and more touring followed through the beginning of 2020. In 2022 original members James Pacheco and Robb Reid left the band for other pursuits remaining connected to the bands legacy and part of a brotherhood of friendship that has lasted for over 30 years!


Present Day...


Fast forward to 2023, Babylon A.D. announced new members Craig Pepe (bass) and Dylan Soto (drums) and a new live concert album Live Lightning from Perris Records. The new album included their top-ten rock-radio classic hits from their debut album as well as songs from “Nothing Sacred”, “American Blitzkrieg”, and “Revelation Highway”.


As 2024 begins the band is set to release their fifth studio album on Perris Records titled Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day on May 17. The 11 track album is classic Babylon A.D. firing on all cylinders, showcasing great songwriting talent, performances and the hard rock sound the band is known for. New videos and singles are coming and the band is currently booking and playing select live shows across the states in support of the new album.