Richard Black was once known as the “King of the Sunset Strip” and Shark Island was once the house band at the world famous Gazzaris. Signed to Epic Records in 1989 the band released their debut album, Law Of The Order, and also saw the tracks "Dangerous" and "Father Time" featured in the movie Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, as well as the song "My City" from the movie Point Break.


Lead Singer Richard Black would go on to be part of the short-lived supergroup Contraband, which also featured Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO), and members of L.A. Guns, Ratt and Vixen. They released one album in 1991 before disbanding.


Shark Island was resurrected in 2005 and recorded and released the album Gathering Of The Faithful in 2006. In 2018 the band started work on Bloodline, which was recorded in Croatia and Los Angeles and officially released by Deko Entertainment as Bloodline 2.020 in 2020. It was produced by Alex Kane (Life Sex Death, Enuff Z’Nuff) and mixed by the legendary Sylvia Massy (Aerosmith, Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers).




Now Shark Island reclaims their spot on the Sunset Strip with Memento Mori - Live On The Strip. Hosted by Sirius XM’s Eddie Trunk and recorded at the world-famous Whisky A-Go-Go on April 22, 2022. Richard and the guys give you more than an hours’ worth of classics like “Paris Calling”, “Read My Lips”, and their cover of the Fleetwood Mac song, “The Chain”.


Watch a video for “Paris Calling” below, and stream the song here.


Memento Mori - Live On The Strip will be available on CD and limited-edition bundles while supplies last. Order here.





Bundle includes:
1x Memento Mori - Live On The Strip CD
1x T-Shirt
1x 10x10 Autographed Flat
1x Bracelet
1x Sticker





Tracklisting:


Eddie’s Intro
"If You Want Me To Stay"
"Make A Move"
"Passion To Ashes"
"You Got That Right"
"Paris Calling"
"All My Friends"
"Fire In The House"
"Stranger"
"Thank You Kindly"
"Why Should I Believe"
"You Shoulda Heard It Two Days Ago Somebody's Fallin"
"Everyone Hangin’?"
"Rocks On The Rocks"
"Y’all A Noisy Bunch"
"My City"
"Not Bad At All"
"Read My Lips"
"I'm Serious"
"The Chain"


"Paris Calling" video:

Former SLIPKNOT drummer Jay Weinberg has shared drum-cam video of the "Monster Skank" performance from his April 1 concert with INFECTIOUS GROOVES at Bluesfest in Byron Bay, Australia. You can check out the clip below.

Weinberg made his live debut with INFECTIOUS GROOVES on March 23 at the Garden Grove Amphitheatre in Garden Grove, California.

INFECTIOUS GROOVES is the long-running outfit formed more than three decades ago by now-METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo alongside Robert's then-SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmate Mike Muir.

Weinberg was recruited by INFECTIOUS GROOVES for the band's first live appearances since a one-off show in 2019 due to longtime drummer Brooks Wackerman's commitment to AVENGED SEVENFOLD.

INFECTIOUS GROOVES recently entered the studio to record a new song. The track, which was co-written by former INFECTIOUS GROOVES guitarist Adam Siegel, will mark the band's first release with Weinberg, who joined INFECTIOUS GROOVES in January.

In a recent interview with Australia's Metal-Roos, Muir stated about how Weinberg came to join INFECTIOUS GROOVES: "We wanted to get somebody that you know could carry that torch and was there. It's funny 'cause we were kind of saying… well, I told Robert, 'You put a list [of drummers] together, I'll put a list together and then we'll kind of see who's touring and who's available and try to do it.' And my middle son, who's 14, was asking, he goes, 'If Brooks can't do it, who are you gonna get to play drums?' And I'm, like, 'We're not sure. We're putting a list together.' He goes, 'You're gonna ask Jay?' So my son, his two favorite drummers are Lars [Ulrich] and Jay Weinberg and stuff. And I was, like, I hadn't even thought of Jay. And I knew that he had surgery. And I looked [on his social media] and I go, 'It's January 1st.' And he goes [in a social media post], 'I'm walking for the first time [since surgery], and I'm like, 'Ooh.' And my son said, 'You should get Jay. I saw him. He's playing the drums again. You should get him. Talk to him.' And I go, 'I don't have his number.' He goes, 'You could get it. Robert's probably got it.'"

Muir continued: "The first tour that that Jay did in SLIPKNOT, SUICIDAL opened. I, obviously, have been around a lot of drummers, a lot of musicians, and I'd heard the drummer they got is really good. As I always say, I don't judge, I observe. And I was watching him play at soundcheck, going, 'Oh, dude, this guy's actually really good. He mixes it up really well. And he's really versatile.' And it always stuck out to me because, I go, 'He obviously kills it in SLIPKNOT,' but I go, 'He's actually a really versatile drummer and really good.' And it stuck out to me and stuff. So I knew that he could definitely do it, obviously. It's a matter of would he want to do it and then physically could. So I got his number and I texted him. And he goes, 'I'm at my physical therapist's right now. I'm not even supposed to be starting to play until the middle of April.' But he goes, 'I think I'm way ahead of my schedule.' And he goes, 'Let me get back to you. I'm gonna be there on Monday.' And it was the weekend… But he goes, 'Yeah, I think it's gonna be all right,' and this and that. So anyhow, we talked a lot and then were, like, 'Let's fly out and get together.' And when we practiced, I was going, 'You cannot tell that he's just had two major surgeries.' It's funny because my kids went to the practice and they were, like, 'Dude, Robert was smiling ear to ear the whole practice. He looked like a little kid just having a ball.' And it was just so much fun in a good way. Jay on drums, he's driving that sports car, and he's got a really good edge and he's able to actually showcase a lot more on the INFECTIOUS songs, which he was really appreciating. I think people, they're gonna trip. Because everybody knows Robert's great bass player; they know the bass lines in INFECTIOUS. Whether you know the music or not, you hear it, you're, like, 'Oh, dude, that bass player is insane,' especially for the time. But I think, when Jay's up there, they're gonna go, 'Wow, that's really powerful.' So we're super excited, as you can tell."

In addition to Weinberg, Muir and Trujillo, INFECTIOUS GROOVES' 2024 lineup includes guitarists Dean Pleasants (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) and Dave Kushner (ex-VELVET REVOLVER).

INFECTIOUS GROOVES was formed soon after Trujillo joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in 1989. Muir and Trujillo got together with some friends to write song that centered more around the bass, but with the intent of giving everyone else a whole lot of freedom.

"SEX PISTOLS and PARLIAMENT were my two favorite bands when I was young," commented Muir. "People think they're completely different but I saw a lot of similarities, even if musically they were categorized as completely different styles. There's something beautiful about breaking rules that never should have been made."

INFECTIOUS GROOVES remaining 2024 tour dates:

April 04 - Adelaide, Australia @ Hindley Street Music Hall
April 05 - Sydney, Australia @ UNSW Roundhouse

Melancholic heaviness is upon North America - next week, Finland's melodic death masters Insomnium will finally embark on their headline tour through the United States and Canada. To prepare you for the 25 dates with none less than special guests Omnium Gatherum and support from Wilderun, Insomnium have just revealed a mesmerizing live video of their 10-minutes-long, epic "Song Of The Dusk", captured across several different cities on their latest European tour.


The band comments: "We can't contain our excitement as we are about to embark to North America! Get those tickets in time and see you soon!"







Insomnium recently checked in with the following update:








Insomnium are teaming up with their friends from high-speed melodic death virtuosi Omnium Gatherum, for 25 nights of gloom and sinister anthems in North America.


Both bands have been two prime examples of exceptional melodeath originating from Europe’s freezing North and have gained a massive following over the years through their captivating sound that combines blistering guitar riffs, thunderous drumming, and guttural vocals. For years, the American and Canadian fans have been waiting for the combo of “Insomnium Gatherum” to hit the road together again after the pandemic-related cancellation in 2020 and now, with no more virus in sight, it will finally happen in April and May 2024.


Wilderun, hailing from Boston, will join as support with their unique mélange of prog and folk metal.


Dates:


April
11 – Cambridge, MA – The Middle East
12 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Beanfield
13- Ottawa, ON – The Brass Monkey
14 – Toronto, ON – The Opera House
15 – Detroit, MI – The Magic Stick
16 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues
18 – Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room
19 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
22 – Calgary, AB – Dickens
23 – Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
25 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
26 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
27 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
29 – San Francisco, CA – August Hall
30 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco 


May
1 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater
3 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live
4 – Dallas, TX – The Factory In Deep Ellum
6 – Winter Park, FL – The Conduit
7 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
8 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground
9 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
10 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
11 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre 


Insomnium are:


Markus Hirvonen: Drums
Ville Friman: Guitars
Markus Vanhala: Guitars and clean vocals
Niilo Sevänen: Bass and vocals

In a new interview with Rolling Stone Australia, PANTERA bassist Rex Brown spoke about the decision to tour with a reformed version of the band, also featuring fellow surviving member Philip Anselmo (vocals),alongside Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) on guitar and Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) on drums. The lineup has reportedly been given a green light by the estates of PANTERA's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.

Rex said: "Two of our beloved brothers that just aren't here anymore man, that's life, you know? They're just not with us man. That's just fate; it's the way the ball rolls, dude."

He added: "This is no tribute band — Philip and I get to play these songs of ours that we haven't played in 23 years. And to be able to do that and connect with the enormity of what's happened is just extraordinarily fucking insane, you know?"

Regarding PANTERA's latest additions, Rex said: "We knew who would fit and who wouldn't. We knew what the obstacles were in front of us, and we knew after… I'll put it this way — Charlie and I came down in September [2022] before we played that [first] show in December [2022], and we have probably one hundred hours of tape of us playing every fucking PANTERA song that I could remember. And so, you know, me and Charlie lockin' in like that… the drummer and the bass player, that's your foundation. So when Zakk came in, there were certain things we had to go over and over and over, to get tight. And today, this band is about as tight and about as badass as I fucking want. You know what I mean, and that's all I'm gonna say on that."

"But, man, this band is on fuckin' fire, and I couldn't be happier, man," he added. "I just can't explain that as much as I need to, I could not be happier."

Rex previously told AndrewHaug.com that he was "absolutely" open to writing new music with the reformed version of PANTERA. "Yeah, I could tell you more but I'm not going to," he teased.

Earlier in the chat, Brown talked about what is has been like to go out and perform as PANTERA to a whole new generation of fans.

"You can't see it on the YouTube. You can't feel that vibe until you actually come to the show," he explained. "And we haven't been doing interviews just for the fact we want people just to come to the show. It's not about anything prior past or present that I wanna talk about today — just the show tonight.

"We're pinching ourselves over these new fans that have never seen this before, and it's a whole another generation that we either didn't know a) that were out there, b) that were still listening to us, and the turnout has just been unbelievable," Rex continued. "Of course, at first you had the naysayers and all that stuff, and as we played gig by gig, it's made us tighter. And I've been trying to rehearse this band as much as I can within schedules, and we'll just go down for no fucking reason and just jam. That's what makes a band tight."

The reformed PANTERA is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of its own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2024.

It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.

Asked how it feels playing those "timeless" songs again, Rex told AndrewHaug.com: "You just said it — they're timeless. So getting to play them again is a… These were a big part of Philip and I's songs too. Of course, respect to the brothers. I think that looking down on us and giving us a big — and they're with us. It's just uncanny. That's the glue. Those guys are hanging around with us.

"Look, I'm not some crazy old man, man. I know that we're here for reasons," Rex added. "And this time he gave us a heavy load, and we have come through in spades. And I'm very proud of Charlie and Zakk and Phillip for stepping up… All of us [were very close back in the day]. We were intertwined. There was a close-knit family of friends — Jerry Cantrell and all those guys, ALICE IN CHAINS. We were all brothers and we all had each other's backs — even as fucked up as we got. We're fine now, I'll put it that way. But it's just such a different time and we're older men and can appreciate this more. And I feel 25 years younger, man. It's just insane."

Addressing complaints from some fans that Brown and Anselmo are going out and touring under the PANTERA name even though Dimebag and Vinnie Paul are not involved, Rex said: "I don't call it anything. I call it PANTERA. The show itself is a celebration of the lives of all four of us. Two are sadly not with us, and we cannot bring them back. God, do I want them back. But that's just not possible. So we're doing the best thing that we can to keep our music alive. And I think they're smiling down and saying, 'You guys are doing all right, man.' And they're with us. And I'm not shittin' you."

Asked what his initial thoughts were when he was first approached about relaunching PANTERA as a touring act, Rex said: "Philip and I talked for several months before. He got on the phone and said, 'Hey, man, you wanna do it? I didn't have — maybe a six-second… not a hesitation, but just to wrap my head around the full gravity of the enormity of it. I went, 'Okay, I've got a couple of questions.' And, man, ever since that call we've worked really, really hard to get this thing going. And we've jumped over a lot of mountains."

Last month, Zakk spoke about the possibility of the reformed lineup of PANTERA making new music during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked if he would be open to working on new material with PANTERA, Zakk responded: "No. I think you would have to call it something else. You know what I mean? PANTERA is those four guys. So, yeah, you can't replace that."

Pressed about whether he would want to do it under an altered name rather than calling it PANTERA, Wylde said: "Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we'd have to wait until we get there. But right now, it's just the four of us celebrating what the fellas [from the classic lineup] created."

Zakk went on to say that he was open to making new music with Anselmo, Brown and Benante, provided that it was presented differently than just PANTERA. "Yeah, of course," he said. "I mean, how could you call it PANTERA unless it was just pre-existing material and we were gonna record it — stuff that was in demo state or whatever, and it is songs that the guys wrote. But as far as new songs, it would have to be — you'd call it something else."

Back in January 2023, longtime PANTERA producer Sterling Winfield, who is reportedly one of the people who control PANTERA drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott's estate, told Reckless Rock Radio 89.3 KNON FM about the possibility of the reformed PANTERA recording new music: "It's not unheard of, it's not blasphemous. I will say that it is entirely plausible, it is entirely possible, but at this point in time, I don't know that anybody's looking that far down the road. They've got a world tour to tackle, man, for the next two years, and they are gonna be busy doing that. Now, could it happen? Yes."

Asked if he "would be cool" with Brown, Anselmo, Wylde and Benante making new music together, Sterling said: "It depends, man. Again, it has to be done right, like this whole thing; the whole tour that's happening has to be done properly. And I don't really feel comfortable — if it were to happen, I would not feel comfortable calling it PANTERA. I don't think that would be classy. I'll put it that way. And I'll just leave it at that for now. [But] this lineup could make some very badass music. And the music is all that matters."

In 2016, Vinnie Paul said that he would eventually release music that was planned for DAMAGEPLAN's second album.

The drummer formed DAMAGEPLAN with his brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott after PANTERA's split in 2003 and released the debut DAMAGEPLAN album, "New Found Power", a year later.

Vinnie Paul told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk": "The first [DAMAGEPLAN] record, I think, was pretty diverse. We wanted to do something that didn't sound exactly like PANTERA, and with [the material that was written for] the second record, it was really focused, man. I've got the demos and someday they'll come out. But I really feel like we had turned a corner. We'd been out, the fans had seen us, and they'd accepted the fact that this was our new thing at this point."

Anselmo and Brown spoke about PANTERA's return to the stage during an appearance on the seventeenth episode of "The Metallica Report", the podcast offering weekly insider updates on all things METALLICA. Philip said: "It's empowering. It is incredibly beautiful, and you feel so much love when you're up there. And if you take it in, it's a great feeling, man. These days, man, that's where me and Rex, you know, we get to dig the shows more."

He continued: "When we were younger, we were at war and when we were on stage; we were just angry and at war, man. Now it's — the songs are there. I can concentrate on singing the fricking songs, number one. Geez, that's a relief for me, man. I don't have to break my fricking body in part anymore."

Anselmo and Brown also talked about Charlie and Zakk being part of the PANTERA team. Philip said: "Them two dudes, so enthusiastic. And they got their damn thing and they got their own damn legacy, both of them, without us. It's an honor to play with them. They're the nicest frickin guys in the world, man. I'm just so... [Laughs] Zakk, he's a crack-up, man. He's a sweetheart. And fricking Charlie, we've known Charlie since '87, man. It's a long time."

Rex chimed in: "The way [Charlie] plays Vinnie's parts is uncanny. I don't think there's any drummer out there that could play the way that Vinnie did. I would close my eyes, because I was trying to get tight, and sometimes if I close my eyes, I can hear a little better; I think I can. And there'd be a tear of joy just coming down, because that was so close to what Vinnie and I used to play. So you have the foundation."

Philip concurred, saying: "The low end sounds so PANTERA, man. It's freaking me out."

When the interviewer suggested that PANTERA in 2023 had Vinnie Paul and Dimebag's "spirit inside it", Philip said: "Only thing I can say is, man, I know for a damn fact Vince and Dime would want us to do this, hands down. They would want the PANTERA brand or the legacy to go on. And I don't know what you believe in, but sometimes, you know, you would like to think that them old fellas are looking down on us, giving us the thumbs-up."

While he was alive, Vinnie Paul had repeatedly dismissed talks of a PANTERA reunion, telling Germany's EMP Rock Invasion in 2014: "People are selfish, man. They want what they want; they don't care what you want. And it's unfortunate that people go, 'Oh, wow, man, they can get Zakk Wylde to jump up there on stage and it's PANTERA again.' No, it's not, you know. It's not that simple. If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for VAN HALEN. Just call it VAN HALEN.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

He continued: "They call it a reunion for a reason. It's called bringing the original members back to what it was. So there's a lot of these things that they call reunions that aren't really reunions. They've got one dude from the band floating around in them, you know. That's not a true reunion. With PANTERA, it'll never be possible."

He repeated those same sentiments a few months later, telling PlanetMosh in a separate interview: "Without Dimebag Darrell, there is no [PANTERA] reunion. And that's all there is to it. We were a very influential band, and we touched millions and millions of people with that band, but it's over. People really have to come to grips with that, and that's all there is to it. If all of us were still here, then the possibility would truly be there, but since it's not, you know… It's selfish of the fans to want something that they can't have. And they don't ever understand that, and I get it. There's things I want in this world too. You know, people in fucking hell want ice water, but they're not gonna get it."

Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag.

Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Haney told the producers of "Behind The Music Remastered: Pantera" that she forgave the singer after they found themselves unexpectedly face to face at a concert in California.

In 2024, UK instrumental rock act Maybeshewill celebrate a decade of their Fair Youth album with a brand new 10th anniversary edition. Available on May 3rd, 2024 as a special limited edition opaque hot pink & black marbled LP, as well as digitally, this version has been newly remixed & remastered by the bands own Jamie Ward. 


The band had this to say:


“Looking back on Fair Youth with a decade of hindsight, it holds a particularly special place in Maybeshewill history - not least because it was the first record that, start to finish, was a product of all five of us. It took us very literally around the world to play for so many new audiences, but was also the last record we made before taking an extended break. It was intended as an overwhelmingly positive record, and I think sonically, that remains true. It’s a record we all remain extremely proud of, and are delighted that it’s getting a beautiful new pressing courtesy of our friends at Superball.”




Jamie Ward comments of the new mix & master: “With 10 years more mixing experience under my belt I feel a bit better placed to conquer the wall of sound and get a little more separation between the instruments to really bring out the details of those arrangements. In general I’ve tried to make things hit a little harder and be bit a more vibrant and technicolour.”





Fans can hear the newly remixed version of the track "All Things Transient", as well as pre-order the new edition here.


The band will also head out on tour in the UK in May, joining forces with Bossk for a co-headline run, before playing two European festivals this summer.


Dates:


May
15 – Bristol, UK – The Fleece
16 – Nottingham, UK – Rescue Rooms
17 – Manchester, UK – Gorilla
18 – Leeds, UK – Brudenell Social Club
19 – London, UK – The Garage


June
26 – Viveiro, Spain – Resurrection Fest


July
31 – Brasov, Romania – Rockstatdt Extreme Fest


(Photo – Fraser West)

Rising heavy metal outfit, Thredge, have been building a following in Southern California through their high energy live performances and heart pounding songs. Their new single, “Dysfunctional”, showcases the band’s musical growth and sets up a new era for the talented young band.


Based out of Los Angeles, California, Thredge is a creative musical experience that incorporates a blend of many musical influences. While mostly metal, the band merges elements of rock, blues, jazz, folk, and many more genres that will reveal themselves as you listen. The band consists of drummer/founder Ryan Duswalt, guitarist Anthony Laurie, vocalist Hrag “Nero” Meguerditchian, and bassist Johnny Shankel.







Their second studio album, Dreams And Nightmares, is set to release later this year. The new album was written by Thredge and produced by Mikal Blue, a Grammy-award-winning, multi-platinum-selling music producer, songwriter, engineer, and mixer. 


Thredge will perform live at the Whisky-a-Go-Go on Saturday, March 2, 2024 as they debut the entire new album for the first time ever. It's your only chance to hear it in full before its release.


“Consider this concert a glimpse into the future," declares drummer Ryan Duswalt. "We're about to unveil an entirely new body of work. We will be playing every song from the upcoming album on March 2." 


Hrag "Nero" Meguerditchian, Thredge's lead vocalist, adds, "We're ecstatic to extend this exclusive invitation to our fans as we present our latest album. This album is Thredge. No restrictions, no taboos, pure elegant chaos."

Ayreon performed at 013 in Tilburg, Holland on September 15, 16 and 17, 2023, performing the album 01011001 in full. A live Blu-Ray and CD from the show will be released on May 17. Pre-order here, and watch a video for "The Day That The World Breaks Down", below.


Says  Arjen Anthony Lucassen: "Finally... here is the second clip from the Live Beneath The Waves DVD/BluRay! I picked the song 'The Day That The World Breaks Down' because it’s one of my favorites and also it features so many of the talented singers. We never thought we could pull off this complicated song in a live setting, but it seems like we did it! Let me know if you agree… enjoy."







01011001 - Live Beneath The Waves formats:


- Artbook (Webshop only) - 2CD+2DVD + Bluray incl. Behind The Scenes (BTS)
- 3LP - Green vinyl
- 2CD+DVD: Full show on 2CD and DVD
- Blu-ray: Full show + BTS


"The Sixth Extinction" video:





01011001 - Live Beneath The Waves features the following performers:


Original 01011001 cast:


Hansi Kürsch
Tom Englund
Daniel Gildenlow
Jonas Renkse
Anneke van Giersbergen
Simone Simons
Wudstik
Marjan Welman
Liselotte Hegt
Maggy Luyten
Phideaux Xavier
Arjen Lucassen (yeah, sorry for that)


Special guests:


Damian Wilson
Brittney Slayes
Michael Mills
John Jaycee Cuijpers


Backing vocals:


Marcela Bovio
Irene Jansen
Jan Willem Ketelaers


Band:


Marcel Coenen - guitar
Timo Somers - guitar
Johan van Stratum - bass
Joost van den Broek - keys
Ed Warby - drums


Ensemble:


Ben Mathot - violin
Jurriaan Westerveld - cello
Jeroen Goossens - woodwinds

Over the weekend, legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes took to his social media to write that he has "finished writing new music" for his upcoming solo album.

The long-awaited follow-up to Hughes's 2016 solo album "Resonate" will be recorded in June in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The 72-year-old Glenn, who just played a couple of shows with his supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, previously discussed his plans to record a new solo album last October 2023 in an interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda. At the time, he said: "I am preparing to go in the studio next year, sometime in the summer. I'm preparing the songs in the next couple of months. I have a few ideas, and when I go in the studio, I'll be ready to go."

Asked how "Resonate" has aged for him musically since its release eight years ago, Glenn said: "I love the album. It's one of my favorite albums. I think a lot of people across the world, the rock fans love that album. I was at home writing that album and I went to Copenhagen and I had a really great time making that album. And the next one hopefully will be as strong."

In September 2023, Glenn told the "Iron City Rocks" podcast about where he draws his lyrical inspiration from nowadays: "I don't write about politics. I write about the human condition. I write about how are we feeling, what are we going through, are we going to get through this — you know, acceptance, staying in the present moment. This is the big thing for me. People call it woke, awakening, if you will… For me, it's all about staying present in this moment right now, and I'm writing about that."

"Resonate" was released in November 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl. It featured Glenn's then-live solo band members, Søren Andersen (guitars and co-producer),Pontus Engborg (drums) and Lachy Doley (keyboards),in addition to longtime friend Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),who joined them in the studio for the opening and closing numbers.

Last year, Hughes launched his solo tour under the banner "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Album Burn". Glenn performed DEEP PURPLE's legendary rock album "Burn" and also ran through DEEP PURPLE MKIII and MKIV songs.

Hughes spent key years of his career as the beloved bassist and vocalist of DEEP PURPLE, appearing on the classic albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band".

Glenn's current solo band features Søren Andersen (guitar),Ash Sheehan (drums) and Bob Fridzema (keyboards).

Hughes, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016 along with fellow DEEP PURPLE members Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice, spent more than three years recording and touring as the frontman of the supergroup THE DEAD DAISIES.

Glenn's BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION supergroup with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) will release its fifth album, "V", in June.

Just finished writing new music for my solo album. Gab went to Minneapolis last week , so it gave me the opportunity to...

Posted by Glenn Hughes on Sunday, March 31, 2024

Current FOREIGNER bassist Jeff Pilson has once again commented on the news that the band is among the nominees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame's Class Of 2024.

To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1999 or earlier.

Eligible since 2002, FOREIGNER has had a huge number of rock hits, including "Cold As Ice", "Double Vision", "Hot Blooded", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, with no wins.

According to the Hall Of Fame, the FOREIGNER members that would get inducted include only the classic-era musicians Mick Jones, Lou Gramm, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Rick Wills.

Last month, Jones's stepson, Oscar-nominated producer/songwriter Mark Ronson enlisted Dave Grohl, Jack Black, Slash, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE frontman Josh Homme (along with Ronson himself) to create a video campaigning for FOREIGNER's Rock Hall bid.

Pilson, who has been a member of FOREIGNER since 2004, discussed the band's nomination for the Rock Hall during an appearance on the March 21 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". Asked how he feels about the fact that he won't be inducted into the Rock Hall along with the classic FOREIGNER lineup and whether he thinks "they should have included everyone", Pilson said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "No, no. I think it is the right call. I mean, it's really the classic band that I think should be inducted and who deserve it. They're the ones that delivered those amazing songs and recorded and performed them. No, I don't have a problem with that at all. I would have a problem if they didn't get in, just 'cause I think these guys deserve it. They're great people. And they were a frigging great band, and they were they were snubbed for a reason for several years. That reason is now gone, so we can we can at least be nominated and hopefully we'll get in. Mark Ronson has been amazing about that. Hey, a little shoutout from Sir Paul [McCartney] — that doesn't hurt. So, hopefully we get in. And yeah, I'm very okay with only the original band getting in."

Asked if there has been discussions about the current FOREIGNER lineup possibly performing at a hypothetical Rock Hall induction, along with some of the classic-era members, Jeff said: "The discussions have started. Mark Ronson is gonna be the musical director for that situation, so I think he'll kind of dictate what happens. But, yeah, I would imagine at least a few of us from the from the new band will be there."

He continued: "Mark and everybody are very aware that the credibility of the band is now hanging on us. So having us be there, I think, is an important aspect. But no decisions have been made — it isMark's call — so we'll see, but my feeling is, yeah, we'll probably be involved, at least on some level."

Pilson also spoke about FOREIGNER's farewell tour, which officially launched last July. Asked if it is bittersweet for him to be playing what will turn out to be some of his final shows with FOREIGNER, he said: "Yeah, actually, what's really happening is that this is the last year that we're gonna do a full-on tour that lasts nine months of the year, one of those kind of deals. This is the last year we're gonna do that. We will still do some dates in '25. They're gonna be select, probably more corporate, maybe some casinos, but much, much lighter schedule — way lighter schedule. So it's not over with yet, and there's also some music that we're gonna try and finish up in 2025, which would be great, some songs that have been kicking around that we need to finish.

"So how do I feel about it? It's a little bit bittersweet because the band is really good right now," he explained. "It's like really a great family and it's a great band that listens to each other and kicks butt. And I really enjoy everything about the band and everybody around us — our crew, everyone. But I'm sure gonna like not being on the road nine months of the year. That's going to be great. and I'm ready for that. So, bittersweet, but mostly good."

Joining Pilson and Jones in the band's current lineup are Kelly Hansen on vocals, Michael Bluestein on keyboards, Bruce Watson on guitar, Chris Frazier on drums and Luis Maldonado on guitar.

Jones, the sole remaining original member of FOREIGNER, hasn't played a full show with the band for at least a couple of years.

FOREIGNER's "Renegades & Juke Box Heroes" tour with STYX will visit venues across North America starting June 11 in Michigan.

Transatlantic - the prog supergroup of Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas - recently announced the release of Live At Morsefest 2022: The Absolute Whirlwind, on April 26. This mammoth Limited 5CD + 2 Blu-ray Artbook set features both sets from Morsefest in their entirety, with nearly four and a half hours of music in total.


Now, the band are pleased to reveal a video of them performing "Lay Down Your Life" from Night 1 of Morsfest. Watch below:







Pre-order the album as a Limited 5CD + Blu-ray artbook, featuring an extensive 36-page booklet including photos and liner notes at this location.


Mike Portnoy comments: "Not to be confused by last years live release of our last show in Paris, THIS release of TA at Morsefest 2022 represents the most epic and mammoth of all TA Live releases!


"2 Nights, 2 completely different sets, 2 TA concept albums done in their entirety…accompanied with Strings, Horns, Percussion, Female Vocals, etc…Transatlantic has always been about ‘More Never Is Enough’, but no live TA release has ever been more EPIC than this one…It’s the ULTIMATE Live TA experience!""


Neal Morse adds: "At long last, a musical dream come true in true epic fashion! To play The Absolute Universe, The Whirlwind, and other great pieces of music with Transatlantic, along with an amazing string section, background singers, etc. What more could any musician ask for? This is the very best of the very best in my view. I hope you all enjoy experiencing this as much as we enjoyed performing it!"


Roine Stolt comments: "Playing Morsefest was quite a task, learning all the different material for the 2 different shows. We even got a chance to play that Procol Harum tune, that is dear to me & takes me back to my teenage years, just getting to know what prog is/was. The addition of the strings and choir at Morsefest, plus Philip adding percussion lent a different and perhaps more of an orchestral side. That worked really well and made these 2 nights very special."


Pete Trewavas comments: "To play Morsefest 2022 was an absolute pleasure for me and gave us a natural break at the end of the North American leg of The Absolute Universe tour, where we regrouped at Neal’s to rehearse for the two shows, back where we had rehearsed for the tour some four or five weeks earlier. We had 3 days I think it was to refresh The Whirlwind full version and learn ‘In Held T’was In I’. The festival was an absolute blast. We were all super relaxed and enjoying ourselves probably due to the little break from touring back to rehearsing. Neal had been wanting to get Transatlantic at MorseFest since we released Whirlwind and it never panned out for various reasons, so it felt fitting that we got it all together for The Absolute Universe tour.""


Morsefest, the festival put on by Neal Morse annually in Nashville, Tennessee has been in existence since 2014. Typically, the weekend-long event celebrated music from Neal’s solo work and other bands from his career.  But with each passing Morsefest, there had been one question lingering among the faithful audience that returned every year…when will Neal Morse, Mike Portnoy, Roine Stolt & Pete Trewavas perform at Morsefest?  In 2022, at the 9th Morsefest, it finally happened and in epic Transatlantic fashion.


In 2021, Transatlantic released The Absolute Universe, the band’s 5th album since forming in 2000. However, as the band’s motto is "More Is Never Enough," The Absolute Universe was released as two different versions – The Breath of Life (Abridged version), and Forevermore (Extended version).  In addition, the band combined those two versions for an Ultimate Edition of the album. With touring restrictions due to the pandemic finally lifted, the band finally started their tour in April 2022 ending up at Morsefest on the weekend of April 29 and 30.


The weekend at Morsefest provided 2 nights of shows.  For night one, the band performed their classic album The Whirlwind in its entirety, the first time they had done so in 10 years.  The evening also added "Into The Blue" and "Shine" from the band’s 4th album Kaleidoscope as well as the classic ballad "We All Need Some Light." As a surprise, the band played a song they’ve never performed live before - their cover of the Procol Harum classic "In Held ‘Twas In I" from the first Transatlantic album SMPTe.


Night 2 saw the full performance of The Absolute Universe – The Ultimate Edition, combining all of the tracks from the two versions of the album.  The night closed with a medley of tracks from the band’s first two albums including "All Of The Above," "My New World," and "Stranger In Your Soul."


For the first time, the band performed alongside a choir and string section, making these shows truly special for those who were in attendance.


"


Tracklisting:


Night 1:
"Into The Blue"
"In Held (‘Twas) In I"
"Shine"
"We All Need Some Light"
"Overture/Whirlwind"
"The Wind Blew Them All Away"
"On The Prowl"
"A Man Can Feel"
"Out Of The Night"
"Rose Colored Glasses"
"Evermore"
"Set Us Free"
"Lay Down Your Life"
"Pieces Of Heaven"
"Is It Really Happening?"
"Dancing With Eternal Glory/Whirlwind (Reprise)"


Night 2
"Overture"
"Reaching For The Sky"
"Higher Than The Morning"
"The Darkness In The Light
"Take Now My Soul"
"Bully"
"Rainbow Sky"
"Looking For The Light"
"The World We Used To Know"
"The Sun Comes Up Today"
"Love Made A Way (Prelude)"
"Owl Howl"
"Solitude"
"Belong"
"Lonesome Rebel"
"Can You Feel It"
"Looking For The Light (Reprise)"
"The Greatest Story Never Ends"
"Love Made A Way"
"Bridge Across Forever"
"The Final Medley"


"Can You Feel It" video:"

The Australians Envenomed are back 5 years after their album The Walking Shred and they are preparing for a new album.  To remind their fans in advance, they are releasing "Israel's Son", a metal cover version of a true Down Under classic, originally by Silverchair. 


As Envenomed are known for putting a wink in everything they do, this time the poor frog in the cover had to be used: a reminiscence of the original cover from the ‘90s.


Envenomed are a melodic thrash driven heavy metal band that have been a consistent and dominating force on their local scene since forming in the mid-2000s. Influenced by the soaring melody of Iron Maiden & Symphony X and the aggression and groove of Metallica, Testament and Megadeth, Envenomed combine these styles whilst still retaining the hooks of traditional heavy metal with world class musicianship.







Line-up:
Anthony Mavrikis – Vocals & Guitars
Brendan Farrugia – Guitars
Tom Nugara – Bass
Adam Edwards - Drums

Today, legendary guitar player Axel Rudi Pell shares "Guardian Angel", the first single from his forthcoming album, Risen Symbol. The single is accompanied by a lyric video available below.


On his 22nd studio album Risen Symbol, Bochum-based guitarist and songwriter Axel Rudi Pell continues to fly the melodic hard rock flag without watering down his style with pseudo-modern stylistic variations or expendable studio gimmicks. At the same time, he is constantly looking for new influences, exciting inspirations, and catchy hooks.


One of the best things about ARP’s anthems is that they are perfectly tailored to the charismatic voice of frontman Johnny Gioeli. The American vocalist is one of the most eminent rock singers worldwide and, together with Pell, former Rainbow drummer Bobby Rondinelli, and the two longstanding ARP members Ferdy Doernberg (keyboards) and Volker Krawczak (bass), has been an integral part of a perfectly oiled machine for more than ten years, wowing fans and media alike.




Risen Symbol will be available via Steamhammer/SPV June 14. For all those who can’t wait, April 3 will see the arrival of the lead single, "Guardian Angel", followed on May 22 by "Darkest Hour".





Risen Symbol will be available in the following formats:


- CD DigiPak incl. poster
- 2LP Gatefold, 140 g, neon orange vinyl, printed inner sleeves
- Download / Streaming (pre-order here)
- Exclusive CD/LP Bundles with a shirt and exclusive vinyls only at the Steamhammer shop (pre-order here)
- 2LP Gatefold exclusive colored edition only at the Napalm shop (pre-order here)





Risen Symbol tracklisting:


"The Resurrection" (Intro)
"Forever Strong"
"Guardian Angel"
"Immigrant Song"
"Darkest Hour"
"Ankhaia"
"Hell's On Fire"
"Crying In Pain"
"Right On Track"
"Taken By Storm"


"Guardian Angel" lyric video:





Lineup:


Johnny Gioeli - Lead and Backing Vocals
Axel Rudi Pell - Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Ferdy Doernberg - Keyboards
Volker Krawczak - Bass
Bobby Rondinelli - Drums

Candy has announced their third full-length album, It's Inside You, due June 7 via Relapse Records. It’s Inside You expands upon their lauded brand of metal-warping, digitally-coated hardcore across 12 tracks produced by Candy’s Michael Quick along with Uniform’s Ben Greenberg and mixed by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios (Nails, High on Fire, The Armed). Alongside the album's announcement, Candy shares the lead single "eXistenZ," which bursts open the exciting new era for the boundary-shattering band. 


Additionally, Candy will be performing two nights with The Dillinger Escape Plan at New York City’s Brooklyn Paramount on June 21 and June 23. Find tickets at groundcontroltouring.com.


It’s Inside You is a kind of manifesto of kinship and inner strength. The album serpentines its way through the dark and bright corners of the human psyche. While nihilism and pains of the modern world still exist on the album, It’s Inside You sees the band turn toward tenderness more than ever before, as well. It’s Inside You creates an energizing and empowering atmosphere, in which seeking connections with oneself and with others is central. While constructing the album, Candy opened up and invited collaborators  — like Aaron Melnick (Integrity), Justice Tripp (Angel Du$t, Trapped Under Ice), David Gagliardi (Trash Talk), Mirsy (Fleshwater’s Marisa Shriar) and mmph (Sae Heum Han) — who all helped enrich and further define the band’s already distinctive energy. 




Candy is principle songwriter and guitarist Michael Quick, vocalist and lyricist Zak Quiram, drummer Steve DiGenio and bassist Drew Stark. It's Inside You follows Candy's sophomore album Heaven Is Here.


Preorder at relapse.com.


Artwork by Nick Atkins:





Tracklisting:


“eXistenZ”
“Short-Circuit” (feat. Aaron Melnick)
“You Will Never Get Me” (feat. Justice Tripp)
“It’s Inside You” (feat. David Gagliardi)
“Love Like Snow” (feat. MIRSY & mmph)
“Dehumanize Me”
“Faith 91”
“Terror Management”
“Dreams Less Sweet”
“Silent Collapse”
“Dancing To The Infinite Beat”
“Hypercore”


“eXistenZ”:





(Photo – Jason Nocito)

After having successfully released their 5th studio album The God-Shaped Void in 2020 via InsideOutMusic, US progressive metal pioneers and innovators Psychotic Waltz are now finally making their entire high-quality catalogue available again on LP/CD formats worldwide via the label too.


Across two chapters of reissues with street dates in May & July 2024, the band’s classic first four albums – A Social Grace (1990), Into The Everflow (1992), Mosquito (1994, now with new artwork by Travis Smith) and Bleeding (1996) – will be available newly remastered by Patrick W. Engel / Temple Of Disharmony as 2CD Digipaks with tons of rare or previously unreleased bonus material as well as expanded layouts.


The main albums will additionally be re-issued as Ltd. Gatefold coloured LP editions on 180g vinyl. An additional demo rarities compilation (of some of the bonus material) entitled To Chase The Stars (Demos 1987 - 1989) will also be made available as Ltd. Gatefold 2LP edition, making this re-issue campaign an exciting and indispensable project for both longtime connoisseurs of the band as well as more recent, new-generation members of the ever-growing progressive music community.




Psychotic Waltz checked in with the following comment about this reissue campaign:


“We are not only excited, but also greatly humbled and honored that InsideOutMusic have allowed us to bring forth what we feel are the definitive versions of our first four albums. They sound better than ever, thanks to the meticulous mastering done by Patrick W. Engel, and the 2CD editions each feature a treasure trove of extras, most of which you probably never heard before now – or if you did, those tape-traded versions didn’t sound nearly this good. And if you’re more of a vinyl person, having all our early demos compiled on a double-LP set is something we never would have expected when the five of us first started playing together as teenagers nearly 40 years ago under the name of Aslan. May you all have as much fun going through these reissues as we did putting them together.” - Dan, Brian, Ward, Norm and Devon


All reissues are available for preorder here.





A Social Grace (Reissue 2024) – Out: May 31, 2024
- Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 15 demo and rehearsal tracks / 76 min)
- Ltd. Gatefold lemon colored 2LP
- Ltd. Gatefold lilac 2LP (500x copies)


Tracklisting:


CD1 (Album - Remastered)
“…And The Devil Cried”
“Halo Of Thorns”
“Another Prophet Song”
“Successor”
“In This Place”
“I Remember”
“Sleeping Dogs”
“I Of The Storm”
“A Psychotic Waltz”
“Only In A Dream”
“Spiral Tower”
“Strange”
“Nothing”


CD2 (Bonus)
“…And The Devil Cried (Demo 1989)”
“Successor (Demo 1989)”
“Halo Of Thorns (Demo 1989)”
“I Of The Storm (Demo 1989)”
“Burn The Night (Rehearsal 1988)”
“I Of The Storm (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Halo Of Thorns (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Another Prophet Song (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Successor (Rehearsal 1988)”
“The Keeper (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Hanging On A String (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Back Again (Rehearsal 1988)”
...And The Devil Cried (Instrumental Rehearsal 1988)”
“Only In A Dream (Instrumental Rehearsal 1988)”
“I Remember (Rehearsal 1988)”


Into The Everflow (Reissue 2024) – Out: July 12, 2024
- Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 14 demo tracks / 77 min)
- Ltd. Gatefold deep blood red LP
- Ltd. Gatefold apricot colored LP (500x copies)


Tracklisting:


CD1 (Album – Remastered)
“Ashes”
“Out Of Mind”
“Tiny Streams”
“Into The Everflow”
“Little People”
“Hanging On A String”
“Freakshow”
“Butterfly”
“Disturbing The Priest” (Black Sabbath cover)


CD2 (Bonus)
“Into The Everflow (Demo 1991)”
“Tiny Streams” (Demo 1991)”
“Little People” (Demo 1991)
“Hanging On A String (Demo 1991)
“Freakshow (Demo 1991)”
“Butterfly (Demo 1991)”
“To Chase The Stars (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“No Glory (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“Spiral Tower (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“The Fry Tape (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“Halo Of Thorns (8-Track Demo 1989)”
“…And The Devil Cried (8-Track Demo 1989)”
“Successor (8-Track Demo 1989)”
“I Of The Storm (8-Track Demo 1989)”


Mosquito (Reissue 2024) – Out: July 12, 2024
- Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 21 demo and rehearsal tracks / 74 min)
- Ltd. Gatefold dark green LP
- Ltd. Gatefold blue LP (500x copies)


Tracklisting:


CD1 (Album – Remastered)
“Mosquito”
“Lovestone Blind”
“Haze One”
“Shattered Sky”
“Cold”
“All The Voices”
“Dancing In The Ashes”
“Only Time”
“Locked Down”
“Mindsong”
“Darkness”


CD2 (Bonus)
“Mosquito (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Love Stone Blind (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Locked Down (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Dancing In The Ashes (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Haze One (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Only Time (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“All The Voices (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Cold (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Shattered Sky (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Mindsong (Jam Room Demo 1993)”
“Haze One (Instrumental Outtake 1994)”
“Mindsong (Instrumental Outtake 1994)”
“Mosquito (Instrumental Outtake 1994)”
“Locked Down (Instrumental Outtake 1994)”
“All The Voices (Demo 1993)”
“The Fallen (Demo 1993)”
“Mindsong (Demo 1993)”
“Watching (Demo 1993)”
“Acoustic '91 (Outtake 1992)”
“Brian Acoustic (Outtake 1992)”
“Dark Idea (Outtake 1992)”


Bleeding (Reissue 2024) – Out: May 31, 2024
- Ltd. 2CD Digipak (Bonus CD: 16 demo and live tracks / 69 min)
- Ltd. Gatefold red LP
- Ltd. Gatefold mint colored LP (500x copies)


Tracklisting:


CD1 (Album – Remastered)
“Faded”
“Locust”
“Morbid”
“Bleeding”
“Need”
“Drift”
“Northern Lights”
“Sleep”
“My Grave”
“Skeleton”
“Freedom?”


CD2 (Bonus)
“Drift (Demo 1995)”
“Locust (Demo 1995)”
“Need (Demo 1995)”
“Christ Figure (Demo 1995)”
“Sleep (Demo 1995)”
“Faded (Demo 1995)”
“My Grave (Demo 1995)”
“Fly (Demo 1995)”
“Northern Lights (Demo 1995)”
“Bleeding (Demo 1995)”
“Skeleton (Demo 1995)”
“Morbid (Demo 1995)”
“A Psychotic Waltz” (Live At Katwijk 1991)
“Strange” (Live At Katwijk 1991)
“Diary Of A Madman” (Live At Katwijk 1991) (Ozzy Osbourne cover)
“I Am The Walrus” (Live At Katwijk 1991) (The Beatles cover)


To Chase The Stars (Demos 1987 - 1989) – Out: July 12, 2024
Compilation of 17 demo and rehearsal tracks (90 min)
- Ltd. Gatefold black 2LP
- Ltd. Gatefold white 2LP (500x copies)


Tracklisting:


LP1 – Side A
“…And The Devil Cried (Demo 1989)”
“Successor (Demo 1989)”
“Halo Of Thorns (Demo 1989)”
“I Of The Storm (Demo 1989)”


LP1 – Side B
“To Chase The Stars (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“No Glory (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“Spiral Tower (Aslan Demo 1987)”
“The Fry Tape (Aslan Demo 1987)”


LP2 – Side C
“Burn The Night (Rehearsal 1988)”
“I Of The Storm (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Halo Of Thorns (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Another Prophet Song (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Successor (Rehearsal 1988)”


LP2 – Side D
“The Keeper (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Hanging On A String (Rehearsal 1988)”
“Back Again (Rehearsal 1988)”
“I Remember (Rehearsal 1988)”


(Photo - Axel Jusseit)

50 years after ABBA's international breakthrough, winning Eurovision Song Contest with "Waterloo", some of Sweden's most famous musicians — including Mikkey Dee (MOTÖRHEAD, SCORPIONS),John Norum (EUROPE) and Howlin' Per "Pelle" Almqvist (THE HIVES) — have joined forces to pay tribute to the iconic pop group with a unique version of the ABBA classic "Thank You For The Music". The accompanying music video can be seen on the web site of the Swedish national public television broadcaster SVT.

Mikkey commented on his participation in a social media post, writing: "It was fun and a great honor to be part of ABBA's 50th-year celebration on Swedish Television (SVT). A lot of great Swedish singers involved in the video. Had a great day recording and so good to see my old friend John Norum."

Added Norum: "Had a lot of fun recording the guitar parts for the SVT tribute video to ABBA 'Thank You For The Music' (probably the shortest solo I've ever done but it's still good... he). Saw ABBA live in 1973 at Folkets Park in Upplands Väsby and I've been a fan ever since. It was fun to see my friend Mikkey Dee and meet Siw Malmkvist who's a great Swedish actress and singer. And big thanks to Carl Falk who did a fabulous job producing the song."

"Thank You For The Music" featured musicians:

Miriam Bryant
Benny Andersson
Sebastian Murphy
Tommy Körberg
Sarah Klang
Darin
Felicia Takman
Victor Leksell
Seinabo Sey
Hooja
Björn Skifs
Ann-Louise Hanson
Malena Ernman
Titiyo
Daniela Rathana
Kikki Danielsson
Stor
Oskar Linnros
Lena Philipsson
Mikkey Dee
John Norum
Howlin' Pelle
Molly Sandén
José González
Siw Malmkvist
Lilly Lexfors
Stockholm Studio Orchestra conducted by Erik Arvinder

ABBA won the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest in Brighton and went on to become one of the biggest and most famous bands globally. They gave Sweden its very first Eurovision victory.

1974 actually marked the second try at Eurovision for Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. The group first auditioned for Sweden's Melodifestivalen in 1973 with the song "Ring Ring", but finished in third place, so they didn't advance to the actual contest.

It was fun and a great honor to be part of ABBAs 50th year celebration on Swedish Television (SVT). A lot of great...

Posted by Mikkey Dee on Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Had a lot of fun recording the 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 for the SVT 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼 𝘁𝗼 ABBA ❞𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗰❞ (probably the...

Posted by John Norum on Monday, March 25, 2024

Technical death metal troupe, Cognitive, is back with Abhorrence, set for release on May 17 via Metal Blade Records.


The band's fifth full-length album and a tremendously worthy successor to 2021's Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction, Abhorrence finds the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at its brutal best. Unrelenting riffs leave the listener stunned, while a wave of thoughtful, devastating lyrics washes over. The album is a raging, draining, and ultimately fulfilling experience.


Cognitive started work on Abhorrence while touring in support of Malevolent Thoughts Of A Hastened Extinction, sending tracks back and forth while trekking from one intense gig to the next. "There were riffs and ideas that didn't make Malevolent Thoughts…," notes guitarist Rob Wharton. "We just kept toiling away with it. And then we recorded the 'Rot Eternal' single in between touring. So, it's been just nonstop writing."




Drummer AJ Viana has his own studio (he's previously worked with bands as prestigious as Hath) and recorded, tracked, and mixed the album, before Ryan Williams (The Black Dahlia Murder, John Frum) at Metal Blade Records mastered it. To the album's immense benefit, it was a collaborative process and everyone brought their A game.


Abhorrence is an exercise in aural turbulence, each track taking its listener on a magnificently traumatic journey. "Our lyrics for this record are all over the place," says Wharton. "There's some stuff about video games and addiction and mental health. To me, that's the kind of subject matter that hits home because everyone's got stuff going on in their lives. It's relatable."


Relatable much like the album title itself. Peer at the state of the world in recent years and "abhorrence" seems like an entirely appropriate world. "We were going through all the song titles and wondering which is the strongest song," Wharton says. "We decided to go with Abhorrence. Everyone's so mean and cruel to each other and the world is terrible. We just felt like it kind of encompassed everything. We had put a lot of time into that one specifically because there are so many repeating parts, but it was mostly about depression, anxiety attacks and mental health."


The title track also serves as the record's opener and first single. Wharton elaborates, "'Abhorrence' is a groove-filled song with a melodic chorus. Heavily syncopated drums make every chug hit harder and harder. It's a song filled with tension and aggressive vocal patterns screaming about anxiety, panic, and depression all at once."


Watch Cognitive's video for "Abhorrence" below.





Abhorrence will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:


- Crimson Void (US retail)
- Gilded Abyss (EU + US Metal Blade Webstore - Ltd. 400)


Pre-order here.





Abhorrence tracklisting:


"Abhorrence"
"Insidious"
"A Pact Unholy"
"Ivory Tower"
"As The Light Fades"
"Savor The Suffering"
"Containment Breach"
"Rorschach"
"Lunar Psychopathy"
"Cold Dead Hands"


"Abhorrence" video:





Cognitive is:


Rob Wharton - guitars
Harry Lannon - guitars
Shane Jost - vocals
Tyler Capone-Vitale - bass
AJ Viana - drums


(Photo - Chris Hosey)

HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale has described her upcoming performances with SKID ROW as a "full-circle" moment that is all coming "from the right place".

The 40-year-old singer, who has fronted her band HALESTORM for more than two and a half decades, will handle the vocal duties for SKID ROW for four shows only after the group's fourth frontman since Sebastian Bach's departure — "Swedish Idol" contestant Erik Grönwall — quit the band to focus on his health.

Asked in a new interview with Terrie Carr of the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA how her pairing with SKID ROW came about, Lzzy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, first I'll give a statement for the beginning, because it just goes so much deeper for me than just helping out some friends.

"I'm from PA [Pennsylvania]. I know all about you Jersey boys. And I know we talk a lot about lifting up women and that's been very important in my life. But I can't forget about the men who raised me. And them being the SKID ROW boys, inadvertently, by my friends from Jersey who were listening to SKID ROW.

"I was always kind of an in-betweener in my interest in music," she explained. "So in the '90s, and like '96, it was BOYZ II MEN and Mariah Carey, BACKSTREET BOYS, Britney [Spears] was about to come out, that whole thing. I wasn't interested in that. I was interested in '80s, big hair, rock and metal. I loved Alice Cooper, BLACK SABBATH, CINDERELLA, JOURNEY, SKID ROW. And as that transition happened in the '90s, where all of a sudden I started getting into heavier music, a lot of the bands, except for a very small group of bands, helped me with that transition. And SKID ROW was one of them, because they were not so in their '80s bubble and in the time that came before that they couldn't see what was happening in the world and they couldn't see what the dark-seated underbelly that we were all feeling in the '90s. So they really helped bridge that gap for me.

"I can honestly tell you right now that I would not be the rocker that I am today without SKID ROW and those albums, because not only did they have those beautiful melodies and the vocal prowess and the riffs and the loud noise that I loved, but then the subject matter they were talking about was always very real and it hit me at the right time in the right place," Lzzy added. "And so this is just a beautiful example of that age doesn't matter. Time doesn't matter. Whenever you discover music, it doesn't matter. It's when it hits you. And so again, those men that raised me, the men from Jersey, the men from PA that all put these records in my hands. Then years later, I'm living in Nashville for the first time and I meet [SKID ROW bassist] Rachel Bolan and I meet [SKID ROW guitarist] Snake [Dave Sabo], and they're, like, 'Oh, man, there's more to Nashville than country. Let me introduce you to this guy.' Then I got to meet Tom Keifer from CINDERELLA and all those boys, and now I'm up playing AEROSMITH songs with all these weird guys that I grew up listening to. Then fast forward to a couple months ago when my good buddy Rachel — we were just at a birthday party, and Rachel's, like, 'Hey, would you ever consider singing with us?' And I'm, like, 'Oh, yeah, you mean like we do all the time down at Mercy Lounge?' He's, like, 'No, like actually be like our front person for some shows. There's some stuff going on.' And so I said, 'Well, yeah, sure. Just let me know when.' And then, you know, a couple of months later he goes, 'Hey, were you serious about that? Because this is going down now, and we've gotta know.' And so I cleared my schedule and I told everybody that that is on my team, 'Let me put up all these dates because I really wanna do this for these guys,' And so I'm helping my buddies out and they're helping me out and it's all full circle. But then we announced it, and I'm hearing from people I haven't heard from in 15 years saying, 'Oh my God, this is gonna save my life.' And we're bringing these two worlds together. It's giving everybody reason to smile and an event for someone to look forward to. And like generational gaps be damned. And it's just all gonna be great. And it's just wonderful.

"For me, I joked with the boys. I said, 'Oh, so my audition tape from '96 finally made it in the mail. Thanks for finally opening it up. My revised audition is in the mail.' So now I have all their songs on a playlist in the order of how they're doing their set. And I'm on the stationary bike trying to make sure I can hit the high notes. And I'm turning it like it's an Olympic sport. It's gonna be great."

Regarding the possibility of more SKID ROW shows with her on lead vocals, Lzzy said: "You never know. I will say something that most likely will happen is that these will not be the only four dates you ever hear. I will say that. As far as me being the permanent member of SKID ROW, we're gonna all have to find a plateau [laughs] in our schedules to do that. But you never know. Sounds like a pretty good gig for me, if I ever get to that point."

She added: "But, yeah, I'm just so grateful for the guys. And then think about it coming full circle. And it all comes from the right place. I mean, Erik, what an amazing voice and what a perfect fit for them and brought them into a whole new game changer. There's everything going on with his health, and how wonderful is it that amicably both parties can be, like, 'Hey, we're looking out for each other.' 'Hey, I can't give you what you need.' And also, 'Hey, us as a band, we can't give you what you need to look after yourself. So, hey, let's do that.' And 'Hey, let's bring in our buddy Lzzy.' I'm helping out my buddies. Everybody's doing it for the right reasons. And so it's a beautiful thing."

SKID ROW shows with Lzzy Hale on vocals:

May 17 - Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort – Carterville, IL
May 18 - Riverside Casino & Golf Resort – Riverside, IA
May 31 - Nugget Casino Resort – Sparks, NV
June 01 - Hard Rock Live Sacramento – Wheatland, CA

HALESTORM covered SKID ROW's "Slave To The Grind" for the 2011 EP "ReAniMate: The CoVeRs eP". The band has also performed the track live, as can be seen in the video below.

Grönwall, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in March 2021, is immunocompromised, which made touring difficult.

"I'm getting stronger and healthier every day but after consulting my doctor I need to allow myself more time to recover, which I can't do as the lead singer of SKID ROW," he said in a statement. "That's why I have reached the tough decision to move on."

The SKID ROW members said in a statement that they are "proud of what they have created and accomplished with Erik over the past two years" and "wish nothing but the best to him and his health. To celebrate the last two years, the band will be releasing a live album that perfectly captures this moment of time in the band's 35-plus-year history, to be announced soon."

In September 2021, just four months before he joined SKID ROW, Grönwall released his new cover version of "18 And Life" via all streaming platforms.

In late March 2022, SKID ROW released its first single with Grönwall, "The Gang's All Here". The song is the title track of the band's latest album, which arrived in October 2022 via earMUSIC.

SKID ROW played its first show with Grönwall on March 26, 2022 at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada as the support act on the rescheduled dates for SCORPIONS' "Sin City Nights" residency.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by LZZY HALE (@officiallzzyhale)

Jay Jay Brown, who was the bassist for Rob Halford's 1990s aggressive metal band FIGHT, was asked in a new interview with Friday 13th fanzine if he thinks FIGHT could reform and make a one-off album. He responded: "I mean, stranger things have happened. Rob was talking about it for a while. And then I haven't heard much about it. It'd be cool if we could even hit up and do a couple of shows."

Rob left JUDAS PRIEST in 1992 before going on to record and tour with FIGHT and the industrial project 2WO before his return to traditional metal with the eponymous band HALFORD in 2000 and eventual PRIEST comeback in 2003.

FIGHT's initial lineup was completed by JUDAS PRIEST/RACER X drummer Scott Travis, Russ Parrish (a.k.a. Satchel of STEEL PANTHER) on guitar and Brian Tilse on guitar and keyboards.

FIGHT released two studio albums in the early 1990s — 1993's "War Of Words" and 1995's "A Small Deadly Space".

After 19 years, more than a dozen global concert tours and dozens of gold and platinum awards as the defining vocalist of JUDAS PRIEST, Halford departed the band in 1992 to pursue a solo career, immediately releasing "Light Comes Out Of Black" supported by members of PANTERA. The track rocketed to the top of radio playlists, and later that summer Rob would assemble his own band FIGHT and place most of its new tracks from "War Of Words" in heavy radio rotation while aggressively ushering in a new sound for the metal communities.

In a 2015 interview with Australia's Scenestr.com.au, Halford was asked if he was ever going to do another record with FIGHT. He responded: "I've just been through a patch with the [management] people who were looking after me previously. It took a while to get everything knocked back into shape legally and to get out of the hell that I was going through. But the good news is my solo back catalog is slowly being put back out there into the world again. And, if the opportunity arises, I would love to do that again."

He continued: "PRIEST is the most important band to me, ever, first and foremost. We are always very busy in PRIEST, so it's a matter of finding the time. I would love to. I remember bringing FIGHT down to Australia, oh God knows how long ago now [circa '97]. Maybe I will come back with FIGHT, reconnect and have a good time."

Dublin, Ireland-based Pagan metallers, Primordial, have unleashed a video for "Death Holy Death", the new single from their tenth studio album, How It Ends, out now via Metal Blade Records. Watch the clip below.


Says vocalist A.A. Nemtheanga: "'Death Holy Death' is a song about martyrdom, sacrifice and giving your life to a higher ideal, I found myself standing watching a religious procession in a small Italian walled medieval city, a movement which had not changed much in 500 years, the city walls draped in the same flags, the same saints, martyrs, knights, queens, kings and demons, weathered and decayed but still standing on the walls and ramparts. The local saint flayed alive in the town square for Heresy and remembered for her devotion half a millenia later. Sacrifice endures. The passion of Joan of Arc (1928) seemed to perfectly fit to the song....."







How It Ends is available in the following formats:


(Worldwide) - Digital
(US) - Jewelcase CD
(Worldwide) 2xLP in Gatefold, with insert and downloadcard
(EU) - 2xDigipak CD (6-panel digi w/ 12-page booklet) w/ 6-bonus tracks
(EU) 2xLP Special Edition in Gatefold, with insert and downloadcard in slipcase with tote bag, slipmat, double-sided poster (ltd. to 1000 copies)


Order here.





How It Ends tracklisting:


"How It Ends"
"Ploughs To Rust, Swords To Dust"
"We Shall Not Serve"
"Traidisiúnta"
"Pilgrimage To The World's End"
"Nothing New Under The Sun"
"Call To Cernunnos"
"All Against All"
"Death Holy Death"
"Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan"


"How It Ends" video:





"Pilgrimage To The World's End" lyric video:





"Victory Has 1000 Fathers, Defeat Is An Orphan" video:





Primordial lineup:


A.A. Nemtheanga - vocals
Ciarán MacUilliam - guitar
Michael O'Floinn - guitar
Pól MacAmlaigh - bass
Simon O'Laoghaire - drums

German metal band, Rage, have released their new studio album, Afterlifelines. In the video below from SPV, frontman Peavy Wagner gives a deep insight into the album's theme, how they came up with the idea of doing a double album and more.





In addition to the release of the double album, Rage invites fans to join them on their extensive 2024 world tour, with shows and festival appearances in Canada, Japan and European countries such as Germany, Austria, Greece, Poland, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Spain and Scandinavia. Added to the bargain, Peavy Wagner has already announced a major Rage biography launch for autumn 2024 to mark the group’s 40th anniversary, including lots of rare photos, behind-the-scenes material and plenty of exciting anecdotes.







Afterlifelines tracklisting:


CD1
"In The Beginning"
"End Of Illusions"
"Under A Black Crown"
"Afterlife"
"Dead Man's Eyes"
"Mortal"
"Toxic Waves"
"Waterwar"
"Justice Will be Mine"
"Shadow World"
"Life Among The Ruins"


CD2
"Cold Desire"
"Root Of Our Evil"
"Curse The Night"
"One World"
"It's All Too Much"
"Dying To Live"
"The Flood"
"Lifelines"
"Interlude"
"In The End"


"Dying To Live" video:





"Cold Desire" video:





"Under A Black Crown" video:





Rage tour dates:


April
13 - Larnaca, Cypres - Savino
30 - Hademarschen, Germany - Hademarscher Hof


May
3 - Dresden, Germany - Puschkin
4 - Krakow, Poland - Qwadrat
5 - Warsaw, Poland - Proxima
9 - Siegburg, Germany - Kubana
10 - Braunschweig, Germany - Rock In Rautheim
11 - Trier, Germany - MJC
12 - Bochum, Germany - Zeche
15 - Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
16 - Augsburg, Germany - Spectrum
17 - Burgelengenfeld, Germany - VAZ
18 - Lindau, Germany - Club Vaudeville
19 - Bensheim, Germany - Musiktheater Rex


July
4 - Ballenstedt, Germany - Rockharz Festival
6 - Dietingen, Germany - Wolfweez Festival
12 - Coesfeld, Germany - Rock am Turm
14 - Vizovice, Czech Republic - Masters Of Rock Festival
28-August 3 - Velenje, Slovenia - Metaldays
31-August 3 - Wacken, Germany - Wacken Open Air


August
9 - Büdesheim, Germany - Krawall'O'Rock
30 - Schramberg/Tennenbronn, Germany - Metalacker
31 - Rheinfelden, Germany - NordRock Schwaben Festival


September
6 - Eystrup, Germany - Just For Fun Open Air
7 - Herne, Germany - Spektakulum


October
3 - Athens, Greece - Kyttaro Club
5 - Thessaloniki, Greece - 8-Ball


November
9 - Sarnen, Switzerland - UrRock Festival
15 - Lebach, Germany - Rock Meets Benefiz
19 - Malmö, Sweden - Retro Bar
20 - Göteborg, Sweden - Valand
21 - Gävle, Sweden - TBD
22 - Linköping, Sweden - Hell Yeah Rock Club
23 - Jevnaker, Norway - Glassheim Rock & K
24 - Stockholm, Sweden - TBD
30 - Umea, Sweden - Droskan


Rage are:


Jean Bormann - guitars
Peavy Wagner - bass, vocals
Vassilios "Lucky" Maniatopoulos - drums

In a new interview with Artists On Record Starring ADIKA Live!, KINGDOM COME bassist Johnny B. Frank reflected on the passing of the band's drummer James Kottak. Kottak, who also played with the SCORPIONS for 20 years, died on January 9 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was 61 years old. No cause of death has been revealed.

Frank said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I was James's sponsor, so I feel really bad that maybe I was a little bit responsible for his death… He was an alcoholic. He was in a rehab when he died."

According to Johnny, KINGDOM COME's 2018 reunion wasn't the first time the band attempted to make a comeback. "We tried to do [a KINGDOM COME reunion] in 2015 when [original singer] Lenny [Wolf] was still in the band," he revealed. "James had a year off from the SCORPIONS, so he said, 'Let's do some KINGDOM COME.' And Lenny was into it. We were getting those big bucks, 'cause it was all original members and we hadn't done anything in 30 years, 29 years or something. So there was a big buzz about us. And then James went to his doctor that afternoon — we were gonna rehearse that night with Lenny and Rick [Steier, guitar] and Danny [Stag, guitar] and everybody — and he told his doctor, 'I'm an alcoholic.' And his doctor said, 'Well, let me prescribe you some Valium.' So he thought, 'Okay, I'll just take a Valium before rehearsal and then I won't need to drink.' And then when the Valium started kicking in, he thought, 'You know what would go good with this? Some Jack Daniel's.' He felt that buzz coming on, and he was, like, 'I've gotta finish this off.' An hour later, he actually fell off his drum stool, and Lenny said, 'That's it. I'm going back to Germany.' And we made a deal with him a year and a half later to lease the name and Universal Pictures bought the bought the catalog and stuff like that. So it's kind of open now."

Circling back to Kottak's inability to stop drinking, Frank said: "Like most alcoholics, he wouldn't talk about his alcoholism. He would just deny that he was and eat a bunch of mints… He was a closet drinker, and I was his sponsor. I'm a professional drug counselor. I was the highest-paid drug counselor in Jacksonville. I did a frequency healing session for people that would bring on the divine frequencies and then get people to relax and other things they weren't capable of doing so quickly off drugs. They just got off drugs, so it's hard for 'em."

Asked if he recalls the last conversation he had with James, Johnny said: "I do, and it haunts me constantly. 'Cause we were screaming at each other. It's sad that that was my last conversation with him. 'Cause I was his sponsor, and I was supposed to be helping him. But I was applying what we call 'tough love'. He was lying to me, he was lying to me, and I was just, like, 'James, I'm not gonna listen to that shit. I'm not co-signing your bullshit. You're an alcoholic. Get back in, do another 31 days in rehab. You're not ready for the world yet. I can tell by talking to you. Let's do another 31 days, and then we'll get you back on drums and everything will be fine.' And 10 days later, he died."

Johnny, a self-described "conspiracy theorist," claimed earlier in the interview — without offering any evidence — that "the real reason" James died is because he was vaccinated. "He was the only one in the band that was [vaccinated], and he had heart problems right after the [vaccination]," he said. "The smartest people in the world didn't take the [vaccine]. No offense, but the Masters and PHDs, they were the most vaccine-hesitant people in the world.

"I've been a conspiracy theorist since I was 10 years old, since I had to get under my desk in school because we were gonna get nuked," he added. "And then they killed John Kennedy, and that was, obviously, the CIA who did that."

Johnny also talked about KINGDOM COME's new lineup, which consists of Frank, Stag and Steier alongside two new members, vocalist Ezekiel "Zeke" Kaplan and drummer Matt Muckle. He said: "[SLAUGHTER's] Blas Elias [who was helping us out when James was unable to make the shows], [he is a] great drummer. Keith St. John [is a] great singer, real pro. But we weren't getting the gigs we wanted, and Keith's pretty busy with 'Raiding The Rock Vault'. And James was kind of sick."

He continued: "We're gonna use Matt Muckle, who's one of my best friends and one of the greatest drummers and greatest human beings on this planet. And one of the last things James ever said to me is, 'Matt Muckle's a motherfucker. That guy can play drums.' And I was, like, 'Yep.' And so now we got him, and we got a new singer. And we're really psyched about these two shows [in March]. We're gonna wear all black and we're gonna ask everybody in the audience to wear black, because this is a funeral for us. I mean, we're gonna have a good time and we're gonna play our best songs and we're gonna play some surprise songs."

Last month, Stag, Steier and Frank launched a new web site at kingdomcomerockband.com where they revealed that they will carry on under the KINGDOM COME banner with the addition of Kaplan and Muckle.

The all-new KINGDOM COME is promising to kick off 2024 "with a new touring lineup, new personnel, a new album, and a brand-new live tour," starting on March 15 at The Lamp Theater in Irwin, Pennsylvania, followed by an appearance at The Mercury Music Lounge in Lakewood, Ohio on March 16.

Regarding the split with St John, KINGDOM COME wrote: "KINGDOM COME has decided to part ways with vocalist Keith St John in order to allow him to devote more time to BURNING RAIN, 'Raiding The Rock Vault', and his solo projects. We sincerely wish him only the best, and thank him for his invaluable contributions to getting KINGDOM COME back up and running again in 2018."

In addition to SCORPIONS and KINGDOM COME, Kottak had toured with such bands as WARRANT and even DIO for a short run. James was also involved in various other projects, including the 1990s band KRUNK in which he sang lead vocals and played guitar.

Kottak was married to Athena Lee, the sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, from 1996 to 2010.

German rustic metallers Lucifuge have shared their new song, "Gates Of The Eternal Night". The track is the second to be revealed from the band's upcoming sixth album, Hexensabbat, set for international release on May 24th via Dying Victims Productions. 





Leaner, meaner, and keeping the 1987 faith alive, Lucifuge command you to honor the Hexansabbat! Artwork and tracklisting are as follows:







"Gates Of The Eternal Night"
"Hexensabbat"
"The Court Of The Profane"
"No Sun Shall Rise"
"Into Eternal Sleep"
"The Sign Of Cain"
"An Oath Of Blood And Fire"
"Enter The Realms Of Death"
"They Come In Legions"
"Cursed To Eternity"
"The Destruction Of The Sword"





For further details, visit Lucifuge on Facebook.


 

Skumlove is excited to announce the release of their new video, "Ego". Watch the clip below.


The band has been a staple in the Los Angeles music scene since the late 90’s. Able to sell out their first handful of shows in Los Angeles, with an all-star lineup with members from Fear Factory, Sx-10, Skinny Puppy and Professional Murder Music to touring through the Midwest and Canada supporting such acts as StaticX, Danzig, Type O Negative, Combichrist and Ministry. Skumlove’s music embodies multiple genres covering rock, industrial, metal and post punk.


Once again, Skumlove has teamed up with Industrialism Films for the release of their official video for their latest song, "Ego". (Prior videos collaborated were for "The Dark" and reimagining of Judas Priest’s "Turbo Lover"). The genius eye of Vicente Cordero of Industrialism Films collaborating with singer Skum has created a story as old as time in this new video, showing the arrogance and the ego it takes to be a cult leader. A story about a devious cult leader taking advantage of his followers only to lead them to their demise. The video plays out with an avant-garde, noir feel not usually seen in current music videos.




The song itself was actually the first song Skumlove ever wrote in 1998 only making it to the demo stages and was played live a few times where a handful of copies reached the public.  Fast-forward to 2023 where the band began to write again bringing the song a new life with producer and engineer Alex Crescioni adding a darker and creepier sound.


With the help of Maor Appelbaum  the song was mastered to perfection. "The song took on a whole new life of its own, a fresh resurrection, if you will. We did what we did and let Alex interpret it in his own way, and it turned out better than we planned.”





Skumlove has released two full albums, Songs Of Lust And Corrosion, and Sinister Minister, along with multiple singles and EPs.


The band has come back very strong from a hiatus and in 2023 filled venues all through the West Coast and released multiple singles that have pushed the band to the next level.

Italian heavy rock 'n' roll band, Sonic Wolves, has signed with Argonauta Records to release their third full-length album, titled III. A music video for the first single, "Dead To The World", can be viewed below.


Sonic Wolves was formed in 2012 by drummer Vita (formerly of Ufomammut and currently in Rogue State) and bassist and singer Kayt Vigil (formerly of Pentagram, The Hounds of Hasselvander…Of The Horizon, Syzslak, Hatchetface, ZED, etc., also currently in Rogue State). In the summer of 2022 the band started a collaboration with Nico Nigro (ex Mortuary Drape, Eroded and currently in Suicide Force) on guitar.


Sonic Wolves is based in Alessandria, Italy and was formed in 2012, under the name Tsutar. The band released their first album Before The End Comes in 2016, followed in 2018 by the second full length Sonic Wolves. In 2016 and 2017, two 7” singles were also released - "He Said" and "He Said" tour ed. In spring 2022 a 12” EP It’s All A Game To Me was released, it contains two original songs in tribute to Lemmy and Cliff Burton.




In March 2024, the album III was been released via Argonauta Records.





Tracklisting:


"Shapeshifter"
"O.B.E."
"Dead To The World"
"Dark Recollection"
"Heavy Lies The Crown"
"The Ten Doors"
"Won't Be Their Fool"
"Gotta Do It Right"