In a new interview with The Delz Show, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson spoke about his current relationship with the band's leader Dave Mustaine. After show host Delz said that he misses seeing Ellefson and Mustaine playing together, David said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I miss Dave too. Look, some of some of the best stories of my life begin with 'the time me and Dave' — fill in the blank. You know what I mean? Because we lived such an interesting life together with that band. We haven't talked in a few years, but I miss the guy, of course. We had a lot of fun. And anytime we've ever had [a falling out] like this [in the past], as soon as we get back together, it's like we just were hanging out yesterday."

This past May, Ellefson spoke about his last stint with MEGADETH, which began in 2010 with a tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of the "Rust In Peace" album and ended in 2021 when he was fired after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter. He told The Candid Mic With Fran Strine podcast about his initial return to MEGADETH 15 years ago: "I said, 'Look, I'll come back for a month. Let me just get through this tour. We'll see how it goes.' And it went well. And I'd been there as an owner of the company. I was no longer an owner at this point. I was just a hired sideman musician, which, quite honestly, at that point I was okay with. I was kind of, like, well, as much as the owner also can get a lot of the perks, I know the owner of the business gets paid last. And if things fuck up or a show cancels or anything happens, guess what? Now you're on the hook for all the bills too. And that happened a lot over the years. So I was, like, 'Well, let me just try… Let me keep it simple, keep it easy.' And as we went around the world, it was great. With the 'Big Four' [tour featuring METALLICA, SLAYER, MEGADETH and ANTHRAX], it was cool because I was back in MEGADETH, Joey Belladonna was back in ANTHRAX, Dave Lombardo was back in SLAYER. Everybody was back home, and the excitement for each of our bands as well as all of our bands together was huge."

He continued: "For MEGADETH, we got another 10 years, 11 years out of it, won a Grammy. So I feel like a lot of our story together in MEGADETH with me and Dave got to be completed as well. And if that means we never play together again — oh, well. It was a good couple of chapters. And if one day we do, well, then we'll see where that goes. But I think you don't sit around and wait for those things. You just get on with it. You just get moving forward. And I certainly didn't stop. I just kept going."

When host Fran Strine suggested that Ellefson is "busier" now than he has ever have been, David said: "Yeah. And I feel lighter, to be honest with you. I wake up and every day is a day, like, 'All right. What are we gonna do today?'"

Asked if he has spoken with Mustaine since his May 2021 dismissal from MEGADETH, Ellefson said: "Nope. Not one word. No need to. After that? No, I don't need to be your friend. I'll move on.

"Look, the ending of that friendship was a long time in the making," Ellefson explained. "It really started in 2018… There was some stuff that I was just — and I was vocal about it. I stood up for what I felt to be the right thing. And, of course, that was not well received… [It was] just about writing the new album, the next album that took five years to make. And every time I would try to write and put something on it, it would get taken off. And it seemed very personal. And at some point it's just kind of, like, 'Look, dude, if you don't want me here, fuck it. I'll move on.' So I guess it took what it took and what happened, happened. And then that was the moment to just sort of abolish it and make it all go away.

"The first time out the door [in the early 2000s], there was legal stuff [to sort out between me and Dave], 'cause we were legally bound into — we were owners of a business and a corporation. So that's not uncommon, to have that. And a lot of that was just so that I could get paid direct from all the sources, so that my money wouldn't keep flowing through MEGADETH. It was just so I could I get paid directly from Capitol and Warner Brothers and everybody. So it was worth going through that process, as shitty as it is. But because we settled it, it did allow at a later day for me to come back and go through all that again. And that's why I didn't fight my way out the door, and I didn't talk a bunch of smack. It was just kind of, like, 'All right, well, look, if we can't get along, just move on.'

"I'm the guy that I don't close doors," David explained. "I don't slam it in people's [faces and say], 'Fuck you. That's it. And you'll never work in this town again.' Because you're mad in the moment. That's all it is. Just move on. Just keep moving on.

"I didn't see coming back to MEGADETH in 2010, and suddenly there it was. It was in the front view and it worked out great. It was glorious, it was huge and we accomplished a lot of great stuff together. But that group is not about being…

"People always talk about the '90s, the 'Rust In Peace' era, where we were very much a group," Ellefson added. "It was very much a group. We worked together, we fought together, we won together. We scaled the mountains and won the battle together. It's not that anymore. It's the Dave show, and that's the way they want it. And as you can see, I've got a lot of other things I wanna say in my life and a lot of other things I wanna do in my life. And I always try to kind of angle it so that it speaks well back into MEGADETH, rather than oppose it. Why oppose what I've done? That's like shitting on my own work. So it's, like, hold that up in high regard, high esteem, because it is — we really did some great stuff together — and then just kind of move on from it. So, that way you're not tarnishing your own past and your own work. It's, like, why fight with yourself?"

Ellefson was originally in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play.

Mustaine reformed MEGADETH 21 years ago. Originally setting out to record a solo album, Mustaine enlisted studio musicians to play on what ultimately became MEGADETH's 2004 "The System Has Failed" comeback album, subsequently recruiting former ICED EARTH bassist James MacDonough to take Ellefson's place for the album's touring cycle.

Ellefson sued Mustaine in 2004 for $18.5 million, alleging that the MEGADETH guitarist/vocalist still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.

In his first book, Ellefson admitted that he became a salaried employee upon his return to MEGADETH 15 years ago. He told Metal-Rules.com in an interview: "Going from being a co-founding owner to just a sideman musician was initially why I didn't come back in 2004. I was not happy with the participations that were presented to me. In recent times, coming back, I found great joy in doing music with a lot of other people in other settings that helped me fall back in love with playing music. Now I can come back into or go into musical situations and be able to be there for a purpose and level of pay. Being a sideman absolves you from being involved in all the other stuff. At this point in my life, I would rather leave that stuff on the sidelines. Like American Express says, 'membership has its privileges,' being a sideman has its benefits. In my case, it helps retain a friendship too. In order to have a friendship, I had to give up some ownership."

In his 2004 lawsuit against Mustaine, Ellefson claimed that he "attempted to resolve his differences with Mustaine on an amicable basis and offered to continue to perform with [MEGADETH]." However, his "offers were met with verbal abuse, threats, lies and continued invective from Mustaine." Ellefson also said that Mustaine — a veteran of at least 17 drug rehab stints, according to the bassist — resented Ellefson, a former drug addict, for having kicked his own habit. According to Ellefson's court papers, the battle of the band spread to the Internet when Mustaine posted on Megadeth.com that Ellefson was trying to extort him.

Mustaine gave his version of why the 2004 reunion with Ellefson didn't pan out in a message posted on the MEGADETH web site. In lengthy essay, Mustaine claimed that Ellefson missed several deadlines to accept his offer, which included 20% of the artist royalties on "The System Has Failed", none of the publishing royalties and a $2,500-a-week salary while the band was on the road.

At this weekend's Download festival at Leicestershire, United Kingdom's Donington Park, APOCALYPTICA lead cellist Perttu Kivilaakso was asked by Daniel Steer of Mike James Rock Show if there are any musicians left on his "wish list" for possible collaborators on the band's future recordings. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We have worked with an incredible amount of amazing artists. And [METALLICA's] James Hetfield [who guested on APOCALYPTICA's cover of METALLICA's 'One' from APOCALYPTICA's latest album, 2024's 'Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2'], of course, has probably been the top of the list, kind of the dream that it would be unbelievable if he someday does something for us. But, of course, there are still so many fascinating artists. For example, I think that the charisma and incredible person of Nick Cave, for example, could be something really cool to make a dark, gloomy thing with the cello and his expression. Or whomever, like Pink or somebody with a really, really great attitude.

"The lovely thing about APOCALYPTICA is that we are very versatile with our music, that it could go from very beautiful classical elements to brutal thrash metal," he explained. "And even still I would love to work more with the greatest growers — Alissa White-Gluz [ARCH ENEMY] or whomever — great artists there are. So the good thing is that the ideas never kind of end. You only end up having the problem with too many ideas and somebody in a business saying that, 'Not all is possible, guys. Come on.'"

Kivilaakso went on to say that he and his APOCALYPTICA bandmates are grateful to still have a global audience with their unique fusion of classical cello music with hard metal elements. "So far, that has been really working," he said. "And I just somehow started to appreciate more and more the fact that we still can do this for a living and entertain people around the world. And it makes us feel, I guess, blessed in that sense. And that gives you the sparkle to still continue and try to figure out more cool things."

As previously reported, Hetfield attended APOCALYPTICA's March 3 concert at the Paramount Theatre in Denver, Colorado. The Finnish cello rockers were touring North America at the time in support of "Apocalyptica Plays Metallica, Vol. 2" — the sequel to their legendary debut record — which came out in June 2024 via Throwdown Entertainment.

"Apocalyptica Plays Metallica Vol. 2" continues the journey that began in 1996 when cellists from Helsinki's world-renowned Sibelius Academy played symphonic tribute to METALLICA. The "One" single saw Hetfield joining proceedings for a soul-stirring, spoken word of those inimitable, now-immortal lyrics.

The album's lead single was "The Four Horsemen", a song that originally appeared on METALLICA's 1983 debut "Kill 'Em All". It features a guest appearance by METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo.

At this weekend's Download festival at Leicestershire, United Kingdom's Donington Park, Matt Tuck of Welsh metallers BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, who have spent the first half of 2025 celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut album, "The Poison", on tours of Europe and North America, spoke to James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound about their plans for the band's eighth album, tentatively due in 2026. Matt said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We haven't had a lot of opportunity to get back and focus on it, 'cause since I [last] saw you, we just haven't stopped playing. It's been really intense, but a good intense."

He continued: "There's a lot of love around the world for the band, and we're just trying to kind of make the most of this opportunity, 'cause once [the 20th-anniversary celebration of 'The Poison'] is done, it's done forever. We're not gonna do it again. We're not gonna milk 25, 30, none of that shit.

"But, yeah, I listened to [the new ideas we have come up with so far] a lot when we were [touring] in the States [earlier this year], and, yeah, when I hear it, it still gives me the vibes," Tuck added. "And I think the beginning of August, we're gonna hit the studio for real. And we'll be there until it's done."

Released in 2005, "The Poison" propelled BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE to unimaginable heights. That year saw the Welsh metallers graduate from supporting FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND on their U.K. run in the summer, to ending the year headlining the very same venues just months later. Dropping in October 2005, "The Poison" hit number 21 in the U.K. album charts, becoming a late contender in end of year polls, placing at number seven on Kerrang!'s "Albums Of The Year" list, and since achieving gold status.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM were on the road together earlier thus year to celebrate the joint 20th anniversaries of their respective albums "The Poison" and "Ascendancy".

Last month, TRIVIUM revealed that plans were scrapped to have the two bands hit other territories around the world as part of "The Poisoned Ascendancy" tour. Details surrounding the cancelations were unclear, although TRIVIUM bassist Paolo Gregoletto said in a livestream that Tuck had pulled out of the tour early as he "didn't wanna do it." Gregoletto also claimed that Tuck made the move because he is "the sole decision maker of [BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE] and he has no respect for us or our crew."

The members of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE later shared a statement on social media saying that they were "grateful" to the fans who wanted to see them live but explained that they had decided to focus their efforts on making a new album instead.

"We're incredibly grateful to have been given the chance to look back at a pair of life-changing albums for us & TRIVIUM, who we have nothing but respect and admiration for," they said. "With that being said, the four of us collectively feel that the time is right for us to divert our full attention towards the next chapter of BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE."

They added: "We can't wait to get back in the studio later this summer and finish what we promise you is our best album to date. To go along with this, we are already starting to make plans for the 2026 & 2027 touring cycles, hitting every corner. We are super excited to drop new music for you all. We value our fans above all else and are forever grateful for your support. We'll be back with all of you very soon."

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE released the deluxe version of its latest, self-titled album in August 2022 via Spinefarm/Search & Destroy. This extended release featured four brand new tracks, plus "Stitches", a song previously only available as a Japanese exclusive. Following the CD and digital releases, a vinyl pressing launched in November 2022.

HEART guitarist Nancy Wilson has blasted the Trump administration for using the band's classic song "Barracuda" at Saturday's (June 14) military parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the U.S. Army's 250th anniversary. The military parade coincided with U.S. president Donald Trump's 79th birthday.

Last night, Nancy took to her social media to write: "Earlier today, during a parade held in support of our nation's military and organized by President Donald Trump, the song 'Barracuda' by HEART was played without permission or authorization from us.

"'Barracuda', written and performed by Ann [Wilson, HEART singer] and I, is a powerful piece of music that was never intended for political use.

"As daughters of a U.S. Marine Corps major, we hold a deep and abiding respect for the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. On a day meant to honor that service, it's important that music used in such settings reflects not only the tone of the event but also the wishes of the artists who created it."

Nancy included a photo of her wearing a hat that said "No Kings But Us", a reference to the "No Kings" protests across the country on Saturday denouncing what organizers described as Trump's authoritarian policies.

The military parade featured dozens of armored tanks and artillery vehicles, such as HIMARS, army aircraft, including Black Hawk helicopters and Apaches, and more than 6,000 uniformed troops.

Instrumental versions of "Barracuda" and JOURNEY's "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" were reportedly among the songs blared during the festivities.

Attendance at Trump's parade, which came with an expected price tag of between $25 million and $45 million, was reportedly dwarfed by the millions who showed up at roughly 2,000 anti-Trump "No Kings" protests in cities and towns all over the U.S.

The Wilson sisters previously objected to "Barracuda" being used for political purposes in 2008 when then-Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin played the song at the Republican National Convention.

Ann told The Hill in a 2018 interview that "Barracuda" could be used by just about any candidate in the 2020 election if they desired. "I think anybody but Trump," she clarified. She also noted that she "definitely wouldn't" vote for Trump in the 2020 election.

This past March, Nancy told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she feels "embarrassed" to call herself an American in this day and age.

According to Billboard, the performing rights organizations BMI and ASCAP require political campaigns to obtain licenses to use songs in their catalogs, with a caveat in the license that allows songwriters to object to usage in a political campaign. At both ASCAP and BMI, members can request to withdraw their music from political-campaign licenses.

Photo credit: Epiphone / Prime PR Group, Inc.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nancy Wilson (@nancywilson)

In a new interview with Altars Of Metal, former MORBID ANGEL bassist/vocalist David Vincent was asked if there are any plans for him to record new music with I AM MORBID, the band which has spent the last few years exclusively performing material that Vincent recorded with MORBID ANGEL. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've talked about it. I have some songs. I just don't know if anybody would care, because it would only be compared to the [classic MORBID ANGEL] records."

He added: "There's a lot of time that passes, and as time passes, you grow. And if there would've been a continuum for so many years, and new record, new record, new record, probably what I would do now would be a bit different, because music and art is a reflection of where you are today. And where I am today is much different from where I was in the '80s.

When the interviewer noted that an album of original I AM MORBID material wouldn't sound like a new version of "Blessed Are The Sick" or "Covenant" but would be a musical representation of whatever was fueling Vincent creatively in 2025, David said: "Maybe. We've talked about it. I just don't know that it's a good idea. I mean, I really wanna keep this kind of as a legacy project. That's what's important to me. And I think that's what's important to fans. And every band probably goes through this. I mean, IRON MAIDEN could come out tomorrow with the very best record that they've ever done — musically, sonically, the composition, et cetera — but when they play live, what do people wanna hear? They wanna hear 'Wrathchild', they wanna hear 'The Number Of The The Beast', they wanna hear 'Flight Of Icarus'. All bands have the same problem. So, nobody cares about the new stuff. They wanna hear their favorites."

When the interviewer brought up METALLICA as an example of a band which has been able to retain many of its original fans while also making new music which has been embraced by younger followers, Vincent said: "But the thing is that METALLICA has been METALLICA. Other than the bass player, they've been a consistent unit that has continued and continued and continued. So the changes and the growth that they've had has been gradual and eventual. It's been a minute since the four [MORBID ANGEL] records that we're talking about now [were originally recorded and released]. So there's not a continuum to go further than that, and people would be, like, 'Oh, yeah. Okay, well, hopefully they'll do 'Covenant Part 2',' or something. And that's just not gonna happen. That's not where I am right now. So I could force it. I could just think a lot and really try to force something, but I don't write that way, number one. Number two, I would feel really bad about myself to do something that was only because it's what's expected. I mean, I'm a rebel. I've always been a rebel. If somebody expects me to do something, that's a perfect reason not to do it. That's my attitude."

David didn't completely close the door on the idea of I AM MORBID making new, original music, saying: "Well, we'll see what happens. We'll leave it there. We'll see what happens."

During the same chat, Vincent touched upon his reasons for launching I AM MORBID in the first place. He said:  "What happened was we felt like that we needed to sort of keep our legacy alive. And that's the reason for creating I AM MORBID, because these are my children, all of these albums. And it's important to me to be able to perform… I love the music. I love everything that I've done. Thankfully, the fans do too. So, it's been good. And the response has been really good. We've been doing this for a while now. So, I'm happy to be alive and healthy and able to do it."

In addition to Vincent, I AM MORBID includes another former MORBID ANGEL member Pedro "Pete" Sandoval (drums),along with guitarists Richie Brown (EXMORTUS, THE ABSENCE, TRIVIUM) and Bill Hudson (NORTHTALE, DORO).

In October 2022, I AM MORBID parted ways with guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (POSSESSED, DIABOLIC, UNHOLY GHOST) and replaced him with Brown.

Brown made his live debut with I AM MORBID at the Grita Fest in Colombia.

I AM MORBID's spring 2022 European tour marked the first time Sandoval and Vincent played together in 12 years.

Sandoval, who now lives his life as a born-again Christian, was forced to leave MORBID ANGEL in 2010 after undergoing surgery for a prolapsed disc.

Vincent told Invisible Oranges in a December 2013 interview that Pete had "found Jesus," which meant that Sandoval and MORBID ANGEL were no longer "compatible."

Sandoval spent much of the last decade recording and touring with TERRORIZER, whose latest studio album, "Caustic Attack", was released in October 2018 via The End Records.

Vincent previously talked about the possibility of I AM MORBID making original music in a March 2024 interview with Robert Walton of The Metal Meltdown. He said at the time: "Well, there's been some discussion about it. I'm still on the fence. I'm on the fence about that because, with that, there are expectations. And goodness, when you have the catalog that I do and the formula that was part of that catalog, that may or may not be a difficult thing. I mean, there's some days where I feel very inspired to do so, [and] there's other days where I'm, like, 'This is like an old wine. And a young wine doesn't…' Some of the beauty of it is the age of it. So, I don't know. It's an ongoing discussion, but I don't have anything to announce right now."

When Walton noted that EMPEROR's Ihsahn has been reluctant to make a new album with the legendary Norwegian black metal outfit because he feels that it could never live up to fans' expectations, David seemingly concurred. "Well, Ihsahn is a good friend of mine," he said. "I respect him quite a bit as an artist, and I actually agree with him. There is something to that.

"There have been offers [for I AM MORBID to make new music] — substantial offers — but not everything is about money with me. I mean, sure, everybody has bills to pay. We're all humans, we all have needs, but my artistic needs outweigh any greed that may get in the way. I don't allow my needs to push me into doing anything. When it comes to art, it's as pure and organic as possible. And I don't want to let those considerations in."

Vincent left MORBID ANGEL in 2015. He has since been replaced by a returning Steve Tucker, who previously handled bass and vocals on MORBID ANGEL's "Formulas Fatal To The Flesh", "Gateways To Annihilation" and "Heretic" LPs.

In a May 2019 interview with Jorge Botas of the "Metal Global" radio show, which airs on the Portuguese public TV and radio broadcaster RTP, Vincent said that he had every right to perform MORBID ANGEL's classic songs with I AM MORBID. "Times come and life works the way that it does," Vincent said. "And there are times when… It's like a marriage — sometimes they don't always work forever. But that doesn't mean that the children that we've had together, that I don't still love my children. Although Trey [Azagthoth, MORBID ANGEL guitarist and sole remaining original member] and I have some irreconcilable differences, that doesn't in any way preclude me from still having the love and the passion for all of my children."

Asked what he has to say to people who insist that he should not play MORBID ANGEL's early material without the other members of the group's classic lineup, David said: "There's examples of this very situation… I mean, when Ozzy [Osbourne] left BLACK SABBATH, that didn't stop him from playing 'Paranoid' every night, even though he didn't write the song. All of the songs that I'm singing I wrote. So I don't really understand that. But different people become attached to different things. And they have their opinion and I have mine. And I don't really consider this kind of negativity. I don't have it in my life."

In 2019, Vincent released "Something Wicked Marches In", the debut album from his supergroup VLTIMAS, also featuring guitarist Rune Eriksen (formerly of MAYHEM) and CRYPTOPSY drummer Flo Mounier. A follow-up effort, "Epic", arrived in 2024.

In 2017, Vincent issued his debut country single, "Drinkin' With The Devil".

In a new interview with Wayne Carle Jr. of the 95 WIIL Rock (WIIL-FM) radio station in Wisconsin, vocalist Johannes Eckerström of Swedish metallers AVATAR spoke about the band's upcoming July/August 2025 European tour as the support act for IRON MAIDEN after previously opening for the British heavy metal legends for three shows in Brazil in August/September 2022. Johannes said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it's a full month [of dates we are doing with IRON MAIDEN this time] because nowadays they play every other day. I think they've earned that pacing. Because we got to do it for a bit there in Brazil, I think now I feel kind of free to just enjoy it purely. Because the first time around, that's the most nervous I've been going on stage since — I don't remember when — since probably before existed even. And I think that has something to [do with]… It was just the fandom, of us being fans and the role that IRON MAIDEN play in the world of metal beyond what we think of them, but what everybody thinks of them, I guess. And also it was in Brazil, which is such an IRON MAIDEN place. So it was an intimidation that we felt — a lot of things all at once, and it became incredibly emotional and therefore great. And once we survived that first show and people did not throw rocks and it was a good time, we were kind of able to enjoy the rest of it and start to get into the groove of claiming ownership of your time on stage."

He continued: "That's the challenge with something like that. Yes, it's great to go on tour with your heroes that have inspired you so much and everything, but that is also this opportunity for the band to be seen and heard, and you kind of have to get over yourself a little bit and, yeah, claim ownership, because that is kind of how you make sure that you will deserve the opportunity you've been given. And I think I'm more there now already, because we got to do that trial run… This is less of a question of, like, how do you even do that? I kind of have an idea now. So now just we'll enjoy it for what it is."

AVATAR released a new single, "Captain Goat", in May. The song is taken from the band's upcoming tenth studio album, which will be released later in the year.

AVATAR will embark on a U.S. tour this fall with support from ALIEN WEAPONRY and SPIRITWORLD. Additionally, there is a four-date run supporting METALLICA in spring/summer 2026, along with AVATAR's biggest show ever in Mexico City.

Johannes formed AVATAR in 2001. The band's lineup has remained virtually the same ever since, save for guitarist Tim Öhrström, who entered the fray just over a decade later. AVATAR also includes guitarist Jonas Jarlsby, bassist Henrik Sandelin and drummer John Alfredsson.

AVATAR's latest album, "Dance Devil Dance", came out in 2023. The LP featured a guest appearance by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM on the song "Violence No Matter What". The record also included the single "The Dirt I'm Buried In", which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

Photo by Johan Carlén

Austrian symphonic metallers EDENBRIDGE have announced their return to the Steamhammer/SPV fold. The band, led by mastermind Arne "Lanvall" Stockhammer (guitar/keyboards) and vocalist Sabine Edelsbacher, is set to release its new studio album, "Set The Dark On Fire", on January 16, 2026. Three singles, including videos, will be available ahead of the LP's arrival: "Cosmic Embrace" (September 19, 2025),"Where The Wild Things Are" (November 7, 2025),and the title track, "Set The Dark On Fire" (December 12, 2025).

Lanvall and Edelsbacher promise their fans a typical EDENBRIDGE amalgam of powerful metal and tried and tested anthemic, symphonic elements, with a perceptible increase in heaviness, especially in terms of guitars, bass and drums.

Lanvall comments: "'Set The Dark On Fire' sees us remain true to ourselves stylistically while making some important adjustments together with our long-standing mixing and mastering engineer Karl Groom (THRESHOLD). The result is the most dynamic, heavy and at the same time most melodic work to date in the history of EDENBRIDGE."

The studio recordings as well as mixing and mastering of "Set The Dark On Fire" have already been completed, as has the work on the stunning cover artwork.

EDENBRIDGE is currently busy preparing a European tour, which will take the band through Austria, Germany, Holland and Switzerland from February to mid-March 2026.

Speaking about EDENBRIDGE's return to Steamhammer/SPV, Lanvall said: "We're delighted to be able to release our new album with the support of Olly Hahn and his dedicated team again. Due to the organizational restructuring of our previous label, we found ourselves without a contract and promptly received an offer from Olly that proves Steamhammer's faith in us and builds on our successful collaboration between 2013 and 2021."

Steamhammer label manager Olly Hahn also looks forward to the new association with great confidence. "The band has a large fanbase and continues to impress with the amazing quality and passion of their music," he says. "I feel sure that 'Set The Dark On Fire' will successfully continue our collaboration of recent years."

The full track listing of EDENBRIDGE's upcoming album and the dates for the band's 2026 European tour will be announced shortly.

In a new interview with Chaoszine, HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale, who is widely considered to be one of the best female rock singers in the world, was asked how she has felt her "voice evolution of over the years". She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Quite a bit, actually. And this started probably about two years ago where I'm proud to say that I hardly warm up anymore. It was a very important part of my training when I was a kid. I mean, I started singing very early on — probably when I was about nine or 10 was when I first discovered my voice. We were living in a log cabin in the woods along the Appalachian Trail at the time, and I was a very shy kid. And I wasn't brave enough to sing in front of my parents or my brother or anybody, so I would run out in the woods. I would climb my favorite tree, which was a dogwood tree, and I would sing into the woods. I would scare the bejesus out of some squirrels, and then I would pretend that the leaves were the audience and were clapping for me. But when I was 16, I started vocal lessons with a man named Steve Whiteman, who was in a band called KIX back in the '80s. He taught me how to warm up and where all of my resonance areas are, a lot of the technical things, all the tools that I use today. Then in my teens and twenties, I was warming up for probably about 30 minutes to an hour every single time I would perform. And that lasted well into my thirties. But there's something happened around when I turned 40. It's almost like because I've been doing this so long — 28 years in HALESTORM as of August 9th this year — because I've been doing this so long, it's almost like my body already knows how to kick into gear. So I know exactly how my body feels every day. So you kind of take an inventory every day. So, unless I catch a cold or something like that, it's almost like I'm ready for anything anymore. And I sing with a lot of ease. It feels like breathing to me now or having a comfortable conversation."

Lzzy continued:" I'm not saying this in any egotistical way; it's something that I've surprised myself with over the past maybe year and a half where I'm very proud to say that I am in a category that I never thought that I would get to, whereas this is something that a lot of my idols told me about when I would ask them advice about vocals. For instance, when I got to talk to Ronnie James Dio back in 2009 when we opened up for HEAVEN & HELL, and he pinched my cheeks and then he said, 'Oh, you got it kid. You have the voice.' And I was, like, 'Oh my gosh. Thank you.' And he was telling me about this, about how every singer goes through a couple different stages, and as long as I don't screw it up with drugs and alcohol [laughs], I will finally get to this stage. So I'm very proud of it. And you never know — things may change and I may have to put myself through training again, which is lovely. I actually found all of my old cassette tapes that were my old vocal lessons. We would record every vocal lesson. So, years ago, I ended up putting myself through kind of my own little bootcamp, going back to the beginning of my training. And I think that helped a lot. But I have a really wonderful foundation. I basically — every night I walk out on stage, I break through that fear wall because fear has nothing to do with it. You can't put up that wall, or you are never going to reach the magic. And I let my body and my spirit do the rest of the work. And it's wonderful to be able to say that I'm truly in the moment now on stage."

HALESTORM will release "Everest", its sixth studio album, on August 8 on Atlantic Records.

Late last month, HALESTORM shared the official music video for the "Everest" title track, featuring a variety of clips of humans on the brink and imminent explosions, both literal and metaphorical. It followed "Darkness Always Wins", the album's first radio single, which entered the top 20 at Active Rock radio in the USA, and was on the B-list at both Planet Rock radio and Kerrang! Radio in the U.K.

Late last month, HALESTORM kicked off a tour in Europe supporting the legendary IRON MAIDEN. Following that run, HALESTORM will perform at BLACK SABBATH's final show on July 5, and then they'll travel back to the U.S. to tour with VOLBEAT. In September, they'll kick off the "nEVEREST" North American tour with Lindsey Stirling and APOCALYPTICA.

Produced by Grammy winner Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Jason Isbell),"Everest" dives deeply, both lyrically and sonically, into the band's mountainous climb over the last couple decades.

"Our album 'Everest' is a story of our journey as a band, full of beautiful endings and new beginnings," Lzzy previously said. "We weave a tangled web of melancholy, frustration, anger and the vast purgatory of love and love lost. It is a rollercoaster of epic musical detours, great songwriting and completely unhinged twists and turns. 'Everest' is an auditory representation of the four pillars of HALESTORM. Let us reintroduce ourselves and invite you into our world…if you dare."

Rolling Stone said of "Darkness Always Wins", "What the song has going for is its catchy, brooding, and dramatic in all the ways we love HALESTORM songs to be," and Revolver noted "The arrangement remains lean even as the amps begin to crank into the red, though 'Darkness Always Wins' still sports some exquisite minor-key melodicism, a metal-chunked bridge, loud-as-hell requiem bells and a classically rippin' rock guitar solo."

Fronted by Lzzy with drummer Arejay Hale, guitarist Joe Hottinger and bassist Josh Smith, HALESTORM's music has earned multiple platinum and gold certifications from the RIAA, and the band has earned a reputation as a powerful live music force, headlining sold-out shows and topping festival bills around the world, and sharing the stage with icons including HEAVEN & HELL, Alice Cooper, Joan Jett and JUDAS PRIEST. Additionally, Lzzy was named the first female brand ambassador for Gibson and served as host of AXS TV's "A Year In Music".

Photo credit: Jimmy Fontaine

At this weekend's Download festival at Leicestershire, United Kingdom's Donington Park, SHINEDOWN frontman Brent Smith spoke to James Wilson-Taylor of Rock Sound about the response to the band's latest two singles, "Three Six Five" and "Dance, Kid, Dance", which were made available on January 24 via Atlantic Records. When Wilson-Taylor noted that the two tracks have helped "diversify" SHINEDOWN's fanbase, Brent said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's the big principle of everything that we're doing. 'Cause I think some people are, like, 'Oh, you're doing the single thing.' And it's, like, no, we're doing what we feel is necessary. Coming off the last two albums as, essentially they're concepts, so we've spent a lot of time in the studio working on songs for what they need to do and speak to us when we're looking at the broad aspect of who SHINEDOWN is and the audience. Again, we wanna grow the audience. That's why 'Three Six Five' and 'Dance, Kid, Dance', they're completely two sides of the band. We're also gonna be releasing two more singles in late July. [We] should be announcing the record in November of this year, and then hopefully by March of next year, the record will be out. But a lot is going on right now. And we're just happy to still be doing what we do. But we've also said it pretty straightforward: we're very proud of the last 20 years; we're focused on the next 20 years and beyond."

Asked how far into the production process SHINEDOWN is with the making of its eighth studio album, Brent said: "85 percent. A couple of songs that we are still in a writing phase with. 'Cause that's the thing — you'll go in… Again, too, we appreciate our record label, we appreciate the fanbase that's continuously growing. They always allow us to be ourselves. So when we're in there, obviously you have a bit of a schedule that you need to keep — you have deadlines; there's a timeframe for what have you — but you can't rush the art because it's forever. And we still believe that the album is the most important element of all of this, and all those songs need to live on that record, and you really have to make sure that you've basically gone to the wall on all of it and done your absolute best, and then the public will tell you how you did."

Asked if SHINEDOWN's upcoming album will be conceptual, as was the case with 2022's "Planet Zero" and 2018's "Attention Attention", Smith said: "To use the word 'traditional' in a very positive light, it's a collection of songs. So it's a traditional record where no, they're not attached to one another. But the other thing that's really freeing about that in a lot of ways too, is all of the songs belong together, but they're all over the map.

"Look, rock and roll is very much about a way of life and a community and a spirit, and we know that tried and true, but the thing for us is, we've always said, it's not necessarily about metal music or rock music or pop music or alternative music — it's about all music," Brent explained. "And I've always felt like SHINEDOWN is everyone's band. And so the dynamic is we have to push ourselves as songwriters and musicians. As long as you're being authentic, you should lean in to your creativity and where you're at at that stage in your career."

Last month, SHINEDOWN kicked off its "Dance, Kid, Dance" tour at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa. The 36-date trek is one of the largest run of shows (and venues) the band has ever put on. It will be the first time the band has ever headlined some of the country's most legendary venues, including Madison Square Garden (July 20),Boston's TD Garden (July 19),Los Angeles's Kia Forum (August 3) and more. Joining them on the tour are BEARTOOTH and BUSH (on select dates) and Morgan Wade for all shows.

SHINEDOWN recently released an official music video for its No. 1 song "Dance, Kid, Dance". The clip was directed by Lewis Cater, choreographed by Julissa Bond, and edited by Samuel Halleen.

This year has also come with some historic wins for SHINEDOWN as they recently took home two trophies at the iHeartRadio Music Awards where they won "Rock Artist Of The Year" and "Rock Song Of The Year" for "A Symptom Of Being Human".

The awards were in celebration of the banner year they've had as "A Symptom Of Being Human" hit nearly 125 million global streams and charted at five radio formats, including a No. 1 at Active, Top 10 at Alternative, Top 10 at AC, Top 15 at Hot AC and a Top 20 at Top 40. To date, SHINEDOWN is the very first artist to get a song Top 10 at Active, Alternative, and Hot AC Radio on Mediabase with one song. The song, off SHINEDOWN's "Planet Zero" album, resonated with fans across the globe for the unifying message of its lyrics: that it is our human connections that matter the most.

SHINEDOWN has already had a packed 2025 as its latest single "Dance, Kid, Dance" has made history, reaching No. 1 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart, which marks their 22nd song to reach No. 1 on the chart, and on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. SHINEDOWN has become the only band in the chart's history to reach 20 No. 1s on the chart. Not to mention when the song entered the Top 5 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, SHINEDOWN tied with the FOO FIGHTERS for the artists with the most songs to hit the top 10 in the chart's history with 32 songs each. All these incredible accomplishments continue to solidify that SHINEDOWN have made a name for themselves in rock. On Mediabase, SHINEDOWN hold the record for the most No. 1s, No. 5s and No. 10s on the Active Rock chart, with a total of 24 No. 1s on the Mediabase charts.

Smith and bassist/producer Eric Bass co-wrote "Three Six Five", and "Dance, Kid, Dance" was co-written by Brent Smith, Eric Bass and Dave Bassett. The songs were produced by Eric Bass at his own Big Animal Studio in Charleston, South Carolina.

Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz

In a new interview with Mark Kadzielawa of 69 Faces Of Rock, DIAMOND HEAD guitarist Brian Tatler, who has been playing with SAXON since early 2023, was asked if there are any plans for DIAMOND HEAD to release a new studio album as a follow-up to 2019's "The Coffin Train",. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's gonna be difficult to do a new DIAMOND HEAD album, because since joining SAXON in 2023, I've been focusing on that. Obviously, I had to learn the material. Then pretty much straight away we went into start work on a new album, which ended up being [SAXON's latest album, 2024's] 'Hell, Fire And Damnation'. So with all the dates I've done and with all the amount of time that I have to put in preparation and stuff for new material with SAXON, DIAMOND HEAD's had to have a backseat. We've had to put it on hold. We can't be booking gigs, because they may very well clash with SAXON dates. And I would have to do the SAXON dates and we would have to cancel the DIAMOND HEAD gigs, if they clashed. So, I'm focusing on SAXON. I'm really enjoying it.

"DIAMOND HEAD is not finished," Brian clarified. "It's just, as I say, on hold. It's just on hiatus. And who knows? I think everybody still really, really likes doing DIAMOND HEAD. So we'll just see what's further on down the road, really."

Tatler previously discussed DIAMOND HEAD's current status earlier in the month in an interview with Metal Journal. Asked if there were any plans for DIAMOND HEAD activities beyond the release of a new live album, "Live And Electric", on July 11 via Silver Lining Music, he responded at the time: "At the moment, the live album is the main thing. That comes out July 11th on Silver Lining. And after that, who knows? We haven't got any plans to record a new album. And there are no dates in the book. I just thought once I joined SAXON — and I joined in March 2023 — I just thought it was gonna be difficult to book DIAMOND HEAD gigs because SAXON is so busy that we could easily land right on top of a DIAMOND HEAD gig. 'Cause, as you know, you book six months in advance, nine months in advance, and I didn't wanna be in a position where I said, 'Well, I've gotta do the SAXON gig, so we'll have to cancel the DIAMOND HEAD gig and let people down,' and et cetera, et cetera. So I said, 'Let's just take a break.' And the management advised us the same> 'Take a break. Let's see how the land lies in a year or two years.' And then we'll just see. I'm happy where I am. I'm really enjoying being in SAXON. We've done a lot of gigs already. There's a lot more gigs coming up and we're working on the next record. So I've got a lot on my plate, and I've almost got everything I need to fulfill my needs. So I'm not craving to do DIAMOND HEAD again. I feel like I've been doing DIAMOND HEAD since I was 16, and it's been a long road. But I'm happy where I am at the moment. I'm enjoying the challenge and the change. And playing with different people is fun as well."

Asked if he still has any contact with original DIAMOND HEAD singer Sean Harris, Brian said: "No, not really. Well, he does his thing and I do my thing. It's just the way it is. It's just gone that way. We all live nearby. The four original members all live within about a mile and a half of each other, but we rarely see each other. Myself, Colin [Kimberley, bass] and Duncan [Scott, drums] sometimes go for a curry, and we've been doing that for maybe 10 years. But I haven't seen Sean for a while now, a number of years. As I say, we kind of move in different circles and we've just lost touch with each other."

As for whether he has received any substantial financial offer to reunite the original DIAMOND HEAD lineup for a festival appearance or two, Brian said: "No, not really. You get the odd offer, but there's nothing — no big offer… I mean, maybe a couple of people would like that to happen, but it's not a big deal. I don't think it would change the world. I mean, Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] has got closest — hasn't he? — by getting us all to reassemble and play the NEC in Birmingham with METALLICA in 1992. So he's come closest. But having spoken to Colin, the bass player, he doesn't really wanna do DIAMOND HEAD again. When he left the band, he sold all his gear, and he's never played the bass since, other than when we did that NEC show. We once had a rehearsal just for fun in Stourbridge, but that was about 2000. So even that's been 25 years ago. So I can't see the original lineup playing together again."

DIAMOND HEAD influenced a slew of early '80s thrash metal bands, in particular METALLICA, which recorded "Am I Evil?" as a B-side to their 1984 "Creeping Death" single and again included on the band's multi-platinum 1998 covers album "Garage Inc." METALLICA would record three additional DIAMOND HEAD songs: "Helpless" ("Garage Days", 1987),"The Prince" ("One" single B-side, 1989) and "It's Electric" ("Garage Inc.", 1998).

In a 2022 interview with Metal Pilgrim, Tatler was asked if he thinks DIAMOND HEAD would not have been able to continue as a viable business entity had METALLICA covered any of his songs. He responded: "I think if METALLICA hadn't covered DIAMOND HEAD — the first cover was '84 when they did 'Am I Evil?' on the B-side of 'Creeping Death' — so I think if they hadn't, I may have looked elsewhere for employment. I think it would have been harder to keep DIAMOND HEAD going without that introduction to their fanbase. 'Cause that record sold millions of copies — versions of 'Am I Evil?' have sold millions of copies through METALLICA — and so so many more people know DIAMOND HEAD thanks to Lars and Co. And it may be that a lot of the opportunities that we get now would not be there without that METALLICA connection. So I'm eternally grateful. Obviously, myself and Sean [Harris, original DIAMOND HEAD singer] still get writers' royalties, but even so, I just think it's helped DIAMOND HEAD as a name and a brand to get on more and more opportunities — get festivals and supports. Because they link it with METALLICA; they think, 'Okay, well, you're potentially tapping into a huge market.'"

Nearly five years ago, Tatler said during an episode of "Tatler's Tales" about METALLICA's cover versions of his band's classic songs: "They're great. They're always more powerful and a little faster than the DIAMOND HEAD versions. I mean, they're a great band. They [have] their own sound. Of course, it was very flattering. The first song they covered was 'Am I Evil' They were the first band that ever covered a DIAMOND HEAD song. And it came out in 1984; it was on the 'Creeping Death' 12-inch single, which was on Music For Nations. And I was just really flattered that 'Lars's band' had covered one of our songs and done such a respectful job and worked out the guitar solo. Everything was really good — really close to our version, but a bit more modern, a bit tougher, [with] more attitude."

He added: "More power to them. Fantastic. It's done the band a huge favor."

According to Brian, the royalties that he receives from the DIAMOND HEAD back catalog, including the METALLICA recordings of his songs, are enough for him to live on. "It's my biggest source of income," he revealed in a 2019 interview. "It's great and I don't know what I would do without it. It gives me the freedom to do what I like. I'm very grateful."

A reimagined and re-recorded version of DIAMOND HEAD's "Lightning To The Nations" album was released in 2020 via Silver Lining Music. "Lightning To The Nations 2020" included four cover tracks, including METALLICA's "No Remorse".

"I wanted to cover a song from METALLICA's debut album, 'Kill 'Em All'," Tatler explained, "partly because METALLICA covered songs from DIAMOND HEAD's debut album 'Lightning To The Nations' and it felt like things have come full circle to me. None of the band members knew how to play any of the songs from 'Kill 'Em All', and I eventually decided we should all learn 'No Remorse'. Then when we got into the rehearsal room, we played 'No Remorse' and immediately it just sounded great; it was very 'DIAMOND HEAD' and it really suited us as a band. Of the four covers we ended up doing, 'No Remorse' sounded the best straight away. I've seen METALLICA live over twenty times and they don't play 'No Remorse' very often, but it's always great when they do!"

DIAMOND HEAD's latest collection of all-new material, "The Coffin Train", was released in May 2019 via Silver Lining Music. The album was recorded at Vigo Studios in Walsall, Circle Studios in Birmingham and Raw Sound Studio in London.

Photo by Jay Shredder (courtesy of Earsplit PR)

The reunited classic lineup of the metal/hardcore band BIOHAZARD has released its first new music in over a decade in the form of a new song called "Forsaken". The track, which was premiered during BIOHAZARD's recent European headlining tour, offers a first taste of the band's upcoming album. Honoring their old-school roots while pushing forward, "Forsaken" arrives with an energetic live video directed by guitarist/vocalist Billy Graziadei, filmed on tour in March 2025 as the band debuted the song to packed crowds across Europe.

BIOHAZARD bassist/vocalist Evan Seinfeld comments on the new single: "We shot this video in Amsterdam, at Melkweg, an iconic venue where BIOHAZARD first made our bones in Europe back in the late '80s and ‘90s. It's really organic, and a little sample of the energy of our first new album in fifteen years, performed in a live setting. Make sure you're strapped in and prepare for some real mayhem when our new album drops!"

In December 2024, BIOHAZARD entered Shorefire Recording Studios in Long Branch, New Jersey to begin recording its new LP, due later in the year via Frontiers Label Group's new imprint BLKIIBLK.

BIOHAZARD, renowned for their aggressive style and socially conscious lyrics, has been a seminal force in the hardcore and metal scenes since their formation in the late 1980s. Their unique blend of hardcore punk, heavy metal, and hip-hop elements has garnered them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. BIOHAZARD's signing with BLKIIBLK marks a new chapter in their illustrious career, promising exciting new music and projects.

"What started as three reunion shows of the OG lineup turned into three unstoppable years of kicking ass on stage night after night! Now we're back with a new record that hits with all the classic BIOHAZARD energy, louder and harder than ever," comments Graziadei.

Musical pioneers in every sense of the word, BIOHAZARD were one of the first bands to seamlessly blend hardcore, heavy metal, punk, and hip hop into an intoxicating genre all their own. After more than a decade away, the Brooklyn, New York band's OG lineup reunited in 2023 to both fan fervor and critical acclaim, headlining the opening night of the legendary Milwaukee Metal Fest for their first show back. Ghost Cult magazine said they "explosively unleashed their fury with fortitude and force" with "a superhuman set and an awe-inspiring show."

The band followed with two sold-out hometown shows in New York City, a late-summer festival run in Europe, and a fall direct support slot with MEGADETH across North America. That was just the start. They returned to Europe in 2024 for the early summer festival season and made their triumphant return to South America in spring, then returned home to blow out America's exploding festival circuit.

In late November, BIOHAZARD guitarist Bobby Hambel confirmed to The Brooklyn Blast Furnace podcast that he and his bandmates would enter the studio "in a couple of weeks" to begin recording their long-awaited new album.

"After playing together — what is it? — fucking year and a half, I think we're ready to lay it down, to start puking out some more fucking stuff," Bobby said. "It's happening, too. It's heavy shit, too.

"A lot of people say — they give their opinions on what they think we should do," he continued. "And they're always asking questions like, 'Is it gonna be like this album or that album?', and I can't really answer any of that. I just can answer it's coming from the same place it always came from, and I think everybody's on point. Everybody wants it. So I think it's time. We've got a lot of shit to say."

In October, BIOHAZARD drummer Danny Schuler told Pod Scum about the group's songwriting process: "It's really all over the place in BIOHAZARD. Sometimes one guy brings in a couple of songs and we kind of go with that. Sometimes somebody has an idea and we're all together in the jam room and we kind of all work through it together. It kind of happens a lot of different ways, but all four guys are very creative, some more than others, but everybody creates and brings in stuff. So there's no one writer in BIOHAZARD. There's never really been. But we all write. And now we're getting ready to record a new record and we have so much new stuff. And it's been really cool lately — a very creative environment lately to be around with everybody writing new stuff and getting psyched for a new album. It's cool right now."

Asked why he thinks right now is the best time for a new BIOHAZARD album, Danny said: "Well, I don't know if right now is the best time. I don't think in terms of, like, 'Oh, well, let's do an album out now because now's the best time.' I don't know that stuff. I don't know when's a good time to do a record. I just know when I feel inspired and I know when I'm coming up with stuff that I feel is real strong and meaningful, and lately it's been a good time for that kind of creative process. So, for me, when the ideas are flowing and everything feels real natural, real strong, that's a good time to do a record. Business-wise, I don't know when's a good time to do a record. I'm not a businessman, in that regard with the music business."

Evan discussed BIOHAZARD's plans for new music in April 2024 in an interview with El Planeta Del Rock. At the time, he said: "We're working on our process on a couple of really cool songs, and when something is special enough and we are excited about it, I imagine we'll release a single before release an album, but there's a full-length album in the works. That's the mission… We wanna go into the studio and really lock ourselves down, like we used to do in the '90s, and spend some time really [making a strong album]. For us, it's not about one song, one song. Making an album is still something that we care about."

He continued: "I know it's not the popular [way of doing things]. How many people buy new albums by artists and listen to the whole album from beginning to end? Young people don't really ingest music like that so much. But BIOHAZARD is about authenticity. We do what we do, and we're gonna make the best album we can make."

In 2022, Graziadei said in an interview that there had been "talk" about putting BIOHAZARD back together.

The group, which is acknowledged as one of the earliest outfits to fuse hardcore punk and heavy metal with elements of hip-hop, had been out of the public eye since Scott Roberts left the band more than nine years ago.

Roberts, who played guitar on BIOHAZARD's 2005 album "Means To An End", rejoined the group in June 2011 as the replacement for Seinfeld. Scott fronted BIOHAZARD for nearly five years before exiting the band in February 2016.

Photo credit: Istvan Bruggen

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, the supergroup featuring legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK SABBATH),guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL),performed at Poppodium 013 in Tilburg, Netherlands on June 9 as part of the band's ongoing European tour.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's setlist for the show was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Sway
02. One Last Soul
03. Wanderlust
04. The Outsider
05. Song Of Yesterday
06. Save Me
07. Crossfire
08. Red Sun
09. Cold
10. The Crow
11. Stay Free
12. Black Country

Encore:

13. Sista Jane
14. Mistreated (DEEP PURPLE cover)

Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

The trek is a combination of headline shows in the Germany, The Netherlands, Austria and Czech Republic, as well as festival appearances such as Sweden Rock and Poland's Rock Legends.

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION is touring in support of its fifth studio album, "V", which came out in June 2024.

Resonating with the band's signature fusion of hard rock and soul-stirring blues, "V" stands as a testament to BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's growth and mutual admiration, symbolizing their commitment to producing music that is authentic, heartfelt, and reflective of their shared experiences and vast musical expertise.

"This band allows me to embrace all of it," comments Bonamassa. "It's funny because the four musicians up here — everybody brings a certain thing to this that’s very specific. Every part is irreplaceable. For me, it's about playing old-style rock guitar, loud."

Hughes adds: "We make music for the five of us. We make music that we love and like, hoping it registers with everyone else. We don't make it for record companies, or this guy or that guy." Sherinian credits producer Kevin Shirley for keeping the band's creative energies focused, adding, "We've got to give Kevin Shirley massive credit because he controls. He keeps it all flowing."

Produced by Shirley, "V" marks a monumental chapter in the band's storied career, embodying a renewed spirit and an evolution of their unmistakable sound. Shirley captures the essence of the band's journey, stating: "For a band that started out as a collection of the best practitioners of their instruments, they very quickly found a unique sound. This time around, it has more purpose, the riffs are tougher, and there are hooks! Yes, hooks! It's the most cohesive record, full of soul and grit, and I think this is the one that's going to be the benchmark for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION." Glenn agrees: "In my opinion, we had the best time recording this record at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, tons of fun and a magical recording. Meet you inside the music.”

"Stay Free", the lead single, is a powerhouse track that blends hard rock's raw energy with a heavy dose of blues, channeling the spirit of legends like AC/DC and LED ZEPPELIN. It sets the tone for what fans can expect from "V" — a testament to the band's dynamic synergy and creative evolution.

Since their debut in 2010, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION has delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums, each showcasing the group's ability to fuse British blues-rock with American soul in a way that captivates audiences worldwide. Their return with "V" reaffirms their status as rock royalty and showcases their growth as musicians and storytellers.

Shirley's insight into the recording process highlights the unique chemistry and camaraderie within the band. "When we convened in 2023 to start recording the album 'V', it really was like picking up the day after the most recent gig," Shirley reflects. "The camaraderie is immediately evident. Once they start playing, everyone is deadly serious, and the music sounds like this band, and nothing else sounds like it."

"V" is a milestone that celebrates the journey, talent, and vision of BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. As the band embarks on this new chapter, they invite fans old and new to join them in experiencing the depth and power of "V".

During an appearance on an August 2023 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Hughes stated about the musical direction of the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION material: "It sounds like BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION. There's not too many left turns, there's nothing happening that's weirdly different. We followed a vibe of the first four albums, so it it's an extension, but it's really a progression, if you can call it a progression. Everybody's playing out of their skin. The vibe in the camp has never been so friendly and fun. It's a really, really great vibe in the band. And we had a great time at Sunset Sound [studios] in Hollywood. And I can't wait for you to hear it."

Bonamassa told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION album: "The thing about BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, whether you like the way we sound or not, when we all get together, it has a very specific thing that it does. Everybody brings a very specific thing to the table, and it's a special band."

According to Joe, he brought the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members back together to make the follow-up to "BCCIV", which was released in September 2017 and marked BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's first studio effort since 2013's "Afterglow". "I was the one that kind of initiated the text, be, like, 'Hey, is there anybody interested in doing a fifth one?'" he said. "And Derek got back to me. Jason got back to me pretty quickly. And Glenn called me and said, 'I can't do anything until this DEAD DAISIES situation goes one way or the next.' And I said, 'Fair enough.' So when Glenn left THE DEAD DAISIES [in 2022], that was kind of the green light for us to get back together."

Regarding the songwriting process for BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's fifth album and how it compared to that on the band's previous efforts, Joe said: "This was the same. I went over to Glenn's house about six times and we hashed out some ideas — pretty rough, loose ideas. Nothing in stone. And so I had a playlist on my phone, voice memos, BCC 1 through 10. And that was it. So, so day one, we just [said], 'Okay, let's start with BCC 1.' And we sat in the courtyard at Sunset Sound — they have this really nice courtyard with a bunch of chairs — and we sat out there with an acoustic guitar and a couple of things and we just bashed out the arrangement. We were, like, 'Okay, that's cool.' We went in, played it three or four times and that was it. Nobody charted anything; we just kind of memorized it and did it. And we would go into the control room, listen a little bit, maybe tweak something, but once it fired up and after the second day, we really hit our stride, going, 'Okay, the band's back.' 'Cause we hadn't played together in six years."

As for the recording process for the new BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION disc, Joe said: "There's not a lot of overdubs. I rarely double the guitars, 'cause Glenn's bass sound is so big and distorted, you know what I mean? It's, like, why do I need to double the guitar? Same thing with Derek. It's almost like playing in the band FREE. All of the sound comes from the four of us. And Jason takes up a huge amount of bandwidth; he's such a big drummer."

In a September 2022 interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Bonamassa stated about what it is about a "band situation" that appeals to him, considering he has spent most of his career as a solo artist: "I like nothing more than to be a member of a band and playing guitar. I don't have to front it; I don't have to sing all the time. And it's a lot less pressure than being the front person. Being the person in front is a special skillset. You have to be an entertainer. You can't just sit up there and stare at your guitar and go, 'Wow. Look, I can play guitar pretty good.' That's not gonna fill the theater. You have to put on a show. And to put on a show requires being an entertainer. So being in a band, the sum of the parts is greater than the single entity. So this thing where Glenn co-fronts BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, I can just sit back and play rhythm guitar and watch him do his thing. He's a legend. And then conversely, Glenn doesn't have to sing all night; I'll sing three or four [songs]. So we kind of spread out the whole workload a little bit."

BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION's inception took place when Hughes and Bonamassa fused their styles on stage in Los Angeles for an explosive performance at Guitar Center's King Of The Blues event. With the help and guidance of Shirley, they further added to their rock lineage by recruiting Bonham and Sherinian.

In a 2017 interview, Hughes talked about the chemistry between the BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION members, especially since all the musicians have had successful careers prior to launching the group.

"This band was meant to be," Glenn said. "It was formed out of a friendship with Joe and I. We got the [other] guys to come in, and it's always been a strong brotherhood. And we're just very lucky and fortunate to have met. I've known Jason since he was [a kid]. I just think that these four guys in this band are the right guys to play in the band."

Press photo in tour poster by Rob Bondurant

Brent Fitz (SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS) will sit behind the drum kit for THE DEAD DAISIES when the band embarks on a 10-date European tour later this month. He will be filling in for THE DEAD DAISIES' most recent drummer Tommy Clufetos, who is unable to make the shows for reasons that have not been specified.

On June 11, Brent took to his social media to write: "EUROPE!! Here we come!!!! See you all this week! I'm thrilled to be playing drums with THE DEAD DAISIES for the month of June, filling in for the mighty Tommy Clufetos. Honored to be onstage with such an awesome band: Doug Aldrich, David Lowy, Michael David, and my dear friend John Corabi. John and I go way back…having long and celebrated musical history together in UNION. Very looking forward to being back onstage together!!! Can't wait to play and say hi to you all in Europe!"

Brent grew up in Winnipeg, toured across Canada in the early 1990s with legendary band STREETHEART, moved to Los Angeles in 1996, and as a multi-instrumentalist playing keys, drums and guitar, quickly became a sought-after musician, immediately touring and recording with international artists from around the globe. In the past decade and a half, Brent has toured the planet with GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash and had multiple Top 10 hits, including two No. 1 Billboard singles in U.S. and No. 1 albums around the globe. Brent has also worked with Alice Cooper, Gene Simmons (in his solo band),THE GUESS WHO, WHITFORD/ST. HOLMES (featuring Brad Whitford from AEROSMITH and Derek St. Holmes from TED NUGENT),UNION (with Bruce Kulick from KISS and John Corabi from MÖTLEY CRÜE),Vince Neil from MÖTLEY CRÜE, MONTROSE, THEORY OF A DEADMAN, MONSTER TRUCK, ECONOLINE CRUSH, HARLEQUIN and PHIL X & THE DRILLS (led by Phil X from BON JOVI).

THE DEAD DAISIES are an Australian-American supergroup, founded by rhythm guitarist and businessman David Lowy, which boasts a powerhouse rotating lineup of rock stars.

THE DEAD DAISIES are touring in support of their first full-fledged blues album, "Lookin' For Trouble", out now via Fame / Malaco Records. Tracked live at FAME Studios, the album's singles — "Boom Boom", a take on the John Lee Hooker classic, and "Crossroads", a tribute to Robert Johnson — have earned praise for their energy and authenticity. Raised By Cassettes called "Crossroads" "a high-energy performance that bridges past and present." Other standout tracks include "Going Down" (Freddie King),"Black Betty" (Lead Belly),"Sweet Home Chicago" (Robert Johnson),"Born Under A Bad Sign" (Albert King) and "The Thrill Is Gone" (B.B. King).

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

EUROPE!! Here we come!!!! See you all this week! I’m thrilled to be playing drums with @thedeaddaisies for the month of...

Posted by Brent Fitz on Wednesday, June 11, 2025