arkness isn’t merely a theme for Downswing – it’s the environment they’ve learned to endure.

The Albany, New York outfit cultivates a heavy atmosphere and melodic depth, stripping away emotional armour and calloused defences to reveal something raw and defiantly honest. The band’s new album, And Everything Was Dark, serves as both a mission statement and a bold leap forward. It arrives October 24 via MNRK, the band’s new label home. Pre-order it here.

Today, the band shares the video for first single, “For What It’s Worth” (Feat. Travis Moseley of Colorblind). Watch it below. The song is a bleak outburst of betrayal, confusion, and emotional fallout.

“As a collective going into the studio, we knew that ‘For What It’s Worth’ was a heavy favorite,” says vocalist Harrison Seanor. “Right from the opening riff, it just has that energy, that drive. It’s hard not to bang your head.”

Since 2016, Downswing have steadily evolved into a powerhouse of modern metal and groove. The group’s current incarnation emphasizes big choruses, bigger breakdowns, atmosphere, and emotion. “This is the first time it feels like we’re doing exactly what we want,” says Seanor, who joined the band in 2020. “We’re not chasing any specific trend or scene. We’re Downswing.”

Downswing are comprised of Seanor, guitarist Anthony Salvaggio, bassist Chris Arnold, and drummer Nick Manzella. Created with a focus on clarity and impact, And Everything Was Dark builds on the sonic foundation of their earlier work while boldly venturing into new territory. Gargantuan riffs and breakdowns intertwine with massive hooks, textures, and lyrics that resonate deeper than ever before. Downswing formed in 2018 and quickly made waves with their unique blend of metallic hardcore aggression and groove-driven heaviness. Early releases, such as the Dark Side Of The Mind EP (2017) and Good Intentions (2020), cultivated a dedicated following in the underground and earned the band a reputation for high intensity.



Tracklisting:

“No God To Me”
“Emptiness Remains”
“Drowned Out”
“Thanks For Nothing”
“In A Daze”
“For What It’s Worth” (Feat. Travis Moseley)
“Stand By…”
“Serpent”
“Letting Go” (Feat. Elijah Witt)
“Too Little Too Late” (Feat. Chris Roetter)
“Eternal”

Brazilian thrash metal warhorses, Distraught, are back swinging harder than ever, channeling over three decades of rage, grit and social consciousness into their brand-new music video, “Extermination Of Mother Nature”.

Lifted from the band’s latest EP, inVolution, the track is a furious and unrelenting blast that rips through the political negligence and corporate greed responsible for the catastrophic floods that devastated Rio Grande do Sul in 2024 – a disaster that swallowed entire cities, displaced thousands and claimed countless lives.

“This isn’t just a song about a flood. It’s a direct indictment”, says frontman and founding member André Meyer. “Water is supposed to represent life — here it became a weapon of destruction, washing away homes, dreams and broken promises.”

Shot at the historic Lower Platform of the Charqueadas Pier (RS) – once a hub for coal transport in the 1950s and now a haunting monument to neglect — the video amplifies the band’s message with striking, desolate imagery.

Watch the video below:



inVolution is a conceptual EP with five brutal cuts, each representing a natural element — Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Aether — as the band tears through themes of environmental collapse, greed, denialism and moral decay.

With a legacy forged over 35 years, six full-length albums, two live releases and a trail of hard-hitting singles and covers, Distraught stands tall as one of the enduring pillars of Brazilian heavy music. Uncompromising, politically charged and heavier than ever, the band channels decades of rage and reflection into their latest opus, inVolution – more than just a new release, it’s a searing call to awareness through art and aggression. Fronted by André Meyer (vocals) and completed by Ricardo Silveira and Everton Acosta (guitars), Alan Holz (bass) and Thiago Caurio (drums), the band continues to redefine the boundaries of South American thrash.

“Metal isn’t just about attitude — it’s also about awareness”, says founding vocalist André Meyer. “’inVolution’ is a warning about the abyss of human deconstruction we’re headed toward. And it might be closer than we think if nothing changes.”



Stream the EP here.

The band is currently considering a physical release for inVolution and invites labels worldwide to join forces in spreading their latest statement of intent.

Following the release of their Destination album (released in May via ROAR), German gothic metal pioneers, Crematory, continue their legacy of darkness and power with a special series of reissues, unleashed through ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music.

Today, the band proudly re-releases limited vinyl editions of the albums Illusions (1995), Das Deutsche Album (1996) and Awake (1997).

In the mid-1990s, Crematory emerged as a leading force in the German gothic metal scene. Formed in 1991, the band fused death metal roots with darkwave and gothic influences, creating a unique sound marked by growled vocals, melodic keyboards, and melancholic themes. By the time “Illusions” was released in 1995, Crematory had refined their identity, gaining international attention with emotionally charged songs and powerful live performances. Their work during this era helped shape the sound of European gothic metal, and alongside 90s cult acts such as Type O Negative, Tiamat, Moonspell, The Gathering and Paradise Lost, Crematory became one of the most successful representatives of their genre.

Each release comes as a collector’s edition and in digital formats – remastered by Crematory guitarist and producer Rolf Munkes – carefully reissued to bring these milestones of gothic and death metal back to the turntable where they belong. Order now:

On October 17, Crematory will continue their reissue campaign with three more fan favorites, once again via ROAR.



Act Seven (1999) – A cornerstone in the band’s catalogue, blending gothic melancholy with thunderous riffs, showing Crematory at the height of their creative force! Believe (2000), the band’s dark yet melodic masterpiece that pushed boundaries with its fusion of electronic elements and gothic metal intensity, marking a bold step into a new millennium. Same like Revolution (2004): True to its name, this album saw Crematory embrace evolution with modern touches while staying deeply rooted in their trademark gothic sound.

This marks a unique chance for fans and collectors to own these defining records in exclusive vinyl form as well as digital — a celebration of more than three decades of relentless gothic metal spirit.

For Crematory, the fire still burns. For the fans, the classics live again. Collect them. Spin them. Keep the legacy alive. Pre-order via the links below.

Acclaimed multi-instrumentalist and progressive rock visionary, Neal Morse, returns to his singer-songwriter roots with the heartfelt and introspective new solo album, Never Been Down This Road.

Available on October 31, you can pre-order the album here. A visualizer for the single “Reach Deep” can be found below.

Known for his work on recent prog-rock masterpieces including No Hill For A Climber (with Neal Morse & The Resonance) and Deep Water (with Cosmic Cathedral), Morse now offers fans a more personal collection, rich with storytelling, emotion, and spiritual depth.

Written in the quiet early hours at the grand piano in his studio – a daily practice for Morse – Never Been Down This Road captures the spontaneous magic of inspiration as it comes. The result is an album that blends deeply personal reflections with narratives of people he has encountered and songs came from day to day inspiration, spanning genres from folk and pop to worship and soul.

Following in the tradition of 2024’s Late Bloomer, this new release showcases Morse’s solo artistry in full. With the exception of saxophone and backing vocals, all instruments and vocals were performed by Morse himself, further emphasizing the album’s raw, intimate nature.

“Never Been Down This Road feels like a journey through my heart, my memories, and sometimes the hearts of characters I’ve imagined,” says Morse. “It’s a quieter kind of album—less about the epic, more about the honest moment. I hope people connect with it the way I have.”



Tracklisting:

“Leavin’ California”
“New Man”
“Reach Deep”
“Open Up Again”
“Never Been Down This Road”
“The Most Important Person”
“The Heart Always Known”
“Breathe The Air”

The Scottish rock warriors, Heavy Pettin, release the title track and video from the brand-new studio album, Rock Generation, which is set for release on on October 24 via Silver Lining Music. Pre-orders available now, here.

Vocalist and founding member, Stephen “Hamie” Hayman comments: “Heavy Pettin are back!!!! Rock Generation is a celebration for all rock fans around the world… Made to ROCK ur Soul.”

A music video for the first single, “Rock Generation”, by Bernhard Kellerer at Rocktopia Ltd., can be found below

Back in the ‘80s, Scottish rock ‘n’ roll warriors Heavy Pettin strode stages worldwide whilst their debut album, 1983’s Lettin Loose, threatened to break the rock world apart. They were seen as the natural ascendants to rock’s highest echelons, touring internationally alongside the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Motley Crüe as wild Glaswegian whippersnappers. Then life happened and Heavy Pettin went on a triple decade hiatus.

Listening to Heavy Pettin’s first new studio album since 1989 – Rock Generation – feels more like a 30 week’ hiatus augmented by a supreme confidence. Led by founding frontman Stephen “Hamie” Hayman, featuring Dave “Davo” Aitken and Richie “St. James” Dews on guitars and backing vocals, plus David “Boycee” Boyce on bass and Mick “The Wizard” Ivory on drums, Rock Generation is a sonically-superb, classic song-strong rock ‘n’ roll return to that glorious slipstream between Def Leppard, Whitesnake and Thin Lizzy. The ten cuts bristle with full-frontal attitude and powerful melodies. Take the title track, with its hip swinging anthemic swagger, there’s “Oblivion” with guest vocals from Roni Lee which carries a true Celtic swing in its groove plus an addictive singalong chorus, while “X-Rated” fuses the attitude of Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street with the punch and panache of the Sunset Strip.

Made in Glasgow at Morsecode Studios and produced with a timeless sheen by Ciarán O’Shea, make no mistake, Rock Generation is only interested in bringing you on a thrill-ride through the carefree sweat and leather landscape of cut-loose heavy rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a mission which will demand -and receive- your willing acquiescence.

Rock Generation will be available as a vinyl, CD, and on digital formats.



Tracklisting:

“Rock Generation”
“Faith Healer (Kill My Demons)”
“Brother Sister”
“Oblivion”
“Mother Earth”
“X – Rated”
“Bullets and Pills”
“Line In The Sand”
“Live UR Best Life”
“This Life”

SICK OF IT ALL bassist Craig Setari was interviewed by "Reckless" Rexx Ruger for a new episode of the Pod Scum podcast. Asked what his initial reaction was when SICK OF IT ALL vocalist Lou Koller went public in late June 2024 with the news that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his esophagus, Craig said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, first and foremost, Lou's my friend, and we're like four brothers [in SICK OF IT ALL]. So the first concern was for his health. Everything else is secondary. So he was like saying, 'I'm sorry we can't do this tour. I know you guys need to tour and pay your bills.' And we were, like, 'Just get better. Just give this your all.' So, really, what it comes down to is him being healthy. The band is secondary, as much as it's weird for me to say that, 'cause all four of us are so wrapped up in this band and this music for our entire teenage and adult lives. But ultimately he has to do well and get better, which he's doing."

Craig continued: "Lou's a unique individual in that he'll complain about a sandwich he gets from the deli and he'll, like, chew your ear off. You'll be, like, 'All right already. I know you don't like the sandwich.' He'll annoy you about something that's insignificant and be in a grouchy mood, but you tell him, 'Hey, you got this situation, and it could be' — I don't even wanna say the words, but it could be very serious. He's, like, 'Yeah, don't worry. I'll take care of it. I'm gonna handle it.' So when real stuff happens, he steps up. He's tough as nails. He'll complain about little things that don't mean anything. And I guess in retrospect that that's a good way to be."

Asked if the interpersonal relationships between the members of SICK OF IT ALL are complicated by the fact that there are two brothers in the band, Lou and guitarist Pete Koller, Craig said: "Well, they're hardworking guys. They're the kind of guys, if you say to them, 'We have to climb this mountain now. It's life or death,' okay, they'll do it. So they put one foot in front of the other and just go. They were always like that. So even when there's a problem, we don't let it affect the bottom line, the band. So we argue and stuff and we've all had beefs with each other. But the bottom line is the machine keeps trudging forward. That's kind of the attitude… Two plus two is four, at the end of the day. Any kind of drama — like we were talking about earlier, Lou will complain about a sandwich or a parking spot, and he'll make way too big of a deal out of it, and you'll be, like, 'Oh, man, can you just stop already?' But when real stuff happens, he's, like, 'Yeah, okay, we're gonna do this now.' So he makes a ruffle out of little stuff. But when real stuff happens, those guys are tough."

Asked if SICK OF IT ALL has worked on any new music for the follow-up to the band's latest album, "Wake The Sleeping Dragon!", which was released in November 2018 via Century Media, Craig said: "Yeah, we have a bunch of songs. We're planning to get together and start working on that. Lou is right now cancer free. He gets another evaluation in roughly two to three months. He's gonna get six-month evaluations. But he responded very well to the treatment. And the plan is in 2026, somewhere in the warm weather of 2026, to potentially play some shows, if everything goes like it's been going. We're not gonna play as much as we did, obviously. It's gonna be selective. So, if you wanna see us, when you see we're playing, you come out and see us. Because we're not gonna be playing… We used to be like MOTÖRHEAD. We played down the block and here and there. Now we have to be more selective because this man has to conserve his energy after what he's been through. So, SICK OF IT ALL is still gonna be a full-time band, but I don't think we're gonna be playing every little show on Tuesday and Monday night like we used to. We're gonna pick our spots. And people, if you wanna see us play, you come out. We're gonna be a little more selective, like I said. But, yeah, I can't wait to get out there."

Craig continued: "Lou's doing well. He's just on the mend right now. He went through a lot, so it's gonna take him a good year. The doctor said a year, year and a half till you feel right again."

Asked about the possibility of European shows for SICK OF IT ALL in 2026, Craig said: "Well, we have to start easy. We're gonna start — the plan would be tentatively to start with some festivals in America. We're on hold for a few things for next year. And it would be weekend fly-in-type stuff — fly in, play this festival, come home. Fly, play this festival, come home. Maybe play two shows on the weekend, come home. So it would start out like that, and then we'd see how it builds up. I mean, Europe would be, hopefully, after some American festivals. Europe would be some festivals. As far as long tours in a van, not right away, but who knows? We've gotta build it back together, put it back together."

A benefit concert supporting Koller's battle with esophageal cancer was held on November 23, 2024 at Irving Plaza in New York City. The "I'm In The Fight With Lou" event featured performances by VISION OF DISORDER, LIFE OF AGONY and MUNICIPAL WASTE, as well as veteran New York hardcore acts KILLING TIME and CROWN OF THORNZ. Notably, it marked VISION OF DISORDER's first live appearance since 2018. It was also LIFE OF AGONY's first show since the band's singer Keith Caputo — who came out as transgender and assumed the name Mina Caputo in 2011 — announced that he had "cured" his gender dysphoria and was planning to "physically completely detransition" in 2025 before officially changing his name back to Keith Caputo.

After Lou went public in late June 2024 with the news that doctors discovered a cancerous tumor in his esophagus, his brother Pete set up a GoFundMe campaign to help cover some of the costs of his cancer treatment and assist with living expenses while the group is off the road and unable to tour. That campaign raised more than $300,000, with fellow artists AFI, RANCID and DROPKICK MURPHYS contributing $5,000 apiece, and bands such as SNAPCASE and HOT WATER MUSIC also making generous donations.

The long-running New York Hardcore band subsequently canceled its previously announced European tour dates.

When Lou first posted about the diagnosis on social media, he said: "[Doctors] found a tumor in my esophagus that goes into my stomach, and I'll have to be getting treatment all summer — and of course, with full support of the band. As soon as they heard it, they were, like, 'Forget the tour. Just get healthy.' … They're all behind me staying home and us staying home."

Koller ended the message by saying: "I'll hopefully beat this thing and see you at the end of the summer … or maybe the winter."

SICK OF IT ALL's European tour was supposed to kick off in the Czech Republic on July 4, 2024.

Press photo courtesy of Century Media Records / The Orchard

BREAKING BENJAMIN drummer Shaun Foist has announced that he will "step away" from touring with the band to "focus on healing" in his ongoing battle with Hashimoto's disease.

Earlier today (Thursday, August 28),Shaun released the following statement via social media: "Friends, family, and most importantly, the fans I've battled Hashimoto's disease since 2017, facing fatigue, leg weakness, stiffness, weight changes, and overall drum playing control issues. During the [spring 2025] 'Awaken The Fallen' tour, I was experiencing extreme leg fatigue and complications, making drumming nearly impossible. We ran tests on my back that came out fine thankfully, but tests confirmed Hashimoto's had flared, pushing my thyroid into 'hyper' mode, causing weakness and weight loss.

"After speaking with my family and doctors, I've decided to step away from the road at this time to focus on healing.

"Please continue supporting the band and enjoying the shows.

"I care deeply about our legacy, and I don't want my health to affect performances.

"Thank you for the years of love and support. I will play drums again."

According to the Cleveland Clinic, Hashimoto's disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland. It can cause lower-than-normal levels of thyroid hormone in the body. This affects several areas of the body and causes symptoms like fatigue, weight gain and constipation. Hashimoto's disease is treatable with medication.

Prior to joining the revamped lineup of BREAKING BENJAMIN, Foist spent 13 years immersing himself in all things drumming, including playing with PICTURE ME BROKEN, a band fronted by Gregg Allman's daughter Brooklyn Allman.

Foist has been laying down a heavy, meticulous groove on the road and in recording studios for numerous Midwest and East Coast rock bands for over 20 years. As the current drummer for BREAKING BENJAMIN, Shaun and the rest of his bandmates (under the direction of BREAKING BENJAMIN's frontman, founder and principal songwriter Benjamin Burnley) experienced a first-time thrill of a lifetime when the band's album "Dark Before Dawn" debuted at No. 1 on Billboard. The band's first single ("Failure") also held down the No. 1 spot on Rock Radio airplay nationwide for eight consecutive weeks.

With influences including Neil Peart, Tico Torres and John Bonham, Shaun continues to study and be inspired by the work of his contemporaries — and considers live performance and touring two essential keys in fully developing as an artist.

When not recording, touring or conducting drum clinics, Shaun enjoys passing his valuable insight and life experience on to his students via in-person and online classes.

We are thankful to @shaunwfoist for all the years of playing with us and being a part of the Breaking Benjamin family. The fall tour starts tomorrow and we are welcoming our friend @cassells to the stage.

🫶🏼

Posted by Breaking Benjamin on Thursday, August 28, 2025

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols", an album that rewired 20 years of rock in under 40 minutes, is available today from Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi),the premium vinyl reissue series. Order here.

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols (Rhino High Fidelity)" was cut from the original master tapes by Kevin Gray and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl at Optimal in Germany. This release is limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies and available exclusively at Rhino.com and select Warner Music Group stores internationally.

Singer and main lyricist Johnny Rotten (John Lydon),guitarist Steve Jones, drummer Paul Cook and bassist Glen Matlock — later replaced by Sid Vicious — recorded the SEX PISTOLS' only studio album at Wessex Sound in London. Released in 1977, it debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. charts despite being banned by major retailers and causing widespread controversy. Bristling with broadsides like "Anarchy In The U.K.", "God Save The Queen", "Pretty Vacant" and "Holidays In The Sun", the album distilled rage and disillusionment into a single, unrelenting statement.

In the album's new liner notes, producer Chris Thomas recalls how the band found their recording approach almost by accident during an early session. "We put down a track, just rhythm guitar and drums, pretty much first-take, no mistakes. It was impossible to know if it was any good, so, being a bit stumped, I asked Steve if he would like to have a go at putting the bass part on."

Instead of playing a traditional bass line, he simply mirrored his guitar an octave lower — an unexpected move that snapped everything into focus. "It was an absolute 'Eureka!' moment," Thomas recalls. "The combination was so powerful, so simple. We bashed three more songs down, adding the bass and double-tracking the guitar in just a couple of hours. We were seriously in first-take territory."

Sadly, just months after the album came out, the band unraveled, breaking up in January 1978 during their U.S. tour. But the SEX PISTOLS' legacy far outlasted their time together. "Never Mind The Bollocks" has sold over a million copies in the U.S. alone, was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame, and ranks high among the greatest albums of all time in lists by Rolling Stone, NME and Time. Nearly five decades later, the record remains a defining force in punk and a cultural lightning rod.

Rhino High Fidelity continues to tap into Warner Music's vast catalog, introducing reissues of seminal albums across genres—from rock and pop to jazz, soul, and beyond. Each title pairs uncompromising audio with archival-grade packaging, honoring the album's original intent in both sound and design.

"Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols (Rhino High Fidelity)" LP track listing:

Side One

01. Holidays In The Sun
02. Bodies
03. No Feelings
04. Liar
05. Problems
06. God Save The Queen

Side Two

01. Seventeen
02. Anarchy In The U.K.
03. Sub-Mission
04. Pretty Vacant
05. New York
06. EMI

In a recent interview with Australia's Spotlight Report, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach unleashed a hilarious, no-holds-barred rant over self-proclaimed "vocal experts" and "vocal instructors" on YouTube who have criticized his live performances, as captured in various videos on the platform. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET):  "YouTube is so hilarious. I see videos of guys that call themselves vocal experts or vocal instructors or whatever, and these idiots watch a video of me on stage, like at Wembley Stadium, running around with no shirt on in hundred-degree weathers. And I'll do a note in my concert footage, and they'll sit in their chair and go, 'Ah, ah,' sitting in their chair, watching it on YouTube, thinking that's the same fucking thing as me running around on stage in the summertime. And I don't get to sit down and watch and go, 'See, I can do that.'"

Addressing his critics directly, Sebastian continued: "You can't do shit. And another thing is you don't just do one note of the song. The challenge is to sing the whole song 'I Remember You'. And then at the end there's a scream, and you'd better be ready for that. So spare me sitting there like this, going, 'Oh, see, I can do that.' No, you have no clue what the hell it is that I do. Sing the whole fucking song — then hit the scream at the end in a hundred-degree weather, on no sleep, jet lagged."

Bach added: "It just makes me laugh. It's just so funny that people think that they know how to get on a stage and rock for an hour and a half or two hours. It's a dying art, and you can't sit in your living room, in your air conditioning, watching it on YouTube, thinking you have a fucking clue about what it is to get up on that stage and do it every single night. It's not physically or mentally easy to do. And there's so many of these so-called vocal experts that I could kick 'em right in the balls. Because don't even think you know what it is that a guy like me does. I'm not saying this to you — I'm saying this to all the experts in their basement, in their air conditioning. It's really hilarious."

Sebastian previously blasted critics of his live performances this past January during an appearance on an episode of "The Jasta Show", the podcast hosted by HATEBREED frontman Jamey Jasta. He said at the time: "The Internet is so hilarious. You can relate to this. When you're doing show after show, night after night, some nights better than others. That's just the way it is. Unless you wanna use tapes — that's your only option to do everything perfect. We're human beings. So if you don't sing exactly like the record, you might read a comment like, 'Oh, he doesn't sound like the record.' And I'm, like, there's a difference between not being able to sound like the record and not giving a shit. I hate to break it to you, but if you're at some dumpy club on a Tuesday night in the middle of nowhere, and you're just not feeling it, you might not give your ultimate performance of your fucking life that night. Maybe you will, but maybe you fucking won't, because you're not inspired. Human beings are emotional people, and sometimes I feel like a nut, sometimes I don't."

Referencing JOURNEY frontman Arnel Pineda, who was panned for his performance with the band at the 2024 edition of Rock In Rio festival in in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, Sebastian added: "Did you watch [Arnel's 2012] movie, 'Don't Stop Believin'', which details his rise? Well, there's a hilarious part in there where he does his first show with JOURNEY and he's running around like a madman and he's going crazy, jumping, and he comes on stage and they're all looking at him. They were, like, 'Dude, what the fuck was that?' That's the story of my life. And I'll tell you why. There's a saying, when you're making a record, you're playing for your audience. When you're doing a show, your audience is playing you. That is the most spot-on…

"I was thinking about this last night," he continued. "My job is to be as excited as I can be at the same time as being as calm as I can. How the fuck is that [possible]? Because if I'm too excited, I suck. I have to remember what I'm doing, because when I look at Arnel, he's just caught up in the crowd. He's in front of a hundred thousand people and he's in the pit, and he's, like, 'Look at this shit.' He's not making a record. He's jumping in the pit with the security guards.

"When you're making a record, you're standing in an air-conditioned room, and you can try it as many times as you feel like it and get it perfect," Bach explained. "That is not what a rock concert is. A rock concert is like going to battle. Well, to me — I don't know why it's like that, but I feel like it's a fight, it's like a fucking boxing match."

Sebastian Bach's latest album, "Child Within The Man", came out in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music. The LP was recorded in Orlando, Florida; produced and mixed by Michael "Elvis" Baskette; engineered by Jef Moll, assistant engineered by Josh Saldate; and mastered by Robert Ludwig of Gateway Mastering. Bach wrote or co-wrote all the album's 11 tracks and sang all lead and backing vocals. "Child Within The Man" features guest appearances from John 5, Steve Stevens and Orianthi — who all co-wrote their respective tracks with Bach — and two tracks co-written with Myles Kennedy ("What Do I Got to Lose?" and "To Live Again"); Devin Bronson on guitars, Todd Kerns (bass) and Jeremy Coulson (drums) round out the players on the album.

"Child Within The Man" has yielded several singles/videos, all of which have impacted the rock charts: "Freedom", "What Do I Got To Lose?", "Everybody Bleeds", "(Hold On) To The Dream" and "Future Of Youth".

Poland’s Christ Agony have released a lyric video for their new single. Find the clip for “Nocturnal Dominion” below.

After nine long years since the release of their last studio album, Christ Agony returns with the new album, Anthems.

And despite all that has been said and done, the mastermind Cezar is still standing. What’s more, Cezar has managed to pull himself out of the abyss of extreme life in favour of a more quiet, observational and mature attitude as an artist and a human being.

His return will not be met with universal applause – not even from the black metal scene. For anyone who has followed the turbulent career of Cezar and his pioneering band, which pushed the boundaries of the genre into new territory, this comes as no great surprise. With their ninth studio album, Anthems, Christ Agony once again presents a work that can compete with the trilogy of albums considered by many to be the pinnacle of the black metal pioneers’ earlier career: Unholyunion (1993), Daemoonseth Act II (1994) and Moonlight (1996).

Like a hellish steamroller, each track on Anthems crushes and crushes. The album features all the darkest elements that Christ Agony is known for: sharp, distinctive vocals, the weight of the guitars, moments of ecstasy and beauty captured in hellish soundscapes. And yet there are also subtle details that the musically experienced Cezar has always cleverly hidden in his sonic assault, such as acoustic guitars, uplifting vocal choruses, and a touch of melancholy.

Anthems connects Christ Agony to their glory days – not as a nostalgic reminiscence, but as a forward-looking continuation and next evolutionary step.

If there is one thing that distinguishes this album, it is the maturity that comes from experience and learning. Cezar’s diabolically catchy songs are heavier than ever and have not lost their edge. This may be due to the fact that this is the first Christ Agony album that Cezar has composed and produced for many years. Anthems makes Christ Agony enter the musical arena again. This album clearly has great musical strength and lyrical courage. Christ Agony has set another ambitious milestone with Anthems.

Anthems will be released on September 26 via Deformeathing Production.



Tracklisting:

“Empire Of Twilight”
“Throne Of Eternal Silence”
“Sanctuary Of Death”
“Rites Of The Black Sun”
“Dark Waters”
“Nocturnal Dominion”

Extreme metal trailblazers SOULFLY will deliver their tribally fueled thirteenth album, "Chama", on October 24 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Today, SOULFLY offers fans the first taste from the album in the form of the lead single "Storm The Gates". A battle cry against control and greed, the track summons ancestral strength and unites the tribe in rebellion — heavy, primal, and unapologetically relentless. The lyric video, which was created by Costin Chioreanu, can be seen below.

SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera comments: "Chama is the Brazilian word for flame. It also means a 'calling'. Respect to Alex Pereira for using 'Itsari' on his UFC walkouts.

"'Chama' is inspired by the energy of this moment. This record is the sound of SOULFLY's fire! I cannot wait to play these songs live for the Tribe! Chama!"

SOULFLY drummer Zyon Cavalera, who co-produced "Chama", states: "With each SOULFLY record I've played on, I can feel my evolution happening in real time. This record was no different as I got to handle a good amount of the production for the first time. Trying to take the band to places we have never been before was a blast and I look forward to more production work in the future!"

"Chama" track listing:

01. Indigenous Inquisition
02. Storm The Gates
03. Nihilist
04. No Pain = No Power
05. Ghenna
06. Black Hole Scum
07. Favela / Dystopia
08. Always Was, Always Will Be...
09. Soulfly XIII
10. Chama

"Chama" was recorded at the Platinum Underground Studio in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino. John has worked with Max and company multiple times before and is not only a talented engineer but a family friend. The album was produced by Zyon Cavalera and Arthur Rizk. The latter was also responsible for the mixing and mastering. Rizk has not only worked with the Cavalera family numerous times before, but has also helped to shape the world of heavy metal in the modern day. SOULFLY enlisted Carletta Parrish to create the album artwork. For the album, Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD & DIE, NAILBOMB, HEALING MAGIC) played bass and Mike De Leon played guitar. The album also features Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) on one of the tracks.

SOULFLY's lineup on "Chama" is:

Max Cavalera - Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass
Zyon Cavalera - Drums
Mike De Leon – Guitar

SOULFLY played "Favela / Dystopia" live for the first time on July 8 at Maimunarnika in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In a recent interview with MetalUnderground.com, Max stated about the musical direction of the new SOULFLY material: "The record, it's cool. It feels to me [like it] has the adventurous spirit of the first record [1998's 'Soulfly']. Sonically, it's pretty different from the first record — it's more intricate and maybe even heavier, heavier grooves. But in terms of spirit and attitude, it's similar to the first record, which I think is cool that I got to figure out a way to put my mind back at that time and what made me create that record and use it again on a new record. It's pretty fun. It's kind of hard to do, but I think it was an exciting thing to tackle. It was kind of, like, 'Let's try to do this. Let's see if you can use your first album as somehow some kind of inspiration for your thirteenth record. [Laughs] And that was great, man. I love that. I love that kind of vibe that the record has."

Cavalera continued: "That's the cool thing about this record. It's kind of, in a way, a return to what me and fans of SOULFLY fell in love with SOULFLY for. And then throughout the years, many of the other records had a lot of different vibes in it. Some of them went more thrashy with stuff like 'Dark Ages' [2005], 'Omen' [2010], 'Conquer' [2008]. So, to me, making a record that sonically is inspired by the first thing that you did as a band, it was a challenge — there's a challenge in that — 'cause it's easier said than done. Because I don't wanna just copy that first record either. There's no point in doing that. I'm just using it as inspiration. It's really just full on for metal inspiration. The songs [themselves], they're gonna have their own personality and their own vibe. But, yeah, it's coming out quite interesting. I'm excited to hear what the fans are gonna think about this one."

This past May, SOULFLY recruited Chase Bryant (WARBRINGER) to play bass on the band's European tour, which kicked off on June 7 at the South Of Heaven festival in Maastricht, Netherlands.

A month earlier, SOULFLY parted ways with the band's longtime bassist Mike Leon.

Leon, formerly of HAVOK, joined SOULFLY in September 2015 as the replacement for STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos, who left SOULFLY in May of that year.

"Totem" came out in August 2022 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Ritual" was recorded at Platinum Underground in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino and Arthur Rizk with assistance from John Powers. Produced by Max Cavalera alongside Arthur Rizk (KREATOR, MUNICIPAL WASTE, CODE ORANGE),the LP boasts guest appearances from John Powers (ETERNAL CHAMPION),Chris Ulsh (POWER TRIP),and John Tardy (OBITUARY). Rizk was also responsible for playing lead guitar on the record. The artwork for the album was created by James Bousema.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.

Guitarist Mike DeLeon has been touring with SOULFLY for more than two years. Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

In a November 2024 interview with Dave Rumbler of Metal-Roos, Max, who turned 56 years old earlier this month, said that he has no plans of slowing down in the coming years. "I was put on this planet to do this, and that's all I wanna do," he said. "It's all I know how to do and it's all I wanna do… Of course, we change as people as we get older, but I think there's some things in me, they are the same as they were when I was 15 years old — my passion for metal, how I feel about going on the stage and the goosebumps, the excitement is like a drug. You can't really get that anywhere else except on the stage. And those things don't change. And I love that.

"To me, I'm always looking forward to whatever tour we're doing, whatever album we're making," he continued. "There are challenges, but at the same time, they are great life opportunities. And I live life for the moment. I'm not one of those guys that — I don't live thinking 10 years from now. I live for right now for this, 'cause I don't know what's 10 years from now. I live the moment, and in the moment, this is what's going on right now. I grab it with both hands, man, and enjoy. And I try to teach that to my kids — enjoy the moment. It's a great thing. It's good to be alive. It's good to share this feeling with people around you. It's incredible. It's an incredible thing."

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

Jeff "Mantas" Dunn and Anthony "Abaddon" Bray, iconic co-founders of the pioneering black metal band VENOM, are reaching out to their loyal fans — the "Legions" — for support in a legal battle against former bandmate Conrad "Cronos" Lant. Since 2023, Mantas and Abaddon have fought to resolve two critical issues: securing recognition for their contributions to VENOM's legendary artwork and claiming their rightful share of merchandise profits from albums they co-wrote and performed, including "Welcome To Hell" (1981),"Black Metal" (1982),"At War With Satan" (1984) and "Possessed" (1985).

Now in their 60s, Mantas and Abaddon seek a fair resolution to ensure their families benefit from VENOM's enduring legacy, which helped define the black metal genre. "We're simply asking for what is rightfully ours," they said in a joint statement. "After decades of avoidable conflict, we want peace and closure."

Despite efforts to resolve the dispute amicably, the duo has been forced to pursue legal action, incurring significant personal and financial costs.

The legal battle intensified in June 2024, with Cronos suing Abaddon and Plastic Head Music Distribution Ltd, accusing the distributor of selling merchandise with Lant's copyrighted VENOM designs and Bray of approving the infringement through a licensing agreement. The dispute revolved around the fact that both parties were licensing and selling official VENOM merchandise featuring the contested designs.

Mantas and Abaddon express deep gratitude to Plastic Head for their support (including facilitating this crowdfunder) and to the Legions for their unwavering devotion. "It was the honor of a lifetime to create music that inspired a genre," they shared. "Your support has carried us through the best and hardest times."

After Abaddon's recent triumph over cancer, the pair pledge any surplus funds from their campaign to the MacMillan Cancer Charity.

The duo is calling on fans worldwide to help fund their legal fight. "If every fan bought us a pint, we could see this through," they said.

Contributions can be made at this location.

According to Law360.com, Lant testified in court that he joined VENOM in late 1979 and came up with the Satanic-themed designs used in the band's logo and album covers, which included goat heads, pentagrams and inverted crosses.

Bray filed a counterclaim for infringement against Lant and Lant's distributor, Razmataz.com Ltd., arguing that Bray was the real author of the works.

Because Lant was able to produce numerous sketches which demonstrated his design process and Bray was unable to do the same, Bray was deemed the owner of the original logo, while Lant was found to be the creator and copyright owner of all but one of the other artistic works in dispute.

Regarding the first VENOM logo used by the band — the version of the logo used on the album "Welcome To Hell", released by Neat Records in 1981, but that predated that release — High Court Recorder Amanda Michaels, who heard the case, wrote in her July 31, 2025 judgment, which has been obtained by BLABBERMOUTH.NET: "Mr Lant said that he had produced the logo soon after joining the band, whilst Mr Bray said that he had painted it himself onto a drum riser used for the band before Mr Lant joined it. Mr Bray's evidence was supported by Mr Dunn and Mr Ash [Stephen Ash, who was a friend of Bray's from 1977 and was involved in the early years of the band], both of whom agreed that the band had been called VENOM before Mr Lant joined it, and that VENOM['s first logo] was in use on the drum riser before he joined the band.

"The Defendants had no documentary support for the claim that the logo was designed by Mr Bray before autumn 1979," the judgment continued. "They initially relied on a photograph of the original vocalist [Clive] Archer standing on stage in front of a VENOM logo, saying this showed [the original] VENOM logo. Mr Bray said that this was taken at a birthday party and predated Mr Lant joining the band. However, the Defendants later conceded that the image had been cropped from a photograph which it was agreed had been taken at a performance in Newcastle in 1980 which showed Mr Lant on stage too, playing guitar. The logo in that complete photograph could be either version 1 or 2, so does not help to establish either side's case on VENOM Logo 1. On the other hand, there is a photograph of Mr Dunn standing before the drum riser on stage, and the logo on it appears to me to be VENOM Logo 1. The V is not shown in full, but the tops of the letter N, O and M are visible and are rounded rather than pointed, which means this was Logo 1. Mr Lant identified that photograph as being from a performance in about March 1980 in Newcastle. I think it likely that it is from the same gig as is shown in the larger photograph, but if it is not, it is from much the same time. Unfortunately, the fact that the band was using VENOM Logo 1 in early 1980 — which I do not think was really in issue — does not help me to resolve the question of who designed it.

"Mr Lant said that he started by redesigning the Sigil of Baphomet device, and the following week took some sketches of a new VENOM logo to rehearsals to show to the others," the judgment added. "He worked on the sketches and got Mr Bray's approval of them before reaching the final version, which was then put onto a drum riser. He believes that happened in late 1979 or early 1980. He disclosed some early sketches, which include some versions of the logo which are highly similar if not identical to VENOM Logo 1. However, the sketches are all undated and it is not possible to know the sequence in which they were drawn, or whether they were original works or copies of an existing form of the logo used as a baseline for design ideas. One such drawing shows a logo which is neither VENOM Logo 1 or 2 on a sketch of a ticket for a very early performance by the band. This does not help to establish dates or the sequence of design iterations. In the circumstances, it does not seem to me that Mr Lant's evidence that he drew VENOM Logo 1 as well as 2 is clearly supported by any documents. My finding that VENOM Logo 1 was in use on a drum riser in early 1980 cannot help me to resolve the issue of its authorship.

"Mr Lant's claim to authorship was contradicted by the evidence of Mr Bray, Mr Dunn and Mr Ash, all of whom were involved with the band prior to Mr Lant joining it. Both Mr Dunn and Mr Ash believe that Mr Bray was the author of VENOM Logo 1 and produced it before Mr Lant joined the band. Mr Ash said that he remembered helping to attach the signage with VENOM Logo 1 to the drum riser to do a show on Mr Bray's mother's lawn, when the band made so much noise that the neighbours called the police. Mr Dunn said that the version of the logo shown to him by Mr Lant at the rehearsal was VENOM Logo 2, not 1, and his willingness to accept that Mr Lant was the author of that version of the logo gives some weight to that evidence and his view that he did not draw VENOM Logo 1. On balance, I consider that I should accept the evidence for the Defendants on this point, the veracity of which was not challenged.

"Mr Dunn expressed the view in evidence that all of the artworks in issue were produced by the band and could be used by any member of the band. He thought that was made plain by the presence of copyright notices in the form '© Venom' on the albums and older merchandise, such as that produced by Razmataz in 1996. However, this was not either side's pleaded case. Also, in the 1990s the members of the band discussed entering into an agreement to share use of the band's artwork, but that did not happen. On the contrary, there is no suggestion that at any time Mr Lant authorised the Defendants to use his copyright works, or that Mr Bray authorised Mr Lant and Razmataz to use his works."

Nearly a decade ago, Dunn formed VENOM INC. with Bray and another former VENOM member, bassist/vocalist Tony "Demolition Man" Dolan.

Last December, approximately eight months after suffering his second heart attack, Dunn announced that he was leaving VENOM INC., explaining in a statement that his "health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to myself and my family," but adding that "there are also more personal issues which have influenced my decision."

Dunn suffered his first heart attack in May 2018 and underwent a double bypass surgery.

Mantas sat out VENOM INC.'s fall 2023 U.S. tour after revealing that his wife had been diagnosed with cancer. He was replaced on the trek by Mike Hickey, known for his work with VENOM, CARCASS, CATHEDRAL and CRONOS.

VENOM INC. is not to be confused with the Lant-fronted version of VENOM, which is continuing to tour and make albums under the VENOM moniker. Joining Cronos in that group are Rage (a.k.a. Stuart Dixon) on guitar and Danté (a.k.a. Danny Needham) on drums.

VENOM's classic lineup trio of Dunn, Lant and Bray recorded four studio LPs, "Welcome To Hell" (1981),"Black Metal" (1982),"At War With Satan" (1984) and "Possessed" (1985),and live album, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" (1986). Often cited by bands such as METALLICA, BEHEMOTH, CELTIC FROST and MAYHEM as major influences, they are one of the most revered bands of their generation. VENOM is still fronted by Cronos and headlines festivals all over the globe and continues to release new music while Dunn and Dolan had joined forces in the similarly named VENOM INC.

Abaddon was part of VENOM's classic lineup from 1978 to 1992. He then returned to the band in 1995 and stayed with them for four years before joining VENOM INC. alongside Dunn and Dolan. VENOM INC. released its debut album, "Avé", in August 2017. A year later, VENOM INC. revealed that it was recruiting Jeramie Kling of the Tampa-based melodic death metal band THE ABSENCE to fill in for Bray on a European tour while Abaddon stayed home to spend time with his newborn daughter.

Dunn, Bray and Dolan released three albums as VENOM between 1989 and 1992 — "Prime Evil" (1989),"Temples Of Ice" (1991) and "The Waste Lands" (1992).

In September 2022, Bray revealed that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma.

Japanese rock music promoter UPP-tone Music announced last month that Dunn and Bray will perform "VENOM classics" on November 30 at Shinjuku Antiknock, a legendary music venue in Tokyo, Japan, alongside some of Japan's finest black metal players: Masaki "Gezol" Tachi (SABBAT) on bass and vocals, Mirai Kawashima (SIGH) on vocals, Shinji "Samm" Tachi (METALUCIFER) on drums, and Noboru "Jero" Sakuma (ABIGAIL) on guitar. Support at the gig will come from SURVIVE and HELL FREEZES OVER.

Former MÖTLEY CRÜE and current THE DEAD DAISIES frontman John Corabi, who released two standalone solo singles in the last four years — 2021's "Cosi Bella (So Beautiful)" and 2022's "Your Own Worst Enemy" — has shared a new video message in which offered an update on the recording sessions for his upcoming solo album, tentatively due in 2026 via Frontiers Music Srl. John is once again working with Marti Frederiksen, a songwriter-for-hire who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others. Corabi said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm getting back in the studio with Mr. Marti Frederiksen and finishing up — finally — a solo record that I've been talking about doing forever. I kind of took a little bit of a break 'cause I don't understand all this streaming, Spotify, iHeartRadio stuff, whatever. But I did release, obviously, 'Cosi Bella', I released 'Your Own Worst Enemy', and now the rest of the record is almost finished. I signed with Frontiers, Sony, The Orchard, I guess, and I will give you guys updates as we go. Hopefully I can get some video in the studio with Marti when I get back."

He continued: "We've got a bunch of killer songs together. It's eclectic because I grew up in an era or in a time when there were no labels on anything. So it wasn't unusual for a guy like me to go see [BLACK] SABBATH on a Wednesday and then James Taylor on Friday, and then YES on Saturday and GRAND FUNK RAILROAD on Sunday. So we were all over the place. There was no labels, which I'm very much shooting for. So this is gonna be a very eclectic [album]. So hopefully you guys will dig this stuff. It's very eclectic. It's a little bit of everything. It's all the stuff that I grew up listening to. But I'm really, really proud of the stuff that Marti and I have been putting together, and with the help of his son Evan, it's gonna be awesome."

Known for his powerful voice and rich legacy with bands like MÖTLEY CRÜE, THE DEAD DAISIES, UNION and THE SCREAM, Corabi promises an organic 1960s-1970s-style record and can't wait to get back on the road with a talented solo band featuring his son Ian on drums, and a few great friends.

Corabi is a journeyman singer-songwriter and guitarist who burst on to the music scene with Hollywood Records recording artists THE SCREAM in 1991. Touring extensively throughout the United States on the strength of their songs "Man In The Moon", "I Believe In Me" and "Father Mother Son", John attracted the attention of radio, MTV, fans and critics alike.

MÖTLEY CRÜE's Nikki Sixx reached out to John after the departure of Vince Neil in 1992 and asked him to join the band for the writing and recording of their 1994 self-titled record. During the recording process of the follow-up "Generation Swine" album in late 1996, Neil returned to the band, and John started the band UNION with former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick.

UNION headed into a studio to record its debut self-titled album in 1998. With UNION, John released three albums between 1998 and 2001. Afterwards, John left UNION to join the band RATT on their 2001 summer tour, handling guitar and backing vocal duties. Touring constantly from 2001 to 2008, John eventually left the band to go out on his own.

John released the acoustic album "Unplugged" in 2012 and a live album, "Live 94, One Night In Nashville", in 2018, as well as multiple original and tribute singles. John received a phone call in 2015 to join the all-star collective called the dead daisies, and has since recorded the albums "Revolución", "Make Some Noise", "Live And Louder", "Burn It Down", "Light Em' Up" and a recently released blues covers record "Looking For Trouble".

For the last ten years, with THE DEAD DAISIES and as a solo acoustic artist, John has toured extensively in Europe, the United States, Japan, South America and Australia, playing all the major festivals and selling out shows to a growing, loyal fan base.

With his 2022 autobiography "Horseshoes And Hand Grenades" and 19 full-length records under his belt, spanning a 35-year career, John is anxious to release record number 20, and play the new songs live.

Corabi previously discussed his plans for new solo music this past May in an interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic. He said at the time: "I think, honestly, I wanna do something different. My outlet for heavier stuff, I can do with THE DAISIES. But I wanna experiment now. I've gotta be honest with you, lately I've been on a kick of CREEDENCE, John Fogerty. I thought that CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL stuff was fucking brilliant. Another guy that I saw a bazillion times when I was younger, [and I] had no idea who he was until he became a household name, who I still to this day love, is Bob Seger. So Bob Seger had some rock shit, but he was just a great storyteller, great songwriter. So, I don't know, man. I've really been listening to a lot of that stuff, but I'm not worrying about it."

Corabi continued: "I told my manager — initially I was, like, 'I wanna do a Bob Seger-type record.' My manager's, like, 'Great. If anybody I know can do it, it's you.' But then the more I thought about it, I go, 'I just wanna write. Let me see what I come up with.' And then Marti and I [have been writing together], and I've got a couple of other buddies that I started some songs with here in Nashville… I'm just gonna write 10, 15, 20 songs and then I'll pick the best eight or 10, whatever, and put 'em on a record. I'm not gonna worry about it. I'm not gonna overthink it. I'm just gonna write. But I do wanna write something that's just organic and very… I miss the '70s. I miss that whole eclectic, all-over-the-place, no-boxes type of shit that we grew up listening to. So I just wanna go for it. The only thing I can tell you guys, it's gonna be eclectic."

Corabi in 2016 said that he would avoid talking about MÖTLEY CRÜE in the future because he didn't want his comments about CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx to descend into a feud.

In an interview with Sweden Rock Magazine, Nikki said that writing the "Mötley Crüe" LP with Corabi was a prolonged and difficult experience. He went to call it "a very unfocused record" that was "painful for me, because John Corabi can't write lyrics, and I had to do all that work."

In February 2018, Corabi released a live album of his performance of MÖTLEY CRÜE's entire 1994 self-titled album, recorded on October 27, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee. "Live '94: One Night In Nashville" documents the album in its entirety along with the bonus track "10,000 Miles", which was originally released as a bonus track on the Japanese version of the "Quaternary" EP.

Corabi's autobiography, "Horseshoes And Hand Grenades", came out in June 2022 via Rare Bird Books. It was written with the help of MÖTLEY CRÜE historian/author Paul Miles. The book's description promised to detail the singer's "life from the mean streets of Philadelphia to the Sunset Strip." It featured stories from Corabi's tenures in MÖTLEY CRÜE, UNION, RATT and THE DEAD DAISIES, as well as personal tales including "his parents' difficult divorce, his family's dark history of abuse [and] his run-in with a serial killer."

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS has completed recording its new studio album for a tentative 2027 release.

On Thursday (August 28),SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS leader Slash took to his Instagram to share a photo of him with SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS bassist and backing vocalist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz, and he included the following message: "Recording for #SMKC record number 5 is done today. Album title [to be confirmed]. This has been a super cool session all around. & we all agree it's one of, if not the best one yet. Unfortunately you'll have to wait till 2027 to weigh in, too much going on next year to put it out. But it will be worth the wait. Full blown world tour to follow!"

In a recent interview with J.J. Caithcart of Different Stages Radio, Fitz spoke about the status of the songwriting and recording sessions for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' next album. He said at the time: "Well, we're working on it. So, Todd and I are gonna — well, we're all gonna get back together after the summer, late summer. And we've been working on it in Florida with our producer, [Michael] 'Elvis' Baskette, who has been out in Florida for many years."

Brent continued: "Slash has the greatest work ethic of any musician I've ever worked with. So, we got busy. We toured together in 2024, and then we were out doing other things, and then Slash did a blues record and tour. And then, as soon as that was done, we got right into the studio in L.A. He has an amazing working studio. We can be busy there in L.A. We did that for a month, and then we went out to Florida and recorded most of all the bed tracks, the music parts of it. So we're still gonna finish… [SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS frontman] Myles Kennedy will come and work on all the vocal stuff. And he's been out busy doing his own solo tours.

"This is the new normal," Fitz added. "Everybody's in so many different projects and bands. And Slash is, obviously, in a little band called GUNS N' ROSES, so they're on tour right now. He's over in, I think, Asia or Bahrain. They're covering a lot of new territory, it seems.

"So we'll all get together. We'll get back end of the summer after all the TOQUE shows and stuff," Brent said, referencing the Canadian rock band that he and Kerns are both members of. "And it'll be great to get out to Florida and continue finishing the record."

Asked if there is a working title for the upcoming SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album, Brent said: "Nothing. No, no. It's always gonna be a Myles thing, or Slash, just songtitles and lyric ideas. I will say that what's fun is when we do write these songs, and this'll be our fifth record together, but we always have comedic working titles. And Todd's usually good — Todd and Slash — good for coming up with things that won't be the final title, 'cause obviously with lyrics with Myles, it'll be something completely different. But we usually just give something a title so we can go, 'Hey, let's work on that song.' 'What song?' 'Oh, the song in E.' No, we'll give it a title. But over time we've had these goofy titles, I'll just say, that sometimes they stick. And to this day, some of our songs, I go, 'Oh, it's called 'Wicked Stone'.' And I'm, like, 'But it used to be something completely ridiculous.' And I still think sometimes when I look at our setlist live, I go, 'Oh, that's the 'Elephant Disorder' song.' It's just funny how… We have a whole bunch of goofy working titles for the songs right now."

This past January, Kennedy told Heavy Consequence about the next SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album: "As far as the progress goes, I think a lot of it is well on its way. I have to get my vocals recorded. Just have to find a window of time to do that in between the touring and whatnot. I have my vocals written and melodies and lyrics and all that stuff. I just need to get in to the studio and knock it out."

He continued: "As for the direction of the record, it's still riff-based rock 'n' roll with a heavy dose of the blues element that Slash brings, like only he does. It's some really great stuff. I think it's going to be another fun one to tour live."

In December 2024, Myles told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that "the demoing and all that, the writing" for the next SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS album "was done before I even embarked on this last [solo] tour. The easy part is the recording; the hard part is the writing. Slash and I were — he was sending me demos of the tunes. Then I was spending time with him, coming up with melodies and lyrics. And so that's all done — I think with the exception of one song. Now I just have to find a moment to get in the studio and all that, knock that out. But I will say that just even in the demo process and where we stood there before they went in to actually make the record musically, it is really exciting stuff. I'm really, really stoked about where this one's going. It's gonna be cool."

Asked if he writes any of the music for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS or if he is mostly in charge of coming up with the lyrics and the melodies, Myles said: "Yeah, most of what I'm doing is lyrics and melodies. Occasionally if something comes in and I'm, like, 'Hey, can we change this chord progression for the sake of the melody?' But it's interesting 'cause more so on [2012's] 'Apocalyptic Love', when I played guitar on that record, there was a little bit more of, 'Hey, try this part. See what this sounds like, if we utilize this to help the arrangement somehow.' But it's funny — I was thinking about that the other day, and I was just, like… It just highlights how cool [Slash] is. I [was] coming in, it was [my] second record [with Slash] and I've got my guitar, and I'm, like, 'What do you think? What if we tried this?' And I'm, like, 'You're sitting there with Slash. He doesn't need any help, man.' But he was so cool and so accommodating. But as the years have gone on and we've made all these records, one thing that continues to amaze me is just how much he understands, not just the riff thing, but coming up with chord progressions that really lend themselves to coming up with compelling melodies for me. It's, like, he knows how to sequence the chords where it's gonna really leave room for a melody, which I appreciate. And, like I said, occasionally I'd be, like, 'Hey, can we try a G here instead of a D 'cause I hear the melody doing this?' Or I'll send the melody back and he'll go, 'I'm gonna change this chord because I feel like it suits the melody better.' I'm, like, 'Great.' So yeah, he totally gets it."

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS entered the studio in November 2024 to begin recording its fifth album.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS kicked off "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" on January 23, 2024 with the band's return to Mexico City's Pepsi Centre WTC. The group's 24-song setlist included the live debut of a deep GUNS N' ROSES cut, "Don't Damn Me", featuring Kerns on lead vocals.

Support on various dates of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS's "The River Is Rising - Rest Of The World Tour '24" came from MAMMOTH WVH.

Prior to the launch of "The River Is Rising – Rest Of The World Tour '24", SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS last performed in February and March 2022 as part of a U.S. tour.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS' latest album, "4", was released in February 2022 via Gibson Records in partnership with BMG.

"4" was Slash's fifth solo album and fourth overall with his band featuring Kennedy, Fitz, Kerns and guitarist Frank Sidoris.

SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS released "Live At Studios 60", their first-ever double live LP, for the 2022 Record Store Day. The effort contained a performance of "4", plus four additional songs from the group. Recorded live in Los Angeles at Studios 60, the "Live At Studios 60" double LP exclusive Record Store Day release was limited to only 2,250 copies. The full concert featured all the songs from "4". Additional performances of the group's Top 5 rock radio hits, including "You're A Lie", "World On Fire", "Anastasia" and "Driving Rain" are also included in the double vinyl package.

For "4", Slash and the band traveled across the country together to Nashville, Tennessee and recorded the new album at the historic RCA Studio A with producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, John Prine, Jason Isbell, Brandi Carlile),revealing a stunning new sound and style all captured live in the studio. Cobb shared the band's desire to lay down the tracks live, in the studio including guitar solos and vocals — a first for the group.

Slash released a blues album called "Orgy Of The Damned" in May 2024 via Gibson Records.

In the summer of 2024, Slash brought his brand-new "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to cities across the U.S.. On all dates, Slash performed alongside his blues band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, keyboardist Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

Photo credit: Ross Halfin

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On Thursday night (August 28),METALLICA performed an exclusive live show at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York for SiriusXM to celebrate the launch of the band's new year-round channel Maximum Metallica.

The special concert featured the band performing fan favorites, including "Master Of Puppets", "Enter Sandman", "Fade To Black" and more. In the middle of the show, METALLICA's Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett honored Ozzy Osbourne by playing "Crazy Train".

Special VIPs in the audience included Howard and Beth Stern, Paul and Nancy McCartney, Andy Cohen, Colin Jost, Heidi Gardner, Michael J. Fox, Ed Burns, Chris Jericho, Maria Menounos, Sylvester Stallone, Chad Smith and more.

Maximum Metallica will launch Friday, August 29 at 12:00 p.m. ET on channel 42 and on the SiriusXM app, and will be available for free in all SiriusXM-equipped vehicles through the month of September giving non-subscribers a chance to experience the human-curated, premium service.

METALLICA's exclusive performance in celebration of the channel, recorded live at Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett, New York, will premiere on Monday, September 1 at 12:00 p.m. ET. The one-of-a-kind show brought the intensity and power of METALLICA's stadium-filling "M72" world tour to one of the most intimate settings they have played in decades, for a lucky audience of SiriusXM subscribers.

"Metallica Live At Stephen Talkhouse" will rebroadcast throughout the week on air on Maximum Metallica (ch. 42) and will be available on the SiriusXM app. Additionally, the full concert will air on Howard Stern's SiriusXM channel Howard 101 on Friday, September 5 at 7:00 p.m. ET and PT.

METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich broke the news of the concert during an appearance on August 6 on SiriusXM's "The Howard Stern Show".

METALLICA at Stephen Talkhouse setlist:

01. Creeping Death
02. For Whom The Bell Tolls
03. Wherever I May Roam
04. Kirk And Rob Doodle (Ozzy Osbourne's "Crazy Train")
05. Fuel
06. Fade To Black
07. Sad But True
08. The Unforgiven
09. Whiskey In The Jar
10. Nothing Else Matters
11. Seek & Destroy
12. One
13. Master Of Puppets
14. Enter Sandman

Formed in 1981 by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich and including guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo, METALLICA has become one of the most influential and successful rock bands in history, selling nearly 125 million albums worldwide and generating more than 17 billion streams while playing to millions of fans on all seven continents — more than 1.3 million of whom belong to the band's fiercely loyal and consistently growing Fifth Member fan club. METALLICA's catalog of multi-platinum studio albums includes "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning", "Master Of Puppets", "…And Justice For All", "Metallica" (commonly referred to as The Black Album),"Load", "Reload", "St. Anger", "Death Magnetic", "Hardwired… To Self-Destruct" and most recently, the Grammy-winning "72 Seasons", released April 14, 2023, on the band's own Blackened Recordings label. METALLICA's awards and accolades include nine Grammy Awards, two American Music Awards, multiple MTV Video Music Awards, a 2009 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Sweden's Polar Music Prize.

In 2017, METALLICA established its foundation All Within My Hands, to give back to communities that have supported the band. Since its inception, All Within My Hands' collective efforts have raised more than $20 million. The foundation has provided $11.4 million in grants for workforce education, $7.4 million to fight hunger globally, and $5.2 million donated to critical local services worldwide.

SiriusXM is going full throttle with the addition of Maximum Metallica, a new full-time channel dedicated to one of the most celebrated rock bands of all time. "The Most Metallica Anywhere," the exclusive channel delivers continued access to METALLICA's expansive catalog — from mega hits and deep cuts to live shows and behind-the-scenes stories straight from the band. Additionally, fans can expect rare recordings, exclusive interviews, and surprises curated by the bandmembers themselves. Whether you're a lifelong fan or a recent addition to the METALLICA family, this is your front-row seat to all things METALLICA.

METALLICA's performance was the latest in a series of special concerts SiriusXM has presented at Stephen Talkhouse. Artists who have previously performed for SiriusXM listeners at the famed Hamptons music venue include Brandi Carlile, COLDPLAY, Dave Matthews, Ed Sheeran, Jelly Roll, THE KILLERS and MUMFORD & SONS.

@metallica @siriusxm … we’re ready 🎸

Posted by Stephen Talkhouse on Thursday, August 28, 2025

BON JOVI will release "Forever (Legendary Edition)", a new version of last year's "Forever" album, on October 24 via Island Records. "Forever (Legendary Edition)" will include guest appearances on vocals by Bruce Springsteen, Jelly Roll, James Bay, Robbie Williams, Jason Isbell, Ryan Tedder, THE WAR AND TREATY, DEF LEPPARD's Joe Elliott, Lainey Wilson, Avril Lavigne and Marcus King, among others. Also included will be a new opening track, "Red, White And Jersey", which is available today, along with a new version of "Hollow Man", featuring Springsteen. Check them out below.

"This album is more than just a collection of collaborations, it is an album borne out of necessity," BON JOVI frontman Jon Bon Jovi says in a statement. "My vocal cord rehab was a well-documented journey that played out while releasing 'Forever' in 2024. I was singing well in the studio for recording, but the vocal demands and rigors of touring were still slightly out of reach for me. Without an ability to tour at that time, I continued working in the studio and called on some friends, great singers, artists, musicians and also just great people."

He continues: "The result is an album with a new viewpoint and new spirit — a collaboration album that proves we all get by in this world with a little help from our friends. I feel tremendous joy and gratitude releasing this album and I think it shows in the music. I can say with certainty that there is always something bigger than ME, and that's WE."

"Forever (Legendary Edition)" track listing:

01. Red, White And Jersey
02. Legendary (feat. James Bay)
03. We Made It Look Easy (feat. Robbie Williams)
04. Living Proof (feat. Jelly Roll)
05. Waves (feat. Jason Isbell)
06. Seeds (feat. Ryan Tedder)
07. Kiss The Bride (feat. Billy Falcon)
08. The People's House (feat. The War & Treaty)
09. Walls Of Jericho (feat. Joe Elliott)
10. I Wrote You A Song (feat. Lainey Wilson)
11. Living In Paradise (feat. Avril Lavigne)
12. My First Guitar (feat. Marcus King)
13. Hollow Man (feat. Bruce Springsteen)
14. We Made It Look Easy / Hicimos Que Pareciera Fácil (feat. Carin León)

In a cover story for the March 2025 issue of Sound On Sound magazine, Jon Bon Jovi confirmed that BON JOVI would release a new version of its 2024 album "Forever" as a collaboration with other artists. He told writer Joe Matera: "This is an album that we're very proud of, and I think it's the best BON JOVI record since 'Lost Highway' or at least 'Have A Nice Day'. We love every song on it and it was a joy to make this album, but I just wasn't ready to go and book shows post-surgery recovery. So, I reached out to a number of friends and I said, 'If you guys would sing a verse here and there, it'll give this great album another life.'"

He added: "My focus moving forward is on the re-release of 'Forever', and God willing, getting back out on the road and running that project through its life."

Produced by Jon with John Shanks, "Forever" featured Jon Bon Jovi once again alongside fellow founding BON JOVI members, keyboardist David Bryan and drummer Tico Torres. They were joined by bassist Hugh McDonald and guitarist Phil X.

"Forever" contained 12 new songs, including the hit lead single "Legendary".

In August 2024, a duet version of the "Forever" song "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a lyric video. In October, the official music video for "The People's House" featuring THE WAR AND TREATY was released, accompanied by a statement from Jon Bon Jovi endorsing Kamala Harris in the 2024 United States presidential election.

"Forever" marked Jon Bon Jovi's return to the recording studio after surgery to repair his damaged vocal cords.

In June 2024, Jon told The Guardian that his damaged vocal cord is still not healed enough for him to resume touring. "It's a work in progress," he said. "There's no miracle. I just wish there was a fucking light switch. I'm more than capable of singing again. The bar is now: can I do two and a half hours a night, four nights a week? The answer is no."

Bon Jovi went on to say that making music will always be part of his life, regardless of whether he is able to return to full-scale touring. "It lights you up when you're out there. As long as I have the ability, I will write songs and make records."

Photo credit: Mark Seliger

In a new interview with Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Bruce Dickinson was asked if the "heavier" musical direction of his solo albums compared to IRON MAIDEN's recorded output was done "by design". The longtime MAIDEN singer responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes, because MAIDEN, stylistically, obviously, there's a lot of influence from Steve [Harris, MAIDEN bassist and founder] in everything. And whilst it's sometimes heavy, it's sometimes proggy and things like that. So, with me, I do go down the prog route sometimes, but I love that kind of bone-crushing sort of detuned… I mean, there's a lot of heaviness now in the air, which MAIDEN doesn't really take advantage of, 'cause I'm not sure necessarily it fits the kind of soundscape that Steve likes. But I'm not restricted by that. It's like having a painter with an unlimited palette. You run the risk, of course, of spreading yourself a bit thin, but that's a risk worth taking because you're supposed to be an artist. Come on."

Dickinson kicked off his first extensive North American solo tour in almost 30 years in support of his current studio album, "The Mandrake Project", on August 22 at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California. Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour is once again his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Dickinson's 16-song setlist at the House Of Blues included the live debut of "The Mandrake Project" track "Shadow Of The Gods" as well as the first-ever performance of the IRON MAIDEN song "Flash Of The Blade", from the band's 1984 album "Powerslave".

Before launching into "Flash Of The Blade", Dickinson told the crowd:  "Nobody has ever played this song, apart from on the record, of course, but nobody has ever played this song. And it's a song that I wrote. So I don't know whether any of you have got any clue what song it might be. But like usual, it's a conundrum. I shall not tell you. You will just have to figure it out. It probably won't take long… You'll die as you lived in a flash of the blade."

Prior to the April 12, 2024 Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.

Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).

O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson in 2023 as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.

Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.

Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.

"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.

Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's previous solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

Dickinson's reworked version of his classic 1994 album "Balls To Picasso", now titled "More Balls To Picasso", arrived on July 25.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Photo credit: John McMurtrie

Fans at Tauron Arena in Kraków, Poland were treated to a special moment on August 19th when Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka, guitarist of Polish death metal titans Decapitated, joined French metal juggernauts Gojira on stage. Vogg stepped in for a blistering performance of the band’s classic track “From The Sky”.

“This was a truly unforgettable night,” said Vogg after the show. “I had the unimaginable pleasure and honor of performing ‘From The Sky’ with my dear friends from the mighty Gojira. It was one of the most unforgettable and epic moments of my entire music life. I am still blown away by how amazing the time was with them in my hometown of Kraków. I will never forget this day.”





On July 19, Gojira performed at the Release Athens Festival in Athens, Greece, and at the end of the set they were joined by Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn for a cover of Sepultura’s “Territory”. Check out the fan-filmed video below.