In 2021, earMUSIC is paying tribute to heavy metal legends, Savatage, with the extensive re-release of their entire studio album back catalogue on high-quality 12" LP. From Sirens (1983) to Poets And Madmen (2001), the albums will be heading back to stores on finest vinyl after having been sought after by fans and collectors for a long time. All mastered for vinyl for stellar audio quality and reissued with enhanced artwork and extensive liner notes.

The release of the strictly limited 10" picture vinyl, The Hourglass at specialized vinyl retail in Germany on Saturday, July 31, followed by the international release on August 6, marks the forerunner of the carefully curated vinyl reissue series. The Hourglass comes emblazoned with a tailor-made, labyrinthine illustration of an hourglass, held by sixteen skeletons against a tempestuous surf. The single’s stunning, Doré-inspired visuals evoke aspects of memento mori and hearken back to The Wake of Magellan (1997) with their marine undertones. This carefully crafted record, limited to only 2.000 copies worldwide, isn’t just a must-have for fans of Savatage, but for any vinyl enthusiast.

And those who want even more classic Savatage on their record shelves will not have to wait too long: August 20 sees the vinyl re-release of Sirens (1983). Lauded as a “classic of metal history”, Savatage's debut album is still an absolute fan favorite, featuring songs such as "Sirens" and "Holocaust", which have remained an inherent part in the band’s live shows.

In addition to Sirens, sophomore record The Dungeons Are Calling will be re-released at the same time. The EP, originally released in 1984, contains cuts from the Sirens sessions, which delve into metaphors about the inner workings of a drug-addled mind. The Dungeons Are Calling”isn’t just as acclaimed as its predecessor, it’s also the perfect companion piece to Sirens.

On August 20, both albums will become available as a strictly limited heavyweight coloured LP gatefold collector’s edition, as well as on 180g black vinyl gatefold – available for pre-order now:

- Sirens
- The Dungeons Are Calling

Watch out for more Savatage vinyl reissues throughout the year.

Savatage adds: "Savatage fans! If you haven't already seen we have a new website for you to check out at savatage.com. We have a soon to be launched all new webstore with cool new merch and are re-releasing all of the Savatage catalog on vinyl in Europe with limited edition imports being available to our US fans here via our website.

"First on the release schedule is a 10" single for The Hourglass: If you want to see how amazing this turned out... (see the video below). The 10“ will be strictly limited to 2,000 numbered copies worldwide. To get into second gear, a vinyl re-release of Savatage’s debut album Sirens (1983) will see the light of day August 20, and so is the follow up album The Dungeons Are Calling (1984). Both albums will be available on 180g black vinyl and limited edition coloured vinyl, all housed in beautiful gatefold jackets.

"The coloured vinyl variant of The Dungeons Are Calling will come with an exclusive 7” replica of the band’s 7“ single 'City Beneath The Surface'."




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The brackets next to Bob Katsionis’ name can tell a rather interesting story of a restless musician who has no boundaries; From his early days playing dark metal with Nightfall, black metal with Septic Flesh, to the glitter-covered AOR  heroes Outloud, the German power-metallers Serious Black, his 15 years alongside Gus G. in Firewind, as a guest songwriter in Kamelot, his recent work in the underground sensation of Warrior Path and of course six instrumental solo albums in between, Bob has always been a highly productive force in the arsenal of rising Greek heavy metal scene.

Stray Gods is his new endeavor, heavily inspired by his love for Iron Maiden, and their debut album is ready to storm your speakers.

In his own words: “The beginning of 2020 found me “band-less” for the first time since I ever started playing the guitar, back in 1992. This was an extraordinary feeling as I felt that I didn’t have to make music for a specific band or project; instead, I could just write whatever I felt like I wanted to write.

"During the first months of the pandemic, I released a 16-bit video game fictional soundtrack, built my new studio, and worked on the new album of Warrior Path. There was finally so much time in my hands and so much inspiration. During the “Great Second Global Lockdown” on December 2020, I just got my Fender guitar, plugged it on my Marshall, and started writing some songs in an Iron Maiden style, just for the fun of it. One week later, there was enough material for a full album. Then I realized that this had to become something more significant and that I needed to find other mega-Iron Maiden fans to creatively input on this project.

"The first choice was Thanos Pappas, the drummer of Scar Of The Sun, who also runs Urizen, Greece’s first and only Bruce Dickinson Tribute Band! Then another obvious choice was bassist Gus Macricostas who now lives in the UK and plays in the solo band of Biff Byford. We played together back in 2002 in Casus Belli, and I always knew how big a fan of Steve Harris was.

"As for the vocals, that was a bit harder. The obvious choice was some YouTube Bruce Dickinson-soundalikes, but I needed something more professional. Then came my friend Dan Baune, guitarist of UK-based band Monument who -apart from playing some guest solos in the album- suggested Artur Almeida of Portuguese NWOBHM-style band, Attick Demons. He was a total pro and a great person as well. I’m more than happy with the result and can’t wait until you guys hear what we have to offer!

"I’ve been an Iron Maiden and heavy metal fan since one evening of 1988 when I watched 'Can I Play With Madness' on MTV. This album is a big “Thank You” to this band who influenced my future and course of life, and also one of the most sincere music releases I have ever done.”

Stay tuned for updates.

Lineup:

Artur Almeida: Vocals
Bob Katsionis: All Rhythm/Lead Guitars & Keyboards
Gus Macricostas: Bass
Thanos Pappas: Drums
Dan Baune: Guest guitar solos




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Journey - who's lineup currently includes singer Arnel Pineda, guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Randy Jackson, keyboardist/singer Jason Derlatka, and drummer Narada Michael Walden - have released their new single, "The Way We Used To Be".

Stream the single via your preferred platform here, and watch the official music video for the song below:

Journey recently issued the following update: "We will be performing at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas, NV on September 18. Tickets available Friday, June 25th at JourneyMusic.com!"




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For more than a decade, Famous Underground has consistently shunned musical trends in favor of holding the metallic hard rock torch high, as evidenced by “The Dark One Of Two,” the new music video premiered exclusively by BraveWords!

Frontman Nick Walsh on the video:

“In putting this video together we had to be rather resourceful. We managed to pool the live portions from some fan footage that was collected from our last show pre-pandemic. The one thing I did know going in was that I didn’t want some ZOOM video in which we looked like we should be in the fucking Brady Bunch!”

“The Dark One Of Two” is available on all digital music providers here. 

“What I love about our songs is how they usually tell tales of conflict, but they also have resolve,” adds bassist Laurie-Anne Green. “One of the things that keeps my interest with this band is how over the years the sound has kept evolving, I feel that we are now playing some of our best material.”

Walsh acknowledges the public’s tolerance for inauthenticity has kept him singularly focused on ensuring he projects his true musical identity in every note of the five-song In My Reflection, available June 25. “Fans, critics and most people can smell through bullshit. As an artist, my job is to make sure I’m comfortable creating it and presenting it,” he says.  

While the musical relationship between Walsh and Green dates back more than two decades, the former’s history in music is even more extensive, having fronted the Juno Award winning Canadian hard-rock band Slik Toxik. Following the group’s demise, Walsh immersed himself in a myriad of projects, running the gamut from owning a recording studio, working in film and television, and touring North America with Classic Albums Live.  

Walsh and Green had worked on projects together in the past, and in 2011 decided to form Famous Underground. They released their debut album independently that same year, which was subsequently licensed for world-wide release in 2013. Leaning upon a veritable number of classic influences from the world of hard rock and heavy metal, Famous Underground’s take no prisoners approach to music reaffirms guitar-driven rock music is far from dead.

“Famous Underground is my passion project. It’s music that comes from my soul,” Walsh explains. “I am grateful that the band share my vision and end up owning it themselves - that's what I call real.”

Following the release of a digital 45 in 2017, the band, which also includes guitarist Darren Boyd and drummer Desche Sparboom, amassed 14 songs for a full-length album that was originally due out in 2020. Not surprisingly, the pandemic disrupted those plans, sending Walsh and Green back to the drawing board in some respects. After all, the dynamic vocalist has a unique perspective on the music business, having cut his musical teeth on the “old” model of record companies being the gatekeepers to success, through disruptors like Napster and file-sharing, up to the present day of music on demand.

“It’s remarkable to watch how technology shifts the industry so quickly,” says Walsh. “It’s so important to stay on top of how the landscape is evolving. We wanted to ensure we were going about the release of this new music in the right way, rather than dropping all 14 songs with no fanfare.”  

Pre-order/pre-save In My Reflection here.

In My Reflection tracklisting:

"The Dark One Of Two"
"Corrupted"
"Until The End"
"Ultra Mega"
"Like An Animal"

"Corrupted":

One of the most notable facets that time has brought to Famous Underground is a sense of maturity and life experience. Although those facets of life might have been missing during his tenure in Slik Toxik - through no one’s fault - Walsh embraces the opportunity to have gained valuable insights and observations over the last 30 years. It has given him a world view that could not be artificially manifested. There is a polished, intense rawness to the songs featured on In My Reflection that is both similar and dissimilar to anything Walsh has done in the past. However, he might not have arrived at this critical junction in his career without the benefit of the experiences he’s lived through.

“Back in the early days of Slik Toxik, we were singing about reaching for the brass ring, women and partying; all pretty typical stuff for guys in their late teens and early 20s,” Walsh says. “I couldn’t get away with writing about that shit now. I’m more interested in writing about the world around me and the human condition; the struggles within; duality; and the world around us. I’m a big believer in the whole yin/yang thing and how important it is to find balance in the world.”

Famous Underground is:

Nick Walsh - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Programming
Laurie-Anne Green - Bass Guitar
Darren Boyd - Lead Guitar
Desche Sparboom – Drums

Touring Musicians:

Michael Wolfgang Verbeke – Guitar
Ange M – Guitar

(Photo - Pete Dove)




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Chaos Doctrine came down on the metal world like the hammer of Thor in February this year with a shredding track called “Black Friday Bedlam”, featuring Swedish metal legend Jörgen Sandström (Entombed, Grave, Torture Division, Krux, The Project Hate) on vocals. If you watched the lyric video, you would have caught a peek at the title and artwork of the band’s second album, set for tomorrow, June 25. It is called And in the Beginning… They Lied.

Throughout history, the human race has been fed much destructive doctrine and had the truth deliberately hidden from it – all in the names of politics, of religion, of wealth and power. Ancient knowledge was burned at grand scale and relegated to mythology, and its proponents persecuted to near extinction. The result is that humanity is a species scarred with amnesia. We have giant gaps and anomalies in our conscious history caused by the suppression of the actual truth, which has severely stunted the progress of civilization in general.

Chaos Doctrine’s debut album painted Moses in front of a dystopic landscape, hinting at the ultimate result of blind obedience to doctrine. The band’s subsequent EP, The Chaos Chronicles Volume I, continued the theme by placing a modernized Baphomet in front of the Tower of Babel. The cover for And in the Beginning… They Lied becomes the prequel to these tales to capture the album’s story graphically. At the center is a tree, a well-known symbol of the original sin, but also of knowledge. Within the tree is the great serpent – outcast as the heretic by some but revered by others as holy and wise. The tree and the snake intertwine with the human DNA sequence, placing a spotlight on our contested origins and purpose as a race. Finally, fading behind the tree are mechanized versions of the feathered serpent, widely interpreted as a dragon – god to some, demon to others. 

The band also gives us four tracks to explore these themes.

Intro “And In the Beginning” kicks off the madness with monologues clearly set to interrogate. New single “Blood Serpent God”, premiered by BraveWords, explores both familiar stories of human sacrifice in pre-Columbian South America, and the less familiar tale of how documented history was rendered myth. “Christ Church Horizon” spits hate at lie mongers abound, while outro “…They Lied” wraps up the album with the same rage that the intro started.

Tracklisting:

“And In The Beginning…”
“Blood Serpent God” (feat. Anna Hel)
“Black Friday Bedlam” (feat. Jörgen Sandström)
“Harlot”
“Nocturna Mors”
“Father Grigori”
“The Rite”
“Christ Church Horizon”
“…They Lied”
“South Of Heaven” (Slayer cover)

“Blood Serpent God” video:

Photo: David Devo Oosthuizen (Devographic)




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Greek melodic metal masters, Nightfall, recently premiered the official music video for the song "Martyrs Of The Cult Of The Dead (Agita)" via OnlyFans. A censored version of the video can now be seen below.

The original video, which was created by Antoine de Montremy, can be seen for FREE, here.

Vocalist Efthimis Karadimas commented, "We are honored to have our 'Martyrs of the Cult of the Dead,' aka 'Agita,' being made by Antoine de Montremy, the producer of Chris Holmes' documentary 'Mean Man' (official selection in 2020 Hollywood Gold Awards, Florence Film Awards, Orlando Film Festival and FMX) and his fabulous team. The video is based on 'Agita' lyrics and it represents the struggle with depression through its personification in female form (the word "depression" is a female noun in the Greek language). OnlyFans premiere has been chosen to avoid problems with YouTube's strict policy towards nudity and violence. Especially the latter. This is not a porn video."

Video director Antoine de Montremy added, "In pure Nightfall fashion, approaching this video and the song's concept has been quite a challenge: Efthimis already had a very precise vision for 'Agita' and we wanted to honor both the song and its message. Opening up about depression and its very solitary struggle is quite a brave move in nowadays so well polished metal world. Introducing female metaphors and pushing all boundaries was the only path to illustrate this inner struggle between love and hate, comfort and fear, joy and despair. Blessed with Hanna and Fanny's outstanding performances - embodying all feelings human mind can experience - and thanks to the greatest filming crew ever, we are happy to unleash the fury of Agita to the world!"

Lineup:

Efthimis Karadimas - Bass, vocals
Mike Galiatsos - Guitar
Kostas Kyriakopoulos - Guitar
Fotis Benardo - Drums




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German/Celtic death metallers, Suidakra, will release their new album, Wolfbite, on June 25 via MDD Records. The band has released a video for the track "Vortex Of Carnage", which can be viewed below:

The band recently issued the following update: "Wolfbite pre-order starts today. We've promised you that we will start the pre-order of our album #14 this weekend. Guess what? Here comes the link to a very strong limited mega bundle package including our own red-wine here. To all of you that live outside the EU and don't like red-wine, we also have a cool package for you here."

Check out a new unboxing video for the limited edition mega bundle package below.

After more than 25 years of history and more than 13 studio albums as well as worldwide tours, can a band reinvent itself or even release the unexpected? Well, Suidakra may not reinvent themselves completely in 2021, but on their new album Wolfbite they create a mixture of all their past musical work and a fresh breeze, which gives the impression that the band has risen from a fountain of youth.

Wolfbite is bursting with power, uncompromisingness and joy of playing. The collaboration with Aljoscha Sieg (Eskimo Callboy, Vitja, Gestört aber GeiL), which is certainly untypical for die-hard fans, results in a breathtaking, lively sound, which from the very first note makes any scepticism about whether Suidakra still sound like Suidakra in 2021 evaporate. With the proven concept story from the Realms Of Odoric cosmos, lyrically and visually realised by Kris Verwimp, of course, Suidakra 2.0 presents itself in a form that even old fans probably wouldn't have dreamed of.

With Wolfbite, Suidakra succeed in travelling from the past into the future and surely present one of THE albums of the year 2021.

Tracklist:

"A Life In Chains"
"The Inner Wolf"
"Darcanian Slave"
"Faoladh"
"Crossing Over"
"Vortex Of Carnage"
"Resurgence"
"Redemption"
"A Shrine For The Ages"

"Resurgence" lyric video:




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After recently signing with Napalm Records, Norwegian power trio Bokassa are fully charged up and ready to set everything ablaze on their upcoming album, entitled Molotov Rocktail, out September 3 via Napalm Records.

The follow-up to Crimson Riders (2019), released during their tour with Metallica, displays their trademarked brand of stoner punk at its best throughout all 11 tracks. Today, the band kicks things off with their raucous first single “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)”, during which the three-piece unites heavy stoner rock riffs with melodic singalong choruses, alongside an energetic music video. Norway’s most exciting export and Lars Ulrich’s “new favorite band” brings the noise and delivers energy like The Bronx, Red Fang, Billy Talent and Queens Of The Stone Age. Hundreds of thousands of streams and fans across the world can attest: Bokassa are on their way to becoming the elite of stoner punk!

Bokassa adds: “‘Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)’ was one of the first tracks written for Molotov Rocktail and a single candidate from the get go because of its crunchy riffage and affective hook. As with ‘So Long, Idiots!’ our protagonist has become more and more disillusioned with the world, and tries his best to avoid it, while existing comfortably in his own bubble. We also think it may be the only song that includes the word ‘Didjeridon’t’?”

Watch the music video for “Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)” below.

Hailing from Trondheim, Norway, hard rock trio Bokassa have recently made a name for themselves with their brand of hard-hitting, melodic, catchy punk and stoner rock, right from the first full length, Divide & Conquer (2017). During the Worldwired tour with Metallica, the band released the critically acclaimed Crimson Riders (2019). On top of this, the Norwegians were nominated for the prestigious Spellemann-Award as Breakthrough of the Year in 2020. Now, Bokassa are ready to enter the next explosive chapter with their exciting new album, Molotov Rocktail.

Vocalist and guitarist Jørn Kaarstad’s unmistakably raspy voice and crushing guitar riffs hit satisfyingly hard with the snappy drumming and fat bass tone of drummer Olav Dowkes and bassist Bård Linga. Songs like “Herticules” effortlessly pull off the transition between melodic choruses and punishing breakdowns, while the title track “Molotov Rocktail” is two minutes of pure stoner punk paradise with its dense songwriting and dynamic production. The album closer’s intro riff (“Immortal Space Pirate 3 Too Old For This Sith”), meanwhile, could be lifted straight off a classic Behemoth album. On Molotov Rocktail, Bokassa’s daring but cohesive tightrope act of singalongs and neck breaking grooves is highly contagious – mixed and mastered by Machine - the powerhouse from Trondheim misses no chance to entrance the listener with every second of runtime.

Molotov Rocktail will be available in North America in the following formats:

- CD Digipak
- 1 LP Gatefold Pink - limited to 300 copies worldwide
- 1 LP Gatefold Black
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Freelude"
"So Long Idiots!"
"Pitchforks R Us"
"Hereticules"
"Low (And Behold)"
"Godless"
"Molotov Rocktail"
"Burn It All (P.T.S.D.E.A.D)"
"Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)"
"Code Red"
"Immortal Space Pirate 3 Too Old For This Sith"

"Careless (In The Age Of Altruism)" video:

Bokassa are:

Jørn Kaarstad - Lead Vocals,Guitar
Bård Linga - Bass, Vocals
Olav Dowkes - Drums, Vocals

(Photo - Kenneth Sporsheim)




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Wymer Publishing has announced the launch of their forthcoming release, Hawkwind: A Visual Biography, due for release on October 8, and available for pre-order here. Pre-order now and you will get your name in the book on a dedicated fan page.

Through a confluence of grinding hard rock grooves, pioneering electronics and liquid lighting, Dave Brock and his assembled astronauts of mind and space have been defining for more than fifty years now what it means to be the ultimate cult band. Ripping into the public consciousness with the Space Ritual live album of 1973, Hawkwind have never looked back, discovering new ways to equate the subatomic with the infinite, the endless void of space with totality, using the exotic language of their ever-evolving yet complex musical language, one that defies genre classification, but perhaps creates a genre all its own, namely space rock.

Accompanying their more than thirty studio albums and myriad companion pieces along the way are the graphics thereof, visuals that further attempt to explain themes that are hard to articulate. Hawkwind: A Visual Biography concentrates the third eye on this part of the package, presenting pretty pictures of record covers, promo items, advertisements, ticket stubs, paper goods pertaining to side-projects and numerous photos, most previously unpublished, of Brock and crew resplendent in their live space, in hopes that the Hawk manifesto just might become a little more knowable.

Aiding in that cause, Martin Popoff has provided a detailed timeline of the band’s complicated and dramatic career goings-on, helping to guide one’s way through each year and era, each hiring and firing and misfiring, each cluster of notions, audio magic potions, each sailing upon inter-stellar topographic oceans.

The ultimate aim is to send older fans as well as the next generation of blaster-offer back to the original scriptures, the studio albums serving as space-flung signposts, in search of the charming and astounding sounds that gave rise to Hawkwind: A Visual Biography.




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Royal Hunt has announced a reissued version of their 2005 studio album, Paper Blood, as a double LP and a newly designed digipak. Both are collector's and limited editions which include bonus tracks as well as extended booklets - and can be pre-ordered here.

Says the band: "Hey all! It's finally summer: the sun is shining, ice cubes becoming a necessity, drinks are getting larger and even (some of) the musical entertainment is slowly but surely coming back... so let us add a little bit to all that goodness: Paper Blood is getting a re-release treatment. Yep, that's right, you can go to our webshop and check it out for yourself - see, summer just got a tiny little bit more exciting!"

A double orange vinyl featuring a lyrics inner sheet, two bonus tracks, housed in a 5 mm spine non-gatefold 3D (lenticular) cover. Limited edition, handnumbered copies.

Tracklisting:

"Break Your Chains"
"Not My Kind"
"Memory Lane"
"Never Give Up"
"Seven Days"
"SK 983"
"Kiss Of Faith"
"Paper Blood"
"Season's Change"
"Twice Around The World"
"Long Way Home" (acoustic version) - Bonus Track
"Day In Day Out" (new version) - Bonus Track

A collector's edition CD featuring 4 bonus tracks in a digipak with soft touch cover incl. 12 page booklet containing lyrics and tons of archive photos from PB-era.

Tracklisting:

"Break Your Chains"
"Not My Kind"
"Memory Lane"
"Never Give Up"
"Seven Days"
"SK 983"
"Kiss Of Faith"
"Paper Blood"
"Season's Change"
"Twice Around The World"
"Day In Day Out"(new version) - Bonus Track
"Never Give Up" (live 2006) - Bonus Track
"One By One" (new version) - Bonus Track
"Paper Blood" (live 2006) - Bonus Track




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During an appearance on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn's "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast, ANTHRAX bassist Frank Bello discussed his band's touring plans for the coming months. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're doing periodic shows. We're doing bits and pieces. There's no real touring, for us, till next year; there's no [new] record till next year. It makes sense. We're doing [several of the Danny] Wimmer [Presents festivals] — all that stuff. And it's all fun. And it'll be nice to see people in general and get a little taste of it [as we come out of the pandemic]. We're kind of dipping our toes in."

Asked if ANTHRAX will be doing any fan meet-and-greets at the upcoming dates, Bello said: "No. Not that I know of. I haven't signed off to it. I'm not ready.

"I was just at this meeting the other day at some restaurant, and the dude comes out," he continued. "I know it's me; I know I'm anal retentive at this point. I'm fucking freaking out on it. [He walks] right up [to me] with [his] hand [out]. It's like a defense mechanism. I put out my elbow fucking immediately. It's like a karate thing all of sudden.

"Dude, I'm in Japan at this fucking point," he said, referencing the Japanese custom of bowing rather than hugging, kissing or shaking hands. "I'm bowing and shit. Fuck the rest of this garbage. No fucking way. Most of these fucking people have sweaty goddamn hands. No offense to people. It's just too many germs touching your fucking hand. We all learned now — we just fucking learned this shit.

"No disrespect to anybody," Bello added. "I don't wanna offend anybody, 'cause you've gotta be careful — you can't offend anybody now. I'll [give you an elbow] bump anytime, but the shaking-hand thing — you can float me your boogers; you've got fucking diseases. There's no way. It's done, dude. I want out. I'm out.

"I'm all for meeting people," he explained. "I love meeting people and talking to people — I'm a people person. I'm not like that. I don't wanna stay away from people; I wanna be around. But the whole idea of just that germ thing… Like, when I have a cold from now on, I'm gonna wear a fucking mask. They do it in Japan, and it's a great way to go. I don't wanna spread my germs to anybody, so please, please do that."

Bello's memoir, "Fathers, Brothers, And Sons: Surviving Anguish, Abandonment, And Anthrax", will be released on October 12 via Rare Bird. The foreword was written by KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons.

ANTHRAX is working on material for the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" album, tentatively due in 2022.

Paul Stanley has once again said that he believes KISS can carry on without any original members.

More than two years ago, the legendary rockers launched their second farewell tour, dubbed "End Of The Road", which is now scheduled to end sometime in 2022. Joining founding members Stanley and Gene Simmons in the band's current lineup are Tommy Thayer on guitar and Eric Singer on drums. Thayer and Singer are replacements for original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss, respectively.

Asked by Germany's Radio Bob! whether he thinks a KISS 2.0 version of the band could continue touring and recording once he and Simmons have officially called it quits, Stanley said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think that recasting KISS or KISS 2.0 is not what we have ever talked about. Can KISS continue and can it evolve without us in it? Well, yeah, because it's already 50 percent there. In other words, there was a time where people said, 'Well, it can only be the original four.' [And then] it was, 'Well, it can only be the original three.' Well, things move on and circumstances change.

"Could I see KISS evolving with different personnel? Yeah," he reiterated. "As big a fan as I am of what I do — and I think I'm damn good — there's other people around who could pick up the torch and bring something to the philosophy and to the live show and to the music. It would be KISS. It wouldn't be KISS 2.0. If it were to happen, yeah, it would be really just a continuation of the philosophy that we've always had, and that's that KISS is bigger than any member."

It was back in 2005 that KISS manager Doc McGhee first told the New York Times that the group had "been toying with the idea of recruiting an entire band to don the band's famous makeup." McGhee said: "KISS is more like Doritos or Pepsi, as far as a brand name is concerned. They're more characters than the individual person. I think [new members] have a legitimate chance to carry the franchise."

Five years ago, Stanley spoke about how he would go about finding someone to replace him in KISS. He said: "Honestly, I think all the KISS tribute bands are great, but none of them have a good 'Paul.' So I'd like to see somebody who incorporates what I've done with a lot of the things that inspired me. And it's not a matter of a puppet being me; it's somebody who comes in and contributes and adds something new to it while still following the template that's been set."

Frehley said in 2016 that the idea that KISS could continue without any original members was "the most ridiculous statement I've ever heard [Stanley and Simmons] make." He added: "I think the only reason they make those statements at this juncture is to try to validate the fact that they have two other guys in the band that aren't the original members. So they're trying to rationalize to the fans, 'Well, you know, we replaced Peter and we replaced Ace, and eventually we're gonna replace ourselves. That's like Mick Jagger saying, 'Yeah, after me and Keith [Richards, THE ROLLINGS STONES guitarist] die, THE STONES will continue on with two other guys.' I mean, it's a joke."

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx spoke to Kerrang! Radio's Loz Guest about the secret behind the band's 40 years together, what he's been up to in the last year, and what his future plans are. Nikki also accepted the Kerrang! Radio Hall Of Fame award on behalf of the band.

Speaking about the fact that MÖTLEY CRÜE has been together four decades, Nikki said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think any of us ever really looked… I don't think anybody looks that far into the future. But then you start seeing some of the bands that you grew up with hitting their 30th birthday, and you're, like, 'Woah. These guys have been around 30 years. That's amazing.' And now [they hit] 40 years. And now bands that meant so much to me growing up, like AEROSMITH, I think they just hit 50 years. In my head, I'm, like, 'Are they even 50 years old?' 'Cause I still see the album cover to 'Toys In The Attic'. So it's cool. It used to be a young man's game, and now it's a quality game.

"I really admire DEF LEPPARD in so many ways," he continued, referencing the iconic British rockers whom MÖTLEY CRÜE is supposed to be touring U.S. stadiums with in 2022. "They have such a great body of music, and their work ethic is amazing, and how they interact with each other. And many bands like that. But just using DEF LEPPARD as an example, they're able to give generations, generations, generations of people great music, whether it's nostalgic or something new, but they go out and they do these tours. And you get to a place where going to a MÖTLEY CRÜE concert, an AEROSMITH concert [or] a METALLICA concert — the list goes on — you know you're gonna get, pretty much from the first song to the last song, you know every single song. And that's a cool place to be for us. It doesn't matter — you can just look at our catalog and put your finger on it and go, 'That's the opening song tonight.' And you know that the majority of people are gonna have enjoyed it, and it's been part of their lives. So that's a fun thing to do, and I think fun for bands and for fans as well."

He added: "Yeah, 40 years. Woah. I'm not gonna make 50."

Nikki also talked about the fact that MÖTLEY CRÜE's original lineup is still intact, which is a claim that less than a handful of other iconic rock bands can boast.

"I think the camaraderie is a big part of it," he said. "And also you've gotta realize that anybody you knew 40 years ago, you go from being kids to young adults to [being] married, [having] kids, buy houses. I mean, we were all kind of pretty much living together, and then, at some point, we were going to each other's houses to visit each other and hang out. And you just realize we're all experiencing the same really super-cool things. But no matter what happened in the band or didn't happen in the band, it all boils down to rehearsal. You're in rehearsal, there's a bunch of open pizza boxes, there's shit scattered everywhere, Tommy's [Lee, drums] over there [pounding the drums]. 'Dude, shut up. I'm trying to tune my bass.' Mick's [Mars, guitar] over there [playing his guitar] — just all this noise and energy. And then, all of a sudden, it's, like, 'Hey, you guys, you wanna run one?' And then you run it, and it's, like, bam. Magic. It's there again. So whatever happens, not even the stage, it goes back to rehearsal — that moment. 'Cause that's when there's nobody there. There's no press. There's no photographers. There's no management. There's nothing. It's just the same four guys."

A year and a half ago, Sixx said that MÖTLEY CRÜE's 2019 biopic "The Dirt" sparked a renewed interest from younger fans who wanted to see the band live, contributing to the group's decision to renege on its infamous "cessation of touring" contract.

After vowing in 2015 never to play together again, CRÜE announced in December 2019 that they would be touring with fellow hard rock veterans DEF LEPPARD and POISON.

"The Stadium Tour" was originally scheduled to take place last summer but ended up being pushed back to 2021, and then to 2022, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Sixx's new memoir, "The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx", will be released on October 19 via Hachette Books.

JOURNEY has released its new single, "The Way We Used To Be". You can now listen to the song below. An accompanying animated music video will be made available later today (Thursday, June 24).

"The Way We Used To Be" is the first song to be made available featuring JOURNEY's current lineup consisting of guitarist Neal Schon, singer Arnel Pineda and keyboardist Jonathan Cain alongside JOURNEY's latest additions, drummer/producer Narada Michael Walden, returning bassist Randy Jackson and keyboardist and singer Jason Derlatka.

This past January, Schon told Rolling Stone that he and his JOURNEY bandmates were "deep in" the writing and recording process for their next studio album. "It's coming along, man," the guitarist said. "It's really shaping up. Narada and I have been working nonstop. Jonathan is also working from his houses in Florida and Nashville. Arnel is working from Manila. Randy Jackson is working mostly from L.A. And it's one of those Zoom sessions and it sounds phenomenal. It sounds like we're all playing in the room at the same time. I actually can't wait until we do get together and start putting the show together."

Asked how the new JOURNEY members have changed the band's sound, Neal said: "You have to hear it for yourself. It still sounds very much like JOURNEY thanks to the songwriting, my guitar playing, and the vocals. But the rhythm section is definitely a powerhouse. Narada has been known for years, and Randy Jackson is a completely monstrous bass player. Some people may not be aware of his work, but they have credentials that go way, way back. Randy and I have always been pretty in tune, and Narada and I are in tune. And now it's coming together. It's got a new strut to it.

"There's nothing we really can't play," he added. "I've got a track I laid down with Narada the other day. I sent it to Arnel and he was freaking out. He said, 'This sounds like brand-new [Jimi] Hendrix or Prince. Please write more of that.' And I was just messing around. It was just a jam we did and it turned out to be monstrous. We're creating. We aren't afraid to go to new places. It's easy to stay safe and write where we have always been. We have a bit of that so we don't lose everyone, but at the same token, this is a new chapter of JOURNEY. I want to go where we have not gone before."

The new JOURNEY lineup performed a socially distanced version of "Don't Stop Believin'" for UNICEF USA's virtual event "UNICEF We Won't Stop", which aired in May 2020 on MSNBC. That same month, JOURNEY was supposed to launch a North American tour with THE PRETENDERS, but canceled the trek amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last fall, Schon told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about JOURNEY's split with Valory and Smith: "The way things went down was really not that kosher. I mean, what should have happened, rather than them trying to take over at that point, was to call us up and say, 'Hey, let's sit down and talk about this.' Instead, it went a different way. And both myself and Jonathan didn't appreciate it."

Over the last four decades, JOURNEY has reigned as one of America's most successful rock bands, producing ten platinum albums, eighteen Top 40 singles, and selling more than 75 million albums worldwide. JOURNEY formed in 1973, the same year it created Nightmare Productions Inc.

JOURNEY's most recent LP, "Eclipse", was released in May 2011. The Walmart exclusive debuted on the Billboard 200 album chart at No. 13 — eight spots lower than the band's previous album, 2008's "Revelation" — which also went on to hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart.

KORN has offered words of support for bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, who will sit out the band's upcoming tour in order to "heal" after "falling back" on some of his "bad habits."

On Monday (June 21), Fieldy broke the news of his absence from the trek, writing in a social media post: "To all KORN fans worldwide. The past 6 years I've been dealing with some personal issues that at times have caused me to fall back on some of my bad habits and has caused some tension with the people around me. It's been suggested to me to take some time off to heal. I'm going to respect what was asked of me and take that time. Unfortunately you will not see me on stage with my band. I will be working towards getting the bad habits out of my system. In the meantime I will be staying creative to keep my mind & soul in a good place.

"I'm thankful for all of your support, patience & understanding as we all have something that we deal with.

"Jonathan, Munky, Ray and Head, I love you and I don't want to bring any tension or bad vibes to the circle."

A short time later, KORN's official social media shared Fieldy's statement, along with the following message: "We love and support our brother, Fieldy. Health and family always comes first."

Last month, KORN announced a U.S. summer tour featuring special guests STAIND on all dates. Produced by Live Nation, the coast-to-coast 28-city outing will kick off August 5 in West Palm Beach, Florida and make stops in Long Island, Detroit, Irvine, Phoenix, Austin and more, before wrapping up with a performance at Dallas' Dos Equis Pavilion on September 21. Furthermore, both bands will perform at Louisville, Kentucky's Louder Than Life festival on September 23.

Back in 2017, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo's then-12-year-old son Tye Trujillo filled in on bass for KORN's South American tour after Fieldy was unable to make the shows due to "unforeseen circumstances."

Fieldy's 2009 memoir, "Got The Life: My Journey Of Addiction, Faith, Recovery And Korn", detailed his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction during KORN's early years and how he became a born-again Christian to help get his life together and get sober.

Fieldy's STILLWELL side project released its third album, "Supernatural Miracle", last September.

KORN's latest LP, "The Nothing", arrived in September 2019 via Roadrunner/Elektra. The follow-up to 2016's "The Serenity Of Suffering" was once again produced by Nick Raskulinecz.


We love and support our brother, Fieldy. Health and family always comes first.⁣

Posted by Korn on Monday, June 21, 2021

In a new interview with Natasja Lain of For The Passion Not The Fashion, guitarist Patrick Mameli of long-running Dutch progressive death metallers PESTILENCE was asked what it was like touring with Chuck Schuldiner and DEATH back in the early 1990s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[Chuck was] interesting — an interesting guy. And I have to give him props for being one of the first pioneers of this extreme music. I know that Jeff Becerra from POSSESSED was even before him, so I have to really call Jeff the godfather of death metal. But if you talk about godfather, it makes you sound really old. And Jeff is still alive.

"I think there is something special about people when they are not amongst the living anymore; then their legacy becomes even bigger," he continued. "And you have to have respect for this, because Chuck was a pioneer.

"We toured with [DEATH] a bunch of times, and I must say that me personally and Chuck, we didn't get along too well. This had to do with [the fact that] when PESTILENCE opened up for them, his lineup was a little bit more static and PESTILENCE was really energetic, so we got a good crowd reaction, and I thought he was a little bit jealous of that feeling. But I can't help it. I had long hair, and we were doing hair spins and all this stuff, and that was really nice."

Mameli added: "But I learned a lot from [Chuck] business-wise — the way he thinks about record labels and thinks about the business. So we had long conversations about the business side of it so I could learn a little bit from what he was dealing with and not to fall in the same trap."

Schuldiner died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

PESTILENCE will release its ninth album, "Exitivm", on June 25 via Agonia Records.

You wanted the best, you got the best — ice-cold KISS gin to go with your tonic! It's what legions of KISS fans have been waiting for since the release of the band's classic track "Cold Gin" in 1974.

You can now crank up the music and raise a glass of KISS Cold Gin to unleash your inner rock star!

Following the massive success of the 2020 launch of KISS Rum Kollection portfolio, Brands For Fans, KISS and their licensing agent, Epic Rights, responded to the overwhelming demand from fans for another high-quality KISS beverage. Don't consider gin a rock 'n' roll liquor? Think again! Like the band, KISS Cold Gin is bold and uncompromising. Inspired by the band's roots in New York City, KISS gin creates a taste explosion that's always cranked up to 11.

It's only natural that rock titans KISS collaborated with an award-winning company like Brands For Fans to create a product as pure as the rock 'n' roll they play. KISS Cold Gin has a five-time distilled base including juniper, lemon peel and a selection of fine spices. There are no artificial flavors or added sweeteners. To maintain the highest quality, additional flavours of juniper and lemon are macerated and blended with the distillate, achieving a full balance of the botanical experience.

"Now it REALLY is Cold Gin time. If gin is your thing, then this is the one to bring. Like the song, this one's a classic!" says Paul Stanley, founding member of KISS.

As you would expect, KISS Cold Gin doesn't just taste great; it looks incredible too! Impress your friends with the stylish bottle, including eye-catching silver and gold details, with all four band members metallically illustrated on each side of the Brooklyn Bridge. The main label features a gold disc and the iconic landmarks of New York City and the Manhattan skyline, while the stunning art deco pattern behind the disc is based on the scales of The Demon's boots. The label artwork is a stunning homage to KISStory and the band's musical roots.

Brands for Fans has launched a new webshop, available in the U.K., Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and The Netherlands. In coming months, Denmark will be added to the mix.

KISS Cold Gin tasting notes:

* Nose — spicy with clear tones of juniper, a generous aroma and classic gin character

* Palate — well balanced with clear character of juniper, citrus and herbs, lemon peel and angelica root

* Finish — intensifies and grows in the mouth. Full bodied, clear and lasting character of juniper with a dry finish which is distinctively crisp and maintains an astringent character.

Italian metallers LACUNA COIL will release a new live album, "Live From The Apocalypse", on June 25 via Century Media.

A live version of the song "Veneficium", which originally appeared on LACUNA COIL's latest studio album, "Black Anima", can be seen below.

Says vocalist Cristina Scabbia: "'Veneficium' is the painful and fierce scream that rises from the darkness. Another day has born and has new hope in it, the poison inside has been defeated and a new refreshed and healed life can start again."

"Live From The Apocalypse" is the fruit of an unprecedented time. Unlike previous live efforts the Italians, under the yoke of the pandemic, cleverly devised a way for their devoted fan base to hear and see them on stage by organizing a special livestream event performing their latest album, "Black Anima", in its entirety, in September 2020. This very special show will now be released on vinyl and CD as well as a digital album. The physical album formats come with a bonus DVD featuring the footage of the original live stream.

"Live From The Apocalypse" will be available in the following formats:

* CD+DVD digipak

* Gatefold 2LP+DVD and LP booklet

* Digital album

The vinyl version will be available in the following colors and limitations:

* Black vinyl, unlimited

* Neon yellow, limited to 300 copies worldwide, available at CMDistro EU

* Red vinyl, limited to 200 copies worldwide, only available at EMP

* White vinyl, limited to 300 copies worldwide, only available at the band's official store

* Silver vinyl, limited to 300 copies worldwide, only available at Century Media U.S.

* Orange vinyl, limited to 300 copies worldwide, only available at Revolver

"Live From The Apocalypse" track listing:

01. Anima Nera

02. Sword Of Anger

03. Save Me

04. Now Or Never

05. Reckless

06. Through The Flames

07. Apocalypse

08. Black Feathers

09. Under The Surface

10. The End Is All I Can See

11. Veneficium

12. Black Dried Up Heart

13. Bad Things

14. Layers Of Time

15. Black Anima

16. Save Me (Apocalypse Version)

By all accounts, this was no ordinary gig. Even though LACUNA COIL was in its hometown of Milan — at the famed Alcatraz Club — there were no fans to greet them. No roar of anticipation; no claps of adulation; no interaction with the people who had become deeply involved in and had a profound love for LACUNA COIL's music and live shows over two-plus decades. The livestream energy was different. It had to be. With hearts on their sleeves, cameras rolling, and the world tuning in online, LACUNA COIL brought "Black Anima: Live From The Apocalypse" to life.

"On one hand, it felt awkward to play for a huge empty room," says vocalist Andrea Ferro. " But on the other hand, it felt great to finally reconnect with our fans at home and with the people working behind the scenes. A lot of people enjoyed the show — it was definitely a one-off event loaded with a lot of emotions and feelings. 'Live From The Apocalypse' is an opportunity to offer a new release to our fans while the COVID-19 crisis is still a real thing, affecting them and us. The live album represents a unique moment in our career (and life) that will be forever remembered as that one time when we literally 'rose from the Apocalypse.'"

LACUNA COIL recently announced the release of its very own tabletop (or better yet, concert floor!) party game, Horns Up! The game itself takes place at a LACUNA COIL show, where each player must fight his or her way to be the first to reach the stage. There will obviously be many "friendship-threatening" actions challenging the opponents. LACUNA COIL band members will be an active presence in the game: they are depicted on the Stage Cards, and each of these will have consequences on the whole audience! The pre-order campaign is live worldwide and as the number of requested copies rises, the project will become more developed, with new events and new expansions. Shipping is available worldwide until November 2021. Pre-order your copy here.

Comedian Dave Chappelle joined FOO FIGHTERS on stage last night (Sunday, June 20) at Madison Square Garen in New York City to perform a cover version of RADIOHEAD's "Creep". The event, which followed FOO FIGHTERS' warm-up club show at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, California, on June 15, marked the band's first full-capacity arena concert since the beginning of the pandemic.

Chappelle, who was in New York City to premiere his new documentary, "Dave Chappelle: This Time This Place", at the Tribeca Festival, previously sang "Creep" live several times over the years, including with Bradley Cooper and Lenny Kravitz, and with John Mayer.

Other highlights of FOO FIGHTERS' concert at Madison Square Garden included drummer Taylor Hawkins swapping places with frontman Dave Grohl for a rendition of QUEEN's "Somebody To Love" and the band performing its cover version of the BEE GEES' "You Should Be Dancing".

As was the case at the Agoura Hills show, protesters gathered outside Madison Square Garden to voice their objection to the venue's proof-of-vaccination requirement.

FOO FIGHTERS first headlined a sold-out Garden in February 2008 on their "Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace" tour, returning to rock the venue for another sell-out show in November 2011 on the "Wasting Light" tour. Most recently, the band sold-out two nights at The World's Most Famous Arena in July 2018, on their "Concrete And Gold" tour.

Last November, Chappelle was the host of the "SNL" episode which featured FOO FIGHTERS as the musical guests.

Former Cradle Of Filth keyboardist / backing vocalist turned solo artist Lindsay Schoolcraft has checked in with the following update:

"I didn’t think I’d ever say this, but I love having a Patreon! I love what is possible for us as musicians, and this month I have released a piece with the über-talented Dalai Cellai!!!! Please go check out this super talented lady and all she has to offer. This track is only available on either patreon platform: patreon.com/dalaicellai or patreon.com/lindsayschoolcraft."

In December 2020, Antiqva released their debut single "Funeral Crown" as a lyric video. The song is now available worldwide on all streaming platforms and as a limited edition vinyl, here.

Australian vocalist Xenoyr (Ne Obliviscaris / Omega Infinity) and Canadian Juno nominated composer / pianist / harpist Lindsay Schoolcraft (ex-Cradle Of Filth), conceived the idea for Antiqva while touring Europe in 2015, both expressing the interest to explore different musical pathways within the same band, ultimately starting a project that combined the age and elegance of classical music with the wild fervour of black metal, bringing both worlds together to create something altogether truly immense yet intimately detailed.

With an ensemble of experienced past, present, and live musicians from bands including Negator, Karkaos / Blackguard, Black Crown Initiate, Susperia / Abyssic, and The Ocean (in addition to Xenoyr and Schoolcraft's own lengthy resumes), Antiqva unites many talents, and if the depth and intricacy of "Funeral Crown" is any indication of what's to come, Antiqva is not a band to sleep on.

Antiqva is:

Lindsay Schoolcraft (formerly Cradle Of Filth)
Xenoyr (Ne Obliviscaris, Omega Infinity)
Justine Ethier (Karkaos, Blackguard)
Urzorn (Negator)
Memnock (Susperia, Abyssic)
Dalai Cellai (The Ocean Collective, Dirty Granny Tales)
Andy Thomas (Black Crown Initiate)

For further details, visit Antiqva on Facebook.

(Artwork created by Xenoyr)




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In a recent conversation on The Metal Voice with Canada's Metal legend Thor, former W.A.S.P. guitarist Chris Holmes also joined the interview and spoke about his guest solo on Thor's first new single "The Ultimate Alliance" off of Thor's upcoming album, Alliance. In the interview, Holmes also gave The Metal Voice an update on his upcoming new album.

When asked about the timeline of his new studio album

Holmes: "I just finished up the last guitar solo yesterday. I'm sending it to the guy that is mixing it and then he can put it on and start mixing all the rest of the songs. Then he will send it to me and I okay it. It will probably be released in three months. Probably done in a few weeks but it takes time to do the other stuff. It would have been done a long time ago if the Covid hadn't hit; it has just been postponed. It will be self released. It will be easier to sell on Bandcamp and at my shows. "

When asked about the new songs

Holmes: "All the songs on there are about what I have done in my life experiences and stuff like that. In regards to the songs, there is one ballad called 'In God's Hands', and the rest of the stuff is heavier."

Like the Heavy Metal Avengers, heroes and icons from all over the metal world have united behind the legendary god of metal thunder, Thor, on an epic new studio album, entitled Alliance.

Only a figure of such mythic strength and power as the mighty Thor could unite such an astounding armada of artists including W.A.S.P.'s Chris Holmes, Raven vocalist John Gallagher, Soilwork singer Björn Strid, Danko Jones, Anthrax's Neil Turbin, Ross “The Boss” Friedman and many more. Together, this battalion of champions fuse their talents to create one of the heaviest, most melodic Thor albums of all time! Just check out the album’s first single, “The Ultimate Alliance,” a heart-pounding, metal riffing powerhouse of a track that features some stellar guitar solos from Chris Holmes and Ross The Boss as well as the vocal talents of A Sound Of Thunder singer Nina Osegueda and Lords Of The Trident frontman Fang VonWrathstein. The track is debuted here alongside a superbly fun, special-effects heavy video.

Alliance features stunning artwork from Timo Wuerz and will be available July 16 on both digital as well as on CD in a digipak and limited edition silver vinyl in a gatefold jacket! Watch for Thor to launch several shows and festivities in this year as he celebrates his 39th studio album and an astounding 50 years of metal mayhem as well as co-starring in a feature-length action movie Pact Of Vengeance, which will feature music from the new album.

Tracklisting:

“We Need Musclerock” feat. John Gallagher (Raven)
“Niflhel (Realm Of The Dead)” feat. Björn Strid (Soilwork)
“The Ultimate Alliance” feat. Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), Ross “The Boss” Friedman (Manowar), Nina Osegueda (A Sound Of Thunder) & Fang VonWrathenstein (Lords Of The Trident)
“Ode To Odin” feat. Dan Cleary (Striker)
“We Will Fight Forever” feat. Neil Turbin (Anthrax)
“Because We Are Strong”
“Rock Around The World” feat. Danko Jones
“Queen Of The Spiders” feat. Frank Soda (The Imps)
“Power Hungry”
“Bounty Hunter” feat. Frank Meyer (The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs) & Dennis Post (Warrior Soul)
“Battlements” feat. Trevor William Church (Haunt)
“Thor vs. The Juggernaut (War Of The Gods)” feat. Sean Peck (Death Dealer)
“Generation Now” feat. Joey Killingsworth (Joecephus & The George Jonestown Massacre)
“After The Laughter” feat. Martin Gummesson (Thundermaker)
“Good Stuff” feat. Al Harlow (Prism)
“Congregate” feat. Joey Roads & Sheldon Byer (Roadrash)
“We Will Fight Forever” (Reprise)




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Casket Robbery has announced they will play a series of shows in August and September of 2021. Further, the tour will coincide with the release of their upcoming single “The Hidden...The Hideous”, available on August 13th.

Emerging from the darkest and most desolate areas of the Midwest, Casket Robbery creates its own signature style of death metal by infusing horror and occult themes. Their trademark huge riffs and unrelenting rhythm create the unforgiving, brutally catchy, and eerie sound that only Casket Robbery is known for. Death metal with a wink.

Casket Robbery’s intense, high energy shows have quickly surfaced a die hard following. They continue to show a relentless work ethic and dedication to their fanbase. After the release of their debut album, Casket Robbery has toured the United States continually, hitting large festivals like Full Terror Assault and Milwaukee Summerfest. Casket Robbery has shared the stage with Cannibal Corpse, Jungle Rot, Psycroptic, Immolation and more.

This latest single marks a further expansion of the band’s quintessential sound. Mixed and Mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) and engineered by Troy Powell at Unintended Studios, “The Hidden...The Hideous” will satisfy the death metal cravings of both new and existing fans alike. Are you ready? Your implacable nightmare has just begun.

Casket Robbery tour dates:

August
7 - Menomonie, WI - ZyMurderfest 
12 - Battle Creek, MI - The Music Factory (with Jungle Rot)
13 - Chesterfield, MI - Diesel Concert Lounge (with Jungle Rot)
14 - Toledo, OH - Toledo Deathfest 
15 - Newport, KY - The Thompson House
16 - Greensboro, NC - The Blind Tiger
17 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
19 - Jacksonville, FL - Jack Rabbits
21 - Tampa, FL - The Brass Mug
22 - Tallahassee, FL - The Warrior On The River
23 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
24 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live
25 - Arlington, TX - Maverick's
26 - Peoria, IL - The Hot Spot
27 - New Haven, IN - Carl's Tavern
28 - Kent, OH - The Outpost Concert Club
29 - Rochester, NY - The Montage Music Hall
30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Sub Alpine Society 
31 - Youngstown, OH - Westside Bowl 

September
1 - Indianapolis, IN - Black Circle Brewing 
18 - Lake Odessa, MI - Riot At The Racetrack

 

 




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20 Buck Spin has announced the August 13th release of Deconsecrate, the annihilating second album from Portland, Oregon-based death crew Aenigmatum. 

Following their well-received eponymous debut, the idiosyncratic methodology of Aenigmatum is instantly apparent from the whip-start blast of Deconsecrate’s opening track “Forged From Bedlam”. While the pace is frenetic, speed is never a crutch to be relied upon but rather one deliberate device in a sprawling collection of melodically precise and technically riveting fragmented death shards. The eight songs on Deconsecrate constitute a labyrinthian structure of twisting nuanced complexity and intricate explosive chaos. Blood-freezing and incandescently beautiful at once, Aenigmatum tempers their withering elaborate intensity with astonishingly elegant melodic passages carved into the mind like towering marble hallucinations.

Immersing in Deconsecrate, one might be forgiven assuming they’d stumbled upon a lost obscurity of mid-1990s Gothenburg, the dark harmonies, the dual guitars, the staggering rhythm section; but in fact, Aenigmatum has bequeathed a startlingly ambitious paragon of mystifying esoteric death metal magnificence.

Tracklisting:

"Forged From Bedlam"
"Undaunted Hereafter"
"Disenthralled"
"Fracturing Proclivity"
"Floods Within A Splintered Cortex"
"Larker, Sanguine Phantom"
"Despot Of Amorphic Dominions"
"Animus Reflection"

"Forged From Bedlam":

(Photo by Devin Tolman)

 




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French death metal up-and-comers Akiavel have unveiled the grizzly second video from their recently released sophomore effort, Væ Victis, issued April 23rd, 2021. “Comrade” is based on the notorious and truly horrifying serial killer: Andrei Chikatilo. Chikatilo - also known as the Butcher of Rostov, the Red Ripper, and the Rostov Ripper - murdered at least 52 women and children in the '70s and '80s. 

To pay homage to the victims, Akiavel incorporated both true elements of the crimes and their own children into the video and the song.

Vocalist Auré comments on the track: "When I decided to write on this killer I knew it wasn't going to be easy... He is for me one of the most violent monsters. Above all, he targeted children…

When I was in front of my blank page, as I did for the other songs, I was watching reports on Andreï Chikatilo. It hurt me a lot. I was angry too.

I'm a mom. I couldn't help but think that it could happen to anyone...Then I had an idea. If our children could be their voices. I wrote a chorus to make it easy to sing. I wanted us not to forget these poor victims...When the song was written, I hugged my son very hard against me. I had tears in my eyes. I asked him if he wanted to participate in a tribute to the missing children. He immediately agreed. We did the test and it gave me chills.

For the video clip, I printed the real photos of the victims and the real search notices. I hope we have respected their memories. While denouncing the atrocities of this monster, we do not forget the victims."

Væ Victis is a concept album that explores the darkest and most depraved spaces of the human psyche. Further evolving their sound, Akiavel takes a radical approach to their musical assault, consuming the listener with dizzying maelstroms of chaos. Væ Victis embodies the word “death,” putting forth an intrusive battery of blistering guitars, pummeling drums, and scathing vocals that culminates in one of the most robust death metal records the genre has seen yet.

Væ Victis is available on CD, with limited edition signed and numbered vinyl pressings. Order yours now at this location.

Tracklisting:

"Frozen Beauties"
"Bind Torture Kill"
"Zombie"
"Needles From Hell"
"Comrade"
"Medium"
"The Lady Of Death"
"Pentagram Tattoo"
"Mommy I'm Capable"
"Matrimonial Advertisements"

"Frozen Beauties":

 




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Finnish doom outfit, Hooded Menace, will release their new album, The Tritonus Bell, on August 27 via Season Of Mist. The band is now sharing the second single, "Chime Diabolicus", which can be heard below.

Guitarist Lasse Pyykkö comments on the new album and track: "Just like the lead single 'Blood Ornaments,' the second premiere track 'Chime Diabolicus' showcases very well where Hooded Menace is in 2021, offering some 80´s heavy metal vibes, catchy and powerful vocals, better crafted solos, and a faster pace while never forgetting the band´s roots in slow death/doom style. Actually, the slower riff, somewhere in the middle of the song where the second solo kicks in, is one of our heaviest."

Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Chthonic Exordium"
"Chime Diabolicus"
"Blood Ornaments"
"Those who absorb the Night"
"Corpus Asunder"
"Scattered into Dark"
"Instruments of Somber Finality"
"The Torture Never Stops" (W.A.S.P. cover) (Bonus Track

"Blood Ornaments":

Lineup:

Harri Kuokkanen - Vocals
Lasse Pyykkö - Lead and rhythm guitar, bass
Teemu Hannonen - Rhythm guitar
Pekka Koskelo – Drums




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The Two Minutes To Late Night crew are back with a new video.

"It is the year 2005. The Cybertronic Spree have teamed up Two Minutes to Late Night to bring you a cover beyond good, beyond evil, beyond your wildest imaginations (which was also in the third act of Boogie Nights for 20 seconds).  This is our 43rd bedroom cover made with the support of Patreon. Become a Patreon patron today and get access to exclusive rewards like patches, t-shirts, even custom songs! Plus, you get to see every cover we make before it publicly premieres."

This cover features:

- Arcee, Hot Rod, Unicron, Rumble, Shockwave, and Quintesson from The Cybertronic Spree
- Courtney Cox - The Iron Maidens
- Chris Hornbrook - Poison The Well, Greg Puciato
- Stephen Brodsky - Mutoid Man, Cave In, Old Man Gloom, New Idea Society
- Jordan Olds aka Gwarsenio Hall




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On September 24, BMG will release URIAH HEEP's "Every Day Rocks" box set.

British hard rock legends URIAH HEEP are one of the "big four" rock bands, along with LED ZEPPELIN, DEEP PURPLE and BLACK SABBATH, and certainly one of the most intriguing bands both musically and lyrically, to emerge from heavy rock.

The ambitious and beautifully presented "Every Day Rocks" box set includes the first seven albums on picture disc, plus seven accompanying t-shirts (one for every day of the week), corresponding art cards feature motivational lyrics and a calendar wall planner for planning the week's Uriah Heep listening. These albums are available officially for the first time as picture discs and the albums; "Demons And Wizards" and "The Magician's Birthday" feature both reimagined and original artwork by renowned fantasy artist Roger Dean.

URIAH HEEP guitarist Mick Box states: "Along with BMG, we wanted to do something extra special for our fans which will give them a piece of HEEP love every single day of the week. Our first seven albums will be put on to picture disc, and there will be a t-shirt for each album to wear for each day of the week. We have also included a yearly wall planner, so that you can plan your listening or just make some notes on how the albums make you feel. This way you can keep on Heepin' on! 'Appy days!"

Evoking an era when prog, hard rock and heavy metal co-existed in an era of glorious, boundary-breaking music, URIAH HEEP rose from inexperienced studio musicians with everything to prove to bona fide limo inhabiting rock stars.

After selling over 40 million albums worldwide, over the years URIAH HEEP has influenced many different metal bands around the globe, among the most popular being DIO. Bands including A-HA, KING DIAMOND, KROKUS, DEMONS & WIZARDS, FIFTH ANGEL and Axel Rudi Pell have all cited URIAH HEEP as a band of personal influence, while W.A.S.P., TESLA and BLACKMORE'S NIGHT have all covered the band's songs.

URIAH HEEP continues to tour until this day with founding member Mick Box.

"Every Day Rocks" includes:

* "…Very 'Eavy …Very Humble" (first time on picture disc)

* "Salisbury" (first time on picture disc)

* "Look At Yourself" (first time on picture disc)

* "Demons And Wizards" (original and reimagined artwork by Roger Dean, new artwork available for the first time on picture disc)

* "The Magician's Birthday" (original and reimagined artwork by Roger Dean, new artwork available for the first time on picture disc)

* "Sweet Freedom" (first time on picture disc)

* "Wonderworld" (first time on picture disc)

DEATHRIDERS, the band featuring featuring Neil Turbin (ANTHRAX) on vocals, Jonas Hornqvist of guitar, Richard Svard on bass, and Matt Thompson (KING DIAMOND) on drums, has released its debut single and video produced by KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque at Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden. "Never Surrender" is taken from the DEATHRIDERS' upcoming debut album, "The Metal Beast". The video was edited by Jimmy Kay of The Metal Voice and was shot on location at the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas and Sonic Train Studios.

Turbin stated: "The new song 'Never Surrender' combines power, melody, neoclassical and thrash in a way that I didn't have the opportunity to sing like I did on [ANTHRAX's] 'Fistful Of Metal' and 'Armed And Dangerous'.

"I can't wait for everyone to hear our new album. The album is so diverse — there are many tracks leaning on the thrash side but there are also many tracks which are melodic and technical as well.

"DEATHRIDERS packs a punch with a brilliant team of high-precision players."

You can purchase "Never Surrender" on Bandcamp.

ANTHRAX has had a number of vocalists — including Turbin, Joey Belladonna, Dan Nelson and John Bush — over the last 40 years, with guitarist Scott Ian and drummer Charlie Benante remaining the sole bandmembers who have appeared on every one of the group's studio albums.

Turbin performed and recorded with ANTHRAX on the original demo recordings and the band's debut album, "Fistful Of Metal". He wrote the lyrics to all songs on that LP with exception of the cover of Alice Cooper's "I'm Eighteen", and also has writing credits on five of the seven songs on the band's "Armed And Dangerous" EP, as well as two songs on "Spreading The Disease".

Photo courtesy of Ultimate Jam Night