As bassist of prog legends OPETH, Martín Méndez has gained worldwide popularity and now he returns with another virtuous death metal crusher that captures the fear, loss of control and despair of lockdown in eight new tracks. For "Dancing Into Oblivion", his project WHITE STONES goes further down the path of progressive extreme metal with haunting growls, jazz-induced intermezzi and an incredible level of technical perfection.

WHITE STONES has revealed its first video clip for the song "Chain Of Command". Influenced by John Coltrane and Wilbur Harden, the track allows multiple genres to co-exist and harmonize with each other while creating a threatening extreme metal atmosphere of fear and isolation — the perfect soundtrack to lockdown.

"Dancing Into Oblivion" will be released on CD, vinyl (clear and black/red marbled) as well as digital.

"Dancing Into Oblivion" track listing:

01. La Menace

02. New Age Of Dark

03. Chain Of Command

04. Iron Titans

05. Woven Dream

06. To Lie Or To Die

07. Freedom In Captivity

08. Acacia

When WHITE STONES released "Kuarahy", they became the first Spanish band signed to Nuclear Blast Records, cementing their first album as an unprecedented milestone. Now, with "Dancing Into Oblivion", the band returns with a more compact sound, having been hard at work ensuring the utmost attention to every detail for a result that is even better than the first record.

The topics covered on this second album draw on the feelings that Martín himself affirms he has lived through during the lockdown imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I started it very calmed in March when 'Kuarahy' was released and the lockdown started," he says. "I wrote the new record and it just flowed so well. It's my point of view, of the feelings I had during the lockdown period, in this weird year. I took advantage of the moment and I feel excited about it."

The emotional ups and downs that a situation like this generates are reflected on this record. As Méndez says: "It's a mix of feelings during the lockdown, feelings that go from fear to uncertainty as well as going through the confusion when you don't know about the future and you feel almost as if time has stopped. Musicians might be the last who will be back to work and we don't have any signs of a sooner return, which makes for a huge uncertainty. I have a family and I have to take care of them. This situation creates a feeling of discomfort which you can feel on the album," he confesses, also adding that "otherwise it's been nice having so much time at home with the family and those small and peaceful moments are also in the music. I've chosen to include some interludes between the songs so there is a higher contrast and it makes it easier to appreciate the different feelings throughout."

The most outstanding musical elements on this new record are the disparate genres that manage to co-exist. There is an element of aggression, that can be seen rearing its head in an instrumental frenzy, as well as soft and delicate intricacies that develop an atmosphere which surrounds the listener. There are distinct dynamics among the songs, with interludes allowing the listening to take a breath and appreciate what they're hearing.

Describing the type of music, Martín says: "It's difficult to define the style of this album. I don't like to tag the music. This is metal for me. It has elements of my interpretation of death metal but it has other, conscious influences from other genres too. It shows me as musician and displays my music taste within the restlessness of trying to do something different."

Méndez recalls the writing process for this record: "The first [song] I wrote was 'Chain Of Command', where I had the idea of writing more daring songs than on the previous record where I restricted myself and didn't want to play anything too technical, I just wanted to create something that was easier on the ear. In this one I wanted to do something slightly more elaborate and technical, musically, to add some color. The first influence I had for 'Chain Of Command' was from a John Coltrane and Wilbur Harden album, while in 'New Age Of Dark' the influence came listening to DEICIDE, so the influences are really quite varied across this record." Something the band were deliberately aiming for on this album was brevity. Vocalist Eloi Boucherie states how he and Méndez think: "It's better an album you want to listen to again than a record you desire to finish before it ends," then "it leaves you wanting for more."

The writing process of "Dancing Into Oblivion" has been pretty similar to the previous "Kuarahy" but with some clear changes. Martín composed all of the instrumentals for the album but, as he says: "I've left sections open to the interpretation of each of the other musicians, both in the drums and in the vocals. Eloi wrote the lyrics this time and we then workshopped them together whilst working out the vocal parts to get the final result in the studio".

WHITE STONES once again recorded at Farm Of Sounds Studios (Barcelona), owned by their singer Eloi. They were satisfied with the sound of "Kuarahy" and the experience of the recording of that album and the comfort of making everything with their own tools made it all easier.

"Everything has been 'homemade' because it's a way of working and a philosophy I like. You have more control and you can better enforce your ideas", Méndez — who also created the cover for "Dancing Into Oblivion" together with Sandra, his partner for many years — explains.

The final mix and mastering of this second album was done by Jaime Gómez Arellano at Orgone Studios (U.K.) because the band were more than satisfied with the work he did on "Kuarahy" and they wanted to repeat that great experience. Eloi, as the singer and also the guy who recorded the music sent to Orgone Studios, acknowledges "the recording had more experience and a better sound quality because we made better decisions during the pre-production thanks to a higher level of self-awareness of ourselves as a band. Jaime knew us better too, so that simplified the process and in turn helped to make 'Dancing Into Oblivion' as good as it can be."

The lineup has been enhanced with the participation of the multifaceted Joan Carles Marí Tur on drums (who also plays in other bands like FACE THE MAYBE). The guitar solos were the job of Joao Sassetti (who was already a member of the touring lineup of WHITE STONES). Sassetti lives in Portugal and he couldn't be in the studio in Barcelona, so he recorded his solos and digitally sent them over for integration into the final songs. The recording of the instruments has been more organic and as Boucherie says, "The original sound has been retained as much as posible in each and every element" and it has brought a natural/raw touch for "Dancing Into Oblivion" just as the band had hoped and expected.

WHITE STONES is:

Martín Méndez - Bass, Guitars

Joao Sasseti - Guitar solos

Eloi Boucherie - Vocals

Joan Carles Marí Tur - Drums

Photo credit: Sandra Artigas

NEW FOUND GLORY has announced a deluxe release, "Forever And Ever x Infinity...And Beyond!!!", due out September 3 on Hopeless Records. Featuring six new songs that the band wrote and recorded during the pandemic, this deluxe album will be pressed on a limited-edition double LP paired with a collectible 24-page zine that was designed by the band, complete with never-before-seen photos and notes from NEW FOUND GLORY.

NEW FOUND GLORY guitarist Chad Gilbert comments: "We are pumped to announce the deluxe version of our 10th album, now called 'Forever And Ever X Infinity… and Beyond!!' The new and improved version features six new songs on the album which takes it to 21 songs for 2021! You all have been playing the heck out of this record and showing it so much love over the last year and now that we actually get to tour it soon, we wanted to reignite its energy and fire!"

One of these new songs from "Forever And Ever x Infinity...And Beyond!!!", a track called "The Last Red-Eye", can be streamed below.

"Forever And Ever x Infinity...And Beyond!!!" track listing:

01. Shook By Your Shaved Head

02. Greatest Of All Time

03. Double Chin For The Win

04. Nothing To Say

05. Stay Awhile

06. Himalaya

07. Same Side Sitters

08. Like I Never Existed

09. More And More

10. Do You Want To Settle Down?

11. The Way You Deserve

12. Trophy

13. Scarier Than Jason Voorhees At A Campfire

14. Birthday Song But Not Really

15. Slipping Away

16. Backseat

17. The Devil Has Many Faces

18. The Last Red-Eye

19. Ferris Wheel

20. Puzzles

21. The New Abnormal

After a year of postponements, NEW FOUND GLORY is reminding you that pop punk still isn't dead and is here to prove it with co-headliners SIMPLE PLAN. The "Pop Punk's Still Not Dead" tour will be kicking off in Dallas, Texas on August 31 and traveling to cities throughout the U.S. with support from special guest LOLO.

Combining punk, hardcore, and post-hardcore with emotional lyrics and melody is nothing new for the band that epitomizes heartfelt optimism with DIY work-ethic and spirit. But never has this been more evident than on "Forever + Ever x Infinity", including hit singles "Greatest Of All Time" and "Himalaya". They instantly cemented their place on fans' playlists while also securing strong support from streaming services with adds to Pop Punk's Not Dead (Spotify), All New Rock (Spotify), New Alt Now (Pandora), Pop Punk Heroes (Deezer), Punk Hotlist (YouTube) and more landmark playlists.

After 20-plus years of being a band, ten studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and four cover albums, NEW FOUND GLORY's ethos has never wavered; they always strive to be the friend you always need and who always understands you. With "Forever + Ever x Infinity…And Beyond", the band created an album that is even more 100% NEW FOUND GLORY.

NEW FOUND GLORY is Jordan Pundik (lead vocals), Chad Gilbert (guitar), Ian Grushka (bass guitar) and Cyrus Bolooki (drums).

Photo credit: Acacia Evans

Taylor & Francis Online are reporting the discovery of a new species of terrestrial-breeding frog that has been named after Led Zeppelin. Researchers David Brito-Zapata and Carolina Reyes-Puig made the discovery of the frog, dubbed Pristimantis ledzeppelin, within the Cordillera del Condor, which is located between the borders of southeast Ecuador and northeast Peru. The small frog, which can grow up to 3.6cm long, is identifiable by its coppery-red eyes and a mottled, yellow, brown, black and orange skin. The frog is one of 28 Pristimantis species found in the past two years, 

Brito-Zapata and Reyes-Puig issued the following statement via the Neotropical Biodiversity Journal:

"The name honors Led Zeppelin and their extraordinary music. Led Zeppelin was a British rock band formed in London in 1968, one of the most influential bands throughout the 1970s, and progenitors of both hard rock and heavy metal."

They warn that Pristimantis ledzeppelin risks being trampled underfoot as the rich biodiversity of its habitat is endangered by farming, logging, mining, disease and the climate emergency. They also note the species is unlikely to move elsewhere and will need protection.

Read the complete report here.

Pristimantis ledzeppelin (bottom photo) by David Brito-Zapata




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Crobot and Mascot Records / Mascot Label Group have announced the global release of an EP titled Rat Child on June 18. The complete track listing includes “Mountain” (featuring Frank Bello), “Kiss It Goodbye” (featuring Howard Jones), “Everyone Dies,” (featuring Stix Zadinia), and “Rat Child.” To purchase, click here.

Today, the band and Mascot Records present the music video for “Everyone Dies” featuring Steel Panther’s Stix Zadinia, who also co-wrote and mixed the track.  He appears in the official video alongside the members of Crobot. Zadinia shares, “I think this song will floor people. You haven’t heard Crobot quite like this before. Writing this song with them has been a fantastic experience, and I can’t wait for people to hear it!” 

Crobot singer Brandon Yeagley offers, “Whether you’re jammin’ in your Delorean or Mini-Cooper, we’ve always got something to take you back to the future. Riffs? Check. Spandex? Check. Sequins? You bet yer sweet Granny’s ass... So when you’re ready to rock, just call on your neighborhood friendly Crobot. We’ve got a real mutha for ya!”

The music video was directed and edited by Wombat, and is dedicated to Brandon’s father Rick Yeagley who passed away in October, 2019.

Previously, the band and label presented “Kiss It Goodbye” featuring Light The Torch’s Howard Jones, and the first reveal was “Mountain,” featuring Anthrax’s Frank Bello; both can be screened below.

Crobot has announced upcoming appearances in the markets below. Them Evil’s will support all performances in Texas. Looking towards the planned performances and next studio album Yeagley states, “The future is looking starbrite, Beardos!  We’re hitting the streets then locking ourselves in between four studio walls until we leave with the most rockin’ record the World’s ever seen! Cause Crobot never really goes away, we just hibernate.”

July 
8 - Austin, TX - Come And Take It Live!
9 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
10 - Dallas, TX - Trees
11 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
13 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th St
14 - Joplin, MO - Guitars
15 - Iowa City, IA - Gabes
16 - Cadott, WI - Rock Fest
17 - Janesville, WI - Back Bar

 




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What happens when the drummer of Faster Pussycat and the Winemaker of Desert Rock Winery & Distillery get together? This! On sale now at DesertRockin.com and the Desert Rock Scottsdale Tasting Room.

Faster Pussycat's "Body Thief" Red Blend is a Tempranillo - Cabernet Blend from California, and is named after a song on the band's third album, Whipped!, released in 1992 via Elektra Records. The video for "The Body Thief" can be seen below.

For years Faster Pussycat's aggressive touring schedule made it difficult for them to get into the studio to work on new material. When the Covid pandemic hit, and there were no live shows for the foreseeable future, the band immediate shifted gears and entered the studio.

The new single “NOLA” is a song inspired by the fabulous city of New Orleans, a city that fronman Taime Downe holds dear to his heart. When the band started working on making new music for a release “NOLA” was the obvious choice to lead with. Downe and guitarist Sam Bam Koltun began working together in the studio, tracking guitars on what would be the first new song from the band since 2006’s “The Power And The Glory Hole”.

The B-Side of the single is “Pirate Love” a cover of the Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers song, which was goes back to Faster Pussycat's club days, also inspired by the New Orleans theme, as Thunders passed away in New Orleans in 1991, and has had a major influence on Downe and the whole band.

The single, released on May 21st, is available in two formats - digital and 7” vinyl. Digital is available through Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon etc. The vinyl can be purchased exclusively via the band’s website: fasterpussycat.com.

To celebrate the release, Faster Pussycat and Enuff Z' Nuff are pairing up and coming Straight Outta Quarantine  throughout North America –  showing all the warts, scars and tattoos that only a package like this can, which have only grown deeper over the past year...

Featuring the MTV smash hits "House Of Pain", "New Thing", "Bathroom Wall" and "Fly High Michelle", the Straight Outta Quarantine tour, (which has been booked and routed with careful consideration of each venue's Covid regulations and the safety of all involved) is without question going to be one of the most long overdue rock and roll parties of our lifetime. Dates are as follows:

June
18 - Fremont Street Country Club - Las Vegas, NV *
19 - Leatherheads - Salt Lake City, UT *
24 - Edith Lucielle's - Cedar Rapids, IA
25 - The Scene Rock Bar - Kansas City, MO
26 - Diamond Music Hall - St. Peters, MO
27 - The Arcada Theatre - St. Charles, IL
29 - Live At 1175 - Kansasville, WI
30 - Phat Heads II - Green Bay, WI

July
1 - Hobart Art Theatre - Hobart, IN *
2 - Diesel Concert Theatre - Chesterfield, MI
3 - Big Indian Drive-In - Irving, NY
4 - M3 Festival - Columbia, MD
5 - The Vault - New Bedford, MA
6 - Reverb - Reading, PA
7 - Jergel's Rhythm Grille - Warrendale, PA
8 - Peecox - Erlanger, KY *
10 - King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH
11 - Thelma's Sport Nook - Sharpsville, PA
14 - Tally Ho Theatre - Leesburg, VA
16 - Amos Southend Music Hall - Charlotte, NC
17 - 37 Main Street - Buford, GA
18 - Hal & Mal's - Jackson, MS
19 - Drew & Willies Sports Bar - Denham Springs, LA
21 - The Rail Club - Fort Worth, TX
23 - Sunshine Studios Live - Colorado Springs, CO
24 - The Venue - Denver, CO
27 - Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
29 - Cooters - Eagle Pass, TX
30 - Sam's Burger Joint - San Antonio, TX
31 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX

(* denotes Faster Pussycat only)

 




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Unhinged is a band comprised of guitarist Kevin Doughty (ex-Cultural Warfare), bassist Pete Aguilar (ex-Cultural Warfare, Taunted, Desecrater) and vocalist/guitarist Shawn Bozarth (ex-Defiance, In-Defildae, Cultural Warfare). Bones Padilla (ex-Cultural Warfare, Mudface) made a guest appearance on drums for "The Callous Breed" single, but the band is currently looking for a permanent drummer. "We all worked together in Cultural Warfare before, and left due to creative differences, but were onboard with the heavier, more aggressive music of our new band." 

Unhinged is currently recording their debut EP. The first single from that forthcoming release is “The Callous Breed”, which is represented by the following lyric video.  According to the band, "'The Callous Breed' is a song depicting a post apocalyptic future where resistance meets the war machine and bloodshed ensues. The name Unhinged was actually inspired by the movie with Russell Crowe who was mentally unstable and a Kevin Doughty look-alike so it just fit."

For further details, visit Unhinged on Facebook.

 

 




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Austin, TX-based trio, Glassing, have completed their third-full length album. The album, set to be titled Twin Dream, will see a release this fall via Brutal Panda Records.

Twin Dream marks the follow-up to Glassing's 2019 breakout album Spotted Horse. Recorded during the time of COVID in an old Texas Country music studio, the album sees Glassing push their sound even further, experimenting with rich textures, expanded song structures, dreamlike passages, and their signature moody exercises in bleakness that range from grim to hopeful to destructive.

The band commented on the making of the new album: "To be completely honest we wrote this record when we were fucked up and scared. When we and everyone else around us were going through one of the most uncertain periods of our collective lives. Now that the dust has settled slightly, we can look back and realize that a great deal of people got hit hard and raw and lost a lot. And not everyone had a project to lose themselves in or some passion to distract from reality. Not everyone had something as powerful as music to guide them as it guides us. Maybe you can hear some of that in the record, maybe this record ties you to our life raft. Either way, we're beyond grateful to have it, so our job is to share it for when those bad times come again."

Additionally, Glassing will see the release of their 2017 debut album Light And Death on vinyl for the first time. The album is being re-released on July 30.

Glassing commented on the long-awaited vinyl release: "We're super excited for Light And Death to get a proper release through two great labels, BPR in the US and Medication Time in France. We sat on that album for a while and ended up rushing a DIY release for it on our 2017 tour with This Will Destroy You. We had handmade CD-Rs for that tour that kinda fit the sound of that record and the early era of Glassing which was more raw and aggressive."

Lineup:

Cory Brim - guitar
Dustin Coffman - vocals, bass
Jason Camacho - drummer




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Italian metallers, Raven Tide, will release their Inspiring Milestones Vol. 1 EP this Saturday, June 19.

Inspiring Milestones Vol. 1 is a special edition that leads the way to the new album release, planned for next fall. An EP including tributes to two of the most inspiring bands that have been milestones all along the band history.

Says vocalist Carlotta "Cheryl" Cimeli: "To fully appreciate the evolution of the new album sound we decided to invite listeners a retrospective to retrace the steps of our musical origins right through the most inspiring bands and artists. This could be a chance to know more about us and to get ready for our next creation, born and evolved instinctually during a complicated and heavy 2020. Like a flower from a stone, "Eleven" found his way collecting all our emotions, energies, fears and hopes. We're really anxious to share with you the new songs and this wonts to be an invitation to come along with us towards the new Raven Tide era.

Inspiring Milestones Vol. 1 will include the tributes "New Divide" (Linkin Park) and "Get Up!" (Korn feat. Skrillex) and will be available on the main digital platforms and on the official Raven Tide YouTube channel.




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Greek melodic metal masters, Nightfall, are premiering the official music video for the song "Martyrs Of The Cult Of The Dead (Agita)" via OnlyFans.

The decision to use this platform is to circumvent the arbitrary and harsh censorship restrictions across all social media, including YouTube, due to nudity and excessive violence. The video, which was created by Antoine de Montremy, can be seen for FREE, here.

Vocalist Efthimis Karadimas comments, "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 adds, "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!"

The band previously released the official bass playthrough video for the track "Darkness Forever," which is taken from their latest album At Night We Prey. In addition, the band is introducing their new bassist Vasiliki Biza, who performs the track in the clip.

Nightfall comments: ''We are very happy we are gonna work with Vailiki Biza. Apart from her skills with the 4-string, she is a very active person with interesting ideas she gladly shares with the rest of the band. We can’t wait to hit the road.''

Vasiliki Biza adds: ''I'm excited about working with the mighty Nightfall. One of the most important Greek metal bands with a great discography and point of view. As a female musician with years of participation in the independent music scene, I feel confident about our collaboration. Our passion for music is on the same frequency and I believe that this will have a positive impact on all of you who will meet us in the upcoming steps. I ‘m looking forward to start playing live soon.”

At Night We Prey is available in the following formats:

- CD Digipak
- LP in various colours
- Digital

Order here.

The album artwork for At Night We Prey was created by Travis Smith.

"Killing Moon" lyric video:

"Darkness Forever" lyric video:

Lineup:

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




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In the same spirit of the well received Allen/Lande project, which featured a pairing of powerhouse vocalists Russell Allen and Jorn Lande, Frontiers presents a new duets project featuring two Brazilian vocalists, Renan Zonta (Electric Mob) and Nando Fernandes (Sinistra). Under the banner Brother Against Brother, Zonta and Fernandes deliver a brilliant, exciting melodic metal duets album on their self-titled debut, out now.

Watch a video for "Deadly Sins" below, and order/save Brother Against Brother here.

Nando Fernandes says, "Singing with the incredible Renan Zonta was a great honor for me, as I believe he is one of the best vocalists in Brazil today. The difference in timbres, our interpretations, always loaded with a lot of emotion, the incredible melodies, the very well harmonized choirs, make this album another beautiful and striking record for the history of Brazilian and worldwide hard rock and metal!"

Renan Zonta says, "Being involved in this project and getting to sing metal is beyond amazing. Ale is a multi-talented beast, great songwriter, wonderful producer, and one of the biggest hearts I've ever met. Besides that, sharing vocals with the one and only Nando Fernandes is an honor. The man is a Brazilian living legend and his kindness shows why it is not only because of his groundbreaking voice that people love him. Brother Against Brother goes beyond a heavy metal project. It's a soulful heavy emotional part of my career that I will cherish forever."

"Representing Brazil on a record company as important as Frontiers, for me it is a source of great pride, as we are talking about one of the best in the world, and to be alongside true legends in the world rock is truly a dream come true. May this be the first of many others," adds Fernandes.

Conceived by Serafino Perugino, President and A&R director of Frontiers Music Srl, Brother Against Brother is meant to showcase these two amazing vocalists to a larger global audience outside of their homeland of Brazil. Nando Fernandes is one of the most established, popular rock/metal singers in Brazil and he is paired here with one of the hottest vocal talents of the new wave of hard rock bands from the Frontiers label, Renan Zonta of Electric Mob. Together, they are on fire on this magnificent melodic metal album written for them by none other than Alessandro Del Vecchio (Jorn, Revolution Saints, Edge Of Forever).

While Brazil is quite obviously rich in musical talent in the rock and metal world, these two singers are some of the best on the planet and are ready for the world stage. Get ready for one of the most exciting releases of the year in the self-titled debut from Brother Against Brother! Fans of rich, powerful melodic metal and powerful rock and metal vocals will want to have this on their 'must hear' list for 2021.

Tracklisting:

"Two Brothers"
"What If"
"City Of Gold"
"Heaven Sent"
"Haunted Heart"
"Deadly Sins"
"In The Name Of Life"
"Demons In My Head"
"Whispers In Darkness"
"Valley Of The Kings"
"Lost Son"

"Deadly Sins" video:

"Demons In My Head" lyric video:

"Valley Of The Kings" video:

Lineup:

Renan Zonta: vocals, backing vocals
Nando Fernandes: vocals, backing vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio: bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Jonas Hornqvist: guitars
Michele Sanna: drums




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Korpiklaani have released an accordion playthrough video for "Pohja", a track from the band's new album, Jylhä. Watch Sami Perttula rip through the track below.

Sami comments: "''Pohja' presents probably one of the most trickiest arrangement for accordion on the whole album. The song was composed by Jonne and on the original demo there was just the main violin theme before the chorus to give us ideas how to do the arrangements for folk instruments. As always there are plenty of addictive parts in Jonne’s songs and one idea led to another one and the final result can be heard on the album. I think for folk instruments the most tasty part is in the end when we have a chance to play our own little solos in a bit of a gypsy style and put some feeling into them. Lyrically 'Pohja' (rock bottom) literally describes the feeling when one is really down, but it’s more like an uplifting song: the main idea of this story is in the strength and courage that will lift us back up and makes us continue our lives and not let the life's misfortunes drag us back down. Again, the lyrics are from our wonderful lyricist Tuomas Keskimäki. The video was produced by media student Alexander Grönvall. He put a lot of effort into this, so it’s here for us to enjoy - he made this possible."

Order Jylhä here.

Jylhä tracklisting:

"Verikoira"
"Niemi"
"Leväluhta"
"Mylly"
"Tuuleton"
"Sanaton Maa"
"Kiuru"
"Miero"
"Pohja"
"Huolettomat"
"Anolan Aukeat"
"Pidot"
"Juuret"

"Tuuleton" video:

"Niemi" video:

"Mylly" video:

"Leväluhta" video:




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On the heels of the sold-out 20th anniversary blood red reissue of Shadows Fall's Of One Blood for Record Store Day's Black Friday last fall, M-Theory Audio announces a new vinyl edition of the breakthrough album by the Grammy-nominated New Wave of American Heavy Metal pioneers.

This new yellow/black vinyl pressing of the album - which features the 10 tracks that were originally remixed and remastered by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Hatebreed, Suicide Silence) and Grammy-award winning engineer Alan Douches (High on Fire, Motorhead, The Black Dahlia Murder) in 2008 - will be released on July 16, and is available for pre-order here.

Shadows Fall was founded 25 years ago by guitarists Jon Donais (currently the lead guitarist of thrash legends Anthrax) and Matt Bachand (now a member of Act Of Defiance). Soon after the group released their debut album - which featured All That Remains vocalist Phil Labonte - in 1997, Brian Fair was recruited to be the group's new front man. After a year's worth of live shows together, the band entered Massachusetts' Planet Z Studios with producer Zeuss to record what would become a seminal album in the burgeoning New Wave of American Heavy Metal movement.

Influenced in equal parts by classic Bay Area thrash, Scandinavian melodic death and New England hardcore, Of One Blood ushered in a new era for metal that emphasized heaviness, hooks and taut musicianship. That time period also saw the group tour extensively alongside the likes of Hatebreed, In Flames, Converge, Lamb of God and Unearth, as well as share festival stages with Pantera and Slayer; and the band even caught the attention of MTV.

The April 2000 release of Of One Blood set the stage for the band to achieve additional mainstream metal success on their subsequent album, 2002's The Art of Balance, which saw the group join Ozzy Osbourne's Ozzfest tour en route to selling more than 250,000 copies. From there, the band cracked the Billboard Top 20 with 2004's The War Within - which sold more than 400,000 copies and earned the band its first Grammy nomination - before signing with Atlantic Records for the release of 2007's Threads of Life, which saw the band receive a second Grammy nomination. Two more acclaimed albums followed before Donais was invited to join Anthrax in 2013, a move which would eventually cause Shadows Fall to go on indefinite hiatus.

Only time will tell whether a reunion is in the cards, but for now, celebrate the turn-of-the-millennium heavy metal scene with the modern reissue of Of One Blood.




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Blackmore's Night have released an official video for "Four Winds", a track from their new album, Nature's Light. Watch below:

Nature’s Light is available on multiple formats via earMUSIC. Among these is a Strictly Limited 2CD Hardcover Mediabook Edition including a bonus CD featuring a carefully selected set of Blackmore’s Night’s masterpieces from their extensive back catalogue. Furthermore, the album will become available as a CD Digipak Edition, a Strictly Limited Heavyweight 1LP Gatefold Edition on Yellow Vinyl, a 180g 1LP Gatefold Edition on Black Vinyl as well as Digital.

Order here.

Tracklisting:

"Once Upon December"
"Four Winds"
"Feather In The Wind"
"Darker Shade Of Black" (Instrumental)
"The Twisted Oak"
"Nature’s Light"
"Der Letzte Musketier" (Instrumental)
"Wish You Were Here" (2021)
"Going To The Faire"
"Second Element"

"Second Element" video:

"Nature’s Light" video:

"Four Winds" lyric video:

"Once Upon December" lyric video:




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New York City’s Sweet Sienna have released an official video for their new single, "Dust On A Grave", via Cleopatra Records. Check it out below.

The single features special guest artists George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), Jack Russell (Jack Russell’s Great White), Lorraine Lewis (Femme Fatale, Vixen), John Corabi (Mötley Crüe, The Dead Daisies), Keith St. John (Burning Rain, Montrose), Richard Fortus (Guns N’ Roses, The Dead Daisies), Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake,Night Ranger), Sean McNabb (Quiet Riot, Great White) and Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big).

The song was written by Sweet Sienna founding members Austin Tucker (keyboards/vocals) and Alan Christopher (guitars) as well as Matt Starr who produced the song.

“Dust On The Grave” starts as a ballad making you feel like you just stepped into a Clint Eastwood western, then quickly explodes into an arena rock masterpiece. Now available on all digital formats here, and available for streaming below.

“I loved playing on this song. There’s something really gratifying and organic about it. It’s really a timeless track that I can’t get out of my head.“ - George Lynch

“I really enjoyed working with all the great musicians on this project. It’s nice to see younger players carrying on with the music of my era.” - Jack Russell

"I had a blast producing 'Dust On A Grave' for Sweet Sienna. Alan and Austin are very talented writers and the song tells a great story that made it easy for all the singers to interpret in their own style." - Matt Starr

“'Dust On A Grave'” is a song Austin and I would always play around with during rehearsal and then shelve. Before anything, we’re music fans and we were so sad to see all these amazing shows and package tours get canceled when the pandemic hit. We wanted to do something special and bring the big package tour to the fans the only way possible. At this point we were working with Matt Starr on a different project. We showed him Dust, he loved the song and finished writing it with us. We all made a few phone calls to see who would want to be involved and before we knew it, we had a packed track. It’s been amazing playing with musicians of this caliber and an absolute blast putting together a tune recorded literally all over the country.” - Alan Christopher




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"We are excited to announce Mastodon Captured Live At Georgia Aquarium July 15th!," states a new message from Mastodon. "We’ve teamed up with Dreamstage to bring you a special VOD experience! It’s an intimate acoustic performance, in a way you’ve never seen us before!"

Tickets and bundles available here.

The performance will be available on-demand for 72 hours starting July 16 at 12 AM, EDT. Your ticket will grant you access to this replay window.

Says Dreamstage: "Come see Mastodon amongst the sharks! Celebrate Mastodon’s 21st year with a once in a lifetime streaming experience. Mark your calendars for July 15th, Mastodon will be performing at an out of this world venue. You don’t want to miss Mastodon as you’ve never heard them before at the Georgia Aquarium for this rare event. This is the kind of show all your friends will be jealous of, bring them along for the ride. Tickets and bundles on sale now. $1 from each poster sold will be donated to the Georgia Aquarium."




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FOREIGNER will embark on a 71-date U.S. tour at the end of the month. The trek will kick off on June 24 in Ottumwa, Iowa and conclude on November 20 in Pensacola, Florida. Several of the of shows in the fall — including those in Saratoga, California; Los Angeles, California; Santa Barbara, California; Detroit, Michigan; Youngstown, Ohio; and Grand Rapids, Michigan — will feature the band performing with a full orchestra.

FOREIGNER played its first pandemic-era concert on May 19 at the Frontyard Festival in Orlando, Florida. The concert marked the band's live debut with guitarist Luis Maldonado, who joined FOREIGNER as the replacement for longtime multi-instrumentalist Thom Gimbel.

Speaking to Billboard about the upcoming shows, FOREIGNER frontman Kelly Hansen said: "We are full-on back on the road. There's been so many conversations over the last year with promoters and with our agents and with management, trying to figure out what's the safe thing to do, when can we do this, how can we do that? We're finally able to say we're getting out there, we're getting on the road. That's a great thing."

FOREIGNER 2021 U.S. tour dates:

Jun. 24 - Ottumwa, IA - Bridge View Center

Jun. 25 - Sioux Falls, SD - Washington Pavilion

Jun. 26 - Bismarck, ND - Bismarck Civic Center

Jun. 29 - Casper, WY - Casper Events Center

Jun. 30 - Billings, MT - MetraPark Arena

Jul. 02 - Welch, MN - Treasure Island Great Lawn

Jul. 04 - Fort Bragg, NC - Pope Army Airfield

Jul. 27 - Fresno, CA - Saroyan Theatre

Jul. 28 - Prescott Valley, AZ - Findlay Toyota Center

Jul. 30 - West Valley, UT - Maverick Center

Jul. 31 - Grand Junction, CO - Los Colonias Park Amphitheater

Aug. 01 - Rio Rancho, NM - Rio Rancho Events Center

Aug. 04 - Lubbock, TX - Buddy Holly Hall

Aug. 05 - Enid, OK - Stride Bank Center

Aug. 07 - Park City, KS - Hartman Arena

Aug. 08 - North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena

Aug. 10 - West Allis, WI - Wisconsin State Fair

Aug. 11 - Cedar Rapids, IA - McGrath Amphitheatre

Aug. 13 - Arcadia, WI - Ashley For The Arts

Aug. 14 - Interlochen, MI - Kresge Auditorium

Aug. 15 - Peoria, IL - Civic Center Arena

Aug. 17 - Kettering, OH - Fraze Pavilion

Aug. 18 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium

Aug. 20 - Doswell, VA - AfterHours at Meadow Event Park

Aug. 21 - Selbyville, DE - The Freeman Stage at Bayside

Aug. 23 - Syracuse, NY - New York State Fair

Aug. 25 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford Healthcare Amphitheatre

Aug. 26 - Webster, MA - Indian Ranch

Aug. 27 - Cohasset, MA - South Shore Music Circus

Aug. 28 - Hyannis, MA - Cape Cod Melody Tent

Sep. 09 - Grand Forks, ND - Alerus Center

Sep. 10 - Rapid City, SD - Rushmore Plaza Civic Center

Sep. 11 - Butte, MT - Civic Center

Sep. 14 - Everett, WA - Angel of the Winds Arena

Sep. 15 - Nampa, ID - Ford Idaho Event Center

Sep. 16 - Airway Heights, WA - Northern Quest Resort & Casino

Sep. 18 - Fort Hall, ID - Fort Hall Casino

Sep. 21 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater

Sep. 22 - Kennewick, WA - Toyota Center

Sep. 26 - Reno, NV - Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort

Sep. 29 - Saratoga, CA - Mountain Winery (orchestral)

Oct. 01 - Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre (orchestral)

Oct. 02 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl (orchestral)

Oct. 11 - Detroit, MI - Fox Theatre (orchestral)

Oct. 12 - Youngstown, OH - Foundation Amphitheater (orchestral)

Oct. 13 - Grand Rapids, MI - Van Andel Arena (orchestral)

Oct. 15 - Johnson City, TN - Freedom Hall Civic Center

Oct. 17 - Knoxville, TN - Civic Auditorium

Oct. 18 - Columbus, OH - Palace Theatre

Oct. 19 - Charleston, WV - Municipal Auditorium

Oct. 21 - Reading, PA - Santander Performing Arts Center

Oct. 22 - Wilkes Barre, PA - F.M. Kirby Center

Oct. 23 - Baltimore, MD - MECU Pavilion

Oct. 25 - Providence, RI - Performing Arts Center

Oct. 27 - Port Chester, NY - Capitol Theatre

Oct. 28 - Hampton Beach, NH - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom

Oct. 29 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre

Oct. 30 - Atlantic City, NJ - Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena

Nov. 04 - Corbin, KY - Corbin Arena

Nov. 05 - Springfield, IL - UIS Sangamon Auditorium

Nov. 06 - Southaven, MS - Landers Center

Nov. 08 - Savannah, GA - John Mercer Theatre

Nov. 09 - Augusta, GA - Bell Auditorium

Nov. 10 - Greenville, SC - Bon Secours Wellness Arena

Nov. 12 - Macon, GA - Macon City Auditorium

Nov. 13 - -Tupelo, MS - Bancorp South Arena

Nov. 14 - Brandon, MS - Brandon Amphitheater

Nov. 16 - Huntsville, AL - Mark C. Smith Concert Hall

Nov. 17 - Birmingham, AL - BJCC Concert Hall

Nov. 19 - Biloxi, MS - IP Casino Resort & Spa

Nov. 20 - Pensacola, FL - Saenger Theater

FOREIGNER's last album, "Can't Slow Down", was the only full-length collection of new songs to have been released by the band since Hansen took over vocals after original singer Lou Gramm left the band for good in 2002. The album entered the Billboard Top 30, driven by the radio singles "In Pieces" and "When It Comes To Love". The band also has released a series of live albums and compilations, including 2016's "In Concert: Unplugged" and 2017's "40".

FOREIGNER's current lineup is rounded out by founding guitarist Mick Jones, Michael Bluestein (keyboards), Chris Frazier (drums) and Bruce Watson (guit

Rocket 88 has announced the publication of "Singing In My Blood", the first book by former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen.

Written and compiled over the past year of lockdown, Tarja has searched through scores of photos and memories to create a big, deluxe book about her life in music. There are contributions from friends and colleagues who've played a part in her music on stage, in the studio and at home, alongside lots of previously unseen intimate photos from childhood to the present day.

Tarja said: "Singing is in my blood. Ever since I was a little girl, I have enjoyed performing … but not being able to be on stage in 2020, I spent a lot of time looking through photo albums, seeing all those happy scenes of childhood, growing up and making music, getting to know my fans and travel the world recording and performing, having fun; those memories fill this book.

"In 'Singing In My Blood', I tell my story about making music and share lots of personal photos. It's a big, 200-plus-page hardback filled with photographs that comes in two, deluxe versions."

For more details, see tarjabook.com.

Turunen was fired from NIGHTWISH at the end of the band's 2005 tour by being presented with an open letter which was published on the NIGHTWISH web site at the same time. In the letter, the other members of NIGHTWISH wrote: "To you, unfortunately, business, money, and things that have nothing to do with emotions have become much more important."

NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen later called the decision to part ways with Turunen "the most difficult thing I ever had to do." For her part, Tarja said the way she was kicked out of the group proved that her former bandmates were not her friends. "Maybe one day I'll forgive, but I will never forget," she said.

In 2019, Turunen dismissed Internet chatter about her possible return to NIGHTWISH after her December 2017 onstage reunion with the band's then-bassist/vocalist Marko "Marco" Hietala during a "Raskasta Joulua" concert in Hämeenlinna, Finland.

"I know a lot of fans would love to see something happen, but it's a very long distance away," she told Kerrang! magazine. "Personally, I don't see anything happening with me and them, to be perfectly honest. Marco came a little later into the band; he wasn't there since the beginning. He was always a guy I was close to. Me and [NIGHTWISH keyboardist/leader] Tuomas Holopainen, however, haven't seen each other in a long time… but we have been in touch. It's not bad. The past is what it is; we can't change that. We can only change the future."

NIGHTWISH's authorized biography, "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996-2006", was published in Finnish in 2006 and in English three years later.

Turunen's husband, Marcelo Cabuli, and his business partners later sued the parties behind the book for defamation. Named in the lawsuit were the publishing house Like Kustannus Oy and the author of the book, Marko "Mape" Ollila. Cabuli and his Brazilian business partners argued that the book includes false accusations and insinuations that have caused them suffering and financial problems.

The book blamed Cabuli for the events leading up to Turunen's dramatic expulsion from the band in late 2005.

In 2011, the Helsinki District Court dismissed Cabuli's lawsuit, ruling that the book — which criticized Cabuli on only a few of its 380 pages — did not detrimentally affect his work or reputation in South America. In addition, the court determined that Ollila did not maliciously portray Cabuli in a negative light.

A new era of hope, survival, and prosperity comes calling with the release of Crash Of The Crown, Styx’s new studio album, which was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of the pandemic.

The legendary rockers - James “JY” Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals) - released their 17th album on June 18 via the band’s label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which is being sold as clear vinyl, black vinyl, CD, and on digital platforms. Fans can order it here and at Styxworld.com.

Watch Todd Sucherman perform the new single, "Coming Out The Other Side", below:

Efforts to record Crash Of The Crown began in earnest at Shaw’s home studio in Nashville during the fall of 2019, with Gowan — Styx’s criminally minded showman extraordinaire and keyboardist/vocalist since 1999 — in the room together with Shaw and the album’s producer, Will Evankovich, as he conjured up the album’s first song to be recorded, with cosmetic flourishes that reign over the insistent, yearning call for togetherness, “Common Ground.” But the global pandemic that inevitably transformed the way we all wound up living in 2020 changed the course for how many of the band’s home-and-away recording sessions ultimately had to set socially distanced sail. Safety precautions took precedent for all involved Styx bandmembers and production compatriots with much diligent quarantining and testing required before any one of them could travel to Shaw’s tranquility homebase to spread the uniquely ingrained Styx stardust that’s been duly sprinkled across the album’s cosmically chosen 15 tracks.

Of all those who made the trek to Nashville, original Styx bassist Chuck Panozzo — who, along with his late twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, formed the initial nucleus of Styx when they began jamming together in their basement on the south side of Chicago in 1961 — is hands down the most effusive about the experience. “I’m constantly amazed at how Tommy’s songwriting continues to connect with the social consciousness that spans across generations,” marvels Chuck, who plays on “Our Wonderful Lives” and “Lost at Sea,” Lawrence’s all-too-brief aquatic fever dream. “Both he and Will have been able to tap into the core elements of the human condition, which is something that’s not going to change that much in 50 years — or even 500 years. That’s why Styx remains relevant after all this time, because we’re part of the human condition.”

Whether it’s the heady rush of the groundwork-laying opening track “The Fight of Our Lives,” the wistfully observational treatise of “Reveries,” the cautionary extended hand of comfort and redemption that frames “Hold Back the Darkness,” the undeniable uplift of “Our Wonderful Lives” (a beautiful sentiment further embellished by a most welcome, first-ever appearance by a banjo on a Styx album!), or the elegiac clarion call for shared grace in “To Those,” Crash Of The Crown is music that is both concurrently of its time and truly timeless all at once. Although the official release date for this landmark album may be time-stamped as 2021, the omnisciently observational content of Crash Of The Crown readily brings to mind an amalgamation of historical events that occurred in 1066, 1455, 1775, 1861, 1941, and even 2001 without citing any of them by name — Winston Churchill’s prescient wartime observations that permeate the pervasive pleas of “Save Us From Ourselves” notwithstanding. In essence, Crash Of The Crown (or COTC, for short) is a modern-day sonic chronograph of the endless regenerative cycle of the rise and fall — and rise again — of our shared human experience.

“We’ve never been a protest band. We’re more like a gospel caravan trying to send out positive messages wherever we go,” observes Crash Of The Crown co-creator and overall visionary Tommy Shaw, who joined Styx in December 1975 as a guitarist/vocalist and instantly became one of the band’s most important songwriters. “In order to share those positive messages, you have to look at what the problems are first to figure out all the ways you can help make sure everything’s going to be alright. That’s a very important part of how we do what we do.”

Though COTC takes a hard look at some inherently dark subjects, the prevalent light at the end of the tunnel eventually becomes each song’s focal point — a persistent fervor to keep moving forward and achieve the greater good.

Styx’s holy mission for cutting Crash Of The Crown was crystal-clear to its co-creator from the get-go. “Absolutely no obstacles were going to get in the way of how we approached creating this album,” Shaw concludes about the herculean recording efforts of his fellow COTC makers. “And everything came out exactly the way we wanted to hear it.”

Tracklisting:

"The Fight Of Our Lives"
" A Monster"
"Reveries"
"Hold Back The Darkness"
"Save Us From Ourselves"
"Crash Of The Crown"
"Our Wonderful Lives"
"Common Ground"
"Sound The Alarm"
"Long Live The King"
"Lost At Sea"
"Coming Out The Other Side"
"To Those"
"Another Farewell"
"Stream"

"Reveries"

"Crash Of The Crown" lyric video:

(Crash Of The Crown band photo - Todd Gallopo and Styx)




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Damon Johnson & The Get Ready have released their new video for the second single from Battle Lessons, "Talk Yourself Into Anything". The video, shot at the iconic Castle Recording Studio in Nashville, was directed by Damon's friend Rob Arthur (who is also the keyboardist for Peter Frampton). 

As Damon says of the new video, "It was a thrill to work with the mega-talented Rob Arthur, and of course our soul brother and the fourth member of The Get Ready, Nick Raskulinecz. He did a fantastic job acting the part of 'big shot rock producer' and took things to a whole other level with his portrayal... which was really just him being himself!"

Nick Raskulinecz says, "I'm super proud of Damon and the songs he brought to the table back in early 2020 when we had our first meeting about a new album. 'Talk Yourself Into Anything' caught my attention immediately with its fat riffs and Damon's unique storytelling. This new video turned out awesome and I fully expect an Oscar nomination for me stellar acting performance (HA!)."

In live news, Damon Johnson & The Get Ready will make their first appearances in the U.K. this winter while supporting their friends Buckcherry. A complete list of dates can be found here.

The video for "Battle Lessons" can be seen below. Order your copy of the album now at this location.

To read BraveWords scribe Aaron Small's interview with Damon Johnson, click here.

(Photo: Adam Jones)

 




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Heavy/power metal traditions are strong in Italy, so it's no wonder that, when local guitar virtuoso Francesco Marras (currently also in Tygers Of Pan Tang) formed his own band in 1997, the chosen genre was the most obvious.

Now, two and a half decades later, Screaming Shadows is one of the most established names in the heavy/power metal European scene. “Free Me”, the first song from the upcoming new album, foreshows what makes Screaming Shadows such a fantastic offering: a perfect mixture of classic heavy metal, melodic power metal, solid technical arguments, and punchy production.

The song is out now as a digital single, and the official video can be seen below.

“Free Me” is taken from the upcoming Screaming Shadows album, Legacy Of Stone, set to be released via From The Vaults on November 12th, 2021.

 




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Arte Concert and the organziers behind Hellfest have teamed up to bring you Cradle Of Filth's unedited stage show, captured live on June 22, 2019 in Clisson, France.

Setlist:

"Thirteen Autumns And A Widow"
"Cruelty Brought Thee Orchids"
"Beneath The Howling Stars"
"Malice Through The Looking Glass"
"Heartbreak And Seance"
"Summer Dying Fast"
"Nymphetamine (Fix)"
"Saffron's Curse"
"Her Ghost In The Fog" 

Cradle Of Filth have revealed the title of their forthcoming album, Existence Is Futile.

This monumental new opus - the 13th (unlucky for all) studio album of the band to date - was once again recorded at Grindstone Studios with producer Scott Atkins and is embellished with artwork from Arthur Berzinsh, who is guilty of accomplishing the last two album artworks in the Cradle back canon. Further nihilistic details from the crypt will soon see the light of day.

"The stunning new album is everything you can expect from the many shades of black that go to discolour a Cradle Of Filth release and far, far, worse," frontman Dani Filth stated.

Existence Is Futile is due to be unleashed later this year through Nuclear Blast Records.

 




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The clip below features Overkill performing at Hellfest in Clisson, France on June 17th, 2016. Pro-shot video entire show is available courtesy of ARTE Concert.

Setlist:

"Armorist"
"Rotten to the Core"
"Electric Rattlesnake"
"Hello From the Gutter"
"Hammerhead"
"Feel the Fire"
"Coma"
"Infectious"
"Ironbound"
"Elimination"
"Fuck You"

D.D. Verni (Overkill), Jack Frost (Aldo Nova, Seven Witches), and Charlie Calv (Angel) are featured in a new Metal Asylum interview conducted in November 2020 discussing the new Bronx Casket Company's Complete Collection release. They also reminisce and give some updates about their other projects.

During the chat, Verni revealed that Overkill tapped producer Colin Richardson to mix the album, which is currently being recorded. He also hints at a 2021 release for the record in relation with their planned tour schedule for the latter half of next year. Check out the interview below.




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Speaking with 80's Metal Recycle Bin, Night Ranger's frontman Jack Blades goes deep into how it all started, changed along the way, talks about working with Vince Neil, Tommy Shaw, and Damn Yankees. Check out the interview below.

Blades: "Shaw / Blades' Hallucination is a great record, and Warner did absolutely nothing with it. The new regime came in, they didn't want to do anything (with that kind of music), and in fact they paid Damn Yankees a million dollars not to do another Damn Yankees record. We're like, 'REally? Okay, we'll just take the cheque.' That was how it was because Damn Yankees had sold so many records and we were so recouped, so in our contract it said we get a million bucks to do an album, and they just paid us the million dollars not to do the record. That's how much nobody wanted to do with that era and style of music."

Night Ranger are set to release their 12th studio album, ATBPO on August 6, 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl. ATBPO stands for And The Band Played On, an ode to making music during the covid era. It will be available on CD and Vinyl (several limited edition, color vinyl versions), as well as digitally across all streaming platforms. Today, fans can get their first taste of the album with the release of “Breakout”, the first single and music video from the album. Pre-save/preorder here.

The band began writing the album in early 2020, amid the onset of the global pandemic. After narrowing down the song selection and tightening them up to their well-known rock ‘n’ roll sound, the band hit the studio, although separately, due to the times we are in. Throughout ATBPO, we hear Night Ranger continuing their hot streak that kicked off with 2011's Somewhere In California. Ten years on, and two highly acclaimed albums later, High Road and Don't Let Up, the band's latest studio work shows them still burning with that high octane hard rock energy they are known for. Night Ranger has always had a knack for killer melodies, intricate instrumentation, and captivating lyrics; ATBPO delivers all of that and more.

"The process was strange but the outcome rocks." - Jack Blades

"This record was incredibly hard to do as we could not be in a room together with all the COVID-19 issues that were going on. But sometimes you do your best work when there’s a deadline approaching." - Kelly Keagy

“It’s been a crazy but fun task trying to write and finish this new record in a Covid situation. A few zoom video gatherings got us started. With everybody in the band having their own home studios, we were all able to elaborate and add our own textures to each song. As a Vintage Guitar Collector, I was able to add some great classic sounds to rhythm and solos using my 57 Strat and 52 Goldtop! I hope everyone enjoys the record!" - Brad Gillis

Having sold over 17 million albums worldwide, performed across more than 4000 stages, and enjoyed a radio audience that exceeds 1 billion, Night Ranger has both epitomized and transcended the arena rock sound and style well beyond that era. With multiple songs having a significant impact on popular culture, Night Ranger continues to grow their fanbase. The band is proof that powerful songs alongside incredibly talented musicians is the perfect formula for continued success.

Night Ranger is Jack Blades (bass, vocals), Kelly Keagy (drums, vocals), Brad Gillis (lead & rhythm guitars), Eric Levy (keyboards), and Keri Kelli (lead & rhythm guitars).

ATBPO is available on CD, Digital, and the following LP versions:

ATBPO Red Vinyl - Available Everywhere
ATBPO Crystal Vinyl - Frontiers U.S. & EU Webstore Exclusive, Limited to 400 Copies
ATBPO Blue Vinyl - Newbury Comics Exclusive, Limited to 300 Copies
ATBPO Yellow Vinyl - Night Ranger Webstore Exclusive, Limited to 400 Copies

A bonus track, “Savior” appears on the CD & LP versions of ATBPO only.

Tracklisting:

“Coming For You”
“Bring It All Home To Me”
“Breakout”
“Hard To Make It Easy”
“Can’t Afford A Hero”
“Cold As December”
“Dance”
“The Hardest Road”
“Monkey”
“A Lucky Man”
“Tomorrow”
“Savior” (CD/LP bonus track)

“Breakout”:




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The official Riivata Visuals-directed music video "Recode", a brand new song from FEAR FACTORY, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's latest album, "Aggression Continuum", which is being released today (Friday, June 18) via Nuclear Blast Records.

FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares comments: "The day has finally come for all to finally enjoy the new FEAR FACTORY album, 'Aggression Continuum'. It's been a long journey to get to this date and I can't say enough of how proud I am of the album. Thanks to everyone involved in making it possible for this record to come out. This is all for you, the amazing FF family!! Machines Of Hate!"

"Aggression Continuum" features Cazares; drummer Mike Heller; and former vocalist, lyricist, and co-founder Burton C. Bell. It was produced and engineered by Damien Rainaud (DRAGONFORCE, ONCE HUMAN), with keyboards by Igor Khoroshev (ex-YES), and programming on two songs from longtime collaborator Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY). "Aggression Continuum" was mixed by A-list rock and metal producer Andy Sneap (MEGADETH, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, TRIVIUM), who also mixed FEAR FACTORY's previous album, 2015's "Genexus".

Cazares previously commented: "This record is one of my proudest achievements and I'm really excited for it to finally be released. There were a lot of personal struggles, sacrifices, and legal issues involved with this record which almost didn't see the light of day, but through passion, determination, lots of hard work and not giving up the fight, it’s finally ready for the world to hear. I felt that I needed to prove myself once again as I always try and make each record better than the last. Listen, and understand! This album is pissed! It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear and it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are hooked. You must fight to survive in the 'Aggression Continuum'."

"Aggression Continuum" track listing:

01. Recode

02. Disruptor

03. Aggression Continuum

04. Purity

05. Fuel Injected Suicide Machine

06. Collapse

07. Manufactured Hope

08. Cognitive Dissonance

09. Monolith

10. End Of Line

Last September, Bell issued a statement officially announcing his departure from FEAR FACTORY, saying that he "cannot align" himself with someone whom he does not trust or respect.

Bell's exit from FEAR FACTORY came more than two weeks after Cazares launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist him with the production costs associated with the release of FEAR FACTORY's long-awaited new LP.

Bell later told Kerrang! magazine that his split with FEAR FACTORY was a long time coming. "It's been on my mind for a while," he said. "These lawsuits [over the rights to the FEAR FACTORY name] just drained me. The egos. The greed. Not just from bandmembers, but from the attorneys involved. I just lost my love for it.

"With FEAR FACTORY, it's just constantly been, like, 'What?!' You can only take so much. I felt like 30 years was a good run. Those albums I've done with FEAR FACTORY will always be out there. I'll always be part of that. I just felt like it was time to move forward."

Pressed about whether there is any chance of a reconciliation with FEAR FACTORY down the line, Burton said: "I'm done. I haven't spoken to Dino in three years. I haven't spoken to Raymond [Herrera, drums] and Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] in longer than that, and I have no intention to. I'm just moving forward with my life."

In October, Dino issued a statement in which he said that the door for Burton to come back to FEAR FACTORY wouldn't "stay open forever." The guitarist also revealed that Burton "lost his legal rights" to the FEAR FACTORY name "after a long court battle" with Herrera and Olde Wolbers. "I had the opportunity to do something right, and I felt that obtaining the name in full was the right thing to do for the both of us, so after nearly four years we can continue as FEAR FACTORY, to make more records and to tour," he said. "That is why it is sad to hear that he decided to quit and, in my opinion, for whatever issues he has it seems like it could've been worked out."

FEAR FACTORY's fundraising campaign marked the first public activity from the band since it completed a 2016 U.S. headlining tour on which it performed its classic second album, "Demanufacture", in its entirety.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

The reunited expanded classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN has just released its self-titled album Nuclear Blast Records. The official lyric video for the disc's third single, "Best Time", can be seen below.

The cover artwork for "Helloween", which can be seen below, was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.

The "Pumpkins United" lineup features returning singer Michael Kiske and guitarist/vocalist Kai Hansen alongside current singer Andi Deris, guitarists Michael Weikath and Sascha Gerstner, bassist Markus Grosskopf and drummer Daniel Löble.

Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, the new HELLOWEEN LP was recorded in part at the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (where everything started in 1984). The same recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as "Master Of The Rings", "Time Of The Oath" and "Better Than Raw" was utilized to record the band's new material. The effort was mixed at the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, RAMMSTEIN).

Said Löble: "This record is the coronation of the 'Pumpkins United' journey. I have always been fascinated by the different character traits and facets of HELLOWEEN's history. For example, the legendary voices of Michi, Andi and Kai. To enjoy them now together on one record, under one flag, is the ultimate HELLOWEEN experience."

Bauerfeind said: "After 30 years with different lineups of the band, I really thought I was well prepared for another extreme challenge, but I was wrong. My expectations were highly exceeded in every way with this super-sized package of creativity."

Musical dexterity aside, it is also the immense passion of the band that defines HELLOWEEN. Weikath describes it thusly: "It is the incomprehensible encounter of seven musicians who are working as friends and even family who have created something that no one would have thought could be possible. It is like awaking from a sleep but still being in an incredible dream."

Hansen reflects: "Being in the studio with my old companions after 30 years away was very emotional for me. But at the same time, it was a completely different experience with the 'new' boys. The collaboration of different songwriters, each of them strong characters in their own right, has made the album very special. A unique mix which draws from all chapters of the band's history.

"HELLOWEEN is a big part of my life and I am looking forward to celebrating the songs live for and with our fans!"

Grosskopf agrees: "For me, being one of the last 'survivors' who played every note from the beginning, it was a fantastic experience and a very emotional process. I think everyone can hear it on this album. I love it."

HELLOWEEN's new album saw the legendary German power metallers going "back to the roots," with the band recording fully analogue and Löble playing the drum kit previously used by HELLOWEEN's original drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" recordings.

Track listing:

01. Out For The Glory

02. Fear Of The Fallen

03. Best Time

04. Mass Pollution

05. Angels

06. Rise Without Chains

07. Indestructible

08. Robot King

09. Cyanide

10. Down In The Dumps

11. Orbit

12. Skyfall

The "Pumpkins United" tour marked the first time Kiske had played live with HELLOWEEN since 1993. Hansen, who departed HELLOWEEN in 1988, had been joining the band onstage on various tours and festival appearances throughout the years. The set featured several duets with Kiske and his replacement, Deris, along with many rarely played songs, including "Kids Of The Century", "Rise And Fall" and "Livin' Ain't No Crime". Hansen — who fronted HELLOWEEN until late 1986 — sang a medley of several early HELLOWEEN classics, including "Ride The Sky", "Judas", "Starlight" and "Heavy Metal (Is The Law)".

HELLOWEEN's European "United Alive World Tour Part II", which was originally scheduled to take place in September and October will now take place next year.

For the first time in his 35-plus-year history of as the lead singer and frontman of KIX, Steve Whiteman will release a solo album, "You're Welcome", on July 2. The 12-song LP was co-produced by Whiteman along with his trusted collaborators Brad Divens, Jimmy Chalfant and Bob Paré; it was recorded and mixed by Divens at Fixintogetmixin Studio.

Though the recent pandemic essentially derailed the last year-plus of KIX's touring plans, it gave Whiteman the chance to settle in at home for a critical period of time and vocal rest, the results of which he was able to channel directly into writing and recording "You're Welcome".

"Not being able to play for over a year gave me the opportunity to get together with some friends and make an album of these songs," said Whiteman. "It was great having something to do during COVID. We all had a great time making this record and I'm very proud of it!"

"You're Welcome" is chock full of hard-rock gems.

"I knew pretty early on this music wasn't KIX music and that it was definitely going to be for my solo thing," says Whiteman. Whether it's the harmonica-splattered conflict of "Bad Blood", the bluesy strike of "Lightning Bolt", the instantly catchy "Do Me Like You Done Me Before", the heartfelt and somewhat melancholy "Kid Dynamite", a tribute to Ronnie Younkins (KIX guitarist), who's been going through another bout of rehab, or the lusty wink-nudgery of "Tug Of Luv" (one of the artist's personal favorite tracks), "You're Welcome" adds yet another exciting chapter to Whiteman's storied recorded legacy.

If Whiteman's loyal KIX fanbase feels like the album title sounds familiar, they'd be right. "It comes from a bit I do during KIX shows where I ask our crowds for a response. I demand they reply, 'You're welcome' every time I say, 'Thank you,'" Whiteman explains. And if the cover art gives them an incredible sense of déjà vu — it depicts Whiteman's signature at the top, and a large, self-drawn stick figure underneath it, they're exactly right. "Yeah, that started when KIX's first album came out and the label had us do all these local in-stores," Whiteman recounts. "It was madness, because we would be sitting there for like two or three hours just signing albums. People were always saying things like, 'Write something special to me' or 'do something special,' and I just ran out of ideas. Finally, I just started doing this little stick man as a portrait — and it kinda stuck. When people ask for my autograph now, they want my stick man — and now everybody can get it on the cover of my album."

KIX has released seven albums over its career, including last year's "Midnite Dynamite Re-Lit", which was made available on the 35th anniversary of the release of "Midnite Dynamite".

KIX will be on the road for the rest of the year, including headlining the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland on July 2.

"You're Welcome" track listing:

01. Easy

02. Talking Bout Luv

03. Get The Wild Out

04. Shock

05. Prick Teaser

06. Bad Blood

07. Kid Dynamite

08. Lightning Bolt

09. Strip

10. Tug of Luv

11. Do Me Like You Done Me Before

12. Shook Me In My Shoes

Photo credit: Mark Weiss

ANTHRAX is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year with a number of special activities and events. Each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, ANTHRAX's social media accounts are offering a series of video testimonials sent in by former bandmembers, fellow musicians, colleagues, and industry veterans sharing behind-the-scenes stories of working with the band and what ANTHRAX's legacy has meant all these years on. These videos honor each album in chronological order, beginning with the debut LP, "Fistful Of Metal"

In the latest "40th Anniversary Episode', focusing on ANTHRAX's 1993 album "Sound Of White Noise", current and former members of the band reflect on the original departure of singer Joey Belladonna and addition of John Bush as his replacement.

Belladonna, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the band's classic lineup (alongside Dan Spitz, Scott Ian, Frank Bello and Charlie Benante), which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over ten albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.

Regarding the decision to part ways with Belladonna, Ian said: "By the time we finished the year-and-a-half touring cycle — 20, 21 months of touring cycle, and then '[Attack Of The] Killer B's' comes out. I think the last thing we did together as a band with Joey was [our appearance] on [the] 'Married With Children' [TV show]. And then it wasn't long after that when we made the change. But it wasn't a quick decision. We were very much a united front, the four of us. Because otherwise it wouldn't have happened.

"There's never an easy way to talk about this stuff," he continued. "Certainly when you're in the thick of it, when it's happening, it's horrible when you're having to make a decision like this. But it just really came down to, creatively, we all just felt like there was just no way for the band to move forward. We had just hit a wall. It was the heaviest decision in the history of the band, certainly. And even that I feel like doesn't give it the weight that it needs. And there was never anything personal with Joey — it was never personal with him. It just really came down to the creative ability for the band, honestly, to move forward. And I hate that it's something that happened.

"Obviously, things are meant to be," Scott added. "I am somewhat of a spiritual person. I've seen and done enough in my life to know that sometimes shit doesn't just happen randomly. The way everything worked out in the end, with Joey coming back in 2010, and the band, for the last 11 years, being creatively better than we've ever been and in a better place than we've ever been, I have to say that I really believe that it all worked out for some reason. That doesn't make it any easier on Joey certainly; there's nothing I can say that ever would."

Bello said about Belladonna's exit from the group: "It's so strange for me to even talk about this now, because Joey's back in the band now, and it's like he's never been gone.

"It was a hard thing when Joey was out," he admitted. "It was a change, but I think it was best for the band 'cause of where we were going. It was a hard decision. I think we were going in a different way musically, and you could hear it."

Added Benante: "The 1991 me was more arrogant than I am now. Because the problem is I love Joey so much, and at the time we were different people doing it, and we felt this was the only thing for us to take us into the next level or the next chapter of the band. Yeah, it was tough."

Ian previously opened up about the decision to fire Belladonna nearly three decades ago during a 2016 appearance on the "WTF With Marc Maron" podcast. He stated at the time: "I just truly didn't have the patience anymore. I think my biggest problem was I was writing the words, and I couldn't deal with the fact anymore that someone else was singing my lyrics, but I couldn't sing; there was no way I could be the singer of ANTHRAX. I think it really, really did come down to that — that I couldn't stand it anymore. These are my words, these are my feelings, it's my emotions, and you're not me. And even learning the songs and hearing them back, that's not how I hear it in my head. 'No, no. Like this. Like this. Like this. Like this.'"

He continued: "My solution at the time was turning around to the rest of the band and saying, 'It's either [Joey] or me.' I pulled the same shit Neil Turbin [former ANTHRAX singer] pulled years before that. I said, 'I can't do this again. We need to make a change.' And it wasn't just me holding the gun. Everyone was on the same page. Everyone felt like what we had done as ANTHRAX in the '80s into the early '90s, we had already moved past that. The sound was changing.

"If you listen to 'Persistence Of Time' [1990], musically, that record has more to do with 'Sound Of White Noise', the first John Bush record, than it has to do with 'State Of Euphoria' [1988], the previous ANTHRAX album. Musically, we were already going somewhere else, but Joey, for us, I guess at the time, felt like, 'He's not representing us anymore.'"

Ian went on to say that he has since come to see Joey's unique vocal contributions in a different light than he did more than twenty years ago. "Of course, I spent a year of my life writing a book ['I'm The Man: The Story Of That Guy From Anthrax'] and looking back on that time and really kind of getting back into those shoes, and… we should have given the guy a shot," he said. "Why we didn't give him the shot, I really don't know why we weren't able to… Because I even remember, I remember Jonny Z, our manager, he was, 'Are you sure? Are you sure this is the decision you wanna make?' 'Yes, yes, yes.'"

The guitarist added that at least part of the reason ANTHRAX made a singer change was to take the sound in a heavier direction, something that they didn't think was possible with Belladonna at the helm.

"I wanted it to be harder," Ian said. "I couldn't do it, but I wanted someone who could almost… I wanted it to be harder. I didn't want Lemmy — I didn't want it to sound like that — I just wanted it to be harder. And John [Bush] brought it, for sure."

Belladonna had been critical of ANTHRAX's decision to fire him at the height of the band's success, telling MikeJamesrRockShow.com five years ago: "Personally, it sucks just to think all those years went by that I didn't really have a chance to do anything. 'Cause I could have sang on any of those records [that were made during the John Bush era]. Not to say that what they did was… whatever reason and whatever style and all that stuff. I could have easily sang that regardless, no bones. It would have been easy to sing. It's just I think they were chasing some other idea. I always say that, whether they disagree. I don't think there was any reason to move. But you know what? We're here now."

Bush told Metal Talk about the task of replacing Joey Belladonna in ANTHRAX back in 1992: "I respect Joey Belladonna; he did great for ANTHRAX in his heyday and in the years that he made records and they were popular. You know, I think I just went out and did it from my heart and just said, 'Hey, I'm gonna go out and kick ass and sing to the best of my ability.' And I think we made some great records. I just think they were different records than what ANTHRAX did in the '80s."

He continued: "The funny thing is, sometimes there was this, 'Oh, we're the same band. Oh, we're the same band,' and looking back, well, we kind of were a little different band. I think we were. But at that time, we kept trying to convince people, 'Oh, it's the same band. It's the same band.' But when you make a singer change, the sound will change a little bit, which, that was what the intention was at the time."

ANTHRAX's latest album, "For All Kings", which features Belladonna, came out in February 2016 via Nuclear Blast.

KINGS OF CHAOS performed last night (Thursday, June 17) at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico. The supergroup's lineup for the show included three lead vocalists: Robin Zander (CHEAP TRICK), Dee Snider (TWISTED SISTER) and Jack Blades (NIGHT RANGER). They were joined by guitarists Gilby Clarke (GUNS N' ROSES) and Warren DeMartini (RATT), bassist James LoMenzo (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, MEGADETH) and drummer Kenny Aronoff (John Mellencamp, Willie Nelson, John Fogerty).

The full setlist was as follows:

01. Hello There (CHEAP TRICK)

02. Surrender (CHEAP TRICK)

03. I Want You To Want Me (CHEAP TRICK)

04. Don't Tell Me You Love Me (NIGHT RANGER)

05. High Enough (DAMN YANKEES)

06. Wanted Man (RATT)

07. Highway to Hell (AC/DC)

08. I Wanna Rock (TWISTED SISTER)

09. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (BOB DYLAN)

10. Ain't That A Shame (FATS DOMINO)

11. Dream Police (CHEAP TRICK)

13. Brown Sugar (THE ROLLING STONES)

14. Sister Christian (NIGHT RANGER)

15. You Can Still Rock In America (NIGHT RANGER)

16. Round And Round (RATT)

17. We're Not Gonna Take It (TWISTED SISTER)

18. Won't Get Fooled Again (THE WHO)

19. Rock And Roll (LED ZEPPELIN)

20. Come Together (THE BEATLES)

21. Whole Lotta Love (LED ZEPPELIN)

Originally formed in 2012 as ROCK 'N' ROLL ALL STARS, KINGS OF CHAOS features a core lineup of members as well as a rotating cast of guest musicians.

KINGS OF CHAOS has recorded just one song so far: a cover of DEEP PURPLE's "Never Before" for the 2012 tribute album "Re-Machined: A Tribute To Deep Purple's 'Machine Head'".

During an appearance on the "2 Hours With Matt Pinfield" podcast, drummer Matt Sorum (GUNS N' ROSES, THE CULT, VELVET REVOLVER), who founded KINGS OF CHAOS, talked about the project's formation. He said: "The music business is more difficult to navigate than ever, especially for a guy that's been around a while," he said. "I've had an illustrious career, but it's always been, like, super-high, super-low, like riding the wildest roller coaster ever known to man. [Laughs] Emotionally, it's been challenging. When VELVET REVOLVER broke up, for me, it was like, 'Oh my god, I can't believe I pulled off another band.' So it kind of knocked the wind out of me, and I didn't really want to jump back into doing another band or project right away.

"When I started doing KINGS OF CHAOS, it became strictly about fun," he continued. "I decided, 'I'm going to pull a bucket list, [and] I'm going to call guys that I never had the balls to call, and have no fear. There's one or two answers that you can get — yes or no. And you've got to be able to accept no. Don't take it personal. I called Keith Richards. I called Jimmy Page. I called [Robert] Plant. I didn't care. I was just, like, finding them and calling them. And some of them said yes — not Robert Plant, dammit [laughs] — but Steven Tyler, Robin Zander, Billy Gibbons, Joe Elliott, Slash, the DeLeo brothers. I go and play with my friends, and it's a blast."

The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn has uploaded a new video interview with KISS conducted on June 11 at the 2021 Tribeca Festival in New York City. For the first time ever, the band played at the festival directly following the screening of part one of its new A&E documentary "Biography: KISStory". The two-part documentary event was part of the festival's 2021 TV lineup.

Speaking about the documentary, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'KISStory' is a warts-and-all story of four knuckleheads off the streets of New York who decided to go on the yellow brick road off to Detroit rock city. We're here because we believed in a dream when nobody believed in it. Now we rule. Now get out."

Asked why now is the right time to tell the KISS story, Stanley said: "Now's the best time to tell the story because things are at least winding down in terms of playing live. This is the KISS 'End Of The Road' tour. So, to document and to look back upon four and a half decades, a hundred million albums, countless sold-out tours, why not now? This is the time for us to take the victory lap."

Directed by D.J. Viola, "Biography: KISStory" chronicles the band's five decades in the business as founders Stanley and Simmons reflect on their historic career. Current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer as well as guests Dave Grohl (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), manager Doc McGhee, music producer Bob Ezrin (ALICE COOPER, PINK FLOYD) and more tell the wild story of the most successful and influential band in the world.

"Biography: KISStory" is a Leslie Greif production, produced for A&E Network by Critical Content and Big Dreams Entertainment with Leslie Greif and Jenny Daly serving as executive producers and D.J. Viola serving as director. Elaine Frontain Bryant and Brad Abramson serve as executive producers for A&E Network. A+E Networks holds worldwide distribution rights for "Biography: KISStory".

KISS last played a full show this past New Year's Eve in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The event broke Guinness world records for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert.

K.K. Downing has shot down the suggestion that his new band KK'S PRIEST is another version of JUDAS PRIEST. The founding PRIEST guitarist is joined in KK'S PRIEST by ex-JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

"I don't see it that way," Downing told Bryan Reesman of Billboard about the comparisons between his new band and the legendary British heavy metal outfit. "We're not a new old band or an old new band.

"This is not just a version [of JUDAS PRIEST]. That's where the fans are looking at this wrong. I understand that, though. This is not me saying, 'Oh, this is my JUDAS PRIEST.' [But] I don't want to dispense with the name PRIEST, because it belongs to me as much as it does anybody else… and more."

Downing also said that he can't quite relate to some fans' insistence on comparing KK'S PRIEST's debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", to past PRIEST efforts, notably its Grammy-nominated 1990 LP "Painkiller".

"I don't quite see that myself, but then again, would I if I'm so close to it?" Downing said. "It's all subjective. It's absolutely down to the fan, and everybody's individual as to what they perceive and what they hear."

K.K. went on to say that he "enjoyed" making his first album since his departure from PRIEST a decade ago. "To me, it sounds fresh. It sounds K.K. fresh, if you know what I mean, and I feel energy from it. I think that's a good thing."

Read the entire interview at Billboard.

"Sermons Of The Sinner" will be released on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. The LP's first single, "Hellfire Thunderbolt", came out last month. The title track followed earlier this week.

KK'S PRIEST will play select shows to mark the 50th anniversary of PRIEST and Downing's career as a founding member. KK'S PRIEST's setlist will consist of PRIEST classics and new songs.

Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.

In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."

Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.

Downing's autobiography, "Heavy Duty: Days And Nights In Judas Priest", was released in September 2018 via Da Capo Press.