A flickering red light glows in the darkness evoking images of a spooky lighthouse in the roaring sea - quite a suitable comparison for avant-garde black metal outlet Celeste, who continue their rise to one of the most promising extreme metal acts with their latest move...

Today, Nuclear Blast Records welcomes the band as the newest member of the worldwide family and is proud to announce the signing of a worldwide deal with Celeste.

Celebrating this new unholy union, Celeste reveals a new video for their song "Comme Des Amants En Reflet" today. Watch below:

The band states: "We’re thrilled to announce that we’re now part of the Nuclear Blast family. We want to thank them for the way they warmly welcomed us. We’re stoked to work with such a friendly and professional team. Times’ve been rough recently, but it strengthened us to work on our 6th album. We’re just coming back from the mixing sessions. Prepare yourself for some new material soon."

This fantastic news will be crowned by the band's appearance on this year's Hellfest From Home edition, featuring a stunning live show from Celeste broadcasting from the festival ground. The Hellfest From Home will take place during the weekend of June 17 - 20.

To get into the right mood before the festival show, find all the albums of Celeste for streaming here.

Jerome Riera, European Head Of Label for Nuclear Blast, adds: "There's no genre that can truly define Celeste, the music they create is in its own universe. I've always loved the band's ability to mix very strong, classy imagery with the darkest, blackest songs. It's a powerful and unique band that we're proud to welcome to the Nuclear Blast family."

Having played more than 500 shows around the world, including appearances at several prestigious extreme music festivals, theaters, and venues (Hellfest, Roskilde, Copenhell, SummerBreeze, Brutal Assault, Roadburn, Psycho Las Vegas...), with one EP and five albums under their belt, Celeste has succeeded in creating their own musical atmosphere and are today considered to be one of the most important bands of the "French Avant-Garde Black-Metal" scene.

After joining the Nuclear Blast label, Celeste will release a new album in 2022, recorded and mixed by Chris Edrich, and will go on an international tour to spread the darkness of its music.

Celeste is:

Johan Girardeau - Vocals & Bass
Guillaume Rieth - Guitar
Antoine Royer - Drums
Sébastien Ducotte - Guitar




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Svart Publishing has set July 16 as the release date for the English edition of North From Here: The Sentenced Story.

“One basic rule goes for both conversation and merrymaking: both are only ever done when strictly necessary. It takes a lot less to gripe and grumble, of course.”

Founded in 1989, metal band Sentenced was a pioneer of Finnish heavy music. The band’s melancholy tunes had a universal appeal that spoke to audiences far further afield than just in their native North, with more than a million records sold worldwide. Over the course of their sixteen-year long career, Sentenced toured Europe and North America extensively. The band’s strong fanbase in Central Europe brought them to the clubs of Berlin and Dortmund again and again, as well as festivals such as Germany’s Rock Hard and the legendary Dynamo Open Air in the Netherlands. They roamed the edges of Europe from the London Astoria to Rome and Oslo, the latter two enshrined by the band as the consistent lowlights of their entire touring career. While the band mainly only toured the United States and Europe, their final farewell tour in 2005 brought them as far away from home as Moscow and Mexico City, where the fired-up crowd sang along to their material with such passion as to shake the foundations of both the venue and the band’s own resolve to retire.

The story of these Northern Ostrobothnian (anti)heroes takes them on a wild ride through early teenage bravado to ludicrously absurd and profoundly tragic twists of fate. Along the way you’ll learn their songwriting secrets, experience unforgettable shows and explore the deepest troughs of despair that is life on tour. Deathly disaster and Northern gallows humour; triumphs and squandered opportunities. These heavy-drinking, famously taciturn men in black tell the tale of what it was like to play in the band called Sentenced.

Matti Riekki (s. 1974) is a music journalist specializing in heavy rock, known as the host of the late national radio show Metalliliitto and the longstanding Editor-in-Chief of Finnish heavy metal magazine Inferno. Svart Publishing will issue the book in a gold foil-stamped hardback edition, just as the Finnish language first edition.

“I can genuinely say that North from Here is one of the best band biographies I’ve ever read.” – Kuuttaren lukupäiväkirja blog.

Pre-order / more info here.




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

Chris Robinson, who reunited with his brother Rich in 2019 after six years apart, has confimed to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that there are tentative plans to record a new BLACK CROWES album.

"It's funny, 'cause Rich and I, for whatever we've been through, the one place where we were always the most together [was when we were making music]," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I mean, we fought onstage, we fought backstage, we fought in an Italian restaurant in Berlin, but when we're writing has always been our sweet spot.

"It's been amazing to get to where Rich and I are today," he continued. "And we're in a great, great place as brothers and as partners in this band and as songwriting partners.

"So, we've written about 20 new BLACK CROWES songs, which has been really cool."

THE BLACK CROWES are scheduled to embark on a summer tour to mark the 30th anniversary of their 1990 debut LP, "Shake Your Money Maker". The trek will see the band play the classic LP in its entirety followed by a set of CROWES hits.

"This whole idea of the 'Shake Your Money Maker' thing has really brought a lot of focus back to, wow, how much I fucking love rock and roll music," Chris said. "Visiting that record and that being our presentation has really inspired Rich and I — to quote the MC5 — to kick out the jams a little bit and really refocus on all the things we love about the power of rock and roll and the rawness.

"'Shake Your Money Maker' was our most concentrated effort of rock," he added. "We went off into so many different things after that. I think rock and roll is always the bloodline through all of it, but just like from THE [ROLLING] STONES, FACES to AC/DC, and it could even be X and the CIRCLE JERKS and BLACK FLAG — all that kind of stuff [that we were into] — and we're kind of back there [now]. So it's been super fun.

"We're not in a real hurry to get in the studio. Our focus is this tour and the touring and kind of celebrating THE BLACK CROWES and what we've done and where we started."

THE BLACK CROWES' rescheduled tour will kick off on July 20 and July 21 at Nashville's Ascend Amphitheatre and include 37 dates over a two-month period, concluding on September 25 at Bethel Woods in Bethel, New York. Bassist Sven Pipien, who played with the band live from 1997 up until the band's hiatus in 2015, will rejoin THE BLACK CROWES for the reunion trek. The rest of the band will consist of Brian Griffin on drums, Joel Robinow on keyboards and Isaiah Mitchell on guitar, plus backup singers Mackenzie Adams and Leslie Grant. All tickets purchased for the 2020 dates will be honored at the 2021 shows.

When THE BLACK CROWES announced their split in 2014, Rich issued a statement saying that he loved his brother and respected his talent but that "his present demand that I must give up my equal share of the band and that our drummer for 28 years and original partner, Steve Gorman, relinquish 100 percent of his share … is not something I could agree to."

"Shake Your Money Maker" was re-released in multi-formats sets in February through UMe/American Recordings. The album, fueled by singles "Jealous Again", "Twice As Hard", "She Talks To Angels" and a cover of fellow Georgian Otis Redding's "Hard To Handle", has sold over five million cop

Former KISS keyboardist Gary Corbett is battling a very aggressive form of lung cancer that has metastasized to his brain and hip. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help him and his wife as they are facing devastating medical bills while he goes through treatment.

As many fans know, most musicians don't have health insurance, or when they do, it's not that great. Due to the costs of treatment, Gary is on the verge of losing his home, and the medical bills are piling up alongside all the other bills. He has completed a series of radiation therapy, is undergoing an aggressive series of chemo and immunotherapy, and is slated to start cognitive and occupational therapy soon.

Gary and his wife Lenora are desperate. They cannot afford to pay for his treatment and stopping it is not an option. This is where your help comes in: This money will help pay his outrageous medical costs and keep his bills and mortgage paid while he's coping with his illness and the long road to recovery.

According to LA Weekly, Corbett played offstage keyboards and handled background vocals on KISS tours promoting late-'80s and early-'90s LPs "Crazy Nights", "Hot In The Shade" and "Revenge". Before that, his credits included co-writing Cyndi Lauper's Top 5 hit "She Bop" and working with the solo band of former FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm, who recommended Corbett to KISS frontman Paul Stanley.

"There seemed to be a trend in the '80s that bands didn't want the image of having a keyboard player onstage," Corbett told LA Weekly. "Some people think keyboards aren't as much of a rock instrument as a guitar. Gene Simmons is definitely of that mindset. At every soundcheck, if the soundman asked me, 'Could you just give me a couple of notes,' [Simmons] would immediately put his hands behind his back and act like he was ice skating around a rink."

In his interview with LA Weekly, Corbett recounted a particularly memorable experience playing with KISS at the 1988 "Monsters Of Rock" festival. "It was such a big show that they had big Diamond Vision screens on each side of the stage," he said. "So when the guys that were working the cameras on the side of the stage were roaming around and filming everything, I guess nobody told them that they weren't supposed to be filming me. So during 'Rock And Roll All Nite', I'm standing there singing and playing and having a good time. And later I found out I was on the big screens in front of, like, 60,000 people, which I don't think made the guys very happy."

After KISS, Corbett played with CINDERELLA until 2011. He also got a couple of Grammys for his work with reggae legends Damian and Stephen Marley

Reunited San Francisco Bay Area thrashers VIO-LENCE will release a new EP, "Let The World Burn", in early 2022 via Metal Blade Records. The effort was recorded at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with producer Juan Urteaga, who has previously worked with TESTAMENT, MACHINE HEAD and EXODUS, among many others. Mixing duties were handled by Tue Madsen.

Singer Sean Killian comments: "Life is meant to be lived, and during that one life you have an opportunity to truly create memories for yourself and people who share the same time on this planet as you do.

"For 33 years, a creation called 'Eternal Nightmare' has been making memories for people around the world. Now, it is time to create some new memories in 2021, and VIO-LENCE has now done that for me, and I'm hoping for you too.

"This resurrection was started in 2019 with a simple text that stated, 'Let's do a show'. At that moment, these five original songs began.

"I am very proud of the new music we created, and we are fortunate to have worked with some very creative people. Juan Urteaga, who was able to push the band to the edge of insanity to capture the intensity we as a band have always brought to people through our music and our live performances. Tue Madsen put a special touch on our unique mania and brought raw perfection to our sound. Nothing too polished here, unless fragments of glass and broken razor blades are what you consider polished.

"I love to create, and we hope your heads explode when you hear the new VIO-LENCE. Thanks to everyone involved, and especially Metal Blade Records, for giving VIO-LENCE the opportunity to blow your minds."

Killian previously described VIO-LENCE's new material as "a cross between 'Eternal [Nightmare]' [1988], 'Oppressing [The Masses]' [1990] and also our '93 demo. It's fast, it's heavy. We've got a couple of good chunk riffs and stuff like that," he explained. "We wanna get stuff in that's gonna start a pit up too. But we think people are gonna go crazy when they hear it. We've got some heavy lyrics, some heavy subjects. I mean, we're not a political band by any means, so when I say 'heavy,' it's just heavy shit that comes out of my demented head."

In May 2020, guitarist Phil Demmel told EXODUS frontman Steve "Zetro" Souza's YouTube channel, Zetro's Toxic Vault, that VIO-LENCE was taking its time coming up with the best material possible. "When [the songs are] ready, they're ready," he said. "This [coronavirus pandemic] has given us more time. But still, it's gotta be fucking killer. I had a riff that the [other] dudes were kind of digging, and I'm all, 'I don't got a boner with this one.' I want a 10-foot boner with everything that we're doing now. It's gotta be better, it's gotta be fucking kick-ass… I don't wanna put out some crap."

In August, VIO-LENCE released a new digital single, "California Über Alles", a cover version of the DEAD KENNEDYS classic. The band also filmed a music video for the song with director Scott Kirkeeng.

In January 2020, VIO-LENCE parted ways with guitarist Ray Vegas and replaced him with Bobby Gustafson (ex-OVERKILL). The band's current lineup also includes bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (ex-FEAR FACTORY).

VIO-LENCE released three studio albums between 1988 and 1993. The group reunited soon after Demmel left MACHINE HEAD in late 2018.

The band performed its first comeback concert in April 2019 at the Oakland Metro in Oakland, California and spent most of the ensuing months playing select shows in the U.S. and Europe.

Although MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn was part of VIO-LENCE's classic incarnation and played on the band's debut album, "Eternal Nightmare", he wasn't approached about taking part in any of the comeback shows.

Killian underwent a successful liver transplant surgery in March 2018. The year before, Killian was diagnosed with stage four liver cirrhosis, which was caused in part by a genetic condition called hemochromatosis.

VIO-LENCE's last album, "Nothing To Gain", was recorded in August 1990, but wasn't released until 1993.

VIO-LENCE 2021 is:

Sean Killian - vocals

Perry Strickland - drums

Christian Olde Wolbers - bass

Bobby Gustafson - guitar

Phil Demmel - guitar

Photo credit: Harold O.
























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Vio-Lence Official (@vio_lence_band)

KORN frontman Jonathan Davis has contributed an exclusive song, "Elex", to "Elex II", which is coming soon to PC, Xbox Series S|X, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4.

"Elex II" is the sequel to "Elex", the vintage open-world role-playing experience from the award-winning creators of the "Gothic" and "Risen" series "Piranha Bytes". "Elex II" returns to the post-apocalyptic science fantasy world of Magalan, with massive environments that can be explored with unrivaled freedom via jetpack — you will be able to move through the epic story any way you want!

Several years after Jax defeated the Hybrid, a new threat arrives from the sky, unleashing the dangerous powers of dark Elex and endangering all life on the planet. In order to defend the peace on Magalan and the safety of his own family, Jax embarks on a mission to convince the factions to unite against the invaders, as well as a personal quest to find his son, Dex, who got separated from him.

Dive into a huge, hand-crafted, completely unique world with multiple factions and diverse environments set in a post-apocalyptic science fantasy universe.

In a 2019 interview with Kerrang!, Jonathan confirmed that he is a huge fan of video games, saying: "I love playing kids games. I did play Fortnite here and there, but I'm not into the battle royale shit, I'm into the storyline. I'm really into the LEGO games, I just started 'Red Dead Redemption II'. Anything where I'm not having my ass handed to me by an eight-year-old kid! It's insane how these kids talk during multiplay. I fear for the future, bro."




ELEX II is coming soon, featuring my song “ELEX” created exclusively for the game – only available via PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series S|X and Xbox One. @THQNordic #ELEX #PiranhaBytes pic.twitter.com/5gwnWgb4EH

— Jonathan Davis (@JDavisOfficial) June 16, 2021

Mary Ann Naples, VP and publisher of Hachette Books, announced today the forthcoming publication of "The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx" by three-time New York Times best-selling author and rock icon Nikki Sixx. Due on October 19, the book is edited by executive editor Brant Rumble, who acquired world rights in a deal with Chris Nilsson of 10th Street Entertainment, and will be available in hardcover, eBook and an audio edition by Hachette Audio.

Sixx is one of the most respected, recognizable, and entrepreneurial icons in the music industry. As the founder of MÖTLEY CRÜE who is now in his twenty-first year of sobriety, Sixx is incredibly passionate about his craft and wonderfully open about his life in rock and roll, and as a person of the world. Born Franklin Carlton Feranna on December 11, 1958, young Frankie was abandoned by his father and partly raised by his mother, a woman who was ahead of her time in some ways and deeply troubled in others. Frankie ended up living with his grandparents, bouncing from farm to farm and state to state. He was an all-American kid — hunting, fishing, chasing girls, and playing football — but underneath it all, there was a burning desire for more, and that more was music. He eventually took a Greyhound bound for Hollywood.

In Los Angeles, Frank lived with his aunt and his uncle — the president of Capitol Records. But there was no short path to the top. He was soon on his own. There were dead-end jobs: dipping circuit boards, clerking at liquor and record stores, selling used light bulbs, and hustling to survive. But at night, Frank honed his craft, joining SISTER, a band formed by fellow hard-rock veteran Blackie Lawless, and formed a group of his own: LONDON, the precursor of MÖTLEY CRÜE. Turning down an offer to join Randy Rhoads's band, Frank changed his name to Nikki London, Nikki Nine and, finally, Nikki Sixx. Like Huck Finn with a stolen guitar, he had a vision: a group that combined punk, glam, and hard rock into the biggest, most theatrical and irresistible package the world had ever seen. With hard work, passion, and some luck, the vision manifested in reality — and this is a profound true story finding identity, of how Frank Feranna became Nikki Sixx. And it's a road map to the ways you can overcome anything, and achieve all of your goals, if only you put your mind to it.

"You've heard the tales of excess and debauchery. All the peaks and the valleys that came with rock and roll stardom and my life in one of the world's biggest bands. This is the story that you haven't heard. The one that led up to those stories," said Sixx. "It's the intimate, personal story of how an innocent Idaho farm boy with a burning dream and desire — for music, for love, and for fame — became the notorious Nikki Sixx. I believe our first twenty-one years have a lot to do with shaping who we become. These are my first twenty-one, and it's my hope that they thrill and inspire you to invest in your own, biggest dreams."

"Whether you're a MÖTLEY CRÜE and Nikki Sixx fan or not, if you're looking for a memoir that transports you back to the '70s and early '80s, and that — for those who lived it — will reacquaint you with the vinyl collection your parents threw out in the '90s, then this is your book," said Naples, "and the larger themes of getting to know who you are and taking control of your identity certainly resonate now in the still-new 2020s."

Sixx is an international rock icon, founding member of MÖTLEY CRÜE and SIXX:A.M., three-time New York Times best-selling author (with "The Heroin Diaries", "This Is Gonna Hurt" and MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Dirt"), philanthropist, photographer, and addiction recovery advocate. Sixx had the No. 1 nationally syndicated rock radio show "Sixx Sense With Nikki Sixx" on iHeart Media for seven years. In March 2019, Sixx premiered CRÜE's hit Netflix biopic "The Dirt", based on the band's 2001 autobiography. Sixx has been a longtime advocate for expanding the support services for people in recovery from substance use disorder (SUD). He has given testimony on Capitol Hill, made frequent media appearances to discuss his experiences, and authored op-eds on the subject in major publications. It is Nikki's strong desire to help make a change for the better regarding what is our country's most prevalent public health crisis.

German metallers OBSCURA will release their new album, "A Valediction", on November 19 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2018's "Diluvium" sees the band heralding a new era of extreme metal as it combines virtuosic songwriting with surprisingly catchy melodies and stunning craftsmanship.

"A Valediction" was mixed and mastered by award-winning producer Fredrik Nordström in Gothenburg, Sweden and thematically deals with final farewells.

OBSCURA mastermind and founder Steffen Kummerer states: "'A Valediction' unfolds OBSCURA in its purest form and showcases the band at new heights and offers immediacy with a rather personal touch. We cannot wait to perform this album on stage and celebrate each and every song live with our loyal fans around the globe. This record goes to eleven, so watch out for the first single dropping in July and worldwide tour dates to be announced soon."

The album, graced by a cover artwork painted by internationally renowned artist Eliran Kantor, will consist of 11 new studio tracks.

01. Forsaken

02. Solaris

03. A Valediction

04. When Stars Collide (feat. Björn "Speed" Strid)

05. In Unity

06. Devoured Usurper

07. The Beyond

08. Orbital Elements II

09. The Neuromancer

10. In Adversity

11. Heritage

The first single from the album will be released in July.

In May 2020, guitarist Christian Münzner rejoined OBSCURA as a permanent member. Münzner, known for his virtuoso guitar playing in extreme metal, joined OBSCURA in 2008 and recorded the band's critically acclaimed full-length albums "Cosmogenesis" (2009) and "Omnivium" (2011), both released via Relapse Records.

In April 2020, Dutch fretless bass player Jeroen Paul Thesseling rejoined OBSCURA after a nine-year break. The group also announced Austrian drummer David Diepold as its new member. Now, with the comeback of Münzner, 75 percent of the classic "Cosmogenesis" (2009) and "Omnivium" (2011) lineup is reunited.

Founded in 2002, OBSCURA established its reputation by releasing five studio albums which have been highly acclaimed by fans and press alike, accompanied by playing support tours as well as their own headline shows all around the globe.

OBSCURA is:

Steffen Kummerer - Vocals, Guitars

Christian Münzner - Guitars

Jeroen Paul Thesseling - Bass

David Diepold - Drums

Anti-vaccine protesters demonstrated outside FOO FIGHTERS' concert in Agoura Hills, California that allowed only vaccinated fans.

The Dave Grohl-fronted outfit performed at the Canyon Club on Tuesday (June 15) as a warm-up gig for FOO FIGHTERS' appearance at Madison Square Garden in New York City on June 20.

Fans wishing to attend last night's concert had to show photo ID as well as proof of vaccination in order to pick up their non-transferable tickets for the 21+ show.

According to Variety, former child star Ricky Schroder was one of the protesters outside the venue.

"Dave Grohl is an ignorant punk who needs slapped for supporting Discrimination," Schroder wrote in a Facebook post on Sunday, one day after the Canyon Club show was announced. "Ignorance comes in all shapes & sizes. Kurt Cobain is laughing at you Dave along with Millions of Patriots....Fool."

A few of the FOO FIGHTERS fans attending the concert posted about the protesters on social media. One user wrote, "some real low-quality humans at the @foofighters show in agoura hills CA tonight," while another said, "This is what happens when you just want to attend a @foofighters concert at a small local concert hall and the next thing out know you’re a ‘Vaccine Segregationist.'"

Schroder, known for his work in the movie "The Champ" and the television series "Silver Spoons", made headlines last month when he was videotaped confronting a Costco employee about mask wearing.

In 2020, Schroder drew criticism when he donated to help bail out Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager accused of fatally shooting two people during a demonstration in Kenosha, Wisconsin.




























View this post on Instagram









































A post shared by Jenn Commander (@jenacom)








Dave Grohl is an ignorant punk who needs slapped for supporting Discrimination. Ignorance comes in all shapes & sizes. Kurt Cobain is laughing at you Dave along with Millions of Patriots....Fool.

Posted by Ricky Schroder on Sunday, June 13, 2021





This is what happens when you just want to attend a @foofighters concert at a small local concert hall and the next thing out know you’re a “Vaccine Segregationist”. #FooFighters pic.twitter.com/fyDAZ2QcXn

— Christian Miles (@cmilessports) June 16, 2021

KK'S PRIEST, the new band featuring former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals), along with guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE), will release its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. Original KK'S PRIEST drummer Les Binks (ex-JUDAS PRIEST), unfortunately, sustained a wrist injury, but will make special guest live appearances when the band tours.

The official music video for the blistering second single from "Sermons Of The Sinner", the LP's title track, is available today and can be seen below.

Of "Sermons Of The Sinner", Downing says: "The song and title track 'Sermons Of The Sinner' epitomizes the whole album in one just song. It is all-encompassing with its tribute to the history of our beloved genre of music, while updating the details for today's audience. In the song and video, we not only extend our humble gratitude to loyal fans of classic rock and metal but also present a subtle warning about the future of the genre.

"We are very hopeful that the song and album 'Sermons Of The Sinner' will inspire young and older musicians alike to pick up their instruments and keep alive the rock music that so many of us have become a part of, and that has become such a part of us."

The album cover features a mysterious figure robed in a monk's habit, whom Downing slyly states may or may not be him, holding a book of sermons. He says the "sinner" in the title refers to his famous solo in that classic song of the same name and also reflects his sense of alienation from the groundbreaking group that he helped create. "The whole concept is the fact that I continue proudly to be who I am and what I am and do what I do," declares Downing. "It's been nearly 10 years. I'm back making music."

And his disciples are ready to receive his sermons. He's brought a former bandmate along for the ride, and they have unleashed an album with a modern sound that hearkens back to what fans have always loved about Downing and his music and which still sounds fresh. "All of my life, people always wanted an album that we've made in the past," muses Downing. "'What's the new album like? Will it be anything like 'British Steel'? Will it be anything like 'Sad Wings'?' People hoping you're going to make a record that you've already made. So in a way this record just sounds like something that has already been made or should have been be made. It does have a lot of things that are connected to the past. For example, 'Brothers Of The Road'. If you take all the lyrics off and just listen to the music, maybe you could be listening to 'You've Got Another Thing Comin''."

After years of quietly enjoying life away from the rigors of the road and intense studio recording, Downing emerged again on stage in August 2019. From there, the conversation led to Downing performing a few songs with Ross The Boss at Bloodstock Open Air. The performance electrified the crowd and reinvigorated Downing. In November of that year, he put on a show in Wolverhampton, U.K. with Owens, Binks, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and HOSTILE guitarist A.J. Mills. Downing had produced two albums for the latter band. Spanning JUDAS PRIEST's catalog, this superb and successful show sent shockwaves throughout the metal world: K.K. was back and the fans were clearly hungry for more.

Rather than simply rely on his past successes and go on the road performing classic JUDAS PRIEST songs, the renowned guitarist did what he has always done — make new music. And songs that fans would want to hear and sing along to in concert. Downing assembled Owens, Mills, Newton and Elg to create "Sermons Of The Sinner", an album that celebrates his classic metal roots and encourages us to cherish those iconic pioneers whom we still have with us. He jokes that KK'S PRIEST is "like a new old band. Or an old new band."

"The ultimate message is we've moved away from this music that we loved for so long and we're so dedicated to, and now we're in a situation where lots of people are actually passing away," explains Downing. "We've lost a lot of great people — [Ronnie James] Dio, Lemmy, I could go on — and that's gonna be accelerated over the coming years. Basically, enjoy everything that's left of this brand of metal including from me. It's not going to last forever."

Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the '80s. (Can you pick them out?) After partnering with Explorer1 Music Group, the album was originally intended for release a year ago, but with the COVID-19 pandemic curtailing everyone's release and touring plans, Downing pulled back and spent two more months tweaking the album to how he wanted it. The extra time paid off.

High-speed album opener "Hellfire Thunderbolt" offers a fictitious take on how metal arrived before the masses were ready for it, so it gestated in the late '60s before exploding in the '70s and '80s. Rousing rockers like "Raise Your Fists" and "Wild And Free" revel in the passion and excess that metal fans embrace. The guitar interplay is intense and inspiring, and the band is firing on all cylinders.

"The Return Of The Sentinel" is a bold choice to close the album. Not only is it a sequel to the classic track from JUDAS PRIEST's 1984's platinum-selling "Defenders Of The Faith" album, it's a nine-minute epic that doesn't play by the rules. The first half is stirring metal, and the latter half is somber and subdued, which reflects the tale of a being who, once a dispenser of justice and death, now faces his own mortality.

Conversely, KK'S PRIEST is alive and vital. They have plans to tour later this year with some Ripper-era JUDAS PRIEST songs tossed into the mix, and Binks hopes to make appearances at shows.

"Les was able to do the short set at the Steel Mill," says Downing. "But he had a wrist injury after that and wasn't able to do the album. Les wants to jump on the stage and a play a couple of songs, although he is not going to be able to play a full set. He will be our special guest."

Downing is hoping to reach as many headbangers as he can worldwide — from Europe to North and South America. "Sermons Of The Sinner" is a love letter to the music he helped create and evolve and to the devoted followers who have supported it. "I'm talking about the diehard fans that are not going anywhere," says Downing. "They're not certainly going to jump on a different genre of music just because a lot of their heroes are unfortunately passing away. And that sentiment is in this album where we said in the title track, 'time is running out for us, things may never be the same, but the sermons of the sinner center can help us rise again.' Because you never know when the last gig is going to be the last gig, so to speak. I'm pretty optimistic. I'm working on material for the second album."

"Sermons Of The Sinner" track listing:

01. Incarnation

02. Hellfire Thunderbolt

03. Sermons Of The Sinner

04. Sacerdote Y Diablo

05. Raise Your Fists

06. Brothers Of The Road

07. Metal Through And Through

08. Wild And Free

09. Hail For The Priest

10. Return Of The Sentinel

KK'S PRIEST, which pays homage to Downing's past, 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.

Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.

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 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's upcoming 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.

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.

THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT, the musical collaboration between STONE SOUR guitarist Josh Rand and songwriter and vocalist Casandra Carson, has unveiled another new song, "A World On Fire", from its debut self-titled EP, set to arrive on July 9. Watch the lyric video for "A World On Fire" below.

Pre-orders for CD, vinyl and cassette editions are available now here. All physical formats are all hand signed and numbered, with the Nuclear

Blast store stocking an exclusive gold vinyl edition.

Speaking about the third trackto be released from THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT's EP, Rand says: "When I started working on the music for 'A World On Fire', the idea I envisioned was to take the listener to different places within the song. From the main guitar riff to double time pre choruses to the soundscaping in the choruses. The hardest part when writing a song like that is to make sure it doesn't feel forced or choppy and all the parts are cohesive. I feel we achieved that."

Casandra adds: "This song is one giant metaphor for wanting to permanently log off of social media. After watching a documentary about how addictive it is and the negative impacts it has on mental health, I started realizing how much time, mental and emotional energy I was spending on it. Ever since then, I've started realizing I don't need the validation of getting likes and comments to measure my happiness or self-worth."

"A World On Fire" follows previous singles "Ignite" and "The Nothingness", which was featured on several major playlists across streaming platforms, including Rock Hard on Spotify, Breaking Metal on Apple Music, Break Through Rock on Amazon and Metal Radar on Deezer. "The Nothingness" was also included on SiriusXM Octane's Test Drive the week it was released.

Nurturing the project from concept to execution, the instrumentation was written, arranged, recorded and produced by Rand in his home studio and mixed by Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, LAMB OF GOD, PARKWAY DRIVE). Completing the collaborative effort with the addition of Carson, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT presents an important milestone in an already decorated career for Rand, one that was punctuated with the addition of a one-of-a-kind vocal lead that understood how to complement the music with her lyrical pen. The resulting introduction of THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a five-track EP that offers a complete presentation of a songwriter asserting his stride after more than two decades steeped in his craft. Building off the sonic stamp he established during his six-album, 20-year tenure with STONE SOUR, Rand's current iteration holds true to his track record without relying on it, all while penning a new chapter in his artistic anthology.

Stylistically, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT is a fluid combination of classic metal sensibility and Rand's penchant for pushing the boundaries of contemporary heavy. From the ethereal, cinematic soundscape of the piano-latent ballad in "Worthwhile" to the sonic sledgehammer of "A World On Fire", the broad spectrum resonates as especially impressive. Between Rand's instrumental framework, accentuated by Carson's ability to articulate poignant stanzas, THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT remains a passion project culminating in perfect collaboration.

"The L.I.F.E. Project" EP track listing:

01. Ignite

02. Purgatory

03. The Nothingness

04. Worthwhile

05. A World On Fire

METALLICA has announced a number of summer 2022 European festival appearances.

The seven-date run will kick off on June 15, 2022 at Copenhagen, Denmark's Copenhell and conclude on July 8, 2022 at Lisbon, Portugal's NOS Alive.

METALLICA said in a statement: "We have waited far too long to say these words — we're getting back out there and are finally announcing our return to Europe in 2022!

"Needless to say, we cannot wait to see all of you once again as our European 'TALLICA Family will finally have a chance to reunite in June and July of next year.

"We can't wait to once again take the stage as part of the time-honored tradition of summer music festivals and we're excited to see some of our friends, both new and old, at Copenhell, Pinkpop, Firenze Rocks, Prague Rocks, Rock Werchter, Mad Cool, and NOS Alive.

"Dates are listed below, and Fifth Members should be sure to check all the details in the Club News Story to find out when special pre-sales will be held. A few of the festivals are already on sale and we're happy to join their party… info about when and where you can grab tickets is listed next to each show.

"Stay tuned — we'll be back soon to keep adding to this list.

"We hope you, your family, and your friends are safe and in good health, and ready to go next level, next summer!"

METALLICA 2022 tour dates:

Jun. 15 - Copenhell - Copenhagen, Denmark

Jun. 17 - Pinkpop – Landgraaf, Netherlands

Jun. 19 - Firenze Rocks - Florence, Italy

Jun. 22 - Prague Rocks - Prague, Czech Republic

Jul. 01 - Rock Werchter - Werchter, Belgium

Jul. 06 - Mad Cool - Madrid, Spain

Jul. 08 - NOS Alive - Lisbon, Portugal

METALLICA is scheduled to play several U.S. festivals in 2021, including Louder Than Life, Aftershock and Welcome To Rockville.

Last November, METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich told journalist and CNBC contributor Kara Swisher that it might be a while before the shows return from their pandemic-induced pause, estimating it could be a year "at the earliest."

"As we unfortunately have to come to grips with, the last thing that will happen are big concerts, you know 20,000 people in an arena, 50,000 people in a stadium," Ulrich said. Live sporting events are much easier to bring back than concerts, he added, given they are "slightly more orderly" than a sold-out rock show tends to be.

"The good news on the live concert front, when METALLICA and other bands like METALLICA play big arena or stadium concerts again, then you can pretty much count on the fact that COVID, as we know it now, is over," he added.

GOJIRA's Mario Duplantier recently spoke to Metal Hammer magazine about the 10 drummers that changed his life. Among Mario's biggest influences is METALLICA's Lars Ulrich, who was "probably the first drummer that really made me pay attention," Duplantier said. "I was maybe ten or eleven years old and my brother [GOJIRA frontman Joseph Duplantier] had received the METALLICA 'Live Shit: Binge & Purge' video boxset for Christmas. We were sat watching it and I couldn't take my eyes off of Lars; the way he was playing, the color of the drumheads, the movement… it was all so badass. Right away I was telling my brother, 'That drummer is the best in the world!' That was when I decided I wanted to play drums.

"Lars is a genius," he continued. "If you listen to the first five METALLICA albums, the drumming is so special, particularly the way he writes those patterns. Even now I think he's the best showman drummer in the world. I'ts not about the tempo or technicality — it's something else. Nobody could imagine METALLICA with another drummer."

Mario also walked Metal Hammer through some of his other drumming influences, including Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA), Igor Cavalera (SEPULTURA), Sean Reinert (DEATH), Gene Hoglan (TESTAMENT, DEATH), David Silveria (KORN) and Pete Sandoval (MORBID ANGEL).

Duplantier previously praised Ulrich in a 2014 interview with U.K.'s Rhythm magazine. He said at the time: "I started playing drums at 12 years old. At that time, my big brother was in a band and was a big influence on me. He introduced me to music and spontaneously I wanted to play drums.

"Maybe the first time I saw a video with the big thing called drums was Lars Ulrich with his white Tama drums. That was a big shock for me and right away I wanted to try. Lars was my biggest influence, maybe the only influence I had starting out.

"After that, I started listening to more metal and got into SEPULTURA with Igor Cavalera on drums, Igor and Lars were my biggest influences and then I discovered more extreme music."

GOJIRA's new album, "Fortitude", was released on April 30 via Roadrunner Records

Lyria vocalist Aline Happ has released an a capella version of the Linkin Park hit "Numb". Check out the official video below.

"Numb" was released as the third single from Linkin Park's second studio album, Meteora, released in 2003. The song topped the Billboard Alternative Songs chart for 12 weeks, spending six weeks at the top of the chart in 2003 and six weeks in 2004. The song also spent three weeks atop the Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart and peaked at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Check out more of Aline's covers below.

"Tears Of The Dragon" (Bruce Dickinson)

"Send Me An Angel" (Scorpions)




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

SOUNDGARDEN and Vicky Cornell, the widow and personal representative of the estate of the band's lead singer Chris Cornell, have announced that, effective June 15, 2021, they have come to a temporary agreement that will transfer the SOUNDGARDEN social media accounts and web site to the band's remaining members, Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron and Ben Shepherd and their managers, Red Light Management. This includes SOUNDGARDEN's web site, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

"The agreement marks a productive first step towards healing and open dialogue, and the parties wish for the social media accounts to celebrate the Band's accomplishments and music, while continuing to honor Chris' legacy," Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd said in a statement.

Vicky added in a separate statement: "Through our joint social media efforts and our temporary agreement, my family, along with the surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN, hope to celebrate Chris and his music out of mutual respect and love. We all recognize the profound pain caused by Chris's tragic loss and the path it has taken us down."

This past March, Thayil, Cameron, Shepherd and their business manager Rit Venerus filed papers in Washington state U.S. District Court claiming that Vicky Cornell had locked them out of their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, Top Spin and Pinterest accounts, as well as SOUNDGARDEN's official web site, and changing all the passwords.

Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd claimed their socials were previously managed by their then-management company Patriot Management. They said they later learned that Patriot had handed over all the login information to Vicky after Patriot was terminated in October 2019.

The band asked a judge to order Vicky Cornell to hand over the passwords or include a final posting stating, "SOUNDGARDEN has temporarily suspended its official social media accounts due to pending litigation."

Earlier today, Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd posted their first message since regaining control of the SOUNDGARDEN accounts, writing: "Hey SOUNDGARDEN friends, fans and family! Our site is intended to celebrate the music, achievements, career and legacy of the band along with news and information about any current and future plans, including relevant solo work. We encourage our fans to share their comments, praise and criticism, but we do expect these to be appropriate, courteous and respectful to each other and to the band.

"We are super stoked to have our socials return to discussions and posts about being in a ring great ROCK BAND!! Remember the guitars, drums, vocals and volume?!!! No more comments about wives, children, exes, significant others, siblings, parents, great aunts, 2nd cousins... etc. of any of the current or former band members... get it?!!

"It should go without saying, to the adults in the room, that there won't be any threats, bullying or mocking of any kind, directed at anyone. Furthermore, don't post discussions or inane conspiracy theories casting blame for harm to Chris Cornell. If anybody's comments are inappropriate in these ways, they will be removed. If anybody's comments are threatening, bullying or abusive, OR if we have to remove more than one of anybody's comments, they will lose the opportunity to continue commenting on our site.

"We admire the character and caliber of all the fans who've supported and grown with us over the years, geez...decades!! Keep us proud! Peace and love to our brothers and sisters!! XO SOUNDGARDEN".

Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel in May 2017, following a SOUNDGARDEN show at the city's Fox Theatre. His body was found soon after he had spoken with a "slurred" voice to his wife by phone. The death was ruled a suicide.

In December 2019, Vicky filed a lawsuit against the surviving SOUNDGARDEN members, alleging the group owed Cornell's estate hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties and the rights to seven unreleased recordings made before the singer's death in May of 2017.

Responding to Vicky's lawsuit, Kim Thayil, Ben Shepherd and Matt Cameron claimed that they "don't have possession" of their "own creative work," and alleged that "Vicky Cornell has possession of the only existing multi-track recordings of the last SOUNDGARDEN tracks that include Chris Cornell's instrumental parts and vocals. All of the band members jointly worked on these final tracks, Vicky now claims ownership of the final SOUNDGARDEN album."

Thayil, Shepherd and Cameron initially accused Vicky Cornell of misusing funds from the January 2019 "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell" concert. After being challenged by Cornell's attorneys with the threat of sanctions, SOUNDGARDEN withdrew that portion of its countersuit, while its lawyers wrote at the time that the band believes the claims "remain well-founded."

In February, Vicky Cornell sued the surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN over the buyout price for her stake in the band. In the lawsuit, Vicky Cornell said Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd offered her just $300,000 for Chris's share. This amount, she said, is far lower than the real value of the Chris Cornell estate's interests in SOUNDGARDEN, especially considering the fact that the band got an offer of $16 million from an outside investor for SOUNDGARDEN's masters.




pic.twitter.com/KUDUcmExB1

— Soundgarden (@soundgarden) June 16, 2021








pic.twitter.com/YDfoKAGmdZ

— Soundgarden (@soundgarden) June 16, 2021

Cruzh are back with a new vocalist, Alex Waghorn, and a new album, Tropical Thunder. Waghorn was first introduced to Cruzh fans in 2019 with the release of an acoustic version of the song “Aim For The Head”. Now, Waghorn, along with Dennis Butabi Borg, Anton Joensson, and Matt Silver, are at long last ready to unleash the band’s long-awaited second album. Melodic rock fans will not be disappointed with the cavalcade of melodies, hooks, and catchy songs on display on Tropical Thunder. New single, “Turn Back Time”, is streaming below. Preorder/pre-save the album here.

Cruzh was put together after the demise of Swedish glam rockers TrashQueen, in which both Anton Joensson and Dennis Butabi Borg played. They shared a love for melodic rock and AOR and joined forces with Tony Andersson, who previously worked as a studio musician on the never released TrashQueen record.

In March 2013, Cruzh was officially announced. An image of the silhouette of the three band members, the debut song "In A Blink Of An Eye," information that the band was Swedish, and the text "Get ready for the Cruzh" was all that was revealed. The song quickly spread and in May of that year came the sequel, "Stay". Meanwhile, the band, still ‘incognito’, shared various clues on social media regarding their identity and location. In the fall of 2013, Cruzh “unmasked” and released the Hard To Get EP, the first of two very well-received self-produced demos.

Hard To Get and its successor, the darker Aim For The Head got great reviews and by late spring of 2015, just when Cruzh was about to release a new EP, they were approached by Frontiers Music Srl who wanted to sign the band to a deal. Cruzh started the album recording process by the end of summer 2015 and their self-titled debut was released in 2016 to rave reviews from the melodic rock community.

After introducing new vocalist Alex Waghorn to the public via an acoustic version of their track “Aim For The Head” in 2019, the band spent 2020 working on their second album, Tropical Thunder. Now, in 2021, the long wait for a follow-up album from Cruzh is over.

Tracklisting:

“Tropical Thunder”
“We Go Together”
“Turn Back Time”
“Are You Ready?”
“Cady”
“New York Nights”
“All You Need”
“Line In The Sand”
“Moonshine Bayou”
“Paralyzed”
“R.J.C.”

“Turn Back Time”:




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

The organizers of the long-running Wacken Open Air festival have announced Bullhead City, a mini edition of the world-famous heavy metal event.

Set to take place September 16-18, 2021 in Wacken, Germany, the festival will feature several stages, including the main stage on the Bullhead City Plaza.

Headlining the event will be NIGHTWISH, BLIND GUARDIAN and POWERWOLF, with additional appearances by DORO, SALTATIO MORTIS, NASTY, GAAHLS WYRD, ENDSEEKER, SLOPE and BURNING WITCHES.

The public authorities of Schleswig-Holstein, the northern German state home to Wacken, have yet to clarify how many people will be allowed to attend Bullhead City, but the final number is expected to be around 20,000.

At the moment, there are no set Germany-wide rules for major events, with most states enforcing their own participant caps for outdoor festivals, concerts and cultural events which are taking place.

As in other parts of the world, concert halls in Germany were among the first venues to be closed down at the start of the pandemic.

Earlier this month, the promoters of Wacken Open Air announced that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the edition planned for the end of July will not be able to take place as scheduled. The 31st edition of the cult festival will therefore take place in August 2022, from August 4 to August 6, in Wacken, Germany.

Symphonic metal band Anaria has released their single/video cover version of "Alone" originally done by Heart.

Taking the measure of what female empowerment means, Anaria brought forward that same element of strength, intelligence, and sex appeal that only lead vocalist Jessica Jackson-Salvucci can do. Powerful vocals that transcend words into swelling lyrical notes of indomitable allurement. The vocal presence in "Alone" is strikingly executed in Anaria's own unique way, while embracing each band member's talents throughout in spectacular and notable performance. Anaria, through their own artistic branding and video presentation, owns this song and it is remarkable. 

"We took a poll on Facebook in February, presenting our fans with four different songs we were thinking about covering: 'E.T.' by Katy Perry, 'Legends Never Die' by League Of Legends, 'Jar Of Hearts' by Christina Perry, and 'Alone popularized by Heart. All of these are dynamite tracks that we not only love, but could see ourselves reinterpreting in our style. The majority of our fanbase selected 'Alone'," says Anaria.

"Whenever we work on a cover, we like to give our own spin while paying homage to the original artist. In the case of 'Alone', we took what Heart did with their arrangement and translated it into something which celebrates the rocker girl spirit of the '80s with new-age symphonic and production elements. We also wanted to highlight each band member with their own creative performance. As self-produced artists, it was both challenging and fun to film our version (and very cold!)."

Stream/download Anaria's version of "Alone" at this location.

 




window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
_taboola.push({
mode: 'thumbnails-rr',
container: 'taboola-below-article-thumbnails',
placement: 'Below Article Thumbnails',
target_type: 'mix'
});

In a brand new interview with The Metal Voice, founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing elaborated on his decision to call his new band KK'S PRIEST, an obvious nod to his former group. His is joined in KK'S PRIEST by former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE), bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).

"I struggled with the name hard and long, long and hard, but I just didn't wanna call myself something that was totally detached from my history and my legacy," Downing explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I want this band to be a little bit in the past, 'cause Ripper is there; Les [Binks, former JUDAS PRIEST drummer] was gonna be [part of the band as well]. And Les is gonna special guest with us [at some of the upcoming shows], which is great.

"This is about being in the twilight for me," the 69-year-old guitarist continued. "There's an awful lot of decades behind me — there's a lot more behind me than there is in front of me [laughs] — but this is all about rejoicing, a celebration. And it is an anniversary, and there's no time for stupidness now. We're gonna go out and have fun, and if somebody wants to jump on stage with us and play and guest with us, then that's gonna be fantastic as well."

Apparently referencing the current lineup of JUDAS PRIEST, including his replacement, Richie Faulkner, K.K. said: "These guys are out there — some I've never met — and they're playing my songs as a PRIEST. So why can't I be a PRIEST?

"I was there [from the beginning]," he continued. "I just didn't want to leave the PRIEST behind. I can't just call myself WILD CRAZY BOYS, something that doesn't have an association with me and my life.

"I've gotta be honest, I know that JUDAS PRIEST has gained a lot of new and younger fans, and I wish them all the best, but I'm looking at the band, and it isn't the band that I looked at for 40 years. It's not the same band to me.

"Obviously, when [singer] Rob [Halford] left [PRIEST] for all of those years — 14 years — and took [drummer] Scott [Travis] with him, it was a bad time for us," K.K. added.

"There's Rob and Ian [Hill, bass in the current touring incarnation of PRIEST], or there's me and Ripper [in KK'S PRIEST]. But that is what it is."

"Sermons Of The Sinner" will be released on August 20 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records. The LP's first single, "Hellfire Thunderbolt", was released last month.

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 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.

KISS frontman Paul Stanley has once again said that he is open to the idea of original members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss making guest appearances during the band's "End Of The Road" tour.

In the three years after KISS announced its farewell tour, fans have wondered openly if Frehley and Criss would be involved in the trek, especially considering the apparent recent goodwill between Stanley and Gene Simmons and Frehley. Ace's latest collection of original material, "Spaceman" — a title suggested by Simmons himself — features two songs the pair wrote together, and the duo completed a joint summer 2018 tour of Australia, after which Frehley fired his solo backing band and hired Simmons's.

Asked in a recent interview with Germany's Rock Antenne if he has any new information about the possibility of Frehley and Criss taking part in any of the shows on "End Of The Road", Stanley said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I have none. This really is a celebration of KISS, not any lineup of the band. And while I will say that KISS wouldn't have existed without Ace and Peter in the beginning, I can also say that KISS wouldn't exist with Ace and Peter in the band today. So, that being said, look, it's a celebration of the band, and whatever happens will happen. I have no feelings of wanting to omit them or not have them be a part of it. But I'm not losing sleep over it. And if it's meant to be, it will happen."

Elsewhere in the chat, Stanley was asked how he thinks he will feel when it's time for him to take the stage with KISS for the very last time. He responded: "I think it'll be overwhelming. I think it'll be very emotional. There were times even in the past decade that we've done shows where I choke up or get teary-eyed because what we've accomplished and the way we've affected people is so far beyond anything I could have imagined. When you see parents bring their children to experience what they experienced, that goes beyond being a rock band. That's being a phenomenon. Rock bands make music; phenomenons impact society. That's not lost on me. So the idea of a final show is monumental. I'm sure it's going to affect us more than we know."

In April 2020, Ace said that he was up for a reunion of the original KISS lineup, but only if the price was right. "Everything's cool," he told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation with Eddie Trunk" about his relationship with Stanley and Simmons. "What's gonna happen is gonna happen. But everything is delayed at this juncture, so who knows? … I'm doing my own thing. Unless they come forward and the price is right, you're not gonna see me anywhere close by."

Three years ago, Frehley told VintageRock.com that "the only way" he would "seriously consider" taking part in "End Of The Road" is "if I took back my make-up and costume and my character — which I designed." He added that current KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer "is not a bad guitar player, but he basically just mimics everything I wrote, and tries to imitate my persona. He's been doing it for 15 years," he said. "But the reality is I'm the original guy. And nobody can really copy the way I play guitar."

Asked if he would still consider participating in the tour if Criss was not involved, Ace said: "I think it would be great if Peter was involved. Obviously, at this point in his life, he wouldn’t be able to do a two-hour show. But I can see if we worked out a situation where Peter came out at the end and did three or four songs — sang 'Beth', did 'Black Diamond' and a couple of others, I think that would be fun."

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but is now expected to last well into 2022.

KISS's current lineup consists of original members Simmons and Stanley, alongside later band additions, Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).

Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, Criss and Frehley, KISS staged its first "farewell" tour in 2000, the last to feature the group's original lineup.

In a new interview with Crash TV, former IRON MAIDEN singer Blaze Bayley was asked about the lyrical inspiration for the band's 1996 song "Virus", which was featured as a brand new track on the band's first-ever career retrospective, "Best Of The Beast". He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's the reaction that we had from the British press. They wanted IRON MAIDEN to fail, and they loved it that Bruce [Dickinson, vocals] left the band. And they really wanted IRON MAIDEN to fail. But the fans didn't want that, and the journalists were really fed up that they did not have the power to kill IRON MAIDEN because it's a band of the fans. So the lyrics are about the hatred of the journalists and the cynicism of the journalists and their attitudes and why that's poisonous — that they are the virus. Mentally, they keep feeding in these horrible things, and people start believing something is bad when they haven't even heard it for themselves; they don't even know about it. Because somebody tells them it's bad, they go, 'Oh, it must be bad then,' instead of looking for themselves. And that's the evil 'virus' that we talk about in those lyrics."

He continued: "What I've done is I have kept 'Virus' in my own setlist. So, at a Blaze Bayley concert, one of my old songs from MAIDEN is usually 'Virus'. And it's a slightly different version to what we did in IRON MAIDEN — it's the Blaze Bayley version. And it's also on my live album as well — a version of 'Virus'. And it's something that my fans enjoy, because we never played that live with IRON MAIDEN. And IRON MAIDEN haven't played it live since me. So I've really got it as my own song, in a way. And it's great to see people's faces. They go, 'Oh, I know this.' And then they go, 'Oh,' and then they remember. It's the first time they've ever hear it played live. And it's really fun. And the reaction that I get from my fans when I perform 'Virus' live, it's absolutely incredible. And on my live album, 'Live In Czech', it's a really, really cool version of it."

The 57-year-old Bayley, who was born in Birmingham, recorded two studio albums with IRON MAIDEN — 1995's "The X Factor" 1998's and "Virtual XI" — before Dickinson returned to the group. The MAIDEN albums he appeared on sold considerably less than the band's prior releases and were their lowest-charting titles in the group's home country since 1981's "Killers".

Since leaving IRON MAIDEN in 1999, Bayley has released a number of albums, including several under the moniker BLAZE and more than a handful under his own name. He also appeared on 2012's "Wolfsbane Saves The World", the first album of new material by WOLFSBANE since the group's self-titled 1994 effort.

Blaze released a new studio album, "War Within Me", on April 9. All songs were written and produced by Blaze and guitarist Christopher Appleton.

RATT singer Stephen Pearcy has shared video of a private concert he played with his solo band on June 10 in Houston, Texas. Check it out below.

Earlier this month, Pearcy told Vintage Rock Pod that his upcoming sixth solo record will be a double LP. "So much time has passed since we started writing, Erik [Ferentinos] and I — my guitar player and co-writer guy [for] most of my solo [stuff]," he said. "It was so long ago. And the record was done; we had the songs written, like, six months ago. And that was a year process. Since then, I've been writing like a fool and writing with him, and all these new songs [came out]. So I figure let's do a double record and give it all you've got — just go in there and lay it down and say, 'Here. This is what happens in two years when you write tunes.' 'Cause they're way different. It goes all over the place, this record. Our new bass player, Jerry Montano, he did time in HELLYEAH; he's more of an aggressive writer/player. So these songs could be real heavy, heavy or they could be RATT sounding, obviously, if I write 'em. I'm trying to take 'em outside. I'm trying to do a lot of different things. And it's gonna be interesting, because it's gonna go all over the place, so good luck."

According to Pearcy, fans shouldn't expect to see his new solo LP until sometime in 2022. "It's been put off," he explained. "We're gonna try to get through this year. I've got some things to take care of with what the band RATT's gonna do… And once I get in the studio, I don't mess around. That's one thing I learned from [producer] Beau Hill, is you make shit happen. Don't waste time. And we don't. I crack a whip."

Two months ago, the 64-year-old founding RATT vocalist, who has been focusing mostly on his solo career while the band has been off the road, dropped the official music video for a previously unreleased solo song called "Don't Wanna Talk About It". The track was written "circa 2000s" entirely by Pearcy and features Stephen on vocals and guitar, Ferentinos on lead guitar, Mike Duda on bass and Greg D'Angelo on drums.

"Don't Wanna Talk About It" arrived two months after the release of Pearcy's cover version of DURAN DURAN's 1981 hit "Girls On Film". Prior to that, Pearcy issued another new solo single, "Night Flight", a collaboration between Pearcy and Ferentinos, which is expected to appear on Stephen's upcoming LP.

Pearcy's fifth solo LP, "View To A Thrill", came out in November 2018 via Frontiers Music Srl. The follow-up to 2017's "Smash" was produced by Matt Thorne and Pearcy and was mixed and mastered by Thorne and Ferentinos.

Pearcy and bassist Juan Croucier are the sole remaining original members in RATT's current lineup, which made its live debut in July 2018 in Mulvane, Kansas. Joining them in the band are drummer Pete Holmes (BLACK 'N BLUE, RATT'S JUAN CROUCIER) and guitarist Jordan Ziff (RAZER).

In January, Pearcy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he was open to the idea of making a new RATT album with all the surviving members of the band's classic lineup.

RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" LP.

Video of a recent jam between JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner and DOKKEN's legendary axeman George Lynch, which was originally streamed live on Instagram, can be seen below.

Lynch became a grandfather for the fifth time when his daughter, Mariah Lynch, and Faulkner, who is her boyfriend, welcomed their first child, a baby girl, in July 2020.

Last September, Richie spoke to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about what it's like having George as a member of his family.

"The first time George and his wife came over, the night they got here, me and George just played guitar all night," Richie said. "So the women chatted and me and George just played guitar.

"George is a lovely guy; he's like a quiet, humble guy. He's a killer guitar player, as we all know. And he texts Mariah every day: "When can I see my granddaughter?'

"But, yeah, we sat there [and] we played guitar. We talked about guitars. And he's a big PRIEST fan as well; he loves PRIEST. So, yeah, we were talking all night until I put on some Eric Johnson, and then that kind of shut us both up — we didn't wanna play guitar anymore. But he's a lovely guy, man. I think we're gonna see him soon as well."

Richie also jokingly suggested that his daughter will take after him and her grandfather and start shredding the axe.

"It's the next in line of that heritage — George Lynch, LYNCH MOB, DOKKEN, there's JUDAS PRIEST in there, and now we've got a little princess," he said. "So she's the next in line in the gunslingers. EMG pickups, they sent me this beautiful pink flying V for her first guitar. It's absolutely beautiful — bright pink with a little pickup in it. And it actually plays well. So that's her first guitar. So she's well on her way now."

George broke the news of his fifth grandchild's arrival in an Instagram post last July. He shared an adorable photo of Richie bottle-feeding the baby, with Lynch shredding the axe in a chair only several feet away. "New baby time .big chubz>little chubz>micro chubz. the most precious perfect creature in the present universe entered our world July 8th xo", George wrote.

Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for original guitarist K.K. Downing.

Richie was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

During an appearance on a recent episode of the "Breaking Absolutes With Peter Orullian" podcast, former KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and current LIGHT THE TORCH singer Howard Jones spoke about how he came to record his popular cover version of LYNYRD SKYNYRD's "Simple Man". His performance of the track has been viewed more than 600,000 times on YouTube since it was made available last December.

"I've gotta shoutout my buddy Alex [Aldea] who basically does ['The Oyster'] podcast," Howard said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And he asked me to do it. 'Cause I did some vocal work on there — I do some voiceover stuff — so I did a little bit of that there. And he was, like, 'Hey, can you sing a little bit of 'Simple Man' and I'll fit it into the storyline?' And I [said], "I guess so. Sure.' And he sent me the music. And I was, like, 'What do you want me to do with it?' He was, like, 'Just do what you do.' So I went, 'I don't know what that means, but I'm just gonna start singing some stuff.' And so I just kind of went for it. I worked some ideas out in my head, just where I wanted to go with it, and it worked out."

He continued: "It was fun to do. I didn't know it would be received the way it was. It was just one of these weird opportunities that occasionally come across my path. It's something that interests me, and if I have the time to do it, I do it. That's been the lucky thing — is getting to do the band I do with guys who I consider family; I respect and love those guys. So getting to hang out with them and get to know them in a way that I never expected, and then also getting to do all the side I get to do on the side, it's really cool. I've had some cool opportunities that I never saw coming. So just getting to do voiceover work and then sing a song that I never thought anyone would care to hear me sing… I've had some cool opportunities."

Jones left KILLSWITCH ENGAGE in 2012 and battled manic depression and bipolar disorder before forming a new project, DEVIL YOU KNOW, with guitarist Francesco Artusato (ALL SHALL PERISH) and drummer John Sankey (DEVOLVED). Along with bassist Ryan Wombacher (BLEEDING THROUGH), they recorded and toured behind two well-received albums, 2014's "The Beauty Of Destruction" and 2015's "They Bleed Red". In 2017, the band changed its name to LIGHT THE TORCH following a bitter dispute with Sankey, a part owner of the name.

Jones makes an appearance on KILLSWITCH ENGAGE's latest album, "Atonement", contributing guest vocals to the song "The Signal Fire".

An Alex Van Halen-owned drum kit, which he used during VAN HALEN's 1980 "Invasion" tour, sold for $230,400 at an auction held this past weekend by Julien's Auctions.

Alex's custom-designed Ludwig drum kit, stage-played on over 100 shows, made history once again as the first and only drum kit of the rock icon ever to come to the auction.

"This kit from the 1980 VAN HALEN 'Invasion' world tour spent five years on display at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in Cleveland," said Alex Van Halen. "It's the only one like it in the world and I'm happy that 100% of the selling price will be going to charity via the Frangioni Foundation and Mr. Holland's Opus."

The white Ludwig kit, which was used on more than 100 shows during the tour in support of VAN HALEN's "Women And Children First" album, was previously displayed at Cleveland, Ohio's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame And Museum starting around a decade ago. Alex used the drum kit not only as a percussion instrument, but also as a visual art form. Working with various drum manufacturers, Alex custom-designed enormous and elaborate drum kits that reflected the group's musical sensibility and provided Alex the platform to shine. The kit features two custom articulated bass drums, each more than five feet long, in addition to an impressive array of floor toms, tom-toms, a gong and myriad cymbals.

Alex and his brother Eddie Van Halen formed a band called MAMMOTH in Pasadena, California in 1972, then renamed it VAN HALEN when singer David Lee Roth joined the group and, later, bassist Michael Anthony.

VAN HALEN was one of the biggest rock bands in the country in the 1980s, with hits like "Runnin' With The Devil", "Dance The Night Away", "Hot For Teacher", "Panama" and "Jump". The group, which later featured Sammy Hagar on vocals, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2007.

The Van Halen family moved to Pasadena after emigrating to the U.S. from the Netherlands in 1962.