Sweden's Seventh Crystal recently released their debut album, Delirium, via Frontiers Music Srl. In the video below, the band performs an acoustic version of the song "Broken Mirror":

Order the new album here.

Tracklisting:

"Say What You Need To Say"
"When We Were Young"
"Broken Mirror"
"Delirium"
"When I'm Gone"
"Should've Known Better"
"So Beautiful"
"Time To Let It Go"
"Déjà Vu"
"Bright And Clear"
"Hope It Will Be Alright"

"Broken Mirror" video:

"Déjà Vu" video:

"When We Were Young":

"Say What You Need To Say" video:

Lineup:

Kristian Fyhr - Lead Vocals
Johan Älvsång - Keyboard/Backing Vocals
Emil Dornerus - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Olof Gadd - Bass/Backing Vocals
Anton Roos - Drums/Percussion

Additional Musicians:
Hampus Linderholm - Cello
Emelie Alm - Backing Vocals




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In a new interview with The Metal Mixtape, Richie Kotzen was asked if his expectations for the music business when he launched his career more than three decades ago turned out to be correct. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I didn't have expectations about the business. When I was young, I thought that if you worked hard and you had something to say as an artist, you would be successful. I thought if you worked hard, had your own voice and something to say as an artist, you'd be successful. And then, for the very first part of the career I had, it rang true. And then, somewhere along the line, I got woken up to the reality that the music business has nothing to do with artistic integrity and working hard and seeing results. There's some real crazy variables involved when you get into the world of the music business."

He continued: "The thing that I can say is that I found a way to survive as an artist without having to necessarily be in the music business. When I think of the music business, I don't think of Richie Kotzen; I don't think that I'm necessarily in the music business. I think that I am a recording artist that puts out original music and that has developed a base of people that are interested in what I do, and I'm grateful and thankful for it. But that doesn't have anything to do with business for me; it has to do with being true to what it is that I'm about and being lucky enough to have a platform where I can create my songs and have them be released. But I don't consider myself in the music business, 'cause that's a whole other thing."

Kotzen is currently promoting the debut album from his collaborative project with IRON MAIDEN's Adrian Smith. Recorded on the Turks & Caicos Islands in February 2020, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Kevin "Caveman" Shirley, SMITH/KOTZEN's nine-track opus is a consummate collaboration between these two highly respected musicians who co-wrote all the songs and also share lead vocals and trade off on guitar and bass duties throughout the record.

In February 2020, Kotzen released his 22nd solo album, "50 For 50", via his own custom label, Headroom-Inc. The three-disc collection is just what the title implies: a collection of 50 previously unreleased compositions produced, performed and written by Kotzen in honor of his birthday. It's the follow-up to his critically acclaimed "Salting Earth" album, which came out in April 2017 via Headroom-Inc.

THE CULT guitarist Billy Duffy spoke to Tone-Talk about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's new album. The follow-up to 2016's "Hidden City" is being helmed by producer Tom Dalgety, who has previously worked with GHOST and ROYAL BLOOD, among others.

"We've been digging away at that over the last year and a half," Billy said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "We're working with a great young English producer called Tom Dalgety. And, obviously, with the circumstances of the last year or so, it's been a little challenging. But we're making some progress.

"The philosophy in THE CULT camp, really, is about quality, not quantity," Duffy explained. "We don't just need to keep putting out records for the sake of it. Without being ridiculous, we wanna, within a certain realistic time frame, make sure that the records that we put out are as good as they can be. So sometimes that takes a bit longer. And that's kind of where we're at."

He reiterated: "We're well into the process of the new CULT album."

Speaking about THE CULT's songwriting approach this time around, Billy said: "One of the things about THE CULT, I think, that may be worth mentioning is it's always been a collaborative creative effort between me and Ian [Astbury, vocals]. And as you can imagine, like any kind of situation, there's pushing and pulling, and Ian wants to go a certain direction, and I might resist, or I might wanna go a certain direction. And that tension creates [THE CULT sound]. It's not like Ian writes 'Ian songs' and Billy writes 'Billy songs,' and we record them as THE CULT. There are no 'Ian songs' or 'Billy songs' — there are Ian and Billy songs together. And over the time, there's a bit of a creative — it's not always tension; I don't mean that in a bad way. That's what makes it good. It's that blend. We sort of respect each other to the extent that I think there's a trust there, and I think that, after this many years together, and a few years apart, I think we trust each other and respect each other enough.

"I think it's healthy to have creative tension," he continued. "There's nothing worse than walking into a room where nobody's got any ideas. I'd rather have an argument about something creative than to have nothing, just the sound of crickets: 'All right. What are we gonna do now?'

"We see things very differently," Billy admitted. "In a lot of ways, we're very alike. Our birthdays are one year and two days apart. So we're both Taureans. Our birthdays are both coming up very soon. We're very alike in a lot of ways and very different in a lot of ways."

Last June, Duffy spoke to "The Big Night In" about how the creative process in THE CULT works. "The ideas either come or they don't," he explained. "I don't sit and force myself. I know some writers or music and lyrics [have] a disciplined work schedule — hours spent in front of the typewriter equals output. To me, I just play till I feel it and if I get this energy and out comes a little riff. And it literally is as simple as that. I get the idea — it's almost like an itch that I've got to scratch, and out it pops, and I record it. And it's been like that now for nearly 40 years, so I'm probably, at this age, not gonna change [my ways]."

Billy also touched upon THE CULT's musical evolution, saying: "Mine and Ian's relationship as writers and what we want out of THE CULT, we're both fairly forward thinking and we don't want to try and redo an album from 1986 when we were young men. People often say that: 'Why don't you do an album like that?' It's, like, well, because it'd be a lie. As musicians, you want to evolve and just sort of tell the truth of where you are in your life… Having said that, there are many great bands — AC/DC spring to mind — who try and make the same album over and over and over, and [that worked] brilliantly for them. God bless."

"Hidden City" was released in February 2016 via Cooking Vinyl. The follow-up to 2012's "Choice Of Weapon" was written by Astbury and Duffy and was produced by Bob Rock, who has previously worked with METALLICA and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

Last May, it was announced that THE CULT had inked a deal with Black Hill Records.

THE CULT spent most of 2019 touring in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its "Sonic Temple" album. The LP catapulted THE CULT into superstar status and remains their most commercially successful release. It has sold over 1.5 million copies in the U.S. alone and was certified platinum in 1990. It made it to No. 10 on the Billboard charts, and several of the album's songs remain rock-radio staples to this day.

Earlier today (Tuesday, April 20), former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach was interviewed by "Great Day Houston" about "Rock Camp: The Movie", the recently released documentary about Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp, which has been bringing together musicians from all walks of life for an unforgettable experience with legendary rock stars for a quarter century. The film follows four campers (and their families) through their journeys to shred with their heroes and see how they overcome their fears and transform their lives.

Speaking about his love of music, Bach said: "I think in the year 2020 — obviously, it was the worst year any of us ever had — but I have a whole room of vinyl records here [at home], like vinyl and CDs, top to floor, and music became so valuable to me in this time. Not like it wasn't before, but just to remind you of the good times and the fun that's possible. It's true — rock and roll does keep you young. I don't know how to explain it, but I think it's the spirit."

He continued: "When you hang out with a guy like Roger Daltrey or Alice Cooper, who's probably 80 or 90 — I don't know how old he is — but his spirit is young and fun. I think people that forget to enjoy life get prematurely grumpy and bummed out. And that doesn't happen if you're singing, 'People try to put us down, Talking 'bout my generation.' It's just fun, man."

"Rock Camp: The Movie" from filmmaker Doug Blush was released in January.

Rock Camp is an institution and cultural phenomenon that has been going on in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities since 1996. Rock Camp is the brainchild of music producer David Fishof. It boasts a jaw-dropping array of rock star "counselors" that include Roger Daltrey, Alice Cooper, Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, Nancy Wilson, Joe Perry, Jeff Beck, Slash, and countless other rock legends.

Directed and produced by Blush, co-directed and edited by Renee Barron, and produced by Jeff Rowe, "Rock Camp: The Movie" takes us back more than four decades to the beginnings Fishof's career as a sports agency and eventually an entertainment executive and music producer. Fishof founded Rock 'N' Roll Fantasy Camp, which has been making dream comes true for more than 25 years. These musicians teach, inspire, and jam with the campers over four days, concluding with a live performance at a famed venue.

Blush is an award-winning director, producer, editor, and cinematographer. His credits include, as editor, the Oscar- and ACE Eddie Award-winning "20 Feet From Stardom" (2013), as executive producer, the Oscar-winning "Period. End Of Sentence." (2018) and, as consulting producer and editor, the Oscar-winning "Icarus" (2017).

Wednesday 13 has commented on the abuse allegations leveled against his onetime tourmate Marilyn Manson, saying that Manson is "innocent until proven guilty."

More than two months ago, "Westworld" actress Evan Rachel Wood named Manson as the previously anonymous abuser she referenced while testifying before the California Senate in relation to the state's Phoenix Act, which extends the statute of limitations on domestic violence from three years to five. On February 1, Wood claimed in a social media post that Manson "groomed" and "horrifically" abused her for years. After she shared her accusations, at least half a dozen other women came forward with their own allegations against the singer. The women claimed to have endured "sexual assault, psychological abuse, and/or various forms of coercion, violence, and intimidation" at the hands of Manson.

In the days after Wood came forward with her allegations, Manson was dropped by his longtime manager Tony Ciulla, his label, Loma Vista Recordings, as well as the talent agency CAA, which provides representation for individuals across various mediums. Previously filmed scenes of "American Gods" and "Creepshow" featuring Manson were also pulled.

Asked in a new interview with Bob Suehs of Rock N Roll Experience if he is afraid of "cancel culture" coming after him, Wednesday 13 said: "It's… not necessarily coming after me. I just think it's such a dangerous thing. It's almost like a court and jury without all the facts, and everybody can just read the headline and go, 'Okay, I made my opinion.' It's scary. But I haven't thought about it coming after me. I've thought about what it probably is like for — I thought [about] what it's like for that kid that's 13 or 14 playing guitar and wanting to be in a band. What's he gonna do? He can't wait to be in a band and get canceled."

As for his his feelings on Marilyn Manson being "canceled," Wednesday 13 said: "Again, it's one of those kind of things. It's the same thing, where it was, all right, [these are] the accusations, and everybody is, 'Okay, well, he's a monster, so let's step on the spider; let's kill the monster.' And I guess that's probably the first reaction to that kind of thing. But they're all accusations, and I say it's innocent till proven guilty.

"Manson has been a close friend of mine for years," he continued. "I don't know of him to be any of the stuff that I've read. So, I don't know, man. It fucking sucks."

Wednesday 13 also referenced Dee Snider's recent comment that the "cancel culture" is a form of censorship, and that we live in a politically correct world where "we have to be careful about what we say and who we offend."

"It is — it is a form of censorship, and it's dangerous," Wednesday 13 said. "It's people seeing, 'Oh, wait. This guy can get canceled. Let's cancel this guy. Let's cancel this guy.' If you start canceling everybody for something bad they did, there's gonna be nobody left."

In February, the 52-year-old Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, released a statement denying the abuse allegations leveled against him, writing on Instagram: "Obviously, my art and my life have long been magnets for controversy, but these recent claims about me are horrible distortions of reality. My intimate relationships have always been entirely consensual with like-minded partners. Regardless of how — and why — others are now choosing to misrepresent the past, that is the truth."

According to Metro, cancel culture is a form of online boycott in which a person who has shared a controversial viewpoint, or is in the past found to have behaved in a way which is perceived to be offensive, is called out for that behavior, leading to them being "canceled."

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling was said to be "canceled" for expressing opinions that were seen as transphobic, while actress Gina Carano was fired from "The Mandalorian" show for comparing being conservative today to being Jewish in Nazi Germany on social me

TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French has spoken out against "cancel culture," saying it is not "healthy" for activists to threaten and intimidate companies into altering or discontinuing certain products, preventing everyone from having access to them.

Cancel culture is the idea that someone, usually a celebrity or a public figure, whose ideas or comments are considered offensive should be boycotted. These people are ostracized and shunned by former friends, followers and supporters alike, leading to declines in any careers and fanbase the individual may have at any given time.

Jay Jay addressed the fact that the current trend of canceling people and companies has gotten out of hand during a new interview with Rocking With Jam Man. Speaking about the fact that Marilyn Manson was recently accused by several women of abuse and assault, including "Westworld" actress Evan Rachel Wood, who claimed in a social media post that Manson "groomed" and "horrifically" abused her for years, the guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Michael Jackson got accused of some pretty bad stuff, but Michael Jackson music is still being played. So, obviously, somebody decided that that was okay; someone decided that's not gonna bother people. And yet other people's music has been taken off. [Former pop star] Gary Glitter played in all the arenas around the country — baseball stadiums, football stadiums, everything. But then Gary Glitter got arrested for some weird stuff he did in Thailand with underage children and got banned everywhere. When I say 'banned,' I just mean the people said, 'We're not gonna play his music anywhere,' so they don't play his music. And I am in no way endorsing in any manner, way, shape or form his actions. What I'm saying is that that is a byproduct of what happens in life in general. And it's terrible."

He continued: "Cancel culture is not a healthy thing. Cancel culture is not healthy, because it just depends on who decides to do the canceling. So if they like TWISTED SISTER, we don't get canceled, we are okay, but if they hate TWISTED SISTER and they cancel us, it's not okay, so therefore it's not okay just to do it randomly. It's a personal choice. If you don't wanna buy something by somebody, don't buy it, but for the media to withhold it is opening up a can of worms that is almost impossible to put back in the jar."

French is not the first rock musician to speak out against cancel culture. Earlier this month, his TWISTED SISTER bandmate Dee Snider, who was famously called to testify before the U.S. Senate against the proposition to have warning labels be placed on albums deemed "offensive" to listeners, said that "censorship has changed quite a bit" over the last few decades. "Now censorship still exists, but it's gone from the right more to the left," he told NewsNation's "Banfield". "We're in this P.C. world where we have to be careful about what we say and who we offend, and it's a very odd thing."

Dee previously spoke about political correctness last year when he told Canada's The Metal Voice that a movie like "Blazing Saddles", the 1974 American satirical Western black comedy film directed by Mel Brooks "could not be made today — it literally could not be made, because it would offend too many people."

While "cancel culture" may be a recent phenomenon, public scapegoating, shaming and silencing tactics are not. Republicans have for a long time used the phrase "cancel culture" to criticize the left, even though there's a long list of supposedly left-leaning associates who have been targeted or boycotted by conservatives, including Colin Kaepernick, Nike, Campbell's Soup, THE DIXIE CHICKS and Kathy Griffin.

In a new interview with "The Rock Experience With Mike Brunn", legendary drummer Vinny Appice was asked if he thinks he should have been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame along with the original members of BLACK SABBATH when the band finally got the nod in 2006. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "How many bands have changed over the years? And some of [the changes were] important. [Singer] Ronnie [James Dio] took SABBATH to a new level. At that point, they needed it. And we were both in the band, so they should do an extended band thing up to a certain point, I guess."

He continued: "As far as I'm concerned, it was the original SABBATH and the Dio[-fronted version of] SABBATH together — with Bill [Ward, original drummer] and with me. He played on 'Heaven And Hell', and I played on 'Mob Rules' and the rest of 'em — the most important [albums]. There was a lot of versions of SABBATH after that that were a little different."

Appice went on to say that the fact that SABBATH wasn't inducted into the Rock Hall until 2006 — more than 35 years after the band's formation — was "the most stupidest thing in the world." He added: "Then they put people that are not even playing rock in there."

Back in 2014, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation president and CEO Joel Peresman defended the selection process for which band lineups actually get inducted, telling Billboard that the decision about who to induct from any band is made by the Rock Hall's nominating committee as well as an adjunct group of "scholars and historians" familiar with specific inductees and genres. "This isn't chemistry or physics; it's not an exact science," Peresman acknowledged. "Sometimes there's an entire body of work up until (the artists) are inducted, other times it's a specific period of time that established the band as who they are."

Even though artists are eligible for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 25 years after the release of their first album or single, iconic hard rock and metal bands like JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN and MOTÖRHEAD have yet to be recognized by the institution, which inducted GUNS N' ROSES in that group's first year of eligibility.

Rock Hall rules state that artists become eligible a quarter century after their first records were released, but the Hall also claims that other "criteria include the influence and significance of the artists' contributions to the development and perpetuation of rock 'n' roll," which is, of course, open to interpretation.

Eligible for induction since 1999, KISS didn't get its first nomination until 2009, and was finally inducted in 2014.

DEEP PURPLE was eligible for the Rock Hall since 1993 but didn't get inducted until 2016.

JUDAS PRIEST was on the ballot for Rock Hall induction last year, but failed to receive enough votes to make the class of 2020.

Having been eligible for induction since 1999, PRIEST was previously on the ballot for the 2018 class of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, but was ultimately left out of the inductee list.

Former QUEENSRŸCHE singer Geoff Tate spoke to Sonically Disruptive about his plans to release the music he has been working on during the coronavirus pandemic. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This next project is more relatable, I think, than the [OPERATION: MINDCRIME album trilogy], but it's extreme in its own way that I think people will understand and get the extreme. So it's more like SWEET OBLIVION sound but times 10 — technologically, I guess. [Laughs]

"I have this underlying goal in my life," he continued. "Because I've been so frustrated all through my career making albums, I want to have an album that is the best-sounding album I've ever done — sounding. I want it to fill up the speakers.

"If you listen to [QUEENSRŸCHE's] 'Empire' album by today's standards, it's a good-sounding album, but, man, where's the bass? Where's the bottom end? Well, back then, that was state of the art. That was, of course, 30 years ago, and the times have changed — people have much better stereo systems now. Even in my car, my stereo system is so much better than most of the studios that we were recording in back then. Sound has really changed. And so my focus, on my next release, is about that — no holds barred, making the best-sounding record I can possibly [make].

"It's incredibly frustrating, as a music person, that you spend months shaping the mix on a song, getting it so it sounds just perfect and all the instruments are balanced and you can hear what each instrument is doing," Geoff added. "And you take that mix, and you put it on your car stereo, and then all of a sudden, 'Oh. Wait a minute. Where did the hi-hat go? It's gone. Oh my God.' You take it to another stereo system, and, 'Oh, I can't hear the vocals. Oh my God. And the guitars are too loud now. What's going on?' It's that way. Music changes and sounds different on each system that you play it on. So what you have to do is you have to play it on a number of different systems when you're mixing it to get an overall balance so that it sounds good on every system. And it takes a while to get that, and a lot of research. So that's what I've been doing — is spending a lot of time figuring that out, working with people to figure that out, and shaping my next release so that it will be something that people love to listen to."

Tate's post-QUEENSRŸCHE band OPERATION: MINDCRIME released three albums over three years as part of a trilogy: "The Key" (September 2015), "Resurrection" (September 2016) and "The New Reality" (December 2017).

In 2019, Geoff released the debut album from SWEET OBLIVION via Frontiers Music Srl. The project saw Tate teaming up with a stellar cast of Italian musicians led by Simone Mularoni, the mastermind of prog metal masters DGM. The second SWEET OBLIVION album, "Relentless", will arrive on April 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. This time the production was handled by Italian metal maestro Aldo Lonobile (SECRET SPHERE, TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON, ARCHON ANGEL).

Last month, Tate announced around a dozen U.S. dates in late summer and fall as part of a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's "Empire" and "Rage For Order" albums.

Early last year, Tate was forced to postpone a number of his tour dates due to the coronavirus pandemic that is spreading across the globe.

Tate spent the first two months of 2020 performing the QUEENSRŸCHE albums "Rage For Order" and "Empire" in their entirety on the "Empire 30th Anniversary Tour", which kicked off in January in Norway. Prior to that, Geoff celebrated the 30th anniversary of QUEENSRŸCHE's "Operation: Mindcrime" album on European and U.S. tours.

In April 2014, Tate and QUEENSRŸCHE announced that a settlement had been reached after a nearly two-year legal battle where the singer sued over the rights to the QUEENSRŸCHE name after being fired in 2012.

Tate was replaced in QUEENSRŸCHE by former CRIMSON GLORY singer Todd La Torre.

Atlanta's Withered have quite literally cooked up some exciting new signature products. The band has partnered with both Burnt Hickory Brewery and Kelly's Death Pickles to release their own signature beer and relish, respectively.

Additionally, the band has several performances scheduled in the U.S. this year, including a hometown appearance at Hammerhead Fest in Atlanta, GA tomorrow, March 30th in which they will be celebrating the release of Grief Relish.

About Tortured Blackened-Berry Brew:

Burnt Hickory Brewery and Withered have teamed up to release Tortured Blackened-Berry Brew, a blackberry Berliner Weiss-style beer. As of now, the beer is only available on draft at the brewery, but will eventually be released around Atlanta in several key bar districts. Cans should be available for purchase just in time for Decibel Metal and Beer Fest, which will take place during the weekend of April 13th-14th in Philadelphia, PA. Withered will be concluding the festivities for the weekend as they headline the Decibel Fest After Party on April 14th at Kung Fu Necktie. 

Speaking about the beer, the band comments, "We thought making a beer would just be fun when we played the inaugural Decibel Beer and Metal Fest. When I approached BHB about forming an Atlanta tag team at the fest, I didn’t realize we’d conjure up something this amazing. If you haven’t had it, it’s a blackberry Berliner Weiss-style beer. We like beers that are social and we can drink a lot of. That was our main prerequisite. I’m not really a craft beer guy so bacon stouts and IPAs that knock your dick in the dirt are of no interest. BHB really created something special and people really seem to like it. Also, we tapped our old friend Mike Wahlberg for the art and it looks fantastic. Super proud of this one.”

About Grief Relish:

Withered and Kelly's Death Pickles bring you something extremely unique and fun with Grief Relish, the band's signature sweet habanero/cucumber pickle relish. Grief Relish will be released tomorrow, March 30, at Hammerhead Fest in the band's hometown of Atlanta, GA. The relish will be available directly through Kelly's Death Pickles at this location and at the band's merch table. Well, it'll be at the merch table for now "until we shatter a case in our trailer and realize it’s a bad idea," jokes Withered frontman Mike Thompson.

How did such a zany idea come to fruition? The band explains, "Man, these death pickles are really a special thing. Kelly is a madman and goes to almost every single good rock/metal show in town. We have like four a week. He has a 'hobby' that happens to be making probably the best pickles I’ve ever had. He started spinning off collectors editions for local bands blending all kinds of veggies, peppers, and whatever is in his secret recipe. We were hanging out one night and I said, 'we should make a Grief Relish.' No one took me seriously, except Kelly [laughs]. And here we are. It’s a sweet habanero/cucumber pickle relish. It’s amazing. Ever since I got the sample jar, I dump it on anything I make to eat. It’s insane. I can’t wait for everyone to try it.”

Withered live:

March
30 – Atlanta, GA – The Basement

April
14 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie (Decibel After Party)

May
17 – Atlanta, GA – The Drunken Unicorn

June
17 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl 




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STONE SOUR's Josh Rand has defended Lars Ulrich, saying the METALLICA co-founder is a "great" drummer who does "unique things" behind the kit.

Despite the fact that it's become fashionable to dump on the METALLICA drummer's skills, Rand says that he has always had a tremendous amount of respect for Ulrich.

"Here's the thing. They're my favorite band," Josh told Australia's Heavy (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "He takes a lot of shit from everybody. For one, it's not like he's a spring chicken anymore — let's be honest. I mean, he's starting to get up there [in age]. They play for two and a half hours. They were road dogs for how many years now and how many shows. And everybody [goes], 'Oh, this and that.' He still had to record those songs. So even if you wanna make the argument of, 'He struggles now to play this or he plays that,' I'm, like, he still wrote it 30 years ago. And back then, there was no Pro Tools, so he had to play it."

Josh added: "I think he's a great drummer. I think he does several unique things in his style that nobody else does that always stuck out to me."

Last year, Ulrich said that he was no longer bothered by people's criticism of his drumming abilities, telling METALLICA's So What! fan-club magazine: "I'm so over — I'm literally immune to it. We just did a bunch of interviews, and sometimes, if I am being interviewed by a journalist who is also a fan, they'll say, 'When people say Lars Ulrich is a shitty drummer, I defend you.' Which is cool, but I've got to tell you, 20 years later, 30 years later, it just doesn't register anymore. I am so comfortable with who I am, I'm so comfortable with who METALLICA is, I'm so comfortable with our place in all of it. I've got an incredible wife, three great kids, my dad and [his partner] Molly, incredible friends, and lots of cool acquaintances. It's all good. I've got nothing left to prove, so it just doesn't register anymore."

Back in 2016, Ulrich, who has gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, told the "Talk Is Jericho" podcast that he went through a period in the mid-1980s "that probably culminated in the 'Justice' album where I felt sort of compelled to try to show ability." According to Lars, part of the reason for him feeling insecure about his abilities was the increased competition from some of his peers.

"Listen, when you've got Dave Lombardo and Charlie Benante breathing down your back, it was, like, 'Okay, I've gotta…' I tried to step it up a little bit and tried to do my own thing and do all this crazy shit," he said. "I was trying really hard to push the drums kind of into the foreground. And then, after like a year or two of that, I was, like, 'Okay. Seriously? Just do your thing. Chill out. Support the riffs. Do what's best for the song.' So since around I guess the late '80s — so I guess it's been, like, 25 years now — the only thing that's really interested me is just doing the best thing for the song."

Asked in a 2008 interview with U.K.'s Rhythm magazine if he was troubled by the fact that he's gotten a lot of flak over the years from people who accused him of being a poor drummer, Lars said: "It used to, back in the day — and I spent a lot of time overcompensating for that on the early records. But then you wake up one day and you're like, whatever. It hasn't bothered me for [many] years. I'm no Joey Jordison, I'm no Mike Portnoy, and I have nothing but love and respect and admiration for all those guys. When I hear some of the young dudes, they blow my mind with what they can do with their feet and stuff — but it's not something that makes me go, 'I need to feel better about myself so I'm gonna learn how to do what they do with my feet.' I'm not a particularly accomplished drummer but I am very, very, very good at understanding the role of the drums next to James Hetfield's rhythm guitar. I guarantee you I'm the best guy in the world for that, and that's enough for me!"

In a 2012 chat with DRUM! magazine, Ulrich stated about his playing ability: "I usually feel like I've regressed. [Laughs] I'm like, 'Why can't I do that anymore?'" He continued: "I can't say that I necessarily sit down to practice, like, 'I'm going to play and practice so I can get better.' What happens is that I just sit down and kind of play to just more stay in shape."

Ulrich added: "You know, METALLICA was up to two or three months off [in 2011], and I would sit down, I have an iPod next to my drums so I can play along to all kind of crazy stuff, and try to see if I can land in the same zip code of some of that stuff occasionally. But I can't say that I sit down to necessarily practice to sort of get better. For most of my stuff, it's about listening and about interpreting stuff that I'm listening to. So all the kind of sitting down and, you know, 'Now I'm going to do thirty-second-note paradiddles standing on my head — you know what I mean? I don't do that kind of stuff so much. For me it's more about the regimen of staying in shape, running every day, eating healthy, you know, being on top of that side of it."

Fans expecting to see Ted Nugent live in concert this year shouldn't hold their breath. Despite the fact that live performances are finally coming back — and not just the outdoor music festivals this summer and fall, but shows at indoor venues — the outspoken conservative rocker announced in a YouTube live stream on Tuesday (May 18) that he has no plans to hit the road in 2021.

"I see a lot of people on my Facebook going, 'Can't wait to see you at Penn's Peak,' 'Can't wait to see you at Billy Bob's, 'Can't wait to see you at the gig in New Hampshire,'" he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "I thought it was made clear, but somebody is scamming somebody, 'cause guess what? The Ted Nugent tour is canceled again this year. I will not go on tour this year because half of the facilities won't have a concert, and the other half have restricted attendance. There is no Ted Nugent 'Great White Buffalo 2021' tour."

He continued: "It's heartbreaking; it's horrible. But my truck drivers, my bus drivers and all my employees, they're not gonna take a half a paycheck. If there's a half attendance or half the gigs are shut down, how do you pay for the hotels and the food, the lodging, the per diems, the highway, the gas, the fuel, the diesel, the flights, the salaries…? How do you do it? I'll tell you how: you can't. So I'm not gonna apologize, 'cause somebody should apologize to me. I wanna go tour so bad, I can hardly stand it. So don't be anticipating a Ted Nugent rock-out this year."

Although there won't be any large-scale touring from Nugent in 2021, fans in Texas can still see him periodically perform at the Tucker Hall in Waco. His next live appearance there is scheduled for Saturday, May 22. Ted will be accompanied by Jon Kutz on drums and Johnny Big on bass.

This past March, Nugent said during a Facebook Live stream that he would record the follow-up to 2018's "The Music Made Me Do It" album in May and June.

Released via Round Hill Records, "The Music Made Me Do It" was Nugent's first studio album in four years. Accompanying the CD was a bonus DVD, "Live At Freedom Hill", a full-length concert captured at Freedom Hill Amphitheatre in Sterling Heights, Michigan.

In April, Nugent revealed that he had contracted the novel coronavirus, saying that he had "never been so scared" in his entire life. The 72-year-old pro-gun activist, who had claimed the virus was "not a real pandemic," also reiterated his stance that he wouldn't be getting the vaccine and he mocked people who wear face masks, despite that both the CDC and World Health Organization had previously urged their universal use.

In the past, Nugent, a staunch Donald Trump supporter, had referred to the novel coronavirus as a "leftist scam to destroy" America's 45th president. He had also repeated a narrative pushed by conservative media and disputed by health experts that suggests the official death count from the coronavirus is inflated.

In a new Rolling Stone article about how entrepreneurs have begun trying to concoct new ways to profit from the legacy of rock stars from days past, including technologies like holograms, Christopher Dalston, a booking agent at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), revealed that he was once approached with the idea of "an AC/DC hologram of Bon Scott," referring to the band's singer who died in 1980. Although he didn't say which hologram company approached him, Dalston added: "We asked ourselves, 'Do we want to represent something with Bon Scott?' And it just wasn't right for us at that point. It's a very personal thing to the groups. … You have to be careful what you do there. AC/DC is still a very current band with Brian Johnson singing."

Hologram world tours have previously been announced, but never come to fruition. In 2015, it was announced that Whitney Houston would go on the road in holographic form, but a leak of a duet with Christina Aguilera, which suggested the hologram was not up to scratch, led to the withdrawal of the Houston hologram by her estate.

Ronnie James Dio's wife and manager Wendy Dio, who is affiliated with Eyellusion, the company that created a hologram of the late heavy metal singer, said in a 2017 interview that it was only a matter of time before other rock legends returned to life through holograms, the three-dimensional light projections that have opened new frontiers for the live music and other industries. "Absolutely," she said. "I think the company that we're working with is talking to a lot of different people. And I think it's the way of the future. It's like people were, 'Ooooh…' when the eight-track came out, 'Ooooh, what's this?' And then cassette. 'Oooh, what's this?' And digital, 'What's this? Oh, we don't wanna do that. We only want analog. We don't want digital.' But you know what? It's technology. And also, we're losing our legends day by day; we're losing the innovators of metal and hard rock music; we're losing 'em every day. What are we gonna do? I don't see a lot of bands coming up to take their place."

The Dio hologram made its debut at the Wacken Open Air festival in August 2016 in front of more than 75,000 fans. The hologram production uses audio of Ronnie's live performances from throughout his career, with the DIO band playing live, consisting of Craig Goldy on guitar, Simon Wright on drums and Scott Warren on keyboards, along with Bjorn Englen on bass. Also appearing with them are former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens and LYNCH MOB frontman Oni Logan.

After the "Dio Returns" tour's initial seven-date run was completed in December 2017, Ronnie's hologram underwent some changes before the launch of the 2019 leg of the the trek, which took place in May and June of that year.

Two former DIO guitarists have publicly expressed their doubts about the Ronnie James Dio hologram. In December 2019, Tracy "G" Grijalva, who played for DIO from 1993 through 1999, said that the hologram "looks creepy" and resembles "a puppet." Nine months earlier, Doug Aldrich, who was in DIO between 2002 and 2006, told XS Rock that "Ronnie would probably not" like the hologram. "He would probably be, like, 'This is not what I signed up for.' A hologram? It's not really what he would want to be. I'm just guessing, you know, that it's something that Wendy thought about and she decided that Ronnie would be fine with it. But I knew Ronnie well enough to know that he was very particular and he would prefer for them to let him just die and be in peace."

Scott was invited to join AC/DC by Malcolm and Angus Young in 1974, and achieved international stardom before his death at the age of 33 from alcohol poisoning.

He sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums, including "High Voltage", "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap", "Let There Be Rock" and "Highway To Hell".

Scott died of acute alcohol poisoning after a night of heavy drinking at a club in London, just days after attending a session with Malcolm and Angus Young where they began working on music for what became the "Back In Black" album.

"Back In Black" was the first album AC/DC released after singer Brian Johnson replaced Scott, and it went on to become the third-biggest-selling LP of all t

Two decades into their journey as ritualistic black metal conjurers, Wolves In The Throne Room have emerged from the forest with Primordial Arcana, their most majestic album to date, and their first release via Century Media Records (outside of US and Canada) and Relapse Records (US and Canada) out August 20.

Watch the “Mountain Magick” music video, directed by Wolves In The Throne Room, below.

Says the band: “'Mountain Magick' was shot in the northern reaches of the Olympic Mountains and the ancient forests that shroud the foothills. We wrote the story, created the costumes, shot the footage and did the editing ourselves, so it is a true product of our hearts and souls. Creating our own videos has been a long standing dream and now It’s very exciting to bring these Visions into the Cinematic Realm.”

Primordial Arcana is the band’s first completely self-contained work: In addition to composition and performance, brothers Aaron and Nathan Weaver alongside guitarist Kody Keyworth handled all aspects of recording, producing and mixing at their own Owl Lodge Studios in the woods of Washington state.

Primordial Arcana is out August 20 via Century Media Records outside of USA/Canada and available in the following formats with the Ltd. Gatefold 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster variants being cut to 45rpm and coming with an additional track, “Skyclad Passage”:

- Ltd. Gatefold olive green 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 1.600)
- Ltd. Gatefold deep blood red 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 1.000) only available at Kings Road Merch Europe (Official Store)
- Ltd. Gatefold clear 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 300) available at Distro Wholesale EU
- Ltd. Gatefold dark green 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 200) only available at Supreme Chaos
- Ltd. Gatefold transp. light blue 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 200) only available at Evil Greed
- Ltd. Gatefold creamy white 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster (limited to 200) only available at EMP and Nuclear Blast
- Ltd. brown LP & LP-Booklet (limited to 300) available at all UK Indie outlets
- Ltd. transp. sun yellow LP & LP-Booklet (limited to 200) only available at Consouling Sounds
- Ltd. CD Mediabook
- Digital Album

September 24:

- black LP & LP-Booklet

Pre-order here.

Album cover art by Amjad Faur and Wolves In The Throne Room.

Tracklisting:

"Mountain Magick"
"Spirit Of Lightning"
"Through Eternal Fields"
"Primal Chasm (Gift Of Fire)"
"Underworld Aurora"
"Skyclad Passage" (additional track only available on the Ltd. Gatefold 2LP & LP-Booklet & Poster variants)
"Masters Of Rain And Storm"
"Eostre"

Lineup:

Nathan Weaver - Lead Vocals/Guitar
Aaron Weaver - Drums/Synth/Voice
Kody Keyworth - Vocals/Guitar

(Photo - Dreaming God)




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Former Soulfly / Borknagar drummer, Dave Kinkade, has released a video for the "All The World's Pain", the title track of the debut album from his new project, The Monarch.

Kinkade comments: “I’m proud to finally release the video for 'All the World’s Pain', the title track off our debut album which we released in February. It took a minute for us to make this happen as we’ve been completely self-financing this since day one but the end result was worth it. We had an excellent time making two music videos with director Alex Zarek and lighting designer Brian Olivo. They are true masters of their respective crafts and really great guys to work with. Your band should hire them. Unlike many of the bands today that rely on green screens, CGI and ridiculous amounts of graphic imagery to add to their visual appeal, we wanted to keep it organic and focus on more of a performance aspect and atmosphere that our music creates. No cliché political bullshit either. The world has enough of that. To me, the song is about “creatures” killing each other in the name of nothing, except for what they’ve been taught by those who’ve fallen before them. Interpret it as you will, as you should with all music. We will see you with a brand new album in 2022. Enjoy.”

The album is available digitally on Apple Music and Spotify. Physical CDs can be purchased via Bandcamp here.

Tracklisting:

"Tell"
"The Grand Scheme"
"Through These Eyes"
"Mundane"
"Last Dose"
"Seeing Through The Hate"
"All The World's Pain"
"Ending Civilization"
"Ouliving The Ashes"

The Monarch is:

Jarrett Roberts - vocals
Tony DePaulo - guitars
Justin Kellerman - guitars
Jim Flynn - guitars
Steve Doman - bass
Dave Kinkade - drums




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For their upcoming Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando EP, the most notorious black metal band have reflected on their influences by covering songs from bands like Discharge, Dead Kennedys, Rudimentary Peni and Ramones with an impressive bursting and darkened sound.

In this new trailer, former members Maniac and Messiah talk about their appearance on the EP:

In addition to the mentioned cover versions, Mayhem have issued a previously unreleased track called "Voces Ab Alta", which was recorded during the Daemon session.

The video was done by high the praised artwork and video wizard Costin Chioreanu (Ghost, Opeth, Napalm Death) who impressively captured the atmosphere and the darkness of this performance visually.

The video can be seen below, and the song is also available on all major streaming platforms, here.

The Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando EP will be released on July 9.

The visual concept was once again handled by Italian designer Daniele Valeriani (Lucifer’s Child, Dark Funeral) who already took care of the artwork for their previous long player Daemon.

The band comments: “I always had some punk influences,” says Attila. “I guess it comes from my childhood when we were constantly looking for more extreme music. That’s how I discovered Dead Kennedys, GBH, The Exploited, Sex Pistols, U.K. Subs, Discharge, Rudimentary Peni and so on, in the early 80’s, alongside heavy metal. But then I discovered Venom, that was a game changer!”

Necrobutcher further adds: “We got some extra time in the studio recording the Daemon album two years ago, all band members were asked to punch in two cover tracks for some extra material. I chose songs by Deathstrike (The Truth) and Death (Evil Dead) which were both used as the bonus tracks on the album. My other contribution was to bring in two old members because of their obvious connection with punk: Maniac on the Dead Kennedys track and Billy (Messiah) on the Discharge track and some of the others.”

“Atavistic Black Disorder / Kommando” EP is available in the following formats:

* Deluxe silver 180g LP + CD Box Set (incl. 3 Art Prints + Slipmat)
- The 3 available graphics make up the overall concept from the already released visuals of the  Daemon Box Set. The total of 6 graphics were considered as an alternative cover versions of the Daemon album and will not be reproduced after this limited edition run.
- The Slipmat contains a special print of the back cover (Punk-Head) of this EP!
- Limited to 1,000 units

(500 CM Distro Wholesale & CM EU Shop / 300 Band Shop / 200 CM US Shop)

* CD Digipak

* 180g LP (double sided album cover!)
- Black LP (all outlets)
- Grey LP – 300 units (CM Distro Wholesale & CM EU Shop)
- Tangerine LP – 200 units (CM US Shop)
- Creamy white LP – 300 units (EMP)
- Dark Green LP – 300 units (Nuclear Blast)
- Deep Blood Red LP – 300 units (Mayhem Webshop)
- Aqua LP – 500 units (US Indie Stores)

* Digital EP

Pre-Order for all formats starts today and can be made here.

Tracklisting:

Side A
"Voces Ab Alta"
"Black Glass Communion"
"Everlasting Dying Flame"

Side B
"In Defense Of Our Future" (Discharge cover)
"Hellnation" (Dead Kennedys cover)
"Only Death" (Rudimentary Peni cover)
"Commando" (Ramones cover)

Mayhem is:

Necrobutcher – Bass
Hellhammer – Drums
Attila – Vocals
Teloch – Guitar
Ghul – Guitar

(Photo - Ester Segarra)




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In the spirit of old school power metal, German up-and-comers Hammer King have gathered to release their third single, “Awaken The Thunder”, and set ablaze on their new album, Hammer King, out tomorrow, June 11 via Napalm Records.

The new single is a heavy, fist-pumping power metal anthem. The double-bass groove catches the listener off guard, leading seamlessly into the passionately performed verses by Titan Fox V. Hammer King at its best – illustrated with a strong official video in the sign of the Hammer!

Singer Titan Fox V on “Awaken The Thunder”: "We are thrilled to kickstart tomorrow's release of our album Hammer King with one of our favourite songs: The prophetic 'Awaken The Thunder'! Lyrically, the songs work both inside and outside of the Hammer King universe, which is a direction we want to keep for the future. Witzki Visions have created a powerful video with story elements. It's time to arise and awaken the thunder!"

Hammer King keeps it heavy with speedy riffs, energic grooves and fist-pumping choruses, devoting their existence to the one and only myth of the godly Hammer King. The new self-titled album starts off with blasting drums and brisk guitars on “Awaken The Thunder”, with frontman and guitarist Titan Fox V showing off his incredible vocal range, whereas tracks like “Atlantis” prove Hammer King’s ability to write catchy and memorable choruses. Hammer King tells the lore of the Hammer King himself, a wrathful and mighty war god, who is praised in tracks like anthemic “Baptized By The Hammer”, energetic and double-bass driven “In The Name Of The Hammer” and the hard-hitting “Hammerschlag”. Kneel before the king of kings, the Hammer King!

Hammer King will be available in the following formats:

- 1-CD Digipak
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl BLACK
- 1-LP Gatefold Vinyl RED TRANSPARENT (strictly limited to 100 copies)
- Deluxe Box (Flag, 4x Signed Cards, Keychain/Bottle Opener)
- 1-CD Digipak + Shirt Bundle
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Hammer King tracklisting:

"Awaken The Thunder"
"Baptized By The Hammer"
"Onward To Victory"
"Hammerschlag"
"Atlantis" (Epilogue)
"We Are The Kingdom"
"Into The Storm"
"Ashes To Ashes"
"In The Name Of The Hammer"
"Kings Of Kings"
"Holy" (Outro)
"Hammerschlag" (HK Version) Bonus Track (physical only)

“Atlantis" (Epilogue) video:

"Hammerschlag" lyric video:

Hammer King are:

Titan Fox V - vocals/guitar
Gino Wilde - guitar
Gladius Thundersword - bass
Dolph Aidan Macallan - drums

(Photo - Thommy S. Mardo)




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Guitarist Thomas Zwijsen has released a new video, featuring an acoustic performance of Iron Maiden's "To Tame A Land". Watch below.

Says Thomas: "'To Tame A Land' is on the Piece Of Mind album, released in 1983 (remaster 2015). It was performed live during the Piece Of Mind Tour.
The instrumental middle part is very similar to 'Asturias' by Isaac Albeniz, which is emphasized in this classical Spanish guitar arrangement."




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Gaia Epicus guitarist Thomas Chr. Hansen has uploaded a new playthrough video for "Keepers Of Time". Check it out below.

Hansen: "So, here is my second how to play / playthrough video. This time it's a song from the debut album, Satrap, from back in 2003. This is the song that gave us a record deal, and also the first super fast Gaia Epicus power metal song. I hope you will enjoy it."

Epicus Records signed a worldwide license deal with Pure Steel Records for a limited edition version of the latest Gaia Epicus album, Seventh Rising. The CD was released on June 4th, limited to only 200 copies, containing one bonus track.

This album was officially released in December 2020 and is the band's seventh studio album.

Seventh Rising Limited Edition tracklisting:

"Like A Phoenix"
"Rising"
"Nothing To Lose"
"From Ashes To Fire"
"The Dream"
"Invisible Enemy"
"Dr. Madman"
"Number One"
"Gods Of Metal"
"We Are The Ones"
"Eye Of RA"
"Jailbreak" (Thin Lizzy cover) - Bonus track

Album lineup:

Thomas Chr. Hansen - guitars, bass and vocals
Lukky Sparxx - lead guitars
Mike Terrana - drums

Special guest:

Tim "Ripper" Owens – vocals on “Gods Of Metal”




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Italian symphonic metallers Eternal Silence will be releasing their new album Timegate Anathema on October 8, 2021 via Rockhots Records. 

Recorded at The Groove Factory (Udine, Italy) and Line/Out Studio (Milano, Italy) with mixing and mastering by Michele Guaitoli (Visions of Atlantis, Temperance, Kaledon), the full length will feature ten tracks of symphonic and power prog metal plus will see the band introduce new elements and experimentation into their sound. The album goes from power metal songs like "The Way Of Time" and "My Soul Sad Until Death" to heavy and dark ones like "Rain And Red Death Masquerade", passing through the catchy melodies of tracks like "Glide In The Air" and acoustic moments on "Lonely And Firefly". The main theme that inspired the record is the concept of time.

“It has been a long time since our last full length was released, we took our time to make the best songs possible and then the pandemic broke in and forced us to stop and wait for the right time to publish it. But now everything is ready and we can't wait to finally share this with you all.” adds the band.

Today, Eternal Silence reveals the first single "Ancient Spirit", a heavy track that puts together new influences and sounds.

The band explains the song's concept in further detail:

"Born out of the mind of guitarist Enzo Criscuolo, this song is heavy in contents and atmosphere along with feeling spiritual with lyrics written by our bassist Alessio Sessa. The lake in the pantheistic form that assumes in the song, reveals its mystery and charm as if it was a sleeping God. Beneath the layer of forgetfulness where it lays, hidden like a gem and silent, is an ideal companion, present in every day of our lives and keeps secrets and deep thrusts in its depths, where few dare to look."

Formed in Varese, Italy in 2008, Eternal Silence combines powerful guitar riffs, a thunderous rhythmic section, catchy melodies, and bombastic orchestral tracks with the support of two vocalists, Marika Vanni and guitarist Alberto Cassina sharing the front stage. The band's current line-up is completed by Alessio Sessa (bass), Andrea Zannin (drums) and Enzo Criscuolo (guitarist).

Since their formation, the band has unleashed three albums and two EPs. 2020's Renegades (EP), 2018's Metamorphosis (EP), and 2017's Mastermind Tyranny were released on Sliptrick Records, and their earlier full-lengths Raw Poetry (2013) and Chasing Chimera (2015) were released on Underground Symphony Records.

Over the years, the band has been a consistent touring presence in Europe, performing in Germany, Switzerland, France, Czech Republic, Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Italy, and Hungary along with being support for bands such as Temperance, Therion, Haggard, Sound Storm, Blackoustic (Timo Kotipelto (Stratovarius) and Jani Liimatainen (Insomnium)).

Tracklisting:

“The Way Of Time”
“Edge Of The Dream”
“Ancient Spirit”
“Heart Of Lead”
“Lonely”
“Glide In The Air”
“Rain”
“My Soul Sad Until Death”
“Firefly”
“Red Death Masquerade”

“Ancient Spirit” lyric video:




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Germany's most thundering voices Van Canto recently set free their eighth studio album, To The Power Of Eight. Now the world's most exciting acapella metal masters follow up directly and release the snappy anthem, "Dead By The Night", along with a rousing and atmospheric lyric video.

Van Canto on “Dead By The Night”: "After the rather soundtrack-like intro 'To the Power of Eight', 'Dead by the Night' is the actual opener of the album. We wanted to show everything that is possible with three lead singers right at the beginning. The result is an up-tempo power metal song with Rakkatakka-riffs, big melodies and a huge background choir. All this comes along with a very positive message that points out how important it is to enjoy the moment. In the end, we all can be dead by tomorrow (or by the night!)."

To The Power Of Eight marks another milestone in the band's impressive career and presents Van Canto as a coherent entity stronger than ever! Starting out with their first full-length, A Storm To Come (2006), the unstoppable force set the stage for their very own genre and never failed in surprising their fans and beyond through the time being, while showcasing that metal can be heavy as hell without any riffage. With their previous full length, Trust in Rust (2018), the German rarity reworked its lineup, consisting of seven members since then. For To The Power Of Eight, the unit once again joined forces with Philip Dennis “Sly” Schunke, who had been the lead singer on their first six studio records. Sly joins lead vocalists Inga Scharf and Hagen Hirschmann on all twelve flawless tracks as third vocalist and special guest. It’s clear that this peerless piece of music was written with three voices in mind: To The Power Of Eight embodies a special sense of common bond and presents Van Canto in undeniable peak form.

Van Canto on the new album: “Being able to present an album after 15 years of band history, where three lead singers share the microphone hand in hand, makes us incredibly proud. Due to the pandemic situation we had a lot of time to work on To The Power Of Eight and put all our heart and soul into the compositions, the arrangements and the production. Originally we planned to have Sly as guest vocalist for one song – but it turned out to be twelve in total in the end. If someone would ask for one record to present Van Canto the most suitable way, we would choose To The Power Of Eight.”

From their own original speed driven tracks, like flaring “Dead By The Night”, raise-your-fist animated “Heads Up High” or mid-tempo, heart-warming “Turn Back Time”, to anthemic heavy metal covers such as Amon Amarth’s “Raise Your Horns”, Iron Maiden’s “Run To The Hills” or AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck”, Van Canto always manages to easily serve their own unique take with every output. On the one hand, To The Power Of Eight reflects a well experienced collective that has gathered several top 50 entries on the German album charts and played numerous shows around the globe and festivals like 70k Tons Of Metal, Wacken and Masters of Rock. But at the same time, it presents these energetic visionaries of acapella metal, who are far from resting on what they’ve achieved so far.

To The Power Of Eight is available in the following formats:

- 1 LP Gatefold
- 1 CD Digipack
- Digital Album

Order here.

To The Power Of Eight tracklisting:

"To The Power Of Eight"
"Dead By The Night"
"Faith Focus Finish"
"Falling Down"
"Heads Up High"
"Raise Your Horns"
"Turn Back Time"
"Run To The Hills"
"Hardrock Padlock"
"Thunderstruck"
"From The End"
"I Want It All"

"Faith Focus Finish" video:

“Raise Your Horns” video:

“Falling Down” video:

Van Canto is:

Hagen Hirschmann - Lead Vocals
Inga Scharf - Lead Vocals
Ross Thompson - Higher Rakkatakka Vocals
Stefan Schmidt - Lower Rakkatakka Vocals
Jan Moritz - Pad und Backing Vocals
Ingo Sterzinger - Bass and Backing Vocals
Bastian Emig - Drums and Backing Vocals

(Photo - Tim Tronckoe)




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Sognametal veterans Vreid are now unveiling another chapter of their new album and movie, Wild North West. The song "Shadows Of Aurora" and its accompanying music video / movie chapter can be found below:

Vreid recently made their ambitious film project, Wild North West, available for sale or rental via Vimeo. The movie is now available here.

The film includes never-be-seen bonus material that was not included during their April premiere. The film includes the following:

- A 6 min biographical intro narrated by author Dayal Patterson (Black Metal: Evolution of the Cult).
- The full concert 'In the Mountains Of Sognametal', which was filmed live at the mountains of Sogndal June 2020. Exclusively available here.
- Two previously unreleased live videos of Ulcus Molle (Vreid's predecessor) from Gaupne in Norway 1996. For the the songs "Train Of Thought" (Yggdrasil demo) and "Mindgames" (Roles EP).

Wild North West' is a concept album that developed alongside an entire movie. Inspired by both true events and pure imagination, the listener is taken on a whirlwind of a journey, diving deep into themes of war, fear, betrayal, loss, anxiety, and madness with thought-provoking lyrics that embody human nature. It captures the Nordic heart at the core of their sound, taking cues from Norway’s rugged landscape as it ricochets between eternal darkness and the solace of bracing light.




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On May 28, 2021, Burning Witches released their fourth full-length, The Witch Of The North, which was praised by international media as their best work to date. And fans seem to like it as well: the album entered album sales charts all across Europe and was able to secure some of the best rankings Burning Witches have had in their career so far.

Here is an overview of the official chart results:
-Switzerland: #6
-Germany: #16
-UK: #4 (Rock), #14 (Indie)
-USA: #8 (Current Hard Music Albums), #14 (Top New Artist Albums)
-USA: #34 (Record Label Independent Albums), #35 (Current Rock Albums)
-Scotland: #35
-France #170
-Belgium: #190

Burning Witches comment: "It was a crazy release week of our new record “The Witch of the North” – reactions have been really fantastic! A big thanks to everybody that bought or streamed the album and supported the band. You are the BEST!!!"

 

Burning Witches recently released a video for "We Stand As One", featured on their new album, The Witch Of The North, out now via Nuclear Blast. Watch the clip below, and order the album in various formats here.

Tracklisting:

"Winter's Wrath"
"The Witch Of the North"
"Tainted Ritual"
"We Stand As One"
"Flight Of The Valkyries"
"The Circle Of Five"
"Lady Of The Woods"
"Thrall"
"Omen"
"Nine Worlds"
"For Eternity"
"Dragon's Dream"
"Eternal Frost"

"We Stand As One" video:

"The Witch Of The North" video:

"Flight Of The Valkyries" visualizer:




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Dutch death metallers Pestilence joined up with Drummers From Hell to premiere a drum playthrough video for their recently released new single "Deificvs". Watch drummer Michiel van der Plicht play along the song below:

Pestilence will release their new album, Exitivm, on June 25 via Agonia Records.

A new album, on a new label armed with a whole new lineup and a new dynamic: no matter what, Pestilence - or more specifically their maestro Patrizio Mameli - is like the phoenix, rising from the ashes, over and over again. An official website has been launched for Exitivm, providing access to all relevant information surrounding the new album, here.

Back in 1986, in the small town of Enschede in the Netherlands, nearby the German border, a true metal phenomenon was born. More than three decades later, not only is Pestilence alive and well, but about to once again reaffirm their place in the extreme metal pantheon, with their ninth studio album entitled Exitivm, which is Latin for "total destruction".

As controversial as he can be to some, nobody will ever deny the band’s undisputable driving force, Patrizio Mameli, and his constant ability to reinvent himself. Unlike most of the bands in the scene, Pestilence just keeps evolving. From the raging thrash leanings of their cult 1988 debut Malleus Maleficarum to the jazz-infused versatility of 1993’s Spheres or 2009’s Resurrection Macabre frontal assault, not to mention the fans’ favorite and Scott Burns-produced Testimony Of The Ancients from 1991, he never did the same record twice. No matter who playes with him on any Pestilence album, Mameli always gets the best out of the musicians he is working with. But first and foremost, the man has a one-of-a-kind vision, instantly recognizable style and yet always stretching musical boundaries. And it’s never more true than on Exitivm.  

After a vast reissue campaign in between 2015 and 2018 and an acclaimed new album Hadeon, the band got seemingly stopped in their mission to conquer the death metal scene in early 2020, like everybody else, by the global pandemic, going as far as forcing some of the band’s Hadeon line-up members to drop the towel. But what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger and instead of letting that whole situation drag him down, Mameli chose to do the exact opposite and write the best and darkest album possible to date. And he just did that. With its ambitious lyrical concept about "global domination", "induced mental illness", "inner and outer demons" and  malicious external entities, Exitivm is propelling the band one again to the forefront of the death metal movement with yet another original and brilliant artistic overhaul.

Mind you, as soon as you’re past the very cinematic introduction "In Omnibvs", you’re instantly caught up by "Morbvs Propagationem" whose intense riffing will take back to the Testimony days. Except that their core sound has been revived, with now extra layers of ominous soundscapes ingeniously suggesting an atmosphere of suspence and horror, boosted by Mameli’s jazz-fusion impressive solo works and a renewed sense of urgency. This rejuvenation, with emphasis on "new musical landscapes but also sick and twisted riffs" as stated by Mameli himself, is no accident though. Not only has Mameli been extremely inspired by the turmoil humanity had to face since March 2020 but with a line-up once again, entirely based in the Netherlands and made up of only super-seasoned players – besides former Dew Scented and Creepmime Joost van der Graaf on bass and Bleeding Gods’ Rutger van Noordenburg on lead guitar, former God Dethroned Michiel van der Plicht joined on drums last year – Pestilence is more than ever a BAND where everybody feeds off of each other's musical talent. And it definitely shows.

With the exception of the drums - tracked down by van der Plicht himself at his home studio - the album was recorded over a period of two months in between June and August 2020 at Pitchnote Productions. The album has been produced, like all Pestilence albums, by Mameli and is co produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jory Hogeveen (Shinigami and Ancient Rites). Last March, the band filmed their second ever official video – three decades after Land Of Tears – for the song "Morbvs Propagationem". Exitivm will be available in various formats, including supra-limited picture, pin-wheel, "firebreath" and clear vinyl versions. The cover artwork once again brought the band’s iconic sphere and was done by Michal "Xaay" Loranc, known for his various cover for Nile, God Detheroned or Evocation and who had already worked on "Hadeon".

Both a reinvention and a confirmation of everything the band has been standing for since 1986, thirty-five years later Pestilence are more than ever breaking new grounds and exploring the further outposts of the extreme metal sound on Exitivm.

Formats:

- Jewelcase CD
- Digi CD
- Box CD
- Black LP
- Ultra Clear LP
- Blood Vanilla LP*
- Picture LP**
- Pinwheel LP***
- Firebreath LP***
- Digital

* Bandcamp exclusive
** With antistatic all-print slipmat only at Agonia Webshop
*** Agonia Webshop exclusive

Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"In Omnibvs" (Intro)
"Morbvs Propagationem"
"Deificvs"
"Sempiternvs"
"Internicionem"
"Mortifervm"
"Dominatvi Svbmissa"
"Pericvlvm Externvm"
"Inficiat"
"Exitivm"
"Immortvos"
"Personatvs Mortem" (Outro)

"Deificvs" video:

"Morbvs Propagationem" video:

Lineup:

Patrizio Mameli - vocals, lead guitars
Rvtger van Noordenbvrg - lead guitars
Joost van den Berg - bass
Michiel van der Plicht - drums

(Photo - Marc van Peski)




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Hardline will release of their new studio album, Heart, Mind And Soul, on July 9 via Frontiers Music Srl. Listen to new track, "If I Could I Would" below, and pre-order/save the new album on CD/Color LP/Digital here.

"This album is a true reflection of who we are and what we care about. I’m always amazed, despite what some critics may say, that we have the strength and power to push through the way we believe and want to. That will never change with this band. It’s a very, very special band chemistry we have here," says vocalist Johnny Gioeli.

Ever since the release of their widely heralded album Danger Zone in 2012, Hardline have been offering a straight-ahead, gritty, riff-based melodic hard rock sound which is a continuing evolution from what was on offer in the band's early days. What you get here on their new studio album is a group of musicians who are perfectly gelled as a unit and determined to display a sound that is immediate and powerful. Adding their own personality and imprint to the music, the band has created a perfect balance between these anthemic, hard rocking songs. You can expect hook after hook and riff after riff as you take a ride with Hardline via Heart, Mind And Soul.

Singer Johnny Gioeli, as usual, is in supreme form, providing a soaring vocal performance to stir up the listener. Complementing that, Mario Percudani’s guitar is on fire and the super tight rhythm section of Anna Portalupi and Marco Di Salvia is locked in. Alessandro Del Vecchio's immeasurable contribution on keyboards, background vocals, and production serve to tie the whole package together. He is, rightfully and deservedly, one of the “go to” guys in the melodic hard rock scene and this record shows, once again, why.

"Heart, Mind And Soul is an album you can’t turn off, in my biased opinion. After writing it, recording it, mixing, mastering, planning, deciding....on and on, you would think we’d get sick of it. Not even close. One of my most favorite Hardline albums to date without question," says Gioeli.

Hardline evolved from being an up-and-coming Sunset Strip sensation featuring brothers Johnny (vocals) and Joey (guitar) Gioeli to a supergroup of sorts, featuring former Bad English members Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo, before finally settling in and becoming a band showcasing the incredible talents of the fabulous singer Johnny Gioeli with the production and songwriting skills of Alessandro Del Vecchio (Revolution Saints, Jorn, etc.), the shredding talents of guitarist Mario Percudani, and the powerful rhythm section made up of bassist Anna Portalupi and drummer Marco Di Salvia. What truly makes Hardline special is how well their unique and different talents blend together to form a spectacular whole.

Heart, Mind And Soul is simply an album you can’t miss if you love melodic hard rock, but what else would you expect from a new Hardline album? They are, after all, masters of the genre.

The band plans to hit the road once touring resumes post-pandemic, so take the time to learn all of these future classics to sing along with Johnny soon enough!  

"After we can finally say FU to Covid-19, Hardline is on the road with this album and we'll be in your face. You better pack a diaper, it could get messy when you hear this live," concludes Gioeli. Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action) Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"

Tracklisting:

"Fuel To The Fire"
"Surrender"
"If I Could I Would"
"Like That"
"Heavenly"
"Waiting For Your Fall"
"The Curse"
"Heartless"
"Searching For Grace"
"‘80s Moment"
"We Belong"

"If I Could I Would":

"Surrender" video:

"Fuel To The Fire" video:

Lineup:

Johnny Gioeli – Lead Vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Mario Percudani - Guitars
Anna Portalupi - Bass
Marco Di Salvia – Drums




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Fan-filmed video footage of JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE's June 5 performance at the Live United Live Music Festival in Sunbury, Pennsylvania can be seen below.

Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.

Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by guitarist Mark Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell now performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.

During an appearance at this year's Headbangers Con in March, Russell spoke about the status of his long-awaited autobiography, "Dancing On The Edge". He said: "I just spoke to my writer today. We were working on it this afternoon. This is like my third writer that I went through. So, finally I got one that is gonna stick around and finish it. The other guys, they turned out to be just turds. It's a drag. I wasted a lot of my time."

Russell previously discussed his book in a 2016 interview, saying: "I'm just dumping everything in this book. And there might be a couple of lawsuits out of it, I would imagine. I'm gonna have to have my lawyers check it out before I release it. But, I mean, I don't really think that's gonna happen. 'Cause the book is about myself and what I've [gone through] and not so much about other people. But there are gonna be spots where somebody might raise an eyebrow and go, 'Hmmm….' It's gonna make some people upset. But it'll make more people laugh. If you're the butt of the joke, that's just the way it goes. [Laughs]"

Three years ago, Russell said that one of the main reasons he was writing a book was "because I want people to know that no matter how far down the ladder you fall you can always climb back up. You don't have to stay down," he told Daily Boom. "Whether you have a drug an alcohol problem or anything else for that matter, you can pull yourself out of it. You can accomplish so much in life if you just believe in it and visualize it. Nothing happens by chance, and I believe that everyone that you meet has some sort of message for you, if you listen closely enough. It might be a stranger that says something random to you that you shrug off, but if you sit and think about it, maybe they said something that you were supposed to hear. You just never know when you are being used as that voice of encouragement for someone else. I don't believe that anything happens by coincidence; it's all for a reason, both good and bad. Life isn't random; it's very well choreographed and we're here to learn."

Former ICED EARTH singer Tim "Ripper" Owens says that he had a " bad falling out" with Jon Schaffer at the end of his tenure with the band.

Owens, who joined ICED EARTH in 2003 and stayed in the group for four years before being fired in December 2007, addressed his time with the band in a new interview with Tulsa Music Stream.

Asked if he has had any contact with Schaffer in the months since the ICED EARTH leader was arrested for his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, Owens said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I've stayed clear of it, because for me… I got kicked out of the band about 15 years ago, and we've seen each other maybe twice [since then]. It was a bad falling out; it wasn't a good circumstance.

"People keep saying what do I say, what am I thinking… Well, I haven't reached out to him in 15 years," Owens continued. "And he fired me a week before Christmas. I'm not saying I hate the guy or anything like that. But it wasn't a good circumstance. So it's not like we had a relationship and I even really know him. He definitely wasn't the same person that I even knew then. I mean, his political stance and beliefs were different than it was when I was around him. Not that it wasn't kooky back then. But he was different.

"Listen, he made a mistake," Tim added. "He's gonna regret it for the rest of his life. And I have my own life. I haven't dealt with him for 15 years, I don't really have to now."

Owens previously discussed Schaffer's involvement in the Capitol riot a couple of days after the insurrection. Asked by a fan on Instagram what it was like "working with a terrorist," Owens said: "crazy what he did wasn't if. All I can say is wow. See we never talked politics while I was in ICED EARTH because at that time we where on totally opposite sides. LOL. But I gotta say could of been way worse for me I could of been in a Band with Sebastian Bach".

When the fan expressed his incredulity over the fact that Owens and Schaffer never talked politics, especially considering the fact that Tim's first album with ICED EARTH, "The Glorious Burden", was a concept album exploring various moments in military history, the ex-JUDAS PRIEST frontman replied: "yea that was more of history and I actually learned a lot More then I did in school. Taking about politics at the time wasn't something I would get into. Opposite sides of the fence and I was working! I got fired anyways so it didn't matter. Haha".

In a 2012 interview with Australia's Loud, Owens said that his departure from ICED EARTH wasn't executed properly. 'It was handled poorly, I think, the situation," he said. "It could've been handled good and everybody could've looked good in the situation. But it was handled poorly, I think… I started getting all the blame when things weren't the same. Or things weren't what Jon thought they could be. And then, of course, it all came down on me. None of the blame ever came down on Jon. I'm fine with that, but the funny thing is that nothing really changed when I left anyway. I read numbers and I talk to agents, and the crowds are the same or smaller now. I think it was also me wandering a bit, knowing that ICED EARTH was kind of like a solo project. It's really Schaffer's band, and I knew that. And I started having my own: I started doing BEYOND FEAR, and pushing BEYOND FEAR when probably I should have been talking about ICED EARTH. I think Jon read a lot of that and he read into it that my heart and soul wasn't into ICED EARTH."

Schaffer discussed Owens's exit from ICED EARTH in a 2008 interview with Metal Exiles. At the time, he said: "Tim was great to work with in the studio, and from a standpoint of performing live, he was great as far as being an incredible vocalist, but he was not a true believer in this band. It was a job for him, and ICED EARTH is not about that… He was more interested in doing his solo thing — that was where his head was at — and it was becoming more and more obvious. This band was a means to an end for him."

In April, Schaffer pleaded guilty to his role in the Capitol riot. As part of the plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.

Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term.

According to CNN, prosecutors and Schaffer's attorneys agreed to recommend that he get between three and a half and four and a half years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with the government.

The government agreed not to oppose Schaffer's release during the sentencing phase.

As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases, according to CNN. In return for Schaffer's assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.

Classic rockers/blues rock trailblazers TEN YEARS AFTER will soon perform for fans throughout the world once more, via a livestream event. Dubbed "Blue Crossroads", the event includes three performances by different artists, TEN YEARS AFTER on June 17, MARCUS BONFANTI ELECTRIC BAND on July 1 and JAWBONE on July 15.

The TEN YEARS AFTER portion of the performance will take place on June 17 at 9 p.m. EDT (with replay access available for 72 hours afterwards). Tickets are available for purchase via boxoffice.mandolin.com.

Celebrating more than 50 years since forming, TEN YEARS AFTER is still making classic blues rock with a contemporary groove — original members Ric Lee and Chick Churchill have continued this legacy and are now rounded out by guitarist/vocalist Marcus Bonfanti and bass icon Colin Hodgkinson.

Says Lee: "Fans can expect an hour-long concert mixing new and old TEN YEARS AFTER songs such as 'Land Of The Vandals', 'Hear Me Calling', 'I'd Love To Change the World', 'Silverspoon Lady', 'Good Morning Little Schoolgirl' and, of course, 'I'm Going Home', plus other tracks. From the finished cut I've seen, we did capture the excitement of a live gig in spite of the fact that, due to COVID restrictions, we weren't allowed an audience."

TEN YEARS AFTER remains one of the most prolific English bands of all time, continuing to tour worldwide. They have come together for the first time since early 2020 for this one-off performance from London's Subterania. Expect a special evening and raise a glass to one of the legends of rock who are still rolling!

The livestream is only the first TEN YEARS AFTER offering for 2021, according to Lee. "The band has a new [to the USA] live album, 'Naturally Live', coming out on Deko Entertainment in the near future with two bonus live tracks," he says. "Following that, Chrysalis Records is releasing a 'clam shell' box set released either this month or July covering the years from 1967 to 1975, and October this year is the 50th anniversary of 'A Space In Time', which was our most successful USA release in 1970. A gold album then, it is now certified platinum. The studio version of 'I'd Love To Change the World' (an AM Top 40 hit), was first heard on this album. We're currently planning to play all or almost all of the album on our next live gigs. With luck we'll start touring again in Europe later this year and hopefully hit the USA in 2022."

Three members of the Faroese folk metal band TÝR recorded a new episode of their video podcast "Týrcast" during which they discussed ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer's recent guilty plea for his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. As part of the plea deal, Jon has entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

Noting that TÝR completed a summer 2019 North American tour as the support act for DEMONS & WIZARDS, Schaffer's collaborative project with BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch, TÝR frontman Heri Joensen said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[DEMONS & WIZARDS] treated us very well. They were nice to us. I didn't talk to them terribly much. I talked most to Hansi and maybe their manager also. But I talked to Jon Schaffer about — I don't know — three times maybe, [for] anywhere from five minutes to half an hour. And he seemed nice enough, honestly. Very American. But apparently he was part of a group called the Oath Keepers" — a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias — "which seems pretty far out to me, when I read about it — some conspiracy theory group that wants to overthrow the American government. And that is no small business."

Joensen continued: "I wanted to let it go and not talk about it and not get into politics on this podcast too much, but this was very interesting, especially when Dee Snider, a couple of days ago, tweeted about this. First, there were pictures and videos of the insurrection where Jon Schaffer is clearly visible, so he was wanted by the FBI after this event, and he turned himself in. And he was given some charges, [and] he could face decades in prison for it. But apparently he made a deal with prosecutors so that for cooperation and obviously turning other people in, he will get a more lenient sentence. Dee Snider, the singer of TWISTED SISTER, did not react kindly to that. He called him 'a piece of shit, embarrassment to the metal community,' he said. 'If you do the crime, then do the time.'"

Added TÝR drummer Tadeusz Rieckmann: "I have to agree with Dee Snider here. I mean, seriously, if you're really stupid enough to break into the building of the American government and try a revolution, and after that, you're not even facing or standing up to what you were convinced of doing is right or is true or is your purpose, then, I mean, come on — that's call snitching."

Continued Joensen: "Sounds like he doesn't really believe in what he was trying to do. If he thinks the entire government needs to be overthrown, he wouldn't try and make a deal with them to turn other people in as well. It seems very half-baked and half-hearted to me. Decades in a U.S. prison is no holiday; it's no picnic. Especially at our age, your entire future is gone.

"But anyway, it's a pretty serious crime and attempt to overthrow the entire government. And how you can then try and cooperate with them for leniency from the very system you were trying to overthrow."

TÝR bassist Gunnar H. Thomsen weighed in: "It all seems so harsh. It kind of brings me back to some of the troubles we've been through. Instead of going a political way of showing people your point of view, what you think is right, they come and do stuff like this, which is somewhat childish in a way."

Tadeusz said: "It's actually radical. And that is the biggest problem here, I think."

Heri concurred, saying: "But there's also something childish about it. It's like when you're losing a game of chess and you just wipe everything off the table. We have a functioning system here. You may not like it, but there are ways of interacting with it if that's what you want to. There are also ways you absolutely shouldn't. If whatever they were trying to do was successful, there's, I think, a one hundred percent chance that things would be worse and not better.

"The American system probably isn't perfect — I don't think any system is — but treating it like this is almost certainly gonna make it worse, if they were successful."

Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term.

According to CNN, prosecutors and Schaffer's attorneys agreed to recommend that he get between three and a half and four and a half years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with the government.

The government agreed not to oppose Schaffer's release during the sentencing phase.

Schaffer's attorney, Marc Victor, asked the judge for his client to be released with no travel restrictions, saying that while he lives in Indiana, he has family he cares for in Florida and his legal team is in Arizona. He also noted that Schaffer is an "internationally known musician and recording artist."

"He is the first person to plead guilty in this historic investigation to take responsibility for his role in the Capitol riot," Victor said. "He contacted authorities as soon as he discovered he was a person of interest, and he self surrendered."

In his plea agreement, Schaffer acknowledged that on January 6, 2021 he was in Washington to attend the "Stop The Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. to protest the results of the presidential election, which he believed were fraudulent. Schaffer wore a tactical vest and carried bear spray, a dangerous weapon and chemical irritant used to ward off bears. When the rally finished, Schaffer joined a large crowd that marched from the Ellipse to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Michael Pence, was in session to certify the electoral college vote results. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., members of the mob forced entry into the Capitol building, disrupting the joint session and causing members of Congress and the Vice President to be evacuated from the House and Senate chambers.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer admitted that after arriving on Capitol grounds, he walked past barriers intended to restrict access to the public and to a set of locked doors on the Capitol's west side. At approximately 2:40 p.m., Schaffer positioned himself at the front of a crowd that broke open a set of doors being guarded by four U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers wearing riot gear. Schaffer admitted to being among the first individuals to push past the damaged doors and into the Capitol building, forcing officers to retreat. Schaffer and others advanced toward five or six backpedaling USCP officers while members of the mob swelled inside of the Capitol and overwhelmed the officers. The officers ultimately deployed a chemical irritant to disperse the mob. Schaffer was among the people who were sprayed in the face, after which he exited while holding his own bear spray in his hands.

As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases, according to CNN. In return for Schaffer's assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.

The Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers distanced itself from Schaffer after his arrest, claiming he was not a member of the local group. But the national organization, which sells lifetime memberships for $1,200, has not commented on his alleged affiliation with the group.

At a November 2020 Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C., Schaffer was videotaped walking behind a Florida couple, Kelly Meggs and Connie Meggs, who are accused of being among 10 members of the Oath Keepers to have played a leading role in the Capitol assault. According to federal authorities, Kelly and Connie Meggs plotted for weeks ahead of the attack, attended training sessions and recruited others. Kelly Meggs is the 52-year-old head of the Oath Keepers' chapter in Florida.

San Francisco metallers MACHINE HEAD have abandoned plans to resume their "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour now that the pandemic is slowing down.

Last July, MACHINE HEAD canceled its previously announced rescheduled 2020 tour dates for Europe and Australia due to the coronavirus crisis which was sweeping the globe. At the time, it was assumed that those shows would finally happen once the band was able to return to the road.

Earlier today, MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn announced that the "Burn My Eyes" tour, which saw him and bassist Jared MacEachern play the band's classic debut album in its entirety for the first time ever, with original "Burn My Eyes"-era drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist Logan Mader joining in, would not pick up at such a time as MACHINE HEAD can continue touring.

Writing in the latest installment of his online blog, "The General Journals: Diary Of A Frontman... And Other Ramblings", Flynn said in part: "The 'Burn My Eyes 25th Anniversary' celebrations have ended. After trying to complete all the loose ends finishing the tour in Australia, Japan, South America… to state the obvious, there were just way too many global restrictions. But together with our MH family and MH alumni Logan Mader and Chris Kontos, we accomplished exactly what we set out to do. We took 'Burn My Eyes' around the globe to honor its music, its impact, and the connection that has never waned. It was/is truly amazing. 2021 sees Logan with his hands in several projects (including a collaboration with yours truly on his record) and Chris is currently tearing it up behind the kit with Bay Area skate-punk legends THE BONELESS ONES."

Elsewhere in the blog, Flynn confirmed that MacEachern is still a member of MACHINE HEAD alongside new recruits, guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT), all of whom also performed on the "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour.

"Logistics and restrictions being what they were, the fact that Vogg lives in Poland, Matt in Germany, and Jared and I in California, that 5,000-mile gap was impossible to have these guys around during the writing/arranging process, but when the time is right, and we can get these guys to the Bay Area, things will fall into place seamlessly," Robb wrote. "The music being written and released is written with these guys in mind; that's extra incentive while composing."

Each show on MACHINE HEAD's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour consisted of two parts: part one saw Flynn and MacEachern performing alongside Kiełtyka and Alston; while part two featured "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with Kontos and Mader stepping in.

Earlier today, Kontos posted the following statement on his Facebook page: "So, with that.... The 'Burn My Eyes' 25th-anniversary tour is over. I want to thank the fans and Head Cases worldwide for showing so much love and respect to me while on the tour. It was a dream like time for me and I'm so grateful for the opportunity to bring the joy and happiness I had during the tour to you all. Thanks to MACHINE HEAD for making it an amazing time. I wish we could have completed the mission, but it's not to be. I'm sorry that so many people are going to miss out on such an amazing show and energy. Much love to you all."

MACHINE HEAD will release a new three-song single, "Arrows In Words From The Sky", on Friday, June 11. Featuring the tracks "Become The Firestorm", "Rotten To The Core" and "Arrows In Words From The Sky", the effort was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California. Joining Flynn and MacEachern during the sessions were drummer Navene Koperweiss (ENTHEOS, WHITECHAPEL, ANIMALS AS LEADERS) and producer Zack Ohren.

Said Flynn: "These three songs represent MACHINE HEAD better than anything I could ever try to explain here. The way these songs grew and took shape over time, tells us our future is more exciting than even we would like to admit. Being able to corral all the chaos, pain, confusion, and, yes, hope into music has never made me feel more alive. These songs will hopefully do the same for you. After all, that's who they were written for."

In November, MACHINE HEAD released a new single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between Flynn and original "Burn My Eyes" guitarist Logan Mader in 24 years.

"My Hands Are Empty" was the latest in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February 2020, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June 2020. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.


THE GENERAL JOURNALS: DIARY OF A FRONTMAN… AND OTHER RAMBLINGS

—————

WELCOME TO THE REEMERGENCE

The world has been...

Posted by Machine Head on Thursday, June 10, 2021

Dee Snider has blasted Jon Schaffer as a "piece of shit" who is "an embarrassment to the metal community."

The TWISTED SISTER singer made his comment two days after the ICED EARTH guitarist pleaded guilty for his role in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. As part of the plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.

Earlier today, Snider took to his Twitter to share a CNN article about Schaffer's guilty plea, and he included the following message: "THIS PIECE OF SHIT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE METAL COMMUNITY! First he shames us with his terrorist actions on in DC, and THEN he becomes a rat to his own people for a lighter sentence! MAN THE FUCK UP! Own your shit! If you do the crime, do the time!"

When one of Dee's Twitter followers defended Jon, writing, "At least he had the balls to stand up for what he believes in!!!!!", Snider fired back with: "How do you feel about him being the first to plead guilty and cooperating with the Feds to lessen his sentence? Not what I call stand up."

Dee added in a separate tweet: "Let me be clear on this: No one should ever rat out or throw their friends, families or cohorts under the bus. That's pussy bullshit. It's a problem with today's society. Everyone is so 'tough' until they get caught. Then they are quick to blame everyone else.

"Hey, the authorities have always gotten a lot out of rats (my dad was a cop), but he still raised me to keep your mouth shut and suffer in silence. They call them rats for a reason. #snitchesgetstitches".

Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term.

According to CNN, prosecutors and Schaffer's attorneys agreed to recommend that he get between three and a half and four and a half years in prison, based on how fruitful his cooperation is with the government.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer acknowledged he is a founding lifetime member of the Oath Keepers, a large but loosely organized collection of individuals, some of whom are associated with militias.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer acknowledged that on January 6, 2021 he was in Washington to attend the "Stop The Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. to protest the results of the presidential election, which he believed were fraudulent. Schaffer wore a tactical vest and carried bear spray, a dangerous weapon and chemical irritant used to ward off bears. When the rally finished, Schaffer joined a large crowd that marched from the Ellipse to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Michael Pence, was in session to certify the electoral college vote results. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., members of the mob forced entry into the Capitol building, disrupting the joint session and causing members of Congress and the Vice President to be evacuated from the House and Senate chambers.

In his plea agreement, Schaffer admitted that after arriving on Capitol grounds, he walked past barriers intended to restrict access to the public and to a set of locked doors on the Capitol's west side. At approximately 2:40 p.m., Schaffer positioned himself at the front of a crowd that broke open a set of doors being guarded by four U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers wearing riot gear. Schaffer admitted to being among the first individuals to push past the damaged doors and into the Capitol building, forcing officers to retreat. Schaffer and others advanced toward five or six backpedaling USCP officers while members of the mob swelled inside of the Capitol and overwhelmed the officers. The officers ultimately deployed a chemical irritant to disperse the mob. Schaffer was among the people who were sprayed in the face, after which he exited while holding his own bear spray in his hands.

As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases, according to CNN. In return for Schaffer's assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.

As part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.

The 53-year-old musician is the first Capitol riot defendant to reach a plea deal.

The Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers distanced itself from Schaffer after his arrest, claiming he was not a member of the local group. But the national organization, which sells lifetime memberships for $1,200, has not commented on his alleged affiliation with the group.

At a November 2020 Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C., Schaffer was videotaped walking behind a Florida couple, Kelly Meggs and Connie Meggs, who are accused of being among 10 members of the Oath Keepers to have played a leading role in the Capitol assault. According to federal authorities, Kelly and Connie Meggs plotted for weeks ahead of the attack, attended training sessions and recruited others. Kelly Meggs is the 52-year-old head of the Oath Keepers' chapter in Florida.




THIS PIECE OF SHIT IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE METAL COMMUNITY! First he shames us with his terrorist actions on in DC, and THEN he becomes a rat to his own people for a lighter sentence! MAN THE FUCK UP! Own your shit! If you do the crime, do the time!https://t.co/jTo6EFVSDN

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








How do you feel about him being the first to plead guilty and cooperating with the Feds to lessen his sentence? Not what I call stand up. https://t.co/795UaeLvAn

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








Let me be clear on this: No one should ever rat out or throw their friends, families or cohorts under the bus. That's pussy bullshit. It's a problem with today's society. Everyone is so "tough" until they get caught. Then they are quick to blame everyone else. https://t.co/tkSJVuloIf

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








Hey, the authorities have always gotten a lot out of rats (my dad was a cop), but he still raised me to keep your mouth shut and suffer in silence. They call them rats for a reason. #snitchesgetstitches https://t.co/o2oxIhbjfG

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








If he’s coming forward because he can’t live with what he witnessed, that is great. I’m pretty sure he is just trying to save his own ass. https://t.co/n18oKEr1F0

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








And you know they didn't torture him; he volunteered! https://t.co/7QrcSbzS4Z

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021








It's not criminals. PEOPLE need to have honor and integrity. They need to be trustworthy and true to their word. You don't drag others down with you when you are in trouble or having a tough time. It's just not right. https://t.co/mZlBVG4p0h

— Dee Snider?? (@deesnider) April 18, 2021