Tracii Guns has once again commented on last month's out-of-court resolution of the legal dispute over the rights to the L.A. GUNS name. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, he and singer Phil Lewis will continue to operate under the L.A. GUNS trademark, while Steve Riley and his bandmates from the other version of L.A. GUNS will now operate under the new name RILEY'S L.A. GUNS.

Speaking to The SDR Show, the guitarist said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We ended up settling in a way where, basically, [Steve] licenses the words L.A. GUNS for free; I'm not even asking for a percentage of when he plays. I'm just saying, 'Hey, I could have taken your house. I could have taken anything you own. But I don't want you to die in the street, and I don't want you to be poor.' And I really love his son, Cole. It just got to the point with all this litigation…

"I live in Denmark half the time, so when we did this thing called a mediation, that mediation started at 11 p.m. Denmark time, and it was nine hours," he continued. "And I just had a baby. And my wife and my baby were in the bedroom, and I'm in the living room, and this is our first apartment there, which is, like, 72 square meters — it's tiny. And I'm up, and I'm doing this mediation. And finally, it just got to the point where [we were] just going back and forth, and I'm, like, 'How can I easily make it just make sense?' 'Cause in the end, they had no argument. 'Well, I'm in L.A. GUNS.' That was the argument. No, you're not — you're not in L.A. GUNS. You were hired by me. The bass player guy was hired by me. And it's as simple as that. But if you wanna pretend that you came up with the name or you formed the band or it was your musical vision or that you even wrote one fucking song, you can go live in that fantasy, as long as it doesn't infringe on my business."

RILEY'S L.A. GUNS features Riley alongside Orlando, Florida-based guitarist/vocalist Kurt Frohlich, bassist Kelly Nickels (a member of L.A. GUNS' "classic" incarnation) and guitarist Scott Griffin (who played bass for the band from 2007 until 2009, and then again from 2011 to 2014).

In January 2020, Riley was sued by Lewis and Guns in California District Court. Joining Riley as defendants in the case were the three musicians who performed in his rival version of L.A. GUNS; that group's manager, booking agent and merchandiser; and Golden Robot Records. The complaint, which requested a trial by jury, alleged that Riley's version of L.A. GUNS (referred to in the case docket as "the infringing L.A. GUNS") was creating "unfair competition" through its unauthorized usage of the L.A. GUNS trademark. In addition, Guns and Lewis were seeking relief from and/or against false advertising, breach of contract and unauthorized usage of their likenesses.

As previously reported, L.A. GUNS has set "Checkered Past" as the title of its new studio album, due in November via Frontiers Music Srl. This will be the third studio album since the much welcome reunion of the band's core foundation of Lewis and Guns. It will follow the well-received studio albums "The Missing Peace" and "The Devil You Know", plus the live release "Made In Milan", and a covers EP "Another Xmas In Hell".

SLIPKNOT frontman Corey Taylor says that he would "probably" take a page out of the SEX PISTOLS' playbook by declining to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame if his band was to ever get the nod.

When the SEX PISTOLS' induction was announced in 2006, lead singer Johnny Rotten (né Lydon) sent along a hilariously blunt (and grammatically incorrect) handwritten letter in which he compared the Hall to "urine in wine" and added: "Next to the SEX PISTOLS, rock and roll and that hall of fame is a piss stain. Were [sic] not coming. Were [sic] not your monkey." Later he said: "I can't accept any accolade from them — unless they offer me a shitload of money."

The prospect of SLIPKNOT being inducted into the Rock Hall was raised during Taylor's recent interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3. When Andy suggested that fans had the power to get SLIPKNOT into the Hall and "right all of the wrongs of the past by also inducting JUDAS PRIEST and SCORPIONS and a bunch of other bands that deserve their spot," Corey said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "First of all, I don't care about that Hall, 'cause I think it's a pile of garbage. They don't honor anything except pop music, really, and they only really induct real rock bands when they have to cave to pressure. They disrespected so many bands over the past by putting others in before the ones that actually deserve it, that I would probably go the way of the SEX PISTOLS. I'd be, like, 'Your Hall is a sham. I don't care if I'm a part of it or not. You have no idea what the spirit of rock and roll is actually about. So take this and shove it up your you-know-what.' So, that's basically where I'm at. And, obviously, I'm not getting any brownie points, and I probably will never be nominated, but I don't really care."

Taylor went on to say that he doesn't think SLIPKNOT fans "would actually care if we were in [the Rock Hall] to begin with. It's not gonna stop us from playing," he said. "I mean, think about it: football players, they retire and then they go [into the Football Hall Of Fame]. We're still going. Why would I wanna go in the Hall Of Fame if we're still killing?"

This is not the first time Taylor has critized the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Back in May 2016, the singer was asked by Loudwire Nights for his opinion on comments Gene Simmons taking issue with hip-hop acts — and other non-rock artists — being inducted into the Rock Hall. He responded: "I see what Gene's saying, and, you know, I'm old-school guy as well; I get it. But at the same time, the more I look at what N.W.A. did, man, I mean, they influenced me, and I'm a rock and roll guy. So how do they not deserve to be in there? To me, bands like that, bands like RUN–D.M.C., it's a different type of band, but it's a band, man. I mean, that's straight up. So I can see both sides of it."

He continued: "I have bigger problems with the Hall Of Fame than some of the people who have gone in. Mine has more to do with the fact that until this year, CHEAP TRICK and DEEP PURPLE weren't in. That, to me, is disrespectful on a whole other level. Does N.W.A. deserve to be in. You're goddamn right they do. But did CHEAP TRICK and DEEP PURPLE deserve to be in years before they got in? You're damn right they did. So that whole organization needs to figure out who they're gonna honor and when, because there are still bands right now who aren't in that should be."

Two years earlier, Corey called out KISS over the public feud between the current bandmembers, two original ex-members and the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame over the group's long-awaited induction into the Hall in April 2014. Taylor said: "On one hand, you're stoked being a KISS fan, but on the other hand it's, like, 'Can you guys just put aside your petty issues and realize that without one another you wouldn't have been able to do this? Can you just set stuff aside and do one show for the fans of the original lineup again? And then you never have to see each other again?'"

KISS co-founders Simmons and Paul Stanley firmly rejected the idea of performing at the induction ceremony with former founding members Peter Criss and Ace Frehley, despite the Hall's and fans' wishes.

Taylor added: "Without [Frehley and Criss], the other two guys wouldn't be where they are! And that's just me layin' it straight! I might not ever get a kind word from anybody in that band anymore. But I think it's petty and I think it's ridiculous! Figure it out! Show respect, because sometimes it's not about you, it's about the fans."

Another artist who famously refused to be inducted into the Rock Hall is GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose. In an April 2012 letter to the Hall, band fans and "to whom it may concern," Rose listed several reasons for not attending his band's ceremony in Cleveland, including a feeling that the Hall does not respect him. In declining his own induction, he added: "I strongly request that I not be inducted in absentia and please know that no one is authorized nor may anyone be permitted to accept any induction for me or speak on my behalf."

HNE Recordings Ltd has just released "Questions And Answers: The Atlantic Anthology 1987-1989", a new three-CD collection from iconic FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm.

Gramm had been recording with Rochester, New York-based band BLACK SHEEP since the early 1970s. Releasing two LPs for Capitol, Gramm met his future bandmate and songwriting partner Mick Jones in 1975 when BLACK SHEEP opened for SPOOKY TOOTH in Rochester. Jones was looking for a singer for his new band in 1976, and BLACK SHEEP having split at the end of 1975, Lou was free to audition for Mick's new group, FOREIGNER. Releasing their self-titled album on Atlantic Records in 1977, and featuring solid gold rock classics as "Cold As Ice" and "Feels Like The First Time", FOREIGNER were an instant worldwide smash. Going from strength to strength, the band hit a commercial peak in 1984 with the "Agent Provocateur" album and the chart-topping power ballad "I Want To Know What Love Is".

Perhaps choosing to return to a simpler rock format, Gramm released his debut solo album, "Ready Or Not", in 1987. Produced by Pat Moran with Gramm, it featured the hits "Midnight Blue" and "Ready Or Not" among a collection of songs that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a FOREIGNER record. Having come from a very musical family, "Ready Or Not" is very much a family affair, featuring contributions from Lou's brother Ben Jr. on drums and his father Ben Sr. on trumpet. The core of the band was Lou's former BLACK SHEEP bassist Ben Turgon, who make a significant songwriting contribution to the album, plus guitar hero Nils Logfren. Lou also found time in 1987 to record a track for the soundtrack of teen horror flick "The Lost Boys".

After returning to FOREIGNER for 1987's "Inside Information", Lou released his second solo album, "Long Hard Look", in 1989. Capitalizing on the success of his debut, it was produced by Peter Wolf (famed for his production and arrangement work for Frank Zappa, HEART and Kenny Loggins), "Long Hard Look" built on the foundations set by Lou's debut. "Just Between You And Me" was another huge smash, making No. 6 in the U.S. Hot 100, followed by the single "True Blue Love". The album concludes with a cover of THE SMALL FACES' "Tin Soldier".

Although Gramm only recorded two solo albums for Atlantic, a third disc gathers together some of his Atlantic-era rarities, including two versions of "Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys)" from the aforementioned soundtrack. "Ready Or Not" is represented by a "Rock Remix", an "Extended Dance Remix" and an "Instrumental Remix". Hit single "Midnight Blue" was issued in various formats, including a very collectible transparent blue 12-inch single, which featured an "Extended Remix" of the track. A single edit of "True Blue Love" has been selected from "Long Hard Look". To promote Lou's 1987 debut, Atlantic Records released the very rare and highly collectible LP, "Questions And Answers", a promotional album distributed to radio stations featuring Lou interviewed by Dan Neer as he discusses the genesis of the "Ready Or Not" record, and his career to date, in 1987.

Track listing:

Disc One: Ready Or Not (1987)

01. Ready Or Not

02. Heartache

03. Midnight Blue

04. Time

05. If I Don't Have You

06. She's Got To Know

07. Arrow Thru Your Heart

08. Until I Make You Mine

09. Chain Of Love

10. Lover Come Back

Disc Two: Long Hard Look (1989)

01. Angel With A Dirty Face

02. Just Between You And Me

03. Broken Dreams

04. True Blue Love

05. I'll Come Running

06. Hangin' On My Hip

07. Warmest Rising Sun

08. Day One

09. I'll Know When It's Over

10. Tin Soldier

Disc Three: Single Versions / Questions And Answers (1987-89)

01. Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys) (Vocal Edit)

02. Lost In The Shadows (The Lost Boys) (Vocal Lp Version)

03. Ready Or Not (Rock Remix)

04. Ready Or Not (Extended Dance Mix)

05. Ready Or Not (Instrumental Remix)

06. Midnight Blue (Extended Remix)

07. True Blue Love (Edit)

08. Questions And Answers (Unbanded – Promo Interview Album)

BATHORY has been inducted into the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame.

The pioneering black metal band entered the Hall on Thursday (May 27) as part of the 2021 class, along with Py Bäckman, Björn Skifs, Timbuktu and Lisa Nilsson.

For an artist to be elected to the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame, 20 years must have passed since their debut album in order to "guarantee an enduring historical value." They must have made a lasting contribution to Swedish popular music, inspiring innovation and development on the musical scene. The jury also pays attention to diversity, making sure to include a variety of genres.

"The basic idea behind the Hall Of Fame is to pay tribute to the diversity of Swedish music and to build bridges between generations," Charlotte Wiking, manager of the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame, explained at a 2015 press conference.

The Swedish Music Hall Of Fame is situated on Djurgården in Stockholm by the ABBA museum.

The Swedish Music Hall Of Fame is part of an active and dynamic cultural life, allowing both the Swedish population and international visitors to share the constantly evolving cultural heritage that our musical tradition provides.

Funding for the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame is provided by the nonprofit fundraising foundation Svenska Musikskattens Hus. Operations are funded primarily from entry fees, donations and sponsorships. Other sources of income include conferences, courses and retail. Any surplus goes in its entirety to the educational operations and scholarships that promote an active and dynamic cultural life through music.

BATHORY mainman Thomas "Quorthon" Forsberg was found dead in his apartment in Stockholm, Sweden on June 7, 2004. The 39-year-old, widely considered to be one of black metal's founding fathers, reportedly died of heart failure.

More than 13 years later, Quorthon's father and owner of Black Mark Records, Börje "Boss" Forsberg, passed away after a long and serious illness.

Although Quorthon's blood relation with Boss was staunchily denied — for reasons that are unclear — throughout BATHORY's lifespan, the musician's real identity was confirmed after his tragically early death.

BATHORY's career-spanning box set, "In Memory of Quorthon", was released in June 2006 via Black Mark. The package contained three CDs, one DVD, a book and a poster.

In a 2010 interview that Börje "Boss" Forsberg gave to Sweden Rock Magazine, he spoke openly about his son, how BATHORY came to be and all the unreleased BATHORY material that was still in the vaults. The magazine also published the last photo taken of Quorthon. This was all done with the blessing of Quorthon's family.

ENTOMBED was among twelve artists who were selected as the inaugural inductees in the Swedish Music Hall Of Fame in February 2014. Other previous inductees include Yngwie Malmsteen and EUROPE.




Congratulation to Bathory for being elected to the Swedish Music Hall of Fame. Next time its Dark Funeral! Hail the goat!

Btw, have you heard the cover we did back in the day of "Call From The Grave"? pic.twitter.com/dH5YkS6NQb

— Lord Ahriman (@Lord_Ahriman) May 27, 2021

Alcatrazz, the Los Angeles-based iconic heavy metal band, has released its new single, “Turn Of The Wheel”, via Silver Lining Music. The song is available now on all digital platforms here. The video for the song can be viewed below.

The new album featuring original members Jimmy Waldo and Gary Shea, along with new vocalist Doogie White, drummer Mark Benquechea, and guitarist Joe Stump will be released in the fall of 2021. Pre-order will begin on July 23.

"'Turn Of The Wheel’ was the first song we wrote together,” states vocalist Doogie White. “When I heard the riff and the groove, I thought HERE WE GO! From that moment, it was all hands on deck to do the best album we could. ‘Turn Of The Wheel,’ as a complete RAWK tune works brilliantly.”

Doogie continues, “We spend so much time wondering about how the mistakes we made yesterday could be made better tomorrow that we forget about today. Today is what we have. Yesterday is gone, and we may not have tomorrow."

Formed in 1983, Alcatrazz became famous for its blend of melodic and progressive rock and for introducing guitar hero’s Yngwie J. Malmsteen and Steve Vai. Emerging in 1983 with No Parole From Rock 'n’ Roll, which featured the hit “Island In The Sun,” the band continued building popularity in 1985 with their sophomore effort, Disturbing The Peace, which contained the hit, “God Blessed Video”.The band issued one more studio LP, 1986’s Dangerous Games, before ceasing operations the following year. The band regrouped and released Born Innocent in 2020, their first studio album containing all-new material since 1986.

Alcatrazz released the following statement in regards to 2021: "We are extremely happy that our good friend Doogie White will be our singer for the 2021 Alcatrazz tour dates. We are all fans of Doogie's voice and impressive catalog of music. We promise an explosive live show of the Alcatrazz classics that you know, plus some added selections from Doogie's work with Rainbow and Michael Schenker. We might even have a couple of new songs for you as well! We look forward to seeing all our fans and friends in what we hope is a much-needed return to live music next year! See you all soon...Be safe!" - Jimmy Waldo, Joe Stump, Gary Shea & Mark Benquechea

Alcatrazz is:

Jimmy Waldo - Keyboards
Gary Shea - Bass
Doogie White - Lead Vocals
Joe Stump - Guitar
Mark Benquechea - Drums




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BLACK VEIL BRIDES have released another new song, "Crimson Skies". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "The Phantom Tomorrow", which will be released on October 29 via Sumerian Records.

BLACK VEIL BRIDES have pushed back the projected release date of their new album, "The Phantom Tomorrow", to October 29 from the previously announced June 4 (via Sumerian Records).

The cover artwork for "The Phantom Tomorrow" was created by Eliran Kantor, known for his work with TESTAMENT, HATEBREED, HAVOK and Andy Black, to name a few. "The Phantom Tomorrow" was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, DANCE GAVIN DANCE, BUSH) and co-produced by guitarist Jake Pitts.

"The Phantom Tomorrow" track listing:

01. The Phantom Tomorrow (Introduction)

02. Scarlet Cross

03. Born Again

04. Blackbird

05. Spectres (Interlude)

06. Torch

07. The Wicked One

08. Shadows Rise

09. Fields Of Bone

10. Crimson Skies

11. Kill The Hero

12. Fall Eternal

BLACK VEIL BRIDES singer Andy Biersack told "Cutter's Rockcast" about the lyrical themes covered on "The Phantom Tomorrow": "It's a concept record. There is a comic book happening as well. I actually just got off the phone this morning with the publishing company for the comic book. We're developing all the artwork and everything for that. The story is essentially the idea… In our society, especially now, we have this love of building up heroes and obsessing over other people who often don't give a shit about you or anybody else, and we kind of have these false idols and heroes. And so the story is kind of about taking this mythological character and the people putting all of this power on to them, and then ultimately turning their back on the character because nobody can fulfill the dreams and ideas that you put on somebody else. So it's an alternate version of our own timeline where our obsession with heroes and the iconography of somebody that's aspirational kind of gets out of control and becomes our whole society."

Regarding how he came up with "The Phantom Tomorrow" concept, Andy said: "In January of last year, I just kind of sat down and started writing this story. I do a lot of drawing when I'm writing as well. I'm not great, but I like to be able to represent my ideas in that way. So I wrote out this whole story and drew character designs, and then, about a week and a half later, we were set to enter the studio, and it just kind of coincidental that this whole rush of this idea came to me. And so I went to the studio with everybody and said, 'Look, this is what I think we should do,' and laid out the story and the plot and the ideas. 'Cause we've done concept records before. The kind of method that we've found is best is I give the concept and the ideas, as far as the narrative perspective, to the band, and then that is how we write as a band together, to get tone and how we are gonna get through this journey. I will take those songs and then go basically write the lyrics to serve the story and plotlines along the journey from song one to the last song.

"There are unfortunate kind of shackles that are put on it — meaning that you've gotta write within the context of what you're writing," he continued. "But I tried to keep this one more open-ended where it's applicable… 'Cause I didn't wanna write about stuff I don't know; I wanted it to be about my experience. And there's really nothing about our story that doesn't mimic the current situation, whether it's on a personal level with people that I've known, or on a sociopolitical level, with the craziness of the world right now. The ideas are universal, and so that made it a little bit easier to kind of get through the journey. But as far as the comic book goes, it's kind of the same thing — I come up with the story and the artwork ideas, and then work with people who are much more talented than I am to make that a reality."

BLACK VEIL BRIDES celebrated the 10th anniversary of their debut, "We Stitch These Wounds", with a brand new, reimagined, re-recorded 2020 edition of the album titled "Re-Stitch These Wounds", released last July via Sumerian Records.

In November 2019, BLACK VEIL BRIDES announced the addition of bassist Lonny Eagleton to the group's ranks. He joined the band as the replacement for Ashley Purdy, who exited the group earlier that month.

Eagleton previously played with Biersack (a.k.a. Andy Black) on his solo tour.

Biersack's memoir, "They Don't Need To Understand: Stories Of Hope, Fear, Family, Life, And Never Giving In", arrived in December via Rare Bird Books.

Photo credit: Joshua Shultz

Former SEPULTURA members Igor Cavalera (drums), Max Cavalera (guitar, vocals) and Jairo Guedz (guitar) reunited virtually to record a new version of the band's classic song "Antichrist", which originally appeared on the 1985 EP "Bestial Devastation". The resulting clip was uploaded to YouTube as part of Igor's recently launched a new video series, "Beneath The Drums", where he dissects some of the best-known songs from his recording history.

Speaking about "Antichrist", Igor said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "'Antichrist' is probably one of the first tracks that I ever wrote something on the drums. And as far as I remember, we wrote [it], me and Max, in our bedroom. And we were very influenced by a lot of really cool bands back in '84, '85, and those bands were VENOM [and] HELLHAMMER, and then some German bands later, like KREATOR and DESTRUCTION. So, 'Antichrist', it was one of those tunes where we had an idea of what we wanted to do — very influenced by black and death metal.

"Back in 1984, my drum set was not really a drum set; it was just some pieces of percussion that I collected at the time that my parents gave me," he explained. "So I had a snare and a floor tom. So, our rehearsals back then, I didn't have kick drums at the time, so I was only playing with my hands, doing all the beats between the two instruments, and then a crash, which was attached to a broom stick with a nail on it. So it was very primitive. And I remember by the time we went into the studio to record 'Bestial Devastation', I had to adapt some of those beats to a proper drum set, with kick drums, with toms and things like that, even a hi-hat. But then 'Antichrist' is one of those tracks where I still remained some of the very primal way of playing it, with just a floor tom and a snare, so it's almost like a pre-blast-beat version that I was doing."

SEPULTURA was formed in 1984 in Belo Horizonte, the capital city of Minas Gerais. Jairo joined the group the following year and played on the band's first two releases, "Beastial Devastation" and the 1986 full-length debut, "Morbid Visions".

In early 1987, Jairo quit SEPULTURA after losing interest in playing death metal and was replaced by São Paulo-based guitarist Andreas Kisser.

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their new son (who was born in January 2006).

After Max exited SEPULTURA, there was a rift between him and Igor, one that was eventually repaired through the redemptive power of music. Some time had passed and Max and Igor were unable to resist the musical pull in their magnetic fields and their musical collaboration was renewed. The duo returned with CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which released its debut album, "Inflikted", in 2008, a follow-up effort, Blunt Force Trauma", in 2011, "Pandemomium" in 2014 and "Psychosis" in 2017.

Max and Igor played together for the first time in 10 years at the tenth annual D-Low Memorial Festival in August 2006 at the Marquee Theatre in Tempe, Arizona.

MR. BIG guitarist Paul Gilbert has just released his 16th solo studio album, "Werewolves Of Portland", via The Players Club. The official music video for the disc's latest single, "Hello North Dakota!", can be seen below.

Gilbert states: "Let's start with the things I love. The trees. The rivers. My local guitar repair shop, bakery, and grocery store. Beautiful places for walking and biking. Driving to anything in less than 15 minutes. My musician and recording engineer friends. Small businesses and wonderful restaurants. My son's school and teachers. The pie bakery! I love all these. Then there's that other stuff you see on the news. I don't want to kick Portland while it's down. But if it stays like this, I may need to sneak away. I'm hoping to live somewhere that isn't in the news so much. I haven't heard much about North Dakota lately, which is good. I've actually never been there. I like buffalo. That's a start. Thank you."

With the international lockdown putting the world on hold, Gilbert decided to, rather than wait, he got on with playing all the instruments on the album himself. "It took me about six months to think of it, but it finally occurred to me that I could play all the instruments myself. I've always loved playing drums, and I can play bass and keyboards well enough to get the job done," he says.

Talking about the first song released from the album, he explains: "Most of my titles come from the lyrics that I write in order to get a melody going. I've even printed the lyrics in the liner notes of the album, so you can 'read along' as you listen to the music.

"'Argument About Pie' is one of my favorites. This lyric came from my pre-lockdown experiences of stopping by my local pie shop for a slice of strawberry rhubarb. Amidst all the brewing angst in Portland, the pie shop was a place where everyone was happy and at peace. Eating pie seemed to be something that everyone could agree on. Since my mind has the habit of searching for contrasts, I started to wonder what people might be against eating pie."

Recorded at Opal Studio in Portland with co-producer and engineer Kevin Hahn, "Werewolves Of Portland" saw Gilbert pulling out some of his current favorite guitars for the job. "I mostly used my Ibanez Fireman guitars," he says. "I've been collecting vintage Ibanez guitars lately, too. I brought some models from the '70s, '80s, and '90s like the Ibanez Artist, Roadstar II and Ghostrider. I also brought and modified a '60s Epiphone Olympic. I used to play those in the early days of RACER X, so it was fun to have a guitar that reminded me of my early shredder style."

The album title's inspiration partly comes from the Warren Zevon song "Werewolves Of London". "I live in Portland and thought it would be funny to substitute the name of my much lesser-known city," Paul says. "My original idea for the 'Werewolves' was just the guys in my band and me. When we play music, it is our version of 'howling at the moon'. Unfortunately, Portland has become more 'known' in the last year for events that are pretty sad to watch. And 'Werewolves' could take on other meanings that I certainly hadn't anticipated. But the title, to me, still has a musical meaning."

Gilbert is a formidable force. From his time in Los Angeles metallers RACER X to helping form MR. BIG, one of the era's most revered names, his distinguished solo career has seen him putting out 15 acclaimed records and guesting on albums from such diverse names as Todd Rundgren, BOWLING FOR SOUP, Glenn Hughes and MC Lars. He also toured with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci in 2007 ("G3") and two years later with Richie Kotzen and George Lynch ("Guitar Generation"). This is not to mention a lengthy tenure as a much-in-demand teacher and instructor. This began when he was still a teenager, being hired in 1985 by the prestigious Guitar Institute Of Technology (GIT) in Los Angeles.

"I didn't become a musician to shout my ideas, complaints, or philosophies at anyone," Paul says. "I love music because of the music. So I love my method of using my inner rants as scaffolding to build melodies. This scaffolding can then be pulled away to unveil some pure emotional music. This works perfectly for me and hopefully for my listeners.

"I need to be able to visualize the look and sound of my fretboard well enough to play accurately in my mind," he explains. "It's almost like real air guitar! Then when I actually go to play the music, I've got a good chance of having my melodic intentions come true. And that's about the best feeling in the world."

"Werewolves Of Portland" track listing:

01. Hello North Dakota!

02. My Goodness

03. Werewolves Of Portland

04. Professorship At The Leningrad Conservatory

05. Argument About Pie

06. Meaningful

07. I Wanna Cry (Even Though I Ain't Sad)

08. A Thunderous Ovation Shook The Columns

09. Problem-Solving People

10. (You Would Not Be Able To Handle) What I Handle Every Day

Photo by Jason Quigley

Progressive, technical death metal collective Alluvial have debuted their sophomore album, Sarcoma, today with Nuclear Blast. The band marks the release of the long awaited record with a new visualizer for their vicious new single "The Putrid Sunrise," which can be viewed now.

Guitarist Wes Hauch comments on the single: 

"This song is basically about the back and forth of being stuck in a rut with drugs and booze. It bounces back and forth between high and sick, and the pointlessness that happens in between. I’d venture to say that most people can relate to giving into their beast. There’s a certain type of hedonic enjoyment in becoming the beast, but the beast is always there laughing at you once he’s had his fun."

What began as an instrumental collaboration has grown into a full-frontal aural assault with a lineup consisting of vocalist Kevin Muller (ex-Suffocation, The Merciless Concept), guitarist Wes Hauch (ex-The Faceless, Black Crown Initiate), bassist Tim Walker (Entheos) and drummer Matt Paulazzo (Aegaeon). On their follow up to 2017's The Deep Longing For Annihilation, Alluvial plunge into a whirlwind of neck-snapping polyrhythmic riffs, a barrage of double bass and a dynamic avalanche of screams.

Alluvial's second full-length album, Sarcoma, examines people's connection with pain and the hardships that bind us.

“Sarcoma is a type of cancer that grows from connective tissue in the body,” says Wes Hauch. “At the end of working on everything, Kevin [Muller] pinpointed that each song on the record was about the different perils that happen at the hand of one man to another. These perils live in our connections to one another, so 'Sarcoma' became an apt title.”

As Hauch began writing the record, he took notice of Muller due to his time in Suffocation. After hearing his vocals on a demo, everything simply clicked, and Kevin joined the band. Fast brothers, it fulfilled a long-term goal. “The Deep Longing for Annihilation was supposed to have vocals, but I couldn’t find the right guy,” he adds. “Some people possess a rare inability to doubt themselves. Kevin can marry that into performances. The day I heard his vocals over the Sarcoma demos was a special one. We’ve become brothers.”

After writing and producing demos at home, Alluvial cut guitars, bass, and vocals with engineer John Douglass (Mr. Bungle, Amon Amarth) in Atlanta.

Pre-order the new album here.

Sarcoma tracklisting:

"Ulysses"
"Thy Underling"
"Sarcoma"
"40 Stories"
"Zero"
"Exponent"
"Sleepers Become Giants"
"The Putrid Sunrise"
"Sugar Paper"
"Anodyne"

"The Putrid Sunrise":

"Thy Underling":

"Ulysses" video:




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Seven Spires have released a new single, "This God Is Dead". Check it out below, stream or purchase it via the platforms found here.

The band has issued the following statement:

"This 10 and a half minute epic explores a deeply aching loneliness, and the perceived impossibility of healing. With reverent joy, we welcome our very first official guest vocalist, Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot), who sings the role of the ghost of the main character’s father from beyond the grave. Swedish vocalist David Åkesson (Qantice) recorded the male choir vocals, and as always, the song was mixed and mastered by Sascha Paeth. All four of us are incredibly proud of this one, and we hope it resonates with you in the same way it has for us."

The single serves as an appetizer for the forthcoming epic new studio album from the band, due this fall on Frontiers Music Srl. More details on that forthcoming in the weeks ahead. Check out the previously released single "The Cursed Muse" below.




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Former Sepultura drummer, Iggor Cavalera, has released the latest episode of his new video series, Beneath The Drums. In this edition he breaks down "Antichrist" from Sepultura's 1986 album, Morbid Visions.

Watch previous episodes fo Beneath The Drums below:




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German death metal unit, Helldrifter, has signed a digital distribution deal with Nuclear Blast‘s Blood Blast Distribution, for the release of their upcoming album that will be announced very soon.

Helldrifter is a death metal band from Stuttgart southern Germany, with some influences from thrash and melodic death metal. It is heavily inspired by death metal giants such as Carcass, Cannibal Corpse, Death, and At The Gates. The music can go from straight thrash to more complex death metal parts, when the melodies are present it can take you to harmonic paths that remind bands such as Children Of Bodom or even Dark Tranquillity. The band's lyrical themes are focused mostly on mysticism, sociological issues, horror movies, and video games, with a heavy dose of surrealism.

Take a listen to their first single, released in 2019:




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British metalcore 5-piece, The Five Hundred, have released a video for "Our Demise", a song from their new album, A World On Fire, out July 30 via Long Branch Records. Watch the clip below.

Aggressive yet euphoric, empowering yet simultaneously enslaving, The Five Hundred are renowned for overcoming adversities and laying siege to every stage they play. Their debut album Bleed Red told the story of a band struggling with Tourette’s, OCD, and drug addiction. It's now the band’s time to share with the world how they’ve battled through their vices and come out on top. After successful tours up and down the country, Eastern Europe / Russia, and an appearance at the iconic Download festival in 2019, the quintet are back and angrier than ever with their follow-up album.

Tracklisting:

“Black Dogs”
“The Rising Tide”
“Our Demise”
“The Warmth”
“Walls Of Jericho” (feat. Andreas Bjulver)
“Your Apocalypse” (feat. Jeremy Gomez)
“With Scars”
“Our Curse”
“Agony”
“A World On Fire”

“Our Demise” video:

“Black Dogs” video:




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Former MEGADETH producer Max Norman has weighed in on David Ellefson's dismissal from the band, saying he understands Dave Mustaine's decision to part ways with the bassist.

The British-born knob-twiddler, who mixed MEGADETH's 1990 album "Rust In Peace" and produced 1992's "Countdown To Extinction" and 1994's "Youthanasia", addressed MEGADETH's split with Ellefson during a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice.

Speaking about the fact that Mustaine fired Ellefson two weeks after the leak of the bassist's messages and sexually explicit videos featuring a woman who is not David's wife, Norman said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The first thing I can say is my girlfriend sent me a link to the video. And I didn't know — but I can't unsee it now. That's the problem.

"I feel sorry for David. Look, he made a mistake," he continued. "It was a silly thing to do. I feel sorry for him. But I've got mixed feelings about it. And I understand Mustaine removing him from the band, because the one thing that Dave Mustaine will not tolerate is being made fun of. Because of his upbringing, I guess, and because of the way he is, I think he thought about this and thought about it. It's a brand — he has to protect the brand. And he probably was thinking — and I don't know this — but he probably was thinking, 'I can't go out on stage with this guy 'cause everybody's gonna be pointing at him and doing this.' [Moves his hand in an up-and-down motion.] You know what I mean? So I can't really blame him. But I see both sides of the story."

Regarding the allegation by a third party that Ellefson groomed a 19-year-old fan since she was 17, Max said: "I certainly don't think [Ellefson] is a pedophile. He's guilty of probably what 90 percent of the other musicians out there have done at one stage or another. But when you have that position and responsibility… It feels a little weird because he's a pastor, and so you've got this religious thing there as well.

"It can swing either way, and I see both sides," Max continued. "I don't wanna be judgmental about it. I feel sorry for David because I think it's gonna affect his whole life. And he has a lot of other stuff going on, and it's gonna affect that stuff too. So the guy's gonna go through a real hard time."

Norman, who described Ellefson as "a very nice guy," went on to offer a piece of advice to his former work colleague.

"If David sees this, maybe he'll do this — but I do think that he should apologize publicly to his wife and his family for the embarrassment," Max said. "And maybe to MEGADETH too. I don't know. If it was me, that probably would have been the first thing I would do. But, like I say, I'm not gonna judge it, and I don't wanna get into being on one side or the other.

"You can look at it two or three different ways, and I kind of see all the angles. It's just very unfortunate. And it's kind of sad — it's really kind of sad…

"Who knows the whole story? Nobody knows the whole story," Max concluded.

On May 10, messages and video footage involving Ellefson were posted on Twitter. The longtime MEGADETH member later released a statement on Instagram denying all social media chatter that he "groomed" an underage fan.

On May 24, Mustaine — who formed MEGADETH with Ellefson in 1983 — announced the bassist's departure from the band, saying, "We do not take this decision lightly. While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward," Mustaine wrote. Two days later, Ellefson released a follow-up statement in which he vowed to file a "defamation lawsuit" against the person who "illegally posted a very private video" of the bassist and made "false allegations" against him. He also said he was working with the police in Scottsdale, Arizona "in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted the video. This person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law," Ellefson wrote. He went on to say that he was "taking this time to be with my family" and wished his "bandmates" the best with their upcoming tour.

MEGADETH is currently scheduled to take part in "The Metal Tour Of The Year" with LAMB OF GOD, beginning on August 20 in Austin. MEGADETH is also slated to appear at the SLIPKNOT-curated Knotfest in September in Iowa.

MEGADETH has yet to announce a replacement for Ellefson, who was in the band from its inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest departure.

David, who became a Lutheran pastor nearly a decade ago, and his wife Julie Ellefson have been married for 27 years. They reportedly dated for six years after getting together in 1988. After two days of engagement, they married on April 2, 1994. They have two children, Roman Alexander (25) and Athena Grace (22).

Ellefson, who has lived in Scottsdale, Arizona since 1994, is also an author and entrepreneur, holding the reins of EMP Label Group, Combat Records, Ellefson Coffee Co., and more, in addition to a diverse portfolio of brands and signature products. Ellefson was also inducted into the 2018 class of the Iowa Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame, just over the border from Jackson in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Rock icon Roger Taylor made the surprise announcement today that he will play a U.K. solo tour this fall, introducing brand new material and revisiting some of his very own QUEEN classics.

With the pandemic putting QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT's epic European tour on pause until 2022, the acclaimed drummer has decided to hit the road for a set of intimate shows. The upcoming concerts will showcase his distinctive percussive, vocal and songwriting talents that have been integral to QUEEN's live and recorded output since 1970.

Marking his first live performances outside QUEEN in over two decades, Taylor will tour the U.K. across October playing 14 shows that will coincide with the release of his latest solo album, "Outsider", on October 1.

As the songwriter of many of QUEEN's biggest hits and much-loved tracks, including "A Kind Of Magic", "Radio Ga Ga", "I'm In Love With My Car", "Sheer Heart Attack" and "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", while also being one of rock's most distinctive vocalists, Taylor promises a solo tour with an enthusiastic foray into QUEEN and his own classic catalogues, while also including new songs written in lockdown that feature on the multi-instrumentalist's new "Outsider" album.

"For some time now, we've all just been trying to get by," says Taylor. "Now, it's back to the basics, myself and some great musical pals getting back out there to play some rock. Obviously, we'll include some of the QUEEN classic catalogue, and some of my earlier solo work, but we'll also be introducing them to some of the new stuff. So we hope folks are going to come on down."

Taylor's 2021 tour will open at Newcastle O2 Academy on Saturday October 2, followed by dates across the U.K. that conclude at London's O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire Friday October 22.

The rock legend will perform with a specially assembled band for the tour made up of QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT's keyboardist Spike Edney and supporting drummer Tyler Warren, plus guitarist Jason Falloon and GOLDFRAPP live players keyboardist Angie Pollock and bassist Charlie Jones.

Says Taylor: "This is my modest tour. I just want it to be lots of fun, very good musically, and I want everybody to enjoy it. I'm really looking forward to it. Will I be playing QUEEN songs too? Absolutely!"

"Outsider" is Taylor's first album of new material since 2013's "Fun On Earth". Over the last decade, the drummer has also released the occasional solo track reflecting on his worldview and observations in songs like "Journey's End" and "Gangsters Are Running This World". His most recent was "Isolation", which was written and recorded in response to the first lockdown last year.

With much of "Outsider" recorded during lockdown, this new album finds Taylor in reflective mood. Across the record, he conveys a palpable sense of seclusion, concerns over the passing of time, and tellingly, dedicates it "to all the outsiders, those who feel left on the sidelines."

On recording the "Outsider" album after "Isolation", Taylor says: "I've had a bit of a creative spurt and suddenly found myself with an album, which was lovely. It was a surprise! I just found myself in the studio and they came out one after the other. It was a pleasure, really."

A highly personal project, "Outsider"'s instrumentation is almost entirely performed by Taylor, with his largely restrained vocals matching the album's contemplative ambience. But Taylor does cut loose along the way with a foray into some hard-riffing blues-rock as well as an adrenalin-charged big surprise retread of a classic 1965 novelty song, which is exactly the fun on earth we need in these challenging times.

Fans who pre-order the album via Roger's official site before 4 p.m. on Monday, June 7 will get advanced and early access to presale tickets to the tour.

Roger Taylor "Outsider" tour dates:

Oct. 02 - Newcastle, UK - O2 Academy

Oct. 03 - Manchester, UK - Academy

Oct. 05 - York, UK - Barbican

Oct. 06 - Cardiff, UK - St. David’s Hall

Oct. 08 - Liverpool, UK - O2 Academy

Oct. 09 - Norwich, UK - University East Anglia (Uea)

Oct. 11 - Bath, UK - Forum

Oct. 12 - Bournemouth, UK - O2 Academy

Oct. 14 - Plymouth, UK - Pavilions

Oct. 15 - Nottingham, UK - Rock City

Oct. 17 - Bexhill, UK - De La Warr Pavilion

Oct. 19 - Guildford, UK - G Live

Oct. 20 - Coventry, UK - HMV Empire

Oct. 22 - London, UK - O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire

GREAT WHITE guitarist Mark Kendall spoke to the 95 KGGO radio station about how he and his bandmates have been spending their downtime during the coronavirus pandemic. "We've been writing a lot of music, so we'd like to get something out this year," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET. "We'd like to get some new music out this year, because that kind of keeps us motivated. I think that's the reason we've been around so long — 'cause we keep trying to better ourselves and make the best music we can; it kind of keeps your energy up."

Kendall also discussed the importance of making new music at a time when so many classic rocks acts focus on performing nothing but their greatest hits.

"I've made the analogy before, but, to me, it would feel like going out and selling the same painting every year," Mark said. "It just gets old. Because the creative part is a big part for us. I have this pipe dream that I'm gonna write the greatest song I've ever written. That kind of keeps you energized. Just to go out and kind of do the same thing every year, it's fine, because people are coming to hear the old songs and whatnot. But for our personal motivation, we need to keep being creative. But we never bombard people with, like, 20 new songs or anything."

GREAT WHITE's next effort will be the band's first with singer Mitch Malloy, who joined the group in 2018 following the departure of Terry Ilous.

Earlier this month, Kendall told the "Nothing Shocking" podcast that the new GREAT WHITE material is "really rocking. It's a wide range, but mostly just the heavy rock and some really, really cool riffs and good musical pieces in the songs, so the band can breathe. It's not just the singer singing over every note on the record. There's a lot of cool, cool stuff that, for sure, made me wanna play guitar. I'm playing the type of stuff that intrigued me and inspired me and made me wanna get better and improve. So I'm kind of writing like that.

"If you look at any hit song from I don't care who it is — THE BEATLES — if you notice, there's not much going on when the singer's singing, but then there's a musical hook or something to where you don't divide someone's attention with the riff and singing at the same time; you always answer the vocal," he explained. "And so that's kind of he way we've written on this album that's not released yet — but we have a lot of material."

According to Kendall, the coronavirus crisis delayed GREAT WHITE's plans to return to the studio and begin recording the follow-up to 2017's "Full Circle".

"It was unfortunate that we got hit with the pandemic, because Mitch had only been in the band a few months, and then, all of a sudden, this flu virus [came along] that's just out of control," he said. "It was hard for us to get all together and go into a studio, 'cause even engineers are iffy about — they just want one person at a time and all this stuff. We're not that type of band. We would never make a virtual record where we send each other our parts. Because when we play together, that's when everything happens. If we did it online, there would be so much missing that would have been there had we all played in the same room, working the tunes up that way. A lot of things come up that aren't planned… You're not gonna get that with e-mails."

Mark went on to praise Malloy, saying his addition to GREAT WHITE made the songwriting process easier.

"With Mitch, I just send him music and he comes back with a song, which is really inspiring that he can do that," he said. "'Cause I think nobody can do that until they hear my brilliant idea, right? But Mitch is a songwriter — he has, like, 10 solo albums — so he's written plenty of songs. He understands song structure and all of that, so he can handle it. And, obviously, if I hear a vocal line that I think should be changed or something, that can always happen too. But it takes a lot of workload off me that I don't have to show singers every line or whatever."

Ilous, frontman of '80s L.A. hard rockers XYZ, joined GREAT WHITE in 2010 after stepping in for touring vocalist Jani Lane (WARRANT).

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and the aforementioned "Full Circle", before Terry was dismissed from the group.

This version of GREAT WHITE is not to be confused with JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE, which features original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell alongside Robby Lochner (FIGHT) on guitar, Dan McNay on bass, Tony Montana on guitar and Dicki Fliszar on drums.

Two-times-Grammy-nominated group RIVAL SONS has announced a two-night livestream event, "Pair Of Aces", live from the historic Catalina Casino on Santa Catalina Island, which will air worldwide on June 19 and June 26 at 2:00 p.m. PT / 5:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 p.m. CET. "Pair Of Aces" will mark the band's very first livestream performances, which are set to broadcast from Santa Catalina Island — just off the coast of Long Beach, California where RIVAL SONS initially came to life in 2009. Performing the albums that started it all for them, on Saturday June 19 they will play their full-length debut LP, "Before The Fire" (2009), in its entirety for the first time at Catalina Casino, a 92-year-old venue overlooking Avalon Bay. A week later, on Saturday, June 26, they will return to Catalina to perform the self-titled EP, "Rival Sons" (2010), from top to bottom.

Presented by Live Nation and Veeps, tickets for "Pair Of Aces" go on sale today. General on-sale begins at 9:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. ET.

Earlier this year, RIVAL SONS announced the launch of its very own label, Sacred Tongue Recordings, with distribution through Thirty Tigers. The band recently regained the master rights to several of its early releases and reintroduced them to the world by first remastering "Before The Fire" and the self-titled EP on all DSPS, CD and vinyl for the first time.

By looking back, RIVAL SONS also leap forward again as they continue working on more music and the follow-up to 2019's "Feral Roots".

"Feral Roots" not only garnered 2020 Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Rock Album," but also yielded a Grammy nomination for "Best Rock Performance" for the top 10 rock track "Too Bad", as well as the No. 1 rock radio single "Do Your Worst". Produced by multi-Grammy Award winner Dave Cobb at Nashville's famed RCA Studio A, and the equally legendary Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, "Feral Roots" is available now on all streaming platforms.

Since their emergence in 2009, RIVAL SONS have quietly reignited and recharged rock 'n' roll with towering vocals, uncompromising riffs, and thunderous grooves. Following the independent release of their full-length debut "Before The Fire", they were handpicked to perform alongside everyone from AC/DC to BLACK SABBATH. Working with longtime producer Dave Cobb, the band delivered a series of critically acclaimed albums — "Pressure & Time" (2011), "Head Down" (2012), "Great Western Valkyrie" (2014) and "Hollow Bones" (2016) — as they headlined sold-out shows on multiple continents. 2019's "Feral Roots" broke new ground for the band. "Do Your Worst" shot to No. 1 on rock radio as their first chart-topper at the format. It also scored 40 million-plus streams and counting. They delivered an electrifying performance on "The Late Late Show With James Corden" and earned acclaim from Billboard, Rolling Stone, and many more.

Photo credit: Steve Thrasher

BLACK STONE CHERRY has parted ways with bassist Jon Lawhon.

The Kentucky rockers announced Lawhon's exit in a statement earlier today.

They wrote: "To all of our amazing fans, it is with a heavy heart we inform you that Jon Lawhon has decided to take an indefinite sabbatical from music and touring for personal reasons. As such, Jon will be stepping down as a member of BLACK STONE CHERRY.

"We love Jon, wish him all the best in all his future endeavors and will cherish the memories and legacy we've built with him over twenty years as a band. We ask that you please respect Jon and the band's privacy regarding this matter.

"In the meantime, we can't wait to play more rockin' BLACK STONE CHERRY shows in 2021 and onward! Please stay on the look-out for new shows announcing near you!"

Last November, BLACK STONE CHERRY vocalist/guitarist Chris Robertson addressed the fact that his band had not undergone any lineup changes in the two decades that the Kentucky-based act had been together.

"I think through history, you've got us and ZZ TOP, and that's about it, man, that have never had a lineup change," Chris told the "Aftershocks" podcast.

"I think it all goes back to the fact that we were all friends. And as tight as we are as a band, we are even deeper friends than that," he explained. "The friendship has always been before the band; we've always been a family before the band.

"We're just very fortunate that all four of us see eye-to-eye on the way to run our business. And we're all four equal members, man. You split a dollar up, you get four quarters with BLACK STONE CHERRY. Every dollar we've ever made we split four ways; everything we've ever done we split four ways. It's the four of us. You take one away and it's not BLACK STONE CHERRY anymore."

BLACK STONE CHERRY's seventh studio album, "The Human Condition", came out last October via Mascot Label Group.

"The Human Condition" was produced by the bandmembers themselves and tracked in Lawhon's recording facility, Monocle Studios. The release was completed mere days before the COVID-19 lockdown was imposed.




An important message to our cherry head family pic.twitter.com/o40XQ0S7FO

— Black Stone Cherry (@BlkStoneCherry) June 2, 2021

BUCKCHERRY's third studio album, "15", has been certified double platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of two million copies. At the same time, BUCKCHERRY's track "Crazy Bitch" was certified quadruple platinum for sales in excess of four million units and the track "Sorry" was certified double platinum for sales in excess of two million units.

"15" was released in 2006 and was the first BUCKCHERRY album after a four-year hiatus.

The RIAA developed its gold and platinum awards program in 1958 to honor artists and create a standard by which to measure the commercial success of a sound recording. The program trademarked the gold record and formalized the industry practice of presenting awards to artists for music sales achievements.

Presently, the RIAA awards a gold honor for 500,000 units sold, a platinum honor for 1 million units sold and a diamond award for more than 10 million units sold.

In the streaming age, each permanent digital album or physical album sale count as 1 unit for certification purposes, 10 permanent track downloads from the album count as 1 unit for certification purposes, and 1,500 on-demand audio and/or video streams from the album count as 1 unit. For songs, 150 on-demand audio and/or video streams count as 1 unit for certification purposes.

BUCKCHERRY's new album, "Hellbound", will be released on June 25 via Round Hill Records. The follow-up to 2019's "Warpaint" was recorded last fall in Nashville, Tennessee with producer and songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others.

Last summer, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July 2020.

Roentgen joined BUCKCHERRY as the replacement for original guitarist Keith Nelson. Roentgen can be heard on "Warpaint", which was released in March 2019 via Century Media/RED Music. The 12-song record was produced by Mike Plotnikoff, whose previous collaboration with the band was the aforementioned "15".

In 2019, BUCKCHERRY recruited Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint"

Swiss/Dutch metallers BURNING WITCHES have released the official music video for the song "We Stand As One". The track is taken from the band's fourth full-length album, "The Witch Of The North", which was released on May 28 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Following 2020's "Dance Of The Devil", which charted at #22 in Germany, and the "Circle Of Five" EP, vocalist Laura Guldemond, guitarists Romana Kalkuhl and Larissa Ernst, bassist Jeanine Grob and drummer Lala Frischknecht notably upped the ante on "The Witch Of The North", delivering their most dynamic, intricate and powerful album thus far. Perfectly mixed and mastered by V.O. Pulver and produced by German thrash titan Schmier (DESTRUCTION), the LP sees BURNING WITCHES stick to their irrefutable 1980s influences (JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, DIO, ACCEPT, WARLOCK, W.A.S.P., etc.) and inject irresistible energy and a refreshing vibe, topping it off with classic art by Claudio Bergamín (who illustrated JUDAS PRIEST's triumphant "Firepower"). From the epic title track to the album's catchiest anthem "We Stand As One" over to the ballad "Lady Of The Woods" and speedy riff attacks like "Thrall", "Flight Of The Valkyries" and "Nine Worlds", "The Witch Of The North" marks a new highlight in the band's career, with vocalist Laura brilliantly shifting from aggressive to seductive with ease.

"The Witch Of The North" track listing:

01. Winter's Wrath

02. The Witch Of the North

03. Tainted Ritual

04. We Stand As One

05. Flight Of The Valkyries

06. The Circle Of Five

07. Lady Of The Woods

08. Thrall

09. Omen

10. Nine Worlds

11. For Eternity

12. Dragon's Dream

13. Eternal Frost

BURNING WITCHES' first live performance with Guldemond took place in June 2019 at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden.

The vocalist of the Dutch symphonic metal band SHADOWRISE, Guldemond was recruited by BURNING WITCHES following the departure of Seraina Telli.

Photo credit: Kevin Grab

SLEEPING WITH SIRENS has released a new song called "Bloody Knuckles".

Vocalist Kellin Quinn told Rock Sound about the track: "Me and Jack [Fowler] wanted to create a song that feels a little bit different from what's been going on. I feel like a lot of bands are going more alternative, and we wanted to bring it back to our golden days with the Warped Tour sound. It's really fast, it's got a heavy breakdown, it's everything that the kids are going to want. It's just something to tide everybody over until we go into the studio and start working on new music."

Three months ago, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS released covers of BLIND MELON's classic "No Rain" and Zella Day's "Shadow Preachers" (via Sumerian Records), which appeared in the "Paradise City" soundtrack.

Last August, SLEEPING WITH SIRENS released a deluxe edition of its sixth studio album, "How It Feels To Be Lost", via Sumerian Records.

"How It Feels To Be Lost" was heralded as a major return to the band's earlier, heavier form. Since its release in September 2019, "How It Feels To Be Lost" has been featured on flagship streaming playlists including Spotify's "Rock This" and "New Core", Amazon Music's "Rock Scene" as well as being included on Apple Music's "Breaking Hard Rock", Spotify's "New Music Friday" and "Kickass Metal" and Deezer's "Heavy New Rock".

At the time of "How It Feels To Be Lost"'s release, Quinn told HMV about the lyrical subjects covered on the album: "There's definitely a theme. This is the most personal record I've ever done. I didn't try to sugarcoat anything. I wrote down how I was feeling. This has been very therapeutic. The theme is me overcoming the darkness and finding a light through my struggle. That's why it's named 'How It Feels To Be Lost'.

"Depression and anxiety make you feel lost," he explained. "The goal of this record was to help people understand that just because you feel like you're by yourself, you don't have to be. Lots of people feel the same way. I wanted this record to help people and to give words to people who can't say how they’re feeling."






Sleeping With Sirens' new single 'Bloody Knuckles' is out now

Here's what Kellin Quinn told us about writing the single and how it was inspired by their Warped Tour days pic.twitter.com/zrpPcNU17n

— Rock Sound (@rocksound) June 2, 2021

Danish/American rockers VOLBEAT have released two new songs, "Wait A Minute My Girl" and "Dagen Før". The two tracks, the band's first new music since 2019's album "Rewind, Replay, Rebound", were written and recorded while the world was in lockdown during the pandemic. Michael Poulsen (vocals, guitar), Jon Larsen (drums) and Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass) recorded their parts with longtime producer Jacob Hansen in Denmark, while Rob Caggiano (guitar) worked remotely from New York.

"Wait A Minute My Girl" features saxophone player Doug Corcoran and piano player Raynier Jacob Jacildo, who both perform with JD McPherson's band and previously appeared with VOLBEAT on 2019's "Die To Live (feat. Neil Fallon)". Singer Mia Maja, who has worked with the band since "Seal The Deal & Let's Boogie", also appears on backing vocals. "Dagen Før" features guest vocals from Danish artist Stine Bramsen, who is known for her solo work as well as being a member of the band ALPHABEAT. The song, in the tradition of "The Garden's Tale", "Maybele I Hofteholder" and "For Evigt", features both English and Danish lyrics, and marks the first commercially released song that features Stine singing in her native Danish.

VOLBEAT says about the songs: "As the weather begins to warm and the days get longer in many parts of the world, we wanted to share two songs that we wrote and recorded over these long, difficult fifteen months that have the vibe and feel of summer.

"We're beyond thankful that even during a lockdown, our good friends Doug, Ray and Mia Maja were able to put the pedal to the metal with us on 'Wait A Minute My Girl', and we're absolutely thrilled that Stine Bramsen, who we've known and admired for a long time, was willing to lend her incredible talents to 'Dagen Før'.

"We hope you enjoy this double-barreled blast of summer tunes as much as we enjoyed creating them, and we can't wait for you to hear what else we have in store for you. The fall always brings the thunder and lightning…"

Since forming in 2001, VOLBEAT has gone from the clubs of Copenhagen to headlining stages around the world, including the famed Telia Parken stadium in Denmark (and becoming the only domestic artist to ever sell out the venue). Over the course of eight record-breaking albums, the band has picked up No. 1 songs (including eight No. 1s on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart and counting), multi-platinum certifications, awards and accolades (including a Grammy nomination) all over the planet. Their latest album, "Rewind, Replay, Rebound", was released in August 2019 and has spawned the hit singles "Last Day Under The Sun", "Die To Live (feat. Neil Fallon)" and "Leviathan". A live album featuring songs recorded during the subsequent world tour, "Rewind, Replay, Rebound: Live In Deutschland", was released digitally on November 27, 2020. A vinyl-only bonus track compilation, "Hokus Bonus", was originally made available on limited-edition vinyl on RSD Black Friday 2020 and will be available in a new, limited European version and a North American standard version on July 16, 2021.

VOLBEAT eagerly awaits its return to the road beginning this October with an appearance on Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

Jason Christopher, who plays bass in Corey Taylor's solo band, has uploaded a short video of him, the SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR frontman and Corey's guitarist Zach Throne singing along to DURAN DURAN's classic song "Rio" backstage at a recent stop on Taylor's current solo tour (with drummer Dustin Schoenhofer air drumming behind them). Check it out below.

Back in 2015, Taylor shared his views on the state of modern music, comparing pop to "listening to a piece of wood." Speaking to Loudwire, he said: "I feel like I'm being stung by a thousand bees all at once. It’s so Auto-Tuned, it's so beat-corrected, it's so canned and processed and lifeless… I mean, you might as well be listening to a fucking piece of wood at that point.

"It bothers me, because I put so much into everything I do, I put so much into my music — I bleed for it and die for it every god damn night, you know?" he explained. "To watch these people basically let a computer go through the motions and do all the work for them, it's insulting to everyone out there who has more talent and less attention."

Corey kicked off his solo tour, "CMFTour 2021", on May 17 at the Marquee Theater in Tempe, Arizona. Taylor's set includes anthems from his critically acclaimed solo debut "CMFT", choice cuts from his SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR catalogs, and various covers and surprises.

Support on all "CMFTour 2021" dates comes from girl gang dance squad CHERRY BOMBS, led by Taylor's wife Alicia Taylor.

"CMFT" made impressive debuts on charts around the world in October, entering at No. 1 on Billboard's Current Hard Rock Albums chart, while claiming No. 2 on Current Rock Albums, No. 6 on Vinyl Albums, and No. 9 on the Top Albums charts. Furthermore, "CMFT" landed Top 10 on the official album charts in Australia, Germany, Switzerland and Austria, with Top 20 debuts in the United Kingdom, Finland and Japan (international chart).

"CMFT" was recorded at The Hideout Recording Studio in Las Vegas with producer Jay Ruston and Corey's band — Christian Martucci (guitar), Zach Throne (guitar), Jason Christopher (bass), and Dustin Schoenhofer (drums).
























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Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has completed work on his first all-instrumental solo album. In a video message earlier today, Gus said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "If you guys noticed, I released a single [in early April]. It was the first single. It's called 'Exosphere'. It's part of the album. There's gonna be more singles coming out. We're planning to release them in different phases, and then I think sometime around this fall, we're gonna drop the whole album. I guess it's a new way of doing things — kind of like teasing the album with singles first and seeing how they perform and what people think and let people get used to it. Actually, there's a new single coming out, I think, in June. Yeah, so that's a few days from now. It's gonna be called 'Fierce', and it's a real metal track, I think. If you guys like my past instrumentals or stuff that FIREWIND has done, the fast stuff, you're gonna like this. It's a fast song. There's a lot of shredding. And a really funny video. So I can't wait for you to check it out. I'm not gonna say any more. But, yeah, it'll be out in a few days, and you'll see and hopefully you can tell me what you think.

"The album is done," he reiterated. "It's finished — mixed and mastered. Dennis Ward [PINK CREAM 69, UNISONIC], he played bass on it and he mixed and mastered it. I have a new drummer who's playing on it. His name is [Jan-]Vincent Velazco. He's a great, killer drummer. He's from England. And he contacted me last year online, and he said, 'Hey, dude, if you need a drummer, let me know.' And I checked him out, and I was blown away by his skills, by his playing. So I thought hey, why not? Why not collaborate with somebody new? At the time, Johan [Nunez] was not available to record. 'Cause I was planning to ask Johan from FIREWIND to play. But he went back to school to finish a course, so I thought why not collaborate with Vincent? But, yeah, more on that later. I'm gonna be posting a bunch of stuff about the new album when the time comes.

"I'm still not sure what to call the album, actually," Gus added. "I have an idea in mind; I have a title. But this is gonna be my first all-instrumental album, so there's a lot of guitar on it, different things on it — not just metal stuff. There's some more mellow, some bluesier things, but then, of course, there's a lot of shredding too. And I'm looking forward to releasing it. It's a big step for me."

"Exosphere" was released on April 1. The track featured Ward on bass and Velazco on drums. The artwork for the single was created by Gustavo Sazes, with whom Gus has worked since 2007.

"Exosphere" was written during times of pandemic and was Gus's first attempt at using a seven-string guitar in an official recording.

In September 2019, Gus issued a digital-only solo EP, "Live In Budapest - Part 1", consisting of four tracks recorded on the guitarist's headline European tour in support of his latest album release, "Fearless". The world tour saw Gus and his band share stages around the world with legendary guitarists like Richie Kotzen, Vinnie Moore followed by his own headline dates and a massive tour as special guest of Los Angeles rockers STEEL PANTHER.

"Fearless" was released in April 2018 via AFM Records. The follow-up to 2015's "Brand New Revolution" marked Gus's first release since exiting Osbourne's band in 2017.

On "Fearless", Gus joined forces with Ward and drummer Will Hunt (EVANESCENCE).

FIREWIND's ninth, self-titled studio album was made available in May 2020.

The band recently parted ways with guitarist/keyboardist Bob Katsionis and singer Henning Basse.

FIREWIND's new vocalist is Herbie Langhans, who has previously played with AVANTASIA and SINBREED.

Paul Stanley spoke to Download host Kylie Olsson about the upcoming KISS biopic "Shout It Out Loud". The film, which recently landed at Netflix, will be directed by Joachim Rønning, the Norwegian filmmaker whose credits include "Kon-Tiki", "Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil" and "Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales". The script is written by Ole Sanders.

"It is definitely happening," Paul stated about the biopic (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And that's gonna be really interesting. The script was really good. And we really waited until we felt comfortable.

"Look, you get once chance to do it, and I would rather not do it than do it half assed or poorly," he explained. "Our director is the real deal. He did 'Maleficent 2', and he's not some hack; he knows how to make movies. It should be great. Casting hasn't begun yet. But that will be interesting too."

Asked which actor he would like to play him in the movie, Stanley said: "And I will tell you this: for casting to be accurate in terms of age, we are looking at actors in their early 20s. Honestly, I don't know a whole lot of actors in their early 20s. When people get asked these kinds of questions, they'll say, 'Oh, Brad Pitt,' or this one or that one. Well, those guys are in their 50s or 60s, so you're talking about another generation of actors. And I'm the first to say I'm not up on a lot of them. But as the casting process goes on, I'll certainly be there and watching. It'll be interesting to see how someone else — be it the casting people or the director — how they view who I am and who they see doing that. I think I'll learn a lot about their perception of me by who they cast."

"Shout It Out Loud", which will have close cooperation from bandleaders Stanley and Gene Simmons, will be a co-production of Mark Canton's Atmosphere Entertainment and Universal Music Group. The film will be produced by Canton through his Atmosphere Entertainment, Leigh Ann Burton through Opus 7, Courtney Solomon, David Blackman and Jody Gerson through Universal Music Group, KISS's longtime manager Doc McGhee through his McGee Entertainment, Rønning, and Simmons and Stanley. Atmosphere's Dorothy Canton and David Hopwood are the executive producers.

More than a year ago,KISS guitarist Tommy Thayer said that the band was also working on a "definitive" documentary which will include "rare and compelling" KISS-related media submitted by the group's fans.

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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

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

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

Netflix previously had rock-biopic success with MÖTLEY CRÜE's "The Dirt", which premiered in March 2019. An adaptation of the book of the same name about the iconic rock band, it had been in the works since 2003. It was previously set up at Paramount and Focus Features before Netflix picked it up in 2017.

"The Dirt", which reportedly cost more than $20 million to produce, currently has a 38% critic score from 72 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, the online review aggregation service that allows both critics and the public to rate movies. The same site has an 94% audience score for "The Dirt" from more than 6,000 reviews.

Greek melodic metal masters Nightfall now releasing the official bass playthrough video for the track "Darkness Forever," which is taken from their latest album At Night We Prey. In addition, the band is introducing their new bassist Vasiliki Biza, who performs the track in the clip.

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

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

At Night We Prey is available in the following formats:

- CD Digipak
- LP in various colours
- Digital

Order here.

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

"Killing Moon" lyric video:

"Darkness Forever" lyric video:

Lineup:

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




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Metal-Rules conducted an interview with Helloween vocalist Andi Deris and topics include reuniting with Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen, the plans to record new music, and their new, self-titled album.

Deris was asked how it was decided what parts each singer will take on each of the album’s songs, especially pertaining to second single, “Fear Of The Fallen”. 

He answered, “For ‘Fear Of The Fallen,’ it’s pretty easy because you’ve got the verses, which you share. You’ve got the reference, which you ID. And you’ve got all these lower parts coming down, which were exactly right for two singers. So, it goes like; me, you, me, you, me, you, you, me, and me. Song over [laughter].

Deris continues, “Honestly, I was quite relieved for the ‘Fear Of The Fallen’ because I had this melody. So when I just sing it like this, you realize I’ve got– there’s no time to breathe. So, I thought, ‘Wow. I mean, I don’t need to make my mind up about I have to break the lyrics here because I have to take a breath here. No.’ Just yeah, I sing that sentence and let Michael Kiske fly over you and start the next sentence. Then I fly over him and start the next sentence. Perfect world. I never wrote a song that easy.”

Helloween are back! Their new single, "Fear Of The Fallen" is a fast paced, melodic track taken from the upcoming and self-titled new album, Helloween, released June 18th, 2021. Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind, the song features vocalist Andi Deris along with his bandmates Michael Kiske, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Sascha Gerstner and Dani Löble in their prime. 

Helloween launched the official video for the single "Skyfall" back in April. The band remarked: The single has landed! The first track off our new album Helloween is now available for streaming and in various CD and vinyl formats! Go check it out! We’re so excited to hear your reactions! Written by Kai Hansen, 'Skyfall' is a storming more than 7 minute ride into the Helloween universe (and beyond!) The epic track describes an alien landing on earth and a dramatic chase while Michael Kiske, Andi Deris and Kai Hansen duel each other in a breathtaking manner and create a vocal broadband adventure. Produced by Martin Häusler, it is the most elaborate video clip in the history of the band."

The German power metal legends have launched the pre-order for the new record. Head here to order in your format of choice.

Forget Helloween - Here comes Helloween. This is the beginning of a new time calculation: Please stick together!

This was the ardent wish of thousands of fans calling out to Andi Deris, Michael Kiske, Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen, Markus Grosskopf, Sascha Gerstner and Dani Löble during the Pumpkins United World Tour - and their dream has come true! With the upcoming album, simply titled Helloween, the band opens a new chapter after 35 years of a glorious career. The future of one of the most influential German metal bands from now on will feature three singers. Originally planned for the live performances only, it was the birth of a unique seven-piece metal alliance.

Dani Löble comments, "This record is the coronation of the Pumpkins United journey! Still, until  today I am fascinated by the different character traits and facets of the Helloween history. Per example the legendary voices of Michi, Andi and Kai. To enjoy them now together on one record, under one flag is the ultimate Helloween experience."

It is therefore not surprising that the pre-release single "Skyfall" (out on April 2), a 12-minute epos written by Kai Hansen, has the long yearned 'Keeper-vibe' - even if the long player can by no means be limited to it. "Skyfall" implies the musical arch which will be loved by fans of every era. This first album of a new age is taking the fans from unforgettable memories of the fifteen studio records and four live CD’s to new adventures.

"Skyfall" begins with a bang. The epic track describes an alien landing on earth and a dramatic chase while Kiske, Deris and Hansen duel with each other in a breathtaking manner and create a vocal broadband adventure. Produced by Martin Häusler, it is the most elaborate video clip in the history of the band; shown with 3-D animation and having a cinematic look, this video is a real high end experience.

The base of this milestone album was already erected in the studio: using the original drum kit of Ingo Schwichtenberg, the recording was done with the same modulators at the Hamburg HOME studios where back then Master Of The Rings, The Time Of The Oath and Better Than Raw were recorded. Completely analog and under the eyes of long term producer Charlie Bauerfeind and co-producer Dennis Ward, the United impact travelled to New York and got the final mix in the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Rammstein).

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

Besides all musical competence, it is also the special enthusiasm that defines Helloween. Michael Weikath characterizes in his own way: "It is the incomprehensible encounter of seven musicians who are working as friends and even family and created something that no one would have thought it could be possible. It is like awaking from a sleep but still being in an incredible dream."

Returnee Kai Hansen reflects: "Being in the studio with my old companions after 30 years was very emotional for me. But at the same time it was a completely different experience with the 'new' boys. The collaboration of different songwriters and strong characters made the album very special: a unique mix with reminiscences from all chapters of the band’s history. Helloween is a big part of my life and I am looking forward to celebrating the songs live for and with our fans“! From another perspective Markus Grosskopf agrees: "For me, being one of the last ‘survivors‘ who played every note from the beginning, it was a fantastic experience and a very emotional process. I think everyone can hear it on this album. I love it."

With all this brand new material an album has been created, an album that is set apart from the digital mainstream and showing the essence of the band was never more solid. This is the beginning of something big – here comes Helloween.

Tracklisting:

"Out For The Glory"
"Fear Of The Fallen"      
"Best Time"              
"Mass Pollution"                 
"Angels"                                  
"Rise Without Chains"          
"Indestructible"                     
"Robot King"                        
"Cyanide"                                 
"Down In The Dumps"         
"Orbit"                                  
"Skyfall"

The first single "Skyfall" is available on CD, digitally and in two different vinyl versions.

Single 1: Vinyl, CD, digital:
'Skyfall' (single edit) + 'Skyfall' (exclusive alternative vocals mix). Both are exclusive single versions and will not be on the album. Around 20 minutes playing time.

Single 2: Vinyl only
'Skyfall' (single edit) + 'Indestructible' (exclusive album track). This is a strictly limited version of the new single with one exclusive album track.

(Photo - Franz Schepers)




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One of The Big Four turns the Big 4-0 this year and is celebrating with a number of special activities and events to honor the landmark anniversary. Formed by guitarist Scott Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, NY on July 18, 1981, Anthrax was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth.

Active over the past five decades, Anthrax has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with The Big 4. The band has built a strong reputation with fans as well as the record industry. With the lineup including Ian, bassist Frank Bello, drummer Charlie Benante, singer Joey Belladonna, and guitarist Jon Donais, the band is being feted on their 40th anniversary by a wide range of friends and music contemporaries.

Each week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and wrapping on the band's official founding anniversary of July 18, Anthrax's social media accounts will offer a series of video testimonials sent in by former band members, fellow musicians, colleagues, and industry veterans sharing behind-the-scenes stories of working with the band and what Anthrax's legacy has meant all these years on. These videos will honor each album in chronological order beginning with the original release, Fistful of Metal. Go here for the full schedule, and watch the currently available episodes below.

The 11-week series will include video contributions from Chuck D, Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Dave Mustaine, Gary Holt, Gene Simmons, Henry Rollins, John Carpenter, Kerry King, Mike Patton, Nergal, Norman Reedus, Michael Poulsen, Rob Zombie, Robert Trujillo, Roger Miret, Darryl McDaniels (Run DMC), Slash, Tom Morello and more. There will also be video clips from former Anthrax band members Dan Lilker, Dan Spitz, John Bush, Neil Turbin, and Rob Caggiano.

The finale will come as a very special Livestream performance from Anthrax on Friday, July 16, featuring a deep cuts set that will pull from the band's entire career-spanning catalog. All details including ticketing information will be announced shortly.

Fans will also be able to get their hands on a special 40th anniversary-edition bottle of Anthrax bourbon to enjoy during the Livestream and keep as a commemorative keepsake. More details will be coming soon.

Episode #1:

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Twenty-twenty-one marks Anthrax's 40th anniversary, during which time the band has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple Gold and Platinum certifications, six Grammy nominations, and a host of other accolades from the media, the music industry, and fans. In 1991, the band helped break down race and genre barriers when they collaborated with Public Enemy on the track "Bring The Noise," and was the first metal band to have its music heard on Mars when NASA played "Got The Time" to wake up the Mars Rover in 2012.

Along with Metallica, Slayer, and Megadeth, Anthrax is a card-carrying member of The Big Four, the four bands that defined the speed/thrash/metal genre. Anthrax has also introduced a series now sold-out signature whiskeys and bourbons and partnered with the Stockholm-based NEZUMI Studios for a high-end, limited-edition Baleine dive watch.

Twenty-twenty-one will see the release of Z2 Comics' "Among The Living" graphic novel with a track-by-track storyline inspired by Anthrax's iconic 1987 album, Among The Living. The book pulls together a "who's who" of names from the worlds of comics and music who created "bubble dialogue" and original artwork to express what the songs meant to them. Taking advantage of COVID-19's prohibition of concert touring, the band has been hard at work writing the next Anthrax album.

(Photo - Jimmy Hubbard)




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King Woman, the outfit featuring songwriter, producer, vocalist Kris Esfandiari, return with their sophomore album, Celestial Blues, on July 30 via Relapse Records. News of the album arrives with the raw, one-take performance “Morning Star”, which was directed by Muted Widows. Watch below.

“Creating this album has brought me great peace and closure,” says Esfandiari of Celestial Blues. “Grateful to finally share it with all of you.”

Celestial Blues was recorded in Oakland, California by Grammy-nominated engineer Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Amenra, Oathbreaker). The band is rounded out by drummer Joseph Raygoza and guitar player Peter Arensdorf. Visual collaborations featured in the album packaging and surrounding imagery were created by Nedda Afsari, Collin Fletcher, and Jamie Parkhurst.

Album pre-orders, including limited-edition vinyl and merch, are available now. Physical pre-orders are available via Relapse’s webstore, here, while digital downloads and streaming links can be found here.

Celestial Blues tracklisting:

"Celestial Blues"
"Morning Star"
"Boghz"
"Golgotha"
"Coil"
"Entwined"
"Psychic Wound"
"Ruse"
"Paradise Lost"

"Morning Star" video:

(Photo - Nedda Afsari)




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Sognametal veterans, Vreid, are unveiling another chapter of their new album and movie, Wild North West. The song, "Dazed And Reduced", and its accompanying music video / movie chapter can be found below.

Founding member and bass player Jarle 'Hváll' Kvåle comments: "This is a personal favorite for sure. Our love for classic heavy rock is strong and our musical roots lie in the majestic 70ies rock and its overlap with the catchy 80ies classics. 'Dazed And Reduced' is a nod to the decades that formed our lives and shows that Vreid will forever be rooted in 70ies rock, 80ies metal and 90ies Nordic blackness."

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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