Robin McAuley has released another taste of his new solo album, Standing On The Edge, with the song "Wanna Take A Ride". Listen below.

McAuley showcases the desire of the respected Irish rock singer to make a strong musical statement in a period that was more creative than ever for him.

After reemerging on the recording side of the music industry with guest spots on Michael Schenker Fest albums and fronting the hard rock supergroup Black Swan, McAuley is feeling invigorated and ready to explore even more creative output, letting the world see that his voice is as powerful as ever.

Standing On The Edge, out now, can be ordered on CD/Ltd. Ed. Crystal Color LP/Digital, here.

Tracklisting:

"Thy Will Be Done"
"Standing On The Edge"
"Late December"
"Do You Remember"
"Say Goodbye"
"Chosen Few"
"Run Away"
"Supposed To Do Now"
"Wanna Take A Ride"
"Like A Ghost"
"Running Out Of Time"

"Wanna Take A Ride":

"Say Goodbye":

"Standing On The Edge" video:

Lineup:

Robin McAuley - vocals
Andrea Seveso - guitars
Alessandro Del Vecchio - bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Nicholas Papapicco - drums
Howard Leese - guitars on “Supposed To Do Now”




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Long-running thrash metal legends MEGADETH have partnered with Pull The Plug Patches to bring you a series of exclusive woven patches, backpatches, and enamel pins arriving in late spring.

Starting with their debut album "Killing Is My Business..." in May, new patch designs will become available throughout the year. "Hanger 18" pins and "Rust In Peace" backpatches are also scheduled for a May release.

Founded in 2018 in Newcastle, Australia, Pull The Plug Patches has taken battle vest culture by storm. By introducing unique shapes and colorways into the global patch community, Pull The Plug Patches have given battle vests in every nook and cranny of the planet a shot of adrenaline. With sales extending to all of the world's inhabited continents, a worldwide community of metalheads have been called to arms.

Dedicated to bringing the highest-quality and most unique woven patches to market, over 300 artists have joined the Pull The Plug Patches roster to date, including ANTHRAX, ARCH ENEMY, CRADLE OF FILTH, DEVILDRIVER, DISMEMBER, ENSLAVED, EXODUS, IRON MAIDEN, METALLICA, MESHUGGAH, MOTÖRHEAD, NAPALM DEATH, NEVERMORE, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, RINGS OF SATURN, SEPULTURA, SLAYER, SUFFOCATION, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER and many, many more.

Pull The Plug Patches is featured prominently in Banger TV's series "The Fabric Of Metal", which takes viewers on a cultural tour of the mainstays of metal style — from battle vests to bullet belts.

For more information, visit the Pull The Plug Patches web site at www.pulltheplugpatches.com.

Video of FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares playing the band's first new song in over five years, "Disruptor", can be seen below. The track will appear on the band's upcoming album, "Aggression Continuum", due on June 18 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The "Disruptor" video — created by Finland's Riivata Visuals — is also available, along with the "Aggression Continuum" cover art, designed by LIGHT THE TORCH guitarist Francesco Artusato.

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

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

"Aggression Continuum" track listing:

01. Recode

02. Disruptor

03. Aggression Continuum

04. Purity

05. Fuel Injected Suicide Machine

06. Collapse

07. Manufactured Hope

08. Cognitive Dissonance

09. Monolith

10. End Of Line

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

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

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

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

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

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

In explaining his reasons for starting a fundraising campaign, Cazares said that all donations would go toward covering newly incurred production costs involved with the making of the new FEAR FACTORY LP, including re-recording the drums, guitars, bass and keyboards, as well as production by Damien Rainaud and Cazares, and mixing and mastering by Andy Sneap. Burton's original lead vocals, which were recorded in full in 2017, remain on the new version of the album.

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

Bell's ASCENSION OF THE WATCHERS project released its second full-length album, "Apocrypha", last October via Dissonance Productions.

Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral

ILL NIÑO has released a video for the new track "All Or Nothing", featuring a guest appearance by P.O.D. vocalist Sonny Sandoval, from the group's forthcoming album, "IllMortals".

"Like P.O.D., ILL NIÑO have always incorporated their culture, roots and heritage into their music and sound, which have set them apart in this metal scene for over two decades," Sandoval says. "It was my honor and privilege to have contributed to this record. After knowing them for 20 years now, I don't know why we didn't do this sooner."

Adds ILL NIÑO vocalist Marcos Leal: "'All Or Nothing' was written as a challenge to myself. I knew the moment I joined ILL NIÑO I would face negativity, scrutiny and possibly ridicule. It caused me to question myself, and even question if I was good enough to embrace this opportunity. I challenged myself as I'm challenging all of you, what would you do if the opportunity of a lifetime was within your grasp? I chose to go 'all or nothing.' I wanna thank one of my heroes, Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D. for lending his freshness to this track and being a constant inspiration."

The "All Or Nothing" single will be available via digital music providers on May 14.

Last December, ILL NIÑO debuted a new track, "Máscara", featuring a guest performance from AJ Channer of FIRE FROM THE GODS.

"IllMortals" is slated for release this fall via Break Silence Music (BSM), which is distributed through ONE-RPM.

Last December, ILL NIÑO released the official music video for its previous single, "Máscara".

ILL NIÑO's current lineup features founding member Dave Chavarri and longtime bassist Laz Pina alongside recent recruits, Leal (SHATTERED SUN), lead guitarist Jes DeHoyos (SONS OF TEXAS) and rhythm guitarist Sal Dominguez (UPON A BURNING BODY).

"IllMortals" will feature additional guest appearances by Benji Webbe (SKINDRED) and Max Georgiev (FALLING IN REVERSE).

ILL NIÑO's new LP will mark the band's first release since the departure of vocalist Cristian Machado, lead guitarist Ahrue "Luster" Ilustre and rhythm guitarist Diego Verduzco. Machado, Ilustre and Verduzco, along with Chavarri and Pina, announced in March 2020 that they had "reached a mutual, amicable and binding agreement" that will allow Chavarri and Pina to continue with ILL NIÑO while Machado, Verduzco and Ilustre will move on with new projects. According to a joint statement release by the five musicians, "No party has admitted fault and there has been no court judgment on the merits. The parties entered into a confidential settlement agreement."

During a November 2020 Facebook Live chat with The New York Hardcore Chronicles, Chavarri stated about ILL NIÑO's recent lineup changes: "When all this went down, Laz and I had taken the high road and been classy about it and not really spoken out. We think it's weak to go out there and badmouth somebody and spread half-truths and play the victim and try to get attention. That's not what we wanna do. We wanna keep it positive. The band is doing better than ever."

Regarding ILL NIÑO's new members, Dave said: "We were very fortunate to get the best guys in the band. We've got Marcos Leal, who also sings for a band called SHATTERED SUN. A great kid, man. Fucking hungry as fuck to get shit done. But very, very on top of his game. He's a fucking star from beginning to end. But the best part of it all is that he's such an easy guy to work with. He's so into the music, and he's so passionate about the business, and that's half the fucking battle. When you lose your passion… I can't work with people that aren't passionate about what they do anymore, and that was one of the biggest reasons for the lineup change. We've got Jes DeHoyos on lead guitar, who also plays in another band called SONS OF TEXAS, and Sal Dominguez, who used to be in UPON A BURNING BODY. We had the pleasure of hanging out with him on Mayhem festival when we toured with those guys, and it was fucking hilarious. We had a lot of fun with those guys. We love UPON A BURNING BODY — a great fucking band. And we revamped the lineup, man. This is the new lineup."

He continued: "The one thing about this lineup is that we're here to elevate each other. We're not here to put each other down or point fingers. This band elevates each other. Every single member in this band is so important to the puzzle right now, because we all feed off each other. We all speak on a daily basis. I talk to every bandmember practically every single day, and that's something that was missing — the disconnection that I had with the last lineup. It was a disconnection that actually started about seven years ago, and it just got progressively worse.

"Listen, sometimes you have to go through shit like that to be able to step into a positive light and into a better situation," Chavarri added. "And that's the way life is, right? It throws you some fucking fucked up shit along the way so you can come out and blast it off with what you've got going on now."

Machado recently confirmed that he is working with Ilustre and Verduzco on a new project. The as-yet-unnamed group has already completed an album's worth of material for a tentative late 2021 release.

Photo credit: Tom Barbee

THE PICTUREBOOKS, the German biker-blues duo consisting of Fynn Grabke and Philipp Mirtschink, has already caused a sensation this year with various collaborations like Dennis Lyxzén (REFUSED) and Neil Fallon (CLUTCH) and additional musical guests Ryan Sinn (THE DISTILLERS) and Dave Dinsmore (Brant Bjork), presenting the band to an even larger audience.

The hard-working band gained so much inspiration from these experiences to strive for even more astonishing collaborations and are now pleased to announce that they have recorded a song with the outstanding Grammy-winning vocalist Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM.

"Rebel" will premiere on Friday, May 14 and will be accompanied by a stunning video filmed in Nashville and Berlin by THE PICTUREBOOKS and Lzzy Hale.

THE PICTUREBOOKS stated about the collaboration: "'Rebel' started out as an idea with Lzzy in mind and quickly surpassed everybody's expectations. Lzzy tapped into something really special with both lyrics and vocal performance, and when we heard her voice on the track for the first time, we were totally blown away! Give this one a listen at full volume and be ready to be floored!"

THE PICTUREBOOKS' latest album, "The Hands Of Time", came out in 2019 via RED Music. The disc was mastered by Brian Lucey (BIFFY CLYRO, MARILYN MANSON, THE BLACK KEYS, GHOST) at Magic Garden Mastering.

After relentlessly touring their previous two albums worldwide with over 350 shows in three years, THE PICTUREBOOKS went back to their very own recording studio, boosting with inspiration and self-confidence. The goal was to add a new vibe to their music while still keeping true to THE PICTUREBOOKS sound aesthetic. They used their new-found inspiration to work harder on the production of "The Hands Of Time" and to experiment with their signature sound and even introduced new instruments such as piano and tubular bells. They handcrafted some of their own percussion instruments as well, which they will be taking on the road with them to further spice up their energetic live shows. "The Hands Of Time" is about accepting and celebrating nothing but the truth, the ups and downs of life, the tears and laughter and the deep friendship between the two bandmembers Grabke and Mirtschink

THE POLYPHONIC SPREE has just released a music video for its performance of "The Spirit Of Radio" by RUSH, the 1980 hit song by the legendary Canadian rock band. The song is featured on "Afflatus", THE POLYPHONIC SPREE's new album of cover songs, which came out on April 16. Now, fans can watch THE POLYPHONIC SPREE perform the song live, captured during the 12-hour session for "Afflatus", just before the world shutdown in March 2020.

"We knew it was probably going to be the last time we saw each other for a long time," reminisces frontman Tim DeLaughter, "and the next day, everything started to close."

Like THE POLYPHONIC SPREE's cover of "She's A Rainbow" by THE ROLLING STONES, the band's history with "The Spirit Of Radio" goes all the way back to the 1980s. "I covered it with my high school band, REGENCY, so for nostalgic reasons, we thought it would be fun to try it with THE SPREE," says DeLaughter.

THE POLYPHONIC SPREE's first full-length album since 2014's "Psychphonic", "Afflatus" was recorded live in one evening at the band's home studio, just before the 2020 lockdown, and features covers of INXS, Barry Manilow, THE ROLLING STONES, ABBA, and more.

Having just celebrated its 20th anniversary as a band, THE POLYPHONIC SPREE is currently at work on a new full-length album of original material, slated for release this fall.

Featuring a range of material from a diverse group of artists that all hold a special significance to the band, the track list includes songs like "She's A Rainbow" — a staple of THE POLYPHONIC SPREE's live set for years — as well as songs that fans have never heard before, like "Could It Be Magic" by Barry Manilow, which holds a special significance to DeLaughter.

"A lot of the music I'm attracted to, melodically speaking, can be traced back to my younger years," he explains. "I was running my dad's business on the weekends as a kid, and there was this cassette of Barry Manilow songs that I played over and over. I loved the grandiose, high-reaching production for essentially a pop song."

"It was inevitable that THE SPREE would end up doing this," adds DeLaughter. "We were asked to play a covers show at The Kessler Theater in Dallas and were ready to go, but with the shutdowns starting to happen around the country, we made the last-minute call not to perform. We had all been together for weeks rehearsing, so we decided to get the band together at our home studio and record the entire show live in one take, just to capture it. We knew it was probably going to be the last time we saw each other for a long time, and the next day, everything started to close."

The album opens with "Don't Change" by INXS, which the band first performed on their 2010 tour of Australia.

"We wanted to pay homage to one of their country's great artists,” DeLaughter adds, "but it's also just an awesome song. I love its forward moving, almost gliding feel."

THE POLYPHONIC SPREE's upcoming, full-length album will be their first release of original material since 2013's "Yes, It's True".

"Afflatus" track listing:

01. Don't Change (INXS)

02. You Put My Love Out The Door (DANIEL JOHNSTON)

03. She's A Rainbow (THE ROLLING STONES)

04. Run To Me (BEE GEES)

05. The Porpoise Song (THE MONKEES)

06. Could It Be Magic (Barry Manilow)

07. The Visitors (ABBA)

08. Let Em In (WINGS)

09. Never My Love (THE ASSOCIATION)

10. The Spirit Of Radio (RUSH)

RESURRECTION KINGS, the project featuring Craig Goldy (guitar), Chas West (vocals) and Vinny Appice (drums), will release its sophomore album, "Skygazer", on July 16 via Frontiers Music Srl. The follow-up to 2015's self-titled debut picks up where that LP left off, offering a magnificent set of songs with big, heavy riffs coupled with loads of catchy hooks and melodies.

Today, the band has released the first taste of music from the album, a single and video for the title track.

Goldy says: "Once again, with the talent pool in which we have access to create, we all brought our 'A' game to the writing and recording of this album. With the freedom to utilize the music that we all were influenced by that started our musical endeavours to begin with, hopefully we expanded upon them in a way in which to inspire another generation of listeners to start a similar journey."

Goldy is truly on fire here, hitting every note with passion and feel. West shows off his massive pipes, delivering an exquisite hard rock performance. Appice is, as always, rock solid behind the kit. Fans who loved the '80s hard rock/metal vibe coupled with touches of '70s legends of the band's debut, will have much to celebrate with "Skygazer".

Of the first single, the title track, Goldy says: "'It started out with a drum groove sent to me by Vinny. His unequaled playing style automatically inspired the music and then Alessandro [Del Vecchio, Frontiers Music Srl's in-house producer] wrote most of the melody lines and lyrics. Besides the music, I wrote the melody and lyrics for two pre-choruses that sum up the song's meaning. It is a metaphor for the lengths to which our nations' leaders will go to acquire, keep, or grab more power for their own ambitions. That leaves us in their wake asking what measures are needed to defend ourselves. All of this comes at what price though?"

The idea for RESURRECTION KINGS sprang from a set of demos Goldy recorded with West, a vocalist with an unbelievable set of pipes, who has worked over the years with Jason Bonham, FOREIGNER, TRIBE OF GYPSIES, and his own band, WEST BOUND. From there, Frontiers president and head of A&R Serafino Perugino became involved and prompted Goldy to put together a lineup which also included Appice. Produced and co-written by Del Vecchio, the resulting self-titled debut album was an impressive example of classic hard rock with contemporary production and edge, mixing a vibe of WHITESNAKE's "1987" with DIO's "Dream Evil" and adding a touch of classic LED ZEPPELIN and RAINBOW. An extremely fun, rockin' record where the musicians were able to stretch their wings and really go for it in their performances.

Track listing:

01. Skygazer

02. World's On Fire

03. Tears

04. Fight Against Our Pride

05. Angry Demons

06. Savior Of Souls

07. Don't Blame Our Love

08. Is This The End

09. Troubled Soul

10. Set Me On Fire

11. Calling All Angels

Recording lineup:

Chas West - Vocals

Craig Goldy - Guitars, keyboards, bass

Vinny Appice - Drums

Alessandro Del Vecchio - production, bass and keyboards

During an appearance earlier today (Tuesday, May 4) on "The Kelly Clarkson Show", THE PRETTY RECKLESS singer Taylor Momsen revealed that she recently developed a new hobby while in quarantine. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm trying to become a tech-type person. I'm still really bad at it, if I'm being honest. But I've now discovered these things called 'reaction videos' online, where you can watch people videotape themselves listening to a song, or your song, for the first time. And it's not even what they say, but watching their face as they listen to it, I find very enjoyable. And so in lieu of [being able to play a live shows with] a massive audience in front of you, that's something that's become like a hobby of mine."

Last month, THE PRETTY RECKLESS announced that it had opted against making any tour plans for 2021 due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS's new album, "Death By Rock And Roll", was released in February via Fearless Records in the U.S. and Century Media Records in the rest of the world. It was the band's first LP to be made without longtime producer Kato Khandwala, who died in April 2018 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.

The latest single from "Death By Rock And Roll", "And So It Went", recently topped Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The song, which features a guest appearance by RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello, has become the band's sixth single to land at No. 1 on the chart. THE PRETTY RECKLESS's previous chart-topper was "Death By Rock And Roll", which spent three week at No. 1 last August.

THE PRETTY RECKLESS has the impressive distinction of being the first female-fronted band to have back-to-back No. 1 singles at the active rock format and the first female-fronted act to have six No. 1 singles on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY leader Zakk Wylde spoke to Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's follow-up to "Grimmest Hits", which was released in January 2018 via Entertainment One (eOne). "We're in [my home studio] Black Vatican right now," Zakk said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "We're just working on the new record — new BLACK LABEL flavored country donuts for the next album.

"During the COVID, obviously, [we worked on] the [recently released] 'None More Black' box set, and then we also tracked about 30 songs," he continued. "So we've got that. We're just putting the finishing touches on some stuff right now. We're gonna be mastering that in a little bit. So it'll probably come out in November."

Wylde also talked about BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's touring plans for the coming months, saying: "I guess we're doing [the] Sturgis [motorcycle rally] with BLACK LABEL. That's in August. And then in all of October and November, we're gonna be going around the States. And then we're doing a BLACK LABEL Christmas-new Year's Eve, and we end up with the Arizona chapter. That's what's on the agenda for now. Hopefully everybody has the shot and then we can all have everything back to normal again, and we can start doing tours again."

Asked if he is "jonesing" to hit the stage again after being off the road for so long, Wylde said: "Put it this way: for the last 20-plus years, the longest I've been home was probably maybe two weeks. So the COVID break, I've been enjoying spending time with the kids. And I wouldn't trade my situation for anything. I love touring. I love rolling out and seeing our BLACK LABEL family everywhere, rolling with Ozz, then my 'Gen Axe' brothers, and then when we do the 'Experience Hendrix' thing. I'm always touring — whether it's with Ozz, BLACK LABEL, ZAKK SABBATH, 'Generation Axe', 'Experience Hendrix'. I'm usually home about less than two weeks [before] I'm back out on the road with something else. I love it. Every night I get up on stage, I look forward to it. This is the longest I've been home in 20-plus years.

He continued: "Once the grind starts rolling again, I think a lot of people are gonna go, 'Wow. Remember 2020? That was pretty nice.' I'm just saying, [it's nice] being at home with your family and before the grind starts kicking again and there's no breaks again. I'm enjoying every second of it until we start rolling."

The "None More Black" box set, containing remastered versions of all 12 BLACK LABEL SOCIETY original studio recordings on gorgeous color vinyl, came out in April. The box set comes with a hardcover 32-page photo book, chronicling BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's legendary career. It arrives in an indestructible black-on-black embossed collection box. It includes "The Song Remains Not The Same II", featuring reworked versions of the original songs.

Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY spent a couple of years touring in support of "Grimmest Hits".

The band celebrated the 20th anniversary of its first album, "Sonic Brew", in 2019.

Zakk has been the on-again-off-again guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne since 1987, although he does not appear on the legendary heavy metal singer's latest LP, "Ordinary Man".

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY is:

Zakk Wylde - Vocals/Guitar

John "JD" DeServio - Bass

Dario Lorina - Guitar

Jeff Fabb - Drums

According to TMZ, Tommy Lee has purchased a new house in Brentwood, California. The MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer spent $4.15 million on "a Japanese-inspired modern sanctuary" which has four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms and it features "Zen-like indoor-outdoor living space."

The 4,266-square-foot house is situated in a "picturesque canyon" with spacious open floorplan living with dining, a kitchen that opens to; a pool with waterfalls, dining deck, fire pit, barbecue island, and enclosed greenhouse-style garden room. The kitchen features antique Japanese tansu custom cabinetry, Brazilian mahogany countertops, and pantry. Master retreat has double-height ceilings, clearstory lighting, heated floors, window wall with built-in cabinetry, garden courtyard, dual baths, and custom closets. In addition, there is a bedroom-office with a spiral staircase that leads to a huge yoga-media and/or art-room. Two more bedrooms occupy a separate wing. Wide balconies overlook cascading gardens of trees, unique plants, ferns, bamboo, Koi pond, herb garden, waterfalls, extensive stonework, magical pathways, and an authentic Japanese teahouse.

Last May, Lee relisted his home in Calabasas, California. He put the house on the market in April 2016 for $5,995,000, but that price came down in July 2016 by three hundred thousand to $5,699,000, in November 2016 by another two hundred thousand to $5,495,000 and in May 2017 by half a million to $4,995,000. Five months later, Tommy dropped the asking price to $4,650,000 before removing the house from the market in February 2018. Three months later, he put the home up for sale again at $4,650,000 before removing it in May 2019. The house is currently on the market for $4,599,000.

The drummer purchased the home in 2007 for $5.85 million, according to property records.

Lee sold another house, in nearby Malibu, in late 2004 for $2,475,000, according to public records. Lee had paid $800,000 in 1995 for that 7,462-square-foot house on 2.49 acres. The house had made the news back in 2001 when a four-year-old boy died after accidentally drowning in the house's swimming pool during a birthday party.




Tommy Lee Drops $4.15M for Japanese-Inspired Pad in Brentwood https://t.co/XRN3nZ1gd0

— TMZ (@TMZ) May 5, 2021

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).

In a statement announcing the new release date, BLACK VEIL BRIDES singer Andy Biersack said: "As you guys know, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the production industry on every level. The music industry has been hit hard in the sense that there is a huge delay in manufacturing of things like vinyl records and physical product and other integral pieces to releasing an album.

"When we finished recording 'The Phantom Tomorrow', we were so excited about the album that we wanted to get it out as soon as possible and so we set a June 4th release date. We realized pretty quickly that by having that June 4th release date, we would not be able to have vinyl records, other physical media, comic book series — all the things that we had planned for the release. So we are going to delay the release of the record to October 29, 2021 at which point we will be able to have multiple vinyl variations, comic book series, different multimedia and things that can properly lay out this whole release.

"We know that it’s going to be disappointing for you guys who were looking forward to hearing the full album on June 4th, but I promise you that you will hear music around that date and much more coming in the future. We have more music videos, more singles, as I said a comic book series and I can't go into detail about it, but the return of BLACK VEIL BRIDES live music is happening sooner than you think so there will be lots of announcements coming.

"So again, October 29th, 2021 — 'The Phantom Tomorrow'. We can't wait for you guys to hear the record and join us in this world that we have put together and hopefully, you enjoy it and it is worth the wait."

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

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

Celebrating the success of one of the most iconic bands of all time, KISS will take the stage for a special performance at the 2021 Tribeca Festival in New York City. For the first time ever, the band will perform at the festival directly following the screening of part one of its new A&E documentary "Biography: KISStory". The two-part documentary event is part of the festival's 2021 TV lineup.

Founding members Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons will be joined by current band members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer for a multi-song, live, performance at the event. The concert, at a currently undisclosed location, is announced on the heels of the news of the definitive A&E documentary "Biography: KISStory", which is set to premiere with a two-night event on June 27 and June 28 from 9 p.m. ET to 11 p.m. ET.

Festival passes are on sale now. Tickets to attend the outdoor in-person screening/events are available starting Monday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Directed by D.J. Viola, "Biography: KISStory" chronicles the band's five decades in the business as founders Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons reflect on their historic career.

After 50 years of rocking and rolling all night and partying every day, the No. 1 gold-record-selling band of all time, KISS, shares their story of success before finally smashing their last guitar and extinguishing the fire-breathing demon. Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons, along with current members Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer as well as guests Dave Grohl (NIRVANA, FOO FIGHTERS), Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE), manager Doc McGhee, music producer Bob Ezrin (ALICE COOPER, PINK FLOYD) and more tell the wild story of the most successful and influential band in the world.

Selling more than 100 million albums worldwide and over 40 years of record-breaking global tours, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame band is giving viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their rise to fame. Featuring original recording sessions, home movies, behind-the-scenes stories and rare footage, the film grants fans an all-access pass to the band's legendary journey. Fans will hear a first-hand account of the emotional story behind the band's start in New York City's gritty rock scene of the 1970s, their meteoric rise to fame, almost losing it all to drugs and alcohol in the 1980s and how they ultimately fought their way back to the top of the charts in the 1990s to become a household name synonymous with rock and roll.

"Through the 'Biography' lens, we are able to give fans a backstage pass to a two-night event that honors the legacy of the rock icons behind KISS," said Elaine Frontain Bryant, EVP and head of programming for A&E. "This documentary event is a special tribute to a one-of-a-kind band and the incredible Kiss Army fanbase that has idolized them for generations."

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

The celebrated "Biography" brand continues to highlight newsworthy personalities and events with compelling and surprising points-of-view and remains the defining source for true stories from some of the most accomplished non-fiction storytellers of our time. Extensive on-air and branded digital content, including short form, will roll-out on all platforms, including Biography.com, the home to hundreds of profiles of notable cultural figures and influencers.

Grammy-winning band GRETA VAN FLEET has released the official live music video for its song "Built By Nations". The clip was created and directed by Rob Sinclair at Sinclair/Wilkinson. The track is taken from the group's sophomore studio album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", which came out on April 16 via Lava/Republic Records.

A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful Army", "The Battle At Garden's Gate" came together primarily on the road or while in the studio after the runaway success of 2017's "Highway Tune" led to the band packing up, leaving home, and eagerly soaking up new experiences on an extended road trip around the world.

Over the past three years, GRETA VAN FLEET — vocalist Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka, and drummer Danny Wagner — played to hundreds of thousands of people across North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South America and New Zealand. While driving to gigs, the first-time world travelers passed many unfamiliar sights, from the favelas in Sao Paulo to the Gold Coast of Australia and everywhere in between, meeting and enjoying conversations with fans and other musicians that opened up new worlds to them. To cap off the change-filled era, the quartet moved from Michigan to Nashville, immersing themselves in Music City's rich history. The melding of all these experiences opened their eyes to amazing new worlds of culture, history, philosophy and spirituality — and ushered in an entirely new way of looking at life and the approach to their music.

Accordingly, GRETA VAN FLEET poured everything they experienced into these new songs - the music reflects their spiritual and intellectual growth, increased awareness of the inequalities plaguing the modern world, and deep empathy for what other people are going through.

"We realized that while growing up, we had been shielded by many things, and we were unaware of a lot of things," says Wagner. "And then we were thrown out into this huge world, and it was a bit of a culture shock at first. But as we started to travel a lot, meet new and different people and experience different cultures, our definition of 'normal' changed."

"I suppose that everything has changed except what got us here in the first place," adds Sam Kiszka. "Everything — our perception of the world, perception of life itself, what it means to be an artist, what it means to be part of a beautiful, gorgeous society. We've gained a larger understanding of why we're all here."

In general, the album's arrangements are spacious and leisurely, giving the music pleasing dynamics, as the band touches on all manners of rock 'n' roll. "The Battle At Garden's Gate" is cinematic, capturing the breathtaking energy of an exciting fight scene or the smoldering passion of a brooding, heroic protagonist saving the day. The new music also illustrates that the members of GRETA VAN FLEET are paving the way for a new generation of musicians — ones that use rock 'n' roll's foundational elements to build an entirely new sonic blueprint.

Sonically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" also feels bracingly modern, an embodiment of genre-blended musical freedom. Recorded in Los Angeles with Greg Kurstin (FOO FIGHTERS, PAUL MCCARTNEY), the album is ambitious and expansive, marked by epic journeys such as the second single, "Age Of Machine", and the Top 5 rock hit "My Way, Soon", which boasts a towering chorus hook and rip-it-up-and-start-again lyrics.

Josh explains: "It's very dynamic, lyrically speaking. And that's the human experience. It's much more than pain or fear; it's also beauty. People need people, and love is important." Lyrically, "The Battle At Garden's Gate" muses about the influence of technology on modern life; the role conflict plays in the global sphere; the deceptive fulfillment of tangible riches; and philosophical questions about life, love and power.

"There was a lot of self-evolution happening during the writing of this album that was prompted by experiences I had, experiences we all had, so a lot of contemplation occurred," Josh says, while Jake adds, "It's reflecting a lot of the world that we've seen, and I think that it's reflecting a lot of personal truth. What Josh does very well with the lyrics is telling ancient tales with a contemporary application."

For Josh, working with Kurstin provided the confidence he needed to push his songwriting into these vivid dimensions. "I'm always a little bit hesitant about my abilities as an artist; I think a lot of artists feel that way," he says. "But Greg hovering over me while I'm on the piano, taking an interest in what I was doing — that was really important for me."

That added confidence is obvious. Josh sounds commanding on each song, stretching his already-acrobatic voice to newer heights, while the instrumentalists fearlessly push themselves into new territory. Easy going organ and acoustic folk-rock riffs drive one song, while another ends in a torrent of guitar noise that rivals Neil Young's onstage guitar freakouts with CRAZY HORSE. "For all of us, the performances — and the aspects of them that are captured — preserve where we're at musically in time right now," Jake says.

The future is unwritten, and the sky's the limit for these curious travelers and truth-seekers. Josh says, "certainly after this, we've grown in so many ways. This album has taught us a lot, about life in general, about ourselves, about all of us, about the world we live in."

Frontiers Music Srl will release the fourth album from TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON, "The Enigma Birth", on June 18. Again featuring a slew of talented guest vocalists, the album sees the Finnish guitar maestro's skills on display once again. Today, the second single from the album, "The Fire And The Sinner", featuring Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE, CYRHA) and Brittney Slayes (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS), has been released. Watch the video below.

Over the past year, Timo started working on songs and once again connected with Aldo Lonobile (SECRET SPHERE, ARCHON ANGEL, SWEET OBLIVION) to craft music for a new album. The new record, "The Enigma Birth", as with previous AVALON albums, features an absolutely awesome cast of vocalists, including James LaBrie (DREAM THEATER), Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE, CYRHA), Marina La Torraca (PHANTOM ELITE, EXIT EDEN), Brittney Slayes (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS), Raphael Mendes (ICON OF SIN), Fabio Lione (RHAPSODY, ANGRA, ETERNAL IDOL), Caterina Nix (CHAOS MAGIC) and YouTube vocal star Pellek.

With Lonobile overseeing the production, the main work on "The Enigma Birth" was completed in the winter of 2020. The resulting album is once again everything that you could expect from one of the true masters of the art. You have Tolkki's trademark fast songs with super catchy hooks, outstanding mid-tempo songs, and a couple of great power ballads thrown in the mix for a wonderfully balanced album.

The concept of the AVALON metal opera series was born in the second half of 2012 when the Finnish composer, producer and guitarist Timo Tolkki, one of the true figureheads of the modern power metal genre, decided to move forward with his career post-STRATOVARIUS. He wanted to work on a project which would allow him to express his musical creativity within the classic metal genre, while also pushing boundaries.

The debut album, "The Land Of New Hope", was released in May 2013 and entered the national album charts in seven European countries, including a Top 10 entry in Tolkki's home country, Finland. The album featured performances by numerous internationally acclaimed singers and musicians such as Michael Kiske (HELLOWEEN), Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE), Russell Allen (SYMPHONY X), Sharon Den Adel (WITHIN TEMPTATION), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), Alex Holzwarth (RHAPSODY), Jens Johansson (STRATOVARIUS, RAINBOW), and Derek Sherinian (SONS OF APOLLO, ex-DREAM THEATER).

Tolkki soon started the work on a sophomore release, "Angels Of The Apocalypse", which came out approximately one year after the debut. In the second chapter, he reunited the legendary STRATOVARIUS "Dreamspace" lineup, with an amazing vocal cast appearing including Floor Jansen (NIGHTWISH), Simone Simons (EPICA), Fabio Lione (ETERNAL IDOL, RHAPSODY, ANGRA), David DeFeis (VIRGIN STEELE), Zak Stevens (ARCHON ANGEL, SAVATAGE), Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE) and Caterina Nix (CHAOS MAGIC).

Timo spent some time away after the release of the second album, so for the third album, after consultation with Frontiers, it was mutually decided to call in producer Aldo Lonobile to oversee the recording. The newly refreshed TIMO TOLKKI'S AVALON release that followed, "Return To Eden", was a resounding success. It once again featured the trademark sound and melodies from Tolkki in that perfect power metal style. The amazing vocal cast appearing this time includes renowned Dutch singer Anneke Van Giersbergen (ex-THE GATHERING), Zak Stevens (ex-SAVATAGE), Todd Michael Hall (RIOT V), Mariangela Demurtas (TRISTANIA, ARDOURS) and Eduard Hovinga (ex-ELEGY).

Track listing:

01. The Enigma Birth (feat. Pellek)

02. I Just Collapse (feat. Caterina Nix)

03. Memories (feat. Caterina Nix, Brittney Slayes)

04. Master Of Hell (feat. Raphael Mendes)

05. Beautiful Lie (feat. James LaBrie)

06. Truth (feat. Jake E)

07. Another Day (feat. Marina La Torraca)

08. Beauty And War (feat. Raphael Mendes)

09. Dreaming (feat. Fabio Lione)

10. The Fire And The Sinner (feat. Jake E, Brittney Slayes)

11. Time (feat. Marina La Torraca)

12. Without Fear (feat. Fabio Lione)

Lineup:

Timo Tolkki - Guitar

Andrea Arcangeli - Bass

Marco Lazzarini - Drums

Antonio Agate - Keyboards, Orchestra

Additional guitars by Federico Maraucci and Aldo Lonobile

Singers:

Jake E

Marina La Torraca

James LaBrie

Fabio Lione

Raphael Mendes

Caterina Nix

Pellek

Brittney Slayes

STYX drummer Todd Sucherman's playthrough video of the title track of the band's upcoming album, "Crash Of The Crown", can be seen below.

Due on June 18 via the band's label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, "Crash Of The Crown" was written pre-pandemic and recorded during the trying times of the pandemic.

The "Crash Of The Crown" song breaks some brave new world ground for STYX, which consists of James "JY" Young (lead vocals, guitars), Tommy Shaw (lead vocals, guitars), Chuck Panozzo (bass, vocals), Todd Sucherman (drums, percussion), Lawrence Gowan (lead vocals, keyboards) and Ricky Phillips (bass, guitar, vocals. Actually, it's the first cut in the band's storied canon to feature three lead vocalists, seeing how it has Young unleashed at the starting gate, Shaw heading up the heroic stacked-vocal middle section, and Gowan leading the vocal charge for the final verse.

"I'm always looking for the one different thing we can do and still have it be STYX," the ever-ebullient Gowan notes, "and that's the song I'm most proud of. The beauty of it is that it's the culmination of all our talents crammed together into one song, 'Abbey Road'-style. I also got to use some gear I never thought I'd have the chance to play on a STYX record like Tommy's Hammond B3 organ, my Minimoog, and my Mellotron."

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

Of all those who made the trek to Nashville, original STYX bassist Chuck Panozzo — who, along with his late twin brother, drummer John Panozzo, formed the initial nucleus of STYX when they began jamming together in their basement on the south side of Chicago in 1961 — is hands down the most effusive about the experience.

"I'm constantly amazed at how Tommy's songwriting continues to connect with the social consciousness that spans across generations," marvels Chuck, who plays on "Our Wonderful Lives" and "Lost At Sea". Lawrence's all-too-brief aquatic fever dream. "Both he and Will have been able to tap into the core elements of the human condition, which is something that's not going to change that much in 50 years — or even 500 years. That's why STYX remains relevant after all this time, because we're part of the human condition."

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

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

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

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

"Crash Of The Crown" is the follow-up to STYX's 16th studio album, "The Mission" (their first in 14 years at the time, which critics called "a masterpiece") which was released June 16, 2017 on the band's label, Alpha Dog 2T/UMe. The highly anticipated two-disc reissue of "The Mission" was released on July 27, 2018 via Alpha Dog 2T/UMe, which includes a CD of the original album, as well as a Blu-ray of the album mixed in 5.1 surround sound accompanied by stunning visualizations for each of the album's 14 songs based on the album artwork. It originally debuted on various Billboard charts, including: #6 Top Rock Albums, #11 Physical Albums, #11 Vinyl Albums, #13 Current Albums, #14 Billboard Top Albums, #16 Retail, #17 Mass Merch/Non-Traditional, #29 Digital Albums, and #45 Billboard 200 (includes catalog and streaming).

Additionally, for Record Store Day on Saturday, June 12, STYX will release "The Same Stardust" EP on blue 180-gram 12-inch vinyl only, which will feature two brand-new songs on side one ("The Same Stardust" and "Age Of Entropia"), as well as five live performances on side two of some of STYX's classic hits previously heard during their "Styx Fix" livestreams that have been keeping fans company during the pandemic on their official YouTube page, including "Mr. Roboto", "Man In The Wilderness", "Miss America", "Radio Silence" and "Renegade".

In touring news, STYX and COLLECTIVE SOUL are rested, healthy, and ready to hit the road for their first-ever multiple city tour together. STYX had previously announced their return to Las Vegas with a three-night sold-out engagement at The Venetian Theatre inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas on September 24, 25, and 26, which will include an exclusive set list and brand-new stage production. Tickets for various cities, as well as exclusive VIP packages from each band, are available now at StyxWorld.com and CollectiveSoul.com.

Cult Of Lilith present the extended "delicacies" video where vocalist Mario Infantes Ávalos tries some traditional Icelandic dishes for the first time.

In October 2020, Iceland's Cult Of Lilith released a video for "Atlas", a track from their debut full-length, Mara (Metal Blade Records). Watch below:

A frantic collision of death metal, prog, complex classical structures and more, Mara is a restless, constantly shifting collection that is as imaginative as it is compulsive. The album can be ordered here.

Mara tracklisting:

"Cosmic Maelstrom"
"Purple Tide"
"Enter the Mancubus"
"Atlas"
"Comatose"
"Profeta Paloma"
"Zángano"
"Le Soupir du Fantôme"

"Purple Tide" video:

 




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On May 21, Vulture will release their new album, Dealin' Death, via Metal Blade Records. The band have released this new video, "Deadliest Riffs Of Dealin' Death"

When it comes to contemporary thrash, there are few bands that can stand toe-to-toe with Germany's Vulture. Establishing their status with 2016's Victim To The Blade EP and 2017's The Guillotine, then cementing their reputation with 2019's Ghastly Waves And Battered Graves, they now return with the mighty Dealin' Death, one of the most ruthless records the genre has seen.

"Take all our key elements - fierce riffing, halftone-shifts, aggressive vocals, huge toms, changing dynamics, horror-synths and classical twin guitar harmonies and cast it in a mould, then you have 'Dealin' Death'," says guitarist Stefan Castevet. "The result sounds a little 'back to the EP-ish' to my ears, yet it contains new approaches that we've never included in our sound so far, like choirs with harmonies."

When it was time for the band to head into the studio, the recording process was handled by two separate collaborators: the album recorded at Monkey Moon Studios in Dortmund by Alexander Stöcker, the guitarist of Stallion, while the production was once more handled by Marco Brinkmann at Hellforge Studio.

"This cooperation turned out great!" enthuses vocalist Leo Steeler. "Alex's way of recording and the whole studio atmosphere was pretty motivating and inspiring for all of us. Marco, on the other hand, knows exactly how we should sound and already became literally the sixth member of the band."

Working twelve-hour days for ten days straight was pretty grueling, their daily schedule "get up, track, sleep", but the effort paid off. "I think 'Dealin' Death' is the best we've ever sounded. The mix itself is absolutely flawless to my ears," says Castevet. "It's way more direct and less reverb-soaked than its predecessor. It was very important for us this time, to take advice from Marco and make all key elements audible for the listener. The vocals sound piercing, the bass is present, delivering warmth throughout the whole mix, and the guitars have the best sound we've ever had, and the same goes for drums. It's very natural and dynamic, but straight to the point."

And now with everything done, the band are eager to get it out there. "We can't wait to get feedback for it, hopefully people will admire it as much as we do! Once the pandemic is over, we also can't wait to play shows and even tour again."

Dealin' Death can be pre-ordered here in the following formats:

- jewelcase-CD
- ltd. digipak-CD (incl. sticker)
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- slate grey marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 500 copies)
- blood red / black marbled deluxe edition vinyl w/ flag, tape, and sticker (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- leaf green marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- black w/ red splash vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- dark teal marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Dealin' Death tracklisting:

"Danger Is Imminent"
"Malicious Souls"
"Count Your Blessings"
"Gorgon"
"Star-Crossed City"
"Flee The Phantom"
"Below The Mausoleum"
"Dealin' Death"
"Multitudes Of Terror"
"The Court Of Caligula"

"Star-Crossed City" video:

"Malicious Souls" video:

Vulture lineup:

L. Steeler - Vocals
S. Castevet - Guitars
M. Outlaw - Guitars
A. Axetinctör - Bass
G. Deceiver - Drums

(Photo - Lea Heindl)




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On June 25, Fractal Universe will release their new album, The Impassable Horizon, via Metal Blade Records. A drum playthrough video for the single "A Clockwork Expectation" can be seen below:

With 2019's Rhizomes Of Insanity, France's Fractal Universe created one of the most musically, lyrically, and emotionally complex and compelling progressive metal works of the twenty-first century. The band toured the record hard, joining heavyweights Obscura in February/March of 2020, making for one of the last tours in the world pre-pandemic, and in doing so, sated their faithful while winning legions of new followers. With its successor, The Impassable Horizon, they have gone even deeper, effortlessly following the trajectory they set themselves on to create an album that is riveting from start to finish.

"We wanted to keep developing our musical personality and the natural sound we managed to get on Rhizomes," says drummer Clément Denys. "It's a very versatile and complex album. Musically speaking, you will find catchy songs which are really direct, progressive and mysterious ballads with epic saxophone solos, and technical songs with intricate riffing."

Elaborates vocalist/guitarist/saxophonist Vince Wilquin, "despite the record being even more diverse, dynamic and including more clean vocals than its predecessor, the overall atmosphere is also slightly darker and more melancholic."

And with the introduction of Wilquin's newly honed saxophone skills to their live set, alongside working with Gojira's Christian Andreu on their stage scenery and production, once the band return to the road they are sure to be an unmissable act.

With the first riffs and ideas for The Impassable Horizon emerging in November 2018, before Rhizomes was even released, composition for the whole record took about a year, with the last six months before entering the studio in May of 2020 dedicated to vocal preproduction/arrangements and finalizing the guitar and saxophone solos. Drums were recorded at the band's own professional recording studio - Boundless Production Studio - in Florange, France, while the other instruments were tracked in their personal home studios. It was overseen by producer Flavien Morel, who has been working with Fractal Universe since the beginning and really understands the band's vision.

"The sessions were good," says Denys. "We were not in a rush. This was the first record we entirely tracked in our own studios, so we were for example able to spend two complete days on sound-checking the drums, which was really comfortable."

The most demanding aspect of tracking was the vocals, which took as long to record as all of the other instrumentation combined. "Flavien really encouraged me to bring the vocal production to the next level: there are chorus sections where there are about thirty tracks of backing vocals, with every line quad-tracked, to make it sound really massive and 'chorus-y'."

With mixing being Wilquin's favorite part of the realization process, the point at which the record really starts to come alive, he was happy to work closely with Morel, and the finished product is everything they wanted it to be. "It feels like the natural evolution of our band sound, keeping our distinctive trademarks and incorporating new sounds and ideas," says Wilquin, and adds Denys, "we hope the new album will reach new fans and please our current ones, which have been amazingly supportive even during the pandemic, and that it will bring the band to the next level."

The Impassable Horizon can be pre-ordered here on CD, vinyl, as well as digitally. Fans can also visit Fractal Universe's official store for additional vinyl and more.

The Impassable Horizon tracklisting:

"Autopoiesis"
"A Clockwork Expectation"
"Interfering Spherical Scenes"
"Symmetrical Masquerade"
"Falls Of The Earth"
"Withering Snowdrops"
"Black Sails Of Melancholia"
"A Cosmological Arch"
"Epitaph"
"Godless Machinists"
"Flashes Of Potentialities" (Unplugged)

"A Clockwork Expectation" video:

Fractal Universe lineup:

Guitar/Vocals/Saxophone: Vince Wilquin
Guitar: Hugo Florimond
Bass: Valentin Pelletier
Drums: Clément Denys

(Photo - Anthony Dubois)




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The Jimi Hendrix Experience, featuring mi Hendrix, Mitch Mitchell & Billy Cox, performed live at the Hemisfair Arena in San Antonio, Texas on May 10, 1970. You can now listen to the full concert, below.

Although a rough sounding recording, these performances are provided for your enjoyment and to help present further context into Jimi Hendrix's incredible performance legacy.

Setlist:

Introduction
"Fire"
"Foxey Lady"
"Machine Gun"
"Freedom"
"Red House"
"Message To Love"
"Hear My Train A Comin'"
"Ezy Ryder"
"Room Full Of Mirrors"
"Star Spangled Banner"
"Purple Haze"
"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"




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Walking Papers (frontman Jefferson Angell and keyboard player/longtime collaborator Benjamin Anderson) release their latest video, for “Creation Reproduction And Death” from their third album, The Light Below, It was directed by The Boredom Killing Business with Cory Ingram, Konstantin Komarov and Bob Wayne.

The song is now available for streaming and download here, and the video can be seen below.

As singer Jefferson Angell explains, “I wrote ’Creation Reproduction and Death’ while contemplating how much time we have left, how we’ll spend it and who will we spend it with? It’s a question we can only answer for ourselves compounded by the pressure that we may not know if we made the right decision until there is no time left to do anything about it. After making three epic videos, we wanted to cut loose and have a good time. We hope people will enjoy watching the video as much as we had fun making it!”

(Photo - Cory Ingram)




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Every band has a cache of favorite songs in their catalog they wish had gotten more attention and/or more airplay, and Crack The Sky is no exception. The 12 deep cuts culled for Between The Cracks, due out on all digital platforms on July 2 via Carry On Music, were personally selected by all current band members as their top choices for the ones that got away from the albums they released between 1983-2015. Fans can listen and purchase here, and an audio visualizer for “The Box” can be seen below.

Crack The Sky will be celebrating the release of the new album at a very special acoustic concert in Baltimore, MD at the Baltimore Soundstage on Saturday, August 21 at 7pm ET. Tickets are now available via Ticketmaster.

Whether it’s the funky come-on of 1984’s “Monkey Time,” the ethereal dreaminess of 2001’s “Zoom,” the still poignant commentary of 2007’s “Immigration,” the stark viewpoint of oblivion permeating 2010’s “We’re All Dead,” or the angular societal detachment that is 2012’s “The Box,” Between The Cracks fills in the blanks with prime Crack The Sky songs worth a second look, and listen.

“We hope this collection will turn people onto some of the older stuff of ours they maybe haven’t heard before,” singer John Palumbo explains. “And then, once they get into all of these songs, they can switch over to listening to our new stuff, and pick up with what’s going on with us now.”

Crack The Sky bandleader/chief songwriter John Palumbo (the man who approved the digital transfers and/or remasters of every one of these reclaimed tracks) and guitarist Rick Witkowski (the man who initially transferred and/or remastered each track digitally for inclusion in the band’s 15-album digital reissue series in 2020) complied the songs for Between The Cracks. Along with guitarist Bobby Hird, they talked about a few of the newly unearthed songs to “resident Crackologist” Mike Mettler. See below.

“The Box” - from Ostrich (2012)

Palumbo: "There’s a lot of electronics on that one - a lot of electronics. That was a fun one to do. And there’s a lot of noise on it too."

Witkowski: "'The Box' is one of my personal faves. There’s kind of an “electronic playground” that’s happening there in the beginning. It’s almost like a carousel because all this stuff is flying around, and then it centers up to him being in the box. And I love Dave [DeMarco’s] bass part on there, because it really drives the song.
Hird: It was a blast playing on that one."

“All Fly Away” - from World in Motion (1983)

John Palumbo: "You know I hate talking about lyrics, but I will say that, as a songwriter, I like to take a general look at what’s going on in the world. That’s easy to write about. It just hits you in the face. Things don’t really change that much, so I can’t take too much credit for being all that psychic with this song."

Rick Witkowski: "It’s a great song that I didn’t play on originally, but we have done it live a couple of times. I really love playing this one. Once again, JP was on point lyrically with what was going on at the time."

Bobby Hird: "Could this song have been written last week? I agree completely with that. This was one of my personal favorites off that album. It was a great time recording it, and the few times we’ve played it live, people just seemed to love it right away, even if they hadn’t heard it before. I think it’s a good time to bring it back out."

“Monkey Time” - from The End (1984)

Witkowski: "I had nothing to do with the original recording of this one either, so I basically heard it for the first time when I was asked to do the digital transfers. And during that first time I heard it, I went, “Wow!” It just hit me really strong. I immediately called JP and said, “We gotta bust this song out the next time we play a gig with the [Crack Pack] Horns!”

Palumbo: "I’m glad you got into this one, Ricky. As a writer, I try to stay away from saying things that will become dated. My job is to entertain first, and secondly, to also make you think a little bit."

“Coconuts” - from Ghost (2001)

Hird: "I love that one JP line here: “It takes a village, they say.” It’s so perfect."

Palumbo: "Thanks, Bobby. And then it’s, “You blow the village up / You burn the village down"."

Hird: "It kind of goes back to when I was a kid, and everybody’s parents were involved in all of our friends’ lives - it really was a village. My parents did the same thing for other friends of mine. Everybody on our block knew everybody else."

Palumbo: "And now, we don’t really even know our neighbors anymore. It’s a new concept."

Witkowski: "It’s isolation - which is kinda like what we’re dealing with here right now. We’re talking over our computers, instead of face to face."

"The Box":

(Photos - Rei Perri)




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Australian progressive metal band Teramaze, fronted by guitarist and band founder Dean Wells, along side Chris Zoupa, Andrew Cameron and Nick Ross, have released a video for the title track of their new album, Sorella Minore, out on May 11 via the band’s own label Wells Music. Watch below.

"'Sorella Minore' is the 2nd instalment of the Her Halo saga and it continues the tumultuous story of 2 sisters," the band explain. "Soon after her older sister's death in a suspicious accident, the younger sister is kidnapped and locked away from the outside world. Held captive, in a desolate castle tower, her only company is the man who will decide her fate, The Tyrant. He tells her she will soon be forcibly betrothed to him by the foul beast he calls "father". Her only hope is to convince The Tyrant to not be swayed by his father’s riches and power, to defy his demonic will and help her escape."

At 26-minutes in length, the song 'Sorella Minore' was a lengthy process for the band to compose, record, mix and arrange. The whole album features four main vocalists, all hailing from Australia - including Dean Wells, Nathan Peachey, Silvio Massaro (Vanishing Point) and Jennifer Borg (Divine Ascension). Each vocalist added their own depth and unique flavours to each character in this instalment of the Her Halo story.

Sorella Minore can be pre-ordered here

Tracklisting:

"Sorella Minore"
"Stone"
"Take Your Shot"
"Between These Shadows"

"Stone" visualizer:

Between These Shadows" video:




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With the release of his sophomore solo album, The Ides Of March, just days away, Myles Kennedy performed the album opener, "Get Along", as part of a recent Planet Rock acoustic session. Check it out below:

Watch "In Stride" from the session:

Kennedy showcased the musical diversity of The Ides Of March (out May 14 via Napalm Records) with the unveiling of the pensive ballad, “Love Rain Down”. The song displays the softer side of the upcoming album.

The genesis of the track has been around for years and is reminiscent of what fans and critics were drawn to on his debut solo album Year Of The Tiger. The acoustic introduction builds until the band - drummer Zia Uddin and bassist/manager Tim Tournier - joins in on the second verse and rides out the rest of the track. Lyrically, Myles delivers a plea born out of the longing for answers and solace from all of the dark possibilities of the day as he sings “Let your love rain down. Let it wash away the sorrows I’ve found.”

Watch the lyric visualizer for "Love Rain Down":

The Ides Of March will be available in the following formats:

- Digital Album
- 1 CD Jewel Case
- 1 CD Digipack (Napalm mailorder, limited to 500 worldwide)
- 2 LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
- 2 LP Gatefold Grey Vinyl (RoW only)
- 2 LP Gatefold Bottle Green Transparent Vinyl (Napalm mailorder, limited to 400 worldwide)
- Die Hard Limited Edition: 2 LP Gatefold Clear Splatter Mint/Violet/White Vinyl + Aluminium Print (Napalm mailorder, limited to 300 worldwide)
- Limited Deluxe Box: Glow In The Dark Vinyl + Cover Artprint + 7” Glow In The Dark "A Thousand Words” Vinyl Demo Single + Pendant + Slipmat (Napalm mailorder, limited to 700 worldwide)

Pre-order here.

The Ides Of March tracklisting:

"Get Along"
"A Thousand Words"
"In Stride"
"The Ides Of March"
"Wake Me When It’s Over"
"Love Rain Down"
"Tell It Like It Is"
"Moonshot"
"Wanderlust Begins"
"Sifting Through The Fire"
"Worried Mind"

"Get Along" video:

“The Ides Of March” video:

"In Stride" video:

Myles will be hitting the road to promote his new album on a socially distanced tour. Dates below.

June
23 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theater (Headline Show)
24 - Lincoln, Ne - Bourbon Theatre (Headline Show)
26 - Hoffman Estates, IL - Now Arena *
27 - Oshkosh, WI - Ford Festival Park *

* with Halestorm, Blackstone Cherry, Ayron Jones, From Ashes To New, Eva Under Fire

Tickets for the shows are on sale at MylesKennedy.com.

A message states: "These shows are the first of many we hope to roll out in the upcoming weeks so please be stay tuned!"




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MEGADETH and LAMB OF GOD have announced the rescheduled dates for "The Metal Tour Of The Year". Joining them, as previously planned, will be special guests TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES, heralding the long-awaited return to the stage for these bands, who are every bit as excited about these historic and not-to-be-missed shows as fans are.

Produced by Live Nation, the epic, rescheduled tour will now kick off on Friday, August 20 in Austin, Texas and hit a further 26 cities before wrapping in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada on Saturday, October 2.

All previously purchased tickets for any of the rescheduled dates listed below will be valid for the new date. For any canceled dates, refunds will automatically be processed at your point of purchase.

Tickets and VIP packages for all artists go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, May 7 at 10 a.m. local time at LiveNation.com.

MEGADETH, fueled by Dave Mustaine's triumphant return to the stage following his diagnosis and recovery of throat cancer, will finally embark on their first North American tour since 2017.

Speaking on the long-awaited announcement of the rescheduled run, Mustaine says: "Can you hear that sound of armies on the march — of destruction on the horizon? That's this tour, coming for you. We cannot wait to return to the stage and I promise you you do NOT want to miss these shows. You're not going to know what hit you!"

LAMB OF GOD pressed ahead with the release of its crushing self-titled album, "Lamb Of God", which was one of the best-selling metal albums of 2020. The band now looks to take the show on the road as it returns to the stage for the first time since the release of the record. Frontman Randy Blythe states: "It's been far too long since we got together to do our thing. By 'we,' I mean bands, road crew, bus drivers, truck drivers, local venue staff, vendors, audience, parking lot attendants, the freaking janitors- the whole damn enchilada. ALL OF US. TOGETHER. Everyone has been waiting, but the time has come to put the puzzle back together. I honestly don't think I've ever been more ready to hit the road with LAMB OF GOD. See y'all in a few months with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES. Over a year with no live music? These shows are gonna be INSANE..."

TRIVIUM's Matt Heafy adds: "'The Metal Tour Of The Year' couldn't be stopped by anything. It is still happening, and we can't wait to bring back shows with this monumental tour. We're ready. Are you?"

IN FLAMES singer Anders Fridén said: "I can't really describe how good it feels to be really talking about going on tour, let alone 'The Metal Tour Of The Year'. This setup is long overdue and we can't wait to finally make it happen."

"The Metal Tour Of The Year" dates:

Aug. 20 - Austin, TX @ Germania Insurance Amphitheater

Aug. 21 - Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory

Aug. 22 - Woodlands, TX @ The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman

Aug. 24 - El Paso, TX @ Don Haskins Center

Aug. 25 - Albuquerque, NM @ Isleta Amphitheater

Aug. 27 - Denver, CO @ Ball Arena

Aug. 29 - Phoenix, AZ @ Arizona Federal Theatre

Aug. 31 - Reno, NV @ Reno Events Center

Sep. 01 - Irvine, CA @ FivePoint Amphitheatre

Sep. 02 - Concord, CA @ Concord Pavilion

Sep. 04 - Portland, OR @ Moda Center

Sep. 05 - Auburn, WA @ White River Amphitheatre

Sep. 09 - Tinley Park, IL @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Chicago

Sep. 11 - Danville, VA @ Blue Ridge Festival*

Sep. 12 - Wantagh, NY @ Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater

Sep. 13 - Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion

Sep. 15 - Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion

Sep. 16 - Holmdel, NJ @ PNC Bank Arts Center

Sep. 18 - Noblesville, IN @ Ruoff Music Center

Sep. 19 - Clarkston, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre

Sep. 20 - Cincinnati, OH @ PNC Pavilion

Sep. 22 - Rogers, AR @ Walmart AMP

Sep. 24 - Mount Pleasant, MI @ Soaring Eagle Casino Amphitheatre

Sep. 26 - St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre - St. Louis

Sep. 28 - Minneapolis, MN @ Armory

Sep. 30 - Toronto, ON @ Budweiser Stage

Oct. 01 - Laval, QC @ Place Bell

Oct. 02 - Quebec City, QC @ Centre Videotron

*Festival date featuring all four bands.

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 first four 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:

Episode #2:

Episode #3:

Episode #4:

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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Acapella metal masters, Van Canto, return with their energetic and unique Rakkatakka-power and are set to release their eighth inimitable offering, To The Power Of Eight, on June 4 via Napalm Records.

The band are well-known for their catchy tunes and sophisticated interpretations of various scene classics and follow their path with record number eight as well, as the album triumphs with four red-hot cover versions and eight own, rousing band anthems. Today, those thundering voices unleash their very own and remarkable take on hammering “Raise Your Horns” by Swedish Vikings Amon Amarth.

Van Canto took the well-known favorite and turned it into their own unique version, featuring band trademarks without losing sight of the actual core of the track. Horns up!

Van Canto on the song: “'Raise Your Horns' is a very special cover for us. For the first time Van Canto tackled a song where the lead vocals are consistently in the lowest growl register. Thanks to the constellation of having three lead singers, Hagen could spread out in the lead, while Inga can set high, almost orchestral accents and Sly leads the choir together with Jan. For the first time in a while it's also a song where a "real" riff sets the direction, so that the Rakkatakka and bass singers are extremely busy as well. A great composition by Amon Amarth, that we gladly pay homage to.”

Watch the official video for “Raise Your Horns”:

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 will be available in the following formats:

- 1 LP Gatefold
- 1 CD Digipack
- Digital Album

Pre-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"

“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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Ever since bursting onto the scene in 2000, Budapest’s Bornholm has been an unstoppable force in the black and pagan metal scene. Touring with household names like Ex Deo, Varg, Arkona and many more, the Hungarian four-piece powerhouse has made a name for themselves with spectacular live shows and four tremendous studio albums. Now, Bornholm are ready to take their career to another level with leading Austrian metal label Napalm Records as a strong partner by their side.

Bornholm singer and guitarist Sahsnot about signing to Napalm Records: “The time has come to bring you some great news. We spent the last two years working harder than ever. In the meantime, the world changed completely, but it had no influence on us at all. We began to work on our next record - we have the toughest, longest and most unforgettable work period behind us. As a result, we have signed with Napalm Records, currently one of the best and strongest record labels. It means huge progress for us and we hope the new record will live up to its hopes. We are really grateful for them as they put their trust in the record and the band. A new era begins in our lives and I think we’ve found our place.”

New music from Bornholm’s upcoming fifth studio album via Napalm Records will be announced soon.

Bornholm are:

Sahsnot - Guitar/Vocals
Agarez - Guitar
Charun - Bass
D - Drums

(Photo - Krisztina Mate)




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During an appearance on the latest episode of the "Last Words" podcast, former SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo was asked how he manages to find the time to get himself involved with so many different projects nowadays. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's just your time. I look at it as eight hours of sleep, eight hours for myself, eight hours for work. So, eight hours of sleep — I wake up in the morning. I have a couple of hours — three hours, four hours — to myself, [and] then I go to work. And then the evening, sometimes I break it apart. I have my wife helping me out with my schedule and interviews and things like that — just time management. You just do it, man. If you have two weeks to finish up on a project, you buckle down, you don't do anything else and you do it. I think it's love for what I do, is what it is. Because if I didn't love what I would be working on, you wouldn't be able to get me to do it, or I would drag my feet. But because I'm so in love with what I do for a living and I enjoy it so much and it's so gratifying and rewarding, it's easy for me to take on projects."

He continued: "I have to finish one project now by — I'm hoping to finish it by the 15th, and it looks like I will. And I'm not supposed to take any more projects. And I took on another one. It's only three songs, but — 'Okay, I'll do it for you.' I don't know, man. I'm just having fun at what I'm doing and loving it."

Lombardo, who splits most of his time between crossover pioneers SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, horror-punk icons MISFITS and hardcore supergroup DEAD CROSS, was effectively fired from SLAYER after sitting out the group's Australian tour in February/March 2013 due to a contract dispute with the other bandmembers. He has since been replaced by Paul Bostaph, who was previously SLAYER's drummer from 1992 until 2001.

The 56-year-old musician, who was born in Havana, Cuba but emigrated to Southern California with his parents when he was a toddler, is featured on the score to the recently released Netflix comedy-action film "Thunder Force". The movie is written and directed by Ben Falcone ("The Boss", "Tammy") and stars Melissa McCarthy, Octavia Spencer, Pom Klementieff, Melissa Leo and Tyrel Jackson Williams. The comedy is set in a world overrun with super-villains and follows two childhood friends who reunite to battle the Miscreants that threaten to destroy Chicago.

KREATOR frontman Mille Petrozza took part in Andertons Music Co's "ESP Social Takeover Weekend" on Saturday, May 8. Asked what advice he had for up-and-coming guitarists, Mille said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I would say that it's mostly important to create [your own style]… Of course, you can always be influenced, you can always see what other people are doing. Especially when you start out, it's essential in order to develop your own style and your own tone. I did that, and I think most guitar players look up to certain people and learn the tricks and the basics. But I think once you took that step, you should try to at least develop your own style. And that can be your own tone, because you don't play like other people, or your pickings or the sound you're trying to create. I think you should try to develop something unique. That's my advice. Don't try to become the next Steve Vai or the next whoever you think is a great guitar player, but try to be yourself. Because there's no one there yet that plays like you."

Two months ago, Petrozza revealed to the official podcast of Italy's Metalitalia.com that KREATOR would wait until the coronavirus pandemic has subsided before releasing an album.

"Last summer, in August, we felt that we were done [writing], and we were very enthusiastic about, like, 'Okay, this is almost an album. We have 12 songs. And we take the 10 best, or whatever we come up with.' And we already planned on going into the studio in February," he said. "Now it's February, and the world is still kind of fucked with the COVID. So we have to wait and be patient… I think going on a tour, the artwork, everything has to connect. So we'll wait until that's possible again, and then we'll put out the album."

On the topic of the musical direction of the follow-up to 2017's "Gods Of Violence" album, Mille said: "It's definitely different. It's hard for me to describe, but I think it's definitely more thrash again. It has a lot of melody, and it has a lot of traditional parts, and it has a lot of ingredients of the last four or five albums. But it also has some very old-school moments. I think it's definitely the next step."

Asked if KREATOR will once again work with producer Jens Bogren, who helmed "Gods Of Violence" and 2012's "Phantom Antichrist", Mille said: "At this point, it looks like we're working with Arthur Rizk [CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, CODE ORANGE, POWER TRIP]. That's what we have planned at this point. And I'm kind of exchanging demo tapes and discussing recording techniques [with him]. So, yeah, it looks like we're working with Arthur."

KREATOR's next album will mark the band's first with bassist Frédéric Leclercq, who joined the group in 2019.

Last September, KREATOR guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö described the sessions for the band's new album to Italy's Poisoned Rock as "a lot of fun," adding that the "mood" in the band "is great. And the general vibe and the atmosphere is very good," he said. "[These are] creative times for KREATOR at the moment."

In March 2020, KREATOR surprise-released a new single, "666 - World Divided". The song was produced by Andy Sneap and Markus Ganter and was recorded at Hansa Tonstudios in Berlin, Germany.

The music video for "666 - World Divided" was created under the direction of Jörn Heitmann, who was responsible for the music videos for "Radio" and "Ausländer" by RAMMSTEIN.

KREATOR played its first show with Leclercq in October 2019 in Santiago, Chile.

Before joining KREATOR, Leclercq rose to fame with U.K.-based extreme power metallers DRAGONFORCE for whom he handled bass duties from 2005 until August 2019.

KREATOR's previously announced "State Of Unrest" European tour with LAMB OF GOD has been rescheduled for 2021 in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

KREATOR released a new live set, "London Apocalypticon - Live At The Roundhouse", in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The effort was professionally filmed and recorded on December 16, 2018 at the Roundhouse in London, England.

Photo credit: Jake Owens

Paying respects to the Soviet Union forces in WWII and in time for the Russian Victory Day on May 9, Swedish heavy metal heroes SABATON have released their new single, "Defence Of Moscow". The song is a cover from Russian superstar Radio Tapok who has a huge following in Russian-speaking countries and who gained popularity by covering rock and metal songs in the Russian language.

"Defence Of Moscow" follows last year's successful collaboration between SABATON and Radio Tapok on the live version of "The Attack Of The Dead Men". Covering the song in English and giving the song their unique SABATON style, the band is about to release another epic masterpiece that once again highlights an important turning point in European war history.

In order to give "Defence Of Moscow" the salute it deserves, SABATON created an extraordinary and strictly limited seven-inch vinyl single in red with a beautifully etched B-side.

SABATON bassist Pär Sundström states: "May 9 is celebrated as V-Day in Russia, the day to commemorate the victory over the Nazis in WW2. This year we participate in the memory of this event by releasing a song dedicated to the brave men who fought in the battle of Moscow.

"This track was originally written in Russian by our friend Radio Tapok. It's a very strong song and we thought it made sense that SABATON should give it a try to make a honorable cover of this song.

"We love to surprise everyone, and this is a great surprise."

Last month, SABATON released the English-language version of its latest single, "Livgardet" ("The Royal Guard").

SABATON's first new music since 2019's "The Great War", "The Royal Guard" honors the Swedish Royal Guards first established in the year 1521.

SABATON is arguably one of the most important bands to emerge from the modern metal scene, journeying forth with confidence on a steady ascendence that's rewarded them with five Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards (including "Best Live Band" three different years) and multiple nominations for the Swedish equivalent of the Grammy Awards, the Grammis. In 2016, "The Last Stand" debuted at No. 1 in three different European countries and cracked the Top 3 in four others. Joakim Brodén, Sundström, Chris Rörland (guitars), Hannes Van Dahl (drums) and Tommy Johansson (guitars) curate a festival of their own, Sabaton Open Air, that started back in 2008, as well as their own forward-thinking Sabaton Cruise, that is being held since 2009.

SABATON's ninth album centered on World War I, often referred to as "The Great War." "The Last Stand" delved into various "last stands" throughout history. "Livgardet" strengthens the band's well-known reputation as experts, aficionados, and storytellers regarding the triumph and tragedy of battle.

SABATON headlined London's Wembley Arena in February 2020. JUDAS PRIEST chose them as main support on their "50 Heavy Metal Years" tour of North America, scheduled for September and October 2021. The group will kick off 2022 with an unprecedented 29-city tour of their home country.