Ex-GREAT WHITE singer Terry Ilous says that he was "completely taken by surprise" by his dismissal from the band.

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

The Ilous-led GREAT WHITE released two albums, 2012's "Elation" and 2017's "Full Circle", before Terry was shown the door in July 2018 and replaced with Mitch Malloy.

Ilous discussed his exit from GREAT WHITE during a new appearance on Waste Some Time With Jason Green. Asked if the release of his 2017 solo album, "Gypsy Dreams", created any tension between him and the rest of the band, Terry said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I started working on that album in 2016. And I always told the band I was working on the album. There was nothing to hide. Why would anybody have a problem with a bandmember releasing a solo album, especially if it's not the same type of music anyway? I come from the school where it's good to do other things; you have to branch out. I've worked with a lot of different musicians… I've worked with a lot of different people in my career — as a backup singer or voiceover or whatever — so, for me, it was no big deal. And I asked the band's permission, I said, 'Is it okay?' And they said, 'Yeah, yeah, you can do your own thing.' [And I said] 'Great. Fantastic.' So we are in 2016. I do a GoFundMe kind of thing, to raise money for the album. And all of a sudden, toward the end of 2016, the band says to me, 'GREAT WHITE's gonna do a new album.' I'm, like, 'Oh, really? Okay. So let's get ready to write.' So I went back and started writing songs and everythiing. At the same time, I was finishing my own album. And then I made an announcement, my album's gonna come out May 15th, and the band has a meeting with me and says, 'You can't release your album.' I'm like, 'Why?' 'Well, you can't release your album because we're gonna release our album at the end of the month.' I'm, like, 'What should I do?' 'You can't release it.' And that was it. So that created a big stigma in the band, a big issue, especially because the band I was working with [for my solo album consisted of] mostly Latin people. So it was a problem, I'll put it this way, and that started to create issues between myself and the guys in the band. Not everybody in the band, by the way, but some people in the band were upset about that."

According to Ilous, he always made it a point to tell people that his primary focus was GREAT WHITE and not his solo career. "I was doing a lot of interviews, and I always said one thing, I said, 'I am the lead singer of GREAT WHITE. My priority is GREAT WHITE,'" he said. "I always made sure to say that, 'cause sometimes people can misinterpret what you wanna say. So I said, 'No. I am the lead singer of the band GREAT WHITE. My priority is GREAT WHITE. I'll be touring with GREAT WHITE. And if the band is not touring, then I will be doing that on my own. And that's it.' And that is the truth. But apparently someone got upset. I was touring, and eventually one day, I received an e-mail saying, 'Thank for for a great service. You're a great singer. Have a good life.' And that was it."

Terry said that he "had no idea at all" that he was going to be replaced. "Last time [I played with GREAT WHITE], we did a string of sold-out shows," he recalled. "In fact, one of the last shows we did was actually on a Thursday in Wisconsin. We did a summer fest, and there were 10 thousand people [there]. The crowd went crazy — 10 thousand people going nuts. And that day I sang so well. You know, sometimes you sing better than other days — that's the way it is as a singer — but that day I was really good. Not to be pretentious, but I was happy. I was, like, 'Ah, man. Great performance.' Friday and Saturday, we did two other shows — one in Las Vegas. We did a show with SLAUGHTER, and everybody gave me a big hug. 'Hey, brother, see you next week.' That's the last time I talked to anyone in the band. On Monday morning, I get an e-mail… The leader of the band, Mark [Kendall, guitar], sent me the e-mail, but it [was] on behalf of everybody in the band. 'We think that you should be replaced by somebody else. And we wish you the best.' The e-mail was polite. 'Good luck to you. You will have no problem finding another band. Please don't say bad things about us. We will never say bad things about you.' And that was it."

Regarding his initial reaction to the e-mail, Ilous said: "I was surprised — I was a little surprised — because I said, wait a minute, I did three albums. I helped rebuild the brand. I gave my best for nine years. When I joined the band, I was not getting paid very well, and I said, 'I'm gonna do it anyway, because I wanna prove to myself, and I wanna prove to those guys I can do it.' So I did what I could do. I would have loved to get a phone call, at least, or maybe a meeting with the band, and said, 'Hey, it's not working out. Can you work on this? And maybe we'll give you another chance.' 'Okay.' I think it's fair — when you're a dedicated worker, and you do all that stuff, I think it's fair. You need a second chance. But second chance for what? I didn't do anything wrong. It's not like I had sex with any one of their wives. I'm not that type of person."

Terry went on to say that there were some personal differences within GREAT WHITE, but not enough to create a major issue when he and his then-bandmates were living in close proximity to one another on the road.

"For me, I was always in GREAT WHITE," he said. "I would say to myself, 'GREAT WHITE is GREAT WHITE. I love the band. I love the music, and I'm happy to be in the band.' I didn't expect anything. I knew I had an issue with one guy in the band, like a lot of people have issues with the same guy in that band. But I knew that. And I didn't think the guys would decide to say, 'Screw Terry, and let's get somebody else.' I didn't expect that at all. I was completely taken by surprise, to say the least. I was beside myself. But I didn't post anything negative. I didn't make stupid comments online; I didn't do anything like it. I said, 'Well, it is what it is. They have somebody else. I don't wish him anything bad,' which I would never do anyway."

Ironically, the first time Malloy performed with GREAT WHITE was on the Monsters Of Rock cruise in 2018, just a few short months before Terry was fired from the band. At Terry's invitation, Mitch got up on stage and joined GREAT WHITE for a rendition of their cover of Ian Hunter's "Once Bitten, Twice Shy".

"I'm the one who introduced Mitch to the band," Ilous recalled. "And I will never forget that day. I introduced Mitch to the band, and Mitch tried to upstage me on stage. I'm a stage performer, but I don't need to overdo things. It's like sex. Music is sex — the same thing. You don't need to try all different positions to please your partner. You do what you do, and that's it. But I realized that Mitch was trying to go crazy on stage, one side to the other, to prove that he was a great performer. And I have nothing against Mitch, by the way; I wish him the very best. But I said, 'Okay. Good for him.' I didn't expect that… It's okay. They did what they had to do. And honestly, to this day, I don't wish them anything bad at all. Even Mitch — I'm happy he's got the gig. It's not his fault. He just got hired."

Ilous relocated to Hollywood, California from Lyon, France in 1986, forming the metal band XYZ along with friend and bassist Pat Fontaine. Ilous quickly became a favorite on Sunset Strip scene in the late '80s before getting signed to Enigma/Capitol. After selling over 1.5 million records worldwide and touring with artists such as FOREIGNER and ALICE COOPER, Ilous continued to release albums well into the 2000s, along with film, songwriting and television work.

In 2009, Terry was contacted to play a handful of dates with GREAT WHITE, and within a couple of years, the lineup was made official. GREAT WHITE immediately headed out on an extensive year-long tour, followed by a new album, "Elation", in 2012 that was highly praised by the media and fans alike. "Full Circle" arrived five years later.

In May 2019, Kendall told the "Music Mania" podcast that he and his bandmates felt that Malloy was a more suitable vocalist for GREAT WHITE than Ilous. "We feel like Mitch is a little bit better fit, not only image-wise but vocally," he said. "He delivers the songs in a way that's just more like the original. We don't wanna reinvent the songs. When we write new stuff, that's a different story. But you wanna deliver the hits well. People come down to hear that."

Live Nation Entertainment, the world's leading live entertainment company, and Veeps, the artist-first livestream platform run by co-founders Joel and Benji Madden of the band GOOD CHARLOTTE, today announced they have started equipping more than 60 concert venues across the United States to offer turnkey livestreaming. This new Veeps setup gives any artist playing at one of these venues the ability to livestream their event with the flip of a switch to fans across the world.

Artists are at the center of what Live Nation and Veeps do. By setting up more than 60 venues for livestreaming, both companies are doubling down to help artists expand revenue on the road where they make a living while providing creative opportunities to connect with more fans. The companies selected venues that are already regular tour stops, giving artists lots of flexibility to choose when and where they want to add the element of streaming to a show.

Live Nation promotes 40,000 concerts and 100+ festivals in a typical year, and its network of physical shows provide a unique opportunity for livestreaming. Combined with Veeps' industry-leading technology, artists will be able to offer fans even more ways to enjoy live concerts, including virtual admission to sold-out shows, access to events happening around the world, exclusive content, and things like backstage and front row viewing angles.

A wide variety of venues will be optimized for livestreaming — from iconic clubs and theaters to amphitheaters. Some of the venues that will be first to go live include The Fillmore in San Francisco and Philadelphia, House of Blues in Chicago and New Orleans, The Wiltern in Los Angeles, and a number of amphitheaters including Shoreline Amphitheater in California and The Gorge in Washington.

The Wiltern is already set up, and will be debuting a series of 10 streamed shows on Veeps, dubbed "From The Wiltern", starting May 7, 2021. Tickets for each show are $15 and are on sale now at thewilternseries.com. Full lineup and onsale info listed below.

"Amongst artists, it's often said that the one side of our careers that truly belongs to us is touring. To help an entirely new touring vertical become readily available to artists is such a huge win for our community and we couldn't be happier. It's the exact type of thing that shows what our partnership with Live Nation can really mean for artists," said Joel Madden. "Now, with the flip of a switch, every artist playing in these venues can make their show a global event. We've already seen how livestream shows drive engagement across every other area of an artist's business and the added ticket revenue will allow them to re-invest in their art and make what they're offering their fans even better. It's a real dream come true for us at Veeps and our mission to help empower artists in their careers."

"Artists and fans are eager to get back to shows, and livestreams will continue to unlock opportunities for them to connect more than ever before," said Michael Rapino, president and CEO, Live Nation Entertainment. "Veeps is the best at what they do, with Benji and Joel tapping into their own experience as artists to help other artists thrive, and we look forward to bringing this innovative idea to life in these iconic venues."

Ticketed livestreams are helping artists engage with some of their most passionate fans, even if the show is happening halfway around the world. In 2020, Veeps helped put over $10 million directly into the pockets of artists through tickets bought to livestream shows. Artists like Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Brandi Carlile and Patti Smith turned to Veeps in a bid to connect with fans, raise money for charity, and bring in income for themselves and their crew.

The additional livestreams this equipment rollout will enable will also create jobs for the production crews that help bring them to life and give fans the opportunity to watch their favorite artists even if the show is sold out or hundreds of miles away.

As we get closer to returning to concerts in person, Live Nation and Veeps plan to continue equipping venues for livestreams, providing artists with valuable tools and fans with even more ways to enjoy live music well into the future.

"From The Wiltern" concert livestream lineup:

* Breland - May 7

* JP Saxe - May 14

* Young Thug - May 21

* Lany - May 28

* Waterparks - June 4

* Lucky Daye - June 11

* Young M.A. - June 18

* Eyedress - June 25

* Freddie Gibbs - July 2

* Chase Atlantic - July 9

Veeps is a direct-to-fan experiential platform, custom-built for artists, by artists. Founded in 2017 by Benji and Joel Madden, it is the music industry's leading, premium live-streaming platform. In 2020 Veeps hosted hundreds of live-stream shows that helped artists make millions of dollars in revenue and today, in partnership with Live Nation, Veeps continues with a mission to power artists in the most critical early stages of their development, all the way through the biggest, most important moments of their careers.

In a brand new interview with "Lipps Service With Scott Lipps", Dee Snider was asked if thinks TWISTED SISTER will ever play live again, nearly five years after the band completed its farewell tour. The singer responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've been on the same page with this. I would absolutely reunite with the guys for a song or two for a charity or for a moment. If [American talk show host Jimmy] Fallon called up and said — he's a big TWISTED fan — 'Hey, would you guys come on [my] show and do one of your Christmas songs?' or whatever, I would love to. Go out and do a 90[-minute] or two-hour set as TWISTED SISTER again? I don't see that happening."

He continued: "I'm getting a pretty great response [as a solo artist]. I broke into the Top 20 with my last [solo] album, 'For The Love Of Metal', which shocked the hell out of Taylor Swift and Kanye [West]. 'What's that old white guy doing up here?' And I'm, like, 'I don't know. I don't know what happened. But people like the new record.'

"It took quite a bit to find my place in the [metal] community [as a solo artist], so I'm staying the course now."

Last June, guitarist Eddie Ojeda also didn't completely rule out a TWISTED SISTER reunion, telling Talking Metal: "I never say never, because you never know. It depends on the situation. You always miss it, no matter how much you've done it.

"The whole comeback — we were back together for 14 years, and we did a lot of shows in the last 14 years, and we were headlining all the shows," he continued. "We were bigger now than we were in the '80s. So it was a great time.

"I think it just got to the point where we just felt — maybe it was like [the American sitcom] 'Seinfeld': go out on a high note. But as far as that goes, THE WHO blows everybody away — they are the biggest liars of all time. [They played their farewell tour in 1983] and they [are] still touring. Forty tours later, and they're still saying, 'We mean it this time.' So if anybody's gonna complain, they'd better talk to THE WHO first."

In 2016, TWISTED SISTER embarked on one final trek, titled "Forty And Fuck It", in celebration of its 40th anniversary. These shows featured the band's "core lineup" of Snider, guitarist Jay Jay French, Ojeda and bassist Mark Mendoza, along with drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's last-ever concert took place in November of that year — 20 months after the passing of TWISTED's longtime drummer A.J. Pero.

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

Two years ago, French said that he was that "blissfully retired" from playing music. "I walked off stage at the last show in Mexico, and I gave all my guitars away to my crew," he told the "Neil Jones Rock Show". "I said, 'Guys, thank you. It's been great. See you later.' I never looked back. We didn't even meet in the lobby and have a drink. I was off stage in a golf cart with my wife on the way to the hotel. I was on a plane and out of here."

French said that he played nine thousand shows with TWISTED SISTER and he "loved every bit of it." But he understood when people told him that they don't believe the band is completely retired.

"I never said we weren't coming back," he explained. "We retired for a while. And I said, 'No, I'm not gonna say never.' We could. Maybe there's a charity [event that we could play at]. Maybe there's Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. I doubt it, but maybe. Whatever. It could happen. But at this point in my life, I don't think about it."

During an appearance on a video podcast hosted by Todd Kerns, the bassist of SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS, former HANOI ROCKS singer Michael Monroe offered an update on the status of the long-in-the-works documentary about his life. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's gonna be finished hopefully by 2022. [It's gonna be] the whole story of my life, pretty much, based around the 10 years [I spent] in New York. But it starts with the beginning of HANOI, and [it's] really a documentary of my life and me. So that's in the works. But it's the kind of thing you only make once in your life, so I wanna make sure it's [done properly].

"People always say, 'What about making a movie with actors?' It's always kind of corny when people act as somebody," he continued. "But after the documentary is made, then I don't care anymore. But I wanna make it as great as possible. 'Cause it's a fascinating story, even if I say so myself.

"We already interviewed Slash and Duff [McKagan from GUNS N' ROSES] and Chris Shiflett [FOO FIGHTERS] for the original version, but we're gonna now start over and make it a documentary movie that's not only about all my accomplishments. Of course, it's great to have all these cool, great names say things about me that describe my character. But, really, make it a fascinating story, so people who do not give a shit about me or even rock and roll will be interested in watching."

Even though HANOI ROCKS was formed in Finland, their trashy, hedonistic, decadent hard rock/pop-metal boogie influenced many Los Angeles acts, including GUNS N' ROSES and MÖTLEY CRÜE.

HANOI ROCKS originally broke on to the hard rock scene in the first half of the 1980s, becoming one of the first Finnish bands to make an international impact. HANOI ROCKS's career was subsequently derailed after the 1984 death of drummer Nicholas "Razzle" Dingley, who was killed in a car accident caused by MÖTLEY CRÜE's Vince Neil. Internal tensions and the commercial disappointment that was 1985's "Rock & Roll Divorce" led to Monroe leaving the band that year, thus putting an early end to HANOI ROCKS.

Monroe's latest solo album, "One Man Gang", was released in October 2019 via Silver Lining Music. Recorded and mixed by Petri Majuri at E-Studio in Sipoo, Finland over three weeks in March 2018, the 12-song record was mixed that following autumn with Monroe and bandmates Rich Jones and Steve Conte on production duties.

The Monroe band's all-star lineup features former HANOI ROCKS and NEW YORK DOLLS bass player Sami Yaffa, who has played with Michael since the '80s, and drummer Karl Rockfist (who has played with notable acts such as DANZIG). On guitar are Rich Jones (formerly of the Ginger Wildheart band) and Steve Conte (best known as the guitarist who filled the void left by Johnny Thunders in the NEW YORK DOLLS, as well as playing guitar with many other name acts such as Suzi Quatro, Eric Burden and many more).

CRO-MAGS frontman Harley Flanagan has blasted the upcoming reissue of the band's 1986 debut album, "The Age Of Quarrel", saying that he and the other musicians who appear on the LP "have never been paid a dime" since the record's original release.

Earlier this month, it was announced that "The Age Of Quarrel", will be re-released as part of this year's Record Store Day Drops, set for June 12 and July 17 at independent record stores nationwide.

Coming on July 17 via Rock Hotel/Astor Place is a vinyl version of "The Age Of Quarrel", limited to 3,600 copies, featuring all 15 songs from the original LP, which was released on then-independent Profile Records in September 1986. It was subsequently re-released by Another Planet in 1994, along with CRO-MAGS' second album, 1989's "Best Wishes", on the same disc.

Earlier today, Flanagan issued the following statement via his publicist: "The band members who played on 'Age Of Quarrel' will not be paid and have not been consulted about this release and have never been paid a dime since its original release in September 1986 or its re-release by Another Planet in 1994. The rights are contested and the players will not see anything from this.

"We have been working for months to try to officially re-release 'Age Of Quarrel' and 'Best Wishes' and to have each person who played on the two albums paid equally for their contribution; something that has never happened before. Nobody has ever been paid, been given any accounting, or even given a copy of the contract, we were not even represented by counsel when we signed.

"We are still working to resolve this so all the players are finally paid for their work on these historic albums. It is not over yet, but If these albums are re-released without a resolution the CRO-MAGS and those who played on these albums will be fucked over once again by the same people who robbed us in the beginning. My legal team and I are working hard to resolve this so that there can eventually be a proper reissue where me and John, Parris, Doug, Mackie and Pete Hines are all finally paid for our work."

CRO-MAGS' latest EP, "2020", received a digital release last month. The record itself is unintentionally 20 minutes and 20 seconds, and plays out more like a time-capsule look into the dumpster fire known as the year 2020.

CRO-MAGS feature Flanagan pulling double duty with bass and lead vocals, guitarists Gabby Abularach, Rocky George (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, FISHBONE), and drummer Garry "G-Man" Sullivan.

The history of the CRO-MAGS is integral to the history of hardcore, its evolution from punk and the development of alternative music genres such as hardcore, cross-over, thrash metal, post punk and grunge, to name a few. Numerous iconic bands from METALLICA to GREEN DAY, and individuals such as Dave Grohl have credited CRO-MAGS with having had a primal influence on their development.

Born out of the violence and depravity of the Lower East Side of New York in the late '70s and early '80s, the CRO-MAGS was the brainchild of a very young Flanagan (at the time 14 years old) when still playing with THE STIMULATORS. By 1982/83 he wrote and recorded the very first CRO-MAGS demos consisting of four songs that would become the blueprint for "The Age Of Quarrel". He wrote all of the music, played each instrument and sang. Before long, he connected with Parris Mayhew and the two started writing music and auditioning band members.

In 2019, Flanagan reached a settlement with singer John Joseph and drummer Mackie Jayson regarding ownership of the CRO-MAGS name. Flanagan is now performing under the name CRO-MAGS while Joseph and Jayson are performing as CRO-MAGS "JM"

In a new interview with Marci Wiser of the 95.5 KLOS radio station, former VAN HALEN singer Sammy Hagar was asked if he was part of the discussions about whether to keep or change the band's name after he was recruited to front VAN HALEN following the mid-'80s departure of David Lee Roth. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, we were all in a room. And I think [head of Warner Bros.] Mo Austin said, 'Why don't we be careful here…?' Our managers and lawyers and the president of the record company and the band was all in a room when we asked for permission for me to join the band — it was official. Everybody came and said, 'We wanna have a meeting.' And we were in the studio and we played 'Why Can't This Be Love' [song from the 1986 album '5150']. And Mo Austin went, 'Oh, I smell money' — he thought it was just the greatest. But anyway, so then he said, 'Did you guys ever think about maybe changing the name to, like, VAN HAGAR or something?' And I know what they were thinking, because they thought, 'If this doesn't work, at least you can go back with VAN HALEN again. But if you're VAN HALEN and it don't work, now you've ruined VAN HALEN.' So they were trying to preserve, I think, the VAN HALEN name. And Eddie Van Halen — Eddie Van Halen; no one else — said, 'Fuck that.' He said, 'This is VAN HALEN with a new singer.' And everybody said, 'Okay. Word. Gospel.' Boom."

Asked if he was on board with the decision to keep the VAN HALEN name, Sammy said: "I was a hundred percent on board with it. It was VAN HALEN with a new singer. I would have been embarrassed to be VAN HAGAR. I would have said, 'Let's just change it back to [VAN HALEN's original name] MAMMOTH' or something — go back to the beginning."

Hagar recorded four studio albums with VAN HALEN — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

In a 2020 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, VAN HALEN's longtime producer Ted Templeman admitted that he also initially had reservations about Hagar joining the band. "I wanted them to change the name," he said. "When I first sat down with Sammy and his manager, I said, 'Call it something else if you're going to be in the band. It's just not VAN HALEN without Dave to me.'"

Hagar, Eddie, Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

In early 2019, rumors were rampant that the classic-era lineup of VAN HALEN would reunite for the first time since 1984. It has since been revealed that a health setback involving Eddie was responsible for the tour not materializing.

Eddie died last October at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman passed away from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.

Ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony was interviewed for a recent episode of "Steve Gorman Rocks!", a Westwood One five-hour weeknight program for classic rock stations, hosted by the former drummer and founding member of THE BLACK CROWES.

Recounting the first time he met Sammy Hagar prior to the singer joining VAN HALEN as the replacement for David Lee Roth in 1985, Anthony said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'd obviously seen Sammy play a few times. I never actually paid too much attention. Yeah, his stuff [was] great. I liked the MONTROSE stuff. Obviously, he had his solo stuff going on. But the first time I actually met him, I was in the studio at Ed's [Van Halen, VAN HALEN guitarist] house, the 5150 studio, and Sammy, I guess, was on a break. He had cut all his hair off. And he comes walking into the studio. I was sitting there in the studio, and he comes walking in. And I go, 'That's not Sammy Hagar. He's the guy with long hair.' And we instantly became friends."

Asked how long it took for him and the other members of VAN HALEN to realize that Hagar was going to be the band's the new singer, Anthony said: "We played probably for about 10 minutes tops, and we knew that we had something happening. We had a couple of songs that would end up on the '5150' record; I think they were 'Good Enough' and… There was another one; there was a couple of them that were pretty much written. And we played it for him, and we said, 'Just sing. Just sing something.' And there were bits that he actually sang that ended up — and I kid you not — on the album. The chemistry was just such, like, 'Wow!'"

According to Anthony, not everybody was instantly sold on the idea of Hagar replacing Roth in VAN HALEN. "We had everybody — [our record label] Warner Brothers, our management, our lawyers — going, 'Oh my God. David Lee Roth's gone.' They thought that that was such a strong identity," he said. "Warner Brothers wanted us to change the name of the band. I remember Eddie and Alex [Van Halen, VAN HALEN drummer], we were at Warner Brothers, and they were yelling, going, 'Hey, hey, this is our last name. This is our careers. And we're VAN HALEN.'"

Hagar recorded four studio albums with VAN HALEN — "5150", "OU812", "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge" and "Balance" — all of which topped the U.S. chart.

In a 2020 interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, VAN HALEN's longtime producer Ted Templeman admitted that he also initially had reservations about Hagar joining the band. "I wanted them to change the name," he said. "When I first sat down with Sammy and his manager, I said, 'Call it something else if you're going to be in the band. It's just not VAN HALEN without Dave to me.'"

Hagar, Alex, Eddie and Anthony last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.

In early 2019, rumors were rampant that the classic-era lineup of VAN HALEN would reunite for the first time since 1984. It has since been revealed that a health setback involving Eddie was responsible for the tour not materializing.

Eddie died last October at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California.

The iconic VAN HALEN axeman passed away from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed.


Van Halen Bassist Michael Anthony Talks with Steve!

? TONIGHT! ? Michael Anthony's talking about the first time he played with Sammy Hagar as new frontman of Van Halen, plus much more! Don't miss the interview tonight on Steve Gorman Rocks!

Posted by 102.3 The Wolf on Thursday, April 8, 2021

FEAR FACTORY will release its first new song in over five years, "Disruptor", on Friday, April 16. The track will appear on the band's upcoming album, "Aggression Continuum", due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records.

A short teaser for the "Disruptor" video — created by Finland's Riivata Visuals — can be seen below. Also available is the "Aggression Continuum" cover art, designed by LIGHT THE TORCH guitarist Francesco Artusato.

Last September, singer Burton C. 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 guitarist Dino 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 will 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, will 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

Cyhra / Red Wolf guitarist Euge Valovirta has posted another playthrough / track breakdown, this time taking us through the Deep Purple classic "Highway Star" using a signature Ritchie Blackmore ENGL amplifier. 

Valovirta: "With and without the BOSS SD-1 & JHS Bonsai (TS-9), and compared to a Marshall JCM800 2203 & 1987X. With passive & active pickups. Tokai Strat & my signature ESP. Thanks to MusiX for the loan of the amp!"

Red Wolf's debut album, Sessions Vol. 1, was released in October 2020. They have released an official video for the song "Hypocrite". Check it out below.

It all started in Spring 2020, during the COVID – 19 lockdown, when Euge Valovirta (Cyhra) had received compliments and questions about the songs he had used on his YouTube channel’s videos which were just 1-2 minute clips of cool riffs basically written for a particular video about a certain amp, effect pedal, etc.

Around the same time Adde Larsson, with whom Euge had played several Cyhra shows since he had filled in for Alex Landenburg, called Euge that he really likes Euge’s solo album, Easy Does It, and if he ever plans to record another he’d like to be the drummer on that.

Since all of their main band’s tours were cancelled, they had plenty of time so they decided that Euge will complete the aforementioned clips into full songs at his home studio in Helsinki, Finland and Adde will then record drums on them in his hometown Gothenburg, Sweden. When the demos of the songs were finished Euge decided that the songs require vocals and someone to finish the writing process with him and the first guy he thought who’d be perfect for the job was Samy Elbanna (Lost Society) and Samy replied immediately, without hearing a single song, that he is in.

Around the same time, Euge thought that he wants his old bandmate from Suburban Tribe Janne Joutsenniemi (Stone, Suburban Tribe) to play bass on the songs and Janne also replied immediately that he is in. Janne also growls on the album which he hasn’t done since Stone’s last album Emotional Playground (1991).

After the drums were done Euge, Samy and Janne recorded their parts at their home studios and by early July the recordings were finished, without the guys meeting once during this time, and the mixing started at IYP studios in Gothenburg, Sweden by Matthias Törngren.

Euge Valovirta: “All of this happened very naturally & effortlessly and this has been probably the easiest album writing & recording process that I’ve ever been a part of and I’m really happy how everything turned out. 'Crossing The Line' was the first song we completed and it set the direction for the rest of the album. It’s working title was 'JCM800' ‘cos it was written for my YouTube channels’ – video about my all time favourite amp; Marshall JCM800 2203 which I used on the album, naturally."

Samy Elbanna: "As a person who always has enjoyed creating and doing as much as possible, this was an absolute dream to be a part of! This has been without a doubt one of the funniest and most organic projects I’ve ever had the honor to participate! Great songs and a great group of guys, what could be better?!"

Janne Joutsenniemi: "I haven’t played or sung for a while so this was a nice change for me to rock out with the guys, even from a distance since everybody played their parts on their own for obvious reasons. I haven’t even met or talked with Adde but it was really fun to play the bass on top of his drums and my playing fitted naturally to his playing. I can hear hear the fresh and enthusiastic touch in everyone’s playing and everything was done in the spur of moment since we had no time or need to analyze and rehearse things any further. It was straight forward full speed ahead, trusting your own intuition and that’s what music is all about."

Adde Larsson: "Having been working together with Euge as a stand in drummer for Alex Landenburg in Cyhra for about 2 years and with a bunch of shows and tours under the belt together, me and Euge have really hit it off and he has become a very good and dear friend of mine. When this opportunity rose to do this project together there was absolutely nothing that would stop me in my tracks to take the change and join! To also be playing with Samy and Janne in the same band was a massive extra privilege and a surprise to say, especially knowing what they have achieved in their individual careers! It makes me very humble and excited to be a part of this machine and it’s just simply awesome and honouring to be a part of this all."

Tracklist:

"Crossing The Line" 
"The Road"    
"The Point Of No Return"
"Running In Circles"
"The Devil Inside Of Me"
"Hypocrite"
"Watch It Burn"
"Coming For You"
"Face Of God"
"I Am The Night"

"Crossing The Line"

"The Road"

Red Wolf is:

Euge Valovirta – guitar
Samy Elbanna – vocals & guitar
Janne Joutsenniemi – bass & vocals
Adde Larsson - drums

Check out the band's official Facebook page here.




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Bulgarian dark metal band Velian has released an official lyric video to its new single. Titled “Star Of Mine”, the track be part of the band’s upcoming second full-length album, which is due to be released this year.

The track was recorded in the band’s own recording studio and the audio production (mix and mastering) were done by the Velian’s guitar player Dilian Nedev. The video was made by Velian’s vocalist, Ivan Ivanov – art, edit and effects.

(Photo – Viktoriya Vucheva)




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Escapement is the result of vocalist Johnny Ray (3 Headed Snake) and keyboardist Alex Nasla (Witherfall, Helion Prime) meeting on the famous 70k Metal Cruise and throwing musical ideas off of each other during pandemic boredom. 

After a few months of reworking the songs and adding creative touches, they are ready to show off their debut single “Feed” and the music video for it. For the production of the video, Nasla flew to Florida and they shot alongside Loren Whitaker (drums), Chris Massie (guitars), and Brandon Delpino (bass), it was directed by Thomas Crane of Kill Devil Films. It is a slow driving heavy sludgy ballad with haunting vocal melodies, atmospheric keys, technical solos, and huge choruses. Escapement share some details on the conception of the single:

“It was the first song that Nasla and Ray worked on together. It started out small and took many months because of both of their busy schedules, but eventually, it grew, Ray sent the original song to Nasla who wrote keys for it. At that point, Ray had a wild idea to actually have Nasla fly to Florida, and work on a video together with Thomas Crane. It organically came together and was a great success! We believe fans will be refreshed by the heavy riffs, mixed with catchy memorable choruses and amazing solos.”

Escapement is a force of lyrical/vocal prowess, atmospheric yet technical keyboard work, dark and heavy guitars, and banging drums and 2021 will have lots to come from the act. There are more songs in the works, including more videos and a full length down the road. Escapement says that fans can expect scores of new tunes over time.

Memorable, intricate, and anthemic, Escapement brings a new dynamic to progressive metal that is recommended for fans of Nevermore, Gojira, and Alice in Chains.




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One the most prolific and acclaimed drummers in modern tech-metal, Hannes Grossmann has issued the first single from his upcoming solo album, To Where The Light Retreats. New single and video for “The Sun Eaters” is streaming below. To Where The Light Retreats will be released independently on June 1. Preorder on Bandcamp.

The highly renowned drummer is best known for his work in numerous bands, most notably the likes of Nercophagist, Obscura, and Alkaloid. Speaking about the new single "The Sun Eaters", Hannes states:

"I am beyond thrilled to present the first song off my new album. It took a lot of work writing, recording and mixing it, but the effort paid off eventually. As a solo artist I aim to create fresh ideas which at the same time carry the spirit of a sound I started with Obscura back in 2009. But the most important thing for me is having fun with it. On this song and also on the rest of the album, I had some help from my very talented Alkaloid bandmates. It's mind-boggling how Danny Tunker (Alkaloid guitarist) recreated the guitar solo I wrote almost note-by-note without even a sweat."  

Tracklisting:

“The Great Designer”
“The Sun Eaters”
“The Symbolic Nature Of Terms”
“In The Glacier’s Eye”
“Dhaulagiri”
“Death And The Vast Nothing”
“The Fountain”
“Memento”

“The Sun Eaters”:




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Apocalyptica and BowlCircus offer a historic livestream concert from BowlCircus Flamingo, a modern bowling center in Finland. Experience how the cellos sound on bowling lanes below:

Apocalyptica have released an official video for their recently released new single "White Room" featuring Jacoby Shaddix (Papa Roach). The song is available on all platforms. Listen to it here, and watch the new video below.

Apocalyptical recently stated: "We were really looking forward to this release. Doing a cover of such a legendary song, originally by Cream, was great fun and having Jacoby Shaddix as featuring artist is a big pleasure for us! We hope you like the song just as much as we do! Produced by Howard Benson at West Valley Recording Studios in Woodland Hills, California and mixed by Chris Lorde-Alge, we tried to give this all-time classic a new interpretation together with our friend Jacoby Shaddix."




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BLACK SABBATH was embroiled in a protracted legal battle with its former manager in 1975 when the band started recording its sixth studio album, "Sabotage". The group felt sabotaged at every turn — hence the album's title — but that feeling helped fuel the intensity of the new music they were making. In spite of the distractions, the band created one of the most dynamic — and underappreciated — albums of its legendary career.

BMG pays tribute to the patron saints of heavy metal with a collection that includes a newly remastered version of the original album along with a complete live show recorded during the band's 1975 tour. "Sabotage: Super Deluxe Edition" will be available on June 11 as a 4-CD set and a 4-LP set that includes the same music on 180-gram vinyl plus a bonus 7-inch with the single edit for "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" and "Hole In The Sky" on the flipside, with artwork replicating the very rare Japanese release of the single. The newly remastered version of the original album will be available via digital download and streaming services on the same day.

Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward recorded "Sabotage" in London and Brussels and co-produced the album with Mike Butcher. The eight songs were released first in the U.S. in July 1975, and then in the U.K. that September. Certified gold in America and silver in the U.K., "Sabotage" earned positive reviews for hard-hitting tracks like "Hole In The Sky" and "Symptom Of The Universe", as well as more experimental music like "Supertzar", which featured harp, mellotron, and the English chamber choir.

"Sabotage: Super Deluxe Edition" introduces 16 live tracks (13 of which are previously unreleased) that were recorded in 1975 during the quartet's U.S. tour for the album. The performances include songs that span the group's career, from the title track to its 1970 debut "Black Sabbath" to "Spiral Architect" and "Sabbra Cadabra" from its previous album, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (1973). "Sabotage" is represented as well with live takes of "Hole In The Sky" and "Megalomania".

The music is accompanied by in-depth liner notes that tell the story of the album through quotes from band members and the music media along with rare photos and press clippings from the era. Also included in the package is a 1975 Madison Square Garden replica concert book and "Sabotage" 1975 tour color poster.

"Sabotage: Super Deluxe Edition" CD track listing:

Disc One: Original Album Remastered

01. Hole In The Sky

02. Don't Start (Too Late)

03. Symptom Of The Universe

04. Megalomania

05. Thrill Of It All

06. Supertzar

07. Am I Going Insane (Radio)

08. The Writ

Disc Two: North American Tour Live '75

01. Supertzar/Killing Yourself To Live *

02. Hole In The Sky

03. Snowblind *

04. Symptom Of The Universe

05. War Pigs *

06. Megalomania

07. Sabbra Cadabra *

08. Jam 1 including guitar solo *

09. Jam 2 including drum solo *

10. Supernaut *

11. Iron Man *

Disc Three: North American Tour Live '75

01. Guitar Solo including excerpts of Orchid and Rock 'n' Roll Doctor *

02. Black Sabbath *

03. Spiral Architect *

04. Embryo/Children Of The Grave *

05. Paranoid *

Disc Four

01. Am I Going Insane (Radio) – Single Edit

02. Hole In The Sky

LP One: Original Album Remastered

Side One

01. Hole In The Sky

02. Don't Start (Too Late)

03. Symptom Of The Universe

04. Megalomania

Side Two

01. Thrill Of It All

02. Supertzar

03. Am I Going Insane (Radio)

04. The Writ

LP Two: North American Tour Live '75

Side Three

01. Supertzar/Killing Yourself To Live *

02. Hole In The Sky

03. Snowblind *

Side Four

01. Symptom Of The Universe

02. War Pigs *

LP Three: North American Tour Live '75

Side Five

01. Megalomania *

02. Sabbra Cadabra *

Side Six

01. Jam 1 including guitar solo *

02. Jam 2 including drum solo *

03. Supernaut

LP Four: North American Tour Live '75

Side Seven

01. Iron Man *

02. Guitar Solo including excerpts of Orchid and Rock 'n' Roll Doctor *

03. Black Sabbath *

Side Eight

01. Spiral Architect *

02. Embryo/Children Of The Grave *

03. Paranoid *

7" Single

01. Am I Going Insane (Radio) – Single Edit

02. Hole In The Sky

* previously unreleased

Photo credit: Sam Emerson

TOTO and The Players Club/Mascot Label Group have announced the global release of "With A Little Help From My Friends" on June 25. The performance captures one special night on November 21, 2020 when Steve Lukather, Joseph Williams and David Paich appeared with the new lineup of TOTO for a global event originating from Los Angeles, California.

Joining Lukather, Williams and Paich for this next chapter in their indelible history are new band members bassist John Pierce (HUEY LEWIS AND THE NEWS), drummer Robert "Sput" Searight (GHOST-NOTE, SNARKY PUPPY), and keyboardist/background vocalist Steve Maggiora (ROBERT JON & THE WRECK). Keyboardist Dominique "Xavier" Taplin (PRINCE, GHOST-NOTE) and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Warren Ham (Ringo Starr) segued over continuing their tenure in the ensemble. This marks the fifteenth incarnation of the TOTO lineup in consideration of band members or sidemen who joined or exited.

The pre-order goes live today. Alongside LP pressings of the audio only, both a CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray package are available. The track listing features "Till The End", "Hold The Line", "Pamela", "Kingdom Of Desire", "White Sister", "You Are The Flower", "I Won't Hold You Back", "Stop Loving You", "Home Of The Brave", "Rosanna" and "With A Little Help From My Friends". In the DVD and Blu-ray releases, a documentary is featured alongside the performance, featuring thoughts from all members of the band that appeared that evening.

Steve Lukather, a.k.a. Luke, shares: "When the music is performed by great musicians, it honors TOTO. The documentary featured on the DVD offers great insights into our thoughts looking forward. David, who stands with us, alongside Joe and myself, desire to keep this music alive. And Paich could pop in any time for a show as a special surprise.

"When it came to plan this specific setlist, we picked an eclectic group of songs for this one night only show. Looking forward, we'll be selecting a broader mix from the TOTO catalog that includes deep cuts, the hits, and tunes from Joe and my recently released solo albums.

"Both of us could not be more thrilled with the global response to these records. They charted all over the world, and integrating some of the music in to the new TOTO set brings a fresh spice to the 'Toto: The Dogz Of Oz' world tour when we head back out to begin staging shows. Simply, both of us aim to bring the past TOTO to the present and beyond, and this first look at the new lineup sets the stage for a chapter in our history we can't wait to write."

Joe Williams offers: "It's always a complete joy to perform a TOTO show, but this one was special. Joining me, Luke and David last November were three new top-level, virtuoso musicians as well as a few returning geniuses.

"The show itself was born out of the need to play after being on COVID lockdown, but also served as the reason to build this new band. Right out of the gate, this group jelled and dug deep into the new and old TOTO material. Among some of the deeper cuts is one of my all-time favorite songs, 'You Are The Flower' by the original — Bobby Kimball. Being a massive fan (and a good friend), I dedicate the performance to him. Also back are a few of my favorite things, 'Till The End' and 'Pamela'. Played to perfection by the new cats. I have the best job in the band because when I'm not singing, I get to watch the most incredible players work!

"The TOTO model holds strong and true. A band of the very best musicians and singers writing and performing all manner of cool songs. That's how it began, and that's how it continues.

"This documentary explores that concept by talking with David, Luke, Warren, Dominic X, John Pierce, Robert 'Sput' Searight and Steve Maggiora about their experiences as players, and also about being a part of the TOTO legacy. And, of course discussion about the show as well. I think I'm in there too, saying how much I love these guys! Soon we'll to get back out to you, on stage, in the flesh expanding our set with some even deeper 'legacy' cuts as well as some new stuff from Luke's and my new records. We can't wait! In the meantime, enjoy a little TOTO history and current events."

Luke and Joseph Williams are life-long friends since they were kids, and bandmates sharing a deep colorful history that has thrived professionally on a global basis over the past decades. In front of staging this one night only appearance during the global pandemic, Luke offered: "We could not be more at peace with this move. There is a refreshing, optimistic enthusiasm to step into the future. At this moment, Joe and I are the only long-tenured members of the band that want to be on the road continuing to bring music to our multi-generational fan base.

"I've spent almost four and a half decades of my life as the only original member who never missed a show or an album nurturing this legacy while enabling the music to continually exist in the live concert setting. That is something I'll never stop doing, and when we inevitably return to the road it presents a rare opportunity to reimagine our personal futures while simultaneously preserving the deep connection that exists with the audience while likewise yielding continual discovery."

Williams shared: "Luke and I have been through a lot with one another. He's like a brother to me. Our creative partnership has always enriched our lives. As we look towards what's to come in unison, there is nothing but anticipation to bring everything in our minds to life. I can't think of anyone else on Earth I'd rather launch the next chapter with than with this lifelong, loyal and gifted friend and band mate. We're the last men standing…The Dogz of Oz!" Luke added: "Joe and I have been friends since I was 17, and Joe was 14. During the course of this pandemic, we've been reevaluating our career and how to move forward. People are either not with us anymore or have retired. We still feel like kids who want to be back on the road as soon as possible. It's where we live. Joe's growth as a producer, songwriter, engineer, singer and performer is inspiring. The timing of this move is perfect as Joe is at the top of his game, and he amazes me every day. We are enjoying this collaboration, and could not be more enthusiastic about the future."

"With A Little Help From My Friends" was produced by Joseph Williams, who also edited the accompanying long-form video. The band's longtime front-of-house engineer Ken Freeman mixed and captured the sound that evening.

Track listing:

01. Till The End

02. Hold The Line

03. Pamela

04. Kingdom Of Desire

05. White Sister

06. You Are The Flower

07. I Won’t Hold You Back

08. Stop Loving You

09. Band Introductions

10. Home Of The Brave

11. Rosanna

12. With A Little Help From My Friends

On May 7, ARTILLERY will release its tenth full-length, "X", via Metal Blade Records. The official music video for the disc's second single, "Turn Up The Rage", can be seen below.

In the mid-1980s, Denmark's ARTILLERY established itself as being at the cutting edge of the thrash movement, and nearly 40 years later, it continues to destroy. Returning with its tenth — and aptly titled — full-length, they prove once again that they have not missed a step, delivering a record that's ruthlessly heavy, catchy and pure molten metal.

"We wanted to have the typical ARTILLERY trademarks, like the riffs and hook lines in the usual combination together with aggression and melody. We always try to combine melodic thrash metal with elements from the heavy sounds of the '70s and the '80s, and this time with new elements in some of the songs," says guitarist Michael Stützer. "We don't have to push ourselves hard when we're writing a record because we love what we're doing."

Sadly, guitarist — and Michael's brother — Morten Stützer passed in 2019, which understandably affected the band. Having played a big part in shaping ARTILLERY's songs and appearing on every album up to 2018's riveting "The Face Of Fear", his loss is a real blow. "It was tough, even if he did not play live with us since 2016, he was always supporting us. Morten was a unique musician and writer and a very humorous guy, and following his death was the first time ever I thought about stopping playing music. But he always said that I had to go on with ARTILLERY and continue playing if he was not there anymore. He will be missed so much." Admitting it was very strange entering into the writing process without him, the brothers typically playing off each other a lot, they still managed to pull things together, helped by the contributions of new guitarist Kræn Meier, who has been playing live with the band since 2017.

"X" was tracked in Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Søren Andersen, whom the band has worked with on every record since 2009's "When Death Comes". As well as his production work, Andersen contributed some keyboards to "The Ghost Of Me", also adding some effects to a few other songs, and the band recruited their drivers/merch men to contribute some backing vocals on four tracks.

With the record in the can, ARTILLERY is able to start to look toward what is next, hoping the coronavirus pandemic passes soon so that it can get back on the road, but now is also a good time for reflecting on what it has achieved at this point in their lengthy career.

"It feels great and awesome to have been going for nearly forty years," Michael says. "I'm so glad, and I am so lucky that I can do what I love the most, making albums and touring for our awesome fans. If anyone had told me forty years ago that I would have made ten albums and played in over sixty different countries, I wouldn't have believed it."

"X" track listing:

01. The Devils Symphony

02. In Thrash We Trust

03. Turn Up The Rage

04. Silver Cross

05. In Your Mind

06. The Ghost Of Me

07. Force Of Indifference

08. Varg I Veum

09. Mors Ontologica

10. Eternal Night

11. Beggars In Black Suits

ARTILLERY lineup:

Michael Bastholm Dahl - vocals

Michael Stützer - guitars

Kræn Meier - guitars

Peter Thorslund - bass

Josua Madsen - drums

Photo credit: John Mortensson

Napalm Records has announced the signing of German thrash metal veterans DESTRUCTION to a worldwide deal.

DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier stated about the signing: "Well, this decision was a long way coming!

"We are super excited to join the Napalm family, because I have been a fan of the label and their philosophy for a long time. I've followed their impressive history and great work for many years and have recommended Napalm Records to other bands and friends before. So now it was finally time for us to move on and be a part of their roster of fantastic artists. A strong and fresh partner for these crucial years of our career is an important step for us!

"We were using the time well to prepare new releases for our faithful fans worldwide. More news about that very soon."

Added Napalm Records A&R representative Sebastian Muench: "I am absolutely excited to work with such a legendary band as DESTRUCTION! I watched them play live in Frankfurt when I was 14 years old, and now working together as a team on new album releases is a dream come true! Welcome to the Napalm family!"

In May 2020, DESTRUCTION delivered a treat for fans stuck at home and unable to attend live shows: "Born To Thrash - Live In Germany", the band's first live album with the current lineup, was made available digitally on all streaming and download platforms.

DESTRUCTION's latest album, "Born To Perish", was released in August 2019 via Nuclear Blast.

Last year, Schmier told The Metal Voice that he was not interested in performing drive-in concerts during the coronavirus crisis. "I'm not playing for cars," he said. "It's wrong — it's just wrong. If this is the last step to do — to play live shows in front of cars — I might think about it. But at the moment, no way — it's not working for metal. Metal people have to move, and we wanna feel the bass. This auto concerts, the music is on your radio, on your stereo in your car. There's no P.A. system. It's not a live impression, really. You're sitting in your car.

"I understand people doing this now, because people are desperate," Schmier added. "But [it's] not for DESTRUCTION. We had the offer to do this, actually, but I don't wanna rip my fans off with shit like this. I'm sor

Florida death metal duo Goregäng have released the second single from their upcoming EP Long Live The Grime. The group have also release a music video for the song, a cover of the White Zombie classic “Electric Head, Part 1 (The Agony)”.

The duo, comprised of Jeramie Kling (Inhuman Condition, Venom Inc, The Absence) and Taylor Nordberg (Inhuman Condition, The Absence) will self-release the Long Live The Grime EP on their own Listenable Insanity Records on April 30. The album will be released digitally via Blood Blast Distribution, and the group has printed digipak CDs as well as a limited edition CD box set. Preorder on Bandcamp.

Nordberg said: “I don’t think there was a whole lot of planning went into the cover. Most of our ideas come to life really quick. I think I had a passing idea that it would be cool to cover with this band, then I think I just pumped the music out and surprised Jeramie, then the next day we just had a blast coming up with all the sound effects and noises for the song, and laying down the vocals. We wanted to do a super ‘90s style video for the song as well, just something fun, and I think we nailed it. Old horror movies, dancers, aviator sunglasses…classic Zombie!”

The video was directed and edited by Deidra Kling in Spring Hill, Florida. Long Live The Grime was written and recorded by Kling/Nordberg at their own Smoke & Mirrors Productions, where it was mixed by Kling and mastered by Nordberg.

Tracklisting:

“Born. Slave. Death”
“Pernicious Thief”
“Long Live The Grime”
“Farm The Mother”
“Electric Head Part 1 (The Agony)” (White Zombie cover)
“A Cavity In Reality – Intro” (Live)
“False Flags” (Live)
“Plague Of Hammers” (Live)
“Cathedral Of Chemicals” (Live)

"Electric Head Part 1 (The Agony)" video:




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On June 11, Anaal Nathrakh will release CD and LP reissues of their classic full-length debut, The Codex Necro, plus Total Fucking Necro - a compilation album comprised of two complete Anaal Nathrakh demos (1999's Anaal Nathrakh and Total Fucking Necro) with an additional track and Mayhem cover songs. Preorder at MetalBlade.com.

The Codex Necro CD and LP versions:
- jewelcase-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- clear violet rose marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- vomit ochre marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- clear w/ red and yellow splatter vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- ruby red marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- bloody skin marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

Total Fucking Necro CD and LP versions:
- jewelcase-CD
- 180g black vinyl (EU exclusive)
- white / black marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 300 copies)
- clear sperm white marbled vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- white w/ black dust vinyl (EU exclusive - limited to 200 copies)
- cool grey marbled vinyl (US exclusive)
- red / black marbled vinyl (US exclusive)

The Codex Necro tracklisting:

“The Supreme Necrotic Audnance”
“When Humanity Is Cancer”
“Submission Is For The Weak”
“Pandemonic Hyperblast”
“Paradigm Shift – Annihilation”
“The Technogoat”
“Incipid Flock”
“Human, All Too Fucking Human”
“The Codex Necro”

Total Fucking Necro tracklisting:

“Anaal Nathrakh” (from 1999's Anaal Nathrakh demo)
“Necrodeath” (from 1999's Anaal Nathrakh demo)
“Ice Blasting Storm Winds” (from 1999's Anaal Nathrakh demo)
“Carnage” (from 1999's Anaal Nathrakh demo; Mayhem cover)
“The Supreme Necrotic Audnance” (from 1999's Total Fucking Necro demo)
“Satanachrist” (from 1999's Total Fucking Necro demo)
“L.E.T.H.A.L.: Diabolic” (from 1999's Total Fucking Necro demo)
“De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas” (from 1999's Total Fucking Necro demo; Mayhem cover)
“The Technogoat” (from 1999's Total Fucking Necro demo)
“Necrogeddon” (from the unreleased 2001 demo We Will Fucking Kill You)




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Penguin Press has set November 9 release date for Bob Spitz's new book, "Led Zeppelin: The Biography".

From the author of the definitive New York Times bestselling history of THE BEATLES comes the authoritative account of the group Jack Black and many others call the greatest rock band of all time, arguably the most successful, and certainly one of the most notorious.

Rock stars. Whatever those words mean to you, chances are, they owe a debt to LED ZEPPELIN. No one before or since has lived the dream quite like Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. In "Led Zeppelin", Spitz takes their full measure, for good and sometimes for ill, separating the myth from the reality with the connoisseurship and storytelling flair that are his trademarks.

From the opening notes of their first album, the band announced itself as something different, a collision of grand artistic ambition and brute primal force, of delicate English folk music and hard-driving African-American blues. That record sold over 10 million copies, and it was the merest beginning; LED ZEPPELIN's albums have sold over 300 million certified copies worldwide, and the dust has never settled. Taken together, LED ZEPPELIN's discography has spent an almost incomprehensible ten-plus years on the album charts.

The band is notoriously guarded, and previous books shine more heat than light. But Spitz's authority is undeniable and irresistible. His feel for the atmosphere, the context — the music, the business, the recording studios, the touring life, the radio stations, the fans, the whole ecosystem of popular music — is unparalleled. His account of the melding of Page and Jones, the virtuosic London sophisticates, with Plant and Bonham, the wild men from the Midlands, into a band out of the ashes of THE YARDBIRDS, in a scene dominated by THE BEATLES and THE ROLLING STONES but changing fast, is in itself a revelation. Spitz takes the music seriously, and brings the band's artistic journey to full and vivid life. The music is only part of the legend, however: "Led Zeppelin" is also the story of how the '60s became the '70s, of how playing in clubs became playing in stadiums and flying your own jet, of how innocence became decadence. LED ZEPPELIN may not have invented the groupie, and they weren't the first rock band to let loose on the road, but they took it to an entirely new level, as with everything else. Not all the legends are true, but in Spitz's careful accounting, what is true is astonishing, and sometimes disturbing.

LED ZEPPELIN gave no quarter, and neither has Spitz. "Led Zeppelin" is the full and honest reckoning the band has long awaited, and richly deserves.

Finnish cello rockers APOCALYPTICA have released the official music video for their collaboration with PAPA ROACH singer Jacoby Shaddix on a cover version of the CREAM classic "White Room". The track was produced by Howard Benson at West Valley Recording Studios in Woodland Hills, California and mixed by Chris Lorde-Alge.

Says APOCALYPTICA: "We were really looking forward to this release. Doing a cover of such a legendary song, originally by CREAM, was great fun and having Jacoby Shaddix as featuring artist is a big pleasure for us! We hope you like the song just as much as we do."

"White Room" is the first release from APOCALYPTICA since "Talk To Me", which arrived last August. That song was a collaboration with HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale.

APOCALYPTICA's latest studio album, "Cell-0", came out in January 2020. The effort was the band's first fully instrumental record in 17 years.

2015's "Shadowmaker" was APOCALYPTICA's first album to feature just one singer — former SCARS ON BROADWAY guitarist Franky Perez — instead of guest collaborators. The disc was recorded with Grammy Award-winning producer Nick Raskulinecz (FOO FIGHTERS, DEFTONES, MASTODON).

Prior to enlisting Perez, APOCALYPTICA released eight albums that melded the classically trained cello mastery of the three core bandmembers with the harder elements of the rock world, including drums and guest vocalists, such as Gavin Rossdale from BUSH, and Corey Taylor of SLIPKNOT and STONE SOUR fame.

Back in 2018, APOCALYPTICA's Eicca Toppinen stated about the band's decision to make an all-instrumental album at this point in the group's career: "On the previous ones, we always combined the instrumental songs with the vocal songs, and it was great to have the featuring artists, it was great to work with Frank Perez for the 'Shadowmaker' album. But then, on the other hand, it became a bigger interest for us, like, okay, it would be interesting to make a full instrumental album, so there's no compromise with anything."

NIGHTWISH's Floor Jansen is recovering after undergoing gallbladder removal surgery.

The Dutch-born vocalist, who resides in Sweden with her husband, SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl, revealed her health scare in a social media post earlier today (Wednesday, April 14).

She shared a photo of herself enjoying the sun and surrounded by trees, and she wrote: "I had a case of Murphy's Law hitting me.... even though the picture might suggest it's all peachy. That's to keep a positive spirit, sun on my face, life is good! But challenging at times....

"I was in the hospital last week. In Finland, where I went to rehearse with my dear brothers in NIGHTWISH for our virtual shows next month. So incredibly great to see them after all that time (over a year!).

"After the first rehearsal day I woke up to severe stomach pains and decided this was not normal. Once at the hospital I got what you call a gallstone attack. Turned out I had pains because of a huge amount of gallstones, and pancreatitis. I needed my gallbladder removed but because of the pancreatitis they couldn't do it at once. The day after they took a scarred gallbladder out, with 15 stones in it! Emppu calls me stone henge from now on.

"It turned my trip into something quite different. But I am most grateful for the amazing care I received at the hospital in Joensuu! And for all the love and support from my band and friends and family! And grateful for my own body. For taking this so well, I made a promise to take extra good care of it!

"I'll need to recover for a few more weeks but look forward to the virtual shows! And for spring, that is right at our doorstep."

Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.

Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013 and made her recording debut with the group on 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album.

NIGHTWISH's ninth studio album, "Human. :II: Nature." , was released in April 2020 via Nuclear Blast. The effort is a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.

NIGHTWISH's interactive "An Evening with Nightwish In a Virtual World" concert experiences that will kick off the "Human. :II: Nature." world tour have been rescheduled from March to May due to changes in the band's touring schedule. The new dates are Friday, May 28 and Saturday, May 29, 2021.

In January, NIGHTWISH's longtime bassist/vocalist Marko "Marco" Hietala announced his departure from the band.

Hietala issued a statement in which he said he hadn't "been able to feel validated by this life for a quite a few years now."


I had a case of Murphy’s Law hitting me....?

even though the picture might suggest it’s all peachy. That’s to keep a...

Posted by Floor Jansen on Wednesday, April 14, 2021

EXODUS's Tom Hunting has started treatment for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach.

Earlier today, the official EXODUS Instagram shared a photo of the drummer flashing the "devil horns" at the hospital, and included the following words from him: "Getting my 1st Chemikill Concocted Cancer Killing Cocktail!! Thank You ALL for your support!! —Tom #fansrule #family #thrashmetal #goingtobeatthis #fuckcancer".

The 56-year-old musician revealed the diagnosis in a statement released on Tuesday (April 13). He said: "Today I will be starting treatment for a squamous cell carcinoma. It's a gastric tumor that was diagnosed in my upper stomach in February.

"I'm making this public to raise awareness for people to pay attention to symptoms of stomach and esophageal issues. If they persist, please go get it checked out.

"I'm not gonna be sheepish talking about it. I feel that if I can help someone with what I've learned, or someone out there has information to share with me, it's a win-win! When you can name the enemy, it's empowering, and you're 1 step closer to killing it!

"Ok, you've heard the bad news. The good news is he feels great physically! I'm gonna beat this like a fucking snare drum that owes me money!!! I've had great doctors and a great support system that is an army in itself. I'm ready for the fight!"

After Hunting went public with his diagnosis, EXODUS guitarist Gary Holt said that the band will "delay" the release of its recently completed new album, "Persona Non Grata", "so that when Tom has defeated this, he will be back to full strength to hit the road and pummel his drums like only he can! When he has kicked cancer's ass like we know he will, we will resume kicking YOUR asses with the sickest record yet!" he said.

The squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach is a very uncommon entity, with worldwide incidence of 0.04% to 0.07% of all gastric cancers.

"Persona Non Grata" will be the follow-up to 2014's "Blood In Blood Out", which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers' first release since the departure of the group's lead singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve "Zetro" Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

"Persona Non Grata" was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap.
























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Sheboygan, Wisconsin’s Toxic Ruin have unleashed the lyric video for the title track of their forthcoming sophomore album (and M-Theory Audio debut) Nightmare Eclipse. The song shows off the group's concoction of energetic thrash metal laced with death metal brutality and clinical technicality. The lyric video can be viewed below, while the song itself is now available for streaming/download through all major digital music platforms.

"We are stoked to be finally getting new material out there for the world to hear! ‘Nightmare Eclipse’ is so much fun to play and I'm sure it will get people moving when we bring it out live,” states drummer Dave Miller. “This title track is a really good glimpse into what else we have in store for the rest of the album and I really think the metal masses are going to like it!"

The current lineup of Toxic Ruin began writing and recording songs for Nightmare Eclipse while relentlessly touring the United States in 2019 alongside bands such as Lich King, Micawber and Stonecutters and playing multiple festivals including Full Terror Assault and Slam Dakota, plus winning 2nd Place in the 2019 edition of Wacken Metal Battle USA. The result is the band's most mature and complex material to date, while also being their heaviest display of metallic force so far. Guest appearances from guitarists Glen Drover (Eidolon, ex-Megadeth), Derek DeBruin (Micawber) and Nick Weyers (Aronious) provide additional ear candy for aficionados of guitar wizardry.

The first taste of the metallic mayhem to come was revealed through the music video for their recently released single, “Ritual Rebirth.” That clip can be viewed below:

Toxic Ruin was formed in 2014 with a mission of blending classic thrash metal, old-school death metal and modern technicality and tones into a wicked headbanging brew. Operating out of their collective hometown of Sheboygan, the band released their debut album, Subterranean Terror, in 2016. This opening serve showcased the group's already-burgeoning barrage of furious riffs and lyrical content ranging from the sociopolitical commentary of tracks such as “Seat of Corruption” to the beloved craving of a good drink on songs such as “Alcoholocaust.”

The group followed up that debut record with the release of their 2018 EP, Mortal Insolence. The effort saw the current lineup of Toxic Ruin take shape with Behrendt stepping into the vocalist position and the debut of rhythm guitarist Blake Toltzmann alongside lead guitarist Jacob Baneck and drummer David Miller.

Nightmare Eclipse - due to be released this summer - is the next evolution in blending the heavier sounds of metal's past with the modern musicianship of metal's present. More information on Toxic Ruin's new record and pre-order will be revealed in the weeks to come by M-Theory Audio.

Toxic Ruin is:

Stephen Behrendt (vocals/bass)
Jacob Baneck (lead guitar)
Blake Toltzmann (rhythm guitar)
Dave Miller (drums)




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The virtuosic guitarist Paul Gilbert will be releasing his brand-new album, Werewolves of Portland, on June 4 via The Players Club (Steve Lukather, Robby Krieger, Michael Landau, Tommy Emmanuel). "A Thunderous Ovation Shook the Columns", a second instant gratification track in front of the release is available for streaming below.

Gilbert shares, “I also wrote not one, but TWO songs about the Russian composer Dimitri Shostakovich. One is 'A Thunderous Ovation Shook the Columns', which is a line that I saw when I was reading about the audience’s reaction to the debut performance of Shostakovich’s 5th Symphony. They liked his symphony! So, fortunately, did Joseph Stalin, who had made no secret that he did NOT approve of some of Shostakovich’s earlier music, and that he'd better write something more pro-state, or be sent off to a 'work' camp in Siberia. In these days of culture battles, I thought, today’s cancel-culture people still have nothing on Stalin."

With his 16th solo studio album, Paul Gilbert is ready to prove to everyone that, astonishingly, this master continues to raise the bar on what he can achieve. With the international lockdown putting the world on hold, Gilbert decided to, rather than wait, he got on with playing all the instruments on the album himself. "It took me about six months to think of it, but it finally occurred to me that I could play all the instruments myself. I've always loved playing drums, and I can play bass and keyboards well enough to get the job done," he says.

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

The album title's inspiration partly comes from the Warren Zevon song, "Werewolves Of London".

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

Gilbert is a formidable force. From his time in LA metallers Racer X to helping form Mr. Big, one of the era's most revered names. His distinguished solo career has seen him putting out 15 acclaimed records and has been asked to guest on albums from such diverse names as Todd Rundgren, Bowling For Soup, Glenn Hughes and MC Lars. He also toured with Joe Satriani and John Petrucci in 2007 (G3) and two years later with Richie Kotzen and George Lynch (Guitar Generation). This is not to mention a lengthy tenure as a much-in-demand teacher and instructor. This began when he was still a teenager, being hired in 1985 by the prestigious Guitar Institute Of Technology (GIT) in Los Angeles.
 
"I didn't become a musician to shout my ideas, complaints, or philosophies at anyone. I love music because of the music. So I love my method of using my inner rants as scaffolding to build melodies. This scaffolding can then be pulled away to unveil some pure emotional music. This works perfectly for me and hopefully for my listeners. "I need to be able to visualize the look and sound of my fretboard well enough to play accurately in my mind. It's almost like real air guitar! Then when I actually go to play the music, I've got a good chance of having my melodic intentions come true. And that's about the best feeling in the world."

Tracklist:

"Hello North Dakota!"
"My Goodness"
"Werewolves Of Portland"
"Professorship At The Leningrad Conservatory"
"Argument About Pie"
"Meaningful"
"I Wanna Cry (Even Though I Ain’t Sad)"
"A Thunderous Ovation Shook The Columns"
"Problem-Solving People"
"(You Would Not Be Able To Handle) What I Handle Everyday"




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California metallic hardcore band Matriarchs have premiered a cover of the Florence And The Machine classic “Heavy In Your Arms”. The video for the cover was created by Knucklehedzinc.

Singer Kay comments on the cover: "Florence And The Machine has always been one of my favorites. ‘Kiss With A Fist’ was my first introduction to them. I was immediately drawn in by its punk attitude. The tongue and cheek, self-aware and honest nature of the songwriting connected with me. A friend of mine actually introduced me to ‘Heavy In Your Arms’ and it just spoke to me on many levels in regards to mental health, vulnerability, and the idea that emotions can weigh so heavily on us that we may feel too much of a burden for others, as well as ourselves. The themes of the song are pretty powerful and heavy and I honestly felt compelled to make a heavy version of the song without losing the melodic elements that make the song so beautiful. So we did. We hope we did it justice and that you all enjoy it."

Matriarchs issued their Year Of Rat album in 2020 through Upstate Records and Blood Blast Distribution. Order the album on Bandcamp.




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Frontiers Music Srl will release the label debut from Italy's False Memories, entitled The Last Night Of Fall, on May 7. The band traffics in a gothic, doom metal style with elements of prog and joins the label's expanding, diverse roster of metal bands. Fans can get a fist taste of the new album with the just released video for the song "Rain Of Souls". Watch the video below, and pre-order/save The Last Night Of Fall here.

False Memories signed to Frontiers via the label's new A&R initiative, Frontiers & Beyond. The band is one of four bands, out of countless submissions, that were signed via the F&B portal.

"We like to insert prog elements into a "dark/goth" context, while keeping the songwriting in the surroundings of more traditional structures. The album we have always wanted to make is here thanks to a line-up that has achieved a great balance. We have always been inspired by science and psychology. This time, we wrote The Last Night Of Fall thinking of translating the human soul into music in all its emotions, disturbances, and sensations. The listener can take an intense journey towards their own conscience, a journey full of strong and sometimes conflicting emotions, but which together coexist in the 11 tracks," says frontwoman Rossella Moscatello.

Shortly after being signed, Rossella said about the album, "We worked hard on the production of this record and it has been very exciting to get positive feedback from people who have heard it. Fate has decided that we had to work with an Italian record company, Frontiers! It is an immense honor for us to join the roster of a label of this prestige and it is a source of great pride to have been chosen. 11 tracks of intense gothic/doom metal! Get ready and see you on the road, hopefully soon!”

False Memories was originally formed in 2015 by guitarist Francesco Savino and soon started working on original material. In 2016, the band released a self-titled EP which included four original tracks and one cover. As time progressed, the band’s soundscapes got more mature and headed towards a more goth rock/metal sound. Invigorated by their new sound, the band started to work on its first full-length release, Chimerical. Originally released independently in January 2018, the album featured eight previously unreleased tracks and three of the original songs from the debut EP, for a total of 11 original songs.

In October 2018, singer Rossella Moscatello joined the band and the band eventually released a new edition of the Chimerical album, including three bonus tracks sung by Rossella.

For this new album, The Last Night Of Fall, the composers are both Francesco Savino and Rossella Moscatello, with a lineup featuring new drummer Emanuele Cossu, second guitarist Moreno Palmisano, and bassist Gianluca Zaffino.

Tracklisting:

"Black Shades"
"Rain Of Souls"
"Voices"
"Hysteria"
"The Illusionist"
"Erased"
"White Crows"
"Unfaithful Dream"
"Sea Of Nothingness"
"Deep Breath"
"Don't Forget"

"Rain Of Souls" video:

"Voices" video:

Lineup:

Rossella Moscatello - Vocals
Francesco Savino - Guitars
Moreno Palmisano - Guitars
Gianluca Zaffino - Bass
Emanuele Cossu - Drums




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Metalville Records has announce July 23 as the international release date for the fifth album from Germany's Eradicator. Influence Denied will be the band's debut for the label.

Influence Denied is the sovereign consequence of the previous long-players. The band's passionate claim to raise their music to a new level results in audible joy of playing and convincing compositions: Eradicator's new work combines the sound of the San Francisco Bay Area ala Testament or Death Angel and the Teutonic elemental force of German genre greats like Kreator or Destruction. Fused with the soul of the band, the result is a massive thrash metal concoction.

With incisively authentic thrash metal and equally perceptive song lyrics, they hold a mirror up to society on their new album. Encouraged to critical reflection and humility, there are no compromises musically, however, because Eradicator unpack the scantling.

The new tracks were produced together with Orden Ogan mastermind Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (Asphyx, Brainstorm, Rhapsody Of Fire, etc.), who is also responsible for mixing and mastering. The cover illustration was penned by Mario Lopez.

First single to be revealed shortly.

Influence Denied tracklisting:

"Driven By Illusion"
"Hate Preach"
"Echo Chamber"
"Influence Denied"
"5-0-1"
"Jackals To Chains"
"Mondays For Murder"
"Hypocrite"
"Descent Into Darkness"
"Anthropocene"

Lineup:

Sebastian Stöber "Seba" - guitar / vocals
Sebastian Zoppe "Zoppe" - bass
Jan-Peter Stöber "Pitti" - drums
Robert Wied "Robb" - guitar

(Photo - Tom Row)




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American blackened death metal icons, Pessimist (ft. Kelly McLauchlin of Death, Possessed, I Am Morbid, etc.), will be issuing their first three albums on vinyl for the first time ever. Cult Of The Initiated (1997), Blood For The Gods (1999), and Slaughtering The Faithful (2002) will all contain never-before-heard bonus tracks and other extras as well, such as new layouts and rare, archival band photos.

The release dates are as follows:

Cult Of Initiated - May 14
Blood For The Gods - June 11
Slaughtering The Faithful - July 16

A trailer for the reissues can be seen below.

Founding member and guitarist Kelly Mclaughin comments, "About the reissues, there is so much to say - the albums sound amazing! They have all been remastered, and it's the best they have ever sounded. 'Cult' features completely new artwork, and will be a 25th-Anniversary release. Each reissue includes previously-unreleased bonus tracks, even the song order has been updated. All the reissues feature new layouts, rare and never-before seen band pics from early eras of the band. Some will be surprised to see our newly-revamped Pessimist logo, as well. Everything has been done to make these reissues something really cool and special for the fans, and absolutely the best they can be."

The trilogy is now available for pre-order here.

One of the premiere bands to emerge out of the early Baltimore, MD death metal scene, with their 1993 demo Dark Reality, Pessimist played their first shows opening for national acts Incantation, Deicide, and Malevolent Creation. In 1995, the band self-released the EP Absence of Light on cassette  and landed gigs opening for Testament, Forbidden, Suffocation, and Napalm Death.

In 1997 Pessimist signed to Lost Disciple Records and released their debut CD Cult of the Initiated, which charted on CMJ Top 40 Loud Rock Charts, and received acclaim from around the world. The band continued to play shows in the Mid-Atlantic region, opening for Cryptopsy, Nile, Gorguts, Dying Fetus, Vader, Monstrosity, and festival appearances at Milwaukee Metalfest XII, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest - and the band's first European tour with Fleshless (Cz) in 1999.

Pessimist released their second CD, Blood For The Gods, in 1999, which soared into the CMJ Top 30. Pessimist became recognized for their unique brand of brutal and technical black/death metal, with old-school thrash influences, an emphasis on quality songwriting, powerful live shows and a dark, evil sound.

In 2001, the band traveled to Tampa, FL to record with producer Erik Rutan, for their third CD, Slaughtering The Faithful, which featured a re-vamped lineup and a faster, more extreme musical direction. More shows followed with Morbid Angel, Hate Eternal, Krisiun, Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, Dark Funeral, festival appearances at March Metal Meltdown, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest, and November To Dismember.

Pessimist returned in 2008 with the Evolution Unto Evil CD, a compilation of rare/live demo recordings and tributes to Kreator, Death, Megadeth, and Possessed, which was co-released on Pathos Prod and Deathgasm Recs. This was followed by appearances at New England Deathfest and Hostile City Deathfest. In 2009, the band returned to Europe for their second European tour with label-mates Pandemia (CZ).

In between downtime with the band, founder/guitarist Kelly McLauchlin had also been a member of bands such as Unholy Ghost, Diabolic, filled in live with Angelcorpse, and had later joined Death Metal legends Possessed, touring with the band from 2011-2013.

In 2018, Pessimist returned to the stage at Maryland Deathfest, headlining Las Vegas Deathfest, Rage of Armageddon Fest (NY), and Ruinfest (CA), and in 2019 released a new single, "Keys To The Underworld", which featured studio drummer Kevin Talley (Dying Fetus, Suffocation) and bassist Kelly Conlon (Monstrosity, Death).

Now, in their latest incarnation, the current Pessimist lineup includes founder/guitarist Kelly McLauchlin (I Am Morbid, Possessed, Death, etc.), drummer Pat Shea (Master), new bassist recruit Andrew Bowen (Carnal Necrosis) ,and vocalist Ivan Alison aka "The Evil One" (Black Mass).

(Photo - Ember Lorraine Contreras)




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After recently signing with Napalm Records and Napalm Events, German based melodic death metal unit, Hiraes, is set to drop its first sonic monster with ultimate strength: Their debut offering, Solitary, will be released on June 25.

Hiraes impressively combines the full force of all four instrumentalists formerly of Dawn Of Disease (Lukas Kerk, Oliver Kirchner, Christian Wösten and Mathias Blässe) with the powerful vocals of Britta Görtz (Critical Mess, ex-Cripper) to create an exciting new melodic death emergence. Brutally rising like a thunderous maelstrom comprised of boisterous riffs and blaring, relentless drums, and backed by massive vocals and a chorus that causes goosebumps with its heavy and meaningful lyricism, today, the five-piece has unleashed the furious first single “Under Fire”. Together with a highly explosive official music video, Hiraes is ready to take their monumental sonic attack out into the world.

Hiraes on the new single: “We are more than proud to finally present you our first single. 'Under Fire' is a monumental melodic death metal neckbreaker that combines a mixture of very different elements of our music: from catchy and melodic-melancholic parts to groovy headbang passages and fast up-tempo drumming - there's something for everyone here. Together with the very cool video, 'Under Fire' is guaranteed to blow you away!”

Watch the video for “Under Fire” below.

Hiraes already established its own remarkable identity built upon a smashing femme vocal attack, intense melodies and charging guitars, led by guitarist Lukas Kerk as main songwriter. An atmospheric, instrumental intro introduces the album opener “Shadows Break'', whilst showcasing the impressive vocal onslaught of seasoned frontwoman Britta Görtz shortly after. “Grain Of Sand” sets the next exclamation mark while delivering an unrelenting attack of smashing riffs along with an inexorable vocal performance, followed by standouts such as brutal “1000 Lights”, razor-sharp “Eyes Over Black'' and fast-twitching title-track “Solitary”, proving that Hiraes don’t decelerate for a second.

This massive melodic death metal assault leaves no scope for weakness and serves an exciting take on the genre with hymnlike melodies, enthralling drums and guitar riffing as well as breathtaking hooklines. Topped with the distinctive and versatile performance of Britta Görtz, this powerful new formation and its debut, Solitary, is a must have for fans of bands like Insomnium, At The Gates, Arch Enemy and Amon Amarth.

Hiraes say about the album: “Our debut album Solitary is the result of the collaboration of five musicians who burn with passion for melodic death metal. With its incredible emotional energy, it will captivate fans of the genre in no time. Hymn-like melodies and catchy riffing meet versatile drumming and the very varied growls of our singer Britta. The result is a unique blend of the best that melodic death metal has to offer. Rounded off by stunning sound, refined at Fascination Street Studios under the direction of Jens Bogren, and strong artwork by Costin Chioreanu, we are really more than satisfied with our first album. We can't wait to finally present Solitary to the metal community on June 25, 2021!”

Solitary will be available in the following formats:

- 1 LP Gatefold Silver
- 1 LP Gatefold Black
- 1 CD Jewel Case
- Digital Album

Pre-order here.

Solitary tracklisting:

"Shadows Break"
"Under Fire"
"Grain Of Sand"
"1000 Lights"
"Eyes Over Black"
"Outshine"
"Solitary"
"Strangers"
"Running Out Of Time"

"Under Fire" video:

Hiraes are:

Britta Görtz - vocals
Lukas Kerk - guitars
Oliver Kirchner - guitars
Christian Wösten - bass
Mathias Blässe - drums




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