"Hardware", the third solo album from ZZ TOP frontman Billy Gibbons, has wrapped recording and post-production and is set for release June 4 by Concord Records. The album was recorded at Escape Studio in California's high desert, near Palm Springs, and was produced by Gibbons along with Matt Sorum and Mike Fiorentino, with engineer Chad Shlosser providing additional production. The album's release is preceded by the release of the single "West Coast Junkie". The video for the track was filmed near Joshua Tree, a stone's throw from the studio.

Sorum, veteran of GUNS 'N' ROSES, VELVET REVOLVER and THE CULT, also serves as "Hardware"'s drummer and was joined in the album's core band by guitarist Austin Hanks. The same Gibbons-Sorum-Hanks aggregation recorded "The Big Bad Blues", Gibbons's earlier solo effort for Concord and winner of the Blues Foundation's Blues Music Award.

In contrast to "The Big Bad Blues" and "Perfectamundo", Gibbons's debut solo album, almost all of the "Hardware" repertoire is original and rock-oriented with eleven of the album's twelve songs written by Gibbons, Sorum, Fiorentino and Shlosser. The sole exception is "Hey Baby, Que Paso", originally recorded by the TEXAS TORNADOS. The album's title is a tribute to legendary recording engineer the late Joe Hardy who worked with Gibbons and ZZ TOP dating back to the mid-1980s. Sonically, the album was influenced by the high desert circumstance of its recording. Says Gibbons: "The desert settings, replete with shifting sands, cacti and rattlesnakes makes for the kind of backdrop that lends an element of intrigue reflected in the sounds created out there."

"Stackin' Bones", one of the album's standouts, features a guest appearance by LARKIN POE, with whom Gibbons has been familiar and friendly for quite a while. He initially met them through the good offices of Tyler Bryant, husband of LARKIN POE's Megan Lovell; he had toured extensively with ZZ TOP in the past. LARKIN POE also shared a bill with Billy at New York's "Love Rocks NYC" benefit in 2019 and the "Hardware" collaboration grew from there.

While a truly broad spectrum of approaches is notable on the album's hard driving tracks there is, to be sure, no mistaking the remarkable tone and growling vocals that are hallmarks of Billy Gibbons's artistry. Elements of traditional hard rock, neo-metal, country rock, new wave, blues and even surf music make "Hardware" difficult to categorize and it would be a fool's game to do so. In fact, "Desert High", the album's last track, is a spoken-word piece accompanied by a sinewy guitar that evokes the legend Graham Parsons, whose death 48 years ago took place very close to where "Hardware" was recorded.

Billy sums up the album's ecumenical construct: "We holed up in the desert for a few weeks in the heat of the summer and that in itself was pretty intense. To let off steam we just 'let it rock' and that's what Hardware is really all about. For the most part, it's a raging rocker but always mindful of the desert's implicit mystery."

"Hardware" track listing:

01. My Lucky Card

02. She's On Fire

03. More-More-More

04. Shuffle, Step & Slide

05. Vagabond Man

06. Spanish Fly

07. West Coast Junkie

08. Stackin' Bones (featuring LARKIN POE)

09. I Was A Highway

10. S-G-L-M-B-B-R

11. Hey Baby, Que Paso

12. Desert High

Photo credit: Blain Clausen

French progressive metallers GOJIRA have released the official Charles De Meyer-directed music video for their song "Amazonia". The track is taken from the band's new album, "Fortitude", which is due on April 30 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2016's "Magma" was recorded and produced by GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

Proceeds from "Amazonia" will benefit the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who advocate for environmental and cultural rights of indigenous tribes in the Amazon who have suffered immensely — victims of deforestation, land loss, forced labor, violence, and harassment.

Asked in a new interview with Finland's Kaaos TV how the coronavirus pandemic affected the release of the new LP, drummer Mario Duplantier said: "We were very patient, and we knew something so important is happening in the world right now, so we couldn't really complain. We were just a bit worried about when the world will reopen. We took some time off, and actually, it was great to take a little step back from the songs. Because for six months, we didn't listen to the songs — my brother and I. And when we went back to it, it as very pleasant, and we had the confirmation that the album is good for us; we felt great about it. But then I would say it's more around September [and] October, we had to find a solution to take decisions. It was a bit more stressful at this time, because [there was] a lot of back-and-forth with the management and the record company. We had to find a solution to finish everything — the cover, the mixing. So everything accelerated a little bit. But finally we are ready to release it. And [we are] super stoked about it."

Mario went on to say that all the songs were completely written before the start of the pandemic. "We were done with the vocals in January 2020, and we were about to mix the album with Andy Wallace in March — around the 10th," he said. "But we had to cancel the mixing, because Andy was in Florida and we couldn't fly, et cetera, et cetera. But the songs were ready. And I would say the weird thing is, in the band, we thought, 'Oh my God, with this pandemic, the songs [don't] mean anything.' Because talking about the Amazonia [the Amazon rainforest] in this time of pandemic — it's such a huge problem for everyone, so it seems a bit awkward to talk about something else. But finally, after one year or pandemic, we think it's the right moment to release this album, because now the lyrics are actually in [line] with what's happening with the world. The album is talking about strength — it's like a quest of courage — so actually, it's the perfect time to release it now. So there is a second dimension to it."

GOJIRA initially laid the foundation for "Fortitude" last year with the surprise release of the 2020 single "Another World".

The artwork for "Fortitude" was created by Joseph Duplantier and can be seen below.

"Fortitude" track listing:

01. Born For One Thing

02. Amazonia

03. Another World

04. Hold On

05. New Found

06. Fortitude

07. The Chant

08. Sphinx

09. Into The Storm

10. The Trails

11. Grind

"Magma" earned GOJIRA its first-ever Grammy nominations for "Best Metal Performance" and "Best Rock Album." GOJIRA's crushing track "Silvera" received a nomination for "Best Metal Performance", while "Magma" was nominated for "Best Rock Album" at the awards.

Photo credit: Gabrielle Duplantier

We are just a mere three months into the year, but 2021 truly is shaping up to be the year of the Bohab! Following the announcement of GWAR's "Ragnarok" Rye and their brand new CBD line "Bud Of Gods," your Lords and Masters have yet another surprise up their sleeve. May 28 will see the release of "The Disc With No Name", via Pit Records. The EP is a limited-edition 12-inch picture disc. It is available for purchase at GWAR.net and indie retailers.

"The Disc With No Name" features unplugged versions of four GWAR classics, completely reimagined and rearranged with acoustic instruments.

The idea to release the EP came during last year's quarantine following the band's heart wrenching, emotional and ridiculous acoustic performance for The A.V. Club during their quarantine sessions. With this release, the band looks back wistfully on eons of murderous rock and roll and the lonesome time of the great Gwarantine of 2020.

Lead singer Blóthar The Berserker had this to say: "During the quarantine of 2020 I spent long, lonely days with my hand down my pants, hiding out in a fortress made entirely of rolls of toilet paper, drinking hand sanitizer and watching '1000-Lb Sisters'... which is business as usual for me. So I was relieved when I got the call to lay down some vocals on 'The Disc With No Name'. We recorded this record over the telephone, which was fine with me, because I can't stand to be in the same room as the other members of GWAR."

"The Disc With No Name" track listing:

Side A:

01. Fuck This Place

02. Gonna Kill You

Side B:

01. I'll Be Your Monster

02. The Road Behind

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus, was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia in March 2014. According to Virginia's State Medical Examiner's Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Brockie was last remaining original member of GWAR, which was founded 37 years ago. He was 50 years old.

The satirical metal band earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes, offensive lyrics and graphic, gore-soaked shows, in which the bandmembers performed as the descendants of alien warriors who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race.

BEARTOOTH will release its fourth studio album, "Below", on June 25 via Red Bull Records. The official Wyatt Clough-directed music video for the LP's latest single, "The Past Is Dead", can be seen below.

BEARTOOTH frontman Caleb Shomo commented: "'Below' is by far my favorite album I've made to date. It covers the dark side of dealing with mental strain during the last year. I gave it all I had — musically and lyrically. Is it too dark? Possibly, but it was as honest as I could be about how I felt. I hope everyone is ready to strap in for a wild ride of headbanging and rocking."

Regarding "The Past Is Dead", Caleb said: "'The Past Is Dead' was one of the first songs written for the album. The video is meant to depict the beginning of the journey to the deepest and darkest parts of my mind, which was the fuel used to make 'Below'."

"The Past Is Dead" follows the release of "Devastation", which will also appear on "Below".

"Below" track listing:

01. Below

02. Devastation

03. The Past Is Dead

04. Fed Up

05. Dominate

06. No Return

07. Phantom Pain

08. Skin

09. Hell Of It

10. I Wont Give It Up

11. The Answer

12. The Last Riff

Last July, Shomo told "Mosh Talks With Beez" about the writing and recording sessions for "Below": "I worked on a lot of this album on the road — a whole lot of this record. We honestly could not have been luckier with the way our record cycle laid out.

"The 'Disease' tour in Europe was our last tour of the cycle, and that finished on March 6th, I believe. And then the next week, everything got shut down. So we already planned to kind of take most of this year off. We planned on not taking it all off, like we're probably gonna have to.

"I'd already worked on a ton of the record, just writing out on the road; I brought a studio rig out there. And that was great.

"When it first started, the whole lockdown thing, I just kind of emotionally shut down for a month," he continued. "But then I just kind of caught a second wind, and I've just been ripping through songs. It's pretty cool."

Asked if the BEARTOOTH songwriting "formula" is still present in the band's new material, Caleb said: "I think that something about the BEARTOOTH sound is sort of that formula. BEARTOOTH has a song structure — it's the classic pop structure of intro, verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, out. But with this one, I've just been trying to amp up everything. 'Cause with the last record, I really wanted to go for that super-raw, live-rock-and-roll-in-the-old-school-studio and old-school-console sound, and it was rad, and I loved doing it. And it was proving to myself that I can make a real record without computers — well, [without] heavily relying on computers. But I don't know… I just kind of realized, like, you know what? That's what I learned as a producer. I came up in the era of mixing in the box and recording in the box, which means using plug-ins and emulations and things like that. I've just been kind of using that to try and push it a little further. The formula is still there, but I don't think it's in a bad way. I think it's the formula people want from a BEARTOOTH record.

"This one is just jacked," he explained. "Everything is amped up to 11. I am so, so pumped. Obviously, this is what you wanna think when you're making a record, but damn, this is the best one yet. Not even close. This is the heaviest record. This is my best work — the most proud I've been of these songs. It's wild. It's some heavy-duty shit."

Speaking about the musical direction of the new BEARTOOTH songs, Shomo said: "The easiest way I've been trying to explain this record to people without giving too much away is if 'Disease' was AC/DC, this record is BLACK SABBATH. It's a lot more influenced in dark stoner rock, heavy power groove. Obviously, there's still a lot of fast [stuff] and some punk rock and all that, but I've really been exploring with the stoner metal side of guitars and guitar tones and doing different tunings and lots of fuzz and chaos and layering the fuck out of my guitar tracks.

"The whole point, for me, of this mix and the sonics of this record is as big and loud and fucking sonically devastating as I can possibly get it," he said. "So on a breakdown, for example, where on 'Disease' it would just be left guitar, right guitar, bass down the middle, this is literally… That little clip I posted [on Instagram ] is I think eight guitars, three bass tracks. Just experimenting — just doing dumb stoner shit and just trying my fucking best. Yeah, that's the goal — is just sonic devastation, for sure."

BEARTOOTH's latest release was the folk- and country music-inspired "The Blackbird Session" EP, which came out in September 2019.

The band's third album, "Disease", was released in September 2018 via Red Bull Records. The disc was recorded at BlackBird studio in Franklin, Tennessee with producer Nick Raskulinecz (DEFTONES, KORN, FOO FIGHTERS).

STONE TEMPLE PILOTS will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their 1996 LP "Tiny Music…Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop" by releasing a three-disc/one-LP deluxe edition. Due on July 23, it will feature a remastered version of the original album, alternate versions and mixes of several of the songs, and a complete concert taped at the Club La Vela in Panama City Beach, Florida, on March 14, 1997.

"Tiny Music" was recorded in late 1995 with producer Brendan O'Brien at the Westerly Ranch in Santa Ynez, California.

Prior to the release of "Tiny Music", STONE TEMPLE PILOTS' original singer Scott Weiland was arrested for possession of cocaine, heroin and drug paraphernalia and driving under the influence of a controlled substance. In April 1996, a judge ordered him to spend four to six months at a drug treatment center, which put the group's U.S. summer tour on hold.

"Tiny Music…Songs From The Vatican Gift Shop" deluxe edition track listing

Disc One: Original Album 2021 Remaster

01. Press Play

02. Pop's Love Suicide

03. Tumble In The Rough

04. Big Bang Baby

05. Lady Picture Show

06. And So I Know

07. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart

08. Art School Girl

09. Adhesive

10. Ride The Cliche

11. Daisy

12. Seven Caged Tigers

Disc Two: Early Versions, Instrumentals, & Alternate Mixes

01. Press Play (Full-Length Version)

02. Pop's Love Suicide (Early Version)

03. Tumble In The Rough (Early Version)

04. Big Bang Baby (Early Version)

05. Lady Picture Show (Early Version)

06. And So I Know (Early Version)

07. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart (Early Version)

08. 5 Or 4 Times (Art School Girl) (Early Version)

09. Adhesive (Instrumental)

10. Ride The Cliche (Instrumental)

11. Seven Caged Tigers (Early Version)

12. Big Bang Baby (Alternate Version)

13. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart (Percussion Mix)

14. Art School Girl (Jaw Harp Version)

15. Kretz's Acoustic Song

Disc Three: Live at Club La Vela, Panama City Beach, FL (3/14/97)

01. Crackerman

02. Meatplow

03. Tumble In The Rough

04. Vasoline

05. Wicked Garden

06. Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart

07. Plush

08. Big Empty

09. Interstate Love Song

10. Lady Picture Show

11. Unglued

12. Big Bang Baby

13. Dead & Bloated

14. Sex Type Thing

Weiland, who reunited with STONE TEMPLE PILOTS in 2010 after an eight-year hiatus but was dismissed in 2013, died in December 2015 of a drug overdose.

Chester Bennington, who joined STP in early 2013, departed nearly three years later to spend more time with his main band LINKIN PARK. Bennington committed suicide in July 2017.

Jeff Gutt joined STONE TEMPLE PILOTS four years ago. His recording debut with the group was on its self-titled seventh LP, which arrived in March 2018.

Gutt, a 44-year-old Michigan native who spent time in the early-2000s nu-metal act DRY CELL, among other bands, and was a contestant on "The X Factor", joined STONE TEMPLE PILOTS in 2017 after beating out roughly 15,000 hopefuls during an extended search that began more than a year earlier.

Wymer Publishing has set a July 9 publication date for "Yes: A Visual Biography".

"Yes: A Visual Biography" documents the progressive rock pioneers' first 12 years, from the release of their eponymous debut album through to 1980's "Drama". "Drama" is a suitable name for a band whose career has been full of drama as documented in Martin Popoff's narrative that charts YES's ups and downs as the band glided out of the sixties with a full‑on assault on the seventies music scene that saw them become one of the biggest acts — selling out venues around the world from New York's Madison Square Garden to London's Wembley Arena.

Popoff takes you on a journey from the early days of the band with original members Chris Squire, Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Peter Banks and Tony Kaye; to the hugely successful seventies when the likes of Steve Howe, Patrick Moraz, Rick Wakeman and Alan White all added their individual stamps on the band's identity. Then the surprise union with THE BUGGLES that saw YES enter the eighties a world apart from the way they had entered the seventies but continuing to delight their legion of fans.

Throughout the book, Popoff draws on his own interviews conducted with various band members throughout the last two decades, leaving much of the story to be told in their own words, along with a smattering of album reviews by the author and others.

Weighing in at over 1.5 kilograms, this large format coffee table book is fully illustrated throughout, documenting the story visually from the late sixties through to 1980. As well as an abundance of concert images the stunning photographic content is topped off with many off stage shots including a selection of photos taken at Morgan Studios in London during the recording of 1973's audacious and extravagant "Tales From Topographic Oceans".

"Yes: A Visual Biography" will augment any YES fan's collection and those who pre‑order by the end of April can also have their names printed on a dedicated fan page.

According to Billboard, a federal judge in Washington state has recommended the court throw out two of the six claims against the surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN filed by Vicky Cornell, the widow of SOUNDGARDEN singer Chris Cornell.

U.S. District Judge Michelle Peterson said that there wasn't evidence that the band was improperly withholding "hundreds of thousands of dollars" of Chris Cornell's royalties from her or that the band's manager breached his duty to look after her best interests.

The final decision on the matter will now be made by the case's presiding judge, Robert S. Lasnik.

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

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

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

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

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

Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH have entered Sweetspot Studios in Sweden to record their ninth studio album.

The band comments: "Things are happening. As some of you figured out, we have entered Sweetspot Studios and have begun recording a new album. ::Spoiler:: There will be distortion and kicks. Also, we have other news. We are releasing [touring guitarist] Per Nilsson back into the wild to roam free in any way he sees fit. It has been a true privilege and honor to share the stage with Per and even more importantly we have made a great friend through our travels. Per. We thank you. You are a formidable human being!!

"So why are we releasing Per back into a more stable habitat you ask? The answer is simple. Fredrik [Thordendal] will be back for lead work on the album as well as touring going forward. In other words. The band is back together. In full effect."

SCAR SYMMETRY's Per Nilsson joined MESHUGGAH in 2017 as the temporary replacement for Thordendal.

MESHUGGAH's latest album, "The Violent Sleep Of Reason", came out in 2016 and resulted in a "Best Metal Performance" Grammy nomination for the song "Clockworks". The disc was produced by the band and was engineered by Tue Madsen of Puk Studios in Kaerby, Denmark.

Last October, MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake confirmed to Knotfest.com's "Mosh Talks With Beez" that the band had spent much of the downtime during the COVID-19 pandemic working on material for a new album.

"Since March, we all kind of separated, and Jens [Kidman, vocals] took all his stuff and started working from home," he said. "And me and Dick [Lövgren, bass], the bass player, we usually work a lot together, but he also worked separately since then. But at this point, we're back together, and we're trying to hammer it out."

According to Haake, working remotely hadn't posed any huge any problems for him and his bandmates so far.

"By now, Internet is so fast, even huge files — like gigabyte files — you can just send 'em back and forth; it's not really a big problem," he explained. "So we've been able to keep working. But it's still at a fifth or a tenth of the pace that you normally would have when you're working together [in person]… Just changing one riff… Every single little thing you're trying to do or adjust within a song or an idea takes days instead of maybe hours when you're sitting together at the studio.

"If you're a band that kind of jam up stuff or you kind of write together as a band in the rehearsal space or whatever, it would obviously be very different, if you can't do that. We're not really that type of band, and we haven't really been that type of band since the early '90s, mid-'90s. So for us, it's not that big of a deal. We write separately a lot of stuff. And Mårten [Hagström, guitar], he lives up north — he works at home on his stuff. Me and Dick, the bass player, we work on stuff here, usually together. Jens works separately from us and so on.

"Since we program drums — that's kind of how we do demos nowadays. We don't go into the studio and record demos, like we used to. So for us, programming drums and recording into the computer and doing it that way, that's kind of how we've been doing it for so long now. So, fortunately, I would say, this hasn't really hampered us that much, other than just the time aspect of things."

Speaking in more details about the MESHUGGAH songwriting process, Tomas said: "It does take us quite a bit of time with each album. And we're also very easily distracted. We don't write on the road. Some bands, you see they have gear set up in their bus and they're constantly writing. We're not that type of band. We really need to just have time completely off and preferably not even a gig date in the calendar. That way, we can kind of relax and get into the writing and get into that modus."

Asked how far into the writing process for the new MESHUGGAH album he and his bandmates were, Haake said: "I think we have most of the material for the new album. It takes a long time for us between each album, and this time, due to COVID as well, it's gonna be longer than usual, I think. Right now, we're aiming at a release in late '21. Then the question mark right now is, is touring even gonna happen at that point? And if not, do you release the album or do you hold off with it and try to make money some other ways, like doing live shows on the Internet or whatever? So, yeah, it's time consuming, for sure. We tend to scrutinize everything we do a lot, too, so… I think, to some degree, you just turn kind of insane over time when you try to do this thing, because we always try to challenge ourselves and we always try to find something that [we] haven't done before. But we've done this for 30 years now, so it's harder and harder to find what's special with this — like, 'This riff, is it cool enough? Or what's going on?' So you tend to kind of overly scrutinize things. And sometimes you just kind of paint yourself into a corner with that kind of thinking. And sometimes you even realize, 'I can't even listen to this. Why would we release anything like this? It doesn't even make sense.' So you have to find kind of a balance. What's a good balance of a song or an album as far as technical aspects? And what do people wanna hear? What do we wanna hear? And hopefully we can get to some kind of good level of mix in that. But that's always an aspect too. And definitely with the years that we've put into it, we definitely feel like we're more and more locked. It just gets more and more narrow. With each album, you're just kind of in a tighter and tighter space."

Regarding the musical direction of the new MESHUGGAH material, Tomas said: "Of course, we have a certain framework that we still wanna sound like MESHUGGAH, we wanna have that signature sound, we want people to be able to — even if they haven't heard the song [before] — in the best-case scenario, it's, like, 'Oh, that's gotta be MESHUGGAH,' even if it's a brand new thing. So hopefully that's something we're aiming at. But with that said, as far as the music goes, we try to [do] kind of the opposite of what AC/DC has been doing for 40 years. So we're not trying to write the same album over and over. And whether we succeed with that or not, that's more up to our fans and other people, but that's definitely the aim. We try our best to kind of find new grips within the framework of what we're supposed to be, I guess. 'Cause we don't wanna really step out of that either. We're not looking to be another band all of a sudden or something that we haven't been or that is not true to kind of what we're doing."

Haake said that MESHUGGAH has fared better during the coronavirus-related music shutdown than most other artists.

"We know a lot of bands that just had their album out or just finished something and were just about to go on tour, and this [pandemic] happened," he said. "So, of course, we feel with 'em — that's no fun. We were fortunate enough [in that] we just kind of finished the tour run for [MESHUGGAH's last album] 'The Violent Sleep Of Reason', so we're just writing. We played a lot the last few years, so we had a good amount of cash in the bank to keep us afloat for a while, so we've been really fortunate in all this compared to a lot of bands that are just — they're done. What are they supposed to

Legendary Los Angeles rock band JANE'S ADDICTION is back with "Replay 2020" — a new documentary and concert film featuring interviews with the group's Perry Farrell, Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins and Chris Chaney paired with a seven-song performance from the band's Virtual Lollapalooza performance captured in the summer of 2020 (their first performance in three years).

"Replay 2020" is available to stream today exclusively on The Coda Collection, a subscription streaming offering featuring an exclusive, curated selection of the most iconic concert films, music documentaries, and episodic series spanning decades and genres via Amazon Prime Video channels.

"After 35 years of fighting I'm super glad we're all alive and sounding so good," said JANE'S ADDICTION frontman Perry Farrell. "This session just sparked my imagination on what we can accomplish during the next 10 years."

In accompanying editorial on CodaCollection.Co, contributor Annie Zaleski writes: "Short interview segments provide a baseline knowledge of JANE'S ADDICTION's history as they touch on the band's formation, major albums such as 'Ritual de lo Habitual' (1990) and the quartet's close association with Lollapalooza, the festival Farrell co-founded in the early '90s. Still, some of these interviews offer lovely insights: Perkins speaks movingly about the timeless nature of 'Then She Did', featuring lyrics Farrell wrote about the death of his mom and girlfriend, while multiple members offer engaging recollections about Lollapalooza's communal early days."

Songs performed in "Replay 2020" include "Stop", "Ocean Size", "Been Caught Stealing", "I Would For You", and more.

The Coda Collection is available to Amazon Prime members in the U.S. now for $4.99 per month, with a free seven-day trial, and will roll out globally throughout the rest of 2

Following is an excerpt from a Metal Hammer interview with Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris, published in Metal Hammer #279, in which he praises Nightwish's 2007 album, Dark Passion Play.

Harris: "When I heard Dark Passion Play, I couldn’t believe it. I thought, 'Now, this is a proper fucking album.' It’s got everything bar the kitchen sink in there. It was controversial because of the new singer (Anette Olzon), but she was brilliant. No disrespect to (original Nightwish singer) Tarja, but Anette’s voice suited them a lot better. There’s heavy stuff, classical, even a bit of Disney – all kinds of shit in there. I think it’s one of the best-sounding albums I’ve ever heard in my life.

Then I got the next one, [2011’s] Imaginaerum. Storytime is a fantastic, instant song. The rest of the album took me a while to get into. Dark Passion Play was so good, I thought there was no way they could ever come up with an album that’s anywhere near that, but the more I got into Imaginaerum, the more I loved it.”

Dark Passion Play is Nightwish's sixth studio album. It was released  through September and October 2007 in various territories and is the first album in the band's catalogue without original vocalist Tarja Turunen, who was dismissed in 2005. It is also the first album involving future member Troy Donockley on uilleann pipes and tin whistle. Dark Passion Play is the first of only two albums featuring singer Anette Olzon, who was eventually dismissed in 2012 after the release of the band's subsequent album, Imaginaerum, and replaced by Floor Jansen. Founder / keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen has referred to it as the "album that saved his life."

Tracklist:

"The Poet and the Pendulum"
I. "White Lands of Empathica"
II. "Home"
III. "The Pacific"
IV. "Dark Passion Play"
V. "Mother and Father"
"Bye Bye Beautiful"
"Amaranth"
"Cadence of Her Last Breath"
"Master Passion Greed"
"Eva"    
"Sahara"
"Whoever Brings the Night"
"For the Heart I Once Had"
"The Islander"    
"Last of the Wilds" (instrumental)
"7 Days to the Wolves"    
"Meadows of Heaven"




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French progressive metallers GOJIRA will release their long-awaited new album, "Fortitude", on April 30 via Roadrunner Records. The follow-up to 2016's "Magma" was recorded and produced by GOJIRA guitarist/vocalist Joseph Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).

Asked in a new interview with Finland's Kaaos TV how the coronavirus pandemic affected the release of the new LP, drummer Mario Duplantier said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were very patient, and we knew something so important is happening in the world right now, so we couldn't really complain. We were just a bit worried about when the world will reopen. We took some time off, and actually, it was great to take a little step back from the songs. Because for six months, we didn't listen to the songs — my brother and I. And when we went back to it, it as very pleasant, and we had the confirmation that the album is good for us; we felt great about it. But then I would say it's more around September [and] October, we had to find a solution to take decisions. It was a bit more stressful at this time, because [there was] a lot of back-and-forth with the management and the record company. We had to find a solution to finish everything — the cover, the mixing. So everything accelerated a little bit. But finally we are ready to release it. And [we are] super stoked about it."

Mario went on to say that all the songs were completely written before the start of the pandemic. "We were done with the vocals in January 2020, and we were about to mix the album with Andy Wallace in March — around the 10th," he said. "But we had to cancel the mixing, because Andy was in Florida and we couldn't fly, et cetera, et cetera. But the songs were ready. And I would say the weird thing is, in the band, we thought, 'Oh my God, with this pandemic, the songs [don't] mean anything.' Because talking about the Amazonia [the Amazon rainforest] in this time of pandemic — it's such a huge problem for everyone, so it seems a bit awkward to talk about something else. But finally, after one year or pandemic, we think it's the right moment to release this album, because now the lyrics are actually in [line] with what's happening with the world. The album is talking about strength — it's like a quest of courage — so actually, it's the perfect time to release it now. So there is a second dimension to it."

The official music video for the album's first single, "Born For One Thing", can be seen below. The clip was directed by Charles De Meyer and was shot in France and Belgium.

Joseph Duplantier said of "Born For One Thing"'s anti-consumerist message, which was partially inspired by the Tibetan and Thai philosophers he read in his youth back in France: "We have to practice detaching ourselves from everything, beginning with actual things. Own less possessions, and give what you don't need away, because one day we'll have to let everything go, and if we don't, we'll just become ghosts stuck between dimensions."

GOJIRA initially laid the foundation for "Fortitude" last year with the surprise release of the 2020 single "Another World".

The artwork for "Fortitude" was created by Joseph Duplantier and can be seen below.

"Magma" earned GOJIRA its first-ever Grammy nominations for "Best Metal Performance" and "Best Rock Album." GOJIRA's crushing track "Silvera" received a nomination for "Best Metal Performance", while "Magma" was nominated for "Best Rock Album" at the awards.

Photo credit: Gabrielle Duplantier

Gene Simmons has bought a new hilltop home in Malibu, California.

According to Dirt.com, the KISS bassist/vocalist and his wife, Canadian actress and 1982 Playboy Playmate Of The Year Shannon Tweed, purchased the three-bedroom, four-bathroom property on March 15 for $5.8 million.

The 3,700-square-foot house was built in 1975 and last sold in 2014 for $1.9 million. It has since been remodeled to include walls of glass embracing 360-degree vistas of the mountains and sea as well as an all-new pool with an inset spa and Baja shelf for sunbathing.

Last fall, Simmons put his Beverly Hills house on the market for $22 million, saying that he was moving to Washington State. He later relisted it for $25 million after it never sold and he reportedly invested a lot of money in making improvements.

"California and Beverly Hills have been treating folks that create jobs badly and the tax rates are unacceptable," Gene told the Wall Street Journal in October. "I work hard and pay my taxes and I don’t want to cry the Beverly Hills blues, but enough is enough."

Simmons also said that part of the reason he and his wife listed the two-acre property in Benedict Canyon because the home had become too big for the both of them since their children had grown up.

Last summer, Simmons put his hillside home in Laurel Canyon on the market for $2.2 million.

Gene and Shannon were married in 2011 after dating since 1975. They have two children, Nick, 32, and Sophie, 28.

Gene, Shannon and their kids all appeared on the reality TV series "Gene Simmons Family Jewels" from 2006 until 2012.

For the past few months, Gene has been vocal about people taking the COVID-19 outbreak seriously. He has also blasted Americans who are defiantly skeptical of mask wearing, saying that their refusal to follow the rules is putting all of our health at risk.

In its 48-year career, KISS has accumulated 23 gold and platinum albums — more than any other U.S. band.

Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman will release his new studio album, "Tokyo Jukebox 3", on April 16 via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. The record, which was made available in Japan last October, is the third in a series that began with "Tokyo Jukebox" in 2009, and then "Tokyo Jukebox 2" following in 2011. The trilogy presents Friedman's inspired performances to Japanese repertoire he's chosen to cover. He shares: "I've been playing stuff from the first two 'Jukebox' albums live all over the world, and it's taken on a life of its own. Especially in places like North and South America, Australia, Italy, France and even India. My fan base is very dedicated, and what I have found is that lots of new fans have been introduced to Japanese music and culture through me, which is very gratifying. On the tours it seems like aside from the dedicated guitar fans, the Japan fanatics have been noticeably growing, so now felt like the right time to do 'Tokyo Jukebox 3'."

The official visualizer for the song "Kaze Ga Fuiteiru" can be seen below.

Marty said: "While keeping intact the essence of Ikimono Gakari's 'Kaze Ga Fuiteiru' melody that I loved, I tried to destroy it, reconstruct it and create five minutes of new music that might bring a tear or a chill, and decidedly lifts your spirits. Whether I accomplished that or not is entirely up to you, but when I just finished the recording of 'Kaze Ga Fuiteru', someone whose opinion I respect very much called it 'grand and elegant,' so I'll go with that."

Friedman put a lot of energy into selecting the right songs to cover for the album, He shares: "In Japan, you have to get permission to record and release cover versions, and that can be a very tricky and long process. So, the last thing I wanted to do was to ask permission to do a song, only to wind up not recording it for whatever reason. That would be very impolite. I spent several weeks choosing songs and demoing them to see whether I could create versions that I could get pumped up about, before I even approached any publishers. I came up with a short list of 20 songs, and from this chose about 15 that I knew I could really score with."

Friedman has also included "The Perfect World", which he wrote, recorded and originally released in 2018. This is the only track on the album with vocals. He reflects: "Back then I did the song with Jean-Ken Johnny from MAN WITH A MISSION on vocals, and that was used as the main theme for the Netflix series 'B: The Beginning'. On the day of release, the song went straight to the top of the Japanese iTunes chart." This recording is a new, fresh interpretation with Alfakyun, one of Japan's premier female J-pop singers performing the vocals. As Friedman offers: "It's really a self-cover, so it fits in with the idea of this being a covers album."

Friedman has also included "Japan Heritage Theme Song", another of his own compositions on which he worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra. He reflects: "I was asked by the Japanese government to compose an official song to be played at government sponsored events which celebrate Japanese heritage. This was a huge honor, and it was wonderful to be able to work with such a prestigious orchestra which, rather conveniently, my wife plays cello in. Doing this was a little different from what I am used to, because instead of playing a completed track to record company people, I had to face Japanese government officials. I recall looking at their stony faces after they heard it and sweating anxiously awaiting their reaction. Thankfully, they liked what I'd done. I felt this was a great, uplifting way to close the album."

Much of the recording process was done at Power House Studios in Tokyo, with Friedman, who was also the producer on the project, joined by bassist Kiyoshi and drummer Anup Sastry. He shares: "Kiyoshi has been in my band for about six years now doing all my tours and recordings. She is a powerhouse, and I honestly have never seen anyone hit the bass as hard as she does, especially while keeping up with my kind of challenging music. Anup was a member of SKYHARBOR (an Indian/American progressive metal band) and has been on my last three albums. He is just plain phenomenal as well."

The recording process started in January, 2020 and was due to end in March with a release in May. Then the pandemic struck, and everything was pushed back. Friedman had no firm deadline to finish the album within, and he took advantage of the time, reflecting on executing his vision without limitations. He offers: "I kept reworking the music, and improving everything. In the end, it took several months to get the album completed, but it was time well spent. I believe the music turned out so much better because I wasn't under any deadline pressure." The mixing was handled by Jens Bogren at his own Fascination Studios in Sweden. He's a resource Friedman has the utmost confidence in offering, "Jens has mixed my last three albums and he's one of the best in the business. He knows what I want, and I know he'll get it for me."

Friedman's remarkable attention to detail on this album goes beyond the music. The cover image presents the guitarist dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, with make-up that honors authentic tradition. He offers: "I have to admit that getting this done was a hellish process. It could easily have just looked like a dude in drag and therefore rather stupid. It does take a very serious attitude and approach to pull this off properly. If you look at the covers for the first two 'Jukebox' albums, I had on kabuki make-up. There was no photoshop used at all and that's precisely why they came out so well. This time I brought on the absolute top professionals in the unique field of wardrobe and make-up, and I believe we've hit the bullseye. I am actually wearing two kimonos in the photo, as well as padding to fill me out a little like a sumo wrestler. You'd never believe I am this skinny rock dude from the East Coast of America!"

Friedman staged a live streaming concert on New Year's Day 2021 to celebrate the "Jukebox" series. Plans to tour worldwide are in his sights, sharing: "Obviously, we have to wait and see what happens with international travel protocol. But I cannot wait to get back on the road again. I have really missed it terribly." In the interim, he hopes the world enjoys the fruits of his labor of love on "Jukebox 3", where Friedman takes J-Pop hits and offers his own charismatic interpretations of contemporary repertoire that includes LiSA's "Gurenge" and Official Hige Dandism's "Shukumei", alongside Da Pump's dance track "U.S.A.", Sekai No Owari's ballad "Sazanka", and the vocaloid hit "Senbonzakura". Japanese old-school standards, Zard's "Makenaide" and Every Little Things' "Time Goes By", are also given Marty's modern overhaul to round out the album's track list to cover the full scope of his take on the Japanese music scene. In closing Friedman offers, "I am so happy with the way this turned out. And I am also grateful for how it's been received so far. The reaction has been fantastic. It was joyful and cathartic to record, and I am delighted it's now giving people such a fun diversion."

More than four decades after its release, QUEEN's iconic "Bohemian Rhapsody" continues to reach new milestones. The iconic song has been officially certified diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), representing 10 million or more in sales and stream equivalents in the United States.

QUEEN is the first British band in music history to earn the diamond song award.

"This is incredible news. At times like this I have to pinch myself to be sure it's real," said Brian May. "All those wild dreams we had — this is beyond any of them. Huge thanks to all who have believed in us over the years."

"It's a wonderful and gratifying thought to know the song has reached out and connected with so many people!" said Roger Taylor. "We thank you all… onwards."

This is the latest in a long line of extraordinary achievements for "Bohemian Rhapsody", which was QUEEN's first Top 10 hit in the U.S. In the U.K., it went to No. 1 for 9 consecutive weeks, a record at the time, before returning to the top of the charts again in 1991. It was named the most-streamed song of the 20th century and its companion video recently passed one billion views on YouTube, making history as the first pre-1990s video to reach one billion views on the platform. In 2004, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and Freddie Mercury's vocal performance was named by the readers of Rolling Stone magazine as the best in rock history.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is also one of the many QUEEN hits featured on the band's blockbuster compilation "Platinum Collection, Vol. 1-3", which was just certified five times platinum. This blockbuster compendium, which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200, features tracks like "Another One Bites The Dust", "Killer Queen", "Under Pressure", "We Will Rock You", "We Are The Champions" and so many more.

On the heels of this momentous milestone, the band has also kicked off a year-long weekly YouTube series "Queen The Greatest" — a celebration of QUEEN's Golden Jubilee that highlights 50 of the greatest moments from the QUEEN story so far. Beginning with the March 19 first episode, "Keep Yourself Alive", and with five decades to explore, the series of weekly insights will highlight some of the biggest songs, most memorable performances, and incredible record-breaking achievements that QUEEN have brought us since it all began in 1971 — bringing fans, over the coming year, one of the greatest stories ever told.

In addition, the band just released their first-ever official QUEEN game on mobile, "Queen: Rock Tour", the band's first-ever official game for Android and iOS devices. Upon its release, "Queen: Rock Tour" went Top 5 on The Music Game App chart in over 20 countries.

QUEEN remains one of the most popular groups in the world today, transcending multiple generations of fans, a position further buoyed by the phenomenal global success of their Academy Award-winning 2018 biographical film "Bohemian Rhapsody", which tells the incredible story of the band's historic career and quickly became the highest grossing music biopic in history.

Ted Nugent says that Donald Trump came up with the title of his next studio album.

The outspoken conservative rocker, who was a fervent supporter of the former U.S. president, discussed his plans for a new LP during a Facebook Live stream on Saturday.

Insisting that he loves making music more than ever, Nugent said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I play my guitar every day. I love what I'm doing. I love my new songs.

"A lot of people go, 'How come you don't make albums?' Two years ago, 2019, I made a killer record. It's called 'The Music Made Me Do It'. [Editor's note: The album actually came out in November 2018.] It's got monster, killer songs on it. But there's no music industry. You've gotta be some dirtbag on parole, singing garbage pop music, or what they call country music, [which] isn't even really country music; it's pop music —like cartoon music. I can't stand the new music.

"I like soulful, high-energy, defiant, sexy, grinding rhythm-and-blues rock and roll," he continued. "And me and Greg Smith and Jason Hartless, we still make that shit. And we're gonna do another record coming up in May and June.

"President Donald Trump titled my new record. My new record will be called Ted Nugent 'Handsome Devil'."

Leading up to last year's presidential election, Nugent teamed up with Donald Trump Jr. on the campaign trail.

Ted has called Trump "the greatest president in our lifetime," and has said that the billionaire real estate mogul represents "the heart and soul of the best American families out there."

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

Nugent has carved a permanent place in rock 'n' roll history as the ultimate guitar-shredding showman, selling more than 40 million albums and performing nearly seven thousand high-octane live shows. As a budding musician, Nugent was strongly influenced by Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, and knew he wanted to pursue that type of sound and attitude. Early bands THE ROYAL HIGHBOYS and THE LOURDS paved the way for the AMBOY DUKES — and their psychedelic "Journey To The Center Of The Mind" kicked young Ted's career into hyper drive. The axe maniac soon broke out as a solo artist, where the guitarist's prodigious talent, ear-shattering volume and over-the-top stage antics quickly earned him the moniker of Motor City Madman.

Cranking out hits like "Cat Scratch Fever", "Just What The Doctor Ordered", "Free For All" and the iconic "Stranglehold", Nugent garnered international acclaim and truly hit his stride, becoming one of the top-grossing tour acts in America. His no-holds-barred career now spans six decades of multi-platinum hits. The ultimate Road Warrior, touring and recording continue at Ted's breakneck pace. Nugent and his inimitable sound have been featured on VH1's "Behind The Music", A&E's "Biography" and more. He was named "Detroit's Greatest Guitar Player Of All Time" by readers of MLive

Californian rockers THE OFFSPRING have released the official music video for the title track of the band's upcoming tenth studio album, "Let The Bad Times Roll", which will arrive on April 16 via Concord Records. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was produced by Bob Rock, who also worked on the band's last two LPs.

Speaking about the inspiration for the "Let The Bad Times Roll" album title, singer Bryan "Dexter" Holland told Lou Brutus of HardDrive Radio (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We had a song two albums ago [on 2008's 'Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace'] called 'Shit Is Fucked Up'. We wrote that 'cause we thought how terrible things were in the world back then. But it actually got worse. So we had to come up with a new title, 'Let The Bad Times Roll'.

"You can apply it to a lot of things," he explained. "I mean, we're not a political band. Some people would apply it to the last administration. Some people would apply it to things that are going on today, or just how messed up everything is, trying to fix our pandemic and all that kind of stuff."

Added guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman: "But really, it's not just an American-centric thing either, cause you're seeing stuff happening around the world. There's unrest happening literally everywhere — on all continents. You're seeing unrest, and then you're also seeing anti-democratic forces kind of taking power in some places, in which case causes more unrest. So, yeah, the whole world is a little bit of a scary place right now."

Dexter continued: "That's right. Climate change, climate deniers, vaccine, anti-vaxxers — whatever you want, it's out there."

Holland, Wasserman, drummer Pete Parada and new bassist Todd Morse wrote and recorded "Let The Bad Times Roll" in the last few years at various locations, including the band's studio in Huntington Beach, California.

In December, THE OFFSPRING released the official music video for its Rock-produced cover version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", a rock song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album "A Christmas Gift For You" from Phil Spector.

Last April, THE OFFSPRING jumped on the "Tiger King" bandwagon by recording a cover version of THE CLINTON JOHNSON BAND's "Here Kitty Kitty", a song made popular by Joe Schreibvogel — better known as Joe Exotic, the "Tiger King" — through the Netflix docuseries.

Two years ago, bassist Gregory "Greg K." Kriesel, who hasn't performed with THE OFFSPRING since 2018, filed a federal lawsuit against Noodles and Dexter alleging trademark infringement and breach of partnership agreement over the rights to THE OFFSPRING name. In response, Holland and Wasserman filed a cross-complaint, denying basically everything Kriesel alleged and asking the court to appoint "three disinterested appraisers to appraise the fair value" of Kriesel's shares of THE OFFSPRING.

THE OFFSPRING has sold more than 40 million albums worldwide, won countless awards, and has toured consistently, playing more than 500 shows in the last decade alone. Their music has had a lasting impact across film, television, and video games.

Frozen soil of the North has brought to life a new embodiment of Finnish darkness, gloom and beauty. After working in the background for Wolfheart, it's time for Mika Juhani Kankainen to step into the spotlight with his own solo project, Shade Of Sorrow. The debut single "No Return" is out today and is the first of a series of singles to be released during 2021 via Inverse Records.. 

"No Return" is available on all digital streaming platforms. Check out the video below.
 
The song and video were produced by Finnish metal mastermind Tuomas Saukkonen (Wolfheart). He comments:
 
"Mika has been helping Wolfheart in the studio and video production and it was an honor and pleasure to return the favour and sit into the producer's chair both with music and video. Relentless, talented and strong like a bear. Truly my kind of an artist to work with."
 
"No Return" was recorded by Esa Uusimaa and vocals produced by Juha Kylmänen (Whiteleaf studios). Mix and mastering by Esa Uusimaa. 

Photo by Sami Kettunen




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Florida death-metal band Goregäng have signed a digital licensing deal with Blood Blast Distribution.  The duo, comprised of Jeramie Kling (Inhuman Condition, Venom Inc, The Absence) on vocals and guitar, and Taylor Nordberg (Inhuman Condition, The Absence) on drums, guitars and bass, combine the disgusting guitar tone and crusty nature of Swedish death metal of the late 80s/early 90s with their hometown heroes of the Florida death metal scene.  

Goregäng have also announced their newest album, Long Live The Grime, which will be released digitally on Blood Blast Distribution and on CD and CD boxset on Kling and Nordberg’s Listenable Insanity Records on April 30, 2021.  

Nordberg said “We are very excited about this next step in Goregäng’s story.  We started this band with a goal to do everything in-house, to do it all ourselves. We ended up having the first full-length put out on Transcending Obscurity Records, which was a great release and we were stoked to be a part of their label, but we are excited to get back to doing it in-house. We’ve come up with a pretty cool release for this EP, including a limited edition box set available with all sorts of goodies in it.  We have tons of new music coming out soon, but for this EP it’s four new songs, a White Zombie cover, and four live tunes. Long Live The Grime!”

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)




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The new album Johannes, from French post black metallers Decline Of The I, is available for streaming in its entirety, ahead of its March 26 release on Agonia Records.

Decline Of The I is a combination of multifaceted, post-black metal and exploratory lyrics, that dwell on topics of existential philosophy. Originating from France (Paris, Île-de-France), the band was created by AK, who descends from a rich portfolio of past and on-going acts (including Vorkreist, Merrimack, The Order Of Apollyon, Neo Inferno 262, Malhkebre and Diapsiquir), with Decline Of The I being his most personal endeavor yet.

While the band's first three albums were inspired by the works of French surgeon and neurologist Henri Laborit, the new one - Johannes - pursues a different approach based on the output of Danish philosopher, Søren Kierkegaard, and opens a new trilogy for the band. All music and lyrics were written exclusively by AK, who recorded guitars, keyboards and some of the vocals. He's surrounded by a full line-up of SI (vocals), AD (bass) and SK (drums).

Drums  were recorded at Hybreed Studios (Temple Of Baal, Ritualization, Merrimack) while the rest of the instruments were recorded at a private, home-studio. The album was mixed at Drudenhaus (Alcest, Aluk Todolo, Drastus). Dehn Sora (Deathspell Omega, Blus aus Nord) crafted the cover artwork. David Fitt (Perturbator, Alcest) shot new band photos.

Johannes Vinyl artwork:

Tracklisting:

"A Selfish Star"
"The Veil Of Splendid Lies"
"Act Of Faith"
"Tethering The Transient"
"Diev Vide"

Johannes CD artwork:

Pre-orders can be placed now at this location.

 

 




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Sabaton have released the video below, performing their new single "Livgardet", live at the Dalecarlia Music Awards 2021, held earlier today.

For the 500th anniversary of one of the oldest military establishments in the world - the Swedish Royal Guard - metal giants Sabaton returns with an epic hymn to celebrate this commemoration while simultaneously satisfying the wish of thousands of fans to sing in Swedish again. This is the first new music released since Sabaton's hit album The Great War entered the charts in several countries at #1 in 2019, and this is just the tip of the iceberg for what one of today's biggest metal acts has up their sleeve for 2021.

Sabaton's new single, "Livgardet", is available on all digital platforms. Listen here, and watch the music video below.

Simultaneously, the band announced the new single "The Royal Guard" and starts the pre-order for the limited vinyl edition of the single that will see the light of day on April 9. This 12'' comes with a beautifully etched B-side, noble gold foil prints and embossed artwork, and contains both the English version of the track - "The Royal Guard" as well as the Swedish version "Livgardet."  For a strictly limited edition, the band has even visited the pressing plant and created a special vinyl that will contain real gunpowder.

Pre-order the vinyl here. Pre-save "The Royal Guard" on the digital platforms here.

"Since 2012 and Carolus Rex, we have been looking forward to writing more songs in Swedish, and we felt that we were not done with the history of our fatherland," bassist and co-songwriter Pär Sundström reflects on the new track. "Over the past years, we have been discussing around topics until something obvious came up. One of the oldest military regiments in the world, the Swedish Royal Guard (Livgardet), was formed in the Sabaton home region in Sweden, Dalecarlia, in 1521 by the legendary Swedish king Gustav Vasa.

"For the past 500 years, they have evolved with the times and served under various kings and queens around the world and are still active today. We felt that such an anniversary would be worth a song, and we aimed at writing a respectful tribute, an anthem for this Swedish regiment and its legacy.

"The rich 500 years of history is, needless to say, extremely hard to fit into one song, and that is why we mainly focused on the parts and battles that happened during the age of the Swedish Empire. We aimed to write a respectful tribute, a powerful anthem, for this Swedish regiment and its remarkable legacy."

So prepare to salute a 500-year-old legacy, and get ready for a year filled with countless surprises, new history lessons, and both musical and visual sensations from a band that continues to exceed itself.




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Ra released their new album, Intercorrupted, via Wake Up! Music Rocks on March 19. The album has guest features from Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust and Dustin Bates of Starset, and can be purchased here.

"We are very proud of this record. A lot of time went into being respectful of what we done in the past but also trying to feel contemporary and have good songwriting and production to go along with it. Having all the original members participate made this a special album for all of us and played an intrinsic part of keeping it true to our career-long vision of hope, healing and passion. Having the artistic freedom afforded to us by Wake Up Music Rocks! was also critical to being able to make this record what we believe it should be," says Sahaj Ticotin.

"The happiest days at the label are when we unveil a release for our listeners. The Ra album, Intercorrupted is ushering in a new era of rock. The artistry shines from Sahaj Ticotin’s song writing and vocals to each of the musicians, Skoota Warner, PJ Farley and Ben Carroll. A stunning work of new rock and metal,” adds Pepper Gomez, Executive Producer, Wake Up! Music and Wake Up! Music Rocks.

Musicality is the connective tissue binding and bridging Ra’s past to its present. It is also responsible for a sound so enigmatic it continues transcending time, resonating with a fan base that has yet to allow Ra to release its melodic grip on them. That grip is a culmination of years fraught with trials and triumphs and many lessons learned; however, perseverance and a passionate resolve pushed Ra far past its genesis to become a band still relevant in today’s ever-changing musical landscape.

In the 7 years since Ra’s last studio release, Sahaj has been hard at work replicating the formula for his success by producing other artists while the rest of the band has pursued independent projects; however, collectively, they feel now is the time for a comeback. What makes the timing so special is that all original members of the band will be together again to not only create the new album, but tour it as well. After a very successful re-emergence on 2020’s Shiprocked, the band has again tapped into the fan based that sustained them all these years.

Ra is:

Sahaj Ticotin - Guitar and Vocals
Ben Carroll - Guitar
PJ Farley - Bass
Skoota Warner - Drums




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Amorphis guitarist Esa Holopainen's Silver Lake By Esa Holopainen project will release it its self-titled debut album on May 28 via Nuclear Blast. A teaser for the upcoming "Storm" video can be seen below:

Since 1990, Esa Holopainen has been the lead guitarist of the progressively-minded heavy metal innovators Amorphis. Thanks to the metallic and melodic beauty of such classic albums as Tales From The Thousand Lakes, Elegy and Skyforger, Holopainen's magnificent abilities to create enchanting atmospheres and innovative riffs have become widely known within the worldwide heavy metal circuit - and when the COVID pandemic forced Esa to cancel all plans for 2020, the renowned Finnish guitarist knew that the time had come to finally record a couple of songs he had kept in his drawer for several years.

"Over the last few years, I have been writing a lot of music, and some of the stuff hasn't exactly sounded like Amorphis. When Nino [Laurenne, owner of Sonic Pump Studios] called me late March, I already had three decent-sounding Silver Lake songs in stock. These tracks, entitled 'Sentiment', 'Ray of Light' and 'Promising Sun', worked as the backbone for the full solo album."

Although the making of the record had already started, some important decisions were still under discussion and Esa soon decided that he would need to invite some friends over to sing on his upcoming record. "At first, I really didn't know if the album would turn out to be purely instrumental or would there be vocalists as well. However, one thing was certain, I wouldn't be the singer of Silver Lake", Holopainen laughs. "Many times, when people think about a guitarist's solo album, they get the impression of technical stuff with a huge amounts of notes played extremely fast. Well, I‘m not a big fan of that kind of music. Whenever I write, I always want to pile up interesting songs, and not just shred for the sake of it."

With diverse styles ranging from 80's Dire Straits vibes to some heavy, melancholic and even poppy tracks, these 9 fresh creations obviously needed some strong vocal performances. Therefore Esa started to ask several friends and favorite singers of his that joined him from their home studios on these 9 new tracks to be featured on Silver Lake By Esa Holopainen.

With moody cover artwork created by Metastazis, the album that was recorded at Sonic Pump, produced and mixed by Nino Laurenne & Esa Holopainen, and mastered by Svante Forsbäck will be available on May 28. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"Silver Lake" (instrumental)
"Sentiment" (feat. Jonas Renkse of Katatonia)
"Storm" (feat. Håkan Hemlin of Nordman)
"Ray Of Light" (feat. Einar Solberg of Leprous)
"Alkusointu" (feat. Vesa-Matti Loiri)
"In Her Solitude" (feat Tomi Joutsen of Amorphis)
"Promising Sun" (feat. Björn 'Speed' Strid of Soilwork / The Night Flight Orchestra)
"Fading Moon" (feat. Anneke Van Giersbergen)
"Apprentice" (feat. Jonas Renkse of Katatonia)

(Photo - Juuso Soinio)




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Israeli progressive metal outfit, Subterranean Masquerade, have released a dynamic new single from their impending fourth LP, Mountain Fever, which is due for worldwide release through Sensory Records in May. The new single, “Mångata”, features guest Idan Amsalem from Orphaned Land on bouzouki and guitar, and a video for the track can be seen below.

Boasting ten new songs which encompass nearly fifty-five minutes of material, Mountain Fever sees Subterranean Masquerade continuing to push the balance between pioneering experimentalism to their own take on modern pop culture and its manifestation in the Middle East. Revealing an album composed of African and Balkan brass sections, Arabic violins, extended vocal techniques, and several special guest appearances, the band explores radio friendly hooks that emerge out of heavy riffs and polychromatic arrangements.

Mountain Fever was recorded in Golan Heights, Israel with engineer David Castillo, after which it was sent to Fascination Street in Örebro, Sweden (Leprous, Katatonia, Opeth) where it was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren, then completed with artwork and layout by Costin Chioreanu of Twilight 13 Media. The record features several notable guest contributions, including drums from Matan Shmuely (Orphaned Land), bouzouki and lead guitars on "Mångata" by Idan Amsalem (Orphaned Land), and vocals on "Somewhere I Sadly Belong" by Melechesh Ashmedi (Melechesh) and Jackie Hole (The Super Things).

Lead vocalist Davidavi Dolev writes, “’Mångata’ is the closing track on our new album, Mountain Fever. It is a song about love, companionship, and language barriers; it is an open end, a vast ocean of longing. Three years ago, I came back to Israel after quite a few years living on/off Scandinavia. I had sunk into its serenity; I fell in love with its melancholy and its rhythm, I lived a different life than the one I’ve had in the Middle East. ‘Mångata’ in Swedish is the road-like reflection of the moon on the ocean. I loved the idea that no matter what, every night looking at the Mediterranean Sea, I can just step on the water, and go back up north.”

 

Lasers Edge division Sensory Records will release Mountain Fever worldwide on May 14 across all digital platforms, on CD, and pressed on vinyl as a double LP cut at 45RPM.  Find pre-orders for the CD, the Black vinyl, and the Yellow vinyl here, the standard digital here, the Hi​-​Rez 24 Bit digital here, and an array of new mech items at the band’s webshop here.

Tracklisting:

“Snake Charmer”
“Diaspora, My Love”
“Mountain Fever”
“Inwards”
“Somewhere I Sadly Belong”
“The Stillnox Oratory”
“Ascend”
“Ya Shema Evyonecha”
“For The Leader, With Strings Music”
“Mångata”

“Ascend” video:

(Photo by: Yalon Schori)




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Legendary rock icons, Uriah Heep, are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their "Lady In Black" single, releasing a new lyric video for the song. Watch below.

"Lady In Black", which features Ken Hensley on lead vocals, was never released as a single in the UK or US, but appeared on the German singles charts three times during the 1970s, with the 1977 reissue being a major hit, spending 9 weeks in the German Top 20 that year. The song spent a further 7 weeks in the Top 20 during 1978, the achievement netting the band the Golden Lion award, the German equivalent of a Grammy.

Ken Hensley, sadly passed away in November last year. He currently has a new album out called My Book Of Answers, a collaboration with Russian fan Vladimir Emelin.

In a new interview with Vintage Rock Pod, Steve Weltman, Ken's manager of the last 12 years, revealed that Ken had already finished another album that is due to be released later this year. Reluctant to give too much away, VRP did learn about a planned release date and that it was something very different to Ken Hensley's usual output.

Talking about Ken Hensley being approached to put Vladimir Emelin’s poems into songs, Weltman say: "We’d already agreed that we weren't going to do anything in the first 3 months of 2020. We had had a very busy year, we had recorded another album earlier in 2019 but we never wanted that out until later this year (2021) - so there's more to come folks!"

Vintage Rock Pod: Another new album? Can you give us any further details?

Weltman: "No, absolutely not. All I can tell you is it’s the most different thing he's ever done, it's very unique and there's very few artists that could've pulled it off. It’s a very special record and he absolutely loved it."

Vintage Rock Pod: You say it will be released later this year, any dates in mind?

Weltman: "I'm hoping November and that'll be a year since his passing so it'll be a beautiful celebration."

Listen here and / or below:

On March 5, Cherry Red Records released My Book Of Answers. CD and vinyl editions of the album are available here.

Hensley was one of the most important musicians of the past half-a-century. His work with Uriah Heep in the 1970s helped to make the band hugely influential. He also collaborated with bands such as Blackfoot, W.A.S.P. and Cinderella, as well as building a very successful solo career. As a writer he was responsible for such classics as "Lady In Black", "Easy Livin'", "July Morning”" and ‘"Look At Yourself’". Few artists can claim to have had a musical career and pedigree as long, varied and impressive.

After forming The Gods in mid-1960s London with future Stones and Mayall guitarist Mick Taylor, Ken made brief appearances with Toe Fat and Head Machine before joining Uriah Heep in time for the band’s debut album, Very ‘Eavy… Very ‘Umble.

His solo career kicked off in 1973 with Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf, and Ken remained as busy and prolific as ever, with sales in excess of 45 million albums.

My Book Of Answers started with a chance encounter at Alicante airport on a flight bound for Moscow in 2018, when Russian businessman Vladimir Emelin (whose hobby is writing poetry) approached Ken. Vladimir didn’t have a background in the music industry, and had never made a record but had been a big rock fan all his life, with a special appreciation of Ken.

Ken Hensley said: “As someone who does not believe in coincidence, I would like to say that it all happened by “divine chance”! A chance meeting at Alicante Airport, scribbled notes exchanged on board the flight to Moscow, a few emails, a private concert and then a meeting at the Soho Bar in Alicante Harbour.”

From translations of Vladimir’s Russian words into English, Ken fashioned choruses and verses until he had the basis for nine original new songs. The main stumbling block to starting this record was finding the time to create it. And then the pandemic happened. Thankfully advances in modern technology meant that this album could be created and completed remotely. The album sees Ken also returning to play slide and lead guitars as well as his classic Hammond playing and of course lead vocals.

My Book Of Answers was finished and scheduled for release before his death. Cherry Red are extremely proud to represent this very special record. Ken had more collaborations planned, including a combined book of their poetry. We’ll leave the last word to Ken: “Vladimir and I hope that you will get some real pleasure from something that really defined itself as we went along…”

Tracklisting:

"Lost (My Guardian)"
"Right Here, Right Now"
"The Cold Sacrifice"
"The Silent Scream"
"Cover Girl"
"Light The Fire (In My Heart)"
"Stand (Chase The Beast Away)"
"The Darkest Hour"
"Suddenly"
"The Darkest Hour" (Alternative Version) (Bonus Track)

"The Cold Sacrifice" video:

"Lost (My Guardian)" video:




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Danish progressive power metal group, Pyramaze, have released a lyric video for the song "The Time Traveller" (featuring Matt Barlow and Lance King), from their latest album, Epitaph, out now AFM Records. Order here, and watch the lyric video below.

Says the band: "We are proud to share with you our brand new video for the song 'The Time Traveller'! This song is one of the tracks off our new album Epitaph, and features Matthew Barlow as "The Guardian Of Time" and Lance King as "The Spirit Of What Could Have Been". Special thanks to Michael Kammeyer (who also founded Pyramaze) for writing the story, lyrics, and vocal melodies! Amazing hand paintings by Nijoel Leman and animation and editing by Chance White. Enjoy!"

This album being the third one with their current lineup, Pyramaze continues to fuse their signature meld of memorable melodies, powerful riffs and soaring catchy vocals to keep listeners coming back for more - pleasing both old and new Pyramaze fans alike. This release proves to be their most melodic and accessible creation to date, featuring guest appearances by Brittney Slayes of Unleash The Archers, and former Pyramaze singers Matt Barlow and Lance King.

Tracklisting:

"Epitaph"
"A Stroke Of Magic"
"Steal My Crown"
"Knights In Shining Armour"
"Bird Of Prey"
"Your Last Call"
"Particle"
"Indestructible"
"Transcendence" (feat. Brittney Slayes)
"Final Hour"
"World Foregone"
"The Time Traveller" (feat. Matt Barlow & Lance King)

"Transcendence" (feat. Brittney Slayes) lyric video:

"World Foregone" lyric video:

"A Stroke Of Magic" lyric video:




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As a surprise and special thank you to their fans, Swedish melodic death metal unit, The Unguided, have just released a new official music video for the dreamy crusher “Where Love Comes To Die”.

With their new track, the Swedes once again prove that the well-balanced symbiosis of pop-inspired elements in combination with merciless heaviness and lyrics with depth succeeds with ease and that their songs absolutely stay in your head. In four minutes, the track takes you on a journey through a diverse sound construct and makes you scream for more!

The Unguided's Richard Sjunnesson states: "We’ve been sitting on this video for quite some while now! Our first thought was to save it for an eventual tour but that’s not going to happen in quite some time, so we just decided to do an interactive event with the fans to “unlock” the new music video. It’s for the only ballad on the album Father Shadow and we once again got the opportunity to work with Patric Ullaeus who filmed both 'Crown Prince Syndrome' & 'Where Love Comes To Die' during the same day! Roger and my sister and her husband can be seen in the video as the actors."

With their new full-length, these Nordic heavyweights prove that they can’t be pigeonholed. Eleven quick-tempered, high-voltage pieces indicate that The Unguided have liberated themselves from the shadows of the past but are still aware of their manifold roots. The intoxicating mixture of clean hooklines and classifying screams lead up to a unique symbiosis of pure harshness.

Order Father Shadow here.

With Father Shadow, The Unguided - comprised of the brothers and founders from Sonic Syndicate - break down the barriers between melodic death metal, metalcore and fitting electronic sounds. Clean hooklines explode in classifying screams, leading up to a unique symbiosis of pure harshness. With brutal shouts, an unmistakably catchy chorus and a huge chunk of honest words, "Crown Prince Syndrome" unveils the burden of an innate identity. The perfect symbiosis of Richard Sjunnesson’s forceful vocal pitch and Jonathan Thorpenberg’s clean vocals convinces to the fullest extent. Tracks like the banger “Never Yield” and “War Of Oceans” pierce straight into your eardrums. Let yourself be drawn into the deep, dark underbelly of “Stand Alone Complex”, capturing your mind with ruthlessly harsh drums. “Gaia”, featuring Erik Engstrand, marks a new chapter in the era of The Unguided: harder, faster but always on point. With heavy handed cover versions of their own classic Sonic Syndicate tracks “Jailbreak”, “Denied” and “Jack Of Diamonds”, the four piece also thrives in reminiscence - and reveals a new musical entity. Follow The Unguided into the deep shadows of the past and the abyss of the future.

The Unguided on the new album: “We started to work on the follow up to And the Battle Royale by the end of 2018 after the tour was done. I think that particular album was a lot about figuring out the band’s new identity and writing together after boarding a new member and undeniably it was well received. Father Shadow is all about taking that experience, refining the process and push it to the next level. We have grown together solidly as a band and I think it shows a lot on this album. The songwriters in the band all comes from different schools and write a bit differently musically, on this album everyone got equal airtime just to pump the diversity without losing the feel of the band. Lyrically it pushes the story and concept forward and finally ties up some ends that have been loose since Fragile Immortality (2014), something I think the hardcore fans will appreciate. It was also fun to go back and revisit those old Sonic Syndicate tracks for the bonus material and I think we managed to do our own thing to honor the songs with a mint 2020 production. Utterly we created the songs and album we’d love to listen to ourselves and we succeeded with that and hope you’ll like it as much as we do!”

Tracklisting:

"Childhood’s End"
"Never Yield"
"War Of Oceans"
"Breach"
"Where Love Comes To Die"
"Crown Prince Syndrome"
"Fate’s Hand"
"Stand Alone Complex"
"Lance Of Longinus"
"Seth"
"Gaia" feat. Erik Engstrand
"Jailbreak" (Bonus Track / Sonic Syndicate Cover)
"Denied" (Bonus Track / Sonic Syndicate Cover)
"Jack Of Diamonds" (Bonus Track / Sonic Syndicate Cover)

“Stand Alone Complex” lyric video:

“Never Yield” lyric video:

"Crown Prince Syndrome" video:

Lineup:

Richard Sjunnesson - Vocals
Jonathan Thorpenberg - Vocals / Guitars
Roger Sjunnesson - Guitars
Richard Schill - Drums

(Photo - Patric Ullaeus)




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The Couch Riffs crew are back with a cover of UK pop star Howard Jones' 1985 hit single, "Things Can Only Get Better". Watch below.

A message states: "Here's another smash hit from the 80s! Howard Jones' breakthrough single 'Things Can Only Get Better' from his 1985 album, Dream Into Action. This episode's song was conquered by a crack crew again!

Here's the breakdown:

Vox: Katie Cole (solo artist/touring member w/Smashing Pumpkins)
Guitars: Clint Lowery (Sevendust)
Drums: Dylan Wissing (session drummer/Alicia Keys/Drake/Eminem/Jay Z/Kanye)
Bass: Mike Squires (Duff McKagan's Loaded/Couch Riffs)

Thank you for watching! If you're enjoying Couch Riffs please support us via Patreon! All of our cover songs are downloadable there and nowhere else!"




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British heavy metal giants, Saxon, have released their covers album, Inspirations, via Silver Lining Music. In the new video below, frontman Biff Byford shows off EMP's Exclusive White Vinyl edition of the album. Order your copy here.

In 2020, Saxon took residence at Brockfield Hall in York, UK, to record cover versions of various songs which deeply influenced the band, engaging in a proper old-school live and recording process which was a hallmark of many old-school rock ‘n’ roll records.

Inspirations was produced by Biff Byford with Jacky Lehmann engineering and is available on Vinyl, CD, digital formats and limited edition D2C products; to order head here.

Inspirations was recorded at Brockfield Hall near York in the UK, which was built in 1804 and holds the largest collection of paintings by Yorkshire’s impressionist artists - the Staithes Group. For Byford, recording Inspirations all together within such a rich historical environment was a major ingredient of the project.

“The warmth and feel of Inspirations had so much to do with being together in this magnificent place and doing it ‘old-school’ style,” Byford explains. “This is how many bands back in the day -including some of the ones covered here- made such great albums, so it just felt really good to be able to do this somewhere like Brockfield Hall.”

The results speak for themselves.

From the super-charged melodic romp of The Beatles’ "Paperback Writer" to their freeway mad take on Jimi Hendrix’s "Stone Free", Saxon show their love and appreciation with a series of faithful, raw and ready tributes. Maintaining a firm eye on the old school way using Marshall cabs, Marshall amps, real drums and produced by Biff Byford with Jacky Lehmann recording and mixing, Saxon approach the likes of Motörhead’s "Bomber" (with added whistle!), AC/DC’s "Problem Child", Black Sabbath’s "Evil Woman" and a raucous Deep Purple’s "Speed King" with refreshingly warm, unfiltered, “vintage” sounding renditions.

“We wanted to do an album based on our influences, the songs and bands that inspired us to write what we did and still do,” continues Byford, “and it was also interesting to see what my voice could do as I haven’t sung many of these songs before.”

Byford does, indeed, take on some new vocal challenges, which he duly smashes on the likes of Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker". The net result is that whether cranking up a heavyweight take on Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" or throwing down AC/DC’s "Problem Child", Saxon does a supreme job of entertaining both themselves and their audience throughout Inspirations.

"We didn't want to change any of the songs too much, just play them more like Saxon,” concludes Byford, “and we also think it’s very important to have -and share with the fans- some fun in these dark times."

You want even more proof of the validity behind that statement? Wrap your ears around their sparkling take on Toto’s "Hold The Line" and consider Saxon’s Inspirations a mission accomplished.

Tracklisting:

"Paint It Black"
"Immigrant Song"
"Paperback Writer"
"Evil Woman"
"Stone Free"
"Bomber"
"Speed King"
"The Rocker"
"Hold The Line"
"Problem Child"
"See My Friends"

"Paperback Writer" lyric video:

"Speed King" video:

"Paint It Black" video:

Inspirations "making of" documentary:




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The Dust Coda singer/rhythm guitarist John Drake has released the video below, in which he's joined by guitarist/motivational speaker Peter Dankelson for a cover of the AC/DC classic, "T.N.T.". Check it out:

Sleek yet hard-hitting rock ‘n’ roll rooted in blues soul, The Dust Coda, clutch the echoes of rock’s most beloved household names, from the pure, raw poetry of Led Zeppelin to the nasty muscle of Guns N’ Roses, and bring them kicking and screaming into the 21st century with enticingly unforgettable riffs, gravel-soaked vocal soul and sheer swagger. Earache Records capped off 2020 by signing the band to a worldwide deal.

The band's new album, Mojo Skyline, will be released worldwide this Friday, March 26. Pre-order Mojo Skyline here on a range of great formats, including limited edition coloured and signed vinyl.

The band recently performed tracks from the upcoming album at former Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, UK. You can now watch clips from the performance below:

The vivid album cover for Mojo Skylin is extracted from the mind of artist Nick Dwyer, who is best known for his eye-catching designs for Beavertown Brewery's beloved brews such as Neck Oil and Gamma Ray. "I was trying to put across how these guys, who live and breathe destruction, dirt and chaos through their music might also spend their 'down time' inhaling weirdness from other not-so-obvious places," says Nick of the artwork. "They are on some sort of Natural Born Killers-esque trip, making a quick stop to watch a horror movie in the desert as the city disappears behind them.  It's a peyote sandwich washed down with whiskey and desert dust."

Tracklisting:

"Demon"
"Breakdown"
"Limbo Man"
"Dream Alight"
"Jimmy 2 Times"
"Rolling"
"Bourbon Pouring"
"I've Been Waiting"
"She's Gone"
"They Don't Know Rock N Roll"
"Best Believe It"
"It's A Jam"

Trailer:

"Jimmy 2 Times" video:

"Limbo Man" video:

"Breakdown" video:




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