EPICA singer Simone Simons spoke to France's Loud TV about how being a touring musician has shaped her worldview.

"As you become older, you start to realize what is important in life," she said (hear audio below). "Everybody reaches that point in their life where they're trying to find the meaning of life, or the meaning of their life, or the goal they have in their life and what to do with your life while we have this very short time on planet Earth. And I'm happy that I get to be a singer and travel the world and really get the best out of life, in a way.

"If I wouldn't have joined EPICA, I don't know what I would have done with my life or where it would have taken me," she continued. "But I believe in fate, and I don't believe in coincidences. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and that makes me very calm inside storms as well. I always believe that, even if the situation is bad, it happens for a reason and that it's a life lesson that you need to learn.

"I love being a musician, I love being a mother, and I guess I am very lucky to have all those things," Simone added. "But it's not always easy trying to combine those things — that's more the struggle that I have. The work-life balance got out of hand. We were touring so much that it was becoming more like a burden than a pleasure. Because I love being in a band, but when the balance is not there, you start to miss your family and friends too much, [and] then it's not good. So we work on that — we try to make it so that it's workable for everybody. And there will always be times when it's gonna be more tough, but if the balance is out of control for a longer time, then it's not good. But that's why we also had our sabbatical, and that was a really good decision, to do that. And the end result is 'Omega', an album [that] we all worked on really hard and we came to a great result. Thanks to a little break from touring and recharging our batteries."

EPICA will release its new album, "Omega", on February 26 via Nuclear Blast. The follow-up to 2016's "The Holographic Principle" was once again produced by Joost Van Den Broek (POWERWOLF, AYREON) in part at Sandlane Recording Facilities in Rijen, Netherlands.

In a brand new interview with Sofa King Cool, former GRAND FUNK RAILROAD singer Mark Farner was asked how it feels to see various rap and hip-hop artists inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame before the band he co-founded more than five decades ago. He responded (see video below): "Well, it just shows the illegitimacy of that Rock Hall. And the people are definitely smart enough to know this. They need to be reminded, though, that the Rock Hall is not a representation of the will of the people; it is a representation of the will of the owners of the Rock Hall. That's what it is, and it is super political. And Steve Miller didn't have a good time there. I read some stuff that I just feel for him.

"You know something? I feel great about receiving the Cherokee Medal Of Honor," he said, referring to the award he received from the Cherokee Honor Society during a 1999 concert he performed in Hankinson, North Dakota. "I don't need to be in a Rock Hall. 'Cause without the people's opinion, it's fake. It's politicized, and, brother, it just ain't real."

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

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

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

Eligible since 1994, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD released 11 albums between 1969 and 1976, all of which went gold or platinum. "We're An American Band", "Some Kind Of Wonderful" and "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" helped define 1970s rock and roll.

Farner wrote more than 90 percent of the GRAND FUNK music catalog and was always known as an energetic driving force on stage, the engine that pulled the original GRAND FUNK RAILROAD to the top of the charts. More than 50 years later, he commands the stage with the same intensity, performing epic hits that defined a generation.

Maynard James Keenan has revealed that he battled COVID-19 twice in the span of just a few months.

The TOOL frontman told "Strombo" on Apple Music Hits that he suffered a second COVID-19 infection around "mid-November and ended up in the ER on December 1."

"Ugly, ugly. Couldn't breathe," he said. "I could barely put two words together without going into a coughing fit that, you know? It ended up kind of also progressing into pneumonia. So, if I stayed in the hospital, they said, 'Okay, we can keep you here, but you're fighting 12 other people for a bed and a ventilator we don't have, so what do you want to do?' I'm like, 'Well, I need to breathe and I need to sleep.' So, you're just treating symptoms at that point. There's nothing you can do other than treat the symptom, so for a real cough medicine, not the crap over-the-counter and then like an inhaler, and some antibiotics to fight the pneumonia and strap the fuck in."

Keenan previously discussed his first bout with coronavirus in October 2020, telling AZ Central that he suffered symptoms of the disease in February and was still recovering eight months later. "I'm still dealing with the residual effects," he said at the time, "But it was ugly. I survived it, but it wasn't pretty. So I definitely had to deal with that."

A study from November found that immunity to the cirus following infection could last for more than six months.

The CDC defines "reinfection" as a person getting infection, recovering and then later becoming infected again.

In a November 2020 interview with Consequence Of Sound, Keenan lamented the fact that political leaders depicted mask-wearing as a political act and publicly downplayed the risks of the virus.

"There's logic attached to just looking out for each other," he said. "I have a lot more questions than answers, honestly. Is this thing like a flame on a candle? If you stand in the corner far enough away from somebody, does the flame burn the candle down, and then it can no longer light your candle? Or is it not like that at all, and it's going to live on beyond its own cycle within you? I have no idea, but the idea of temporarily isolating and really adhering to the isolation, it seems like that would've worked."

He continued: "But we tend to be fairly arrogant. I knew what I went through and I know what I'm still going through, so I would recommend that you take this seriously, but I feel like that's just going to fall on deaf ears. It's just going to be a polarized, politicized statement, so it's pointless. In that case, I'm just going to worry about keeping my family safe and keeping my friends sa

Taking into account the current world-wide Pandemic, and the effects it has had on the music scene, Norwegian black metallers Nordjevel have decided to postpone the release of what will be their third full length installment. However, not wanting to disappoint fans they've decided to put out an EP in the meantime. It's entitled Fenriir, it features 5 tracks and will see its official release on May 7th via Indie Recordings.


Fenriir track listing:

01. Fenriir
02. Gnawing The Bones
03. Rovdyr
04. Fallen Angel (Possessed Cover)
05. Det Ror Og Ror (Live at Brutal Assault 2019)


The band explains: "We have been writing material for the upcoming full-length, and are still working on it now, but, due to the ongoing pandemic situation we decided to delay its release until late 2021, in the hope of being able to play live and tour with the album.

The five-track EP, which will hit the streets on Indie Recordings on the 7th May, takes its name from Fenriir, the monstrous wolf of Norse Mythology. It is not, however, a concept recording, as Nordjevel are quick to point out:

"Fenriir is an EP that shows all sides of Nordjevel, from the very beginning, right up to where we are now. We had a few extra tracks which we decided early on in the recording process didn't fit our upcoming album, so we decided to include two tracks, the title track "Fenriir", along with "Rovdyr", and make them exclusively available for this EP.

"To make the release more special, we also decided to record "Gnawing The Bones" which is one of the new songs that will be on the upcoming album. We also wanted to include a live track, so we mixed and mastered a version of "Det Ror Og Ror" which was recorded live at Brutal Assault in 2019 by Hugo Alvarstein.

"And of course we couldn't miss the opportunity to record a cover of "Fallen Angel" by the mighty Possessed. It is our tribute to them as the pioneers they are for our music, and also to honour them after we had the pleasure of touring with them last year."

Zisis Petkanas at Rock Overdose caught up with Therion mastermind Christofer Johnsson to discuss the band's new album, Leviathan, and the two follow-up albums currently in the works
 
Rock Overdose: One would expect that after the Beloved Antichrist project two years ago there would be a pause before a new album. However, Therion are back with their 17th album, Leviathan. How was the making process of the album?

Christofer Johnsson: "I felt very empty after the Beloved Antichrist because it was my last big vision, the last dream I had that must be fulfilled. So, I was thinking that Therion was doing what we wanted to do and never listened to the company or the fans. It’s not easy to give fans what they want, it’s not easy to just take a guitar and write a hit. So, we thought it’s a challenge to finally give the fans what they want. Let’s try to write a classic sound of Therion and see if we can do it. Of course, that’s for the fans to judge, but we did our best. We got a lot of inspiration, in the very beginning it was actually quite slow but then it exploded and we wrote over 40 songs, and they are good songs and realized we had enough material for three albums! So we decided to make a trilogy and the idea is to release them one each year. As I told you before my ears were fresh, and I can tell Leviathan II is mostly recorded."
 
Rock Overdose: As regards Leviathan II and III, the concept of the songs and music will be the same?
 
Christofer Johnsson: "Yes, quite the same style. Leviathan II will be more dark and melancholic. Leviathan III will have the songs that were left; it has a variety, some more experimental songs, some more progressive. It can actually be compared with the situation we have. If you have to make a link to another record, a comparison Lemuria is actually like Leviathan III, it has songs that didn’t fit on any of the other two. And Leviathan II I think could make a comparison with Vovin, which is also very dark and melancholic but it doesn’t mean it will sound like Vovin."
 
Check out the complete interview here.

 January 22nd saw the release of Therion's 17th studio album, Leviathan They have released an official video for the song, "Tuonela", which can be viewed below. As a guest, former Nightwish singer and bassist Marko Hietala lends his voice to the song.

Therion mastermind Christofer Johnsson comments: "Like everyone else I'm very sad and was also surprised to read that Marko is leaving Nightwish. But I understand the meaning of his reasons and there are many that are frustrated about the same things. But Marko has been active as a professional recording artist with various quality bands since the mid 80s, so I am absolutely sure we will see his return to the scene in time. He is simply too good to not be involved with music. But right now I hope he will take a good amount of time to just find himself and get the full energy and inspiration back on track."

Therion have always been a band that have challenged themselves to explore new paths, while remaining true to their musical core values. For their 17th studio album, Leviathan, mastermind Christofer Johnsson and his collaborator Thomas Vikström have created something that has been previously unthinkable to the guitarist and the singer. "We have done the only thing that was left of all the different angles to explore", explains Christofer. "We have decided to give the people what they kept asking for. Leviathan is the first album that we have deliberately packed with Therion hit songs."

When Therion came into being in 1988 by changing name from the already existing band Blitzkrieg, which was founded a year earlier, Christofer had rather taken inspiration from Slayer's Reign In Blood among other classic metal albums. At the beginning, the Swedes were firmly rooted in death metal, a genre which they helped to define, as witnessed by their debut album Of Darkness.... (1991). Yet even back then, there were hints of "something else" lurking beneath the rough surface.

The use of female vocals is another core ingredient of Therion today, which developed gradually. Celtic Frost had basically introduced the female element to extreme metal on To Mega Therion in 1985. Therion began with both a female and male vocalist emulating a church like choir already in their sophomore full-length, Beyond Sanctorum (1992). With Symphony Masses: Ho Drakon Ho Megas (1993) and Lepaca Kliffoth (1995), Christofer continued to developed his trademark sound by gradually drifting towards cleaner vocals and more keyboards. With Theli, the Swedes had firmly established a reputation of pushing the boundaries of metal in the 90s – among such acts as their compatriots Tiamat, The Gathering, and Moonspell that were often referred to as "gothic metal" at the time.

Therion continued to break new ground leaving inspiration for others to follow in their wake: On A'arab Zaraq - Lucid Dreaming (1997), Christofer further explored the use of Near Eastern music in metal which he had already begun in 1992, while Secret Of The Runes (2001) dared to have Swedish lyrics in some songs. While critics were left confused and fans challenged, Therion were often ahead of their times and vindicated in hindsight. Even the band's 25th anniversary excursion Les Fleurs Du Mal has by now overcome the initial shock the album caused and is only beaten in terms of streaming by the classic Vovin (1998).

When Christofer faced the question of where to go next after the dramatic Beloved Antichrist (2018) had finally fulfilled his musical mission, his answer is Leviathan, named after a giant sea monster from Judeo-Christian myth that has roots in Babylonic lore: Therion have created a giant hit album – and for the first time in the history of the Swedes, their fans are not asked to explore something new, but simply to lean back and enjoy the best from their band!

Tracklisting:

"The Leaf On The Oak Of Far"
"Tuonela"
"Leviathan"
"Die Wellen Der Zeit"
"Ai Dahaka"
"Eye Of Algol"
"Nocturnal Light"
"Great Marquis Of Hell"
"Psalm Of Retribution"
"El Primer Sol"
"Ten Courts Of Diyu"
"Eye Of Algol" (Alternative Vocals Version)
"Tuonela" (Full Marco Vocals Version)
"Tuonela" (Alternative Vocals Version)
"Tuonela" (Instrumental Version)
"Tuonela" (Orchestral Version)

“Leviathan” lyric Video:

Danish heavy metal singer King Diamond — who fronts both KING DIAMOND and MERCYFUL FATE — was a guest on a recent episode of "The Electric Theater With Clown" Internet show hosted by SLIPKNOT's M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan. You can now listen to the entire chat below.

Speaking about new music that he is working on right now, King said: "I'm writing with Hank [Shermann, guitar] from MERCYFUL FATE and writing with Andy [LaRocque, guitar] for KING DIAMOND and writing on my own for KING DIAMOND. For KING DIAMOND, it's an album that's gonna be called 'The Institute', which is part one of two — there'll be two full albums that will be completing a full story. And as the title [suggests], there's gonna be some crazy weird stuff. And for MERCY, I also have the title, but I'm not giving it out to anybody at the moment. We have the front cover for the new MERCY too. It's very correct, very right for MERCYFUL FATE. It's very back to basics."

Regarding his songwriting approach for the new MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND material, King said: "For my part, with both MERCY and KING albums — even more KING DIAMOND, I would say — all vocals are gonna be lead vocals again, like they were in the old days. It didn't matter if there was a choir singing on the right side or the left side, or whatever, they would still go and pick up parts of the lyrics to progress the story and so on. So it's gonna be anything goes with the vocals, for sure — back to the old style. And for MERCY too, it's gonna be very old-fashioned — Hank is writing very much like the old days. And it's nice to feel that we can capture that again. So that's two albums that are being worked on that will be done by the time we can go out and tour again, I'm sure."

King also revealed that plans are afoot to creat a graphic novel for KING DIAMOND's classic second album, 1987's concept effort "Abigail". "[We are working with] a really good company," he said. "I have high, high hopes for how that's gonna turn out."

In November 2019, KING DIAMOND released a brand new song called "Masquerade Of Madness". The track was mixed by guitarist Andy LaRocque and King Diamond at Sonic Train Studios.

KING DIAMOND received a Grammy nomination in the "Best Metal Performance" category for the track "Never Ending Hill" off the band's last album, 2007's "Give Me Your Soul … Please".

KING DIAMOND's latest release was a DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", which came out in January 2019 via Metal Blade Records. The set captures 1987's seminal "Abigail" album in its entirety, twice, and in very different locales: Belgium's Graspop Metal Meeting in June 2016 and Philadelphia's Fillmore in November 2015. The performances feature KING DIAMOND's current band, comprising of guitarists La Rocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg and drummer Matt Thompson.

MERCYFUL FATE's most recent studio album, "9", arrived in 1999.

The band's current lineup includes King Diamond, Hank Shermann, Bjarne T. Holm on drums, Mike Wead on guitar, and Joey Vera (ARMORED SAINT, FATES WARNING) on bass.

Hardcore supergroup BLOODCLOT, led by former CRO-MAGS frontman John Joseph, has revealed a lyric video for the new single "Save The Robots".

"Save The Robots" is the first BLOODCLOT track to feature new members, guitarist Tom Capone (QUICKSAND, BOLD), bassist Manny Carrero (STILL SUIT, GLASSJAW, BURN) and drummer Darren Morgenthaler (MADBALL, MAXIMUM PENALTY).

After the release of the 2017 album "Up In Arms", BLOODCLOT went on hiatus while grieving the loss of its guitarist and dear friend Todd Youth.

"Todd passed away just after 'Up In Arms' was released, and we did one U.S. tour," Joseph says. "BLOODCLOT was hit hard. It took us by complete surprise. I've known Todd since the early '80s, so it wasn't just losing a band member; he was a solid friend of mine — like a little brother, actually."

After making the decision to push on, drummer Joey Castillo (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, DANZIG) suggested Capone to join the band, which was rounded out by bassist Nick Oliveri (QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, KYUSS). The quartet hit a speedbump, though, when COVID-19 hit and travel was not possible for the bicoastal group and BLOODCLOT was once again in limbo.

"I decided I needed to work with local New York City musicians," Joseph says. "The one prerequisite I had was that everyone in the band needed to make BLOODCLOT their number one priority in terms of any other projects. All agreed and we hit the studio. Everything flowed."

A new full-length album is scheduled for release later this year. In the meantime, the former CRO-MAGS vocalist and 12x Ironman athlete is readying his latest his book for release. "Hardcore Kitchen" is scheduled for release in May.

"The cookbook has over 100 gourmet recipes I've created in the last 40 years of being plant-based," he says. "It's my go-to source of fuel for Ironman training and competition. They will fuel your kick-ass life!"

BLOODCLOT 2021 is:

John Joseph - Vocals

Tom Capone - Guitar

Manny Carrero - Bass

Darren Morgenthaler - Drums

Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted's official YouTube channel has just shared a video of him and his THE CHOPHOUSE BAND performing a cover version of the John Anderson song "Seminole Wind" in March 2019 at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida. Check it out below. Also available are previously released performances of Johnny Cash's "Big River" the blues classic "Cocaine Blues", Tom Waits's "Jockey Full Of Bourbon", Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World" and "I've Been Everywhere" (originally written by Australian country singer Geoff Mack and later recorded by Johnny Cash).

Named after Jason's four recording studio facilities around the U.S. and featuring a fluid roster of players, THE CHOPHOUSE BAND began in 1992 when Newsted founded The Chophouse Records Studio in San Francisco.

THE CHOPHOUSE BAND is led by Newsted, playing acoustic guitars and performing lead vocal, accompanied by 
close friends/musicians of all walks and styles, sharing some great American songs from familiar and unfamiliar heroes.

Jason told the Palm Beach Florida Weekly about THE CHOPHOUSE BAND: "We all get along great because there's not money involved. They've got their own bands, their own families, their own gigs. We do benefit gigs, six a year, and that's it. I record and write and play songs the whole rest of the time. They could all run circles around me musical theory-wise. They could tell you everything they're playing, and all the relating chords. I surround myself with the bad-asses, and they make me look really good. I'm playing cowboy chords the whole time, and they're doing their fancy shit to make me look good. I just concentrate on singing, and getting across the things I want people to hear."

Asked by Boca magazine how deep his song archive is with THE CHOPHOUSE BAND, Newsted said: "I keep two bibles — heroes, and my songs. I try to stay at about 100 in the bible of heroes — everything from [LED] ZEPPELIN to John Prine to Dolly Parton. My [personal] song bible is probably between 24 and 32, most of them in the last 10 months. The band's favorite band collectively is JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT. I've become friends with [Isbell] over the past couple of years, and taken time to learn 20 of his songs. We always perform at least one in the set, trying to make it my own — kind of the idea with all of them."

Jason left METALLICA back in 2001, but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.

Seven years ago, Jason shelved NEWSTED, the heavy metal project he operated between 2012 and 2014, saying that it cost him "an awful lot of money — hundreds of thousands of dollars." He added: "I couldn't continue because the business is such a harsh thing now and so different than what I had known."

Melodic death/doom metal band, Coldbound, have released thier new single and music video, "Slumber Of Decay", featuring vocalist Liv Kristine (ex-Leaves' Eyes, ex-Theatre of Tragedy). Check it out below.

Liv Kristine spoke with BraveWords scribe Carl Begai exclusively about joining the band and her forthcoming solo album. Following is an excerpt from the interview.

"I got involved with Coldbound in 2020, about a year ago," Liv reveals. "Pauli (Souka / guitars, bass, vocals, drums), who is a really good friend of my fiancé Michael (Allegro Talent Music), sent him that one track, asking if I might consider being a duet part of it. I have to say that I was impressed instantly. I felt like I had travelled back to the times of Theatre of Tragedy. Pauli let me re-write the lyrics to fit my melody lines and as I was finishing my vocals in the studio, I told Michael and Pauli that it felt like I was singing on a song that was made for me. It's such a beautiful and powerful composition and I kept thinking 'What if Pauli's got more of that brilliant music?' Pauli must have sensed it because he asked me to join Coldbound later in the year, which I did, feeling really safe and free with my decision."

A brave move on Liv's part in that her split with Leaves' Eyes could only have left a bad taste in her mouth with regards to being part of a band situation.

"You're right, the story with Leaves’ Eyes really left a bad taste in my mouth," she agrees. "And it's not finished yet, as two band members actually sued me after they took away my primary source of living by replacing me with another singer. I had never foreseen that I would experience such unfair treatment. Why not just get it over with and leave each other alone? That's what I thought would happen in 2016 by getting divorced, sorting, getting on with my own life, finding 9-to-5 jobs and a lovely home for my family. I'm actually the one who lost my band that I formed with my friend and bassist, Chris Lukhaup, in 2003. I never, ever asked the current two band members for any compensation, whatever happened, however it happened, whoever posted a fake 'protocol' in the news in April 2016 that I neither signed nor approved of. The trial will continue and there will be a severe judicial examination of the case that the last two members of Leaves' Eyes have brought to court. That’s their decision and I'll have to set boundaries now. I don't want to be part of other people's destructiveness. Still, I hope for a peaceful solution to end this case and I'll make sure that truth will come to surface."

"Anyway, I am feeling blessed at this moment. Coldbound is a blessing, I have to say. Pauli and Meiju (Enho / keyboards, orchestration) are wonderful and there’s a deep understanding and passion between us. Our first single, 'Slumber of Decay', will be out on February 5th and this is a special day for Meiju, Pauli and me; maybe especially important for me."  

Watch for more from the interview in the coming days.

Coldbound recently issued the following update:

"Upon discovering new ways to express our visions, finally we discovered this genuine portal of innocence, freedom but also of hardships. We have completed a very tough musical work for this release by capturing the moment and expanding our vision. A vision that resonates within our music in a mysterious way. A way that is capable of putting our audience into a unique trance of thinking through all kind of situations; whether these emotions are connected to a mysterious approach, freedom, fantasy or of inner struggles. This is 'Slumber Of Decay'."

Tracklisting:

"Slumber Of Decay" (album version)
"Slumber Of Decay" (radio edit)
"Slumber Of Decay" (Analogue Knobs & Orchestra Reprise)

Personnel:

The Band:
Liv Kristine - Vocals
Pauli Souka - Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Orchestration, Keyboards, Drums
Meiju Enho - Keyboards, Orchestrations

Session musicians:
Markus Riihimäki - Kantele
Lotta Sofia Kyrönaho - Woodwinds
Pasi Sipilä - Lead Guitar

Main Crew:
Pauli Souka - Production, Recording, Mixing at 'Stairway To Sound'; Hudiksvall, Sweden
Antti Välimäki - Recording at 'Studio Sampolaaris'; Tampere, Finland
Øystein G. Brun - Stem Mastering at 'Crosound Studio'; Bergen, Norway.

Artwork/Photography:
Balsara Inc - Xeniya Balsara Photography

Ghosts of Sunset have been a revelation since appearing on the scene in 2020. They are proving that there is still a hell of a lot of life left in the hard rock/hair metal scene. Their '80s Hollywood styled hard rock has caused quite a stir with their recent three singles, "Miles In Between" and "Never Goodbye" (both well over 100,000 Spotify streams) and "Another Rock N’ Roll Show" which is not far behind.

Their latest single, "Headed West" hit the airwaves on Monday and now the day has come for the Headed West EP to be released.

Their debut EP, Headed West, is a 6-track concept EP based on the 1980s rock/hair/metal scene, by Ghosts of Sunset, featuring John Merchant (ex-Dutch Henry) and Todd Long (ex-The Verve Pipe). It takes a fictional US midwestern band, their move to LA, and the rise and decline as the industry itself changes. They also invited a list of L.A. rock royalty to appear on the EP.
 
Among those who appeared on the EP are: Tim Mosher (Junkyard), Tracii Guns (L.A. Guns), Bruno Ravel (Danger Danger), Adam Hamilton (ex-Tuff), Brian Roth, Patrick Kennison (Lita Ford), Johnny Monaco (ex-Enuff Z’Nuff) and Kent Slucher (Luke Bryan).

Tracklist:

"Headed West"
"Another Rock N' Roll Show"
"Miles In-Between"
"Never Goodbye"
"It's Not Over"
"Try It For Love"

"Miles In-Between"

Sheet Happens Publishing have confirmed they will release an official guitar transcription book for Periphery's Periphery II: This Time It's Personal album on February 23rd. Details have yet to be made available. Go to the official website here to order on release day.

Sheet Happens Publishing previously released The Complete Drum Transcription for Periphery II: This Time It's Personal. It features:

- 150 Pages
- 14pt front and back covers with high gloss UV finish.
- Black plastic coil binding (coil binding lays flat while reading and won't warp or break during shipment)
- 70 lbs offset pages printed on 98 bright white stock

This book comes with a copy of the "print-ready" PDF e-book AND the complete Guitar Pro files for the entire album. (drums only)

Go to this location to purchase.

Finnish theatrical metal band Lost In Grey announces that Jarno Suodenjoki (Embassy Of Silence, Kiana) has joined the group as second guitarist.

The band states: "Greetings all thee! We proudly announce that from now on Lost In Grey is a seven-piece theatrical metal act as Mr. Jarno Suodenjoki joins the Lost In Grey family as second guitarist." 

"We have known Mr. Suodenjoki for 15 years or so and played together in various bands, projects and such. Additionally some of you have already had the pleasure of meeting this wonderful gentleman on the Female Metal Voices tour in 2019 when Mr Suodenjoki was filling in for Miika Haavisto for the first half of the tour." 

"We are also happy to inform you that the album recordings at the Grey Realm Studio are nearly finished, and Juhis Kauppinen will start mixing the album this week at the Shedstudios. The release date for this third album will be announced later."

Jarno adds: “Knowing Lost In Grey's work ethic, enthusiasm and professionalism, plus seeing that they did not transform into monsters on tour either, it was an easy decision to join the band when asked. It has been superb to record and work on the forthcoming album's guitar tracks. I can't wait to hear the final mix and to play the songs live."

The currently untitled new album from Lost In Grey is expected to be released this summer.

 

Maryland black metal alchemists Nixil - featuring past/current members of Spectral Tombs, Tsepesch, Dagger Moon, and Corpse Light - will unleash their All Knots Untied debut full-length on March 5th.

Born on the cusp of the death of western civilization, Nixil is the expression of the deep existential frustration of four individuals in collaboration, wielding music and art as a powerful manifestation of strength in chaos and a defiant middle finger to the suffocating grip of a toxic and crumbling world.

Recorded and mixed by J. Robbins (Clutch, The Sword, Government Issue) and mastered by James Plotkin (SunnO))), Thou, Electric Wizard), All Knots Untied is a manifestation of chaos, rage, strength, and despair. Across six sordid psalms, Nixil spews forth a swirling alchemical cocktail of varied sources, creating a sound from which one might be reminded of the weirder side of Mayhem, the atmospheric expansiveness of French avant garde black metal a la Blut Aus Nord or Glorior Belli, and the moody, gothic depression of Bethlehem, connected by a powerful, driving rhythm in the filthy spirit of crust punk and tinged with occult psychedelia. "Our aim is to strip away the illusions and limitations of existence through an honest and sincere appeal to the art, magick, and potential of black metal." While the lyrical subject matter is not directly political, given the current political climate -- both in the world at large and within underground metal -- Nixil takes a firm and unwavering stance against fascism in all its permutations.

In advance of the release of All Knots Untied, Nixil today unveils the visual accompaniment of first single, "Deaths Of Our Own Design."

The band comments, "'Deaths Of Our Own Design' is a treatise on the necessity of continuous self-sacrifice of the mundane ego. If one is to advance upon the spiritual path of the undoing of 'All,' one must be ever ready to seek out and slay the perceived 'I,' which is being tenaciously reborn day by day, moment by moment. The video is a moving sigil and descriptive of this gnosis, seeking to inspire those with the eyes to see to draw the knife across the throat of self until there is indeed nothing left to kill..."

All Knots Untied artwork and tracklisting:

"Black Earth Within"
"Deaths Of Our Own Design"
"Make Me The Voice"
"All Knots Untied"
"May This Flame Flicker Out"
"Unimpeded By The Weight"

Digital pre-orders can be placed now at this location. 

(Photo by Shane K. Gardner)

 

Ricky Warwick (Black Star Riders, Thin Lizzy, The Almighty) will release a brand new studio album titled When Life Was Hard And Fast, his first since 2015, on February 19th via Nuclear Blast.

In the video below, Ricky performs an acoustic version of his new single, and title track, from his upcoming solo record. 

When Life Was Hard And Fast can now be pre-ordered in various formats, including a 2CD digipack which features the bonus covers album Stairwell Troubadour, here.

Warwick has released the album's title track, featuring none other than Def Leppard's Joe Elliott on backing vocals. The accompanying video depicts the County Down Ards TT Motor Race that is seen on the album's cover and ran from 1928-1936. The cover shows an accident from one of the races that happened directly in front of a field that was part of a farm owned by Ricky's grandfather, where Ricky himself lived for the first 14 years of his life.

For the process of recording the album, Ricky was joined by Robert Crane (bass), Xavier Muriel (drums) and Keith Nelson (guitar) as well as a number of special guests including Def Leppard's Joe Elliott, Andy Taylor formerly of Duran Duran, Thunder's Luke Morley, Dizzy Reed of the mighty Guns 'N Roses and even Ricky's daughter Pepper. Keith also produced the new album, having previously worked with Buckcherry, Blackberry Smoke and Alice Cooper.

When Life Was Hard And Fast tracklisting:

"When Life Was Hard And Fast"
"You Don't Love Me"
"I'd Rather Be Hit"
"Gunslinger"
"Never Corner A Rat"
"Time Don't Seem To Matter"
"Fighting Heart"
"I Don't Feel At Home"
"Still Alive"
"Clown Of Misery"
"You're My Rock N Roll"

Stairwell Troubadour tracklisting:

"You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (Dead Or Alive cover)
"Ooops!...I Did It Again" (Britney Spears cover)
"Summertime Blues" (Eddie Cochran cover)
"1000 Dollar Car" (Bottle Rockets cover)
"Cocaine Blues" (Johnny Cash cover)
"I Don't Want To Grow Up" (Ramones cover)
"I Fought The Law" (The Clash cover)
"Burning Love" (Elvis Presley cover)
"Jesus Loves You...But I Don't" (The Almighty cover)
"Wrathchild" (Iron Maiden cover)

"You Don't Love Me" video:

"Fighting Heart" video:

 

Anal Stench has just announced their third album is in the making. It will be entitled, Rectal Rodeo, and will contain plenty of controversy, as well as a "red hot mixture of pure metal blasting."

This time, James Stewart (Divine Chaos, Vader, Decapitated) plays drums on the album. All songs were recorded at Creative Music Studio, with mixing and mastering done by Zed - Tomasz Zalewski. There will be ten brand new songs on the upcoming LP.

Rectal Rodeo is currently in the final mixing stage, and will be released in the Spring of 2021. Expect to hear it sooner than later.

 

Crowbar will be doing another livestream performance on Saturday, February 20th at 4pm Eastern / 1pm Pacific. Tickets, along with poster, t-shirt, and playback options are available now at this location. 

Crowbar is expected to release their as yet untitled, 12th studio album later this year. It will be the follow-up to The Serpent Only Lies, which was issued in 2016. 

(Photo courtesy of Robin Windstein)

 

The second single from the Canadian band Plague Weaver is “Deicidal Usurper”, off their upcoming full length Ascendant Blasphemy, out February 26 and available for pre-order here. Watch a lyric video for the song below.

Ascendant Blasphemy is the third recording in the band’s catalog, following EPs from 2019 and 2020. This upcoming release contains eight powerful tracks providing a consistent source of non-stop headbanging, classic grim tracks, and other diverse, ambitious tracks. This album aims to invigorate and distress the listener.

Plague Weaver explains the new single: “'Deicidal Usurper' grabs the listener right out of the gate, reminding them of the earlier tracks. This song has another ambient bridge section, which hangs on just long enough to thrust the listener back into the main riff for the next verse-chorus. The solo in this song is tasteful and proud, with ambient screams feeding the atmosphere behind it. The outro is a bit of a victory-verse feel, winding down into a harpsichord section which introduces the final track.”

The overarching theme of the album is about infernal forces usurping heaven. There are canonical references from many different sources, but all of it swirls together into something that Plague Weaver makes their own. It is important to state that they write all of this from a non-theistic, philosophical/illustrative perspective.

Tracklisting:

“Nothing Is Sacred”
“Lay Fire”
“Blood Runs Not”
“Seek To Betray”
“Upheaval And Arson”
“Of Quivering Doves”
“Deicidal Usurper”
“In Exitium Caeli”

“Deicidal Usurper”:

“Nothing Is Sacred”:

Tony Iommi says that a new HEAVEN & HELL album featuring Rob Halford on vocals "won't happen now."

The prospect of the JUDAS PRIEST singer appearing on a HEAVEN & HELL record was first publicly raised by drummer Vinny Appice, who recently said that there was talk about HEAVEN & HELL "carrying on" with Halford after Ronnie James Dio's tragic passing in 2010. Appice told the "Rock Fantasy" Internet show that "Rob kept wanting to do it — he wanted to do it. When I saw him somewhere — at an award show — [he told me,] 'I'm gonna talk to Tony.' And then recently, I sent a message over to management about, 'Hey, we could easily do an album and not even see each other, the way things are done these days, with Rob.'"

Asked in a new interview with Loudwire if a collaboration with Halford is something that he would consider, Iommi said: "Rob must have mentioned it to Vinny at one particular time. It won't happen now, but I'm writing stuff. What I'm going to use I don't know yet — there's no rush to do anything at the moment. I want to do an album of some sort, whether its riffs or having a singer on it or for movies or whatever. I'm open for most things at the moment."

In November 1992, BLACK SABBATH played two concerts with Halford on vocals as the support act for Ozzy Osbourne on the last shows for Osbourne's "No More Tours" tour in Costa Mesa, California. Rob sang for SABBATH after Dio, who was the band's vocalist at the time, refused to take the stage.

Rob also performed with SABBATH members Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward on August 26, 2004 at the Camden, New Jersey stop of Ozzfest after Ozzy came down with an "attack of bronchitis" and was unable to take part in the concert.

Dio replaced Osbourne in BLACK SABBATH in 1980, recording the "Heaven And Hell" and "Mob Rules" albums, plus "Live Evil", before leaving in 1982. He rejoined the group 10 years later for an album called "Dehumanizer", and again teamed with the group under the HEAVEN & HELL banner in 2006. HEAVEN & HELL released an album called "The Devil You Know" in 2009.

Ronnie passed away of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010 at the age of 67.

Serj Tankian's eagerly awaited "Elasticity" EP will be released on March 19 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. A preview of the five-song release comes via the Vlad Kaptur-directed video for the EP's title track.

"When I conceived possibly doing another record with the guys from SYSTEM OF A DOWN a few years back, I started working on a set of songs that I arranged in rock format for that purpose," Serj explains. "As we weren't able to see eye to eye on the vision going forward with an SOAD album, I decided to release these songs under my moniker." With his trademark eclecticism and one-of-a-kind vocal style, Serj delivers a collection that runs the gamut from hard-driving, electronically enhanced anthems like the title track, a rallying cry for his beloved Armenia ("Electric Yerevan"), the tongue-in-cheek political mash-up of "Your Mom", the piano-laden "How Many Times?" and "Rumi", a song that Serj wrote both about his son Rumi and Rumi the poet.

"Elasticity"'s title is a play on SYSTEM's massive 2001 album "Toxicity". Serj told SPIN: "I'm gonna call it 'Elasticity' just because I wanted to do it with SYSTEM and it didn't happen. For me, it's not 'Toxicity' but it is 'Toxicity'. [Laughs]"

SYSTEM OF A DOWN hasn't released a full-length album since the "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" LPs, which came out in 2005.

In 2018, guitarist Daron Malakian publicly accused Tankian of not wanting to record, with Tankian responding that creative and financial issues with Malakian led to the stalemate. In a message on Facebook, Tankian wrote that Malakian wanted to control SYSTEM's creative process, take more of the publishing money and be the only band member to speak to the press.

A singer, poet, songwriter, visual artist, film producer, activist, and composer, Tankian has always created music as an outlet to express his thoughts and feelings with a level of passion and consciousness that few in today's world of music can rival. An Armenian born in Lebanon and re-rooted in Los Angeles, Tankian was introduced to the melding of cultures, ideas, and ideals from a very young age. The principles learned from this integration and adaptation have led to his understanding of the oneness of all things and have since maneuvered and transfigured into the music and art that he lives to create. As the lead singer and songwriter for SYSTEM OF A DOWN, Serj has released five studio albums, winning a Grammy Award in 2006 for "B.Y.O.B." and selling over 40 million albums worldwide. Despite this success, Serj has never grown complacent with his art, always striving to open up new channels of sound and arrangement to articulate his artistic expressions. He has released five albums of solo material, beginning with 2007's chart-topping hard rock album "Elect The Dead". His sophomore solo album, "Imperfect Harmonies", was released in 2010, followed by "Harakiri" in 2012. 2013 saw two distinct releases from Serj, the first being the critically acclaimed "Orca Symphony No. 1", released in June of that year, followed up with the very unique "Jazz-Iz Christ" one month later.

Over the past few years, his time spent in the recording studio has been focused on creating musical scores and compositions for film and video game projects. Serj recently lent his vocals to a modern-day cover of BLUE ÖYSTER CULT's rock classic "Godzilla" for the blockbuster Michael Dougherty film "Godzilla: King Of The Monsters". He also recorded a modern version of the Armenian folk song "Sari Siroun Yar" along with the Authentic Light Orchestra for the film "The Promise", directed by Terry George and starring Christian Bale and Oscar Isaac. Serj was also brought on by Survival Pictures, the producers of the film, to serve as an executive music consultant.

Most recently, Tankian composed the full musical score for award-winning documentary "I Am Not Alone" directed by Garin Hovannisian and the upcoming Live Nation Productions film "Truth To Power", which chronicles Serj's own journey through the crossroads of music and activism. In 2017, Serj composed music for Emmy-nominated "Intent To Destroy", a gripping film directed by award winning documentarian Joe Berlinger. That same year he created an intense score for the epic Russian action film "Furious - The Legend of Kolovrat", followed by his 2018 musical score for award-winning film "Spitak", directed by Alexander Kott. Additionally, Tankian composed the full musical score for independent films "1915" and "The Last Inhabitant", an original composition for Ilya Naishuller's "Hardcore Henry" and video game musical scores for "Midnight Star" and its sequel, "Renegade", which were created by one of the chief architects of the famed "Halo" game franchise.

Serj's resume also includes the formation of a record label, Serjical Strike Records (established in 2001), which has released albums from many critically acclaimed artists, including FAIR TO MIDLAND, Buckethead and DEATH BY STEREO.

Along with fellow musician Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, AUDIOSLAVE), Serj co-founded the non-profit organization Axis Of Justice in 2002, which strives to bring together musicians, music fans and grassroots political organizations to fight for social justice. He has also dabbled in the world of broadcasting as co-host of the Axis Of Justice Radio Network, which can be heard via SiriusXM and KPFK in Los Angeles. With a mission of spreading diversity and understanding through music, poetry and activism, Serj will continue to surprise and enlighten those who listen to his music and hear his words.

In recent years, Tankian has split his time between holding a mic and a paintbrush, having feverishly created over 60 pieces of art since 2013. His journey into the world of fine art began with his "Disarming Time Musical Paintings", which were exhibited at Project Gallery in Los Angeles. Since then, he has had multiple exhibitions at galleries in both the United States and New Zealand. In 2015, his artwork was exhibited at the grand opening of New Museum Los Gatos in Northern California as part of a group exhibit that ran from May through September of that year. Most recently, Serj's artwork was exhibited at two notable galleries in New Zealand during February and March of 2019.

Photo credit: George Tonikian