In a new interview with Voice Of America's (VOA) "Border Crossings", BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale confirmed that he and his bandmates have completed work on their follow-up to 2022's "The Art Of Survival" album, titled "I Beat Loneliness", for a 2025 release. Regarding why he chose to call the record "I Beat Loneliness", the 59-year-old musician said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Because I think that everyone is struggling the whole time." He added: "It's funny because when I reflect on the career that I've had and the songs that I've written, they do say that most people write one song over and over, and my theme that I've always dealt with is sort of people's mental health and their feelings and kind of the landscape of the landmines of hurt that we all live through. Everybody has so much broken stuff that they just sort of put the face on, go out and deal with it. But everybody having these crazy triggers — you see that suicide rates are insane, suicides among the military, the ex-military, men three times more likely to commit suicide as women. It's just people are hurting. And so my literal simple role in life, in that sort of Japanese concept of a vocation, is really writing songs about people and about feelings. And it's funny because when I began, it wasn't like that. You could just complain in songs, but I always wanted to have this sort of sense of hope, this sense of help and support and close community and people and love and friendship and kindness. And so I've written like that.

"So 'I Beat Loneliness', it's just probably the best title I've ever written because, of course, it's self-fulfilling in its impossibility," he continued. "'Cause you can't say you beat loneliness, 'cause if you say you beat loneliness, it means that you're a really melancholic person who beat loneliness for about 20 minutes, and it's coming back the next day like a boomerang. So I just like that idea of that bravado. It's strength. It's not bravado. It's strength in the face of adversity."

2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of BUSH's six-times-platinum debut album, "Sixteen Stone".

Last summer, BUSH celebrated its 30th anniversary with an extensive North American headline tour. The "Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour" kicked off on July 26 in Bend, Oregon and included shows at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Most of the dates were produced by Live Nation. Jerry Cantrell and CANDLEBOX were the special guests on all dates.

BUSH released "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" in November 2023 via Round Hill Records. The set included a new song called "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere", which was written by Gavin and produced by Rossdale and Corey Britz.

With over 24 million records sold, one billion streams and a procession of No. 1 singles, the band — comprising Rossdale, Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums) — stand tall as rock outliers whose imprint only widens as the years pass. "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" (Round Hill Records),their first-ever greatest-hits collection, provides an expansive view of their incredible legacy with 21 tracks spanning nearly 30 years — from their breakthrough hit "Everything's Zen" to the aforementioned "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere".

"Loaded" included iconic hits from each of BUSH's nine studio albums as well as "Mouth" (The Stingray Mix) from the 1997 remix album "Deconstructed" and a cover of THE BEATLES' "Come Together" that saw a very limited release in 2012.

BUSH broke up in 2002 but reformed in 2010, and has since released five albums: "The Sea of Memories" (2011),"Man On The Run" (2014),"Black And White Rainbows" (2017),"The Kingdom" (2020) and the aforementioned "The Art Of Survival".

"Black And White Rainbows" was crafted after Rossdale went through a divorce with pop star/reality TV judge Gwen Stefani in 2015.

Photo credit: Shervin Lainez
There goes another year - we had a blast - we are so grateful to do what we love - its been an amazing year for @bush - this next year promises so much - lots of shows - lots of countries - the new record #I BEAT LONELINESS - fam are strong and healthy. pic.twitter.com/0HvBO0CtnD

— GAVIN ROSSDALE (@GavinRossdale) December 31, 2024

rd and most unholy full-length offering, Ashen Womb. Nine sinister funeral marches, draped in a bleak and blackened atmosphere, provide a lens into the forthcoming end of times.


A droning tone fades in, opening up a slow dirge that eases us into the apocalyptic explosion of death that will follow for the next 40 minutes. Where guitars anxiously scale the fretboard & weave morose melodies while drums pound and smash with the force of the Chicxulub impactor. 


Interspersed between the infernal, seismic, blackened stampedes are droning psychedelia & ambient noise interludes, immersing us further into the ever-growing darkness. But there are also moments of overwhelming beauty, like on tracks "Nebulae" and the eponymous "Ashen Womb," where Phrenel

Eric Carlson, better known as Sickie Wifebeater, a founding member and lead guitarist of MENTORS, one of the most controversial rock bands to emerge from the 1970s, died on December 29 at the age of 66 after a battle with cancer.

Late Sunday night (December 29),the following message was posted on the MENTORS' social media: "It's with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Eric Carlson. Eric was fondly known as Sickie Wifebeater, a founding member of the musical trio MENTORS. He passed this evening 11:43 est, succumbing to a year long battle with cancer. Eric will be missed by those who loved him. His musical legacy will out live us all.

"REST IN POWER SICKIE! Guitar Legend! #ripsickie
May 22, 1958 - December 29, 2024"

Carlson started MENTORS in Seattle in 1976 with bass guitarist Steve Broy (Dr. Heathen Scum) and singer/drummer Eldon Hoke (El Duce) who attended Roosevelt High School together.

Most known for their shock rock stage presence akin to GG ALLIN & THE MURDER JUNKIES, a long history of false rumors and outrageous myths also helped augment MENTORS' fame and notoriety. The trio inspired and offended masses worldwide using chauvinistic satire and an obscene comical act, playing an identifiable role in moral depravity and pushing the boundaries of freedom of speech.

Many have called MENTORS pioneers of shock rock. They were known for their offensive and perverse lyrics which caught the attention of many, including Tipper Gore, who formed the PMRC (Parents Resource Music Center) movement, citing MENTORS for their shocking lyrics and labeling albums with "Parental Warning" labels.

El Duce had controversial appearances, including "Jerry Springer" and "The Hot Seat".

After overcoming El Duce's 1997 death at the age of 39, MENTORS continued to keep El Duce's spirit alive writing, touring and recording new material.

It's with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Eric Carlson. Eric was fondly known as Sickie Wifebeater, a...

Posted by The Mentors on Sunday, December 29, 2024

Beatrix is known for their fierce energy and relentless attitude as a live band. Many bands claim to leave no one cold, but Beatrix's surprising stage show gives the audience a bone-chilling experience. 


Formed in 2019 in Tampere, Finland, the band plays fast and aggressive black thrash metal with influences from the new wave of British heavy metal. The band consists of five praying mantis worshippers: vocalist Markus 'Suffy' Leppänen, guitarist Aapo Härkönen, guitarist Alois Weimer, bassist Sakari 'Röppä' Juurijoki and drummer Matias Rinnetie.


Leppänen comments:




"The release of this EP has been a rocky road. First we had a falling out with our original drummer right before we were about to head into the studio, after that we had to find a new drummer and teach him the new songs. Once the songs were recorded we had some delays with the artwork. Now, after almost two years it's finally being released. For these reasons we've already been playing these songs live. There are three new songs and 'Torment Of The Soul' from the demo, which now has solos and the vocals have been recorded properly since I rushed them on the demo a little bit, but you know it's raw and the new recordings haven't forgotten this essence. I hope the process with our upcoming full length album will be a lot smoother without too many delays. Anyway, the Deathsent Ceremony EP is unadulturated Beatrix madness of pure fucking filth! See you at the gigs!"


Check out the EP below.


The band's most notable previous release is a sp

itars, As You Can Imagine... It’s Adrenaline-Filled And Balls-To-The-Wall"">
Robbie Williams has confirmed the participation of Black Sabbath legend, Tony Iommi, on his new track, "Rocket". And Glenn Hughes is along for the ride as well.


It was recently revealed that Robbie had recruited Iommi for the track by Williams' drummer and musical director, Karl Brazil, making an appearance on the Percussion Discussion podcast (see below).


“He’s got an album to follow that we’ve been working on,” Brazil shared. “He’s working with various people, but I’ve been fortunate enough to do some songs with him

Just in time for the release of their new album, Пророк Илия (Lat. Prorok Ilja), out Friday, January 3 via Napalm Records, Polish black metal icons Patriarkh (formerly Batushka), unleash their forth gloomy single, “ВЕРШАЛИН VII” (Lat. WIERSZALIN VII).


The eight brand-new songs on the conceptual full length delve into the true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the enigmatic Prophet Ilja, and transforms these events into dark yet mesmerizing atmospheres, interwoven with their deeply rooted Eastern Orthodox traditions.


“ВЕРШАЛИН VII” (Lat. WIERSZALIN VII) attacks mercilessly and sets free a relentless storm of black and death metal. The song kicks off with a compelling narration, before it drags listeners into a path of fierce blast beats and haunting screams. Once more, Patriarkh nails their balance of various influences, defying all rules and setting their own path. “ВЕРШАЛИН VII” is now available on all streaming services worldwide.
 
“ВЕРШАЛИН VII” (Lat. WIERSZALIN VII) is now available on all streaming services worldwide. Listen to the track here.




Patriarkh on the new album: “With this new release, we are starting a new chapter in our history - not only is our name changing, but our music is also undergoing a natural evolution. The story on the album encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone, we reached for means that we had not used before in our music. Many of you will wonder if this is still black metal? Or is it even metal? Radio play, audiobook, theater, film soundtrack, folk music, performance... All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love...”


ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ details a true story that happened in the band’s home area of Podlasie, in the village of Grzybowszczyzna, in the 1930s and 40s. The album takes the listener into the world of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, an illiterate peasant who was the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, active until the 1960s, cultivating and transmitting the history of the self-proclaimed prophet. Patriarkh spread their gospel by using an arsenal of folk instruments, such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy gurdy and stringed dulcimer, and worked with a symphony orchestra and choirs to give their new creations the most organic and vivid feeling possible. As is trademark with Patriarkh’s music, Orthodox sacredness is mixed with black and doom metal, now largely enriched with folk music, neo dark folk, and even film music. The band utilizes the entire palette of Orthodox music, venturing into the areas of Byzantine monody, liturgical chant and Russian polyphony, neatly adapting folk and liturgical melodies to their own style.


The lyrical side of ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an interesting mix of theater and pastoralism. Patriarkh uses fragments of texts from the theater play "Prorok Ilja" and draws from the messages contained in the works of Włodzimierz Pawluczuk, combining it with folk and liturgical texts. On ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, listeners can hear various languages – and Polish for the first time ever! The album was recorded in January and May 2024 at Tall Pine Records (Behemoth, Zalewski, Afromental), Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate), Wem Studio (Kasa Chorych, Lukasyno, Cira) and Radio Białystok studio. Mixing and mastering was handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studio (Vader, Behemoth, Decapitated), and production was helmed by band mastermind and leading vocalist Bartłomiej "Варфоломей" Krysiuk. “ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an album full of emotions, sentimentalism and folklore. It’s pastoral, lyrical, epic, multidimensional and multicolored, just like my Podlasie is multicolored,” says Варфоломей. Dive into the deepest of all shadows with this black metal masterpiece and join Patriarkh on this intriguing ride!





ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ will be available in the following formats:


- Wooden Box (Digipak, bonus CD, pendant, flag & patch) - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
- Deluxe 2LP GATEFOLD GOLD Vinyl (Alternative album cover artwork, bonus vinyl, & 24pp vinyl booklet) - 300 copies (Napalm - Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
- 1LP GATEFOLD SILVER Vinyl - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
- 1LP GATEFOLD MARBLED ORANGE RED BLACK Vinyl - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
- 1LP Gatefold in Black Vinyl
- 6 Page Digipak
- Digital Album


Pre-order here.

e.net/2025/01/drummer-metal-band-voraath-killed-by-drunk-driver/" target="_blank">Consequence is reporting that Joshua Nassaru Ward, the drummer for North Carolina death metal band Voraath, was killed along with three others by a drunk driver on New Year’s Eve.


The tragic incident took place in Greenville, South Carolina, just after 9 PM on Tuesday night (December 31st). The 37-year-old Ward, his fiancee Zelena, and two others were pulling out a driveway in a Subaru SUV when they were struck by a 2012 BMW driven by 31-year-old Nicholas Shane Meeks.

Chicago-based extreme metal act, Against The Plagues, have released a video for "Flying To The Sky", the second track from the band's upcoming new album. Check out the clip below.


Says the band: "Watch now and be a part of this epic journey!"







Back in September is was announced that after nearly nine years, Against The Plagues is back "stronger and healthier than ever before" with a new vocalist and a new singer.


"Since our hiatus back in 2016, we took the time to recharge, reset, and refresh our mindset," said Against The Plagues. "Taking a long break helped us to address all past issues in the band and also to contemplate its future. Finally, we are excited to announce our return!


"We are super stoked to present Zio

The holidays aren’t quite over as Philadelphia-based traditional heavy metal band, Corners Of Sanctuary (COS), release a blistering new cover of Black Sabbath's iconic 1970 track, "Paranoid".


This powerful rendition is a tribute to the legendary heavy metal pioneers whose groundbreaking contributions to the rock and metal genres changed the musical landscape for all who followed. The band’s latest boisterous cut showcases their raw energy and technical prowess to carry the weight of such a well known song.


Simultaneously, COS delivers on capturing the spirit of a past era that would essentially birth a musical revolution. With COS’ now signature sound and blazing performance approach, fans can expect to hear a fresh take on the celebrated song, infused with Corners Of Sanctuary’s unique style and passion. This track will certainly find itself captivating audiences across multiple generations of heavy metal fans.




This new version of "Paranoid" features a driving back rhythm and galloping beat that propels the classic song forward into modern times.


COS guitarist, Mick Michaels, commented, "The song is a classic in every sense of the word. Paying tribute to it, for us, was an opportunity to honor the past."


"Paranoid" is available as a standalone digital release through SODEH Records. Listeners can purchase or stream the track on all major platforms. Stream “Paranoid” on Spotify

Former MOTÖRHEAD and current SCORPIONS drummer Mikkey Dee has opened up about his battle with sepsis, a condition which occurs when one's immune system has a dangerous reaction to an infection. It causes extensive inflammation throughout one's body that can lead to tissue damage, organ failure and even death.

Earlier today (Thursday, January 2),Mikkey took to his social media to write: "Just a quick statement about what has been happening to me these past three weeks:

"First I like to thank everyone for these heartwarming Christmas and New Years greetings, that I have not been able to respond to. I always try to do that every year.

"This holiday season, I have been hospitalized with a very serious blood infection (Sepsis). I was admitted for three weeks but now I am home fighting this bastard bacteria. Thankfully, I have received fantastic care at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, my hometown. So thanks a million to all the Doctors and Nurses that have been giving me the most excellent care.

"After several operations, I am now back home and the numbers are all going in the right direction. Still lots of recovery and rehab in front of me. Now I'm working a 100% to be back on the drum stool for the Residency that starts off in Las Vegas on February 27.

"We have a tremendous 2025 to look forward to, celebrating 60 years of SCORPIONS and many exciting gigs around the world.

"So, the Stinger is out and I can't wait to see you all out there on the road and rock the hell out of you! I wish everybody a fantastic 2025 with good health and lots of Rock n' Roll!"

Dee told the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he unknowingly developed sepsis after spraining his foot in December. Since he had Christmas shows scheduled at Valand in Gothenburg, he took Alvedon, a drug used to treat mild to moderate pain and fever, and Voltaren, which is used to treat pain and inflammation, to make himself comfortable enough to play the final gigs of the year. The weekend before Christmas, his condition deteriorated.

"The ankle swelled up like hell, then it took on a weird shape and appearance and looked like an overcooked ham. I became very ill so I had to go by ambulance to Sahlgrenska and there they found that I had sky-high values, so I became priority one there," Mikkey said (as translated from Swedish). "It was surgery right away, the first of three. They cut away what was dead and infected and badly infested. It was not a good journey I was on… Another day and I'd be playing drums with [late MOTÖRHEAD leader] Lemmy in heaven. I can say that."

Mikkey landed the job as the drummer for SCORPIONS in 2016 after spending almost 25 years as a member of MOTÖRHEAD.

In the last couple of years, Dee has played a number of shows under the "Mikkey Dee With Friends" banner where he performed some of MOTÖRHEAD's classic songs. The 61-year-old Swedish-born musician was joined at the gigs by THE DRIPPERS members Viktor Skatt on bass and vocals, and Stig William Rickard on guitar.

SCORPIONS are returning to the Las Vegas Strip in 2025 with exclusive headlining residency show in celebration of the band's 60th anniversary. Promoted by Live Nation and Caesars Entertainment, "Scorpions - Coming Home To Las Vegas 60th Anniversary Las Vegas Residency" kicks off on Thursday, February 27, 2025 at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. SCORPIONS will be joined by special guest BUCKCHERRY. The new show follows the band's two previous sold-out residencies at the venue — "Scorpions - Love at First Sting Las Vegas" in 2024 and "Sin City Nights" in 2022.

The five performances are:

February 2025: 27
March 2025: 1, 6, 8, 11

Just a quick statement about what has been happening to me these past three weeks:

First I like to thank everyone for...

Posted by Mikkey Dee on Thursday, January 2, 2025

Joe Lynn Turner recently collaborated with Russian punk rocker Andrey Knyazev and his band, КняZz, on the new single, "Stalker". Stream/download the single here, and watch the official music video for the single below.


Joe Lynn Turner joined КняZz for a performance of "Stalker" on November 23 at VK Stadium in Moscow, Russia. Multi-cam video can be viewed below:







Joe Lynn Turner and Andrey Knyazev met in 2021 and instantly found common ground, discovering in each other similar personal ideology and unified rock’n’roll spirit. They both developed a mutual desire for a collaboration on a song that would be a perfect fit.


In August 2023, КняZz released their recent album, from which Joe Lynn Turner truly connected with the song "Stalker". In this particular song they were able to combine their similar world views, current problems and struggles of humanity and agree on the fact that the destruction of the planet’s future is being eradicated by their own hand.


Joe Lynn Turner wrote verse and chorus in English, preserving the meaning and message of the original lyric written by Andrey. This version of the song "Stalker" exemplifies an international unity of not only different generations of rock musicians, but also voices in two different languages the warning of the inevitable apocalypse by the fault of mankind.





 





Joe Lynn Turner has joined forces with Bulgaria’s top female singer Maria Ilieva for the new single, "Forever", a powerful ballad with remarkable vocals produced by Swedes Thomas Thornholm and Magnus Nordquist. It tells the story of the true love that lasts forever – over time and space.


The song had a recent exclusive premiere for the Bulgarian market and received an outpour of positive comments and reactions from fans and critics and hundreds of thousands of views on

MÖTLEY CRÜE bassist Nikki Sixx has revealed that he has been undergoing Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy, a treatment for symptoms of trauma.

On Sunday (December 29),Sixx took to his social media to write: "A lot of us talk about New Year's resolution's. I like the idea of resetting myself a few times a year. I spend alot of time up in the National Park in Wyoming. That's a solid restart for me. Another around my birthday and then Dec 31- Jan 6th.

"I am personally on a deep reflective journey right now and as usual it will turn into something. A lyric, a book , a song. Also I've been doing EMDR therapy. That's a golden ticket if you're up for change. I live for change. At least evolution.

"Do you have any new goals or resolutions you wanna share with the rest the class? By the way Happy New Year."

According to the Cleveland Clinic, when you undergo EMDR, you access memories of a trauma event in very specific ways. Combined with eye movements and guided instructions, accessing those memories helps you reprocess what you remember from the negative event. That reprocessing helps "repair" the mental injury from that memory. Remembering what happened to you will no longer feel like reliving it, and the related feelings will be much more manageable.

In a 2019 interview, Sixx opened up about his traumatic childhood, which included his father abandoning the family when Nikki — whose birth name is Frank Carlton Serafino Feranna, Jr. — was three years old. Sixx said: "I had a shitty upbringing, and I'm dealing with that every day. I spent more money on therapy than most rock stars spent on cars.

"My most heartbreaking memory was when my mom called my grandparents and said, 'Come pick him up,'" he told The Guardian. "I was six and she said, 'I'm going to lock the door and I'll just leave you in the porch. She couldn't wait until my grandparents got there. She left with this guy in a truck. That broke me.

"In my deepest, deepest core, the thing that's haunted me the most and still haunts me is the feeling of abandonment — my dad leaving when I was young and my mom leaving, one at three, one at six. I never quite got over that, it's a horrible feeling," Sixx said in an interview with Neon Sunsets. "It always comes back to these childhood issues; you still carry them with you, they're, like, in your DNA."

Sixx later revealed that his name change was inspired largely by his father's decision to abandon his son. "I changed my name because of a long road battling a guy who walked away from me named Frank Serafino — who was my father — and me saying, 'Fuck you, I'm gonna reinvent myself, you weren't there for me, and I am gonna become a man called Nikki, create my own family and fuck you,'" he explained.

MÖTLEY CRÜE will return to Las Vegas for a series of live appearances this spring. "The Las Vegas Residency" will find them playing an exclusive limited run of 11 shows at Dolby Live at Park MGM from March 28 through April 19, 2025.

The CRÜE's third Vegas residency is being billed as a "tell-all show [that] will immerse the audience in the band’s history, leading all the say through their record-breaking Stadium Tour." They previously set up shop in Vegas in 2012 for "Mötley Crüe Takes On Sin City" and 2013 for "Evening In Hell".

This past October, MÖTLEY CRÜE released a new EP, "Cancelled", featuring the previously released singles "Dogs Of War", the title track and a cover of THE BEASTIE BOYS' "Fight For Your Right". To celebrate the EP's release, the CRÜE played a series of club shows in Los Angeles, including a gig at the Troubadour, the Roxy and Whisky A Go Go.

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