Southern California heavy metal veterans, Leatherwolf, are celebrating Halloween with the release of a horror themed video for the song "Lights Out Agan", off their most recent full-length album, Kill The Hunted. The clip features vocalist Keith Adamiak, the triple axe attack of Rob Math, Luke Man and David Coffman, bassist Brice Snyder, and drummer Dean Roberts and can be viewed below.


The band once again collaborated with award winning Spanish filmmaker, Èric Boadella, whose credits include L.A. Guns, Black Swan, and Revolution Saints, among others. Filmed at The Barracks in Downtown Los Angeles, "Lights Out Agan" finds the band in the clutches of a train driving wolfman on the way to their next concert but his train runs out of blood!


"We've done several videos with Eric and this one is definitely different", says Roberts. "All the others have pretty much been straight forward performance videos - this one has a bit of a storyline, it's sort of a mini-horror movie with an element of camp. Eric came up with the concept and we pretty much gave him and his crew free reign. I think it turned out really cool and the whole vibe of the clip is perfect for Halloween so here we go!"







Leatherwolf are currently working on an EP for 2025, which is set to feature a mix of new songs and re-recordings of several tracks from the band's catalog. The first of these re-recordings, a remake of "Thunder" off 1989's Street Ready, re-titled "Thunder (MMXXII)", was released as a bonus track on the Japanese CD and the vinyl edition of Kill The Hunted and features a lead guitar guest appearance by Joel Hoekstra.





Kill The Hunted album artwork, tracklisting, and videos below.





Kill The Hunted tracklisting:


"Hit The Dirt"
"Nobody"
"Kill The Hunted"
"Only The Wicked"
"Madhouse"
"Medusa"
"The Henchman"
"(Evil) Empires

In the latest episode of Gibson TV's "The Collection", host Mark Agnesi is in Los Angeles, California to explore Kirk Hammett's impressive guitar collection.

For over 40 years, Hammett has been holding it down as the lead guitarist of METALLICA, inspiring generations of players to pick up the guitar. With over 125 million albums sold and sold-out stadium shows worldwide, you can bet Kirk has acquired a guitar collection fit for rock royalty. Join Agnesi to get an insider's look at Kirk's legendary guitar collection in the latest episode of Gibson TV's "The Collection". What you are about to see might shock you, and once you get a glimpse, nothing else will matter…

Watch as Hammett discusses his incredible journey with guitars, starting with how a job at Burger King led him to purchase his first Gibson Flying V, which he still plays today, and how it helped shape his iconic sound. Kirk talks about his legendary acquisition of "Greeny," Peter Green's famous 1959 Les Paul, and shares stories about owning some of the rarest Gibson guitars ever made, including a 1963 Gibson Explorer from the first production run.

Get an inside look at some of the guitars he owns, including a selection of 1958 and 1959 Les Pauls, and the guitars Kirk used to write his most iconic riffs and solos from "Kill 'Em All", "Ride The Lightning" and the Black Album.

He also reveals the rare guitars he's still hunting for and reflects on what it means to return to Gibson as an artist. If you've ever wanted to know which guitars Hammett plays and see the guitars that he used to write your favorite METALLICA tracks, this is your chance!

Chapters:

0:00 Introducing Kirk Hammett
0:45 Interview - Kirk's first memories of guitar
10:42 - 1952 Les Paul Goldtop
14:05 - 1960 Les Paul TV Special
16:42 - 1956 Les Paul Custom
19:50 Interview (cont'd) - guitars used on Metallica albums and collecting guitars
24:19 - 1958 Les Paul Standard
28:10 - 1958 Les Paul Custom
31:08 Interview (cont'd) - Playing Bob Rock's sunburst Les Paul
33:50 - 1958 Les Paul Standard
37:35 Interview (cont'd) - Buying "Greeny"
43:35 - 1959 Les Paul Standard "Greeny"
50:55 - 1959 Les Paul Standard
55:02 - 1960 Les Paul Standard "Sunny"
57:26 Interview (cont'd) - A love of Korina Flying Vs
58:43 - 1957 Korina Flying V Prototype
01:02:26 - 1963 Korina Explorer™
01:07:27 - 1979 Flying V
01:13:30 Interview (cont'd) - Collecting Flying Vs
01:18:16 - 1972 Medallion Flying V
01:22:12 Interview (cont'd) - What Kirk looks for when buying vintage guitars
01:26:08 - 1959 ES-335TD
01:30:53 - 1955 ES-295
01:34:00 Interview (cont'd) - How Kirk designed his first signature ESP guitar
01:37:10 - ESP KH-1 "Joker"
01:41:15 Interview (cont'd) - Kirk on returning to Gibson as an artist
01:44:15 - 1964 J-180 Everly Brothers
01:47:16 Interview (cont'd) - Talking about guitars forever

In a new interview with ProMark Drumsticks, former SEPULTURA drummer Eloy Casagrande explained how he came to join SLIPKNOT earlier this year prior to the launch of the heavy metal giants' 25th-anniversary North American tour. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I just got a call from the manager. He asked me if I was interested in doing an audition for the band. So I came here to the U.S. I spent 10 days with the band. We were just jamming so we could check if there was some kind of chemistry between us. We spent, like, four or five days just recording new stuff. I think they wanted to check if I was able to compose some drum parts and to check if I was also able to record drums in the studio, because that's a whole different universe. So that was a very complete audition. And after those same days, I went back to Brazil. And they gave me a call two days later saying that I was in the band, that I made it. That was super cool."

Reflecting in more detail on his SLIPKNOT audition, Eloy said: "I had, like, 15 days to learn the songs; they gave me a big list of songs that I was supposed to learn. Every day in the rehearsal, we were trying different songs, picking different stuff from different albums. But, of course, I already knew how to play some of their songs.

"I remember the first day that I was there. I was warming up in the studio. I had, like, my pad, drumsticks, pedals. And the guys from the band, they started arriving at the studio, and I was in shock. When we played the first song, I did several mistakes, because I was so in shock to see everybody in front of me. And I couldn't think. I couldn't even breathe. But they were, like, 'Okay, we understand that you're in a difficult situation right now. We understand your side. So just relax, have fun. We're just here to see the vibe.' And then from the second day, I think everything got better. I was more relaxed to play the drums and just let the music flow."

Casagrande said that it's a huge honor and a dream come true for him to be an official member of SLIPKNOT.

"I have been listening to SLIPKNOT since I was a teenager, and it was very important to my musical formation," he said. "And here we are now, after a couple of months, we're here. When I was — I don't know— 12 years old, watching them on MTV playing 'Duality', that blew my mind. It's such an honor to be here now.

"Now, I never imagined that this was something possible," he added. "There is the difference of countries — I live in Brazil; it's an American band. We don't forget that I was lucky to be at the right moment in the right spot. So, I was invited to be here."

In an interview with Tone-Talk, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root spoke about how Casagrande came to join SLIPKNOT and his impact on the band's overall sound. He said: "We didn't even try anybody else. Eloy's name came up. He contacted us, actually, about wanting to be a part of it and started sending a bunch of videos in. I think him and our bass player [Alessandro 'Vman' Venturella] might've had a little bit of a relationship before. I think they knew each other. They had mutual friends. And Vman's really in tune with a lot of really great, proggy, heavy musicians that are passionate about their instruments. And it just seemed like a no-brainer. And he's really respectful of the legacy of [SLIPKNOT's original drummer, the late] Joey [Jordison], and Joey was a huge influence on him. And he's so humble. The dude has so much humility. And you could tell he just lives and breathes his craft, to the point where I see his passion and it ignites my passion for my instrument. And Brazilians, South Americans in general, are so passionate about what they do. Our manager told me, he was out to dinner with four or five promoters from South America, and they were all really stoked. They're all, like, 'It's so good you've got a Brazilian drummer in SLIPKNOT now. We kind of feel like we've won the World Cup.' It's a cool feeling. And God, he just fits in so well. I don't know, man. I mean, there's a lot of things I can say about it. I'm just glad it happened when it did. And we're lucky to have him — we are really lucky to have that dude."

For its 2024 gigs so far, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer more than seven months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."

The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.

Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.

Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA six months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.

"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," the band said in a statement.

Casagrande joined SEPULTURA nearly 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.

SLIPKNOT's latest album "The End, So Far", arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.

SLIPKNOT recently completed the North American portion of the "Here Comes The Pain" tour. The band was celebrating the 25th anniversary of its seminal debut album, "Slipknot", which catapulted the band back in 1999. The "Here Comes The Pain" tour, produced by Live Nation, included arena plays nationwide this summer. Highlights included New York City's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles's Intuit Dome, Austin's Moody Center and more with direct support from Kentucky's young and vibrant hardcore/metal forerunners KNOCKED LOOSE. ORBIT CULTURE and VENDED also provided support on select dates.

STORACE, Swiss rock legend Marc Storace's eponymous band, will release its second album, "Crossfire", on November 22 via Frontiers Music Srl. The official music video for the LP's latest single, 'Screaming Demon", can be seen below.

Storace comments on the song: "'Screaming Demon' starts with an explosive intro, bursting into a hellraising rhythm with a screaming guitar on top, before I start singing about getting a kick from driving this hot car: 'I'm gonna rolla, I'm in controlla, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!'"

"Crossfire" track listing:

01. Screaming Demon
02. The New Unity
03. Rock This City
04. Adrenaline
05. Love Thing Stealer
06. Let's Get Nuts
07. Thrill And A Kiss
08. We All Need The Money
09. Hell Yeah
10. Millionaire Blues
11. Sirens
12. Only Love Can Hurt Like This

Storace previously stated about "Crossfire": "Tommy Henriksen, in spite of his tight touring schedule with Alice Cooper, HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES and his work with his CROSSBONE SKULLY, actually 'made time' to produce my 'Crossfire' album! Hell yeah, that’s what I call a good friend! Creating the songs with T felt like magic… And he even got the incredible Olle Romo, Mutt Lange's very own engineer, to mix the album… Unbelievable! It was like a match made in heaven!! Play it loud!!"

Maltese-born-Swiss musician Marc Storace started his exceptional musical career in 1970, with the Swiss cult progressive band TEA, which became a very successful band and with whom he released five LPs. Marc gained attention for his frontmanship and high-pitched raunchy vocal tone.

In 1979, Marc became the voice of KROKUS, the most successful hard rock band from Switzerland. After their first album with Marc, "Metal Rendez-Vous", KROKUS played several world tours, sold over 15 million records, and won many gold and platinum awards.

After the group disbanded, Marc formed the band BLUE, who released their self-titled album in 1991, including the widely known hit "You Can't Stop The Rainfall".

In the 1990s and 2000s, Marc acted in two feature films ("Anuk" and "Handyman") and reached gold status with various KROKUS formations and three LPs. With many guest appearances such as on "Rock Meets Classic", SWEET 50th anniversary, Ken Hensley live in Switzerland, "Schubert In Rock", and on Manfred Ehlert's albums "Amen" and the rock opera "Test", Marc remained present with his fans.

In 2008, fans were surprised by the news that the original KROKUS formation would be touring again. The success was tremendous: tours in USA, Japan, Europe and South America as well as two new studio LPs, which, in turn, earned platinum status. In December 2019, KROKUS played a farewell concert at the sold-out Hallenstadion in Zurich.

At the beginning of 2021, Marc started working on his solo career as STORACE and at the end of 2021, he released his first solo album "Live And Let Live". In the middle of the pandemic, Marc started his first tour in Switzerland accompanied by the album's studio band. Since May 2022, Marc has been performing with his new band and rocking the stage like never before.

Marc spent 2023 and 2024 writing and producing the new album "Crossfire", a monster piece of hard rock, with songwriting shared between Marc Storace, guitar player Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper band) and drummer Pat Aeby (KROKUS, GOTUS).

"Crossfire", produced by Tommy Henriksen and mixed by the award-winning engineer Olle Romo, features a collection of hard rock anthemic songs, with big choruses, great guitars, and an awesome rhythm section.

STORACE is:

Marc Storace - Vocals
Dom Favez - Rhythm Guitar
Serge Christen - Lead Guitar
Patrick Aeby - Drums
Emi Meyer - Bass

KROKUS has been playing sporadic shows in recent years, including the Riverside Aarburg festival in August 2023.

In September 2022, KROKUS played a special concert on the steps of the St. Ursus Cathedral in Solothurn, Switzerland. In addition, Solothurn honored the band with a "Stone Of Honor" on its 2000th anniversary. KROKUS also returned to the "holy ground of rock" in Switzerland, the Hallenstadion in Zürich, on May 6, 2023.

Four years ago, KROKUS postponed what was supposed to be the band's last-ever concerts in USA and Canada due to the coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the globe.

When KROKUS first announced its decision to embark on a farewell tour in September 2018, the band explained in a statement: "KROKUS shows have always been special and should stay that way. That's why we decided to stop when it's still really good. That's how the fans should remember us."

Formed in 1975, KROKUS has sold over 15 million records, toured the world, and received gold and platinum discs in the USA and Canada. KROKUS was also the first Swiss band to sell out Hallenstadion and has received a diamond disc for selling one million albums in Switzerland alone.

In the course of its career, KROKUS has rocked over 2,000 shows on five continents, countless cities, unique locations, crazy gigs, and loyal fans.

English rock journalist Malcolm Dome quite rightly said: "If you look at the long-term output of this band, KROKUS is clearly one of the best hard rock bands of the last 40 years."

Photo credit: Frank Kollby

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has released the official music video for the song "Utopia Black". The fiery new tune comes off the band's tenth studio album, "Servitude", which came out on September 27 via Metal Blade Records.

With the tragic passing of the band's frontman and co-founder Trevor Strnad in 2022, guitarist Brian Eschbach, bassist Max Lavelle, drummer Alan Cassidy and producer/guitarist Brandon Ellis were faced with a decision: close the door on one of the most beloved death metal bands of the last twenty years, or carry on in their fallen brother's charismatic spirit?

"Everyone that's in the band now is someone that Trevor and I searched for," Eschbach says. "We spent so much time on the road together that everyone understands the mission statement. We don't really need to talk about it. We just need to make great music and try to make people happy playing it."

After a period of profound grief and deep soul-searching, Eschbach moved from guitar to vocals, setting aside his lifelong identity as a live guitarist for the survival of the band. Former THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER member Ryan Knight returned to the fold to take Eschbach's place on guitar. The new lineup made their debut in the band's hometown of Detroit in late October 2022 for a tribute show for Strnad.

Fast forward to right about now: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's new album is the one that many would have thought impossible. "Servitude" marks Eschbach's recorded debut as THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's lead vocalist and lyricist — and their first with Knight on guitar since 2015's "Abysmal".

"I just had to lean into it hard," Eschbach says of approaching 'Servitude' in a completely new role. "Honestly, writing the lyrics for this album was easier for me than writing the music for the three songs that I wrote music for. I'd pick a subject, research it, and just kinda dive in. Even though it's not something I'd really ever done before, there was a natural flow to it once I started."

You can hear the thrilling results on "Aftermath" the ripping lead single, which envisions a post-apocalyptic cannibal scenario. "We wanted that one to be heard first because it's one of the faster songs on the album, if not the fastest," Eschbach says. "We wanted that very aggressive BLACK DAHLIA melodic death metal feel coming right at you. Lyrically, it's about a meteor that fucks up the whole planet, but there's still people living. Kind of like 'The Walking Dead', but with no zombies — so you get right to how people deal with it. And by the end, they're eating each other."

The members of THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER know that some will be skeptical of an album without Trevor's inimitable presence. But many fans have already embraced the band's decision to move forward.

"More than pressures or expectations from the fanbase, I feel their trust and support," Ellis says. "We've always done what we do for them, and they've appreciated our consistency over the years. The global outcry following Trevor's passing has shown us how important the band's music has been to so many people, and how important it is that we continue in his honor. Under all that weight, I think we all knew what needed to be done."

"We put in everything we had, and this is the album that felt right to make," he adds. "I'm proud of it and proud of the five of us. You can never please everybody, but I know that this music will be a healing and positive force for those who embrace it!"

The guitars, bass, and vocals for "Servitude" were recorded at Ellis's home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. "Servitude" was mastered by Ted Jensen.

"Servitude" was released on digipak CD, cassette and digital formats as well as vinyl.

"Servitude" track listing:

01. Evening Ephemeral
02. Panic Hysteric
03. Aftermath
04. Cursed Creator
05. An Intermission
06. Asserting Dominion
07. Servitude
08. Mammoth's Hand
09. Transcosmic Blueprint
10. Utopia Black

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER has joined DYING FETUS for a North American co-headlining tour this fall. The "Beg To Serve 2024" tour commenced on October 3 in Cleveland, Ohio and is making its way through over two dozen cities, the journey coming to a close on November 10 in Chicago, Illinois. Support is being provided by SPITE, ANGELMAKER and VOMIT FORTH.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER is:

Brian Eschbach - lead vocals
Max Lavelle - bass
Alan Cassidy - drums
Brandon Ellis - lead guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Knight - rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Photo by Marshall Wieczorek

With an unyielding spirit and defiant energy, "Not Dead Yet" is the latest offering from ENVY OF NONE. Featuring the masterful musicianship of RUSH's Alex Lifeson (guitars),CONEY HATCH's Andy Curran (bass, keyboards, backing vocals),Alf Annibalini (guitar, keyboards) and Randy Cooke (drums),with the ever-compelling Maiah Wynne delivering lead vocals, ENVY OF NONE conjure a unique blend of classic, progressive rock and modern, vibrant textures.

Speaking on the song's meaning, Maiah, who penned the lyrics, shared that it was inspired by Andy's raw chorus line: "I'm not dead yet, come on along and see what I am good for." She describes the track as a cathartic anthem, one that embodies resilience and defiance against the forces that aim to tear us down. "You have to continue to exist, to create, and to fight. That's the heart of the song: keep going and enjoy the ride." The single is accompanied by a video inspired by the Mexican Dia De Los Muertos 'Day Of The Dead' holiday.

As the band blends their dynamic soundscapes, "Not Dead Yet" unfolds as a layered journey, driving forward with tight rhythms and Alex Lifeson's legendary guitar lines. The breakdown, Wynne's favorite part, is the song's emotional peak, offering listeners a moment of release before launching back into its resilient conclusion. The mix, by Annibalini, coupled with Harry Hess's mastering, guarantees that every element shines with clarity and force.

"Not Dead Yet" not only serves as a bold statement from the band but also as a testament to the unyielding human spirit, a reminder to keep fighting, creating, and pushing forward — no matter what.

Credits:

• Animation / directed by: Mariano Biotico
• Written, arranged, recorded, and produced by ENVY OF NONE
• Mixed by Alf Annibalini
• Mastered by Harry Hess at HBomb Mastering

ENVY OF NONE is:

Alf Annibalini - Guitar, Keyboards
Andy Curran - Bass Guitar, Background Vocals, Guitar
Alex Lifeson - Guitar, Mandola, Oud,
Maiah Wynne - Lead Vocals, Background Vocals, Keyboards

ENVY OF NONE is busy in the studio putting the finishing touches on its next album and the follow-up to 2022's self-titled debut, expected in spring 2025.

Photo credit: Richard Sibbald

Cathy Rankin has released her debut single "Now You've Gone", featuring renowned musicians David Ellefson (formerly of MEGADETH) and Ken Mary (formerly of ALICE COOPER). The emotional track, inspired by deeply personal experiences, reflects on themes of love, grief, and ultimately hope, and will be accompanied by an official music video.

Rankin wrote the song as a tribute to legendary drummer Neil Peart, and her nephew, Christian. "Both had a permanent impact on my life," she shares. "Neil's music and lyrics were a huge influence for me, and my nephew was a light in this world for the 18 years he was here. The song is my way of expressing the void I felt when they were gone, and connecting with others who have experienced similar feelings of loss."

The project came naturally as Rankin, Ellefson, Mary and guitarist John Bronson were all connected through their music roots in Arizona, and their involvement with the Metal Hall Of Fame. They discovered their shared passion for RUSH which led to the development of the song. Rankin explains: "Ken co-wrote and produced the track while John and I have played and performed together for years. David jumped on board, and everything just clicked. The entire process was a fun and smooth experience and we formed lasting friendships."

Both Mary and Ellefson are proud of the project.

"Working with Cathy is amazing," said Mary. "She's a total pro, and when I heard her idea for this song, I wanted to get involved right away. She's an incredible talent, and I feel the song is the most moving tribute I've heard to date."

Ellefson added: "She did a fantastic job honoring Neil with this moving tribute. May this song continue to live to honor our prog hero from fans such as us."

Music enthusiasts will not want to miss the official video. Rankin shares her excitement, stating, "RUSH fans, especially, will catch the subtle metaphors and nods to the Professor, but rock fans in general will appreciate the exceptional musicianship and production."

Though "Now You've Gone" is Rankin's first original single, she's been active in the music scene for years, co-hosting the Metal Hall Of Fame with Eddie Trunk, the annual Bubba Bash with YYNOT (honoring Neil) and singing on countless stages with her successful cover bands. This release is the perfect introduction to Rankin as an original artist, and fans can expect more to come.

To celebrate the release of "Now You've Gone", Rankin is signing a limited amount of "Exit Stage Left"-inspired flats and making available the brand-new Cathy Rankin official t-shirt.

HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale joined EVANESCENCE on stage Tuesday night (October 29) at the London, Ontario stop of the two bands' joint Canadian tour to perform the EVANESCENCE smash hit "Bring Me To Life". Fan-filmed video of her appearance can be seen below.

At most of the shows on the Canadian tour, EVANESCENCE singer Amy Lee had been joining HALESTORM on stage to perform the HALESTORM song "Break In".

In August 2020, HALESTORM released the official music video for a reimagined version of "Break In", featuring a guest appearance by Lee. The new version of the track, which originally appeared on HALESTORM's second album, 2012's "The Strange Case Of..." , was recorded in October 2019 at a Nashville studio with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who had previously worked with both bands. The clip captured Hale and Lee delivering an impassioned studio performance of the track.

The updated "Break In" appeared on "Halestorm Reimagined", a collection of reworked HALESTORM original songs as well as a cover of "I Will Always Love You", the love ballad made famous by Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton.

Lzzy and Amy performed a quarantine rendition of "Break In" in May 2020 on Hale's Internet show "Raise Your Horns With Lzzy Hale".

Speaking about the collaboration, Lzzy told Amy: "What I love about dueting on that song with you is that it started out as as love song that I wrote for my significant other" — referring to HALESTORM guitarist Joe Hottinger — "but when we sing it together, it's this act of unity, especially with the two of us being women and being women musicians. It's like we have each other's backs. And the lyrics mean something completely different when I sing it [with you]."

Regarding the way the new version of "Break In" was recorded, Lzzy said: "We did it performance-style, literally next to each other in the same room — from beginning of song to end of song, singing with each other.

"I've never done anything like that, but especially with a female singer of your prowess."

Amy added: "Nick always gets the challenge and gets the most out of me… So he made us stand there in the room and sing it live together a bunch of times. What that really means is that editing, you couldn't use when you did something cool but I messed up; it would have to be that we both nailed it for it to make the cut. So to do it in that way was really challenging and it was really cool and it fits the song so well.

"I remember you saying, and we both were saying, when we were listening back, it's really weird, at times — I know my part, but you can't pick out whose voice that is in that one particular moment, 'cause we started matching each other, 'cause it was on the spot. It's really cool how that happens.

"It feels like a match. It doesn't feel like any one person is pulling the other person along a little bit or leading the train. It really felt like an evenly matched dance."

Lzzy and Amy originally performed "Break In" together in 2012 during the "Carnival Of Madness" tour, which was headlined by EVANESCENCE and featured HALESTORM in the support slot. At the time, Hale told Zoiks! Online about how the live collaboration came about: "It's funny. We had talked in the beginning of the tour, 'Oh, we should do something.' What would we do? Do we do a cover? Do I come out during her set? She came up to me, I think it was two weeks in and said, 'I'm obsessed with your song 'Break In' right now.' I was like, 'Thank you so much.' Then she said, 'I know all of your parts, all the backing parts and everything.' I was like, 'Sweet, that's awesome.' Then she said, 'This is going to sound really weird and please feel free to say no, but do you think I could come up during that song and sing it with you?' I'm, like, 'Of course. This is awesome.' We didn't have a whole lot of time to rehearse. We literally ran through it once before our show in El Paso, right before the doors opened. It was perfect. I told her, queue insane crowd noise. She was like, 'Oh, I don't know.' 'No, seriously — they're going to freak when you walk out on stage.' ... [And] they did. We couldn't hear each other for the first four lines."

Back in 2021, EVANESCENCE and HALESTORM joined forces for a massive North American tour that ended up being a rousing success.

In a new interview with Germany's Rock Antenne, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE frontman Matt Tuck was asked what keeps him and his bandmates motivated to keep writing new music more than 25 years after the group's formation. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think there's a secret. Everyone does things their own way, and being in a band, there's so many ways of songwriting and having a dynamic. For our band, I just like to take charge of the majority of the songwriting. It's just so much easier to have one person who's focused and has the style. From [BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE's debut album, 2005's] 'The Poison', I was the songwriter of the band, so my songwriting is in the songs and people can hear it. And I think that's what creates an identity of a band, which is super important. So for me it's just about wanting my songwriting to evolve and change, and as long as I'm like excited about writing, I'll keep doing it. If I feel like I'm regurgitating stuff or it's boring or I've done that before, I don't find that challenging enough to do. and I think relying on a formula from the past, it's easy, but it's also quite dangerous to do. I think as a songwriter and a creative person, I like each moment to be as different and as unique and as in the moment as it can be. So I think that that's what keeps me motivated all these years later, is just discovering new things that make me excited as a songwriter and as a musician. But I think diversity for me is a key part of that."

Last month, BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM announced the North American dates for "The Poisoned Ascendancy" tour. Support on the trek will come from AUGUST BURNS RED, with SYLOSIS and BLEED FROM WITHIN appearing on select shows.

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE and TRIVIUM will celebrate the 20th anniversary of "The Poison" and "Ascendancy" albums, respectively, by playing them in full.

Produced by Live Nation, the 26-city tour kicks off on March 30 at PNE Forum in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, making stops across North America in Las Vegas, Chicago, New York and more before wrapping up in Raleigh, North Carolina at Red Hat Amphitheater on May 18.

"The Poisoned Ascendancy" will launch in the U.K. in late January 2025 for six shows, before the two bands, along with support act ORBIT CULTURE, head over to mainland Europe for 18 more concerts.

Released in 2005, the impact of both albums on the evolution of modern metal is undeniable. For BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE, "The Poison" was their debut album, which saw the band propelled to unimaginable heights. That year saw the Welsh metallers graduate from supporting FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND on their U.K. run in the summer, to ending the year headlining the very same venues just months later. Dropping in October 2005, "The Poison" hit number 21 in the U.K. album charts, becoming a late contender in end of year polls, placing at number seven on Kerrang!'s "Albums Of The Year" list, and since achieving gold status.

With the release of their third single, Finnish modern metal act Arctis is prepared to unleash their fast approaching self-titled debut album, out this Friday, November 1 via Napalm Records.


The feeling of being lost and hurt, especially after a betrayal can be devastating – but can also inspire a hymn for the strong-hearted as Arctis proves with their new earworm “Tell Me Why”. Despite the pain, stunning vocalist Alva Sandström insists she won´t be brought down and will keep fighting through tough times. An anthem for facing challenges while trying to stay strong, making it relatable to anyone who has felt heartache or confusion.


Arctis is set to take listeners on an exhilarating journey, blending the essence of nature with technological innovation. Inspired by Finland's dramatic seasonal changes, their storytelling captivates fans in ways that go beyond just the music. Arctis features production by Jimmy Westerlund (Sturm und Drang), mixing by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein), and mastering by Svante Forsbäck (Rammstein).  This fall, the band will join forces with Finnish metal legends Apocalyptica for an exciting tour, showcasing their self-titled debut album live on stage and solidifying their reputation as a must-see act.




Arctis comment on their new single: “We’re almost there. ‘Tell Me Why’ is the last echo before the ice shatters and the full force of Arctis is unleashed. Step into the cold, feel the frost creeping closer and let the shadows guide you. The album looms on the horizon... are you ready?”


Watch the official video for “Tell Me Why”:





Arctis is more than just a band—it’s an otherworldly experience, led by the enigmatic and powerful Ice Queen, Alva. Draped in her shining white battle suit, Alva’s ethereal presence transcends the stage, her voice weaving through realms both known and unknown, pulling her followers into a captivating journey. By her side stand the dark-clad warriors: Björn the Captain, whose unshakable command leads the band into uncharted sonic territories; Michael the Magician, a mysterious figure whose fingers conjure sounds that transport audiences across time and space; Mats the Rambler, the wild-hearted spirit who channels untamed energy into every note; and Mika the Sage, whose rhythmic pulse guides Arctis through the mystical realms they explore.


Together, these figures form a force unlike any other—a powerful and dynamic energy that blurs the lines between reality and fantasy. On stage, they do not simply perform, they create an experience—one that immerses fans in the Arctis universe, where music, story, and atmosphere collide, leaving a lasting imprint on all who witness their journey. Arctis is not just a sound; it is a feeling, a moment suspended in time, an escape into a world where legends come to life.


Drawing inspiration on northern themes as metaphors, Arctis explores mental struggles and the internal battles within modern chaos. The strong opener, “I’ll Give You Hell”, delves into the complexities of romance, highlighting the inevitable downfall that arises from a relationship, where honesty and commitment are lacking. With its original version already amassing 5 million streams to date, Finnish modern metal act Arctis is set to add to the song's impressive reception with the release of their own rendition of “Bimbo" (Lambretta cover). With a 2000s pop-rock vibe, “Remedy” addresses drug addiction and the steep price one is willing to pay for it. The mystical “Tell Me Why” paints a starry landscape of anger and self-deception while the enchanting “Frozen Swan” showcases personal musical talent while exploring the concept of self-freedom. This smoothly transitions into the upbeat “Fire”, which explores the risks of drug consumption, before flowing seamlessly into “When The Lights Go Out” lyrically exploring nocturnal metaphors through vivid passages. Closing the album, “Theatre Of Tragedy” features powerful guitar riffs, underscoring the limitations of personal human struggle.


Whether through music, artwork, or storytelling, Arctis creates a multi-dimensional world that fans can immerse themselves in and explore, transcending genre boundaries and offering a truly unique experience. Prepare for an onslaught of powerful riffs, epic melodies, and the raw energy that has never been seen before.


Arctis about their debut album: “The moment we've been dreaming of is finally here, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it with you all. It’s been a long road, filled with hard work, late nights, and an unbreakable passion for music, but we’re thrilled to announce that our first single is out, our debut album is on the way, and we’re hitting the road for our first tour. Now, we’re ready to take on the world, bring our music to life on stage, and connect with each and every one of you. This is just the beginning, and we’re so happy to have you with us as we start this next chapter. Get ready, because we’re coming in full force – and we can’t wait to see you on the road.”





Arctis will be available in the following formats:


- 1LP Gatefold Aquamarine
- 1LP Gatefold Black
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album


Pre-order Arctis here.





Arctis tracklisting:


"I'll Give You Hell"
"Bimbo"
"Remedy"
"Tell Me Why"
"Frozen Swan"
"WWM"
"Fire"
"Child Of The Night"
"When The Lights Go Out"
"No Slave"
"Theatre Of Tragedy"


“Bimbo” video:

Fan-filmed video of KING DIAMOND's entire October 25 concert at The Eastern in Atlanta, Georgia can be seen below.

Featured songs:

Funeral 0:00:00
Arrival 0:01:25
Mansion In The Darkness 0:07:20
Intros 0:12:14
Halloween 0:14:20
Voodoo 0:19:30
Them 0:24:17
Spiderlily 0:27:34
Two Little Girls 0:32:00
Sleepless Nights 0:35:00
Out From The Asylum 0:40:00
Welcome Home 0:41:46
The Invisible Guests 0:47:56
The Candle 0:53:13
Masquerade Of Madness 1:01:00
The Eye Of The Witch 1:06:09
Burn 1:10:40
Electro-Therapy 1:16:08
Abigail 1:23:42
Insanity 1:28:44

KING DIAMOND kicked off its long-awaited North American headlining tour on October 15 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas. The "Saint Lucifer's Hospital 1920" trek will run through December 6 in Dallas, Texas. Support is coming from OVERKILL and NIGHT DEMON. Additional backing vocals for the KING DIAMOND set are provided by the special guest Myrkur.

KING DIAMOND's setlist for the current tour includes two new songs, "Spider Lilly" and "Electro Therapy".

When the tour was first announced, KING DIAMOND's namesake frontman said about what fans can expect: "This is Saint Lucifer's Hospital. Enter if you dare!

"We have been busy putting this ever-growing horror story together, and it's still growing. I know the end of it, but how we will get there will be a long trip. There are so many characters, and so many unexpected things along this journey. It's a crazy family on another timeline in 1920, where I experienced some hard times, and they have to come to our time to steal from us to survive. This is the most elaborate thing we have ever done, that goes for the stage production as well.

"There will be additional backing vocals by Myrkur and she'll be playing organ for songs that need it. There will be some horrific surprises taking place on stage, but we are not to be held responsible since we are on a whole different timeline in 1920. It was back at the time when medicine was going through a dark period with lots of testing on human beings in order to progress medicine.

"This is Saint Lucifer's Hospital, also known as The Institute. Enter if you dare!"

KING DIAMOND 2024 touring lineup:

Andy La Rocque - guitar
Mike Wead - guitar
Pontus Egberg - bass
Matt Thompson - drums
Myrkur - additional backing vocals, keyboards

Titled "The Institute", KING DIAMOND's first studio LP in 18 years is tentatively due in 2025 via Metal Blade. It will be made available as a two-LP horror concept story, with the second part arriving at a later date.

In October 2023, KING DIAMOND released a music video for the 2019 single "Masquerade Of Madness". The clip was directed by David Brodsky and Allison Woest of MyGoodEye Visuals.

At the time of the video's release, King commented: "'Masquerade Of Madness' was released digitally in 2019 before our North American tour. During rehearsals, we took one full day to film 'Masquerade Of Madness' with David Brodsky and Allison Woest. We spent all day and all night recording while performing the song with our full tour stage show choreography. After the tour, Covid happened.

"The video was all but forgotten as the world came to a standstill — we never saw a single frame from all the footage. Years later, as things began to pick up and writing began for both new MERCYFUL FATE and KING DIAMOND records, we wondered, what happened to that video from four years ago? So we decided to check in with David Brodsky and a couple of weeks later, we had the first cut of the video.

"I was speechless! I had nothing to criticize and after just a few notes from Andy La Rocque, the video for 'Masquerade Of Madness' was finished! There's so much mood and black and white is used in a perfect way with Jodi's performances. The visuals fit the music flawlessly and this is now among my favorite KING DIAMOND videos along with 'Sleepless Nights' and 'Welcome Home' — and not to forget of course, our double live DVD."

A month after KING DIAMOND released "Masquerade Of Madness" in November 2019, KING DIAMOND guitarist Andy La Rocque told The Metal Voice that he came up with the music for the track first before passing it off to King, who "needed to arrange a few things and change just a small few things for making it work with his vocals. And then, of course, he wrote the lyrics for it," the guitarist revealed. "So we [went] a little back and forth until he felt like, 'Okay, this is cool, man. This is the right key to sing in,' and all that."

At the 2022 Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Walton-on-Trent, United Kingdom, King spoke to Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne about his plans for "The Institute". "Something with KING DIAMOND, we have a very special thing [planned] for that album," King said. "It's gonna be a two-album story. But KING DIAMOND, we are building something that you will never have seen on a stage before — not that way. And with the light guy, he's never done it that way either. … It's very different, very sick. You will not have seen musicians standing on stage in that type of light. It's gonna be very dark. They have to learn to play in dark areas. It's crazy. I know that our light guy, he can't wait for us to do it. I showed him some pictures that have the kind of feelings I want, the kind of backdrops I want, stuff like that. … This is gonna blow people's minds when they see it, I am a hundred percent sure."

La Rocque, whose real name is Anders Allhage, discussed his vision for the new KING DIAMOND album with The Metal Voice, saying that it will be filled with great "melodies, of course. Super important. Without melodies, there is no music," he explained. "I'm also envisioning a more organic sound of the album. If you look back to the older albums, when Mikkey [Dee] played [drums for the band], for example, it's, like, a little bit up and down in tempo, and that makes it dynamic and also organic. So that's one thing that I would like to hear on the next album, for sure. But building up a dynamic, kind of organic feel, the drummer is a really important thing here, of course. And I know that Matt Thompson [current KING DIAMOND drummer] is the right guy to do this, for sure."

In March 2019, King told Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show that the next album from his namesake band will be "absolutely gruesome" with a story set in a 1920s mental institution. "I chose that because I think it's a very creepy scenario," he explained. "And some of the things that go on that we're gonna show onstage is also things that certainly was going on back then, when medicine was beginning to take a beneficial turn in history and actually being able to help human beings live longer. But there was some experimentation going on, too, that was absolutely gruesome. Some of that is involved in the story, but it's something totally different. Once you get to the second part of the story, you will begin to suddenly understand that, 'What the hell is going on here? What is this really about?' 'Cause there's a whole different story that will not come to you till second part. But in the first part, you're gonna get to know a lot people at a certain place… Some of it takes place here, this world, and some of it takes place in a parallel world. And there's a correlation between what happened to me and what happens to some people in this place and where they suddenly appear. And you will find out why they are there, how they appear there and the places down the road. I won't say too much right now, but it's gonna be very creepy."

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".

"Give Me Your Soul ... Please" sold 4,500 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 174 on The Billboard 200 chart.

KING DIAMOND released a DVD/Blu-ray, "Songs For The Dead Live", 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 Matt Thompson.

GOD FORBID, a New Jersey-based band who helped pioneer the metalcore and New Wave Of American Heavy Metal sound in the late '90s and early '00s along with band like LAMB OF GOD, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE and SHADOWS FALL, broke up in 2013. The band reunited in 2022 for the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Virginia. A new mini-documentary — directed, filmed and edited by Hector Gallardo for Subharmonic City Productions — tells the story of how that reunion came together and what the experience was like for the band members.

GOD FORBID will perform more reunion shows in December 2024 celebrating the 20th anniversary of the band's breakout album, "Gone Forever".

Headlining shows:

Dec. 12 - Sacramento, CA @ Harlows (w/ SKINLAB, THROWN INTO EXILE
Dec. 13 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent (w/ Burton C. Bell, SKINLAB, EXMORTUS, THROWN INTO EXILE)

Shows with BLEEDING THROUGH, CARNIFEX, NEKROGOBLIKON, I DECLARE WAR and LAST OF OUR KIND

Dec. 14 - Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
Dec. 15 - San Diego, CA @ Observatory

Nearly a year ago, GOD FORBID guitarist Doc Coyle was asked by Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio if there were plans for him and his bandmates to work on new music in the near future. He responded: "Um, nothing officially. We've essentially been taking things one event at a time. 'Cause for some of the guys, it's just — they have kids, they have jobs. It's not the easiest thing for them to really invest a lot of time into this. So I don't wanna presume that people can do that. I'd love to do it. But if we're gonna do it, everyone has to kind of be on the same page about taking on that responsibility, 'cause it is. If you sign a record deal, there are expectations, there are responsibilities with that. And, obviously, if we did something, you want it to be great. You don't want it to be just okay. You want it to really be something we commit to and take seriously. But there is interest on the table. So it's something if we were really ready for, there's great opportunities out there. And I think there's actually kind of a relevant desire and demand for the band right now, which is, for me, just very pleasantly surprising. I was really not expecting that."

He continued: "It's just cool, 'cause I feel like for a very long time, we felt underappreciated, and it's cool that people seem like they're really into the band. It's, like you create this material and you see if it has any legs, you see if it stands the test of time. And I feel like our stuff has aged pretty well. I never thought I'd have the opportunity to kind of do the things we're doing right now. So it's a real blessing. I just love to spend time with the guys. I love the guys, and just on a pure friendship level, it's a real wonderful thing."

GOD FORBID's performance at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in September 2022 at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia marked the band's first live appearance in over nine years.

GOD FORBID's lineup for its recent concerts has included Doc Coyle (guitar),Byron Davis (vocals),Corey Pierce (drums) and John "Beeker" Outcalt (bass),along with Nick Hipa (guitar; ex-AS I LAY DYING),who joined the group in July 2022.

GOD FORBID officially called it quits in August 2013 following Doc's departure.

Two and a half years ago, Doc told the "Drinks With Johnny" podcast that he didn't rule out putting out new music with GOD FORBID.

"I was kind of the main kind of riff writer [and] songwriter for the band for a good portion of those last few records," he explained. "So me as a writer, there's always stuff [I'm working on that] I'm, like, 'That sounds like a GOD FORBID thing.' So there's always stuff that I'll just kind of put to the side or kind of [have] in the back of my [head] that theoretically could be that. So there's definitely some material that definitely could exist, but I am very much taking it one step at a time.

"I have a tendency to have a lot of big ideas and go [down] a lot of rabbit holes [in] my head, but unfortunately — not even unfortunately — you want to make sure everyone's a part of that, not just it's my little kind of… Sometimes I get all hyped up in my head, but it's. like, it takes a village, and everyone has to be on board," he continued. "It's important to make sure everyone is excited about anything you're doing; that's just very, very important to me.

"I really enjoy the band dynamic and having everyone be involved and be excited about stuff because I really believe in the synergy of that. I think GOD FORBID was one of those bands where the sum was better than the parts, that everyone together made something that outpaced our actual talent and ability, you know, because of the chemistry."

GOD FORBID's latest album, "Equilibrium", was released in March 2012 via Victory Records. The bulk of the CD was recorded by Mark Lewis (THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, WHITECHAPEL, DEVILDRIVER, TRIVIUM),with Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, ALL THAT REMAINS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) stepping in during the the vocal-tracking stage. The effort was mixed by acclaimed Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH.

"Equilibrium" sold 3,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 156 on The Billboard 200 chart. The effort landed at No. 7 on the Top New Artist Albums (Heatseekers) chart, which lists the best-selling albums by new and developing artists, defined as those who have never appeared in the Top 100 of The Billboard 200.

Photo courtesy of Headbangers Boat

In a new interview with Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic, CLUTCH frontman Neil Fallon spoke about the band's upcoming touring activities and plans to make the group's follow-up to the "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach" album, which was released in September 2022. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "This last tour we did, we were playing [2004's] 'Blast Tyrant' in its entirety. And in hindsight, I don't think we did a very good job of kind of promoting that or letting people know that was happening. So, we're gonna do it again for a little bit, just like four more shows, in kind of Mid-Atlantic in New York, and Baltimore, the area, because it was the [20th] anniversary of the record. And then we're gonna take a considerable amount of time off, pretty much until April, and then we're gonna kind of do the same thing with the [1995] self-titled record because that'll be the [30th] anniversary for that and we were given the rights to re-release that on vinyl properly. I mean, we don't own that record outright, but it's getting closer. And in the spaces in between, we're writing the new record. It's hard to kind of do that when you're constantly touring. You would think it'd be easier to write on the road, but at this point, that's kind of the last thing I wanna do."

Elaborating on the difficulties of writing music while on tour, Neil said: "Sure, there might be some ideas that come out. The thing is with being in a band, it's a hive mind. It'd be one thing if you were the only person you had to answer to and you understood what kind of mood you're in. Like, 'I'm in a sour mood. I don't wanna write music. Or 'I'm in a great mood and I could bang out five songs.' But when you're dealing with personalities, particularly personalities that have been with each other for 30 years, you kind of have to wait for the stars to align. And we don't wanna just put out a record for the sake of putting out a record. We wanna put out an awesome record, and if that takes longer than, let's say, usual, then so be it."

In an August 2024 interview with The Razor's Edge, CLUTCH bassist Dan Maines said about the songwriting sessions for the next CD: "We've been pretty busy this year getting together when we're not touring, getting together and just kicking ideas around. And we have a nice setup at home to where we are basically rehearsing — I shouldn't say 'rehearsing', 'cause we don't rehearse, but jamming — in a studio setting so that whenever we're together and one of us comes up with an idea that we like, we can record it immediately. And so we just kind of are constantly creating this bank of ideas. And we don't dwell on it as it happens. When something comes up that seems worthy of documenting, we record it and then we forget it, move on to something new. And then, after a month or so, having collected these ideas, we'll start going through them. And we've been doing that since the beginning of this year. And I would say we have at least half of an album's worth of solid ideas, and probably more than that. But yeah, I'm excited about it. The stuff that we're cooking up right now, I think it's really good. The plan, if all goes well, is to record something, album-wise, if not the end of this year, then early next year."

Earlier in August, Fallon confirmed to Bloodstock TV's Oran O'Beirne that he and his bandmates recently completed the first demoing session for CLUTCH's next LP with producer Tom Dalgety. He said: "We're gonna try to maybe do [another session] in January and then another one right before we record. Hopefully we'll have 15 tracks and then we'll pick maybe the 10 best release those and maybe save some for a rainy day."

Regarding CLUTCH's working relationship with Dalgety, Neil said: "Tom's great. I think sometimes working with a producer, personality is half the battle because they can have all the skills in the world but if they're an asshole, you don't wanna work with them. Tom is anything but that."

As for whether CLUTCH fans can expect to see the band's next studio LP in the spring or summer of 2025, Neil said: "No, it would be probably the third quarter. Nowadays, you've gotta have such a buffer. It's getting better with vinyl, but we have to plan that in way in advance."

O'Beirne also asked Fallon about the possibility of CLUTCH playing some of the new material live before it is released. He said: "Yeah. we try to. That doesn't always happen. Playing a song live in front of people is a much different animal than doing it in a studio where you can stop and say, 'I have to go to the bathroom.' There's an urgency that will change a song. Sometimes something sounds great and then you put it on stage and it may be not so much, or vice versa. So we like to do that."

In July, Fallon told Neil Jones of TotalRock that he and his bandmates have "been getting together, on and off this year, just writing. And then that sometimes that just means writing a riff, not necessarily a song," he explained. "But right now, as we speak, behind me, Tom Dalgety, he flew in from Bristol [United Kingdom] a couple nights ago and he's done a load of albums, he did our last record, 'Sunrise On Slaughter Beach'. We're doing a pre-production session this week. We'll do another one probably in January. And then again, right before we record, hopefully in March. And what that means is we're just kind of fleshing out these demos. So when it comes time to record them, we know them and don't have an excuse to say, 'I don't know how to play this song.'"

Asked how far back the musical ideas on those demos were originally captured, Fallon said: "I think maybe the first ones are maybe from March of last year, but it was pretty piecemeal 'cause we'd go out on the road and then no one really wants to get together after a show and say, 'Hey, let's jam.' So, it was kind of piecemeal, like I said. But there's a riff that Tom said we did on the last session almost three years ago that he'd like to kick around that was actually from — I think we've been kicking that riff around since [2015's] 'Psychic Warfare'. It's sort of like this orphan riff that — it's good; it just needs to find some friends to live with."

Regarding how he comes up with the themes for his lyrics, Fallon said: "I wish I knew there was a very succinct system on doing this. But I'll come up with lyrical ideas. I'll jot 'em down in a notebook or in a voice memo on my phone and I'll come up with an idea for lyrics. And sometimes they seem to write themselves. Other times I'll say, 'Well, they don't really sound that good. Let's try it on this song.' And eventually, it's like… I don't know. You whittle away at stuff until you find its final form. I find that songs that have stood the test of time are the ones that were the quickest to write. The ones that take months, but usually those don't last very long as far as live rotation on stage."

Asked if he and his CLUTCH bandmates are thinking at all, while they are working on new material, about how the songs are going to go down in a live setting, Fallon said: "No. And I think that's one of the things that CLUTCH fans like about us. I think there's a sincerity. If you kind of premeditate it, then it becomes less of an artistic enterprise and more of a marketing scheme. And I think because if we like it, then by extension CLUTCH fans like it, because that's what we're all here for, as far as this band goes. There's been occasions where we've had songs and I've listened to it, and I said, 'I don't know. I don't know about this thing.' And then that became to be some of the most popular songs that we put out. And so I'm not a good judge of that."

Earlier in July, CLUTCH drummer Jean-Paul Gaster told Colombia's El Expreso Del Rock about his relationship with his bandmates: "We see each other all the time… Typically, we will finish a tour and maybe take a week, maybe two weeks off. We just kind of go home and do home stuff, but then we're back in the jam room again, and it's usually three times a week. And usually when we get together, we're writing new music. Unless there's a show coming up, we just start playing riffs. And we have all the equipment always mic'd up, the computers, they're ready to go. So the minute somebody has an idea, boom, I go push 'record' and we document that idea. And sometimes that idea becomes a song, and sometimes that idea is just something that we did for an hour. But it's okay, because you have to keep playing."

He continued: "Sometimes I play with musicians in projects and stuff, and they become sort of very focused on one idea: 'Oh, this is the song and this is the idea, and this is the only one that there is.' We try not to do that. We try to come up with many ideas. 'Okay, that idea is cool. Great. Let's try something else. Let's see what this idea will be like.' And we just try to put as many of these things together. And then when it comes time to make a record, then we go through those things. We say, 'Oh, well, that thing we did last month was really cool.' And then, 'Neil, you have this new riff. Okay, well, let's put those together. That might be cool.' And that's the way it works. It's very organic. There's not a set way that things come together."

In a separate interview in July, Maines told Chile's iRock that he and his bandmates were "in the middle of some deep writing sessions. We've been getting together quite a bit, but it's all focusing on new material, trying to write songs for a new album," he revealed. "It's going really well. We get together in a studio and we are just recording every single idea that we have. If it gets to the point where we've got two parts together that kind of resemble a verse and a chorus, and everyone's happy with it just music-wise, we'll record those ideas. And then we put that aside and move on to something else. And we upload those files so that all four of us can listen to them at home. And Neil will take a good hard listen to them and think about vocal ideas for those parts. And we start piecing together things. Sometimes he'll listen to something from one day that he thinks might work really well with something from the previous week. And if it requires tempo changes or key changes to kind of blend those two parts together, we'll work on that. But, yeah, it's kind of a very organic process. Right now I would say we have probably about a solid 10 ideas that you could call songs, but they definitely need a little more fleshing out. But, yeah, it's exciting."

Asked what music inspires him and his CLUTCH bandmates these days, Dan said: "Anything, everything. Between the four of us, we kind of draw from a lot of different sources and we try to take those influences, whether it's blues or something more heavy, doom-oriented or something funky, and just kind of put it in a blender and create something new out of it. But sometimes, like the last time we got together, we were thinking, 'Well, let's try to write something uptempo, something above 100 beats per minute.' And at the end of the day, we came out with something that we all thought was great, but the tempo was, like, 70. So you can go in with one idea or one direction, but at the end of the day, what you end up with could be completely different. You just never know what's gonna come out."

"Sunrise On Slaughter Beach", which was recorded at the The Magpie Cage Recording Studio in Baltimore, Maryland, was produced and mixed by Grammy-nominated producer Tom Dalgety (GHOST, ROYAL BLOOD, PIXIES),with additional engineering by J Robbins (JAWBREAKER, AGAINST ME!, THE SWORD).

This past April, Fallon confirmed to TotalRock's "Hobo On The Radio" show that he and his bandmates were working on new music. "I am definitely the slowest out of the bunch as far as writing lyrics, 'cause I try the same lyrics on different songs and try to find out where they can live," he said.

He continued: "We probably — we won't be recording until next year. And I'm gonna say hopefully the album will come out in the third quarter or fourth quarter of 2025. Which sounds like it's far away, and I guess it is, to a degree, but that's gonna come around pretty quick for us. We're gonna do it with Tom Dalgety again. He was awesome. But that never stops us from playing these [new songs] live, which they'll inevitably will be everyone's favorite version and they'll hate the record's version, but that's just the way it goes."

Finnish gothic metal band, For My Pain…, announced their comeback in December 2023, exactly 20 years after their debut album. The first new single after the reunion, "Recoil Into Darkness", was released in April, 2024. Now the band will continue their journey with a new full-length album, which is anticipated for release in 2025.


For My Pain... celebrates Halloween by releasing a new single "WitchBitch Elite", which will also appear on the album. A special live show at Toppila-Klubi, Oulu Finland will accompany this release.


Stream the single here, and watch the official lyric video below.







Vocalist Juha Kylmänen commented: “When I heard the WitchBitch demo version for the first time, it hit me immediately with similar feelings that I got from 'Dear Carniwhore' on our debut album. It's a sexy goth rock piece that’s flirting with dark humor. That feeling and mood inspired the lyrics writing and I finished them almost overnight. The song got polished into its final form when we started to rehearse it together and we added some ”sweet spots” with keyboards and backing vocals. And as we expected, Mikko Karmila's mixing blew the candybag completely open once again!”

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Just one week before embarking on the second leg of their 2024 "Satanic Panic" European Tour and right on time for spooky season, heavy occult rock congregation, Lucifer, have unveiled a stunning cover version of a song by by the late great Leonard Cohen.


"Who By Fire" features none other than doom metal legend Bobby Liebling of Pentagram as a duet partner for Johanna Platow Andersson. Witness two generations of occult rock and doom metal joining forces for a unique take on this classic tune from 1974. Stream the track here, and listen below:


Johanna commented: "Growing up with Leonard Cohen's music, as my mother was a passionate fan, I have always been profoundly touched by his lyrics and of course especially gravitated towards this extremely haunting death theme. Bobby Liebling and I have been talking about collaborating for quite a few years now. When I knew I wanted Lucifer to cover 'Who By Fire', Bobby was the perfect one to interpret this very eerie song and I am so glad he said yes. Being a huge Pentagram fan, this is quite something for me! We are extremely pleased how 'Who By Fire' turned into a Lucifer song and Halloween was the perfect occa