On the heels of their successful cover of the Elvis Presley classic “Suspicious Minds,” Las Vegas rockers Velvet Chains announce another original single from their debut album scheduled for March 2025. 


“Dead Inside” is the driving new rock track from the quintet comprised of Ro Viper (vocals), Lahi Cassiano (guitars/backing vocals), Von Boldt (guitars/backing vocals), Nils Goldschmidt (bass/backing vocals) and Jason Hope (drums). 


The song’s verses and chorus are delivered with power by Viper as he delivers the haunting message of “My heart’s still beating but I’m dead inside.” The bridge turns the melody into something unforgettable as Goldschmidt, Boldt, Viper and Cassiano all trade lead vocal lines before returning to the final chorus. “Dead Inside” was produced by Mitchell Marlow (In This Moment, New Years Day, Cassadee Pope). The song is now available via all Digital Service Providers here.

In an electrifying and unexpected new collaboration, Grammy-nominated heavy music trailblazers SPIRITBOX have joined forces once again with global hip-hop powerhouse Megan Thee Stallion for her latest project, "Megan: Act II". Produced by Bankroll Got It, Dan Braunstein, Mike Stringer (SPIRITBOX) and Shawn "Source" Jarrett, "TYG" showcases Megan's hard-hitting verses fused with SPIRITBOX's signature dynamic production and explosive riffs.

This marks the band's second team-up with the Houston icon, following the successful rock remix of Megan's hit single "Cobra", which made waves earlier this year. The collaboration was hailed as adding a "booming, reverb-drenched cascade of arena rock attitude" by Billboard, and "an extra layer of edge to the vulnerable track" by BET.

Joining Megan's highly anticipated project are other exciting features, including Flo Milli, RM of BTS and TWICE, further solidifying "Megan: Act II" as a groundbreaking moment in music. Fans of both SPIRITBOX and Megan can look forward to an unforgettable mix of heavy and hip-hop sounds on "TYG", which pushes boundaries and proves that the most unexpected partnerships can yield the most exhilarating results.

Most recently, SPIRITBOX released their newest single "Soft Spine", a standout track showcasing their evolving sound. The band is currently thrilling fans nationwide as part of KORN's 30th-anniversary tour, further cementing their reputation as one of metal's most dynamic and innovative forces.

For many artists, a meteoric rise can often mean a sudden plateau. However, for Grammy-nominated progressive heavy metal mainstays SPIRITBOX, there appears to be no end in sight on their near-constant ascent to the top. Formed in 2017 in the picturesque yet isolated region of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada by vocalist Courtney Laplante and guitarist Mike Stringer, SPIRITBOX would fully cement themselves as a household name in the summer of 2020 with the release of their blistering breakout single "Holy Roller", along with a host of other captivating singles shortly after, resulting in a media firestorm of hype.

With new and existing fans eagerly watching their next move, SPIRITBOX exceeded every expectation imaginable in 2021 with the release of their genre-defining debut studio album "Eternal Blue" via Pale Chord/Rise Records. "Eternal Blue", which debuted at #13 on the Billboard 200, kicked open the doors of the heavy metal scene and rewrote the genre's playbook with 12 stunning tracks that incorporated everything from djent and post-metal to infectious synth-laden pop sensibilities and cinematic arrangements, brought fully to life by the inimitable Laplante's ethereal and commanding vocal performances.

The album cycle for "Eternal Blue" saw SPIRITBOX not only grace the covers of esteemed music publications such as Revolver, Alternative Press, Rock Sound and Kerrang!, among many others but would also solidify the band as one of the most in-demand groups in live music today with their one-hundred percent sold out, first-ever headlining tour in support of the album which saw ticket sales over 40,000. The band would also share the stage with seasoned metal veterans such as LIMP BIZKIT and GHOST and win "Best International Breakthrough Band" at the 2021 Heavy Music Awards.

In 2022, SPIRITBOX secured highly-coveted spots at numerous major U.S. rock and metal festivals and were nominated for two JUNO Awards, respectively. SPIRITBOX would also round out their current lineup with the inclusion of drummer Zev Rose and bassist Josh Gilbert in addition to releasing their sonically experimental EP "Rotoscope" in June of that year as well as a cross-genre collaboration with dubstep artist Illenium for the track "Shivering".

During another whirlwind year for the band, including a U.S. tour with SHINEDOWN and PAPA ROACH, SPIRITBOX wrote and recorded their critically acclaimed EP, "The Fear Of Fear", released in November 2023. The EP features the single "Jaded", which was nominated for "Best Metal Performance" at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. In the same month, the band would make another genre-bending splash with a high-profile collaboration with rapper Megan Thee Stallion for a remix of her song "Cobra".

Photo credit: Jonathan Weiner

In a new interview with "Coffee With Ola", the YouTube program hosted by Ola Englund, the Swedish guitarist, record producer and owner of Solar guitars, SYMPHONY X guitarist Michael Romeo spoke about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band's long-awaited follow-up to 2015's "Underworld" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "With us, it's not like, 'Oh, yeah, we're just gonna write one — how do you say? — single, and then just have a bunch of filler. It's, like, everything's gotta be as good as it can be. So, yeah, it gets harder and it takes longer. Then you throw in COVID and a bunch of other things, and then it's just, like, 'Oh, shit.' Now it's, like, I don't know — eight years or something. I lost track.

"What's different now than in the past is that we could take a bunch of time off. There would be some royalties from CDs back in the day coming in and kind of float on the downtime and really get the record done and then come back out [with a] new record, tour. So now it's, like, well, that money's gone. So we have to tour a little bit, keep things going, work on the record, go back out. So it's been like that for a while. And for me — I do most of the writing, so for me it's hard because you're sitting in the studio for whatever month, 'I got this idea,' and you're trying to put these things together, and it's, like, 'Oh, we've gotta go on tour now.' All right, cool. We do our thing. And then you come back, and it's, like, 'What the fuck was I working on again? Was this riff here?' And so you're trying to arrange all this stuff. And then you're, like, 'Oh, I've got all these new ideas.' So then you keep adding. And then after a long period of time, it's, like, 'Oh my god, there's so much stuff I can't even manage it now.' Plenty of material — like three hours of stuff — but now it's actually making sense."

Elaborating on when SYMPHONY X might be done composing the material for the next album, Michael said: "It's gonna take some time to organize everything. It's not like there's nothing there. It's [not], like, 'Oh, man, we have to start from scratch.' There's quite a bit. It's actually overwhelming. I never remember being this overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, 'cause over the last year and a half or whatever, every time there was a break, it's, like, 'Okay, I'll write something.' I didn't stop and [go], like, 'Well, let me finish this.' It was, like, boom, 'I got all these ideas,' and I just kept going. So now it's, like, all right, no more writing. Now more arranging."

SYMPHONY X completed an extensive tour behind "Underworld" in 2016, including a U.S. run of shows with OVERKILL and a pair of headlining performances in Australia.

In July 2017, SYMPHONY X singer Russell Allen and his ADRENALINE MOB bandmates were involved in a crash that killed the latter group's bassist, David Zablidowsky.

In 2019, Allen — who has toured with TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA since 2013 — was injured during the rehearsals for TSO's annual winter trek and was unable to make the tour.

Romeo released his latest solo album, "War Of The Worlds Pt. 2", in March 2022 via InsideOut Music. The record featured guest vocals by Dino Jelusick (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA).

Austrian power metallers, Dragony, have shared a new single, "Dreamchasers", from their recently released studio album Hic Svnt Dracones, out on Steamhammer / SPV. The song features Ambre Vourvahis from Xandria and is accompanied by a new music video, available below.


Singer Siegfried Samer on the track: "We are happy that Ambre Vourvahis from Xandria agreed to a guest performance on our new song 'Dreamchasers'. Xandria has been an important part of the symphonic metal scene for many years, and they have found a fantastic new singer in Ambre, who also added an amazing performance on our song 'Dreamchasers', that enhances the song considerably. We therefore absolutely wanted to release another video which would also feature Ambre."


The first tour dates for early 2025 are also already set for Dragon. On February 23, the band will visit their Greek friends at the "Ghostlands & Ravenlands" festival in Athens, followed by a European tour as a special guest for Serious Black from March 18 to March 30.




Watch the video for "Dreamchasers":





What started in the summer of 2007 as a studio project conceived by a handful of enthusiastic power metal fans from Vienna, Austria known as “The Dragonslayer Project,” Dragony has long since become an established name in the international metal world.


After completing their first headlining tour across Mexico in October 2023 and later touring as a support act for Warkings, the group has now begun a new chapter. For 2024, Dragony refreshed their lineup, welcoming Matt on guitars and Chris on drums. Having signed with the renowned metal label Steamhammer/SPV this rejuvenated ensemble is ready to write the next part of its story, combining new members' talents with the support of its esteemed new label.


Hic Svnt Dracones can be ordered here.





Tracklisting:


"From The New World (1584)"
"Dreamchasers"
"Silver & Blood"
"Dragon Of The Sea (Sic Parvis Magna)"
"Ill Met By Moonlight"
"Perfect Storm"
"Hic Svnt Dracones (Here Be Dragons)"
"The World Serpent"
"The Einherjar (What Dreams May Come)"
"Twilight Of The Gods"
"Beyond The Rainbow Bridge"
"The Untold Story (Albion Online)" (Bonus Track)


"Twilight Of The Gods" video:

Kings Of Mercia have released their sophomore album, Battle Scars, via Metal Blade Records. To celebrate, they are sharing the title track along with a new video, available below.


Now and again, art offers up the perfect storm. When creative worlds collide with a furious cacophony of power, licks, and lyrics, magic happens. Such is the case with Kings Of Mercia, whose second album, Battle Scars, is the continuation of a story as unlikely as it is glorious. The band is helmed by guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning) and singer Steve Overland (FM) who are joined by drummer Simon Phillips (The Who, Toto) and bassist Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning).


About "Battle Scars", Steve Overland shared the following: "That's about post-war distress syndrome. It's about a guy who comes back from fighting and can't really deal with real life. He realizes that he can never be what he was before he went away and did this. But he really, really wants to, but he's trying to get that across to everybody that loves him. But the problem isn’t him–it's what he's been through. I came up with the title ‘Battle Scars,’ and I think that suggested the subject matter.”







Kings Of Mercia's 2022 approachable, world-class self-titled debut was termed "truly a hybrid: it's heavy, but not metal. It's got tones of melodic AOR hard rock but with an edge." Now, 2024 brings the band's sophomore album written and recorded throughout 2023, Battle Scars sees the core writing team of Matheos and Overland expanding on their obvious chemistry.


"I think it was a bit easier this time around because we've established a good working rhythm," states Matheos, "I'll send Steve at least a few songs every couple of months, and I try to keep them varied. This allows him to work on whichever ones he feels strongly about."


"What Jim sends me is the first draft of that song," says Overland. "So once he's heard all the melodies and the harmonies I sing, he can chop it about and make it how he thinks it should be. He always sends me three or four different versions. He'll say, 'What do you think? Which do you like?' Then we work it out between us and come up with the one we're both happy with."


"Steve and I started working together in 2021," says Matheos. "I was aware of FM-they came up around the same time as Fates Warning - but I'd lost touch with them and wasn't familiar with their more recent work. When Steve was recommended to me, I checked out some of the newer releases and felt Steve was exactly what I was looking for."


"It's a different genre of music that I'm normally involved in," says Overland, whose voice has been likened to other British greats Paul Rodgers and Glenn Hughes. "Obviously, I'd heard of Fates Warning - they're a very big cult band in their field. Jim and I touched base, and I told him to send me one backing track. If it sounds great, then it's a win-win. If it doesn't, we'll just call it a day, knock it on the head, not take it any further. That song became 'Humankind' from the first album. I wrote the melodies and the title and put it all together. Jim got it and he was blown away. So we made a couple more. I loved doing it. It was just such a different challenge for me."


Those songs would become the self-titled debut album, which was released in 2022. Written during lockdown, bouncing tracks across the Atlantic, Kings Of Mercia found its mojo. Fans of Fates Warning, FM, and Armored Saint all rejoiced at the common ground on Kings Of Mercia, the sweet spot in the middle of the Venn diagram.


It's a true collaboration that has led to KOM's Battle Scars. However, despite the unfolding sound and clear chemistry between the four Kings, Overland has never met his bandmates i

SAVATAGE mastermind Jon Oliva has explained his absence from the band's upcoming appearance at the 2025 edition of Brazil's Monsters Of Rock festival, set to take place on April 19 in São Paulo. Joining SAVATAGE on the bill will be SCORPIONS, JUDAS PRIEST, EUROPE, QUEENSRŸCHE, OPETH and STRATOVARIUS.

According to the festival's official web site, SAVATAGE's lineup for the 2025 performance will consist of Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery on guitar, Al Pitrelli on guitar, Jeff Plate on drums and Zak Stevens on lead vocals.

Earlier today (Tuesday, October 29),Olivareleased the following statement via social media: "Hello SAVATAGE fans, this is Jon Oliva. I want to set a few things straight for everyone. First of all, I am very excited for Johnny, Chris, Zak, Jeff & Al to play again. I feel it's important for the fans to enjoy our music live, and believe me these guys will kick ass.

"As far as I go, I was going to do these shows but unfortunately, I've run into more health issues. I want you all to know that if there was any way I could do these shows I would, but my health issues are more serious than I originally thought.

"As most of you know I fractured my spine in 3 places and have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as well as Ménière's disease. My doctors are working with me to get healthy again.

"I am working closely with the guys and will be involved in every other aspect of the show. I am 100 percent behind the guys doing this and I promise I will return [as soon as possible]. In the meantime, I am working in the studio on new material.

"I love you all and thank you for understanding my situation, I know my brothers will deliver the goods.

"Enjoy Sava Legions.

"Much love to you all. Jon Oliva".

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo),ringing in the ears (tinnitus),hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière’s disease usually affects only one ear, but in 15% to 25% of people with the disorder, both ears may be affected.

Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement for Jon Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — "Edge Of Thorns" (1993),"Handful Of Rain" (1994),"Dead Winter Dead" (1995) and "The Wake Of Magellan" (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon and Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Air, which marked the band's first, and only so far, appearance on stage since they went on hiatus back in 2002.

SAVATAGE's last album release, "Poets And Madmen", in 2001 was highlighted by Jon's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zak, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of guitarist Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited U.S. tour followed, supported by FATES WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jiniya (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.

In September 2021, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor. Oliva was reportedly arrested again in July 2023 on another cocaine possession charge.

Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: "It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes."

Despite his health issues, Jon said that he didn't regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: "I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions... which I have."

Shortly after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had "stopped drinking and eating" in preparation for the concert. He explained: "It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago', it's actually easy now. [Laughs]"

In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.

Jon's brother Criss, who was one of the founding members of SAVATAGE, was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.

EVANESCENCE's Amy Lee has endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris over Republican Donald Trump for president.

Earlier today (Tuesday, October 29),Amy shared a video message on Instagram in which she said: "I'm Amy Lee, and I will proudly be voting for Kamala Harris for president of the United States.

"There's so much at stake this year, from reproductive rights to responsible gun legislation we desperately need, to democracy itself. Our right to have a voice in this place. We need an advocate, someone who will listen to us and represent us with honor and integrity.

"I believe Kamala Harris and Tim Walz will help take our country forward.

"Vote. Voting is a privilege we can't take for granted. Use your voice. Use it for something good."

Last month, EVANESCENCE was among the musicians who performed at the "Musicians For Kamala" national livestream musical event produced by top music and entertainment industry professionals in partnership with the Harris-Walz campaign and the Harris Victory Fund.

Back in 2020, Lee opened up about her political views for the first time, explaining that she couldn't "stand by" and keep her mouth shut while her "country's freedom is taken away." He decision to speak out was apparently prompted by the GOP-controlled Senate's vote to acquit then-U.S. president Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment without calling witnesses.

She wrote at the time: "I do not accept lying, cheating or bullying from my government… Accepting this abuse says it's okay for our leaders to lie to us, cheat on us, make decisions without our input, and silence us when we try to speak up. This isn't about your policies or beliefs, it's about our freedom."

Lee added: "I will never bow down to a dictator."

Dozens of other A-list musicians have voiced support for Harris, including Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, Eminem and John Legend. Trump has garnered several musician co-signs for his presidential campaign, with Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, STAIND's Aaron Lewis and former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley being outspoken supporters of his candidacy.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Amy (@amylee)

Today, legendary German hard rockers, Bonfire, unveil their new single, “I Died Tonight”, via Frontiers Music Srl. The track is accompanied by a blazing new video, available below. Stream/download the track here.





Bassist Ronnie Parks says about the new track: “We are excited for the release of 'I Died Tonight.' The chemistry is really flowing, and we feel there will be some great things to come with these new songs. 'I Died Tonight' is a classic melodic AOR style track. We hope people enjoy it as much as we did making it."







Bonfire is one of the most seminal German hard rock bands of the past fifty years. Originally founded as Cacumen in 1972 by guitarist Hans Ziller in Ingolstadt, Germany, the group initially played local venues, steadily building a fan base before releasing their first album under the name Cacumen.


In 1986, the band rebranded as Bonfire, and their debut album as Bonfire, Don't Touch the Light, marked their international breakthrough. They followed it up with Fireworks in 1987, which further cemented their status in the rock and metal scene. Despite their success, Bonfire experienced several lineup changes, including the departure of key members. However, Ziller, the band’s driving force, kept Bonfire alive, continuously adapting to the challenges faced by the group.


In the 1990s, Bonfire briefly disbanded but returned in 1996, with Ziller reclaiming the rights to the band’s name. Since then, Bonfire has released numerous albums and maintained a strong presence on the international rock scene. Bonfire has remained a resilient force in hard rock, continuing to tour and release new material well into the 21st century.

Bloodstock Festival recently announced "Megadeth Week" with the following message:


"Metal fans, get ready for a treat! We’re showcasing THREE killer live tracks from Megadeth's unforgettable headlining show at Bloodstock Open Air 2023! From October 21st through 27th, don’t miss these legendary performances."


Having previously released the live videos for "Sweating Bullets" and "Symphony Of Destruction", Bloodstock continues "Megadeth Week" with professionally-filmed footage of the band performing "Conquer Or Die".




A message states: "Prepare for an all-out thrash assault as Megadeth storms the stage at Bloodstock Open Air 2023! On August 13th, these metal titans delivered a monumental headlining performance that fans had been eagerly awaiting for years. This video features their powerful live rendition of "Conquer or Die," showcasing the band’s mastery of heavy riffs and instrumental preci

Dutch blackened death metal juggernaut Misanthropia is back with their new lyric video for "Prosperity By Cocaïne", a sinister glimpse into their album, Envy The Dead, out via WormHoleDeath.


The video pulls viewers into a bleak Victorian world, where the horrors of exploitation, violence, and addiction taint wealth and progress.


Misanthropia paints a vivid picture of moral decay. Through dark, evocative lyrics, the song unveils the grim realities of the Victorian era, capturing a twisted fantasy driven by cocaine-fueled corruption. 







Misanthropia is no stranger to sonic devastation. For over 20 years, they’ve carved a path through the metal scene with their unique blend of blackened fury and death metal aggression. Their longstanding partnership with legendary producer / engineer Mike Wead (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond) continues on Envy The Dead, ensuring a potent and punishing listening experience.


Envy The Dead is a concept album that conjures a dark, gritty atmosphere inspired by historical horrors like Jack The Ripper and necromancy. Moving away from symphonic elements, it embraces a progressive death / thrash vibe with influences from Dimmu Borgir, Cradle Of Filth, Necrophobic, Mayhem, and Death. 


Envy The Dead artwork and tracklisting:





"Envy The Dead" (intro) 
"Malediction And Laughter" 
"Organs, For A Fair Price" 
"Prosperity By Cocaïne"
"Maze Of Madness" 
"River Dumplings" 
"Coughing In The Coffin House" 
"Fade Into The Abyss" 
"A Deadly Embrace, A Sinister Grace" 


"River Dumplings" Music Video:

In a new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", TESLA bassist Brian Wheat was asked for some of his earliest recollections of hanging out with METALLICA. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we've known each other since we both started, 'cause we were from Sacramento; they were from the Bay Area. We had Q Prime management [in common]. Me and Lars [Ulrich, METALLICA drummer] used to always rib each other about who would win in a racquetball match, him being a tennis guy and I used to play a lot of racquetball. We used to get drunk and hang out, and I'd tell him I'd beat his ass in racquetball and he'd tell me I was high.

"I have nothing but the utmost respect for METALLICA and what they've done and what they've built," he continued. "I'm friends with Jason [Newsted, former METALLICA bassist]. He lives here, right in New York where I do. He lives about four miles from here. I knew those guys and used to hang out with them a lot back in the day. I did see James [Hetfield, METALLICA frontman] and got to catch up with James when I was in Chicago a couple weeks ago or whenever it was. And like I told him, I'm, like, 'Dude, I'm so proud of you guys, just what you've done.' 'Cause, listen, I remember when they used to play the Keystone in San Francisco. So, what they've done is phenomenal. God bless 'em. It's great."

Asked what he initially thought of "Enter Sandman" and the "Black Album" after seeing METALLICA during some of the band's earlier years, Brian said: "When I first heard 'Enter Sandman' — you've gotta remember, my favorite METALLICA album is 'Master Of Puppets'. So 'Enter Sandman', and I think 'Enter Sandman' is brilliant, and I see what they did and how they evolved from their first albums to that to where they are now. But let's just say that the 'Black Album' was a real mainstream commercial record for them. And they had to do that. They did it. And they expanded their audience. I mean, the METALLICA that was playing when you'd go see 'em on the '…And Justice For All' tour to the METALLICA you went and saw after the Black Album, it was three-quarter houses in arenas on '…And Justice For All' and three days in arenas after the Black Album. And now you're talking about two days in football stadiums. And you can't say that about many people except for maybe Paul McCartney that's done that. THE ROLLING STONES. METALLICA's in that league. LED ZEPPELIN. You know what I mean? QUEEN. METALLICA, when you probably list the top 10 greatest bands of all time, they're in that top 10. And I'm saying of all time. And not just rock bands. I'm saying you put in THE TEMPTATIONS in there and you put in James Brown and you put THE BEATLES and THE STONES and ZEPPELIN and QUEEN, they're in the top 10 universally, not just rock, not just rock. So, I could never say anything bad about METALLICA, nor would I, nor would I, because I'm a fan. I love METALLICA. So happy with what they're doing. I'm so proud of them. And it tickles me, because I used to see 'em, like I said, at the Keystone in San Francisco, which was 80 miles from Sacramento."

Wheat added: "We all grew up in the same time. We all had dreams of of being the biggest rock band on the planet. They did it. We didn't, but I'm okay with TESLA not being the biggest rock band on the planet because TESLA's in the game. We're still playing in the game. We're still in the major leagues playing. METALLICA has won the World Series lke multiple times. I'm happy to just be in the league. But they're the champions. And to achieve what they achieved, it's just… All the best to everyone involved, from [Q Prime's] Peter [Mensch] and Cliff [Burnstein] to [producer] Bob Rock to the dude that did their first albums and [METALLICA bassists] Cliff [Burton] and Jason and Robert [Trujillo], just the whole thing. It's a thing all in itself."

This past June, Wheat was asked by "Wired In The Empire" which METALLICA album he thinks is better, "Ride The Lightning" or "Master Of Puppets". He responded: "It's 'Master Of Puppets', hands down. It's just more — I think the songs were better, the performances were better. I don't know — it just spoke to me. You know what I mean? I mean, you'd be hard pressed to find a better record than 'Master Of Puppets'. And you can go on about the 'Black Album' and any other record. In their catalog, my favorite record of theirs all time is 'Master Of Puppets'… I mean, '[Welcome Home] (Sanitarium)', [the] 'Master Of Puppets' [title track] — come on. It's tough. But, for me, I'm gonna stick with 'Master Of Puppets'."

Wheat, whose band shared management with METALLICA early in their respective careers, said that he has "nothing but the highest respect for all those guys [in METALLICA]. I'm such an admirer of what they've accomplished and how they've stayed true to what they do. And [I have] nothing but the utmost respect for every one of those guys. And they're all great guys."

Asked to pick a METALLICA song to play as part of the KCAL "Mandatory Metallica" segment, Wheat said: "If you're gonna play anything, play 'Sad But True'. I think it's the greatest groove song they ever did. Just the groove is just so deep and fat and wide."

TESLA will release a new six-song EP, "All About Love", on Friday, November 29. The EP includes four versions of "All About Love" (acoustic, electric, hybrid, live); a live version of "Walk Away", a concert favorite from "Reel To Real, Vol. 1"; and another new song, "From The Heart", an instrumental track by guitarist Frank Hannon.

Some fans criticized TESLA for adopting a 1980s-style polished production for its latest album, 2019's "Shock". The follow-up to June 2014's "Simplicity" was helmed by DEF LEPPARD guitarist Phil Collen, whose own group is no stranger to slicked-up, glossy-sounding recordings.

In September 2023, TESLA released the official music video for its cover of AEROSMITH's "S.O.S. (Too Bad)". The song is a bonus track on TESLA's live album, "Full Throttle Live!", which arrived in May 2023. The LP includes the band's "Time To Rock!" single, plus other songs, all recorded in August 2022 at Full Throttle Saloon in Sturgis, South Dakota.

In a new interview with Rolling Stone, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson, who was diagnosed with throat cancer back in late 2014, spoke about how his battle with the disease changed his outlook on life. He said: "I really appreciate every day, but that means that every day I have to do something, even if it's consciously doing nothing — at least do something consciously. When I did my series of one-man shows around the States almost two years ago, I made up as a T-shirt that said, 'Life is better than all the other options.' And if I had a mantra to live by, that would be it.

"I'm lucky that I can still sing," the 65-year-old British born musician, who is promoting his just-released solo album "The Mandrake Project", added. "So if I can somehow do anything that entertains people, makes people think more, feel more, do more things, then I'm doing something good. I'm big into trying to make people feel things now rather than being impressed with myself and going, 'Oh, look at me.' It's actually, 'No, no. Look at you.' If you can manage to listen to an album during 58 minutes of your life that you'll never get back again, it's a musical and emotional journey. That was really important to me because it's something that I never achieved explicitly ever with any band, including IRON MAIDEN. In IRON MAIDEN, the music does move people, but in a slightly different way. The emotions are slightly different. With this one, I've got a bigger palette to paint from.”

Dickinson, who had a golf gall-size tumor on his tongue and another in the lymph node on the right side of his neck, got the all-clear in May 2015 after 33 radiation sessions and nine weeks of chemotherapy.

Dickinson previously spoke about his recovery during the question-and-answer portion of his January 2022 spoken-word show in Orlando, Florida. Asked what advice he would give to anyone getting ready to start their own battle against cancer, he responded: "Here's the way I dealt with it… And people will deal with it in different ways. I embraced the treatment. So I went along to see the big radiation machine and I said, 'Okay, how does this work then? What does it do? And how much are you giving me and where? And how are you making a difference between this one and this one and this one? And you can do what with it? Wow, that's really cool. That's amazing. It's insane, the technology.'"

He continued: "I would say embrace the treatment and always remember the [likelihood]… I don't know what your cancer is. I don't know the individual circumstances. I'm not a doctor, so I'm not gonna make any predictions. I can't do anything like that, nor would I, 'cause it's very private. But I have to say that the therapies that people are coming up with now are so on the edge and successful that you really do stand a very good chance. 'Cause half of us are gonna get cancer, and it's not a death sentence anymore, and you can deal with it. And the things they have to do to your body to get rid of it are getting better and better and better as we go down the line. They did some nasty things to my body. I'm lucky I'm completely clear of it and everything.

"I only really talk about it when I come to do these shows 'cause people want to know," Bruce added. "I quite enjoy talking about it because you kind of demystify it a little bit for people. It's a scary thing."

Approximately 39.2 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with cancer of any site at some point during their lifetime, based on 2016–2018 data.

According to Healthline, the cancer death rate in the United States dropped by about a third (32 percent) from its peak in 1991 to 2019 — from about 215 deaths for every 100,000 people to about 146. Much of the reduction is due to the progress made against lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer death in the country.

Bruce previously told iNews that he wanted to cover his cancer battle in his 2017 autobiography, "What Does This Button Do?", to raise awareness of the condition, which affects people who often have no or minimal history of tobacco or alcohol abuse. The individuals with HPV-related oropharyngeal cancer who undergo treatment have a disease-free survival rate of 85 to 90 percent over five years.

During an appearance on the Swedish TV show "Malou Efter Tio", Dickinson spoke about how his singing voice has changed following his cancer diagnosis nine years ago.

"[It's] a little bit different," he said. "Two things are slightly different. One is my saliva, which obviously lubricates your throat a little bit, is a bit less than it used to be. Although, back ten years ago, if I had the same cancer, I wouldn't be making any saliva. But now, I'm probably 70 percent, which is great. Thanks very much, everybody upstairs. [Laughs] And the other things is that I think that the shape of possibly the back of my tongue, which forms vowel sounds and things like that, might have changed shape slightly, because, obviously, it had a big lump in it, and the lump's gone. So maybe the surface has changed shape. So I notice a few differences. Funnily enough, the top end of my voice is maybe even a little bit better than it was before. [Laughs]"

Dickinson said that he was given "the all-clear" by his specialists following an MRI scan after a course of chemotherapy and radiology.

"I was amazed," he said. "My cancer was a 3.5-centimeter tumor in my throat and a 2.5-centimeter one in my lymph node, and that was the one that I could feel — that was the secondary one. But I did 33 sessions of radiation and nine weeks of chemo at the same time, which is fairly standard therapy for it. And it was gone. And I said to my oncologist: 'What do you mean it's gone? Where has it gone?' And he said, 'Well, your body just gets rid of it.' A body is an amazing thing."

"The Mandrake Project" is being released today (Friday, March 1) via BMG. Bruce and his long-term co-writer and producer Roy "Z" Ramirez recorded the LP largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy Z doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by keyboard maestro Mistheria and drummer Dave Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's previous solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.

In a new interview with Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco Bay Area radio station 107.7 The Bone, DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren spoke about the band's upcoming 34-date "The Sickness 25th Anniversary Tour", which will kick off in Nampa, Idaho on February 25, 2025 and is produced by Live Nation. The tour celebrates 25 years of DISTURBED's seminal debut album which launched the band into public consciousness and is one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time. Each night will feature two sets of music, opening with DISTURBED playing the five times platinum "The Sickness" in full, followed by a full set of greatest hits. The first half of the tour will feature support from special guests THREE DAYS GRACE, featuring the return of original singer Adam Gontier, and opener SEVENDUST, and the second half will feature special guests DAUGHTRY with opener NOTHING MORE.

Asked about the setlist for the upcoming tour, Mike said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We've already announced that basically it's gonna be two acts. The first act's going to be 'The Sickness' front to back, second act's gonna be greatest hits. [There will be] plenty of surprises, especially from a production standpoint. We're planning on producing the biggest tour we've ever done. Lots of fire, lots of lights, lots of toys and a lot of maybe some memorabilia, some stuff from back in the day."

Regarding how DISTURBED decided to bring DAUGHTRY out as one of the support acts on the tour, Mike said: "He [DAUGHTRY frontman Chris Daughtry] was the only one available and said 'yes.' No, no. [Laughs] No, just kidding. We know Chris. He's great. Last year he came out to one of the shows, Nashville or something, he came out onstage, did a song with us. It was fricking awesome. There was plenty of bands that submitted, but we wanted to figure, like, who fits us? Who's gonna bring other fans? Maybe we can win over [some of them]. He has more women in his audience. Maybe we can win some of them over… He brings the women over. Plus I wanna figure out how to get as big as shoulders as he does."

Wengren added: "It's actually also kind of funny. This didn't go into the decision making, but the way that it works out is so back in 2001, DISTURBED went overseas to Europe for one of our first times as main support to MARILYN MANSON and our original bass player at the time had an accident and was injured and couldn't make the trip over. So we had a guy that was a friend of ours back in the day fill in for us. His name is Marty O'Brien. And he currently plays bass for Chris now. He was with Lita Ford for quite a while. And he goes back to the original days of being in a band KILGORE that used to be on Giant Records, which is where we were signed to Giant Records. Yeah, so us and Marty toured Europe together in 2001."

Since "The Sickness" was released in 2000, the album was certified five times platinum by the RIAA, spent a total of 106 weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart, and Revolver named it one of "Top 25 Debut Hard Rock Albums." Billboard said of the title track upon release: "'Down With The Sickness' is, of course, the quintessential DISTURBED song, harnessing all the band's seethe and its now-famous tribal beat and guitar chug into three and a half minutes of alt-metal mayhem. It's menacing, it's rhythmic, it's rebellious."

Emerging out of Chicago at the turn of the century with an insidious, infectious, and inimitable vision without comparison, DISTURBED have quietly dominated hard rock on their own terms. They make the kind of music that pushes you to hold on tighter, fight harder, and persevere forever. It's why they've claimed a place at the forefront of 21st century rock with record-breaking success, sales of over 17 million-plus units, nearly 8 billion streams, and sold out shows around the globe. The band have six RIAA album certifications, and singles from all eight albums have reached the top ten of the Mainstream Rock chart.

The two-time Grammy Award-nominated quartet have notched five consecutive #1 debuts on the Billboard Top 200 for "Believe", "Ten Thousand Fists", "Indestructible" and "Asylum", occupying rarified air alongside METALLICA — the only other hard rock group to accomplish this feat. Since their influential five-times-platinum debut "The Sickness" in 2000, they have built a bulletproof catalog highlighted by a procession of smashes, including the platinum "Stupify", "Inside The Fire" and "Land of Confusion", two-times-platinum "Stricken", six-times-platinum "Down With The Sickness" and seven-times-platinum "The Sound Of Silence", to name a few. The latter notably received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of "Best Rock Performance" as the band earned "Best Rock Artist" at the 2017 iHeartRadioMusic Awards. Still, DISTURBED never stop, and their most recent 2022 album "Divisive" featured their 17th No. 1 at Rock Radio "Hey You", "Unstoppable" and more.

Last night (Friday, October 25),AVENGED SEVENFOLD played a special throwback show featuring a setlist composed of songs from the band's breakout 2003 album, "Waking The Fallen", and its 2005 follow-up, "City Of Evil". Headlining the concert at Santa Ana, California's Observatory venue was the long-running Southern California hardcore punk band DEATH BY STEREO

In the spirit of Halloween, AVENGED SEVENFOLD vocalist M. Shadows appeared in a skeleton jumpsuit and skull makeup for the rarities-packed setlist, which saw the band perform some of the tracks for the first time in at least six years.

The setlist for the show was as follows:

01. To End The Rapture (first time since 2017)
02. Chapter Four (first time since 2018)
03. Burn It Down (first time since 2018)
04. Blinded In Chains
05. Remenissions (first time since 2016)
06. Seize The Day
07. Second Heartbeat (first time since 2018)
08. Desecrate Through Reverence (first time since 2004, first performance with Brooks Wackerman)
09. Unholy Confessions
10. Beast And The Harlot (first time since 2018; fans playing with band)
11. M.I.A. (first time since 2018)

Tickets to the show were made in August exclusively for members of the Deathbats Club, a next-generation fan club and community built around AVENGED SEVENFOLD, priced at $25 each (there was a two-ticket limit on orders).

AVENGED SEVENFOLD and DEATH BY STEREO have a long history together, having toured together two decades ago. In addition, AVENGED SEVENFOLD singer M. Shadows contributed guest vocals to two songs — "Entombed We Collide" and "This Is Not The End" — on DEATH BY STEREO's 2005 album "Death For Life".

This past June, AVENGED SEVENFOLD guitarist Zacky Vengeance told NME that he and his bandmates were making plans to celebrate the anniversaries of their albums "City Of Evil" and "Nightmare", which are turning 20 and 15 in 2025, respectively. He said: "I think those albums are really monumental and fans have grown with them. They've meant a certain thing to people at a certain place in their life, so I think it's important that we do something."

Explaining that he didn't want AVENGED SEVENFOLD to be a "nostalgia act", Vengeance added: "I've always wanted to be as proud of whatever we put out today as I was when we put out those albums." But, he said, "I'm totally cool with celebrating those albums because it was such a great place and time. Plus, it's actually fun to relive and play those songs and get those reactions. To bank our entire career off past successes, we can't do it, but we'll definitely do something to celebrate those albums though. For us, the most exciting thing about looking back is recalling where our heads were at when we were young and writing them. Remembering that they're part of who we are."

"City Of Evil", AVENGED SEVENFOLD's third album, produced the singles "Bat Country" and "Beast And The Harlot", while "Nightmare", the band's fifth studio LP, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in the United States. Both records have since been certified platinum by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for shipments in excess of a million copies in the U.S. alone.

AVENGED SEVENFOLD has spent much of the past year and a half touring in support of its most recent album, 2023's "Life Is But A Dream…"



Setlist Waking The Fallen & City Of Evil Celebrating 25 years show Avenged Sevenfold at California in The Observatory Orange County 25th October 2024

Posted by A7x Videos on Saturday, October 26, 2024

In an interview with Kati Rausch of Music Interview Corner, vocalist Dani Filth of British extreme metal veterans CRADLE OF FILTH spoke about the band's new single. "Malignant Perfection", which arrived on October 22, just in time for the Halloween season. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was recorded in the Czech Republic and L.A. [The video] was directed by Vicente Cordero and featured the talents of, amongst others, Missy Munster, who was also responsible for the costumes and stage stuff for KING DIAMOND and SLIPKNOT and ICE NINE KILLS. And yeah, it's the video for the first single from our new album. The new album will be out early next year. It'll be the first of several singles. Yeah, it's like a cinematic visual accompaniment to our first single. I can't really describe it much more; you just have to go and watch it for yourselves."

Detailing the video shoot for "Malignant Perfection", Dani said: "[We filmed it] in the Czech Republic. It was just prior to the first leg of our summer tour. We all live in different parts of the world — America, Scotland, Czech Republic, England — and so this was like the base for us starting off on our tour. And we flew in a crew who were part Australian, part American, and, yeah, basically shot two videos there. The next one will be forthcoming in a few months' time, or I'm not sure when it'll be coming, to be honest. It's in development at the moment. And we also shot some photo shoots for the new album and for likewise press. Yeah, it was great fun. Very hectic, very busy. We worked long hours, 'cause we had to do, obviously, two shoots and photoshoots. And so, yeah, it was a real experience. Our tour bus then came and picked us up from literally where we were in the middle of nowhere, just outside of Brno in the Czech Republic."

When "Malignant Perfection" was first released, Dani said in a statement: "Our new single and video, 'Malignant Perfection', is our horrific homage to All Hallows Eve, as embodied by the female deification of evil. It is a perfect musical accompaniment to the spirit of the witching season; invoking dark, Autumnal splendor and celebrating the time when the thin line between life and death is at its most tenuous and the denizens of the otherworld seek to break the veil into ours.

"The video, directed by the imitable Vicente Cordero and featuring the creative masterstrokes of one Missy Munster, is a playground of seductive darkness rife with malicious monsters and cryptid creations, all vying voraciously for the viewer's eternal soul.

"This comes at a perfect juncture for the Halloween period and our 'By Order Of The Dragon' U.K./European Autumn tour. It also arrives on the back of a sensational collaboration with massive fashion label Vetement and also Blackcraft Clothing, and in the fiery wake of a successful sold-out Australian tour."

In a recent interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, Dani said that "Malignant Perfection" is "the first of a few singles before the [new CRADLE OF FILTH] album drops at the end of March, beginning of April."

Regarding how he thinks fans will react to the new CRADLE OF FILTH material, Dani said: "I think they're gonna love it. It's just part of the evolution of CRADLE. I mean, people ask me to describe it and it's very hard to describe it. I'm not gonna say, 'You know what? This is our 'Cold Lake'," referencing CELTIC FROST's much-maligned 1988 album. "It's just the next evolutionary step for CRADLE. It's got everything. There's a lot of things that hark back atmospherically and indeed musically in places to early CRADLE stuff. But then there's a lot of very modern CRADLE. It's got everything."

Asked if it is still important for him and his CRADLE OF FILTH bandmates to make new music to challenge themselves, Dani said: "I don't think it's about challenging ourselves. It's just finding an outlet for all this pent-up emotion. We're not gonna be stopping with this record. The reason this record and the last record were slightly delayed was obviously because we had that fucking great pandemic happen. We're actually writing new material now. We're trying to speed up the process. So we'll have a new record in '27, beginning of '27, if not sooner. But, obviously, there are events and especially milestones as well. So it's very important not to overcook the pudding and do too much and dilute. And everything we do, we wanna make it as good as possible. We don't release an album until we're happy with it."

Dani continued: "People are gonna love the production on this record. The production is fucking amazing. And it's got everything. It's got some really catchy songs. It's got some really — well, even the songs that are catchy have really fucking heavy parts in them. And catchy doesn't necessarily mean not extreme. So, yeah, it's another CRADLE OF FILTH record, but it's more than just another CRADLE OF FILTH record. It's another milestone."

This past May, Filth told Australia's Heavy about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's follow-up to 2021's "Existence Is Futile" album: "We've already done our [collaborative] track with [pop superstar and noted CRADLE OF FILTH fan] Ed Sheeran, although that'll be probably coming out on the special edition of the new album, but I can't really talk much more about that, all legalities and what have you."

He continued: "The album we started [in] July [2023], and our record company was, like, 'Why are you taking so long?' It's, like, 'Well, because we're on tour.' We started the album [and then] we literally went off on tour for two months. So, yeah, we've been very, very busy."

Asked about the musical direction of the new CRADLE OF FILTH material, Dani said: "It's a step on from the last record. Same production values, same producer, although we always approach it from a different way, so it does sound a lot different. I can't go too much into it because no matter what I say, it's not really gonna justify or do do justice to the tracks on there. It's very hard to explain. It's got [elements of] 'Dusk... And Her Embrace' vibe-wise. Vocally, it's a bit of everything. It's an aggressive record. It's a very catchy record. Yeah, it's just something that's gonna really please our fans. We've worked very hard on it. And the last record was received really well, 'Existence Is Futile'. It's an advancement from that. But it's not because I'm being told, 'Keep it calm. You can't talk about the record yet.' It's very difficult to talk about something that's got so much in it."

Last year, CRADLE OF FILTH released its first live album in over 20 years, "Trouble And Their Double Lives", via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded between 2014 and 2019 at different performances in the USA, Europe, Australia and beyond during the band's "Cryptoriana" world tour and dates following. Produced, mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios, with recording captured by Danny B, the effort not only featured a slew of fan favorites encompassing the band's discography but also two bonus tracks and two entirely brand new songs, "She Is A Fire" and "Demon Prince Regent".

Asked in an interview with Decibel if the two new songs on the record indicate what the next CRADLE OF FILTH album will sound like, Dani said: "Maybe a little bit but no. It's pretty hard to explain, I can't really talk about it. The new album has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' vibe to it. But no, we moved on from that. We started writing as a collective after that, these were stopgap songs that originally were intended toward a new album but because of the pandemic, it delayed everything and they found themselves out there. We just thought it was best to put them on the new record."

He added: "A record takes up so much of your time. It's a monument to a band's career, a lot of effort gone into it, a lot of time gone into it. It deserves its own sort of place and each album will have its own unique identity that's in place due to whatever outside due influence is happening at the time. People in the band, when they recorded, there's so many things that determine what an album's about. Of course each and every one is hopefully going to have a very strong and different identity to the previous one and also the future one."

In May 2023, Dani was asked by BLABBERMOUTH.NET if he envisions the next CRADLE OF FILTH studio album staying in the same vein as "Cryptoriana" or "Existence Is Futile". He responded: "It's not going to be a million miles away from that. I've been working on some of the material today. We're putting the finishing touches on the songs we're going to record, whether all of them make the grade or not. It has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' vibe to them. Musically, it plays across 'Dusk' and 'Midian', but lyrically, and the vibe of it, it has a 'Dusk… And Her Embrace' feel to it. I don't know why. History repeats itself. Maybe it's because we wrote 'Dusk' around this particular time of year, but it has that vibe. It sounds great, but I would say that, wouldn't I?"

Photo credit: Roberto Diaz

HarperCollins has set a May 13, 2025 release date for "72 Stories" from RUSH bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee. The book was previously gifted as a limited edition to the winning bidders in Geddy's 2023 auction of some of his extensive baseball memorabilia collection.

Lee touched upon the "72 Stories" book last year while speaking to the Illinois Entertainer about his baseball memorabilia auction. He said at the time: "It's a collection of stories from some of my favorite items in my collection. Maybe I'll release it on opening day next year; I don't know. I'm going to include a copy of the book to the winning bidders of those particular items in my sale that are also featured in this book. I'll give them a signed copy.'

He continued: "[The book] came together in a relatively painless way. I wrote it with my co-writer Daniel Richler. Richard Sibbald, who shot the 'Big Beautiful Book Of Bass', took the photographs. They're absolutely stunning… So, there is a book, and I'm really pleased with it. I'm trying to get it printed now, in time for the auction. It's called '72 Stories From The Collection Of Geddy Lee'."

Lee's memoir, "My Effin' Life", was released in November 2023 through HarperCollins. The book includes stories of Geddy's parents' traumatic experiences as teenagers in concentration camps in World War II as well as "intimate stories of his lifelong friendships with bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart — deeply mourning Peart's recent passing," according to the book's synopsis.

The idea for Lee's memoir came about after he wrote his previous book, 2018's "Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book Of Bass". He found the time to write "My Effin' Life" while locked down at home in Toronto during the pandemic.

The now-71-year-old Lee took "My Effin' Life" on the road to venues all over North America in November and December 2023.

Peart died in January 2020 after a three-year battle with glioblastoma.

RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.

RUSH's final tour concluded on August 1, 2015 at the Forum in Los Angeles. Peart indicated at the time that he wanted to retire while he was still able to play well, along with a desire to spend more time at home with his young daughter.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Alice Cooper has unveiled a brand new deluxe edition of the 1973 classic "Muscle Of Love". It arrives in multiple configurations, including a 2LP vinyl and a 1CD/Blu-ray. It's available exclusively at Rhino.com and select international WMG stores. A digital deluxe edition will be available on November 20.

The definitive version of the band's seventh and final full-length offering encompasses 11 previously unreleased tracks, spanning recently unearthed early versions and alternate mixes of staple songs. The CD/Blu-ray set features the original 192/24 resolution quadraphonic mixes making their debut on Blu-ray.

Additionally, the liner notes feature an in-depth and immersive track-by-track account of the story behind "Muscle Of Love", as told to renowned music journalist Jaan Uhelszki. She spoke extensively to Cooper, guitarist Michael Bruce, bassist Dennis Dunaway, drummer Neal Smith and additional guitarist Nick Mashbir to compile the most comprehensive discourse on this record ever published thus far.

"Muscle Of Love" saw the band double down on their rock 'n' roll roots, delivering an uncompromising body of work buoyed by impeccable playing, massive hooks, and good old-fashioned Detroit grit. Produced by Jack Richardson and Jack Douglas, it cracked the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 and scored a gold certification from the RIAA. This uncompromising body of work includes the famed title track "Muscle Of Love" as well as "Teenage Lament '74", "Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)" and "Hard Hearted Alice". It would also be the final album recorded by the original band, and they definitely went out with a bang, to say the least.

"Muscle Of Love (Deluxe)" track listing:

Disc 1

01. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)
02. Never Been Sold Before
03. Hard Hearted Alice
04. Crazy Little Child
05. Working Up A Sweat
06. Muscle Of Love
07. Man With The Golden Gun
08. Teenage Lament '74
09. Woman Machine

Disc 2

01. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo) (Early Version)
02. Never Been Sold Before (Early Version)
03. Hard Hearted Alice (Alternate Mix)
04. Crazy Little Child (Early Version)
05. Working Up A Sweat (Alternate Mix)
06. Muscle Of Love (Alternate Mix)
07. Man With The Golden Gun (Early Version)
08. Teenage Lament '74 (Acoustic Diversion)
09. Woman Machine (Alternate Mix)
10. Teenage Lament '74 (Single Version)
11. Muscle Of Love (Single Version)

Blu-ray Disc

01. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)
02. Never Been Sold Before
03. Hard Hearted Alice
04. Crazy Little Child
05. Working Up A Sweat
06. Muscle Of Love
07. Man With The Golden Gun
08. Teenage Lament '74
09. Woman Machine

Vinyl

LP 1

A1. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo)
A2. Never Been Sold Before
A3. Hard Hearted Alice
A4. Crazy Little Child

B1. Working Up A Sweat
B2. Muscle Of Love
B3. Man With The Golden Gun
B4. Teenage Lament '74
B5. Woman Machine

LP 2

C1. Big Apple Dreamin' (Hippo) (Early Version)
C2. Never Been Sold Before (Early Version)
C3. Hard Hearted Alice (Alternate Mix)
C4. Crazy Little Child (Early Version)

D1. Working Up A Sweat (Alternate Mix)
D2. Muscle Of Love (Alternate Mix)
D3. Man With The Golden Gun (Early Version)
D4. Teenage Lament '74 (Acoustic Diversion)
D5. Woman Machine (Alternate Mix)

Danish/Faroese progressive metal collective, Iotunn, are pleased to unveil their video for "Earth To Sky". The track is featured on the band's Kinship full-length, out now on Metal Blade Records.


A monolithic album arising from the primeval sea, Kinship is a mythological journey through eight tracks that span immense spheres both musically and lyrically, exploring the deep roots of human nature, its connection and disconnection with everything and everyone, and how our choices have always defined ourselves and the lives lived.


Comments guitarist Jesper Gräs on "Earth To Sky": "This song is, in many ways, inspired by the tradition of film music. It is progressive and yet simple at its core and presents a sound full of themes, moods, and feelings which truly unfold in the mid-sections but are constantly present throughout. When we were done with the album, we all got hit by this one in a very special way which we had not foreseen, and we found it to be a natural single from the Kinship album. It holds many things which we hold dearly, includes many of the core ingredients which is Iotunn, and it has some of the most brutal metal of the album."




Adds guitarist Jens Nicolai, "This song is built on two connected ideas except a couple of minor detours, so it's a way of writing that we've done before - to see how many colors we can paint within very limited settings. As it turned out, the frame got bigger and bigger and rich on motifs, and it's got lots of cool transitions."





Kinship unfolds the story of a prehistoric tribesman. It tells the story of life's manyfold conditions as themes of unity/disunity, light/dark, body/mind, nature/culture, good/evil, creation/destruction, and human/inhuman appear throughout the album. The album also shows Iotunn reveal their musical worlds to their fullest scales to date which has been the dream achievement in composing the offering.


"The creation of Kinship has been the most extensive and wild journey we've ever been part of," says Jesper Gräs, "Like trekking up the Galdhøpiggen mountain in Norway, we have crossed peak after peak and seen things continuously brighter and wider until we reached the top, the end. Never have we been prouder and more pleased, and we hope our fans - old and new - will take this album into their hearts and let it unfold from there."


The artwork and art pieces of Kinship were created by the ink and graphite illustrator and artist, Saprophial (Hammers Of Misfortune), with the design and layout created by art director Brian Ames at Metal Blade Records. Kinship was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios Denmark (Arch Enemy, Katatonia, The Black Dahlia Murder, Volbeat, Týr).


Order here.





Kinship tracklisting:


"Kinship Elegiac"
"Mistland"
"Twilight"
"I Feel The Night"
"The Coming End"
"Iridescent Way"
"Earth To Sky"
"The Anguished Ethereal"


"Iridescent Way" video:

Toronto-based Monster Voodoo Machine formed in 1991, releasing two studio albums and three studio EPs in '90s. They disbanded in 1998, but reformed in 2007 for sporadic live shows.


Frontman Adam Sewell has shared the following message on the behalf of the band:


"This week marks the official 30th anniversary of the release of the Monster Voodoo Machine debut album, Suffersystem. I want to apologize for the month-long overkill / overload / abundance of posts about the album, and to let you all know that we (the band) appreciate you all humouring us old guys with all of your extremely nice comments and memories that you have shared with us about this unique collection of songs, tour dates, press clippings, and videos from the 1994 - 1995 album cycle.




Truth be told, Suffersystem really was the ONLY real full-length Monster Voodoo Machine album to ever be released. It was a fantastic representation of who we were (as a band) at that time, and it gave us young kids some life changing experiences. And over the many decades since the album’s release its reach has allowed us to connect with so many great people and music fans from all over the world.





To everyone who listened to, and supported both the album and our band, the fans, the booking agents, the promoters, the clubs, the DJs, the VJs, the programmers, the bands we toured with, our road crew, and all those who hustled on our behalf… thank you all.


We want to use this post to say a special THANK YOU to the people in our lives who were directly responsible for making that album happen at that moment in time: Critter, Howie Beno, George Marino, Reid and everyone at Chicago Trax, Michael Toorock, Jill Heath, Scott Bernstein, Bill Dern, Terry O’Brien, Jana Cleland and everyone at BMG Music Publishing, Tom Derr, Bennett Kaufman and everyone at RCA Records, the very small number of supporters at BMG Canada, Roddy Bottum, Wesley Willis, Leslie Rankine, Martin Atkins, Pushead, all of the artists and producers who worked on remixes, Bob, Steve, Lauren and everyone at Concrete, Felix Sebacious and everyone at Blue Grape Merchandise, Kristian, Chris, Dawn and Don, aaaaaaand of course… our families. 


But most importantly, it’s worth noti

In Episode 8 of Def Leppard's Behind The Summer Stadium Tour, the guys adapt the show to new stage setups, Phil has a shoe problem, Extreme stop by for a visit, Joe plays a round of "hide the rockstar",  and they say our goodbyes to Journey and Cheap Trick.





Def Leppard’s 2024 summer stadium tour kick started with the release of a brand new standalone single, "Just Like 73". Watch the band “live from the 2024 Summer Stadium Tour" below:







Returning to the road on a massive North American summer stadium tour, the electrifying single, "Just Like 73" featuring Tom Morello, made its debut for the first time reaching #1 on various charts across the globe.


Speaking about the track, Joe Elliott shares, “It encapsulates a time that burned deep into our DNA. We wanted to celebrate that very important and glorious time.”


“When I saw David Bowie on TV between 1972 and 1973, everything I thought I knew about music went from black and white to vivid technicolor,” Phil Collen adds. “Our song ‘Just Like 73’ represents that awakening.”

Guitarist Kiko Loureiro (ex-Megadeth) has released a playthrough video of his new single, "Blindfolded". Check it out below.


The track features Loureiro (guitars and keyboards), Felipe Andreoli (bass), Bruno Valverde (drums) and Maria Ilmoniemi (keyboards).







Loureiro previously released the single, "Mind Rise". Stream the track here, and listen below.


Says Kiko: "After years of playing in massive arenas and headlining festivals, there's something refreshing about focusing on the fundamentals. The new song taps into that, where catchy, straightforward guitar riffs take center stage, using a deep, lower-register pentatonic scale to immediately engage the listener.


"In my mind, the verse goes: Carlos Santana meets Jeff Beck, with sinuous, curvy lines where slight variations in playing the same note make a huge impact on the theme. As the saying goes, "The devil is in the details," and here, those details shape the entire vibe of the track.


"The song kicks off in E minor, one of the most commonly used keys in rock guitar. But just when it feels familiar, it shifts into G major, its relative key, lifting the track and creating a sense of elevation. The dynamics between these two bring energy and keep the listener's attention without overcomplicating the composition. In this way, the song avoids relying only on a traditional chorus. Instead, it uses a strong, recurring guitar riff as its focal point.


"And then there’s the suspense. The kind that lingers in the air like a shadow in the corner of a smoky bar, where a figure waits, watching, cal