Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the upcoming release of reissues of Brazen Abbot’s studio albums, Eye Of The Storm and Bad Religion, out on December 6.


The first track and accompanying visualizer, “The Whole World’s Crazy”, are available now. Watch the clip below. Pre-order Eye Of The Storm here, and Bad Religion here.


Talking about Eye Of The Storm, Nikolo Kotzev says: “Here’s the second Brazen Abbot album. As always - a labour of love with many memorable tracks. The great Joe Lynn Turner and the Europe guys gave it a special flavour. With this re-release Brazen Abbot comes to life once again! Enjoy!”




“Here’s the re-release of the third Brazen Abbot album. It saw the light of day in 1997, and now, almost 30 years later, it still shines bright as a sunny morning! As usual - brilliant singers and top notch musicians in this musical gem. Rock on!”, he adds in regards to Bad Religion.


Brazen Abbot was originally conceived as a studio project by Bulgarian guitarist, producer, and songwriter Nikolo Kotzev. The band has since performed live on several occasions, particularly in the early 2000’s


A unique feature of Brazen Abbot is its use of multiple singers on each album. Göran Edman and Joe Lynn Turner have contributed with vocals on most of their records. Initially, Kotzev planned to work with a single vocalist, Göran Edman (ex-Malmsteen) but, due to contractual restrictions, he could only record two songs for the debut album. The “Voice of Rock” Glenn Hughes was then lined up to sing the remaining tracks, but similar issues limited him to three songs.


To complete the album, Thomas Vikström (Talk Of The Town and later on Therion) was brought in, and Kotzev was so satisfied with the outcome that he decided to continue the multi-singer approach for future albums. However, during live performances, Joe Lynn Turner (ex-Malmsteen, Rainbow, Deep Purple) usually handled all lead vocals.


Several Brazen Abbot members also participated in Kotzev’s rock opera Nostradamus (2001). During the rock opera’s development, Brazen Abbot was temporarily on hiatus. Former members of the band include Mic Michaeli, John Levén, and Ian Haugland, all of whom are also members of the legendary rock band Europe.


Eye Of The Storm is the second album from Brazen Abbot. Released originally in 1996 on the Japanese label Zero/JVC and shortly after by the German label USG Records, Eye Of The Storm sees the addition of the awesome singer Joe Lynn Turner to the line-up.


His influence is particularly evident on songs like “Twist Of Fate”, “Line Of Fire”, and “Road To Hell”, while the Europe influence can be found in “Wake Up Everybody”, with a great vocal performance from Thomas Vikström. Göran Edman also appears on lead vocals stamping his mark especially on the power-ballad “Everything's Gonna Be Allright”.


The album cemented the reputation that Brazen Abbot managed to achieve with their first album and offers a truly solid and brilliant melodic hard rock release for all the fans of the genre.


Bad Religion is Brazen Abbot’s third studio album, released in 1997 simultaneously by the Japanese label Zero/JVC and by the German label USG Records.


The record builds from where the previous album left off, offering a hard rock sound heavily influenced by Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen, Whitesnake and of course Europe, with a slight symphonic edge which came from the mastermind’s Nikolo Kotzev classical training.


Bad Religion sees again three members of Europe in the lineup of musicians, while singers Joe Lynn Turner, Göran Edman and Thomas Vikström put their own stamp on some truly amazing hard rock belters.





Eye Of The Storm tracklisting:


"Eye Of The Storm" (Joe Lynn Turner, vocals)
"Twist Of Fate" (Joe Lynn Turner, vocals)
"Fool In Love" (Göran Edman, vocals)
"Line Of Fire" (Joe Lynn

Luna Kills, the rising alt-metal powerhouse from Finland, is thrilled to announce their signing to SharpTone Records.


"We are beyond excited to announce our signing with SharpTone Records! Their dedication to supporting artists' individuality, in both sound and style, is something we truly vibe with," the band states. "We can't wait to get started on this new chapter for Luna Kills together!"


To mark the occasion, the band has unleashed their blistering new single "slay ur enemies," a track that dives deep into the raw emotions of a panic attack. With raw and authentic lyricism, paired with their signature heavy sound, Luna Kills are proving their ability to blend dark, personal experiences with explosive, aggressive energy. The single was mixed and mastered by Jeff Dunne (Make Them Suffer, Knocked Loose, Ice Nine Kills, Disturbed).







"'slay ur enemies' describes an inner dialogue and feelings during a panic attack," lead vocalist Lotta Ruutiainen shares. "Mostly, the lyrics depict the hopelessness of

AC/DC claims some of the biggest and most beloved hits in the hard rock genre of all time, reports Hugh McIntyre for Forbes. One tune stands out among their collection of smashes as their most successful in many ways - and as more time passes, the public continues to show their love for that single.


“Thunderstruck” has emerged as AC/DC’s most popular win when it comes to its total sales and consumption figures, and listeners never seem to tire of the cut. This week, the blockbuster tune mounts a comeback in the UK, returning to multiple charts at once - and its return doesn’t even tell the full story of the title’s current success.


This week in the United Kingdom, “Thunderstruck” bounces back onto two rankings. The decades-old cut reappears on both the Official Singles Downloads (#80) and Official Singles Sales (#83) charts.




In the past, “Thunderstruck” has only reached the Top 10 on one of those lists, the Official Singles Downloads roster. On the list of the most-downloaded tunes in the UK, AC/DC’s favorite has climbed as high as #9. The single has thus far failed to enter that region on the Official Singles Sales tally, though it’s come close, as it’s peaked at #12.


For more of this week's AC/DC chart action, read the full report at Forbes.





For those about to rock, more AC/DC 50th anniversary vinyl has arrived! Flick Of The Switch, Fly On The Wall, Blow Up Your Video, Black Ice, Live At River Plate and Power Up are now available on gold-coloured vinyl, each with an album-specific 12”x12” print featuring new AC/DC 50 artwork.





Flick Of The Switch - The self-produced album saw the band return to the rawer sound of their earlier records. Tracks like "Bedlam In Belgium" and "Nervous Shakedown" still remain firm fan favourites 40 years later.


Fly On The Wall - This 1985 album was the band’s first to be produced solely by Angus and Malcolm Young. It was accompanied by long-form video of the same name, which saw the band playing five tracks from the album in a club full of shady characters and an animated fly, like the one featured on the album cover.


Blow Up Your Video - Initially released in 1988 and recorded in London and the South of France, the album contains the UK hit single "Heatseeker" and the US Rock hit "That’s The Way I Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll".


Black Ice - Issued in the fall of 2008, the album saw the band working

Lionville, the acclaimed melodic rock band hailing from Italy, share their new single and lyric video, “Gone”, taken from their new studio album, Supernatural, out on November 15 via Frontiers Music Srl.


The album marks an exciting new chapter in the band’s journey, featuring their new lead vocalist, Swedish singer, producer and songwriter Alexander Strandell (Art Nation).


Stefano Lionetti describes the track as “a classic Lionville song characterized by melody, class and an infectious chorus.”




Watch the lyric video below, and pre-order the album here.





Commenting on the album announcement, Stefano Lionetti said: “Sometimes change is necessary and represents an opportunity for growth and openness to new possibilities. We wish our friend Lars the best that life and music can give, and we thank him for having contributed to making Lionville what it has become in these years. It has been an honor to work with you! The present is called Alexander Strandell, an incredibly talented performer, let's all welcome him together!”


“The new album is a bridge between the past and the future of Lionville and I am thrilled with the final result, a perfect mix of melody and power!” continues Stefano, talking about the new album and the first single. "'Supernatural' is a song very rich in things to say, perfect to introduce our fans to the new course of Lionville with the extraordinary Strandell on vocals. The traditional melodies of Lionville create a devastating combination with the energy and vocal ability of Alex."


Lionville was started in 2010 by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in Genova, Italy and his brother Alessandro. Thanks to the incredible songs, they managed to write and record five albums with Lars Säfsund (Work Of Art) as lead vocalist, becoming one of the most appreciated AOR act in the scene.


Lionetti, who is the main songwriter of the project, has been collaborating over the years with Lenny Macaluso to write many Lionville songs. Lenny is a guitarist, songwriter, producer, well known as Tina Turner’s former bandleader/guitarist at the start of her solo career and mastermind of 80s Power Anthems like “The Touch” (Transformers: The Movie), “Thunder in Your Heart” (Rad), “Never Surrender” (Kickboxer), just to name a few.


Supernatural follows the acclaimed So Close To Heaven and shows Lionville's new course with the addition of the singer extraordinaire Alexander Strandell (Art Nation). The album was mixed and mastered by Giulio Dagnino. Melodic rock/AOR fans have always held Lionville in high regard and “Supernatural” will do nothing to dissuade them from this line of thinking.


Lionville once again proves why they are one of the leaders of the melodic rock movement, managing to raise the majesty of their music. “Supernatural” showcases once again the band's

Annihilator mastermind, Jeff Waters, has paid tribute to original Anvil guitarist, Dave Allison, who has passed away at 68 years of age. Anvil shared BraveWords' post on Allison's passing, which Jeff Waters commented on with the following tribute:


"Thoughts to all... he sure left his mark on those classic records and I sure looked up to him (and the other 3) every time I snuck into The Chaud, The British and Le Papillon... RIP Dave. Thanks for your part in my mind and my music."


Jeff added: "Random thoughts ... I remember, at the Papillon in Hull, Quebec... not sure what year but I was barely (or not) legal to be in that club. I think it was 82... I was 16ish. I sat at a table by myself... ordered a Coca Cola. That woulda been strange in itself!




"My fave record has always been Hard N Heavy. I LOVED the attitude, the unique drumming and timing of Robbo and Da Nuge-style solos... and that snare and flams!


"Anyway, basically sitting alone in the middle of the packed club and looking young, 3 things happened that changed my life:


1) Lips came over to MY table and did a good chunk of his solo in Bedroom Game (yup, dildo and all!) In front of and FOR ME! He KNEW I was a hard-core fan as I think i sang and air drummed the entire set; and he noticed!


2) I could not believe how cool Dave was. He seemed like the one that woulda got all the "ladies"! I also noticed, after Lips went off to finish his solo, just how damn cool Dave was playing ONE NOTE (low E) during most all of the Bedroom Game solo... no one played that one note cooler than him. Schooled. One note can be cooler than 100, if done in the right place.


3) I went outback of the club after the show, where I saw them all packing gear away in vans and hanging with "older" fans and "groupies".


"I didn't want to bother them and I was fkn nervous to say hi... I didn't go over there..I just stood almost behind a parked car and watched what it was like to see my rock star idols off the stage, in real life (!). I would slowly walk away, to walk to the nearest open gas station to call a taxi home, across the bridge to Ottawa. BUT not before one of the leather jacketed dudes walked over with a beer in his hands. It was Dave.


"He said "hey, you wanna a beer"? I said "no thanks but I love Hard N Heavy"... hahaha. He could tell I was nervous and gave me a cigarette instead haha! Thanked me and my life was complete.


"RIP, IDOL!"





The news of Allison's passing was initially announced by Tyler Reiner, who shared the social media post below.

Original Anvil guitarist, Dave Allison, has passed away. The news was announced by Tyler Reiner, who shared the social media post below. Details on his passing are currently unavailable. Condolences to his family, friends, and fans from all of us here at BraveWords.





Anvil drummer Robb "Robbo" Reiner has since shared his thoughts via social media:




"The word just reached me…Original band mate R.I.P. Dave Allison has passed away…


Had the opportunity this Spring to pay a unplanned surprise visit to Dave’s isolated cabin …Lo

Hot on the heels of its critically acclaimed, sold-out summer headline tour, BUSH is set to commemorate the 30th anniversary of its groundbreaking debut album, "Sixteen Stone", with a special vinyl reissue. This milestone release marks the beginning of an exciting new partnership with Craft Recordings, a label renowned for its dedication to preserving and amplifying iconic music. The multi-platinum LP, a cornerstone of the 1990s post-grunge era, is set to arrive on November 22 and is available for pre-order today.

Alongside a wide release, fans can get their hands on six limited-edition colored pressings: opaque red (available wide),silver (exclusive to independent record stores),translucent lemonade (via Best Buy),sepia (via Barnes & Noble) and highlighter smoke (available at Revolver),plus a "fog" pressing exclusive to the band's Spotify followers via Fans First.

Released on December 6, 1994, "Sixteen Stone" propelled BUSH into the international spotlight, selling millions of copies in the U.S. — the album recently certified seven times platinum by the RIAA — and producing a string of hit singles. With its blend of heavy guitar riffs and introspective lyrics, the album helped define the alternative-rock sound of the 1990s, cementing BUSH as one of the era's most successful bands.

Upon release, "Sixteen Stone" debuted at No.4 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for more than 70 weeks. The album's runaway success was driven by its singles, including the chart-topping hits "Glycerine" and "Comedown", both of which exploded at radio peaking at No. 1 in Billboard's Alternative Airplay charts and No. 1 in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. Other fan favorites on the album include "Machinehead", "Everything Zen" and "Little Things". The enduring popularity of these tracks has kept the album resonance for new generations of listeners, while its influence on modern rock remains undeniable.

The album's sound was shaped at Westway Studios in London, where the band worked with producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, a duo whose production credits include MADNESS, Morrissey and Elvis Costello. The result was a record that seamlessly blended grunge and hard rock with Britpop sensibilities, creating a unique sound that resonated with fans around the world.

Reflecting on the album's legacy in an interview with Heavy Consequence, frontman Gavin Rossdale shared, "I think there's something to be said about the truth of these songs — the way they resonate with people, what they do for people. That's the beauty of it. And I think the power of it."

The "Sixteen Stone" 30th-anniversary reissue follows the band's extensive "Greatest Hits" tour, celebrating their decades-long career and coinciding with the release of their "Greatest Hits" compilation. In addition, BUSH recently unveiled the "Loads Of Remixes" EP, a seven-track collection that reimagines some of their most iconic songs, offering fans a fresh take on their classic hits.

With over 24 million records sold, one billion streams and a procession of No. 1 singles, BUSH — current lineup comprising Gavin Rossdale (vocals, guitar),Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums) — stand tall as rock outliers whose imprint only widens as the years pass.

"Sixteen Stone" track listing:

Side A:

01. Everything Zen
02. Swim
03. Bomb
04. Little Things
05. Comedown
06. Body

Side B:

01. Machinehead
02. Testosterone
03. Monkey
04. Glycerine
05. Alien
06. X-Girlfriend

Pink Floyd has agreed to sell their recorded-music and name-and-likeness rights to Sony Music for approximately $400 million, sources confirm to Variety.


The deal, one of the largest of many in recent years, apparently has finally concluded despite decades of ongoing infighting and bitter words between the band members, notably chief songwriters Roger Waters and David Gilmour; also involved are drummer Nick Mason and the estates of keyboardist Richard Wright and founding singer-songwriter Roger “Syd” Barrett.


The deal comprises recorded-music rights but not songwriti

Norway is known for pioneering a legendary branch of extreme metal, but no band embodies the scene's epic resolve quite like Keep Of Kalessin.


This band has always possessed fantastic foresight. After all, they are named after one of Ursula K. Le Guin's arch-dragons. Their original lineup did split after two albums of dark, fast and war-faring black metal, but over the past two decades, founding member Arnt Obsidian has brought Keep Of Kalessin into the national spotlight. While he and his colossal crew have toured with the likes of Satyricon, Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir, they've carved their own legacy by forging a different path.


With seven albums and three EPs under their hilt, Keep Of Kalessin brandish an epic arsenal of extreme metal. The band's mastery at welding blackened melodies and scouring death metal riffs with magical keys and misty synthesizers has rewarded them handsomely. They've scored two Spellemannprisen nominations and scaled to the top of Norway's album charts. To further test their mettle, they became the first Norwegian metal band to compete for a spot in the Eurovision Song Contest.




Today, Keep Of Kalessin are cracking open the next chapter of their long and prosperous journey. The band have signed with Season Of Mist, who will release their next two albums and reissue some of the defining moments from their extensive back catalogue.


"We are very proud and excited to announce that we have signed with Season Of Mist," Arnt Obsidian says on behalf of his bandmates Robin Isaksen and Wanja Gröger. "I have known Michael for more than 20 years. He has always been passionate about the music and very supportive of his signings. Back in 1999, Keep Of Kalessin played three shows in Norway with Bloodthorn, who were signed to Season Of Mist at the time. Michael traveled all the way up from France just to see them.


"Our paths have crossed many times since that tour. I've watched Michael build one of the strongest metal labels in the world. His staff shares in his extreme passion. What they've accomplished is an amazing feat.


"Keep Of Kalessin has always been the underdog, the loner, the different kid. We're a unique band and cannot be put into a certain category. It's been difficult finding a home where our potential can be nurtured and harnessed to its full potential. But after talking with Michael and seeing how we fit with Season Of Mist's roster, I'm confident that we've now found a label that understands and can truly support us while we take the band to the next level. You can be sure that Keep Of Kalessin will return with the best Epic Extreme Metal we've ever done in 2025!"  








Lineup:


Arnt Obsidian - Guitars, Vocals
Robin Isaksen - Bass
Wanja Gröger - Drums


As one of the pioneers of epic extreme metal, Norway's Keep Of Kalessin have collected an impressive number of milestones.  


Since forming in 1993, Keep Of Kalessin have established a reputation for treasured releases. Their first two albums, Through Times of War (1997) and Agnen: A Journey Through the Dark (1999) paired the band’s sense for melody and virtuoso playing with the harshness traditionally expected from black metal.  


After the band’s original lineup split up, founding member and guitarist Arnt Obsidian served as Satyricon’s live guitarist from 2002 until 2007. He played hundreds of shows with the Norwegian black metal legends, including headlining Wacken Open Air in 2004.  


It was through this fortuitous partnership that Keep Of Kalessin reunited. Obsidian was joined by Frost for the 2003 Reclaim EP, which also features Atilla Csihar from Mayhem. Like all good things, this lineup did come to an end, but the band was far from done.  


In fact, Keep Of Kalessin came back in a big way during the mid-2000s. Experimenting with piano, keyboards and synthesizers earned the band’s next two albums, Armada (2006) and Kolossus (2008), nominations in the metal category at the Norwegian Grammy Awards.  


Then in 2010, Keep Of Kalessin shocked the world by becoming the first metal band to compete

De Mannen Broeders is the debut collaboration featuring Colin H. van Eeckhout and the Zeeuws Flemish folk icon Tonnie ‘Broeder’ Dieleman. The former is the frontman for Belgian post-metallers Amenra, a band known for their overwhelming heaviness both in sound and emotion. The latter is a Dutch folk singer whose music is inspired by his religious upbringing and the rural culture of his Zeelandic homeland, who has collaborated with Baby Dee and Bonnie Prince Billy.


Today, De Mannen Broeders share  the official short film for the album’s opening track & third single, “Alle Roem is Uitgesloten”. The film was directed by Sam Debaecke and shot by Thomas Vercauteren.


“This film was shot over the course of a year, initially made as a stand-alone film named A Blue Blue Dream. During the editing process a collaboration was formed between the filmmakers and De Mannen Broeders which gave the film and its narrative a new direction. Even though it was produced  largely separately from the music, loosely based on a dream concerning recent events of militarisation and conflict, the music and film formed a perfect match upon meeting each other. Later, inspired by the sounds and story of 'Alle Roem Is Uitgesloten' additional scenes were shot, and a new film came into being. We would like to thank the crew and everyone who enabled us to realize the film, as this was fully developed by volunteers and patrons.”  - Colin H. van Eeckhout & Sam Debaecke







De Mannen Broeders' debut album, Sober Maal, is out October 11 via Relapse Records. Pre-order on LP/CD/Digital here.





Tracklisting:


"Alle Roem Is Uitgesloten"
"Asemruumte"
"Verteere Heel"
"Van Licht Ontdaan"
"Grafschrift"
"Omer III"
"Onze Lieve Vrouwe"
"Ons Nu Voorbij"
"Sober Maal"


"Grafschrift" video:





More De Mannen Broeders info:


When Van Eeckhout & Dieleman met, they felt an instant connection.


“As a creating artist, it’s these encounters that you pray for,” says Colin. “As soon as you meet someone like that, you know you have to do something together.”


Their connection was deepened as they discovered how much they had in common, from their similar dialects and their strong ties to their homeland, to their leanings towards the spiritual and the melancholic. “My work is all about death and sadness,” says

Iconic guitarist and composer, Timo Tolkki, has announced the release of his latest single, “Faust”, inspired by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s classic work. The track features Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Jari Kainulainen (bass), and Peter Dellermann (drums).


The song delves into the eternal dilemma of Faust, a man who sells his soul to the Devil in exchange for unlimited knowledge and worldly pleasures. The video was directed by Anderson Bellini, the director behind the documentary Andre Matos – Maestro do Rock. Check it out below.


“Musically, I tried to create something a bit more modern, with a lot of detail in the track

In a new interview with Matt Sweeney, host of Guitar Moves, SLIPKNOT guitarist Jim Root spoke about the importance of the collaborative aspect of the band's songwriting process. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "You can self-produce at home and do everything in your bedroom now — from vocals to drums, to even recording acoustic drums. A lot of dudes are doing that too, with the technology that's out there today, which is cool. But I'm at a disadvantage 'cause I'm not a lyricist — I can't write vocals; I don't know what I'm doing there — so I feel like half of that world is closed off to me. It's almost like not having all your senses in a way. So when I write an arrangement, I have to kind of guess what Corey [Taylor, SLIPKNOT singer] or whoever I'm writing the song for or with would do vocally. Or I think, 'This is what he's gonna do. Here's an epic part for him to sing on,' and then he'll write scratch lyrics to it, and he won't even be singing on this part. I'm, like, 'That's the epic part of the song for you to shine on, and you haven't even sang on it.'"

Root went on to say that he and Corey "go back and forth" on music once he has presented the initial song idea to the vocalist. "Everybody's approach to things — you and I could be playing the exact same thing, but we're hearing it differently and our approach to it would be totally different, which is the other great thing about not just guitar, but instruments in general," Root explained. "So if I give Corey something that came out of my head that's like a five-minute arrangement and I've taken the time to layer guitars, put bass on it and program the drums and keyboards to thicken it up, and it sounds like a song to me, he might be hearing something that I have as, let's say, a pre-chorus, he might be hearing that as part of a verse, for the way he thinks about music. But that's how the evolution of our music can go. Then he'll give it back to me, and I'll be, like, 'Okay, wait a minute. You're looking at it that way, so maybe I need to rearrange how I'm thinking about this song.' Nobody wants to get an arrangement from somebody and then be, like, 'Yeah, yeah, that's cool,' and chop it up. But it's hard to communicate that. You hurt people's feelings or whatever. They feel a certain way about a song or whatever. So it's a big deal. Like, 'What? You don't like my arrangement?' or whatever. And it's not about that. You've gotta let that go and see where it can go and let it grow as a collaboration — unless you're doing everything 100 percent by yourself and you're in control of the entire creative process."

Elaborating on why checking his ego at the door when collaborating with his bandmates is an important part of the process, Jim said: "Anything that I write, as soon as I put it into the world of SLIPKNOT, I have to know that by the time that comes back, it may not sound anything like what I gave to them or what we end up working on together, and you have to be okay with that. After a while, you're listening to things and you're hearing them totally different, because they're evolving so much from where they began. If you start with one color red and you just keep throwing every color in the palette on top of it, but then you start taking things away and they start making new colors and then all of a sudden a new idea kind of presents itself out of something that four things make, all of a sudden these four different instruments are making one sound or one melody. It's, like, there's the fucking song right there. Like, holy shit."

Asked when he and his bandmates got to that place where they can collaborate with each other like that, or if it's something that was there from the very beginning, Root said: "No. I think everybody gets there in their own time. I don't think that's something you can teach anybody. I don't think that's anything that you can really… I don't know if you can go to Juilliard and learn that. You can know all the theory in the world and you can be the most fluent musician on the planet, but are you gonna make that song that makes people go, 'Oh, God'? and feel that thing. That's a human emotion. And I'm not saying that those learned musicians don't do that — I mean, absolutely, they fucking do — but being a dumb guitar player from Iowa [laughs], you get there naturally when it's time. The universe is, like, 'Okay, it's time for me to be your muse and to give you the inspiration that you need to make this music that doesn't just move you emotionally or make you feel like you've accomplished something, but makes those people out there connect with something in their life that they can relate to and emote with.'"

Jim added that "open-mindedness and trust" in his bandmates play a big role in the process. "There's a lot of trust with it too. Trust and patience and objective opinions," he said. "'Cause you don't always know what's best. You may think you know what's best right. 'Well, I wrote this idea. This riff came out of my head, so I know what's best for it.' But that's not always the case. Somebody might come in — Sid [Wilson, SLIPKNOT DJ] might come in and do one thing that all of a sudden makes it go, 'Holy shit. This is where it needs to go.' And the first and second record are full of stuff like that. Hell, even '[.5:] The Gray Chapter' and other records, it's, like, if Sid wouldn't have done a certain thing, or if Mick [Thomson, SLIPKNOT guitarist] wouldn't have had a certain effect on his pedal board, it might have been an entirely different song."

The first time Root was invited to join SLIPKNOT, the guitarist said no. He was already in a group, the Des Moines, Iowa metal band DEADFRONT. SLIPKNOT was in California recording its 1999 self-titled debut, and guitarist Josh Brainard had just left the group.

In a 2019 interview with WMMR, Root explained that he was first approached by SLIPKNOT's original singer Anders Colsefni about replacing the band's original guitarist Donnie Steele back in 1996. "I said no at that time because I hadn't been playing guitar and I knew that those guys were players," he told WMMR. "My chops were bad. I [hadn't] even touched a guitar in years, so I was just kind of, like, 'Nah, I'm just going to be a regular dildo, work and do all that.'"

In 1996, Root joined Taylor's STONE SOUR, only for Taylor to replace Colsefni in SLIPKNOT in 1997.

SLIPKNOT has since put out seven albums, including its latest, "The End, So Far". The band has won a Grammy, toured the world and put on its own festival, Knotfest. There have also been a number of low points and several lineup changes, most notably the death of founding member and bassist Paul Gray in 2010 of a drug overdose. Founding drummer Joey Jordison was fired in 2013.

Polish extreme metal giants, Behemoth, will release their monumental anniversary concert, XXX Years Ov Blasphemy, from 2021, on October 25, as 3CD + BluRay, 3LP and Digital Album.


The career-spanning show, held at and filmed on three different locations, has a total running time of 90 minutes, divided into three different acts. This very special set features fan favourites as well as a few selected deep cuts that Behemoth had rarely played live before.


As a second preview you can now watch the live video for the song "The Thousand Plagues I Witness" which originally appeared on their 1998 full length, Pandemonic Incantations. Stream the song here, watch the clip below:







XXX Years Ov Blasphemy will be released on the following formats:


- 3CD+Bluray Mediabook
- 3LP (Gold / Silver / Clear)
- Digital Album


Pre-order/pre-save here.





Tracklisting:


Act 1:
"Chant Of The Eastern Lands"
"Lasy Pomorza"
"Summoning (Of The Ancient Ones)"
"Blackvisions Of The Almighty"
"Cursed Angel Of Doom"
"Pure Evil and Hate"


Act 2:
"The Thousand Plagues I Witness"
"Decade Ov Therion"
"Christians To The Lions"
"44 (The Youth Manifesto)"
"Heru Ra Ha: Let There Be Might"
"Chant For Ezkaton 2000"


Act 3:
"Demigod
"At The Left Hand Ov God"
"Alas, Lord Is Upon Me"
"Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer"
"Rom 5:8"
"O Father O Satan O Sun!"


"Cursed Angel Of Doom" video:





Behemoth recently released a video trailer for "The Unholy Trinity" European tour, scheduled for April 2025. Find the clip below.


Says Behemoth: "Legions of Europe!

Danish/Faroese progressive metal collective, Iotunn, today unveil "Iridescent Way" and its accompanying video. The moving acoustic track appears on the band's second full-length album, Kinship, set for release on October 25 via Metal Blade Records.


Iotunn's Kinship is a massive album arising from the primeval sea. It's 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 "Iridescent Way", "It has been our wish for years to make an acoustic song. [Guitarist] Jens Nicolai [Gräs] and I have origins in playing classical guitar and this, combined with the folk tradition in the North as well as in the West as such, has been a huge gift and inspiration throughout the years. The intro and outro part came to me in a dream, and I woke up and played it. It laid a foundation for this song which is very special to the whole band, and we hold it very dearly."




Jens Nicolai agrees, "It's clearly a stand-out song on the album. Finally, we pulled ourselves together to do something like this. There's no brave or out-of-box decisions here. Just us doing something that also feels natural to us."





Kinship unfolds the story of a tribesman who is part of a prehistoric tribe. 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 are unfolded throughout the album. The album shows Iotunn unfold their musical worlds to their fullest scales to date which has been the dream achievement throughout the years creating the album.


"In my mind, Kinship is a grand work of heavy metal art, one that I am very proud to have taken part in creating," notes drummer Bjørn Wind Andersen. "Musically, it encompasses so many different colors and emotions. It is, in many ways, the music to which I've always dreamt of contributing drums. It is the finest accomplishment this far, for me personally and for the band."


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).





Iotunn‘s Kinship will be available on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:


- Dark Jade Marbled (US)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Olive Beige Marbled (EU)
- Teal w/ Red, Orange

COHEED AND CAMBRIA has released a new song, "Blind Side Sonny", the first taste of the band's next full body of work. Following 2022's highly regarded "Vaxis Act II: A Window Of The Waking Mind", which garnered critical success and the band's first Top 10 radio single of their career with "Shoulders", "Blind Side Sonny" marks COHEED AND CAMBRIA's arguably most aggressive track to date and unveils a brand new villain featured as part of the band's "The Amory Wars"/"Vaxis" universe. Alongside the new single, COHEED AND CAMBRIA shares the Max Moore-directed video that features the band performing to their rampant fanbase, while the insidious Sonny slowly seeps into the crowd.

Speaking about the new single, vocalist Claudio Sanchez shares, "'Blind Side Sonny' is a song about revenge. What may seem like an innocent choice to someone could be the breeding ground of another's malicious misunderstanding. Perception can be your worst enemy."

"Blind Side Sonny" arrives on the heels of COHEED AND CAMBRIA's North American tour with INCUBUS, which saw the band play legendary venues across the country, including sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York City and Allstate Arena in Chicago as well as a co-headline tour with legendary funk-prog masters PRIMUS. This October, COHEED AND CAMBRIA is slated to headline the Saturday night at Furnace Fest in Alabama in addition to both dates of When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas before they head to Australia to headline the multi-city Monolith festival.

For the last 20 years, COHEED AND CAMBRIA have continuously broken the mold of what a rock band can be, forging their own path and building a universe around their music unlike any other. Whether it is in the way their genre-spanning approach to songwriting has allowed them to bridge worlds without being contained to one, or the multifaceted story arc of their albums and comic book series which mark the longest-running concept story in music, COHEED AND CAMBRIA have consistently shaped new standards, never conformed. Comprised of Claudio Sanchez (vocals / guitar),Travis Stever (guitar),Josh Eppard (drums) and Zach Cooper (bass) the band has gripped listeners and press around the globe with their visionary compositions and conceptual mastery.

Photo credit: Alan Poizner

Italian metal titans LACUNA COIL will release their tenth studio album, "Sleepless Empire" — their first collection of new songs since 2019's "Black Anima" — on February 14th, 2025 via Century Media Records. The official music video for the LP's latest single, "Oxygen", filmed in Latina and directed by Daniele Tofani, that shows singer Cristina Scabbia in the lead role, will make its online debut today at 9 a.m. PDT / 12 p.m. (noon) EDT.

Scabbia commented on the track and her experience filming the video: "'Oxygen' is a powerful exploration of emotional struggle and inner conflict. The lyrics convey a sense of drowning in a toxic environment, both literally (in the video) and metaphorically, where attempts at salvation, represented by 'oxygen' are somehow futile. This song encapsulates the feeling of struggling to break free from what holds us down, when the journey is filled with difficulty. It's a raw anthem of vulnerability, resilience, and the courage to face what seems insurmountable. Having to stay in the water for so many hours during the video shoot was cathartic for me, the realization that the pleasant sensation of floating could in an instant become dangerous and deadly if I wasn't careful was very fitting with the song's theme."

Inspiration to create "Sleepless Empire" came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies". Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano (the band's hometown) and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with Marco "Maki" Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico. Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists: LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe on the song "Hosting The Shadow" and NEW YEARS DAY's Ash Costello on "In The Mean Time".

As a token of the band's love for the gaming world (which we've seen in past endeavors such as their card game "Horns Up" and their collaboration with Zombicide for which they wrote the track "Never Dawn"),the band have created an oracle "game" to be played with custom made dice available only in the box set version of "Sleepless Empire".

The new album is comprised of 11 tracks; each one is a richly textured soundtrack to a specific time and place. With "Sleepless Empire", that place is dark, cinematic, and unmistakably true to the unique characteristics that have given LACUNA COIL such a celebrated entry in the annals of heavy music.

The band shares: "'Sleepless Empire' captures, through our eyes, the chaos of a generation trapped in a digital world that never stops, where social media consumes identity and every day pushes us one step closer to becoming soulless zombies. We find ourselves in between, having witnessed a full analogic world and the modern one, confronting the evolution and searching for a true meaning of it all. Throughout every song, the journey is an undercurrent of rebellion, a desperate cry to reclaim oneself in an era that seems to have lost its sense of time and reality."

"Sleepless Empire" track listing

01. The Siege
02. Oxygen
03. Scarecrow
04. Gravity
05. I Wish You Were Dead
06. Hosting The Shadow (feat. Randy Blythe)
07. In Nomine Patris
08. Sleepless Empire
09. Sleep Paralysis
10. In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello)
11. Never Dawn

Later this month, LACUNA COIL will embark on a tour of U.K. and Ireland with Finland's BLIND CHANNEL. Tickets are available here.

LACUNA COIL played its first concert with the band's new touring guitarist — whose name has not yet been disclosed — on August 4 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.

This past June, LACUNA COIL announced the departure of guitarist Diego Cavallotti.

Cavallotti, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."

When LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure on June 17, the band wrote in a statement: "As we step into a new cycle, writing and recording our next album, we are parting ways with Diego 'DD' Cavallotti. We thank him for the many unforgettable moments shared over the years and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.

"All future live plans remain unchanged and the new songs are taking form, we can't wait to share them with our fans."

LACUNA COIL recently completed the "Ignite The Fire" U.S. tour with support from NEW YEARS DAY and OCEANS OF SLUMBER.

"Comalies XX" was made available on October 14, 2022 via Century Media Records.

LACUNA COIL celebrated the 20th anniversary of "Comalies", by performing it in its entirety at a one-night-only concert on October 15, 2022 at Fabrique in Milano.

"Comalies" was originally released on October 29, 2002 through Century Media Records. The LP, which featured the band's breakthrough single "Heaven's A Lie", has reportedly gone on to sell over 300,000 copies in the United States alone.

LACUNA COIL recording lineup:

Cristina Scabbia - Vocals
Andrea Ferro - Vocals
Marco Coti Zelati - Bass, Guitars, Synths
Richard Meiz – Drums

Photo credit: Cunene

Swedish metallers SOILWORK are back with a brand new single, "Spirit Of No Return", along with a powerful and visually striking music video. The track marks a significant milestone in the band's evolution, with longtime live guitarist Simon Johansson recently officially joining the ranks of the band.

"Spirit Of No Return" showcases SOILWORK's signature blend of frenzied intensity, soaring melodies, epic arrangements, and a touch of progressive complexity — traits that have cemented their reputation over the last decades. Johansson's contribution to the songwriting channels the band's essence while bringing fresh energy to their unmistakable sound.

The video is equally captivating, featuring a stunning sequence where the iconic SOILWORK symbol is reforged, representing the band's resurgence and renewed strength. This visual narrative perfectly complements the song's theme of perseverance and transformation.

SOILWORK frontman Björn "Speed" Strid comments on the song: "'Spirit Of No Return' is a fierce reminder of the past, but also an introduction of the new SOILWORK era, where we've taken the thrashier early days and dressed it in a new heavier suit. Lyrics are dealing with the urge of belonging and fitting in — and how it in the end can be disastrous as you abandon your true self.”

In October the band will embark on their biggest tour adventure yet, supporting IN FLAMES and ARCH ENEMY on a European arena tour.

SOILWORK's high-class creative consistency, which they have been delivering solidly throughout their career, is the virtue that probably best defines them. Founded at the end of 1995, SOILWORK released their debut album "Steelbath Suicide" in 1998, garnering a great early response. By 2001 SOILWORK had joined Nuclear Blast, and by 2003 they already had five records under their belt.

Continuing their tradition of high-quality musical output, 2022 saw their twelfth studio album "Övergivenheten", which represents the band in their growth and their current phase of life — marked by a time that probably no one on this planet will forget so quickly.

SOILWORK is:

Björn "Speed" Strid - vocals
Simon Johansson - guitars
Sven Karlsson - keyboards
Sylvain Coudret - guitars
Bastian Thusgaard - drums
Rasmus Ehrnborn – bass

Photo credit: Daniel Wahlström

During her Heavy Strings Theater Tour 2024, singer / songwriter Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering) performed a cover of the Slayer classic, "South Of Heaven". Fan-filmed video of a performance from the tour can be viewed below.










Slayer‘s second reunion show, scheduled for September 27 at the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, Kentucky, was canceled due to severe weather linked to the remnants of Hurricane Helene. The band are scheduled to perform at Sacramento's Aftershock on October 10.


Slayer reunited at Chicago's Riot Fest 2024 on September 22. Fan-filmed video can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"South Of Heaven"
"Reborn" (first time live since 2014)
"Blood Red"
"Postmortem"
"Repentless"
"Payback"
"Temptation"
"Jihad"
"Seasons In The Abyss"
"Born Of Fire"
"War Ensemble"
"Hate Worldwide"
"Disciple"
"Dead Skin Mask"
"Hell Awaits"
"213" (first time live since 1998)
"Mandatory Suicide"
"Raining Blood"
"Black Magic"
"Angel Of Death"

Metallica have shared more official video footage from their show at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 20. "Seek & Destroy" joins the previously posted video for "King Nothing" from the concert. Watch both clips below:










Metallica have launched the pre-order for the recordings from their September 27 and 29 concerts in Mexico City. It was their second round of shows following the September 20 / 22 No Repeat Weekend.





Says Metallica: "Relive the September 27 & 29 concerts from Estadio GNP Seguros with the ultimate souvenir... an official live audio recording on CD. Both shows are available now for pre-order in the Met Store individually and as a bundle. And in case you missed it, both shows from the previous weekend are available for pre-order, too!


Thanks again for four amazing shows across two incredible weekends in Mexico City. We hope to see you all again soon!"


Live CDs and bundles are available via the official Metallica online shop here.


Expected availability date is November 29.


"We’re kicking off year three of M72 with 21 North American shows across April, May, and June of next year," begins a recent M72 2025 update from Metallica. "This leg will stop in 14 cities with 18 shows in the round, plus two festival stops, seven No Repeat Weekends, and seven one-night-only stops.


"We’re continuing the M72 tradition of unique support acts - a mix of Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills - and setlists for each No Repeat Weekend show. The Snake Pit will remain in the center of the stage for all in the round (non-festival) stops. And we’ll be sure to have plenty of extracurricular events planned for the Metallica Family to stay busy around the shows.


"Enhanced Experiences ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit will be available. The I Disappear Ticket is back for the fan who wants to run away with us for all the shows. And new to M72, travel packages, including hotel, ticket, and shuttle options, will be available for most locations.


"North America is not our only stop in 2025, as this year, we will return to Australia and New Zealand after far too long away!!! Stay tuned for the full announcement coming VERY soon."





Tour dates:


April