In a new video shared by former Skid Row frontman Erik Grönwall, he performs the Celine Dion version of the Eric Carmen song, "All By Mself", originally released in 1975.


Celine Dion's version of the song was released as a single in 1996, taken from her fourth English-language studio album, Falling into You. 







Live In London, Skid Row's first official live album and concert film in a 35+ year career, is now available on heavyweight 2LP gatefold, CD + DVD, digital download and all streaming services via earMUSIC.


"Youth Gone Wild" is the latest video from the full program, and captures the rapture of a sold out 02 Forum Kentish Town London gone wild for the Skids and the culmination of a dream years in the making.


"As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and CBGB in New York City... our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from," the band says.





Following the release of their critically acclaimed, hugely fan-embraced 2022 album The Gang's All Here, the band took the 02 stage on October 22 and delivered a Skid Row set for the ages. Running through their multi-platinum career, the packed venue could barely contain the band's and the fans’ energy on "18 And Life," "Monkey Business," "I Remember You" and so many other peak Skid Row moments.


Live In London is a defining live rock album... a band playing at the top of their game in front of a crowd that expected no less. Both Skid Row and the 02 public went far beyond expectations...and now the world can share in that moment.


Order/save the album now on Vinyl, CD, and all digital formats, here





Live In London tracklisting:


"Slave To The Grind"
"The Threat"
"Big Guns"
"18 And Life"
"Piece Of Me"
"Livin' On A Chain Gang"
"Psycho Therapy"
"In A Darkened Room"
"Makin' A Mess"
"The Gang’s All Here"
"Riot Act"
"Tear It Down"
"Monkey Business"
"I Remember You"
"Time Bomb"
"Youth Gone Wild"


"Slave To The Grind" (Live In London) vide

Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time performing the Alphaville hit, "Forever Young", originally released in 1984. 





Majestica are back with their first new music of 2024. The Swedish power metal quartet proudly presents their latest single, "A New Beginning", which is the band's first release since 2021. Therefore, the song name not only fits in relation to this, but also speaks about a new beginning and letting things come to an end. Paired with musical elements reminiscent of the 80s, Majestica unleashes a new catchy tune upon their fans that puts the band back on the radar.







As if the release of this brand new single wasn't enough, Majestica have also delivered a brand new music video for their single, which you can watch below.


Tommy

US hard rockers SteelCity have released their new studio album, “Reverence”, via Frontiers Music Srl. The new track “No Angel” and the accompanying visualizer are also out now.


Bassist Jason Cornwell describes the track as “a musical piece that showcases a perfect blend of technical precision and emotional depth, with the added bonus of a memorable hook.”


Order the album here.




Initially started as a solo project by founding member, principal songwriter, and guitarist Mike Floros, SteelCity evolved into the band that it is today. Their influences include such melodic and hard rock heavyweights as KISS, Europe, and Winger. The name SteelCity is derived from the hard-working, blue-collar, Mid-Western town of Youngstown, Ohio.


By carefully assembling the most skilled, talented rock musicians available, Mike molded a band that became a vaunted force in the melodic hard rock underground. Enter Roy Cathey, lead vocalist extraordinaire. As a member of the early-90s sensation Cold Sweat, his Herculean voice has been appreciated by audiences worldwide.


Holding down the bottom end is Jason Cornwell, an experienced studio and touring musician, “The Boston Bassman” has shared the stage with such luminaries as Eric Martin. Skilled drummer Anthony White, also of Cold Sweat fame, completes the rhythm section.


Rounding out the group is Tony Stahl, whose keyboards bring texture and depth to SteelCity’s songs, thus completing the shape of their sound.





“Reverence” Tracklist:


"I Ain’t Dreamin’ Bout You"
"Hammer’s Fallin’"
"No Angel"
"Dizzy"
"Walk Away"
"B.A.N.K."
"Midnight Dancer"
"Broken"
"Losing Control"
"Blinded"
"The Journey"


"No Angel" visualizer:





"Walk Away" visualizer:

The new album from Norwegian black metal monsters Mork is out today on Peaceville. The album, titled Syv, was written, performed and recorded entirely by Mork mastermind Thomas Eriksen.


Alongside the release of the album today, Mork have shared an animated video by Matt Vickerstaff that hearkens back to the brutality of days gone by. About the video, Eriksen said “How to settle an argument or a feud in the old days, fight til death. Two men on a small isle. The boat will only carry one man back. A historical theme wrapped in a simple and yet traditional sounding soundscape. Holmgang!”


Following on from Thomas Eriksen’s self-titled Udåd project debut earlier this year; a dark release which explored the more underground & murkier-sounding waters of primitive black metal from a by-gone era, Syv emerges as the new pinnacle of Mork’s and Eriksen’s ever-evolving journey, as well as a creative expansion both sonically & compositionally over all prior works.




Syv also undoubtedly represents Mork’s most expressive and diverse works to date, with exquisite melodies interspersed with brutal and even occasionally progressive riffs amid an ever-present air of melancholy. This forms a perfect backdrop for Eriksen’s thematic dive through the contemplations of looming mortality, and digressions through the depths and contrasts of human existence; from the blackness of despair, to the pride & strength in overcoming, as well as absorbing additional inspiration from tales of old.


“We have reached the seventh chapter of the Mork saga. As I have stated earlier, it has been important for me to let the music evolve over the span of albums. It has really been a rewarding couple of years writing and recording Syv. When listening back the finished product I felt a great satisfaction. Brutal riffs meeting melancholy and melodic passages with a slight progressive approach. Lyrically scraping the bottom of human existence and frailty as well as touching an immense pride and strength. This is probably my most varied album to date. Which in my mind makes a perfect outcome and addition to the Mork catalogue.” – Thomas Eriksen


Syv was performed, recorded & mixed by Eriksen himself, with engineering assisted by Freddy Holm (who also contributes with strings and synths). Mastering work on the album was carried out by studio mastering guru Maor Appelbaum (Sepultura) in collaboration with Jack Control at Enormous Door (Darkthrone).


Syv is available on black vinyl gatefold LP, cream white vinyl gatefold LP, jewel case CD with 12-page booklet and digitally. Order at this location.





Tracklisting:


“I Tåkens Virvel”
“Holmgang”
“Heksebål”
“Utbrent”
“Med Døden Til Følge”
“Ondt Blod”
“Tidens Tann”
“Til Syvende Og Sist”
“Omme”


"Holmgang" lyric video:





“Utbrent” video:

Portland, Oregon's Unto Others spent their seasons in the abyss and arise from the other side with their third full-length Never, Neverland, out today via Century Media.   


The record is equally drey while never letting go of the energy and darkness that is Unto Others; one that owes as much to The Cure as it does to self-professed influences like The Sisters of Mercy and Iron Maiden.  Simply put: this is the record where Unto Others prove themselves far more than just a one-trick, blackened steed, but instead, a band on the verge of something wickedly terrible and utterly timeless.


To celebrate Never, Neverland's release, Unto Others have shared an electrifying performance video for album single "Suicide Today."  Gabriel Franco comments, "The song is about bad decisions, and how they can proliferate into a hard life, or a sad death. Living in a big city, you see a lot of sadness and despair. So much you can bathe in it if you want.  I used to be fascinated with these things, and it comes out in a lot of our music. But I as I get older I am more interested in the silver linings that surround it all. The beauty of someone lending a helping hand, or a simple kind gesture. These are the ways one person can make a difference. 'Suicide Today' is a positive song. I hope someone who needs it can take something from it worthwhile."







Never, Neverland also marks a new epoch for Unto Others (rounded out by guitarist Sebastian Silva, bassist Brandon Hill and drummer Colin Vranizan). Having emerged in 2017, the band turned heads with the Don't Waste Your Time EP, followed by the beloved 2019 full length Mana and 2021's heavy hitting Strength LP.  Now, Unto Others build upon the seductive and beguiling foundation they've hewn out of a bedrock of goth, classic rock, punk, black metal and heavy metal.  


Bringing in producer Tom Dalgety for Never, Neverland was a welcome change for Franco and crew. The results of the month spent in Portland’s Falcon Studios (where they recorded Mana) with Dalgety deliver majestically on Unto Others’ shadowy promise— guitars swell and thrash with color and shape while a newfound confidence and dimension creeps into Gabe’s vocals.  Never, Neverland weaves a spell of its own and cements Unto Others as the reflectively-bespeckled visage of goth today.


Order on Bandcamp.





Tracklisting:


“Butterfly”
“Momma Likes The Door Closed”
“Angel Of The Night”
“Suicide Today”
“Sunshine”
“Glass Slippers”
“Fame”
“When The Kids Get Caught”
“Flatline”
“Time Goes On”
“Cold World”
“I Am The Light”
“Farwell”
“Raigeki 雷撃”
“Hoops”
“Never, Neverland”
“Pet Sematary” (Bonus cover version)


"Momma Likes The Door Closed":





"Angel Of The Night":





“Raigeki 雷撃” video:





See Unto Others on tour across the globe this fall. Buy tickets here.


Unto Others lineup:


Gabriel Franco - Vocals, Guitars
Sebastian Silva - Guitar

LINKIN PARK played a new song called "Heavy Is The Crown" live for the first time during the band's concert earlier tonight (Sunday, September 22) at Barclays Arena in Hamburg, Germany. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.

"Heavy Is The Crown" will be the theme song of League Of Legends' World Championship 2024 esports tournament and will also appear on LINKIN PARK's upcoming album "From Zero", which will arrive on November 15 via Warner. It will mark LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.

The studio version of "Heavy Is The Crown" is expected to be released later this week. A teaser for the recording is available below.

Earlier this month, LINKIN PARK released the first single from "From Zero", a song called "The Emptiness Machine".

Hamburg marked the third concert of LINKIN PARK's comeback mini-tour, following dates in Los Angeles and New York. All three shows featured LINKIN PARK performing a two-hour set on a high-tech stage shaped like an aircraft carrier, allowing for a unique production as well as a greater-than-usual number of tickets sold at each venue.

As was the case with the Los Angeles and New York shows, tonight's gig showcased LINKIN PARK's new singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who have joined returning members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Joe Hahn in the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder is filling in for Delson at all LINKIN PARK concerts for the foreseeable future.

The Hamburg show will be followed by stops in London; Seoul; and Bogota, Colombia. A longer tour is promised for 2025.

In an interview with Billboard about LINKIN PARK's comeback, Shinoda explained that drummer Rob Bourdon — who had founded the band with Mike and Brad — had decided to exit LP.

"Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band," Shinoda said. "And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The 'Hybrid Theory' re-release [in 2020] and 'Papercuts' release [this April], he didn't show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best."

According to a press release, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell and Hahn "quietly began meeting up again in recent years" and "rather than 'trying to restart the band,'" they worked with numerous musicians and "found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain."

Regarding the band's new lineup and future plans, Shinoda said in a statement: "Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was XERO. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future — embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead."

"The Emptiness Machine" is said to "channel the DNA of LINKIN PARK." Shinoda said the band feels "really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we've made together," adding that they are "weaving together the sonic touchpoints we've been known for and still exploring new ones."
Sneak peek of the studio version of the Worlds 2024 Anthem, "Heavy Is The Crown" by Linkin Park | #LeagueOfLegendspic.twitter.com/k7bFYgRTJ2

— League of Legends Leaks & News (@LeagueOfLeaks) September 22, 2024

GUNS N' ROSES guitarist Slash was joined by AC/DC singer Brian Johnson at the inaugural Sky Arts Awards at the Roundhouse in London, United Kingdom on Tuesday (September 17) to perform a cover of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor". Professionally filmed video of the performance — courtesy of Johnson's official YouTube channel, Brian Johnson TV — can be seen below.

Slash collaborated with Johnson on a cover of "Killing Floor" for the guitarist's latest solo album, "Orgy Of The Damned", a collection of 12 revitalized blues classics. The track features Johnson on vocals and AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler on harmonica.

Regarding how he got Johnson and Tyler to appear on "Killing Floor", Slash told Steve Migs of Audacy Check In: "That's a good question. I had the song and I was trying to think who would be great to do it. And Brian came to mind. And I've known Brian for a pretty long time now. And he just has that great kind of grit to his voice. And I called him up and it turns out that he's a huge fuckin' Howlin' Wolf protégé. And so he had been in cover bands before AC/DC and even before GEORDIE. And also, he was telling me that he's doing something at present where he's putting together sort of a blues-orchestra thing. Don't quote me on that, but something to that [effect]. Anyway, and so he was excited to do that particular song anyway. And that's the key thing that you're looking for, is that when you call any of these great artists up and you have a cover song that you want to attack and if they would be willing to participate, that the song speaks to them, that it has meaning to them too, not just me. And that's how it was with Brian. He was, like, 'Oh, fucking great. Yeah, let's do this.' And then Steven Tyler came in. He came to my studio after Brian had already done the vocal. And I'm trying to remember exactly… I mean, he came in to do the harmonica or he just happened to have a harmonica with him. I can't remember, but I played him the track. It was, like, 'This is great.' So it was very spontaneous. It was very just sort of inspired in the moment, which is a great thing to be able to capture, especially nowadays because people just, by and large, don't make records like that now. Everything is very well thought out and cultivated and homogenized and produced, and this was just very, very off the cuff."

Released in May via Gibson Records, "Orgy Of The Damned" also features such guest vocalists as Iggy Pop, THE BLACK CROWES' Chris Robinson, Gary Clark Jr., ZZ TOP's Billy F Gibbons, Dorothy, BAD COMPANY's Paul Rodgers, pop star Demi Lovato and country artist Chris Stapleton.

The video for "Killing Floor", which can be seen below, offers a look at Slash and his blues band — Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),Michael Jerome (drums) and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar) — recording the song in the studio.

Slash previously said about the track: "'Killing Floor' is one of my favorite Howlin' Wolf songs, but also one of the iconic blues riffs that turned me on as a young guitar player. I've always wanted to cover it in some capacity and this record was the perfect vehicle. But playing it with this band, and with Brian Johnson singing, it was an achievement I would never have imagined back then. Let alone Steven Tyler providing the harp."

Johnson stated: "When Slash asked me to sing on 'Killing Floor', I said yes immediately. It was one of the first songs I learned in my very first band, and when he played me the backing track it was a no-brainer, and Steven's harmonica is so bloody hot. I had a ball with Slash in the studio, and I think we did this great old song justice. Rock on."

Cleanbreak, the unit consisting of powerhouse singer James Durbin and guitarist Mike Flyntz (Riot V), today shares a new single, "Unbreakable". This is the second single off the band's upcoming new album, We Are The Fire, out October 11 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch a lyric video below:





Since their 2022 debut album Coming Home, Cleanbreak has continued to craft music that pays homage to more traditional American heavy metal sounds like Riot and Fifth Angel. We Are The Fire, the band's second chapter, continues that trajectory, again showing off the immense talent of both Durbin and Flyntz. They are joined by Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline, Vanden Plas) on bass, keyboards, and backing vocals while Nicholas Papapicco (Robin McAuley, Toby Hitchcock) completes the lineup on drums.




About the album, Durbin comments: "This is a great collection of songs that I had the pleasure of singing and interpreting. Mike Flyntz is an absolute beast on guitar and it’s been an honor working with him. Thank you to all of our collective fans and the Cleanbreak fans. We love making music for you!"


Pre-order We Are The Fire here.





Tracklisting:


"Warrior's Anthem"
"Never Gone"
"Unbreakable"
"Can't Lose Hope"
"Breathless"
"Deal With Yourself"
"Love Again"
"Bide Our Time"
"Start To Breathe"
"We Are The Fire"
"Resilience In Our Souls"


"Warrior's Anthem" lyric video:

ProgPower USA 2024 took place from September 4 - 7th, 2024, at Center Stage, in Atlanta, GA. Aristsi on the bill included Amorphis, Winger, Frozen Crown, Elegy, Soen, Striker, Pagan's Mind and more.


Promoter Glenn Harveston has shared the following message in the aftermath:


"There has been universal praise across social media that Winger not only had the best sound this year, but perhaps in the history of the fest. Every single thing was crystal clear and pitch perfect....and zero backing tracks.




There are two reasons:   


1) Their soundman is world class.


2) They took this show so seriously that they went out and rented the exact FOH board that Center Stage has and rehearsed with it for a few days prior to the fest. They soundchecked for 45 mins on Saturday morning without even going through a full song - just jumped around to certain verses and choruses of different songs: 'Third chorus, A- minor...' and they instantly started on that spot.


I have never seen anything like it. They were just testing various sound aspects they had worked on prior to even walking in the door. No one has ever done that at the fest and I doubt no one ever will again."


Check out Winger's full set below, which featured the band's Pull album performed in its entirety.


Setlist:


"Blind Revolution Mad"
"Down Incognito"
"Spell I'm Under"
"In My Veins" (live debut)
"Junkyard Dog (Tears on Stone)"
"The Lucky One" (live debut)
"In for the Kill" (first time since 2002)
"No Man's Land"
"Like a Ritual"
"Who's the One"
"Rainbow in the Rose"
- guitar solo -
"Black Magic" (Reb Beach song)
"Headed for a Heartbre

National Album Day has announced the exclusive list of limited edition albums that are being released for the annual event celebrating the art of the album on Saturday, October 19, this year themed on Great British Groups. Among them are Judas Priest's classic 1980 album, British Steel.


The special titles will be available to purchase in retailers across the UK on NAD itself, with some already available for pre-order. National Album Day is presented in association with official broadcast partner BBC Radio 2.


Last week, iconic alternative rock band Shed Seven were announced as the first album champions to celebrate this year’s theme and most recently, it was announced that Kilimanjaro Live, one of the UK’s leading music promoters, will be the official live partner for this year.




Celebrating their 55th anniversary as a band, English heavy metal icons Judas Priest are reissuing their seminal sixth studio album, British Steel, on transparent, black and white splatter vinyl. Originally released in April 1980, it features the singles "Living After Midnight", "Breaking The Law" and "United". In 2017, it was ranked third on Rolling Stone's

In a recent interview with former THE HOURGLASS guitarist Rudi Messiah, DESTRUCTION bassist/vocalist Schmier spoke about METALLICA's evolution from thrash metal pioneers to one of the biggest rock bands in the world with their 1991 self-titled LP, commonly known as the Black Album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think they've always been the first ones doing something. I think when they created their style of thrash metal, they've been one of the first bands and they did it very good. They made the right decisions on producers and stuff. And also when they changed, when the big change came with the Black Album, they chose the right producer for it. And it was a very different album, but it has great songs. So, I think it's a lot of making the right decisions and having the right producer, having the right team around you. But also, you have to write good songs. And they've been writing a lot of great songs. In the last years, not so much, I think. The last years of METALLICA, the last albums, they don't really touch me so much. The last album [2023's '72 Seasons'] is not bad, I have to say… There's this one song that sounds like DIAMOND HEAD, the first single ['Lux Æterna']. It's actually a pretty cool song. But, yeah, I think they're there because they were one of the first bands doing something new. And when they changed, they changed to amazing songwriting and amazing production with Bob Rock at that time. So they did they did a lot of things right, of course, at the right time. And that's how the world works — the right timing is always most important."

Back in 2019, Schmier was asked by Finland's Rauta about why American thrash bands like METALLICA and SLAYER achieved greater success than German acts such as DESTRUCTION and KREATOR. He responded: "You have to understand the Americans are sellers — they know how to sell themselves when it comes to image, when it comes to catchy songs. I mean, look at METALLICA — they started to write catchy songs, and then they became famous… They still fill stadiums. And SLAYER, of course, they had their 'cult' status at one point, and then they were up on this [level] that is kind of untouchable, basically. I think the American bands, if you look at the age, they are all a little older than us. We were the little kids when the American bands were, like, two years older than us, three years older. So, they were all technically also the better players at that time, because we were just 17 and they were already 21. So, I think that is one of the reasons why the American metal was more famous. The big wave came from America; the big labels were from America. The productions were flawless at the time. The first METALLICA albums still sound great. Even the guy was a Danish guy who produced them. They did a lot of things right. And I think that made the American bands, of course, a little bit ahead of the time, ahead of the schedule. And that's why they're so legendary nowadays."

DESTRUCTION, known as one of the "Teutonic Four", alongside KREATOR, SODOM and TANKARD, was reunited with the other three acts at the "Klash Of The Ruhrpott" concert on July 20 at Amphitheater Gelsenkirchen in Gelsenkirchen, Germany.

In a January 2023 interview with Felipe Canales of Chile's iRock, Schmier was asked if he and his DESTRUCTION bandmates have ever considered changing their sound in order to reach a wider audience. He responded: "In Germany, we say, 'Don't change your winning recipe. Stick to the guns. Stick to what you can do best.' And for me, what I can do best is playing thrash metal. Every album we do sounds a little bit different, but it always will sound like DESTRUCTION.

"When you get older, it's very easy to slow down," Schmier explained. "A lot of musicians, when they [get] older, they wanna slow down; they wanna play blues; they wanna play more mellow music. For me, that's never been the case. I think the older you [get], the more you go crazy about it. You wanna still show the young kids how it's done. When we go out there to the festivals, we compete… To all those young bands, I could be [their] father, so I have to be the role model. So that's how I see it. Slowing down and changing something is not what we do."

As for whether it's harder for him to play physically challenging music as he gets older, Schmier said: "It's like in football — the old, experienced player, he has the feel for it. The young player runs more and runs faster. The old player has the eye and the brain. And it's the same in music. Of course I have to train harder to go on stage, but my experience of my age is great because I have better voice control. I know more what I want. I know what I don't want and where the band belongs. So this experience of a certain 40 years in the music business is, of course, a great one."

DESTRUCTION's latest studio album, "Diabolical", came out in April 2022 via Napalm Records.

In August 2021, DESTRUCTION officially parted ways with founding guitarist Michael "Mike" Sifringer and replaced him with Martin Furia. The Argentinian-born, Belgian-based Furia is best known for his work as sound engineer and producer for such bands as NERVOSA and EVIL INVADERS.

Sifringer was the only member of DESTRUCTION to have remained constant throughout the band's career. Schmier appeared on DESTRUCTION's first three albums before exiting the band and being replaced by POLTERGEIST vocalist André Grieder. André's sole recorded appearance with DESTRUCTION was on the "Cracked Brain" album, which came out in 1990. Schmier rejoined DESTRUCTION in 1999.

Photo credit: Jennifer Gruber

MEGADETH and Peter Frampton both had their concerts canceled at Virginia Credit Union Live! at the Richmond Raceway in Richmond, Virginia earlier in the week.

On Sunday, September 15, MEGADETH wrote on social media: "Due to unexpected and unpredictable circumstances, our show tonight, Sunday, Sept. 15, in Richmond, Virginia, has been canceled and will not be rescheduled."

Two days later, Frampton, who was scheduled to perform on Tuesday night, also called off his show.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, our show tonight at Virginia Credit Union Live has been cancelled," a post on Frampton's Facebook page read. "We apologize for the inconvenience. Refunds will be available at point of purchase."

After Frampton's cancelation, AEG Presents, which handles booking for the 6,000-capacity venue, did not respond to requests for comment from the Richmond Times-Dispatch. But the English-American guitarist and songwriter addressed the cancelations while performing at the The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Thursday (September 19). Frampton told the crowd at the gig: "So, we had a show canceled the other day because of weather. And also MEGADETH did a soundcheck, I think a couple of days before our show, and after they finished their soundcheck, there was structural damage to the stage. I'm not blaming them — could have been another band — but it looks pretty like it. So, sorry, MEGADETH. I had to rat on you."

In 2017, Virginia Credit Union Live! celebrated its 25th anniversary by forging a multi-year partnership with AEG Presents. The partnership brought new acts to the venue as well as continued the tradition of being the hub for outdoor concerts in Richmond.

Richmond Raceway and AEG Presents are in the eighth year of an exclusive 10-year booking agreement for Virginia Credit Union Live!, which is said to be the only covered amphitheater in the greater Richmond region.

Virginia Credit Union, a financial cooperative serving more than 320,000 members, continues its multi-year agreement on the naming rights of the amphitheater. As a partner since 2018, Virginia Credit Union is actively a part of the concert experience with the distinctive Virginia Credit Union Live! brand represented throughout the facility to colorfully convey the energy and excitement of the venue. Virginia Credit Union members also get exclusive access to pre-sales and free parking for concerts.

In May 2019, Richmond Raceway unveiled a completed $500,000 amphitheater redevelopment at Virginia Credit Union Live! The capital investment included a reseating of the venue to create flexible seating and additional aisles to offer fans the best views and concert experience. The new removable padded seats in the front half of the venue have provided flexible options for the amphitheater to offer reserved seating, general admission seating or a standing pit area. The expanded pit area has allowed more rock and alternative shows to perform at the venue.

Additional improvements to Virginia Credit Union Live! include a new stage, speaker system on Commonwealth Mall, new landscaping along the seating entrance, new restroom open on the hill and new backstage fencing. Past improvements include a porta bar on the hill overlooking concerts, public WiFi, updated public restrooms and redeveloped back of house to improve the experience for entertainers with updated star rooms and other new features.

Due to unexpected and unpredictable circumstances, our show TONIGHT, Sunday, September 15th, in Richmond, Virginia, has...

Posted by Megadeth on Sunday, September 15, 2024

In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who joined the band a year ago as the replacement for Kiko Loureiro, was asked about the progress of the songwriting sessions for MEGADETH's follow-up to 2022's "The Sick, The Dying... And The Dead!" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, actually, already a while back Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] started talking about making the next album and kind of starting to do pre-production. And as soon as he mentioned that, and kind of before that already, once it was clear that I'm gonna be staying with the band, then I kind of started putting my ideas down and just recording any riff ideas that I feel like could be something that could be used in MEGADETH. And by now I have a bunch of riffs and ideas that I've gathered. And then Dave told me that he likes to work the way that everybody does their riffs and then at some point we're gonna get together and then review things and see which riffs are gonna work together and then work out the parts between the riffs to kind of connect things and then that way come up with the skeletons for the songs. And I'm really looking forward to doing that and hearing how he feels about my ideas as well. But what I've done so far is whenever I have a moment to sit down, I usually just record a little video of myself playing a riff idea and then when we have a day off at the hotel, then I would record that properly and then just like have this folder of riffs that we can look into at some point. So, [I'm] really looking forward to that. And Dave has been really supportive and sounds like he wants to have all the guys' input on the next album, which is really exciting."

Last month, Mustaine was asked by Chuck Armstrong of "Loudwire Nights" how the dynamic within MEGADETH has changed since Mäntysaari's addition to the band. Mustaine responded: "Well, we are a band again. It doesn't feel like me and some side players or some session guys. Not that it felt like that with any of the previous lineups, but that was one of the fears that I had. I feel like Kiko did us a really huge courtesy by helping us find Teemu because with Kiko needing to step down… I thought I was gonna finish my career out with Kiko, and when things came up with him, he couldn't tour anymore because he needed to be home for his kids. So I see he's touring again, which I'm happy that he's still playing. But he had to go home. And when he did, he introduced us to Teemu. And it was an even closer connection between me and Teemu than Kiko and I had. We'll [Kiko and I] always be friends, but this new relationship I have is — it harkens me back to the days when we had Marty Friedman in the band and the four of us actually felt like a band."

Mäntysaari stepped in September 2023 for Loureiro, who announced earlier that month that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland. It was later revealed that the 37-year-old Finnish musician would continue to play guitar for MEGADETH for the foreseeable future, with Loureiro seemingly having no plans to return.

Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.

Earlier last month, Mustaine was asked by Kyle Meredith what Mäntysaari has brought to MEGADETH that wasn't there before. Mustaine responded: "God, he's such an amazing talent. And as far as being a human is concerned, he's a really humble guy. He's fun to be around because he's kind of — there's this 'greenness' to him, if that's a word, greenness. He makes it really fun because he's gone from being in a band that was pretty well known to being in MEGADETH. And so everything's very new for him at this level. And for us, we get to kind of enjoy ourselves, because we sometimes forget where we're at and then you see other people that, 'Wow, the bread is round and so is the meat,' that kind of shit. And it just makes him really happy, and it just reminds you of how good you have it."

Regarding how much a lineup change like that actually alters the musical DNA of the band, Dave said: "Well, it depends on who the new player is. If they're willing to learn the parts, then the songs either, they stay where they are or they get better. And a lot of times when you have a new player, like when Teemu came in, he played everything identical to the original players. So, he's been one of the best guitar players to step in and play somebody else's stuff. I don't know what his stuff's going to sound like yet, which I'm looking forward to finding out."

This past June, Mustaine told Sakis Fragos of Rock Hard Greece that he thinks Teemu will contribute to the songwriting process on MEGADETH's next studio album. "I think he's gonna be a great addition to MEGADETH," Dave said. "He already has. We're playing more songs now than we were playing before. And that has nothing negative to say about any of the previous lineups. It just says that he knew more about the band and understands the metal backbone of so many of these songs more than some of the other people would understand it."

He continued: "When you're a metal guy, I think you understand metal compositions more than somebody who, say for example, knows progressive rock like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Chris Broderick does, or somebody who knows bossa nova, which Kiko does, or somebody that plays jazzy, like [former MEGADETH guitarist] Glen Drover would play, maybe Al Pitrelli. These guys all have their strengths."

Mustaine added: "I've often thought, although I've never said it, I do believe that when somebody gets singled out by me, that's pretty much it for them. They've been indoctrinated into the world of great guitar players, and from that moment on, their life will change."

In early October 2023, Mustaine told Shaggy of the 94.9 and 104.5 The Pick radio station in Idaho Falls, Idaho about Teemu's addition to MEGADETH: "People are losing their minds over how things are going right now 'cause we have a really good chemistry together."

In September 2023, Mustaine was equally full of praise for Mäntysaari, telling Wes Styles in a separate interview: "He's really great. And I'm super excited with what Teemu has brought. And it's uncanny because he plays a lot like Marty. And it's really exciting. At certain times I just close my eyes during the set and I just hear these songs played, whether like Kiko in the past or Teemu now, it just sounds really magic because these guys have learned these songs and they're not just going out there and just banging their guitar around; they actually learned the solos from some of the virtuosos that I've played with over my career."

ANTHRAX vocalist Joey Belladonna made his live debut with DIO DISCIPLES on August 1 at the 2024 edition of the Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany. Professionally filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

Featured songs:

00:00 Holy Diver
05:58 Heaven And Hell
13:23 Rainbow In The Dark

DIO DISCIPLES consist of members of Ronnie James Dio's band, supplemented with top-shelf musicians who have more than earned their stripes. In addition to keyboardist Scott Warren (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, WARRANT) and drummer Simon Wright (DIO, AC/DC, UFO),the band's current lineup is completed by vocalist Oni Logan (LYNCH MOB),bassist Bjorn Englen (YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, QUIET RIOT),guitarist Ira Black (BULLETBOYS, LIZZY BORDEN, VICIOUS RUMORS, VIO-LENCE) and the latest addition, the aforementioned Belladonna.

Billed as a "celebration of the music and legacy of the greatest singer in the world, Ronnie James Dio," DIO DISCIPLES have been playing Ronnie's music on tour in a bid to keep their old bandmate's memory alive.

Four years ago, Wright told The Metal Voice that the proposed DIO DISCIPLES debut album had been put "on hold" so that he and his bandmates could focus on the "Dio Returns" tour. At the time, Simon said that "about four or five demos" had been laid down of "different songs" that he and former DIO guitarist Craig Goldy had been working on. As for the material's musical direction, Wright said: "It's difficult to pin it down, because some of [the tracks] are a little different. Still a little bit of [the] DIO [sound], the way Ronnie would write, obviously, 'cause that's rubbed off on Craig, and I hear things too. But at the moment, it's a little bit eclectic. So that was gonna be one thing we were gonna approach. We need to consolidate it and make it into a DIO DISCIPLES sound. So that was a conversation we were having: 'We need to figure out where we're going with this.' At the moment, it's a bit all over the place. But they sound good. They're great ideas."

Several years ago, Goldy revealed DIO DISCIPLES were planning to start work on a project of original material, and they debuted three of the new songs during their May 2016 appearance at the "Ride For Ronnie" motorcycle rally and concert in Encino.

Craig previously told "Talking Metal" that he has been collaborating with fellow former DIO member Jeff Pilson on the material for the debut DIO DISCIPLES album.

Goldy joined DIO during the "Sacred Heart" tour in 1986 after original guitarist Vivian Campbell was fired from the band following a contentious business disagreement with the singer and Ronnie's management.

Pilson is best known for playing bass with DOKKEN and FOREIGNER, but he also toured with DIO in the 1990s and performed on three of the group's albums — "Strange Highways" (1993),"Angry Machines" (1996) and the group's tenth and final studio release, "Master Of The Moon" (2004).

Owens told Canada's The Metal Voice about DIO DISCIPLES' forthcoming LP: "We're not making a DIO record. We couldn't do that. The best thing is, we've all done different types of records, but there's always some similarity to the classic metal and classic rock format, because we have this in us. But we still always move forward a little bit. But that's what it's gonna be. JUDAS PRIEST, DIO, AC/DC — all these influences are in us, and they're not gonna leave us. It's just us writing songs. It's not us writing songs to sound like something; it's us going in and writing songs."

In 2018, Wendy said that DIO DISCIPLES' debut album would be released via BMG.

Belladonna recently launched a tribute band to Ronnie James Dio. The new group played four shows in Florida in August, performing music from DIO, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW.

A decade ago, Belladonna spoke to Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner about the ANTHRAX frontman's involvement in "This Is Your Life", the tribute to album to Ronnie James Dio. Asked why ANTHRAX chose to record a cover version of the BLACK SABBATH classic "Neon Knights", Belladonna said: "I think I suggested it. When we talked about doing something, collectively, we all like the song, so it was a no-brainer. We could pretty much pick anything… I went for the heavier."

Asked if recording the "Neon Knights" cover was a more emotional experience than some of the other cover versions ANTHRAX had recorded over the years, Belladonna said: "For me, no. I just love doing that type of thing, and it was another day for me to sing something of his. Obviously, I'm excited, because it is a record, but I don't think I did it any different. In fact, I only did a couple of takes. I mean, I actually have on video the first time I tried it, and it pretty much sounds like what it sounds like already. It was business as usual for me."

Regarding what Ronnie meant to him, Joey said: "Ronnie's an inspirational singer for me." He added: "I really believe that as you grow up, you're inspired by the people that perform and things that you would like to hear yourself be in that kind of category and have such a talent like he did and just be inspired. [He was a] great human being, great musician — just all that… He was just the slickest. He was so heavy but melodic, as well as his attitude about everything. He had great charisma."

Belladonna also spoke about the first impression Ronnie made on him. "He made me laugh big time," Joey said. "He just want[ed] to be funny. And yet he [was] so sincere and [could] have that serious point of view. You need to be enthralled with that when you're around him, to have him speak to you with that kind of attitude and spunk that he had. And I'd been around him when things weren't so good, which I won't bring up right now, but to have him share that with me, which was more private, about being in his band — things like that. Just to engage in that with me and run that by me."

Belladonna, whose most recent return to ANTHRAX was officially announced in May 2010, was originally the lead singer of ANTHRAX from 1984 to 1992, and was considered part of the influential thrash metal group's classic lineup (alongside guitarists Dan Spitz and Scott Ian, bassist Frank Bello and drummer Charlie Benante),which reunited and toured during 2005 and 2006. His voice was featured on over 10 albums, which reportedly sold eight million copies worldwide.

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY's founding bassist Mike Dean has announced his departure from the band.

Dean revealed his decision to leave CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in a statement posted on social media on Friday (September 20).

He wrote: "Recently I made a decision to step away from CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, a band started 40-odd years ago by Reed Mullin, Woody Weatherman, and myself.

"I'm extremely proud of everything we've done together, and look forward to hearing more from the band going forward.

"When I rejoined COC for the finishing touches of the 'Deliverance' album, I moved back to Raleigh, NC for an all-in creative campaign, but time, distance and side projects and life in general has changed all of that.

"Ever since Reed drifted away from the band and then passed away, it's been difficult for me to collaborate on new material with bandmates who live hundreds of miles away.

"I look forward to putting together a new Raleigh-based outlet to create new music with more alacrity and with more of an emphasis on my own ideas than in recent times. Also, I look forward to continuing to record and produce other artists.

"All the best to Woodroe, Pepper, and COC crew, and most importantly, many big thanks to the fans of all iterations of the band, who have made this real for all of these years. Salute!"

The remaining members of CORROSION OF CONFORMITY — Pepper Keenan (vocals, guitar) and Woodroe "Woody" Weatherman (guitar) — added in a separate statement: "We, Woodroe and Pepper, are in full support of Dean's future endeavors and wish him all the best in the quest. Thankful for the music made and (R)evolutionary paths created. That being said, this book of CORROSION is not finished, nor will the train stop.

"The opportunity to play music and create is something that we don't take lightly, and we will not waver. New COC recording is well underway and will be released in 2025.

"Much love and respect to all the free thinkin' beer drinkin' friends and fans worldwide, looking to making more. Without you, we are just growing deaf in a garage.

"See you on the horizon.

"Stay tuned, stay heavy."

A year and a half ago, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY confirmed the return of drummer Stanton Moore for its upcoming album. The "brutal-sounding" follow-up to 2018's "No Cross No Crown" is tentatively due in 2025.

Mullin died in January 2020 at the age of 53. The drummer, who co-founded CORROSION OF CONFORMITY in 1982 as a hardcore punk act alongside Weatherman and Dean, had missed a number of shows in the preceding four years due to a variety of health issues, including an alcohol-related seizure he suffered back in June 2016.

In 2014, after nearly a straight decade traversing the globe as a guitarist with New Orleans supergroup DOWN, Pepper reconnected with the core CORROSION OF CONFORMITY trio of Weatherman, Dean and Mullin to hit the road hard. "Reed called me and mentioned maybe playing a couple shows," Keenan recalled back in 2017. "I said, 'Let's just go to Europe and see if it works.' So we went to Europe and then ended up going back four times in one year... We toured for a year and then started tracking."

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY recorded "No Cross No Crown" in about forty days over the course of a year at a North Carolina studio with longtime producer John Custer.

Photo credit: Dean Karr
pic.twitter.com/u9kGgETVdX

— C.O.C. (@coccabal) September 20, 2024

Hot on the heels of their most successful tour to date — spanning more than 60 shows across North America and over 100,000 tickets sold — and a year after the release of their chart-topping fifth album "The Surface", which earned the band their first pair of No. 1 singles at U.S. Active Rock radio ("Might Love Myself" and "I Was Alive") and nominations at the Heavy Awards and Libera Awards, BEARTOOTH has even more good news to share with fans.

The platinum-selling and billion-streaming Columbus rock band — Caleb Shomo, vocals; Zach Huston, guitars; Will Deely, guitars; Oshie Bichar, bass; and Connor Denis, drums — has dropped "The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" today, September 20, via Red Bull Records.

The expanded edition of the album features the brand new song "ATTN.", along with an accompanying music video, which can be seen below.

In classic BEARTOOTH fashion, it's rife with hooks, supremely catchy verses, arena-filling, sing-along choruses, and monster breakdowns. The anthemic highs are reflective of Shomo's introspective journey to finding and loving his authentic self.

The high-energy video sees Shomo voyage through the subway system to his next stop, before taking an elevator back to the streets above — a metaphor for his professional and personal path from ground zero to the top.

"'ATTN.' is about the ultimate conclusion that I've come to after this whole album cycle and living with these songs for as long as I have now," says Shomo, who has spent the past few years diligently cultivating a positive mental attitude after years of sharing his inner demons via his lyrics. "I think self-love has led to a deeper understanding of my value as a person, to myself and to others. I will always be proud of my art, and I will always be proud of the work that I've put in to say what matters to me. I think that's a great lesson for anybody to take in their own work and their own life."

Shomo continues: "Other people's perception of what you do does not dictate whether something is good or bad — that is only somebody's view. What matters is you, yourself, believing in your work and if it makes you happy and pushes you to be a better version of yourself. That is all that matters at the end of the day. Chasing that feeling and trusting it and finding a group of people that will empower you in that journey is what it's all about."

"The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" also includes new mixes of beloved album tracks and live cuts, the latter of which truly capture the band in its natural habitat — on stage and laying all of its cards face up on the table with and for their fans. The live renditions on the package were recorded at the Hard Rock in Sacramento, where they brought an unforgettable performance to a sold-out crowd. This fall, they'll bring "ATTN." to audiences for the first time, as they embark on an 18-date run hitting iconic venues like Alexandra Palace.

Lastly, the track "In Between" is now officially an RIAA-certified platinum single with over one million song sales in the U.S.

"The Surface" was released in October 2023 on Red Bull Records. It has garnered 190 million streams to date, debuted at No. 1 on Billboard Hard Rock Albums, Luminate Alternative Albums, and Luminate Record Label Independent Current Albums, as well as No. 5 on Billboard's Top Album Sales. The single "I Was Alive" landed at No. 1 on both the Billboard Mainstream Airplay chart and the U.S. Mediabase Active Rock radio chart. Just six months prior, the album's previous single, "Might Love Myself", also hit No. 1 and was the band's first-ever chat topper at the format. BEARTOOTH achieving back-to-back, chart-topping singles at radio was a huge testament to their decade of growth and the power of "The Surface".

Like its predecessors, "The Surface" was an intensely personal and powerful journey for Shomo, who has never shied away from sharing his demons in his music and with his fans. However, the frontman has turned a corner with a more optimistic outlook and demonstrates exceptional growth as both an artist and a human being through the songs that comprise the album.

"The Surface (Deluxe Edition)" track listing:

01. The Surface
02. Riptide
03. Doubt Me
04. The Better Me (Feat. Hardy)
05. Might Love Myself
06. Sunshine!
07. What's Killing You
08. Look The Other Way
09. What Are You Waiting For
10. My New Reality
11. I Was Alive
12. ATTN.
13. I Was Alive (Live In Sacramento)
14. I Was Alive (Low Gain Mix)
15. Look The Other Way (Ambient Mix)
16. Might Love Myself (Live In Sacramento)
17. Might Love Myself (Smooth Mix)
18. Sunshine (Live In Sacramento)

Shomo first turned the pain of his struggle with mental health and self-image into music in 2013.

BEARTOOTH began as a living document, a diary, a journal of repressed rage and depression. Alone in his basement studio, screaming and singing, playing all the instruments, and self-producing a batch of furious but melodic songs filled with reflection and confession, the Ohio native stared into the abyss, initially with no intention of returning to the heavy music world that burned him as a teen. A decade later, the different pieces of his body of work connect in title, sound, and spirit. As the frontman approaches 32, BEARTOOTH's 2023-released fifth album, "The Surface", completes this era. It kicked off a new chapter filled with surprising optimism and just as honest. Depression is a sick, disgusting, aggressive disease below the surface. Shomo stands ready to bask in the light.

Like NINE INCH NAILS, BEARTOOTH remains a one-person band in the studio. On the heels of the introductory "Sick" EP (2013),"Disgusting" (2014) produced the band's first gold single, "In Between". "Aggressive" (2016) and "Disease" (2018) expanded on the desperation and pain, each a step closer to a balance between the blood and tears of classic recordings and the shimmer of modernity.

Rolling Stone heralded BEARTOOTH as one of 10 Artists You Need to Know. The rabid response to Shomo's music demonstrated how many people related to his struggle for self-acceptance. "Below" (2021) topped the Rock and Alternative charts and several Best Rock/Metal Albums Of The Year lists. As of 2024, the BEARTOOTH catalog boasts more than one billion streams across all platforms.

BEARTOOTH began as both bomb and balm, an outright refusal to suffer in silence, weaponizing radio-ready bombast, delivering raw emotion mixed with noise-rock chaos. Other bands play the "devastating riffs and catchy hooks" game, but this music is the difference between life and death, and now, a sort of life after death while still here. The band Forbes sees "inching towards a tipping point of becoming the latest arena headliner" is now one step closer.

Photo credit: Jamie Waters

As ASKING ALEXANDRIA prepares to hit the road on the second leg of its critically praised "All My Friends" headlining U.S. tour from September 24 through November 2, the British rock luminaries share news of a new EP. Due October 18 via Better Noise Music, the digital EP will include remixed versions of popular tracks from their recent 2023 album "Where Do We Go From Here?"

ASKING ALEXANDRIA has shared the first listen to two new tracks from the EP. The "modern-day, hook-laden" (Kerrang!) song "Let Go" — the third highest-streaming track on "Where Do We Go From Here?", which has nearly eight million overall streams and over 1.3 million video views — gets a remixed touch from up-and-coming Los Angeles-based producer Kodeblooded. Watch its music video streaming below.

The band has also released a remixed version of fan-favorite track "Bad Blood" from viral Indonesian DJ group WEIRD GENIUS. The group broke Spotify's record for the No. 1 longest-charting local song for six consecutive weeks on Spotify Indonesia's Top 50 charts for their hit single "Lathi" in 2020.

The "Where Do We Go From Here? The Remixes" EP also includes "Dark Void (Sullivan King Remix)" which was included on ASKING ALEXANDRIA's "Dark Void" EP in January surrounding "Blue Monday" — the most depressing day of the year — to correlate with the track's theme surrounding overcoming depression and mental health battles.

"Where Do We Go From Here? The Remixes" track listing:

01. Bad Blood (Weird Genius Remix) (3:17)
02. Let Go (kodeblooded Remix) (3:14)
03. Nothing Left (Cass Dillon Remix) (3:14)
04. Where Do We Go From Here? (Fairlane Remix) (3:39)
05. Where Do We Go From Here? (4:09)
06. Dark Void (Sullivan King Remix) (3:09)
07. Holding On To Something More (3:24)

"Where Do We Go From Here?" saw ASKING ALEXANDRIA achieve their second-ever No. 1 Active Rock radio single with the genre-blending "Psycho". Described as "a masterful fusion of hard rock personality with vulnerability" that "never loses sight of the infectious and anthemic nature of its songwriting,' (Riff magazine) "Where Do We Go From Here?" is a culmination of the band's career, melding their signature sound with experimental electronics. Produced and mixed by Matt Good (HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD, FROM FIRST TO LAST),the album has accumulated over 43 million streams and its music and lyric videos have garnered more than five million YouTube views to date.

ASKING ALEXANDRIA have established themselves as one of the most important rock bands of this generation through years of hard touring, supporting massive bands like BREAKING BENJAMIN, SHINEDOWN, SLIPKNOT, GODSMACK and KORN; co-headlining with NOTHING MORE, BLACK VEIL BRIDES and THE HU, and headlining multiple head-turning treks. The second leg of their headlining "All My Friends" tour will feature support from MEMPHIS MAY FIRE, THE WORD ALIVE and ARCHERS.

Des Moines metal bruisers, Vended, have released of their debut, self-titled, self-released album.


What began in 2018 as Cole Espeland (guitar), Griffin Taylor (vocals), Simon Crahan (drums), Jeremiah Pugh (bass) and Connor Grodzicki (guitar) were just teenagers, has escalated into a full scale movement with legions of diehard fans around the globe. Unwavering DIY work ethic, a born ability to create colossal, unhinged songs and years perfecting their craft on the road have led to this moment as the band become the torchbearers for a new generation of metal fans.


On Vended's follow-up to 2021's What Is It/Kill It EP, the band holds nothing back on 13 cataclysmic tracks of unbridled savagery. Produced by Chris Collier (Korn), the record features 13 rage-fuelled tracks, including previously released singles "Am I The Only One," "The Far Side," "Nihilism" and "Serenity."




Commenting on the record, the band says, "We see this record as an outsider’s depiction of the world we live in. And a reflection of one’s self as we drift through life’s emotions.. This album is completely raw and uncompromising. We wanted to convey the aggression we felt while making it, and give fans a glimpse into that side of Vended. Welcome to the world as we know it.”


In conjunction with the album's release, Vended has revealed a music video for their song, "Where The Honesty Lies". Watch the clip below, and order Vended on vinyl & CD here. Save Vended here.





Vended tracklisting:


Intro
"Paint The Skin"
"The Far Side"
"Am I The Only One"
"Going Up"
"Nihilism"
"Pitiful"
"Serenity"
"Disparager"
"Where The Honesty Lies"
"Ones'..."
"Downfall"
"As We Know It"


"Where The Honesty Lies" video:





"Serenity" video:





"Nihilism" video:





"Am I The Only One" video:





"The Far Side" video:





Vended's tour dates are listed below.





September
21 - Des Moines, IA - Knotfest (Festival)
22 - Chicago, IL - Beat Kitchen (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
23 - Detroit, MI - El Club (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
24 - Pittsburgh, PA - Crafthouse (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
26 - New York, NY - Mercury Lounge (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
27 - Richmond, VA - Canal Club (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
28 - Greenville, SC - Radio Room (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
29 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade (Altar) (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
30 - Nashville, TN - The End (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)


October
2 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live (with Wristmeetrazor & Lie)
5 - Los Angeles, CA -

Swedish metal sensations, Avatar, have shared the new video below, along with the following message:


"As we bid a tender farewell to the Dance Devil Dance era, we invite you to embrace change. Relive the spectacle of our live performance headlining the Sanctuary Stage from Sonic Temple 2024. Thank you DWP for seeing the vision.


"Our store is holding a massive farewell sale for the Dance Devil Dance era, perfect for those who crave a piece of our past before we dive headfirst into the future. Head here for 25% off select Dance Devil Dance merch!"

Today, Finnish metallers Fire Action share a new single, "Hard Days, Long Nights". This is the first single from their forthcoming studio album, Until The Heat Dies, out November 29. The track is accompanied by a new lyric video, available to watch below.


With three albums - Rock Brigade (2016), Fahrenhater (2018), and 9112 (2020) - to their name, Fire Action are anything but newcomers and have long established themselves as an integral part of Finland's metal scene. However, their international career looks to gain added momentum with Until The Heat Dies and an exciting new contract with Steamhammer/SPV.


The quartet surrounding guitarist Juri Vuortama and vocalist Pete Ahonen has taken a musical quantum leap producing eleven traditional heavy metal songs, each diverse in their own right. From the grooving opener "Storm Of Memories" to the anthemic finale "Midnight Avenue" the group’s continued evolution is on mighty metal display.




Vuortama aptly comments on the new songs: “It’s riffs, riffs, and riffs, with awesome melodies on top!”


Until The Heat Dies will be available in the following formats:


- CD digipak
- LP gatefold red vinyl version
- Download and Stream


Pre-order here.





Until The Heat Dies tracklisting:


"Storm Of Memories"
"No D

Dååth is back with a revamped version of their 2007 breakthrough single, "Subterfuge". The track, originally released over a decade ago on their Roadrunner Records debut album, The Hinderers, has been re-recorded to reflect the band’s evolution, with longtime vocalist Sean Z finally lending his voice to the fan-favorite. This new version features a heavier arrangement and was mixed by acclaimed producer Dave Otero.





Comments founding guitarist Eyal Levi on "Subterfuge" (2024), “Old song, new lineup, new era, new recording. ‘Subterfuge’ was our first real single, widely released in 2007, and for many fans, it’s the song that put us on the map. However, Sean Z wasn’t part of the band back then; he joined in 2008. Since then, fans haven’t stopped asking us to release the track with his vocals.




“We wanted to do something special for those who’ve stuck with us over the years, especially through the hiatus. But simply replacing the vocals on the original, when I’m the only remaining member from that lineup, didn’t feel true to where we are now. The original is a moment in time that can’t be recreated, so why mess with it?


“Instead, we re-recorded the song from scratch, using seven-string guitars tuned to drop G (the original is in drop C), got Dave Otero to mix, and created a version that honors the original but hits hard like a modern track. We hope you enjoy it!”


Stream "Subterfuge" (2024) below. Download/purchase the track here.





Dååth's latest full-length, The Deceivers, is available via Metal Blade Records. Order here.





The Deceivers tracklisting:


"No Rest No End"
"Hex Unending"
"Ascension"
"With Ill Desire"
"The Silent Foray"
"Unwelcome Return"
"Purified by Vengeance"
"Deserving of the Grave"
"Into Forgotten Dirt"


"Deserving Of The Grave" video:





"Unwelcome Return" video:





"Ascension" video:





"Hex Unending" video:





"No Rest No End":





Dååth began their journey in 1999 and stayed busy for just over a decade before its 2011 hiatus. In that time, the band released four studio albums - Futility in 2004, The Hinderers in 2007, The Concealers in 2009, and their self-titled LP in 2010. Tours with Cattle Decapitation, Dark Funeral, Cynic, Nile, Slayer, Dragonforce, Goatwhore, Chimaira, Dying Fetus, and Devildriver followed. Dååth also landed a coveted spot on Ozzfest playing before tens of thousands of fans in outdoor amphitheaters across the US, in addition to the infamous and long-running metal tour Summer Slaughter.


After twelve years on hiatus, Dååth found their ideal new home at Metal Blade, signing to the label and wasting no time creating n

Live In London, Skid Row's first official live album and concert film in a 35+ year career, is now available on heavyweight 2LP gatefold, CD + DVD, digital download and all streaming services via earMUSIC.


"Youth Gone Wild" is the latest video from the full program, and captures the rapture of a sold out 02 Forum Kentish Town London gone wild for the Skids and the culmination of a dream years in the making.


"As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and CBGB in New York City... our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from," the band says.







Following the release of their critically acclaimed, hugely fan-embraced 2022 album The Gang's All Here, the band took the 02 stage on October 22 and delivered a Skid Row set for the ages. Running through their multi-platinum career, the packed venue could barely contain the band's and the fans’ energy on "18 And Life," "Monkey Business," "I Remember You" and so many other peak Skid Row moments.


Live In London is a defining live rock album... a band playing at the top of their game in front of a crowd that expected no less. Both Skid Row and the 02 public went far beyond expectations...and now the world can share in that moment.


Order/save the album now on Vinyl, CD, and all digital formats, here





Live In London tracklisting:


"Slave To The Grind"
"The Threat"
"Big Guns"
"18 And Life"
"Piece Of Me"
"Livin' On A Chain Gang"
"Psycho Therapy"
"In A Darkened Room"
"Makin' A Mess"
"The Gang’s All Here"
"Riot Act"
"Tear It Down"
"Monkey Business"
"I Remember You"
"Time Bomb"
"Youth Gone Wild"


"Slave To The Grind" (Live In London) video:

Sammy Hagar has shared a clip from the vault of Van Halen performing "Panama" on August 21, 1993 at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, CA via his official YouTube channel.





Hagar's 28-date "The Best Of All Worlds Tour" concluded on August 31 in St. Louis, MO. Today, Hagar shares the video below, sharing his thoughts on the trek:







Hagar is taking the "The Best Of All Worlds Tour" to Japan this month. Rock heavyweights and longtime bandmates Michael Anthony (bass, backing vocals), Jason Bonham (drums) and Joe Satriani, one of the best guitar players in the world, complete the band.


The Japan tour wil

John David “JD” Souther, a Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee known for his hit collaborations with the Eagles, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt, passed away peacefully on September 17 in his New Mexico home at the age of 78.


The Eagles have paid tribute to JD Souther with the following official statement:


"We have lost a brother, a friend and a brilliant collaborator, and the world has lost a great songwriter, a pioneer of the Southern California sound that emerged in the 1970s. JD Souther was smart, talented, well-read, and in possession of a wicked sense of humor. He loved a good meal, a good movie, and a good Martini... and he loved dogs, adopting many, over the course of his lifetime. Born in Detroit and raised in the Texas Panhandle, he was a student of the deep roots of the best American music - from country, to jazz, to classical, as well as “Standards” from the Great American Songbook - and that knowledge and appreciation informed his work. He was a crucial co-writer on many of our most popular songs, including, 'The Best of My Love', 'New Kid in Town', and 'Heartache Tonight'. J.D. also collaborated on many of Don Henley’s solo works, including 'The Heart of the Matter', 'Little Tin God', 'If Dirt Were Dollars' and 'Talking to the Moon'.




"We mourn his loss and we send our condolences to his family, his friends, and his many fans around the world. He was an extraordinary man and will be greatly missed by many.


"Adios, old friend. Travel well." - The Eagles





The following was posted at JD Souther's official website:


The Detroit, Michigan-born Souther, raised in Amarillo, Texas, was known for his longtime partnership with the Eagles’ Glenn Frey, whom he met in Los Angeles after moving there in the late ‘60s, briefly forming a band called Longbranch Pennywhistle, with an album recorded for Jimmy Bowen’s Amos Records. That would last through collaborations on some of the Eagles’ biggest hits, including “Best Of My Love,” “James Dean,” “New Kid In Town” and “Doolin-Dalton.” He also co-wrote “Heartache Tonight,” with Bob Seger, Frey and Don Henley.


Souther started out recording with a local Amarillo group called The Cinders, traveling to nearby Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, where Buddy Holly’s producer shopped their recordings to Warner Bros. for a single release under the name John David and the Cinders.


Souther was also a successful solo artist, recording his self-titled debut in 1972 before forming The Souther-Hillman-Furay Band with former Byrds member Chris Hillman and Poco’s Richie Furay. A second solo effort, Black Rose, produced by Peter Asher and released in 1976, includes a duet with his one-time girlfriend Linda Ronstadt, “If You Have Crying Eyes.” JD scored his biggest solo hit with “You’re Only Lonely,” from the 1979 album of the same name, peaking at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100.


Other songs penned by Souther include “Run Like A Thief,” for Bonnie Raitt, and several songs for Ronstadt, including “Faithless Love” and “White Rhythm and Blues.” He also recorded several duets with her, among them “Prisoner In Disguise,” “Sometimes You Can’t Win” and “Hearts Against The Wind,” the latter featured in the 1980 film Urban Cowboy. A collaboration with James Taylor, “Her Town Too,” reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100.


JD contributed as a singer to artists such as Don Henley, Christopher Cross, Dan Fogelberg and Roy Orbison, among many others. He also appeared as an actor in TV’s Thirtysomething, Nashville and Purgatory as well as the films Postcards from the Edge, My Girl 2 and Deadline.


Souther was declared “a principal architect of the Southern California sound and a major influence on a generation of songwriters,” upon his induction into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame in 2013.  His final original album, Tenderness, was released by Sony Masterworks in 2015, with Uncut magazine describing it as connecting “L.A.’s ‘70s golden age with the Great American Songbook.” An expanded edition of his 1979 album, You’re Only Lonely, was released in July Omnivore Recordings, who also released expanded editions of his first three solo records.


He was about to begin a tour with Karla Bonoff on September 24 in Phoenix, through the new year, which will be cancelled.


Souther is survived by his two sisters, his former wife and her daughter, his beloved dogs Layla and Bob, and by countless friends and colleagues within the music community and beyond.


Donations in JD’s honor can be made to Best Friends Animal Society, an organization that was very important to him.

dish extreme metal icons Meshuggah performed at the 2024 edition of Germany's Summer Breeze festival in Dinkelsbühl. You can now watch professionally-filmed footage of the band's full set, courtesy of ARTE Concert.


Setlist:


"Broken Cog"
"Rational Gaze"
"Perpetual Black Second"
"Kaleidoscope"
"God He Sees In Mirrors"
"Born In D

The Angra Arsenal YouTube channel has shared a remastered cut of Angra's  Temple of Shadows World Tour: Live In Japan full length concert video. It features their March 3, 2005 show in Tokyo, Japan on their Temple Of Shadows World Tour. Check it out below.


Line-up:


Edu Falaschi – lead vocals
Kiko Loureiro – guitars, keyboards
Rafael Bittencourt – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Felipe Andreoli – bass, backing vocals
Aquiles Priester – drums, percussion




Audio was captured from the concert hall's soundboard, the video file was provided by former drummer Aquiles Priester's personal archives, also available on his official channel.


Setlist:


"Deus Ie Volt!"
"Spread Your Fire"
"Waiting Silence"
"Acid Rain"
"Nothing To Say"
"Carolina IV"
"No Pain For The Dead"
"Angels And Demons"
"Never Understand"
"Wishing Well"
- Aquiles Priester drum solo -
"Temple of Hate"
- Kiko Loureiro guitar solo -
"Rebirth"
"The Shadow Hunter"
"Angels Cry"





Angra recently announced on social media that they will be taking a hiatus from their career in 2025. Before that, the band will be on an extensive tour celebrating the 20th anniversary of their acclaimed album Temple Of Shadows, considered one of the most important progressive metal albums of all time. 


Read the full text below.


“Dear fans and friends, it is with mixed emotions that we announce a sabbatical period in Angra's activities. After more than 11 years of intense dedication, composing, recording, and performing in various cities and countries around the world, we feel it is time to stop and recharge our batteries.


“This break is necessary so that we can return even stronger and more inspired. We know it will be hard to stay away from the stage as Angra, and we will miss the friendship and great relationship we have as a band. We are deeply grateful for the unconditional support and passion you have always shown for our music. Without you, Angra wouldn’t be what it is!


“Before we enter this hiatus, we have some special events planned. Soon, we will release our acoustic DVD, recorded at the Ópera de Arame, which we are extremely proud of. In October and November, we will embark on an European tour, and between late 2024 and March 2025, we will embark on the Interlude tour, where we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the album Temple Of Shadows and perform the greatest hits of our career. We invite all of you to join us at these final shows before the pause, so we can celebrate these unforgettable moments together.


“During this period, the band membe

Get ready for an unforgettable holiday experience, led by former Mannheim Steamroller keyboardist and longtime musical director for Dennis DeYoung of Styx. Luminare Christmas! brings a fusion of reimagined holiday classics, high energy symphonic rock and cinematic magic.


Debut album Mistletoe Mandess will be released on November 22. Preorder here.


First single and video for “Oh Holy Night” is available below.




Their sound can be described as a blend of Mannheim Steamroller’s holiday classic vibes, the high-energy rock of Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the cinematic atmosphere of Hans Zimmer. The result is a musical fusion that’s sure to leave you breathless and wanting more.


With a phenomenal lighting show and a heartwarming story woven throughout the performance, Luminare Christmas! creates a magical atmosphere that’s perfect for all ages. You’ll feel the holiday spirit and be swept away by the passionate and sonically lush vocal and instrumental musical performances. 


Unleash your festive side and experience the exhilarating energy of a high-octane holiday rock concert with Luminare Christmas!, the ultimate celebration!





Tracklisting:


“The Light That Shines”
“Mistletoe Madness”
“Oh Holy Knight”
“Carol Of The Bells”
“Toy Soldiers”
“Like A Child”
“A Ray Of Hope”
“Winter”
“His Majesty”
“You Look Like Christmas”


“Oh Holy Night”:

Relapse is proud to announce the signing of Cleveland brutal metallic hardcore juggernauts Walking Wounded.


Today, the band announces the official reissue of their debut, Bestial Condemnation, originally self-released earlier in 2024. The expanded edition of Bestial Condemnation also features the band’s previously released Righteous Brutality & A.T.C EP, including a cover of Dying Fetus’ “In The Trenches”.


Bestial Condemnation is now available for pre-order on LP/CD & digital is streaming in full via Relapse.com here.




Additionally, Walking Wounded share the official music video for “Food For The Crows”, directed by Chris Walter. Check it out below.





Bestial Condemnation digital tracklisting:


"Battle Worn"
"Unholy Bargain" (feat. No Cure)
"Food For The Crows"
"Depravity"
"Anguished Solitude" (feat. You Die First)
"Bestial Condemnation"


"Food For The Crows" video:





Walking Wounded live:


November
3 - Cleveland, OH - Mahall’s (w/ Earth Crisis)


Walking Wounded emerge from Cleveland’s notoriously gritty and aggressive underground music scene with a fresh take on the Rust Belt city’s storied heritage.


Guitarist Steve Perrino began writing and recording Walking Wounded songs alone in his studio before recruiting vocalist Noah Hardesty. In the spring of 2022, the pair released their debut single, “Birth,” a blistering slice of emotional powerviolence. That formative song showcases Perrino’s songwriting skill and Hardesty’s uncompromising voice but only hints at Walking Wounded's determined excursion into darker and more deathly sounds.


The result was Bestial Condemnation, now available via Relapse Records, expanded with bonus material. The scathing record kicks off with the one-two punch of  “Battle Worn” and “Unholy Bargain” - a relentless discourse between melodic thrashing speed and driving, chugging catharsis. Elsewhere, “Depravity” executes a high-speed hardcore bombing raid in just over one blistering minute, while “Anguished Solitude” slows things to a determined crawl that would make Obituary proud. The record shines with �