Hungarian avant-garde metal band Thy Catafalque will release their new album XII: A Gyönyörü Álmok Ezután Jönnek on November 15 via Season Of Mist Records. A new music video described as “morbid” for "Mindenevő" (directed by G13 Film, screenplay by Viktória Varga).


Preorder XII here.


Tamás Kátai has a vision that extends far beyond his native Hungary, but Thy Catafalque’s twelfth album is tied to the past in more ways than one.




Whereas his previous album returned to the heavier days of Thy Catafalque, XII takes Kátai on a more figurative journey. The album unfolds like a dark night of the soul, whisked away by the dreamy-yet-haunting opener “Piros kocsi, fekete éj”.


“Run with me, life / Whisper the tales”, Attila Bakos sings in Hungarian. His cleans soar over the airwaves, reappearing with ease 15 years after he first joined Thy Catafalque for the project’s underground breakout Róka Hasa Rádió.


More old friends join Kátai on this journey. A gyönyöru álmok ezután jönnek features 20+ guest musicians, including familiar faces from inside and outside of the Hungarian metal scene. Violins, cello and clarinet bring the comforts of home. Still, the road can be quite harsh. 


“Mindenevo” is consumed with humanity’s self-destructive appetite, fueled by mechanized blast beats and distorted downpicking that recalls the fiery black metal from which Thy Catafalque was originally forged in 1998.


Hungarian history looms behind the album’s most crushing moments. The coal blackened chugger “Vasgyár” is named after the rusted-out ironworks that once fueled the country’s economy. In the video for the album’s title track and lead single, Kátai runs through not only his hometown but surreal scenes from past and present issues that lie beneath the surface of the countryside. But his flair for the avant-garde still shines like the dawn. The synth's minor key melody glows with the faint but familiar reassurance that the beautiful dreams are yet to come.





Tracklisting:


“Piros Kocsi, Fekete Éj”
“Mindenevö”
“Vasgyár”
“Világnak Világa” 
“Nyárfa, Nyírfa” 
“Lydiához” 
“Vakond” 
“Ködkiraly 
“Aláhullás” 
“A Gyönyörü Álmok Ezután Jönnek

"Gone To Hell" is the latest single from Swedish death metal legends, The Crown. The thundering new track comes off the band's twelfth studio album, Crown Of Thorns, set for release on October 11 through Metal Blade Records.


Elaborates guitarist Marko Tervonen, "'Gone To Hell' is a very special song in many ways. As you may have seen on our older albums, there are quite a few songs where the music is by 'Olsfelt/Tervonen' [referring to former bassist Magnus Olsfelt]. But that doesn't actually mean that we wrote the song together. It was more about Magnus 'stealing' some riffs from me from songs that never made it to the albums. So he nicked the best stuff and included them into his songs. But 'Gone To Hell' was the first time we wrote something together. Magnus showed me the basic riffs to the song, on bass. We recorded it to a metronome and then I sort of 'took over.' I added the melodies, arranged it, wrote the drums and vocals etc. So, it was actually the only song we ever worked on together before he left the band. The song is more mid-tempo oriented; it almost has some post-punk elements to it. I personally love it and I'm super proud of it. I expect to read a lot of 'what is this soft song shit' from people, otherwise I will be very disappointed!"


Watch the "Gone To Hell" video, created by Anton Hallenberg and Robin Schulz, below:







Crown Of Thorns serves as the band's dynamic follow-up to 2021's Royal Destroyer and the record's musical dynamics are on a new level due in no small part to the 2022 addition of drummer Mikael Norén and bassist Mattias Rasmussen as well as the return of lead guitarist Marcus Sunesson, rejoining longtime members Tervonen and vocalist Johan Lindstrand.


"With Mikael, we managed to bring back a bit more of that crazy 'Janne Saarenpää' feel to the drumming, so that was a really cool energy boost. Mattias comes more from a punk/crust background, and he wrote 'I Hunt With The Devil' and 'Mind Collapse,' which turned out great. This is definitely a step up in many ways, changing the way we worked on the CSV and RD albums."


It's very few bands who have a revered and established career - The Crown celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2020 (their first eight years spent as Crown Of Thorns) - yet up the ante continually. With 2018's Cobra Speed Venom the band reached the same lofty heights as their 2002 landmark release, Crowned In Terror. And with the barbaric Royal Destroyer, and now, 2024's powerful and unique Crown Of Thorns, the metal vets rage with a rekindled fire and ferocity while honoring their roots. As Tervonen concludes, noting of Crown Of Thorns, "I guess every band needs to do a self-titled album at some point. So now we did it, our way."





Crown Of Thorns was recorded by Marko Tervonen (Studio-MT), mixed and mastered by Jonas Kjellgren (Black Lounge Studios), and will be released on jewel case CD (US), limited digipak CD with three additional studio songs (EU), and digital formats, as well vinyl in the following color variants:


- Black + White Split (US)
- 180g Black (EU)
- White Black Marbled (EU)
- White Black Dust (EU - Ltd. 300)
- Iron-Grey Marble (EU - LP + bonus 7", slip mat, patch - Ltd. 500)


Pre-order here.





Crown Of Thorns tracklisting:


"I Hunt With The Devil"
"Churchburner"
"Martyrian"
"Gone To Hell"
"Howling At The Warfield"
"The Night Is Now"
"God-King"
"The Agitator"
"Where Nightmares Belong"
"The Storm That Comes"
"Eternally Infernal" (Bonus Track)
"No Fuel For Godv (Bonus Track)
"Mind Collapse" (Bonus Track)


"Churchburner" video:

In a new interview with Ultimate Classic Rock, former SKID ROW frontman Sebastian Bach was asked if his recent social media post in which he said was "endorsing Taylor Swift" could be taken as his own endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, since the pop superstar herself publicly endorsed Harris following the September presidential debate. Bach responded: "You know, I don't tell people what to do, but I will say that if we don't have democracy, we don't have anything. So there, I just said it. [Laughs]"

He continued: "People say, 'You're alienating your audience.' When I say things like that, I gain, like, 40,000 fucking followers! So this whole 'Don't alienate people' — there's only side that is fucking alienating people! There's only one! The other one is actually uniting people. So spare me, 'Oh, he's losing 50% of his audience.' I don't want that 50%, so fuck off! That 50% is not cool enough to listen to Sebastian Bach, so go fuck yourself."

Elaborating on why he feels a need to speak up, Sebastian said: "I just have a problem when I hear people say, 'I don't want musicians to say what they believe in. Just shut up and sing.' Well, I've got two words for you: BLACK SABBATH. When I listen to a song like 'War Pigs', I couldn't think of a more political lyric of any music there is in life than that fucking song. 'Generals gathered in their masses / Just like witches at black masses.' I mean, to me, that's saying, 'Fuck these assholes!'

"I feel that at times like these, there's too much at stake to be silent," he added. "To be silent is to be complicit. For every fucking Ted Nugent out there, there is a Sebastian Bach, and I'm fine with that. I'm good with that. You go say what you want to say, and I'm gonna say what I want to say."

Bach frequently criticized Donald Trump's policies in interviews and on Twitter during the former U.S. president's time in office. In July 2020, he told Esquire that he missed "smarts" in the White House. "I can't watch footage of JFK from 1962," he said. "I can't even watch that shit because I'll cry. Because motherfucker is so cool and so smart and hates racism. And then we have this fucking jackass. And it's just not fair to the country. I put Barack Obama in the same category. When I watch him speak, it rips my heart out because he makes you feel safe."

In August 2019, Sebastian lambasted America's 45th president, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, then-Vice President Mike Pence and other Republican leaders for their inaction on gun regulation. A month earlier, Bach made headlines when he said that he "would do a better job" running the county than Trump.

Deep Purple brought their =1 More Time tour to Espaço Unimed in São Paulo, Brazil on Seotember 13. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below 


Setlist:


"Highway Star"
"A Bit On The Side"
"Hard Lovin' Man"
"Into The Fire"
- guitar solo -
"Uncommon Man"
"Lazy Sod"
- keyboard solo -
"Lazy"
"When A Blind Man Cries
"Portable Door"
"Anya"
- keyboard solo -
"Bleeding Obvious"
"Space Truckin'"
"Smoke On The Water"




Encore:


"Green Onions" (Booker T. & the MG's)
"Hush" (Joe South)

Sweden's Smash Atoms will release their self-titled record on October 11th on CD, limited-edition (300) colored vinyl, and digital formats. Pre-orders can be placed now at this location. 


Previewed via a couple of immediate and catchy advance singles “Down” and “Into the Light”, fans who enjoy the quartet’s warm, infectious and familiar sound want more and #GrungeIsBack has been the rallying cry. This flame has been fanned as over two dozen US commercial/rock radio stations are playing the songs and people want more.


“Smash Atoms are super excited to finally start taking pre-orders on our long-awaited self-titled debut album,” says guitarist Martin Söderqvist before explaining the album’s unique cover.




 “The cover photo was taken over 100 years ago and depicts a man and his dog watching Halley’s Comet passing Earth. At first glance we didn’t even see the comet, it was just a very cool photo of a man and a big rock that Glen found at an exhibition in a museum in Göteborg.


When we got the high-res photo and saw the comet we were just stunned,” states Martin. “We all thought it fit super well with the Smash Atoms name and overall vibe. It was such a weird coincidence how it all came together.”


In addition, next week on September 25th, Smash Atom will release their third digital single “Bring The River”, so pre-save now, and anticipate another music video from the guys.





Tracklisting:


"Bring The River"
"Black Cloud"
"Buried Under The Open Sky"
"Dead Season"
"Down"
"End Of The Road"
"Into The Light"
"Living A Lie"
"Pretend"
"Sunshine"
"The Mountain"








Highly influenced by the ‘90s, Smash Atoms intend to bring it all back in a new form. The band’s enjoyment and intention when creating their first album was to highlight a familiar yet captivating sound. While the influences are obvious, there is something charming, nostalgic and infectiously endearing about the group’s material culminating in what will surface as a very strong album mixed/mastered at Crehate Studios (In Flames, Scorpions, Avatar) in Gothenburg, Sweden.


Smash Atoms’ story actually originates back to 2012 when they formed, releasing one smashing demo and playing a handful of magical shows before U.S.-born singer Glen Gilbert stepped out and the remaining trio changed their name to The Torch with Martin then also handling vocals. The Torch recorded two albums, gaining national Swedish radio play and touring all over places like Scandinavia, Germany and Italy. But two years ago, Glen (The Story Behind, Hide The Knives) and the guys reconnected and decided to revert back to their former incarnation and give Smash Atoms another chance, and here we are.


For further d

On August 15th, Bay Area metal legends, Forbidden, performed a one-off club show in the middle of their European summer festival tour at Rebellion in Manchester, England following their Bloodstock appearance. Fan-filmed video of their entire show can be viewed below.


Setlist:


"Follow Me"
"Off The Edge"
"Twisted Into Form"
"March Into Fire"
"Feel No Pain"
"As Good As Dead"
"Step By Step"
"Parting Of The Ways"
"Infinite"
"Out Of Body (Out Of Mind)"
"Through Eyes Of Glass"
"Chalice Of Blood"  







Forbidden recently announced that they have parted ways with guitarist Steve Smyth.


Says Steve:  “Hey everybody, I’ve said this before in my career, but all things do reach their end at some point. As hard as this is to write this, I’ve decided it’s time to part ways with Forbidden, and return to my band One Machine as priority, along with other projects on the horizon, and of course session work, and teaching music as always.


"Forbidden was always a place I considered home, from the very first gig I played with the guys, the Thrash Of The Titans festival, back in 2001, touring across 2009/2010 with Russ and Mark, writing and releasing the Omega Wave album, the touring that followed 2010-2012, and the last year. It’s a home I’ll miss, but the memories will remain.


"One Machine is my own home that I’ve built myself, from before, and after my first stint with Forbidden, from 2009-2012. We are preparing to release a new EP, with touring starting up in September across Europe.


"Prior to rejoining Forbidden, I declared my intention to move between Forbidden and One Machine, in between schedules. It now appears those schedules are conflicting.


"I’d like to thank YOU the fans for all of your support over the years! I couldn’t do ANY of this without you! Craig and Matt especially for welcoming me back to Forbidden! To new additions Chris and Norman, Tim Healy, the crew, every promoter and agent, thank you for making the last year of music and travelling the world happen!


"I wish Forbidden all the best for the future, and all it may bring!”


Says Forbidden: "We understand and accept Steve’s decision to walk away for his own personal reasons and to finish what he started with One Machine. Steve had been by our side creating and playing music from the end of 2008-2012 and for the rebirth in 2023. He contributed much greatness along the way. We understand his situation better than most people possibly could. We all wish Steve the very best and success with One Machine. His Baby.


"Much love, respect and gratitude for the years Steve spent with Forbidden will always endure.


"Thank you, Steve. Craig, Matt, Norman, Chris & Tim."


With Steve Smyth stepping away, Forbidden intends on not missing a beat.


The band adds: "Daniel Mongrain from Voivod will be stepping in for our next batch of European dates upcoming in August. Daniel is an astonishing & accomplished guitarist. His work in Martyr & Voivod is otherworldly! We are very happy to have him aboard for these dates. Daniel will be a great addition for the gigs and we must thank the guys in Voivod for letting us borrow him.
See you in Europe soon!"


Lastly a few words from Dan Mongrain: “It’s a great honor for me to join Forbidden

German thrashers Eradicator have issued their new single "Drown In Chaos". The song is the fourth to be revealed from The Paradox, the band's upcoming new studio album to be released on September 20th via Metalville Records. The official video for "Drown In Chaos" can be seen below.


"Drown In Chaos" is a pure thrash metal grenade. Eradicator plough through this new single from their album, The Paradox, at a speed of 230 bpm. With a running time of 3:30, the song is also the most compact track on the new collection. 







Lyrically, "Drown In Chaos" deals with the theme that we are all born innocent. Why do some people develop the insurmountable urge to see the world in flames? Is it the environment? Is it the genes? Or are some really inherently evil individuals? The fascination with fire and destruction was probably experienced by many as a child. The character sung about gives in completely to this urge and conjures up the metaphorical demons of chaos.


The cover artwork depicts this character. With a burning glass, a demonically grinning child ignites a model of the globe, symbolizing what true evil is capable of. Diana Ampilohova created this image to visualize the lyrics of the song. The single, as well as the entire album, was mixed/mastered by Sebastian ‘Seeb’ Levermann (Orden Ogan, Asphyx, Brainstorm) and produced together with Seba Stöber. 





The Paradox is undoubtedly the most versatile album by thrashers Eradicator. It will be released in the year of the band's 20th anniversary. The ten new songs deal lyrically with the contradictory nature of being human and present many musical facets, not only of thrash metal. 


The Paradox bears the signature of Eradicator and shows their unbroken joy of playing. The band has now also made a name for itself live. However, the four guys from the Sauerland region in Western Germany are not afraid to refine and develop their new compositions stylistically. On The Paradox, Eradicator begin atmospherically with "Beyond The Shadow's Void": The track develops into a pounding headbanger, only to finally erupt into a thrash thunderstorm. In addition to death metal growls, including in the title track, "The Eleventh Hour (Ramble On)" is the first half-ballad in the band's repertoire. However, Eradicator have by no means forgotten how to swing the thrash club, as they tirelessly prove with "Drown In Chaos", "Hell Smiles Back" and "Fake Dealer," among others. 


The lyrical themes on The Paradox reflect the dichotomy and ambivalence of human action and thought. "Perpetual Sacrifice" is about denigrating the weaker in order to make oneself feel greater and about the reversal between victim and perpetrator. "When The Shooting Begins" is about the paradox of wanting to create peace through war - whereby the truth is usually one of the first victims after the outcry of the weapons. The concluding "Debris Of Demise" is a fictional tale of mankind having to evacuate the planet due to environmental destruction, but the saving ark being unable to leave orbit due to the large amount of space debris. Singer / guitarist Seba Stöber comments: "We don't want to make a name for ourselves as moralizers, but rather reflect the issues and problems of our time. As artists, our task is also to stimulate a discourse!"


Like its predecessor, the album was mixed and mastered by Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann (Orden Ogan, Asphyx, Brainstorm), who once again managed to give Eradicator an authentic sound. After 20 years, the four musicians know what they want to sound like, and that's exactly what The Paradox sounds like. 





Tracklist:


"Beyond The Shadow's Void"
"Drown In Chaos"
"When The Shooting Begins"
"Kill Cloud"
"The Paradox"
"Hell Smiles Back"
"The Eleventh Hour (Ramble On)"
"Perpetual Sacrifice"
"Fake Dealer"
"Debris Of Demise"

HALESTORM has teamed up with American country music duo BROOKS & DUNN to record a reimagined version of the latter band's song "Boot Scootin' Boogie", to be included on BROOKS & DUNN's upcoming "Reboot II" album, due on November 15 via Sony Music Nashville.

Regarding how HALESTORM got involved with the project, the band's frontwoman Lzzy Hale wrote on Instagram: "Months ago we received an email we were never expecting to receive. @brooksanddunn asking us to create a reimagined version of their legendary song 'Boot Scootin' Boogie'. This, a request too wild to even consider passing on, more than wet our appetite for adventure. We asked if there were any rules for this particular project…and when they replied with a resounding 'NO RULES APPLY', the boys and I knew this was gonna get weird.

"It's such an honor to have earned the trust of these legends, thank you so much to Kix Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, Dan Huff, Juice and the entire B&D team for putting your faith in us and letting us throw a wild party in the beautiful house you built."

"Reboot II" is the follow-up to BROOKS & DUNN's 2019 album "Reboot", which provided the Country Hall Of Fame act with its first No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart in a decade.

In addition to HALESTORM, "Reboot II" features Megan Moroney, Hailey Whitters, Lainey Wilson, Ernest and Warren Zeiders, Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll, HARDY and Corey Kent, as well as bluesmen Marcus King and Christone "Kingfish" Ingram.

"What was even more impressive was to sit down with this bunch and turn them loose to do the songs in whatever way fit their artistic vision," BROOKS & DUNN's Ronnie Dunn told Billboard. "The fun part was we weren't chasing the original recordings or arrangements or our versions. We turned them loose to do whatever they wanted to do and, I'm biased, but it was really refreshing."

BROOKS & DUNN's Kix Brooks told Billboard about HALESTORM's version of "Boot Scootin' Boogie": "[HALESTORM] did not disappoint. At this point in our career, we can't really be nervous about that, especially on a record like this, and especially inviting some of the artists we did, like Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram and HALESTORM. HALESTORM is a really badass, really tight rock band and whatever song they come in with heads are going to bang."

"It was fun to see Ronnie go toe-to-toe with Lzzy," Brooks added. "I was, like, 'Good luck, pal' — but he did."

BROOKS & DUNN is one of country's most successful duos with 20 No. 1s on the Country Airplay chart.

They continue to break records, tallying the longest-running country music residency in Las Vegas and criss-crossing North America year after year on their sold-out tours.

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Canadian musician/producer Devin Townsend has once again reiterated that he has no interest in reforming STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, the seminal industrial metal outfit he fronted until 2007. Since the band's dissolution, Townsend has been asked repeatedly whether he would reform STRAPPING, only to cite the mental and physical toll the band took on him, in addition to his desire for new musical pursuits.

Asked in a new interview with Poland's Teraz Rock if STRAPPING YOUNG LAD will be the "next big band" to reunite, following the recent comeback announcements from both OASIS and LINKIN PARK, Devin replied (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I don't think so, no. [Laughs] I don't think so. I don't talk to anybody in the band anymore. And the person that I am 25 years past that is just I'm a different person. And I don't want to. I think that's my answer. And it's a hard one because that's tinged with guilt because I know other people want it. But if there's anything I've learned over the past couple of years is that I have to pay attention to my own needs, and I just don't want to [resurrect STRAPPING] at all."

When the interviewer noted that "you can't please everybody," Devin clarified: "Well, no, no. I can't please anybody, but I can work on myself. And my hope is that anybody who listens to the music will see — maybe one or two people — would see that as inspiring.

"I think there's a lot of other people who want to please everybody, and for many years my whole personality was based on people pleasing," Devin explained. "Like, I just wanna make everybody happy — I wanna make the audience happy, I wanna make my family happy, I wanna make kids happy, I wanna make management happy, I wanna make the label happy — and so you're always kind of dancing for people. But then, after a certain amount of time when you hit a wall and you get burnt out and you fucking crash, like I did, I was, like, who the fuck are you doing this for? Why are you so insecure that your needs are to make everybody like you? It's not the way forward artistically and it's not the way forward as a person. And so I do what is right for me now. And it'll appeal to less people in some way, but it's what I choose, man, because it's, like, life is short, and that's what I want."

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD's final studio album, "The New Black", was released in 2006 via Century Media.

Townsend previously talked about the possibility of a STRAPPING YOUNG LAD reunion in a December 2022 interview with Australia's AndrewHaug.com. Asked how he feels when people want that "old, angry Townsend back", he responded: "That's confusing. I can explain it until I'm blue in the face, and people are, like, 'Yeah, cool. Anyway, can you do it?' I think it's good for me having to try and work on my patience, because there's a part of that's, like, 'Really? You think that it's that easy?' I know why they want it. I love it too — I love it — but I can't do it.

"I said the other day in an interview, and this was an analogy I thought was really cool… So you go to a smorgasbord, you go to an all-you-can-eat buffet, and you go to that place because they have this type of shrimp, or whatever, that's, like, the shit — it's deep fried, it's got a spicy sauce," he continued. "And you know that that's the place, and you go there and you get a big plate of it and eat it. And you're, like, 'That is my favorite thing in the world.' And you go back and it's out; the restaurant's out. And you say, 'When are you bringing more shrimp out?' And they're, like, 'We ran out of shrimp. The ingredients that we had that created that dish, we don't have those anymore.' And as opposed to going, like, 'Oh, I understand. It's a bummer. Okay. Cool. See ya,' it's, like, they're yelling at the bowl of shrimp or they're yelling at the restaurant. They're, like, 'Ah, I want shrimp. More. I want more shrimp.' And [the restaurant says], 'But, dude, I don't have any more shrimp.' It's, like, 'But shrimp…'

"The well runs dry. There's no more water in the well. It seems absurd to me to yell at the well. It's, like, 'Dude, there's no more water in there. I know you like it.' But the thing that made it authentic, the process that made it important solved what it was that made that so vital. So to say, 'Oh, you can do it again…'

"I don't blame people for wanting it, and I also don't blame people for not understanding it," Devin added. "What I have to do is it's up to me to make peace with that. Because otherwise I'm yelling at the well; I'm yelling at the shrimp board. I'm saying, 'Why don't you understand? Why?' And they're going, 'Why isn't there more shrimp?' And then it becomes this weird argument about something that's completely irrational. 'Dude, there's no more shrimp, and I know that you want shrimp. Are we good? Bye.' That's all there is to it. And I think that for me, making peace with the fact that people aren't gonna understand is a big part of my process, man. That's up to me. That's on me, man.

When host Andrew Haug noted that Townsend is making no apologies for not being able to make new STRAPPING YOUNG LAD music, Devin said: "You can't. What am I gonna apologize for? It's, like, 'Dude, I ran out of shrimp. Sorry.'"

Townsend also discussed his inability to reform STRAPPING YOUNG LAD earlier in December 2022 in an interview with The Metal Meltdown. Asked if there was a chance of him ever making another STRAPPING YOUNG LAD album, he responded: "The answer to that is… I've said it a thousand times, so I'm sure if there are people who really don't know, they don't care enough to pay attention.

"I do understand the question, and I do understand why it's asked — I really do," he continued. "But I've gotta be careful with the answer because you don't wanna… I think it's easy to get so irritated by the question that you end up being flippant about it, and you end up being insulting to people when the question is coming from a place of people really, really like it and they really want it.

"So I'll say this: the same thing that made STRAPPING work so well when I was 25, whether or not you think 'Lightwork' is worth a shit or 'The Puzzle' is worth a shit, it's the same process. So the same thing that yielded that is the same thing that yielded this. And the only reason STRAPPING existed back then is because I was being true to myself. It's the only reason, because back then that was my truth.

"The process of making this music is rooted in trying to unfuck myself as I get older, because when I was younger I had a lot of issues," Devin explained. "So if people really love something that happened at any point in my career, whether or not it's 'Empath' or STRAPPING or 'Ziltoid' or 'Epicloud' or anything, then my hope is that they would understand that the thing that they probably appreciated about it is it's coming from a place of honesty. And if I can't be honest about something, the thing that people will like about it will not be there. Absolutely. And I would prefer to be disliked for what I am than to be loved for what I'm no longer.

"STRAPPING is a huge part of my life — was a huge part of my life — and I love all those guys and I still talk to them," Devin clarified. "However, the nature of what I did made it such that the lessons that I needed to learn from that period of my life were reflected in the content. And now it's not a part of my life in a way that I can relate to, and more so it's not a part of my life in a way that I have any desire to go back to.

"There's gonna be a certain amount of people that would hear that and they'd be, like, 'Yeah, he's said that before. I get it. I love the band, but I get it. I can respect that.' There's gonna be a certain amount of people that are just, like, 'Fuck that guy. What he needs to do is do that 'cause it's the only thing he's ever done that's worth a shit and everything else sucks. ' and there's gonna be another part that just says, 'STRAPPING who?' But for me, brother, I'm just, like… As hard as this is to say, because it's been such a weird couple of years, I'm pretty happy with where I'm at as a dude, and that's not worth sacrificing to go back to a time when I wasn't happy."

Joey Belladonna has returned to Los Angeles to resume recording his vocal tracks for ANTHRAX's long-awaited new studio album. Overseeing the follow-up to 2016's "For All Kings" once again is producer Jay Ruston, who previously worked with ANTHRAX on "For All Kings" and 2011's "Worship Music".

Earlier today, the ANTHRAX singer took to his Instagram to share a video message in which he said: "Yeah, I just got into L.A. today. Tomorrow I'm gonna start singing, start slamming away at the record again, and hopefully finish. And looking forward to it. And I hope you guys are getting ready for that. Thank you. Peace, baby."

Belladonna, who spent much of the last few months playing shows with his JOURNEY and Ronnie James Dio tribute bands, captioned his post: "Hey everyone! Currently out in LA recording tracks for the new album. The video quality isn't the best, but I just wanted to check in and say a quick hello before diving into the studio. Can't wait for you all to hear what we're working on! #Anthrax #HeavyMetal #Metal #ThrashMetal #MetalHead #RocknRoll #NewMusic #StudioVibes #LARecording #AlbumInTheWorks".

In a recent interview with Jon Wiederhorn of Guitar World magazine, ANTHRAX guitarist Scott Ian said that he and his bandmates hope to finally release the long-awaited follow-up to "For All Kings" in early 2025.

"We're taking our time and not rushing anything because we want it to be exactly how we want it," Ian said.

"We're not in a place in our lives anymore where we could have dropped everything and said, 'All right, we've got two months of studio time. Let's finish writing and then get in there and record it all and do the vocals. Mix, master and we're done — like in the old days.' We have families and commitments now, so it can't work that way anymore and hasn't in a long time."

Regarding the musical direction of the new ANTHRAX material, Ian said: "There are crushing riffs and great, hooky choruses. Even some of the thrashiest songs have great choruses. We're always looking for the hook, and I think we've accomplished that."

He added: "With the songs we've written, we'd be able to put together a nine- or 10-song record that would be thrashier than anything we've done in a long time. But there would also be a way to make it a very different kind of album depending on which songs we choose. And I can tell you, I know which way I'm leaning. And I think we're all on the same page. We want this record to punch people in the face. And then we can use the bonus tracks for other things, but in the context of the record, I really want it to hit hard."

As for his expectations for the new ANTHRAX album, Scott said: "I'd like to think this record will be a slew of songs that people are going to be very excited about hearing live for the next few years. I generally feel the riffs, the grooves and the breakdowns – we used to call them mosh parts in the old days — I think they're gonna connect with our fans. And a lot of these songs are tailor-made for our live show, so I hope we'll be playing them for a long time."

Last month, ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante told Metal Hammer magazine about the band's upcoming LP: "There's a song which has the same kind of epic feel as 'In The End' [from 2011's 'Worship Music'] and 'Blood Eagle Wings' [from 'For All Kings']. It revolves around the journey we've been on in the band. And there are three songs that don't sound like anything we've done before. One called 'The Edge Of Perfection' I had way before COVID, and it has just stayed with me — the melody and the chords, but also the aggression."

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the "Big Four".

"For All Kings" was called by some critics ANTHRAX's strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX's inclusion on the "Big Four" tour, and continuing with the release of comeback LP "Worship Music".

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Cinematic horror metal band ICE NINE KILLS has joined forces with "Terrifier 3" for the film's official song and music video.

The collaboration was announced yesterday by Spencer Charnas, ICE NINE KILLS frontman and creative force, at the band's third annual fan convention, Silver Scream Con, alongside franchise star David Howard Thornton (Art The Clown).

The upcoming single, "A Work Of Art", pays homage to the beloved slasher franchise and will be featured in "Terrifier 3" when it opens in theaters nationwide on October 11.

"The 'Terrifier' franchise gave us Art The Clown, the greatest new horror icon in decades," says Charnas. "We are beyond honored by the invitation to play within the viciously delightful universe Damien Leone and his incredible team have created. The Art and INK fanbases are one and the same, and we heard the screams for this collaboration loud and clear."

The official music video, starring David Howard Thornton as Art The Clown, will premiere at Fantastic Fest on Thursday, September 19, following the world premiere of "Terrifier 3", and will also play in select AMC Theaters nationwide for early showings on Thursday, October 10.

The official music video for "A Work Of Art" was directed by longtime INK collaborator Jensen Noen and stars Catherine Corcoran ("Terrifier"),Leah Voysey ("Terrifier 2"),Sirius XM's Jose Mangin and Vincent Rockwell, Richard Christy (drummer for DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and SYSTEM OF A DOWN's Shavo Odadjian. The seven-minute-long video features special FX by "Terrifier 3"'s Emmy Award-winning effects artist Christopher Nelson ("American Horror Story", "Suicide Squad", "Halloween Ends").

The video is written by Spencer Charnas and Andrew Justin Smith, with music by ICE NINE KILLS, WZRD BLD, Paul Wiley and Francesco Ferrini. Lyrics by Spencer Charnas and Steve Sopchak, based on characters created by Damien Leone. Art The Clown make-up effects provided by Heather Albert. Executive produced by Spencer Charnas, Mike Mowery, Chris Nillson, Eric German, Phoenix Vaughn, Damien Leone, Phil Falcone and Ruth Deveraux. Casting provided by Cast A Spell Casting.

"Terrifier 3", written and directed by Damien Leone ("Terrifier", "Terrifier 2") and produced by Phil Falcone, stars David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Krsy Fox, Jason Patric, Chris Jericho and Daniel Roebuck as Santa Claus.

Photo credit: F Scott Schafer

st An Oversaturated Mess"">
Guitarist Toby Knapp recently announced he'd played his final show, but Knapp has taken that a step further by ceasing all musical operations. 


Knapp states: "It is with a not so heavy heart that I announce the disbanding of Onward, Waxen and my self titled solo project. I have noticed more and more in recent years that these things feel more like a task than a joyous pursuit." 


The guitarist continues: "The music business model has changed and decades ago, at my peak, fans bought magazines, read articles and went to record shops. For a band to get on the map - they worked hard and earned a recording contract, we had gate keepers. Nowadays, everybody is everything with the putrid narcissism of social media and the many new avenues of self promotion. I just can't get on

Southern California metalcore giants BLEEDING THROUGH have debuted a brand new single, "Dead But So Alive", available now from SharpTone Records.

Commenting on the song, vocalist Brandan Schieppati says: "'Dead But So Alive' is a more personal song for me. I battle with being bipolar and it something that I am very up front about in my life. This song is about the daily life and sometimes ugliness of mental illness. It takes a strong support system around me to walk this life and I have my family and amazing band around me to make me feel so alive when I sometimes feel so dead."

BLEEDING THROUGH's new single follows "Our Brand Is Chaos", released earlier this year and arrives just ahead of the band's anticipated return to the stage at Furnace Fest 2024 in Birmingham, Alabama on October 4. The blistering track is another taste of what's to come from the band's impending, yet to be announced next record.

Destined for great achievement ever since their formation in 1999, BLEEDING THROUGH's career has been a lengthy and star-studded one, dedicated to delivering a devastating, yet melodic and entrancing, infusion of metal and hardcore to fans worldwide. But, above all else, the band has stayed true to themselves. A testament to their momentous impact on the genre, the quintet has influenced several generations of artists since their inception and will no doubt continue to inspire fans and artists for many years to come.

Having already triumphantly reclaimed the spotlight after their biggest collective hurdle — the 2014 hiatus which many anticipated would be the end of the band's career as a cohesive unit — the Orange County quintet, consisting of Brandan Schieppati (vocals),Derek Youngsma (drums),Marta Peterson (keyboards),Brian Leppke (guitar) and Ryan Wombacher (bass),clearly knows what it takes for a successful resurgence.

With five Top 50 U.S. charting records, 100 million catalog streams, over 400,000 physical album sales, and tours with SLIPKNOT, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, LAMB OF GOD and UNEARTH under their belts, there's no arguing with the BLEEDING THROUGH's methods and widespread appeal.

Metallica have released more official video footage for their show at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington, on September 1. "Whiplash" joins the previously posted clip for "Moth Into Flame". Watch both below:










Watch Metallica perform "Master Of Puppets" and "Leper Messiah" during their August 30 concert in Seattle:








Metallica have launched the pre-order for the recordings from their August 23 & 25 concerts in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) Expected release date is October 25.


Says Metallica: "From full concert audio and select live video clips to dozens of photos and both setlists, we’ve got everything you need to relive our stop in Edmonton."


Enjoy both gigs from Edmonton mixed by The Metallica Audio Team, now available to stream through nugs.net, download at LiveMetallica.com, or go old-school and pick up the CDs at Metallica.com.


Get the live CDs here. Stream the shows here. Download the shows here.








Metallica adds: "Relive a few moments from Commonwealth Stadium right along with the crowd, and make sure you’re subscribed to our YouTube channel to enjoy more videos from the road!"














Check out dozens of photos from both Edmonton performances, shot by Brett Murray and Jeff Yeager: Night 1, Night 2.


In case you missed the setlists from Edmonton, check out both setlists, totaling 30 different songs across two nights, plus some show notes: Night 1, Night 2.


More from Metallica: "Our foundation, All Within My Hands, is continuing its commitment to giving back to communities that have long supported Metallica. A portion of ticket sales from our shows in Edmonton was donated to non-profits fulfilling vital needs. Local organizations Edmo

Italy’s parody metal masters, Nanowar Of Steel, are set to release their live album, XX Years Of Steel, on December 6 via Napalm Records. Captured during their sold-out, 3,000 attendee show at Alcatraz, Milano in October 2023, this monumental live release celebrates two decades of blending humor and metal and elevates with special guest appearances. The metal party not only presents strong live versions of 28 original tracks, but even includes a nine-track bonus CD including two brand-new studio tracks that showcase Nanowar Of Steel’s continuous evolution and unique style.


Prepare to laugh and headbang on stormy power metal anthem “Stormwarrior Of The Storm”. Have you ever wondered how weather forecasting works? The brand new single highlights this rare scientific craft with raging, fierce riffs and catchy powerful vocals, and will forever change how you view meteorology.


Place your pre-order now and listen to “Stormwarrior Of The Storm” below for another taste of what’s to come. Plus, North American fans should make sure to join the band as they tour the USA and Canada with cover kings Tragedy this fall.




Nanowar Of Steel on the new single “Stormwarrior Of The Storm“: "‘Stormwarrior Of The Storm’ is the first weather metal song. It is dedicated to the real Nostradamuses of the modern age - the scientists/wizards working on the weather forecast.
To our knowledge it is also the first metal song mentioning the Navier-Stokes equations, bringing to the metal public the importance of numerically solving non completely integrable equations."


Check out the official music video for “Stormwarrior Of The Storm“ below.


With millions of cross-platform streams and views on their hilariously entertaining music videos, Nanowar Of Steel have captivated audiences worldwide with their multilingual talent, distinctive blend of humor and cultural insight. XX Years Of Steel kicks off with a tongue-in-cheek Italian introduction that humorously reinterprets the Book of Genesis, setting the stage for a night full of metal mayhem and laughter. Fans can expect live renditions of the band’s most iconic tracks, such as “Norwegian Reggaeton”, which sees Charly Glamour (Gigatron) adding his explosive energy to the reggaeton-infused metal anthem. The crowd’s electric enthusiasm reaches its peak during “Valhalleluja”, where Odin himself (Thomas Winkler of Angus McSix) leads the charge, and during “Uranus” with fans’ chants echoing through the venue.


Adding to the excitement, XX Years Of Steel introduces two brand-new tracks, including “Stormwarrior Of The Storm” and the innovative “HelloWorld.java”, inspired by the history of coding - offering a playful yet complex narrative that showcases the band’s versatility. The new offering also blends special cover versions such as popular German party hit “Das Rote Pferd”, the hilarious Iron Maiden parody “Afraid to Shoot into the Eyes of a Stranger in a Strange Land” and the sudatory “Armpits Of Immortals”, enhanced from the likes of Ross The Boss (Manowar).


Nanowar Of Steel on their new album: "XX Years Of Steel is our first triple CD release, and we are moderately proud of that. This live album was recorded for our 20 years anniversary show at the Alcatraz in Milan last year, in a sold out show with more than 3200 participants. We could have released it as a double album only, but then we thought we could make more money by simply adding a CD with lower-quality songs and cheap covers. So that's what we did."





XX Years Of Steel will be available in the following formats:


- Wooden Boxset (3-CD Digisleeve, Numbered Ikea Furniture in plastic case, Certificate, Poster, 15x15cm 16p Booklet, - - - - - Digital Stream Access Code for the Live Video) - (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
- 2-LP Gatefold Silver Vinly (1CD Slipcase) -(Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
- 2-LP Gatefold Black Vinly
- Bundle 3CD Digisleeve + Shirt
- 3-CD Digisleeve
- Digital


Pre-order here.





XX Years Of Steel tracklisting:


CD1 (Live Versions):
"Intro"
"Sober"
"Nanowar"
"Gabonzo Robot"
"Tricycles Of Steel"
"Il Cacciatore della Notte"
"La Maledizione di Capitan Findus" (feat. Maurizio Merluzzo)
"Odino & Valhalla"
"Disco Metal"
"V per Viennetta" (feat. Alessandro del Vecchio)
"The Power Of Imodium" (feat. Alessandro del Vecchio)
"Power Of The Power Of The Power Of The Power (Of The Great Sword)" (feat. Alessandro del Vecchio)
"Declination" (feat. Alessandro del Vecchio)
"Barbie, MILF Princess Of The Twilight" (feat. Alessandro del Vecchio)


CD2 (Live Versions):
"Ironmonger (The Copier Of The Seven Keys)"
"RAP-Sody"
"Il Signore degli Anelli (dello Stadio)"
"Interlude"
"Pasadena 1994"
"Norwegian Reggaeton" (feat. Charly Glamour (Gigatron))
"Metal"
"Sottosegretari alla Presidenza della Repubblica del True Metal" (feat. Il Profeta (Gli Atroci))
"Feudalesimo e Libertà"
"Bum Voyage"
"Uranus"
"Valhalleluja" (feat Thomas Winkler)
"La Polenta Taragnarock"
"Giorgio Mastrota (The Keeper Of Inox Steel)"


CD3 (Studio Versions):
"Stormwarrior of the Storm"
"HelloWorld.java"
"Afraid To Shoot Into The Eyes Of A Stranger In A Strange Land"
"Armpits Of Immortals" (feat. Ross the Boss)
"Das rote Pferd" (Markus Becker Cover)
"El Baile del Perrito" (Wilfrido Vargas Cover)
"Brave Margot" (Georges Brassens Cover, feat. Nils Courbaron, feat. The Rumpled)
"We're Going To Tortuga" (Venga Boys Cover, feat. The Rumpled)
"Gabonzo Robot (ガボンゾ-ロボット)" (Japanese Version)


"Stormwar

In a new interview with Billboard's "Behind The Setlist" podcast, KISS guitarist/vocalist Paul Stanley spoke about the band's decision to sell its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind "ABBA Voyage". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The Pophouse deal is revolutionary, but it's also really in keeping with the band. The idea of us selling publishing or anything like that was never on our radar. What we wanted to do, if anything, was find some partners who understood the scope and the magnitude of not only the music over the decades, but the characters, the personas that we created and that they have intrinsic value.

"Pophouse had done a great job with the ABBA show that runs outside of London and is sold out for three years and it's really terrific, terrific entertainment," Paul continued. "People just are thrilled with it. I took my wife last month, and I had seen it last year. So Pophouse understood what we wanted to do and that what we wanna create is something that's state of the art today. Now, mind you that the ABBA show is an older technology because technology moves ahead at an exponential rate. So by the time that show started to be presented, there was new technology. So we'll be working with ILM [Industrial Light & Magic], with George Lucas's company, and we're creating something that's not a concert. The idea of a hologram, and it's not a hologram, but that term seems to get thrown around a lot, but the idea of a simulated concert is not what we wanna do. Frankly, I would find that that boring. I mean, how long can you go, 'Gee, that looks just like an amp.' So what we're creating is an immersive experience that KISS fans will love and people who have never been exposed to KISS or might not like certain aspects of the band will have to see. It's a must-see go-to experience. So it's beyond anything that anyone else has contemplated. The whole idea, again, of doing a simulated concert is — that's the dark ages to us."

Using cutting-edge technology, Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, will create digital versions of KISS. The project was previewed at the final KISS show in New York in December 2023.

Stanley said: "Well, [previewing the project at the final Madison Square Garden concert] really was a double-edged sword, because I know that there were people who wanted to see or show what was going on behind the scenes, but quite honestly, it was in such an infancy and so far in the beginning that some of us had questions about showing it because it would give people an idea that that was what we were doing. And it's far, far, far from that. That was just an early — I don't wanna say rendering, but an early version of what is to come and is still being worked on. It bears little resemblance to what was there. What we were showing was just the inception of the idea that we can continue on outside of flesh and blood."

Asked about the reports that the KISS avatar show will debut in 2027 in Las Vegas, Stanley said: "What I can tell you is that the technology that's being used, which is a furthering of the technology used on the ABBA show, has to be installed and basically a building has to be built around it. So this isn't something where you're in Kansas City today, and tomorrow you fly with your projector to do it. It demands an arena, so to speak that's really solely used for a show like this. But it's not something that can play on Wednesdays and Thursdays or Saturdays and Sundays, and then something else is in there during the week."

Regarding what other things KISS fans can expect to come out of the band's deal with Pophouse, Paul said: "Well, really with Pophouse, what we're doing is focusing on this show. That's really the main focus. Obviously, be it the music or the personas and all that goes along with KISS that's been there all along will continue and expand. I think at this point there's a lot more understanding of the possibilities, and there are people coming to the table, so to speak, who perhaps for a while saw a rock band in make-up, and clearly it's turning into so much more than that."

Asked if there is going to be a live music element to the KISS avatar show, like "ABBA Voyage" has, Paul said: "I really can't tell you the ultimate technology that we'll be using. We're sitting down in in the very near future just to start to fine-tune the show and the presentation. And then how we project the music or utilize the music, as far as technology, will be decided."

On the topic of how he feels that the KISS legacy has been treated over the years, Stanley said: "I think it's been treated — well, it runs the gamut. I think people who don't understand it or haven't understood it or for whatever self-serving reasons have looked down their nose at it have been far, far overwhelmed and eclipsed by the people who love what we do. So the people who dismissed it or haven't understood it, quite frankly, they've missed out. I find it puzzling that anybody could have a vehement response to a band or performer. It's just — that goes Psychology 101. 'Whoa, what's your problem?'"

In a recent interview with Henrique Inglez de Souza of Brazil's Rockast, Paul's KISS bandmate, bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, discussed the band's decision to sell its music catalogue, brand name and likeness to Pophouse. A biopic, an avatar show, and a KISS-themed experience are already in the works, with Simmons and Stanley playing key roles in the development of all these projects, working closely with Pophouse.

"There will be movies, cartoon shows, all kinds of things, but the avatars are the future of KISS," Gene explained. "And to say they're concerts is too small. It's bigger than that. And I don't wanna say too much. I'm not allowed to. Not yet."

Regarding KISS's apparent willingness to fully embrace modern technology, Simmons told Rockast: "Well, everything evolves. We didn't always stand up on two legs. A few million years ago, we were on four legs. Everything evolves, and you either evolve or you become obsolete or you die. So technology is here. A.I. is here. Virtual reality is here. Everything is here. And we don't wanna be yesterday's news. So even the end of something can be the beginning of something. But we're very excited — and proud. I keep saying proud, because that's what it is."

This past April, Simmons told People magazine that KISS's decision to sell its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Pophouse was the "natural thing" to do. "Life happens while you're busy making important plans," he explained. "We were planning our respectful, proud walking off into the sunset, because we've been touring, we had been touring for half a century.

"If you take a look at Mother Nature, you either evolve or you become extinct," he added.

While terms of the Pophouse deal were not officially announced, Bloomberg and Associated Press said it was worth upwards of $300 million. However, Simmons insisted that financial gain is "not what [the sale is] about. It's about enjoying life," while adding, "I'm certainly blessed."

In a separate interview with TMZ, Simmons defended KISS's plans for an avatar concert similar to ABBA's with digital versions of the group.

"A.I. [artificial intelligence] is here to stay," he said. "Technology is here to stay. And you either join in and try to adapt and try to figure out how that works with you or you're just yesterday's news in a very real way.

"Truthfully, KISS has stopped touring," he continued. "We will never tour as KISS again. However, the end is also the beginning. We're gonna do things that will blow your socks off. But we couldn't do this without our new best friends for life Pophouse. They're really remarkable people."

When the interviewer asked if fans will embrace the concept of a concert that is A.I.-driven and consists of nothing but holograms, Gene said: "It's not just, 'Okay, they're gonna show up on stage just like they did before, but it's holograms. No. That's an archaic term. Technology has advanced so far, you won't believe it.

"We spent some time at George Lucas's place and did motion capture stuff secretly," he continued. "We didn't talk to anybody — media or anything — about it, because we wanted this to be like nothing anybody's ever seen. And I will tell you, if you've seen the ABBA show in London, which is phenomenal, this is gonna be beyond anything you've ever seen.

"So the future is here, and with our friends at Pophouse, who are visionaries, we're gonna be doing things that no band and no musical — nobody's ever done before," Gene added. "Our events are going to be multi, I wanna say multidimensional. You just won't believe your eyes. Things are gonna be so much larger than life in front of you. You won't believe it. We've already seen the first fragments of that. It's just jaw-droppingly amazing."

Working closely with KISS, Pophouse will follow its unique, value-add approach of drawing upon its world-class, in-house creative and storytelling expertise to unlock new audiences and revenue streams. Pophouse will use its proven, industry-defining playbook to create new content and experiences to enrich the KISS catalog for fans, old and new, actively seeking to enrich and add value to the brands and artists it partners with. Inclusivity and community have always been vital to the KISS experience, and Pophouse is committed to nurture the close relationship between KISS and its devoted fans moving forward.

Johan Lagerlöf, head of investment at Pophouse, said: "KISS is one of the most recognized and iconic bands in the history of music. They redefined the concept of rock shows and have always taken their artistry to new uncharted territories. The band has consistently been able to appeal to new generations of fans and our mission is to fulfill the band's vision to become immortal, and to let new generations discover and be part of the KISS journey and carry it forward. With the help of the fans' energy, the band, our expertise, and creativity we will make that vision happen."

Per Sundin, CEO at Pophouse Entertainment, said: "KISS has sold more than 100 million records worldwide and has throughout their 50-year career continued to push the boundaries in popular culture. The band's enigmatic personas, unparalleled band attributes, and iconic imagery have made them a cultural force and a legendary act with multigenerational appeal. We will safeguard and enrich this legacy through future global endeavors, by breathing new life into their characters and personas while also leveraging and elevating the visual world of KISS."

As part of the partnership, Pophouse will create digital versions of KISS that will allow the band and their unique personas to live forever. The project, already underway, was previewed at the final KISS show in Madison Square Garden, New York on December 2, 2023, when, to the audience's surprise, KISS avatars closed the night with a rendition of "God Gave Rock And Roll To You" (resulting in international headlines). Through a magical combination of cutting-edge technology and unrivalled creativity, Pophouse will bring the full, authentic KISS experience to both existing and new fans for years to come. The avatar show is planned to launch in 2027.

Stanley said in a statement: "Our journey with Pophouse is fueled by the desire to eternally resonate across diverse facets of global culture. As we embark on this venture, we aim to weave our legacy into the tapestry of different worlds, ensuring that the KISS experience continues to captivate both our devoted fans and those yet to discover the thrill. This partnership is not just a chapter; it's an eternal symphony of rock 'n' roll immortality."

Due to a recent neck injury, guitarist Clint Lowery is sitting out SEVENDUST's September/October 2024 tour celebrating the 21st anniversary of the band's iconic album "Seasons". Filling in for him for most of the dates is Jon Jourdan from MAMMOTH WVH, with SEVENDUST's longtime manager and friend Tim Tournier picking up the guitar duties for the shows Jon has to miss.

Jourdan made his live debut with SEVENDUST this past Thursday, September 12 at the OC Bikefest in Ocean City, Maryland. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.

When SEVENDUST announced Lowery's absence from the tour on September 10, the band said in a statement: "7D Family, we are excited to get on the road and celebrate the 21st Anniversary of Seasons with you all. Unfortunately due to a recent neck injury and under doctor's advisement, our brother Clint Lowery is going to have to miss these dates. He has been instructed to rest to allow the injury to heal and rocking with you all would work against his recovery from this injury. Thankfully, we have been able to recruit some last minute replacements on guitar with Clint's blessings.

"Jon Jourdan from MAMMOTH WVH will be filling in for most of the dates and our longtime manager and friend Tim Tournier will be picking up the guitar duties for the shows Jon has to miss.

"We can't wait to see all of our fans 'Face to Face' as we celebrate Seasons live! Get well soon Clint!"

SEVENDUST's fourth album, "Seasons" exploded on to the metal world when it was released in October 2003. The album spawned a Top 10 Rock single with "Enemy" and the album closer "Face To Face" is a show staple and fan favorite of SEVENDUST to this day.

The tour will run through October 8 where it will wrap up in Salt Lake City, Utah. The tour will make stops in New York City (September 19),the band's hometown of Atlanta, Georgia (September 25),Dallas, Texas (October 2) and Denver, Colorado (October 7),to name a few. Support on the trek is coming from 10 YEARS, RETURN TO DUST and HORIZON THEORY. SEVENDUST will also make stops at the Louder Than Life and Aftershock festivals.

"Seasons" was SEVENDUST's final LP with TVT Records and was dedicated to the memory to both Dave Williams (DROWNING POOL's original singer),who died of cardiomyopathy in August 2002, and Reginald Witherspoon (SEVENDUST singer Lajon Witherspoon's younger brother),who was murdered in November 2002.

"Seasons" was, for a time, the band's last album with Lowery as he left in 2004. Lowery returned to SEVENDUST in March 2008 and has remained with the group ever since.

SEVENDUST's latest album, "Truth Killer", was released in July 2023 via SEVENDUST's new label home, Napalm Records. The follow-up to 2020's "Blood & Stone" was once again tracked at Studio Barbarosa in Gotha, Florida with producer Michael "Elvis" Baskette, who has previously worked with ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH, among others.

"Truth Killer" showcases the original and current SEVENDUST lineup, comprised of Witherspoon, Lowery, John Connolly, Vince Hornsby and Morgan Rose.

In an interview with Derek Scancarelli of Forbes, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons was asked about LINKIN PARK's recent announcement that that the band was reforming with a new singer named Emily Armstrong. He said: "I listened. I saw some videos. The new female singer, great! She fits the band. She sounds great and good luck to them.

"Life is short," he continued. "Go out there and live it up, enjoy it. LINKIN PARK got fans. They want to hear the songs and the music. Why not? There are bands that tour, LYNYRD SKYNYRD, lots of bands that barely have any original members or no original members. People want to hear those songs."

Regarding the fact that LINKIN PARK picked Armstrong, a female singer, instead of trying to find another male vocalist who was imitating late frontman Chester Bennington's voice, Gene said: "I love it. It breaks the rules because when you think about the rules — AC/DC, we took them out on their first tour, [people said] they couldn't survive without Bon [Scott]. That's the voice! Well, actually they did survive and they got bigger. 'Well, once you get your new lead singer, you can't get rid of him!' No, actually, Axl [Rose] did a terrific job. If he was in AC/DC or GUNS N' ROSES, they would both be great because it was convincing. VAN HALEN — a band I supposedly discovered or found; they had signed to me and all that — and I personally preferred the [David Lee] Roth-era VAN HALEN. It was great. There was nobody like him, it changed what lead singers were. Once Roth left, 'Oh boy, that's the end of it.' No, actually they literally got bigger with Sammy Hagar.

"All these 'rules.' GENESIS, they lose Peter Gabriel, 'It's over!' Nope. Once Gabriel left, GENESIS became a stadium band with a drummer who came up from the back. All those 'rules' — who made the rules anyway? In rock and roll, there are no rules."

When Scancarelli noted that there were mixed reviews when Armstrong was announced as the singer because some LINKIN PARK fans were upset about her ties to Scientology, Gene said: "I know all about Scientology. I studied L. Ron Hubbard — the thetans and the energy leftover when the universe was created, that we all have 'theta' within us. I get it. I understand and have read deeply into that. I'm not a follower, but good luck!. Life is short. Believe whatever you want, worship a rock or an alien, whatever floats your boat.

"If they go on tour, the real answer is, 'Of the people, for the people, by the people.' No matter what the Internet says, no matter what these 'thousands' of people who bark the loudest — the smallest dog barks the loudest. The great silent majority — I don't mean politically — the people who make things happen, buy tickets. So, if they — and they will — sell lots of tickets, LINKIN PARK, then the public has spoken. End of story. And they will do great."

LINKIN PARK officially kicked off its comeback mini-tour Wednesday night (September 11) at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. The show featured LINKIN PARK performing a two-hour set in a very rare rectangular setting, allowing for a unique production as well as a greater-than-usual number of tickets sold at the venue.

As was the case with LINKIN PARK's September 5 one-hour global livestream of a concert in Los Angeles, the Kia Forum gig showcased 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 was filling in for Delson for the livestream and the Kia Forum show and will continue to tour with LINKIN PARK for the foreseeable future instead of Delson.

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.

Ted Nugent has responded to PEARL JAM turning one of his songs into a protest against gun violence.

During the Seattle rockers' September 12 concert at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland, PEARL JAM played the riff to the Nugent song "Stranglehold" while frontman Eddie Vedder repeated the lyrics, "I don't own a gun/ I never wanna own a gun." He repeated several variations of the phrase before the song faded out and "Even Flow" began.

After several media outlets reported on PEARL JAM's decision to cover the Nugent classic, the conservative rocker, who is a noted gun lover and supporter of gun rights, took to his account on X to write: "hey Eddie join me on my RAV [Real America's Voice] Spirit Campfire [show] to discuss how your insane liberal policies have created an explosion in engineered violent recidivism while you fight to disarm helpless innocent citizens."

Back in 2021, Nugent defended his right to bear arms under the Second Amendment, arguing that he got it from "God." The musician discussed his natural-born rights as an American while talking to John McLaughlin of the Iowa Firearms Coalition. The 75-year-old rocker, who resigned from the board of the National Rifle Association (NRA) in July 2021 after 26 years, said in part: "I don't need any man — in fact, no man exists to authorize or offer me a permit or a license for my right to keep and bear arms. My name is Ted Nugent. I was born with the God-given individual right, as guaranteed by the Second Amendment, to keep and bear arms 24-7, 365, 74 years on American soil. And I take it a step further because I don't think the Constitution and Bill Of Rights limits me to American rights… I believe as a human being, a free man created in the image and likeness of God…

"I hope people are paying attention, because these kinds of truisms are what has labeled me a radical and an extremist. Well, you're right damn right I'm a radical and an extremist because I don't speak sheep talk; I don't speak German; I don't speak 'proper English' because I'm a free American.

"I have the right from God, as outlined in the Second Amendment, to keep and bear — not keep in case, not keep in lock, not keep in truck — to keep and bear arms on my person on planet earth while I am alive," Nugent continued. "And I would dare, I would dare anybody to play Piers Morgan with me so I could go back to the Concord Bridge and explain how some other man will determine if, when or how I can defend my life and keep and bear arms.

"See, that's where we've become. Some people go, 'Well, they need to declare that you have a constitutional right.' Are you kidding me? So I need some man to go, 'By the way, Ted, I give you the constitutional…' You don't give me jack squat. I had that when I was born.

"God created you as a free man, as guaranteed by the outlined self-evident truth in the Constitution," Ted added. "Currently Americans are being infringed by the abuse of power that we let them have all these years."

In June 2021, Ted made headlines when he said that there is a "proven" way to stop mass shootings at schools. He said: "Secure the damn schools. And this isn't a guitar player's hunch — it's been proven. One point of entrance, all other entries locked. Have a real commando — I mean, a real tuned-in guy that's trained in tactics and firepower and criminality, and have him looking for trouble. Not kind of casually walking around Parkland and maybe he'll run into trouble — have a commando that values those children's lives and have this commando, well-trained tactical capable individual looking for trouble and stopping it before it gets there."

Ted made his comments in the wake of a mass shooting in a Uvalde, Texas elementary school in May 2021 which resulted in the deaths of at least 19 children and two adults.

The Uvalde massacre came only 10 days after an 18-year-old gunman in body armor killed 10 shoppers and workers at a supermarket in a predominantly black area of Buffalo, New York.

In March 2021, Nugent threatened President Joe Biden and other Democrats, telling them to "come and take it" just hours before the House of Representatives passed two gun-safety bills.

In a March 11, 2021 Facebook post, Nugent addressed Biden and "all you other oath violating traitors," writing, "Google my address and itinerary and Come and Take It!" He also proclaimed, "If you want to play Concord Bridge again, you will be the British and I will be the Americans, again."

In August 2021, Nugent told Fox Nation's "Tucker Carlson Today" that the purpose of the Second Amendment is to protect the nation from tyranny.

"[The Second Amendment] says any rights here that are not numerated are up to the states. It's here and enumerated," he said. "It's written down, I can keep bear arms in America, in every building, on every street corner, wherever I want. I got it from God. The Founding Fathers just happened to write it down in case somebody wanted to play king."

In a July 29, 2021 e-mail from NRA general counsel John Frazer sent to board members, it was announced that Nugent, who joined the board in 1995, was stepping down "due to ongoing schedule conflicts."

Ted's decision to leave the board came less than a year after he told Newsmax's "The Chris Salcedo Show" that the National Rifle Association was "the most important civil rights organization in the world."

In July 2021, Nugent blamed the rise in violent crime and gun violence in America on recidivism, a measure of convicted criminals who commit another offense and re-enter prison. "There isn't a gun problem in America," he insisted. "There is an intentional engineered recidivism problem in America. You wanna stop ninety-six percent of the violent crimes. Don't let 'em out."
hey Eddie join me on my RAV spirit campfire to discuss how your insane liberal policies have created an explosion in engineered violent recidivism while you fight to disarm helpless innocent citizens.https://t.co/OBjHpsWgru

— Ted Nugent (@TedNugent) September 13, 2024

Candy have released a video for "eXistenZ", the opening track of the new album, It’s Inside You, out now via Relapse Records. Watch the clip below, and order the album at relapse.com





It’s Inside You is a kind of manifesto of kinship and inner strength. The album serpentines its way through the dark and bright corners of the human psyche. While nihilism and pains of the modern world still exist on the album, It’s Inside You sees the band turn toward tenderness more than ever before, as well. It’s Inside You creates an energizing and empowering atmosphere, in which seeking connections with oneself and with others is central. While constructing the album, Candy opened up and invited collaborators  — like Aaron Melnick (Integrity), Justice Tripp (Angel Du$t, Trapped Under Ice), David Gagliardi (Trash Talk), Mirsy (Fleshwater’s Marisa Shriar) and mmph (Sae Heum Han) — who all helped enrich and further define the band’s already distinctive energy.




Candy is principle songwriter and guitarist Michael Quick, vocalist and lyricist Zak Quiram, drummer Steve DiGenio and bassist Drew Stark. It's Inside You follows Candy's sophomore album Heaven Is Here.


Artwork by Nick Atkins:





Tracklisting:


“eXistenZ”
“Short-Circuit” (feat. Aaron Melnick)
“You Will Never Get Me” (feat. Justice Tripp)
“It’s Inside You” (feat. David Gagliardi)
“Love Like Snow” (feat. MIRSY & mmph)
“Dehumanize Me”
“Faith 91”
“Terror Management”
“Dreams Less Sweet”
“Silent Collapse”
“Dancing To The Infinite Beat”
“Hypercore”


"You Will Never Get Me" feat. Justice Tripp:





“eXistenZ”:

Turbokill, the Saxon-based band formed around ex-Alpha Tiger singer Stephan Dietrich, returns with their second album, Champion, out September 27 via Steamhammer/SPV. The album will be released worldwide digitally as well as on CD and vinyl.


Today, Turbokill releases the new single, “Champion”, accompanied by a visualizer video. Stream/download the song here, watch the visualizer below:







Turbokill has dedicated itself to European power metal, characterized by strong melodies and Dietrich‘s memorable voice. A short tour at the beginning of the year, under the banner "New Wave of German Metal" with the bands Sintage and Fireborn in the package, highlighted the quintet‘s instrumental skills and first-class power metal.


Revitalized by the energy of their live performances, the band subsequently recorded a suitably inspired album under the direction of Lars Rettkowitz (Freedom Call) in his Emperial Sound Studio.


Stephan Dietrich comments on the new album Champion: "Our aim is to create a modern heavy metal sound that is catchy and captivates the listener. The right hooklines must not be missing. We want our audience to have a lot of fun listening and singing along at our concerts. We want our new album to have a lot of positivity and motivational vibes to encourage people to rise above themselves and become the best form of themselves. I think in times like these, which are characterized more than ever by negative headlines, this album is exactly what people need right now."


Champion will be released on CD digipak, LP version, download, and stream. Pre-order here.





Champion tracklisting:


"Inner Calling"
"A Million Ways"
"Time To Wake"
"Champion"
"Wings Of The Thunder Hawk"
"Tear It Down"
"Go Your Way"
"Mirage Mirror"
"Power Punch"
"Sons Of The Storm"
"Shine On"
"Overcome"


"Go Your Way" video:





"Wings Of The Thunder Hawk" lyric video:





"Tear It Down" video: