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21 àâã 2024
IRON MAIDEN's STEVE HARRIS On Performing Live: 'You Can't Really Train For What You Do On Stage'
 In a new interview with Jaimunji of Australia's Metal Roos, IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris was asked how he and his bandmates continue to maintain such a high energy level on stage in their late 60s and early 70s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The first couple of weeks is always the toughest, fitness-wise, of any tour. 'Cause you can… I mean, I go running and I still play football and tennis and everything like that, whatever, but you can't really train for what you do on stage, and you just have to get out there and do it. So it is tough, the first two weeks, I think. But once you get into it and you get into your stride, it's all right. But the first two weeks is also exciting for that very reason as well — it can be a little bit edgy because you're still sort of finding your feet, I suppose. I think a lot of the fans come along hoping there's gonna be a couple of mistakes here and there that they can talk about for the rest of their days. Hopefully that won't happen, from our point of view, but it is what it is. It doesn't matter how much you rehearse or get ready or whatever you do, whatever preparation, there's nothing like playing a live show."
Founded in 1975 by Harris, IRON MAIDEN has released 17 studio albums, 13 live albums and 47 singles which have sold in excess of 100 million copies worldwide. They have played over 2000 live shows in 59 countries and have been the recipients of a Grammy Award and a Brit Award, among others. The band's very own Trooper beer, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, has sold in excess of 35 million pints and is distributed in 68 countries.
IRON MAIDEN's "The Future Past Tour", which includes songs from both the band's most recent studio album "Senjutsu" as well as 1986's seminal album "Somewhere In Time", alongside other fan favorites, played to over 750,000 fans at more than 30 sold-out shows across Europe in the summer of 2023. The band also performed in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver alongside their highly praised appearance at California's Power Trip festival this October which had Consequence stating: "IRON MAIDEN set the bar high at Power Trip" and The Desert Sun saying "IRON MAIDEN didn't disappoint and delivered a hard-hitting performance to open the festival on a high note." Featuring one of the most spectacular stage productions of the band's career, it has received rave reviews in every city and country that IRON MAIDEN visited.
"Senjutsu" came out in September 2021. It marked MAIDEN's second consecutive double album behind 2015's "The Book Of Souls" which is the longest MAIDEN album, with a running time of 92 minutes.
IRON MAIDEN's first album in six years, "Senjutsu" was recorded in 2019 in Paris with longstanding producer Kevin Shirley and co-produced by bassist Steve Harris. It features three tracks whose running time exceeds 10 minutes each.
For "Senjutsu" — loosely translated as "tactics and strategy" — the band once again enlisted the services of Mark Wilkinson to create the spectacular Samurai-themed cover artwork, based on an idea by Harris.
"Senjutsu" bowed at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 chart, charting higher than even the band's early classics like "Powerslave" and "The Number Of The Beast". Nearly 90 percent of the LP's 64,000 equivalent album units earned came from pure album sales. The critically acclaimed double album debuted one place higher than 2015's "The Book Of Souls" and 2010's "The Final Frontier", which both peaked at No. 4.
"Senjutsu" was MAIDEN's 13th album to top in the Top 40 in the U.S.
Harris has been playing sporadic shows with his side project BRITISH LION, which released its second album, "The Burning", in January 2020 via Explorer1 Music (E1). The LP was recorded, engineered and mixed at Barnyard Studios by Tony Newton and produced by Steve Harris.
BRITISH LION's first U.S. tour took place in January and February 2020.
BRITISH LION comprises singer Richard Taylor, guitarists David Hawkins and Grahame Leslie, Harris on bass and keyboards, and drummer Simon Dawson.
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20 àâã 2024
DAVID ELLEFSON: 'LEMMY Played The Bass Like An Acoustic Guitar'
 In a new interview with Oran O'Beirne of Bloodstock TV, former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked when he was first introduced to the music of MOTÖRHEAD and how he was influenced by MOTÖRHEAD's iconic frontman Ian Fraser "Lemmy" Kilmister. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "So I was probably 15, maybe 16, and that was a really pivotal time. I had a little band in Minnesota, where I grew up, and there was a guitar player in the town north of us that he was the guy who could play. So he joined our band and he turned me and my band on to DIAMOND HEAD, MOTÖRHEAD, TANK, TYGERS OF PAN TANG, the first DEF LEPPARD record where [DEF LEPPARD drummer] Rick Allen was, like — I don't know — 15 or 16 years old. And quite honestly, that album is what made me and my friends go, 'We can do this,' 'cause we were the same age. DEF LEPPARD was so young. And then, of course, along with it, I think probably 'Ace Of Spades' was the first MOTÖRHEAD record that came in the band rehearsal room, and then immediately followed by 'No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith' and then 'Bomber', of course. So those were the — kind of that whole era. And then the SCORPIONS, BLACK SABBATH with Ronnie James Dio. So that was my era — kind of '78 to '80, those records in that era. And I got turned on to them probably around '80 or '81. That was it, man."
Offering his opinion of Lemmy as a bass player, Ellefson said: "METAL ALLEGIANCE, another group that I have, we had a run of dates in early January of '16. And [Lemmy] passed the day after Christmas [of 2015] or something. Yeah, it was very kind of unexpected, 'cause they had a big [birthday] party for him at the Whisky [A Go Go in West Hollywood]. Everybody was there. Then he passed right after Christmas. And then our shows were like 10 days later. And so the Whisky, which also own the Rainbow, they called us and they said, 'Hey, would you guys be the tribute-to-Lemmy band?' like the house band. So we kind of flipped our setlist with METAL ALLEGIANCE to basically be mostly a MOTÖRHEAD set. So, [MOTÖRHEAD drummer] Mikkey Dee came, [SLIPKNOT's] Corey Taylor, a bunch of people came and joined us. And what I realized learning a bunch of MOTÖRHEAD songs in a way that I never knew as a kid learning them is that Lemmy played the bass like an acoustic guitar. 'Cause he was a singer/bass player, similar to [THIN LIZZY's] Phil Lynott. Bass players that were singers as well as bass players, they played with the plectrum… But Lemmy really played more like an acoustic guitar player… And it was the way he strummed and his up strokes on things was much more like how an acoustic guitar player would play. And it really changed my whole scope about him. When you learn songs from somebody, you kind of try to find where's the heart of who they are. What is their thing? And that, to me, that's when it clicked. And then every MOTÖRHEAD song after that, I kind of just clued in to that, and it became a lot easier to learn because I didn't just think about the bass part, I thought about what he's singing over top of it. Paul McCartney, Gene Simmons, Phil Lynott, Lemmy, these iconic bass players, they're also lead singers. So for them, the bass isn't just the only thing that they do. So, to me, you kind of have to take the whole package. So Lemmy is a singer as well as just a bass player."
When METAL ALLEGIANCE paid tribute to Lemmy during the band's January 9, 2016 concert at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, they were joined by special guests from SLIPKNOT and SEPULTURA, along with Dee, who asked for a moment of silence in honor of Lemmy.
Eight and a half years ago, Ellefson spoke to About Heavy Metal about the Lemmy tribute. He said: "As it would turn out, Lemmy passed suddenly and unexpectedly just after Christmas, and we got the call from the venue saying, 'Hey, we would love it if METAL ALLEGIANCE would accommodate a tribute to Lemmy. You're kind of set up for it with the lineup of the band. There's going to be a lot of guests, and other celebrated metal musicians around,' and we said, 'Absolutely we should do it.' It's a no-brainer. It's pretty easy for us. They had the funeral at Forest Lawn. They had the memorial up at the Rainbow, and we held the wake down at the Whisky."
Asked if it was pretty emotional when MOTÖRHEAD drummer Mikkey Dee got up there to play a song with METAL ALLEGIANCE, Ellefson said: "It was. Mikkey's such a terrific guy, and such a great drummer. In fact, I remember just before we were releasing the [MEGADETH] 'Peace Sells' record back in 1986, we did a tour leading up to that with KING DIAMOND in the summer of 1986, and Mikkey Dee was the drummer. That was when we in MEGADETH first got to meet Mikkey, then, of course, watching him move over to be the MOTÖRHEAD drummer."
He continued: "MOTÖRHEAD drumming and the MOTÖRHEAD lifestyle is not for the faint of heart, and he survived both very well. Just such a monster player, and such a cool guy. He held a moment of silence for Lemmy. It was really a moving moment when you get a bunch of loud, raucous, metal heads into a room who are respectfully, honestly giving a moment of silence. It was really a moving moment for sure, and followed by, 'Okay, now let's go make some noise.' Then he hopped behind the kit, and we blazed out a tune.
"We had some of the best guys there, obviously. Mike Portnoy [DREAM THEATER], Mikkey Dee, Dave Lombardo [SLAYER] came down to play drums. Corey Taylor [SLIPKNOT] flew over from Las Vegas just to be a part of that, and jumped up and sang some songs with us. Everybody joined in with the best intentions, and really with a big heart in all the things in honor of Lemmy."
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20 àâã 2024
Wacken Open Air 2024 - Official Aftermovie Video Released
 Under the motto "Witches & Warlocks" the sold out Wacken Open Air 2024 took place from July 31 to August 3, 2024. Watch 85,000 Metalheads from all around the globe celebrating the biggest metal party in the world in a tiny village in northern Germany.
Says organizers: "With this offial aftermovie a huge "Thank You!" goes out to all participants and followers of Wacken Open Air 2024! See you in Wacken - rain of shine!"
Get your ticket for Wacken Open Air 2025 here.
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20 àâã 2024
THIS WILD DARKNESS Feat. SKID ROW's SCOTTI HILL, Former SMASHING PUMPKINS Guitarist JEFF SCHROEDER To Release New EP In October
 What happens when the musical universe fuses members of Lady A, Skid Row, Third Eye Blind, Sturgill Simpson, The Smashing Pumpkins and Wang Chung together? This Wild Darkness.
United in a moment of musical brilliance, members of this supercollab rock outfit, This Wild Darkness, led by musical alchemist Tommy Marz, is a collective born from the pure joy of creation, where legendary musicians from diverse backgrounds converge to craft something poignant and dynamic. With a lineup boasting Arion Salazar (Third Eye Blind), Chuck Bartels (Sturgill Simpson), Jack Hues (Wang Chung), Jeff Schroeder (The Smashing Pumpkins), Scotti Hill (Skid Row), And Slim Gambill (Lady A), the group has harnessed their vast experiences to produce a powerful and evocative upcoming 5-song concept EP, The Notorious Memphis Rains, set for release on October 25.
The project’s title hints at the profound themes explored within the five-track collection, drawing inspiration from the historic tragedies of Memphis, TN, and West Memphis, AR. The assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the death of Elvis Presley, and the haunting story of the West Memphis Three served as a foundation for Marz as he crafted the character "Memphis Rains," symbolizing the collective sorrow of these events.
"The entirety of this project is a concept based on searching for something that you want and being willing to do whatever it takes to get it," says Marz, who also produced the album. "It also explores the consequences of those actions that may not be clear when you are in pursuit."
"Tommy made it easy to be relaxed and creative," says Bartels as he reflects on the collaborative process. "I felt like nothing was off the table, part-wise."
"I couldn't have been more flattered when Tommy asked me to contribute to this record and project," shares Hill. " It’s been so much fun!"
Nashville-based guitarist Slim Gambill, known for his work with country group Lady A shouts: "Finally! I get a rock track sent to me where I get to take the gloves off!"
Beginning at a charity show, "For The Crew," to raise money for Sweet Relief Musicians Fund in 2021, Schroeder, HILL, and Marz ended the evening with a rousing jam of "Cold Gin" by KISS. This event - which raised over $15,000 for out-of-work road crew members affected by the pandemic - also highlighted collaboration between Schroeder and Salazar, as well as Hues and Marz. These moments laid the foundation for a group that would reunite and create together over the years. Marz and Schroeder have since collaborated on several tracks, charting four times on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Mainstream Radio Airplay and Digital Sales charts.
The Notorious Memphis Rains tracklisting:
"The Wild Darkness"
"Dawn Rider"
"Phantom Moon"
"Night Drive Rx"
"The Wild Darkness (Reprise)"
(Album image - Judi Perkins)
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20 àâã 2024
JOHN CORABI On JACK RUSSELL's Passing: 'You Hate To See Any Of Your Heroes Or Musical Peers' Die
 In a new interview with link textUltimate Classic Rock, former MÖTLEY CRÜE and current THE DEAD DAISIES frontman John Corabi spoke about the recent passing of original GREAT WHITE singer Jack Russell. He said: "That sucks. It was probably about a year ago, I did an acoustic set. It was me, [former DANGER DANGER vocalist] Ted Poley and Jack with [his guitarist] Robbie Lochner. I was shocked. I hadn't seen Jack in a while. He came in and had two crutches and just looked super frail. But you know what? He got in there, sat down on a stool and sang his balls off. I was just, like, 'Wow.' It's amazing. He looked physically frail, but if you closed your eyes and listened to him, it didn't sound like [any time had passed]. It sounded like old Jack. But yeah, I was sad when I heard that [about his passing]."
He continued: "Listen, I respect anybody that can get out and do what we do and have some success at it. GREAT WHITE was one of the first bands I saw when I moved to L.A. I saw them at the Roxy and they were kind of in between record deals. I think they were writing for what became ['Once Bitten']. They were just kind of in between. I saw them play the Roxy and I was just like, 'Wow.' Then they did some [LED] ZEPPELIN stuff and I just thought it was amazing. It's sad, dude. You know, you hate to see any of your heroes or musical peers [die]. We're all getting up there in age, man. So we're starting to lose 'em all."
Russell's death was announced by his family in a social media statement on Thursday (August 15). The statement read: "With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend.
"Jack passed peacefully in the presence of his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik.
"Details of a public memorial will be announced at a later date.
"Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.
"His family asks for privacy at this time."
The news of Jack's passing came less than a month after he announced that he was retiring from touring following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.
Lewy body dementia is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease.
Lewy body dementia impacts memory, decision-making and ability to solve problems. It has led to motor and muscle weakness and rigidity. It also can cause sleep disorders and hallucinations.
Lewy body dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease due to its early similarity to those other neurodegenerative diseases.
After actor and comedian Robin Williams took his own life in August 2014, autopsy results revealed he was suffering from LBD.
Russell was performing with his version of GREAT WHITE when a pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people at a 2003 concert in Rhode Island. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. Guitarist Mark Kendall, who founded GREAT WHITE with Russell in 1982, later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. Guitarist Ty Longley died in the blaze.
Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.
Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by guitarist Mark Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell most recently performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.
In October 2022, GREAT WHITE officially named Brett Carlisle as its new lead singer. Carlisle joined the band as the replacement for Andrew Freeman, who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months.
Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Russell's autobiography, titled "The True Tale Of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative", was recently released via Gatekeeper Press. Penned by author Katelyn Louise "K.L." Doty, it features a sentimental foreword by Lita Ford, with additional commentary from Eric Singer, Eddie Trunk, John Kalodner, Kip Winger and others. The book, with a cover photo by legendary rock photographer Mark Weiss, is available in paperback, hardcover and e-book form.
For more information, visit www.jackrussellbook.com. | +1 | |
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20 àâã 2024
DELAIN Live At Summer Breeze 2024; Pro-Shot Video Of Full Set Streaming
 On August 16th, Delain 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:
"The Cold"
"Suckerpunch"
"Burning Bridges"
"The Quest and the Curse"
"Invidia"
"Get the Devil Out of Me"
"Army of Dolls"
"Queen of Shadow"
"The Gathering"
"Don't Let Go"
"Moth to a Flame"
"We Are the Others"
Delain continue to grace stages around the world in support of their latest opus, Dark Waters, out now via Napalm Records. The band is thrilled to announce their return to North American shores with a newly announced headline tour, set to take place in early 2025. The run will also feature support from special guests, symphonic metal patriots and label mates Xandria, who are touring in support of their latest album, The Wonders Still Awaiting.
Fans should expect to hear Delain and Xandria fan favorites, the latest hits, as well as brand new material from both bands during this tour, so don't miss out. Kicking off on March 7 in Phoenix, AZ, the tour will visit several major cities across North America, ending in Austin, TX on March 29. Tickets are on sale now, here.
Delain's Martijn Westerholt says: “After such a warm welcome & meeting so many amazing fans, performing new music and introducing our new members to the metal masses of North America last year, we are absolutely stoked to return to the United States and Canada to meet again! This time, we’re thrilled to share this experience with our special guests and good friends Xandria. Each night will be stunning for all - don’t miss this one!"
Marco Heubaum of Xandria adds:"We are delighted to come back to the USA and Canada, and even better, with our good friends Delain! We are super excited to bring this package to the North American fans! This is going to be amazing!"
Dates:
March
7 - Phoenix, AZ - The Nile
8 - Los Angeles, CA - Whisky A Go Go
9 - Sacramento, CA - Goldfield Trading Post
10 - Portland, OR - The Bossanova Ballroom
11 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
13 - Salt Lake City, UT - Metro Music Hall
14 - Denver, CO - The Oriental Theater
16 - Joliet, IL - The Forge
17 - Detroit, MI - The Token Lounge
19 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
20 - Toronto, ON - Axis
21 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
22 - Cambridge, MA - Middle East
23 - New York, NY - The Gramercy Theatre
24 - Baltimore, MD - Soundstage
25 - Jacksonville, NC - Hooligans
26 - Atlanta, GA - Masquerade (Hell)
28 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
29 - Austin, TX - Come and Take It Live
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20 àâã 2024
ILL NIÑO Enlist Former BAD WOLVES Singer TOMMY VEXT For "25 Years Of Latin Metal" European Headlining Tour
 Long time friend Tommy Vext (formerly of Bad Wolves, pictured above) will be filling in on lead vocals for Ill Niño's upcoming European Tour. Marcos Leal will not be performing on the upcoming European Tour.
Ill Niño and Vext got their start on the East Coast, in the early days of the NY/NJ hardcore scene, and Vext opened for Ill Niño when he was just a teenager. This multi-cultural urban landscape helped cultivate the band's sound. Ill Niño's Revolution and Confession-era songs are no stranger to Vext, as they share a 25-year brotherhood.
Tommy Vext has had great international success with the multi-platinum cover of "Zombie." Dave Chavarri says "We are excited to have Tommy perform with Ill Niño across all these European stages."
Find Ill Niño's complete tour itinerary here.
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20 àâã 2024
SILVERA ‘Show Me How To Live’ Official Video
 SILVERA concludes their album run with the electrifying single and official video, “Show Me How to Live”. This track embodies one of Silvera’s trademarks: a catchy chorus that stays with you long after the song ends. The powerful vocal arrangements add depth and intensity, showcasing the band’s remarkable synergy and musical craftsmanship.
“Show Me How to Live” is poised to be a hit, with its radio-friendly appeal and widespread resonance among fans. It’s a definitive track that not only captures the essence of Silvera’s sound but also has the potential to reach an even broader audience, solidifying their mark in the music industry.
Enjoy the video premiering here: | 0 | |
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20 àâã 2024
DEFILED Premier "Horror Beyond Horror" Music Video
 Defiled have released a video for "Horror Beyond Horror", the title track of their upcoming new album, out September 20 via Season Of Mist. Pre-save / pre-order the album here, and watch the new clip below:
When it comes to Japanese death metal, there is no shrewder sensei than Defiled. Since they started their training in the world's most vulgar of art forms back in the early '90s, the band have toured everywhere from their native Tokyo to Milwaukee Metal Fest with the likes of Mayhem, Incantation, Morbid Angel and Cannibal Corpse.
Now, after 30 years of destroying the opposition at the highest level, these self-proclaimed samurai of death metal are back with their eighth album. Horror Beyond Horror is the kind of good ol' fashioned ass-kicking that only a true master can deliver.
After they first took to the stage in 1995, Defiled needed nearly a decade before finally erupting with wrath on their debut album. But ever since the band's lineup solidified around original member Yusuke Sumita, they haven't stopped to look back and admire their war path. Horror Beyond Horror comes hot on the heels of the album they released just last year.
Anyone who took The Highest Level at face value will be pleasantly surprised to hear that Defiled have only added another grimy coat of blood to their blade. "To See Behind The Wall" is the final boss on Horror Beyond Horror, but the album's first single wastes no time charging into the fray behind a barrage of old-school death metal. Whether they're slicing, dicing or leaping into a furiously fast solo, the riffs take no prisoners.
"The path to your elimination", Shinichiro Hamada cries, digging in amidst a flurry of blast beats, before unleashing an ungodly war cry.
"What is behind the wall?", Defiled ask on their new single. "The truth that has been hidden? Our sanity as human beings? Are we, who are inside the wall, now in a world of deceit and madness?"
Tracklisting:
"Smoke And Mirrors"
"Horror Beyond Horror"
"Syndicate"
"The Alchemy"
"Demagogue"
"The Terminal Phase"
"Trojan Horse"
"Spectrum Of Fear"
"The Crook And Flail"
"Replicator Dynamics"
"Equinox"
"The Chains"
"Psychopomp"
"To See Behind The Wall"
"Smoke And Mirrors" video:
"To See Behind The Wall" video:
From the depths of Tokyo's darkest alleys, Defiled have emerged once again, claws sharpened, eyes bloodshot, ready to unleash a fresh dose of unadulterated savagery with their latest full-length studio album, Horror Beyond Horror. Marrying the grotesque with technical prowess, these samurais of sickness are poised to carve another notch into the archives of death metal's sordid history.
Since crawling from the primordial soup of the underground scene in the early '90s, Defiled have forged a path littered with broken souls. Their journey of destruction first sank its teeth into the international jugular with Erupted Wrath, mixed by the masterful Jim Morris in Tampa, Florida. This brutal assault opened gates to a global bloodletting, from leveling stages in South Korea to crushing skulls at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and not even the November to Dismember fest could foresee the carnage they'd bring.
Commandeering the technical tightrope between anarchy and precision, Defiled evolved, much like an aberrant spawn isolated on the Galapagos, grotesque yet ultimately superior. Their subsequent onslaughts — Ugliness Revealed, Divination, and the sheer violence of In Crisis — built a monument to atrocity that ascends to new heights with Horror Beyond Horror.
Taking no prisoners in their three-decades-long campaign of terror, Defiled have become the indestructible behemoth of Asia's death metal scene, powered by the relentless engine of their old school roots and the twisted wreckage of technical thrash and progressive rock innovation.
But enough with the history lesson, you came here for the carnage, didn't you? Horror Beyond Horror is a 14-track massacre, riddled with riffs sharp enough to slit your throat and a rhythmic onslaught that'll pulverize your pathetic bones. Each track, from the visceral "Smoke And Mirrors" to the haunting "To See Behind The Wall", is a calculated strike, precision-engineered to leave no survivors. Let's not forget the eponymous "Horror Beyond Horror", a track that cements Defiled's legacy as harbingers of the apocalypse.
With a sound as raw as exposed nerve endings and as unrefined as a mass grave, Defiled stands defiantly apart from the polished poseurs and shameless sellouts. They don’t peddle in cheap gimmickry or nostalgia; they deal in the currency of pure, unfiltered destruction. As they look out upon the charred landscape of the genre they’ve helped to define, Defiled is not content to rest on their laurels. Horror Beyond Horror sees them, once again, ascending to the blood-soaked throne of death metal sovereignty.
(Photo - Shigenori Ishikawa)
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20 àâã 2024
VENDED Drops Music Video For New Single 'Serenity'
 VENDED, the band fronted by Griffin Taylor, the 21-year-old son of SLIPKNOT singer Corey Taylor, will release its self-titled debut album on September 20. The official Derek Rathbun-directed music video for the LP's latest single, "Serenity", can be seen below.
The record will arrive in the midst of VENDED's North American tour dates with SLIPKNOT and KNOCKED LOOSE and subsequent headline run with WRISTMEETRAZOR and LIE.
Commenting on their debut full-length, Griffin says: "There's a level of aggression and emotion that's missing from music right now, and we aim to fill that void on this album. It represents everything that VENDED are about. 'Fuck your ignorance, just grab ahold of it.' You're either with us or against us. VENDED is a unit aimed at world domination, and this album is the first step. Welcome to VENDED."
VENDED's LP was produced by Chris Collier (KORN) and features 13 rage-fueled tracks, including previously released singles "Am I The Only One", "The Far Side" and "Nihilism", that restores some faith in the metal scene.
Since VENDED's inception in 2018, the band came out swinging with singles replete with relentless energy and unparalleled ferocity that lit a firestorm of excitement. Now, the five-piece is ready to unleash a level of fury unseen in modern metal. This band gives no fucks; just pure unrestrained mayhem.
"Vended" track listing:
01. Intro
02. Paint The Skin
03. The Far Side
04. Am I The Only One
05. Going Up
06. Nihilism
07. Pitiful
08. Serenity
09. Disparager
10. Where The Honesty Lies
11. Ones'...
12. Downfall
13. As We Know It
VENDED's lineup is completed by Simon Crahan (son of SLIPKNOT percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan) on drums, Connor Grodzicki on rhythm guitar, Jeremiah Pugh on bass and Cole Espeland on lead guitar.
In an interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, Corey spoke about Griffin's work with VENDED, saying: "I cannot tell you how proud I am of that boy. And, of course, being a typical Taylor, on one hand I'm super proud of him, but I still can't get him to clean anything, dude; he's just such a nightmare.
"The funny thing is you and I were talking the day after he was born. And I keep going back to that night, going, 'What's he gonna be? Who's he gonna be in life?' And now [21] years later, , and he is this crazy metal pirate, just like I was," Corey continued. "And I'm just, like, 'Oh, I failed as a father. What did I do?' I kept trying to push him to be anything other than what I do. And, yeah, dude, he's crushing.
"I've heard the new stuff that he just recorded with [producer] Chris Collier, and it is so good," Corey added. "VENDED, their new stuff is so rad. Not only Griffin, man, but Simon's [Crahan] drumming sounds incredible. All of the guys — Cole [Espeland] and Grod [Connor Grodzicki] sound great [on guitar]. The guitars have just gone above and beyond. J.J.'s [Jeremiah Pugh] crushing it on bass. I'm really, really proud of those guys, man. And then to be able to watch my boy get out there and just be himself and crush. It's so easy for him, and it just makes me angry. Because he's got all the great stuff that I never had when I was… He can wear anything. It's just criminal. I'm just, like, 'You don't know how good you've got it, kid. The carbs haven't caught you yet.'"
VENDED's five-track debut EP, "What Is It / Kill It", arrived at DSPs in November 2021. The collection was recorded with Griffin Landa of THE ACACIA STRAIN. The two singles bookended VENDED's first U.S. headline tour, after which the band went on to open the day's proceedings at the huge Knotfest Los Angeles show at the Banc Of California Stadium, playing alongside SLIPKNOT, BRING ME THE HORIZON, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, FEVER 333, CODE ORANGE and CHERRY BOMBS.
Formed in February of 2018 in Des Moines, Iowa, VENDED had its first mainstream exposure in 2020 when they performed as part of Knotfest.com's virtual "Pulse Of The Maggots" festival.
VENDED played its first headlining show in March 2020 at the iconic local club Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines, Iowa.
Griffin, who looks a lot like his father, previously showcased his skills when he joined Corey onstage during STONE SOUR shows in 2017 and 2018. He's also played cover tunes with Simon Crahan, while Clown's daughter Alexandria Crahan-Conway has snapped some of VENDED's previous press pics.
Photo credit: @ras_visual | 0 | |
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20 àâã 2024
EXTINCTION A.D. Release Official "Burnt Sienna" Mini-Documentary Video
 Extinction A.D., New York's relentless purveyors of ferocious hardcore tinged thrash metal, have released a mini-documentary in support of their single, "Burnt Sienna", featured on their new album, To The Detested, available via Unique Leader Records.
Speaking on "Burnt Sienna", Rick Jimenez shared, "This entire song was a crazy journey from start to finish. From conception of incorporating Bomba into our typical metal style, to singing in Spanish, to diving into the "personal turmoil turned pride in exploration” of my Puerto Rican heritage and my upbringing in an unwelcoming environment, to putting together the exposition video doc of the creation of the song, to choosing this as a single. It’s a lot of personal exposition and being raw about my own individual experiences and evolution as I grow older in this world while simultaneously coming to terms with some things and discovering others."
Watch the new mini-documentary, as well as the "Burnt Sienna" music video, below:
Speaking on the release of the album, Jimenez stated: "This album took on a life of its own very quickly and is by far the freshest one of our career. There was no second guessing or laboring over anything, it was pure unbridled energy from the first note of the first song we wrote to the final sound we recorded. We’ve never pulled any punches musically or lyrically but this is a whole new level of intensity, vitriol and honesty. It is not for the thin-skinned or the weak hearted. This record is in fact our declaration to the detested."
To The Detested tracklisting:
"Desperate Grasp"
"Escape From New York"
"Epidemic Of Mutation"
"Apocalypse Rising"
"Impervious (Unrepentant)" feat. Matthew Kiichi Heafy
"Fill The Void"
"Burnt Sienna"
"Shepherding Swine"
"Behind The Veil Of Sanctity"
"The Cure Or The Cause"
"Impervious (Unrepentant)" video:
Extinction A.D. is not for the faint of heart and the intensity of these New Yorkers has yet to be tempered. The bands signature level of ferocity has reached new levels on their fourth album To The Detested, which follows their EP Ruthless Intent from earlier this year.
So many different worlds shaped this band; from writers like Alan Moore and George Orwell; lyricists like Wreak Havoc and Chuck D; to directors like Tarantino and John Carpenter. But musically, Extinction A.D. hook up a tube of early 90s era of metal into their veins. Not just bands like Pantera and Machine Head, but the often overlooked 90s offerings from Testament, Sepultura and Slayer.
Thrashing just as hard as their predecessors, the band also break their surroundings down and deliver some heavy as hell riotous mosh; hitting that all-important sweet spot mixture of 80s thrash, 90s extreme metal and New York hardcore, all encompassed into one.
Never afraid to speak their minds amidst a divisive world, Extinction A.D. bring a decisive power to match their frenetic energy. The endgame is not just rebellion but revolution.
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20 àâã 2024
DAVID LEE ROTH - New Video Released For "Mississippi Power"
 The Mojo Dojo has released a new video for David Lee Roth's "Mississippi Power". A message from animator Ramses Rios follows:
"A very rare, but amazing track by David Lee Roth from the YFLM (Your Filthy Little Mouth) album (Non-LP track). It has been around for ages, but not many are aware of this gem the Diamond blessed us with. Dave has always had an incredible bluesy voice, and he hits it out the park every time. Enjoy this track if you have not already heard it. Illustration by myself - a little tip of the hat to the art portrayed on the YFLM booklet (Moon)."
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20 àâã 2024
BLACK OAK COUNTY ‘Boom Boom Baby’ Lyric Video Feat. Nicklas Sonne
 Danish hard rockers Black Oak County are ramping up for the release of their anticipated third album “III”, with their highly energetic new single and video “Boom Boom Baby”, featuring Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Aries Descendant, Danish Eurovision preliminaries).
““Boom Boom Baby” is kind of a silly party song based on an experience a friend of ours had in our teenage years. It’s a comedic and cheeky song with plenty of balls (literally!), a bad-ass riff, one of the catchiest choruses of the album. We had such a fun time writing and recording this tune with Nicklas, and felt this was the perfect song for him to join in on!” says the band, currently gearing up for another run of shows in Denmark and Germany later this summer.
With its intense, groovy and dead-simple riff and its massive chorus, hook and melody, “Boom Boom Baby” marks a venture into new musical territory for the Danish quartet – who decided to take a step further in a new direction, by having their very first feature artist on a track.
“With the theme of the lyric and the hookline, we felt like this song could be even better by having a sort of “antagonist” join in for the third verse – and Nicklas’ vocals just fit our sound perfectly. He blends amazingly with both René and Niels in the final chorus, and in some cases felt like a third voice in the band like he’d always been there. His gritty vocal performance perfectly summarizes the climax of the song, and not only that – he plays a kickass guitar solo on “Boom Boom Baby” as well! We couldn’t be happier with how this collaboration turned out!”.
“III” was written in collaboration with Sonne, who co-produced, engineered, mixed and mastered the album, which is set to release on October 25th, 2024 through Mighty Music.
Catch Black Oak County on tour, as they head out into Europe for a series of dates in Denmark and Germany, with the year culminating in a nationwide tour of Denmark with Danish guitar legends Electric Guitars. For more information, head to http://www.blackoakcounty.com | +2 | |
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20 àâã 2024
DEAD RABBITS Featuring ESCAPE THE FATE And EYES SET TO KILL Members Release "Oxygen" Single And Music Video
 US-based metalcore band, Dead Rabbits, has released the new single, “Oxygen”, featuring Attila‘s Chris Fronzak (AKA Fronz) on vocals. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, Redefined,, whose release date has not yet been revealed. The album was produced by heavyweights Howard Benson and Neil Sanderson of Three Days Grace under their Judge & Jury label.
Stream/download "Oxygen" here, and watch the music video below.
Craig Mabbitt (frontman of Dead Rabbitts and Escape The Fate) has stated about the new track: "'Oxygen' is a song about bottling the shit that life throws at you up so much you feel like you can’t breathe, playing pretend and wearing a mask with a smile when you’re feeling the complete opposite, an empowering tune to help push you through and find that strength inside again and there’s no better feature I could’ve asked for when it comes to giving the middle finger to life’s bullshit and living your best life than Fronz. He absolutely crushed it.”
“I'm stoked to announce that I had the honor of working on the new single “Oxygen” with the incredible Dead Rabbitts," Fronz adds and continues, "This track is straight fire, and it was an absolute blast collaborating with Craig for the first time. Craig's an absolute beast on the mic, and his energy brought out the best in all of us. Can't wait for you all to hear it!”
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20 àâã 2024
CWF Feat. TOTO And CHICAGO Members: 'CWF III' Album Due In September
 CWF is a supergroup featuring TOTO's Joseph Williams, former CHICAGO vocalist Bill Champlin and Swedish guitarist/producer Peter Friestedt. The band emerged following the success of their first studio album and a chart-topping live DVD in Sweden. Williams, known for his work with TOTO and as the singing voice of adult Simba in "The Lion King", brings his acclaimed vocals to the project. Friestedt, an accomplished session player and producer with two successful solo albums, has collaborated extensively with Williams. Champlin, a 25-year veteran of CHICAGO and Grammy-winning songwriter, rounds out this remarkable AOR (Album-Oriented Rock) trio, bringing together decades of musical expertise and success.
Today, the legends of CWF release "Brighter Day", marking the first single off their upcoming opus "CWF III".
One of the most anticipated releases of 2024, "CWF III" is set to become a milestone in the AOR/West Coast genre. This highly anticipated album, due on September 27, follows the tremendous success of "CWF II", which achieved impressive chart positions in Sweden and Japan, along with the chart-topping "Live In Concert" DVD.
The album features an impressive lineup of iconic artists, making it a true celebration of the AOR/West Coast sound. Alongside Williams, Champlin and Friestedt, contributions from CHICAGO's Jason Scheff on vocals and bass, legendary drummer John "J.R." Robinson, and Grammy Award-winning songwriters Randy Goodrum and Bill Champlin ensure top-notch production quality and a stellar listening experience.
Musically, the album offers a rich journey through rock, soul, and classic AOR elements. Key tracks include the TOTO-flavored "Brighter Day", featuring stellar lead vocals from Joseph Williams, the CHICAGO-sounding ballad "Find The Love" and the straightforward rock anthem "Wings Of Tomorrow". Another highlight is the soulful duet "I Will Find You There", performed by Michael Ruff and Bill Champlin.
"CWF III" track listing:
01. Brighter Day
02. Sure
03. Wings Of Tomorrow
04. Find The Love
05. Carrie
06. I Will Find You There
07. Stay With Me
08. Almost Had Me There
09. Fly Away Now
10. Moments Of Joy
11. The Last Unbroken Heart | +1 | |
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20 àâã 2024
Canadian Thrashers TRISKELYON To Unleash New Album In September; "Anarchy Avenue" Single Streaming
 Canadian thrash metal gods, Triskelyon, have returned, delivering stainless steel fury on their highly anticipated third album, Shattered Elysium this coming September 27th from Moribund Records.
Founded in 2021 by guitarist Geoff Waye of the acclaimed true metal band Category VI, Triskelyon burst onto the scene with a self-titled EP, quickly securing a deal with Moribund Records for their radio chart-topping debut album Downfall (2022). In the following year, they demolished expectations with their masterful sophomore release, Artificial Insanity, which earned rave reviews and dominated the radio charts for six weeks!
Triskelyon is again back to enthralling the metal world with Shattered Elysium. With their lethal third strike, Geoff Waye once again drafted some of the finest emissaries of the Canadian metal scene. Enlisting the vocal talents of guests Amanda Kiernan (Into Eternity, The Order of Chaos), Eric Forrest (E-Force, ex-VoiVod), Tiina Teal (Détente), Amanda Jackman (Category VI), Armin Kamal (Infrared), Dale Drew (Sea Dogs), Fíochmhar (Artach), Des Mason and Pete Healey, this album detonates as a pure and true thrash metal masterpiece. The record features a unique style along with refreshing variations of thrashing classics! Traditional, yet intricate, drum duties are exceptionally executed by Raul Marques (Burning Torment), while Dwayne Pike, Keith Jackman (Category VI), Rick White, and Darrin Pope are conscripted on bass.
Shattered Elysium runs the gamut from pure 80’s thrash and speed metal to classic power metal, and traditional heavy metal, and even includes some brutal death-thrash. It attains an impressive new milestone in classic thrash metal, with far-reaching appeal across all heavy metal sub-genres. Shattered Elysium truly resurrects the glory days of the 1980s, while maintaining a fresh and modern sound!
In keeping with Triskelyon's tradition of closing their albums with an iconic cover, this release delivers a thunderous metal rendition of Duran Duran's mega-hit, “Hungry Like the Wolf.”
Check out the first single, "Anarchy Avenue" below.
Geoff Waye comments on the track:
"For 'Anarchy Avenue,' I was thinking more about issues like urban decay, homelessness, corruption, the rich-poor divide, and how these factors contribute to the destruction and deterioration of some parts of cities. Problems like increased violence, crime, drug use, etc., all become more prevalent in such environments, as you can see in most cities. The vocals on this track are by returning guest Armin Kamal from the band Infrared. As always, he delivers a stellar performance with some guttural parts and plenty of soaring melodic thrash—how can you not love it?"
Tracklist:
"Beyond Shattered Elysium (Intro)"
"Endgame Euphoria"
"Anarchy Avenue"
"Hellbound Hellions"
"Sealed Hypocrisy"
"Under His Eye"
"Eternal Conflict"
"The Battle for Monte Cassino"
"Phantom Serenade"
"Whispers from the Shadows"
"Hungry Like the Wolf" (Duran Duran cover)
Pre-order Shattered Elysium b here.
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20 àâã 2024
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Live At Summer Breeze 2024; Pro-Shot Video Of Full Set Streaming
 On August 15th, The Black Dahlia Murder 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:
"Aftermath"
"King's Of The Nightworld"
"Mamooth's Hand"
"What A Horrible Night To Have A Curse"
"Statutory Ape"
"Nightbringers"
"Everything Went Black"
"I Will Return"
"Deathmask Divine"
"Mammoth's Hand" is the latest single from The Black Dahlia Murder. The track comes by way of the band's upcoming tenth studio album, Servitude, set for release on September 27 via Metal Blade Records.
"Mammoth's Hand" is partly inspired by a scene from Don Coscarelli's 1982 swords 'n' sorcery epic, The Beastmaster. "We usually like to give some idea of what kind of diversity is gonna be on the album with the first two tracks we release," vocalist Brian Eschbach offers. "[guitarist] Ryan Knight wrote the music for this, and the slow rhythm made me think of these barbaric warriors riding mammoths out in the snow or that scene from The Beastmaster when the Jun horde takes the village."
Eschbach further elaborates, "'Mammoth's Hand' is a romp through a fictitious frozen tundra in which a clan of nomadic mammoth riding cannibals conquer villages in a time devoid of technology. The slow groove of this song is a vibe not often implemented by the group but immediately inspired a vision in my mind of a slow moving yet gigantic and powerful beast of antagonistic nature."
Watch The Black Dahlia Murder's video for "Mammoth's Hand," created by Marco Pavone:
The guitars, bass and vocals for Servitude were recorded at guitarist Brandon Ellis' home studio in New Jersey. The drums were recorded by Mark Lewis in Nashville, Tennessee where the album was also mixed. Servitude was mastered by Ted Jensen.
Servitude will be released on digipak CD, cassette, and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants and special editions:
- Electromagnetic (US)
- Rising Smoke (US)
- Transcosmic Blue (US)
- Endless Tide (US)
- Utopian Black (US)
- Cursed Creation (US - Exclusive Band Tour Variant)
- Limited Edition Box Set *(with Ephemeral vinyl variant and a bonus LP that Includes 3 Live Tracks (US - Ltd. 400 / EU - Ltd. 600)
- 180g Black (EU)
- Bloody Pulp (EU - Ltd. 1000)
- Nature's Grain (Impericon Exclusive - Ltd. 300)
- Blood Spray (EMP Exclusive - Ltd. 200)
- Stone Cold (EU - Ltd. 200)
- Lost Nobility (UK - Ltd. 300)
Find pre-orders here.
Servitude tracklisting:
"Evening Ephemeral"
"Panic Hysteric"
"Aftermath"
"Cursed Creator"
"An Intermission"
"Asserting Dominion"
"Servitude"
"Mammoth's Hand"
"Transcosmic Blueprint"
"Utopia Black"
"Aftermath" video:
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20 àâã 2024
SINNER'S BLOOD Release "Dark Horizons" Single And Music Video
 Chilean metal masters, Sinner’s Blood, have shared their new single, "Dark Horizons", the title track of their second album, out on September 27 via Frontiers Music Srl. Watch the official video below.
Guitarist Nasson explains the meaning behind the song: “'Dark Horizons' opens up the range of what we achieved on the album. This song is about uncertainty and doubts about the future, even when wanting to escape from the past, and this is beautifully portrayed by our friend/director Daniel Pino on the music video. Musically, it is one of the heaviest on the record and a very emotional ride with lots of different textures and moments”.
Sinner’s Blood emerged at the end of the ‘10s as a project conceived by James Robledo, Chilean vocalist and producer, singer and multi-instrumentalist Nasson (Chaos Magic). Robledo is renowned for always bringing a powerful and emotional performance rooted in the vein of heavy metal singers like Ronnie James Dio, Jorn Lande, and Russell Allen. He has also released two solo albums on Frontiers Music, Wanted Man in 2021 and Broken Soul in 2023.
Nasson is a Chilean producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist with over 15 years of work in the metal scene, collaborating with several world renowned artists. His most recent collaborations with Caterina Nix on the last two Chaos Magic releases and his solo record Scars (2022) received international acclaim and showcased the breadth of his talents.
Rounding out the lineup is bassist Nicolás Fischer, who has been performing for years as a singer and guitarist for a variety of progressive music acts.
Sinner’s Blood delivered their impressive debut album, The Mirror Star, in October 2020. Drawing influences from Symphony X, Primal Fear, Evergrey and early Masterplan, the band managed to create a truly fresh and exciting debut, a mixture of all of the band’s hard rock favourites with a touch of modern vertigo. The quartet supported the release with a Chilean tour, including shows with Symphony X and other renowned acts.
Their sophomore album Dark Horizons takes where the first album has left off, offering the listeners a massive and contemporary approach to melodic metal with strong songwriting and of course outstanding vocals from James Robledo.
Every song Nasson wrote for this album is a different beast and, with James’s voice, they are truly brought to life. With lyrics that are honest and emotional and superb production, Dark Horizons contains some of the most powerful songs ever crafted by Sinner’s Blood.
Dark Horizons tracklisting:
"Bound"
"Enemy"
"Not Enough"
"It Comes In The Dark"
"Dark Horizons"
"The Man, The Burden And The Sea"
"Victim Of The Will"
"Poison"
"The Voice Within"
"The Firestorm"
"Redemption Or Fire"
"Enemy" video:
Lineup:
James Robledo - Vocals
Nasson - Guitars, Vocals & programming
Nicolás Fischer - Bass & Vocals
Guillermo Pereira – Drums
(Photo - Claudio Poblete)
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20 àâã 2024
German Thrashers ERADICATOR Reveal Video For "Beyond The Shadow's Void", From New Album The Paradox
 German thrashers Eradicator have released their new single "Beyond The Shadow's Void." The song is the third to be revealed from The Paradox, the band's forthcoming new studio album to be released on September 20th via Metalville Records. The official video for "Beyond The Shadow's Void" can be seen below.
"Beyond The Shadow's Void" is not only the third single from the new Eradicator album, The Paradox, but also the opening track of the thrashers' sixth long-player. The lines of the track were inspired by the reporting of significant misdemeanors by great artists and driven by the question of whether one can still consume the cherished art without hesitation. Long before Jon Schaffer of US metal pioneers Iced Earth was involved in the storming of the Capitol in January 2021 and Til Lindemann used his position of power to pressure women into sexual acts, the master of morbid horror stories Howard Phillips Lovecraft was already surrounded by obvious xenophobic and anti-Semitic tendencies. The lyrics deal with the moral challenge that a reflective consumer of the art in question must face in this case. The special thing about it is that the lyrics are inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's writing style and choice of words.
Eradicator begin the song with an atmospheric rain backdrop that introduces the melancholic clean-guitar intro. The brute walls of guitars shatter the calm, and the storm develops into a pounding headbanger. The anger with which the lyrics are spat at you drives the verses forward. The patience to experience the approaching chorus is rewarded with a catchy melody and twin guitars with earworm potential. Until the last note, "Beyond The Shadow's Void" builds up to a furious thrash metal thunderstorm.
The Kraken dethrones the master. For the illustration of this single cover, Bianca Rother used the depiction of the immortal monster god Cthulhu from Lovecraft's stories. 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"
For further details, visit Eradicator on Facebook.
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20 àâã 2024
KRYPTONOMICON Unveils "Satanama" Video
 Italian metal titans Kryptonomicon have just unleashed their new music video for the track "Satanama". The song appears on the band's new album Daemonolatria, released on June 30, 2024, under the banner of Punishment 18 Records.
For fans of Celtic Frost, Hellhammer, Venom, Kreator, and Slayer, Kryptonomicon’s latest offering promises an unrelenting assault of raw and aggressive metal that harks back to the golden era of the genre.
Led by Stefano Rumich on vocals and guitars, Frank on vocals and bass, and Randy on drums, Krytponomicon delivers a sound that is both obscure and atmospheric, blending the raw energy of early thrash, black, and death metal with their own unique edge. Daemonolatria is a 39-minute journey through ten tracks of pure sonic devastation, crafted to immerse listeners in an intense and evil auditory experience.
Stefano Rumich, the mastermind behind Krytponomicon, shares, "Our new album is very different from the previous one. Now we are a trio and have chosen to feature two vocalists, much like early Kreator. Both Frank and I bring distinct vocal styles, which has driven the songs to be faster and more aggressive. We believe our fans will appreciate this new direction."
Tracklisting:
"Satanama"
"Between Five Candles"
"The Emperor Rising"
"The Spreading Wind Of Epidemic"
"There’s No Life,There’s No Death"
"Lord Of Flies"
"The Sea Of Creeping Evil"
"Blood For The Fire"
"Necromantical Suicide"
"Daemonolatria"
Cover artwork by Paolo Girardi. For further details, visit Kryptonomicon on Facebook.
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20 àâã 2024
MEGADETH Guitarist TEEMU MÄNTYSAARI: 'The Plan Is To Get The Next Album Done' In 2025
 In a new interview with John The Metal Mailman, MEGADETH guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari was asked if there has been any talk of him and his bandmates working on new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, that's actually the plan. Right now everybody's gathering their own riff ideas, and then, at some point, we're gonna put them together and probably record in Nashville. And the plan is to get the next album done next year."
Asked if he has been writing riffs for possible new MEGADETH music, Teemu said: "I've got a bunch of stuff. What I do is I just pick up the guitar, I usually improvise and come up with ideas, then I record it on my phone, just the video. And I leave it there maybe for a week or two so I forget it. I wanna forget it, and then when I look back at it, then that maybe inspires me to look at the riff from a different perspective and maybe I get another idea from that. And then I record it down on my computer, laid out with the click track and do double-tracked guitars, and then save it in the folder of ideas. And what we've been talking about is that Dave [Mustaine, MEGADETH leader] often wants to work in this riff-based idea, not necessarily that everybody brings full songs, but you bring riffs and then we listen to them together and then we pick things that might go together well. And then that's how the songs start to actually form."
Mäntysaari stepped in last September for MEGADETH's longtime axeman Kiko 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.
In a recent interview with Kyle Meredith, Mustaine was asked 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."
Asked if that means that he and Teemu have started writing new material together yet, Mustaine replied: "Well, we've been we've been dissecting songs, which is kind of writing in reverse."
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 [former MEGADETH guitarist] 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."
Asked if he saw any signs that Kiko would leave MEGADETH permanently or if it came as a surprise to him, Dave said: "Well, it wasn't really a surprise, because it started to become clear that his family was gonna need him. And I'm a dad too, so I saw it and I knew that his wife and babies all needed their daddy. And Kiko is a good husband, he's a good dad, and he needed to do what was right for him and for his family. And I applaud him for doing what he did. A lot of people would not have the guts to walk away from being a rock and roll star to take care of their kids. They would somehow sacrifice something, and it probably would not be their family."
This past May, Teemu told Italy's Poisoned Rock webzine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I definitely was aware of MEGADETH for a very long time. They were one of the first bands that I got into when I discovered metal. I think, for most people, at least my generation or our generation, when they get into metal, it's usually the biggest bands, and MEGADETH, of course, being one of them."
Regarding his first show with MEGADETH, which took place on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mäntysaari said: "That was a very nice venue. We had a day there before, before the show, for production rehearsals, to rehearse on stage, and then on the next day we had the show. So that was nice and relaxed. I think we played through the whole setlist once before the show, the day before, and then played the show. And yeah, it felt very good from the beginning. And I felt like I was prepared. I was confident with my skills and confident with everything. The guys were so helpful and welcoming and, yeah, everything felt to kind of click and fall in the right place. So, it was really nice."
Earlier this year, Teemu told Guitar World magazine about his addition to MEGADETH: "I never thought something like this would happen to me. But at the same time, I've always felt like being prepared was important in case a big band like this did call me."
"I have a specific skillset where I can learn fast, jump into new situations, and be comfortable," Mäntysaari told Guitar World. "I've always liked doing that. I love teaching, and I've been on many cover projects, so being detail-oriented is part of my skillset."
Regarding his preparation for the way he approached playing the MEGADETH material, Teemu said: "[We'd] look at the small details of how they groove, the moods, and the technical side. We talked a lot about what Dave [Mustaine] wants to project, picking directions, being very aware of down-picking, alternate picking, and, in many of the songs, being aware of both. We also talked about things like dampening, the flow of songs, creating contrast, hand positions, and trying to get things right fingering-wise, all of which I enjoy doing. There's a bit of detective work involved, and to get that information from the source in Dave was amazing."
This past February, Mustaine told Brazil's A Rádio Rock about how Teemu ended up landing the MEGADETH gig: "Kiko had recommended Teemu, and Teemu is an exceptional guitar player. Kiko was at the top of his game when this happened, so we were obviously disappointed, but it is what it is. If Kiko would have said, 'I don't know anybody, and you're on your own,' that would have been a lot harder. But Teemu is the right guy for MEGADETH. And Kiko knows that Teemu is the right guy for me. So, he actually did us a really big favor, and I love him and I wish him the best with everything that he does."
In early October, 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, 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."
Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Broderick's exit from the group.
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20 àâã 2024
Watch: ANTHRAX Singer JOEY BELLADONNA's Performs With His RONNIE JAMES DIO Tribute Band In Clearwater
 On Saturday (August 17),ANTHRAX singer Joey Belladonna played with his tribute band to Ronnie James Dio at OCC Road House in Clearwater, Florida. The new group, in which Belladonna is joined by Mike Rivera on guitar, Ron Stokes on bass, and Jim McCourt on drums, is performing music from DIO, BLACK SABBATH and RAINBOW. Check out fan-filmed video of the concert below (courtesy of hdrainbowlive).
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. | +1 | |
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20 àâã 2024
SAMMY HAGAR 'Guarantees' There Will Be Original Music From 'The Best Of All Worlds' Touring Band
 In a new interview with "The Bogus Otis Show: 9 Degrees Of Sammy Hagar" podcast, Sammy Hagar was asked if there is any chance of original material being written and recorded by his current "The Best Of All Worlds" touring band. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes. I guarantee it. I mean, it's, like, I don't know when and why, because records don't sell. I've made a couple of my best records of my life, my last two solo records, and I'm lucky to sell 50 or 60,000 records. You go and make a record nowadays just to lose a couple hundred thousand bucks. It's all good. But I need a tax write-off, so it really helps. 'I made too many this year. Let's go make a record.'"
For "The Best Of All Worlds" tour, Hagar and his bandmates in THE CIRCLE — ex-VAN HALEN bassist Michael Anthony and drummer Jason Bonham — are being joined by guitarist virtuoso Joe Satriani, who has recorded and performed with Hagar and Anthony in the band CHICKENFOOT, and multi-instrumentalist Rai Thistlethwayte.
"The Best Of All Worlds" setlist consists largely of VAN HALEN material, including the opening track "Good Enough", from 1986's "5150" album, as well as two songs from 1991's "For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge", "Poundcake" and "Runaround", and a pair of David Lee Roth-era VAN HALEN classics, "Panama" and "Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love", as well as a section of "Jump".
The rest of the set includes Satriani's "Satch Boogie", the rousing rock-swing guitar instrumental that put him on the map in 1987 and helped propel his second album, "Surfing With The Alien", to platinum status. and several of Hagar's solo classics, such as "There's Only One Way To Rock", "Eagles Fly", "Heavy Metal" and "I Can't Drive 55".
Produced by Live Nation, the 28-date "The Best Of All Worlds" tour will conclude on August 31 in St. Louis, Missouri.
Hagar and Anthony previously worked with Satriani in the supergroup CHICKENFOOT. They recorded two albums between 2009 and 2011 and toured across America but never performed any VAN HALEN material. More recently, Hagar and Anthony have played some of the VAN HALEN catalog with guitarist Vic Johnson and Bonham in SAMMY HAGAR AND THE CIRCLE.
Hagar mended his relationship with Eddie Van Halen months prior to the legendary VAN HALEN guitarist's October 2020 passing.
Sammy, Eddie, Alex Van Halen and Michael last teamed up in 2004 for a U.S. summer tour. In exchange for taking part in the tour, Anthony reportedly had to agree to take a pay cut and sign away his rights to the band name and logo.
Eddie Van Halen died in October 2020 at St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica, California. The iconic VAN HALEN axeman passed away from complications due to cancer, his son confirmed. | +1 | |
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20 àâã 2024
Was PANTERA's Club Show In Minneapolis Recorded For Live Album?
 PANTERA's August 15 club show in Minneapolis, Minnesota may or may not have been recorded for a future live album. If the effort does materialize, it will mark PANTERA's first release with the band's reformed lineup, featuring classic-lineup members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),along with Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drums)
Prior to PANTERA taking the stage at First Avenue, comedian Craig Gass performed a stand-up set during which told the crowd (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Announcement number one. The band you are seeing tonight is not called COWBOYS FROM HELL," a reference to the fact that First Avenue announced the PANTERA gig by tweeting out PANTERA's CFH — Cowboys From Hell — logo on Tuesday, placed over the band's star on the wall outside the venue. "You are about to watch an exclusive show from the band PANTERA. The rumors got out quickly, [and] you guys bought up all the tickets. And you may have heard this rumor. And this is also true. We are recording our first-ever live album right here at the First Avenue. So, there's a couple things you need to know about it. First of all, you will all, for eternity, be heard on a live PANTERA album. That's the good news. The bad news, you're not gonna get paid for this. Welcome to the music business."
It is not clear if Gass's announcement of a PANTERA live album was a ruse that was part of his stand-up routine or if the performance was actually recorded for future release.
METALLICA's Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett joined PANTERA on stage for a performance of the song "Walk" during First Avenue concert. The club show took place the night before the reformed band opened for METALLICA at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
According to Setlist.fm, PANTERA's setlist for the concert was as follows:
01. A New Level
02. Mouth For War
03. Strength Beyond Strength
04. Becoming
05. I'm Broken
06. Suicide Note Pt. II
07. This Love
08. Fucking Hostile
09. Walk (with Robert Trujillo and Kirk Hammett on backing vocals)
10. Domination / Hollow
11. Cowboys From Hell
Encore:
12. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit
The classic PANTERA lineup played First Avenue several times, including twice in 1990 around the time the band's major-label debut, "Cowboys From Hell", was released, one with EXODUS and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES in the Mainroom and a headlining show in the smaller 7th Street Entry.
In July 1997, PANTERA released a live album called "Official Live: 101 Proof", recorded throughout the "Tourkill" trek the band embarked on in support of 1996's "The Great Southern Trendkill" album.
In a recent interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, Wylde was asked about Benante's recent comment that there has been talk of the current lineup of PANTERA releasing a live album. Zakk said: "Yeah, whatever the fellas wanna do, we knock it out. Let's be real — it's a live album every night. People with their phones and everything are recording it anyway, so it doesn't [matter] to me. You go up there and you play to win every night."
As for the possibility of new songs from the current PANTERA lineup, Zakk said: "No, we haven't sat and talked about, like, 'Oh, guys, let's get together and write songs,' or whatnot; there hasn't been anything like that. I mean, the only discussions we'll have is just what other new songs we wanna put in the setlist. Like when we put 'Floods' in and then we got together at rehearsals, got together over at Phil's house, we just rehearsed everything. But no, nothing like… We haven't been sitting around writing riffs and things like that."
Miranda also asked Wylde about whether he views the current PANTERA lineup as a tribute or something else. Zakk responded: "Yeah, that's what I feel it is. It's not even a tribute. It's more just a PANTERA celebration. Like whenever we go out and do the 'Experience Hendrix' [tours], which I always have a blast when I do that, it's all of us going out and celebrating Jimi's greatness. To me, this is [a] PANTERA celebration. We're celebrating all the mountains that PANTERA conquered. So that's what this is."
Wylde also addressed the fact that he doesn't exactly reproduce the parts originally written and recorded by late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. He said: "Oh, yeah, even if Dime was up there playing the solo to 'No More Tears' or 'Mama I'm Coming Home', it's gonna sound like Dime playing the solo to 'No More Tears'. 'Cause he has his touch and his feels. Like when Randy Rhoads was playing BLACK SABBATH songs, it sounds like Randy Rhoads playing BLACK SABBATH songs. You listen to the 'Tribute' album [from Ozzy Osbourne], when Saint Rhoads was playing 'Iron Man' and he was playing 'Paranoid' and 'Children Of The Grave', it sounds like Randy playing BLACK SABBATH songs. It's Randy's guitar tone and Randy's touch and Randy's playing. But that's what makes it cool. Yeah, to me, it's just common sense. Dime just sounds like Dime no matter what he's playing."
The reformed PANTERA is headlining a number of major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and staging some of its own headline concerts. They are also supporting METALLICA on a massive stadium tour in 2024.
It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.
Four months ago, Zakk spoke to Ultimate Guitar about the decision to tour with a reformed version of PANTERA. The lineup has reportedly been given a green light by the estates of PANTERA's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott: "I feel [Dimebag] all the time. Even when we were getting ready to do the [PANTERA tour in 2022], [the early] rehearsals, and they were just figuring out how we were gonna do this, there'd be signs all over the place, whether [it was] a license plate that would be, like, '333' [three being Dimebag's favorite number], or I'd run into like a Dimebag license plate in the middle of nowhere. It was just, like, him just pushing this thing along, willing it to happen. So he's just always around. When we were in New York, just like signs, when we just did [a headlining show at] the [Madison Square] Garden [in February 2024], my wife Barbaranne was, like, Check this out.' Something came up and it just reminded us of Dime, and I was like, 'Wow, that's crazy.' Or we would look on our phone and it would be '333'. It's just these signs everywhere. And I could see Dime just doing it, going, 'I hope these idiots realize it's me sending these signs.' [Laughs]"
In a recent interview with Sweetwater, Brown stated about touring with PANTERA again: "The last show, man, I had a creepy, like a cold — something came by me. It felt like there was a cold feeling. And I've gotten this a couple of times before. When we were down recording with Charlie — me and Charlie just went down [in late 2022], put up eighty to a hundred hours of tape before Zakk [started rehearsing with us]. Zakk was still on the road. So we wanted to get the bass and the drum real tight, and we had this scratch guitar player. I felt that same chill. And, to me, they're angels. And I think you know who they are. Those guys, I think they're looking down, or they're looking around us, with us, and I think they're digging what they're seeing, man. I really do. And that's the only kind of way I can look at it, and get as close as we can with Charlie and Zakk. And God, it's getting really, really good. And there's so much more potential to get even tighter."
Speaking about the opportunity to perform PANTERA's music to new generations of fans who never saw the band before, Rex said: "There's a lot of memories in this band that are hard to put down. And losing the brothers, I just never in a million years thought that something like that would happen. Here we are 22 years later, and to see these new fans' faces. You've got one kid sitting there, or man, woman or child crying, and you have this other guy just going, 'You did it right.' It's just amazing."
In April, Rex told Rolling Stone Australia about performing with PANTERA in 2024: "Two of our beloved brothers that just aren't here anymore man, that's life, you know? They're just not with us man. That's just fate; it's the way the ball rolls, dude."
He added: "This is no tribute band — Philip and I get to play these songs of ours that we haven't played in 23 years. And to be able to do that and connect with the enormity of what's happened is just extraordinarily fucking insane, you know?"
Regarding PANTERA's latest additions, Rex said: "We knew who would fit and who wouldn't. We knew what the obstacles were in front of us, and we knew after… I'll put it this way — Charlie and I came down in September [2022] before we played that [first] show in December [2022], and we have probably one hundred hours of tape of us playing every fucking PANTERA song that I could remember. And so, you know, me and Charlie lockin' in like that… the drummer and the bass player, that's your foundation. So when Zakk came in, there were certain things we had to go over and over and over, to get tight. And today, this band is about as tight and about as badass as I fucking want. You know what I mean, and that's all I'm gonna say on that."
"But, man, this band is on fuckin' fire, and I couldn't be happier, man," he added. "I just can't explain that as much as I need to, I could not be happier."
Rex previously told AndrewHaug.com that he was "absolutely" open to writing new music with the reformed version of PANTERA. "Yeah, I could tell you more but I'm not going to," he teased.
Earlier in the chat, Brown talked about what is has been like to go out and perform as PANTERA to a whole new generation of fans.
"You can't see it on the YouTube. You can't feel that vibe until you actually come to the show," he explained. "And we haven't been doing interviews just for the fact we want people just to come to the show. It's not about anything prior past or present that I wanna talk about today — just the show tonight.
"We're pinching ourselves over these new fans that have never seen this before, and it's a whole another generation that we either didn't know a) that were out there, b) that were still listening to us, and the turnout has just been unbelievable," Rex continued. "Of course, at first you had the naysayers and all that stuff, and as we played gig by gig, it's made us tighter. And I've been trying to rehearse this band as much as I can within schedules, and we'll just go down for no fucking reason and just jam. That's what makes a band tight."
Asked how it feels playing those "timeless" songs again, Rex told AndrewHaug.com: "You just said it — they're timeless. So getting to play them again is a… These were a big part of Philip and I's songs too. Of course, respect to the brothers. I think that looking down on us and giving us a big — and they're with us. It's just uncanny. That's the glue. Those guys are hanging around with us.
"Look, I'm not some crazy old man, man. I know that we're here for reasons," Rex added. "And this time he gave us a heavy load, and we have come through in spades. And I'm very proud of Charlie and Zakk and Phillip for stepping up… All of us [were very close back in the day]. We were intertwined. There was a close-knit family of friends — Jerry Cantrell and all those guys, ALICE IN CHAINS. We were all brothers and we all had each other's backs — even as fucked up as we got. We're fine now, I'll put it that way. But it's just such a different time and we're older men and can appreciate this more. And I feel 25 years younger, man. It's just insane."
Addressing complaints from some fans that Brown and Anselmo are going out and touring under the PANTERA name even though Dimebag and Vinnie Paul are not involved, Rex said: "I don't call it anything. I call it PANTERA. The show itself is a celebration of the lives of all four of us. Two are sadly not with us, and we cannot bring them back. God, do I want them back. But that's just not possible. So we're doing the best thing that we can to keep our music alive. And I think they're smiling down and saying, 'You guys are doing all right, man.' And they're with us. And I'm not shittin' you."
Asked what his initial thoughts were when he was first approached about relaunching PANTERA as a touring act, Rex said: "Philip and I talked for several months before. He got on the phone and said, 'Hey, man, you wanna do it? I didn't have — maybe a six-second… not a hesitation, but just to wrap my head around the full gravity of the enormity of it. I went, 'Okay, I've got a couple of questions.' And, man, ever since that call we've worked really, really hard to get this thing going. And we've jumped over a lot of mountains."
Up until his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.
Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.
Vinnie, who was Dimebag's brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie suggested that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.
Probably the most legendary concerts I’ve ever been to last night PANTERA AT FIRST AVENUE!! It was a last minute...
Posted by Justin Dotson on Friday, August 16, 2024
Breaking News! Pantera announces they are recording a live album tonight at First Ave. in Minneapolis. Brutal Planet has a writer and photographer there and will have a full review.
Posted by Brutal Planet Magazine on Thursday, August 15, 2024
Minneapolis has been amazing! Pantera secret show in the books and live album in the works. Met new friends and saw...
Posted by Karl Adamik on Friday, August 16, 2024 | +3 | |
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20 àâã 2024
DAN SPITZ On Possible Reunion With ANTHRAX: 'You Never Know What Happens In The Future'
 In a new interview with The Delz Show, former ANTHRAX guitarist Dan Spitz, who became a world-renowned, prize-winning watchmaker after leaving the band for the first time, was asked if he could ever see himself reuniting with ANTHRAX again, even if it's just for a one-off appearance at a concert. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We did a reunion, which ended up being three years long. I agreed to do that. And I think it was supposed to be about a year, and it was so well received, we kind of kept going. And I enjoyed that very much. I've missed the guys. We grew up together, right? And a fun fact that no one has talked about is we are the only band of the 'Big Four' [of 1980s thrash metal] that everyone is still alive that made the greatest music. Everyone else had somebody that's passed away. So right now I have my new [ watch repair and watch dealer] facility here in Delray Beach [Florida]. Everybody knows probably I'm this crazy master watchmaker dude, so I'm fucking around with crazy-ass expensive watches, enjoying myself. So you never know what happens in the future."
Reflecting on his initial exit from ANTHRAX, Dan said: "In the late '90s, mid-'90s, I was the only one in the band that had been married for a long time, and I was already on to my second child. And the other guys, I don't even think anyone was even engaged or anything like that. So I was years and years ahead of them, and it was very difficult for me to say goodbye to my children for those lengths of time that we toured, which was forever. And I had been on in vans and buses starting when I was 13. Before [I played with] OVERKILL, I was playing all through Rockland [County and] New Jersey, opening up for TWISTED SISTER and all that kind of stuff. So I had kind of had enough. There was no animosity or anything. If everything I have is not in something, I need to take a break and clear my head. And then I headed down this path. I immediately [went] to school for watchmaking, then ended up in Switzerland for many years, going to school over there and then heading up to some really big watch companies."
In 1995, Spitz left ANTHRAX to pursue a career in luxury Swiss watchmaking, attending the Swiss watchmaking school WOSTEP on a full scholarship. He was certified a Mechanical Complications Specialist, earning Swiss degrees in micro-mechanical engineering, and opened his own luxury watch service. In 2012 Spitz was voted the number 1 interview of the year for the watchmaking magazine Hodinkee. In 2016, the production company Great Big Story produced a documentary on Spitz's work as a watchmaker.
Spitz told The New York Times in a 2021 interview that his carpal tunnel syndrome inhibits him from playing guitar for long periods of time. However, it hadn't stopped him from designing and building about three custom wristwatches a year, with prices starting at $128,000.
"When you want to become one of the best guitar players on the planet, you lock yourself up in your room for years and you play and you play and you play — you have to figure it out," Spitz said. "It's the same in watchmaking."
Seven years ago, Spitz, a born-again Christian and Messianic Jew who frequently cites his faith as an influential component to his life, told the "Talking Bollocks" podcast about his decision to leave ANTHRAX for the second time after taking part in the reunion of the band's classic lineup in 2005 and 2006: "We were all in at that point in time. We did, like, two, three years [of touring], and we wanted to make new music [with the classic lineup]. And it was difficult. In the very end, we decided to stop touring, and it was difficult to get Joey [Belladonna, ANTHRAX singer] to commit [to making a new album]. Me and Charlie [Benante, ANTHRAX drummer] were going back and forth talking to Joey, and I'd call Charlie afterwards and say, 'Did you get an answer? Did you get a 'yes'?' And he'd say, 'Did you get a 'yes'?' And I'm, like, 'I don't know what I got. I just got talked to for an hour.' We couldn't get Joey to commit for a very long time, and they couldn't stand still for very long. Obviously, it's a business; you can't just not do anything — you have to know: are we continuing, or are we not? So I was in to make another album as the real ANTHRAX. And we just [could not come to an agreement with] Joey. And you saw what happened thereafter. So I decided to just go back and chill. They continued on, and whatever they did, they did."
In 2021, Spitz spoke to the Beyond Time YouTube channel about the passion and dedication that he puts into everything he does, whether it's playing music or making watches.
"Now you see what's called slamdancing everywhere," Dan said. "You see it at a Britney Spears concert. It's pretty sickening. If you know what that is, you know it comes from the punk era — it was dancing for the punk era. But eventually we brought that into heavy metal; it made its way in there. And you saw people at the beginning of the 'Big Four', which is METALLICA, MEGADETH, SLAYER and ANTHRAX, you saw the crowd try to get onstage. And it wasn't, 'It's the pop star. We wanna touch him. He's so cute.' It's the opposite. We're like these disgusting metal dudes. So why would you wanna be onstage? It's because we're all one big family. It's almost like THE GRATEFUL DEAD — it's the same kind of thing. They're not fans of what I do; they're in the band. Every single person is in the band. It's like they're there, [and] they're almost writing the songs, if you follow what I'm saying. It's that kind of human connection and love. And to give love is the most important thing. God gives us… and fills us with love. What we're supposed to do is transcend that love into the next person. And that's what I try to do with whatever I do. So even if it's a nontangible piece of metal that gets strapped to your wrist — we don't need to tell the time anymore on our wrist, do we? It really is a tangible piece of my love getting to you. So that better represents every fiber that God has made me to be."
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20 àâã 2024
Watch: GRAHAM OLIVER And PAUL QUINN Perform SAXON Classics In Tokyo
 Roppongi Rocks has uploaded video of GRAHAM OLIVER'S ARMY's August 17 concert at Space Odd in Daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan.
When GRAHAM OLIVER'S ARMY returned to Japan in August 2024, they again brought along Graham Oliver's former SAXON bandmate Paul Quinn. The band performed a special gig in Tokyo consisting of SAXON classics.
Oliver and Quinn played together in SAXON for 20 years from 1975 until 1995. The pair co-founded SAXON and co-wrote many of the band's classic songs. In June 2023, they reunited for two shows in Tokyo. That was the first time they played full shows together since Graham left SAXON in 1995. In August 2024, they did it again.
The GRAHAM OLIVER'S ARMY lineup for the Space Odd concert consisted of Graham Oliver (guitar),Paul Quinn (guitar),Brian Shaughnessy (vocals),Gav Coulson (guitar),Jamie Mallender (bass) and Rod Fearnley (drums).
In September 2023, Oliver revealed during an appearance on "The Classic Rock Podcast" with host Tim Caple that he had just been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. "I was shocked at first," he stated about his diagnosis. "I mean, in '76 I cut my finger off and [thought] I'd never play guitar again. When I was 59, I had a mini stroke and that paralyzed my left side and I thought I'd never play again. So I've overcome them, so I've got another battle on my hands. So I've done it three times. So it'll be the third time lucky. It's not gonna beat me as yet, so I'm just going to keep going till I can't."
Regarding how his condition has affected his playing so far, the now-72-year-old Graham said at the time: "Well, I'm on medication. I went to 'jam night' last week. I did a gig in Lancaster with OLIVER'S ARMY, which is the band that we're using now. And I did really well, 'cause before I had to concentrate on my left hand to make it work properly whereas it was a lot like I was playing things that I hadn't played for a couple of years. 'Cause I've had these complaints since lockdown and thought it was a trapped nerve. I didn't know what to put it down to. I just put it down to inactivity, bitter old age and arthritis or a trapped nerve. So it's been slow. Hopefully medication is gonna keep it under control."
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system.
There is no cure for Parkinson's disease, but medications, surgery and multidisciplinary management can provide relief from the symptoms.
Oliver is not the only heavy metal musician battling Parkinson's disease. JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Glenn Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier.
Pat Torpey, the longtime drummer for rock group MR. BIG, died in February 2018 due to complications from Parkinson's disease.
Ozzy Osbourne announced in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with a form of Parkinson's disease, Parkin 2, which affects the nerves in the body.
Tonight! Graham Oliver's Army featuring Paul Quinn (a reunion of the mighty original Saxon guitarists). Supported by Re-Arise Official and Split Heaven. UPP-tone company
Posted by Roppongi Rocks on Friday, August 16, 2024 | +1 | |
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20 àâã 2024
BAD TOUCH Guitarist ROB GLENDINNING Quits The Band
 Norfolk blues-rockers Bad Touch announced a change in the ranks as guitarist Rob Glendinning has left the group. The band issued the following statement earlier today:
"It's a very sad day as we announce our friend and brother Rob is stepping away from Bad Touch.
After being a cornerstone of the band for over a decade he has decided to focus on his family commitments, a decision we support him in whole-heartedly. We wish him all the happiness in the world, in everything that he does and we thank him for all his hard work within the band and wish him nothing but the best for his future.
We thank you for all the good times, the laughs, and the face melting solos.
We'd like to announce that our good friend Todd Winger will be stepping in for the three shows next weekend. So we'll see you there.
August
23 - The Carlisle - Hastings
24 - The Parish - Huddersfield
25 - Thunder In The Glens - Scotland
Please join us in sharing love and support to Rob, without him we wouldn’t be the band we are today."
Bad Touch released their fifth studio album, Bittersweet Satisfaction, in November 2023 via Marshall Records.
Bittersweet Satisfaction sees Bad Touch back, bigger, and bolder than ever before. The band combines classic rock riffs with choruses destined for stadiums, and their signature fun loving attitude to create a some of their best work to date. The record is a ray of positive energy, a celebration of living in the moment and leaving your troubles at the door.
“We are a feel-good, good-time rock’n’roll band.” So says guitarist Daniel “Seeks” Seekings, and really, why does it need to be more complicated than that? It’s been recorded and finished for half a year, and – with a more polished, mainstream sound than they’ve explored before, but still with its roots in the classic rock of Led Zeppelin, AC/DC and The Black Crowes – the band are bursting to let it loose on the world.
“We've never sat on anything that long because we're like kids in a candy shop, as soon as we write something, we want to get out there and play stuff,” says frontman Stevie Westwood. “So, it's very exciting. It's slightly more mature. I love every song. It's a different sound for Bad Touch. It's less balls-to-the-wall rock, and the songs seem a bit more thoughtful rather than just kind of exploded out of a tin can.”
Bittersweet Satisfaction finds Bad Touch with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. Recorded at The Marshall Studio in Milton Keynes, it was self-produced by the band, engineered by Marshall’s Adam Beer and Ollie Brightman, then mixed in Wales by Motörhead / Bring Me The Horizon producer Romesh Dodangoda, who has made the drums sound suitably immense. A collection of classic rock anthems with heart and soul to spare, it’s sparked grand but relatable ambitions in the Bad Touch camp, a desire to give up the day jobs and dedicate their lives to rock’n’roll, and maybe even, Seeks hopes, have a shot at hitting the charts. Really, though, it’s all about the live experience, the coming together of likeminded people to celebrate the healing powers of music.
“I love meeting new people,” says Seeks. “The ultimate thing is being on stage. Especially if you've got a roomful of people who are really enjoying the music that you've created.”
“There are so many people that come up and shake my hand and go, ‘Your music has really helped me’, and that's a really special thing,” adds Westwood. “I think that's why music resonates with people; they want to feel that their emotions are validated. That's what I always long for when I come to songwriting – I want to write a song that someone can resonate with and go, ‘I've been here, and this is not necessarily a lovely place, but as long as there's someone else who's feeling the same emotions, then at least I'm not alone.’ Doing the nine-to-five is okay, as long as you got a Bad Touch gig at the end of the week.”
Bittersweet Satisfaction artwork and tracklisting:
"Slip Away"
"This Life"
"Spend My Days"
"Bittersweet Satisfaction"
"Nothing Wrong With That"
"Taste This"
"Tonight"
"Come Back Again"
"See It To Believe It"
"Dizzy For You"
(Photo courtesy of Blackham Images)
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20 àâã 2024
Watch METALLICA Perform "Sad But True" In Chicago; Official Live Video Released
 Metallica have released more official live footage from their concert at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, on August 9. "Sad But True" joins the previously posted "Nothing Else Matters" from the show. Watch both below:
Metallica frontman James Hetfield has donated a unique experience to benefit his friends with the Adaptive Sports Foundation and their auction currently running through Charitybuzz. 100% of the net proceeds raised by this auction will go to the non-profit's efforts to empower the lives of children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities through adaptive sports.
Enjoy dinner with James Hetfield of Metallica in Colorado. You and up to three additional guests will join James Hetfield, iconic lead singer, rhythm guitarist and co-founder of Metallica, for a meal in Edwards, CO (near Vail). Plus, you will be joined for the meal by an Adaptive Sports Foundation athlete and an accompanying staff member, who will share their success story with James and your group.
The current bid is $28,500. The auction, which can be found here, ends on August 21st at 3:02 PM, EDT. Additional details are as follows:
- Travel and accommodations are not included.
- Valid for 4 people.
- Participant must be 21 years or older.
- Approximate duration: 90 - 120 minutes.
- The winner may take a photo.
- The winner can take something small to be signed.
- Scheduling is subject to mutual agreement between James, the charity and the winner.
- Please note that an ASF athlete, as well as an accompanying staff member, will be in attendance.
- Winner must contact the charity immediately upon the close of the auction to commence the process of selecting a date.
- Date must be determined within 3 months of the auction's close and is to take place within 1 year of the closing.
- Winner is responsible for the cost of the meal for all present.
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19 àâã 2024
MIKE PORTNOY On His Renewed Songwriting Chemistry With DREAM THEATER: 'We Immediately Felt Comfortable'
 In a recent interview with Chile's Sonar FM, DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, who returned to the band last October after a 13-year absence, was asked if he missed playing with DREAM THEATER during his time away from the group. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, of course, I always missed DREAM THEATER and the music and the guys and the fans. Not all DREAM THEATER fans went on the ride with me with all of my other bands. So, every time I would tour with SONS OF APOLLO or WINERY DOGS or SHATTERED FORTRESS or NEAL MORSE BAND, I would see some DREAM THEATER fans, but there's a big portion of the fanbase that wasn't with me for all those years. So yeah, I missed them and I missed the guys and I missed the music. We were always a family first and foremost."
Regarding the fact that he is once again in charge of coming up with the setlists for DREAM THEATER's live shows, Mike said: "Yeah, it's an area that was always my department and my passion. I always wrote all the setlists for DREAM THEATER, as well as any of my bands or projects. That's an area that's very important to me. And yeah, when I came back to DREAM THEATER, a lot of the things we have to figure out who's gonna be in charge of what. There's a lot of areas that I used to be in charge of, which now John [Petrucci, DREAM THEATER guitarist] may do, or maybe the band makes band decisions. So I have to kind of find my place within the band's chemistry now. But yeah, one of the things that they did give back to me was the setlist and writing the setlist. So yeah, it was something that was a lot of fun and exciting — a great open palette to work with, really. 40 years of music, and I haven't played any of this music with the guys in almost 15 years. So it's all so fresh. Back in 2010, I might have been bored with it, but now in 2024, I'm just as excited to play those songs as any of 'em."
On the topic of how different it is to play with DREAM THEATER in 2024 compared to how it was 14 years ago, Mike said: "There's two sides to that question. The first I'll say, personally, I think we're just all older and wiser, more mellow. I am not as much of a control freak as I used to be; I'm a lot more easygoing, a lot more mellow. So, yeah, there's the one side of the natural age of everybody just — we're now in our fifties and sixties, and I think we're just more mature and experienced. But the other side to that question is, like I just mentioned, finding my place within this new chemistry and overseeing every area. And then when I left the band, they needed to take some of these areas and divide them up amongst themselves and have different people overseeing different areas. And now that I'm coming back, I have to kind of see what's comfortable. I have to very much respect that they've had 13 years without me and they may do things a certain way differently now. So it's up to me to really be very respectful to that and not try to force myself in any of the areas. So anytime something comes up, whether we're talking about a setlist or the merchandise or how they wanna record in the studio, no matter what the subject is, it's always now, like, 'Okay, well, how do you guys do it now? How do you want me involved? Do you want me to oversee it? Do you want me to stay out of it? That's fine too.' And it's kind of like a learning process to find myself comfortable with the way that the band works now."
Portnoy also talked about DREAM THEATER's upcoming sixteenth album, which is still in the process of being recorded. He said: "We started the new album in February of this year, and we figured that was about 15 years since we last made a record together with 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings' in 2009. So we got together — February 7th, 2024, I think is when we moved into the studio to begin — and it felt like it had only been one week since we finished 'The Count Of Tuscany' and wrapped the last album. It felt like it was only one week. It felt like only a week had passed. Like, okay, here we are 15 years later, but it felt like just yesterday. That's how familiar and comfortable the chemistry is with the five of us. We immediately felt comfortable, like not a day had passed, and immediately started writing ideas and bouncing ideas off of each other. And it just quickly snowballed and we were up and running and off and going."
Portnoy recently told the "So...You Want To Be A Musician?" podcast about his mindset when rejoining DREAM THEATER: "At our ages, we realized when we decided to reunite and get back together, I'd be lying if I didn't say we didn't start to look in the mirror and look at the clock and say, who knows how much time we have left? The clock is ticking, and we realize we're not gonna be here forever. And we wanna spend whatever time we have left together making music with the people that we grew up with and the people that we love. So, yeah, that's kind of where we're at at this stage."
Portnoy admitted to Spain's Mariskal Rock that he "needed to get used to was being the 'new guy'" after rejoining DREAM THEATER, "being the new guy in a band that I helped form when I was a teenager. So it's a bit of a transition for me to go from being a bit of the leader, as I was back when I left the band, now I have to kind of find my way back into the chemistry and I need to respect the fact that they've been doing this for 13 years without me and they have maybe new ways of doing things, new ways of making decisions," he explained. "So … I have had to be very respectful for my role as the new guy and finding my way back into the chemistry of the band."
This past June, Portnoy was asked by Brazil's Marcelo Vieira and Matheus Ribeiro if DREAM THEATER's upcoming sixteenth studio album picks up from where the last DT LP he played on, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", left off or if it's a different thing entirely. He responded: "If I'm being honest, I think it picks up right where 'Black Clouds' left off, to be honest. There's a certain style that the five of us have when we write together. And if you listen to the album with this lineup from 1999, '[Metropolis Pt. 2:] Scenes From A Memory', through 2009's 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings', if you look at that string of five or six albums, that's the sound and style of these five people. So I think that's a good indication of what you can expect with the new DREAM THEATER album. It definitely sounds like classic DREAM THEATER."
DREAM THEATER's upcoming effort will mark the progressive metal legends' first LP since Portnoy's return to the group.
Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.
Mike Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".
This past April, DREAM THEATER announced the European leg of its "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 - 2025". The trek — presented as "An Evening With Dream Theater" — is the first outing since Portnoy's return.
The European leg of DREAM THEATER's "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 - 2025" consists of stops in 23 cities and kicks off on October 20 and runs through November 24.
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19 àâã 2024
JACK RUSSELL Tribute Concert To Be Held In St. Charles, Illinois On Friday
 In memory of legendary former GREAT WHITE lead singer Jack Russell, the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois will host a tribute concert on Friday, August 23.
JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE was originally scheduled to appear with headliner VIXEN, but Jack's illness caused him to back out of the show just two weeks before. The JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE band will still perform the show under its new name, ONCE BITTEN, enlisting the powerful vocals of Terry Ilous, former GREAT WHITE frontman.
Onesti Entertainment president and CEO Ron Onesti, who runs Arcada Theatre, said that Jack would have wanted the show to go on and that this tribute is a fitting way to honor his musical legacy. Additionally, the release of Jack Russell's autobiography, "The True Tale Of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative", was planned to coincide with the concert. Katelyn Louise "K.L." Doty, the author and official Russell family spokesperson, will still attend to discuss her book and share stories about Jack.
"This is another sad day in rock and roll," said Onesti. "Jack would have wanted the show to go on, what better way to honor his musical life than with a salute by his own bandmates?
VIXEN will close the night with a performance of their greatest hits.
"I know this will be an emotional evening for all rockers present, including the girls from VIXEN. I am sure they shared many co-bills with Jack and his band. Thanks to VIXEN for being a part of this," said Onesti.
Russell's death was announced by his family in a social media statement on Thursday (August 15). The statement read: "With tremendous sadness, we announce the loss of our beloved Jack Patrick Russell — father, husband, cousin, uncle, and friend.
"Jack passed peacefully in the presence of his wife Heather Ann Russell, son Matthew Hucko, cousin Naomi Breshears Barbor, and dear friends Billy and Cheryl Pawelcik.
"Details of a public memorial will be announced at a later date.
"Jack is loved and remembered for his sense of humor, exceptional zest for life, and unshakeable contribution to rock and roll where his legacy will forever thrive.
"His family asks for privacy at this time."
The news of Jack's passing came less than a month after he announced that he was retiring from touring following a diagnosis of Lewy body dementia.
Lewy body dementia is the second most common cause of neurodegenerative dementia after Alzheimer's disease.
Lewy body dementia impacts memory, decision-making and ability to solve problems. It has led to motor and muscle weakness and rigidity. It also can cause sleep disorders and hallucinations.
Lewy body dementia is often misdiagnosed as Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease due to its early similarity to those other neurodegenerative diseases.
After actor and comedian Robin Williams took his own life in August 2014, autopsy results revealed he was suffering from LBD.
Russell was performing with his version of GREAT WHITE when a pyrotechnics display sparked a nightclub fire that killed 100 people at a 2003 concert in Rhode Island. At the time of the fire, the group that was on the road was called JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE. Guitarist Mark Kendall, who founded GREAT WHITE with Russell in 1982, later said he was asked to join Russell and his solo band on the tour to help boost attendance. Guitarist Ty Longley died in the blaze.
Russell exited GREAT WHITE in December 2011 after he was unable to tour with the group due a series of injuries, including a perforated bowel and a shattered pelvis. Jack largely blamed these injuries on his alcohol and painkiller addictions as well as the prednisone drug he was prescribed.
Russell sued his onetime bandmates in 2012 over their continued use of the GREAT WHITE name after Jack had taken a leave of absence from the band for medical reasons. A short time later, Russell was countersued by Kendall, rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Michael Lardie and drummer Audie Desbrow, claiming the vocalist's self-destructive behavior was damaging the GREAT WHITE name (they also alleged he was charging promoters less for his own touring version of GREAT WHITE). The parties settled in July 2013 without going to trial, with Russell most recently performing as JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE while the others are continuing as GREAT WHITE.
In October 2022, GREAT WHITE officially named Brett Carlisle as its new lead singer. Carlisle joined the band as the replacement for Andrew Freeman, who sang for GREAT WHITE for only five months.
Carlisle made his live debut with GREAT WHITE on September 24, 2022 at the Cannery Casino Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Russell's autobiography, titled "The True Tale Of Mista Bone: A Rock + Roll Narrative", was recently released via Gatekeeper Press. Penned by author Katelyn Louise "K.L." Doty, it features a sentimental foreword by Lita Ford, with additional commentary from Eric Singer, Eddie Trunk, John Kalodner, Kip Winger and others. The book, with a cover photo by legendary rock photographer Mark Weiss, is available in paperback, hardcover and e-book form.
For more information, visit www.jackrussellbook.com.
In memory of legendary former Great White lead singer Jack Russell, The Arcada Theatre will host a tribute concert on...
Posted by Arcada Theatre on Friday, August 16, 2024 | 0 | |
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Iron Maiden
