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1 àâã 2024
Judge Delays JON SCHAFFER's Sentencing Until September
 According to The Republic, a federal judge has agreed to push back Jon Schaffer's sentencing hearing to September 13 from the previously announced August 2.
The decision came less than a month after the Supreme Court sided with a January 6 Capitol riot defendant in a ruling that could affect hundreds of prosecutions, including the criminal case against Schaffer. U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves asked the judge to delay's Schaffer's hearing for 30 to 60 days in light of the Supreme Court decision.
"The United States seeks a brief continuance to assess the impact of the (Supreme Court) decision," Graves stated in his request earlier in the month. "Such a continuance would not prejudice the defendant or the Court; to the contrary, it would help to ensure a uniform and consistent approach before each judge of the District and Circuit. The United States has consulted with the defense, and they do not oppose this continuance request."
U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta had previously moved Schaffer's sentencing date from February 20, as the ICED EARTH guitarist was scheduled to undergo an undisclosed medical procedure "with the need for a recovery afterwards."
In January 2022, Mehta granted the U.S. government's request to share sealed materials from the case involving Schaffer's role in the U.S. Capitol riot case as discovery to the three main Oath Keepers cases.
In May 2023, Mehta handed down an 18-year prison sentence for the leader of the Oath Keepers, Stewart Rhodes, for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election that ended with the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.
As part of his April 2021 plea deal, Jon entered into a cooperation agreement with the government.
The government agreed not to oppose Schaffer's release during the sentencing phase.
Although Schaffer was initially charged with six crimes, including engaging in an act of physical violence and targeting police with bear spray, he pleaded guilty to only two charges: obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress; and trespassing on restricted grounds of the Capitol while armed with a deadly or dangerous weapon. The first charge is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, while the second carries up to a 10-year prison term. Each of the charges carry fines of up to $250,000. The Department Of Justice said it would recommend a sentence between 41 and 51 months in prison and fines somewhere between $15,000 and $250,000.
In his plea agreement, Schaffer acknowledged that on January 6, 2021 he was in Washington to attend the "Stop The Steal" rally at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. to protest the results of the presidential election, which he believed were fraudulent. Schaffer wore a tactical vest and carried bear spray, a dangerous weapon and chemical irritant used to ward off bears. When the rally finished, Schaffer joined a large crowd that marched from the Ellipse to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress, presided over by Vice President Michael Pence, was in session to certify the electoral college vote results. Shortly after 2:00 p.m., members of the mob forced entry into the Capitol building, disrupting the joint session and causing members of Congress and the Vice President to be evacuated from the House and Senate chambers.
In his plea agreement, Schaffer admitted that after arriving on Capitol grounds, he walked past barriers intended to restrict access to the public and to a set of locked doors on the Capitol's west side. At approximately 2:40 p.m., Schaffer positioned himself at the front of a crowd that broke open a set of doors being guarded by four U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers wearing riot gear. Schaffer admitted to being among the first individuals to push past the damaged doors and into the Capitol building, forcing officers to retreat. Schaffer and others advanced toward five or six backpedaling USCP officers while members of the mob swelled inside of the Capitol and overwhelmed the officers. The officers ultimately deployed a chemical irritant to disperse the mob. Schaffer was among the people who were sprayed in the face, after which he exited while holding his own bear spray in his hands.
As part of the plea deal, Schaffer agreed to cooperate with investigators and potentially testify in related criminal cases, according to CNN. In return for Schaffer's assistance, the Justice Department might later urge the judge to show leniency during his sentencing.
Also as part of the agreement, the Justice Department has offered to sponsor Schaffer for the witness protection program.
The 55-year-old musician was the first Capitol riot defendant to reach a plea deal.
The Indiana chapter of the Oath Keepers distanced itself from Schaffer after his arrest, claiming he was not a member of the local group. But the national organization, which sold lifetime memberships for $1,200, had not commented on his alleged affiliation with the group.
At a November 2020 Donald Trump rally in Washington, D.C., Schaffer was videotaped walking behind a Florida couple, Kelly Meggs and Connie Meggs, who were accused of being among 10 members of the Oath Keepers to have played a leading role in the Capitol assault. In May 2023, Kelly Meggs was convicted of seditious conspiracy for his participation in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol and was sentenced to spend 12 years in prison.
Following the initial reports that Schaffer was involved in the riot, his ICED EARTH bandmates distanced themselves from his actions. Singer Stu Block and bassist Luke Appleton later posted separate statements on social media announcing their resignations. BLIND GUARDIAN frontman Hansi Kürsch also quit DEMONS & WIZARDS, his long-running project with Schaffer. The allegations also apparently affected Schaffer's relationship with his longtime record label Century Media, which had released albums from both ICED EARTH and DEMONS & WIZARDS. As of mid-January 2021, the Century Media artist roster page did not list either band.
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1 àâã 2024
OPETH Bassist MARTÍN MENDÉZ Says Band's New Album Is 'Still In The Process' Of Being Recorded
 In a new interview with DifferentStagesRadio focusing primarily on his WHITE STONES side project, OPETH bassist Martín Mendéz spoke briefly about the status of the progressive metallers' long-awaited new studio album. Asked if the follow-up to 2019's "In Cauda Venenum" is "done", Martín said: "It's still in process." Pressed about whether he has finished recording his bass parts for the LP, Mendéz said: "Oh, yes. I'm done." Asked if OPETH fans can expect to hear some new music before the year is out, Martín said: "I think you will hear some news pretty soon."
Earlier this month, OPETH leader Mikael Åkerfeldt told Greece's metal TV show "TV War" about the band's upcoming album: "What I can say is that we haven't made like an official announcement of a release date or anything like that. But I can say over the year and a half that we've been off the road, we haven't been doing nothing; we've been working on stuff. Actually a lot of work has happened over the years. But we will still keep the cards close to our chest for a little while longer. But, I mean, yeah, there will be stuff coming at some point."
Åkerfeldt also talked about his songwriting process, explaining: "When I write music, most of the time, in the best scenario for me, I have an idea of what I want to do. But usually it's hard for me to stick to that idea, because I write music, it's very stream of consciousness in a way. I just write… So I write fast. And I decide fast what's good, what's shit, what to keep and what to throw away and that kind of stuff. And in the end, it's, like, 'Hmm, [I have] no memory writing that song.' So I don't really know how it works. But usually I'm set off by an idea that I want to try out… I try everything and I try to, so to speak, polish turds, if you know what I mean. I might have an idea, like I hear something that's good, but it's really sounding bad to me. I still continue working with it for a little while and then, three weeks later, I [am], like, 'It's still shit. I'm gonna throw it away.' But I have to exhaust every idea."
After "TV War" asked Åkerfeldt about the fact that JETHRO TULL founder Ian Anderson recently revealed that he will make a guest appearance on OPETH's next album, Mikael said: "No comment. I love Ian. Of course, he knows. He talked a little bit about it. It's better that he spilled the beans than we. We're still gonna wait for a little while. But, yeah, Ian is involved. There has been some e-mails going back and forth between Ian [and us].
Asked if he has met Ian in person, Mikael said: "Yeah, I met him in person. But I didn't meet him in the studio… I did reach out to him 15 years ago or so for the 'Heritage' [2011] record. There was like a flute thing on that record and he didn't reply then. So we got another flutist, a Swedish guy, which, it was a happy accident, actually, that Ian didn't reply. We got this Swedish guy, a got guy called Björn J:son Lindh. He worked closely with ABBA. He was an arranger, a great pianist and a great flute player. And he has since passed, passed away. So our recording, 'Heritage', was his last recording. So I'm happy that we got to work with him. He was some type of genius, a proper idol for me. So I'm really happy Ian didn't reply, actually, then."
Asked if he has ever experienced the so-called "writer's block", Mikael said: "Pretty much all the time. But you persevere and you continue writing. For me, a great idea doesn't have to be a complex idea or an elaborate idea. I like to have what I call stupid riffs next to a very elaborate, experimental piece. I like both aspects of music. For some reason, I like the really complicated shit, but not only."
On the topic of using artificial intelligence (A.I.) during the songwriting process, Mikael said: "I don't like it. Of course, I would say that. I haven't tried [it]. I haven't even sent one question to ChatGPT or whatever it's called, or used A.I. for anything. I don't really know how it works, to be honest. But I heard A.I.-constructed music. My girlfriend, she was working as a journalist and she was interviewing Swedish folk musicians who were playing A.I.-generated folk songs. And I was, like, 'Oh my god. It sounds good. Sounds great.' But for me, I don't want to know about it, because that's one of my favorite aspects of being in this band, is to write music. So a writer's block, I welcome writer's blocks. You go through those hard times, you come out at the end and you have something. It's very rewarding. Besides, A.I., I mean, no matter how you fucking turn it, it's cheating. It's shit. It's not music. It's just someone picking, like a computer picking sounds. So a real musician would not be interested in A.I. Only if you're interested in making money, and if you're a complete idiot."
Anderson, who will turn 77 in August, revealed his contribution to the upcoming OPETH LP in February while talking to Italy's "Mystery Tour" radio show. Asked about his non-JETHRO TULL musical activities, Ian said: "Well, from time to time I play on other people's records, if they're interesting to me. I just did — last week I played on three or four tracks from a prog metal band called [OPETH]. [They're] Swedish."
OPETH will embark on a North American tour this fall. The trek, which will kick off on October 11 in Milwaukee, includes stops in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, New Orleans, Austin, Denver and more.
"In Cauda Venenum" was released in September 2019 via Moderbolaget / Nuclear Blast Entertainment. Recorded in 2018 at Stockholm's Park Studios, the effort was made available in two versions, in both Swedish and English languages.
In May 2022, OPETH issued "In Cauda Venenum (Extended Edition)" via Atomic Fire Records. This release, available on digipak, contained the English and Swedish versions of "In Cauda Venenum", with new illustrations by internationally renowned Travis Smith in the booklet. In addition, there was also a third CD including three previously unreleased bonus tracks, both in English and Swedish: "The Mob" / "Pöbeln", "Width Of A Circle" / "Cirkelns Riktning" and "Freedom & Tyranny" / "Frihet & Tyranni".
OPETH played its first concert with new drummer Waltteri Väyrynen (PARADISE LOST, BLOODBATH, BODOM AFTER MIDNIGHT) in September 2022 at Helitehas in Tallinn, Estonia. Väyrynen replaced stand-in drummer Sami Karppinen who had been the temporary replacement for Martin "Axe" Axenrot since the fall of 2021.
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1 àâã 2024
See Multi-Camera Video Of KK'S PRIEST Performing 'Breaking The Law' At Spain's Z! LIVE Festival
 Muti-camera video of KK'S PRIEST performing the JUDAS PRIEST classic "Breaking The Law" on June 15 at the July 13 concert at the Z! Live festival in Zamora, Spain can be seen below.
According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:
01. Hellfire Thunderbolt
02. Strike Of The Viper
03. One More Shot At Glory
04. The Ripper (JUDAS PRIEST song)
05. Night Crawler (JUDAS PRIEST song)
06. Burn In Hell (JUDAS PRIEST song)
07. Beyond The Realms Of Death (JUDAS PRIEST song)
08. Hell Patrol (Judas Priest cover)
09. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
10. Breaking The Law (JUDAS PRIEST song)
11. Victim Of Changes (JUDAS PRIEST song)
Encore:
12. Raise Your Fists
As previously reported, KK'S PRIEST, which features former JUDAS PRIEST members K.K. Downing (guitar) and Tim "Ripper" Owens (vocals),alongside guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE),and German/American metal legends ACCEPT will join forces this fall 2024 for a North American tour. Both bands are touring in support of their brand new albums, out now via Napalm Records.
The massive run will begin on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.
KK'S PRIEST's first-ever U.S. headlining tour, which featured support from L.A. GUNS and BURNING WITCHES, kicked off on March 7 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and concluded on March 24 at Keswick Theatre in Glenside, Pennsylvania.
KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", came out in September 2023 via the Austrian label Napalm Records.
KK'S PRIEST made its live debut on July 6, 2023 at Downing's KK's Steel Mill in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.
K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.
KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.
Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.
Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony in November 2022 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003. | +1 | |
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1 àâã 2024
STORM CORROSION Feat. MIKAEL ÅKERFELDT And STEVEN WILSON: Debut Album To Be Reissued With Bonus Material In September
 The self-titled debut album from STORM CORROSION, the collaboration between OPETH mastermind Mikael Åkerfeldt and PORCUPINE TREE's Steven Wilson, will be reissued on September 27 via Kscope on colored vinyl LP in a gatefold sleeve, CD and Blu-ray which features a new Dolby Atmos mix of the original album's six tracks by Wilson, plus high-resolution stereo and 5.1 DTS-HD Surround Sound mixes and instrumental mixes of each track, a mini-documentary plus more. This new 2024 edition of "Storm Corrosion" features a bonus track, a live version of "Drag Ropes", recorded when Mikael guested with Steven and his band at London's Royal Albert Hall in September 2015, the only song they have performed live to date.
A trailer for the 2024 edition of "Storm Corrosion" is available below.
Issued in 2012, "Storm Corrosion" sold 9,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 47 on The Billboard 200 chart. The CD also landed at No. 45 on the official U.K. chart.
In a 2019 question-and-answer session posted on the YouTube channel of Nuclear Blast Records, Åkerfeldt was asked about the possibility of a second album from STORM CORROSION. He said at the time: "I had dinner with Steve yesterday, and we talked a little bit about it. We always talk a little bit about it, if we're gonna do another one. But yeah, I think we'll try; at some point, we'll try. I can almost say a hundred percent that we will try, without really knowing — but just judging from how we talk about this project. That was a fun thing for both of us and a new thing for both of us. But the problem, when you have one record, is that there's a reference point. So it's likely that if we do another record, maybe there'll be another name for that project. And it's likely it will sound completely different.
"We wanna make another record, [and] if we do that, it has to be on the same premise as how we did the first one," he continued. "Nobody knows. There's no record label that knows. We don't even know if it's gonna work out and we don't know what we're doing, basically. I mean, that was almost written in real time and recorded in real time. We just had a riff. 'Okay, let's record that riff, that part, and then piece it together.' And then, in the end, it was, like, 'My God, this is strange. But we love it. What is it?'
"We had some common inspirations and common artists and bands that we said, 'Maybe around there, that's where we meet up and do something,'" Mikael added. "And it ended up sounding like nothing I can compare it to, to be honest. For good and worse, for fans. It's a weird record. And it sold a lot in the first couple of weeks, because Roadrunner picked that up. And I assume it sold a lot to fans of PORCUPINE TREE and Steven Wilson fans, who must have gone, 'What the hell is this?'
"I love that album — love it. But, yeah, we're gonna do something, I'm sure. But it's probably gonna be different."
Åkerfeldt and Wilson have been friends since the late '90s, when Wilson co-produced OPETH's revered "Blackwater Park" album. Over the years, they'd often spoken of working on a project together, but it wasn't until about a decade ago that they managed to make something happen, when Mikael flew over to visit Steven in the U.K. and they ended up in Wilson's home studio throwing ideas around. That visit was the nascence of a whole self-titled album, written and produced by the pair, and mixed by Wilson.
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1 àâã 2024
PAPA ROACH Recruits CARRIE UNDERWOOD For New Version Of 'Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)'
 California rockers PAPA ROACH have recruited country-pop superstar Carrie Underwood for a new version of their song "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)", to be released this Friday (August 2).
PAPA ROACH announced the collaboration earlier today (Wednesday, July 31),sharing a few photos from the studio on social media and including the following message: "We're continuing the mission to raise awareness for suicide prevention and the @afspnational's 'Talk Away The Dark' campaign, now with the incredible Carrie Underwood by our side.
"Enjoy @paparoach x @carrieunderwood 'Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)', out this Friday!"
This past February, PAPA ROACH achieved its 12th career No. 1 single with "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" , which was originally released in October 2023 at Active Rock radio.
"Leave A Light On", a band favorite, was first performed live during the "The Revolutions Live Tour" starting in September, with 250,000 attendees at 30 shows. In each city, the song was preceded by an emotional video PSA delivered by frontman Jacoby Shaddix, who pledged a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) on behalf of each city’s attendees, culminating in a $155,000 donation at the end of the tour in Denver, Colorado. Following the tour, the band officially released the official video recorded on tour and subsequently renamed the single to radio as "Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)", in conjunction with the AFSP's "Talk Away The Dark" campaign. Following the critically acclaimed tour, they pledged a perpetual royalty from the song's use, in any manner, to the AFSP, continuing their mission to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide long after the "Revolutions Live Tour" finished.
"We had a passion for this song from the time we finished it over three years ago," Shaddix said. "When creating the set list for the final leg of the 'Ego Trip' album cycle, we really wanted to see if the live audience would connect with 'Leave A Light On' the way we did — and the best way to do that is to perform it to ten thousand fans a night! From that first show, it connected. We could see it on their faces. We instantly knew the power of this song and its ability to help ‘leave a light on’ for those who needed it most."
"Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)" is taken from PAPA ROACH's tenth studio album, "Ego Trip", which came out in April 2022 . The LP (produced by Colin Brittain, Nick Furlong and PAPA ROACH) also achieved three previous No. 1 singles: "Kill The Noise", "No Apologies" and "Cut The Line" featuring BEARTOOTH's Caleb Shomo.
Released via the band’s own label, New Noize Records, distributed by ADA Warner Music, PAPA ROACH celebrated the initial global launch of "Ego Trip" in Mexico that led to a series of unique integrations for the album. The "trip" started with a two night performance at Pa'l Norte festival in Monterrey. The band partnered with Vans and invited fans to an exclusive album listening event at the House Of Vans in Mexico City and then featuring those in attendance in a music video shot for the album's title track and concluded the takeover of Mexico with a co-headline arena performance with SIMPLE PLAN. The following week was followed by a TikTok-presented global live-stream performance at an unsuspecting Shakey's Pizza Parlor in Hollywood, California for invited fans, Amazon Music Originals then partnered with the band to release the "Battle Drum Marching Band" version of the track "Stand Up" alongside a campaign for the UFC on ESPN+, culminating in the monumental growth in the band's streaming and social media imprint, which earned "Ego Trip" a 2022 MusicAlly Best Marketing Campaign honor. Since "Ego Trip"'s release, the band's digital footprint has grown exponentially in metrics such as Spotify Monthly Listenership, Instagram following and Tiktok following.
On tour, the "Ego Trip" album cycle has seen the launch of the massively successful "Rockzilla" tour alongside co-headliners FALLING IN REVERSE. The two-leg tour dominated mid-cap arenas in 46 cities across the USA and Canada. The album cycle has included over 150 headline and festival performances across the world.
PAPA ROACH is already planning an extended world tour for 2025-26, with next year marking 25 years since the release of the band's iconic debut album "Infest". Shaddix commented, "We have a lot in store for fans next year. We will be celebrating that occasion and more with a few surprises thrown in."
We’re continuing the mission to raise awareness for suicide prevention and the @afspnational’s "Talk Away The Dark" campaign, now with the incredible Carrie Underwood by our side.
Enjoy @paparoach x @carrieunderwood
"Leave A Light On (Talk Away The Dark)," out this Friday!💙💡 pic.twitter.com/v9KkQzFmI3
— Papa Roach (@paparoach) July 31, 2024 | +2 | |
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1 àâã 2024
RICKEY MEDLOCKE Is 'Excited' About Making New LYNYRD SKYNYRD Album: 'I'm Really Looking Forward To This'
 In a new interview with Joe Rock of Long Island's rock station 102.3 WBAB, LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist Rickey Medlocke spoke about the possibility of new music from the iconic rockers. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, I mean, I guess I can go ahead and let it out of the bag. Johnny [Van Zant, LYNYRD SKYNYRD singer] and I had spoken going back probably before the end of last year and talked about doing a new LYNYRD SKYNYRD record as a tribute to Gary [Rossington, late LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist]. It's been about a year and a half now since Gary passed away. We really felt we have all these songs that were written during all those years that he was with us. And we have about — oh my gosh — maybe two dozen either finished, unfinished, half finished, whatever songs laying around that he was part of. It's kind of interesting to hear these old tapes and stuff with Gary talking in the background and all of us laughing and having a lot of fun. Even Hughie Thomasson [late LYNYRD SKYNYRD guitarist] is in them. So, fast forward, it's been brought to our attention, we're gonna be able to record a SKYNYRD record. And I hope that after this [summer/fall 2024] tour, SKYNYRD will get busy and we'll lock into it and see what we get done."
Rickey went on to say that he is "excited" about the prospect of making a new LYNYRD SKYNYRD album. He explained: "After being in this band, and this is my second go-around in this band, and after spending, collectively — what? — over 30 years with the LYNYRD SKYNYRD brand, I think it's, I guess, needed or wanted. What we should do is put out new music, like we've been doing all these past years since I've been back with the band. Starting in '96, we did LYNYRD SKYNYRD 'Twenty' record, and here we are today getting ready to do another record, and for me, I'm excited about it. And it is a tribute, basically, to Gary, because we're gonna include a lot of these songs that he wrote, co-wrote. And you know what, man? I'm really looking forward to this. I really am. Not too many people can say that they're still a part of an all-time, incredible band, classic band that has gone through everything that LYNYRD SKYNYRD has gone through and still come out on the very end of it. Back when Gary got me back in the band, I promised him that I would be here until the last note of 'Free Bird' was played. So here I am."
This past March, Medlocke told Iridium Rock And Metal Reviews that LYNYRD SKYNYRD may not go down the traditional route when releasing new music. "I do have I do have a thing about putting out whole albums now, because I think that people will go online or go to iTunes or go to Spotify or whatever, they'll see a whole album, but they're only gonna play one or two songs," he said. "They might scan over the rest of them, but they'll pick out one or two of their favorite and then that's it. My thing is that's one of the reasons why I like putting out one song at a time, and you see how people would accept it, react to it, or maybe they don't react to it at all. Maybe they don't like it for whatever reason. But I find that you get a lot of mileage out of one song instead of a collective of 10 to 12 songs or more… You can release one every three months or whatever and then you get a collection of it and release the collection. So, all of a sudden, everybody's got a collection of five songs that they can go and grab after they've loved, like, maybe three or four of 'em. And then you've got the collection and you're all the better for it. But we have thought about that. And we've also thought about how long are we gonna take this?"
Elaborating on how long he thinks LYNYRD SKYNYRD can carry on, Rickey said: "I will put this out there. There's one more guy — he's such a hero to me. And I know you're gonna laugh about this, but Gary, Johnny and I figured, people used to ask us, 'How long are you guys gonna take this?' And I always said, 'Hey, look. If THE ROLLING STONES can do it, we can do it.' And I'm telling you — come on, Keith [Richards]. If you can do it, I know I can do it. Come on, Keith. Join us in LYNYRD SKYNYRD and play on stage with us, because there's another one I'd love to see climb up there with us."
If a new LYNYRD SKYNYRD album materializes, it will be the group's first since 2012's "Last Of A Dyin' Breed". The band released a single, "Last Of The Street Survivors", in 2020.
"Last Of The Street Survivors" — which shares its name with what was the time of the song's release supposed to be LYNYRD SKYNYRD's farewell tour — was penned by Rossington alongside Van Zant, Medlocke and songwriter Tom Hambridge, and found the Southern rockers reminiscing about their career and the bandmates they lost.
After four SKYNYRD members were killed in an October 1977 plane crash, Rossington recruited Johnny to fill his brother's shoes a decade later.
Medlocke, who played drums in SKYNYRD in 1970-71 before leaving to lead his own band BLACKFOOT and coming back to SKYNYRD in 1996, defended LYNYRD SKYNYRD's decision to carry on, telling Cleveland.com in May 2023: "People have beat us up over the years: 'Ah, you guys ain't nothin' but a freakin' tribute band' and blah, blah, blah.
"There's a lot of tribute bands out there to LYNYRD SKYNYRD, but none of them holds it as dear to their hearts as the guys who have been there as long as we have," he explained. "We have the history; I played on the first (recording) sessions. We just know that we have to portray the music with the integrity and the sound and the love as close as we can to when it was originally created."
Rossington was the last surviving founding member of LYNYRD SKYNYRD. On March 5, 2023, his bandmates announced the news of his death in a statement shared on their social media.
The guitarist had previously dealt with various heart problems throughout the years, including emergency heart surgery in 2021.
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1 àâã 2024
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1 àâã 2024
TED NUGENT Teams Up With Son For New Song "Who Shot Trump"; Audio
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1 àâã 2024
FLEETWOOD MAC To Release Mirage Tour '82 Live Album In September
 Fleetwood Mac's Mirage Tour '82 album, out September 20, features live recordings from the band's Mirage Tour, captured at The Forum in Los Angeles on October 21-22, 1982.
The set includes the classic Mirage singles "Gypsy" and "Hold Me", along with six previously unreleased tracks including "Don't Stop", "Dreams", "Oh Well", "Landslide", "Never Going Back Again" and "Sara".
Available on 2CD, 3LP & digitally, pre-order your copy here.
Tracklisting:
"Second Hand News"
"The Chain"
"Don’t Stop" *
"Dreams" *
"Oh Well" *
"Rhiannon"
"Brown Eyes"
"Eyes Of The World"
"Gypsy"
"Love In Store"
"Not That Funny"
"Never Going Back Again" *
"Landslide" *
"Tusk"
"Sara" *
"Hold Me"
"You Make Loving Fun"
"I’m So Afraid"
"Go Your Own Way"
"Blue Letter"
"Sisters Of The Moon"
"Songbird"
* Previously Unreleased | 0 | |
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1 àâã 2024
New SEPULTURA Drummer GREYSON NEKRUTMAN Shares Live Drum Cam Footage Of "Propaganda"
 New Sepultura drummer Greyson Nekrutman - replacing Eloy Casagrande, who left the band to join Slipknot - has shared live drum cam video of "Propaganda", shot during the Sepultura's recent 2024 Latin American Tour. Check it out below.
As part of their massive "Celebrating Life Through Death" farewell tour, metal legends Septultura will be hitting the North American roads; you can witness the ambassadors of Brazilian metal with a career-spanning set that will honour the band’s 40 years of existence.
Joining them on this momentous tour will be Florida-based death metal veterans Obituary, iconic New York hardcore pioneers Agnostic Front, and Sao Paulo’s death/thrash metallers Claustrofobia. Together, this package will unleash an electrifying display of power, passion, and raw emotion.
Andreas Kisser comments: “We are so excited to announce the North American concerts of the 'Celebrating Life Through Death’ farewell tour. We are having a blast doing these shows and celebrating 40 years of history, and now it is your turn! Happy to share the stage with our brothers from Obituary, Agnostic Front, and Claustrofobia! Do not miss this! See you all on the road!”
Fans can purchase pre-sale tickets and VIP upgrades are on sale now through Soundrink, here. General sale will start Friday, June 7, June at 10 AM, local time, here.
Dates:
September
17 - Chicago, IL - ConcordMusic Hall
18 - Minneapolis, MN - UptownTheater
20 - Denver, CO - The Ogden Theater
21 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Depot
22 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
23 - Seattle, WA - The Showbox SODO
25 - San Francisco, CA - The Warfield
26 - Los Angeles, CA - The Novo
27 - San Diego, CA - House Of Blues
28 - Tucson, AZ - RialtoTheatre
30 - Dallas, TX - The Factory
October
2 - Tampa, FL - JannusLive
3 - Atlanta, GA - Buckhead Theater
4 - Raleigh, NC - The Ritz
5 - Baltimore, MD - Rams Head Live
6 - Philadelphia, PA - Franklin Music Hall
8 - Cleveland, OH - The Agora Ballroom
9 - Toronto, ON - Rebel*
10 - Montreal, QC - L’Olympia*
11 - Worcester, MA @The Palladium
12 - New York, NY - The PalladiumTimes Square
* - Harvest to open and no Claustrofobia | +3 | |
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1 àâã 2024
ANVIL's LIPS: 'We Were One Of The Very First Metal Bands To Play In America'
 In a new interview with Victor Ruiz of Signals From Mars, frontman Steve "Lips" Kudlow of Canadian metal legends ANVIL addressed the fact that his band never quite hit it big despite being musically ahead of their time, due to a combination of poor management, shady record labels and bad luck. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "How do you think it looked to [ANVIL drummer] Robb [Reiner] and I to watch, in 1983, the whole world pick up on what we did and leave us behind? We were doing it before… Metal didn't exist in North America. They didn't call it metal. We were doing something that they were doing in England, and we were one of the very first metal bands to play in America. Yeah, you've got hard rock, but there was a difference. There was a difference between hard rock and metal because hard rock was still attached to rock and roll. It still used rock and roll progressions. Metal used more of a prog attitude. You had songs that were much more complicated than just rock and roll. Certainly, IRON MAIDEN's 'Phantom Of The Opera' and songs like that, or ANVIL's 'Mothra'. It's not rock and roll. It's a form of it, but it's metal, that turned it into metal, what we call metal. And riff rock. That's what it is. And you can put titles on it, but you can also talk about it in musicality, what things we're actually doing. So that's how I kind of see it. So there was a difference. And some of the problems that I've been faced with is that I'm kind of the bridge between hard rock and heavy metal, because I was one of the pioneering bands that created that bridge. So I had songs — I still have songs that venture back into the rock and roll world, but at the same time, there are songs that are not rock and roll."
Lips continued: "We can sit and discuss how hard rock became metal and certainly BLACK SABBATH and DEEP PURPLE and LED ZEPPELIN were the forerunners of all of it, really. Because that's the biggest influence after [Jimi] Hendrix, the use of distorted guitars and stuff, and all of a sudden, everybody's doing it. Nothing stays sacred. Everything is stolen by the next generation and regurgitated in a new fashion. And that's what's been going on in the music industry for decades now. But I think we might've gone the full circle. You certainly can't go much further with guitar. The guitar's done its thing, man. It's done. And that's part of where the downslide for the interest in it went. Once you got to the point where the guitar playing is so phenomenal that everybody starts sounding the same — you can't tell one guitar player from the next — it's done. It's over. The race is finished. You know what I mean? For many, many years in hard rock and metal, it was who had the best guitar player in their band. Everything was revolved around the lead guitar. I mean, otherwise what would VAN HALEN mean without Eddie Van Halen? It's centered around the guitar, which we all know, obviously. We all know that. But we're at a point in history that they've done everything. Every possible way of playing lead guitar has been done. So what do you do? What is there left to do? Write good songs. That's all that's left. It's not about the guitar solo anymore. It's about the fricking song. The riffs last forever. The solos are here temporarily. It's the way it is, man."
ANVIL released its 20th studio album "One And Only", on June 28 via AFM Records. The effort was recorded in the summer of 2023 with longtime producer Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and Jörg Uken at Uken's Soundlodge studios in Germany. The same production team was responsible for ANVIL's last four albums, "Anvil Is Anvil" (2016),"Pounding The Pavement" (2018),"Legal At Last" (2019) and "Impact Is Imminent" (2022).
Released in 2008, the ANVIL rockumentary "Anvil! The Story of Anvil" was the directorial debut of screenwriter Sacha Gervasi ("The Terminal") and was produced by Rebecca Yeldham ("The Kite Runner" and "The Motorcycle Diaries"). The film follows Kudlow and Reiner and their band, ANVIL, which released one of the heaviest albums in metal history, 1982's "Metal on Metal". The album influenced an entire musical generation of rock bands, including METALLICA, SLAYER and ANTHRAX, who all went on to sell millions of records. ANVIL, on the other hand, took a different path — straight to obscurity. The film was both entertaining and touching as it followed their last-ditch quest for the fame and fortune that has been so elusive to them.
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1 àâã 2024
MELVINS' KING BUZZO And MR. BUNGLE's TREVOR DUNN Release "Sidewalk Begging" Music Video
 The King Dunn Tour, a 45-date US outing that sees the Melvins’ King Buzzo and Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn joining forces, launches tomorrow at Pappy & Harriet’s in California’s High Desert before winding its way across the US.
In advance of the tour kick off, the pair have shared a cover of the Dicks’ classic, “Sidewalk Begging”. The newly released song, which is available exclusively as a tour only flexi-disc, arrives with a gritty black and white video, created by Jesse Nieminen.
“The Dicks were one of the best bands ever and it was sad hearing of Gary Floyd’s passing,” King Buzzo shares. “‘Sidewalk Begging’ was recorded completely live in one take!”
Osborne and Dunn have collaborated several times over the years, including Dunn’s participation in King Buzzo’s 2020 album, Gift Of Sacrifice, as well as both being members of Fantômas, and Dunn’s work as a part of Melvins Lite. On the King Dunn Tour” Dunn will play a stand-up concert bass, while Osborne will sing and play acoustic guitar.
Tickets are available now. J.D. Pinkus (Butthole Surfers/Melvins) opens on all dates. For additional information, and ticketing links, head here.
Dates:
August
1 - Pioneertown, CA - Pappy + Harriet’s
2 - San Diego, CA - Casbah
3 - Long Beach, CA - Alex’s Bar
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Lodge Room
6 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
7 - Sacramento, CA - Harlow’s
9 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
10 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
11 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory Spokane
12 - Bozeman, MT - The ELM
14 - Salt Lake CITY, UT - Urban Lounge
16 - Fort Collins, CO - Aggie Theatre
17 - Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater
19 - Omaha, NE - Slowdown
20 - Saint Paul, MN - Turf Club
21 - Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
22 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
23 - St. Louis, MO - Old Rock House
24 - Louisville, KY - Headliners Music Hall
26 - Grand Rapids, MI - The Pyramid Scheme
27 - Detroit, MI - The Shelter
28 - Cleveland Heights, OH - Grog Shop
29 - Columbus, OH - The Basement
30 - Bethlehem, PA - Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center
31 - Pittsburgh, PA - Thunderbird Music Hall
September
1 - Jersey City, NJ - White Eagle Hall
3 - Cambridge, MA - The Sinclair
4 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
5 - Hamden, CT - Space Ballroom
6 - Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
7 - Philadelphia, PA - Underground Arts
9 - Charlottesville, VA - The Southern Café & Music Hall
10 - Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle – Back Room
11 - Charlotte, NC - Visulite Theatre
12 - Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
13 - Atlanta, GA - The Masquerade – Hell Stage
14 - Nashville, TN - Exit In
16 - Birmingham, AL - Saturn
17 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia
18 - Baton Rouge, LA - Varsity Theatre
20 - Houston, TX - House of Blues – Bronze Peacock
21 - Austin, TX - Antone’s
22 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues – Cambridge Room
25 - Tucson, AZ - 191 Toole
26 - Phoenix, AZ - The Rebel Lounge
King Buzzo, a.k.a. Buzz Osborne, is the singer, guitar player and founder of the enormously influential band, the Melvins. His innovative approach to songwriting, and guitar playing, has influenced countless musicians, and turned leagues of music lovers into ardent fans. Renowned for his pioneering use of down-tuned strings, Buzzo masterfully blended his punk and metal influences, and in turn, he created a groundbreaking new sound in heavy music. Over Osborne’s extensive career, which originated in the small hamlet of Montesano, Wash. in 1983, he has released over 30 albums under the Melvins’ moniker, two solo albums [Gift of Sacrifice (2020) and This Machine Kills Artists (2014)], as well as a number of collaborative projects including Fantômas and Crystal Fairy.
Trevor Dunn might be most widely known for his work with Mr. Bungle, the eclectic and unpredictable Northern California band he co-founded in 1985, but his career outside of Mr. Bungle has been just as notable. Also a member of Fantômas, Trevor Dunn’s Trio-Convulsant, Tomahawk and Melvins Lite, Dunn has also written music for various ensembles, performed extensively with John Zorn, and recently formed Riverworm Records, a label home for “discarded, forgotten, and misunderstood music.”
(Photo - Mackie Osborne)
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1 àâã 2024
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1 àâã 2024
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1 àâã 2024
Watch MIKE PORTNOY Perform DREAM THEATER's "Finally Free" Outro For Drumeo
 Drumeo, the studio and YouTube channel that is known for putting professional drummers through their paces, has shared a new video along with the following message:
"Watch Mike Portnoy perform the ending of 'Finally Free' by Dream Theater. This song is featured on Dream Theater's fifth studio album, Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory, released in 1999. This song concludes the album which is widely regarded as one of the greatest progressive metal albums of all time."
Previously, Drumeo challenged Portnoy to learn Tool's 12 minute masterpiece, "Pneuma" from the 2019 album, Fear Inoculum. The session lasted more than six hours. | +3 | |
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1 àâã 2024
CLASSLESS ACT Working On New EP
 A month after completing their Stateside run as openers for Sebastian Bach on his What Do I Got To Lose? Tour, Classless Act is setting their sights on entering the studio to record a few new songs. Recent updates from several band members read as follows:
"It’s been a little over four weeks since our last show of tour," begins Classless Act guitarist Griffin Tucker. "I hope you were able to see us last month! You may have gotten to hear a new song or two in the works! Speaking of which, while we were on the road, many people came up to us at our merch table after each show and asked, 'When can we expect to hear new music?' Well, after making two rounds of the country this year already and working out some of our new material live, we’ve decided to put some serious time and effort into recording this new music with the intent of releasing it unto you! It's been too long!"
"Are you ready for new music?," asks Classless Act drummer Chuck McKissock. "Cause we are, and we’re getting ready to start recording some new tunes that we’ve been extremely excited about! For about a year, we’ve been hard at work writing a lot of material. And lately, we’ve gathered a few gems that we believe are pretty special. You all have been so patient while we’ve shed some skin at home, and we’ve been dying to do something new and now’s the time! We’re ecstatic to get back into the studio, and bring the new Classless Act to life!"
"So… we’re going to the studio to record a lil EP for y'all," adds Classless Act bassist Franco Gravante. "We’re super excited to finally be able to show you what we’ve been working on! So expect new music before the end of the year."
For further details, visit Classless Act on Facebook.
(Photo: Enzo Mazzeo)
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1 àâã 2024
LOVE IS NOISE Share New Track “Jawbreaker”
 Freshly signed to the legendary label, Century Media Records, Love Is Noise has released their new single “Jawbreaker”. The second new track to come from a forthcoming album (more about that soon…), “Jawbreaker” finds the band in musically glorious form and lyrically reveals a real inward look at dealing with life in an ever-growing digital world.
“'Jawbreaker' talks about my quest towards self-love” says vocalist/guitarist Cameron Humphrey. “In a world full of distraction, as I grow older, I’m trying my best to truly appreciate the world around me and the people I love the most."
Love Is Noise began its journey in 2021 as a collaboration between Cameron Humphrey and guitarist Tom Mellon balancing the ethereal and intense. While sonic signposts include modern-day shoegaze as well as the likes of Glassjaw and Deftones, the band’s 2022 EP, Euphoria, Where Were You? (released on Fever 333 frontman Jason Aalon Butler’s 333 Wreckords) pointed towards a soul-crushing sonic heartache all their own. A string of singles led to this inking with Century Media and beginning on their debut album.
A string of singles led to the band inking with Century Media and beginning work on their debut album. They released the first taste of new music with the acclaimed single “Soft Glow” which appeared on numerous playlists across the streaming platforms.
"Jawbreaker":
"Soft Glow":
Love Is Noise are:
Cameron Humphrey – Vocals, Guitar
Thomas Mellon – Guitar
(Photo - Carl Battams) | 0 | |
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1 àâã 2024
NIGHTWRAITH Announce Divergence Album; “Whispers Of Dragonflies” Video Streaming
 NightWraith is a melodic death metal band from Denver, CO that explores the genre with an eclectic and intuitive approach. Using haunting melodies and triumphant anthems, NightWraith offers listeners a sonic pilgrimage into the heart of being human. They have two albums under their belts already and this year, they unleash a third: Divergence on September 13, 2024.
Leading up to this release they whet the palette of melodeath enjoyers with the video single “Whispers Of Dragonflies”, which they comment on:
“This song was so much fun - from writing it to jamming it live to producing it, and then shooting a video - it was a blast every step of the way! The music is super melodic, the lyrics are meaningful, and we got to shoot the video in a beautiful performing arts center on the DU (Denver University) campus. Kelly (Dreadnought) was awesome to work with too! I’m super glad she was involved with the video production, as well as the guest musician work she did on the track.”
“Whispers Of Dragonflies” is a prime lead single as it really showcases NightWraith’s musical range, and has a cool ‘circular’ song structure which makes it really stand out on the album. The song kicks off with a John Carpenter-style synth intro which leads into intense riffs, clean guitars, and dynamic vocals that vary from growls to cleans. There is also a clean guitar solo, a rock fusion section with a synth interlude that sends you to outer space, and a lovely flute solo to round out the variety.
Vocalist/guitarist Benjamin Pitts further explains that lyrically the song is a poem he wrote about an area in Colorado called the Lost Creek Wilderness.
Pulling inspiration from a wide array of bands and genres, NightWraith has been sonically refined into something truly unique. They are recommended for fans of Tribulation, Opeth, and Mastodon.
Preorder on Bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
“Fruitless”
“Perpetual Night” feat. Cole Rudy
“One Flower” feat. Andreas Wild
“Whispers Of Dragonflies” feat. Kelly Schilling
“Invocation” feat. Joey Truscelli
“Fallen Kings And Queens” feat. Dan Phelps & Chuck French
“Nothing Left To Lose”
“Divergence” feat. Jeremy Portz & Xander Galvin-Soto
“Us And Them” (Pink Floyd cover)
“Whispers Of Dragonflies”:
(Photo: Josh Massara) | 0 | |
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1 àâã 2024
GROZA Debut New Single “Daffodils” Feat. HARAKIRI FOR THE SKY And KARG
 German black metal collective Groza will release their 3rd album, Nadir, on September 20 with AOP Records. Today, the band has unveiled the record's 2nd single, "Daffodils", which features their first collaboration with members from Harakiri For The Sky and Karg.
Conjuring a sound that melds intense atmospheric soundscapes and enraged melodic vocals with blistering blast beats and catastrophic riffs that invoke powerful emotions of anger and sadness, Groza has crafted six songs on Nadir that defy boundaries and create a new benchmark for modern black metal.
Preorder/presave Nadir here.
Tracklisting:
“Soul: Inert”
“Asbest”
“Dysthymian Dreams”
“Equal. Silent. Cold.”
“Deluge”
“Daffodils” feat. JJ & MS // Karg & Harakiri For The Sky
"Daffodils":
“Dysthymian Dreams” video:
Groza live:
October
2 - Munchen, DE - Backstage
3 - Essen, DE - Turock
4 - Hamburg, DE - Kronensaal
5 - Berlin, DE - Badehaus
6 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade
7 - Arnhem, NL - Willemeen
8 - Wasquehal, FR - The Black Lab
9 - Paris, FR - Glazart
10 - Aarburg, CH - Musigburg
11 - Bologna, IT - Arcanum Fest
12 - Vienna, AT - Vienna Metal Meeting
13 - Ljubljana, SI - Orto Bar
14 - Zagreb, HR - Mocvara
15 - Belgrade, SR - Zappa Baza
16 - Budapest, HU - A38
17 - Ostrava, CZ - Barrak
18 - Dresden, DE - Blauer Salon
19 - Poznan, PL - 2Progi
20 - Krakow, PL - Kamiennal2
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1 àâã 2024
BILLY IDOL Performs "Rebel Yell" Live At The Empire State Building; Video
 Billy Idol and Steve Stevens performed "Rebel Yell" live from the secret balcony on the 103rd Floor of the Empire State Building to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the iconic Rebel Yell album. Watch the video below:
Billy Idol is celebrating the 40th anniversary of his landmark album, Rebel Yell, with a deluxe expanded edition, out now via Capitol/UMe.
Available to order here, the reissue includes a selection of previously unreleased songs and demos, the Poolside remix of Idols smash hit "Eyes Without A Face", and the never-before-heard Billy Idol/Steve Stevens original "Best Way Out Of Here" from the original sessions.
Originally released in November 1983, Rebel Yell is the twice-platinum follow-up to Idols self-titled debut. The album features the iconic singles "Eyes Without A Face", "Flesh For Fantasy", "Rebel Yell", and "Catch My Fall". The reissue is available in 2xLP, 2xCD, and digital formats. See below for complete tracklistings.
Rebel Yell (Expanded Edition) tracklistings:
2xLP:
Disc 1, Side A
"Rebel Yell"
"Daytime Drama"
"Eyes Without A Face"
"Blue Highway"
Disc 1, Side B
"Flesh For Fantasy"
"Catch My Fall"
"Crank Call"
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows"
"The Dead Next Door"
Disc 2, Side A
"Best Way Out Of Here"
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
"Daytime Drama" (Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Demo)
Disc 2, Side B
"Catch My Fall" (Early Version)
"Crank Call" (Demo)
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows" (Demo)
"Eyes Without A Face" (Poolside remix)
2xCD/Digital Album:
Disc 1
"Rebel Yell"
"Daytime Drama"
"Eyes Without A Face"
"Blue Highway"
"Flesh For Fantasy"
"Catch My Fall"
"Crank Call"
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows"
"The Dead Next Door"
Disc 2
"Best Way Out Of Here"
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore"
"Daytime Drama" (Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Demo)
"Catch My Fall" (Early Version)
"Crank Call" (Demo)
"(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows" (Demo)
"Rebel Yell" (Session Take)
"Blue Highway" (Original Demo)
"Flesh For Fantasy" (Session Take)
"Catch My Fall" (Original Demo)
"Motorbikin" (Session Take)
"Eyes Without A Face" (Poolside remix)
"Best Way Out Of Here" visualizer:
Flesh For Fantasy” demo:
"Love Don't Live Here Anymore" visualizer:
Billy Idol will embark on his transcontinental Rebel Yell Canada 2024 arena tour this summer, beginning tonight, July 30, in Vancouver and running through August 25 in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Produced by Live Nation Canada, Idol’s show will include a myriad of hits from across his career with a focus on the landmark Rebel Yell album, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Joining Idol is his longtime backing band, including his lead guitarist and collaborator of over 40 years, Steve Stevens. Canadian Walk Of Fame inductees Platinum Blonde will appear as special guest across all stops.
Dates:
July
30 - Vancouver, BC - Rogers Arena
August
1 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
2 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
5 - Saskatoon, SK - SaskTel Centre
6 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
9 - Toronto, ON - Scotiabank Arena
10 - Ottawa, ON - Canadian Tire Centre
14 - London, ON - Budweiser Gardens
16 - Montreal, QC - Bell Centre
19 - Quebec City, QC - Videotron Centre
21 - Moncton, NB - Avenir Centre
23 - Halifax, NS - Scotiabank Centre
25 - St. John’s, NL - Mary Brown’s Centre
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1 àâã 2024
BLACK SUN Release "Rise" Single And Music Video
 Today, Finnish-Ecuadorean melodic heavy metal band, Black Sun, shares "Rise", the third single from their forthcoming self-titled album, out September 6.
Fronted by the formidable Netta Laurenne, Black Sun is completed by founding members Nicolas Estrada (drums), Christopher Grünberg (guitar), and Santiago Salem (bass) as well as the band's producer, Thunderstone guitarist Nino Laurenne. As a result, Ecuador and Finland are now bonded and represented by a band that is one of a kind. With this new lineup, Black Sun entered the studio to record a full-length album, which was recorded at Hi Noiz Studio and Sonic Pump Studios, produced and mixed by Nino Laurenne, and mastered by Svante Forsback (Rammstein, Apocalyptica, Volbeat, Amaranthe).
Like their previous singles "Slay The Queen" and "Drown In Sin", "Rise" is available in Dolby Atmos on Apple Music and other supporting platforms.
About the track, Black Sun shares: “This song is a catchy anthem of empowerment, urging you to rise above the struggles within yourself.”
Black Sun is an Ecuadorian-Finnish melodic heavy metal band that was originally formed in Ecuador by Nicolas Estrada (drums), Christopher Grünberg (guitar), and Santiago Salem (bass). The band worked with Finnish producer/mixing engineer and Thunderstone guitarist Nino Laurenne (Amorphis, Lost Society, The Rasmus) on their previous release 'Silent Enemy' and started to talk about making music together. As a result, Black Sun joined forces with Nino.
"After working with the guys as their producer, we became really good friends, which finally led me to become a guitarist in the band. Joining Black Sun really got me stoked about playing in a band again, and I can't wait to hit the stage with Santiago, Nicolas, and Christopher. And with Netta on vocals, it's going to be the biggest kick in the butt!" says Nino.
Along with Nino, vocalist Netta Laurenne (Smackbound, Laurenne/Louhimo) also joined the band as the new lead singer.
“Black Sun is a band born and based on friendship. Getting to spend time and play music together is awesome,” adds Netta.
Santiago, Nicolas, and Christopher comment on the new line-up, “The songwriting approach was completely refreshed when Nino and Netta joined the band. We were able to explore a bit more complex rhythmical and heavier approach. Having Netta on vocals allows us to explore wider ranges and navigate into different waters. We’re super excited for people to get to know our new sound."
Black Sun tracklisting:
"Slay The Queen"
"With Them Devils"
"The Mercenary"
"Drown In Sin"
"Reapers Of The Underworld"
"Awake"
"Stars"
"Rise"
"Revolution Now"
"Man Without A Shadow"
"Drown In Sin":
"Slay The Queen":
(Photo – Jose Xavier Cuesta) | 0 | |
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1 àâã 2024
UNDER THE OAK - Legendary Thrashers Rise Again With The Last Of A Dying Breed Album, Due In September
 Legendary thrashers, Under The Oak, have issued the following update in regards to their forthcoming new album:
"2024 is the year we release our third album, have our international live debut, and continue to be good buddies who enjoy each other’s company. The album, The Last Of A Dying Breed, will be released in September, once again through our friends in Wormholedeath.
"Now that we are closing in on 40 years in the business as metal musicians, it’s no secret that we feel the title reflects ourselves. We still prefer to work like we always have, and physical format and regular rehearsals are second nature. It’s natural for us to be a live band, and our goal will always be to be even better live than in the studio.
"As always, we have one foot in traditional heavy metal and the other foot in the world of thrash metal. The music must be melodic, ruthless, fast, and furious. We still pay tribute to our old heroes with the odd cover tune. There was only room for one of those on the new album, but in return, it will be one that you all recognize.
"For the first time, we are joined by a guest musician Jan-Erik Johansen, who plays triangle on the album. The album consists of ten original Under The Oak tunes and will be available on CD and vinyl in the fall of 2024."
The Last Of A Dying Breed tracklisting:
"Inner Truth Of Denial"
"When The Sirens Call"
"Grim Reaper"
"Nightmare"
"Shadow Of Darkness"
"The Last Of A Dying Breed"
"Death By Cutlery"
"Keyboard Warrior"
"Playing Dead"
"Wobblehead"
"Ride The Sky" (Cover)
Lineup:
Jostein - Vocals (ex-Fury, ex-Testimony)
Marius - Drums (ex-Terrazone, ex-Mecalimb)
Hillbilly Bill - Bass (ex-Excelsis, ex-Dressed To Kiss, also plays in Rövballebandet and Nostalgic Groove)
Thomas Bolverk - Guitar (ex-Darkness, ex-Black Currant, ex-Images At Twilight, ex-Ragnarok, also plays in Bolverk and Venom tribute band Welcome To Hell)
Combining the antics of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest with vintage Benny Hill, Under The Oak filmed a video for the title track to their third album, the forthcoming Last Of A Dying Breed. The song is something of a departure, offering a doomy vibe, with a nod to Candlemass.
BraveWords was present on the first day of video shooting. The band are not young pups, their insistence on issuing physical product (vinyl, CDs and even the occasional cassette) has often been ridiculed by younger, digital-only acts. Yet, through make-up and (over) acting, the video storyline sees them aged 30 years in the future, as cantankerous geriatrics, examining the travails of old age, especially within an assisted living facility. Not content to sit by quietly, the "old-timers" start ripping it up, causing mayhem and playing music. Watch for "Last Of A Dying Breed", which is sure to be a much talked about clip!
(Photo - Jan-Erik Johansen)
A record release party, at Oslo's famous John Dee (basement of Rockefeller music hall) is scheduled for October 11, and there will be a members' only performance for the Oak Metal Club, a group of friends (some of whom will appear in the finished video) who regularly convene in the converted grocery store/turned concert venue beneath frontman Jostein Sandaker's out-in-the-country/away-from-everyone home. The tiny room (less than 80 capacity), comes complete with backline, drums and soundman provided and has already offered a cozy tour respite for the likes of Blaze Bailey, Exciter, Legion Of The Damned and Anvil, with word-of-mouth inquires building within the industry.
On November 30, the band will take their initial foray outside Norway, as part of the True Thrash Fest, at the Bambi Galore club, in Hamburg, Germany. | 0 | |
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1 àâã 2024
RONNIE ATKINS On The Future Of PRETTY MAIDS - "When The Vibe In The Band Is Good, Like It Is Right Now, We’ll Continue"
 In a new interview with Metal-Rules.com, Pretty Maids vocalist Ronnie Atkins discusses the state and future of the band, his work with Avantasia, and his health status.
On the future of Pretty Maids: "We’re back together, or at least we’re back together for a couple of gigs this year and hopefully for some more gigs and festivals next year. That’s where it’s at. Everything is a little bit up in the air because we haven’t really made any final decisions about whether we’re going to continue or what we’re going to do. But when the vibe in the band is good, like it is right now, we’ll continue. I think we owe it to the fans because the way everything ended in 2019 was kind of a bad way to end it. It was due to everything, including my illness, internal problems within the band and stuff like that.
"So, we just thought we owed that, and we got a good offer to do a couple of festivals, and here we are. That’s basically it. I can’t say much about the future because we haven’t really decided on anything. We’re probably going to do some more gigs in the fall, maybe up here, and we might do some festivals in 2025, but I cannot confirm anything yet. We’re also going to do the Monsters of Rock cruise in February next year. It leaves Miami, goes to the Bahamas, and then to Nassau. It’s going to be great."
On Avantasia: "Yeah. I’ve been a part of the Avantasia family since 2013. People come and go and stuff like that, but we still got like a… There’s still like a foundation. Of course, Tobias is the focal point. I love those guys. And I have a very good relationship with Tobias Sammett; he’s a super nice guy, which I learned, well, I knew that, but actually much more than that during my illness and stuff. I don’t want to go into details. But I’ve got a great relationship, I love them all. Not just the band members, the singers, and the crew. It’s just a good, fantastic vibe in that band.
"And that’s important - very important. It’s especially important for me because I don’t want to waste my time with bad vibes. Not where I’m at in life; that’s also my point when talking about Pretty Maids. Generally, whatever I do, I want to feel good about it, and I do with Avantasia. As long as they want me, I’ll be there, provided I feel good about everything else. It’s a great vibe, and it’s a great bunch of guys. No ego issues, nothing like that. Despite the fact that the singers include many well-known names - Michael Kiske, Jorn Lande, Bob Catley, Geoff Tate, Eric Martin, and now new members like Kenny Leckremo and Adrienne Cowan - it’s always a good band. I’ve never had any issues with anyone, so it’s just cool. It’s proof of how easy things can be if you approach a project with the right attitude."
On his health: "It’s the same thing, but I’ve been pretty stable for some time, and I feel great. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here today. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be doing this tour this summer. So, I got stopped by cancer again, and it’s a different story. Just to make it clear, a lot of people think, ‘Ronnie kicked cancer’s ass.’ No, that’s not the case. I have survived so far for four years. It’s been four years now. I haven’t had cancer since April or May… actually, in May or June 2020. When I did the ‘At the Movies’ single, that was when I was just told that it was gone again. That was after it had spread to the bones. So, my diagnosis is still the same. It’s the same thing.
"I had tons of treatments and chemotherapy, but I haven’t had any treatments since November 2021. My diagnosis was that it started with lung cancer, spread to the bones, and it was stage four cancer. When it spreads from where it originates to another part of the body, that’s just how the story goes. But these days, the doctors are so great, and I’m so fortunate. I really don’t know who to thank. I’m kind of a Christian. I don’t go to church every Sunday, but I believe in the higher powers of God. Somebody must have been watching over me. The doctors are good, and they find new treatments all the time."
Read more at Metal-Rules.com.
(Photo - Tallee Savage) | +1 | |
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1 àâã 2024
METALLICA Share Official "Orion" Live Video From Madrid, Spain
 Metallica have released more official video footage from their concert at Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain on July 12. "Orion" joins the previously posted clip for "Cyanide". Watch both videos below:
Metallica perform next on August 2 & 4 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Find the band's complete live itinerary here.
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31 èþë 2024
MIKE KROEGER On Early Hate For NICKELBACK: 'It Was The Training Ground For Cyber Bullying'
 During an appearance on "The Downbeat Podcast", the podcast hosted by STRAY FROM THE PATH drummer Craig Reynolds, NICKELBACK bassist Mike Kroeger spoke about why his band faced a huge backlash in the 2000s despite becoming a quintessential part of the music industry. Kroeger said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was the training ground for cyber bullying. Everybody was learning how to pick on people online, and we got to be patient zero of cyber bullying on social media. It sucked. But it turns out it was the trial run of what would become sort of how things work."
Referencing the fact that people are finally starting to move away from performative "worst band ever" admonishments when there are far easier targets out there," Mike continued: "If I look at the trajectory of our career versus the hatersphere, I don't want the hatersphere to stop. Because we have never done as well as we did when everybody hated us. So, now that people are starting to try to like us, I don't care one way or the other. But now that people are starting to like us, I'm worried our career might be over. I hope not."
Addressing the fact that hate and negativity unfortunately go hand in hand with many social media platforms, Mike said: "I know music is a very emotional thing for people — I get that — but it also exposes a real weakness in the human condition that we'd much rather talk about the things we don't like than the things that we do like, the fact that humanity really has a real addiction to negativity. We really like negativity, really like to see people get hurt. Especially people that are successful and doing well, we wanna see them go down the hardest. Look at the royal family. These people catch cancer, and it's, like, that's all anybody wants to talk about. Somebody gets killed, and it's, like, 'This is great news.' Like, what the fuck is wrong with you?
"Troll culture is very profitable," he added. "I mean, people have gotten into elected office with it. It works. If you wanna generate interest, it doesn't have to be positive and the negative interest actually sells better."
Kroeger also touched upon the fact that humans have what social psychologists call a "negativity bias": we tend to pay more attention to bad-seeming information than good-seeming information.
"It's humanity," Mike said. "I say it's Roman [in nature], because it is. When you look back at the activities in the Coliseum in Rome, they weren't going there to see somebody win; they wanted blood. They wanted to see people die. And we're no different now. We love to watch people die. It's just in a more cowardly way. We don't wanna actually see it happen."
NICKELBACK recently released "Hate To Love: Nickelback", a feature-length documentary film which explores why "the most hated band in the world" has been the subject of so much vitriol.
Premiering last September at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF),the film tells the authentic story of the band from their humble beginnings in Hanna, Alberta to their explosive global success in 2001 and the highs and lows that followed. Directed by Leigh Brooks and produced by Ben Jones, the film celebrates the loyalty of NICKELBACK fans and delves into the years of online vitriol while exposing the personal impact it had on each of the band members. The film also unveils the rock group's decision to return after a five-year break with a new record and a hugely successful sold-out tour, finding themselves riding a sudden wave of online love that has introduced their music to an army of new fans and audiences worldwide.
"Hate To Love: Nickelback" offers fans and audiences 90 minutes of translucence — an unvarnished and emotionally revealing look into the career of one of the world's biggest rock bands. Combining never-before-seen archival footage, concert footage, interviews and enthusiastic celebrity advocates like actor Ryan Reynolds and SMASHING PUMPKINS' Billy Corgan, NICKELBACK's Chad Kroeger, Ryan Peake, Mike Kroeger and Daniel Adair don't shy away from the band's topsy-turvy legacy as they share compelling and real-life stories alongside life-changing moments that have never before been divulged publicly.
"Hate To Love: Nickelback" is produced by Ben Jones for Gimme Sugar Productions and directed by British filmmaker Leigh Brooks, who has previously worked on films about LIFE OF AGONY and TERRORVISION.
In an interview with Robin Nash of Tucson, Arizona's KFMA-FM radio station, Chad Kroeger was asked why he thinks so many people love to hate his band. He responded: "That kind of used to be a thing. I shouldn't say 'that kind of used to be' — that was definitely a thing for a long time. And I think there's been a softening — there really has, thankfully. I'm not sure if it's because we receive a ton of love on TikTok or whatever the hell it is, but for whatever reason the teeth have kind of been removed. It's really nice, it's really nice to not be Public Enemy Number One.
"I think that with the range of songs that we write — from rock to all the softer, melodic stuff, all the way down to… Well, I know that 'Far Away' got played on country stations even and I know that 'Rockstar' — the heavily redacted version — got played on CMT," he continued. "So when you're going that far and the scope is that wide, it makes it tough to get away from the band if you're not into the band. And if you're trying to switch the radio station three times, and it's just, like, 'Ah, there they are. There's their rock song on the rock station. There's their pop song on the pop station. And oh my God, I can't even go to the country station and get away from these guys.' That type of oversaturation could piss people off. But at the end of the day, we're just a band that makes music.
"I can't stand a couple of bands, but I don't go online and turn into a keyboard warrior and just start hating on them," Chad reasoned. "I just change the channel or I put on something that I wanna listen to."
In February 2023, Chad told "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, that all the negative attention surrounding NICKELBACK has actually contributed to the band's longevity. "Well, I've been saying that for years," he said. "All the detractors, all the haters, all the keyboard heroes, they have no idea how much they keep us in the press loop. It's hilarious. Those people that would love to see us go away, if they really wanted to see us go away, they would just shut up. Because all those bands that came out with us at the same time are all gone, because nobody said anything about them. They all just sort of disappeared. But we've really kind of spun this whole negative thing into a positive thing. And here we are. [Laughs]"
Kroeger also talked about all the memes poking fun at NICKELBACK that regularly pop up on the Internet, explaining that "if it's music oriented and we think it's funny, we just leave it there, 'cause the band, collectively, has a great sense of humor. I mean, funny's funny. Just rude and ignorant, that's different. And yeah, obviously, there's tons of that too. But funny is funny. And as the Brits would say, we have no problem taking the piss out of ourselves."
Arguably the most disliked band in America, NICKELBACK has earned a type of hatred so potent it's hard to fathom what they did that was so terrible to the public consciousness. It's gotten to the point that people who enjoy NICKELBACK are denying their fandom and hiding their CDs like criminal contraband.
Asked by Jorge Botas of Portugal's "Metal Global" if he understands how NICKELBACK came to be so disliked by so many people, Chad said: "I think I've got a pretty good grasp of where things kind of went off the rails for us. I think that because we write so many different kinds of music, I think that if you were listening to a radio station any time between 2000 and 2010, '11, '12 even, we were kind of tough to get away from," he explained. "'Cause if you didn't wanna hear it and you changed to a different radio station, you'd probably hear it on there, and then changed to a different radio station, you probably were gonna hear it in so many different places. And we were really tough to get away from. And that's not my fault. [Laughs] We just write the songs. And so with that comes backlash. And then what happens is then comedians start making jokes, and then it starts making it on to TV, and then it makes it into movies and stuff like that. And then it just turns into this wave of, it's fun to pick on and it's an easy joke. And I get it. I understand. There are bands that when I hear them on the radio, I… And they're very popular bands… I mean, we all have those. No one is exempt from that. There are certain bands where you just hear them and you just don't like 'em. And other people may — half the world may love them, and I'll just be, like, 'No. I just cannot hear this band one more [time].' And just like everyone else does, I just change the channel. But we became the whipping boy of the music industry for a while there. But whatever. It's just part of the history of the band."
According to Chad, NICKELBACK is not the first group to experience the kind of severe backlash that has earned him and his bandmates the title of "the most hated act in the world."
"It's funny because we were at the American Music Awards, and we were presenting, and we presented to DEF LEPPARD," Chad recalled to "Metal Global". "And when we walked backstage afterwards, Joe Elliott and Phil Collen turned to me, and they were just, like, 'Dude, thank you so much.' I'm, like, 'For what?' They were, like, 'For taking the trophy. We get to pass the baton to you for being the most hated band in the world now.' And I was just, like, 'Oh, yeah. 'Cause I want that.'
"And it's funny — we went for dinner with AC/DC in Chicago years and years and years ago," Chad added. "And this whole thing came up. And Brian Johnson said when they released 'Back In Black', they were the most hated band on the planet. So I feel like we're in good company. [Laughs]"
In December 2022, Mike Kroeger was asked by Germany's Rock Antenne if he pays attention to all the online comments about his band. He responded: "I don't really do social media anymore. I have my own Instagram, but I got off Twitter. I never did Facebook, thank God, but I got off Twitter a couple of years ago — three years ago, I guess, now. I'm thinking about getting back on, just because since Elon Musk bought it, it looks like a hilarious, fun time. All these people are so scared, I love it. I might even rejoin, just to see what happens with that guy at the helm, so to speak.
"I'm not scared of comments 'cause I think sometimes even the ones that are assholes can be really funny," he continued. "To me, if something is truly funny, it's funny. Obviously, just to throw hate at something, like us, that's not kind of funny; that's just negative. But sometimes the haters can say some pretty funny things.
"There's a lot of times when you see people… And that's one thing that the Internet kind of has fostered with sites like Reddit, et cetera, is giving people a platform to try to be funny," Mike added. "And a lot of people try to be funny, and that's kind of the problem, because a lot of people aren't funny. So I have to kind of weed through the amateurs to get to the good ones, 'cause there are some good ones in there. There are people who make fun of our band and are funny about it — I'll have a great laugh when I see that — but there is also a contingent of people online who, they want to be funny, but they're just not. And that's just very sad to me."
Back in 2016, a student named Salli Anttonen at the University of Eastern Finland conducted a study to find out why there is so much hate directed towards NICKELBACK. Anttonen analyzed Finnish reviews of the band from 2000 through 2014 for her paper, which was titled "Hypocritical Bullshit Performed Through Gritted Teeth: Authenticity Discourses In Nickelback's Album Reviews In Finnish Media".
Anttonen found that critiques of the band became harsher as they became more popular, noting: "It became a phenomenon where the journalists were using the same (reasons) to bash them, and almost making an art out of ridiculing them."
Even though the study was based solely upon Finnish reviews of the band, the critics' animosity toward the group has been a global phenomenon.
Anttonen concluded: "NICKELBACK is too much of everything to be enough of something. They follow genre expectations too well, which is seen as empty imitation, but also not well enough, which is read as commercial tactics and as a lack of a stable and sincere identity."
NICKELBACK's latest album, "Get Rollin'", was released in November 2022 via BMG.
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31 èþë 2024
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31 èþë 2024
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31 èþë 2024
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31 èþë 2024
ARCH ENEMY Drop Surprise Single And Video "Dream Stealer"
 Sweden's extreme metal titans, Arch Enemy, ring in a new musical chapter with a surprise single and video drop, "Dream Stealer", which marks the first new music since their successful album Deceivers, which was released in August 2022.
Listen to "Dream Stealer" on your favorite DSP here, and watch the official video below.
Michael Amott shares about the new single, "First new Arch Enemy song we release in a little while and it feels good to be back! It was a blast working on 'Dream Stealer' in the studio, this song just has the high energy and twisted atmosphere that makes it so fun to play! Crank it up, loud and heavy! Metal is immortal!"
"Dream Stealer" was mixed by Jens Bogren and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. The video was directed and produced by Patric Ullaeus.
In October, Arch Enemy will embark on their "Rising From The North" co-headline tour with Swedish melodic death metal pioneers In Flames, as well as special guests Soilwork, before they head over to Mexico for another extensive headline run. Both official tour posters can be viewed below.
Arch Enemy is:
Alissa White-Gluz - Vocals
Michael Amott - Guitars
Joey Concepcion - Guitars
Sharlee D'Angelo - Bass
Daniel Erlandsson - Drums
(Photo - Patric Ullaeus)
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31 èþë 2024
ADRIAN SMITH + RICHIE KOTZEN Have 'A Few Surprises Looming In The Not-So-Distant Future'
 In a new interview with Dawn Osborne of TotalRock, Richie Kotzen was asked about the status of SMITH/KOTZEN, his collaborative project with IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith. He responded: "[There's] quite a bit [going on]. Yes, we got together and we did some writing. And we've got a few surprises looming in the not-so-distant future."
Earlier this month, Smith joined Kotzen on stage at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, England to perform THE YARDBIRDS classic "Shapes Of Things". Fan-filmed video of Adrian's appearance can be seen below.
SMITH/KOTZEN released the "Better Days …And Nights" EP in September 2022 via BMG. The effort comprised five previously unreleased live tracks, plus for the first time ever on CD, the four studio tracks featured on their sold-out, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl EP, "Better Days", released in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2021.
The live songs were recorded during SMITH/KOTZEN's inaugural whistle-stop tour of the U.S. and U.K. at the start of 2022, which attracted unanimously rave reviews from fans and media alike, celebrating the duo's debut on stage together with stellar back-up from Richie's wife, internationally acclaimed bass player Julia Lage (VIXEN),and drummer Bruno Valverde of ANGRA.
Japan's metal bible Burrn! magazine reviewing the Whisky A Go Go show in Los Angeles pronounced it, "An amazing night….this rock n' roll band is very different from any other…totally unique …and bringing you great songs!". U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine said the show was a, "masterclass in guitar playing and performance".
The original EP tracks were produced by Kotzen and Smith and mixed by Kevin Shirley. The live tracks were produced and mixed by Kotzen and Smith.
SMITH/KOTZEN's eponymous debut album was released globally through BMG in March 2021 to media and fan acclaim, charting No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in the U.S., Top 20 in the U.K. as well as in other major markets such as Germany, Japan and Canada.
Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN's principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters. | +3 | |
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Iced Earth
