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15 июл 2024
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15 июл 2024
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's IVAN MOODY: 'I Have Certain Political Songs, But I Try To Be Very Vague And Open About It'
 In a new interview with Romania's Press One, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH singer Ivan Moody was asked if the current tensions in the U.S. should be addressed in music or if musicians should stay away from them. He responded: "[It] comes down to the individual. There are bands like SYSTEM OF A DOWN and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE that that's what they do and that's what they are and that's who they are. The numbers are saying it all. They've got millions and millions of followers who feel the same way.
"I have certain political songs, but I try to be very vague and open about it," he continued. "I'm not going to answer for my whole country, because that in itself is stupid. I can't control every person nor do I want to even know what the fuck they're thinking half of the time. But America has our own issues and we will deal with them. For a fact. I mean, nothing can stay that shitty forever, right? And when it comes to our politics and whatnot, we're very aware of what's going on. Just like in any country, the people are always separated from the government. And that is something I think, in a new world, that we will find a way to get around, all of us."
Asked how that could that be addressed, Ivan said: "I think it's being addressed daily. I think generations like yours and mine were woken and I don't mean that in the cliché way. We're awoken. And I'm not going to put up with the same thing my grandparents did. I'm not going to go through what my mom did. My mother was in the '60s when they were burning bras because women weren't allowed to walk around without them. It goes so far back and each generation has a time to do it. Unfortunately, the old methods don't fucking work and we've seen that, people like you and I, so there will come a time when our time is going to come.
"If you're talking about music, again, it comes down to the singer," he continued. "The idea, of course, the band supports it. But at the end of the day, is it an opinion? Is it true fact? I tend to try to write stuff that is bigger than one moment, because I think if you embrace a moment you get lost in it and you become stagnant. You're a part of that moment, instead of looking behind or beyond it.
"There's a line in a new song I just did, called 'Ferryman', and it says, 'You got to look past the rubble', notice you have to foresee that it's going to shake and rattle and roll, but you've got to see that there's also an end to it, that will be better. Especially having kids and living in America. I couldn't imagine what it's like to be a child right now, growing up through COVID and going through what they're going through over there. I have a young daughter who deals with this stuff every day. I've had to adapt with my platform because it absolutely reflects on them. I don't want them going to school and having other parents or other kids hate them for what I stand for. So for me, it's become more about being very delicate with my platform and understanding that music affects everyone differently and, at the end of the day, that's why I'm here. It's not about making an agenda. If I can help relate, then so be it, but I'm not here to tell you how to think."
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently announced a headlining U.S. tour this summer with support from MARILYN MANSON and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL. The trek will kick off on August 2 in Hershey, Pennsylvania and run through September 19 when it will conclude in Houston, Texas.
Prior to the U.S. run, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is touring Europe as the support act for METALLICA on the latter act's "M72" world tour in addition to headlining shows with special guest ICE NINE KILLS and select appearances at major festivals.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH is continuing to tour in support of its ninth album, "AfterLife" which was released in August 2022 via Better Noise.
On April 5, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH released the digital deluxe edition of "AfterLife", featuring the original 12 tracks recorded with the band's longtime producer Kevin Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE) in addition to four bonus tracks: three acoustic versions of the album's songs "The End", "Judgement Day" and "Thanks For Asking" plus "This Is The Way", featuring DMX.
Last month, "This Is The Way (Feat. DMX)" hit the No. 1 spot at Billboard's Mainstream Rock radio chart, notably landing the Las Vegas-based band their 11th straight No. 1 hit on the chart. This extends the band's 2023 record of holding the longest streak of No. 1s in the chart's history. "This Is The Way" is the first No. 1 on the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart for legendary late rapper DMX and his very first appearance on the chart altogether. The single also claimed the No. 1 spot at Active Rock Radio, giving FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH its 16th overall No. 1 single at the format.
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15 июл 2024
Vocalist GABBI GUNN Performs QUEEN Classic "Who Wants To Live Forever" For The Ken Tamplin Music Academy (Video)
 In the clip below, courtesy of the Ken Tamplin Music Academy, vocalist Gabbi Gun takes on the Queen classic, "Who Wants To Live Forever".
Ken Tamplin: "While we recognize that Freddie Mercury had an incredible voice with a considerable amount of range, power, stamina, and authority, in this particular piece especially, we found that it was not only those things but it was the conviction, the heart, the passion, and the living out the story in the way he sang the song that was our greatest challenge.
You see, singing isn’t just about hitting high notes, or singing in key and so on. Many would argue that it’s more important how you tell the story and engage the listener in that story, and then bring all of those other technical elements along in order to tell the story in a much more powerful and convicting way.
This is precisely what Freddie Mercury did with songs like 'The Show Must Go On' and, in this case, 'Who Wants To Live Forever'."
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15 июл 2024
LAMB OF GOD's MARK MORTON: 'When We Signed A Major Label Deal, That Was Like A Breath Of Relief'
 During an appearance on the Having Had podcast, LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton was asked if there was a particular moment when he realized that he had "made it" in the music business. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Every single step of the way, every step of the way, man.
"One of the things that's so great about my band, LAMB OF GOD, is that we did not miss a rung of the ladder," Mark explained. "Now there's a few we won't hit, but we didn't miss any of them on the way to where we're at. We didn't skip any of 'em. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that every time we leveled up or half-a-leveled up that we were all, 'Enjoy it, boys. This is as good as it's gonna get.'
"I tell people this — I've said this to someone the other day, and I've said it a few times — and I say it half to elicit a smile, but it's also as much true, is it was really only maybe five or six years ago that I finally was able to be, like, 'All right, I probably am gonna be okay playing music. I'm not gonna have to go get a day job, probably not. I might have to downsize, might have to rethink some of my financial decisions, but I'm probably not gonna have to go get a day job.' Because I'm so used to being convinced that it's just all gonna go…
"I saw an interview with Rob Zombie, actually," Morton added. "I don't know Rob Zombie. We toured together once. I don't think we even spoke. But he's a very creative dude, and I respect his creativity and his hustle and he's had a great career. And I saw an interview with him where he said something like he spent his whole career thinking it's about to end. And I really do understand that; I understand that.
"So the question was, was there a point in which you thought, 'Well, I finally made it.' Signing to Epic — when we signed a major label deal, that was like a breath of relief," Mark said. "There was a signing advance that came that really for the time, too, was to me… I'd never had that sum of money. It wasn't even enough money to buy a new car — maybe then, certainly not today — that I received and got in my bank account. But I had never had that kind of money. So I was, like, 'Oh my God. I could pay my…' I actually had a mortgage. I had bought a little tiny house in East Richmond working at a cabinet shop, and then we got signed. And with that amount of money, I was, like, 'Wow, I could pay my mortgage for the next 12 or 18 months. This is incredible.' But even then, I was, like, 'Wow, I made it.' I was, like, 'Cool. The next year or two is gonna be really cool. And then I'll go back to roofing.'"
Morton's memoir, "Desolation: A Heavy Metal Memoir", was released in June via Hachette Books. Co-written with Ben Opipari, the book explores both Mark's life in music and his tumultuous path through addiction and into recovery.
"Desolation" was described by the publisher as "the story of Morton's lifelong quest for clarity and self-acceptance, and shows how the pressures of career success and personal battles eventually came into conflict with Morton's dedication to the creative process. Intertwined with addiction, self-destruction, and the path to eventual surrender and recovery, Morton also reveals the greatest personal tragedy of his life: the death of his two-day old daughter, plunging Morton further into hopelessness. Surrounded by bandmates living their wildest dreams, Morton wanted nothing more than to disappear, ingesting potentially lethal cocktails of drugs and alcohol into his system on a daily basis.
"And yet, amidst the harrowing heartbreak, there were moments of triumph, hope, and incredible personal connection. Morton developed close relationships with his bandmates and crew members, sharing experiences that have made for some strange and hilarious tales. He's also gained a greater sense of purpose through interactions with his fans, who remind him that his work reaches people on a deeply personal level. Through the highs and the lows, Morton learns how to find presence and gratitude where he once found fear and resentment, a process that he considers a gift of spiritual awakening.
"'Desolation' is, at its core, about Morton's journey as a musician navigating self-doubt, anxiety and the progressive disease of addiction, and ultimately finding relative serenity. Perfect for fans, new and old, as well as anyone who has ever been tested and brought to their limits, "Desolation" is a highly satisfying, full-throttle investigation of the human experience."
When the book was first announced, Morton commented: "Initially, I started writing this book just to see if I could do it. But as the writing process unfolded, it quickly took on much more meaning. Unpacking my story, I was able to observe events in my life with an objectivity that I hadn't experienced while I'd lived them in real time.
"Through a lens of hindsight and recovery, I made friends with my past and found value in my most difficult days," he continued. "I hope that by offering my experiences, I can create a point of connection and commonality. There are a lot of fun stories in here and a few really sad ones. I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share them."
Morton co-founded LAMB OF GOD, which was initially called BURN THE PRIEST, in 1994.
In 2019, Morton released his debut solo album, "Anesthetic".
LAMB OF GOD's latest LP, "Omens", came out in 2022.
Morton and the rest of LAMB OF GOD will embark on the "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour with MASTODON this summer.
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15 июл 2024
Watch: KELLY CLARKSON Covers AEROSMITH's 'Angel'
 Kelly Clarkson covered AEROSMITH's 1988 hit "Angel" for the "Kellyoke" segment on today's episode of "The Kelly Clarkson Show".
The "American Idol" winner had previously covered several other rock songs during the segment, including AEROSMITH's "Dream On", METALLICA's "Sad But True", WHITESNAKE's "Here I Go Again", BON JOVI's "It's My Life" and SOUNDGARDEN's "Black Hole Sun".
Clarkson is one of the most popular artists of this era with total worldwide sales of more than 25 million albums and 40 million singles. The Texas-born singer-songwriter first came to fame in 2002 as the winner of the inaugural season of "American Idol". Clarkson's debut single, "A Moment Like This", followed and quickly went to No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100, ultimately ranking as the year's best-selling single in the U.S. Further, Clarkson is one of pop's top singles artists, with 17 singles boasting multi-platinum, platinum and gold certifications around the world, including such global favorites as "Miss Independent" and "Because Of You".
Clarkson was recently honored with the 2,733rd star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame and is the recipient of an array of awards, including three consecutive Daytime Emmy Awards for "Outstanding Entertainment Talk Show Host" for "The Kelly Clarkson Show", three Grammy Awards, four American Music Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, one MTV Movie & TV Award, two Academy Of Country Music Awards, two American Country Awards and one Country Music Assn. Award. She is also the first artist to top each of Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, country and dance charts.
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15 июл 2024
See Reactivated PRETTY MAIDS Perform At Sweden's TIME TO ROCK Festival
 Danish hard rock veterans PRETTY MAIDS performed at the Time To Rock festival in Knislinge, Sweden on July 6. Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen below.
PRETTY MAIDS played its first concert in nearly five years on June 16 at Forbrændingen in Albertslund, Denmark. The band was billed as KINGMAKERS for the "secret" performance, which served as a warm-up gig for PRETTY MAIDS's official return to the live stage on June 20 at the Copenhell festival in Copenhagen.
PRETTY MAIDS's current touring lineup is:
Ronnie Atkins - Vocals
Ken Hammer - Guitar
Chris Laney - Keyboard & Guitar
Rene Shades - Bass
Allan Tschicaja – Drums
Among the other already announced PRETTY MAIDS shows for 2024 is the Jailbreak festival, which is slated for August 16-17, 2024 in Horsens, Denmark. PRETTY MAIDS will also perform aboard the 2025 edition of the annual Monsters Of Rock Cruise, which will set sail March 10-15, 2025 aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Joy and depart from the Port Of Miami, Florida.
Last December, PRETTY MAIDS singer Ronnie Atkins, who is battling stage four cancer, spoke to Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global about the announcement that he and his bandmates were planning to reunite in 2024 to play several concerts. He said: "Yeah, well, we were planning on a few selected PRETTY MAIDS shows. It's not gonna be a hell of a lot, I think. We're gonna do maybe five, six festivals during the summer or something. Then I've got some festivals on my own. And then I might go out with AVANTASIA. It depends on how much it conflicts with our individual schedules. But let's see. I hope I'll be able to. I love doing AVANTASIA, and I more or less committed to it, but also now, since the things are what they are and PRETTY MAIDS, the opportunity came there, we got some really good offers and we haven't played together since 2019."
He continued: "I know there's a lot of fans out there that wanna see the band again, at least to make some kind of closure. It all ended in a wrong way because I got sick, and while I was sick, I couldn't do shit for six months. And in that time, we released a new album. We never had the chance to tour with it. Then came the lockdown. So we just wanna go out and play a couple of shows. How much it's gonna be, I don't know. I don't know how much more we're gonna do. We might continue. I don't know. It all depends a little bit on my health as well. You know. So, now I've been releasing a lot of music for the last couple of years, and now I feel like 2024, I intend to do a lot more live shows. I really love to do that. 'Cause I like the close encounter with the fans, whether it's a big festival with 50,000 or it's 200 people in a club, I don't care. I mean, I like them both, actually. But let's see."
Last September, before the PRETTY MAIDS reunion was officially announced, Atkins was asked in an interview with Power Metal Point if there were any plans for him to do anything again with the long-running Danish hard rock outfit. He responded: "There's been issues between the band since 2019, particularly between me and Ken [Hammer, guitar]. But now we're actually talking again. We just met a little while ago, and we still have some business through 40 years we have to discuss sometimes on mails. I think it's gonna end up that we will bury the hatchet, if nothing else for the fans."
He continued: "It's always been a love-hate relationship, and I can't confirm anything, but I think we might do some selected gigs next year or something like that. Because the whole thing ended in a bad way and I got sick and we had a brand new album out in 2019 and we never hit the road with it, 'cause we had to cancel the tour. Then the lockdown came, the corona thing. So, yeah, let's see, let's see. We might do something next year."
In December 2022, Atkins painted a more bleak picture of PRETTY MAIDS' future, telling Dawn Osborne of TotalRock: "We haven't seen each other since 2019. And there are some issues within the band that haven't been [resolved]. So nothing is happening. Ken is doing some other projects. Everybody is doing their own things, kind of. I'm not saying we won't get back together one day. Maybe — I don't know. But time is not on our side. Let's see. It would need some talks — a band meeting and some talk — before we go on. I'm a bit like 'I've been there, done that.' I mean, sometimes I miss it. On the other hand, I'm on with something else now, doing my own stuff."
Formed in early 1982 by Atkins and Hammer, PRETTY MAIDS' second album, 1987's "Future World", is still today regarded as a classic.
During the ensuing years, PRETTY MAIDS continued to release albums usually followed by European and Japanese tours.
PRETTY MAIDS' latest album, "Undress Your Madness", came out in November 2019 via Frontiers Music Srl.
"Future World" was released by CBS in 1987. By 1990, the album had sold 300,000 copies worldwide. The album charted at No. 165 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
"Future World" was produced by Eddie Kramer, who was reportedly fired during the recording sessions. The band then finished the LP with engineer Chris Isca, who was credited as co-producer on the album. Mixing duties were shared between METALLICA, RAINBOW and MORBID ANGEL producer Flemming Rasmussen, and Kevin Elson, known for producing multi-platinum albums by JOURNEY, MR. BIG and EUROPE.
After being diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, the now-59-year-old Atkins underwent at least 33 radiation and four chemotherapy treatments in the fall of that year before being declared cancer-free. In October 2020, he announced that his cancer had returned.
In a 2013 interview with Myglobalmind, Atkins joked that the secret to keeping his voice in shape was "twenty cigarettes a day and little drink now and then."
Ronnie's third solo album, "Trinity", was released last October via Frontiers Music Srl. | +2 | |
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15 июл 2024
MR. BIG Shares Visualizer For New Single 'Right Outta Here' From 'Ten' Album
 MR. BIG has just released its tenth studio album, "Ten", via Frontiers Music Srl. The official visualizer for the LP's third single, "Right Outta Here", can be seen below.
"Ten" features 11 new original tracks written by singer Eric Martin and guitarist Paul Gilbert, along with André Pessis and Tony Fanucchi. In a tribute to their late drummer Pat Torpey, Martin, Gilbert and bassist Billy Sheehan have enlisted the exceptional talents of Nick D'Virgilio on drums for "Ten", which was produced by Jay Ruston and MR. BIG.
In the midst of their final tour — "The BIG Finish" — MR. BIG, inspired by the legions of fans that shared in their goodbye over the past year, wanted to say a final farewell with the undertaking of a brand-new studio album. Culminating over three decades of musical partnership, Martin, Gilbert and Sheehan, with the help of D'Virgilio, ignite their spark once more and take a new form with "Ten".
Martin comments on "Ten": "This new album doesn't copy anything from the nine previous studio records. It's all new stuff from scratch. This is raw, unadulterated riff rock and blues with all the MR. BIG trimmings."
"Ten" track listing:
01. Good Luck Trying
02. I Am You
03. Right Outta Here
04. Sunday Morning Kinda Girl
05. Who We Are
06. As Good As It Gets
07. What Were You Thinking
08. Courageous
09. Up On You
10. The Frame
11. See No Okapi (instrumental - Japan bonus track)
MR. BIG recently completed the European leg of "The BIG Finish", which sees the veteran band performing MR. BIG's 1991 album, "Lean Into It", in full, along with other cuts from the group's history.
Regarding how the farewell tour has been going so far, Martin told Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire": "It's been a bro love fest… Everybody loves each other. We're going out on top.
"I don't wanna tour like we're touring now," he explained. "I'm okay with it 'cause I've had a couple of weeks break to just chill out, rest the larynx, have a couple of beers and just hang out with my family. And I'm raring to go. We're going to South America, doing the West Coast USA, and I'm looking forward to it. But, man, this is a long-ass tour. It started last year in Asia. Then I did some solo things where I went to Japan, and then I came home and sang the 10 songs or 11 songs that are on the new studio album. But I don't wanna tour like this."
"He added: "We're touring all the way up to August 23rd, I think. And then right after that, I got other projects, but no more MR. BIG. No more MR. BIG touring-wise."
Regarding the possibility of MR. BIG still making new music after the completion of the farewell tour, Eric said: "Everybody was saying, 'Hey, we could still continue to make records.' I'm, like, 'Yeah, that would be fun.' Well, the record was hard to put together because of everybody's scheduling, but it came together pretty quickly. The thing that took the longest was the album cover. Nobody could agree on it. It was ridiculous. I mean, our creative juices were poured out long time ago for any kind of artwork. And Paul Gilbert is kind of a cartoon artist, and I asked him, I go, 'Just draw pictures of us in cartoon form and we'll give it a name.' We couldn't even think of a name. Anyway, that took the longest. So hopefully we'll do another record, but I don't know. The album cover thing was painful."
When MR. BIG announced "The BIG Finish" tour last year, the bandmembers said that it was "time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy" after Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's disease in 2018. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
D'Virgilio will miss most of the final European leg of the band's "The BIG Finish" tour due to his commitments with his band BIG BIG TRAIN. He will be temporarily replaced on the trek by Edu Cominato, an experienced drummer from São Paulo, Brazil who has previously played with Sheehan and Martin, Jeff Scott Soto and Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE),among others.
As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins's place in GENESIS and played on their "Calling All Stations" album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK'S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.
Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil's "Totem" as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.
Photo credit: Joel Barrios / Photography That Rocks
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15 июл 2024
FRAMESHIFT Mastermind HENNING PAULY Shares Unreleased SHADOW'S MIGNON Live Album Via YouTube
 Frameshift mastermind, producer and guitar teacher Henning Pauly has posted a new video to his official YouTube channel. Check it out below.
Henning: "I set up a timelapse camera and documented a few days in my job as a YouTube guitar gear reviewer. Let's combine this with the never released Shadow's Mignon live album, The Minion Rises Live."
Shadow's Mignon was a side project launched by Henning in 2008 and featured Transmission vocalist, Juan Roos.
Tracklist (with time stamps):
2:24 - "Better Days"
7:45 - "Completely"
11:06 - "Invisible"
18:26 - "Love's Disease"
23:30 - "In My Arms"
28:53 - "I Gotta Tell Ya"
35:31 - "Standing Tall"
39:22 - "Hey Babe"
44:04 - "I Miss You More Than Yesterday"
50:17 - "I Want To"
53:54 - "Big Bad Gun"
58:42 - "Together"
1:04:14 - "Push The Button" (Frameshift)
1:10:13 - "Goodnight Boston"
"Push The Button" is taken from the Frameshift album, An Absence Of Empathy, released in 2005, and features vocals by former Skid Row frontman, Sebastian Bach. Check it out below. | 0 | |
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15 июл 2024
Costa Rica's SAVAGE EXISTENCE Sign With King2Music Records; Upcoming Releases Announced
 King2Music Records are so proud to have signed Costa Rica-based metal act, Savage Existence.
The band's new single, "Don't Remember Yesterday", will be released on July 26, followed by a second single, "Killing In The Name" (a brutal version of the Rage Agains The Machine song) on August 30. Following those, the album, Bright Lights, will hit the streets and platforms on September 27.
Savage Existence delivers innards-twisting groove metal with elements of southern rock, heavy vocals and melodic interludes, carrying listeners through a diverse metal vortex representing the international origins of the band. Created by two Canadian musicians, Daniel Cleland (guitars) and Jesse Radford (drums), Savage Existence emerged from the swamp of 2020 when the world was on lockdown.
After recording their debut Animals with world-renowned producer Logan Mader (Machine Head, Soulfly, Once Human, Gojira, Five Finger Death Punch, DevilDriver, Cavalera Conspiracy, etc), the two Canadians partnered with acclaimed Anton Darusso (RU, vocals) Andres Castro (CR, lead guitar) and Logan Mader (US, bass) to become the merciless predator Savage Existence is today. | 0 | |
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15 июл 2024
SCORPIONS Perform “The Zoo” From Rock In Rio 1985; Classic Video Streaming
 Germany’s greatest export Scorpions have uploaded classic footage performing Animal Magnetism classic "The Zoo” from Rock In Rio 1985. “The Zoo” is the penultimate song on Animal Magnetism and was released as a single in August 1980, earning the most success in the U.K, peaking at #75.
1985 was the first edition of the Rock In Rio festival. It was held from January 11-20 and an estimated 1.4 million attended. Scorpions performed on two days of the festival – Tuesday, January 15 and Saturday, January 19.
Check out the energetic Blackout tune "Dynamite":
Check out previous footage of Blackout song "Can't Live Without You":
Watch previous footage of the Love At First Sting classic "Still Loving You":
Check out previous video of the Scorps performing Animal Magnetism track “Make It Real”: | +2 | |
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15 июл 2024
CANDLEBOX Release Digital Deluxe Album, A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition); "Washed Up" Single Streaming
 Multi-platinum Seattle rockers, Candlebox, have at least one final act, after all. The group has released A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition), the digital deluxe version of the album The Long Goodbye, on all DSPs via Round Hill Records.
The digital release features the 12 tracks on the record plus two bonus live songs, including “Elegante” and “Cellphone Jesus” (Recorded at Club Amanda in Santiago, Chile on October 27, 2023), as well as the official launch of the single “Washed Up” (listen below).
“The response to The Long Goodbye has been so great that we decided to stick around a little longer; add some bonus live material. We are so happy to be able to kick out the jams a little bit longer,” said Candlebox Frontman Kevin Martin. “Thank you to everyone for your amazing response to the record, it’s been so heartwarming and positive and we’re stoked!”
The digital release is being unveiled in conjunction with their much-anticipated appearance as special guests, along with Jerry Cantrell, on Bush’s “Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour.” During the routing, which kicks off July 26 in Bend, OR at the Hayden Homes Amphitheater and culminates August 26 in Charlotte, NC at Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre, Candlebox, will perform songs from the A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition) as well as the hits that defined their career, including “Far Behind,” “You” and “Cover Me,” which propelled their self-titled debut album to sell more than four million copies worldwide.
A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition) follows Candlebox’s eighth studio album, which was quite a swan song for the 30 plus veteran band. Praised by critics for its hard-hitting, groove-infested beats and mature, soul-searching themes of love, loss, redemption, and the journey in between.
A Little Longer Goodbye (Tour Edition) tracklisting:
“What Do You Need” (Featuring Mona)
“Who You Are”
“Punks”
“Elegante”
“Hourglass”
“Maze”
“Ugly”
“Foxy”
“Running With The Stars”
“Nails On A Chalkboard”
“Cellphone Jesus”
“I Should Be Happy”
“Elegante” (Live)
“Cellphone Jesus” (Live)
“Washed Up”
"Washed Up":
(Photo - Graham Fielder) | 0 | |
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15 июл 2024
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15 июл 2024
Finland's ARCTIS Ink Deal With Napalm Records; Debut Album Due This Fall
 Napalm Records is thrilled to announce the signing of ice cold Finnish modern metal band, Arctis. Drawing inspiration from the mythical winters and mystical summers of the North, the Finnish metal minds of the talented misfits known as Arctis fearlessly navigate their futuristic battleship through a treacherous ocean where ferocious waves of metal clash against reefs of rock and pop, birthing a sonic assault of epic proportions. The band offers a multi-dimensional experience for fans, with a rich backstory and deep lore that can be expanded outside the realm of music.
Arctis is led by the enigmatic Alva, the eternal Ice Queen Rebel Leader, whose mesmerizing voice and shining white battle suit give her an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence that captures the imagination of fans. The dark-clad, valiant men who move beside Alva include the formidable Björn the Captain, whose unwavering leadership skills inspire the band to greatness, Michael the Magician, whose mystical abilities and lightning-fast fingers leave audiences spellbound, Mats the Rambler, whose wild and untamed spirit infuses the band's music with a sense of reckless abandon, and Mika the Sage, whose deep wisdom and profound insights elevate Arctis' message to new heights. Together, these legendary figures create a dynamic and captivating energy that defines Arctis' unique brand of metal and makes them exceptional.
Armed with their talent, the band soon will head out on a tour with Finnish symphonic metal masters Apocalyptica, and the band's self-titled debut album will be released this fall. It was produced by Jimmy Westerlund (Sturm und Drang), mixed by Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein) and mastered by Svante Forsbäck (Rammstein). Join Arctis on a thrilling journey that combines elements of both nature and technology, and stay tuned for their very first single coming soon!
Arctis states: “Get ready to experience the next chapter of modern metal! We are Arctis, a new force rising from the heart of Finland, and we are beyond thrilled to announce that we will be joining the legendary Apocalyptica on their fall tour! Our debut album is dropping this fall, with singles set to blow your minds before then. Prepare for an onslaught of powerful riffs, epic melodies, and the raw energy you've been craving. Follow us on this journey as we bring the storm. Are you ready? Stay tuned for more updates and tour dates. This is just the beginning.”
Arctis are:
Alva Sandström - Vocals
Michael Mikander - Guitar
Björn Johansson - Guitar
Mats Ödahl - Bass
Mika Paananen - Drums
(Photo - Harri Luostarinen) | 0 | |
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15 июл 2024
KIKO LOUREIRO: 'I'm Proud Of The Two Albums That I Recorded With MEGADETH'
 In a new interview with Japan's Young Guitar, Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, who is best known for his work with MEGADETH and ANGRA, was asked about the possibility of a future guest appearance with the latter outfit. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "In the last two albums from ANGRA, not being in the band, I did record a guest solo. I was touring a lot and I have small kids, so I didn't wanna travel more to do a guest appearance. It might be in the future. I'm friends of everybody. I have a great history with ANGRA. Same goes with MEGADETH. I'm still friends of everybody, and I don't wanna burn bridges."
He continued: "I'm proud of all the albums I recorded with ANGRA. I'm proud of the albums that I recorded with MEGADETH, the two albums I recorded with MEGADETH, all the concerts and tours we did together. So, guest appearances, recording a solo, helping somehow or just hanging, I'm happy to do it, because I like all those people as friends and family, because I shared so many great moments of my life with the guys from ANGRA, of course, many, many years, and also almost nine years in MEGADETH as well."
In November 2023, Kiko announced his decision to "extend" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, explaining that he didn't want to "hinder any of the band's plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour."
Kiko revealed in September 2023 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.
One day after Kiko's announcement that he was "extending" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, band leader Dave Mustaine released a statement in which he said that he loves Loureiro and respects and fully supports Kiko's decision. He described Kiko as "a top-notch professional, a maestro" and thanked the guitarist "for his dedication and hard work these past nine years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on 'Dystopia' and the additional awards we have received on this latest record 'The Sick... The Dying...And The Dead'." Mustaine added: "I could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro."
MEGADETH played its first concert with Kiko's replacement, Teemu Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The 37-year-old 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.
Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.
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15 июл 2024
Watch: HAGAR, ANTHONY, SATRIANI And BONHAM Perform VAN HALEN Classics At 'The Best Of All Worlds' Kick-Off Concert
 Sammy Hagar kicked off his summer 2024 tour Saturday night (July 13) at the 20,000-capacity iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, Florida.
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 21-song set in West Palm Beach consisted 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 included 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".
The full setlist was as follows:
01. Good Enough (VAN HALEN song)
02. Poundcake (VAN HALEN song)
03. Runaround (VAN HALEN song)
04. There's Only One Way To Rock
05. Judgement Day (VAN HALEN song)
06. Panama (VAN HALEN song)
07. 5150 (VAN HALEN song)
08. Summer Nights (VAN HALEN song)
09. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love (VAN HALEN song)
10. Top Of The World (VAN HALEN song)
11. Best Of Both Worlds (VAN HALEN song)
12. Satch Boogie (Joe Satriani song)
13. The Seventh Seal (VAN HALEN song)
14. Right Now (VAN HALEN song)
15. Why Can't This Be Love (VAN HALEN song)
16. Eagles Fly
17. Mas Tequila (SAMMY HAGAR AND THE WABOS song)
18. Heavy Metal
19. I Can't Drive 55
20. Space Station #5 / Oh Yeah / Jump
21. When It's Love (VAN HALEN song)
Produced by Live Nation, the 28-date "The Best Of All Worlds" tour will conclude on August 31 in St. Louis, Missouri.
This past January, Satriani spoke to Australian Musician about how he plans to play Eddie Van Halen's parts on the tour that will focus largely on the music of VAN HALEN. Asked about how he plans to approach the concerts from a "tonal" standpoint, Joe said: "Yeah, there's a couple of things that you can zero in on. This is one of the guitars I used during 'The Howard Stern Show' [when Joe, Sammy, Michael and Jason first announced the tour and performed on the early-morning program]. It's tuned to a D standard, which is really low, and the strings were 11. That was my first two big mistakes. [Laughs] 'Cause I can't play 11s. And tuned down to D, I just wasn't used to it. Sammy and the guys, they've been doing it for years, but it was foreign to me. So a lot of things don't happen.
"Eddie played at 440 and then E flat, and he played light strings. He played nines and even sometimes the lower strings were lighter," Joe explained. "Every time I talk about Eddie, I finish it by saying 'besides the fact that he was a genius.' You always have to add that in, 'cause he was just amazing — period. 'Cause every time he picked up a guitar, no matter what it was, it was amazing. He had the hands and the heart, everything. I'm just catching up.
"What I learned from 'The Howard Stern Show', besides it's still important to rehearse and you can't do gigs without rehearsals… But what, what it confirmed was a couple of things I was thinking about, which was that Eddie had specific gear — he really did," Satriani continued. "He didn't play with the gear I used or Steve Vai or Slash or Tom Morello or any of his contemporaries. He actually had a very specific setup. And you ask yourself, 'Well, why?' Well, it's because, besides he was a genius, as we know, he knew that in order for him to play those parts, he had to have his gear tweaked a certain way; otherwise it wouldn't work. So, like when you go to play the beginning of 'Mean Street', if your setup is not allowing those harmonics to jump out, it's gonna sound like you're not hitting them. You've gotta get the setup right.
"If you refer to the first… Let's say, if you go to [VAN HALEN's 1986 concert video] 'Live Without A Net' or any of those things, even the early period, '5150' period, from [David Lee] Roth to the early Hagar period where he's still using Marshalls, when he goes to do things like that, it's a success. Every time he goes to hit a harmonic, boom, there it is. And it's low noise, big round fidelity, still sounds organic. You fast forward to live at the Tokyo Dome [2015's 'Tokyo Dome Live in Concert'], it's a totally different thing. He's playing an entirely different amp. When he goes to do those things, he's getting an overt amount of harmonic information, but he's also getting a ton of noise and none of the body that was part of the earlier sound.
"Now I learned that because of those two [EVH] amps right there. I got those back when Alex [Van Halen] and Dave called and asked me to do the [seemingly abandoned] Eddie tribute tour, and I thought, 'Well, I've gotta figure this out.' So the first thing I did was I got a couple of those and I thought, 'Well, this is great. You get all the harmonics, but, man, this is really small sounding. This is like for modern…' If I was 20 years old and I was playing modern rock, those would be the best amps ever. But I'm not, and I still wanna hear sort of the body of the guitar and I wanna hear a more dynamic mix. So I started to think, 'Well, what's my favorite VAN HALEN section?' And I did find that period in '86. I talked to Sam quite a bit about it and he said, yeah, that first 5150, he was still using Marshalls. In Sammy's view, his favorite sound that Eddie ever made. It wasn't small and then stereoized. So I reached out to Dylana Scott at 3rd Power amplifiers, and she is building me what we believe is going to be the amp that does it…"
Joe added: "This goes back to what I said earlier about how the gear is so important for the performer. I know that when we step out on stage and whether I'm playing 'Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love' or '5150', I'm gonna need to feel and hear that sound to convince myself to keep going. And if it's not working, then I'm just gonna say, 'Well, let me just have my solo rig.' But my solo rig is designed — it probably has a little too much gain, and is designed to make the high strings really fat sounding, because I play all the melodies. I play very little rhythm guitar all night long. It's just solo melody, solo melody. And I can't play the Hagar set like that. It's just the wrong sound. CHICKENFOOT, it kind of worked. But for the for the VAN HALEN stuff to really pop, and then we're doing MONTROSE, we're doing Sammy Hagar solo stuff, we're doing my stuff, we're doing CHICKENFOOT. It's a really fun setlist. Great setlist. But I know, in my heart, that I wanna hear that sound in my head, that mythical Eddie Van Halen sound that we all sort of hear in our mind, and I wanna be able to feel it. And so I've been getting these clips from Dylana every week, and the stuff that she's building is really amazing."
Last December, Satriani spoke to Ultimate Guitar's Justin Beckner about how he plans to play Eddie Van Halen's parts on the upcoming tour. Asked if there are some VAN HALEN songs that he found most challenging to perform, Joe replied: "The main thing is that for the last five decades I've tried so hard to be myself and to be me and not copy anybody. I've been lucky, since the late '80s, to have a solo career, so I really had a job that forced me to be myself as much as possible. So I made a point not to play like anybody. But it happens eventually when you're having fun, you're at a party and someone says, 'Oh, can you play this song?' and you realize, 'I have no idea how to play that song. I love that song. I've listened to it a million times. I don't know what the guy's doing.' And then you go to learn it and you go, 'Wow, that's really weird. It feels so awkward for me to be like this.' And it's not the parts, 'cause I can hear the chords and I know what everything is when I hear it. It's just the sensibility of timing, vibrato, picking. If you're so deep into your own thing, it's really hard to get out of it and try to properly emulate somebody else's playing. It would almost be like if you gave a guitar to Eddie and you said, 'Okay, Eddie, we want you to play 'Summer Song' note for note.' He'd be, like, 'What? I don't play like that. I don't do that. I just kind of do this, this and this.' Of course we'd love it no matter how he did it — it would be fun — but it wouldn't be exactly the same."
Joe continued: "When I was young and I was in cover bands, I knew what it was like to try to get as close as possible when you were playing — for me, it was [LED] ZEPPELIN and [BLACK] SABBATH and THE [ROLLING] STONES and stuff like that; that's what we played. But eventually, you'd have to go, 'I don't play like that. That's not my vibrato.' If I go to play AC/DC, there's no way I can do Angus's [Young] vibrato. He just has his own vibrato. If you're gonna try to play like Jeff Beck — he's so personal. You can play the notes and remind people of this part he did and that part, but it's not gonna sound quite the same.
"If we heard Eric Clapton trying to play 'Since I've Been Loving You' by LED ZEPPELIN, there's no way it would sound the same. It would be great, but it wouldn't sound the same. So, what I noticed right away, when I realized, 'I really have to figure out these songs,' [I asked myself] what is Eddie — what's he operating on?
"So here are a couple of things I've noticed," Satriani added. "Number one, he plays so on the beat and makes it feel like he's pushing the beat, but he's actually not. It's really amazing how he does it. And I realized, when I went back and I listened to my stuff back to back, I thought, 'Oh, that's me, sitting on the backbeat as much as I can,' because I'm playing the melody. When you play the melody, you don't wanna be on top. Actually, you want the band to be pushing, and you're sitting back here, like a singer, playing. I like the way Robert Plant sings in 'Since I've Been Loving You'. He's so behind. Or listen to any hip-hop song — the vocals are way in the pocket; they're just late on purpose. So that's something I've worked on my whole life is 'sit back, sit back, sot back,' and all of a sudden you go to play a song like 'I'm The One', and it's like, 'No, you have to be the guy way in front.' And Alex [Van Halen] is gonna be going, 'No, no. Sit back here.' And that's a difficult sensibility when every nerve ending in your body is saying, 'Sit back.' But to make the song work, you've gotta sit forward. That's the first thing I noticed, like the difference between Eddie's sensibility in timing and mine in terms of timing.
"Our vibratos aren't that different," Joe said. "He holds hick pick [with his thumb and middle finger], so he's always got [his index] finger for tapping, and I don't. So I always have to do something. And what I started to do early on was to use my pick for a lot of hammer-ons because I just wanted to be different, and I thought I'd get a better sound, I'd be able to do some different things that other players weren't doing. And I saw guys using their fingers back in the early '70s, when Eddie was my age, just a young teenager. There were other guys doing tapping for decades before, but as my generation started to figure out how to do tapping, I saw the thing was a split. There's tapping for effect, tapping for riff, and then there's tapping to create an entire musical piece. And Eddie did all of it. The way that he would do the tapping, when he would use it, [was] totally opposite of the way that I had forced myself to go with it.
"The third thing is… Again, we're talking about someone who was just an incredible virtuoso in several areas. One of the things that Eddie had was this super-tight swing that was ultrafast with his right hand. And that is something, again, that once… I remember hearing for the first time and thinking, 'Well, I'm gonna have to work on that.' That's gonna take me, I thought, I bet, three months of 45 minutes a day just working with a metronome to work that into my bag of tricks.' 'Cause that's kind of like what it is."
Satriani went on to say: "I think when you're getting ready for a tour and you're gonna play a song that you haven't played in 20 years, you remember it but you go, 'Ah, I don't do that anymore,' and it physically feels odd. So you say, 'Okay, I've got six weeks before the tour. I'm gonna play this thing ten times a day and I'm just gonna keep working, and start slow and figure out all the different ways of doing it so that when I hit the stage, I can relax and play it the way it should be played.'"
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.
Although Hagar and Anthony normally play five or six VAN HALEN songs" on the road with THE CIRCLE, Sammy told Stern they were planning to only play "five or six of my songs" alongside VAN HALEN classics and deep cuts.
"When we go out next year in July, it will be almost exactly 20 years since Mike and I did a reunion with Ed and Al in '04," Hagar said. "Mike and I just said, 'We can't wait another 20 years. How long can I even sing these songs? How long can I do this stuff? I just thought it's time to serve the fans."
"There's stuff we're going to do on this next tour that we haven't played since that tour in 2004," Anthony added.
Regarding the challenge of learning legendary VAN HALEN guitarist Eddie Van Halen's parts, Satriani said: "There are things that are so iconic, you have to nail it. But if you go deep with what he did live, he never played the same thing twice. He kept evolving; he kept pushing. He'd do the recorded version a little bit, but then he moved on.
"It's a daunting task when you do the deep dive into what he did," he continued. "But it's good to start at the beginning, and then you just learn all his little improvs and you get the idea of what he was trying to do. It's thrilling; it's fun."
Eddie 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.
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15 июл 2024
DAVID LEE ROTH Shares Upgraded Video For Unplugged Rendition Of VAN HALEN Track "Mean Street" From No Holds Bar-B-Que
 David Lee Roth has shared the upgraded video below, featuring a performance of Van Halen's "Mean Street", from Roth's bizarre, hour-long art project created in 2002, entitled No Holds Bar-B-Que.
"Mean Street" was originally featured on Van Halen's fourth studio album, Fair Warning, released in April 1981.
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15 июл 2024
SATAN Announce New Album Songs In Crimson
 NWOBHM legends Satan have announced their seventh full-length album Songs In Crimson will be released September 13 via Metal Blade Records.
Artwork by Eliran Kantor:
More information will be available soon.
Satan have additionally announced a fall 2024 run through the UK and Europe with support from Haunt, Hell Fire, and Seven Sisters.
Dates:
September
4 – Manchester, UK – The Bred Shed
5 – Newcastle, UK – The Cluny
6 – Glasgow, Scotland – The Flying Duck
7 – Belfast, Ireland – Voodoo
8 – Dublin, Ireland – Grand Social
11 – London, England – Boston Music Room
12 – Brighton, England – Daltons
14 – Torreilles, France – Pyrenean Warriors Open Air
Tour with Haunt and Hell Fire
September
15 – Milan, Italy – Metalitalia Festival
16 – Munchen, Germany – Backstage
17 – Zagreb, Croatia – Klub Mocvara
18 – Wien, Austria – Escape
19 – Linz, Austria – Steel City Sorcery
20 – Selb, Germany – Rockclub Nordbayern
21 – Warsaw, Poland – Odessa
22 – Ostrava, Czech Republic – Barrak
23 – Nurnberg, Germany – Der Hirsch
24 – Bochum, Germany – Trompete
25 – Oldenburg, Germany – MTS
26 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Beta
27 – Hamburg, Germany – Bambi Galore
28 – Bielefeld, Germany – JZ Stricker
29 – Gent, Belgium – Asgaard
30 – Tilburg, Netherlands – Little Devil
(Photo – Stefan Rosic)
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14 июл 2024
KERRY KING Wishes He Had Asked For Better Financial Arrangement For His BEASTIE BOYS Collaboration
 In a new interview with Ernest Skinner of Canada's Border City Rock Talk, SLAYER guitarist Kerry King spoke about his surprise guest appearances on the BEASTIE BOYS' 1987 track "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" and SUM 41's pop-punk hit "What We're All About". Regarding the former, King said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The simplicity of it is what's funny about it. We [SLAYER] were doing what became the 'Reign In Blood' album and the [BEASTIE BOYS] were doing 'Licensed To Ill' in the same studio, like down the hall from each other. And [producer] Rick Rubin was doing both projects. So they needed a lead on that particular song, 'No Sleep Till Brooklyn'. So I thought about it, and I went, 'Yeah, why not? I can use a couple hundred bucks.' I certainly wasn't well to do back then. So, that's what I did. I went in there and I did it. And in hindsight, I wish I didn't get paid. I wish I took a quarter point or something, 'cause now I would be a rich man. [Laughs]"
Regarding his contribution to "What We're All About", Kerry said: "It's funny. I just ran into [SUM 41] in Europe a couple of times. They were on the same festivals with us, and I hadn't seen them in a long, long time. So they made a way to come out and say 'hey', which I was happy about, 'cause I hadn't seen them forever.
"How that one happened — I remember I turned it down for months and months and months," he explained. "I'm, like, 'My fans won't get it. My fans won't get it. My fans won't get it.' Then the guy from the record label — here's another funny story, kind of full circle of what we were talking about — he comes up to me and he says, 'Well, you did the BEASTIE BOYS.' And I went, 'Motherfucker!' [Laughs] So I'm, like, 'You're right.' So I did it."
Last year, King told Metal Hammer that his guest appearances with the BEASTIE BOYS and SUM 41 were "career choices," not creative ones.
"Well…there's a whole lot to say there," King said when the interviewer brought up his collab with SUM 41. "It was my record label that wanted me to do it. I turned it down 10 times.
"A friend of mine at the label came to me at an angle that I just couldn't argue with. He was, like, 'Well, you know you played on the BEASTIE BOYS record. Fuck! [Laughs] He's got a point. That was my epiphany."
"That was before we put ourselves back on the map," King continued, referencing SLAYER's transitional period after releasing a couple of albums on Metal Blade Records and eventually signing with Rubin's Def Jam Recordings. "[SUM 41] were fun and they were popping. So, yeah, I played on the BEASTIE BOYS record and I played on the SUM 41 record. I mean, those weren't choices for me, those were just career choices I made. Some people may agree with them and some people may not."
King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", came out on May 17 via Reigning Phoenix Music. All material for the LP was written by the 60-year-old SLAYER guitarist, who was accompanied during the recording sessions by the rest of his solo band, consisting of drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH),guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD) and Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL) on vocals. Helming the sessions at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles last year was producer Josh Wilbur, who has previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.
Kerry King will be special guest on the upcoming LAMB OF GOD/MASTODON North American "Ashes Of Leviathan" co-headline tour. The six-week run will launch on July 19 in Grand Prairie, Texas and will wrap on August 31 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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14 июл 2024
Former MUSHROOMHEAD Vocalist WAYLON REAVIS's A KILLER'S CONFESSION Announces New Album 'Victim 1'
 A KILLER'S CONFESSION, the band led by former MUSHROOMHEAD vocalist Waylon Reavis, will release a new album of melodic hard rock dosed with pummeling metal and industrial stylings, "Victim 1", on September 13 via MNRK Heavy.
The official lyric video for the song "Filth" can be seen below.
"'Filth' is a personal favorite," states Reavis. "It's another chapter in the lore of 'Victim 1'. I personally love the upbeat feel of this song, especially when playing it live. If you have caught an AKC show in the last few months, you have been lucky enough to hear it already. I feel our production team of Dusty Boles and Evan McKeever really helped me knock this one out of the park. The song takes you on a journey through the killer's eyes."
The singer also pulled back the curtain on the album as a whole, saying: "'Victim 1' might possibly be my favorite album I've ever been a part of. AKC stepped completely out of the box to write 'Victim 1'. I brought in new producers [Dusty Boles and Evan McKeever] to help rebrand the sound of the band. I took most of last year off and did not tour in order to write this album."
He continues, "The focus I found during this time really helped me flesh out the new sound and the direction in which I wanted to go. Personally, I feel that this is the true sound of A KILLER'S CONFESSION, and in my honest opinion, I feel like this is the first true AKC album. Every time I listen to the album, I sit back and smile, because I've never had that feeling before with AKC. The tone and atmosphere is completely different from anything we've ever done."
"Victim 1" track listing:
01. Tongue
02. Sun
03. Greed
04. Voices (feat. Aaron Nordstrom)
05. Purpose
06. Martyr
07. Kill Or Be Killed
08. Filth
09. Rain
10. Wasteland
"Victim 1" is AKC's their fourth full-length offering and MNRK Music Group debut.
"A year ago, I was like, 'What if we have a character who is fed up with the world?,'" recalls Reavis, offering in glimpse in the album's darkest recesses. "In his heart, he knows what's going on isn't right, so he does something about it. On each song, he addresses a sin — whether in himself or against some horrible person. The conversations are either in his head or with the victim. You think, 'If I was a guy who had the ability to find these people, how would I react?' He's got to do this, yet it's destroying him since he's truly a kind spirit. He has no regrets though."
After releasing three seminal albums as a member of MUSHROOMHEAD, Reavis retreated from music, only for it to draw him back in 2016. He resurfaced at the helm of A KILLER'S CONFESSION, delivering three cult favorite albums — "Unbroken" (2017),"The Indifference Of Good Men" (2019) and "Remember" (2021). Along the way, the band tallied tens of millions of streams in addition to collaborating with everyone from Brian "Head" Welch of KORN and LOVE AND DEATH to Chad Gray of MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH. Joined by bassist JP Cross, guitarist James Skritch, and drummer Kegan King, they also captivated crowds on tour.
During 2022, Reavis experienced an epiphany. "I had never thought about following a concept like this before," he said. "However, I decided to focus, live up to the name, and be A KILLER'S CONFESSION." He hit the studio with collaborators and producers Dusty Boles (MAKE ME FAMOUS) and Evan Mckeever (NINE SHRINES). Shocking this vision to life, he emerged with the 10-track equivalent of "falling down a YouTube rabbit hole of unsolved mysteries."
A KILLER'S CONFESSION tell a story you won't be able to look away from... or forget — both lyrically and sonically. "A KILLER'S CONFESSION is all of us," Reavis shares. "It's not just the band. It's the people who listen, dive in, and learn from it. It's each and every one of us deep inside. We all have killed off something in our lives. I hope you find some solace in the record. We don't have to be so divided. We're more alike than we think we are."
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14 июл 2024
MARTY FRIEDMAN's 'Dreaming Japanese' Autobiography Cover Unveiled
 The cover for former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman's upcoming autobiography, "Dreaming Japanese", which will arrive on December 3 via Permuted Press, can be seen below.
In a recent interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, Friedman was asked if he is "putting it all out there" with the book. The 61-year-old musician, who has lived in Japan since 2003, said: "Yeah. The entire criteria of the book was things that I've never said in the media, things that I couldn't say in the media, private things and all of the inner interpersonal relationships in all of the bands that I've been in, all of the projects I've worked on. And it's almost like a spy-like double-agent look into the Japanese music business and the Japanese entertainment industry, because I came in completely as a foreigner, but I'm working within that industry as someone who is in Japan, lives in Japan, speaks Japanese, works on the Japanese projects. So I can kind of report to the rest of the world what it's really like from an American's perspective, which I think the publishers of the book found quite fascinating and I really drew that to a complete conclusion. But it's basically everything that no one knows about me. So if you're slightly interested, hopefully you will get a lot of very unexpected information out of it."
In May, Friedman was asked by "THAT Rocks!", the YouTube series hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine and Don Jamieson, why now is the right time for him to release his book. He responded: "I've always kept my private life completely out of media. Even in the Japan media, where I'm much more visible than in America, I've kept private things to myself and kept everything always about the topic at hand, whatever that be, whatever the program is about or whatever I'm releasing or whatever. So it's never really been terribly personal. But at the same time, every person has a deep personal story behind everything, and I've been working on an autobiography for years. And when it started to take shape and become something real, I started to look for publishers who were interested. And I found an absolutely excellent, excellent publisher that got excited about it. And when we started working on it, it, it just became this monster of a project, way beyond anything I'd imagined it being. And I think a lot of your fans are going to enjoy it because it's got so much deep details about the metal life that I've lived before I went over to Japan and the metal life now, but the real deep private relationship details between myself and all the other bandmembers from all my bands and all of the management things and life things that people don't see when they just see you on stage or they hear the records or they read the interviews. There's serious life stuff that you would only be comfortable talking about in a complete tell-all autobiography. And even then, I'm not even sure if I'm comfortable saying it, but I said, if I'm gonna do this, the main criteria is going to be all of this stuff is not stuff from interviews. And all of this stuff is gonna be stuff that's very private and very true."
He continued: "Of course I have no agenda at this age. The only thing I'm promoting is [my new solo album] 'Drama', which takes up about maybe four sentences of the autobiography. So the whole thing is just very deep and detailed into things that I think that no one really knows, because maybe I haven't really been that vocal about in the past."
After Florentine suggested that he could do the audiobook in English and Japanese all on his own, Marty said: "I could. I'm just so not into the idea of doing that. I dread the day when they say, 'Okay, we want you to do the audiobook.' 'Cause I listen to these books, and it just seems like a ton of work. I've done voiceover stuff for a lot of TV shows in Japan, and just one half-hour show takes friggin' forever. So, I'm just thinking, an entire book of, I think it's like 150,000 words, just dreading that. So I'm hoping that like A.I. can clone my voice and do it for me, 'cause I'm not looking forward to doing that work."
When Marty first announced his autobiography on May 13, he wrote in a social media post: "After an exhaustive and seemingly endless process, I'm beyond excited to let you know that I've just turned in the final manuscript for my autobiography, 'Dreaming Japanese'.
"I've always kept my private life completely out of the media, so with nervous excitement, I am thrilled to share the story about my upbringing, home life and career for the first time. You will enjoy the deepest dive into never before revealed details about my life in MEGADETH and the personal relationships within the band written with alarming clarity. Same goes for all of my other bands, from the very beginning.
"I outline the entire story why — and exactly how — I dropped living the high life in a multi-platinum band to start from scratch in Japan dreaming to play J-Pop, and how that spiraled into eventually exceeding even my loftiest goals, even becoming a government appointed Ambassador. It`s a complete immersion into my daily Japanese life as I guide you through the inner workings of the Japanese television industry and music scene, from my my unique and unprecedented perspective."
Friedman spoke about his autobiography in a recent interview with BLABBERMOUTH.NET. He said: "We're in the last editing stages. All the content is done. It's extremely long. The point that we're at is that 'You got to cut out a lot of this.' We're cutting out things. It's hard because it is extremely long. It's too long. We're cutting out certain things, but what I can say about it is it is by far the most detailed account of anything I've participated in in my life. Any little subject has the deepest details about it. There are little details and very personal details. Of course, a lot of people want to know about MEGADETH. I made it very sure to give the most complete and honest account of all things that were never in any interviews. Interviews are usually where you're talking about a topic and in 'impress mode.' But I wanted to get personal and talk about how things affected me in every little situation. All that is in great detail, as well as the transition into Japanese television and being the only foreigner in a world of completely Japanese people, as well as the pros and cons of that. It has all of the very important details that you can't say in interviews, like private and personal things that don't usually come out. I tried to keep that as the criteria: Did I talk about this in an interview? If so, it got cut. It's all new stuff."
Official "Dreaming Japanese" description: The rollicking autobiography of the iconic guitarist who took thrash metal behemoths MEGADETH from the edge of collapse to their highest peak before departing to Japan for the joy of J-Pop.
Marty Friedman's upbringing was as atypical as his career. Growing up in a Jewish household in Maryland, the son of an NSA executive, he lacked motivation until he accidentally discovered the guitar and immediately found his calling. Enjoying a hazy adolescence overflowing with partying, music, and teen antics, he achieved local stardom in DEUCE, then burst on to the national scene by pioneering a radically new style of playing, bringing attention to the guitar aficionado label, Shrapnel Records. Acclaim didn't breed success or money, but undeterred, Friedman moved to California, and after attempts to join Madonna, KISS, and Ozzy Osbourne, finally scored a gig in MEGADETH at a time when the band members were just recovering from the verge of self-destruction, and Marty was in and out of homelessness.
Friedman is the most revered guitarist to play in any MEGADETH lineup. During his ten years, his exotic, innovating style helped define the sound of their biggest albums, and while it elevated him to guitar hero status with all the accompanying perks, it came at a significant cost. As the only clean and sober member, Friedman vividly recalls the triumphs and trials of each album cycle and more, bringing to light previously undisclosed personal feelings surrounding the circumstances that forced the band into hiding in the midst of the "Countdown To Extinction" tour and the brutal effort it took to get the band back up and running. His profound and complicated relationship with frontman Dave Mustaine was symbolic of the band's insane dynamic, and Marty poignantly and generously shares his experiences within the band's inner sanctum during the highs, lows, and daily routines.
But "Dreaming Japanese" is far more than a memoir about Friedman's multi-platinum years in MEGADETH. The riveting narrative captures his relentless perseverance as he struggles to start again from nothing. Spontaneously leaving his home in the U.S. and feeling lost in the middle of Tokyo, with few connections or concrete plans, the story traces his journey to acclimate and assimilate into the inner core of an alien society, language and culture, almost like a double agent spy. In fascinating detail and clarity, Marty shares how he gradually made inroads into the Japanese entertainment industry, becoming a household name and fixture on mainstream television and earning respect as a highly influential solo artist. "Dreaming Japanese" follows the wildly entertaining, inspiring, and above all, unprecedented path of a rock and roll guitar player who took the biggest risk, leaving worldwide success to start over from scratch in a country, culture and society far from his own, ultimately becoming an official ambassador of Japan. | +1 | |
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14 июл 2024
See SLASH Perform 'Papa Was A Rolling Stone' At Gibson Garage In Nashville
 Video of Slash's exclusive performance of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", off his new blues album, "Orgy Of The Damned", at the Gibson Garage in Nashville, Tennessee can be seen below. This private event marked the beginning of the "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival, a blues tour showcasing the GUNS N' ROSES guitarist's latest solo work.
S.E.R.P.E.N.T. is an anagram and stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N' Tolerance. The festival is a celebration of the blues, featuring an all-star lineup varies.
Slash formed the "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival to bring fans together to celebrate the spirit of the blues, and to perform with other blues artists he admires who share his love of the genre. Slash also has a strong desire to give back to charities that he has supported over the years, as well as to help lift marginalized communities that share his restorative focus of elevating lives for the benefit of all. A portion of the proceeds from each VIP package and "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival ticket sold will directly benefit the following charities that Slash has selected: The Equal Justice Initiative, Know Your Rights Camp, The Greenlining Institute and War Child. "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." festival has partnered with Plus1.org to support these charitable endeavors.
Joining Slash at various stops on the tour are WARREN HAYNES BAND, Keb' Mo', Larkin Poe, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Samantha Fish, ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales and Jackie Venson.
The trek kicked off on July 5 in Bonner, Montana and will wrap up on August 17 in Grand Prairie, Texas.
"Orgy Of The Damned" came out on May 17 via Gibson Records. The LP features guest appearances by AC/DC's Brian Johnson, AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler, Iggy Pop, Chris Stapleton, THE BLACK CROWES' Chris Robinson, ZZ TOP's Billy F. Gibbons, BAD COMPANY's Paul Rodgers, Demi Lovato and Gary Clark Jr.Slash is backed on the album by prior collaborators Johnny Griparic (bass) and Teddy Andreadis (keyboards),as well as drummer Michael Jerome and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.
Regarding the inspiration for the "Orgy Of The Damned" album title, Slash told Germany's Rock Antenne: "It's the only title I came up with. It was just because blues and rock and roll have always been considered taboo and devil's music and all that kind of stuff. And it's 'hide your kids from that.' And I wasn't raised to think that, but I know society at large has always had that kind of attitude towards it, but of blues especially. And so when I thought about having a collaborative thing with all these different artists doing a blues record — 'Orgy Of The Damned', right? It seems so obvious to me, and I actually Googled it to see if somebody else had already used it, but they hadn't."
When the interviewer suggested that it must have been a "logistical nightmare" getting all those guest musicians to appear on the LP, Slash said: "It's difficult. I mean, you basically just have to get on the phone, and if they say 'yes', then okay. So that's really the hardest part, is calling people up and asking the question and seeing if they'll do it. And I was fortunate doing this, because I picked songs that… What I would do is I'd have the song and then go, 'Okay, who should sing this?' And whoever came to mind as being the appropriate singer, I would call them up. But, fortunately, I picked the right song for them to sing and so they would identify with it automatically. And so then that would make them feel more obligated to get involved and sing it properly or whatever goes through one's mind. But it was great because all the different artists were so open to the material and it really meant something to them. So, what happened was the vocal delivery really came from the heart; they were really singing from a place of connecting with the material."
Asked if there was anybody he wanted to get to appear on the album but couldn't, Slash said: "Well, the biggest one, really, the one that bums me out was [late MOTÖRHEAD leader] Lemmy. That was because there was a moment there where [I thought], 'Fuck, man, Lemmy would be great.' And I still haven't gotten used to the fact that he's not here, 'cause I'm so used to him being there. So that was the big one. I try not to make a big deal out of it. There's some people that I couldn't contact until after the record was done. And then they showed up, and [I would tell them] the record's done already. But other than that, everybody that I thought of were there."
Although he grew up in England, Slash's American grandmother turned him on to the blues early on and he was immediately taken with B.B. King. At the same time, his parents raised him on a healthy diet of '60s British rock 'n' roll, from THE WHO to THE KINKS. Once he moved to Laurel Canyon, Slash found himself surrounded by rock and folk singers like Joni Mitchell, CROSBY, STILLS & NASH and Neil Young — all of whom eventually inspired his playing and songwriting. It wasn't until he began playing guitar himself that Slash realized all of his favorite musicians had been influenced by the same B.B. King blues records he'd listened to as a young kid.
"Orgy Of The Damned" encompasses a broad range of styles within the blues genre, veering from an upbeat, rowdy take on Robert Johnson's "Crossroads" to a plaintive, twanging rendition of T. Bone Walker's "Stormy Monday". Some of the songs, like STEPPENWOLF's "The Pusher", Charlie Segar's "Key To The Highway" and Albert King's "Born Under A Bad Sign", had been performed by SLASH'S BLUES BALL while others, like Stevie Wonder's "Living For The City", were longtime favorites for Slash. "Hoochie Coochie Man", written by Willie Dixon and made famous by Muddy Waters in 1954, showcases the in-the-moment nature and unrestrained energy of "Orgy Of The Damned", with ZZ TOP's Billy F. Gibbons stepping in on guitar and vocals. The group went into a rehearsal room in North Hollywood and began hashing out soulful, rollicking takes on the classic songs. Everything was played live in the room, with an emphasis on improvisation which resulted in a collection of dynamic, energized songs that are immediate, raw, and distinctly familiar.
As Slash was considering vocalists, he approached his old friend and collaborator Iggy Pop, who had long wanted to record a blues song. Pop suggested Lightnin' Hopkins's 1962 track "Awful Dream", a sparse, drawling number originally laid down on acoustic guitar. The duo decided to recreate that stripped back vibe and recorded their own languid, emotionally-resonate version sitting on two stools in Slash's studio.
Elsewhere on "Orgy Of The Damned", Demi Lovato lends her powerhouse voice to "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone", a fervent, soulful version of the 1972 single by THE TEMPTATIONS that Slash admired as a kid. Although the song veers more towards R&B, the guitarist wanted to give it his own impassioned spin. The album concludes with a soaring original instrumental number, "Metal Chestnut", penned specifically for "Orgy Of The Damned" by Slash.
The first single, "Killing Floor", features Johnson on vocals and Tyler on harmonica.
Slash will take the stage at The Mission Ballroom in Denver, Colorado for a one-night-only performance with his blues band on Wednesday, July 17. This special event is part of his nationwide "S.E.R.P.E.N.T." blues festival, and will be streamed live globally on Veeps, offering fans a unique opportunity to experience the magic of Slash's blues revival.
The Veeps livestream will showcase a set by Slash and his blues band, featuring Johnny Griparic (bass),Teddy "ZigZag" Andreadis (keyboards),Michael Jerome (drums) and Tash Neal (vocals/guitar).
"Slash: Live from The Mission Ballroom" will air globally on July 17, 2024. The stream will begin at 9:30 p.m. MDT and will be available on Veeps for one year following the original air date. The show is free for Veeps All Access subscribers in the U.S.; for fans outside the U.S., tickets are on sale for $14.99 at this location with a three-day rewatch window.
For more information and tickets to the in-person festival, visit www.serpentfestival.com.
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14 июл 2024
LOU GRAMM On Possibility Of Selling His Portion Of Rights To FOREIGNER Songs: 'It's Crossed My Mind'
 In a new interview with Kiki Classic Rock, former FOREIGNER singer Lou Gramm was asked if he has ever considered selling the rights to his back catalog and recordings. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's crossed my mind. And I've had companies and people calling me, asking me if I wanted to sell my portion of the [FOREIGNER] songs. And I hadn't really thought about it that much, but I have been thinking about it. I don't know if songs won't be worth that much in the future — maybe now's the time to do it if you're gonna do it; I'm not sure — but I wanna leave that creativity and any funds that it generates to my children… And that's something that forever in their lives and their children's lives that they can remember their dad."
Gramm also talked about his recent announcement that 2024 will be his last year as a touring performer. He said: "I still enjoy performing, but being that I'm not the kid I once was, it's more difficult, more exerting. And a lot of it also has to do with the way travel has become. It is ridiculous. It used to be so easy to fly from one city to another. Now flights are canceled for no reason at all and people are left stranded. I've had flights where I booked a first-class seat and ended up on the last aisle of the plane next to the back bathrooms, just because as they give me my boarding pass, it's not the one that I booked. But it's either take that seat or miss your flight and maybe miss a show. So I get on very begrudgingly, and the whole flight I just sit there at the seat, because the airlines used to be very professional and very good at what they do and things seem to be upside down and there's no reason for what's going on that I can see. And I just prefer not to travel."
Asked what he will do with all his free time, Lou said: "I have a small home in Florida that I get out of the Rochester winters and I go there for three or four months. I enjoy that. I fly there, but I'll grin and bear it. And it's not every flight; it's just every so often that that kind of thing happens. But it's very upsetting to me when that does. I'm a classic car collector. I don't have a big collection — I have three or four cars — but I've had them for 25 or 30 years now. I go to cruise nights and car shows and stuff. That's my outlet. And I'm sure I'm still gonna be writing songs and maybe recording, but I think I've just had enough of touring. I've been doing this for almost 50 years now. And that's a long time."
Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon, Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks and Neil Young are some of the iconic musicians who have recently sold off substantial rights to their music, whether it's just for publishing or the original recordings, known as masters. Investors, major music companies and private equity firms have poured billions of dollars into buying song catalogs, believing that the rise of streaming and growing music revenues will make song rights acquisitions highly lucrative in the long term as they can be exploited for up to 70 years after a musician's death.
This past April, it was revealed that FOREIGNER is among the 2024 inductees into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
The induction ceremony will be held on October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio. It will air live on Disney+. An edited version will run on ABC at a later date, and will be available on Hulu the day after.
To be eligible for this year's ballot, each nominee's first single or album had to have been released in 1999 or earlier.
Eligible since 2002, FOREIGNER has had a huge number of rock hits, including "Cold As Ice", "Double Vision", "Hot Blooded", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, with no wins.
According to the Hall Of Fame, the FOREIGNER members that will get inducted include only the classic-era musicians Gramm, Mick Jones, Dennis Elliott, Ed Gagliardi, Al Greenwood, Ian McDonald and Rick Wills. McDonald and Gagliardi died in 2022 and 2014, respectively.
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14 июл 2024
UNEARTH Releases New Digital EP 'Bask In The Blood Of Our Demons'
 UNEARTH has released a new digital EP, "Bask In The Blood Of Our Demons". Featuring a potent mix of unreleased tracks and blistering live performances, this EP showcases UNEARTH's signature blend of ferocious instrumentation and thought-provoking lyricism. Included are two brand-new cuts from the recording process of "The Wretched; The Ruinous", "Sea Of The Lost" and "Warrior Souls", with "Warrior Souls" in particular continuing the narrative explored in the album.
"It's a pit starter from the opening seconds and is heavy and uncompromising throughout," explains the band. "Lyrically it imagines a desolate time when future generations take vengeance on their living predecessors for not doing more to save our environment from becoming uninhabitable and our species being on the brink of extinction. The more unlivable our world becomes, the fewer political, religious and cultural divides will exist. There will be only two missions remaining for the human race; survival and retribution."
Adding to the EP's dynamic energy are live recordings of "The Wretched; The Ruinous (Live In Texas, 2023)" and "Dawn Of The Militant (Live In Texas, 2023)", providing fans with a visceral taste of UNEARTH's commanding stage presence.
Accompanying the EP's release is the visualizer for "Warrior Souls", now available below, offering a visceral visual complement to the track's intensity.
Catch UNEARTH live on their upcoming tour dates, including performances across Europe, Japan and the United States.
"Bask In The Blood Of Our Demons" track listing:
01. Sea Of The Lost
02. Warrior Souls
03. The Wretched; The Ruinous (Live in Texas, 2023)
04. Dawn Of The Militant (Live in Texas, 2023)
UNEARTH, who celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2023, are nothing short of standard-bearers and keepers of the faith for American metalcore. They were the band born in the breakdown who never wavered from their love for European death metal melodicism, supercharged by American thrash and hardcore. Now, more than a quarter century into a career that's seen the Massachusetts mob play innumerable gigs and massive festivals on six continents, sell hundreds of thousands of records, and inspire some of the most important bands in extreme metal today, they remain a force to contend with.
It's a daunting thought that UNEARTH has been a part of the metal landscape since making their recorded debut with 1999's "Above The Fall Of Man" EP. At that point, UNEARTH was one of the key bands in an-about-to-detonate New Wave Of American Heavy Metal (NWOAHM) scene that included nascent lineups of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, LAMB OF GOD, SHADOWS FALL, DARKEST HOUR, BLEEDING THROUGH and GOD FORBID.
The release of 2001's "The Stings Of Conscience" album (Eulogy) and its landmark follow-up "Endless" EP ignited excitement about UNEARTH, who in 2003 joined KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SHADOWS FALL and LAMB OF GOD on the inaugural MTV Headbangers Ball tour. Inking with Metal Blade that year for the album "The Oncoming Storm", UNEARTH took their spot as one of American metal's most explosive live acts.
"Those early years of full-time touring were really impactful for us," says UNEARTH vocalist Trevor Phipps. "We were hitting milestone after milestone, year in year out."
Endless road work followed including countless tours, massive European, Japanese, and Australian festivals, and rite-of-passage American road-jaunts, including the Ozzfest and Mayhem festival tours, cemented the Mass quintet as a force in the world of metal. That unassuaged work ethic drives the band to this day.
On album number eight, "The Wretched; The Ruinous", UNEARTH not merely continued to amp up their metal meets hardcore intensities, but they also exceed themselves with a record that incorporated elements of classic UNEARTH offerings dating back to 2004's "breakthrough" "The Oncoming Storm", while exploring beyond the recent back-to-basics promise of 2018's "Extinction(s)" . For UNEARTH's founding mainstays, Phipps and guitarist Buz McGrath, it feels like the beginning of a new chapter.
"The Wretched; The Ruinous" was a turning point moment for UNEARTH. It was the first album in their canon recorded without guitarist Ken Susi, who exited the band in 2022. | +2 | |
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14 июл 2024
STRYPER Announces New Album, 'When We Were Kings'
 Pioneering Christian metal band STRYPER will release a new studio album, "When We Were Kings", on September 13.
The LP's first single, "End Of Days", arrived in late June. A follow-up single, "Loves Symphony", will be made available on July 18.
"When We Were Kings" track listing:
01. End Of Days
02. Unforgivable
03. When We Were Kings
04. Betrayed By Love
05. Loves Symphony
06. Trinity
07. Rhyme Of Time
08. Raptured
09. Grateful
10. Divided By Design
11. Imperfect World
About "End Of Days", STRYPER said: "'End Of Days' is a heavy track musically and lyrically. It has a classic sound with a few modern twists and turns along the way. Lyrically, it's probably the most fitting message according to the times we are living in. It really does feel like the 'End Of Days' in many ways. We're not only a divided nation, we're a divided world. It's time to make things right."
STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour dates will begin this fall. After an appearance at the Alive Music Festival in July, tour dates kick off September 11 in Greenville, Tennessee and conclude November 16 in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
STRYPER's 40th-anniversary tour will be a celebration of both classic hits and new-era fan favorites, including outfit changes and an exciting new show production. In most cities, this will be a two-set "evening with"-style show.
In a recent interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet spoke about the musical direction of the band's recently completed follow-up to 2022's "The Final Battle" album. He said: "I think what it's always been in the past 10 years, 12 years. It's kind of similar to the last album and the album prior to that. But this album has some different twists and turns to it. And you have to hear it to understand that. When I was writing the songs, I wanted to make sure the choruses kind of went from — the verses might be in a minor chord, a little more on the darker side, and the choruses go to a major chord, a little bit more on the lighter side. Not lighter, but happier side— more major, melodic, more of an anthem, sing-along kind of thing. Then when it comes back to the verse, boom, it darkens up a little bit. You hear more of that kind of stuff."
Regarding the lyrical content on the upcoming STRYPER LP, Sweet, who is responsible for almost all of the songwriting in the band, said: "[There are] a couple of twists and turns. There's a song called 'Betrayed By Love'. It's a dark song, musically and lyrically. It's not a happy, typical STRYPER song that people might expect, like 'Honestly'. It's a song about being betrayed by someone you loved or love. And I think people will hear that and think, 'Oh, wow. This is different.' It's a great song. It's really cool. But there's little twists and turns here with the lyrics. The lyrics are a little different. And really cool. I can't wait for people to hear it."
This past March, Sweet wrote in an online post that he was "a little nervous" about his voice prior to the recording sessions for the new STRYPER album, "but in all sincerity, it seems fine to me," he said. "I didn't have any trouble tracking vocals and if anything, it seemed a little easier this time around.
"I have to say that this album has a very special signature," he added. "It has a heaviness yet at the same time, a very melodic approach and a bit more of a 'sing-along' style when it comes to the choruses. I'm really pleased with the results and I truly believe it will be at the top of everyone's 'best of' list. There are some stand out tracks to my ears already but I won't go into details quite yet. Bottom line, a KILLER new STRYPER album is coming!"
Last September, Michael said that he wanted "to branch out a bit" on the next STRYPER album "and try some new things and I also want to get back to some 'pop metal' on a few tracks as well."
In December, Sweet underwent partial thyroidectomy, the surgery to remove part of his thyroid gland. It is the most common surgery for thyroid cancer.
The follow-up to 2020's "Even The Devil Believes", "The Final Battle" was produced by Sweet and was once again recorded at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts.
Formed 41 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil" and the aforementioned "Even The Devil Believes" and "The Final Battle".
Michael is joined in STRYPER by his brother Robert Sweet (drums),Oz Fox (guitar) and Perry Richardson (bass).
STRYPER's "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" kicked off in late May. For the first time ever, the Christian rockers staged a full tour where they performed their hits and fan favorites acoustically.
Photo credit: Alex Solca Photography
Since this is already going around online, I thought I’d post it🤪
“When We Were Kings”
👊
You ready?
#heavy
#newmusic
#stryper
Posted by Michael Sweet on Thursday, July 11, 2024 | 0 | |
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14 июл 2024
ACCEPT's WOLF HOFFMANN: 'The Experience Of A Live Show Has As Much Value As, Or Maybe Even More Value Than, It Ever Did'
 In a new interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann was asked what the biggest changes have been in his 50 years of recording music and touring. He responded: "Oh my god. Yeah, the whole landscape has changed tremendously. If you think about it, when we started, there weren't so many bands and it was all about getting that record deal with a major label. And then the goal was always to sell millions of albums, if possible. And think about how much that all has changed; now it's all about digital downloads and streaming. So the way that we distribute music has changed completely, and how we consume music, too. But I'll tell you what hasn't changed — it's the touring aspect of things. It's really still very much like it always was. I mean, you pack your gear, you get the guys together and you travel to wherever you have to travel and you play your songs in front of an audience and that's pretty much like it always was. And that's great. I think the experience of a live show has as much value [as], or maybe even more value than, it ever did because of all the digitization, if that's even a word."
As previously reported, ACCEPT will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025-2026. To mark this mammoth milestone, the band will ring in the band's golden birthday with a very unique anniversary tour at the end of 2025. An anniversary album will be released early 2026.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary, ACCEPT is embarking on a spectacular world tour that will take fans on a musical metal journey through time. Fans can look forward to a unique stage show with surprise guests, all the classic hits from the band's history as well as rarely performed songs.
In spring 2026, ACCEPT will release a special album that covers the band's entire musical history. This anniversary album will contain a carefully curated selection of the best ACCEPT songs from the last five decades, re-recorded — partly with well-known surprise musical guests and colleagues, as well as with some rare tracks that have not been played so often before.
Over the past five decades, ACCEPT has sold millions of albums and inspired countless musicians. Their energetic live performances and iconic albums such as "Balls To The Wall", "Restless And Wild" and "Metal Heart" have left a lasting mark on the heavy metal genre. Hoffmann's guitar style and musical vision have made the band one of the most respected on the heavy metal scene.
After a hiatus in the band's career, Wolf was introduced to New Jersey singer Mark Tornillo in 2009. The chemistry and fit between them was so remarkable, ACCEPT reformed and almost immediately rose to global success with chart-topping albums. ACCEPT continues to be celebrated for each of their new records with Mark, who is now the longest-reigning frontman of ACCEPT, placing the Hoffmann-Tornillo partnership firmly in the Metal Hall Of Fame.
For decades, ACCEPT has been recognized as a guarantee of high quality and each of their albums has reached the top of the charts, delivering energy, melodies, killer riffs and an impressively powerful stage presence for 50 years.
ACCEPT's latest album, "Humanoid", was released on April 26 via Napalm Records. The LP was once again produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by critically acclaimed heavy metal producer Andy Sneap.
ACCEPT recently announced a massive European headline tour, with more than 20 shows across the continent for autumn 2024. This summer, ACCEPT will also return to some of the world's most important rock and metal festivals, like Wacken Open Air.
ACCEPT and KK'S PRIEST will join forces this fall 2024 for a North American tour. The 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.
In February 2022, it was announced that ACCEPT had inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.
Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original lead singer, Udo Dirkscheider. He can be heard on ACCEPT's last six studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017),2021's "Too Mean To Die" and 2024's "Humanoid". | +4 | |
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14 июл 2024
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14 июл 2024
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Soror Dolorosa
