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8 èþë 2024
JORDAN RUDESS On MIKE PORTNOY's Return To DREAM THEATER: 'In Many Ways It Feels Like We Never Lost A Beat'
 In a new interview with Serbia's Highwaystar Magazine, DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess was asked about the band's reunion with founding DT drummer Mike Portnoy, who rejoined the progressive metal titans last October after a 13-year absence. Jordan said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, it was so great to have him back. In many ways it feels like we never lost a beat. Because he was one of the ones who started this band, and he loves it so much, the welcoming process was really immediate and we're all so happy to kind of re-establish what we had. I mean, it feels like getting the core band together again."
Rudess also talked about DREAM THEATER's upcoming "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 - 2025". The trek — presented as "An Evening With Dream Theater" — is the first outing since Portnoy's return to the band. The European leg of DREAM THEATER's "40th Anniversary Tour 2024 - 2025" consists of stops in 23 cities, including in Zagreb, Croatia, and kicks off on October 20 and runs through November 24. Asked what fans can expect from the Zagreb show, Jordan said: "Well, it's gonna be a very, very exciting concert, as you know, because everybody's so excited about this reunion of all of us. And Mike will also have a lot to do with helping to pick the songs that we play in the setlist. That's one of his great talents, to decide things like that. And it'll be just a celebration. We're gonna play a bunch of songs from our catalog. We'll pick some ones that everybody really wants to hear. And, yeah, I think they can expect probably one of the most exciting DREAM THEATER shows that they've ever been to. I can almost guarantee it."
Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with guitarist John Petrucci and bassist John Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.
Mike Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On".
DREAM THEATER's upcoming sixteenth album, which is currently being recorded, will mark the progressive metal legends' first LP since Portnoy's return to the group.
Asked by Brazil's Marcelo Vieira and Matheus Ribeiro if DREAM THEATER's upcoming LP picks up from where the last DT album he played on, 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", left off or if it's a different thing entirely, Portnoy said: "If I'm being honest, I think it picks up right where 'Black Clouds' left off, to be honest. There's a certain style that the five of us have when we write together. And if you listen to the album with this lineup from 1999, '[Metropolis Pt. 2:] Scenes From A Memory', through 2009's 'Black Clouds & Silver Linings', if you look at that string of five or six albums, that's the sound and style of these five people. So I think that's a good indication of what you can expect with the new DREAM THEATER album. It definitely sounds like classic DREAM THEATER."
Last month, Portnoy told The Prog Report about the writing and recording sessions for DREAM THEATER's sixteenth studio album: "It's going great. The writing is done. My drum tracks are done. Guitars are done. So, this week we're in bass land. I'm home at the moment. So I'm kind of jumping back and forth between the studio as needed. I'm not there 100 percent of the time. But I'm gonna go back for keyboards in a few weeks and then we're gonna start the vocals, I think, next month."
He continued: "So, yeah, it's a long process. I haven't spent this much time making an album in a long time, because usually [Mike's other projects] NMB [NEAL MORSE BAND] or FLYING COLORS or whatever, you kind of get together, do the writing and the tracking, and everybody does it at home. But DREAM THEATER is still old school where the band is in the studio the whole time. And it's not like anybody's doing anything at home separately. We do it all together, coming in one at a time to work and record. So, yeah, it's a longer process than I've had in quite some time. But it's great… It's the old way. It's the way I always made records with DREAM THEATER. I just hadn't done it that way in so long, but it is good. And the process is really detailed this way. All these other bands and projects, everyone kind of just does their own thing on their own time at their own place. But this really gives a real unified kind of band vibe. Even a couple of weeks ago, James [LaBrie, DREAM THEATER singer] flew back out, came down from Japan and we spent time collaborating on vocal melodies, so lyrics can be written to those melodies, which is kind of the way the process is in DREAM THEATER. So, yeah, it's nice to just be a part of each one of these steps, like the old days. It's been a while since I made a record this way."
Portnoy went on to say that he "can't give away much details" about DREAM THEATER's next LP, "but we are all just really, really excited about it, really proud of it. And just can't wait to unleash some info, but I can't do that just yet," he added.
In April, DREAM THEATER singer James LaBrie was asked by Rolling Stone magazine why he and his bandmates wanted Portnoy to return. He said: "I think we had to return the band back to its strongest form." Petrucci added: "It wasn't one singular thing; it was sort of a series of life events that caused an organic conclusion. We all talked about it. It was like, 'Yeah, this makes sense right now.'" Keyboardist Jordan Rudess chimed in: "There's so many factors involved, and each of us has our particular relationships. And it was just a moment when everything seemed to come together, and we went, 'You know what? Let's do this. Now's the time.'" Myung concurred, saying: "It was a collective moment of certainty."
Asked if he was surprised when he was invited back into the band, Portnoy said: "Before the Covid pandemic, if you had asked me or any of these guys, 'Was a reunion in the cards?' I probably would've said I doubted that it could happen. I think if the lockdown hadn't happened, you guys probably would've been on tour, and I would've been on tour with one of my 48 bands. But once we were all locked down, John asked me to play on his solo album. Then, from there, Jordan, John, and myself did the LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT album. And then I did John's tour. So there were just these series of events of reconnecting us — not only on a musical level but also on a personal level for many years prior to that.
"All of our families are friends," he continued. "And my daughter and John's daughter shared an apartment together for many, many years. And John Myung lives right down the block from me, and his wife's at my house every night. There was just a series of events both personally and musically that started to feel like, 'Well, maybe this really is in the cards. Maybe this is the right time.'"
Asked if they see this reunion as healing a fractured band, Portnoy said: "I don't want to be over-philosophical about it, but as we're all getting older. Here we are in our 50s and 60s. You start to think of the reality of, 'How much time do we have left?' I would hate it if this were to become a Roger Waters-PINK FLOYD or Peter Gabriel-with-GENESIS situation where the fans want it, but it never happens."
Petrucci added: "When Mike left the band, it was traumatic for all of us. We had to figure out how we were going to move our career forward. And those years that went by, they were also healing years because you don't just have something like that happen, and all of a sudden, you're all best buddies a week later. There's some trauma there that had to heal. Thirteen years was enough time for that to happen and be, like, 'Hey, you know what, man? We love each other like we're brothers.'"
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8 èþë 2024
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES Release First Studio Recording With Ex-SLIPKNOT Drummer JAY WEINBERG
 U.S. thrash/hardcore punk legends SUICIDAL TENDENCIES have released a new single, "Nós Somos Família", a reworked version of their late 1990s song "We Are Family". The Portuguese-language rendition of the track brings together Brazilian artists Badauí (CPM22),B Negão (PLANET HEMP),João Gordo (RATOS DE PORÃO),Rodrigo Lima (DEAD FISH),Supla, Fernanda Lira (CRYPTA, ex-NERVOSA),Marcão Britto and Thiago Castanho (Charlie Brown Jr),in addition to world skateboarding champions Sandro Dias and Pedro Barros.
"Nós Somos Família" is the first SUICIDAL TENDENCIES studio recording to feature new drummer Jay Weinberg, a former member of SLIPKNOT who joined the Mike Muir-fronted outfit earlier this year. The song was recorded at Estúdio Central (formerly RedBull Station) in São Paulo, Brazil, and was executive produced by SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' longtime collaborator Alex Palaia. British producer Paul Northfield and Brazilian sound engineer Rico Manzano also participated in the project.
Regarding how "Nós Somos Família" came about, Muir told Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We'd always talked about like doing a song with some other people. And my friends got on the phone. We got Jay in the studio, recorded a track. I said, 'Let me talk to a few people.' They said, 'Who would you want me to talk to?' I mentioned a few people and got everybody in the studio recording on it. And it was just a great to see everybody on FaceTime or whatever doing it, how excited everybody was, how gracious they were with their time and everything. Amazing."
He continued: "I think when it comes to music, a lot of times people talk about travel and this and that and I always say, you see the side from a hotel room or driving down the road, but when people welcome you and you can go to places and feel at home and they welcome you in their homes and you meet their families and all that, that's an amazing feeling. And then on the music side, for some people to be on a song that you did, that's just something that I never would have dreamed of when it first started."
Elaborating on the challenges of bringing together so many different artists on one song, Muir said: "Well, a lot of it [came about] when I was down there talking to a lot of people, and people were, like, 'Oh, we should do a song,' or and we just kind of got talking about music and different things like that. And so, usually years ago or something, it would be very difficult. Everybody's got the labels they've gotta get signed off on and all those things. And now the beauty is if somebody wants to do something, they can do it pretty much. And fortunately, there's a lot of people that wanted to do it. And then the problem is people's schedules and getting a bunch of people and trying to find everybody's schedule that works out to get them in the studio at the same time. A lot of people had to do a lot of — we call it 'pretzel', twisting and changing schedules and this and that, which makes it even more appreciative that it happened because it isn't easy. And the more people you have, the harder it is and stuff. So it's just something that, yeah, like I said, I never would expect something like that to happen. And everybody just really went out of their way to make it as smooth as possible. And I think also, the other thing is, for me I don't understand Portuguese or whatever, but when I listen to it, you could you tell each person's kind of individuality or whatever and their distinctiveness, but it all works together. And I know sometimes when I've heard projects or whatever with different people, it doesn't sound right, it doesn't fit. And for me, I hear that and I go, this sounds amazing to me. It sounds really, really exciting and energetic. I love it."
During a press conference at last month's Hellfest in Clisson, France, Muir was asked if there are any plans for him and his SUICIDAL TENDENCIES bandmates to work on new music. He said: "When we did the last record [of all-new material], it was 'World Gone Mad' in 2016, I kind of said, it sounds bad, but I don't enjoy making records, because it's like full-on mental fuck to me and, then it's the time and the family and everything. It's difficult. But now having [guitarist] Ben [Weinman, guitar] in the band, [drummer] Jay in the band…. One of the first things Jay did after we did a couple shows, he's just, like, going, 'Dude, I wanna fucking make a record.' And the way he and Ben, they said it, they go, like… Ben was, like, 'When I was 12 years old and I heard SUICIDAL, it spoke to me. And other music, I heard a lot of music.' He goes, 'I wanna do a record like that.' And that's exactly what Jay said. Obviously, having [bassist] Tye [Trujillo], Robert's [Trujillo] a son in there, Robert's, like, 'Dude, you guys need to make a record. do that thing.' And so I think that we're definitely leaning towards doing it."
He continued: "We realized that a lot of people, with music, you look around and you see what's popular, what's trendy, and we go back to what was popular and trendy when we did our first record, and we didn't do any of that and all the reviews were terrible. And so we'll do a record that people probably will not like, and I will be very happy and stuff. But I think that years from now that people will sit there, and there'll be a lot of people that are not so much into trends or genres that'll go, like, 'That's a fucking really bad-ass record.' And so that's what I want to do. As I say, I like to like people, but I don't care if people like me. [Laughs] It makes my life easier."
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' latest album, "Still Cyco Punk After All These Years", was released in 2018 via Suicidal Records. A reworking of Muir's 1996 solo outing "Lost My Brain! (Once Again)", "Still Cyco Punk" featured founding SLAYER drummer Dave Lombardo.
Last year, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES celebrated the 40th anniversary of their debut album on a number of shows in the fall, including in New York City; Silver Spring, Maryland; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Berkeley, California. SUICIDAL TENDENCIES also celebrated the 40th anniversary of the LP on a tour of Australia.
The 2024 lineup of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES includes founding member Muir alongside guitarists Ben Weinman (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN) and Dean Pleasants, bassist Tye Trujillo (son of Robert Trujillo),as well as the band's latest addition, drummer Jay Weinberg.
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7 èþë 2024
CLOWN Has 'A Really, Really Spiritual Feeling' About SLIPKNOT's Next Album
 In a new interview with Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3, SLIPKNOT co-founder and percussionist M. Shawn Crahan (a.k.a. Clown) spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2022's "The End, So Far" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah. I mean, basically we're very fortunate right now. COVID did really kind of screw everything up. We were supporting [2019's] 'We Are Not Your Kind'. COVID hit, ended that cycle. We decided to write during that whole lockdown. We came out with 'The End, So Far'. This time, we're gonna go out and celebrate 25 years [of the release of SLIPKNOT's debut album] and kind of end 'The End, So Far'. And then yes, writing is very soon. And the good news is, like, we've reached a point where we've accomplished everything we wanted to try for ourselves. So we wanted to leave the book open to everything. And I think that we've really accomplished that. So now I think because of the lineup and where we're at and what we've done, I have a really, really spiritual feeling about this next one. So, I feel like it's gonna be — not that anyone has not liked or liked what we've done, I'm just saying I have a feeling this one is much needed for everybody. And I think it's gonna be widely accepted. So I'm very excited. Especially with Eloy [Casagrande, new SLIPKNOT drummer] being in the band and the other guys, there's a lot being brought to the table, and that is very, very exciting."
Crahan also once again talked about SLIPKNOT's plans to put out a set of 11 previously unreleased songs recorded by four members of the band during the sessions for its 2008 LP "All Hope Is Gone". Crahan originally revealed the existence of the music in 2018, saying that he, singer Corey Taylor, guitarist Jim Root and DJ Sid Wilson wrote and laid down the more psychedelic-flavored tunes at a separate studio during an impasse in the recording of "All Hope Is Gone".
"The only reason why it's not been out is because it's a timeless album," he explained. "It can be released 10 years ago, 10 years from now, today, so on and so forth. And the main reason, and this sounds like B.S., but this is the truth, every time we've gotten it to a place where we were gonna pull the trigger, life has thrown the band through a circumstance of some sorts. For instance, the artwork's done, the mixing is done, the mastering is done — it's all done. But we like to promote things so everyone gets that chance. And then what happens is something like COVID hits and then maybe someone in the band goes and does other things. So what we've gotta do is we've gotta put our attention to those things. And we're not trying to make 'Look Outside Your Window' that has to force things to stop, but other things are making it stop, 'cause we're not making it a priority. But I sort of put my foot down because I'm tired of hearing everybody — not the fans or yourself, but guys in the band that are on it. It's been so long now that they just laugh. And I laugh too, but I do believe we're gonna get it out this year. I don't see it as one of these things… It's not like we're gonna go tour it. That doesn't mean we won't play some shows; I don't know. But it's really just a gift for ourselves. So, I'd really like it. It is gonna come out. You have my word. There's no drama. It needs its right time. It needs its own space and not to share with anybody or anything else. So it has its due time in this reality. So that's all I can say."
One of the songs from "Look Outside Your Window", "'Til We Die", surfaced on the digipak of "All Hope Is Gone", but the rest have not been made available anywhere.
In 2019, Taylor described the material on "Look Outside Your Window" to SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" as "experimental," "super vibey" and "super melodic." He added: "There's something about those songs. They're very solemn, very energetic, very artistic. For people who are used to a certain way of SLIPKNOT sounding, this doesn't sound anything like that. It's much more of a rock vibe. Honestly, it's much more of a RADIOHEAD vibe, to be honest."
According to Taylor, the music that was recorded for "Look Outside Your Window" was originally supposed to be released simultaneously with the "All Hope Is Gone" tracks, but the plan never quite came together.
"Man, I tried like hell to make those two worlds come together — 'All Hope Is Gone' and 'Look Outside Your Window' — to the point where I was taking songs from both and kind of putting them together, like arrangement, sequencing," Corey told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". "I had two different versions of 'All Hope Is Gone' that I had put together with songs from that. And just honestly, because of the emotional rifts that were in the band, the turmoil that was going on, nobody wanted to try and make that work. So what we ended up with was 'All Hope Is Gone' and then this unreleased album, which we've been trying to find a way to release this for a really long time."
This past May, SLIPKNOT revealed that a new song "Long May You Die" was recorded during recent sessions with Casagrande.
In an interview with Brazil's Veja São Paulo, Eloy hinted that he and his new bandmates had worked on new material together, saying: "I think that was also part of the audition. They threw new ideas at me to see what my songwriting was like," he said. "They wanted to test me in every way."
However, Casagrande clarified that "I'm still trying to understand how the dynamics of the band work. It's not so clear yet how things work in terms of records and new songs. We've written a few things, and they're shelved for the time being.
"I don't think there's any pressure to record new material," he added. "But I'm sure they want to, I don't know when, because right now the band is focused on celebrating its 25th anniversary."
SLIPKNOT has played a handful of shows so far with Casagrande, including on April 25 at Pappy + Harriet's in Pioneertown, California, April 27 at Sick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada and May 12 at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida.
For all the gigs so far in 2024, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer four months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."
The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.
Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.
Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA nearly five months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.
Casagrande joined SEPULTURA nearly 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.
"The End, So Far" arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.
SLIPKNOT recently announced the North American portion of the "Here Comes The Pain" tour. In addition to the already announced dates across the globe, the "Here Comes The Pain" tour, produced by Live Nation, includes arena plays nationwide this summer. Highlights include New York City's Madison Square Garden, Los Angeles's Intuit Dome, Austin's Moody Center and more with direct support from Kentucky's young and vibrant hardcore/metal forerunners KNOCKED LOOSE. ORBIT CULTURE and VENDED are confirmed as support on select dates.
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7 èþë 2024
LARS ERIC MATTSSON Releases "Feel" Single And Music Video
 Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson has released his emotional new single, "Feel". a classic rock/melodic hard rock uptempo song about longing for genuine love and happiness.
Stream the single here, and watch a video below:
Mattsson previously released the single and music video, "Burn". Watch the clip below: | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
WE ARE THE CATALYST Release New Single "My Dreams Are Killing Me"; Audio
 Sweden-based genre-defying rock act, We Are The Catalyst, have released their new single, “My Dreams Are Killing Me”, a soul bearing song about not giving up on your dreams, being driven by passion, - even when it is destroying you and becomes self-destructive. The song is both a statement about never giving up, while at the same time addressing the self-destructive parts of being in a creative industry.
"For some reason these past few months the realization that it might not get any better than this, reflecting on choices we made in our musical career, obstacles, expectations and dissapointments, I just started to feel old," says the band's Kenny Boufadene. "Having spent so many years following a dream and not quite reaching where you feel you want to be, and not stoppping to really reflect, I think it becomes inevitable that you reach a point where it starts getting to you. While at the same time knowing that you will never stop, as it also keeps you alive when you feel so strongly about something and finding strength and life force there. It´s an odd thing. And I think it´s important that we dare talk about the dark sides of passions as they can easily turn dark and self-destructive.”
Themes of mental health is not something new for We Are The Catalyst, having been openly talking about such issues for many years, both in lyrics and officially.
“My Dreams Are Killing Me” is out now and can be found on all major streaming sites and e-stores. Listen on Spotify, and below:
With a trailblazing attitude and relentless work ethic, and with several successful tours and festivals in Europe and Asia under their belt, We Are The Catalyst has with their unique fusion of futuristic cinematic atmospheres and an explosive genre-defying rock sound proven time and again since their inception in 2012 that they are a force to be reckoned with.
Amounting to over 17 million streams and views online, and thousands of songs sold since the start, combining elements of rock, metal, pop, electronics, alternative rock and cinematic soundtracks, their sound is a genre all its own. | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
PATRIARCHS IN BLACK Feat. HADES, TYPE O NEGATIVE Members Share Lyric Video For New Single "A Few Good Men"
 "A Few Good Men" is the third single and the fastest song from the upcoming Patriarchs In Black album, Visioning. Watch a lyric video below.
Says the band: "'A Few Good Men' is a tribute to the small group of true friends we have in our lives who are there for us in the most important moments. It's a commentary on the fair-weather friends that camaraderie is easy in good times, but with time you realize that only true friends are there when it counts. Time does not lie!"
Visioning will be released on July 19 as CD, Vinyl and digitally and can be pre-ordered here.
Tracklisting:
"Entry"
"What Do They Know? (For The Champions)"
"Before I Go"
"Heart Of Spite"
"Low Price"
"Welcome To Hell Again"
"Whiskey On My Mind"
"Empty Cup"
"Curse My Name"
"A Few Good Men"
"Birth"
"Visioning"
"Welcome To Hell Again" lyric video:
"What Do They Know? (For The Champions)": | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
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7 èþë 2024
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7 èþë 2024
CARMINE APPICE: 'I Will Never, Ever Play A Song On SPOTIFY'
 Legendary drummer Carmine Appice, who is promoting the new CACTUS album, "Temple of Blues - Influences & Friends", has told the Toilet Ov Hell podcast that he is not a big fan of the access-over-ownership business model of streaming music.
"Keep pushing this album," he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "That's what we need. And keep telling people to buy it and don't Spotify it. Buy it on iTunes. Buy it on Amazon. Because musicians get screwed on Spotify.
"I will never, ever play a song on Spotify," Carmine added. "If I want a song, I'll buy it on iTunes. I did it already a few times. I heard a song — on YouTube, I heard it, and I said, 'I'm gonna buy that.' And I bought it. And I heard another one and I bought it. That's the way to do it, 'cause that keeps the musician alive and making money and working. Otherwise, the only way a musician can make any work or money is to tour and do touring and merchandise. Lucky for me, knock on wood, I started a long time ago. All my big money was made. And I used it and made investments, so I'm sitting okay. But a lot of musicians are starting on Spotify. And they once said, 'Well, Spotify is like radio.' I said, 'No, it isn't. Radio, you get paid for it.'"
A year and a half ago, Carmine, who worked as Rod Stewart's kit-man in the 1970s and 1980s, co-writing Stewart hits "Young Turks" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy", spoke to the "Music Biz Weekly Podcast" about his decision to sell his songwriter share of some of his most popular songs. He said: "There's no money in songwriting anymore. There's no money in selling records. I've got all these gold records on the wall; nobody gets those anymore. And that's how you make money.
"The only way to make any money today is if you get a song on Netflix or you get a song in a movie," he explained. "That's the only way to get money. 'Cause the streaming business is ridiculously useless.
"The reason why I sold my songs was because there's no more royalties; they're very little. Because everything went to streaming, and streaming destroyed the music business, as far as I'm concerned. I won't even listen to Spotify or any of those things; I won't listen to 'em 'cause they're ripping the musicians off so bad. When you talk about young musicians, they have no chance — unless they somehow know how to get all these hits on YouTube. I don't know how to do that."
Later in the interview, Carmine reiterated his belief that he wouldn't know how to go about making money if he was starting out as a musician today. "I don't know how these bands come out and they get two million views on YouTube, or they get four hundred thousand people on Facebook and Instagram," he said. "I don't really know that stuff; I don't have a clue how to do that. So they probably know how to do that better than me. But still, when they do that, the only money [that] could be made from that is going out on tour and playing gigs and [selling] merchandise. Even if you don't have a bigger name, you open up for somebody, you do merchandise and you make some money. And you get big, and it's all about touring and merchandise. You get crappy money from Spotify. And the labels, they don't sell CDs anymore. They might sell a little vinyl, but there's no money in it."
Appice is the original drummer of VANILLA FUDGE, with whom he still records and performs today. He has also played with CACTUS and BECK, BOGERT & APPICE, in addition to spending stints in the bands of Ozzy Osbourne and Stewart. Carmine was named the 28th greatest drummer of all time by Rolling Stone magazine.
Appice is widely considered to be one of the most accomplished showmen in rock and is the recipient of numerous awards, including dozens of gold- and platinum-selling records. Carmine has broken new ground in every aspect of his career as a performer, as a teacher, and as a writer, and he continues to inspire drummers and listeners throughout the world with his originality and his unwavering dedication to the art of drumming.
Carmine's autobiography, "Stick It!: My Life Of Sex, Drums, And Rock 'N' Roll", was released in May 2016 by Chicago Review Press.
Under the moniker APPICE, Carmine and his brother Vinny released "Sinister", their first joint studio album, in October 2017 through SPV/Steamhammer.
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7 èþë 2024
EDDIE VAN HALEN's Canadian-Flag Guitar To Be Auctioned
 Julien's Auctions' bi-annual "Played, Worn, & Torn: Rock 'N' Roll Iconic Guitars" auction is once again set to feature some incredible guitars and music artifacts from your favorite artists — and this time around the Beverly Hills, California-based auction house is highlighting one piece of rock and roll history that has remained absent from the world for three decades.
For rock music aficionados, a recently unearthed piece of memorabilia adds a unique layer to this national holiday's history: a 1993 Ernie Ball Music Man Eddie Van Halen Signature guitar, emblazoned with the Canadian flag, played by the legendary guitarist himself during a Canada Day concert.
The guitar, unseen for 31 years, has resurfaced, igniting a wave of nostalgia and curiosity. Its backstory is as vibrant as its red and white paint job. Crafted in March 1993, the guitar, initially listed as "Guitar Van Halen Purple Translucent," may have undergone a transformation before its patriotic makeover. The maple neck, basswood body, and signature DiMarzio humbuckers remain a testament to Eddie Van Halen's meticulous style and eye for craftsmanship.
The guitar's significance, however, transcends its technical specifications. On July 1, 1993, Van Halen took to the stage at Molson Park in Barrie, Ontario, for a Canada Day concert. As the encore approached, he unveiled the Canadian Flag guitar — a surprise for the audience and a tribute to the nation. The encore, featuring iconic songs like "Jump", "You Really Got Me" and "Rockin' In The Free World", became a historic moment in both VAN HALEN's legacy and Canada Day celebrations.
Footage of the concert (see below),though grainy and low quality, captures the guitar's brief but impactful appearance. Eddie, bathed in stage light, can be seen wielding the instrument with his characteristic flair. The images, along with the recently discovered guitar, offer a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of rock history.
The guitar's whereabouts for the past three decades remain a mystery. Its re-emergence, complete with a black hardshell case, a concert ticket, and photographs of the performance, is a treasure trove for collectors and fans alike. The instrument's journey, from the factory floor to the stage to a hidden corner of rock and roll history, speaks volumes about the enduring power of music and its ability to create lasting memories.
While the reasons behind Eddie Van Halen's choice to play a Canadian Flag guitar on Canada Day remain a subject of speculation, the gesture itself is a testament to the musician's connection with his audience and his appreciation for the country. The guitar represents a tangible link between a rock legend and a national holiday, a symbol of cultural exchange and mutual admiration.
Eddie sadly passed away in 2020 due to complications from throat cancer. His musical legacy, lives on. To honor his memory and continue his fight against cancer, proceeds from the auction of this iconic Canadian Flag guitar will benefit the City Of Hope, a leading research and treatment center for cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
For more information, visit JuliensAuctions.com.
Photo courtesy of Julien's Auctions
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7 èþë 2024
Watch AC/DC's Entire Concert In London During Spring/Summer 2024 'Power Up' European Tour
 Fan-filmed video of AC/DC's entire July 3 concert at Wembley Stadium in London, England can be seen below (courtesy of the Room Of Mirrors (ROM) YouTube channel).
The setlist for the show was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:
01. If You Want Blood (You've Got It)
02. Back In Black
03. Demon Fire
04. Shot Down In Flames
05. Thunderstruck
06. Have A Drink On Me
07. Hells Bells
08. Shot In The Dark
09. Stiff Upper Lip
10. Shoot To Thrill
11. Sin City
12. Rock 'N' Roll Train
13. Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap
14. High Voltage
15. Riff Raff
16. You Shook Me All Night Long
17. Highway To Hell
18. Whole Lotta Rosie
19. Let There Be Rock
Encore:
20. T.N.T.
21. For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)
The "Power Up" European tour marks AC/DC's first with the band's new touring lineup consisting of singer Brian Johnson, guitarists Angus and Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and the latest addition to the group's touring lineup, bassist Chris Chaney.
The 24-date trek will run through August. The trek will make another stop at London's Wembley Stadium on July 7, then moving on to Germany, Slovakia and Paris and winding down at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland. The European tour is the first run of gigs since AC/DC's return to the stage at last year's rock Power Trip festival in Indio, California.
AC/DC's last tour took place in 2015 and 2016 and had a $180 million gross, with 2,310,061 sold tickets reported to the Pollstar box office.
Laug is an American drummer who has played with many bands/artists such as Alanis Morissette, Alice Cooper, SLASH'S SNAKEPIT and Vasco Rossi. Matt moved to Los Angeles after graduating from South Florence High School in 1986 and after attending college in L.A., Matt became a sought-after studio drummer.
In 2001, Laug supported AC/DC as part of SLASH'S SNAKEPIT on the North American and European legs of the "Stiff Upper Lip" tour.
In its announcement about Laug's addition to the band's Power Trip lineup, AC/DC offered no explanation for the absence of the band's longtime drummer Phil Rudd, who rejoined AC/DC for the recording of the group's comeback album, "Power Up", which came out in November 2020.
Rudd was ousted from AC/DC when he was sentenced to eight months of home detention by a New Zealand court in 2015 after pleading guilty to charges of threatening to kill and drug possession. He was replaced on the band's "Rock Or Bust" tour by Chris Slade, who had previously served as AC/DC's drummer between 1989 and 1994, playing on the album "The Razor's Edge".
Rudd, who appeared on all but three of AC/DC's 18 previous studio albums, toured in support of his 2014 solo debut, "Head Job". It was the release of that album that led indirectly to Rudd's arrest, with the drummer allegedly so angry at a personal assistant over the way the record was promoted that he threatened to have the man and his daughter killed.
AC/DC postponed the last 10 dates of its spring 2016 North American trek after Johnson was advised to stop playing live or "risk total hearing loss." The band went on to complete the European and North American legs of its "Rock Or Bust" tour with GUNS N' ROSES frontman Axl Rose as a "guest vocalist." At the time, Johnson had been AC/DC's singer for 36 years, ever since replacing the late Bon Scott in 1980 and making his debut on the classic "Back In Black" album.
To enable him to perform live with AC/DC again, the now-76-year-old Johnson worked with audio expert Stephen Ambrose, who said he could help resolve the singer's hearing problems.
Ambrose, who invented the wireless in-ear monitors that are widely used by touring artists today, claimed to have invented a new type of ear-bud that would allow Johnson to perform without causing further damage to his eardrums. After three years of experimenting and "miniaturizing" the equipment, Johnson previously said the technology could allow him to tour again.
Chaney is best known as the bassist of JANE'S ADDICTION and as a member of Alanis Morissette's touring and recording band. Chaney was also a member of TAYLOR HAWKINS AND THE COATTAIL RIDERS and CAMP FREDDY, as well as being a prolific and versatile session musician, having played with artists including Joe Cocker, Shakira, Slash and Avril Lavigne to Sara Bareilles, Gavin Degraw, Cher, SHINEDOWN and Celine Dion. Chaney is also a founding member and partner in the all-star supergroup ROYAL MACHINES along with Dave Navarro (JANE'S ADDICTION),Mark McGrath (SUGAR RAY),Josh Freese (FOO FIGHTERS) and Billy Morrison (BILLY IDOL).
Bassist Cliff Williams announced his retirement at the end of AC/DC's 2015-2016 "Rock Or Bust" tour, which also saw Johnson leaving. However, Williams — and Johnson — took part in the recording sessions that resulted in "Power Up". Both of them were also part of the AC/DC lineup that performed at Power Trip.
During an October 2020 interview with Dean Delray's "Let There Be Talk" podcast, Cliff was asked if Johnson's departure from the road was what led to his desire to stop touring. Cliff responded: "It was before then. I spoke to Angus about it initially. I was at a point — and this is at the beginning of the 'Rock Or Bust' tour — that I just felt, for me, it was time to hang it up. I knew that I didn't wanna keep doing these two-year tours, and I didn't wanna hold them back, so I made them aware of the fact that this was gonna be my last go-round. It was a tough tour to finish. God bless Axl for coming in and helping us out, finish it up. He did a great job. And at the end of that, I was definitely — that was it for me. Done — just done. That compounded the whole thing."
According to Williams, he wanted to take part in the recording sessions for "Power Up" as a tribute to Angus's late brother, founding AC/DC rhythm guitarist Malcolm Young, who died in 2017 from effects of dementia at age 64. Malcolm is credited as a writer on all 12 tracks on "Power Up".
"If 'Back In Black' has [late AC/DC singer] Bon Scott all over it, for me, 'Power Up' has got Malcolm Young," Cliff said. "This is for him. And it's the band that we played together with for 40-plus years. And I wanted to do that — I wanted to come back and do that.
"We did some rehearsals earlier [in 2020] before this darn COVID thing popped up, and we had great rehearsals," he continued. "The band was playing really well. So [they asked me], 'Do you wanna do a few shows? 'Sure'. A few shows. We were planning on doing that. Everyone goes home to their respective homes, and bang, we've been here ever since [because of the coronavirus-related shutdown]."
Cliff went on to confirm that his commitment to AC/DC was only for "a few" dates in support of "Power Up".
"For both [my mental and physical] health," he said. "I definitely have some physical issues, which I won't bore you with the details of. But, yeah, it's tough. I'm very grateful for everything. It's been fantastic. But I just don't wanna do that anymore."
Williams previously revealed that a "terrible" bout with vertigo contributed to his 2016 retirement. He also admitted the return of both Johnson and drummer Phil Rudd convinced him to rejoin the group. "It was like the old band back together," he told Rolling Stone. "It was not like starting over again, but as close to the band that's been together for 40-plus years as we can possibly make it. I didn't want to miss that."
The follow-up to 2014's "Rock Or Bust", "Power Up" was recorded over a six-week period in August and September 2018 at Warehouse Studios in Vancouver with producer Brendan O'Brien, who also worked 2008's "Black Ice" and "Rock Or Bust". | +5 | |
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7 èþë 2024
Watch: GEORGE LYNCH Joins STEPHEN PEARCY For Performance Of RATT's 'Round And Round' At BAY CITY FIREWORKS FESTIVAL
 Legendary guitarist George Lynch (DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB) joined Stephen Pearcy on stage during the RATT singer's July 5 concert at the Bay City Fireworks Festival in Bay City, Michigan to perform the RATT classic "Round And Round".
Stephen has since shared video of Lynch's appearance, and wrote in a description accompanying the YouTube release of the clip: "After a sudden thunderstorm during the George Lynch set, the Bay City Fireworks Festival was ready to cancel headliner & birthday boy Stephen Pearcy due to safety concerns. FLASH FLOODS and terrencial downpour blew through the Festival for aprox 1 hour. Then suddenly, the clouds cleared just in time for Stephen's 8pm set, and what started as an almost canceled show ended up being an 80's reunion for 2 of the eras' biggest names. The Stephen Pearcy Birthday Bash and The Bay City Fireworks Festival ended its 2-day event with a Bang and a Night to Remember for 80's fans everywhere!"
In a 2019 interview with Waste Some Time With Jason Green, George confirmed that he had received an offer to play with RATT in 2018 following Warren DeMartini's most recent departure from the group. "We were talking about it," he said. "But they wanted a hired-gun guy that was working for a not-great salary. And I'm not that guy. I've never been a hired-gun guy. If you want me, I'll be part of the band and I will write songs and I will be an integral part — one of the big cogs in the wheel — but if you want a hired gun, I'm sure you can get somebody to do that. But that's not me. And that's where it fell apart. The guy they got" apparently referring to Jordan Ziff — "is unbelievable. I've played gigs with this guy. He's fucking amazing."
Lynch went on to say that he thinks he would have made for a respectable replacement for DeMartini, who had a short stint with DOKKEN in the early 1990s when Lynch was out of the band. "It would have worked, I think — outside of personalities and politics of being in that band, 'cause they're probably worse than DOKKEN [when it comes to internal] issues," George said. "So that's something I probably wouldn't have enjoyed and wanted to get involved in. But if it was a clean situation where it didn't have a bunch of drama… Musically, I'm very confident I would have been a good fit. [Warren and I] have similar styles, obviously, and kind of come from the same place. I get what he's doing. We go for kind of the same tone. I think it would have worked in a way. It would have been a little different, but it would have been a decent fit, I think."
Pearcy and bassist Juan Croucier were the sole remaining original members in RATT's most recent lineup, which made its live debut in July 2018 in Mulvane, Kansas.
RATT — featuring Pearcy, Croucier and DeMartini — played a number of shows in 2017 after reforming a year earlier in the midst of a highly publicized legal battle with drummer Bobby Blotzer over the rights to the RATT name. They were joined at the gigs by guitarist Carlos Cavazo, who played on 2010's "Infestation" album, and drummer Jimmy DeGrasso, who previously played with Y&T, WHITE LION and MEGADETH, among others.
Today’s the day for Stephen Pearcy wsg Lynch Mob. The Bay City Fireworks Festival will be selling GENERAL ADMISSION...
Posted by The Bay City Fireworks Festival on Friday, July 5, 2024 | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
EXCEL's 'Long-Lost' Album 'Seeking Refuge' To Be Re-Released
 From the dark alleys and dead ends of Los Angeles, EXCEL have been delivering maximum crossover since crossover first crossed over. Their classic albums "Split Image" (1987) and "The Joke's On You" (1989) remain linchpins of the genre decades after their release. The band continues to pack venues across the globe and appear at European festivals. On July 19, fans will have a chance to hear EXCEL's long-lost album.
Originally released in 1995 while grunge dominated airwaves and MTV, "Seeking Refuge" offers a glimpse at an EXCEL many have never heard before. Out of print for decades, "Seeking Refuge" will finally get its due, complete with a guest shot from H.R. of BAD BRAINS (on "Take Your Part Gotta Encourage") and a video starring Tony Alva for the anthemic single "Unenslaved".
"A lot of people who know EXCEL don't necessarily know about this record," bassist Shaun Ross explains. "It's been out of print since '95, and it was just kind of forgotten."
At the time that "Seeking Refuge" was recorded, Ross was working for Fuct streetwear and living in their warehouse. "One of the owners had a friend who knew H.R. from BAD BRAINS, and they just dropped him off at the studio," the bassist recalls. "He ended up living with me for the better part of the year in the Fuct warehouse. It was a crazy time." (As a result of H.R.'s appearance on "Seeking Refuge", Dan and Shaun would soon witness firsthand the reunification of the BAD BRAINS.)
H.R. makes a guest appearance on "Take Your Part Gotta Encourage" while EXCEL incorporate elements of rock, funk, and grunge on tracks like "Plastic Cracks" and "Drowned Out". For lead single "Unenslaved", they hit a hallowed Dogtown landmark to shoot a video starring skate pioneer Tony Alva. They re-emptied the Gonzales Pool, a.k.a. Gonzo Pool, where some of Alva's most famous moments had been captured in the movie "Thrasher".
Produced by Ron Champagne (JANE'S ADDICTION, ALICE IN CHAINS),"Seeking Refuge" didn't fit into any of heavy music's prefab categories circa '95. "We didn't get a great response," Ross recalls. "Between '90 and '95, the market for thrash and even punk kinda died with grunge becoming so popular. And we didn't use our original logo, which in retrospect was a big deal because it didn't look like an EXCEL record. We fixed that for the reissue."
In late 2023, Ross and Clements welcomed two new members to the EXCEL family: Greg Cerwonka of Chula Vista thrashers TAKE OFFENSE will take over on guitar, while Damon DeLaPaz of pop punk vets FENIX TX will handle drums.
"We've already started writing," Ross enthuses. "The goal is to record in 2024 and have a new album out by 2025."
EXCEL's "Seeking Refuge" was reissued by Southern Lord for Record Store Day 2024 and sold out. It will be available on red vinyl and on all digital platforms via Southern Lord, Southern Lord EU and Bandcamp.
"Seeking Refuse" track listing:
01. Unenslaved
02. Hair Like Christ
03. Plastic Cracks
04. Take Your Part Gotta Encourage
05. Drowned Out
06. United Naturally in True Youth
07. Riptide
08. Overview
09. Downpressor
New Year's Day, 1985: Venice crossover upstarts CHAOTIC NOISE change their name to EXCEL after vocalist Dan Clements and guitarist Adam Siegel recruit bassist Shaun Ross and drummer Greg Saenz to join the band. Clements is working for SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' merchandising company, Triple M and Dogtown Skateboards, when ST frontman Mike Muir invites EXCEL to appear on the soon-to-be-legendary "Welcome To Venice" compilation alongside NO MERCY, BEOWÜLF, LOS CYCOS and ST themselves.
"Welcome To Venice" put EXCEL on the map.
"The early '80s bands that were popular in L.A. were kind of falling off around this time," Ross says. "We walked into the perfect window of opportunity with punk/metal crossover becoming a thing. The first wave of hardcore bands were already established, and then we stepped in and came up locally pretty quick."
EXCEL's early demos, "Personal Onslaught" (1985) and "Refuse To Quit" (1986),were, along with an appearance on Thrasher magazine's "Born To Skate (Skate Rock 5)" (1987),already circulating among those tapped into the thriving speed metal underground. Pushead reviewed them for Maximum Rock N' Roll, giving EXCEL instant cred.
Muir went on to release EXCEL's full-length debut, "Split Image", on ST's own Suicidal Records. Hitting like a fist to the face in '87, the album was produced by studio overlord Randy Burns, who'd helmed game-changers like POSSESSED's "Seven Churches", DEATH's "Scream Bloody Gore" and SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' self-titled debut.
"Randy produced a lot of stuff we grew up listening to, so that was a big deal for us," Ross recalls. "He made us sound good."
They started writing their next album immediately after "Split Image" came out. Titled "The Joke's On You", it added new dimensions to EXCEL's signature sound.
"With 'The Joke's On You', we had more influences," Ross explains. "We were able to hone in on our own thing. We came up with weird time changes without making it fusion-y. We were also influenced by bands like JANE'S ADDICTION and FAITH NO MORE, but we were still coming from the punk/hardcore side. We were also graffiti artists that listened to hip-hop. I think our lifestyle and our influences all came together on that album."
Released by Caroline Records in 1989, "The Joke's On You" put EXCEL on the international stage. They toured the U.S. and Europe with the likes of MEGADETH, OVERKILL, VIO-LENCE and DARK ANGEL while becoming reliable attendance boosters for major California promoters.
"We could play metal shows and punk shows — we were very versatile in that way," Ross says. "If Goldenvoice wasn't selling enough tickets for a particular show, they'd just put us on the bill."
In 1992, Siegel and Saenz left the band. At the same time, Clements's and Ross's tastes were evolving. Both changes became evident on "Seeking Refuge".
"Dan and I had to find a new lineup and write a new album, but the drummer we hired couldn't play fast so the album ended up being all midtempo," Ross explains. "At the same time, grunge happened between '90 and '92, plus we were hearing bands like KYUSS and SLEEP, and we'd been doing hardcore forever. We just kinda wanted to do something different. I think it's a very '90s record, but it still sounds like EXCEL."
Photo credit: Becky DiGiglio | +1 | |
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7 èþë 2024
Watch: MYLES KENNEDY Performs Acoustic Set For WRIF Radio Station
 Video of Myles Kennedy's June 28 acoustic performance at Oak City Grille in Royal Oak, Michigan for Detroit's WRIF radio station can be seen below.
Featured songs:
00:00 - Intro / Interview
01:41 - Devil On The Wall
05:56 - Interview
08:11 - Say What You Will
12:01 - Interview
13:54 - Year Of The Tiger
18:21 - Interview
20:20 - Addicted To Pain (ALTER BRIDGE cover)
In a recent interview with the I-Rock 93.5 radio station, Myles — known for his work with rockers ALTER BRIDGE and SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS — spoke about his upcoming third solo album, "The Art Of Letting Go". The LP marks the return of Myles, backed by his band comprised of Zia Uddin on drums and Tim Tournier on bass. The album is scheduled for release via longtime label home Napalm Records on October 11, 2024, and is available for pre-order in multiple configurations.
Regarding the lyrical themes covered on "The Art Of Letting Go", Myles told I-Rock 93.5: "The first two solo records were, they were kind of concept records. The first, 'Year Of The Tiger' [2018], was a record kind of dealing with the loss of my father as a child. And then the second record, 'The Ides Of March' [2021], was dealing with kind of the state of the world about three years ago. But with this record, I wanted it to be a collection of songs and with a narrative that shifted from song to song. I really like that, because then for one thing there were a handful of tunes I had sitting around for a few years that just didn't have a home and didn't fit the storyline. So I was, like, 'Oh, I can pull that now and use that in this batch of tunes.' But it also just made it so that… I feel like because it's more of a riff-based record, it's more about the intensity of the music. I didn't feel like it lived or died as much by the narrative of the lyric. So it's really about just making a compelling riff and a good vocal melody first and then filling in the blanks with the words. But with that said, I never phone it. I'm not the guy who's like… I hear these stories about really good songwriters who are, like, 'Yeah, he sat in his truck for 20 minutes before he had to cut the vocal and wrote the lyrics.' I'm, like, I'm not that guy. I will obsess and rewrite and re-edit. 'Cause I have to know that if I'm gonna sing and I'm going to go tour it that I'm believing it night after night that it's honest. And I'm happy with the cadence and the rhymes and it's not just a bunch of hoo ha ha."
From the opening guitar riff of the title track "The Art Of Letting Go" to the haunting melody of album closer "How The Story Ends", Myles Kennedy is back with a collection of songs that is sure to cater to old and new fans alike. Songs like "Mr. Downside", "Miss You When You're Gone" and "Saving Face" showcase the memorable storytelling that has become synonymous throughout all of Myles's projects. The debut single — currently impacting radio around the globe — is the upbeat rocker "Say What You Will". The song is now available via all DSPs.
The "Say What You Will" music video was directed by Gordy De St Jeor (MAMMOTH WVH) and tells the story of a bullied and timid student who breaks out of her shell with the help of a teacher, janitor and lunch person portrayed by Kennedy, Uddin and Tournier in the school talent show.
The track listing for "The Art Of Letting Go" is:
01. The Art Of Letting Go
02. Say What You Will
03. Mr. Downside
04. Miss You When You're Gone
05. Behind The Veil
06. Saving Face
07. Eternal Lullaby
08. Nothing More To Gain
09. Dead To Rights
10. How The Story Ends
To celebrate the release of "The Art Of Letting Go", Myles Kennedy and his trio will be hitting the road in support of the new album. A six-date U.K. run with support from Devin Townsend recently went on sale for November and December. Twenty more newly announced dates are being added to "The Art Of Letting Go" tour 2024 all across Europe starting in October. The additional European dates will feature support from BLACK RIVER DELTA and CARDINAL BLACK. The band will also be bringing the tour to North America with dates set for January and February 2025. The 2025 dates will feature special guest Tim Montana.
As a prolific songwriter, powerhouse vocalist, and proficient guitar player, Kennedy tunes into the rhythm of his surroundings and goes with the flow. Fronting ALTER BRIDGE, his soaring vocals, open-hearted lyrics, and airtight riffs have fueled the group's global impact as a gold-certified, arena-filling force of nature over two decades-plus. On the microphone for SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY & THE CONSPIRATORS, his towering range has consistently stunned audiences since 2010. Becoming a celebrated collaborator, he's the rare presence just as comfortable on a track with DISTURBED, HALESTORM and SEVENDUST as he is with GOV'T MULE and Darryl "DMC" McDaniels. It's why he's generated over one billion cumulative streams, earned gold and platinum certifications worldwide, uplifted countless fans, and Kerrang! christened him "one of rock's finest vocalists." It's also why he's carved out his own lane. 2021 saw him deliver his acclaimed sophomore opus, "The Ides Of March". It impressively notched a total of four No. 1 debuts across three countries, toppling the Billboard U.S. Top Current Hard Music chart, the U.K. Official Rock & Metal chart and Official Independent Album chart, and Canada's Hard Music Albums chart. Beyond generating 10 million-plus streams, it incited unanimous critical applause from American Songwriter, Guitar.com, Loudwire, Guitar World and more. RIFF hailed it as "a fantastic and must-listen record," while Classic Rock magazine awarded it "4.5 out of 5 stars," going on to attest, "'The Ides Of March' confirms Myles Kennedy as a musical powerhouse." | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
METALLICA Shares 'Whiplash' Pro-Shot Video From Oslo Stop Of 'M72' Tour
 Professionally filmed video of METALLICA performing the song "Whiplash" on June 26 at the Tons Of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway during the 2024 leg of the band's "M72" tour can be seen below.
In support of METALLICA's latest album, "72 Seasons", the band has been playing two-night, no-repeat shows in each city— first in Europe , then in North America and now back in Europe — as part of the "M72" tour. Each concert sees METALLICA performing on a massive ring-shaped stage, with the Snake Pit in the center, and four drum sets which are equally spaced out around the circular stage so drummer Lars Ulrich can get closer to the audience at various points in the show.
METALLICA frontman James Hetfield spoke about his mindset going into the 2024 leg of "M72", telling "The Metallica Report": "What I'm going into is unknown. I know how big the stage is. I know we have breaks here and there. I know what we're walking into. When we first started with this, with the 'M72' stage, in the round in the stadium, from between setting up cones, walking around thinking, 'Oh, this is how big the stage is gonna be.' 'Oh, this is cool.' 'This'll be great.' 'This is too skinny,' and this and that. And then, between that time and then actually seeing it built, where it's kind of too late, 'Oh shit, this thing is so big.' The anxiety level was off the charts at the beginning of the 'M72' tour. Like, how are we gonna cover this stage? And, of course, my ego saying, 'Well, the other guys don't have to sing. They don't have to run over there. They don't have to do all this. And no one knows the woes I have and all the worries.' But as soon as I share them with the other guys, they're, like, 'Yeah, but I got this and I got this.' It's like, 'Oh, okay. Okay. I want mine back. That's okay.' So it's a known. We know what we're up against and we know what shape we need to be in. And it's just fun. Now it's just fun. We broke that stage in. It's well trodden on and it's worked fantastically. And so we just get to step back into it and do what we do best."
Asked if there have been any modifications to the "M72" stage at all since the 2023 shows, Hetfield said: "There have been a few things here and there that have changed — extra microphones, whatever monitors that we need. And that's typical on any stage, though. The lighting tends to show things that you don't see before: 'Yeah, we need to drape that off' or whatever it may be, just things to make it better. Just like anything we do, you wanna improve on it. So that that was the first couple months of the first touring with the 'M72' stage."
Regarding how he prepares for a METALLICA tour, especially when it comes to performing around 32 songs at each stop on the ongoing "M72" trek, Hetfield said: "Obviously, before heading out on tour, sitting there, trying to remember the myriad of pretty awesome songs we have, and then just trusting that once we get together, it's, like, 'Oh, yeah.' It's muscle memory. But, yeah, over the last month, I will say that the normal thing happens where I start to doubt myself. I start to feel insecure that, 'Whoa, we're old. We can't do this,' and blah, blah, blah, all that bullshit that everyone tells themselves before they go into something that they care about and is important. So having the nightmares of, 'I'm the only one who cares about what we're doing here. Where is everybody?' I show up at the gig. Everyone's goofing off or there's 200 people backstage. And where's my stuff? Where's the setlist? What songs are we doing? And then typical things like the guitar neck is made of rubber, and there's only two strings on it. And where's my roadie? And the guitar cord won't let me get to the microphone. You know, silly stuff like that that has to happen, and I don't freak out over it. All you do is you practice and that comes back pretty quickly."
After Munich and Milan, METALLICA continued touring throughout Europe for the first part of summer, with stops in Spain, Denmark, Norway, France and Poland, among others. Another round of North American dates will begin on August 2 in Foxborough, Massachusetts, with stops in Chicago, Minneapolis, Seattle and Edmonton. METALLICA will close out the 2024 touring season with four shows in Mexico City at the end of September.
According to Billboard, METALLICA's production travels in 87 trucks — 45 for the band and its setup, plus two groups of 21 each for the steel stage and towers. There are 130 people in the band's crew, plus 40 steelworkers, local hires and truck drivers.
METALLICA's manager Cliff Burnstein told Billboard that between 80% and 90% of fans at each concert attend both shows.
The "M72" tour launched in late April 2023 in Amsterdam. | +2 | |
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7 èþë 2024
MARTY FRIEDMAN: 'Key To Living Happily Outside Your Home Country Is Realizing That You Will Never 'Belong' To Another Culture'
 Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, who has been living and recording music in Japan since 2003, has reflected on being an American living outside of his original home country.
The 61-year-old musician marked Independence Day by sharing a message that addressed his experiences being immersed in a very different culture. He wrote: "Happy 4th of July!
"Some of my activities as Ambassador of Japan Heritage are speaking or playing at cross-cultural events, like I just did here in Tokyo. These things often make me reflect on being an American living outside of America.
"When you tour as much as I do, you'll find that there are Americans living in all sorts of different countries," he continued. "If there is one thing they have in common, I believe it's that they all are glad to have been born in America, just like most people are glad that they were born in whichever country they were born in. It's natural. Having that foundation, makes it easy to explore other countries and cultures, because you instinctively want to leave a good impression of your home country to people wherever you go.
"One thing that I believe is key to living happily outside your home country is that realizing that you will never 'belong' to another culture — and that's not a negative thing at all. I talk about this in great detail in my upcoming autobiography. (shameless plug) Being able to co-exist within a culture you were not born in is extremely rewarding. Yes you are different, but you bring unique things with you that are valuable to people in your new surroundings. This is not because I'm any kind of 'rock star', it applies to all people, as everyone has built-in knowledge that is valuable to people of other countries.
"I was lucky enough to be live in Germany for a while as a kid, so I had first hand experience being an outsider in an unfamiliar place," Friedman added. "It was a wonderful life lesson in co-existing. I'm here to tell you that if it is your dream to explore other cultures on the long or short term, at any age, you should go for it!"
Friedman first became known as the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band MEGADETH, which sold over 10 million copies and earned multiple Grammy nominations during his tenure. His overwhelming love of Japanese music and the Japanese language, in which he became fluent, led him to move to Tokyo more than two decades ago. He soon became a fixture on Japanese TV, featured in hundreds of television programs, commercials and even motion pictures. In 2017, the Japanese government appointed him Ambassador Of Japan Heritage, and he is the first foreigner ever to receive this title. With his home base in Tokyo, he continues to do concert tours around the world every year.
In a March 2023 interview with Greg Prato of Consequence, Friedman was asked what it is about Japan that drew him there in the first place. He responded: "It was definitely the music. I wanted to make Japanese music, and the only way to do that is to be here and be completely immersed in it. When I came here, I got very lucky and I joined the band of one of my favorite Japanese singers, Aikawa Nanase. So, I was doing exactly what I wanted to do, pretty much as soon as I got here — six or eight months or something. And that just put my foot right where I wanted to be in J-pop music. I started to work with all of my favorite artists and all of my favorite producers playing live and recording and writing music. And then once I branched into doing television, the whole world really opened."
Friedman also talked about his status as a popular television personality in Japan. He said: "I didn't start off wanting to do that at all, actually. Like I said, I joined the band of one of my favorite J-pop singers when I first got here, and when you do that, people start seeing you. That kind of started a lot of new eyes coming on me, and one of the new eyes was a television production company that put me on a new show. I was initially not really into doing it, because I wanted to just focus on playing music — J-pop music. J-pop, when I say the word 'pop,' it's really very heavy metal. There's a lot of heavy metal influence. People get scared when they hear the word pop, but there's guitar going crazy in it. I was loving it. I wanted to concentrate on that, but they said, 'Just try this TV thing. Your Japanese is very good, and you have a very interesting viewpoint. Just give it a try.' And the first thing out of the box was a really big hit. It was a show called 'Heavymeta-san', which turned into 'Rock Fujiyama'. It lasted for six seasons. For a new show, it's unheard of. So, other offers came up, and my management over here started filling things up, and the next thing you know, more people know me from television than music. And it's still the case… Doing television has facilitated the fact that I can leave for two months and tour America with my own music — and not have any problems with that. It's allowed me to live the exact life that I want to do. It's given me a lot of freedom. Of course, you never know when people come up to you, what they know me from. But my real gig is making music, and I love making music more than anything else."
Back in November 2021, Friedman was asked if he experiences culture shock when he returns to his former home country of America. Marty said: "When I moved to Japan, I completely was encompassed by Japanese culture. No one I worked with spoke English. No one around me spoke English. The only time I spoke English was when I was doing international promotion or international tours or international interviews. So 24/7, it was all Japanese. And when that goes on for years and years, you start to dream in Japanese. My wife's Japanese, and we speak only Japanese. So, cultural things also become a part of you, because when you live somewhere, you become a part of the culture. And the things that matter in Japan are not the things that matter in America. Or the things that matter in Europe are not the things that matter in South America. So things that matter on a day-to-day basis are different. So culture 'shock' is kind of a shocking word, so I don't really feel shocked. But I feel like I'm very blessed, because when I go to America, I'm an American, so I can feel all the great things about being American. But I've lived in Japan for [more than] 20 years, and before I came here, I've been in so many Japanese situations that there's a definite part of me that is really a part of the Japanese culture so I can really feel both of them.
"You should never think that you're trying to belong," he continued. "Because it doesn't matter how perfect my Japanese is — and it's not perfect — but I'm never, ever gonna be Japanese. I feel a part of me is definitely influenced by Japan very much, but if your goal is to belong in another society, I think you're gonna be let down very, very much. Because as hard as you try, Japan is a one-race society and you just look different and you're born in a different place and you have different things in you. So the goal is not belonging; the goal is to add what you have to Japan. If you're trying to belong to something like that, I think you're gonna be let down. But it's not a letdown. You only really belong to yourself. And belonging to something is overrated. So I think you'll enjoy your Japan experience a whole lot more if you celebrate your differences while understanding Japan and enjoying the great things that you're able to enjoy about Japan. And don't be let down when sometimes people are not necessarily so friendly to foreigners. This happens to every country. You just have to let it be; it's just the way it is, especially with older generations. They're, like, 'Oh, the world is changing. Now there's English in the taxicabs. Oh my God.' People fear change. But you can't let that bother you. It's never bothered me once. I'm completely fine being a gaijin [a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese citizens in Japan, specifically non-East Asian foreigners such as white and black people]; it hasn't stopped me from anything. So culture shock, it's not really as bad as people think it is. I enjoy being in America, and I enjoy being in Japan because both things have given me a lot of great things in my life. So learning English — English is the language of the world, so that's helped me everywhere. But in Japan, it's the opposite — in Japan, Japanese is the language, so it's a must. So culture shock is not really that big of a thing."
Following his move, he landed a starring role for a new TV comedy "Hebimeta-san" ("Mr. Heavy Metal") and its spinoff, "Rock Fujiyama", which ran for six seasons and propelled him into the living rooms of Japan's mainstream. He has since appeared in over 800 TV shows, movies and commercials, including a two-year campaign with Coca-Cola for Fanta, authored two best-selling novels and was the first-ever foreigner to be appointed as an ambassador of Japan heritage and perform at the opening ceremony for the Tokyo Marathon. At the same time, Marty has continued his career in music with several solo albums in addition to writing and performing with the top artists in Japanese music, racking up countless chart hits, including a No. 1 with SMAP, two No. 2 songs with MOMOIRO CLOVER, a No. 2 with SOUND HORIZON — just to name a few.
Happy 4th of July! Some of my activities as Ambassador of Japan Heritage are speaking or playing at cross-cultural...
Posted by Marty Friedman on Thursday, July 4, 2024 | +1 | |
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7 èþë 2024
See Video Trailer For Upcoming TONY IOMMI Photo Book From RUFUS PUBLICATIONS
 A new video trailer for "Iommi - The Photographs" from Rufus Publications can be seen below.
Tony has collaborated with renowned photographer Ross Halfin to produce a 340-page luxury book encompassing the very earliest days of BLACK SABBATH through to his most recent partnership with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.
Featuring exclusive written contributions from Sir Brian May, Ozzy Osbourne, James Hetfield and Philip Anselmo, the book will be available in both Standard and Deluxe signed limited editions.
Each copy of the Deluxe signed edition is personally hand-signed by Tony Iommi. This deluxe edition is numbered from 1 to 500 copies worldwide. The book measures 245mm x 345mm, with a luxury slipcase and gold foil embossing, and features a recycled black leather spine. Each book comes with a 3D lenticular suitable for framing. The book sells for £250 plus shipping and, if pre-ordered before July 31, 2024, will be discounted to £200.
The Standard edition features the same content as the Deluxe edition with a printed hardback cover and slipcase. This edition sells for £99 and, if ordered before July 31, 2024, will be discounted to £80 plus worldwide delivery.
Iommi is synonymous with heavy rock; his innovative, de-tuned, dark riffs are considered to be the blueprint for hundreds of bands that followed. As Anselmo says: "With a thick sound and crushing, bending riffs — riffs that paint the insides of our memory banks black with sacred knowledge — Tony changed the landscape of what was acceptable for a mere guitar to sound like."
For the last two years, Tony has been working with renowned music photographer Ross Halfin to compile this luxury 340-page, photographic book of his musical career; from the very early days of BLACK SABBATH through to the opening of the Birmingham Royal Black Sabbath ballet in 2023. This suitably heavy tome is a celebration of one of music's most innovative guitarists and, as Ozzy notes in his exclusive epilogue: "If someone asked me, who was the leader of BLACK SABBATH, it'd have to be Tony, wouldn't it? We all contributed, of course, but without Tony's riffs, we wouldn't have had a chance."
The book is a compendium of carefully selected images compiled from all eras of Tony's career, many from Ross Halfin's own archive, and the book also features further exclusive written contributions from some of music's leading talents and friends of Tony. These include Sir Brian May, James Hetfield and Philip Anselmo. As Sir Brian May notes in his introduction: "Ross Halfin has captured images of Tony in a huge number of settings over the years, as you will see in this book. The pictures show a man of great power and presence, as befits a giant riffmeister."
Iommi himself says: "I really appreciate all the work Ross has put in, both as a photographer and editor of the book. These photographs represent my career and the memories they conjure up remind me what a fantastic journey we've been on. So often I'd look down from the stage and there in the middle of the moshpit would be Ross fighting his corner to get just the right shot. Cheers, Ross, the book is a testament to our long friendship and the many defining moments in my life you've captured."
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7 èþë 2024
British Metal Veterans BLITZKRIEG Announce New, Self-Titled Album
 NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) veterans BLITZKRIEG will release their new, self-titled album on September 6 via Mighty Music. The fist digital single from the album, "The Spider", is out today. Check it out below.
Unrepentantly flying the flag for classic British metal since the release of their 1981 "Blitzkrieg/Buried Alive" demo, BLITZKRIEG were a pivotal influence on countless heavy metal bands for decades to come: most notably METALLICA, who released a cover of the band's eponymous track "Blitzkrieg" both on the "Garage Inc" compilation album, and as a B-side on their 1984 single "Creeping Death".
Formed in Leicester in late 1980 by lead vocalist Brian Ross (who remains at the helm of the band to this day),the band would take a four-year hiatus when Ross left to join NWOBHM legends SATAN, recording their classic album "Court In The Act" (Roadrunner) and touring extensively, before reuniting with bassist Mick Moore to form AVENGER.
1985 saw the release of BLITZKRIEG's long-awaited debut album "A Time Of Changes" on legendary British label Neat Records, which remains a cult classic to this day. Further success would follow with 1991's "Ten Years Of Blitzkrieg" (Roadrunner) and a three-album deal in 1995 with Neat Records.
The band continued to champion classic metal throughout the turbulent 2000s, with albums like 2002's "Absolute Power" (Hellion) and 2007's "Theatre Of The Damned" (Armageddon),the latter of which was co-produced by SAXON frontman Biff Byford after BLITZKRIEG opened for SAXON on their U.K. tour the year prior. All the while, the band remained a mainstay on the international festival circuit, with appearances at Wacken Open Air, Headbangers Open Air, Keep It True, Hard Rock Hell and countless others, along with regular tours in four continents.
Returning from a hiatus in the wake of their critically acclaimed releases "Back From Hell" and "Judge Not", BLITZKRIEG are as vital, powerful and ferocious as the day they were founded over 40 years ago. Longtime members Alan Ross (son of Brian Ross) and powerhouse drummer Matt Graham are joined by bassist Liam Ferguson and virtuoso guitarist and producer Nick Jennison. Their new album "Blitzkrieg" is set for release in summer 2024 via Mighty Music, and if early previews are to be believed, is their best work since 1985.
"Blitzkrieg" will be released on CD, LP (black, green and red vinyl versions available, each limited to 200 copies) and digital. Pre-orders are available now.
METALLICA drummer Lars Ulrich commented that BLITZKRIEG was one of his band's main musical inspirations, along with DIAMOND HEAD.
Brian, the only remaining founding member of BLITZKRIEG, said: "Lars Ulrich phoned me up and asked if they could cover the song.
"METALLICA were, and still are, big fans of the band. We have met up with them a few times over the years and I am really pleased that they still play 'Blitzkrieg' at gigs."
Brian said that he tried to give the then-unknown METALLICA a helping hand in the early 1980s.
"They sent me their demo when they were still unsigned, asking for my help to get them on our label," he said. "But the label turned them down, saying they'd never go anywhere.
"I met up with the guy who made that call a few years ago and he says it is the biggest mistake of his life."
BLITZKRIEG 2024 is:
Brian Ross: lead vocals
Nick Jennison: guitar, vocals
Alan Ross: guitar, vocals
Liam Ferguson: bass
Matthew Graham: drums | 0 | |
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7 èþë 2024
PAUL STANLEY: 'I Was Convinced I Could Play The Guitar When I Had No Knowledge Of The Guitar'
 In the latest episode of Gibson TV 's "The Collection", host Mark Agnesi is in the KISS warehouse to explore Paul Stanley's impressive guitar collection.
KISS is an American icon. They have sold over 100 million records, earning them more gold records than any other band in history, and Stanley was at the front and center for all of it. He has toured the globe for nearly 50 years with one of the most influential rock bands in the world, so you know he has a guitar collection that is made for lovin'.
Join Agnesi at the KISS warehouse to get a personal tour of his impressive collection of guitars from the Starchild himself in this new episode of Gibson TV's "The Collection".
Watch as Stanley shares some of his favorite Gibson Les Paul guitars, shows us what he regards as his "best-sounding guitar" in the form of his Korina Flying V and reflects on the importance of being a great rhythm guitar player, a skill he honed over decades of performing. Hear the story of his first SG Les Paul, the heartbreak of losing vintage Burst Les Pauls, the story of his mirrored Ibanez PS-10 signature guitar, and see his newest addition, a Custom Shop 1961 Les Paul SG Standard.
Asked when guitars first showed up on his radar and when he went, "Oh, I wanna do that," Paul replied: "When I was a little kid and I saw Eddie Cochran on TV. For some reason, he seemed like an even more dangerous Elvis [Presley]. There was something about him that was rogue and seemed ruthless, a great attitude. 'Summertime Blues' and 'C'mon Everybody'. So that was really the start of my introduction to guitar, although I grew up in a family with a lot of folk music and bluegrass and opera and classical music and all. But I was convinced I could play the guitar when I had no knowledge of the guitar, just because there was some sort of connection. Guitar really is the instrument of the blues, which gave birth to rock and roll."
Asked when he finally got his hands on a guitar, Paul said: "Oh my gosh. I kept telling my parents. My 13th birthday was coming up, and I kept saying, 'I really want a guitar, an electric guitar.' Right around my birthday, my mom said, 'Look under your bed,' and I looked under the bed and my heart began to break 'cause I saw this big cardboard case. And I pulled it out and opened it up, and it was a used nylon-string guitar. I was shattered 'cause you can't play rock and roll on this. And I closed it and pushed it back under the bed. A couple of months later, I said, 'Let me let me give that a go.' So that was really the start, was a nylon-string guitar, and I was probably 13 years old… I took to it really quickly. I took a few lessons, and I wanted to go faster, and for some reason, the teacher was, 'No. You have to stay at this pace.' So he went and the guitar stayed."
This episode is a treasure trove for KISS fans and vintage guitar lovers alike, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the storied history of one of rock's most recognizable musicians and his amazing guitar collection. If you've ever wanted to know what guitars Stanley plays, don't miss this intimate and revealing exploration of Stanley's guitar collection, the stories behind them and his enduring love for Gibson guitars.
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7 èþë 2024
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Releases New Single 'Burned My Bridges'
 Veteran Arizona thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have released a new song called "Burned My Bridges". The track is the third single from the band's upcoming 15th studio album "I Am The Weapon", which will arrive on September 13, 2024 via AFM Records. | +1 | |
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7 èþë 2024
India's Heavy Metal Force KRYPTOS Celebrates New Album Release Of "Decimator" With Music Video For "We Are The Night"
 KRYPTOS frontman Nolan Lewis comments: "Take a ride with Kryptos on our latest single "We Are the Night" as we battle through the highs and lows of touring with a never say die attitude and pure metal spirit."
KRYPTOS, who was formed in 1998 in Bangalore, India, have long been considered one of the spearheads of the Indian heavy metal revolution. With six critically acclaimed albums under their belt, they have supported some of metal’s biggest names, like Iron Maiden, Testament, Kreator, Exodus and many more, earning themselves a reputation as a fiery and exciting live act.
The band released their debut album ‘Spiral Ascent’ in 2004 and ‘The Ark of Gemini’ in 2008 before heading out on their first European tour in 2010, making them the first Indian heavy metal band to do so. After signing with AFM Records in 2012, the band unleashed four more frenetically-acclaimed studio albums, are a welcome live act at Wacken Open Air and played their first, extensive European headline tours, including numerous sold-out shows in Scandinavia and central Europe.
Their high-voltage, seventh album Decimator continues where the band left of with their critically-acclaimed, 2021-album ‘Force Of Danger’, and sees them combine crushing riffs, barbwire vocals and powerful songwriting that grabs the 80s by the throat and drags it kicking and screaming into the modern age. If you’re a fan of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept and Kreator, this album will snap your neck in half and have you raging into the night like you’ve never raged before!
“Decimator is without question our finest hour so far." Lewis says. "We’ve sharpened our songwriting to a razor point and the album is absolutely exploding with pure heavy metal power and attitude. Once you’ve popped it into your stereo, you’re going to be raising your fist, air-guitaring to the riffs and humming the solos all year long. It’s as perfect a combination of classic 80s metal and caustic thrash sensibilities as you’re ever going to get!
Strap in and bang your heads to the raging new Kryptos album "Decimator". Expect nothing less than pure traditional heavy metal that echoes back to a time when riffs were king and the nights crackled with power!"
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6 èþë 2024
Canada's SELIAS Release Explosive Music Video For "Twisted Path"; Headshot Album Out Now
 Toronto-based powerhouse, Selias, is set to shake the metal world with their highly anticipated debut album Headshot, out today via Sleaszy Rider Records. The band have also released a video for the song "Twisted Path", which can be found below.
Combining elements of melodic death metal, groove metal, and metal, Selias delivers a sonic experience that is as diverse as it is powerful. Helmed by Steve Elias, the band pushes the boundaries of the genre with their dynamic range of skills and unbridled passion for heavy music.
Headshot is a journey through the depths of the human psyche, with each track offering a glimpse into past situations or stories from distant worlds. From blistering riffs to haunting vocals, Selias captivates listeners with their ability to blend aggression and melody seamlessly.
Drawing inspiration from bands like In Flames, Soilwork, Killswitch Engage, and Parkway Drive, Selias creates a sound that is both familiar yet entirely their own. With Headshot, they invite listeners to immerse themselves in a world where metal meets storytelling, where each song is a chapter in an epic saga of sound and emotion.
Sleaszy Rider Records, known for their roster of legendary bands like Motorhead, Def Leppard, and Whitesnake, is handling the release of Headshot. This collaboration marks a significant milestone for Selias as they join the ranks of esteemed artists under the label's banner.
Steve Elias, guitarist for Selias, expresses his excitement about the release: "We've poured our hearts and souls into Headshot, and we can't wait for the world to hear it. This album is a culmination of years of hard work and dedication, and we're grateful for the opportunity to share it with our fans."
Selias stands poised to make their mark on the global metal scene. Prepare for an auditory assault like no other as Headshot explodes onto the airwaves, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Tracklisting:
"Headshot"
"Revenga"
"Twisted Path"
"Guilty"
"Mega"
"Clipped Wings"
"Conclusion"
"Grateful"
"Interlude"
"Hype"
"Twisted Path" video:
For more on Selias, visit the band's official website, here.
Live lineup:
Steve Elias - Guitar
Zac Culp - Vocals
Tyler Reiner - Drums
Cesar Silva - Vocals
James Roy Daley - Bass
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6 èþë 2024
BYWATER CALL Release Southern Rock Banger "Everybody Knows" From Upcoming Album, Shepherd
 Canadian roots, rock, blues and soul band Bywater Call release the Southern rock banger “Everybody Knows”, their fourth single of the year taken from their upcoming studio album Shepherd. Stream the song here and watch the video below.
Opening with an infectious guitar riff and a burst of horns, imagine a cross between the swagger of The Black Crowes and Rolling Stones and the soul of Aretha Franklin. “Everybody Knows” is classic Southern Rock with a fierce female vocal.
“Told in three vignettes, connected by the chorus of ‘Everybody knows the bed they sleep in’, this song is about how you can tell yourself whatever you want to hear, whatever makes you feel better,” says Bywater Call’s guitarist, Dave Barnes, “but ultimately, the truth is always waiting for you at the end of the day.”
"Everybody Knows” was recorded and mixed by Bywater Call drummer Bruce McCarthy at The BeatFarm in Toronto, Ontario.
Released worldwide on August 9, 2024, Shepherd features a captivating collection of ten original songs, that showcases Bywater Call’s continual exploration, experimentation, and reach beyond the boundaries of music genres, further developing their own unique voice. The new songs illustrate their growth, while still paying tribute to their historical and contemporary influences. Pre-order links can be found at BywaterCall.com.
Shepherd artwork and tracklisting:
"Everybody Knows"
"Colours"
"Sweet Maria"
"Holler"
"For All We Know"
"Roll"
"Turn It Around"
"Now and Never"
"As If"
"Sign Of Peace"
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
The band was UK Blues Award nominated for the 2024 International Blues Artist of the Year. They have toured extensively in Europe where Dutch, German, and UK media praised their shows, with references to Meghan as one of the best female voices in blues and roots today.
Bywater has been busy. In 2023 alone, they played a total of 96 shows in 10 countries, 89 cities, 19 US states and 3 Canadian provinces, including Joe Bonamassa’s third Keeping The Blues Alive At Sea Mediterranean Cruise.
Catch Bywater Call live on their Summer 2024 Tour. Confirmed dates are as listed:
July
5 - Ottawa, ON - Ottawa Blues Fest
11 - Burlington, IA - The Washington
12 - Omaha, NB - Playing With Fire
13 - Kansas City, MO - Knuckleheads
19 - Brezoi, Romania - Brezoi Open Air Festival
23 - Syracuse, NY - Club 443 - SOLD OUT
24 - Syracuse, NY - Club 443 - SOLD OUT
25 - Saranac Lake, NY - Waterhole
26 - Athens, NY - Summer Music Series
27 - New Rochelle, NY - Summer Sizzle
28 - Norwood, MA - Fallout Shelter - SOLD OUT
August
2 - Pomeroy, OH - Big Bend Blues Bash
3 - Nashville, TN - City Winery
4 - Knoxville, TN - Tennessee Riverboat
9 - Nanaimo, BC - Nanaimo Blues Festival
11 - Wheeling, WV - Heritage Music Blues Fest
16 - Norwich, NY - Chenango Blues Fest
17 - Thornton, NH - White Mountain Boogie N’ Blues Fest
18 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground
24 - Ontonagon, MI - Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
29 - Pelham, ON - Fonhtill Bandshell Concerts
September
6 - Port Credit, ON - Southside Shuffle
7 - Drumheller, AB - Canada Badlands Roots, Blues And BBQ
Bywater Call is a powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock band from Toronto, Canada. The band is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, John Kervin (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet) and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).
(Live photo by Marty Moffatt, portrait photo by Juan Perez-Fajardo)
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6 èþë 2024
Ex-MEGADETH Guitarist JEFF YOUNG On His New Original Band With DAVID ELLEFSON: 'It's Got All Of Our Influences'
 In a new interview with The Good The Band & The Ugly podcast, former MEGADETH guitarist Jeff Young spoke in more detail about the "original band" he formed with fellow ex-MEGADETH member David Ellefson (bass),both of whom are also playing together in KINGS OF THRASH. Regarding the musical direction of the new band's music, Young said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's got everything. It's got all of our influences. Some of it's as heavy as MEGADETH, but it wouldn't be authentic if we just took [Dave] Mustaine's style. And I've seen some ex-MEGADETH members go do an album that sounds like MEGADETH, but that wasn't really their bag. And, of course, that's an influence 'cause we went through that whole process and we were part of that history and we played on the music. But it sounds like all the stuff that we've grown up on. Plus David and I have lived 10 different lives since MEGADETH. We've done a lot as musicians, so we're gonna bring all the stuff. We're not bringing a 27-year-old mindset or 25-year-old. I think I was 25, [2]6 when I was in MEGADETH."
He continued: "We wanna give the fans, 'cause we know we have a lot of fans in that genre — that [MEGADETH] album ['So Far, So Good...So What!'] went platinum, so there's a million people out there that know us by that. So we wanna give them some of that, but we also wanna give them all the other stuff that we have to offer.
"It's a diverse album, and we're really excited to introduce the other musicians on that as well," Jeff added. "And we'll have to wait a while for that. We're gonna be starting to record drums for that hopefully, I think, beginning in July. We've got more than an album demoed, like probably close to two albums demoed, so it's gonna be a fight to what makes it on the record."
Regarding the other musicians who will appear on the album, Jeff said: "I can tell you, I'll tell you one thing for sure: the drummer and the singer are neither one from America. And there was a thing floating around that it was a Brazilian singer, and it's not a Brazilian singer."
Young went on to say that he and David intentionally didn't want to put together a so-called supergroup. "This is a whole different thing," he explained. "This isn't like a put-together package deal with every superstar. The two other guys have done stuff, but they're not household names by any means, which we like that. You don't want someone who's already stereotyped and already has a brand. And the second they hear the singer or the drummer, like, oh, they think of the other band."
Young first spoke about his new original band with Ellefson last September in an interview with Jaime Poulos of Metal Express Radio. At the time he said: "Everyone's saying KINGS OF THRASH is coming out with an original album, and it's not KINGS OF THRASH. Chaz [Leon] is our singer for that, for doing the MEGADETH stuff [with KINGS OF THRASH], but for the original stuff, Ellefson and I have been writing for over a year; we've been working on some songs. We're using this guy from Brazil that's gonna blow you guys away. He sounds kind of like [Ronnie James] Dio meets Chris Cornell meets Rob Halford. He's got perfect pitch, so he never hits a bad note. It's crazy."
Asked what it's like to play with Ellefson again after so many years, Jeff said: "It's super cool. We didn't really get a chance to know each other back in the day because I think Dave Mustaine was like the toxic thorn in the middle. But now that that's out of there, we're not only seeing… 'cause we probably lived ten different lives since then. We're different people. We're more mature and we're getting to know each in a whole different time and space. So it's like nostalgia plus it's brand new."
KINGS OF THRASH recently completed a couple of tours during which it performed MEGADETH's classic albums "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!" A live CD/DVD package called "Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go" was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15, 2022 and was released in March 2023 via Cleopatra Records. The DVD, which was directed by Michael Sarna for Inmotion Entertainment, includes an appearance by another former MEGADETH member, Chris Poland (guitar).
In some recent interviews, Ellefson suggested that the upcoming original material from him and Young may not be released under the KINGS OF THRASH moniker. "Because, look, it doesn't have to be thrash," he told KNAC.COM. "It doesn't even have to be from a MEGADETH origin, really. Even though that was kind of the origin story, it doesn't have to sound like that. It should be us, who we are now today, I think. So, we've decided KINGS OF THRASH, for sure, is this [touring project] playing the music of yesterday. And then we're just deciding now, okay, this new music, to fit within that, should it be Jeff Young and David Ellefson doing something together? You know — ELLEFSON-YOUNG."
Last September, Young told Metal Edge about KINGS OF THRASH: "Let me put it this way: What's happening now is a win for all of us — Dave [Mustaine] included. He gets to make money off the publishing from the MEGADETH songs we play. Dave knows that, so he's very aware of us."
Young continued: "He hates what KINGS OF THRASH is doing. But it doesn't matter because, eventually, we'll delete a lot of the MEGADETH from our set, and we'll keep writing new stuff. But Dave is feeling the heat because we're getting attention, and the KINGS OF THRASH album will be better than anything MEGADETH has done recently. And we're playing all the MEGADETH songs better than he has in years. It's not just me saying that — read the reviews."
In January 2023, Young told Ultimate Guitar that he and Ellefson had not received any feedback from Mustaine about their new band or their recent live shows. "We couldn't care less… and it's a win-win for him," Jeff said. "Because all the publishing, for example, on the 'Best Of The West', he's getting all that money. We're making him money and he doesn't have to do anything. So, we're performing the songs because they're part of our history and the fans want to hear them and we will benefit from that, and so will he, so it's a win-win. How much cooler can anything be than that? So, if he has something to say about it… I wouldn't imagine it would be very objective… not that anything he's ever said has been objective."
Jeff's comments were similar to those he made in 2022 when he told Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series that he and Ellefson were "really not concerned" about Mustaine's reaction to KINGS OF THRASH. "I don't pay attention," he said. "I haven't really paid attention or followed MEGADETH since, I think, I heard the 'Rust In Peace' album a couple of times, and then what you might hear on the radio or in the press.
"For us, this isn't about any spite or retaliation; it's a celebration of the music that we were all a part of, that we helped create," he explained. "And it's fun for us to do this.
"People said, 'You should do this.' And we said, 'Hey, yeah, you're right. We should do this.' It's a win-win — it's a win for us, and it's a win for [Mustaine], because any performance royalties, anything… If we did include live tracks, he would make money off that. It's promoting albums that hopefully fans will go back and buy, which is putting money right in his pocket. Especially 'Killing Is My Business', I think a lot of people are gonna go back and wanna rediscover that album after this tour.
"For us, it's all about positivity," Young added. "We're all in this moment — we're living in the moment, and we're not looking beyond. We're not reading any of the comments on Blabbermouth or any of the stuff. Because we know what our intent is, and intent is everything. And our intent's positive. We like playing together. We know we're crafting original music. We're not relying on this; we don't need to ride the coattails of this. This is just something that the fans wanted, and you wanna give fans what they want."
Ellefson told Yes! You CAN Play Guitar! that the intention behind KINGS OF THRASH is not to stick it to his former bandmates. "This is a celebration, not a retaliation," he explained. "This is a good moment. This is a happy moment, to celebrate these songs and these tracks and these records. So we go at it with just fun… It's, like, 'Wow. Wouldn't it be fun if we went out and played these records?' And we're doing it. So it's meant to be this celebration and bringing people together. And honestly, that was kind of always my role in MEGADETH. Dave [Mustaine] always called me 'The Ambassador', and I was always that guy, and I am that guy. So it's, like, let me just continue that role in our community and have one of good will."
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH more than three years ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.
David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.
In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Mustaine, alleging the MEGADETH leader shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.
Young's entire career with MEGADETH was spent recording and touring in support of the band's 1988 platinum-selling album "So Far, So Good...So What!"
Jeff made headlines in December 2009 for accusing Mustaine of, among other things, "dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble." He also disputed Mustaine's claim in an interview that Young's drug problem led to MEGADETH's 1988 Australian tour being called off and the group being "banned" from performing in the country.
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6 èþë 2024
Greek Power Metallers SIRIUS Share Official Lyric Video For "Desdichado" Single
 Greek power metal titans, Sirius, have unveiled their electrifying lyric video for the track "Desdichad." This is just a taste of what's coming from their upcoming album, A Quest For Life, which is set to be unleashed on July 26th via WormHoleDeath Records.
"Desdichado" is a song based on the novel Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott. It is the story of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe, who is out of favor with his father for Sir Wilfred's allegiance to King Richard the Lionheart. It is the first song of many to follow The Pilgrim and unfold his journey of betrayal, salvation, and restoration.
Watch the lyric video for "Desdichado" below.
Sirius, formed in 2007 by guitarist/singer Dimitris Napas in Athens, Greece, released their debut EP, Wings of Fire, on December 2, 2017, with a sold-out show at Remedy Live Club. In August 2019, they released an acoustic version of "The Last Angel" and a studio performance video, followed by an opening for Luke Appleton of Iced Earth. They've played at various festivals, including Under The Quarry.
Currently, Sirius is set to release A Quest for Life via WormholeDeath Records, featuring Tim "Ripper" Owens and Derek Sherinian. The album's artwork is by Jon Toussas and Graphic no Jutsu, recorded at Made in Hell studio with David Prudent handling the production.
Sirius is:
Dimitris Napas - vocals / lead and acoustic Guitars
Dimitris Stathopoulos - rhythm guitars
Dimitris Simiakos - bass
Nick "Yngve" Samios - drums
Photo by Jiries | 0 | |
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6 èþë 2024
ELDER - Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios Limited Edition Vinyl To Be Released In August
 In August of 2023 while on tour in Europe, heavy psych- and progressive rock masters Elder were invited to record a live session at the legendary BBC Maida Vale Studios for the Radio 1 Rock Show with Dan Carter. The resulting session is a snapshot of the band’s powerful live performance and setlist from that tour. Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios will be released on August 30, 2024 through Stickman Records.
"We recorded a few tracks from the live set we had been playing at that time and were very happy with the results - a very 'live' sounding version of the tracks, which can be sometimes a bit ambitious to pull off live,“ the band states. "Most folks missed the radio broadcast, so we figured we'd put it to vinyl and CD as well."
Tracklist:
"Merged In Dreams - Ne Plus Ultra"
"Lore"
"Thousand Hands"
Live at BBC Maida Vale Studios by Elder
The limited edition 180gr. tricolor green marbled vinyl will be available only via the Stickman Records webstore. There will also be a standard edition of solid red. The vinyl edition includes a full size poster and download code. Pre-order your copy here.
For digital orders, visit Bandcamp.
Photo by Maren Michaelis | 0 | |
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6 èþë 2024
SYNLAKROSS To Release Mental Parasites Album In October
 SynlakrosS have revealed the cover art and release date for their new album, Mental Parasites. After their Ideas Are Bulletproof EP it's time for yet another full-length and this melodic deathmetal/metalcore band is still going strong. Mental Parasites will be released on October 3.
This is the fifth full-length album of the band's career and this is what they have said about it: "The songs on this album are inspired by personality disorders, as well as thoughts and attitudes that parasitize our mind, turning it into a hostile place and making us live in hell. They invite self-reflection in an entertaining way. Totally SynlakrosS dark mojo!"
Songs to appear on the album include (listed alphabetically, not final tracklisting):
"Bunnies And Bows"
"Cherry On Top"
"Dickhead"
"Drama Queen"
"Freak"
"Mental Breakdown"
"Paranoid"
"Popcorn"
"Razor Blade"
The band add: "We have played, experimented and tried new things on this album. Some things are going to surprise you! It has been a lot of fun and we are convinced that it is our best album so far! It has been produced by Facundo Novo who has done a spectacular job! Briliant! Album cover by our singer Patricia Pons.
"New singles will be released very soon. Pre-sale will begin soon. Stay tuned!” | 0 | |
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Dream Theater
