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	GARY HOLT On KIRK HAMMETT: 'For All Intents And Purpose... 38
	DARK TRANQUILLITY's MIKAEL STANNE On AT THE GATES'... 29
	TESTAMENT's ALEX SKOLNICK: 'It Would Be Great'... 28
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24 июн 2024

Sable Hills

24 июн 2024

EVANESCENCE's Founding Guitarist BEN MOODY Reimagines 'Taking Over Me' In Celebration Of 'Fallen' Album's 20th Anniversary

In celebration of EVANESCENCE's debut album, "Fallen", turning 20 years old, the band's founding guitarist Ben Moody has reimagined songs from the LP and is in the process of uploading the results to his YouTube channel. Check out the sixth reimagined track, "Taking Over Me", below.

Released in the spring of 2003, "Fallen" resonated deeply with fans, selling more than 141,000 copies in its first week and peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, where it spent an astonishing 43 weeks in the Top 10. Within a month, "Fallen" was certified platinum by the RIAA, while it was a Top 10 hit in more than ten countries, reaching No. 1 in the U.K., Canada, Australia and across Europe. Much of the album's initial success can be attributed to its stratospheric singles, including "Bring Me To Life", which broke the Top 10 in more than 15 countries and topped Billboard's Mainstream Top 40 and Alternative Airplay charts. "My Immortal" was a Top 10 hit in over ten countries, including the U.S., U.K., and Australia.

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, EVANESCENCE received five nominations, including "Album Of The Year", "Best Rock Album", "Best Hard Rock Performance" for "Bring Me To Life", and "Best New Artist", taking home the latter two. The following year, "My Immortal" received a nod for "Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals".

Today, "Fallen" holds steady as the sixth best-selling album of the 21st century (ranking just behind Lady Gaga's "The Fame" and ahead of COLDPLAY's "A Rush Of Blood To The Head") and remains one of the best-selling albums of all time, with more than 17 million copies sold worldwide. In 2022, "Fallen" received a rare diamond certification from the RIAA, which recognizes 10 million units in U.S. album sales. As a testament to the album's enduring appeal, the video for "Bring Me To Life" surpassed 1.2 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most-watched rock videos of all time while "My Immortal" follows close behind.

The success of "Fallen" led to turmoil within the group, as Moody left in late 2003, leaving singer Amy Lee as the only original member of the band.

In 2010, Moody gave a lengthy explanation for why he left EVANESCENCE while promoting his soundalike band called WE ARE THE FALLEN with other former EVANESCENCE members (John LeCompt on guitar and Rocky Gray on drums) along with "American Idol" powerhouse vocalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O'Brien.

Lee continued with new members, and EVANESCENCE issued "The Open Door" in 2006. While a hit, it did not equal the sales of "Fallen". Lee told The Pulse Of Radio at the time that she wasn't concerned about matching the previous album's success. "I just haven't ever looked at it that way," she said. "'Fallen' is a great record, but I don't think you can try to match the success of another body of work. I think that's only gonna frustrate you. And if, honestly if what you really care about is record sales and money, there's no way you're gonna make a great piece of art, because then you're just gonna get all confused and make something ingenuine."

To date, EVANESCENCE has released a total of five studio albums, including the multi-platinum "The Open Door" (2004) and "Evanescence" (2011),both of which topped the Billboard 200. In 2021, the band thrilled fans with their first album of new material in a decade, "The Bitter Truth". Featuring a lineup of Amy Lee (vocals, keyboards),Tim McCord (guitar/bass),Will Hunt (drums),Troy McLawhorn (guitars/backing vocals),and Emma Anzai (bass, backing vocals),EVANESCENCE continues to maintain an active tour schedule which has seen the band traveling the globe and staging some of the most successful shows of its career.

Evanescence

24 июн 2024

Exclusive: AGAINST THE GRAVE Premieres “Living The End” Music Video

Against The Grave is an aggression soaked, vigorously infectious, groove metal band from Los Angeles, California, expanding the metal genre in a direction very few go.

"Living The End" is the latest single from the group – premiered exclusively through BraveWords. Against The Grave has, for the third time, teamed up with the director of their "Killing Us Slowly" and "Anthem Embattled" videos, Nathan Karma Cox. The band and director were able to take their collective vision to an even more visually powerful height with the dark, mysterious nightmare-scape metal music video for their aggressive, viscous track “Living The End”.

Guitarist Andrea Martis says, “We started out using 'Living The End' as an intro for our shows, a punch in the face to kicks things off, but after that, we soon knew we had to expand it into a full song.” For the video, Martis explains "We brought back the monsters again! This time we went for a very dark, evil vibe to match the darkness of the song"

Vocalist Jordan Gaw shares "Dark curiosity, massive aggression, and this evil mystery thing with our monsters gave us visuals that feel like a haunted metal nightmare." Regarding the latest single 'Living The End," Gaw adds “This is one of those tunes that wrote itself, it persisted to be recognized, lyrically a metaphor for the times we’re currently in with a stylistic direction of industrial metal."

“Bleeding You", their second single, is another glimpse at the horsepower and pure hook resonating from the depths of a grimy downtown Los Angeles rehearsal studio.

“That drum fill leading to the gallop with the groovy riff is so sick, and such a great hook, this song is one the first things that drew me to the band" - Michael Morrone

Against The Grave premiered a video for the track "Anthem Embattled” in November 2023, showcasing ATG’s signature style...blood pumping and adrenaline inducing riffage with pummeling rhythms and beats.

“After tearing up stages around Hollywood with this track, we’re finally ready to unleash 'Anthem Embattled’. Psyched to not only be releasing a sonically kick ass recording but also an insanely wild video. It’s just simply furious, a groove metal track with a truck load of energy and immersive visuals of the desert just north of us! Blessed to have had Nate bring that energy to our eyes and Nicky & Ulrich to have cranked it for our ears. Check it out!" – Jordan Gaw

Against The Grave recently were featured on Sirius XM’s Liquid Metals Corridor of Covers with their heavy take on Depeche Mode's “Wrong” from the B-side of their haunting release “The Death Of Trust”.

"'Wrong' was a creative challenge taking a synth tune and giving that metal vibe, then transforming it again live." - George Arguello

Against The Grave's groove-dominated metal draws influence and features familiar sounds from legendary artists such as Slipknot, Rob Zombie, and Pantera. But make no mistake, this music is an explosive version all on its own.

Catch Against The Grave unleashed live on June 22 at the legendary Whisky A Go Go to celebrate the release of “Living The End” and welcome their new drummer to the fold.

"It's gonna be a party of heavy metal celebration, I cannot wait to get that stage lit with Mike, tighten up those live chops, let's go!" - Jay Dot CA

Against The Grave is:
Jay Dot CA - bass
Andrea Martis - guitar
Jordan Gaw - vocals
George Arguello - guitar
Michael Morrone - drums

Against the Grave

24 июн 2024

PAUL DI’ANNO’s WARHORSE Announce Self-Titled Full-Length Debut To Be Released July 19 Via BraveWords Records; “Here Comes The Night” Video Streaming

Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse have announced that their self-titled debut album will be released worldwide on July 19 via BraveWords Records.

"Metal" Tim Henderson of BraveWords Records, "The killer is on the loose again and original Iron Maiden singer Paul D’Anno is riding his Warhorse into new battles with eyes of fire and a fighting spirit. Wrath children pay attention!"

Find preorder options here.

Paul Di'Anno speaking about his new album, "Paul Di'Anno's Warhorse is my first studio project after many years of being away from the studio and not performing. I remember when we announced that we were recording an album in Croatia with completely unknown musicians, many were shocked and no one knew in which direction we would go. Warhorse exudes pure energy and reflects everything I went through while recording the album."

Hrvoje Madiraca adds, "This record is a product of hard work combined with the voice of the man, the myth and the legend of our dear Wrathchild! Old school metal you want. That is what you'll get!"

Ante Pupacic, known as Pupi continues, "When it comes to music, I've done all sorts of things, but I'm particularly proud of this album. Two years of work, composing, arranging, recording, editing, deleting, and so on. We went through all kinds of emotions, from euphoria to agony. Each song was carefully polished to achieve its current form. On the album, everyone added their touch, both Hrvoje and I, in terms of lyrics, music, and production, all ennobled by the powerful vocals of our legend, Paul Di'Anno."

Praise for the three song Warhorse EP with songs pulled from the full-length album:

The instrumental passages are very reminiscent of the great times of the NWOBHM. - The Dark Melody

Paul sings like never before and in a way that will surprise and leave all his fans speechless. - The Dark Melody

‘Old school heavy metal has never sounded so fucking good! - Metal Gods TV

Warhorse needed to make a huge impact, and immediately – the band doing just that with more force and energy than the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs over sixty five million years ago! - Metal Gods TV

I for one fucking love it – where’s the queue start for the bands album, I wanna be right at the front! - Metal Gods TV

A red hot scorching barrage of galloping heavy metal, highly head bang-able and incredibly infectious. - Metal Gods TV

The Beast is very much back. - Music News Monthly

He has come back fighting... a stunning example of how heavy metal should be. - Music News Monthly

Tracklisting:

“Warhorse”
“Get Get Ready”
“Go”
“Stop The War”
“The Doubt Within”
“Here Comes The Night”
“Tequila”
“Forever Bound”
“Precious”
“Going Home”

“Here Comes The Night” video:

Warhorse:
Paul Di´Anno – Vocals
Hrvoje Madiraca – Guitars
Ante Pupačić Pupi – Guitars

Guest Musicians:
Becky Baldwin (Bass Guitar on songs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 9)
Petar Šantić (Drums on songs: 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10), (Bass guitar on song 10)
Joe Lazarus (Drums on song 1)
Andro Banovac (Backing Vocals on songs: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Danijel Stojan (Drums on song 5)
Nikolina Belan (Backing Vocals on song 9)

Paul Di'Anno

23 июн 2024

ACCEPT's WOLF HOFFMANN Describes His Experience As A German Immigrant Living In America

In a new interview with Made In Metal, ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, who moved to Nashville from his native Germany more than three decades ago, was asked to describe his experience living in the U.S. as an immigrant. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Ooh, interesting. Nobody ever asked that question. [Laughs] Well, luckily, America is a very open country, very welcoming. So you never feel like a foreigner, because as soon as you come in — and I've got dual citizenship, so I'm both American and German at this point, but you never feel like a foreigner. You always feel like an American. Once you're in, you're part of the group, where in some countries, especially in Europe, like in Germany, there's people who lived in Germany for 30, 40 years, and there's still… some people say, 'Well, he's a foreigner.' But in America, it's different. Once you're in, you're an American, and that feels very good, but at the same time, I can just open my mouth and people say, 'Where y'all from?' They know that I'm not born in the United States. They can hear my accent and they know — to them, I'm very German still. And to my German friends, they think I'm a bit American now, so I'm somewhere in between. I'm like a bastard. [Laughs]"

Last month, Hoffmann told Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz about his decision to move to Nashville: "I wound up there the first one ever, I think. When I got there in '93, a long time ago, there was nobody in the metal scene or even rock world out there. I remember the people, the locals telling me, 'Oh yeah, there's another guy that's sort of heavy' [who is living in Nashville]. John Kay from STEPPENWOLF' was supposedly [out there]. To me, that's not really… Well, it's kind of heavy… He's all right. I mean, I never met the guy. But whatever. But that was the only other name that was considered maybe heavy. But I didn't move out there to be in the local scene. I just liked it because it was involved and it was a city that was all about music and it seemed to be the right place. Even though shortly after I moved there, or sometime after I moved there, I left the music scene altogether. It was still a decent place to live. And it wasn't until maybe 10, 15 years ago that everybody and their sister started to move to Nashville. And now it's the Mecca of musicians, period. I mean, a lot of people that you never in a million years would think would move to Nashville, they're all there now. It's crazy."

ACCEPT's latest album, "Humanoid", was released on April 26 via Napalm Records. The LP was once again produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by critically acclaimed heavy metal producer Andy Sneap.

ACCEPT recently announced a massive European headline tour, with more than 20 shows across the continent for autumn 2024. This summer, ACCEPT will also return to some of the world’s most important rock and metal festivals, like Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and more, following their South American spring tour.

ACCEPT and KK'S PRIEST will join forces this fall 2024 for a North American tour. The run will begin on August 31 in Los Angeles, California, visiting a slew of major cities in the USA and Canada — such as Toronto, Montreal, New York and Nashville — before coming to an end in San Francisco, California on October 7.

In February 2022, it was announced that ACCEPT had inked a worldwide deal with Napalm Records.

ACCEPT's previous album, "Too Mean To Die", came out in January 2021 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was the group's first without bassist Peter Baltes, who exited ACCEPT in November 2018. He has since been replaced by Martin Motnik. ACCEPT's lineup has also been expanded with the addition of a third guitarist, the aforementioned Philip Shouse, who originally filled in for Uwe Lulis during 2019's "Symphonic Terror" tour, before being asked to join the band permanently.

Mark Tornillo joined ACCEPT in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original lead singer, Udo Dirkscheider. He can be heard on ACCEPT's last six studio albums, "Blood Of The Nations" (2010),"Stalingrad" (2012),"Blind Rage" (2014),"The Rise Of Chaos" (2017),2021's "Too Mean To Die" and 2024's "Humanoid".

23 июн 2024

DEVOLUTION Feat. Ex-FEAR FACTORY, THREAT SIGNAL Members: New Single 'Victim Of You' Available

DEVOLUTION, the band featuring bassist Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY, VIO-LENCE),vocalist Jon Howard (THREAT SIGNAL, IMONOLITH),drummer Eric Tysor and guitarist Nate Beberdick, has released a new single, "Victim Of You". The track, which features a guest appearance by former ILL NIÑO and current LIONS AT THE GATE frontman Cristian Machado, is taken from DEVOLUTION's debut album, "Deceiver, Believer", due on June 28 via the band's own label, Close Encounter Records, with logo artwork created by Tony Squindo, METALLICA's famous artist.

Howard says: "Collaborating with Cristian Machado for this track was awesome. I had a few ideas going into the song, but I waited to hear what he came up with before jumping in because maybe it would be better haha! Once I heard his take on the song and the lyrics he was writing, I connected immediately and was able to dig in and fit my vocals in. It was amazing to hear his take on the song and it really fueled more ideas to complete my end of collaboration. Also, how cool is it to have Misstiq play on the track as well? Sick!"

Tysor shares: "Feeling incredibly grateful to have collaborated with Cristian Machado on 'Victim Of You'. His and Jon's powerhouse vocals brought this song to life in ways we couldn't have imagined."

Beberdick adds: "It was such an honor working with Cristian Machado on 'Victim Of You'! ILL NIÑO's 'Revolution Revolucion' was such an influential album for me in my youth and is still part of the soundtrack to my life! For me, the tribal elements and feel of 'Victim Of You' pairs perfectly with Cristian's vocals and delivery style. Misstiq's added touch with her incredible synth work really cemented the atmosphere and vibe of the song, making it one of my favorites so far!"

Olde Wolbers sums it up with: "This was another fun one with a great groove, and it was great to collab with Cristian Machado and Misstiq on 'Victim Of You'. "

The roots of DEVOLUTION began when founder Nate Beberdick first found the urge to play guitar and start a band in his youth, a fateful move which led him to drummer Eric Tysor. The two Virginia-based buds started DEVIATION, traveling the East Coast in a run which found 15-year-old Nate sneaking into metal bars and clubs to perform, gaining a whirlwind of touring experiences over the course of three years, including shows with the pre-LAMB OF GOD band BURN THE PRIEST.

Even as DEVIATION's members eventually went their separate ways, there was no separating Nate and Eric, who not only bonded musically, but were actual family once Eric became Nate's brother-in-law. The two continued writing music and creating demos, working with additional musicians remotely. Despite their passion for keeping their music going, now under the DEVOLUTION moniker, the right people and timing simply did not line up for the duo quite yet. Altogether, they had amassed over 20 years' worth of songwriting, but as Eric already had a family, and Nate focused in on a government career and his newborn twins, they stepped away from the music scene for a few years. No matter what, the passion for the craft could not be extinguished, and during a reflective and inspiring time period, Nate came to realize how much he needed music in his life, and determined to come back to it with a newly ignited energy that was stronger than ever. Naturally, Eric was right back in the game, and the inseparable pair were reunited to take on the world as DEVOLUTION.

A highly fortunate mixup found the Richmond, Virginia-based Nate connected with a metal producer in Richmond, Australia by the name of Dr. Mike Trubetskov, who happened to work with Jon Howard of THREAT SIGNAL. Uncertain whether he would take on another project, Nate and Eric approached Jon and were pleased to find that he appreciated their talents and agreed to join DEVOLUTION. Christian Olde Wolbers of FEAR FACTORY was the next to hop right on board and join his ARKAEA bandmate Jon Howard.

The new four-piece set out to record a music video with Scott Hansen (MESHUGGAH, SEVENDUST),a director that Nate had connected with when he appeared in MESHUGGAH's "The Abysmal Eye" video, but as the year was 2021, Canada-based Jon was unable to travel to the shoot. They still managed to pull together their first production, cementing DEVOLUTION as a band, while big plans converted an initial EP idea to a full-length.

METALLICA devotee Nate financed DEVOLUTION's independent debut full-length by selling his METALLICA collection to fund the project. Though he's been a lifelong METALLICA collector, he views it as a worthwhile sacrifice of music fueling music, and still has the power to push forward with a love of his favorite band, even with a lighter collection on his hands.

Nate and Eric are at the center of all songwriting for their full-length, with Tue Madsen following producer Dr. Mike on mixing and mastering from his own Antfarm Studios in Denmark. The result is "Deceiver, Believer", built on a foundation of their very own label, Close Encounter Records.

Photo credit: Rock With Siren

Devolution

23 июн 2024

VIXEN Announces New Singer ROSA LARICCHIUTA

VIXEN has recruited Rosa Laricchiuta (TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, HEADPINS),as the band's new lead singer following the recent departure of Lorraine Lewis.

Laricchiuta made her live debut with VIXEN earlier tonight (Friday, June 21) at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California alongside GREAT WHITE, SLAUGHTER and QUIET RIOT.

Laricchiuta is a singer, songwriter, and performer from Montreal, Quebec. After several years cutting her teeth with live shows, she auditioned for the third season (2015) of "La Voix", Quebec's version of the popular TV show "The Voice". Rosa had an instant connection with the legendary francophone rocker Éric Lapointe and chose him as her coach. Rosa showed a solid stage presence, with remarkable intensity and a voice so powerful it sent her straight to the Grand Finale where she shared the stage with DEF LEPPARD, Kelly Clarkson, Jean Leloup and her idol, Melissa Etheridge. She left a lasting impression as she won over millions of viewers who named her the new "it" female rocker of Quebec.

She then released one album in the Quebec market before beginning work on her first English language album in 2016. That album, "Free", was released the following year and at the end of the year, she joined the popular American band TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA for their annual mega tour of the United States.

Laricchiuta's hard rock project BLACK ROSE MAZE released its self-titled debut album in August 2020 via Frontiers Music Srl.

VIXEN has more than a dozen more shows scheduled for the summer and early fall.

During a recent appearance on the Battleline Podcast, VIXEN guitarist Brittany Denaro (a.k.a. Britt Lightning) discussed the decision to part ways with Lewis. Asked what she would say to fans who are concerned that VIXEN bears little resemblance to the band that broke through in the late 1980s, with drummer Roxy Petrucci as the sole remaining member from VIXEN's classic lineup, Britt said: "Yeah, well, I think Roxy is definitely dedicated to maintaining the musical integrity of the classic VIXEN. And she said that. And I think for whatever reason, she feels that this change is gonna be a positive one. And yeah, so this new lineup, our new singer will be debuting with the band, I think it's next week, June 21st. We have a show in Anaheim with QUIET RIOT and SLAUGHTER and GREAT WHITE. So, I'm excited. I trust her. She's been doing this a long time, and she knows what feels right."

Britt continued: "Sometimes things run its course. And, again, I'm not involved in in this decision or at liberty to really speak about who [the new singer] is yet or the reasons in it. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter, I guess. We're forging forward, we're forging ahead, and there will be new music. And I think it's gonna rock. So I'm very excited."

Asked if she had had a chance to jam with the new singer yet and hang out with Lorraine's replacement in person at that point, Britt said: "Okay. No. [Laughs] However, she has been vetted and I trust that she's the right fit and is our vibe and gets it. And at the end of the day, obviously you have to be talented, but just being a good person and being a cool person, 'cause we spend a lot of time together. I mean, that saying, musicians, we get paid to travel and then we play the gig, but what do we get paid for? The travel. I mean, I've flown to South America for one 30-minute show and then flown right back. So that's a lot of travel time and not a lot of playing. And that's a lot of time that you have to be with each other, and if you're with somebody that just drives you nuts, that's the worst thing ever. And then you can tell on stage too. So you know there's good chemistry when — you can feel it, is what I'm saying, on stage. And I think the audience can always feel it too. So, I know it'll be great though. Roxy also is more familiar with her as a person, and if she greenlighted it, then I know it's gonna be good."

When VIXEN announced Lewis's exit from the band on May 27, the group said in a statement: "First of all we want to extend a special thank you to Lorraine Lewis. We're grateful for her contributions to VIXEN and wish her all the best in her career moving forward. Secondly, thank you to everyone sending suggestions and to those who inquired about singing for us. We're letting you all know that we have our new singer and we're ready to Rev it Up! Wanna know who? Come find out! We'll see you on the road!"

On May 26, Lewis released the following statement via her social media: "VIXEN Tribe and devoted fans: The band has taken a different direction, and as much as I will miss you please know that more Rock & Roll from me is on the way!

"It has been an honor to front the band since that first show in 2019 & I am forever grateful for the opportunity and memories that came with it! I've had the time of my life and have loved rockin' with ALL of you! I can't wait to rock your faces off again soon cuz trust me babes, I'm not going anywhere!! I love you."

In January 2019, VIXEN recruited Lewis as its new lead singer following the departure of Janet Gardner.

Lewis had already performed with VIXEN in March 2018 in Durant, Oklahoma while Gardner was recovering from surgery.

Prior to Lewis's addition to VIXEN, Petrucci, bassist Share Ross and Lightning vowed to "expand upon the VIXEN legacy while remaining true to our musical roots."

Gardner, Petrucci and Ross are considered to be part of VIXEN's classic lineup, along with founding guitarist Jan Kuehnemund, who died of cancer in October 2013.

Gardner contributed lead vocals to VIXEN's most commercially successful studio albums — "Vixen" (1988),"Rev It Up" (1990) and "Tangerine" (1998) — as well as the group's latest full-length release, 2018's live album "Live Fire".

More than two years ago, Ross announced that she was "taking a hiatus" from VIXEN. Her replacement is Julia Lage, formerly of the Latin Grammy-nominated Brazilian rock group BARRA DE SAIA and wife of Richie Kotzen. Lage made her live debut with VIXEN on February 8, 2022 at the pre-Monsters Of Rock cruise concert at Magic City Casino in Miami, Florida.

Last year, VIXEN released a new single called "Red". The official music video for the track, which was written and produced by CINDERELLA drummer Fred Coury, was directed by Drew Johnston and Vicente Cordero and edited by Ryan Conion.

And so it begins ….

Posted by Larry Morand on Friday, June 21, 2024

OC HAIR METAL MELTDOWN - Great White, Slaughter, Quiet Riot & Vixen at Honda Center

Posted by Mon Francisco on Friday, June 21, 2024

Vixen new singer Rosa Laricchiuta sounds pretty good ! #Vixen #OCHairMetalMeltdown #RosaLaricchiuta

Posted by Giancarlo Floridia on Friday, June 21, 2024

Vixen Honda Center

Posted by Shannon Moore on Friday, June 21, 2024

OC hair metal meltdown at the Honda center .
VIXEN .

Posted by Matt Gugg on Friday, June 21, 2024

Caved in tonight and went to the OC hair Metal meltdown… I’ll tell you who Vixens new singer is before Blabbermouth does...

Posted by Giancarlo Floridia on Friday, June 21, 2024

Vixen

23 июн 2024

Watch: DOWN Returns To Live Stage For First Time In Nearly Two Years

DOWN played the first of two Louisiana "pop-up" shows last night (Thursday, June 20) at Southport Hall in New Orleans. Fan-filmed video of the concert is available below.

The band's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:

01. Lysergik Funeral Procession
02. Hail The Leaf
03. Lifer
04. The Seed
05. Ghosts Along The Mississippi
06. Rehab
07. Losing All
08. New Orleans Is A Dying Whore
09. Pillars Of Eternity
10. Swan Song
11. Eyes Of The South
12. Stone The Crow
13. Bury Me In Smoke

DOWN announced two pop-up shows for this week in Louisiana after the band's previously announced concert in Mescalero, New Mexico was postponed due to a pair of rapidly growing wildfires which are converging on a village inside a tribal reservation in the state.

The long-running heavy metal supergroup, which features vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower and bassist Pat Bruders, was supposed to perform on Thursday, June 20 at Inn Of The Mountain Gods Resort And Casino in Mescalero, New Mexico. But the show was called off after thousands of residents in southern New Mexico were ordered to evacuate their homes and the fires prompted the partial closure of U.S. Highway 70 south of the village of Ruidoso.

The South Fork Fire started Monday on the Mescalero Apache Reservation, where president Thora Walsh Padilla declared a state of emergency.

DOWN will also perform tonight (Friday, June 21) at Varsity Theatre in- Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

$5 per ticket from each of the DOWN pop-up shows will go to Mescalero Apache Nation - South Fork Fire relief fund.

In a video message announced the pop-shows, Keenan said: "Hey, guys, this is DOWN. We're in a strange predicament right now and we were adapting by the minute as we talk here. But our show at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods clearly has been canceled because there's a horrific wildfire that is raging through the entire Apache reservation, the South Fork fire. So we have had to adapt and jump ship and try and figure another way to not only to not — postpone the show, but now we're trying to also help out as what we can. And being from Louisiana, we know how evil Mother Nature can be sometimes. So we are going to do two pop-up shows. One of them is on [June] 20th, Thursday, at Southport Music Hall in New Orleans. The second one will be on the 21st at the Varsity Theater in Baton Rouge, Louisiana."

When DOWN's concert at Inn Of The Mountain Gods Resort And Casino was first announced in April, the band said that Windstein would sit out the show due to his commitments with CROWBAR. Filling in for him at this week's gigs is former DOWN guitarist Bobby Landgraf.

Prior to Southport Hall, DOWN's last concert took place in September 2022 at the Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia.

DOWN made a handful of rare live appearances in the spring and summer of 2022. The band launched a three-date U.S. run of shows in May 2022 at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida. After playing in Atlanta and Dallas immediately after Rockville, DOWN took a three-week break before regrouping for three European festival appearances in June. The aforementioned appearance at that year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival followed in September 2022.

In August 2021, DOWN took part in a very special in-person live and virtual experience. "NOLA Town Throwdown" was held at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana and featured fans attending the show in person as well as watching it in real time from the comfort of their living room.

In August 2020, DOWN celebrated the 25th anniversary of "NOLA" with a special livestreamed event. Dubbed "The Quarter Century Throwdown", the high-production, multi-camera event took place using cutting-edge streaming technology to create a one-of-a-kind virtual concert experience.

A founding member of DOWN, Windstein left the band in 2013 in order to focus on CROWBAR and his family life. He was replaced by Bobby Landgraf, DOWN's former guitar tech who was previously in GAHDZILLA MOTOR COMPANY, a 1990s outfit also featuring Jason McMaster (DANGEROUS TOYS, WATCHTOWER),and HONKY.

Windstein announced his return to DOWN in 2019, with the band confirming a number of festival appearances for 2020 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of "NOLA", all of which were later canceled or postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic which swept the globe.

Prior to the August 2020 livestream, DOWN's last live appearance took place in August 2016 at the Psycho Las Vegas festival in Las Vegas.

The supergroup hasn't issued anything since the arrival of the "Down IV – Part Two" EP in May 2014.

"Down IV – Part Two" sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release in May 2014 to debut at position No. 23 on The Billboard 200 chart.

The band's previous EP, "Down IV Part I – The Purple EP", opened with around 12,000 units in September 2012 to land at No. 35.

"Down IV – Part Two" was recorded at Nodferatu's Lair — Anselmo's home studio — and produced by Michael Thompson. It was released via Down Records/ADA Music.

DOWN pop up shows THIS week!!! $5 per ticket goes to Mescalero Apache Nation - South Fork Fire relief fund
Thursday June 20th - @southportmusichall NOLA
Friday June 21st - Varsity Theatre - Baton Rouge, LA

Posted by Down on Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Down

23 июн 2024

DARK TRANQUILLITY Shares 'Not Nothing' Single From Upcoming 'Endtime Signals' Album

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers DARK TRANQUILLITY have released "Not Nothing", the third single from their upcoming album "Endtime Signals", due out on August 16 via Century Media Records.

According to a press release, "Not Nothing" "is about the insignificance of humanity in the big scheme of things. This philosophical provocation fits seamlessly in the overall gloomy themes of 'Endtime Signals'."

In addition, the eagerly awaited pre-order phase of "Endtime Signals" has started, and fans worldwide are now able to secure their copies of the various LP and CD formats as well as the digital version of "Endtime Signals".

DARK TRANQUILLITY vocalist Mikael Stanne comments: "Finally, we can announce that the pre-orders for 'Endtime Signals' start today. And to mark this monumental occasion, we also have a brand new single for you fine folks. 'Not Nothing' is an existential piece of 'Endtime Signals' that we feel showcases some of the diversity that the album holds. Turn up the volume and let us know what you think!"

Notably, "Endtime Signals" not only marks the thirteenth studio album of the band, but also their tenth album collaboration with Century Media Records. Building on the success of previous releases such as "Atoma" (2016),which climbed up to No. 2 in the Swedish album charts, and "Moment" (2020),which earned the band a Swedish Grammis award, the band is set to continue to redefine and deliver a top-tier musical experience with "Endtime Signals".

In March, DARK TRANQUILLITY released the visualizer for the LP's first single, "The Last Imagination".

"Welcome to the world of DARK TRANQUILLITY once again," the band said. "It's been a while since 'Moment' and we've gone through quite a lot in order to end up where we find ourselves today. But as we can reveal the first single from the upcoming 'Endtime Signals', the feeling is that of pride, accomplishment, and a fair bit of relief."

The band continued: "Going back to what we fundamentally feel is the core of DARK TRANQUILLITY, with a partly new lineup, has been a tremendous experience. It gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate and view what we have built from a new and exciting perspective. This resulted in a focused and intense writing period where we have discovered aspects of our music anew and taken certain elements of it further than before. Joakim Strandberg Nilson has delivered above and beyond in terms of drumming, with Christian Jansson following through in fierce and precise fashion. This has driven the writing and recording process to feel challenging, different and inspiring in the best way possible."

Discussing the album as a whole, the band offered: "Thematically. the album deals with where we are heading, what has truly and fundamentally changed in us and how we find ways to cope with it. It has been hard finding that spark of positivity lately and there is a sense of grief running through the course of the album. Not only in the sense of mourning what we have lost on a personal level, but also where our sacrifices have taken us. 'The Last Imagination' in particular takes this to its logical conclusion and talks of what we leave behind and how hard it is for us to grasp that our significance might not be what we imagined.

"The breadth of the album is something we have worked hard at and we believe that this first song gives an indication if not a full picture of what is in store. There is ferocious speed, grinding brutality and haunting melodies of devastating loss to come. This is us making good on our promise to ourselves and our continuing mission."

"The Last Imagination" stands as a beacon of DARK TRANQUILLITY's unparalleled artistry: The band delves into the depths of the human experience and reflects on the impermanence of life, with a profound lyrical narrative and captivating melodies. This single challenges listeners to confront the finality of their stories, unheard and untold.

Accompanying the release, Niklas Sundin, former guitarist and longstanding collaborator of the band, has crafted captivating visual elements, including the visualizer for "The Last Imagination".

Released in May, the video for the LP's second single, "Unforgivable", came into being while the band was on the road. Shot during the band's tours in Turkey and Mexico, the clip is a manifest of DARK TRANQUILLITY's live energy and presence, and a dedication to their loyal fans all over the world.

Stanne said: "Shot during our recent tours of Turkey and Mexico, the 'Unforgivable' clip showcases the band in its true element. From the intense drums of Joakim Strandberg Nilsson to the thunderous bass of Christian Jansson, the song is propelled forward at a pace not heard from the band in many years. Ripping guitars hold the structure fast as the electronic elements further emphasize the urgency and desperation of the track. A fresh surge of creativity and renewed vigor sparked this song that lyrically draws strength from frustration and helplessness in the face of oppression."

The album release date, August 16, was strategically chosen: It is no coincidence that the album reveal collides with the infamous Summer Breeze in Dinkelsbühl, Germany and DARK TRANQUILLITY's performance at the festival. As a special celebration for the reveal of their new album, the band will give a burning live performance, playing and partying into the release of "Endtime Signals" live on stage.

DARK TRANQUILLITY is:

Mikael Stanne - Vocals
Johan Reinholdz - Guitar
Martin Brändström - Electronics
Christian Jansson - Bass
Joakim Strandberg Nilsson - Drums

Photo credit: Alessandro di Martino

Dark Tranquillity

23 июн 2024

DREAM THEATER Keyboardist JORDAN RUDESS Announces New Solo Album 'Permission To Fly'

DREAM THEATER keyboardist Jordan Rudess has announced his brand new solo album, "Permission To Fly", due on September 6, 2024 via InsideOut Music.

No stranger to experimentation, known for leading the charge in pushing creative, sonic, and technological boundaries, Rudess's latest endeavor epitomizes this ethos, delving into the complexities of human existence within our multifaceted world.

As Jordan explains: "The essence of the album is deeply informed by the tumultuous events of 2023-2024, with motifs of peace and anti-violence woven throughout many of the songs."

To mark the announcement, Rudess has launched the epic new track "The Alchemist", with a video by Wayne Joyner. Check it out below.

While some previous releases were true solo pursuits, this time, Rudess assembled a core group of musicians to support and elevate his vision. The album features Jordan alongside That Joe Payne on vocals, Darby Todd (DEVIN TOWNSEND) on drums and Steve Dadaian on guitar, as well as guest guitar solos from Bastian Martinez.

With the music in capable hands, Rudess wanted to make sure to give the lyrics their proper attention. For that, he turned to a source close to home, his daughter.

"All the lyrics on the album were written by my daughter, Ariana," Jordan says. "While I enjoy writing lyrics myself, my primary focus tends to be on the sonic quality of the words. For this album, I wanted to delve deeper and offer something that resonated on a more profound and cerebral level. Ari did an exceptional job."

"Permission To Fly" will be available as a limited CD digipak and gatefold 180g 2LP (both including bonus material),as well as digitally.

01. The Final Threshold (04:08)
02. Into The Lair (09:31)
03. Haunted Reverie (05:14)
04. The Alchemist (08:36)
05. Embers (04:03)
06. Shadow Of The Moon (05:29)
07. Eternal (08:53)
08. Footstep In The Snow (04:02)
09. Dreamer (05:03)
10. Incarnation (03:31) (bonus track)
11. Chopin Fm (05:33) (bonus track)

Listen to the previously released track "Embers" below.

Jordan recently made his live debut with Darby Todd and That Joe Payne, with two rapturously received sets on the 2024 edition of Cruise To The Edge, also marking the live premiere of "Embers".

Renowned as the "Best Keyboardist Of All Time" by Music Radar magazine, Rudess stands out as the extraordinary keyboardist and multi-instrumentalist for the platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winning progressive rock band DREAM THEATER. Embarking on his musical journey as a classical prodigy, Jordan initiated his studies at the illustrious Juilliard School Of Music at the age of 9, laying the foundation for a career marked by a distinctive fusion of classical and rock influences.

Beyond his role in DREAM THEATER and the power group LIQUID TENSION EXPERIMENT, Jordan's musical prowess has resonated across a diverse spectrum of collaborations. From DEEP PURPLE and David Bowie to Steven Wilson and Jan Hammer, he has left an indelible mark on the industry. Notable projects such as LMR (his side venture with Tony Levin and Marco Minneman),Steven Wilson's BLACKFIELD, guest appearances with DEEP PURPLE and THE DIXIE DREGS and collaborations with artists like Enrique Iglesias, THE PAUL WINTER CONSORT, Annie Haslam, and many others, underscore the breadth of his musical reach.

Venturing into the realm of cutting-edge technology, Jordan has emerged as a pioneer with a focus on state-of-the-art keyboard controllers and music apps. As the owner of the highly successful iOS app development company Wizdom Music, he has spearheaded the creation of award-winning apps, including GeoShred, MorphWiz, SampleWiz, Vythm, Polywave, Jam With Jordan and SampleWiz 2. GeoShred, Wizdom Music's latest triumph, was a collaborative effort with moForte, founding members of Stanford University's Sondius team. Rudess is currently working on an AI interactive project as Visiting Artist at MIT's Media Lab in the Responsive Environments group.

Jordan Rudess

23 июн 2024

TOM MORELLO Says His Collaboration With His 13-Year-Old Son Was Inspiration For His Upcoming Rock Album

Tom Morello

23 июн 2024

GHOST's TOBIAS FORGE: 'It Feels Like A Giant Relief' To Finally Release 'Rite Here Rite Now' Film

At the world premiere of GHOST's debut film, "Rite Here Rite Now", on June 18 at London, United Kingdom's Picturehouse Central, GHOST leader Tobias Forge told Rock Sound about the making of the movie (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "As any semi-gargantuan task, as fun as it is, it's also draining. I'm used to working towards deadlines, but filmmaking is definitely a lot… You can release records into the society and people will buy it or not, whereas tickets you have to sell too, but cinemas are a little bit like venues. So you can't just release a film or move it like a week. If you don't deliver on time, it would be delayed, like, months. So we've been sort of zoning in on this date, basically today, for the last nine months. So it feels like a giant relief because at points during the making of the film, there was definitely a sense of urgency, especially for everyone who had to answer to someone, which I guess I had to too, but I also understood the urgency of things having to be delivered on time. But now we're finally here, against all odds."

Director Alex Ross Perry stated about working with Forge and GHOST: "I am a fan. I was first and foremost a fan. If anything keeps me humble and honest about working with him several times on various different projects, I'm just happy to be there. I'm not there to make a name for myself or build up my resume as a great rock/metal filmmaker, get other jobs. It's really just, I'm a fan. If I can be of service here, I am ready to be of service. I think that's a good attitude to bring to something that there's room for a lot of other voices and a lot of collaboration, but you don't need two bosses in that. You just need one boss, and then someone who's happy to be there. It's just about translating what he wants, because what he wants is vast, visual, creative but not always practical or possible. He's the first one to admit that, and he knows that. So it's never, 'Here's what I want. Do it.' It's, 'Here's what I want,' and then me saying, 'Well, here's a version of that we can do. If we had all the time and money in the world, we could do exactly what you just said, but we don't.' And I'm here to say, 'Well, if we did it this way, is that good enough? Is that basically correct?' And, 'Yeah, yeah, we can do that.' And then sometimes there's ideas that were in place from our first conversation, moments that never changed, and then there's things in the movie that we thought of five minutes before we started filming, or I thought of 20 minutes before we started filming and said, 'Something like this?' 'Yeah, let's do that. Let's try that this time.' So it's just being there to sort of be open and say, 'Tell me exactly what you want and tell me where there's room to be flexible.' If you had an ego about it, that would be very difficult, but I'm just happy to help out."

Due to the overwhelming demand, further theatrical dates have been added to the worldwide launch of "Rite Here Rite Now", which will now premiere in cinemas over four days on June 20, June 21, June 22 and June 23. Tickets are available here.

Directed by Forge and Perry ("Her Smell"),"Rite Here Rite Now" combines never-before-seen 2023 concert footage of GHOST with a narrative story that picks up plot threads from the band's long-running "Chapters" series.

Shot over the course of GHOST's two sold-out shows at Los Angeles's hallowed Kia Forum, "Rite Here Rite Now" fully immerses viewers in the technicolor melodrama of the vaunted live ritual that has helped to propel Sweden's foremost theatrical rock export to Grammy-winning, chart-topping, arena-headlining status the world over.

"Rite Here Rite Now" is, however, so much more than a concert movie. GHOST's debut feature film combines live performance from the two-night finale of the band's "Re-Imperatour" U.S.A. 2023 with a narrative story that picks up plot threads from the band's long-running "Chapters" series. The result is an utterly unique phantasmagorical blend: Flesh and bone renditions of favorites from all five of GHOST's albums as well as the RIAA platinum-certified "Mary On A Cross" and more are interwoven with the silver screen debuts of a few faces familiar to the band's legions of fans — all interacting behind the scenes with GHOST's Papa Emeritus IV, as his future and fate lay in the hands of the Ministry.

Whether you're a devoted disciple looking to relive treasured memories of the GHOST live spectacle or among the curious uninitiated, "Rite Here Rite Now" will put you right there: putting your phones down and living in the moment — as a shadow of uncertainty looms — completely spellbound and in the thrall of this bombastic yet intimate cinematic portrait of GHOST.

The original motion picture soundtrack to "Rite Here Rite Now" will be released on July 26 via Loma Vista Recordings. A fitting 18-song complement to GHOST's debut feature film, the band's first-ever original soundtrack will be available on all formats (digital, CD, 2xLP). Pre-orders are live now, and include the soundtrack's live version of "Absolution", captured at that now-legendary two-night stand at the Forum, as an instant grat track available on YouTube.

"Rite Here Rite Now" is produced by Popecorn Cinematic Pictures. Producers include Kristen Mulderig, Rick Sales, Craig Butta and Jonas Åkerlund.

Last October, Forge confirmed that footage from the band's September 2023 two shows at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California would be used as part of the film.

"When I first started putting it together, I was, like, 'Oh my god, I'm going to faint because there's so much to think about,'" Forge told Metal Hammer magazine. "Then it was, like, 'No, no, just don't think about it at all.'"

Both GHOST shows at the Forum were device-free experiences. Use of phones and smart watches was not permitted in the performance space. Upon arrival at the venue, devices were secured in individual Yondr pouches that were opened at the end of the event.

"I have never seen a crowd interact the way that they did since I was in a club band," Forge said. "They were the best shows I've ever done with GHOST, just because I didn't have to see those fucking mobile phones."

Tobias was also asked if the GHOST film will be similar to METALLICA's "Through The Never", which starred members of the iconic rock band and Dane DeHaan ("Chronicle", "The Amazing Spider-Man 2"). DeHaan played a young band crew member who is sent out on an urgent mission while the band is playing a rousing live set in front of a sold-out crowd and unexpectedly finds his world turned completely upside down. Forge replied: "In the sense that it's a concert with something else combined."

At the Forum shows, GHOST performed the song "Twenties" live for the very first time live. They also played their cover of Roky Erikson's "If You Have Ghosts", which was originally reimagined by GHOST for their 2013 EP "If You Have Ghost". The band's version of the track at the Forum featured two cellists with a piano playing, and it was performed on a separate stage from the rest of the set.

SCOTT WEILAND's Widow Sets Record Straight About His Death: 'He Didn't Overdose'

During an appearance on the latest episode of the Appetite For Distortion podcast, Scott Weiland's widow spoke about his legacy, more than eight years after the late STONE TEMPLE PILOTS frontman's death. Photographer Jamie Wachtel Weiland said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I feel like he really does not have the accolades and the respect and the recognition that he absolutely deserves. I feel like when he died, everybody was kind of, like, that's tragic, but, of course, he overdosed, which he didn't fucking overdose, which I tried to get that point across. He didn't. Because he had drugs in his system, the coroner had to rule it an overdose. But the truth is Scott died because the main artery in his left ventricle was 95 percent blocked. That came from 10 years of heroin use, that came from an entire adult life of chain smoking. His heart stopped. Did he have trace amounts of drugs in his system? He did. Did I know he was using? No, I didn't, because he lied to me, because I had caught him before and it would always be this huge fight and I would be furious at him. And to be doing this stuff, but to also to lie to me about it… And I remember even talking to the coroner in Minnesota when everything happened and saying, like, 'How could he lie to me about this again?' And the coroner was so kind. And he said, 'I think he just really didn't wanna disappoint you.' But, yeah, I really wanna clear up, that was not an overdose — it was not. He was not using heroin. He did not overdose on drugs. His heart stopped because his heart had been through so much abuse because of prior drug use in his life and smoking and heavy drinking."

Weiland was found dead on his tour bus in December 2015 at the age of 48 from a toxic mix of drugs and alcohol. The vocalist, who was on the road with his solo band THE WILDABOUTS, was also dealing with self-medication, estrangement from his children, financial difficulties and a steadily increasing drinking problem.

Regarding the criticism that she has received from some of Scott's fans for her role in the circumstances that led to the singer's death, Jamie told Appetite For Distortion: "People can say whatever the fuck they want about things that I did or didn't do. But the truth was I did pretty much all the heavy lifting myself with him. I was alone with him trying to keep him safe and keep him calm and get him to the right doctors and get him on stage, get him to rehearsals. It was just me. I was the gatekeeper for everything. And that was really, really fucking hard. So when we talk about the comments that people make about me, about Scott, about our marriage, I basically wanna tell everybody to go fuck off, 'cause they weren't there. They didn't know. And to judge and comment on it is just so low and ignorant. It's just ignorance. And that's why… the horrible things that people have said about Scott, the use of [the word] 'junkie', all of that, I honestly stopped looking at all of this years ago. I just stopped looking. I don't read any of the comments. I don't read the articles about him. I don't even look because it's so upsetting to me, that ignorance and that negativity and that judgment. It makes me sick. It gives me anxiety. It depresses me. So I just don't look. I just don't look."

A January 2016 report from Billboard revealed that Scott was dealing with hepatitis C, mental illness and the knowledge that both his parents had cancer in the final months of his life. The article featured interviews with Jamie, his mother Sharon, his WILDABOUTS bandmates Tommy Black and Nick Maybury, tour manager Aaron Mohler and others.

Jamie told Billboard that Scott had been experiencing episodes of paranoia and mania caused by bipolar disorder. She explained: "At one point, it was so bad I had to move out because he was unstable." Eventually they found a medication that leveled him out, with Jamie adding "For the last couple of years, he was doing pretty great."

In addition to STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, Scott fronted VELVET REVOLVER from 2004 through 2008. He rejoined STP in 2008 after a six-year hiatus, but was dismissed from the group in 2013 due to his erratic behavior.

More than seven years ago, Jamie filed a claim against Scott's estate, saying he owed her $64,406. Jamie said she and Scott signed a prenuptial agreement before their 2013 wedding which provided that the musician would put $2,000 into a separate account each month that they were married, with a provision that the amount would increase by seven percent annually. But Jamie said Scott had only made two deposits by the time he died in December 2015.

TMZ said that the document was "cut and dried," stating "what was his before the marriage remained his, and vice versa." In addition, the agreement waived Jamie's right to spousal support.

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Jamie Weiland's creditor's claim against the estate was denied in August 2019.

Mary Forsberg was Weiland's second wife and mother to his children, Noah and Lucy. His first marriage to Janina Castenada lasted from 1994 to 2000.

Forsberg posted a brutally candid letter about Scott at RollingStone.com following his death, writing that his children "lost their father years ago. What they truly lost on December 3rd [2015] was hope."

Image courtesy of 102.1 The Edge

Scott Weiland

23 июн 2024

VENOM INC. Signs With Artist Worldwide

Artist Worldwide, the international booking agency for some of the most respected artists in heavy metal and punk, has announced the signing of British based international heavy metal band Venom Inc., reports Arrow Lords Of Metal.

Venom Inc. reunites former Venom and Atomkraft singer/bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan and Venom founding guitarist Jeffrey “Mantas” Dunn, alongside their former M:Pire Of Evil bandmate Marc “JXN” Jackson on drums.

Says Demolition Man: “I’m proud to announce to have signed with Artist Worldwide in LA, joining artists I admire and with a history of superb musical value.. including Udo, The Dead Daisies, Loudness, Yngwie Malmsteen, Doyle, Primal Fear, Glen Hughes, Frank Marino etc etc.. and to be artist rostered with The Dickies seems to complete my circle from my beginning in 1978!! Honoured, humbled, greatful! Here’s to Chuck Bernal CEO for the faith and belief”

Find more info at artistww.com.

Venom Inc.

23 июн 2024

Tokyo’s HEBI KATANA – III Album To Receive Vinyl Release In August

This Charming Man Records will release Tokyo’s Hebi Katana’s III album on vinyl on August 28. Preorder at thischarmingmanrecords.de. The pressing is limited to 300 copies (100 purple/black dot, 200 crystal clear wax).

The classic doom riff and mellow and dark melody reminiscent of The Obsessed and Trouble have become a hot topic mainly overseas. Both works have been released on CD/LP/cassette by domestic and international labels. Their dark yet melodious doom sound attracted attention, especially among doom/stoner enthusiasts around the world.

This work, which is the third album, maintains the classic doom/hard rock sound that has been created up to now, but it also has a strong jam feeling honed through expeditions including overseas tours, and the band ensemble is truly impressive. It is a work of art. Coupled with member changes, the content gives a sense of significant growth and progress. In addition, the songs created through collaboration with seasoned live acts have a more vivid finish. Through songwriting that involves everyone’s participation, each band’s colors and characters are strongly reflected, and it can be said that the band is exploring a unique sound based on the doom/stoner sound.

“Hallelujah Anyway” is a straightforward attack with a classic heavy riff and mellow chorus, “Depressed Blues” is a combination of a mid-tempo heavy riff and dark vocals In the second half, “Darkest Priest” develops into a more doomy shuffle boogie, and “Lost” drifts from a dark arpeggio-driven melody to a heavy and sinking development, and the songs included are rich and fulfilling. The yellowtail is something to behold.

Tracklisting:

“Hallelujah Anyway”
“The Debtor”
“Depressed Blues”
“No Sorrow”
“Pennsylvania Blood”
“The Hole”
“Darkest Priest”
“Lost”

Hebi Katana - III by this charming man records

Hebi Katana

23 июн 2024

CEREMONY OF SILENCE – “Primaeval Sacrifice” Visualizer Released

Slovakian blackened death metal horde, Ceremony Of Silencehas premiered the visualizer video for "Primaeval Sacrifice," the second single from forthcoming album, Hálios.

"Primaeval Sacrifice" will be available everywhere on June 21 Willowtip Records will release Hálios July 19 on CD, cassette, vinyl, and digital formats. Pre-orders available at the following locations. Preorder on Bandcamp.

Building upon the foundation laid by their debut album, this new release delves even deeper into the band's unique blend of brutality and atmosphere. The album radiates with suffocating intensity, introducing a richer, more atmospheric dimension to the band's sound, while retaining some of the band's signature aspects of haunting melodies, or breathtaking gradations.

Unborn, all-pervading and radiant. The immutable light of the Universe, our fundamental inherent nature, and a bridge to the mythical time. Hálios represents a breakthrough of the sacred into the temporal world, and sets forth on an eerie journey reenacting old stories inspired by the essence of the ancient Indo-European mythology, entwined in obscure visions and dreams.

Tracklisting:

“Primaeval Sacrifice”
“Serpent Slayer”
“Moon Vessel”
“Eternal Return”
“Light Runs Through Light”
“Perennial Incantation”
“King In The Mountain”

“Primaeval Sacrifice”:

“Serpent Slayer”:

Ceremony of Silence

23 июн 2024

ZAKK WYLDE – KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz Statue Available For Preorder

KnuckleBonz has announced the release of a new statue of Black Label Society / Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde.

The Zakk Wylde II Rock Iconz KnuckleBonz statue is currently in production and now available for preorder. Reserve yours now at Knucklebonz.com. Slated to ship Early 2025.

The statue is limited edition – 3000 are made. Officially Licensed.

Each piece is hand-crafted. This is a fine-arts process where each statue is hand-cast, painted and numbered on the base.

Zakk Wylde

23 июн 2024

Hamilton’s ABSORB To Release Smog EP In July

Hamilton, Ontario-based punishing death/doom outfit Absorb will release their Smog EP on July 26 via Hypaethral Records.

Forged in 2013, Absorb — Jeff Luckel (lead guitar), David Eckmeier (rhythm guitar), Jason Luckel (bass), and Aaron Barthe (drums) — set out to cultivate a sound that was slow, dissonant, and quakingly heavy. After cycling through a number of vocalists, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place with the addition of vocalist Erik Thorkildsen in 2022. Since then, Absorb has found its true sound, a perfect fit with Thorkildsen’s dominating vocal delivery.

Following the band’s 2023’s Rot EP, Smog marks a profound evolution for the band, embracing denser, more atmospheric compositions that add new layers of depth to their monolithically heavy sound. Absorb's music is a full-body visceral encounter, drawing from influences such as Primitive Man, Thou, and Cough, yet forging a sound that leaves listeners stunned. A three-track, twenty-five-minute aural assault, Smog is the next chapter in the band's inexorable voyage to push their music beyond the limitations of death and doom.

“This is our second release with Absorb's current lineup,” elaborates Thorkildsen. “Smog envelops the listener in a dense, thunderous, buzzsaw fuzz-laced journey that rings in your head like tinnitus long after the last note. Combining soul-crushing riffs and intense, varied vocal delivery, it delivers a cathartic punch, leaving you feeling raw and contemplative with its weight.

"'Dissociated' is the first song that I've written with Absorb from top to bottom," he continues of the opening track and first single from the EP. "The Rot EP had already been completed by the time I joined the band. Lyrically, 'Dissociated' is a mix of being at the end of a two-year COVID bender and fantasizing about losing everyone in my life when the cell network(s) went down for twenty-four+ hours. It feels like isolation that just buries you further and further."

Smog was produced, engineered, and mixed by Nick Ginn and mastered by Jamie King. Guitars were engineered and recorded by Andy Dmytryshyn. The EP will be released on limited CD (100 x four-panel digipak), limited 12” vinyl (100 Smog, 100 Black) and digital formats.

Preorder at hypaethralrecords.com.

Tracklisting:

“Dissociated”
“Smog”
“Cecilia”

“Dissociated”:

Smog by Absorb

(Photo – Brittany Vaughan)

Absorb

23 июн 2024

See TAYLOR HAWKINS's Son SHANE Perform 'I'll Stick Around' With FOO FIGHTERS At London Stadium

FOO FIGHTERS were joined by Shane Hawkins, the son of their late drummer Taylor Hawkins, for a surprise performance of "I'll Stick Around" during their concert Thursday night (June 20) at at London Stadium in London, United Kingdom.

Prior to launching into the second single from FOO FIGHTERS' self-titled 1995 debut album, frontman Dave Grohl told the 17-year-old Hawkins: "Hi, Shane. Thank you for waiting three hours to come play drums with us."

This was not the first time that Shane has played with FOO FIGHTERS. He previously honored his late father with the FOO FIGHTERS at a pair of tribute concerts in London and Los Angeles in September 2022. He also joined FOO FIGHTERS at the Boston Calling festival in May 2023 to perform "I'll Stick Around".

Taylor Hawkins died in March 2022 in Bogota, Colombia due to a reported cardiovascular collapse at the age of 50.

He left behind his wife Alison Hawkins and three children — Oliver Shane, Annabelle and Everleigh.

In July 2022, Shane teamed up with the California band THE ALIVE to play drums on "My Hero" during a Fourth Of July Laguna Beach block party.

In 2018, Shane joined his father and Grohl on drums for a cover of THE ROLLING STONES' "Miss You" at a CHEVY METAL show in 2018.

FOO FIGHTERS played their first official concert with new drummer Josh Freese in May 2023 at Bank Of New Hampshire Pavilion At Meadowbrook in Gilford, New Hampshire.

FOO FIGHTERS will play London Stadium once again tomorrow night (Saturday, June 22),before closing their U.K. stadium tour with a headlining concert at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Tuesday, June 25. FOO FIGHTERS will then finish out their European tour and return to the U.S. for shows in Boston, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and more later this summer.

Foo Fighters

23 июн 2024

THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT Drops New Track 'Suffocate City' Feat. SPENCER CHARNAS Of ICE NINE KILLS

Theatrical emo rock group THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT delivers massive riffs and a driving chorus while evoking a sense of fear on its new track "Suffocate City" featuring guest vocals from Spencer Charnas of horror-themed active rock outfit ICE NINE KILLS. Out digitally today (Friday, June 21),"Suffocate City" is the second sample of new music from THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT's upcoming album, due via Better Noise Music later this year. It follows the track "You're So Ugly When You Cry" — an upbeat anthemic pop-punk song which features Bert McCracken of two-times-RIAA-platinum-certified group THE USED.

"'Suffocate City' speaks to our listeners' sense of fear," says THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT vocalist Lee Jennings. "The fear of being stuck in a dead-end job, a dead-end relationship, or a dead-end financial situation. The fear of 'never getting out' is a ubiquitous experience that anyone can connect and relate to."

Charnas comments: "Thrilled to team up with our good friends THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT on their track 'Suffocate City'. We had a killer time working with them on the song and the accompanying music video. Check it out now."

Lauded as one of Alternative Press's "100 Bands You Need to Know," THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT have relentlessly toured across the country building an unwavering fanbase with their extravagant theatrics, stage décor and even costumed actors while opening for acts including SHINEDOWN, ICE NINE KILLS, UNDEROATH, SKILLET, FROM ASHES TO NEW, STARSET, PVRIS and ISSUES. This summer/fall, they'll hit the road on an arena tour with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, MARILYN MANSON and SLAUGHTER TO PREVAIL from August 2 to September 19. THE FUNERAL PORTRAIT will also appear at a handful of one-off shows as direct support to MARILYN MANSON and will conclude the run with festival appearances at Louder Than Life and Aftershock.

Photo credit: Aaron Mash

The Funeral Portrait

23 июн 2024

PAUL DI'ANNO: 'I've Been Really Ill The Last Couple Of Months With Infection After Infection'

In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, former IRON MAIDEN frontman Paul Di'Anno, who has been performing in a wheelchair as a result of serious health problems for most of the past decade, discussed the progress of his treatment, nearly two years after he underwent major knee surgery in Croatia. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "The fault [for the slow progress] is mine, because we keep breaking off, going to tour. And sometimes we've got to do that, because the fucking bills are astronomical, for medical care and that. It's actually cheaper doing it [the treatment] privately over here [in Croatia], because you won't get nothing done in England. So anyway, so you've gotta do what you can, but we've taken these couple of months off to get me going, I think for my sanity's sake as well, because I've been suicidal over this over the last few years. It's just too much. I'm not one of those people who should be sitting around all fucking day."

After interviewer Jimmy Kay suggested that going on tour is "probably better" for Paul's health than sitting at home, Di'Anno clarified: "It's bad for my health. It's not good for me, because I'm not getting the physio done or the lymphatic drainage I need. Or you can sometimes, but not all the time. It's very difficult. And, obviously, transferring from A to B, to airplanes and onto buses and that. But playing live does you a lot of good [mentally]."

Elaborating on his state of mind while trying to get to the point in his recovery where he can walk on his own again, Paul said: "Yeah, I spend a lot of time in isolation, especially where I live, 'cause I live out in the countryside and I don't get many people come to visit. And I've been really ill the last couple of months with infection after infection after infection, 'cause I caught pneumonia last year in Mexico. I was over there doing physio after I finished a tour."

Di'Anno went on to say that his 2015 battle with sepsis resulted in long-term alterations in his immune function, creating a cycle where his weakened immune system struggles to ward off new threats, leading to a greater risk of recurrent infections. "Somebody sneezes on me, I'll probably go down with [a severe illness]," he said. "But that's what you get from a sepsis. It just weakens your system."

Di'Anno recorded two classic albums with IRON MAIDEN — a self-titled effort in 1980 and "Killers" in 1981 — before being fired and replaced by Bruce Dickinson. He went on to front a number of other bands, including KILLERS and BATTLEZONE, and released several solo records.

In December 2022, Di'Anno spent time in Split, Croatia recording an album with his new project called WARHORSE. The band was formed earlier that year by Di'Anno and two guitarists/authors, Hrvoje Madiraca and Ante "Pupi" Pupačić. The resulting LP will be made available in July 2024 under the PAUL DI'ANNO'S WARHORSE banner.

WARHORSE previously recorded three songs, two of which — "Stop The War" and "The Doubt Within" — were released in May 2022 as a special DVD single along with Paul's video message to all fans who bought the single and thus helped raise funds for his knee operation.

The WARHORSE single marked Di'Anno's first music release after a seven-year hiatus due to severe health issues.

Di'Anno, who finally underwent his knee surgery in September 2022, played the first show since the operation on October 1, 2022 at the Keep It True Rising II festival in Würzburg, Germany.

In May 2022, Di'Anno came face to face with MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris for the first time in three decades before the band's concert in Croatia.

Harris, whose group kicked off the 2022 leg of its "Legacy Of The Beast" world tour at the 22,000-capacity Arena Zagreb, came out before the show to greet a wheelchair-bound Di'Anno and chat with him for a few minutes.

After his friendly meeting with Harris, Di'Anno stuck around long enough to watch some of MAIDEN's performance before leaving near the end of the set to avoid a huge traffic jam after the show.

Also in May 2022, Paul played his first full solo concert in seven years at the Bikers Beer Factory in Zagreb. The show was filmed and parts of it will be included in a documentary about Di'Anno, which is being directed by Wes Orshoski, co-director and producer of the acclaimed 2010 film "Lemmy" about the MOTÖRHEAD icon.

Paul Di'Anno

23 июн 2024

DAVID ELLEFSON Says It Was 'Illegal' For Metal Fans To Admit To Liking NIRVANA In Early 1990s

Former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson has weighed in on the never-ending debate about how the rise of grunge in the early 1990s forced most hard rock bands off the radio and MTV, with album and tour sales plummeting. Speaking to the X5 Podcast, he said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I lived in L.A. So, coming off [MEGADETH's] 'Rust In Peace' [album — this is in 1991; we're starting to write 'Countdown To Extinction', and I remember driving down the freeway, and KNAC was the big rock station. And I remember hearing — is it a song called 'Breed'? And I was, like, 'That is fucking badass. What a great song.' And then it turns out it was NIRVANA. And I liked NIRVANA. I thought they were cool. I loved their sound. I totally got it. And it was basically illegal for a metal guy to say you liked NIRVANA. I mean, you could be basically crucified and shot execution-style if you said that. So it was not allowed for any of us to say that."

He continued: "Look, they changed… It went from hair-band stuff right over to Seattle, especially, with MTV and media outlets and stuff. And I guess we got caught a little bit in it. When we put out the 'Youthanasia' record, our first single 'Train Of Consequences' was well received. 'À Tout Le Monde' was not. And then they just basically turned the channel. Of course, METALLICA cut their hair. They started altering their sound a little bit — mostly their image. They remained a metal band for the most part. METALLICA and MEGADETH, for sure, survived it. We adapted and survived it. Some of our contemporaries, they just stayed the course and, as a result, their business got smaller for another 10 years, until the 2000s came around.

"So, yeah, the '90s were rough, especially for thrash metal bands. Because there was Seattle, then came nu metal — you know, the KORN, COAL CHAMBER, LIMP BIZKIT."

Reflecting on how the "nu metal" scene affected MEGADETH's business, especially related to touring opportunities, Ellefson said: "Dude, I remember doing fuckin' Ozzfest '98. And this was the moment for me. So you talk about Seattle moment. But for me, the moment was Ozzfest '98. So our showtime was usually 6 p.m. every night. And headliners, obviously, was Ozzy [Osbourne], then it was TOOL, then MEGADETH, and then right before us was LIMP BIZKIT, and I forgot who else before us, but definitely the tides were turning. And so, LIMP BIZKIT was up there flushing [cardboard cutouts of] SPICE GIRLS down their big toilet that they had as a stage prop, everybody's got baggy clothes and they're kind of doing, kind of the KORN… The body language moved, it changed big time — kind of more gangster, hip-hop kind of thing. And then we come out in our skinny jeans and we're headbanging, and it's, like, 'This just feels very weird.' We're sandwiched between LIMP BIZKIT and TOOL. And I remember, me and [then-MEGADETH guitarist] Marty Freeman, we'd go out and watch TOOL. I loved them. I thought they were great. It was mesmerizing. To me, they were like the modern-day RUSH '2112' kind of vibe. It was very non-mainstream, kind of almost PINK FLOYD-ish. I was mesmerized by it, just how fricking cool it was. So, I got it. I've always adapted to new stuff that was coming out. So I thought it was really cool. Then, of course, Ozzy would come out. But it was just this weird cultural shift that was happening during that time.

"I think going back to the grunge thing, the band that we can all agree on, I think anybody, but especially metalheads and guitar-player kind of bands, was ALICE IN CHAINS," Ellefson added. "They were just cool no matter what. They sort of won everyone over, whereas SOUNDGARDEN, I liked them. I didn't love them. I love TEMPLE OF THE DOG. [Chris] Cornell, him and Eddie Vedder dueting on that track. And also, before PEARL JAM, MOTHER LOVE BONE. What a cool band that was. And, of course, they only had that moment, and then it was over once the singer died. But I thought PEARL JAM 'Ten' was great. I mean, that was one of those great, great albums. Top to bottom, it's just a great record. I think probably for our genre, you have to sort of take your metal hat off and just listen to it as music."

Last month, Ellefson was asked by Greg Prato of Ultimate Guitar how he and the rest of MEGADETH were affected by the downfall of the 1980s heavy metal scene during the grunge era. He said: "I loved grunge music. And I know that was not cool for a heavy metal guy to say that, especially a thrash metal guy. Because a lot of careers were pretty much upended because of Seattle music. And look, MEGADETH, we had to make some transitions. 'Cryptic Writings', in particular, was an album that was designed to reinvent the band at American Active Rock radio. Or we'd just go tour, tour, tour, and, like some of our contemporaries, took us back down to clubs and theaters. Whereas with 'Cryptic Writings', it kept us as an arena rock band. We got to headline radio station events, which were big festivals at that time. So I'm glad we did what we did, because I liked the direction that we went in, as opposed to, 'We're just going to stay true to the old school.' We kept the old school and then did what we did, which was add all the other flavors and layers that our band was capable of doing."

He continued: "So, MEGADETH, along with METALLICA for sure, not only survived it, but we thrived in it. And it still kept us at the top of the charts and the top of the bill, as young bands like CREED, GODSMACK, DISTURBED, and the new generation of nu metal stuff was coming up. Because I think that was as much of it for us. It wasn't just grunge."

"Grunge may have affected MTV, but I think overall as a hard rock, heavy metal genre, the grunge thing didn't affect us as much as you had to be aware of what was coming up behind us. And we saw it because we took KORN on tour with us on the 'Youthanasia' tour in 1995. We saw first-hand on stage that KORN, this was either going to go away tomorrow or it was going to change the world. And it changed the world. Just like when we took ALICE IN CHAINS out, when we took STONE TEMPLE PILOTS out. We took bands out with us in the '90s that were 'tomorrow's music.' We took a chance on those and we probably ushered them into their careers, which I thought was great. Because they weren't really 'heavy metal bands.' They were bands of a different flavor. I think, for us — we were able to see it coming, so we sort of adapted a bit. But we also weren't a band that was a one-trick pony. We weren't really threatened by grunge, to be honest with you."

Upon release in September 1991, NIRVANA's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" wreaked confusion upon the hair metal vanguard, putting an end to an era dominated by glamorous, androgynous and sparkly rock stars who absolutely saturated the radio waves and were almost exclusively what aired on MTV.

In a 2023 interview with Guitar World, MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine reflected on the band's fifth album, "Countdown To Extinction", which arrived just months after a series of landmark alt-rock releases from NIRVANA, PEARL JAM, SOUNDGARDEN and more effectively transformed the music landscape. He said: "It was our biggest record. That's pretty much the way I measure it. A lot of it was because of the timing; it came out in '92, and '92 was when everything was imploding because of alternative music. You had PEARL JAM, NIRVANA, SOUNDGARDEN, MOTHER LOVE BONE and BLIND MELON fucking things up, and radio gravitated toward that. They thought the yuppies would listen to alternative music while drinking their Stella Artois. [Laughs] The types who don't drink Miller High Life and definitely don't listen to metal. And the advertisers who handled brands like Lexus, BMW and shit like that would advertise on alternative stations, which fucked metal. So, as these metal stations went the way of the great white buffalo, we had to decide, 'Are we going to be alternative? Are we going to change like every other band?' METALLICA cut their hair off, put makeup on and all that stuff, and I got little haircuts during that time, but I never chopped it off. We decided we wouldn't change to fit the trend and would tough it out. Sure, we made some minor changes at the behest of the record label, but that was as far as it went. The fact that 'Countdown' succeeded despite the shifts in popular music showed that the music was more potent than any trend. We didn't sell out like other bands. We didn't change who we were. I think that's the greatest measure of 'Countdown''s importance."

Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH in May 2021, days 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.

Photo credit: Maciej Pieloch

David Ellefson

22 июн 2024

METALLICA's 'Master Of Puppets' Crowned 'Best Metal Album Of All Time' By Germany's METAL HAMMER Magazine

The German music magazine Metal Hammer celebrates its golden jubilee with its 500th issue, on newsstands from Friday, June 21, 2024. In this special edition, the magazine ranks the 500 greatest metal albums of all time, voted on by a nearly 100-member jury of editors, musicians, industry professionals, and notable metal fans. METALLICA's "Master Of Puppets" takes the top spot: "Complex structures, musical depth, yet massive sing-along potential — and guitar solos for the ages," says the magazine's laudatory review. "The compositional lessons instilled in [James] Hetfield and [Lars] Ulrich by Cliff Burton since the band's inception reach their full bloom here. For Metal Hammer, this is now officially the best opus in metal history!"

METALLICA appears five times on the Metal Hammer list of the 500 best metal albums. Other heavy metal pioneers such as MOTÖRHEAD, AC/DC, BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, MANOWAR and SLAYER are also present, alongside modern acts like SLIPKNOT, TOOL, NIGHTWISH, GHOST, IN FLAMES and SLEEP TOKEN.

"Compiling this list was certainly a mammoth task — but one we gladly took on for the extra-thick 500th issue," says Metal Hammer editor-in-chief Sebastian Kessler. "What an intense trip through the history of metal; perfect for celebrating Metal Hammer's 40th anniversary! There's rarely been so much discussion, philosophy, weighing, and argumentation. And with the release of the results, it's likely just the beginning."

The full list can be found in Metal Hammer issue 07/2024, featuring a golden cover and 32 extra pages. Other topics include concert reviews from METALLICA, AC/DC and I PREVAIL, exclusive features on new albums from DEEP PURPLE, KISSIN' DYNAMITE, ORDEN OGAN and NEAERA, and a report on the inclusive metal festival Rock In Rautheim.

In 2024, Metal Hammer celebrates its 40th anniversary, culminating in the Metal Hammer Awards ceremony on August 31 in Berlin.

Released on March 3, 1986, "Master Of Puppets" was METALLICA's third album — recorded in Denmark with producer Flemming Rasmussen — and it went on to sell over six million copies in the U.S. alone.

"Master Of Puppets" proved to be Burton's swansong with METALLICA. The bassist sadly died on September 27, 1986 in a coach accident while on tour promoting the album.

Nearly 40 years after it was first released, "Master Of Puppets" is an acknowledged classic of the thrash genre and proudly sits in the U.S. Library Of Congress for preservation in the National Recording Registry on account of being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant."

Die METAL HAMMER-Juliausgabe 2024: Die 500 besten Metal-Alben, Kissin‘ Dynamite u.a.

Wir machen tatsächlich die halben...

Posted by Metal Hammer on Wednesday, June 19, 2024

145

Watch: RICHIE FAULKNER And RONNIE ROMERO Join URIAH HEEP For 'Easy Livin'' Performance At Spain's ROCK IMPERIUM

According to Metal Journal, ELEGANT WEAPONS bandmates Richie Faulkner (also of JUDAS PRIEST) and Ronnie Romero (also of RAINBOW) joined URIAH HEEP on stage yesterday (Wednesday, June 19) at the Rock Imperium Festival at Parque El Batel in Cartagena, Spain to perform the URIAH HEEP classic "Easy Livin'". Fan-filmed video of their appearance can be seen below.

ELEGANT WEAPONS features Faulkner on guitar and Romero on vocals, alongside Dave Rimmer (URIAH HEEP) on bass and Christopher Williams (ACCEPT) on drums.

ELEGANT WEAPONS' debut album, "Horns For A Halo", was released on May 26, 2023 via Nuclear Blast. The LP was recorded with bassist Rex Brown (PANTERA, DOWN) and drummer Scott Travis (JUDAS PRIEST) and was helmed by acclaimed British producer Andy Sneap, who has previously worked with JUDAS PRIEST, ACCEPT, EXODUS and MEGADETH, among many others.

In a recent interview with Jorge Botas of Portugal's Metal Global, Faulkner spoke about a possible second album from ELEGANT WEAPONS. He said: "We've already started. We've recorded drums for the second record. We got together in March, I think, of [2023]; I think it was March — I'm not sure. We got together in the studio and played together to record the drums, get the drums recorded. So it's been started."

Asked if the second ELEGANT WEAPONS LP will arrive in 2024 or 2025, Richie said: "I don't know. Maybe [in 2024]. Back in the day, bands used to release a record every year, sometimes two in a year. I know we don't do things under the same cycle anymore. But the ideas are there for the songs. We all were together, and we thought why not get at least the drums going. We got the drums and we got the guitars, and stuff like that, so why not start the process?

"It was important for me, really, when I started the band… It was a band that it wasn't just a one-record type thing," Faulkner explained. "It was a band that plays live and records — hopefully — multiple records and grows and evolves together moving into the future. So the next record is just a part of that sort of process, really."

Richie went on to say that he plans on focusing on ELEGANT WEAPONS full-time once PRIEST has officially called it a day.

"PRIEST music is gonna be around a lot longer than we are," he said. "It's legendary music. They're genre-defining musicians and it's a genre-defining band. It will be around for a long time. But none of us gets out of this alive. That's just the reality of it. So if one day that call comes in and that's the last tour or the last album, whatever it is… I mean, I joined the band on what was the farewell tour. Luckily it wasn't, and we're still here 12 years later. [It's] fantastic. But at the time, I think I would have been silly not to consider what I was gonna do after the band, because of the circumstances of the tour. It was a farewell tour — it was [supposed to be] the last tour — so what am I gonna do after? So it's always been in the back of my mind. And this is a band that seems natural to me to continue with if that call ever came in."

ELEGANT WEAPONS played a number of shows in Europe in June and July 2023, including performances with PANTERA, festival appearances and headlining gigs.

ELEGANT WEAPONS made its first two festival appearances on June 16, 2023 at Hellfest in Clisson, France and on June 18, 2023 at Graspop Metal Meeting in Dessel, Belgium.

Uriah Heep

22 июн 2024

SCORPIONS Biopic 'Wind Of Change' In The Works For 2025 Release

According to Deadline, a SCORPIONS biopic, "Wind Of Change", is currently being developed and produced by ESX Entertainment, the company founded by actor, producer and former race car driver Ali Afshar.

ESX Entertainment is a a prolific indie film and TV production company that made its name in recent years pumping Yuletide content to streamers amid the pandemic.

"Wind Of Change" will tell the story of "three unlikely friends whose passion for rock 'n' roll fueled their rise from the ashes of post-World War II Germany to the global stardom in the 1980s as the multi-platinum rock band SCORPIONS," according to Deadline. French-born filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo ("American Wrestler: The Wizard") will direct.

Afshar says: "The SCORPIONS' music has penetrated our culture in a big way. There is an evocative quality to their sound that is unmatched in the genre, which is one of the reasons hits like 'Rock You Like A Hurricane' and 'Still Loving You' continue to get so much airplay and fill movie soundtracks, and their music continues to connect with a new generation of fans across the globe.

"When my family fled Iran and came to the United States, the SCORPIONS' music changed my life — if not saved it," he continued. "I'm hoping that by telling the SCORPIONS' story, we can bring some of that same inspiration to the world."

"Wind Of Change" is being produced by ESX Entertainment's Christina Moore and Daniel Aspromonte ("Bennett's War", "American Fighter"). The film is tentatively due in 2025 to coincide with the SCORPIONS' 60th-anniversary celebrations.

SCORPIONS wrote their classic ballad "Wind Of Change" after performing at 1989's Moscow Music Peace Festival in Moscow, where they shared the stage with other hard rock acts like BON JOVI and MÖTLEY CRÜE. The song was inspired by the sight of thousands of Russians cheering them on in 1988 — when they became the first hard rock band to play in Russia — and in 1989, at the aforementioned festival, even though they were a German band.

When the Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, "Wind Of Change" accompanied the moving scenes of East Germans passing through the Brandenburg Gate and entering the West for the first time.

In May 2020, a theory that "Wind Of Change" was actually penned by the CIA as a piece of late Cold War propaganda was raised in an eight-part podcast series, also called "Wind Of Change", which premiered on Spotify. The podcast was hosted by New Yorker journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, who said he launched the investigation after hearing a second-hand story from a friend who used to work for the CIA — that "Wind Of Change" was actually written by the CIA to encourage change throughout the Soviet Union.

SCORPIONS' only continuous member has been guitarist Rudolf Schenker, although singer Klaus Meine has appeared on all of the band's studio albums, while guitarist Matthias Jabs has been a consistent member since 1978, and bassist Paweł Mąciwoda and drummer Mikkey Dee have been in the band since 2003 and 2016, respectively.

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Rock Believer", was released in February 2022. The album was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

NAPLM DEATH Bassist SHANE EMBURY's DARK SKY BURIAL Announces New Digital Release, Out This July

Closing the conceptual quadrophony of releases, Shane Embury is happy to announce the release of the newest chapter of his experimental project, Dark Star Burial, entitled Solve Et Coagula.

Marking the last part of the Maze Quadrilogy, Solve Et Coagula represents what Shane Embury calls “signifying wholeness” that hides behind the purpose of its’ creator. Solve Et Coagula ends a very experimental chapter for DSB – Embury continues: “But for endings are beginnings and another horizon is just around the Door if we all dare to enter.”

Going through the angular landscapes and rough passages, Shane Embury, leads the listener through the world where pulse and your wide-fantasy are two main constants creating the outstanding echoes of what Dark Sky Burial is.

While questioning himself about the conceptual side of Dark Sky Burial’s series of releases, Shane explains the meaning of this series of releases: “Four is the number of wholeness…So maybe I am symbolizing my desire for personal wholeness through the album’s journey? From prehistoric times, the number four was employed to signify what was solid, what could be touched and felt. Its relationship to the cross (four points) made it an outstanding symbol of wholeness and universality, a symbol which drew all to itself.”

While most of project’s back-catalogue symbolizes a personal journey, Solve Et Coagula became the most collaborative work for Dark Sky Burial featuring four tracks written in collaboration with Mirai Kawashima (Sigh) back in 2005.

“Composing for dark sky burial seems much more multi-dimensional,” explains Shame discussing a meditative journey opposed to the well-recognizable aggressivity of Napalm Death.

Closing the themes of hope, sadness, search and lost, dreams and nightmares, Shane Embury unites all these topics in the final piece of the Quadrology. Solve Et Coagula is coming out this July 18. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

"The Jewel In The Toads Head"
"Vexations To The Spirit"
"Island Of The Dead"
"The Cage Where You Live Is In Your Thoughts" (feat. Mirai Kawashima)
"A Forest Within A Biscuit Tin" (feat. Mirai Kawashima)
"The Harbringer Of Discipline"
"Veiled Energies Inherent"
"Vulnavia" (feat. Mirai Kawashima)
"To Set Free The Invisible Shape" (feat. Mirai Kawashima)
"Solve Et Coagula"

"Life for anyone can be a struggle at times," explains Shane Embury. An honoured veteran of heavy music looks back at both sides of his artistic personality. On the one hand – Napalm Death, Brujeria, Tronos among other projects featuring Embury’s notable bass that became synonymous to the adjective “grinding”. On the other hand – Dark Sky Burial. Not just another project. But a different one. Coming through personal tragedies, Embury believes It all ignited a quest to find meaning and also rediscover just who he is.

(Photo - Gobhinder Jhitta)

Dark Sky Burial

$/\\$

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