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	NIGHTWISH's FLOOR JANSEN Rips 'Organized Religion&... 20
	DIMMU BORGIR Completes Recording, Mixing And Mastering Long-... 19
	FORBIDDEN's CRAIG LOCICERO: 'If You Can't Wri... 17

GENE HOGLAN Explains Why DARK ANGEL's New Album 'Extinction Level Event' Isn't Available On SPOTIFY

In a new interview with Ruben Mosqueda of We Go To 11, drummer Gene Hoglan of California thrash metal pioneers DARK ANGEL spoke about the band's first new album in 34 years, "Extinction Level Event", which was made available digitally on September 5 via Reversed Records. Regarding why he and his DARK ANGEL bandmates chose to keep the LP off streaming services like Spotify, Gene said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "That's just because right now, just the current state of streaming… There's been a number of artists who are pulling their stuff from Spotify, and it's kind of a double-edged sword.

"Do you want everybody to have access to your music? Of course you do," he continued. "This is just the best option for us and the fans to be able to hear our music immediately. I know that we are giving up — 'cause we haven't placed it on Spotify…

"If you start taking a look at the terms of use with Spotify, they are making some massive changes right now, and those are kind of uncomfortable," Hoglan explained. "There's a lot of stuff going on that they are… Now, their new stuff is happening, and I'm no expert at this, but I just got to read the terms of some of these changes. I'm, like, man, I can't be comfortable with that right at this moment. If something changes somewhere down the road, yes, of course. But right now, it is… Just like the music industry is not here to protect those who are creating the music within the industry, this is another situation where it's, like. 'Wow.'

"Right at this moment, it's just best for us to do this," Gene added. "I'm gonna always tell people, check out reversedrecords.com. Man, that's the best way to hear DARK ANGEL right now. And I want everybody to hear the music, so definitely, go check it out there."

This past June, DARK ANGEL released "Circular Firing Squad", the second single from "Extinction Level Event". The LP's first single, the "Extinction Level Event" title track, was written by DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim Durkin a decade ago, long before he suffered from severe liver disease, and, to the surprise of everyone, passed away in 2023. It was recorded and mixed at the Armoury Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, executive produced by DARK ANGEL drummer Gene Hoglan, produced and engineered by Rob Shallcross and mixed by Mike Fraser.

Durkin died on March 8, 2023 at the age of 58. An original member of DARK ANGEL, Durkin played on the band's first three albums — 1985's "We Have Arrived", "Darkness Descends" and 1989's "Leave Scars" — before departing the group in 1989. He was part of DARK ANGEL's lineup when the band reformed in 2013, and had been playing with them, on and off, ever since.

Prior to his death, Durkin had been sitting out some of DARK ANGEL's gigs. He was replaced at the shows by Hoglan's wife Laura Christine, who has since joined DARK ANGEL as a permanent member.

The "Extinction Level Event" artwork and layout was designed by Cain Gillis, with concepts by Hoglan.

"Musically, lyrically, and vocally, I'm so stoked about this album," Hoglan previously said. "I'm really excited about DARK ANGEL right now, and everyone who's heard the new album is losing their minds. Every time I'd finish a song and send it over to the guys, everybody was, 'Gene, this is my favorite song!' 'No, this is my favorite song!!' 'Dude, this is totally my favorite song!!!' That's never a bad sign."

Hoglan and Christine wrote everything except for the title track on "Extinction Level Event". Other songs appearing on the effort include "Atavistic", which is described as "a full-on three-minute thrash metal barrage", "Woke Up To Blood", the title of which stemmed from a dog attack, and "Terror Construct", which Gene wrote about the way the media and corporations team up to spread fear among the masses so they can continue to fill their pockets.

The seeds of "Extinction Level Event" were planted in late 2013 between the time when TESTAMENT stopped touring to work on their new record and Hoglan was scheduled to work on his next major project. After the first batch of writing sessions for "Extinction Level Event", Hoglan had to put writing for DARK ANGEL on hold until late 2022. With other obligations behind him, Gene laser-focused on DARK ANGEL, listening back to the jams he and Durkin made earlier, and writing more than 10 new songs over the next three months. With a full album of pummeling new songs, Hoglan flew to Vancouver to track the album at the Armory. There, he and his bandmates worked with Rob Shallcross and Mike Fraser, and over a few sessions, DARK ANGEL had recorded everything but the vocals.

Having passed away two years ago, Durkin's sudden death is still traumatic for DARK ANGEL and especially Hoglan. At the same time, he takes bittersweet pride in knowing that Jim's playing and performances live on through him and DARK ANGEL, not only when the band plays his old riffs, but also in the continued influence Durkin has on the band's new songs.

"One of the last things I told him was, 'Jim, dude, you're my original guitar hero," Hoglan recalled. "'My entire guitar style is based on your style because you are who I really learned how to play guitar from.' So, my guitar approach with DARK ANGEL is Jim Durkin's approach. When I write for the band, I'm thinking, 'What would Jim do here?' That's why his presence is massively all over this new record. Every single song. I wanted to make it to where people are like, 'Yeah, Jim wrote that riff. Oh, there's another Jim riff' because Jim wrote all the best riffs in the band, forever."

DARK ANGEL released two albums with Don Doty on vocals — the aforementioned "We Have Arrived" and "Darkness Descends" — before he exited the group and was replaced by Ron Rinehart (after a brief stint with Jim Drabos in 1987). The band issued two more studio LPs — "Leave Scars" and "Time Does Not Heal" — before calling it quits in 1992.

In a recent interview with San Antonio Current, Hoglan stated about his songwriting approach for "Extinction Level Event": "Really, the best way to move forward with a new set of DARK ANGEL material would be to acknowledge those earlier eras, of course. They're very important parts of the DARK ANGEL legacy. But anybody who knows DARK ANGEL — who's familiar with our trajectory — also will be very cognizant of the fact that we've never repeated ourselves on record. The first album, 'We Have Arrived', did not sound like 'Darkness Descends', and 'Darkness' didn't sound like 'Leave Scars' and 'Time Does Not Heal'. So, anybody who considers themselves a DARK ANGEL fan, they will be well aware of the evolutionary process of DARK ANGEL, the non-repeating of sounds and approaches. So, ultimately, I just kind of felt, 'Well, hey, what if we were to just take the approach of what if DARK ANGEL just kept putting out records throughout this entire 30-plus-year period. Where would the band be right now?' And that was kind of the most appealing approach.

"I'm not going to try to replicate 'Darkness Descends', or 'Time Does Not Heal' or 'Leave Scars' or 'We Have Arrived', for that matter," he clarified. "But, writing from here and now, this is very, very DARK ANGEL — what it's like to write as a DARK ANGEL of our current abilities and mindsets and approaches. So, that was the best way of moving forward with writing new material — for me anyway. That made it really, really exciting."

5

Watch: BRUCE DICKINSON Sings U.S. National Anthem At PITTSBURGH STEELERS Vs. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS NFL Game

IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson sang the U.S. national anthem earlier today (Sunday, September 14) prior to Pittsburgh Steelers' home opener against the Seattle Seahawks at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Video of his appearance can be seen below.

Dickinson first revealed that he would sing the U.S. national anthem at an NFL game during a recent interview with soprano Elizabeth Zharoff. He said at the time: "I'll let you in to a secret. So, I've got to sing the national anthem in Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They've asked me to do this. I'm going to do it a cappella and stuff, and as long as you start at the right place, you're good to go."

Dickinson performed Saturday night (September 13) in the Pittsburgh area and then has a show later in the day on Sunday in Silver Spring, Maryland. Since the Pittsburgh Steelers game was scheduled for a 1 p.m. kickoff, Bruce will have plenty of time to get to the Silver Spring gig.

Bruce first sang the U.S. national anthem during his September 11 solo concert at the House Of Blues in Boston, Massachusetts. Prior to launching into the U.S. national anthem, Dickinson told the audience at the House Of Blues: "So I'm gonna let you in to a dirty little secret that is gonna happen on Sunday. I've been asked to sing the American national anthem at a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Now, I've never done this before in my fucking life, and I'm trying to avoid the embarrassment of reading the fucking words off the back of my hand. Look, no writing on the back of my hand, or failure to read the auto cue because, fuck me, there is no auto cue, all right?! So because today is the kind of — it can't have escaped your attention that today is 9/11, right? And on this day, on that day, I was in New York City and I witnessed all the shit that happened.

"So normally I do a little bit of like an a cappella — that's just me singing on my own — a bit of [the IRON MAIDEN song] 'Revelations'," he continued. "But I thought, with your kind permission, I would have a go at the American national anthem, because it's the only fucking time I'm gonna practice it.

"We were down in Brazil [a few days ago for a festival appearance] and I was talking to the punk band, mates of mine, BAD RELIGION," Dickinson added. "And the guy went, 'Oh, you're gonna sing the anthem?' He said, 'Fucking make sure you start low.'"

Bruce then sang a few lines of "The Star-Spangled Banner", occasionally accompanied by fans in the crowd.

Dickinson told Travel Trade Gazette back in 2012 about his experience on September 11, 2001: "I'd just completed my line training and was all signed off to fly, and was in New York with the band. It was a really sunny day, and I was sitting on the roof of the hotel by the pool. I had a Boeing 757 manual on my lap, reading up, when a little old lady walked up to the pool attendant and asked if it was true that a plane had flown into the twin towers. I thought it must have been a small private plane, and went back to my reading. Then more people arrived, and someone said it was some sort of airliner, and I thought, 'Oh boy…'"

In 2015, the singer described to "Nights With Alice Cooper" the scene he witnessed shortly after the World Trade Center towers came down. He said: "It was strange, because there was no panic of anybody. Everybody was just… There was just an air of 'unreality.' There was no traffic. It was a lovely day — a beautiful day — and I was just walking around and looking at people. People were drinking at bars, having a beer. And it got to the evening, and it was obviously pretty somber. Nobody was cracking any jokes; there were no funnies about this one. And to this day, I can't think of any."

He continued: "I wandered around the next day and I thought, 'I don't know what to do now. I'll go and give some blood.' So I had a wander around and found some way to go and give blood. And it was queuing around the block. And all they were doing was the guy was coming around saying, 'Okay, here you go. Come back tomorrow. We don't need any blood. There are no survivors.' So I went and wrote a piece of paper saying, 'If we need your blood, we'll give you a call.'"

Dickinson went on to say: "Then the wind changed. And this, kind of, pall of gray shit started slowly advancing up towards Midtown. And up 'till then, upper Manhattan up by Central Park, you couldn't smell it. And I was out taking a walk, just walking around, because there was nothing else to do. And I could smell this acrid smell and I thought, "I'm not sure whether or not being in an air-conditioned building is better for you or it makes no difference whatsoever, but you know what? I'm gonna go sit in my room, 'cause this has got bad shit in it, this stuff.' And, of course, they're now discovering exactly how much awful stuff was in it. I mean, I just got a quick sniff of it."

Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour is once again his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.

Dickinson kicked off "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour on August 22 at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California.

Bruce is touring in support of his latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project", which arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.

Dickinson's reworked version of his classic 1994 album "Balls To Picasso", now titled "More Balls To Picasso", arrived on July 25.

Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.

Bruce Dickinson

3

SHARON OSBOURNE Thanks Fans For Their 'Overwhelming Love And Support' Following OZZY OSBOURNE's Death

Sharon Osbourne has thanked fans for their "overwhelming love and support" following the death of her husband, legendary BLACK SABBATH singer Ozzy Osbourne.

On Friday (September 12),Sharon took to her Instagram to write: "I'm still having trouble finding the words to express how grateful I am for the overwhelming love and support you've shown on social media. Your comments, posts, and tributes have brought me more comfort than you know. None of it has gone unnoticed, in fact, it's carried me through many nights."

Sharon's post included a video of her and her daughter Kelly on a recent falconry outing where they got up close and hands-on with birds of prey.

"Though I'm still finding my footing, I wanted to share some glorious creatures I had the chance to spend an afternoon with," Sharon continued. "The connection you make with these powerful birds is built entirely on trust and confidence. They'll choose to perch on you only if they sense you are safe and unafraid of them. It's a bond I know all too well, and the experience was nothing short of magical.

"I love you all, and I thank you deeply for the otherworldly amount of love you continue to send my way."

Ozzy died on July 22 of a heart attack, his death certificate revealed. The certificate filed in London also said Osbourne suffered from coronary artery disease and Parkinson's disease.

A private funeral service for Ozzy was held on July 31 on the 250-acre grounds of the house the legendary BLACK SABBATH singer and his wife bought in 1993 in Buckinghamshire, England. Only 110 of the singer's friends and family members attended the service, including his SABBATH bandmates, Robert Trujillo (METALLICA),Rob Zombie, Zakk Wylde, Marilyn Manson and Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT).

The day before the private funeral, thousands of fans gathered in the streets of Birmingham to pay tribute to Ozzy. Sharon, along with their children Aimée, Kelly and Jack, joined mourners for the emotional tribute.

A little over two months ago, Ozzy reunited with the rest of the original BLACK SABBATH lineup — guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — for what was his final performance at the "Back To The Beginning" charity concert in their original hometown of Birmingham, United Kingdom.

At "Back To The Beginning", Ozzy played a five-song set with his solo band — consisting of guitarist Zakk Wylde, bassist Mike Inez, keyboardist Adam Wakeman and drummer Tommy Clufetos — before being joined by Iommi, Butler and Ward for four classic SABBATH songs: "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "N.I.B." and "Paranoid".

Ozzy's solo set consisted of four songs from Osbourne's 1980 solo debut album "Blizzard Of Ozz" — "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley", "Suicide Solution" and "Crazy Train" — along with his 1991 "No More Tears" ballad "Mama, I'm Coming Home".

The 76-year-old heavy metal singer sang while seated on a black throne and appeared overcome with emotion at times. "You have no idea how I feel. Thank you from the bottom of my heart," he told the crowd.

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DIMMU BORGIR Completes Recording, Mixing And Mastering Long-Awaited New Album: 'What A Fantastic Journey'

Norwegian symphonic black metallers DIMMU BORGIR have completed recording, mixing and mastering their long-awaited new album.

On Saturday (September 13),veteran Swedish metal producer Fredrik Nordström, who heads up Studio Fredman in Västra Frölunda, Sweden, took to the studio's social media to share a photo of him with DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Silenoz (real name: Sven Atle Kopperud) and vocalist Shagrath (real name: Stian Tomt Thoresen) and he included the following message: "DIMMU BORGIR album recording, mix and mastering done. What a fantastic journey. [Had] so much fun and [it was] also challenging. If you are into the band you will not be disappointed".

During an appearance on a recent episode of the Iblis Manifestations podcast, Silenoz spoke about DIMMU BORGIR's follow-up to 2018's "Eonian" album. Speaking about how DIMMU BORGIR's longtime record label, Nuclear Blast, feels about the lengthy gaps between the band last couple of records, Silenoz said: "We have been fortunate in the sense that we've had priority on the label, obviously. And, yeah, sure, if we were a band that was less popular or less successful in the eyes of the label, we would probably got like a phone call, 'Hey, we need the album now.' But they never stressed us once about, 'Oh, we need the album now. We need the album now,' because they know that if we get to spend the time we need on the music, they will get a product that they can support and sell, and it will sell. So from their point of view, they know that they not to interfere with our creativity. And that's another thing that I'm really proud of, is that we never compromise, despite what probably common people think, 'Oh, they do what the label tells them to do,' blah, blah. No, never. We've always done it our way. And we even told the label a few times that, 'Let's hold on and let's do it this way.' And then the label has come back to us and said, 'Yeah, you made the right choice.' At least we know what we think is best for our art, and so we never had any issues there."

Regarding the fact that DIMMU BORGIR's next album will once again arrive nearly a decade after the band's previous collection of new material, Silenoz said: "We said [after 'Eonian' came out], 'Oh, it's not gonna take eight years until the next one.' But if you shave off the pandemic years, it's not gonna be eight years, really. Because we spent our time well, and we have been crafting the new stuff. Not to talk too much about it, 'cause it's still in the process, but great songs take time. Sometimes it doesn't have to take long to make a great song, but you never know. There's no template for that. And you just have to take the time it takes. As long as we can craft it in our tempo, it's gonna be good."

Looking ahead to the release of the new DIMMU BORGIR LP, Silenoz said: "I think for the next year it's gonna be a very eventful thing for us, with the new album coming out and things are on schedule, as much schedule as we can say. So, we're looking forward to the next few couple of years. And, yeah, I can't wait to share the new stuff. It's always something I look forward to. And once it's done, to get the physical copy in your hands and you can see the physicality of your work, so to speak… It's something you don't take for granted. And let's face it, we could probably record an album every second year or whatever, but what's the point? If you don't have the right intent and conviction behind it, then it's bound to flop and fail."

Asked if DIMMU BORGIR will tour in support of the new album, Silenoz said: "Yeah, I think so. We're gonna do as much as we make room for, I guess, in our day and age. [Laughs] I don't know how it's gonna be with the U.S. yet right now. I know it's doable to do a tour there, but it's not gonna be easy, with new costs and the tripled, quadruple costs and whatnot. But that's another thing that obviously fans maybe don't think about. It's getting more and more widely known now that's the case. But we'll see how we can get around it. We haven't been on a proper tour in the States for 10 years, at least — 12, 14 years, something like that. We had a few shows, one-offs here and there — New York, Chicago, I think it was, and a couple in Canada — but not like a tour. So, that'd be good if we can get that sorted. I'm looking forward to that… We'll definitely have a proper headline tour [in Europe]. So, yeah, next year should be good."

At this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Silenoz was asked how he knows that a DIMMU BORGIR album is finished and it's time to unleashed it on to the rest of the world. Silenoz said: "Well, it's always that time where you can work and work and work on it, but at the same time you have to let it go. It's the same when you have a kid and it grows up. You have to let it out of its shell somehow, and once that's done, yeah, then it's done. But certain albums, we live with the songs for so many years before we actually record them. So we can go back and forth, back and forth, and when we finally then go to the main studio to record all the parts again, then we pretty much have everything set. 'Cause we demo everything down to the smallest little detail before we go and record actual albums, so we can live with the songs and figure out the small tweaks here and there. Even after months and maybe even years, you can go back, and it's, like, 'Yeah, let's tweak it a little bit there.'"

Regarding what advice he would give to young up-and-upcoming musicians who have a vision of starting a band, Silenoz said: "Well, I would say try and find your place in the group or in the band constellation and do whatever you are good at. And there's a place for everybody in the band in that sense. And try and figure out who is the more leader type, because not everybody can be a leader. Let's face it — being in a band is not a democracy. It only works up to a certain point. Everybody wants to be there when you take the easy decisions and the cool decisions, but when you have to do the bad decisions and the negative ones and all that stuff, then that's when you separate from the democracy and to the leadership."

Asked if the leadership of DIMMU BORGIR is a 50-50 split between him and vocalist Shagrath (real name: Stian Tomt Thoresen),Silenoz said: "You know what? I think there's very few things that we disagree on. I tend to look at all the other stuff that we actually do agree on. And we have the same drive now more than probably ever, although that probably sounds a bit weird, but that's a fact. And I think we have the respect for each other and for our brand and for our history and legacy to not mess it up, if you know what I mean. So, yeah, if there's a hard decision to be made, then we do it together."

This past June, DIMMU BORGIR announced Kjell Åge "Damage" Karlsen as the band's new guitarist. Karlsen, who previously played with Shagrath in the long-running Norwegian rock act CHROME DIVISION, made his live debut with DIMMU BORGIR on June 27 at the Tons Of Rock festival in Oslo, Norway.

Longtime DIMMU BORGIR guitarist Galder (real name Thomas Rune Andersen) announced his departure from the band in the summer of 2024, explaining that he wanted to reactivate his OLD MAN'S CHILD project.

The now-48-year-old Galder played his final concert with DIMMU BORGIR on August 17, 2024 as the headliner of the main stage at Dynamo Metal Fest in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

Galder is a founding member of the melodic black metal band OLD MAN'S CHILD, with whom he released one EP and seven studio albums between 1994 and 2009.

DIMMU BORGIR's current lineup is officially a duo comprising Shagrath on lead vocals and Silenoz on rhythm guitar. They are joined by session musicians Karlsen on guitar, Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski on drums (since 2008),Geir "Gerlioz" Bratland on keyboards (since 2010) and Victor Brandt on bass (since 2018).

DIMMU BORGIR's latest album, "Eonian", came out in 2018. The LP was released right in time for the band's 25th anniversary in 2018, about eight years after its predecessor, "Abrahadabra". Since then, DIMMU BORGIR has played various tours all around the world, including shows at leading metal festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest.

DIMMU BORGIR released a collection of its cover songs, "Inspiratio Profanus", in December 2023 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Inspiratio Profanus" featured the first single "Black Metal" by VENOM, "Perfect Strangers" (DEEP PURPLE),"Burn In Hell" (TWISTED SISTER) and renditions from CELTIC FROST, as well as other influential artists.

Dimmu Borgir
Album recording, mix and mastering done ✅
What a fantastic journey hade so much fun and also challenging, if you are in to the band you will not be disappointed

Posted by Studio Fredman on Saturday, September 13, 2025

NILE Announces New Bassist/Vocalist ADAM ROETHLISBERGER

American death metal icons NILE have recruited Adam Roethlisberger as their new bassist/vocalist.

Roethlisberger will make his live debut with NILE tonight (Friday, September 12) at the opening show of the band's U.S. tour with Canadian extreme metallers CRYPTOPSY in Raleigh, North Carolina. Support on the 25-date trek of the East Coast, Midwest and Pacific Northwest will come from THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE and COGNITIVE.

Earlier today, NILE guitarist/vocalist Karl Sanders shared the following statement via social media: "Announcement time! We're very happy to welcome Adam Roethlisberger to NILE on bass and vocals. Adam has already put in an incredible amount of work, proving himself not only as a fierce player but also as a great teammate fully up to the challenge.

"We're sounding more powerful and heavier than ever, and we can't wait to unleash it for you on tour."

NILE's tenth album, "The Underworld Awaits Us All", came out in August 2024 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded with the lineup of NILE founding mastermind/guitarist Karl Sanders, longtime drum master George Kollias, vocalist/guitarists Brian Kingsland and Zach Jeter, and bassist Dan Vadim Von.

"The Underworld Awaits Us All" was once again produced and recorded at Sanders's own Serpent Headed Studios in Greenville, South Carolina. NILE returned to "Vile Nilotic Rites" engineer Mark Lewis (CANNIBAL CORPSE, DYING FETUS, WHITECHAPEL) for mixing and mastering.

"The Underworld Awaits Us All"'s art was once again envisioned and created by Michał "Xaay" Loranc, with reference to the cycle of life and judgment at its end.

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SIX FEET UNDER Cancels 'Midnight In Hell' Fall 2025 Tour 'Due To Unforeseen Circumstances'

Death metal veterans SIX FEET UNDER have canceled their previously announced "Midnight In Hell" tour with EXHORDER, WRETCHED and INCITE "due to unforeseen circumstances". The trek was scheduled to launch on September 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana and conclude on October 25 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania.

Earlier today, SIX FEET UNDER released the following statement via social media: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to announce that SIX FEET UNDER's 'Midnight In Hell' tour has been cancelled. We will be looking to move the dates to 2026. All tickets purchased can be refunded at point of purchase."

Last month, SIX FEET UNDER vocalist Chris Barnes shared a video message in which he offered an update on the recording sessions for the band's upcoming album. The follow-up to last year's "Killing For Revenge" is tentatively due in early 2026 via Metal Blade Records. Barnes said: "We're in the middle of recording a new album, so we'll be putting out a new album next [year] — early summer, late spring. And the guitars and the drums have been recorded. Jack [Owen, SIX FEET UNDER guitarist] went down to AudioHammer with Jason Suecof again and recorded the guitar tracks. And Jeff Hughell will be recording… Well, he's recording bass right now, in August. And Ray [Suhy] will be recording his lead guitar parts in the beginning of September, probably finishing up right before the tour starts on September 20th."

He continued: "The tour starts September 20th, 'Midnight In Hell', runs through October, finishes up in New Kensington, Pennsylvania on October 25th, and immediately after that last show on October 26th, the morning of, I will be flying directly to Miami, Florida, to my favorite studio where I've recorded 90 percent of SIX FEET UNDER vocals, Criteria Studios in Miami with my good friend Chris Carroll once again."

Barnes added: "I'll tell you what, man — you guys are gonna be amazed by this album. And I'm not hyping it up at all. I'm really just letting you know. It's such a diverse and dynamic album, and bunch of songs that me and Jack wrote together. It's literally just SIX FEET UNDER, all the elements that we've touched upon in our long discography. A lot of what people call groove and heavy, heavy SIX FEET UNDER style and sound of the years past, and also new flavors and ins and outs and really heavy brutal stuff too. I'll tell you what, you guys are really gonna be happy with this album."

Barnes previously stated about the new SIX FEET UNDER music: "Everything production-wise is shaping up and taking form as one of our most interesting albums to date. There is quite a variety and intensity among these new songs, from all-out brutality to old-school SIX FEET UNDER classic groove. Lord Marco [Marco Pitruzzella] got a thunderous sound to his drum tracks, and it complements what Jack did perfectly."

"Killing For Revenge" came out in May 2024 through Metal Blade Records. The LP marked the second effort that Barnes and Owen (ex-CANNIBAL CORPSE) had created together since reuniting for 2020's "Nightmares Of The Decomposed". Owen also produced "Killing For Revenge".

SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, CANNIBAL CORPSE. It became the frontman's sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, "Haunted". Only Barnes remains from SIX FEET UNDER's original incarnation, but the quality has remained remarkably consistent. The current lineup of Barnes, guitarists Owen and Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.

While Barnes is the sole remaining member, SIX FEET UNDER is about more than he and Owen. The singer is thrilled with the current lineup, and what each member brings to the table. "Jeff and Marco have been with me for about 10 years," Barnes said in last year's press release. "I'm really fortunate that I have probably the best musicians in metal. If you look at it, we have the same amount of original members as CANNIBAL CORPSE. Jeff is a killer bass player. Marco's probably the best drummer out there. Jack's the greatest songwriter I've ever been involved with over the 30-plus years I've been doing music professionally. And Ray is just a phenomenal guitarist who can play everything from jazz to death metal. The lineup now is untouchable."

"Killing For Revenge", which featured a guest appearance by guitarist Jason Suecof on "Neanderthal", was mixed and mastered by Chaz Najjar at Badlands Recording in Denver, Colorado. The record was released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl.

SIX FEET UNDER is:

Chris Barnes - vocals
Jack Owen - rhythm guitar
Ray Suhy - lead guitar
Jeff Hughell - bass
Marco Pitruzzella - drums
Due to unforeseen circumstances, we regret to announce that Six Feet Under's Midnight in Hell tour has been cancelled. We will be looking to move the dates to 2026. All tickets purchased can be refunded at point of purchase.
Tickets that were purchased for October 16th online… pic.twitter.com/iBalKNvjLQ

— Wooly's (@Woolysdm) September 12, 2025

TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT!

~ Six feet under ~ headliner coming to the US this Fall! Bringing along Exhorder, INCITE_Heavymetal...

Posted by Metal Blade Records on Wednesday, June 25, 2025

1

JAY JAY FRENCH Says TWISTED SISTER's First Reunion Concert Will Take Place In May 2026 On U.S. Soil

TWISTED SISTER's founding guitarist Jay Jay French has commented on this week's announcement that he and his longtime bandmates are reuniting for a 50th-anniversary world tour in 2026. The reunion will feature TWISTED SISTER's three core members: French, frontman Dee Snider and longtime lead guitarist Eddie Ojeda. Bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza won't be joining the celebration. Russell Pzütto, who has toured with Snider's solo projects, will replace Mendoza on bass. Joe Franco, who briefly played with the group in the mid-1980s, will sit behind the drum kit, stepping in for A.J. Pero, who passed away in 2015 at the age of 55.

Earlier today (Friday, September 12),French released a video message in which he said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, the secret's out. Everybody knows TWISTED SISTER is gonna come back in 2026 to celebrate our 50th anniversary.

"Now, for those of you following the band know something about the history, you'll know that, yes, it goes back a little earlier than that. It goes back to Ho-Ho-Kus, New Jersey with me. But the core of the band, which is Dee, me and Eddie — the three of us form the core of TWISTED SISTER — have been together since February 16th, 1976. So we are celebrating, essentially, our 50th anniversary as the core. Since then, we've seen many people come and go. We've seen many guitar players come and go. There have been many bass players and drummers come and go. I mean, I believe there's 14 ex-members at this point, which is kind of incredible, if you think about it.

"But we're excited to do this, and we're excited to play in 2026," he continued. "We're gonna be headlining the biggest festivals in Europe and we're gonna be playing some selected shows in the United States. And our drummer for this run is none other than former TWISTED SISTER drummer Joey Franco. Joey Number Seven — we called him Seven 'cause he was the seventh drummer in the band. Of course now he's the 10th, I think, because we've gone through so many since Joey was in. 'Cause A.J. was out. Then A.J. came back. And then A.J. left and and then A.J. passed away and Mike Portnoy came in. Frankie Banali actually played — I don't know if you guys know that, but Frankie Banali filled in one night, as a matter of fact. We are getting together and we're gonna kick off with an American show sometime in May, I believe. We're still confirming the dates. All the rest of 'em are gonna be headlining the bigger shows in Europe. And we're just looking forward to it."

Jay Jay added: "To be able to celebrate 50 years — it really is an amazing feeling to know that you have 50 years of a history of a band. Back in the day, I think when we started, if someone said to me, 'How many years you gonna last?' I'd say, 'Uh, five, 10, maybe,' 'cause THE BEATLES lasted 10. So for all the bands that lasted 50, and there's a bunch of 'em — KISS obviously did it, AEROSMITH has done it, [JUDAS] PRIEST has done it — and it's an honor to be in that very elite company of bands who've been together this many years and having fans that followed [us] and stayed loyal to the band for this many years. So, thank you very much. We'll see you on tour."

During a September 10 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Dee spoke about TWISTED SISTER's decision to reunite next year to celebrate the band's 50th anniversary. Regarding why he changed his mind about returning to the road, nine years after the completion of TWISTED SISTER's "40 And Fuck It!" farewell tour, Dee said: "It really was a milestone thing. I turned 70 years old in March. And milestones, they are what they are, but at the same time, they're reflection times for people. And me reflecting, I realized, wow, next year is 50 years since I joined TWISTED SISTER, since we became — me, Eddie and Jay Jay — became a band. And that's significant. And the offers kept coming in and the interest is there to have us reunite. And I called the guys up and said, 'What do you think?' I mean, almost as a challenge to each of us to say, 'One more time. Can we do it one more time?' And certainly we've got people like [Paul] McCartney and [Mick] Jagger and Alice Cooper out there, and Ozzy — may he rest in peace — and how can you say, well, I'm 70. I'm too old. So, the guys said, 'Seriously?' I said, 'Seriously. One more time. Let's do it one more time.'"

Elaborating on his initial reluctance to step back on stage with TWISTED SISTER again, Dee told host Eddie Trunk: "Eddie, I go to quote you. I quoted you often… We talked about my performing style. We talked about the type of entertainer I am, and you said, 'Dee, you really did paint yourself in a corner. You created a stage persona, a stage energy that people come to expect,' and anything less will be disappointing, not just to the audience, but to me as well. So, yeah, I'm in shape and stuff like that, and you've seen me [in recent months guesting on stage] with Bret Michaels out there, but that's four songs, dude. It's not 18 songs. But you know what? I just said, 'We're still here, and let's do it. Let's challenge ourselves.' And we're doing it for all the right reasons. It's not about money. It's not about — none of those typical things. It's 'cause we want to do it one more time. And there's interest there all over the world, so, we're going for it, man. 2026."

Asked by Trunk if it's fair to say that he was the one who initiated the TWISTED SISTER reunion this time around, Dee said: "Yeah, and I'm not saying it like I'm the one who made [the decision to reunite]. I'm the one who was screaming from the top of my lungs, 'Never. Ever.' You know that. That was your introduction: 'He's been saying for a decade now, 'Uh-uh. Never gonna happen. We retired. That's it.' … So the guys didn't even bring it up to me. And Eddie, me and Jay Jay, we talk all the time, and we know offers are coming in, but it wasn't even a discussion because it was accepted, 'Dee's not gonna do it again.' And I stopped doing my solo stuff as well as a few years back. So, it was basically that I said, 'Hey, guys. I'm up for it if you're up for it.' And I've gotta say, they both — Jay and Eddie — had to think about it, 'cause they, too, were in a certain mindset, like, 'This is behind us now.' And then we had a group meeting on it and said, 'Let's go for it.'"

Snider also talked about his workout regimen and diet that will keep him in shape at 70 years old while on tour. He said: "If you've seen the web site, the [TWISTED SISTER reunion] announcement page, it's a flat line [laughs] and then the heartbeat slowly starts coming back in. That's not by accident.

"When TWISTED retired, I remember shows where we were doing our farewells around the world, and people were crying in the audience, because I'm saying, 'This is really it, guys. We're done,'" he continued. "And people were crying. I go, 'Listen, I want a pancake. Look at me. I'm ripped to shreds. I want a carb. I'm gonna re-record [TWISTED SISTER's classic song] 'I Wanna Rock' [as] 'I Want A Carb'.' I said, 'You know what it takes to look like this? It's painful. It sucks.' And I was 60 years old, and [people said], 'Wow. He is in ungodly shape.' Yeah. And I was miserable. So I'm not gonna tell you once that, once I was done with that… I've been enjoying life. I've been out… And COVID hit, and I was always very regimented with working out, and workouts, it was tough to go to a gym, unless you had your own gym. It was tough to go to a public gym. And all of a sudden I fell out of the pattern. So I'm being totally honest here. At 70, I said, 'This can't be it. I need to challenge myself to go out in a blaze of glory… I'm going, 'Okay, March [of 2025]. I called the guys. What do you say? Let's do it. We talked. All right, let's do it. When are we going out? Next late spring, summer. Good. I've got like a year to get in shape.' So I'm back in the gym... But still, there's a big difference between going out and doing four songs with Bret Michaels and holding the stage for 20 songs. So it's gonna be a challenge. But I sure don't wanna embarrass myself and the band doesn't wanna embarrass itself. So, people, you'll be impressed. I promise I will make some 20-year-olds feel really badly about themselves."

Dee also addressed the fact that TWISTED SISTER's 2026 reunion will not include Mendoza. "I can only simply say irreconcilable differences and leave it at that," Dee stated about Mark's absence from the TWISTED SISTER 2026 tour. "I can't get into the weeds and I can't go down that path. And I won't. But irreconcilable differences. People change, and however it is, and I'm not saying he changed; maybe we changed whatever it is. So in deciding who to use on bass, my bass player on the last two Dee Snider albums, 'For The Love Of Metal' and 'Leave A Scar', was Russ Pzütto. And he was Mark Mendoza's bass tech, and a great bass player… So, he did an amazing job on those two albums. He was a great guy to tour with. The band all knew him from years of working with TWISTED, and again, he seemed like a likely choice. As a matter of fact, one time he was Mark's choice to fill in for him. And one gig, it was in Belgium at Graspop, and Mark couldn't make it, and Russ stepped in and played with TWISTED. So he actually has performed with TWISTED once before."

Asked if he thinks the door is open for Mark to play with TWISTED SISTER again at some point during the reunion tour, Dee said: "I can't imagine it right now. I can't imagine it right now. I mean — I plead the fifth. I can't go beyond that. But things have happened that I don't see being reconciled, hence the term 'irreconcilable differences.'"

French previously addressed Mendoza's departure in a statement to Rolling Stone, explaining: "Me, Dee and Eddie have performed as TWISTED SISTER for nearly 50 years with 10 different bass players and drummers. The band has never discussed internal realignment before and has no intention of doing it now. Suffice to say that almost all bands with a 50-year history have gone through realignment as a byproduct of time. We wish Mark well in his future endeavors."

Franco played on TWISTED SISTER's 1987 album "Love Is For Suckers". Portnoy, who took over for Pero after he died near the end of TWISTED SISTER's 2016 run, is busy touring with DREAM THEATER and is unable to participate in the upcoming TWISTED SISTER live activities.

Two and a half years ago, TWISTED SISTER staged a one-off reunion at the Metal Hall Of Fame in Agoura Hills, California. On hand to be inducted into the Metal Hall Of Fame were Snider, French, Mendoza and Portnoy. Ojeda was absent from the event after contracting COVID-19; filling in for him was Keith Robert War. TWISTED SISTER played a highly charged three-song set consisting of the staples "You Can't Stop Rock 'N' Roll" and "Under The Blade", as well as the anthem "We're Not Gonna To Take It".

TWISTED SISTER's original run ended in the late '80s. After more than a decade, the band publicly reunited in November 2001 to top the bill of New York Steel, a hard-rock benefit concert to raise money for the New York Police And Fire Widows' And Children's Benefit Fund.

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9

MAX CAVALERA On His Son ZYON Co-Producing SOULFLY's Upcoming 'Chama' Album: 'It Was So Cool'

In a new interview with Christina Rowatt of the We Wreck Records podcast, SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera spoke about the band's upcoming thirteenth album, "Chama", which will be released on October 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. "Chama" was recorded at the Platinum Underground Studio in Mesa, Arizona by John Aquilino. John has worked with Max and company multiple times before and is not only a talented engineer but a family friend. The album was produced by SOULFLY drummer and Max's son Zyon Cavalera and Arthur Rizk. The latter was also responsible for the mixing and mastering.

Regarding Zyon's role as producer on "Chama", Max said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Zyon's presence on 'Chama' is super important. I cannot tell you how important it was, because it was so cool. I produced SOULFLY records before, like 'Prophecy' and 'Dark Ages'. And so I said to him right in the beginning of the process, like, 'How do you feel about producing this record?' He kind of freaked out. But I was, like, 'It would be cool, because you're young and you hungry, man. You remind me of me when I was 18, when I was 17, when I was making [SEPULTURA's] 'Beneath The Remains' [album], and I wanted all those things. This is the fire that I need. I'm old, man. I produced records already. You don't want me to produce this thing. I'm telling you, you don't want me to produce it. You wanna produce this album. It'd be cool if you produced it.' So I sold him on that. I got him to produce. And it was the coolest, because he was so excited. But also he was challenging me in a way that I haven't been challenged in the studio before — stuff like, I'd do a riff and [he was], like, "Eh, it's okay. Can it be better?' Who are you to tell me, can it be better? But that's what's cool because he is not just a 'yes' man. He's actually challenging me to do something better than I already did. So I go back to the drawing board and make something better out of it. And then we had all the pedals, man, all the noise. The record is full of noise everywhere. It's great. I love it. And that's, that's the combination of Zyon and Arthur together, Arthur Rizk. He and Zyon produced this thing together, and it was so cool to have them both."

Earlier this month, Max told Scott Itter of Dr. Music about "Chama": "It's been a journey, but I think more than ever I felt really inspired by this record, maybe being our thirteenth record. And we went deep into the whole going back to the origin essence of what SOULFLY is, in reality, 'cause SOULFLY was created as an entity that was going to embrace tribal grooves and spirituality, and I think this record has both of those things in a big way. But also modern, because I think the production between Zyon and Arthur gave the record a modern touch as well."

Max also talked about the inspiration for the "Chama" title, which came from the Brazilian professional mixed martial artist Alex Pereira, who has used the song "Itsári" from Cavalera's former band SEPULTURA for all his UFC walkouts. In the Xavante language, "itsári" means "roots" and the instrumental track is an ode to Brazilian traditions. Max said: "Yeah, that moment was a huge moment to me to experience. I had never experienced something like that in my life, and I got to experience that with my son Zyon, watching together. He is a big UFC fan, and we both watched that live and I had the goosebumps. And [Alex] is walking out with 'Itsári' and he does the bow and arrow and lets go the 'Chama' scream. And that moment really, it cut me deep. I was, like, 'I'm inspired by this guy. I'm inspired by this moment. I wanna make a record to celebrate this inspiration.' So this is what 'Chama' is."

Max continued: "'Chama' is a celebration of feeling inspired again. Because it's a hard thing, man, to feel inspired, especially after you make so many records like me. It becomes harder and harder to be inspired, and it becomes easier to always just kind of just do whatever, just put out whatever record. And I'm not satisfied with that. And even though, the way I look at things, like, I don't have nothing to prove to anybody anymore, I have a lot of gas left in the tank, so you know what? I am gonna prove you something. That's kind of the feeling… It's that ready-to-battle kind of feeling, especially 'Storm The Gates' and 'No Pain = No Power'. 'No Pain = No Power' is actually influenced by all of that, all of those athletes going into war in the UFC ring, or even a football player, when he has to play through pain to actually get the power of the touchdown. You see that on TV, and it's cool. I think that I was tapping into that emotion of, without the pain, there is no power. They coexist. One feeds off the other. Without the pain, you will never reach the power and you'll never get the glory. That's kind of the idea of the song. And it was cool, because I think it connects to a real SOULFLY back to singing about shit that I know, rather than some of the other lyrics were more ethereal and kind of nonsensical. So now this record has more of personal lyrics about shit that I really connect to. I believe on those lyrics, I believe in what I'm saying."

Cavalera added: "There's a thing about, about metal. I think when you're screaming what you believe, your scream becomes more powerful than when you are just saying something that makes no sense or nobody knows what the hell you're screaming for. If you're screaming something that you really mean it — like I think it's an old rock and roll quote: mean what you say, say what you mean. You know, that kind of shit. So I was tapping into all that, but [it's a] really battle-born kind of record. It's ready for battle all the way through. And even in the quiet moments, it's still cool because it makes you check out."

Last month, SOULFLY released a Costin Chioreanu-created lyric video for "Storm The Gates", the first single from "Chama". The track was described in a press release as "a battle cry against control and greed."

"Chama" track listing:

01. Indigenous Inquisition
02. Storm The Gates
03. Nihilist
04. No Pain = No Power
05. Ghenna
06. Black Hole Scum
07. Favela / Dystopia
08. Always Was, Always Will Be...
09. Soulfly XIII
10. Chama

Rizk has not only worked with the Cavalera family numerous times before, but has also helped to shape the world of heavy metal in the modern day. SOULFLY enlisted Carletta Parrish to create the album artwork. For the album, Igor Amadeus Cavalera (GO AHEAD & DIE, NAILBOMB, HEALING MAGIC) played bass and Mike De Leon played guitar. The album also features Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) on one of the tracks.

Zyon stated: "With each SOULFLY record I've played on, I can feel my evolution happening in real time. This record was no different as I got to handle a good amount of the production for the first time. Trying to take the band to places we have never been before was a blast and I look forward to more production work in the future!"

SOULFLY's lineup on "Chama" is:

Max Cavalera - Vocals, Guitar
Igor Amadeus Cavalera - Bass
Zyon Cavalera - Drums
Mike De Leon – Guitar

SOULFLY played "Favela / Dystopia" live for the first time on July 8 at Maimunarnika in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In a recent interview with MetalUnderground.com, Max stated about the musical direction of the new SOULFLY material: "The record, it's cool. It feels to me [like it] has the adventurous spirit of the first record [1998's 'Soulfly']. Sonically, it's pretty different from the first record — it's more intricate and maybe even heavier, heavier grooves. But in terms of spirit and attitude, it's similar to the first record, which I think is cool that I got to figure out a way to put my mind back at that time and what made me create that record and use it again on a new record. It's pretty fun. It's kind of hard to do, but I think it was an exciting thing to tackle. It was kind of, like, 'Let's try to do this. Let's see if you can use your first album as somehow some kind of inspiration for your thirteenth record. [Laughs] And that was great, man. I love that. I love that kind of vibe that the record has."

Cavalera continued: "That's the cool thing about this record. It's kind of, in a way, a return to what me and fans of SOULFLY fell in love with SOULFLY for. And then throughout the years, many of the other records had a lot of different vibes in it. Some of them went more thrashy with stuff like 'Dark Ages' [2005], 'Omen' [2010], 'Conquer' [2008]. So, to me, making a record that sonically is inspired by the first thing that you did as a band, it was a challenge — there's a challenge in that — 'cause it's easier said than done. Because I don't wanna just copy that first record either. There's no point in doing that. I'm just using it as inspiration. It's really just full on for metal inspiration. The songs [themselves], they're gonna have their own personality and their own vibe. But, yeah, it's coming out quite interesting. I'm excited to hear what the fans are gonna think about this one."

This past May, SOULFLY recruited Chase Bryant (WARBRINGER) to play bass on the band's European tour, which kicked off on June 7 at the South Of Heaven festival in Maastricht, Netherlands.

A month earlier, SOULFLY parted ways with the band's longtime bassist Mike Leon.

Leon, formerly of HAVOK, joined SOULFLY in September 2015 as the replacement for STATIC-X bassist Tony Campos, who left SOULFLY in May of that year.

In August 2021, SOULFLY parted ways with longtime guitarist Marc Rizzo due to personal differences. FEAR FACTORY's Dino Cazares played guitar for SOULFLY on the band's 2021 and 2022 run of shows.

Guitarist Mike DeLeon has been touring with SOULFLY for more than two years. Prior to hooking up with SOULFLY, DeLeon had been a member of PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo's solo band PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS, which he joined in 2015 as the replacement for Marzi Montazeri. More recently, Mike filled in for Zakk Wylde at the first rehearsal for the fall 2022 PANTERA shows.

Photo credit: Jim Louvau

3

New SPINESHANK Music Will Arrive 'Probably Sometime Next Year'

In a new interview with Discoveringbands by Michael Nagy, SPINESHANK drummer Tommy Decker spoke about the possibility of new music from the reunited band. Joining Decker, vocalist Jonny Santos and bassist/vocalist Robert Garcia in SPINESHANK's 2025 lineup are new recruits Tommy Decker, Jr. (Tommy Decker's son) and Jason Hager (ex-CHIMAIRA) on guitar. Decker said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "There's some stuff [in the works]. There's some stuff. It might be a little while [before it's released]. We've gotta this guy and this guy on it, so Tommy Junior and Hager, the new additions to the band. So we got a few songs. We'll see what happens. [It will arrive] probably sometime next year."

Asked about the musical direction of the new SPINESHANK material, Decker said: "It's more SPINESHANK. We like to have the heaviness. We like to have the melody. Everyone wants the electronics. So it's just SPINESHANK 13 years later. It's always gonna be heavy. It's always gonna be a nice hook and there's always gonna be electronics. So it's who we are."

SPINESHANK played its first show in nearly 13 years on July 9 at Jake's Sports Cafe & Backroom in Lubbock, Texas.

SPINESHANK teamed up with THE UNION UNDERGROUND for the "25 Years Of Rebellion & Callousness" tour this summer. This commemorative, co-headline trek, with special guests ADEMA and SICKSENSE, is celebrating the 25th anniversaries of SPINESHANK's sophomore studio album "The Height Of Callousness" and THE UNION UNDERGROUND sole studio LP, "…An Education In Rebellion".

This past June, Santos confirmed to Rock Feed that a new song from SPINESHANK would arrive in the coming weeks. "We're literally in the studio trying to finish right now," he said. "The song has been recorded. Right now it's in the final process of being edited. We're gonna actually start listening to roughs this week."

Santos also addressed the reason he and the rest of SPINESHANK's 2025 lineup have decided to release one track as opposed to focusing on making a full-length record. "People are, like, well, why are we only doing one song?' Jonny said. "'Cause we don't know. We haven't put a record out in 12 years. "Cause let's face it, the SHINESHANK thing right now, [the upcoming tour celebrating the 25th anniversary of] 'The Height Of Callousness', this is nostalgic. We're not out there pumping a new record. We're celebrating one of our best records. That's what we're doing. So what we decided to do is… Do we wanna do a new record? 'Cause now we have little Tommy playing guitar, which is fucking awesome; he shreds. And we've got Jason Hager; everybody knows Jason. He's from CHIMAIRA. So we get these two new guys, and they obviously wanna do a new record. But five months ago, we didn't even know people even cared about SPINESHANK. So let's hold on here a second before we start putting new records out. I said, 'Let's do one song. Let's put this song out there. We'll get it out to the masses, and let's see how it's received.' That's gonna tell us right there — I feel it'll tell us if we are just a nostalgic act, that people just wanna come hear the hits and feel like they're 18 again, or we put this new song out. Does it trend? Does it fucking blow up? Then that will indicate right there, 'Okay, guys, let's go do a new record and start putting new songs out.' And I think that's a fair way to look at it instead of just assuming that since we're doing well and shows are selling out right now, that we're just gonna put an album and everybody's gonna love it."

Regarding the musical direction of the new SPINESHANK song, Jonny said: "Well, I will tell you this much. It's got all the elements that is what is SPINESHANK. One of the biggest complaints we had on the last SPINESHANK record was fans were, like, 'It's not electronic enough.' And I saw that. I felt that in a way. There was a lot of programming on that album; we were just using organic sounds as the loops and stuff. But I understand what the fans meant. So this time around, the SPINESHANK recipe, if you will — the song's gotta have energy. It's gotta be heavy. It's gotta be catchy. It's gotta have a hook. I don't care. I fucking love singing in fucking metal songs. All those people out there [who say], 'That's lame that you sing' — fuck you. You've gotta bring girls to the show too. So you've gotta have energy. It's gotta be heavy. You've gotta have a hook. And with SPINESHANK, it's gotta have that electronic aspect and that dirty, nasty, electronic aspect. Very industrial — 'Antichrist Superstar' [MARILYN MANSON] industrial. I love when you have a cool loop. Distort that motherfucker. So it's that whole ATARI TEENAGE RIOT dirtiness to it."

After releasing three successful albums ("Strictly Diesel", "The Height Of Callousness" and "Self-Destructive Pattern"),performing on countless world tours (including appearances on Ozzfest and the Download festival) and a Grammy nomination in 2004, SPINESHANK went on a hiatus.

SPINESHANK's fourth album, "Anger Denial Acceptance", was released in June 2012 via Century Media Records. The CD was produced by SPINESHANK guitarist Mike Sarkisyan and drummer Tommy Decker and mixed by Mike Plotnikoff (PAPA ROACH, BUCKCHERRY).

SPINESHANK's third LP, "Self-Destructive Pattern", was released in September 2003. The album's lead single, "Smothered", was nominated for a Grammy in the category of "Best Metal Performance".

This past April, Jonny told the "Talk Toomey" podcast about the possibility of SPINESHANK releasing new music to coincide with the current tour: "We never got a chance to really go out on a high note. And so when we first started getting ready to do all this, doing another record wasn't really even talked about. It was more of just, like, 'Hey, let's just go out and do ['The Height Of Callousness'] in its entirety' and give the band its warrior's death, if you will — going out on a strong note instead of just falling into obscurity.

"Now it's gotten to the point… So right now I'm in the studio finishing up some edits and mixing the first SPINESHANK song since 2012," Santos explained. "So we have one new song coming out. Because I think the way that we feel that we'll know is, let's see how this SPINESHANK song does. If it's accepted well and people are excited about it, if it does well, then maybe there could be another album in the works. Or if anything, maybe even an EP. Who knows?"

Referencing the resurgence of "nu metal" in recent years, Jonny continued: "It's kind of weird how — it's uncharted territory. It's, like, is this here to stay? Is this gonna be a staple in heavy music or is this just a fashion fad for kids today? So I think once we release this new song and tour for the better part of this year, then I think we'll know if we're gonna put a new record out next year or not. I would like to, but I only wanna put a record out if it's gonna matter. I don't wanna put a record out if nobody's gonna give a shit."

Elaborating on his reluctance to release a full-length collection of new material, Jonny said: "Not comparing us to the size of THE ROLLING STONES or anything, but if I was gonna go see THE ROLLING STONES, I'm not too concerned with anything that they've done post 1979. You know what I'm saying? I think you hit a certain point in your career as a band when you have a legitimate and constant following that people just wanna go hear the hits.

"I've noticed, I'll put music out or whatever, and people are, like, 'Oh, man, it doesn't sound like 'The Height Of Callousness'.' It's just, like, dude, me putting out the same record twice is not gonna make you young again," he said. "Because that's how it is.

"Very few bands can get away with putting the same record out. AC/DC's done it. SLAYER's done it. But it works — that works for them, and it's fucking awesome. But for me, it doesn't.

"The thought of putting a new SPINESHANK record out there, it's exciting. But at the same time, we're gonna see how this goes.

"We're going into this with no expectations. This is really fun for us to do, and I think it's a chance for a lot of people that have become SPINESHANK fans in the last decade or so that have never seen us to get to see us. And being that 'The Height Of Callousness' was by far our best-received album, I can't think of a better record to do in its entirety out of our catalog."

Image credit: WehlerDealer

THE BLACK CROWES Announce Deluxe Reissue Of 'Amorica'

Grammy- and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame-nominated rock band THE BLACK CROWES, led by founding brothers Chris and Rich Robinson, are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their seminal 1994 album "Amorica" with a deluxe reissue box set. The deluxe box set, available as a 5LP or 3CD set, chronicles the band's evolution through the songs that became "Amorica".

"Amorica" is set for release on November 14, 2025 via Ume.

To mark the reissue, THE BLACK CROWES unveiled "Bitter, Bitter You", an unreleased track from the "Amorica" era that captures the raw emotion and sonic edge of the original sessions.

The deluxe box set features "Tallest", a studio album of nine newly mixed songs from the "Tall" sessions. "Tall", the legendary unreleased album recorded before "Amorica", was initially scrapped by Chris and Rich to bring a new creative energy to the recording of "Amorica". George Drakoulias and Martin Pradler have done new mixes from the original multitrack recordings. The set includes three unreleased recordings: "Bitter, Bitter You", "Title Song" and "Paris Song", an instrumental that evolves into the "Amorica" track "Cursed Diamond".

Also included in the deluxe edition is "The Marie Laveau Sessions", featuring seven previously unreleased studio recordings from October 1992. Recorded at Kingsway Studios in New Orleans, Louisiana, on an off day from the "High High The Moon Tour", where Chris and Rich captured the seven songs that they had worked up during soundcheck. Additionally, the band also includes four live songs recorded for a worldwide live radio broadcast to premiere "Amorica" from AIR Studios in London, U.K. on October 25, 1994.

The "Amorica" album was remastered from the original 1/4" production master tape by Chris Athens. The album now includes three B-sides, the Taj Mahal cover of "Chevrolet" and new mixes of "Song Of The Flesh" and the instrumental "Sunday Night Buttermilk Waltz".

The LP box set includes a fanzine with an interview with Chris and Rich chronicling the evolution of "Amorica", a classic 20"x30" poster, a bumper sticker, and a slip mat.

Following the massive success of "Shake Your Money Maker" (1990) and "The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion" (1992),which together earned seven-times-platinum certifications and fueled relentless world tours, the Robinson brothers faced immense pressure to continue their streak. Instead of bending to outside expectations, they delivered "Amorica": a bold declaration of independence and creative freedom that would forever cement THE BLACK CROWES as one of rock's most uncompromising bands. Long misunderstood, the title "Amorica" reveals its true heart in plain sight — with "Amor" meaning love, the album stands as a raw, psychedelic love letter to freedom, brotherhood, and the uncompromising pursuit of art without permission.

"'Amorica' was about breaking free and doing things on our own terms," said Chris Robinson. "It wasn't about fitting into what was happening in music at the time. It was about trusting our instincts — and 30 years later, that's still who we are."

Rich Robinson adds: "The bond between us, even when tested, always came back to the music. That's what 'Amorica' represents — our belief in ourselves and in this band."

The anniversary release revisits fan favorites, including "Wiser Time", "Descending" and "Gone", while also spotlighting deep cuts that showcase the band's fearless evolution.

THE BLACK CROWES stand as one of rock and roll's most iconic and unapologetic bands, defined by raw energy, soulful swagger, and a catalog that has shaped generations. Since reuniting in 2019, the Robinson brothers have reignited the fire that first made them a global force, bringing their electrifying live show to more than 150 concerts across 20 countries worldwide. Their career has been marked by timeless records, unforgettable tours, and a fearless spirit that continues to inspire both fans and fellow musicians. In recent years, THE BLACK CROWES have been recognized with their first Grammy nomination in more than three decades for "Happiness Bastards" ("Best Rock Album") and a 2025 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame nomination. These milestones amplify their continued relevance and enduring impact. The band also commemorated the 25th anniversary of their historic performances with Jimmy Page by re-releasing the acclaimed live album "Jimmy Page & The Black Crowes: Live At The Greek" in March 2025. True to form, THE BLACK CROWES remain committed to delivering stripped-down, bare-boned rock and roll: gritty, loud, and in your face. No gloss, no glitter, just rhythm and blues at its very best.

The Black Crowes

THE WHO – Super Deluxe Edition Of Who Are You Album Unboxed; Video

Who Are You, The Who’s eighth studio album, is to be released in a suite of formats including a Super Deluxe Edition this October featuring over 70 unreleased tracks including never-before-heard versions of the title track “Who Are You,” newly-mixed live tracks from their first tour without original drummer Keith Moon and candid recordings of the band rehearsing in 1977 and 1978.

Also included in the 7-CD/1-Blu-ray set are brand-new Atmos and stereo mixes by Steven Wilson. The album will also be released as a deluxe 4-LP box set, a 2-CD deluxe edition, and limited-edition colored and half-speed master vinyl editions.

Take a look at what’s inside of Who Are You (Super Deluxe Edition) in the new video below:

The first track to be released from the set is a previously unheard version of “New Song” featuring Pete Townshend’s guide vocals, which has been newly mixed for release by Steven Wilson. This new version is an early take where Townshend is laying down guide vocals for Roger while the band are still learning the song.

Speaking in the 1990s, Pete was quoted as saying, “This is a diatribe against the requirements of FM radio (at the time) for every band of the day to produce ‘clones’ of their earlier successful airplay hits. This was my signal to everyone that I had decided to deal a wonky deck full of theatrical parodies and anachronisms. Needless to say, the song didn’t get airplay and neither did it make the critics happy.”

Stream/download the track here, and listen below:

Available on October 31, you can pre-order/pre-save configurations of Who Are You here. Watch a video trailer below.

Initially released in August 1978, Who Are You marked a significant chapter in The Who’s career while a commercial triumph, peaking at No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 and achieving double platinum status and No. 6 on the UK Albums Chart, it was also tragically the last album to feature legendary drummer Keith Moon, who died a week after its release.

The album saw the band pushing boundaries once more, with the songs referencing the incoming influence of British Punk. Most notably, the title track was written after a night out with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of The Sex Pistols, and it reflected the sentiments of Music Must Change and Sister Disco. Pete Townshend also delivered some of his most ambitious and intricate arrangements, incorporating layers of synthesisers and strings into The Who’s powerful backing tracks.

The title track “Who Are You” preceded the album in early July 78 and became an instant anthem and has remained in the band’s set list to this day. Aided by its appearance in the CSI TV franchise in the early 2000s, it is one of the band’s most-streamed tracks.

The initial sessions for the album took place at the band’s Ramport Studios, produced by Glyn Johns and Jon Astley. However, the recording process was fraught with challenges and creative tensions. The Who Are You Super Deluxe Edition finally tells the whole story, featuring, for the first time, the rejected original Glyn Johns mix of the album, a newly remastered version of the released Jon Astley mix and fly on the wall rehearsal sessions from Shepperton Studios, which the band owned at the time, and a wealth of unreleased material including demos, alternate takes and in the case of standout track Sister Disco, a previously ‘lost’ guitar solo rescued from the multi-track tapes by Steven Wilson.

In 1978, the album was seen as a return to form for The Who, and anticipation for a tour to support the album was high. Sadly, the death of Keith Moon on the 23rd August put paid to any such plans. The band introduced their new drummer, Kenney Jones, formerly of the Faces and The Small Faces, in May 1979, along with new keyboard player John’ Rabbit’ Bundrick. One of the many highlights of the super deluxe edition is the newly mixed live tapes from the US leg of the 1979 tour, capturing The Who’s explosive new lineup in full flight with tracks from the album coming to life onstage with a renewed energy.

The band sustained that momentum into the new decade with the epic film project The Kids Are Alright, the Quadrophenia movie, and the multi-platinum Face Dances album in 1981.

The Who – Who Are You Super Deluxe Edition, 7 Audio CDs:

CD 1: The original album newly remastered by Jon Astley at Close to the Edge.
CD 2: The Who Are You album, first mixed by Glyn Johns, rejected by the band, plus new mixes created by Steven Wilson
CD3: Early run-throughs, sessions and out-takes plus several demos by John Entwistle.
CD4: Previously unreleased tracks from the 1977 Shepperton studios rehearsals, including Keith Moon singing I Saw Her Standing There and Barbara Ann Plus a very early live version of Who Are You from Toronto, 1976.
CD5: Includes six tracks from the live concert at Shepperton for the filming of The Kids Are Alright documentary. Plus rehearsals with new drummer Kenney Jones for The Who’s 1979 US tour.
CDs 6 & 7: Live recordings from the 1979 US tour, including tracks recorded at the Pontiac Silverdome, the Spectrum in Philadelphia and the Masonic Temple, Detroit, including a rare live version of John Entwistle’s Trick of the Light,
Blu-Ray: Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and PCM Stereo mixes created by Steven Wilson

Super Deluxe Edition Book:

A 100-page hardback book with extensive sleeve notes by Matt Kent covering the period before and after the album’s release, plus track-by-track details, and session notes, as well as sleeve notes by Steven Wilson on his remixes for Dolby Atmos. The book is lavishly illustrated with previously unpublished photographs, memorabilia, tape boxes and original print ads.

The Who – Who Are You Deluxe Edition, 4LP set:

This limited-edition deluxe vinyl box set features a four-LP set on 180-gram vinyl, including the original album newly remastered, plus live recordings from the 1979 US tour. The lift-top box includes 1 LP in a single sleeve and 3 LPs in a triple gatefold sleeve, together with a 28-page soft cover book.

2CD Set:

The Deluxe 2CD set pairs the original album newly remastered with a CD of tracks taken from the studio sessions, demo recordings and live material.

The two discs are presented in an 8-panel digipak with a 16-page booklet.

Who Are You 1LP Limited Edition D2C Only Vinyl:

This limited edition 180-gram yellow-coloured vinyl 1-LP of Who Are You Features the newly remastered album in a replica single sleeve.

Who Are You 1 LP Limited Edition Half Speed Master Vinyl:

This limited edition 180-gram 1/2 speed master 1LP of Who Are You features the newly remastered album in a replica single sleeve.

THE SMASHING PUMPKINS Release New Song 'Chrome Jets'

Two-time Grammy Award-winning iconic rock band THE SMASHING PUMPKINS have released a new song, "Chrome Jets". Originally recorded during the creative process for their celebrated "Aghori Mhori Mei" album, the track now sees the light of day as a special release for fans.

In celebration of the release, fans can also purchase a limited-edition exclusive 12-inch vinyl featuring "Chrome Jets" and "Zoo Station (Live Berlin 6.22.24)" through THE SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan's Madame Zuzu's tea shop in Highland Park, Illinois. This special pressing is limited to just 1,500 units and is available exclusively through the tea shop with a select number of autographed copies by Corgan also on offer.

Side A:

Chrome Jets (Previously Unreleased)

Side B:

Zoo Station (Live Berlin 6.22.24)

The new fan track follows on the heels of THE SMASHING PUMPKINS' long-awaited reissue and reformation of their 2000 masterpiece "Machina/The Machines Of God", and its companion album, "Machina II/The Friends & Enemies Of Modern Music", which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Later this year, the band will also celebrate 30 years of the critically acclaimed "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness". Corgan will join the Lyric Opera of Chicago for a completely new sonic and visual experience honoring the groundbreaking album with innovation and imagination.

Most recently, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS wrapped their European headlining shows and will now be embarking on their "Rock Invasion Tour", kicking off September 15 in Nagoya, Japan, making stops in Osaka, Manila, Bangkok, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, and more before wrapping in Mumbai, India.

SMASHING PUMPKINS are one of the most iconic, iconoclastic, and influential bands of all time, shaping alternative music and culture. Since forming in Chicago in 1988, the group has sold over 30 million albums worldwide and garnered two Grammy Awards, seven MTV VMAs, and an American Music Award. Their catalog includes seminal offerings such as the platinum "Gish" (1991),the quadruple-platinum "Siamese Dream" (1993]),the diamond-certified "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" (1995),the platinum "Adore" (1998) and the gold "Machina/The Machines Of God" (2000). Rolling Stone cited both "Siamese Dream" and "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" among its "500 Greatest Albums Of All Time".

It would also be impossible to envision alternative music and culture without SMASHING PUMPKINS' signature iconography such as the idyllic album artwork for "Siamese Dream", the black Zero shirt, the laissez faire bliss of the "1979" music video, the gothic metamorphosis of "Ava Adore" or the multi-dimensional live shows that sell out worldwide to this day. 2018 saw SMASHING PUMPKINS unveil "Shiny And Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun." and launched the immensely successful "Shiny And Oh So Bright" tour, which packed arenas. Maintaining this momentum, the band released their eleventh full-length double album , "Cyr" (2020),representing yet another evolution, and more recently, "Atum" (2023),the sequel to 1995's "Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness" and 2000's "Machina/Machine Of God". The band's 2024 album, "Aghori Mhori Mei", written in the immediate aftermath of "Atum", sees a return to form for original members Billy Corgan, Jimmy Chamberlin and James Iha, and harkens back to the band's early 90's canon; where guitars, bass, drums, and spiking vocals ruled.

The Smashing Pumpkins

COLDRAIN Announces Optimize EP; “Chasing Shadows” Live From Summer Breeze 2025 Streaming

As shared by the band via their social channels, Japanese quintet coldrain are set to release a new EP, Optimize, on October 24th, 2025, via Century Media Records. The announcement arrives just in time for the band’s One Man Japan Tour 2025 Optimize, which kicks off in late September and will take the band across six major cities in Japan. The quintet will then also return to the UK and Europe for the second phase of Optimize, starting end of November in Manchester. The EP follows their latest single releases “Incomplete” and “Chasing Shadows”.

Vocalist Masato shares about the EP and their upcoming live dates: “We’re beyond excited to finally announce our new five track EP Optimize is coming out this October! Also, since we had such an incredible time in Germany last month we wanted share with you a part of that memory. Go watch us play our brand-new single ‘Chasing Shadows’ at Summer Breeze! It was a very special moment playing at midnight with the moon in the sky. After you get hyped with that video get ready to experience a much more intense pure energy coldrain show this winter on our headline tour!! We’ll be playing new songs from the EP along with various tunes across our history!”

To keep the energy of their festival summer alive, coldrain have shared a live video of “Chasing Shadows”, recorded during their powerful set at Summer Breeze Open Air Festival in Germany this August. Capturing their intense stage presence as well as high energy, fans and new audiences alike definitely should not want to miss their upcoming tour.

Find the band’s tour itinerary here.

“Chasing Shadows” live at Summer Breeze 2025:

CLAWFINGER Releases New Single 'Ball & Chain' From Upcoming 'Before We All Die' Album

Long-running Swedish-Norwegian rap-metal combo CLAWFINGER will release "Before We All Die", its first studio album in 18 years, on February 20, 2026 via the Perception label, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music. The official music video for the LP's second single, "Ball & Chain", can be seen below.

With "Ball & Chain", CLAWFINGER unleashes a track that fuses relentless riffs and raw energy with frontman Zak Tell's unflinching honesty. The single, captured in a fiery live video from this summer's festival stages, reflects on identity, change, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world — all with the band's trademark mix of power, grit, and tongue-in-cheek self-awareness. It's CLAWFINGER at their most direct and human: heavy, urgent and impossible to ignore.

"This is me trying to be deep, my emotional reflections and my personal struggle, the search for some kind of meaning, the ongoing identity battle and existential doubt," Tell reveals about the new single. "It's about trying to make sense of the world and my place in it. It's about going through changes, looking at yourself and trying to figure out what the point of everything is.

"We all go through good and bad experiences and they shape us and help us move on. Life in general is a stupid fucking game, so it's interesting how much time we waste worrying about what other people think and about things we can't change regardless. There is no such thing as making everyone happy, so focus on trying to make yourself happy and the rest will come to you."

From environmental collapse to political hypocrisy, personal disillusionment to collective denial, this is CLAWFINGER at full volume — still pissed off, still sharp as ever, and still refusing to shut up while the world pretends it's all fine.

"This isn't about finding peace," Tell says. "It's about telling the truth — even when it's ugly. Especially then."

Released in July, the single "Scum" sets the tone: zero tolerance for corrupt leadership, fake morality, or the rising tide of right-wing garbage. It's not a love song — unless you really love rage and distortion.

"This album is part protest, part therapy, and part middle finger," the band adds. "We're not offering solutions. We're screaming because silence is surrender."

CLAWFINGER are considered pioneers of European rap-metal. Formed in Stockholm in the early 1990s, the Swedish-Norwegian band made an explosive debut with "Deaf Dumb Blind" (1993),blending aggressive guitar riffs with politically charged lyrics and rap vocals. The album sold over 600,000 copies worldwide — more than 250,000 in Germany alone — and won a Swedish Grammis award in the hardrock/metal category.

CLAWFINGER's follow-up, "Use Your Brain" (1995) continued their success with chart placements across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. Over the years, they released seven studio albums, including "A Whole Lot Of Nothing", "Zeros & Heroes", "Hate Yourself With Style" and "Life Will Kill You", selling over 1.5 million records worldwide.

Known for their direct, riff-driven sound and strong political stance, CLAWFINGER address topics such as racism, political delusion, drug policy, environmental destruction, and social inequality. In the 1990s, they toured intensively with acts like ALICE IN CHAINS, MEGADETH and FAITH NO MORE and appeared at major festivals including Rock Am Ring, Roskilde and Monsters Of Rock in South America.

After a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2014 and has since released new singles like "Save Our Souls" (2017) and "Environmental Patients" (2022]) In 2025, CLAWFINGER signed a new label deal with Perception, with more music on the way — still as loud, sharp, and uncompromising as ever.

This past July, CLAWFINGER released the official Rune Foss-directed music video for "Scum". The track, which was mixed by Jocke Skog at the Sunmountain Facilities and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street, is a clear jab at U.S. president Donald Trump, with such lyrics as "a bad taste in my mouth, a sore sight for my eyes a foul stench in the air, a nasty vibe in the house a bad excuse for a man, a dark time for the earth" and "another pussy to grab, yes that's what you said, a small cock in your pants, no brain in your head".

Tell said in a statement: "'Scum' is a raw, loud, and brutally honest punk rap anthem that goes straight for the throat. It's aimed at the kind of guy who's selfish, sexist, full of himself and somehow still talking. With sharp lyrics and a beat that hits like a punch, 'Scum' says what we're all thinking about that one guy we all wish would just vanish from the face of the earth. It's angry and it's dark. If you've ever wanted to spit in someone's face but lacked the upper-body strength or social permission, this song's for you."

Five years ago, Tell expressed his disdain for Trump while speaking to Germany's Metalogy about the enduring lyrical themes covered on the band's debut album, "Deaf Dumb Blind", which came out more than 30 years ago. He said: "I wish I could say that things have changed [since that record has released]. I guess a couple of things did that too. But if you look at what's going on in the world and how we behave as human beings, I think we haven't made much progress. And it looks like there is a Trump for every Greta [Thunberg] — that's just an example because it's just so much on the news. For every person who wants to improve the world, there is an idiot who wants to turn everything back. It kind of feels like it happens every time. I already thought that maybe this is simply human nature; the constant back-and-forth and colliding. I'm really not sure if things have gotten better. I wish I could say that they were. But I don't think they are. So I think that the 'Deaf Dumb Blind' message is still up to date and that it has stands the test of time quite well. Of course, it's difficult to be objective with something that is a big part of me."

In March 2022, CLAWFINGER released the official music video for its previous single, "Environmental Patients". The track marked the first new music from CLAWFINGER in more than two years.

Prior to the arrival of "Environmental Patients", CLAWFINGER released a single called "Tear You Down" in September 2019 and "Save Our Souls" in 2017. "Save Our Souls" was made available four years after CLAWFINGER announced it was calling it quits.

During the break from the studio, the members of CLAWFINGER were reportedly taking care of their families while performing sporadic reunion shows, mostly at European festivals. "CLAWFINGER no longer is our main job," the band explained at the time. "We all have other jobs and families to love."

CLAWFINGER's last studio album, the aforementioned "Life Will Kill You", was released in the U.S. in July 2008 via Locomotive Records. The CD, which entered the German Media Control chart at position No. 89 upon its European release in 2007, was recorded and produced at Sweden's Fear And Loathing Studios, a facility that CLAWFINGER runs along with the members of MESHUGGAH.

CLAWFINGER is:

Zak Tell - vocals
Jocke Skog - guitar, keyboards
Bård Torstensen - guitars
André Skaug - bass
Micke Dahlén - drums

Photo credit: Peter Bjöns

4

LYNYRD SKYNYRD Release Official Live Video For “Gimme Three Steps” From Celebrating 50 Years: Live At The Ryman

Back in June, Lynyrd Skynyrd released Celebrating 50 Years: Live At The Ryman on 2CD/DVD, 2CD, Blu-Ray, 3LP, and Digital.

“This historic night was the final performance for guitarist Gary Rossington and features many special guests including Jelly Roll, Brent Smith of Shinedown, Marcus King, John Osbourne of Brothers Osborne, Donnie Van Zant of Van Zant and 38 Special,” says Skynyrd.

Check out the official live video for “Gimme Three Steps”, taken from the show:

Order Lynyrd Skynyrd – Celebrating 50 Years: Live At The Ryman at this location.

Tracklisting:

“What’s Your Name”
“Workin’ For MCA”
“You Got That Right”
“I Know A Little”
“Down South Jukin”
“That Smell”
“Cry For The Bad Man”
“Saturday Night Special”
“Tuesday’s Gone”
“Red White And Blue”
“Simple Man”
“Three Steps”
“Call Me The Breeze”
“Sweet Home Alabama”
“Freebird”

1

FOZZY Surprise Releases Cover Of OZZY OSBOURNE's 'Crazy Train'

FOZZY, the band featuring wrestling superstar Chris Jericho and STUCK MOJO mastermind Rich "The Duke" Ward, has surprise released its cover version of the OZZY OSBOURNE classic "Crazy Train".

FOZZY commented: "Our cover of 'Crazy Train' by the legendary Ozzy Osbourne is officially out NOW on all streaming platforms.

"OZZY FOREVER!!

"Our ode to the life and legacy of Ozzy in celebration of the 45th anniversary of the release of the 'Blizzard Of Ozz' (released [in the U.K.] on September 12th, 1980)".

Back in May 2022, Jericho was asked by PopCulture about the similarities between his singing voice and that of Ozzy. He responded: "I've always had that in me. It's not trying to sound like Ozzy; that's my vocal range — that really high-end… So there's always been elements of it. As a matter of fact, on [2012's] 'Sin And Bones' record, I said, 'Let's just fucking record a [BLACK] SABBATH song. Let me try and sound like Ozzy.' And we did 'Fairies Wear Boots'. And if you listen to it, it's, like, 'Okay, now that's Ozzy.' So we've always had some of those elements.

"But you're right — there's a couple of songs… I mean, 'Nowhere To Run', even when we play it, we play it live every night [sings song's chorus] — that one, singing it, I feel like, 'Oh, this is the Ozzy part,'" Chris added. "And I think one of the reasons for that is when Rich Ward writes the melody line, or Johnny Andrews, our producer, who co-writes all the songs with us, they know what my wheelhouse is, and they know that there's that high-end, I guess you'd say 'Ozzy-esque' style to it. Some people sound like Steve Perry; some people sound like Bruce Dickinson; some people sound like [Paul] McCartney — I sound like Ozzy. So that's kind of my wheelhouse. And [we're] not trying to write songs that sound like Ozzy, but there are definite parts that have that vibe to it, and even I can feel it and I know it. Which is cool — it's fun to know that if you're gonna be compared to somebody… Listen, people forget — Ozzy's one of the greatest rock and roll singers of all time, so I'll take that comparison any day of the week, man."

This past July, FOZZY released the official Lawrence Hinson-directed music video for the group's latest single, "Fall In Line". The clip was filmed at HM Studios in Las Vegas, Nevada, based on a video concept by Hinson and Mark Willis.

"Fall In Line" was released in April via Madison Records.

The 2025 leg of FOZZY's 25th-anniversary tour, dubbed "2025th Anniversary Tour", kicked off on April 17 in Springfield, Missouri and concluded on May 12 in Wyandotte, Michigan. The trek, featuring support from LILIAC and THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR, included stops in 20 of the nation's most epic venues, bringing the band's electrifying live performances for fans in every city.

The first U.S. leg of FOZZY's 25th-anniversary tour ran through October 21, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Support on the tour came from THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR and CLOZURE.

"Fall In Line" is the follow-up to FOZZY's previous standalone single, "Spotlight", which was released in October 2023 via Madison Records/The Orchard. The track was helmed by FOZZY's longtime producer Johnny Andrews (THREE DAYS GRACE, ALL THAT REMAINS, HALESTORM) and sonically refined by mixer Jacob Hanson (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, ARCH ENEMY).

"Boombox" came out in May 2022 and featured "I Still Burn", which has more than three million views on YouTube. It also included the Top 10 singles "Nowhere To Run" and "Sane".

In the spring of 2023, FOZZY spent time on the road with UGLY KID JOE as part of the latter band's first tour of the United States in 27 years.

In January 2022, FOZZY parted ways with longtime drummer Frank Fontsere and replaced him with Grant Brooks (THROUGH FIRE).

Fontsere was a founding member of FOZZY, having formed the group in 1999 with Jericho and Ward.

When FOZZY announced Fontsere's departure, the band said that he was "stepping down to focus on his family and other projects."

FOZZY is Jericho, Ward, Brooks, Billy Grey (guitar) and P.J. Farley (bass).

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Watch: MÖTLEY CRÜE Launches 2025 Las Vegas Residency

MÖTLEY CRÜE kicked off its Las Vegas residency Friday night (September 12) at Dolby Live at Park MGM. Fan-filmed video of the entire concert can be seen below.

According to Setlist.fm, the setlist for the show was as follows:

01. Too Fast For Love
02. Live Wire
03. Wild Side
04. Shout At The Devil
05. Looks That Kill
06. Primal Scream
07. On With The Show
08. Home Sweet Home
09. Guitar Solo
10. Rock And Roll, Part 2 / Smokin' In The Boys Room / Helter Skelter / Anarchy In The U.K. / Blitzkrieg Bop / Fight For Your Right
11. Dr. Feelgood
12. Same Ol' Situation (S.O.S.)
13. Girls, Girls, Girls
14. Kickstart My Heart

The residency, which was originally scheduled for March 28 - April 19, 2025, ended up being moved to September 2025 due to what MÖTLEY CRÜE said in March was "a required medical procedure advised by" singer Vince Neil's doctors. Vince has since revealed that he suffered a stroke last Christmas, leading to the postponement of the band's Las Vegas residency.

In an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Neil opened up about his previously undisclosed medical condition, saying: "I had a stroke. My whole left side went out… I had to learn to walk again, and that was tough. The doctors said they didn't think I'd be able to go back on stage again. I go, 'No, no, I'm gonna do it. Watch and see.'"

Neil continued: "I went from people carrying me to the bathroom, because I couldn't walk myself, finally to a wheelchair. I graduated to a walker, and then I had a cane. Now I don't need anything. But it's like a full-time job getting back to where you feel good again."

Vince added: "It takes a while to get your brain to start moving your legs, for them to do what your brain wants to do. You try to walk but it doesn't come out right."

The 64-year-old singer said that he worked with a football coach in Nashville, where Neil resides, and has been "doing a lot of running," adding, "It's been tough, but I'm back, I'm 90, 95 percent to where I was before, and it's going to be great."

Prior to Vince's August 1, 2025 concert at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts with his solo band, Neil hadn't performed live since hitting the stage with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2024 at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

The new show dates for MÖTLEY CRÜE's Las Vegas residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM will take run through October 3. Tickets from the original dates will remain valid for the newly announced dates.

The CRÜE's third Vegas residency is being billed as a "tell-all show [that] will immerse the audience in the band's history, leading all the say through their record-breaking 'Stadium Tour'." They previously set up shop in Vegas in 2012 for "Mötley Crüe Takes On Sin City" and in 2013 for "Evening In Hell".

In October 2024, MÖTLEY CRÜE released a new EP, "Cancelled". Produced by Bob Rock, the EP marked the band's first release with Big Machine and included three new tracks: Top 5 Rock Radio hit "Dogs Of War" a cover of the BEASTIE BOYS' "Fight For Your Right" and the title track, "Cancelled".

This past February, Neil's Learjet aircraft was involved in a collision in Scottsdale. Vince was not on his jet when it collided with another plane in the fatal incident, leaving one dead and several hospitalized.

John 5 joined MÖTLEY CRÜE in the fall of 2022 as the replacement for the band's co-founding guitarist Mick Mars. Mick announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 as a result of worsening health issues.

PAUL STANLEY Ranks His Top 5 KISS Albums, Explains His Choices

In a new interview with Justin Richmond of the Broken Record podcast, Paul Stanley was asked to rank his top five KISS albums. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "For different reasons, the first has to be 'Kiss Alive!'. Because 'Kiss Alive!' really captured the essence of the live experience. Now, that couldn't have happened without us going in the studio and enhancing it and surrounding you with people… Live albums were boring for four hours. You didn't even know they were live until the end of the song where you heard some clapping. But for KISS, we wanted an album that immersed you, immersion in the experience, which means being surrounded by people, which means bombs going off that are deafening, which means fixing any mistakes or a broken string. Snobs or purists may have looked down their nose at that idea, but the truth is that album is still considered, if not the greatest, one of the greatest, and in a lot of circles greatest live album ever. Not because everything was live, but because it captured the live experience."

Stanley's No. 2 pick was KISS's fourth album, 1976's "Destroyer", which was produced by Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked with Alice Cooper. He said: "'Destroyer', even though it didn't sound much like its predecessors, but working with Bob Ezrin was such a education, such a schooling, discipline and upping the writing and putting aside at least temporarily all the songs about sleeping with this one or this group of your parties, and it raised the bar. So many of those songs wound up in our show up until the very end — 'Detroit Rock City', 'God Of Thunder', 'Beth', 'Shout It Out Loud'."

Elsewhere, Stanley chose 2009's "Sonic Boom", which marked KISS's first album to feature lead guitarist Tommy Thayer. He said: "'Sonic Boom' was a great album by a band that recognized its roots and recognized where it came from and picked up the slack and kept moving forward. I love that album, and I love the spirit that went into it, where everybody knew what they wanted to do, and at our best. And most people's best, I think, comes from trying to make the team or the band or whatever you're involved in better, and that will make you look better than just trying to make you look better. And the team spirit on 'Sonic Boom' was really, really palpable. And a great album. Great album. And if [a song like] 'Modern Day Delilah' had been on 'Rock And Roll Over', it would be a classic. But songs take decades to gain that kind of patina or to have that life connection of when you heard that song at a certain time in your life. So, as time went on, songs could be great, but they didn't have the luster of being tied to the past. So whether it was 'Modern Day Delilah' or 'Hell Or Hallelujah' [off KISS's 2012 album 'Monster']… And I just found myself going, 'That's as good as it gets.' And it's a different time now, and people don't connect to songs as time pieces or a sonic photograph of a certain period. So 'Sonic Boom' would be in the top three."

Paul then picked 1976's "Rock And Roll Over", saying: "I like that album. It doesn't sound anywhere near what we sounded like, and that's after'Kiss Alive!' It was very elusive for us, perhaps because of some of the people we were working with. It just escaped us. We did something with real focus and clarity of what we were doing, so that's really good."

Stanley's final choice was 1996's "Kiss Unplugged", which was recorded in studio for the television program "MTV Unplugged" and released as part of a series of live and video albums. He said: "I love 'Kiss Unplugged'. That album, I just listened to some of that couple of days ago. The band at that point was just on fire. No effects, no amplifiers, no running around — us with guitars and drums and singing our asses off. And also it gave a chance to showcase the songs, because I've always adhered to the idea that a good song can be played on one guitar. If you have to go, 'Well, wait till you hear the sound effects on this song.' No. A great song can be stripped away, and it's fantastic. So to hear 'Sure Know Something' or 'I Still Love You', you hear those songs and there's a 'wow' factor just because it's that good. So 'Kiss Unplugged', I would put in there… I love the simplicity and the fact that it's undeniable. I mean, it's just four guys with their instruments."

KISS played its two final shows ever in December 2023 at New York City's Madison Square Garden.

The last show, held on December 2, 2023, streamed live on pay-per-view.

KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".

Early last year, KISS sold its entire music catalog, likeness and brand name to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment, which is behind "ABBA Voyage". A biopic, an avatar show, and a KISS-themed experience are already in the works, with Stanley and Gene Simmons playing key roles in the development of all these projects, working closely with Pophouse.

Using cutting-edge technology, Pophouse Entertainment Group, which was founded by ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus, will create digital versions of KISS. The project was previewed at the final KISS show.

5

Ex-DEATH Singer KAM LEE Says He Developed His DEATH Metal Growling Vocal Style By 'Mimicking Dogs'

In a new interview with Soundterror, Kam Lee, who was a member of an early version of DEATH as well as the pre-DEATH band MANTAS alongside guitarist/vocalist Chuck Schuldiner and guitarist Rick Rozz, was asked what it was like working with Chuck in the early 1980s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We were kids, so I only knew him as a teenager. So, I can't really expand on him as an adult. I can only tell you that we were teenagers, we were 15-, 16-year-olds just having fun playing music in the garage. We never thought it was gonna become what it did, what it's become."

Asked why he left DEATH, Kam said: "Why did I leave DEATH? [Chuck] kicked me out because I tried to get him to go out with a girl."

After the interviewer noted that many people consider the early MANTAS and DEATH demos "the birthplace of death metal growling", Kam said: "Well, in DEATH and MANTAS, when we started in DEATH, I basically just started kind of mimicking a lot of what we were taking influences from, which was… We were tape trading for one. I was a tape trader, so I was getting a lot of stuff from all over the place. So you'd get tapes from like POSSESSED, of course, was a big influence. There was stuff from SACRIFICE coming out of Canada. There was stuff from Paul Speckmann [DEATH STRIKE, MASTER] coming out of Chicago, and there was stuff overseas like early HELLHAMMER. There was stuff like VENOM. It was a big influence on MANTAS in the beginning. So it was kind of like a combination of trying to like combine all that stuff. Plus being underage and 16, you're just kind of screaming and you have all this angst and anger, and I come from the punk world, so I just wanted to kind of like express it that way. Plus I was playing drums at the same time. So it was a lot of trying to do that. But then when I found the growl, it really wasn't until MASSACRE that I really started… I changed it because earlier, prior to that was more screechy-type vocals, and Chuck started to sing as well, and he took it more in a more of his influence from [POSSESSED's] Jeff Becerra and was trying to sound more like Jeff, where I was, like, 'I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna sound like somebody else.' So I tried to come up with my own thing. And I thought, what was the most primal thing that I could think of? A lot of people will always say, oh, well, there was demonic movies like 'The Exorcist', or stuff like that. But to me, it was more or less about being primal, being natural. And to me, the most natural thing that was hair-raising is — I was raised around a lot of large dogs, like rottweilers and pitbulls, and I knew that the scariest thing that I ever felt as a 14-year-old was being between four or five rottweilers during feeding time, where you had to go out and give them food. And if you've ever been around large dogs, when you bring out a bowl of food, they all begin to growl this low growl because one wants to be the alpha, wants to be dominant, and it's kind of hair-raising. And I thought, that's what I wanna do with vocals. I wanna do something that's hair raising. I want to do something that sounds primal, sounds raw, sounds natural. And I started to mimic dogs. That's literally how I got the growl."

Lee went on to say that he didn't know anybody else at the time who had adopted quite the same style of death metal growling. But he clarified: "I took phonetic enunciation influences from Tom G. Warrior, only because I heard the HELLHAMMER demo and I really liked how he phonetically spoke, even though at the time I didn't realize it was 'cause he was from Switzerland and English wasn't his natural language. I just liked the way that he phonetically said things. So I took that, and there's a lot of his nuances, like his little 'ooh' and his 'hey', and I just took that and I expanded it. Instead of just going, 'Hey,' I went, 'Heeeey.' I kind of brought it out more. So there was that influence. And just the general influence of everything coming out in that late '80s time. Like I said, everything from VENOM to Lemmy from MOTÖRHEAD, just anything that was really raspy and raw I was attracted to. So I tried to kind of take all of those influences all together and put 'em all together."

Asked what the reaction was from other people to the kind of music he, Chuck and Rick were making at the time, Kam said: "Chuck and I and Freddie [Frederick 'Rick Rozz' DeLillo] at the time, we knew we were doing something that was completely different, and everybody hated it. Everybody hated it. I remember people would say, 'This is shit. This will never last. This will never catch on. This is garbage.' And look — 40-something years later, it's one of the biggest influential music in metal today. We didn't realize we were doing something that was going to have this much impact, but we knew at the time we were doing something different because everything that was popular at the time was hair metal, everything like MÖTLEY CRÜE and that kind of stuff, and we just wanted to be the completely polar opposite of that. So we just gravitated to more underground music, and that's literally… We did our own thing. My influences, especially lyrically, came from horror movies 'cause I'm a big horror movie fan. So I loved the Lucio Fulci films and stuff like that. And Chuck too — a lot of the stuff on [DEATH's debut album] 'Scream Bloody Gore' literally comes from our love of Lucio Fulci and 'Evil Dead' and all those '80s films that just came out during that timeframe."

Back in August 2022, Kam once again weighed in on the never-ending debate on who can lay claim to being the first "true" death metal band: DEATH or POSSESSED. He said: "POSSESSED came first, because we all heard the POSSESSED demo in the tape trading. We were tape trading and we got the POSSESSED demo. And there's where you can hear the change, because we were sounding different — we were sounding very much like VENOM in the first MANTAS demo; very, veryVENOM cloning. As soon as we heard that POSSESSED demo… It was two bands, actually, that literally changed everything in DEATH — the POSSESSED demo and SLAYER's 'Show No Mercy'. Those two things right there changed everything. Because once we heard SLAYER's 'Show No Mercy', as far as the speed and aggression, and we heard POSSESSED, as far as the technicality of the guitars and the way that Jeff was singing, that's when we changed. We said, 'Okay, we need to be a combination of all three of these — we need to be a combination of the rawness of VENOM, the fast energy of SLAYER and that just evil, screechy and guitar ripping ways of POSSESSED. That literally was it. There's the three bands that are the blueprint of death metal, as far as I'm concerned."

A little over a month earlier, Kam was asked to elaborate on his comment during an appearance on "That Metal Interview" podcast that "Chuck ripped off POSSESSED. "I guess that was actually a bad choice of wording," Kam admitted to VWMusic. "Saying 'ripped off' makes it sound bad. I guess the proper wording should be 'took heavy influence from.' Although you could say that I ripped off HELLHAMMER and Tom G. Warrior, and I'm not going to get butthurt about it. I won't because it's fact. Yet some people don't care about facts. They just want to keep believing the fiction they bought into because it fits the messianic mold their 'hero-worshipping' icons have been fitted for. It disrupts their ideology and topples the tower when they hear their gods might not be as almighty as they once believed. It's that same sunken feeling when a kid for the first time is discovering that just maybe Santa Claus is not real. It hurts their feelings. Worse yet are those others out there manipulating those people who are hurt. Some people are just trying to jump on the pity party bandwagon with that one."

He continued: "I got a lot of hate from that statement, though it wasn't intended to downplay Chuck's influence on music, but rather to end the debate of who came first, DEATH or POSSESSED. Sadly, morons spun it to change the narrative, to fit their agenda, and to further instigate and cause strife."

Lee added: "Do I feel Chuck's influence is overstated? Let me put it this way — for the 'product and commodity,' his legacy became post mortem. In order to keep reselling and repressing albums, it's exactly what it's being marketed as. No, it's actually exactly what one should expect from a product sales pitch. I mean, you've got to make sure that your product is the people's choice, right? It's Coca-Cola vs Pepsi. McDonald's vs Burger King. Starbucks vs Dunkin Donuts. In the end, the company with the better commercial is always going to win over the masses."

TOM G. FISCHER On TRIUMPH OF DEATH: 'We Have Been Talking About Maybe Trying To Write Some Music In The HELLHAMMER Style'

In a new interview with PowerOfMetal.cl, former HELLHAMMER/CELTIC FROST and current TRIPTYKON singer, guitarist and main songwriter Tom Gabriel Fischer (a.k.a. Tom Gabriel Warrior) spoke about his upcoming December 2025 performance at the Chile Terrorfest where he will perform the music of HELLHAMMER with his TRIUMPH OF DEATH project and the music of CELTIC FROST with TRIPTYKON. Asked if he ever considered going beyond performing the music of HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST with his current projects and possibly reviving either band with new material, he responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, in the case of CELTIC FROST, we are doing this with TRIPTYKON. TRIPTYKON is basically a continuation of CELTIC FROST without some of the personal problems that we had. But even on the next TRIPTYKON album, there's gonna be some music that I wrote when I was still in CELTIC FROST, and there's also new music that's very much just my music, the way I write it and the way I would've written it, even if CELTIC FROST would still exist. As far as HELLHAMMER and TRIUMPH OF DEATH is concerned, there's, of course, only two years' worth of HELLHAMMER music; HELLHAMMER only existed for two years. And yeah, we have been talking about maybe trying to write some music in the HELLHAMMER style, but I'm very careful about this. I don't wanna do something wrong. To me, HELLHAMMER is something very important by now in my life. And if you ever do this, we will be very, very careful to do it the right way. And if it doesn't feel right, we're not gonna release it. And we don't have to do it, so there's no pressure. We can do it only if it's right."

Asked what the "turning point" was that made him finally "embrace the idea" of performing CELTIC FROST and HELLHAMMER music with his current projects, Tom said: "For Martin [Eric Ain, late HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST bassist] and me, the turning point was when we reunited CELTIC FROST in 2001. Talking about the old days, and it was not just in a nostalgic manner, we really tried to revisit the reasons why we formed HELLHAMMER, why we formed CELTIC FROST and so on, and talking about this, of course, made us listen to the old music and made us understand it maybe a little more deeply than we could when we were young. When we were young, we were full of adrenaline and full of testosterone, and we were just thinking in the now, but when we reformed CELTIC FROST, we were older, we were hopefully a little more mature. We were adult men. We listened to this music and we said, 'Wow, some of this music actually has aged quite well.' And we actually began playing some HELLHAMMER songs during the rehearsals for [CELTIC FROST's] 'Monotheist' album [in 2006]. We had the intention of playing some HELLHAMMER songs on the 'Monotheist' tour. The reason why we didn't do this in the end was because the drummer we had at the time really didn't click with this music. We tried to play these songs in the rehearsal room and they just never sounded right with the drummer we had. But then I did the book about HELLHAMMER — around 2010, I wrote the book 'Only Death Is Real' with just the HELLHAMMER history — and this really inspired me to try it again, but to try it with a band specifically formed for that. So I formed TRIUMPH OF DEATH with some very good friends of mine who I know understand the music of HELLHAMMER. And that's when it happened."

This past May, Fischer spoke about TRIPTYKON's appearance at the Incineration festival in London, United Kingdom where he and his bandmates once again played a special set consisting of nothing but CELTIC FROST material. He told the Iblis Manifestations podcast: "I have to really state this because some lovable haters of mine always say, 'Stick to TRIPTYKON. Are you so desperate to play CELTIC FROST?' And there's a lot of things to say about that, which I won't do now. I'm just gonna state the most obvious. I wrote these fucking songs, and these songs are my life. Almost every single CELTIC FROST song had had a profound influence on my life, whether I liked it or not. And [late HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST bassist] Martin [Ain], too, of course. And there's no way I'm gonna spend the rest of my life without that music. I formed TRIPTYKON specifically to continue CELTIC FROST's path. And, of course, TRIPTYKON have continued as CELTIC FROST would have. TRIPTYKON is basically CELTIC FROST by a different name. I wasn't gonna be cheap and call it CELTIC FROST without Martin, but it is essentially… I'm operating exactly like CELTIC FROST. We've always played CELTIC FROST music because it's part of my life. And we also, of course, play TRIPTYKON music, because it is also part of my life."

Circling back to TRIPTYKON's appearance at Incineration, Tom said: "The show being entirely CELTIC FROST — all the shows where TRIPTYKON play CELTIC FROST only are by request of the festival, not by 'Tom being desperate' or 'Tom wanting to cash in.' Which is another issue. When people say, 'Yeah, he wants to cash in on his [history with] CELTIC FROST.' Well, if you go to work, you expect a salary — everybody. If you're a baker, yeah, you wanna cash in on the bread you sell. Oh my fucking God. It's my profession."

He continued: "I'm not justifying it. I'm simply stating the obvious because there's some people who think — I feel contempt for them. They think they have to tell me how to live my life. And I'm the last person to listen to that, but it doesn't hurt to occasionally address this. If you're loser and you're jealous about somebody else's work, maybe put that energy into your own. If I had been sitting at home in '82, '83, '84, and instead of writing demos together with Martin and recording demos and putting everything, every last cent we had, everything into musical fanaticism, if I had spent that time instead writing evil mails to people, I would be nowhere. And that's the difference. If I'd put that energy into destructive things instead of creative things."

"It was so much fun to connect with this fantastic audience over these songs, because these songs have a history not just for me, but also for the people who were there. They were singing all the lyrics. They were headbanging to it. What's wrong with this? I mean, if I'm totally honest, these are songs written, like, 40 years ago, some of them, and I've changed, of course, in these decades. I'm not the same guy that I was as a 20-year-old, totally inexperienced Tom Warrior. I'm gonna be 62 in in a couple of months, and I'm a very different person, of course. I've lived the life, I have life experience, hopefully some maturity, hopefully. And, of course, it changed me. So if I have a choice, of course TRIPTYKON is much closer to me because TRIPTYKON reflects the current Tom. But that doesn't preclude me loving these songs for a different reason, because these songs were the stones in my path, the floor plates on that road that I'm walking, and as such they're hugely important. And especially with the death of Martin, there's some songs that we performed yesterday where I have a film in my mind how Martin and I created these songs and how we produced them in the studio. And, for example, playing for the very first time ever 'A Dying God [Coming Into Human Flesh]' [from CELTIC FROST's 2006 album 'Monotheist'] yesterday on stage, it was first and foremost a tribute to Martin Ain, because I know how important this song was for Martin, and that's also why the video projection at that point focused on Martin. It's not about me. Martin can no longer come on stage, and believe me, if he was still alive, we would've asked him to be a guest in these shows. But I basically also carry his memory now. I'm involuntarily put into this position. Because I was the old one, I always thought I'm gonna die before him and he's gonna be the administrator of CELTIC FROST's legacy. But now I'm in this position. And this is part of what happened yesterday on stage. And I know people totally understand this. That's a lot of fans of Martin Ain in the audience, and you can see it."

In 2023, Tom and the rest of TRIPTYKON also played several other concerts during which they performed a set of early CELTIC FROST songs celebrating the influential Swiss metal band that he co-founded more than 40 years ago.

Ain, who played with Fischer in both HELLHAMMER and CELTIC FROST, died in October 2017 after suffering a heart attack at the age of 50.

CELTIC FROST reformed in 2001 and released its comeback album "Monotheist" via Century Media/Prowling Death in 2006. The band broke up in 2008, with Fischer going on to form TRIPTYKON.

TRIPTYKON has released two full-length albums, a live LP, an EP, a single and two box sets in its 17 years as a band.

TRIPTYKON 2025 is Tom Gabriel Warrior (voice/guitar),Vanja Slajh (bass),V. Santura (guitar/vocals) and Hannes Grossmann (drums/percussion).

TRIPTYKON's previous album releases are "Eparistera Daimones" (2010),"Melana Chasmata" (2014) and "Requiem - Live At Roadburn 2019" (2020).

Triumph Of Death

MY DYING BRIDE's ANDREW CRAIGHAN Says Things Are Going 'Great' With New Singer MIKKO KOTAMÄKI: 'This Is How We'll Continue Until We're Done'

In a new interview with Australia's Heavy, MY DYING BRIDE guitarist Andrew Craighan spoke about the band's decision to recruit vocalist Mikko Kotamäki (SWALLOW THE SUN) to front MY DYING BRIDE for its live appearances in 2025 after an apparent dispute with MY DYING BRIDE's founding singer Aaron Stainthorpe. Asked how the collaboration with Mikko came about, Andrew said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, he was chosen because we found ourselves vocalist-less, if that is such a word. I have to admit, we didn't know quite how deeply Aaron's solo aspirations were — let's politely put it like that — which I kind of understand. People, you get to a certain age and you wanna make things happen and you wanna make 'em happen quick. But obviously it had an effect on us. We were left without a vocalist. And we weren't ready for it. We didn't have a plan — well, mainly because we didn't know. And so we found ourselves in disarray, but we were sort of shocked at this. So once we'd got over the shock and we realized we really didn't have a vocalist — [Aaron's] got his new band, and it sounds like he's putting another band together as well to enhance his solo career — we had to find a vocalist. And I think it was either Neil [Blanchett, rhythm guitar] and Shaun [MacGowan, keyboards, violin] or the combination of Neil, Dan [Mullins, drums] and Sean, who were very fond of SWALLOW THE SUN and they know Mikko's history, 'cause I think SWALLOW THE SUN, very early in their early career, were influenced by MY DYING BRIDE. So he knows us. He knows what MY DYING BRIDE is, he knows what the ethos is and he knows what it's about. He won't have any delusions of grandeur because he knows where MY DYING BRIDE come from and where we presently are. And then the most important thing, we looked at his vocal range and his death metal's different to the way Aaron would sing it, but his vocal range is very much what we needed. So we thought, 'We'll try that guy first.' And he just said yes. And it was that simple. And then within a couple of weeks of him saying yes, we flew him across to Halifax and we had a meal and a meeting and we did some rehearsals and it was just easy. It was really quite something."

Elaborating on how Kotamäki has been accepted by his new MY DYING BRIDE bandmates and fans, Andrew said: "He's got a very dry sense of humor, a phenomenally dry sense of humor, but he is very, very professional, to the point where we, we were quite shocked. We were, like, 'Oh, fuckin' hell. We're gonna have to get professional now. This is what professionalism looks like.' We weren't ready for any of that. So, yeah, we all pulled the socks up a little bit. And it just works. We've just done three shows. We did one in Slovakia, one in Hungary, and one in Finland, in his hometown — well, not his hometown, but his home country at least — to great success. We had some equipment issues, but nothing musically or personality-wise. We all got on. We had a great time. And despite the shock of people… They knew Mikko was singing, and I'm not sure what they expected, but when he walks out on stage, they cheer. The joke in the band is that I've been in this band for X amount of years and they don't fucking cheer for me."

He added: "No, it's been great, I have to admit. But it was strange beginnings, and we weren't really sure what was gonna come out, but it's been great. So this is how we'll continue until we're done."

Last month, Andrew talked about a possible follow-up to MY DYING BRIDE's latest album, "A Mortal Binding", which came out in April 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records. He told the Everblack podcast: "We're always writing. Well, I'm always writing. We were in a little mini studio recently in Huddersfield. It's a great place called Vibration, and we put some new stuff together there just for fun. And we we're just sort of toying with ideas of where we wanna go next. I mean, it'll still be us, of course; we're not gonna be breaking out into any strange hip-hop or anything like that.

"We've nothing to lose — we've really nothing to lose at this stage — so we are kind of damned if you do, damned if you don't," Andrew explained about MY DYING BRIDE's new material. "So we're thinking of maybe even going back to, say, bringing back some of the early death metal stuff off the first album. Maybe do another '[The] Barghest [O' Whitby]' where we deliberately write a song so you can't have a B-side because it's 30 minutes long and we don't like B-sides…

"But, yeah, I'm certainly always writing, and I've got plenty of ideas," he added. "And there's some riffs that didn't quite squeeze on to the last album that for some reason just didn't make it on that we can always use those to springboard the next session of writing. So, short answer is yes, we're writing. There's nothing complete — maybe bits of three songs. But I wouldn't wanna play it to anybody right now because it's too soon."

In July, Andrew spoke in more detail about MY DYING BRIDE's decision to recruit Mikko, telling Metalirium: "Despite all the problems, the band was willing and ready to perform the remaining shows in 2024, but, unfortunately, there was no willing singer. The band only discovered this at the very last minute, which led to the cancelation. Given that the album had just been released, the band was not prepared to be sidelined. As a result, a meeting was organized to discuss the possibility of a replacement. Mikko was the unanimous first choice."

As for Aaron's current status with MY DYING BRIDE, Andrew said: "As Aaron has, in truth, distanced himself from the band, we are only aware of his activities through social media and online interviews. The band contacted him in March 2025 to enquire about his intentions with MY DYING BRIDE, but he has not responded. We first learned through social media that he was on a hiatus from MDB. Although he states online that he is still part of the band, he has not engaged with us since April 2024. So, in response to your question, the band does not know what his plans with MDB are."

Kotamäki has already played three shows with MY DYING BRIDE in Europe, at the Rockmaraton Fesztivál in Hungary, the Pit Of Metal in Slovakia and at the Dark River festival in Finland.

During a recent appearance on the Iblis Manifestations podcast, Stainthorpe stated about his current status with MY DYING BRIDE: "Well, in fact, the last thing I heard was they're writing new material as well now, which is interesting. I have not heard from Andrew for over a year. And as me and him are the only founder members left… And we never had a manager. Me and Andrew managed as best we could for years and years and years. There was only one stint when we nearly got a manager — Ronnie James Dio's ex-wife, funnily enough. That was a long, long time ago. So me and Andrew figured, 'Well, we could probably do it.' So we had a go of it, and then we had this big bust-up — I can't even remember when it was now, a year ago, a year and a half. And I thought, 'We'll let it die down a bit, and when we come to our senses, we'll get around the table, thrash out our differences and reignite the band.' And then I saw they were gigging without me. So I thought, obviously there's no communication then. So, what do I do? I'll just keep doing what I do until there is some communication. And there still hasn't been. So I'm getting on with my life. I'm not gonna sit there and stew and wait for things to happen. I'm gonna crack on and maintain a busy schedule. But I've no idea who they're gonna use in the studio, if they do a new album. I don't even know if there's a record deal anymore, 'cause everything's gone pear shaped at Nuclear Blast. I don't even know if Nuclear Blast is operating as a full record label anymore. I've heard all kinds of weird stories. And I know for a fact that the guy I used to chat with at Nuclear Blast, he's not there anymore. So over the last couple of years there's been massive, massive changes. So I don't even know if MY DYING BRIDE have a deal. And if they do, I don't know where that leaves me. I've not left the band, and I haven't been kicked out, so I don't understand where we're gonna go. I don't know what the future is. But having been a founder member and in the band for 35 years, I'm not leaving. If they wanna do things without me, well, good luck to 'em."

When Iblis Manifestations host Shayan noted that "it sounds like quite a complicated situation" in light of the fact that a legal MY DYING BRIDE partnership exists between Aaron and Andrew, Stainthorpe concurred. "Yeah. And it'll only get more complicated," he said. "I don't fully understand it. You would hope and imagine that as a founder member who hasn't left, I would have some authority somehow, but it seems not. So I don't really know. I'm probably gonna have to seek legal advice at some point. Obviously, I didn't want to, and I don't want to, but if a record comes out, a MY DYING BRIDE record comes out, and I'm not on it, but I'm still officially the singer, I don't know legally what I'm supposed to do. So at some point, unfortunately, it looks like I might have to seek legal advice, which in this country we have the musicians' union, so it's not a problem. They've got all the experts. And I do know some people quite high up in the business. So I've got people with their finger on the pulse so I can chat with them and just see what's what. But I don't want to. I would just rather keep singing MY DYING BRIDE songs. But maybe I don't have a choice with that."

Aaron also clarified that his involvement with his new band HIGH PARASITE, which released its debut album, "Forever We Burn", last September via Candlelight/Spinefarm, didn't create any issues with MY DYING BRIDE, despite fan speculation to the contrary. "Yeah, there was never gonna be a conflict," he explained. "MDB do about 15 gigs a year, and [there is] sometimes three or four years between albums. I could be in 10 bands and it wouldn't affect the scheduling of MY DYING BRIDE. I spoke to [HIGH PARASITE bassist/vocalist Danny] Tombs [Lambert] back in the day and I said, 'Here's some MY DYING BRIDE gigs. Make sure there's no HIGH PARASITE [gigs] clashing, any clashing of any gigs at all.' And he said, 'Absolutely fine. That will not happen.' And, well, it never even got that far, because we had a big bust-up before then, and the gigs got canceled anyway.

"You don't sacrifice the main band for your smaller band," Aaron continued. "That doesn't happen. Can you imagine Lars Ulrich saying to METALLICA, 'Do you know what, guys? Can we cancel those big gigs, 'cause me and my mates wanna mess around in this other band?' It doesn't work that way. It doesn't happen like that. And it would be ridiculous to even think that. 'Cause I know some people think, 'Oh, Aaron's concentrating more on HIGH PARASITE than MY DYING BRIDE. So he sacrificed MY DYING BRIDE for HIGH PARASITE.' You don't do things like that. It's utterly, utterly ridiculous. And why would I? MY DYING BRIDE has been an absolute delight for me for 30-odd years. I'm not gonna let that go. And I'm certainly not gonna let another, a smaller band batter it out the way. It doesn't work like that. Literally every musician I know is in more than one band. It's easy. Anyone can do it. It's not an issue."

Asked if he has been in touch with any other members of MY DYING BRIDE, Aaron said: "I see Neil [Blanchett, guitar] every once in a while for a beer in Halifax. But zero communication with the others. They've all got my details."

Pressed as to whether he has tried to reach out to the other members of MY DYING BRIDE since the "bust-up" happened that he mentioned earlier in the interview, Aaron said: "There's no point. There's no point because if they're not contacting me, they don't want to. So it's pointless me chasing them. They're doing what they wanna do and they clearly wanna do it without me."

Aaron went on to say that he is still holding out hope things could be ironed out between him and the other members of MY DYING BRIDE in the coming months.

"The reason why I'm not screaming and shouting is because I genuinely think it's not over," he said. "If I knew it was definitely over, then, yeah, I'd be heartbroken. But I try to remain optimistic that somehow we can work stuff out. I don't see why we can't. We're not kids. We're not a gang. We can surely work something out. Because normally when bands split up, there's normally some sort of financial irregularity, someone's run off with all the money, or there's some infidelity — 'You slept with my wife' or 'you slept with my wife.' Bands split up because of serious — something's gone really bad, really bad. We have none of that, which is why I think we can get back together. But let's see."

Asked what he would say to Andrew right now if the guitarist was listening to the interview, Aaron said: "Give us a ring. Give us a ring. It's not hard, is it?"

MIKE MUSHOK On Touring With STAIND: 'I'm Just Really Happy To Be Doing It Again And Be Back Working'

In a new interview with Paul Salfen of AMFM Magazine, STAIND guitarist Mike Mushok spoke about the band's return to full-scale touring after a period of several years during which STAIND was either inactive or playing intermittent shows. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think [we were] just [glad to be] able to get out there and do this again, and I think all of us just really enjoyed being able to play these songs again and work together again. And so I'm very thankful for it. I started this band a long time ago and I'm just really happy to be doing it again and [be] back working. And, listen, Aaron's [Lewis, STAIND frontman] still able to do his country career, which is obviously doing very well, and he's out all the time playing. And if we can go out once or twice a year and do some of these tours and shows and continue to make some new music, I'm happy with that."

Mushok also talked about STAIND's latest album, "Confessions Of The Fallen", which was released in September 2023 via Alchemy Recordings/BMG. STAIND's first new LP album since 2011 was produced by Erik Ron (GODSMACK, PANIC! AT THE DISCO, BLACK VEIL BRIDES). He said: "Going in to make this record, there was definitely a little bit of anxiety, 'cause we hadn't written together in over 10 years. I think that kind of started to dissipate a bit once I was able to play Aaron some of the music and he liked it and seemed to get excited about it and started bringing in his ideas. And so it just kind of picked up where it left off, really. And you just keep working until you have something at the end there that you're proud of and you think you're ready to release. And once we got done, I was definitely very proud of what we had created and couldn't wait for people to hear it."

Asked if he and his STAIND bandmates are already thinking about songs for the next album, Mike said: "Yeah, there's actually a bunch of songs kicking around that we're kind of working on. So, hopefully here in the future there'll be something else coming out. So that's definitely the plan as of now. But yeah, there's a bunch of stuff kicking around right now."

Earlier this month, Mushok spoke to Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about the "electronic element" which was incorporated into "Confessions Of The Fallen". Asked if he thinks STAIND's future efforts will follow a similar experimental path as "Confessions Of The Fallen", Mike said: "I do think that that's gonna happen. Yeah, definitely. In fact, there's some new music kicking around, and it's definitely still kind of following that same vein a bit. So, I'm real excited about that as well. So, yeah, I definitely think that we'll continue down that path, for sure."

Regarding when STAIND fans can expect to hear new music from the band, Mike said: "I don't know. That's a great question. But yeah, there's a bunch of songs kicking around. Aaron's super busy, always out playing. So, hopefully this fall we can maybe start to solidify some of these ideas and figure out exactly where we are. But yeah, there's a bunch of songs kicking around."

Back in December 2023, Mushok told Germany's Riot Vision about the electronic element on "Confessions Of The Fallen": "Well, that was something that Aaron really wanted to explore. We had talked about it before, but we'd never really done it. So he really wanted to make that a part of what we were doing. And it was funny, 'cause I do remember saying to him, like, 'I play guitar. I don't know how to do that.' So that's where I feel like Erik played a really big part in helping make that a part of what this album sounds like. Some of those verses where you hear [and] it's like more electronic[-sounding], that's a guitar part I wrote just played on a synthesizer, [using] some crazy sound. So he was able to take some of those things that I wrote and adapt it to kind of bring in some of those elements into the music. And I think he did a great job. I like it. I'm pretty happy with it."

Asked what new musical elements he would like to explore on future STAIND albums, Mike said: "I don't know. To me, it's just really about trying to write great songs. It's really just kind of trying to take what we do and make it better. And I don't really have any kind of guidelines. If it calls for more electronics or — I don't know — a guitar solo or whatever the case may be, whatever really the song calls for, I think that that's what the best thing to explore is. But I was very happy with the process of making this record and how it came out. Some records have been really difficult to make. This one wasn't one of those. The way we did it, it took us a while, but we got there. And by the end of the day, once we got there, I was really happy with the end results."

When "Confessions Of The Fallen" was announced in April 2023, Lewis stated about the LP's musical direction: "I did want to modernize the sound and bring us up to date. You can certainly recognize the band but at the same time you can hear that we've been paying attention and understand what kind of sounds and approaches we can use that maybe weren't around the last time we did this."

STAIND has released eight albums since 1995, including 2011's self-titled effort. The band has had a number of hit songs during its first two decades, including the Top 10 smash "It's Been Awhile" from the No. 1 album "Break The Cycle". Follow-up LPs "14 Shades Of Grey" and "Chapter V" also topped the Billboard chart.

STAIND released its first album in nine years, "Live: It's Been Awhile", in May 2021 via Yap'em/Alchemy Recordings. The "Live: It's Been Awhile" album was accompanied by "The Return Of Staind", a two-part global streaming series in partnership with Danny Wimmer Presents.

Photo credit: Steve Thrasher

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