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6 ìàé 2025
DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG Unveils New Single And Video 'Time To Listen'
 DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG (DATOG),the project featuring former ACCEPT members Udo Dirkschneider (vocals),Peter Baltes (bass) and Stefan Kaufmann (guitar),along with Udo's son Sven Dirkschneider (drums),Manuela Bibert (vocals) and Mathias Dieth (guitar),has released a new single, "Time To Listen". The track, like "It Takes Two To Tango", which came out a month ago, will appear on DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG's new album, "Babylon", due in October 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).
DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG comments: "'Time To Listen' is an up-tempo song that once again shines with DATOG's typically diversified lead vocals. A soaring guitar riff paves the way for a powerful Udo performance, accompanied by Peter's harmony vocals and continues with Manuela's sustained two-part vocals. The chorus, with its convincing power casts a spell over everyone. Here also, Mathias's guitar solo is a marvel of ingenuity that ignores all convention and whips through the musical realms in an unconventional manner. The compact and powerful ending is just as uncompromising as the beginning of the song."
A one-off charity campaign during the pandemic grew into an all-star heavy metal project: DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG — DATOG for short — united six seasoned musicians, many of whom have helped shape the metal genre's legacy over the past four decades.
At the core: iconic vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, founder and longtime frontman of ACCEPT, and leader of U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER. He's joined by Peter Baltes (bass, vocals; ACCEPT, DIRKSCHNEIDER),Stefan Kaufmann (guitar; ACCEPT, U.D.O.),Mathias "Don" Dieth (guitar; SINNER, U.D.O.),Udo's son Sven Dirkschneider (drums, U.D.O., DIRKSCHNEIDER),and powerhouse vocalist Manuela "Ella" Bibert, whose standout performances on the U.D.O. orchestra album "We Are One" (2019) solidified her place in the lineup.
Together, they released three singles between 2020 and 2021 — "Where The Angels Fly", "Face Of A Stranger" and "Every Heart Is Burning" — followed up by a special charity EP, called "Arising", to help support artists, crews and musicians affected by the coronavirus lockdown. The immense success of their recordings and music videos surpassed every expectation, with more than 23 million streams and views in total to date.
"The whole thing developed a momentum of its own that we hadn't expected," recalls Kaufmann. "Fans and labels immediately wanted to know: is there more to come?"
The answer arrived in April 2025 with the release of "It Takes Two To Tango", a powerful new single and the first taste of "Babylon", released via Reigning Phoenix Music — a trusted partner of both U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER. The track kicked off the next chapter in DATOG's journey, proving that the chemistry, passion, and fire between these six musicians is as strong as ever.
DATOG commented: "We're very happy about being part of the RPM family and continuing our work with Jochen Richert. We secretly started this joint campaign a while ago, and our mutual experiences behind the scenes have so far shown us that we are all definitely on the same page and driven by the same musical mutual factors: passion, loyalty, and the love for heavy music."
Managing director Jochen Richert (Reigning Phoenix Music) added: "Grabbing the chance of releasing DATOG's much-anticipated debut album was a no-brainer, of course. After their first steps exceeded, by far, several hopes and dreams, their new material is nothing short of a continuation, if not now on a higher level. Thank you to the whole GANG for your trust, let's rock this together!"
Musically, "It Takes Two to Tango" put the pedal to the metal, supported by a lyric underlining the aforementioned idea behind DATOG: the common joy of playing music! A virtue that surely will also infect all the viewers of the supporting music video, which was filmed by RCN TV at the legendary Dierks Studios (Stommeln, Germany),where actually the full record was tracked. The concluding mastering was handled by guitarist Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany).
"'It Takes Two To Tango' is strictly speaking only half of the song title, as the lyrics go on to say '(But) It Takes Six To Rock'. "This motto says it all", the group states and adds: "An absolute joint effort!"
DATOG is:
Udo Dirkschneider - lead vocals
Peter Baltes - bass, lead & backing vocals
Manuela "Ella" Bibert - lead & backing vocals, key instruments
Stefan Kaufmann - guitars, backing vocals
Mathias "Don" Dieth - guitars, backing vocals
Sven Dirkschneider - drums, backing vocals
Photo credit: Eddi Bachmann
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6 ìàé 2025
FURY Signs Record Deal With Mighty Music
 Danish metal label Mighty Music proudly announces the signing of British hard rock and heavy metal band Fury. Known for their explosive live performances and a fiercely authentic sound, Fury are set to enter a bold new chapter in their career, with their fifth studio album scheduled for release in Autumn 2025.
Hailing from Birmingham, UK – the birthplace of heavy metal – Fury have built a reputation as one of the most passionate and dynamic acts in the UK and European live scene. Their blend of classic influences, ranging from Iron Maiden to Metallica, is elevated by the rich and soulful vocals of Julian Jenkins, transporting listeners to other worlds with powerful songwriting and vivid storytelling.
The band’s current lineup features an impressive roster of talent, including Becky Baldwin (Mercyful Fate, Hands Off Gretel) on bass, Tom Fenn (Torous, Brassick) on drums, Tom Atkinson (Vice) on guitar, and Nyah Ifill sharing co-lead vocals. Together, they form a high-voltage unit ready to take the next step on the international stage.
The collaboration with Mighty Music marks a significant milestone in the band’s journey:
“Fury have been fiercely independent for many years, powered by the belief that authenticity in music will always shine through. It is very exciting to work with a team who share in these beliefs and see the potential in our professional collaboration. I have very high hopes for this new era of Fury, working with our new Danish friends in Mighty Music!” — Becky Baldwin (bassist)
“For years we have worked extremely hard to take Fury as far as we can as an independent band, and I’m incredibly proud of everything we have achieved! But we have now reached the point where we need help in taking Fury onward. And so I am extremely pleased that Mighty Music get what we’re about and want to work with us to take Fury into the next era! These are incredibly exciting times for Fury, our upcoming album will be released under Mighty Music and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together!” — Julien Jenkins (vocalist / guitarist)
“When first getting approached by Fury, I was like… wow, why is this band not signed to one of the biggest labels in the world of rock and metal? After talking back and forth on e-mail, I met up with Becky in person in Copenhagen at Zeppelin Rock Bar and talked things through and shortly after this contract was signed. Fury is the first new artist signing to Mighty Music in 1 ½ years after taking a longer break and focusing on the artists we already have signed to the label. So obviously I am very excited by this, and the Danish-British connection with Becky, just makes this feel even more natural. Needless to say Fury is a high priority artist for Mighty Music and at the same time this also triggered me and Mighty Music to open our doors for more new rock and metal bands, so if anyone is listening out there, do get in touch.” — Mighty Music CEO, Michael Hvolgaard Andersen | 0 | |
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6 ìàé 2025
ELECTRIC CALLBOY Part Ways With Drummer DAVID FRIEDRICH – “No One Can Take Away All The Wonderful Memories Of Our Journey Together”
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6 ìàé 2025
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6 ìàé 2025
KIM THAYIL Believes SOUNDGARDEN's Final Recordings With CHRIS CORNELL Will See Light Of Day: 'It Would Be A Great Gift To The Fans'
 In a new interview with Rolling Stone, SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil spoke about the status of the recordings made before vocalist Chris Cornell's death in May of 2017. Asked if he thinks the SOUNDGARDEN record that Chris was working on with the other members of the band when he passed away will ever be released, Kim said: "I think so. Our objective and goal was always to complete that. I probably have OCD enough to not want to leave something unfinished or incomplete like that, so I think the more we can attend to our body of work and our catalog…I think everyone in the band feels that way. I don't just to attend to my work, but the collective work, and in this case specifically, the work of Chris."
Thayil continued: "I have pride for what I did and I want to see that come out. It doesn't exist in the vacuum. It exists as a collaboration with Matt [Cameron, drums] and Ben [Shepherd, bass] and Chris, but it takes on an entirely different weight when you think about what it is you're honoring, and the work that you're paying tribute to. It is us collectively. We want to do it proud. And that part of us is certainly one of the most intimate components of what SOUNDGARDEN has been since 1984."
He added: "It would be a great gift to the fans. And I do think about this, and I don't know how strange this sounds, but I feel like it's a gift to Chris too."
Back in April 2023, SOUNDGARDEN and Vicky Cornell, the widow and personal representative of Chris's estate, announced that they had reached "an amicable out-of-court resolution" regarding the release of recordings made before the singer's death.
The resolution came less than two years after SOUNDGARDEN and Vicky came to a temporary agreement that would transfer the SOUNDGARDEN social media accounts and web site to the band's remaining members, Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd and their managers, Red Light Management. This included SOUNDGARDEN's web site, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
In March 2021, Thayil, Cameron, Shepherd and their business manager Rit Venerus filed papers in Washington state U.S. District Court claiming that Vicky Cornell had locked them out of their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, Snapchat, Tumblr, Top Spin and Pinterest accounts, as well as SOUNDGARDEN's official web site, and changing all the passwords.
Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd claimed their socials were previously managed by their then-management company Patriot Management. They said they later learned that Patriot had handed over all the login information to Vicky after Patriot was terminated in October 2019.
The band asked a judge to order Vicky Cornell to hand over the passwords or include a final posting stating, "SOUNDGARDEN has temporarily suspended its official social media accounts due to pending litigation."
Cornell was found hanged in his room at the MGM Grand Detroit hotel in May 2017, following a SOUNDGARDEN show at the city's Fox Theatre. His body was found soon after he had spoken with a "slurred" voice to his wife by phone. The death was ruled a suicide.
In December 2019, Vicky filed a lawsuit against the surviving SOUNDGARDEN members, alleging the group owed Cornell's estate hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid royalties and the rights to seven unreleased recordings made before the singer's death. Cornell is credited as a writer on all seven songs, receiving sole credit on two, "Cancer" and "Stone Age Mind". He wrote "Road Less Traveled", "Orphans" and "At Ophians Door" with Matt Cameron; "Ahead Of The Dog" with Kim Thayil; and "Merrmas" with Ben Shepherd.
At the time, Vicky claimed that Chris made seven recordings at his personal studio in Florida in 2017, adding that there was no explicit agreement as to whether the recordings were meant for SOUNDGARDEN, which made Chris the exclusive owner. However, the surviving SOUNDGARDEN members responded by saying that the unreleased recordings were the result of writing and recording sessions going as far back as 2015. They also pointed to public interviews with Chris and Thayil that suggested that SOUNDGARDEN had been working on the material since 2015, and detailed recording sessions up until April 2017, just one month before Chris's death. SOUNDGARDEN also included several text exchanges from Vicky, in which she referred to the unreleased recordings as the "SG files". They also provided a March 2017 e-mail from Vicky which said that Chris was travelling for the "SG record". The band went on to refute Vicky's claim that Chris's recordings took place in his personal studio in Florida in 2017, insisting that most of the actual sound files "significantly predate 2017" and that the recording sessions took place in Seattle and New York while the band was touring.
Responding to Vicky's lawsuit, Thayil, Shepherd and Cameron claimed that they "don't have possession" of their "own creative work," and alleged that "Vicky Cornell has possession of the only existing multi-track recordings of the last SOUNDGARDEN tracks that include Chris Cornell's instrumental parts and vocals. All of the band members jointly worked on these final tracks, Vicky now claims ownership of the final SOUNDGARDEN album."
Thayil, Shepherd and Cameron initially accused Vicky Cornell of misusing funds from the January 2019 "I Am The Highway: A Tribute To Chris Cornell" concert. After being challenged by Cornell's attorneys with the threat of sanctions, SOUNDGARDEN withdrew that portion of its countersuit, while its lawyers wrote at the time that the band believes the claims "remain well-founded."
In February, Vicky Cornell sued the surviving members of SOUNDGARDEN over the buyout price for her stake in the band. In the lawsuit, Vicky Cornell said Thayil, Cameron and Shepherd offered her just $300,000 for Chris's share. This amount, she said, is far lower than the real value of the Chris Cornell estate's interests in SOUNDGARDEN, especially considering the fact that the band got an offer of $16 million from an outside investor for SOUNDGARDEN's masters.
As previously reported, SOUNDGARDEN will join the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame class of 2025 in the Performer category. The Seattle grunge legends were first nominated for the Rock Hall in 2020, and were on the ballot again in 2023 before finally being chosen for induction this year.
Thayil, Cameron, Cornell and Shepherd are being included in the induction, as is original bassist Hiro Yamamoto, who was with SOUNDGARDEN from 1984 to 1989 and played on the band's first two EPs and first two albums.
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6 ìàé 2025
Ex-SEPULTURA Drummer IGOR CAVALERA: How I Measure Success
 In a recent interview with Drumtalk, the video podcast by German drummer and videographer Philipp Koch, former SEPULTURA and current CAVALERA drummer Igor "Iggor" Cavalera was asked how he measures success. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I have to say success, in my measurement, it's being able to do something that you love for a long time. Succeed to an extent that you are comfortable with what you do and you don't sacrifice your integrity as a musician, as a drummer just for the sake of making money. So that's success for me. It's not having a golden Ferrari, it's not having — whatever — limousines and all that stuff. It's doing something that you love and maintaining that for quite a few years, and that's what I try to show to my kids. It's like no matter what camp you are working — it could be anything from coding computers — but if you have that passion and if you enjoy what you do and for a long time, you're successful. It doesn't mean that you're rich. It doesn't mean that you're a millionaire. It just means that you are successful within yourself. And that's the way I measure things."
This past February, Igor launched a solo tour of the United Kingdom during which he performed electronic music from the repertoire of his solo discography inspired by the varied sub genres of avant-garde, drone, industrial and harsh noise.
Along with older brother Max Cavalera, Igor is a founding member of the Brazilian thrash metal band SEPULTURA. Igor is now the drummer for CAVALERA, CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, SOULWAX, PETBRICK and other projects. Cavalera is one half of the DJ duo MIXHELL, an electronic music project he founded with his wife, Laima Leyton, in 2006. With MIXHELL, he has toured the globe, performing in festivals such as Glastonbury, Bestival and Reading.
In 2013, Igor moved to London with his family and in 2016 joined the Belgian band SOULWAX, recording drums for their album "From Deewee" and touring as part of "Transient Program For Drums And Machinery". Soon after, he founded PETBRICK with Wayne Adams — a project that involved melting noise and crushing electronics over grinding drumming.
Igor has been performing live with analog modular gear, drum pads and visuals for intimate crowds at experimental festivals such as Dio Drone (Florence) and clubs such as Cafe Oto and Iklectik (London). His latest releases include "Aural Manifestations" on Damian Records in America and Deepthroat Records in Europe and "Alucinações Sônicas" on Hospital Productions.
Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).
In 1996, Max Cavalera exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.
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6 ìàé 2025
WINGER's KIP WINGER: 'We're A Very Misunderstood Band'
 In a new interview with Japanese music critic and radio personality Masa Ito of TVK's "Rock City", WINGER frontman Kip Winger addressed the fact that many people consider his band to be outliers within the 1980s "hair metal" scene. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're a very misunderstood band. We ended up in a section of the music business that doesn't fully represent what we are all about as individual players or as a band. But when Reb [Beach, WINGER guitarist] and I were writing the first record, we were not very smart about image. And so we were watching MTV, looking at WHITESNAKE and BON JOVI, going, 'What are we gonna wear? What are they wearing?' So we just went and wore what they wore and kind of fell into the whole stream of it. And so we were kind of mismanaged. We didn't have a manager — a really good manager — going, 'No, you've gotta do this, and if you do that…' So we kind of got lumped into the whole '80s thing, which we might not have totally been lumped into had we had little bit more of a steering wheel on board. But we were very, very successful, so what are you gonna say? I mean, it worked out fine. But we were very misunderstood. [The WINGER song] 'Seventeen' is a great example. Even though the lyric is a pop lyric — and by the way, I was just copying Paul McCartney in 'I saw her standing there'; total rip-off. But if you open up the hood of the car and look down in there, the guitar riffs are very difficult to play. And to this day, we have never seen a cover band be able to play 'Seventeen'."
Kip continued: "So while many people in the masses might listen to us thinking we're a pop-rock band, it's a way more credible musicianship than that. Not to take away from pop-rock bands 'cause I love a lot of those bands. But we are very misunderstood. And I think that long after we're gone, that will reveal itself more and more, because even now it does. We see young people in the audience — very young people — especially guitar players and musicians in the audience for us. In Japan, 60% of the audience is under 30, or maybe under 35. I mean, there's not a lot of people that have been with us the whole time. They have their kids and then guitar players and musicians that wanna come see. [WINGER drummer] Rod Morgenstein is a legendary drummer. And like I said, not to be redundant, but we're very misunderstood in that way, and I think time will prove that."
WINGER issued its seventh studio effort overall in 2023, the appropriately titled "Seven". Kip is also a respected and successful symphonic composer, having issued recordings under the name C.F. Kip Winger, while Reb has been a member of WHITESNAKE since 2002, and drummer Rod Morgenstein has served as a professor at Berklee College Of Music (in addition to playing in a variety of other more jazz-fusion-based projects).
WINGER formed in the late 1980s and soared to immediate success with its 1988 self-titled release. The album spawned the hit singles "Seventeen" and "Headed For A Heartbreak" and achieved platinum sales status. "Winger" also stayed on the Billboard 200 chart for over 60 weeks where it peaked at #21. Their next album, "In The Heart Of The Young", also achieved platinum status behind the singles "Can't Get Enuff" and "Miles Away". The change in musical climate of the mid-'90s, compounded with unprovoked ridicule on MTV's popular "Beavis And Butt-Head" show, led the band to go on hiatus in 1994. In 2001, WINGER reunited and has not looked back since. Kip also earned a 2016 Grammy nomination for the classical album "C.F. Kip Winger: Conversations With Nijinsky", recorded with the San Francisco Ballet Orchestra.
WINGER recently completed "farewell" tours of Australia and Japan.
In March, Kip was asked by Steve Mascord of White Line Fever TV what he will miss about playing with WINGER. Kip said: "Listen, I've been well-known my whole life. But I was never, like, 'Hey, I'm a rock star' or anything like that. It's very matter of fact to just talk to people. What I'll miss is playing with these guys that I really love so much, but I'm very excited to move on to this other world that I'm really inspired because I'm hearing so much of the music.
"At some point I'm gonna play a final show with the band," Kip explained. "I don't know when it is. But that's not to say I might not do a cruise or something. I don't really know. I'm not going, 'Hey, this is the last show we're ever gonna do' because… Well, hey, KISS did it for 10 years, so… [Laughs]"
Asked if he has any thoughts about where the last WINGER show will be, Kip said: "I do have some thoughts about it, but nothing's totally worked out yet. So as soon as I know, I'll let you know."
Regarding the possibility of guests coming up for the final WINGER concert, Kip said: "That would be cool. I did think about that, but it depends on the location, like where we would be. So I don't know yet."
Kip also talked about how his daily routine will change once WINGER has stopped touring. He said: "Well, the biggest thing is the traveling. If you do 40 gigs in a year, and sometimes we do more than that, you have twice that many days on each end traveling. So, you spend half of the year of your life sitting in an airport, and it really… Listen, we're not a huge band — we don't fly around in our own Learjet — so it tends to take a toll on you. And then, all of a sudden, all my personal goals just end up drifting away in an airport somewhere in Chicago. So my life will be different in that way."
Kip continued: "Listen, interruption is the death of creativity. So my focus is to get myself into a place where I can be 100 percent creative and keep it rolling because it's really difficult to have it all broken up so much. And I've written every kind of rock song possible. I've made my final statement on the last WINGER record. And a lot of people think that's, like, if not our best record, it's close to being our best, along with 'Pull'. And I kind of brought back the original guys and put the original logo on and gave it a nice full circle. So, there's nothing else that Reb and I could do with WINGER that wouldn't just be, like, 'Okay, let's write another one of those' or 'another one of those.' And now I'm in this whole other mentality where the sky's the limit and I've got 30 more years of expressing myself in a world of things that haven't been done by me."
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6 ìàé 2025
POP EVIL's LEIGH KAKATY: 'To Survive In This Business, You Have To Be Growing Constantly'
 POP EVIL frontman Leigh Kakaty says bands need to ditch the "douchey rock star" attitude if they want to succeed today.
During a recent conversation with SNSmix.com, Kakaty discussed how touring has changed during POP EVIL's 24-year career. The singer noted that concerts are no longer just about playing songs, but about the unique experience that some with it.
"It's an exciting thing about where shows are now," he explained. "It's almost like everything's gotten more like Las Vegas. The fans now, they demand entertainment differently. Let's be real — money for people, it's not as abundant as it once was for us, maybe, in the '80s and '90s. It's tough. People are having hard times. Groceries are through the roof. So when they actually do spend money on coming to see their favorite band or bands live, they wanna be blown away. They don't wanna see just a jam band up there playing in front of backdrops. They wanna see the art come to life. They wanna see that band, they wanna see the people they're seeing on social media push the boundaries, take it to another level."
Kakaty noted that high expectations for concerts are forcing bands to eliminate some of their wild offstage antics.
"It's an exciting time to chase that perfection, to push your boundaries live to be better, to sound better, to be healthier," he said. "So it's an interesting time, but it's exciting at the same time 'cause it's making you have no choice but to take the excess fat that is all the distraction away from the music or being that douchey rockstar or whatever that is, whether you're getting too drunk, wasted, but it's putting the attention where it should be on."
Kakaty further admitted that bands maintain a rivalry with each other, even when they enjoy a mutual respect.
"To survive in this business, you have to be growing constantly, constantly taking it and raising the bar, 'cause your competition or your buddy next to you or in that same tour or in that festival is doing that next thing before you," he explained. "And that's what makes those festivals so fun, 'cause you're constantly watching bands that you might not see in any other situation, but you're seeing in them and you're, like, 'Oh, my gosh. That's a sweet idea. If we tried something like that, would that work?' And then that leads to your own idea that comes out of that. So it's so refreshing and so exciting to see all this youthfulness and this fun energy that's coming, 'cause we're all in that same boat. There's only so many opportunities for us to really get the looks and to be seen by the audience, so when we do get those opportunities, we're making the most [of them]."
POP EVIL's eighth album, "What Remains", was released on March 21 via MNRK. Leigh told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about the effort: "We feel like it's one of our favorite albums that we've released to date. A lot of personal healing for me, with just stuff I buried, I think, with my career and where we've been all these years. So finally listening to my soul, letting that healing come out on this record, it's just special. And just kind of wanting to challenge people to be positive.
"When you think about the darkest time in someone's life, you have a choice — you wanna stay depressed, you wanna stay in that dark place or you wanna walk forward and try to be better every day?" he continued. "So this album comes from a dark place. But certainly trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel, trying to still be positive and inspire people to be better, starting with ourselves, is definitely [something] that rings prominent on this album. So [I'm] definitely excited about getting it out there and finally an opportunity for our fans to start making it their own. So I'm stoked about it."
POP EVIL first rose to international prominence with debut album "Lipstick On The Mirror", featuring RIAA-certified-gold single "100 In A 55". After Kakaty famously tore up the band's major label contract onstage, POP EVIL signed with MNRK Heavy (formerly eOne Music). 2011's "War Of Angels" debuted in the Top 10 of the Rock Albums chart and produced three Top 10 singles.
The band's 2013 album "Onyx" put them in the Top 40 of the Billboard 200 for the first time and boasted three consecutive No. 1 rock songs, two RIAA gold singles, and one platinum single "Torn To Pieces". POP EVIL's next release, "Up", was the No. 1 Independent Album in America and made it to No. 25 on the Billboard 200. It featured several Top 5 rock songs and a chart-topper with "Footsteps", which also went gold.
POP EVIL's 2018 self-titled set included the No. 1 hit and certified-gold single "Waking Lions" and two other Top 10 hits. 2020's "Versatile", meanwhile, scored two No. 1 rock songs: "Breathe Again" and "Survivor". In 2023, the band released its seventh studio album "Skeletons", which spawned their eighth and ninth No. 1 singles: "Eye Of The Storm" and "Skeletons". | 0 | |
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6 ìàé 2025
Watch: KERRY KING Performs At Brazil's BANGERS OPEN AIR Festival
 Fan-filmed video of KERRY KING's May 4 performance at the Bangers Open Air festival at Memorial Da América Latina in São Paulo, Brazil can be seen below.
The band's setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:
01. Where I Reign
02. Rage
03. Trophies Of The Tyrant
04. Residue
05. Two Fists
06. Idle Hands
07. Disciple (SLAYER song)
08. Killers (IRON MAIDEN cover)
09. Shrapnel
10. Raining Blood (SLAYER song)
11. Black Magic (SLAYER song)
12. From Hell I Rise
In a recent interview with Nick Bowcott of Sweetwater, Kerry spoke about how he chose the musicians for his eponymously named solo band. Joining the 60-year-old SLAYER guitarist in the group are drummer Paul Bostaph (SLAYER),bassist Kyle Sanders (HELLYEAH),guitarist Phil Demmel (formerly of MACHINE HEAD) and vocalist Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL). He said: "I wanted, first and foremost, it to be a friend of mine, in my age group. I don't have anything against people like… I don't even have an example, 'cause I don't pay attention that much, but somebody my age getting in a band with somebody 25. I've got nothing against it; I just didn't wanna do that. I wanted us to look like a cohesive group of people. And first and foremost, it was a friendship. No divas, no drama backstage. We get done playing, and if somebody messes up, we'll all make fun of 'em. [Laughs] It's a good environment, man. I'm having a fucking blast."
King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", came out in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music. All material for the LP was written by the SLAYER guitarist. The LP was recorded in 2023 at Henson Recording Studios in Los Angeles with producer Josh Wilbur, who had previously worked with KORN, LAMB OF GOD, AVENGED SEVENFOLD and BAD RELIGION, among others.
Last month, Kerry told Igor Miranda of Rolling Stone Brasil about his plans for a sophomore solo album: "I made up two songs since I've been home from this U.S. run [in late February]. So we keep working on stuff. We haven't played together yet, but we have stuff to work on when we get together.
"What the plan is, is whenever [the] cycle [for 'From Hell I Rise'] is done, and right now that looks to me like October, Paul and I have always talked about going straight from playing live, taking maybe a week off and go right in the studio to keep your tour chops, so you're firing on all cylinders — you don't gotta practice to get good; you're already good — and get in there and record it. So, ideally, in my perfect world, it would be done this year and then just hand it to the record company and say, 'Put it in line, whenever you want it to come out.'"
Asked if he would like to "maybe explore some different influences, like going a little more into punk rock" on the next album, Kerry said: "I don't know. I think punk was pretty well covered on ['From Hell I Rise'], from 'Everything I Hate About You' to 'Two Fists', two very different punk styles. So it wouldn't surprise me if that shows up 'cause it's part of my history. And I think, overall, my thought would be just make an extension from what 'From Hell I Rise' is, just keep doing [things the same way], see what the next 10 or 12 [songs] sound like."
King kicked off his first-ever headlining tour on January 15 at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, California. The trek, which featured MUNICIPAL WASTE as special guest and ALIEN WEAPONRY supporting, wrapped at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22.
King authored all the lyrics on "From Hell I Rise", mainly for logistical reasons. "I finished everything before Mark knew he had the gig," he explained. "But that's not to say he will or won't write on record two." Circumstances dictated that King sing on all "From Hell I Rise" demos. "I did scratch vocals on everything," King said, adding, "I'm not a singer. I'm a guitar player. I've got conviction when I sing, but I have no range, and I need some distortion to help me out a little bit. There was always, 'I got this if whatever we're looking for doesn't work.' Luckily, we didn't have to go that route."
Last year, Kerry said that he knew people would compare "From Hell I Rise" to SLAYER. "I'm not afraid of that because I think it stands up to anything we've done in our history, musically, performance-wise," he said. But he was quick to add: "There will be people complaining, 'Why does it sound like SLAYER?' And 'why doesn't it sound more like SLAYER? That's just what people do."
In early May 2024, the KERRY KING band performed its first live show at Reggies in Chicago. In the days following, the band went from playing an intimate venue to performing at the huge U.S. festivals Welcome To Rockville (Florida) and Sonic Temple (Ohio).
KERRY KING launched a European tour on June 3, 2024 — King's 60th birthday – in Tilburg, The Netherlands. The trek combined headline shows in the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Spain but also festival appearances such as Rock Am Ring, Hellfest, Tuska, Download, Sweden Rock Festival and many more.
The SLAYER guitarist's solo band played its first concert as the support act for LAMB OF GOD and MASTODON on July 19, 2024 at the Texas Trust CU Theatre in Grand Prairie, Texas. The six-week "Ashes Of Leviathan" tour wrapped on August 31, 2024 in Omaha, Nebraska.
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6 ìàé 2025
DARK ANGEL Performs Without Guitarist ERIC MEYER At Brazil's BANGERS OPEN AIR Festival
 California thrash metal pioneers DARK ANGEL performed as a four-piece at the Bangers Open Air festival in São Paulo, Brazil on Saturday, May 3 after an alleged airline mishap forced guitarist Eric Meyer to miss the show.
The following day, Eric took to his Facebook page to write: "All of our LEGIONS OF DARKNESS in BRAZIL!! THANK YOU for giving DARK ANGEL such a warm welcome!!! As you may have heard, the airlines completely FUCKED ME on this one."
He added: "I was truly gutted that I wasn't there. This was the FIRST time I've not played a show with [DARK ANGEL]. And, it REALLY HURT. I am looking forward to seeing ALL THE BRAZILIAN METAL FANS NEXT TIME!!!!"
Last month, DARK ANGEL released "Extinction Level Event", the title track of the band's first new album in 34 years, which is due later in 2025 via Reversed Records. The LP 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.
Upon its arrival, the "Extinction Level Event" title track was met with a mixed response from DARK ANGEL's longtime fans, with one fan writing on Facebook: " I was just listening to 'Time Doesn't Heal' this week, man, Ron's [Rinehart, DARK ANGEL singer] vocals were top notch. Listening to this song i was like: 'Is that really Ron? What happened to his voice?' Let's hope the album has better songs, this one was boring and generical. Totally not worth waiting 34 years." Another fan chimed in: "All that hype, then this. yawn. No [late DARK ANGEL guitarist Jim] Durkin, no [DARK ANGEL]. Hang it up." A third fan wrote: "It's OK. if it was a young band, I would say that's a great start but for DARK ANGEL, it's disappointing. Nobody expects a new thrash gem like 'Darkness Descends' or a tech cult classic like 'Time Does Not Heal', but something like 'Leave Scars' would be awesome and respected."
"The Metal Command" radio show host Tony Webster offered a scathing review of "Extinction Level Event" on Facebook, calling it "absolutely horrendous. It's four minutes and 16 seconds of my life that I wish I could get back after listening to it," he wrote. "It's badly written, uninspired and right now most people are talking about how terrible it is."
Some of the DARK ANGEL fans were more complimentary of the band's new song, with one fan writing on Facebook: "Yeah vocals are a bit crazy but the riffs are on point." Another fan wrote: "The vocal is a bit different to what Ron Rineheart sounded like but that was 34 years ago. It sounds like DARK ANGEL which means they have their own particular sound rather than sounding like another 1,000 standard metal bands. I can't wait to hear the album." A third fan wrote: "It would have to grow on me but currently my opinion is contrived from their own formula with less altogether good vocals. No catchy phrasing or cohesive riffing. Doesn't mean it won't grow on me or that the rest of the album won't be good. Overall, I am pleased that they're back and hope they make a few more runs at it." A fourth fan said: "People can piss on this all they want but I like it. A few decades pass and people expect everything to stay the exact same? Bollocks. It's metal and crushes most of the new crap out there today."
After one person wrote on Facebook, "I gotta wonder if people are slamming on the new DARK ANGEL song only because their online friends are instead of forming their own opinions based on actually giving it a whirl", DARK ANGEL bassist Michael Gonzalez weighed in below the post, writing: "It is what it is. We made an album for us and where we are at now. Whether it's loved or hated, I'm proud of what we've done."
The "Extinction Level Event" title track was written by Durkin a decade ago, long before he suffered from severe liver disease, and, to the surprise of everyone, passed away in 2023.
"Jim Durkin left us with this badass tune," Hoglan said in a press release in April. "It is so DARK ANGEL and I'm just so excited about it. We made it the lead-off song on the record, not as a tribute to Jim or because of sentimental reasons — like, 'Here is the song that Jim left us' — but because it's just a totally killer song. He wrote it ten years ago, and by today's standards it's still ball-crushing."
The "Extinction Level Event" artwork and layout was designed by Cain Gillis, with concepts by Hoglan.
Earlier in April, Hoglan told the "Everblack" podcast about "Extinction Level Event": "It's a pretty ferocious record. I'm stoked with it. It took long enough for it to come out, but now that we're getting closer to the release, things are starting to get closer to finalized with it."
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", 1986's "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.
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.
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6 ìàé 2025
Watch: STEPHEN PEARCY And WARREN DEMARTINI Perform RATT Classics At 2025 Edition Of M3 ROCK FESTIVAL
 RATT singer Stephen Pearcy and guitarist Warren DeMartini played their second reunion show last night (Sunday, May 4) at the 2025 edition of the M3 Rock Festival at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland.
Playing alongside Pearcy and DeMartini were former RATT and QUIET RIOT guitarist Carlos Cavazo, former RATT and ROUGH CUTT bassist Matt Thorr and former SLAUGHTER drummer Blas Elias. Thorr and Elias are both current touring members of Pearcy's solo band.
Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.
Featured songs in top video:
00:00 Intro
02:08 Wanted Man
05:50 I Want A Woman
10:35 Walking The Dog
14:16 In Your Direction
18:30 I'm Insane
22:20 Slip Of The Lip
26:20 Never Use Love
30:20 Back For More
35:44 Givin' Yourself Away
41:10 Nobody Rides For Free
47:48 Way Cool Jr.
54:14 Over The Edge
58:40 Lack Of Communication
01:03:45 Lay It Down
01:07:10 You're In Love
01:14:00 Body Talk
01:19:54 Round And Round
In a recent interview with Waste Some Time With Jason Green, Pearcy spoke about his reunion with DeMartini for a handful of shows this spring and summer. He said: "It's always been going around, 'You guys should get together.' I believe I actually approached Warren a few years ago. I go, 'Hey, why don't we try doing this [Jimmy] Page-[Robert] Plant [-style] thing or something.' And nothing became of it. So, I'm, like, hey, well, he's grooving. He's still that guy — he's the lead guitar player in RATT, the guy who co-wrote those songs; he's the guy. So I went about my business, as you know, and do my solo thing. And I have great players, but this is the real deal.
"So what happened was, over seven years later here, we get a contact from a promoter at M3 [Rock Festival], and it was, like, 'Well, I have this idea. Maybe we can get you guys back together and you can headline one of these nights.' And I'm, like, 'Okay. Yeah, right. Okay, well, let's see what happens.' So anyway, long story short, I said, 'Hey, whatever it takes, I'm in. Let's see if we can make this happen.' Well, it just happened to be the right timing for Warren too, to go, 'Hey, why not? Let's play again.' And here we are."
Regarding Pearcy and DeMartini's first reunion show at Mohegan Sun, Stephen told Waste Some Time With Jason Green: "It was fucking amazing. And we kind of blundered here and there and it's a given. We had a few rehearsals.
"The way Warren and I worked in RATT was we do like to be loosely tight," he explained. "We don't wanna be that technical out there when we play. So it kinda worked out the other day, like, 'Okay, we got our feet wet. Now we know what's happening.' So, some of those songs you may never hear us play again, that we played."
Asked if there are any other songs that he would like to perform at the future shows, Stephen said: "Oh, a hundred percent. And I think [Warren] would do it. I wanna play 'Eat Me Up Alive'. And that's a song Carlos and I wrote, so what the fuck? We played it before. That's a song I wanna do. I liked the couple songs Warren picked.
"For me, it's kind of cool, and even being this sobered up guy for years, is going out there and it's still the same as it was in '85, '86 with Warren up there," Pearcy added. "That's the vibe I got. I mean, we were able to sit there and chit-chat and didn't give a fuck on stage. 'Let's take a second out for us, dude. This is funny, huhThis is a trip, right?' That's our conversation up on stage."
Regarding the fact that drummer Bobby Blotzer and bassist Juan Croucier, who were both members of RATT's classic lineup, are not playing with Pearcy and DeMartini at the current shows, Stephen said: "People are already going, 'Oh, bring back the other guys.' Well, I don't really think they know how complicated it is or it would be, or if it even need be. Because the reason Warren and I are out here in the first place is to kick about the legacy of the music. Hey, we had great songs.
"It wouldn't have worked [with the other members], nor would I think I would've… Of course if you're really doing 'business business', you have to consider all aspects," he added. "But do I wanna fuck with our fans or our friends and go out there and pretend it's fucking cool and it's really not? You know what I mean? I mean, look, it took seven years for Warren and I [to play together again], and it was, like, 'Hey. Wow.' I never thought it would happen, but now we're talking about writing new music. So what the fuck?"
Asked if he thinks he will ever play under the RATT brand again, Stephen said: "Uh, well, I could say it would be cool, but I've proven it's not necessary right now. If you're doing 'business business', so to speak — but it's not necessary. That's why I've been out there busting ass for the last few years, is to establish that… It's irrelevant. I'm the guy who co-wrote or wrote those songs, created the band. Here I am — I'm singing. Because one day I'm gonna wake up and go, 'I don't wanna do this shit anymore.' And it happens… But, yeah, I think about that all the time. I mean, I'm fucking Evel Knievel right here, so I've gotta take it carefully.
Pearcy and DeMartini will also perform a set of RATT classics at Rock The Dam 8 in Beaver Dam, Kentucky, on July 26.
"It's all good," Stephen said. "And I'll tell you what we've decided to move forward and because of that show, because we were touchy- touchy, if we wanted to stay out. And so we're gonna entertain some more shows. It's by overwhelming demand. I mean, this might be it, the last you'll see of RATT, for all I know. I don't know. But I'm enjoying this shit. It's fun again. It's been fun for me for the last few years, and I'd like to keep it that way."
During an appearance on the January 29 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Stephen said about the lineup of his new band with DeMartini: "We're gonna have Carlos out there, which is cool. And I'm bringing in Matt Thorr on bass, who's pretty much an original RATT guy from 1981, '82, when Jake E. [Lee] and Warren pulled in. And then we're taking Blas Elias on drums from SLAUGHTER and my band. And we're ready to go."
Added Warren: "When I moved up to L.A. to join RATT, I stayed at a house with Jake E. Lee for a few months, and, it was like a three-bedroom [house], and Jake had one, and Matt had the other, and this other musician had the third. And I was on the couch. But Matt goes way back with [RATT]. I'm actually kind of looking forward to checking that out again. He was playing bass at the time I joined [RATT]."
Regarding why they are not playing the M3 show under the RATT banner, Pearcy said: "Well, I'll tell you right straight up — it's not about RATT. It's about the legacy of our music. And who better to deliver it, because we don't have all the proper original elements, which would include [late RATT guitarist] Robbin [Crosby]. So we just decided — no. This is great. This is perfect. I mean, we don't wanna hit a brick wall. We want this nice and smooth. So that's what we intend to do. It's not about that — it's about the legacy of RATT. Period."
DeMartini went on to say that he was open to playing more shows with Pearcy in the future, assuming that everything goes well with the M3 gig.
"Since we announced the M3 show, other stuff has come up," he revealed. "When this [M3 concert] came up, I was treating it as a one-off, but everything has a momentum, or it can have a momentum. And in this case, it just feels better and better.
"I've always wanted to play these songs to the people, like we always have," he added. "So I'm totally game to doing more."
Asked if Blotzer and Croucier would have any involvement in M3 and other gigs Pearcy and DeMartini plan to play together, Stephen said: "No, no, no. Not on this. No. Like I say, we wanted it to be about the music and Warren and myself delivering it, because it is gonna be a little different. If you were to throw the other guys in the mix, it wouldn't be exactly what it is now, the opportunity."
On the topic of what he has been doing in the seven years since he last played with Stephen, Warren said: "What I always did and what I always do. When I'm not sort of dealing with all the stuff that we deal with in life, I drift back into the studio and either start working on something that I hear in my head or refining something that I have going. So it's been a really nice thing to be able to do all this time, because basically since Stephen and Robbin and I wrote 'Round And Round', it's, like, 'Okay, you can be a writer if you wanna be,' so that's what I do, basically."
Asked if he missed being on stage and being in front of an audience, Warren said: "Oh, of course. It's hard to find words to describe the kind of energy that we have with our audience. It's just fantastic… I did do some gigs with some friends, like the last one was with Billy Gibbons and Sebastian Bach, and we would all play each other's songs. It was two or three songs each. And stuff like that kind of kept it burning, but this is the real fire."
Last year, Pearcy celebrated the 40th anniversary of RATT's classic debut album, "Out Of The Cellar", by performing it in its entirety and in sequence for the first time.
RATT exploded on to the national scene in 1984 with the release of "Out Of The Cellar". Featuring an undeniable hook and legendary music video, lead single "Round And Round" hit No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, while "Out Of The Cellar" reached No. 7 on the Billboard Top 200 and was certified triple platinum. Two more charting singles followed with "Back For More" and "Wanted Man". RATT started the tour as an opening act, but by the end of the tour had climbed to arena headliner.
RATT returned in 1985 with its second full-length album, "Invasion Of Your Privacy". Certified double platinum and also reaching No. 7 on the Billboard 200, "Invasion Of Your Privacy" also featured the classics "Lay It Down" (No. 40 on Billboard Hot 100) and "You're In Love".
"Dancing Undercover" followed in 1986 as RATT toured North America with a then-brand new Los Angeles band called POISON as the opening act. Lead single "Dance" hit the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned another music video hit with "Slip Of The Lip", while "Body Talk" was featured in a key scene in the Eddie Murphy film "The Golden Child". "Dancing Undercover" became RATT's third consecutive platinum album and reached No. 26 on the Billboard 200.
1988's "Reach For The Sky" saw RATT return to the Top 20 of the Billboard 200 album charts, peaking at No. 17. Driven by the bluesy hit and MTV favorite "Way Cool Jr.", "Reach For The Sky" was also certified platinum and became RATT's fourth album in a row to move well over a million copies. "I Want A Woman" was also a successful single and the video captured the excitement and energy of RATT live.
RATT released its last full-length record of the Atlantic era, "Detonator", in 1990. Music was changing, but "Detonator" was still a success, peaking at No. 23 on the Billboard 200 and going gold. It was the first RATT album to feature major outside songwriting contributions (Desmond Child, Diane Warren) and guests (Jon Bon Jovi, Michael Schenker). Lead single "Lovin' You's A Dirty Job" hit No. 18 on the rock chart while the power ballad "Givin' Yourself Away" reached No. 39.
In 1991, they released the single "Nobody Rides For Free" from the hit film "Point Break", starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze.
In January 2021, Pearcy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he was open to the idea of making a new RATT album with all the surviving members of the band's classic lineup.
RATT hasn't released any new music since 2010's "Infestation" LP.
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6 ìàé 2025
GHOST Becomes First Hard Rock Band In Four Years To Land No. 1 Album In U.S.
 According to Billboard.com, GHOST's new studio album, "Skeletá", has landed at position No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart with 86,000 equivalent album units earned in the United States in the LP's first week of release. 89% of that figure (77,000) consisted of traditional album sales, with vinyl purchases accounting for over 44,000 copies.
Notably, "Skeletá" is the first hard rock album to reach the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200 since AC/DC's "Power Up" in 2020.
The LP's first-week vinyl tally not only marks the biggest vinyl sales week for a hard rock album in the modern era (since tracking began in 1991),but it's the third largest sales week of vinyl in the modern era for any rock album, trailing only BLINK-182's "One More Time…" (49,000 in 2023) and BOYGENIUS's "The Record" (45,000 in 2023).
The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric consumption as measured in equivalent album units, compiled by Luminate. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video streams generated by songs from an album.
"Skeletá" arrived on April 25 via Loma Vista Recordings.
In a recent interview with Brent Porche of Philadelphia's 93.3 WMMR radio station, GHOST mastermind Tobias Forge stated about "Skeletá": "It is a record that is introspective to a further degree, I guess, than especially the previous record [2022's 'Impera']. Just to be clear, I do believe that most artists usually create a new record based on where they were on the previous one — not as a counter-reaction, but usually there's something that you wish to achieve that you maybe didn't on the previous[ one] or you wanna change something or just fill your… At the end of the day, what you're doing is basically you're filling your repertoire with hopefully songs that you didn't have before. But thematically, I usually have some sort of thematic guideline when I write, first and foremost for myself in order to make sense of what the new record is so it's not too whimsically just about everything at the same time. But where 'Impera' was very much not only extroverted, but exteriorly reflecting on bigger society, social issues, and also, as the title implies, imperial structure and its ultimate demise, it didn't feel very productive to continue down that and make an 'Impera 2', talking about the continual demise of… I was more attracted to the idea of this this record that was more shining a light in inside and making a record about healing aspects of being essentially a human being in whatever structural design, because at the end of the day, most humans are surprisingly alike and display the same abilities to sentiments. And these sentiments are usually quite basic. And that idea was attractive to me — making a record that had a song about hope, had a song about hate, had a song about love, acceptance and all these things."
Less than two months ago, Forge told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station about "Skeletá"'s first single, "Satanized", which came out in early March: "Yeah, it's a fun video and it's an upbeat, fun track. It's a song about being in love and how that can potentially be mistaken as demonic possession, but in reality this song has nothing to do with demonic possession."
Asked why he picked "Satanized" to be the first single from "Skeletá", Tobias said: "It's funny because as I was making the record, I didn't really put much like regard into trying to write… Of course, as a songwriter, you always try to write as good songs as possible, but there wasn't a whole lot of, like, 'Oh, I'm gonna write a hit song.' So I was more interested in sort of making a bunch of songs that I was gonna put cohesively into an understandable and entertaining album. And wise with experience over the years where I've delivered records to the people that work with me, and I'm, like, 'This is the song. This is the single. This is the hit.' And more than often, it ends up being, like, 'Oh, no. We believe in that song instead.' Okay. So finally I've sort of given up a little bit on that. So I just sort of gave the record and I'm, like, 'You guys choose what you wanna do.' And then I'm sort of holding my thumb a little, crossing my fingers, hoping that that maybe they they'll hear what I hear. And to my big surprise, they came back with 'Satanized'. And I was, like, 'I couldn't be happier. I have a really funny video idea for that one. I never thought that you would go for that one,' simply because it's like…"
He continued: "To me, I am a huge fan of '70s music. That's a very simplified way of saying that, but I'm a big fan of SCORPIONS from the '80s, but also the SCORPIONS from the '70s, which sometimes, I guess, a certain age group might not be aware that that SCORPIONS was a band in the '70s, and they released several records. Those records are a little bit different from the '80s records, when they sort of became a '80s hit rock band. And 'Satanized' definitely had more of a SCORPIONS '77 stomp that I really liked about the track. And somehow, therefore, I guess, I wasn't like putting that as a hit-single fan favorite, or a favorite that way. I thought I was gonna work my magic to make that song a big song, the same way that we did with 'Mary On A Cross' once upon a time, when that was regarded as this 'B' track that was just for fun. And I was, like, 'I think that that song is actually quite good. We're gonna play it every show we're playing.' And it took years before it became what that became."
Circling back to the fact that his record company seemingly had the same vision for "Satanized" as he did in terms of the song's potential, Forge said: "I was overwhelmed and overjoyed with the synchronicity, because I have done that mistake before where I have conceived a record, conceived a track, have an idea for a video for a track, and then the powers that be want another kickoff. And then that leads to a discussion, and then more than often, the reasoning as to why you go with another track might be perfectly understandable, but all of a sudden my idea is just not worth the piece of paper it's written on, because it simply doesn't work if it's not in a… Sometimes the crux of being conceptual, sometimes your ideas are simply too conceptual and too based on presentation and stars aligning. But in this case, we ended up with fluency, which was cool."
"Satanized" was described in a press release as "an avalanche of infectious hooks and harmonies is buoyed by a hypnotic shuffle, as the narrator succumbs to dark forces within and without, helplessly acknowledging their own blasphemy and heresy as it inexorably consumes them." By the time the song's opening lines "There is something inside me and they don't know if there is a cure" have moved from the inner monologue of the possessed to the ears of the hapless listener, it will already be too late: You will have been "Satanized".
The "Satanized" music video introduced the new character who is fronting GHOST for its 2025 touring cycle: Papa V Perpetua.
Forge performed as a "new" Papa Emeritus on each of the band's first three LPs, with each version of Papa replacing the one that came before it. Papa Emeritus III was retired in favor of Cardinal Copia before the release of 2018's "Prequelle". In March 2020, at final show of GHOST's "Prequelle" tour in Mexico City, Mexico, the band officially introduced Papa Emeritus IV, the character who fronted the act for its "Impera" (2022) album phase.
The European leg of GHOST's 2025 world tour kicked off on April 15 in Manchester, United Kingdom and will conclude on May 24 in Oslo, Norway. The North American leg of GHOST's 2025 tour will launch on July 9 in Baltimore, Maryland and wrap up on August 16 in Houston, Texas.
Press photo courtesy of Nasty Little Man
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5 ìàé 2025
LINKIN PARK's MIKE SHINODA On New Singer EMILY ARMSTRONG: 'She's Done Such A Great Job'
 LINKIN PARK's Mike Shinoda says that the band's new singer Emily Armstrong has done "a great job" of stepping into late LP frontman Chester Bennington's shoes.
Last September, more than seven years after Bennington's death, LINKIN PARK debuted Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain on a livestream. The pair joined returning members co-vocalist and main producer Shinoda, guitarist Brad Delson, bassist Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and DJ/visual director Joe Hahn in the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder is filling in for Delson at all LINKIN PARK concerts for the foreseeable future.
On the topic of how the new LINKIN PARK came together, Shinoda told Baltimore's 98 Rock radio station (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think I met Em in 2019. We did a writing session just to kind of… I was just curious about who she was and what she did, and I was so impressed. And at the time, our band wasn't really ready to like do anything. Everybody was still just kind of… We'd do a session or we'd hang out and we wouldn't talk for a while and we'd come back, we wouldn't talk… And so we just weren't ready, I think. And then sometime around 2022, we did one of those. And then we did another one, and then we did another one. It was, like, it started. Something happened. I don't know what it was, but everybody was just ready to go."
As for how LINKIN PARK's comeback album, "From Zero", which came out last November, was conceived, Mike said: "The album came together as the band came together. I don't think you've ever — unless it's a debut album by somebody, you would never have a situation where a band gets made while an album gets made. So it's almost like a new band, a new start, a first album. But luckily, we're also a new band that has 25 years of catalog people wanna see on stage and in concert."
Regarding the prospect of performing the new LINKIN PARK material as well as the classic songs live with the band's new lineup, Shinoda said: "Emily has had the insane challenge of figuring out the way to sing these songs and how to present 'em with us. And she's put in so much work. She's done such a great job. I think the reason it all works is because the talent part is not — that's the lowest bar to clear. The higher bars to clear, the more unusual or difficult or hard-to-find things are more, like, 'Do we have similar goals? Do we get along on a day-to-day basis? Can we ride in a bus together in a van and on a flight and not kill each other?' And it's the furthest thing from that right now. We are just really enjoying it. Every show has been the best. She's doing a great job. We actually also have a new drummer, Colin. And their energy — they're a little younger than us, too, so they have that younger energy and it keeps our energy high. And the shows have been going great. I can't wait for you guys to see it."
LINKIN PARK kicked off its North American tour on April 26 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.
The deluxe edition of "From Zero" is due out May 16 via Warner.
"From Zero (Deluxe Edition)" 2CD is a limited pressing. It features a four-panel softpak packaging with 16-page booklet and showcases three new songs, five live tracks recorded around the world and all new, expanded packaging.
LINKIN PARK launched the 2025 leg of its "From Zero" world tour on January 31 at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico.
In late January, LINKIN PARK released an a cappella/vocals-only version of "From Zero", dubbed "From Zero - A Cappellas".
The original version of "From Zero" marked LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before Bennington's death.
Last September, Mike addressed the scrutiny Emily would encounter as the replacement for an iconic singer like Chester, telling the KROQ radio station: "We've all talked about it with each other and with her a million times, and we're still talking about it. One difficult thing that people are experiencing is just that they've heard LINKIN PARK for so long with Chester's voice and the idea of somebody else being in that role, it feels really different. In the context of the [new LINKIN PARK] music, I know that I love it. I think her voice is incredible. And the best thing for people who have such a strong connection to Chester to know, just to know about me, is that Chester was a one-of-a-kind person and a one-of-a-kind voice, and Emily is also a one-of-a-kind person and a one-of-a-kind voice. She's not trying to be him. She's trying to be her. And it so happens that I think she singing on these songs sounds like LINKIN PARK."
Photo credit: James Minchin III
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PRIMAL FEAR Bassist MAT SINNER Gearing Up For First Live Show In Five Years Following Health Issues – “I’m 75% Recovered; For Sure I Will Give 200%”
 Primal Fear bassist / co-founder Mat Sinner has checked in with the following update:
“Five years ago, I played my last show with Alice Cooper in Berlin (Rock Meets Classic). Shortly after this show I was declared dead, but doctors brought me back to life. As I was lying paralyzed in my bed, one of my 3 targets was that one day I want to be back rocking on a stage again. Now, 5 years later I’m 75% recovered, 5 years sober, and I will play a show with my beloved Primal Fear again on Friday evening, supported by some of the best guys I can imagine. Don‘t expect me jumping around like a young guy, but for sure I will give 200%. And can you imagine my feelings when we will play our classic songs again? Keep your fingers crossed and have a great new week.”
Sinner suffered an extreme adverse reaction to the COVID-19 vaccination in 2021 and received treatment for eight months at various hospitals. This forced the cancellation of shows planned for 2021 and 2022, and when Primal Fear did surface it was with Alex Jansen as Sinner’s temporary replacement.
Primal Fear recently updated their 2025 tour schedule, which now includes and handful of European summer festival shows.
May
9 – Rock in Rautheim 2025 – Braunschweig, Germany
July
2-5 – Rockharz 2025 – Ballenstedt, Germany
18 – Luppolo In Rock 2025 – Provincia Di Cremona, Italy
August
21 – Baltic Openair 2025 – Eutin, Germany
23 – Stonedead Festival 2025 – Newark, United Kingdom
September
5 – Markthalle – Hamburg, Germany
6 – Der Anker – Leipzig, Germany
7 – Zeche – Bochum, Germany
9 – Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, Germany
10 – Backstage Halle – Munich, Germany
12 – Kaminwerk – Memmingen, Germany
13 – Capitol – Mannheim, Germany
14 – Eventhall – Regensburg, Germany
16 – Z7 – Pratteln, Switzerland
18 – Hole44 – Berlin, Germany
19 – Frankenhalle – Naila, Germany
20 – Im Wizemann (Halle) – Stuttgart, Germany
21 – De Casino Concertzaal – Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
23 – P60 – Amstelveen, Netherlands
25 – Klub Stodoła – Warszawa, Poland
26 – MeetFactory – Prague, Czech Republic
27 – Masters of Rock Cafe – Zlín, Czech Republic
30 – Mon Madrid – Madrid, Spain
October
1 – Garaje – Murcia, Spain
3 – Salamandra – Barcelona, Spain
4 – Sala Totem Aretoa – Villava, Spain | +3 | |
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