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4 май 2025
SILVERSTEIN Announces 'Pink Moon', Second Half Of Momentous Double Album
 Following the release of "Antibloom", revered rock group SILVERSTEIN returns with "Pink Moon": the second chapter in their ambitious 16-song double album, conceived and recorded during a transformative stretch in the high desert of Joshua Tree. The album, set to be released on September 12 via UNFD, is available for pre-order / pre-save now.
Along with the announcement comes lead single and music video "Negative Space", offering fans their first glimpse into "Pink Moon". Following the critically acclaimed "Antibloom", this new track pushes everything further: the chaos, the emotion, the dynamic contrast. With its relentless pace, shifting moods, and massive hook, it captures the disorienting feeling of spiraling out, only to land in a crushing breakdown. The video, a surreal and unhinged sequel to the fan-favorite "Don't Let Me Get Too Low", was shot guerrilla-style across Las Vegas and delivers on every level. This is SILVERSTEIN at their most explosive and cinematic yet.
"I think the coolest thing about 'Negative Space' is how off-balance it makes me feel. It's almost like it's slightly too fast so it's always trying to catch up to itself. That, combined with the fact that it's always switching vibes and using contrasting tones makes for a really interesting three minutes," shares guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau.
Adds frontman Shane Told: "This song really has it all. Tons of energy, raw power, a big hook, and a massively heavy breakdown. I also love the lyrics and the photography imagery. On top of it, the video was super fun to make and I think might be our best video as well. So needless to say, I am SUPER excited for people to hear this one. The video is the companion piece and sequel to 'Don't Let Me Get Too Low'. The songs were written together over two days with our friend Jon Lundin (POINT NORTH) and it completes the story of myself playing a madman burying himself in the Las Vegas desert."
Born from the same sessions as "Antibloom", the songs on "Pink Moon" were sequenced with intention, offering a distinct yet complementary listening experience. Known for their meticulous attention to flow and emotional pacing, the band crafted both halves to stand on their own while also telling a broader, interconnected story, one that ebbs and crashes like the desert winds that shaped it.
"Pink Moon" features the only guest appearances on the project, with stunning contributions from Rory Rodriguez of DAYSEEKER and Cassadee Pope — voices chosen mid-process when the band sensed the need to push certain songs into new sonic territory. The result is a bold and diverse body of work that expands SILVERSTEIN's dynamic range while staying true to their emotional core. By releasing the project in two halves, the band has given every song the room to breathe, resonate, and evolve: a fitting strategy for a year packed with touring, celebration, and reflection. The moon has risen. The story continues.
This year, fans around the world are invited to join SILVERSTEIN in celebrating their "silver" anniversary with the "25 Years Of Noise" tour. These shows offer a discography-spanning performance and fans are able to vote for their favorite songs from each record to help decide the setlist. The band recently wrapped up the initial legs in North America and Europe alongside THURSDAY, THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS, ARM'S LENGTH and SPLIT CHAIN.
SILVERSTEIN is currently continuing their trek across North America, reaching new markets with support from REAL FRIENDS, BROADSIDE and GREYHAVEN.
SILVERSTEIN enters its 25th year with two full-length albums set for 2025. The band that NME calls "legendary," and Loudwire placed among the "Most Prolific Rock & Metal Artists Of The 21st Century", continues to innovate and inspire on forward-thinking records and at crowd-embracing live shows.
SILVERSTEIN songs like "My Heroine", "Smile In Your Sleep", "The Afterglow" and "Infinite" are postmodern anthems for a devoted following earned with passionate performances and authentic artistry. As recently as 2024, The Needle Drop called them "emo hardcore legends." While their more than 750 streams reflect that, SILVERSTEIN grew up in a scene where the music and message come first.
Audiences sing and scream along in packed theaters, at festivals, and on tours around the world with groups like SIMPLE PLAN, RISE AGAINST, GOOD CHARLOTTE, PIERCE THE VEIL, BEARTOOTH and UNDEROATH.
SILVERSTEIN have continued to build on their already-wide reaching impact. Immersing themselves in new technologies like TikTok, Discord the metaverse and Twitch (even holding public writing sessions with fans over the latter) during its formation, the band have confirmed their unique ability to adapt and connect in all cycles of their career.
"Pink Moon" track listing:
01. I Love You But I Have To Let You Go
02. Negative Space
03. Drain The Blood (feat. Rory Rodriguez of DAYSEEKER)
04. The Fatalist
05. Widowmaker
06. Autopilot (feat. Cassadee Pope)
07. Death Hold
08. Dying Game
SILVERSTEIN is:
Shane Told - Vocals
Paul Marc Rousseau - Guitar
Josh Bradford - Guitar
Billy Hamilton - Bass
Paul Koehler - Drums
Photo credit: Wyatt Clough  | 0 |  |
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4 май 2025
PRIMUS Recruits MAYNARD JAMES KEENAN For First New Song In Three Years
 PRIMUS is back with its first new studio track since 2022's "Conspiranoid" EP: the blistering, surrealist anthem "Little Lord Fentanyl". A twisted fable steeped in groove and dark humor, the track features a guest appearance from Maynard James Keenan (TOOL, A PERFECT CIRCLE, PUSCIFER),whose unmistakable voice slithers through the chaos with sinister glee.
The single also marks the official studio debut of drummer John Hoffman, a Shreveport native who joined the band earlier this year after beating out more than 6,100 applicants in a global audition process dubbed the "Interstellar Drum Derby".
"Little Lord Fentanyl" showcases the intricate, playful rhythms of Hoffman, whose unconventional style — described by Stereogum as a "weightless bustle of high-velocity flurries, METERS-y swamp-pocket, and cartoonish cymbal clutches" — has brought renewed fire to PRIMUS since he officially joined the band earlier this year. His unlikely journey from Louisiana jam nights to the PRIMUS drum throne was recently chronicled in a feature interview with Stereogum, as well as the band's "Interstellar Drum Derby" YouTube series.
The release of "Little Lord Fentanyl" comes in the midst of PRIMUS's spring run on the "Sessanta" tour — a collaborative outing with A PERFECT CIRCLE and PUSCIFER celebrating Keenan's 60(ish) birthday — and ahead of their "Onward & Upward" summer headline tour, which kicks off July 5 in Paso Robles, California.
The "Onward & Upward" tour marks an exciting new era for the band, with Hoffman officially at the kit. Selected after a months-long audition process, his arrival has brought fresh fire and creative reinvention to the PRIMUS universe. The tour will hit 24 cities nationwide, including iconic venues like Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Greek Theatre, The Rooftop at Pier 17, and a two-night finale at Channel 24 in Sacramento. Along the way, the band will be joined by support from Ty Segall and MONONEON on select dates.
"This fiery, cheerful, octopus-like drummer from Shreveport, Louisiana has breathed a very potent breath of freshness into this band we all call PRIMUS," Claypool said in a recent statement. "Come see why this amazing fellow was able to rise above over 6,100 applicants to win the 'Interstellar Drum Derby' and become the latest, and possibly the greatest, drummer to sit on the PRIMUS drum throne."
On December 30, 2024, PRIMUS played the first concert since longtime drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander's departure at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California. Sitting behind the drums for the show was Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who previously played with PRIMUS when Alexander originally left the band in 1996.
In light of Alexander's latest departure, PRIMUS also enlisted musicians from frontman Les Claypool's side projects, THE HOLY MACKEREL and FROG BRIGADE, to perform during the December 30 performance.
With Mantia, PRIMUS recorded two studio albums — "Brown Album" (1997) and "Antipop" (1999) — as well as the covers EP "Rhinoplasty" (1998) and the original theme song for the TV show "South Park".
In November, Alexander shared a letter with Rolling Stone magazine explaining his decision to leave the band.
"A lot of times, you do something you love for a long time, and sometimes the passion turns into a job, and sometimes that job doesn't feel like it's your being anymore," he said.
He reflected on the impact his decision had on his physical, mental and family life.
"When I discovered that I'm struggling with all these things, I had to sit and think about exactly what am I doing," Alexander said. "I don't think I've ever chosen my path in life, I think I've just always thought 'I'm a drummer, I'm just gonna do music,' and things came to me, accepting whatever happens."
The news of his departure was initially shared on October 29 by his now-former bandmates, who claimed that they received an e-mail from him nearly two weeks earlier saying he had "lost his passion for playing."
Alexander joined PRIMUS in 1989 and left in 1996, then rejoined when they reformed in 2003. He exited the group again in 2010 but returned in 2013.
In July 2016, Alexander revealed that he suffered a second heart attack after he previously endured a similar health scare in 2014.
A decade ago, Les Claypool's plan to reform the "classic" PRIMUS lineup — with Alexander and guitarist Larry Lalonde — was put on hold when Alexander suffered his first heart attack, a "minor" attack that resulted in the drummer requiring triple bypass surgery. To fulfill its touring obligations, PRIMUS recruited TOOL's Danny Carey to fill in for a few dates. Three months after open-heart surgery, Alexander rejoined PRIMUS on the road.
Photo credit: David Miller | +1 | |
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4 май 2025
Watch: AEROSMITH's STEVEN TYLER And JOE PERRY Perform Together For First Time Since 2023
 AEROSMITH members Steven Tyler and Joe Perry performed together for the first time in nearly two years at a private concert the singer hosted Wednesday night (April 30) in San Francisco, California. The event was a benefit for Janie's Fund, the initiative Tyler created in order to bring hope and healing to girls and young women who have experienced trauma.
Also performing at the concert were THE BLACK CROWES frontman Chris Robinson, CHEAP TRICK singer Robin Zander, ex-GUNS N' ROSES drummer Matt Sorum, EXTREME guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, MEGADETH bassist James LoMenzo, and Theofilos Xenidis, better known as BON JOVI guitarist Phil X, among others.
Fan-filmed video of the show can be seen below.
The setlist for the concert was as follows:
01. "I Want You to Want Me" - Robin Zander
02. "Hello There" / "Surrender" - Robin Zander
03. "Ain't That A Shame" - Robin Zander
04. "Dream Police" - Robin Zander
05. "Kickin' My Heart Around" - Chris Robinson
06. "Twice As Hard" - Chris Robinson
07. "Jealous Again" - Chris Robinson
08. "Hard To Handle" - Chris Robinson
09. "Remedy" - Chris Robinson
10. "Toys In The Attic" - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
11. "Same Old Song And Dance" - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
12. "Sweet Emotion" - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
13. "Dream On" - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
14. "Walk This Way" - Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Encore (all singers)
15. "Train Kept A Rollin'"
16. "Come Together"
Last August, AEROSMITH announced that they were officially retiring from touring due to Tyler's vocal injury.
The legendary Massachusetts rockers made the announcement on August 2, 2024 — nearly one year after the now-77-year-old singer fractured his larynx during a September 2023 show.
In AEROSMITH's original retirement announcement, the band wrote: "As you know, Steven's voice is an instrument like no other. He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We've seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible.
"We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision - as a band of brothers - to retire from the touring stage," the statement continued. "We are grateful beyond words for everyone who was pumped to get on the road with us one last time."
The band also thanked its fans for their constant support.
"Thanks to you, our Blue Army, that spark caught flame and has been burning for over five decades," the statement read. "Some of you have been with us since the beginning and all of you are the reason we made rock 'n' roll history."
"It has been the honor of our lives to have our music become part of yours. In every club, on every massive tour and at moments grand and private you have given us a place in the soundtrack of your lives," the statement continued.
The "Peace Out" tour came to a halt after what turned out to be a final gig in Elmont, New York on September 9, 2023. That show came just three dates into the trek, which was supposed to last through February 2024. Tyler said in a statement at the time that the injury caused bleeding but that he hoped he and his AEROSMITH bandmates would be back on the road after postponing a few shows.
The rescheduled "Peace Out" tour was due to begin September 20, 2024 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with special guests THE BLACK CROWES.
Tyler released a solo LP in 2016.
A little collage from last night's Janie's fund gig in San Francisco with, among many others, Nuno Bettencourt, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry
Posted by Phil X Fan Club on Thursday, May 1, 2025
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A post shared by Aerosmith (@aerosmith) | +1 | |
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4 май 2025
SIMONE SIMONS: EPICA Became 'A Little Bit More Mature' And 'A Little Bit More Modern' On 'Aspiral' Album
 In a new interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, EPICA singer Simone Simons was asked how she and her bandmates "reinvented themselves" on their latest album, "Aspiral", as was noted in the press release from their record label, Nuclear Blast. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " That's a good question. I think by finding a new balance between the music that we write. Of course, we have five different songwriters with all a different style, so that already is a big thing. And everybody gets to write songs and the best songs are gonna be on the album. And we wanted to change the sound a little bit by adding more synth sounds and sometimes take the orchestra a little bit back and have the rawness of the guitars and the riffs come more to the foreground. And keeping a healthy balance between the symphonic side of EPICA, but also the metal side of EPICA, and then mixing in more synth sounds and creating a little bit of a different vibe on some of the songs. Because, for example, 'Darkness Dies In Light', 'Metanoia' and 'The Grand Saga Of Existence' have that old-school EPICA vibe, but the majority of the other songs have something different. And, of course, you still have my voice, you have the choir, you have Mark's [Jansen, guitar/vocals] grunts, and the orchestra still plays a huge part in the music. But I think by hustling that up a little bit, we managed to kind of make EPICA a little bit more mature, a little bit more modern, and not repeating ourselves with each album."
Simons recently told Metal Insider that she and her EPICA bandmates "like to push" themselves during the songwriting process. "The starting point for that was after [2021's] 'Omega', when the pandemic struck," she said. "We had our 'pandemic project,' which we named 'The Alchemy Project', where we worked with other artists in the metal scene. We experimented a lot and found ourselves feeling inspired. It was a bit of a safe space for us to explore and see how our EPICA fans would react, and we got a really positive response to those songs. That gave us the motivation and a starting point to explore different sides of EPICA, and realize that there's still a lot of leeway to try new things."
Simone added: "Even though ['Aspiral'], and some of the singles, are a little easier on the ears, there are still quite a few songs that have the classic EPICA elements. I think we found a really good balance between incorporating something new and staying true to the sound people know us for… I think we really managed to explore the world of EPICA even further and grow, not just as individuals, but also as a band."
Regarding the lyrical inspiration for "Aspiral", Simone told Dark Divas: "For one, this album marks the end of the 'A New Age Dawns' series, which explores the awakening of a new consciousness in humanity — the realization that only collective action can save the world from destruction. Tarot cards, as well as legends and ghost stories from my homeland, the Netherlands, also influenced the lyrics. A great example is Hoensbroek Castle and the mysterious 'Blue Lady' — a story definitely worth reading. A completely different theme is addressed in 'Fight To Survive - The Overview Effect'. The song captures the deeply moving feeling astronauts experience when they look at Earth from space and become aware of its fragility and beauty. This perspective fits perfectly with current discussions about climate change. And finally, there is a very personal aspect to the album: Mark dedicated the song 'Darkness Dies In Light' to his newborn daughter."
She added: "Our songs reflect both the darkness of the world and the hope that persists even in difficult times. We express this duality not only in the lyrics but also in the album artwork: the sun is always there — no matter how dark things seem, there is always the possibility to turn something negative into something positive. But without challenges and struggles, there is no progress — it's how we grow as human beings."
To celebrate the "Aspiral" release, EPICA will play three exclusive shows in the United States in early May: in New York City, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
The "Aspiral" LP title is derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski back in 1965 and stands for renewal and inspiration — key words that define EPICA in 2025. In Szukalski's work every detail is a piece of art in its own right, and there's always more to the story than you initially think. The band saw this as the perfect analogy for the creation of this ninth album: each song stands on its own with a distinctive vibe and meaning, while together they enforce each other into a monumental effort.
The album, featuring stunning cover artwork by Hedi Xandt (RAMMSTEIN, GHOST, PARKWAY DRIVE),was recorded once again at Sandlane Studios and expertly mixed and produced by Joost Van Den Broek.
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4 май 2025
ANN WILSON & TRIPSITTER: 'Live in Concert' Coming To Blu-Ray
 TH Entertainment and Mercury Studios, formerly Eagle Rock Entertainment, have announced the June 6 Bu-ray release of "Live In Concert" from Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Ann Wilson and her band TRIPSITTER. The show originally aired on PBS in November of 2023.
HEART singer/songwriter Ann Wilson made a stop at Nashville's Brooklyn Bowl in July 2023 while on tour for her album "Another Door". Backed by her band TRIPSITTER, Ann performed an energetic set featuring selections from the album, as well as HEART classics including "Crazy On You", "Barracuda", "Magic Man", along with covers of LED ZEPPELIN's "Immigrant Song" and "Going To California".
"Another Door", a record of all-original material, marked the first time since the 1970s that Ann had written a full-length album collectively with a band. TRIPSITTER features Tony Lucido (bass),Ryan Wariner (guitars),Sean T Lane (drums) and Paul Moak (guitars and keyboards). Tom Bukovac (guitars) was also a primary contributor. "Another Door" was also the first time in Ann's career where she was the sole lyricist.
Track listing:
01. Crazy On You
02. This Is Now
03. Love Alive
04. Magic Man
05. Going To California
06. Ruler Of The Night
07. Even It Up
08. Straight On
09. Miss One & Only
10. Rain Of Hell
11. Immigrant Song
12. Mistral Wind
13. Isolation
14. Tripsitter
15. Rusty Robots
16. Barracuda
In a 2023 interview with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Ann stated about how she put TRIPSITTER together: "Well, I met these guys originally when I went to do some work on demos in Alabama at the famed studio down there and I just knew one or two of them. And then I asked them to bring along some of their favorite musicians to work on these demos with me, and it turned out that we hit it off. We clicked in this way that doesn't happen that often, so we just kind of made it a band."
Regarding what it was like working with them, Ann said: "It was fun, and it was exciting and challenging because they're all really good, super good musicians. They're all sort of A-list studio musicians from Nashville who are tired of being studio musicians. They want to step out of that role and do their own thing. And, it's really great to get to play with people that are that current with their instruments and on that level… Musically, we collaborated. I wrote all the lyrics, and so a couple of the lyrics I had already written, but most of them were written during the making of the record. Some of them I had and then I went back and totally just crumpled up the paper and took another stab at it a year later."
As for what was inspiring her lyrically during the making of "Another Door", Ann said: "I was pretty heartbroken about the Ukraine situation and also about all the violence and the turbulence in our country. And out of that feeling came 'Rain Of Hell'. And just a couple of the different songs, like the song 'Still' is a pretty straight-ahead love song, just born out of emotions."
Widely praised as one of the greatest singers in the history of rock, Ann's extraordinarily powerful voice has been sending chills down her audience's collective spine for over five decades, earning record sales of more than 35 million, an induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. "Barracuda", "Crazy On You" and "Magic Man" are among the many songs she's written that now reside in the pantheon of rock's greatest hits.
Photo credit: Criss Cain | 0 | |
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4 май 2025
DREAM THEATER Announces 'Vol. II' Eight-LP Box Set
 Grammy Award-winning progressive metal trailblazers DREAM THEATER released their massively successful "Vol. I" box set in 2024, covering the band's 1992-1999 studio albums. Today, they are set to unveil the next installment with "Vol. II". "Vol. II" notably includes the next four acclaimed studio albums: "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" (2002),"Train Of Thought" (2003),"Octavarium" (2005) and "Systematic Chaos" (2007).
This eight-LP box set is exclusively available on Rhino.com in North America and via select Warner Music Group stores internationally. It is limited to only 2,500 copies worldwide.
"Vol. II" highlights DREAM THEATER's journey through the 2000s, reflecting not only their continuous sonic evolution but also their success in carving out space for progressive metal on international charts. This volume includes the group's iconic "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence", which features the 42-minute title track that encapsulates their approach to redefining the boundaries of commercial music. This album also introduces drummer Mike Portnoy's twelve-step suite with "The Glass Prison" and continues throughout the next four albums in their discography. The last chord of "Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence" serves as the opening chord to the group's follow-up album, "Train Of Thought".
Expanding on the group's heavier live sound, "Train Of Thought" is the group's most traditional metal album, using thicker guitar tones, heavier drums, and intensely targeted lyricism. The album features suites four and five of Portnoy's twelve-step suite with "The Dying Soul", a lyrical and musical continuation of "The Glass Prison". Like its predecessor, "Train Of Thought"'s final note rings through the beginning of the following, and one of DREAM THEATER's most essential albums, "Octavarium".
"Octavarium" was a commercial success, bringing DREAM THEATER to the Top 5 in Sweden, Finland, and Italy, alongside the Top 10 in Germany, Japan, and Norway. The album opens with "The Root Of All Evil", parts six and seven of Portnoy's suite. The 24-minute title track features orchestral elements inspired by progressive rock leaders GENESIS and YES.
Peaking at No. 19 on the Billboard 200, "Systematic Chaos" is DREAM THEATER's highest-charting album in their career thus far and their first with the metal/hard rock label Roadrunner. Leaning into their roots of virtuosic seven-string thrash and metaphorical fiction, "Systematic Chaos" encompasses the band's consistent progression in the definitions of rock and metal.
DREAM THEATER kicked off the North American leg of its 40th-anniversary tour on February 7 at The Met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The trek was "An Evening With Dream Theater" and was the first tour of North America since Portnoy's return to the lineup, joining singer James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, guitarist John Petrucci and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. The tour concluded on March 22 in New York City.
DREAM THEATER's sixteenth studio album, "Parasomnia", came out on February 7, 2025 via InsideOut Music. The LP marks DREAM THEATER's first release with Portnoy since 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings".
"Parasomnia" was produced by Petrucci, engineered by James "Jimmy T" Meslin, and mixed by Andy Sneap. Hugh Syme returns once again to lend his creative vision to the cover art.
Portnoy co-founded DREAM THEATER in 1985 with Petrucci and Myung. Mike played on 10 DREAM THEATER albums over a 20-year period, from 1989's "When Dream And Day Unite" through 2009's "Black Clouds & Silver Linings", before exiting the group in 2010.
Mike Mangini joined DREAM THEATER in late 2010 through a widely publicized audition following the departure of Portnoy. Mangini beat out six other of the world's top drummers — Marco Minnemann, Virgil Donati, Aquiles Priester, Thomas Lang, Peter Wildoer and Derek Roddy — for the gig, a three-day process that was filmed for a documentary-style reality show called "The Spirit Carries On". | +5 | |
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4 май 2025
DRY KILL LOGIC Shares New Single 'Now You Belong With The Dead'
 '00s metal faves DRY KILL LOGIC have released a new single, "Now You Belong With The Dead", produced by Greg Thomas (END, SHAI HULUD, MISERY SIGNALS) and mastered by Will Putney (FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, BETTER LOVERS). It's a masterclass in storytelling, showcasing the band at their most melodic and their most brutal.
"We wrote this song years ago, but it really came to life with Greg in the studio," states DRY KILL LOGIC singer Cliff Rigano. "It’s our most dynamic songwriting to date, and we’re stoked for everyone to hear it."
2025 also sees DRY KILL LOGIC returning to U.S. stages for the first time in 20 years, performing at major rock festivals, including Welcome To Rockville (Daytona, Florida),Rock Fest (Cadott, Wisconsin),Inkcarceration (Mansfield, Ohio) and Aftershock (Sacramento, California).
There are also two special headline performances planned in June — at Monarch in Brooklyn, New York on June 13 and at Dingbatz in Clifton, New Jersey on June 14. These shows will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the band's seminal sophomore album "The Dead & Dreaming".
Formed in late 1994, DRY KILL LOGIC quickly established themselves as a force in the heavy music scene. Under their initial moniker of HINGE, the band garnered a dedicated fanbase with their aggressive sound and straightforward lyrics. Produced by Eddie Wohl (PRIMER 55, ILL NINO) and Rob Caggiano (ANTHRAX, VOLBEAT, CRADLE OF FILTH),their 2001 debut album "The Darker Side Of Nonsense" was an essential part of the alternative metal landscape, with tracks like "Nightmare" and "Rot" still echoing in the memories of fans worldwide. The band built their live show on worldwide tours and festivals alongside FEAR FACTORY, SLAYER, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, SPINESHANK, MASTODON, and many more.
In 2002, the band parted ways with Roadrunner Records and was joined by guitarist Jason Bozzi who took the band's signature sound to the next level. Once again with Wohl and Caggiano at the helm, the band released their sophomore album, "The Dead And Dreaming", on Repossession Records in the U.S. and SPV globally. Seamlessly traversing the lines of metalcore, post-hardcore and alternative metal the band stretched their wings, embracing melody, dynamics and more complex songwriting. Tracks like "Paper Tiger", "200 Years", "Neither Here Nor Missed" and "With Deepest Regrets…" showcases the depth and character of the new lineup, as well as a newfound live ferocity after years of nonstop touring. Co-headline U.S. tours with NONPOINT, DROWNING POOL and HED P.E. followed, along with a slot on the inaugural 2005 Gigantour featuring MEGADETH, DREAM THEATER, and many others. The band wound down the album cycle with a run of headline shows in the U.S. and shows supporting DISTURBED and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY.
In 2006, the group was joined by bassist Brendan Kane (100 DEMONS, A THOUSAND FALLING SKIES) and released both their live DVD "The Magellan Complex" and their third album, "Of Vengeance And Violence". Produced by Wohl and Caggiano and mixed by legendary engineer Paul Orofino (BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, BLEEDING THROUGH, AHMAD JAMAL),the band again evolved, pushing the limits of metalcore aggression with songs like "My Dying Heart", "Dead Man's Eyes" and "Boneyard". It was at this time the band found itself as a headline act across Europe, returning twice in the year due to demand. The band also played its first shows in Australia as support for FEAR FACTORY and DEVILDRIVER.
Following a series of challenges within the ever-evolving dynamics of the music industry, the band went on hiatus in 2007. Despite sporadic rumors of a reunion, DRY KILL LOGIC remained silent, with fans wondering if they'd ever see the band return to the stage.
In 2018, the group surprised their fans by releasing "Vices", the ferocious first single from the group in 13 years. Produced by Greg Thomas (END, MISERY SIGNALS, SHAI HULUD),the track was celebrated by fans worldwide as a triumphant return to form. In 2020, the band worked with Thomas and released "Don't See Ghosts", a hauntingly relentless track filled with the group's signature guitar work and pummeling breakdowns.
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3 май 2025
FOREIGNER Releases Spanish-Language Version Of 'Urgent'
 Legendary rock band FOREIGNER is honoring its Latin American fans with a reimagined release of one of its most beloved hits — this time en español. The band has debuted a powerful new Spanish-language version of its global rock anthem "Urgent", which fans can listen to below.
"Urgent" is performed by FOREIGNER's own guitarist and vocalist Luis Maldonado, who takes the spotlight on vocals in a deeply personal tribute to Spanish-speaking fans across the Americas. The release comes as FOREIGNER rocks across its 2025 South American tour, which takes the band through Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and more.
"We've been embraced by fans in Latin America for decades," said Maldonado. "Recording these songs in Spanish is our way of saying thank you and sharing the music in a more intimate, personal way."
On tour, fans can expect to hear all of FOREIGNER's iconic anthems, including "Cold As Ice", "Juke Box Hero", "Hot Blooded", "Say You Will" and, of course, "I Want To Know What Love Is".
FOREIGNER's Spanish-language recording marks an exciting new chapter for the band and a celebration of the diverse audiences that have kept its music alive for nearly five decades.
FOREIGNER kicked off its spring 2025 Latin American tour Monday night (April 28) at Arena Ciudad de México in Mexico City, Mexico. Handling lead vocals for most of the set was Maldonado, while original FOREIGNER vocalist Lou Gramm joined in for the last four songs.
In March, FOREIGNER singer Kelly Hansen released a statement regarding his absence from the band's Latin American and Canadian tours. The 63-year-old vocalist, who has fronted the legendary rockers for the past two decades, said that "some residency issues" had forced him to limit appearances outside of the USA this year.
Prior to the Mexico City concert, Gramm most recently joined FOREIGNER's current lineup on stage at the end of the band's March 15 concert at the BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida to perform two of the legendary rock group's classic songs, "I Want To Know What Love Is" and "Hot Blooded".
Gramm previously said he planned to retire at the end of 2024, but later revealed that he was in talks to make appearances at "select" tour dates with FOREIGNER's current lineup in 2025. Bassist Rick Wills and drummer Dennis Elliott are also expected to appear at some shows, including FOREIGNER's upcoming Las Vegas residency.
Gramm was the voice on FOREIGNER's biggest hits, including "Feels Like The First Time" and "Cold As Ice" from the band's eponymous debut in 1977, and later songs like "Hot Blooded" and "I Want to Know What Love Is".
The 74-year-old Gramm left FOREIGNER for good in 2002 and has battled health issues in recent years, including the removal of a non-cancerous tumor. He told the Democrat & Chronicle in 2018 that he was planning to retire, but still reunited with FOREIGNER for several shows that year.
FOREIGNER replaced Gramm with Hansen in 2005. Guitarist Mick Jones, the only remaining original member of FOREIGNER, suffered from some health issues beginning in 2011, eventually resulting in heart surgery in 2012. In February 2024, Jones revealed on social media that he was battling Parkinson's disease, which explained his absence from FOREIGNER's live shows since 2022. | +1 | |
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3 май 2025
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3 май 2025
ROBB FLYNN Is Proud Of The Fact That MACHINE HEAD Found Its 'Own Lane' On 'Unatoned' Album
 During an appearance on the Mark And Me podcast, MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn discussed the unenviable task of having to describe his band's music in the lead-up to the release of a new album. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think music's just such a personal thing. It doesn't matter what I say. I just feel like until you hear what we did, you're either gonna connect with it or you're not. Because I think so much of music is a moment in time. I feel like even if you love MACHINE HEAD — I don't expect everybody to connect with it. Sometimes music is just such a personal… It helps you through this moment you're going through, or it's an amazing moment. So many people lost their virginity to [MACHINE HEAD's 2007 album] 'The Blackening'. [Laughs] That record's always gonna be this incredibly special record because one of the best things that ever happened to 'em happened. And so I get it."
Referencing MACHINE HEAD's eleventh studio album, "Unatoned", which came out on April 25 via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings, Flynn continued: "Even if the songs on this record don't connect with you right now, that's totally fine, because there was so many songs and so many albums the first time that I heard them, they just didn't connect with me — they didn't hit, they didn't whatever. And then, like, a year later, two years later, five years later, I listened to that album and I was, like, 'Oh my God. This is the fucking best music I've ever… How did I not get this the first time I heard this?' Maybe you're just in the wrong headspace or maybe you don't have time. Sometimes life gets in the way, man.
"It trips me out because there's so many bands out right now that are really paying a lot of respect to like the 'Burn My Eyes' era of MACHINE HEAD," Robb added. "Bands are covering [the classic MACHINE HEAD song] 'Dividian' like crazy and covering songs off that record… And it's crazy to me that they're kind of rediscovering this music that we did 30 years ago. And it's awesome. And so I'm just trying to do my thing."
Circling back to "Unatoned", Flynn said: "The one thing that I am very proud of about this record, because I really think that… I think one of the hardest things is to kind of find your own lane. And we've kind of made the lane go this way and we've kind of made the lane go this way and kind of just spread it out a little bit. But it really is our own lane. And for a while it was weird because we didn't really fit with everybody. So kind of being an outsider was like this weird, bad thing. But then now, as time has gone on, it's just, like, you hear it and you're, like, 'Oh, shit. Yeah, that's MACHINE HEAD.' And I'm really proud of that. My guys are all, like, 'We know what MACHINE HEAD sounds like and we're just out here doing our thing, man.' So, come along and enjoy the ride."
"Unatoned" was recorded at Robb's Jam Room, Sharkbite Studios and Drop Of Sun Recording between July 2023 and December 2024. The album was produced by Flynn, as well as Zack Ohren, who was also responsible for the engineering. The mixing and mastering was handled by Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy at Audioworks UK, and the mastering of the record was handled by Ted Jensen and his assistant Justin Shturtz. The only exception was the track "Landscape Of Thorns" which was produced by Flynn and Joel Wanasek who was also in charge of mixing the single alongside Zack Ohren. MACHINE HEAD once again tapped Seth Siro Anton to create the album artwork.
MACHINE HEAD performed the "Unatoned" songs "These Scars Won't Define Us" and "Unbound" live for the first time during the kick-off concert of the band's North American tour on April 1 at Revolution Concert House And Event Center in Garden City, Idaho. MACHINE HEAD also played in Spokane, Washington on April 3 before teaming up with IN FLAMES, LACUNA COIL and UNEARTH for another 25 dates across the U.S. and Canada.
Last November, MACHINE HEAD released "These Scars Won't Define Us" as the first single from "Unatoned".
MACHINE HEAD's current lineup includes former HAVOK guitarist Reece Alan Scruggs. Scruggs stepped in for MACHINE HEAD's previous guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, who had been unable to make some of the group's dates due to his touring commitments with his longtime band DECAPITATED.
Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD in November 2022 at Strummer's in Fresno, California at the opening show of the "Electric Happy Hour (Live)" tour.
Vogg joined MACHINE HEAD's touring lineup prior to the launch of the band's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019.
The rest of MACHINE HEAD's lineup consists of guitarist/vocalist Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT).
Photo credit: Travis Shinn | +2 | |
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3 май 2025
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3 май 2025
SAMMY HAGAR: 'I Don't Think I Can Go On Tour Again'
 Legendary rocker Sammy Hagar has once again clarified his recent comments about no longer wanting to spend any time on the road. Referencing his Las Vegas residency, "Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency", which kicked off last night (Wednesday, April 30) at Dolby Live, the 77-year-old former VAN HALEN and MONTROSE frontman told KQRS host Steve Gorman (former THE BLACK CROWES drummer) (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I used to [not] like [it] in VAN HALEN when we used to play four nights in New York, four nights in Detroit, four nights in Chicago, four nights in San Francisco, four nights in L.A. I used to think, 'God, I hate that because I feel so, 'Man, I did that last night.' 'Oh, I said that last night.'' Even my clothes, 'Oh, I wore that last night' — even though it's been dry cleaned. 'I can't wear it tonight.' So that puts stress on me, 'cause I'm a spontaneous guy; I don't like to do the same show every night. So that's the only thing that worries me, is that element of it. But I guess Vegas turns over every weekend,. And the crazy fans, there's always those fans, the hardcores, that are gonna see multiple nights. I guarantee you there's a handful of guys that will see every single show — a handful of people that will see every single show — and I'm more worried about them than I am the people that are seeing it for the first time. I'm just goofy. I still care a lot, and I drive myself crazy. But I'm hoping that I'll love this residency, so we don't have to move every day and I'll have time to work out a couple new songs in the show every night, like change a song here and a song there. 'Cause you can't do that on tour. You're packing your bags, you're getting on a plane, you're getting in a car, you're trying to get something to eat, you're trying to get some sleep. Next thing you know, you're on stage going, 'Damn.' And so the rest factor, that I don't have to travel, is gonna be great for a guy my age. So I'm really looking forward to it being the secret to me being able to continue to do this."
He continued: "I don't think I can go on tour again. I don't wanna say I'm retiring — I would never say that — but I just don't know. My head, my mind, my heart and soul is not saying to me, 'Oh, boy, let's book another tour next year.' And my manager's talking about all these offers, 'cause this show has done so well that all the promoters, 'Oh, we want it. We want it Europe.' I'm going, 'I can't say yes to it.' I wanna get through the residency and see if that satisfies me and I can pull it off on the level I want to pull it off. And if I can, I'll probably do it again."
Hagar previously discussed his unwillingness to tour again this past January in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. He said at the time: "I don't think I want to go on tour anymore. I hate to say that, because I don't want to piss my fans off. I'll go out and do a one-off show and do things like that, but the residency is going to give me a good extension of my career. That's what I'm hoping for."
Referencing the Vegas residency, Sammy said: "With this, I don't have to travel, I don't have to unpack and pack and get on an airplane every day. You know, at my age, it hurts my shoulders to do all this. And I have to perform. I'm a performer, at the end of the day."
"I keep telling my manager, 'Don't take any tours, let me do this residency,'" Hagar added. "If I like it enough, I'll do another one. And if that's successful I'll do another one, and I can squeeze a few more years out of my career."
A few days after he made his original comments to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Hagar shared a video message on his Instagram in which he attempted to offer more insight into his thinking with regard to potentially touring in the future. He said: "The last couple of weeks, yeah, I've been getting all these messages from people, 'Oh my God. You're not gonna tour anymore.' I didn't say I'm not gonna tour anymore. I was referring to the residency coming up in May with Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, Kenny Aronoff, Rai Thistlethwayte, the same 'Best Of All Worlds' band, 'Best Of All Worlds' tour. We're gonna do a residency [at] MGM Park. And I'm hoping that that will be a lot easier for me than packing bags every day and getting on an airplane, flying in the next city, checking in the hotel, running a soundcheck, trying to get something to eat, go to the meet-and-greet, get to the show and then doing a show. Without all that crazy travel and all that extracurricular stuff, it should be easier for me — waking up, having a nice breakfast in the town where you're gonna play, not having to do anything but maybe go to the gym, maybe rehearse. Yeah, man, now you're talking. [Laughs] I'll be chomping at the bit when it comes showtime, because I will be well rested without all that travel. I just think it's gonna be great. And maybe I will able to squeeze fifty, a hundred more shows out of this voice and this body.
"I'm a performer," he continued. "I like to perform, and it takes it out of you. So that's all I'm saying, is hopefully the residency will be the answer to be able to continue on for many more years, because if not, touring is getting tough, and I will be doing less and less. And eventually, I probably won't be able to do it at all. I mean, it's inevitable. I'm only human. [Laughs]
"Anyway, it's all good," he added." I'm not gonna stop performing ever. I will play music — live music — as long as I can. I fricking love it. Are you kidding me?
"All right, there's your answer."
Last November, Hagar admitted to People magazine that retirement had "crept into my head for 10 years."
"I get insecure in between shows, in between tours, and I think, 'Gee, do I still have it? Can I really still do all that?' And I get out there, and it's like it's riding a bike or having sex," he said.
"I'm going to retire when I can't do this, when I can't sing anymore… I'm not going to have people pay the kind of money that it costs to see these concerts these days and not deliver. So that's where my retirement is. It's in the hands of the higher being."
"The Best Of All Worlds Tour - The Residency" reunites the rock powerhouse band of Sammy, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani and Kenny Aronoff with a new "only in Las Vegas" setlist.
This residency showcases Sammy's career-spanning hits, from seminal breakouts with MONTROSE, his iconic solo hits, and a deep dive into his tenure with VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT, and everything in between. Presented in partnership by Live Nation and MGM Resorts International, the residency is custom-designed for Dolby Live, giving fans an intimate, high-energy concert experience in the 5,200-seat entertainment venue.
The Las Vegas residency follows on the heels of the chart-topping success of "The Best Of All Worlds" tour, which sold out amphitheaters and arenas across North America and Japan in 2024. | +1 | |
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3 май 2025
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3 май 2025
ROB HALFORD Still Loves 'The Writing Experience' With JUDAS PRIEST: 'It's So Exciting'
 In a new interview with Colombia's Radioacktiva, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford spoke about how the band's songwriting approach has evolved over the course of the last five decades. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Ideas. I call 'em seeds, heavy metal seeds. There are so many seeds going on all the time. I was looking for my phone, 'cause now I've got a phone; [it] used to be a cassette recorder. I haven't lost my phone, but in my phone there's hundreds of ideas that can be a lyric, a melody that I can think of that could be a whole song, because, at this point in my life, I can do things that I couldn't do, like, 20, 30 years ago. I can sit and think and I can compose a whole song in my head. I know that sounds crazy, but that's where I should be as a musician, because I have, like, 50 years of musical experience. So once I've defined the idea of the song and the melody of the song, I can create the whole thing in my head — vocally. I can't do it like Glenn [Tipton, PRIEST guitarist] did it, or Ken [former PRIEST guitarist Kenneth 'K.K.' Downing] or [PRIEST guitarist] Richie [Faulkner], or I can't do what Scott's [Travis, PRIEST drummer] gonna do or Ian [Hill, PRIEST bassist], but what I'm saying is that that is one way that I personally make my music. And it's the same way that Glenn would collect his riffs or Ken would collect his riffs or Richie is collecting his riffs right now. All these seeds are put into the ground, [and then eventually it will turn into] a big metal tree. That's exactly what it is. So it starts like that, and then you come together and you sit with each other."
Rob continued: "One of the things I've always felt that PRIEST grasped on to right from the early days was that if a singer sits with two guitar players, there's more energy, there are more ideas, there are more opportunities flying back and forth, and that's always paid dividends for this band as a trio, writing as a trio. And we still do that now. So, that's really been — from 'British Steel', particularly. Up to 'British Steel', if you look at the composition, the writers' credits, it's all over the place. One song might be Glenn, one might be Ken and Rob, but when we got to 'British Steel', we utilized this great idea, being in the room together, two guitars and a singer, and more opportunities seem to flood into the place that you're working from.
"But it's great," Halford added. "Music can come at you out of the blue. I'll wake myself up in the middle of the night with an idea and I have to put it on my phone, the phone by the bed, and I'll be making notes, mental notes, because I'll forget it if I don't do it quickly.
"I love the writing experience. It's so exciting. I just love the thought of new music, new art, new creativity. It's endless, and I'm so blessed, again, that hasn't really dried up. I've still got that energy and exuberance and wonder. I'm always wondering about what we can do next as a band, as PRIEST."
JUDAS PRIEST will team up with shock rock legend Alice Cooper for an epic co-headlining tour across North America this fall. Produced by Live Nation, the 22-city run kicks off September 16 at Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi, Mississippi and stops in Toronto, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping October 26 at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands, Texas.
JUDAS PRIEST, hailing from Birmingham, England, has been at the forefront of heavy metal for over 50 years. With iconic albums like "British Steel", "Screaming For Vengeance" and their newest release "Invincible Shield", the band's legacy is cemented by their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction and unparalleled live performances.
JUDAS PRIEST's latest album, "Invincible Shield", entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".
Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival in March 2024, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.
PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.
"Invincible Shield" was JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).
"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.
JUDAS PRIEST will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its classic album "Painkiller" extensively live with the "Shield Of Pain" tour. This "rare" and "unique set" will include "beloved classics" and "will be defending the metal faith in a truly memorable experience throughout Europe" this summer, according to a social media post from PRIEST. | +2 | |
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3 май 2025
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3 май 2025
Watch CHILDREN OF BODOM Perform “Everytime I Die” Live At Summer Breeze Open Air 2017; Pro-Shot Video
 Children Of Bodom performed at the 2017 edition of Germany’s Summer Breeze Open Air, where WDR Rockpalast recorded their concert. Professionally-filmed footage of the band performing “Everytime I Die”, from their 2000 album, Follow The Reaper, can be viewed below:
The official Children Of Bodom book, to be published in August by Rocket 88, is now available for pre-order.
There are two editions to choose from, both of which contain the same fascinating and illuminating oral history of the band, as told by the members, friends and colleagues: the Classic hardback and the Signature hardback which is signed by Henkka Seppälä, Janne Wirman, Jaska Raatikainen and Alexander Kuoppala.
A message states: “Since we stopped making music and suffered the tragic loss of our brother Alexi, we’ve been remembering so many great times that we had together, and you can now read about those times in this book. It tells the full history of Children of Bodom in our own words.”
Description: For the first time members of the band tell the story of Children of Bodom in their own words. Henkka, Janne and Jaska recall the founding of the band with their lost brother Alexi and the struggles, adventures and triumphs they experienced in the more than thirty years that followed. Drawing on personal memories and new interviews with the band conducted by Finnish best-selling author and long-time friend of the band Timo Isoaho, the official Children of Bodom book tells the whole story, warts and all, of the groundbreaking melodic death metal band.”
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3 май 2025
BILLY IDOL Perform New Single “77” With AVRIL LAVIGNE On Jimmy Kimmel Live; Pro-Shot Video
 Rock legend Billy Idol recently released his new single, “77”, featuring Avril Lavigne, from his new album Dream Into It, which came out on April 25 via Dark Horse Records. On April 28, he performed the song with Lavigne on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Check out the pro-shot video below.
In the following clip, Billy Idol talks about his signature snarl, being nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, making a documentary, kicking off his tour with Joan Jett, only having two pairs of leather pants on his Rebel Yell tour, whether or not the “Rebel Yell” lyrics “in the midnight hour she wants more, more, more” were about Demi Moore, how he came up with his hit song “Dancing With Myself”, the video for “White Wedding”, singing the national anthem at Jimmy’s son’s little league game in the ’90s, and whether or not people ever confuse him with Billie Eilish.
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3 май 2025
DARKYRA To Release Life Force Album In June; Title Track Lyric Video Streaming
 Darkyra is set to release their new album, Life Force, via Battlegod Productions on June 13. Order in Australia ($20 + Shipping $3.50) here, overseas (Euro/US: 13.00 Euro + Shipping 17.00 Euro) here
Life Force is the third release under the Darkyra brand. The album a joint venture between Drummer and Producer Garry King (Jeff Beck and Joe Lynn Turner) and singer/songwriter Gina Bafile (aka Darkyra / Darkyra Black; she also is the new lead singer of Anfitrite). The friendship between the two dates back a full decade and this is the third album they have worked on together this time co-produced and arranged by them both and Garry has mixed and edited everything at La Foret Studio, in the Southwest of France. The Darkyra sound is quite diverse combining Cinematic Metal, Epic Metal, Gothic Rock, Art Rock, Opera Metal and Progressive Rock. Blending both soaring operatic vocals and rock vocals. Memorable melodies, World class production and world class musicianship.
Singer/songwriter Gina Bafile says, “Darkyra has always been about uniting musicians from across the globe and we have continued this on Life Force. Over the years while Darkyra has been away from the music scene (last 8 years) the world has gone a little crazy, like the darkness is somehow starting to overshadow the light. Rather than creating a musical body of work that reinforces dark subject matters it was really important for us to balance the light with the dark. Metal music today seems to be all about doom and gloom. Although a good amount of the subject matter on this album is quite personal for Gina, having gone through her own health struggles and losing loved ones. We have tried to emphasize the upbeat and playful side of this album. ‘Life Force’ the title track sums up the playfulness and friendships forged from creating music and it is only fitting that this too was the title of this album. We hope everyone enjoys this new direction we have chosen and perhaps it’ll shed a little ray of light for those that have fallen on dark times.”
Peter Kotevski, President of Battlegod Productions states: “With Gina we have been in contact about working together for this album for some time now. It’s a band that is different to what Battlegod Productions normally releases but also it is quality music on a high level. It is great to have more variety on the label roster with a good professional band is all that is needed. The tracks are fantastic, each track has its own signature and grows on you with every listen. Highly recommended for people who adore their female fronted Rock/Metal.”
Darkyra has many influences, some of these being Kate Bush, Devin Townsend, Tarja Turunen, though preferring not to be pigeonholed into any one category but rather letting the mood predict the outcome and the voice narrate the many characters within each song. A few things are different on this album, the vocals are set further in the mix to give it more of a rock style edge and the music is less dominated by keyboards and synth. Part of their aim was to capture the essence of 80’s rock and combine it with gothic and progressive rock but emphasize the bass and low tuned guitars to still keep a semi metal sound. Lots of vocal layering.
So what’s the album about?
Life Force is a collection of songs based around both the light and dark aspects of human nature. It is a walk through an eclectic mind, cinematic storytelling driven by the push pull of good and evil, the inner and outer demons, slaves to a virtual world yet there are those still willing to give it all for a Celebrity Smile. Life Force we see it fade slowly in the sick as they slip away, we feel the vibrancy of the youth who have time and energy to play and within our memories the fallen forever loved, sometimes felt as if they remain. Life Force it flows within us all. It is the unity of friends across the globe, the creation of magic in the form of music. The spirit within that speaks volumes…. after all…THE WORLD IS A STAGE!
The album hashes out some real personal things. “All In Good Time” – Autism in early childhood, “Breathe” – Learning to pick yourself up after Cancer, “Tested The Water” – seperation, “Take Me Far Away” – looking for closure and somewhere to lay down roots, “One Foot in the Grave” – the elderly waiting for what seems to be an eternity to join their fallen loved ones, “Tomorrow Without You” – Watching a parent fall ill and pass away and trying to come to terms with the grief. “Life Force” – a reflection of the friendships formed through music stemming back a decade, and “Quiet the Mind” – a mind that just won’t stop to rest.
Tracklisting:
“Life Force”
“Take Me Far Away”
“Breathe”
“All In Good Time”
“One Foot In The Grave”
“Tomorrow Without You”
“Quiet The Mind”
“Leap Before You Die”
“Tested The Water” (Bonus track)
“Celebrity Smile”
“Life Force” lyric video: | 0 | |
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3 май 2025
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Debuts “Rising Force” Video From Tokyo Live Release
 Guitar legend, Yngwie Malmsteen, has released the video for “Rising Force”, from his brand new album, Tokyo Live, out now via Music Theories Recordings. Watch the clip below:
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11th, 2024, as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall. Talking about the live experience, Malmsteen adds, “Playing live in front of people is really what it’s all about. It’s exciting and dangerous because you have to take risks and there’s no fixing afterwards.”
Talking about Tokyo Live on the day of its release he said, “Playing live is where the magic is, it’s exciting and dangerous. I interact with the audience and I take chances, completely jumping over a cliff, and when it falls into place it’s the most amazing thrill. This show is a great snapshot and exudes spontaneity and unique musical moments. Enjoy!”
The name of Yngwie Malmsteen has always stood for uncompromising excellence. In a career that now spans more than 40 years he has proven himself to be a unique artist. You can try to categorise him in any way you wish. But the manner in which this supreme Swedish craftsman has continually developed his music makes Malmsteen sublimely transcend any definition you attempt to impose.
He now has a catalogue of 22 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Malmsteen’s artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence and now, with only this fifth live release, it captures four decades of relentless fury and blissful artistry of one of the true greats.
Available formats:
– CD+DVD
– 2LP
– Digital
Order here.
Tokyo Live tracklisting:
CD1
“Rising Force” (Live)
“Top Down Foot Down” (Live)
“No Rest For The Wicked” (Live)
“Soldier” (Live)
“Into Valhalla” (Live)
“Baroque & Roll” (Live)
“Like An Angel” (Live)
“Relentless Fury” (Live)
“Now Your Ships Are Burned” (Live)
“Wolves At The Door” (Live)
“Hiroshima Mon Amour” (Live)
“(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum” (Live)
“Badinere” (Live)
“Paganini’s 4th” (Live)
“Adagio” (Live)
“Far Beyond The Sun” (Live)
“Arpeggios From Hell” (Live)
CD2
“Seventh Sign” (Live)
“Toccata” (Live)
“Evil Eye” (Live)
“Smoke On The Water” (Live)
“Trilogy-Vengeance” (Live)
“Cadenza 1” (Live)
“Brothers” (Live)
“Fugue” (Live)
“Cadenza 2 – Grand Finale” (Live)
“You Don’t Remember I’ll Never Forget” (Live)
“Acoustic Cadenza” (Live)
“Black Star” (Live)
“I’ll See The Light Tonight” (Live) | 0 | |
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3 май 2025
LOVE/HATE Releases “Over The Edge” Single And Animated Music Video
 Legendary rockers, Love/Hate, continue their triumphant return with the release of their new single and video, “Over The Edge”, from the album Punk Rock Fiesta!, out now on Kenyon Records. “Over The Edge” follows the successful first single “You’re Gonna Burn”, released in February.
“Over The Edge” delivers a modern hard rock feel with the big, anthemic chorus that Love/Hate is known for — a modern-day street rock anthem built for a new generation.
Singer Jizzy Pearl explains: “This song has got crazy heavy guitar playing capped off with a Beatles-like chorus…the Best of Both Worlds! The video was all my inspiration, we included bits of some of my favorite movie themes from The Shining and Eyes Wide Shut – surrealistic psychedelic fantasy and Love/Hate trademark heavy guitars makes this track my favorite song off the record!”
The video for “Over The Edge” was created by Ashley Miles of Hot Frog Animations, who also directed the video for “You’re Gonna Burn”. Watch below:
Punk Rock Fiesta! is available now via Kenyon Records. The album can be ordered directly at lovehateofficial.com in both CD and Picture Disc formats, signed by Jizzy Pearl.
This latest album from Love/Hate is a raw, unfiltered blast of fiery rock ‘n’ roll energy—packed with high-voltage riffs, anthemic choruses, and relentless attitude.
From the Sunset Strip to stages worldwide, Jizzy Pearl has made his mark on rock history, selling over 600,000 albums and sharing the stage with AC/DC, Ozzy Osbourne, Skid Row, and Dio. He currently sings for Quiet Riot and has recorded and toured with Ratt and L.A. Guns. Now, he delivers a powerhouse collection of songs, capturing the fire and energy of no-frills rock ‘n’ roll – it’s Punk Rock Fiesta!
Punk Rock Fiesta! is a high-octane ride that leans into the rebellious spirit of classic, streetwise rock. Featuring blistering guitar solos and Jizzy’s signature vocals – equal parts grit and soul – the album is a relentless sonic assault.
“Rock ‘n’ roll should be dangerous, unpredictable, and make you feel something,” says Jizzy Pearl. “We wanted to bring back that energy that made music exciting in the first place. This record is screaming, loud, and full of old-school rock ‘n’ roll soul!”
Since 1990, with Love/Hate’s debut Blackout In The Red Room, Jizzy Pearl has remained a respected force in rock. Whether commanding the stage with multi-platinum bands or pushing his own creative limits, he continues to evolve while staying true to his hard rock roots. | 0 | |
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2 май 2025
OZZY OSBOURNE Promises To Do His 'Best' At His Final Concert, But Admits He 'May Be Sitting Down' While Performing
 Ozzy Osbourne says that he will "do the best" he can when he plays his final gig this summer.
The legendary heavy metal singer announced his last-ever performance on February 5, revealing that the original members of BLACK SABBATH are reuniting for the first time in 20 years for the show. Joining them at the concert called "Back To The Beginning", which will take place on July 5 at at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom, will be a host of metal bands SABBATH inspired, including METALLICA, SLAYER, LAMB OF GOD, MASTODON, PANTERA and ANTHRAX.
Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018, before undergoing extensive spinal surgery and revealing he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease — told The Guardian about the upcoming concert: "I'll be there, and I'll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up."
Addressing his physical ailments, Ozzy said: "You wake up the next morning and find that something else has gone wrong. You begin to think this is never going to end."
He said the SABBATH reunion concert was conceived by his wife and manager, Sharon, as "something to give me a reason to get up in the morning".
"I do weights, bike riding, I've got a guy living at my house who's working with me. It's tough — I've been laid up for such a long time," Ozzy said. "I've been lying on my back doing nothing and the first thing to go is your strength. It's like starting all over again. I've got a vocal coach coming round four days a week to keep my voice going. I have problems walking. I also get blood pressure issues, from blood clots on my legs."
The singer continued: "I'm used to doing two hours on stage, jumping and running around. I don't think I'll be doing much jumping or running around this time. I may be sitting down."
He added: "We're only playing a couple of songs each. I don't want people thinking 'we're getting ripped off', because it's just going to be … what's the word? … a sample, you're going to get a few songs each by Ozzy and SABBATH."
This past February, Sharon told The Sun that her husband is struggling to walk amid his battle with Parkinsons disease, but that his singing voice is "as good as ever". She said: "[Ozzy's] very happy to be coming back and very emotional about this.
"Parkinson's is a progressive disease. It's not something you can stabilize. It affects different parts of the body and it's affected his legs. But his voice is as good as it's ever been."
On last month's episode of SiriusXM's Ozzy Speaks, Ozzy offered a health update, saying: "I'm in heavy training for this ['Back To The Beginning' concert] that's coming up. I haven't done anything for — this will be seven years [since I played a full concert], and so I've been through all this surgery. It really is like starting from scratch."
Asked what sort of training he is going through at the moment, Ozzy said: "Well, it's endurance training. The first thing to go when you're laid up is your stamina, so believe it or not, I'm doing two sets of three-minute walks a day and weight training. I've gotta get going, you know."
He explained: "I'm waking up in my body. I mean, three minutes to you, for instance, is nothing, but I've been laying on my back recovering from umpteen surgeries."
As for what his appearance at ["Back To The Beginning" might entail, Ozzy said: "I'm not planning on doing a set with BLACK SABBATH but I am doing little bits and pieces with them. I am doing what I can, where I feel comfortable."
The 76-year-old heavy metal singer, who revealed in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, added that he is doing what he can to get ready for the Villa Park concert.
"I am trying to get back on my feet," he said. "When you get up in the morning, you just jump out of bed. I have to balance myself, but I'm not dead. I'm still actively doing things."
Ozzy talked in more detail about his condition on his SiriusXM radio show. He said: "I have made it to 2025. I can't walk, but you know what I was thinking over the holidays? For all my complaining, I'm still alive. I may be moaning that I can't walk but I look down the road and there's people that didn't do half as much as me and didn't make it."
Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The concert will mark the first time that Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward have played together in 20 years.
Sharon told BBC News about Ozzy: "He's doing great. He's doing really great. He's so excited about this, about being with the guys again and all his friends. It's exciting for everyone."
According to Sharon, Ozzy, who paused touring "for now" in 2023 after extensive spinal surgery and rescheduled his "No More Tours 2" shows from going ahead several times because of illness, the pandemic and logistical issues, will not play any more shows after the Villa Park event.
"Ozzy didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his friends, to his fans, and he feels there's no been no full stop," she explained. "This is his full stop."
In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH) and Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE).
"It's an endless amount of people," said Sharon. "They're going to be doing some SABBATH songs, some Ozzy songs, and they'll all mix together. Different little groups will be coming on, but they're all icons."
The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.
"For Ozzy right now, it's definitely: 'I love you and good night'," Sharon told Reuters.
She added that Ozzy was doing well and excited about the gig. "It's stimulated him," she said. "He's very, very excited and very thankful that he can do it."
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.
Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.
While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.
Osbourne's previously announced European tour with guests JUDAS PRIEST, originally set for 2019 and then rescheduled three times, was officially canceled in early February 2023.
Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.
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2 май 2025
SHADOWS FALL Releases Another New Song, 'Souls Devoured'
 SHADOWS FALL has released a second new single, "Souls Devoured". Like "In The Grey", which was made available last December, the track was issued via SHADOWS FALL's new record label home, MNRK Heavy.
SHADOWS FALL singer Brian Fair comments: "SHADOWS FALL have always been a band that lets all of our influences and ideas show in our music and have never been afraid to mix and match genres within our sound. "'Souls Devoured' is a great example of that style of songwriting where we let it all hang out. It opens with a huge groove and rock riff before transitioning into a black metal-inspired verse to add a little evil to the party. Things open up into a half-time chorus that has an almost PANTERA-style vibe before we inject some melodic death metal into the bridge and solo section. On paper, that can sound a bit schizophrenic, but we always try to have a cohesiveness and underlying theme that keeps it all unified. It's a song that captures what I believe is the true essence of SHADOWS FALL by bringing in elements of our past but with a clear eye towards the future. It has familiar elements but sounds like nothing we have ever written before."
Fair opens up about the subject matter, saying: "Lyrically, the song is about finding yourself trapped in an apocalyptic event where demons and disasters have begun to consume the world. It's about fighting for survival as the planet crumbles around you, and you realize the only way to survive it is to fight fire with fire. We spend most of our lives trying to quiet the evil voices in our minds or denying they exist, but in this scenario, tapping into that darkness and letting the personal demons out may be the only way to survive the terror."
He finishes: "Facing pure evil by becoming that evil yourself. You know, heavy metal-type shit! I usually write from a personal or philosophical place, but 'Souls Devoured' allowed me to step outside of that box and tap into a dark form of storytelling that fit the intensity and foreboding vibe of the instrumental side of it. Bang your head and get into it!"
In a recent interview with the Thunder Underground podcast, Fair spoke about "In The Grey". "We're just so happy to finally release new music," he said. "We're working on a full album's worth of material, but I feel like it's gonna drop kind of in chunks and then hopefully the rest of it all at once kind of thing. We just couldn't sit on it. We were just so excited with how that tune came out. And it's kind of a different world now too, where you can release singles leading up to more songs and keeping people interested. So, yeah, man, we were stoked with how it came out and just wanted to get it out in front of people. And I'm super psyched to just be writing again with the guys, 'cause we didn't know if that was gonna be kind of part of the deal when we started playing shows again. And the writing has really become the main focus for the last year and a half or so, which has been awesome again to kind of get back in that mode. So it's killer."
Regarding SHADOWS FALL's songwriting approach for the new music, Brian said: "When we first started kind of writing music, we wanted to make sure it was gonna be SHADOWS FALL music. We hadn't worked on new material in such a long time, and once we started writing, things just clicked right outta the gates. And 'In The Grey' was one of those songs that kind of came together pretty quickly too. And we wanted to kind of have the first song pretty energetic, just come out swinging thrash metal style. It's got a big, melodic chorus, but the rest of it is pretty much just pedal-to-the-metal thrash. So, that was also — why mess around? Just come out with the first one swinging. So we were super stoked. So, yeah, everything about it was just kind of an exciting new chapter."
As for how SHADOWS FALL approached the recording process after being away from the recording studio for so long, Brian said: "This recording process with [producer] Zeuss [Chris Harris] this time around, we've done it pretty stripped down as far as we're not reamping guitar tracks a ton… Before we would experiment with reamping a million different things and combining tones and all this. This one we kind of wanted to make something that didn't sound maybe as surgical and clinical as some metalcore or modern metal's kind of gotten. We wanted to bring a little bit of thrash energy to it and a little more of a raw — not necessarily sonically raw, but just a little more live-ish approach to it."
On the topic of SHADOWS FALL's new deal with MNRK Heavy, Fair said: "We talked to a few labels, but very few, 'cause we kind of had an idea of what we wanted to do and kind of the type of deal we were looking for. So, we hit it right off the bat with them. They have a great roster with everyone from Zakk Wylde and Ace Frehley, but then also DARKEST HOUR and ESCUELA GRIND and then HIGH ON FIRE and CROWBAR — just so many killer bands. So, it really made sense. And they're kind of also approaching it more as we're signing for a group of songs where we can sort of release things slowly and then put it all together. 'Cause just the way we work as a band right now, since it's not everyone's full-time life, we wanna do it — not necessarily take our time, but we wanna make sure we maximize our time when we can get it, 'cause it's so hard to get everyone together. So, they were really willing to kind of work with us on that level of realizing where the band is at this point in our life. So that was a big part of it. And they've been killer so far."
Elaborating on the differences in the way music is being released nowadays compared to how it was a couple of decades ago, Brian said: "Yeah, it's more just the break from the album-cycle sort of thing. When we first were around, you basically put out a record every year and a half or so, and then you toured nonstop. And that was kind of how it worked. And now there's so many different outlets, there's so many different ways to get your music to people. It's not as traditional record label relationship kind of setup, which is cool. And you have to kind of have a modern approach. And for a band like us — we kind of come from an old-school approach, so it's good to have a label that has that forward thinking and kind of knows how to navigate the kind of new way of the music biz."
Asked about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for the next SHADOWS FALL album, Fair said: "We have a couple [of songs] that are totally done that may need some mix [tweaks], but are tracked. And then we have the instrumental tracks for a lot. And we're starting to work on vocal demos. Right now we're kind of trading things back and forth. And we've got the skeletons to another group of new songs that we haven't tracked instrumentally. So, all said and done, we're gonna kind of keep just writing and recording kind of as things come along, but we have a good foundation of, I'd say, six or seven songs that are pretty much there and tracked instrumentally. And the vocal ideas are at least in a skeleton form; it's a matter of getting in and getting time to record 'em. But then, like I said, there's a whole other group of songs right behind it that we've gotta start working on too."
When "In The Grey" was first released, Brian said in a statement: "We are incredibly excited to share our first new music in over a decade with our single 'In The Grey' and are proud to announce our partnership with MNRK Music Group.
"When SHADOWS FALL first got back in the practice space to prepare for our reunion shows, we did not know if it would lead to new music, but the excitement of jamming together and all of the riffs that Jon [Donais, SHADOWS FALL guitarist] had floating around in his head led us in the direction almost immediately. The idea began flowing, the energy started building and new songs began taking form out of the chaos."
He continued: "'In The Grey' is a full-throttle thrasher that contains all of the elements that are the bedrock of the SHADOWS FALL sound, but also adds new elements and approaches that developed in the recent past while we all explorer other musical avenues. Lyrically, I was trying to put into words and describe the physical manifestation of the weight and crushing power that can come with depression, that feeling that the weight of gravity is crashing down on you or being trapped in the dark waters of our own mind, trying to rise to the surface and take a breath. It can be an overwhelming and lonely place but there is always a light at the end of that tunnel and we always need to keep striving for a brighter day and escaping the grey."
Fair finished: "We want to sincerely thank everyone for the decades of support that you have given SHADOWS FALL and we cannot be happier to be back and rocking once again. Crank up 'In The Grey', raise those horns to the sky, and bang your head as hard as you can. Stay tuned for more music and news soon..."
Last August, Fair was asked by Sh!t Talk Reviews if it is "safe to say" that SHADOWS FALL "is back" and is "not going to go anywhere anytime soon." Brian responded: "It's not going anywhere, but I don't think we'll ever be the full-time touring band we were. It's a lot of family stuff and people have just got different things going on. Jon, being in ANTHRAX, that's gonna be kind of his main gig most of the time. Jason [Bittner, drums], yeah, he left OVERKILL, but he's also got CATEGORY 7 with John Bush and Phil Demmel and all those guys, and that new record's killer. So they'll be busy with that. But we're definitely gonna keep playing shows. We're gonna keep doing festivals. We probably will hopefully do some short tours here and there, especially when new music comes out, but we're gonna kind of pick and choose our battles, which is, again, also a nice place to be in.
"When the band was our full-time job, you couldn't stay at home for too long or there wasn't gonna be a home to come home to," Fair explained. "You've gotta go out and grind. So it's nice to not have that pressure, but also to do it because it's fun again. Each show that we've done have all been blockbusters in our minds because there's just enough time between each one that you get that excited again. It ramps up and then it's just like an explosion.
"Me personally, I was so burnt out by the time we stopped touring in 2015. We'd been on a 15-year run where I hadn't been home for more than a few weeks through that whole thing. And physically, my neck was shot, my back was shot. I was burnt mentally as well, so it was time to come home for a while. But then, now I'm, like, 'Okay, cool. Let's go have some fun.'"
"The only way to survive in a band like us… We're not gonna sell 10 million records and have all that stuff," Brian added. "So you've gotta go out there and stay on the road to keep your name in front of people, keep everything exciting. You've gotta sell t-shirts — that's how you make your money, [by staying] out there on the road. And, yeah, if a label is gonna spend a bunch of money to drop a record and do videos, they're, like, 'You've gotta go promote it now. You've gotta get out there and hit it.'
"What's driving us to record now is that we love the songs we're writing. It's not 'cause there's a deadline. And the shows we're playing is because we're just, like, 'That sounds like a party, man. Let's do it.'"
Elaborating on how he and his SHADOWS FALL bandmates chose their new record-label partner, Brian said: "It's totally changed things where they've kind of realized their best role is as a promotional partner and a manufacturer, if you're doing vinyl or whatever. CDs, they still make 'em, I guess, but not in the numbers they used to. And a lot of them downsized, because they had to. So it's more about partnering with the band and label relationship and finding a way to make it make sense for everyone.
"The old model doesn't work," the 49-year-old singer, who now lives in St. Louis, Missouri with his wife and their two kids, added. "It's broken. You can't just throw money at things and think it's gonna hit. People have too many choices. You can put out music yourself, so there's definitely an oversaturation, unfortunately, as well because of that. So there's just so much content, you've gotta find new and innovative ways to share it and keep it special. And I think the labels that are surviving and thriving are the ones who are flexible, willing to evolve, willing to work with the artists' vision as opposed to just, 'Cool, man. Let's stick to the old method.'"
Fair and his SHADOWS FALL bandmates have played a number of reunion concerts so far, including at Blue Ridge Rock Festival in Alton, Virginia, at the Furnace Fest in Birmingham, Alabama, and at the Milwaukee Metal Fest in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The long-running Massachusetts-based metallers, who were at the forefront of the New Wave Of American Metal scene that dominated the '00s, celebrated the 20th anniversary of their "The War Within" album by playing the LP in its entirety in March 2024 at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey, the site of the band's many classic shows. It also marked the first time the band has performed in the Garden State in a decade.
In December 2023, Fair told RichardMetalFan about SHADOWS FALL's decision to reunite: "We'd wanted to play shows again for a while and we just wanted the time to be right. And once the pandemic kind of hit, we sort of realized, like, 'Why are we waiting around? It's the time.' So we were lucky that we were able to kind of get everyone's schedules together. And it was incredible. As soon as we started jamming together again, it just felt fun, it felt right. So the shows were a blast. We really rehearsed like crazy for it. And we're probably better prepared for that than anything we'd ever been for before that. And we also realized, like, man, we should have been practicing more when we were together. We used to hate practicing. We always were, like, 'Ah, we tour enough. We don't need to.' And then after we practiced a bunch, we were, like, 'All right. Maybe we really should have.' [Laughs] But then also when we started practicing, we figured if we have ideas, why not write new music as well? If we're gonna get together, let's see what we've got. So that started leading to some new stuff. So [I'm] looking forward to seeing where it heads."
SHADOWS FALL released a statement in August 2014 in which the bandmembers explained that financial difficulties made it virtually impossible for the group to continue as a full-time concern.
In August 2015, SHADOWS FALL played a few reunion shows on the U.S. East Coast, one year after completing what was being billed at the time as the band's "final" European tour.
"Fire From The Sky" was released in May 2012 via Razor & Tie. The CD sold around 10,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No. 38 on The Billboard 200 chart.
Photo credit: Jeremy Saffer
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2 май 2025
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2 май 2025
STEVEN TYLER And Members Of SOUNDGARDEN Added To BLACK SABBATH's Final Concert
 Ozzy Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon Osbourne has revealed to The Guardian that AEROSMITH's Steven Tyler (pictured) and members of SOUNDGARDEN have been added to the list of performers at the upcoming "Back To The Beginning" charity event on July 5 at Villa Park in Birmingham, United Kingdom. The concert will mark the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH's last-ever performance and Ozzy's final appearance as a solo artist.
In a recent interview with Australian Musician editor Greg Phillips, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE guitarist Tom Morello spoke about his participation at "Back To The Beginning", which he called "the greatest heavy metal show ever". Asked how his involvement with the concert came about and where the "preparation is at" at the moment, Morello, who will serve as the "musical director" at the show, said: "We had a big meeting about that earlier today. It came about [because] Ozzy and Sharon asked me to do — they surprised me one day and said, 'There's gonna be one more BLACK SABBATH show, all four original members, the last-ever Ozzy Osbourne show. We wanna have a big day of celebration and will you help curate it?' And I was, like, 'Well, that's crazy. But yes, of course.'
"Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and BLACK SABBATH invented heavy metal, Morello explained. "And Ozzy Osbourne, by discovering the guitarist Randy Rhoads, created, through Randy Rhoads, the music that inspired me to practice eight hours a day. So I owe a great debt to Ozzy and to BLACK SABBATH. And it's an honor to be a part of it.
"Where it's at now… First of all, when we first sat down, we have a very, very simple goal, and that's to make this the greatest day in the history of heavy metal," Tom added. "And to that end, you've probably seen the listed setlist. And let me tell you, there's some huge superstars who are gonna be surprises on that day too. So, the idea is to really acknowledge the importance of that band in a way that the whole world will forever know it."
In a separate interview with Clare Lane of the Chicago radio station WBEZ, Morello stated about what it has been like to work in the Osbourne universe: "Heavy metal is the music that made me love music, and BLACK SABBATH is the band that invented heavy metal. So, when Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne asked me to be the musical director of what's going to be the last BLACK SABBATH show — the last Ozzy Osbourne show in the soccer stadium that's like a half-block down from where Ozzy Osbourne and Geezer Butler, the bass player of BLACK SABBATH, grew up — I was honored to do that.
"Right now, we have, like, 14 bands. You know, it's METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES. It's, like, all the biggest bands in the history of heavy metal. The show is gonna be about 10 hours long, but it's gonna be a salute to a genre that people all around the world love. You know, it's been the music that has really made me love music. I'm interested in a lot of different kinds of music now, but I never would have been interested in any kind of music had it not been for metal."
Asked if he is going to take the stage, Morello said: "Oh, of course, I will be up there. Speaking of Northern Illinois, this may be a little bit of a spoiler alert, but Adam Jones, the guitarist of TOOL, he and I went to Libertyville High School together and played in a band. Billy Corgan, the singer of SMASHING PUMPKINS, grew up a few suburbs over. The three of us are going to play together for the first time ever at the show. So, there'll be an 847 connection."
"Back To The Beginning" sold out in less than 10 minutes in February. The concert will mark the first time that the original lineup of BLACK SABBATH — Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward — have played together in 20 years.
Also set to appear at the event are METALLICA, GUNS N' ROSES, TOOL, SLAYER, PANTERA, GOJIRA, ALICE IN CHAINS, HALESTORM, LAMB OF GOD, ANTHRAX and MASTODON.
In addition, there will be a performance by a "supergroup of musicians" including Duff McKagan and Slash (GUNS 'N' ROSES),Billy Corgan (THE SMASHING PUMPKINS),Fred Durst (LIMP BIZKIT),K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST),Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE),Wolfgang Van Halen (VAN HALEN, MAMMOTH WVH),Andrew Watt, Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),David Ellefson (MEGADETH),Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR),Whitfield Crane (UGLY KID JOE),David Draiman (DISTURBED),Frank Bello (ANTHRAX),Jonathan Davis (KORN),Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM),Mike Bordin (FAITH NO MORE),Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT),Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (ANTHRAX),Sleep Token II (SLEEP TOKEN) and Papa V Perpetua (GHOST).
Ozzy — who hasn't played a full show since late 2018 — announced his last-ever performance on February 5.
Proceeds from the "Back To The Beginning" show will support Cure Parkinson's, the Birmingham Children's Hospital and Acorn Children's Hospice, a Children's Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
The original lineup of BLACK SABBATH last performed in 2005. Since then, SABBATH has played in partial reunions but never in its original lineup.
The legendary BLACK SABBATH frontman was diagnosed in 2003 with Parkin 2 — a very rare genetic form of Parkinson's. During a TV appearance in January 2020, the singer disclosed that he was 'stricken" with the disease which occurs when the nerve cells of the body degenerate and levels of dopamine are reduced. Dopamine is an essential chemical that is produced by these nerve cells which send signals to different parts of the brain to control movements of the body.
Ozzy's health issues, including suffering a nasty fall and dislodging metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003, as well as catching COVID-19 three years ago, forced him to cancel some of his previously announced tours.
While Osbourne's health issues forced him to scrap most of his live appearances, the musician said he would return if his condition improved.
Despite his health problems, Osbourne has performed a couple of times in the last three years, including at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in August 2022 and at the NFL halftime show at the season opener Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo Bills game in September 2022.
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2 май 2025
Watch: GREEN DAY Receives Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
 GREEN DAY received a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame earlier today (Thursday, May 1). Actor/producer Ryan Reynolds spoke at the event, which was streamed live at the Walk Of Fame's web site and can now be watched below. Radio and TV personality Matt Pinfield emceed.
GREEN DAY's star is located at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, near Amoeba Music. It is the 2,810th star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.
"The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is honored to welcome GREEN DAY's Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool to the Hollywood Walk of Fame," Walk Of Fame producer Ana Martinez said. "GREEN DAY's music has not only inspired generations but also served as the soundtrack to our lives."
The Hollywood Walk Of Fame is a celebration of art, entertainment, and all things Hollywood.
The Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce administers the Walk Of Fame on behalf of the city of Los Angeles.
Honorees are selected by a committee of their peers.
Formed in 1986 in Berkeley, California, GREEN DAY is one of the world's best-selling bands of all time, with more than 75 million records sold worldwide and 10 billion cumulative audio/visual streams.
The five-time Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductees released their breakout album, "Dookie", in 1994, which sold over 10 million and achieved ten-times-platinum diamond status, is widely credited with popularizing and reviving mainstream interest in punk rock, catapulting a career-long run of No. 1 hit singles.
Entertainment Weekly calls GREEN DAY "the most influential band of their generation," while Rolling Stone attests, "GREEN DAY have inspired more young bands to start than any act this side of KISS, and that doesn't seem to be changing."
In 2004, GREEN DAY released the rock opera "American Idiot", which captured the nation's attention, selling more than eight million copies in the U.S. alone and taking home the Grammy Award for "Best Rock Album". Mojo declared "It's exhilarating stuff, the kind of record that sets new parameters as to what is possible from a punk rock'n'roll band in the 21st century."
In 2010, a stage adaptation of "American Idiot" debuted on Broadway to critical and commercial acclaim.
Released in 2020, GREEN DAY's thirteenth studio album, "Father Of All..." , debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's Album Sales chart and No. 1 in both the U.K. and Australia. Pitchfork declared, "GREEN DAY's most fetching and youthful songs in ages. The trio sounds reinvigorated, more like hungry newcomers staking their claim."
In July 2021, GREEN DAY embarked on "The Hella Mega Tour" with FALL OUT BOY and WEEZER. The global tour included 29 sold-out stadium gigs — including renowned venues like London Stadium and Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium.
On January 19, 2024, the band released its 14th studio album, "Saviors", which included hit singles "The American Dream Is Killing Me", which reached No. 1 on Billboard Rock & Alternative Airplay, and "Dilemma". The album debuted at No. 1 on seven different Billboard charts and marked their fifth No. 1 in the U.K. "Saviors" received widespread critical praise, with Rolling Stone describing it as "huge songs and snotty satire for a world on fire," while The New York Times hailed it as "a decisive, even overdetermined return to form." The New Yorker summed it up best with "It's GREEN DAY's world now."
In 2024, GREEN DAY embarked on a sold-out global stadium tour — The "Saviors Tour" — where they played "Dookie" and "American Idiot" in their entirety, along with "Saviors" cuts and fan favorites. The "Saviors Tour" came to a triumphant close as it served as GREEN DAY's biggest tour of their illustrious 30-plus-year career. | +1 | |
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Silverstein
