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2 ìàé 2025
Watch: TESTAMENT Celebrates 35th Anniversary Of 'Practice What You Preach' Album At 'An Evening With…' Tour Kick-Off
 San Francisco Bay Area thrashers TESTAMENT kicked off their "An Evening With Testament" tour Wednesday night (April 30) at Rialto Theater in Tucson, Arizona. The trek celebrates the 35th anniversary of TESTAMENT's third album, "Practice What You Preach", which achieved near-gold status in the United States upon its release in 1989 and became the band's first album to enter the Top 100 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The setlist for the Tucson concert was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:
01. Practice What You Preach
02. Sins Of Omission
03. Perilous Nation (first time since 2008)
04. Greenhouse Effect
05. Time Is Coming (first time since 1990)
06. Blessed In Contempt (first time since 1990)
07. The Ballad (first time since 1991)
08. Envy Life (first time since 2011)
09. Nightmare (Coming Back To You) (first time since 1992)
10. Confusion Fusion (live debut)
11. Musical Death (A Dirge)
12. The Legacy (first time since 2011)
13. Rise Up
14. Native Blood
15. Trail Of Tears
16. Low
17. City Of Angels (live debut)
18. Drum Solo
19. First Strike Is Deadly
Encore:
20. Return To Serenity
21. Into The Pit
Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be seen below.
In support of the "Practice What You Preach" reissues via Nuclear Blast, TESTAMENT wanted to do something special and intimate for the fans, performing deep cuts and some classic ballads for the first time ever.
When the "An Evening With Testament" tour was first announced in early March, TESTAMENT singer Chuck Billy said in a statement: "We are getting ready to 'Practice What You Preach' across the U.S. this May. We will be performing the album 'Practice What You Preach', telling stories, playing a few acoustic tunes, and finishing out with the best of deep cuts. This will be an evening with TESTAMENT you don't want to miss! Horns Up!"
TESTAMENT guitarist Eric Peterson added: "This will be a night to remember! We'll have some cool tales to tell about making the record, and where we were at that time in our career. 'Practice What You Preach' was our third full-length, major label release and our most commercially successful album at that time. We'll be playing songs you've probably wanted to hear forever that we never did, but will do in the 'Evening With Testament'!"
In a recent interview with Australia's Wall Of Sound, Billy was asked when fans can expect to see TESTAMENT's follow-up to 2020's "Titans Of Creation" album. He said: "We don't have a date yet, but we're hoping the end of the first quarter, going into the second quarter. So definitely before we get to Australia [in June 2025], I would think. Definitely the single should be hitting. We start mixing it in January sometime. So, as soon as the label has an opening and things line up, we'll get it out there. But it's coming out really good. We worked on it for probably the last year or so with Chris [Dovas, TESTAMENT drummer], a lot with Chris. Eric and Chris got a lot done and came up with some killer stuff, man."
When the interviewer noted that Dovas came into TESTAMENT as the successor to some of the best drummers in heavy metal, including Dave Lombardo (SLAYER) and Gene Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, DEATH, DETHKLOK),Chuck said: "Well, I'll give him props. He's right up there with all those guys, man, because he's coming in young, new-influence chops, too, and adding a different dimension to TESTAMENT. That's why I'm excited about the writing, because he, I guess, inspired Eric enough to just write some pretty kick-ass, balls-out stuff, but a little bit around it of everything. So it was a really good writing session on this record… Eric had such a good writing session, he's already talking about after this [European] tour with ANTHRAX and KREATOR, starting [in] early [2025], they're gonna get together and just start writing more songs. Just keep chugging forward. And [2025] is gonna be a little slow. We're not going to Europe [this] year. We're gonna just probably have one headlining tour at the end of the year, and that's about it. Maybe a short run in America. We'll see. So we have a window to do a lot of jamming. So hopefully we can get some more songs written and get ahead of another record."
In November, Billy told Australia's The Rockpit, about TESTAMENT's upcoming LP: "Well, this [album is] gonna be very special. I think I'm more excited about this one, just because of the fact — the timing of everything. I'm a big person believer in things happen for reasons. And Chris Dovas jamming with us and having a lot of time to come up and spend with Eric at Eric's place, just jamming, coming up a lot of music and working on it hard and tracking it at home and doing demos. And I could tell, when I first started getting the songs and the riffs sent, that it was something different. It's still Eric and I recognize it, but he was being pushed and inspired 'cause Chris is a very fast, aggressive drummer, and I can tell that it just inspired Eric just to be Eric and play guitar instead of trying to think about building a song or making a song — 'Let's just jam.' And that's the kind of way they approached it. And next thing you know, they had 10, 11, 12 jams that were sounding pretty strong, but individually identified just different vibes. And I was, like, 'Okay, this is what it is.' And then, as it just built vocally and everything, that's when we were kind of, 'Wow. It just feels fresh and new and challenging again. Vocally, for me, I've got a wide range of tones on this one — I'm screaming again, which I haven't done that a lot on a lot of records in the past, but a lot on this one. And we are still writing for ourselves, but we're still excited that when we write a song, how it hits live, and that's always been the payoff, is do these songs we write in the studio hit live like we want 'em to? And that's the fun part."
Earlier in November, Billy was asked by Jaimunji if the new TESTAMENT LP will be a throwback to some of the band's early records or if it will once again be a step forward for the band. Chuck said: "I think we've always evolved. We never like to go backwards. These songs, definitely the old classic stuff, 'The Legacy' and 'The New Order', that's where we came from, those are the first songs we wrote, so definitely that's who we are, but we always wanna evolve. We don't wanna do something we've done. But I will say the new record, we're very excited for it 'cause Chris Dovas, the new drummer, it's probably the most a drummer has worked with Eric writing material, and it shows.'
He continued: "The songs are very strong, very heavy, very fast. We've got a little of everything. We've got some mid-tempo, but really crushing fast drums. I would even say that we went and put — I don't wanna say the word 'ballad', but it's a very slow, old classic TESTAMENT vibe, like 'Return To Serenity', that we had the confidence and the song is there that we wrote. This record, we're fired up 'cause, to me, it sounds modern. That's the one thing I've gotta say. It's TESTAMENT but modern-sounding, just because I think Chris, he shifts another gear on the songs. I mean, he just puts it to another level as far as the drum playing and inspiring Eric to what he's doing. And it actually opens up the doors for me, challenge-wise, to not just take it the easy way out. I've really had some challenges — a lot more screaming death metal, mid-tempo clean vocals. I'm doing a little bit of everything. So that's the fun part for me and the challenging part, is to make it all work."
Billy also confirmed that one of the new TESTAMENT songs will be a duet with NIGHTWISH singer Floor Jansen. "Yeah, I reached out to her," he said. "Me and Floor became friends maybe under 10 years ago. Me and her, Joey Belladonna [ANTHRAX], Udo Dirkschneider [ex-ACCEPT], we all did this Christmas performance show through Europe. And we were singing our songs, but with a Christmas theme with an orchestra. And so we all traveled together and became friends. And she's a powerhouse of a vocalist. Great voice. And when we wrote the song and the lyrics, first thing I thought was, 'Okay, this song, it, it needs a strong girl's voice,' and, of course, Floor is the first one that came to mind. And this song, it's gonna be pretty epic. We're gonna put a string section on it, acoustic guitars. It's gonna have a lot going on, but it's a really, really beautiful song. It's really deep. And with Floor, it's kind of me and her kind of singing the lyrics kind of to each other, and the meaning of the song and what we're saying, it's kind of, like, I'll say my part and she's answering me through the vocal. So it's gonna be very strong, very cool. And I can't wait to hear what she's gonna do on it… We haven't sent it to her because we haven't laid down the acoustic guitars yet for it, but the song's done. I tracked it all. I tracked her parts. And I wanna wait till she hears it for the first time with the acoustics and get the vibe — I want her to be in the vibe once she gets it… And Alex has a connection to some guys that are gonna do the strings on it, who played on some huge records, so what we've heard so far, it's pretty cool."
Billy told Metal Express Radio's Bryce Van Patten about how TESTAMENT's songwriting process has changed since the band's early days in the late 1980s and 1990s: "Oh, it's night and day. Before, back then, we all lived the same place, we all had to go to the same studio, where now it's by e-mail, sharing the songs. Everybody has home studios to work out demos. Definitely a different writing process, but still Eric is one of the main writers. And ever since we brought in our new drummer, Chris Dovas, he's been here two years — he was 24 when he came into the band; he's 26 [now]. But he's a smart kid. [He] graduated [from] the Berklee [College] Of Music. [He] knows theory [and is] great in the studio with Pro Tools. He's really into modern bands and new and upcoming stuff, and he's got an old soul so he knows the history of the music. But I think him working hand in hand with Eric as long as they did, he really pushed Eric and drove Eric to get challenged. And I wouldn't say 'copy', but I think Chris and what he listens to and the style Eric likes, it brought an influence to the new songs."
Regarding the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material, Chuck said: "To me, the new songs sound current, they sound fresh. They're touching what a lot of new upcoming bands are making good names for themselves are doing. So, again, it's raising the bar one more time. And I think when fans hear this record, especially new, younger fans are gonna go, 'Whoa. That's TESTAMENT. I know the TESTAMENT I know from 30-something years ago and grew up with, but what is this?' I'm excited for that because I wanna hear what people think. I'd love to see the expression of them hearing it for the first time. That would be great, because it does sound new and modern and fresh, even though we're still being challenged."
Asked if he and his TESTAMENT bandmates have more freedom to do whatever they want now than they did when you were on a major label like Atlantic, Chuck said: "Totally. When we were on Atlantic, that was a big machine. They had an A&R department, they had the radio department, they had tons of departments, tons of money, and they were always influenced by how well their big-selling artists were, which were radio bands and they were pushing radio. So that A&R guy would be whispering in our ears, 'What's the next radio song?' And we're thinking, "Well, we're not a radio band. That's not us.' And even to this day, when I hear some stuff like [on the SiriusXM channel] Ozzy's Boneyard or something, they play ballads by us, and it's, like, that doesn't represent us, but that represents that era in thinking maybe of what TESTAMENT did or what they chose to expose us to the public, which it's misrepresenting us. So, yeah, the freedom's huge now, especially being with Nuclear Blast as long as we have. There's no deadline. It's just, 'When you're ready, you have a record, give it to us.' And that's been really nice. And the beauty about this record is that usually we have Andy Sneap mix our record, so we usually write a record and give it to him and then it's done, written in stone, can't go back. But this record, we had to pick a somebody to mix it, which wasn't available till early next year, January. So we decided, 'Okay.' We tried to get all the tracking done before we went to Europe this June or July, and we got most of it done."
This past September, Peterson told Brutal Planet Magazine that TESTAMENT had tapped Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, KREATOR, PARADISE LOST, SOILWORK and AMON AMARTH, among others, to mix the band's upcoming studio album. Peterson said about the LP: "It's, like, 90 percent done. And it's gonna get mixed by Jens Bogren. He's a producer from Sweden, and he's done — God, he's done KREATOR, he's doing the new BEHEMOTH right now, he's done IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY. A lot of European bands. We usually work with Andy Sneap, but he's [the touring guitarist] in JUDAS PRIEST and he's just, like, 'Bro, I need some time off.' It's a good switch, though. I think Jens will do a good job. And yeah, there's a lot of crazy stuff on this record. I'm excited for everybody to hear it."
In August, Billy told Oran O'Beirne of Overdrive.ie about the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material: "We always try to outdo ourselves or make a better record or write better songs. It's always a challenge for ourselves, and I think this time we really took a long time to create the record. We kind of got everybody in the same room to really go through the songs and kind of put their two cents in to the arrangements. I think by having Chris — he's a younger drummer, a really great drummer — but I think he brought you know a new fire to Eric in the writing process. And I believe because we're going on 37 years of making records, it's kind of full circle right now. We're kind of inspired by new generation, I guess, of music and metal. And Chris is a big part of that. He's a big fan of that. So I think he inspired Eric just to write some really aggressive, fast, creative riffs. And it really inspired me to really push myself to try to do a little more screaming, death vocals, melodic stuff. We even went as far as writing — I don't wanna say 'ballad', but it's something really catchy that's really slow that's something we haven't done in over 30 years. So I think just the overall songs and the confidence in the writing this time really is gonna stand out on this record."
In June 2024, Chuck told Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about the lyrical themes covered in the new TESTAMENT songs: "[It's] not as focused [on], like, the aliens, creating mankind and that kind of stuff, but there is some of that. There's a lot. Each song definitely has its own identity lyrically. And again, we're writing stuff that is real, that happens with the environment; we're singing about that again. A.I., we're singing stuff about that. That's a big thing. So, there's always an inspiration for songs. I think it's a little easier. There's so much going on in our world to write about now. It's a crazy world today, so there's a lot of stuff to talk about. And I like singing about what's real and what's going on instead of some fantasy lyrics, because, for me, I think when I sing 'em, I have more conviction, I believe in 'em a little more. And maybe it's easier for me to remember the lyrics live. [Laughs]"
Naming specific tracks, Chuck said: "There's a song, 'Havana Syndrome', which is about the Havana Syndrome. People, look that up. There's 'Infanticide A.I.', which is another song going A.I. direction. And there's actually a slower song. We haven't done a slower song. I'm not gonna say 'ballad', but I'm gonna say a slower song that has a lot of groove and soul, called 'Meant To Be'. And it's like a classic TESTAMENT-type ballad, I guess, if you wanna use that word. But we've got a little bit of everything, but, again, I think it's really sticking to TESTAMENT, having to have some melodic stuff, even though there's some really brutal lyrics and real brutal, more of a death voice. I still put the hook in with more of a melodic hook or something. It's still classic TESTAMENT. If you listen to it, you'll go, 'That's TESTAMENT, but a little more octane to it.'"
Also in June, Chuck told Canada's The Metal Voice that he writes most of TESTAMENT's lyrics with Del James. "Del, he works with GUNS N' ROSES," Chuck said. "He's been working with them and wrote with them a long time ago. I think he had big hits like 'November Rain' with them. And we've been working [together] for over 20 years. So I always go down and work with him because I come up with a lot of the ideas and concepts, but he really interprets and gets the right words, how to say what I'm thinking. And we work fast. When we get together, we'll knock out like two songs in a day. So we don't mess around. We get there, say hello to each other, we sit down and we go right to work. It's about what we do."
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2 ìàé 2025
THE NIGHT ETERNAL Signs With Metal Blade Records
 Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Germany’s rising heavy metal force, The Night Eternal. Known for their electrifying fusion of 70s and 80s guitar-driven metal with a dark and unique edge, The Night Eternal has carved their name into the hearts of fans worldwide.
Formed in 2019, The Night Eternal quickly gained momentum with the release of their debut EP, followed by the critically acclaimed albums Moonlit Cross (2021) and Fatale (2023). Their latest record not only resonated with their loyal fanbase but also secured top rankings in leading metal publications. The band’s relentless passion and precision on stage have led them to major festival appearances at Wacken, Summer Breeze, and Party San Open Air, along with high-profile tours supporting legendary acts like Blind Guardian, Angel Witch, and Lucifer. In 2024 alone, they delivered an astonishing 55 shows, cementing their status as one of the most exciting forces in contemporary heavy metal.
Now, The Night Eternal is gearing up for the next thrilling chapter of their journey, joining the prestigious Metal Blade Records roster. With new material in the works and highly anticipated performances at Hellfest and Alcatraz Open Air, the band is set to unleash their most ferocious music yet.
“It comes together what belongs together – we live for heavy metal with every fiber of our beings and are therefore very proud to announce that we signed with Metal Blade Records, a label that has been carrying heavy metal’s torch for the last 43 years. What an honor! Expect nothing but bangers from this collaboration”, states the band.
With their signing to Metal Blade Records, The Night Eternal is poised to reach even greater heights, continuing to honor the legacy of heavy metal while forging a path that is uniquely their own. | +1 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
ROBERT FRIPP & TOYAH Perform ROD STEWART Classic “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”; Video
 King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, have shared a brand new Sunday Lunch video, in which they perform Rod Stewart’s classic hit, “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?”. The was released as the first single from Stewart’s ninth studio album, Blondes Have More Fun (1978).
Says Robert and Toyah, “Its time for a BRAND NEW Sunday Lunch and special bonus footage as well!! Its a belter this week!!!”
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2 ìàé 2025
NERGARD Release Official Lyric Video For 2021’s “Where No One Would Shed A Tear”
 Norwegian symphonic metal band, Nergard, has released a brand-new lyric video for their war anthem, “Where No One Would Shed A Tear”. Written by Andreas Nergård and Andi Kravljaca for the critically acclaimed 2021 album, Eternal White, the song captures the chaos of a 16th-century battlefield, skillfully portrayed through Andi’s gripping lyrics.
“The musical foundation of the song came together in under an hour, making it by far my easiest writing session,” explains band leader Andreas Nergård. “While the orchestrations and final recordings were a more involved process, the core of the song was effortless”.
Eternal White tells the story of a war-weary soldier during the Great Northern War, culminating in the lesser-known Carolean Death March.
“I originally wanted this to be a duet between Andi and a female singer” Nergård continues, “but as fate would have it, Mathias Molund Indergård ended up with the difficult task of singing those insane lines — and absolutely nailed it.”
Nergard is currently in the studio working on their next album, slated for release in 2026.
Back in 2022, Nergard released a lyric video for their cover of Judas Priest’s epic song Blood Red Skies, which was released through Pug-Nose Records on November 19th, 2021.
Band leader Andreas Nergård explains why he chose to cover this particular song:
“To me, ‘Blood Red Skies’ is THE standout track on Judas Priest’s 1988 album Ram It Down, and it’s a criminally underrated song. Priest themselves didn’t play this song live until 23 years after the release of the album. We wanted to shine a light on this amazing track and at the same time pay our tribute to the metal gods. I’m sure Judas Priest means as much to any fan of metal as they do to me. The music we play wouldn’t exist without them.
When I started working on this song I wanted to give it a different sound from our latest album, Eternal White, which was heavily dominated by symphonic orchestras and choirs. I wanted to put more focus on the keyboards and industrial elements giving the production a more open sound. I think the general atmosphere of the song is very epic on its own and didn’t need the ‘over the top’ approach that EW had.
“Blood Red Skies” is the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed album, Eternal White, which was released in May 2021 through Pride & Joy Music. | 0 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
SODOM's TOM ANGELRIPPER Explains Decision To Take A Break From Touring: 'I Want To Spend More Time With Other Things'
 In a new interview with RapidMetalFire, bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such of German thrash metal veterans SODOM discussed his decision to cut down on the band's touring activities for the foreseeable future. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think you know the story of [SLAYER's] Tom Araya. Maybe you heard something about it. I think he's got the same problems, like [issues with his] neck [when performing live]. He couldn't more headbang. I can headbang. It's not so massive… But that is not the reason why. The reason why is I want to spend more time with other things. I want to spend more time with my family. I need more time going for my hunting district. I want to spend time doing nothing.
"If you are a professional musician — I'm also the manager of the band — you are busy every day," Such explained. "There is no time to breathe. There is no time to relax. I like to spend the time on stage. I like to spend the time making music, but I hate wast[ing] time on airports or hotels.
"If you're getting 62 [years old] like me, you say, 'Okay, I need money to make my [living] from [playing] music.' I know — money is a very important thing. But there is something you cannot buy with money: the freedom," Thomas added. "And that's what I told to my boys, to my group. I told them, I think two years ago, 'In this year, I wanna slow down the things a little bit,' because I can't do nothing, because I'm still working on re-releases. The only difference is I have my home office. That's the only thing. But I can tell you, I have no plan what to do. I have no plan how long I'm gonna rest. I have no plan when I restart the band, so I don't wanna live without any plans in the next times. I can't tell people I want to come back in '27 or '28, maybe '26 — I don't tell the people. When I think I wanna come back, I go."
Asked if SODOM is still "receiving booking requests" from promoters around the world, Thomas said: "I receive a lot of booking requests… I get some offers from this [and that] festival. I get some offers for making a tour with HEAVEN SHALL BURN. They were interested in maybe a SODOM tour. I get a thousand of requests [for] the 'Big Four' [of German thrash metal: KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, SODOM and TANKARD] worldwide. That is not a problem… People are still interested. It's not something bad because we have no success. I can book tours every day over the year, if I want. That is another thing. SODOM is still — we are still very much a success, I think. People are really interested in coming [to see us]… So that is not the problem. I know that people wanna see SODOM."
Elaborating on his reasons for taking a break from the road, Thomas said: "I love my fans, but I also love myself. I also love my family. I also love my old friends. Now it's time to stop [and] just [concentrate on] doing other things. That's very easy. I'm still healthy. I'm able to do it. I'm still creative. Maybe the day will come I don't know what to do, I'm not more creative, I cannot write lyrics, I cannot play bass. Then it's gone. It's just a break. But I don't know how long it takes."
SODOM will release its new album, "The Arsonist", on June 27worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer. The LP saw all four SODOM musicians — Thomas "Angelripper" Such (vocals, bass),Frank Blackfire (guitar),York Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) — involved in the songwriting.
The official lyric video for the album's first single, "Trigger Discipline", can be seen below.
In November 2023, SODOM released an EP, "1982", via SPV/Steamhammer.
SODOM's 40th-anniversary album, "40 Years At War - The Greatest Hell Of Sodom", arrived in October 2022 through Steamhammer/SPV. The LP included one song from each of the previous studio albums receiving a re-recorded treatment from SODOM's current lineup. The CD and vinyl double LP with their martial cover artwork penned by Eliran Kantor (KREATOR, TESTAMENT, GWAR, among others) contain 17 tracks, all newly recorded by Such, Blackfire, Segatz and Merkel.
SODOM's last studio album, "Genesis XIX", came out in November 2020 via Entertainment One (eOne) in North America and Steamhammer/SPV in Europe. The disc was recorded by Siggi Bemm and mastered by Patrick W. Engel and comes shrouded in the cover art of Joe Petagno of MOTÖRHEAD fame.
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2 ìàé 2025
HAREM SCAREM’s Entire European Tour 2025 Kick-Off Show In Madrid; Fan-Filmed Video
 Canadian rockers Harem Scarem kicked off a European tour in support of their new album, Chasing Euphoria, on April 24 at Mon Live in Madrid, Spain. Fan-filmed video from the show can be viewed below.
Setlist:
“Better the Devil You Know”
“Hard to Love”
“Gotta Keep Your Head Up” (Darren Smith on vocals)
“Stranger Than Love”
“Distant Memory”
“Boy Without a Clue” (Pete Lesperance on lead vocals)
“The Death of Me” (with Cassidy Paris)
“Here Today Gone Tomorrow”
“Mandy”
“Sinking Ship”
“Honestly”
“Garden of Eden”
“Sentimental Blvd.” (Darren Smith on lead vocals)
“If There Was a Time”
“Summer of ’69” (Bryan Adams cover – Mike Vassos on vocals)
“Slowly Slipping Away”
“Chasing Euphoria”
Encore:
“No Justice” | 0 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
THE NATIVE HOWL Gives JOHNNY CASH A “Thrash Grass” Makeover On “Ring Of Fire”
 Enjoy the newly released music video for The Native Howl’s unique “Thrash Grass” take on the Man In Black’s classic “Ring Of Fire”.
“Thrash Grass” pioneers The Native Howl have announced their US headlining run in support of their latest album, Sons Of Destruction (available now via Sumerian Records), with outlaw alt-folk group Tejon Street Corner Thieves as direct support. The tour kicks off on June 6 in Detroit, Michigan and wraps in Chicago, Illinois later in the month. Tickets are on sale now, so be sure to get yours here before it’s too late. | 0 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
ABYSMAL RITES To Unleash New Album In May; “The Sacrifice” Single / Video Available
 Recorded deep within the Finnish forest, Restoring The Primordial Order captures the raw energy and authenticity that defines Abysmal Rites. The duo, known for their primal and brutal heavy/sludge sound, recorded the bass and drums live, ensuring that the album mirrors the intensity of their electrifying performances.
While their debut album was a journey of experimentation, Restoring The Primordial Order marks a significant evolution in their sound. The pieces have finally fallen into place, showcasing a solidified identity that resonates with their vision.
The album explores themes that explore the core of humanity and reflects on how our behaviors drive us toward inevitable destruction. Despite the wealth of information and opportunities available, humanity seems destined to veer toward a dead end—a realization that offers the band a strange sense of comfort. Abysmal Rites confronts the harsh truth of mankind’s struggle to coexist respectfully with each other and with nature itself.
Tracklist:
“Restoring The Primordial Order” (intro)
“The Secret Of Pure Grief”
“The Sacrifice”
“The Zone”
“Cryptic Noise From Beyond”
“A Grave For Us”
“Ancient Race”
Formed in late 2021 in Tampere, Finland, Abysmal Rites began as a duo and quickly evolved into a trio, solidifying their lineup with J on drums, M on bass, and R on vocals. Their first taste of success came with the music video, “Polluted”, which was selected for the Most Bizarre category at the Berlin Music Video Festival. Their debut full-length album, Nihilism Is Realism, was self-released in 2023, showcasing their clear vision and determination to carve out a unique sound in the heavy music landscape.
With Restoring The Primordial Order, Abysmal Rites invites listeners to join them on a journey through the depths of human experience, wrapped in a sound that is as heavy as it is thought-provoking. | 0 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Didn't Have To Change His Songwriting Approach To Accommodate His Singing Voice
 In a new interview with Chris Akin Presents…, legendary Swedish guitarist Yngwie Malmsteen once again addressed why he no longer hires singers, preferring instead to take on vocal duties himself in recent years. Asked if he has had to change his compositional approach to accommodate his singing voice compared to how it was in the past when he was working with outside vocalists, Yngwie said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yes and no, because every time I wrote a song when another singer sang it, I wrote the vocal melody and I wrote the lyrics. Except in ALCATRAZZ, I wrote the vocal melody, but Graham [Bonnet] wrote the lyrics, which is the words. The musical melody that he sang, I wrote that. And the same with other singers. Some of the singers, actually, did add words, and I was never happy with that, to be honest with you. And I have to be quite honest, it was just because I was lazy.
"There was a time when I was not so focused and had other things going on and I would allow that to happen," Yngwie explained. "That's why. It's not for any other reason. I'm extremely focused and extremely together right now, so it will never happen again.
"The thing is that, me as a creator, and you've gotta also remember this — I don't know how to say this; I try to say it in many different ways — I am a solo artist since January 1984," Malmsteen added. "Every record I've made, it's been a solo album. I even consider the ALCATRAZZ album a solo album. No. But seriously, I wrote everything on that too. But STEELER, for instance, I wrote, like, maybe two songs. That was definitely not my thing. But the thing is, everything I did since January 1984 has been my solo albums. So if I hired somebody to sing something or hired somebody to play the keyboards or drums or bass or something, that was exactly it. That was it. Having said that, there was a period, couple of small periods — I'd say late '80s maybe — where there was some distractions, some bad things going on. And then I let the reins go a little bit. But I was always, at the end of the day, I was producing and at the end of the day, I was always doing that. But even those times, these are my solo albums. I mean, there are solo artists that don't do anything themselves. They have everybody writing and producing everything for 'em. They still call themselves solo artists. So, I don't know how that works. But anyway… That's cool too… I just find it interesting that some people don't seem to understand that I've been a solo artist since 1984. And it stops there."
Yngwie released a new live album, "Tokyo Live", on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of Yngwie's 40th-anniversary world tour.
Malmsteen's breathtaking technique takes center stage of the 100-minute concert while being cocooned by exquisite musicianship throughout. The setlist tracks Malmsteen's illustrious career, from "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Evil Eye" and through his remarkable solo career with "Rising Force", "Far Beyond The Sun", "Arpeggios From Hell" and "Seventh Sign" all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021's "Parabellum", with "Wolves At The Door", "Relentless Fury", "(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum", not to mention rousing renditions of "Paganini's 4th" and "Smoke On The Water".
Only four of the songs on "Parabellum" featured vocals. The album title is Latin, translating as "Prepare For War".
After working with some of the top hard singers of the past four decades, Yngwie now handles much of the lead vocals himself in his own band, backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist Emilio Martinez and drummer Kevin Klingenschmid.
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 categorize 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.
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2 ìàé 2025
HERIN – Bonus Tracks From Hiding In Plain Sight Album Feat. PETER FRAMPTON, Members Of RUSH, JETHRO TULL, PORCUPINE TREE, And More Released As Unhidden EP
 In November of 2024, The Lasers Edge released Hiding In Plain Sight, the debut from Herin – the progressive/post-rock solo venture of Tiles/Discipline guitarist Chris Herin – the record stacked with guest performances from Peter Frampton, members of Rush, Jethro Tull, Porcupine Tree, Discipline, and many others. Following its release, the album was released on vinyl for UK Record Store Day featuring four additional bonus tracks, which have now been issued digitally on The Lasers Edge as the Unhidden EP.
The elaborate limited UK Record Store Day 2xLP 180-gram edition version of Hiding In Plain Sight includes four bonus songs placed throughout a totally revamped 15-track running order. Featuring additional artwork and photos courtesy of Hugh Syme, the audio is mastered using RealFeel – a unique process which makes digital recordings feel closer to analog. To not disappoint fans who wish to grab only the bonus songs, they have been conveniently bundled together as a digital EP creatively titled Unhidden. By no means leftovers, these tunes were held back solely to keep the original album (CD) under 60 minutes.
The four bonus tunes all feature Discipline’s Matthew Parmenter on lead vocals, and Discipline drummer Paul Dzendzel joins on “Our Own Time.” Of note is a significantly altered version of “Safe House (Asylum).” The song’s lyrics offered a couple of arrangement possibilities, and not knowing which path to take, the solution was to do both! Additional guests on board are Kevin Chown (bass), Ben Riley and Gary Craig (drums), Hugh Syme (keyboards), and Mark Mikel (backing vocals and mellotron). The short, poignant instrumental was written during the waning days of Herin’s hospital vigil and named after the room number.
Proceeds from Hiding In Plain Sight will be donated to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Stream and purchase Herin’s Unhidden EP at the Lasers Edge Bandcamp, the standard version here and the hi-res version here.
Unhidden tracklisting:
“Our Own Time”
“Sad Cypress”
“Requiem 704”
“Safe House (Asylum)”
Hiding In Plain Sight is available on digipak CD The Laser’s Edge webshop where a limited supply of the import 2xLP is available here, and is streaming everywhere including Bandcamp – the standard digital here and the 24-bit hi-res here. | 0 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
(HED) P.E. Covers THE POLICE Classic “Every Breath You Take”; Audio
 Huntington Beach G-punk pioneers, (Hed) P.E., have already released a few singles from their upcoming New And Improved covers collection, including brand new recordings of their own classics “Bartender” and “Raise Hell.” So we’ve already had the chance to find out if we agree with the record’s title. (The answer, unanimously, is yes!)
This one, however, is the most arresting yet, as the band completely, and brilliantly, up-end one of The Police’s biggest (if creepily stalker-ish) hits, not only as their latest single, but also as the opening track to the album itself. And once you dive into that, you may never want to resurface.
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2 ìàé 2025
LOU GRAMM Says He Will Continue Performing With FOREIGNER 'For Another Year Or So'
 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 FOREIGNER guitarist Luis Maldonado, while original FOREIGNER vocalist Lou Gramm joined in for the last four songs. Asked in a new interview with Brazil's 92.5 Kiss FM radio station if he will keep performing with FOREIGNER beyond the Latin American tour, Gramm said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think we're gonna continue doing this type of thing for another year or so… [After the Latin American tour] I'm doing Southeast Asia, I'm doing Europe and next year I'm doing the whole of the U.S."
Gramm also spoke about the fact that Maldonado is singing some of the FOREIGNER classics in Spanish during the Latin American tour. "We just talked about it within the last two weeks," Lou said. "And we decided that when we play areas of the world where Spanish is the dominant language, Luis, who has a wonderful voice, will sing some of the big hits in Spanish. I think that's fabulous… He's worked on [translating all the lyrics into Spanish] and he's made it work. He's very excited about doing it."
Elsewhere during the chat, Gramm commented on FOREIGNER's long-overdue 2024 induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Eligible since 2002, FOREIGNER has had a huge number of rock hits, including "Cold As Ice", "Double Vision", "Hot Blooded", "I Want To Know What Love Is", "Juke Box Hero" and "Urgent", and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, with no wins.
"Well, [the Rock Hall induction] means a great deal because I know we were eligible 20 years ago, and we just didn't get nominated," Gramm said. "And we would put our heads together — the band with our management — and wonder what we need to do to be a part of this. And it just took a longer time than we thought, but it sure is sweet to be in there now. I only wish that Mick [Jones, FOREIGNER's founding guitarist] was in better health, that he could have been there to play with us that night and enjoy the induction too. That's the tragedy of it, because we should have been in 20 years ago, in which case Mick would've been extremely healthy and we would be able to enjoy that honor as a band."
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. 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.
Image credit: Kenz Vidz
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2 ìàé 2025
SAM LOEFFLER On Not Using Outside Producer For CHEVELLE's Upcoming Album: 'It's The Hardest Thing We've Ever Done'
 In a new interview with "Whiplash", the KLOS radio show hosted by Full Metal Jackie, CHEVELLE drummer Sam Loeffler spoke about the band's recently released new single "Rabbit Hole (Cowards, Pt. 1)". The track is taken from CHEVELLE's as-yet-unannounced tenth studio album, which will arrive later in the year. The follow-up to 2021's "Niratias" will mark CHEVELLE's first release through Alchemy Recordings following a long run with the Epic label. Alchemy Recordings is a record label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vice president of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founder of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier production company for rock music festivals in the United States.
Asked why he and his brother, CHEVELLE vocalist/guitarist Pete Loeffler decided to produce the band's new LP themselves after working with Joe Barresi for almost a decade and a half, Sam said: "Well, I'll tell you this. We did four records with Joe [starting with 2011's 'Hats Off To The Bull'], and he was awesome. And he said to us, he goes, 'You guys should do something different. Go try doing a record yourselves. See how it goes.' So we did. And it's the hardest thing we've ever done, for sure. It's probably not worth it, but we did it, and we can say we did it."
As for the decision to part with Epic and find a new label home, Sam said: "After we did eight full-length records with Epic Records, which we still have a very good relationship with them, yeah, we branched out and became part of a label with our friends that we've known for 25 years in the business. And our old friend Danny Wimmer tried to sign us to Flawless Records back in like 2000, and it didn't work out, and we went to Sony instead. So now, after all these years, we've signed with him and his current label, so it was kind of cool."
Asked what lyrical themes are covered on CHEVELLE's upcoming album, Sam said: "Well, [Pete is] definitely our lyricist, and he likes to write about things going on around him, of course — anything that's just interesting that you can make interesting in an interesting way. That's a lot of 'interesting' words there. So, yeah, on this one — 'Rabbit Hole' is really about going down a rabbit hole. And that's 'Cowards, Pt. 1'. And there's a 'Cowards, Pt. 2', which deals with the same stuff but just a different part of it. And I don't wanna give that away yet 'cause I'm hoping that's gonna be the second single. And that'd be really rad if it was. But it's definitely about going down rabbit holes."
On the topic of a possible release date for CHEVELLE's tenth studio album, Sam said: "Well, I'm hoping record will be out by the time we go on tour [in August]. It's just a matter of getting all the artwork and everything finished to get in the queue for printing LPs and stuff. So, we should have a date hopefully soon, the actual date. But this album's pretty well-rounded as far as heavy songs go. I mean, it's mostly really, really hard rock, 'cause that's our thing, but there's two lighter songs on it. And this song, 'Rabbit Hole', is, as far as the rock songs, the lightest song on the record, for sure. So you just end up going with the mid-tempo song as your first single. It happens every time."
This past March, Sam told Audacy Music about the musical direction of the new CHEVELLE material: "We've worked really hard on it, and I think it's some of the best stuff we've ever done, honestly. It's so much fun to play, that's for sure."
Pete added: "We're just happy maintaining — we're trying to maintain, anyway — and put out shit that's fun to play live. And a lot of these tracks are. I'm running through four of 'em right now that I can rip out at any time. That goes both ways too. A lot of fans wanna hear the old stuff, some wanna hear the new, but we just try and mix it up. But I think this new album's gonna be a blast to see it live. So, come out to a show, please."
This summer CHEVELLE will embark on a massive tour with special guests ASKING ALEXANDRIA and DEAD POET SOCIETY. Produced by Live Nation, the 38-city trek kicks off on August 7 at Boeing Center at Tech Port in San Antonio, Texas, making stops across North America in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and more before wrapping up in Airway Heights, Washington at BECU Live at Northern Quest on October 2.
Last July, Sam told TribLive.com about CHEVELLE's next LP: "We kind of did expect to have it done [already]. It's like pulling teeth. This is what I described: Writing an album and doing all that is like pulling your hair out and then trying to put it back in. Writers love having written, is what I learned. It's just torturous on my brother. It's torturous because there's just so many factors to making something great. And then the longer you can live with it, the more changes you're gonna make. So that makes you never want to put it out. You never want to pull the pin and throw the grenade because you're like, well, it gets better every time I look at it."
As for what the 10-song album — which was produced by the CHEVELLE members themselves — sounds like, Sam said: We're always skewing towards heavy. [But] these [last] two songs that we've been working on right now are definitely different from everything we did, although 'Niratias', our last album, I think was a really important snapshot of what we've been learning about writing and about music and stuff. This one definitely sounds different than just rock music, definitely different."
Back in 2022, Sam told Knotfest's Cori Westbrook about CHEVELLE's songwriting process: "Well, Pete's our songwriter so he's our lyricist and everything. Basically, he just writes about what's going on around him. If he's taking the garbage out that night or has a bad day driving, he's watching a documentary that really affected him, he hears a podcast — so he's writing about those kinds of things. So if you're able to internalize that kind of a thing, I think you have a lot to write about. It doesn't just have to be a relationship that — a relationship with your dad or your significant other. I think those are some pretty powerful feelings — I get it — but if you are able to bring in all those other things in from your everyday life, there's a lot more to write about. So as far as inspiration goes, it's not hard to find; it's everywhere; it's all around you. And especially nowadays, we have so much access to what's going on around us that there's even more ideas to pull from."
In a separate interview with Heavy New York, Sam said that he and Pete had "a whole bunch of music written... Because that's what we do — you put music out, you write… It'll be our first record in a long time not with a major label, which is just neither here nor there," he added. "Epic Records did a lot of good stuff; we were with them for a long time, but we're finished with that contract now. So now we're doing something different. And we'll see how different it is."
Released in March 2021 via Epic Records, "Niratias" was recorded throughout 2019 and 2020 with Barresi. The album artwork was designed by Boris Vallejo — the famed and award-winning artist is responsible for the posters used for films like "Knightriders" and "National Lampoon's Vacation", as well as iconic '70s and '80s science fiction novel covers and magazines (such as Heavy Metal).
Over the course of its career, the Chicago rockers have generated nearly half a billion streams, notched seven No. 1 hits, and sold out shows worldwide. Their catalog spans the double-platinum "Wonder What's Next", which boasts the double-platinum smash "The Red" and the platinum hit "Send The Pain Below". "This Type Of Thinking (Could Do Us In)" attained platinum status, while "Vena Sera" was certified gold. CHEVELLE has landed four Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200, including "Sci-Fi Crimes" (2009),"Hats Off To The Bull" (2011),"La Gárgola" (2014) and "The North Corridor" (2016). The latter two each captured the No. 1 slot on the Top Rock Albums chart. | +1 | |
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2 ìàé 2025
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2 ìàé 2025
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2 ìàé 2025
LADY BEAST – Fan-Filmed Footage Of Sold-Out Album Release Feat. SANHEDRIN, OLATHIA Now Available
 A fan-shot highlight video from Lady Beast’s sold-out Inner Alchemist album release show at The Funhouse at Mr. Smalls in Pittsburgh on April 26 is now streaming.
The footage features three heavy-hitting bands: Olathia (Cleveland), Sanhedrin (Brooklyn), and Lady Beast (Pittsburgh)—a powerhouse lineup that packed the venue and delivered a night to remember.
With Sanhedrin and Lady Beast heading to Europe and Olathia working on their next release, each band is proving why they’re names to watch in the metal scene.
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1 ìàé 2025
Former ABORTED Drummer KEN BEDENE Breaks His Silence, Addresses Allegations Of Inappropriate Behavior – “I Never Intended To Make Anyone Uncomfortable, And I Am Truly Sorry”
 Extreme metal trailblazers, Aborted, recently announced that they have parted ways with drummer, Ken Bedene. Benighted’s Kevin Paradis is stepping up for the band’s upcoming European tour.
Said Aborted, “Effective immediately Ken Bedene is no longer a member of Aborted. The upcoming European tour is going forward as planned with blast duties being handled by none other than Kevin Paradis drummer.”
Bedene has now issued the following statement via his Instagram account:
“Over the past two weeks, I have taken time to reflect on what’s been posted – knowing how important it is for me to address it. I never intended to make anyone uncomfortable, and I am truly sorry.
The bottom line is: I had a consensual and reciprocated conversation online with someone of consenting age in her state. While legal, I understand it never should have happened.
Those who know me are rightly surprised at the situation and the extensive misinformation out there. I’ve always carried myself with respect for others. Consent is something I take seriously, and I would never knowingly cross that line.
I’m horrified by the false claims about the conversation and about my character. Though this was a private conversation, and the falsification of events surrounding it is defamatory, I will not continue the rhetoric by sharing “my side.” My focus right now is acknowledging my part and learning from it.
As a husband and father, seeing my family so negatively affected by something they did not do has been brutal. Though my wife has already shared that we have an open relationship, I am truly sorry to her for the inappropriate attention she’s received as a result of my actions. She’s my best friend, and I have the utmost respect for her and the life we’ve built together. She’s stood by me through everything, and she doesn’t deserve the harassment.
My departure from Aborted is intended to protect the people and the community I’ve cared about and created music with for more than 15 years. I left the band to distance them from this. They had no part in my communications, and they shouldn’t have to carry the weight from them.
Going forward, I am taking a step back to help my family heal and to reflect.
Thank you.”
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1 ìàé 2025
METAL CHURCH – Reforged: The Remastered Collection (1999-2013) Available In July
 Metal Church will release the limited edition boxset, Reforged: The Remastered Collection (1999 – 2013), on July 18.
With Reforged: The Remastered Collection, Metal Church and Reaper Entertainment proudly present an exclusive collection of five pivotal albums that define a significant chapter in the band’s legacy. These remastered classics showcase Metal Church’s undying creativity and passion during a transformative period:
– Masterpeace (1999): Marking the triumphant return of David Wayne on vocals, this album merges the iconic Metal Church sound with modern production. Tracks like “Sleeps With Thunder” and “Into Dust” exude raw power, making this a landmark for fans of traditional heavy metal.
– The Weight Of The World (2004): After a long hiatus, Metal Church roared back with Ronny Munroe at the helm. Songs like “Leave Them Behind” and “Madman’s Overture” highlight the band’s resilience and showcase a revitalized energy, affirming their place in the metal pantheon.
– A Light In The Dark (2006): A tribute to the past and a step into the future, this album features anthems like “Mirror Of Lies” and a heartfelt re-recording of “Watch The Children Pray.” It captures the essence of Metal Church’s ability to honor their roots while exploring fresh sonic territory.
– This Present Wasteland (2008): A deeply reflective and intense album, featuring tracks such as “Deeds Of A Dead Soul” and “Breathe Again,” blending personal and societal themes with haunting melodies and driving rhythms. It’s a standout chapter in their career.
– Generation Nothing (2013): A return to the band’s heavy metal origins, this album delivers modernized epic anthems. Songs like “Scream” and the powerful title track “Generation Nothing” reflect a band deeply connected to its past but firmly moving forward.
Available on:
– Vinyl Boxset (10 colored, 180g Vinyls with 5x D-Site Etching)
– Vinyl Boxset (10 black, 140g Vinyls with 5x D-Site Etching)
– CD Boxset (5CDs in Jewelcase) | +2 | |
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1 ìàé 2025
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1 ìàé 2025
Watch: GUNS N' ROSES Plays First Concert With New Drummer ISAAC CARPENTER
 GUNS N' ROSES kicked off its 2025 world tour earlier tonight (Thursday, May 1) at Incheon, South Korea's Songdo Moonlight Festival Park. The concert marked the band's first live appearance with new drummer Isaac Carpenter, who replaced Frank Ferrer, the longest-serving drummer in GUNS N' ROSES' storied run, in March.
GUNS N' ROSES' setlist for the Incheon show was as follows:
01. Welcome To The Jungle
02. Bad Obsession
03. Mr. Brownstone
04. Chinese Democracy
05. Live And Let Die (WINGS cover)
06. Slither (VELVET REVOLVER cover)
07. Perhaps
08. Estranged
09. Double Talkin' Jive
10. Coma
11. Sorry
12. Better
13. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Bob Dylan cover)
14. It's So Easy
15. Rocket Queen
16. Slash guitar solo
17. Sweet Child O' Mine
18. November Rain
19. Wichita Lineman (Jimmy Webb cover)
20. Patience
21. Nightrain
22. Paradise City
Carpenter, born in Washington's Tri-Cities, is an accomplished American drummer and songwriter known for his dynamic contributions to alternative, hard rock, and beyond. He rose to prominence in 1995 by co-founding LOUDERMILK while in high school, only to be signed to Rick Rubin's label American. Carpenter's career spans an impressive roster of acts, including live and studio work with Duff McKagan's LOADED, AWOLNATION, Adam Lambert, the hardcore metal outfit BARBARIANS OF CALIFORNIA, A PERFECT CIRCLE, THE EXIES, OURS and BLACK LAB, in addition to his large session film and TV roster. Carpenter has made a name for himself by uniquely blending versatility and groove with crushing force and technical skill, cementing his reputation as a multifaceted drummer in the industry.
GUNS N' ROSES's "Because What You Want & What You Get Are Two Completely Different Things" tour will next hit the Middle East and Europe in late spring and early summer, concluding on July 31 in Germany.
Frank first joined GUNS N' ROSES during a show in June 2006, helping anchor the rhythm section during subsequent tours, including their recent outings featuring the reunited trio of singer Axl Rose, guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan. Ferrer's last show with the band took place November 5, 2023 in Mexico.
Ferrer laid down drums tracks on five songs on GUNS N' ROSES' most recent studio album, 2008's "Chinese Democracy". He also appeared on the live portion of 2022's "Hard Skool" EP, with former drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia appearing on the studio tracks and GUNS' ROSES' 2023 singles "Perhaps" and "The General".
Isaac Carpenter
AXL ROSE introduces ISAAC CARPENTER at his first show with GUNS N’ ROSES
🔥 🔥 🔥
Songdo Moonlight Festival Park
Incheon, South Korea 🇰🇷
🎥 Megaan Hodges
#isaaccarpenter #gunsnroses #GnFnRs #gnr2025 #southkorea
Posted by The General Guns N' Roses on Thursday, May 1, 2025 | +2 | |
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1 ìàé 2025
GYPSY PISTOLEROS Release New Single “I’m In Love With Myself”
 The renegade rock ‘n’ roll outlaws, Gypsy Pistoleros, return with a swagger-drenched, glam-punk riot of a single – “I’m In Love With Myself”, out now via Golden Robot Records in Australia and New Zealand.
The single is a full-throttle anthem of outrageous confidence, self-empowerment, and unapologetic individuality. Dripping in glitter, swagger, and rebellion, this track is a fierce celebration of the beautiful outcasts, the wild hearts, and the gloriously unconventional.
“I’m In Love With Myself” is the final single in the lead up to Gypsy Pistoleros’ upcoming album, Church Of The Pistoleros. The album has been described as a genre-defying manifesto for the misfits. Produced by Dave Draper (The Wildhearts, Mike Monroe), this forthcoming record is a sonic explosion where glam, punk, Latin rock, sleaze, and emo all collide in a bold, brilliant rebellion.
Stream “I’m In Love With Myself” here. Church Of The Pistoleros is available to pre-order / pre-save here.
Welcome To The Church Of The Pistoleros, recorded at the renowned Old Cider Press Studios in Pershore, is produced and co-written by the legendary Dave Draper, whose credits include work with Ginger Wildheart, Nickelback, The Professionals and Terrorvision, etc. Draper has described Church of the Pistoleros as “a total monster” and one of the best projects he’s ever worked on.
This album is a rallying cry to the outcasts, the misunderstood, the shy, the quiet and disenfranchised of society. A place where they are welcome. Gypsy Pistoleros is a band that refuses to conform. Proudly walking their own path, their music is a rallying cry for misfits everywhere. With a sound that defies traditional genres, Gypsy Pistoleros stand as one of the most unique and innovative acts in the world of rock music today.
Gypsy Pistoleros’ sound spans a vast musical landscape – from 1950s Phil Spector-esque ballads to high-energy glam punk and Latin-infused rock, creating a sonic experience that is truly unmatched. Fusing anthemic rock, Latin swagger, glam punk, and even elements of goth and emo, their music is a celebration of the unconventional.
Gypsy Lee Pistolero states: “Welcome to the Church of the Pistoleros. Come and take my hand, all you beautiful weirdos, for the lost, the strange, and the ne’er-do-wells! This is a call to all the misfits and outcasts, to stand up and join us and be proud to be different. Join the New Church.”
“Shadow Walker” | 0 | |
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1 ìàé 2025
ERIK GRÖNWALL Shares Rock Cover Of ALPHAVILLE Classic “Forever Young”
 Former Skid Row frontman, Erik Grönwall, has shared his rock rendition of the Alphaville classic, “Forever Young”. Check it out below.
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1 ìàé 2025
CASANDRA’S CROSSING
 Today, the musical alliance of guitar legend George Lynch and powerhouse singer Casandra Carson shares a new digital single, “Wicked Woman”. The track is from their recently released studio album, Garden Of Earthly Delights, available via Frontiers Music Srl.
Casandra comments on “Wicked Woman”: “In a nutshell, ‘Wicked Woman’ encapsulates all the names I’ve been called by my exes at one time or another. When I got the track from George, I was getting these tough, bad-bitch vibes, so when I started writing the lyrics, I took all that ammo, ramped it up to 100, and created this ‘wicked woman’ character who embodied all of those names plus a few more.”
About the song’s music video, Casandra adds: “It was really hard getting a video done for this project at first, just due to our touring schedules this past year, but all the stars finally aligned on the Final Ride Tour. Adrienne Beacco (Exceleration Media) was on the road with Paralandra during the tour, so we were able to put our heads together and create the concept for this video in just a couple of weeks, and then shot it at the Newton Theatre in NJ one day, just a couple of hours before soundcheck. It’s always a pleasure working with Adrienne; she always gets my vision, and I have to give major props to George for showing up and relearning the song at half speed for this shoot. But beyond all the details, I’m just thrilled that Casandra’s Crossing now has a music video to go along with the album.”
Check out the video for “Wicked Woman” below:
The musical chemistry between these two talented artists has created a magnificent modern hard rock album that showcases Lynch’s trademark riffage driven by the outstanding voice of Casandra Carson, who is set to be the next rock singing sensation.
About Garden of Earthly Delights, Casandra also adds: “It’s a major milestone and accomplishment, not only to have collaborated with a legend like George Lynch, but to have created music that I’m so proud of. I wrote the lyrics and melodies of each song without any expectations in mind, other than to serve the music George had written. In doing so, the lyrics are eclectic yet relatable. I truly feel like there’s a song in here for everyone, no matter what genre of music you’re into, and I’m extremely proud of that.”
Order Garden Of Earthly Delights here.
Tracklisting:
“Stranger”
“Impatient”
“Closer To Heaven”
“Ring Me Around”
“Devastating Times”
“Waltzing Nites”
“Just Business”
“Mind Eraser”
“Run For Your Life”
“Wicked Woman”
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1 ìàé 2025
DEATH ANGEL Releases First New Song In Six Years, 'Wrath (Bring Fire)'
 San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal veterans DEATH ANGEL are back with their first new music in six years. In anticipation for their upcoming summer 2025 "Summer Of Wrath" European tour, the band has released a brand new song called "Wrath (Bring Fire)" . The blistering new visualizer — created by Tamara Lienas of Aimed & Framed — can be seen below.
Commenting on the new track, DEATH ANGEL vocalist Mark Osegueda says: "'Wrath(Bring Fire)' is the first DEATH ANGEL song featuring the whole band to be released since our 2019 Grammy-nominated album 'Humanicide'. This song was, however, written during the pandemic. I wrote the lyrics and melody to this song in January of 2021. During that time I was, as all of us were, stuck at home lost, angry and very confused. I was also watching way more television than I usually had. One genre being medieval/fantasy shows which were kind of new to me as an adult yet were very popular during that time. Which makes sense in retrospect. We all needed some new forms of escapism from the worldwide hell that we were all going through. That being said, it was partially what inspired these lyrics. An ancient/medieval fantasy end of the world war meets my actual approach in disputes. That can unfortunately, for all involved, turn very ugly if I'm pushed to a certain level or place when I feel I'm being wronged. And, as always for me, pen doesn't hit the paper until I hear the music and that paints a picture and inspires a vision that ends up being my lyrics. And the music Rob [Cavestany, guitar] wrote for this and the fantasy/medieval-based shows I was watching at that time and the personal hell that I was going through, figuring out who the hell I was during that awful time in our collective history and marrying that with my true personal aggressions and fury that I still fight with to this very day when I feel I've been wronged, inspired this song. And it does still happen to me, and I'm sure all of us. It definitely still happens to me to this very day. Sometimes it still does, by those that are supposed to be closest to me that think they must be more clever than me when in actuality they are just deceitful and so easily read.
"Well, for those of you who can relate to this subject, which I assume is most of us, this song is for you. Because if you are foolish enough to try to take advantage of me once or continually — to quote Al Capone: 'Don't mistake my kindness for weakness. I am kind to everyone, but when someone is unkind to me, weakness is not what you are going to remember about me.' That being said, when I come, I'll bring FIRE!!"
As previously reported, DEATH ANGEL will celebrate the 35th anniversary of its "Act III" album by performing it in its entirety at the band's tenth annual Christmas show on December 18 at The Fillmore in San Francisco.
In March 2024, DEATH ANGEL guitarist Ted Aguilar told El Planeta Del Rock that there were "a bunch of songs, a lot of skeletons" for the band's next album. "We spent the first three months of this year writing. We didn't do any activity — just writing… There's a bunch of skeletons, as we call it. There's a lot of ideas that we're waiting for [singer] Mark to put some vocals on."
Osegueda is the featured singer on SLAYER guitarist Kerry King's debut solo album, "From Hell I Rise", which arrived in May 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Earlier in March 2024, Osegueda told El Planeta Del Rock about the songwriting process for DEATH ANGEL's next LP: "It's going great. And we're excited about it."
In a separate interview with Elevar, Cavestany confirmed that new DEATH ANGEL music was in the works. "I don't like divulging the 'play by play'; I'd rather news came out when there is substantial information to speak of," he explained. "That being said, I can tell you there are around seven songs we are currently working on and I'm currently getting deep into the writing zone, which is my happy place. If we can manage to stop saying yes to every tour offer (we love to tour),then maybe we can finally get this new album done."
Also in March 2024, DEATH ANGEL drummer Will Carroll said that he was "stoked" about how the band's new music was shaping up. "The creative juices are flowing and things are moving along at a very productive rate," he wrote on social media.
He added: "I can't wait for the DA fans around the world to hear this new material and hopefully we'll make some new ones along the way. Exciting times indeed."
In January 2024, Will said that he and his DEATH ANGEL bandmates were "hard at work getting" the band's next album "written and completely demo'd."
"It felt good to get back to work with Rob Cavestany," Will wrote. "It's a real challenge to not rehash the same ideas and beats from previous albums but I think so far things are sounding fresh and inspired."
Last July, Aguilar told Vikram Chandrasekar about the band's songwriting process: "Well, when it comes down to writing, it's all Rob. It's all Rob. It starts with him. He comes up with a basic structure and him and Will get together and they hash it all out and they record it. And when they get it to a point where, 'Oh, yeah, this is great,' then they send it off to everyone else. And Damien does his parts and Mark will listen to it and try to write lyrics and melodies. And I'll listen to it and I'll touch base with Rob: 'What do you want me to do here? Do you want me to play something here? Or do you want me to do something different?' 'Cause Rob has a vision and you kind of wanna see his vision. And as soon as the song comes together to where we play it quite a few times, then we could throw in our ideas, like, 'Hey, maybe that part should be a little longer,' or, 'Maybe cut that out,' or Will will go, 'I wanna do something different here instead.' So, you know, Rob has a vision, we listen, we play along with it. Then if we feel like there needs to be changes, we express our concern, and Rob is really good at, 'Yeah, let's give it a try.' So we try everything. And it comes down to, 'All right, this is what works.' So it starts with Rob. And with regarding the lyrics, every now and then Rob will pick out a song: 'I wanna write lyrics for this song.' And Mark goes, 'Go ahead.' But Mark writes all the lyrics, and what he does is with the music, he'll listen to it over and over by himself. I don't know where he goes. He goes into the far corners of the earth by himself, with the headphones and music, and he'll come up with so many types of different melodies and stuff, and then come up with the ones he's happy with and lay it down on the demo form. Then when we get into the real studio, then things start to evolve 'cause we've played it so many times or we listened to it so many times that when we get in there, [we go], 'All right, let's try this.' It's always evolving to the point where it's handing it in to get mastered. Some songs stay kind of the same from what it was, but we just put more energy into it. Some songs have been rewritten quite a few times, so it differs. Rob's the songwriter, and on the last album I wrote one song. Yeah, it's how it is. And right now I'm writing some stuff, and how it goes is I'll write some stuff, I'll send it to Rob. I always tell him, 'If it's good, use it. If not, if you find parts are good, use it. If it's not good, it's okay, dude.' I'm just throwing some stuff out there, 'cause he knows what the DEATH ANGEL sound should be. And if he likes it, he'll use it. If he doesn't, my feelings are not broken."
DEATH ANGEL released a live album titled "The Bastard Tracks" in November 2021 via Nuclear Blast. Recorded live at The Great American Music Hall in their hometown of San Francisco on May 22, 2021, and streamed live soon after, "The Bastard Tracks" was described in a press release as "a deep-cuts collection of rarely and never performed songs from the band's catalog" that was released digitally and on CD, vinyl and Blu-ray.
In October 2020, DEATH ANGEL released a four-song EP, "Under Pressure". The effort included a cover of QUEEN + David Bowie's "Under Pressure", followed by a new track titled "Faded Remains", plus acoustic versions of "Act III"'s classic "A Room With A View" and "Humanicide"'s "Revelation Song". The EP was mixed by Max Norman (OZZY OSBOURNE, MEGADETH, BAD COMPANY) and mastered by Ted Jensen (LAMB OF GOD, MACHINE HEAD, HALESTORM).
Released in May 2019 via Nuclear Blast, "Humanicide" saw DEATH ANGEL returning to producer and friend Jason Suecof (DEICIDE, TRIVIUM) of Audiohammer studios for the recording and mixing, along with the mastering of the legendary Ted Jensen (SLIPKNOT, PANTERA) of Sterling Sound, who added the final touches and brought it all to life, with artist Brent Elliott White (LAMB OF GOD, MEGADETH) providing the ominous cover artwork.
In March 2020, Carroll spent almost two weeks on a ventilator in an intensive care unit at a Northern California hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. He first got sick when he and the rest of DEATH ANGEL spent more than a month on the road in Europe with TESTAMENT and EXODUS as part of "The Bay Strikes Back 2020" tour.
DEATH ANGEL was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Metal Performance" for the "Humanicide" title track. It was the group's first Grammy nomination.
Carroll joined DEATH ANGEL in 2009 as the replacement for the band's original drummer, Andy Galeon.
Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral
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1 ìàé 2025
ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Details New Album A Void Within Existence
 American black metal act Abigail Williams returns with A Void Within Existence, the sixth full-length album and the follow-up to 2019’s Walk Beyond The Dark. Set for release on July 18 via Agonia Records, the record marks a new chapter in the band’s relentless evolution – an album that not only expands upon the atmospheric darkness and melodic brutality of its predecessor, but pushes further into extremes, both sonically and emotionally.
Produced by frontman Ken Sorceron and mixed by renowned engineer Dave Otero (Aborted, Akhlys), A Void Within Existence is a scorched offering of black metal transcendence: harrowing, cinematic, and utterly uncompromising. Drums are performed by the virtuosic Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Ghost Bath), whose work here blurs the line between precision and chaos.
Lyrically, the album dives deep into existential themes of loss, disintegration, and unreality. Tracks like “Still Nights” and “No Less Than Death” reflect on identity through surreal and fragmented images – distant lights, poisoned memories, dreams where “there is no pain.” Elsewhere, songs like “Embrace The Chasm” and “Life, Disconnected” summon visions of cosmic dread and personal oblivion, confronting the listener with raw emotion and esoteric vision.
The record is accompanied by striking cover art from Eliran Kantor (Testament, Bloodbath), whose visual interpretation mirrors the inner desolation and mythic scope of the music.
“This record was born in the quiet hours, when everything felt hollow,” Sorceron reflects. “A Void Within Existence isn’t just a title – it’s a feeling I couldn’t shake while writing. There’s a loneliness threaded through these songs that came from somewhere deeper than I expected. The world outside was falling apart, and in a way, so was the one inside. I wanted to push beyond the limits we explored on Walk Beyond The Dark. Sonically, emotionally, spiritually – nothing was off-limits. I produced the album to stay close to that vision, and with Dave Otero on the mix and Mike Heller behind the kit, everything came to life exactly how I heard it in my head: raw, vast, and crushing. This is a record about absence. About peeling away what isn’t real – examining the void left behind. If there’s anything left after that – maybe it’s the truth. Maybe it’s just the void. Either way, this is the most honest I’ve ever been. A Void Within Existence is more than an album. It’s a crucible – a journey through the fire where only shadow and silence remain.”
Surpassing its 20th year of existence (having been formed in 2004), Abigail Williams has upgraded its formula to a quartet, comprising Ken Sorceron (ex-Aborted, ex-The Faceless, Vale Of Pnath, Nachtmystium) on vocals and guitars, Vance Valenzuela (Vale Of Pnath) on guitars, John Porada (ex-Nachtmystium, ex-Wolvhammer) on bass and Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) on drums. With Sorceron retaining his leading role, the band expands on its unique and intensive sound, forged throughout five studio albums, and anchored in black metal with shades of death metal & symphonic metal.
Tracklisting:
“Life, Disconnected”
“Void Within”
“Nonexistence”
“Still Nights”
“Talk To Your Sleep”
“Embrace The Chasm”
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1 ìàé 2025
ERIC MARTIN On MR. BIG's Final Shows: 'It Kills Me That We Had To End It'
 MR. BIG played the final show of its "The BIG Finale!" tour on February 25 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Earlier that same month, the band played three other shows: on February 14 at the Bloomverse Festival in Meghālaya, India, on February 16 at the Bloomverse Express in Bengaluru, India, and on February 22 at the Osaka Music Hall in Osaka, Japan.
Asked in a new interview with Finland's Chaoszine if it was "a very emotional moment" for him to to sing most of those songs for the last time, Eric said: "Yeah, actually, the last show was supposed to be August 2024 in Romania. Then the Japanese asked for two shows in Osaka and Tokyo. And out of the blue, India asked, and we played a couple of shows there — huge festivals, and we were headliners. We'd done some shows in India before. We played in Osaka, which was killer, and then in Tokyo at the Budokan. It was more sold out than I've ever seen it. Usually, it's around 12,000 or 13,000 people, but this time they sold the back too, so it was like 14,000, maybe 15,000. It was mega. We had already played in Japan earlier in the tour, in the first couple of weeks. I said this the other day on a radio show, some people think it's, like, 'Oh, it's a cash grab.' But no, it wasn't. The Japanese were the ones who basically opened the door for MR. BIG in the first place, and they're the greatest audience. No offense to everyone else, but they're the greatest audience ever.
"If you've ever played Japan, you're missing out if you don't. Crowds elsewhere — Finland, South America, America, Europe — they're different. In Japan, though…They just stop, and they wait for you to talk. At first, you think, 'I don't know if they're into it,' but there are 15,000 people silently hanging on your every word. And I'm like, 'Okay, the next tune…' Yeah. No, no, no — but they love us. And I felt the love, big time. When they asked us to come back, we were all excited — Billy [Sheehan, bass], Paul [Gilbert, guitar], Nick [D'Virgilio, drums] and I. It was the perfect way to end it. Granted, but it kills me that we had to end it. We should have, could have, would have kept going. But that's the way it is. That's the way the cookie crumbles."
Regarding the possibility of more MR. BIG shows in the future, Eric said: "Look, I'm not gonna… This is the truth: I've heard Billy Sheehan — though I don't listen to his interviews that much — say, 'Never say never' and 'Who knows?' Maybe after THE WINERY DOGS reunion tour, when they do their farewell concert someday, if we're still alive and kicking, maybe we'll do another MR. BIG tour. I hope you guys still want us back, yeah."
In an October 2024 interview with Ruben Mosqueda of We Go To 11, Sheehan was asked if the band's "The BIG Finish" farewell tour was just the end of extensive touring for him and his bandmates, with plans to make special appearances from time to time, or if MR. BIG was going to become a studio-only project going forward. Billy responded: "The end is the end. It's finished. If some extenuating circumstances come up, we might do a show or two, maybe, but touring and recording… We kind of wanted to put a period at the end of the sentence. And as I've said many times, we wanted to run over the finish line, not crawl over it. And for us, a fully functional band is on tour playing live and doing the thing and writing recording, and then go out on after the record and do another tour, to do that, we've done that for 34 years, and it's been an amazing run. We have friends all over planet earth. It's fantastic. And it's probably our greatest asset, personally, for me, the amazing people that we've touched around the world. But we decided to really, 'Let's do it the right way,' and not to have some continual farewell thing that goes on for an eternity."
He continued: "Our last show was in Romania. Unusual. That's where the roulette ball fell into that as we spun the wheel. And we had a great time. And our last shows in Europe, we did a bunch of shows in Germany. Amazing. We have a lot of friends in Germany. We had big hits in Germany as well. And all over Europe and England. We got to play Ireland — Belfast and Dublin. And I'm an Irishman, so that was very nice. We played Liverpool, the Holy Ground. It was quite amazing. I had to put one little BEATLES melody in my solo at the end. Pretty cool. So it was a nice way to go out. I'm glad we did it. We did it with as much class as we're capable of. We did the final tour, and I'm very, very pleased about it."
In a separate interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, Martin once again admitted that he was second guessing the group's decision to stop touring after the completion of "The BIG Finish" farewell tour. Asked what "The BIG Finish" means to him, he said: "Yeah, I'm not pulling the wool over anybody's eyes. It means the touring is over. Which kind of bums me out, because I was there in the meeting a year and change ago going, 'Yep. I agree. It's time that we call it quits.'
"I didn't wanna quit for the longest time," he admitted. "I mean, this was brought up, like, five years ago. 'Should we do a farewell tour?' We've got other projects going, and it's kind of hard to keep the MR. BIG thing alive. And I was, like, 'No,' cheerleading, 'Please, no. We've gotta keep it going.' But yeah, a year and a few months ago, I was totally in agreement with everybody going, 'Yeah, this is it.' I even thought of the name 'BIG Finish'. So I put the nail in the coffin. But now I'm, like, oh, I wish I had a nice big hammer to unclog that nail. 'Cause the band's so good and so tight. The crowd's coming out. New album came out. The momentum is there. And the band just sounds so tight on stage.
Circling back to what "The BIG Finish" meant as far as the possibility of future MR. BIG live shows, Eric said: "What I mean by 'The BIG Finish' is there's no touring anymore. I would hope that we still leave the door open. I mean, I brought this up many times online. Even Nick D'Virgilio, our drummer, he goes, 'Man, we should do a residency in Indonesia or Japan or just anywhere,' like do a residency. And I go, 'Man, I just hope we can play in a few years, play four or five shows here and there, maybe play a festival with bands in our ilk.' It'd be great to keep that door open. And no response. I think also, a whole year and almost a half of touring, everybody just kind of wants to take a break. But I'm, like, 'Let's ride this wave, brother. Let's do this.' But yeah, no more touring. No more multiple dates. It's over. The big lady has sung."
In August 2024, Eric told Roppongi Rocks's Stefan Nilsson that there was no chance of him and his MR. BIG bandmates going back on their word that they would not tour ever again. "We're not the kind of band — when we say that we're gonna quit and it's over and we're not touring anymore… We may do a one-off here and there every couple of years or whatever, but we're not going to be like the MÖTLEY CRÜEs and the KISSes," he explained." And no offense to them, because the crowds keep coming to see 'em, but we're not gonna do it. We just maybe have too much pride in it."
Asked if there was a chance of MR. BIG making more studio albums in the future, Eric said: "I did an interview the other day with Billy, and… I'm not my brother's keeper. I don't know what he thinks. I know what I think, that I'd like to do albums. If we're not gonna tour anymore for different reasons — I mean, I just don't wanna tour lengthy…. This has been a year. I just can't do it. I'm too old to… Everybody goes, 'Oh, what about THE ROLLING STONES?' Yeah. What about THE ROLLING STONES? Flying in, playing one show and two weeks later playing another show. Yeah, this is back-to-back touring. Hardly any hotels. I mean, the bus will suffice, but it's like a big camping trip for older men. So, I would like to do other albums. But the interview went like this. The guy goes, 'You gonna do another album?' And I'm, like, 'I'd like to.' And Billy goes, 'No, that's it.' I'm, like, 'All right.' But he's the guy that always says, 'Never say never.'"
MR. BIG played the last show of its "The BIG Finish" farewell tour on August 23, 2024 at the Way Too Far Rock Festival in Bistrița, Romania.
After the concert, Sheehan took to his social media to share a picture from the gig and he included the following message: "Romania!!! Crowd was a little bit light, but they made up for it in enthusiasm! The last MR. BIG show (not MY last show, goddammit!!).
"What a great run we've had since 1988. We made Great memories and millions (literally) of friends all around the world. My unlimited love and respect to all who listened, watched, purchased records, tickets and T -shirts. — without you we would have been nothing. Fact. Moving on now to other adventures, but never forgetting this amazing experience."
Gilbert added: "What an adventure! MR. BIG wraps up over a year of touring! Many thanks to ALL! I'll get home just in time for my son's 10th birthday. I hope he remembers who I am!"
D'Virgilio, who joined MR. BIG in 2023 as the replacement for the late Pat Torpey, commented: "It has been an amazing run with @billysheehanonbass @paulgilbert_official and @iamericmartin I've been able to rock n roll all over the world with the guys and I will be forever thankful. Big Love for MR. BIG!"
MR. BIG's tenth studio album, "Ten", was released on July 12, 2024 via Frontiers Music Srl. The LP features 11 new original tracks written by Martin and Gilbert, along with André Pessis and Tony Fanucchi. "Ten" was produced by Jay Ruston and MR. BIG.
D'Virgilio missed most of the final European leg of MR. BIG's "The BIG Finish" tour due to his commitments with his band BIG BIG TRAIN. He was temporarily replaced on the trek by Edu Cominato, an experienced drummer from São Paulo, Brazil who has previously played with Sheehan and Martin, Jeff Scott Soto and Geoff Tate (QUEENSRŸCHE),among others.
When MR. BIG announced "The BIG Finish" tour in 2023, the bandmembers said that it was "time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy" after drummer Pat Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's disease in 2018. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan.
MR. BIG's last-ever live album release was "The BIG Finish Live", which came out on September 6, 2024 via the Evolution Music Group.
"The BIG Finish Live" was a brand-new live album and concert film of MR. BIG's "The BIG Finish" farewell tour, where the band played their million-selling "Lean Into It" album in its entirety, plus additional MR. BIG classics.
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1 ìàé 2025
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1 ìàé 2025
SABATON's JOAKIM BRODÉN Explains Record Label Change: This Was More Of An 'Intellectual Decision'
 In a new interview with El Cuartel Del Metal, SABATON's frontman, co-founder and principal songwriter Joakim Brodén spoke about the band's decision to sign with Better Noise Music after a decade-and-a-half-long run with Nuclear Blast. Regarding what prompted the label switch, Joakim said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Basically, they've gone through some changes, Nuclear Blast, over the years, [having] been bought up by [global digital music company] Believe [in 2018], and while I have no hard feelings towards any one of them, this felt like the next logical step. Because for the past two albums, it seemed like we had hit the roof, to us sometimes, of our reach with Nuclear Blast. With that said, we have good friends still, and we have good friends and lovely people who work there. So this is more of a — what do you call it? — intellectual decision of what's the best next step for SABATON and not emotional, 'Oh, we've been fucked over by a label.' No, we haven't."
The Nuclear Blast relationship with SABATON dated back to 2010's World War II-themed "Coat Of Arms" album.
Earlier this month, SABATON released its first single for Better Noise Music, a song called "Templars". The track will appear on the band's soon-to-be-announced eleventh studio album, to be released later in the year.
Along with the digital release of "Templars", SABATON is offering its fans a special one-sided 12-inch vinyl single which is limited to 1,000 copies worldwide and set to be released on June 27.
The strikingly cinematic "Templars" video was filmed at two massive historical fortresses in Serbia (Belgrade Fortress within Kalemegdan Park and Smederevo Fortress),both of which provided a striking and authentic backdrop for the epic battle scenes.
SABATON — Joakim Brodén (vocals),Pär Sundström (bass),Chris Rörland (guitar),Thobbe Englund (guitar),Hannes Van Dahl (drums) — has always had a signature focus on writing songs about historical battles, wars, and acts of heroism that have solidified their impact with their loyal and longtime fans. SABATON has accumulated more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and almost two billion views on YouTube.
Better Noise Music is known for its creative artist development, innovative cross-media strategies, and ability to build international success stories. It was named Billboard's No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Label and No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint of 2024, after its history-making run of five consecutive years as the No. 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay Imprint (2018-2022). In 2023 Allen Kovac moved up to chairman role and over the last two and a half years the company has been run by Dan Waite CEO, Steve Kline COO and president, Harris Masood CFO and Paul Cormack GM.
Since SABATON's 2005 debut LP, the band has released 10 studio albums (some of which have been certified as gold, platinum, and even quadruple platinum),seen eight of its albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5.
2022's "The War to End All Wars" was the last SABATON album to feature guitarist Tommy Johansson. He has since been replaced by a returning Englund.
Thobbe originally joined SABATON in April 2012 and amicably parted ways with the band in July 2016 to focus on his personal life and expand his creativity. He rejoined SABATON in February 2024.
Englund recorded two studio albums with SABATON, namely "Heroes" (2014) and "The Last Stand" (2016),and assisted with the songwriting of some very popular songs including "Shiroyama" and "Fields Of Verdun", among others.
In November 2025, SABATON will embark on a 20-city European run dubbed "The Legendary Tour". The band teased the trek as "a huge celebration of SABATON's music, storytelling and the incredible bond they share with their fans", featuring "The Legendary Orchestra and other surprises," resulting in "something unprecedented."
Last fall, SABATON served as main support to JUDAS PRIEST on the legendary heavy metal band's North American tour.
In the more than two decades since their launch, SABATON has achieved quadruple-platinum sales, headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts across the globe, and earned a legion of loyal fans by being self-managed and carving out a reputation as one of the most innovative bands in rock. SABATON combines standout stage design and production with epic concept albums, linking real-life historical war events with classic kick-ass metal. To date, the band has released ten studio albums, amassed six gold, two platinum, and one four-times-platinum awards, seen eight of its albums score Top 10 international chart status, and six claim the Top 5.
When SABATON hit the 20-year mark, they headlined both stages at Wacken 2019 — the biggest metal festival in the world — simultaneously. Meanwhile, in 2023 as part of a charity initiative, SABATON donated their full-length animated movie to museums around the world in order to increase awareness and visitor numbers, and successfully encouraged people to support the preservation of history in these establishments. During SABATON's 25th-anniversary year, the band released the "Tour To End All Tours" concert film, and through independent distribution, it was screened in more than 1,200 cinemas spanning 28 territories.
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1 ìàé 2025
TURNSTILE Shares Two New Songs, 'Seein' Stars' And 'Birds'
 Baltimore hardcore band TURNSTILE has shared a double music video for "Seein' Stars" / "Birds" — two new songs off its eagerly awaited album "Never Enough", which is set to arrive on June 6. The new music video is directed by the band's own Brendan Yates and Pat McCrory, and "Seein' Stars" includes additional vocals contributed by BLOOD ORANGE's Devonté Hynes and PARAMORE's Hayley Williams. Both tracks are available today across all streaming platforms.
Earlier this month TURNSTILE announced details of "Never Enough" and shared the album's title track along with a music video directed by Yates and McCrory. "Never Enough" marks the band's first full-length release in four years and is available for pre-order / pre-save, with several limited edition vinyl color variants available in the band's store.
Recorded between Los Angeles and their homes in Baltimore, "Never Enough" is produced by TURNSTILE's Brendan Yates. The expansive collection is a restless and exhilarating evolution of the band's genre-defying sound. A transformative journey, both fearless and alive, by one of the most forward-thinking and influential bands of their generation. "Never Enough" follows TURNSTILE's widely celebrated album "Glow On", which earned the band four Grammy nominations.
TURNSTILE recently revealed plans for a special New York record-release show set to happen on June 5 at Under The K Bridge in Brooklyn, New York, which will see them joined by special guests TEEZO TOUCHDOWN, BOY HARSHER and BIG BOY. The band also shared plans for a run of European dates this summer. Additionally, TURNSTILE has a handful of North American festival dates planned for the summer and fall.
TURNSTILE is Brendan Yates (voice / synth / keys ),Franz Lyons (bass),Pat McCrory (guitar),Daniel Fang (drums) and Meg Mills (guitar).
Yates described his feelings about hardcore and making music in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times: "What drew, and still draws me to [hardcore], is that none of us were musicians. Punk and hardcore are less focused on skill and more on expressing yourself. It's hard to imagine other communities where you [can have] people come out and support you when you're really bad at your instrument. The way I taught myself how to play the guitar is wrong — I played with the wrong fingers and stuff like that — but I learned enough to feel good about what I was trying to get out. I think making music is just a shot in the dark. It's this open canvas."
Photo credit: Alexis Gross
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1 ìàé 2025
BRUCE DICKINSON Has Demoed 18 Songs For His Next Solo Album, To Be Recorded In Early 2026
 On April 21, IRON MAIDEN singer Bruce Dickinson took part in the Musicians Institute's MI Conversation Series with host Ryan J. Downey in Hollywood, California. During the chat, which can be seen in two parts below, Dickinson spoke about the fan response to his latest solo album, "The Mandrake Project", which arrived in March 2024. Bruce said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Yeah, it was great. Honestly, the reception was great. The reaction to the band when we toured all through Europe [last year] was fantastic. Obviously, we just did two or three shows here in Southern California [in April 2024] just to kind of warm things up before we went down to Brazil… But, yeah, it was brilliant. And people got it. I mean, not everybody is gonna get everything you do — it's not compulsory — but I thought it was a really good, varied album. It was heavy, but it was emotional and stuff. So it was really good. And it worked really well live. In fact this, a couple of tracks [from the album] that we didn't play — well, we've never actually played — we're gonna be playing on the U.S. tour. 'Shadow Of The Gods', which is the most unplayed popular track on the record. So, yeah, you get the benefit of that, and all the people in Europe will be jealous."
Speaking about his upcoming "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour, Dickinson said: "We're gonna have a lot of fun on this tour coming [up]. Yeah, we did The Observatory [in Santa Ana, California] and two shows at the Whisky [A Go Go in West Hollywood, California in April 2024] as THE HOUSE BAND OF HELL, which is kind of cool. We're still undecided whether or not to call ourselves 'Bruce Dickinson', in brackets, 'featuring THE HOUSE BAND OF HELL. ' But I think it's kind of cool, and we kind of adjusted to all that. We are a crew now as a band."
Regarding a possible follow-up to "The Mandrake Project", Bruce said: "I've just been in the demo studio with everybody for the last three weeks, and we ended up with 18 tracks in 15 days…
"It's gonna be a really cool album," he added. "And, obviously, the guy that's producing it, Brendan Duffey, he mixed 'Mandrake'. We started off with him doing the Atmos mixes and then kind of morphed into, 'I take it you do stereo as well.' And he's great. So, we are just keeping the same crew on this record. And [I'm] looking to record it next year, early next year. I've got some gaps. January, February, March, April is kind of free zone for me next year."
Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on the "The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour will once again be his 2024 backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.
"The Mandrake Project Live 2025" North American tour kicks off in Anaheim, California at the House of Blues on August 22 and takes the band across North America including shows in New York, Los Angeles, Texas, Florida and Canada, with festival appearances at Rocklahoma (Oklahoma) and Louder Than Life (Kentucky),with more to be announced. The tour also includes a quick return to Brazil for the prestigious The Town festival at the City Of Light in São Paulo.
Prior to the April 12, 2024 Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.
Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).
O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson last year as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.
Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.
Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.
"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1, 2024 via BMG.
Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's last solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.
Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.
We had the legendary Bruce Dickinson 🎤 come by for our Conversation Series and give us deep insight into the Mandrake...
Posted by Musicians Institute on Monday, April 21, 2025
📣 Just Announced!
Brucedickinsonhq is joining us for the MI Conversation Series, this upcoming Monday, April 21st to...
Posted by Musicians Institute on Wednesday, April 16, 2025
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Testament
