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17 ÿíâ 2025
DEEP PURPLE Keyboardist DON AIREY Announces New Solo Album 'Pushed To The Edge'
 Don Airey, the master behind the keys for some of rock's most iconic albums, has announced his latest studio album, "Pushed To The Edge", set to be released on March 28 via earMUSIC. The new song "Tell Me" is now available for streaming and as an instant gratification track with all download pre-orders of the album.
As one of the most recorded keyboardists of all time, with over 300 albums featuring his unmistakable sound, Don Airey's skills have been valued by nearly every rock 'n' roll superstar. The list includes legendary artists and bands such as Ozzy Osbourne, RAINBOW, WHITESNAKE, JUDAS PRIEST, Gary Moore, Brian May, JETHRO TULL, BLACK SABBATH, and, of course, DEEP PURPLE, the band Airey has been a full-time member of for over 20 years. After last year's success, when DEEP PURPLE secured their fourth consecutive No. 1 album with "=1" and a subsequent global tour, Airey kicks off 2025 with the same energy in his solo work.
Joining Airey on the new album is an all-star lineup featuring Carl Sentance (NAZARETH) and Mitchell Emms ("The Voice UK") on vocals, DEEP PURPLE guitarist Simon McBride, drummer Jon Finnigan, and bassist Dave Marks. Produced in the finest hard rock tradition, "Pushed To The Edge" is a raw gem — crafted without tricks or shortcuts, staying true to the pure musicianship of world-class artists.
"Pushed To The Edge" track listing:
01. Tell Me
02. The Keep On Running
03. Moon Rising
04. Rock The Melody
05. Flame In The Water
06. Out Of Focus
07. Power Of Change
08. Girl From Highland Park
09. Godz Of War
10. Edge If Reality
11. Finnigan's Awake
Last September, Airey told Roppongi Rocks' Stefan Nilsson about his plans to release a new solo album: "Well, I've always kept the solo… I had my own band. That's how we found Simon, 'cause Simon became part of my band, and a very big part of it. We started writing together, and it was a very good partnership. And I always had it in my head, 'If Steve [Morse, former DEEP PURPLE guitarist] decides to leave PURPLE, we won't have to look very far for someone.'"
He continued: "But we've got an album in the can that we did before lockdown. We did most of it before lockdown and we finished it after lockdown, put the vocals on after lockdown. And that's in the can with earMUSIC. And I think that's gonna come out at the end of March."
Asked if the upcoming album will feature Simon on guitar, Don replied: "Yeah, yeah, but it's under my name. It's like a solo album, but, really, it's just my band playing it. I think it's gonna be called 'Pushed To The Edge'."
Photo credit: Franz Schepers  | +4 |  |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
BUSH Is About To Start Mixing 'I Beat Loneliness' Album; 'I'm So Thrilled About The Record', Says GAVIN ROSSDALE
 In a new interview with Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada's 104.9 The Wolf radio station, BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale spoke about the progress of the recording sessions for the band's upcoming album, "I Beat Loneliness". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We start mixing tomorrow. Tomorrow is day one of the mix. And we already have, I think, two or three of the songs mixed and mastered. We did those first to just make everyone feel comfortable that we weren't doing a progressive jazz album and that we're making good music. So we presented three to the label to kind of be given the chance to finish them off and do the other nine songs.
"I'm so thrilled about the record," he continued. "It's successful to me because I'm really proud of it. And I think that people who like the band will be really, really into it and we might get some new fans as well. But it's good to feel fulfilled by when you make a record, and not, like, 'Oh, man. I should've done this, should've done that.' I think it's really good. I haven't figured out the order yet, but we'll get there."
Earlier in the month, Gavin told iHeartRadio's JD Lewis about the "I Beat Loneliness" title: "Well, it's one of those weird titles. It's an infinite title because you can never beat loneliness; you can just only beat it temporarily.
"I feel that the connection with the band and the power that we have, from talking to a lot of people that see us, is people can kind of connect with the music and connect with the words and make their own narratives about it," he continued. "But we've created this blueprint for people through the years.
"More and more mental health has been sort of brought to the discussion kind of around us all at the moment — people are talking about people's wellness a lot. And I've always been into that human-condition thing since the beginning of BUSH — it's like music of complaints and hopes and sort of disappointments and aspirations and all that stuff. So it's just like living.
"A lot of people are struggling so much that it's just such an ironic title, I thought," Rossdale added. "It's one of those things, when I thought of it and it just came, I was, like, 'Oh my god, it's a precious phrase.' And I just like that idea of that sense of bravado that you've beaten loneliness, because we all suffer from melancholia or whatever, and I think that's a healthy thing because it makes you reflective and sort of appreciative of the good times. And I'm not a negative person — I'm really positive — so I just think that you have to go through this sort of like storm clouds to get to the good bits. And so the title just stuck with me."
Rossdale also talked about the importance of youth mental health, especially as it relates to his three songs Kingston, Zuma and Apollo. He said: "I think it's absolutely essential, because I think that what happened is that with COVID, one of the biggest things for kids is COVID took away all that socialization. So all those two, three years where they were meant to be sort of learning how to be with their peers, I noticed with my own kids, that was taken away from them. They didn't have that time. And so I think that's been a real struggle for people, for kids especially, to learn how to adapt, how to be social, because they haven't had the same things that maybe we had. We didn't grow up through a pandemic. And so that is what really affects me. And kids are so mean — bullying in schools, ostracization, all that stuff. Kids are mean. And the way the world is set up is really scary for that."
Gavin went on to speak about the dangers of social media and how it is not an accurate reflection of society but more like a funhouse mirror distorted by a small but vocal minority of extreme outliers.
"Social media, expectations, people feeling they're not having a fulfilled life 'cause they look at Instagram or wherever and they see people with these great lives, when we all know that those lives are kind of hollow and have their have their troubles as well," he said. "But things are portrayed that people just get lost in that sort of rat race of thinking that they've gotta try and keep up with their friends. I mean, I look at Instagram and I'm always, like, 'Man, I need to live better.' I'm just, like, 'No, no, don't fall for it. Don't fall for it. Your life is fine. You have great things going on.' So I think that's where it's really difficult for kids, the sense that they're not in the right place at the right time. They're generally [of the opinion that they're] in the wrong place at the wrong time and everyone else is having a great time. And that's super dangerous for people to think that."
Rossdale previously talked about the "I Beat Loneliness" title in a December 2024 interview with Voice Of America's (VOA) "Border Crossings". Regarding why he chose to call the new BUSH record "I Beat Loneliness", the 59-year-old musician said: "Because I think that everyone is struggling the whole time." He added: "It's funny because when I reflect on the career that I've had and the songs that I've written, they do say that most people write one song over and over, and my theme that I've always dealt with is sort of people's mental health and their feelings and kind of the landscape of the landmines of hurt that we all live through. Everybody has so much broken stuff that they just sort of put the face on, go out and deal with it. But everybody having these crazy triggers — you see that suicide rates are insane, suicides among the military, the ex-military, men three times more likely to commit suicide as women. It's just people are hurting. And so my literal simple role in life, in that sort of Japanese concept of a vocation, is really writing songs about people and about feelings. And it's funny because when I began, it wasn't like that. You could just complain in songs, but I always wanted to have this sort of sense of hope, this sense of help and support and close community and people and love and friendship and kindness. And so I've written like that.
"So 'I Beat Loneliness', it's just probably the best title I've ever written because, of course, it's self-fulfilling in its impossibility," he continued. "'Cause you can't say you beat loneliness, 'cause if you say you beat loneliness, it means that you're a really melancholic person who beat loneliness for about 20 minutes, and it's coming back the next day like a boomerang. So I just like that idea of that bravado. It's strength. It's not bravado. It's strength in the face of adversity."
2024 marked the 30th anniversary of the release of BUSH's six-times-platinum debut album, "Sixteen Stone".
Last summer, BUSH celebrated its 30th anniversary with an extensive North American headline tour. The "Loaded: The Greatest Hits Tour" kicked off on July 26 in Bend, Oregon and included shows at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey and the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Most of the dates were produced by Live Nation. Jerry Cantrell and CANDLEBOX were the special guests on all dates.
BUSH released "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" in November 2023 via Round Hill Records. The set included a new song called "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere", which was written by Gavin and produced by Rossdale and Corey Britz.
With over 24 million records sold, one billion streams and a procession of No. 1 singles, the band — comprising Rossdale, Chris Traynor (guitar),Corey Britz (bass) and Nik Hughes (drums) — stand tall as rock outliers whose imprint only widens as the years pass. "Loaded: The Greatest Hits 1994-2023" (Round Hill Records),their first-ever greatest-hits collection, provides an expansive view of their incredible legacy with 21 tracks spanning nearly 30 years — from their breakthrough hit "Everything's Zen" to the aforementioned "Nowhere To Go But Everywhere".
"Loaded" included iconic hits from each of BUSH's nine studio albums as well as "Mouth" (The Stingray Mix) from the 1997 remix album "Deconstructed" and a cover of THE BEATLES' "Come Together" that saw a very limited release in 2012.
BUSH broke up in 2002 but reformed in 2010, and has since released five albums: "The Sea of Memories" (2011),"Man On The Run" (2014),"Black And White Rainbows" (2017),"The Kingdom" (2020) and the aforementioned "The Art Of Survival".
"Black And White Rainbows" was crafted after Rossdale went through a divorce with pop star/reality TV judge Gwen Stefani in 2015.
Photo credit: Shervin Lainez (courtesy of 2b Entertainment) | +1 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
TESLA's BRIAN WHEAT Shares '10 Years Sober' Music Video From His New Band VIOLET BREED
 Brian Wheat, the founder and bassist of the multi-platinum selling band TESLA, recently announced an exciting new musical venture with Alex Gonzato, an emerging singer/songwriter from the U.K. The duo has joined forces to create a new band called VIOLET BREED, with their second single, "10 Years Sober", now available. The official music video for the song, which was premiered by New Noise Magazine, can be seen below.
VIOLET BREED said about the track: "'10 Years Sober' dives into themes of inner peace and self-healing, offering a unique perspective on the concept of sobriety."
Alex added: "With '10 Years Sober', we wanted to write something that explores another meaning to what it is to be sober. Kind of a new direction and meaning. The overall message and intention of the song is to bring forward a feeling of inner peace and self-healing within one's mind, allowing you to be the best representation of yourself for others."
VIOLET BREED represents a powerful collaboration between Wheat, a seasoned rock icon, and Gonzato, a fresh and dynamic voice in the music industry. The pair have spent the last five years meticulously crafting an album that draws from their own life experiences, creating music that resonates with listeners of all ages. With honest and emotive lyrics, VIOLET BREED's sound blends rich rock and pop influences, promising a unique and compelling listening experience.
The debut album, which features TESLA's own guitarist Dave Rude on guitars, will showcase the musical prowess of the duo. Fans of both TESLA and Gonzato will be eager to hear the new material, as VIOLET BREED looks to make a significant impact on the global music scene.
Lead single "Awake", which came out in September 2024, gave audiences a taste of what's to come from VIOLET BREED, delivering a track that's both musically engaging and lyrically profound.
Brian and Alex are able to tap into experiences from these diverse generations, which add to the depth of the music they produce. Their passion and inspiration for music is born from a shared love for records by THE BEATLES, Paul McCartney, QUEEN and MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE. Influences from these bands is subtly interwoven into their music.
Over his successful forty years in the music industry, Brian has crafted an enviable music career. Performing live, author to autobiography "Son Of A Milkman" and managing the multi-platinum selling rock band TESLA, alongside side projects such as SOUL MOTOR and now VIOLET BREED, Brian has maintained an impressive consistency in the music industry over multiple decades resulting in an abundance of sellout tours across the U.S. and world.
Over the last ten years, Brian has acted as a close mentor and peer to Alex, notably being a huge influence in the studio, producing and co-writing songs. His oversight has helped refine the music Alex creates and brought priceless industry for Alex to further improve his craft. With his own individual success on active rock radio, numerous successful tours and festival appearances, and constantly performing to a demanding live schedule, Brian notices the potential of Alex's talents and commitment, and recognizes snippets of his younger self in the artist. Having displayed a unique range of vocal performances, heavily inspired by Freddie Mercury, plus a natural talent for songwriting, the opportunity to form a new band seemed inevitable. | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
KERRY KING Launches North American Tour In San Fransisco With Solo Tracks, SLAYER Songs, And IRON MAIDEN Classics; 4K Video Streaming
 Slayer guitar hero Kerry King and his solo band - drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (Machine Head), and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) - launched their twenty-eight date North American tour at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, CA last night, January 15.
Capital Chaos TV has released 4K video shot at the show. Watch King and band perform "Everything I Hate About You", "At Dawn They Sleep", and "From Hell I Rise" below.
Setlist:
"Where I Reign"
"Rage"
"Trophies of the Tyrant"
"Residue"
"Two Fists"
"Idle Hands"
"Repentless" (Slayer song)
"Toxic"
"Tension"
"Everything I Hate About You"
"Disciple" (Slayer song)
"Purgatory" (Iron Maiden cover)
"Killers" (Iron Maiden cover)
"At Dawn They Sleep" (Slayer song)
"Crucifixation"
"Shrapnel"
"Raining Blood" (Slayer song)
"Black Magic" (Slayer song)
"From Hell I Rise"
Watch fan-filmed video of King and band performing the Iron Maiden songs "Purgatory" and "Killers" below:
With Municipal Waste as Special Guest and Alien Weaponry supporting, Kerry King's North American tour is set to wrap up at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22. Tickets can be purchased here.
North American dates:
January
17 - Spokane Live Casino - Spokane, WA
18 - Showbox SoDo - Seattle, WA
19 - Roseland Theater - Portland, OR
20 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, BC (Canada)
22 - The Palace Theatre - Calgary, AB (Canada)
23 - Midway Music Hall - Edmonton, AB (Canada)
25 - Burton Cummings Theatre - Winnipeg, MB (Canada)
26 - The Fillmore - Minneapolis, MN
28 - The Rave - Milwaukee, WI
30 - The Majestic Theater - Detroit, MI
31 - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH | +6 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
Australia's VALHALORE Release "Horizon" Single And Video; Beyond The Stars Album Due In April
 Following their recent signing with ROAR, Australia’s Valhalore has released a first track taken off their new studio epos entitled Beyond The Stars, which will be out on April 11, along with the reissue of their self-released debut album Voyage To Eternity.
Since their formation in 2013, Valhalore conquer the world with their unique blend of melodic death, power, and symphonic metal, infused with epic folk influences. A first album appetizer, the single "Horizon", is available for streaming/download here. Watch a video below.
The band comments: “Inspired by a particularly beautiful sunset during the Covid-19 lockdowns, 'Horizon' is a song about hope for a brighter future. It explores the feelings of isolation we all felt during this time, and watching precious moments pass us by, yet somehow still wanting to create a life that is memorable beyond our time on earth.”
Starting January 17, the band will support the Swedish heavy metal templars of HammerFall as a special guest on tour:
January
17 - Melbourne, Australia – Northcote Theatre
18 - Sydney, Australia – Manning Bar
19 - Brisbane, Australia – The Triffid
Founded by guitarist Anthony Willis and vocalist Lachlan Neate, Valhalore swiftly became an unstoppable force in the Australian metal scene. Since their inaugural live performance in late 2015, the band’s unique sound has resonated with audiences both domestically and abroad.
The year 2017 marked a pivotal moment for Valhalore with the release of their debut album, Voyage Into Eternity. The band celebrated this opus with a s | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
STRYPER's ROBERT SWEET: 'The Holy Spirit Gave Us The Courage To Go And Do This'
 In a new interview with Rocking With Jam Man, STRYPER drummer Robert Sweet was asked if it is harder nowadays for him and his bandmates to put their Christian beliefs into a song compared to how it was when STRYPER first started out. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wouldn't say it's harder. It's something we do anyways. We've always done that, because we truly believe it. But at the same time, I'll be honest with you, it's always been hard, because it made the road really rough for us when we first came out. And [as] a matter of fact, we've had people come up and say, 'Man, if you guys didn't have the Christian thing going on, you would have probably had ten times the success. Because you're a band that everyone loves, but everyone doesn't understand the Christian thing.' So I think in certain ways it kind of hurt us, but it was worth it for us, because we believe in Jesus. We believe that the words that are put out there are altering people's lives, because we've been told that hundreds, maybe thousands, ten thousands of times, really, people hearing the music and hearing the words that really did something for them. So that's a real honor for us. So, is it tough? Yes. Is it tougher now? No, but it's always been kind of tough, but it's worth it for us."
When Jam Man opined that some people in the U.S. will try to "hate" and "cancel" those who hold religious beliefs that they don't agree with, Sweet concurred. "It's always been that way with Christianity," he said. "The world wants to pick on Christians because they feel Christians will lay back and say and do nothing and they won't stand up to them. And I think sometimes you have to realize that we have to stand up and be courageous. And I'm not necessarily patting ourselves on the back, but I will say I feel the Holy Spirit gave us the courage to go and do this because, man, unless God touches you to do it, don't do what we've done, because it is tough. But by all means, if you feel God's spirit has touched you and this is a purpose for your life, then go at it with full gusto. But it's always been hard since day one, since Jesus showed up. And the sad part of it is Jesus kind of told us it would be tough, but when we leave this world that there would be reward in heaven waiting for us. And we know the reality of Jesus, so we wanna see that touch people's lives."
Jam Man also brought up the subject of what students are legally allowed to do in public schools in relation to their Christian faith, prompting Sweet to say: "I have to be honest with you. I don't care much for the public schools. They would probably welcome people saying they were Muslims, but if you say you're a Christian, no way. And that's too bad, because this nation was built on Christianity, and we get our laws from the Ten Commandments. It's a shame, but the Bible kind of said it was gonna happen. So, I think at this point in time, you're gonna see a lot of people realizing the goodness of Jesus, but you're gonna see a lot of people backing away, going the other way. There's not a lot we're gonna be able to do about it."
Last month, Robert told Sofa King Cool Magazine that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the group's Christian lyrics.
"I think, and a lot of people have told us, especially in the industry, 'If you guys weren't doing this Jesus thing, and we know you mean it,' which we do, 'you guys would have sold many more millions of records,'" Robert said. "And, really, I want everyone to know that's the truth, because radio never played us. And it was a miracle we got on MTV. But still, to this day, radio has played us very, very little. But we were willing to take that hit financially. And it's been rough at times. It's been really unfair because a lot of people have come up and said, 'Hey, man, I'm not a Christian. You guys are one of the best bands I've ever heard.' And I'm, like, 'Well, great. Thank you.' We don't look at ourselves as any better than anyone else, but we had to stick with it. We had to make sure that the message of Jesus was first and foremost and front, no matter what people said. And, man, were we ever given a hard time. I am telling you, I didn't know so many people were gonna come against us back in the '80s, and even up to this day. But it's all worth it."
Asked if there were any bands that gave STRYPER a hard time for being a Christian band or maybe didn't want to take STRYPER out on tour with them because of STRYPER's lyrical messages, Robert said: "Well, nobody wanted to take us out. So we were forced to headline. No one wanted to go out with us. We wanted to open for whoever we could. That was an honor to us. We had always hoped to be able to open for so many of our heroes and bands we grew up listening to, but just back in the day, I think people had the wrong idea. They really did. And they were afraid of it. So it forced us to go headline. And it really — maybe that kind of helped our career. I don't know. I felt like maybe God was with us, saying, 'No, you're not gonna go that route. You're gonna go this route.' And it was different, because most bands don't do that. When you're starting out, you go out with bigger acts. And we've done many, many festivals, but that's been primarily, in my opinion, since we started up again in 2003. But back in the day, back in the '80s, when we were doing the really big coliseums and stuff, it was pretty much us just heading straight down the road and headlining."
Robert was also asked if it is ever frustrating for him and his STRYPER bandmates that certain other acts can go ahead and use Satanic imagery or make references to Satanism in their music and the fans are seemingly into it, even though they're not Satan worshippers, but STRYPER never seems to get the same kind of respect. The drummer replied: "Well, there are some people that aren't into it, but that's because most of the time they haven't seen us, or they haven't sat down and listened to what STRYPER is. But there are people who loveSTRYPER who aren't Christians. And I've had them come up and say, 'Hey…'.
"I remember my brother [STRYPER frontman Michael Sweet] and I spoke with a Satanist, I think it was, I wanna say France. He came out. I mean, the guy was so complimentary. He wanted to speak with Michael and I. And he came down and he said, 'You guys are the biggest white metal band in the world. Why aren't you out playing the big festival next door? Why are you playing this 3,000-seat place that's sold out? You should be over on that stage over there.' And we said, 'Well, yeah, we'd like that.' But he was so complimentary of us. And yet he was very open that he was a real-deal Satanist, but he loved STRYPER… And that's always been our hope."
He added: "I want you to know that there's a lot of great stuff that takes place in the music industry, but, in a way, it's kind of the devil's industry. And we always hoped to go into that industry and affect it in a good way. And you have to be touched by God to do it. You can't just go do that. It's not gonna work. You're gonna be miserable and it's gonna fail. And I feel sad when I see certain bands try to do it and everything is against them. But if you're gonna bring forth the message of Jesus, I really feel you need to be anointed by God to do it. And we felt it so strong. We still feel it so strong that nothing could stop us from doing it."
In April, Michael Sweet completed mixing STRYPER's new studio album with longtime collaborator Danny Bernini at SpiritHouse Recording Studios in Northampton, Massachusetts. A tentative late summer/early fall release is expected.
Formed 41 years ago, STRYPER's name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed."
STRYPER's albums include "To Hell With The Devil", "Second Coming", "No More Hell To Pay", "Fallen", "God Damn Evil", "Even The Devil Believes" and "The Final Battle".
Robert and Michael are joined in STRYPER by Oz Fox (guitar) and Perry Richardson (bass).
STRYPER's "To Hell With The Amps: The Unplugged Tour" kicked off late last month. For the first time ever, the Christian rockers are staging a full tour where they are performing their hits and fan favorites acoustically. | +1 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
MAESTRICK Releases “Lunar Vortex” Single Feat. Former KAMELOT Singer ROY KHAN
 Brazilian progressive metallers Maestrick have shared their new single and accompanying video “Lunar Vortex”, featuring Roy Khan, out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
After the symphonic synthwave of “Ethereal” and the prog-meets-Tim Burton vibes of “Upside Down”, Maestrick is embracing modern metal in their new single “Lunar Vortex”. Influenced by artists like Architects, Caligula's Horse and Skrillex, the track features downtuned riffs contrasting with electronic tones, clean and screamed vocals (a first for Maestrick), and brings a very special guest in Roy Khan (Conception, ex-Kamelot) in a beautiful duet with Fabio Caldeira. This is the first time Roy appears in a video that's not of his own band.
Vocalist Fábio Caldeira comments: “Roy was a big influence on how I wrote the melodies for this song, so when the opportunity to have him in the album became a reality, we knew it would work very well. He delivered an emotional and energetic performance, both vocally and in the video. We couldn't be happier with the result.”
“While I was in Brazil, last year, I hooked up with my friends from Maestrick to record “Lunar Vortex” with them. Wonderful people and awesome song. I hope everyone enjoys it!” adds Roy Khan.
Founded in São José do Rio Preto/SP by three friends, Maestrick have been active since 2006 and bring in their sound elements of rock and progressive heavy metal, Brazilian regional music, world music and classical music.
The band have released two albums in Brazil, Europe, United States and Japan, and are recognized for drinking from different artistic aspects - cinema, plastic arts, visual arts and literature – for their compositions, which results in a unique and, according to specialized critics, innovative style.
Not surprisingly, Maestrick captivates movie fans, notably those of Tim Burt
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17 ÿíâ 2025
SABER - New Single “Steel Breaker” Streaming
 February 7, 2025 will see the Los Angeles based NWOTHM (New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal) act Saber release their much-anticipated sophomore studio album, Lost In Flames, via ROAR. Coming on CD, “Burning Orange” Marbled Vinyl, and a variety of digital formats, the album presale is available here.
In addition, the band is set to reissue their impressive debut, Without Warning on the same day. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to own this limited edition on vinyl and CD through ROAR! Their stunning debut belongs in every well-sorted heavy metal record collection; preorder here.
Following the previously-released "Madam Dangerous" single and to please fans with more new material, today, the four-piece band has released a brand new track taken off Lost In Flames. "Steel Breaker" is out now on all digital streaming providers.
"‘Steel Breaker’ is the other fast track on the album. It's different from anything the band has done because it has a thrash feel to it, it's relentless!" vocalist Steven Villa comments. "The song is about one of my favorite animes ‘Berserk’. And if you know anything about the anime, yes the song is just as intense as the anime."
Lost In Flames tracklisting:
"Lost In Flames"
"Phoenix Rising"
"Madam Dangerous"
"Shattered Dreams"
"Time Tells All"
"Shadow Of You"
"On The Hunt"
"Steel Breaker"
"Steel Breaker":
"Lost In Flames" | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
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17 ÿíâ 2025
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17 ÿíâ 2025
ALEX LIFESON Says RUSH 'Went Out On A High Note': 'I'd Rather Be Remembered For That Legacy Than Returning As The Top RUSH Tribute Band'
 In a new interview with U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine, Alex Lifeson once again confirmed that he has been jamming with his longtime bandmate Geddy Lee at the bassist/vocalist's house in Toronto.
"It's good to jam with friends as you get older," the guitarist said. "I need to play. Once a week I go to Ged's — it's in the calendar — keep my fingers moving, play RUSH stuff, new jams. We do record it, but I couldn't even begin to tell you where it'll go."
Lifeson also spoke about reuniting with Lee for 2022's star-studded tribute concerts — one in London, one in Los Angeles — to pay tribute to late FOO FIGHTERS drummer Taylor Hawkins. They enlisted a few drummers — TOOL's Danny Carey, Omar Hakim, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS' Chad Smith and FOO FIGHTERS' Dave Grohl — to join them at the gigs, the second of which took place at L.A.'s Forum, the same venue where RUSH played its final concert in August 2015.
"The energy was fantastic around that show, I know, and some days I wake up wanting to go out and tour again and some days I don't," Lifeson said. "For forty years RUSH included Neil [Peart, late RUSH drummer], and I don't think putting some new version together would have the same magic.
"After those two gigs and the months of prep Ged and I went through, I was excited by the response and to be in the dressing room again with so many fellow artists in Wembley and L.A. I respected and felt a kinship towards. But after a few weeks that wore off and it occurred to me that despite all the pain of loss, RUSH went out on a high note playing as well as ever with one of our best stage shows on 'R40'. I guess I'd rather be remembered for that legacy than returning as the top RUSH tribute band."
Last May, Lifeson told Rolling Stone that he had been "playing a lot of RUSH songs" with Lee at the bassist/vocalist's house. "We're together in a room like we've always been," the guitarist said. "That's been really good, but there's no chance that we're going to get a drummer and go back on the road as the rebirth of RUSH or something like that. And if we wanted to write new material, nobody cares about new material anymore. They just want to hear the old stuff from guys like us."
When the interviewer noted that RUSH fans "would care", Lifeson clarified: "Maybe the feeling is that it's just really about taking people back to an earlier time in their lives that they have very fond and vivid memories of, and I get it and that's great. And then you do it for the money. And that's not what we were ever about or what we would want to do. Offers come in all the time, but I don't know. I don't think that's something that we're really interested in."
Elaborating on why he is opposed to the idea of performing RUSH music with a new drummer, Lifeson said: "I just don't know if doing something like that would wreck it. Or wreck the legacy that RUSH has left. When it happened, it was disappointing for us. And then Neil got sick and all of that stuff, but our legacy is intact that we went out on a high note. That tour was great. It looked great. We played really well. We bonded even more so with our audience. I'd rather have that and the sadness of not doing it again, than doing it again and sitting on a chair on stage because I can't stand. [Laughs] I'd rather be remembered for that than something that's more current."
Alex went on to say that he and Geddy are continuing to have conversations about the possibility of performing together again. "We talk about it, but at the same time, he's my best friend and he loves me and he cares for me," he said. "He knows that I do have issues both physical and emotional with this whole idea. And he respects that we have so much respect and love for each other. I would do something like that, that he wanted to do, because I love him and I want to make him happy. But he knows that I wouldn't be happy. It's the bond that we have."
He added: "I don't think I would be happy in my heart if we were to do something like that. I really would feel like we were doing an injustice to our fans and that would be just a money grab.
"We get offers all the time, and they're pretty substantial, but I don't know. It's not enough for me. How much do you need? I'm trying to get rid of stuff. I sold the bulk of my guitars. I had some cars. I sold those. I had a house in the country that I sold. I want to be slimmer and a little tighter in, in my life with fewer anchors around my neck."
In January 2024, Lifeson didn't rule out the possibility of playing with Lee again, telling Greg Prato of Ultimate Guitar: "There's certainly a lot of interest in us doing something. I think for a lot of RUSH fans, they've been hoping for… Geddy had his book tour. I went out on a few of those dates with him. I think that's kind of sparked more interest in us working together.
"Ged's a very busy guy," Alex continued. "He's written a couple of books over the years. He has a lot of stuff that he's into. This is my studio in my apartment. I've been working on the ENVY OF NONE stuff as well as a few other projects. So I've been playing and recording for all these years.
"When he's ready, he always says, 'Come over for a coffee and we'll go down to the studio and bash around a few notes.' Yeah, call me. And so far he's been so busy, but I think maybe in the new year — or this is the new year — maybe soon we'll find the time to sit down and see what happens," Lifeson added. "Maybe nothing happens. Maybe it's not there anymore. Maybe it's gonna be amazing. I don't know. We'll see. Honestly, it's not a priority for us. We're happy in our lives. So, it's not like we need to go back to something. And that's my fear. That if we — that would be the expectation, this is like RUSH 2. But by necessity it has to be something different. And it can never be RUSH. Without Neil, it can never be RUSH. That's it. It's over. But you never know what can happen. So we'll see."
For the past couple of decades, Lifeson has been suffering from psoriatic arthritis, a chronic, autoimmune form of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and occurs with the skin condition psoriasis. During an appearance on the January 10 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", the now-71-year-old Canadian musician opened up about the severity of longtime physical ailments, saying: "I would say that's slowly getting worse, as to be expected. I have psoriatic arthritis, and I've been dealing with it for quite a while — for almost 20 years. I'm on two biologics [biologic drugs for the treatment of arthritis], so sort of like a double whammy in dealing with it. And it's been very, very effective. Despite the side effects and all of that, it's been a really effective regimen for me, and it's really helped my hands. I have times where the inflammation has its own mind, and that's when you'll see me shaking my hands [while I am playing]. But it is what it is, and I can still get by, and I'm so used to it, I don't really even think about it that much anymore. "
Lifeson also talked about the possibility of him returning to the road, either with Lee or with another project. He said: "[After] 40 years of touring, I'm not interested in touring anymore. I enjoyed it when we did it. There were lots of ups and downs. The gig is great, the show is great, and for the other 21 hours in a day, you're just waiting for those three hours. And it gets tiring, especially when you have a family and you have loved ones at home that you're estranged from for months and months and months at a time. I don't miss that aspect of it. Do I like playing in front of people? Yeah. I still like that — maybe not to the point where I have to do it. But when [Geddy and I] did the Taylor Hawkins benefits and we did the 'South Park' thing in Denver, and I do these Christmas shows with Andy Kim and lots of great musicians that I get to play with, then it's fun. I really enjoy that, and it's controlled, and it's great. To make a big deal and do a tour and get back into that thing, I don't really have an interest in that. I know Ged would like to play again and he would like to spend some time writing. But beyond that, honestly, we haven't talked about anything beyond just getting together and having a coffee and just bashing out a few notes."
Alex continued: "[Geddy] has a lot of stuff in his life. He's a very busy person. He's really enjoying this phase of being [a book] author. He's on the go, go, go, go all the time. And I'm here, and I'm playing on all these different projects. So, in a way, I've continued being that musician, and he's gone off to do other things. So, whenever he's ready, like usual, I only live five minutes away from him, like we have all our lives. I go over and hang out and we'll turn the recorder on and do some stuff, but there's no plan for a tour. There's no plan for anything. And I know rumors get started and people have their desires and lots of people would love to see us get back and play again. Well, I don't know. I don't know. Who knows? Maybe if we're together, we're messing around and we get excited… Certainly after we did those gigs, it was quite heady and very exciting. But I really love my life right now, and I don't know if I'm gonna disrupt it by being away from the things that I'm really enjoying, for any reason."
Lifeson also reflected on RUSH's final tour, which concluded in August 2015 in Los Angeles. According to Rolling Stone, the trek took the novel approach of presenting the band's music in reverse chronological order, meaning Alex and his bandmates — Lee and drummer Neil Peart — began the show with songs from their most recent albums and slowly worked back to their earliest material. As time went backwards, stagehands would swap out the backdrop to match the period they were visiting. That meant by the time they reached the encores, it looked like they were playing in the high school gyms of their youth.
"The last tour I thought was a terrific tour for RUSH," Alex said. "I thought we played really well. I thought the show was really fun. Going back in time to the beginning was a great way to celebrate the end of the band. I don't know if, at 70 years old, 10 years later, if I can play like I played back then. I haven't played that material in nine years. And if I can't play it like I played it nine years ago, then I really have no interest in doing it. I think RUSH has a strong legacy because of the way things ended. We ended on a high note, and that's the way people remember us. And I think that that also is partly the reason why so many people would love to see us back out, because that's the memory they have of us. We were dedicated to what we were doing. We practiced a lot. We were passionate. We played our hearts out. Physically, ten years later, at this stage, [after] these ten years, I don't know if we can do that. I don't know, can Ged sing like he did? Can I play guitar? Can he play bass like he did? I don't know. Unless we did a big rehearsal and tried to do all that stuff, we'll never know. But just thinking intellectually how this would work, I'm not keen on doing it, really."
Peart died on January 7, 2020, after quietly battling brain cancer for three and a half years. RUSH waited three days to announce Peart's passing, setting off shockwaves and an outpouring of grief from fans and musicians all over the world.
In 2022, Geddy revealed that Neil wanted to keep his cancer diagnosis a secret prior to his death.
Lee went on to say that he and Lifeson had to be "dishonest" to fans in order to protect Peart's privacy.
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17 ÿíâ 2025
MARTY FRIEDMAN: 'Belonging Is Extremely Overrated'
 In a new interview with Canada's The Metal Voice, former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman, who has been living and recording music in Japan since 2003, was asked if he ever feels isolated or that he doesn't belong in a country like Japan, which is not generally exposed to other cultures. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Oh, it's an excellent question. And I'm definitely, definitely the minority here [in Japan]. In the majority of everything I do, I'm the only non-Japanese in the room — in the studio, in the venue you could play. I'll do a show and there's thousands of people there [and] I'm the only foreigner in the room.
"People don't really understand the ratio of what it's like in a one-race society," he continued. "I think the correct number is something like 94, 95 percent of the people in this country are all Japanese. So, that's something to be reckoned with.
"It's interesting, because America, as you know, is a complete melting pot, so the concept of everything is completely different. We could talk forever about that, but for me, my personal experiences, which, of course, I outlined a ton in ]my recently released] book ['Dreaming Japanese'], is you can never, ever, no matter how fluent you get at the language, no matter how much you get immersed in the culture, never ever have the goal or intention to belong, because that's where you're gonna get tripped up. If you feel like, 'Well, I don't belong here. All these people are different. I'm the odd man out,' then you're not suited for this kind of thing. The way to internalize it is, there's no way I'm gonna belong, but I can certainly coexist and I can certainly bring something to the party and I can certainly get something out of this.
"Belonging is extremely overrated," Friedman added. "You don't have to belong. And what's so great about belonging? If you find a place that you like to be, that's where you like to be, and that's where you like to make your contributions to whatever it is you're doing, and to receive things. But sometimes people get turned off by not belonging to something. And that's kind of a — not a mental issue, but it's kind of the wrong goal, I think.
"Belonging is way overrated, and separating people because of whatever race they are is also very overrated," Marty explained. "Because, here I'm in a one-race society, but, for example, if I'm auditioning people for a project — say, I'm putting together a band for a record label or something, which I've done several times — there's guys who suck at what they do, and there's guys who are great at what they do, and there's guys who look the part, there's guys who don't look the part, there's guys whose attitudes are great, guys whose attitudes suck, all within the same one race. Qualified people and non-qualified people, this is the same with mixed-race countries like America. So why does race even matter? I want the best person for the job. And so the longer you're in any kind of professional capacity of anything, you kind of forget that everybody's a different race that I am. I've completely forgotten. And, actually, a lot of people tell me, after working with me for years, 'I totally forgot that you're American.' They might hear me speak English. I never speak English here in Japan, except for doing stuff like this [interviews with English-speaking media outlets] and talking to my family, so occasionally, if someone will hear me on the phone speaking English, they're, like, 'Oh my God. He speaks English. I forgot you were American.' Because I've really assimilated that much. But not to be confused with belonging, because I'm still the elephant in the room, so to speak."
Back in November 2021, Friedman, was asked during the fourth event in Cardiff University's Cardiff-Japanese Lecture Series if he experiences culture shock when he returns to his former home country of America. Marty said: "When I moved to Japan, I completely was encompassed by Japanese culture. No one I worked with spoke English. No one around me spoke English. The only time I spoke English was when I was doing international promotion or international tours or international interviews. So 24/7, it was all Japanese. And when that goes on for years and years, you start to dream in Japanese. My wife's Japanese, and we speak only Japanese. So, cultural things also become a part of you, because when you live somewhere, you become a part of the culture. And the things that matter in Japan are not the things that matter in America. Or the things that matter in Europe are not the things that matter in South America. So things that matter on a day-to-day basis are different. So culture 'shock' is kind of a shocking word, so I don't really feel shocked. But I feel like I'm very blessed, because when I go to America, I'm an American, so I can feel all the great things about being American. But I've lived in Japan for almost 20 years, and before I came here, I've been in so many Japanese situations that there's a definite part of me that is really a part of the Japanese culture so I can really feel both of them.
"You should never think that you're trying to belong," he continued. "Because it doesn't matter how perfect my Japanese is — and it's not perfect — but I'm never, ever gonna be Japanese. I feel a part of me is definitely influenced by Japan very much, but if your goal is to belong in another society, I think you're gonna be let down very, very much. Because as hard as you try, Japan is a one-race society and you just look different and you're born in a different place and you have different things in you. So the goal is not belonging; the goal is to add what you have to Japan. If you're trying to belong to something like that, I think you're gonna be let down. But it's not a letdown. You only really belong to yourself. And belonging to something is overrated. So I think you'll enjoy your Japan experience a whole lot more if you celebrate your differences while understanding Japan and enjoying the great things that you're able to enjoy about Japan. And don't be let down when sometimes people are not necessarily so friendly to foreigners. This happens to every country. You just have to let it be; it's just the way it is, especially with older generations. They're, like, 'Oh, the world is changing. Now there's English in the taxicabs. Oh my God.' People fear change. But you can't let that bother you. It's never bothered me once. I'm completely fine being a gaijin [a Japanese word for foreigners and non-Japanese citizens in Japan, specifically non-East Asian foreigners such as white and black people]; it hasn't stopped me from anything. So culture shock, it's not really as bad as people think it is. I enjoy being in America, and I enjoy being in Japan because both things have given me a lot of great things in my life. So learning English — English is the language of the world, so that's helped me everywhere. But in Japan, it's the opposite — in Japan, Japanese is the language, so it's a must. So culture shock is not really that big of a thing."
Friedman's autobiography, "Dreaming Japanese", arrived on December 3, 2024 via Permuted Press.
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17 ÿíâ 2025
Watch UNLEASH THE ARCHERS Perform "Green & Glass" Live At Bloodstock 2024; Pro-Shot Video
 On August 10, 2024, Canadian melodic metal legends, Unleash The Archers, stormed the stage at the Bloodstock Open Air Festival, delivering a breathtaking performance that left the crowd roaring for more. Known for their unique fusion of power metal, melodic death metal, and progressive influences, this band continues to push boundaries and redefine the genre.
The performance reached new heights with their thunderous rendition of "Green & Glass". This standout track showcases the band’s signature mix of dynamic melodies, intricate rhythms, and Brittney Slayes' commanding vocals. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to their sound, this track is bound to leave a lasting impression.
Watch pro-shot video of the band's performance of "Green & Glass" below:
Unleash The Archers released their sixth studio album, Phantoma, last May via Napalm Records.
Mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, and with lead guitarist Andrew Kingsley at the helm as both principal songwriter and producer, Phantoma is an exciting advancement in Unleash The Archers’ songwriting and storytelling mastery, and a giant leap forward in their towering musical trajectory.
Phantoma tracklisting:
"Human Era"
"Ph4/NT0mA"
"Buried In Code"
"The Collective"
"Green & Glass"
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17 ÿíâ 2025
STATICLONE Feat. BLACKLISTED Members Sign To Relapse Records; Announce Debut Album
 Philadelphia's hardcore punks Staticlone have signed to Relapse Records and make their debut with the crushing new album, Better Living Through Static Vision ( preorder), out March 7, 2025.
Hardcore and punk aren't genres that necessarily celebrate change. It’s not like the music is stagnant; it’s more that the tried and true is rewarded while anything new, anything different, is greeted with a quizzical eyebrow and the spoken or unspoken question of: “Is this good? Can you mosh to it?"
If there was anyone in Philadelphia who could answer those queries with expert authority, it’s George Hirsch and Dave Walling. Though really, you don’t even need to ask them. Put on the debut album by Staticlone, the band they started at the tail end of their previous outfit Blacklisted, and you’ll find all the answers you need.
On Better Living Through Static Vision you can hear Hirsch, bassist Walling, and drummer Jeff Ziga channel everything from crust to metal, and the hardcore punk they’ve all been steeped in for decades. In the sum of those parts Staticlone follows the path of Disfear, Wolfbrigade, Inepsy, and other groups that combine d-beat ferocity with rock n’ roll riffs.
Today, Staticlone share the album's first single, "Honeycomb." Hirsch comments, "When I was a kid I could hear the El train from my house, a weird calling, similar to the first time I heard Agnostic Front or Trouble. Growing up in Philadelphia I would ride that same El and Subway for hours, just staring out the window and listening to headphones. I’d ditch school (later on work) to do it, disappearing in the city disguised as a commuter. This same train took me to gigs where I eventually met Dave and Jeff. When I moved to Chicago, I did the same. The common bond being this weird 'static vision' that you see while looking out of a moving train window. When I moved back to Philadelphia the first thing I did was get on the train. I wrote a lot of the LP on these trains, combing through this life, which ironically is only a one way ticket."
He continues, "Staticlone is a band that makes music: Hardcore punk for hardcore punks, it’s | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
CARMERIA To Cover KAMELOT's "A Sailorman's Hymn" On New Acoustic EP
 On February 14, 2025, Carmeria will captivate listeners with the enchanting sounds of Trinity: Volume I. This acoustic release showcases the band's unique blend of dark symphonic metal, gothic rock, and ethereal melodies in a stripped-back format, offering a mesmerizing musical journey that will transport audiences to a world of mystical storytelling and haunting beauty.
With each track, Carmeria invites listeners to experience a rich tapestry of emotions, seamlessly fusing powerful vocals, atmospheric instrumentation, and intricate arrangements. Trinity: Volume I promises to be a transformative listening experience, leaving an indelible mark on fans and newcomers alike.
Jordan von Grae comments on the EP, stating, “The purpose of Trinity: Volume I is to provide fans of the band with a unique, 3-track, acoustic listening experience, showcasing Carmeria’s softer side. We are also releasing this EP as a means of providing our audience with some new music as we prepare to start working on our third album.”
Cover art by Hassane:
“Lost In The Snow” is the opening track of the EP, painting a heartfelt vision of a friend prom | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
SNOT's First Comeback Concert To Be Livestreamed On Instagram
 The reunited SNOT's first comeback show, which is scheduled for January 17 at the Parish room at the House Of Blues in Anaheim, California, will be livestreamed via the band's Instagram.
On Wednesday, SNOT took to its Instagram Stories to write: "SNOT will be going LIVE on instagram as soon as we hit the stage on Friday …
"Be on instagram around 9:45PM Pacific / 12:45AM Eastern to see it HERE first!
"Tell a friend. @snotband".
SNOT has announced five club shows in January, February and April 2025, leading up to the band's appearance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in May 2025 in Daytona Beach, Florida. SNOT will also play at select European festivals, as well as at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio, this summer.
In addition to guitarists Mikey Doling and Sonny Mayo, bassist John "Tumor" Fahnestock and drummer Jamie Miller, SNOT's 2025 lineup will include an as-yet-undisclosed new singer.
Earlier this month, Doling took to social media to share a video message in which he once again explained the reason for the band's decision to not reveal the identity of its new singer prior to the Anaheim show. Mikey said: "I'm so fucking excited to get out there and start playing again with my brothers, the original lineup of SNOT, with our new singer, of course, who y'all will know who he is after the January 17th show at the Anaheim House Of Blues Parish room.
"I wanted to let y'all know the reason that we haven't let you know who the singer is, is strictly because social media can be brutal and they would just go right to his — I don't know; his Facebook, Instagram or whatnot — and start scrutinizing him before he even got on stage with SNOT.
"I'll tell you this: he's no one you know, he's not some big famous rock star or vocalist, because that's what I'm hearing a lot of people are thinking. They're thinking that's the reason we're keeping it a secret. It's not. We found a guy who's extremely talented, extremely cool people, and he just does it right. He's incredible. I am very confident that y'all will be very happy once you see what he does with SNOT."
Upcoming SNOT shows:
Jan. 17 - Anaheim, CA - House Of Blues (with ADEMA, SICKSENSE)
Jan. 18 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick (with ADEMA, SICKSENSE)
Feb. 08 - Santa Barbara, CA - SOhO (with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, PETMEDZ)
April 25 - Denver, CO - HQ
April 26 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
May 18 - Daytona Beach, FL - Welcome To Rockville
July 18 - Flint, MI – The Machine Shop (with THE UNION UNDERGROUND)
July 19-20 - Mansfield, OH - Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival
Aug 8-10 - Kortrijk, Belgium - Alcatraz
Aug. 14-17 - Carhaix, France – Motocultor
Asked in a recent interview with The Kevin Powell Podcast how SNOT plans to announce its new vocalist, Doling said: "Let him come on stage. That's it. And figure out who he is on your own. If he says his name, great. But the last thing I wanna do is go on the Internet and put his name out there, and then people go to his social media and whatnot and start scrutinizing him before he even gets on stage. Because that's what will happen. I mean, you're living in the shadow of the great Lynn Strait [SNOT's late vocalist]. So it's gonna be a rough road for him. He's gotta prove himself on stage first. And, we're giving him that comfort. 'Cause like I said, if I said his name right now, we'd have a lot of people just going right to his social media.
"But he's awesome," Doling continued. "Let me just say when he sent me his audition reels, tapes, recordings, I was blown away like I've never been blown away since [the demise of the original SNOT lineup]. And I sent it to Tumor first thing, my right arm, my bass player from SNOT. He usually doesn't like anything. He's very cynical. He's the greatest guy ever, he's my brother, but he's a cynical person at times. And he called me right away and just said, 'Holy shit balls.' That's a quote. 'Where'd you find this guy? We found our dude. We found him.' And that's how it went down. Then, of course, I sent it to Jamie and Sonny, and they both agreed he's the guy. And here he is. We got him."
SNOT disbanded in 1998 following Strait's death, putting an end to a career that generated considerable promise but only one studio album, "Get Some". The band had been writing material for its sophomore CD and had completed 10 songs at the time of Strait's tragic passing. As a memorial to Strait, SNOT eventually decided to release those tracks, with lyrics and guest vocals provided by a host of stars from the alt-metal community. The resulting album, "Strait Up", was a fitting tribute from Strait's peers and friends, featuring members of LIMP BIZKIT, KORN, SLIPKNOT, SEVENDUST, (HED) P.E., COAL CHAMBER, SUGAR RAY, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SOULFLY, and more.
SNOT in 2014 recruited Carl Bensley (VITIATE, CONSUME THE FIRE) to sing for the band following the departure of Tommy "Vext" Cummings (ex-DIVINE HERESY, BAD WOLVES).
Reflecting on SNOT's original split and 2014 comeback, Doling told The Kevin Powell Podcast: "Un-fucking-fortunately, our singer Lynn Strait, the great, mighty Lynn Strait, who I miss and love so much, he passed away in a car accident and it put a halt to SNOT. We just couldn't go on without him at that point. And so we stopped for many years. And then we kind of got back together with some friends, and it wasn't real serious — [we] just [played] some shows. I don't really wanna say their names right now, but they're cool people and they helped us out."
As for how SNOT's latest reunion is different from the band's 2014 comeback, Doling said: "This one, it's serious. We're back-back. We got the booking agency. We got high-level shows and festivals. This is the real deal for us. We're back right now. And, yeah, that's where we are right now. And we're hungry to do it again. I'm very excited about it."
Doling previously discussed SNOT's reunion during an appearance on an episode of the "Talk Toomey" podcast. Regarding how the band's comeback happened, Mikey said: "Well, let's see. About a year ago, I was seeing the festivals that were coming in 2024, and I was noticing there were so many bands out there from our genre. You have the COAL CHAMBERs, the MUDVAYNEs and just so many bands out there killing it. And I'm sitting there thinking, 'Man, SNOT, it's time that we get on board with this.' So I talked to the dudes. We didn't even have a singer at that point. So anyway, so I reached out to the band and said, 'Hey, man, I think we should find a singer and play some festivals and have some fun.' And they were, like, 'Yeah, well, we're in if you can find us the right singer.' So, I looked around for a while. I had no luck. But I kept looking. And then I reached out to Alex Gilbert over at TKO — it's our booking agency — and I asked him, I said, 'Hey, man, I'm currently looking for a vocalist. And if I put all this work into putting SNOT back together, would you be interested in booking some shows and festivals for us?' And he said, 'I'll put the feelers out there and let's see how it goes.' So, a year went by. I didn't hear anything back. I kind of thought, 'All right. No interest.' So about three months ago, Alex called me. So I'm looking at my phone, like, 'Whoa, it's Alex from TKO.' I answered and I asked him how he's doing. And he said, 'Hey, man, I'm getting a lot of interest for SNOT. It's a lot. Everybody I talk to wants the band.' So I told him, 'Look, man, we're into it.' I didn't even let him know we didn't have a singer yet at that point. And I said, 'Let me get back to you. I'll talk to the guys.' So I instantly jumped on social media for a little something about looking for a vocalist for SNOT. And I got a lot of response. I got, like, eight videos and audio of dudes who just didn't fit. What they did is they would sing with the album, 'Get Some', and it just didn't fit. So I almost kind of gave up. And so right there at the end, before I threw the towel in on the whole thing, a friend of mine from Santa Barbara hit me up, texted me and said, 'Hey, I found the guy for SNOT.' And, I was, like, 'Yeah, sure,' in my mind thinking, 'Yeah, yeah. Right. Right.' So I jumped on the phone with him — let's say it's a girl, with her — and she said, 'I saw a guy. He has a band. And he reminded me of Lynn. It was goosebumps,' she said. And I said, 'Cool.' And Lynn is one of his favorite all-time singers. So, she put me in contact with him. And, again, I asked him, I said, 'Look, we're looking for a singer. Do me a favor. Set up a camera, microphone and sing along to 'Get Some', our album. And so about three or four days go by and then I get some videos on my phone. So I'm watching the video, and immediately it just punched me in the face how good it was. I was, like, 'Wow, this is the guy.' What he did is he set up in front of his — he has a little rehearsal spot, drums and amps, and he put 'Get Some' through his P.A. system and he wrapped the cable from the microphone around his arm and laid into it as if he was doing a show. He did, like, five songs and he was absolutely incredible, nailing it. He looks right. He's got the whole punk vibe that we're looking for. And he just nailed it, man.
"Singing like Lynn Strait is not easy, man. And he absolutely fucking rocked it, to the point where I had to sit down; I was so blown away. And so I immediately contacted Tumor, John Fahnestock, bass player for SNOT. And Tumor, [he is the] best guy in the world, but [he] hates everything. I sent it to him, and he called me right away. He was, like, 'Dude, holy shit. You found our guy.' That was the first thing he said. 'Who is it? Is this real?' I was, like, 'It's real.' So then I sent it out to the rest of the guys, Jamie and Sonny, and, and yeah, boom, it's there."
Doling added: "So, I talked to the [singer] guy, which I'm not gonna give up his name yet. I'm gonna keep that on the DL [down low] right now for a while until we start doing some shows. People can figure it out on their own. I don't want them knowing too much yet. I wanna keep it tight for now. But anyway. So then I contacted Alex at TKO and he started talking to promoters and we're just getting 'yes', 'yes', 'yes' all over the place right now. And we're gonna start doing some shows, man."
According to the Los Angeles Times, Lynn died in died in a car accident in December 1998 as he attempted to drive across Highway 101 in Mussel Shoals, California. The 30-year-old singer died instantly after his 1992 Ford Tempo was broadsided by a southbound full-size pickup truck about noon. Also killed was Strait's small bulldog, SNOT's mascot Dobbs, who adorned the cover of the band's debut album, the 1997 Geffen Records release "Get Some". Strait, a Santa Barbara resident, was crossing the highway after visiting his girlfriend in the community. Lynn apparently pulled into the path of the truck, which was going about 65 mph. The impact sent Strait's car spinning into the center divider where it stopped, a California Highway Patrol officer told the Los Angeles Times at the time.
SNOT's most recent U.S. tour, during which the band performed "Get Some" in its entirety, kicked off in late November 2014 in Palm Desert, California and wrapped in late December 2014 in Pomona, California.
Cummings fronted SNOT in 2008-2009 before he and guitarist Sonny Mayo exited the group amid "strained relationships."
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17 ÿíâ 2025
TRIVIUM Frontman MATT HEAFY Looks Back On Having To Re-Record Entire Ascendancy Album - "The Whole Record Was Slightly Out Of Tune"
 Speaking with Metal Hammer, Trivium frontman Matt Heafy looked back on the recording sessions for the band's 2005 album, Ascendancy. According to Heafy, a problem occurred with the tuning of the guitars, resulting in everything sounding off. Heafy explains:
"We recorded and finished the entire record in drop D flat tuning. I remember coming to the studio and producer Jason Suecof just had his head in his hands and he was like, 'Oh no, no, no!' The whole record was slightly out of tune because that guitar wasn’t holding its pitch. So, we actually deleted everything, tuned the guitar up half a step, and redid the whole album again."
Ascendancy spawned four singles: "Like Light To The Flies", "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr", "A Gunshot To The Head of Trepidation" and "Dying In Your Arms". | +1 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
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17 ÿíâ 2025
SOLACE Signs Multi-Album Contract With Magnetic Eye Records
 American metal stalwarts, Solace, have signed a multi-album contract with Magnetic Eye Records. The five-piece originally from Asbury Park, New Jersey will issue an expanded edition of their debut album, Further, in celebration of its 25th anniversary this summer, along with their upcoming fifth full-length also via the label in the last quarter of 2025.
Solace have already announced US live dates for early 2025. The roadtrip through the South and Southwest kicks off on January 23 at Bandito's in Richmond, VA. See below for all currently confirmed shows.
Solace comment: "Solace are happy to announce our signing to Magnetic Eye Records, a label we respect and more importantly who respects us", guitarist Justin Daniels writes on behalf of the band. "We're looking forward to an awesome partnership that lets us get more of our dirt metal out to the world."
Daniels continues: "This announcement is bittersweet in coming just a week after the passing of our original singer Jason. If nothing else, Solace perseveres as long as we can lift guitars and switch on amps. We move through sadness and look forward to honoring Jason's legacy and our own with this newest chapter of the band."
Jadd Shickler adds: "I had the privilege to sign Solace in 1999", the Magnetic Eye director adds. "They were the best band my first label ever signed, and they still are. Through different incarnations and numerous line-ups, I've dedicated countless years to making sure as many people as possible saw and heard their greatness, and I'm more than ready for Magnetic Eye Records to ram Solace's music down throats for countless more years to come."
Solace are celebrated veterans of the American metal scene. Hailing from Asbury Park, New Jersey at the windswept shore of the Western Atlantic, the band was founded in 1996. Built on a solid foundation of classic metal, early doom and punk ethic, the original four-piece infused a healthy dose of hardcore fury into grooving, grinding sludge.
Debut full-length Further garnered immediate attention for Solace on both sides of the Atlantic at the turn of the millennia. Three years later, the sophomore album 13 (2003) witnessed the Americans expanding and solidifying their style by highlighting the epic side of their songwriting. In the wake of this album, the band was invited twice to perform at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in 2006 and 2009, which further endeared them to an international audience.
Following a string of singles and EPs, the shoremen returned with acclaimed third album A.D. in 2010. Although the release was again well received, a hiatus followed during which Solace implemented some changes in their lineup. This maneuver got the heavy ship afloat again, and the remarkable full-length number four, The Brink, made landfall in 2019. This album has been described as a glorious trek through churning riffage, weighty doom power and drunken sea shanties, while the massive use of NWOBHM dual-guitar attack was also gladly noted.
Solace call their amalgamation of doom and heavy metal with hardcore elements dirt metal, while elsewhere it has been somewhat tongue-in-cheekly dubbed shorecore. Others file the New Jersey five-piece under stoner metal – and in truth, all these descriptions fit to an extent.
Solace aim to release their upcoming fifth full-length via Magnetic Eye Records by the end of 2025.
Tour dates:
January
23 - Richmond, VA - Bandito's (with Book of Wyrms, Hagstone)
24 - Atlanta, GA - Star Bar (with Hot Ram, Brood of Mockers)
25 - New Orleans, LA - Siberia (with Wizard Dick, So Awful, Burial Gift)
27 - Houston, TX - Black Magic Soci | 0 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
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17 ÿíâ 2025
Is Reactivated SAVATAGE Planning Any U.S. Shows? 'We're Gonna Play Everywhere', Says CHRIS CAFFERY
 Legendary American progressive metal band SAVATAGE recently announced its first headlining shows since 2002.
SAVATAGE's lineup for the 2025 dates will consist of Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, Chris Caffery on guitar, Al Pitrelli on guitar, Jeff Plate on drums and Zak Stevens on lead vocals.
Regarding how the SAVATAGE comeback came about, Caffery told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It was funny. I got a phone call from Adam Lind, our manager with TSO [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA], and he'd worked with us with SAVATAGE since back at 'Dead Winter Dead' and before that. And we always talked about it.
"I just kind of looked at SAVATAGE, like, I mean, we never broke up," he continued. "I remember the movie '48 Hours' with the guy Reggie who went to pick up the car, the car that nobody used for all those years. And the guy's, like, 'Where have you been?' He's, like, 'I've been busy.' It's, like, that's kind of the way it is with SAVATAGE.
"So yeah, well, that's the whole thing. It was time now. And Adam had called us up and he said, 'I wanna get on a call about SAVATAGE with everybody.' And I had no idea what he was gonna say. And he had us all on the line and said, 'Look, I've got some really solid offers for you guys to go do some festivals.' And me, I just basically started crying, to be honest with you. I couldn't believe it. I was so happy to hear that news. The first ones had come at it. There was offers from South America and Europe, and that's what we're doing now. We're going down to Brazil first in April, we're doing the Monsters Of Rock there, we're doing Masters Of Rock in Chile and Argentina. And then we head over to Europe in June and we're doing Hellfest and Rockwave and Graspop, and there's a few other ones over there and some headline shows. And it's just really exciting. The headline shows in Germany have been selling out, and we haven't even played on tour there in 20 years. So when you have 2,500- 3,500-seat places selling out, it makes you really excited."
Chris added: "Everybody asks me what's coming next. And I'm taking it one day at a time right now, because I had no idea this was gonna be happening. So I have all the answers you have. And when I get the news, everybody else will. So, I mean, we've talked. We wanna play everywhere. Everybody is really excited about it. So hopefully this is the beginning of a new run for SAVATAGE. So I can't really answer exactly what's happening next, but I'm just gonna tell you, we're going day by day on it and we're just really excited about it. And we know, you'll know. That's kind of how I look at it. But right now, I just look at it on my news and on the post and I see these things come out, and I'm, like, 'Wait a second.' I'm looking at this poster and it says SCORPIONS and JUDAS PRIEST and SAVATAGE, and I'm, like, 'This is awesome,' 'cause it's what I'd seen for decades before in the past with that, and now that part is back in my life. And like I said, that puts me full circle. Because I never really joined another band. I worked with Doro [Pesch], and when people needed help, I did some stuff with METAL CHURCH. But I mostly just did my own solo records and kind of laid it to the side, because I never wanted to place myself into another band that I couldn't commit to. And with TSO and my scheduling and I do a lot to take care of my mom, I just didn't have the time to give to something else. And now it's like SAVATAGE is such an important part of my life and my career and it's back. And like I said, it just feels like I've went full circle. And I was so happy every day of my life since I heard that announcement.
"There's a lot of things in this world that people look at," Caffery said. "And I pray for my friends in California. And I look at a lot of troubles and problems of this and that, and I'm blessed to have one of the most special, important things back in my life again. And I just feel really happy. It gives me a chance to help the people I know that have problems that exist in my life because it just levels my head and I look at it saying, like I said before, I'm pretty fortunate and pretty lucky and I'm excited to be able to go out and see those fans again."
Regarding the 2025 lineup of SAVATAGE, Chris said: "We've gotten together, we've done some photos, we've done some set stuff, but we have not sat down and played together as the band yet. We're still working on some of the little pieces for it, because the lineup is gonna be what you saw on 'Dead Winter Dead'. It's me and Al on guitar, it's Johnny Lee Middleton on bass, and then Jeff Plate on drums. And then you have Zak doing the vocals. I mean, [SAVATAGE mastermind] Jon Oliva is still a huge part of the band, and he's gonna be at rehearsals and he's working on the setlists and the arrangements and stuff, but right now he has some things with his back. And when he's able to go and do the shows, he will. But it was actually him who said to us, 'Go.'
"I talked to some people who are, like, 'Well, SAVATAGE doesn't have Jon going out with them.' But when I was talking to Jon before we left on the TSO tour — we were in his hotel room before I left for Green Bay for the first show out of rehearsals — and I was, like, 'Jon, I've never done a show without you,' and we were kind of tearing up on some things 'cause we were talking about his brother, and things, and Paul [O'Neill, TSO founder] with the music, and he just looked at me and he said, 'Would you go effin' play this music?' And it's what he wants us to do. So if that's what I'm hearing from Jon and that the fans are happy about it, then it's the right thing to do. And like the song says, this is the time. It's the time for us to do it. And we're all really excited, and the reaction has been great. And I think that people are gonna be really happy to see what comes onto that stage starting in April."
Asked if there has been any discussion about potentially new SAVATAGE music at any point, Caffery said: "Yeah. That's something we have talked about for years. I mean, Jon had said some things about it. Like I said, we're just doing things day by day now. And if and when anything goes down, it will. Right now, I'm just focusing on this. Like I said, I'm still so ecstatic that this is actually happening here. So I'm just looking forward to these shows.
"Years ago when people were asking if we were playing again, I told them my crystal ball wasn't working. So right now I'm saying the same thing and I'm just doing this day by day," he continued. "And right now SAVATAGE is playing, and from there, whatever's gonna happen is gonna happen. And I'm excited about the future. That's all I can say. I'm just really glad that SAVATAGE is back as part of my life and it's gonna be a part of everybody else's life again. Because, to me, it's just something that I've missed tremendously. I missed the fans, I missed those songs. I just missed that part of my life, and I never accepted… When people would go, 'You're ex-SAVATAGE,' I'm, like, 'Well, we didn't break up.' So it's just fun for me now… Because it's just, like, that's who I am, and that's the thing I wanna be. I never wanted to be in somebody else's band, replacing this person or that person. I was created a job in SAVATAGE by [late SAVATAGE guitarist] Criss Oliva, and from that point it just had been me and that band… And I'm just so happy that that part of my life is back."
As for the possibility of U.S. shows by SAVATAGE in the not-too-distant future, Chris said: "Yeah, like I said, we're just going day by day… It's one of these things [where] if you're seeing us playing in Europe and you're seeing us playing in South America and we're talking about wanting to continue doing shows, I would guess that we're gonna play everywhere, and that's what I wanna do. I know that's what the band wants to do. I haven't looked at dates yet, but I'm not booking the shows right now and I'm not going to. So when they come to me and say, 'Hey, we've got this,' then I'll be, like, 'Let's go.' It's one of these things where, like I said, I'm just happy it's happening and I'm going day by day on it and story by story and show by show. So as soon as I know, and it shows up either in my e-mail or on the SAVATAGE site, that is when you guys will know, because right now you actually know as much as I do. So I'm just happy to see the ones that we have. So I just assume, from what's been happening as I watched more shows get added on, that more shows are gonna get added on. Like I said, I'm taking it day by day."
When some of SAVATAGE's 2025 European headlining concerts were first announced last month, Stevens said in a statement: "As you can imagine, there are so many special things about these shows that are racing through my mind. We get to play a series of headline shows for the first time in over 20 years that will put us right back in front of all of the unbelievable fans who have given us so many unforgettable memories over the last three decades. Here's our chance to directly give back to everyone who’s been there supporting us all these years."
He added: "All the great festival shows are going to be off-the-charts amazing. It's even hard to imagine the scale of excitement that's going to take place with those shows."
Jon expressed his disappointment at not being able to join his bandmates but shared his deep elation for the upcoming concerts, stating: "I am very excited for the guys to be doing some shows. Unfortunately, due to health issues, I will not be able to join the guys for this run. Hopefully, this is just temporary. I will continue working in the studio on new music for the future. These shows will be awesome and I will be working with them to get it all ready for you. I know everyone is going to love it!!! Me and the guys are very excited and ready to kick ass! So from me, thank you all for the support for all these years and we can't wait to rock you!"
SAVATAGE 2025 South American dates:
April 19 - São Paulo, Brazil - Monsters Of Rock
April 23 – Santiago, Chile - Masters Of Rock
SAVATAGE 2025 European headlining shows:
June 14 - Oberhausen, Germany - Turbinenhalle
June 16 - London, UK - Shepherds Bush Empire
June 18 - Zurich, Switzerland - Komplex 457
June 19 - Munich, Germany - Tonhalle
June 24 - Milan, Italy - Alcatraz
SAVATAGE 2025 European festival appearances:
June 13 - Leeuwarden, Netherlands - Into The Grave
June 22 - Dessel, Belgium - Grapop Metal Meeting
June 26 - Barcelona, Spain - Rock Fest
June 28 - Thessaloniki, Greece - Rockwave
In late October, Jon explained in more detail his absence from the band's upcoming appearances, writing in a social media post: "Hello SAVATAGE fans, this is Jon Oliva. I want to set a few things straight for everyone. First of all, I am very excited for Johnny, Chris, Zak, Jeff & Al to play again. I feel it's important for the fans to enjoy our music live, and believe me these guys will kick ass.
"As far as I go, I was going to do these shows but unfortunately, I've run into more health issues. I want you all to know that if there was any way I could do these shows I would, but my health issues are more serious than I originally thought.
"As most of you know I fractured my spine in 3 places and have recently been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis as well as Ménière's disease. My doctors are working with me to get healthy again.
"I am working closely with the guys and will be involved in every other aspect of the show. I am 100 percent behind the guys doing this and I promise I will return [as soon as possible]. In the meantime, I am working in the studio on new material.
"I love you all and thank you for understanding my situation, I know my brothers will deliver the goods."
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Ménière’s disease is a disorder of the inner ear that causes severe dizziness (vertigo),ringing in the ears (tinnitus),hearing loss, and a feeling of fullness or congestion in the ear. Ménière’s disease usually affects only one ear, but in 15% to 25% of people with the disorder, both ears may be affected.
Nearly two years ago, Jon told Sakis Fragos of Greece's Rock Hard that he had "enough material" for three SAVATAGE albums, but he wanted to take his time making the best LP possible. "I'm not rushing this," he said. "No fucking way. 'Cause this will probably be the last album we ever do. And I'm gonna make sure that it's a 10 out of a 10."
Regarding the musical direction of the new SAVATAGE material, Jon said: "Some of this shit is really strong. I'm even looking at myself going, 'Holy shit. This is really strong.' And the fact that you're gonna have me and Zak sharing the vocals and doing songs together in like a duet thing, is even more… it blows me away. I purposely wrote five or six songs specifically for Zak to sing. And then I worked [on] a lot of songs with Al Pitrelli that are definitely, 'These are Oliva songs.' And then we have a couple of big epic songs.
"This is gonna be the best album I ever made," Oliva promised. "Unless I kill myself. All I know is that the SAVA fans are gonna be fucking blown away when they hear this. They're gonna be blown away. I wasn't gonna do the SAVATAGE thing and just do a half-assed album. If I'm doing this album, it's gonna be the best album I've ever done. 'Cause when I go out, I wanna go out on top."
Jon went on to say that a new SAVATAGE song called "For The Man Who Would Be King" is one that he sometimes refers to as "the new 'Morphine Child'," a nod to the track on SAVATAGE's 2001 album "Poets And Madmen". "And that's one that me and Zak are gonna do together," he explained. "And then it's got this big middle section that's all these QUEEN, operatic[-style vocals]. I'm, like, 'Wow, this is gonna be epic.'"
Regarding which other musicians will be involved in the recording process for the new SAVATAGE album, Jon said: "I'm gonna have [former SAVATAGE drummer Steve] Wacholz come in and play on a couple of songs. But Jeff Plate, Johnny, Al Pitrelli, Chris Caffery, Zak, me, and on a couple of things I'm gonna have Jane Mangini [TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA keyboardist] come in and play."
He continued: "I'm getting everybody involved from the beginning. I want it to be a full-band album, all of us working together. And it's gonna be great."
Asked about a possible title for the new SAVATAGE album, Jon said: "The working title is 'Curtain Call', but I don't know if that's gonna be it. 'Cause the very last song that's gonna be on the album is this song called 'Curtain Call', and it's just me with a piano, and it's very deep. It's basically me singing to the fans, telling them all goodbye and thank you. Every time I hear it, I cry. Everybody I played it for cries. It's just very deep. But it's my way of saying goodbye to everybody. 'Thank you. I love you all. And this is my final goodbye. Thank you. Have a good life. And do whatever.' So I think I'm gonna call it 'Curtain Call', but it's not in stone yet."
Zak joined SAVATAGE in 1992 as the replacement for Jon Oliva. Zak sang on four albums with the band — "Edge Of Thorns" (1993),"Handful Of Rain" (1994),"Dead Winter Dead" (1995) and "The Wake Of Magellan" (1997) — before departing in 2000, allowing Jon to return. Both Jon and Zak took part in SAVATAGE's 2015 performance at Wacken Open Air, which marked the band's first, and only so far, appearance on stage since they went on hiatus back in 2002.
SAVATAGE's last album release, "Poets And Madmen", in 2001 was highlighted by Jon's return as lead vocalist, replacing Zak, who left the band citing family reasons, and the departure of guitarist Al Pitrelli, who accepted an offer to join MEGADETH in 2000. Pitrelli did record solos for some songs prior to his departure. Another very limited U.S. tour followed, supported by FATES WARNING in the early shows, and then NEVERMORE for the remainder. Around this time, Jon chose Zak's replacement in the form of Damond Jiniya (DIET OF WORMS). Damond performed Zak's parts on tour, with Jon having an increased vocal role in proceedings.
In September 2021, Jon Oliva was arrested on the west central coast of Florida for driving under the influence as well as possession of a controlled substance. Police charged Oliva with possession of cocaine, which is a felony, and DUI, which is a misdemeanor. Oliva was reportedly arrested again in July 2023 on another cocaine possession charge.
Back in 2016, Jon announced on social media that he suffered a stroke in April of that year. At the time, he said: "It was not as serious as it could have been, but it did leave me with some physical recovery challenges often associated with strokes."
Despite his health issues, Jon said that he didn't regret the way he had lived his life. He wrote: "I lived the rock 'n' roll lifestyle since I was 18. It's all I knew and I enjoyed the ride very much. But there comes a time in everyone's life where you have to step back and make some life-changing decisions... which I have."
Shortly after SAVATAGE's reunion performance at the 2015 Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany, Oliva claimed that he felt better than he had in 20 years because he had "stopped drinking and eating" in preparation for the concert. He explained: "It's my voice that's freaking me out, because, even when I was in my late 20s, early 30s, doing songs like '24 Hours Ago' were always really hard to do. And, of course, I didn't realize that it was all the drugs and alcohol I was doing. But, after doing that, getting my act together and stuff, singing '24 Hours Ago', it's actually easy now. [Laughs]"
In addition to his work with SAVATAGE, Oliva is well known for co-creating the classical music-meets-prog rock and pyro act TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA alongside the project's founder Paul O'Neill. Oliva has reportedly remained involved in TSO's activities even after O'Neill's April 2017 death of an accidental drug overdose.
Jon's brother Criss, who was one of the founding members of SAVATAGE, was killed in October 1993 by a drunk driver when he and his wife Dawn were en route to the Livestock festival in Zephyrhills, Florida. The driver of the other car was found to have a drunk driving record of seven prior DUIs and having a blood alcohol content of .294 percent.
Photo credit: Josh Ruzansky | +2 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
HELVITNIR Feat. MAYHEM, Former RAGNAROK Members To Release Debut Wolves Of The Underworld In March
 Helvitnir, the Norwegian black metal act forged in the icy depths of 2023, is set to release their debut album, Wolves Of The Underworld, on March 14, 2025, through the esteemed Italian label Dusktone.
First single “Throes Of Transformation” is streaming below.
The band was born when Hellcommander V, Bjarkan, and Ihizahg parted ways with Ragnarok, carrying with them years of shared creative synergy. Determined to continue their collaboration, the trio brought along a treasure trove of raw material, which they meticulously refined in the months that followed.
Helvitnir officially announced their arrival in November 2023 with the release of the single and video "Helvitnir", which immediately set the tone for their uncompromising style. Shortly after, they recorded a 7-track demo, which quickly caught the attention of Dusktone. The momentum continued with the December release of a second video single, "Void Of Emptiness”.
The band solidified its lineup at the end of 2023 by enlisting the legendary Mayhem drummer Jan Axel "Hellhammer" Blomberg, whose technical prowess and iconic style brought an additional layer of ferocity to Helvitnir’s sound. With the lineup complete, the band set its sights on the future.
In June 2024, Helvitnir released an EP featuring four tracks from their demo. The EP was met with acclaim, showcasing the band’s versatility — a masterful blend of raw, chilling aggression and majestic, grandiose compositions.
Helvitnir’s music stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Norwegian black metal while forging a distinct identity that bridges the past and the future. Drawing from the raw intensity and bleak atmospheres that defined the genre’s origins, the band weaves in a modern sensibility that expands its sonic scope.
Their sound pays homage to the cold, primal ener | +1 | |
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17 ÿíâ 2025
IGGY POP Premiers "Modern Day Ripoff" Video From Upcoming Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2023 Release
 Iggy Pop will release Live At Montreux Jazz Festival 2023 on January 24 via earMUSIC on Blu-ray+CD Digipak, 2LP (Black) Gatefold and Digital Download.
"Modern Day Ripoff" (Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023) is the new single from the upcoming release. Watch the official video below, stream/download the single here, and pre-order the album here.
On July 6, 2023 Iggy Pop returned to the Montreux Jazz Festival backed by a seven-piece band and thrilled a capacity Stravinski Auditorium crowd with a career-spanning set including tracks from his time with The Stooges, his Idiot and Lust For Life albums, New Values leading up to his recent release Every Loser.
There has never been an artist on stage quite like Iggy Pop and here he has never been better. With a band as versatile and acrobatic as the artist himself, there is everything from the glorious primitivism of Stooges-era "I Wanna Be Your Dog" and "T.V. Eye", the swagger of "Lust For Life", the precise metronomic drone of 'Nightclubbing", and the full-on unleashed rock fury of the recent "Modern Day Ripoff" and "Frenzy".
“I give something extra every time I do Montreux Jazz. In ’23 it was deep cuts like 'Mass Production', 'Endless Sea', 'Five Foot One' and a hell of a lot of sweat." - Iggy Pop
This most comprehensive live collection catches up with Iggy as he continues to win over generations of new
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16 ÿíâ 2025
SODOM's THOMAS 'ANGELRIPPER' SUCH: 'I Wanna Slow Down Everything In Next Year'
 In a new interview with Ghost Cult Magazine, bassist/vocalist Thomas "Angelripper" Such of German thrash metal veterans SODOM spoke about the band's plans for 2025. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I wanna slow down everything in next year. I don't wanna stop with the band, but I wanna slow down a little bit. It's like [SLAYER bassist/vocalist] Tom Araya — I need more time for my family, I need more time for my hunting and I need more time for my friends and I need more time for myself. So I have to slow down a little bit.
"I need a break, because after the pandemic, we did so many shows and we did so many things because I'm busy every day with the stuff," he explained. "I'm working 12 [hours] a [day], maybe more. I get some health issues — I get the same, like Tom Araya, with my spine, with my neck, my ears, my eyes. I have to fix it. But I need more time. But if you're on the road every day and all the time, you can do nothing. So we'll see what happens. We wanna wait for the new album and wanna wait for the reaction. And we'll see what happens."
Angelripper added: "If I [don't] have so much shows in the next year, I have more time for the back catalog, I have more time for the new album, I have more time for this, for that. I never stopped doing my job and I never stopped doing my work, but I can't tour so much next year. That is a problem, because you have one show or two shows in South America and you are on tour for 10 days. You waste time on airports, on hotels, on soundchecks, whatever. I need to take care of my time. I need to take care of myself."
In November 2023, SODOM released a new 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, Frank Blackfire (guitar),Yorck Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums).
SODOM's latest 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.
Angelripper previously described "Genesis XIX" as "one of the toughest and most diverse studio recordings that SODOM have ever released."
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Don Airey
