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6 ноя 2024
BUCKCHERRY Begins Recording Eleventh Studio Album
 BUCKCHERRY has entered a Nashville studio with producer Marti Frederiksen to begin recording the band's eleventh album.
On Monday, November 4, BUCKCHERRY shared the following message via social media: "Touched down in Nashville and TODAY we begin work on album number 11 with our good friend Marti Frederiksen + start makin' plans for 2025! You ready?! LET'S GOOOOOO!!"
Three months ago, BUCKCHERRY frontman Josh Todd spoke to the "Everblack" podcast about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the follow-up to the band's 2023 album "Vol. 10". He said: "We already got record eleven written. We have a few more songs that we've gotta… We're about three songs short, and we'll get that done. And we're gonna record in November. And we'll have our eleventh record out next year sometime, probably before the summer."
"Vol. 10" came out in June 2023. The 11-song LP featured 10 new BUCKCHERRY originals and, as a bonus track, a cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69". The album was produced by Frederiksen and recorded at Sienna Studios in Nashville. The album was released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan, and by Earache Records for the rest of the world.
Frederiksen previously produced 2021's "Hellbound" as well as BUCKCHERRY's fourth album, "Black Butterfly", and co-wrote "Sorry", among other songs, with the band.
In November 2023, BUCKCHERRY released a new holiday song called "Tell 'Em It's Christmas".
BUCKCHERRY previously released another holiday song, "Christmas Is Here", back in 2010.
In the summer of 2020, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Billy Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July of that year.
In 2019, BUCKCHERRY enlisted Francis Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".
Touched down in Nashville and TODAY we begin work on album number 11 with our good friend Marti Frederiksen + start makin' plans for 2025! You ready?! LET'S GOOOOOO!! 👊💥
Posted by Buckcherry on Monday, November 4, 2024
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6 ноя 2024
DINO CAZARES Explains Why Reunion Of FEAR FACTORY's Classic Lineup Isn't Possible
 In a new interview with the Life Is Peachy podcast, FEAR FACTORY guitarist Dino Cazares spoke about the circumstances that led to the 2020 departure of the band's original singer Burton C. Bell. Cazares said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "[After] I [came] back with FEAR FACTORY, we released four records. Me and Burton got sued by [former FEAR FACTORY members] Christian [Olde Wolbers, bass] and Raymond [Herrera, drums] for monies owed. We owed them money. I ended up beating my lawsuit against those guys, but Burton ended up losing his lawsuit against those guys and has to pay them a million dollars. So Burton decides to quit the band. And he said a lot of things in the press, like he only did FEAR FACTORY out of necessity, he only did FEAR FACTORY 'cause he needed money, he didn't believe a lot of the lyrics he was writing, and blah, blah, blah, blah. He said he felt restrained doing FEAR FACTORY, he felt like he was pigeonholed doing FEAR FACTORY. And that's fine. I ended up winning my lawsuit against the guys, against Raymond and Christian.
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that people thought that I sued Burton, but that's not true," Cazares clarified. "It was Raymond and Christian who sued us individually. We had separate lawsuits. They sued us separately so they can get separate money. So if they would have won my lawsuit, I would have had to give them a million dollars. I won my lawsuit against them. I didn't owe them anything. But, actually, Burton filed for bankruptcy, and when he filed for bankruptcy, he tried to get out of paying those guys. And, unfortunately, he lied in his bankruptcy. That's a federal offense. Raymond and Christian took him back to court, made him open up the bankruptcy. The bankruptcy was null and void. So Burton had to pay back those guys, and they took all of Burt's assets. Assets, meaning whatever you own, whether it's a house, a car, a trademark, copyright, business, so on and so on. They took all that away from him for lying in court.
"When you go through a bankruptcy, the bankruptcy court sells your assets to try to make money back, to pay back the people you owe money to," Dino continued. "So, when I found out that Burton's assets were up for sale, my lawyer contacted the court of Pennsylvania and said, 'Hey, look, we're interested in buying this FEAR FACTORY trademark,' Burton's half. At this point, I owned half and Burton owned half. Raymond and Christian did not own the name at all whatsoever. They were only owed money. That's it. But they didn't own the trademark. Even though they tried to take the trademark from us and try to find every possible way to do that. 'Cause that's what lawyers do, right? They were not successful. So, the bankruptcy court owned Burton's half of the trademark. They put it up for sale. It's like eBay. They auction it off. So I had to place a bid if I wanted that trademark. And that's what I did. I put a bid up. Now, Burton couldn't buy his own assets back because he already lied in court. It was a federal offense. So he couldn't buy his assets back. So he didn't even have the opportunity to do that legally. I figured, 'Hey, I'm gonna try to buy this name.' And I wanted to bring Burton and say, 'Hey, look, I got the name. Let's just continue.' So I put a bid up for the trademark. They wanted a lot of money for it. And Raymond and Christian put a bid up for it as well. But eventually I ended up winning the bid, I ended up winning the auction, and I owned Burton's half of the name, which meant I owned full 100 percent of the trademark of FEAR FACTORY. So I reached out to Burton and I said, 'Hey, just come back 50-50,' which I found out technically, even though I bought Burton's 50 percent of the trademark, I couldn't give it to him. I couldn't legally buy it and then give it to him because if I did, then that means I was colluding and buying a name and just giving it to him. It goes against what the court's orders were. So I couldn't even do that, but I could pay Burton 50 percent of whatever we earned as FEAR FACTORY. Now there was a problem with that. The problem was Raymond and Christian froze his assets.
"If Burton would have come back to FEAR FACTORY, whatever he earns from FEAR FACTORY, a percentage of that would have to go to Raymond and Christian to pay back the million of dollars," Cazares explained. "So Burton didn't wanna go out there on tour and [be] working his ass off and having to pay those guys a percentage of what he earns on tour. Basically, whatever money is earned from Burton Bell's name in FEAR FACTORY, that goes to Raymond and Christian. So in other words, if the song 'Replica' earns money on Spotify, that money goes to Raymond and Christian's lawyers. It's kind of like child support. If you're a guy having to pay child support, but you happen to be that guy that doesn't pay his child support, the court can go after your money that you're earning from your job. They could take a percentage of that money and pay your kids. That's basically what was happening to Burt. Now, Burt can go get a regular job. Let's say he went got a job at [McDonald's]. He wouldn't have to give him a portion of that money, because that's not being earned by FEAR FACTORY. I could be wrong. There might be some technicalities where I'm a little wrong, but it's basically what happened. So, in reality, me playing the FEAR FACTORY songs live goes to pay back Burton's debt to those guys. But Burton doesn't see that."
Dino added: "There's a whole other side to it that fans just don't know. And I get it. They're not in this industry. They're just a fan listening to the songs and they don't understand how all this works."
Regarding the possibility of the classic FEAR FACTORY lineup reuniting at some point in the future, Cazares said: "Listen, sure, it's easy for all four of us to get together, but it wouldn't be easy to do business with them, it wouldn't be easy to write songs with them and it wouldn't be easy because somebody would have to be in control of that ship and that would be me. Not anybody else. That's not gonna work. Look what happened to JANE'S ADDICTION. They got back together. [Laughs] Burton pretty much said, 'Ah, fuck you, Dino. I'm not coming back. Fuck that. I'm over it.' So I'm, like, 'Okay, I'll do what I normally do. Put a [new version of the] band together and fucking do it.' It's not like I haven't been there before. I still have the fire, the drive, the passion to do this. And I think that's owed to the FEAR FACTORY fans. The FEAR FACTORY fans wanna hear the FEAR FACTORY songs like they are on the record. They wanna hear the songs. They grew up with those songs, they still listen to those songs, and then when we go out there and play, we're gonna give it the best that we can do. And it's pretty fucking good."
Anticipating the negative feedback he will likely receive from the metal community for his comments, Dino said: "Now, do you realize that when you put this [episode of the podcast] out and you start sending stuff to all the metal sites [to cover what was said], this is gonna spark up some drama. It's also gonna spark up some, like, 'Oh, isn't Dino over it by now?' It's not that it's something I need to get over. It's just what happened. That's all it is. This is just a story — my story of what happened. That's all it is. And I have no ill will towards any of those other guys. None. As a matter of fact, I've spoken to Christian quite a few times already… I have no ill will towards those guys, but there are reasons why people are not in my life anymore. That is my choosing. I don't like to go back to people that have hurt me multiple times. And that's just how it is. But I have no ill will towards those guys at all whatsoever. And I wish them success in whatever they do."
FEAR FACTORY's current lineup also features Milo Silvestro on vocals, Tony Campos on bass, and Pete Webber on drums.
FEAR FACTORY played its first headlining concert with Silvestro and Webber on May 5, 2023 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
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6 ноя 2024
EPICA Debut "The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)" (Live At The Symphonic Synergy); Video
 Dutch symphonic metal titans, Epica, recently unleashed their eeriest creation yet, the spine-chilling music video for "The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)", a haunting track that lures listeners into a world where shadows dance and the afterlife whispers.
Today, Epica shares the live video below, stating: "Epicans! Brace yourselves… the moment has arrived. You’ve called for it, and now the full live specter of 'The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)' from The Symphonic Synergy show at @afaslive is here to haunt your screens!"
"The Ghost In Me (Danse Macabre)" is a unique collaboration with Europe’s second-most visited theme park, Netherlands’s magical De Efteling, and their much-anticipated new attraction, Danse Macabre.
Drenched in ghostly imagery, the video mirrors the unsettling thrill of De Efteling’s new ride, which opens its gates on October 31, right in time for this Halloween season. Ever since their childhood, every member of Epica has loved this theme park that welcomes over 5 million visitors per year. Therefore, this collaboration was a true match made in the otherworld.
Submerge yourself now in the music video which was filmed right inside and in front of the new attraction - and as if this wasn’t already exciting enough, the band even received their very own “Epica gravestone” that you can spot, if you look closely.
Epica’s keyboard player, Coen Janssen, comments: “Every kid in the Netherlands knows how magical ‘de Efteling’ is, and working this closely with the most beautiful theme park in the world surely is a dream come true! As a young boy, I immediately got captivated by the “Danse Macabre” by Saint-Saëns as a soundtrack for their haunted house “Spookslot”. So when ‘de Efteling’ announced their new plans for the ghostly attraction “Danse Macabre” all pieces of the puzzle fell into place immediately: Why not combine our sy
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6 ноя 2024
ROTTING CHRIST Performs "Societas Satanas" Live At Bloodstock 2024; Pro-Shot Video
 Rotting Christ performed on the Ronnie James Dio Main Stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival 2024. On August 9, the legendary Greek black metal band enthralled thousands in Derbyshire with their ritualistic soundscapes and powerful presence. Their set featured songs spanning their rich discography, epitomizing their dedication to crafting immersive, intense live performances.
In this featured clip, experience the electrifying performance of “Societas Satanas”. The track's eerie riffs, thunderous rhythms, and deep, guttural vocals epitomize the sound that has defined Rotting Christ since the late ‘80s. Showcasing their ability to evoke both atmosphere and intensity, the band merges rhythmic simplicity with raw, almost tribal energy that resonates with audiences worldwide.
Rotting Christ remains a pioneering force in Greek black metal, ever-expanding the genre’s reach. This Bloodstock performance underscores their technical skill and stage command, amplified by the passion of fans and hauntingly powerful soundscapes. Enter the dark domain of Rotting Christ’s mastery in this unforgettable live experience.
Rotting Christ recently released the video below, featuring their performance of the Pro Xristou album track, "Like Father Like Son", filmed at Lithuania's Kilkim Žaibu X
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6 ноя 2024
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6 ноя 2024
EDSEL DOPE Wanted To Help Fans Reconnect To STATIC-X 'Without Feeling Guilty About It'
 DOPE leader Edsel Dope, who is widely rumored to be Xer0, the masked frontman of STATIC-X, was asked in a new interview with The Adventures Of Pipeman about his role in helping bassist Tony Campos, drummer Ken Jay and guitarist Koichi Fukuda keep the STATIC-X legacy alive. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): " I was always a big STATIC-X fan and the two bands have so much synergy. We both came out in 1999. If you look back at the touring that the two bands did as we were cutting our teeth, aside from Ozzfest, practically every tour that both bands did, we did together. It was like STATIC-X, DOPE, POWERMAN 5000; STATIC-X, DOPE, FEAR FACTORY; STATIC-X and DOPE and SEVENDUST; and STATIC-X and DOPE by ourselves. We did 250 shows together in the span of our first album. That's a lot of connectivity to those same fans. So, I felt like I had a real clear vision as a fan and as a friend and as a band that unlike STATIC-X, who always had a major label, always had a big management firm, without all of that, and especially without their main guy, Wayne [Static] there, they, for a lack of better words, were in very unfamiliar territory. Whereas for me, I had built an independent infrastructure over the last several years. And as a fan of STATIC-X, I looked at it sitting down with Tony and going, 'I think I can help you guys. With the 20 years of building my own independent infrastructure, you can sort of just put this through that same prism. And you guys are very close to this. So I'm sure you've had ideas of how to bring this back. But as a fan of the band, I know what I would like to see.'
"Of course, everything's gonna be received with skepticism and, like, 'I don't know about this,' and there was a lot of that, 'No Wayne Static, no STATIC-X' in the beginning," he continued. "But, again, if you're doing it for the right reasons and you have a vision for something that really can help the music live and can really help people have those experiences… I know how much I miss the band, and I know that I'm one of millions of fans out there that wanted to get fucking hammered and listen to 'I'm With Stupid' loud and live in a room and going, like, 'We're never gonna have those experiences again.' Well, how can we change that and do it in the right way to where people can not feel guilty when they're smiling at a STATIC-X show? Because in the beginning, it's a mourning, it's sad. But that was a big part of it, was to keep throwing as much positive energy and, for a lack of better words, fun at it, because STATIC-X was always such a fun band with fun songs. There's a lot of metal bands that are serious. That wasn't STATIC-X. STATIC-X was always this fun, almost smile-on-your-face metal band. So it was important for us to figure out how to reconnect fans to that and allow them to participate in a STATIC-X experience without feeling guilty about it."
When host Pipeman noted that some bands try to find "replacements" for original singers, Edsel said: "Or they try to move on. They try to rebrand it as something new. And it was, like, STATIC-X is a legacy band, bro. You try to take the legacy out, what the fuck are you doing? You're trying to take the Wayne Static out of STATIC-X, what are you doing? Why would you do that? So I don't know. To me, it wasn't hard. It was just, again, trying to make sure that you really make it fun and let it be about the music. And then, with today's technology, we were able to look at 'evil disco' as something more than a sound and go, 'Well, how do we represent the visual of evil disco?' Because STATIC-X really checked out in, like, 2009. So 10, 12, 15 years of technology development for LED screens and just big production props that didn't really exist back then that you can put through the evil disco filter. And there was a lot of really cool, fun shit to come out of that too. So I couldn't be more proud and more happy for my friends who are able to go out there and continue on with something that they all worked very hard on."
Dope continued: "STATIC-X was — of course, Wayne was the head chef. He was the Gordon Ramsey of it. But if you take any one of those guys away from that first album when the band was really defining their sound, it's not the same band. Imagine 'Wisconsin Death Trip' without Tony Campos's voice and without his low-end thunder. It was a huge part of the sound. Kenny was the guy that got in his car and moved from the Midwest out to L.A. with Wayne to start the band. That's your partner in crime, dude. It doesn't happen without that. And then Koichi came in at the end and was, like, 'Oh, I play guitar, but I do lots of programming.' And he was a big part of that electronic techno rave sound that made 'Wisconsin Death Trip' not just an industrial album, but almost like a techno rave evil disco album. So all four of those guys together are responsible for that sound, and to think that those guys wouldn't be able to go out and celebrate the anniversaries of that album that went platinum, it wouldn't have been fair. So I'm really happy for them because it was such an achievement for all of them. And also for Wayne's family who's been part of this with us the whole time and gets to watch their son's band go to another level, which — and I say this with respect, at the end, Wayne wasn't doing well and the community wasn't really supporting his choices anymore either. And rightfully so. So he's caught up in all of this refound success. And in many ways, it allows us to sort of overlook those darker years at the end where he was kind of phoning it in and didn't really care anymore because he was just caught in another trip. So it's really nice for the legacy of the whole thing that the band has been so successful in bringing it back and bringing it to a new generation of fans that can appreciate it. And I can say this with the most purity in the world that there's no doubt in my mind Wayne Static is more on the minds and in the hearts of the fans than he's ever been. And what more can you ask for than that?"
Back in February 2023, Edsel was asked in an interview with Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio about the decision to keep Xer0's identity "private" and not publicly name the person who has spent much of the last three years performing and touring alongside Campos, Jay and Fukuda. He said: "Really and truthfully, it's not so much about it being private as it is about respecting the brand of STATIC-X and retaining the respect when writing or discussing it. And a good example I can use for that is GHOST. Everybody knows that there's a dude called Tobias that's behind the paint, but when people write about GHOST, they don't call him Tobias; they respect the entity and they call him Papa whatever the fuck he is. And that's because they respect the creative, they respect the artistic integrity of it enough to honor that.
"With STATIC-X, we knew very early on that we were not going to have the overwhelming support of the media and the community," Edsel continued. "And in the world that we live in, most people's goal is not to be supportive; it's to try and tear things down. It's to try and be the one to uncover and let you know that there is no Santa Claus or whatever it is. So, for me, it was more about making sure that STATIC-X was properly represented, because I would never be interested in looking at a photo of STATIC-X or reading a liner note that mentions me as being the singer of STATIC-X. Edsel Dope has no interest in being the singer of STATIC-X. There's one living, breathing singer of STATIC-X, and that's Wayne Static. And then there's a character, an entity, for lack of better words, that was created in order to allow STATIC-X to have a future and to continue and be the legacy act that they are and tour and perform, and we gave that character a name that is respective to STATIC-X and fits the branding of what STATIC-X is, and that's what the importance is. It's the importance of recognizing the character as opposed to recognizing the person behind the character."
Dope added: "You have to understand that if we didn't make that an absolute mission of ours that people would shit all over it and they would have done everything they could to discredit it. And if it wereEdsel Dope singing for STATIC-X, it would be, 'Oh, it's STATIC DOPE.' Or if it was Burton [C. Bell] from FEAR FACTORY, it would be, like, 'Oh, STATIC FACTORY.' It's, like, 'Go fuck yourself.' You can't give people the ability to control your narratives or else they're gonna control it in the worst fucking way possible, because, for whatever reason, that's the culture that we currently exist in. If it was 25 years ago, we wouldn't have any of this mess because we'd call the editor of fucking Rolling Stone magazine and go, 'Hey, dude, we're gonna let you in on what's happening,' and they would go, 'Oh, this is great,' and they would get behind it and they would properly help you tell your story to the world. But in the world that we currently live in, that's not the goal. The goal is, as I said, to be the naysayer and to be the one who lets you in on the fact that there is no Santa Claus and ruins the parade for everybody because they're just dicks."
When Erickson noted that social media has given everyone a voice, which in turn has turned out to be more of "negative than a positive", Dope concurred. "A hundred percent," he said. "And it's not just the people on the message boards. It's the people that deliver the news too. And it's really sad because heavy metal, whatever you wanna call it, we're absolutely the minority when it comes to the overarching pie of music listeners. There's no doubt that heavy metal music is a much smaller demographic than pop music or rap music or any of those things. So you would think that the news outlets that are popular for being the news-gathering outlets for this type of music, you would think that they would go more out of their way to paint artists in this genre in a more favorable light. But if you notice, half their goal is to rip everybody down, half their goal is to create drama for clicks or to put the worst picture that they can of Sebastian Bach up when they talk bad about him, or whatever it is; they just have these motives. Why would you do nothing but tear down the artists in the genre that's already struggling so hard to stay alive? Why wouldn't you paint those artists in a better light? Why wouldn't you be more supportive? Everything's a joke; everything's a dig. It doesn't mean that I have thin skin — I have thicker skin than fucking anybody — it just means that I don't understand the motive behind it except for that you're just a money-grubbing scumbag who wants clicks. Meanwhile you'll rip on everybody else's integrity, but what are you doing? You're not doing anything for the betterment of the cause. All you're doing is pitting people against each other and tearing a community down to a lower spot. It makes no sense to me."
Circling back to the original question, Edsel said: "So, unfortunately, we had to take this approach with STATIC-X and with the character of Xer0 to avoid people from spinning their own narratives and turning it into something that was different from what it actually was. I think we've accomplished that. And again, I say the same thing: Edsel Dope has absolutely no desire to be known as the singer of STATIC-X; it's not my gig. You wanna talk to me about the creative process? All day long I'll talk about producing the records, I'll talk about being their friend, I'll talk about managing the band and the strategy that goes into it and the infrastructure of starting their own label. Because STATIC-X is a band that up until 'Project Regeneration', every album that they ever released was on a major label — it was either on Warner Brothers or on Reprise. Whereas DOPE became an independent band very early in my career, so I was able to go and build an independent infrastructure and understand how all that works. But my friends in STATIC-X had no fucking clue; they don't know how to run a record label, [and] they don't know how to run their own business. So when I'm sitting in a room with them and going, 'Guys, if we're gonna do this, this is the most logical way to do it to remove the gatekeepers from in between you and your fans,' they had somebody to rely on that had that experience and had that infrastructure and wherewithal.
"So it's been super beneficial for all of us," Dope added. "And we were always friends, but now we're like the best of friends. And we owe each other a lot. I'm grateful for the opportunity because without those guys and the years of work they put into building STATIC-X, I wouldn't have a project to land all those efforts too. And for them, without my efforts to help them survive and exist in the modern day, they would have this band that is no longer around. For lack of a better word, we literally brought STATIC-X back from the dead. And it took all
of us to do it."
STATIC-X's eighth studio album, "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2", was released in January. The LP is a collection of songs that contain the final vocal performances and musical compositions of Static, along with the original "Wisconsin Death Trip" lineup featuring Campos, Fukuda and Jay. The new album was produced by Xer0 and mixed/mastered by longtime collaborator Ulrich Wild.
All of the music associated with "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2" is the result of collaborations between the four founding members along with their new vocalist/guitarist/producer Xer0. No additional guests appear on the album and there were no outside contributions to the songwriting, musical compositions, or the performances on "Project Regeneration: Vol. 2". Between the two releases, STATIC-X fans around the globe have been treated to over two dozen brand new songs — most of which feature Static on lead vocals — and all released after his untimely passing.
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
Former BURNING WITCHES Vocalist SERAINA TELLI To Release Unplugged Album Featuring LEE AARON, CHRIS BOLTENDAHL, CLEMENTINE DELAUNEY, CALICO COOPER And More; Details Revealed
 With Black 'n' White Sessions, former Burning Witches vocalist Seraina Telli is releasing a very special album on November 15th via Metalville Records
Black 'n' White Sessions shows where Seraina's musical roots lie: she has reduced her music to the essentials and almost completely freed herself from electricity. She has always sung, written songs in her head, and always has an acoustic guitar in the trunk of her car for emergencies.
After her #1 album, Addicted To Colour, the artist presents herself in a completely new light. It showcases Seraina's talent and the captivating songs from her first two albums without any harsh and heavy-sounding instruments in the background. | +2 | |
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5 ноя 2024
Watch RHAPSODY OF FIRE's Entire Madrid Show; Fan-Filmed Video
 Symphonic melodic metal overlords, Rhapsody Of Fire, performed in Madrid, Spain at Sala Copérnicoon on November 1st. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.
Setlist:
"The Dark Secret"
"Unholy Warcry"
"I'll Be Your Hero"
"Chains of Destiny"
"The March of the Swordmaster"
"Challenge the Wind"
"March Against the Tyrant"
"Diamond Claws"
"The Magic of the Wizard's Dream"
"Dawn of Victory"
Encore:
"Reign of Terror"
"Kreel's Magic Staff"
"Land of Immortals"
"Emerald Sword"
Rhasody Of Fire are currently on a European tour in support of their new studio album, Challenge The Wind, available via AFM Records.
The trek, which features support of select dates from Freedom Call, The Unity, Secre
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
ROBERT FRIPP & TOYAH Perform THE CRANBERRIES Classic "Zombie" For Sunday Lunch; Video
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5 ноя 2024
TAK MATSUMOTO GROUP Feat. JACK BLADES, ERIC MARTIN, MATT SORUM Share New Single "Crash Down Love" + Teaser Video
 Tak Matsumoto Group (TMG) - the internationally acclaimed project formed by guitar virtuoso Tak Matsumoto with Jack Blades (Night Ranger) and Eric Martin (Mr. Big) - are pleased to share their new single, “Crash Down Love”, alongside a teaser video.
The track opens the band's new studio album, TMG II, which is currently available digitally, with the physical CD release slated for December 6. Watch the teaser video below:
About the new album, Jack Blades comments: “TMG ll has a fresh and alive feel born out of the friendship and camaraderie that Tak, Eric and I share with each other. Throw in a healthy dose of my good buddy Matt Sorum on drums and you have a hell of a recipe for some seriously kick ass rock n roll. The songs tell the stories, the music rocks the soul, and woven throughout the fabric is the amazing guitar playing of Tak Matsumoto... a true “Guitar Hero”. Enjoy the ride!”
“I was the singer of the Tak Matsumoto group in 2004. We had an incredible experience, writing / recording a heavy melodic hard rock state of the art sounding record that went platinum, sold out tour all over Japan, It was perfect timing and one of the biggest highlights of my life”, states Eric Martin.
“Tak Matsumoto is the guitarist, main composer, producer of B’z!, the best music selling Rock act in Japan! So here we are, 20 years later… This time we have powerhouse drummer Matt Sorum from Guns & Roses /Velvet Revolver/ The Cult and B’z support guitarist / chorus Yukihide ‘YT’ Takiyama to round out the group”, continues Martin. “TMG ll has got a Japanese / American rock feel to it and it’s badass. We are on tour right now in Japan and killing it. I am hanging with the coolest musicians on the planet… Life is good. The record… is really good!”
After a 20-year hiatus, TMG returns with original members Tak Matsumoto (guitarist and member of the Japanese rock superstars B’z), Jack Blades (Night Ranger), and Eric Martin (Mr. Big), reigniting the powerhouse trio’s signature rock sound. Originally launched in 2004, TMG wowed fans worldwide with their unique fusion of hard-hitting rock and oriental influences. Now after two decades, they’re set to do it all again.
“Twenty-one years ago, I met Jack and Eric at The Fillmore in San Francisco. I suggested we collaborate, and that’s how TMG was born. We came together in LA to write our first single, “Oh Japan”, which sparked the creation of our debut album, TMG I, and an incredible tour throughout Japan, ending with a memorable performance at the Budokan. Though we’ve stayed in touch, life pulled us in different directions, and two decades slipped by. In 2022, I reached out with a proposal to reunite.”
“Now, in 2024, TMG has completed our latest album, TMG II, featuring the talented drummer Matt Sorum. We’re excited to share this album, a blend of Japanese and American musical sensibilities. We hope you enjoy it!”, adds Matsumoto.
Buy and listen to TMG II here.
TMG II tracklisting:
"Crash Down Love"
"Eternal Flames" (Feat. Babymetal)
"The Story Of Love" (Feat. Lisa)
"Color In The World"
"Jupiter And Mars"
"My Life"
"Endless Sky"
"Dark Island Woman"
"Faithful Now"
"The Great Divide"
"Guitar Hero"
"Guitar Hero" teaser video:
"Eternal Flames": | 0 | |
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
DROWNING POOL's C.J. PIERCE: 'We're Having More Fun Now Than Ever Before'
 DROWNING POOL guitarist C.J. Pierce spoke to The Metal Forge about the band's new single "Revolution (The Final Amen)", which was released on September 20 via SBG Records. It marks the first piece of music Pierce and his longtime bandmates — drummer Mike Luce and bassist Stevie Benton — completed with singer Ryan McCombs in 13 years.
"We're having more fun now than ever before, C.J. said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). "And Mike Luce, our drummer, and Stevie Benton, the bass player, and myself, we've been friends and known each other since high school. So we've definitely been through the rollercoaster ride, obviously, with singers. Unfortunately, Dave [Williams, original DROWNING POOL singer] passed away from cardiomyopathy, heart disease, at 30 years old, man. It's still wild to me. But mostly the music business, man, between labels and management and all the stuff, that's been the real kicker for us, if anything. But to come together as us — it's a four-piece and we're independent right now and we're doing what we wanna do and we're having fun doing it, man, and that's the way to go. We're having, like I said, more fun now than I ever knew I'd be having playing music."
Regarding how the music business has changed since DROWNING POOL's formation nearly 30 years ago, Pierce said: "We don't have a label of management or anything like that [right now]. We're a hundred percent just — we do everything… It's still a learning curve. It's been a quite a learning curve, music business-wise, because it's changed drastically since I've been doing it and learning the ropes and the new way of doing things. And we have a team of people that work with us now that we found. Again, another thing that makes it in a great place because we're in full control of our career and there isn't anybody to answer to but ourselves. I can't get mad at a label or a manager now because we make the call, which makes you work even harder. We have people in play that that's what they're there to do and help out, and they haven't for us so much in the past."
Asked if DROWNING POOL now owns the masters to the band's early recordings, including the platinum-certified debut album, 2001's "Sinner", C.J. said: "We got the full — the screwed contracts, if you will. There's no mansion and cars, man. I rent a home and I'm leasing a car… That's why another thing that's exciting about putting out the first [new] single with Ryan, 'Revolution', is we're putting out on our own, breaking into that world finally and getting underneath that umbrella of things. But, yeah, they [the labels] own all the stuff in the past."
Addressing the fact that pop superstar Taylor Swift has reworked some of her own songs as new recordings, resulting in new masters she fully owns, enabling her to control the licensing of her songs for commercial use, known as synchronization, by evading the owners of the older masters and subsequently devaluing them, C.J. said: "I'd like to do some re-records just because Ryan's here again and he's stronger than ever 'cause he still sings with SOIL and sings with us. And he's more positive and motivated than I've ever seen this guy. So, there's a lot of songs in the past that we've done that I just think his voice sounds better on it. So for that reason alone, just for the art, and, like, 'Oh, this song would sound great with Ryan on it' is why we wanna do stuff. I mean, you've still gotta pay the bills and stuff, there's a business to it, but it's not the number one motivation to play music. It's definitely enjoying the music and writing what you feel from your heart and not trying to write to fit in in this style or that style. We really focus on who we are and what we're trying to say within the song."
Last month, Pierce told Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program "Wired In The Empire", that DROWNING POOL began working on new music right away after McCombs rejoined the group in early 2023: "He came in and we started writing stuff before we even talked about the first show, man," he said. "We sat out here. I have a big gazebo in my backyard, and I have the house set up… My house looks like Guitar Center out there, man. It's a home studio, if you will, and it's just a place of creativity, man. We just started working on stuff. There was one or two riffs and songs that we had worked on that we touched on that we were working on right before we took the hiatus, which is pretty cool. I'd like to finish those. But we've been through so much the last 13 years, so we have a lot of things to share and write about, especially what's going on nowadays. So we're that kind of band that writes what you feel at the time. So a lot of ideas on the plate.'
Regarding DROWNING POOL's plans to release a new full-length album, C.J. said: "We plan on finish up a couple more tracks in the next two weeks before we go out on this next tour. And then we have a little bit of break at the end of the year, and I wanna get back in there and try to finish up some more songs. So we do plan on putting out a record here at some point next year, and then leading into the 25th anniversary of [DROWNING POOL's debut album] 'Sinner' the year after that [in 2026], man. It's pretty wild. We have a lot of stuff coming up."
Asked if "Revolution (The Final Amen)" was the first new song he and McCombs worked on, Pierce said: "It's the first thing that came up right away, man. I started jamming that riff literally out on my gazebo, and then Ryan started singing along to it. And then we went in the room, just rehearsing for the shows that were coming up with Ryan, and we just started jamming that riff like we do, man. We get a lot of stuff done. We're still an organic band. We love to get in that rehearsal room and just hash it out together. Sometimes I'll come up with ideas here at my house or Steve will come up ideas at his house, and once we bring them all together in a room, it really makes it a DROWNING POOL song. But that song, we spent a lot of time on it as well because we wanna come out with every song that sounds strong. We didn't wanna just, 'Oh, Ryan's back,' and just shit out some song, man. We mean what we said. We put a lot of time and effort into our art and what we wanna say with the song, and I'm glad that we did that. It took a little longer just because we started touring so much… So it was just us getting into the studio to get it down. And here it is, man. Finally."
The "Revolution (The Final Amen)" video was filmed at El Paso, Texas's Speaking Rock Entertainment Center and can be seen below.
In a separate interview with iHeart Radio personality Debbie Sexxton, Pierce stated about "Revolution (The Final Amen)": "Yeah, it was great working on the song together. It's the first one with all of us back with Ryan, and we spent a lot of time on it. We started on it, actually, beginning of last year. And just between touring and stuff like that, we weren't able to get it down yet. But the whole process, all of us working together, I mean, we literally sat down at a table and we all had different ideas and every one of us kind of approached the song in a different way. And then we came together as a band. It was just amazing. That sounds like a DROWNING POOL song. That's what we want it to sound like. It sounds like us with Ryan."
Regarding the lyrical themes covered in the new DROWNING POOL single, Pierce said: "We spent a lot of time trying different things out to make sure all the bases were covered and we came across with the message lyric-wise too. We had a couple of different rewrites and redrafts just to make sure the flow is right to get the point across. It's more of a general thing about what's going on now. We definitely need a big change — not specific to any country or government or religion as much as just as a whole. It's more [about] planet earth."
In August, Pierce told the "Thunder Underground" podcast about the musical direction of the new DROWNING POOL song: "I'm so excited, man. It just came out naturally. We never tried to write like a 'Bodies Part Two' or a 'Tear Away Part Two'. We just write what we feel at the time, and the excitement that we had and the energy we have with Ryan being back in the band, the song definitely has that vibe to it. It's in drop C [tuning], and I got a new wah pedal in the studio when I was doing the song. So I'm wah-pedaling all over just like on [DROWNING POOL's] 'Sinner' record. So it has that old-school vibe to it. The people that have heard it so far, that's what they relate it to. It's got that same type of energy. It's its own song and entity. But yeah, it's intense, man. It's a banger."
In July, McCombs was asked by 94 Rocks KFML's "The Dark" rock music program if the sound of the new DROWNING POOL material harkens back to what Ryan did with the band in the past, McCombs said: "It's C.J. It's Stevie. It's Mike. It's myself. We did a couple of really — not to toot our own horn — I think we did a couple really good albums back in the day. And we pick up right where we left off.
"I think the coolest thing about DROWNING POOL is it's really easy with DROWNING POOL to separate things with the singers, as far as eras go, but there's always been the DROWNING POOL sound," Ryan continued. "There's always been a certain aspect of just the tones and everything. So it's still just like it always has been — DROWNING POOL."
In June, Pierce told Scott Penfold of Loaded Radio that he and his DROWNING POOL bandmates are once again working with producer Shawn McGhee. "He has his own studio," C.J. explained. "We did the last record with him as well. We did [2022's] 'Strike A Nerve' [with him]. And he's just a great guy to work with. He's on the same page as us and a great friend and a great musician and a killer producer and mixer. So, we love working with Shawn. He really knows how to capture what we're trying to do, man. That's the kind of producer you want. We put him in a driver's seat and somebody you can trust to have that outside ear to take what we have already and elevate it."
McCombs played his first shows back with DROWNING POOL in March 2023 at Club L.A. in Destin, Florida and at the inaugural Throwdown At The Campground festival in Fruitland Park, Florida.
The longtime SOIL frontman, who has lived in Swindon, England since 2018, originally joined DROWNING POOL in 2005 and appeared on two of the band's studio albums, "Full Circle" (2007) and "Drowning Pool" (2010),as well as a live album, 2009's "Loudest Common Denominator". He rejoined SOIL after exiting DROWNING POOL in 2011.
McCombs is continuing to front SOIL and will carry on recording and performing with both bands.
DROWNING POOL's debut album, "Sinner", was certified platinum within six weeks of its release in 2001, while the CD's first single, "Bodies", was one of the most frequently aired videos on MTV by a new band. DROWNING POOL reached out to an ever-greater audience with dynamic performances at Wrestlemania XVIII and Ozzfest during the summers of 2001 and 2002. Unfortunately, their streak of success was not to last. Shortly after rousing the crowd at Ozzfest in Indianapolis, Indiana, on August 3, 2002, vocalist Dave "Stage" Williams was found dead of natural causes on the tour bus.
Photo courtesy of O'Donnell Media Group | +1 | |
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
TIM 'HERB' ALEXANDER Says His Decision To Leave PRIMUS Was Rooted In Need To Prioritize His Mental And Physical Health
 Former PRIMUS drummer Tim "Herb" Alexander has shared a letter with Rolling Stone magazine explaining his decision to leave the band.
The news of his departure was initially shared on October 29 by his now-former bandmates, who claimed that they received an e-mail from him nearly two weeks earlier saying he had "lost his passion for playing."
Alexander joined PRIMUS in 1989 and left in 1996, then rejoined when they reformed in 2003. He exited the group again in 2010 but returned in 2013.
Tim's full statement on why he quit PRIMUS:
"I know there are a lot of questions about why I quit PRIMUS and feel it's important to share my story — for myself as well as our fans. Stepping away from PRIMUS has been one of the most challenging decisions of my life, but ultimately, it came down to love — for myself, my family, and the life I want to create moving forward. I chose a path of love.
"With regard to what I said to the band about 'losing my passion for playing,' I did say that. But I also said: "All of these tours left me feeling empty. My body hurts constantly." This context is important. I also told them they deserve someone who wants to be there. And I meant it. As far as 'abruptly' goes, I suppose there's never the perfect time to leave something you've been a part of for so long. Bands have their own inner workings and are a relationship. Sometimes it doesn't feel balanced, and sometimes it doesn't work out.
"Over the past months, I've been in a place of deep healing and intensive mental health rehabilitation, learning to confront struggles I've carried for years. In this period of solitude, I've started to see with new clarity what no longer serves me, the people and situations that do not support my well-being, and the parts of my life I need to let go of to find peace and stability.
"When I first joined PRIMUS, I was 24 years old. I'm almost 60 now and not just a drummer, but also a husband and a dad. Being a drummer for almost four decades has taken its toll on my body. As I said previously, my body hurts. My hands hurt. My back hurts. Ten years ago, I had open heart surgery and am still dealing with the aftermath.
"For so many years of my life, I slept, breathed and lived the music, giving it everything I had — and often at the expense of both my physical and mental health. Drumming is a strenuous profession — and coupled with touring and performing it can be exhausting on every level. But I love drumming and always will. Just as I will always hold so much love and appreciation for our fans, the music we made, the places we went and everything I learned along the way.
"When we were coming up as young musicians, it was a different world than it is today. There wasn't a focus on how this life affected us — it just wasn't talked about — and I think we lost a lot of amazing musicians over the years because of that. I no longer feel the need to hide the fact that for the last year I wasn't happy and was in a dark place emotionally. I desperately missed my family while on tour and felt very lonely.
"My decision to leave the band was rooted in a deep need to prioritize my mental and physical health. I want to give my family the presence and energy they deserve and take care of myself in a way that allows me to thrive.
"I view this next chapter as a positive fresh beginning that can hopefully inspire others to speak and live their own truths, even when it's hard. I wish the band continued success; and to the fans who have stood by me, I want to thank you for your compassion and words of kindness. Your support has been a source of strength for me, and while I'm closing this chapter, I'm excited to explore a new path forward — one grounded in love, respect, and health."
PRIMUS isn't planning to cancel any upcoming shows; their New Year's gig will feature an "augmented version of PRIMUS featuring members of HOLY MACKEREL and FROG BRIGADE," and for TOOL's "Live In The Sand" destination festival, they will be joined by the latter band's Danny Carey. As for their 2025 "Sessanta" dates, they're planning on "searching for the 'greatest drummer on earth'."
PRIMUS's full October 29 statement read as follows:
"On Thursday, October 17th, we received an email from Tim 'Herb' Alexander expressing that effective immediately he would no longer be involved with PRIMUS. It came as a complete shock to all of us here in the PRIMUS camp.
"On the heels of a wonderful Spring & Summer of touring and some fabulous plans ahead, it has been a bit bewildering for us that Herb would so abruptly opt out. After several attempts to communicate with Herb, his only response was another email stating that he has 'lost his passion for playing'. As disappointing as that is, we respect his choice and it’s forced us to make some tough decisions.
"We considered cancelling the annual New Year's show, but after much talk Les and Ler have decided to pivot to an augmented version of PRIMUS featuring members of HOLY MACKEREL and FROG BRIGADE. This will be an exciting special, one-time event.
"As far as future PRIMUS, the band is looking forward to performing in the Dominican Republic with TOOL and others. Danny Carey has once again graciously offered to fill the drum throne. For 'Sessanta', PRIMUS plans on searching for the 'greatest drummer on earth'. Details to follow...
"Thank you for all your support and understanding."
In July 2016, Alexander revealed that he suffered a second heart attack after he previously endured a similar health scare in 2014.
A decade ago, Les Claypool's plan to reform the "classic" PRIMUS lineup — with Alexander and guitarist Larry Lalonde — was put on hold when Alexander suffered his first heart attack, a "minor" attack that resulted in the drummer requiring triple bypass surgery. To fulfill its touring obligations, PRIMUS recruited Carey to fill in for a few dates. Three months after open-heart surgery, Alexander rejoined PRIMUS on the road. | +3 | |
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY Says Upcoming Duet With NIGHTWISH's FLOOR JANSEN Is 'A Really Beautiful Song'
 In a new interview with Jaimunji, TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2020's "Titans Of Creation" album. Asked if the new LP will be a throwback to some of the early TESTAMENT records or if it will once again be a step forward for the band, Chuck said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think we've always evolved. We never like to go backwards. These songs, definitely the old classic stuff, 'The Legacy' and 'The New Order', that's where we came from, those are the first songs we wrote, so definitely that's who we are, but we always wanna evolve. We don't wanna do something we've done. But I will say the new record, we're very excited for it 'cause Chris Dovas, the new drummer, it's probably the most a drummer has worked with Eric [Peterson, TESTAMENT guitarist] writing material, and it shows.'
He continued: "The songs are very strong, very heavy, very fast. We've got a little of everything. We've got some mid-tempo, but really crushing fast drums. I would even say that we went and put — I don't wanna say the word 'ballad', but it's a very slow, old classic TESTAMENT vibe, like 'Return To Serenity', that we had the confidence and the song is there that we wrote. This record, we're fired up 'cause, to me, it sounds modern. That's the one thing I've gotta say. It's TESTAMENT but modern-sounding, just because I think Chris, he shifts another gear on the songs. I mean, he just puts it to another level as far as the drum playing and inspiring Eric to what he's doing. And it actually opens up the doors for me, challenge-wise, to not just take it the easy way out. I've really had some challenges — a lot more screaming death metal, mid-tempo clean vocals. I'm doing a little bit of everything. So that's the fun part for me and the challenging part, is to make it all work."
Regarding a possible release date for the new TESTAMENT album, Chuck said: "We went in the studio, I wanna say May. So we've been tracking, recording since. Of course we've used Andy Sneap in the past to mix our records, but he's not gonna be available because he's in JUDAS PRIEST now. So we had to find a new producer and he's not available until January. So that kind of bought us a little more time to take our time with the record. I've got three songs to sing. Alex [Skolnick, TESTAMENT lead guitarist] has his solos to lay down. Drums, rhythms, everything else is done, bass is done. Just a few things. And then once January comes off, we'll go right into mixing it. And we'll probably, hopefully have the first single out shortly after that. But I could definitely see the record being out by the end of the first quarter, maybe the second quarter next year."
Billy also confirmed that one of the new TESTAMENT songs will be a duet with Floor Jansen of NIGHTWISH. "Yeah, I reached out to her," he said. "Me and Floor became friends maybe under 10 years ago. Me and her, Joey Belladonna [ANTHRAX], Udo Dirkschneider [ex-ACCEPT], we all did this Christmas performance show through Europe. And we were singing our songs, but with a Christmas theme with an orchestra. And so we all traveled together and became friends. And she's a powerhouse of a vocalist. Great voice. And when we wrote the song and the lyrics, first thing I thought was, 'Okay, this song, it, it needs a strong girl's voice,' and, of course, Floor is the first one that came to mind. And this song, it's gonna be pretty epic. We're gonna put a string section on it, acoustic guitars. It's gonna have a lot going on, but it's a really, really beautiful song. It's really deep. And with Floor, it's kind of me and her kind of singing the lyrics kind of to each other, and the meaning of the song and what we're saying, it's kind of, like, I'll say my part and she's answering me through the vocal. So it's gonna be very strong, very cool. And I can't wait to hear what she's gonna do on it… We haven't sent it to her because we haven't laid down the acoustic guitars yet for it, but the song's done. I tracked it all. I tracked her parts. And I wanna wait till she hears it for the first time with the acoustics and get the vibe — I want her to be in the vibe once she gets it… And Alex has a connection to some guys that are gonna do the strings on it, who played on some huge records, so what we've heard so far, it's pretty cool."
Billy recently told Metal Express Radio's Bryce Van Patten about how TESTAMENT's songwriting process has changed since the band's early days in the late 1980s and 1990s: "Oh, it's night and day. Before, back then, we all lived the same place, we all had to go to the same studio, where now it's by e-mail, sharing the songs. Everybody has home studios to work out demos. Definitely a different writing process, but still Eric is one of the main writers. And ever since we brought in our new drummer, Chris Dovas, he's been here two years — he was 24 when he came into the band; he's 26 [now]. But he's a smart kid. [He] graduated [from] the Berklee [College] Of Music. [He] knows theory [and is] great in the studio with Pro Tools. He's really into modern bands and new and upcoming stuff, and he's got an old soul so he knows the history of the music. But I think him working hand in hand with Eric as long as they did, he really pushed Eric and drove Eric to get challenged. And I wouldn't say 'copy', but I think Chris and what he listens to and the style Eric likes, it brought an influence to the new songs."
Regarding the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material, Chuck said: "To me, the new songs sound current, they sound fresh. They're touching what a lot of new upcoming bands are making good names for themselves are doing. So, again, it's raising the bar one more time. And I think when fans hear this record, especially new, younger fans are gonna go, 'Whoa. That's TESTAMENT. I know the TESTAMENT I know from 30-something years ago and grew up with, but what is this?' I'm excited for that because I wanna hear what people think. I'd love to see the expression of them hearing it for the first time. That would be great, because it does sound new and modern and fresh, even though we're still being challenged."
Asked if he and his TESTAMENT bandmates have more freedom to do whatever they want now than they did when you were on a major label like Atlantic, Chuck said: "Totally. When we were on Atlantic, that was a big machine. They had an A&R department, they had the radio department, they had tons of departments, tons of money, and they were always influenced by how well their big-selling artists were, which were radio bands and they were pushing radio. So that A&R guy would be whispering in our ears, 'What's the next radio song?' And we're thinking, "Well, we're not a radio band. That's not us.' And even to this day, when I hear some stuff like [on the SiriusXM channel] Ozzy's Boneyard or something, they play ballads by us, and it's, like, that doesn't represent us, but that represents that era in thinking maybe of what TESTAMENT did or what they chose to expose us to the public, which it's misrepresenting us. So, yeah, the freedom's huge now, especially being with Nuclear Blast as long as we have. There's no deadline. It's just, 'When you're ready, you have a record, give it to us.' And that's been really nice. And the beauty about this record is that usually we have Andy Sneap mix our record, so we usually write a record and give it to him and then it's done, written in stone, can't go back. But this record, we had to pick a somebody to mix it, which wasn't available till early next year, January. So we decided, 'Okay.' We tried to get all the tracking done before we went to Europe this June or July, and we got most of it done."
This past September, Peterson told Brutal Planet Magazine that TESTAMENT has tapped Swedish producer Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with OPETH, KREATOR, PARADISE LOST, SOILWORK and AMON AMARTH, among others, to mix the band's upcoming studio album. Peterson said about the LP: "It's, like, 90 percent done. And it's gonna get mixed in December by Jens Bogren. He's a producer from Sweden, and he's done — God, he's done KREATOR, he's doing the new BEHEMOTH right now, he's done IN FLAMES, ARCH ENEMY. A lot of European bands. We usually work with Andy Sneap, but he's [the touring guitarist] in JUDAS PRIEST and he's just, like, 'Bro, I need some time off.' It's a good switch, though. I think Jens will do a good job. And yeah, there's a lot of crazy stuff on this record. I'm excited for everybody to hear it."
In August, Billy told Oran O'Beirne of Overdrive.ie about the musical direction of the new TESTAMENT material: "We always try to outdo ourselves or make a better record or write better songs. It's always a challenge for ourselves, and I think this time we really took a long time to create the record. We kind of got everybody in the same room to really go through the songs and kind of put their two cents in to the arrangements. I think by having Chris — he's a younger drummer, a really great drummer — but I think he brought you know a new fire to Eric in the writing process. And I believe because we're going on 37 years of making records, it's kind of full circle right now. We're kind of inspired by new generation, I guess, of music and metal. And Chris is a big part of that. He's a big fan of that. So I think he inspired Eric just to write some really aggressive, fast, creative riffs. And it really inspired me to really push myself to try to do a little more screaming, death vocals, melodic stuff. We even went as far as writing — I don't wanna say 'ballad', but it's something really catchy that's really slow that's something we haven't done in over 30 years. So I think just the overall songs and the confidence in the writing this time really is gonna stand out on this record."
This past June, Chuck told Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco, California radio station 107.7 The Bone about the lyrical themes covered in the new TESTAMENT songs: "[It's] not as focused [on], like, the aliens, creating mankind and that kind of stuff, but there is some of that. There's a lot. Each song definitely has its own identity lyrically. And again, we're writing stuff that is real, that happens with the environment; we're singing about that again. A.I., we're singing stuff about that. That's a big thing. So, there's always an inspiration for songs. I think it's a little easier. There's so much going on in our world to write about now. It's a crazy world today, so there's a lot of stuff to talk about. And I like singing about what's real and what's going on instead of some fantasy lyrics, because, for me, I think when I sing 'em, I have more conviction, I believe in 'em a little more. And maybe it's easier for me to remember the lyrics live. [Laughs]"
Naming specific tracks, Chuck said: "There's a song, 'Havana Syndrome', which is about the Havana Syndrome. People, look that up. There's 'Infanticide A.I.', which is another song going A.I. direction. And there's actually a slower song. We haven't done a slower song. I'm not gonna say 'ballad', but I'm gonna say a slower song that has a lot of groove and soul, called 'Meant To Be'. And it's like a classic TESTAMENT-type ballad, I guess, if you wanna use that word. But we've got a little bit of everything, but, again, I think it's really sticking to TESTAMENT, having to have some melodic stuff, even though there's some really brutal lyrics and real brutal, more of a death voice. I still put the hook in with more of a melodic hook or something. It's still classic TESTAMENT. If you listen to it, you'll go, 'That's TESTAMENT, but a little more octane to it.'"
Also in June, Chuck told Canada's The Metal Voice that he writes most of TESTAMENT's lyrics with Del James. "Del, he works with GUNS N' ROSES," Chuck said. "He's been working with them and wrote with them a long time ago. I think he had big hits like 'November Rain' with them. And we've been working [together] for over 20 years. So I always go down and work with him because I come up with a lot of the ideas and concepts, but he really interprets and gets the right words, how to say what I'm thinking. And we work fast. When we get together, we'll knock out like two songs in a day. So we don't mess around. We get there, say hello to each other, we sit down and we go right to work. It's about what we do."
Prior to joining TESTAMENT as a full-time member, Dovas filled in for Lombardo on the first six dates of TESTAMENT's summer/fall 2022 leg of "The Bay Strikes Back Tour". | +3 | |
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5 ноя 2024
HINDER's MARSHAL DUTTON Still Prefers Putting Out Full-Length Albums Over Focusing On Singles
 In a new interview Terrie Carr of WDHA-FM 105.5 FM, the rock music station licensed to Dover and Morristown, New Jersey, HINDER lead vocalist Marshal Dutton was asked if he and his bandmates still like putting out full-length albums or if they are starting to think about maybe focusing on singles going forward. said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I'm kind of more of an album guy, I think, because I just come from that era. I grew up listening to cassette tapes and CDs and having the album. That was really special to me. And I listened to [full] records. When I was growing up, I couldn't just go get a new record every other week or a new single — you didn't have access to [unlimited] music — so you had to listen to records front to back. And I feel like that's a way that forces you to really get to know a band and all the kind of ins and outs. But that being said, we don't really write concepts for records. We're a song band — we just write songs — and so a record is ultimately just a collection of songs. So I guess in this day and age it doesn't really matter whether or not you release 'em one at a time or you release 'em as a package. I kind of think there's still a whole lot of people that that love to get an album, but there's still a part of me that worries about the fact that everyone's attention span is so quick these days that they don't have the patience for a record. So, in doing that, you end up kind of wasting a lot of songs, as opposed to giving it a chance to be in its own limelight for a small period of time. So, I don't know. I can pick it or pull it."
This past September, HINDER released the official music video for its latest single, "Live Without It", a soulful showstopper about letting go and moving on.
HINDER's story begins in 2001, when Cody Hanson (drums),Joe "Blower" Garvey (lead guitar) and Mike Rodden (bass) met and activated their musical chemistry. The 2005 hit "Lips Of An Angel" from the band's debut album "Extreme Behavior", since certified three times platinum, topped the charts and remains a radio mainstay. Powerful lead vocalist Marshal Dutton joined them in 2015. Throughout their discography, HINDER has embodied an ethos of defiance and tenacity through gutsy lyrics, rousing melodies, and soaring choruses. Each album in their musical journey has reflected a progression, from the grittier early days of "Take It To The Limit" to the more introspective and exploratory energy of their most recent album, 2017's "The Reign".
In 2013, original HINDER singer Austin Winkler parted ways with the band following a long battle with substance abuse.
HINDER started 2024 strong with a series of sold-out shows and live performances with CREED, THREE DOORS DOWN and DAUGHTRY. and a loyal global fanbase.
HINDER's most recent album, 2017's "The Reign", was the band's second with Dutton.
Photo credit: Dylan Johnson | +1 | |
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
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5 ноя 2024
RICHIE FAULKNER: 'We've Got Ideas Coming Up All The Time' For New JUDAS PRIEST Music
 In a new interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, JUDAS PRIEST guitarist Richie Faulkner was asked if he and his bandmates are planning to continue touring in 2025 or if they will hit the studio to write and record new music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think a bit of both, really. These tours tend to grow and evolve over time — the more we do, we get more offers from different territories and stuff — so I'm sure there'll be more touring. And there's always ideas coming up, there's always creative juices flowing. So if we're able, we might be able to get in and put some ideas together and see where we are. Is there another record? I know we've got ideas coming up all the time — riffs and melodies and song ideas and stuff. We're creative people — as a group of creative people, that's gonna happen. So I think, hopefully if we get some time early next year, we'll be able to pool those ideas and see what we've got and then hopefully hit the road again somewhere else."
JUDAS PRIEST has just completed leg two of its "Invincible Shield" tour with special guest SABATON. Produced by Live Nation, the 23-date tour launched on September 13 at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec and is making stops in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Omaha, Nebraska; Spokane, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Los Angeles, California; Phoenix, Arizona and more before wrapping up with three shows in Texas on October 22, 24 and 26.
In a recent interview with Full Metal Jackie's nationally syndicated radio show, JUDAS PRIEST singer Rob Halford was asked what's on the horizon for him and his bandmates at the moment. He responded: "It's just this wonderful, wonderful renaissance going around, not only for PRIEST, but for metal in general, for bands that were there from the start. Our good friends SAXON, who we worked with recently in Europe — we were selling out places all over Europe because people not only are the fans of the band, but there are also people that were maybe on the outside looking and going, 'I've gotta check this out. What is this happening now? Why is there such a buzz about these bands?' And so we're thriving on that, we're thriving on that."
He continued: "We're so grateful and honored and humbled to be in this place all these years later and still have this thing called relevance. We're a relevant heavy metal band that's not living on their past glories. And there's nothing wrong with that. But we've always felt that who we are and what we're about is representative of what we're doing and saying now. So to have this glorious experience with [PRIEST's latest album] 'Invincible Shield', and it's not dissipating. There's still tremendous love and interest for that particular album and this band. And so we're just out there roaring away, giving you all of these moments from PRIEST right from the beginning of our metal lives to where we are right now with 'Invincible Shield'."
"Invincible Shield" entered the U.K. chart at No. 2, just behind Ariana Grande's "Eternal Sunshine".
Prior to "Invincible Shield"'s arrival, PRIEST's highest U.K. chart achievement was with 1980's "British Steel", which reached No. 4.
PRIEST's 2018 album "Firepower" entered the chart at No. 5.
"Invincible Shield" was JUDAS PRIEST's fifth Top 10 album, after the aforementioned "British Steel" and "Firepower", as well as 2014's "Redeemer Of Souls" (No. 6) and the 1979 live album "Unleashed In The East" (No. 10).
"Invincible Shield" landed at No. 1 in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as No. 5 in France, No. 8 in Italy and No. 16 in Australia.
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5 ноя 2024
SALIVA's BOBBY AMARU Explains Decision To Carry On Following WAYNE SWINNY's Death
 In a new interview with Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF radio station, SALIVA frontman Bobby Amaru spoke about the band's decision to carry on following founding guitarist Wayne Swinny's March 2023 death after suffering a brain hemorrhage while on tour. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I tossed it up, man, and when he passed away, I kind of questioned whether I even wanted to do it or not. And I had tough decisions [to make], man. But I thought about what he would have wanted. I thought about a lot of our conversations and kind of went back to a lot of that. And he was at my house literally five days before he passed, cutting a solo on one of the last songs for the 'Revelation' record. And that was a very fun and interesting day, doing that and just hanging with him. And I remember we went and got Thai food. And he got a number two, and, dude, his mouth was literally like numb on fire. He could not handle it, dude. He was drinking milk and water and all kinds of stuff. But we had so many great times, and I know how he felt about what we were doing with SALIVA. I knew how he felt about the new record.
"I think sometimes people don't give me credit either for being here 13 years, and they just kind of wanna assume the early days — forget all the other stuff; it's just all about the early days," Bobby continued. "And I get the legacy of SALIVA and the brand, and I've never disrespected that one bit and I've always just tried to take the high road. But sometimes, man, when things are going on behind your back and stuff, too, and sometimes people just play the victim in all of this and you're the problem, like I'm the issue or something as to why SALIVA is continuing to go on. And it's, like, I'm just doing what I've been doing the last 13 years, which is keeping the train on the track. I felt like we did a lot of really cool things last year. We played a bunch of DWP [Danny Wimmer Presents] shows and a bunch of really cool festivals… That was fun. And we had a really successful tour with DROWNING POOL. And it felt like the right thing to do was to just keep going forward, keep moving into the direction that we feel is positive and keeps things on track. It's no disrespect to the old stuff and the old band — I never would take any credit away from any of those guys — but I think brands, fans, especially, sometimes they forget it is a business, and businesses do still go on after members leave. It's always touchy. You're never gonna please everybody. You're always gonna have people who just hate it regardless, but you can't please everybody. And I've always lived by that from day one. Like when I came in the band, it was, like, 'Well, what are you gonna say to people that don't like it?' People are gonna like it or they're not gonna like it. You can't please everyone."
Swinny was the last remaining original member of SALIVA, which he formed in Memphis in 1996 with Josey Scott, Chris Dabaldo, Dave Novotny and Paul Crosby.
On March 22, 2023, SALIVA shared a statement on Facebook in which the band said that Swinny had been found that morning "in medical distress." Paramedics were called and the musician was transported to hospital "where he was diagnosed with a Spontaneous Hemorrhage in his brain."
SALIVA's current lineup consists of Amaru and bassist Brad Stewart alongside Sammi Jo Bishop (drums),Sebastian LaBar (guitar) and Josh Kulack (guitar).
SALIVA launched its career in 2001 with the release of "Every Six Seconds", a double-platinum selling album with hits that include "Click Click Boom" and "Your Disease".
The band has toured the U.S. with SEVENDUST, AEROSMITH and KISS.
SALIVA reunited with Josey for a one-off appearance at the 2022 edition of the Blue Ridge Rock Festival at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia.
Scott left SALIVA at the end of 2011 after 15 years with the group, reportedly to pursue a solo Christian music career. He was quickly replaced by Amaru, who can be heard on SALIVA's last five releases: "In It To Win It" (2013),"Rise Up" (2014),"Love, Lies & Therapy" (2016),"10 Lives" (2018) and "Revelation" (2023).
SALIVA released six albums with Scott and tasted platinum success and a Grammy nomination for its first big hit, "Your Disease".
In May 2021, SALIVA celebrated the 20th anniversary of its breakthrough major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", with a special project called "Every Twenty Years", an EP of classic songs re-recorded with Amaru.
On November 1, SALIVA released a new single, "Time Bomb", featuring a guest appearance by post-grunge vocalist Peyton Parrish.
Future SALIVA releases will be available via Judge & Jury Records, a powerhouse record label and production company founded by multi-platinum producer Howard Benson (MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, SEETHER, SKILLET, OF MICE & MEN) and Neil Sanderson of THREE DAYS GRACE.
Photo credit: Gabriel Goulding | +1 | |
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5 ноя 2024
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Buckcherry
