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12 ñåí 2024

Southern Rock Icons VAN ZANT Reunite, Announce First Foray Into Christian Music
 Southern rock icons VAN ZANT have reunited and returned to the studio for what will be their first new album in nearly two decades. Titled "Always Look Up", the album will also mark the duo's first foray into Christian music, while holding firm to their southern rock roots. Available on CD, vinyl and streaming, "Always Look Up" will be released everywhere November 22, 2024 via Frontiers Music Srl.
The Van Zant musical dynasty built its foundation firmly on family. Donnie Van Zant co-founded .38 SPECIAL and brother Johnny Van Zant is the current lead vocalist for LYNYRD SKYNYRD after the passing of their brother Ronnie Van Zant, who fronted and co-founded the iconic Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame rock band.
But throughout their four decades of climbing the southern rock and country charts together and separately, faith has stayed just as important of a factor in the equation, so much so that the guys decided to finally share their inspirational side with the upcoming new album.
"This has been on our bucket list for quite some time to do a gospel record," says Donnie of the sessions that started during the pandemic. "We're both big believers in Jesus Christ, so that's really how it started."
In spite of their enormous successes, including .38 SPECIAL's more than 20 million album sales and LYNYRD SKYNYRD continuing to sell out arenas and amphitheaters, much of what makes VAN ZANT so relatable is the fact they'll be the first to admit their flaws and struggles.
"I'll be honest with you, the devil was my best friend at one time," says Johnny. "I'm not gonna lie about that and there ain't too much that I didn't try over the years, but I always kept hearing our dad speaking the Bible [in my mind]. Our dad should've been a preacher, because boy when he started talking the gospel, you didn't get up and move. Of course, as kids, I think we listened to half of it and tried to consume what we could, so that was always in the back of my head. I always believed in Jesus Christ, but I wasn't saved and I felt like I had my personal connection, just like the song 'It's Up To You' that's on this new album. Over the years, that voice of my dad was reminding me to try to be a better person. I made lots of mistakes, lots of things that hopefully I don't get to the pearly gates and they're closed for me. I'm trying to get through them now!"
Adds Donnie: "We've tried our very best to just write about truth, about people, about problems and situations and just try to be true to ourselves. We don't write nothing that's B.S. We try to touch people emotionally and spiritually. If we can do that, I think we've done our jobs."
VAN ZANT released the first single, "Jesus Christ", in August. Inspired by a painting hanging in Johnny's Sulfur Water Studios, the song speaks about the crucifixion and resurrection with vivid lyrical descriptions. The follow-up single, "There You Are", came out today.
"Always Look Up" track listing:
01. Awesome God
02. Stand Up
03. Warrior
04. There You Are
05. Speak His Name
06. Why God Brought Me Here
07. Praying
08. It's Up to You
09. Holy Moment
10. Leaning On The Cross
11. Jesus Christ
Recording lineup:
Johnny Van Zant: Lead Vocals
Donnie Van Zant: Vocal, Guitar
Mark Matejka: Lead Guitar, Rhythm, Slide
Carl Lindquist: Lead Guitar, Rhythm, Slide
Jimmy Carter: Bass Guitar
Shawn Fichter: Drums & Percussion
Jeffrey Roach: Keyboards
Chris Hurst: Keyboards
Dennis Wage: Keyboards
Photo credit: Doltyn Snedden for DS Creatives Agency (courtesy of Frontiers Music Srl)  | 0 |  |
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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

GILBY CLARKE Dedicates "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" To BRIT TURNER, WAYNE KRAMER Live On Stage In Florida; Fan-Filmed Video
 On September 7th, former Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke played Piper's in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Prior to kicking into a rendition of the Bob Dylan classic "Knockin' On Heaven's Door", which GN'R covered on Use Your Illusion II in 1991, Gilby dedicated the song to a pair of friends who passed away earlier this year - Brit Turner (drummer for Blackberry Smoke), and Wayne Kramer (guitarist / vocalist for MC5). Fan-filmed footage can be seen below.
Joining Gilby on stage in Pompano Beach were bassist EJ Curse, and drummer Matt Starr.  | 0 |  |
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12 ñåí 2024

CHUCK BILLY On Upcoming TESTAMENT Album: It Sounds 'New And Modern And Fresh'
 In a new interview with Metal Express Radio's Bryce Van Patten, TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy was asked how the songwriting process has changed since the band's early days in the late 1980s and 1990s. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "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 [Peterson, TESTAMENT guitarist] 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. And right now, Steve's [DiGiorgio, TESTAMENT bassist] finishing the bass this week, Eric's finishing up his rhythm guitars. I've still got three songs to sing. Alex [Skolnick, TESTAMENT guitarist] hasn't started on his lead yet. So between this tour and then after the U.S. tour, we get another break where Alex will finish up, we'll do the background vocals and get a chance to really live with the songs, talk about it and maybe go back and change some things or maybe add something, which we never had that opportunity to do before. So I think that's one difference on this record that we get to live with it and make sure it's right."
Earlier this month, 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. The LP will mark TESTAMENT's follow-up to 2020's "Titans Of Creation", which was co-produced by Juan Urteaga, who previously worked with TESTAMENT on "Dark Roots Of Earth" (2012) and "Brotherhood Of The Snake" (2016).
Peterson said about TESTAMENT's next 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."
Last month, 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."
Earlier last month, Skolnick told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about TESTAMENT's upcoming LP: "Well, I think everybody knows we went through a couple different drummers the past couple years, I know it's very 'Spinal Tap'… Life imitating art. There were scheduling conflicts with Gene Hoglan. Then we got Dave Lombardo, who was amazing, but when it came to going all in on a next record, Dave was overbooked. And we needed somebody [who could step in]. And we've got a new drummer. His name's Chris Dovas. He wasn't even born when the first TESTAMENT record came out. But I've gotta say he is lighting fires. He's lit a fire under everybody and just great to play with. He nails everybody's parts from before, but he has his own style. And I'm excited about the next record. It's actually gonna come out next year."
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".
Photo credit: Stephanie Cabral
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12 ñåí 2024

Watch GLENN HUGHES Perform In Dallas During Summer 2024 Tour
Explore DFW (Dallas, Texas Metroplex) has uploaded video of Glenn Hughes's entire September 6 concert at the Granada Theater in Dallas, Texas during his summer 2024 tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of DEEP PURPLE's "Burn" album. You can now watch the footage below.
In early May, Hughes spoke to Guitar Interactive Magazine about his upcoming studio album, tentatively due in early 2025. The long-awaited follow-up to 2016's "Resonate" was recorded in June in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Hughes said: "In between interviews today, I'm writing a new song number four. So it's going really, really well. I wrote the music about six months ago and I finished all the music about three weeks ago and I'm now writing lyrics. We go in the studio on June the 1st. And in 19 days, the album will be finished. So I presume it'll be out next March."
Asked who will accompany him during the recording sessions for his new album, Glenn said: "Søren [Andersen, guitar] is back with me, and Ash Sheehan, my drummer from my band, and Bob Fridzema [on] keyboards. I think my friend Chad Smith [RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS] will be guesting as he'll be in Copenhagen sometime in June. Chad has played on every album I've done in the last 15 years."
Regarding why he is only spending 19 days recording his new album, Hughes said: "If all the music is ready and all the lyrics are ready, I don't see any reason why it can't be done in that time, because I normally come in the studio with everything finished. This time it's gonna be a real… Look. I've got how many days now, about — I don't know — three weeks before it's the 1st of June. I'm still traveling. I've got a couple of days off, so I'm spending most of my time… I've got four lyrics written now, I've got six to go. I should be on point. So if I've got it on point by the 31st of May, I'll be okay."
The 73-year-old Glenn, who recently released a new album from his supergroup BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, previously discussed his plans to record a new solo album last October 2023 in an interview with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda. Asked how "Resonate" has aged for him musically since its release nine years ago, Glenn said: "I love the album. It's one of my favorite albums. I think a lot of people across the world, the rock fans love that album. I was at home writing that album and I went to Copenhagen and I had a really great time making that album. And the next one hopefully will be as strong."
In September 2023, Glenn told the "Iron City Rocks" podcast about where he draws his lyrical inspiration from nowadays: "I don't write about politics. I write about the human condition. I write about how are we feeling, what are we going through, are we going to get through this — you know, acceptance, staying in the present moment. This is the big thing for me. People call it woke, awakening, if you will… For me, it's all about staying present in this moment right now, and I'm writing about that."
"Resonate" was released in November 2016 via Frontiers Music Srl. It featured Glenn's then-live solo band members, Søren Andersen (guitars and co-producer),Pontus Engborg (drums) and Lachy Doley (keyboards),in addition to longtime friend Chad Smith (RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS),who joined them in the studio for the opening and closing numbers.
Last year, Hughes launched his solo tour under the banner "Glenn Hughes Performs Classic Deep Purple Live – Celebrating The 50th Anniversary Of The Album Burn". Glenn performed DEEP PURPLE's legendary rock album "Burn" and also ran through DEEP PURPLE MKIII and MKIV songs.
Hughes spent key years of his career as the beloved bassist and vocalist of DEEP PURPLE, appearing on the classic albums "Burn", "Stormbringer" and "Come Taste The Band".
Hughes, who was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2016 along with fellow DEEP PURPLE members Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Jon Lord, Rod Evans, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover and Ian Paice, spent more than three years recording and touring as the frontman of the supergroup THE DEAD DAISIES.
Glenn's BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION supergroup with guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham (LED ZEPPELIN) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (DREAM THEATER, ALICE COOPER, BILLY IDOL) released its fifth album, "V", in June.
Image credit: George s Pogacich
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12 ñåí 2024

SAGA's MICHAEL SADLER Diagnosed With Rare Form Of Aggressive Cancer
 Vocalist Michael Sadler of Canadian progressive music icons SAGA has been diagnosed with a rare form of aggressive cancer.
The news of his health setback was broken on social media late Wednesday night (September 11) by the 70-year-old singer's wife Gwen.
She wrote: "Dear all, Michael has asked me to share some important personal news with you. On September 5th, during a meeting with his doctor, Michael was informed that his diagnostic test results confirmed a highly aggressive form of muscle invasive cancer. It is a rare type that occurs in only 3-5 % of the cases.
"To protect his life, his doctor will be performing an urgent, high risk, multi-organ, open surgical procedure tomorrow, September 12th.
"Due to how fast this has all developed, we regret to say that most of our extended family, close friends and partners have not heard from us directly yet. We are sorry that you have to hear about this on social media but we have no control over the timing of everything.
"Michael is, as you can imagine, very anxious but also feeling guilty about being sick and not being able to handle his work. Especially right now, with the band and the upcoming shows in October, he is keenly aware of the expectations and wants to make sure he is well and ready. All we can do at the moment is to keep him distracted, reassure him and help him stay in a positive frame of mind during this difficult time. He is expected to be in the hospital for a couple of weeks, with a shorter stay ideally.
"Michael and our family are deeply aware that he is just one of many worldwide currently facing this terrible disease and more. In fact, we have near and dear members of both families dealing with their own battles with cancer and other equally devastating diseases.
"We have much to learn in the coming days and are truly humbled and grateful to our families, the band and crew, our dear friends and all who've been so supportive, and kind to us during this time.
"I will do my best to share updates about Michael whenever possible. To reduce his stress, we kindly request that you refrain from sending Michael direct messages at this time.
"Thank you all so much for your support and understanding. With our warmest regards, Gwen Sadler".
SAGA has released nearly two dozen albums so far, including the band's latest, "Symmetry", which came out in March 2021 via earMUSIC.
SAGA formed in 1977 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada, and released its first album in 1978. Since that time, SAGA has sold ten million albums and performed in over 20 countries to over 15 million people.
For over 45 years, SAGA has led the way in music innovation and audience interaction. Throughout this time, the band has released nearly two dozen studio-recorded CDs under the umbrella of major record companies and has filmed over 20 music videos. Their hits include "Don't Be Late", "Wind Him Up", "On The Loose", "The Flyer" and "Scratching The Surface".
SAGA is widely regarded as one of the most influential progressive rock bands in Canada and around the world.
SAGA is: Michael Sadler, Dusty Chesterfield, Ian Crichton, Jim Gilmour and Mike Thorne.
Dear All,
Michael has asked me to share some important personal news with you.
On September 5th, during a meeting...
Posted by SAGA on Wednesday, September 11, 2024
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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

JON BON JOVI Convinces Woman Not To Jump Off Nashville Bridge
 Jon Bon Jovi reportedly helped save a woman who was hanging off a bridge in Nashville.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the 62-year-old BON JOVI frontman was filming a music video around 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday (September 10) on the John Seigenthaler Pedestrian Bridge when he saw the woman hanging off the ledge. Jon approached the woman who appeared to be getting ready to end her life by jumping off the bridge and spoke with her and convinced her not to commit suicide. He eventually helped her back onto the pedestrian walkway and gave her a hug before they walked off together.
Both the Nashville Fire Department and the Metro Nashville Police Department responded to the scene.
A surveillance video of the incident released by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department can be seen below.
"It takes all of us to help keep each other safe," Metro Nashville police chief John Drake said in a statement posted to social media.
Jon reportedly has extensive training in interacting with people in crisis due to his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation.
The organization's purpose is to "recognize and maximize the human potential in those affected by hunger, poverty and homelessness by offering assistance in establishing programs that provide food and affordable housing while supporting social services and job training programs," according to its web site.
Image courtesy of Metropolitan Nashville Police Department via YouTube
A shout out to @jonbonjovi & his team for helping a woman on the Seigenthaler Ped Bridge Tue night. Bon Jovi helped persuade her to come off the ledge over the Cumberland River to safety. "It takes all of us to help keep each other safe,"--Chief John Drake https://t.co/1YejKJ2WgM
— Metro Nashville PD (@MNPDNashville) September 11, 2024
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12 ñåí 2024

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12 ñåí 2024

Watch: LINKIN PARK Plays First Official Full-Length Concert With New Lineup
 LINKIN PARK officially kicked off its comeback mini-tour Wednesday night (September 11) at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. The show featured LINKIN PARK performing a two-hour set in a very rare 360-degree circular setting, allowing for a unique production as well as a greater-than-usual number of tickets sold at the venue.
As was the case with LINKIN PARK's September 5 one-hour global livestream of a concert in Los Angeles, the Kia Forum gig showcased new singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who have joined returning members Mike Shinoda, Brad Delson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Joe Hahn in the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder was filling in for Delson for the livestream and the Kia Forum show and will continue to tour with LINKIN PARK for the foreseeable future instead of Delson.
LINKIN PARK's 26-song set at the Kia Forum kicked off with "Meteora" cut "Somewhere I Belong" and included "Hybrid Theory"-era track "My December" and "Keys To The Kingdom", the opening song from 2014's "The Hunting Party" album. LINKIN PARK also played its new single, "The Emptiness Machine", which was released last week. The track will appear on the band's upcoming album "From Zero", which will arrive on November 15 via Warner. It will mark LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.
The setlist for the Kia Forum show was as follows:
01. Somewhere I Belong*
02. Crawling*
03. Lying From You
04. Points Of Authority*
05. New Divide*
06. The Emptiness Machine*
07. The Catalyst*
08. Burn It Down*
09. Waiting For The End*
10. Castle Of Glass*
11. Joe Hahn Solo
12. When They Come For Me / Remember The Name*
13. Lost In The Echo*
14. Given Up*
15. One Step Closer*
16. Lost
17. Breaking The Habit*
18. What I've Done*
19. Leave Out All The Rest*
20. My December*
21. Friendly Fire*
22. Numb
23. In The End
24. Faint*
Encore:
25. Papercut*
26. Keys To The Kingdom*
27. Bleed It Out
Fan-filmed video of the concert can be seen in the YouTube video series below.
In an interview with Billboard about LINKIN PARK's comeback, Shinoda explained that drummer Rob Bourdon — who had founded the band with Mike and Brad — had decided to exit LP.
"Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band," Shinoda said. "And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The 'Hybrid Theory' re-release [in 2020] and 'Papercuts' release [this April], he didn't show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best."
According to a press release, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell and Hahn "quietly began meeting up again in recent years" and "rather than 'trying to restart the band,'" they worked with numerous musicians and "found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain."
Regarding the band's new lineup and future plans, Shinoda said in a statement: "Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was XERO. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future — embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead."
"The Emptiness Machine" is said to "channel the DNA of LINKIN PARK." Shinoda said the band feels "really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we've made together," adding that they are "weaving together the sonic touchpoints we've been known for and still exploring new ones."
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12 ñåí 2024

BOBBY 'BLITZ' ELLSWORTH: No New OVERKILL Album Before 2026
 In a new interview with Germany's Moshpit Passion, vocalist Bobby "Blitz" Ellsworth of New Jersey thrash metal veterans OVERKILL talked about when fans can expect to hear the follow-up to 2023's "Scorched" album. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Well, we just kind of slot it into a timeframe. We're looking at, I suppose, the majority of the first half of 2025 as being that timeframe for the writing. And probably recording by the end of 2025 and then releasing in 2026. Now I don't know who we're gonna release with — I mean, I assume it's Nuclear Blast; they have one more option. There's no direction that we're looking at."
Ellsworth also talked about how OVERKILL approaches "directional changes", both in terms of the music and the personnel within the band. He said: "I don't think directional changes are necessarily recognized by the outside. It's more recognized by the inside, because I'm involved in all the interior workings of the band. We're like the mechanics that keep the machine running, so we know when something needs to be changed, whether it be an individual… Jason [Bittner, now-former OVERKILL drummer] was coming to the end. Listen, he's a great drummer — don't get me wrong; he's a good friend — but it was, like, you just felt that change was coming because… Tension can be a good thing in a heavy metal band, but too much tension can bring you to your own demise; it can destroy everything. So I think that reinvention, especially at this age, is not necessarily the right way to think of things. I think the way to think of it, at [the age of] 65, is what are my strengths? And can I make my strengths stronger? Now when I talk to you about dropping the cigarettes and the vaping, I got stronger. Which is fucking weird for like a guy who's been doing this for… Guys don't live as long as this [laughs], let alone in rock and roll. So I think the fact that I can put cigarettes down and go, 'I can sing all the time now,' it's only gonna make the records better. And I think that that was one, for sure, one of the feelings that we got through 'Scorched' was, like, 'Listen to this fucking…' We sound like a fucking young, fucking hungry, fucking we-fucking-mean-it band. And that's what the fucking metal is all about. So I'm not gonna overthink it. I'm not gonna reinvent, but I'm gonna play to the strengths."
OVERKILL played its first concert with new drummer Jeramie Kling (VENOM INC.) on August 30 at the Posada Rock festival in Câmpulung Muscel, Romania. Kling joined the veteran outfit as the replacement for Bittner, who announced his exit from OVERKILL earlier in the month.
When OVERKILL announced Kling's addition to the band on August 23, the group said in a statement: "We're gearing up for an epic European and North American tour this August through December and are excited to announce a special addition for the tours. Here comes a thunderous old friend, who had done work with us, as well as THE ABSENCE & VENOM INC. Please welcome, with drum sticks in hand, Jeramie Kling!"
Jeramie added: "Words cannot express how stoked I am to share the stage with my good friends in OVERKILL. We will be laying waste to everyone throughout Europe and North America (with KING DIAMOND). Check the dates online and come out to see an unforgettable night of metal \m/".
A founding member of THE ABSENCE, Kling appeared on VENOM INC.'s second album, 2022's "There's Only Black", and has played with such acts as FORE, RIBSPREADER, GOREGÄNG and NECROMANCING THE STONE. He was also briefly affiliated with the reunited Florida death metal band MASSACRE, which led to the formation of INHUMAN CONDITION, alongside Terry Butler (OBITUARY, ex-DEATH) and Taylor Nordberg (DEICIDE). In addition to being a drummer, Kling is a recording engineer, producer and live sound engineer.
Bittner joined OVERKILL in 2017 and played drums on the band's last two studio albums, 2019's "The Wings Of War" and 2023's "Scorched"
When Bittner has announced his departure from OVERKILL on August 5, he said in a statement: "On August 1, 2024, I played the Vagos Metal Fest in Portugal, and it was the last show I will play in the band OVERKILL.
"For a while now I have been juggling a few different bands along with OVERKILL, and I knew at some point something would have to give since I simply can’t be three places at once. Over the course of this last year, my schedule has reached that breaking point.
"At this time SHADOWS FALL is working towards completion of our new material that will take us back out on the road sometime in 2025, as well as our fall shows we have booked for the rest of this year celebrating 20 years of 'The War Within'. Compounded on top of this is my new band, Metal Blade recording artists CATEGORY 7, whose album just hit the shelves last month and will start touring soon through 2025. All of this adds up to something having to 'take a break', so as of today I no longer play drums in OVERKILL so I can concentrate solely on the bands that I am a full member/owner of.
"Now don't worry — they currently have another great drummer already learning the material, and he will be ready to do battle for the upcoming tours.
"I would like to thank EVERYONE in the OVERKILL extended family for 7 1/2 years of laughs, killer shows, and fun around the globe. All our crew members throughout my run, our agents Dolores Lokas and Mike Monterulo, my tech Animal for always having my back (Shake and Bake),as well as all of our crew past and present, the SKULLKRUSHERS (much love Jurgen),and all the fans who supported my tenure in the band, I love you all, thank you, and will miss you on the European and KING DIAMOND tours… but I'll see you out there with SHADOWS FALL and CATEGORY 7."
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12 ñåí 2024

KANSAS Bassist BILLY GREER Exits Band After Nearly 40 Years
 After nearly 40 years, Billy Greer has concluded his journey as bassist and co-lead vocalist for the band KANSAS.
KANSAS and its entire organization extend heartfelt gratitude to Billy for his decades of exceptional musicianship.
Billy joined KANSAS in 1985 and has been an unwavering presence with the band since.
"For 39 years, Billy has been a loyal, dedicated, and immensely talented bandmate. He's travelled around the world with us including USO tours," comments KANSAS original member Phil Ehart.
Original KANSAS guitarist Richard Williams adds: "[Billy] stood shoulder to shoulder with us through both the ups and the downs. His voice, both singing and emceeing, has been a constant with us on stage. The entire KANSAS family will miss him."
Billy has appeared on stage with KANSAS for more than 2,300 live performances. He performed on the studio albums "Power", "In The Spirit Of Things", "Freaks Of Nature", "Always Never The Same", "Somewhere To Elsewhere", "The Prelude Implicit" and "The Absence of Presence". Billy is also featured on the live releases "Live At The Whisky", "King Biscuit Flower Hour", "Device Voice Drum", "There's Know Place Like Home", "Leftoverture Live & Beyond" and "Point of Know Return Live & Beyond". Billy was also lead vocalist and bassist for the side project NATIVE WINDOW.
In the last 18 years, Billy has taken charge of the emcee role on stage enhancing the connection between the band on stage and the audience.
Billy's departure will not impact any KANSAS performance scheduling. A new KANSAS bassist will be announced soon.
In a 2023 interview with 100% Rock Magazine, Greer stated about his long stint with KANSAS:"I consider myself lucky. There have been a couple of incarnations along the way, but we've managed to push through the rough times. I was part of those rough times. In the '90s when grunge became the flavor of the month, that set us on a course for doom. We kept going. Those were some dark times. Playing small clubs from Tuesday through Thursday to get to the good gigs on the weekends. It was a rough go for a lot of years, but we slowly made our way back."
September 6, 2024 – After nearly 40 years, Billy Greer has concluded his journey as bassist and co-lead vocalist for the...
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12 ñåí 2024

Watch: U.D.O. Kicks Off 2024 North American Tour In Frenchtown, New Jersey
 U.D.O., the German heavy metal band fronted by former ACCEPT vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, kicked off its 2024 North American tour on Friday (September 6) at Artie's Bar & Grill in Frenchtown, New Jersey. Fan-filmed video of the entire concert can be seen below.
U.D.O.'s setlist was as follows:
Setlist:
01. Isolation Man
02. Break The Rules
03. Forever Free
04. Metal Machine
05. Midnight Mover (ACCEPT)
06. Wrong Side Of Midnight
07. Fight For The Right
08. Heart Of Gold
09. Man And Machine
10. One Heart One Soul
11. Touchdown
Encore:
12. I Give As Good As I Get
13. They Want War
14. Animal House
15. Fast As A Shark (ACCEPT)
16. Balls To The Wall (ACCEPT)
The trek will make its way through two dozen cities, closing on October 10 in Columbus, Ohio. Support on the trek is being provided by MIDNIGHT HELLION, KILLDEVIL THEORY and POWER THEORY on select dates.
Remaining tour dates:
With MIDNIGHT HELLION, POWER THEORY:
Sep. 07 - The Vault - New Bedford, MA
Sep. 08 - Reverb - Reading, PA
With MIDNIGHT HELLION, KILLDEVIL THEORY:
Sep. 11 - Southport Music Hall - Jefferson, LA
Sep. 12 - Warehouse Live - Houston, TX
Sep. 14 - Fitzgerald's - San Antonio, TX
Sep. 15 - Trees - Dallas, TX
Sep. 17 - Rockhouse - El Paso, TX
Sep. 18 - The 44 - Glendale, AZ
Sep. 20 - DNA Lounge - San Francisco, CA
Sep. 21 - Stages - Santa Ana, CA
Sep. 22 - Whisky A Go Go - West Hollywood, CA
Sep. 23 - Brick By Brick - San Diego, CA
Sep. 25 - Rickhouse - Denver, CO
With MIDNIGHT HELLION:
Sep. 27 - The Vixen - Mchenry, IL
Sep. 28 - The Forge - Joliet, IL
Sep. 29 - BMI Event Center - Versailles, OH
Oct. 02 - Foufounes Electriques - Montreal, QC
Oct. 03 - Brass Monkey - Ottawa, ON
Oct. 04 - Token Lounge - Westland, MI
Oct. 05 - Q & Z Expo - Ringle, WI
Oct. 06 - Shank Hall - Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 09 - Blue Note - Harrison, OH
Oct. 10 - The King of Clubs - Columbus, OH
Tickets, as well as VIP upgrades which include a meet-and-greet with U.D.O., a photo op, autographs, and more are available at national-acts.com/UDO.
U.D.O.'s North American tour was originally scheduled to take place in November/December 2023 but was postponed "due to an insurmountable combination of logistical, cargo, and rental equipment problems."
In a 2023 interview with George Dionne of KNAC.COM, Udo, who turned 72 in April, touched upon the setlist for the U.D.O. North American tour and whether it would include any of ACCEPT's classic songs. He said: "The promoter said, 'Yeah, we heard Udo said he never, ever will play any ACCEPT songs.' Yeah, of course. I mean, when I did the DIRKSCHNEIDER tour [focusing on ACCEPT material] also here in Europe, the whole DIRKSCHNEIDER thing [lasted] for nearly three years; I mean, it was a never-ending tour. It was nearly 300 shows, and I was really tired. I said, 'Come on. U.D.O. has also enough songs. I don't wanna play any ACCEPT songs anymore.' Okay. [I] was a little bit too quick [to say that]. So the promoter in America, he said, 'Yeah, but when you come on tour, you have to play 'Balls To The Wall'. You cannot be in America without 'Balls To The Wall'.' And then he said, 'Can we put this in the contract?' And I said, 'Don't worry. We don't have to put this in the contract. I know that we have to play 'Balls To The Wall' in America. Of course.' And, yeah. So maybe we play one or two ACCEPT songs; I mean, I know which ones are in America famous enough. But we don't make a mix, like 50 percent of ACCEPT and [50 percent of] U.D.O. Maybe [we'll play] two [ACCEPT] songs, and then give the people what they want."
U.D.O. released a new album, "Touchdown", in August 2023 through Atomic Fire Records. The 13-track LP was recorded at various locations with producer Martin "Mattes" Pfeiffer and was mixed at Redhead Studio (Wilhelmshaven, Germany) while the mastering was handled by Stefan Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany),The record also includes a guest appearance by violinist Stefan Pintev on the title track, and bass tracks were recorded by former ACCEPT bassist Peter Baltes. Artwork was provided by Martin Häusler who was also responsible for shooting band photos in support of the new album campaign.
In April 2023, Baltes officially joined U.D.O. and DIRKSCHNEIDER, the two bands fronted by Udo Dirkschneider. The former ACCEPT bassist had been playing bass for U.D.O. since September 2022, initially as a temporary replacement for U.D.O.'s then-bassist Tilen Hudrap who was hospitalized after the band's show in Munich, Germany.
DIRKSCHNEIDER is the name of Udo's band which performs ACCEPT material exclusively.
Although Udo announced nine years ago that his initial DIRKSCHNEIDER tour would mark his final time performing ACCEPT songs, he has continued to play select shows under the DIRKSCHNEIDER banner.
Four years ago, Baltes and former ACCEPT drummer Stefan Kaufmann were part of the songwriting team for U.D.O.'s album called "We Are One", a collaboration with Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, the military band of the German federal armed forces.
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12 ñåí 2024

BRAD DELSON Says He Won't Be Touring With Reunited LINKIN PARK
 LINKIN PARK guitarist Brad Delson has explained his absence from the band's upcoming reunion tour.
On Thursday (September 5),LINKIN PARK held a one-hour global livestream of a concert in Los Angeles showcasing new singer Emily Armstrong and drummer Colin Brittain, who will join returning members Mike Shinoda, Delson, Dave "Phoenix" Farrell and Joe Hahn in the band's new lineup. Guitarist Alex Feder was filling in for Delson for the night.
Earlier today, Delson released the following statement via social media: "Beyond excited to share this new chapter with the world.
"Bringing our vision to life is the culmination of many twists and turns, as we continue our unique journey together as a band. We couldn't do it without a belief in what is possible, even when things seem impossible; without the ability to listen, particularly when emotions run deep; and without the support and love of everyone around us. Thank you thank you thank you.
"In awe of @emilyarmstrong and @colinbrittain for their talent, passion, and partnership. Deep gratitude to all my bandmates for their humility, hard work, and friendship.
"I've always felt deeply connected to and proud of our live performances. Over the years I've realized I thrive most when I'm actively working with my bandmates behind the scenes — in the studio, collaborating on our new music, and helping build our live show.
"I am so proud of everything we continue to create together. While I will not be performing on tour in this new chapter, I am super excited to introduce Alex — my handsome deputy on the road. Alex is a world-class musician, a kind and thoughtful friend, and we are truly fortunate he'll be contributing his unique talent to our LP universe.
"Fresh eyes, honest appreciation, and devoted teamwork have brought us to this special moment. The privilege of sharing our creativity with you. Thank you for joining us on the journey."
LINKIN PARK also released a new single, "The Emptiness Machine", and announced an upcoming album "From Zero", which will arrive on November 15 via Warner. It will mark LINKIN PARK's first full-length effort since 2017's "One More Light", which was the last LINKIN PARK album before the death of lead vocalist Chester Bennington.
LINKIN PARK's global livestream featured performances of "The Emptiness Machine" as well as the LP hits "Somewhere I Belong", "Numb", "Faint", "Bleed It Out", "One Step Closer", "What I've Done" and "In The End".
Later this month, LINKIN PARK will embark on a six-date arena tour, making stops in Los Angeles, New York, Hamburg, London, Seoul and Bogota.
Pre-sale tickets for the "From Zero" tour will be available for the LP Underground fan club members starting on September 6. The general sale will start on September 7.
In an interview with Billboard about LINKIN PARK's comeback, Shinoda explained that drummer Rob Bourdon— who had founded the band with Mike and Brad — had decided to exit LP.
"Rob had said to us at a point, I guess it was a few years ago now, that he wanted to put some distance between himself and the band," Shinoda said. "And we understood that — it was already apparent. He was starting to just show up less, be in less contact, and I know the fans noticed it too. The 'Hybrid Theory' re-release [in 2020] and 'Papercuts' release [this April], he didn't show up for anything. So for me, as a friend, that was sad, but at the same time, I want him to do whatever makes him happy, and obviously everybody wishes him the best."
According to a press release, Shinoda, Delson, Farrell and Hahn "quietly began meeting up again in recent years" and "rather than 'trying to restart the band,'" they worked with numerous musicians and "found a special kinship with Armstong and Brittain."
Regarding the band's new lineup and future plans, Shinoda said in a statement: "Before LINKIN PARK, our first band name was XERO. This album title refers to both this humble beginning and the journey we’re currently undertaking. Sonically and emotionally, it is about past, present, and future — embracing our signature sound, but new and full of life. It was made with a deep appreciation for our new and longtime bandmates, our friends, our family, and our fans. We are proud of what LINKIN PARK has become over the years, and excited about the journey ahead."
"The Emptiness Machine" is said to "channel the DNA of LINKIN PARK." Shinoda said the band feels "really empowered with this new lineup and the vibrant and energized new music we've made together," adding that they are "weaving together the sonic touchpoints we've been known for and still exploring new ones."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark)
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12 ñåí 2024

THE SPIRIT Debut New Single “Room 101”
 Revered German blackened death battalion The Spirit has revealed the 2nd single, "Room 101," from their upcoming, fourth album, Songs Against Humanity, that's out October 25 from AOP Records.
Commenting on the song guitarist/vocalist Matthias Trautes says:
"'Room 101' was the first song I finished for the new album. Lyrically inspired by the dystopian classic '1984' by George Orwell, this song carries the listener to a bleak future of repression and the death of free will. It’s one of the shortest The Spirit tracks ever, but it’s a real banger."
Songs Against Humanity follows the The Spirit's chart breaching 2022 album, Of Clarity and Galactic Structures, and marks the anticipated next chapter in their celebrated career of masterful brutality.
Available Formats:
Limited coloured vinyl in Trifold Jacket with exclusive bonus track & poster
- lim. 99 Blue marbled (The Spirit exclusive)
- lim. 199 Clear with Iridescent Blue (The Spirit & AOP Records exclusive)
- lim. 99 Bleach marbled (AOP Records exclusive)
- lim. 199 Olivegreen/Bronze with Black splatter (AOP Records exclusive)
- lim. 99 Green against Black (Napalm Records exclusive)
- Gatefold LP (without bonus track)
- Jewelcase CD
Preorder here.
Tracklisting:
“Against Humanity”
“Room 101”
“Cosmic Rain And Human Dust”
“Spectres Of Terror”
“Death Is My Salvation”
“Nothingness Forever”
“Orbiting Sol IV”
"Room 101" video:
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12 ñåí 2024

DREAMLESS VEIL Feat. INTER ARMA, ARTIFICIAL BRAIN & PSYCROPTIC Members Release New Single “Cyanide Mine”
 Dreamless Veil, featuring members of Inter Arma, Artificial Brain, and Psycroptic, will release their debut album Every Limb Of The Flood in less than two weeks on September 20, 2024.
Today, the trio share the album’s third offering “Cyanide Mine”.
Pre-order Every Limb Of The Flood on LP/CD/Digital via Relapse.com here.
Dreamless Veil Is an extreme metal band composed of Artificial Brain guitarist Dan Garguilo, Inter Arma / Artificial Brain vocalist Mike Paparo and Psycroptic drummer Dave Haley.
The band's debut, Every Limb Of The Flood, is a blackened concept album that follows the travails of Grief, a character who awakens from extended debauchery and begins the slow and torturous process of trying to disappear completely.
Through tracks such as "A Generation Of Eyes", "Saturnism", and "Cyanide Mine" Vocalist Mike Paparo and co. task the listener to consider what it would be like for an individual to fully disappear. Dreamless Veil delves into this murk through eight tracks - dramatic swells, melodic crescendos, and abrasive blast-beat poundings make way to more introspective moments ultimately resulting in pure horror.
Paparo explores the concept of corporeal disintegration with pained shrieks and disembodied bellows, resulting in one of the most unchained performances of his storied career. Lyrics for the record show, but don't tell. Dreamless Veil's concept alludes to misery leading to grotesquery - the opener "Dim Golden Rave" throws the listener into an ambiguous time and place: "Grief, spiritless, collapses against the filth-ridden street". The second track, "A Generation of Eyes" follows this narrative by invoking Neil Young, quoting him to the extent of "rust never sleeps." What ensues is a grief so powerful it decomposes from within. The end result manifests in the album closer "Dreamless" - the body is now fully discarded, hinting at a possible enlightenment through a horrible, gruesome process.
Sonically, Every Limb Of The Flood is a caustic, corrosive journey. Critically acclaimed drummer David Haley flexes some of his most creative drum work to date, dragging the listener through wild tempo changes, breakneck speeds that come to sudden halts, while guitarist Dan Gargiulo (Artificial Brain) interweaves disorienting guitar madness.
Recorded by Brett Bamberger (Revocation) Every Limb Of The Flood was mixed by Gargiulo and mastered by Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice, and more.)
Every Limb Of The Flood tracklisting:
"Dim Golden Rave"
"A Generation Of Eyes"
"Saturnism"
"The Stirring Of Flies"
"Cyanide Mine"
"Every Limb Of The Flood"
"Glossolalia"
"Dreamless"
"Cyanide Mine":
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12 ñåí 2024

DEFEATED SANITY Issues "Maniacal" Lyric Video "Temporal Disintegration"
 Defeated Sanity have pushed the boundaries of extreme metal for 30 odd years. The band execute jazz-infused chaos with mind-bending precision, while also slamming together so many memorable breakdowns that they cracked the Billboard charts. Their upcoming seventh album still hits from every odd angle, but on Chronicles Of Lunacy, these technical maniacs return to sheer brutality.
“The last few DS albums leaned heavily on the proggier side of our sound,” says the band's drummer and founding member Lille Gruber. “We still like to experiment, but on our new album, we wanted to get back to the raw slamming that our fans love about Psalms Of The Moribund or Chapters Of Repugnance.”
Second single and "maniacal" lyric video for "Temporal Disintegration" is available below. Chronicles Of Lunacy comes out November 22 on Season Of Mist. Pre-order / pre-save your copy now at this location.
To dig back into the brutal mindset that long-time fans have come to crave, in January 2024, Defeated Sanity returned to Thousand Cave Studios. The underground New York City hotspot was also the excavation site for The Sanguinary Impetus, which dumped a fresh layer of dirt on the more "polished" production of Passages Into Deformity. Except this time around, the band encouraged producer Colin Marston to really get his hands dirty.
Tracklisting:
"Amputationsdrang"
"The Odour Of Sanctity"
"Accelerating The Rot"
"Temporal Disintegration"
"Extrinsically Enraged"
"A Patriarchy Perverse"
"Condemned To Vascular Famine"
"Heredity Violated"
"Temporal Disintegration" lyric video:
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12 ñåí 2024

BELTFED WEAPON Releases “Tortured Within” Single Feat. STU BLOCK, MIKE LEPOND
 Following up Beltfed Weapon's 2023 all-star EP release, Darkened Demise, Frank Hetzel is back with new single "Tortured Within" - with previous collaborators Kragen Lum and Bryan Newbury, plus, this time, bringing metal luminaries Stu Block and Mike LePond into the mix.
Cover art by Sidjimbe Art:
Frank Hetzel explains "'Tortured Within' is about a person battling a war within themselves, such as addiction, and the struggle to get out of the cycle and back on track to a positive direction. Working with Stu and Mike was an awesome experience. Both are consummate professionals, and of course Kragen and Bryan deliver, as usual, on all levels as well. I could not be happier with how this song turned out.
Mike LePond says "Frank has some seriously vicious riffs with an almost machine-like right hand. His music is very different from Symphony X, so it was a challenge from the start. The more I listened and practiced, the more I appreciated his metal artistry."
Stu Block adds, “It was fun working with Frank on this tune. Frank is a very talented musician and awesome guy!”  | 0 |  |
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