ICE NINE KILLS has unleashed a new single, "A Work Of Art", the official track for the highly anticipated slasher sequel "Terrifier 3", which hits theaters nationwide today. Along with the single, the band has dropped a brand new, blood-soaked 14-minute extended cut of the accompanying music video, the original version of which debuted in over 300 theaters nationwide during exclusive, one-night-only, back to back screenings of "Terrifier 2" and "Terrifier 3" last night at select AMC and Marcus theaters.
The music video, a cinematic spectacle in its own right, is directed by longtime collaborator Jensen Noen, and stars stars David Howard Thornton ("Terrifier"'s infamous Art The Clown),Catherine Corcoran ("Terrifier"),Leah Voysey ("Terrifier 2"),SiriusXM's Jose Mangin and Vincent Rockwell, Richard Christy (drummer for DEATH, CONTROL DENIED and CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED),and also features Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN, SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET) who lent his legendary bass playing to the track. Special effects for the video were created by Academy Award winner Christopher Nelson ("American Horror Story", "Halloween 2018", "Suicide Squad", "Kill Bill"). In true ICE NINE KILLS fashion, the video not only serves up unprecedented gore and an unrivaled kill count but seems to also be setting the stage for a new chapter of the ICE NINE KILLS cinematic universe with the additional footage on display in the extended-cut version.
Speaking on the collaboration, ICE NINE KILLS creative visionary and frontman Spencer Charnas shares: "Creating a track for 'Terrifier 3' is like stepping into the ultimate horror playground. The film and our new single, 'A Work Of Art', reflect the same twisted, unrelenting energy that fans of both ICE NINE KILLS and the 'Terrifier' franchise thrive on. And having our music video play in theaters after the movie at special screenings last night was the ultimate honor and the best way to pay homage to the cinematic terror that has inspired me and this band. The extended cut of the video marks a new era of INK-related terror, but what that means shall remain in my nightmares.... for now. Psychos, we present to you what may well be our most glorious and goresome offering yet, sure to leave you both tongue-tied and terrified — 'A Work Of Art'."
To commemorate "A Work Of Art", ICE NINE KILLS have dedicated their monthly Nightmare On The Ninth merch capsule to the collaboration with a collection of officially licensed items. Head to www.nightmareontheninth.com.
ICE NINE KILLS and the "Terrifier" franchise make a perfect match — each known for their unapologetic embrace of horror, bloodshed, and dark humor. "A Work Of Art" perfectly channels the chaotically unhinged essence of Art The Clown, creating a deliciously depraved, blood-drenched soundtrack for the horror icon's latest rampage. Explore at your peril.
ICE NINE KILLS will be joining METALLICA and LIMP BIZKIT in stadiums next year on select dates of the 2025 leg of the "M72" world tour.
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the genre-defying, alternative metal collective led by Shavo Odadjian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN),has released the music video for the song "Cry". The track is taken from SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET's self-titled debut album, which has just been made available via Sumerian Records and 1336 Records.
"Cry" is a visceral dive into anguish, longing, and despair. The song's harrowing intensity is mirrored in its lyrics, delving into the suffocating distance between two souls, and the raw pain of holding on to something that's slowly slipping away. It further displays the phenomenal range, both sonically and thematically, on display on the band's first full-length .
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET said about the single: "'Cry' captures the agony of trying to hold on to something that's already broken, that inevitable downfall when love turns into torment. It's about being locked in a space of emotional suffocation, where every attempt to hold on only pulls you further into the abyss. This is the pain we wanted to channel — a song for anyone who's ever felt like they’re drowning in their own emotions."
Shavo is joined in the group by vocalist Taylor Barber (LEFT TO SUFFER),WINDS OF PLAGUE guitarist Michael Montoya (a.k.a. Morgoth Beatz, a producer and songwriter who has previously collaborated with Travis Barker, JuiceWrld, Lil Xan, Jonathan Davis, ISSUES and many more),guitarist/backing vocalist Alejandro Aranda (a.k.a. Scarypoolparty, "American Idol") and drummer Josh Johnson (WINDS OF PLAGUE).
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET made its live debut on Monday (October 7) at the SiriusXM Garage in Los Angeles, California.
Shavo recently told RIFF Magazine about how SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET came about: "It was funny. My number's 22, so that's why I have the [cannabis] brand 22Red. So on February 22nd, 2022, we threw a party and the day of the party, I did a live radio show on KROQ here in Los Angeles. And that evening, we were throwing the party for 22Red, but I did that show before and I invited the host to the party. He asked me if he could bring a friend. I said, 'Sure.' He brought his friend. It was Morgoth Beatz who ended up being the producer and now my rhythm guitar player in the band and co-songwriter in some of them songs and stuff. So he and I decided we can write music that day together. So we exchanged numbers and we got together like a month later, wrote a song, and then we did another one a week later. And then it just became this thing where it was gonna be like one song we were going to sell to another artist, 'cause that's what he does; he writes a lot of music and he passes it on. But it became this thing. And he mentioned, he's, like, 'Man, why don't you do a Shavo record? Like something with all of the songs that you wrote instead of just one or two songs. These are coming out great.' And at that point, I wasn't really thinking about doing my own record like that, 'cause I've done so many other projects. And another thing is I've never done heavy music outside of SYSTEM. It's been heavy, but never the same genre. I've always tried to stay against the grain, and I've done EDM, I've done hip-hop, I've done rock-metal shit, but I haven't really just focused on that, which actually is my forte. I close my eyes and it just happens, which is how we did this."
Shavo continued: "So I was at his studio. I have my own studio. I gave him the key. I said, 'Come through. We're gonna start working on this record.' And a year and a half later, we have a full record, plus another half a record for album two. We have a full band. I started my own label and I signed it to Sumerian, who has worldwide distribution to Virgin, which is amazing for me. That's what I kind of wanted with the control. I've been doing this for 30 years, so I kind of knew how I wanted it, and I'm building it. And that's how it started. And that's where we're at right now. It started off as a passion project [and it] became my thing."
Regarding how the songwriting process for SYSTEM OF A DOWN was different from how he approached his previously projects, Shavo said: "Yeah, usually I'll write at home and then I'll bring it to the band. Or my other projects, I've just written at home and then brought it to the rest of the guys. This one, I would just have him play a beat that he made, or even just a 4/4, or even a loop or something, and then I just kind of… I mean, I just started strumming and the music just came out of me. So we just recorded everything I did. And whenever something was amazing, we knew it. I was, like, 'Okay, make that a thing.' So we highlighted that moment. And then afterwards I wrote a part that goes with that, and then kind of arranged it, wrote it all in the studio. So artistically it was really refreshing. There was no boundaries, no law, no rules. I just did it. It just came out so organically. Everything about it has been organic and not planned. And that's what the beauty of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET."
On the topic of how he came up with the name of the SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "He [Morgoth Beatz] wanted to call it SHAV or SHAVO, so people know it's me, and I wrote 95 percent of it. But still, I always like a unit, I like a band. I think it's cooler. And plus he helped me a lot. These guys, they came in and did their part, and it just works perfectly. So I like the collaboration. I've never had the ego, where it's, like, 'me, me, me.' I've never done that. I've never said that. So I like it. It's us. And it became a band. And SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, the acronym, is S.H.A.V. So that's cool. So they got what they wanted and I got what I wanted. I got a band, the cool name mysterious, but it also has a meaning, but I'm never gonna explain the meaning. It's kind of one of those things. There's many meanings you can think of what 'Violet' is — it could be a female, it could be a thing, the color, an event, it could be anything, and it's kind of cool. So there is some deep meaning to it and maybe one day we'll explain it, but at the moment, I like it where we are."
Regarding the other members of SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET, Shavo said: "My singer, Taylor Barber, he comes from the world of deathcore and the growling. His voice is an instrument, and he's a wonder. He's like the new wonder of the world that no one knows yet that's there. He does have a following and he comes from another band called LEFT TO SUFFER, which is a grindcore band. But he sings like a canary as well. His range is so huge. He's the perfect member. He's the perfect singer that came in and can do all the parts. And then also we got Alejandro Aranda, who, he is just this musical genius who came in. He was the last member, and I didn't even know I needed that member, but, now it's, like, of course I needed him. Of course he fit perfectly. He does side vocals. He sings along with Taylor perfectly. So it's like a two-vocal band now, two-vocalist band. And we got Josh Johnson on the drums, and he's amazing. He hails from a band called WINDS OF PLAGUE; he used to play with them. So he's talented as hell. So, yeah, I'm honored and lucky to have these guys around me and for us to be able to do this music together."
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET will next perform at this year's Mayhem festival, set to take place on October 12 at the Glen Helen Amphitheatre in San Bernardino. "And we are gonna do some shows around it, and then we do have some outside-of-the-U.S. stuff already planned," Shavo explained. "So, yeah, this will be a touring band. 'Cause that's kind of the purpose why I put the band together the way I did. The original idea was to make the music and then have like a DJ Khaled kind of album, but rock and metal, where I have features, guest vocalists coming on; each song has somebody else. But when the songs started developing, I was, like, 'This should be a tour. This should be a touring road band as well.' But you could never do that with guest vocals, so we needed someone to be the singer. So that's why we went ahead and searched for the singer. And that's how we got Taylor. So, yeah, we got the Mayhem coming up. That one's announced, but we are booking a little U.S. thing around it. 'Cause you don't wanna just do one show, but that would be the big one. We're on the main stage. I can't wait. And then we've got some outside-of-the-U.S. ideas too. So yes, more coming."
When the universe aligns, magic happens. This was certainly the case when Odadjian, the legendary bass player of SYSTEM OF A DOWN, crossed paths with platinum-selling producer, songwriter and guitarist Morgoth at a party on 2.22.22. Their initial sessions were a spontaneous combustion of creativity, transforming from a potential solo venture into a full-fledged band. Shavo recalls: "We wrote a song right away. It wasn't like any writing session I had been part of before; riffs were just flowing out of me without me even having to try. Every time I felt like I couldn't write anything. Morgoth would hand me a guitar and say, 'Go, go, go'. I needed that, you know? I needed someone to push me when I wasn't pushing myself. "
As music continued to pour out in torrents, with Shavo writing and performing all the guitar and bass parts and Morgoth producing and providing the beats, atmospherics and FX, Morgoth suggested they turn it into a Shavo solo project. However, with his eye now firmly set on the live arena, Shavo decided to create a full band.
Finding the right vocal talent to complement the musical landscape created by Shavo and Morgoth was crucial. Morgoth's recommendation of Taylor Barber from LEFT TO SUFFER was a game changer. Shavo was blown away. "He was singing in falsetto one minute and growling the next — it was ridiculous," the bassist states. "He became the singer because he knocked every song out of the park."
With Shavo on bass and Morgoth on guitar, the band also brought in Morgoth's WINDS OF PLAGUE bandmate Josh Johnson on drums and Alejandro Aranda, known for his solo project SCARYPOOLPARTY and as runner-up on "American Idol", as lead guitarist and backing vocalist.
Once the new music was complete, mixed by Zach Jones and mastered by Maor Applebaum, Shavo partnered with Avildsen to create 1336 Records, with SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET being the first signing.
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET is:
Taylor Barber - Vocals
Morgoth - Guitar, Production
Shavo Odadjian - Bass
Alejandro Aranda - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Josh Johnson - Drums
At Summer Breeze 2024; Official Video">
Following the introduction of new singer Fabian Getto with 2023’s "Shelter" and "Cerulean Skies", Equilibrium returned in August with their first new material of 2024. "Gnosis", building on the band's unique blend of modern and folk metal, was released in time for a slew of EU festival appearances over the summer. The band will be supporting Septicflesh on their October-November EU run.
Watch Equilibrium perform "Gnosis" live for the first time at Summer Breeze 2024:
Guitarist, singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Richie Kotzen has premiered the official music video for "Nomad", the title track of his highly acclaimed new solo studio album, out now via BMG. The clip sees Kotzen bathed in the Californian sunshine as he performs the song in the same hills above Los Angeles where the album cover was shot.
"I'm very happy to have arrived at a place where we can share the single 'Nomad' with a visual to go along with it," says Kotzen. "I originally wrote and recorded this song some time after releasing my album '50 For 50' and I always knew it was something that deserved special attention against the kind of music I'm know for releasing in more recent years. It was sort of driving me a bit nuts having this tune in the back burner for so many years and not having the right platform to release it. Now here we are not only putting it out with a video but also as the title of my latest album, so I suppose it was held up for good reason.
"Being primarily known as a rock and sometimes jazz fusion guitarist, I found myself taking a different direction on the solo. I really did not want to find myself soloing over standard chord changes which seem so fitting for a song with this type of singable chorus. By introducing an entirely different set of changes for the solo I was able to stretch out in ways that I normally could not by playing over the typical or expected progression.
"As a guitar player, I feel like I am really connecting by turning off the distortion pedal and soloing with a more pure clean tone. For my taste I feel like this song is the 'guitar moment' of my new album and I'm excited to share this new video/single with you all."
Written, recorded and produced by Kotzen, "Nomad" features eight new tracks showcasing Kotzen's multi-faceted musical styles with Kotzen playing almost every instrument on the album. On "Nomad", Kotzen expresses his diverse techniques and influences, from hard rock to '70s-infused soul and funk, jazz fusion to R&B. It's all intertwined with his own unique playing and songwriting approach, while retaining his ever-evolving signature style.
"I came up exposed to soul, funk and R&B music extensively but at the same time I was a hard rock fan all the way," explains Kotzen. "So I've got this sort of interesting dynamic happening with my music where you hear elements of PARLIAMENT or Curtis Mayfield but then at the same time you've got the BAD COMPANY early Rod Stewart influence as well. Then when I started taking the guitar more seriously, I was drawn into fusion bands like THE DIXIE DREGS, RETURN TO FOREVER and Allan Holdsworth's work. It is a wacky mixture but that is the formula for Richie Kotzen."
Earlier this year, Kotzen released the first two tracks from the album, hard-driving single "Cheap Shots" and follow-up single, "On The Table", a heavy-hitting rocker that had been living on his hard drive, waiting for the perfect lyric to complete it. A subconscious memory of his Brazilian father-in-law's first English words "The book is on the table" sparked inspiration and perfectly tied it all together.
While "Nomad" has no shortage of heavy guitar rockers, the sheer diversity of the album as heard on tracks such as "Nihilist", "This Is A Test" and the title track "Nomad" showcases not only Kotzen's musical range and vocal prowess, but his fearless imagination as a producer/arranger. Already globally renowned as an extraordinary guitarist, with "Nomad" Kotzen stands tall as a truly remarkable all-round lyricist-producer/arranger and singer.
"Nomad" track listing:
01. Cheap Shots
02. These Doors**
03. Insomnia
04. Nomad*
05. Escape
06. On The Table
07. This Is A Test
08. Nihilist
* Dan Potruch plays drums on "Nomad"
** Kyle Hughes plays drums on "These Doors"
Michael Kachko, BMG senior vice president says: "After working with Richie on the successful SMITH/KOTZEN project, we knew what an incredible songwriter and artist he is so we were excited to hear what he was working on as a solo artist. When he played us the new material, we knew immediately we wanted to be involved."
Kotzen states: "I was very much elated with the news that BMG wanted to release this album as I envisioned it without artistic compromise. I love the fact that the BMG team put their creative trust in me and my vision without re-design. So many times the business side of things can really interfere with the creative progress of a writer and with a team like this the focus is on what can we do to help you beyond what you've already done as a recording artist. The attitude seems to be, 'you've done the work as a writer, producer [and] musician, now let us take the ball and run'. This feels like the beginning of an amazing journey for me and a bit of a re-set in an industry that is becoming more complex to navigate for a lone artist."
SiX By SiX, the progressive power trio comprising Ian Crichton (Saga), Nigel Glockler (Saxon) and Robert Berry (3.2), recently released their sophomore album, Beyond Shadowland, via InsideOutMusic. Today, the band share the official music video for the song, "Spectre". Check it out below:
Robert Berry previously detailed "Spectre" in the video below:
For Beyond Shadowland the band reconvened in Berry’s own Soundtek Studios in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2023 to bend, shape, hammer and caress their diverse musical talents into 11 impressive new tracks. With this album, they continue to define and build upon their unique melodic space, welding guitar-driven rock, metal and prog into a unique and powerful sonic setting.
Beyond Shadowland is available as a Limited CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g Black 2LP (featuring 4 exclusive bonus tracks) and as a Digital Album. Order
Memphis May Fire - Matty Mullins (vocals), Kellen McGregor (guitar), Cory Elder (bass), and Jake Garland (drums) - continue to roll out new songs that provide fuel for their fan's fury.
Today, the band has shared the video for "Hell Is Empty". Here, the band shifts gears just a bit and offers up a sonically cinematic track with hooks that dig in and don't let go. Stream/download the single here, and watch the video below.
"'Hell Is Empty' is a reflection on the chaos and destruction we see in the world today," explains Mullins. "It's about the feeling that we've lost control, and the lines between good and evil being blurred beyond recognition. The song speaks to a world where fear and uncertainty have taken over, where everything we once believed in has crumbled, leaving us to face the darkest parts of ourselves. This song is a wake-up call — a raw and unapologetic look at the consequences of our actions and the world we've created."
The reunited expanded classic lineup of German power metallers HELLOWEEN will release a new live album, "Live At Budokan", on December 13, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The colossal effort immortalizes HELLOWEEN's September 16, 2023 performance at Tokyo's legendary Nippon Budokan.
"Live At Budokan" will be available in a plethora of formats: 2CD-digipak and 3LP vinyl in trifold with the first print run of both coming as "deluxe edition" including embossed cover artwork, as well as Blu-ray, DVD and digital. Each version is meticulously crafted to suit the metal community's diverse tastes, ensuring every fan can relive the raw, unfiltered energy of HELLOWEEN in their preferred medium.
To tide fans over until "Live At Budokan" arrives, HELLOWEEN has launched the first single, "Best Time". This electrifying live version of the hit single and most streamed track (more than 11 million streams on Spotify) from HELLOWEEN's self-titled reunion album can be watched below.
Guitarist Sascha Gerstner comments: "'Best Time' captures the energy and the moment when everything fits together perfectly and you leave everything negative behind. For me, this track is an anthem for all those nights when you're heading towards the future. That's why it conveys exactly this mood in concert, as if you were living in a single great moment that lasts forever."
This release celebrates the grand finale of HELLOWEEN's epic world tour from 2022 to 2023. Spanning over 30 countries on three continents, the tour was nothing short of a triumph, drawing massive crowds and showcasing the band's undying appeal, the sold-out concert in Tokyo is the crowning glory of the cycle. Known for their explosive stage presence and high-voltage performances, HELLOWEEN's shows are fueled by the unique chemistry among the band members. Triple lead-guitar attacks from Michael Weikath, Kai Hansen and Sascha Gerstner alternate with goosebump-inducing duets from vocalists Michael Kiske and Andi Deris, occasionally supported by Kai Hansen, the band's original singer and third voice. He also takes the spectators on a journey back in time with a medley from the band's early days, returning to the origins of their sound — HELLOWEEN, the godfathers of melodic speed metal.
Choosing the Nippon Budokan for this live recording was no coincidence. A venue rich in musical history, it has hosted countless legendary concerts and is an accolade for every music group that has played there. HELLOWEEN is the first German band ever to record a live album in the Nippon Budokan, and for the members it was a dream come true.
Kiske described the show as "surreal, with the electrifying fan energy creating a magical atmosphere." Bassist Markus Grosskopf spoke of the venue's profound personal and historical significance, expressing how humbling and inspiring it was to perform in a place that shaped their own musical journeys.
The live recording's technical brilliance is another highlight. With 29 cameras capturing every nuance, the production team ensured that each moment of the concert is preserved in stunning detail. This attention to detail means the Blu-ray and DVD versions offer an immersive viewing experience, making fans feel like they are right there in the front row.
The setlist of this live album is a treasure trove of surprises, contains the entire 2-hour+ show and offers a fresh experience compared to previous releases like "United Alive" (2019). This thoughtful song selection honors both the die-hard fans craving something new and the band's rich musical legacy, showcasing their evolution and expansive repertoire.
This live album is more than just a concert recording; it's a celebration of HELLOWEEN's enduring impact on the metal scene. It promises to bring the magic of an unforgettable performance straight into fans' homes, offering a piece of music history that embodies the spirit and energy of a legendary band at their peak.
"Live At Budokan" track listing:
01. Orbit
02. Skyfall
03. Eagle Fly Free
04. Mass Pollution
05. Future World
06. Power
07. Save Us
08. Kai's Medley [Walls Of Jericho, Metal Invaders, Victim Of Fate, Gorgar, Ride The Sky, Heavy Metal Is The Law]
09. Forever And One (Neverland)
10. Best Time
11. Dr. Stein
12. How Many Tears
13. Perfect Gentleman
14. Keeper Of The Seven Keys
15. Drumokan (*on Blu-ray/DVD only!*)
16. I Want Out
Artwork by Martin Häusler
Earlier this year, HELLOWEEN signed with Reigning Phoenix Music for the release of its next studio album. The band was scheduled to enter the studio this past summer to begin work on the follow-up to 2021's acclaimed self-titled effort, with plans to issue the LP in 2025.
HELLOWEEN's recent "United Forces" world tour took the band to 26 countries on three continents, bringing together more than 800,000 fans. The trek included sold-out headline shows in Los Angeles, New York and São Paulo, as well as highlights like the show at the Prague O2 Arena, the Schleyer-Halle in Stuttgart, or in front of 14,000 metalheads in Santiago de Chile and HELLOWEEN's first-ever sold-out concert at the iconic Budokan in Tokyo, Japan — the Holy Grail and the ultimate accolade for every rock band. Without a doubt, there were tears in everyone's eyes at the bombastic Hell & Heaven festival in Mexico City, which closed the tour.
In March 2023, Kiske told Canada's The Metal Voice that Kai had already sent him a demo of a song that he was working on that "I was very happy about, because it's not what you would expect; the song was a bit outside of the box, which I am always grateful for," Michael said. "I always thought that was exciting about HELLOWEEN. When you check out the 'Keeper [Of The Seven Keys: Part] I' and 'Keeper [Of The Seven Keys: Part] II' records, now they're classics, but when they came out, it was very different to what the 'Walls Of Jericho' record sounded like. But we had the balls to do it. And I think that's why I'm still here, because those records had an impact because of being pretty fearless. And it is always the benefit of the youth; most of the time, the younger people are very fearless.
"What I like about WeikiandKai, they can't fool themselves. They just write songs. They don't function in any other way but just making the song, and whatever it is, that's what it is. And that song was a bit QUEEN-like. It had a lot of piano parts in it — very operatic, with big choirs. And then it gets rocking again and stuff like that. It's another Kai Hansen sort of symphony. But I really liked it. And I'm glad that he does something like that. I just hope the rest of the band has the balls to do it. I would do it."
Asked if he will be contributing any musical ideas to HELLOWEEN's next effort, since he didn't write anything on "Helloween", Kiske said: "I don't know. I'm not so much of a metal songwriter. I was when I was a teenager. But these days I just don't write metal songs; I just write songs on acoustic guitar somehow. And if I have something where I feel like the band could make a HELLOWEEN song out of it, of course I will present it to them, and then if they get a kick out of it, something's gonna happen. But we have so many songwriters in this band now. And they're all really capable of writing that sort of material that everybody loves, and that's mainly Andi, Sascha, Weiki and Hansen. And I think that's more than enough. If I have an idea, I sneak it in. But I don't really push myself."
As for whether the rest of HELLOWEEN has also begun composing music for the band's next LP, Kiske said: "I know that Andi has songs, and I know that Kai has a whole bunch of songs. He was a bit lazy last time; he only had that one great song, [the 12-minute] 'Skyfall', which was maybe good for three songs, and that's why it's justified, but I would have wished for even more from him. And I think this time he will be presenting a whole bunch of songs more. At least that's my impression, the feeling that I have — there might be more coming from him this time. Andi is always in the game. Andi has this gift; he can just sit down and write 10 songs. He can just do it. I don't know how he does it."
In August 2022, Kiske told Chile's Radio Futuro that the overwhelmingly positive response to "Helloween" "was pretty unexpected. I was expected it to do good, but it was, like, perfect.
"It is very difficult for you, when you're involved in an album, to have an objective view at what you're doing," he explained. "You just do what you do. You always try to make the best out of every song. And obviously the spirit within the band is very good, which helps, but you never know how people hear it. So the best thing you can do is fade it all out, not think about it, and just try to make every song exciting for yourself; that's the best thing you can do. The less you think about success or how critics might see it, the better for the album. It's not easy, but you've gotta have that discipline to kind of fade it out and not let it get to you.
"I was surprised how well it was received, but, of course, it was a very welcome motivation, especially [in 2021]," Kiske added. "We released it right in the middle of the whole pandemic crap, and that was a positive lift, doing the interviews and seeing how people reacted to it."
Regarding how HELLOWEEN had managed to pull off the seemingly impossible by splitting vocals on the album between returning singer Kiske and longtime frontman Deris, with added contributions from Hansen, Michael said: "It was actually great. It was very easy. I was kind of expecting it to be difficult, but it wasn't, because there was no ego fights going on between me and Andi. We were just there on Tenerife meeting up almost every day.
"Before we started recording, we had Dennis Ward making a rough draft of what he thinks could work in terms of splitting: 'This sounds like Andi. This sounds a bit like Michael.' And that was how we approached it. It was some kind of pre-draft of how we could do it, but was nothing written in stone.
"One day I came to the studio and the evening before Andi was recording something, or had recorded something, and he wasn't feeling so happy with it. He came and said, 'I was trying this and that. And maybe you should give it a try too.' And then we figured out what sounds the best for the song.
"There are a whole bunch of songs where you can hear right away, 'That's an Andi Deris song. He should sing that.' Or, 'That's a typical Kiske song. That sounds great [with Kiske vocals].' It's like 'Angels', for instance, it was very clear that that was mostly a Kiske song, and Sascha [Gerstner, guitar] had written it with my voice in his head. But there are other songs, especially when Andi writes his own songs, usually it sounds best when he does it unless he wrote it with my voice in his head, like he did with 'Fear Of The Fallen'. 'Fear Of The Fallen', he was writing it with both singers in his mind, and that works out.
"But it was very easy," Kiske repeated. "Because you just try it out, and you very quickly hear what works best. And I would say, like, 70 percent of the time we knew before that that would be sounding better with him or that would be sounding better with me. Or even with Kai — there were even spots where we thought he should do it."
Upon its release in June 2021, "Helloween" landed in the Top 10 in more than 10 countries, including Germany, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland and Austria. The cover artwork for the LP was painted by artist Eliran Kantor, who has previously worked with HATEBREED, SOULFLY, TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH and SODOM, among others.
Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind and Dennis Ward, the latest HELLOWEEN LP was recorded in part at the H.O.M.E. Studios in Hamburg (where everything started in 1984). The same recording console used for such HELLOWEEN albums as "Master Of The Rings", "Time Of The Oath" and "Better Than Raw" was utilized to record the band's new material. The effort was mixed at the Valhalla Studios of Ronald Prent (IRON MAIDEN, DEF LEPPARD, RAMMSTEIN).
"Helloween" saw the legendary German power metallers going "back to the roots," with the band recording fully analog and Daniel Löble playing the drum kit previously used by HELLOWEEN's original drummer, the late Ingo Schwichtenberg, on the legendary "Keeper Of The Seven Keys" recordings.
The "Pumpkins United" tour marked the first time Kiske had played live with HELLOWEEN since 1993. Hansen, who departed HELLOWEEN in 1988, had been joining the band onstage on various tours and festival appearances throughout the years. The set featured several duets with Kiske and his replacement, Deris, along with many rarely played songs, including "Kids Of The Century", "Rise And Fall" and "Livin' Ain't No Crime". Hansen — who fronted HELLOWEEN until late 1986 — sang a medley of several early HELLOWEEN classics, including "Ride The Sky", "Judas", "Starlight" and "Heavy Metal (Is The Law)".
In 2022, Deris told the "Metal Command" podcast that he "strongly" hoped the reunited expanded classic lineup of HELLOWEEN would eventually make another album to follow up "Helloween". "I mean, as long as the vibe is great, chemistry is great and everybody's having fun with each other, it would be a crime not to do so and not to plan for a future together," he said.
"'Pumpkins United' is not only the name for the last tour, I think that's something like a brand," he continued. "HELLOWEEN 'Pumpkins United', that's something like a band — a new or something like [that] growing from the old band."
On the topic of how HELLOWEEN has managed to maintain internal harmony with so many members involved, Andi said: "I just can tell you getting along with each other, I think it's rooted in the matter of fact that we're finally too old for the other shit. [Laughs] From a certain age on, you let other people live and you don't take everything personal. Talking for [myself], whenever somebody told me something that could be looked at in a negative way, I took it the negative way. Even though when you look at it from the positive side of you, you could say, 'Well, man, maybe it was even a compliment, because have you seen it from that side?' 'No.' That's what happens when you're getting older — you don't take everything on the negative side: 'Oh, he's attacking me' or 'he's meaning bad' or 'he's meaning to annihilate you or intimidate you' or whatever. Everybody in the band, even together now with seven people, I have to say everybody is old enough to not always look at it from the negative [point of view] but also try to realize who's talking. So I cannot imagine that the boys are meaning bad if they speak about me in a sense that I could take negatively, but because I like everybody, I personally think, 'Well, I don't think they're talking negatively.' So I try to find the sense in a positive way, and most of the time — 99.9 percent [of the time] — it's exactly that. It's nothing negative; it's positive. But back in the day, everything I took was negative — when I was in my 20s and 30s. Then when you get [to] 40, it's getting better. [Laughs] Or maybe it's just you don't give a shit anymore."
Singer, poet, songwriter, visual artist, film producer, activist and author Serj Tankian, lead singer and lyricist for the Grammy Award-winning rock band SYSTEM OF A DOWN, has released the official music video for "Appropriations". The track is taken from "Foundations", his latest EP of new music, which came out in late September worldwide via Gibson Records.
"Foundations" track listing:
01. A.F. Day
02. Justice Will Shine On
03. Appropriations
04. Cartoon Buyer
05. Life's Revengeful Son
"Foundations" mines music and lyrics from previous decades and reframes them in a hard-hitting, intensely focused collection. Like all of Tankian's work, the five songs that comprise "Foundations" encompass a wide range of sounds and styles. It is music that traverses multiple eras and vast swaths of emotions. It is also very much a rock album — "music of rebellion," says Tankian.
"Foundations" kicks off with "A.F. Day", a raging, heavy-riffing track that sounds like classic Tankian. The origins of the song date back almost three decades, to his earliest days with SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Tankian never brought it to the band to record, and when he happened upon "A.F. Day" more recently he "felt it should finally be released." In doing so, he retained much of the original music, including his vocals — a decision that was partly pragmatic: "My voice has naturally changed over time," Tankian explains. As the lyrics demonstrate, his attitude has not. "Medieval educators locking horns at the playground at 5 / Real live police crime shows submission of the population at large," he rails, expressing disgust with indoctrination and blind deference to authority at every turn.
"A.F. Day" is followed the album's most anthemic track, and also its emotional centerpiece: "Justice Will Shine On". Another song whose compositional roots date back to the early SOAD days, the impassioned hard rocker is nonetheless instilled with a message that is as hard-hitting and vital today. Over potent riffs and pummeling rhythms, Tankian grapples with the atrocities of the Armenian genocide experienced by his grandparents firsthand. He addresses their suffering in jarringly personal and direct terms, singing, "Can you tell me dear grandfather of your childhood so far away / You can see the death of laughter in his teared eyes disarray / Can you tell me dear grandmother of your childhood from hunger and pain / Of the orphans you called brothers in her teared eyes disarray." As the song launches into its soaring chorus, Tankian declares that his grandparents' torment, and the anguish experienced by all Armenian victims, will not be in vain. "We are the children of all the survivors / Justice will shine on!"
Elsewhere on "Foundations", "Appropriations" (an older song I've 're-appropriated' to modern times," he says) juxtaposes a snake-y, arpeggiated verse with a crushing chorus in a clash of eastern and western modalities, as Tankian unspools lyrics that play off complementary sounds and contrasting sensibilities: "Resignation, provocation, segregation… imagination and creation," he croons. And "Cartoon Buyer", which dates to a period just prior to Tankian's first solo record, 2007's "Elect The Dead", begins in hushed, almost folk-y mode, and gradually builds — both in intensity and actual tempo — before exploding in sonic and spiritual catharsis. Throughout the track, Tankian scrutinizes the divides within humanity ("You see me without emotions / I see you across the oceans," he intones) before ultimately declaring our oneness: "California to Argentina…Saudi Arabia to Tunisia…Armenia to Australia…Israel to Indonesia / They are us and we are them."
Finally, "Life's Revengeful Son", originally recorded prior to Tankian's 2010 "Imperfect Harmonies" album, incorporates a variety of instrumentation, including acoustic and electric guitars and dramatic orchestration, into an epic closer with unmatched imagery: "The final revolution will occur when the arms of the clock fall," Tankian sings. "Jesus seen in the streets, dragging a car axel instead of the cross."
A true creative tour de force, Tankian recorded "Foundations" primarily at his own Serjical Strike Studios in L.A. He wrote, performed, orchestrated and produced all the material, as well as contributed the artwork — an original piece titled "Sunburst" — that adorns the album cover. Additional instrumentation on the record was provided by Dan Monti (guitars, bass and drum programming) and, on "Cartoon Buyer", by bassist Mario Pagliarulo and SOAD drummer John Dolmayan.
"Foundations", Tankian says, is "a retrospective of songs from different eras of my life, meant to complement the memoir," and caps what has been an incredibly prolific year for Tankian, from the release of his memoir The New York Times bestseller "Down With The System", to the massive, sold-out SYSTEM OF A DOWN headlining show at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco with over 50,000 fans. But even as he is now revealing his "foundations," Tankian is already looking ahead. "The next record will likely be a record of covers, collaborations and collages," he envisions.
Credit his restless, ever-curious creative spirit. "I'm always moving in different directions," Tankian says. "Repetition is boring, and the death of art."
As previously announced, on November 1, Tankian will release a diverse selection of limited-edition variants of the "Foundations" EP on colored vinyl with an etching featured on Side B of every package. The "Foundations" vinyl package includes a red-and-black starburst vinyl available on Tankian's own official webstore, and an opaque purple version only available in U.S. record stores nationwide.
In celebration of Tankian's fall 2024 Revolver magazine cover story, an exclusive and limited-edition vinyl in a striking dark blue marble, is bundled with a special edition of the cover story wrapped in a one-of-a-kind photo slipcase.
Sodom’s cult 1992 album, Tapping The Vein, may have been the bands heaviest offering yet but as the band remembers, the album really offered something new, there were more punk influences in it and the track "Wachturm" wears that influence on its shoulder.
Tom Angelripper recalls how the song came together: “Andy (Brings - guitarist) is a big Ramones fan, which Chris (Witchhunter – drums) and I also liked. Chris was the metal advocate in the band, whereas I was more into punk and Motörhead. It was the combination that made it work.”
Andy adds: “Chris wasn't averse to punk either, he was a big fan of Die Toten Hosen for example. At that time we actually considered covering their song 'Liebesspieler' for Tapping The Vein but in the end we composed our own punk song, 'Wachturm'. Even though the German lyrics of the song sound humorous, they have a serious background. They are based on some very bad experiences Chris had with the Jehovah's Witnesses. His girlfriend at the time joined the sect and left him because of it.”
Watch a video for the remastered version of "Wachturm":
32 years is a long time in anyone's book. Way too long according to Sodom fans worldwide. But if you ask Tom Angelripper and Andy Brings, those 32 years since the original release of Sodom's sixth album, Tapping The Vein, went by in the blink of an eye. With prices for the original vinyl LP skyrocketing in the collectors world and heated online fan discussions whether the re-release will ever see the light of day, the time has finally come to breathe new life into what appears to be everybody's favorite album by Sodom, alongside Agent Orange and Persecution Mania.
“At the time it was just another album for us,“ says only original band member Tom Angelripper, but the Sodomaniacs all over the world made it a cult classic. It's just sad that Chris Witchhunter is not here anymore to celebrate with us.” Guitar player Andy Brings, who was 20 years old and still in school when he joined the band in 1991, who wrote and recorded his first ever album with Sodom adds: “Bands don't determine what becomes a cult, the fans do. It just happened, and we are very proud of it. 18-year-olds come up to me these days and tell me how much they love that album.”
Not only was Tapping The Vein the last album with original drummer Chris Witchhunter hitting the skins more fiercely than ever before, but it was also a brutal statement from one of the originators of thrash metal, in a time when many bands strayed from their original paths, became too sanitized or caved in to newer trends. Sodom went in the opposite direction and put out what many fans call ‘Sodom's death metal album’, although no one in the band actually listened to death metal at the time. Angelripper: “We just did what we did, not paying attention to what was happening around us. Andy joined the band and we just hammered out these killer songs in no time. It all happened very fast. There were no distractions, just the music.“ Brings: “Tapping The Vein is the result of pure inspiration. I was young, hungry and full of energy and had ideas and that resonated perfectly with Tom and Chris, wanting to show everybody who's really in charge of thrash metal, in an era where not many bands stayed true to their original vision.”
So here it is. Sodom's ‘blue album’ revisited (like any true classic, it can be referred to by only mentioning the color of the artwork, just ask Metallica, Weezer and The Beatles), and the package could not be more complete. With the original album remastered, it also features a complete remixed version done by Andy Brings with some additional alternative takes of three album tracks, plus three live concerts: Tokyo 1992, Düsseldorf 1992 and Cologne 1992 (Chris Witchhunter´s last show with Sodom) in the super deluxe edition. Andy: “We fought and worked very hard for this re-release, I can only hope that it was worth the wait, but I'm pretty sure it will fill every Sodomaniac´s heart with joy.” Tom: “The fans mean everything to us, and this is really just for them. Working on Tapping The Vein again brought back so many memories, both good and bad, but this is who we were 32 years ago. An amazing trip.”
Tapping The Vein is the story of youth, life, death, friendship and loyalty. It's also testament to a time in your life, when everything was new and exciting, and bands and their music was all you had. When metal was pure, raw and wild. You thought that time would never come back. Until now……
Sodom’s deluxe, expanded reissue of Tapping The Vein will be available via Noise / BMG on November 15th, 2024 in these formats:
- Super deluxe ‘blood filled vinyl’ edition. Triple LP, double CD deluxe 24 page bookpack (limited to 100 copies via the Noise Records store only)
- Deluxe triple LP red & black swirl vinyl and double CD deluxe 24 page bookpack
- Double, gatefold transparent red vinyl.
- Triple CD digisleeve with 24 page booklet
Pre-orders of the deluxe bookpack edition will come with a limited edition reproduction 1992 gig poster signed by Tom Angelripper and Andy Brings from the Sodom and Noise Records stores, while stocks last!
Deluxe Triple LP & Double CD Bookpack Edition Tracklisting:
Tapping The Vein (2024 Remaster) (Disc 1)
"Body Parts"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Deadline"
"Bullet In The Head"
"The Crippler"
"Wachturm"
"Tapping The Vein"
"Back To War"
"Hunting Season"
"Reincarnation"
Tapping The Vein (2024 Redux) (Disc 2) Previously Unreleased
"Body Parts"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Deadline"
"Bullet In The Head"
"The Crippler"
"Wachturm"
"Tapping The Vein"
"Back To War"
"Hunting Season"
"Reincarnation"
Live In Toyko 1992 (Disc 3) Previously Unreleased
"Sodomy & Lust"
"An Eye For An Eye"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Deadline"
"Agent Orange"
"Skinned Alive"
"Shellfire Defense"
"The Crippler"
"Bullet In The Head"
"Wachturm"
"Body Parts"
"The Kids Wanna Rock"
"Body Parts" (Alt. Remix Version)
"Wachturm" (Alt. Remix Version)
"Reincarnation" (Alt. Remix Version)
Live In Düsseldorf 1992 (Disc 4) Previously Unreleased
"Sodomy & Lust"
"An Eye For An Eye"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Exhibition Bout"
"Ausgebombt"
"Remember The Fallen"
"The Saw Is The Law"
"Wachturm"
"Bombenhagel"
Live In Cologne 1992 The Final Witchhunt (Disc 5) Previously Unreleased
"Sodomy & Lust"
"An Eye For An Eye"
"Agent Orange"
"Skinned Alive"
"Better Off Dead"
"Ausgebombt"
"One Step Over The Line"
"The Crippler"
"Bullet In The Head"
"Wachturm"
"Bombenhagel"
Triple CD Edition Tracklisting:
Tapping The Vein (2024 Remaster) (Disc 1)
"Body Parts"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Deadline"
"Bullet In The Head"
"The Crippler"
"Wachturm"
"Tapping The Vein"
"Back To War"
"Hunting Season"
"Reincarnation"
Tapping The Vein (2024 Redux) (Disc 2) Previously Unreleased
"Body Parts"
"Skinned Alive"
"One Step Over The Line"
"Deadline"
"Bullet In The Head"
"The Crippler"
"Wachturm"
"Tapping The Vein"
"Back To War"
"Hunting Season"
"Reincarnation"
"Body Parts" (Alt. Remix Version)
"Wachturm" (Alt. Remix Version)
"Reincarnation" (Alt.
Metallica have released the official live video for the 72 Seasons album track, "You Must Burn!", filmed at Estadio GNP Seguros in Mexico City, Mexico, on September 27. Watch below:
Videos for "No Leaf Clover" and "Of Wolf And Man", from Metallica's September 27 concert in Mexico City, can be viewed below:
Pre-orders are open for the recordings from Metallica's September 27 and 29 concerts in Mexico City. It was their second round of shows following the September 20 / 22 No Repeat Weekend.
Says Metallica: "Relive the September 27 & 29 concerts from Estadio GNP Seguros with the ultimate souvenir... an official live audio recording on CD. Both shows are available now for pre-order in the Met Store individually and as a bundle. And in case you missed it, both shows from the previous weekend are available for pre-order, too!
Thanks again for four amazing shows across two incredible weekends in Mexico City. We hope to see you all again soon!"
Live CDs and bundles are available via the official Metallica online shop here.
Expected availability date is November 29.
"We’re kicking off year three of M72 with 21 North American shows across April, May, and June of next year," begins a recent M72 2025 update from Metallica. "This leg will stop in 14 cities with 18 shows in the round, plus two festival stops, seven No Repeat Weekends, and seven one-night-only stops.
"We’re continuing the M72 tradition of unique support acts - a mix of Pantera, Limp Bizkit, Suicidal Tendencies, and Ice Nine Kills - and setlists for each No Repeat Weekend show. The Snake Pit will remain in the center of the stage for all in the round (non-festival) stops. And we’ll be sure to have plenty of extracurricular events planned for the Metallica Family to stay busy around the shows.
"Enhanced Experiences ranging from access to a meet and greet, production and stage tour, food and beverage in the “Black Box” lounge to early entry into the venue and the aforementioned Snake Pit will be available. The I Disappear Ticket is back for the fan who wants to run away with us for all the shows. And new to M72, travel packages, including hotel, ticket, and shuttle options, will be available for most locations.
"North America is not our only stop in 2025, as this year, we will return to Australia and New Zealand after far too long away!!! Stay tuned for the full announcement coming VERY soon."
Pioneering American thrash metal band, Nasty Savage, has just released the official music video for their latest single, “Witches Sabbath”, from their new album The Jeopardy Room, set for release tomorrow via FHM Records.
In a special collaboration, John and Donald Tardy of Obituary joined Nasty Savage on the re-recording of “Witches Sabbath”, a track originally featured on Nasty Savage’s 1983 demo but never released on an album until now.
Reflecting on the collaboration, frontman Nasty Ronnie shared: "When I knew we were doing a new Nasty Savage album - the first one in 20 years - I wanted to re-record 'Witches Sabbath', the only song on our original demo that didn’t make it onto an album. I wanted to make it special; I wanted to bring the past back to the future. I wanted to have John and Donald Tardy be a part of this history. They said yes! Donald playing drums and John's unique killer vocals just blew us all away. They helped turn a classic song from 1983 into an epic song in 2024! I'm excited to see where it takes us in 2025, because you never know... For me, it was an honor that we were able to work together. I have so much respect for these guys. They truly know the business of longevity and success through hard work and dedication."
Adding to this, John and Donald Tardy of Obituary stated: "It has long been known and well-documented that early in Obituary’s career, we drew inspiration from local bands in the Tampa area, and none more than Nasty Savage. Not necessarily for the music style but for their 'never hold back' approach with over-the-top live show performances, and the opportunity to follow their lead with album recording at the legendary Morrisound Studios. We were very fortunate at such a young age to be able to have conversations with Ronnie Galletti about the local music scene and follow in his footsteps on how to ‘promote’ our band along with guidance on what to expect from the music industry. To this day, we remain close friends, and having the opportunity to re-record one of their all-time classics, 'Witches Sabbath', with them was a lifelong fantasy and dream come true for us. We had a blast with the band recording it, and having Jim Morris mix it was just the icing on the cake!"
Produced by Jim Morris at the legendary Morrisound Recording Studio in Tampa, Florida, The Jeopardy Room marks Nasty Savage’s triumphant re
American death metal legends, Massacre, preview their upcoming album Necrolution, due out November 8 via Agonia Records, with a new single, "Death May Die", accompanied by a music video filmed by Niuvis Martin. Watch below:
Necrolution is a retrospective, nostalgic album, that turns back time to the late 80s and early 90s era of death metal. Recapturing the essence and style of death metal that was the original formula. Recreating the aesthetic feeling of something from the original style and sound to represent to these modern times. It’s purposefully meant to sound dated as it represents an era of early death metal music. It purposefully does not mimic the band's own original style but rather reflects the styles of many early era bands that influenced generations in death metal music.
Commented by Kam Lee: "With Necrolution the idea was to evolve the band's sound by devolving it. Unlike many bands in death metal that attempt to modernize and update their style and sound to emulate many of the modern contemporary death metal bands, we wanted to go back to the origin. The original sound and style. We wanted to make an album that sounds like it could have come out of the late 80s. The entire concept was to create something that was a de-evolution of the death metal genre and go back to an early style reminiscent of the past. Going back 40 years into the past to immolate the style of death metal that was predominantly influenced by thrash and heavy metal bands of the era. Lyrically it’s still entrenched in the horror genre and influenced by HP Lovecraft stories. We even have three tracks directly dedicated and influenced by the director Stewart Gordon, the filmmaker who was directly responsible for bringing Lovecraft films to horror movies in the 80s. The overall idea was to bring a 1980s aesthetic to the music that’s influenced by 1980s music as well as horror movie genre at the time. My hope is that fans find a unique experience when listening to Necrolution that not only encapsulates the feeling of 80s nostalgia but makes them appreciate the way the era influenced the death metal genre at the time."
Necrolution was recorded at DOA studios, Full S Studios & Gojiden Studio in Florida (USA) and mixed and mastered by Jonny Pettersson at Studio Unbound in Sweden. The cover artwork was painted by Timbul Cahyono of Bvllmetalart. Mark Riddick (Arch Enemy, Autopsy, Morbid Angel) created the merchandise designs.
The recording personnel for the new album - much of whom have been with Massacre since the Resurgence era - comprises, aside from Kam Lee, original Massacre bassist Mike Borders, returning guitarists Rogga Johansson (Paganizer, Rib Spreader, Megascavanger) & Jonny Pettersson (Wombbath, Heads for The Dead), and new drummer, Jon Rudin (Just Before Dawn, Heads for The Dead, Dehumanaut). The band features a separate session lineup for live performances, which consists of Carlos Gonzalez (Grim Reality) on guitars, Elden Santos (Druid Lord) on drums and Tim Wilson on bass.
Formed in 1984, Massacre started out as a heavy/power metal band, but changed its style to death metal with the joining of Allen West and Kam Lee; the latter is often credited for inventing the "death growl" - first heard on the band’s 1986 demo Aggressive Tyrant - and is considered an influential pioneer as far as the death metal genre is concerned. The group went through several personnel shifts and disbandments over the years - with its early lineup toggling between Massacre, Mantas (early Death) and Death - to a triumphant return in 2021, with their last studio album Resurgence.
Formats:
- Jewel case CD
- Slipcase CD
- Tape
- White LP
- Transparent green LP
- Purple LP
- Yellow w/red splatter LP
Riding the triumphant success of their 50th Anniversary celebration, Blue Öyster Cult is rolling into the release of 50th Anniversary Live - Third Night, the final instalment of the live album celebrating the band’s 50th Anniversary.
This electrifying performance, which includes the band’s third album Secret Treaties performed back-to-back, is set to hit the shelves on December 13, and promises to be a spectacular follow-up to the band's historic three-night stint at Sony Hall in NYC.
In September of 2022, Blue Öyster Cult enthralled fans with a unique trilogy of sold-out shows, each dedicated to one of their first three albums. Founding member Albert Bouchard made a special appearance on all three nights, adding a nostalgic touch to the historic milestone.
For nearly three hours each night, the band delivered a spellbinding set, weaving through the entirety of their now-classic initial trilogy of albums and treating fans to a mix of favorites, deep cuts, and classic hits. The atmosphere was electric, and Frontiers Music captured the magic, releasing each night as a special individual package.
Blue Öyster Cult's legacy spans over five decades, captivating fans with intelligent hard rock loaded with classic songs. Hailing from Long Island, NY, the band is renowned in the hard rock and heavy metal scene for their pioneering work, earning both critical acclaim