AniMaze X is a project started by the members of best selling D-Metal Stars / AniMetal USA, featuring Michael Vescera (vocals / Obsession, ex-Loudness), John Bruno (guitars / Obsession), Rudy Sarzo (bass / The Guess Who, ex.Ozzy Osbourne, ex-Quiet Riot) and BJ Zampa (drums / House Of Lords). The project focuses on a wider variety of music themes such as superheros, popular cartoons, Broadway musicals, movie soundtracks, as well as the D-Metal Stars “classics”.
They recently released a new album, AniMazing Xmas, which is avaiulable via Amazon and most digital platforms. Check out the official video for the title track below.
The tracklist is as follows:
"AniMazing Xmas"
"The Grinch"
"Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer"
"Just Like Christmas"
"Jingle Bell Rock"
"Let It Go"
"Snow Miser/Heat Miser"
"Santa Claus Is Coming To Town"
"Teddy Bears Picnic"
"Ain’t We Got Fun"
2020 has been a tough year for everyone and it's not been as easy as usual to find that festive spirit as we all struggle with different levels of lockdown and isolation. That being the case, Forged In Black wanted to send something out to their fans to try and rekindle some seasonal joy. They may currently be distanced from each other, but they have managed to put together a new video to accompany a yuletide single - a metallized version of the Chris De Burgh Xmas favourite "A Spaceman Came Travelling".
Bassist Kieron Rochester explains the motivations behind the release... "Over the Christmas period we normally celebrate by playing a yuletide gig and getting suitably merry, but in the absence of shows we thought we'd do something a little different and release a festive quarantine cover. 'A Spaceman Came Travelling' is our favourite Christmas tune because of how atmospheric it is and we wanted to put our own little spin on it."
So please enjoy this new video from Forged In Black - sent with genuine best wishes from their homes to yours - "A Spaceman Came Travelling":
Forged In Black's version of "A Spaceman Came Travelling" will be available as a digital download soon.
Lisbon, Portugal-based metal outfit, Vëlla, have just shared the video for “The Fall”. Directed and edited by the band itself, on an old school DIY basis, the video is inspired by the Portuguese sitcom Duarte & Companhia.
"The Fall” is the fourth single from the debut album Coma, released via Raising Legends Records. Watch the new video below.
"This record is a special record for everyone involved. Despite the pandemic, we did not throw in the towel and despite being our debut album we have received fantastic reactions from all over the world," comments guitar player Oz Vilesov.
Vocalist Pedro Lopes says that “we expect, after the end of this pandemic, extremely great things for us, since the reactions about our debut album are being spectacular, and we are sure that with all the hard work we are doing this will allow to step on some big stages in a near future".
Influenced by the upbeat, party rock 'n roll of the '80s (yet mixed with a refreshing soulful sound), Sacramento's Red Voodoo has released a new single, "Bring It Back!", produced by Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon.
"Bring It Back!" is the follow-up to "Rise Up!", released earlier this year.
And what about the story behind the band’s name? “We heard the song ‘Red Voodoo’ by Sammy Hagar & The Waboritas. We thought it had a good ring to it for a band name. Even though Sammy may have his own meaning to the term ‘Red Voodoo,’ for us it describes the magic of creating fun rock and roll music and the energy we put into it in during our live show. Red Voodoo prides ourselves in being a high energy live band in concert.”
For further details, visit Red Voodoo on Facebook.
In the new video below, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Adam Lambert talk about their successful collaboration over live highlights taken from their #1 selling album, Live Around The World.
Queen + Adam Lambert - Live Around the World comes in CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray and Vinyl formats. Order here, or via the official Queen Online Store here.
The set presents a compilation of concert highlights captured the world over personally selected by Taylor, May and Lambert from over 200 shows they have performed with several featured here becoming available for the very first time. These cover concerts from Rock in Rio, Lisbon, to the UK’s Isle of Wight Festival, Summer Sonic, Japan, selected UK and North America tour dates, and - from one of their very last performances before lockdown - the Fire Fight Australia benefit show. All formats include the band’s entire 22-minute Fire Fight Australia appearance in which they performed Queen’s original history-making 1985 Live Aid set in full: Bohemian Rhapsody, Radio Ga Ga, Hammer To Fall, Crazy Little Thing Called Love, We Will Rock You and We Are The Champions. While even Freddie Mercury’s iconic Ay-Ohs feature.
The twenty tracks featured include firm Queen fan favourites like ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ and ‘I Want To Break Free’ as well as rarities such as their versions of the Freddie Mercury penned “Love Kills” and “I Was Born To Love You”. The live album comes in CD, CD+DVD, CD+Blu-ray and Vinyl versions, with the DVD and Blu-ray featuring extra performance footage which include a Roger Taylor ‘Drum Battle’ with drummer son Rufus Taylor, and Brian May ‘Last Horizon’ guitar solo.
CD / vinyl tracklisting:
"Tear It Up" - The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
"Now I'm Here" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Another One Bites The Dust" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Fat Bottomed Girls" ft. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - American Airlines Center, Dallas, USA, 2019
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
"I Want To Break Free" - Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
"Somebody To Love" - Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
"Love Kills" (The Ballad) - iHeart Radio Theater, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
"I Was Born To Love You" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Under Pressure" - Global Citizen Festival, New York, USA, 2019
"Who Wants To Live Forever" - Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
"The Show Must Go On" - The O2, London, UK, 04/07/2018
"Love Of My Life" - The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Radio Ga Ga" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Ay-Ohs" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Hammer To Fall" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"We Will Rock You" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"We Are The Champions" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
DVD / Blu-ray tracklisting:
"Tear It Up" - The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
"Now I'm Here" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Another One Bites The Dust" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Fat Bottomed Girls" ft. Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders - American Airlines Center, Dallas, USA, 2019
"Don't Stop Me Now" - Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
"I Want To Break Free" - Rock In Rio, Lisbon, Portugal, 2016
"Somebody To Love" - Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
"Love Kills" (The Ballad) - iHeart Radio Theater, Los Angeles, USA, 2014
"I Was Born To Love You" - Summer Sonic, Tokyo, Japan, 2014
"Drum Battle" - Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney, Australia, 2014
"Under Pressure" - Global Citizen Festival, New York, USA, 2019
"Who Wants To Live Forever" - Isle of Wight Festival, UK, 2016
"The Guitar Solo" (Last Horizon) - The O2, London, UK, 2018
"The Show Must Go On" - The O2, London, UK, 04/07/2018
"Love Of My Life" - The O2, London, UK, 02/07/2018
"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Radio Ga Ga" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Ay-Ohs" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Hammer To Fall" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"Crazy Little Thing Called Love" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"We Will Rock You" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
"We Are The Champions" - Fire Fight Australia, ANZ Stadium, Sydney, Australia, 2020
Sweden's Thundermother has unveiled the video for "Into The Mud", which is the fourth single from their album, Heat Wave, released earlier this year via AFM Records.
Tracklisting:
“Loud And Alive”
“Dog From Hell”
“Back In ‘76”
“Into The Mud”
“Heat Wave”
“Sleep”
“Driving In Style”
“Free Ourselves”
“Mexico”
“Purple Sky”
“Ghosts”
“Somebody Love Me”
“Bad Habits”
As a very special gift for these holidays, SnakeyeS, would like to offer fans a brand new single, “Playing with Armageddon”, the title track of the band's new release.
“Playing With Armageddon” was written and recorded during the COVID-19 lockdown. As a breath of fresh air, for the first time in its history, SnakeyeS worked with someone outside the band on this new song: the renowned Danish producer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with artists such as Volbeat, Primal Fear and U.D.O, is responsible of mastering “Playing with Armageddon'' at his very own Hansen Studios.
The band started by Jose Pineda, Justi Bala and Carlos Delgado (from Sphinx, the recently reunited Spanish power metal giants) and Romanian singer Cosmin Aionita, will re-release their latest album, Evil Must Die, alongside Playing With Armageddon, a new CD full of extra content: a new song, live performances, acoustic takes and much more.
Says the band: “Playing With Armageddon is the title we chose for relaunching Evil Must Die. Re-releasing an album is unusual, but we felt it is the least we could do to give new life to a record we invested a lot of time, money, and passion in. We wish to leave behind a year everyone wants to forget and to re-release Evil Must Die, symbolically, at the very start of 2021.
"So here we are again, trying to give you the best of ourselves. We have prepared a special edition aimed at what we miss the most: the live shows, where the whole presentation and production are totally different to a studio album, giving the songs new life. An exciting, new way to enjoy the band.
"After months of writing new music, as we progress into a new stage of the band’s life, we are ready to release a first sample of our next album. This new song will be a part of a the limited Playing With Armageddon digipack, an extension of Evil Must Die, which will feature the following track list."
"Playing With Armageddon" (new song)
"Mask Of Reality" (live in Seville 2018)
"Evolution" (live in Seville 2018)
"Ultimate Sin" (live in Seville 2018)
"Down With The Devil" (live in Seville 2018)
"War Machine" (live in isolation)
"The Evil Dead" (live in isolation)
"New World Order" (live in isolation)
"Denied" (live acoustic)
"Lose Control" (live acoustic)
"Metal Monster" (Epic Version)
Pre-orders for the Playing With Armageddon limited-edition pack, as well all the band's CDs, t-shirts and other merchandise, are available on their website, here. As a bonus, all pre-orders will include a free poster and a gift postcard.
As first single of this release you can watch “Evolution” below, a preview of the band’s live performance in Seville, during their Metal MonsTour 2018. The complete concert will be streamed Saturday, January 2, 2021, at 8 PM, CET via the band’s YouTube channel.
Melodic black metal combo, Sercati, have unleashed the official animated video for "Before The Battle", a track taken from their latest album, Devoted, Demons And Mavericks, out via Wormholedeath on all digital platforms here.
"This small old-school cartoon is a collaboration between the drawer Pyel and the band Sercati. This idea was born during the first confinement and the work started few days later. The Nightstalker fights against the Anesthetist once again."
Video Credits:
Before the Battle - Sercati
Animation : Pyel Inc
Sound design : Steve Fabry
Classical guitar virtuoso, Thomas Zwijsen, has released the new video below, performing a classical acoustic fingerstyle solo guitar cover of Helloween's "Power".
A message states: "'Power' is the first single from the Time Of The Oath album released in 1996. It is the second album with Andi Deris on vocals to replace Michael Kiske (now both singers are in Helloween for the "Pumkins United" live shows and album). The music and lyrics are written by guitarist Michael Weikath."
Canadian rocker Aldo Nova recorded his song, "Blood On The Bricks", in a new version especially to wish all his fans stuck at home during the holidays a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for 2021. Watch the video below:
Last month, Aldo Nova announced his new band lineup, which features Aldo Nova on guitars and vocals, Jack Frost, (ex-Seven Witches, Savatage) on guitars and vocals, Tim Gaines (ex-Stryper, Of Gods And Monsters) on bass and vocals, Billy Carmassi (Aldo Nova band 1982 to 2020) on drums, and a keyboard player, whose name cannot be disclosed yet. But he also has an amazing pedigree, is extremely well known and is a monster player. His identity will be revealed when they begin touring, as soon as the COVID lockdowns are lifted and things get back to normal.
In Aldo’s words, “Between me, Tim Gaines and Billy Carmassi, we were already quite a unit, but when Jack Frost joined the band, it was as if he was the detonator that made us an Atomic Bomb of a band.” He also says that, “When Jack joined the band, I felt a completely new energy, and when Billy and Tim met him digitally, they both agreed that he was our guy and we're eager to go out and literally destroy, which is the mindset that we, as a band, have when we will play live.”
Nova also announced his plans to do a large, full-scale production virtual live show in 2021, and when he says large scale production, he means a full lighting rig over a large stage with one of the leading lighting designers in Canada, Pierre E. Roy, with video directed and edited by Christian Jacques who did Aldo’s videos for, “I’m A Survivor”, “When All Is Said And Done” and his “Monkey On Your Back", live band-livestream COVID-19 session.
Nova doesn’t really think that the drive-in shows that everybody claims to be the only way to play live is a good thing for his fans. In his words, "Who wants to go see a band with five people crammed in a car, listening to the show on their FM radios, and not being able to see anything? It's certainly not the solution, nor the future of rock. Anyway, I’m from Canada where the winters are brutal, so it’ll never work in Canada, nor will it work in the Northern States, so half of your fans can’t see you play when you’re on tour."
Nova plans on doing his virtual live show with a 3 and ½ hour set, playing his albums in their entirety and in the sequence of the album, so as he says. "While most bands play their shows then walk off without playing their hits, and waiting for the audience to cheer and clap til they come back to do their hit," which he calls the “cheap shot”, he does things in an entirely different way because as he says, "We on the other hand, we’ll start the show with 'Fantasy' because it’s the first track on side one of the first album." He intends to play songs from all his albums, even six songs from his rare and obscure instrumental album, Nova’s Dream, which is considered to be one of his best albums, and ending finally with his new Rock Opera, The Life And Times of Eddie Gage.
Also, his virtual show is modeled after Dana White’s UFC fight cards, which is, you pay one price of admission and you can have as many people watching it as you want, as he puts it, "Turn it into a party or a family night, sitting in front of your big screen TV with the sound system as loud as you want, with everybody having a front-row seat, get a beer, play air guitar, dance, and jokingly he says when we play 'Ball And Chain', you can even make out."
Watch out because 2021 is going to be a year full of surprises with new cutting edge ways to entertain fans from Aldo Nova.
Alice Cooper performed remotely for Wacken World Wide during the COVID-19 pandemic during the summer of 2020. Watch Alice perform "School's Out" and "Don't Give Up" below:
Alice Cooper's new studio album, Detroit Stories, which will be released on February 26 via earMUSIC. Named for the city that launched the original Alice Cooper group on the road to success, Detroit Stories follows last year’s Breadcrumbs EP as a modern-day homage to the toughest and craziest Rock n Roll scene there ever was.
In 1970, fledgling producer Bob Ezrin walked into a farmhouse on the outskirts of Detroit to work with the Alice Cooper band. Abandoning flower power Los Angeles, because they were the opposite of the hippie peace and love ideal, Alice had brought his decidedly darker gang back to his birthplace to the legendary rock scene that gave birth to hard rock, garage rock, soul, funk, punk…and more.
Ezrin drilled the band for 10 hours a day to define their signature sound. Whenever they nailed a song, the inmates at the hospital for the criminally insane across the road cheered and thus the classic Alice Cooper sound was born.
“Detroit was Heavy Rock central then,” explains Alice, “You’d play the Eastown and it would be Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, the Stooges and the Who, for $4! The next weekend at the Grande it was MC5, Brownsville Station and Fleetwood Mac, or Savoy Brown or the Small Faces. You couldn’t be a soft-rock band or you’d get your ass kicked.”
“Los Angeles had its sound with The Doors, Love and Buffalo Springfield,” he says, “San Francisco had the Grateful Dead and Jefferson Airplane. New York had The Rascals and The Velvet Underground. But Detroit was the birthplace of angry hard rock. After not fitting in anywhere in the US (musically or image wise) Detroit was the only place that recognized the Alice Cooper guitar driven, hard rock sound and our crazy stage show. Detroit was a haven for the outcasts. And when they found out I was born in East Detroit… we were home.”
50 years later Alice and Ezrin gathered some legendary Detroit musicians in a Detroit studio to record Detroit Stories, Alice Cooper’s new album that celebrates that spirit for a new era. If 2019’s “Breadcrumbs” EP laid down the trail to the city, Detroit Stories drives like a muscle car right down Woodward Ave.
“We recorded with Wayne Kramer (guitarist and writer from the MC5), Johnny “Bee” Badanjek (drums - from the legendary Detroit Wheels), Paul Randolph (legendary Detroit jazz and R&B bassist) as well as the Motor City Horns and other local musicians,” explains Ezrin, “We had musical ideas and encouragement from John Varvatos, the support of the folks at Shinola, and we recorded at Rustbelt Studios in Royal Oak. This was Made In Detroit for Detroit by Detroit denizens!”
Discover Detroit Stories as they were meant to be told.
Detroit Stories will be available on CD, CD+DVD Digipak, CD Box Set (including CD, Blu-ray, T-shirt, face mask, torch light and 3 stickers), and 2LP Gatefold on February 26th 2021 on earMUSIC.
The DVD and Blu-ray will show the incredible live performance “A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris” for the first time on video. With the whole concert culture being shut down due to covid-19, Alice Cooper felt the need to share one of his latest shows with his fans as he cannot wait to get back on the road - better than ever.
"Rock ‘N’ Roll"
"Go Man Go" (Album Version)
"Our Love Will Change The World"
"Social Debris"
"$1000 High Heel Shoes"
"Hail Mary"
"Detroit City 2021" (Album Version)
"Drunk And In Love"
"Independence Dave"
"I Hate You"
"Wonderful World"
"Sister Anne" (Album Version)
"Hanging On By A Thread (Don’t Give Up)"
"Shut Up And Rock"
"East Side Story" (Album Version)
As a special Christmas gift to their fans and supporters, Infinite Visions present this playthrough video of "Infinite Visions", a new song from their four-track demo. Check it out below.
The band states: "Infinite Visions appreciates the contributions that have been received so far to our crowdfunding campaign, but we are falling well short of our €10.000 goal. If we do not reach -- or exceed -- this €10.000 goal the album WILL NOT be made. It is an 'all or nothing' crowdfunding campaign, and if we do not reach the goal all monies will be returned to the contributors and the band will receive nothing. Please help us make the Union Magnetica album a reality! Thank you."
Infinite Visions, the new band of ex-Stratovarius guitarist and songwriter Timo Tolkki, have started a crowdfunding campaign to help finance the cost of creating their debut album, Union Magnetica.
Many perks are being offered, including the Union Magnetica CD, an extensive collection of band demos, an exclusive t-shirt, guitar lessons with Timo, and much more. The crowdfunding campaign can be found here. The song can also be streamed on the band's official website, here
To launch the campaign the band recently released a playthrough video for the song "You Rock My World", a track from their recently completed 4-song demo, which was mixed by Dani G (Rage, Firewind). "You Rock My World" was specifically chosen as the song to kick off the crowdfunding as it is a song for the fans and about the fans.
The video features all five members of the band: Timo Tolkki (guitars), Erik Kraemer (vocals, Simulacrum), Pawel Jaroszewicz (drums, ex-Hate/Vader), Jimmy Pitts (keyboards, Eternity's End/NorthTale), and Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson (bass, Civilization One/ex-Heavenly).
The band states: "Infinite Visions are ready to record their debut album and need your help to make this happen! They require a minimum of 10.000 euro to complete the album and pay for related costs, such as:
• Recording
• Mixing
• Mastering
• Album Artwork & graphic design of layout
• Band Photos
"Although a large number of fans have been waiting for some classic metal songs from Timo, record sales aren’t what they used to be & the music industry has changed considerably. This change has resulted in bands getting smaller advances from labels and a limited budget for recording. With a desire to release only the best possible album — and not wanting to disappoint their fans — Timo and Infinite Visions turn to crowdfunding."
Infinite Visions are also taking this opportunity to announce Pierre-Emmanuel Pélisson as the new bassist. Pierre has over 20 years experience in both the studio and stage, having recorded and performed with several artists including Heavenly (Sign Of The Winner and Dust To Dust albums) and Civilization One (Revolution Rising and Calling The Gods). Pierre takes over bass duties from Jari Kainulainen, who left the band earlier this month for personal reasons.
California rockers PAPA ROACH have released a five-song EP, "20/20", featuring "new takes on old jams," including "Last Resort" and "Scars".
"20/20" EP track listing:
01. Scars (Español) (2020)
02. Last Resort (2020)
03. Scars (2020)
04. Getting Away With Murder (2020)
05. Between Angels And Insects (2020)
You can now stream all five songs below.
As previously reported, PAPA ROACH will release its second collection of hit singles, titled "Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - The Better Noise Years", on March 19, 2021. The effort includes 12 of the band's top 10 hits released between 2010 to 2019 as well as three previoulsy unreleased remixes and two unreleased acoustic recordings recorded live at the YouTube Studios in New York City. "Greatest Hits Vol. 2 - The Better Noise Years" also features a guest appearance by Danny Warsnop (vocalist of ASKING ALEXANDRIA) on the track "Broken As Me". The original version of the song was recorded for PAPA ROACH's 2015 album "F.E.A.R."
PAPA ROACH has remained relevant since its debut in 2000. Now 20 years in, the band currently has over eight million monthly listeners on Spotify with total streaming numbers into the billions.
PAPA ROACH has released 21 Top 5 singles over the course of its distinguished career — 12 of which are included in the new greatest-hits collection from the past 10 years. "Help", the band's 2017 release, has just been certified gold by the RIAA, selling over 500,000 copies in the United States alone.
PAPA ROACH recently entered a studio in Southern California to begin recording the follow-up to last year's "Who Do You Trust?" album for a tentative mid-2021 release.
This past July, singer Jacoby Shaddix told Rock Sound TV that PAPA ROACH's next album will be released through band's own record company. "We are in partnership with Warner/ADA, and so it's like an artist services group," he explained. "And we're gonna do that for an album and see how it works out. We've been super focused in the creative marketing behind what we do and the imaging and the videos and the messaging and everything, we were, like, let's take it in our hands and see where we can go with it and try it for an album."
"Who Do You Trust?" was released in January 2019. The disc was produced by Nick "RAS" Furlong and Colin Cunningham except for the song "Top Of The World", which is helmed by Jason Evigan.
Modern guitar virtuoso/content creator Jared Dines and Grammy Award-nominated TRIVIUM frontman Matt Heafy have joined forces for the groundbreaking "Dines X Heafy" EP.
The official music video for the disc's second single, "Can We Turn Back Yesterday?", can now be seen below.
Bridging the gap between online content creators and recording artists, the five-song EP is available today on all streaming platforms as well as on Soundtrack By Twitch, giving Twitch streamers a way to add licensed music from the EP to their Twitch live streams during a 30-day period.
"Matt was pre-Internet in the way he launched his career, releasing records, playing shows, and signing to a label," observes Dines. "I'm post-Internet in the way I launched my career by using YouTube, Facebook and all of these other video apps. It is interesting to see the crossover, though. Matt has done everything traditionally. At the same time, he embraced new technologies instead of shutting them out. By doing this together, we get to be in both worlds.
"The EP was recorded in a raw and real manner," he adds. "So, it has a different element. It would be cool to show everyone it does not matter if you are a guitarist from Instagram or you are in a big band, you can do things together. At the end of the day, the goal is simple — we're just trying to write good songs and create some cool shit."
Heafy adds: "Streaming actually helped me improve as a singer and as a guitarist, because I'm practicing all day in front of people. The culture is very regimented. However, I have always had that mentality, because my mom is Japanese, and my dad was a marine. Now, it is a combination of three things: streaming, training, and Brazilian jiu jitsu. Those practices made me better at what I do and prepared me to jump into something new. I took a very different approach to 'Dines X Heafy'. It all came very organically without any planning."
Dines and Heafy first crossed paths back in 2017 when Heafy blindly messaged Dines on social media. He went on to participate in Dines's popular "Shred Wars" series, amassing 2.2 million views on their matchup. A year later, Dines filled in when Heafy exited TRIVIUM's fall tour to be present for the birth of his twins. Around the same time, Dines shared a folder of ideas and set the stage for what would become "Dines X Heafy". Mixed by Will Putney, Dines laid down guitars, bass, and drums in Washington, while Matt handled vocals and select solos in Florida. They unlocked an inimitable chemistry, striking a balance between arena-ready hard rock hooks and technically proficient metallic fireworks.
"Dines X Heafy" EP track listing:
01. Dear Anxiety
02. Can We Turn Back Yesterday?
03. Dying At The Sight Of The Rain
04. To Save Me From Myself
05. We Lost It All
Heafy extends a fascinating presence beyond music. Among rock artists, he remains one of the most trafficked and consistent Twitch streamers, with 186,000 followers on the platform, in addition to his 358,000 Instagram followers. Renowned for viral covers as well as impeccable video game acumen, he engenders fervent interaction. As a solo artist, he has racked up millions of streams on "Toss A Coin To Your Witcher" and "My Mother Told Me". Simultaneously, he distinguishes himself as a passionate foodie and skilled chef with appearances on "Taste Of Metal" alongside chef Brian Tsao and numerous cooking videos and food photos regularly posted to his heavily followed channels. Outside of TRIVIUM, he has collaborated with everyone from platinum sensation DRAGONFORCE to black metal pioneer Isahn and active rock phenomenon ICE NINE KILLS. The Japanese-born "Renaissance Man" resides in his native Florida with his wife and twins. This presence only continues to grow.
Dines has redefined the very idea of a guitar hero online. His YouTube channel boasts a staggering 2.88 million subscribers and 680 million views and counting. He also has collaborated with everyone from Post Malone to BREAKING BENJAMIN. His recorded output includes "Rest", "Repose", "Daddy Rock" and "Dissimilator", to name a few. He made history as "the first YouTuber" to grace the cover of Guitar World magazine. Meanwhile, he teamed up with Music Man for a signature Stingray guitar.
Former METALLICA bassist Jason Newsted's official YouTube channel has just shared a video of him and his THE CHOPHOUSE BAND performing a cover version of the Tom Waits song "Jockey Full Of Bourbon" in March 2019 at the Lighthouse ArtCenter in Tequesta, Florida. Check it out below. Also available are previously released performances of the blues classic "Cocaine Blues" and Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World".
Named after Jason's four recording studio facilities around the U.S. and featuring a fluid roster of players, THE CHOPHOUSE BAND began in 1992 when Newsted founded The Chophouse Records Studio in San Francisco.
THE CHOPHOUSE BAND is led by Newsted, playing acoustic guitars and performing lead vocal, accompanied by close friends/musicians of all walks and styles, sharing some great American songs from familiar and unfamiliar heroes.
Jason told the Palm Beach Florida Weekly about THE CHOPHOUSE BAND: "We all get along great because there's not money involved. They've got their own bands, their own families, their own gigs. We do benefit gigs, six a year, and that's it. I record and write and play songs the whole rest of the time. They could all run circles around me musical theory-wise. They could tell you everything they're playing, and all the relating chords. I surround myself with the bad-asses, and they make me look really good. I'm playing cowboy chords the whole time, and they're doing their fancy shit to make me look good. I just concentrate on singing, and getting across the things I want people to hear."
Asked by Boca magazine how deep his song archive is with THE CHOPHOUSE BAND, Newsted said: "I keep two bibles — heroes, and my songs. I try to stay at about 100 in the bible of heroes — everything from [LED] ZEPPELIN to John Prine to Dolly Parton. My [personal] song bible is probably between 24 and 32, most of them in the last 10 months. The band's favorite band collectively is JASON ISBELL AND THE 400 UNIT. I've become friends with [Isbell] over the past couple of years, and taken time to learn 20 of his songs. We always perform at least one in the set, trying to make it my own — kind of the idea with all of them."
Jason left METALLICA back in 2001, but was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, along with Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and the man who replaced him, bassist Robert Trujillo, in 2009.
Six years ago, Jason shelved NEWSTED, the heavy metal project he operated between 2012 and 2014, saying that it cost him "an awful lot of money — hundreds of thousands of dollars." He added: "I couldn't continue because the business is such a harsh thing now and so different than what I had known."
A video of NIGHTWISH's Floor Jansen singing, "Ave Maria", an 1825 Franz Schubert composition dedicated to Mother Mary, can be seen below. The music for Floor's version was arranged by Tommy Johansson.
Last month, Jansen released her cover version of the song "Let It Go" from the Disney movie "Frozen". She revealed that she got the inspiration to record the track through her three-and-a-half-year-old daughter Freja, who had been listening to it and singing it "for months."
Jansen made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.
Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013 and made her recording debut with the group on 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album.
NIGHTWISH's ninth studio album, "Human. :II: Nature." , was released in April via Nuclear Blast. The effort is a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.
FUTURE COLORS is the new hard-hitting rock band led by Seann Nicols (WESTFIELD MASSACRE, QUIET RIOT, ADLER'S APPETITE) and Mark Dalbeth (BELLUSIRA, DIRTY MACHINE, RAV MEDIC).
Founded and bred in isolation, FUTURE COLORS has unleashed its powerful debut single, "Stand Down", which was recently premiered online by Australia's Heavy magazine.
Nicols's recognizable and powerful vocals combine with Dalbeth's signature bass grooves in a musical project that is enhanced by a modern palette of live and electronic drums, low-tuned electric guitars and cinematic soundscapes. The result is an aggressive and captivating sound that is sure to appeal to hard rock music fans around the world.
FUTURE COLORS is currently putting the finishing touches on a full-length album at Nerve Strike Records in Anaheim, California. The LP will be made available in 2021, to be preceded by the second single, "Lost Inside", in January.
Nicols was with QUIET RIOT for just a few months, but long enough to record the vocals for an early version of the band's "Road Rage" album. QUIET RIOT later re-recorded the disc with its seventh lead singer, "American Idol" finalist James Durbin, and released it in August 2017 via Frontiers Music Srl.
A couple of years ago, Seann said that his exit from QUIET RIOT was caused by "a clash of personality and personal and profesional ethics between me and [QUIET RIOT drummer] Frankie Banali." He explained: "The entire experience of right from the very first rehearsal, dealing with Frankie Banali was an absolute nightmare. Before we had even stepped one foot in a rehearsal room, he was already going out of his way to give me the cold shoulder and ignore me and treat me like less than a human being. He was cold, he was ruthless, he was just absolutely a nightmare to work with.
In addition to playing with QUIET RIOT and ADLER'S APPETITE (under the name Sheldon Tarsha), Nicols sang for Bobby Blotzer's version of RATT for one show in March 2017 at the Prairie Knights Casino & Resort in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Seann later stated about the experience of working with the drummer: "The deeper I got into the situation, I started seeing some serious warning signs, and Bobby is not above board — period. He's not. He's full of shit. He's full of shit — let's just face the reality here."
DEAD CROSS, the Southern California hardcore outfit featuring Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, MISFITS), Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, TOMAHAWK), Justin Pearson (THE LOCUST, RETOX) and Michael Crain (RETOX, FESTIVAL OF DEAD DEER), has unveiled a video for "Skin Of A Redneck". The track is taken from the foursome's self-titled EP, which was released in 2018 via Ipecac Recordings.
"Dead Cross" track listing:
01. Skin Of A Redneck
02. My Perfect Prisoner
03. Shillelagh (Panicker Remix)
04. Church Of The Motherfuckers (Planet B Remix)
The self-titled debut album from DEAD CROSS was released in August 2017 via Ipecac Recordings. The effort was helmed by producer Ross Robinson, who has previously worked with KORN, DEFTONES, SEPULTURA and LIMP BIZKIT, among others, and was mastered at Golden Mastering in Ventura, California.
Patton told Rolling Stone that he got involved with DEAD CROSS after reaching out to Lombardo to see if he could release the band's album on Ipecac. After getting a text from the drummer asking him to join the group, "my jaw dropped," the singer said. "I was like, 'Who, me? Hmm …' And I think it took like all of 30 seconds, but in a sarcastic way, I'm like, 'Yeah, of course. I can do this. Are you sure you want me?' So I kind of second-guessed him a little bit. And he said, 'Man, you'd be our dream vocalist.' And then it was just a matter of logistics. I decided to record it here in my basement, which is fitting. It shouldn't sound too polished."
Regarding DEAD CROSS's musical direction, Patton said: "To me, it is a traditional hardcore record. It is very pointed, direct and visceral. Like, I wasn't going to play keyboards, add samples or any kind of orchestration. It was like, 'Yo, just go for it.' In some ways, it reminded me of stuff that we had collectively all grown up with and loved when we were like teenagers — bands like the ACCÜSED, DEEP WOUND or SIEGE, stuff that was just brutal, uncompromising and right to the point. I was listening to all those bands again before this came to be, so it was already back infused in my blood. And now I got a chance to do a pencil-in-your-eye record."
SCORPIONS have released a new Christmas video message in which frontman Klaus Meine and guitarists Rudolf Schenker and Matthias Jabs belt out an a cappella version of Louis Armstrong's "What A Wonderful World". Check it out below.
SCORPIONS recently entered Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany to begin recording their upcoming studio album. Tentatively due in 2021, the disc will mark the German hard rock legends' first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of SCORPIONS' new and classic material.
SCORPIONS originally intended to record the new album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, most of the work so far has been done remotely, with Fidelman taking part via Zoom.
Meine recently told Talking Metal that the goal with using Fidelman to produce the new LP is to bring "the old vibe from albums like 'Blackout', 'Love At First Sting' or even 'Lovedrive'. We try to focus on those albums and this attitude," he said. "If we get there, who knows — it's so many years later. But it's the spirit and it's the whole vibe around this album. This time, the focus is on the harder songs."
According to Meine, SCORPIONS' new LP will feature "no outside writers at all," unlike 2015's "Return To Forever", which was largely co-written by the album's producers, Mikael Nord Andersson and Martin Hansen.
Fidelman began his career as the guitarist and songwriter for RHINO BUCKET before launching his career as a producer, engineer and mixer, finding an early mentor in Rick Rubin.
SCORPIONS' last full-length collection of new recordings was the aforementioned "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.
Guitar legend Vinnie Moore, best known for his solo albums and work with rock icons UFO, has released a music video for "Same Sun Shines", a song from his latest critically acclaimed album "Soul Shifter".
Says Vinnie: "I wrote this song at a time when I was struggling to find some light at the end of the tunnel. It was me trying to lift myself up and reconnect with feeling positive and focusing on the good things. I was looking up at the sun and thinking about how it's always there; always has been. We all go through cloudy patches, but just have to remember that beyond those clouds the light is still there and continues to shine. You will lose it at times, but can always find it again. Hopefully the song is uplifting to others as it was for me. It is one of my favorite songs on the 'Soul Shifter' album and my first choice for a video. We're all living through unprecedented times right now unfortunately, but have to believe we're eventually going to come out the other side and find brighter times again.
"Wayne Joyner put this video together for me and created some very cool graphics which he mixed in with footage of me playing. He has also done videos for KANSAS, SEVENDUST, FOZZY, L.A. GUNS, BLACK STONE CHERRY, DREAM THEATER, Robby Krieger, Jon Anderson and Devin Townsend."
The follow-up to Moore's critically acclaimed 2015 "Aerial Visions" album, "Soul Shifter" was released in October 2019 on his label Mind's Eye Music. Vinnie's ninth solo LP features guest appearances by Rudy Sarzo (OZZY OSBOURNE, QUIET RIOT) and Jordan Rudess (DREAM THEATER), with Richie Monica on drums, Michael Bean (bassist from Vinnie's "Time Odyssey" album), John Cassidy (keyboards) and John Pessoni (drums).
Vinnie is considered one of the originators of shred guitar, and has released nine influential solo albums, and six albums and a live DVD as a member of rock royalty legends UFO. He's made countless album guest appearances, and has even recorded the soundtrack for a Pepsi TV commercial. He's been a member of Alice Cooper's band and was opening act for RUSH on their "Roll The Bones" tour with his own band. His solo and UFO recordings as well as live performances have amassed rave reviews all around the globe from both fans and music press, catapulting him into guitar icon distinction. He has been an inspiration for fans and guitarists worldwide.
A few years ago, Moore stated about his songwriting approach and musical influences: "I hope to keep growing and learning as a songwriter and as a player, and to explore different musical directions, kind of following the inspiration wherever it leads. I don't plan ahead musically, which keeps things interesting for me. I want to continue following my muse into areas that inspire and excite me. I am basically a rock guy, but love many different styles of music, and am often inspired by — and learn from — all of them. Music is so vast, and there are so many things to pick up from all the different styles. I've kind of always been like this, drawing on different musical influences, partly because I like lots of different things and partly… because I get bored easily. Exploring different directions is fun, and it keeps me excited as both a writer and a player."
ÑØÀ
AniMaze X![=]](/img/news-bord-shr.gif){kind=small}
Âåëèêîáðèòàíèÿ
Ïîðòóãàëèÿ
Øâåöèÿ
Èñïàíèÿ
Áåëüãèÿ
Êàíàäà
Ôèíëÿíäèÿ
Ãåðìàíèÿ
