THE OFFSPRING has just released the official music video for its Bob Rock-produced cover version of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)", a rock song originally sung by Darlene Love and included on the 1963 seasonal compilation album "A Christmas Gift For You" from Phil Spector.
Says THE OFFSPRING frontman Dexter Holland: "It just seemed like the world could use a nice holiday song right now. We've always been huge fans of Darlene Love, so when the idea came up to do a Christmas song, we jumped at the chance to record that one…and tried not to wreck it!"
This past April, THE OFFSPRING jumped on the "Tiger King" bandwagon by recording a cover version of THE CLINTON JOHNSON BAND's "Here Kitty Kitty", a song made popular by Joe Schreibvogel — better known as Joe Exotic, the "Tiger King" — through the Netflix docuseries.
The official music video accompanying the California rockers' rendition of "Here Kitty Kitty" saw Holland and guitarist Kevin "Noodles" Wasserman abiding by social distancing regulations while sporting facial masks. They were accompanied on drums by someone wearing a tiger costume while a couple of "feline" friends keep things light for the band's fans.
THE OFFSPRING recently completed work on its long-awaited tenth album. The follow-up to 2012's "Days Go By" was once again produced by Rock, who also worked on the band's last two LPs.
Hailing from the shores of Santa Cruz, Calirnia, modern heavy metal revivalist James Durbin is on the verge of releasing his boldest, heaviest album to date with the announcement of the debut album from DURBIN, "The Beast Awakens". Coming February 12, 2021 via Frontiers Music Srl, fans can get their first taste of the album with the release of the official music video for the single "Kings Before You" featuring Chris Jericho (FOZZY) and Phil Demmel (ex-MACHINE HEAD, VIO-LENCE).
Durbin is finally releasing the album he has always wanted to over the course of his decade long recording career. Combining his love of all things DIO, IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST, Durbin set out to craft his own signature strain of fantasy inspired power metal for his debut DURBIN album, "The Beast Awakens".
"I've found a home for my creativity with Frontiers. They really share my vision for the type of metal I wish to create and we're all excited to see where it will lead," says Durbin.
"Kings Before You", the first single released from Durbin's forthcoming album, features Jericho and Demmel. For each of the solo sections on the remainder of the album tracks, Durbin called upon his own axe-wielding brethren to help out. Jon Yadon Jr., Marc Putnam, Dylan Rose and Nick Gallant all contributed guitar solos for the album. Due to the situation with COVID-19, the album was recorded largely remotely, with only Durbin himself, alongside his producer Ellison, occupying the recording studio.
Durbin says: "The fact that the album sounds the way it does, with the way it was recorded, is a testament to the passion of everyone involved. I am very grateful for all the love and care that was given to my songs and I can't wait to unleash my metal upon the world."
All the songs included on "The Beast Awakens" were written solely by Durbin himself.
"2020 has been such a strange year for all of us," he says. "Coincidentally, our shelter in place order happened just as I had begun writing for the album. It really forced me to write by myself and not rely on others to write the riffs for me. And then to write the lyrics and melodies too."
Once the songs were written and demoed by Durbin, he brought in the rhythm section of virtuoso drummer Mike Vanderhule (Y&T) and master bassist Barry Sparks (TED NUGENT, SCORPIONS, DOKKEN, B'Z). With Durbin handling the album's rhythm guitars, his core lineup was complete.
Durbin is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. Many associate his name with his appearance on Season 10 of "American Idol", where he was unabashedly flying the flag for heavy metal. In fact, on the finale, he appeared with undisputed metal gods JUDAS PRIEST for rousing renditions of "Livin' After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law". James has also worked and performed alongside many incredible musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Don Was, Zakk Wylde, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE, Bob Babbitt of THE FUNK BROTHERS and STEEL PANTHER, just to name a few.
Durbin's signature vocal prowess and powerful stage presence have earned him stamps of approval and praise from rock and metal royalty like Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar, Rob Halford and more. He has four full-length albums to his name, in addition to lending his voice to a handful of various albums.
Durbin recorded two studio albums with QUIET RIOT — 2017's "Road Rage" and 2019's "Hollywood Cowboys" — during his three-year stint with the group.
In September 2019, QUIET RIOT parted ways with Durbin and replaced him with Jizzy Pearl.
Guitarist / vocalist Jason Bieler (Saigon Kick) is preparing to release his new solo album, Songs For The Apocalypse, under the moniker Jason Bieler And The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra, on January 22 on CD/LP/Digital.
The album sees Bieler working with a diverse array of musical friends including Todd LaTorre (Queensrÿche), Dave Ellefson (Megadeth), Devin Townsend, Pat Badger (Extreme), Butch Walker (ex-Marvelous 3), Bumblefoot (Sons of Apollo), Clint Lowery (Sevendust), Benji Webbe (Skindred), Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah) and more. A full list of musical cohorts can be found below.
The first single and video, "Apology" features Todd LaTorre (Queensrÿche) on drums, Kevin Scott on bass, and a guest guitar solo from Andee Blacksugar (KMFDM), with Bieler handling lead vocals and all other instruments.
Bieler has checked in with the following update:
"Here we see the wild Andee Blacksugar in his natural environment creating maximum melodic chaos on the tune 'Apology'. He is brilliant and quite frankly I am getting tired of explaining to people that I didn’t play the solos :-). Enjoy and all hail Andee and by hail, I mean follow and support him! He is a national treasure!"
Bieler is a singer, guitarist, songwriter and producer who is also known for playing with hard rock band Saigon Kick, which achieved a platinum single in the US with the timeless hit "Love Is On The Way" from its gold-selling album The Lizard, which Jason also produced. Bieler also played in an early touring version of Talisman with Marcel Jacob and Jeff Scott Soto, as well as Super Transatlantic, with Extreme bassist Pat Badger, earning them a gold record for their work on the soundtrack for the American Pie movie. Recently, Bieler had been touring extensively as a solo artist. The shows featured a wide array of musical styles, absurdists humor, special guests, and more. He also runs, along with his brother, a successful record label, Bieler Bros., which has worked with Skindred, Will Haven, Nonpoint, Karnivool, Sikth, and many more.
Tracklisting:
"Never Ending Circle"
"Apology"
"Bring Out Your Dead"
"Annalise"
"Stones Will Fly"
"Down In A Hole"
"Anthem For Losers"
"Horror Wobbles The Hippo"
"Beyond Hope"
"Crab Claw Dan"
"Born Of The Sun"
"Baby Driver"
"Alone In The World"
"Very Fine People"
"Fkswyso"
Lineup:
All instruments and vocals by Jason Bieler unless listed otherwise below:
"Apology"
Drums: Todd LaTorre
Bass: Kevin Scott
Solos: Andee Blacksugar
"Bring Out Your Dead"
Drums: Edu Cominato
Bass: David Ellefson
Solo: Devin Townsend
"Annalise"
Bass: Kevin Scott
"Stones Will Fly, My Only Hope"
Drums: Ricky Sanders
Bass: Pat Badger
Solo and extra guitars: Butch Walker
"Down In A Hole"
Drums: Edu Cominato
Bass: Kyle Sanders
Extra Guitars: Stephen Gibb
Phase Reverse present their official cinematic 4K video for the single "Genocide”. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming, fourth full-length album, Phase IV Genocide, that will be out on December 11 via ROAR - Rock Of Angels Records.
Video artist Haris Kountouris comments: "I've always had in my mind the creation of a 'post-apocalyptic' video. I had the chance with Phase Reverse's song 'Genocide'. Inspired by the lyrics and by the current situation of the planet, I tried creating a video that represents a, not far-fetched reality given the world's current situation. We are like a 'cauldron' boiling, ready to explode with catastrophic results. I also wanted to show how far we are from each other as a civilization, 'asphyxiating' in these rough times... Genocide, a word that have been determining us as a species."
Phase Reverse comment: "The acoustic guitar with the blues pentatonic arpeggio represents our loneliness. As the other instruments enter the scene, they develop the harmony around the guitar, leading to the revelation of a great truth. We are experiencing a genocide almost every moment. The death rate from natural causes is the lowest of all causes. Guess what are the causes of death of all living organisms every day..."
Phase IV Genocide artwork and tracklisting:
"The Return"
"Destruction On Demand"
"Genocide"
"Copy 10-4"
"Know Thy Shit"
"Die And Let Live"
"Delete"
"Eat What You’re Served"
"Sound Of My Stone"
"Martyr Of The Phase"
Phase IV Genocide will be released through ROAR- Rock Of Angels Records, physically and digitally worldwide on December 11, 2020. Available on Digipak CD, Transparent Neon Orange Vinyl (Ltd 300 copies) and Digital streaming / download format.
For further details, follow Phase Reverse on Facebook.
French death metal innovators Agressor have released three new live videos in celebration of The Order Of Chaos box set, which will be released tomorrow, December 4, via Season Of Mist.
The live performances of "When Darkness", "Deathreat", and "Warrior Heart" were filmed at Le Splendid in Lile in 2007. The box set is available to order here.
The Order Of Chaos box set contains three releases: Medieval Rites (1999), The Spirit Of Evil (2001), and Deathreat (2006), with new bonus material and a 24-page booklet with previously unpublished pictures and live photos. The cover art, created by Philippe Druillet, can be seen below.
France's Déluge performed the new song, "Gloire Au Silence", for the November edition of Metal Injection's virtual Slay At Home fest. Watch the performance below:
Déluge recently released their sophomore album, Ægo Templo, via Metal Blade Records. A full album audio stream can be found below. Ægo Templo can be ordered in various formats here.
France has long been a fertile breeding ground for black metal, and one of its best kept secrets is Déluge, who have been kicking up a blend of that genre and post-hardcore since 2014. Dropping their debut full-length Æther in 2015, in 2020 they return with sophomore effort Ægo Templo, a more accessible record that pushes their sound in ever more imaginative directions. "I wanted to go further into something more 'easy to listen to', but I really did not want to lose what we had, that melancholia and the essence of our music," states founding guitarist François-Thibaut Hordé. "It was a very interesting - and exhausting - challenge, and to me we have succeeded. We are really proud of this new record."
Produced by François-Thibaut with assistance from engineers Thibault Chaumont/Deviant Lab studio (Igorrr, Carpenter Brut, Birds in Row) - who also mixed and mastered the album - and Amaury Sauvé / The Apiary studio who recorded the drums, Ægo Templo marks a bold step forward from their earlier recorded output. Featuring clean vocals on almost every track, keyboards and additional instruments on several songs, plus soprano saxophone on "Opprobre", this new offering separates Déluge from their contemporaries, all the while maintaining their identity.
The band also turned to Valnoir from Metastazis Studio in Paris to once again design their artwork, and they asked several artists to guest on the record: Tetsuya Fukagawa of Japanese Screamo legends Envy adds vocals to "Gloire Au Silence"; Matthieu Metzger provides saxophone on "Opprobre"; and Hélène Muesser contributes vocals on "Abysses", "Ægo Templo" and "Digue" - all helping to add further depths to the music.
"Torn In Two", the new video from BREAKING BENJAMIN, can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's sixth studio album, "Ember", which is being released today (Friday, April 13) via Hollywood Records.
The "Torn In Two" clip is the second chapter in a trilogy chronicling the living hell a father goes through when his daughter is murdered and what he will endure to save her soul. The cinematic and intense imagery pulls inspiration from the epic poem "Dante's Inferno" and, for diehard fans, hints of past BREAKING BENJAMIN videos.
Additionally, BREAKING BENJAMIN has partnered with Prevent Child Abuse America and is donating $0.25 from each ticket sold to its summer co-headline tour with FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH to the organization. As April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, founder/frontman Ben Burnley had this to say about his band's choice in partnering with this organization: "I have always had a soft spot for children, especially being a father myself. We do a lot of work with St. Jude Children's Hospital and love helping there where we can.
"Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we wanted to do something to bring awareness to that as well as encourage others to do their part in helping the innocent voices of the future.
"We're pleased to be donating .25 cents of each ticket on our summer tour to the country's biggest foundation for child abuse awareness, Prevent Child Abuse America, so they may continue their journey to put an end to it."
Produced by BREAKING BENJAMIN, "Ember" is the follow-up to the band's 2015 release "Dark Before Dawn", which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard 200 chart and spun off three No. 1 rock radio tracks, "Failure" (2015's most played Active Rock track), "Angels Fall" and "Never Again". The first single from "Ember", "Red Cold River", was released on January 5 and the accompanying video has more than seven million views.
Speaking about the disc, Burnley noted: "People have always really liked the heavier side of the band. I think that's what they sort of gravitate towards. But we also make sure to explore our melodic and softer side too." On "Ember", he explained, "we just tried to make it more extreme — the softer side on this album is really soft, and the heavy side is really heavy. We decided to give everybody what they want to the furthest degree."
Portuguese black metal band, Gaerea, have released a brand new live performance of the tracks "Null" and "Glare", taken from their latest album, Limbo, released back in July. Watch the footage below:
Maestros of modern melodic/symphonic metal, Temperance, are back one year after the release of their vibrant album, Viridian, with an acoustic gift to their fans.
After many years of band history and tours with genre giants like Nightwish, Luca Turilli's Rhapsody, and Tarja, Temperance will release their acoustic EP, Melodies Of Green And Blue, on February 19 - including two brand new songs, "Evelyn" and "Paint The World". On top, Temperance presents six songs off Viridian in a new acoustic style, showing the versatile facets of the symphonic metal band.
Today, the band gives the fans a first taste of what’s to come on Melodies Of Green And Blue by releasing an acoustic rendition of their hit single, "Start Another Round".
Just as this acoustic version of “Start Another Round” kicks off, Temperance makes their unparalleled energy undeniably apparent. With a chorus that makes you want to sing along at the top of your lungs, “Start Another Round” proves once again that Temperance can deliver powerful musical compositions, even within an acoustic setting.
Watch the video for "Start Another Round" (Acoustic) below.
Singer Alessia Scolletti about “Start Another Round”: "Spending time together has never been so difficult as much as this year, that’s why shooting this video has been funnier than ever and you’ll notice it! ‘Start Another Round’ has now become an anthem: our hope for better days to come. A song that carries such a strong message deserved a new alternative version: five people surrounded by a warm atmosphere that reminds you of ‘home’ singing and playing about finding your inner strength to keep going on and succeed, no matter what life puts you through... Are you ready to start another round with us?”
Singer Michele Guaitoli comments on the Melodies Of Green And Blue EP: "We’ve been talking about recording some acoustic versions of our tracks for a long time, as we all love the intimate and emotional feeling that this particular style can offer to any tracks. If you think of it, this is how most of our songs are composed: it’s Marco on his guitar or me on the piano. Everything for us begins in acoustic before going metal. This EP is a little dream come true, as we can finally show the heart of our music in its purest version."
Temperance will host a live stream on Napalm Records’ official Instagram channel on December 18, answering questions from fans and talking about Melodies Of Green And Blue, as well as playing songs off the EP live - make sure to tune in!
Not since the Mason Williams sixties radio gem, "Classical Gas", has a popular guitarist endeavoured to tackle such an adventurous piece of solo acoustic guitar music as the instrumental release, "Fuoco" (Libra Sonatine) - the newest single & music video by Jeff Young.
Young was the lead guitarist for Grammy winning hard rock outfit Megadeth in the eighties. A decade later, he co-wrote, produced & played on a number one world music crossover hit, "Chameleon" (Verve/PolyGram) for Brazilian phenom, Badi Assad - younger sister of renowned guitar duo, Sergio & Odair Assad.
Over the past few years, a series of singles, bonus tracks & rehearsal renditions from his first ever, all instrumental album Revolutions have found indie release via the artist's YouTube channel, Bandcamp, iTunes & all the usual digital music outlets.
In 2020, during this precarious time for the planet and anyone pursuing the creative arts, Jeff has relentlessly managed to record and release two original singles, "In the Flesh" and "Slow Burn" - both tracks featuring some wonderful players including: Andrea Whitt (Shania Twain), Ric Fierrabracci (Chick Corea, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Shakira),James LoMenzo (John Fogerty, Zakk Wylde, Slash), Jeff Bowders (Paul Gilbert, Joe Satriani) & Jeff Tortora (Blue Man Group Las Vegas).
Young's latest offering is perhaps his most daring yet. "Fuoco" (Libra Sonatine) is the third movement of a solo work by French guitarist/composer, Roland Dyens. "I first heard this piece back in the late nineties and was blown away, much like the first time I heard Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption," Jeff remembers.
"The main difference and added difficulty being, "Fuoco" is performed on a nylon string, unamplified guitar - you're naked there with no effects, nothing to boost you or hide behind. When I heard the maestro's original recording, it had everything! There are elements of classical, flamenco, jazz, rock, blues, even a couple country licks thrown in there - just a dazzling piece of music that took a long time to decipher and bring to fruition."
A surprising undercurrent to this song's story is that just two months ago, Young was uncertain if he would ever play guitar again? Upon leaving for his daily cycling regimen and while navigating to pedal through a crosswalk, Young was struck by a car & a driver distracted by his cell phone. "The first thing I did after filing the police report was to rush home and pick up my guitar... both my arms and hands were hurting badly and at that point, I couldn't make a simple E chord in open position. I was in shock from the accident and pretty freaked out that I might never be able to play guitar again."
"I deliberately chose 'Fuoco' (Libra Sonatine) as the piece I would use as my rehab because this song is so death defying - every phrase is like performing a magic trick. I knew, if I worked through the score measure by measure... all the various hand contortions would put my hands to the test. If I could perform this song well then, I would have conquered my injuries. I've been playing music since first grade and I couldn't imagine doing anything else."
Curious parties can see and hear the results of Jeff's determination as the single premiers today on his Bandcamp page. Watch the video below:
This year, the music industry experienced arguably its toughest year yet, battling many setbacks and standstills. But, tenacious and hardworking, Tetrarch refuses to waver - remaining on the move upward into 2021 with colossal achievements in tow.
Tetrarch closes out 2020 with a promising triumph - reaching #27 on the Mediabase Active Rock charts with their hit single “I’m Not Right”. Just two months ago, the Los Angeles-based four-piece reached the Top 40 and have remained a force to be reckoned with since, surpassing countless noteworthy contemporaries as they climb.
The steadfast trajectory of “I’m Not Right” at radio matches its impressive streaming numbers and the official music video’s YouTube views - with both boasting over 1.5 million streams and views individually and respectively. The track also held fast on SiriusXM Liquid Metal’s “Devil’s Dozen” for a staggering three months! Likewise, SiriusXM’s rock channel, Octane, has been a huge supporter of the band, recently surpassing the 500 spin mark.
More news on the SiriusXM front - just announced, Tetrarch will have a special performance showcased as part of the SiriusXM Next Wave Virtual Concert Series. The Liquid Metal Hard Attack Virtual Concert will feature Tetrarch’s performance, as well as performances from other artists, and debuts on December 14 at 6 PM, ET on Liquid Metal. For a full schedule and re-broadcast dates, click here.
In addition to these successes, Tetrarch lead guitarist Diamond Rowe and frontman/guitarist Josh Fore have both been nominated in Music Radar’s “Best Metal Guitarist of 2020” accolade. The deft duo is nominated alongside guitar greats Mark Morton, Willie Adler, Matt Heafy, Robb Flynn and many more.
Lead guitarist Diamond Rowe says: “We are thoroughly impressed with the year that we have had in the Tetrarch camp. 2020 has not been the best year for artists, but we have always been a band that tries to go out and make our own opportunities when circumstances may not permit and that’s just what we did with this year. I am extremely happy with what we achieved and it’s only a foreshadowing of what’s to come. We have so much in store for 2021 and we cannot wait to unleash this monster of a new album on the world.”
Experience Tetrarch via the official music video for “I’m Not Right”:
Tetrarch’s upcoming album, Unstable, is coming soon. The album was recorded earlier this year with producer Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, Allegeon, Khemmis) and is due for release via Napalm Records, whom the band signed with in 2020.
Tetrarch is:
Josh Fore - vocals/guitar
Diamond Rowe - lead guitar
Ryan Lerner - bass
Ruben Limas - drums
Manowar founding member Ross "The Boss" Friedman and his band contributed to Wacken World Wide during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Watch the band perform the Manowar classic, "Kill The Power", below:
SoCal artists (HED) P.E. have released a brand new video for "Overdue". The song appears on (HED) P.E.'s twelfth studio album, "Class Of 2020", which was released in August via Suburban Noize Records. The date also marked the 20th anniversary of the group's breakthrough album "Broke".
"I wrote this track for a local film company here in Boise, Idaho; for the closing credits. The movie was filmed at The Old Boise Penitentiary and the story was based on the hauntings at the prison," commented (HED) P.E. frontman Jared Gomes. "We shot the entire video in the solitary confinement room where men have died. 'Overdue' took on a much more personal note. The song and video are about insecurity and depression."
On "Class Of 2020", (HED) P.E. gets back to the raw essentials, utilizing old-school punk-rock guitar tones and aggressive, unfiltered vocal stylings at the core of its trademark sound. Longtime fans will find that "Class Of 2020" is a return to the classic sound of early (HED) P.E. albums.
In an effort to bring "Class Of 2020" around full circle and connect it with (HED) P.E.'s impressive back catalog, the album cover is an homage to "Broke", which celebrated its 20th anniversary a day after the new studio album was released. While planning the milestone anniversary for (HED) P.E., Jared was able to connect with former members DJ Product and original guitarist Chad "Chizad" Benekos to rekindle their creative flame. DJ Product created artwork for the "Class Of 2020" album and added his trademark scratching over some tracks, while original (HED) P.E. guitarist Chizad blessed the band with a blazing solo on "Greedy Girl". The unholy union that many fans never thought possible came together to connect the past and present incarnations of (HED) P.E. and to enhance "Class Of 2020" in a meaningful way.
(HED) P.E. are the pioneers of the G-Punk sound, which fuses together punk-rock, metal, hip-hop and reggae. The band has toured the world for 20 years sharing the stage with the likes of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, KORN, TECH N9NE, TOOL as well as the original BLACK SABBATH on the iconic Ozzfest tour. (HED) P.E. experienced a creative resurgence after signing with Suburban Noize Records in the early 2000s and was instrumental in developing the booming underground scene.
Better Noise Music recording artists THE HU have debuted their "hunnu rock" cover of METALLICA's "Sad But True" today, along with a music video. The track is a unique take on the beloved classic that has over 142 million streams on Spotify alone.
THE HU's distinct style allows listeners to hear this song in a completely new way. The band added traditional Mongolian instrumentation along with their signature style of throat singing and swapped out "Sad But True"'s English lyrics for their native language, Mongolian. The same distorted guitar melody from the original song helps drive the song forward, but the originality and musical prowess of THE HU's distinguishing sound makes this track stand out on its own.
With this cover, THE HU also launches "The Best Of Better Noise Music: 15 Years Of Rock" series that runs throughout the label's 15th year in business — 2021. The compilation features exciting new versions of songs from their diverse rock catalog. THE HU will kick off this campaign, as the band embodies all the label's hopes for the future of rock — diversity, expert musicianship, passionate performance and clever creative collaboration.
Excited about the release of the new song, singer and Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) player Galbadrakh Tsendbaatar, a.k.a. "Gala", says: "Like millions of people around the world, METALLICA has been a huge influence and inspiration for us as music fans and musicians. We admire their 40 years of relentless touring and the timeless, unique music they have created. It is a great honor to show them our respect and gratitude by recording a version of 'Sad But True' in our language and in the style of THE HU."
Though they've raked in well over 100 million views on their YouTube videos and tens of millions more on Spotify, THE HU continues to find new ways of reaching new audiences. From their new cover song, to being on the "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order" video game and soundtrack, their original sound has carved out a genre that is all their own. Radio audiences took the band's two singles in 2020 ("Yuve Yuve Yu" featuring Danny Case of FROM ASHES TO NEW and "Wolf Totem" featuring PAPA ROACH's Jacoby Shaddix) into the Top 5 at the Active Rock format.
Earlier in 2020, THE HU released the deluxe version of their 2019 album "The Gereg". "The Gereg" debuted at No. 1 on the World Album Charts and Top New Artist Albums, Top 5 Globally in U.S., Canada, U.K. and more (Rock Music Albums) and Top 10 Current albums in U.S., Canada, Australia among other territories. In addition, they released the documentary film "The Hu: Road To The Gereg" on YouTube which looks back at the making of their debut album, along with behind-the-scenes footage from their worldwide tours, video shoots, and more.
The band is involved in the film "The Retaliators", a high-octane horror-thriller, starring Michael Lombardi (FX's "Rescue Me"), Marc Menchaca ("Ozark", "The Outsider") and Joseph Gatt ("Dumbo") with special guest appearances by some of rock music's biggest names. THE HU's Jaya plays a small part in the movie and the band contributed their hit track "Wolf Totem" featuring Shaddix to the soundtrack.
Formed in 2016 in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, THE HU achieved global recognition with powerful videos that have amassed over 113 million views to date. "Wolf Totem", "Yuve Yuve Yu" and "The Great Chingiss Khan" showcase the band's one-of-a-kind style of 'hunnu rock' — a combination of Western heavy rock played with traditional Mongolian instrumentation such as the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle), Tovshuur (Mongolian guitar), Tumur Khuur (jaw harp) and guttural throat singing in their native language.
"Down", the new video from KORN guitarist Brian "Head" Welch's LOVE AND DEATH project, can be seen below. The song is taken LOVE AND DEATH's upcoming album, "Perfectly Preserved", which will arrive on February 12 via Earache Records. The disc is described in a press release as "a blistering but accessible full-length follow-up, driven by the spiritual resilience inherent in the first record, combined with an even starker depiction of real-life struggle." Anger, broken relationships, lowered self-worth, and the collision of optimistic values with oppressive systems are all on display, from the arresting refrains of "Tragedy", "Death Of Us" and "Affliction" to the bold, conqueror driven anthem of "White Flag".
To coincide with "Perfectly Preserved"'s release, LOVE AND DEATH will play a livestreamed concert on February 12. Tickets for the show, along with album merchandise bundles, are available at this location.
LOVE AND DEATH harness soaring melodies and crushing riffs, weaponizing them like a supernatural dagger to strike at the blackened heart of disillusionment from both within and without. With an instantly recognizable relatability, for anyone who has felt discarded or without value, the band crafts invigorating anthems filled with earnest pleas for mercy and certainty amidst the chaos of an uncertain world. This is heavy music to vigorously confront depression, heartbreak, and pain.
The band began with similar raw, authentic emotional honesty to what drove Welch to multiplatinum and Grammy Award-winning heights as a co-founder of genre trailblazers KORN. Forged as an outlet for recovery and redemption in a season of change, the creation of LOVE AND DEATH resulted in the powerful and dynamic 2013 debut "Between Here & Lost". The album spoke plainly to the hearts of similarly disenfranchised fans all across the world.
"Perfectly Preserved" marks the introduction of guitarist, bassist and co-songwriter Jasen Rauch as a full-fledged member of the band, as well as second time producer for LOVE AND DEATH (co-produced by Joe Rickard). Jasen, best known as an integral part of chart-topping rockers BREAKING BENJAMIN, produced LOVE AND DEATH's first album in 2013. The duo first met a year or two after the release of Head's solo album, "Save Me From Myself" (2008). As Head experimented with synthesizers, it was Rauch who encouraged him to pick up his guitar and churn out new riffs.
"Jasen and I started writing together. I was trying to do new things, writing music on a keyboard at my house," Welch recalls. "I credit him with the rediscovery of my love for the guitar."
LOVE AND DEATH charge into this new chapter with a definitive lineup, which sees Head and Jasen side by side with the band's original guitarist, JR Bareis, also on vocals and guitar, and powerhouse drummer Isaiah Perez. It was a perfect storm of friendship and creativity, as they all worked on the album in Nashville, Los Angeles, and Chicago, over several years.
Like A PERFECT CIRCLE or STONE SOUR, LOVE AND DEATH isn't a "side project" or replacement for the guys' respective bands. It's an extension and companion, offering each of them a unique outlet to explore different aspects of their creative passions. "There are certain things we can do melodically in LOVE AND DEATH that might not work in KORN," Rauch explains. "For me, there are certain creative risks I can take with the arrangements and production that wouldn't fit with BREAKING BENJAMIN. In this band, we don't worry about how long a song might be, for example."
It's also an opportunity for further collaboration with their friends from other bands. "The Hunter" features Jasen's BREAKING BENJAMIN bandmate (and solo artist) Keith Wallen, who was also a major co-writer on the project. And Longtime comrade Lacey Sturm, formerly of FLYLEAF, sings on a metallic rendition of a surprising pop cover.
As with the "Lo Lamento" single released in 2016, Bareis steps up vocally, sharing frontman duties with Welch, whose own delivery draws on jaw-dropping life experience. From the heights of rock stardom to the depths of addiction, through an exciting resurrection to the daily battle to stay above water, every moment of truth is evident in his brutally honest screams. Bareis, by contrast, delivers anthemic and even haunting melodic vocals.
"Everybody knows my foundation," says Welch, regarding the contrast in lyrical themes between "Perfectly Preserved" and the first LOVE AND DEATH album. "I feel like what our world needs most in this very unique moment in time are real storiesabout overcoming struggle. These are honest songs co-written by our group of friends targeting depression/mental health, challenging relationships, trauma, loneliness, and related issues."
As their fans have learned to expect, LOVE AND DEATH is fearless in its open examination of contradictions and failure, making confessional music with an underlying anchor of purpose and hope. Like the band's very moniker suggests, both "Love" and "Death" are very present in all that they do.
Track listing:
01. Slow Fire
02. Infamy
03. Down
04. Death Of Us
05. Lo Lamento
06. The Hunter (feat. Keith Wallen)
07. Tragedy
08. Let Me Love You (feat. Lacey Sturm)
09. Affliction
10. White Flag (feat. Ryan Hayes)
KORN's latest album, "The Nothing", was released in September 2019 via Roadrunner/Elektra. The follow-up to 2016's "The Serenity Of Suffering" was once again produced by Nick Raskulinecz.
German heavy rockers, Sainted Sinners, release their new album, Unlocked & Reloaded, today (December 4th) via El Puerto Records. It is their first with new singer Iacopo “Jack” Meille (Tygers Of Pan Tang) on vocals. Check out the new single / video "Early Light Of Day" below.
Unlocked & Reloaded was mixed by Dick Dropkick at SpitFire Studio and mastered by Harry Hess (Harem Scarem, Danko Jones, Grim Reaper). The cover artwork was designed by Manfred Smietana / MS Art Design.
The album is available for pre-order in a strictly limited edition wooden box of 333 numbered boxes, with a few surprises, here.
Tracklisting:
"Same Ol’ Song"
"Standing On Top"
"Early Light Of Day"
"40 Years"
"The Hammer Of The Gods"
"Free To Be"
"I Can’t Wait"
"Stone Cold Sober"
"Call It Love"
"Wall Of Sound"
"Farewell To Kings"
Mora Prokaza have released a video for the song "Madonna", which is taken from the band's 2020 release, By Chance. The new video, which was created by Mora Prokaza, can be seen below.
The up and coming experimental duo combine the ferocious sounds of black metal with the street vibes of trap, tinges of industrial, and out-of-the-box instrumentation, creating a sound that is wholly unique and groundbreaking that you must hear it for yourself to truly grasp the artistic genius behind the Belarusian outfit.
By Chance is out now and can be streamed, downloaded, and purchased here.
Tracklisting:
"WIMG"
"Im Not Yours"
"Check It"
"Im A Human"
"I See It This Way"
"Madonna"
"Be There"
"Sorry Man"
"Blacker Than Black"
Nothing have shared a video for "Catch A Fade", taken from their latest album The Great Dismal, released in October. The visual, directed by the band's Aaron Heard, is a subtle celebration of the touring and live shows that haven't existed this year, culling some of the band's most memorable moments doing those things over the course of its career.
Of the video, Heard says, "'Catch A Fade' is bright on the outside, but a little dark when you look inward. The video is just a compilation of collected footage from our last tour of Asia a few months before COVID hit. We've been sharing these the past year internally to keep each other sane, but they have the same kind of vibe as the track. It’s nice reliving those moments but also it’s heavy considering where we’re at now."
Palermo adds, "Doyle sent me a demo of what would be 'Catch A Fade' while I was demoing in NYC. Kyle and myself took a trip to Michigan City, IN to fine tune some of what was close to completion before we went in with Will. This was the first and only track we got to write together from the ground up and it gives you a pretty clear vision of what this particular line up is capable of."
The Great Dismal physical orders are available here and Digital Downloads/Streaming here. Super Deluxe vinyl edition includes a re-sealable mylar bag, 20 page LP sized booklet and custom OBI strip.
Tracklisting:
"A Fabricated Life"
"Say Less"
"April Ha Ha"
"Catch a Fade"
"Famine Asylum"
"Bernie Sanders"
"In Blueberry"
"Memories"
"Blue Mecca"
"Just a Story"
"Ask The Rust"
On the heels of the recent announcement of their debut album Mother’s Day, Alta Reign has released a static video for the song “Immortal”. The track gives fans a look inside the creative mind of Alta Reign founder and Trans-Siberian Orchestra/Savatage drummer Jeff Plate.
Jeff Plate joined forces with TSO keyboardist Jane Mangini, along with Tommy Cook (guitars/lead vocals), Collin Holloway (guitars/lead vocals), Kevin McCarthy (bass, vocals) and Zach Hamilton (keyboards, guitars/vocals) to form the band and record the songs for the debut album. The song "Immortal" can be heard via the static video below:
Alta Reign’s debut album, Mother’s Day, will be released on January 8 via Rat Pak Records. The album is the reflection of dedication as the initial idea spawned 30 years ago and ended in 2020 before locking in the 2021 release date. The album is available for pre-order at RatPakRecords.com and iTunes.
From the album's opening riffs of “Shine”, to the majestic "Mother's Day", the reflective mood of "Always", and the mindful closer “Rise,” Alta Reign has created something very different and original. Drawing from his history, his influences and his heroes, Plate has combined melodic, progressive, hard rock and straight up metal to create a unique landscape for the listener. Other TSO brethren make an appearance on Mother’s Day as guitarist Joel Hoekstra can be heard on the title track and guitarist Chris Caffery shows up on “Rise.” Songs like “Thin Red Line,” the frenetic instrumental “ESC (Escape)” and “Let’s Go! (I’m In Charge Now)” present every indication that the talent of these musicians is limitless.
Mother’s Day tracklisting:
"Shine"
"Witness "
"Thin Red Line"
"Never Say Never"
"Mother's Day" feat. Joel Hoekstra
"ESC (Escape)"
"Come Out and Play"
"Let's Go! (I'm In Charge Now)"
"Always"
"Immortal "
"Passage"
"Rise" feat. Chris Caffery
Alta Reign lineup:
Jeff Plate - Drums and Percussion
Jane Mangini - Keyboards
Tommy Cook - Guitars, Lead Vocals
Kevin McCarthy - Bass, Vocals
Collin Holloway - Guitars, Lead Vocals
Zach Hamilton - Keyboards, Guitars, Vocals
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