Polish extreme metallers BEHEMOTH will release a new EP, "A Forest", on May 29 via Metal Blade. The EP's title track is a cover of THE CURE classic, and it features a guest appearance by SHINING frontman Niklas Kvarforth. The "A Forest" EP also includes a live version of the title track as well as two previously unreleased BEHEMOTH songs recorded during the "I Loved You At Your Darkest" album sessions.
The official live video for BEHEMOTH's cover of "A Forest", shot live in Helsinki on the last day of the band's recent European tour with SLIPKNOT, can be seen below.
"A Forest" EP track listing:
01. A Forest (THE CURE cover) (feat. Niklas Kvarforth)
02. A Forest (THE CURE cover) (live from "Merry Christless" in Warsaw Poland in December 2018) (feat. Niklas Kvarforth)
03. Shadows Ov Ea Cast Upon Golgotha
04. Evoe
BEHEMOTH previously stated about the EP: "Covering music outside of metal is a challenge — covering legendary music is an even greater challenge… that is what drove us throughout this process.
"The EP contains two brand-new BEHEMOTH songs, 'Shadows Ov Ea Cast Upon Golgotha' and 'Evoe'. The tracks act as a continuation on from ['I Loved You At Your Darkest'] — no more, no less.
"We hope this brings some respite for anyone struggling during these strange times on our planet! Stay safe, stay positive, Hail Satan!"
Helloween performed their Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II classic, "Dr. Stein", in their Pumpkins United lineup live in Sao Paulo, Brazil, during their United Alive world tour 2017/18. Watch this official video:
The new, yet to be named Helloween record will see the boys going “back to the roots,” with the band recording fully analogue and Dani Löble drumming on Ingo Schwichtenberg’s original drum kit, as used in the legendary Keeper Of The Seven Keys recordings.
In the video below, we join Michael Kiske and Andi Deris in the studio in Tenerife, where the two are just about to finish recording vocals.
A visualizer for "Routes", a new song from Richmond, Virginia metallers LAMB OF GOD, can be seen below. The track, which features a guest appearance by TESTAMENT vocalist Chuck Billy, is taken from LAMB OF GOD's upcoming self-titled album, due on June 19 via Epic Records in the U.S. and Nuclear Blast Records in Europe. The follow-up to "VII: Sturm Und Drang" marks LAMB OF GOD's first recordings with Art Cruz, who joined the band last July as the replacement for the group's founding drummer, Chris Adler.
"Routes" was lyrically inspired by vocalist D. Randall Blythe's time alongside native peoples at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation in North Dakota during the #NoDAPL movement. This protest, which began with just a few Native women and children camping at the site in protest of the pipeline being built so near to their water supply on unceded treaty land, quickly grew to an encampment of thousands and received global attention.
Says Blythe: "I went to Standing Rock because I had heard reports of violence committed on the peaceful protestors there by both state law enforcement and private security contractors, and this violence was not reported in mainstream media for the most part. I went to bring supplies and support these people, who were trying to protect their water, and thereby protect everyone, as everything in the natural world is protected. I was there a week, made some great friends, and learned a lot. It was a very profound experience in my life, and I knew one day I would write a song about it."
Although Blythe conveys his story through the song's vivid lyrics, he called in his friend Billy, who is of Pomo Native American heritage, to lend a deeper authenticity to his narrative.
"My experience, although my own, was tempered and shaped by the hundreds of years of brutal oppression of Native peoples in our country," says Blythe. "So, it was imperative for me to have a Native voice represented on the song, and Chuck Billy was happy to be that voice. At the end, there is a call and response section — Chuck calls and I respond. This is intentional. Musically, it is symbolic of my experience there. A native voice leads, bringing forth positive energy and calling to the people to unite, and I reply, providing support. That was my physical experience, and it is reflected in the song."
Chuck says: "It was a great honor as a proud Pomo Native American to be asked by LAMB OF GOD to do some guest vocals on this song. The #NoDAPL movement by the indigenous people of this country was a historic event. Being able to lend my voice to represent the Native American people, complementing Randy's storytelling and lyrics, is something really special to me. I'm glad this movement was put in a musical message, and I am extremely happy to have been a part of it."
"Lamb Of God" was recorded with longtime producer Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH, GOJIRA, TRIVIUM) and includes an additional special guest appearance by Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED).
"Lamb Of God" track listing:
01. Memento Mori
02. Checkmate
03. Gears
04. Reality Bath
05. New Colossal Hate
06. Resurrection Man
07. Poison Dream (feat. Jamey Jasta)
08. Routes (feat. Chuck Billy)
09. Bloodshot Eyes
10. On The Hook
As previously reported, the first leg of LAMB OF GOD's previously announced North American tour with MEGADETH, TRIVIUM and IN FLAMES is being rescheduled for 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.
The 55-date trek was slated to be split into two legs. The first leg of the tour was supposed to kick off June 12 at Jiffy Lube Live in Bristow, Virginia, and wrap August 1 at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California. The second run was due to launch October 2 at iTHINK Financial Amphitheater in West Palm Beach, Florida, and conclude on November 13 at the Reno Events Center in Reno, Nevada.
SLAVES will release a new album, "To Better Days", on August 7 via SBG Records.
To celebrate the LP announcement, the band has dropped the new song "Wasting My Youth", which premiered yesterday at SiriusXM Octane on Test Drive.
"There is a lyric, 'The feeling I've repressed is going out of style,'" vocalist Matt McAndrew explains. "It's about finding the truth and holding it back [feeling] like coming to the brink of sneezing and then missing it. You have this build up, this realization, and these feelings that are coming to a head and need to be released. Maybe that release is pleasure or maybe it's pain or maybe just catharsis. But it's a relief to have it out. If you miss that opportunity for release, you don't get it again. 'Wasting My Youth' is about that bottled up frustration that comes from staying in a situation past its expiration date and what that does to a person."
Regarding the album, the singer states: "We're excited to finally share our new album, 'To Better Days', with you. I'm so proud of how this record turned out and how well we all worked together to create these songs. We feel it's the band's best work to date and we hope you enjoy the music as much as we enjoyed making it."
Orange County, California’s Cerebellion has released the heavy new single and lyric video, “Someone’s American Dream”. Watch the clip below.
The new song is an intimate look at the experience of having to choose between a path of financial stability and pursuing one's deepest passions and the structures that make this dilemma a reality for so many. The song is the latest in a series of six new singles to be dropped throughout the year.
Canadian thrash legends, Anonymus, will be releasing their 12th album, La Bestia”,on June 12 via label Bam&co Heavy. Known for their discography of both French and English releases, La Bestia is their first full length that will be completely in Spanish.
You may be asking why a Spanish album? Well since 3/4 of the band speaks Spanish. Drummer Carlos Araya is Chilean born, and Oscar (Lead Vocals and Bass) and Dan Souto (Guitars and Backing Vocals) are sons of Spanish immigrants it was time to make one.
The album's tracks were produced mainly by guitarist Jef Fortin as well as Colin Richardson who also produced 1999's Instinct and Jean-Francois Dagenais (Kataklysm) who produced 2006's Chapter Chaos Begins. The album also features the bilingual song “Violencia Versus Violence” with the participation of Carlos Maldos of Lethal Creation (MX) and Arno Dhenain Le Bourhis of Black Bomb A (FR) along with a second bilingual track “Tierra” with Marco Calliari singing in Italian.
Anonymus explains their thoughts on the release: “We always try to surpass ourselves as musicians and we always try to write the best songs we can. It’s important to be loyal to what we do but we listen to the new bands and how the metal scene evolves. I think over the years we can feel an evolution in the band’s sound.”
Today, the band unveils their music video for their second single, “Terremoto”, produced by Kataklysm's Jef Dagenais.
The band comments about the track: "This one is a comparison between an earthquake and a man who deals with his problems like a shaking bull! The lyrics came with the title so it started from there. Sometimes a discussion doesn’t bring the solution, so you have to shake things up. Nothing more to say!"
Watch the video for “Terremoto” below, and pre-save the album here.
Tracklisting:
“Bajo Presión”
“Bicho Loco”
“Sobrevivir”
“Violencia Versus Violence” (featuring Carlos Maldos of Lethal Creation (MX) and Arno from Black Bomb A)
“La Bestia”
“Máquinas”
“Cada loco con su tema”
“Tierra”
“Terremoto”
The legendary guitarist and songwriter of THE DOORS and Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee Robby Krieger will release his first solo album in 10 years on August 14. "The Ritual Begins At Sundown" will be made available via his new home at The Players Club, a division of the Mascot Label Group.
THE DOORS weren't just one of the most iconic bands of their generation, but one of the most influential bands in rock history and Robby Krieger was responsible for writing some of their biggest hits in "Light My Fire", "Love Me Two Times", "Touch Me" and "Love Her Madly".
Krieger returns for his ninth solo album and his first since 2010's Grammy-nominated "Singularity", and once again with his longtime writing partner and co-producer Arthur Barrow. Barrow worked with Frank Zappa through the 1970s and 1980s as well as with Giorgio Moroder, Joe Cocker, Diana Ross and Janet Jackson and worked on soundtracks for "Top Gun" and "Scarface". The album also features other Zappa alumnus Jock Ellis (trombone), Sal Marquez (trumpet) and Tommy Mars (keys) as well as AeB Bryne (flute), Vince Denim (sax), Chuck Manning (sax), Joel Wackerman (drums) and Joel Taylor (drums).
"I was hanging out with my buddy Arthur Barrow and we had some songs we had been fooling around with then we got some other friends involved," Krieger explains when talking about how the album came together.
The legacy of THE DOORS is enormous and a testament to this is the number of awards and accolades that have come their way; Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the Library Of Congress selected their debut for inclusion in the National Recording Registry based on its cultural, artistic and historical significance. As of 2017, Los Angeles city council has given them their own day, "The Day Of The Doors", every year. There was even a Hollywood biopic, directed by Oliver Stone on them.
Not many musicians can claim to have performed beside a huge variety of other artists from a visibly excited Lady Gaga like Krieger did in December last year, he was joined by Miley Cyrus live this February, had Marilyn Manson who is a huge fan join him on stage, as well as being asked to guest with everyone from THE RAMONES to John Mayer, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS to CREED and ALICE IN CHAINS to Alice Cooper. Elsewhere other acts to be influenced by THE DOORS includes JOY DIVISION, Iggy Pop, THE STROKES, Mazzy Star and not to mention ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN, who did an iconic version of "People Are Strange" for the "Lost Boys" (1987) movie.
So ingrained into popular culture is his music that it has also been sampled from everyone from Jay-Z to Chase and Status, Snoop Dogg to Orbital and Fatboy Slim, he even collaborated with Skrillex. Alice Cooper, Joe Perry and Johnny Depp invited Krieger in to work on their debut HOLLYWOOD VAMPIRES album, whilst Depp also narrated the Grammy-winning documentary on THE DOORS "When You're Strange" and Krieger appeared in the FOO FIGHTERS "Sonic Highways" documentary. Generation after generation has been inspired.
"The Ritual Begins At Sundown" is a 10-song instrumental record which was recorded at Robby's own Horse Latitudes Studio in Los Angeles and features nine originals and one cover, the Frank Zappa song "Chunga's Revenge", which has a worthy place in the track listing with the incredible Zappa musicians on the album.
The album really is a return to friends, with Robby's relationship with Barrow and Sal Marquez dating all the way back to his first solo album.
"After THE DOORS, I started becoming interested in jazz and started hanging out with a guy called Sal Marquez," he says. "So we put this band together and that was the first Robby Krieger band and we played at the Whiskey A Go Go with Don Preston, Zappa's keyboard player. Arthur Barrow who was a huge Zappa fan — this was before he worked with Frank — he decided that, after graduating from North Texas State music school that he was gonna come out to L.A. and try to get into Frank's band, which was pretty brash of him," he laughs. "He started hanging out with Don and with Zappa, Don was in my band so we decided to put Arthur in charge of the mixing at the Whiskey for our shows, that's when I first met him in the '70s."
U.K. thrashers ONSLAUGHT have released the official lyric video for a new song called "Religiousuicide". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Generation Antichrist", which will be issued on August 7 via AFM Records. The long-awaited follow-up to 2013's "VI" was mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (BEHEMOTH, IN FLAMES, MESHUGGAH) at Dugout Studios in Uppsala, Sweden.
"Generation Antichrist" is the first ONSLAUGHT album to feature new vocalist Dave Garnett, who recently replaced longtime singer Sy Keeler.
ONSLAUGHT guitarist Nige Rockett comments: "Wow, we're stoked to finally get this new album ready to go.
"It's been a huge challenge to get everything finalized in light of recent events around the the world. We've had to bend a few rules and do things in very unconventional ways to make it work, but we got it done.
"I gotta say this is one brutal fucking record and could be a real game changer for the future of ONSLAUGHT. It's a very earthy and extremely raw-sounding album. We held back on the technology, with natural drums all round and I think Daniel Bergstrand did an unbelievable job on the mix.
"Everyone really stepped up to the plate massively on 'Generation Antichrist', but I have to single out our new vocalist Dave Garnett for smashing the vocals out of the park. It's an unenviable task to follow in the big shoes of Sy Keeler, but he's made this album his own and in his own very cool style, I'm sure he's gonna be hugely popular with the fans."
Garnett has already performed with ONSLAUGHT, having filled in for Keeler at the House Of Metal festival in Umeå, Sweden in late February.
ONSLAUGHT announced Keeler's departure late last month, explaining in a statement that "some things simply aren't sustainable year after year due to the nature of the modern-day music industry."
Back in August 2018, ONSLAUGHT debuted "A Perfect Day To Die" at the Bloodstock Open Air festival at Catton Park, Derbyshire, United Kingdom.
Sammy Hagar and his CIRCLE bandmates Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson have once teamed up via the Internet to record music.
After previously connecting via their smartphones from four separate locations to lay down a brand new song titled "Funky Feng Shui", as well as covers of THE WHO's iconic track "Won't Get Fooled Again", VAN HALEN's "Good Enough", BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS' "Three Little Birds" and AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie", among others, they have now regrouped — in a virtual sense — to cover Little Richard's 1957 classic "Keep A-Knockin'". Check out video of the performance below.
Hagar said: "I had the hardest time with this one because every time I came in singing, I started singing LED ZEPPELIN's 'Rock 'n' Roll'! It took me three damn takes. My favorite drummer and my favorite singer of all time — love this one hope you do too. Long live the music of John Bonham and Little Richard!"
Last week, SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE's previously announced U.S. tour with NIGHT RANGER has been officially canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic which is sweeping the globe.
Produced by Live Nation, the outing was scheduled to kick off July 9 in West Palm Beach, Florida at iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre and make stops in Tampa, Cincinnati, Dallas, Phoenix and more, before wrapping September 20 in Chula Vista, California at North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre.
Joining Hagar in THE CIRCLE are bassist Michael Anthony (VAN HALEN, CHICKENFOOT), drummer Jason Bonham (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, JASON BONHAM'S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING) and guitarist Vic Johnson (THE WABORITAS).
THE CIRCLE's first album of all-original material, "Space Between", was released in May 2019 via BMG.
New Years Day announces the premiere of their music video for “Skeletons”, via YouTube Live on, May 29 at 00.00, CEST. Ash Costello (frontwoman) and Nikki Misery (guitar) will join the livestream early at 11:30 PM, CEST today for a Q&A with fans in advance of the premiere. Tune in to the livestream Q&A today here, and watch the music video premiere here. Then, make sure to purchase and stream the single for “Skeletons”, which will be available worldwide on Friday, May 29.
“It’s clear to me that Skeletons is a favorite along the NYD fan community since day 1. Something about this song resonates. The right mix between heavy, soft, strong and soft vocals really made it stand out on our record from the rest. The song is about opening up and letting you who hide inside come out, so for that reason, I performed the song alone on the music video. It’s tough because it makes you vulnerable as a rock front woman to be without you band but it changed the performance into something pretty unique from out other music videos. I hope everyone enjoys it,” states Ash Costello about the track and new music video.
“Skeletons” is off New Years Day’s newest full-length album Unbreakable, which was released spring 2019 to critical acclaim. The band enlisted powerhouse producers Mitchell Marlow (All That Remains, In This Moment) and Scott Stevens (Halestorm, Shinedown & American Authors) to create an album that combines heavy rock with pop sensibilities. Upon release, Unbreakable trended #1 on the iTunes rock chart, celebrated over 18 weeks on Billboard’s Current Hard Music Albums Chart. The singles “Shut Up” and “Come For Me” became the band’s first two active radio hits. The album surpassed 20 million global streams, establishing New Years Day as a force to be reckoned with. New Years Day celebrates a 10+ year career with over 80 million global streams, 45 million YouTube views & a top 15 Billboard Mainstream Rock Charting hit.
BPMD - the new juggernaut featuring heavy metal icons Bobby Blitz (Overkill) on vocals, drummer Mike Portnoy (The Winery Dogs, Sons of Apollo), bassist Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) and guitarist Phil Demmel (Vio-lence, ex-Machine Head) - recently announced the release of their upcoming full-length album of '70s rock covers, American Made. The 10-track homage to some of rock music's greatest treasures drops on June 12 via Napalm Records.
The band recently shared their re-energized version of the blues standard "Evil", originally written by American blues musician Willie Nixon. BPMD's version is actually inspired by another popular re-imagining of the song by hard rock greats Cactus.
Watch a drum playthrough video for "Evil":
Bassist Mark Menghi says about "Evil": “Cactus is a lost American treasure that needs more recognition. They were doing things on their instruments (and as a band) before many of their contemporaries, peers and labelmates of the time. We were fully aware that the great Willie Dixon wrote this tune for Howlin’ Wolf in the early 1950’s... Cactus reimagined the song for the their time of the early '70s, we reimagined Cactus’ version for our generation in the early '20s... so for a tune that is 65+ years old that’s still being covered says something... a good tune can stand the test of time.”
Frontman Bobby Blitz adds: "I choose my cuts on the record for two reasons: 1) how they would fit my voice, and 2) a deeper, heavier cut. I really love the grit in Rusty Day's voice on the Cactus track and wanted to replicate it with my own, not copy per se, but for sure not lose that grit. The song to me, though blues based, is the perfect bridge into the heavy metal that followed. I used the basic vocal line as to not lose the integrity but reimagined it with more of a 'metal' phrasing. 'Evil' is really one of the BPMD tracks I am most proud of. You're a long way from home..."
Acclaimed drummer and Cactus member Carmine Appice says about the cover: “A new twist on ‘Evil’, one of the best, kick-ass blues/rock songs of all time. This version will appeal to BPMD's heavy metal fans. I was glad to hear the Cactus arrangement of the song, but with the bass, drums and guitar heavied up even more.. Phil's guitar solo revs up with lots of energy... with Portnoy and Menghi kicking under it, while keeping that energy going. Bobby's vocals sit nicely on top and I really liked the change in some of the phrasing. Great job guys!"
Watch the lyric video:
It’s evident within the initial seconds of BPMD’s American Made, as the legendary Bobby Blitz chants the introductory lyrics to Ted Nugent’s “Wang Dang Sweet Poontang” in his signature skyscraper-high howl, that he and his equally iconic bandmates are here to have a damn good time. Featuring 10 unforgettable rock classics reimagined as heavy bangers, American Made is a party on wax. Tracks such as the raucous “Toys in the Attic” (Aerosmith) and rager-ready “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers” (ZZ Top) prove that BPMD not only manages to capture the essence of each original track on the album, but skillfully transforms each classic into an unforgettable metallic anthem for a new age. The seasoned quartet flex their musical muscles on renowned classics such as “Saturday Night Special” (Lynyrd Skynyrd), “We’re an American Band” (Grand Funk Railroad) and “Walk Away” (James Gang), and introduce a whole new heavy generation to deeper cuts like blues standard “Evil” (Cactus/Willie Dixon) and “Never In My Life” (Mountain). Channeling nostalgia while maintaining a fresh attitude, American Made is a summer soundtrack for all ages.
After connecting over their mutual love for the classics and forming their current line-up, the members of BPMD traveled to drummer Mike Portnoy’s home studio in Pennsylvania and set up shop. Since the whole concept of the band was born the night Menghi was listening to “Saturday Night Special”, BPMD were determined to record the song for the album. Beyond that, each musician picked two ‘70s rock tracks and everyone had to learn them!
American Made was mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis, also known for his work with Metal Allegiance (featuring Mark Menghi), as well as artists such as DevilDriver, Trivium, and many others.
American Made will be available in the following formats:
- 1-CD Jewel Case
- 1-LP Gatefold Black
- 1-LP Gatefold Red/White/Blue Splatter (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
- American Made T-Shirt + Jewel Case Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive)
- American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Black Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
- American Made T-Shirt + Vinyl Red/White/Blue Splatter Bundle (NPR Mailorder exclusive / North America ONLY)
- Digital Album
"Wang Dang Sweet Poontang"
"Toys In The Attic"
"Evil"
"Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers"
"Saturday Night Special"
"Tattoo Vampire"
"D.O.A."
"Walk Away"
"Never In My Life"
"We're An American Band"
"Toys In The Attic" video:
"Toys In The Attic" drum playthrough video:
"Toys In The Attic" guitar playthrough video:
“Absolutely f*cking brilliant! God bless the real music krankers of America! Godspeed!" - Ted Nugent
”Turbocharged version of D.O.A. by BPMD. These guys are rocking!” - Michael Anthony (Chickenfoot, ex-Van Halen)
From the mean streets of Gary, Indiana by way of Oslo, Norway (or maybe the other way around - we’re not sure) comes Witch Taint, the most extremely extreme and Satanic Norwegian black metal band from Indiana ever (probably). Today the Taint releases their video for the track "Changes (A Little Less Time For Satan)."
"When we wrote 'Changes (A Little Less Time for Satan),' we knew we had written one of the greatest songs of all-time, but we had no idea we had also written an anthem for 2020 that will probably unite the whole world and stuff, which is awesome. Also, it's the only song we know of to successfully rhyme "brutal" with "garbage removal," so we're pumped about that too. Hail Satan," says co-founder and guitarist Lance the King of Black Metal.
Brought to fruition by the very unstable genius collective of Lance the King of Black Metal (rumoured to actually be comedian and musician Dave Hill) and Matthias Backwards (rumoured to actually be comedian and musician Phil Costello), Witch Taint's full-length debut Sons Of Midwestern Darkness (recorded entirely in darkness in a damp room that was also annoyingly cold even if you wore a coat and a hat and stuff the whole time) will be released tomorrow (April 10th) via Tee Pee Records. Pre-order the album here.
To celebrate the release of Sons Of Midwestern Darkness, Witch Taint is hosting an official record release party on their Facebook page at 9 PM EST on April 10 (again, that's tomorrow). Why the hell are they doing this? Beats us. Stop asking so many valid questions and click here.
Sons Of Midwestern Darkness, is extremely difficult to listen to in all the best ways and features guest appearances from members of such not-nearly-as-extreme-as-Witch Taint bands as Venom, Carpathian Forest, and Autopsy and also Lance’s dog Lucifuge because they forgot to keep the basement door shut even though she will end up coming down there every single time no matter what. Sons Of Midwestern Darkness is a 12 song collection of extremely grim yet very catchy and danceable heavy metal anthems that are perfect to get hammered and sing along to with all your closest friends and enemies. There are also five extremely extreme interludes where Lance and Matthias Backwards basically school motherfuckers on various topics, which is awesome. If you think you can handle it, which- statistically speaking anyway- you probably can’t, please get yourself a copy. And by all means, come see the band live (where Lance and Matthias will be joined by the destructive tendencies of opera diva La Sinistra [rumored to actually be Jennifer Valle], bassist Dean Ripper [rumored to actually be Dean Rispler], guitarist Thomas Guillotine [rumored to actually be Tom Beaujour], and drummist Markus St. Bastard [rumored to actually be Dave Richman]) for an assault on yours and a lot of other people’s senses. However, whether you decide to kill yourself, go sit in a ditch for a while, or simply stare off into the distance for a disturbingly long amount of time as a result of having done either one of these things that is not Witch Taint’s fucking problem.
This past spring, Witch Taint began performing as a full, six-member live band (consisting mostly of members found in the darkest recesses of Craigslist) that is so extreme, brutal, grim, unholy, kvlt, and just sort of negative in general that most people can’t even handle it basically even if everyone agrees the Witch Taint T-shirts are pretty awesome and they should really consider keeping more mediums in stock but whatever. This being the case, Witch Taint has scheduled an album release show for April 7 at the Mercury Lounge in NYC.
Tracklisting:
“Introduction”
“We Are Your New Gods”
“Interlude Black Metal VS Death Metal”
“Death To Death Metal”
“Sons Of Satan”
“Interlude Can One Be Grim And Extreme”
“Changes”
“Viking Heaven”
“Ready For LVV”
“Are You Ready (To Black Metal)”
“Interlude Grimness Of Noodles”
“Sons Of Midwestern Darkness”
“The Dark Way”
“The Taint Of The Witch”
“Conclusion”
“Gods Of The North” (Bonus Track)
“Hall Of The Witch” (Bonus Track)
September 2019 saw melodic death metal juggernaut, The Agonist, release their sixth studio album, Orphans, via Rodeostar Records. With Orphans the band delivered their most extreme, melodic, and larger-than-life sounding record to date.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, The Agonist chose to connect with their fans in a unique way - teaming up to create their brand new music video for the song “In Vertigo.” Watch the clip below.
Guitarist Danny Marino explains how the idea for the video came about: “After sitting at home, toughing out this quarantine, the band started discussing how we can interact with our fans in different ways. We had this idea to ask our fans to send us footage of themselves rocking out to our song 'In Vertigo'. We asked them to not be shy and be creative with their submissions, ‘cause there are many ways to be metal! We knew that people would be eager to participate because throughout the years of meet and greets, we have come to know just how dedicated our fans have become, and we were not disappointed in the least! You guys rule!”
Former DIO guitarist Rowan Robertson has uploaded a video to his YouTube channel where he shows you how to play the title track of the band's "Lock Up The Wolves" album. Check out the clip below.
Two years ago, Rowan said that he "would love" to release songs that were written during the sessions for "Lock Up The Wolves" that didn't make the final record.
Robertson, who was 17 years old when he joined Ronnie James Dio, was asked by The Metal Voice if he would be interested in making the unreleased recordings available to the legendary singer's fans.
"There's two songs which were just done on a boombox in rehearsal," he said. "And I just really would like to get permission from management, 'cause I don't wanna get in trouble. I'd love them to be out there, but I think after Ronnie's gone, he's not here to say, 'Don't play anyone that.' You know what I mean?"
In a 2015 interview, Robertson said that he played the two songs in question — which were apparently titled "Hell Wouldn't Take Her" and "The River Between Us" — for Ronnie's widow and manager Wendy Dio and that she thought the quality wasn't "good enough" to release them.
Rowan was also asked by The Metal Voice for his opinion on the ongoing "Dio Returns: The World Tour", which features a hologram of Ronnie James Dio backed by some of his DIO bandmates.
"I think it's great," the guitarist said. "I think it keeps his memory alive, and I don't see any problem with it at all. I think it's great."
In the late 1980s, Robertson heard that Ronnie James Dio was looking for a new guitarist. He sent a tape to the record company Phonogram. After six months of waiting, he got a reply that stated that at that moment they were not interested in him. At the encouragement of his friend and fellow guitarist Sean Manning (HURRICANE), the tenacious Robertson then contacted the DIO fan club who then asked him to send his demo tape to them.
Robertson got a great response from DIO after receiving the demo through the fan-club channels. In late January or early February 1989, Robertson was flown to Los Angeles for an audition with DIO. He was auditioned twice. Immediately after the second audition, he was invited to join the band. The press release for the addition of Robertson to DIO was sent out on July 18, 1989 and the press was invited to meet the newest DIO guitarist on July 20, 1989 at Oliver's Pub in New York City.
The first DIO album Robertson started working on with DIO was "Lock Up The Wolves". These sessions included Jimmy Bain, Vinny Appice and Jens Johansson. The band had already begun writing and recording when Jimmy Bain and Vinny Appice were suddenly excused from the band. They were replaced with Teddy Cook and former AC/DC drummer Simon Wright.
"Lock up the Wolves" was released in 1990, and the band embarked on a tour in support of the album.
Robertson stayed with DIO until Ronnie James Dio rejoined BLACK SABBATH in 1991.
Ex-BLACK VEIL BRIDES bassist Ashley Purdy says that he still owns half of the BVB corporation.
Purdy, whose surprise departure from BLACK VEIL BRIDES came last November, discussed his former bandmates in a new interview with Alternative Press.
Asked for some insight on his current relationship with BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Ashley said: "I'm still, like, 'Well, what can I say?' What can I say without lawyers still contacting me and saying, 'Hey, we don't like that you said that'? I mean, I still don't know, to be honest.
"I guess I can say this because it is the truth," he continued. "On February 26th [at] 1 p.m., I still currently own half of BLACK VEIL BRIDES right now. The realization is like it's a corporate buyout. It's like me and [singer] Andy [Biersack own the] corporation 50% each. And they still have to compensate me for them wanting me to depart. But that hasn't happened yet. And we're still in negotiations about what that is. I don't know how to approach it, because it's not finalized yet."
Purdy's exit from BLACK VEIL BRIDES took place not long after he spent time in a psychiatric hospital to undergo intensive grief counseling and therapy from a few recent deaths and tragedies.
Just one week after his split with BLACK VEIL BRIDES, Purdy was reportedly arrested by Nashville police after being found unresponsive behind the wheel of his vehicle, with the engine running. He was eventually awakened by the officers, who placed him in the rear of their patrol vehicle where he "urinated all over the back seat of the patrol vehicle" on the way to the hospital, and threatened officers when they discovered it, according to Scoop Nashville.
In November, BLACK VEIL BRIDES announced the addition of bassist Lonny Eagleton to the group's ranks. Eagleton previously played with Biersack on his solo tour.
Earlier this month, Purdy released the official music video for his new single, "King For A Day". Purdy wrote and produced the song, and also directed the clip.
Drum-cam footage of MACHINE HEAD drummer Matt Alston performing the song "Aesthetics Of Hate" with his bandmates on February 21 at the Fox Theater in Oakland, California can be seen below.
MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn spoke to France's HEAVY1 about the addition of Polish guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka (DECAPITATED) and British drummer Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT) to the group's ranks. Kiełtyka and Alston joined MACHINE HEAD on the first leg of its 25th-anniversary tour for the band's classic debut, "Burn My Eyes", which kicked off in Germany on October 5, 2019 in Freiburg, and wrapped in Dublin, Ireland on November 8, 2019.
"We were doing auditions for a while, and Vogg's audition just fucking blew my mind — it was so fucking tight and fucking accurate," Flynn stated about how the guitarist ended up landing the gig. "He sent over [a recording of] 'Imperium' as his first song just as a test. We always had all the dudes do a sound test, just to make sure the levels are good and stuff. I was, like, 'Oh my God! This dude is playing 'Imperium' better than I can right now.' [Laughs] It was crazy. And we ended up talking. Super-nice guy. Matt, same thing. We flew him out, jammed with him, and he killed it."
Each show on MACHINE HEAD's latest tour was described in a press release as "a three-hour musical extravaganza," comprised of two parts: part one features a battery of MACHINE HEAD's modern classics, such as "Imperium", "Halo" and "Now We Die", featuring Flynn and bassist Jared MacEachern performing alongside Kiełtyka and Alston. Part two features "Burn My Eyes" played in its entirety for the first time ever, with original drummer Chris Kontos and guitarist Logan Mader joining in.
Asked how all the musicians are getting along and whether they are traveling together, Flynn told HEAVY1: "We're all in the band together — we all live together. The band's all on the bus — all six of us. And it's a great ride, man. Everybody is very respectful; everybody knows their role and just kind of doing it here and enjoying it. Everybody is out here having a blast. It's so nice to have people who are in a positive frame of mind, 'cause it wasn't like that in the past. And now it is, and it's fucking awesome."
Kontos left MACHINE HEAD before the release of the band's second album, 1997's "The More Things Change", and was replaced by Dave McClain.
Mader contributed to two MACHINE HEAD albums, the aforementioned "Burn My Eyes" and "The More Things Change", before exiting the group and being replaced by Ahrue Luster and, later on, Phil Demmel.
McClain and Demmel both left MACHINE HEAD in October 2018.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH recently launched a new video series, "Guitar Zero: Legends Of The Fail", in which singer Ivan Moody embarks on a journey to learn to play guitar. In episode five, which can be seen below, Ivan jumps on the phone with ROB ZOMBIE guitarist John 5.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's latest album, "F8", was released on February 28. The follow-up to 2018's "And Justice For None" caps a turbulent period for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH in which Moody finally got sober after a near-fatal struggle with addiction, while co-founding drummer Jeremy Spencer bowed out of the band due to physical issues.
Much of "F8"'s lyrical content deals with Moody's battle with addiction, its aftermath and his recovery. The singer celebrated two years of sobriety in March.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH's spring tour with PAPA ROACH, I PREVAIL and ICE NINE KILLS has been postponed and rescheduled for the fall. The trek was originally due to run from April 8 to May 20, but will now kick off on September 28 in Sunrise, Florida.
FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH has also launched the "Quarantine Theater 2020" series. Taking inspiration from "Mystery Science Theater 3000", it features Moody, guitarist Zoltan Bathory and bassist Chris Kael offering commentary on the band's past music videos.
German female-fronted symphonic metal band, Visionatica, is back with their fourth music video which concerns itself with a serious part of German history.
In “To The Fallen Roma”, from the current album Enigma Fire, vocalist Tamara Amedov pays tribute to the Sinti and Roma who died in Auschwitz, also to counteract prejudices against these two ethnic groups. Visionatica are supported by Tamara’s Macedonian relatives, who provide the song that certain something with folkloric chants. The music video, again produced in collaboration with Andy Pilkington of Very Metal Art (Orden Ogan, Saxon, Nevaria) and accompanied by an intense band performance filmed by Grasser Production, illustrates the serious theme of the song with haunting and thought-provoking images from the concentration camps.
Tamara Amedov explains her reasons for this unusually serious music video with the following statement: “'To The Fallen Roma' is dedicated with deep compassion and from the bottom of my heart to the Sinti and Roma who died in Auschwitz. With this song we want to help to clear up false prejudices and contribute to international understanding. They were humans who were treated inhumanely and only because of their ethnic origin. I would just like to make a small contribution to redress this distorted picture."
Enigma Fire is available via Frontiers Music Srl. Order the album here.
Enigma Fire tracklisting:
"Amari Sudbina Kali" (Intro)
"The Pharaoh"
"Fear"
"Roxana, The Great"
"Dance Of Fire"
"To The Fallen Roma"
"Incomplete"
"Secrets Of The Ancestors"
"Rise From The Ashes"
"Fear" lyric video:
"The Pharaoh" video:
Lineup:
Tamara Amedov - Vocals
Manuel Buhl - Guitar
Gerhard Spanner - Drums
Tim Zahn - Bass
Today, the oldest release from the Italian orchestral death metallers comes to new life: Fleshgod Apocalypse release a drum playthrough for "Thru Our Scars", taken from the band's first EP, Mafia, back in 2010.
The band states: "To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Mafia, we picked one of our most iconic and challenging songs for the next playthrough video: 'Thru Our Scars'. Eugene Ryabchenko is doing the honors this time. Enjoy!"
The clip below features Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess playing a solo piano version of the song "When You Believe" from the 1998 film Prince Of Egypt. The song was written / composed by Stephen Schwartz.
Rudess performed a solo concert from lockdown on May 8th, which was streamed on Dream Theater’s official Facebook page. As a part of The Mercury Insurance Concert Series, the show featured Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment, and other prog rock classics.
Check out the entire show below.
The setlist was as follows.
"Hey You" (Pink Floyd)
"Act I: Scene Five: Through Her Eyes" (Dream Theater)
"Blood On The Rooftops" (Genesis)
"Moonchild" (King Crimson)
"Wait for Sleep" (Dream Theater)
"And You and I" (Yes cover - II. Eclipse)
"Hourglass" (Liquid Tension Experiment)
"Entangled" (Genesis)
"The Silent Man" (Dream Theater)
"Life on Mars?" (David Bowie)
"The Cinema Show" (Genesis - Part I)
"The Court of the Crimson King" (King Crimson)
"Soon" (Yes)
"Tarkus" (Emerson, Lake & Palmer cover) (I. Eruption)
"Act II: Scene Seven: I. The Dance of Eternity" (Dream Theater)
"Begin Again" (Dream Theater)
"Supper's Ready" (Genesis)
"Over the Rainbow" (Harold Arlen)
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