Logical Terror, the avant-garde force in the realm of progressive metal, announces the release of their latest single, "Here Comes The Rain Again," a daring cover of the iconic Eurythmics hit. This groundbreaking fusion of new wave nostalgia and metalcore mayhem promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
In a bold collision of genres, Logical Terror masterfully melds the haunting melodies of the 1980s with the unyielding power of modern metalcore, creating a sonic tempest unlike any other. "Here Comes The Rain Again" surges forth as a torrential downpour of innovation, offering listeners an electrifying journey through the annals of musical evolution.
Guided by the relentless spirit of innovation, Logical Terror invites fans to immerse themselves in the eye of this musical storm, where past and present converge in a symphony of sound. Whether you're a die-hard metalhead craving fresh sonic landscapes or a connoisseur of classics seeking a new perspective, Logical Terror's cover promises an exhilarating auditory experience.
Logical Terror's "Here Comes The Rain Again" stands as a testament to their endless creativity and unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of metal music.
Symphonic metal veterans NIGHTWISH will release their new album, "Yesterwynde", on September 20, 2024 via Nuclear Blast. It marks the band's tenth studio LP, following on from the release of "Human. :II: Nature." in 2020. The official music video for the album's first single, "Perfume Of The Timeless", can now be seen below.
NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen told Kerrang! magazine about "Perfume Of The Timeless": "When we had the first meeting with Nuclear Blast, talking about the new album and singles, I told them the first single will be a song called 'Perfume Of The Timeless' and it's eight and a half minutes long and the chorus comes in at 3:30. And they were, like, 'Perfect!' I think that has to do with the fact that we have a long legacy. You know, we can do whatever we want, and I do, but it says something that we can do that, when I heard that for Spotify it's good to have the vocals start after 15 seconds, or people skip it; they don't have the attention span anymore."
Asked if he had to adjust his writing style because "Yesterwynde" marks NIGHTWISH's first album since 2002's "Century Child" without bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala, Tuomas said: "No, it doesn't really change anything, except that now we had two voices instead of three, only Floor [Jansen, lead singer] and Troy [Donockley, multi-instrumentalist]. But that's it — it really didn't change much at all. And Jukka [Koskinen], the new bass player, is such a grounding personality that it's so easy to work with him. And his bass playing skills are tremendous, quite different from how Marko played the bass, which also brought a new spice into the music. So nothing but positive things to say about it all.
"There are many bands in the world that don't have a single original member anymore," he continued. "And I think it comes down to the fact that if the music is good, then that’s all that matters, in the end. Maybe for some people, certain bands are so holy that they can stand if they don't have certain members in it, even though the music would be good, but I don't really think like that. I just listen to the music, not the personnel behind it. That's all that matters to me."
Holopainen also addressed the fact that NIGHTWISH has no plans yet to tour in support of "Yesterwynde". The band previously explained that the reasons for the touring break were "personal" but unrelated to Jansen's then-pregnancy. (Jansen gave birth to her second child in October 2023.) Asked if it feels weird to be talking about an album that, for the first time, he won't be supporting on the road, Tuomas said: "No, it doesn't feel weird. It just feels right. But people shouldn't get worried. It's not the end of the band. We just signed a multi-record deal with Nuclear Blast, so there will be more music coming, definitely. But as far as shows, we're just gonna have a long breather now and see what happens. That's all I can say at the moment. We got our fair share in 2022 and 2023 when we did a lot of shows. So that helped."
"Yesterwynde" track listing:
01. Yesterwynde
02. An Ocean Of Strange Islands
03. The Antikythera Mechanism
04. The Day Of...
05. Perfume Of The Timeless
06. Sway
07. The Children Of 'Ata
08. Something Whispered Follow Me
09. Spider Silk
10. Hiraeth
11. The Weave
12. Lanternlight
In a press release, Holopainen stated about "Perfume Of The Timeless": "You are the result of an unbroken chain of millions of ancestors and their loves. 'Perfume Of The Timeless' reminds us all of this amazing fact. And if you're not amazed, listen to it again, because it's important."
In January, NIGHTWISH drummer Kai Hahto spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2020's "Human. :II: Nature." album in an interview with Laureline Tilkin of Tuonela Magazine. He said: "At least it's not gonna be the same as 'Human. :II: Nature.', so… Probably, let's say that we go back to more heavy, heavier things on the new album, but also there's a lot of, again, new winds to blow, so to speak. So, different new elements. But, of course, it's still NIGHTWISH, but, of course, we brought back the big symphony orchestra again to the new upcoming tenth album. Yeah, it's gonna be exciting. And quite challenging music to play as well."
Earlier in January, Hahto told Chaoszine that "it look[ed] like" NIGHTWISH wouldn't play any shows in the next two or three years.
In December 2022, Holopainen said NIGHTWISH's upcoming follow-up to "Human. :II: Nature." would be the third part of a trilogy that began with 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" album. He told Metal Hammer: "I immediately knew after getting that album ['Endless Forms Most Beautiful'] done that, 'Okay, we have to do more songs about this, because there's so much more to explore and tell the world. We're not done with this.' And the same thing happened after 'Human. :II: Nature.'; we're still not done. So let's do one more. At least one more.
"In a way, [the next album] is the third part of a trilogy, which started with 'Endless Forms…' and then 'Human. :II: Nature.' There are some major surprises there again, but it feels like a natural continuation to 'Human. :II: Nature.'"
In September 2022, Tuomas was asked if NIGHTWISH's upcoming LP will once again be an exploration of evolutionary science, as was the case with the previous two releases. Tuomas said: "Yes and no. It sails on the same waters, but there's some new surprises there as well."
In August 2022, Tuomas told Rock Sverige that he spent "about a year" working on the music and lyrics for the next NIGHTWISH album.
Asked if he got any kind of inspiration from the pandemic, Tuomas said: "Yeah, lyrically there's a couple of things that reflects the pandemic, but not in the way you would expect."
"Human. :II: Nature." was released in April 2020. The follow-up to 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" was a double album containing nine tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters, on CD 2.
In August 2022, NIGHTWISH announced the addition of Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of the band. Koskinen, who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band's two interactive experiences, had spent the previous year touring with NIGHTWISH as a session musician.
In November 2022, Jansen revealed that she was "cancer free" after undergoing surgery to have a tumor removed following a breast cancer diagnosis.
Photo credit: Tim Tronckoe (courtesy of Nuclear Blast)
In the clip below, courtesy of the Ken Tamplin Music Academy, vocalist Gabbi Gun takes on the Heart classic, "Alone".
Ken Tamplin: "This song is known as a #1 by the band Heart in 1987. What many people do not know is that Heart's version of this song was a cover song. 'Alone' had been released in 1983 by a group using the name I-Ten, and then released again in 1984 on the soundtrack of a CBS sitcom, Dreams, by Valerie Stevenson and John Stamos. But it was Heart's 1987 album, Bad Animals, that included the Ann Wilson vocals that shot this cover song to the top of the charts.
Ann's treatment of this song left no doubt in anyone's mind that she owned this song and that she was indeed a rock star of the highest caliber.
At KTVA, we like to take the most challenging songs of all time and prove that with hard work and the right vocal techniques, we can accomplish incredible levels of vocal expertise. We think that Gabbi did just that, once again, this time on 'Alone'.
Yes, Ann Wilson set the bar, and there is only ONE Ann Wilson but give this a listen and see what you think..."
On Saturday, April 20th, Heart embarked upon their Royal Flush World Tour at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. On May 13th they performed at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland; fan-filmed video of the entire show courtesy of Jim Powers can be viewed below.
The setlist was as follows:
"Bebe Le Strange"
"Never"
"Love Alive"
"Little Queen"
"This Is Now" (Ann Wilson & Tripsitter song)
"Straight On"
"Let's Dance" (David Bowie cover)
"These Dreams"
"Dog & Butterfly"
"Dreamboat Annie"
"Going To California" (Led Zeppelin cover)
"4 Edward" (Nancy Wilson song)
- drum solo -
"Mistral Wind"
"Alone"
"What About Love"
"Magic Man"
"The Ocean" (Led Zeppelin cover)
"Barracuda"
Blacklist Union has unveiled their new single and video "Horns & Halos", from their forthcoming album Slay The Dragon, slated for release at the end of 2024. The album will be available on all digital platforms, in addition to CD and Vinyl formats.
"The single is about the battle of good and evil," says the band's frontman Tony West.
On the live front, Blacklist Union has announced new tour dates in support of their single. The trek kicks off on May 23rd in San Diego, CA at Brick By Brick, and wraps up on July 27th in Los Angeles, CA at The Whisky.
Gypsy Wytch, featuring Slik Toxik drummer Neal Busby, have just released a video for their new single, "Would You Really Wanna Lose My Love", which can be seen below.
Behold the origins of Gypsy Wytch: Twirl, an electro alternative rock duo from Toronto, Ontario, was formed by Huguette Arsenault & Neal Busby in the early 2000s. Being a highly prolific songwriting team, eventually they found that writing in different styles of rock happened naturally and decided that some of the material was outside the box of the established Twirl style. This resulted first in Toxyk Chyld and now with the latest project Gypsy Wytch.
With a shared love for all rock from the '70s and '80s, Neal decided that Huguette needed an outlet for her singing roots, firmly based in endless hours of listening to Heart and Pat Benatar when she was growing up, and got to work on what would become "Would You Really Wanna Lose My Love". Of course with creating authentic '80s rock one needs a true six-string shredder of epic skills, and who else fits the bill but Toxyk Chyld's Todd Lefever.
Collaborating between Todd, Neal & Huguette, the song was finished to perfection and ready to be shot as a music video. Rounding out the Gypsy Wytch lineup is Toxyk Chyld alumni singer and frontman extraordinaire Robb Rocket. Robb, being a skilled multi-instrumentalist, slid into playing bass like a pro. Caitie "The Secret Weapon" Hase completes the five-piece on synths and keys.
Invocation is the title of the new 11-track album from slide guitar virtuoso Troy Redfern. The album, released by RED7 Records on May 17, 2024 is available in limited edition coloured vinyl, black vinyl, plus two different CD cover artwork designs. Pre-order the album from TroyRedfern.com.
The fifth single taken from the new album is “Van Helsing”. Watch the official music video below.
“This is one of my favourite tracks from the new album Invocation,” says Troy. “It’s dark and heavy from the outset, musically reflecting themes of these times of uncertainty. The dystopian verse narrative is juxtaposed by an uplifting chorus that comments on the fact that we're all looking for our own ray of light in this life to get us through. No matter how bad things can seem, there’s always something worth fighting or living for.”
Troy is prolific. He’s released albums at an unprecedented pace, but judging by the strength of “Van Helsing” and the four previous singles “Getaway”, “The Fever”, “The Strange”, and “The Calling”, Invocation, promises to be his most compelling album to date.
Over the course of his last two albums - The Fire Cosmic (2021) and The Wings Of Salvation (2022) - Troy found his true voice stylistically in terms of writing and playing, but with Invocation he created a collection of outstanding new songs that carves out his own identity as to who he is an artist.
Troy headed to the west Wales coast with his trusty 1929 National Triolian resonator guitar for a week of solitude in a remote Sheppard’s hut to sketch the initial song ideas for the new album. “It was important for me to clear my mind of all distractions so I could really focus on what I wanted to write on this album and the direction I wanted to take it in,” says Troy. “I tried some unorthodox approaches to song writing that included meditation where I would imagine hearing a song in my mind, as complete as possible including visualising the performance live. Next, I would pick up the guitar and capture the idea on my phone. I wasn’t led by what I would usually do when I pick up the guitar. It was a very freeing, powerful experience, and a discipline that I’ll use again to write more songs in the future.”
With Invocation, Troy explores fresh musical territory, from the heavy, bone crushing slide riffs and big sing along choruses on “Van Helsing” and “Getaway” to the evocative, wind-swept western landscapes of “The Native” and “Blind Me”. After three albums in three years, Troy continues to expand his musical horizons and keep his creative fire burning.
Tracklisting:
"The Strange"
"Getaway"
"Van Helsing"
"The Calling"
"Native"
"The Fever"
"All Night Long"
"Blind Me"
"Voodoo Priestess"
"Take Me High"
"The Last Stand"
Three-time Grammy Award-nominated rockers NOTHING MORE have teamed up with David Draiman (DISTURBED) on the track "Angel Song", from their upcoming album, "Carnal", due June 28 via Better Noise Music.
"The power of the track is undeniable," exclaims Draiman. "I've been a fan of the band since the very beginning."
"'Angel Song' is the haunting sound of our past selves melting into a future that is as bright as it is dark," explains NOTHING MORE frontman Jonny Hawkins. "Our animal nature is getting more and more chewed up by society and our souls swallowed by technology, but there's something in us that wants to fight back. As the song was coming together in the studio, it became immediately clear to us that David Draiman's voice would take it to another level. We're so happy with the result."
"Carnal" features 15 songs with the San Antonio, Texas-born quartet's most focused, adventurous, and intense music to date, including recent radio single "If It Doesn't Hurt". Recorded with Grammy-nominated producer Drew "WZRD BLD" Fulk (DISTURBED, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE, A DAY TO REMEMBER) with mixing and mastering by Zakk Cervini (LIMP BIZKIT, MGK, BRING ME THE HORIZON),"Carnal" unites NOTHING MORE's trademark introspective philosophical lyrics and unapologetically massive anthems with in-your-face rockers designed for an all-encompassing audience.
"'Carnal' feels like a perfect encapsulation of what NOTHING MORE has always been," says guitarist Mark Vollelunga. "From progressive introspection to steady-state rock 'n roll, we felt like we've achieved the exact balance wanted for this next installment."
"It's a beautiful blend of memorable guitar riffs, illustrious chord progressions and heart wrenching lyrical performances all to the beat of a drum that palpitates with syncopated obsession," states bassist Daniel Oliver. "There's truly something for everyone on this record."
NOTHING MORE was recently presented with plaques for the band's newly RIAA gold-certified 2017 hit single "Go To War" from "The Stories We Tell Ourselves" album. The bandmembers were given the plaques at their recent co-headlining show at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania from Better Noise Music's CFO Harris Masood. "Go To War" received two Grammy Award nominations ("Best Rock Song" and "Best Rock Performance"),a nomination for Loudwire Music Awards' "Top Hard Rock Song" and was NOTHING MORE's first No. 1 single on Billboard's Mainstream Rock charts. It has since received over 113 million streams and has logged 30 million video views.
NOTHING MORE will wrap up their current co-headlining tour with WAGE WAR featuring special guests VEIL OF MAYA and SLEEP THEORY tomorrow May 18 in Bloomington, Illinois. NOTHING MORE was announced as direct support for GODSMACK in June and earlier this week announced additional support dates with GODSMACK throughout October. Tickets are on sale as of today at 12 p.m. (local time) along with VIP upgrades. NOTHING MORE will also appear at rock's top festivals this fall, including Louder Than Life, Aftershock and MMR*B*Q.
Since their emergence in 2003, NOTHING MORE have continuously topped the active rock radio charts, including nine No. 1 singles and over a half dozen Top 10 singles, among them "Tired Of Winning" from their 2022 album "Spirits".
NOTHING MORE have won over audiences across the globe with their commanding performances, of which Loudwire proclaimed: "it's their famously vivacious live shows that truly enthrall, especially when they pull out some of bassist Daniel Oliver's self-made gadgets. For instance, there's the 'Scorpion Tale', an extremely heavy beast made of metal scraps whose Ableton software permits singer Jonny Hawkins to alter multiple timbres (such as guitar, bass and vocals) while riding it. Then, you have the 'Drumtron/Bassinator,' a rotating bass stand connected to drums that allows for three-man bass solos."
"Carnal" track listing:
01. Carnal
02. House On Sand (feat. Eric V of I PREVAIL)
03. If It Doesn't Hurt
04. Angel Song (feat. David Draiman of DISTURBED)
05. Freefall
06. Blame It On The Drugs
07. Head
08. Existential Dread
09. Heart
10. Down The River
11. Give It Time
12. Sight
13. Stuck (feat. Sinizter)
14. Run For Your Life
15. Sound
GOJIRA drummer Mario Duplantier has released a video for his latest drum solo "Meteor". The clip, which was directed by Anne Deguehegny, can be seen below.
In an interview with the "Behind The Vinyl" podcast, GOJIRA frontman Joseph Duplantier was asked if he ever has arguments with Mario, who is also his brother. He responded: "Sometimes, but we're pretty patient. We have anger. I wouldn't say we have anger issues, but sometimes I wonder. We respect and love each other very much. We're aware that we're dealing with a project that is very life-defining for us, and there's a lot of people around us. So we're pretty patient. Sometimes I can feel and I can tell — and he would say the same — that sometimes we just can't stand each other. For a little bit — for, like, an hour or two hours. And then we'll be, like, 'You know what? I'm outta here.' We will not start screaming, for example, if something is not happening. Maybe once a year or twice a year we'll raise our voice on each other and it's pretty nasty, but it's very short. So, yeah, we're not punching each other in the face or anything like that."
Joseph also talked about the musical chemistry and connection between him and Mario, saying: "Sometimes he starts just playing something and I'll follow him directly. And then something grows. Or we'll stop and say, 'Hey, I have this vision of something. It goes a bit like this.' And then we start… We build together. It's pretty incredible. I actually never really experienced that with anybody — making art together without being, like, 'Oh my God. What is he doing? That's not what I wanna do.' There's always a connection in something. And I'm very comfortable on the creative process, 'cause I know we're looking for the same thing — sort of. He has his world, I have my own world, of course — we're not the same… But sometimes we get together, and the common area is what defines what the band is, pretty much. So when we're in that zone, where we connect, and there's this thing where we're both… And we know — we just look at each other; we raise an eyebrow or something, and, boom. We don't need to talk. We just play, play, play."
GOJIRA's latest album, "Fortitude", entered Billboard's Top Albums chart at No. 1 in May 2021, while also claiming the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Top Current Albums, Current Rock Albums and Current Hard Music Albums tallies. The release also marked a career high debut on the Billboard 200 for GOJIRA, arriving at No. 12, with several career high chart positions and Top 10 debuts in countries around the globe including: France (No. 2),United Kingdom (No. 6),Australia (No. 3),Germany (No. 8),Belgium (No. 2),Netherlands (No. 4),Denmark (No. 3),Portugal (No. 4),Finland (No. 2) and Norway (No. 10).
"Fortitude" is highlighted by the singles "Another World", "Born For One Thing", "Into The Storm", "Amazonia" and "The Chant", a slow-burning track featuring some of GOJIRA's most melodic material to date.
Furthermore, GOJIRA concluded a month-long fundraising initiative in support of the indigenous-owned NGO The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) who advocate for environmental and cultural rights of indigenous tribes in the Amazon. Working with the social good-focused digital platform Propeller, the charitable campaign raised over $300,000 through an auction and raffle of one-of-a-kind items from the band and their friends in METALLICA, TOOL, SLIPKNOT, SLAYER, Slash and more. All proceeds were donated to APIB to support their work aiding the indigenous tribes of the Amazon who have suffered immensely — victims of deforestation, land loss, forced labor, violence, and harassment.
Recorded and produced by Joseph Duplantier at Silver Cord Studio — GOJIRA's Ridgewood, Queens, New York headquarters — and mixed by Andy Wallace (NIRVANA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE),"Fortitude" is GOJIRA's first album in five years and the follow-up to 2016's Grammy-nominated LP "Magma". A collection of songs urging humanity to imagine a new world and then make it happen, "Fortitude" has been earning widespread critical praise with Rolling Stone naming it one of their best albums of April 2021 and remarking "It's all the rage of death metal mixed with the conscience of punk rock and the musicality of progressive rock." NPR hailed "Another World" as "an apocalyptic banger," and Paste called "Into The Storm" a "much-needed revolutionary anthem." Stereogum declared, "hearing this band operating at their peak is a life-affirming thing," while Revolver attested "Fortitude" "could spark a revolution."
en years SERIOUS BLACK, ten years of melodic power metal, with the license to create anthems! Since their founding in 2014 the band enthuses their fans not only with five studio albums to date (while their last offering, "Vengeance Is Mine", charted at a phenomenal #16 in Germany), but also at frenetically acclaimed concerts and festival appearances around the globe. To celebrate their decadal birthday in glorious style, SERIOUS BLACK have announced the release of a brand new album, entitled "Rise Of Akhenaton", to arrive on September 27, 2024 via AFM Records! The album pre-sale has just started at https://seriousblack.bfan.link/rise-of-akhenaton
At the same time, the band will be on tour throughout Europe, with Sonata Arctica and Firewind. To shorten your wait, SERIOUS BLACK will unleash three singles, including video clips, starting today with the uptempo track "Metalized". With its powerful guitar riffing, the dynamic base of drum and bass and the hymn like catchy tunes this song unites all the band’s excellences!
Band mastermind Mario Lochert comments: "10 years of Serious Black! 10 years was the intro of Akhenaton the first track which blasted like a rolling thunder through the loudspeakers at over 200 concerts worldwide . Now it's time to bring Akhenaton and his army to life "Rise of Akhenaton" the album. So what would be better to start the journey into the album with a song, that reflects the lifestyle, heart and love to the music of every heavy metal fan - aren't we all a little "Metalized"?"
Not only "Metalized", but any of the eleven tracks on their new album showcase, that SERIOUS BLACK stylistically went back to their roots, but at the same time, due to the modern production by Lochert und Bob Katsionis, "Rise Of Akhenaton" sounds more diversified than ever. The interim focus on progressive directives has now changed to more catchy arrangements. Anno 2024, straight, classic power metal - the style the band once got to be known for - reigns again.
„The return to what characterized us once, was already indicated on "Vengeance Is Mine" “, Lochert explains the natural evolution of the band and adds: „Since his joining three years ago our singer Nikola Mijic has turned out to be a real jewel for us. Because of his expressive voice and his intuitive feeling for great melodies the songs got more clarity and a more direct pace.“
Tracklist:
01. Open Your Eyes
02. We Are the Storm
03. Silent Angel
04. Take Your Life
05. Shields of Glory
06. When I´m Gone
07. United
08. Rise of Akhenaton
09. Virtual Reality
10. I Will Remember
11. Metalized
IRON MAIDEN frontman Bruce Dickinson kicked off his 2024 U.K. solo tour Thursday night (May 16) in Wolverhampton.
The gig at The Halls was the first of a six-date U.K. run, which is also making stops in Glasgow, Manchester, Swansea, Nottingham and London.
As was the case on his recently completed Latin American tour, Dickinson's 17-song set opened with "Accident Of Birth" and closed with "The Tower". There was also the inclusion of a couple of tracks from Bruce's new solo album "The Mandrake Project", among them the latest single "Rain On The Graves", as well as two surprises in the form of the "Skunkworks" track "Faith", which was performed live for the first time since 1996, and MOTT THE HOOPLE's David Bowie-penned song "All The Young Dudes", which was covered by Bruce for the first time since 1990.
The setlist was as follows:
01. Accident Of Birth
02. Abduction
03. Faith (tour debut, first performance since 1996)
04. Afterglow Of Ragnarok
05. Chemical Wedding
06. Many Doors To Hell
07. Gates Of Urizen
08. Resurrection Men
09. Rain On The Graves
10. Frankenstein (THE EDGAR WINTER GROUP cover)
11. The Alchemist
12. Tears Of The Dragon
13. Darkside Of Aquarius
Encore:
14. Navigate The Seas Of The Sun
15. All The Young Dudes (David Bowie cover) (tour debut, first performance since 1990)
16. Book Of Thel
17. The Tower
After playing two warm-up shows at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California, Dickinson officially kicked off his first solo tour in more than 20 years on April 15 at The Observatory in Santa Ana, California.
Joining the IRON MAIDEN singer on the trek is his current backing band, featuring Dave Moreno (drums),Mistheria (keyboards) and Tanya O'Callaghan (bass),alongside the group's latest additions, Swedish guitarist, songwriter and multi-platinum-credited producer Philip Näslund and Swiss session and touring guitarist Chris Declercq (who played on Dickinson's "Rain On The Graves" single). Bruce's longtime guitarist and collaborator Roy "Z" Ramirez is not part of the touring lineup.
Prior to the April 12 Whisky A Go Go show, Bruce last performed with his solo band on in August 2002 at the legendary Wacken Open Air festival in Germany.
During an appearance on the April 16 episode of SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Bruce was asked if there are plans for him to stage a full U.S. tour in support of his recently released solo album "The Mandrake Project". He responded: "I brought the [booking] agents and the promoters, and everybody came down and saw the Whisky show [in West Hollywood, California over the weekend], and now they know what they've got to deal with in terms of doing a U.S. tour. So, we're looking at it, we're planning it.
"I absolutely wanna do a full U.S. tour with 'The Mandrake Project'," he added. "I obviously can't do one for the rest of this year [due to commitments in other parts of the world and MAIDEN's upcoming touring activities], but there's '25 and there's numerous opportunities that will crop up. So the answer to that is yes, of course, we wanna come and do the U.S."
Roy played guitar on Dickinson's 1994 album "Balls To Picasso" and went on to produce, co-write and perform multiple instruments on Bruce's subsequent three solo albums, "Accident At Birth" (1997),"The Chemical Wedding" (1998) and "Tyranny Of Souls" (2005).
O'Callaghan is an Irish musician who joined WHITESNAKE in 2021 and toured with the David Coverdale-fronted outfit the following year. She also hit the road with Dickinson last year as part of a performance of Jon Lord's "Concerto For Group And Orchestra" on nearly a dozen dates in Europe and South America.
Californian drummer Moreno previously played on "Tyranny Of Souls" and has worked with BODY COUNT, Jizzy Pearl, Dizzy Reed and Steve Stevens, among others.
Italian keyboard wizard Mistheria has collaborated with an array of artists live and in the studio, including Rob Rock, Mike Portnoy, Jeff Scott Soto and Joel Hoekstra.
"The Mandrake Project" arrived on March 1 via BMG.
Bruce and Roy recorded "The Mandrake Project" largely at Los Angeles's Doom Room, with Roy doubling up as both guitarist and bassist. The recording lineup for "The Mandrake Project" was rounded out by Mistheria and Moreno, both of whom also featured on Bruce's last solo studio album, "Tyranny Of Souls", in 2005.
Dickinson made his recording debut with IRON MAIDEN on the "Number Of The Beast" album in 1982. He quit the band in 1993 in order to pursue his solo career and was replaced by Blaze Bayley, who had previously been the lead singer of the metal band WOLFSBANE. After releasing two traditional metal albums with former MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith, Dickinson rejoined the band in 1999 along with Smith.
DISTURBED frontman David Draiman joined Nita Strauss, the guitar shredder for the ALICE COOPER band, on stage Thursday (May 16) at the Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival at the Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio to perform their collaborative song "Dead Inside". Video footage of his appearance can be seen below.
Draiman previously sang "Dead Inside" with Strauss in November 2021 at the Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California.
Released in October 2021, "Dead Inside" marked Nita's first new music since the release of her critically acclaimed debut solo album "Controlled Chaos" in 2018. It kicks off with Nita's inimitably intricate lead guitar work and, as the intro builds, begins to snake its way around the ground-shaking, headbanging lead riff as Josh Villalta's technical and bombastic drums kick in. Then comes the unmistakable vocal prowess of Draiman as he delivers his unique signature brand of enormously catchy vocal melody and a stadium-conquering chorus. The song ebbs and flows through sonic and emotional dynamics and culminates with a brutally heavy beatdown into a final rendition of the chorus, ensuring that the lead hook will be replaying over and over in the listener's head for days.
Speaking about the collaboration, Strauss previously said: "This is my first time releasing my own music with a vocalist, and I am so honored to take this step alongside a legend like David Draiman. David's voice and powerful lyrics took this song to a level I could never have imagined! And we are so excited to unleash this song on the world."
Draiman added: "Serendipity can be really cool. We've been friends for years. Nita sent me the track… I didn't have time to work on it right away… then, in literally a couple of days, while killing time in Santa Monica, the whole thing just came together. Incredibly proud of how it turned out and honored to be a part of it."
With "Dead Inside", Nita became the first female solo artist to have a No. 1 single at rock radio in 32 years.
In a recent interview with Rob Rush of Long Island's 94.3 The Shark radio station, Nita spoke about the challenges of writing and recording songs with vocals for her sophomore solo album, "The Call Of The Void", which came out last July via Sumerian Records. While Strauss's first LP, 2018's "Controlled Chaos", was all instrumental, her latest effort sees the Alice Cooper guitarist teaming with a different vocalist on at least half of the tracks — Cooper, Draiman, ARCH ENEMY's Alissa White-Gluz and HALESTORM's Lzzy Hale, among others.
Nita said: "Yeah, it was a really educational experience as a songwriter, going in and not writing songs that were only for myself, if that makes sense — thinking a lot about the structure of the song and the format of the song and what key it would be in for the singer not to be too high or too low or too fast or anything like that. [That part was] completely [ to me] — I mean, not entirely new. I've been in bands before, but as far as writing as a solo artist, it was a completely new experience, because as an instrumental solo guitar player, you can just write whatever you want — you can write a one-minute song, you write a 10-minute song. It's not gonna go to radio — there's no format for it. So it's just stream of consciousness. It doesn't have to have a beginning, a middle, an end, a chorus — it's just whatever you feel. And so working in this new medium, for me, was almost like learning how to write a haiku when you're used to just doing like a beat poem. So I'm out there in the corner of the coffee shop with my beret on, just feeling my poetry out, and all of a sudden it's, like, 'Okay, now you've got to have the syllables and lines and the rhymes and the stuff.' So I found it really educational learning how to do it, and I think I grew a lot as an artist and a creator over the course of making that record. So I'm just so excited that it was as well received as it was."
The Los Angeles-born guitarist has become a force to be reckoned with, dazzling over a million audience members per year around the world. Fans may recognize Nita as the touring guitarist for rock legend Alice Cooper and superstar Demi Lovato, the official guitarist of the Los Angeles Rams, as well as her successful career as a solo artist. She has played multiple sports events, including NASCAR races and WWE pay-per-views, most notably her critically acclaimed performance at "WrestleMania 34" in 2018.
"The Call Of The Void" debuted as the No. 1 Top New Artist album on the Billboard chart, No. 1 on the iTunes Rock chart, and No. 4 on the overall iTunes chart, behind only Taylor Swift.
Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths".
In March 2023, it was announced that Nita would return to Alice's band for his 2023 tour and beyond.
Nita spent eight years playing with Alice before joining Demi Lovato's band in the summer of 2022.
Strauss had been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.
On Saturday, April 20th, Heart embarked upon their Royal Flush World Tour at Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina. On May 13th they performed at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, Maryland; fan-filmed video of the entire show courtesy of Jim Powers can be viewed below.
The setlist was as follows:
"Bebe Le Strange"
"Never"
"Love Alive"
"Little Queen"
"This Is Now" (Ann Wilson & Tripsitter song)
"Straight On"
"Let's Dance" (David Bowie cover)
"These Dreams"
"Dog & Butterfly"
"Dreamboat Annie"
"Going To California" (Led Zeppelin cover)
"4 Edward" (Nancy Wilson song)
- drum solo -
"Mistral Wind"
"Alone"
"What About Love"
"Magic Man"
"The Ocean" (Led Zeppelin cover)
"Barracuda"
Heart recently added new dates to their Royal Flush Tour. Select shows will include special guests Cheap Trick, Bachman-Turner Overdrive feat. Randy Bachman, and Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening. Tickets available at Heart-Music.com.
Dates:
September
26 - San Francisco, CA - Chase Center
28 - Los Angeles, CA - Crypto.com Arena
29 - Phoenix, AZ - Footprint Center
October
2 - Lubbock, TX - United Supermarkets Arena
4 - Kansas City, MO - T-Mobile Center
5 - St. Louis, MO - Enterprise Center
8 - Houston, TX - Toyota Center
10 - Austin, TX - Moody Center
12 - North Little Rock, AR - Simmons Bank Arena
14 - Nashville, TN - Bridgestone Arena
16 - Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
17 - North Charleston, SC - North Charleston Coliseum
19 - Charlottesville, VA - John Paul Jones Arena
21 - New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
November
13 - Birmingham, AL - Legacy Arena at BJCC
14 - Memphis, TN - FedExForum
16 - Wichita, KS - Intrust Bank Arena
19 - Des Moines, IA - Wells Fargo Arena
21 - Moline, IL - Vibrant Arena at The MARK
22 - Green Bay, WI - Resch Center
24 - Winnipeg, MB - Canada Life Centre
27 - Saskatoon, SK - Sasktel Centre
29 - Edmonton, AB - Rogers Place
30 - Calgary, AB - Scotiabank Saddledome
December
3 - Vancouver, BC - Pacific Coliseum
5 - Spokane, WA - Spokane Arena
7 - Boise, ID - Extra Mile Arena
9 - Sacramento, CA - Golden1 Center
12 - Bakersfield, CA - Mechanics Bank Arena
13 - San Diego, CA - Pechanga Arena
15 - Las Vegas, NV - Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Heart previously announced the Royal Flush Tour 2024 dates listed below, with special guests Cheap Trick and Squeeze (support varies by market).
May
15 - Schottenstein Center - Columbus, OH
17 - Allstate Arena - Rosemont, IL
18 - KFC Yum! Center - Louisville, KY
21 - Little Caesars Arena - Detroit, MI
23 - PPG Paints Arena - Pittsburgh, PA
24 - Hard Rock Live - Atlantic City, NJ
June
20 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Antwerp, BE
22 - UberEats Music Hall - Berlin, DE
24 - Grona Lund - Stockholm, SE
25 - Ice Hall - Helsinki, FI
27 - Tons of Rock Festival - Oslo, NO
July
1 - The O2 - London, UK
3 - Utilllta Arena Birmingham - Birmingham, UK
5 - Capital FM Arena - Nottingham, UK
6 - AO Arena - Manchester, UK
8 - First Direct Arena - Leeds, UK
9 - OVO Hydro - Glasgow, UK
11 - Rockhal - Club - Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU
12 - Bospop Festival - Weert, NL
30 - Progressive Field - Cleveland, OH (with Def Leppard & Journey)
August
1 - Canadian Tire Centre - Ottawa, ON
2 - Rogers Centre - Toronto, ON (with Def Leppard & Journey)
5 - Fenway Park - Boston, MA (with Def Leppard & Journey)
7 - Videotron Centre - Quebec, ON
8 - Bell Centre - Montreal, QC
10 - MVP Arena - Albany, NY
11 - KeyBank Center - Buffalo, NY
13 - Heritage Bank Center - Cincinnati, OH
15 - Fiserv Forum - Milwaukee, WI
16 - Grand Casino Hinckley Amphitheater - Hinckley, MN
18 - Pinnacle Bank Arena - Lincoln, NE
21 - The Van Andel Arena - Grand Rapids, MI
23 - Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center - Charleston, WV
24 - Thompson - Boling Arena at Food City Center - Knoxville, TN
27 - Scope Arena - Norfolk, VA
28 - The Allentown Fairgrounds - Grandstand - Allentown, PA
Heart's current touring lineup consists of:
Ann Wilson - lead vocals, flute
Nancy Wilson - guitar, vocals
Ryan Wariner - guitar
Ryan Waters - guitar
Paul Moak - guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
Tony Lucido - bass, backing vocals
Sean Lane - drums
Cyhra guitarist Euge Valovirta has released the new solo single, "Fast Living, Slow Suicide", featuring Reckless Love vocalist Olli Herman. Watch the official video below.
"Fast Living, Slow Suicide" is taken from Valovirta's forthcoming solo album, Hardtones, which will be released on May 31st. Pre-order CD, vinyl LP and bundle formats here.
Tracklist:
"Testify" (feat. Samy Elbanna)
"The Game" (feat. Joonas Kosonen & Ben Varon)
"Gone Without A Trace" (feat. Nico Hartonen)
"Pasadena ’78" (feat. Jules Näveri)
"Rock & Roll Unites" (feat. Jake E)
"Fast Living, Slow Suicide" (feat. Olli Herman)
"Going Down The Hole" (feat. Nico Hartonen)
"Not My Time" (feat. Joonas Kosonen & Ben Varon)
"Wake Up" (feat. Pekka Heino)
"Flesh From The Bone" (feat. Samy Elbanna)
"Road Song II" (feat. Nico Hartonen)
October Noir collaborated with American gothic rock singer Myke Hideous (frontman of the gothic rock band The Empire Hideous, and previous member of the Misfits), alongside mixing engineer Kfir Gov, and mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum to create their new single “The Ages”, a brooding, dark, and gothic song that transcends traditional rock and metal to create an entirely new sound. Tom and Myke had been planning on creating music together since their side project Momento Morti several years back, and finally found their iconic sound together with this single.
Watch the music video below, and pre-order the compact disc release of the single here.
The music video footage for "The Ages" was taken at the Dark Force Festival in New Jersey earlier this year. It is a collection of footage from the crowd's cell phones. It's the first time Myke Hideous has taken the stage since 2019.
With the help of mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Yes, Meatloaf, Sepultura, Sabaton), whom October Noir had met through working on their third album Fate, Wine, And Wisteria, the song was taken to a whole new level. Maor eventually introduced the team to mixing engineer Kfir Gov, owner of Evil Snail Studios and lead singer of Seek Irony, who helped the team tune into their rock and metal influences to achieve the sound they desired.
The group teamed up to create a sultry gothic, slow-burning romantic anthem, filled with feelings of yearning and what could have been. Lyrics like “Within this box remains a key, to unlock my distant memories. For just one moment I held your hand, and the ages passed between us,” showcase the talented writing from Myke Hideous, while slow, brooding guitar exemplifies the classic goth/doom-rock influence of October Noir. The music video showcases a live performance from October Noir, and slow-motion head-banging and guitar strumming entrances the crowd, and the listener.
“Tom and I talked on the phone and discussed our joint musical influences, and as someone who grew up on the likes of Type O Negative and Paradise Lost, I immediately connected with his vision and fell in love with 'The Ages' and October Noir's musical style. It was my pleasure working in close touch with Tom and Maor while paying close attention and responding to the band's and Myke's feedback, as we collectively brought their artistic and sonic vision to life in this song.” - Kfir Gov, mixing engineer for “The Ages” and owner of Evil Snail Studios.
"As the creator of the lyrical content for the song 'The Ages', I find it to be a passionate love story like no other. I've written many of broken heart songs before with my bands, The Empire Hideous & SpySociety99, but this song was kind of different. It will have different meanings for other people than it does for me. But that's just the way I've always written song lyrics. I allow the listener to define the song’s lyrics into their own personal meaning" - Myke Hideous, writer of “The Ages”.
“I was approached by the band to work with them on mastering this song. I heard it and dug into it so much that I wanted to help them out by recommending a mix engineer who can really take it to the next level. So I recommended Kfir from Evil Snail Studios to mix the track. Kfir did a great job that I was very happy with, and I just sprinkled sugar on it by doing the Mastering.” - Maor Appelbaum, mixing engineer for “The Ages”
“The inspiration, for me, was everything happening sonically and lyrically. There is just something about it and I didn’t want it to go to waste. My interpretation of it was from the main wording 'and the ages pass between us.' It just hits home and is very heavy. Like sitting in the clouds of lament and watching life escape you. You try to grip for control, but you find that nature, ultimately, controls all things; human or otherwise. Fate has a funny way of removing the things that you find are the most important.” - Tom Noir, founder, bassist, and lead vocalist of October Noir
For further details, visit October Noir on Facebook.
West Virginia progressive sludge metallers Horseburner release an explosive second track taken from their forthcoming new album Voice Of Storms, due out June 21st on Blues Funeral Recordings. Check out "Hidden Bridges" below.
Horseburner's new album, Voice Of Storms, is an allegorical commentary on the mistreatment of women across history. It’s the story of a girl being sold into child marriage who is imbued with the spirit of ancient Greek hunt goddess Diana, unleashed and wreaking havoc on a society that regards females as objects or currency. Drummer Adam Nohe reflects on their new single "Hidden Bridges": “It turned into a song that everyone in the band loves, I think it’s a universal favorite. Story-wise, we’re looking at our protagonist being led through an interdimensional crossroads where she can see all universes and timelines happening simultaneously. Here she learns of how she came to exist and it sets her on her mission through the rest of the story.”
Voice Of Storms is a sludge-prog triumph, ready to immerse listeners in a fluid amalgam of blistering tempos, fearless hooks, outstanding vocal harmonies and burly crush. This is Horseburner blazing into sonic territory that few bands ever reach, with a mind-boggling skill for displaying epic songcraft, technicity and lyrical brilliance in equal measure — a must-have for fans of Baroness, Howling Giant and Mastodon.
Voice Of Storms will be released on June 21st in vinyl, CD and digital formats, with pre-orders available now through Blues Funeral Recordings. The band recently announced a series of US shows in support of the release, including four dates with Nashville psych-metal giants Howling Giant:
May
17 - Cleveland, OH - 5 O’ Clock Lounge
June
20 - Columbus, OH - Spacebar *
21 - Parkersburg, WV - Tracey’s Pub *
22 - Johnson City, TN - Capone’s *
23 - Raleigh, NC - The Pour House *
28 - Buffalo, NY - Area 54/Amy’s Place
29 - Youngstown, OH - Westside Bowl
* release weekend with Howling Giant
Tracklisting:
"Summer’s Bride"
"The Gift"
"Heaven’s Eye"
"The Fawn"
"Hidden Bridges"
"Palisades"
"Diana"
"Silver Arrows"
"Widow (The Hunt & The Prize)"
For further details, visit Horseburner on Facebook.
Nova Sons, the Kentucky based dynamic blues rock duo hailed for their electrifying performances and soul-stirring compositions, has released the latest single and music video off of their upcoming, debut EP, Take A Chance. The title track is embodied with the essence of raw energy and heartfelt lyricism.
"Take A Chance" marks a significant milestone in Nova Sons' musical journey, encapsulating their signature blend of blues-infused rock with a modern twist. With pulsating rhythms, searing guitar riffs, and soulful vocals, the song takes listeners on an inspiring sonic journey.
"We hope this track encourages you to never give up on your dreams," says Nova Sons.
In conjunction with the single release, Nova Sons has unveiled a music video that complements the song's intensity and emotion. Shot against a backdrop of urban landscapes and dimly lit alleyways, the video captures the essence of the band's raw and unbridled performance style, offering viewers a front-row seat to their electrifying stage presence.
"Take A Chance" was written by guitarist and frontman Vincent Langdon, with Jon Lawhon (former founding member of Black Stone Cherry) producing; the track was recorded at Monocle Studios in Edmonton, KY, with mixing and mastering courtesy of Edison Video (Mind2Mass Studios).
Two bluegrass boys hailing from the backwoods of Kentucky and a heap of rock 'n' roll — that’s what Kentucky-bred duo, Nova Sons, is all about. Armed with passion, a gritty take on modern rock, and enough swagger to rival the legends, they're not just here to shake up the music scene; they're here to remodel it. Comprising Vincent Langdon on guitar and vocals, and Austin Bruce on drums, Nova Sons is a powerful fusion of raw talent, relentless ambition, and a distinct musical prowess that stands out even in a saturated genre.
Rockshots Records presents Auro Control, a new prog / power metal band from Brazil. With its fast, precise, melodic, virtuous, and energetic sound, Auro Control delivers an amazing auditory experience that leaves a lasting impression.
Scheduled for release on May 31st, The Harp is an ambitious album, uniting the greatness of power metal with the depth of prog metal and the richness of percussion from Bahia-Brazil, resulting in a unique and surprising sound. The album produced by Thiago Bianchi, will feature the participation of Bianchi himself (Noturnall, Shaman), Aquiles Priester (W.A.S.P., Angra), Felipe Andreoli (Angra), and Jeff Scott Soto (Art Of Anarchy, Soto, Sons Of Apollo). The new single and video, “Not Alone” featuring Jeff Scott Soto, is available below.
The Harp artwork and tracklisting:
"Aurum Regium"
"Feel The Fire"
"Not Alone" (feat. Jeff Scott Soto)
"Rise Of The Phoenix" (feat. Aquiles Priester)
"The Harp" (feat. Aiace & Felipe Andreoli)
"Afterglow"
"Head Up High"
"Conception"
"Runner"
"Breaking Silence" (feat. Thiago Bianchi)
Guitarist Lars Eric Mattsson has released his new single and music video, "Burn". Watch the clip below.
Says Lars: "2 minutes and 59 seconds of classic hard rock with just guitar, bass, drums and vocals."
As a tribute to Russian Opposition leader and hero Alexej Navalnyi, Mattsson felt he had to write a song which can also be seen as a tribute to fallen heroes everywhere who have died defending our freedom.
Sonically, "Freedom" is built around a string arrangement with cellos in the forefront but also enhanced by brass and woodwinds so it is a bit of a different soundscape compared to most of Lars' other music. But as you know, he has never been afraid of broadening his horizons.
Fan-filmed video of SLIPKNOT's entire May 12 headlining performance at the Welcome To Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida can be seen below.
Featured songs:
00:00 - People = Shit
05:32 - Eyeless
10:03 - Disasterpiece
17:15 - Before I Forget
22:03 - Custer
27:54 - Psychosocial
33:15 - The Devil In I
39:15 - The Heretic Anthem
45:19 - Unsainted
49:45 - Wait And Bleed
53:53 - Vermilion
Encore:
1:01:31 - Duality
1:06:04 - Spit It Out
1:09:40 - Surfacing
Welcome To Rockville marked SLIPKNOT's third show with the band's new drummer, former SEPULTURA sticksman Eloy Casagrande.
Prior to Welcome To Rockville, SLIPKNOT played on April 25 at Pappy + Harriet's in Pioneertown, California and on April 27 at theSick New World in Las Vegas, Nevada.
For all three gigs, SLIPKNOT adopted a classic look, bringing back the 1999 red jumpsuits and elements of their early masks into their modern versions, tying into the fact that SLIPKNOT is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
After parting ways with Jay Weinberg last November, SLIPKNOT teased fans with a hint about a new drummer two months ago, posting a photo of a single broken drumstick online with the caption "Rehearsal."
The band explained in a statement that the split with Weinberg was a creative decision. Jay followed up with a statement of his own, saying that he was "heartbroken and blindsided" by his dismissal.
Weinberg has since joined SUICIDAL TENDENCIES and INFECTIOUS GROOVES.
Casagrande abruptly quit SEPULTURA three months ago, shortly before he was supposed to begin rehearsals for the band's recently launched 40th-anniversary farewell tour.
"February 6th, a few days prior to the first rehearsal, drummer Eloy Casagrande informed the band that he was leaving SEPULTURA to pursue a career in another project," the band said in a statement.
Casagrande joined SEPULTURA nearly 13 years ago as the replacement for Jean Dolabella.
SLIPKNOT's latest album "The End, So Far", arrived in August 2022. It marked the band's the last full-length LP before the departure of both keyboardist Craig Jones, who left the group in June 2023, and Weinberg.
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