U.S. rockers HIGH ON FIRE have released the official music video for the title track of their upcoming album, "Cometh The Storm". The clip was directed by Phil Mucci of Diabolik Films and can be seen below.
"Cometh The Storm" will be released on April 19 via MNRK Heavy. The Grammy Award-winning group, celebrating its 25th anniversary, recorded the LP at GodCity Studio in Salem, Massachusetts with producer Kurt Ballou. The 11-song effort — the band's ninth studio album — marks the release of the first new HIGH ON FIRE music since 2018's "Electric Messiah" and the first to feature drummer Coady Willis (BIG BUSINESS, MURDER CITY DEVILS),alongside bassist Jeff Matz and guitarist/vocalist Matt Pike.
"'Cometh the Storm' was built from a riff I started playing on bass at practice," Matz commented. "I was noodling around with this melancholic harmonic minor line, just hammering the notes with my left hand, when Matt yelled out, 'Are we recording this!?'
"The chorus riff was something Coady and I came up with when we were jamming in L.A.," he continued. "Matt then came in and worked up some rough lyrics and came up with the vocal line. For the chorus, I used this fretless bass I'd acquired. The weight of the low frequencies this thing produced was insane — how it blended with the guitars and drums, it was like being hit with a sledgehammer."
"Cometh The Storm" track listing:
01. Lambsbread
02. Burning Down
03. Trismegistus
04. Cometh The Storm
05. Karanlık Yol
06. Sol's Golden Curse
07. The Beating
08. Tough Guy
09. Lightning Beard
10. Hunting Shadows
11. Darker Fleece
"I think this band's always had a really good drive," stated Pike. "It's a different entity. It's its own thing. Which, I think, makes all of us very proud to be a part of it. It's not an average band."
"Being a fan of each other's bands for a long time, it feels like all bets are off and anything goes which is a liberating feeling," shared Willis. "That feeling of making something out of all of these imperfect parts and it becomes this magical, weird, new idea that none of us ever anticipated. Against all odds. That's the joy of it."
"It's interesting, whenever there's a lineup change in a band," offered Ballou. "It can take a little while to rebuild. But it's also an opportunity to reinvigorate the band and I think that's what's happened here."
Universally recognized as one of the most potent acts in music today, HIGH ON FIRE creates dynamic metal that merges primal fury and aggression, hesher bombast and hall of fame heaviness. Described as "a supersonic exercise in conquest by volume," HIGH ON FIRE has rewritten the hard rock rule book since its formation in 1998, forging a style and sound that is both critically celebrated and unique. The group features vocalist and cult guitar hero Matt Pike (also a founding member of the famed underground band SLEEP) singular bassist Jeff Matz and powerhouse drummer Coady Willis.
HIGH ON FIRE's most recent studio album, "Electric Messiah", was released on October 9, 2018, and won a Grammy for "Best Metal Performance", placing HIGH ON FIRE among the ranks of groups such as BLACK SABBATH, MOTÖRHEAD and METALLICA as winners of the prestigious award, presented by The Recording Academy to recognize achievements in the music industry.
The Brazilian symphonic death/black metal band Tellus Terror is celebrating the release of their second full-length studio album, the conceptual DEATHinitive Love AtmosFEAR, with the debut of a new music video for the dark and powerful song "Empty Nails".
The music video was shot while the band was performing at the João Bosco Cultural Arena in Vista Alegre, Rio de Janeiro, as a support act for American singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, a former member of Judas Priest, at an event produced by THC Productions, organized by Themys Barros and Bruna Rocha.
"Empty Nails" tells the story of an 89-year-old man dealing with the loss of his beloved wife in a song that delves into the depths of human pain. At her funeral, he discovers that she had been cheating on him over the years, adding to his torment. Upon his return home, he removes from the walls the pictures of false moments of happiness with his recently deceased and unfaithful wife, leaving only empty nails on the walls. As an elderly man, he realizes that he is too old to recreate his happiness, inheriting his wife's painful anticipation of loneliness and death.
Sharing his perspective on the song, the band's vocalist and lyricist Felipe Borges said: "‘Empty Nails’ is an emotional journey of hurting and losing. We wanted to convey the intensity of these feelings not only through the music but also through the visual storytelling of the music video."
DEATHinitive Love AtmosFEAR marks an evolution in the sonic and visual identity of Tellus Terror, combining elements of symphonic death/black metal with a dense, harmonious, and engaging conceptual lyrical approach that oscillates between the delicate (loving) and the malicious (diabolical), conceptually and chronologically in a troubled human life. Released by Xaninho Discos, the album is now available on all music streaming platforms and in physical CD format.
"This new album brings a dark, gloomy, malevolent, and vampiric aura to its essence, while addressing an unusual theme in extreme metal, both in a negative and positive way, which is love and how it affects our lives in different ways throughout our life cycle,” concludes Felipe.
Iconic heavy metallers Armored Saint have shared a live video of “Raising Fear” from their March 29 show in San Francisco, CA at Great American Music Hall. “Raising Fear” is the title track to their 1987 album and the video was filmed by Doug Stock.
Armored Saint is in the midst of a run as direct support to Queensrÿche. The trek commenced on March 27 in Anaheim, California, and includes twelve Armored Saint headlining shows scattered throughout.
Comments Joey Vera, “We're super stoked to be going back out on the road with our good friends Queensrÿche! We've done several tours in the past and we always have a great time being on the road with these great musicians and friends! We're looking forward to playing some cities we've never played before and also, we'll be playing some of these dates as headliners! We'll be pulling out some deep cuts and playing an extended set so we hope to see you come out to all of these shows! We've been busy writing new music so keep your ears peeled in the near future for some new SAINT! Until then, we'll see you up front!"
Tickets are on sale now with VIP upgrades available here. See all confirmed dates below.
Tour dates:
April
9 - Coronado Performing Arts Center - Rockford, IL
10 - Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL
11 - The King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH **
12 - The Vogue - Indianapolis, IN
13 - State Theater - Kalamazoo, MI
14 - Majestic - Detroit, MI
16 - Bogart’s - Cincinnati, OH
17 - House Of Blues - Cleveland, OH
19 - Phoenix Theater - Toronto, ON
20 - Theater Beanfield - Montreal, QC
21 - Elements - Kitchener, ON
23 - Tally Ho Theater - Leesburg, VA **
24 - The Roxian - Pittsburgh, PA
26 - Empire Live - Albany, NY
27 - Palladium - Worcester, MA
28 - Toad’s - New Haven, CT
30 - Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
May
1 - Keswick Theater - Glenside, PA
2 - Montage Music Hall - Rochester, NY **
3 - The Paramount - Huntington, NY
4 - Lovedrafts - Mechanicsburg, PA **
5 - The Fillmore - Charlotte, NC
7 - Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
9 - Jannus Live - St. Petersburg, FL
10 - The Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
11 - Culture Room - Ft Lauderdale, FL
12 - The Ranch - Ft Myers, FL
15 - Scout Bar - Houston, TX **
16 - Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys
17 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX ** w/ Dangerous Toys
18 - The Shrine - Tulsa, OK **
20 - Nile Theater - Phoenix, AZ **
21 - Count’s Vamp’d - Las Vegas, NV **
** Armored Saint headlining show
Armored Saint lineup:
John Bush - vocals
Jeff Duncan - guitars
Phil Sandoval - guitars
Joey Vera - bass
Gonzo Sandoval - drums
Xeneris, the Italian powerhouse of symphonic power metal, is set to ignite the global metal scene with their debut album, Eternal Rising. slated for release on June 14.
Prepare to be hypnotized by their first single and video, "Eternal Rising", a mesmerizing tale of resurrection and resilience, narrated through the myth of the phoenix's rebirth. This song embodies the determination to move forward in life challenges, echoing the phoenix's immortal cycle of death and rebirth. A video for the song can be found below.
Mastermind Federico Paolini states: "'Eternal Rising' tells a story of resurrection and resilience narrated through the myth of the phoenix's rebirth: every 500 years, the phoenix dies and rises from its ashes, thus ensuring immortality through this purifying ritual. For us, it's a concept very representative of our musical journey that is reborn and continues, representing also the will to continue our path with renewed passion."
Formed in December 2022, after the disbandment of Kalidia (one of the hottest italian power metal band with over 7 million streams and 5 million YouTube views), Xeneris is the brainchild of Federico Paolini (co-founder, composer, and guitarist) and Roberto Donati (co-founder, Bassist). Coupled with Maryan jaw-dropping vocals and the rhythmic genius of Stefano Livieri. Xeneris manage to honor the Heritage of Kalidia expanding the musical spectrum fusing power metal, symphonic metal, and progressive metal into an electrifying blend of irresistible melodies, powerful riffs, and grand arrangements.
Federico is thrilled to invite fans to “Get ready to be transported on a mesmerizing odyssey through the annals of myth and legend. From traversing the Mediterranean alongside Ulysses to beholding the Phoenix's resurrection. Follow Dante's descent into Hades and surrender to the seductive allure of an Arabian night, where the Sahara's gentle zephyrs embrace you in their warm embrace.”
Xeneris invites metal enthusiasts worldwide to join them on this epic voyage, as they redefine the boundaries of symphonic power metal. Prepare to be captivated by the grandeur of Eternal Rising and immerse yourself in a world of myths, real-life and fantasy legends, and introspection from human experiences.
Tracklisting:
"Barbarossa
"Before The River Of Fire"
"Eternal Rising"
"Pandora's Box"
"A New Beginning"
"To The Endless Sea"
"Shahrazad"
"Scilla And Cariddi"
"Burning Within"
"The Glorious Fight"
"Equinox"
“The big theme of this record is putting your life back together.” That’s Black Tusk guitarist/vocalist Andrew Fidler talking about the band’s new album, The Way Forward. “When everything seems like it’s against you, put your head down and push through. Take those bad things that are happening and use them to help create.”
The Way Forward might be the Savannah swamp metal crew’s seventh album, but it marks many firsts for Black Tusk. It’s their first with their new lineup, which sees guitarist Chris “Scary” Adams and bassist Derek Lynch joining Fidler and drummer James May. Which also makes it Black Tusk’s first record with a two-guitar lineup. “We were able to add leads and harmonies and all kinds of stuff on the new record that we haven’t done in the past,” Fidler says. “As far as our records go, this one has the most guitar work.”
You can hear it in the squealing solo of “Dance on Your Grave,” the killer harmonies on ripper “Harness (The Alchemist),” and the glorious dual guitar interplay of the powerful title track.
“‘The Way Forward’ is my favorite song on the record,” Fidler says. “It’s based on a personal experience that everyone can probably relate to. I got divorced in 2020, and I kinda felt like my entire world was collapsing when that happened. But I pulled myself out of it. I realized that this one thing ending in my life isn’t the end of everything. I’m gonna find a way forward. I’m gonna figure out how to live my life and create and be happy and make new relationships. Which is what I’ve done.”
In true Black Tusk fashion, the new lineup has expanded their triple-vocal approach to quadruple. “Everyone is doing vocals,” Fidler says. “That’s always been a thing in Black Tusk. Derek said he’d never done heavy vocals before, so I was like, ‘Well, here’s the mic. Here’s some words. Yell at it and see if you like it.’ I was blown away the first time he did it. It sounded good as fuck.”
That’s Lynch on lead single “Brushfire,” a song for which he wrote the main riffs and lyrical concept. “That was my first real contribution to the band,” the bassist says. “Thematically, I wanted the aggressiveness of the lyrics to keep with the idea of pushing forward even when the world is trying to drag you down. The mood of the lyrics needed to match the pulverizing tempo of the song.”
The lyrics for second single “Dance on Your Grave” were written by May, who moved from Savannah to Athens, GA, in the time since Black Tusk’s last album. “It’s about his struggles through Covid and what this lifestyle can do to people,” Fidler says. “It’s about getting past the party lifestyle and continuing to do things that are creative.”
Meanwhile, “Breath of Life” distills Black Tusk’s lyrical philosophy into a righteous five-minute pummeling. “Scary came up with the main riff of this song, and it’s one of my favorite riffs on the record,” Fidler says. “I wrote the lyrics, and it’s just about darkness crushing everything. The world is a fucked-up place that we have to navigate through. That’s what a lot of Black Tusk songs are about.”
Black Tusk recorded The Way Forward at Adams’ own Hidden Audio studio just outside of Savannah. Adams engineered the album and the whole band produced. “I actually helped him build the studio in the detached garage next to his house,” Fidler explains. “Me and my carpentry company went out there to do it, and Scary helped.”
“We had about 90% of the riffs and song structures going into the studio, while still experimenting with ideas and inspirations,” Adams explains. “Sometimes we completely reworked parts, which made all the difference. For example, early versions of ‘Breath of Life’ and ‘The Way Forward’ are quite different than the record, and I love where they ended up. Though we did use a few effects and synths here and there for texture and space, to me this record still feels raw and powerful. It captures the feeling of being at a Black Tusk show.”
The cover art for The Way Forward was done by Brian Mercer, who also created the sleeve for Black Tusk’s 2018 album, T.C.B.T. “T.C.B.T. had a dark cover because it was a dark time for the band,” Fidler says, referring to the period immediately after the passing of their longtime friend and bassist Jonathan Athon. “This time, it’s full blown, full-color Black Tusk. Brian Mercer and James collaborated on the concept, and Brian really knocked it out of the park.”
“The title is kind of a double play,” Fidler says. “It’s the first record with the new lineup, and this is the direction we’re taking the band in. We’ve been doing Black Tusk for 19 years now, and we still love it. That’s why we called it The Way Forward.”
Available formats:
- Digital Download
- CD Digipak
- 12" Vinyl Gatefold - Black
- 12" Colored Vinyl Gatefold - Transparent Green
- 12" Colored Vinyl Gatefold - Orange w/ Red Splatters
The album will be released on April 26 via Season Of Mist. Pre-order here; pre-save here.
Tracklisting:
"Out Of Grasp"
"Brushfire"
"Harness (The Alchemist)"
"Lessons Through Deception"
"Breath Of Life"
"Dance On Your Grave"
"Against The Undertow"
"Lift Yourself"
"Ocean Of Obsidian"
"Flee From Dawn"
"The Way Forward"
"Breath Of Life" video:
"Dance On Your Grave" video:
Lineup:
Andrew Fidler - Guitars, Vocals
James May - Drums, Vocals
Chris "Scary" Adams - Guitars, Vocals
Derek Lynch - Bass, Vocals, Synths
METALLICA honored Elton John and his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin by performing at a tribute concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on March 20.
Elton and Bernie collected the Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize for their contribution to music at the invitation-only event, which included appearances by John and Taupin, was hosted by Billy Porter.
METALLICA opened the show with a rendition of "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" from John's 1973 double album "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
On Monday, April 8, METALLICA shared a snippet of the performance on social media, writing in an accompanying message: "Sir Elton John helped cover 'Nothing Else Matters' on 'The Metallica Blacklist' in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favour! Tune in to PBS to catch our rendition of 'Funeral For A Friend' / 'Love Lies Bleeding' at this year's Gershwin Prize for Popular Music, celebrating the achievements of Elton John and his writing partner, Bernie Taupin."
According to People, members of METALLICA told reporters how much John and Taupin's collaborations have meant to them. "They're an inspiration to us," frontman James Hetfield said. Guitarist Kirk Hammett added, "They're responsible for some of the greatest songs of my childhood."
Also appearing at last night's concert were singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, country singer Garth Brooks, folk singer Brandi Carlile, and Scottish musician and EURYTHMICS star Annie Lennox.
Ahead of the event, METALLICA said in a statement: "We are beyond excited and proud to have been invited to perform at a very special event honoring the legendary songwriting team of Elton John and Bernie Taupin as they are presented with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
"We are traveling to Washington, DC, next month to join Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris, and others for the tribute concert and award presentation on March 20. PBS stations nationwide will premiere the concert on Monday, April 8, at 8 PM ET (check local listings),available via broadcast and streaming on PBS.org and the PBS app.
"Elton and Bernie have been collaborating for 56 years and counting, and together, they have penned some of our lifetime's most memorable and influential songs. We are thrilled to celebrate this honor with them, and we look forward to an incredible evening of unique performances from their remarkable collection of songs."
The 90-minute program "Elton John & Bernie Taupin: The Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize For Popular Song" honors the longtime singer-songwriter duo as the two iconic artists receive this year's distinguished recognition from the Library Of Congress.
Recording artist Elton John and lyricist Bernie Taupin joined creative forces in 1967 and went on to pen timeless standards such as "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", "Rocket Man", "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me" and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". In addition to ballads, the duo created sensational rock hits, including "Bennie And The Jets" and "Crocodile Rock", which became their first No. 1 single in the U.S. in 1973.
Today, John is among the top-selling solo artists of all time, with over 70 Top 40 hits over six decades, including nine No. 1s and 28 Top 10s on the Billboard Hot 100. He has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. John holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time with Taupin's rewritten lyrics for "Candle In The Wind 1997", which sold more than 33 million copies after the sudden death of Princess Diana. In 2018, he was named the most successful male solo artist in Billboard Hot 100 chart history. In America, John holds the record for the longest span between Billboard Top 40 hits at 50 years.
In 1992, John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which continues to lead the global fight against HIV/AIDS. The foundation has raised more than $565 million for HIV/AIDS grants that have funded more than 3,000 projects in more than 90 countries to care for patients and provide education for AIDS prevention. His music and charitable service have been honored with a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II; the Légion d'honneur, France's highest award; and the National Humanities Medal awarded by President Joe Biden at the White House in 2022.
Since launching his first tour in 1970, John has delivered more than 4,000 performances in more than 80 countries. His work has spanned recording studios, stadiums, stages, and screens — always with music that resonates with new generations of audiences. Disney's "The Lion King", carried by John's tunes, continues to be one of Broadway's longest-running shows.
In January 2024, John won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special for his show "Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium", making him just the 19th performer to achieve rare EGOT status, having also won five Grammy awards, two Oscars for his work on "The Lion King" and with Taupin on the movie "Rocketman", and a Tony Award for the score to the Broadway musical "Aida".
Sir Elton John helped cover “Nothing Else Matters” on The Metallica Blacklist in 2021, and tonight, you can see us return the favor!
Bleed From Within have had an extraordinary couple of years. In April, they'll be hitting the road for a month-long US and Canada tour with The Ghost Inside, Paleface, and Great American Ghost, and are also looking ahead to a string of summer festival appearances including their Hellfest debut, Download Festival and Graspop, plus a couple of German shows with Shadow Of Intent, The Acacia Strain and Fuming Mouth. Not to mention that they'll be capping off this year in the finest way by playing as special guests to Slipknot across the UK and Europe, for Slipknot's Here Comes The Pain tour celebrating the Iowan's 25th anniversary.
Today, Bleed From Within have released an immense, high-energy video for their track, "Killing Time", made up of some touring highlights from the past few months. "Killing Time" has become a set-list favorite throughout their recent runs, the track coming from their latest studio album Shrine.
Ali Richardson stated: "As we approach the end of the Shrine cycle, we've been looking back at everything that we've achieved with this release. It has been a truly amazing couple of years, taking us thousands of miles around the world. The perfect setup to the next chapter of our band. The lyrics for 'Killing Time' are personal, but I hope that the clear message about making the most of the time we have left will resonate with those reading them. The song always stood out to us and our fans, so it has been great to give it a place in our live set and celebrate it with this video. Shot and edited by our close friend and long-time videographer/photographer Tom Armstrong, we hope you enjoy this montage as much as we do. A true celebration of the band's journey over the last couple of years!"
JUDAS PRIEST was rejoined by guitarist Glenn Tipton on stage during the band's concert Saturday night (April 6) at Mediolanum Forum in Milan, Italy.
As he has done a number of other times over the course of the last six years, Tipton appeared with PRIEST for the encore, performing "Metal Gods" and "Living After Midnight".
Fan-filmed video of Tipton's appearance can be seen below.
JUDAS PRIEST's setlist for the Milan concert was as follows:
01. Panic Attack
02. You've Got Another Thing Comin'
03. Rapid Fire
04. Breaking The Law
05. Lightning Strike
06. Devil's Child (tour debut)
07. Saints In Hell
08. Crown Of Horns
09. Turbo Lover
10. Invincible Shield
11. Victim Of Changes
12. The Green Manalishi (With The Two Prong Crown) (FLEETWOOD MAC cover)
13. Painkiller
Encore:
14. The Hellion / Electric Eye
15. Hell Bent For Leather
16. Metal Gods (with Glenn Tipton)
17. Living After Midnight (with Glenn Tipton)
Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson's 10 years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of JUDAS PRIEST's "Firepower" album. He was replaced by "Firepower" and "Invincible Shield" album producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.
In a recent interview with Bryan Reesman of The Aquarian, JUDAS PRIEST's Richie Faulkner spoke about Tipton's contributions to the band's new album "Invincible Shield". Asked how many ideas Glenn worked on and how Richie collaborated with him on all the guitar parts, Faulkner said: "We all go away separately after a tour and put down riff ideas and song ideas and melody ideas. He was the same, really, so when we get in a room together — me, Glenn and Rob [Halford, vocals] — we get those ideas out. We put those ideas on the table, we play them back for each other. Glenn did the same. He had a few more ideas that were more developed — 'Sons Of Thunder', 'Escape From Reality', 'Vicious Circle', stuff like that — so we worked on those. It was no different in that regard. He was able to sit in a studio [to] take time and play the ideas that he was putting forward. And when he had an idea and we were together, if he couldn't play it that day, then he would translate it through me and we'd hash it out.
"If Glenn can play it, then he'll play it, and if he can't play it, then I'll take on the workload," Richie explained. "I mean, what's wrong with that? I'm a guitar player and I'm a fan. I love the guys. That's your duty — if something needs to be done, guitar or otherwise, you do it. You step up, you know? That applied to the recording, as well. There are some things on there that he played, and he could write. It was important to us to involve him, and it probably was just as important for him to be involved as much as he could after doing it and being a genre-defining guitar player for the last 50 years."
Asked where Glenn's soloing pops up on "Invincible Shield", Richie said: "Glenn's influence is more than just the solos. There are solos on 'Sons Of Thunder' and 'Vicious Circle', and it goes beyond that. As we said before, the little twists and turns musically… and the vibe. When you play songs and solos by both K.K. Downing and Glenn Tipton on an intimate level for 13 years, I don't think you can help but have that become part of your DNA, as well, so I think you can hear stuff from Glenn in my playing as well as what I've learned from him in the last 13 years. On something like 'Panic Attack', there are some sweep picking stuff that was never part of my repertoire. Playing songs like 'Painkiller' on an intimate level becomes part of your repertoire, so it shows up on the record. So apart from the songwriting ideas he had, the songs he had, some of the solos he had, it's in my playing as well. He's infiltrated my DNA in that sense — along with Ken [K.K.], of course, and along with Zakk [Wylde] and Michael Schenker and people like that. I think [Glenn's] influence can't be overstated either."
In his first interview since revealing his condition in early 2018, Glenn, who turned 76 last October, told Guitar World magazine about his diagnosis: "It was upsetting, but I wasn't really shocked because I sort of thought it was Parkinson's. I probably hoped it wasn't but the doctor said it was."
Regarding being told by the doctor that he had likely already had the disease for between 10 and 15 years, Glenn said: "Hearing that I already had Parkinson's for a long time made me even more determined to fight. I could still play, so I just continued recording and touring."
About a month before the opening date of PRIEST's "Firepower" tour, Tipton realized he could not guarantee that he would be able to execute an energetic, precision performance with the band night after night and "decided that it was really going to be too much for me," he told Guitar World. "With the medication and the time zone changes and everything else, I realized it was time to retire — from touring at least. I don't ever want to compromise JUDAS PRIEST. It's too big a part of my life.”
"Invincible Shield" arrived on March 8 via Sony Music.
SATURDAY 6th APRIL 2024
MEDIOLANUM FORUM - Milan, Italy
Photos: Michele Aldeghi
Stage Clothes: Ray Brown Fashion
Previously unreleased footage of Led Zeppelin performing in Montreal, Quebec on February 6, 1975 is streaming on YouTube. According to Led Zeppelin News, the video below is the longest 8mm footage of a Led Zeppelin performance to surface. The newly emerged footage was shot by Jim Kelly, known as Speedy, a photographer who filmed many bands.
Speedy: "Experience a legendary night in rock history with Led Zeppelin's iconic performance at the Montreal Forum on February 6th, 1975. This exclusive footage captures the energy and brilliance of one of the greatest rock bands of all time, as they mesmerize the audience with their electrifying stage presence and timeless music. With a runtime of 51 minutes, this extended footage offers an immersive journey through Zeppelin's iconic tracks and captivating live performance."
Setlist:
"Rock and Roll"
"Sick Again"
"Over the Hills and Far Away"
"In My Time of Dying" (Blind Willie Johnson cover)
"The Song Remains the Same"
"The Rain Song"
"Kashmir"
"No Quarter"
"Trampled Under Foot"
"Moby Dick"
"Dazed and Confused" (Jake Holmes cover)
"Stairway to Heaven"
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, have released their latest Sunday Lunch video, a raucous cover of the Led Zeppelin classic "Whole Lotta Love", with whips and all!
Former Angra drummer Ricardo Confessori has launched his own band, Confessori, featuring Semblant vocalist Mizuho Lin. They have released a new single, "The Shredder", and the official video can be viewed below.
"The Shredder" is now available via digital platforms found here.
Ricardo Confessori was a member of Angra from 1993–2000, the again from 2009–2014. He left Angra with singer Andre Matos and bassist Luis Mariutti in 2000 to form the band Shaman together with guitarist Hugo Mariutti. In 2009, Confessori returned to Angra, replacing drummer Aquiles Priester.
Confessori line-up:
Mizuho Lin - vocals
Ricardo Confessori - drums
Thiago Larenttes - lead guitar, bass
Affonso Junior - guitar
Professionally filmed video of MR. BIG performing the song "Just Take My Heart" in July 2023 at Budokan in Tokyo, Japan can be seen below.
MR. BIG's ongoing last worldwide tour is aptly titled "The BIG Finish". Since the band's original drummer and co-founder Pat Torpey lost his battle with Parkinson's disease in 2018, the band now feels it's time to mark the end of this chapter of their legacy. The first leg kicked off in Japan and Southeast Asia in July and August 2023, where the band performed for hundreds of thousands of loyal fans at 11 sold-out shows including Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. Joining MR. BIG on drums for this special final world tour is longtime friend of the band Nick D'Virgilio (SPOCK'S BEARD, BIG BIG TRAIN),stepping in for Torpey.
MR. BIG's final tour sees the band performing the entirety of its breakthrough platinum-selling 1991 album "Lean Into It" from start to finish as a featured highlight of the live setlist.
MR. BIG recently entered the studio to record a new studio album to coincide with the last shows of the band's farewell tour.
Last November, MR. BIG singer Eric Martin was asked by Troy Patrick Farrell of the weekly live "This That And The Other" radio show why he and his bandmates feel that now is the time to officially pull the plug on MR. BIG. He said: "Well, I really didn't wanna end it. I think we're gonna be done with it. I would just keep the door open forever. I didn't wanna ever end something. I hate the end of anything, but Pat Torpey is not there anymore. And that's kind of taking the wind out of the sails. He was the anchor of the band. And Nick D'Virgilio is a great replacement. He's phenomenal drummer. He sings just like Pat. Nick's great. But everybody has so many other projects. I don't. I really like the MR. BIG project… I have a couple of irons in the fire. But, yeah, it's over. To me, it's kind of a bummer. But it's time. It's been 35 fucking years, man."
Martin went on to say that it "feels great" to have a drummer in MR. BIG who can not only reproduce Torpey's parts on the band's classic songs but who also has the voice to harmonize with him during MR. BIG's live shows.
"No offense to Matt [Starr]," Eric said, referencing the drummer who played with MR. BIG for four years prior to Torpey's passing. "I thought Matt Starr was great. He was fine. The thing about Matt is that he came when Pat just couldn't do it anymore. He had this little cocktail kit on the side and he would play drums with us once in a while. Matt did it. It was just too soon for me. I wasn't ready to give up Pat Torpey. And when Matt did it, Matt has his own style. He's more like a John Bonham. He's not a Pat Torpey, and I was looking for somebody to play exactly like Pat, because I could. I wanted it, and I was really bummed that Pat couldn't do it anymore. And Matt did it, and he did a fine job for us. We sounded like a different MR. BIG. Pat Torpey has this finessey kind of things, and he's like Steve Gadd meets Vinnie Colaiuta meets maybe like a John Bonham. But Matt has got that form, heavy rock [approach], but there's a lot of finesse in the MR. BIG style — you know, 'Colorado Bulldog' and all that. And Matt did a great job; he really did. But then, after Matt, we didn't do anything. COVID thing, Pat passed away first, actually. And then nothing happened. And then when we were gonna get another drummer, we wanted to do a different style — not a different style, but we wanted to find somebody new that could play exactly like Pat. And that's what we found in Nick. He's got the same chops and the incredible voice. Matt can sing too. I mean, he was great. But I'm just letting the folks know out there, there's no bad blood between Matt Starr and MR. BIG or me or anything like that. He's killer."
Regarding the possibility of MR. BIG making a new album as the follow-up to 2017's "Defying Gravity", Eric said: "We're doing it now. We're working on it now. [MR. BIG guitarist] Paul Gilbert and I — I've been going back and forth to Portland, Oregon, where Paul lives, and we've been writing and recording everything. And so far, I wanna say, [we have] 10, 13 songs so far. And Billy's [Sheehan, MR. BIG bassist] got one that he just brought in. And Nick — we said, 'Hey, Nick, if you've got any tunes, man, throw it our way.' And he's got four songs that are pretty good."
In an April 2023 interview with Border City Rock Talk, D'Virgilio spoke about how he landed the gig as MR. BIG's new touring drummer, five years after the passing of the band's co-founder, Pat Torpey. The 55-year-old Nick, who has spent the last nine years working for the Indiana-based online retailer of music instruments and audio gear Sweetwater, said: "It stemmed through Sweetwater. I've known Paul [Gilbert]; Paul was the one guy I knew most. I met Pat, and I met Billy — Gosh — at a music trade show back in the day. And I was definitely a fan of the band. I listened to a lot of Pat's drumming way before I ever met him in person. But at Sweetwater, we do a lot of recording workshops and we get artists in to come and people pay to come to the studio and hang in the studio with the artists that come in. Paul does it quite a bit; he's been there a bunch. Billy was there a while back as well, but Paul's been there a number of times. And I've been able to play as his rhythm section for these recording workshops. And I also had Paul play on a song on my solo record called 'Invisible' that I put out in 2020. Through all of this stuff, we got to just jamming some more stuff. And I know Paul through Mike Portnoy and Neal Morse and a lot of circles of musicians. After the last thing we did at Sweetwater, Paul just sent me an e-mail and asked if I would be interested in going on tour with MR. BIG in Asia. Now, this was [in] July [2022], when he first sent me the e-mail, so nine, 10 months ago or so. And I immediately said 'yes'. I think I said 'fuck yes', all in bold letters… So then I went sort of hog wild here in my studio and I videotaped and multi-tracked my drums. I kind of just went hog wild, sending back these demos of me playing and then singing all the parts. So I sang the lead vocal, and then I sang Pat's parts too. Since [it was an] audition, I figured I'd put my best foot forward. Long story short, they said, 'Yeah, we'd love to do it. And you're in,' basically. So that's kind of how it all happened. It came out of the blue."
As a session musician and touring artist, Nick has worked with many different kinds of artists and bands, from TEARS FOR FEARS, Sheryl Crow and Kevin Gilbert to Peter Gabriel and Eric Burdon and the ANIMALS. In 1996, Nick took Phil Collins's place in GENESIS and played on their "Calling All Stations" album. He has also carved out a major presence in the progressive rock world with his bands, SPOCK'S BEARD and BIG BIG TRAIN.
Before joining the Sweetwater team, Nick spent almost five years touring with Cirque Du Soleil's "Totem" as drummer, vocalist, and assistant bandleader.
When D'Virgilio's addition to MR. BIG was first announced in March 2023, Sheehan said in a statement: "We found a wonderful drummer in Nick, and he's got a great voice too. Nick has a vocal range similar to Pat's, and he'll be able to do the parts Pat did with a similar finesse. It's a big relief because MR. BIG has always been heavy on the harmonies. When the band began, we really relied on each other. We knew each guy would do exactly what he needed to do vocally and to do it righteously, on key, and in time. It's difficult to find a drummer who sings in that range, but Nick has the voice we really need onstage."
Gilbert concurred, saying: "Nick gets close to the spirit of Pat Torpey. Billy, Eric [Martin, vocals] and I have been really happy with the music we've already shared back and forth. I'm impressed with Nick's level of musical adaptability and breadth of skill. He and I have done some recording together, and I was blown away with his groove, and how he just played what fit the song. If the song requires him to be more progressive and stand out, he will stand out. But if the song requires him to groove, he will groove. That's actually a rare thing, and it really fits in with what we do in MR. BIG."
Martin added: "I love the fact that Nick was a fan of Pat Torpey and wants to keep our BIG sound intact. When I first saw his audition demo video of the 'Lean Into It' song 'Lucky This Time', Nick was playing drums with those signature Pat snare hits and singing harmonies spot on to what Pat used to do. It gave me goosebumps!! I am so thrilled to have this man who will be filling some mighty BIG shoes join us on our last tour."
Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time taking on the 1991 KISS classic, "God Gave Rock And Roll To You".
Johansson: "After seven glorious years together I decided to step down as the guitarist of Sabaton. Main reason beeing that I need to follow my heart and put my main focus on my own career, both as a solo artist and with my band Majestica that I was a part of from the beginning in 2002.
The guys in Sabaton are my brothers, my friends, my family and the crew is the best people in the world that I’ve had the honor of working and living with. Nothing bad has come out of this and I have enjoyed every minute of being a part of Sabaton.
I’m gonna miss waking up in the morning on the tour bus to a coffee prepared by Hannes before we work out together, gonna miss all the Walmart strolls and the late movie nights with Chris, I’m gonna miss having a beer with Pär and playing video games with him, and I’m gonna miss playing piano and singing harmonies with Joakim. But this is not the end - it’s the beginning of a new chapter and I couldn’t be happier to know that Thobbe is back in the band playing the 'Bismarck' solo every night!"
After a brief hiatus, Finnish heavy metal band Oceanhoarse has returned, more powerful than ever, unveiling a fresh music video and a renewed band lineup. With a surge of new energy, a redefined sound, and a fresh perspective, the heavy metal quartet is excited to reveal the musical concoction they've been brewing in secrecy over the past year. Today marks the debut of their new single "Killer & The Queen" and the official introduction of bassist Silver Ots.
“There was a lot of inner turmoil within the band around the release of our previous album 'Heads Will Roll', which escalated with the exit of bassist Jyri Helko,” guitarist Ben Varon explains. “I was also running pretty low motivation-wise, and needed a few months to take a breather and find the excitement for the music again. But it was soon clear to me, Joonas (Kosonen, vocals) and Oce (Oskari Niemi, drums) that we wanted to continue the band and still make music together. And I knew just the right guy to call for bass duties.”
Enter Silver Ots, Ben's old partner in crime from his previous band Amoral.
“Silver and me go way back, I believe we were 15 when we formed Amoral. I have always regarded him as one of the best riff composers in metal, so I knew the value that he would bring to the band with his songwriting in addition to his ridiculously tight bass playing. And the proof is in the pudding, all you need to do is to listen to 'Killer & The Queen', for which Silver composed the music for!” Ben continues.
“I met the guys at a crossroads,” says Silver Ots. “After the band going full speed for so long there was a wind of change in the air. We decided to take the time, reflect back and look ahead, find a mutual vibe and see what we can come up with together. What you hear now is one of the pieces of new music we've been cooking up this past year.”
“'Killer & the Queen' showcases the more groovy side of the 'Hoarse”, says vocalist Joonas Kosonen. “Lyrically, the song is about those enemies very close to you. So close you can’t even see them coming. We’re super proud of this one, and we feel reborn after going through hellfire. A bit of dissonance sure makes art come alive!” Joonas summarizes.
"Killer & The Queen" was mixed and mastered by Lauri Hämäläinen, who also co-produced and recorded the vocals. For the video, Oceanhoarse returned to Guilty Visuals and Pete Inkinen, who they had worked with previously on the video for “Pryopen”. The cover artwork for the single was drawn by Samuli “Skrymer” Ponsimaa.
Israeli gothic doom metal band Tomorrow's Rain returns today with the release of their 3rd single, "Muaka," which features a guest vocal performance from Mayhem vocalist Attila Csihar. The song is found on the band's highly anticipated sophomore album, Ovdan, that's out April 19 from AOP Records.
Commenting on the song, vocalist Yishai Sweartz says:
"‘Muaka’ means Distress, I think it's one of our darkest songs ever, almost black metal in some parts, being a part of the underground scene in the early 90's I was in touch with Mayhem (Oystein) via letters I kept all these years and fell in love with the sound of early Darkthrone/Mayhem and the Tormentor album Anno Domini, I think some parts in Muaka are inspired by them, I knew Attila pretty well from the time we spent in Tel Aviv so I asked him to do vocals with me, hear his voice in this songs sends a shiver down my spine, it's exactly the vibe I was looking for."
The band's sophomore album Ovdan, which is Hebrew for "Loss," marks the return of vocalist Yishai Sweartz who suffered a near fatal heart attack and open heart surgery in early 2023. After nearly losing everything, Swartz and crew have emerged with resilient spirit and creative force on their most dynamic and ambitious record yet.
The eagerly awaited record, Ovdan, features guest collaborators from Mayhem, Sol Invictus, Dark Funeral, Mercyful Fate and Sisters of Mercy to name a few.
Sweartz recently said of the record:
"The album was written and recorded during a dark period in our lives and the creative process was in fact our cure to get back to life after several traumatic events we faced, musically we pushed the boundaries and yet kept the vision started in our debut album Hollow (2020). We hope that Ovdan will light a candle at the edge of the tunnel for you as it did to us."
“Roads” (feat. Dark Funeral’s Andreas Vingback and Sol Invictus’ Tony Wakeford)
“Sunrise”
“Muaka” (feat. Mayhem’s Attila Csihar)
“Room 124”
“I Skuggornas Grav” (feat. Mickael Broberg of Unanimated and Anja Huwe of Xmal Deutschland)
“Burning Times” (feat. Depressive Age’s Jan Lubitzki)
“Turn Around” (feat. Mercyful Fate’s Michael Denner)
“Convalescence”
“Rainbow”
“Intensive C. U.”
“Turn Around” Gothic Rock Version (feat. Michael Denner of Mercyful Fate/King Diamond and Ben Christo of Sisters Of Mercy)
Amidst Wardruna's song-writing hibernation, the group resurfaces to offer a taste of their next album with the single release and music video for the song, "Hertan". The song is available on all digital streaming platforms now. Listen here, and watch a video below.
Einar Selvik comments on the new song: "'Hertan' is the proto-Scandinavian word for “heart” and that is exactly what we explore in this song and film. The duality of the heart with the rhythm, flow and pulse we can see, hear, and feel in nature and in all forms of life – and the more abstract idea of the heart, The rudder on the ship of emotions, our decisions, and our true desires.”
Once again, Wardruna teamed up with Finnish director and photographer Tuukka Koski for the video production of Hertan. Koski has previously directed Wardruna's videos for "Raido", "Voluspá", and "Grá". This time, the production mainly took place during some freezing nights in northern Finland at the island of Hailouto.
Einar about the video shooting process: “It is always a true pleasure to create art with Tuukka and his colleagues at Breakfast Helsinki! His experience and eye for detail as well as the ability to always conjure up next-level material, is very inspiring to be part of. Three days, three locations, no sleep but a lot of heart. This is how it went down. Hope you will enjoy the result!”
Hertan, the proto-Scandinvian word for heart, is steeped in Wardruna tradition. With this new song, Wardruna announce the beginning of a vibrant new cycle, pulsating with life. The song explores the rhythm of pulse, a flow visible in all forms of life and in nature, and the heart as the rider of decisions.
Making room for something new to come into being, the Norwegian group ends the Kvitravn touring cycle in a remarkable way. During the autumn equinox on September 21, 2023, Wardruna performed at the world heritage site Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis, Athens. The event sold out quickly, with fans from all over the world attending.
The concert at the Acropolis is the culmination of an intense period of touring, with successful shows in the United States, Norway, Iceland and the United Kingdom. In 2022, Wardruna headlined the festivals Wacken Open Air in Germany and Hellfest Open Air in France and saw the group perform at historic sites, such as Ancient Theater in Plovdiv and Castle Devin, Bratislava during the Nordic Night Tour. In 2023, the second leg of the Kvitravn touring cycle took place throughout the summer with Wardruna playing (festival) shows in Germany, France, The Netherlands and a concert at Borgholm Castle in Sweden.
At the heart of Wardruna lies the vision of sowing new seeds and strengthening old roots, a concept that main composer Einar Selvik, Lindy-Fay Hella and former member Gaahl bought to life in 2009. The first three albums formed the Runaljod trilogy and featured musical renditions based on the Nordic runes. Each of the three releases focused around eight of the twenty-four Proto-Norse runes, more commonly known as the Elder Futhark. The trilogy consists of Runaljod – gap var Ginnunga (2009), Runaljod – Yggdrasil (2013), Runaljod – Ragnarok (2016).
After years of acoustic concerts and lectures, performing Wardruna songs and creations made for the TV-show Vikings, Einar Selvik recorded Skald (2018). The album was recorded live with the intention of capturing the raw and uncompromising energy of the live performance. It set out to give a voice to the ancient craft that once lay at the foundation of the Norse oral traditions, presented as it takes shape in the hands of a humble contemporary skald today.
Wardruna’s fifth full-length Kvitravn (White-Raven) was released in January 2021. The album musically continues where the Runaljod trilogy left off, yet it marks a distinct evolution in the group's sound. Throughout eleven songs, Kvitravn discusses Northern sorcery, spirit-animals, shadows, nature and animism, the wisdom and meanings of certain myths, various Norse spiritual concepts, and the relation between sage and songs. The record charted in 13 countries, including #1 in Canada and Austria, and #2 in Germany. A year later, the band presented a virtual live experience in the form of First Flight of the White Raven, also landing in the official German Album Charts.
The period between First Flight of the White Raven and Hertan, is not without creative output. A new rendition of Voluspá (live with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra) came out in June 2023. Einar Selvik also performed on national Norwegian television with electronic dance music DJ Matoma and joined Faroese singer-songwriter Eivør and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra for a symphonic concert series. One of the duets, Voluspá (live with Eivør) shall be released physically on Record Store Day in April 2024, in the United States, Canada and Germany. Now a new cycle begins with Hertan and Wardruna soon announce new live dates in support of this new release.
As a live band Wardruna operates in various constellations of personnel but the standard configuration the last years has been as follows:
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