Carnifex released their ninth full-length studio album, Necromanteum, last fall via Nuclear Blast Records, followed by a U. run in support of the new music. Continuing the momentum, the band is kicking off the new year with a music video for the single "Torn In Two" followed by a European/UK run this March and a US tour in May.
Carnifex's Scott Ian Lewis states, “We had an amazing time on the Necromanteum US tour and we’re happy to catch some of the good times on that tour in this 'Torn In Two' music video.”
Watch the video, directed by Tyler Kosec and Nox Nohi, below, and order the new album here.
Necromanteum tracklisting:
"Torn In Two"
"Death's Forgotten Children"
"Necromanteum"
"Crowned In Everblack"
"The Pathless Forest"
"How The Knife Gets Twisted"
"Architect Of Misanthropy"
"Infinite Night Terror"
"Bleed More"
"Heaven And Hell All At Once"
"Torn In Two" video:
“Infinite Night Terror” track video:
"Death's Forgotten Children" visualizer:
"Necromanteum" video:
Carnifex and Cattle Decapitation will co-headline this year’s edition of the Chaos & Carnage Tour. The journey runs from April 30 through May 26 with additional support provided by the band’s Metal Blade labelmates, Rivers Of Nihil and The Zenith Passage, as well as Humanity’s Last Breath, Vitriol, and Face Yourself.
Tickets for the Chaos & Carnage Tour 2024 are on sale at chaosandcarnage.com.
Tour dates:
April
30 - Nile Theater - Mesa, AZ
May
2 - Come And Take It Live - Austin, TX
3 - Granada Theater - Dallas, TX
4 - Vibes Event Center - San Antonio, TX
6 - The Orpheum - Tampa, FL
8 - Brooklyn Bowl - Nashville, TN
10 - The Brooklyn Monarch - Brooklyn, NY
11 - Reverb - Reading, PA
12 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
14 - Sharkey’s Event Center - Liverpool, NY
15 - Preserving Underground - New Kensington, PA
16 - King Of Clubs - Columbus, OH
17 - The Crofoot - Pontiac, MI
18 - WC Social Club - West Chicago, IL
20 - The Gothic Theatre - Englewood, CO
23 - The UC Theatre - Berkeley, CA
24 - The Belasco - Los Angeles, CA
25 - House Of Blues - Anaheim, CA
26 - House Of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
Grammy-winning rock band GRETA VAN FLEET has shared "The Indigo Streak (Live From RCA Studio A)". The reimagined version of the song, off the group's Grammy-nominated third studio album, was performed and filmed at the famed RCA Studio A in Nashville, Tennessee. The video, directed by Steven Lester, is the first in a series of songs, including "Meeting The Master", "The Falling Sky", "Sacred The Thread" and "Farewell For Now" tracked by the band at the studio, which they will release on a weekly basis.
GRETA VAN FLEET is nominated this year for "Best Rock Album" for "Starcatcher" at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The band took home its first Grammy in 2019, winning "Best Rock Album" for their EP "From The Fires" and has been nominated for four Grammys overall.
Recently, GRETA VAN FLEET announced the extension of its "Starcatcher" world tour with the addition of 12 new dates throughout the U.S. this year. The 2024 leg kicks off on Saturday, April 27 in St. Louis, with stops in Kansas City, Austin, Pittsburgh and Milwaukee. The "Starcatcher" world tour supports the band's critically acclaimed album "Starcatcher", which was released on July 21, 2023 via Lava/Republic Records and debuted at No. 1 on the Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Rock Albums, and Top Rock/Alternative Albums charts.
GRETA VAN FLEET lead singer Josh Kiszka states: "'Starcatcher' is a dangerous and delightful expedition into a both violent and gentle dreamlike landscape. A purgatory of duality where brutality and beauty clash like a thunderstorm of stillness. Neither fact nor fiction inhabit the far reaches of this surrealist world. A storybook for the fighters and lovers alike, 'Starcatcher' captures a certain wonder on the fringe of mayhem."
"Starcatcher" was written and recorded by the band — Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist/keyboardist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner — alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Cobb (Chris Stapleton, Brandi Carlile). Recorded at the legendary RCA Studios in Nashville, the band utilized the large recording room to capture the pure energy of their world-renowned live performances.
Born out of a love of rock music and for the virtuosity of bluegrass musicians, CMH Records’ Pickin’ On series features the best in bluegrass, paying tribute to the biggest and brightest artists in rock and pop.
After revisiting some past recordings in the label’s back catalogue, it was clear the heartfelt and inventive take on “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” originally released on the 2007 album The Bluegrass Tribute To Guns N’ Roses, deserved a little extra attention. Performed by Alabama-based quartet Iron Horse, with this new video the music can be appreciated in a whole new way.
When Iron Horse approached this Guns N’ Roses classic, they did the unthinkable by completely forgoing the song’s iconic guitar intro. In doing so, they completely reinvented the song, taking its once epic melodrama and replacing it with a warm, nostalgic, and familial sweetness. With virtuosic instrumental performances and beautiful pitch-perfect harmonies, this cover shows Iron Horse at their best, approaching a rock classic with both creativity and admiration.
“Well, it's been a minute since 2007 and a lot of songs have been played, added and subtracted to our set list but one song has been with us through all this time, ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine,’” Iron Horse’s Tony Robertson shares. “No matter the venue or reason for music to be played, this song fits every single situation. When we start into this song the crowds, no matter small or large, will erupt into approval as soon as they recognize the banjo and diamonding intro, and they will sing along until it's over. I think every person who’s ever heard this song can relate to it on some level either from memory or something they are experiencing at that moment in time. Everything ends but I don’t think this song ever will…enjoy!”
Though Pickin’ On started modestly in 1993 with the release of Pickin’ On the Movies, tributes to The Beatles and Eagles soon followed, and by 1997 the Pickin’ On Series was on fire. It continues to thrive with one hand in traditional bluegrass and the other in popular music, ready for the next chance to create innovative bluegrass music.
Recent releases featuring Iron Horse, Pickin' On Pearl Jam and Pickin’ On Nirvana, were well-received. Pickin’ On Modest Mouse and Fade to Bluegrass: The Bluegrass Tribute to Metallica both charted on Billboard’s Top Bluegrass Albums chart. The series currently has nearly 200,000 monthly listeners and more than 91,000 followers on Spotify. Songs from Pickin’ On have been featured in the television series Revolution and HBO’s True Blood. Other artists that have been given the Pickin’ On treatment include Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, the Allman Brothers Band, Coldplay, The Black Keys, Jack White, The Killers and many more.
MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars has released "Undone", the third single from his upcoming solo album, "The Other Side Of Mars".
"The Other Side Of Mars" will be released on February 23, 2024. The effort will be made available via Mick's own label 1313, LLC, in partnership with MRI.
Birmingham, Alabama rocker Jacob Bunton collaborated extensively with Mars on "The Other Side Of Mars".
Bunton had previously worked with former GUNS N' ROSES drummer Steven Adler and CINDERELLA frontman Tom Keifer, and has songwriting credits with Mariah Carey, Steven Tyler and Smokey Robinson, among others.
Bunton sings lead on all but two of the 12 songs on "The Other Side Of Mars".
Other guests on the LP include WINGER/ALICE COOPER keyboardist Paul Taylor, KORN drummer Ray Luzier, and Brion Gamboa, who handled lead vocals on the songs "Undone" and "Killing Breed".
Bunton previously fronted the Alabama bands MARS ELECTRIC and LYNAM.
"The Other Side of Mars" track listing:
01. Loyal To The Lie
02. Broken On The Inside
03. Alone
04. Killing Breed
05. Memories
06. Right Side Of Wrong
07. Ready To Roll
08. Undone
09. Ain't Going Back
10. LA Noir
In a recent interview with Chris Akin Presents, Mars was asked if he intentionally tried to incorporate fresh elements into the sound of "The Other Side Of Mars" that he didn't pursue during his four-decade career with MÖTLEY CRÜE. He responded: "You're exactly right. You hit the nail on the head when you said it was way different from MÖTLEY, which is what I wanted to do. The part that was the scariest part about doing that stuff is because my guitar tone is associated with MÖTLEY's sound. I was kind of concerned about that, so I just played around a little more. I mean, it turned out well for me."
He continued: "I know that a lot of people were expecting probably more of a blues-oriented thing or kind of an extension of MÖTLEY or something like that. And I wanted to go a whole different route and leaning more towards the left instead of the beaten path, I guess. I wanted to go somewhere with it. I didn't know if it would work or not. I just did the stuff and got acquainted with different people, like [fellow musicians and collaborators] Paul Taylor and Jacob Bunton and Brion Gamboa and Ray Luzier, of course."
In October, Mars shared "Loyal To The Lie", the lead single from "The Other Side Of Mars", along with a music video featuring imagery from classic horror films and pictures of infamous serial killers. A second single, "Right Side Of Wrong", followed in December. Lyrically, "Right Side Of Wrong" explores the oxymoron of two individual minds viewing their position as the right one, while in reality it is simply personal perspective — a present theme in interpersonal relationships we all navigate and more broadly the catalyst of many conflicts on a global societal basis.
Discussing the title behind the upcoming album, the 72-year-old explained that it refers to the two different sides of his playing style: "the MÖTLEY side and the Mars side."
"I always have a very clear vision of what I want to do," he said, revealing that he plans to release more music beyond the debut album. "There's a lot of ideas that I have that. I don't want to call them 'left,' but they are, you know what I mean? My feeling has always been, I might gain some fans, I might lose some fans. But what they’re hearing, it's all me."
Regarding his motivation to pursue a solo project, Mick said: "I'm trying to keep growing. Because if you stop learning new things, if you stop playing new things, if you close your mind, you're done. You have to keep moving and creating. Next!"
When Mars announced his retirement from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE in October 2022 as a result of worsening health issues, he maintained that he would remain a member of the band, with John 5 taking his place on the road. However, he has since filed a lawsuit against MÖTLEY CRÜE in Los Angeles County's Superior Court, claiming that, after his announcement, the rest of CRÜE tried to remove him as a significant stakeholder in the group's corporation and business holdings via a shareholders' meeting.
Mars — whose real name is Robert Alan Deal — served as MÖTLEY CRÜE's lead guitarist since the band's inception in 1981.
Galvanizing modern classic rock trio The Black Moods unveiled an electrifying cover of The Doors’ 1970’s hit “Roadhouse Blues” featuring The Doors’ guitarist Robby Krieger and rock singer-songwriter Diamante last October.
The Black Moods have shared an extended version of the track along with an extended music video featuring behind-the-scenes clips of the recording session with Krieger and Diamante at Krieger’s Los Angeles studio, Love Street Sound. Watch “Roadhouse Blues (ft. Robby Krieger of The Doors & Diamante) – Extended Version” streaming below.
“Playing ‘Roadhouse Blues’ with the man that wrote it was life changing,” remarks The Black Moods vocalist/guitarist Josh Kennedy. “It’s something I never ever thought I’d have a chance of doing having grown up in a small town in the Ozarks.”
“Lately, I seem to meet more and more young musicians who are into The Doors,” says Krieger. “It was really fun recording ‘Roadhouse Blues’ with The Black Moods. They seem to connect with 60’s style music.”
“We have a big year ahead,” Kennedy adds. “We kicked it off with ‘Roadhouse Blues (Extended Version)’ and we have a lot of touring coming up too. We have been writing new material and have a new single coming out soon that we can’t wait for our fans to hear!”
The Black Moods have relentlessly brought their raw, amplified rock & roll to stages across North America alongside acts including The Doors’ Robby Krieger, Shinedown, Jane’s Addiction, Whitesnake, Collective Soul, The Dead Daisies and The Gin Blossoms as well as appearing at festivals such as Aftershock, Luna Del Lago and Roger Clyne’s Circus Mexicus.
The band finished 2023 with an opening show for Rick Springfield in their hometown of Phoenix, AZ and will perform their first show of 2024 on February 4 at Phoenix’s Celebrity Theatre with multi-platinum singer-songwriter and guitarist Orianthi. The trio will then perform a headlining show on March 9 in Chandler, AZ at SanTan Gardens which will include the relaunch of their limited-edition “Bad News” Bourbon in collaboration with SanTan Brewing. Head to theblackmoods.com for ticket information.
This Friday, January 26, German melodic death metal act Hiraes - featuring former members of Dawn of Disease and Critical Mess - will unleash their sophomore studio album, Dormant, via Napalm Records.
In support of their upcoming album, the band has announced a series of live dates kicking off on Friday, followed by a tour with psy-core metal act Dymytry in March (tour itinerary here). To shorten your wait, today, the band is presenting a video clip for the furious album title track, "Dormant"
The band comments about the track and video: "Today, before the release of our brand-new album Dormant this Friday, we unveil to you, the title track. After an atmospheric intro, you are hit with a gigantic wall of sound of thundering guitars, shattering blast beats, and rousing vocals. Our third single is also one of the most varied songs on the album, and will hopefully shorten the next few days of waiting for the release date. Lyrically, the track guides you into the depth of the self, as it draws a picture of the soul’s core, the hidden place inside where time and space stand still. The atmospheric music video underlines the message even more and marks another cornerstone of Hiraes’ artistic variability.”
Compared to their lauded 2021 debut, Solitary, it's immediately evident that Hiraes did not only grow within their sound due to countless live appearances, but have invested more time and energy into developing their sophisticated songwriting and production, leaning further into their own unique sound profile. Due to the use of varying keys and sonic elements, Dormant is undoubtedly fresh without sacrificing the nuances that caused their first album to connect so successfully with fans.
With their very first offering, Hiraes already created an exciting new melodic death emergence, built upon a brutalized vocal attack, intense melodies and aggressive guitars. On Dormant, Hiraes flexes their own trademarks in an intensified way, ranging from versatile drumming, catchy riffs and hymn-like melodies to enthralling soundscapes and an impressive vocal onslaught by singer Britta. From the epic intro of album opener "Through The Storm" - which bursts into a thunderous melodic death metal assault - to fast-paced ragers like "We Owe No One", Hiraes delivers a truly versatile album performance!
The band states: “The album will grab you with its intensity from the first second on and won't let you go. We invested a lot of energy, dedication and passion to create this monumental and melancholic piece of melodic death metal. Having played countless shows over the last two years, Dormant captures the energy of Hiraes’ live performances and places the songs right between heart and gut."
Dormant was mixed by Jens Bogren and Ricardo Borges, and was mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden. Hiraes' second studio album is a stirring, intense and dynamic death metal affair that is both heavily brutal and dark, yet full of melodic melancholy. This album is highly recommended for fans of Insomnium, Dark Tranquillity, Arch Enemy, Amon Amarth and At The Gates.
Dormant will be available in the following formats:
- 1 CD Digisleeve (6page)
- 1 LP Gatefold solid royal blue
- Digital Album
Powerhouse vocalist James Durbin has shared a new track, "Hallows", from his upcoming heavy metal opus "Screaming Steel", due out February 16 via Frontiers Music Srl under the DURBIN banner. The track is accompanied by a new music video.
On the new track "Hallows", James had this to say: "'Hallows' is an ode to my love of the Harry Potter series. It is kind of a 'montage' song, in that I could see it playing over scenes from all eight films. Like a poetic short form retelling of the story in my own words, 'Hallows' is my own contribution to the Wizarding World fandom and to everyone who's still waiting for their owl from Hogwarts. Slytherin rules!"
DURBIN will celebrate the release of "Screaming Steel" with a street-date performance at Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz on February 16.
Durbin's signature vocal prowess and commanding stage presence have earned him praise from rock and metal legends such as Steven Tyler, Sammy Hagar and Rob Halford. With four full-length albums to his name, Durbin continues to evolve as an artist, pushing the boundaries of heavy metal while staying true to its roots.
Now, with the upcoming release of "Screaming Steel", James Durbin is poised to deliver another sonic assault. If you're a fan of the classic sounds of JUDAS PRIEST, early DIO, '80s BLACK SABBATH and timeless U.S. heavy metal, brace yourself for an intense musical experience. "Screaming Steel" promises to resonate with heavy metal enthusiasts, drawing inspiration from the genre's rich heritage while maintaining a contemporary edge.
Following the success of his label debut "The Beast Awakens", which was released on February 12, 2021, Durbin has solidified his place as a force to be reckoned with in the heavy metal scene. "The Beast Awakens" showcased pure, unadulterated, headbanging heavy metal, drawing influences from classic '80s heavy metal while forging a path uniquely his own. The album received acclaim from fans of the genre and marked a triumphant return for DURBIN.
James Durbin's journey into the music industry gained widespread attention during his appearance on Season 10 of "American Idol", where he fearlessly championed heavy metal. On the finale, he shared the stage with legendary metal icons JUDAS PRIEST for unforgettable renditions of "Livin' After Midnight" and "Breaking The Law".
Throughout his career, Durbin has collaborated with an impressive array of musicians, including Stevie Wonder, Don Was, Zakk Wylde, Sheryl Crow, Tom Jones, Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE, Bob Babbitt of THE FUNK BROTHERS and STEEL PANTHER, among others.
Fans of heavy metal revivalists and classic heavy metal aficionados alike are in for a treat as Durbin continues to unleash his metal prowess upon the world.
"Screaming Steel" track list:
01. Made Of Metal
02. Screaming Steel
03. Where They Stand
04. Hallows
05. Power Of The Reaper
06. Blazing High
07. Beyond The Night
08. The Worshipper - 1897
09. Tear Them Down
10. Rebirth
Total Time: 41:15
Produced by: Aldo Lonobile
Recorded by: Aldo Lonobile, Eric J. Peterson & James Durbin
Mixed by: Aldo Lonobile
Mastered by: Aldo Lonobile
Band members:
Vocals - James Durbin (USA)
Guitars - Aldo Lonobile (Italy)
Guitars - Luca Birotto (Italy)
Bass - Mike Roberts (USA)
Drums - Marco Sacchetto (Italy)
Solos:
"Blazing High" and "Hallows" - Jadran "Conan" Gonzales (USA)
"Tear Them Down" - Taylor Washington (USA)
"Power Of The Reaper" - Jon Yadon Jr. (USA)
"Screaming Steel" and "Made Of Metal" - Dylan Rose (USA)
"Blazing High" and "Beyond The Night" – MOKSHA (USA)
"Where They Stand" - Aldo Lonobile (Italy)
Alternative chart-topping and 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards "Best New Artist (Alt & Rock)" nominee BAD OMENS and Grammy-nominated artist and multi-hyphenate Poppy have spun a gripping story straight out of your sci-fi horror nightmares on their collaborative new single "V.A.N". Following an exclusive audio premiere earlier today on SiriusXM's Octane, the ferocious single and cinematic music video officially released this afternoon via Sumerian Records.
Written and produced by BAD OMENS frontman Noah Sebastian, the song is the first glimpse of what the band will be offering on their upcoming album, the "Concrete Forever" project also known as "Concrete Jungle OST". The project is an experimental extension of BAD OMENS' hit LP "The Death Of Peace Of Mind" and the soundtrack to their "Concrete Jungle" comic book universe.
"V.A.N" is an industrial metal masterpiece about an artificial intelligence entity set out on a course to destroy humanity. The track immediately captivates the listener with BAD OMENS' hypnotic production and Poppy's angelic, whispering vocals as she takes on the role of the Concrete Jungle Universe AI character V.A.N. It then shock-transitions into a powerful onslaught of frantic drums, heavy guitars, and Poppy's vocals evolving from otherworldly tones to aggro screams.
When asked about his approach to creating the single, Noah explained: "That's a song that started just with the hook 'Violence against nature', and then after saving the project with the acronym and seeing it we realized it could be fun to think of 'VAN' as a name. Thus the rabbit hole of ideas began that led us to decide to write lyrics from the perspective of an artificial intelligence gone rogue."
Playing off the AI concept of the track and taking additional visual inspiration from the video game "Portal", the film "Ex Machina" and "Stranger Things", the story is brought to life by a visually stunning sci-fi thriller. In the mini film written by Sebastian, Poppy and Garrett Nicholson, Poppy portrays a synthetic human being held captive and subjected to experiments in a laboratory, eventually escaping and embarking on a murderous rampage. Watch the Garrett Nicholson- and Poppy-directed video below.
Fans will get to experience "V.A.N" live for the very first time on the European leg of BAD OMENS' "Concrete Forever" tour with Poppy. The tour kicks off in Berlin this Saturday, January 27 and international fans can tune in to livestreams of the sold-out shows from Cologne, Germany on January 28 and January 29, exclusively on Veeps. The number of fans from around the world who streamed the BAD OMENS' recent sold-out Hollywood Palladium show on Veeps was more than double the capacity of the venue.
BAD OMENS are coming off a wildly successful two years with the explosive success of their breakthrough third studio album "The Death Of Peace Of Mind" (2022). Hailed as "a stunning fusion of dark, Weeknd-esque pop and industrialized metalcore" (Revolver),the project has racked up over 940 million streams globally and surged BAD OMENS catalog to over 1.5 billion streams. The hardworking bands ascension was driven in part by the albums hit-single "Just Pretend" experiencing a viral TikTok moment that yielded a growing, dedicated fandom who catapulted them into the spotlight. Becoming the band's first RIAA gold-certified single, "Just Pretend" reached No. 1 at U.S. Alternative Radio and smashed multiple Billboard year-end charts, coming in at No. 1 on Hot Hard Rock Songs, No. 6 on Alternative Airplay Songs, No. 11 on Rock and Alternative Airplay Songs, No. 11 on Mainstream Rock Airplay Songs, No. 14 Hot Rock & Alternative Songs, and No. 23 on Hot Alternative Songs. The genre defyers continue their climb with the albums seductive title track, "The Death Of Peace Of Mind", currently sitting at No. 23 on Mediabase Alternative Radio Charts and No. 37 on Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs chart. The song also became RIAA gold certified in January 2024. Their radio success also earned BAD OMENS a nomination for "Best New Artist (Alt & Rock)" at the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards.
Gaining momentum online and over the airwaves, BAD OMENS persistently surged ahead, captivating their rapidly expanding fanbase with electrifying live shows at numerous sold-out tours and festival performances worldwide. The band is already set for an intense touring schedule in 2024, recently concluding U.K. dates with BRING ME THE HORIZON, embarking on their "Concrete Forever" European headline run, announcing rescheduled U.S. performances and unveiling a lineup of festivals throughout the 2024 season.
GUNS N' ROSES unveiled the music video for their brand-new single "The General". The cinematic clip notably stands out as the band's first-ever artificial intelligence-powered music video.
The video for "The General" intercuts 20 live vignettes with an A.I.-animated psychedelic visual trip. Between the concert footage, it dives into the subconscious of a young boy who stares down the monsters of dark childhood memories, blurring worlds in the process. The result is unlike anything the band has done before and continues a longstanding historic tradition of bold visuals from GUNS N' ROSES.
To bring this vision to life, GUNS N' ROSES collaborated with Dan Potter — creative director of London-based creative studio Creative Works. This was a collaboration between real designers and artificial designers, and the inspiration came from within the band.
"The General" is the B-side of GUNS N' ROSES' limited-edition seven-inch vinyl single titled "Perhaps", which was made available for pre-order in August 2023.
GUNS N' ROSES performed "The General" live for the first time on November 2, 2023 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. The track was introduced by singer Axl Rose as a song they hadn't played before and that "it could be very interesting."
Like "Perhaps", "The General" was written during the sessions for GUNS N' ROSES' "Chinese Democracy" album. It was previously talked about by ex-GN'R drummer Bryan "Brain" Mantia, who reportedly wrote some of the song's music and gave it its title, and former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach.
In a 2008 interview with Rolling Stone, Sebastian said that Axl told him that "The General", which was described as "a slow, grinding track," is the sequel to "Use Your Illusion II"'s "Estranged", that goes to the parable that Del James wrote of the trilogy. (James penned the short story that inspired the "November Rain" video).
Bach told Metal Edge magazine back in 2007: "One of my favorite songs is this song called 'The General', which is so... it's by far the heaviest metal tune I think I've ever heard Axl do, this slow, grinding riff with these high, piercing vocals, screaming vocals."
Like GUNS N' ROSES' 2021 singles "Hard Skool" and "Absurd", "Perhaps" was originally written and recorded during the sessions for "Chinese Democracy", and a rough demo version of the song had previously been leaked and uploaded to YouTube.
GUNS N' ROSES released a four-song EP, "Hard Skool", in February 2022. The effort, which was exclusive to the GUNS N' ROSES' official store, contained the two new songs the band released in 2021 — the title track and "Absurd" (stylized as "ABSUЯD") — as well as live versions of "Don't Cry" and "You're Crazy".
In September 2021, the guitarist and his bandmates dropped "Hard Skool", which came more than a month after their performance and subsequent official release of "Absurd", a reworking of GUNS N' ROSES previously unreleased "Silkworms".
According to Slash, several other older GUNS N' ROSES tracks have also been reworked during the pandemic. "There's a handful of those songs that we actually fixed up and did when we were in lockdown," he explained to "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". "So those have yet to be released. So those are gonna come out. They're really good, too. So I'm excited for those. We're just gonna put out like one or two songs, and another one or two songs. And I think that's gonna be pretty much all of 'em. I'm not sure exactly how many we did in total."
When host Eddie Trunk noted that "Hard Skool" in particular was a strong cut, Slash said: "These other ones, they don't have the same kind of amount of history, 'cause I know 'Hard Skool' seriously has… [it] goes way back. But there's a couple of epic ones coming out, so I'm excited about that."
If and when it happens, the new GUNS N' ROSES studio album will be the first under the GUNS banner since "Chinese Democracy" and the first to feature Slash, Rose and bassist Duff McKagan since 1993.
Slash previously spoke about "Hard Skool", one of the first two songs he recorded with GUNS N' ROSES in more than 25 years, in February 2023 in an interview with Rolling Stone. At the time he said: "'Hard Skool', in essence, was a completed song when I was first introduced to it. And Duff and I went in and redid the bass and the guitars. It's a simple song, so it didn't take a hell of a lot of thought and analysis. I think it was a lot of fun just because it was part and parcel of a bunch of stuff that we were working on that was all sort of new — at least to Duff and I — so we had a good time."
In October 2021, Slash told Audacy Check In host Remy Maxwell that GUNS N' ROSES had yet to begin writing new material after releasing the two reworked songs from the "Chinese Democracy"-era sessions.
"As far as new GUNS is concerned, we haven't even gotten to that point of really in earnest sitting down and writing," Slash said. "We've been doing a lot of material that's been sort of sitting around for a while. So that will be a whole focused endeavor unto itself."
As for how "Hard Skool" and "Absurd" came about, Slash said: "They both have a lot of history. What happened was Axl has all these songs that he recorded at some point along the way. And so Duff and I went in and re-did them, basically… Like, I wrote my own kind of parts to what else is going on, and [we] just sort of took the drums and re-did everything else."
Written by Rose and co-produced by Rose and Caram Costanzo, "Hard Skool", which had the working title "Jackie Chan", was originally recorded during GN'R's "Chinese Democracy" era but was eventually omitted from that album. Short clips of the song were later posted online and a full version was leaked in August 2019.
On "Hard Skool", Axl sings: "But you had to play it cool, had to do it your way/Had to be a fool, had to throw it all away/Too hard school and you thought you were here to stay/ If that were true, it wouldn't matter anyway."
"Absurd" came out on August 6, 2021, three days after GUNS N' ROSES performed the tune live for the first time during its concert at Boston's Fenway Park.
GUNS N' ROSES last performed "Silkworms", which was also reportedly written during the "Chinese Democracy" sessions, in 2001.
Toxic misogyny, violence against women and incels are the latest target MINISTRY frontman Al Jourgensen takes aim at in the song "B.D.E." (a.k.a. "Big Dick Energy") out today, including a spellbinding music video that draws the line on the poisonous behavior seen in both politics and everyday life in 2024.
The song's whiplash riffs, barreling drums, punchy keys, and pummeling bass all come to a head in the thrash breakdown mid-song, putting the aggressive talents of Jourgensen and the full MINISTRY band — John Bechdel (keyboards),Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto (guitars),Roy Mayorga (drums) and Paul D'Amour (bass) — on full display.
Jourgensen says of the track: "The incel subsect and general misogynistic tendencies in our society are dangerous yet seem to fly under the radar so we figured it's time to shine a light on it. In true MINISTRY fashion, we battle it with sarcasm."
"B.D.E." follows the release of earlier singles "Just Stop Oil" and "Goddamn White Trash", which are taken from MINISTRY's upcoming album "Hopiumforthemasses", due on March 1 via Nuclear Blast Records. The three songs give a preview of the state of mind of Jourgensen who is cantankerous as ever about a fucked-up world ripe for a boot up its ass. Like always, he's merely looking around at the same dumpster fire we all are, but he's got a microphone and uses it well to rage on about the state of the world.
"Hopiumforthemasses" also has a slew of special guest contributors, including GOGOL BORDELLO's Eugene Hutz, longtime collaborator and LARD companion Jello Biafra and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY frontman Pepper Keenan.
"Just like you or anybody else, I'm simply a passenger in this lifetime," said Jourgensen. "I'm watching social changes, political changes, and economic changes, and I comment on them because I do have a First Amendment right. A lot of people say artists and athletes should shut up and play ball. No, I'm on this trip too. If I see something, I say something. That reflects on where each album goes. Instead of staying sedentary and singing about broken relationships, inner turmoil, or whatever is hurting this week, I comment on what's going on from the perspective of a fellow passenger."
"Hopiumforthemasses" track listing:
01. B.D.E.
02. Goddamn White Trash***
03. Just Stop Oil
04. Aryan Embarrassment**
05. TV Song 1/6 Edition
06. New Religion
07. It's Not Pretty
08. Cult of Suffering*
09. Ricky's Hand
"Hopiumforthemasses" will be available in three vinyl variants, a CD jewelcase and digital/streaming platforms. The vinyl variants include: green with yellow splatter (in stores everywhere); blue with pink splatter (nuclear blast exclusive); red with white splatter (band/tour exclusive).
Last June, Jourgensen told Yahoo! Entertainment 's Lyndsey Parker that he was close to putting MINISTRY to bed, more than 40 years after he launched the band in his former hometown of Chicago.
"My career is winding down with MINISTRY," Jourgensen said. "I'm gonna stop MINISTRY in an album or two. I have to. I have other things I wanna do."
He continued: "My public and my band are all in agreement that we are being shackled by… We are taking our genre to the farthest limits it can go, and we're happy with that. And we'll stop when it's time instead of keep going and trying to just recreate the same stuff. We keep trying to push further. So, I figure there's only maybe one more MINISTRY album to go. Maybe two, but probably one."
Jourgensen added: "I have other things to do. I have projects that I'm working on with various people. I have film scores. And MINISTRY, now we're being held to the standard of this new MINISTRY of, okay, either push further or do the most popular stuff over and over and over and over, which we have with 'Psalm 69' or something like that. I'm tired of that. We're all tired of that. Well, we are. The fans aren't. So I think this next year or two is gonna be really transformative in the sense that I'm wrapping a bow on my entire career and saying, 'Drop mic. Thank you. Thank you for buying our t-shirts… Good night. And now I hope you follow me on my next journey."
Al revealed that one of MINISTRY's final recordings might be a 'remake" of the band's first album, "With Sympathy", which he claims he had little control over, with the record company at the time dictating its direction. According to Jourgensen, a new version of "With Sympathy" would "tie a bow on the whole thing, and just say, 'Drop mic. Good night. I'm outta here.'"
The MINISTRY mastermind said that he and his bandmates are heading into the studio to commence work on a new recording of "Revenge", one of three singles from "With Sympathy", with the possibility that they will re-record three of the album's other cuts: "Effigy", "Work For Love" and "Here We Go". As for when fans might hear these new versions, Al said: "I think it's going to be sooner than you think."
This is not the first time Jourgensen has vowed to make a "final" MINISTRY album. 2007's "The Last Sucker" was supposed to be the band's last-ever LP. Then, while working on other projects, inspiring riffs were born that would eventually become 2012's "Relapse". Later that year, Jourgensen began work on yet another MINISTRY album with longtime guitarist and collaborator Mike Scaccia. Three days after leaving the MINISTRY sessions in El Paso, in the early hours of December 23, 2012, Scaccia suffered heart failure onstage while performing with his other band, RIGOR MORTIS, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Scaccia's death both devastated and motivated Jourgensen to return the studio to put the final touches on what they had started in memory of his best friend. The result was 2013's "From Beer To Eternity". Two more albums followed, 2018's "AmeriKKKant" and 2021's "Moral Hygiene".
Legendary hard rock band, Quiet Riot, kicked off their 2024 tour year this past Saturday (January 20) at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT as part of the “80s Rock Invasion” along with Stephen Pearcy of Ratt, Vixen, and Riley’s LA Guns.
Watch video below:
The band has also announced the first batch of 2024 tour dates. States Rudy Sarzo: “We are honored to continue to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Quiet Riot’s landmark record Metal Health on tour with all the Head Bangers around the world into 2024 & beyond, this year is shaping up to be our busiest yet.”
In addition to Sarzo, Quiet Riot’s current lineup includes longtime guitarist Alex Grossi, vocalist Jizzy Pearl and drummer Johnny Kelly.
Tour dates:
January
27 - Dania Beach, FL - The Casino at Dania Beach
February
10 - Highland, CA - Yaamava Casino
22 - Calgary, AB - Grey Eagle Casino
23 - Enoch, AB - River Cree Casino
24 - Vancouver, BC - Great Canadian Casino
March
2 - Miami, Jamaica, Bahamas - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
3 - Miami, Jamaica, Bahamas - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
4 - Miami, Jamaica, Bahamas - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
5 - Miami, Jamaica, Bahamas - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
6 - Miami, Jamaica, Bahamas - Monsters Of Rock Cruise
9 - Great Yarmouth, UK - Hard Rock Hell Festival
10 - London, UK - O2 Academy Islington
15 - Newton, NC - Newton Performing Arts Center
22 - Mahnomen, MN - Shooting Star Casino
29 - Carlton, MN - Black Bear Casino
30 - Bloomington, IL - Grossington Motor Arena
April
26 - Houston, TX - Rise Rooftop
May
24 - Moses Lake, WA - Moses Lake Summer Festival
July
6 - Hays, KS - Wild West Festival
August
10 - Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Casino
23-25 - Gatlinburg, TN - The Mountain Music Festival
Bloodstock Festivals has released professionally-filmed video of Killswitch Engage performing "The Signal Fire" at the 2023 edition of the festival. Previously released footage of the band performing "The Signal Fire" at the same show can also be viewed below.
A message states: "2023 was a landmark year for Killswitch Engage, marking their first time headlining at the Bloodstock Festival. This performance was not only their UK festival headlining debut but also a significant moment for the band and their fans."
Killswitch Engage's next live performance is scheduled for April 18-19 at The Metal Fest Ecuador 2024 in Quito, Ecuador. Find the band's complete tour itinerary here.
Guitarist Thomas Zwijsen has released the new video below, in which he performs Metallica's "One", lifted from the band's 1988 album, ...And Justice For All.
Says Thomas: "Many have covered this masterpiece on fingerstyle acoustic/classical guitar, including a great version by Mike Dawes, however this is the first full solo guitar version that includes all solos without any loop stations/overdubbing. TABS and Guitar Lesson will be available shortly at here."
Death metal overlords, Dying Fetus, are stoked to announce a spring tour starting April 25 in Silver Spring, MD and finishing up May 26 in Nashville, TN. Tour support will come from Full Of Hell (4/25 - 5/19), 200 Stab Wounds, Kruelty and Psycho-Frame (5/22 - 5/26).
Tickets go on Friday, January 26, starting at 10 AM, local time. Knotfest pre-sale begins Tuesday, January 23 at 12 PM, EST with password: DFDEATH24. A full list of tour dates is available below.
To celebrate the tour announcement and the recent release of Make Them Beg For Death, the band has shared a new single, appropriately titled, "Throw Them In The Van," and it is accompanied by a new music video. Find the clip below.
Tour dates:
April
25 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
26 - Sayerville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
27 - Syracuse, NY - The Song & Dance
28 - Albany, NY - Empire Live
30 - Quebec City, PQ - Theatre Capitole
May
1 - Montréal, PQ - Beanfield Theatre
2 - Ottawa, ON - The Brass Monkey
3 - London, ON - London Music Hall
4 - Toronto, ON - Phoenix Concert Theatre
5 - Buffalo, NY - Electric City
7 - Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom
8 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
10 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
12 - Winnipeg, MB - Park Theatre
13 - Saskatoon, SK - Louis
14 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room
15 - Calgary, AB - The Palace Theatre
17 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
18 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
19 - Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
20 - Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
22 - Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep
23 - Des Moines, IA - Wooly's
24 - St. Louis, MO - Delmar Hall
25 - Louisville, KY - Portal
26 - Nashville, TN - Eastside Bowl
- with Full of Hell (4/25 - 5/29)
- with 200 Stab Wounds, Kruelty & Psycho-Frame (5/22 - 5/26)
"Enlighten Through Agony"
"Compulsion For Cruelty"
"Feast Of Ashes"
"Throw Them In The Van"
"Unbridled Fury"
"When The Trend Ends"
"Undulating Carnage"
"Raised In Victory / Razed In Defeat"
"Hero’s Grave"
"Subterfuge"
Bloodstock Festival organizers have released professionally-filmed footage from American heavy metal band King 810's performance at Bloodstock 2023.
A message states: "Experience the raw power and intensity of King 810 as they dominate the Sophie Lancaster stage at Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival 2023! Watch their electrifying performance of 'Brains Of The Asphalt', captured live on August 11th. This track is a testament to the band's unique blend of heavy metal ferocity and lyrical depth.
"Set against the backdrop of the iconic Bloodstock Festival, King 810's show is a must-see for metal enthusiasts. The band's presence on the Sophie Lancaster Stage adds a layer of unforgettable energy to the festival's atmosphere."
The AIE TUBE YouTube channel has uploaded video of MR. BIG's entire January 18 concert at Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. You can now watch the footage below.
Featured songs:
01. Addicted To That Rush 00:00
02. Take Cover 06:57
03. Undertow 12:11
*Lean Into It*
04. Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy (The Electric Drill Song) 17:11
05. Alive And Kickin' 21:08
06. Green-Tinted Sixties Mind 26:48
07. CDFF-Lucky This Time (Jeff Paris cover) 30:40
08. Voodoo Kiss 34:40
09. Never Say Never 39:08
10. Just Take My Heart 43:31
11. My Kinda Woman 48:10
12. A Little Too Loose 52:37
13. Road To Ruin 58:19
Band intros 01:02:45
14. To Be With You 01:05:16
****
15. Wild World (CAT STEVENS cover) 01:08:49
16. Guitar Solo 01:12:00
17. Colorado Bulldog 01:17:00
18. Bass Solo 01:21:32
19. Shy Boy (TALAS cover) 01:27:26
20. 30 Days In The Hole (HUMBLE PIE cover) 01:31:30
21. Good Lovin' (THE OLYMPICS cover) - Instrument switch: (Eric Martin/Bass, Billy Sheehan/Vocals, Paul Gilbert/Drums and N. D'Virgilio/Guitar 01:36:30
22. Baba O'Riley (THE WHO cover) 01:41:40
MR. BIG kicked off it U.S. tour on January 12 at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas.
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. Now MR. BIG is bringing "The BIG Finish" to the U.S. 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."
Чехия
Dymytry![=]](/img/news-bord-shr.gif){kind=small}
США
Германия
Бразилия
Великобритания
Бельгия
