MÖTLEY CRÜE guitarist Mick Mars has released the lead single from his solo debut titled "The Other Side Of Mars". To official music video for "Loyal To The Lie" can be seen below.
"The Other Side Of Mars" will be released on February 23, 2024. A pre-order is now live in the new merch storefront launched at shop.mickmarsofficial.com. Available configurations include a 180g LP and CD, signed and unsigned. "The Other Side Of Mars" will be released via Mick's own label 1313, LLC, in partnership with MRI.
Mars says about "Loyal To The Lie": "I wanted to do something that was just big and mean." But no matter what direction he's going in on "The Other Side Of Mars", what ties it all together is "that people are going to hear my tone — my sound," Mars says. "I am what I am. Nobody else can do it. And like everyone, I've got a limited number of years. So, I'm gonna do all I can to do a lot of stuff."
When Mars stepped back from touring with MÖTLEY CRÜE — the band he co-founded more than 40 years ago — following their massive summer 2022 "The Stadium Tour", it seemed like the end of an era. Really, it was the beginning of a new one.
The legendary guitarist, whose riffs, solos and overall devastatingly heavy sound powered the L.A. icons through four decades of world-conquering, multi-platinum sonic mayhem is, as he demonstrates on his debut solo effort, still a serious force to be reckoned with. Only now, listeners are reckoning with more Mars than ever before. "When it comes to my playing, there's the MÖTLEY side and the Mars side," the guitarist says. "Either way, I always have a very clear vision of what I want to do."
On the aptly titled "The Other Side of Mars", fans get that vision in its full, multifarious glory. To be sure, there are plenty of characteristically riff-tastic, tough-as-nails hard-rock anthems. The album also presents the guitarist heading into new and uncharted territory, tearing through caustic, modern metal, conjuring gothic-tinged soundscapes, and digging into anguished, slow-burning power balladry alongside unspooling bluesy, cinematic instrumental workouts. The music throughout the collection is otherwise studded with slide guitars, violins, violas, keyboards, glitchy freak-outs and all manner of sonic surprises.
"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?" Mars says. Regarding those stylistic turns, he continues, "My feeling has always been, I might gain some fans, I might lose some fans. But what they're hearing, it's all me."
The guitarist enlisted a crack team of musicians to help him along the way. A key contributor to the project was WINGER and former ALICE COOPER keyboardist (and, like Mars, Nashville resident) Paul Taylor, who, in addition to performing on the record and assisting Mars in co-writing many of the tracks, introduced the guitarist to powerhouse vocalist Jacob Bunton. "Jacob came into the studio and it was like, bam!" Mars recalls. "And I just said, 'Yeah, he's the guy.' And most of his vocals were one take."
The supporting band was rounded out by KORN drummer Ray Luzier, bassist Chris Collier and singer Brion Gamboa, who contributed lead vocals to two songs. Mars reflects, "those required a little bit more of an angsty, desperation kind of thing. And Brion really came to the table with that." Alongside playing bass on all songs recorded, Collier mixed and mastered the debut solo album.
But while Mars surrounded himself with a new cast of players for the sessions, there was one figure who represented a significant link to his storied past: Michael Wagener. The much-lauded German producer and engineer worked behind the boards on MÖTLEY CRÜE's 1981 debut, "Too Fast For Love", and his relationship with Mars stretches even further back.
"I had known him for a long time, and I actually brought him to MÖTLEY," Mars says. Working with Wagener this time, the guitarist continues, "he had such an understanding of where I wanted to go with the material. And he never said 'Hey, do this,' or tried to change my mind or anything like that. He was just really adamant about recording what I wanted to record, and making sure we recorded it right."
The result is a record unlike anything Mars has offered up in his more than 40-year career.
To that end, he says that even as he unleashes "The Other Side Of Mars" on the world, he's already working on a follow-up. He offers, "I'm trying to keep growing," Mars says. "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!"
"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
This past June, Mars told Rolling Stone that he won't hit the road in support of the upcoming LP. "I'm done touring," he said. "If somebody really, really wants a one-off, or a couple of nights, I would probably do it. But all that travel stuff and planes … I'm way over it."
Mick also revealed that he recently sold his share of the publishing rights to the CRÜE catalog. "The deal was just finalized," he told Rolling Stone. "Now I can relax and don't have to worry about anything, since, like I said, I'm probably just going to live another seven or eight years."
When asked how he knows he won't live longer than eight years, the now-72-year-old said: "I'm old enough, man. I'm not going to live to be 85 or 90, I just have a feeling. I don't want to, either. My brain doesn't want this ugly-ass body that's all fucked up to keep going. I wish I could just take the information out of my brain, put it on a chip and into somebody else, or a robot. There's still a lot of stuff going on up there."
Three years ago, Bunton revealed that he was the lead singer on Mars's solo album. Speaking to AL.com, Bunton, who has previously also played with LYNAM, said about his collaboration with Mars: "I can tell you that I'm involved and the past several months we wrote and recorded a record and Michael Wagener produced it. The great Michael Wagener from [mixing 1986 METALLICA album] 'Master Of Puppets' and all that kind of stuff. He worked with MÖTLEY CRÜE on their very first record 'Too Fast For Love', when they did it themselves they recorded the record and then Michael Wagener mixed, and then when they got the record deal with Elektra, [QUEEN producer] Roy Thomas Baker ended up going back and remixing it. But on all of their self-released copies, it's Michael. But to make a long story short, Michael's producing the record because that was the first producer Mick worked with in MÖTLEY CRÜE, so he wanted to do his solo album, so it's been really cool. We've been recording it in Nashville."
Regarding what fans can expect from Mars's solo CD, Bunton said: "The songs are really cool, the record is really cool. He's such an inventive player and his riffs are insane and it's definitely going to be what people are expecting. When they hear it … It's really cool."
In September 2019, Mick told Billboard about the musical direction of his solo material: "[It's] not like today's music, which to me is pretty much pop metal and more growly guys. It's all cool and it's all good, and I'm just searching for something that's just a little different than that. I [also] don't want to be living in '85. It's hard to reinvent yourself, but that's what I'm doing now. I'm trying to reinvent the way that I approach music writing. I've got a lot of crap, and I've got a lot of good stuff too."
At the time of the Billboard interview, Mars said that he had been working with a vocalist named Jacob, leading some fans to speculate that he was referring to Bunton. "[He] can be a lot of different voices, and it's pretty amazing," Mick said. "I go, 'I want this kind of voice here,' and he'll pull it straight off."
In a separate interview with "Talking Metal", Mars said that his debut solo record will not sound like anybody else. "Well, I guess it's my own style," he said. "It isn't really blues. My playing has a blues element to it, of course, but it isn't what you would call a blues record. It's more of a heavier rock thing, but I don't wanna even try to 'outheavy' the heavies, you know what I mean? It's just something hopefully just a little different than what's going on now. You're not gonna hear a MÖTLEY-flavored song, except for the guitar, [because] that's me. They're gonna be a bit harder than that, but not as hard as the heavies, like MINISTRY and some of those guys."
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, are back with a fresh helping of Sunday Lunch, this time performing the XYZ song "Nica Day To Die" - penned by Don Dokken - from the band's 1989 self-titled debut.
Toyah recently revealed in a brand new interview with eonmusic that a movie of the Sunday Lunch series is in the planning. The phenomenon, which sees Toyah and partner Robert Fripp cover songs from across the rock spectrum, started life during the lockdown, and has grown into a "phenomenon", according to the singer.
Toyah made the revelation while speaking to sonmusic's Eamon O'Neill ahead of her performance at Rewind South in Henley-on-Thames in August.
Speaking about how Sunday Lunch has taken off; Toyah said; "Well, the Sunday lunch phenomenon, which is a worldwide phenomenon, it's basically, we picked up on classic rock, and our treatment of rock is; if you can teach Mozart and Beethoven in schools, then why can't you teach classic rock? Because that's what it is now; rock from Led Zeppelin, rock from Black Sabbath; it's classic, it's never going to go away. And it's something that I think, kids would really love learning about. That's not that we're going on the road and being educational, but our show kind of goes on a journey with artists we know, artists who visit us in our homes."
Going on to reveal that a movie about Sunday Lunch is on the way, Toyah said; "We have a documentary crew following us, and we have quite a big production company scripting an idea at the moment. Obviously we won't be in it. It's for actors to play, but that's all in the back kind of pool of what do you call pre-production. All of that's going on."
Asked when the movie might see the light of day, she was however, less committal; "I mean, movies take years, you know, for the even scripts to be accepted, so who knows what will happen?"
METALLICA's Robert Trujillo played bass for SUICIDAL TENDENCIES at the Mike Muir-fronted outfit's October 26 concert at House Of Vans in Mexico City.
SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, whose current touring lineup includes Robert's 19-year-old son Tye on bass, recruited Robert to play the gig after Tye was unable to make the show due to scheduling commitments with his other band OTTTO.
On Saturday (October 28),Muir shared a photo from House Of Vans on SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' social media and included the following message: "We were Stoked to get a call from Vans about playing their House of Vans in Mexico City. We played the old House of Vans in Brooklyn twice and of course have a long history with Vans, going before the band even started. Unfortunately Tye Trujillo already had a gig booked with his band OTTTO and neither date could be moved. His father and good friend of mine said let me see if we can figure something out. We kept a secret till the plane landed in Mexico City, and did our best to keep it down after, but last night at HOV was an absolute blaST and we all were so thankful to be able to get up and play with Robert one more time.
"So words can't express the gratitude we have for everyone that helped us at Vans, starting with STeve Van Doren and Pete and all the HOV crew in Mexico, Jeff Bass and all the ST crew, and all the people that were lucky enough to get tickets. And of course Robert Trujillo who made it all be such an amazing memorable event for so many people….and yes I did see a few tears in several peoples eyes. A night we'll never forget.
"We are Family.
"See you back in Mexico next week [for the Hell & Heaven festival on November 3] with Tye and STay Cyco."
A onetime member of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, Robert previously rejoined his former bandmates on stage on September 9 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona to perform the song "I Saw Your Mommy...". SUICIDAL TENDENCIES played at State Farm Stadium as the support act for METALLICA at the latter band's rescheduled second concert in Arizona.
Back in 2017, Robert spoke to Records In My Life about SUICIDAL TENDENCIES' self-titled debut album, which was released in July 1983 and which featured the original studio version of "I Saw Your Mommy..." He said: "I didn't play on that album, but I tell you, that was an album that… I mean, before I was in the band, I would wear the hat and t-shirts, and that was even before I knew Mike Muir. I knew Rocky George, the guitar player, 'cause I went to junior high school with him, so I've known him for many years. But that particular album, to me, really represents where I grew up and just the progression of alternative music and multi-racial bands incorporating other styles into hardcore music."
Trujillo was first invited to join SUICIDAL TENDENCIES for a European tour in 1989 supporting East Coast thrashers ANTHRAX. While with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, Robert appeared on some of the band's most successful albums: "Lights...Camera...Revolution!" (1990),"The Art Of Rebellion" (1992) and "Still Cyco After All These Years" (1993). During Trujillo's years with SUICIDAL, Muir heard some of Robert's homemade demos and they collaborated on a funkier, more progressive sound under the name INFECTIOUS GROOVES. They produced a number of albums such as "The Plague That Makes Your Booty Move..." (1991),"Sarsippius' Ark" (1993) and "Groove Family Cyco" (1994).
Back in 2021, Trujillo humorously revealed in an interview that before he signed on as the bass player for METALLICA, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES would gobble up METALLICA's leftover dinners whenever they could during a joint 1993 tour. And even though the METALLICA members respected Trujillo's playing with SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, METALLICA frontman James Hetfield admitted that when Robert's name came up during bassist auditions, he thought, "there's no way he's going to join us. He's too amazing, he's too spectacular."
View this post on Instagram A post shared by SUICIDAL TENDENCIES (@suicidaltendencies)
Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg has shared a new drumcam video via his official YouTube channel. The clip below features the band performing "Sulfur" at Wacken Open Air on August 5, 2022.
Slipknot recently released a video for "Hive Mind", a track from the band's 2022 album, The End, So Far. Watch below:
Produced By Slipknot and Joe Barresi, The End, So Far is available to order at slipknot1.com. The End, So Far includes the band’s 2021 surprise single “The Chapeltown Rag” and follows their widely celebrated 2019 album We Are Not Your Kind, which marked Slipknot’s third consecutive #1 on the Billboard 200. The release made a massive global impact with #1 debuts in the Official Album Charts of twelve countries around the world, including the UK, Australia, Canada and Mexico, with Top 5 debuts in an additional twelve countries including Germany, France and Sweden.
Tracklisting:
“Adderall”
“The Dying Song (Time To Sing)”
“The Chapeltown Rag”
“Yen”
“Hive Mind”
“Warranty”
“Medicine For The Dead”
“Acidic”
“Heirloom”
“H377”
“De Sade”
“Finale”
Trivium have shared pro-shot video of “What The Dead Men Say” petrformed live at the Boston House Of Blues on the Deadmen And Dragons 2022 tour.
The clip was filmed and edited by Black Card Films. Check it out below.
Last month, Gibson TV released a new episode of "My First Gibson", featuring Trivium's Matt Heafy. Watch below.
A message states: "His dad had dreamed of having a Les Paul-playing son, so it was destined that Matt Heafy’s first Gibson would be a Les Paul. Check out this episode of My First Gibson to find out what model his dad gifted him… and just how cool his dad really is."
The Bloodstock Festivals channel has released professionally-filmed video footage of Sepultura performing "Roots Bloody Roots" live at Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival 2023. Check it out below:
Watch Sepultura perform "Guardians Of The Earth" and "Isolation" at the same show:
Bloodstock Festivals previously released the video below, stating: "Legendary Sepultura guitarist, Andrease Kisser, stopped by to talk with Oran on the Bloodstock TV sofa, where he talks about the bands hectic schedule since the pandemic, news of a live album, and his views on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame."
Brazilian thrash-death act Nervosa performed at Wacken Open Air 2023 on August 2nd. Check out pro-shot video of "Death!", "Kill The Silence" and "Endless Ambition" from their set below.
Finally seeing the light of day, Jailbreak is a decisive start of a new era in the band Nervosa's history, as it’s their first album with guitarist and founding member Prika Amaral on vocal duties, and showcases the mighty new lineup completed by the immensely talented Michaela Naydenova on drums, Hel Pyre on bass, and Helena Kotina on guitars.
Among its various themes, brand new album Jailbreak explores messages of breaking free from everyone and everything holding you back from doing exactly what you want to do. It encourages the listener to be proud of who they are, to trust in themselves and the strength that lies within them. The album’s lyrical themes comment on our society in a direct, critical manner, with messages delivered through intensely fast-twitching, raw soundscapes.
Prika Amaral on the album: “I'm very happy with the result of how our new album turned out. This time, we were able to take even more risks and do new things. With two guitars the doors open to a whole new world of possibilities, in fact Nervosa had two guitars in the beginning, but then we decided to go with one guitar for logistical reasons, since it would be easier to move with one less person for tours. Now Nervosa has a much bigger structure that allowed this addition, and we are really enjoying this moment of the band. The process of writing this record was the most fun and brought the most musicality, enriching the band."
Helena Kotina adds: “I think Jailbreak is Nervosa's most revolutionary record, both musically and lyrically. It was a very challenging process but at the same time very constructive. We were able to take care of every detail until we obtained the best result”
In true Nervosa style, the album’s lyrical themes comment on our society in a direct, critical manner, with messages delivered through intensely fast-twitching, raw soundscapes. On Jailbreak, the band continues their powerful collaboration with Martin Furia, who produced the four-piece’s successful previous records. With this album, Nervosa graces fans with yet another thrash metal masterpiece.
"Endless Ambition"
"Suffocare"
"Ungrateful"
"Seed Of Death"
"Jailbreak"
"Sacrifice"
"Behind The Wall"
"Kill Or Die"
"When The Truth Is A Lie" (feat. Gary Holt)
"Superstition Failed" (feat. Lena Scissorhands)
"Gates To The Fall"
"Elements Of Sin"
"Nail The Coffin"
"Jailbreak" video:
"Seed Of Death" video:
"Endless Ambition" video:
Lineup:
Prika Amaral – Vocals and guitars
Helena Kotina – Guitars
Hel Pyre – Bass
Michaela Naydenova – Drums
American death metal act Skeletal Remains has prepared another assault with Fragments Of The Ageless, set for release on March 8th, 2024 via Century Media.
The lineup of Chris Monroy (guitars / vocals), Mike De La O (guitars), Pierce Williams (drums), and Brian Rush (bass) embody the genre, going deeper, darker, and to the edges of brutality. “Fragments Of The Ageless is a pummeling slab of pure death metal,” says the band. “A tyrannical blast-laden barrage of no-frills riffs and compositions. Everything about this album is f*cking brutal and in your face.”
As a first single, Skeletal Remains are revealing “Void Of Despair”, that is being accompanied by a gloomy video directed by Dillon Vaughn.
The band comments: “We are very proud to present our first single entitled ‘Void Of Despair’! Inspired by the true horrors of the many men lost at sea, who after depleting all of their resources and food, turned to cannibalism for survival. We gave the old stories our own twist by having the crew set on a ship lost in the eternal void of deep space. The aggression and spastic riffs swirling throughout the song perfectly express the feeling to an endless losing battle of sanity and starvation, thus succumbing to their demise. We hope you enjoy!“
In early November, Skeletal Remains will embark on an extensive North American tour supporting Suffocation and Incantation, with additional support coming from Stabbing. The band is playing a number of headlining shows before and after.
November
7 - Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Soundstage
8 - Reading, PA - Reverb
9 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
10 - Providence, RI - Alchemy
11 - Trois-Rivières, QC - Amphithéâtre Cogeco
12 - Montreal, QC - Studio TO
13 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
14 - Detroit, MI - The Sanctuary
15 - Chicago, IL - Reggies
16 - Madison, WI - The Annex
17 - Lawrence, KS - The Granada
18 - Denver, CO - HQ
20 - Richland, WA - Ray's Golden Lion
21 - Seattle, WA - El Corazon
22 - Portland, OR - Bossanova Ballroom
24 - San Francisco, CA - DNA Lounge
25 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
26 - Los Angeles, CA - 1720
27 - Phoenix, AZ - Rebel Lounge
28 - Albuquerque, NM - Launchpad
29 - Oklahoma City, OK - 89th Street Collective
30 - Dallas, TX - Granada Theater
December
1 - Houston, TX - Scout Bar
2 - San Antonio, TX - Paper Tiger
3 - New Orleans, LA - Southport Music Hall
4 - Greensboro, NC - Hangar 1819
Skeletal Remains only:
November
2 - Grand Junction, CO - Mesa Theater
3 - Wichita, KS - TempleLive
4 - St. Louis, MO - The Sinkhole
5 - Cincinnati, OH - Legends
6 - Cleveland, OH - No Class
December
5 - Spartanburg, SC - Ground Zero
6 - Atlanta, GA - Boggs
7 - Nashville, TN - The End
8 - Little Rock, AR - Rev Room
9 - Abilene, TX - The Zone
The brand new 4th studio album from Pattern-Seeking Animals (P-SA) Spooky Action at a Distance is out today (November 27). Spooky Action At A Distance finds Pattern-Seeking Animals more confident than ever, approaching new soundscapes and topics, showcasing their evolution, and commitment to pushing their own creative boundaries.
To celebrate the album’s release, the band has shared a video for the track “Clouds That Never Rain”:
John Boegehold had this to say about the album and song:
"We're all very happy with the way Spooky Action at a Distance turned out and hope you all agree. Here's our fourth single ‘Clouds That Never Rain’ in which undaunted by the shadow chill of a weather system gone noticeably wrong, our hero eventually makes a decision to stop making decisions."
Spooky Action at a Distance is available in the following formats:
• Limited 2CD Digipak*
• Digital album*
• 2LP Gatefold vinyl 180g**
*including 3 live bonus tracks from ProgStock 2022
**including 2 live bonus tracks from ProgStock 2022
CD1
“The Man Made Of Stone”
“Window To The World”
“What Awaits Me”
“He Once Was”
“Underneath The Orphan Moon”
“Clouds That Never Rain”
“Bulletproof”
“Somewhere North Of Nowhere”
“Summoned From Afar”
“Love is Still The Light”
CD2
“There Goes My Baby”
“Orphans Of The Universe” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Elegant Vampires” (Live At ProgStock 2022)
“Time Has A Way” (Live At ProgStock 2022) *
Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared an epic metal cover of the classic "This Is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Check it out below.
Guest performers include Kristin Arvidsson, Kim Arvidsson, Tilia & Zoey, Elvira Stattin, Chris Davidsson and David ”Giventoe” Thornell.
Johansson has released A Tribute To The Moore, dedicated to music and guitar legend Gary Moore, via Spotify and Deezer. It is a compilation of covers Johansson has shared via YouTube over the past two years.
"Over the Hills and Far Away"
"Wild Frontier"
"Nuclear Attack"
"The Loner"
"Out in the Fields"
"Murder in the Skies"
"Thunder Rising"
"Running from the Storm"
"After the War"
"Empty Rooms"
"Emerald"
Guitarist Thomas Zwijsen has released the new video below, in which he performs an acoustic classical guitar cover of Helloween's "Why?", lifted from the band's 1994 album, Master Of The Rings.
German legends have uploaded a performance of the Animal Magnetism classic “The Zoo” from Houston, TX on June 27, 1980. The footage has been carefully restored from the band’s archives.
Check out previously released footage of "Animal Magnetism":
Watch previously released footage of the band performing another Animal Magnetism track, “Don’t Make No Promises (Your Body Can’t Keep)", from the same show:
Former JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing's new band KK'S PRIEST has revealed that a viewership restriction was imposed by YouTube on the group's latest music video.
The Mind Art Visual-directed clip for KK'S PRIEST's latest single, "Hymn 66", which was uploaded to the platform in late September, is said to have "a dark theme and a killing scene."
Downing comments: "This has come as a real shock! First, there is no killing scene. Our protagonist in the video merely goes through a fictional transformation and is clearly alive throughout the whole video, and given that we are on the eve of Halloween, I consider the theme of this video to be more than appropriate and certainly in line with the content that all age groups will be looking to enjoy this week."
"Hymn 66" is taken from KK'S PRIEST's sophomore album, "The Sinner Rides Again", which came out in September via the Austrian label Napalm Records.
Joining Downing in KK'S PRIEST are former JUDAS PRIEST singer Tim "Ripper" Owens, as well as guitarist A.J. Mills (HOSTILE),bassist Tony Newton (VOODOO SIX) and drummer Sean Elg (DEATHRIDERS, CAGE).
The art for "The Sinner Rides Again" was created by talented artist Andy Pilkington.
K.K. formed KK'S PRIEST after JUDAS PRIEST turned down his offer to rejoin the band for their 50th-anniversary tour. It followed a couple of celebrated stage appearances, first with former MANOWAR guitarist Ross The Boss in the summer of 2019, then with a one-off lineup that included former MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson and former PRIEST drummer Les Binks later that year.
KK'S PRIEST released its debut album, "Sermons Of The Sinner", in October 2021 via Explorer1 Music Group/EX1 Records.
Downing spent four months writing and recording "Sermons Of The Sinner" and, along with new ideas, he even resurrected a few archived riffs from the 1980s.
Downing was reunited with JUDAS PRIEST for a performance at the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony last November at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.
PRIEST received the Musical Excellence Award at the event, which honored Eminem, Dolly Parton, DURAN DURAN, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, EURYTHMICS and Carly Simon in the Performers category.
Downing left PRIEST in 2011 amid claims of band conflict, shoddy management and declining quality of performance. He was replaced by Richie Faulkner, nearly three decades his junior.
In 2019, Downing said that he reached out to JUDAS PRIEST about taking part in the band's 50th-anniversary tour but that their response was that they were not interested in including him in the celebrations.
In 2018, Downing revealed that he sent two resignation letters to his bandmates when he decided to quit JUDAS PRIEST. The first was described as "a graceful exit note, implying a smooth retirement from music," while the second was "angrier, laying out all of his frustrations with specific parties."
Downing later said that he believed the second letter was "a key reason" he wasn't invited to rejoin PRIEST after Glenn Tipton's decision to retire from touring.
Owens joined PRIEST in 1996 and recorded two studio albums with the band — 1997's "Jugulator" and 2001's "Demolition" — before PRIEST reunited with Rob Halford in 2003.
Nashville based prog rock virtuoso, Neal Morse, has announced his new album, The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two - the follow-up to 2023's The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One. The first single from part two of his latest rock opera is "Cosmic Mess", out today along with a new music video.
The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One concluded with Joseph unjustly imprisoned. In The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two, the biblical narrative unfolds, chronicling how Joseph's wisdom and intelligence led him to become the viceroy of Egypt and, to the eventual reunion with his family.
Commenting on the new single, Neal had this to say: “It doesn’t sound like it, but 'Cosmic Mess' was written on the piano. I think it was toward the end of the writing process on Joseph, and I was thinking it would be good to have another prologue sort of song. One of my main takeaways from the Joseph story is that it was necessary for all the terrible things to happen to Joseph to put him at the right hand of pharaoh, so that he could feed/save the whole world and be reunited with his family. So that’s what I am singing about in the chorus… The darkness must come in order for the light to fully show up. Anyway, I played all the instruments on this, including the drums, and had a fine time doing it.”
Watch the video below.
In the latter part of 2022, Neal Morse dedicated his creative efforts to following up the successful release of 'Jesus Christ the Exorcist' by crafting a new rock opera. Inspiration flowed, resulting in nearly two hours of music that narrates the story of Joseph, known for his coat of many colors, through the lens of progressive rock, in a style that is uniquely Neal Morse.
Rather than presenting two hours simultaneously as a double album, Neal opted to release Joseph's new rock opera in two separate volumes, believing that the strength of both the music and the story warranted this approach, as each album could independently stand as a testament to its intrinsic value. Now, to continue the story told in The Dreamer - Joseph: Part One, this talented and prolific artist carries on Joseph's story with melodious drama in The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two.
Neal comments on the album: "The second installment in the Joseph story shocked me! I wish you could hear the development… Where it started to where it ended up! Pretty crazy, how it all developed largely with the help of other artists. I won’t get into naming names because I would have to name all of them, but friends and brothers (lliterally!) really brought a lot to the table on this one and I am absolutely thrilled with the way 'The Restoration' turned out. I hope you guys love it as much as I loved making it!”
Now, in the follow up to Joseph's story, Neal assumes the lead vocalist role, while an impressive cast of guest artists, including Nick D’Virgilio (Spock's Beard), Ted Leonard (Spock’s Beard, Pattern Seeking Animals), Matt Smith (Theocracy), Ross Jennings (Haken), Jake Livgren (Proto-Kaw, Kansas) and Alan Morse (Spock's Beard), join him in this second chapter. They collaborate with members of the Neal Morse Band, such as Bill Hubauer and Eric Gillette, among others. Together, they breathe life into this familiar tale through extraordinary music that promises to captivate progressive rock enthusiasts once more.
As one of the most accomplished composers of our era, Neal Morse consistently delivers. The entire rock opera, Joseph, offers exceptional music that will enrapture both devoted prog rockers and melodic rock aficionados alike. With its musical diversity, melodic interludes, harmonious vocals, and remarkable songs, it stands as a testament to his enduring talent.
Pre-order/save The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two here.
The Restoration - Joseph: Part Two tracklisting:
"Cosmic Mess"
"My Dream"
"Dreamer In The Jailhouse"
"All Hail"
"The Argument"
"Make Like A Breeze"
"Overture Reprise"
"I Hate My Brothers"
"Guilty As Charged"
"Reckoning"
"Bring Ben"
"Freedom Road"
"The Brothers Repent / Joseph Revealed"
"The Restoration"
"Everlasting"
"Dawning Of A New Day (God Uses Everything For Good)"
"Cosmic Mess" video:
Lineup:
Nick D’Virgilio
Eric Gillette
Gabe Klein
Neal Morse
Sam Hunter
Gideon Klein
Alan Morse
Mark Leniger
Bill Hubauer
Cast:
Neal Morse
Ted Leonard
Matt Smith
Nick D’Virgilio
Ross Jennings
Alan Morse
Jake Livgren
Mark Pogue
Talon David
Wil Morse
Tom Gabriel Warrior: "The revivification of Hellhammer's 'Massacra', almost forty years after the song's inception. The new single and first video clip to accompany Triumph Of Death's Resurrection Of The Flesh, an immoderate on-stage celebration of Hellhammer's music."
Watch the video below:
Triumph Of Death’s debut live release, Resurrection Of The Flesh, is the culmination of three concerts. Recorded in the spring of 2023 at Hell’s Heroes Festival in Houston, Texas, Dark Easter Metal Meeting in Munich, Germany and SWR Barroselas Metal Fest in Portugal, the album was produced by Tom Gabriel Warrior and Triptykon's V. Santura. The record captures the band at their primeval finest; raw, foreboding and heavy. The songs may date back four decades but here they are revealed to be still just as vital today as when they were written in the band’s infamous rehearsal bunker in the rural village of Birchwil, Switzerland in the early 1980s. From the thunderous opening chords of "Third Of The Storms (Evoked Damnation)" to the malevolent, morbid feedback of set closer "Triumph Of Death", this album is a sixty minute document of the overwhelming power of the live performance of Triumph Of Death, and it captures the spirit and intensity of these historic songs that have transcended decades to become revered and timeless.
Warrior: "This album is, most importantly, testament to the unique connection that exists between the audience and this band. Hellhammer's music was an underground token in 1982 to 1984, often ridiculed and shunned, and we owe the fact that we are now able to perform it all across the globe entirely to grace, openness, and enthusiasm of those who make exactly these concerts possible. They give us as much as we given them, and my gratitude to them knows no limits."
For special pre-orders and exclusive merch bundles, head here.
Resurrection Of The Flesh, out November 10, will be available as:
- Deluxe CD mediabook
- Double gatefold LP w/booklet and posters on black vinyl and B&W swirl (indie store exclusive)
- Super deluxe double red vinyl LP bookpack with bonus 7” single plus posters
Tracklisting:
"The Third Of The Storms (Evoked Damnation)"
"Massacra"
"Maniac"
"Blood Insanity"
"Decapitator"
"Crucifixion"
"Reaper"
"Horus/Aggressor"
"Revelations Of Doom"
"Messiah"
"Visions Of Mortality"
"Triumph Of Death"
Bonus 7” song (Super deluxe edition only):
"Decapitator" (Live In Houston)
"Messiah":
Triumph Of Death lineup:
Tom Gabriel Warrior - voice/guitar
André Mathieu - guitar/vocals
Jamie Lee Cussigh - bass
Tim Iso Wey – drums
Frontiers Music Srl will release the debut album from SoleDriver, a collaboration between two extremely talented and prolific songwriters, musicians, and producers, Michael Sweet (Stryper, Boston, Iconic, Sweet & Lynch) and Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline, Jorn) on November 17. A video for the new single, "Spinning Wheel", can be viewed below:
Return Me To Light sees these two incredible talents joining forces to make a killer melodic rock album that only they could create. In their studio work, both Sweet and Del Vecchio have a shared vision of very detailed productions, and both love crystal-clear arrangements. But both never forget the power that a rock album needs to have, so Return Me To Light showcases great, powerful deliveries, but nothing overwhelms the vocals and beauty of the melodies. To put it simply, the album is melodic rock in the style of Journey and Foreigner, but on steroids and with the unique Sweet and Del Vecchio sonic stamp on it.
“I’ve always been a metalhead at heart, but as much as I love metal, I love the melodic and “song” oriented side of music. Songs that move you and songs that touch your soul. So many bands from the 70s & 80s did just that. I’m proud to say that as much as I listened to Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, I also listened to Loverboy, Toto, Foreigner, Survivor, Journey, and many others. That’s what makes me who I am today. Diversity. So, I’ve always wanted to do an album that takes you back to those days and here it is!,” exclaims Sweet.
“Working with Alessandro Del Vecchio has been an absolute pleasure and he’s an amazing talent. We worked together to record and produce an album we’re both very proud of. Every song has something powerful to say yet makes its own statement musically and lyrically. I could not be more excited about this release and I’m blessed to be able to work with a company (Frontiers) that allows me to follow and capture my dreams,” Sweet adds.
“It all started during the pandemic when Frontiers asked me to write a collaboration song featuring multiple artists from the Frontiers roster. Michael and I got in touch about this and kept in contact ever since. I was surprised when Michael asked me to do an album together, one on which we would capture the melodic side of his singing and writing. We still couldn’t fully hold back the power and fire that Michael has, but what we accomplished on Return Me To Light is something that really reflects what an album with the two of us really sounds like: melodic, anthemic, and with deep and spiritual lyrical messages”, says Del Vecchio.
“One of the many cool things about working with Michael on this album was him asking me to play all guitars on the album as well. This is something I never do, but he thought I was really capturing the essence of these songs. So, here I am for the first time delivering the guitar parts I had in my head while writing these songs. I’m very honored to be teamed up with Michael as we share the same love for great sounding albums and we are perfectionists who never deliver below 100% and certainly always aim to go beyond our limits. I’m sure you’re gonna end up singing, humming, and whistling these songs after you hear the album, while still being captured by the delivery of the vocals and the music, where passion, fire, and depth all melted into the essence of these songs”, concludes Del Vecchio.
"Rise Again"
"Anymore"
"Pieces Of Forever"
"Hope’s Holding You"
"Spinning Wheel"
"Out Of The Dark"
"Eternal Flame"
"To Be Saved"
"Return Me To Light"
"Soul Inside"
"Wounded"
"Rise Again" video:
SoleDriver are:
Michael Sweet - vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio - guitars, bass, keyboards, backing vocals
Michele Sanna – drums
On October 21st, black metal veterans Crade Of Filth performed at at Palladium Times Square in New York, NY. Fan-filmed video of the entire show can be viewed below.
The setlist was as follows:
"Existential Terror"
"Gilded Cunt"
"She Is A Fire"
"The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh"
"Dusk And Her Embrace"
"Nymphetamine (Fix)"
"The Twisted Nails Of Faith"
"Born In A Burial Gown"
"Her Ghost In The Fog"
"From The Cradle To Enslave"
Cradle Of Filth is currently in the midst of a co-headlining tour with DevilDriver. Remaining dates are as listed:
October
26 - Wichita, KS - Temple Live
27 - Lubbock, TX - The Garden
29 - Riverside, CA - Riverside Municipal Auditorium
Coming this November from Opus Publishing and the mind of Dani Filth - Cradle Of Filth: Funeral In Carpathia issue #1.
"Carpathia, the pleasured dead speak of her, in necromantic tongue when ambered daylights are done…" The latest tale from Cradle Of Filth's majestic oeuvre comes to life in images of death and seduction! Written by Hector Lima (Megadeth) and drawn by legendary Argentinian artist Enrique Alcatena (Conan, Heavy Metal), Cradle Of Filth: Funeral In Carpathia is "supreme vampiric evil" to be relished by all gothic horror fans, filth and non-filth alike!
"Funeral In Carpathia" was the third track on Cradle Of Filth's second studio album, Dusk And Her Embrace, originally released in 1996 via Music For Nations. When Dusk And Her Embrace: The Original Sin was released in 2016 via Cacophonous, "Funeral In Carpathia" appeared as the seventh track. Both versions can be heard below.
Halloween is quickly approaching and today, Australian rockers The Lazys are back to shake things up, spooky-style with a new music video for their hell-raising track “Rattle Them Bones” which has now earned the quartet their sixth Top 30 Active Rock single in Canada. Directed by Scott Baker, the music video is packed with high-voltage energy, screaming guitar riffs, monstrous drums, and Leon Harrison’s signature vocals, it’s everything you’d expect from The Lazys and more!
“Shot in Ontario, Canada the video captures the raw, chaotic essence of our band's live performances but also creates a story. The video, filmed and directed by our mate Scott Baker, is a play on us "coming back from the dead" with elements of humour and the resurrection of the band post-pandemic. A lot of hard work, flights and fun went into making this video and we hope our fans enjoy it as much as we did making it,” explains the band.
“'Rattle Them Bones' was born out of frustration during the pandemic while navigating our way back to what we do best. It's been a while since we've released new music, but we can promise you that this rock n roll bone shaker was worth the wait,” says guitarist Matty Morris.
The Lazys have been doing the hard yards, carving their name into modern rock since 2007. Racking up a hefty 13.3 million cumulative streams and achieving three Top 10 Active Rock Radio hits in Canada (“Nothing But Trouble”, “Black Rebel”, “Shake It Like You Mean It”), is not an easy feat, but one the rockers happily take in stride. Travelling a long way across two continents and the world’s largest ocean, it was on Canadian soil that they catapulted to success after first collaborating with Ian D’sa and signing with prominent booking agent Ralph James.
With a reputation for electrifying live performances and a sound that delivers the true essence of rock, it’s no surprise that The Lazys’ reputation over the last decade has spread from their home shores of Australia to North America, Europe, and beyond. For The Lazys, it’s not just about the music; the band has a unique way of connecting with their audience with epic stage banter, crowd participation, bar solos, and merch hangs. Their shows create a sense of unity between the band and the fans, making it the ultimate rock and roll experience. Wherever they go, they leave a lasting impression. Whether it’s a show at Wacken Open Air, Rockpalast, or in a packed, sweaty club, The Lazys are here for good times only. A legend once said, ‘It's a long way to the top if you want to rock n roll’, and with The Lazys at the helm, it’s safe to say the future of rock is in trustworthy hands.
Longtime TESLA guitarist Dave Rude will release his full-length solo album, "Through The Fire", on November 17 via Rat Pak Records. The LP features 11 new studio tracks and was mixed by TESLA bandmate Brian Wheat at his studio J-Street Records in Sacramento, California.
The official Brandon Gullion-directed music video for the album's first single, "Hell And Back", can be seen below.
Regarding the writing and recording process, Dave states, "'Through The Fire' was written all over the world — in dressing rooms, hotels and at soundchecks.
"When I tour with TESLA, I usually have a mobile Pro Tools recording rig with me so I can put down ideas during our downtime. Writing and recording in so many different places over a long stretch of time gave the songs a lot of variety and dynamics. I'm very happy with how it turned out and I'm excited to get this music out there."
From the driving intro of album opener "Hell And Back" to the melodic acoustic outro track "Ship Came In", Rude shines with his signature brand of rock and roll. Tracks like "Drink With The Devil", "By The Blade", "Eye For An Eye" and "Ain't My Time" are chock full of memorable hooks and melodies, while songs like "Bron-Yr-Rude" and "Gotta Pay" showcase his diverse and unique songwriting abilities. "Through The Fire" delivers all the power and punch that one would expect from this high-level guitarist.
"Through The Fire" track listing
01. Hell And Back
02. Gotta Pay
03. Drink With The Devil
04. Ain't My Time
05. Bron-Yr-Rude
06. Through The Fire
07. By The Blade
08. Dying Breed
09. Starlight
10. Eye For An Eye
11. Ship Came In
Rude joined TESLA in 2006, just in time to appear on the band's "Real To Reel" (2007) and "Forever More" (2008) albums.
"I grew up listening to TESLA," Rude told WTOP earlier this year. "I got the 'Five Man Acoustical Jam' record when I was in seventh grade and I had it on a cassette, I had no CD player yet, and I literally wore it out to where the writing was gone and it was like a blank piece of plastic with music inside and followed the band ever since … that was my gateway drug to TESLA … It all just happened really randomly when Frank Hannon found me on MySpace in 2006."
Two years ago, Wheat told "The SDR Show" about how Rude landed the TESLA gig: "Frank Hannon, he does a lot of social media. He found Dave Rude on MySpace. He said, 'I saw this guy. His picture looks really cool. So then I checked him out, and he's got some cool songs.' And I said, 'Well, cool. Get together with him, play and let's see what happens.' And then Dave came to my studio. Frank was there. And him and Frank were out there playing. And I walked in there and listened to Dave playing and I looked at Frank and went [shakes his head up and down]. And then we put Dave in with the band. He did one rehearsal, and we all went [shakes his head up and down].
"Look, Dave Rude I cannot say enough great things about," Brian added. "He saved that band. 'Cause when he came in, we were at a point where the whole thing could have ended again. And he came in and gave us a shot in the arm. I love that kid. He's great."
In a 2007 interview with Classic Rock Revisited, Rude said that it was "really easy" for him to fit in with the rest of TESLA musically. "I am younger but we have the same background," he said. "I was always the odd one out in my generation because I didn't like the new stuff. I listen to the classic radio station all the time. I had been a TESLA fan since I was a little kid so I knew their music. In the FRANK HANNON BAND, we played a lot of TESLA songs and we practiced on the bus a lot to get me ready."
Asked if he was nervous about replacing original member Tommy Skeoch in TESLA, Rude said: "Tommy was a big part of the band and I was a huge Tommy fan and I still am. I was not that nervous, because I felt so at home. I was a little worried that the fans would not take it well because he was such a big figure in the band, but they have been great. The Frank Hannon tour helped, because I met a lot of the fans at the shows. They were in small clubs and we would hang out. Everyone embraced me really well, and when it transferred into TESLA, then everyone already knew me. I was expecting 'Where's Tommy?' signs, but everyone was really cool. TESLA fans love their guys and they love the music. I think they are happy that the band is still going."
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Mick Mars
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