BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, the powerhouse hard rock band led by the legendary Zakk Wylde, has release a new single, "Lord Humungus". This track is a sonic sledgehammer brimming with pounding rhythms, blistering guitar riffs, and anthemic energy, and is out now across all major digital streaming platforms.
Get ready for pure, unfiltered hilarity with the debut of the music video for "Lord Humungus" — a spectacle wrapped in layers of jaw-dropping imagery directed by Justin H. Reich. Brutal. Hilarious. Downright Berzerker quality ferocity. This is BLACK LABEL SOCIETY like you've never seen them before.
Fans can stream and download "Lord Humungus" on all major platforms and watch the official music video on BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's YouTube channel below.
Last September, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY released another new single titled "The Gallows" via MNRK Heavy (formerly eOne Music).
In a September 2024 interview with Lipps Service With Scott Lipps, Zakk spoke about the progress of the songwriting and recording sessions for BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's next album. BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's twelfth studio LP will be the follow-up to "Doom Crew Inc.", which came out in November 2021 via MNRK Heavy.
"We've been recording a batch of stuff while we're home," Zakk, who has also been touring with PANTERA and ZAKK SABBATH, said. "I mean, obviously it's gonna be a lot of — we're gonna be doing a PANTERA celebration [tour] throughout 2025, and then there's going to be ZAKK SABBATH shows peppered in there as well. So I'd imagine somewhere — I don't know — maybe late 2025, [early] '26 or whatever, putting out another BLACK LABEL album. But I mean, all it does to me, it just gives you more time to just keep writing and listening to stuff and going back and going, 'No, you know what? Let me put more orange on that as opposed to red,' where you can actually sit back and look at it and everything like that. 'Cause usually, most of the time when I do the records, I'll go in, whether it was 'Stillborn', 'Suicide Messiah', anything like that, with nothing. I think if you ask any musician, they'll tell you, when you're in a recording studio, it's just a breeding ground for inspiration. Because everything sounds good... Whether you're sitting with an acoustic guitar, or you're sitting behind a piano, or you got the big distorted guitars going, the drums sound like cannons. So everything just sounds amazing. And it just is very inspiring."
In April 2024, Wylde confirmed to Scott Davidson of Chicago's Rebel Radio 92.5 FM that he and his BLACK LABEL SOCIETY bandmates were working on the group's next album.
In a separate chat with Metal Mayhem ROC, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY drummer Jeff Fabb stated about the band's next album: "I don't know exactly when it's gonna be released, but I heard some time in the new year. So I would assume that we're gonna tour it. So we're working on it right now. Actually. I'm about to go to [Zakk's] house in the next few days and finish up a few more songs that he wrote. And then, yeah, that's pretty much it."
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY headlined Zakk's inaugural music festival, Berzerkus, on September 14, 2024 at Poconos Park in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. Berzerkus was co-headlined by outlaw country music's Cody Jinks.
Four years ago, Wylde told the Morristown, New Jersey radio station 105.5 WDHA about the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY songwriting process: "The way it always goes, it's always the music first and then a melody. And then I've gotta find out something I wanna sing about. So then I'll write the lyrics. That's usually always the way it goes. And then, when it's all done, then the solos go on it. The painting's all done, and the solo is the frame that goes on the thing. So you can sit back and look at the whole thing. That's the way we pretty much always do it… I would just have a cup of coffee and just start writing riffs. You always get inspired by — for me, it's always Mount Riffmore, which is CREAM, MOUNTAIN, [LED] ZEPPELIN, [BLACK] SABBATH, DEEP PURPLE… If you're not getting inspired by the riffs those guys have created, it's just like… So I'll just go fishing and just start writing till you get to something you like."
Wylde formed BLACK LABEL SOCIETY in 1998 and has kept the band busy in between touring and recording with Ozzy Osbourne, whose backing group he first joined more than three and a half decades ago.
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "Order Of The Black" (2010) and "Catacombs Of The Black Vatican" (2014) both broke into the top five on the hard rock album charts.
Since first joining Ozzy, Zakk has played on all of the BLACK SABBATH singer's solo albums except for 2020's "Ordinary Man", including such classic efforts as "No More Tears" (1991),"Ozzmosis" (1995) and "Black Rain" (2007).
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY is:
Zakk Wylde - vocals, guitar, piano
John "JD" DeServio - bass
Jeff Fabb - drums
Dario Lorina - guitar
BMG will release the second album by IRON MAIDEN guitarist Adrian Smith and THE WINERY DOGS frontman and acclaimed solo artist Richie Kotzen, "Black Light / White Noise", on April 4, 2025.
Recorded at The House, Los Angeles, California, produced by Richie and Adrian and mixed by Jay Ruston, the ten-track album is a masterclass in modern rock, with Adrian and Richie's prodigious talents as songwriters, musicians and vocalists on full display.
The official music video for the LP's second single, "Black Light", can be seen below. The dynamic, multi-layered clip, again produced and directed by Kevin and Richard Ragsdale a.k.a. The Ragsdale Brothers (DAUGHTRY, Dorothy feat. Slash, THEORY OF A DEADMAN),features the duo performing with bassist Julia Lage and drummer Bruno Valverde, alongside acclaimed Russian acrobat, contortionist and former Cirque Du Soleil performer Gyulnara Karaeva.
"Black Light" was a song that very nearly didn't make it on to the album until a late-night session saw them strike studio gold. And it's lucky they did as not only is it a song about deceit and deception, where the black light is a metaphor that reveals the truth about a person lurking under the surface, but it's become a true album highlight, even lending its name to the album title. With help from U.K. photographer John McMurtrie, it also inspired the album cover with his UV lights picking up special paint on the black/rosewood custom Fender and Charvel guitars.
"It was a fun video to make," confirms Richie, "as they have all been when we play together. Adding the UV performance section was fantastic and took us back to the album shoot that we did in London last year."
"Our friend Gyula really added something to it," adds Adrian, "it helped the song's narrative of all is not what you see!"
The track itself rides in on a thunderous drum beat and a seething riff before Adrian's raw bluesy vocal explodes from the speakers complemented by Richie's higher pitched rock tones. A dramatic bridge leads into a knockout chorus, demonstrating the quality and infectious hooks that are to be found throughout "Black Light / White Noise".
"We had a lot of fun making this," says Adrian. "We'd be writing and I'd want something inspired by some of my old hard rock or blues go-to bands then it'd go into a more progressive feel — and then Richie has these strong soul influences so there's a lot to dig into there too. Influences are what makes the musical world go round — they go through you and come out slightly differently."
"SMITH/KOTZEN is all about finding common ground," adds Richie. "Maybe Adrian will tend to go heavy, and then I'll lean more in the fusion or funk or soul side of things, but somewhere in the middle is our sound: that heavy blues rock vibe that we really connect on."
"Black Light / White Noise" is a truly magnificent collection of songs that stands shoulder to shoulder with some of Smith and Kotzen's finest work to date. Atmospheric, ambitious, diverse and brilliant, the LP not only features stratospheric guitar solos and raw, bluesy vocals but soulful touches, intricate playing, beautiful songwriting and an assured poise and style that brings to mind a host of legendary musicians (THIN LIZZY, Jimi Hendrix, Prince, CREAM, FREE, DEEP PURPLE) but is undeniably the work of Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen in perfect harmony.
Kotzen comments: "We're so proud of this new album. It follows on from our debut and the EPs by focusing on collaborating on riffs, lyrics, harmonies and vocals. There's a SMITH/KOTZEN DNA now and it's definitely something we need to get out on the road with. I was pleased to work with my friend Jay Ruston on the mixing of the album, let alone my wife Julia (Lage) — who actually plays on 'White Noise' as well as four other tracks."
"We're like an extended family now," adds Smith. "We have a sound and a vibe and I don't think many artists are doing what we do — sharing the vocals and the guitars. It takes me back to those classic bands like HUMBLE PIE and CREAM — which is not a bad place to start!"
The full track listing of "Black Light / White Noise" is:
01. Muddy Water
02. White Noise
03. Black Light
04. Darkside
05. Life Unchained
06. Blindsided
07. Wraith
08. Heavy Weather
09. Outlaw
10. Beyond The Pale
Last July, Smith joined Kotzen on stage at the Islington Assembly Hall in London, England to perform THE YARDBIRDS classic "Shapes Of Things".
SMITH/KOTZEN released the "Better Days …And Nights" EP in September 2022 via BMG. The effort comprised five previously unreleased live tracks, plus for the first time ever on CD, the four studio tracks featured on their sold-out, limited-edition 12-inch vinyl EP, "Better Days", released in conjunction with Record Store Day in November 2021.
The live songs were recorded during SMITH/KOTZEN's inaugural whistle-stop tour of the U.S. and U.K. at the start of 2022, which attracted unanimously rave reviews from fans and media alike, celebrating the duo's debut on stage together with stellar back-up from Richie's wife, internationally acclaimed bass player Julia Lage (VIXEN),and drummer Bruno Valverde of ANGRA.
Japan's metal bible Burrn! magazine reviewing the Whisky A Go Go show in Los Angeles pronounced it, "An amazing night….this rock n' roll band is very different from any other…totally unique …and bringing you great songs!". U.K.'s Classic Rock magazine said the show was a, "masterclass in guitar playing and performance".
The original EP tracks were produced by Kotzen and Smith and mixed by Kevin Shirley. The live tracks were produced and mixed by Kotzen and Smith.
SMITH/KOTZEN's eponymous debut album was released globally through BMG in March 2021 to media and fan acclaim, charting No. 10 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart in the U.S., Top 20 in the U.K. as well as in other major markets such as Germany, Japan and Canada.
Smith is best known as one of IRON MAIDEN's principal guitarists, having also enjoyed success as a solo artist. Kotzen is the frontman for THE WINERY DOGS as well as having been the guitarist for both MR. BIG and POISON during his long and acclaimed career, which has to date seen him release more than 20 solo albums. Both artists are also prolific songwriters.
Today, Conjurer release their brand new video, “All You Will Remember” (Live @ Radar Festival 2024), which shows a different side of what this band is capable of. In April, Conjurer will hit the road again and do a massive EU/UK tour together with Make Them Suffer, Resolve, and If Not For Me.
Singer Brady comments: “As we come to the end of the Páthos cycle, we wanted to share this live performance from our headline set at Radar Festival last year. ‘All You Will Remember’ is one of the deeper cuts from the record and is emotionally something that Dani put a lot of themselves into. For me, it shows a different side of what this band is capable of and is something that I hope resonates with people ahead of the new material we’re working on. I’d also like to thank our crew for helping us put the show together and for capturing this moment: we couldn’t do any of this without them.”
Today, multi genre rockers, Black Map, are excited to announce the release of their upcoming album, Hex, out May 9 via Spinefarm marking their first album release under the label. To celebrate the announcement, Black Map has released their second song from the album, and their first official single, the title track, alongside a music video, available to view below.
On the release of the single, vocalist/bassist Ben Flanagan comments: “It’s a song about finding the place we can go to mentally, that clears away whatever storm we are facing. For me, it has historically been music, but I didn’t want to limit the song to only that. Everybody has something that, if they channel it, changes things for the better. The ‘come get it’ is really a call to action in that way.”
At the start of 2024, Black Map retreated to Southern California to record Hex with Saosin guitarist Beau Burchell behind the board as producer. The band embraced a clear, collective vision, shifting from the expansive, ethereal nature of Melodoria to a more urgent and immediate sound.
Vocalist/Bassist Ben Flanagan describes Hex as a body of work with a strong “let’s f*cking go” spirit, while guitarist Mark Engles emphasizes its balance between atmospheric elements and a driving intensity. The album captures the band’s signature style, with Mark’s distinct guitar work ever-present and a renewed focus on immediacy and raw energy.
For Ben, Hex represents the profound impact of music, offering solace and connection. Drummer Chris Robyn adds that the album carries an unstoppable momentum, charging forward with force and intention. Rooted in themes of personal struggle, authenticity, and resilience, Hex stands as Black Map’s most powerful and urgent release yet.
Pre-order the album here.
Hex tracklisting:
“Disintegrate”
“Hex (Come Get It)”
“Badlands”
“Little Undead”
“Burning Satellite”
“Tethered”
“Oblivion Season”
“Price to Fix It”
“Fake Your Own Life”
Not many bands can lay claim to creating an entire genre, much less a movement that has continued to flourish for over four decades, but German heroes Helloween did exactly that. Combining the speed of thrash, the twin-guitar approach of NWOBHM, and the hymnal melodies of European folk music, Helloween paved their own path, creating a genre that would resonate for decades afterward: the mighty, dragon-slaying style known as power metal and every band that has raised a sword to honour and glory owes their life to this band, who are now celebrating 40 years of existence and still thriving.
To mark this momentous occasion, BMG is proud to present March Of Time (The Best Of 40 Years), a storming, double-bass-led thrill ride through Helloween’s triumphant history. Featuring 42 handpicked tracks from the early days to their staggeringly successful reunion, this massive compilation is the perfect companion on your epic quest to storm the ‘Walls Of Jericho’ and capture the ‘Keeper Of The Seven Keys’. It might even drag you ‘Straight Out Of Hell’ when you’re done.
Formed by Kai Hansen, Michael Weikath, Markus Grosskopf and Ingo Schwichtenberg, Helloween burst onto the scene in 1985 with their self-titled EP and quickly found fame as the leading lights of the German metal movement, setting new standards for melody and speed. Stepping down from the mic, guitarist Kai Hansen brought in 18-year-old Michael Kiske to front the band, and it wasn’t long before they’d created their first true classic. Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part I was stuffed to the gills with immortal anthems such as “Future World” and “I’m Alive”, but it was 1988’s second instalment that made them famous on both sides of the Atlantic. Bolstered by “I Want Out” and the high-flying “Eagle Fly Free”, Keeper Of The Seven Keys Part II got them support slots with Iron Maiden, Ozzy and the Scorpions, but darker times loomed.
The music video for the above-mentioned “I Want Out” has been remastered in HD. Check it out below:
Grammy Award-nominated extreme metal institution CRADLE OF FILTH will release its 14th studio album, "The Screaming Of The Valkyries", on March 21, 2025 via Napalm Records. The band reigns supreme as one of the most revered, formative and notorious names in music — from the depths of the extreme metal underground to the peaks of mainstream pop culture itself, and are responsible for breaking ground for many of today's top metal artists with their trademark mixture of blackened heaviness, macabre theatricality and scintillating gothic style.
Today, following the release of their acclaimed new single "To Live Deliciously", the track's music video has been released in all of its gory glory. Experience the ride of your life (or death, rather) and watch the video now below.
CRADLE OF FILTH master of ceremonies Dani Filth says about the new video: "An observation on religious restraint as well as being a window to tout a bit of blasphemous filth, the video for 'To Live Deliciously' (our second from the new album) is a pleasant social engagement betwixt a pious young nun and her mentor priest. Just with a smattering of demonic possession and sexual misconduct added for good stock."
On "The Screaming Of The Valkyries", Dani's recognizable scream and equally identifiable growl stand mightily alongside twin guitar attacks, symphonic flourishes and explosive rhythm section, implemented by drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka, bassist Daniel Firth, guitarists Marek "Ashok" Smerda and Donny Burbage and keyboardist/vocalist Zoe Federoff.
After album opener "To Live Deliciously" hits immediately, second track "Demagoguery" blends dark beauty, blast beats and slaytanic groove as only CRADLE can combine. Across the album’s blunt and unforgiving yet inviting expanse, CRADLE summons the succulent flavors of classic albums like "Dusk… And Her Embrace" and "Cruelty And The Beast" with the galloping (but no less fierce) thunder of recent entries "Hammer Of The Witches" and "Existence Is Futile". Flashes of early metal influences coalesce with carnivorous glee into unapologetic death 'n' roll. "White Hellebore" is CRADLE OF FILTH at its most devilishly straightforward, juxtaposing traditional heavy metal with blasts of thrashing fury, spinning back to operatic goth without sounding disjointed. Anchored by arguably the most mournful melody in their catalog, "Non Omnis Moriar" ("I shall not wholly die") could be a cousin to PARADISE LOST or ANATHEMA, inverted through CRADLE's thorny prism. "You Are My Nautilus" is the darkest song IRON MAIDEN never wrote, spinning an epic tale with dueling guitars, while "Ex Sanguine Draculae" conjures "Dusk"-era atmosphere with imaginative new colors.
Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios in Suffolk, England, "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" beckons the brave into a new era of CRADLE OF FILTH misadventure, celebrating massive melancholic melody, blackened thrash, and apocalyptic existential dread with a grinning smattering of unbridled revelry. "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" is a bloody dark love letter to the longtime legion of CRADLE OF FILTH faithful and a stunning entryway for fresh lambs to the sonic slaughter.
"The Screaming Of The Valkyries" track listing:
01. To Live Deliciously
02. Demagoguery
03. The Trinity Of Shadows
04. Non Omnis Moriar
05. White Hellebore
06. You Are My Nautilus
07. Malignant Perfection
08. Ex Sanguine Draculae
09. When Misery Was A Stranger
In a recent interview with U.K.'s Metal Hammer magazine, Dani stated about "The Screaming Of The Valkyries": "It's got elements of everything we've done, really. It has a few head nods to works like 'Midian' and 'Dusk[... And Her Embrace]', especially in the atmosphere and the subject matter. It's also got a very brilliant production, courtesy of Scott Atkins."
Asked if there is any overarching theme to it, Dani said: "No, I wouldn't say so. They're tricky things, concept records. You have to have tunnel vision and you can't veer from that path. So this is just an album. It's not an album with filly bits attached, like intros and outros. No guest appearances. Just nine songs. It's still quite a lengthy running time, obviously. We can't write a short song to save our fucking lives."
Dani went on to say that CRADLE OF FILTH's collaboration with pop superstar Ed Sheeran won't be on "The Screaming Of The Valkyries" "because we don't want it to overshadow the record. But we are going to bring it out. Originally, everybody wanted us to bring it out to glorious fanfare but Ed's management weren't keen on that. We're not absolutely sure how it will emerge, but it's been done, mixed and it's sitting on the shelf somewhere… you know, virtually. And it's fucking fantastic. But only a handful of people have actually heard it. My mum hasn't even heard it."
Last November, Dani was asked by Portugal's Look Mag, CRADLE OF FILTH frontman Dani Filth why it was taking more than three years for him and his bandmates to release the follow-up to "Existence Is Futile" album. He responded: "[We've done] loads of tours. We were in the studio beginning the drums last May. But then we went and did all summer festivals. Then we had holidays — one holiday a year, which we allow us to rejuvenate. Then I was recording with my friend in America. Then we went to South America and Mexico. Then we went, did a co-headline tour with DEVILDRIVER. Then we went back to the studio. Then our producer had a baby. Then it was Christmas, and we did more in the studio. Then we went on tour in Europe. Yeah, that's what happened. We've just been very, very busy.
"It was finished — it's been ready since July [2024], I think," Dani revealed. "We're having two more videos and singles before the album drops. Yeah, maybe even four; I'm not sure. It depends how well it goes. But yeah, there's a plan to a gameplan to everything."
Asked about the musical direction of the new CRADLE OF FILTH material, Dani said: "It's very hard to talk about it. I don't really wanna talk about it because I can't do it justice. Every album has a lot of things going on. It's just a very, very great record. It's the next stage of our evolutionary step as CRADLE OF FILTH, moving on from the [two new songs] we debuted on [the 2023 live album] 'Trouble And Their Double Lives'. It has elements of old-school CRADLE, elements of new-school CRADLE. It's catchy, it's fast, it's slow, it's romantic, it's heavy, it's theatrical."
In October, CRADLE OF FILTH released a new single, "Malignant Perfection", along with a music video directed by Vicente Cordero, who has previously worked with FILTER, DEVILDRIVER, IN FLAMES and BLACK VEIL BRIDES, among others.
In 2023, CRADLE OF FILTH released its first live album in over 20 years, the aforementioned "Trouble And Their Double Lives", via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded between 2014 and 2019 at different performances in the USA, Europe, Australia and beyond during the band's "Cryptoriana" world tour and dates following. Produced, mixed and mastered by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studios, with recording captured by Danny B, the effort not only featured a slew of fan favorites encompassing the band's discography but also two bonus tracks and two entirely brand new songs, "She Is A Fire" and "Demon Prince Regent".
CRADLE OF FILTH will co-headline the 2025 edition of the North American "Chaos & Carnage" tour, featuring fellow co-headliners DYING FETUS, as well as FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, NE OBLIVISCARIS, UNDEATH, VOMIT FORTH and CORPSE PILE.
CRADLE OF FILTH is:
Dani Filth - Vocals
Marek "Ashok" Smerda - Guitars
Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka - Drums
Daniel Firth - Bass
Donny Burbage - Guitars
Zoe Federoff - Vocals, Keys
Finnish folk metal goliaths, Ensiferum, are pleased to present their video for “Victorious.” The track is taken from the band’s Winter Storm full-length, out now on Metal Blade Records, and arrives in advance of the band’s upcoming North American co-headlining tour with Korpiklaani.
A grandiose and heroic offering, Winter Storm centers itself on a fantasy concept narrative penned by bassist Sami Hinkka. “Victorious” follows the band’s “The Howl” video where the young boy in the story grows up and becomes a shaman. His people are losing the war and as his final deed, he calls upon the Old Spirits one last time. He sacrifices his mortal form and becomes a spirit wolf and starts his journey to find The One to avenge for his people’s fate.
Offers Hinkka on “Victorious”: “The One and the spirit wolf have now roamed the lands and gathered an army. They march to the gates of the city of the Winter Storm Vigilantes. The battle starts, but who shall be the last to stand on the battlefield? Who shall be victorious? This fast and furious song calls everyone into a moshpit! We are victorious!”
San Francisco Bay Area metallers MACHINE HEAD will release their eleventh studio album, "Unatoned", on April 25, 2025 via Nuclear Blast/Imperium Recordings.
The official music video for the LP's second single, "Unbound", can be seen below.
According to a press release, "Unatoned" is "a testament to momentum, an album honed to its sharpest edge, forged on creative discipline and the hunger to push forward. It drips with melancholy melodies, and yet hammers with bludgeoning riffs, soars with anthemic sing-alongs of love lost and sadness, to bellowing power and undeniable confidence. Eleven albums deep, MACHINE HEAD remain as fierce, relevant, and unstoppable as ever."
"Unatoned" track listing:
01. Landscape Of Thorns
02. Atomic Revelations
03. Unbound
04. Outsider
05. Not Long For This World
06. These Scars Won't Define Us
07. Dustmaker
08. Bonescraper
09. Addicted To Pain
10. Bleeding Me Dry
11. Shards Of Shattered Dreams
12. Scorn
"Unatoned" was produced by MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn and Zack Ohren, and was mixed by Colin Richardson and Chris Clancy. The effort was mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound in Nashville, Tennessee.
Last November, MACHINE HEAD released "These Scars Won't Define Us" as the first single from "Unatoned". The official lyric video for the track, which features guest appearances by the other three bands which will accompany MACHINE HEAD on the Flynn-fronted outfit's spring 2025 North American tour — Swedish metal icons IN FLAMES, Italian alt-metallers LACUNA COIL and American metalcore maestros UNEARTH — can be seen below.
The five-week jaunt will begin on April 5, 2025 in Oakland, California at the legendary Fox Theater, then heads south for a stop at Sick New World festival, then east, and back across Canada, before concluding on May 10 in Kelowna, British Columbia.
MACHINE HEAD's current lineup includes former HAVOK guitarist Reece Alan Scruggs. Scruggs stepped in for MACHINE HEAD's previous guitarist Wacław "Vogg" Kiełtyka, who had been unable to make some of the group's dates due to his touring commitments with his longtime band DECAPITATED.
Reece made his live debut with MACHINE HEAD in November 2022 at Strummer's in Fresno, California at the opening show of the "Electric Happy Hour (Live)" tour.
Vogg joined MACHINE HEAD's touring lineup prior to the launch of the band's "Burn My Eyes" 25th-anniversary tour in late 2019.
The rest of MACHINE HEAD's lineup consists of guitarist/vocalist Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern and British drummer Matt Alston (DEVILMENT, EASTERN FRONT).
Earlier last year, MACHINE HEAD completed the "Slaughter The Martour" North American tour with support from L.A.'s FEAR FACTORY, Sweden's ORBIT CULTURE and Louisville, Kentucky's GATES TO HELL.
MACHINE HEAD has been touring in support of its latest album, "Of Kingdom And Crown", which came out in August 2022. The follow-up to 2018's "Catharsis" included the three songs that were featured on the 2021 "Arrows In Words From The Sky" single: "Become The Firestorm", "Rotten" and "Arrows In Words From The Sky". Much of "Of Kingdom And Crown" was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, California with engineer/producer Zack Ohren.
In November 2020, MACHINE HEAD released a single, "My Hands Are Empty", via Nuclear Blast. The song marked the first musical collaboration between frontman Robb Flynn and original "Burn My Eyes" guitarist Logan Mader in 24 years.
"My Hands Are Empty" was just one in a line of singles to be released by MACHINE HEAD, which issued "Do Or Die" in October 2019, "Circle The Drain" in February 2020, and the two-song digital single "Civil Unrest", consisting of "Stop The Bleeding" and "Bulletproof", in June 2020. "Stop The Bleeding" featured guest vocals from KILLSWITCH ENGAGE frontman Jesse Leach, and was written and recorded just days after the murders of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery.
Legendary guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen is set to release his brand new album, "Tokyo Live", on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. You can check out the first blistering taster on the video for "Top Down, Foot Down" below.
The incomparable Malmsteen is one of the greatest guitarists to ever have lived. So, when the chance comes to witness the maestro in the live setting, you take notice. This mesmerizing spectacle can be witnessed on "Tokyo Live".
"Top Down, Foot Down" is taken from the 2016 album "World On Fire" and showcases the wide range and dynamic flavor which demonstrates Malmsteen's fury and elegance, all encapsulated in a just-under-two-minute version of the song.
Malmsteen says: "'Top Down, Foot Down' is one of my favorite live numbers, C#m arpeggios into E arpeggios and a fluid C#m melody with flat 5th diminished and suspended resolution. The title also depicts my love of convertible cruising."
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo on May 11, 2024 as part of Yngwie's 40th-anniversary world tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall.
Talking about the live experience, Malmsteen adds: "Playing live in front of people is really what it's all about. It's exciting and dangerous because you have to take risks and there's no fixing afterwards."
Malmsteen's breathtaking technique takes center stage of the 100-minute concert while being cocooned by exquisite musicianship throughout. The setlist tracks Malmsteen's illustrious career, from "Hiroshima Mon Amour" and "Evil Eye" and through his remarkable solo career with "Rising Force", "Far Beyond The Sun", "Arpeggios From Hell" and "Seventh Sign" all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021's "Parabellum", with "Wolves At The Door", "Relentless Fury", "(Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum", not to mention rousing renditions of "Paganini's 4th" and "Smoke On The Water".
The name of Yngwie Malmsteen has always stood for uncompromising excellence. In a career that now spans more than 40 years he has proven himself to be a unique artist. You can try to categorize him in any way you wish. But the manner in which this supreme Swedish craftsman has continually developed his music makes Malmsteen sublimely transcend any definition you attempt to impose.
He now has a catalogue of 22 solo studio albums, each of which has much to commend. Malmsteen's artistry has always clearly incorporated a healthy virtuosity, but his talent goes well beyond a comprehensive control of the guitar. The man is a fine composer and, on recent releases, has also showcased a strong vocal presence and now, with only this fifth live release, it captures four decades of relentless fury and blissful artistry of one of the true greats.
"Tokyo Live" track listing:
CD1
01. Rising Force (Live)
02. Top Down Foot Down (Live)
03. No Rest For The Wicked (Live)
04. Soldier (Live)
05. Into Valhalla (Live)
06. Baroque & Roll (Live)
07. Like An Angel (Live)
08. Relentless Fury (Live)
09. Now Your Ships Are Burned (Live)
10. Wolves At The Door (Live)
11. Hiroshima Mon Amour (Live)
12. (Si Vis Pacem) Parabellum (Live)
13. Badinere (Live)
14. Paganini's 4th (Live)
15. Adagio (Live)
16. Far Beyond The Sun (Live)
17. Arpeggios From Hell (Live)
CD2
01. Seventh Sign (Live)
02. Toccata (Live)
03. Evil Eye (Live)
04. Smoke On The Water (Live)
05. Trilogy-Vengeance (Live)
06. Cadenza 1 (Live)
07. Brothers (Live)
08. Fugue (Live)
09. Cadenza 2 - Grand Finale (Live)
10. You Don't Remember I'll Never Forget (Live)
11. Acoustic Cadenza (Live)
12. Black Star (Live)
13. I'll See The Light Tonight (Live)
Legendary rock band SWEET has released the official music video for the song "Circus". The track is taken from SWEET's latest studio album, "Full Circle", which came out last September via Metalville Records. According to a press release, the LP will be SWEET's final studio album ever.
SWEET is a rock music phenomena that has taken the world by storm for more then five decades. Over the years, SWEET sold more than 55 million records and earned 34 No. 1 chart positions worldwide. The golden thread that links the past through to the present and into the future is SWEET founding member Andy Scott with all his determination to maintain high standards with the band's musical legacy, recording and touring. The band today has still an illustrious pedigree recreating "live" the high energy and soaring vocals associated with the SWEET sound that is the band's trademark.
SWEET began writing songs for the "Full Circle" album in 2019, before the pandemic. The project was shelved, and the band released "Isolation Boulevard" instead.
"Isolation Boulevard" featured all the SWEET's classic hit singles and was recorded with the new lineup during lockdowns between September and October 2020. It was a reworking of SWEET's 1975 album multi-million-selling "Desolation Boulevard". This involved remote recording sessions which put a new spin on the material. The album was well received, and a single, "Set Me Free", appeared in many heritage rock charts.
With the COVID period of isolation behind us, SWEET started the sessions for "Full Circle" in earnest. The band's touring schedule split the sessions but by the spring of 2024, the recordings were done. The band's performance is outstanding and producers Andy and Tom are very proud of the result.
"Full Circle" track listing
01. Circus
02. Don't Bring Me Water
03. Burning Like A Falling Star
04. Changes
05. Defender
06. Everything
07. Destination Hannover
08. Rising Up
09. Fire In My Heart
10. Coming Home
11. Full Circle
In a 2021 interview with VWMusic, Scott stated about SWEET's place within the rock and glam history: "I think we were probably underrated, and though we have respect from our peers, the other bands and musicians, I feel that if the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame came knocking, it would be a shame, almost too late, as I am the only one left. But hey, the legacy lives on."
Regarding SWEET's influence on the 1980s hair metal era, Andy said: "When bands like MÖTLEY CRÜE broke through, it was like looking at a snapshot of SWEET ten years on. The music was heavier and more reminiscent of our albums and B-sides than the singles. But in cultural/fashion terms, it is a direct line, a pure connection."
Three members of the original SWEET — Brian Connolly, Steve Priest and Mick Tucker — have died while Scott's version of the group still tours the U.K. and Australia.
Andy (guitars/vocals) is joined in his version of SWEET by Paul Manzi (lead vocals),Lee Small (bass guitar/vocals),Tom Cory (guitars/keys/vocals) and Adam Booth (drums/percussion).
Before he died, Priest had the right to use the SWEET name in the U.S. and Canada, whereas Scott toured a version of the group in the U.K. The pair were estranged for decades, but resumed contact in the 2010s.
UNDEROATH will release a new album, "The Place After This One", on March 28, 2025 via MNRK Heavy.
Renowned for its ability to transform chaos into harmony and aggression into anthemic survival, the Florida-based group delivers a record that promises to redefine heavy music and expand their already massive audience.
With two RIAA-certified gold albums, three Grammy nominations, and a legacy of uncompromising authenticity, UNDEROATH is back — and it's louder, bolder, and more essential than ever, while continuing to push boundaries in ways that few bands dare.
"The Place After This One" marks a truly momentous occasion in the band's history. It is a stunning document and a remarkable collection of songs, signaling a renaissance period in the beloved act's storied career. The album showcases where they're from, and more importantly, where they're headed. It's a masterpiece from musicians at the top of their game. Sonically, its references are varied and complex and is a distillation of everything they've accomplished thus far: a crystalline vision blending hard rock, electronic experimentation, guttural screams and anthemic, call-to-arms choruses.
Discussing the new album, UNDEROATH guitarist Tim McTague says: "'The Place After This One' is a multi-faceted idea. The fact that we grew up so sheltered and spiritual, and are trying to reconcile how we grew up against what we see now in the new age. UNDEROATH, albeit intact and the same, is simultaneously so different. Our band has gone through a lot of chaos. I think there's something beautiful about the idea of not just abandoning everything when things get weird. Whether it be your faith, or your band, or your marriage, or your relationships. The idea that there is a place after this one, even if it's with the same people or it's with the same God, or it's with the same town. Things compound when it's good, and you just cut out the things that are bad."
Following a string of new singles beginning last year — including "Generation No Surrender", "Survivor's Guilt" and "Teeth" — the band return today with a punishing new song taken from their upcoming album, "All The Love Is Gone", alongside its accompanying music video.
Speaking on the song out today, vocalist Spencer Chamberlain calls it "one of the most out-there songs we've ever written. We really wanted to create a track that was drum-and-bass-driven, kind of in the vein of THE PRODIGY, THE CHEMICAL BROTHERS, NOISIA, etc. We also pulled elements from JUSTICE and THE STREETS. There's a darkness to those artists that's so heavy and interesting to me, and we really wanted to embrace that on this song. To me, this is kind of our version of that — sharing a lot of those elements and vibes but still keeping the heaviness of UNDEROATH at its core."
He continues: "Lyrically, I wrote it from the place I used to go whenever something went wrong in my life, which I think we can all relate to. It's a place I now consciously avoid when things fall apart. But it's that moment when everything in your life has fallen apart, you're at the bar, and you just don't care anymore. Maybe it's the end of a relationship, the loss of a friend or family member, or you just got fired — whatever it may be, we've all had a night like this. It's a scary feeling, and it's a place I never want to go back to, but that's the song in a nutshell. It's pretty on the nose, so to speak, but I felt like I needed to write it down to remind myself to never go there again."
"The Place After This One" track listing:
01. Generation No Surrender
02. Devil
03. Loss
04. Survivor's Guilt
05. All The Love Is Gone
06. And Then There Was Nothing
07. Teeth
08. Shame
09. Spinning In Place
10. Vultures (feat. Troy Sanders of MASTODON)
11. Cannibal
12. Outsider
In 2025, UNDEROATH will be visiting Australia for the first time since 2019, performing "They're Only Chasing Safety" in its entirety along with an encore set, as direct support for ALEXISONFIRE. Soon after their jaunt in Australia, the band will return to North America for a run of shows supporting RISE AGAINST and PAPA ROACH as part of their "Rise Of The Roach" tour. The band will also be performing at Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival on May 10, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio and at Welcome To Rockville in Daytona Beach, Florida on May 16, 2025.
Swedish power metallers, HammerFall, performed at Leyendas Del Rock in Villena, Spain on August 12, 2023. Festival organizers have shared pro-shot video of the band’s entire show.
Setlist:
“Brotherhood”
“Any Means Necessary”
“The Metal Age”
“Hammer of Dawn”
“Blood Bound”
“Renegade”
“Venerate Me”
“Last Man Standing”
“Riders of the Storm”
“Let the Hammer Fall”
“Glory to the Brave”
“(We Make) Sweden Rock”
“Hammer High”
“Hector’s Hymn”
“Hearts on Fire”
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