Haiduk, the solo project of Luka Milojica is an unrelenting, hypnotic force that greets listeners with a barrage of death-infused black metal that is prominently displayed on the latest release “Diabolica”, which was released in September 2021. Now, Haiduk is releasing the next video music video for the track “Sea Of Fire”. The entirety of Haiduk's discography, which spans four full-lengths, takes place in the fantasy medieval realm of Callost, the different albums feature maps, descriptions, and stories set in the world.
Milojica explains the album and single in further detail:
"It’s about the depths of hell and the journey demons take to enter the world. The first ten songs on Diabolica are aggressive and meant to tire the listener. Your mind is then more vulnerable to a hypnotic track like ‘Sea Of Fire’ which is a slow descent but gets darker the further you go."
Like the album art depicts, Diabolica is an eruption of pent-up anger and power. Every song on the album is about building momentum and speed and blasting the listener with constantly evolving riffs and melodies. With pure speed and relentless riff attacks, the album crushes and keeps you on edge through aggressive arrangements as well as melodic and hypnotizing parts that create a mysterious atmosphere.
Haiduk was created to be the channel for Milojica’s dark musical desires, turning his ideas into a solo project inspired by acts such as Vintersorg and others from Sweden and Norway. Lightning-fast, and bursting with energy, Haiduk is recommended for fans of Bolt Thrower, Vomitory, and Dissection.
Diabolica was released on September 21, 2021, and is available on Bandcamp.
The masters of Chinese progressive metal band OU (pronounced "O") have unveiled their most recent video, "Dark 暗" from their 2022 debut album one.
Recordings for the group's planned sophomore album have begun. Renowned progressive metal artist/producer Devin Townsend will oversee the production of this impending masterpiece.
Drummer Anthony Vanacore says this about the song:
“‘Dark 暗‘ captures the enigmatic essence of universal darkness in a haunting melody, reflected masterfully in the artistic and contemplative music video. It poignantly portrays the awe-inspiring power of darkness, captivating the viewer with its stunning imagery.”
Hailing from Beijing, China, the group combine a variety of elements and influences (Devin Townsend, The Gathering, Radiohead to name a few), to create their extremely unique sound.
Formed by drummer and songwriter Anthony Vanacore, the idea behind OU came from each member having a long history of playing in local house bands and seeking new challenges in their growth as musicians. Vanacore would go on to recruit talented guitarist and fellow house band veteran Jing Zhang, as well as highly sought-after bassist Chris Cui, with the three of them laying the initial groundwork for the song structure and creative approach. OU recruited highly talented singer Lynn Wu to front the project, who brings with her ethereal vocals that contrast with the dynamic and engaging music, delivering a powerful and soaring sound. On their debut, OU set out with only one clear goal in mind, and that was to make certain that every song had its own unique identity.
one is available as Ltd. Edition CD Digipak, 180g Gatefold LP Edition and as Digital Album.
"Travel 穿"
"Mountain 山"
OU lineup:
Lynn Wu – Vocals
Anthony Vanacore – Drums, Producer
Zhang Jing – Guitars
Chris Cui - Bass
Of The Light delivers art metal/rock music, infused with hard-hitting grooves and coupled with infectious melodious hooks. The act's newest single, "Live On", is powerful, hard-hitting, and emotionally charged with a message about suicide prevention and healing negative thought patterns that lead to depression and hurt.
"Live On" with its intense power and a particularly groovy intro that collides tom-heavy drum work and thick, distorted palm-muted guitars, is a prime example of Greg’s ability to traverse tension and resolve, with dynamic passages that effortlessly convey the darker lyrical themes presented throughout this track.
"The message I try to convey with my music and lyrics is adversity can be overcome. Set boundaries with people that aren’t for your best interests. Stop self sabotaging yourself." - Greg Telfeian
Listen to "Live On" on Spotify, Apple Music, and Deezer. Watch a video below:
Brian Tichy (The Dead Daisies, ex-Whitesnake) has released the new video below, along with the following message:
"From Feb 1. I sent this to a friend to show where I’m at with it. Couple mistakes, etc. I tried the following week to actually track it for real, and kept falling short. I’ll get it together soon... maybe tonight!
"I’ve also played drums to this track on video so the goal is to put this performance in the same video as the drum play along so I can be Mr. “Look At Me! I’m On Drums & Guitar Playing A VH Song!” But I’m not so into video editing and all that, so it’s a bit of a chore. But, I put the time in so, might as well get it together. But man, it’s time to dedicate this kind of time to recording new music!
"But, challenging yourself to learn songs you love by amazing musicians only makes you better, and I’m decades behind what I should be capable of... Plus, if I don’t promote my guitar playing, then no one knows what I’ve spent most of my life doing besides drums, and I don’t like that something I’ve dedicated so much time to sits on the back burner indefinitely! Ha... like, I didn’t practice all these years to not try to make a thing of it!
"Hope u dig it…. The real take and video will be done soon!" 👍🏼🎊🎉🥁
KORN singer Jonathan Davis makes a guest appearance in "70 Thorns", the new music video from Kim Dracula. The clip was directed by Jensen Noen, who has previously worked with FALLING IN REVERSE, ICE NINE KILLS, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE and POP EVIL, among others.
Kim Dracula has surfaced from the flesh-eating diseases and torrential wildfires of Australia to create turbulent, creative art that mirrors the chaotic world around us. As for the person behind Kim Dracula, not much is known.
Blowing up in 2020, fans flocked to Dracula as he promoted his over-the-top compositions on social media with low-budget, yet impactful homemade videos which showcased long black and purple hair, garish makeup, demonic eyes, and a sardonic grin that promises nothing short of chaos and sensory overload. Dracula, however, was cultivating his sound and style long before pandemic outbreaks turned major cities into ghost towns.
After the success of his output on platforms like TikTok, Dracula's vision is finally able to come to life. On the first original track "Make Me Famous", we reach a gluttonous feast of violence, chaos and satire that makes Dracula's TikTok output look like Ed Sheeran. In addition to being extreme and multi-faceted lyrically and visually, "Make Me Famous" dwarfs Dracula's previous musical output by abrasively combining multiple styles, composed instrumentally by the members of Kim's band themselves, including metal, industrial, jazz, trap and Latin music in a single song without flying off the rails.
Kim says: "I've always had this vision. I've been wanting to combine these styles for over a decade, but it wasn't until recently that I actually had the resources to properly execute it."
Dracula's second release, "Drown", was a more melodic song that packed the same eclectic punch his making a name for, fusing styles such as post hardcore with synthwave, industrial, EDM and metal.
Between his musical composition, extreme visuals, and lack of desire to fit into any specific box, Dracula has earned a devoted following in all different communities.
"I don't care where you come from, what you believe in, or what you've done in the past," he says. "My art is for anyone and everyone who wants to enjoy it. There's enough division in the world already."
Longstanding Brazilian death / thrash metal trio Claustrofobia, formed in 1994 by brothers Marcus and Caio D'Angelo, boasts of a career spanning nearly three decades, a discography comprising six full-length albums and a DVD release, a multitude of international tours, high-profile live performances sharing stages with the likes of Iron Maiden, Slayer and Anthrax ... and countless fans all over the world.
Now headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, Claustrofobia has released their seventh full-length studio álbum Unleeched, and to promote the new work, they debut the music video for the disc's opening track “Stronger Than Faith''.
About the song, vocalist / guitarist Marcus D’Angelo says: “Undeniably it's the most powerful song on the album, I love the Brazilian flavor into the traditional thrash/death riffs, and this becomes more evident when the drumming attacks the song in connection with the bass."
“Faith is a word misrepresented by world society, always confused and/or associated with religion. We have to believe in our steps regardless of the unknown future, but it's not enough to just have faith, we must have devotion to sacrifice, be a volunteer in the battle to conquer, tame your own demons that chase us as if it's centurie's darkest cult.”
Made entirely in DIY style, this video is filmed on the Nelson Ghost Town at the historical Techatticup Mine and directed and edited by drummer Caio D’Angelo. It's the oldest, richest and most famous gold mine in Southern Nevada - U.S.A. All promotional photos were taken in Nelson Ghost Town, and the intro of the album has the sound of an abandoned piano that was also filmed in front of a chapel in Nelson.
“Shooting the music video for this track in the same location was a unanimous choice within the band. That place has an incredible and strong energy,” said Marcus D’Angelo.
Produced by Adair Daufembach and Claustrofobia, and recorded, mixed and mastered by Adair Daufembach in August 2020 at Northwood Sound Studio in Los Angeles, Unleeched was released by Metal Assault Records in March 2022 on digital and physical formats.
Unleeched artwork and tracklisting:
"Stronger Than Faith"
"The Encrypted"
"Neuro Massacre"
"Psychosapiens"
"Corrupted Self" - feat. Marc Rizzo
"Unleeched"
"Snake Head"
"Crawling Back To Yourself"
"2020 (March To Glory)"
King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and his wife, Toyah Willcox, are back in the kitchen serving up another Sunday Lunch. Check out their take on the Republica hit "Drop Dead Gorgeous" below.
A selection of Robert & Toyah's previous Sunday Lunch videos can be seen below:
Canadian rockers, Headstones, released their latest full-length album, Flight Risk, in October 2022 via Known Accomplice. Now, the band has issued a video for the song "Hotel Room", which appears on Flight Risk.
The clip, which can be seen below, was directed and edited by Eden Munro of NTT Films.
In live news, catch Headstones as part of the 2023 Crew Fest alongside Live, Our Lady Peace, and Bif Naked on July 29th at Lion's Park in Brantford, Ontario.
Flight Risk is pre-apocalyptic rock and roll at its finest, following up Headstones' 2019 release PeopleSkills, which garnered two Top 10 radio hits with “Leave It All Behind” and “Horses”.
This is one of the most subversive Headstones rock and roll records to date. Flight Risk is the result of years of relentless work ethic and dedication, a testament to the long-standing relationships within the band and their team. The album features a surprise co-write on the track "Ashes", between Hugh Dillon and long-time friend and collaborator Taylor Sheridan; one of the most prolific, premier storytellers of his time, and architect of hit series’ Yellowstone and 1883, Oscar-nominated films Sicario and Hell Or High Water.
Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo power metal cover of Gary Moore's 1989 classic, "After The War". Check it out below.
Check out Johansson's previous Gary Moore covers below.
KINGS OF THRASH, the new band featuring former MEGADETH members David Ellefson (bass) and Jeff Young (guitar), kicked off its "Thrashin' USA" 2023 tour last night (Thursday, February 16) at The Forge in Joliet, Illinois. Fan-filmed video can be seen below (courtesy of Charles NaeseYouTube channel).
During a recent appearance on the "Brews & Tunes" podcast, Young confirmed that KINGS OF THRASH is putting the finishing touches on a new original song called "Bridges Burn". "We're hoping to bust that out on tour," the guitarist added, referring to the first leg of a planned 2023 world tour.
According to Young, the seeds for the KINGS OF THRASH original music were planted more than a year ago when he and Ellefson took part in the filming of the upcoming documentary on late MEGADETH drummer Nick Menza. "We had dinner [at the Rainbow in West Hollywood] the night before the Menza documentary filming," Jeff recalled. "We were getting up to leave, and something hit me… It must have been '89. We were demoing a couple of tunes for what became 'Rust In Peace'. There was invitations to contribute to the writing, so David and I were demoing some stuff up on cassette. Unfortunately, I did not save those; I don't know what happened. But two of the riffs really stuck in my head. And I sang 'em in [Ellefson's] ear as we were paying the bill. He was, like, 'Dude, I totally remember those riffs. That's killer. We've gotta get in a room and work that stuff up.' So flash forward a couple of months later, he was back in L.A. I had another song idea that I actually started with a drum beat I had of Nick Menza's, and then I blew it out from there. He and I took those two riffs, demoed them. And a couple of more months went by, he was back out in L.A. again. We got together. And he had a couple of skeletons. And the cool thing about it is we never really had the opportunity to write together — it was so fast and furious back in the day — but now it was like we were finishing each other's sentences. We're more seasoned; we're better musicians; we're better songwriters. We're calmed and there's no ego in the room; there's no toxicity in the room — wink, wink… And we walked out of two writing sessions with four songs."
In October, Young told Ghost Cult magazine that KINGS OF THRASH's first original song was being recorded at a North Hollywood studio previously used by legendary producer Eddie Kramer (Jimi Hendrix). As for the musical direction of KINGS OF THRASH's original material, Jeff said: "It's got the vibe of MEGADETH — it's on that playing field, but it's got all of its own stuff and all of our influences and some SOUNDGARDEN/TOOL vibes in maybe the music and melodies."
As previously reported, KINGS OF THRASH will release a live CD/DVD package called "Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go" on March 24 via Cleopatra Records. The 17-song set, featuring performances of MEGADETH's classic albums "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!", was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15, 2022 and includes an appearance by another former MEGADETH member, Chris Poland (guitar). The DVD was directed by Michael Sarna for Inmotion Entertainment.
Asked in a recent interview with Ultimate Guitar if he and Ellefson have received any feedback from MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine about their new band or their recent live shows, tour, Young said: "Nah, we couldn't care less… and it's a win-win for him. Because all the publishing, for example, on the 'Best Of The West', he's getting all that money. We're making him money and he doesn't have to do anything. So, we're performing the songs because they're part of our history and the fans want to hear them and we will benefit from that, and so will he, so it's a win-win. How much cooler can anything be than that? So, if he has something to say about it… I wouldn't imagine it would be very objective… not that anything he's ever said has been objective."
Jeff's latest comments echo those he made last year when he told Thomas S. Orwat, Jr. of the Rock Interview Series, Young that he and Ellefson were "really not concerned" about Mustaine's reaction to KINGS OF THRASH. "I don't pay attention," he said. "I haven't really paid attention or followed MEGADETH since, I think, I heard the 'Rust In Peace' album a couple of times, and then what you might hear on the radio or in the press.
"For us, this isn't about any spite or retaliation; it's a celebration of the music that we were all a part of, that we helped create," he explained. "And it's fun for us to do this.
"People said, 'You should do this.' And we said, 'Hey, yeah, you're right. We should do this.' It's a win-win — it's a win for us, and it's a win for [Mustaine], because any performance royalties, anything… If we did include live tracks, he would make money off that. It's promoting albums that hopefully fans will go back and buy, which is putting money right in his pocket. Especially 'Killing Is My Business', I think a lot of people are gonna go back and wanna rediscover that album after this tour.
"For us, it's all about positivity," Young added. "We're all in this moment — we're living in the moment, and we're not looking beyond. We're not reading any of the comments on Blabbermouth or any of the stuff. Because we know what our intent is, and intent is everything. And our intent's positive. We like playing together. We know we're crafting original music. We're not relying on this; we don't need to ride the coattails of this. This is just something that the fans wanted, and you wanna give fans what they want."
Ellefson told Yes! You CAN Play Guitar! that the intention behind KINGS OF THRASH is not to stick it to his former bandmates. "This is a celebration, not a retaliation," he explained. "This is a good moment. This is a happy moment, to celebrate these songs and these tracks and these records. So we go at it with just fun… It's, like, 'Wow. Wouldn't it be fun if we went out and played these records?' And we're doing it. So it's meant to be this celebration and bringing people together. And honestly, that was kind of always my role in MEGADETH. Dave [Mustaine] always called me 'The Ambassador', and I was always that guy, and I am that guy. So it's, like, let me just continue that role in our community and have one of good will."
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH more than a year and a half ago after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.
David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.
In 2004, Ellefson filed an $18.5-million lawsuit against Dave Mustaine, alleging the MEGADETH leader shortchanged him on profits and backed out of a deal to turn Megadeth Inc. over to him when the band broke up in 2002. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed and Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH in 2010.
Young's entire career with MEGADETH was spent recording and touring in support of the band's 1988 platinum-selling album "So Far, So Good...So What!"
Jeff made headlines in December 2009 for accusing Mustaine of, among other things, "dissing, exaggerating and just plain lying on some level about nearly every talented musician that has passed through his dysfunctional little ensemble." He also disputed Mustaine's claim in an interview that Young's drug problem led to MEGADETH's 1988 Australian tour being called off and the group being "banned" from performing in the country.
Poland was a member of MEGADETH from 1984 to 1987, during which time he performed on the band's classic albums "Killing Is My Business... And Business Is Good!" and "Peace Sells... But Who's Buying?" He is also a featured soloist on the group's 2004 album, "The System Has Failed".
Back in 2004, Poland and/or his management and attorney filed a lawsuit against Mustaine regarding the use of the three "Rust In Peace" demos on the album's reissue without Chris's permission. Chris eventually settled for $9,500 and thereby ended a professional relationship with Dave and MEGADETH.
For the past couple of decades, Poland's main musical focus has been the fusion band OHM:, which has released several full-length studio albums to date.
KINGS OF THRASH' "Thrashin' USA" will cross the Midwest, East Coast, and southeastern part of the USA through March 15. As with the band's 2022 warm-up shows, the group, which also includes drummer Fred Aching as well as guitarist/vocalist Chaz Leon, will be performing "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!" in their entirety. Support on all shows will come from HATRIOT.
Speaking to Ralph Rasmussen of Radio Bypass about KINGS OF THRASH's recent shows and future plans, Ellefson said: "That was a thing where… Of course everybody knew our names — me, Jeff Young and Chris Poland. We advertised we were gonna play the 'Killing Is My Business' and 'So Far, So Good… So What!' records. And as it turns out, we ended up playing, like, half of 'Peace Sells' too. That's probably the most frickin' muscular setlist I've played since probably [MEGADETH's] 'Rude Awakening' [live album and DVD], when we filmed that in 2001 and I was 20 years younger. So we turned up the gas; there was no screwing around on that one. And it was great. It was super cool. It was super fun. It made me just realize how cool those songs are, how the detail and intricacies… It was a very different era, too. The songs were written under much different pretenses. There was a real innovation in those records, the stuff of the '80s, back then, that we were doing."
He continued: "We picked four cities. We said, 'Let's just go out and fire this off, kind of a proof of concept, show everybody what we've got.' I think the first night, when we played in San Diego, the fans right away got it. They were, like, 'Oh my God. Holy shit. We've been asking for this and wanting this for years. And oh my God. There they really are. Those are really the guys that played on those records. This is it.' And our drummer Fred and our singer Chaz, they got it in their hear as younger guys, so they get it and were excited to be there with us doing it. So, yeah, it really was just a moment in time for that to fire off like that so well. And now as a result, look, we've got live recordings, we've got more stuff coming up here in the New Year for that. So, yeah, that was just the beginning; that was just the first firework we blew off. There's definitely gonna be more after this."
Jeff was full of praise for Aching and Leon, telling Ghost Cult: "We really feel in a way how Ozzy [Osbourne] must have felt introducing Randy Rhoads to the world with these young two guys we have, both half our age and both so composed and mature musically for their age. And we've just been having a blast. And it's great that they're fans of the music and they've really studied it. Chaz, the singer/guitar player, plays in a MEGADETH tribute and fronts a SOUNDGARDEN tribute. So he has some of that Chris Cornell huskiness… So it's really cool to hear him sing these songs with a bit more huskiness and that young exuberance that he has. I think the kids are gonna love him 'cause he has that Dimebag Darrell kind of likability."
Thank You Joliet!!!! 👑 Killer Night 1 at The Forge is now in the books on the Kings of Thrash Thrashin USA Tour!!...
Epic melodic death metallers Nothgard have shared a new video along with the following message:
"We've been waiting so much for this moment! Our orchestral EP, Symphonia Deorum, is out now! To celebrate the release we've uploaded a music video for the single 'Falling Skies' featuring the amazing Madeleine Liljestam (Eleine). This video - made by René Berthiaume und Jessica Rösch from Hammer & Tiger Productions - captures the energy of this beautiful piece perfectly."
The band previously issued the following overview of the new EP:
"Symphonia Deorum is an epic orchestral monument, which we believe goes far beyond a re-release and fits perfectly into this time of the year. The physical release will be a strictly limited (only 500 copies worldwide) and noble mediabook with 32 pages with the musical scores of the songs as notations. We have also prepared two music videos for the release."
THE HALO EFFECT, the new project featuring five former members of the Swedish metal band IN FLAMES — Jesper Strömblad (guitar),Daniel Svensson (drums),Peter Iwers (bass),Niclas Engelin (guitar) and Mikael Stanne (vocals) — debuted two brand new songs, "Become Surrender" and "The Defiant One", during its just-completed three-date Swedish tour. Fan-filmed video of the performances in Gothenburg (February 17) and Malmö (February 18) can be seen below.
THE HALO EFFECT is planning to enter the studio later this year to record a new LP. The upcoming effort will be the follow-up to THE HALO EFFECT's debut album, "Days Of The Lost", which entered the official chart in Sweden last summer at position No. 1. This was believed to be the first time a debut LP from a metal act had ever topped the chart in Sweden in its first week of release. "Days Of The Lost" also landed at No. 6 in Germany.
"Days Of The Lost" came out on August 12, 2022 via Nuclear Blast.
Asked in a recent interview with Tomar Uma if THE HALO EFFECT is a "band" or just a "project", Mikael said: "It is definitely a new band. It started out as a project or an idea, but because of the time we had, I think we made it into a proper band and we wanna treat it as such because we want to make sure that we do everything we possibly can to make this as good as it possibly can be. We wanna do some tours; we wanna do cool festivals. And we're already starting to plan for more recordings and the next album and that kind of stuff. So everybody's just excited. And because it felt good and we were on a roll… You really can't hold Niclas and Jesper back once they get started. So they've already started writing new stuff. Let's keep up. It's gonna be a lot of work [laughs] the next couple of years, that's for sure."
Stanne was also asked if "Reroute To Remain", IN FLAMES' sixth album, which came out in 2002 and featured Jesper, Peter and Daniel, was an influence on the way THE HALO EFFECT approached the songwriting process. He responded: "I don't think so. I love that album — I think it's fantastic — but no, I don't think so. But, obviously, the other guys were a big part of it, so maybe that's something… They had that experience, so that will color and will somehow affect them. But I don't think it ever came up, so I don't think that was a particular influence. But, of course, everything is a part of what you do, right?!"
In June, Iwers was asked in an interview with Australia's "Scars And Guitars" podcast if he would agree that "Days Of The Lost" is, in some ways, a "spiritual successor" to "Reroute To Remain". Peter said: "Ooh, interesting. I haven't really thought about it. When you make music, like we do, you tend not to overthink stuff — you just go in and you write music and kind of know that what comes out will sound a certain way because of the style that we are playing and how we are playing and performing our music. So I haven't really thought about it, but maybe — maybe. It was definitely nothing intentional. We just went in. We had a bunch of ideas and we came out with a bunch of songs that happen to sound a certain way. But none of us really overthought it and it was never meant to 'it's gonna sound like this' or 'it's gonna sound like that.' We just [went], 'Let's write this music and see what happens.' And because of, like I said, how we're playing, it will sound a certain way."
Added Daniel: "A lot of people like to analyze music, and, of course, it sounds Gothenburg metal-ish because we all are from that genre and we are some of the people that kind of created it. So, of course, it will sound Gothenburg metal-ish, IN FLAMES-ish. And then which era, I don't know. And as Peter said, we don't really think about how it should sound. This is how we sound today, and with our legacy this is inevitable, that we sound as we do."
Continued Peter: "Obviously, people like to do a lot of comparing between us… It's a difficult topic to discuss because none of us have — even though we've all been in IN FLAMES at some point, none of us have really thought about this as what you're saying. But then a lot of people that we speak to say it. So it's a little hard to take in, as we've been very thorough in just writing music. But I'd say it's a little flattering to hear it."
Svensson, who joined IN FLAMES in 1998, announced in 2015 that he was leaving the group to focus on his family life.
A member of IN FLAMES since 1997, Iwers issued a statement in November 2016 saying that he was exiting the band "to pursue other endeavors."
A founding member of IN FLAMES, Strömblad quit the band in February 2010 in order to continue receiving treatment for his alcohol addiction.
Strömblad's THE HALO EFFECT bandmates have been supportive in his ongoing battle with the bottle, going so far as to hire THE HAUNTED's Patrik Jensen to fill in for him at any gigs he is unable to play.
Engelin has been sitting out IN FLAMES' tour dates for the past four years but has never officially confirmed his departure from the band. Engelin's replacement for IN FLAMES' live shows and in the recording studio since then has been former MEGADETH and current ACT OF DEFIANCE guitarist Chris Broderick.
Halos! Swedish tour alert: Both the Stockholm and Gothenburg shows are now completely sold out, but there are still some tickets remaining for Malmö. https://t.co/NBAAjktiIG
KINGS OF THRASH, the new band featuring former MEGADETH members David Ellefson (bass) and Jeff Young (guitar),was joined by early MEGADETH guitarist Greg Handevidt on stage Friday night (February 17) at the Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota to perform a cover of the METALLICA classic "Jump In The Fire". MEGADETH leader Dave Mustaine co-wrote "Jump In The Fire" during his 11-month tenure as a member of METALLICA, before being fired in early 1983 and replaced by Kirk Hammett.
After the Minneapolis concert, David took to his social media to share a video of the "Jump In The Fire" performance (courtesy of Tim Wimer),and he included the following message: "Had a blast at Varsity Theater tonight in Minneapolis while KINGS OF THRASH broke out a 'No Life Til' Leather' demo deep dive with 'Jump In The Fire' from 1982, including the original arrangement and lyrics... My life-long friend & guitarist Greg Handevidt joined us as we used to play that song (and several others in the earliest inceptions from 'Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!' & 'So Far, So Good… So What!') when we moved to LA in 1983 and got the MEGA train underway..."
Added Jeff: "We had a blast tonight in Minneapolis doing a deep dive with the 'Jump In The Fire' version from the 'No Life Til' Leather' demo...joined on guitar tonight by Ellefson's long time friend Greg Handevidt."
In February 2016, Ellefson was asked by Cranked Up Live about Mustaine's comments to Real Rock 99.3 where the MEGADETH leader implied that Ellefson was not a founding member of the band. Ellefson said: "Now, look, when Dave came home from METALLICA, he had another bass player, kind of a kid he was almost teaching how to play bass, and another guitar player he had been working with a little bit, and a singer, named Lor. And those were kind of the first people that, I think, in April and May of 1983 that Dave was just kicking some ideas around [with], seeing if he could get anything going. But the day me and my friend Greg Handevidt knocked on Dave's door and asked him where to buy some cigarettes and beer, that was the day that there was a unity that moved forward, because me, Greg, Dave, that singer Lor and our drummer Dijon Carruthers, who helped create a lot of the lyrics and the concept of 'Black Friday' on the 'Peace Sells' record, that was… we were the group that were rehearsing for a few weeks, working on these new songs Dave was writing. And one day we came back to… I think it was me and Greg's apartment… And it was Greg who suggested… We were talking about band names, and Greg suggested… There was a name kicking around, FALLEN ANGEL, that I think Dave… That was kind of working title that he had. But he had a song called 'Megadeth', which was later retitled to become 'Set The World Afire'. And it was my friend Greg who suggested, 'I think we should call the band MEGADETH.' And it was decided that day, so, I mean, technically, whoever was in the room that day was a founding member of MEGADETH. And, again, I don't know why there has to be so much importance on that. I know, I was there. And quickly, all those other members either scattered or were let go, and within a month or so, it was me and Dave standing next to each other — Dave and Dave of this new group called MEGADETH."
Ellefson was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, when the group briefly broke up because Mustaine suffered severe nerve damage that left him unable to play. After Mustaine reformed MEGADETH with an all-new lineup in 2004, Ellefson sued his former bandmate for $18.5 million, alleging that Mustaine still owed him substantial merchandise and publishing royalties. In January 2005, the case was dismissed in court, and five years later, Ellefson rejoined MEGADETH.
Ellefson was fired from MEGADETH in May 2021, just days after sexually tinged messages and explicit video footage involving the bassist were posted on Twitter.
David was in MEGADETH from the band's inception in 1983 to 2002, and again from 2010 until his latest exit.
KINGS OF THRASH kicked off its "Thrashin' USA" 2023 tour Thursday night (February 16) at The Forge in Joliet, Illinois.
As previously reported, KINGS OF THRASH will release a live CD/DVD package called "Best Of The West…Live At The Whisky A Go Go" on March 24 via Cleopatra Records. The 17-song set, featuring performances of MEGADETH's classic albums "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!", was recorded and filmed live at the legendary Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, California on October 15, 2022 and includes an appearance by another former MEGADETH member, Chris Poland (guitar). The DVD was directed by Michael Sarna for Inmotion Entertainment.
KINGS OF THRASH' "Thrashin' USA" will cross the Midwest, East Coast, and southeastern part of the USA through March 15. As with the band's 2022 warm-up shows, the group, which also includes drummer Fred Aching as well as guitarist/vocalist Chaz Leon, is performing "Killing Is My Business… And Business Is Good!" and "So Far, So Good… So What!" in their entirety.
Sid Falck (ex-Overkill) has released a new song, "I Am", under his own name, Falck.
Says Falck: "'I Am' is a little different from what I have released prior. I’d probably label it industrial metal. While I always gravitate towards the heavier end of the spectrum, I really enjoy exploring different directions. To me, industrial metal is a genre that’s wide open, and so full of possibilities “
An accompanying video can be viewed below. "I Am" can be downloaded here for “set your own price”, making it a free download, should you so choose. Also available on all streaming and digital platforms.
For this year's run of the 70000 Tons Of Metal Cruise, German thrash legends Kreator prepared a very special setlist for their January 30th appearance. It featured songs taken from '85 - '90 only. Check out fan-filmed video of the entire show below.
The setlist was as follows.
"Choir Of The Damned" (Intro)
"Ripping Corpse"
"Extreme Aggression"
"Riot Of Violence"
"Terrible Certainty"
Toxic Trace" (part)
"Endless Pain"
"Awakening of the Gods"
"People Of The Lie"
"When the Sun Burns Red"
"Some Pain Will Last"
"The Pestilence"
"Under The Guillotine"
"Terror Zone"
"Tormentor"
During these past few months, Calgary, Canada's fantasy metal Red Cain has surfaced two singles "Fisher King" and "Blight" and are now ready to share their next "We Are Chaos" with all of them and future tracks to be featured on their forthcoming album entitled NÄE'BLISS due out on April 28. Their third full-length album NÄE'BLISS is a homage to the legendary world of Robert Jordan's fantasy epic The Wheel Of Time (novel/TV series). With a grimdark edge, down-tuned guitars, death and power prog metal influences, and an unrelenting march forward, NÄE'BLISS is a foray into the reverse side of the Wheel of Time story - that of the Forsaken, antagonists, instruments of the Great Lord of the Dark, and the brutal and captivating allure of letting Chaos reign supreme.
The band explains further:
“We are fascinated by antagonists, why they stand against the “common good”, and how they came to fill that role - and when reading the Wheel of Time, there was the same intrigue behind how the very clearly defined “evil” faction in this world justified its existence. Why did the Forsaken willingly join the Shadow? Why do some men and women want the world to burn, and the Wheel to stop spinning? Within such a carefully crafted narrative and beautifully balanced universe, there were puzzling, unexplored gaps that we were determined to delve deeper into.
“And of course, fantasy is but a mirror of reality - so outside WoT lore, these questions apply equally well to the world beyond our window. Which of our idols are false, which heroes degenerate, and what history is a compendium of careful lies? It is all too easy to raise your fist against those labeled evil by the multitudes or a voice above while failing to realize you yourself are the instrument of tyranny and corruption.
“We are all massive fantasy fans, and for us, Wheel Of Time rubs shoulders with LOTR as a genre-defining epic fantasy series that started it all. The world of the Wheel is a brutal, compelling world with multitudes of fascinating characters, and we were particularly interested in exploring its more visceral aspects - an area that begs to be paired with heavy metal. We’ve seen some of our musical icons, like Blind Guardian, successfully go down this path, and it was magnificent to see new musical interpretations of those stories spun out by them - not to mention some bloody good fun.
“Now, it is our turn to ride forward in another turn of the Wheel. Enjoy!"
Continuing the experimental nature of the previous single “Blight”, “We Are Chaos” plants its flag firmly in death metal territory, with vocalists Evgeniy Zayarny and Kalie Yan trading off growls amid heavy, groove-laden riffs, backlit by the usual eerie soundscapes, and Samuel Ridout’s staccato guitar work. A plunge into the nature of chaos, promises broken, and a bond that threatens mutual destruction, “We Are Chaos” is very much a new iteration of the core Red Cain sound, and an emphatic musical and visual statement en route to the upcoming album release.
The band adds about the new single:
"Ruminations on chaos. Four rebellious souls plotting against a tyrant. An occult ceremony. A secret waiting to be torn open. Red Cain’s new single + music video “We Are Chaos” brings us back into the universe of the Wheel of Time, into the lair of the Forsaken - the Chosen, as they see themselves - in their resistance to the unending turning of the Wheel.
“Under the leadership of the enigmatic Moridin, irreversibly tied to their enemy, the Dragon Reborn, Sammael, Demandred, and Semirhage are the bulwark against the rising tide of the Dragon and his followers, and the decaying status quo that his ascension brings."
"We Are Chaos" was mastered by Alan Sascha Laskow (Every Hour Kills, ex-Divinity) and mixed by Tyler Corbett, (Sole Audio).
Ghost have released the new video below, along with the following "Message From The Clergy": "We wish to inform you that in this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes."
Ghost have revealed details of its upcoming Re-Imperatour U.S.A. 2023 summer tour with special guest Amon Amarth. Produced by Live Nation and FPC Live, the 27-date tour kicks off on Wednesday, August 2 in Concord, CA at Concord Pavilion, with stops in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cincinnati, Austin and more before wrapping up with the band's Monday, September 11 return to the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.
Says Amon Amarth: "We are pleased to announce Amon Amarth are joining fellow Swedes Ghost for another raid this summer across the US this August. Sharpen your axes and fasten your shields as we blaze across America sacking your cities and converting the survivors to join the Great Heathen Army! See you at the shows!"
General on sale startS Friday, February 17 at 10 AM, local time on Ticketmaster.com.
Tour dates:
August
2 - Concord, CA - Concord Pavilion
4 - Auburn, WA - White River Amphitheatre
5 - Airway Heights, WA - BECU Live at Northern Quest
7 - West Valley City, UT - USANA Amphitheatre
8 - Denver, CO - Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre *
11 - St. Louis, MO - Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
12 - Milwaukee, WI - American Family Insurance Amphitheater
14- Clarkston, MI - Pine Knob Music Theatre
15 - Chicago, IL - Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
16 - Cincinnati, OH - PNC Pavilion at Riverbend Music Center
18 - Syracuse, NY - St. Joseph's Health Amphitheater at Lakeview
19 - Mansfield, MA - Xfinity Center
20 - Bridgeport, CT - Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
22 - Indianapolis, IN - TCU Amphitheater at White River State Park
23 - Burgettstown, PA - The Pavilion at Star Lake
24 - Bristow, VA - Jiffy Lube Live
25 - Camden, NJ - Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
27 - Nashville, TN - Ascend Amphitheater
29 - Simpsonville, SC - CCNB Amphitheatre at Heritage Park
30 - Jacksonville, FL - Daily’s Place
31 - Tampa, FL - MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
September
2 - The Woodlands, TX - The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion presented by Huntsman
3 - Austin, TX - Germania Insurance Amphitheater
5 - Irving, TX - The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7 - Albuquerque, NM - Isleta Amphitheater
8 - Phoenix, AZ - Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
11 - Los Angeles, CA - The Kia Forum ^
* Non-Live Nation Date
^ Amon Amarth not on this date
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