Active rock outfit Budderside have released an emotional new single, “Joker”, which pays tribute to vocalist Patrick Stone’s late father, Charles E. Stone, who passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Known as the “joker,” Stone’s father was a Korean War veteran and stunt pilot. To honor his memory, Budderside - Patrick Stone (vocals), Sam “Bam” Koltun (lead guitar), Logan Nikolic (rhythm guitar), Gabe Maska (bass) and Jeff Dewbray (drums) - filmed the “Joker” music video at Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, CA surrounded by historic warbirds and aerobatic aircrafts, with Stone’s face painted to resemble the joker character.
Watch the touching video, directed by longtime collaborator Vicente Cordero, below. “Joker” is available now to stream/download across all digital platforms here.
“‘Joker’ pays tribute to my father who was a veteran and stunt pilot that I lost due to Covid,” shares Stone, whose outstanding soaring vocals underline the song’s heart and soul.
He continues to reminisce about his relationship with his father and how it inspired the track: “Imagine you’re a child, Dad wakes you up before dawn, takes you to the airport and straps you into his two-seater acrobatic aircraft and you both launch into a gorgeous, burning orange and red sunrise. He flips the plane upside down just as you come over the Santa Cruz mountains above Steamers Lane, the engine growling into a dive toward waves covered with surfers who begin jumping from their boards in fear of a crash. Dad laughing his ass off, upside down and lightning fast, then, spinning upward, straight for the stars. He cuts the power into a stall! You fall backwards, your heart spit from your chest, all the angels in heaven vibrating in your bones and Dad, The Joker, laughs even louder as the free fall consumes you. A quick trick with the controls, the engine comes back to life like an earthquake, the power under your seat, you both scream! Then, like a dream, the clouds act like a blanket and softly carry you to wherever you want to go. This was a typical Sunday morning for my dad and I.”
"Joker” lyrics:
Fear is my own design
Loss is my every chain
Possessions hold me down
Reminding me of times of pain
Hold me closer now
As I push you away
Into a new chapter
Alone so proud dying so brave
So brave
Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…
I can’t be everything
Like you are everywhere
In every breath I breathe
Shining the light on mystery
The mountains sing the song
Resting your soul to sleep
The fallen snow it lays
The child down where he believes
Believe in me
Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…
I’m following the ghost that has failed you,
and I won’t ever forget he betrayed you
Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joke is on you and…
Travel with me through time
Walk with me in your light
Find me where you would fly
The joker in the sky
The joker in the sky
Budderside have been steadily releasing a series of singles leading into the release of their upcoming third album, due in 2023, which they recorded earlier this year with producer Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Hollywood Undead). Their recent single “The Truth” topped the Danny Wimmer Presents “Power Hour” fan-powered music video countdown Twitch show hosted by VJ/music personality Matt Pinfield, SiriusXM dj Caity Babs and industry exec Josh Bernstein. It was #1 for nine weeks, the maximum allotted amount. Budderside’s recent singles include “Never Worth It,” “Too Far,” “Ghostlighting” and “Voices.”
The LA-based group have been seen performing one-off gigs at hometown venues including The Whisky and Viper Room throughout the year. When they’re not touring or recording, Koltun can be seen on the road with Dorothy and Faster Pussycat and Nikolic appears with Diamante on tour. Stay tuned in 2023 for additional tour dates.
PANTERA's third live performance in over 20 years took place Friday night (December 9) at Knotfest Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. Surviving members Rex Brown (bass) and Philip Anselmo (vocals) are joined in PANTERA's reformed lineup by guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX).
The setlist was as follows, according to Setlist.fm:
01. A New Level
02. Mouth For War
03. Strength Beyond Strength
04. I'm Broken
05. 5 Minutes Alone
06. This Love
07. Yesterday Don't Mean Shit
08. Fucking Hostile
09. Planet Caravan (BLACK SABBATH cover)
10. Walk
11. Cowboys From Hell
12. Domination / Hollow
The new PANTERA lineup made its live debut on December 2 at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest and also performed Tuesday (December 6) at Monterrey Metal Fest in Monterrey, Mexico.
Earlier on Tuesday, Benante reflected on the Hell & Heaven concert during an appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk". He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Basically, we get up there and there's a big kabuki curtain in front of us and the four of us just up there. And Philip came up to the drum riser and we just had this moment where we were shaking hands. We were so excited. And then I looked to Rex and I looked to Zakk, and the four of us just had this connection. And before I knew it — boom — we were right into playing 'A New Level'. And it was off from that point. And I was looking at the setlist, and I saw the next song coming up, and I was excited about that song. And then that song would finish, and I looked down, and I'm, like, 'Oh, I fucking love this song. Yeah!' It was that all night for me — just getting super hyped up about the next song and what was coming up. So I enjoyed myself."
He continued: "One thing I spoke to those guys about months ago, I said, 'Man, let's just try and be in the moment and just enjoy it.' And that's what we all did — we just kind of enjoyed it."
Speaking about how he and the members of PANTERA came up with the setlist for the Hell & Heaven performance, Charlie said: "Actually, Rex, myself and Philip, we were on a call and we basically came up with the setlist. And I remember saying to them, 'You guys are really close to this stuff. From my point of view, like a fan, man, these are the songs that, of course, must be played.' And, of course, they agreed with that. But then there were some deep cuts that we wanted to do too. And they were welcome to it. We even talked about adding more songs to the setlist for next year. So everybody's pretty much open. The way I kind of looked it is, 'Let's try and hit every record. Let's try and do a song from every record at least.' So that's what we're trying to do."
He added: "For this run here in South America, we're gonna keep [the setlist] as is, but next year I can see a song or two being dropped and replaced with another song. We already talked about that the other day."
It was first reported in July that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour under the PANTERA banner.
The band will headline a number of other major festivals across North America, South America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts. They will also support METALLICA on a massive North American stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.
According to Billboard, the lineup has been given a green light by the estates of the band's founders, drummer Vincent "Vinnie Paul" Abbott and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, as well as Brown, who last year said Wylde wouldn't tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It's unclear what changed his mind.
Benante told "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that Dimebag and Vinnie are a big part of the new PANTERA show.
"Before 'Planet Caravan' starts, we have this video that runs with a little piece of the song 'Cemetery Gates', and it's basically a tribute to Dime and Vinnie," he explained. "I mean, Dime and Vinnie are all over the place. They are on my drum kit. Zakk has patches with them. But even in spirit, they're there.
"Before we went on, Sterling Winfield, who was very close to Dime and Vinnie — he basically engineered the last three records that PANTERA did — he brought me a pair of Vinnie's old gloves, and he brought me one of Darrell's old wristbands that he wore," Benante added. "And I put the wristband on and I played the show with that wristband. And I put the gloves in my pocket. So I had both of them with me that night."
Regarding how he prepared for the PANTERA live performances, Charlie said: "When I talked to Philip back in — it was, like, the end of December [2021] about this, that day, I hung up the phone and I immediately started to get my head into PANTERA mode and just figure things out. Because I knew these songs, but I didn't know how to approach playing the songs, how I'm gonna do this. And the one thing I wanted to do is I just wanted to play it like Vinnie. When the fans hear it, when anybody heard it, I wanted them to be able to close their eyes and I wanted it to sound like Vinnie."
As for how he felt about his personal performance at Hell & Heaven, Benante said: "I felt good about it. There was a couple of things that I am going to just play a little differently. Not so much the parts, but I think we were all a little bit — the adrenaline was going, and I wanna just pull some songs back a bit. We're playing here [at Monterrey Metal Fest in Monterrey, Mexico] tonight, and I think I'm going to just kind of relax a little more and just kind of settle down. I mean, it was the first show, so it was expected. We're human. I'm not playing to a click track. So tonight I think I'm gonna lay back a little bit more."
Charlie also talked about his musical chemistry with Rex, saying: "That's the thing. I didn't know how we would kind of come together and when we would make the connection. But I've gotta be honest with you, when I went down to New Orleans in September and it was just me, Rex and Philip. And after the first day, Rex and I, we had such a connection, and he said to me, he was, like, 'Dude, when I close my eyes, I feel like it's Vinnie up there.' So that made me feel so good when he said that. And Philip said the same thing too. So I was so happy about that. Because, honestly, I really did my homework. We're talking these tiny little nuances — things that maybe people wouldn't hear — I'm putting 'em in there because it's important to me to deliver it just like Vinnie would."
As for his drum setup for the PANTERA show, Benante said: "It's a totally different configuration [to what I play with ANTHRAX]. I'm playing more like Vinnie's kit, the way Vinnie played it. I wanted to play a kit like that because it gave me a bit more of a challenge. And I can't add more drums to it, because I just wanted to have the two toms in the front — floor toms — so I'm just sticking totally to the way he had it, and I wanna play it exactly like he had it and it sounds exactly how he had it too. So that's how I approach this."
Charlie went on to say that he doesn't understand all the negative comments that have been directed at him and the other members of PANTERA for trying to keep the band's legacy alive.
"This was never a reunion," he explained. "How can it be a reunion without Vinnie and Dime here? Sometimes people will send me something, and I see things online, and it's so disrespectful to both Darrell and Vinnie, and it's totally disrespectful to us too. And it's just, like, 'Man, if you don't wanna come, you don't have to come.'
"One of the first things I said to Philip on the phone, I said, 'This, to me, is more on an emotional level than any other level.' This means a lot to me personally, to go out there and represent those guys and represent the PANTERA name," he continued. "And that's all I'd ever want for me. I don't care about it financially and stuff like that; this, to me, I had to do this. I didn't wanna see anybody else playing these songs but me up there."
Reflecting on his initial conversation with Anselmo about taking part in the reformed PANTERA, Charlie said: "I was so excited about it. I said, 'Thank you for thinking of me.' And they were, like, 'There was nobody else.' And that made me feel really good. Because they knew my relationship with Darrell and they knew my relationship with Vinnie. And I loved those guys, and I love these two guys just as much."
Up until his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for Dimebag's death.
Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.
Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his other home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.
Coinciding with the release of her Best Of: Living The Dream one week ago, Tarja is being presented with six Impala awards commemorating more than 250,000 sales in Europe for her albums Beauty And The Beat, Act II, Luna Park Ride, The Shadow Self, In The Raw, and From Spirits And Ghosts (Score For A Dark Christmas).
To celebrate, Tarja and earMUSIC shared the live video for her song "Innocence." First released on Tarja's fifth studio album The Shadow Self, the fan-favorite expresses Tarja’s gratitude towards classical music.
The live version, recorded on January 23, 2020, at the Circul Metropolitan in Bucharest, is part of Tarja's brand new live release Circus Life, which is exclusively available on the Limited Mediabook and Box Set of her Best Of: Living The Dream. The concert shows Tarja playing with an expanded band of 17 musicians and performing many of her most well-known tracks in new arrangements.
Tarja's "best of" collection, Living The Dream, can be ordered here. Tarja unboxes various edition of the collection, below:
"Circus Life" is a powerful two hour concert experience which captures Tarja’s 2020 performance at Circul Metroplitan Bucuresti in Bucharest, Romania. A unique in-the-round presentation adds to the dynamic and heightens Tarja’s connection with her enraptured audience. Available for the first time as part of the Best Of: Living The Dream limited edition Mediabook and deluxe box set. Watch a trailer below:
Looking back on 15 extremely successful years of the Finnish singer's solo career, the Best Of contains not only Tarja's most well-known tracks, many of them newly remastered at Sterling Sound, and personal favorites from all six studio albums — My Winter Storm, What Lies Beneath, Colours in the Dark, The Brightest Void, The Shadow Self, and In the Raw — but also the never-before-heard song "Eye of the Storm."
"After all these years, I still really can't believe it's time for me to release a proper 'Best Of' album," Tarja says. "So many beautiful moments, unbelievable. It has been a dream to put together this collection. And I really hope that you will enjoy this as much as I did while making it."
The compilation was hand-picked by Tarja herself. Each featuring exclusive rarities and/or the previously unreleased two-hour Circus Life concert, which is eagerly awaited by fans — as well as upgraded versions of Tarja's music videos. Rounded out by high-quality artwork, deluxe liner notes, and many formats to choose from, this collection is a delight for casual fans, as well as superfans.
Best Of Tarja: Living The Dream is available on 1CD Digipak, Ltd. 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook, 2LP (Gatefold, 180g, black), Ltd. Coloured 2LP (Gatefold, 180g, crystal clear), Ltd. Box Set and on Digital.
The standard version of the CD and vinyl contains 16 tracks (including the brand new single) as well as deluxe liner notes. The strictly limited Mediabook holds 13 further tracks and the previously unreleased, two-hour live show Circus Life. The strictly limited box set contains an additional 19 tracks selection of Tarja's projects including Outlanders, 4 Picture Disc, 6 art prints, 2 posters, and a fine art print signed by Tarja!
Content/Tracklisting:
1CD Jewelcase / 2LP Gatefold (180g, black) / Ltd. 2LP Gatefold (180g, crystal clear):
16 Tracks, handpicked by Tarja
Ltd. 2CD+Blu-ray Mediabook (48pages):
CD1: 16 tracks (=1CD Jewelcase)
CD2: 13 further rare tracks from Tarja’s career (B-sides, rarities etc.)
Blu-ray: Two hours of previously unreleased live show Circus Life. Filmed January 23, 2020, at the Circul Metropolitan, Bucharest, Romania + all official music video clips
Ltd. Box Set:
3CD+BD earBOOK (36 pages)
CD1: 16 tracks (=1CD Jewelcase)
CD2: 13 further rare tracks from Tarja’s career (B-sides, rarities etc.)
CD3: 19 tracks selection of Tarja’s classical side projects and Outlanders
Blu-ray:previously unreleased, 2 hours full live concert Circus Life on video. Filmed January 23, 2020 at the Circul Metropolitan, Bucharest, Romania + all official music video clips)
4 Picture Disc (incl. CD1+CD2)
6x art prints
2x posters
1x fine art print signed by Tarja
CD1 / LP1+2 tracklisting:
"Eye of the Storm"
"I Walk Alone" (Single Version)
"Die Alive" (Alternative Version)
"Enough"
"Falling Awake" (Feat. Jason Hook)
"Until My Last Breath" (Single Version)
"I Feel Immortal" (Radio Remix)
"Victim of a Ritual"
"500 Letters"
"Never Enough"
"Innocene" (Radio Edit)
"Demons In You" (Feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
"Diva"
"Dead Promises" Ffeat. Björn "Speed" Strid)
"Tears in Rain"
"You and I" (Band Version)
CD2 + Picture Disc 3+4 tracklisting:
"Oasis"
"Sing for Me"
"Anteroom of Death" (Edit Version)
"In for a Kill"
"Naiad"
"Crimson Deep"
"Mystique Voyage"
"Deliverance"
"Into the Sun"
"Eagle Eye" (Feat. Chad Smith)
"Too Many"
"Love to Hate"
"Shadow Play"
CD3 tracklisting:
"Rukous, Op. 40 : N°2"
"Oi, Kiitos Sa Luojani Armollinen"
"Ave Maria" (Camille Saint-Saëns)
"Ave Maria" (Giulio Caccini)
"Ave Maria" (Tarja Turunen)
"Walking in the Air"
"You Would Have Loved This"
"O Come, O Come Emmanuel"
"Together"
"O Tannenbaum"
"What Child Is This"
"Varpunen Jouluaamuna"
"Heinillä Härkien"
"En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa"
"Witch-Hunt"
"You Take My Breath Away"
"I Feel Pretty"
"The Cruellest Goodbye"
"World in My Eyes"
Blu-Ray tracklisting:
"Mystique Voyage"
"500 Letters"
"Naiad"
"Diva"
"You and I"
"Love to Hate"
"Demons in You"
"Never Enough"
"Falling Awake"
"I Feel Immortal"
"I Walk Alone"
"Victim of Ritual"
"Innocence"
"Die Alive"
"Tears in Rain"
"Dead Promises"
"Until My Last Breath"
"Shadow Play"
FREDLÖS, the new Stockholm, Sweden-based band featuring ENTOMBED guitarist Alex Hellid, will release its self-titled debut album on February 10, 2023 via Threeman Recordings, Fredlös Produktion and Sound Pollution.
FREDLÖS came together in the spring of 2021, rising from the ashes of previous musical adventures, based in the country around Norrtälje, northeast of Stockholm. United by a deep sense of their historical roots and a love of dark sounds, they create a truly epic landscape, blending heavy guitars with more traditional instruments and a need to relate history true to the facts. The result is a brooding yet effortlessly melodic sound where the listener can survive and thrive in the dark.
"Fredlös" contains nine dark, heavy, intense songs. Lyrically the album is a journey through the late Middle Ages, recounting the historical events from the perspective of the common people. Musically, it's a tour de force that defies any one description, weaving metal, rock, folk, and traditional music themes into a rich and varied tapestry.
"Fredlös" track listing:
01. Våt Varm Jord
02. Otto
03. Farsot
04. Missväxt
05. Fredlös
06. Uppror
07. Undergång
08. Deus
09. Requiem
FREDLÖS has already released two singles, "Farsot" and "Våt Varm Jord", the latter of which was described as "seven minutes and 22 seconds of swirling, dynamic, beautiful heavy music introducing the first chapter of FREDLÖS, where you are implored to reject the light and embrace the wet warm soil."
Hellid and ENTOMBED frontman Lars-Göran "LG" Petrov had been embroiled in a legal battle over the ENTOMBED name for several years prior to the singer's March 2021 death after a battle with bile duct cancer. He was 49 years old.
California rockers PAPA ROACH have released the official music video for the title track of their latest album, "Ego Trip". The LP came out in April via New Noize Records in partnership with ADA Worldwide (WMG's independent label and artist services arm).
PAPA ROACH stated about the Bryson Roatch-directed "Ego Trip" clip: "We visited the legendary House Of Vans in Mexico City earlier this year and invited fans to come get crazy with us on a day off to film the video for the title song on the 'Ego Trip' album. The energy was truly inspiring to everyone! Thank you, Mexico. We love you! Viva La Cucaracha".
PAPA ROACH and FALLING IN REVERSE recently announced the second leg of the "Rockzilla" tour, featuring special guest HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and opener ESCAPE THE FATE. The trek will kick off in Rochester, New York on February 1 and will include stops in 21 cities across the U.S.
PAPA ROACH will be traveling abroad next year for a string of U.K. dates with DON BROCO and DANCE GAVIN DANCE, followed by summer festival appearances in Europe with more set to be announced.
After two years of work and nearly 10 months of building up excitement with fans, PAPA ROACH recently celebrated the release of their eleventh studio album, "Ego Trip". An album that sprouted almost by mistake in the throes of a global lockdown, its seeds were planted when the quartet entered a COVID-secure mansion in Temecula, California in the summer of 2020. What started as an escape and an exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing, in a world that had completely ground to a halt, quickly grew into something bigger. Purposeful, provocative, and just the right side of the line between confident and cocky ("I really hope [the album title] stops a few people in their tracks," cackles Shaddix),"Ego Trip" is PAPA ROACH — completed by guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and drummer Tony Palermo — at its boldest and most brilliant.
PAPA ROACH are two-time Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling leaders in alternative hard rock music, who in 2020 celebrated the 20th anniversary of their iconic album "Infest". 20 years into their career, the band continue to have global success.
THE WINERY DOGS — the powerhouse trio consisting of guitarist/vocalist Richie Kotzen, bassist/vocalist Billy Sheehan and drummer/vocalist Mike Portnoy — will release its third album, "III", on February 3, 2023 via the band's Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard). Following in the footsteps of their first two albums, "III" was once again produced by THE WINERY DOGS and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston.
Yesterday, the first song to be released from "III", "Xanadu", received its world premiere during SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" show. It's now available on digital formats.
While the title of the all-out smokin' opening track and lead single "Xanadu" might evoke different imagery in more progressive-leaning listening circles, Kotzen's zen-seeking, hard-rocking ruminations on "Xanadu" once again shine a light on the eternal power of good collaboration.
"Coming out of the gates, that's a barnburner," acknowledges Portnoy. "It's one of the fiercest tracks on the album." Incidentally, eagle ears will also delight in picking up on how definitively Portnoy drops his drumsticks right as the song concludes. "At the end there, you're hearing me toss my sticks — not in frustration, but very much in satisfaction of what we had just done," he clarifies with a laugh.
From the clarion call for connection and societal understanding in "Mad World" to the door-opening personal realizations of "Breakthrough" to the undeniable muscle-flexing reign of the white-hot "Pharaoh" and the album-closing energy spillage of "The Red Wine", all 50-plus minutes of "III" prove THE WINERY DOGS haven't lost a step when it comes to conjuring fresh hooks, gutbucket grooves, and bold harmonies.
That said, it's been a long road back to the collective compound for Kotzen, Sheehan and Portnoy. Back in 2015-16, they hit the road hard together to showcase their mettle as hardcore (you guessed it) road dogs in order to build upon the success of their well-received 2015 sophomore studio effort, "Hot Streak", by touring all across the globe. Eventually, the seasoned trio returned to their respective corners to focus on various other projects for the ensuing next few years. But when that live itch needed another scratching, these three working musicians knew just what they had to do.
"We wanted to tour," Kotzen confirms succinctly of THE WINERY DOGS' 22-date run in early 2019 that was appropriately dubbed "Who Let The Dogs Out", before adding, "We had to get those cylinders firing together once again." Concurs Portnoy, "That was a fun little tour that reignited our enthusiasm — and that's also when we knew a third album was definitely in the cards." Adds Sheehan, "Getting back together like that was really refreshing. We could relax a bit and enjoy being together onstage, playing without any pressure. It was a beautiful thing."
Duly reinvigorated, THE WINERY DOGS were finally aligned to record again by initially ensconcing themselves together in Kotzen's intimate, cozy home studio in Southern California to jam on new material that was mainly created in the moment during many hours of face-to-face musical interaction. Always the driven and intuitive songwriter, Kotzen displays a definitive M.O. whenever he's working out new songs in the studio by scatting melodies and putting forth short bursts of semi-improvised lines and phrases that will soon enough transform into sharply honed subject matter. "My attitude is this: when I'm in the studio creating new music, the last thing on my mind is, 'How am I gonna do it live?'" Kotzen admits. "The reality is, I may never get to where I'll do it live. What's relevant is getting the vision that's in my head, in my heart, and in my soul to come out of the speakers. If it gets to the point where the tour is booked, the dates are confirmed, and we all get back in the rehearsal room together, that's when you figure out, 'Okay, how do I interpret this in a way it can be delivered live, and still be the same song?'"
"III" is the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed and Billboard-charting album "Hot Streak", which was released October 2, 2015 on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment). After landing in the Top Five on many of Amazon's pre-order charts, including No. 1 on the Amazon BestSellers/Hard Rock chart and No. 1 on the Amazon Pre-Orders/Hard Rock Albums charts, it sold 30% more than their 2013 self-titled debut, landing them on various Billboard album charts including No. 2 on "Top Current Alternative Albums," No. 5 on "Top Current Hard Music" and "Top Hard Music Albums," No. 6 on "Top Current Rock Albums" and "Album Core / Genre Rock," No. 15 "Top Current Physical Albums," No. 16 "Top Current Albums," and No. 30 on the "Top 200 Albums" chart.
Upon its release, "Hot Streak" racked up rave reviews. Allmusic.com hailed, "'Hot Streak' is the trio's second album, and its loose, friendly feel shows that the trio doesn't feel compelled to rely on instrumental pyrotechnics. The bluesy, soulful 'Think it Over' would appeal to those who admire THE ALLMAN BROTHERS, while 'Captain Love' shows that the band also has some hard rock energy to unleash, and the title track lets fly some of the technical proficiency that its members are known for." And GuitarInternational.com praised, "'Hot Streak' picks up where their debut CD left off, but showcases the band coming into their own with straight-ahead rockers like 'Oblivion', 'Captain Love' and 'Devil You Know'."
"III" track listing:
01. Xanadu
02. Mad World
03. Breakthrough
04. Rise
05. Stars
06. The Vengeance
07. Pharaoh
08. Gaslight
09. Lorelei
10. The Red Wine
In addition to the new music, fans will also be excited to hear that THE WINERY DOGS is hitting the worldwide concert trail starting February 15 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania at the Palace Theatre for their "202III World Tour". Ticket and VIP package info can be found on the band's official web site.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the debut album from Philadelphia's ultraviolent assassins, The Crippler. I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In will be released December 23 on CD and digital formats along with merch. Watch the band's video for the title track below.
The Crippler consists of current and former members of Eat The Turnbuckle, Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza, Brutal Truth and Total Fucking Destruction. Below is the official description:
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions welcome The Crippler to the roster with the debut album I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In! Hailing from Killadelphia, The Crippler feature current and former members of Eat The Turnbuckle, Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza, Brutal Truth and Total Fucking Destruction. I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In features 13 tracks of forceful, distasteful, aggressive, audible strong armed robbery... grindcore, punk, death and thrash metal with a side of beat down hardcore. This powerful debut album from The Crippler is loaded with a choice of multiple stab wounds in a dark alleyway or your wallet. Literally all killer and no filler! For fans of Blood Duster, Deicide, The Exploited, Phobia and Repulsion.
Tracklisting:
"I'm Just Gonna Let Myself In"
"Mangled Bodies"
"I Don't Want To Hurt You, I Just Want To Kill You"
"I Keep Hearing Noises In Your Basement"
"Suicide By Cop"
"Human Offals"
"Stabbing People"
"Let's See What's In Those Pockets"
"I Have A House Full Of Guns"
"21 Nails"
"Where's My Fucking Money"
"Orgy Of Violence"
"Rabies Is A Killer" (Agony Bag cover)
Tragedy - one of New York City’s most famous tribute bands and the undisputed inventors of “disco metal” - had a glitter-encrusted grip on the entertainment world when they emerged in the early 2010’s. Now, following the 2015 breakout viral music video for their cover of Grease’s “You’re The One That I Want” and 2017’s second viral hit, a cover of “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees, Tragedy are back with a brand new twist on I Am Woman, out March 3 via Napalm Records.
Flipping the script on sleaze rock tropes, with I Am Woman, Tragedy pay tribute to the most powerful force in their lives, as allies celebrating womanhood in all forms on 14 newly-recorded, reinvented disco and soft rock anthems of power, freedom, feeling and fun. While their 80s hair metal image would imply that plenty of misbehaviour is to be seen on the surface, one only need witness Tragedy live a single time to understand that the band’s true overarching message is one of carefree joy, humanity, acceptance and the simple pursuit of a damn good time.
The band kicks things into high gear today with the album's first single - a swinging glam metal rendition of the legendary anthem "Venus" - alongside a fantastic video featuring appearances by bohemian NYC legends such as Tammy Fae Starlite, Anna Copa Cabanna and Crystal Durant... and tons of bananas!
Frontman Mo'Royce Peterson says about "Venus": "Venus. The goddess of beauty, love and gardening - all areas where Tragedy shines like no other band. Originally done by Shocking Blue and Bananarama, the song explores how we all have our own personal goddess of beauty and love - someone who excites and inspires us like no other. Our version is chock full of MTV-era references, will get your head bangin', your hips shakin', and put a knowing smile on your face."
Watch the video below.
Having introduced their raucous trademark stage show to audiences in the USA, the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland and beyond, and releasing several albums of metalized disco, soft rock and pop covers before even tasting their first viral hit, Tragedy proved early on that they were never just your everyday satirical cover band. These six warriors of wacky fully embody the soul of the original and reimagine it from the top down, infusing the tracks with an undeniably infectious energy that can be felt both on stage or on wax.
On I Am Woman, Tragedy turn the energy up to 11 with recharged dancehall favorites like “Le Freak”, “Respect” (featuring soul powerhouse Marcy Harriell) and “I’m So Excited”, and double down on the drama with heavy, recomposed covers of belt-worthy classics “Memory” (featuring legendary drag performer, singer and guitarist Mrs. Smith), “Goldfinger” and “Roar”. Tracks like “I Will Survive” evoke the spirit of Queen with choral harmonies and blazing solos, while unabashed anthems like “She Bop” and “Venus” fully convince with authentic 80s hair metal flavor. Power metal reigns on the band’s opus-like version of “Flashdance… What A Feeling” and the theatrical Maiden-meets-Meatloaf-esque “Lay All Your Love On Me”. I Am Woman is bolstered by a retro production aura that allows the intricacy of each rearrangement decision to shine, as blistering guitar work, classic drumlines and dynamic vocal performances cascade throughout each track. With I Am Woman, Tragedy truly embody the spirit of metal classics while providing a fresh take on some of the world’s most timeless classics of empowerment, independence and self-love - important messages that resonate now more than ever!
Frontman Mo'Royce Peterson adds: "On I Am Woman, we find the inner-metal in disco and soft rock classics made famous by women. Tragedy’s concept has always been to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, inverting the yin and the yang. Here, we honor, celebrate and explore various themes of womanhood."
"Le Freak"
"I Will Survive"
"She Bop"
"Memory"
"Lay All Your Love On Me"
"Venus"
"Goldfinger"
"Respect"
"Flashdance... What A Feeling"
"I’m So Excited"
"Here You Come Again"
"All I Wanna Do"
"I Am Woman"
"Roar"
"Venus" video:
Tragedy is set to tour the world in 2023! First, the band will provide support to Steel Panther and Crobot on their newly announced US tour, beginning February 24 in Las Vegas, NV. Tickets for the US tour go on sale this Friday, December 9 at 10 AM, local time. About a week later, Tragedy will kick off a co-headline European tour with fellow comedy metal icons and labelmates Nanowar Of Steel, beginning April 18 in Southampton, UK. Tickets for the UK & European tour are on sale now. See below for all tour dates and check local venue listings for more information.
Lineup:
Disco Mountain Man - vocals, keys
Mo'Royce Peterson - vocals, guitar
Andy Gibbous Waning - bass, vocals
Gibbon Ass Freehly - guitar, vocals, horns
The Infernal Demigibb - drums
The Lord Gibbeth - drums
First Signal, an ongoing melodic rock project fronted by the inimitable Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), has announced the release of their new album, Face Your Fears, on February 17.
A brand new single and music video, "Never Gonna Let You Go" has been released today. Watch the video below, and pre-order/save the new album here.
The new record, their fifth overall, continues the tradition they've now established over the course of their discography of delivering top notch melodic rock perfectly suited for the legendary voice of Hess.
For Face Your Fears, Hess collaborated with producer Michele Guaitoli, who has produced albums by Issa, Visions Of Atlantis, Kalidia, SheWolf, and many more. (He is also the vocalist for Visions Of Atlantis, Temperance, and Era.) Guaitoli also plays bass and some guitars on the album in addition to overseeing production.
As with all the previous First Signal releases, this will be another must hear for fans of the AOR/Melodic Rock genre. Birthed in 2010, First Signal started as a musical partnership between vocalist Harry Hess and producer Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69, Khymera). The seeds of this union were planted that same year when Frontiers President and Head of A&R, Serafino Perugino presented Hess some melodic rock songs which had the same vibe and magic as Harem Scarem, who, at the time, were on a hiatus.
The self-titled debut album was greeted with excellent reviews from the melodic rock faithful, so even when Harem Scarem rebooted to record an excellent comeback album, Thirteen, Hess was still keen to record some more excellent melodic rock songs that he had gathered from various songwriters under the First Signal banner.The idea of another First Signal album continued to float around and with the help of Swedish producer/drummer Daniel Flores (The Murder Of My Sweet, Find Me) stepping in for Ward, the second record, One Step Over The Line (2016), started to take shape.
Once again, First Signal's recorded output was greeted with much excitement from the melodic rock / AOR fanbase. With that kind of reception, recording a third album, Line Of Fire (2019), was a no-brainer. With production duties handled again by Flores, Line of Fire was another awesome slab of great AOR/melodic rock for the 21st century. In 2022, the band continued with a fourth entry into their catalog, Closer To The Edge, again produced by Flores.
For 2023, Hess and First Signal are once again prepared to deliver pure melodic rock/AOR bliss with Face Your Fears.
Face Your Fears tracklisting:
"Unbreakable"
"Situation Critical"
"Shoot The Bullet"
"Always Be There"
"Dominoes"
"Rain For Your Roses"
"Face Your Fears"
"Never Gonna Let You Go"
"Not This Time"
"In The Name Of Love"
"Never Be Silenced"
"Never Gonna Let You Go" video:
Lineup:
Harry Hess - Vocals
Marco Pastorino - Guitar
Michele Guaitoli - Bass, Additional Guitar
Marco Andreetto - Drums
The heavy metal 'n' roll, dark, madcap visionaries collectively known as Avatar — vocalist Johannes Eckerström, guitarists Jonas Jarlsby and Tim Öhrström, bassist Henrik Sandelin, and drummer John Alfredsson — have unleashed yet another track from their upcoming magnum opus and ninth album Dance Devil Dance, out February 17, 2023 via Black Waltz Records, distributed by Thirty Tigers. Pre-order the album here.
Today, they have shared the video for "The Dirt I'm Buried In". Follow the band through a gloriously creepy walk through the woods, and while performing, you'll even encounter some rock 'n' roll werewolves.
"Our new album is designed to make you move and to move you," says Eckerström. "We destroyed all doubt with 'Valley Of Disease'. We blew the competition off the mountain with 'Dance Devil Dance'. Now the world is ours, and yours with us. The stage is set, all that's left to do is give in and join the circus. This is 'The Dirt I'm Buried In'. You are welcome."
"Dance Devil Dance was recorded in the Swedish wilderness, far away from all the perceived glamour of the big city and modern studios. Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Mr. Bungle, Crobot, Stone Sour, Amon Amarth, Uriah Heep etc.) returned as producer. He first worked with us when he mixed Hail The Apocalypse, a role he reprised on Feathers & Flesh, before taking the wheel as producer on Avatar Country and Hunter Gatherer. No extra personnel were wanted nor needed. We stayed together for a month, eating, sleeping and breathing Dance Devil Dance, just the six of us."
"You always hear bands say, 'This is our best album yet.' This is our best album yet. It is Avatar at our most laser focused, at our most razor sharp. There's no BS, no extra fat. Every track is a weapon and has a purpose. It's all in the title, as this album is our angriest, horniest and most spiritual release, all at once. It's a must-hear," the band says.
Tracklisting:
"Dance Devil Dance"
"Chimp Mosh Pit"
"Valley Of Disease"
"On The Beach"
"Do You Feel In Control"
"Gotta Wanna Riot"
"The Dirt I'm Buried In"
"Clouds Dipped In Chrome"
"Hazmat Suit"
"Train"
"Violence No Matter What" (Duet with Lzzy Hale)
"Dance Devil Dance" video:
"Valley Of Disease" lyric video:
Avatar enjoyed quite a productive summer, traipsing North America on a successful headline tour. They next embarked on some of the biggest shows of their career - a trek with Iron Maiden, supporting the band in stadiums in Brazil. Avatar also played arenas supporting Sabaton. They secured slots at major festivals globally - Inkcarceration, Cadott Fest, Summer Breeze, and Bloodstock along the way.
Avatar added Veil of Maya in the UK and Europe this February and March 2023 on the Dance Devil Dance Tour. All dates are in the graphic below. More US touring will be announced in due time.
After releasing their latest record, Spirit Of Ecstasy, avantgarde metal trio Imperial Triumphant are back today with a video for the album track "Metrovertigo" - to coincide with their announcement for a USA headlining trek in 202.! See below for all dates, featuring support from Cloak and Couch Slut (who will be special guests during Imperial Triumphant's performance, providing guest vocals, horns, and more). For a preview of their stunning live show, be sure to check out the clip of "Metrovertigo" (filmed in London and created by Cam Shuck Productions):
Zachary Ezrin (vocals, guitar) comments: "Imperial Triumphant will be bringing the chaos of New York City to the eastern coast of the USA this winter. We are excited to be accompanied by black metal band Cloak and fellow metropolitans Couch Slut on this excursion. This will be our first headline tour since 2021 and we are elated to bring our golden ritual to a few select cities. We will be joined by horns and special guests making this tour one not to be missed."
Spirit Of Ecstasy Tour:
January
31 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
February
1 – Pittsburgh, PA – Black Forge
2 – Cincinnati, OH – Legends
3 – Nashville, TN – The End
4 – Atlanta, GA – Boggs Social
5 – Mobile, AL – Alabama Music Box
6 – Orlando, FL – Haven*
7 – Miami, FL – Gramps
9 – W. Columbia, SC – New Brookland Tavern
10 – Chesapeake, VA – Riffhouse
11 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts**
12 – Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar***
*with Cloak, Couch Slut, plus Artificial Brain
**Imperial Triumphant only
***Imperial Triumphant and Couch Slut
Additionally, Imperial Triumphant will be playing Spirit Of Ecstasy in full with special guests (to be announced soon) on Roadburn 2023's mainstage. "We are pleased to bring the golden ritual once again to the great festival of Tilburg: Roadburn," the band states. "Imperial Triumphant will be performing for the first time ever Spirit Of Ecstasy, in its entirety, complete with special guest musicians and flowing champagne. Please join us in this sacred worship of sonic dissonance."
Black Cross Hotel, the horror punk/industrial metal unit featuring members of Stabbing Westward, The Atlas Moth, Minsk, Broken Hope, Whipped, and more, has unveiled their new video for “Windows”. The track comes by way of the band’s recently released debut full-length, Hex.
“The song is a gloomy but punishing gothic rock dirge, reminiscent of Killing Joke at their most ominous with shades of early Cure and ’90s-era industrial rock,” writes Treble. “The clip itself is in black and white, featuring ominous imagery and a whole lot of ooze.”
Adds the band, "‘Windows’ was inspired by The Thing — both the film and the soundtrack. The sound combines Carpenter atmosphere and moods with melodic elements inspired by Ennio Morricone. The story is about attempting to blend in with your surroundings for the purposes of self-preservation and maintaining group cohesion and ultimately failing at both goals. The lesson is that denying one’s true nature ultimately hurts everyone. We feel Jakub (Chariot Of Black Moth) perfectly captured the mood and vibe in this video.”
“What if Mick Mars and John Carpenter joined Killing Joke?”
That was the question that synth player Andrew Ragin (The Atlas Moth) and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos (Stabbing Westward) posed to each other during the darkest depths of the plague. The answer turned out to be Black Cross Hotel. “Marcus and I are brothers-in-law,” Ragin explains. “I’m married to his sister, and we’ve been friends forever. He’s filled in for me with The Atlas Moth from time to time. We’ve been talking about jamming together for damn near twenty years, but the pandemic provided the opportunity.”
With a lineup completed by producer/bassist Sanford Parker (Corrections House, Minsk), vocalist Dee DeEmme (Whipped), and drummer Mike Miczek (Broken Hope, The Atlas Moth), Black Cross Hotel is a punk/industrial metal band forged in the crucible of the finest ‘80s culture. “Killing Joke is definitely our spirit animal band, but John Carpenter’s movies and music, and other classic horror movies, are where we found our inspiration,” Ragin explains. “A lot of the stuff on this first record is inspired by specific ’80s horror movies.”
Recorded primarily at Parker’s own Hypercube Studio in Chicago, Black Cross Hotel’s Hex is steeped in ‘80s fright flicks and their synth-driven soundtracks. Opener “The Shape” references Halloween homicide machine Michael Myers. “Windows” is the name of Thomas G. Waites’ radio operator in John Carpenter’s The Thing. The title track was inspired by the classic 1985 Bava/Argento production Demons and “Siren” conjures the teenage mental ward from Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors.
Rather than merely pay homage or recite storylines like so many horror-inspired bands of yore, DeEmme examines these films — and the notion of otherness contained within — from their own non-binary perspective. “It’s part of what makes the band’s deep connection to horror unique,” Ragin offers. Elsewhere, Black Cross Hotel takes inspiration from the famous slow-motion chase scene in Halloween II (“Fugitive”) and Jamie Lee Curtis’ character in The Fog (“Hitchhiker”) while nodding to original horror-punk geniuses the Misfits with a deadly cover of “We Are 138” featuring Randy Blythe from Lamb Of God.
Black Cross Hotel live:
December
17 – Chicago, IL – Sleeping Village (with Ready For Death, Immortal Bird)
Witch Ripper have released the tongue-in-cheek video clip “Enter The Loop” as the catchy first single taken from the forthcoming album The Flight After The Fall. The sophomore full-length of the American melodic sludge metal outfit is slated to hit stores on March 3, 2023. Find preorder options here.
Witch Ripper comment: "We wanted to start off our new album with a musical bang, and 'Enter The Loop' is clearly making a statement about this band", guitarist and vocalist Curtis Parker writes. "Yes, we can play heavy riffs with pummeling drums, we all know that. Yet with the addition of Chad on guitar and co-vocals, we're now able to execute big dramatic musical passages inspired by bands that we love like Queen and David Bowie. 'Enter The Loop' represents a launching-off point for us both in lyrical and musical terms. It lets people know that they're in for something special, and that this musical journey is just beginning."
Witch Ripper have created a loving pastiche of the legendary pulp science fiction stories of old. The story told on their sophomore full-length The Flight After The Fall has all those tasty ingredients: a mad professor, his dying wife, cryogenic chambers, a black hole as well as themes of love, failure, loss, and acceptance.
Musically, Witch Ripper have packed The Flight After The Fall with as much aggression and barely tamed electricity as anybody knowing them would expect, but there are also fleetly intricate guitar interplay touches of subtle synth, and cosmic atmospherics as well as unshakably catchy clean vocal hooks. In short, Witch Ripper maintain their brutal roots while embracing the arena rock bombast of Queen and David Bowie, the exuberant modern prog of Coheed And Cambria, and Muse.
Artwork and layout by Chris Panatier:
Tracklisting:
“Enter The Loop”
“Madness And Ritual Solitude”
“The Obsidian Forge”
“Icarus Equation”
“Everlasting In Retrograde Pt. I & II”
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