Re-charged Orange County, CA-based metal mavens, Leatherwolf, have released a video for the title track of their forthcoming new studio album, Kill The Hunted, set for release November 11 via N.I.L.8 and Rock Of Angels in North America and Europe, respectively, November 14 through Hellion Records in South America, and November 17 on Rubicon Music in Japan. The video can be viewed below.
Showcasing the band's innate ability to create hard driving anthemic metal, "Kill The Hunted" was conceived in 2008 by drummer/producer, Dean Roberts, but not revisited and completed until some ten years later after the band fractured in the wake of a short European tour.
"I starting writing the lyrics in 2018, prompted by what led to the split with our old singer. So the song is very personal to me but it could apply to anybody in a simliar situation," reflects Roberts. "The lyrics are really about self-discovery - discovery about all the negative stuff that was around me. And that I had to do something about it and make a change. The second verse, "I can feel the darkness that surrounds me / killing everything that I create / wasteland's rule by death and the forsaken / bind and tie the blood that runs within" speaks to those feelings. In the final verse, the song conveys a more positive, self-empowering tone though. I gotta give props to Rob (Math) and Keith (Adamiak) who helped finish the song in the studio and helped me telling that story to myself. It really made me realize that I needed to move on."
Kill The Hunted, which was mixed by legendary producer/engineer, Randy Burns (Megadeth, Kreator, Helstar) and mastered by Tom Baker (Judas Priest, Mötley Crüe, Pantera), introduces powerful new vocalist, Keith Adamiak, alongside long-time guitarist, Rob Math, young shredder Luke Man who first joined the fold in 2017 as a touring member, founding member, Dean Roberts, veteran bassist, Barry Sparks (MSG, Dokken, Yngwie Malmsteen), and guitarist/keyboardist, Wayne Findlay (MSG, Slavior, Vinnie Moore), to complete the vaunted Triple Axe Attack. The current live lineup, which had its baptism of fire earlier this year at the M3 Festival, also features bassist Brice Snyder, on loan from OC thrashers Art of Shock.
The "Kill The Hunted" single is now available on all major digital platforms.
Kill The Hunted will be released on November 11 in Europe (N.I.L.8 Records in conjunction with Rock of Angels Records/Soulfood Music) and North America (N.I.L.8 Records), November 14 in South America (Hellion Records) and November 17 in Japan (Rubicon Music). It’s available for pre-order now as a limited CD & T-Shirt bundle through Rock of Angels in Europe and Indie Merch in North America.
"Hit The Dirt"
"Nobody"
"Kill The Hunted"
"Only The Wicked"
"Madhouse"
"Medusa"
"The Henchman"
"(Evil) Empires Fall"
"Road Rage"
"Lights Out Again"
"Enslaved"
"The Henchman" lyric video:
"Hit The Dirt" lyric video:
Album lineup:
Keith Adamiak - lead vocals
Rob Math - guitars
Luke Man - guitars
Wayne Findlay - guitars, keys (MSG, MS' Temple of Rock, Slavior, Vinnie Moore)
Dean Roberts - drums
Barry Sparks - bass (MSG, Dokken, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ted Nugent)
Special Guest: Joel Hoekstra - guitar (Whitesnake, TSO)
Tama Drums Germany has shared a new playthrough video featuring Dimmu Borgir's Dariusz "Daray" Brzozowski performing the band's song, "Kings Of The Carnival Creation". Check it out below.
The song is taken from the band's 2001 album, Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia.
Dimmu Borgir released the groundbreaking Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia album in 2001. The band celebrated this seminal album back in September by releasing a remixed and remastered version of "Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy". Stream the track here and below, and order Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) here.
Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia (Remixed & Remastered) is available as a 3 LP Box, CD Digipak and digital. Dust Of Cold Memories includes extensive bonus material, which includes the pre-production of Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and instrumental rehearsals.
- 3LP Box
* Black
* Red
* Gold (Sold Out)
- CD Digipak
Tracklisting:
Side A
"Fear And Wonder" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation" (Remixed & Remastered)
Side B
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Puritania" (Remixed & Remastered)
Side C
"IndoctriNation" (Remixed & Remastered)
"The Maelstrom Mephisto" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Absolute Sole Right" (Remixed & Remastered)
Side D
"Sympozium" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Perfection Or Vanity" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Burn In Hell" (Remixed & Remastered)
"Devil's Path" (Remixed & Remastered)
Side E
"Hybrid Stigmata - The Apostasy"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"IndoctriNation"
"Architecture Of A Genocidal Nature"
"Absolute Sole Right"
Side F
"Fear And Wonder"
"Blessings Upon The Throne Of Tyranny"
"Kings Of The Carnival Creation"
"Puritania"
"The Maelstrom Mephisto"
"Sympozium"
Spiritworld has revealed another new track with “Relic Of Damnation”, taken from their upcoming 2nd studio album, DeathWestern, set for release via Century Media Records on November 25.
The single comes accompanied by the final part of a video trilogy directed by Todd Hailstone. Hailstone crafted the story's two previous videos, for both the album's title track “DeathWestern” and '”he Bringer Of Light” (from Pagan Rhythms 2021, the first part of the story). He now completes his apocalyptic vision of a deathwestern world with a compelling finale, fitting the seasonal mood for Halloween!
In August, the Las Vegas band revealed yet another new track, “Moonlit Torture”, featuring a guest slot from Dwid Hellion of Integrity.
Stu Folsom (Spiritworld's leader and mastermind) comments:
"'Relic Of Damnation’ has been my favourite riff on the record but was the biggest m'fer to finish. I knew I had a classic that brings back that Metallica, Slayer vibe I love so much, but I never liked the vocals and tried out three or four different rewrites after the demo. The very last night we worked on it, Theresa, Matt and I were fried and about to call it a night when I repurposed a verse from a country song I was writing and put it over the first verse. The vocals were done in one take and is my favorite vocal delivery on the album. I also love the vocals that trade off at the end between Justin Fornof and I. 'Relic...' is a banger and has been a staple of our live set since our first show! I'm so excited for people to finally have the studio recording!
“The video is the finale of our DeathWestern trilogy with director Todd Hailstone. Being able to work with my longtime friend, going all the way back to being high school punk rockers, has been incredible. He took my vision of gunsmoke, gore and heavy metal and worked up three incredible videos. It was probably a little ambitious to do a film trilogy that spreads across two albums, but I think the performances Todd got from Derek and Voki to finish this bad boy off were amazing!”
The album is available in the following formats:
-Ltd. CD Edition
-Black LP (w/ LP-Booklet & Poster)
Available at all outlets
-Red LP (w/ LP-Booklet & Poster) - 300 only
Available at Century Media EU Store
-Yellow LP (w/ LP-Booklet & Poster) - 300 only
Available via SpiritWorld (band exclusive)
-Transparent tan color LP (w/ LP-Booklet & Poster) - 500 only
Available at all outlets
-Transparent orange crush LP (w/ LP-Booklet & Poster) - 300 only
Available at Century Media US Store
The restless Stu Folsom has also announced the release of his book Godlessness, which will also be released on November 25.
The book is a collection of short stories, inspired in equal parts by the western pulp of Louis L’Amour, the novels of Cormac McCarthy, and the twisted horror of Clive Barker, Godlessness is the fictional companion piece of Spiritworld’s debut Pagan Rhythms (2021) and upcoming follow up, DeathWestern (2022).
Dedicated to the memory of, and edited in part by, Power Trip’s Riley Gale, who died unexpectedly in 2020, Godlessness was initially released as a limited-edition paperback. The book will be available to pre-order through Rare Bird Lit who also have collectable formats.
On Friday, October 21, the new album Dread The Dawn from doom/stoners Cassius King is in stores.
The band, featuring well known Dan Lorenzo (ex-Hades, Non Fiction, Patriarchs In Black), exceptional singer Jason McMaster (Watchtower, Dangerous Toys), who is currently filling in for Mark Tornillo on some dates of the Accept US-your, Ron Lipnicki (ex-Overkill, Hades) and Jimmy Schulman (Hades/Dreams of Venus), offers an emotional rollercoaster ride of poignant, catchy melodies on these ten songs, highlighted by the distinctive vocals of Jason McMaster, which give the overall sound an authentic depth.
Check out video for album opener “Abandon Paradise” below:
The album will be released on MDD Records (USA: Nomad Eel Records) and available as CD in stores. Order at mdd-shop.de .
RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson took part in the Medlock-Krieger all-star benefit show this past Monday, October 24 at Bogie's at the Westlake Village Inn in Westlake Village, California. The exclusive golf classic and concert benefited The Medlock-Krieger Foundation and was held in memory of Scott Medlock, who passed away in 2021.
Video of Lifeson and former THE DOORS guitarist Robby Krieger performing SANTANA's "Evil Ways" with vocalist Andy Vargas at this year's Medlock-Krieger benefit show can be seen below.
In 2007, Medlock, a renowned sports artist, and Krieger started a charity golf tournament. After raising money for the Tillman Foundation during the first three years, Medlock and Krieger made St. Jude Children's Hospital the main beneficiary after Medlock was paired with St. Jude CEO Richard Shadyac at another golf tournament.
Lifeson made his mark on the music industry over 50 years ago, redefining the boundaries of progressive rock guitar. His signature riffing, copious use of effects processing and unorthodox chord structures befitted him the title by his RUSH bandmates as "The Musical Scientist." While the bulk of Lifeson's work in music has been with RUSH, he has contributed to a body of work outside of the band as a guitarist, producer and with the release of his 1996 solo album "Victor", a solo artist. Lifeson ranks third overall in the Guitar World readers' poll of "100 Greatest Guitarists" and is also included in Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Guitarists Of All Time."
Fan-filmed video of KISS performing the song "Two Timer" live on October 24 during this year's Kiss Kruise can be seen below.
Prior to yesterday, KISS last played "Two Timer", a song from the band's third album, 1975's "Dressed To Kill", in 2011, according to Setlist.fm.
Kiss Kruise XI sailed from Los Angeles, California to Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico aboard Norwegian Jewel for two weeks of non-stop rock 'n' roll on the high seas set for October 24-29, 2022 (Week 1) and October 29-November 3, 2022 (Week 2). The Kiss Kruise XI marks the iconic adventure's first ever sailing from Los Angeles and the final KISS on-board live performances of the legendary band's one-of-a-kind five-decade career.
Both Kiss Kruise XI adventures will feature very special live shows from KISS, including an unmasked pool deck performance for all members of the Kiss Navy and a masked electric show inside Norwegian Jewel's intimate Stardust Theater. What's more, each week will boast a completely unique line-up of hard rock heroes and heavy metal icons, with Week 1 including performances by DOKKEN (featuring a reunion with guitarist George Lynch),WARRANT, L.A. GUNS, Bruce Kulick, All Hands on Deck Super Jam featuring Lita Ford & Friends, GEORGE LYNCH AND THE ELECTRIC FREEDOM, HEART BY HEART, THE BIG DEAL and BARON. Week 2 will see KISS joined by BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, BUCKCHERRY, Bruce Kulick, All Hands on Deck Super Jam Feat. Sebastian Bach & Friends, STRYPER, VIXEN, PLUSH, THE WILD THINGS and Micky James. All Kiss Kruisers will receive signature engraved commemorative gifts and take part in two on-board activities with KISS as well as two on-board activities with each individual member of the band. As if all that weren't enough, the Kiss Kruise XI will include the Kiss Expo (showcasing rare memorabilia),autograph sessions with the supporting artists, theme night costume parties, and much more. Guests who book on both Week 1 and Week 2 sailings will receive an exclusive laminate, a poster signed by KISS, happy hour and group photos with KISS, and an exclusive KISS Kruise XI two-timer t-shirt.
Norwegian Jewel will provide everything needed to make this year's Kiss Kruise XI the best cruise vacation ever, with bars at (almost) every corner, delicious dining options, the Pool Deck (with multiple hot tubs),the Jewel Club Casino, Mandara Spa, Body Waves Fitness Center, Sports Court, the Thermal Suite, and more. The KISS Kruise XI will also feature high adventure shore excursions in Cabo San Lucas (October 26 and 31) and Ensenada, Mexico (October 28 and November 2).
This past February, KISS announced that "Kiss Kruise XI" would be their "last performance onboard".
As has been the case on all the previous cruises, fans will get to see KISS's unmasked acoustic and electric shows and engage in activities with the bandmembers.
Last year's edition of the "Kiss Kruise" required fans to be vaccinated to attend.
In October, KISS frontman Paul Stanley said that the final concert of the band's "End Of The Road" tour would likely happen by early 2023.
KISS launched its farewell trek in January 2019 but was forced to put it on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"End Of The Road" was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but has since been extended to at least early 2023. The trek was announced in September 2018 following a KISS performance of the band's classic song "Detroit Rock City" on "America's Got Talent".
"I believe strongly by the beginning of 2023 we will be finished," Stanley told Ultimate Classic Rock, adding that "it seems only natural [for the final show] to be in New York. That is where the band started, and that was really the background for the band getting together and writing these songs and played loft parties and played clubs starting with an audience of probably 10 people," he said. "It seems we should go full circle."
Stanley went on to say that unlike KISS's 2000-2001 tour, which was also supposed to be its last, "End Of The Road" will truly be the last time KISS performs live. "It's a different time than we had pondered [farewell tours] in the past," Stanley explained. "The fact is that, physically, it's incredibly demanding to do what we do. Look, we played [recently] in Austin, an outdoor show, 100 percent humidity. We're running around for two-plus hours, not only with guitars, but I've got 30-plus pounds of gear on. There's a point where you go, 'You know what? This is more challenge than I want.' And I only want to do it as long as I can do it smiling.
"There's really no thought about changing our minds," he continued. "It has nothing to do with personalities in the band or tensions or a difference of opinion or musicality. It's purely practical. You can play beat the clock, but ultimately the clock wins."
KISS's current lineup consists of original members Stanley and bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, alongside later band additions, guitarist Tommy Thayer (since 2002) and drummer Eric Singer (on and off since 1991).
Formed in 1973 by Stanley, Simmons, drummer Peter Criss and lead guitarist Ace Frehley, KISS's first "farewell" tour in 2000 was the last to feature the group's original lineup.
In early 2019, Stanley told Australia's "Sunday Night" that "Rock And Roll All Nite" "has to be" the song that KISS performs as the last encore at the final concert of the "End Of The Road" tour. "That is the rock anthem that connects the world," he explained. "It was the start of other people coming up with anthems. They really didn't exist, per se. So, 'Rock And Roll All Nite And Party Every Day', that's a song that just connects with people on all different levels."
Simmons concurred, telling BUILD Series: "How do you not end with 'Rock And Roll All Nite'? We will have played that song, probably without exception, more than any other song we've ever been involved with. You might say, 'Aren't you sick and tired of hearing that?' But I will tell you the roar of the crowd, the smell of the grease paint, there ain't nothing like it. When you hear everybody getting jazzed about that and you get off the stage... [it's] like the fire in the belly. You're dog-tired; you've just done a big show; and you get up on that stage, when you see the joy in everybody's face... We've seen it all. We've been around for generations, but when you see a little 5-year-old kid in KISS makeup on his dad's shoulders who's wearing KISS makeup, next to his father... we're badass kind of guys — nothing affects us much — but that stuff will put a lump in your throat. You have to turn around for a second. It gets me. Yes, it's music, but it's generational, and it brings families together instead of separates [sic] them."
Thanks! Seems like an awesome party!
Oct 24, 2022 - KISS Kruise XI: Electric Sail Away
(Setlist)
Deuce
Hotter Than...
Sock Puppet Parody, which takes iconic bands and glorifies their undergarments by making high-quality music videos featuring socks, has paid tribute to LACUNA COIL by recreating the entire group as sock puppets and reworked the lyrics of the 2002 LACUNA COIL track "Heaven's A Lie" to fit a theme of despondent undergarments lamenting the loss of socks after a dry cycle. The video is decked out with cathedral walls supporting a stained-glass depiction of an unmerciful dryer overlord looking onto the crusade of priest gown clad puppets. It's clear these socks do not agree with modern laundering technology.
Sock Puppet Parody has created many tributes to bands such as METALLICA, SLIPKNOT, and more.
Back in 2019, director Brady Tulk told VoyageDallas about Sock Puppet Parody: "It's a YouTube series that takes iconic bands and turns them into sock puppets. Our team does not cut corners. We not only create the music from the ground up, but we strive to stay true to the last detail. We research the band thoroughly to pay a tribute to the artists and we film it with the best production value we can. We take the concept of the song and apply sock related lyrics.
"We have caught the attention of the bands theirselves, from SLAYER posting our video, to PANTERA's Vinnie Paul making a cameo, to getting a seal of approval from SLIPKNOT's Corey Taylor."
Regarding how Sock Puppet Parody was conceived, Tulk said: "I met a producer named Johnny Zero on the RIVETHEAD set. We eventually went to a concert together and saw the iconic band STATIC-X and the frontman, Wayne Static, had his hair in foot-long spikes and his long beard braided. Johnny and I knew STATIC-X would make for a fantastic sock puppet re-creation. We teamed up and decided to not just do one video, but do six episodes to see if they catch on. We knew there was something special about the concept, and we wanted to see how people would react.
"The pivotal moment for Sock Puppet Parody was when we uploaded a SLAYER parody to our YouTube channel. That day we were posted by numerous metal magazines with thousands of fans leading up to the band posting our video to their Facebook. In one day, over one hundred thousand people saw our video. It was an unbelievable experience. Since then, Johnny and I have been cultivating our audience and growing the brand."
German modern metal upstarts, League Of Distortion, deliver the next milestone in their young careers. Following the successful release of first singles “Wolf Or Lamb” and “My Revenge”, League Of Distortion - featuring the musical finesse and experience of Anna “Ace” Brunner (Exit Eden) and Jim “Arro” Müller (Kissin’ Dynamite) - abandon all rules with “It Hurts So Good”. The track is a staple piece of their new rule, convincing with Brunner’s powerful voice and a heavy-hitting sound, and features extra power from guest vocalist Christoph Wieczorek of post-hardcore heroes Annisokay. “It Hurts So Good” reveals another glimpse of the band’s hard-hitting self-titled debut album, set for release on November 25.
League Of Distortion on “It Hurts So Good”: “With this unconventional lullaby, we are sharing a dirty little secret with you. Writing and creating this song with Christoph Wieczorek and Julian Breucker was an absolute pleasure and blast. Now we cannot wait to be on the road with Annisokay, Caliban and Resolve! Meet us on Tour and join the league!”
A new force, League Of Distortion unite to defeat the shadows cast upon the music scene with their fresh sound and style. Back in 2017, Anna Brunner celebrated remarkable international success with her symphonic metal band Exit Eden, and now, has teamed up with notorious guitarist Jim Müller of renowned heavy metal band Kissin’ Dynamite. Together, they’ve formed one of the hottest new modern metal bands of the year, combining their signature sounds to create a powerful soundscape. Now, they are ready to fight the darkness yet again with their 2022 full-length, self-titled debut album, League Of Distortion.
Lifting the dark veil of stagnation caused by the pandemic, League Of Distortion introduce a new sound that resonates with the uncertainty of this period. “Wolf or Lamb” - the addictive first stand-alone single that introduced the band as a force to be reckoned with - ignites the fire of the full album. “Rebel By Choice” and “The Bitter End” show the band’s burning passion and dedication to the genre, while “My Revenge” convinces with a catchy hook and bashing guitar riffs. The elemental force of Anna “Ace” Brunner’s distorted, powerful voice merged with chunky riffs played by Jim “Arro” Müller, steady and strong beats delivered by Tino “Aeon” Calmbach and edgy bass by Felix “Ax” Rehmann unifies them, forming a strong blast of an album that cannot be missed. League Of Distortion showcase the individual musical expertise of its members without ever becoming stagnant or pretentious - unabashedly distorting the order and launching a new age of metal. Songs like “I’m A Bitch” and “It Hurts So Good” abandon all rules, while catchy hooks like in “L.O.D.” mark anthems to claim their new reign. With songs like “Solitary Confinement” and “Sin”, the band shows their lyrical depth by turning their sadness into a powerful war cry, providing expressive pieces and hymns for the lost.
League Of Distortion convince with classic pieces featuring strong instrumentals, on-the-nose lyrics and energetic vocals, proving their penchant to stand out from the pack. They’ve transformed their frustration into a musical statement beyond comparison. With “Do You Really Think I Fucking Care”, the band lands the final punch of the album to make the message clear: League Of Distortion are here to set the scene ablaze.
The band on their debut album: "With this debut album, we lay the cornerstone of League Of Distortion. Processing the cruel and capricious reality, with straight-forward, provocative and very personal topics, we are distorting perspective and creating tremendously powerful music. League Of Distortion is here to stay and we welcome you to be a part of this from the very beginning."
League Of Distortion will be available in the following formats:
"Wolf Or Lamb"
"My Revenge"
"It Hurts So Good" (feat. Annisokay)
"L.O.D."
"I'm A Bitch"
"Rebel By Choice"
"Solitary Confinement"
"SIN"
"The Bitter End"
"Do You Really Think I Fuckin' Care"
"My Revenge" video:
"Wolf Or Lamb" video:
League Of Distortion are:
Anna Brunner - Vocals
Jim Müller - Guitar
Felix Rehmann - Bass
Tino Calmbach – Drums
Freedom Call performed the song "Warriors" at the 2022 edition of Germany's Wacken Open Air festival. The track is featured on 2015's Eternity: 666 Weeks Beyond Eternity album, the re-release of 2002's Eternity, remastered with bonus material. Watch the performance below:
Freedom Call perform next on Saturday, November 12 at Underworld in London, England. Find the band's live itinerary here.
Female-fronted Romanian melodic metal act, Scarlet Aura, recently performed the new song "Fire All Weapons", featuring Primal Fear's Ralf Scheepers, on Romanian television program, Neatza cu Razvan si Dani. Watch the performance below.
"Fire All Weapons" will be featured on Scarlet Aura's forthcoming new album. Details coming soon.
Highway Sentinels - the supergroup featuring vocalsit David Reece (Bangalore Choir, Accept), drummer Mark Zonder (Fates Warning, Warlord), keyboardist Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz), bassist Donnie Van Stavern (Riot V) and guitarist Steven Rosen - have released two new music videos which pay tribute to late guitarist (and former bandmate of Jimmy Waldo), Bob Kulick.
The songs "We Won't Be Forgotten" and "Afterlife" were originally recorded by Highway Sentinels keyboard player Jimmy Waldo when he was part of the band Blackthorne, which also featured Bob Kulick and vocalist Graham Bonnet. Here they have been re-recorded by the Highway Sentinels group featuring David Reece on vocals.
"Bob was a good friend and bandmate" says Jimmy, We recorded a lot of music together and this was a way to give these songs a fresh approach and perhaps even remind people they exist!"
Both tracks are taken from the group's debut album, The Waiting Fire, which was released via Louder Than Loud Records on July 22. Watch the videos below.
"I'm A Loser"
"Face In The Crowd"
"Afterlife"
"Love And Hate"
"Victim Of The Night"
"Tortured Soul"
"We Won't Be Forgotten"
"All Comes Crashing Down"
"I Don't Care Anymore"
"Not Too Late"
"How To Be Real"
"Hell In A Handbasket"
Musical mastermind, Devin Townsend, recently announced a new release date for his forthcoming new album, Lightwork, now due out on November 4 via InsideOut Music. Following months of hard work finishing the album, as well as an extensive European touring schedule that included two nights at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Devin is releasing another song for the fans who now have to wait another week for the album.
Now available everywhere globally, the video for "Lightworker" is the third track taken from the upcoming album. Continuing the story that started in the clip for “Moonpeople” and continued in “Call Of The Void”, “Lightworker” is the third in a trilogy of clips reflecting the journey of his new album. Watch the video, directed by iCode, below.
Devin checks in with this comment:
“Hey folks :) track three from Lightwork is now up to bat… and this one is called ‘Lightworker’ (ta da!)
This album is interesting to me in many ways, but mostly because of how unexpected it was. I’ve been doing interviews and there’s a lot of folks who are surprised at how it turned out, somehow they were expecting brutal music from me or something (frankly, I couldn’t imagine having the energy to go down that road after that last few years, but I can understand the desire for it) it’s just that Lightwork and The Puzzle were both completely unexpected for me, but as I am committed to following where it leads, I simply went as far into them both as I was able.
I just follow the creative flow where it leads, and I’m quite happy with that. To be honest, having started writing again it seems like it was a unique moment in time for me, so I hope you can see it for what it is and appreciate the energy for what it was meant to be.
'Lightworker' is a song based loosely around Richard Alpert (Ram Dass) who died a few years ago. His book ‘Be Here Now’ was influential to me as a kid, and when I saw the documentary they made about him on Netflix (Going Home) I felt inspired to write a track in his memory. I reached out to the Ram Dass foundation and they allowed me to use the sample of his voice in the mid section. (Thank you :)
The video was made by the same team who did Spirits Will Collide, and they yet again pulled off a huge feat in limited time (Thanks guys :) I wanted a story about a guy who is so attached to his past, and the pain of loss, that any time the ‘monsters’ of his past appear, he runs from it. As a result, he has to live the same dramas over and over again. It’s not until he stands and faces his fear that he can move past it. In this case he can help others by facing the monster and then Finally rest.
I hope you enjoy it, and I really appreciate the support. I hope your week is good, and I hope to see you at the Lightwork Streaming event on November 5th :)
Be well my friends, Devin :)”
Devin is also pleased to announce a special album release streaming event to take place on the November 5 at 8 PM, UK time / 9 PM, CEST / 3 PM, EST / 12 PM, PST. This will premiere on Devin’s YouTube channel and feature a specially recorded acoustic performance, as well as a Q&A. Fans can submit their questions to Devin here. Deadline for question submission is Friday, October 28.
After a few exceptionally long years full of personal change and near manic levels of creative activity, Canadian musician Devin Townsend releases his follow up to 2019’s well received Empath in the form of his new release, Lightwork. Assembled from a barrage of material written during the pandemic, Lightwork (and its companion album of B-sides and demos; Nightwork) represents Devin at this stage of his life, post pandemic, and his reflections on what he (and many of us) have all gone through.
For Lightwork, Devin decided to see what would happen if he included a producer (an experiment he has been excited to attempt for some time) to help guide this selection of material. He chose long-time friend Garth “GGGarth” Richardson to help bring this idea to fruition, and through a difficult (but wonderful) process, the next Devin album have been delivered. The name Lightwork represents the music, as well as the act of creating music, as a kind of ‘light in the dark’ while trying to navigate the seemingly endless challenges that life can often present. When things seem like there’s “no way out” or that a situation becomes seemingly insurmountable, the connection to music, family, and creativity became a light in the dark that is the bedrock of this wonderful album.
Featuring artwork by frequent collaborator Travis Smith, Lightwork arrives in several editions including a Limited Deluxe Orange 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray boxset that includes both Lightwork & its companion album Nightwork on both CD & Vinyl, as well as a Blu-ray including 5.1 surround sound, album commentary & visuals, art-cards & extensive perfect-bound booklet, all contained in a lift-off lid box. There will also be a Limited 2CD+Blu-ray Artbook, Limited 2CD Digipak, Gatefold 180g 2LP+CD, Standard CD Jewelcase and Digital Album.
A-Z, the new band formed by Fates Warning icons Ray Alder and Mark Zonder, have released a new music video for the track, "At The Waters Edge", off of the band's self-titled, debut album that came out in August 2022.
Drummer and founding member Mark Zonder had this to say about "At The Waters Edge": "[This is] one of the earlier songs that Viv and I wrote. I always envisioned that the heavy driving part would be the chorus and the kind of reggae softer groove would be the verse. But part of the specialness of this album is that Ray did what he thought sounded best on his own without getting instruction from anyone and kind of flipped the parts around thus creating a very magical special song. The consistent theme and motto of the band is to have everyone contribute creatively with their own style."
In early 2020, famed former drummer for Fates Warning and Warlord, Mark Zonder, began working on new material with the vision of beginning a new, full-time band that would offer something different from his current catalog. The mission was to deliver straightforward, no-frills hard rock that speaks to a broader audience. The end result, which sees Zonder reunite with Fates Warning lead vocalist Ray Alder, along with bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai, Warlord), guitarist Joop Wolters, and keyboardist Vivien Lalu, is A-Z.
"Trial By Fire"
"The Far Side Of The Horizon"
"The Machine Gunner"
"Rise Again"
"Window Panes"
"Run Away"
"Stranded"
"At The Waters Edge"
"Borrowed Time"
"Sometimes"
"The Silence Broken" (Bonus Track)
Album sampler:
"The Far Side Of The Horizon" lyric video:
"Stranded" video:
"Trial By Fire" video:
"The Machine Gunner" video:
When Mark Zonder, famed former Fates Warning and Warlord drummer, started working on material in early 2020 he had a very clear vision for the band he wanted to put together. "I was thinking beer commercials, car commercials, and Cobra Kai. I wanted to have a very accessible band that would appeal to the masses and would lead to the ability to tour larger venues and build a second and third record off the success of the first. I did not want to hear things like, 'I don't hear a single, it is too proggy, I just don't get it, let me listen to it a few more times'. I knew from myself and the others that I would recruit, it would have some sophisticated music parts but the big hook was the main priority." The result was A-Z, and while Zonder is adamant it is not a supergroup that is doing a 'one and done' record it has a stellar lineup, reuniting him with Fates Warning vocalist Ray Alder, Warlord/Steve Vai/Ring of Fire bassist Philip Bynoe, guitarist Joop Wolters and keyboardist Vivien Lalu, the combination of these players stirring up a very specific kind of magic that could not be replicated.
Things came together smoothly from the start, Zonder sending drum patterns and grooves to first recruit Lalu, and he would write songs using guitar sounds so between the two of them they had basic song structures pretty quickly. Zonder knew Bynoe would jump on board as they have a long history and mutual respect and Lalu had worked with Wolters for years, recruiting him for the band. Both Wolters and Lalu brought in great musical ideas that were turned into songs. The goal was always the same: shorter songs and getting right to the chorus, no twelve-minute songs, and everyone found it easy working to this remit. With everything else coming together nicely, finding the right singer was the hardest aspect of the whole process.
"I had sent out a basic song to over 20 different singers, some popular named singers and some unknown, but completely struck out," says Zonder. "Then I just decided to call Ray as I was not sure what he was up to. I figured it could not hurt to get in touch. I do remember speaking with him back in the day and him talking about how he loved this kind of music. I sent him a track or two and he just killed it." Adds Alder, "I found this a chance to do something completely different than what I am used to, being in a prog metal band for 30 years. I find the blend of the 80s, 90s and a touch of 70s style of music very cool, and it is great to work with Mark after all of these years." Thrilled to have him on board, Zonder did not have a list of demands. "My only words to him were 'do whatever you want.' I was not going to tell him what to do. Same for all of the others guys. Yes, there has to be some editing and making decisions, but when it came to the music I just wanted everyone to do what they do best." The results are undeniable, from the high octane stomper "The Machine Gunner", to the gorgeous sway of "Rise Again" or the towering "Stranded", every track an anthem that sounds like only the biggest venues could contain them.
The band's name came courtesy of Alder - A-Z = Alder thru Zonder - and it fit straight away. "What I liked is that it did not limit what someone would think of the band. If we named the band Scary Serpent it would give a certain direction and I did not want people to prejudge the band and record," Zonder says. Likewise, self-titling the record made sense. "I did not want to give a direction idea to the audience. If we named the album Far Side of the Horizon, people would probably think 'prog band'. But if you named it The Machine Gunner, it would give a totally different direction for thought." For artwork, wanting to again get the best possible contributor, they turned to the famed Hugh Syme (Rush, Fates Warning), who delivered the vivid image of a zebra eating an apple, encompassing the band name in a sly way. "Again, hire the best people you can find and just let them do what they do. The artwork is absolutely fantastic and really fits the whole concept. He is truly the best. Just a great guy to work with."
A-Z lineup:
Ray Alder - Lead and Backing Vocals
Philip Bynoe - Bass Guitar
Vivien Lalu - Keyboards
Joop Wolters - Guitars
Mark Zonder - Drums
Swiss metal trio Rage Of Light reveals a new lineup in their metalized version of "Running Up That Hill", originally written by Kate Bush. The single features the band’s new guitarist, Simon Burri, and is accompanied by a music video inspired by Netflix heavy hitter Stranger Things.
Singer Martyna Halas comments: “I’m a huge Stranger Things fan, and Kate Bush is one of those influential artists that you can’t help but adore. I’ve always loved the iconic 'Running Up That Hill',’ so watching *that scene* in Season 4 of Stranger Things gave me instant goosebumps. I suggested to Jonathan (Pellet) and Simon (Burri) that we should create our version of this song, and I was so happy that they agreed! Music saves us from our deepest nightmares. I hope you enjoy this video as much as we enjoyed making it."
Canada's Sword will release their new album, III, on November 25 via Massacre Records. Pre-order the album here.
The band have released a video for the new single, "Dirty Pig". Watch below, and stream the track here.
Who is aggressive, melodic, loud and sometimes a bit rude? The Canadian metal outfit Sword. The band is back with its classic lineup, its new studio album III, and a lot of heavy metal right from the heart.
Tracklisting:
"Bad Blood"
"(I Am) In Kommand"
"Dirty Pig"
"Surfacing"
"Unleashing Hell"
"Spread The Pain"
"Took My Chances"
"Not Me, No Way"
Swedish death metallers Demonical have launched the music video for "Wrathspawn", a song taken from their new album Mass Destroyer, which is out now via Agonia Records.
Developed in less than two years, Mass Destroyer reflects the energy that spawned its creation, promising a few twists along the way. Adorned in old fashioned attire courtesy of artist Mark Riddick (Absu, Arsis), Mass Destroyer packs a gruesome punch, embodies organic sounds, and delivers a truly fiendish experience. Registered at Glashuset and Sellnoise Studios with Johan Hjelm and Jonas Arnberg behind the helm, Karl Daniel Liden mixed and mastered the album at Tri-Lamb Studio (Cult Of Luna, Bloodbath).
Tracklisting:
"We Conquer The Throne"
"Sun Blackened"
"Fallen Mountain"
"Wrathspawn"
"Dödsmarsch"
"Lifeslave"
"Cemented In Ire"
"By Hatred Bound"
"We Conquer The Throne" music video:
"Fallen Mountain" lyric video:
Last week, Demonical released a free sampler titled In League With Death, which includes new, old, and rare material. It's available on all streaming platforms and downloadable for free on Bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
"Fallen Mountain"
"Death Metal"
"Revel In Misanthropia"
"The Order" (Live)
"World Serpent" (Live)
"The new video for 'Daylight' is dedicated to the people in our lives that make sure we see the Daylight: Our audience. The video features some of our most memorable moments from the Planet Zero World Tour over the course of 61 days. Watch now, to see the daylight. We hope you enjoy it," says Shinedown.
Shinedown first shared "Daylight" on June 1st, as an advance single and lyric video from their new album, Planet Zero, which was released on July 1st via Atlantic Records. A soaring and poignant anthem, "Daylight" offers an assurance that you are never alone. The single’s meaningful portrait of a vital human connection reflects the importance of our relationships and the people in our lives whose support and empathy help get us through to the next day.
“This is about the human condition. We’ve got to live, and we’ve got to live with one another. And that should be something that is celebrated and not tolerated. That's what ‘Daylight’ really represents. It's our humanity. It’s an understanding that we're all on this planet together, and we've got to figure out ways to take care of one another. A lot of times, it may just be asking someone 'are you okay?’ because you could potentially save someone's life just by asking. We can’t lose our empathy and courage towards each other, or our willingness to pick someone up if you see them on their knees, because there's gonna be a moment in time when you need someone to pick you up,” says Shinedown vocalist Brent Smtih.
“Daylight” is the latest addition to a catalog that has earned Shinedown recognition for their timely and relevant messages behind their chart-topping hits that resonate with not only their global audience and the rock community, but the greater public and our culture at large. With more than 6.5 billion global streams, the record for the most mainstream rock #1 hits ever, platinum or gold certification for all their albums, and major media praise, Shinedown has cemented their status as one of the most vital and forward-thinking powerhouses in music.
Planet Zero, which already spawned the band’s record-breaking 18th #1 hit with "Planet Zero", is available to order here.
"2184"
"No Sleep Tonight"
"Planet Zero"
"Welcome"
"Dysfunctional You"
"Dead Don’t Die"
"Standardized Experiences"
"America Burning"
"Do Not Panic"
"A Symptom Of Being Human"
"Hope"
"A More Utopian Future"
"Clueless And Dramatic"
"Sure Is Fun"
"Daylight"
"This Is A Warning"
"The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo"
"Army Of The Underappreciated"
"Delete"
"What You Wanted"
“The Saints Of Violence And Innuendo” lyric video:
Trivium have shared footage of "Shogun" live from the Deadmen And Dragons tour, performed in front of a sold out Orlando hometown show at the House Of Blues on October 16th. The clip below was directed, filmed and edited by Black Card Films. Additional footage was filmed by Onward Productions.
Remaining tour dates are as follows:
October
25 - Toronto, ON - Rebel
26 - Montreal, QC - MTELUS
28 - Boston, MA - House of Blues
29 - New York, NY - Palladium Times Square
30 - Silver Spring, MD - The Fillmore
31 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore
November
2 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant
4 - Houston, TX - House of Blues
5 - San Antonio, TX - The Aztec Theatre
6 - Dallas, TX - South Side Ballroom
8 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
9 - Phoenix, AZ - The Van Buren
10 - Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
Joe Badolato, vocalist for New Jersey deathcore outfit FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY, joined LAMB OF GOD on stage this past Thursday night (October 20) at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, Texas to perform the song "Laid To Rest". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.
Irving was the final show of LAMB OF GOD's summer/fall 2022 North American tour, which kicked off on September 9 in Brooklyn, New York. FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY provided support on the trek, which also featured KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, for the last three weeks of the run.
This past April, Badolato filled in for Blythe at LAMB OF GOD's concert in Green Bay, Wisconsin after Randy tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
Blythe spoke about what he believes makes a good frontman during a recent appearance on a recent episode of "Stoke The Fire", the alternative lifestyle and culture podcast hosted by musician Jesse Leach (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) and DJ/presenter Matt Stocks ("Life In The Stocks"). "There are guys in their closet with their YouTube rig or in their garage who can outsing either fucking one of us," Randy said, addressing Leach. "There is no doubt about it, man. They have more talent, natural talent, in their little pinky than either of us. But the difference is… I think one of the main requirements to be a frontman, a good frontman — actually, the only requirement, probably; I mean, you've gotta have some talent — is a willingness to get up in front of people and make an idiot out of yourself and be really bad for a while until you become good. And so these people with all this natural talent, it doesn't fucking matter unless you can get in front of people and do it, and you have to do it with a group of people; you have to feel that bond; you have to deliver."
Two and a half years ago, LAMB OF GOD guitarist Mark Morton praised Blythe's abilities while discussing the band's appearance at the 2019 Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival in Columbus, Ohio. He said: "That particular Sonic Temple Festival, it was in a stadium, and Randy Blythe, who I think is the best frontman in heavy metal, made that stadium into a theater that day. I remember telling him when we walked off stage, 'Randy, you're the best in the world.' Because he took tens of dozens of thousands of people who were there, and he shrunk that whole stadium into the size of a 2,500-seat theater. That's why he's the best in the world at what he does. I will give him love all day long. He's one of my best friends and I think he's the best frontman in heavy metal. Sometimes when you have a star like that and they're 100 percent on point and the audience is willing, you can actually make that connection even in a monster arena like that."
LAMB OF GOD's latest album, "Omens", was released on October 7. LAMB OF GOD tracked the effort with longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur (KORN, MEGADETH) live in the room together at Henson Recording Studios (formerly A&M Studios) in Los Angeles, California, a location that birthed classics from THE DOORS, PINK FLOYD, RAMONES and SOUNDGARDEN, among others.
Former Alice Cooper and current Demi Lovato guitarist Nita Strauss has dropped brand new single and accompanying music video, "The Wolf You Feed". The epic, headbanger of a track features huge, chunky, metallic riffs and the insane vocal talent of Alissa White-Gluz of ARCH ENEMY.
Nita comments: "If you look back at old interviews from the last ten years, any time I was asked about collaborating with a vocalist in the future, Alissa White-Gluz was always the first name out of my mouth. She is truly one of my favorite vocalists and performers in the industry and creating this track together was everything I hoped it would be.
"I'm very proud to release this track, especially now with everything else that's going on. This time in history, whether in politics, music, social media, or our personal lives, has been an eye-opening look into the two wolves of a lot of people out there, and maybe this song will be a reminder that we all have the ability to choose how we respond to things."
The lyrics of this song were inspired by "The Story Of The Two Wolves", a legend widely attributed to Native American storytellers. An old grandfather was teaching his grandson about life: "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil — he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued: "The other is good — he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you–and inside every other person, too."
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf will win?" The grandfather simply replied: "The one you feed."
Alissa adds: "Nita and I finally got to collaborate — something we have both wanted to do for years! 'The Wolf You Feed' is a kickass, catchy metal track with a really cool vibe. I kept the 'two wolves' analogy as a foundation throughout the song while playing up the dichotomy of the two sides of the tug of war we all have inside us. I recorded my parts in my home studio and it was an absolute pleasure to build this song with Nita. I am honored to be a part of it! Can't wait to do this again!"
"The Wolf You Feed" is the second song Nita has released featuring a star guest vocalist, the first being the enormously successful "Dead Inside" which featured guest vocals from DISTURBED's David Draiman and saw Nita become the first ever solo female to have a No. 1 hit at Active Rock radio. She also returned to her instrumental roots earlier this year with the release of single "Summer Storm", a fast-paced, emotive shred-fest. Combined, the two singles have had 3.5 million YouTube views and over 10 million streams on Spotify alone.
Nita made her live debut with Demi on July 14 with a performance of Lovato's single "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".
Strauss had been playing with Cooper since 2014 when she replaced Australian musician and former Michael Jackson player Orianthi. She joined Alice in time for a mammoth MÖTLEY CRÜE tour. She was recommended to Cooper by the legendary rocker's former bass player and WINGER frontman Kip Winger.
Back in February, Nita told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" about her upcoming LP: "It's gonna be half and half — six tracks with vocalists and six tracks of instrumental [music]. We've been doing ['Dead Inside'] live on the solo tour and it's been getting a super-good reaction from our crowds."
In early December, Nita told "The Mistress Carrie Podcast" about her decision to make the upcoming LP half vocal songs and half instrumental: "I did feel, and the label and everybody agreed, it's still important for me to keep my identity as a guitar player and not just branch off too much and go, 'Okay, well, now it's just guests.' Let me still have a little of what makes me me, which is the instrumental shred stuff. And the instrumental pieces that I've written on this record are, I think, better than anything I did on the first one — definitely more… I don't know if it could be more emotional but they're very emotional pieces of music and I think a little better crafted this time around. So I think all the songs in general are more well thought out, better put together this time around. And I do have some of my absolute favorite [singers guesting on it]. I have three amazing powerhouse female vocalists on this album so far."
Nita released "Controlled Chaos" to mass acclaim from fans and media alike, with Metal Injection calling it "a great debut that — as its creator intended — leaves no doubt", and Guitar World stating "'Controlled Chaos' is a panoramic view of Nita Strauss's many strengths".
As well as performing with Cooper, Nita has also played with R&B star Jermaine Jackson, early MTV darlings FEMME FATALE, video game supergroup CRITICAL HIT and popular tribute band THE IRON MAIDENS.
In April 2020, Nita launched "Rock Guitar Fundamentals" — a three-module online guitar teaching program suitable for learners of all levels. The course is available at www.iwanttoplayguitar.com.
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