Former Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his weekly cover, this time performing "When Christmas Comes To Town" from the 2004 Christmas movie, The Polar Express. Check it out below.
Symphonic power metal quartet, Majestica, have announced their brand new studio album, Power Train, which will see the light of day on February 7 via Nuclear Blast Records. After more than four years since their last album, the Swedes are ready to set the bar high once again with their new long player and are presenting their fans what is their strongest album to date.
Power Train is a spellbinding experience that awakens sleeping dreams with powerful riffs and epic choruses. The enchantment rises like a breath of stars, propelling listeners into the heart of a fairytale world. This is particularly evident in the album's first single. With the title track "Power Train", Majestica leaves an exciting first impression and also presents a strong music video, which you can witness below.
Tommy Johansson comments: "Get ready for explosive power metal with a ”can’t stop singing along”-chorus in the new track 'Power Train'. The video literally takes you onboard the Power Train with elements taken from the entire album."
Stream the single here, and pre-order/pre-save the new album here.
When it came to the process of recording and putting all the pieces together, the band did not change a lot compared to the last projects. Again the music was written, recorded, and produced by Majestica themselves.
"Like our previous albums this one is also produced by ourselves, and we recorded most parts in our new place Majestic Studios. For mixing we went back to Jonas Kjellgren as we have been very happy with the sound of A Christmas Carol and Metal United," says bassist Chris Davidsson.
Regarding the amazing artwork for Power Train, Chris explains: "For the artwork we teamed up with Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove design. It invites you to join this majepic ride of the Power Train, imagine standing there on the platform eagerly waiting, and you hear ”all aboard”!"
On Friday, December 13th, Machine Head streamed a new edition of Electric Happy Hour. During the two-hour long video, which can be seen in its entirety below, Robb Flynn and his mates offered up their take on the iconic Phil Collins song, "In The Air Tonight". The complete setlist - along with the banter, babble and burps - was as follows:
"Welcome And Beers Up"
"Desire To Fire"
"The Blood, The Sweat, The Tears"
"From This Day"
"Nø Gøds, Nø Masters"
"Clenching The Fists Of Dissent"
"In The Air Tonight" - Phil Collins
"Locust"
"Chøke Øn The Ashes Øf Yøur Hate"
"Old"
"End Of Heartache" - Killswitch Engage
"Ten Ton Hammer"
"Davidian"
"Nausea" [Excerpt]
"Darkness Within"
Bay Area metal titans, Machine Head, recently announced a massive North American tour alongside Swedish metal icons In Flames, Italian alt-metallers Lacuna Coil, and American metalcore maestros Unearth.
Head Cases can enjoy a sneak peek of what is in store for the upcoming North American tour via the Machine Head single, "These Scars Won't Define Us", featuring all four bands on the tour adding vocals for a Wu-Tang Clan-level thrash collaboration.
Listen/purchase "These Scars Won't Define Us" digitally, here, and watch a lyric video below:
The 24-date trek will kick off on April 5 with a “hometown” show for Machine Head at the legendary Fox Theater then heads South into Texas before
Bearwood is a fresh Finnish rock band founded by guitarist and composer Marko Karhu. The other members are Marko Hietala (vocals / ex-Nightwish), Sami Salline
Former Skid Row singer, Erik Grönwall, has shared a new video featuring a performance of the traditional Christmas classic, "Oh Holy Nights". Check it out below.
Grönwall: "Special thanks to Alunda Församling for letting us borrow your beautiful church."
Live In London, Skid Row's first official live album and concert film in a 35+ year career, is now available on heavyweight 2LP gatefold, CD + DVD, digital download and all streaming services via earMUSIC.
"Youth Gone Wild" is the latest video from the full program, and captures the rapture of a sold out 02 Forum Kentish Town London gone wild for the Skids and the culmination of a dream years in the making.
"As teens, we dreamt of playing places like the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and CBGB in New York City... our dreams became bigger with London, England at the forefront. We fantasized one day to headline a show in the very city where so many of our favorite bands came from," the band says.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed, hugely fan-embraced 2022 album The Gang's All Here, the band took the 02 stage on October 22 and delivered a Skid Row set for the ages. Running through their multi-platinum career, the packed venue could barely contain the band's and the fans’ energy on "18 And Life," "Monkey Business," "I Remember You" and so many other peak Skid Row moments.
Live In London is a defining live rock album... a band playing at the top of their game in front of a crowd that expected no less. Both Skid Row and the 02 public went far beyond expectations...and now the world can share in that moment.
Swedish alternative metallers Days Of Jupiter are proud to announce the release of their long-awaited fifth studio album, The World Was Never Enough. Already teased with three singles throughout the year, fans of the band will be able to enjoy the full album on February 7th, 2025 (RPM). Pre-order or pre-save the album here.
Striving to spread the DOJ sound into new territories, the work contains ten varied tracks - and their brand new single "Desolation" confirms the band's mission. Lyrically referring to the album title, the stirringly emotional ballad focuses on the band's more melancholic side, after the previous singles - the opener "Original Sin", "Machine" and "The Fix" - revealed heavier sounds from the Swedes' song arsenal. The message behind "Desolation" was perfectly visualized by Andreas Lundin (Litbox Productions), a long-term partner of the quintet.
The World Was Never Enough album details and previous singles are available below.
Crucial Velocity recently announced Controller, the follow-up to their self-titled 2023 album release, is forthcoming and due to drop January 10, 2025. Heavier, leaner and darker than the debut album, Controller is ready for the masses.
They have released a music video for new single “Hollow”.
The track moves as a commentary on humanity’s failure to learn from history, opening with Georg Hegel’s timeless quote: 'The only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.' Accompanied by a video by Wayne Joyner, known for his work with Dream Theater and Tremonti, “Hollow” showcases the band’s vision of melding dark atmospheres with hook-driven harmonies.
Crucial Velocity's Nate Bauer explains “‘Hollow’ was written after a conversation with a friend about ideology. Ideology, in my opinion, is the root of all evil. Ideology pushes politics and religion into dangerous cult like territory. Ideology promotes thoughtless thought in that you basically surrender yourself to whatever the ideology is without feeling the need to really think about what it is you are following. People placing complete trust in the ideology and the leaders who promote them. We have seen this happen over centuries with the rise of very evil leaders or civilizations. And yet, here we are in 2024 and supposedly intelligent people are still being caught up in dangerous ideological movements. We need to get back to pragmatic thought. Deep thoughtful thought. Androo O'Hearn captured the anger in the lyrics with his death metal growls while still maintaining the melodic approach that defines the Crucial Velocity sound.”
“On the new album, Controller, we took the elements that we loved from the debut and basically magnified them. The songs are more concise and heavy yet always melodic. There is a flow and a consistency throughout. We do not shy away from our
Germany's Rage returned to Wacken Open Air in 2024 for a special 40th band-anniversary show. Check out pro-shot video of "Refuge", "A New Land" and "Higher Than The Sky" below.
In March 2024, Rage released a new double studio album, Afterlifelines. Details are available below.
Afterlifelines tracklisting:
CD1
"In The Beginning"
"End Of Illusions"
"Under A Black Crown"
"Afterlife"
"Dead Man's Eyes"
"Mortal"
"Toxic Waves"
"Waterwar"
"Justice Will be Mine"
"Shadow World"
Brazilian guitarist Kiko Loureiro, best known for his work with MEGADETH and ANGRA, has shared the Leo Liberti Films-directed music video for his new solo single, "Talking Dreams". The track is taken from his latest solo album, "Theory Of Mind", which was released in November.
The official YouTube description of the "Talking Dreams" music video, courtesy of Loureiro, reads as follows: "'Talking Dreams' unveils the poignant tale of a dancer confined to the shadows of the stage. Though her soul belongs to the spotlight, she finds herself entangled in mundane tasks, lost in dissatisfaction, trying on costumes that never seem to fit. In contrast, Kiko Loureiro stands on stage, his back turned to an absent audience, immersed in a performance unseen and unheard. Meanwhile, in an alternate timeline, the dancer moves — but in reverse, her graceful motions rewinding through time.
"This narrative is a metaphor for the human journey: a life spent ignoring our true purpose, our innate gifts, our deepest calling. It reflects the tragedy of living as spectators in our own stories, wearing roles that don't resonate and rarely stepping forward as the protagonists of our lives.
"In the climactic moment, the dancer faces the reality of her own mortality. In desperation, she pursues the dream she had always longed for — only to realize it is too late. Life, after all, has its own rhythm, and its tempo waits for no one.
"The video's retro aesthetic evokes the theatricality of existence, a grand spectacle where we are often cast in parts we never chose. A movie in which we live as characters we don’t like and almost never as the protagonists."
Kiko previously stated about "Theory Of Mind": "When I set out to write this album, 'Theory Of Mind', it felt more like an exploration than a project. Music, for me, has always been about uncovering the hidden layers of thought and emotion, and this album took me into new territories — ones where psychology and technology intersect with the core of what makes us human. But this wasn't just a conceptual or intellectual exercise for me. I had personal experiences that led me to create this music, experiences that reshaped how I see the world and how we understand each other.
"The concept of 'theory of mind' isn't new. It's a psychological term, first developed to describe the unique human ability to recognize and interpret the mental states of others. We use it every day, often unconsciously, to navigate the social world, to empathize, to predict what others might feel or think. It becomes even more profound when applied to those who experience life differently for whom 'theory of mind' may not come naturally. In them, the gaps in understanding can be bridges to deeper ways of seeing the world. This album seeks to capture that complexity — the struggle, the beauty, and the unknown that comes with interpreting the minds of others. I've seen this first-hand, both in my own life and through people close to me. Watching someone struggle to connect with others on an intuitive level or seeing how people are often misunderstood because they process the world differently — it all started to shape my thinking. How do we understand those whose minds work in ways we can't immediately grasp? How do they understand us? These questions weighed heavily on me and became a driving force behind this album. I wanted to reflect on those personal experiences musically, creating an emotional landscape where the listener could step inside that journey, even if just for a moment.
But there's another layer to this album that extends beyond psychology and into the future of technology.
"We are on the verge of a new era where machines — artificial intelligence — are approaching what scientists refer to as 'theory of mind'. This marks the moment when AI not only calculates and processes information but begins to perceive, empathize, and interact as humans do. What intrigued me is how AI, now convincingly mimic human understanding of mental states, even outperforming humans in 'theory of mind' tests. It's one thing to create music that evokes human emotion, but what does it mean when a machine can understand and resonate with those emotions too? Imagine a world where technology not only responds but feels.
"Each track on the album is a chapter in this story, and I hope listeners feel the evolution. The opening song begins with an intricate awakening motif, almost like the first realization of self-awareness, like when a child first grasps that other people have thoughts, emotions, and experiences separate from their own. The music builds from there, layering with complexity, much like how we learn to navigate the minds of others — tentative at first, and then more certain, with moments of tension and harmony.
There's a rhythmic pulse throughout the album. It represents that shared essence we all have the need to connect, to feel understood. I incorporated melodies and counter-melodies, verses and choruses, peaceful and aggressive, dissonant or consonant that mirror the interplay of thoughts in dialogue, where communication is imperfect but still profound. The tension and release echo the internal conflicts we all experience—wondering if we truly understand others or if we're just projecting our own thoughts onto them.
"There's a vulnerability in the tracks' melodies, a fragile but fierce will to connect. In a way, it's a meditation on empathy, on the effort it can take to truly see someone for who they are.
The use of AI as an inspiration for some of the album's themes might seem abstract. As I wrote and composed, I kept coming back to the question: What happens when machines learn to understand us on an emotional level? When we teach them to interpret our mental states? Does it make them more human, or does it reveal more about what it means to be human ourselves? Should I let AI start making all the music, what about me, how can I express myself?
"'Theory Of Mind' isn't just about understanding — it's about the desire to understand. Whether it's a person who feels misunderstood, or a future AI learning to perceive our emotions, the album is an invitation to explore that space. To sit with the complexities, to feel the tension, and ultimately, to wonder — where do we go from here?"
In November 2023, Kiko announced his decision to "extend" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, explaining that he didn't want to "hinder any of the band's plans or the hard work of all the incredible people involved in the tour."
Kiko revealed in September 2023 that he would sit out the next leg of MEGADETH's "Crush The World" tour in order to stay home with his children back in Finland.
One day after Kiko's announcement that he was "extending" his absence from MEGADETH's touring activities, band leader Dave Mustaine released a statement in which he said that he loves Loureiro and respects and fully supports Kiko's decision. He described Kiko as "a top-notch professional, a maestro" and thanked the guitarist "for his dedication and hard work these past nine years, helping us to achieve a Grammy on 'Dystopia' and the additional awards we have received on this latest record 'The Sick... The Dying...And The Dead'." Mustaine added: "I could not have done this without Kiko Loureiro."
MEGADETH played its first concert with Kiko's replacement, Teemu Mäntysaari on September 6, 2023 at Revel in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The 37-year-old Mäntysaari was born in Tampere, Finland and began playing guitar at the age of 12. In 2004, he joined the band WINTERSUN. He has also been a member of SMACKBOUND since 2015.
Loureiro officially joined MEGADETH in April 2015, about five months after Chris Broderick's exit from the group.
In a recent interview with Japan's Young Guitar, Kiko was asked about the possibility of a future guest appearance with ANGRA. He responded: "In the last two albums from ANGRA, not being in the band, I did record a guest solo. I was touring a lot and I have small kids, so I didn't wanna travel more to do a guest appearance. It might be in the future. I'm friends of everybody. I have a great history with ANGRA. Same goes with MEGADETH. I'm still friends of everybody, and I don't wanna burn bridges."
He continued: "I'm proud of all the albums I recorded with ANGRA. I'm proud of the albums that I recorded with MEGADETH, the two albums I recorded with MEGADETH, all the concerts and tours we did together. So, guest appearances, recording a solo, helping somehow or just hanging, I'm happy to do it, because I like all those people as friends and family, because I shared so many great moments of my life with the guys from ANGRA, of course, many, many years, and also almost nine years in MEGADETH as well."
Progressive metal titans Sacrosanct have inked a worlwide record deal with powerhouse label ROAR, who will release the band's forthcoming studio offering, entitled Kidron. Slated for a March 7, 2025 release, the album preorder is available here.
The band comments: "We are thrilled to be part of the new ROAR family! Yes, it took another year to get everything up and running, and yes, we are all sure it was worth it! Thanks to Markus Wosgien for making this possible for us! With him and Lambros at ROAR we have strong partners at our side who support us in taking Kidron out into the world! On CD, vinyl and live! Stay tuned!"
An official music video for the band's first single, "Avenging Angel", is now premiering below.
It's the first track written for Sacrosanct’s fifth, new album Kidron and kind of a signature-song for the record. The song talks about Francis, their mascot and combines Sacrosanct’s distinctive melancholic mood, but at the same time is comprehensible without being commercially appealing. A complex, but catchy progressive metal hymn.
Sacrosanct, established in 1988, are a well-respected name in the metal scene, most known for their three classic albums during the early 1990s: Truth Is – What Is, Recesses For The depraved and Tragic Intense.
The Sacrosanct signature sound gradually progressed from sophisticated thrash metal to a more edgy, melodic and atmospheric aural landscape. The brainchild of founding member and lead guitar player Randy Meinhard (ex-Pestilence) returned in 2018, after a 25-year hiatus, with their fourth album “Necropolis”, which was highly acclaimed and bears all of the hallmarks and intricacies that defines Sacrosanct, with a strong emphasis on melancholic melodies and harmony guitar parts as well as a focus on thought-provoking lyrics. Six years later, Sacrosanct return with the even more powerful, still complex, but catchy Kidron, introducing their new singer Max Morton, who outshines the album with his clear, dynamic and unique voice. “The album combines all our trademarks, has a unique atmosphere due to all the circumstances we had to go through and is accessible and complex at the same time,” comments Randy Meinhard.
The special thing about Sacrosanct is that every album sounds different. “We always write and play songs in our own way. We can't and won't deny our roots. Of course, our first albums were more thrash-heavy, but there was a lot more going on in the songs. You just can't reduce us to that. I p
Off the backs of their latest single release, "Hellraiser," and their North American Tour with Raven to support the full-length release of the latest album Sunburn, Wicked is back with more high energy rock ‘n' roll.
Wicked is set to release yet another single; "Reptile Roots" on Friday, December 13. Pre-save here.
Not only will there be a reckless new hard rock track to crank up, but a new music video to accompany it, which will give a look back in time to scenes from the "It's Summer Somewhere Tour" that the band just completed.
The band will be celebrating their single release with an intimate hometown show on December 13 at LUX located on 666 South Ave. Rochester, NY 14620, before they break into the new year and embark on their trip to NAMM to play the Anaheim, CA House of Blues with Metal Allegiance, as well as OTTTO and Lost Legacy on January 23.
With no stopping in sight, join Wicked as they rip through the end of 2024 and into 2025 with a mission to put that reckless fun back into rock ‘n’ roll!
"You all have been asking for it after every show, from NY to LA and Toronto to Mexico City. Well now you've got it! I give you ‘Reptile Root
Swedish metallers AVATAR are planning to enter the studio in January to begin work on their tenth album. The follow-up to 2023's "Dance Devil Dance" will once again be produced by Jay Ruston, who has previously worked with ANTHRAX, STEEL PANTHER and URIAH HEEP, among many others.
AVATAR's next LP is tentatively due in 2025 through the band's own label Black Waltz Records, which is distributed by Thirty Tigers.
In other news, AVATAR has shared a brand new, re-recorded piano version of its song "Tower". This gorgeous new version is the first time the band has re-recorded a track in its career thus far.
"This version of 'Tower' became a special moment in a very special period of our lives," states AVATAR vocalist Johannes Eckerström. "It feels natural to use it as a way to stop and look back for just a moment before we move forward with full force. It's a thank you to everyone who stands by our side and makes the magic happen."
The original version of "Tower" appeared on AVATAR's beloved and critically acclaimed fifth album, "Hail The Apocalypse", which was released in 2014. According to a press release from AVATAR's publicist, the re-recorded version of the song "is of incredible significance because AVATAR have neither ownership nor receives any royalties on 'Hail The Apocalypse', or any preceding albums, since 2015. The band is currently in the midst of a legal battle to reclaim their rights with former record label Fifth Island Music; formerly Gain Records, a part of Sony Music Entertainment," the press release adds.
"Dance Devil Dance" was recorded in the Swedish wilderness, far away from all the perceived glamor of the big city and modern studios. Ruston returned as producer. He first worked with AVATAR 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".
"Dance Devil Dance" featured a guest appearance by Lzzy Hale of HALESTORM on the song "Violence No Matter What". The record also included the single "The Dirt I'm Buried In", which hit No. 1 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.
Johannes formed AVATAR in 2001. The band's lineup has remained virtually the same ever since, save for guitarist Tim Öhrström, who entered the fray just over a decade later. AVATAR also includes guitarist Jonas Jarlsby, bassist Henrik Sandelin and drummer John Alfredsson.
Earlier this year, Eckerström was asked by Mexico's Summa Inferno about the supposedly mixed fan reaction to "Dance Devil Dance", considering that AVATAR once again experimented with its sound. He said: "Well, I think we are experimenting as much as we always do, because we always want to change. Every album is based on wherever we were at that given time, so we will never — whatever we did in the past…. I mean, okay, AVATAR will always be a metal band, but beyond that, we kind of never really worry about what we have already done. We do go for the next great thing. And I think our fans are used to this — they're used to that 'Avatar Country' can happen and then 'Hunter Gatherer' can happen immediately after that, and so on."
He continued: "And as far as reception, I do believe that this is our best-received album so far, in terms of that more people liked it than disliked it. But you can't anyway please everyone. So I can't worry about that. As a matter of fact, I always prepare myself for even worse results every time an album is done. I listen to it one last time for myself and ask myself, 'Okay, if everyone hates it, is that okay?' Well, yes, because I like it and everyone else can just forget about this and go and listen to something else. But we have to live with this. So I answer that question every time. So I'm always ready for way worse reception, but instead this is the biggest thing we have ever made. So, I think it went pretty well."
Rival Sons' live concert album, Pair Of Aces: Live From Santa Catalina Island (Part 2). is out today on both YouTube and all audio streaming platforms. It features the performance of their 2010 self-titled EP which was recorded by 9x Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Cobb and led to the band first being signed. It includes fan-favorite tracks such as “Get What’s Coming,” “Torture,” “Radio,” “Sacred Tongue,” and “Soul.”
The YouTube premiere will be followed by a live Q&A/afterparty with frontman Jay Buchanan and guitarist Scott Holiday. Watch the live concert premiere, and join in on the afterparty below. Stream the album on your preferred listening platform here.
In June 2021, Rival Sons, delivered two live performances from Catalina Island, CA. They were originally streamed via Veeps to fans at home across the world, many of whom were still in lockdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Both performances are available to stream visually and digitally for the first time. Pair Of Aces: Live From Santa Catalina Island (Part 1) features the full performance of their 2009 album Before The Fire was released in November. Watch the YouTube performance below, and/or stream the album digitally here.
Drummer Michael Miley states: “Night two of our trip to Catalina Island! We set up in the historic Avalon theater and it was like we were transported to another era. The theater has insane old school acoustics. You can hear someone whisper from 90 feet away like they’re directly in your ear; it was nostalgic. And dusting off the EP, especially during a pandemic, was a respite as well as a funky good time!”
Holiday elaborates on both releases: “In recognition of the 10-year anniversary of our first 2 albums, we played each album in its entirety over 2 different nights. One night in the ballroom (in the round!) performing Before the Fire, and the n
Italian progressive death metal band, Sadist, will release their Jugular Bell EP on December 20 via Nadir Music. It's a limited edition box set, which is going to make all the fans of the band very happy. Inside the box, a 5-track Jewel Box CD, Band sticker, wool hat, and band patch.
While waiting for the release of the Sadist Christmas box set, you can find the official video for the title track below.
The Jugular Bells EP will anticipate the release of the band's new album, which is scheduled for spring 2025 via Agonia Records. The tracks on the mini-CD will not be included on the full-length album.
Swiss rock legend Marc Storace’s band, Storace, have reissued their first record, Live And Let Live, in a special edition including a bonus live album, available now via Frontiers Music Srl.
The focus track, “Midnite Maniac”, and the accompanying visualizer, are also available now.
Marc Storace describes the new single, by saying: “'Midnite Maniac' is a popular Krokus song from the 80’s that Krokus never play! It came off The Blitz album. Back in the 80’s, MTV had the video on full rotation! It talks about a female serial killer.”
Talking about the album release, Storace comments: “Krokus had stopped to exist because of Covid and no one really knew what the outcome of the pandemic would be, so not wasting time I started working on a solo album! Live And Let Live is rich in melodic vocals, colourful riffs, great guitar solos, many hooks and a solid driving rhythm section!!”
Watch the visualizer for "Midnite Maniac" below:
On the bonus album, Marc notes: “During the past three intensive years playing throughout Switzerland we recorded many gigs and the live album features the best of the crop, highlighting songs we recorded during hot performances in Zürich’s Hallenstadion as special guests of KISS, and The Scorpions, and whilst sharing the famous 'Rock The Ring Festival' stage with Alice Cooper and his notorious band.
“Included on the setlist are songs from Krokus which we never play, like 'Midnite Maniac' and 'To The Top'; also a beefed up version of 'Telephone Man' from my late seventies London band Eazy Money”, he continues.
Live And Let Live is Storace’s first official solo album. It was recorded during the 2021 lockdown of the Covid pandemic and was produced by Cyrill Camenzind and Massimo Buonanno at Powerplay Studios, near Zürich.
Cyrill, Massi, and Marc composed some of the songs together, and they played on the album which also features the talented musicians Marco Blöchlinger on bass, Christian Roffler on keys, Jean Pierre Von Dach on lead guitar, and Gee K, Micha Dettwyler and Céline Hales on backing vocals.
Live And Let Live was officially released in Switzerland on December 18, 2021, during a gig at the legendary Music-Club outside Bern called the “Mühle Hunziken." It was performed by the studio band, all except J.P. Von Dach, who had been replaced by Turi Wicki due to his heavy touring commitments with Joss Stone.
CD1:
"Live And Let Live"
"High On Love"
"Lady Of The Night"
"Carry The Burden"
"Broken Wings"
"No Place To Hide"
"Don't Wanna Go"
"Love Over Money"
"Time Waits For No One"
"Paradise"
CD2:
"Live And Let Live"
"High On Love"
"Midnite Maniac"
"Telephone Man"
"Lady Of The Night"
"Hellraiser"
"Broken Wings"
"To The Top"
"No Place To Hide"
"Don't Wanna Go"
"Carry The Burden"
"Love Over Money"
"Lady Of The Night" visualizer:
After an internationally streamed "Baloise Session" gig in the legendary Atlantis of Basel-City in January, the first edition of the Storace band embarked on a package tour of Switzerland with Megawatt and Coreleoni in March.
In May 2022, Storace embarked on a headliner club tour with a newly formed band. He wanted to deliver with an increased amount of that good old school hard rock feel, so in addition to Turi Wicki (lead guitar), Dom Favez (ex-Krokus rhythm guitar) and Patrick Aeby (ex-Krokus drummer) joined the band, together with Emi-Meyer (bass).
The new Storace band then went on to play at the Rock The Ring Festival near Zürich along with Alice Cooper and, on July 7, they opened for KISS at the Hallenstadion. Their headline tour continued further in 2022, with the new Storace team becoming even more solid, delivering with much charisma and a strong punch!
On June 2, 2023, Storace played at the Hallenstadion again, opening for Scorpions. Drummer Patrick Aeby managed to record a selection of material taken from these fresh touring years, included as a bonus disc in the reissue of Live And Let Live.
Maltese-born Swiss musician Marc Storace started his exceptional musical career in 1970, with the Swiss cult progressive band TEA, with whom he released 3 LPs and toured Europe and the UK. TEA also supported Queen during an early tour in Germany. Marc gained attention for his frontmanship and his high-pitched raunchy vocal tone.
Whilst in London in 1977, Marc formed Eazy Money whose song "Telephone Man" made it into the UK Metal Charts and is in the Storace set list today.
In 1979, Marc became the voice of Krokus, the most successful Hard Rock Band from Switzerland. After their first album with Marc, Metal Rendez-Vous, Krokus played several world tours, sold over 15 million records, and won many gold and platinum awards.
When the group disbanded, Marc formed the band Blue, who released their self-titled album in 1991, including the widely known hit “You Can't Stop The Rainfall”.
Today, British rock icons, Magnum, release a new digital single and video, "Days Of No Trust" (Live), taken from the upcoming album, Live At KK's Steel Mill.
"Days Of No Trust" (Live) is available on all digital platforms here. Watch the video below.
Talking about the new single, Magnum frontman Bob Catley says: “As we all know, Tony wrote this song for our 1988 album Wings Of Heaven and it’s a political statement that is still valid today – that people worldwide deserve better than vagabonds, crooks and corrupt politicians.”
Live At KK's Steel Mill is Magnum's final live album with founder Tony Clarkin. Recorded December 10, 2022, Live At KK's Steel Mill was the memorable night when they played the final show of their European tour at KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton and, as they had done on all previous nights, wowed their fans from the first to the last note.
The concert was recorded by state-of-the-art audio equipment, which later turned out to be a real blessing because it was – as we now know – the last official live recording starring Tony Clarkin. The guitarist and main songwriter died unexpectedly on January 7, 2024, just a few days before the release of Magnum’s studio album, Here Comes The Rain.
The album presents Magnum as an enthusiastically celebrated act whose repertoire of hits, classics, and newer material could hardly be more varied. “It was the perfect evening,” recalls singer Bob Catley. “We finished our The Monster Roars tour in Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill was packed out and the promoter was a passionate Magnum fan. I couldn’t imagine a more worthy farewell to Tony than those recordings.”
Due to the huge demand and to mark the first anniversary of Clarkin’s passing, Live At KK's Steel Mill will be available via Steamhammer/SPV starting January 10, for the first time on double CD, triple LP, and for digital download (pre-order here).
Live At KK's Steel Mill will be released in the following configurations:
CD1
"Days Of No Trust"
"Lost On The Road To Eternity"
"The Monster Roars"
"The Archway Of Tears"
"Dance Of The Black Tattoo"
"Where Are You Eden? "
"The Flood "
"The Day after The Night Before"
CD2
"Wild Swan"
"Les Morts Dansant"
"Rocking Chair"
"All England's Eyes"
"Vigilante"
"Kingdom Of Madness"
"On A Storyteller's Night"
"Sacred Hour"
"Shadow Walker" is the second release from Gypsy Pistoleros' groundbreaking new album, Welcome To The Church Of The Pistoleros, set for release in early 2025 via Golden Robot Records (Australia, New Zealand) and Earache Records (Rest Of The World).
Check out the official video for "Shadow Walker" below.
"Shadow Walker" explores how facing and embracing our inner shadows allows for a profound transformation. The Shadow Walker’s journey is ultimately one of acceptance—of their connection to the unseen, primal forces of nature and the acceptance of their true self. By navigating the labyrinth of their fears, they achieve unity with both the self and the natural world, embodying a timeless, mystical force. Impervious to the dark world that we live in.
Welcome To The Church Of The Pistoleros, recorded at the renowned Old Cider Press Studios in Pershore, is produced and co-written by the legendary Dave Draper, whose credits include work with Ginger Wildheart, Nickelback, The Professionals and Terrorvision, etc. Draper has described Church of the Pistoleros as "a total monster" and one of the best projects he's ever worked on.
This album is a rallying cry to the outcasts, the misunderstood, the shy, the quiet and disenfranchised of society. A place where they are welcome. Gypsy Pistoleros is a band that refuses to conform. Proudly walking their own path, their music is a rallying cry for misfits everywhere. With a sound that defies traditional genres, Gypsy Pistoleros stand as one of the most unique and innovative acts in the world of rock music today.
Gypsy Pistoleros’ sound spans a vast musical landscape - from 1950s Phil Spector-esque ballads to high-energy glam punk and Latin-infused rock, creating a sonic experience that is truly unmatched. Fusing anthemic rock, Latin swagger, glam punk, and even elements of goth and emo, their music is a celebration of the unconventional.
Gypsy Lee Pistolero states: "Welcome to the Church of the Pistoleros. Come and take my hand, al
SHINEDOWN songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Eric Bass has today shared his new single "Azalia", taken from his forthcoming debut solo album "I Had A Name". Fans can watch the brand new music video below.
A concept album set within a sprawling new world, "I Had A Name" was written, recorded, and produced entirely by Bass.
"'Azalia' is one of the two main protagonists in our story," explains Eric. "She is a former warrior monk who has thrown off her religion to become an assassin. Dedicating her life to the insurgency against the WAL and Legion, and to killing every official who had anything to do with her mother's death."
He continues: "In the song 'Azalia', we find her on the run for her life with the government's demons close behind. She will have to rely on her tenacity in order to not give up, and on her natural abilities to survive. The keys to which are contained within a gift her mother gave her as a child. Eric Bass presents… 'Azalia'."
Fans can look forward to more new music as Eric prepares for the release of "I Had A Name" on February 28. The record is available for pre-save/pre-order now at this location.
When "I Had A Name" was first announced in November, Eric said in a statement: "We live in a world right now where music gets homogenized and maybe everything sounds and feels the same. I wanted to create something different and I hope listeners hear that. Lyrically and emotionally I hope it empowers them and they can see themselves in the characters and stories I sing about."
He continued: "We all go through dark times and hardships, but there's always a way out. I think that's what being a human being is about. I feel like Earth is a test and we're here to prove ourselves, go through things and come out better on the other side."
Regarding the LP's first single, "Mind Control", he said: "'Mind Control' is part of a larger story than I'm telling on this record and in the graphic novel that goes along with it. We're following this character Devaren as he's talking about his disdain for the population and how he can't stand them, but at the end of the song he has this reflective moment where he actually regrets everything he's been doing. The interesting thing about the characters in this story is that they represent a different part of my neurodivergence and mental health journey. In 'Mind Control' Devaren represents the depression that has crept into my life over the years that I didn't see coming. I just had to personify that in a character so in 'Mind Control' it has taken over, but ultimately in our story it will be defeated."
Bass is best known as the co-songwriter, producer, and bassist for multiplatinum rock institution SHINEDOWN, which holds the record for most No. 1 singles on Billboard's Mainstream Rock chart.
"Eric Bass Presents: I Had A Name" is an immersive, expansive, and richly thematic work. As well versed in KISS and VAN HALEN as PEARL JAM and SOUNDGARDEN, Bass poured passion and creativity into "I Had A Name".
The initial storytelling spark behind "I Had A Name" ignited in a hotel room in Milan, Italy, as SHINEDOWN toured behind 2018's "Attention Attention". "I sat on the bed with a pen and paper and wrote for two hours," Eric explains. "It turned into a synopsis for a prequel to the story I'm telling on the album. When I started writing music, I thought about these characters. The album doesn't chronologically tell the story, but it depicts various scenes from it — bits and pieces that happen throughout it."
As with much of "Attention Attention" and "Planet Zero" (SHINEDOWN's first No. 1 on Billboard's Album Sales chart),"I Had A Name" looks both outward at society and inward, as darker emotions seep out from within the more significant metaphors and storylines on the surface.
"I've spoken about my struggles with depression and neurodivergent issues before," Bass points out. "When I finished writing this record, I looked back at these characters I've created and realized I'd written the most autobiographical record of my life, which wasn't conscious as I was writing it.
"The album is an epic odyssey. I don't want mental health to be an 'angle' that obscures that," he adds. "But I don't mind talking about it. Anytime I talk about it, I hope it's helpful to someone else."
With his SHINEDOWN bandmates' full support and encouragement, Eric challenged himself to write every lyric, compose every song, perform every instrument, and produce and mix the entire affair.
Ultimately, as with every endeavor of the South Carolina native's career, "Eric Bass Presents: I Had A Name" is about authenticity. "I'm always about honesty in art," he says. "When I listen to something, I want to hear that the person dug into the dirt and bled for it to happen. The truth always prevails."
"Eric Bass Presents: I Had A Name" track listing:
01. A World Unseen
02. The New Gods Of War
03. Azalia
04. We Can't Go Home
05. Goodnight Goodnight
06. Mind Control
07. New Graves
08. All Good Children - Our Guts
09. Modenhardt
10. Dead Inside
11. The Churches Of The Dead
12. Wanna Go To Hell
Australian hard rock band The Poor has just issued a video for their song, "Lies".
"Lies" appears on High Price Deed - the fourth studio from The Poor - released in 2023.
Tracklisting:
"Payback's A Bitch"
"Lover"
"Hurricane"
"This Is The Story"
"Take The World"
"Goin' Down"
"Cry Out"
"Lies"
"I Know It's Wrong"
"Love Shot"
"Let Me Go"
"Too Long"
"Payback's A Bitch":
"Lover":
"Cry Out":
"Let Me Go":
The Poor started out playing the pub circuit in Darwin nearly two decades ago. The plan was simple -, hard rockin’ hard drinkin’ and world domination. In 1992 the band cut their debut release, the EP Rude, Crude & Tattooed, produced by Rick Brewster and Bob Spencer from The Angels and from the opening line you knew it was going to be something great; Aussie pub rock, in your face, no bullsh*t, straight to the point, rock’n’f%&k’n’roll.
Tempe, Arizona-based deathgaze unit Kardashev performed at Germany's Euroblast 2024, and have released more professionally-filmed footage from the show. You can now watch video of the band performing "Between Sea And Sky", which joins the previously posted clips for "Snow Sleep" and "Cellar Of Ghosts". See all below.
Said the band: "Kardashev would like to extend a huge thank you to Euroblast and their team of volunteers, photographers, stage hands, FOH engineers, catering, kitchen, vendors and more! And an equally big THANK YOU to The Scream Dudes for their filming and audio work for this performance to be captured for all of you at home to witness! And finally, to our Stage Engineer, Jan Engstfeld, and FOH Engineer, Ramon Smith, for their help in capturing our live performance and making it sound as good as it does!
"Following 16 hours of individual travel by each band member, Jan allowed us 2 days to practice at his studio together with the equipment that we'd use at the Festival. Kardashev had never pra
Øâåöèÿ
Majestica![=]](/img/news-bord-shr.gif){kind=small}
ÑØÀ
Ôèíëÿíäèÿ
Ìåæäóíàðîäíûé
Ãåðìàíèÿ
Áðàçèëèÿ
Íèäåðëàíäû
Èòàëèÿ
Øâåéöàðèÿ
Âåëèêîáðèòàíèÿ
Àâñòðàëèÿ
