Canadian singer, songwriter and producer Devin Townsend will release his new album, "Lightwork", on October 28. The LP's first single, "Moonpeople", which is the album's opening track, arrives with a video filmed by Devin himself while he was in Spain earlier this year. The first in a three-part series of clips, it can be seen below.
Devin comments: "Hey all :) this is Devin. Welcome to my newest album 'Lightwork'.
"The last few years have been a lot, and this is the music that I wrote during that time.
"In essence, 'Lightwork' is a bit more of a 'song'-oriented album. A bit more direct and simpler than a lot of what I've been doing lately.
"After 'Empath' and 'The Puzzle', things kind of swung back in the direction of more traditional arrangements for 'Lightwork'. Lyrically, It kind of hints at the struggles of the last few years but with an eye on putting the pieces back together again.
"We chose 'Moonpeople' as the first of three video releases from this project, The three videos share a theme, so I think that'll work.
"'Moonpeople' is the first song on 'Lightwork' and acts as a sort of mission statement for the album. Post pandemic… kids are now teens… 50 years old, who am I now? Beyond any platitudes or delusions, who am I now that the smoke is clearing and what do I want to do, and who do I want to be, moving forward?
"The term 'Moonpeople', in my mind, refers to those in society that kind of 'watch' things rather than being directly involved in it. Maybe the Moonpeople are more introverted rather than extroverted? In any case, it functions as a song on the album that will set the stage for the dynamic nature of the material that follows it.
"So here you go. Song one."
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) 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 longtime 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 ended up in this wonderful album.
Featuring artwork by frequent collaborator Travis Smith, "Lightwork" arrives in several editions including a limited deluxe orange 3LP+2CD+Blu-ray box-set that includes both "Lightwork" and its companion album "Nightwork" on both CD and vinyl, as well as a Blu-ray including 5.1 Surround Sound, album commentary and visuals, art-cards and 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.
Devin will embark on a European headline tour in early 2023.
City Of Caterpillar return with their first new album in 20 years, Mystic Sisters, out September 30 on Relapse Records. Today, the band share the “Mystic Sisters” music video, directed by Derek Zimmer. Watch below:
Pre-save Mystic Sisters here. Mystic Sisters pre-orders are available now on LP/CD/CS, here.
Tracked primarily at Montrose Recording in Richmond, Mystic Sisters was self-produced by the band and then mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Bosse-de-Nage).
Additionally, City Of Caterpillar have announced the Mystic Sisters tour for this fall around their appearance at The Fest.
When guitarist/vocalist Brandon Evans, guitarist Jeff Kane, drummer Ryan Parrish and bassist/vocalist Kevin Longendyke unveiled their self-titled debut in 2002, their emotional, frenzied and often cinematic music was at the vanguard of the burgeoning screamo movement. Along with bands like Pg.99 (with whom they shared members), Majority Rule, Planes Mistaken For Stars and others, they helped develop a style of music that took hardcore into convulsive new territory.
After years spent living in other parts of the country and playing in other bands—including Darkest Hour, Malady and Ghastly City Sleep, the long awaited City Of Caterpillar reunion shows snowballed into writing sessions. The result - Mystic Sisters, an album that recaptures the magic of old while taking the band’s music into exciting new territory! The winding and atmospheric title track that embodies City Of Caterpillar's experimental side features some noise violin from Evans’ former Pg. 99 bandmate Johnny Ward, while tracks like "Decider" and "Paranormaladies" showcases the band's roots with a flurry of viceral, noisey hardcore swagger.
Ultimately, City Of Caterpillar are more concerned with creating a mood than telling a story. “The band is always focused on mood,” Evans confirms. “To me, that’s the most important thing. I don’t really want people dissecting what we’re trying to say, because it’s not really about us. It never has been. What we cared about 20 years ago was innocent, raw emotion, and that’s what we care about now.”
Tracklisting:
“Thought Drunk”
“Paranormaladies”
“Decider”
“Mystic Sisters”
“Manchester”
“Voiceless Prophets”
“In The Birth Of A Fawn”
“Ascension Theft…(Gnawing Of The Bottom-Feeders)”
“Decider” video:
Tour dates:
September
29 - Washington, DC - Black Cat
30 - Richmond, VA - Richmond Music Hall
October
1 - Philadelphia, PA - Philamoca
2 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus
27 - Asheville, NC - The Odd
28 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl
29 - Gainesville, FL- The Fest
30 - Birmingham, AL - Seasick Records
31 - Nashville, TN - DRKMTTR
Brazilian rockers, Electric Mob, have released an official live video for "Higher Than Your Heels". The original track is featured on the band's debut album, Discharge, available via Frontiers Music Srl. The footage was filmed live at Nico's Studio in Curitiba, Brazil on May 22, 2022.
"Awaken"
"Devil You Know"
"King’s Ale"
"Got Me Runnin’"
"Far Off"
"Your Ghost"
"Gypsy Touch"
"123 Burn"
"Upside Down"
"Higher Than Your Heels"
"Brand New Rope"
"We Are Wrong"
"Your Ghost" video:
"Higher Than Your Heels" video:
"Far Off" video:
"King’s Ale":
"Devil You Know" video:
Lineup:
Renan Zonta - Vocals
Ben Hur Auwarter - Guitar
Yuri Elero - Bass
André Leister - Drums
MEGADETH performed its new song "We'll Be Back" live for the first time last night (Wednesday, August 24) at FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California. Fan-filmed video can be seen below.
MEGADETH kicked off its summer/fall 2022 U.S. tour as the support act for FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on August 19 at RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater in Ridgefield, Washington. The trek, which features additional support from THE HU and FIRE FROM THE GODS, will conclude on October 15 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
MEGADETH's setlist for the Irvine concert was as follows:
01. Hangar 18
02. Dread And The Fugitive Mind
03. We'll Be Back
04. Sweating Bullets
05. Dystopia
06. Trust
07. Symphony Of Destruction
08. Peace Sells
Encore:
09. Holy Wars... The Punishment Due
Just a day or two prior to the Irvine show, MEGADETH mainman Dave Mustaine spoke to Milwaukee's 102.9 The Hog radio station about why he and his bandmates had yet to perform any of the songs from their upcoming album, "The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!", live, despite the fact that they have already released three of them as singles. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We are adding two songs to our set; we are adding 'Night Stalkers' and 'We'll Be Back'. Hopefully we'll be able to add 'Soldier On!' by then too. But a lot of that is dictated by the radio support and the listeners' tastes. When certain songs our fans like to hear, we'll add them into the setlist if we can. If there's a song that we're playing in the setlist and people aren't responding to it, well, obviously we're gonna do the opposite and take it out of the setlist. This is all part of the showbiz part. A lot of people don't care about that; they just wanna rock."
"The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" will arrive on September 2 via UMe. Featuring twelve new tracks, the follow-up to 2016's "Dystopia" will be made available on CD, vinyl, and cassette, as well as digitally through all online partners. There will also be a limited deluxe edition 2LP, 12-track album pressed on 180g black vinyl housed in a numbered gatefold jacket with a 12x24 lyrics/credits insert, a lenticular vinyl lithograph and a bonus seven-inch featuring "We'll Be Back" and the unreleased B-side "The Conjuring (Live)". The limited deluxe edition can only be purchased via MEGADETH's official online store, through Sound Of Vinyl and uDiscover.
"The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" reunites Mustaine with co-producer Chris Rakestraw (DANZIG, PARKWAY DRIVE),who together helmed "Dystopia". The new album was recorded at Mustaine's home studio in Nashville, Tennessee, with guitarist Kiko Loureiro and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. Bassist Steve DiGiorgio temporarily stepped in to record the album. With the kick-off of MEGADETH's recent tour, MEGADETH alumnus James LoMenzo rejoined the MEGADETH family as permanent bass player.
"The Sick, The Dying… And The Dead!" features a cover of DEAD KENNEDYS' "Police Truck" and Sammy Hagar's "This Planet's On Fire", the latter of which includes vocals from Hagar himself.
Former ALICE COOPER guitarist Nita Strauss performed with Demi Lovato this past Friday, August 19 on "Good Morning America" for the Summer Concert Series in New York City's Central Park. Watch video of the appearance below.
Earlier in the week, Lovato and Strauss performed twice on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon". They played Demi's recently released singles "29" and "Substance", which arrived ahead of her highly anticipated new album, "Holy Fvck", out now via Island Records. The "Fallon" performances were part of Demi's three-night takeover on the show, which included an appearance as co-host on Wednesday (August 17),taking part in the monologue and guest interviews.
Nita played her first full live show with Demi on August 13 at the Grandstand at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois.
Nita made her live debut with Demi on July 14 with a performance of "Substance" on ABC's Emmy Award-winning late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!".
Nita's new gig was first reported as a rumor on July 11 on the Metal Sludge web site.
The follow-up to last year's "Dancing With The Devil…The Art Of Starting Over", "Holy Fvck" is reportedly a departure from Lovato's typical pop aesthetic and features a more punk-rock-flavored sound.
Lovato implied that "Holy Fvck" would usher in a new era for her after she posted a photo in January along with the caption, "A funeral for my pop music." She later told Rolling Stone that fans can expect to hear some "heaviness" in her new sound.
"It's a new era reminiscent of my first era," she said. "I'm ever-evolving, ever-changing. I'd like to put the rest of my music behind me and start fresh in this new era for this next album — but I do that every album cycle."
Demi will bring the album to fans across South America and North America this fall on the "Holy Fvck" tour. Fans can expect to hear new songs from the album as well as reimagined rock versions of Lovato's hits, including "Sorry Not Sorry", "Cool For The Summer" and more.
Produced by Live Nation, the 32-date tour kicked off this past Saturday at the Illinois State Fair. The tour will continue to South America with stops in Belo Horizonte, Bogotá, and more before hitting North America on Thursday, September 22 in Wheatland, California at the Hard Rock Live Sacramento. The North American leg includes stops in New York, Los Angeles, Montreal, Nashville and more before wrapping up in Irving, Texas at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory on Sunday, November 6. ROYAL & THE SERPENT and DEAD SARA will serve as special guests on select North American dates.
On July 11, Nita announced that she would sit out Cooper's fall 2022 tour. She has also scrapped the festival dates her solo band had planned for the rest of the year. The 35-year-old said in a statement that her "touring year" was "still VERY full" and revealed that she was "on a flight straight into the next adventure," adding cryptically that she would "be on stage again much sooner than you think."
A couple of Nita's Cooper bandmates commented on her post, with guitarist Ryan Roxie writing: "No words — just notes... and lord knows we harmonized a lot of them over the years... nothing but love and respect." Drummer Glen Sobel added: "You're super pro and prepared no matter what the situation. We're gonna miss you but we're also proud to be associated with Hurricane."
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.
Last October, Nita shared "Dead Inside", her first new solo music since the release of her debut album, 2018's "Controlled Chaos". The track is her first-ever solo collaboration with a vocalist, David Draiman, frontman of Grammy-nominated rock icons DISTURBED.
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.
Nita's solo live show is mostly instrumental in nature, combining originals with covers.
Original SALIVA singer Josey Scott joined POISON on stage last night (Saturday, August 20) at BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma to perform the classic POISON song "Nothin' But A Good Time". Fan-filmed video of his appearance can be seen below.
After the concert, Josey took to his Instagram to share a couple of photos taken at the gig, and he included the following message: "What an amazing date night with my beautiful wife Kendra, watching Bret Michaels and POISON rock out in front of a sold out BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and he even brought me out on stage to do 'Nothin But A Good Time' in front of 18,000 screaming rock n' roll fans! What class act Bret is! Also, thank you to Tom Keifer from CINDERELLA as well, for letting me meet him! What a dream come true night! Wow! This is one for the books! #epic #bretmichaels #tomkeifer #bokcenter #rocknroll".
He added: "Thank you Bret Michaels for always supporting me and my family and my musical career, you are not only an idol of mine, and a mentor, but I'm so very thankful, and grateful, to call you friend! You have always had my back, and I promise you, I will always have yours! Thank you my friend! Singing with you and POISON tonight was a absolute rock n' roll dream come true!"
Scott recently returned to the studio to record some new solo music as well as reworked versions of several of the band's classic songs.
Scott left SALIVA at the end of 2011 after 15 years with the group, reportedly to pursue a solo Christian music career. He was quickly replaced by Bobby Amaru, who can be heard on SALIVA's last four releases: "In It To Win It" (2013),"Rise Up" (2014),"Love, Lies & Therapy" (2016) and "10 Lives" (2018).
In October 2019, Scott announced that he was returning to SALIVA, explaining at the time that he wanted to get together with his former bandmates and "write a badass record." Less than a year and a half later, in March 2021, SALIVA guitarist Wayne Swinny poured cold water on those plans, saying that the reunion with the singer "never really got off the ground."
This past March, it was announced that SALIVA will reunite with Scott for a one-off appearance at this year's Blue Ridge Rock Festival, set to take place September 8-11 at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Virginia. The set is expected to feature both Josey and Bobby performing tracks from their respective eras of the band.
SALIVA's reunion with Scott at Blue Ridge was originally announced on March 18 by festival organizers via Twitter. They wrote: "It is Happening. For years it is has been highly rumored and demanded, now it finally takes place this September." Less than two weeks later, Scott shared the announcement on Twitter for the first time and included a simple two-word comment: "LETS GO!!!!!!" When one fan asked him, "Are u serious???", he responded: "Yes!"
When Swinny spoke to WRIF about SALIVA's failed reunion with Scott, he said that even though there were some initial discussions about Josey's return to the group, there was no follow-up to ensure that the plan was executed.
"If you wanna do something, do it," Wayne said. "But you can't just talk about it and have it magically happen. There's work, there's planning, there's stuff that goes into it, and none of that stuff was done early enough to pull it off.
"Yeah, there was some fan response, saying, 'Wow, yeah, that might be cool.' But it didn't get enough steam to take off," he explained. "All the preliminary stuff kind of got set up, and it just didn't jell.
"It just didn't make sense to stop what we [the current lineup of SALIVA] were doing and do that, because you've got momentum, we've got a groove going, the band's tight live. I didn't feel like we should give that up or give that a rest."
Last December, Josey took to his Twitter to write: "I want 2 apologize 2 my fans because I thought I was gonna reunite w/certain people & make u new music, & that fell through, but, I believe everything happens for a reason. There are no coincidences. A blessing in disguise. Now it's just u, & me, how intimate is that? #SV2022".
SALIVA released six albums with Scott and tasted platinum success and a Grammy nomination for its first big hit, "Your Disease".
In May 2021, SALIVA celebrated the 20th anniversary of its breakthrough major label debut, "Every Six Seconds", with a special project called "Every Twenty Years", an EP of classic songs re-recorded with Amaru.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Josey Scott (@joseyscott)
Former MEGADETH guitarist Marty Friedman has released the official music video for the song "Kaze Ga Fuiteiru". The track is taken from Marty's latest album, "Tokyo Jukebox 3", which came out in April 2021 via The Players Club/Mascot Label Group. The record, which was made available in Japan in October 2020, is the third in a series that began with "Tokyo Jukebox" in 2009, and then "Tokyo Jukebox 2" following in 2011. The trilogy presents Friedman's inspired performances to Japanese repertoire he's chosen to cover.
He said: "I've been playing stuff from the first two 'Jukebox' albums live all over the world, and it's taken on a life of its own. Especially in places like North and South America, Australia, Italy, France and even India. My fan base is very dedicated, and what I have found is that lots of new fans have been introduced to Japanese music and culture through me, which is very gratifying. On the tours it seems like aside from the dedicated guitar fans, the Japan fanatics have been noticeably growing, so now felt like the right time to do 'Tokyo Jukebox 3'."
Regarding his approach to covering "Kaze Ga Fuiteiru", Marty said: "While keeping intact the essence of Ikimono Gakari's 'Kaze Ga Fuiteiru' melody that I loved, I tried to destroy it, reconstruct it and create five minutes of new music that might bring a tear or a chill, and decidedly lifts your spirits. Whether I accomplished that or not is entirely up to you, but when I just finished the recording of 'Kaze Ga Fuiteru', someone whose opinion I respect very much called it 'grand and elegant,' so I'll go with that."
Friedman put a lot of energy into selecting the right songs to cover for the album. He explained: "In Japan, you have to get permission to record and release cover versions, and that can be a very tricky and long process. So, the last thing I wanted to do was to ask permission to do a song, only to wind up not recording it for whatever reason. That would be very impolite. I spent several weeks choosing songs and demoing them to see whether I could create versions that I could get pumped up about, before I even approached any publishers. I came up with a short list of 20 songs, and from this chose about 15 that I knew I could really score with."
Friedman also included "The Perfect World", which he wrote, recorded and originally released in 2018. This is the only track on the album with vocals. He reflected: "Back then I did the song with Jean-Ken Johnny from MAN WITH A MISSION on vocals, and that was used as the main theme for the Netflix series 'B: The Beginning'. On the day of release, the song went straight to the top of the Japanese iTunes chart." This recording is a new, fresh interpretation with Alfakyun, one of Japan's premier female J-pop singers performing the vocals. As Friedman offers: "It's really a self-cover, so it fits in with the idea of this being a covers album."
Friedman also included "Japan Heritage Theme Song", another of his own compositions on which he worked with the Tokyo Philharmonic orchestra. He reflected: "I was asked by the Japanese government to compose an official song to be played at government sponsored events which celebrate Japanese heritage. This was a huge honor, and it was wonderful to be able to work with such a prestigious orchestra which, rather conveniently, my wife plays cello in. Doing this was a little different from what I am used to, because instead of playing a completed track to record company people, I had to face Japanese government officials. I recall looking at their stony faces after they heard it and sweating anxiously awaiting their reaction. Thankfully, they liked what I'd done. I felt this was a great, uplifting way to close the album."
Much of the recording process was done at Power House Studios in Tokyo, with Friedman, who was also the producer on the project, joined by bassist Kiyoshi and drummer Anup Sastry. He said: "Kiyoshi has been in my band for about six years now doing all my tours and recordings. She is a powerhouse, and I honestly have never seen anyone hit the bass as hard as she does, especially while keeping up with my kind of challenging music. Anup was a member of SKYHARBOR (an Indian/American progressive metal band) and has been on my last three albums. He is just plain phenomenal as well."
The recording process started in January, 2020 and was due to end in March 2020 with a release in May 2020. Then the pandemic struck, and everything was pushed back. Friedman had no firm deadline to finish the album within, and he took advantage of the time, reflecting on executing his vision without limitations. He offered: "I kept reworking the music, and improving everything. In the end, it took several months to get the album completed, but it was time well spent. I believe the music turned out so much better because I wasn't under any deadline pressure." The mixing was handled by Jens Bogren at his own Fascination Studios in Sweden. He's a resource Friedman has the utmost confidence in offering, "Jens has mixed my last three albums and he's one of the best in the business. He knows what I want, and I know he'll get it for me."
Friedman's remarkable attention to detail on this album goes beyond the music. The cover image presents the guitarist dressed in a traditional Japanese kimono, with make-up that honors authentic tradition. He offers: "I have to admit that getting this done was a hellish process. It could easily have just looked like a dude in drag and therefore rather stupid. It does take a very serious attitude and approach to pull this off properly. If you look at the covers for the first two 'Jukebox' albums, I had on kabuki make-up. There was no photoshop used at all and that's precisely why they came out so well. This time I brought on the absolute top professionals in the unique field of wardrobe and make-up, and I believe we've hit the bullseye. I am actually wearing two kimonos in the photo, as well as padding to fill me out a little like a sumo wrestler. You'd never believe I am this skinny rock dude from the East Coast of America!"
On "Jukebox 3", Friedman takes J-Pop hits and offers his own charismatic interpretations of contemporary repertoire that includes LiSA's "Gurenge" and Official Hige Dandism's "Shukumei", alongside Da Pump's dance track "U.S.A.", Sekai No Owari's ballad "Sazanka", and the vocaloid hit "Senbonzakura". Japanese old-school standards, Zard's "Makenaide" and Every Little Things' "Time Goes By", are also given Marty's modern overhaul to round out the album's track list to cover the full scope of his take on the Japanese music scene.
In closing, Friedman offered: "I am so happy with the way this turned out. And I am also grateful for how it's been received so far. The reaction has been fantastic. It was joyful and cathartic to record, and I am delighted it's now giving people such a fun diversion."
Former Hanoi Rocks frontman, Michael Monroe, recently performed at the 2022 edition of Germany's Rock Hard Festival, and now you can watch pro-shot video of his full set. See below.
Setlist:
"One Man Gang"
"Last Train To Tokyo"
"Murder The Summer Of Love"
"Nothin's Alright"
"Trick Of The Wrist"
"'78"
"Soul Surrender"
"Man With No Eyes"
"Ballad Of The Lower East Side"
"Not Fakin' It"
"Can't Stop Falling Apart"
"Old King's Road"
"Motorvatin'"
"Hammersmith Palais"
"Malibu Beach Nightmare"
"Up Around The Bend"
"Dead, Jail Or Rock'n'Roll"
"Oriental Beat"
Monroe released I Live Too Fast To Die Young, his new slice of raw rock ‘n’ roll heaven, back in June via Silver Lining Music. Order here.
Tracklisting:
"Murder The Summer Of Love"
"Young Drunks & Old Alcoholics"
"Derelict Palace"
"All Fighter"
"Everybody's Nobody"
"Antisocialite"
"Can't Stop Falling Apart"
"Pagan Prayer"
"No Guilt"
"I Live Too Fast To Die Young"
"Dearly Departed"
In Episode 488 of the Iron City Rocks podcast, the hosts are joined once again by Lillian Axe‘s Steve Blaze. Lillian Axe just released From the Womb to the Tomb earlier this month. Steve talks with us about the line-up of the band, the period of time between 2012’s XI The Days Before Tomorrow and From The Womb To The Tomb, the lyrical theme of the album, and also reflects back on his auditioning for W.A.S.P. Blaze recalled W.A.S.P. frontman Blackie Lawless telling Blaze he was too good for the gig, but that he had many great, productive conversations with Lawless.
Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame inductees, Lillian Axe, recently released the video & single from their 10th studio album, From Womb To Tomb, out now via Global Rock Records.
Guitarist Steve Blaze describes the track: "We designed it to represent the realization of a child as he comes into the world. It has elements of Game Of Thrones, Tron and the Matrix all wrapped up into an epic song about the awareness we perceive in our first memories that we are now an existing eternal soul."
Watch the video below.
From Womb To Tomb is sure to please both long-time fans and newcomers with its superb songcraft and first-rate musicianship.
Steve Blaze: "I believe the basic idea behind the creation of From Womb To Tomb has been in my head for many years. The time just needed to be right to express it. This album is a different type of concept record, whereas it does not contain a story-based theme. Rather, it is a timeline from the birth of a child to the ascension of the soul, with each song emphasizing a specific time of one's life and the lessons learned therein.
"These observations are based on my life and the witnessing of the growth and development of the human condition through my eyes. The wonderful part is that these life experiences seem to exist in each and every one of us, even though the paths and events may greatly differ. This is the most emotional and powerful music I have ever written, and by the reactions of the few people close to me who I have played it for, it will hit a deep and resounding chord with all those who hear it.
"I ask one thing: listen from the start to finish in solitude, with no distractions, as if you are reading a book or watching a movie. It is not a collection of 16 individual, nonrelated pieces. But instead, it is a complete work of highs and lows, colors and shades, and emotional fluctuations. It will take you through the light of our greatness and the darkness of our failures. The band performed with beautiful power and grace, and I feel it is our best achievement to date."
Tracklisting:
"Breathe"
"I Am Beyond"
"Neverending Me (Dempsey's Kick)"
"A"
"The Golden Dragon"
"Piercing The Veil"
"Migrating North"
"No Problem"
"Dance Of The Maggots"
"Fall Of The Human Condition"
"The Great Deception"
"Endless Green Fields"
"Feelings Of Absinthe"
"Finally, Clarity"
"From The Mountaintops"
"Ascension"
"I Am Beyond" video:
Lillian Axe are starting their support of the album with a full UK tour in August, their first there since 1993. Confirmed dates are as listed:
August
24 - Nightrain - Bradford, UK
25 - Bannerman's - Edinburgh, UK
26 - Hangar 18 - Swansea, UK
27 - The Underworld - Camden, London, UK
28 - HRH Sleaze - Sheffield, UK
On August 4th, death metal legends Pestilence performed on the Wet Stage at Wacken Open Air 2022. Pro-shot video of their entire set is available below.
The setlist was as follows:
"The Secrecies of Horror"
"Twisted Truth"
"Lost Souls"
"Land of Tears"
"Prophetic Revelations"
"Testimony"
"Presence of the Dead"
"Stigmatized"
"Morbvs Propagationem"
"Deificvs"
"Dehydrated"
"Out of the Body"
Fan-filmed video of QUEENSRŸCHE's August 20 performance at the Monsters On The Mountain festival in Gatlinburg, Tennessee can be seen below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01. The Needle Lies
02. Walk In The Shadows
03. NM 156
04. Man The Machine
05. Silent Lucidity
06. Jet City Woman
07. Take Hold Of The Flame
08. Queen Of The Reich
09. Warning
10. Screaming In Digital
11. Empire
12. Eyes Of A Stranger
QUEENSRŸCHE will release a new album, "Digital Noise Alliance", on October 7 via Century Media. The record was once again helmed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris, who previously worked with QUEENSRŸCHE on 2015's "Condition Hüman" and "The Verdict" LPs.
"Digital Noise Alliance" features returning QUEENSRŸCHE guitarist Mike Stone who has been handling second-guitar duties in the band since late May 2021. QUEENSRŸCHE announced in July 2021 that longtime guitarist Parker Lundgren was exiting the group to focus on "other business ventures."
Stone originally joined QUEENSRŸCHE for the 2003 album "Tribe" and stayed with the band for six years before leaving the group.
For the past five years, Casey Grillo has been filling in for QUEENSRŸCHE's original drummer Scott Rockenfield, who stepped away from the band's touring activities in early 2017 to spend time with his young son.
Last October, Rockenfield filed a lawsuit against the band's fellow original members Michael Wilton (guitar) and Eddie Jackson (bass),alleging, among other things, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and wrongful discharge. Wilton and Jackson later responded to Rockenfield's suit with a counterclaim, denying that Rockenfield was wrongly dismissed and accusing him of abandoning his position as a member of the band and misappropriating the group's assets to his own personal benefit.
Last month, QUEENSRŸCHE singer Todd La Torre told Straus Project about the response to the first two singles the band has released so far from "Digital Noise Alliance" album, "In Extremis" and "Forest": "Obviously, you can never judge an album by one song, so when we put out the first single, there were people, like, 'Oh, I hope the record's like this or even heavier.' And then some people that are naysayers are, like, 'Oh, I hope [the rest of] it's nothing like that.'
"There's such a variety on this record — again — and we seem to always do that," he continued. "There's not just this one sound that you're gonna find on this record. There's some super-proggy stuff. Casey, his drumming was phenomenal on this record. And he did some stuff that I would never have thought of that was really interesting. In fact, one of the songs, Casey went into his studio and recorded, in his head, what he deemed as a full song on drums. And there's quirky, crazy stuff, there's verses, there's an intro — there's all this stuff. And he gives it to Michael, and basically [says], 'Here you go. Write to this.' And Michael comes back with this piece of music that went with Casey's drums. 'Cause [Michael] would never have come up with what he did had he not been inspired by the drum part. So it was really cool to see what manifested out of that.
"But, yeah, it's a really fun record to listen to," Todd added. "It covers everything that is QUEENSRŸCHE. So hopefully people like it. We put a lot of work into it. We're shooting many videos for this album — more than we've ever shot. We shot a ton of videos for this. And Thomas [Crane], who's the video director and everything, from killDevil Films — that's his company — has done a killer job. He's very creative, and so putting together our concepts with his ideas, he's done a great job. This is just the very beginning of what you guys have really kind of seen.
"So, yeah, there's a lot of things that you find as you listen each time. And I think QUEENSRŸCHE's music is like that — kind of like RUSH or PINK FLOYD. Each time you listen, you're, like, 'Oh, I never heard that before,' and you discover new things, which is cool."
Atlanta-based rock group Pistols At Dawn dropped their debut full-length album, Ascension, last Friday, August 19 and are excited to share that they’ll be bringing their music to audiences across the U.S. next spring supporting Alter Bridge and Mammoth WVH. The 2023 tour will kick off on March 10 in Quapaw, OK and see the band head west, ending March 31 in Reno, NV. Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 26 at 10am (local). See a full list of upcoming shows below.
Pistols At Dawn have further celebrated the album’s release by issuing a visually intense music video for the anthemic single, “Under The Surface”, which shows a breakdown brought on by the monotony of a stereotypical “9-5 office job.” It was inspired by cult classic films including Office Space, Fight Club and Joe vs. The Volcano.
Ascension delivers hard-hitting hooks, magnetic melodies and intricate instrumentation with old school arena-size ambition, and was recorded by Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System Of A Down) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Rob Halford).
Tracklisting:
"Under The Surface"
"Fly"
"Keep Me Guessing"
"For You"
"The Truth"
"Gravity"
"Get Away"
"Dictator"
Catch Pistols At Dawn on tour with Alter Bridge and Mammoth WVH in 2023:
March
10 - Quapaw, OK – Downstream Casino Resort
11 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
14 - Chesterfield, MO – The Factory
15 - Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
17 - Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
18 - Dallas, TX – Southside Ballroom
20 - Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
21 - Salt Lake City, UT – Union Event Center
23 - Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre
28 - Anaheim, CA – House Of Blues
29 - Tempe, AZ – The Marquee
31 - Reno, NV – Silver Legacy Grande Exposition Hall
Denver’s Celestial Wizard have released their second album, Winds Of The Cosmos, a new take on both the power metal and death metal sub-genres. This new album will be a breath of fresh air for their fans, it’s a massive leap forward in production quality and musicianship, and they have stepped away from the heavily synthesized, symphonic fantasy sound found in their previous album in favor of something more robust, and real.
To showcase the potent new sound, they have a vocal playthrough video for the single “Steel Chrysalis”. They explain the track in their own words: “'Steel Chrysalis' is a more epic, symphonic track in relation to the others on the album. The song’s main riff delivers a healthy dose of groove that the listener can lock on to and enjoy the heaviness of the chugging guitars that follow. This track is the most reminiscent of the previous album in terms of sound, so for those that have been fans from the beginning, this track will feel very familiar. The lyrics go over themes of being true to who you are and growing stronger amidst hardship, eventually becoming the best version of yourself.”
For Celestial Wizard, a lot of their lyrics have roots in old-school fantasy or sci-fi elements. The lyrical themes bridge from zombies to space travelers, and everything in between. They try to ground each song with a feeling or experience one of them has had or is trying to work through. They find that even though the lyrical themes can be far-fetched at times, the songs evoke strong emotions and listeners can find elements of the song to bond with.
Melodic and aggressive, the band draws a lot of influence from Metallica and cites that their sound is very similar to bands like Amon Amarth or Arch Enemy, bordering on a modern melodic metal sound. Galaktikon and Firewind are other bands they emulate in their writing and playing. They are recommended for fans of any of the aforementioned bands as well as metal fans that enjoy nerdy and fantasy-based hobbies such as Dungeons and Dragons.
New Zealand's Alien Weaponry have been touring around the world nonstop since the 2021 release of their sophomore album, Tangaroa (Napalm Records). Spreading vital messages of peace, awareness and warning through the power of their culturally-driven music, Tangaroa proves a massive next step for the band - encompassing all of the elements that make Alien Weaponry heavy metal’s most authentic rising stars.
Following the release of their three previous Tangaroa music videos for "Tangaroa", "Buried Underground", and "Hatupatu", today, in anticipation of their winter and early 2023 performance plans supporting both Guns N' Roses and Gojira, Alien Weaponry have dropped an official video for none other than their album closer, "Down The Rabbit Hole". The track extends an important proclamation against bullying through the eyes and experiences of frontman Lewis de Jong.
Lewis de Jong says about "Down The Rabbit Hole": "This was an absolute blast to film! 'Down The Rabbit Hole' represents the growth I've experienced throughout my life and putting to bed demons from the past. The video captures the meaning well - the broken objects representing said demons. It’s the rough times in life that make you who you are, as long as you rise above it."
As mentioned above, Alien Weaponry is thrilled to be hitting the road this winter and next spring with some of rock and metal's biggest icons. In December, the band will support Guns N' Roses on two shows in their home country of New Zealand, and will pick back up to join Gojira on a tour of the UK and Europe in February 2023. For individual show information, visit alienweaponry.com.
Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals
Ethan Trembath - Bass guitars, backing vocals & lead vocals on “Dad”
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar on “Unforgiving"
Kings Of Mercia, the new group formed by acclaimed rock/metal guitarist Jim Matheos (Fates Warning, Arch/Matheos) and powerhouse rock vocalist Steve Overland (FM) recently announced the release of their self-titled debut album on September 23 via Metal Blade Records.
Accompanying the duo on the upcoming album are Matheos’ Fates Warning bandmate Joey Vera on bass, and legendary drummer Simon Philips.
Today, Kings Of Mercia are pleased to share the new single, “Liberate Me”. Watch the video for the single below.
Steve Overlund says this about the track: “’Liberate Me’ is another great example of what the Kings Of Mercia album represents, a high energy, hard rock song about someone who has lived life selfishly and done many wrongs, but as the years take their toll, they begin to regret their past and want to make things right. Once again, it shows off the great individual talents in the band with great performances by all.”
The album will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats. Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Wrecking Ball"
"Humankind"
"Sweet Revenge"
"Set The World On Fire"
"Too Far Gone"
"Liberate Me"
"Nowhere Man"
"Everyday Angels"
"Is It Right?"
"Your Life"
"Wrecking Ball" visualizer:
Best known as the founding guitarist for Fates Warning, but with countless other projects under his belt - including Arch / Matheos and most recently Tuesday The Sky - Jim Matheos is incapable of stifling his creativity. In early 2021, he started working on the songs that would become Kings Of Mercia's self-titled debut album, bringing his distinct style yet doing something a little different. "I started writing without any real idea of what direction I wanted to go in or what I was going to do with the material. The first few songs came together quickly and were a bit more straightforward than I'm used to, and I really liked that idea, kind of going back to my early heavy/hard rock roots." Not having any pre-conceived ideas of what the record should or would end up sounding like, at least early on, certainly helped, "as did the fact that it's our first record, so there was nothing to measure it against or expectations to live up to, even if only in my own head."
Churning out songs, Matheos' next concern was to find the musicians who would help him realize the material, and his first priority was a vocalist. It was his friend Jeff Wagner who suggested FM's Steve Overland, and another friend, rock journalist Dave Ling, who put them in touch with each other. "Jim had asked Dave for my contact details, we talked about his idea for mixing the two styles, his heavier background, with my melodic/bluesier direction," says Overland. "We decided to try a collaboration on one song and see how it worked, we came up with the track "Humankind", and we both loved it." Having already settled on this hard rock direction, it was only once Matheos got the first couple of songs back from Overland that it became all the way clear of the shape the record would take, with the vocalist sending over his parts every few weeks, everything gradually coming together.
Behind the kit for the record is the legendary Simon Phillips (ex-Toto, Derek Sherinian), one of Matheos' favorite drummers. "I decided to contact him on a whim, not really expecting that he'd be available or interested in this project. But, to my surprise, he liked the music and was able to fit some recording into his schedule. It's an honor to share a credit with him and I couldn't be happier with what he added to the record." Rounding out the group is bassist Joey Vera - Matheos' Fates Warning bandmate - who brings his trademark style and professionalism to the table. "My old friend and co-worker Joey Vera was a natural choice for bass. Not only did I know he would deliver performance-wise, but it was nice to have a familiar face among the new personalities." With these players involved it was an easy, stress-free process throughout, making music for the love of it, and coming up with something that sounds familiar yet new, expanding the repertoire of all involved. This means songs like the half-acoustic ballad, half-swaggering "Too Far Gone" or the beautiful "Everyday Angels", and the soaring "Wrecking Ball", which opens the record on a high note, all brought to life in dynamic style.
Lineup:
Jim Matheos - Guitars
Steve Overland - Vocals
Joey Vera - Bass
Simon Phillips - Drums
Magnetic Eye Records will reissue Restless Spirit's acclaimed and already sought-after sophomore full-length Blood Of The Old Gods (2021) on October 28, 2022. The stoner sludge trio from Long Island, New York is celebrating this occasion with the release of a new band video clip for the track “Judgement And Exile” today. Find preorders here.
Restless Spirit comment: "We are still incredibly proud of Blood Of The Old Gods as a band", writes guitarist and vocalist Paul Aloisio. "We were able to distill all our anger, intensity, and musicianship into something that we feel captures the true essence of who we are. With that said, we are humbled and thankful to Magnetic Eye Records for breathing new life into this beast and bringing out a new edition for all our listeners worldwide."
Featuring the fittingly brooding artwork from famed pulp-painter Frank Frazetta, Blood Of The Old Gods weaves together grandiose sonic landscapes and haunting moments that leave a lasting impression.
The band has embarked on several tours in support of Blood Of The Old Gods and will return to the road in winter 2022/23. Restless Spirit are currently already hard at work on their third full-length, which will be released worldwide via Magnetic Eye Records in 2023.
Danish/American rock and rollers VOLBEAT have released the official music video for the song "Becoming". The track is a "tribute" to the legendary Swedish death metal band ENTOMBED, whose lead singer Lars-Göran "LG" Petrov died in March 2021 after a battle with bile duct cancer. He was 49 years old.
VOLBEAT frontman Michael Poulsen said: "We were recording [the latest VOLBEAT album] 'Servant Of The Mind' in [producer] Jacob Hansen's studio, and we were about to record the song 'Becoming'. And it has that opening riff that's really inspired by the mighty ENTOMBED, and you know, we just talked about why not put that Boss Heavy Metal HM-2W pedal on that ENTOMBED was so well known for, and bands like DISMEMBER and a lot of Swedish death metal bands, actually. It's the signature death metal Swedish distorted guitar sound, and it sounds disgustingly good. [Laughs] So, we thought, why not use that pedal on that riff? So, we did and it just ended up just sounding even more like ENTOMBED, and it turned out to be a really good song and it was probably one of the most heavy riffs in VOLBEAT. But later on, of course, we were hearing the sad news about LG passing, a very sad day, and I think it is still very sad that he is not around. He was one of our really great friends. I had a lot of great conversations with LG. And we were always hanging out when it was it was possible, and talking and helping each other out, as well. So, we decided, later on to actually dedicate 'Becoming' to LG because of the great inspiration that we had in that song. So, yeah, 'Becoming' has somehow become the LG song."
In a November 2021 video explaining the inspiration for "Becoming", Poulsen said: "[The song] is, as you probably noticed, a tribute to the mighty ENTOMBED and our good friend L.G. Petrov who sadly passed away. But, yeah, it's one of those riffs where you can definitely hear the inspiration from the 'Clandestine' album, which [was] L.G.'s favorite ENTOMBED record, which is quite funny because he doesn't sing on this album.
"L.G. was a great guy, a great human being, a good friend. And wherever you are out there, friend, dear brother, I hope that you're doing good down there or up there.
"Let's all raise our glasses for Mr. L.G.
"'Becoming' is for you, my dear friend. Cheers!"
"Becoming" is taken from VOLBEAT's eighth studio album, "Servant Of The Mind", which was released last December via Republic Records.
A few years ago, Poulsen, who played extreme metal with his first band, DOMINUS, back in the early '90s, said that he wouldn't rule out a return to death metal in future. "I do have things at home — I can pick up some few death metal riffs here and there," he told Heavy TV. "I've got so many good friends in the death metal scene, and I've been talking to some of them to one day, when the time is right, sit down and write some old-school death metal. When that's going to happen, I don't know. It will happen; it's just timing is everything."
Back in 2011, Poulsen told Soundspike about his pre-VOLBEAT act: "[DOMINUS] was straight metal. On the third record, we were starting to flirt around with making a little bit with some rock 'n' roll stuff. What I wanted to do was keep the door wide open and see what happens. I didn't want to paint myself into a corner. If I wanted a song to start like a country song and let it burst into a metal song, that's what I did. Right now it comes very naturally. That's the most important thing — that you don't sit and try too hard to provoke it out of you. It has to come as a normal flow, and that's actually what happened.
DEAD CROSS, the Southern California hardcore outfit featuring Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, MISFITS),Mike Patton (FAITH NO MORE, TOMAHAWK),Justin Pearson (THE LOCUST, RETOX) and Michael Crain (RETOX, FESTIVAL OF DEAD DEER),will release a new album, "II", on October 28 via Ipecac Recordings. The official music video for the LP's second single, "Heart Reformer", can be seen below.
"'Heart Reformer' was as much fun to write as it is to listen to," says Crain. "It's a classic DEAD CROSS song. It's a pit stirrer and a fist pumper!" The short-film-like clip, which takes the track's title literally, was directed and edited by Dark Details (a.k.a. Chris J. Cunningham)
DEAD CROSS broke the news of "II"'s impending arrival with the release of "Reign Of Error", a track Stereogum described as a "freaked-out, blisteringly fast" single, and Consequence said "is a blaster, with Lombardo's double-kick drum anchoring the controlled chaos." The one-minute and forty-five second wake-up call of a song is matched with a Displaced/Replaced-crafted clip that offers a scathing critique of the U.S. Supreme Court. Loudwire described the clip as "insane" and Brooklyn Vegan dubbed it "apocalyptic."
"II", while both a raucous hardcore collection, and at times, a politically charged opus, has its roots in friendship, with the band rallying together after Crain received a surprise cancer diagnosis.
"Words can't even begin to describe how much this album means to me. It's birthed of pain and uncertainty," adds Crain. "The slow, excruciatingly painful, and nauseating recovery from cancer treatments were the catalyst for every riff and note on this album. However, my will to live and be with my brothers Justin, Dave, Mike, and co-producer Ross Robinson, got me out of bed and running into the studio every day to get it all on tape."
"II" track listing:
01. Love Without Love
02. Animal Espionage
03. Heart Reformer
04. Strong And Wrong
05. Ants And Dragons
06. Nightclub Canary
07. Christian Missile Crisis
08. Reign Of Error
09. Imposter Syndrome
The "II" album cover was created by Eric Livingston and can be seen below.
Regarding how he decided to move forward with "II", Patton told Rolling Stone: "The other guys started recording it pre-pandemic. But our guitar player got Covid and then got diagnosed with cancer. What do you even say about that? It's like, 'Jesus Christ.' I thought, 'Okay, well, let's shelve this for a while until … ' But man, he was an absolute trooper. And he said, 'No, I need to make this record. It's going to heal me. It's going to make me feel better. It's going to be my cure in a way.' And goddamn it, he was right. And he beat it. And then I was going through some shit, too — not to skirt that — so basically, this record took way longer than it should have."
Asked what made him want to do another DEAD CROSS album in particular, Patton said: "Well, because the first one was so fucking good. We had such a good time when we toured, and it worked. And there are many other projects that I've done in a recording studio that maybe worked as a record, but we didn't tour; you didn't develop a camaraderie, a sense of team. With DEAD CROSS, it did. And it just made me think, 'Yeah, this is something that I got to keep doing.' And when they started recording, and they were sending me stuff, I was like, 'Oh, God. This is amazing.' And it's different. It's a little more nuanced. It's slightly more melodic. And there's more, I think, dynamism in it. And that's right up my alley."
The self-titled debut album from DEAD CROSS was released in August 2017 via Ipecac Recordings.
Five years ago, Patton told Rolling Stone that he got involved with DEAD CROSS after reaching out to Lombardo to see if he could release the band's album on Ipecac. After getting a text from the drummer asking him to join the group, "my jaw dropped," the singer said. "I was like, 'Who, me? Hmm …' And I think it took like all of 30 seconds, but in a sarcastic way, I'm like, 'Yeah, of course. I can do this. Are you sure you want me?' So I kind of second-guessed him a little bit. And he said, 'Man, you'd be our dream vocalist.' And then it was just a matter of logistics. I decided to record it here in my basement, which is fitting. It shouldn't sound too polished."
Frontiers Music Srl will release the upcoming self-titled debut album from The Erinyes, an exciting new musical force, fronted by not one, not two, but three incredible vocalists: Justine Daaé, Mizuho Lin, and Nicoletta Rosellini, on September 16.
Watch a music video for the song "Death By A Broken Heart" below, and pre-order/save The Erinyes here.
The band name is derived from Greek mythology, where The Erinyes, also known as the Furies, are a trio of chthonic deities of vengeance. The Erinyes’ singers come from exciting, up-and-coming bands on the metal scene. Justine Daaé fronts her own gothic-industrial metal solo act Elyose out of France, Mizuho Lin is co-lead vocalist in Brazilian symphonic/dark metal band Semblant, and Nicoletta Rosellini sings for the Italian bands Walk In Darkness and Kalidia. Their self-titled debut album as The Erinyes is a concept album centered around three amazons who are having a dispute centered around their love interests.
Written and produced by Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere, Timo Tolkki’s Avalon, Archon Angel), this an ambitious, glorious symphonic metal album showcasing the incredible vocal talents of these three young singers. The Erinyes is a must hear for fans of Beyond the Black, Delain, Visions of Atlantis, Exit Eden, and the like.
The Erinyes tracklisting:
"Life Needs Love"
"Drown The Flame"
"On My Way To Love"
"Betrayed"
"Death By A Broken Heart"
"Where Do We Go"
"It's Time"
"Someday"
"My Kiss Goodbye"
"Paradise"
"Take Me"
"You And Me Against The World"
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