On October 7th, Billy Idol was the special musical guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! See below as the iconic singer responsible for "Rebel Yell" and "White Wedding" performs his new song, "Bitter Taste".
Billy Idol released his new 4-song EP, The Roadside, on September 17 via Dark Horse Records. Available on CD, vinyl, and limited edition blue vinyl, the EP can be ordered here. A video for the song "Bitter Taste" can be viewed below.
Shortly ahead of their self-titled third studio album, Forth have released a brand-new single called “1993” — available now.
Doing its job in successfully taking listeners back to the glory days of the 1990s — objectively, one of the finest decades in music history — the up-and-coming Finnish hard rock band pay ode to fallen musicians of the era with this gorgeous new track.
“This song is about the loss of those voices, and the fading away of a kind of music that was real, powerful and driven by raw emotion,” lead vocalist / acoustic guitarist Brian Forth says.
Though there’s twinges of Bryan Adams and early 1990s Axl Rose in Forth’s seemingly familiar voice, “1993” is a clear product of the massively short-lived grunge era. It’s constant, and addictive bass groove is carried by not just a glorious acoustic guitar melody, but a rock-solid rhythm backing and admiringly emotional vocal delivery from the band’s leader.
In fact, his delivery is similar to something you might hear out of Scorpions — the veteran German rock titans. To top it all off, guitar virtuoso and lead Tim Norrgrann treats fans with an incredibly succinct guitar solo.
Speaking further on “1993”, Forth gave a nod to four of his most beloved heroes in particular. The late grunge icons: Kurt Cobain (Nirvana), Layne Staley (Alice In Chains), Chris Cornell (Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, Audioslave) and Scott Weiland (Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Revolver).
Though he wrote the lyrics on his own, Norrgrann — another insanely talented multi-instrumentalist — helped him compose the instant classic, which landed itself at the #1 spot on Finland’s Suomi Soi Top 20 chart upon release.
Of the writing of “1993”, Norrgrann said “it pretty much wrote itself,” after jamming over a few guitar ideas with Brian. As is clear throughout the song, he described it as an amalgamation of different musical eras, naming “late ‘70s stadium rock” as one of the key themes.
While Forth’s back-catalogue incorporates clear inspiration from the classic rock, alternative, hard rock and grunge genres, the four-piece band has pro-actively dubbed themselves a style called “newstalgia” — a sound the Espoo natives have become well-known for. The idea for this so-called newstalgia spawned from
Greek guitar virtuoso Gus G., well known in rock and metal circles for his work as Ozzy Osbourne's guitarist and as leader of his own band FIREWIND, has just released his new solo album, "Quantum Leap", via AFM Records. The official music video for the disc's latest single, "Into The Unknown", can be seen below.
"Quantum Leap" came together over the course of the worldwide pandemic that, unfortunately, prevented FIREWIND's self-titled album from 2020 from gaining any real momentum. Immobilized by the quarantine measures that kept him at home, Gus began compiling musical ideas to keep himself occupied, which led to the full-on effort to write and record an album during the summer of 2021.
"I didn't make 'Quantum Leap' with the intention of it being the next one in the cycle of solo albums," Gus admits. "It was more of a case of, 'What else is there?' I needed the creative outlet."
Gus agrees with the suggestion that one has to make an instrumental album for him or herself; if people happen to enjoy it, that's a plus. It's an approach he takes with every album he makes, but if heavy metal is considered a niche market doing an instrumental album is an even smaller corner of that. Being a part of the music industry over the past 20 years has taught Gus that the business and the market has evolved to the point that instrumental albums are far more readily accepted compared to when he started.
"As an artist nowadays, you can basically do whatever you like and there's an audience out there for it," he says. "Instrumental music might not be a big seller, but everybody and can listen to anything, and there are no limits to what I can do. There's a track on the record that's a little bit synth-wave ['Night Driver'], there's bluesy ballad thing ['Enigma Of Life'], there's a track that has more prog elements ['Into The Unknown'], there's some power metal ['Demon Stomp', 'Judgement Day'], so it's all under the hard rock / heavy metal umbrella, but I wanted it to have some variety. It doesn't sound like I wrote 10 different riffs on the low E string and put a bunch of solos over it. And there's no excuse for anybody to say, 'I like the music but I hate that type vocals...' because there are no vocals. [Laughs]"
"Quantum Leap" was assembled in pieces, featuring new compositions and material taken from Gus's "riff vault," where he stores unfinished ideas and revisits them when he's able. The album started as a full-on solo outing, with Gus programming drums and playing guitar, bass and keyboards, but a chance encounter with drummer Jan-Vincent Velazco — who volunteered his services and subsequently blew Gus away — opened up the production. Producer/engineer Dennis Ward, who was responsible for mixing and mastering "Quantum Leap", ended up laying down bass tracks on eight of the 10 tracks.
Unlike many instrumental albums, "Quantum Leap" doesn't feel like a musical root canal or long and drawn-out brain surgery. Each of the 10 tracks are solid and compact musical ideas, with Gus's guitar acting as the voice. In this respect, writing "Quantum Leap" was a challenge because he is so used to writing in a specific formula utilizing vocals. He found himself falling into the loop of overplaying a few times during the production because of the lack of vocals, but was able to overcome the problem once he acknowledged it.
"When I first wrote 'Exosphere', for example, there were so many things going on in the track but it wasn't saying anything," says Gus. "I really needed to have the guitar taking a vocal approach. I knew that if I just kept the playing technical it wasn't going to be enjoyable. So the playing isn't always about technique, and once I found the formula it was easier to create melodies for the record."
"I'm a guitar player and I cannot stand most instrumental guitar albums," he adds. "The classic are the classics, but very rarely do I get into them because after the third track it just seems like an endless guitar solo where everything that sounds the same. That's something I wanted to avoid on 'Quantum Leap' and I think I succeeded in doing that."
Praised by fans and critics alike for their 2020 EP, The Dawn Of Vitriol, Finland's Mercury Circle have unleashed their hotly anticipated debut full-length record, titled Killing Moons. With 10 brand new tracks spanning over 63 minutes, the band's brand new record is a deeply powerful and majestic piece of music - truly representing a genre of its own - and one that will take the listener on an all-absorbing trip into yet unimaginable spheres.
In support of the new album and to celebrate the release, Mercury Circle have released a new video clip for the track "Like Matches", with a special guest appearance by Cammie Gilbert of Oceans of Slumber. Watch the video below.
Founded by producer and musician Jaani Peuhu, who paused his activities in Swallow The Sun for the band's upcoming album cycle in order to fully concentrate on Mercury Circle, the Finnish five-piece is by far no stranger to the scene and features former and current members of well-known acts such as Children Of Bodom, To/Die/For, Hanging Garden and Sleep Of Monsters. Thematically inspired by daily life with all its dark facets and challenges, "The original idea for the album concept was to make it some kind of a gateway that opens up a path away from everyday life leading somewhere where we can be free from all the stress, grief, Corona or any other worldly worries" Jaani Peuhu explains.
He continues: "This idea of escapism is very basic and true to music, but it turned out to develop a deeper and more complex meaning for me during the writing process. I had to cope with the difficult reality that my father, a brilliant musician himself, was no longer in this realm anymore because of Alzheimers disease. I often wonder where he is, roaming in his own head. I imagine that he is free to travel in space and time and do whatever he wishes there, like destroying planets or having a good time in a spiritual world… all while this disease is erasing a lifetime of memories. Many of us are looking for ways to flee the stat
Norwegian hard rockers Conception released brand new single, "Roll The Fire 2.0" on October 8th. It is a newly recorded version of the classic from their 1993 album, Parallel Minds, and marks the first time that the band have revisited their classic back catalogue. It is the latest release in a series of new recordings, live performances and previously unreleased material.
Guitarist Tore Østby comments: "'Roll The Fire' gave us an immense kick when we wrote it back in 1993, and it's one of our most popular songs to this day. It was so exciting to develop, reshape and adapt it to Conception of 2021, and we are really thrilled about how this brand new version turned out - not just with the new elements, but also generally a much heavier and rawer approach. We are super proud of how it turned out!"
Conception, released their full length comeback album, State Of Deception, on April 3, 2020. It followed 2018’s successful EP release My Dark Symphony, both released via their own Conception Sound Factory label. They recently launched a crowdfunding campaign for an expanded edition of State Of Deception planned for 2022. This new version of the record will include new songs, re-recordings and live tracks.
Conception recently issued the following update:
"The latest release for our campaign is out! 'Gethsemane' was always one of the highlights from the Flow album, and this particular version comes from a very special night in Gjøvik back in 2019. The track is available via digital platforms found here."
Frontman Roy Khan: "We've been lucky enough to have such loyal fans. They have been incredibly generous in supporting us, and we've tried really hard to acknowledge that by making some particularly distinctive items and experiences available to them. The centrepiece of the campaign will be an all new deluxe box set version of State of Deception, packed full of new and exclusive goodies and new tracks! As you might be able to tell, we’re just a little bit excited about it all!"
State Of Deception follows a twenty year interval during which band members Roy Khan, Tore Østby, Ingar Amlien and Arve Heimdal remained friends throughout, and the album release marks the full-circle evolution of the band. Lead singer Roy Khan: "The reception we’ve had from fans made recording a new album almost inevitable; they’d have rioted if we didn’t get this out! But we’re mightily proud of what we have put together here; I actually think it’s the best thing I’ve ever been involved in. We can’t wait to share it with everyone!"
In fact, reflecting the band’s desire for an entirely direct relationship with their fans, the album is wholly fan-funded. Moreover, State Of Deception is wholly self-produced, benefits from the stellar mix skills of Stefan Glaumann (Rammstein, Within Temptation, Europe etc), and is comprised of 9 tracks in total. Guitarist Tore Østby explains further, "Producing this new album has been an emotional and exciting process, digging deeper into the heart and soul of the band than ever before. The result is dynamic and intense!”
State Of Deception perfectly captures the band’s trademark breadth of progressive sound, from symphonic melodrama to rock riff utopia, and also features eminent Amaranthe vocalist Elize Ryd.
Albert Bouchard is best known as a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult. The original lineup sold millions of albums for Columbia Records, with such classic songs as “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” and the #1 hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart “Burning For You”. Contributing to songwriting, drums, and lead vocals on some of their greatest songs, such as “Cites On Flame With Rock And Roll”.
With the success of Re Imaginos last year, Albert Bouchard is now back with Imaginos 2 – Bombs Over Germany (minus zero and counting), continuing the Trilogy of Imaginos, a concept album about an alien conspiracy that is brought to fruition during the late 19th and early 20th century through the actions of Imaginos, an agent of evil. The album weaves scripts and poems by the late Sandy Pearlman. It features guests Ross The Boss (Dictators), Joe Cerisano (Silver Condor, TSO), and reunites original Blue Öyster Cult members Eric Bloom, Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser and Joe Bouchard, as well current BOC member Richie Castellano, who all contribute to this latest installment. The album also features reworks of classics like “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll”, “The Red And The Black”, and “Dominance And Submission”.
Check out a lyric video for the new single, "Independence Day", below.
Deko Entertainment is very excited to continue their relationship with Albert and RockHeart Records and plans are already underway for the third instalment and accompanying Imaginos comic book currently in development.
President Bruce Pucciarello comments, “With a comic book based on his Re-Imaginos album in development, and Albert continually stepping it up to represent each musical piece with a personal dedication to the original vision, Imaginos II is exactly what it is supposed to be, an epic…thank you Albert.”
To celebrate Imaginos II, there are limited edition bundles (while supplies last), which can be ordered
Thoughtcrimes, the Long Island-based hardcore band featuring former Dillinger Escape Plan drummer Billy Rymer, singer Rick Pepa, guitar players Russ Savarese and Brian Sullivan, and bass player Cody Hosza, mark the arrival of their Tap Night EP (via Pure Noise Records) with the release of the “Wedlock Waltz” video.
The track is one of two new songs on the expanded, reissued EP, with the band previously sharing a video for the track “Misery’s A Muse”.
Prog metal giants Dream Theater have checked in with the following update:
"The latest forthcoming presentation in our archival series features a remastering of the original 2004 live release, When Dream And Day Reunite. Including a full concert performance of the band’s debut studio album, and on-stage reunion with former members Derek Sherinian and Charlie Dominici. This iconic concert has been one of the most highly sought releases from the original YtseJam Records, and now becomes available on digital and vinyl for the first time! Available D
Acclaimed rock vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto, has released his next solo project, The Duets Collection, Vol. 1. For this album, Soto wanted to do a career retrospective and re-record some of his favorite songs from his storied career, but with the twist that he invited friends to join him on duets of said songs.
Watch a video for his cover of Talisman's "I'll Be Waiting" below, and order/save The Duets Collection, Vol. 1 on CD/Color Vinyl/Digital here.
Using the down time from his normally relentless touring activity due to the worldwide pandemic, renowned vocalist Jeff Scott Soto decided to create a very special album which pays tribute to some of the classic songs he has recorded over the course of his storied career. But, rather than simple re-records, he wanted to make the album something special, unique. So, not only did he re-record these songs with his musical friends Jorge Salan, Howie Simon (guitars), Leo Mancini (guitars), Tony Dickinson (bass) and Edu Cominato (drums), but he called in some of his fellow rock friends/vocalists to create a unique Duets album. With the likes of Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse, W.E.T.), Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Johnny Gioeli (Hardline), Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey), Nathan James (Inglorious), Russell Allen (Symphony X), Renan Zonta (Electric Mob), Dino Jelusick, Mats Leven (Candlemass, TSO), BJ (Spektra, Soto), and Aliro Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza), this is an amazing international affair.
The tracklisting alone will surely make any JSS fan excited, much less hearing the final product. Where can you get such an amazing list of singers and songs all in the same place?
Jeff says, "It was a DREAM to cast these voices and I am so amped for you to hear the results…”
Tracklisting:
"Livin’ The Life" (Rock Star) with Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse/W.E.T.)
"Don’t Let It End" (Yngwie Malmsteen) - with Dino Jelusick
"Mysterious" (Talisman) - with Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
"Believe In Me" (Jss) - with Nathan James (Inglorious)
"Coming Home" (Soul Sirkus) - with Deen Castronovo (Revolution Saints, Journey)
"I’ll Be Waiting" (Talisman) - with Alirio Netto (Shaman, Queen Extravaganza)
"Callin’ All Girls" (Eyes) - with Russell Allen (Symphony X, Allen/Lande)
"Colour My XTC" (Talisman) - with Renan Zonta (Electric Mob)
"Warrior" (Axel Rudi Pell) - with Johnny Gioeli (Hardline, Axel Rudi Pell)
"Holding On" (Jss) - with BJ (Soto, Spektra)
"Again 2 B Found" (Humanimal) - with Mats Leven (Candlemass, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach has just returned to the stage for a tour celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band's double-platinum, acclaimed album "Slave To The Grind". The trek kicked off on September 25 in Waterloo, New York and will wrap in San Diego, California on December 17.
Fan-filmed video footage of Bach's October 3 performance at Haute Spot in Cedar Park, Texas can be seen below.
During a September 23 appearance on SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk", Bach stated about the current tour (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "We're doing [the 'Slave To The Grind' album] in its entirety. We've already done it once. We did it at the Whisky [A Go Go in West Hollywood, California] back in 2018 one time. And it was really funny because we did the first SKID ROW album on the first night and 'Slave' on the second. The first night's crowd was wall-to-wall chicks. [Laughs] I'm just being honest. The second night was wall-to-wall dudes. It couldn't have been a more different crowd — dudes with hooks in their noses and long earlobes with weird stuff.
"When I read back-and-forth in the press, which we all do whether we want to admit it or not, Rachel [Bolan, SKID ROW bassist] once had a comment that when we put out 'Slave', we lost half of our female audience," he continued. "And my immediate response to that was, 'Dude, do you not remember the GUNS N' ROSES tour?', because there was a lot of females coming out to that one. But in retrospect, having performed the first album on a full tour, he is right — the appeal on songs like 'Can't Stand The Heartache' and 'Rattlesnake Shake', chicks love those songs. And dudes love 'Monkey Business' and 'Get The Fuck Out' — dudes love it. So, hey, man, me and Rachel just agreed on something."
According to Bach, he is performing the "Slave To The Grind" LP "in sequence except for one song. We are doing half of the song 'Get The Fuck Out' because half of the song, the lyrics are not acceptable in this day and age," he explained. "Even though I argued, when I was recording that song, about the words in that song [being] extreme. But we're doing half of it."
Asked what the most challenging part of performing all of "Slave To The Grind" is for him, Sebastian said: "I'll tell you, honestly — the ending of 'Quicksand Jesus'. That is me pushing my voice and my melodies, my licks, that's pushing it to the max. That's really hard to do.
"I have to say this, that sometimes fans lose sight of the fact that making a record is not playing a show," he continued. "Making a record, you're standing completely still. You're in an air-conditioned studio, and you can try as many times as you want to get the ultimate take that you want. That's not the same thing as going out there and you get one shot, and that's it. And if you're not using tapes, too bad for you. If you mess up, everyone's gonna know it.
"I'm not interested in going to a karaoke show; that doesn't have any interest to me. So that's just the way it is.
"I use effects sometimes, but I don't use Auto-Tune or nothing."
Last summer, Bolan told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk" that he and his SKID ROW bandmates would embark on a "Slave To The Grind" 30th-anniversary tour in 2021. "We'll do the album in its entirety, and then we're gonna do a bunch of stuff to coincide with it," he said. "We're pretty psyched, and the shows are booked. We're keeping our fingers crossed that everything is gonna come to pass… It'll be cool, to go out there and do 'Slave To The Grind' top to the bottom. That'll be fun."
According to Bolan, SKID ROW didn't celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band's self-titled debut album in 2019 because "the timing didn't really work out. We had so much other stuff planned, and then all of a sudden, boom, it was here," he explained. "Maybe down the road [we'll celebrate it]. Maybe [for the] 40th [anniversary]. [Laughs]"
Bach fronted SKID ROW until 1996, when he was fired. Instead of throwing in the towel, the remaining members took a hiatus and went on to play briefly in a band called OZONE MONDAY.
In 1999, SKID ROW reformed and, after a bit of shuffling over the years, featured a lineup consisting of Bolan and guitarists Sabo and Scotti Hill, alongside Hammersmith and singer Johnny Solinger.
SKID ROW fired Solinger over the phone in April 2015, a few hours before announcing ex-TNT vocalist Tony Harnell as his replacement. Eight months later, Harnell exited the band and was replaced by South African-born, British-based singer ZP Theart, who previously fronted DRAGONFORCE, TANK and I AM I.
The time has finally come, the last single, before the big album showdown arrived, is out now: LETZTE INSTANZ released their latest single “Du Bist Nicht Verloren” today. The new and 14th album of the band’s history “Ehrenwort” will be out October 29, 2021.
The latest piece by the sextet is a rousing, powerful work that makes the heart of every “Brachialromantiker” beat faster. Above all, it focuses on support, trust and unconditional love in the usual LETZTE INSTANZ charm.
The six guys from Germany combine emotional depth with intense sound experiences and so create their very own world, in which it is easy to get lost. The video for “Du Bist Nicht Verloren” also impresses with its minimalism. It gives sound and lyrics the necessary space to fully develop.
“Du Bist Nicht Verloren” is not only the band's newest masterpiece, but also announces the final sprint for their new album “Ehrenwort”.
"Ehrenwort" is brutally and socially critical as usual. The incomparable facets of the band are revealed to the listener on 13 powerful and sensitive songs. Holly: "For ‘Ehrenwort’ it was our premise to go back to the roots. At the same time, we wanted to stay true to our credo 'Brachialromantik' - I think we succeeded and did that pretty well.”
Apart from this new approach, “Ehrenwort” is bursting with hits. After all, the band knows like no other how to make their trademarks shine through catchy song structures: The record is bursting with emotion, as it proves, for example, in “In Deiner Spur”. In addition, powerful elements that have been woven together with a lot of depth and sophistication into very intense tracks.
Never before the band was so on point, never before did those unparalleled vocals put the listener in such an intense grip. Because in contrast to their previous output, LETZTE INSTANZ has tried to match each song’s attitude vocally, which leads to a fantastic listening experience.
Now, after more than two decades of exciting band history, LETZTE INSTANZ is on the verge of the climax of their work. With an album that gives courage and hope in uncertain and troubling times. After all, this is “the most hopeful album the band has ever produced.” They promise this. They give us their “Ehrenwort”.
‘Ehrenwort’ is available for pre-order here: https://afm.fanlink.to/LetzteInstanzEhrenwort
Fresh on the heels of the release of the video for “Step Aside” – the first song from their upcoming release See Where The Night Goes, rockers Goodbye June are releasing a director’s cut of the video that embellishes on the original story.
Set in classic western style, the video follows a group of outlaws that steal a chest of loot only to have their good fortune tested when the rightful owner comes to collect it back. The video is shot in black and white and is the brainchild of director Tyler Dunning Evans. The “Step Aside” (Director’s Cut) can be seen below.
Goodbye June will be releasing their third full-length album, See Where The Night Goes, on February 18 via Earache Records. The record was born during the recent global pandemic and was also influenced by the destruction from tornado that hit Nashville in 2020.
From the ear-catching riffs of album opener “Step Aside” to the anthemic outro of “Black,” Goodbye June showcase their southern rock roots. Tracks like “See Where The Night Goes,” “Stand And Deliver” and “Baby I’m Back” pay homage to their influences while infusing their own unique style to each song.
The official first single “Three Chords” will be released in the coming months as the perfect lead-in to the album’s release date. See Where The Night Goes was produced and mixed by five-time Grammy-nominated producer Paul Moak (Mat Kearney, Ashley Monroe, Marc Broussard, Relient K).
Fans that pre-order the album via digital retailers will receive an instant download of “Step Aside.” See Where The Night Goes is available for pre-order in various CD and vinyl configurations here.
Denver-based black metal outfit, Wayfarer, has announced that they've signed with Century Media Records. The band brings together trappings of black metal with the Americana stylings of the rugged West.
In celebration of the signing, Century Media has re-released the band's two albums, A Romance With Violence and World's Blood on all major digital platforms, with physical re-releases scheduled for next summer (2022).
Speaking on their signing with CM, Wayfarer remarks: "We are deeply excited to have Wayfarer joining forces with Century Media. As fans of music as well as musicians, all of us came up from a formative age listening to so many seminal releases from artists in their stable. We are honored to have a chance to contribute back to this well, and for this next chapter exploring the furthest frontiers of our own sound - Black Metal of the American West."
Former GUNS N' ROSES and current SIXX:A.M. guitarist DJ Ashba will release a new single, "Bella Ciao", on Friday, October 29. Produced by Ashba, the reimagined track gives a modern day EDM-driven makeover to the Italian folk classic, complemented by DJ's signature guitar work, creating a dance/rock hybrid called GDM (Guitar Dance Music). The new single marks Ashba's first release of 2021 and follows a series of tracks that released in late 2020 through Edgeout Records/UMG/UMe, including "Hypnotic", "Let's Dance" and "A Christmas Storm".
"After becoming completely obsessed with 'Money Heist', I became so inspired by 'Bella Ciao' and the history of the song," stated Ashba. "I couldn't wait to get into the studio and make my own GDM version. I wanted it to be epic and dramatic, with big bass, bone-crushing guitar, and an infectious beat that I know the fans will go crazy for. After it was complete, I was telling my friend, famous Disney artist Craig Fraser, about my new version of this classic song, and him being a fan of the show as well, got inspired, and created me this one-of-a-kind painting of the iconic mask from 'Money Heist'. I was so blown away; I thought it would make the perfect cover for this single."
Ashba will support the single with his first headlining show scheduled for November 12 at the Epic Event Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin. All ticket and meet-and-greet packages will be announced soon and will be available on www.ashba.us.
Last December, Ashba told "The Mark And HooGie Show" that he isn't concerned about getting any pushback from his rock fans over the musical direction of his new venture: "Honestly, I'm at a point in my career where I could give two fucks," he said. "I could care less. If people don't like it, kiss my ass. Go listen to SIXX:A.M. If what I'm doing right now isn't rock enough, I've got a rock band. They can go listen to that then.
"My fanbase, thank God, has been, throughout my whole career, just very, very accepting," he continued. "They know me — they know I'm always trying to really push myself as an artist outside the box.
"If I had to live within this box, I'd rather honestly not play music. Playing music is a form of art, and if I can't truly be an artist and be true to what it is inside — whatever that is that keeps me going… I have to stay inspired. You can only write so many three-chord rock songs. So, to me, this is something that I'm kind of more doing for myself, and I feel like I kind of have earned that at this point in my career. And I'm just having fun.
"Surprisingly… It was weird. I was totally expecting for all my fanbase just to hate it — not get it," Ashba added. "'Cause I really, really go deep down in EDM — I stayed very, very true to the EDM sound — and I really thought they were gonna hate it, and I was okay with that. 'Cause in my mind, I'm writing this for the EDM, the young kids that go to those festivals. This is full-on festival music. And surprisingly, I got no pushback. My rock fans really, really were freaking out on it, which kind of freaked me out. I was expecting them to really not get it or maybe push it aside. But they've been nothing but supportive. I'm very thankful that they gave it a chance."
ASHBA's "Let's Dance" single featured a guest appearance by James Michael, co-founder and lead singer of SIXX:A.M., which he and DJ formed with Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE).
Ashba told the Las Vegas Review-Journal about the musical approach of his new effort: "I would go to a lot of EDM concerts, and their shows are so over the top and, you know, all these young kids just losing their minds, right? And the one thing that I've noticed is … it lacks guitar, you know, and I saw an opportunity, like five years ago, going, 'If I could take what I do and somehow inject it into this world.' A lot of kids are not being exposed to a lot of guitar in that world."
Although Ashba initially started work on the project as a collaboration with Michael — under the band name PYROMANTIC — it has since evolved into an Ashba solo venture, with Michael announcing in 2018 that he was stepping away from the group.
METALLICA has shared professionally filmed video of the "Cyanide" performance from the band's September 20 "pop-up concert" at Metro in Chicago. You can check it out below.
The venue made the announcement about the gig at 1:30 p.m. that same day, and within an hour, the show was completely sold out. Tickets sold for just $19.83, a reference to the year 1983, which is when the band last appeared at Metro.
METALLICA's Chicago concert took place just four days after the group played a "surprise" gig at The Independent in San Francisco.
Just a few hours prior to taking the stage in Chicago, METALLICA announced the show on social media, writing: "THAT was way too much fun last week as we finally played in front of real live fans for the first time in over two years in our hometown of San Francisco. So why not do it again. This time we're in Chicago and we'll be hitting the stage at the storied Metro on Clark Street tonight... our first time back there since 1983!!"
Metro didn't reveal how many tickets were sold, but the venue holds about 1,000 people.
METALLICA's setlist was as follows:
01. Whiplash
02. Ride The Lightning
03. Harvester Of Sorrow
04. Cyanide
05. Through The Never
06. One
07. Sad But True
08. Moth Into Flame
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. For Whom The Bell Tolls
11. Whiskey In The Jar
12. Fade To Black
13. Master Of Puppets
Encore:
14. Hardwired
15. Fuel
16. Seek & Destroy
METALLICA returned to the festival stage last Friday, September 24 and Sunday, September 26, when they played a pair of unique sets in Louisville, Kentucky at Louder Than Life, the first of three U.S. festivals the band is scheduled to perform this fall in partnership with promoter Danny Wimmer Presents.
During its headline set last night, METALLICA played its classic self-titled album, commonly known as "The Black Album," in its entirety.
To commemorate its 30th anniversary, the Grammy-winning, 16-times-platinum-certified Black Album received its definitive re-release on September 10 via the band's own Blackened Recordings.
METALLICA previously performed The Black Album in its entirety at a number of European festivals in 2012.
Texas-based hard rockers, Black Heart Saints, who just got off the road supporting the likes of Buckcherry, Jackyl, and The Dead Daisies, show a different side of the band with the new orchestral ballad, "Shining Light".
Featuring the string work of Asleep At The Wheel alum Haydn Vitera, "Shining Light" highlights the smooth crooning of vocalist Josh Ross before building into a momentous chorus that proclaims "Love is the answer, never the
Rivers Of Nihil recently released their fourth full-length, The Work, via Metal Blade Records. The band have now shared an instrumental playthrough for the single, "The Void From Which No Sound Escapes". Watch the video below:
The Work can be ordered here in the following formats:
The American frontier: Where lost highways stretch into darkness and undisturbed deserts speak a language as ominous as it is otherworldly. This is the tableau of SpiritWorld. Self-described as 'Death Western', Spiritworld is the aural vision of Stu Folsom, a Las Vegas native who has taken the intensity of that desert heat and given it voice on the band’s debut, Pagan Rhythms, for their new label home, Century Media.
Today, the band has shared another offering from the LP, in the form of a new music video for "The Bringer Of Light", which you can watch below.
Speaking about the new video, Folsom comments: "The film for 'The Bringer Of Light' has been a long time in the making. The director, Todd Hailstone, and I met in high school. He roadied on my first band's first tour and we lived together at the infamous Hammer Lane junkyard squat when we were young, dirt poor and wild as fuck. It was incredible to reconnect artistically after all these years and hand the reins over to someone that I have spent hours punishing with my plans for the fiction and film sides of the SpiritWorld project."
Stu adds, "I asked Todd to come up with a treatment that would introduce the world to the characters of [my book] Godlessness and Pagan Rhythms, on a budget that should barely cover another tired 'band in warehouse headbanging' video, and he was able to completely nail the John Ford meets 70's horror vibe anyway!!!! I am so thankful to all of the talented actors and crew that helped create this video, it turned out super cool and I can't wait for people to check it out!"
Conceived entirely by Folsom and produced by Sam Pura (The Story So Far, Self Defense Family), songs like "Comancheria" or the blast-beat propelled "Unholy Passages", courtesy of drummer Thomas Pridgen (The Mars Volta/Trash Talk) who plays on half the album, with ex-Apiary skinsman Adam Elliot playing on the other.
“It’s about trying to write killer songs and craft a classic record,” says Stu, whose love for the likes of George Jones or the legendary LA punk band X runs as deep as his metallic roots. “With ‘Pagan Rhythms’, I set out to distill my love of thrash, old school death metal, and hardcore into something new that would hit like a tomahawk right in the face. When I first started telling people about this idea, I had to merge Western imagery, horror fiction and heavy metal into an all-out sonic assault, it seemed ridiculous, but I truly believe that if you make great records people are a lot more willing to embrace your weirdness and come along for the ride."
The debut album, Pagan Rhythms, will be re-released on November 5 via Century Media Records and is now available (physically) for the first time outside of North America.
The album is available to stream on your platform of choice and is available in the following formats for pre-order:
- Ltd. 180g black LP + Art Print (with alternative cover artwork) - this format is only available for the 1st pressing.
- Ltd. Edition apple red LP + Art Print (with alternative cover artwork) - this format is only available for the 1st pressing. Expected to ship Spring 2022.
- Ltd.
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Billy Idol
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