Ohio's notorious, boundary-pushing, and bloodsucking death metal outfit Sanguisugabogg - Cody Davidson, drums; Drew Arnold, guitars/bass; Devin Swank, vocals; and Ced Davis, guitars/bass - have announced their new album, Homicidal Ecstasy. The album arrives on February 3 via Century Media. Pre-order it here.
Today, the band has shared the video for "Pissed". Watch below.
"This song is a showcase of the struggle of finding euphoria and bliss out of something savagely disastrous and ultimately just wreaking havoc on anything in your path so it ceases to exist or ever haunt your mind again," the band says. "It's not self reflection, it's not fantasy, and it's not a game; it's something savagely brutal presented in our own way so you can shove the hell out of the person next to you and have a good time while getting 'Pissed' with us!"
Homicidal Ecstasy follows 2021's Tortured Whole. The band continues to slice up uncompromising, in-your-face, and not-for-the-weak death metal that siphons inspiration from early to mid- '90s and early '00s death metal and brutal death metal/grindcore presented in their own style with a unique twist that pleases every style of metal maniac.
Tracklisting:
"Black Market Vasectomy"
"Face Ripped Off"
"Pissed"
"Testicular Rot"
"Hungry For Your Insides"
"Skin Cushion"
"A Lesson In Savagery"
"Narcissistic Incisions"
"Mortal Admonishment"
"Proclamation Of The Frail"
"Necrosexual Deviant"
"Feening For Bloodshed"
"Pissed" video:
"Everything became more legit," states vocalist Devin Swank about the new album. They're no longer that band of meme-inspiring miscreants. "The musicianship, the production, the lyrics – which delve much more into horror and body horror – are more thought-out," Swank continues. "It's not just a bunch of dick and fart jokes."
But the 'Bogg haven't gone soft.
"After lockdown, once the restrictions from COVID lifted, we were hungry not just tour but start writing again," Swank shares. "Ced [Davis] had moved from bass to guitar and Drew [Arnold] also started playing guitar." It was drummer Cody Davidson who once again helmed production duties for Homicidal Ecstasy. They handed off mixing duties to Converge guitarist and vaunted studio vet Kurt Ballou (High on Fire, Nails) at God City Studios in Salem, Massachusettss, who "made it sound like us on steroids," per Swank.
After releasing Pornographic Seizures in 2019 on the cult Maggot Stomp label, the foursome quickly won fans for their blasts of sludgy, determined riffing, tongue-severed-from-cheek, gross-out humor and nods to hardcore and '90s East Coast death metal. The band received a pile of plaudits including Brooklyn Vegan putting them on a Most Anticipated Albums list next to genre titans like Carcass.
In the face of COVID-19 and a worldwide shutdown, the 'Bogg got down to business. Signing to Century Media, they recorded Tortured Whole and hit the road as the locked-down world started to get on its feet. Later that year, they teamed with the infamous Troma Films collective on for two video clips that featured battling penis monsters, boner implants and Troma's own Sgt. Kabukiman!
Tours with Frozen Soul, Nile, Terror, The Acacia Strain, and a run of dates as main support to Cannibal Corpse leading into Decibel's Metal & Beer Fest in Philadelphia solidified Sanguisugabogg as a force in their own right.
But Homicidal Ecstasy isn't merely a musical maturation for the gore-obsessed boys of the 'Bogg. While Swank's lyric writing sessions are still "fueled on coffee with a horror movie playing in the background," this isn't exclusively the gross-out show of Sanguisugabogg past. "It goes deeper this time, into the psycho-sexual, body-horror, why what some people see as perverse or fetishistic, can also be perfectly normal," says Swank.
"It's kind of an homage to real life," says the frontman. "When shit hits the fan, no one's really safe."
Reconstituted, regurgitated, and reenergized, the 'Bogg walk among us.
Swedish metal supergroup, Soen, have released a video for the single, “Fortune”. The track is taken from the forthcoming release Atlantis, out via Silver Lining Music on November 18.
Musically, “Fortune” is epically heavy with its crushing riffs and percussion, yet delicate with haunting vocal phases and an outstanding guitar solo, all whilst carrying a poignant story and message.
Founding members Martin Lopez and Joel Ekelöf comment "'Fortune' is a song about getting beaten up by life, falling down again and again, but getting back up regardless. In this specific case, it is about seeing a loved one face the obstacles that you have faced, letting them know that things will eventually get better and that you have got their back no matter what.”
Atlantis is a special concert film featuring thirteen of the group’s most popular compositions reinterpreted with live orchestral accompaniment. Atlantis was created within the mystic and magical confines of Atlantis Grammofon Studio in Stockholm, Sweden, which has seen a wide range of international artists record, from Quincy Jones to Lenny Kravitz to Green Day. Formerly a movie house in 1941, it went on to become Metronome Studio (during which time ABBA was born) before becoming Atlantis Grammofon in 1983.
Filmed and recorded on December 10, 2021, Martin Lopez (drums & percussion), Joel Ekelöf (lead vocals), Lars Enok Åhlund (guitars & piano), Cody Lee Ford (lead guitar) and Oleksii “Zlatoyar” Kobel (bass) worked together with an 8-piece orchestra to reinterpret and rediscover fresh energy and elements in classic Soen songs, such as “Antagonist”, “Monarch”, “Jinn” and “Lucidity”, as well as introducing a stunning interpretation of Slipknot’s deeply dark meditation on darkness rejecting love, “Snuff”.
The end result of this eighty minute performance is some remarkable new aural refractions of Soen’s greatest material for fans to absorb and enjoy. As has always been the way with Soen: the deepest dives yield the greatest treasures.
Atlantis was recorded by David Castillo and Iñaki Marconi, mixed by Castillo, and mastered by Tony Lindgren. The performance was filmed and directed by George Laycock from the bespoke British production house Blacktide Phonic/Visual.
Atlantis will be available as a DVD-CD with bonus footage, a Double 12” Limited Edition Vinyl, Long Form Video, Digital Download and Streaming. Pre-orders available here.
The additional orchestral musicians and contributors on Atlantis are:
Stefan Stenberg, Double Bass
Joakim Simonsson, Piano and Organ
Karin Liljenberg, Violin 1
Andreas Forsman, Violin 2
Erik Holm, Viola
Cecilia Linné, Cello
Johanna Börjesson, Vocals
Therése Börjesson, Vocals
Technical support: Dan Wahlbeck
Drum tech: Rickard Gustafsson
Sound support: Niclas Lindström
Soen wish to thank them deeply for their immense contribution to this performance.
With no sign of slowing down, the relentless metal quintet recently announced a twenty date North American Tour, kicking-off at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall; the tour will also see Soen perform as special guests of Katatonia in Dallas and Austin on December 6 and 7.
The North American dates follow shortly after the 2021 rescheduled Imperial European Tour that Soen postponed due to the restrictions surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic at the time. The European dates include the opportunity for an unforgettable and intimate evening with Soen at their sole premiere live acoustic show taking place at Zoetermeer’s De Boerderij on September 30. The band are excited to be on the road again and have added fourteen new dates in Europe and the United Kingdom.
“It's a dream come true to finally be able to do an extensive North American tour,” enthuses Lopez. “It's a milestone for any band to tour a continent with such a rich musical history and we are very excited about finally getting to meet our North American audience. See you all there!”
All purchased tickets remain valid for the rescheduled dates and tickets remain on-sale. Full list of confirmed dates, tickets, and additional information available here.
Soen are:
Martin Lopez - Drums and percussion
Joel Ekelöf - Lead vocals
Lars Enok Åhlund - Guitars and Piano
Cody Lee Ford - Lead Guitar
Oleksii "Zlatoyar" Kobel - Bass
Behold and join Serenity on their path of forgotten memories and experience the sands of time with their new live album Memoria, out December 9 via Napalm Records.
The assembly unites beyond death and legacy, sharing long forgotten stories of ancient kings, queens, and mythical legends. Looking back at their own band history and legacy of 20 years, Serenity invites the listener on a metal journey through history. So, immerse yourself in a land before our time with the new live recording of Memoria on DVD and BluRay.
With their new single “Legacy Of The Tudors”, Serenity rewrites history by mixing epic chants with heavy riffs. Serenity unites the best of both worlds into a unique sonic experience beyond compare. With the humble support of none other than honorable Vision Of Atlantis vocalist Clémentine Delauney, “Legacy Of The Tudors” becomes an unforgettable part of symphonic metal history. To put it in their words: “When music plays its Melody” it’s time for Serenity.
Serenity on “Legacy Of The Tudors”: “We’re so excited to finally unveil the first single from our upcoming live album Memoria. This track is a very special one to us as it’s taken from the album War of Ages which will have it’s tenth anniversary next year. During that time Clémentine Delauney was a permanent member of Serenity and we feel very honoured that she returned to travel back in time to celebrate this special occasion and perform this track with us.”
Watch the video for “Legacy Of The Tudors” below.
Symphonic metal unit Serenity offers a new approach to beguiling the senses with their live performance, Memoria, now on DVD and BluRay. Interpreting their illustrious songs anew in a conceptual show, they are sure to enchant listeners and viewers alike. Showcasing incredible hit density, the band embraces their symphonic power and provides a magical feeling throughout the entire performance. From classic folklore pieces like “Coldness Kills” that intrigues with its fairytale-like sound and classic instrumentals, to “Set The World On Fire” with catchy hooks and dashing soundscapes, Serenity give it all in every single piece. In “Set the World on Fire” and “Broken Dreams”, the unit is joined on their journey by the smooth and magical voice of Marco Pastorino awakening old myths and legends anew. These dreamlike soundscapes are being supported with enchanting guitar riffs in “Velatum” and “Souls and Sins” by no other than Sacha Paeth, the producer of Avantasia. This way, the band not only showcases their incredible musical talent supported by talented vocalist Georg Neuhauser, but also their love and dedication for the art of music. Touching ballads like “Journey Ends” and “Fairytales” supported by the incredible vocal range of legendary Visions of Atlantis vocalist Clémentine Delauney forge reminiscence of earlier times, while moving duets like “Changing Fate” refer to multifaceted Scottish mythology. In “Spirit of the Flesh”, Nicklas Müller offers rhythmic support by adding steady drums. As a special bonus on Memoria, the band taps Sascha Paeth and Michele Guaitoli from symphonic metal greats Visions of Atlantis for their stage performance of “Souls and Sins” and “Legacy Of The Tudors”.
Serenity on Memoria: “After a long time of waiting, we’re excited to finally release our first live album. We still think back to the evening when we performed this very special show at KulturQuartier in Kufstein and we’re so proud we could bottle the unique atmosphere of this night and release it now under the title Memoria. Being able to perfom this concert in this terrific atmosphere of a theater with so many guests, was a was really a ‘once in a life time experience’ and we’re extremely happy to share it now with all of our fans."
Memoria will be available in the following formats:
- BD/DVD Digipak (Upright Format) incl. 1xDVD, 1x BluRay, 2x CD
- Digital Version
"In Memoriam"
"United"
"Changing Times"
"Set The World On Fire"
"Broken Dreams"
"Changing Fate"
"Journey's End"
"Velatum"
"Souls And Sins"
"Coldness Kills"
"Fairytales"
"Legacy Of Tudors"
"Spirit In The Flesh"
"Engraved Within"
"In The Name Of Scotland"
"Lionheart"
"Legacy Of Tudors" video:
Serenity are:
Georg Neuhauser - Vocals
Christian Hermsdörfer - Guitars/Mandolin/Vocals
Fabio D’Amore - Bass/Vocals
Andreas Schipflinger - Drums/Vocals
Solo avatars of Ozzy Osbourne and MOTÖRHEAD's Lemmy were among the "headlining" acts at the 2023 edition of the iconic global touring metal festival Ozzfest. The event, which launched the careers of countless bands, including SLIPKNOT, DISTURBED, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, INCUBUS, LAMB OF GOD and many others, came to Decentraland late last week and also included "performances" by MEGADETH and SKID ROW, among others, via their respective official music videos.
The 2023 Ozzfest was part of the sophomore edition of Metaverse Music Festival (MVMF) from Decentraland, the world's largest user-owned and operated virtual social world. This year's MVMF featured 100 confirmed artists across uniquely curated community genre stages, and with newly-created, Web3-enabled, immersive music experiences. Presented by digital asset platform Kraken, MVMF was free for all to attend, with no VR, ticket or headset required.
"I'm thrilled to be bringing Ozzfest to the metaverse," Osbourne said in a press release prior to the event. "This allows me and the other bands on the bill to reach our fans in a new innovative way."
In October 2021, Decentraland hosted the inaugural Metaverse Music Festival which hosted 80+ artists including Web3 innovators Deadmau5, 3LAU, Paris Hilton, RAC and Alison Wonderland, and saw 50,000 unique attendees during the four-day event. Since then, major artists including Jason Derulo and Grimes, labels and producers, have embraced virtual performances leading to MTV announcing a new metaverse category at their 2022 VMAs.
Metaverse Music Festival featured curators who are redefining IP ownership and seeking to transform the music industry through Web3 technology and AI software.
This year, Decentralanddoubled down on music in the metaverse. MVMF showcased the latest metaverse technology that presents listeners with truly unique experiences only available through a virtual world. Decentraland's unique Emotes feature enabled any creator worldwide to create custom moves and gestures that brought your avatar to life, and were a central part of how concertgoers had fun through dancing and self-expression during the festival. New motion capture technology was also demonstrated on this global stage from Move.ai which enables motion capture with no suits and Kinetix.tech that aims to empower creators to make emote NFTs using only a phone camera. Presenting partner Kraken also dropped a series of NFT wearables exclusive for festival-goers, unveiled a pop-up NFT gallery as well as hosted a special festival afterparty.
Launched in 2020, Decentraland is a virtual social world powered by the Ethereum blockchain and the first decentralized metaverse. Within the Decentraland platform, users can create, experience, and monetize content and applications as well as socialize and attend a wide range of daily community-driven events. Decentraland is unique in that it is owned, created, and governed by the people who use it every day. Through the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) users can submit proposals and even apply for grants for the community to vote on.
Swedish extreme tech-metal pioneers MESHUGGAH have released the music video for the song "They Move Below". The clip was produced with the assistance of an AI program to manipulate images based on the artist's interpretation of themes in the music and title.
"They Move Below" is taken from MESHUGGAH's ninth studio album, "Immutable", which was released in May via Atomic Fire. The follow-up to 2016's "The Violent Sleep Of Reason" was recorded at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden; mixed by Rickard Bengtsson and Staffan Karlsson; and mastered by multiple Grammy Award winner Vlado Meller (METALLICA, RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, SYSTEM OF A DOWN). Visionary artist Luminokaya once again created the stunning cover artwork.
MESHUGGAH guitarist Mårten Hagström discussed "Immutable" during an appearance on MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn's "No Fuckin' Regrets With Robb Flynn" podcast. He said: "It's a double album, if this was a vinyl. It's 13 tracks; 66 or 67 minutes of music. It's the longest album we've put out so far, to this date. And it's a bit funny, 'cause when we started writing, I was really adamant that, 'Let's try to make a 'Reign In Blood' album' — like the MESHUGGAH 'Reign In Blood' album; just short but sweet. Not maybe 27 minutes, but keep it just over half an hour. 'Cause albums aren't what they used to be anyways; it's singles. So, obviously, we went the opposite direction and made a double album and just built it as an album and thought of it as, like back in the day, very important with the track listing and all that shit.
"For us, it was, like we always do, trying to find the… What's the MESHUGGAH sound? How do we keep it but make it interesting to us?" he continued. "'Cause that's been our modus operandi all along: if we please ourselves, we please our fans. That's how it's been. So that's what we need to take care of.
"We started writing it when we came off that COVID truncated touring cycle, and then, after that, it was just all systems go. We've been working our asses off for almost three years now. And we're really happy with the result. We may have tried out a few things that we haven't done before — not anything mindblowing. But from the reactions we've been getting so far, I think it's pretty much what we hoped for. 'Cause people are saying that it's an unexpected album. And that might sometimes be a bad thing, but in our minds, it can never be. And nobody said that it was surprising in a bad way; only positive so far. So we'll see.
"You know what it's like. When you work on an album, you really don't know. When you're done with it, everything's so jumbled up in your head, you don't know how to feel about it. It's just, like, 'Okay. Good enough. Let it go.'
"But we're really fired up about it," Mårten added. "It's a lot of music. It's by far the most dynamic we've been on an album. And that's something we've been going for. And I look forward to see how it comes across."
Hagström previously stated about the "Immutable" title: "The title fits perfectly for where we are as a band. We're older now. Most of us are in our fifties now, and we've settled into who we are. Even though we've been experimenting all along, I also think we've been the same since day one. The way we approach things and why we still make new albums, and why we still sound the way we do, it's immutable. Humanity is immutable, too. We commit the same mistakes over and over. And we are immutable. We do what we do, and we don't change."
MESHUGGAH recently completed its first pandemic-era U.S. tour. The dates, originally planned for early 2022, kicked off on September 16 in Worcester, Massachusetts and concluded on October 16 in Atlanta.
Fan-filmed video of LIVING WRECKAGE — the modern metal band comprised of vocalist Jeff Gard (DEATH RAY VISION), guitarists Jon Donais (ANTHRAX, SHADOWS FALL) and Matt LeBreton (DOWNPOUR), bassist Matt Bachand (SHADOWS FALL, ACT OF DEFIANCE) and drummer Jon Morency (LET US PREY) — performing covers of ALICE IN CHAINS' "Man In The Box" and AUDIOSLAVE's "Show Me How To Live" on October 22 at Geraldines Live Music Bar & Grill in Chicopee, Massachusetts can be seen below.
LIVING WRECKAGE's self-titled debut album was released in September via M-Theory Audio on CD, limited-edition colored vinyl and digital. Produced and engineered by Shane Frisby (UNEARTH, BURY YOUR DEAD),and mixed by Pete Rutcho (REVOCATION, FALLING IN REVERSE),the LP was anticipated by fans curious to hear more music, as evidenced by how quickly LIVING WRECKAGE's three-song EP, which was available solely at the group's shows and via mail-order, sold out.
In a 2021 interview with the "2020'd" podcast, Donais was asked how we landed the gig with ANTHRAX after previously spending almost two decades with SHADOWS FALL. He said: "SHADOWS FALL, a couple of the guys were having kids or about to have kids and got married, and they just didn't wanna be on the road anymore. And we weren't making enough where you could have that kind of stuff; you had to be on the road all the time. You can't be selfish anymore once you have a wife and kids. You can't [go], 'Well, I might make this much money, or I might not. But I'm gonna go have fun.' It came to the point where they had to choose that path. And then ANTHRAX lost their guitarist, and they asked me to fill in — just to fill in. And I was, like, 'Absolutely,' 'cause I kind of saw the writing on the wall with SHADOWS FALL."
According to Donais, his predecessor in ANTHRAX, Rob Caggiano, hooked him up with his current gig. "'Cause he knew he was gonna leave, and he wanted to make sure that they were all set," Jon said. "He wanted to make sure that they were covered and didn't wanna leave 'em hanging. And he knew we knew each other, and he asked me if I'd be interested, and I was, like, 'Yeah. A hundred percent.' And then I didn't hear anything for a little bit, and I didn't know what was going on.' Then, maybe two or three weeks later, [ANTHRAX guitarist] Scott Ian called, and he goes, 'I heard you know what's going on.' I go, 'Yeah.' He goes, 'Can you do it?' I go, 'Fucking absolutely.'"
Donais made his live debut with ANTHRAX in Australia without a single rehearsal with the band. "I jammed with Scott a little bit, but it was, 'Here. Learn these songs and be ready,'" he recalled. "Oh. God. That first show — I was shaking."
Donais contributed lead guitar to ANTHRAX's latest album, "For All Kings", which came out in 2016 via Nuclear Blast in Europe and Megaforce in the U.S. At the time of the record's release, his ANTHRAX bandmates praised his playing, with bassist Frank Bello saying: "I think Jon has brought a great energy to the band. He stepped up and then some on this record." Ian added: "Jon's approach towards lead guitar playing, he's more of a guy who's looking to construct something that makes sense and helps a song rather than the 45 seconds for him to be showing off how many notes he can play in X amount of measures."
Aussie heavy rockers Audio Reign has released a heart-warming, emotional video for their latest single “Shining Light”. Purchase/stream the single here.
The offering was fueled by fans stating their love for this song and was the catalyst for releasing this single and music video from their recent International Deluxe Edition album.
“We’re really excited to release this music video to the world. This song is very special to us and so many fans have told us of their love for it too. As a band we had to make an important decision on whether to bring this fan favourite to life or drop a brand new single and video from our forthcoming new album. It was now or never and we decided that Shining Light was too special to leave behind so we chose to immortalise Shining Light in this video,” states Jake Fleming, lead vocalist and guitarist for Audio Reign.
“Although ‘Shining Light’ is one of our most gentle songs, make no mistake, when it all kicks in halfway through, it explodes into a massive wall of sound. This is most definitely a stadium power ballad (haha).”
“The video story is so humanly enchanting and utilises vintage handy-cam style footage which brings an authentic feel to the whole concept. The emotional and heart-warming scenes of the couple really shine through and are guaranteed to touch your soul.”
‘Shining Light’ is about two people who love each other immensely, but they both have such busy lives now that they barely seem to get a moment anymore to share that special bond. This song tells of when that special moment arrives. This is an affirmation that no matter how hectic and busy life can get, you are still and always will be everything to me, you are my ‘Shining Light’.
The International Deluxe Edition album is out now and distributed internationally via MR Records.
Billy Idol and Steve Stevens recently performed a special acoustic set of fan favorites and songs from Billy's most recent EPs, The Roadside EP and The Cage EP, on the Amoeba Hollywood stage. Video footage can be found below.
Setlist:
"Dancing With Myself"
"Bitter Taste"
"Eyes Without A Face"
"Cage"
"Rebel Yell"
"White Wedding"
Billy Idol's The Cage EP is out now via Dark Horse Records. The new music follows the release of Idol’s 2021 The Roadside EP, which included the Top 15 hit “Bitter Taste” and received praise from fans and critics alike. As on The Roadside EP, Idol is joined on the new project by his longtime collaborator, co-writer and guitarist Steve Stevens.
Order The Cage EP on your choice of CD, vinyl LP, and limited edition red vinyl LP with a limited amount of signed copies available while they last, here.
Tracklisting:
"Cage"
"Running From The Ghost"
"Rebel Like You"
"Miss Nobody"
"Inception" is the first solo single from Swedish rock singer Guernica Mancini, the vocalist for Thundermother, and is available now via Golden Robot Records.
Having forged a successful career at the helm of Thundermother, with over 300,000 monthly listeners and millions of streams, Guernica has been working on a solo side-project that can only be described as a mind blowing fusion of rock and pop.
"Inception" toys with the idea of a rebirth; a place in time where you have to get up, dust yourself and rise from the ashes with no limitations. It's a song fit for a fighter, so it only made sense that fellow Swede, Linn Sandstrom, premiered the track for Guernica at the WBA Intercontinental Title fight late last month. Having already won a WBC Australasia and WBA Asia Boxing Championship, Linn selected "Inception" as the song to make her U.K. main event debut with at York Hall - leading to a unanimous win and a third title belt.
In 2007, Guernica enrolled at the prestigious Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, CA, where she won a songwriting contest. This led her to record with famed music producer Darryl Swann, who’s worked with acts such as Black-Eyed Peas, John Frusciante and Macy Gray, just to name a few.
During her time at the Musicians Institute, she formed the all-female band Inglourious, performing at music venues in LA as well as Las Vegas, including House of Blues, Hard Rock Café, The Key Club and The Roxy.
2010 saw Mancini team up with Jeff Young (former member of Megadeth) as the lead singer for his band Souls On 11.
After five years in LA, Guernica moved back to Sweden and formed her own band, The Royal Ruckus. The following four years the band played throughout Sweden and toured around Europe.
2017 gave Guernica the opportunity to audition for the Swedish all female rock band Thundermother, where she has since become the lead singer.
Mancini has been lead vocalist on the last three Thundermother albums, and was a songwriter on the latest ones. They have toured all over the world, played massive Festivals such as Wacken, Sweden Rock Festival, Alcatraz, Exit Festival and Reload Festival. They also featured on The Kiss Cruise, Full Metal Cruise and supported The Dead Diasis, Backyard Babies and Rose Tattoo.
Thundermother is by far one of the hardest working, extensively touring bands in the world and Guernica is the voice of this thunder machine! In 2020 she joined Hank Von Hell on his single "Crown" off his album Dead. In 2021 the band King Zebra, also signed to Golden Robot Records’ metal label Crusader Records, asked Guernica to join them on their song, "Wall Of Confusion".
Guernica Mancini: "Getting to do something creatively that’s completely my own is something that I’ve been longing to do since I was a very young girl. It’s scary but at the same time so exciting and fun! I feel very fortunate to have gotten this opportunity. More than anything I feel so happy that my bandmates in Thundermother are really supportive and excited for me. So now let the Guernica solo legacy begin."
Original AC/DC frontman Dave Evans recently rehearsed a version of the band's classic song "Highway To Hell" with more than 150 singers from Argentina's Kennedy Choir (Coro Kennedy). Video of the rendition can be seen below.
Chrystal Records, along with Coro Kennedy director Raúl Fritzsche, are organizing this version to be recorded with other choirs around the world.
Dave recorded AC/DC's first two singles, "Can I Sit Next To You Girl" and "Baby, Please Don't Go". But in October 1974, less than a year after AC/DC's first gig, Evans was out of the band. He was replaced by Bon Scott, who sang on AC/DC's first six studio albums and became a legend himself after his death in 1980.
Evans discussed his post-AC/DC career in a recent interview with Argentina's Urbana Play 104.3 FM. Asked if he has any regrets about the way his time with the band ended, Dave said: "I've had a fantastic career. I kept rocking with RABBIT and DAVID EVANS AND THUNDER DOWN UNDER, and I'm traveling around the world now, still recording. So as far as my career is concerned, I've had a fantastic career; I'm still having an amazing time. Bon Scott joined the band, but he was there about five or six years, and he's dead. So it was bad luck for him.
"You can't have regrets," he continued. "I'm having the most incredible life. I travel the whole world. And I'm a solo artist, of course, so I don't have to take a band with me. I have musicians in all different countries. I go wherever I want to go. And I see all the countries and I do what I want to do, not what the band has to tell me to do and that kind of thing. So I have freedom to be where I want to be with the people I wanna be with. And at the end of the day, it's all about freedom — life is about freedom; freedom of choice and being with people that you really love. And I'm lucky to do that."
Evans previously talked about his exit from AC/DC in a 2021 interview with DJ Grant from New Zealand's Galaxy 107 FM. At the time, he said: "You've gotta remember that Bon Scott did a lot of the songs that I already did, like 'Baby, Please Don't Go', we already did that. That's the song that I got Angus [Young, AC/DC guitarist] up on my shoulders, and, of course, he used to watch us doing our show, so he copied that. I understand that he copied what I was doing. And the songs too, and re-recorded them and re-wrote the lyrics to some of the songs that I had already put down. But he was told to do that. I know that he was under instructions to do this, so I don't really hold it against Bon Scott for that, because when he joined the band, he was washed up at the time, and he got a great chance to do something, and he did too. He did a great job, but his lifestyle just let him down."
Evans also talked about the enduring popularity of "Can I Sit Next To You Girl", which was originally released as a single in July 1974 and featured drums by Colin Burgess and bass by George Young (older brother of AC/DC co-founders Malcolm and Angus Young).
"It's one of those songs, I play it around the world — I still do, of course, every show I do — and people love the song," he said. "And it's amazing how many people say to me that's their favorite AC/DC song. I can't believe it. [AC/DC has] 'T.N.T.' and all those great songs, 'Highway To Hell' and all these other great songs, and fans come up to me and say that that's their favorite song."
Earlier last year, Dave was asked in an interview with The Rocker Diaries if he thought "that would be it" for AC/DC after Bon's death in 1980. He responded: "No, not at all. I mean, we all keep going. And AC/DC has had that many players through [the history of] the band. I don't know how many. 20? And three singers, plus a stand-in singer as well.
"We were always ambitious when we first started," he continued. "We always wanted to be the best in the world — all of us. And after me, Bon Scott got his chance. He did great with the band. And when he died, I just thought, 'Who are they gonna get?' I never thought [I would be approached about it] myself, because that's water under the bridge. And I was busy with bands as well at the time, and doing my own music and recording. I was just wondering who it would be. I had heard of [Brian Johnson's pre-AC/DC band] GEORDIE — just the name GEORDIE. I'd never heard of Brian. And then Brian popped up and, of course, the 'Back In Black' album came out, which was a massive album around the world, and they were off and running with Brian. But if Brian quit, they'd get another singer, and another singer. [They've gone through] different bass players [and] different drummers.
"The drive was always Malcolm Young," Dave added. "I remember Malcolm when I first met him. He was such a driving force. Just a tiny little guy — just a little touch over five foot tall — but, boy, he had a big heart and a big personality. And he was tough, too — Malcolm was very tough. And no matter what, he was AC/DC through and through. And, of course, once he passed away, which is very sad, AC/DC, of course, will never, ever be the same without Malcolm. How can it be?"
In May 2021, Evans released a new compilation album called "BADASS Greatest Hits". The effort contains "20 massive hits on one album," including Dave's version of "Rockin' In The Parlour", the song that originally appeared as the B-side of the "Can I Sit Next to You Girl" single.
Video of Sebastian Bach (SKID ROW) and Tracii Guns (L.A. GUNS) performing a cover of the LED ZEPPELIN classic "Whole Lotta Love" on November 1 aboard this year's "Kiss Kruise" can be seen below. They were joined by bassist Todd Kerns, guitarist Brent Woods and drummer Brent Fitz.
Two years ago, Sebastian was asked on Twitter to name his favorite ZEPPELIN track. He responded: "In the light, song remains the same, all of led Zeppelin III, all of my love, Carollabusa or whatever that is, whole lotta love almost doesn't count because I've heard it so many times but of course it's deadly and sexy and the best of the best. I dig @RobertPlant solo = LedZep".
In 2020, footage emerged of a pre-fame Bach covering LED ZEPPELIN's "Rock And Roll" at the wedding of renowned rock photographer Mark Weiss in New Jersey in 1987. Joining Sebastian for that performance were Zakk Wylde — who'd just joined Ozzy Osbourne's band — plus MADAM X bassist Chris "Godzilla" Doliber, photographer Dave "Face" Feld and Weiss himself.
In 1997, Bach was featured on a LED ZEPPELIN tribute album, "Stairway To Heaven: Tribute To Led Zeppelin", performing "Communication Breakdown" and "Immigrant Song".
Back in 2018, Bach told Meltdown of Detroit's WRIF 101.1 FM radio station that he was going to ink a deal with a U.S.-based heavy metal record label that would help him make a "career-defining" new solo album.
Bach hasn't released a full-length disc since "Give 'Em Hell", which came out in 2014. Like its predecessor, 2011's "Kicking & Screaming", the disc was released through Frontiers Music Srl, the Italian label which specializes in what's commonly called AOR, a term that once signified a popular radio format ("album-oriented rock") but nowadays applies to acts whose airplay is marginal.
Brazilian modern prog / groove metal band X-Empire shares a brand-new cathartic, tense and emotional music video for their latest single "My Demons (The Price Of Blood)", addressing the troubling and current issue of the daily struggle against depression, suicide, drug addiction, and other psychological illnesses.
The lyrical theme of "My Demons (The Price Of Blood)" is a metaphor against all kinds of wars, also including the daily battle against the inner demons that haunt a great part of humanity.
Michel Villares, singer, producer and lyricist of "My Demons (The Price Of Blood)", was initially influenced by the conflict in Ukraine and Russia, creating an anti-war theme trying, in some way, to show solidarity with the people of these countries, but as the theme developed other forms of war were being addressed.
"Not only the war for territory, which is already something unacceptable in today's world, but the fight against the ghosts of depression and suicide were incorporated into the story," Michel comments. "Life is already like a battlefield, an inner war, so it was a way to achieve catharsis. The tip is always to forgive yourself for those you couldn't save, as there are situations that the outcomes are not up to us. In 2013, my father was diagnosed with cancer, a strong and smart man, healthy, vigorous, courageous, and with deep insights in life, a true teacher in my life. His fight was hard, but he won. Only in the end he lost the battle against himself, old and destructive habits claimed him from living. 'My Demons' tells the heavy, deep and lonely story of a father in mourning for his daughter with drug addiction, people facing themselves and faithfully showing the struggle against inner demons," he concludes.
Bassist Emerson Soares thinks, "The sound of 'My Demons' is another step in the evolutionary process of X-Empire, both in something even more complex, as in more captivating melodies. We brought new elements, coming from other styles, and that helped us in the maturation process of the band's musical identity. This music video is one of the most amazing and impressive jobs we've ever done, and it doesn't even seem like it took 19 days from recording to final editing!"
Guitarist Andre Marques also comments that, "The song in its initial conception talked about the dilemmas and conflicts of a soldier sent to war. However, we realized that life is already like a battlefield where we human beings are in a constant inner war with our own demons."
About its sound, Andre concludes by saying that, "It became very current, with melodic lines, but without losing the heaviness, inspired by bands like Gojira and Slipknot. After we recorded our takes, we were anxious about the final result, because we knew it would be a big reality shock! I remembered so many friends who had hard struggles with depression. Remember your essence before it is too late, because someone in the world loves you and will miss you. Don't be ashamed or afraid to ask for help."
"Every life is important, every existence must be contemplated. Every piece on the board is missed in some game, every loved one is remembered," concluded vocalist Michel Villares.
Besomora were founded by vocalist / guitarist Vlad Martynov and drummer Daniel Zolotic in February 2021 as a Covid-19 project. The band is a Sydney-based melodic death metal four-piece. The name Besomora is derived from Slavic mythology and draws inspiration from dark spirits and demons, as reflected in the band’s music.
Over its short existence, Besomora played a sold-out show alongside Be’lakor, Orpheus Omega, and Andy Gillion (ex-Mors Principium Est), during their joint Australian tour, and shared the stage with well-known Australian bands including Psycroptic, Disentomb, and Nicolas Cage Fighter.
Besomora have been working hard towards the release of their debut EP, a six-track record that will feature Joe Haley (Psycroptic) and Tobi Morelli (Archspire) as guest musicians. A taste of that EP has been offered up in the form of the single and video, "Mass Starvation".
Get a closer look on how the music video for Besomora's new single "Mass Starvation" was shot in this Behind The Scenes featurette.
In February 2022, Besomora issued a video for their cover of the KISS classic, "I Was Made For Lovin' You".
Kamelot performed an exclusive show at Hristo Botev Hall in Sofia, Bulgaria on Saturday, November 12th following their November 11th gig at Switzerland's Urrock Festival. Fan-filmed video is available below.
League Of Distortion / Exit Eden singer Anna Brunner performed as a guest vocalist during the show.
Kamelot: "Bulgaria! You were amazing! We had a blast! Thank you all for coming and having a great time with us."
The setlist was as follows:
"Phantom Divine (Shadow Empire)" (with Anna Brunner)
"Rule the World"
"Insomnia"
"The Great Pandemonium"
"When the Lights Are Down"
"Veil of Elysium" (with Anna Brunner)
"End of Innocence"
"Karma"
"Here's To The Fall"
"Center Of The Universe"
"Sacrimony (Angel of Afterlife)" (with Anna Brunner)
"Forever"
"Liar Liar (Wasteland Monarchy)" (with Anna Brunner)
"March of Mephisto" (with Anna Brunner)
Screamer, the Swedish band surrounding vocalist Andreas Wikström, have released a guitar playthrough video for the title track of their new album, Kingmaker, featuring guitarists Dejan Rosić and Jon Morheim. Check it out below.
Kingmaker will be released on January 13 via SPV/Steamhammer as CD DigiPak (incl. poster), LP version, CD/LP bundle with shirt (only at the Steamhammer shop). Pre-order here.
Tracklisting:
"Kingmaker"
"Rise Above"
"The Traveler"
"Hellfire"
"Chasing The Rainbow"
"Ashes And Fire"
"Burn It Down"
"Fall Of A Common Man"
"Sounds Of The Night"
"Renegade"
Electron are the new breed of an old sound with a twist. Musically and technically amazing, to say they are a powerhouse is an understatement. All former students of BIMM and originally hailing from Portugal, Electron have permanently settled in England to shake up the rock and heavy metal scene internationally.
"We’re working on the album. It’s been recorded at RAK Studios London and Marshall Amplification. It grabs you by the balls, hoists you up by them and throws you off a cliff. You’ve never heard guitars this mean, massive statement I know," says the trio.
Electron’s new single / video 'Wake Up!' invokes the angst of today’s youth counterculture, an underground movement forced to stare at society without being able to make a difference. A full 1980s-styled modern metal tribute that screams out its bleak look at an almost Orwellian image of modern life as we know it.
November 11th marked the official release of Blasphemy Blues, the debut full-length from Swedish melodic blackened death / thrash unit Vittra
Vittra’s Blasphemy Blues is packed with the all the band’s trademarks: a combination of crushing death metal with strong songwriting and catchy hooks. Produced at SolnaSound in the Fall of 2021, supported by both Simon Johansson (Soilwork) and Mike Wead (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate), Blasphemy Blues was finalized in April 2022. Lawrence Mackrory (Bloodbath, Lik, Firespawn) handled the mixing and mastering. Hjules created the cover artwork.
Notes Vittra guitarist Johan Murmester of the tracks contained within, “[They are] strong songs with a natural flow, but still not too predictable or obvious. It’s basically pop but with more energy and aggression to it.”
In celebration of the unveiling of Blasphemy Blues, Vittra has released a video for the track “Self-Loathing”. The idea for the video is about “getting high on self-pity,” portraying how we sometimes seem to indulge in our self-imposed mental torture and punishment.
Of “Self-Loathing”, vocalist David Döragrip notes: "I wrote this one for myself when I was in a dark place. It helps to put words to your thoughts.”
From a songwriting perspective, guitarist Johan Murmester remembers, “Alex presented an idea of a pretty straightforward verse and a more melodic pre-chorus, all in the feel of At The Gates, The Haunted, and one of his favorite drummers, Adrian Erlandsson. I Vittra-fied the riffing, sort of making it my own, added some parts, but kept the original feel. Great song to play!”
In the Fender Guitars clip below, head into the studio with the legendary Jeff Beck as he discusses the magic of discovering new songs, the allure of vintage music. He also performs the once-banned Link Wray track "Rumble" on the new American Vintage II 1957 Stratocaster.
Link Wray & His Ray Men released "Rumble"on March 31st, 1958, as a single. The instrumental was banned in several US radio markets because the term "rumble" was a slang term for a gang fight, and it was feared that the piece's "harsh sound" glorified juvenile delinquency. The record is the only instrumental single ever banned from radio in the United States.
Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp recently sat down for a SiriusXM Town Hall special hosted by Stevie Van Zandt, on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage, where they spoke about their new music, being on the road together and answered SiriusXM subscriber questions.
During the exclusive Town Hall at SiriusXM’s NYC studios, Beck and Depp shared insight into their unique friendship and the making of their collaborative studio album, 18.
In the video below, Beck recalls a funny memory about being treated coldly by The Beach Boys, in particular, Brian Wilson.
Johnny Depp is currently with Jeff Beck on his North American tour. All shows are on sale now with VIP packages also available here. The full itinerary is below with all dates subject to change.
The duo will highlight songs from their newly released musical collaboration, 18, and join forces with Beck’s current band (bassist Rhonda Smith, drummer Anika Nilles and keyboardist Robert Stevenson) to perform a lengthy set of tunes culled from throughout Beck’s iconic career.
Beck and Depp’s 13-track album, 18, debuted at #10 on both the Billboard Top Albums and Top Current Albums charts marking the first top 10 for both Beck and Depp on the 31-year-old Top Album Sales chart. The set is available on CD and digitally, with a 180-gram black vinyl version coming on September 30. The duo recently wrapped a successful European tour together on July 25 in Paris, France to much fan and critical acclaim with sold-out dates throughout northern Europe, Italy and France - including a stop at the revered Montreux Jazz Festival.
Jeff Beck found a kindred spirit in Johnny Depp when the two met in 2016. They bonded quickly over cars and guitars and spent most of their time together trying to make each other laugh. At the same time, Beck’s appreciation grew for Depp’s serious songwriting skills and his ear for music. That talent and their chemistry convinced Beck they should make an album together.
Depp agreed and they started in 2019. Over the next three years, they recorded a mix of Depp originals along with a wide range of covers that touches on everything from Celtic and Motown, to the Beach Boys and Killing Joke. “We were going to call the album ‘Kitchen Sink’ because we threw everything in it,” the two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Famer says with a laugh. “The only game plan we had was to play songs we like and see where they took us.”
Beck is universally acknowledged as one of the most talented and significant guitarists in the world and has played alongside some of the greatest artists of rock, blues, and jazz. Over the course of his distinguished 50+ music career, he has earned an incredible eight Grammy Awards, been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time,” and been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice – once as a member of the Yardbirds and again as a solo artist. In the summer of 2016, the guitar virtuoso celebrated his five decades of music with an extraordinary concert at the famous Hollywood Bowl with special guests including Buddy Guy, Steven Tyler, Beth Hart, Billy F. Gibbons and Jan Hammer.
Sabaton guitarist / Majestica frontman Tommy Johansson has shared his solo performance of the Skid Row classic "18 And Life". Check it out below.
Johansson recently shared his cover of the Twisted Sister classic, "The Price", taken from the 1984 album, Stay Hungry.
Johansson: "Video recorded during the North American tour with Sabaton and Epica 2022. Recorded in Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Graceland, Camden, Montreal CA, Minneapolis, Detroit, Richmond, Las Vegas, LA, Hollywood, Boston to name some of the places.
A big thanks to those who helped me film this video: Pablo Christlein, Jens De Vos, Matt Teixeira, Johan Bengs, and thanks to Hannes Van Dahl for your expertise!"
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