Новости : DARKSIDE.ru (2024)

Finnish monster metal group LORDI has recruited Kone as the replacement for its recently departed founding guitarist Amen-Ra (a.k.a. Amen).

Kone will make his live debut with LORDI on Friday, June 10 at the Rock In The City festival in Kuopio, Finland.

Amen-Ra, whose real name is Jussi Sydänmaa, announced his departure from LORDI in early May. At the time, the 49-year-old musician said in a statement that " life happens and people change." He added: "I don't know what the future will bring, all I can tell you is that right now I'm relieved, but sad. I'm grateful but unsure where my path will take me. A big chapter of my life has come to an end, but a new one is starting and I can't wait to see what life has to offer for me."

Back in November 2019, Amen-Ra released his first solo single, made available under the moniker AMEN-RA'S DYNASTY. At the time, he explained that he decided to lengthen his stage name from just Amen into Amen-Ra because "there's so many artists operating under the name Amen, I didn't see it as a practical move on my part."

LORDI caused a sensation by winning the 2006 Eurovision with "Hard Rock Hallelujah", which in turn made the band's third release, "The Arockalypse", a hit throughout Europe. On the back of their Eurovision win, they scored a lucrative series of promotions including LORDI-branded cola, boiled sweets and credit cards; and played live at the MTV European Music Awards. A square was renamed in LORDI's honor in the Lapland city of Rovaniemi; a LORDI-themed postage stamp was issued in Finland and the group starred in its first film, called "Dark Floors".

With their monster-movie stage persona, LORDI seemed a most unlikely choice to represent their country in the Eurovision Song Contest. So you can imagine how many people were shocked when the group not only claimed top honors, but also earned the most points in the venerable event's history.

In a 2017 interview with MariskalRock, LORDI leader Mr. Lordi stated about the band's connection to Eurovision: "There was a time a couple of years ago — well, more than a couple — when I really, really, really hated that everybody's always asking about the goddamn Eurovision; there was a time. Nowadays I have come to terms with it. It's, like, okay, I'm actually proud that we are part of Eurovision history and I am proud that Eurovision is part of this band's history. I mean, it is a big part of our awareness. Because the awareness of the band would be so different, it would be so much smaller, without that one TV show ten years ago."

He continued: "I absolutely don't regret that — absolutely not. Because I have nothing bad to say about Eurovision itself, but the problem that we have had in the years is the people who actually don't know anything else except for the fact that we were on Eurovision. And that is a big stamp to get out of — it's like a f*cking tattoo, you have a f*cking tattoo on your forehead that says 'Eurovision.' And that is something that really, really, really drove me nuts some years ago; I was really struggling with that.

"I have come to terms with it — it's all right; I mean, it's cool," he said. "I am proud of it. And every May, when there's a new Eurovision, I know that my phone will start ringing and people will ask my opinions and then we get requests: 'Do you wanna come to this country's semifinals? Do you wanna come here?' And for years we said, 'No, we don't wanna. We don't want to.' But now, we're, like, 'f*ck it! Let's do it. What the hell?' I mean, c'mon, it's all fun, and it's part of our history, and the Eurovision, they really want us to come there, because, let's face it, we are one of those winners that people still remember."

Kone

Posted by Lordi onMonday, May 30, 2022
Lordi 2022 live shows kick off this weekend together with our new uglysome dude on guitar - Mr. Kone! This year we also celebrate the 20th anniversary of Get Heavy release, what would you like to hear from that album?

Rock In The City 10.6. Kuopio and 11.6. Vantaa, Finland! pic.twitter.com/Uj7SFht8N3

— Lordi (@LORDIOFFICIAL) June 7, 2022

GENERATION RADIO (formerly THE RISE ABOVE),a new rock group centered around the combined talents of Jay DeMarcus and Jason Scheff, will release its self-titled debut album on August 5 via Frontiers Music Srl. Two-time Grammy Award-winning bassist Demarcus of the hugely popular country act RASCAL FLATTS and Scheff, who was lead vocalist and bass player for the multi-platinum band CHICAGO for over 30 years, are joined by drummer/vocalist Deen Castronovo (JOURNEY, REVOLUTION SAINTS),guitarist Chris Rodriguez and guitarist Tom Yankton in GENERATION RADIO.

The official music video for the first single from the LP, "Why Are You Calling Me Now?", can be seen below.

Fans of classic AOR in the style of JOURNEY and CHICAGO are going to absolutely lose their minds when they hear GENERATION RADIO's stunning debut.

In the beginning of 2020, GENERATION RADIO came together with the intent to form a band with a purpose — to bring classic 1980s rock back to life.

"This music is the best of all of us," says Demarcus. "Everyone in this band sings and contributes in a huge way. Jason is not only one of my best friends, but he is also one of my all-time favorite singers, and his performances on this record are stellar. Deen is among the very best drummers in the world, but he is also a world-class singer. In fact, I'm convinced JOURNEY heard him with us, and immediately wanted him back in the band! I'm kidding, of course, but we were fortunate to have him on this 'journey.' Finally, Chris and Yankton are veterans and some of my favorite musicians and singers. Chris and I go back to our early days together in Christian music. It is a true honor to make music with people who you respect so much and hold in such high regard."

Scheff adds: "My partner Jay [DeMarcus] had the idea to fuse RASCAL FLATTS with JOURNEY and CHICAGO, so that's what we did. Jay had several songs over the years that he'd co-written, exhibiting all his influences. There was no surprise he listened to a lot of JOURNEY and CHICAGO! Those songs became the catalyst for the band and we rounded it out with some songs written specifically for the album that were in keeping with that theme. There's no other way to put it other than when you listen to this record you will hear a beautiful blend of RASCAL FLATTS meets JOURNEY meets CHICAGO, not to mention having the best of the best in the production, recording, and mastering department. A team of all current hitmakers."

"Generation Radio" track listing:

01. Why Are You Calling Me Now?
02. Angels
03. All Night To Get There
04. I Hope You Find It
05. Time To Let It Go
06. Lights Go Out In Paradise
07. Don't Go
08. Smoking
09. Anything But Us
10. Waiting On Your Sunshine
11. Finally Got It Right

At last month's Buzzfest annual event from Texas's 94.5 FM The Buzz radio station, BUSH frontman Gavin Rossdale spoke about the band's upcoming follow-up to 2020's "The Kingdom" album. He said: "[It's a] super-heavy record, similar to 'The Kingdom'. We're really proud of it. Everybody did great stuff on it, and I can't wait for everyone to hear it. I think July is [when] the [first] single [will arrive]."

Three months ago, Rossdale told Australia's May The Rock Be With You that he had used some of the coronavirus downtime to work on new music. "I've just written 18 songs," he said. "And we start [in the studio in early March] with a producer. [We'll] rearrange — hopefully not too much — the stuff I've done. We choose the songs we're gonna do. We either might use what I started, the tracks, or we might just try nixing them and doing it fresh. Each song will dictate that. But we go eight days [in the studio] before we come to Australia [for our tour with CHEAP TRICK and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, then we do [several days] of rehearsal. And then when we come back from Australia, we've got a few days off and then we go back to finish it. It should be done by May."

According to Rossdale, the musical direction of the new BUSH material is very similar to that of "The Kingdom". "It's all like that," he said. "I like that. So I've kept it in that vein. That was the launchpad. That was it. I was, like, 'I'm off.' I've got maybe two ballady, two softer songs, slower songs, but they're weird."

He continued: "I've got a studio in my house now and it's been such an amazing time. You have the tools at your fingertips now to make songs and make music. It's just staggering. It's so much fun."

In November 2020, BUSH played two drive-in shows across Southern California to celebrate the release of "The Kingdom Deluxe Edition". The record featured six bonus songs, including "Heroes", a special tribute to David Bowie, as well as live performances of the title track "The Kingdom" and hard-charging single "Flowers On A Grave", which went Top 10 on Active Rock Radio.

BUSH's current lineup also includes guitarist Chris Traynor, bassist Corey Britz and drummer Nik Hughes.

The group, which broke up in 2002 but reunited in 2010, has released four albums since reforming.

The first single from "The Kingdom", "Flowers On A Grave", was unveiled in March 2020. The track, co-produced by Erik Ron and Rossdale, was the follow-up to "Bullet Holes", heard atop the end credits to "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum".

Rossdale recently announced that he will host a cooking show. The program, dubbed "E.A.T. With Gavin Rossdale", will feature the musician inviting luminaries, celebrities and other members of the public to his home in the Hollywood Hills, where he will provide them with a dish he prepared himself.

Rossdale has already reportedly started filming the show, with Roundtable Entertainment producing the series.

The singer said: "Roundtable are the exact partners I've been looking for to produce this project. They understand my vision and will help execute a compelling series in which we get to see behind the public persona of people we know and admire for their work.

"This show is about connecting more deeply with them, hearing their stories, walking in their shoes. It's hard to be surprised anymore, but the simplest surprises are the human revelations that occur over food and drink."

BUSH's "Under The Southern Stars" tour of Australia with CHEAP TRICK, STONE TEMPLE PILOTS, ROSE TATTOO, ELECTRIC MARY and BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB took place in March.

Former SEPULTURA members Max Cavalera and Igor "Iggor" Cavalera performed at the Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee on May 26. The show was part of their 2022 "Return Beneath Arise" tour, which kicked off on May 22 at the Sunshine Theater in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Video of the Nashville gig can be seen below.

"Return Beneath Arise" sees Max and Igor performing select tracks from SEPULTURA's seminal "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" albums. Joining Max and Igor on the trek are Mike Leon of SOULFLY and Daniel Gonzalez of POSSESSED.

When Leon and Gonzalez's addition to the touring lineup was first announced, Max said in a statement: "'Beneath The Remains'/'Arise' tour is coming! Introducing on bass guitar, thrashing and blasting bass beast Mike Leon (SOULFLY) and on lead guitar, state-of-the-art death/thrash expert Daniel Gonzalez (POSSESSED/GRUESOME). We're gonna take these songs to the metal world in the most brutal way ever! Under a pale gray sky, we shall arise."

Added Igor: "We can only count with the illest players to step on stage with me and Max to play 'Beneath'/'Arise'. So getting Dan Gonzalez from POSSESSED/GRUESOME and Mike Leon from SOULFLY was an amazing choice!... Can't wait to hit the road!"

Said Leon: "I am super excited to be a part of the revival of these classic albums with the brothers that created them. It is a great honor! These shows are gonna CRUSH, and I'm sure that we are gonna deliver these songs better than they have ever been played before to everyone who joins us! See you on the road!"

Stated Gonzalez: "It would be an understatement to say that I am incredibly stoked and honored to be able to play with Max and Iggor, and the fact that we'll be playing material from 'Beneath The Remains' and 'Arise' is beyond surreal to me since I grew up worshiping those albums. Max and Iggor helped change the standards of extreme metal and those albums are still living proof of that. It's insane to me as a fan and as a musician to be able to play these songs live, and I can't wait to do them justice!!!"

Max and Igor kicked off a tour celebrating "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" back in 2018. In early 2020, Max revealed plans to bring the trek to the U.S., but no dates had been announced prior to the pandemic.

In a 2018 interview with Wall Of Sound, Max stated about revisiting the "Beneath The Remains" and "Arise" material on the most recent run of shows: "I had to learn those riffs again for the tour, and I had to rediscover the albums again. It was a really fun process, learning the lyrics again. I kind of fell in love with the albums again. I don't have a favorite — I like both together, and I think they're meant to be together. For some reason, they just feel right when you play them together. I was very young when I made them, so it made me very aware of my state of mind at the time. I feel like I'm pretty much the same guy. I'm [52] now, but I'm still a metalhead in the heart. I still have the teenage spirit. I'm a huge metal fan, [a] huge supporter of metal. That's just how it was when those albums were done. It's a blessing that I get to do that with my brother, especially after all we went through together and we didn't speak for 10 years. Now, it's good — we are in a good place, and our brotherhood is really good, and we're just having fun with this music... There's an energy and a real anger and real passion in those songs that translates into people losing their minds when they hear it. I don't even have to tell them, 'Circle pit' — they will do it themselves. It's just the power of music."

In 1996, Max exited SEPULTURA after the rest of the band split with Max's wife Gloria as their manager.

Igor left SEPULTURA in June 2006 due to "artistic differences." His departure from the band came five months after he announced that he was taking a break from SEPULTURA's touring activities to spend time with his second wife and their son (who was born in January 2006).

The current SEPULTURA lineup — featuring guitarist Andreas Kisser and bassist Paulo Xisto Pinto Jr. alongside Derrick Green on vocals and Eloy Casagrande on drums — released its latest studio album, "Quadra", in February 2020 via Nuclear Blast.

Legendary YES vocalist/songwriter Jon Anderson will play select shows with The Paul Green Rock Academy in summer 2022. Jon and the ensemble will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the release of YES's classic album "Close To The Edge" by performing the LP in its entirety, along with other classics and surprises.

In support of the upcoming tour, a music video for a new song, "So Limitless", has been released and can be viewed below. The music was recorded during Jon's visit to Orlando during the Rock Academy tour in Florida in April 2022. The recording features members of the touring band and Jon, recorded at Solar Studios and produced by Michael Franklin.

Says Jon: "Here we go making new music with the Rock Academy teens. 'So Limitless'. Because we are limitless in all our living, being and dreaming… love and light."

This Jon Anderson tour with The Paul Green Rock Academy is a resumption of the tradition started in 2005 when Jon toured with Paul Green's original School Of Rock all-stars. These early shows, over 30 in total between 2006 and 2008, were nothing short of magical, and now Anderson returns to continue that magic with a set of YES classics, deep cuts, mash-ups and solo works, all with lush arrangements featuring choral singing, horns, and all the other benefits of having a backing band with 25 young musicians.

Said Paul Green: "Having done a few of these songs in the past with Jon and my students, I couldn't wait to add them to the current show. Once we did 'Close To The Edge' and 'And You And I' on our Florida run in April, I was reminded of the magic of hearing these songs recreated by young musicians… They really capture the frenetic energy of the original recordings. Then when I heard it was the 50th anniversary of the album, I just knew we had to do the whole thing. Jon agreed."

Anderson said: "There are so many wonderful moments in my musical life, and being on stage with these young teenagers performing classic YES songs makes me so happy and proud... It's a marvel and a tremendous pleasure for me. They are a joy to be with and so much fun. I am grateful, thankful and feel very blessed to be able to sing along with them. Janee and I love them all. Love and light."

Tour dates:

Jul. 07 - Plymouth, NH - The Flying Monkey Performance Center
Jul. 08 - Beverly, MA - The Cabot
Jul. 13 - Huntington, NY - The Paramount
Jul. 14 - Montclair, NJ - Wellmont Theater
Jul. 16 - Ridgefield, CT - Ridgefield Playhouse
Jul. 17 - Sugar Loaf, NY - Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center
Jul. 20 - Glenside, PA - Keswick Theatre
Jul. 22 - Kent, OH - The Kent Stage
Jul. 23 - Des Plaines, IL - Des Plaines Theatre
Jul. 27 - Greensburg, PA - The Palace Theatre
Jul. 30 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater
Aug. 03 - State College, PA - The State Theatre
Aug. 06 - Albany, NY - The Egg

Anderson co-founded YES in 1968 with bassist Chris Squire, and remained with the band until 2008, when YES replaced him with Benoit David, an Anderson sound-alike who previously fronted the YES tribute band CLOSE TO THE EDGE. David left YES in 2012 and was replaced by Jon Davison.

In July 2020, Howe told Rolling Stone that there is virtually no chance of the surviving members of YES reuniting for a tour.

"I don't think [the fans] should stay up late nights worrying about that," he said. "There's just too much space out there between people. To be in a band together or even to do another tour like 'Union' is completely unthinkable," referencing the group's 1990 "Union" LP and tour, which brought together the previous YES album's lineup (Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Trevor Rabin, Alan White, Tony Kaye) and the then-ex-YES members' group ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN HOWE (Jon Anderson, Bill Bruford, Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe). "It was difficult when we went through that, particularly because of the personalities," Howe said. "I'm not saying any one person is to blame, but when you get a big hodgepodge like that together, it's pretty much a nightmare. We made a nightmare of possibly a good thing back in 1990. I don't think there is the stamina or the appetite for that kind of thing again."

Anderson, Wakeman and Rabin had started touring as ARW: ANDERSON, RABIN AND WAKEMAN in 2016 and then adopted the YES FEATURING JON ANDERSON, TREVOR RABIN, RICK WAKEMAN moniker shortly after the group's 2017 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction.

Howe last toured with Anderson and Wakeman in 2004.

YES has released over 20 albums across its career, including its self-titled debut in 1969, "Tales from Topographic Oceans", in 1973, and its last album, "The Quest", which came out in October.

Photo credit: Deborah Anderson

SEX PISTOLS' iconic 1977 single "God Save The Queen" could top the U.K. singles chart just days after Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Platinum Jubilee over the weekend.

Last week, SEX PISTOLS reissued "God Save The Queen" on two special vinyl records, launching the track into the top five of in "midweek" data from The Official UK Charts Company.

If "God Save The Queen" manages to top the chart, it will be the U.K.'s official Number One single just one week after the Queen reached a landmark 70 years on the throne.

"God Save The Queen" includes such lyrics as: "God save the Queen / A fascist regime," and: "God save the Queen / She ain't no human being." At the time of its original release, the song was criticized for being anti-monarchy and was even banned by the BBC's radio stations for its lyrical content.

SEX PISTOLS guitarist Steve Jones previously spoke about the song's connection to the Royal Family.

Jones said: "I've never had any connection to the monarchy, to be honest. It meant nothing to me, still doesn't."

He said of the lyrical content: "To me, it was just a laugh, it was a giggle. I didn't realize it would offend a lot of English people. They took it personally. It was a stab against the Queen."

SEX PISTOLS frontman John Lydon said in a recent interview with Piers Morgan that he is "actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well." He told TalkTV last month that "God Save The Queen" was "anti-royalist, but it's not anti-human.

"I've got to tell the world this," he added. "Everyone presumes that I'm against the royal family as human beings. I'm not. I'm actually really, really proud of the Queen for surviving and doing so well. I applaud her for that, and that's a fantastic achievement. I'm not a curmudgeon about that."

The Official Singles Chart Top 100 is revealed on OfficialCharts.com every Friday at 5:45 p.m. U.K. time.

SEX PISTOLS left the British establishment shaking when they exploded onto the music scene, kickstarting what later became known as punk — a term the band was never comfortable with. Young people ripped up not just their musical forebears but their social ones too and SEX PISTOLS were the snarling, ferocious figurehead of the revolution.

They made one perfect, 40-minute album for the ages in 1977's "Never Mind The Bollocks" and from its artwork to the individual players, the attitude and music — every bit of it influenced the world we live in today.

The record is frequently listed as one of the most influential albums of all time with musicians from JOY DIVISION and NEW ORDER to Kurt Cobain, Noel Gallagher, GREEN DAY to Yungblud all citing them as key inspiration. And this was not just musically — punk showed that anyone could create and many took the hint across fashion, art and design and more.

Photo credit: Barry Plummer

Polish epic doom crew Monasterium have released "Cimmeria", the second single from their forthcoming album, Cold Are The Graves.

Monasterium will release their third album, Cold Are The Graves, on June 10th via Nine Records. Pre-orders can be placed here.The vinyl LP version of Cold Are The Graves is set for September release.

Cold Are The Graves includes eight heavy doom songs full of emotions, adventures, and epic myths.

Tracklisting:

"The Stigmatic"
"Cimmeria"
"The Great Plague"
"Seven Swords Of Wayland"
"Remembered"
"The Siege"
"Necronomicon"
"Cold Are The Graves"

"The Stigmatic":

Hexed is a Swedish symphonic and progressive metal band fronted by lead vocalist Tina Gunnarsson.

Hexed has unveiled "Repentance", the first single taken from their upcoming album Pagans Rising, set forreleasein the Fall of 2022 viaViciSolum Productions.

"The brutal witch hunts instigated by the church destroyed thousands of lives in flames infused with self rightousness. Join us in being a voice of the voiceless. Voices pleading for Repentance," says Hexed.

For further details, visit Hexed on Facebook.

Following on the heels of the immensely successful The Number Of he Beast Iron Maiden coin, CIT Coin Invest AG is thrilled to release the next heavy metal hit!

There are three incredible issues that are all designed around the band’s newest album release, Senjutsu. It is a global success having hit #1 in 23 countries! The name is Japanese and loosely translates to ‘tactics and strategy‘. It is unlike any other album that Iron Maiden has done before and the band continues to sound like no other.

Iron Maiden is well known for fancy album artwork revolving around Eddie and this album is no exception! Eddie is shown donning ancient Samurai style armor and wielding a Samurai sword. CIT has taken this officially licensed design and mated it to their impressive smartminting® technology.

The 2 oz silver proof is a stunning blending of their state-of-the-art colorization and ultra-high relief! Eddie looks like he is jumping right out of the coin with the relief of his sword extending all the way to the edge. The colorful 5 gram silver note is also a sight to behold and uses every bit of its surface to showcase this striking design. The half gram gold proof is astonishingly detailed for its size and makes a great compliment to the other two releases. With their Legacy of the Beast tour going around the world this year, these will surely be in high demand!

Watch a trailer below, and get further information here.

Finnish heavy metal legends, Spiritus Mortis, unveil a grand scale epic of antique doom on September 16 via Svart Records. Erecting a new monolith in the halls of doom metal history with their fifth album, The Great Seal, Spiritus Mortis certify true classic status as one of the scene’s modern greats.

Listen to the new song, "Skoptsy":

There are few modern-day bands that can be uttered under the same breath as the giants of traditional doom and heavy metal like Spiritus Mortis. Formed in 1987 as Rigor Mortis, they can firmly attest to having been “the first Finnish doom metal band”, uncovering hallowed ground before the later imitators. Carrying the banner of powerful true metal, the likes of which stands proudly next to the masters such as Dio era Sabbath, Solitude Aeturnus and Trouble, Spiritus Mortis have established a tradition of catchy song-writing and consummate knowledge of sacred riff-craft. The Great Seal is a colossal album which Spiritus Mortis describes as “a rite of collective suicide and an orgy of self-immolation” and plumbs the depths of epic sorrow with gargantuan slabs of igneous riffs and emotional vocals.

Synonymous with classic Finnish doom bands like Reverend Bizarre, whose singer Albert Witchfinder intoned previous albums’ vocals, Spiritus Mortis continue to define and cement their formidable legacy. Albert’s replacement, Kimmo Perämäki is more than worthy of the consecrated robes he inherits, delivering a performance which is flawlessly dominating and instantly gratifying. Tracks like "Martyrdom Operation" and "Visions Of Immortality" see Perämäki boldly carving his own name in the stone tablets of future history, marrying the riffs of the Maijala brothers and guitarist Kari Lavila with the splendor of magnificent melancholy that Spiritus Mortis is so known and admired for.

Not only will true devotees of the Spiritus Mortis Doom church be raising their fists with full hearts, but those who seek knowledge of the faithful spirit of real Metal can surely look no further than within The Great Seal.

Pre-order the album here.

Tracklisting:

"Puputan"

"Death’s Charioteer"

"Martyrdom Operation"

"Skoptsy"

"Khristovovery"

"Vision Of Immortality"

"Feast Of The Lord"

"Are You A Witch"

Death’s Charioteer" video:

(Photo - Mika Kokkila)

Delight and satisfaction in the Steamhammer/SPV camp: The Hanover-based label has signed Screamer, currently one of Sweden’s most ambitious heavy metal acts.

The group surrounding vocalist Andreas Wikström is scheduled to release its latest album, Kingmaker, in January 2023. The lead single, "Kingmaker", will be out on September 16. Two more singles - "Hellfire" (28 October 2022) and "The Traveler" (9 December 2022) - are set to follow, and all three will be supported by outstanding video clips.

Since 2011, Screamer have released five successful albums and played well over 300 shows, including festivals such as Headbangers Open Air (2013), Rock Hard Open Air (2014), Summer Breeze (2014), Muskelrock (2012, 2014, 2017 and 2019) and Bang Your Head (2019). The songs on their 2021 Live Sacrifice live album were recorded during their European tour in autumn 2019/spring 2020 and are testament to the quintet’s great enthusiasm for playing live.

As far as drummer Henrik Petersson is concerned, the contract with Steamhammer/SPV is a dream come true: “We’ve been in contact with label manager Olly Hahn, who has already looked after such legendary bands as Running Wild, Rage and Sodom at Steamhammer, for a number of years. We know that Olly and his colleagues will support us in reaching the next level of our career.”

Label manager Olly Hahn is also delighted with his new signing: “Over the past few years we’ve been keeping a close eye on Screamer’s development and are delighted to welcome this talented and dynamic band to the Steamhammer fold!”

Photo from left to right: Henrik Petersson (drums, Screamer), Frank Uhle (managing director SPV), Björn von Oettingen(head of promotion Steamhammer), Olly Hahn (label manager Steamhammer), Dejan Rosić (guitars, Screamer)

In a new interview with Headliner Chicago, SCORPIONS guitarist Rudolf Schenker spoke about the band's enduring commercial success. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "I think that we, because we're coming from Germany, have a complete different view [of] rock and roll. We weren't born in England or America, where rock and roll was really born. We learned from our idols, and we said to ourselves, in Germany we want to go and make bridges with our music, show that from Germany they're not coming with tanks and making war; they're coming with guitars, playing love, peace and rock and roll. And I think this power in this basic foundation of this thought made the band very strong. We didn't make rock and roll not only for fun — of course for fun, but with a deep message behind it. And that's the very important point, and that's the reason why we try to build the right chemistry in all our years that we can live together and when we are on tour we have fun and we can talk still together and not only on stage. And that's, I think, a very positive point for the SCORPIONS and that's the reason why we still are 'rock believers.'"

SCORPIONS will return to North America on the "Rock Believer" world tour with special guests WHITESNAKE on the David Coverdale-fronted outfit's farewell tour.

Fresh off of their sold-out "Sin City Nights" Las Vegas residency, SCORPIONS will kick off a two-month-long Live Nation-produced run of dates on August 14 in Toronto, with additional concerts in Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, and Denver, among others. In addition to WHITESNAKE, Swedish band THUNDERMOTHER will be joining the tour.

SCORPIONS' latest album, "Rock Believer", was released on February 25. The album was recorded primarily at Peppermint Park Studios in Hannover, Germany and was mixed at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin, Germany with engineer Michael Ilbert, who has earned multiple Grammy nominations for his mix work with producer Max Martin on albums by Taylor Swift and Katy Perry.

SCORPIONS originally intended to record the new album in Los Angeles with producer Greg Fidelman, whose previous credits include SLIPKNOT and METALLICA. However, because of the pandemic, some of the initial work was done with Greg remotely, after which SCORPIONS opted to helm the recordings themselves with the help of their engineer Hans-Martin Buff.

SCORPIONS' new album marks their first release since 2017's "Born To Touch Your Feelings - Best Of Rock Ballads", which was an anthology of new and classic material.

SCORPIONS' previous full-length collection of new recordings was the aforementioned "Return To Forever", partially comprising songs the band had in the vault from the '80s. It was the final recorded appearance of SCORPIONS' longtime drummer James Kottak, who was dismissed from the band in September 2016. He has since been replaced by Mikkey Dee, formerly of MOTÖRHEAD.

Singer / songwriter Mike Tramp (White Lion, Freak Of Nature) has released the new song "For Første Gang For Altid", sung in Danish. A music video for the song can be found below.

"Once again we have to go back to the first teenage kiss, the first butterflies in the stomach and all the wonderful things that happened inside and that you just couldn't control," says Mike Tramp. "No, it was lovely and life had just begun, you almost want to travel back. Hope you all enjoy your own journey."

"For Første Gang For Altid" is from the album For Første Gang, due in September.

Longtime QUIET RIOT bassist Chuck Wright spoke to Tulsa Music Stream about his latest departure from the band. Last summer, it was announced that Wright would be leaving the group to make way for the return of Rudy Sarzo, who was coming back to QUIET RIOT after an 18-year absence.

Asked if he was surprised to see Sarzo rejoining QUIET RIOT, Wright responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "Did it surprise me? No. It's happened three or four times maybe before, so it didn't surprise me at all, honestly. And truthfully, it couldn't have come at a better time for me because I was finishing up [my solo] record. And I'd been on the road since 2011 constantly and I was just burnt. So I was ready for a break from it, honestly. So, to me, it was welcome. When I got the call, [I was], like, you're doing me a favor 'cause if I keep doing this kind of schedule, it's gonna kill me. 'Cause it was pretty brutal. We were taking red-eye flights and no sleep ever. It was pretty brutal. And it's still like that. I saw their schedule [for 2022]. And I'm glad I'm at home and working [on promoting my solo album]. So it's all good for me."

Wright had served off and on with QUIET RIOT for nearly 40 years, appeared on nine albums, and was known as the bassist for QUIET RIOT's mega-hit "Metal Health" (Bang Your Head) and "Don't Wanna Let You Go". He was a contributing songwriter on 1986's "QRIII" and appeared in the band's video for "The Wild And The Young", among others. Wright had been one of QUIET RIOT's longest touring and recording members.

Sarzo appeared in the most notable music videos in the MTV age and toured with the band until 1985 and again from 1997 to 2003. During his years out of the band, Sarzo was a member of OZZY OSBOURNE, WHITESNAKE, DIO, BLUE ÖYSTER CULT, QUEENSRŸCHE and THE GUESS WHO.

Regarding how his return to QUIET RIOT came about, Rudy told SiriusXM's "Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk": "After Frankie told me in 2019 that he had pancreatic cancer, and then he started his fight, it was a daily fight. I mean, he would be taking multiple treatments to fight it, and he would be touring. And so it was really an exhausting thing. So we stopped kind of hanging out as much because, obviously, he was too tired. So we would text each other a lot, every day, and stay in touch.

"He let me know in April of 2019 [that he was diagnosed with cancer], and COVID happened in 2020," Rudy continued. "That really made it impossible for me to be in his presence. It wasn't until a couple of days before he passed away that I was able to go to his house. Regina [his wife] requested it, and I spent time with him. And then, the following day, when he was taken to the hospital, Regina made it possible for me to be with Frankie for his last hours. So, after Frankie passed away, I went over to Regina's house, and we talked, and she expressed to me that Frankie wanted me to come back to the band, that he wanted to have a founding member there in the band. So, we talked about that.

"I was already traumatized by Frankie's passing, so it was a decision that I had to take a lot of time to think about it — let the mourning period [pass]," Rudy added. "I had to do that. So, the time came when I was ready to accept the reality, that it's our responsibility, of us left behind, to carry on with the legacy and celebrate it. So that's when I decided. I said, 'Okay, it's time for me to come home.'"

Chuck's debut solo album "Chuck Wright's Sheltering Sky", was released on May 20. It features over 30 guest performers, including members of MR. BIG, SKID ROW, TESLA, DREAM THEATER, JANE'S ADDICTION, ASIA, JEFFERSON STARSHIP, acclaimed solo artists Allen Hinds, Toshi Yanagi, Whitney Tai and many others. It covers a wide range of genres, from jazz fusion, prog, funk, to in-your-face hard rock, and is widely available on CD and all digital platforms on the Cleopatra Records label.

Cradle Of Filth drummer Martin "Marthus" Skaroupka has shared drum cam footage of "A Gothic Romance" performed live in Minneapolis on June 1st. Check it out below.

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Remaining headline tour dates for North America are as follows:

June
4 - Toronto, ON – The Opera House⁣
6 - Montreal, QC – Corona Theater⁣
7 - Quebec City, QC – Imperial⁣
9 - Albany, NY – Empire Live⁣
10 - New Haven, CT – Toad's Place⁣
11 - Harrisburg, PA – HMAC⁣

Austrian rock and metal empire, Napalm Records, has announced their exciting new partnership with Cradle Of Filth, who have just signed a worldwide contract with the label.

Positioned firmly at the top of the extreme black metal genre, Cradle Of Filth - led and revolutionized by iconic frontman Dani Filth - reign supreme as one of the most revered, formative and notorious names in the scene, and are undeniably responsible for breaking ground for many of today’s top metal artists with their trademark mixture of grim blackened heaviness, macabre theatricality and scintillating gothic style. The rule of Filth began in 1991, followed by the unleashing of 1994’s The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh - humble beginnings that expanded into cinematic classics like Cruelty And The Beast and Midian.

The band’s unyielding international touring schedule has garnered them a massive following both in the cult underground and at the top of the mainstream, defying trends while staying true to their roots. More recent offerings such as 2015’s Hammer Of The Witches and 2017’s Cryptoriana - The Seductiveness Of Decay continued to bolster the unremitting legacy of Filth, until the band, along with the rest of the universe, was abruptly halted by the global pandemic in 2020.

But, as is evident by the staggering response from their devoted legion of followers, that time was put to good use, spurring the emergence of the band’s latest, breathtakingly heavy offering, 2021’s Existence Is Futile. The album debuted at #20 on the Billboard 200 with Hard Rock Genre, on the Hard Music Albums charts at #4 in the US and #5 in Canada, #9 on the German Album charts, #3 and #5 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart and UK Independent Albums chart respectively, #4 on the Finnish Albums chart and many more, proving that Cradle Of Filth continue to own the dark.

Now, Napalm Records is honoured to deliver the band’s haunting hallmark to the masses as their musical panorama reaches into the future.

Cradle Of Filth mastermind Dani Filth says: “It is with great expectation and excitement that we announce our move to Napalm Records, having seen and heard a great deal of complimentary things about the label, which in turn leads us to believe that this will be the perfect nesting ground for Cradle Of Filth in 2022 and beyond. We’d like to thank all our fans for their continued support and trust in us doing the right thing for the band and its music. All hail the eternal ‘Filth!”

Thomas Caser, CEO, Napalm Records adds: “We are thrilled to welcome the most influential and iconic extreme metal band to our ever-growing Napalm Records family. Being a fan of the band since their very first album, it is with great honor and excitement that we’re able to work with them from now on! We are ready to conquer the metal world with Cradle Of Filth!”

North Carolina's Blackwater Drowning have released the second single from their upcoming full-length album. The melodic death metal outfit is proud to share a new music video for the song "Mortal Coil" which can be found below.

The debut LP from Blackwater Drowning, 'Sonder//'Satori', will see a July 8, 2022 via Blood Blast Distribution.

Speaking about the music video for "Mortal Coil", the band comments:

“Thematically, this song speaks to the visceral desire to look beyond the mere physical aspects of this world and into the elements beyond our understanding. The video takes a hard, metaphorical look at breaking the binds that entrap us in the cyclical thought patterns that do not serve us. We used the rope art of Shibari to visually illustrate the concept of these intangible ties that affix us all to the mortal plane. The rope art was beautifully executed by local artist Devin Parker of Parker Rope Works, and the video was masterfully captured by videography legend Sabrina Lee.”

Commenting on Sonder//Satori, vocalist Morgan Riley shares: “We are so excited to finally release our debut full-length album! This is a culmination of all our collective years writing music separately and as a group, and we couldn’t be more proud. Sonder//Satori is a collection of songs about a wide range of subjects, ranging from addiction, betrayal, abuse of power, astrophysics, the corporate rat race, and personal growth. Sonder means realizing every stranger you meet has a life as vivid and fully realized as your own, and Satori is the inner experience of enlightenment, indescribable and unintelligible to reason and logic. Together, we felt it really spoke to the overall theme of wonder, growth, and great personal revelations, both good and bad. We are so thrilled to be partnering with Blood Blast for this release and can’t wait to see where we go together!”

Sonder//Satori tracklisting:

"The Fifth Element"
"Abyssal" (Feat. Brian Kingsland)
"Mortal Coil"
"Snake Juice"
"Saint"
"The Caged"
"Aberrant Leaves"
"Voyager"

"Mortal Coil" video

"Aberrant Leaves" video:

Lineup:

Morgan Riley - Vocals
Aria Novi - Bass & Vocals
Jeremy Bennett - Guitar
Ron Dalton - Guitar