From Rat Pak Records:
You can now pre-order the all-new studio release from Todd Michael Hall (Riot V), “Off the Rails” featuring Kurdt Vanderhoof! Check out all the details and get in on some exclusive LTD print bundles at this link: https://ratpakrecordsamerica.com/toddmichaelhall
Source: Stryper newsletter
The 40th is getting close! Find your nearest city.. Tickets available now!
09/11/24 – Niswonger Performing Arts Center, Greeneville, TN
09/13/24 – Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, CT
09/14/24 – Uprise Festival, Shippensburg, PA
09/15/24 – The Goodyear Theater – Akron, OH
09/17/24 – TempleLive at the Columbus Athenaeum – Columbus, OH
09/19/24 – The Paramount Theatre – Anderson, IN
09/20/24 – Arcada Theater, St Charles, IL
09/21/24 – Blue Gate Performing Arts Center, Shipshewana, IN
09/23/24 – Cain’s Ballroom, Tulsa, OK
09/24/24 – Haute Spot, Cedar Park, TX
09/25/24 – Aztec Theatre, San Antonio, TX
09/26/24 – The Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland, TX
09/28/24 – Arlington Music Hall, Arlington, TX
09/29/24 – TempleLive Arkansas – Ft Smith, AR
10/17/24 – Soli Deo Center – Nashville, TN
10/18/24 – Capitol Region MU Healthcare Amphitheater – Jefferson City, MO
10/19/24 – TempleLive at Wichita Scottish Rite Center – Wichita, KS
10/21/24 – Oriental Theater, Denver, CO
10/25/24 – South Shore Room” @ Harrah’s Lake Tahoe – Stateline, NV
10/26/24 – The Coach House – San Juan Capistrano
10/27/24 – Belly Up – Solana Beach, CA
10/29/24 – Celebrity Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
10/30/24 – The Rialto Theatre – Tucson, AZ
10/31/24 – The Plaza Theatre – El Paso, TX
11/03/24 – The Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
11/04/24 – The Hawthorn – St. Louis, MO
11/07/24 – Patchogue Theater, Patchogue, NY
11/08/24 – Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
11/09/24 – Keswick Theater, Glenside, PA
11/10/24 – Rams Head Live!, Baltimore, MD
11/13/24 – Capitol Theatre – Clearwater, FL
11/14/24 – Florida Theatre – Jacksonville, FL
11/15/24 – Center Stage – Atlanta, GA
11/16/24 – House of Blues, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Twin brother rock band, Kamenar, announces a big national tour featuring shows with Ace Frehley, 10 Years, Plush and more.
Kamenar, an independent hard rock band from Tampa, FL, featuring twin brothers Sean and John Kamenar, are set to embark on “The Road Dogz Tour” this fall.
The upcoming tour will take Kamenar through 10 states and 24 cities, consisting of headline shows, as well as shows joining Ace Frehley of KISS, Night Ranger, Mike Tramp’s White Lion, 10 Years, and Plush.
THE ROAD DOGZ TOUR
8/21 – Cape Coral, FL – BackStreets
8/23 – Wesley Chapel, FL – Rock & Brews
8/24 – Montgomery, AL – Performing Arts Centre
w/ Night Ranger
8/25 – Bonaire, GA – PUB 96
8/27 – Long Beach, MS – Trax Bar
8/28 – Panama City, FL – T’s On Thomas
8/31 – Franklin, OH – J.D. Legends
w/ Ace Frehley
9/2 – Youngstown, OH – Los Gallos
w/ Mike Tramp’s White Lion
9/3 – Cincinnati, OH – Top Cats
w/ 10 Years
9/4 – Toledo, OH – Frankies Toledo
w/ 10 Years
9/5 – Pittsburgh, PA – Crafthouse
w/ 10 Years
9/6 – Altoona, PA – Levity Brewing
9/7 – Hanover, PA – Iron Lion
9/8 – Syracuse, NY – The Song & Dance
w/ 10 Years
9/11 – Erie, PA – The Rathskeller
9/13 – Knoxville, TN – BucketHead
9/14 – Lawrenceville, GA – Sportsline
9/15 – Clearwater, FL – OCC Road House
w/ Plush
10/4 – Jacksonville, FL – Local Bar
10/12 – Spartanburg, SC – GroundZero
w/ In The End
10/22 – Lubbock, TX – Jake’s
w/ 10 Years
10/24 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
w/ 10 Years
10/25 – Corpus Christi, TX – Icehouse
w/ 10 Years
10/26 – San Antonio, TX – The Rock Box
w/ 10 Years
The twin brothers have been at it for nine years now, as they first formed the band in 2015 after discovering Aerosmith through the Rock n’ Roller Coaster at Hollywood Studios in Orlando.
The brothers have been out touring nationally for the last few years, having performed shows with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Alice Cooper, Slash ft. Myles Kennedy, Faster Pussycat, Hinder, Puddle Of Mudd, Warrant, Saliva, Bret Michaels, LA Guns, Nita Strauss, Dokken, Lynch Mob, King’s X, Jackyl, Stryper, Geoff Tate, Enuff Z’Nuff, Stephen Pearcy, Trixter, BulletBoys, Dangerous Toys, and Slaughter, among others.
With a sound heavily influenced by 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s rock, Kamenar mixes a variety of genres, creating a fresh new modern rock sound.
Defying odds, Kamenar performs as a two piece, uniquely creating a four piece sound. With Sean Kamenar on lead vocals, as well as playing guitar and bass simultaneously, and John Kamenar pounding on the drums, this brother duo is known for creating a massive wall of sound.
Currently working on a full length album, Kamenar’s latest two singles “Now That We Both Know” and “The Man” are out now and available on all major streaming platforms.
Make sure to catch Kamenar on The Road Dogz tour in a city near you!
Keep up with Kamenar on all socials:
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kamenarofficial
YouTube https://youtube.com/@kamenarofficial?si=5FjE8-rgj12-7Ch2
Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/7DwEqSVnWZFPdR52Av9L9y
Apple Music https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kamenar/1532110605
Facebook https://t.co/oOzjoL57x8?ssr=true
Website https://www.kamenarofficial.com
TOUR ‘24 PART TWO:
AUG 16- Northwoods Rock Rally- Glen Flora, WI +
AUG 17- The District- Rockford, IL
AUG 18- The Annex- Madison, WI
AUG 21- Eclectic Room- Angola, IN
AUG 22- Brown County Theater- Nashville, IN ^
AUG 23- Reggie’s- Chicago, IL
AUG 24- King of Clubs- Columbus, OH
AUG 25- Mountain Music Festival- Gatlinburg, TN +
AUG 27- Lefty’s- Des Moines, IA
AUG 28- Voodoo Lounge- Kansas City, MO
AUG 29- Rocklahoma- Pryor, OK +
AUG 30- Waiting Room- Omaha, NE
AUG 31- Double Z- Cedar Rapids, IA €
^ = With Tom Keifer
VIP PACKAGES AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.fasterpussycat.com/vip-experience
Heavy outfit BONE DAGGER delivers a prescription for riffs with a dose of self-examination in the new single “The Narcissist”. Taking a deep dive into the shadows, BONE DAGGER takes an unidealistic approach exploring the realities of trauma, emotion and the human experience.
BONE DAGGER’s project leader John Lund comments on the focus of the single:
“I took the first person approach because EVERYONE has Narcissistic tendencies and traits. I like holding up the mirror to others and hopefully some introspection results from listening. Additionally, if I point the finger at myself – who can accuse me of projection?”
Listen to “The Narcissist” here: https://youtu.be/Htd-0QoxjJo
About BONE DAGGER:
BONE DAGGER was founded in 2020 by John Lund during the pandemic following a 7-year hiatus from any sort of musical output. BONE DAGGER was devised with the intention of keeping as much in-house as possible with the exception of post-production. Around a year later Braden Richey joined the fold as the lead guitarist and contributed to the EP, The Veil, before taking a perpetual leave of absence in late 2022. John is pushing on as a solo act until the right members are found. Musically the band draws influence from a wide array of rock and metal acts including GOJIRA, MUSE, SLIPKNOT, and ALICE IN CHAINS.
Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonedaggerofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bonedaggerofficial/
Source: C Squared Music
Anyone that viewed the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics held in Paris, France knows that there was music performances. One of the featured performers was Frances’ very own Gojira, at the Conciergerie on the banks of the Seine river.
I was surprised as any other metalhead to see Gojira there as well. It’s an extremely rare moment for any Metal band to take the world stage. They did our genre proud. I only tuned in because of hearing via news outlets that Gojira was featured. “Ah! Ça Ira” (a song made prominent during the French Revolution) was what I later found to be the song.
The (now controversial) headless Queen Marie Antoinette theme that segued into Gojiras’ performance took me by surprise as well and its visual shock and special effects made it all the more, well, can I say… Metal. Once Gojira was finished, I turned off the Paris Summer Olympics opening ceremony and went back to my UFO documentaries.
I will add, I later viewed the performance from Celine Dion and she was fabulous. This opening ceremony originally aired on NBC on July 26th and is currently being streamed on Peacock.
Metal be thy name – Stone
FEATURING GUEST PERFORMANCES FROM DUFF MCKAGAN, ROBERT TRUJILLO, MIKE BORDIN AND MORE
July 26, 2024, LOS ANGELES – Jerry Cantrell, one of rock music’s most distinctive musicians, returns with I Want Blood, an album brimming with Cantrell’s signature vocals and guitar-driven melodies, on Oct. 18 via Double J Music.
“This record is a serious piece of work. It’s a motherfucker,” Cantrell says of the infectious collection. “It’s hard, no doubt, and completely unlike Brighten. And that’s what you want, to end up in a different place. There’s a confidence to this album. I think it’s some of my best songwriting and playing, and certainly some of my best singing.”
A preview of I Want Blood comes with today’s release of “Vilified” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tGyIln0-pw). The album opener showcases an energy that rivals any of Cantrell’s previous work – powerful, nuanced, and electric – setting the tone for the 45-minute album.
“Vilified travels a lot of places in just four and a half minutes,” Cantrell continues. “It’s got a ferocity and really aggressive vibe to it.”
I Want Blood, co-produced by Cantrell and Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens of the Stone Age, Melvins), was recorded at Barresi’s JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif. The album also features contributions from bass heavyweights Duff McKagan (Guns N’Roses) and Robert Trujillo (Metallica), drummers Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies) and Mike Bordin (Faith No More), and backing vocals from Lola Colette and Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan).
I Want Blood – track list:
1. Vilified
2. Off The Rails
3. Afterglow
4. I Want Blood
5. Echoes Of Laughter
6. Throw Me A Line
7. Let It Lie
8. Held Your Tongue
9. It Comes
Album pre-orders, which include CD, digital and multiple 2LP variants are available here: https://bio.to/JerryCantrell. Exclusive to the 2LP vinyl versions of I Want Blood are atmospheric, spoken word versions of each song on the album.
Jerry Cantrell kicks off a North American tour this evening, joining Bush for a seven-week trek across the continent. For complete tour dates and info click here: Jerrycantrell.com
Jerry Cantrell is an iconic American troubadour, celebrated for his distinctive guitar playing, soulful vocals and profound songwriting. Known for his work in both Alice in Chains and as a solo artist, the GRAMMY-nominated musician has sold in excess of 30 million albums, has been named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by both Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern rock music. Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice in Chains, three solo full-lengths, has had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in “Deadwood” and “Jerry Maguire.”
Source: Speakeasy PR
Budderside released their newest album, White Flame, on July 10th 2024. The minute the album dropped fans immediately shared their love on social media, calling it “top notch” and stating it left them speechless.
White Flame as an album has a wonderful variety of intensities throughout the songs. “Ghostlighting” and “Good For Nothing” are perfect examples of their fast paced, in your face, kick down a door energy, while songs like “Joker” and the title track slow it down, still holding onto the power that Budderside keep consistent throughout the whole album.
Lyrically, Budderside goes hard. It’s poetry and it’s relatable. There is no getting past how deep down they go to write these songs. They don’t just write what comes to mind, they draw from experiences and their own feelings. “The Truth” and “Too Far” are prime examples of them working in emotions that might otherwise be overlooked. Lyrics like “Can’t trust myself to be alone, no telling what I’ll do” from “The Truth” and “You feel disconnected, I tell you I’ve been there” from “Too Far” hit on such a relatable topic that’s it’s almost relieving to know that you’re not alone in feeling this way. They might have written from a place of darkness but it will soothe people just like music is supposed to.
Lead singer Patrick Stone has such a unique voice. It not only amplifies the meaning and emotional strength of the lyrics, but his wide vocal range pairs perfectly with any speed or forcefulness of the 2 guitar geniuses behind Budderside, Sam Koltun and Logan Nikolic. Koltun stated in an interview with Guitar World that writing songs like “Good for Nothing” “capture my intensity.” The two power house guitarists work together to finish off the full weight of the song.
Overall, Budderside hit it out of the park (and then some) with this new album. Even as this is written fans continue to praise their work. It’s not gonna be long before fans start begging for a tour to hear these masterpieces live. – Tanis Enos
Track List:
Good for Nothing
Voices
A Thousand Teardrops
Never Worth It
The Truth
Evol
Joker
Ghostlighting
Black River
Too Far
Ain’t Alright
Black Flame
Circle Of Life Out this September on AFM Records!
September 13, 2024 will see hard rock titans VICTORY strike back with their brand new studio album, entitled Circle Of Life, slated for a release on AFM Records. The album pre-sale is available at: https://victory.bfan.link/circle-of-life
Circle Of Life sees the five-piece surrounding founder and iconic guitarist Herman Frank not only effortlessly build on earlier feats, but also sounds stronger than ever. Frank describes the release with its first-rate production as “even more grown-up and mature than its predecessor, we’ve taken the new songs to a whole new level in every respect.” He knows what this optimised performance is due to: “The group operates as a tight unit, based on the experience of the many live shows we’ve played together. ‘Circle Of Life’ brings together what has grown together and belongs together.”
The new music video is premiering HERE
Naturally, the excellent reputation of a successful hard rock act such as VICTORY is based, among other things, on the superb achievements of their long-standing career. The early days of the Hanover-based group date back to the 1980s and include immortal album classics and successful tours around the globe. However, none of this would account for much or would indeed be classed as anything but nostalgia if their present accomplishments weren’t on a par with the band’s impressive past.
All of the ten new album tracks were recorded by Herman Frank together with vocalist Gianni Pontillo, rhythm guitarist Mike Pesin, bassist Malte Frederik Burkert and drummer Michael Stein at Hanover’s famous Horus Sound Studios, featuring a mix courtesy of sound engineer Arne Neurand.
Circle Of Life Tracklist:
01.Tonight We Rock
02. American Girl
03. Count On Me
04. Surrender My Heart
05. Unbelievable World
06. Moonlit Sky
07. Falling
08. Money
09. Reason To Love
10. Virtual Sin
Source: AFM Records
From Stryper Bandsintown:
Legendary, long-running metal band STRYPER are setting the stage for a great year with a new single entitled “End of Days.” Accompanied by a new lyric video, the track also helps announce the band’s 40th Anniversary Tour dates which begin this fall. After an appearance at the Alive Music Festival in July, tour dates kick off September 11th in Greenville, TN, and conclude November 16th in North Myrtle Beach, SC. A full list of dates is below.
About the new track, the band shared this:
“’End of Days‘ is a heavy track musically and lyrically. It has a classic sound with a few modern twists and turns along the way. Lyrically, it’s probably the most fitting message according to the times we are living in. It really does feel like the ‘End of Days‘ in many ways. We’re not only a divided nation, we’re a divided world. It’s time to make things right.”
Watch the Lyric Video for “End of Days” HERE
Or listen wherever you stream music.
Looking ahead, STRYPER has completed recording a new studio album set for release in fall 2024, which they hope will continue their trend of improving with each release. The band is also working on a Kickstarter-funded documentary film directed by Chris Atkins. With career album sales exceeding 10 million worldwide and a history of Billboard Top 40 hits, STRYPER continues to record, tour, and perform for devoted fans globally.
The current lineup includes original members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox, along with bassist Perry Richardson, as they create what they consider their finest and most powerful music yet.
From Dokken Facebook:
“It is with heavy hearts we have to inform you that all scheduled Dokken European Summer dates need to be postponed.
Due to ongoing complications after extensive neck surgery and a recently fractured ankle, Don will not be able to stand for prolonged periods of time nor travel overseas at this time.
Don believes the European fans deserve the best possible farewell.
With this in mind, he will do his best to make good in 2025. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.” #Dokken
From Yngwie Malmsteen Facebook:
Excited to announce I’ll be embarking on a new USA tour celebrating forty years of my solo career. Can’t wait to see you all on the road – you’re not going to want to miss this.
Tour dates in the tour flyer image above. Tickets will go on sale at:
yngwiemalmsteen.com/tour
From Baroness Bandsintown:
Our headline tour starts THIS Friday with special guests Portrayal Of Guilt, GOZU, Ruby The Hatchet, & Eternal Is Filth on select dates!
Get tickets & VIP now. Where will we see you?! https://yourbaroness.com/tour
US Summer 2024 Tour:
May 31 | Portland, ME *^
Jun 01 | Norwalk, CT *^
Jun 02 | Rochester, NY *^
Jun 04 | Grand Rapids, MI *^
Jun 05 | Indianapolis, IN *^
Jun 07 | Madison, WI *^
Jun 08 | Palatine, IL *^
Jun 09 | Chicago, IL *^
Jun 10 | Des Moines, IA *^
Jun 12 | Lawrence, KS *>
Jun 14 | Memphis, TN *>
Jun 15 | Oklahoma City, OK *>
Jun 17 | Little Rock, AR *>
Jun 18 | Nashville, TN *>
Jun 19 | Birmingham, AL #>
Jun 21 | Richmond, VA #>
Jun 22 | Charlottesville, VA #>
Jun 23 | Silver Spring, MD #>
Jun 24 | Pittsburgh, PA *>
Jun 26 | Patchogue, NY *>
Jun 27 | Bensalem, PA *>
Jun 30 | Stroudsburg, PA *>
Special Guests:
* Portrayal Of Guilt
^ Gozu
# Ruby The Hatchet
> Filth Is Eternal
Embrace the enigmatic allure of 70’s rock with OCCULT WITCHES‘ new single, “Faustian Bargain,” released today under the esteemed Black Throne Productions. This marks the second single from their upcoming album, Sorrows Pyre, due out July 26th via Black Throne Productions.
“Faustian Bargain” explores the dangers of an all too familiar type of deal. “This song is about almost making a deal with Satan and he ain’t fucking patient. Won’t be thanking him for this one,” reveals the band.
OCCULT WITCHES has quickly risen through the ranks, defining a unique space within the rock genre with their captivating blend of music and storytelling. Their songs, rich in narrative and emotion, draw on elements of darkness, witchcraft, and existential struggle, resonating with a wide range of listeners.
The band’s journey from Rimouski, QC, to Hamilton, ON, on their first tour last summer has only solidified their presence in the music scene. With plans for mini-tours this summer, OCCULT WITCHES is poised to reach new heights and captivate more audiences with their powerful performances and profound lyrical themes.
OCCULT WITCHES invites listeners to embark on this dark yet enlightening journey through their music. Stay tuned for more from OCCULT WITCHES as they continue to explore the depths of the human condition and the eternal dance between light and darkness.
Connect with OCCULT WITCHES:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/occult_witches/?hl=en
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/42FafZqn4nFkddSUrRaZjl
Source: C Squared Music
The Helsinki Vampires took the United States by the neck on their most recent tour, Death of Darkness. The 69 Eyes sunk their fangs into Leesburg Virginia on April 11th at the Tally Ho Theater, but they were not alone. Joining them were Budderside and The Bites and they all came with a thirst for blood and Rock N Roll.
Budderside took the stage first to the Goosebumps theme song that led into “Careless Whisper” which by the way even the gothiest of people will cheer for. They continued the spooky theme by opening the show with “Ghostlighting” and immediately had the crowd’s attention.
Lead singer Patrick Stone has the perfect combination of high pitch vocals and grungy rasp that makes Budderside sound so unique. Along with strong piercing vocals, Stone has a stage presence that is not only commanding and passionate but also comforting. It took no time for Stone to make his way off the stage and down to the barricade to really connect with fans. This literal in your face experience did nothing but hype the crowd up even more. By the last song Stone had escaped the barricade and truly connected with fans by running into the middle of the crowd and head-banging along with them.
Playing along side Stone is one of the finest young guitarist to join the rock and metal scene. Sam Koltun, better known as Sam Bam, truly knows his way around a guitar. However, it’s not just Koltun shredding for Budderside. Logan Nikolic took command of stage right in his own incredible style.
Both put their whole bodies into playing and you can both see and hear how much heart they put into their playing.
Towards the end of their set Stone began to encourage new and old fans to sing along with him to “Never Worth It.”Even those who didn’t know the lyrics picked up on instructions and “Never Worth It” became the loudest sung song of their set.
For the most part Budderside’s set stayed on the heavier side of things musically, only slowing down for “Joker,”a very sentimental song for Stone. Over all, Budderside’s lyrics are very relatable no matter how you interpret them. Their set made you feel every emotion.
As the band left the stage it was obvious they had gained quite a few excited new fans. They may have gone first but there is no way their set wasn’t permanently burned into everyone’s heart and soul.
The Bites took the stage next. Their music style is much lighter than Budderside, staying closer to their 80s glam metal side, but they did not hold back in the slightest.
Lead singer Jordan Tyler is the equivalent of this generations David Lee Roth. From running all over the stage and landing multiple high kicks, to a voice and face that drives the ladies wild. It’s like someone kept him in a cage and he was released on stage to let everything out. His goofy side also shown through during their cover of “War Pigs” by Black Sabbath when he changed “Just like witches at black masses” to “I love goth girls with fat asses”.
While hanging out with fans after the show, Tyler jokingly stated that they definitely weren’t having fun on stage. How do we know that’s a joke? Cause it’s blatantly obvious that every second they are on stage they are having the time of their lives doing what they love.
The crisp ear piercing sounds of Jono Richer‘s guitar is a very big part of what fueled the fans. With just as much energy as Tyler, Richer let the sleaze run from his fingers.
Just watching bass player Zack Currier, it’s safe to say if given the opportunity he would leave the stage to rock with the crowd. His movements were perfectly aligned with every pick of the bass.
Along with Currier, drummer Mark Hylander kept an exceptionally tight rhythm. Even behind the kit, his loud strikes against the drum heads reached fans and his talent elevated the band’s sound even more.
A long line awaited the band after their set as fans wanted their own autographed copy of 2023’s album Squeeze.
As the last of the day’s light disappeared, the creatures of the night came out to play literally. The 69 Eyes joined the party and left everything they had on stage. From the first note to the last song hands were in the air and fans were screaming at the top of their lungs.
The band took the stage to Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel,” a song that for those who aren’t familiar with the band will make so much sense later on in the show.
Opening the show with “Devils” was a perfect way to introduce the new fans in the crowd to the overall vibe of the rest of the night, and had the OG fans even more excited than before. By the third song everyone was pushed up as close to the barricade as possible reaching for the band.
Lead singer Jyrki is best described as Vampire Elvis, with a deep sultry voice and hips that would give The King himself a run for his money. The low gothic tones of his voice mixed with the classic horror rock n roll sound of the band makes it feel like you’re at sexy Halloween dance party.
Drummers are known to be wild and Jussi is no exception. Arms like an octopus and standing up on his drums like a monkey climbing a tree. He’s loud, impactful and adds the thunder to the beautiful storm that is The 69 Eyes. Paired with Jussi on bass is Archzie, who kept deep time and perfect low end all night.
The 69 eyes have two creatures producing the beautiful banshee screams and low ghostly moans on the guitar. Pasi Moilanen on stage left and Timo-Timo on stage right. Just like Archzie and Jussi, the two are a match made in heaven (or hell).
Jyrki fed off the crowds reaction all night, even holding the mic stand out over the pit and into the audience to encourage them to sing along louder which wasn’t a problem in the first place. Jyrki introduced Dance D’Amour by stating he had some moves to show us. As “Dance with me into Night” left his lips everyone was truly dancing. Not headbanging, not nodding along but dancing and swaying like they were in a calm trance.
The band left the stage for the encore and a member of their team came out and got the whole place chanting 69 as the band walked back out on stage. Jyrki placed a rose on the drum set and the madness continued. The most hype came when they began to play “Lost Boys”. No one wanted the show to end and there were nothing but smiles as the band said their final goodbyes.
The Death of Darkness tour featured 3 different styles of rock, yet they all blended so well together. The most important thing is that not once throughout the night did any one look bored or did any band sound bad. I don’t think anyone would be angry if these 3 bands toured together again next year. – Tanis Enos
From Metal Blade Records:
Metal Blade Records is pleased to welcome CATEGORY 7, the new band featuring vocalist John Bush, guitarists Phil Demmel and Mike Orlando, bassist Jack Gibson and drummer Jason Bittner, to its legendary roster!
With veteran musicians from such legendary acts as Anthrax, Armored Saint, Adrenaline Mob, Machine Head, Overkill, Exodus, and Shadows Fall, it’s hard not to think of CATEGORY 7 as a supergroup. The origins of the band began with discussions between Demmel and Orlando of their mutual desire to form a twin lead guitar hard rock unit harkening back to bands of the ‘70s such as Thin Lizzy. Bittner was next to join the conversation followed by Gibson. After composing some early music, it was obvious that the only vocalist that would fit the concept would be Bush.
Notes Bush, “Mike Orlando’s and Phil Demmel’s awesome riffs made writing lyrics over the music a piece of cake. The rhythm tandem of Bittner and Gibson rounded out the sound and the connection felt like it was put together in the stars. Obviously, everyone being a veteran of the metal scene made it that much easier.”
Based on Demmel’s and Bush’s long-term relationships with Metal Blade Records, it seemed to be the perfect home for the band. The label agreed and a union was quickly forged.
Comments Metal Blade Records’ founder Brian Slagel of the signing, “Happy to welcome CATEGORY 7 into the Metal Blade family. Of course, some of them are already in! Seriously love working with this crew and it’s great stuff!”
As crushing and confrontational as an armed rebellion and as fiercely melodic as infectious riffs and aggressive vocals can be, CATEGORY 7 is a new breed of hard rock that lives up to the storied histories of its members. CATEGORY 7’s debut will see release this Summer with their first single to be unveiled on May 2nd. Stand by for details!
http://www.instagram.com/category7band
From Aerosmith / Bandsintown:
We’re thrilled to announce new dates for our 2024 PEACE OUT Tour with special guests The Black Crowes! All previously purchased tickets will be honored for the rescheduled shows – you’ll receive more info via email. Tickets for the rescheduled dates & newly added shows go on sale Fri 4/12 @ 10AM local at http://www.aerosmith.com.
From Rat Pak Records:
Hall Aflame, the rock band which features Metal Church founding guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, will release their long-awaited sophomore album “Amplifire” on May 3, 2024 via Rat Pak Records. Originally formed in 1989, the band garnered commercial success with their debut album “Guaranteed Forever”, which was well received by fans and industry peers alike and quickly found themselves opening for ZZ Top on their 1991 “Recycler” tour for a number of dates. As with many bands from that era, facing a decline in interest for AOR rock due to the onslaught of the “grunge” scene, the band went on a lengthy hiatus and reunited again in late 2023 to begin working on a handful of songs.
Amplifier offers 12 new studio tracks and reunites Kurdt with original bassist Brian Smith, along with drummer Bill Raymond and front-man Scott Nutter. Regarding the album, Kurdt Vanderhoof comments, “This album came about as a project to document all the songs that we had written for the second album that never came to be. We revisited the songs and realized they had to be recorded properly. Then it blossomed into something much better than we had even hoped! So that led us into reforming the band instead of just having it be a project.”
Bassist Brian Smith adds, “I think anyone that is a fan of “Guaranteed Forever” will see this record as a new and improved “Part II” of Hall Aflame. Great songs, great production and we had a ton of fun putting this together!” Scott Nutter adds, “A good hard rock album should lift you, make you want to sing along and rock out! That’s what this album does for me!”
From the driving album opener “Helltown” to the powerhouse outro track “Keeping Them All Away”, Hall Aflame shines with their signature brand of rock-n-roll. Tracks like “Ripcord”, “In The Same Gutter”, “It Ain’t Enough” and “Gunnin’” are filled with memorable hooks and melodies, while songs like “Pullin Me Apart” and “1974” showcase their unique, classic rock songwriting abilities. With influences that range from Bad Company to Thin Lizzy, “Amplifire” is best described as the perfect blend of classic rock with a modern-day edge!
Track listing:
01 Helltown
02 Ripcord
03 1974
04 This Ain’t Love
05 The Same Gutter
06 It Ain’t Enough
07 Gunnin’
08 Pullin’ Me Apart
09 Long Way Down
10 Keeping Them All Away
11 Cowboy (bonus track) [CD & Digital]
12 Paradise on Ice (bonus track) [CD & Digital]
Legendary UK metal giants Orange Goblin are back with details of their long awaited new studio album Science, Not Fiction. Set for release on July 19th, Science, Not Fiction will be the band’s first release on the iconic Peaceville label (Darkthrone, Autopsy, Candlemass).
Pre-orders are available here.
To accompany the announcement, the band have shared their new single “(Not) Rocket Science” – a matter of fact observation on the human tendency to over-complicate life – alongside a swirling animated lyric video by Matthew Vickerstaff (https://www.instagram.com/matthew_vickerstaff)
Speaking on the track, frontman and lyricist Ben Ward says “It’s basically saying that life can be pretty simple and straightforward if you just stop wasting your time and make each day count. Be prepared to work hard, don’t expect any hand outs and basically enjoy yourself along the way. When Chris came up with the music he said it needed something that could be delivered in a Bon Scott / Lemmy style and I think it came out really well”.
Stream / download (Not) Rocket Science – here
(https://orcd.co/not_rocket_science_listen)
Science, Not Fiction was recorded at Woodworm Studios UK in late 2023, with production and mixing duties carried out by Grammy winning producer Mike Exeter (most notable for his work with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Tony Iommi) and mastering conducted by the esteemed Peter Hewitt-Dutton at The Bakery in LA.
From the explosive death-boogie of opener “The Fire At The Centre Of The Earth Is Mine” onwards, the band’s tenth album crackles with energy and belligerence. Following the departure of long serving bassist Martyn Millard in 2020, Orange Goblin welcomed close friend Harry Armstrong (formerly Hangnail) into the fray, making Science, Not Fiction his first studio outing with the band.
With the new line-up fizzing with chemistry, the hard rocking likes of “(Not) Rocket Science”, “The Fury Of A Patient Man” and “The Justice Knife” breathe new life into some classic Orange Goblin tropes. Meanwhile, twisted prog-doom detours like “False Hope Diet” and “Cemetary Rats” take the Londoners into epic new territory, with everything from skull-shattering punk ‘n’ roll to transcendent space rock hurled into the swirling brew.
“It is a continuation of what we’ve been doing, and that’s because when we write, it’s a big mixing bowl of all of our influences and favourite artists, and we try and create the perfect band that we always wanted to hear,” Ben states. “This album, it’s just more accomplished and mature, I guess. None of us are spring chickens anymore and we’ve got ten albums under our belts now. I feel like we’re more professional in the recording studio, I feel like we’re better musicians and writers, and now with me looking after myself, I feel like my performance is better as well. It’s all moving in the right direction.”
For the last 30 years, Orange Goblin, London-based hard rock lifers, have tirelessly flown the flag for balls-out heavy metal and maximum rock ‘n’ roll. Driven by passion, persistence and heartfelt love for metal’s dark magic, Orange Goblin have always been a vital force and a risk-free bet. While some may be content to trade on past glories, Orange Goblin view heavy metal as a lifelong pursuit. In 2024, they open a new chapter in their heroic saga, marking it with the release of their tenth studio album: Science, Not Fiction.
“People have funny ideas about what heavy metal is. But to me, it’s an attitude, it’s a lifestyle, it’s not something you decide to dip into. You either are or you’re not. And it’s for life.” Ben Ward, Orange Goblin
Orange Goblin – Science, Not Fiction track-list:
Bonus track on CD Deluxe & LP:
10. Eye Of The Minotaur
Science, Not Fiction will be released on 19th July on the following formats. Pre-orders are available here.
Orange Goblin are:
Ben Ward – vocals
Joe Hoare – guitar
Chris Turner – drums
Harry Armstrong – bass
The band will be supporting the release of Science, Not Fiction with a full live campaign starting on April 6thwith a tour in April, of Japan, Australia and New Zealand, more shows and festivals are due to be announced very soon.
Staff contributor and photographer Tanis Enos has presented this exemplary concert photo gallery of Geoff Tate and his band; taken from the Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia, on March 28, 2024.
See also below, the concert photo gallery of opening band Fire & Water. Click on any photo in this gallery to enlarge and enjoy!
GEOFF TATE – photo gallery credit: Tanis Enos
FIRE & WATER – photo gallery credit: Tanis Enos
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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