Heavy Metal gets a needed shot in the arm with the long-awaited and much-anticipated new album from BENEDICTUM’sOBEY due out for release on Frontiers Records on November 29th in Europe and December 3rd in North America. With a sound that nods to the legends of Metal such as early Rainbow, the stylings of Savatage, Warrior, Rough Cutt, and Pyschotic Waltz, along with shades of Black Sabbath; Benedictum unleashes ‘OBEY’ that will surely bring pleasure to the Gods of Heavy Metal and their legions of fans around the world!
Led by the sultry and powerful vocal gymnastics of lead singer VeronicaFreeman, whose voice has been praised on the television show, That Metal Show, on VH1 among others; BENEDICTUM displays a plethora of aggressive riffs, fierce rhythms, and powerful melodies full of delicate textures that grow spikes with shredding leads to converge at the crossroads of tradition and innovation.
The rise of BENEDICTUM began when the band caught the ear and attention of DIO guitarist Craig Goldy, who in turn had his friend Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio, Foreigner) check them out. With the groups raw power and pure potential just beginning to surface, Pilson then produced and recorded Benedictum’s debut album ‘UNCREATION’ in 2005. The band garnered rave reviews and won over enthusiastic fist-pumping fans rapidly. Their second album ‘SEASONS OF TRAGEDY’ released in 2008 to more undeniable Metal love from around the world. All of this led to BENEDICTUM being signed to a contract with FRONTIERS RECORDS and further upping the ante in the studio.
Check Out The BENEDICTUM OBEY EPK (Official) Below!
The band and Grammy Award winning producer Ryan Greene (Megadeth, F5, NOFX) joined forces for 2011’s ‘DOMINION’ and BENEDICTUM had arrived. The band jumped onto the world stage playing such events as Wacken Open Air Festival, Doro’s Warrior Soul Tour, HeadBangers Open Air and more. The CD was also a pick of the week by Don Jamison on That Metal Show.
Pete Wells – Founding Member/Guitarist
BENEDICTUM went through some personnel changes and challenges, but have landed on the soles of The V’s high-heeled boots to record their highly anticipated fourth album ‘OBEY’. Joining founding members Veronica Freeman and Pete Wells are Rikard Stjernquist (Jag Panzer) on drums and Aric Avina (Tynator) on bass. There is an unmistakable swell of excitement building in chat rooms and fan pages online not only for the album, but to also have BENEDICTUM perform at a venue near them soon.
Obey track-listing includes: Dream Of The Banshee; Fractured; Obey; Fighting For My Life; Scream; Evil That We Do; Crossing Over; Cry; Thornz; Die To Love You; Apex Nation; Retrograde
To the world, BENEDICTUM merely says: bow and OBEY!
It is important that the band informs you of two duets on the album; one with A Sound Of Thunder vocalist Nina Osegueda on ‘Thornz’ and the other with the incomparable Tony Martin (Black Sabbath) on the song ‘Cry’. The band is humbled and appreciative!
ICED EARTH – Watch the new ICED EARTH lyric video off their upcoming album Plagues of Babylon:
Stone Says: Man, is this title song for the upcoming ICED EARTH album heavy-duty solid or what?! I’ve been pumped to get this new ICED EARTH album all along and now I’m quadruple mega-pumped!! Simply put, this song kicks incredible Metal ass!! There’s really no other way to put it!! WHOA!
Stu Block (once again) sounds fabulous and the guitars are on fire, in this song! Raphael Saini just pummels the Metal crap out of his kit!! I absolutely cannot wait to buy Plagues Of Babylon, this coming January of 2014!! Metal be thy name!!
STEELHAMMERmarks the 14th studio album from Germany’s undisputed Heavy Metal champions: U.D.O.. Led by the constant and legendary frontman Udo Dirkschneider, U.D.O. has seized the Metal moment in 2013! Steelhammer sounds just like it’s title! The marketing sticker on the CD jewel case states “Heavy Metal Album Of The Year” and that’s not a bunch of hot air by any stretch. I find Steelhammer to stand up valiantly, amongst the best Metal albums of 2013, myself.
What makes Steelhammer pound and pummel so well is the classic age of Heavy Metal sound that these songs are all wrapped up in. U.D.O.’s guitarists (Andrey Smirnov, Kasperi Heikkinen) have their names written all over the superior Heavy Metal sound that explodes from Steelhammer! Udo’s vocals are so excellent that it’s scary. Long live Udo Dirkschneider!
Udo’s clean vocals are spotlighted (hugely) with Heavy Rain. A ballad on this U.D.O. album does put the brakes on the Heavy Metal tidal wave that carried me through tracks 1 through 4, nonetheless, it is fun hearing Udo sound so much more calm as a vocalist. After all these grand Metal years and catalog of albums that Udo Dirkschneider has given the Metal community, his ballad is given a horns up from this middle-aged hell rat. Book Of Faith is both a symphonic and diverse way to close out Steelhammer; reminding me that Heavy Metal isn’t always about the riff or blast beat.
Old School Metalheads, U.D.O. and Accept fans just have to salivate over Steelhammer! Younger fans of Metal need to buy Steelhammer and hear a tried and true legend sing Heavy Metal… the Udo way. This entire U.D.O. lineup kicks ass, pure and simple. “Heavy Metal Album Of The Year”? With Steelhammer’s Heavy Metal being this memorable to me, I’m sure it has a credible shot.
METAL CHURCH – As reported by Rat Pak Records: Next Tuesday [October 8th] we will randomly draw the names from the list of those who pre-ordered the new Metal Church CD Generation Nothing from us and start sending out the cool grab bag items! Items include:
Metal Church “Generation Nothing” embroidered leather jacket , Skateboard, MC pendant bracelet, The Dark on Vinyl (vintage,) Hand written lyric sheets, 18 x 24 wall tapestry, One-of-a-kind Metal Church Fan bundle – Personal “Thank-You” call from Ronny Munroe and limited print Metal Church road crew shirts.
Pre-order your copy of Metal Church “Generation Nothing” today!
STRYPER – On November 5th, 2013, the eighth original studio album from STRYPER, No More Hell To Pay, will be released via Frontiers Records. A stirring and fabulous song that is featured on this forthcoming STRYPER album is Revelation. Below, you can follow this song’s lyrics while cranking up the Heavy Metal!! Just a fantastically well-written and executed song. By the way, the guitar solo is nothing short of maximum whiz-bang! Metal be thy name.
ARE YOU AN ULTIMATE STRYPER FAN? THEN YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS THE STRYPER FAN WEEKEND! BOOK NOW, LIMITED TO 100 ULTIMATE FANS!
As Reported on the STRYPER Facebook page:
Following last month’s announcement of the first annual Stryper Fan Weekend, to be held in Nashville, Tennessee from October 11-13, 2013, the multi-platinum rock band is pleased to release additional details and the complete schedule.
The three-day fan event, limited to only 100 fans, will be packed with live performances from Stryper, exciting events, surprise guests, giveaways (including Michael Sweet’s very own Merida C35-OMCES custom guitar) and exclusive access to the band. In addition, the entire weekend will be filmed for an upcoming live DVD to be released worldwide by Frontiers Records in 2014.
VIEW COMPLETE STRYPER FAN WEEKEND SCHEDULE & PURCHASE PACKAGES ON OUR WEBSITE: http://www.stryper.com
No More Hell To Pay – Releasing on November 5th, 2013, via FrontiersRecords. You can pre-order by clicking the link below! Whoa!
Cruz Del Sur Music will release Beyond the Martyrs, from US Doom Metal outfit ARGUS, on October 1st in North America, with an October 7th release in the UK.
Beyond the Martyrs starts where their 2011’s release Boldly Stride the Doomed had left us…at the Ruins of Ouroboros. In between these two releases ARGUS has tested its strength and valor in several live shows both in their homeland and in Europe, receiving high praises from fans and from the record industry. Although a sense of impending fate marks again their compositions, the characteristic Doom Metal elements which were a distinguished trademark of ARGUS’ past releases have now given way to what is primarily to a genuine Heavy Metal approach, its nature rooted in the most classic environment of Heavy Metal tradition.
ARGUS’ third album is sure to force Metal Heads everywhere to raise horn-crested fists to the sky. Beyond the Martyrs contains the hallmarks of their previous works – twin guitars, soaring vocals, and a driving rhythm section; it is heavy, melodic, epic, and brooding all at once. After their successful shows at festivals such as Hammer of Doom in 2011 and Dublin DoomDays in 2012, the band will hit again the European soil with a proper tour in October 2013 in order to promote Beyond the Martyrs.
Beyond The Martyrs – Track Listing:
1. By Endurance We Conquer
2. No Peace Beyond The Line
3. The Hands of Time Are Bleeding
4. Trinity
5. Four Candles Burning
6. The Coward’s Path
7. Cast Out All Raging Spirits
8. Beyond The Martyrs
ARGUS:
Butch Balich – vocals
Jason Mucio – guitar
Erik Johnson – guitar
Andy Ramage – bass
Kevin Latchaw – drums
ABOUT ARGUS:
Pennsylvania’s ARGUS stormed onto the underground Metal scene with their twin guitar-driven, doom-tinged, working class Metal sound. Releasing a self-recorded demo in early 2007 on John Brenner’s (Revelation/Against Nature) DIY label, Bland Hand Records, the band was roundly welcomed by the Metal community at home as well as abroad and established its foundation amongst friends/fans within the scene. With this initial momentum, the band created a buzz that was only solidified by their punishing live performances.
Their self-titled debut album was released in May of 2009, receiving much critical praise. Following, was the 2011 release of the epic album BoldlyStride The Doomed, which also marks a switch to the record label, Cruz DelSur. The band has continued to gain notoriety, traveling abroad and around the U.S. The release of their third full-length album, Beyond TheMartyrs, is staged for release in October 2013.
STRYPER – Being a lifelong fan of STRYPER, I found it exciting news that this legendary Christian Heavy Metal band was going to release an album of re-recorded hits; with two new studio tracks. I’m even more excited now that I’ve had this entire Summer to enjoy Second Coming(Frontiers Records). This album makes for a definitive collection of STRYPER classics. These are the songs that STRYPER chose to re-record and they have given powerful new life to each one of them!
Don’t get me wrong, I’ll always revere the original songs that are represented as re-recordings on Second Coming. Besides, I’ve always found it (gasp) fun when a famous band decides to do a cover song album. With STRYPER covering their own classics, it really doesn’t get any better than this for fans waiting on their forthcoming studio album of original material: No MoreHell To Pay (Frontiers Records – On November 5th).
Michael Sweet (guitarist, vocalist) has never sounded better on vocals, on Second Coming. Cliche? Nope. It’s truth for me. Collectively, this album of sixteen songs couldn’t sound any better unless there were thirty-two songs! Guitarist Oz Fox, drummer Robert Sweet and bassist Timothy Gaines all shine once again. Cliche? Nope. It’s reality for me.
The two new studio tracks, Bleeding From Inside Out and Blackened are Heavy Metal gems! If this is the direction STRYPER is going with No MoreHell To Pay, then I’m chopping at the bit for November 5th to come! Both of these new and heavy songs signify loud and clear, to me, that STRYPER areproud leaders of Christian Heavy Metal and have so much more to give to their fans!
I now look upon Second Coming as a victorious moment in the illustrious career of STRYPER. Why? This is a band that has survived and thrived, since 1983; overcoming the same hurdles, setbacks, trends and record industry gaffes that any other band from their era has endured. Nevertheless, the strong survive and STRYPER has stood the test of time and persevered, through their quality discography and sensational live concerts.
Second Coming, to me, serves as a powerful musical testamentfrom STRYPER that they have been here all along, are here now and are looking to the future as well. An inspiring, influential and faith-filled Heavy Metal band that has spanned four decades and stuck to their principles. You can’t get any more truer than that; therefore, my sincere admiration for STRYPER is obvious and I’ve (historically) never held that back, here on Metal Odyssey. Metal be thy name.
After two amazing classically styled heavy metal albums that were each greeted with widespread critical acclaim, Allentown, PA trad-metallers are back with World of Evil. The band’s third full-length album shows no sign of weakness where songwriting and energy are concerned. This is fist pumping heavy metal with big catchy choruses, doomy at times, and all around quality and memorable heavy metal album. Fans of Dio, Heaven and Hell, Candlemass, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden will absolutely love this album.
World of Evil will be available worldwide August 6th through Shadow Kingdom Records.
Channeling the spirit of early 80’s Metal icons like Dio, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, with an added epic Doom Metal influence from Candlemass, Allentown, Pennsylvania-based Sinister Realm was formed in 2008 by JohnGaffney (former Pale Divine) and Darin McCloskey (Pale Divine, Falcon). They quickly found vocalist Alex Kristof and recorded a four song demo that drew the attention of various independent labels. After signing with Shadow KingdomRecords a live band was assembled and a full-length album was released in August of 2009.
Press from around the world hailed the debut album a success and Sinister Realm began actively playing live to support the album. Not long after the album’s release Chris Metzger and John Risko joined the band and work began on the sophomore album titled The Crystal Eye. In the summer of 2013, Sinister Realm will release World of Evil through Shadow Kingdom Records. All hail Sinister Realm! The true defenders of American Steel.
New York metallers TO THE PAIN have unleashed their self-titled, self-released debut full-length upon the world. A tribute to the days when metal was delivered via well-executed songs full of hooks and aggression, TO THE PAIN has come to re-blaze the trail cut by the genre’s torchbearers of the late 80s and early 90s. Factor in a fistful of modern attitude and technical prowess and you’ve got one goddamned powerful, dynamic and straight-up METAL record in To The Pain.
The band has teamed up with the folks at Bravewords.com for the world premier of album track ‘Silent Horror.’ To listen, visit http://www.Bravewords.com and launch the player.
In the summer of 2010, singer John Intagliata, and guitarist Steve Shaver sat down in Steve’s studio, The Locker, to see if they could record some songs they wrote when they were teenagers in 1989. After recording one of their old tunes, they got the itch to write some new music. What followed was nine months of writing, and recording at “The Locker”. Steve and John wrote 6 new songs, and re-recorded an old song; ‘Silent Horror.’ After listening to playbacks of the songs, they looked at each other and said “we need to put together a kick-ass band, and bring these songs to the masses.” Thus the concept of TO THE PAIN was born.
Their original concept back in 1988 was a cross between Racer X, Megadeth, Metallica, King Diamond, and Queensryche. The newer version retained the Racer X crazy guitar solos, and the political angst of Megadeth, while adding a bit of the new school flavor of Bullet for My Valentine, Shadows Fall, and Killswitch Engage, to form a new and refreshing old school flavor of Metal. Joining John Intagliata (Vocals) and Steve Shaver (Lead Guitar) in TO THE PAIN are Jeremy Lustig (Bass Guitar), Mark Trojanoski (Rhythm Guitar), and Jimmy Klimatas (Drums).
TO THE PAIN’s self-titled debut is a lyrically diverse excursion. Taking on anything from politics, to the evil that men do, TO THE PAIN is not one to ever hold its tongue on any subject. Stylistically, the band’s music goes from full on thrashers like ‘For The People, Buy The People,’ to slow Sabbathy brutality on ‘The Smell of Sulfur.’
In 2012/2013 TO THE PAIN started with a slew of shows, bringing their energetic live show to such venues as EvenFlow Bar, JD’s Place, Village Pub,Katies of Smithtown and Mr Beery’s. With the scheduled summer 2013 release of their debut, TO THE PAIN hopes to bring the metal to the masses and continue to build on their following.
Connecticut metallers FREEDOMS REIGN have announced a string of live dates around the Northeastern corner of the U.S. in support of their recently released self-titled debut.
Dates Are As Follows:
7/10 @ Gramercy Theater – New York City
7/26 @ Cook’s Corner – Naugatuck, CT
7/27 @ The Gin Mill – Allentown, PA
7/28 @ Mojo 13 – Wilmington, DE
8/21 @ TBA – Providence, RI
8/22 @ Ralph’s Diner – Worcester, MA
8/23 @ TBA – New York City
8/24 @ Cook’s Corner – Naugatuck, CT
Featuring the return of FATES WARNING’s original guitarist and founding member Victor Arduini, FREEDOMS REIGN were introduced the world earlier this year when Italian Metal label Cruz Del Sur announced their signing. Since then, the band has been steadily gaining momentum through critical praise of the debut and their energetic live show. The release of Freedoms Reign was timed to coincide with, and celebrate, the 29th anniversary of the release of FATES WARNING’s debut album, Nighton Bröcken.
Last month, the band debuted a video for the track Up From Down. Listen to and watch the video below!
FREEDOM’S REIGN has been active in the Connecticut Metal scene since 2011. The idea behind the band’s formation was to simply make some great music that returned the musicians involved to their roots and could deliver on their commitment to making some Old School Metal that would be relevant in today’s scene. Expect nothing less than a true return to heavy, hard and driving Old School Metal. The band’s self-titled debut was produced by Nick Belmore (Toxic Holocaust/Hatebreed) at Dexters Lab in Milford, CT.
Keeping his original, charismatic and unmistakable guitar-style untouched, FATES WARNING founder Victor Arduini returns to the spotlight with fresh enthusiasm and dedication, producing a notable effort of true American-styled Heavy Metal with a classic Ozzy/Sabbath’s flavor.
FREEDOM’S REIGN is: Victor Arduini (Ex-Fates Warning) on Vocals & Guitar, Tommy Vumback (Guitar), Mike Jones (Bass) and Chris Judge (Drums).
New BUTCHER BABIES debut album Goliath is set to be released on July 9th on CenturyMedia Records! Metal be thy name!
REVOLVER Magazine is currently streaming Goliath NOW! In it’s entirety! Click that kick-ass link below to get your ears and brain blistered into Metal bliss by BUTCHER BABIES!
SINISTER REALM – Releasing on August 6th, 2013, World Of Evilwill be the 3rd studio album from Allentown Pennsylvania’s SINISTER REALM. Shadow Kingdom Records will be releasing this new SINISTER REALM album once again.
SINISTER REALM is among the elite True Metal battalion of bands; where Heavy Metal is safely protected as traditional with no bullshit additives to pacify the flavor-of-the-month crowd of plastic clowns. Following their successful 2009 s/t debut and 2011 release The Crystal Eye (both via Shadow Kingdom Records), SINISTER REALM has amassed an impressive loyal following by continuously playing live and staying in touch through social media.
A band like SINISTER REALM isn’t made overnight, this Metal troupe from the Keystone State have paid their Metal dues and have earned worldwide recognition as one of Metal’s finest from any independent or major record label. Any true fan of Metal knows what quality and integrity that exists in the Metal underground… and SINISTER REALM via Shadow Kingdom Records is living proof of this.
Recently, SINISTER REALM have released a new music video for their forthcoming album’s title song. Sung with chilling True Metal passion by Alex Kristof, with True Metal musicianship of equal heights behind him, this title song World Of Evil is a pronounced indictment on the societies that surround us. Listen to, watch and crank-the-hell-up this World Of Evil music video below; and pledge your Metal allegiance to…
The Realm… SINISTER REALM.
* Director & script writer: Stacy Feit
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Alex Kristof – vocals
John Gaffney – bass, guitar, background vocals
John Kantner – rhythm & lead guitar
John Risko – lead guitar
Chris Metzger – drums
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* For a related post on World Of Evil from SINISTER REALM, as featured on Metal Odyssey, click on the link below!
WITCHES MARK the self-professed ‘Bringers Of Heavy Metal Death’ hailing from Austin, Texas have completed work on the Witching Metal Ritual full-length, due to be released through Heaven and Hell Records on July 15th, 2013.
Witching Metal Ritual features eight tracks of uncompromising metal glory blending elements of Thrash, Speed, Doom, Black, and Death while anchoring their overall sound firmly within the framework of traditional Heavy Metal.
A promo video for the album can be seen & heard below!
Co-Produced by the band and Stuart “Batlord” Laurence (Agony Column/Ignitor), with mixing and mastering by Brendon Bigelow (Ignitor/Death Of Millions) WitchingMetal Ritual features a stunning post-apocalyptic inspired album cover courtesy of Yannick Bouchard of Illusory Dreams. Metal fans can also expect a number of exciting guest appearances on Witching Metal Ritual; including Ross “The Boss” Friedman (Manowar/Death Dealer/The Dictators) Jack Starr (Virgin Steele/Burning Starr) JasonMcMaster (Dangerous Toys/Watchtower/Ignitor/Broken Teeth) and Martin Debourge (Damien Thorne/Head Transfer Process).
Members of WITCHES MARK recently commented on WITCHING METAL RITUAL in a string of interviews with the underground Metal press:
“When people think of the U.S. they don’t think of the traditional metal, they think of Britain, Germany… But the United States had Manowar, they had Virgin Steele, they had Slayer… Tons of bands that really were the best out there and that’s what we wanted to showcase on our album because we are American as well.” bassist Andy Gonzalez stated in an interview with SA Musicians Talk Show Radio.
When asked in an exclusive video interview with Robb’s Metal Works to describe what Metal fans can expect to hear on the band’s new album Witching Metal Ritual vocalist and guitarist Robb Bockman had the following to say “I’d best describe it as a bunch of dudes that love Metal and we just play what we wanna fucking hear. It’s a celebration of Metal.”
“Definitely energy, power and attitude…Gotta make a statement, you know?” stated drummer Scott Palmer in an interview with Slayed In Oregon.
Guitarist and founding member Robert Williams added “We were able to bring a heavier, meaner, darker sound.”
Witching Metal Ritual will be released in Enhanced-CD format and will also include bonus video content including a music video for the album’s title track.
In late 2009, Heaven and Hell Records released the band’s debut EP, A Grim Apparition.
WITCHES MARK, the self-professed “Bringers of Heavy Metal Death,” was formed in the fall of 2005 in Austin, Texas. The band initially introduced themselves to the Metal underground with a demo recording of their song “A Grim Apparition” shortly followed by an appearance on the Unbroken Metal Records compilation Tribute To Angel Witch with their rendition of “Something Wrong.” Shortly after signing with Heaven and Hell Records, WITCHES MARK released their debut EP A Grim Apparition, garnering favorable reviews from both Metal fans and critics alike.
The band’s debut full-length LP Witching Metal Ritualis set to be released in July of 2013 through Heaven and Hell Records. Blending elements of Thrash, Speed, Doom, Black and Death while anchoring their overall sound firmly within the framework of traditional heavy metal; WITCHES MARK wear their deep appreciation, understanding and pride of the Metal genre proudly on their collective sleeves.
(Source: ClawHammer PR)
* For more info on WITCHES MARK, click on the link below!
A Hard Rock highlight from the early 90‘s finally will be made available again: Back To The Bullet by MAT SINNER. On June 21st, this album RE-RELEASE (incl. bonus track, videos, completely redesigned cover artwork/booklet and remastered by Achim Köhler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm etc.) gives every fan the opportunity to complete his/her collection with a true gem which was out of print for many years.
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(Source: AFM Records)
* For more info on MAT SINNER, click on the links below!
FAITHSEDGE – The very talented (Rockaholic / Metal Buddy) Giancarlo Floridia (founding member, songwriter, guitarist, vocalist) of FAITHSEDGE has recently shared this cool video studio report with me. Therefore, it’s: Stone’s METAL Pick Of The Day! Metal be thy name.
Go “Back to Fabrizio’s” via the real Marty Mcfly house circa 2013 to the next FAITHSEDGE studio report!
Lead guitarist Alex De Rosso (Dokken), keysman Eric Ragno (Fergie Fredrickson) and singer Giancarlo Floridia take you behind the scenes for the new Faithsedge video at “OC Recording”. Also take a trip to Nashville, to drummer Tony Morra’s (Van Zant) studio “The Downtown Batterie” along with Tim Gaines’s (of Stryper) birthday party!
New FAITHSEDGE album coming this year!!!!
Watch the video below! Whoa!
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Giancarlo Floridia
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FAITHSEDGE
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* For past FAITHSEDGE posts that were featured on Metal Odyssey, click on the links below! Whoa!
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!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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