I picked up this 8-track cartridge of Black Sabbath ‘Paranoid’ (top photo) for 25 cents at a thrift store a week or so ago. The tape is intact. I love this band and embrace the nostalgia of such an old-time music medium. The ‘Paranoid’ album was released back in 1970. Dig it, my brothers and sisters. 👊🏻
Gene Simmons Band 2025 Tour Dates:
4/05 – The Event at Graton Resort & Casino – Rohnert Park, CA
4/25 – Ruth Eckerd Hall – Clearwater, FL
4/26 – Fillmore – Miami Beach, FL
4/28 – The Moon – Tallahassee, FL
4/29 – Florida Theater – Jacksonville, FL
4/30 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL
5/03 – Beaver Dam Amphitheater – Beaver Dam, KY
5/05 – Count Basie – Red Bank, NJ
5/06 – Wellmont – Montclair, NJ
5/08 – Wind Creek Casino – Bethlehem, PA
5/09 – Paramount – Huntington, NY
5/15 – Fallsview Casino – Niagara Falls, ON
5/20 – Brown County Music Center – Nashville, IN
5/22 – House of Blues – Dallas, TX
5/23 – Tobin Center – San Antonio, TX
5/24 – House of Blues – Houston, TX
Dave Murray was born in England back on December 23rd of 1956. Today, Dave turns 68 years old. Happy birthday Dave! As a lifelong guitarist for Iron Maiden, spanning five decades, Dave Murray has played on every studio and live album of theirs. A tried and true Metal legend is Dave Murray!
Graham Bonnet was born in England back on December 23rd of 1947. Today, Graham celebrates his 77th birthday. Happy birthday, Graham! An iconic Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vocalist, going back to the late 1960’s, for such powerhouse bands as Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri. Graham Bonnet has also commanded a brilliant solo music career.
Prepare for the rise of darkness – BLACK & DAMNED are ready to set the metal community ablaze! With their unique blend of epic power metal and dark, atmospheric sounds, the South German formation is now releasing their third album, which is set to be released on March 14, 2025 under the auspicious title “Resurrection”. The band captivates with thunderous guitar riffs, intense rhythms and gripping vocals that whisk you away into a world full of myths and inner conflicts. Their music is a storm of power and emotion, perfect for anyone who wants to experience the ultimate metal rush!
“Resurrection” will be released on ROAR (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy, Crematory and others), with whom BLACK & DAMNED have just recently signed a new record deal. The album pre-sale has just started at this location:
https://blackanddamned.rpm.link/resurrection
A music video for the band’s first single release, the captivating track “Ruthless Wrath”, is now premiering below! Stream the song on all digital providers at:
https://blackanddamned.rpm.link/ruthless
“The content addresses the current situation of humanity,” the band comments. “That people react more and more with anger to events and statements. And this anger is then responded to with anger from the other side. Until one side escalates with volatile anger!”
Watch “Ruthless Wrath” video HERE
It is now clear that the band from the Stuttgart area can be described as a real enrichment of the heavy metal world and so they took no prisoners, used the energy of past live shows and composed ten new neckbreakers, which they recorded in the fall of 2024 under the aegis of ex-Primal Fear guitarist Stefan Leibing. Once again, this gripping melancholy hovers over the entire work, which is incredibly captivating and addictive. BLACK & DAMNED have grown together as a unit and with “Resurrection” the band created a profound, melodic and melancholic heavy metal album with lasting anthems!
“Resurrection” track listing:
01. Silence Breaker
02. Ruthless Wrath
03. Red Heavens
04. Bound By The Moon
05. Circle Of Amnesia
06. Injustice
07. Searing Flames
08. Shadows
09. Reborn In Solitude
10. Navigate Me To The Sun
BLACK & DAMNED online:
Homepage: https://www.blackanddamned.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blackanddamned/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/black_and_damned/
Source: RPM-ROAR
Fresh off a massively successful North American headlining tour, KING DIAMOND offers up a brand new single, “Spider Lilly.”
“Spider Lilly” is the first single and video taken from KING DIAMOND’s forthcoming new Horror Trilogy, of which part one is titled Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920. A first-time mixing collaboration with Arthur Rizk, who also mastered “Spider Lilly,” has produced an incredibly powerful sound picture, as clear and dynamic as a full moon on a star filled black night. The music and lyrics are written by KING DIAMOND.
The lineup is still the same with King Diamond handling lead and backing vocals plus playing the Hammond Organ, Andy La Rocque and Mike Wead on guitars, Pontus Egberg on the bass, and Matt Thompson on drums. There is also a special guest appearance by Danish female vocalist Myrkur with some amazing additional backing vocals.
Part of the new “Spider Lilly” video was filmed at the very haunted Pennhurst Asylum outside of Philadelphia on a travel day during the band’s recent North American tour, two days before Halloween. It was only King himself and actress Jodi Cachia who could participate on that specific day, together with producer David Brodsky, Allison Woest, and their killer crew.
Watch KING DIAMOND’s video for “Spider Lilly,” directed by My Good Eye Visuals, HERE.
“What a dark but great experience,” King says, “Hopefully that was not the last video we will be able to film there.”
There are already several tales waiting to be told about all that has happened before, during, and after the birth of the song “Spider Lilly”…
About KING DIAMOND:
KING DIAMOND is quite possibly the most recognizable and prolific personality ever in heavy metal. Revered by icons as big as Metallica and Pantera and inspiring newer upstarts globally, KING DIAMOND, the man and the band, have left an indelible mark on the history, and now again, the future of heavy metal.
In August of 2008, KING DIAMOND joined Metallica on stage at Ozzfest in Dallas to perform the Mercyful Fate medley made famous from the Garage, Inc. album. Additionally, KING DIAMOND was featured alongside Motӧrhead’s Lemmy Kilmister as a playable character in Guitar Hero: Metallica in 2009.
By 2012, KING DIAMOND was prepared to return to the stage for a select number of shows. The band’s triumphant return to the stage were the highlights of both the Hellfest and Sweden Rock festivals in France and Sweden. Fans at these festivals were treated to the largest and most involved stage production in the band’s storied history. Horror concepts from multiple albums were used in the décor; fans can rest assured that this show will only get larger and more impressive at future performances.
KING DIAMOND continued to hit the stage from 2013 to 2018 including performances at Rock Hard Festival (DE), Copenhell (DK), Graspop (BE), Metal Days (SI), Bloodstock Open Air (UK), Loudpark (JP), Wacken Open Air (DE), a 2014 North American tour with Jess And The Ancient Ones, Fun Fun Fun Fest (US), toured as a part of the 2015 Mayhem Festival in the Summer (US), a Fall 2015 North American tour with Exodus as special guests, Sweden Rock fest (SE), Hellfest (FR),and Psycho Las Vegas (US).
In 2019, after the release of KING DIAMOND’s first new single in twelve years, “Masquerade Of Madness,” the band hit the road with a series of live shows in Europe including stops at Summer Breeze festival (DE), Graspop (BE), Hellfest (FR), Rock Fest (ES), and with Uncle Acid & the Deadbeats and Idle Hands as special guests for nineteen dates across North America.
KING DIAMOND’s thirty+ year musical career is one of the most storied in the history of heavy metal, but the tale is not yet over. The most recent release, 2007′s Grammy nominated album Give Me Your Soul…Please, stands as one of the most critically acclaimed albums in an already iconic discography. Future albums will feature entirely new horror stories, concepts, haunting orchestrations, and the band’s signature brand of heavy metal from the mind of KING DIAMOND and the talented group of musicians: guitarists Andy La Rocque and Mike Wead, bassist Pontus Egberg, and drummer Matt Thompson. Many more albums, tours, and ventures lay ahead.
Source: EARSPLIT PR
https://www.instagram.com/kingdiamond
BRAINSTORM live:
“The Plague That Burns The Sky”
BRAINSTORM + ARION
Co-Headline Tour 2025
w/ STRANGER VISION
Presented by Rock Hard, musix, metal.de, powermetal.de, Decibel-Touring & RPM
27.02.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
28.02.2025 CH Solothurn – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl
01.03.2025 DE Essen – Turock
02.03.2025 DE Mannheim – 7er Club
03.03.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Halle)
04.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Bahnhof Pauli
05.03.2025 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum
06.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
Excl. CD+ticket bundles: https://brainstorm.rpm.link/shopPR
Regular tickets: https://linktr.ee/brainstormarion
More upcoming BRAINSTORM live dates:
08.03.2025 NL Harderwijk – Estrado
09.03.2025 NL Gouda – StudioGonz
05. – 08.06.2025 DE Oettingen i. Bay. – Camping Battleground Festival
24.08.2025 PL Pindelo dos Milagres – Milagre Metaleiro Open Air
About BRAINSTORM:
BRAINSTORM boasts an unparalleled career: since their 1997 debut, Hungry, the band has continued to evolve and solidify their position in the international metal scene with standout albums like Metus Mortis (2001), Soul Temptation (2003), Liquid Monster (2005), and more recent releases such as Midnight Ghost (2018) and Wall of Skulls (2021). Having toured worldwide and achieved impressive chart positions in recent years, BRAINSTORM remains as determined as ever to set new milestones instead of resting on their laurels.
BRAINSTORM are:
More on BRAINSTORM:
brainstorm-web.net | Facebook | Instagram | X | RPM
Source: C Squared Music
From Europe bandsintown:
Friends,
We are very pleased to give you our 2025 show schedule so far:
16 Apr // BR, Brasília // Arena of Rock
19 Apr // BR, São Paulo // Monsters of Rock
24 Apr // CL, Santiago // Masters of Rock
30 Apr // CO, Cota // Monsters of Rock
24 May // NO, Kopervik // Kopervik Festival
07 Jun // FR, Maxeville // Heavy Weekend
21 Jun // NO, Steinkjer // Steinkjer Festival
28 Jun // SE, Nyköping // Hamnplan
03 Jul // SE, Borlänge // Alive Festival
06 Jul // ES, Chiclana // Concert Music Festival
08 Jul // ES, Marbella // Starlite Festival
10 Jul // ES, Murcia // Plaza de Toros de Murcia
15 Jul // IT, Bologna // Sequioe Music Park
16 Jul // IT, Altidona // Wondergate Music Festival
25 Jul // SE, Vadstena // Vadstena Slott
26 July // NO, Tønsberg // Foynhagen Concert Series Honørbrygga
01 Aug // SE, Karlskrona // Karlskrona Skärgårdsfest
02 Aug // SE, Arvika // Hamnfest
Tickets: https://bnds.us/mexhnb
From U.D.O. bandsintown:
We can’t wait to celebrate the 40th anniversary of ‘Balls to the Wall’ together with you in 2025! This will be a historic and electrifying event so make sure to grab your tickets now before they are gone!
Tour and ticket info:
Click here for all Tourdates and Ticketlinks
http://www.udo-online.de
DIRKSCHNEIDER live:
“Balls To The Wall” – 40th Anniversary Tour
w/ CROWNSHIFT, ALL FOR METAL
Presented by Contra Promotion & Metal Hammer
25.02.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo * NEW
26.02.2025 AT Vienna – SiMM City
27.02.2025 DE Munich – Backstage LOW TICKETS
28.02.2025 DE Leipzig – Haus Auensee LOW TICKETS
01.03.2025 CZ Prague – SaSaZu
02.03.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra
04.03.2025 RO Bucharest – Quantic Club
06.03.2025 PL Kraków – Klub Studio
07.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja
08.03.2025 LT Vilnius – Kablys
09.03.2025 EE Tallinn – Helitehas NEW
10.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo
11.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema
13.03.2025 NO Oslo – Rockefeller
14.03.2025 SE Gothenburg – Trädgår’n
16.03.2025 DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt
17.03.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp
18.03.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix
19.03.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo
21.03.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
22.03.2025 ES Madrid – Mon MOVED
23.03.2025 ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
25.03.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7
26.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn SOLD OUT
27.03.2025 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle
28.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
29.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle LOW TICKETS
30.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle NEW
08.04.2025 GR Athens – Fuzz Live Music Club * NEW
09.04.2025 GR Thessaloniki – Principal Club Theater * NEW
11.04.2025 TR Istanbul – IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş * NEW
12.04.2025 BG Sofia – Hristo Botev Hall * NEW
30.07. – 02.08.2025 DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air SOLD OUT NEW
Faroe Islands-based folk metal collective TÝR will return to North American stages this Winter on the second leg of the Battle Ballads tour! The journey will commence on February 13th in Brooklyn, New York and close on March 5th in Joliet, Illinois. Additional support will be provided again by Æther Realm.
Comments TÝR vocalist/guitarist Heri Joensen, “If it were only up to us, the band, we’d play for you all, everywhere, in a heartbeat, if only we could. On our last North American run, we got a lot of requests about playing in this and that city that was not on our route. We’re very happy that this time we get to do a second round visiting a lot of those cities that our dear fans requested. Get your tickets early. It would be a shame if we miss you. And since the VIP upgrade experience went down well last time, we decided to do it again, so we can hang out together and play an acoustic show for you.”
Tickets are on sale now at https://tyr.fo/shows. See all confirmed dates below.
TÝR w/ Æther Realm:
2/13/2025 Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY
2/14/2025 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA
2/15/2025 Hooligans – Jacksonville, NC
2/16/2025 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
2/18/2025 Southport Hall – New Orleans, LA
2/19/2025 House Of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX
2/20/2025 89th Street Collective – Oklahoma City, OK
2/21/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
2/22/2025 The Marquis – Denver, CO
2/26/2025 Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
2/27/2025 Whisky-A-Go-Go – West Hollywood, CA
2/28/2025 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
3/01/2025 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
3/02/2025 The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
3/03/2025 The Granada – Lawrence, KS
3/04/2025 Amsterdam Bar & Hall – St. Paul, MN
3/05/2025 The Forge – Joliet, IL
Battle Ballads, TÝR’s outstanding ninth full-length studio album, was released earlier this year on Metal Blade Records.
A crushing, soaring, batch of classical embellished songs that conjure images of galloping steeds, clashing swords, and hard-fought victories, with Battle Ballads, TÝR has composed an album that resounds with their trademark Viking metal sound. At the same time, the band has experimented with new writing styles and musical techniques and created songs that are structurally simpler, yet musically more variegated. There’s no escaping the masterfully meticulous blend of melody and savagery on Battle Ballads.
TÝR:
Heri Joensen – vocal, guitar
Hans Hammer – guitar
Gunnar Helmer “Gunz” Thomsen – bass
Tadeusz “Tad” Rieckmann – drums
Band info: https://tyr.fo
Preview and purchase Battle Ballads at metalblade.com/tyr.
Watch TÝR’s previously released videos for “Axes” HERE, “Hammered” HERE, and “Dragons Never Die” HERE.
Source: EARSPLIT PR
Finnish hard rock and metal legends LORDI are set to release their highly anticipated 19th studio album, Limited Deadition, on March 21, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The album is spearheaded by the electrifying lead single, “Syntax Terror,” a track that thrusts listeners into a game-like world with spacy melodies, thunderous riffs, and irresistibly catchy hooks.
Mr Lordi comments: “The writing of this song started out with its main keyboard riff. I played around with those mono sounds, trying to come up with something with a very 80s action movie opening score feel. ‘Syntax Terror’ actually almost became the album title, but then it was discovered that other people have had the same idea way before I did. On the verses I was thinking of JUDAS PRIEST, on the chorus of MANOWAR and – as icing on the cake – Udo Dirkschneider-type of screams to belch out the title. Don’t ask what the lyrics are about. ‘Syntax Terror’ is a very 80s heavy metal style song, painting abstract pictures with every line!”
Don’t miss the “Syntax Terror” lyric video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUDX4L-Inco
Pre-save the new single:
https://lordi.rpm.link/syntaxterrorPR
Already generating excitement among fans, the single promises to be a highlight in LORDI‘s monstrous catalog. Pre-orders are available here: https://lordi.rpm.link/limiteddeaditionPR
Known for their theatrical style and unique blend of 80s-inspired rock and heavy metal, LORDI‘s latest creation is a nostalgic celebration of retro 80s toys, infused with a fresh and powerful energy. Building on the success of their 2023 album Screem Writers Guild, Limited Deadition ventures into heavier riffs and faster tempos, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and invigorating.
Recorded at IluSound Studio and Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, Limited Deadition was produced by Mr Lordi, mixed by Ilkka Herkman, and mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen. As always, Mr Lordi took charge of the album’s striking artwork and layout, channeling his passion for 80s memorabilia into every detail. “It’s some kind of sibling album to its predecessor,” Mr Lordi explains. “We’re still walking the path of AOR-inspired music, but this time, with a more metal touch in terms of riffs and tempo. We’ve always written what felt right and natural, and this album is no exception.”
The thematic heart of Limited Deadition lies in Mr Lordi’s lifelong obsession with collecting, inspired by the action figures and toys of his childhood. “The album topic of 80s toys is actually just a loose theme, but it’s been accompanying me since I was little. I’ve always been a collector of various stuff, and I’m even some kind of a hoarder. I can’t even remember which my first own toy was, but my obsession basically started with “Muppet Show” dolls, followed by “Star Wars” and “E.T.” figures, with the latter actually being my favourite movie of all time.”
The album opens with “SCG XIX The Hexecutioners,” setting the stage for an exciting blend of cinematic and melodic heavy rock. Tracks like “Legends Are Made Of Clichés” and “Skelephant In The Room” highlight LORDI‘s knack for creating larger-than-life anthems. Meanwhile, the poignant ballad “Collectable” reflects on the fleeting value of physical objects in a digital world, while the title track, Limited Deadition, makes a bold statement celebrating collectors and their passion.
To support the release, LORDI will embark on a global Limited Deadition tour, beginning in Finland and expanding internationally. Fans can expect a monstrous spectacle, complete with new tricks and surprises.
Limited Deadition will be available on all major streaming platforms and in physical formats on March 21, 2025. Pre-orders for the album and tour tickets are now live. With the explosive single “Syntax Terror” already setting the tone, fans can prepare for an unforgettable addition to the LORDIverse.
Get ready to unleash the monster within – Limited Deadition is coming!
LORDI are:
Mr Lordi | vocals
Kone | guitars
Hiisi | bass
Hella | keyboard
Mana | drums
LORDI live:
21.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema
22.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Tavastia-klubi
25.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja
26.03.2025 PL Gdansk – B90
28.03.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60
29.03.2025 NL Drachten – Poppoadium Iduna
30.03.2025 NL Sittard – Poppodium Volt
02.04.2025 UK Wolverhampton – Wulfrun Hall
03.04.2025 UK Newcastle – NX
05.04.2025 UK Manchester – Academy 2
06.04.2025 UK Glasgow – Galvanizers SWG3
08.04.2025 UK London – Islington Assembly Hall
09.04.2025 UK Bristol – SWX
11.04.2025 FR Savigny-le-Temple – L’Empreinte
12.04.2025 FR Saint-Lô – Le Normandy
13.04.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino
15.04.2025 FR Lyon (Villeurbanne) – La Rayonne
16.04.2025 FR Strasbourg (Ostwald) – Le Point d’Eau
17.04.2025 FR Montbéliard – L’Axone
02.08.2025 CZ Ostrava – Ostrava v plamenech
Info & Tickets: https://www.lordi.fi/tour
Source: C Squared Music
More on LORDI:
lordi.fi | Facebook | Instagram | X| TikTok | YouTube | RPM
MOB RULES continues with their flagship German power metal, they’ve been known for in the scene! Founded in 1994, since their legendary debut album “Savage Land” (1999) and its glorious successor “Temple Of Two Suns”, they have been delivering anthemic and highly melodic power metal that has taken on symphonic and progressive traits over the years. Their discography, which now comprises nine studio albums, contains highlights throughout, above all the hit-packed “Among The Gods”, the epic “Radical Peace” with the long track “The Oswald File” and their chart-breaker “Beast Reborn”, which pushed MOB RULES to #37 in the German album charts. Most recently, the band around frontman Klaus Dirks thrilled with the best-of compilation “Celebration Day – 30 Years Of Mob Rules” including some new recordings and cover versions of IRON MAIDEN, GHOST, DIO and others.
MOB RULES are currently back in the recording studio, working under the direction of Markus Teske (Symphony X, Vanden Plas, U.D.O. and others) on their tenth, as yet untitled studio album, which is scheduled for release in late summer 2025. However, they would like to release a first forerunner at the beginning of next year. “All the songs have been written and large parts of them have already been recorded,” reveals the frontman and goes into even more detail: ”You can look forward to an album that is special in many respects, with which we have managed to build a bridge between yesterday and today. In other words, our own band history partly served as inspiration. The material is multi-layered and conceptually structured.
This much can already be revealed: In addition to the CD and vinyl, there will be an additional physical product of the album, in which we have brought in all our creativity and spared no expense or effort to offer the fans the ultimate experience of the new record. More will be revealed in due course, but we can already tell you that the first single will be called “Back To Savage Land”.”
MOB RULES are also expecting a breath of fresh air from their new label partner ROAR (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy, Sacred Steel and others). “We were very pleased about the great interest and the resulting signing of MOB RULES with the newly established label ROAR,” comments singer Klaus Dirks and adds: “As a band, we find everything we could wish for there, both structurally and in terms of know-how and the human component. We have a long-standing relationship of trust with some of the employees there. Among them is Markus Wosgien, who has followed MOB RULES with great interest for a long time and whose perseverance and creative input have convinced us. We are looking forward to working together, but would also like to take this opportunity to thank the SPV/Steamhammer crew once again for their trusting cooperation over the last 10 years.”
The record company is just as happy. “Mob Rules have been with me for 25 years now. In the nineties, as a power metal fan you could blindly buy anything with the “Limb Music” seal of approval. I remember the first pre-release tapes of brand-new acts like Angra, Rhapsody, Eldritch, Abraxas and Mob Rules! Limb Schnoor had a special knack in this area and since then Mob Rules have been a musical companion that has surprised and inspired me time and time again. Now it has finally worked out and we can forge new plans together, which include the upcoming studio albums as well as numerous reissues and surprises of some back-catalog titles,” states ROAR A&R Markus Wosgien.
MOB RULES – Online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mobrulesband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mobrulesband/
Shop: https://mobrules.bandcamp.com/
Visit ROAR online:
Homepage: https://www.roar-records.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rpmroar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpm_roar/
For more than 25 years, SACRED STEEL have been offering metalheads a killer, trend-free alternative to bloated trigger drums, cheesy keyboards and boring cliché sounds that are hyped year after year as “the next big thing in metal”. SACRED STEEL have always remained true to themselves, constantly reinventing their traditional style and releasing some highly acclaimed classics, such as their legendary debut “Reborn In Steel”, the follow-up “Wargods Of Metal”, or their heaviest album “Slaughter Prophecy”.
In April 2025, the band will release their 10th album “Ritual Supremacy”, which will be celebrated with a performance at the 25th anniversary of the “Keep It True Festival” and many more shows. The album is also the first to feature new members Toni Ieva (bass) and Jörn Langenfeld (guitar), who joined the band in 2023.
“Ritual Supremacy” will be released by their new label partner ROAR (Grave Digger, Mystic Prophecy, Holy Moses and others), whose managing director Jochen Richert, Markus Wosgien (label management) and Lambros Kokkinos (product management) are long-time scene veterans. “These are people we’ve known for ages and who have been supplying you and us with the stuff we all can’t and don’t want to live without for at least as long: high-quality heavy metal releases,” the band is pleased to say, adding: ”When the label A&R first had his entire Sacred Steel record collection signed at the meeting with the band, we just knew: this is the right place for us! With ROAR behind us, we are now ideally positioned to finally release our new album “Ritual Supremacy” worldwide and on a broad basis after more than 8 years since the last release.”
“As a native Swabian and friend of pure heavy metal, you are inevitably connected to Sacred Steel. You can sing along to their classics in your sleep and with a raised metal fist, and of course share unforgettable memories with the band, which has always remained true to themselves, yet continues to develop and, above all, still has something to say. “Ritual Supremacy” is a statement and will blow the mind of every true metalhead. The first single will be released in mid-January and the album will go on sale. Dress warmly,” states Markus Wosgien from ROAR.
SACRED STEEL is a trademark in the metal scene: METAL with attitude, never everyone’s favorite and damn proud of it!
Sacred Steel – live:
11.04.2025 – Villingen-Schwenningen (GER) – Little Black Forest Festival
17.04.2025 – Oberhausen (GER) – Thrash Speed Burn Festival
25. – 26.04.2025 – Lauda-Königshofen (GER) – Keep It True Festival
02.- 03.04.2025 – Ochtendung (GER) – A CHANCE FOR METAL Festival
Sacred Steel – online:
Homepage: https://www.sacredsteel.de/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredsteelofficial/
ROAR – online:
Homepage: https://www.roar-records.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rpmroar
Boston (MA) – U.S. Doom-Tinged Heavy Metal outfit, The Watcher, has released Out of the Dark on Cruz Del Sur Music. The band’s first full-length album is available now on CD, vinyl, and digital formats! Fans of Iron Maiden, Trouble, and Satan should take note!
Purchase/Stream:
LP Black: tinyurl.com/thewatcherlp
BC: thewatcherheavymetal.bandcamp.com/album/out-of-the-dark
The 2021 release of The Watcher’s debut Your Turn to Die EP was the culmination of delays, false starts and good, old-fashioned patience. The 2016 creation of guitarist/bassist Max Furst, The Watcher was not intended to have such a prolonged gestation for its first release into the metal world, but the wait proved to be worth it.
Physical copies of Your Turn to Die sold out upon its release, signaling to Furst, vocalist Paden Reed and drummer Chris Spraker that there would be demand for their distinctive brand of NWOTHM with elements of doom. Alas, that moment has arrived in the form of the eight-song “Out of the Dark.”
Out of the Dark was recorded in the autumn months of late 2023 with engineer Sasha Stroud at Artifact Audio in Maspeth, Queens, New York. The Watcher went to great lengths to ensure that the songs worked within the context of the album format with an organic flow of ideas and intentional peaks and valleys to ensure listener engagement. As a result, Out of the Dark expands on what The Watcher started on Your Turn to Die. From urgent, heads-down ‘bangers to festival-ready chorus all the way to the climactic closing track, “Thy Blade, Thy Blood,” the band’s growth is readily apparent.
The Watcher will be gigging around the East Coast and parts of Canada in support of Out of the Dark (ex-Malleus guitarist Nelson Ribas and Demon Chrome guitarist Dylan Kulpa have since completed The Watcher’s live lineup.) More importantly, the band hopes to arrive on European shores sometime in the near future. For the present, though, Out of the Dark emerges as a compelling LP that unifies classic metal and the darkness of doom, fortified through the spirit of three metallic diehards who never say die.
Track Listing:
Source: ClawHammer PR
thewatcherheavymetal.bandcamp.com
Nearly five years after the release of #13, Swiss rockers GOTTHARD are making a powerful comeback with their highly anticipated new album, Stereo Crush, set to release on March 21, 2025, via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).
To mark the announcement, the band has unveiled their latest single, “Boom Boom“. This high-energy anthem not only celebrates the album announcement but also offers a dynamic preview of the signature sound fans can expect from Stereo Crush.
Guitar duo Leo Leoni and Freddy Scherer ignite the track with heavy riffs that haven’t been heard in the GOTTHARD realm for quite some time. The remarkable rhythm section, powered by bassist Marc Lynn and drummer Flavio Mezzodi, propels the Swiss express forward with relentless energy, while frontman Nic Maeder masterfully commands the journey through hard rock territory with his powerful and charismatic vocals. Building up to an irresistibly catchy chorus, it’s clear to all that this is a new GOTTHARD classic in the making.
Watch the “Boom Boom” lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vKHkfiegtg
Stream the track: https://gotthard.rpm.link/boomboomPR
Leo Leoni explains the personal meaning of the song: “I wrote it when I found out that we were expecting a child. The birth of my son Gabriel was a moment that completely changed my life. When I hold him in my arms, look into his eyes or see his smile, I feel an indescribable love and deep gratitude. This song is my way of expressing all these feelings for him.”
Produced and mixed by long-time partner Charlie Bauerfeind, who’s known for his work with the likes of HELLOWEEN and BLIND GUARDIAN, alongside founding member Leo Leoni at Yellowhouse Studio, and mastered by Sascha “Busy” Bühren (TrueBusyness), Stereo Crush promises to set new standards which will additionally come to shine on the band’s forthcoming touring cycle.
GOTTHARD will open it with a tour in May, accompanied by special guests Y&T, before the quintet head to select festivals as well as the stages of their home country at the end of 2025. The band’s current live schedule and ticket info can be found below!
L-R:
Freddy Scherer (guitars), Marc Lynn (bass) Nic Maeder (vocals),
Flavio Mezzodi (drums), Leo Leoni (guitars)
Fans should also mark January 17 of next year in their calendars as Stereo Crush pre-orders will officially be launched on that date. One thing’s for sure: Even in 2025, there won’t be a way around GOTTHARD for the worldwide hard rock community!
Powered by Bottom Row: https://www.bottomrow.com/
Tickets are on sale here: https://bit.ly/GOTTHARDTIX
GOTTHARD live:
“Stereo Crush” Tour 2025
Special Guests: Y&T
Presented by Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, musix, Rock Antenne & powermetal.de
23.05.2025 DE Bochum – RuhrCongress
24.05.2025 DE Geiselwind – Music Hall
25.05.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp
27.05.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36
29.05.2025 DE Munich – Circus Krone
30.05.2025 DE Filderstadt – FILharmonie
31.05.2025 AT Telfs – Rathaussaal
More upcoming GOTTHARD live dates:
27.06.2025 CH Basel – Summerstage *NEW*
22.07.2025 DE Regensburg – Piazza im Gewerbepark *NEW*
12. – 14.06.2025 ES Zamora – Z! Live Rock
19.12.2025 CH Bern – Neue Festhalle *NEW*
20.12.2025 CH Zurich – The Hall *NEW*
More on RPM:
reigningphoenixmusic.com
Source: C Squared Music
From Napalm Records Facebook:
Rock and Metal Flagship Avantasia Announces 10th Studio Album, Here Be Dragons, out February 28, 2025 via Napalm Records!
Pre-Order Your Physical Copy now: https://lnk.to/Avantasia-HereBeDragons
Album Arrives Shortly Before the “Here Be Dragons” European Arena Headline Tour in March & April 2025!
From Napalm Records Facebook:
Tickets for the exclusive shows in Toulouse, Lyon, Lille, Rostock, Huskvarna, Uppsala, Łódź and Saarbrücken will go on sale on Monday, November 25, 2024, at 10:00 AM (CET).
POWERWOLF are an undisputed phenomenon! The band has managed to inspire fans and critics alike like no other band at the moment, exceeding high expectations with apparent ease. Each successful tour resembles a true triumphant procession, with the interim highlight being the almost completely sold-out Wolfsnächte 2024 headline tour through the biggest arenas in Europe.
POWERWOLF delivered an impressive and infernal show of highest standards, leaving critics and fans speechless and thrilled.
There’s no rest for the wicked as POWERWOLF announce another big highlight, the Summer Of The Wicked 2025 European headline tour! Featuring huge festival performances and headline shows all over the continent, the tour begins only one month after their 2025 Latin American Crusade headline tour. The wolves are ready to conquer the biggest stages worldwide once again!
Summer Of The Wicked Tour 2025
06.06.25 FR – Nancy / Heavy Week-End
07.06.25 DE – Nuremberg / Rock im Park
08.06.25 DE – Nurburg / Rock am Ring
10.06.25 FR – Toulouse / Zenith (+ Dragonforce
11.06.25 FR – Lyon / Halle Tony Garnier (+ Dragonforce )
13.06.25 AT – Nickelsdorf / Nova Rock
15.06.25 NL – Leeuwarden / Into The Grave
17.06.25 FR – Lille / Zenith (+ Dragonforce )
20.06.25 DE – Rostock / Stadthalle (+ Dragonforce )
21.06.25 DK – Copenhagen / Copenhell
22.06.25 SE – Huskvarna / Folkets Park (+ Amaranthe & Dragonforce )
24.06.25 SE – Uppsala / Fyrishov (+ Amaranthe & Dragonforce )
25.06.25 NO – Oslo / Tons Of Rock
27.06.25 EE – Tallinn / Tallinn Rock Festival
28.06.25 FI – Helsinki / Tuska Festival
30.06.25 PL – Lodz / Atlas Arena (+ Epica & Dragonforce )
02.07.25 HU – Dunaujvaros /Rockmaraton
04.07.25 DE – Ballenstedt / Rockharz Festival
11.07.25 DE – Saarbrücken / E-Werk Open Air (+ Warkings )
13.07.25 CZ – Vizovice / Masters Of Rock
02.08.25 RO – Rasnov / Rockstadt Extreme Fest
09.08.25 ES – Villena / Leyendas Del Rock
Latin American Crusade 2025
23.04.25 MX – Mexico City / Auditorio BB
24.04.25 MX – Guadalajara / Guanamor Teatro Estudio
25.04.25 MX – Monterrey / Showcenter
27.04.25 CR – San Jose / Peppers Club
29.04.25 SV – San Salvador / Museo Marte
01.05.25 CO – Bogota / Royal House
02.-04.05.25 BR – Bangers Open Air
05.05.25 CL – Santiago / Teatro Cariola
07.05.25 AG – Buenos Aires / El Teatro Flores
The mighty VENOM INC. will be touring the USA this January and February, with Salems Childe supporting. Check out the tour schedule below for a show nearest you.
01-08 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory OC
01-09 – W. Hollywood, CA – Whiskey A Go Go
01-10 – Brentwood, CA – Brentwood Emporium
01-11 – Fresno, CA – Full Circle
01-12 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
01-14 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
01-16 – McHenry, IL – The Vixen
01-17 – Chesterfield, MI – Diesel Concert Lounge
01-18 – Columbus, OH – The King of Clubs
01-19 – Cleveland, OH – No Class
01-20 – West Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
01-22 – Cambridge, MA – Middle East
01-23 – Brooklyn, NY – The Meadows
01-24 – Waterbury, CT – Elite 23
01-25 – Clifton, NJ – Dingbatz
01-26 – Newark, DE – Halftime Sports Bar
01-28 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade
01-30 – W. Palm Beach, FL – Banyan Live
01-31 – Mount Dora, FL – Mt. Dora Music Hall
02-01 – Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
02-04 – Knoxville, TN – Open Chord
02-06 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Midtown
02-07 – Dallas, TX – Trees
02-08 – Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock
02-10 – Albuquerque, NM – Sister
02-11 – Glendale, AZ – The 44
02-12 – Las Vegas, NV – Usual Place
02-14 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
02-15 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Libertine Brewing
02-16 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
2025 will see German metal institution, Grave Digger, celebrate its 45th anniversary. Founded in 1980 in Gladbeck, they set out to conquer the world; who would have thought that 45 years later Grave Digger would be one of the most important, consistent and influential metal bands from Germany. With the release of their ground-breaking debut Heavy Metal Breakdown in 1984, an unprecedented career began that will find its logical continuation with their forthcoming, 23rd studio album Bone Collector, slated for a release on January 17, 2025 via ROAR!
Following the previously-released, first album appetizer “Kingdom Of Skulls”, the heavy metal titans are today premiering a video clip for their brand new single “Killing is my Pleasure”!
Stream the song on all digital services at: https://gravedigger.rpm.link/killing
Watch the visualizer video clip premiering HERE
Band leader Chris Boltendahl reveals: “There it is – the new Grave Digger single, “Killing is My Pleasure”… It’s based on a riff created by bassist Jens Becker in collaboration with guitarist Tobi Kersting. The song’s lyrics are inspired by the infamous mafia contract killer Richard Kuklinski, who was believed to have committed over 200 murders before his death in 2006. Known as the “Iceman” due to his cold-blooded nature, Kuklinski had a family with three children and would leave his home every day like any ordinary “nine-to-five” worker.
Musically, the new single is a piece of pure heavy metal – no frills, just direct and uncompromising. The chorus drills into your head and it’s hard to get the song out of your mind!”
Produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Boltendahl, optically set in scene by Brazilian artist Wanderley Perna, Bone Collector marks a work of art that heralds a new era.
“Here it is at last, our new studio album, true to the motto: #gravediggeroldschool. With Tobi Kersting in the band, we have focused on the essentials of our sound again after many years with numerous concept albums: Concise straightforward metal songs that burn themselves into your brain stems after the first listen. “Bone Collector” doesn’t sound like off-the-shelf stuff, but highly energetic, fresh and you’ll notice that we had a lot of fun with the songs. We’re looking forward to your reaction, the release of the album in January and 45 years of Grave Digger live with you,” Boltendahl recently said.
Bone Collector will be released as a CD digipak, picture vinyl, colored marbled vinyl, RPM exclusive splatter vinyl and digitally. At the RPM & ROAR Mailorder Shop, the limited splatter vinyl and the digipak are also available as a bundle with the exclusive “Old School” shirt.
Pre-Order Bone Collector here: https://gravedigger.rpm.link/bonecollector
Bone Collector Tracklist:
01. Bone Collector
02. The Rich The Poor The Dying
03. Kingdom Of Skulls
04. The Devil’s Serenade
05. Killing Is My Pleasure
06. Mirror Of Hate
07. Riders Of Doom
08. Made Of Madness
09. Graveyard Kings
10. Forever Evil & Buried Alive
11. Whispers Of The Damned
GRAVE DIGGER:
Chris Boltendahl (Vocals)
Jens Becker (Bass)
Tobias Kersting (Guitar)
Marcus Kniep (Drums)
Visit GRAVE DIGGER Online:
Official Homepage: https://www.grave-digger.de
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gravediggerofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gravediggerband
Source: RPM-ROAR
Austin (TX) – Texas metal titans IGNITOR have released the official video for “Shattered Crosses,” a track from new album, Horns and Hammers.
Check it out at youtu.be/ZY4HQ3Wra98
“Shattered Crosses is one of my favorite tunes on the new record,” says vocalist Jason McMaster, “and I could not be happier with the result of the writing and tone of the song. The lyrics are about the war efforts, the church efforts, and how governments send people off to war, seemingly only as a confusing way to make dealings of loss for big money.”
McMaster goes on to state that “the video is a step up in production from what we’ve done previously, including bigger cameras, a bigger venue, etc, which allowed us to really get the point across. We are a traditional heavy metal band and we want people to see and hear; we aren’t trying to rearrange or reinvent anything. It is straight-away classic metal and the video shows the world that intent.”
The video features camera work and visual production by PennyRock Productions. Budro Partida and the crew of PennyRock are quickly becoming nationally known for the company’s full feature documentary film, Bloody and Bruised – The Untold Story of the Back Room. The Back Room is a now defunct Rock and Metal venue in Austin, TX, which spawned a scene that attracted and hosted worldwide touring acts for over 30 years.
The stories told in the film are legendary, as local bands were discovered there and lifelong relationships made. Needless to say, the band is extremely proud to have had PennyRock produce the video.
“I’m a metal fan, so I was thrilled for the opportunity to work with a band the caliber of IGNITOR,” adds Partida. “Going into the shoot I knew that the visual tone of the video should be red-hot to match the ferocity of the song. I wanted the viewer to get a sun burn.”
“Shattered Crosses” is also available on all streaming outlets.
Horns and Hammers is available on Bandcamp via Metal on Metal Records, and in the United States onwww.revoltvinylrecords.com. Revolt Vinyl Records will make it available on CD and vinyl.
U.S. residents can order the CD directly from the band at ignitorband.com.
Line-up:
Stuart “Batlord” Laurence – Guitar
Robert Williams – Guitar
Jason McMaster – Vocals
Billy “Chainsaw” Dansfiell – Bass
Pat Doyle – Drums
Source: ClawHammer PR
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