As seemingly impossible as it is to recreate the feral, chaotic energy of the early thrash scene, there are still bands out there with the requisite swagger and unhinged intensity to come pretty damn close. NERVOSA have long been one such band, but even their most diehard fans must have feared the worst when guitarist ...
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U.K. PEARL JAM tribute band PEARL JAMM has changed its name to LEGAL JAM after receiving a threatening letter from the Seattle group's lawyers. The cease-and-desist letter accused the tribute band of "damaging the PEARL JAM brand and causing confusion" among fans. Earlier today, PEARL JAMM issued the following statement: "A name doesn't define us. ...
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SYSTEM OF A DOWN singer Serj Tankian has slammed Donald Trump for granting Turkey legal rights over the vast religious-cultural heritage of the region's indigenous peoples and other minority populations, among them Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, Arameans, Maronites, Jews and Kurds. The move was strongly opposed by a host of cultural rights and museum ...
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Kramer, the original made-to-rock-hard guitar brand, has been setting trends with a legacy of premium, performance-focused instruments since it was first launched in 1976. Made for rule-breakers that play fast and loud, Kramer has been embraced by legendary rockers and shredders like Eddie Van Halen, Vivian Campbell, Richie Sambora, Elliot Easton and Mick Mars and ...
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ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante has recorded a guitar cover version of the IRON MAIDEN classic "Revelations". Benante uploaded the video to his YouTube channel (see below), and he wrote in an accompanying message: "I've always loved the IRON MAIDEN Song Revelations, I think it's the highlight off of #pieceofmind . I wanted to do a ...
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Five CHEVELLE singles were certified gold by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association Of America) on January 15 for accumulating 500,000 certified units. The songs in question are "Vitamin R (Leading Us Along)" (originally released in January 2005), "Jars" (April 2007), "I Get It" (June 2009), "Face To The Floor" (October 2011) ...
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Punk rock icons BAD RELIGION have just released "Emancipation Of The Mind", an outtake from the band's critically acclaimed 2019 album "Age Of Unreason". The track's upbeat messaging calls for reason and open-mindedness as a new administration is welcomed into the White House today. BAD RELIGION has always advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism, which ...
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FOZZY guitarist Billy Grey has praised Donald Trump as the "best president" of his lifetime. Grey, who has previously shared memes questioning mask mandates and suggesting the presidential election was somehow stolen, made his comments as Trump left the White House for the final time of his presidency, ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. ...
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England-based post-metalcore quintet ARCHITECTS will release its ninth studio album, "For Those That Wish To Exist", on February 26 via Epitaph. The record arrives as the follow-up to the band's critically acclaimed 2018 release "Holy Hell", which took a look at the pain and despair that lay at the heart of losing a brother, bandmate, ...
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Last November, SYSTEM OF A DOWN released "Protect The Land" and "Genocidal Humanoidz", the band's first new songs in 15 years. The tracks were motivated by the recently erupted conflict between Artsakh and Azerbaijan, the latter aided by Turkey and accountable for the greatest violence the region has endured in 26 years. Produced by guitarist/vocalist ...
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According to WISH-TV, government lawyers are asking the judge to not offer ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer a bond when he goes in front of U.S. magistrate. Schaffer, allegedly one of the rioters who used bear spray against police during the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, will remain in ...
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In a newly posted interview with music writer Joel Gausten, VOIVOD singer Denis "Snake" Bélanger discusses a variety of topics, including how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the band and its members. It was a really difficult year for us and every band out there," Snake said. "I think we postponed ...
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TWISTED SISTER guitarist Jay Jay French has called Donald Trump a "white supremacist president" whose tenure at the White House was a "long national nightmare." Early this morning, Trump left the White House for the final time of his presidency, ahead of the inauguration of Joe Biden. He then took a helicopter to the nearby ...
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Swedish rockers ELECTRIC BOYS will release their seventh album, "Ups!de Down", on April 30 via by Mighty Music. Once again recorded at Ghost Ward studios, the follow-up to "The Ghost Ward Diaries" was co-produced with David Castillo and showcases the songwriting and performing talents of founding members Conny Bloom on guitar and vocals and Andy ...
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During an appearance on the "Rock 'N' Roll Icons With Bode James" podcast, MEGADETH bassist David Ellefson was asked if he thinks the recently announced working title for the band's upcoming album, "The Sick, The Dying And The Dead", will stick or it will end up getting changed. He responded (see video below): "Like Dave ...
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This year will mark the 45th anniversary of the passing of Tommy Bolin, the supremely talented guitarist and songwriter, best known for his work with DEEP PURPLE and THE JAMES GANG, who captivated the world with his sophisticated and ferocious playing. Bolin's tragic death, when he was a mere 25 years old, has been one ...
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KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons, who has been open about his poverty-stricken childhood in Israel, spoke to American Songwriter about the immense wealth he has accumulated in the five decades since the band's formation. "We're not supposed to revel in our riches," he said. "But that's bullshit. That's bullshit because everybody — ...
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CATTLE DECAPITATION's music video for the song "Finish Them" can be seen below. Directed by Nicholas Vidler, the clip features live footage from the band's sold-out shows in Melbourne, Australia in early 2020. The track is taken from CATTLE DECAPITATION's latest album, "Death Atlas", which was released in November 2019 via Metal Blade Records. Vocalist ...
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Epiphone, the leading accessible guitar brand For Every Stage, presents the new Nancy Wilson Fanatic. The Fanatic is created and co-designed by Nancy Wilson of HEART and the luthiers at Epiphone in Nashville, Tennessee, and marks Wilson's first Epiphone signature guitar and her second guitar overall with Gibson Brands. The Epiphone Nancy Wilson Fanatic is ...
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As old school and gnarly as it gets, ASPHYX have been flying the flag for making death metal properly for more than 30 years. Okay, so the current lineup is almost entirely different from the one that released "The Rack" (an immortal classic, fact fans!) in 1991, but current guitarist Paul Baayens has already proved ...
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Determination personified since 1994, EKTOMORF have been omnipresent and unrelenting over the last two decades. Batting away the obvious geographical disadvantages of hailing from Hungary, Zoltán Farkas's band have toured and recorded relentlessly, earning the respect of a sizeable following, both in Europe and internationally. Admittedly, EKTOMORF have always seemed to exist out of time, ...
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According to WISH-TV, ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer made his first court appearance on Monday (January 18) and will remain in jail until at least Friday (January 22) in connection with his role in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Schaffer turned himself in to police in Hamilton County ...
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NERVOSA's music video for the song "Under Ruins" can be seen below. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Perpetual Chaos", which will arrive on January 22 via Napalm Records. The LP was recorded in Malaga at Artesonao Casa de Grabación Studio by Martin Furia, who also produced the new full-length with founding ...
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Matt Pinfield recently kicked off his "New & Approved" KLOS rock show with THE BLACK CROWES frontman Chris Robinson. Robinson spent some time discussing his life amid the pandemic which has rendered much more family time for the Georgia native. Now reflecting back on the beginning stages of the CROWES, formerly known as MR. CROWE'S ...
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Lancaster, Pennsylvania's AUGUST BURNS RED is starting 2021 off strong by dropping the animated video for a brand new song called "Standing In The Storm". "'Standing in the Storm' is a song about fighting for something important to you, and enduring the hardships that come with that fight," says guitarist JB Brubaker. "We had a ...
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GRETA VAN FLEET has released a new live/performance music video for its latest single, "Age Of Machine". The track is taken from the band's second album, "The Battle At Garden's Gate", which will be made available on April 16 via Lava/Republic Records. A bold evolution from the band's 2018 full-length debut "Anthem Of The Peaceful ...
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Dave Lombardo was recently interviewed on "Speak N' Destroy", a podcast about all things METALLICA, hosted by longtime journalist and METALLICA fan Ryan J. Downey. During the lengthy chat, the former SLAYER drummer once again confirmed that he came close to joining MEGADETH nearly three and a half decades ago as the replacement for Gar ...
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Acclaimed hard rock vocalist Jeff Scott Soto has opened up about his use of using backing tracks for certain songs during his live performances, saying he doesn't "wanna bullshit anybody." In recent years, more and more artists have been given a pass for relying on pre-recorded tracks, drum triggers and other assorted technology that makes ...
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FOO FIGHTERS have released the official music video for their latest single, "Waiting On A War". The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, "Medicine At Midnight", which will be released on February 5 via Roswell Records/RCA Records. The nine-song, 37-minute effort was produced by the FOO FIGHTERS and Greg Kurstin. If "Waiting On ...
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