Month: March 2021

Danko Jones has blasted ICED EARTH leader Jon Schaffer, calling him “a white nationalist piece of dog dung.”

On Friday (March 19), U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ordered Schaffer held without bail on six federal criminal charges related to his alleged involvement with the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He ruled that while Schaffer wasn’t a flight risk, he does pose a danger to the community. Schaffer’s attorney argued his client’s comments were taken out of context, and that he knows he used bad judgment on January 6 and wishes he had a “do-over.”

Earlier today (Sunday, March 21), Danko tweeted out a link to a NME article about Friday’s hearing, and he included the following message: “Jon Schaffer used bad judgement because he’s a white nationalist piece of dog dung. His band mates cheered him on because ICED EARTH are a terrible band. His request for a ‘do-over’ proves his pathetic weakness. He’s the dictionary definition of a bell-end.” The Canadian rocker, who is the frontman of his namesake trio, added in a separate tweet: “Only those that cosplay at being Alpha want ‘do-overs’. Jon Schaffer and @_IcedEarth are a FAKE band.”

On January 6, then-ICED EARTH vocalist Stu Block appeared to take pleasure in the grim images out of Washington during the pro-Donald Trump riot on Capitol Hill, writing in a since-deleted post on his Facebook page: “Oh it’s happening! History in the making. Sending love to my friends in the US and all over the world!” He later apologized for his post, saying that his “wording was absolutely misunderstood and not properly thought out on my part.” A month later, Block and ICED EARTH bassist Luke Appleton announced their departures from the band.

A short time after Friday’s hearing, Schaffer’s attorney filed a “motion to amend detention order,” claiming that “the government failed to establish Mr. Schaffer’s dangerous to the community by clear and convincing evidence.”

Victor wrote: “Mr. Schaffer is 53 years old. He has no criminal convictions. He does not have a substance abuse or mental health issue. He has no history of violence and was not violent on January 6, 2021. He entered the capitol with pepper spray. He did not threaten anyone with or discharge the spray. He left the capitol after approximately sixty seconds and returned home to Indiana.”

During Friday’s hearing, government lawyers presented exhibits consisting of a video interview Schaffer gave in November 2020 at a pro-Donald Trump rally expressing his political views and a video and still photos taken on January 6, showing him inside the U.S. Capitol holding “bear spray.”

According to WUSA9, the judge cited Schaffer’s comments in the video interview that “if somebody wants to bring violence, I think there’s a lot of us here that are ready for it.”

Schaffer’s attorney argued the musician was not responsible for the insurrection and was encouraged by former president Donald Trump.

“People have the right to believe the highest elected official,” Victor said, according to Indiana Public Media. “My client is not responsible for what happened on January 6.”

Schaffer’s attorney admitted Schaffer “used bad judgment that day” by bringing “bear spray” into the Capitol, but insisted he was only intending to use it for protection.

Schaffer will appear in a status hearing next month.

Last month, a man resembling Schaffer was seen in security footage from the U.S. Capitol riot that the House impeachment managers obtained and submitted as evidence for former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. The clip in question, which was released by CNN on February 15, showed rioters charging through a breached entrance and engaging and pushing officers. Schaffer could be seen near the front of the mob, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, a tactical vest and black leather fingerless tactical gloves, and pointing his finger while yelling at the officers.

Schaffer was held in the Marion County Jail for nearly two months after surrendering to police on January 17. He made his first court appearance the following day.

Just hours after the insurrection, ICED EARTH fans recognized Schaffer in a photo released by federal investigators.

Schaffer is believed to be one of at least 400 people who are being investigated by FBI officials over their roles in the insurrection.

More than 250 criminal cases have been filed so far. Charges include unauthorized access, theft, damage to government property and assault on law enforcement officers.

Jon Schaffer used bad judgement because he’s a white nationalist piece of dog dung.
His band mates cheered him on because Iced Earth are a terrible band.
His request for a “do-over” proves his pathetic weakness.
He’s the dictionary definition of a bell-end. https://t.co/SxJdCV4UHg
— Danko Jones (@dankojones) March 21, 2021

Only those that cosplay at being Alpha want “do-overs”.
Jon Schaffer and @_IcedEarth are a FAKE band. https://t.co/SxJdCV4UHg

— Danko Jones (@dankojones) March 21, 2021

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Finnish melodic death metal masters INSOMNIUM have released a new single “The Conjurer”. The official music video for the song, which was once again created by director Vesa Ranta, can be seen below.

Commented vocalist/bassist Niilo Sevänen: “We haven’t been idle during the pandemic. ‘The Conjurer’ is a tragic tale of jealous and searing love that opens this new chapter for INSOMNIUM. Monumental composition by Markus Vanhala that reaches its peak in the soaring dual guitar solo. The wintry music video was shot in the dreamlike landscapes of northern Finland by director Vesa Ranta and his team. More shall follow…”

After reaching pole position on official Finnish album charts and hitting German Top 10 with the acclaimed album “Heart Like A Grave” in October 2019, INSOMNIUM was once again supposed to entertain the legions of metal addicts all around the world. And that’s what these gentlemen did for the time being: there was definitely no absence of severe headbanging… well, until mid-March 2020 when the good old world abruptly closed its curtains.

Due to the current pandemic, guitarist Ville Friman unfortunately wasn’t able to join the video shoot.

Drummer Markus Hirvonen previously told Sonic Perspectives about “Heart Like A Grave”: “In my opinion, this is easily the strongest INSOMNIUM record we have ever done. There weren’t any plans for diversifying or anything. Maybe the recording of the [2016] ‘Winter’s Gate’ [album] kind of opened the gates in a way for us that we could prove to us that, ‘Okay, there are no boundaries in a way. We can explore all the directions we want. I’m not saying we went like full-on to some weird directions, but yeah, it kind of opened the treasure box for us in a way that we can expand tempo-wise and the timings of the songs, we can play slower and faster and so. Also, maybe explore with the time signatures a bit more, but still keeping the INSOMNIUM [feeling] behind it. It wasn’t like a decision that we were going to diversify our material, but it came up.”

INSOMNIUM is:

Markus Hirvonen – Drums
Ville Friman – Guitars
Niilo Sevänen – Vocals, Bass
Markus Vanhala – Guitars
Jani Liimatainen – Guitars, Vocals

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On May 7, ARTILLERY will release its tenth full-length, “X”, via Metal Blade Records. For a first preview of “X”, the new single, “In Thrash We Trust”, can be heard below.

In the mid-1980s, Denmark’s ARTILLERY established itself as being at the cutting edge of the thrash movement, and nearly 40 years later, it continues to destroy. Returning with its tenth — and aptly titled — full-length, they prove once again that they have not missed a step, delivering a record that’s ruthlessly heavy, catchy and pure molten metal.

“We wanted to have the typical ARTILLERY trademarks, like the riffs and hook lines in the usual combination together with aggression and melody. We always try to combine melodic thrash metal with elements from the heavy sounds of the ’70s and the ’80s, and this time with new elements in some of the songs,” says guitarist Michael Stützer. “We don’t have to push ourselves hard when we’re writing a record because we love what we’re doing.”

Sadly, guitarist — and Michael’s brother — Morten Stützer passed in 2019, which understandably affected the band. Having played a big part in shaping ARTILLERY’s songs and appearing on every album up to 2018’s riveting “The Face Of Fear”, his loss is a real blow. “It was tough, even if he did not play live with us since 2016, he was always supporting us. Morten was a unique musician and writer and a very humorous guy, and following his death was the first time ever I thought about stopping playing music. But he always said that I had to go on with ARTILLERY and continue playing if he was not there anymore. He will be missed so much.” Admitting it was very strange entering into the writing process without him, the brothers typically playing off each other a lot, they still managed to pull things together, helped by the contributions of new guitarist Kræn Meier, who has been playing live with the band since 2017.

“X” was tracked in Medley Studio in Copenhagen, Denmark with producer Søren Andersen, whom the band has worked with on every record since 2009’s “When Death Comes”. As well as his production work, Andersen contributed some keyboards to “The Ghost Of Me”, also adding some effects to a few other songs, and the band recruited their drivers/merch men to contribute some backing vocals on four tracks.

With the record in the can, ARTILLERY is able to start to look toward what is next, hoping the coronavirus pandemic passes soon so that it can get back on the road, but now is also a good time for reflecting on what it has achieved at this point in their lengthy career.

“It feels great and awesome to have been going for nearly forty years,” Michael says. “I’m so glad, and I am so lucky that I can do what I love the most, making albums and touring for our awesome fans. If anyone had told me forty years ago that I would have made ten albums and played in over sixty different countries, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

“X” track listing:

01. The Devils Symphony
02. In Thrash We Trust
03. Turn Up The Rage
04. Silver Cross
05. In Your Mind
06. The Ghost Of Me
07. Force Of Indifference
08. Varg I Veum
09. Mors Ontologica
10. Eternal Night
11. Beggars In Black Suits

ARTILLERY lineup:

Michael Bastholm Dahl – vocals
Michael Stützer – guitars
Kræn Meier – guitars
Peter Thorslund – bass
Josua Madsen – drums

Photo credit: John Mortensson

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Paul Stanley has defended his right to speak out on political issues, saying that he voices his opinions as an American citizen.

The KISS frontman discussed his decision to publicly express his political views in a new interview with Lyndsey Parker of Yahoo Music.

Speaking about the fact that he has used his Twitter account in recent months to blast people who are defiantly skeptical of mask wearing, saying they are posing a risk to themselves and to all those around them, Paul said: “It’s unfortunate that some people are vehemently against [wearing masks], mainly because of it being politicized. There’s so much strange backlash. And when somebody says, ‘Well, the experts, first they said, ‘Don’t wear a mask,’ and then they said, Wear a mask’… Right. Because this is a work in progress, and we’re learning about this virus. So, is it gonna change, is the information gonna change? Of course it’s gonna change. But, unequivocally, what’s been shown, as far as I can see, is that masks are a great deterrent. And depending upon what masks you wear, you’re either protecting the people around you or you’re protecting yourself. You go into N95 masks and KN95 masks, and you’re protecting yourself in addition. So, look, I wish everybody well, and I would like to think that I’m doing my part to spread the information I have. And if some people are angered by it, that’s something they should think about, ’cause it’s nothing to get angry about. I mean, if you disagree, so be it.”

As for those detractors who think musicians like Stanley and his KISS bandmate Gene Simmons should just “shut up and sing” and not share such opinions, Paul said: “It’s interesting. Times have changed, because there was a time where I thought, well, entertainers should just entertain. But the fact is that, quite frankly, I see myself as a citizen. And I think that my voice is at least as important as anyone else’s. And to not be able to voice my opinion actually seems un-American. It’s not surprising to me, at this point, that the people who say ‘shut up’ are the people who don’t agree. If I was on your side, you’d go, ‘Yeah, keep talking.’ It’s not a surprise that the people who would like people like me to not voice an opinion are the people who are on the other side of the fence. And that’s too bad, that’s sad, because, again, I don’t wanna politicize anything. I’m trying to help. I’m trying to make people aware that perhaps we can end this pandemic a little bit sooner and with some less fatality. So it’s not a matter of who you vote for, or conspiracies, or anything like that. I just wanna help.”

Stanley is currently promoting the debut album from his SOUL STATION project, “Now And Then”, which will be released on March 19 via Universal Music Enterprises.

KISS’s farewell trek was launched in January 2019 and was originally scheduled to conclude on July 17, 2021 in New York City but is now expected to last well into 2022.

KISS last performed this past New Year’s Eve in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The concert broke Guinness world records for highest flame projection in a music concert and for most flame projections launched simultaneously in a music concert.

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The attorneys for ICED EARTH guitarist Jon Schaffer have requested a review of their client’s detention order as he awaits trial in Washington in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol.

On Friday (March 19), U.S. Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui ordered the 53-year-old musician, who resides in in Edinburgh, Indiana, held without bail on six federal criminal charges related to his alleged involvement with the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He ruled that while Schaffer wasn’t a flight risk, he does pose a danger to the community.

Schaffer, who is being held in a Washington D.C. jail, appeared before Faruqui via teleconference.

A short time after the hearing, Schaffer’s attorney Marc Victor filed a “motion to amend detention order,” claiming that “the government failed to establish Mr. Schaffer’s dangerous to the community by clear and convincing evidence.”

Victor wrote: “Mr. Schaffer is 53 years old. He has no criminal convictions. He does not have a substance abuse or mental health issue. He has no history of violence and was not violent on January 6, 2021. He entered the capitol with pepper spray. He did not threaten anyone with or discharge the spray. He left the capitol after approximately sixty seconds and returned home to Indiana.”

During yesterday’s hearing, government lawyers presented exhibits consisting of a video interview Schaffer gave in November 2020 at a pro-Donald Trump rally expressing his political views and a video and still photos taken on January 6, showing him inside the U.S. Capitol holding “bear spray.”

According to WUSA9, the judge cited Schaffer’s comments in the video interview that “if somebody wants to bring violence, I think there’s a lot of us here that are ready for it.”

Schaffer’s attorney argued his client’s comments were taken out of context, and that he knows he used bad judgment on January 6 and wishes he had a “do-over.” He pointed out that the guitarist has no prior record and insisted that he isn’t a danger to the community. He also argued the musician was not responsible for the insurrection and was encouraged by former president Donald Trump.

“People have the right to believe the highest elected official,” Victor said, according to Indiana Public Media. “My client is not responsible for what happened on January 6.”

Schaffer’s attorney admitted Schaffer “used bad judgment that day” by bringing “bear spray” into the Capitol, but insisted he was only intending to use it for protection.

Schaffer will appear in a status hearing next month.

Court documents show Schaffer was originally scheduled to appear before the court on Thursday, but was unable to due to processing at a D.C. jail.

Schaffer waived his preliminary hearing as well as his rights to an identity hearing and production of a warrant in late January in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, court documents state. He was then transported by a United States marshal to Washington, D.C. where government lawyers and Schaffer’s legal team have mutually agreed to handle all proceedings.

Last month, a man resembling Schaffer was seen in security footage from the U.S. Capitol riot that the House impeachment managers obtained and submitted as evidence for former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. The clip in question, which was released by CNN on February 15, shows rioters charging through a breached entrance and engaging and pushing officers. Schaffer can be seen near the front of the mob, wearing a blue hooded sweatshirt, a tactical vest and black leather fingerless tactical gloves, and pointing his finger while yelling at the officers.

Schaffer was photographed wearing an “Oath Keepers Lifetime Member” cap during the insurrection. The Oath Keepers describe themselves as an association of former law enforcement and military personnel dedicated to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” But the Anti-Defamation League describes it as “a large but loosely organized collection of right-wing anti-government extremists who are part of the militia movement, which believes that the federal government has been coopted by a shadowy conspiracy that is trying to strip American citizens of their rights.”

Schaffer was held in the Marion County Jail for nearly two months after surrendering to police on January 17. He made his first court appearance the following day.

Just hours after the insurrection, ICED EARTH fans recognized Schaffer in a photo released by federal investigators.

Schaffer is believed to be one of at least 400 people who are being investigated by FBI officials over their roles in the insurrection.

More than 250 criminal cases have been filed so far. Charges include unauthorized access, theft, damage to government property and assault on law enforcement officers.

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Los Angeles alternative metal band GEMINI SYNDROME has released the official music video for its new single, “Die With Me”. The clip, which was directed and edited by Brian Cox, can be seen below.

GEMINI SYNDROME vocalist Aaron Nordstrom stated about the song: “23, Shakespeare, The divine wedding of yin and yang… ‘Die With Me’ is an invitation for the listener to come along on the journey of self-discovery with us, which ultimately leads to the death of the lower self and the resurrection of the higher self. Lao Tzu said, ‘The one created the two, the two created the three, and then came the 10,000 things.’ 2 and 3 respectively correspond to the male and female energies. 2 being a single line and 3 being a triangle or vessel. Therefore 23 signifies the merging of the seemingly opposite energies of male and female.”

GEMINI SYNDROME drummer Brian Steele Medina added: “In our life we have many deaths, and many reincarnations, and these experiences transform us into a more complete version of our true self… Though while we’re going through it, it’s often uncomfortable, painful, and we tend to avoid these spiritual growth spurts because we’re more comfortable sitting in our pain and shit, than walking through it. So, after we’ve walked through enough of these challenges, we might seek out that person, or tribe whose combined experience could help each other traverse that path to transmutation.”

“Our video for ‘Die With Me’ is designed for the watcher to be exposed to certain signs and symbols and evoke a spiritual experience.” continued Medina. “It depicts a young initiate performing a ritual at her sacred altar. The blindfold symbolizes that her quest for truth must begin within. She contemplates time, and she laments death and learns that time is an illusion. She scribes the language of her heart as she cries out to the Universe, (Uni-Verse = The One Song.) And we’re all dead, so that’s cool too.”

“The video for ‘Die With Me’ shows a different side of death than we’ve shown before. Even though we’re all fatally wounded in some way, we’re still performing and extending our invitation. Maybe the girl is performing a ritual to help our souls cross the river styx? Or to keep us animated in our now, dead state,” added Nordstrom.

GEMINI SYNDROME spent the better part of 2018-2019 writing the final installment of its long planned three album trilogy. They retreated to Medina’s Las Vegas home studio, where they meticulously crafted song after song, relentlessly reworking and rearranging the musical arrangements until they were fully satisfied. After an exhaustive writing process, GEMINI SYNDROME relocated to Good Sounds Studio in Tempe, Arizona, where producer Matt Good would help realize the collection of songs. Medina recalls: “We absolutely loved working with Matt and he completely understood where we wanted to take this album creatively and what it was going to take to bring the third chapter of this trilogy to light. Our actual collective blood, sweat and tears went into its creation.”

“Die With Me” follows the release of “IDK” and “Reintegration” and is the band’s first new music since the release of their sophomore album “Memento Mori” (2016), which hit No. 1 on Billboard Heatseakers chart and spawned five singles: “Eternity”, “Anonymous”, “Alive Inside”, “Sorry Not Sorry” and “Remember We Die”.

GEMINI SYNDROME is Aaron Nordstrom (vocals, keyboards), Brian Steele Medina (drums, programming), Alessandro “AP” Paveri (bass), Meegs Rascon (guitar), and Nicholas Paul Arnold (touring guitar).

Photo credit: Dean Karr

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Last month, BUTCHER BABIES released the official music video for their latest single, “Yorktown”. The song, which features a guest solo from guitarist Andy James (FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH), was produced and co-written by Matt Good (FROM FIRST TO LAST). It is the third taste of the band’s forthcoming EP, tentatively due later this year. BUTCHER BABIES previously released the tracks “Bottom Of A Bottle” and “Sleeping With The Enemy”, both of which are also expected to appear on the EP.

BUTCHER BABIES vocalist Carla Harvey told Spain’s Metal Circus that the band is making its music independently after parting ways with longtime label Century Media a couple of years ago. “We’re navigating through a new world where we don’t have a label, but we have distribution through Blood Blast, which is awesome; they’ve been really great to us,” she said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

“It’s not that there’s no labels out there for us — there could be the perfect one, and we just haven’t found it yet — but right now, we thought why not try something a little bit different.

“We kind of live in an age where you don’t necessarily have to have a label. I feel like if you have a great manager, a great lawyer, a great agent, that’s kind of a great team to help push along your career. So if you’re able to pay for your own recordings and get that kind of stuff going, and you have a strong fanbase as it is, why not try it like this?” she explained.

“The whole music industry has changed so much over the last even five years. Since we’ve been a band, it’s changed tremendously over the past decade. So this is a new kind of thing that we’re trying out, and if a great deal comes along, we’ll be happy to take it. But in the meantime, we’re kind of enjoying doing things on our own.”

Added co-vocalist Heidi Shepherd: “It’s been interesting, because a lot of our friends in the industry have kind of taken the way that we decided to do it too, which was to leave the label and try stuff on our own, and it’s been almost a little bit more successful.

“I think that later on, if the right deal comes along, sure, but it wasn’t something that we set out to do, is re-sign,” she continued. “We had offers, but it just didn’t make sense for us. We wanted to really do this on our own. We’ve been signed pretty much our entire career, so it was a really fun and neat experience to kind of do it on our own, and it’s paid off a lot — it really has.

“But, like I said, if the right deal comes along later on, we’ll see. I don’t know. We’re doing fine as we are.”

BUTCHER BABIES’ latest album, 2017’s “Lilith”, was produced by Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SEPULTURA, SUICIDE SILENCE) and marked BUTCHER BABIES’ recording debut with drummer Chase Brickenden, who replaced Chris Warner in 2016.

In July 2019, longtime BUTCHER BABIES bassist Jason Klein announced his departure from the band. He has since been replaced by Ricky Bonazza.

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In a new interview with “Anders Bøtters Tiny TV”, FOO FIGHTERS frontman Dave Grohl reflected on the first time he met Australian hard rock legends AC/DC. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I wasn’t performing at the Grammys; I was presenting an award or something. I’m lucky to say that Paul McCartney is a friend, and I love him very much. As much as he’s a hero of mine, he’s also a very sweet man and a friend. And so he was in town too. And he called and said, ‘What are you doing after the Grammys?’ I said, ‘I think maybe me and [FOO FIGHTERS bandmates] Pat and Taylor are just gonna have dinner.’ And he said, ‘Do you mind if me and Nancy [Paul’s wife] come?’ I’m, like, ‘No. That’d be great.’ So then he bumps into AC/DC in a hotel or something. And then they say, ‘What are you doing after the show?’ And he says, ‘I’m gonna go have dinner with the FOO FIGHTERS.’ And Paul said, ‘Do you wanna come?’ So Paul’s wife calls my wife, and then my wife says, ‘Hey, do you mind if AC/DC comes to dinner?’ And I had never met AC/DC.

“When I was maybe — I don’t know — 10 years old, I went to see that movie ‘Let There Be Rock’, the [AC/DC] live concert film, in a movie theater,” Dave continued. “This is before I was punk rock. That was the first time I saw a performance and heard music that made me wanna fucking break something. And still to this day, I use that as reference for how I like to play a show. I wanna be like AC/DC ‘Let There Be Rock’. That’s a live band.”

Circling back to the first time he met AC/DC, Dave concluded: “So then we had this beautiful night. And there was this jazz band. And it was one of the greatest nights of my entire life.”

After Malcolm Young died in November 2017, Grohl posted a touching tribute to AC/DC’s founding rhythm guitarist on social media. He wrote: “37 years ago, my friend Larry Hinkle and I went to see a midnight movie on a Friday night at the Uptown Theater in Washington D.C. It was 1980. We were 11 years old. The movie was ‘Let There Be Rock’. And it changed my life.

“That film, a live AC/DC performance from Paris [in] 1979, is everything that live [rock] and roll should be. Sweaty. Loose. Loud. A relentless performance from the perfect band. It was the first time I lost control to music. The first time I wanted to be in a band. I didn’t want to play my guitar anymore, I wanted to smash it.

“Thank you, Malcolm, for the songs, and the feel, and the cool, and the years of losing control to your rock and roll.”

FOO FIGHTERS are continuing to promote their latest album, “Medicine At Midnight”, which recently landed at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart with first-week sales of 64,000 copies in the U.S.

FOO FIGHTERS previously topped the chart with 2017’s “Concrete And Gold” and 2011’s “Wasting Light”.

23,000 of “Medicine At Midnight”‘s first-week sales came from vinyl LP sales, with CDs and digital albums registering 20,000 each.

“Medicine At Midnight” came out on February 5 via Roswell Records/RCA Records. The LP is a nine-song, 37-minute effort which was produced by the FOO FIGHTERS and Greg Kurstin.

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PAPA ROACH has released the official music video for the remastered version of its 2015 song “Broken As Me”, featuring a guest appearance by vocalist Danny Worsnop from British rock group ASKING ALEXANDRIA.

“He’s been on our list for a while,” said PAPA ROACH lead singer Jacoby Shaddix, “and having just toured together, we thought of Danny first when listening to some of the deeper cuts on the album. With the pandemic in full swing, Danny was down right away. He’s one of the best vocalists in rock music, so we’re happy he said yes.”

Worsnop added: “Making music with my friends is something I always love and enjoy, so when Jacoby called me about doing something together, I was in right away. The PAPA ROACH guys have been close friends for a long time now and I’m glad they were able to see that the only thing holding them back from stardom all these years was not having me sing on a new version of one of their songs. I think this is really going to put them on the map, and from the bottom of my heart, they’re welcome!”

The track, with such emotionally charged lyrics and raw, powerful vocals from both artists is included on PAPA ROACH’s second greatest-hits collection, “Greatest Hits Vol. 2: The Better Noise Years”, which came out on March 19 via Better Noise Music.

“Greatest Hits Vol. 2 – The Better Noise Years” includes 12 of the band’s top 10 hits released between 2010 to 2019 as well as three previously unreleased remixes and two unreleased acoustic recordings recorded live at the YouTube Studios in New York City.

The band noted: “We wanted to commemorate the last 10 years of our journey with this special collection of the music that got us here.”

PAPA ROACH has continued to stretch its boundaries throughout the years, including features with artists outside their genre — such as their 2017 track “Periscope” with pop artist Skylar Grey (which is included on the new release) — and most recently collaborating with TikTok star/up-and-coming artist Jeris Johnson on a new version of their iconic hit “Last Resort”.

To date, PAPA ROACH has led the path for contemporary rock artists in the digital streaming era with over two billion streams globally and nine million monthly listeners on Spotify. This set encompasses their career history of over 20 Top 5 Active Rock singles, 13 of which occurred in the past decade including four No. 1 singles — “Face Everything And Rise” (2014), “Help” and “Born For Greatness” (both 2017) and “Come Around” (2019).

“Greatest Hits Vol. 2 – The Better Noise Years” track listing:

01. Born For Greatness (Remastered 2020)
02. Help (Remastered 2020)
03. Elevate (Remastered 2020)
04. Come Around (Remastered 2020)
05. Broken As Me (feat. Danny Worsnop of Asking Alexandria)*
06. Falling Apart (Remastered 2020)
07. Who Do You Trust? (Remastered 2020)
08. Gravity (feat. Maria Brink) (Remastered 2020)
09. American Dreams (Remastered 2020)
10. Face Everything And Rise (Remastered 2020)
11. Periscope (feat. Skylar Grey) (Remastered 2020)
12. Still Swingin’ (Remastered 2020)
13. The Ending (Remastered 2020)
14. Burn (Remastered 2020)
15. Kick In The Teeth (Remastered 2020)
16. Elevate (Aelonia Remix)*
17. Help (Aelonia Remix)*
18. Born For Greatness (Cymek Remix) *
19. Top Of The World (Aelonia Remix)*
20. Face Everything And Rise (Live Acoustic) *
21. Leader Of The Broken Hearts (Live Acoustic)*

* previously unreleased

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