Month: March 2021

Canadian rock legends TRIUMPH will release a 40th-anniversary box set of their classic 1981 album “Allied Forces” to celebrate this year’s Record Store Day. In addition, the trio — drummer Gil Moore, guitarist/vocalist Rik Emmett and bassist Mike Levine — has been named Canadian Ambassadors for Record Store Day, which takes place June 12 and July 17.

“We’re really proud to be this year’s ambassadors,” Moore said in a video message.

“When I got interested in music, my buddies and I in the neighborhood, we had a pilgrimage pretty much every weekend. On Saturday morning, we’d all get to the bus station and get ourselves downtown. And here in Toronto, we had Sam The Record Man on Yonge Street, which was the record store that was the ‘be all, end all’ of vinyl… That’s what got me started playing drums,” he explained.

“So make your way over to your local record store and parse through those beautiful vinyl records, find some music that you wanna fall in love with, and turn it up loud.”

The TRIUMPH box set, due out June 12 via Round Hill Records, will include the following:

* Vinyl #1: Picture disc of original “Allied Forces” studio album
* Vinyl #2: 2xLP live in cleveland 1981
* Vinyl #3: 7″ single – tribute 2021
* Version of “Allied Forces” + “Magic Power” live from Ottawa 1982 (never before released)
* 11×17 Maple Leaf Gardens Poster (Canada exclusive)
* 24-page booklet featuring rare photos and behind the scenes + “Allied Forces” essay
* 40th-anniversary “Allied Forces” retro tour book
* 40th-anniversary “Allied Forces” retro tour poster
* 40th-anniversary “Allied Forces” retro tour pass
* Rik pics (three hand-drawn cartoons)
* Handwritten lyrics (“Magic Power”, “Allied Forces” and “Fight The Good Fight”)

“We’re extremely proud of ‘Allied Forces’,” Levine said in a press release. “It was the record that started the global rocket ride for us. And we’re also excited to share with our fans some really great moments from our archives with this box set.”

TRIUMPH reformed its classic lineup of Moore, Emmett and Levine for an invite-only event in November 2019 at Moore’s MetalWorks studio in Mississauga (a suburb of Toronto), Ontario, Canada. The reunion — which was taped for the forthcoming documentary “Triumph: Lay It On The Line” — stoked discussion whether the band would join the ranks of other veteran rockers for a reunion tour.

In an interview with Canada’s The Metal Voice, Moore was asked about the possibility of new music from TRIUMPH in the not-too-distant future. He responded: “It’s hard to say. There’s nothing stopping us. Obviously, MetalWorks is still there.

“We played three songs in the film, and they’re recorded,” he continued. “So, actually, that live performance is part of the documentary. And Mike and Rik and I have kicked around the idea of going back in the studio. Mike and I recorded a little bit on Rik’s last album.

“We’re all quite busy, so finding the time to do it, and the musical inspiration and so on, it could happen. We’ll see.”

TRIUMPH hasn’t released a studio album since 1992’s “Edge Of Excess”.

Back in 2016, Moore and Levine reunited with Rik as special guests on the “RES 9” album from Emmett’s band RESOLUTION9.

After 20 years apart, Emmett, Levine and Moore played at the 2008 editions of the Sweden Rock Festival and Rocklahoma. A DVD of the historic Sweden performance was made available four years later.

Emmett has said in various interviews over the years that he would welcome the chance to play TRIUMPH songs with Moore and Levine again but that those two have been reluctant to commit. “If the carrot was big enough and golden enough, I think it would make Mike and Gil, but especially Gil, do it,” Emmett told the QMI Agency back in 2012.

Moore, Levine, and Emmett formed TRIUMPH in 1975, and their blend of heavy riff-rockers with progressive odysseys, peppered with thoughtful, inspiring lyrics and virtuosic guitar playing quickly made them a household name in Canada. Anthems like “Lay It On The Line”, “Magic Power” and “Fight The Good Fight” broke them in the USA, and they amassed a legion of fiercely passionate fans. But, as a band that suddenly split at the zenith of their popularity, TRIUMPH missed out on an opportunity to say thank you to those loyal and devoted fans, a base that is still active today, more than three decades later.

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Members of GUNS N’ ROSES, KISS, SKID ROW, MÖTLEY CRÜE, ANTHRAX, WARRANT and BULLETBOYS are among the musicians who have reacted on social media to the passing of longtime Metal Edge editor Gerri Miller.

Miller, a veteran lifestyle and entertainment journalist who had also contributed to a variety of print and web outlets, including Glamour, People.com, MNN.com, Lupus Now, Muscle & Fitness, Jewish Journal, Brain World, FromtheGrapevine.com and ScienceNewsForStudents.com, reportedly died on Sunday, March 14 after a battle with cancer. It is believed that she was 67 years old.

Metal Edge had been publishing for 24 years before closing its doors in 2009. Covering bands across the hard rock spectrum — from classic metal to thrash to punk — Metal Edge was considered a leading voice in the mainstream metal media. Launched in 1985, Metal Edge was published twelve times a year — providing in-depth coverage of current musical acts, including band profiles, news of the latest releases and coverage of the biggest tours.

KISS wrote: “We are saddened by the passing of our friend Gerri Miller. RIP. She was a champion of so many bands during her time at Metal Edge magazine and loved the music and scene of it all. Our deepest sympathies to her family & friends.”

WARRANT tweeted: ” RIP Gerri Miller from Metal Edge Magazine. She gave @warrantrocks our first national press before we had a record deal and was a huge supporter of 80s Rock Bands. Thank You for all your support and God Bless in Heaven”.

ANTHRAX drummer Charlie Benante said: “I am very sad to hear this. We loved Gerri , she was such a Huge part of the success of so many bands. I will never forget her”.

SKID ROW guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo tweeted: “This sucks!! Gerri was so kind to our band and so many others in our early days and beyond. You could always count on her support. She played a big part in our success. So sorry for all of her family and friends (of which there were many). You will be missed.”

Sad news: Gerri Miller (center rear, below), Metal Edge editor/contributor to numerous publications, passed last night after months of fighting cancer. She contributed greatly to the success of countless ’80s/’90s rock bands. Her unique insight, humor & friendship will be missed. pic.twitter.com/GlkNpVGLwH
— Adrianne Stone (@nooyawktawk) March 15, 2021

We are saddened by the passing of our friend Gerri Miller. RIP. She was a champion of so many bands during her time at Metal Edge magazine and loved the music and scene of it all. Our deepest sympathies to her family & friends. pic.twitter.com/ZEKDO6wFSz
— KISS (@kiss) March 16, 2021

The sound of Gerri’s camera is the first thing that you hear on our debut album Stick it to ya on the song Eye To Eye.
Thank you Gerri ….much love always….
Mark#RIP #metaledgemagazine#roundupquestions #metaledgeawards pic.twitter.com/KvBbBlmDBd
— Mark Slaughter (@markslaughter33) March 16, 2021

Gerri was a dear friend with a generous heart to not only myself but to all.
She promoted the music that she loved with enthusiasm and introduced new music and artists through the magazine Metal Edge. pic.twitter.com/EZ1R0Hyk2R
— Mark Slaughter (@markslaughter33) March 16, 2021

This sucks!! Gerri was so kind to our band and so many others in our early days and beyond. You could always count on her support. She played a big part in our success. So sorry for all of her family and friends (of which there were many). You will be missed.
— sNAKE sABO (@sNAKEsABO) March 15, 2021

I am very sad to hear this. We loved Gerri , she was such a Huge part of the success of so many bands. I will never forget her ? https://t.co/t8cyGCldXR
— Charlie Benante (@skisum) March 15, 2021

RIP Gerri Miller from Metal Edge Magazine ? She gave @warrantrocks our first national press before we had a record deal and was a huge supporter of 80s Rock Bands. Thank You for all your support and God Bless in Heaven ?? pic.twitter.com/Nzn1yFQ9XV
— WARRANT (@warrantrocks) March 15, 2021

R.I.P Gerri pic.twitter.com/qM3Ywsilwc
— John Corabi (@Crablegs59) March 16, 2021

Was literally just tweeting about Gerri last week wondering where was she? I never understood why she wasn’t all over the internet ? she did so much for rock and roll rest in peace Gerri Miller https://t.co/QMhCErtOAl
— Sebastian Bach (@sebastianbach) March 16, 2021

Gerri was a champion to all of us! RIP Gerri Miller. We’ll never forget you?? https://t.co/BnT67etxbO
— TONY HARNELL (@tonyharnell) March 15, 2021

Rip #GerriMiller
An icon and journalist/editor. It was because of her that every 80s metal band is famous today. Godspeed journey Gerri! #MetalEdgeMagazine @MetalEdgeMag https://t.co/TM0dB3xCG3
— Marten Andersson (@anderssonmarten) March 16, 2021

#RIP, #gerrimiller. No New York or LA gig was complete without a visit from you. You kept a lot of us in the public eye, just ‘cause you wanted to. You’ll be missed. @metaledgemagazine #smileforgerri https://t.co/o6jwPMv7iv
— Chris McLernon (@chrismclernon) March 15, 2021

RIP #gerrimiller #metaledge Thank you for all the love you gave all of us!! Thoughts and prayers go out to your family! BB??? https://t.co/FrBHMOkAEc
— BulletBoys (@TheBulletBoys) March 15, 2021

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METALLICA guitarists James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett playeed the U.S. national anthem before tip-off on Monday (March 15) as the Golden State Warriors took part in a Western Conference NBA showdown versus the Los Angeles Lakers at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California. Check out video below.

Hetfield and Hammett previously performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Warriors before game 3 of the NBA finals against the Toronto Raptors in June 2019.

METALLICA has always kept strong ties to the Bay Area sports scene: the band has also performed before San Francisco Giants baseball games and San Jose Sharks hockey games.

Hammett told ESPN.com that he feels the version of the national anthem they perform is “really unique and different.”

Prior to Monday night, the pair most recently performed it virtually before the September 2020 baseball game featuring the San Francisco Giants and the Colorado Rockies.

“They’re always a pleasure. Come on, to be able to support a hometown team in the best possible way, it’s a huge honor,” Hammett said in an interview. “And also to be able to play the national anthem for a hometown team, that’s just beyond huge. As a native San Franciscan, the honor to be a civil servant for San Francisco cannot be higher for me to play the national anthem with James.”

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“Elasticity”, Serj Tankian’s fifth solo release and his first since 2013’s solo full-length “Orca”, is a batch of songs that Tankian had originally planned to release with SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Never idle, not by any means, he is constantly immersed in a variety of endeavors including musical collaborations, painting, composing music for film and perpetually engaging in activism. That politically conscious mindset, which has always been threaded through SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s music, overtly presents itself here on the new EP, particularly on “Electric Yerevan”, a song that champions his beloved homeland, which has and continues to endure hardship and conflict.

This EP is, as we would expect, tremendously eclectic. The title track is augmented by electronic pulses throughout, and the uplifting, hook-laden song is driven by Serj’s quick, impassioned vibrato, which rolls off his tongue, as well as his equally characteristic, frantic carnivalesque delivery. “Your Mom”, meanwhile, juxtaposes hefty humanitarian concerns with the song’s spastic, jovial, bubble gum bounce, which clearly sounds like SYSTEM OF A DOWN circa 2021. “Rumi” is a calming, loving song Serj wrote both about his son Rumi and Rumi the poet, which only takes on a full-frontal hard rocking charge during the chorus, and “How Many Times?” is a piano-driven song that’s even more relaxed with sparse heavy guitar work slightly resembling heavy metal from the eighties.

Serj Tankian is an incredibly talented and brilliant creative force who is the subject of the new documentary “Truth To Power”, which is an overview of his journey through music and activism. He has played hopscotch across various art forms and musical genres, and his presence in the worlds of rock and metal have been sorely missed. SYSTEM OF A DOWN fans may be disheartened that last year’s two tracks aren’t a precursor of more to come in the immediate time frame, but they have reason to rejoice with SERJ TANKIAN’s “Elasticity”. The release may not be neck-and-neck with the best that SYSTEM OF A DOWN had to offer, but it’s the next best thing. And it ain’t bad at all.

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Yngwie Malmsteen has announced that he will release a new studio album called “Parabellum” in July. “I spent the whole year writing and recording a [it],” the legendary Swedish guitarist said during an appearance earlier today (Monday, March 15) on SiriusXM’s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET). “I’m really excited about that. So that was what I concentrated on. Obviously, I wanted to play live, but we all know what happened there.”

Elaborating on how he went about making a new studio album during the coronavirus pandemic, Yngwie said: “The thing is, the last few years — 10, 15 years or so, at least — I made records, but I made them, like, I go on the road and I go in the studio for maybe a week, and then I stop and I go on the road. Which is not a bad thing, mind you — that’s actually a pretty good thing. But the last time I remember being this intense, I think, was ‘Trilogy’. It’s not only recording — it’s writing too. It’s the writing process, it’s arrangement — it’s everything. And I did go completely crazy in the direction… Everybody knows me for the classical thing, and it’s very much that. We’ll see how people react on it, but I listened to it just the other day after staying away from it a little bit. It’s pretty extreme. I go faster than ever, there’s more of everything…”

He continued: “I really enjoy it. I think it’s a little different in that it’s made in a different way, because I was extremely immersed in this as far as writing and recording and arranging for such a long time that I think it might be a little different end result. But everybody’s gonna know who it is. There’s not gonna be any weird left turns, like blues or stuff like that — which I love too, of course. But no, this is very much a Malmsteen-esque classical thing that people know but maybe a little extra — maybe a little more extreme than before. [Laughs]”

Yngwie, who turned 57 last June, went on to say that he once again handled all the lead vocals on his new LP. “I’m singing more melodic stuff. There’s a lot of harmonies and stuff like that,” he explained. “There’s a couple of ballads too — one ballad, actually. I’m happy with it. It’s mostly instrumental — there’s only four songs with vocals. But the album is… I don’t know what to compare it to, but it’s pretty extreme. It’s double-bass drums and fast classical stuff all the way out. It’s pretty nutty.”

As previously reported, Yngwie will take part in a one-night only exclusive livestream event — complete with full, live band — on March 20 from the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, Nevada. Tickets can be purchased at yngwie.veeps.com.

Malmsteen’s live performances see him backed by a lineup that includes keyboardist Nick Marino, bassist/vocalist Ralph Ciavolino and drummer Brian Wilson.

Yngwie’s latest album, “Blue Lightning”, came out in March 2019 via Mascot Label Group. On the disc, Yngwie paid homage to those from the blues world who have fueled his artistic spirit for so long. “Blue Lightning” also included four original tunes that bring to the fore Malmsteen’s love for the blues. “I have always featured songs with a blues groove on albums,” he said in a press release. “So, having my own material in this vein was very natural for me.”

Among the songs Malmsteen tackled on “Blue Lightning” were classics by THE BEATLES (“While My Guitar Gently Weeps”), Jimi Hendrix (“Foxey Lady”, “Purple Haze”), THE ROLLING STONES (“Paint It Black”), ZZ TOP (“Blue Jean Blues”), DEEP PURPLE (“Demon’s Eye”, “Smoke On The Water”) and Eric Clapton (“Forever Man”).

March 20th, 7:30PM PT, join The Maestro himself, Yngwie Malmsteen, in a ONE-NIGHT ONLY exclusive, LIVESTREAM event (complete with full, live band) as he performs his legendary songs from the entertainment capital of the world, Las Vegas, NV!
Tickets @: https://t.co/Oj6NfSiZaZ pic.twitter.com/j32vJk0mo9

— Yngwie Malmsteen (@OfficialYJM) March 3, 2021

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LINDEMANN, the project featuring vocalist Till Lindemann of German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN and Swedish producer and multi-instrumentalist Peter Tägtgren (HYPOCRISY, PAIN), will release a concert film, “Live In Moscow”, on May 21 on Blu-ray. The set will include professionally filmed video footage of LINDEMANN’s March 15, 2020 performance at Moscow, Russia’s VTB Arena.

“Live In Moscow” track listing:

01. Skills In Pills
02. Lady Boy
03. Fat
04. Frau & Mann
05. Ich Weiss Es Nicht
06. Allesfresser
07. Knebel
08. Home Sweet Home
09. Cowboy
10. Golden Shower
11. Blut
12. Platz Eins
13. Praise Abort
14. Fish On
15. Ach So Gern
16. Gummi
17. Steh Auf

Last November, Lindemann and Tägtgren confirmed that they were ending their collaboration on the LINDEMANN project.

LINDEMANN’s second album, “F & M”, was released in November 2019. The follow-up to 2015’s “Skills In Pills” was once again produced and mixed by Tägtgren.

“Skills In Pills” reached gold status in Germany and was entirely in English. On the second opus, Lindemann went back to singing exclusively in German.

In 2019, Till told Kerrang! that “F & M” was originally intended for the stage. “We were writing for the theater originally, writing three songs for the director of a production of ‘Hansel And Gretel’, by the Brothers Grimm,” he said. “It was a perfect topic [for us] — morbid and brutal but very romantic. We were writing music on demand to fit with the piece, and so, of course, the lyrics were in German, because the theater company was based in Hamburg. It was fun.”

Tägtgren told Australia’s Heavy that there was no shortage of ideas for LINDEMANN’s second album. “We are constantly writing,” he explained. “The Internet is a really big help. Till will have an idea and send it to me on SMS or whatever, and I kind of trigger off that and start writing a song off that. Or sometimes it is the other way — I have an idea and send it to him and he triggers Till. Today that is easy. Then we catch up and do the vocals in my studio, so there was a few trips to do this album. He flies in from Berlin — that’s like one hour on the plane and then two hours on the train — and he is at my place. There are always gaps here and there though… when you have to take a break to have a shower or brush your teeth… but we come back.”

LINDEMANN had received some criticism due to its use of pornography during its second album cycle, with the music video for “Platz Eins” described by one site as “full-on art porn — slick and stylish, weird and experimental, and definitely X-rated.”

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HALESTORM frontwoman Lzzy Hale spoke to Matt Pinfield of KLOS’s “New & Approved” series about the songwriting sessions for the band’s follow-up to 2018’s “Vicious” album. She said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It’s been a roller-coaster ride, because we were writing for the record and actually getting together right here in my home studio every single day before the [coronavirus-related] lockdown happened, which I think tomorrow marks a year to the day when all that craziness started. So we were getting together and we were writing songs, and then, slowly but surely, it just felt like every single day we were getting more bad news, and we just basically made a decision, like, ‘Okay, guys, until this blows over ‘ — [laughs] which we thought it was going to blow over — ‘let’s everybody just stay at home.’ So the songwriting process kind of became more or less this relay sport, where it would start with myself or myself and my guitar player [Joe Hottinger], and then we would pass it off to Josh [Smith, bass], the bass player, and [eventually] send it to Arejay [Hale, drums]. And so we just ended up building up this kind of Dropbox of ideas. And then we started including our producer, Nick Raskulinecz, in all of these ideas, and so we’d go back and forth with that. And then, finally, just a couple of weeks ago, we got asked to perform THE WHO’s ‘Long Live Rock’ for the documentary ‘Long Live Rock’. And so that was kind of our, ‘Okay, well, we have to get together and do this in a real studio. So everyone get tested, and everybody wear your mask the whole time.’ And it was kind of like shaking off the dust — it was getting the band back together again. So it was kind of cool to initially break through with THE WHO song and then we started in on our actual material.”

Regarding the lyrical themes covered in the new HALESTORM songs, Lzzy said: “I’m just now seeing this arc, because there were the songs that we were writing just kind of coming off the road, where it’s very confident and very live and energy. And then it kind of starts to get — still keeping the energy up, but then subject matter starts to get a little crazier and maybe a little darker. And then it’s kind of starting to dip into some more hope now. So I feel like, in real time, this is going to kind of be like almost a musical documentary of what we’ve gone through, through this past year and change.”

“Halestorm Reimagined”, a collection of reworked HALESTORM original songs as well as a cover of “I Will Always Love You”, the love ballad made famous by Whitney Houston and Dolly Parton, was made available in August.

Lzzy and her brother Arejay formed the band in 1998 while in middle school. Hottinger joined the group in 2003, followed by Smith in 2004.

In December 2018, HALESTORM was nominated for a “Best Rock Performance” Grammy Award for its song “Uncomfortable”.

In 2012, the band won its first Grammy in the category of “Best Hard Rock/ Metal Performance” for “Love Bites (So Do I)”. According to the Grammy web site, Lzzy became the first woman to earn a Grammy in the category.

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Punk Rock & Paintbrushes has announced a new publication date for “Punk Rock & Paintbrushes: The Insides Of Artists Written By Outsiders”, co-created by Emily T. Nielsen (Punk Rock & Paintbrushes) and Warren Fitzgerald (THE VANDALS). The exclusive coffee table art book will be out April 15 and is available for pre-order now at www.PunkRockArt.com.

Punk Rock & Paintbrushes is a unique arts management company and art show producer that bridges the gap between art and music. “The Insides Of Artists Written By Outsiders” features 26 chapters, each showcasing artwork and personal stories from participating artists.

“Punk Rock & Paintbrushes: The Insides Of Artists Written By Outsiders” chapters include:

* Tim Armstrong: Punk, Passion & Paint
* Chali 2na: Manphibian Missions
* Jason Cruz: Screaming Smoke and Paintings Sung in the Key of A Minor
* Natalia Fabia: Lady Painter
* Sarah & Eric Melvin: A Couple That Paints Together
* Mark deSalvo: Leftover Liner Notes
* Steve Caballero: Skate and Create
* Paul Kobriger: The Footprint of Humans as Told Through a Ball Point Pen
* Carla Harvey: Sex & Transgressions
* Charlie Benante: Persistence Gets Surreal
* Chris Shary & Lori Herbst: Folie a Deux
* Christian Hosoi: Unrestricted Expression
* Jim Lindberg: Every Single Day
* Brent Broza: Time For a Change
* Danielle Donohue: The Great Gatsby or the GREATEST Gatsby???
* Dan Smith: Heart and Soul
* Olya & Vira – Mad Twins: Twins of Madness
* Matt Hensley: Under Pressure
* Jason Adams: Destination Nowheresville USA
* Jennie Cotterill: Bad Cop, Good Cake
* Tokyo Hiro: From Taboo to Tattoo
* Mike Gallo: My Life. My Way Everyday
* Shawn Foley: Chaotic Ambition
* Brian Bent: Bent Not Broken
* Soma Snakeoil: DominARTrix: Intersection of Sex, Art & Politics
* Warren Fitzgerald: An All Access Sanctuary of Self Expression & Autonomy

Nielsen created Punk Rock & Paintbrushes as a platform for artists to showcase their creativity and wildness, their lifestyle, their talents and successes at gallery exhibits and music festivals. As an extension of these exhibitions, “The Insides Of Artists Written By Outsiders” represents these sentiments and reminds us that “punk rock is not just about music and paintbrushes are not just tethered to the idea of art, but instead the two together are the perfect combination of life in a radical way,” says Nielsen.

The roots of Punk Rock & Paintbrushes reach back to 2007 when Nielsen asked friend Tim McIlrath (RISE AGAINST) to paint a piece of art with the lyrics to the RISE AGAINST song “Survive” for her after overcoming a battle with cancer. The painting has traveled around the world with Emily and is an everyday reminder that “how we survive is what makes us who we are.”

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