Month: April 2021

This June, THE DEAD DAISIES will be dusting off the cobwebs by playing a series of warm-up dates where they finally get to showcase the band’s new lineup which is eager to perform its first new music for fans since 2018.

Said bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes: “We couldn’t play for you in 2020 and we’re really looking forward to seeing you in June/July for our ‘Get Out Of The House’ shows and then hit as many stages around the world as possible throughout the rest of the year. Love is the answer and music is the healer. Let’s rock ‘n’ roll together.”

With more dates planned, but yet to be locked in due to COVID-19 restrictions, the band hope to immediately follow up with more shows in the U.S., Japan, Canada, Russia and Europe over the summer, autumn and winter months.

“Get Out Of The House” tour dates:

Jun. 23 – Boca Raton, FL @ Boca Black Box
Jun. 25 – Nashville, TN @ The Mercy Lounge
Jun. 26 – Chattanooga, TN @ The Signal
Jun. 30 – Detroit, MI @ The Token Lounge
Jul. 02 – Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs
Jul. 03 – Louisville, KY @ Diamond Concert Hall
Jul. 07 – Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory
Jul. 09 – Angola, IN @ The Eclectic Room
Jul. 10 – Harrison, OH @ Blue Note

Influenced by 1970s rock, THE DEAD DAISIES have gone from strength to strength since their debut album in 2013, releasing five studio LPs and playing live to a growing army of fans worldwide. The band’s current lineup includes Hughes (DEEP PURPLE, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) on bass/vocals, Doug Aldrich (DIO, WHITESNAKE) on guitar, Tommy Clufetos (BLACK SABBATH, OZZY OSBOURNE) on drums and David Lowy (RED PHOENIX, MINK) on guitar.

THE DEAD DAISIES’ latest album, “Holy Ground”, was released in January. Recorded at La Fabrique Studios in the south of France with producer Ben Grosse, the LP is the band’s first to feature Hughes, who joined the group in 2019 as its new bassist and vocalist, replacing John Corabi (MÖTLEY CRÜE) and Marco Mendoza (THIN LIZZY).

Drummer Deen Castronovo announced his exit from THE DEAD DAISIES in January, two days after the band’s publicist revealed that Clufetos will rejoin THE DEAD DAISIES when they hit the road in support of “Holy Ground”. Clufetos previously toured with THE DEAD DAISIES in 2015.

Rising star pop singer Electra Mustaine has always been an artist that commands attention — not just from the weight of her lineage (her father is MEGADETH founder Dave Mustaine), but by effusing knowledge of self by unapologetically embracing who she is. At 23 years old, Electra has begun to hone in on a unique identity as a musician, balking the expectations of those who remember her from numerous performances with her father, stints in musical theater and a country-pop rendition of MEGADETH song “I Thought I Knew It All”.

“Evergreen” is the first look at the new world of music we can expect from Electra. A modern pop sheen, infectious beat and lush production (courtesy of Los Angeles-based producer Breyer White) are perfectly paired with lyrics that are as introspective as they are a statement of independence. Her vocals distinguish her from the crowded pack of up and comers in the pop genre, with a unique raspy edge and a wickedly alluring tone that serve as a gentle reminder that even though she isn’t fronting a metal band; she is still a force to be reckoned with. Fans of Miley Cyrus, GARBAGE, Liz Phair, Gwen Stefani et al will find something new to love here.

The accompanying visualizer, created by New York post-industrial stalwart Trace Amount, adds a compelling visual dimension to the song.

“‘Evergreen’ shares my experiences in music and in life; constantly seeming to fail outside expectations but consciously choosing to ignore them” explains Electra. “We all have that little rebellious streak about us. Early on, I was like, ‘ I want to be my own person’. I tried to step away from the identity that was my father’s by doing something opposite musically, but authentic to me!”

Back in 2013, then-15-year-old Electra performed her version of MEGADETH’s “À Tout Le Monde” with Jason Kertson, the grandson of Rob Lind, a member of THE SONICS, at several live appearances, including on King 5’s “New Day” TV show. Three years later, she recorded a cover of “I Thought I Knew It All”, which originally appeared on MEGADETH’s 1994 album “Youthanasia”.

“Being on stage is so addicting,” Electra said in a 2016 interview. “It’s a high that you can’t shake.

“Music is in my blood,” she added. “I just interpret it much differently [from the way my father does].”

Electra told Rolling Stone Country that she wanted to cover “I Thought I Knew It All” because she felt “it’d be a great tribute to MEGADETH fans for all the years of support. I wanted to say thank you, because, honestly, if it weren’t for MEGADETH fans, I wouldn’t be able to try to fulfill my dreams now,” she explained. “I thought, let’s show everyone this is where I come from, and yes, I am Dave Mustaine’s daughter, but look what I can do with it. We tried to make it organic, raw and vocally driven.”

Expect more infectious pop from Electra Mustaine throughout the year — culminating in a full-length release in early 2022.

Decibel brings you this exclusive tan vinyl color LP of At the Gates‘s The Nightmare of Being. Limited to 300 worldwide, so get yours pre-ordered before they sell out!
The post Decibel’s EXCLUSIVE At the Gates ‘The Nightmare of Being’ LP Color Pre-Order Is Available NOW! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Reverb, the largest online marketplace dedicated to buying and selling new, used, and vintage musical instruments, has released “The Pedal Movie” on iTunes, Google Play and Vudu. Through conversations with Peter Frampton, Patrick Carney, Billy Corgan, Graham Coxon, Kevin Shields, Steve Vai, Sarah Lipstate, J Mascis, Nels Cline, Steve Albini and more, Reverb’s first-ever feature-length film is the most comprehensive look at how effects pedals have influenced the sound of popular music as we know it.

“You think about someone like the Edge. You hear a U2 song and if you turn off all the effects, you’re just playing a couple notes, and it’s probably not a great riff. You put all those effects on, and all of a sudden, you’re filling up an arena. You’re filling up a stadium with a wall of sound,” MINUS THE BEAR’s David Knudson tells Reverb in the film. “So, effects add the dynamics and the intensity and sometimes make the song. Sometimes it writes the song for you.”

Through nearly 100 interviews, “The Pedal Movie” explores how an accidental sound made by a faulty recording console on a 1961 country song led to the creation of the first widely-produced fuzz pedal, which rose to fame with THE ROLLING STONES’ “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction” and kickstarted the effects pedal revolution. The film follows how effects and popular music have influenced each other over time, from the pedals that inspired Jimi Hendrix’s playing and the tones that defined LED ZEPPELIN and classic rock to the rhythmic wah sounds of 1970s soul and funk, the shimmering stadium rock of VAN HALEN, the effects that helped spawn shoegaze and alternative forms of rock music in the 1990s, and beyond.

“Over the years, effects pedals have shaped our favorite songs. Despite the wide-reaching influences of these tiny boxes, the full story of how they were created and how they evolved alongside the music they shaped has been largely untold,” said Reverb’s Michael Lux, co-director of “The Pedal Movie”. “Effects pedals have not only been a source of inspiration for countless players over the years, but also they’ve provided a source of income for an entire industry of mostly small businesses working alongside their musical heroes. It’s an important part of music history that Reverb is uniquely positioned to tell based on our centrality to the builders, artists, and more who make up the pedal community.”

Today, there are thousands of effects and pedal brands on Reverb alone, and in 2020, Reverb saw nearly 50,000 searches a day for effects pedals. “The Pedal Movie” explores how the industry grew from a handful of companies several decades ago to a vibrant community that has helped create not only new songs and genres of music, but also new jobs for an industry of musicians and music fans.

“There are bands that I grew up listening to that are using [my] pedal,” Johnny Wator of Daredevil Pedals tells Reverb in the film. “It’s still just crazy for me to wrap my head around AEROSMITH or HIGH ON FIRE using something that I made and designed in my basement.”

Through conversations with builders and leaders from more than 50 brands — including Chase Bliss Audio, EarthQuaker Devices, Frantone Electronics, Gamechanger Audio, JHS Pedals, Meris, Strymon, Walrus Audio, Wampler Pedals, Way Huge Electronics, Dogman Devices, ZVEX Effects, ThorpyFX, Fuzzrocious, Caroline Guitar Company, and many more — “The Pedal Movie” seeks to answer the question: “How did pedals get so big?”

“The initial inspiration for ‘The Pedal Movie’ was us asking how this strange little pocket of the music world grew into this massive community, with new pedals and companies continuously entering the fold,” said Dan Orkin, co-director of “The Pedal Movie”. “Today, there are thousands of builders churning out hundreds of thousands of pedals every year to an ever-growing community of music makers always on the lookout for new ways to express themselves. These little boxes have changed how people make music and ultimately, changed the course of popular music forever.”

For more information, visit www.thepedalmovie.com.

Founding JUDAS PRIEST guitarist K.K. Downing has paid tribute to the band’s former drummer John Hinch, who died on Thursday, April 29 at the age of 73.

Downing said in a statement: “I am extremely saddened to hear that John has passed away as he played his part so well in the creation and the history of JUDAS PRIEST.

“There are so many memories of crazy and fun times we all shared together.

“John was always so dependable and did everything to the best of his ability, including his drumming which looking back can only be described as faultless. The fact that he continued to play to his very last day is testimony to his ability and dedication to his love of the drums.

“I wish to give my sincere condolences to John’s family and loved ones from myself and all of you forever.

“Rest in peace, John.”

Hinch played in several Birmingham, U.K. rock bands, including THE PINCH, THE GENERATION, and THE BAKERLOO BLUES LINE, later BAKERLOO. With singer Rob Halford, he played in the band HIROSHIMA from 1972 to 1973.

In May 1973, Downing and bassist Ian Hill, the founding members of JUDAS PRIEST, were looking for other musicians to complete the lineup for their band, vocalist Alan Atkins and various temporary drummers having left to pursue other musical projects. They approached Halford and Hinch after they saw them playing live with HIROSHIMA. Glenn Tipton joined as second guitarist, and in 1974, they recorded PRIEST’s debut album, “Rocka Rolla”.

Hinch was reportedly dismissed from PRIEST in 1975 over musical differences and personal conflicts, particularly with Tipton.

“We were developing musically,” Halford explained in his autobiography “Confess”, “and we wanted a more adventurous drummer to complement what we were doing.

“Rehearsals had got frustrating. John was trying his best, but he just wasn’t doing what we wanted or, if I am honest, sounding like he ever would.”

Hinch later pursued a career in music management, working with several musicians, including Uli Jon Roth of SCORPIONS fame.

KILLER BE KILLED has released a music video for the song “Animus”, created by Bryan Bankovich and featuring band footage by Jim Louvau. The track is taken from the supergroup’s sophomore album, “Reluctant Hero”, which came out last November via Nuclear Blast.

KILLER BE KILLED, which is comprised of Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA), Troy Sanders (MASTODON) Greg Puciato (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN), and drummer Ben Koller (CONVERGE, ALL PIGS MUST DIE, MUTOID MAN), previously released its self-titled debut album in 2014 via Nuclear Blast Entertainment.

Cavalera stated about “Animus”: “This song is the barbaric side of KILLER BE KILLED; two chords, raw as fuck! Take no prisoners!”

Sanders added: “A cursory homage to the barbaric conquerors, the Huns!”

Regarding KILLER BE KILLED’s continued working relationship with producer Josh Wilbur, Puciato told Good Call Live: “On the first record, I’d never met him, I didn’t know anything about him. We don’t live too far apart and we’ve become friends in the real world now. We play basketball and shit, and he mixed the last DILLINGER album, and I contact him sometimes if I have to do one day of vocal tracking that I don’t want to do myself. He was passionate about KILLER BE KILLED from the get-go; I mean, he was really amped. We have the kind of relationship where it’s more of a collaboration. You can treat the mix as a creative tool too. I can’t imagine us ever doing this without him now, because I think he crushed it. He got some of the best drum sounds that I’ve ever heard in metal, and he pushes us to get the best vocal performances we can. When you have a close relationship with someone as a person, you want to keep working with them and keep exploring. I’m stoked.”

Drummer Dave Elitch (ex-THE MARS VOLTA) played on KILLER BE KILLED’s first CD but was unable to continue with the band due to scheduling conflicts with his other group, ANTEMASQUE.

For their live debut at the 2015 Soundwave festival in Australia, Cavalera, Sanders, Puciato and Koller were joined by Juan Montoya (MONSTRO, ex-TORCHE), who also performed on the KILLER BE KILLED debut album.

Austrian/German post-metal heroes OCEANS have just released their new digital EP “We Are Nøt Okay” via Nuclear Blast. They have also revealed their fourth single, “Everyone I Love Is Broken”, for which the band teamed up with none other than the Robb Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) to call out the dangers of rashly prescribed antidepressants. The accompanying music video, which can be seen below, graphically displays the effects of pill addiction.

OCEANS vocalist/guitarist Timo Rotten commented: “Working with Robb and all the other amazing people that contributed to this EP was an experience I will never forget. Everyone was so positive about it and we all put so much energy into this without the slightest hint of hesitation. It’s just absolutely mind-blowing to me and I couldn’t be happier about how it all turned out. Together we can make a difference and end the stigma of mental health once and for all!”

Flynn added: “The OCEANS team reached out to me with a really unique idea for a song. There was a public blog about depression that anyone could add their story to, the band partnered with the blog and took bits of peoples stories, and from that concept came the lyrics for this song.

“As someone who has battled and written about depression, I know how powerful music can be to fight off the feeling. This song has a powerful message, I’m honored to be a part of this great song.”

OCEANS recently announced a special livestream that — just like their new EP — focuses on various topics surrounding mental health. For this stream, the band will join forces with famous moderator and YouTuber Alex Prinz a.k.a. Der Dunkle Parabelritter as their host and special guests Andy Dörner (CALIBAN), Lena Scissorhands (INFECTED RAIN) and Christoph Wieczorek (ANNISOKAY), who were all involved as guest singers on the new EP. The stream will start on May 2 at 20:00 CEST on the Twitch channel Der Dunkle Parabelritter. During the stream, fans will have the chance to communicate directly with the band via a chat and all donations made during the event will go to the German NPO The Ocean In Your Mind, which will also participate in the stream and whose work is dedicated to those who struggle with their mental health. During this special occasion, OCEANS will also be play acoustic versions of the songs from “We Are Nøt Okay” and reveal more details about the release.

The “We Are Nøt Okay” EP contains four different songs dealing with all aspects of mental illness. Each track features a special guest adding his or her very own style.

Veteran Arizona thrashers FLOTSAM AND JETSAM will release their 14th album, “Blood In The Water”, on June 4 via AFM Records.

With the unveiling of the previously released single “Burn The Sky”, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM gave a first and impressive sneak peek of the forthcoming LP. Now, the thrash heavyweights have unleashed the thunderous album opener and title track with a brand new video. “Blood In The Water” lets you know right off that these guys aren’t messing around as the song comes screaming out of the speakers with a frenzied rhythm section, passionate vocals by Eric “A.K.” Knutson and guitars blazing on ten.

“This last year was a very different year for many of us, and we will say that the tragedy and difficulty had an impact on this song and this new album,” says drummer Ken Mary. “‘Blood In The Water’ is one of the most aggressive FLOTSAM songs ever, but that wasn’t planned. We just tried to pour everything we were feeling into each song. We didn’t want to analyze it or qualify it, and we just let the song be what it was going to be. What you’re hearing is the result of what I’d say is the closest you can get to looking at the inside of Flotzilla’s brain!”

It’s been 35 years since FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, formed in Phoenix, Arizona, released its landmark debut, “Doomsday For The Deceiver”, the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to METALLICA while the band released “No Place for Disgrace” in 1988. “Cuatro” (1992), “Drift” (1995), “High” (1997) and “My God” (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016’s self-titled “Flotsam And Jetsam”, followed by the the crushing 2019 successor “The End Of Chaos” that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt. Fast forward to a planet that was forced to its knees: While spending most of the past year in a holding pattern like the rest of the world, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM made the best of a struggling situation and just let those creative juices and angst flow. What emerged was 12 brand new blistering tracks under the moniker “Blood In The Water”.

“We really had a hell of a time figuring out which songs to actually include in this album, because we don’t feel we had any fillers,” says Steve Conley about the new songs, which clock in at nearly 55 minutes of thrashing glory.

Knutson adds: “We’ve seen our fan base increasing, and we’ve seen the response to the last two albums getting louder and louder. We have some of the most committed and crazy fans in the world. We charted higher on our last album than at any point in our career. Maybe our career path will run similar to MOTÖRHEAD’s, who, although was always considered iconic, didn’t really break through in a big way until later in their career. We feel our time is now… We’re like that dog that’s been kicked…we’re ready to break the door down and take what’s ours.”

And the FLOTSAM lineup has never been stronger. A.K. keeps bringing the magic every album and tour, and oddly seems to be getting better and better as time goes on. He’s backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning-fast engine of drummer Ken Mary (whose Hall Of Fame resume includes over five million albums sold with artists such as ALICE COOPER, HOUSE OF LORDS and ACCEPT), and the “fresh blood” and extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily.

“Blood In The Water” was once again mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (U.D.O., VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, POWERWOLF) and sees FLOTSAM AND JETSAM exploding with creativity, moving forward but nodding to their past.

“Following up ‘The End of Chaos’ was no easy task,” Gilbert said. “We weren’t really sure what we had left in the tank, as we put so much work, sweat, and blood into that album. As it turns out, we had plenty left to say. With everything that’s happened in the world, the friends we lost this last year, and not being able to perform or tour… you hear all of that in our music. It’s angry, it’s aggressive, and our emotions pour out all over this album.”

The track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. Blood In The Water
02. Burn The Sky
03. Brace For Impact
04. A Place To Die
05. The Walls
06. Cry For The Dead
07. The Wicked Hour
08. Too Many Lives
09. Grey Dragon
10. Reaggression
11. Undone
12. Seven Seconds ‘Til The End Of The World

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is:

Eric “A.K.” Knutson – Vocals
Steve Conley – Guitar
Michael Gilbert – Guitar
Bill Bodily – Bass
Ken K Mary – Drums

May 28 will see the release of GWAR’s “The Disc With No Name” via Pit Records. The EP is a limited-edition 12-inch picture disc, which is sold out at GWAR.net, but limited quantities will be available at indie retail stores in the U.S. starting at the end of next month.

“The Disc With No Name” features unplugged versions of four GWAR classics, completely reimagined and rearranged with acoustic instruments.

Today, your Lords and Masters have unveiled a new epic video for the acoustic version of “Fuck This Place”.

Guitarist Pustulus Maximus confessed: “I forgot to pay my electric bill so we were forced to rehearse acoustically and this is the result. The GWAR, the bad, and the ugly.”

Singer Blóthar the Berserker had a somewhat more confusing take: “This isn’t what I thought they meant by ‘unplugged.’ I haven’t been able to muster a turd for years.”

The idea to release the EP came during last year’s quarantine following the band’s heart wrenching, emotional and ridiculous acoustic performance for The A.V. Club during their quarantine sessions. With this release, the band looks back wistfully on eons of murderous rock and roll and the lonesome time of the great Gwarantine of 2020.

Blóthar had this to say: “During the quarantine of 2020 I spent long, lonely days with my hand down my pants, hiding out in a fortress made entirely of rolls of toilet paper, drinking hand sanitizer and watching ‘1000-Lb Sisters’… which is business as usual for me. So I was relieved when I got the call to lay down some vocals on ‘The Disc With No Name’. We recorded this record over the telephone, which was fine with me, because I can’t stand to be in the same room as the other members of GWAR.”

“The Disc With No Name” track listing:

Side A:

01. Fuck This Place
02. Gonna Kill You

Side B:

01. I’ll Be Your Monster
02. The Road Behind

Dave Brockie, who fronted GWAR under the name Oderus Urungus, was found dead in his home in Richmond, Virginia in March 2014. According to Virginia’s State Medical Examiner’s Office, he died from acute heroin toxicity by accidental means.

Brockie was last remaining original member of GWAR, which was founded 37 years ago. He was 50 years old.

The satirical metal band earned a following for its macabre, over-the-top costumes, offensive lyrics and graphic, gore-soaked shows, in which the bandmembers performed as the descendants of alien warriors who arrived on Earth to enslave and slaughter the human race.