
Ashdown at the Guitar Showcase 2023: The MF-484 2.N and MF-284H – 30 and 15 watts of all-valve tone with some very cool modern features
Take a closer look at two standout gems from the boutique British amp builder’s stellar lineup
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Wolfgang Van Halen: Sing the Solo
Wolfgang Van Halen joins Cory for the season 7 premiere of Wong Notes! Chatting before the release of Mammoth II, the duo discuss guitar trios, 5150 studios, cloning, touring with Metallica, plus: Who’s that playing wah on the record? What’s WVH’s rig? And much more.Wong Notes is presented by DistroKid.Use this link for 30% off your first year.On his new record, WVH has lots to share. When it comes to writing and recording rhythm tracks, he’s says, “It’s all groove.” Later, he adds, “I’ve always championed myself as more of a rhythm player than anything.”And on what’s next for EVH gear, he promises that there’s much more in store.But the most profound thoughts come when the pair go deep on music. WVH shares his soloing philosophy, which he learned from his father:”Something I follow … when I write guitar solos that my dad taught me … is you can shred all you want, but if you can’t sing the solo, then it’s usually not working. There’s always a moment … that you can do the wankery of a shreddy solo, but it’s important to be able to hum the melody, you know? That usually, with the way that I write solos … is really deliberate in the way that I write … I’m a pretty poor off-the-cuff soloist, I like to really plan things out and have it be this nice piece. It kind of forms up with a melody, then it crescendos, then by the end it wraps up with … maybe a tapping section or a shreddy sort of passage. Basically, the main thing is you should be able to hum it. The melody should be in your head.”
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Album Premiere: Stepmother – “Planet Brutalicon”
Blast off with retro rockers Stepmother and crash land on their debut of fuzzed-out rowdy riffs, Planet Brutalicon.
The post Album Premiere: Stepmother – “Planet Brutalicon” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

OTEP SHAMAYA: ‘I Don’t Know If I’ll Make Another Record’
OTEP, the band led by singer, poet, illustrator, author and activist Otep Shamaya, released a new studio album, “The God Slayer”, on September 15 via Cleopatra. The follow-up to 2018’s “Kult 45” offers up a mix of inspired original tracks as well as transformative takes on chart-topping hits from a…
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ROB HALFORD, SLASH, TOMMY LEE And Others Donate Items For KITTEN RESCUE’s ‘Fur Ball’ Charity Auction
Once again, Los Angeles’s Kitten Rescue is proving itself to be the most rockin’ cat rescue in the United States. Musicians from around the globe have contributed collectible items to their online auction raising funds for their lifesaving mission.
Own a piece of rock and roll history with a signed…

“This situation is unacceptable”: Vernon Reid has launched a campaign to give under-appreciated guitar geniuses more recognition – and it’s working wonders
Five influential players have been highlighted by the Living Colour guitarist – and now their online profiles have exploded
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Yamaha, Korg and Roland named among five instrument firms facing UK class action lawsuit for fixing prices
The move follows similar action taken against Fender in 2022, with UK customers potentially due compensation
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ALBUM REVIEW: Anthropocene – Broken Vow
The planet’s in the shitter. Environmental collapse, ecological disasters, climate change; it’s a bleak time to be human. As awful as that is, it’s also an endless wellspring of inspiration…
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The pentatonic scale is the most important scale for guitarists – and these 40 licks will take your rock and blues chops to the next level
When it comes to the guitar, the pentatonic is the one scale to rule them all, and despite its ubiquity, the possibilities are limitless – as our deep dive tab and video lesson demonstrates
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SUM 41 Releases New Single ‘Landmines’
Grammy-nominated band SUM 41 has released a new single, “Landmines”, via Rise Records alongside a new music video (set to premiere at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 12:00 p.m. noon EDT).
SUM 41 vocalist Deryck Whibley states: “When I wrote ‘Landmines’, I had no intention of writing an old-school ‘pop punk’ song. I…