Considerably lighter than the original, the successor to the iconic DL4 delay features a total of 30 delay types and an XLR dynamic microphone input.The DL4 MkII features 15 delays drawn from the HX family of amp and effects processors, for a total of 30 delay types. The MkII delays include both revered classics and Line 6 originals such as Harmony Delay, Pitch Echo, Euclidian Delay, Glitch Delay, and ADT tape delay. There are also 4-Switch and 1-Switch looper types, each with up to 240 seconds of record time, expandable to several hours using an optional microSD card. Additional features include an XLR dynamic microphone input; MIDI capabilities such as real time parameter control and preset selection (up to 128); MIDI In and Out/Thru DIN connectors; heavy duty foot-switches; and switchable true, buffered, or DSP bypass. An optional expression pedal or two external foot-switches may also be connected for increased creative control.Finally, although the DL4 MkII does everything that the original DL4 does (other than run on batteries), it is considerably smaller and lighter.Line 6 | DL4 MkII | Overview$419.99 USD. Available now worldwide. Learn more at https://line6.com/effects-pedals/dl4-mkii/

JUDAS PRIEST was rejoined by guitarist Glenn Tipton on stage during the band’s headlining concert Sunday night (March 20) at the H-E-B Center at Cedar Park in Cedar Park, Texas.

As he has done a number of other times over the course of the last four years, Tipton appeared with PRIEST for the encore, performing “Metal Gods”, “Breaking The Law” and “Living After Midnight”.

Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below (courtesy of DeadMike.com).

Tipton was diagnosed with Parkinson’s eight years ago — after being stricken by the condition at least half a decade earlier — but announced in early 2018 he was going to sit out touring activities in support of JUDAS PRIEST’s latest studio album, “Firepower”. He was replaced by “Firepower” album producer Andy Sneap, who is also known for his work in NWOBHM revivalists HELL and cult thrash outfit SABBAT.

PRIEST singer Rob Halford recently told Metal Pilgrim that Glenn is “still actively involved with JUDAS PRIEST, a hundred percent. Andy is still standing in that spot for Glenn with Glenn’s blessing… And my gratitude to Andy. It couldn’t have happened in a better way, if you wanna try and make something good out of it. It was a really important day when Glenn said, ‘I think it’s probably best if I step to the side and maybe we should let Andy come in.’ That was just a really beautiful act of selflessness. That’s Glenn treasuring PRIEST and PRIEST’s reputation, particularly in live concert more than anything else. So bless Glenn for that. And as a result, Andy stepped in and did amazing work on the ‘Firepower’ tour, and we’re looking forward to doing the same thing with him on this 50th-anniversary [tour]. And don’t discount the fact that Glenn can show up. He plays the guitar differently, but there’s no reason why Glenn can’t show up and do some work. I mean, I’ve said to Glenn, ‘Just walk out on stage and do that to everybody [flashes devil horns], and the people will just go fucking crazy, ’cause you are loved so much.’ But I’ve got a feeling that Glenn’s gonna be making the occasional appearance on this 50th-anniversary [tour].”

Bassist Ian Hill is the sole remaining original member of PRIEST, which formed in 1969. Halford joined the group in 1973 and Tipton signed on in 1974. Rob left PRIEST in the early 1990s to form his own band, then came back to PRIEST in 2003. Founding guitarist K.K. Downing parted ways with the band in 2011, and was replaced by Richie Faulkner.

PRIEST’s current North American tour kicked off on March 4 at Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois and will conclude on April 13 at FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Support on the trek is coming from QUEENSRŸCHE.

JUDAS PRIEST was forced to postpone around two dozen North American shows on its rescheduled 50th-anniversary tour in late September after Faulkner suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during a performance at the Louder Than Life festival. He ended up undergoing a 10-hour life-saving surgery a short distance away at Rudd Heart and Lung Center at UofL Health – Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky.

ANTHRAX has apparently resumed work on material for the band’s next studio album.

Earlier today (Tuesday, March 22), the group’s social media was updated with a photo of guitarist Scott Ian, drummer Charlie Benante and bassist Frank Bello in what appears to be a recording studio, along with the caption: ” Forging new metal in an undisclosed location…. #anthrax”.

Ian discussed the progress of the songwriting sessions for ANTHRAX’s follow-up to 2016’s “For All Kings” during a July 2021 appearance on Full Metal Jackie’s nationally syndicated radio show. At the time, he said: “We’ve been at it for a little while now. We actually started writing in ’19 — pre-COVID — and kind of stepped away from things when COVID happened. We were all separate and apart and we would kind of revisit some of the demos, but we weren’t actively working on it. And that’s actually started up again over the last couple of months, as far as kind of reopening the books on the new material and thinking about it and working on it.

“Yeah, it’s the same as it’s always been,” he said. “I would have to think by the time we get to the other side of the writing process and we decide we’re ready to go record it, I would have to assume it’s certainly going to represent this time in our lives. And the world having gone through a pandemic, I would imagine certainly that’s in some way, shape or form going to come out through this next record. I can’t tell you how yet, but I would have to think it’s going to.”

ANTHRAX celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2021 with a number of special activities and events. Formed by Ian and bassist Dan Lilker in Queens, New York on July 18, 1981, ANTHRAX was one of the first thrash metal bands to emerge from the East Coast and quickly became regarded as a leader in the genre alongside METALLICA, SLAYER and MEGADETH.

Active over the past five decades, ANTHRAX has released 11 studio albums, been awarded multiple gold and platinum certifications, received six Grammy nominations, toured the world since 1984 playing thousands of shows, including headlining Madison Square Garden and playing Yankee Stadium with the “Big Four”.

“For All Kings” was called by some critics ANTHRAX’s strongest album to date. Its arrival followed a five-year period during which the group experienced a rebirth of sorts, beginning with ANTHRAX’s inclusion on the “Big Four” tour, and continuing with the 2011 release of comeback LP “Worship Music”.

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In a new interview with Liz Barnes of Planet Rock’s “My Planet Rocks”, HEART singer Ann Wilson was asked if there are any plans for the band to return to activity once she completes the touring cycle for her upcoming solo album, “Fierce Bliss”. She responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Oh, I think so, yeah. Because next year’s the 50-year [anniversary] of when we actually got together and got going. Nancy [Wilson, Ann’s sister and HEART guitarist] didn’t join until ’75, but the band got going in ’73. So, yeah, we have a bunch of stuff planned for next year. So I can definitely see HEART doing something.”

Ann’s comments come a month after Nancy Wilson spoke to Joe Rock of Long Island, New York’s 102.3 WBAB radio station about why HEART has been inactive for most of the past three years.

“HEART had a big offer on the table last year for a bigger tour, but Ann wasn’t interested in going out with my lineup of guys that we were out with before,” she said. “She has a new lineup of guys that she wanted me to join up with. And I sort of [thought] I don’t really know them and don’t have loyalty yet for anybody like that.”

HEART toured North America in the summer of 2019 after a nasty split that kept the Wilson sisters estranged for three years.

Ann and Nancy had a falling out during HEART’s 2016 tour, when Ann’s husband Dean Welter was arrested for assaulting Nancy’s then-16-year-old twin sons in a backstage altercation at a gig near their hometown of Seattle. He pleaded guilty to two lesser assault charges to avoid jail time.

After completing HEART’s 2016 tour, Nancy formed a new band called ROADCASE ROYALE and released an album, “First Things First”. ROADCASE ROYALE featured three members of HEART along with Liv Warfield from Prince’s NEW POWER GENERATION band and her guitarist Ryan Wilson.

In Nancy’s new band NANCY WILSON’S HEART, she is joined in the group by her longtime collaborators, guitarist Ryan Waters, drummer Ben Smith, bassist Andy Stoller and keyboardist Dan Walker, along with powerhouse singer Kimberly Nichole.

Nancy’s debut solo album, “You And Me”, was released last May via Carry On Music. The LP was recorded primarily in her California home studio, working with bandmembers and special guests remotely.

“Fierce Bliss” will arrive on April 29 via Silver Lining Music.

Baltimore dissonant black metal trio Vermörd invite you through the “Gates” to choose your own grim adventure.
The post Exclusive Track Premiere: Vermörd – “Gates” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li spoke to Finland’s Chaoszine about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band’s next studio album. He said: “We’ve got a lot of music written. We haven’t recorded it. So we’re actually gonna look for a new record deal at the moment to do it.

“We don’t do music for money, so we only release stuff when we want to and it sounds good,” he explained. “We’re not on a hamster wheel: ‘You’ve gotta release an album every two years.’ It’s hard to be creative when you just force yourself to make good music, and every artist knows.

“We don’t just make music now; we’re content creators at the same time. We have a pause on YouTube at the moment, but we were posting every week before that. So if you want something — an art form; I don’t know if you can call YouTube ‘art form’ — if you want something from us, there’s always something coming from DRAGONFORCE, even if it’s not new music. Right now you’re getting [backstage and behind-the-scenes footage from] the shows [on our U.S. tour on our Twitch channel].

“When it comes, it’ll be a good album that we’ll be proud of,” he added.

DRAGONFORCE is currently on the road in North America with FIREWIND, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS and SEVEN SPIRES.

DRAGONFORCE is continuing to tour in support of its eighth full-length, “Extreme Power Metal”, which came out in September 2019. Produced in Los Angeles, California by Damien Rainaud at Mix Unlimited, the LP was also recorded, in part, on Li’s livestream channel on Twitch with participation from the fans.

DRAGONFORCE’s platinum-selling single “Through The Fire And Flames” brought the London-based Grammy-nominated extreme power metal group international acclaim and was featured as the most challenging song on “Guitar Hero III”.

In March 2019, the “Through The Fire And Flames” music video reached a new milestone: it surpassed one hundred million views on YouTube — DRAGONFORCE’s first music video to do so.

“Through The Fire And Flames” is the leadoff track from 2006’s “Inhuman Rampage” album, which was officially certified gold in July 2017 by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies.

DRAGONFORCE’s 2020 European and North American tour dates marked the band’s first with new bassist and backing vocalist Alicia Vigil (VIGIL OF WAR), who joined DRAGONFORCE in January of that year.

In August 2019, DRAGONFORCE parted ways with longtime bassist Frédéric Leclercq. He has since joined German thrashers KREATOR.