JUDAS PRIEST recently teamed with the rapidly growing entertainment brand Z2 Comics for an original graphic novel to be released in July, in time for the anniversary of the British heavy metal legends’ highest-selling album, the indisputable classic “Screaming For Vengeance”.

Several new photos of the members of JUDAS PRIEST posing with copies of the graphic novel can be seen below.

Teaming with writers Rantz Hoseley (“Comic Book Tattoo”, “The Heroin Diaries”) and Neil Kleid (“Savor”), and artist Christopher Mitten (“Hellboy And The B.P.R.D.”), JUDAS PRIEST bestows upon its generations of fans the band’s first-ever graphic novel.

500 years from now, a ring of cities orbit high above the surface of a dead world, controlled by a ruling elite that maintains power through manipulation and brutality. When a naïve engineer inadvertently threatens the status quo with his vital scientific discovery… a bloodstone… he is betrayed by those he trusted and cast out to the broken planet below. In the wreckage and desolation of a broken world where every day is a battle for survival, he must choose between accepting his new life in exile…or screaming for vengeance.

“I cannot overstate what an inspiration JUDAS PRIEST has been to me, personally,” said Hoseley. “I was already a fan of the band when ‘Screaming For Vengeance’ was released, but no one was ready for the impact it had. That incredible cover art? Those songs? That album became my daily soundtrack and creative fuel, to the point where I wore the cassette out in my car. To be able to contribute to a project inspired by these songs that mean so much to me? Well, that is an honor and a responsibility I take very seriously.”

To further celebrate the creative legacy of this monumental album and landmark anniversary, the graphic novel includes an extensive interview with original cover artist Doug Johnson in which he discusses the process of creating the award-winning album cover design, and the origin of the metallic bird of prey, now known as “The Hellion.” Additionally, as part of the expansion of Z2’s product offerings, newly appointed Z2 vice president of collectibles and Aggronautix founder Clint Weiler has designed a detailed Hellion statue, with working “electric eyes” in celebration of both the original album design, and the dramatic conclusion of the story in the “Screaming For Vengeance” graphic novel.

Certified double platinum in the United States, “Screaming For Vengeance” was released in July of 1982, and marked the beginning of the band’s success in North America, transcending the “new wave of British heavy metal” sound they had come to define, and moving them into the mainstream despite a heavier-than-ever sound. The album’s first single, “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming”, would prove to be one of the biggest hard rock hits in history and continues to inspire fists in the air around the world to this day. The album was ranked No. 3 on Rolling Stone’s 2017 list of “100 Greatest Metal Albums Of All Time,” and is celebrated throughout the world as one of the genre’s most defining moments, ushering in the success of heavy music in the 1980s up through today.

“Judas Priest: Screaming For Vengeance” will be released in both softcover and hardcover formats in finer bookstores, comic shops and record stores everywhere in July 2022, with special limited deluxe and super deluxe versions featuring an exclusive anniversary vinyl LP, prints and more available to preorder now exclusively through the Z2 web site.

Judas Priest: Screaming For Vengeance

Expected release July 2022
Z2comics.com/judaspriest

Posted by Judas Priest on Tuesday, March 22, 2022

In a new interview with Minnesota’s 93X radio station, ALICE IN CHAINS guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell was asked if he pays attention to what online detractors have to say about him or his music. He responded (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “You’re not gonna get very far if [you are bothered by] somebody that you don’t know that doesn’t play music who doesn’t particularly get what you do thinks you suck. [Laughs] I’m, like, ‘Fuck you. Whatever. I don’t know you. You don’t know me.’ I think rather than focusing on the one dissenting voice, you might look at the 99 others who are digging it. So that’s where I kind of keep my focus.

“I don’t really spend a whole lot of time reading press — good or bad, ’cause I just don’t think it’s really a healthy thing to do,” he explained. “I’m human, so, of course, I see some shit like that, and I’ll fucking fill the need once in a while to check something out. But just in general, I kind of try to stay away from that stuff. I’m not doing it for somebody else’s approval anyway, initially. Of course, you want people to like your music, and if you’ve got an audience, you don’t wanna fucking take an awkward left turn somewhere and throw somebody, like, ‘What the hell is this?’ You want your audience that you’ve come to find and they found you. But the litmus test, in my band, has always been if we dig it. We’re making records for us; we’re writing songs for us. And if we dig it, collectively, and we’re proud enough to put it out there, there’s probably a good chance that somebody else is gonna dig it too. So that way it doesn’t matter what anybody says — good or bad — about it; you’re good. I feel right with myself and it’s a good piece of work. And only you and a handful of people actually went through that whole journey — nobody else. So it’s an ode to me and to the folks that I made the record with — any record that I’ve been on; that’s kind of part of the coolness of it. It’s also kind of exclusive.”

Jerry’s latest solo album, “Brighten”, came out last October.

Cantrell is preparing to hit the road in North America in support of “Brighten”. The trek will kick off on March 24 at the Palace Theater in St. Paul, Minnesota and make stops in major cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Detroit, Nashville, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Los Angeles, to name a few.

To make this tour even more attractive for fans, Jerry recently announced special VIP event packages at each show that offer fans tiered selections of exclusive experiences. These experiences include a meet-and-greet and photo opp with Jerry, personal autographed items of your choice, premium merch items, and at the top tier, a signed official “Atone” Gibson JC Signature Acoustic guitar. The guitar includes a letter of authenticity. Packages start at $100 all the way to $5,500, which includes the Gibson guitar.

Jerry’s band for the tour will consist of Tyler Bates (guitar), Greg Puciato (backing vocals), Gil Sharone (drums), George Adrian (bass), Michael Rozon (pedal steel) and Jason Achilles (keyboards). The set will include songs from “Brighten” along with favorite hits from Jerry’s catalog.

“Brighten” has received praise from critics, including Kerrang!, which called it a “vivid, contemporary self-portrait of one of the most distinctive voices in hard rock. A long-overdue show of individual brilliance.” Classic Rock proclaimed it “his best yet. The work of a songwriter who is happy within his life, it spans a broad arc of styles.” The Sun commented: “A rich, organic album… ‘Brighten’ is brilliant.”

“Brighten” is Jerry’s first project without ALICE IN CHAINS in 19 years. Co-produced with film composer Tyler Bates and Paul Fig (longtime engineer), the LP got its beginnings just before the pandemic hit. They welcomed a dynamic cast of supporting players, including Duff McKagan (GUNS N’ ROSES) on select bass tracks, Puciato contributing to backing vocals and drummers Sharone and Abe Laboriel, Jr. (Paul McCartney). Joe Barresi (TOOL, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) handled the mixing of “Brighten”.

Jerry’s new effort marks his first full-length release since “Degradation Trip”, the epic solo album he made in 2002 with future METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo and FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin.

Jerry’s career outside of ALICE IN CHAINS has consisted of two previous solo albums and contributions to major film soundtracks. Cantrell’s first solo album, “Boggy Depot”, was released in 1998, followed by his second album, the aforementioned “Degradation Trip”. In addition to his solo artist work, Jerry has released music on soundtracks for several films, including “Spider-Man”, “The Cable Guy”, “John Wick 2”, “Last Action Hero” and “The Punisher”.

ALICE IN CHAINS regrouped in 2006 with William DuVall joining the band, and released its third LP with DuVall in the lineup, “Rainier Fog”, in August 2018.

We have a limited number of advance copies of the May issue of Decibel, featuring our exclusive new flexi disc single from Swedish garage rock kings The Hellacopters available NOW!
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DISTURBED frontman David Draiman has recorded a video message for World United Live, a campaign set up to help stop the conflict in Ukraine before it spirals out of control, leading to World War III and the potential nuclear annihilation of human life.

In the three-minute message, which can be seen at WorldUnited.Live, Draiman stated in part: “David Draiman of DISTURBED here, and I am a World United Live messenger. You know me over my many years of fronting the band DISTURBED, obviously.

“I want to speak directly to the Russian people now. I will read out to you a report that has been documented and verified. Please listen to us. It’s not as your leaders are telling you. Millions of people are suffering.

“Below my video you will see the text that I am relaying to you, including links to credible, verified news sources. You may not be able to reach those links because your government is blocking access. If they are blocked, ask yourselves why. What is it that my government does not want me to see? And why can’t I make up my own mind?

“Please listen to us. You are our only hope of trying to stop this insanity.”

After reading out a news report on Russia bombing a theater in Mariupol where hundreds of people had taken shelter, David said: “We all have to do what we can to shed some light in this incredible darkness and to try and expose the truth on the ground, the harsh reality of war, and do all we can to try and stop it and bring it to an end.

“We all want peace. Hopefully we can see that sometime soon.

“Support World United Live. Support the Ukrainian people. And I still support and love the Russian people as well. I think that it’s going to take individuals to rise up and to stand for peace and to make a resounding statement together. We can, if we join our voices together.”

Other World United Live “messengers” include TWISTED SISTER singer Dee Snider and FOZZY frontman Chris Jericho.

“We come from all walks of life,” reads the info on the World United Live web site. “We are artists. We are combat war veterans. We are software engineers, journalists, and music producers. We come from every nationality, background, and way of life. We banded together to use our technology platform, storytelling, and influence in order to not stand idly by as the Russian-Ukraine war unfolds.

“We are organizing the world’s largest mass protest in record time. A worldwide concert event to raise money and provide support for the brave people of Ukraine. In addition, a campaign to use the voices of artists to speak on our behalf to the people of Russia. There is no later, time is of the essence. If we do not stand up now and if Ukraine falls it is too late and evil entrenches itself. We must act together today to send this message. The alternative is World War and mass suffering.

“Your involvement in this event can truly change the course of the world. Are you with us? Do you stand with freedom loving people everywhere? We beseech you to be our voice, to carry our message to peoples in Ukraine and in Russia upon whom this struggle will fall. We want people in villages, cities, squares, parks, and arenas around the world to be out in the streets. This is the only way change will come, when we can all unite and tell despots and dictators that ‘We’re NOT Gonnna Take It!'”

In a recently posted YouTube video, Snider outlined the main goals of the World United Live campaign. Check it out below.

Accelerate the world’s demise with some sci-fi dystopian type grindcore for U.K. trio Human Cull.
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RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS will be honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame later this month. The ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 31 at 11:30 a.m. PT at 6212 Hollywood Boulevard, adjacent to Amoeba Records.

The CHILI PEPPERS star will be unveiled by George Clinton, who produced the band’s 1985 record “Freaky Styley”, alongside Woody Harrelson, Bob Forrest and Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce chairwoman Nicole Mihalka.

Hollywood Walk Of Fame producer Ana Martinez said in a statement: “Our hometown Hollywood boys are finally coming to collect their star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame. We have been waiting for them to break away from their busy schedules to dedicate their star, and we are thrilled to welcome them to our Walk Of Fame family.”

The honor will come one day before the release of RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS’ new album, “Unlimited Love”. Due on April 1 via Warner, the band’s first new LP with guitarist John Frusciante since 2006’s “Stadium Arcadium” was once again produced by Rick Rubin who previously worked on “Blood Sugar Sex Magik” (1991), “Californication” (1999), “By The Way” (2002) and the aforementioned “Stadium Arcadium”.

Frusciante originally joined RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS following the death of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak in 1988. This lineup recorded two highly successful albums that brought the group mainstream popularity: “Mother’s Milk” and “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”. Sadly, Frusciante fell into a deep heroin addiction that caused him to leave the band while touring to support “Blood Sugar Sex Magik”. Frusciante rejoined CHILI PEPPERS six years later, playing on 1999 album “Californication”, 2002’s “By The Way” and 2006’s “Stadium Arcadium” before quitting the band again in September 2009.

Photo credit: Sandy Kim