German industrial metallers RAMMSTEIN will release their new album, “Zeit”, on April 29. The official music video the LP’s title track, a powerful ballad that builds to a towering epic, can be seen below. The spectacular clip was directed by actor and musician Robert Gwisdek, collaborating here with the band for the first time.

Till Lindemann (vocals), Paul Landers (guitar), Richard Z. Kruspe (guitar), Flake (keyboards), Oliver Riedel (bass) and Christoph Schneider (drums) spent two years working on the eleven songs on the new album. They were once again assisted by Berlin producer Olsen Involtini. “Zeit” was recorded at La Fabrique Studios in St. Rémy de Provence, France.

Bryan Adams managed to get a special scoop for the cover of the new album. The Canadian musician and photographer took the shot of RAMMSTEIN on the steps of the Trudelturm in Berlin Adlershof, an imposing monument to aerial research in the city’s Aerodynamic Park.

Today the eponymous first single is released as a 10-inch gatefold black vinyl, on CD digipack and in digital format.

Lindemann’s commanding baritone resonates over solemn piano chords and an angelic chorus of sirens. The song deals with transience, our mortality and the precious, fleeting happiness of the perfect moment. “Time, please stand still, stand still,” Lindemann laments and implores. “Time, this should always go on so/Time, it’s so beautiful, so beautiful/Anyone knows the perfect moment.”

After an epic like this, you need a moment’s rest, and RAMMSTEIN give it to us. Fans can look forward to a total of three versions of “Zeit”.

For the B-sides, the band is releasing a meditative, atmospheric neoclassical arrangement by Grammy-nominated Icelandic multi-instrumentalist Ólafur Arnalds, as well as a remix by electro producer Robot Koch.

Over the course of a career spanning almost 30 years, RAMMSTEIN has sold more than 20 million albums around the world and played countless spectacular, groundbreaking tours. When the band’s sold-out stadium tour had to be postponed due to the pandemic, RAMMSTEIN used the time to work on their new album.

RAMMSTEIN fans can look forward to multiple “Zeit” formats. The new album will be released as a standard CD in a digipack with a 20-page booklet, a special edition CD in a 6-panel digipack with a 56-page booklet including slipcase, and as a double 180g vinyl LP with a 20-page large-format booklet, as well as in the usual digital formats.

RAMMSTEIN is scheduled to kick off the European leg of the band’s 2022 tour on May 15 in Prague, Czech Republic. A North American stadium run will begin on August 21 in Montreal and end on October 4 in Mexico City.

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KORN guitarist James “Munky” Shaffer spoke to Andy Hall of the Des Moines, Iowa radio station Lazer 103.3 about the current status of the band’s bassist, Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu. Fieldy announced last June that he would sit out KORN’s recent tour in order to “heal” after “falling back” on some of his “bad habits.”

Asked if the lines of communication are still open between Fieldy and the rest of KORN, Munky said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “He can call us or we can call him at any moment. I think the time is gonna be good for him. I think he definitely needs some time to figure out things and just rest.

“Look, man, we’ve been going at this for 30 years,” Munky continued. “And sometimes you need a few days off.”

Last month, KORN guitarist Brian “Head” Welch told Spotlight Report that Fieldy was “just taking a little time to be with his family. He is a great dad,” Welch said. “He has so many kids. He has adult kids, teenagers and young kids. He is just taking time, and we are giving him the time. We want everyone to be healthy and happy.

“I guess we will go and tour this record,” Head continued, referencing KORN’s recently released album “Requiem”. “I don’t know a lot more other than that. We love him very much and we hope to communicate with him during the year at some stage, to see where everyone is at.”

Welch previously addressed Fieldy’s position in KORN during a November 2021 interview with U.K.’s Kerrang! magazine. At the time, he stated: “The best thing to do is stay at home, be with your family, and start processing. He’s got to find that healing. I still struggle with it. I had a few slip-ups with my ‘bad habits’ three to four years ago, so I understand it, but I dealt with it by hitting it head-on and stopping it from becoming a problem. I’m not concerned because I know he’s going to be okay.”

KORN singer Jonathan Davis expressed a more worried outlook on Fieldy’s predicament, saying: “I love him; he’s my brother. But I watched somebody I care about die and I’m not going to fucking do that again. I refuse to. I will feel guilt for the rest of my fucking life because of that. I tried my hardest but perhaps if I’d been a little bit tougher there’d have been a different outcome. I pray that he can figure it out and get better and come back and be a huge part of this band again.”

Despite the fact that he didn’t join his KORN bandmates on their recent tour, Fieldy did play on “Requiem”.

Earlier in November, Munky told “Loudwire Nights” host Toni Gonzalez about Fieldy: “Right now he’s just taking some time to kinda figure out what makes him happy and figure out his happiness and what he wants to do with his life, I guess is the best way to put it. And make sure his mental health is at its best, because if your mental health isn’t good, or you’re not clear, you’re gonna make bad choices.

“I make an example,” he continued. “I had my own challenges through the years, and once you get clarity, your life becomes a lot easier to manage. We’re just giving him time to, like, no pressure, just figure out what you want to do because we can still work and we can still go out and tour. But we miss him. We love the guy, and we want him to just be healthy.”

Regarding how KORN ended up recruiting Roberto “Ra” Díaz (SUICIDAL TENDENCIES) to fill in for Fieldy, Welch told 97.9 GRD: “Well, there’s COVID and everything, so when we started talking about it, it was a thing where we wanted to be careful still and whatnot. ‘Cause it was a couple, a few months ago or whatever. So we just started brainstorming and hitting up friends and whatnot. We need the slap — we need the slap bass, we need the finger playing, we need someone, ’cause Fieldy is unique — very unique. So it just kind of happened that way, man, where Ra, he was open because SUICIDAL is not going out until next year. I think Mike Muir has a back surgery or something this year. So it just worked out, man. He came down, we jammed. He’s a really humble guy, and just very talented. He can play anything — from jazz to slap to anything. He played all the songs with, like, three mistakes out of 10 songs or something — little mistakes. I mean, not even mistakes — it was just, like, ‘I thought I heard it that way.’ They weren’t even mistakes. So we were, like, ‘Okay. You got it down.'”

Nine months ago, Fieldy broke the news of his absence from KORN’s summer trek, writing in a social media update: “To all KORN fans worldwide. The past 6 years I’ve been dealing with some personal issues that at times have caused me to fall back on some of my bad habits and has caused some tension with the people around me. It’s been suggested to me to take some time off to heal. I’m going to respect what was asked of me and take that time. Unfortunately you will not see me on stage with my band. I will be working towards getting the bad habits out of my system. In the meantime I will be staying creative to keep my mind & soul in a good place.

“I’m thankful for all of your support, patience & understanding as we all have something that we deal with.

“Jonathan, Munky, Ray and Head, I love you and I don’t want to bring any tension or bad vibes to the circle.”

A short time later, KORN’s official social media shared Fieldy’s statement, along with the following message: “We love and support our brother, Fieldy. Health and family always comes first.”

Back in 2017, METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo’s then-12-year-old son Tye Trujillo filled in on bass for KORN’s South American tour after Fieldy was unable to make the shows due to “unforeseen circumstances.”

Fieldy’s 2009 memoir, “Got The Life: My Journey Of Addiction, Faith, Recovery And Korn”, detailed his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction during KORN’s early years and how he became a born-again Christian to help get his life together and get sober.

Fieldy’s STILLWELL side project released its third album, “Supernatural Miracle”, in September 2020.

“Requiem” was released on February 4 via Loma Vista Recordings.

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ABSENT IN BODY, the new band featuring AMENRA guitarist Mathieu J. Vandekerckhove, AMENRA frontman Colin H. Van Eeckhout, NEUROSIS vocalist/guitarist Scott Kelly and former SEPULTURA drummer Igor Cavalera, will release its debut album, “Plague God”, on March 25 via Relapse Records. The LP’s third single, “Rise From Ruins”, can be streamed below.

“Rise From Ruins” made a special debut this past Sunday, March 6 as part of All Elite Wrestling’s “Revolution” PPV event. “Rise From Ruins” is the official theme song of the television show’s HOUSE OF BLACK group featuring AEW wrestlers Malakai Black, Brody King (God’s Hate) and Buddy Matthews.

Vandekerckhove comments: “The blueprints of most ABSENT IN BODY songs were made when I was on tour with AMENRA. Because of the long journeys, I had a lot of free time on the bus. Different landscapes every day. The emptiness of the mountains, the desolate empty cities at night… One day, when recording the album, I had too much negative news and havoc on my socials shoved into my face. And the riff to this song was an instinctive reaction to that. I fought it off. This song is definitely a reflection of that moment, that day.”

“Plague God” is bound by the same ideals of unity and fearlessly uncompromising honesty of expression that have driven the members’ respective bands to imperious heights of reverence and groundbreaking sonic deliverance. “Plague God” is by turns devastating and sublime, drawn from musicians for whom life and art are inextricably bound.

Vandekerckhove commented: “We had not imposed any limitations or boundaries on ourselves to create this music. Everything happened without any compromise, we gathered and let inspiration run freely. It is the beauty and the strength of this album.”

Cavalera stated: “It feels great to collaborate with such forward-thinking minds like Colin, Mathieu and Scott on ABSENT IN BODY. The music is dense and slowly brutal, very similar to the times we are living.”

“The Acres/The Ache” music video was filmed and edited by Vandekerckhove.

“Plague God” track listing:

01. Rise From Ruins
02. In Spirit In Spite
03. Sarin
04. The Acres/The Ache
05. The Half Rising Man

In an era overrun by information, misinformation, unseen algorithms and viral contagion, to seek out what’s truly human in the face of overwhelming and unfathomable forces has perhaps become our most sacred of tasks. It’s an impulse that lies at the very heart of “Plague God”.

Initially the brainchild of Vandekerckhove and Kelly, ABSENT IN BODY formed in 2017. Immediately recognizing their kinship, and with Van Eeckhout brought in on vocals and bass, what emerged is a reflection of the intervening years of turbulence, extending its scope as it navigates across five stretches of unstable terrain. From the opening “Rise From Ruins” with Cavalera’s tribal beat emerging from foreboding, near-subsonic oscillations to explode in a tide of corrosive riffs and feral howls, through “Sarin”‘s steadfast, procession-through-purgatory groove, to “The Half Rising Man”‘s matrix of organic/mechanic evolution, it’s an album in constant dialogue between the animalistic, the human and the industrial, and a hunger to distill a truth, something unpolluted from the fray.

Protest music is often perceived as a petition, or a counter-argument against a controlling force. There is another sense of protest, though, that of a machine under stress: articulating the pressures weighing down on it by means of an involuntary, primal response. It’s these states of critical mass at which we must truly find ourselves, under duress maybe, but unblinded and alive. “Plague God” doesn’t just give voice to these moments of truth, but in the band’s deep kinship integral to every claustrophobic judder, every stretch of atmospheric dread and helpless alias assumed, lies a freedom we both forget and attain at our peril.

Photographs by William Lacalmontie / Simon Kallas / Sven Harambašić

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Mike Cross, a founding guitarist for American rock act SPONGE, has died at the age of 57. No cause of death has yet been revealed.

SPONGE confirmed Cross’s passing via social media, writing: “It is with heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Mike Cross. One of the musical architects and founding member of SPONGE. His influence and talent will be missed.”

As a co-writer for SPONGE’s platinum-selling album “Rotting Piñata”, sophomore album “WaxEcstatic” and third release “New Pop Sunday”, Mike helped catapult the band into rock star status with his catchy hooks, iconic crunchy guitar and an undeniable original sound. The band toured extensively, headlining shows in the U.S. and in Europe supporting A-list artists such as ALICE IN CHAINS, KISS and SOUNDGARDEN. Mike also appeared on the late-night talk show circuit, including “The Late Show With David Letterman”, “The Conan O’Brien Show” and the “Jon Stewart Show”. After his departure from SPONGE due to creative and business differences, he turned away from music business to focus on his personal life. However, he continued to write, record and produce various music projects and develop his own vocal abilities. More recently, Cross was the lead vocalist and guitarist for his band MC ROADS, which released an EP, “No Nostalgia”, last September via Golden Robot Records.

Golden Robot Records paid tribute to Cross, writing on social media: “We are devastated to hear of the passing of our rock n roll brother and GRR family member – Mike Cross. What a gracious, wonderful human who had the voice of a husky angel and played guitar like the best of them, all of our global team wish music love to his brother Tim, band mates, friends and family. A sad day for rock n roll but a great day for that ever expanding rock band in heaven.. Who we are sure Mike is part of now. We will miss you Mike.”

A message at the MC ROADS Facebook page read: “It is with overwhelming sadness and shock that we inform you that Mike Cross passed away Sunday March 6th. Mike was a founding member and lead guitarist of LOUDHOUSE and SPONGE which produced the gold (and then some) record Rotting Piñata. In recent years Mike formed MC ROADS and released the EP No Nostalgia. Taking the new music on the road was going to be the next step. Gone way too soon. We love you so much Mike.”

It is with heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Mike Cross.
One of the musical architects and founding member of Sponge.
His influence and talent will be missed.

Posted by Sponge on Wednesday, March 9, 2022

We are devastated to hear of the passing of our rock n roll brother and GRR family member – Mike Cross @…

Posted by Golden Robot Records on Tuesday, March 8, 2022

It is with overwhelming sadness and shock that we inform you that Mike Cross passed away Sunday March 6th. Mike was a…

Posted by MC Roads on Tuesday, March 8, 2022

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On February 26, Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater, Florida hosted a “Concert With A Purpose” featuring POISON frontman Bret Michaels leading an all-star cast of performers. The sold-out event included special guests WARRANT and U.S. army veteran and “Dancing With The Stars” alum Noah Galloway. As the special night approached, Michaels and the Hall brought in friends such as Hulk Hogan, Amanda Sullivan and former Major League pitcher David Wells to bring even more to the event.

The Tampa Bay Lightning and Ruth Eckerd Hall generously donated to the cause, helping to bring in a record amount of proceeds for the local Florida chapter of 50 Legs. Michaels himself went above and beyond his performance by also personally donating $10,000 to 50 Legs. The organization, founded by Steve Chamberland, is dedicated to assisting amputees return to the lives they love living, securing prosthetics and care that they cannot afford on their own. The “Concert With A Purpose” was the brainchild of Michaels and John and Kelly Sumodi and family.

“I could not have been more honored to do a great concert and benefit for 50 Legs and, more importantly, to meet everybody involved and bring them on stage,” said Michaels. “A huge thank you to all of the incredible, talented and charitable celebrities that joined us on stage that night. It was one of the most incredible days and nights of my life. I am grateful to everybody that contributed and to the unbelievable fans who sold out the concert and brought nothing but high energy and happiness.”

Executive vice president of Ruth Eckerd Hall, Bobby Rossi, said of the night, “In my 25 years at Ruth Eckerd Hall, I have never seen a crowd so engaged and pumped up as when Bret Michaels came to town to support the 50 Legs foundation here in Clearwater. It was sold out and rocking as the stage was filled with amazing participants. It was absolutely wonderful from beginning to end.”

“We are incredibly grateful to Bret Michaels for making this event a reality and an unforgettable experience. Anyone who knows Bret knows he gives 1000% and puts his heart, soul and passion into everything he does,” added John Sumodi. “The funds raised by the performers, community and guests are a huge help to 50 Legs, who is doing fantastic work here in Florida and beyond.”

Michaels, a lifelong diabetic first diagnosed at the age of six who recently helped pass diabetes education bill SB97 in California with Ease T1D senator Richard Roth, saw this concert as an extension of his own philanthropic efforts through his Life Rocks Foundation, bringing relief and support to organizations based in the Southeast and Florida. These include previously performing at Ruth Eckerd’s “Friends Of Music” event, the “Toys In The Sun Run” benefiting Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital while also donating personally to the organization, plus even taking his personal jet to deliver toys to children in the Bahamas and Puerto Rico while also serving as the grand marshal for the largest “Winterfest” parade to date. Michaels will also return to Florida with his POISON bandmates this summer for a good time bash performing on “The Stadium Tour”.

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Canadian post-hardcore band ALEXISONFIRE will release “Otherness”, its first full-length album in over 13 years, on June 24 via Dine Alone Records. The LP features 10 new tracks, including the explosive first single “Sweet Dreams Of Otherness”, which can be streamed below.

“Otherness” was produced by ALEXISONFIRE and mixed by punk stalwart Jonah Falco (FUCKED UP, CAREER SUICIDE).

Says vocalist George Pettit: “This song was largely Dallas’s [Green, vocals/rhythm guitar] brainchild, but over the course of writing this record, it became more of a mission statement for the band. It’s kind of about performance and embracing a newfound confidence in a state of peculiarity.”

Pre-orders for physical variants are available Friday, March 11 at 11 a.m. ET.
Each vinyl variant is 2×12″ with a gatefold jacket and printed inner sleeves. A limited-deluxe-edition variant, with an alternate lenticular cover, will also be available alongside curated “Otherness” merchandise.

The video for “Sweet Dreams Of Otherness”, directed by the inimitable actor/director Jay Baruchel (“Goon”, “This Is The End”, “Random Acts Of Violence”, “How to Train Your Dragon”), will premiere via the ALEXISONFIRE YouTube channel at 6 p.m. ET today. Fans can sign up for reminders to view the premiere alongside the band, who will join fans worldwide in conversation in the moments leading up to the premiere.

ALEXISONFIRE’s “Otherness” mission statement: “A continuous thread through the fabric of ALEXISONFIRE is the state of otherness. Otherness drew us all to spaces where a band like this could be formed. We attract the type of individuals that have all felt the sensation of being strange or unique. Perceived or otherwise, otherness has followed us through childhood, adolescence, and into our adult lives. It drives our tastes and proclivities. It bonds us with ourselves and others. And make no mistake, even at our most domestic and mundane moments, we are true outliers.”

ALEXISONFIRE released four hugely successful studio albums, all platinum-certified in Canada: “Alexisonfire” (2002), “Watch Out” (2004), “Crisis” (2006) and “Old Crows/Young Cardinals” (2009). “Crisis” debuted at No. 1 in Canada and “Old Crows/Young Cardinals” debuted at No. 2 and charted at No. 9 on the Billboard Independent Album chart in the U.S. The number of albums made outside of ALEXISONFIRE by different band members over the years — including CITY AND COLOUR, DEAD TIRED, YOU+ME, DOOMS CHILDREN and BILLY TALENT — could fill several record store bins.

The ALEXISONFIRE bandmembers produced “Otherness” themselves in roughly a week. They kept it a “family affair,” working closely with folks who’ve been with them for years. Writing took place at the Dine Alone Records clubhouse. The album includes organ, keys, and pedal steel from Green’s longtime collaborator Matt Kelly. Jill Zimmerman and Darren “Jeter” Magierowski (who is also Steele’s cousin) engineered at Jukasa Recording Studios.

“The biggest difference is the space we are all in. We were all really thrilled to make a record, and it was such a respite from what was going on in the world. It felt like life could be beautiful,” guitarist/backing vocalist Wade MacNeil says. “We were supportive of one another. Everyone was in such a good mood. It was such a treat to be able to do it again.”

As Revolver noted in 2019, “It’s hard to overstate the influence ALEXISONFIRE had in post-hardcore through the mid-2000s, their combination of singing and screaming setting the blueprint for many artists to come.” Five guys playing aggressive rock (with no less than three of them singing and screaming) grew to a hockey-arena headlining phenomenon while pushing and pulling between spirited guitar leads, melodic might, and emotional weight.

“As much as we love playing the old songs, we don’t want to be a nostalgia act. The only reason to come back is if we feel we still have something to say,” Pettit insists. “We spent so much time on the road thinking that if we stopped, people would lose interest. But when we went away, it only got bigger. We all carved new paths for ourselves, so coming back to ALEXISONFIRE is a purely enjoyable creative venture. Something special happens when we get in a room together.”

“Otherness” track listing:

01. Committed To The Con
02. Sweet Dreams Of Otherness
03. Sans Soleil
04. Conditional Love
05. Blue Spade
06. Dark Night Of The Soul
07. Mistaken Information
08. Survivor’s Guilt
09. Reverse The Curse
10. World Stops Turning

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