KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Jesse Leach, whose band kicked off a headlining tour on January 28 at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has uploaded two new installments of his YouTube tour blog in which he reflected on the last couple of weeks of the trek.

Support on the KILLSWITCH ENGAGE tour is coming from AUGUST BURNS RED and ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Howard Jones’s current group LIGHT THE TORCH.

Last fall, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE completed a U.S. tour with SLIPKNOT, FEVER 333 and CODE ORANGE as part of the “Knotfest Roadshow”. The band also appeared at several key festivals.

KILLSWITCH ENGAGE’s latest album, “Atonement”, was released in August 2019 via Metal Blade Records in the U.S. and Sony Music Entertainment in the rest of the world. The disc features guest appearances by Jones and TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy. It marks the band’s third full-length release since the return of Leach, who rejoined the group in 2012.

In July 2021, Leach and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz released the second album from their TIMES OF GRACE project, “Songs Of Loss And Separation”, via the band’s own imprint label, Wicked Good Records, distributed by ADA Worldwide.

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One of the most incendiary and popular tracks on MINISTRY’s latest album “Moral Hygiene” is undoubtedly “Sabotage Is Sex”, the blistering collaboration between the one and only Al Jourgensen and his frequent collaborator Jello Biafra, the great mind behind the DEAD KENNEDYS. The two famously kickstarted their side project LARD in the late ’80s, a fusion of industrial and punk, and this latest collaboration may be a hint of things yet to come.

While “Sabotage Is Sex” has been pleasing ears since “Moral Hygiene” was released October 1 via Nuclear Blast Records, fans now have even more to feast on with the powerhouse new video — featuring both music icons and marking the first time Biafra has ever appeared in a music video.

Created by director Joel Smith of Mad Minute Productions (previous work includes Activision, Audi, BLACK EYED PEAS, U2, X Games), the gritty, black-and-white video makes a number of bold statements as only Jourgensen and Biafra can about the state of society in 2022, focusing on the corruption of the powers that be, racial injustice and the infringement on the rights of Americans.

Says Jourgensen of the piece: “Jello and I have been friends and music collaborators for decades. I had no idea he’d never done a video before and I’m honored to pop that creative cherry for him on ‘Sabotage Is Sex’. It’s crazy how tech savvy we’ve all gotten yet somehow it all seems very punk rock to shoot a video at home with just an iPhone. Who knows, maybe one day there will be a LARD video?”

Adds Biafra: “My compliments to the chef!! Not like any other MINISTRY video either. It’s amazing what can be done dirt cheap in your bedroom, with some kool found footage and a few clever ideas. Two phones, two takes and my work is done. Fun! I knew there’d finally come a day where I could bust out those Fez hats kids stole from their parents, and threw at DEAD KENNEDYS on our ’85 ‘FrankenChrist’ tour.”

MINISTRY will debut the new songs from “Moral Hygiene” on the upcoming “Industrial Strength” tour, kicking off March 2, alongside celebrating the 30th anniversary of seminal album “The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste”. In addition to Jourgensen, the full band includes drummer Roy Mayorga, guitarists Cesar Soto and Monte Pittman, bassist Paul D’Amour and keyboardist John Bechdel. Special guests THE MELVINS and CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will share the stage nightly as the tour’s special guests.

Due to overwhelming demand, MINISTRY added 13 new dates with the tour now running through April 18.

“Moral Hygiene” is MINISTRY’s 15th studio album and added to many “best of 2021” year-end lists, including Loudwire, Consequence Of Sound, Punk News and XS Rock (where it was ranked the No. 1 album of the year). It features some of the project’s strongest and most inspired material to date, the creative masterwork of founder and creator Jourgensen who spent the pandemic pause ruminating on the new world we as a society have found ourselves in — while pondering just what we are going to do about it.

The 10 tracks are a follow-up to 2018’s lauded “AmeriKKKant” and put forth Jourgensen’s societal manifesto and plea for civilization to get back to a set of standards that lives up to and embraces our humanity. Previous singles have included “Alert Level” (sounding the alarm on the state society is in), “Good Trouble” (a rallying cry to fight for human rights in homage to civil rights leader John Lewis), “Disinformation” (the dangers of consuming mass media without critical thinking) and “Search And Destroy” (the unique take on THE STOOGES classic). The latter features guitar virtuoso Billy Morrison (Billy Idol, ROYAL MACHINES) who is also heavily featured on a number of songs on the album.

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After months of teasing and multiple single releases, California rockers PAPA ROACH have officially announced that their new album, “Ego Trip”, will be released April 8, 2022 via New Noize Records in partnership with ADA Worldwide (WMG’s independent label and artist services arm).

The eleventh studio album of a career that continues to carve a fearless and singular path through a fourth decade, “Ego Trip” sees PAPA ROACH continuing to break new ground in a time when many are desperate for what they once knew. As vocalist Jacoby Shaddix explains: “Now isn’t the time for comfort or conformity, but to be inspired and build something new. Something better, in order to channel something more.”

In addition to today’s announcement, and in celebration of their headline tour kicking off this evening, the iconic rock band have shared a new single with fans. “Cut The Line” carries the band’s energetic, heavy guitar and drums and soaring choruses with the question “Are You Tangled Up Inside?”. The accompanying music video which will be released on Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. PST, brings the band back to the feeling of their original practice space in an intimate, smoky, in your face performance video.

“Cut The Line” joins previously released singles “Stand Up”, “Dying To Believe”, “Kill The Noise” (which held the no. 1 position on the Mainstream Rock chart for over a month) and genre-bending banger of a single “Swerve” featuring Jason Aalon Butler (FEVER 333) and Sueco, all pulled from a 2020 writing session with the iconic rock band and a tight-knit creative team including familiar collaborators Colin “Doc” Brittain, Nick Furlong, Jason Evigan and new team members WZRD BLD and Andrew Goldstein.

An album that sprouted almost by mistake in the throes of a global lockdown, its seeds were planted when the quartet entered a COVID-secure mansion in Temecula, California in the summer of 2020. What started as an escape and an exercise in keeping the creative juices flowing, in a world that had completely ground to a halt, quickly grew into something bigger. Purposeful, provocative, and just the right side of the line between confident and cocky (“I really hope [the album title] stops a few people in their tracks,” cackles Jacoby), “Ego Trip” is PAPA ROACH — completed by guitarist Jerry Horton, bassist Tobin Esperance and drummer Tony Palermo — at its boldest and most brilliant.

PAPA ROACH will kick off its North American “Kill The Noise” tour, featuring very special guests HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD and BAD WOLVES with a sold out show in Anaheim, California tonight. The tour, produced by Live Nation, will make stops in the United States and Canada, marking the band’s first headlining tour in three years.

In what is gearing up to be a very busy year for the band, PAPA ROACH recently announced their return to Mexico City on April 4th at Pepsi Center – a special co-headline event with SIMPLE PLAN, and opening act EMO NITE spinning eclectic nostalgic hits throughout the evening. PAPA ROACH were also part of a massive announcement for this year’s Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California along with MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, FOO FIGHTERS, SLIPKNOT, KISS, BRING ME THE HORIZON, HALESTORM, EVANESCENCE and more.

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TOOL, which is currently on tour in support of its Grammy Award-winning album “Fear Inoculum”, has taken it back to their beginning, celebrating the 30th anniversary of its first commercially available release “Opiate”, with a reimagined and extended version of the EP’s title track and an accompanying short film. “Opiate²” is now available via DSPs and can be streamed below, with the Blu-ray only visual companion coming on March 18.

Visual artist Dominic Hailstone (“Alien: Covenant”, “The Eel”) worked with TOOL guitarist Adam Jones on the 10-plus minute film, which is the band’s first new video in 15 years. The clip continues TOOL’s knack for merging the aural and visual worlds, creating an all-encompassing experience for the listener that has been a hallmark of the outfit since their inception. Hailstone and Jones also collaborated on the filmed pieces featured on the current “Fear Inoculum” tour.

The physical release features a Blu-ray housed in a 46-page art book with behind-the-scenes and making-of photos as well as interviews and insights from special guests.

TOOL kicked off its 2022 tour in support of “Fear Inoculum” on January 10 at the Matthew Knight Arena in Eugene, Oregon. It marked the band’s first live appearance since March 2020 when TOOL’s trek was cut short following a gig in Portland, Oregon due to the burgeoning pandemic.

TOOL was honored with a Grammy in the “Best Metal Performance” category in the pre-telecast ceremony at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards in January 2020 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. TOOL was nominated for “7empest”, a track from “Fear Inoculum”.

TOOL already had three previous Grammy Awards under its belt: “Best Metal Performance” in 1997 and 2001 for “Ænima” and “Schism”, respectively, and “Best Recording Package” in 2006 for “10,000 Days”.

TOOL formed in 1990 and has released five studio albums thus far: “Undertow” (1993), “Ænima” (1996), “Lateralus” (2001), “10,000 Days” (2006) and “Fear Inoculum”; two EPs: “72826” (1991) and “Opiate” (1992); and the limited-edition boxset, “Salival” (2000). The band has won four Grammy Awards: Best Metal Performance (1998, “Ænima”), “Best Metal Performance” (2002, “Schism”), “Best Recording Package” (2007, “10,000 Days”) and “Best Metal Performance” (2020, “7empest”).

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THE OFFSPRING has announced the “Let The Bad Times Roll” U.S. tour with special guests RADKEY and BLAME MY YOUTH. Produced by Live Nation, the 18-city trek kicks off on April 26 at Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre in San Diego, California, making stops across the U.S. in Salt Lake City, Houston, Boston and more before wrapping up in Milwaukee at The Rave/Eagles Club on May 22.

Frequently regarded as one of the best rock bands of all time, THE OFFSPRING have garnered a reputation for their unmistakable sound and social comment. The multi-platinum band first achieved worldwide success in the 90’s with the release of their album “Smash”, which sold over 11 million copies. Following “Smash”, they continued to release hit after hit, popularizing rock at a mainstream level.

Throughout THE OFFSPRING’s career, they’ve sold over a staggering 40 million albums, and toured arenas, and built a global fan base. “Let The Bad Times Roll” marks the band’s tenth studio album and third album produced by the legendary Bob Rock. True to the irreverence at the core of their rock music, the band and lyricist Dexter Holland took a view to today’s cultural moments and didn’t shy away from creating topical material in this album.

“This album is probably the most cathartic thing we’ve done,” says Holland. “The messages might be dark, but at the end, what’s left is that communication is important, working through feelings is important and most of all, hope is important.”

Tickets go on sale starting Friday, March 4 at 10 a.m. local on LiveNation.com

“Let The Bad Times Roll” tour dates:

Apr 26 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre^
Apr 27 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Federal Theatre^
Apr 29 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center^
Apr 30 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium^
May 03 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom^
May 04 – Houston, TX – Bayou Music Center^
May 06 – Tampa, FL – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino^
May 07 – Jacksonville, FL – Daily’s Place^
May 08 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle^
May 10 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater^
May 11 – Baltimore, MD – Pier Six Pavilion^
May 12 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage^
May 15 – Boston, MA – House of Blues^
May 17 – New York, NY – Pier 17^
May 18 – Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE*
May 20 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit+
May 21 – Chicago, IL – Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom+
May 22 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave/Eagles Club – Eagles Ballroom*

* Not a Live Nation date
^ With support from RADKEY
+ With support from BLAME MY YOUTH

THE OFFSPRING is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name MANIC SUBSIDAL, the band’s lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan “Dexter” Holland, bassist Todd Morse and lead guitarist Kevin “Noodles” Wasserman. Over the course of their 38-year career, they have released ten studio albums. THE OFFSPRING is often credited — alongside fellow California bands GREEN DAY and RANCID — for reviving mainstream interest in rock in the 1990s. They have sold over 40 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling rock bands in history.

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On the heels of its sold-out spring 2022 “Dreams In Gold” arena tour, Grammy Award-winning rock band GRETA VAN FLEET has announced new arena shows for this fall. Kicking off August 16 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, the band will make stops in 42 cities across the U.S. and Canada.

There will be a fan presale on March 2 and a local venue presale on March 3, with general ticket on sale March 4 at 12 p.m. local time. Fans can sign up for presale at peacefularmy.com.

The expansive new dates follow the band’s spring tour, which sold out over 100,000 tickets in just two days and kicks off coming up on March 10.

GRETA VAN FLEET supported METALLICA on February 25 in Las Vegas and recently announced two additional dates with the California metal giants.

GRETA VAN FLEET will be joined by a host of acclaimed artists on their fall tour, including THE PRETTY RECKLESS, HOUNDMOUTH, DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS, FRUIT BATS, Robert Finley, CROWN LANDS and Hannah Wicklund.

Earlier this year, GRETA VAN FLEET’s Jake Kiszka partnered with Gibson to honor the SG, a seminal guitar in the rock ‘n’ roll revolution which celebrates its 61st anniversary this year.

The group is touring in support of their acclaimed sophomore album, “The Battle At Garden’s Gate”, released last year to extensive chart and critical success. The album debuted at No. 1 Billboard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Hard Rock Album, No. 1 Billboard Vinyl Album, No. 2 Billboard Top Album Sales and in the Top 10 on the Billboard 200. The album currently has 275,000 in sales, with streaming numbers at 200 million and continuing to climb.

New GRETA VAN FLEET tour dates:

August 11 – Highmark Stadium – Buffalo, NY*
August 14 – PNC Park – Pittsburgh, PA*
August 16 – Centre Videotron – Quebec City, QC†
August 18 – Centre Bell – Montreal, QC†
August 19 – Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON†
August 22 – Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB†
August 23 – Brandt Centre – Regina, SK†
August 26 – Scotiabank Saddledome – Calgary, AB†
August 27 – Rogers Place – Edmonton, AB†
August 29 – Prospera Place – Kelowna, BC†
August 30 – Rogers Arena – Vancouver, BC†
September 02 – Spokane Arena – Spokane, WA ‡
September 03 – ExtraMile Arena – Boise, ID ‡
September 20 – Allen County War Memorial Coliseum – Fort Wayne, IN §
September 21 – Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA§
September 23 – Fargodome – Fargo, ND§
September 24 – Denny Sanford PREMIER Center – Sioux Falls, SD§
September 27 – Huntington Center – Toldeo, OH§
September 28 – Thompson-Boling Arena – Knoxville, TN§
September 30 – John Paul Jones Arena – Charlottesville, VA§
October 01 – PPL Center – Allentown, PA§
October 04 – SNHU Arena – Manchester, NH§
October 05 – MVP Arena – Albany, NY§
October 07 – Mohegan Sun Arena – Uncasville, CT§
October 08 – Cross Insurance Center – Bangor, ME§
October 18 – PNC Arena – Raleigh, NC**
October 19 – Bon Secours Wellness Arena – Greenville, SC**
October 21 – Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena – Jacksonville, FL**
October 22 – Hertz Arena – Estero, FL**
October 25 – Hard Rock Live – Hollywood, FL**
October 26 – Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL**
October 28 – Spectrum Center – Charlotte, NC**
October 29 – Legacy Arena at The BJCC – Birmingham, AL**
November 01 – Smoothie King Center – New Orleans, LA**
November 02 – Simmons Bank Arena – Little Rock, AR**
November 04 – Paycom Center – Oklahoma City, OK**
November 05 – AT&T Center – San Antonio, TX**
November 08 – Don Haskins Center – El Paso, TX**
November 09 – Tucson Arena – Tucson, AZ**
November 11 – Honda Center – Anaheim, CA††
November 12 – Golden 1 Center – Sacramento, CA††

* With METALLICA
† With THE PRETTY RECKLESS and Hannah Wicklund
‡ Support to be determined
§ With HOUNDMOUTH and Robert Finley
** With DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS and CROWN LANDS
†† With FRUIT BATS and CROWN LANDS

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Rob Halford has shared a short video of JUDAS PRIEST rehearsing for its upcoming U.S. tour.

On Monday (February 28), the 70-year-old singer took to his Instagram to post a short clip of him and his bandmates running through a rendition of the PRIEST classic “The Sentinel”, and he captioned it: “kicking the metal tires maniacs”.

Two days earlier, JUDAS PRIEST’s Richie Faulkner, who underwent a life-saving surgery five months ago after the band’s performance at the Louder Than Life festival, posted a photo of three of his guitars leaning against an amp, and he included the following message: “And we’re back!! PRIEST rehearsals 2022!! Feels so good to be back after so much has happened. Having these US dates has really given me something to aim for as part of my recovery process, and the guitar, as always, has been my medicine throughout.

“It’s gonna be emotional to see all those faces out there once again next week and I’m really looking forward to seeing you all. Thanks for all your support through all of this and see you all soon. Hopefully I can remember the stuff!”

On September 26, 2021, the 42-year-old British-born guitarist suffered an acute cardiac aortic dissection during the Louder Than Life performance, just a short distance from Rudd Heart and Lung Center at UofL Health – Jewish Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. It took the hospital’s cardiothoracic surgery team, led by Dr. Siddharth Pahwa and also including Drs. Brian Ganzel and Mark Slaughter, approximately 10 hours to complete the surgery, an aortic valve and ascending aorta replacement with hemiarch replacement.

Two weeks after his surgery, Faulkner, who spent the last few months recovering at home in Nashville, told reporters that he experienced a sharp pain as he was stepping off the stage. “That’s when it exploded,” he said.

“The more I read about it, the more astonishing it is to me to think that I even made it to the hospital,” he added. “The amount of time when I actually go the pain and when I turned up in the hospital and when we were actually operating, it was quite a lot of time. The more I read about it, the more unbelievable — that amount of time — I don’t know how I’m still around today.”

Pahwha told reporters that the chance of survival for anybody with Faulkner’s ailment is about 10%.

“There are about 70% to 80% patients who have their aorta ruptured and never make it to the hospital,” said Pahwa.

Faulkner said he had no history of heart complications and that the aliment came completely “out of the blue.”

“My point is I don’t even have high cholesterol and this could’ve been the end for me,” he said. “If you can get yourselves checked — do it for me, please.”

Aortic aneurysms are “balloon-like bulges in the aorta, the large artery that carries blood from the heart through the chest and torso,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Dissections happen when the “force of blood pumping can split the layers of the artery wall, allowing blood to leak in between them.”

Doctors said Faulkner will continue to be monitored and will receive a CT scan every six months for the first year.

After Louder Than Life, JUDAS PRIEST postponed the remainder of the U.S. dates on its 50th-anniversary tour, dubbed “50 Heavy Metal Years”. The shows have since been rescheduled for March and April 2022.

Faulkner joined PRIEST in 2011 as the replacement for original guitarist K.K. Downing.

Richie was once the guitarist in the backing group for Lauren Harris, daughter of IRON MAIDEN bassist Steve Harris.

Faulkner and his girlfriend Mariah Lynch, daughter of former DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch, welcomed their first child, a baby girl named Daisy Mae, in July 2020.

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And we’re back!! Priest rehearsals 2022!! Feels so good to be back after so much has happened. Having these US dates has…

Posted by Richie Faulkner on Saturday, February 26, 2022

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BRING ME THE HORIZON has canceled its shows in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine last week.

The British rockers were scheduled play nine dates across Russia next month, along with one concert in Kyiv and one in Minsk.

Earlier today, BRING ME THE HORIZON released the following statement: “In solidarity with Ukraine and to stand against the atrocities being committed by Russian leadership, we must cancel our forthcoming dates in Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

“Ukraine is an incredibly special place for us, we have toured & made numerous music videos there, making lots of strong bonds & lifelong friendships, we are in awe of the bravery demonstrated right now by the Ukrainian people, & we pray for a return to peace as soon as possible.

“Russia we also want to acknowledge that the atrocities being committed by Russian leadership does not reflect the ideals or beliefs of the incredible people we have met there.

“We will be using our platform and voice to what we can to support Ukraine in these incredibly difficult times.”

A number of other music artists have chosen to protest Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by canceling their concerts in the country.

Last Thursday (February 24), Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” in Ukraine. Putin made the announcement during a televised early morning speech, peddling accusations of Nazi elements within Ukraine to justify the attack on his western neighbor, a move that experts slammed as slanderous and false. (Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and lost three family members in the Holocaust.)

The Russian leader called for Ukraine’s “demilitarization and denazification” and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.”

Putin’s military aggression — which has been described by U.S. president Joe Biden as an “unprovoked and unjustified attack” on Ukraine — has resulted at least 136 civilian deaths so far, including 13 children, a United Nations agency said on Tuesday.

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— Bring Me The Horizon (@bmthofficial) March 1, 2022

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