Progressive rock and roll legend Ian Anderson, founding member of JETHRO TULL, spoke to Canada’s “The Rockman Power Hour” about the inspiration for the title track of the British band’s first studio album of new material in over 18 years, “The Zealot Gene”. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “It would be easy to say, ‘Oh, he’s talking about Donald Trump here.’ I mean, too easy. In fact, it’s a compendium of characters. I can easily name at least six or eight people in the world today — political leaders or national leaders whose populist policies are frighteningly dangerous. It’s all about dividing people.

“In a democracy — in a true democracy, like in your country or mine, or a pseudo-democracy, like in some other countries — winning by a small margin is the reality of today, and so dividing people is way of winning affiliation. So you’ll find in those countries led by populist leaders, people love them or hate them in pretty much equal measure, but it usually tilts towards right-wing, traditional, conservative values. Even those who perhaps think, ‘This guy is really not a good leader, but he’s all we’ve got.’ There are the ardent Trump supporters, and then there are those who are dyed-in-the-wool ideological Republicans. They wouldn’t necessarily be comfortable voting for Donald Trump but they want to maintain their Republican origins and so in the USA, that would be the case. Canada is a much more liberal country altogether, and there are many countries in Europe where coalition governments are the norm. But in my country and in the USA, it tends to be pretty much divided.”

“The Zealot Gene” will see a January 28 release on InsideOut Music. A record that began to take shape as early as 2017, “The Zealot Gene”, in many ways, seeks to defy convention during a time when the business of being a touring and recording artist has never faced more uncertainties.

With more than 30 albums to their credit and sales totaling more than 50 million, JETHRO TULL is one of the most successful rock bands of all time with a catalog that contains classics that still resonate today.

The band currently consists of:

Ian Anderson – Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Joe Parrish-James – Guitar
Florian Opahle – Guitar (album only)
Scott Hammond – Drums.
John O’Hara – Piano, Keyboards, Accordion
David Goodier – Bass

In a new Revolver “Fan First” interview, CANNIBAL CORPSE frontman George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher shares his personal journey as a fan, from discovering BLACK SABBATH to a seismic moment watching DEATH’s Chuck Schuldiner to his experiences in the early Florida death metal scene and his upcoming solo album.

Speaking about how Schuldiner inspired him to sing death metal, Fisher said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I saw DEATH play in Baltimore, Maryland, where I’m from, in 1987 or ’88. It might have even been a little bit later, but I’m not sure. I know that ‘Leprosy’ had not come out yet. We had ‘Scream Bloody Gore’. And ‘Scream Bloody Gore’ was great, but I did not really understand the power of Chuck Schuldiner’s voice until that show. And there was, like, 25 people there; there was barely anyone there. And they were supposed to play with this band called DEAD BRAIN CELLS — D.B.C. from Canada — and D.B.C. couldn’t play, so DEATH, I think, had a longer set. And I was literally standing right in front of Chuck Schuldiner; he was right there in front of me singing and playing. And when they played ‘Infernal Death’, ‘Die! Die!’, when he did the high [note], that changed my whole world; that changed my world like BLACK SABBATH did. I said to myself, ‘I wanna sing like that. That’s what I wanna do.’ And I was listening to all these bands. I was probably singing stuff in my room, trying to be Jeff Becerra [POSSESSED] and Tom Araya [SLAYER]. When I saw Chuck Schuldiner, and then, all of a sudden, all these other waves of death metal bands started coming along, I knew that I wasn’t ever gonna be singing or singing, like, thrash; I was gonna be singing growling and death metal.”

He continued: “Chuck is less of a growler than, say, what most modern death metal singers are, like Glen Benton [DEICIDE] or John Tardy [OBITUARY]. But those high screams, if you’ve ever listened to us, then definitely he has the biggest hand in me ever wanting to do those. Chuck Billy on [TESTAMENT’s] ‘The Legacy’ record, [the song] ‘First Strike Is Deadly’, the scream on that and some of the other higher screams he did on those records, it was amazing. Rob Urbinati from SACRIFICE [as well]. But Chuck Schuldiner was the one. When I saw it live, I was, like, ‘Holy…’ ‘Cause he just stood there. It looked so effortless. He was singing like he was some 250-pound guy that could bench press 700 pounds and throw you across the street with one hand. And he’s a little unassuming guy — a nice guy. But he sounded like Satan. It changed my world. It made me really go, ‘Okay, I’m not trying to do this anymore. I’m gonna be a death metal singer. I don’t have any reservations about which way I’m going. I’m going this way and this way only.'”

“Corpsegrinder” is due on February 25. The 10-song effort was co-produced by Nick Bellmore (DEE SNIDER, KINGDOM OF SORROW) and Jamey Jasta (HATEBREED) and will be made available through Jasta’s new label, Perseverance Music Group. A song from the LP, “Acid Vat”, features a guest appearance by Fisher’s CANNIBAL CORPSE bandmate Erik Rutan.

Newly formed Swedish/Canadian death metallers AngelBlast stream new EP “Throne of Ashes”. Death is just the beginning…
The post Full Album Premiere: AngelBlast ‘Throne of Ashes’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

LEFT TO DIE is a new band featuring classic DEATH members Terry Butler (also formerly of MASSACRE and currently in OBITUARY) and Rick Rozz (ex-MASSACRE) paired with GRUESOME founders Matt Harvey (EXHUMED) and Gus Rios (ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION). The Florida-based band is writing an EP and planning a summer U.S. tour, performing DEATH’s classic “Leprosy” album in its entirety, along with cuts from “Scream Bloody Gore”.

Butler had this to say about how the band came together: “After the recent Chuck [Schuldiner] tribute shows that Matt, Gus, and myself did, Rick posed the question, ‘Would anyone want to see some ‘Leprosy’ shows?’ With a resounding ‘yes!’, the masses had spoken. Matt and Gus threw their hats in immediately and, in my opinion, they were the only real choice to bring this thing to life. LEFT TO DIE coming your way soon!!”

Rozz added: “It’s going to be an absolute honor and pleasure to play these 34-plus-year-old songs on stage with Terry after all these years, along with the talents of Matt and Gus. It’s gonna be brutal!”

Harvey and Rios were both very excited about the project coming together. Harvey reflected: “When Gus and I started GRUESOME as a DEATH tribute, we never thought that it would lead to us playing some of our favorite songs alongside the guys that recorded them, but here we are — and I couldn’t be more stoked.” Rios added: “When Rick contacted me about his idea, I was immediately on board, since ‘Leprosy’ is not only my favorite DEATH album, but my favorite death metal album of all time! I’m very grateful and stoked that Terry and Matt were also on board. The metal will flow this summer.”

LEFT TO DIE is:

Terry Butler – bass guitar
Rick Rozz – guitar
Matt Harvey – guitar, vocals
Gus Rios – drums

On December 11-12, 2021, several former DEATH members — including Butler — played two shows commemorating the 20th anniversary of the passing of the band’s mastermind Chuck Schuldiner at Brass Mug in Tampa, Florida. Butler, James Murphy (guitar), Harvey and Rios performed DEATH’s classic third album, “Spiritual Healing” (1990), in its entirety under the LIVING MONSTROSITY banner, while Steve DiGiorgio (bass), Bobby Koelble (guitar) and Kelly Conlon (bass) joined forces as SYMBOLIC to play songs from “Human” (1991), “Individual Thought Patterns” (1993), “Symbolic” (1995) and “The Sound Of Perseverance” (1998

Schuldiner died on December 13, 2001 after a battle with pontine glioma, a rare type of brain tumor.

In recent years, DEATH’s storied catalog has undergone a meticulous reissue campaign via Relapse Records.

Relapse released the first-ever fully authorized DEATH tab book, featuring 21 classic songs tabbed out for guitar from the band’s entire discography. The book, which includes traditional notation as well as tablature, also comes with a digital download of all tracks.

Gus, Terry and Matt photos by Kyle Kazlaw

GODSMACK will embark on a European headlining tour in October.

Fan presales start this Wednesday, January 26 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. at Godsmack.com. Presale code: smackthis2022. General public on-sales start Friday, January 28 at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

Tour dates:

Oct. 05 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium
Oct. 06 – Paris, France – Casino de Paris
Oct. 08 – Glasgow, UK – O2 Academy
Oct. 09 – Manchester, UK – Academy
Oct. 11 – London, UK – Roundhouse
Oct. 12 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Academy
Oct. 14 – Brussels, Belgium – AB
Oct. 15 – Offenbach, Germany – Stadthalle
Oct. 16 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
Oct. 18 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
Oct. 19 – Zurich, Switzerland – Komplex 457
Oct. 20 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
Oct. 22 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
Oct. 23 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra Club
Oct. 25 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Arena Armeets
Oct. 26 – Bucharest, Romania – Arenele Romanes Marquee
Oct. 28 – Kyiv, Ukraine – Stereoplaza
Oct. 30 – Moscow, Russia – Adrenaline Stadium
Oct. 31 – St. Petersburg, Russia – A2

Last November, GODSMACK frontman Sully Erna spoke to Minneapolis. Minnesota’s 93X radio station about the progress of the songwriting sessions for the band’s new studio album. He said: “People always ask us about this gap of how come it takes GODSMACK four years to put out new music. Well, for us, it’s a blink of an eye. And the reason is because we take about six months to a year to write and record a record, ’cause we go for quality most of the time, not quantity. And then it’s touring on it, which lasts another 18 months to two years. And then, obviously, when coming off a big world tour like that, before we do another record, we’re taking six months off or something like that, and then it’s another six months to a year to write [a new album]. So four years goes by very quickly is my point. Obviously, with COVID, it even bumped it up a little bit more. So, in a nutshell, the plan is gonna be we have some shows we’re gonna honor this April and May coming up from back when COVID hit and we had to cancel some — just a handful. And then we are planning to hopefully release something late ’22, with the intentions of getting out there by early ’23 — in the States. We may start a little sooner in Europe first, but the States, I think, ’23 for a big new-look world tour kind of thing [in support of a] new album.”

Erna went on to say that GODSMACK had originally planned on putting out new music in 2021 but decided against it once it became obvious that touring would be delayed further by the ongoing pandemic.

“When this [pandemic] thing happened, then we were, like, ‘Okay, well, this gives us some time, ’cause I wanna set up this place and get the band ready in a new studio’ and whatever,” Sully explained. “Then we finished the studio and we went right to work. We were in there for two, three months or whatever, and we started grinding and pumping out music, and then we were going, like, ‘Wait a minute here. Why are we in such a hurry? We’re not gonna tour yet for a while.’ And Tony [Rombola, guitar] was, like, ‘Yeah, I wanna kind of do some projects around my house,’ and Shannon [Larkin, drums] the same, and Robbie [Merrill, bass] was going through something, rebuilding his personal life. And I’m, like, ‘There’s no reason. We just toured for more than two decades straight, and now we’re rushing to get right out there during a pandemic when we’re not gonna be able to get out there?’ So we just went, ‘Eh. Shut it off. See you next year. Let’s go enjoy our summer. Let’s enjoy our families and our friends and our houses.’ And we took this year off. So now we’ve committed to getting in there January 2nd and we’re gonna work through the end of April to try to button up a record. And that’s why we’re looking at probably like a late summer, early fall release for a new single. And then [a full-length] record following that.”

Last September, GODSMACK’s latest album, “When Legends Rise”, was certified gold on by the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) for sales in excess of half a million copies. In addition, two more of the LP’s singles (the title track and “Under Your Scars”) were also officially certified gold by the RIAA. The album’s first single “Bulletproof” earned a platinum digital single award in September 2020 and was previously certified gold in the U.S.

“When Legends Rise” was the seventh studio album from GODSMACK. Produced by Erik Ron and Erna, it was the band’s first release in four years and was recorded at their now-former headquarters (GSHQ) in Derry, New Hampshire. The album went on to garner a multitude of career milestones for the group: four No. 1 rock tracks (an accomplishment that makes GODSMACK one of only four rock acts to achieve this), and a record 11 No. 1 singles in the band’s career with the album’s fourth single, “Unforgettable”. “When Legends Rise” entered the Billboard Top 200 album chart in the top ten (No. 8), with four No. 1 placements on other charts: Top Rock Albums, Top Hard Music Albums, Top Independent Albums and Top Alternative Albums.

Photo credit: Paris Visone

A two-minute video of Matthias Jabs unboxing the bundle of SCORPIONS figures from KnuckleBonz, creator of the Rock Iconz music collectible series, can be seen below.

The SCORPIONS figures (set of three or separately) are available for order at this location. This set includes Rudolf Schenker Rock Iconz statue, Klaus Meine Rock Iconz statue and Matthias Jabs Rock Iconz statue.

All Rock Iconz statues are officially licensed, limited-edition collectibles. This is a fine-arts process where each statue is hand-cast, painted and numbered.

The statues are created in 1/9 scale. Each statue comes with a certificate of authenticity on the base of the statue.

Each statue sells for $155 and ships worldwide.

KnuckleBonz has been creating high-end statues since 2003 and continues to be dedicated to honoring music’s greatest performers through master artistry in the limited-edition statue series called Rock Iconz. The company’s goal is to capture a “live performance” moment in each limited edition.

Knucklebonz is proud to present Scorpions Rock Iconz,are now available for Pre Order -…

Posted by KnuckleBonz Rock Iconz on Monday, June 29, 2020

California metallers SUICIDE SILENCE have come full circle and returned to their original label home, Century Media Records.

With nearly two decades of non-stop touring around the globe, hundreds of thousands of records sold and cementing themselves as a lynchpin band in modern extreme metal, the Riverside quintet has rejoined the label that released the highly acclaimed albums “The Cleansing” (2007), “No Time To Bleed” (2009) and “The Black Crown” (2011).

SUICIDE SILENCE guitarist Chris Garza states: “I can’t believe how far we’ve all come since the band began 20 years ago. Today we’re back where it all started — writing music together in the same room where the first three albums were created. We’re incredibly excited to be working with Century Media Records once again as we enter the next chapter of our career.”

Mike Gitter, Century Media vice president of A&R, adds: “SUICIDE SILENCE has long been an important band in heavy music, not only being the band that really put ‘deathcore’ on the map but a band that has continued to redefine themselves and beat the odds at every turn. The new music I’ve heard from them has all the intensity and earmarks of their past while continuing to push into the proverbial red.”

“It feels great to welcome SUICIDE SILENCE, undeniably the most influential deathcore band ever, back to Century Media Records,” says Philipp Schulte, Century Media vice president and global head. “Working with them again feels like reuniting what was never meant to be divided. We’re happy being the band’s supporting label home again. No pity for the cowards!”

SUICIDE SILENCE is currently working on material for the follow-up to 2020’s “Become The Hunter” album, which was released via Nuclear Blast Entertainment. It will be the band’s fourth LP with vocalist Hernan “Eddie” Hermida (ex-ALL SHALL PERISH), who joined SUICIDE SILENCE following the passing of frontman Mitch Lucker. The band recently finished an extensive U.S. tour with JINJER and has just announced a co-headlining run on the U.S. 2022 “Chaos & Carnage” tour with CARNIFEX, labelmates LORNA SHORE, UPON A BURNING BODY, ANGELMAKER and DISTANT, beginning May 15 and running until June 4.

Photo by Lina Glasir

In a new interview with Valentino Petrarca of the WSOU 89.5 radio station, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE singer Jesse Leach spoke about the band’s plans for a follow-up album to 2019’s “Atonement”. He said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “As far as I know, and the way that this band works, is all four of those guys who hold instruments come up with demos and riffs or parts of songs, and that process has begun, as far as I know, ’cause we did have a meeting about it on the SLIPKNOT tour. So the idea was, and this all depends on where touring goes, and we do have plans for other tours through the summer [and] at the end of the year, so depending on where the world is and [whether] we have access to [other] countries, we could potentially be touring on ‘Atonement’ for this year, for the most part, trying to make up for lost time. But there was discussion [about] at least starting to demo and get the ideas together for a new record this year. But, again, we don’t know what the world’s gonna hand us. It’s such weird, uncertain times. But I know the wheels have started to turn as far as getting a concept and an idea to get the guys to start to write parts and stuff like that. So only time will tell. I wouldn’t expect it to be coming out this year, but at least the ideas and the writing and the demos will start this year.”

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.

In September, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE performed without longtime bassist Mike D’Antonio at the Inkcarceration festival in Mansfield, Ohio after he tested positive for COVID-19. Filling in for him was the band’s production manager Josh Mihlek.

“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 the band’s former lead singer Howard 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, Leach and 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.

Rock And Roll Hall Of Famer Sammy Hagar has announced the first dates of his “Crazy Times” North American summer amphitheater tour. Hagar will be joined by his best-selling rock supergroup THE CIRCLE, featuring fellow VAN HALEN alum and Rock Hall inductee Michael Anthony; Grammy Award-winning drummer Jason Bonham; and Vic Johnson, Hagar’s longtime guitar virtuoso. Special guests GEORGE THOROGOOD & THE DESTROYERS will also join the entire tour, which is produced by Live Nation and presented by Hagar’s portfolio of spirits — Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co., Santo Tequila and Beach Bar Rum. The “Crazy Times” tour kicks off in Bridgeport, Connecticut on Friday, June 10 at Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater and continues through Saturday, September 10 at the FivePoint Amphitheatre in Irvine, California.

Tickets go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. local time on Friday, January 28. Redhead fan club members will have access to the first pre-sale tickets beginning Tuesday, January 25 at 10 a.m. local time.

Hagar said: “A tour this size has been a long time coming and it’s definitely going to be worth the wait. THE CIRCLE and I are super excited and ready to throw the party of the year with George Thorogood. We’re going to take the music and party to a whole new level — ‘Crazy Times’ is an understatement.”

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE have quickly established themselves as one of the most emphatic and exciting live acts on the road today, seamlessly ripping through career-spanning hits from Hagar’s solo years, MONTROSE, VAN HALEN, THE CIRCLE, and with Bonham on drums a LED ZEPPELIN track or two. With an ever-changing setlist that draws from more than five decades of iconic rock anthems, fans will experience the excitement of live music with songs, including “I Can’t Drive 55”, “Right Now”, “There’s Only One Way To Rock”, “Mas Tequila”, “Why Can’t This Be Love”, “Heavy Metal”, “Your Love is Driving Me Crazy” and many more.

Special guests GEORGE THOROGOOD AND THE DESTROYERS are set to turn up the rock-blues vibes as they celebrate 45 years in music. With a catalog of classic hits that includes “Who Do You Love”, “Move It On Over”, “Bad To The Bone”, “I Drink Alone” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer”, it’s a pairing for the rock party record books.

SAMMY HAGAR & THE CIRCLE “Crazy Times” tour dates:

Jun. 10 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford HealthCare Amphitheater
Jun. 11 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
Jun. 13 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center –
Jun. 15 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
Jun. 16 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center
Aug. 23 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
Aug. 24 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center
Aug. 26 – Maryland Heights, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 27 – Tinley Park, IL – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Aug. 30 – Salt Lake City, UT – USANA Amphitheatre
Sep. 01 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
Sep. 07 – Phoenix, AZ – Ak-Chin Pavilion
Sep. 09 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre
Sep. 10 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre

The tour comes on the heels of Hagar’s Las Vegas residency, which is now in its second year of sold-out concerts at The Strat. On January 5, 2022, he was awarded Mexico’s Medal of Honor and named Los Cabos’ first Honorary Ambassador of Tourism by the region’s top dignitaries, in recognition of his longtime investment in their people and economy. Hagar’s tour is presented by his award-winning portfolio of spirits, including Santo Tequila and Mezquila, a partnership with Guy Fieri; his premium Puerto Rico-made Beach Bar Rum, with partner Rick Springfield; and Sammy’s Beach Bar Cocktail Co., his new top-shelf sparkling rum cocktails in a can.