Round Hill Music has acquired a significant share of the master artist royalties and entered into a long-term agreement to administer the neighboring rights income of the catalog of Nancy Wilson, acclaimed singer, songwriter and guitarist of Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted band HEART.

Key acquisition highlights include a significant share of the rights to HEART, who have sold over 35 million records worldwide and have a total of four Grammy nominations to date. The catalog includes the No. 1 hit “These Dreams” that was certified platinum five times. Further classic tracks in the catalog include “Barracuda”, “Magic Man”, “Alone” and “Crazy On You”.

HEART’s breakthrough came in 1975 with the release of their debut double platinum selling album “Dreamboat Annie”, which generated the hits “Magic Man” and “Crazy On You”. Their third studio album “Little Queen” has reached double and triple platinum in Canada and United States, respectively. In 1985, HEART released their eighth studio album which produced the band’s first No. 1 single, “These Dreams” and was certified platinum five times and nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal”.

Wilson, who has been ranked as one of the greatest female guitarists of all time by Gibson, was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2013 with her sister Ann. That same year, she and her sister Ann, also a member of HEART, received a star on the Walk Of Fame in Hollywood.

Round Hill Music’s acquisition comprises a significant share of Nancy Wilson’s master artist royalties and administration rights on Nancy Wilson’s neighboring rights income.

The catalog has significant exposure to streaming, comprising 35% of revenue mix, with the balance being comprised of 2% physical, 7% download, 13% sync and 4% other. Neighboring rights income comprises 39% of the catalog’s revenue. In terms of geographical exposure, 61% of the revenue is from the U.S., while the balance is from other countries.

The top five songs ranked by revenue are: “Barracuda”, “Alone”, “Crazy On You”, “Magic Man”, and “These Dreams”. All figures are based on the catalog’s royalty statements in the calendar years 2017-2020.

Trevor Bowen, chair of the company, commented: “We are very pleased to announce the acquisition of Nancy Wilson’s fantastic catalog of classic HEART tracks from across her career including songs from her double and triple-platinum-selling albums. This important acquisition provides the company with direct exposure to a timeless American rock band.”

Josh Gruss, chairman and CEO of Round Hill, the company’s investment manager, commented: “Nancy has had astonishing success over the last 45 years. She is an icon and the longevity of her music is a testament to her incredible talent.”

Nancy Wilson commented: “I’m honored to be working with the good people at Round Hill and am looking forward to an ongoing working relationship.”

In a new interview with Niclas Müller-Hansen of RockSverige, EXODUS drummer Tom Hunting was asked if his battle with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the stomach has changed his view on life. He responded: “Well, I definitely don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. It gives you a new perspective where that’s concerned, I think. Things that used to stress me out, I’m just, like, Meh.’ It’s just stuff that’s gonna happen to some of us. I’m lucky — very lucky — that they were able to take a bad situation and make it okay. I’m walking around, I’m eating, I’m breathing, I’m playing drums. I’m lucky and the science is amazing like what they’re able to do. They’ve done a lot of tests and they can’t find cancer inside me right now so that’s a good thing. I might’ve dodged a couple of bullets there. [Laughs]”

The 56-year-old, who underwent a successful total gastrectomy in July 2021, said that there was a short period after the surgery when he couldn’t play drums. “They wouldn’t let me do anything for, like, five weeks,” he said. “Then I started doing pushups. Before the surgery, I was getting chemo doses, like four of them, and they were pretty massive. I did play drums a little bit, but I wasn’t feeling it that well. I thought I was gonna be in the throes of getting four more outro doses of chemo, but they’re not doing them. They don’t need to. Right now I’m getting immunotherapy which does not really have any side effects. Getting small doses of that once every three weeks, but I have no restrictions on playing or anything, basically. They said, ‘Just resume your life. Celebrate and resume your life.’ And that’s kinda what I’m doing.”

Last month, Hunting told the “Put Up Your Dukes” podcast that he wants to use his experience as a cancer survivor to interact with others who may be going through a similar situation.

“I’m not qualified now, but I think in a couple of more months, they deem me qualified to talk to other people about this disease, and I’m gonna do it,” he said. “‘Cause I want people to know about it and I want people to get checked. Just going public with it — I don’t do social media, but what I read on the EXODUS [sites] was, like, ‘Hey, I’m having gut problems too,’ and, ‘I’m gonna go get checked out now.’ I hope people get the answers they’re looking for.”

“I’m not saying those drugs that they give you for your gut are bad. They get you by. But if you’re having what you think is a gut problem, tell ’em you wanna get scoped. ‘Cause some of those scans and some of those tests, they won’t pick up what’s going on inside there.

“Since I’m on this journey, dude, they’re fucking scanning me constantly,” Tom added. “‘Cause they wanna see how I’m reacting to what they’re doing too. So it’s all part of the science and the evolution of the science. If they can help me live — and I love my life — and I can help them develop the science to help the next batch of people who you know are gonna get this shit, that’s a win-win.”

Hunting rejoined his EXODUS bandmates on stage in early October at the Aftershock festival in Sacramento, California.

EXODUS tapped John Tempesta to play drums for the band at Psycho Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada in August and at Full Terror Assault in Cave In Rock, Illinois in September while Hunting was recovering from surgery. Tempesta was a member of EXODUS from 1989 until 1993 and played on the band’s albums “Impact Is Imminent” (1990) and “Force Of Habit” (1992).

A GoFundMe campaign to help Hunting with medical expenses had previously raised more than $114,000 — including $5,000 from Tom’s former EXODUS bandmate, current METALLICA guitarist Kirk Hammett, and $1,500 from FOZZY singer and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho.

EXODUS released its new album, “Persona Non Grata”, on November 19 via Nuclear Blast Records. The LP was recorded at a studio in Lake Almanor, California and was engineered by Steve Lagudi and EXODUS. It was produced by EXODUS and was mixed by Andy Sneap. For the third time in the band’s history, they returned to Swedish artist Pär Olofsson to create the album artwork.

“Persona Non Grata” is the follow-up to 2014’s “Blood In Blood Out”, which was the San Francisco Bay Area thrashers’ first release since the departure of EXODUS’s singer of nine years, Rob Dukes, and the return of Steve “Zetro” Souza, who previously fronted EXODUS from 1986 to 1993 and from 2002 to 2004.

OUTLANDERS, launched by Finnish soprano legend Tarja Turunen (ex-NIGHTWISH) and EDM pioneer Torsten Stenzel, has released the official visualizer to “Closer To The Sky”. The track features guitarist Trevor Rabin, best known as guitarist of prog rock icons YES, as well as a top Hollywood blockbuster movies score composer.

The next single “The Cruellest Goodbye” arrives January 28 and features Al Di Meola. It will be released as a limited-edition seven-inch vinyl exclusively at Tarja’s online store and digitally at earMUSIC.

A Side:

“The Cruellest Goodbye”

B Side:

“The Cruellest Goodbye” (Rough Mix 2014)

Tarja’s vision for OUTLANDERS is to create something fresh and new. OUTLANDERS combine chill, exciting electronic beats with Tarja’s emotional, classically trained vocals, along with unique guitar performances. These three elements are a constant in all the songs.

“Closer To The Sky” marked the start of a release series of eight tracks via earMUSIC preceding a full-length album; each song presents an exceptional guitarist as a guest. Some other participants include Joe Satriani, Jennifer Batten, Steve Rothery, Mike Oldfield, Walter Giardino, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Vernon Reid and Marty Friedman.

Recorded and mixed mainly on the Caribbean island of Antigua during the last 10 years, the sounds of OUTLANDERS are mystic. They are soft and powerful; catchy and dreamy; modern but vintage — at the same time. Their music is about opposites that magically attract each other and the three aesthetic pillar elements unite to create a singular unique sound.

Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD will release their new studio album, “Synchro Anarchy”, on February 11 via Century Media Records. The follow-up to 2018’s “The Wake” was produced by Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio and features cover artwork created by VOIVOD drummer Michel “Away” Langevin.

The second single from “Synchro Anarchy”, a song called “Paranormalium”, can be streamed below.

“Synchro Anarchy” track listing:

01. Paranormalium
02. Synchro Anarchy
03. Planet Eaters
04. Mind Clock
05. Sleeves Off
06. Holographic Thinking
07. The World Today
08. Quest For Nothing
09. Memory Failure

Langevin comments: “We are eager to present our latest work, a real collaborative effort. The new album represents countless hours of writing, demoing, recording, mixing and so on. The band and Francis Perron at RadicArt Studio gave their very best to make it happen under unusual circumstances, which led us to call it ‘Synchro Anarchy’. We feel that the sound and music are 100% VOIVOD, and we hope everyone will enjoy it as much as we had fun making it. We certainly can’t wait to play it live.”

When the official music video for “Planet Eaters” was first released last month, Langevin said: “On April 21st, 2021, an animated video for the song ‘Nothingface’ popped up online. The video was done by Pierre Menetrier on an Amiga computer in 1991, which I thought was beyond cool. The spectacular imagery and visual effects were just perfect for a VOIVOD song. After wrapping up the recording and mixing of the ‘Synchro Anarchy’ album, we all agreed on ‘Planet Eaters’ as the first single/video. We thought the song had a vintage ‘Nothingface’/’Hatröss’ vibe, so I immediately contacted Pierre and asked him if he could make a video for the song. Once again, the result is just mind-blowing. You just can’t get more Voivodian than that!”

Eight months ago, VOIVOD guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain told The Metal Voice that he and his bandmates were “still in the writing process” for follow-up to 2018’s “The Wake”. He said: “We’re still sharing files and trying to catch up and put more time into it. I think the situation will get better and maybe we’ll have a chance to meet more often and jam together; that’s where the magic happens, usually. But we’ve learned to work in this context as well. And that’s cool, because I received a bunch of tracks from Away [drummer Michel Langevin], who is programming drums in Logic [audio software] with his computer, and it sounded exactly like Away’s playing. I was super impressed, because sometimes when you use a computer, it kind of sounds square. But everything was perfect. So it’s really fun to do. It’s a different way. So it’s gonna bring it different ideas, I think, if we welcome it in a creative way.”

Regarding the musical direction of the new VOIVOD material, Mongrain said: “[It’s] hard to tell at the moment, but personally, I feel like [injecting] a little bit more thrashy [elements and] some dirtiness, so to speak, to the sound. Compexity has always been part of my influence in songwriting — I don’t know what’s the problem with me, but it’s always there, so I’m not worrying about that side. But maybe [make it] a bit less polished and more rock and roll, I guess.”

VOIVOD released a new live album, “Lost Machine – Live”, in November 2020 via Century Media Records. The disc was recorded in Québec City during the worldwide touring cycle for “The Wake”.

In the summer of 2020, VOIVOD released a new three-track 12-inch vinyl and digital EP titled “The End Of Dormancy” via Century Media Records. The EP is centered around a special “Metal Section” version of the title track (off VOIVOD’s latest album, “The Wake”) with added trumpets, saxophone and trombones. The complementary songs on this release are exclusive live versions of “The End Of Dormancy (Metal Section)” and the group’s classic “The Unknown Knows”, recorded at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019.

“The End Of Dormancy” EP came with artwork by Langevin and is available on 180-fram 12-inch vinyl.

January 5 word of the day is Paranormalium!
New single out as of midnight tonight local times on streaming/download platforms. More amazing Away art! #synchroanarchysynchroanarchy #PlanetEaters #voivod

Posted by Voivod on Tuesday, January 4, 2022

MTV’s seminal, Gen X-defining “Beavis And Butt-Head” about two cartoon teenagers famous for their nasally laughs and love of heavy metal will return “soon” with an all-new movie on Paramount+. The timeline for the new movie adaptation was announced by “Beavis And Butt-Head” creator Mike Judge, who tweeted on Tuesday (January 4): “Beavis and Butt-Head will be returning this year with a brand new movie and more on Paramount+. No exact date yet, but soon. They need some time to get back in shape.”

Judge’s tweet included mock-ups of the two lead characters in an advanced age bracket, leading to speculation that he will having a much older Beavis and Butt-Head return for an all-new movie two and half decades after “Beavis And Butt-Head Do America” first hit theaters.

In July 2020, Comedy Central announced an expansive deal with Emmy Award-winning Judge to reimagine “Beavis And Butt-Head”. Comedy Central ordered two seasons of the new series with meta-themes relatable to both new and old fans — Gen X parents and their Gen Z kids.

Judge is set to write, produce and provide voice over for both iconic characters.

Launched in 1993, “Beavis And Butt-Head” quickly became a force in pop culture and started a television revolution with its pure, unadulterated, satirical commentary on youth and adolescence. Centered around two teenage couch potatoes, “Beavis” and “Butt-Head,” the unprecedented concept immediately became part of the vernacular in a way no other adult animated series had before. Known for tackling social issues including teen obesity, workers’ rights and media trends, the show connected with an entire generation, laying claim as one of the most innovative series in the modern-day zeitgeist.

The Comedy Central deal marked a homecoming for Judge after going on to create other landmark series including “Silicon Valley” and “King Of The Hill”, and movies like “Office Space” and “Idiocracy” among others. “Beavis And Butt-Head” marks a return to animation as he looks to recreate a cultural dialogue for a new generation, giving familiar fans and new audiences alike the chance to experience and laugh with America’s favorite animated duo.
‘

Beavis and Butt-Head will be returning this year with a brand new movie and more on Paramount+. No exact date yet, but soon. They need some time to get back in shape. pic.twitter.com/tN5rePP9Kn
— Mike Judge (@MikeJudge) January 5, 2022

Michael Sweet has once again claimed that STRYPER was never a “Christian” band despite the fact that the lyrics in a number of STRYPER songs explicitly point to Christ. During an appearance on the latest episode of the “Talk Is Jericho” podcast hosted by FOZZY frontman and wrestling superstar Chris Jericho, he explained (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I recently, in the past few yeas, said quite a few times, and it’s really caused a stir, that we’re not a Christian band. And people say, ‘What?’ But we’re Christians in a rock band. And there’s a difference.

“I look at PETRA as a Christian band, I look at SWEET COMFORT, I look at REZ BAND as Christian bands, ’cause they were Christians in a rock band,” the STRYPER frontman continued. “And they were brought up in the church, for the most part. We weren’t brought up in the church; we were brought up on the streets of L.A. playing Gazzarri’s, Troubadour, Whisky, and we became Christians. And we just continued doing what we always did, but with a different message.

“So we’re a rock band that’s comprised of Christians,” Sweet added. “We’re really not a Christian band. But if people wanna call us a Christian band, that’s okay. But I view us as just a rock band that decided to take a different path.”

Michael went on to say that STRYPER’s lyrics come from the heart and are not meant to be a marketing gimmick, as is the case with some of the band’s more extreme counterparts.

“With a band like SLAYER — not just SLAYER but a number of other black metal bands… What’s interesting is STRYPER, we read the Bible, we pray, we go to church, we believe in what the Bible says,” Michael said. “So by doing so, so to speak, we practice what we preach. We’re not perfect — in any sense of the word, we’re not perfect — but we really do our best to represent Christ, represent God and all that God stands for. But it’s funny when you hear about SLAYER, and you think Satanic band, pentagram, evil, and then Tom [Araya, SLAYER frontman] is going to church every Sunday with his kids. Which is great. But my point is it’s a polar opposite of what they represent themselves as. STRYPER, on the other hand, you get what you get. We are what we are on stage and off stage. It’s not like we’re going to the satanic church after we get off stage.”

Even though STRYPER’s third album, 1986’s “To Hell With The Devil”, made Sweet and his bandmates the first contemporary Christian act to score a platinum album, the group has often felt unwelcome in Christian circles, with some members of the church feeling that Christianity and heavy metal are incompatible.

In a 2018 interview with the Detroit Free Press, Michael said that STRYPER was never fully embraced by the heavy metal and hard rock communities, largely because of the band’s Christian lyrics.

“We’ve never been accepted by either side,” he said. “The secular side, the mainstream, they’ve never accepted us to this day. We’re probably that band that everyone’s going to go to whenever there’s a time to mock. We’ll be the band used for that in most cases. Now on the Christian side, we’ve never really had the full support of the Christian side because we don’t fit into their little club. We’re not wearing suits and ties and going to every church and preaching.”

Formed 39 years ago, STRYPER’s name comes from Isaiah 53:5, which states: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”

STRYPER’s albums include “To Hell With The Devil”, “Second Coming”, “No More Hell To Pay”, “Fallen”, “God Damn Evil” and the band’s latest effort, “Even The Devil Believes”.

Watch members of Emperor, Gorgoroth, Gaahl’s Wyrd and Cadaver pay tribute to True Norwegian Black Metal institution Mayhem.
The post Watch: All-Star Black Metal Lineup Covers Mayhem’s ‘Freezing Moon’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Hear Indianapolis post-hardcore quartet Sundown tear through a sludgy, jittery anthem from their upcoming Wise Blood debut.
The post Track Premiere: Sundown – “Not My Jam” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Joe Satriani, the legendary world-renowned guitarist, is planning his first foray as a touring visual artist with showings debuting at two Wentworth Gallery locations in January 2022 — Friday January 28, 7-10 p.m. at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida and Saturday January 29, 5-8 p.m. at the Boca Raton location.

Satriani has prepared one-of-a-kind pieces for the exhibit, including original canvases and hand painted guitars.

Joe says: “Music and art are my passions. I like making the invisible, visible, and the unimaginable real. The image on a canvas, or an electric guitar for that matter, can make you feel something unexpected and revealing, something that is the beginning of a greater personal insight. Challenging the straight line and the concepts of what belongs with what excites me. I want to experience new color combinations to make me see beyond the prevailing reality. There’s a balance between seriousness and humor that can imbue in a painting a kind of resilience and longevity, making it forever contemporary. When I paint and play my guitar, I strive to be in a state of exhilaration and communicate that feeling to my fans.”

Adds Christian O’Mahony, principal at Wentworth Gallery: “Joe is a master storyteller. Just as his music draws in the listener, his art draws in the viewer. His artwork is emotional, imaginative, and fantastic. Not only do you see the universe through Joe’s eyes, but you also contemplate our place in it.”

Friday, January 28 @ 7-10 p.m.

Wentworth Gallery at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Address: 5804 Seminole Way #103

Saturday, January 29 @ 5-8 p.m.

Wentworth Gallery at the Boca Raton Town Center Mall
Address: 6000 Glades Road #1089

Wentworth Gallery will be following the latest COVID-19 safety procedures. Masks are required in all Wentworth Galleries. All artwork on exhibition is available for acquisition.

Satriani’s rescheduled European tour in support of his latest effort, “Shapeshifting”, will kick off April 4 and run though June 6.