Author: fgt

By the time Led Zeppelin launched their injury-plagued 1975 North American tour on Jan. 18, they found themselves in the curious position of simultaneously being the biggest and perhaps most hated rock band on the planet.

The British titans had spent the previous six years smashing concert attendance records and selling millions of copies of each of their first five albums. But the press continued to disparage Led Zeppelin with savage glee, writing them off as bombastic, barbaric blues plagiarists with no sense of musical subtlety or personal decorum. Led Zeppelin, in turn, hated the press and had been accused more than once of assaulting members of the media.

The band and their management both sensed it was time for change, so on their mammoth 1975 North American tour, Led Zeppelin invited members of the press to cover their shows and, in some cases, travel with them on their private jet, The Starship. Demand was unprecedented, and fans snapped up tickets for nearly 40 arena and stadium shows within minutes. Led Zeppelin seemed poised to extend their reign as the preeminent hard rock band of the era, and this time they would have favorable media coverage to validate their success.

It was unfortunate, then, that Jimmy Page and Robert Plant‘s physical ailments threatened to derail the tour before it even began.

READ MORE: Led Zeppelin Live Albums Ranked

Led Zeppelin’s 1975 Tour Hampered by a Broken Finger and the Flu

Back in England, Page had crushed his left ring finger in a train door, forcing him to develop a three-finger technique for Zeppelin’s upcoming trek. And by the time the band landed in Chicago on Jan. 16, two days before the tour kickoff, Plant had come down with a nasty cold that hampered his banshee wail.

Nevertheless, Led Zeppelin kicked off their tour on Jan. 18 at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minnesota, following two European warm-up dates the previous week. It marked their first trek in 18 months, and Plant admitted during the gig that the band was “a bit rusty.”

Bootlegs from the show support his assertion, as the frontman croaked some of his signature stratospheric high notes while a hobbled Page fumbled through some of his fleet-fingered solos. The guitarist’s injury forced Zeppelin to cut “Dazed and Confused” — a freewheeling, longform epic and routine high point of their shows — from their set, along with the slow blues inferno “Since I’ve Been Loving You.”

The Bloomington tour kickoff was not a total bust, though. The band hit their stride on the doom-laden “When the Levee Breaks,” which they had never played live before 1975, and they already sounded confident on the majestic, yet-unreleased Physical Graffiti epic “Kashmir.” A critic from Minnesota’s Free Press enthused: “If Led Zeppelin was operating at only half-speed, I would be hard-pressed to imagine how sensational this band would be on a good night!” On the flip side, journalist Stephen Davis noted in his book LZ-’75 that when the band ended their show after two hours and 15 minutes, the crowd booed ferociously as they had expected a three-hour performance.

Led Zeppelin Eventually Finds Their Groove on 1975 Tour

Unfortunately for Led Zeppelin, their physical afflictions would get worse before they got better on their 1975 tour. Although Page was able to numb his finger pain with copious amounts of Jack Daniel’s, Plant had no such recourse as his cold developed into a full-blown flu, forcing the cancellation of their St. Louis show in late January. (They played there a few weeks later on Feb. 16, the final date of the first North American leg.) Morale was low, but the band soldiered onward.

“I have no doubt the tour is going to be good, it’s just, dammit, I’m disappointed that I can’t do all I can do,” Page lamented to cherubic Rolling Stone journalist Cameron Crowe. “I always want to do my very best and it’s frustrating to have something hold me back. You can bet that ‘Dazed and Confused’ will be back in the set the very second I’m able to play it. We may not be brilliant for a few nights but we’ll always be good.”

As the tour progressed, Led Zeppelin gradually regained their footing, and their shows eventually returned to the epic grandeur of previous outings. The second leg of the trek coincided with the Feb. 24 release of Physical Graffiti, which earned rave reviews, topped the charts on both sides of the pond and ultimately sold 8 million copies in the United States alone.

Page also made good on his word to Crowe on Feb. 3, 1975, when Led Zeppelin reintroduced “Dazed and Confused” into their set during their first of three shows at New York’s Madison Square Garden. “No question about it,” Plant said that evening, “the tour has begun.”

Led Zeppelin, Jan. 18, 1975,  Metropolitan Sports Center, Bloomington Set List
1. “Rock and Roll”
2. “Sick Again”
3. “Over the Hills and Far Away”
4. “When the Levee Breaks”
5. “The Song Remains the Same”
6. “The Rain Song”
7. “Kashmir”
8. “The Wanton Song”
9. “No Quarter”
10. “Trampled Underfoot”
11. “Moby Dick”
12. “In My Time of Dying”
13. “Stairway to Heaven”
14. “Whole Lotta Love”
15. “Black Dog”

On March 21, avant-death metal trio, Imperial Triumphant, will release their sixth full-length, Goldstar, via Century Media Records. Their most instant and evocative work to-date, Goldstar reins in their musical wanderlust with a newfound focus that the band has only hinted at with past works.

Their latest single “Lexington Delirium”, featuring the ominous spoken vocals of Tomas Haake, is just one example of this heightened songwriting acumen, clocking in at under 5 minutes, while retaining their trademark musical virtuosity in this homage to classic NYC architecture. Watch the video – filmed at the iconic Chrysler Building (a rare opportunity not given to many artists, especially the top floors!) and directed by Brendan McGowan – below.

Imperial Triumphant comments: “Ziggurats rise, skyscrapers weep, & the future is not birthed from the organic but from a cosmic, mechanical womb. It speaks of posterity lost in the congestion of New Culture, a place where Manhattan’s towering ambition conceals impending delirium. The Throne of Bolts becomes both a seat of power and a looming specter, begging for salvation from the soulless surge of progress. We climbed the deco spire of the magnificent Chrysler building in order to bring you a magnanimous visual experience.”

Steve Blanco (Bass, Keyboards) reflects: “Gazing at the building’s stainless steel Egyptian sun rays, I felt a profound connection to something greater, a deep resonance with the universe itself. Sharing that moment with my bandmates Zachary and Kenny and everyone involved made it all the more fabulous.”

With their upcoming release, Goldstar, the masked triumvirate Imperial Triumphant continues their exploration of the urban and arcane. The band has found inspiration in the sound of metal pushed to its darkest extremes, gilded, art deco temples, and looming cityscapes. Recorded in early 2024 with longtime collaborator and producer, Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice), as the final project recorded at Marston’s Menegroth Studios in Queens, the album was done in a breakneck five days.

“As we recorded the final tracks, the experience felt like the universe was aligning,” the band observes. “Colin, who is basically a fourth member of the band to us, held space for this transformative moment, offering his incredible artistry and expertise, which only deepened the connection we had to the music. The sound that we captured in that sacred space was the crystallization of everything we’ve worked for, and the memories of those sessions will resonate within us for years to come. Music exists as a force beyond the infinite.”

With new single “Lexington Delirium” and the unveiling of Goldstar, the band reflects on what they’ve achieved – and what’s to come: “Imperial Triumphant’s upcoming album is a journey that feels both timeless and otherworldly, and we are beyond excited to share it with the world in 2025. The music we’ve created feels like it was born from a deeper, unseen realm, and we’re truly in love with every part of it. Our new video for ‘Lexington Delirium’ is a perfect reflection of that energy, filmed atop the majestic Chrysler Building. We’ve all admired its art deco beauty for years, and standing on top of such an iconic structure, surrounded by the clouds of Midtown, felt like stepping into a different age—an age of ambition and grandeur. Working with Brendan McGowen was an absolute pleasure, as his vision and creativity are greatly appreciated.”

Goldstar is a long cool drag and as intense an urban fever dream as only Imperial Triumphant can deliver. Stay tuned for more coming soon.

Pre-order Goldstar in various formats here.

Goldstar tracklisting:

“Eye Of Mars”
“Gomorrah Nouveaux”
“Lexington Delirium” (ft. Tomas Haake)
“Hotel Sphinx”
“NEWYORKCITY” (ft. Yoshiko Ohara)
“Goldstar”
“Rot Moderne”
“Pleasuredome” (ft. Dave Lombardo & Tomas Haake)       
“Industry Of Misery”

“Hotel Sphinx” video:

“Eye Of Mars” video:

Decibel Magazine Tour dates and tickets here.

Imperial Triumphant lineup:

Zachary Ezrin – Vocals, Guitar
Steve Blanco – Bass, Keyboards
Kenny Grohowski – Drums

(Photo – Shannon Void)

The ground quakes, the surface fractures, and a colossal force rises from the abyss: Gates To Hell have returned to deliver their undeniable truth – Death Comes To All. The Louisville natives charge onto the heavy music scene with their second full-length which will be released March 21 via Nuclear Blast Records. Blurring the lines between death metal, hardcore, and every brutal sound in between, Gates To Hell bring a monstrous energy to the studio and an unmatched ferocity to their live performances.

Today, the band unveil the brutal first track, “Next To Bleed”. The song showcases the band’s growth as songwriters, demonstrating a refined maturity while retaining their signature aggression. The accompanying music video directed by Errick Easterday features a striking visual concept: the band encircling a tilting table, where a tortured figure lies bleeding out—a dark, visceral representation of the track’s themes. “Next To Bleed” is now available to order as a limited edition 7″ red vinyl.

Gates To Hell comments, “We’ve been working real hard and we’re excited to share with you all the next chapter for Gates To Hell starting with our first single ‘Next To Bleed’. This is our most diverse and well-rounded collection of songs we’ve made and we’re stoked to finally be able to release this record to the world soon.”

Nuclear Blast America’s Label Manager & Head of A&R Tommy Jones comments, “The time has finally come and the Gates To Hell are opening wide. Line up and step through, for you are the ‘Next To Bleed’! I’m proud to be the gatekeeper to usher in the next era of brutality for the Louisville natives via the largest metal record label in the world, Nuclear Blast Records. Death Comes To All on March 21, 2025. You have been warned.”

Stream “Next To Bleed” and purchase the limited edition 7″ vinyl here. Check out the music video below.

Fueled by youthful ambition and a sharp creative focus, the band enlisted Randy LeBoeuf of Graphic Nature Audio. The partnership resulted in raw intensity with a sharpened sense of precision, elevating their sound to new heights. Their album artwork – crafted by WYRMWALK – offers a fitting representation of the blood-soaked dread and suffocating darkness that Death Comes To All unleashes.

Death Comes To All is available now for pre-order in a variety of formats including CD Jewel, LP Vinyl in purple swirl, light blue splatter (band exclusive), and purple and white swirl with black splatter (Life and Death Brigade Festival | New England Metal & Hardcore Festival exclusive) as well as a t-shirt. Head here.

Death Comes To All tracklisting:

“Rise Again”
“A Summoning”
“Weeping In Pain”
“Next To Bleed”
“21 Sacraments”
“Sacrificial Deed”
“Death Comes To All”
“Crazed Killer”
“Locked Out”
“Fused With The Soil”

“Next To Bleed” video:

Today, Gates To Hell kicks off their European & UK Tour with headliners Kublai Khan. The 17-date trek will begin in Tillburg and will conclude in Southampton on February 3. Joining the package is Gideon and Terminal Sleep. For more information on the tour, head here.

Looking ahead to 2025, Gates To Hell are preparing to storm the road and spread their ferocious energy to as many new audiences as possible. With Nuclear Blast Records fuelling their fire, they’re ready to leave concertgoers in the wake of their annihilation. Death Comes To All, but Gates To Hell will make sure you feel it first.

Gates To Hell is:

Ryan Storey – Vocals
Eli Hanson – Guitar
Seth Lewis – Guitar
Dustin Cantrell – Bass
Trey Garris – Drums

(Photo – Ian Enger)

2025 not only sees German iconic metal institution, Grave Digger, celebrate its 45th anniversary, but the release of their 23rd studio album, Bone Collector, out today via ROAR.

In support of Bone Collector, the band has just kicked off an extensive album release tour with very special guests Victory. For Grave Digger tour details, head here.
 
Bone Collector is available as a CD digipak, picture vinyl, colored marbled vinyl, RPM exclusive splatter vinyl and digitally. At the RPM & ROAR Mailorder Shop, the limited splatter vinyl and the digipak are also available as a bundle with the exclusive “Old School” shirt. To order your copy of this must-have gem, one that belongs into every well-sorted heavy metal record collection, head here.

Founded in 1980 in Gladbeck, they set out to conquer the world; who would have thought that 45 years later Grave Digger would be one of the most important, consistent and influential metal bands from Germany. With the release of their ground-breaking debut Heavy Metal Breakdown in 1984, an unprecedented career began that will find its logical continuation more than four decades later with the band’s much-waited new masterpiece Bone Collector, an album that sees the band going back to their old school roots.
 
A new lyric video for the furious album title track can be found below.

Bone Collector tracklisting:

“Bone Collector”
“The Rich The Poor The Dying”
“Kingdom Of Skulls”
“The Devil’s Serenade”
“Killing Is My Pleasure”
“Mirror Of Hate”
“Riders Of Doom”
“Made Of Madness”
“Graveyard Kings”
“Forever Evil & Buried Alive”
“Whispers Of The Damned”

“Bone Collector” lyric video:

“The Devil’s Serenade” video:

“Killing Is My Pleasure” visualizer:

“Kingdom Of Skulls” video:

Grave Digger is:

Chris Boltendahl (Vocals)
Jens Becker (Bass)
Tobias Kersting (Guitar)
Marcus Kniep (Drums)

(Photo – Jens Howorka)

Finnish hard rock and metal monster squad, Lordi, increase the vehement desire for their forthcoming Limited Deadition with a second single today. Titled “Retropolis”, the band take fans on a trip back to the 80s both musically and lyrically. Seductive guitar and synth leads conjure feelings of nostalgia, and successfully shorten the wait until the album’s release on March 21, 2025 through RPM.

“This title nearly became the name of the album as it would pretty much sum up the context of the album: Musically it’s all built around this main riff which was written by our guitar player Kone. It’s very ‘happy’ sounding and has an almost U.D.O.’s Faceless World album style to it. I was thinking of how to best build a vocal line around it, without making it sound totally cliché. This would be the main riff, so the song kind of wrote itself. Lyric wise, it’s painting a picture of an 80s feeling that shows like “Knight Rider,” “Battlestar Galactica” or “Masters Of The Universe” brought on. It’s a very visually inspired song, bringing back the cover art of Iron Maiden’s Somewhere In Time in my brain. It doesn’t really tell a story, it just gives off an overall 80s post-apocalyptic vision in a way. That being said, I really miss those days. Everything was better back then…everything was better in neon lights!,” recalls Mr Lordi.

Watch the lyric video below, and pre-order the new album here.

Limited Deadition tracklisting:

“SCG XIX The Hexecutioners”
“Legends Are Made Of Clichés”
“Syntax Terror”
“Skelephant In The Room”
“SCGTV Saturday Night Main Event”
“Killharmonic Orchestra”
“Collectable”
“SCGTV Monstersquad Action Figures”
“Fangoria”
“Hellizabeth”
“SCGTV The Hexecutioners Seasion”
“Retropolis”
“Frighteousness”
“SCGTV Crazee Ralph Promo”
“Limited Deadition”
“You Might Be Deceased”

“Retropolis” lyric video:

“Syntax Terror” lyric video:

Like the release of Lordi’s 19th studio album, the first part of the supporting “Limited Deadition” tour, which will lead them from Finland to Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium and France, is only about two months away. All German and Spanish fans being disappointed that the monster squad won’t stop in their town this spring, can take a deep breath as the band have announced the continuation of their European run for next fall. Lordi are now additionally gearing up for 13 shows in Germany and four stops in Iberia in September and October under the banner “Limited Tour ’25 – Second Deadition.”

Further details and tickets here.

(Photo – Reigning Phoenix Music)

Following the breakout success of their debut single “Awake”, Violet Breed has unveiled their powerful follow-up track, “10 Years Sober”, accompanied by a music video.

“10 Years Sober” dives into themes of inner peace and self-healing, offering a unique perspective on the concept of sobriety. Vocalist AleX shares, “With ’10 Years Sober’, we wanted to write something that explores another meaning to what it is to be sober. Kind of a new direction and meaning. The overall message and intention of the song is to bring forward a feeling of inner peace and self-healing within one’s mind, allowing you to be the best representation of yourself for others.”

“10 Years Sober” is now available on all major streaming platforms.

Violet Breed represents a powerful collaboration between Wheat, a seasoned rock icon, and AleX, a fresh and dynamic voice in the music industry. The pair have spent the last five years meticulously crafting an album that draws from their own life experiences, creating music that resonates with listeners of all ages. With honest and emotive lyrics, Violet Breed’s sound blends rich rock and pop influences, promising a unique and compelling listening experience.

The debut album, which features Tesla’s own guitarist Dave Rude on guitars, will showcase the musical prowess of the duo. Fans of both Tesla and AleX will be eager to hear the new material, as Violet Breed looks to make a significant impact on the global music scene.

Brian and AleX are able to tap into experiences from these diverse generations, which add to the depth of the music they produce. Their passion and inspiration for music is born from a shared love for records by The Beatles, Paul McCartney, Queen, and My Chemical Romance. Influences from these bands is subtly interwoven into their music.

Over his successful forty years in the music industry, Brian has crafted an enviable music career. Performing live, author to autobiography Son Of A Milkman and managing the multi-platinum selling rock band Tesla, alongside side projects such as SouL MotoR and now Violet Breed. Brian has maintained an impressive consistency in the music industry over multiple decades resulting in an abundance of sell-out tours across the US and world.

Over the last ten years, Brian has acted as a close mentor and peer to AleX. Notably being a huge influence in the studio, producing and co-writing songs. His oversight has helped refine the music AleX creates and brought priceless industry for AleX to further improve his craft. With his own individual success on active rock radio, numerous successful tours and festival appearances, and constantly performing to a demanding live schedule, Brian notices the potential of AleX’s talents and commitment, and recognizes snippets of his younger self in the artist. Having displayed a unique range of vocal performances, heavily inspired by Freddie Mercury, plus a natural talent for song writing, the opportunity to form a new band seemed inevitable.

Death-thrash metal rising force, Final Siege, is thrilled to unveil the lyric video for their ferocious single, “Primordial Combat”. Taken from the band’s album Nuclear Doom State (out via Wormholedeath), this track delivers a visceral gut punch of raw power, primal energy, and unrelenting aggression.

“Primordial Combat” is a brutal, aggressive track that channels raw and primal emotions. It captures the savage spirit of ancient survival while rebelling against modern systems of control. Prepare for an intense dive into the dark side of human instinct.

Formed in 2018, Final Siege began as a spark of creative energy when Gil Vives, Randy Reiser, and Amir Jairazbhoy shared their musical vision over beers in New York City. Following the release of their debut album March To Your Grave in 2021 and lineup evolutions, the band forged their current powerhouse roster in 2023.

Known for their unflinching themes of rebellion, war, and the toll of modern chaos, Final Siege has shared stages with legends like Suffocation, Atheist, and Warbringer, proving their place in the metal arena.

This full-length album is a sonic apocalypse, blending death, thrash, and groove metal to create a relentless, headbanging experience. Primordial Combat is just one example of the rage-fuelled energy fans can expect from the record.

Tracklisting:

“The Day After…”
“W.A.R.”
“Nuclear Doom State”
“Psychological Maceration”
“An Insatiable Lust For Violence”
“Primordial Combat”
“Taxed To Death”

“Taxed To Death” video:

Lineup:

Gil Anthony Vives – Lead Vocals/Guitar
Rob Maldonado – Guitar
George Garcia – Bass
Ameer “The Beheader” Aljallad – Drums

Deathless Legacy has released a video for “Miserere”, first single taken from the new album, Damnatio Aeterna, to be released on March 7 by Scarlet Records.

Directed by Frater Orion, the video translates the dark and provocative theme of the track into images: a confession turned into an obsessive and disturbing ritual, where the line between redemption and sin dissolves. With haunting atmospheres and powerful visual symbolism, the video for “Miserere” offers an interpretation of the twisted relationship between sin and salvation, immersing the viewer in a cathartic experience. Watch the video below.

Driven by Steva’s unholy, malevolent and sexy voice, the ominous tones of a church organ, and the fierce occult metal riffs, Deathless Legacy deliver a sound that hits hard and stands apart. This is horror metal at its most unapologetic.

Damnatio Aeterna tells the thrilling story of the lesser demon Malchrum, who is challenged by Lucifer to ensnare a priest in an unspeakable sin, thereby ensuring his eternal damnation.

A dark and provocative journey faithful to the band’s signature style and filled with an atmosphere of mystery that grows progressively tense as the story unfolds, the seventh Deathless Legacy studio album will finally delve into sophisticated themes and explore the true nature of evil.

Recorded at Eden Studios; mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio; eerily illustrated by the visual artist and band’s leader & drummer Andrea Falaschi (Delain, Elvenking, Temperance), Damnatio Aeterna will be released in the following formats:

– digipack CD
– digital

Pre-order/pre-save here, and stay tuned for the announcement of the Collector’s Edition, a limited-edition release for the most devoted fans.

Damnatio Aeterna tracklisting:

“Damnatio Aeterna”
“Miserere”
“Get On Your Knees”
“Communion”
“Indulgentia Plenaria”
“Oblivion”
“Spiritus Sanctus Diabolicus”
“Sanctified”
“Mother Of God”
“Nightshade”
“Gehennae”

“Miserere” video:

Deathless Legacy lineup:

Steva – vocals
Sgt. Bones – guitar
Alex van Eden – keyboards
Deadwood Nick – bass
Frater Orion – drums
The Red Witch – performances

(Photo – Andrea Falaschi)

Bringing together some of the top names in music and entertainment, both Intuit Dome and Kia Forum will host FireAid on Thursday, January 30, to raise money for rebuilding communities devastated by wildfires and supporting efforts to prevent future fire disasters throughout Southern California. This one-night-only event will start at 6 PM PT. 

It will feature performances by Billie Eilish and Finneas, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Gwen Stefani, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Lil Baby, P!nk, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rod Stewart, Sting, Stephen Stills, Stevie Nicks, Tate McRae, and performing together for the first time, Dave Matthews and John Mayer. Additional artists, special guests, and lineups for each venue will be announced in the coming days.

Tickets for both concerts go on-sale starting Wednesday, January 22, at Noon PT through Ticketmaster.

Event partners joining FireAid include American Express, Intuit, and UBS. For sponsorship information, please contact Dan Griffis at Oak View Group, dgriffis@oakviewgroup.com.

Fans across the globe will be able to make contributions to the cause, as FireAid will be broadcast and streamed live on Apple Music and the Apple TV app, Max, iHeartRadio, KTLA+, Netflix/Tudom, Paramount+, Prime Video and the Amazon Music Channel on Twitch, SiriusXM, exclusively on “LIFE with John Mayer,” Spotify, SoundCloud, Veeps, and YouTube, and at select AMC Theatre locations in 70 US markets. iHeartRadio will serve as the national audio partner to FireAid, using its more than 860 radio stations, its digital platforms and the iHeartRadio app.

Contributions made to FireAid will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters. The Annenberg Foundation, with decades of philanthropic leadership in our community, including rapid response, will help coordinate a team to direct funds for the greatest impact. All proceeds from the FireAid benefit concert at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum will go directly to the event’s designated beneficiaries, as the LA Clippers will be covering the millions in expenses associated with the event.

The FireAid benefit concert is being produced by Shelli, Irving, and the Azoff family, in conjunction with Live Nation and AEG Presents.

For donations, media credentials, and concert information, please visit FireaidLA.org.