Author: u0zp4y

According to data company SimilarWeb, which compiles statistics related to global website traffic, artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT is now the eighth most popular website on the internet. It launched just two years ago, but is already more widely used than Reddit, Yahoo! and amazon.com. In other words, AI is here to stay.

It’s a brave new world. AI can analyse medical images at enormous speed and detect problems that might be missed by a human. It can transform farming efficiency by predicting weather changes, monitoring soil conditions, optimising fertiliser and water use, and assessing crop health. And, rather less usefully, it can take Led Zeppelin II and reimagine it as if it had been made in 1954 rather than 1969.

Quite what Jimmy Page makes of this technological “advance” is unknown, but the “The Led Zeppelins” and their like are probably here to stay, especially if their creator, the mysterious marceve76, has anything to do with it. For this is merely the latest of his artificially augmented projects.

First up, he/she took Deep Purple‘s fabled In Rock and gave it a 1950s makeover. Next up, Kiss‘s Dynasty, reimagined as a collection of finely-crafted country songs. Not satisfied with that, he/she took Rainbow‘s mighty Rising album and gave that a 1950s spin. And now it’s Led Zeppelin‘s turn.

To be fair to marceve76, the results are pretty good. Whole Lotta Love is bouncier than it ever has been. Heartbreaker is similarly so. And Moby Dick probably benefits from the omission of that pesky drum solo.

Where this will end is anyone’s guess, so we may as well take a stab. Bob Marley’s classic Rastaman Vibration, but sung by Freddie Mercury. The first Manowar album, but with a Mutt Lange production. Bohemian Rhapsody, reimagined as doo-wap. Emerson, Lake & Palmer, but good.

We will, of course, keep you abreast of further developments.

Dutch symphonic metal titans, Epica, recently unleashed their new single, “Arcana”. Today, the band share an official lyric video for the track. Watch below.

The official performance of the song from The Symphonic Synergy show at AFAS Live can be found below, as well as the official music video.

Hidden wisdom, long-lost secrets, and esoteric knowledge. With “Arcana”, Epica herald a new chapter in their two-decade-long band history.

This is the band’s first new release since their chart-topping album Omega and their collaboration EP The Alchemy Project. It offers a glimpse into the band’s future music, coming in 2025.

“‘Arcana’ guides you through the universal stages of spiritual evolution in life. It leads the way to a higher consciousness and spiritual self-awareness,” the band comments. “Writing this song was a spontaneous effort, so it came together quickly, which felt so natural that it wrote itself. The music contains classic Epica elements but has some vibes that might remind you of ’80s alternative rock or modern metal.”

The single is now available on all streaming platforms here. It also includes “The Ghost In Me,” a special collaboration with the Netherlands’ most popular theme park, de “Efteling.”

The song has already made its live debut at the band’s monumental “Symphonic Synergy” shows in Amsterdam, and fans in Latin America will now have the chance to hear it live at the two shows that Epica will perform exclusively with a full orchestra and choir. A few last tickets for the first night are still available here.

(Photo – Tim Tronckoe)

SOM have announced the release of their third full-length album, Let The Light In, on March 14 through Berlin-based, left-field label Pelagic Records.

SOM’s dreamy shoegaze roots are on display across Let The Light In but there is heft at its core that is bracing and ferocious. If the band’s debut album The Fall explored hitting rock bottom and sophomore release The Shape of Everything grappled with the ever-darkening world around us, Let The Light In sees SOM turn their sights inward, towards our most primal impulses: Seeking solace and reconciliation from the vibrancy within ourselves and the people we hold close.

Adversity became the catalyst for change when, due to unforeseen circumstances, the band’s founding drummer left midway through the album’s writing and recording process. SOM took the remainder of 2023 to reshape and refocus, eventually re-recording most of the album in a new configuration that allowed them to paint in even broader sonic strokes. The result is a raw but richly melodic album unafraid to travel through the depths of human emotion, ultimately guiding us towards growth and enlightenment.

Serving as a reinvigorated statement of intent, lead single “Give Blood” unleashes a barrage of post-metal, high gain distortion and pummeling drums before opening up into a panoramic, cloudbusting chorus that sees duelling guitars and vocalist Will Benoit’s tender-yet-commanding voice freely intertwined, spiralling ever upwards.

To accompany this brand new song, SOM have unveiled a music video with a particularly cinematic feel, directed by Alex Pace (Blood Incantation, Wayfarer, Abrams). The video features an anonymous couple in a series of intense, dreamlike shots crossed by swirls of light. But abruptly, a darker side appears, counterbalancing this idyll. A sumptuous video that seems to invite viewers to make their own interpretation of it. Watch the video below.

“It’s a sort of post-pandemic reflection on kindness and how we treat one another,” says Benoit. “The idea came while I was laying on a table, actually giving blood. It occurred to me how kind someone would have to be to be doing this during a pandemic. I started to think about how many people were doing awful things at that time, spreading misinformation, and just generally being horrible people in society. I continue to want to do everything I can to not be that person, I want to be the kind of person who ‘gives blood.'”

Since 2019, SOM have toured extensively across North America, Europe and the UK alongside acts including Katatonia, Solstafir, Slow Crush, and many more. This relentless live commitment across 21 countries, coupled with 2023’s introspective restructuring, has profoundly altered their creative approach.

As they began working on this new material, the members of SOM found themselves in a fresh headspace, armed with a newfound, hard-earned maturity. Let The Light In is SOM’s testament to resilience and evolution. Born from challenge and change, the album pulses with confidence and catharsis, imploring the listener and the band themselves to traverse the darkness and find the light.

Let The Light In is released on March 14. Pre-order here.

Tracklisting:

“Don’t Look Back”
“Let The Light In”
“Chemicals”
“The Place That I Belong”
“Give Blood”
“Nightmares”
“Under Streetlights”
“The Light”

“Give Blood” video:

(Photo – Mike Repasch-Nieves)

Lord Of The Lost performed at the 2024 edition of Summer Breeze, and you can now watch professionally-filmed video of the band performing “Blood & Glitter”. Check it out below:

Two of Germany’s most energetic bands, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost, have joined forces to deliver the outstanding metal anthem, “Lords Of Fyre”, together with an official music video that combines the best of both worlds. The bands also released a behind the scenes video, which can be found below.

After recently announcing a massive co-headline tour for 2025, kicking off October 2 in Berlin and covering seven German cities in total, the song closes out 2024 with a massive bang.

The powerful anthem “Lords of Fyre” celebrates grand melodies and is an instant sing along track, as it combines the trademark sounds of both bands in one. Known for their #1 studio albums, massive sold-out tours, premium positions on the largest festivals and several mainstream TV appearances, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost reinvent themselves as Lords Of Fyre. Get ready for the hottest collaboration of the year, bringing together fire, darkness and boundless joy.

“Lords Of Fyre” is now available on all streaming services worldwide.

Hodi states: “We’ve had a great friendship with Lord Of The Lost for a long time, even though we come from completely different musical worlds. For us, it was great fun and challenging at the same time to merge the two worlds into one!”

Chris Harms adds: “Besides our shared love for music, Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost have one more thing in common: bringing every idea to life, no matter how crazy it might be. The fact that the idea of  ‘let’s go on tour together’ has grown into such a monster – with a joint song and video – is even better! We can’t wait for the Lords Of Fyre tour!”

Watch the official video for “Lords Of Fyre” plus the new behind the scenes video, below:

The Lords Of Fyre Tour promises an unforgettable night filled with grand melodies, blazing pyrotechnics, and an unparalleled atmosphere. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or a newcomer, this tour will make your heart race when the worlds of Feuerschwanz and Lord Of The Lost collide.

Tour dates:

October (with Dark Side Of The Moon)
2 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
3 – Leipzig, Germany – Haus Auensee
4 – Offenbach, Germany – Stadthalle
10 – Hanover, Germany – Swiss Life Hall
11 – Fürth, Germany – Stadthalle
17 – Munich, Germany – Zenith
18 – Düsseldorf, Germany – Mitsubishi Halle

Feuerschwanz are:

Johanna – violin, hurdy-gurdy
Hauptmann – vocals, guitar
Hodi – flutes, bagpipes, guitars, vocals
Hans – guitar
Jarne – bass
Rollo – drums
Musch Musch – dance & performance
Myu – dance & performance

Lord Of The Lost are:

Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums
Benjamin “Benji“ Mundigler – Keyboard, Guitar

(Photo – VDPictures)

Venom Inc. singer and bassist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan has weighed in on yesterday’s news that Jeff “Mantas” Dunn won’t be returning to Venom Inc.

Yesterday, Sunday, December 1, Mantas shared a message via social media, which reads in part:

“Greetings my friends, The last few months have been incredibly difficult on every level and to cap it all only a few days ago one of my most beloved cats, Spooky, passed away in front of me after a short but very aggressive illness. I was with him every step of the way.

“After I suffered the second heart attack the outpouring of love and concern from you guys via a multitude of messages and calls has been overwhelming and a simple thank you seems so insignificant. So my friends it is now time to address the situation.

“I wish to inform you all that I will not be returning to Venom Inc. Obviously my health and wellbeing are of paramount importance to myself and my family, however, there are also more personal issues which have influenced my decision. To be absolutely clear, I will not be appearing at any advertised shows.”

Speaking in an interview with Laughingmonkeymusic (see below), Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan commented on the news, sharing: “I know that yesterday was quite shocking with his statement, and everybody’s picked up on that, but you know, it may not be forever – he may feel in a years time that he feels great and wants to do it again. He will produce music in his studio, because that’s what he does, and that’s his therapy, and that’s great, you know. And his social media he was doing, that was his therapy, so that was all good. When he stopped doing that, I thought maybe that’s not the best thing to do. And as much as in my heart I would like him to still be doing the tour, and the shows… even through the whole season, we did Indonesia, we did all of South America, Columbia, Chile, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Romania, Poland – I mean we did these huge shows, half a million people at Pol’and’Rock, 80,000 in Indonesia, I mean huge shows. Every night in South America I think it was 3 – 6,000 people. So we did these incredible things and I wanted him to be there, but you have to feel good about it, and he didn’t feel good about it, so he had to sit out and I had to accept that. In a ideal world we wouldn’t age. In an ideal world we’d be great and 18 forever.”

Later Tony adds: “My whole premise of this is to keep that spirit, keep that feeling, keep that fire. And if I can make a 60 year old guy come to a show and cry because he feels like he’s 17 again listening to that song for the first time, then that’s the whole point.”

Hear what else Dolan had to say in the video below:

See Mantas’ full statement below:

The Allman Betts Family Revival tour officially launched this past weekend with stops in Chicagoland and Minneapolis. Now in its eighth consecutive year, the tour celebrates the enduring legacy of the Allman Brothers Band and travels coast to coast, featuring a stellar lineup of guest performers, including Robert Randolph, Sierra Hull, Grace Bowers, Anders Osborne, and many others.

Making his debut on his father’s instrument, Devon Allman has been playing “It’s Not My Cross To Bear” on the Hammond B3 organ, taking concert goers on a time-hop back to the glory days of The Allman Brothers.

“We are so excited to continue onto the eighth year of this wonderful celebration of our father’s music. It’s a high honor to play this music with our talented friends. With the number 8 also being the symbol for infinity, we want the fans to know we’re doing our part to help this music live forever in a live format. We hope to continue to take them back in time.” – Devon Allman

“With this being the first Revival since my father’s passing, it means even more to me to play this great music with family and friends. We can’t wait to see everyone out on the road!” – Duane Betts

Each show features two massive sets, the first set will feature music from the 1970’s Duane Allman era, while the second set will feature music from the 1990’s comeback era. These performances will be led by The Allman Betts Band, Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Cody Dickinson (North Mississippi Allstars), Jimmy Hall (Jeff Beck, Wet Willie), Lindsay Lou, Lamar Williams Jr., Alex Orbison (son of Roy Orbison), Jackie Greene, Larry McCray and Anders Osborne. SLASH, Sierra Hull, Grace Bowers, G. Love, Jake Shimabukuro, Donavon Frankenreiter, Maggie Rose, Greg Koch, and John Moreland will join the lineup in select cities.

Tickets and all up-to-date information are available here.

Dates:

December
3 – The Palace Theatre – Greensburg, PA
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

4 – Kleinhans Music Hall – Buffalo, NY
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Sierra Hull, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

5 – Orpheum Theater – Boston, MA
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Sierra Hull, G. Love, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

6 – Capitol Theater – Port Chester, NY
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Sierra Hull, G. Love, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

7 – The Beacon Theater – New York, NY
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, G.Love, Sierra Hull, Grace Bowers, , Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

8 – The Paramount – Huntington, NY
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, G. Love, Sierra Hull, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

9 – Capital One Hall – Tysons, VA
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Sierra Hull, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

11 – Van Wezel PAC – Sarasota, FL
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

12 – Gaillard Center – Charleston, SC
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

13 – Norton Center for the Arts – Danville, KY
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

14 – The Factory – St. Louis, MO
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Grace Bowers, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

15 – Uptown Theater – Kansas City, MO
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Anders Osborne, Grace Bowers, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

16 – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Sierra Hull, Jake Shimabukuro, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Grace Bowers, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

17 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Jake Shimabukuro, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Grace Bowers, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

18 – Paramount Theatre – Denver, CO
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Jake Shimabukuro, Luther Dickinson, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

20 – Grand Sierra Resort/Grand Theatre – Reno, NV
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Jake Shimabukuro, Cody Dickinson, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

21 – Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
Devon Allman, Duane Betts, Jake Shimabukuro, Cody Dickinson, Grace Bowers, Jimmy Hall, Larry McCray, Lindsay Lou, Jackie Greene, Lamar Williams, Jr., Alex Orbison

(Photo – Vertrell Yates)

Italian pagan/folk metal outfit and recent Reaper Entertainment signees, Elvenking, have unveiled their new single, “Throes Of Atonement”. The release is accompanied by a striking lyric video crafted by acclaimed artist René Berthiaume and perfectly captures the dark and emotional essence of the track.

The band comments, “‘Throes Of Atonement’ reflects a big part of the atmospheres and the mood of this third and final chapter of the Reader Of The Runes concept trilogy. It pays tribute to the epic power metal of the ‘90s, a significant influence for our early days to the extent that it could almost come out of our first album Heathenreel.

“This album delves into the past of the characters in this story, revealing the reasons behind the Reader Of The Runes’ wrath in the previous chapter. ‘Throes Of Atonement’ focuses on two characters, exploring adolescent jealousy and narrow-mindedness that ultimately leads to hatred and betrayal. For all the harm inflicted, whether intentional or unintentional, the ultimate punishments were penance and death.”

With “Throes Of Atonement”, Elvenking once again showcases their mastery in storytelling, blending epic melodies with profound themes. Stream the track here, and watch the video below:

2025 will bring Elvenking to stages across Europe when they join forces with Alestorm, Ensiferum, Týr, and Heidevolk to resurrect the legendary Paganfest trek. See all confirmed dates below.

Dates:

January
8 – Hamburg, Germany – Grosse Freiheit
9 – Groningen, Netherlands – Oosterpoort
10 – Stuttgart, Germany – Filharmonie
11 – Oberhausen, Germany – Turbinenhalle * extended show with special guests
12 – Berlin, Germany – Huxley’s Neue Welt
13 – Roskilde, Denmark – Congress Centre
14 – Bremen, Germany – Aladin Music Hall
16 – Birmingham, United Kingdom – O2 Academy
17 – Edinburgh, United Kingdom – O2 Academy
18 – Manchester, United Kingdom – O2 Victoria Warehouse
19 – London, United Kingdom – O2 Academy Brixton
20 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
21 – Wiesbaden, Germany – Schlachthof
22 – Paris, France – Zenith
23 – Pratteln, Switzerland – Z7 Konzertfabrik
24 – Geiselwind, Germany – Eventzentrum * extended show with special guests
25 – Munich, Germany – Backstage
26 – Liege, Belgium – OM
28 – Milan, Italy – Alcatraz
29 – Lyon, France – Transbordeur
30 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Salle Metropole
31 – Meisenthal, France – Halle Verrière

February
1 – Leipzig, Germany – Felsenkeller
2 – Tilburg, Netherlands – 013 Poppodium
3 – Hannover, Germany – Capitol
5 – Krakow, Poland – Studio
6 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
7 – Zlin, Czechia – Hala Datart
8 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra *extended show with special guests
9 – Zagreb, Croatia – Tvornica

Elvenking lineup:

Damna – vocals
Aydan – guitar
Headmatt – guitar
Jakob – bass
Lethien – violin
Symohn – drums

(Photo – Reaper Entertainment)

As part of their Black Friday deals, Ticketmaster unveiled a host of savings on events going into 2025. “But Black Friday was last week!” We hear you cry in dismay. Thankfully, these particular deal offers are still valid – but only until 23:59 on Wednesday.

There’s a massive range of artists and acts available on the offer, but as we said up top, we’ve picked out a few metalhead-friendly specials that you might want to make note of.

First up, it doesn’t come much more metal than Napalm Death’s Campaign For Musical Destruction. A rolling tour with some grotesquely acts on the bill including sludge metal legends Crowbar, Full Of Hell and Brarbiegrind newcomers Brat, Ticketmaster are offering 2-4-1 deals on both the Liverpool and Birmingham dates of the tour, meaning you can see the grindcore legends playing on home turf in 2025.

Flicking our attention across the Atlantic, there’s also an impressive double-header of New York hardcore from Biohazard and Life Of Agony. A co-headline run of the UK, Ticketmaster’s 2-4-1 deal includes shows in Bristol, Birmingham and London next year, offering the perfect opportunity to see these Big Apple icons together.

Of course, you don’t have to make metal music to be metalhead friendly. Just take comedian Bill Bailey, who has made no secret of his love for heavier music over the years, even dancing to Queen and Metallica on Strictly Come Dancing. Ticketmaster are offering 50% off selected tickets to see the comedian at Theatre Royal Haymarket in January. Head to their website to see the list of applicable shows/dates and grab a deal to see one of the UK’s finest comedians.

But what if you’re looking to broaden your horizons? We’re not here to judge, and if you wanted to say, see 80s pop princess Cyndi Lauper on her farewell tour of the UK, Ticketmaster have you covered for that too. Ticketmaster are currently offering 2-4-1 on all dates of her 2025 UK tour, meaning if you just wanna have fun… well, you’re in luck.

There are a bunch of different eveHnts available across the Ticketmaster website, so be sure to check their hub to see if you can grab a bargain on a show – be it a concert, theatre or even sporting event.

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