Greek post-black metal visionaries Euphrosyne have released a captivating video for their latest single, “Funeral Rites”, taken from their forthcoming debut album, Morus, set to drop on March 21, 2025, via Black Lion Records. Pre-orders are now available at this location.
The powerful track, a deep dive into darkness and redemption, is part of the album’s conceptual meditation on the death of guitarist Alex Despotidis’s mother from cancer in 2017.
Euphrosyne shared the following about their latest single: “‘Funeral Rites’ is one of the darkest songs on Morus. With an immersive and atmospheric way, it tells the story of the ceremony at the burial of the Mother. The beginning of the track is a dark narration of how it feels to carry the dead and how you project yourself as one of them. Following a rough outbreak, feelings of guilt, anger, and despair are released. The song ends with a redemptive chorus and the wish that one day we’ll meet those who have been lost from our lives.”
Morus is an experiential concept album inspired by the true story of the loss of Alex Despotidis’s Mother from cancer in 2017. The narration begins with the realization of death and the feelings surrounding it until the final embrace, continues with the existential question “What happens after all comes to pass” and the depiction of pain and suffering. It moves forward towards the acceptance of the image of the person who is losing the battle and the last journey forward to the Asphodel Meadows, the section of the ancient Greek underworld where the majority of souls were sent to live after death.
“Mitera” is an experiential song that deals with the first experience with the death of a very important person such as a parent. For the first time, the band uses the Greek language, with a very poetic speech, and the question of “what happens after all this” playing a vital role emphasizing the experience of the existential crisis. There are no clean vocals in the track making the feelings of loss and pain even more intense.This song comes as a foreshadowing of what the new album will be all about.
Opeth frontman Mikael Åkerfeldt has penned a tribute to vocalist / guitarist Ragne Wahlquist. The Heavy Load frontman died in January 2025 at 69 years old.
The tribute reads: “RAGNE WAHLQUIST, 1955-2025. REST IN PEACE”
“It is with heavy heart we say farewell to Heavy Load frontman/singer/guitarist Ragne Wahlquist. His passing is so recent, and as I’m writing this I haven’t been fully able to fathom this terrible loss. I first met Ragne during one of the infamous kubb-tournaments (hosted by Peder & Ewa. Thank you!) together with his brother (and Heavy Load drummer) Styrbjörn Wahlquist, as well as members of Candlemass and Ghost. Fredrik and myself representing Opeth (with somewhat inconsistent results).”
“Ragne was a marvelous character. Witty, sharp, poetic, determined and just a superb and inspiring person and musician. He was my friend. A friend I lament I didn’t have the time to get to know better. I texted with the brothers on new years day wishing them both a ”happy new year” and got a ”thanks” and a beautiful poem back from Ragne. Little did I know that was the last I was ever going to hear from him. We met on numerous occasions and always ended up in inspiring conversations. I (on behalf of Opeth) extend our warmest condolences to Styrbjörn and the rest of the Wahlquist family as well as to his friends and fans.”
“Heavy Load are Sweden’s first proper Heavy Metal band and also contributed to the scene outside of their own music by operating Thunderload studios and hence being responsible for hosting recordings for Candlemass, Yngwie Malmsteen and Morbid, among others. Ragne also authored the two epic books ”The Wahlgaard saga pt 1 & 2”. A project I know he was incredibly fond and proud of, and is well worth investigating. Ragne (nor Styrbjörn) never compromised with anything related to his artistry and creativity. Despite the hardship that comes with this stance in the commercial world of music and art, it certainly demands ones respect.”
“I experienced this determination when Ragne and Styrbjörn kindly invited me over to Thunderload studios to hear a rough mix of their latest masterpiece ”Riders of the ancient storm”. It was incredible! Just to sit there and eat cinnamon rolls and drink coffee with these two legends of heavy metal would have been well (or more than) enough for me. But to then get a pre-release listening to their first record since 1983!? It was awesome to the point of absurdity. The brothers were so proud (as they should be) and lingered on my every comment to the music that flowed through the speakers. They treated me with such respect and warmth that day (and every other time we met). I will never forget it.”
“Ragnes music will surely continue to shake the very foundations of Valhalla! He will be sorely missed! – Mikael”
Opeth’s 14th studio album, The Last Will And Testament, was officially released on November 22, 2024 via Reigning Phoenix Music / Moderbolaget. The album lands at #26 on BraveWords’ BravePicks 2024 Top 30 here.
Opeth’s fourteenth album was written by Mikael Åkerfeldt, with lyrics conferred with Klara Rönnqvist Fors (The Heard, ex-Crucified Barbara). The Last Will And Testament was co-produced by Åkerfeldt and Stefan Boman (Ghost, The Hellacopters), engineered by Boman, Joe Jones (Killing Joke, Robert Plant), and Opeth, with Boman, Åkerfeldt, and the rest of Opeth mixing at Atlantis and Hammerthorpe Studios in Stockholm. The strings on The Last Will And Testament were arranged by Åkerfeldt and returning prog friend Dave Stewart (Egg, Khan) and conducted by Stewart at Angel Studios in London. Not one to miss a beat, visual artist Travis Smith returns to the fold, crafting his 11th cover, a haunting “photograph” reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s infamous “Overlook Hotel” photograph. Miles Showell (ABBA, Queen) also revisits mastering and vinyl lacquer cutting at Abbey Road Studios in London.
Åkerfeldt rolls out the red carpet for storied flautist and Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson. Not only do Anderson’s signature notes fly on “§4” and “§7”, he narrates on “§1”, “§2”, “§4”, and “§7”. Joining Anderson, Europe’s Joey Tempest lends a backing vocal hand on “§2”, while Åkerfeldt’s youngest daughter, Mirjam Åkerfeldt, is the disembodied voice in “§1”.
The Last Will And Testament is gripping from start to finish, jaw-dropping inside and out, representing some of Opeth’s finest material to date. Just as Opeth welcomed many into its distressed arms over the years, the Swedes again deliver on the promise that great music always tells a compelling story—this time with growls.
The Last Will And Testament is available worldwide via Moderbolaget / Reigning Phoenix Music. Order here. Album cover by Travis Smith.
“§4” lyric video:
“§3”:
“§1” (Radio Edit) lyric video:
Track by track video:
After conquering North America this past October, Opeth will embark on a headlining tour throughout Europe and the UK starting February 9, 2025. The full itinerary can be found below. Get tickets here.
Tour dates (w/ Grand Magus):
February 9 – Helsinki, Finland – Ice Hall 11 – Stockholm, Sweden – Cirkus 12 – Oslo, Norway – Sentrum Scene 14 – Copenhagen, Denmark – DR Koncerthuset 15 – Hamburg, Germany – Docks 17 – Cologne, Germany – Palladium 18 – Berlin, Germany – Tempodrom 19 – Munich, Germany – Muffathalle 21 – Paris, France – L’Olympia 22 – Amsterdam, Netherlands – AFAS Live 23 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique 25 – Bristol, UK – Bristol Beacon 26 – London, UK – Roundhouse 28 – Birmingham, UK – Symphony Hall
March 1 – Manchester, UK – Albert Hall 2 – Glasgow, UK – Barrowland
AC/DC is the biggest thing to ever come out of Australia. So why did developers just flatten the house that gave them their start? The Sydney Morning Herald’s Tom Compagnoni investigates what happened to 4 Burleigh St—the house that gave rise to the biggest cultural phenomenon Sydney has ever produced, now gone forever.
Developers who bulldozed the former home of AC/DC have claimed they were never informed of the property’s cultural significance, claiming the house was destroyed by accident, reports News.com.au.
The number 4 house on Burleigh Street in Sydney’s inner west was the childhood home of talented Aussie musicians Malcolm, Angus and George Young, with the two youngest brothers going on to found AC/DC at the home in 1973.
Despite being listed on the National Trust List of Historic Homes in 2013, the property was quietly bulldozed in recent weeks after being purchased by developers in February 2023 for $5.8 million.
In a statement to the media, Burwood Square Pty Ltd general manager Leon Kmita said they only learned of the home’s history after it was destroyed.
“We regret that the previous long-term owner did not share this vital part of the property’s background with us,” he said. “Learning about this connection after our plans were already underway has shocked us. We are genuinely sorry for this oversight.”
Mr Kmita said his team was now working to salvage materials from the site to create a “special space” such as a cafe or bar where fans can “gather to celebrate the band’s enduring legacy”.
“On behalf of the team at Burwood Square, I want to convey our heartfelt regret … we now recognise how deeply this location resonates with the AC/DC community and fans worldwide,” he said.
“We feel a strong responsibility to honour AC/DC’s legacy and to make amends to all the fans who hold this band in such high regard. While we cannot change the past, we are dedicated to celebrating this significant part of their story. To the global fanbase of AC/DC, please know that we hear you, appreciate your deep admiration for this legendary band, and are devoted to making this right.”
Australia’s Blunt is reporting that AC/DC are tipped to return to Australian shores in late 2025, marking their first Australian tour in nearly 10 years.
Citing the Herald Sun, the report suggests that tour insiders predict the band is likely to include Australia as part of their global Power Up tour, with performances expected in the back half of 2025, sparking excitement among fans who have been waiting since 2016 for the band’s homecoming.
While exact dates and venues remain unconfirmed, speculation points to major stadiums such as Sydney’s Olympic Park (ANZ Stadium), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, and Optus Stadium in Perth.
AC/DC return to the road in North America for the first time in nine years on the 2025 Power Up North American Tour.
Much to the delight of millions of fans across North America, the legendary Grammy Award-winning Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame-inducted band will perform in 13 stadiums coast-to-coast next spring. This run kicks off on April 10 in Minneapolis, MN at US Bank Stadium, canvases the continent, and concludes on May 28 in Cleveland, OH at Huntington Bank Field. Along the way, they will play some of the most iconic and historic stadiums in the world, including the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA on April 18 and Soldier Field in Chicago, IL on May 24.
Tickets for all shows, featuring support from The Pretty Reckless, are on sale now, here.
The tour shares its name with their 2020 album, Power Up, which bowed at #1 in 21 countries. In 2024, AC/DC completed a European leg of the Power Up Tour, packing the biggest stadiums on the continent in the process. Power Up notably notched their third #1 debut on the Billboard 200 and exploded as one of the best-selling albums of 2020 worldwide. Plus, it garnered Grammy Award nominations in the categories of “Best Rock Album” and “Best Rock Performance” and “Best Music Video” for “Shot In The Dark.” Power Up is available here.
AC/DC played their very first show on the 31st December 1973 at Chequers Nightclub in Sydney, Australia. They are one of the most influential rock bands in history, with over 200 million albums sold worldwide. The band’s Back In Black LP is the “bestselling album by any band ever” and the “third bestselling album by any artist” with global sales of 50 million and counting. AC/DC was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2003. The band continue selling out stadiums on multiple continents, sell millions of albums annually and generate streams in the billions.
To continue their reign as the world’s greatest rock and roll band, AC/DC – Angus Young on lead guitar, vocalist Brian Johnson, rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, drummer Matt Laug and bass player Chris Chaney – are back to play to their legion of dedicated fans, which grows with every passing year.
Tour dates:
April 10 – Minneapolis, MN – US Bank Stadium 14 – Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium 18 – Pasadena, CA – Rose Bowl 22 – Vancouver, BC – BC Place 26 – Las Vegas, NV – Allegiant Stadium 30 – Detroit, MI – Ford Field
May 4 – Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium 8 – Pittsburgh, PA – Acrisure Stadium 12 – Landover, MD – Northwest Stadium 16 – Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium 20 – Nashville, TN – Nissan Stadium 24 – Chicago, IL – Soldier Field 28 – Cleveland, OH – Huntington Bank Field
Vocalist Mark Osegueda recently spoke with Nikki Blakk of 107.7 The Bone about the upcoming Kerry King tour, and how well the KK solo band gels. They also talk about Death Angel dropping off the W.A.S.P. tour, and the future of both his bands. The complete interview can be seen below. An excerpt has been transcribed as follows:
“Since this whole Kerry band happened, and still being a major part of Death Angel, there was some backlash from a lot of Death Angel fans, thinking that it might be the end of Death Angel, or it’s taking away from Death Angel,” reveals Mark.
“Then there was a tour that Death Angel had to drop off of, and it was because there was conflicting dates with Kerry, there was. But when that tour was offered to us, I had put it out there to the powers that be that, ok, but I can’t guarantee I’ll be available for the whole tour. Just know this in advance. So, if you take it, I will have to do shows with Kerry if they get booked, and it looks like they very well may. Still, my words were taken, and with enthusiasm, they just heard, to a certain degree; people thought, ‘Well, let’s do it.’ I said, ok, let’s. But once again – and I mean every bit of communication we had I would reiterate that. And we still went for it, throwing caution to the wind, and the wind blew back, eventually, so to speak. I said, hey, what we didn’t want to happen is happening. But we all knew this going in, in advance.”
“I do try to troubleshoot for Death Angel all the time, because there’s been many years that Death Angel was self-managed by me, Rob (Cavestany – lead guitarist) and Ted (Aguilar – rhythm guitarist). We’ve also had management, but we always work with management very well. So, I tried to torubleshoot and I said, ‘Look, I can think of a few guys that can fill in.’ I gave some names and whatnot, just as an option, cause I didn’t want them to lose the tour. But the reality is what the reality was. So, eventually what came back when that was offered to the W.A.S.P. camp and booking agents. They just basically said, ‘We don’t want a fill-in for two particular times.’ Cause I would have missed two patches of dates. And they didn’t want that to be the case… Push came to shove and they got Armored Saint; I think it’s a great bill. Who’s to say that W.A.S.P. / Death Angel wouldn’t have been a great bill. A lot of people were looking forward to it. Yet a lot of thrash purists were saying, ‘Why the hell are you touring with W.A.S.P.?'”
“So that was a big problem. Prior to that, there was not much negativity about me being in Kerry’s band. But when that hit, then the floodgates opened. People started saying negative things about me and my character, and how it was affecting the band they loved. Unbeknownst to them, believe it or not, I love that band more than they do.”
Slayer guitarist Kerry King and his solo band – drummer Paul Bostaph (Slayer), bassist Kyle Sanders (Hellyeah), guitarist Phil Demmel (Machine Head), and vocalist Mark Osegueda (Death Angel) – have announced their “European Tour 2025”. King and band are touring in support of Kerry’s debut solo album, From Hell I Rise (RPM).
The European dates kick off on July 29 in Frankfurt, Germany, and are currently scheduled to wrap up on August 19 in Krakow, Poland.
European dates:
July 29 – Zoom Saal – Frankfurt, Germany * 30 – Simm City – Wien, Austria *
August 1 – Rockstadt Extreme – Transylvania, Romania * 4 – Komplex 457 – Zürich, Switzerland * 6-9 – Brutal Assault Festival – Jaromer, Czech Republic 7 – FZW – Dortmund, Germany * 8-10 – Alcatraz Festival – Kortrijk, Belgium 12 – Academy 2 – Manchester, UK * 13 – SWX – Bristol, UK * 14-17 – Motocultor Festival – Carhaix, France 17 – Dynamo Festival – Eindhoven, Netherlands 19 – Tauron Arena – Krakow, Poland *#
* Newly announced shows # Supporting Gojira
King will hit the road for the twenty-eight date “North American Headline Tour 2025”. With Municipal Waste as Special Guest and Alien Weaponry supporting, the tour is set to launch in San Francisco on January 15, and wrap at House of Blues in Las Vegas on February 22. Tickets can be purchased here. The complete itinerary is below.
“Getting back on the road for the first time in five years wasn’t exactly like riding a bike, that’s for sure,” King acknowledged. “I’ve never had that much time off, but the first tours with my new band – in the UK and Europe, and then in America with Lamb of God and Mastodon – were all total blasts. We’ll be headlining on this next tour, so we’re playing a longer set than we did with Lamb of God and Mastodon. We’ve got a little bit of a learning curve, so will start rehearsing the first week of November. And we might put an extra Slayer song into the set and learn a cover song or two.”
North American dates:
January 15 – The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA 17 – Spokane Live Casino – Spokane, WA 18 – Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA 19 – Roseland Theater – Portland, OR 20 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC (Canada) 22 – The Palace Theatre – Calgary, AB (Canada) 23 – Midway Music Hall – Edmonton, AB (Canada) 25 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, MB (Canada) 26 – The Fillmore – Minneapolis, MN 28 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI 30 – The Majestic Theater – Detroit, MI 31 – House Of Blues – Cleveland, OH
February 1 – Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON (Canada) 2 – L’Olympia – Montreal, QC (Canada) 4 – Royale – Boston, MA 5 – Theatre of the Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA 7 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY 8 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 10 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA 11 – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL 13 – House Of Blues – Houston, TX 14 – Emo’s – Austin, TX 15 – The Studio at the Factory – Dallas, TX 17 – Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO 18 – Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM 19 – The Nile Theater – Phoenix, AZ 21 – House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV 22 – The Fonda Theatre – Los Angeles, CA
Today, Robin McAuley proudly shares the title track from his upcoming solo album, Soulbound, due February 28 via Frontiers Music Srl.
About the single, McAuley shared this: “Very excited about the release of another single ‘Soulbound’ the title track from my new and third solo record on Frontiers Music Srl. I can’t wait for you to hear this and I know you are going to love it. Give it a like 👍🏻 and share it on your social media platforms and I look forward to reading your comments. You guys Rock!!! PLAY IT LOUD!!!”
Check out the new lyric video below:
This new album sees McAuley’s voice continuing to defy time, sounding as inspired and powerful as ever. The new album is definitively more guitar-driven straight hard rock compared to his previous albums and is still wonderfully melodic, infectious, and fist-in-the-air uplifting.
McAuley comments on Soulbound: “I can’t wait to share Record #3 with you all from Frontiers Music SRL. Soulbound is a much edgier, harder guitar-driven record than my previous two for the label. In addition, I’m working with a new producer from the Frontiers label, Aldo Lonobile, who brought these songs to life with his Kick-Ass production. PLAY IT LOUD !!!!! I think you’re gonna Luv It!!!!”
Soulbound showcases the respected Irish rock singer’s desire to make a strong musical statement in what is proving to be his most creative period.
After reemerging on the recording side of the music industry with guest spots on Michael Schenker Fest albums and tours in addition to fronting the hard rock supergroup Black Swan, McAuley was (and still is) feeling invigorated and ready to explore even more creative output to let the world see that his voice is still as powerful as ever.
Work for Soulbound began in early 2024, following an intense musical period in between tour dates and studio work. With a slightly different production approach compared to the previous album, Robin’s vocal performance here is simply outstanding. Truly an iconic voice of the genre, ‘Soulbound’ solidly delivers the more hard and heavy aspects of this respected artist.
Robin’s backing band includes some of the previous artists who appeared with him on previous efforts, including guitarist Andrea Seveso, as well as some new talent such as guitarist Alessandro Mammola and drummer Alfonso Mocerino.
Soulbound is produced by Aldo Lonobile. Pre-order here.
Soulbound tracklisting:
“‘Til I Die” “Soulbound” “The Best Of Me” “Crazy” “Let It Go” “Wonders Of The World” “One Good Reason” “Bloody Bruised And Beautiful” “Paradise” “Born To Die” “There Was A Man” “Crazy” (Alternative Mix) Bonus Track Japan
“‘Til I Die” video:
Credits:
Produced By: Aldo Lonobile Studio: TMH Studio, Institute Of Noise LA Recorded By: Aldo Lonobile, except vocals recorded by Andy Zuckerman Mixed By: Aldo Lonobile Mastered By: Aldo Lonobile
Robin McAuley is widely recognized as one of the great singers of a golden period in hard rock music. His voice can be heard on albums from Grand Prix and Far Corporation, and of course, on the chart-topping MSG records Perfect Timing, Save Yourself, and MSG.’Through these releases, he was introduced to hard rock fans around the globe, who no doubt recognized the inherent talent and skill in his vocal abilities.
Once he departed MSG, McAuley released one solo record in 1999, then joined AOR legends Survivor. He then re-grouped with Schenker in Michael Schenker Fest on their recent records Resurrection and Revelation, and of course, in what was an absolute revelation to hard rock fans around the world, in 2020, he came out swingin’ as the frontman of the supergroup Black Swan, where he joined forces with Reb Beach (Whitesnake, Winger), Jeff Pilson (Foreigner, ex-Dokken), and Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr Big).
Band lineup:
Robin McAuley – Vocals Andrea Seveso, Alessandro Mammola – Guitars Aldo Lonobile – Bass/additional guitars Alfonso Mocerino – Drums
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
Julian Cope has arguably had one of the strangest, most varied careers in rock’n’roll (and academia, as an expert in ancient history), and while his experimental output in recent years has been challenging at best, Friar Tuck finds the pendulum swinging back to not only listenable but really a lot of fun.
In the song titles alone there’s a gleeful sense of mischief, sarcastic wordplay and silly but vivid imagery: Too Freud To Rock’n’Roll, Too Jung To Die; You Gotta Keep Your Halfwits About You; Four Jehovahs In A Volvo Estate (think Kraftwerk taking to the M6 rather than the autobahn), for starters.
That he’s rediscovered the art of melody, albeit with a loveably brash home studio wonkiness to keep the quirk factor up, just adds to the appeal.
Friar Tuck is a humorous and bewildered look at the modern world from a man who has never quite seemed a part of it.
Emma has been writing about music for 25 years, and is a regular contributor to Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog and Louder. During that time her words have also appeared in publications including Kerrang!, Melody Maker, Select, The Blues Magazine and many more. She is also a professional pedant and grammar nerd and has worked as a copy editor on everything from film titles through to high-end property magazines. In her spare time, when not at gigs, you’ll find her at her local stables hanging out with a bunch of extremely characterful horses.
You can trust Louder Our experienced team has worked for some of the biggest brands in music. From testing headphones to reviewing albums, our experts aim to create reviews you can trust. Find out more about how we review.
These are good times for Mark Tremonti. The Creed reunion has turned out to be wildly successful, and at the time of writing the members haven’t fallen out again. His almost self-titled solo band won’t be eclipsing the mothership, but he’s cooking up a head of steam.
Like its five predecessors, The End Will Show Us How is all about the riffs, and each of the dozen tracks is based on a gigantic one, whether it’s Now That I’ve Made It’s Sabbath-like underpinning, or the more thrash-based heroics of Nails.
Over this, Tremonti adds classic metal vocals, a big chorus or two, and some thunderous drumming from Ryan Bennett high in the mix.
It’s not wholly one-paced, and when All The Wicked Things opens with near stadium-house keyboards before going all Alter Bridge, Tremonti may have found a way to expand his palette.
As well as Classic Rock, John Aizlewood currently writes for The Times, The Radio Times, The Sunday Times, The i Newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and Mojo amongst others. He’s written four books and appears on television quite often. He once sang with Iron Maiden at a football stadium in Brazil: he wasn’t asked back. He’s still not sure whether Enver Hoxha killed Mehmet Shehu…
Bach recently made an appearance on The Jasta Show, the podcast hosted by Hatebreed vocalist Jamey Jasta. During their conversation, the musicians revealed that they nearly worked together on a project in 2018 (it eventually evolved into For the Love of Metal, a solo album for Dee Snider, which Jasta produced).
“People have this complete misconception to the point of just insanity that somehow I don’t write my songs or participate in making records,” Bach explained, noting that his reputation doesn’t match what he’s like in the studio. “I am a fucking control freak.”
Sebastian Bach Says ‘People Just Don’t Understand’ What He’s Like to Work With
The singer went on to reveal the difficulty he has recording other people’s songs, noting it was the reason he backed out of the project with Jasta.
“You were sending me completed songs a lot. And the odds of me saying, ‘Okay, I’m going to do this completed song is just very, very rare,” Bach continued. “When I’m working with songwriters in my solo band and in Skid Row towards the later years, just my energy and spirit, it’s better when I just get a riff [to build on]. And then I put it in my fucking playlist and I let it ruminate.”
Bach went on to admit that his high expectations can make him a difficult collaborator.
“I’m a fucking cunt,” the singer matter-of-factly declared. “In a good way! Like, people just don’t understand until they try to make a record with me.”
Cyhra, the champions of melodic metal, have unleashed their latest single, “Superman”, heralding a new era since the release of their third album, The Vertigo Trigger.
The track explodes with headbang-inducing riffs, as vocalist Jake E teases its epic, melody-rich chorus against a backdrop of sharp instrumentals. The almost spoken verses escalate to a larger-than-life chorus, culminating in irresistible, sing-along choirs that emphatically signal Cyhra’s trajectory is set to soar above and beyond at breakneck speed.
“Sometimes, life tests our limits, but when we choose to rise, to dream, and to believe, we find the strength to be unstoppable. Because deep down, we all have a ‘Superman’ within us,” comment Cyhra the song’s meaning.
Stream/purchase the single here, and watch the music video below:
“Superman'”not only marks Cyhra’s latest single but also their debut release with the burgeoning label Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), which has recently become their new record label home. This track was mastered by renowned audio engineer Maor Appelbaum, known for his work with Halford, Sabaton, and Equilibrium, among others. The artwork for “Superman” was crafted by Gustavo Sazes, a longtime collaborator who has designed for Soilwork, Dynazty, and Vltimas. Sazes has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of Cyhra’s previous three studio albums as well.
Vocalist Jake E states: “We are thrilled to announce that we have officially signed with Reigning Phoenix Music! This marks an exciting new chapter in our journey, and we couldn’t be prouder to join a family that shares our passion for music and artistry. Reigning Phoenix Music is home to a roster of incredible talent and a team of dedicated professionals, many of whom we’ve had the pleasure of working with earlier in our career. Reuniting with such familiar faces feels like coming home, and we’re confident that this partnership will allow us to reach new heights together. We’re already hard at work with new music, and with Reigning Phoenix Music by our side, we’re more inspired than ever to create something truly unforgettable for our fans. Thank you for your continued support – it means the world to us!”
“We are are excited to welcome Cyhra to our family and for the opportunity to work with them again. Their talent, passion, and energy align perfectly with our vision of elevating artistry to new heights. Together, we’re setting the stage for an incredible journey!” adds the RPM team.
Rock and Roll Gallery celebrates its 25th anniversary this year by today (January 8) debuting an exclusive interview with photographer Neal Preston, one of the most renowned and celebrated figures in the history of rock ‘n’ roll photography.
In this candid conversation, available via the platform’s “Shot Talk” YouTube channel, Preston dives into his remarkable career, from his early days in New York to becoming the official photographer for legends like Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Queen, Bruce Springsteen, and many others. Watch below.
Titled “A Portrait of Neal Preston,” this rare 40-minute-plus interview offers fans and photography enthusiasts an unprecedented look behind the scenes of rock’s most iconic moments. Preston shares never-before-heard anecdotes, insights into his creative process, and reflections on the evolution of music photography. Viewers will also be treated to never-before-seen images that highlight the electrifying energy of some of the greatest superstars in rock history.
Throughout his illustrious career, Preston has had unparalleled access to the biggest names in music, capturing everything from intimate backstage moments to legendary live performances. His images have come to define rock and roll itself, and now, through this exclusive interview, fans can hear firsthand about his journey.
“We are honored to present this exclusive interview with Neal Preston, whose work has immortalized some of the most defining moments in music history,” said Chris Vranian, founder of Rock and Roll Gallery. “Via his engaging storytelling, this interview reveals the incredible depth of Preston’s career, from the 70s heyday to today.”
Recalls Preston about how he got to work with Led Zeppelin in 1975: “I was asked, do you still want that job with Led Zeppelin, I said yeah, and he (Danny Goldberg) said ‘get ready to go to Chicago!’ The Rolling Stones got all the press…meanwhile Led Zeppelin is eating The Rolling Stones for lunch every day… saw them both in 75 and Rolling Stones were nothing compared to Led Zeppelin.”
How to be a photographer on the road? “There was no instruction manual on how to deal with this job,” explains Preston. “Don’t act like you’re in the band because you are not. If you act like you’re in the band, the thing slipped under your door is a one-way ticket home – it ain’t going to be the room list for tomorrow.”
Looking back at his work with Queen – especially their 1985 “Live Aid” performance – Preston says: “I’m up there with Queen…and I didn’t know it was going to be the most famous 25-minute gig in history!” He adds: “Freddie Mercury’s favorite thing in the world was being Freddie Mercury!”
Rock and Roll Gallery is a one-stop online photographic wonderland for classic rock lovers, offering a treasure trove of iconic images and limited-edition prints. With the tagline “What Music Looked Like,” Rock and Roll Gallery brings together the best in music and photography, providing a visual celebration of rock’s history. Vranian calls it a place where “the History Channel meets the Biography Channel at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”
Rock and Roll Gallery has also announced a contest in which one lucky entrant will win an 11 x 14 Neal Preston Queen print valued at $800.00. By “liking” and subscribing to the “Shot Talk” YouTube channel, participants can enter the contest and indicate in the comments section what their favorite Preston photo is and why. Neal will choose the winner based on what he thinks is the best response. The winner will be picked next month, on February 14, and will be notified by email from “Shot Talk.”
About Rock and Roll Gallery:
Rock and Roll Gallery is an online platform dedicated to celebrating the history of rock through photography. Curated by Chris Vranian, the gallery offers a wide selection of limited-edition prints, each capturing moments that define the sound and spirit of rock ‘n’ roll.
About Shot Talk:
“Shot Talk” is a leading platform that brings together photography enthusiasts, music lovers, and creatives for insightful interviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and exclusive content. The platform is dedicated to celebrating the art of photography and the culture of music through the lens of legendary photographers and their iconic images.
