Author: wamdines

Prior to 2024, you’d always find the words ‘Peter Perrett’ appended with the apparently obligatory description ‘from The Only Ones’, the band he originally split from in ’81. You’d also find his name bandied about in circles debating the subject of unfulfilled potential. But not now.

Perrett’s latest, deeply personal (double) album, The Cleansing, realises every iota of Perrett brilliance, addressing decades lost to drug addiction, and the inevitable approach to life’s conclusion. The finest record yet to address the ever-more/nevermore-pertinent issue of septuagenarian angst, it’s a late-career masterpiece.

What stimulated you into writing the particular set of songs that make up The Cleansing?

My songs are always personal, but they’ve become even more exposed on this album, feelings that I might not have expressed previously. I feel more capable of being sentimental, but always with the absurdist, gallows humour that finds pleasure in the absurdity of personal circumstance and the state of the world. We all try to find our own place in the world, and my place is to be an outsider with a unique perspective, and hopefully I’ve expressed that.

Last time we spoke I asked you about a prolonged period that you spent in a state of total drug-induced oblivion, and you said: “It wasn’t that long, it was only from ’81 to ’88.” Which does seem like quite a long time.

Yeah. ’81 was when the band broke up. That was when I had 24 hours a day, seven days a week to take drugs. While the band was there I dabbled but it wasn’t a continuous thing. I started to try and get clean in ’88 and was clean for a month. I was clean by ’93, when I formed The One, then as soon as I started gigging I started dabbling again, and by ’96 was using. From ’96 to 2010 was my worst. So it was 35 years, basically, apart from a month here and there.

The Cleansing is not an album you could have written without having lived the life you have.

That’s what I like to tell myself, that it was all for the greater good. Because I’ve always got to say that drugs have got a downside, obviously, but it’s a counterbalance thing.

Your sons are all over the record. Making music together isn’t something many of our generation had with their parents. Generational disapproval might have facilitated the birth of rock’n’roll, but it certainly didn’t improve familial relations.

When I was young I hated my parents. Well, I didn’t hate them, I just thought they were useless, boring and had nothing to do with my life. So I treated them with complete disdain and disrespect. I totally regretted it, because they both died when I was 30, so didn’t live long enough for me to grow into an adult and tell them I loved them.

So I’m really fortunate and probably don’t deserve the contact I have with my children. They were the ones who, once they saw me getting healthy, encouraged me to come and play a song with them, because they both had their own bands. It was due to their encouragement that I got back to work, because I probably wouldn’t have bothered otherwise.

Obviously, The Cleansing would be an absolute doozy of a final statement… God forbid.

At the moment I’d be happy if The Cleansing was my last album, but I’ve already recorded the vocals and rhythm guitar for another five songs since then, so there’s already something there for the posthumous album.

Maybe you should write material from the point of view of someone who’s no longer with us.

I’m afraid that you’re apportioning me with talents that I’ve not yet discovered.

The Cleansing is out now via Domino.

Saber, the a Los Angeles based heavy metal band known for their uniquely sleazy take on the traditional NWOBHM sound, will release their new album, Lost In Flames, on February 7 via RPM-ROAR. Pre-order the album here.

Saber emerged organically in 2018 after lead guitarist Joel Dominguez, who was already working on some similar material with rhythm guitarist Jesus Delgado and bassist David Sanchez, received a message from singer Steven Villa about starting a new 80s-inspired band.

A series of thundering tracks followed soon after, which were refined into their 2021 debut album Without Warning. Produced and released with the help of Trevor William Church (Haunt), who also filled in as the drummer, the album was overwhelmingly positively received, being named as one of Bandcamp’s best albums of the year and outranking Exodus and Iron Maiden on BraveWords annual Top 30 list.

Sonically and aesthetically, Saber’s artistic identity is firmly rooted in the 80s. With Jesus now as their drummer and the addition of guitarist Antonio ‘Yogi’ Pettinato, the fearsome fivesome pass influences from Judas Priest and Queensrÿche to Riot, Crimson Glory and Iron Maiden through a unique lens, creating a distinctly energetic audiovisual experience that resonates with their diverse and growing fanbase. “We are heavily inspired by all 80s music, we love the glam era as well, as many can tell, we have that certain look that is unmistakably glam but don’t let it fool you, the songs are heavier than you may expect”, says Joel Dominguez.

Saber directly became a part of the NWOTHM scene with young bands, playing traditional heavy metal in a fresh way. “Some of the newer bands we love are Traveler, Visigoth, Wings Of Steel, Evil Invaders, Enforcer, Skull Fist and many more.”

After two years playing and touring alongside legends like Night Demon, Sacred Reich, Haunt and Screamer at institutional events like Decibel’s “Metal and Beer Fest” and the sold-out “Hell’s Heroes Fest”, Saber is now preparing for their sophomore release Lost In Flames. “The first new track I wrote that would light the spark to write the songs for Lost In Flames was ‘On The Hunt’. We were at rehearsal one day and I picked up my guitar and the first thing I played was that opening riff and all the guys were silent and said ‘Is that your riff?! Keep playing!’ By the end of that rehearsal that song was completed and we worked from then on”, remembers Joel Dominguez. One and half year later, the second album was written. He adds: “It was an arduous time through all that because things kept happening that would derail our attempt to write songs but we persevered through it.”

The new tracks also mark a new chapter, a logical follow-up by a band that grew together and got more experienced. “We certainly wanted to change the lyrical themes for this album. After going through life changing experiences, we decided we wanted to sing about what we were going through in life at that time. The riffs on this album are also some of the best we’ve written. ‘Steelbreaker’ sounds nothing like we’ve done before but it is relentless from beginning to end. ‘Lost In Flames’ tells the story of how we were spiraling on a downward trajectory but managed to pull ourselves together and rise from the ashes like a phoenix, so to speak.”

Once again Saber went back to their friend and supporter Trevor at Church Recordings, where they recorded Lost In Flames. The guitar player remembers: “We lived in his studio for a week tirelessly working on recording and fine-tuning certain parts to songs to make them sound the best as possible. We had Darren Trentacoste mix and master the album and it came out sounding amazing.” The result is fresh and unique, wild and… hungry! You can obviously hear that there is a band who live and breathe what they stand for. “The album is relentlessly infectious! We know our fans will love it and we hope to make a lot of new fans upon release.”

The highlights are many. For the band founder Joel it is “Shattered Dreams”. “That song has some personal lyrics that Steven wrote and is sung fantastically. His scream at the end of the song makes the hairs in the back of my neck stand straight up! The bridge riff on that song is very ear pleasing to me, especially when the harmony guitar kicks in. I think our fans will love that song just as much as I do.” One of the obvious hist on the album is the hymnic “Madam Dangerous”, a definitive single
and track for a video. “It quickly became one of our favorite songs from the album. We knew it would be a single as soon as we finished recording it. It was inspired by a certain encounter that someone in the band had with a lady he had met at a bar. She was very intense, and I thought it to be a perfect theme for one of our songs. The title came to me almost instantly, I thought it fit perfectly.”

The album title track is the epic “Lost In Flames”, basically expired by a lot of personal tragedy during the songwriting process. Joel remembers: “Jesus’ house burned down and he lost everything, including his dog Tim. We were very deeply saddened about that. We also rehearsed and wrote at his house so we had to put that on pause for a while. One night after opening for Midnight in San Diego, David had his car broken into and someone stole his bass and all his equipment. Steven’s relationship of 10+ years ended so he was in a dark place for a while, and I had a back injury that prevented me from performing live to the best of my abilities. I had to endure physical therapy for 9 months to strengthen my body back to normal. It started to feel like we were cursed but we didn’t let it derail us from what we had to accomplish.” All of this is somehow reflected in the album artwork. “Since we were all battling some demons through this time in our lives, we decided to add that to the artwork as well and “Madam Dangerous” and “Steelbreaker” are also in the artwork. Daniel Porta from The Pit Forge did an amazing job with the artwork. He’s a very talented artist and a fantastic person to work with.

Lost In Flames tracklisting:

“Lost In Flames”
“Phoenix Rising”
“Madam Dangerous”
“Shattered Dreams”
“Time Tells All”
“Shadow Of You”
“On The Hunt”
“Steel Breaker”

“Lost In Flames” video:

“Madam Dangerous” video:

Saber is:

Steven Villa – Lead Vocals
Joel Dominguez – Lead/Rhythm Guitar
Jesus Delgado – Drums
David Sanchez – Bass Guitar
Antonion Pettinato – Rhythm/Lead Guitar

(Photo – Pouya Golhassani)

The Veer Union have launched into 2025 with the release of the their new album, Welcome To Dystopia. The eight song, apocalyptic themed album by the Vancouver BC, Canada based group includes previously released hit singles “Empirical”, “Is This How It Ends”, and the title track, which included a guest appearance by rising rockers Silent Theory.

The focus track for the LP is “No Excuse” which excoriates leaders around the world for leaving the poor, middle class and working class behind in an evolving world – in order to help the wealthy grow their net worth to obscene levels. An ominous spoken word intro explodes into driving guitars, buoyed by a hypnotic piano and synth melody line that are propelled forward by thunderous drums with a chugging, relentless rhythm.

The Veer Union says, “‘No Excuse’ is a powerful rallying cry that exposes the deep-rooted betrayal of the working class by those in power. For decades, our leaders have decimated the middle class by outsourcing our manufacturing base, leaving communities to struggle while the wealthy elite thrive. At the same time, governments have colluded with big tech to suppress dissent, using cancel culture and censorship as tools to control the narrative.”

They continue, “Endless wars have claimed countless innocent lives, torn nations apart, and yet, the only ones to benefit are those at the top. We’ve endured lockdowns, had our freedoms stripped away, and watched our futures grow uncertain. The dream of prosperity has been ripped from us, leaving today’s youth with little more than a dim outlook for a better tomorrow. The rise of AI and robotics threatens to further control, weaponizing technology to erode autonomy. But in this age of information, people are waking up exponentially to the reality of our situation—and they’re demanding accountability from those who’ve betrayed us. All hope is not lost… Yet.”

Get the new album here.

Welcome To Dystopia tracklisting:

“No Excuse”
“Is This How It Ends?”
“Shades Of Gray”
“Empirical”
“The Underground”
“Welcome To Dystopia”
“Dig Their Own Graves”
“Space & Time”

The Veer Union is:

Crispin Earl (Lead Vocals/Producer)
Ryan Ramsdell (Guitar)
Ricardo Viana (Drums)

MIG Music has announced the passing of founder/CEO, Manfred Schütz. A message from the label follows:

“It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to Manfred Schütz, an outstanding visionary in the music industry and a pioneer in the independent music scene. The founder of SPV and founder and CEO of MIG Music passed away on the 3rd. January 2025 after prolonged serious illness at the age of 74 years.

“Manfred was a driving force in the music landscape. With the founding of SPV in 1984, he created a platform that allowed independent artists and labels to be heard worldwide. SPV has become one of the most significant sizes in the area of independent labels, especially in the rock, metal and electronic scene, and has long been Europe’s largest independent music distribution.

“After leaving SPV, Manfred founded MIG Music. There he made it his task to save musical treasures from oblivion. Due to his immense knowledge of music, many impressive and surprising publications were produced. Not often do we get emails from fans thanking MIG Music for their work.

“Manfred was not only a music lover and businessman, but also an open and warm person. His office door was fundamentally open and he always had an ear for his staff.

“Manfred will be missed. We don’t just lose a boss but most of all a good friend.

“We can only connect with the words that Ecki Stieg, friend and companion, writes in his obituary: “With Manfred, a label manager of the “old school” goes with all the nooks and edges, at the same time a real connoisseur and fan.”

“MIG Music will continue to exist under the management of Tanja Michaelis and Volker Pape, in the sense of Manfred.

“Take care, Manfred!”

BraveWords offer our sincere condolences to Manfred’s family and friends during this difficult time.

(Photo – Martin Huch / MIG Music)

“It’s your last chance to get your hands on the incredible items and experiences available in the 2024 Helping Hands Auction,” states an update from Metallica. “With live music VIP packages, sports memorabilia, fine art, gifts from fellow musicians, and now our very own instruments used during the show, something is sure to catch your eye.

“Bidding closes tomorrow, January 7, 2025, at 12 PM, PT.

“All proceeds benefit our foundation, All Within My Hands. AWMH is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services.”

Browse the auction here.

New to Metallica’s The Met Store is the Metallica Poker Set.

“Know when to hold ’em? Know when to fold ’em? Know when to walk away and when to run? Oh shit, wrong band. Sorry. Metallica poker is for all!”

Retailing for $199.99 (US), the 200 piece poker set includes:

Comes in custom case with Scary Guy artwork. Case measures approximately 9.5″x11.5″x2.5″.

Order here.

Guitarists Peter Stroud and Trace Foster recently spoke with the Is Breakfast Included? podcast to discuss their new band, Close Enemies, also featuring Aerosmith bassist, Tom Hamilton.

The duo shares the story of how the band came together, their songwriting process, and the unique chemistry that drives their sound. They reflect on their decades of experience touring with icons like Sheryl Crow, Aerosmith, and Rolling Stones, and how those lessons shaped this new project.

The conversation gets into their upcoming single, “Sound Of A Train,” set to release on January 17, and their excitement about hitting the road. Watch below:

Close Enemies, the powerhouse band featuring legendary musician Tom Hamilton (multiple Grammy winner, Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame member, and bassist of the biggest-selling American rock band of all time, Aerosmith), alongside legendary drummer Tony Brock (The Babys, Rod Stewart), touring veterans Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow, Don Henley), Trace Foster on guitar, and singer Chasen Hampton, who has been singing professionally since the age of 11 as a member and co-host of the famed 90s Mickey Mouse Club and pop group The Party, recently announced their signing with TLG|ROCK for management and label services. Their new record will be distributed through Virgin Music Group. Unlike the name suggests, these five guys are close friends, each with an illustrious musical career.

The band will release their debut single, “Sound Of A Train”, on January 17 and will be playing shows in support (dates below).

Tom Hamilton (Bass): “We’re really excited to be working with TLG/Virgin on the release of the Close Enemies record! They’re genuinely as excited about putting it out as we are! Can’t wait to see what happens!”

Tony Brock (Drums): “TLG/Virgin are the perfect match for Close Enemies as we are both SUPERGROUPS! 👌 Can’t wait to see the results!!”

Trace Foster (Guitar): “After spending a year on the writing and recording of this record, we were not going to sign with just anyone to put it out. Once we spoke with Dennis Sanders and his team at TLG/Virgin, we knew we had an ally with the same vision.”

Chasen Hampton (Vocals): “Honored to join forces with history! TLG/Virgin/Universal Music Group are all proven visionaries and a perfect fit for this band of brothers. We are excited to get this music heard and be a part of this new family.”

Peter Stroud (Guitar): “We could not ask for a better partner with Denny and The Label Group. His experience across all fronts of the industry is a perfect fit for Close Enemies. And I always prefer flying Virgin! It’s an honor to be playing with these musical brothers and now working with the ultimate team.”

Denny Sanders, CEO of TLG|ROCK: “My good friend Andy Gallagher of the band Overhaul sent me the music. I absolutely loved it, then to find out who’s in the band, well that was just icing on the cake. We are all thrilled here at TLG to be working with Close Enemies.”

Check out the band’s upcoming tour dates below, and stay tuned for further update.

Tour dates:

January
8 – Philadelphia, PA – City Winery
9 – New York, NY – City Winery
10 – Boston, MA – City Winery
11 – Boston, MA – City Winery
14 – Manchester, NH – The Rex Theatre
23 – Pawling, NY – Daryl’s House
25 – Nashville, TN – City Winery
28 – Chicago, IL – City Winery
29 – St Louis, MO – City Winery

(Photo – Eduardo Andrade)

Deep Purple‘s Ian Paice, The Damned‘s Rat Scabies and the Sex Pistols’ Paul Cook have all spoken about how drummers cope with the physical demands of live performance as they get older.

Interviewed by Classic Rock writer Michael Hann in The Guardian, the three drummers all say that they’ve changed their approach to drumming in order to keep playing.

“Many of the things I found easy when I was much younger are now difficult,” says the 76-year-old Paice, who played 64 shows with Deep Purple in the second half of 2024. “But I know a lot more now than when I was younger.

“So you substitute things: that is going to be difficult, but I can do that instead. Anybody who thinks they can do exactly the same thing they did 50 years ago is mad. There aren’t many guys of my generation left playing what I call ‘powerful drums’.”

In 2016, Paice suffered a mini-stroke while on tour with Purple but was able to resume after two shows were cancelled.

“Some of the songs even benefit from being pulled back a few beats per minute,” says Scabies, whose current setlist with The Damned packs 22 songs into 90 minutes. “Back in the day we were just hell for leather – whoever gets to the end of the song first is the winner.”

Meanwhile, Paul Cook reveals that he now works with a nutritionist, and prepares for each tour by doing cardio and upper arm workouts.

“But I’m not a health fanatic,” he says. “I haven’t turned into a lentil-eating hippy.”

Late last year, Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain announced he was retiring from live work. McBrain, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis in his hands, also suffered a mini-stroke in January 2023 and struggled to fully recover.

“I don’t play The Trooper fill anymore because I can’t get it,” he told The Washington Tattoo podcast last August. “It’s the speed of it. I can do everything slow, but I’ve had to make sure that as long as I can keep the groove of the song, which is normally…”

The previous month, McBrain told an audience at Piper’s Pub venue in Pompano Beach, Florida, that Maiden leader Steve Harris had devised a compromise that allowed McBrain to play a section of Caught Somewhere In Time he’d been struggling with.