32 years ago today (January 5th, 1993) IRON MAIDEN announced that former WOLFSBANE singer BLAZE BAYLEY would replace BRUCE DICKINSON. “We’ve all known Blaze since Wolfsbane toured with us in 1992,” Steve Harris commented. “We all like the bloke and have great respect for him as a frontman and as a vocalist.”
TALENT WE LOST
R.I.P. Dave Allison (ANVIL) – January 5th, 1956 – September 30th, 2024 (aged 68)
HEAVY BIRTHDAYS
Happy 71st Bryan Keith Hitt (REO SPEEDWAGON) – January 5th, 1954
Happy 63rd
Kelly Nickels (L.A. GUNS, FASTER PUSSYCAT) – January 5th, 1962
Happy 61st Ted Poley (DANGER DANGER) – January 5th, 1964
Happy 58th Björn Tom Fredrik Nordström (DREAM EVIL + producer extraordinaire!) – January 5th, 1967
Happy 56th CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL’s Bayou Country – January 5th, 1969
Happy 52nd AEROSMITH’s Aerosmith – January 5th, 1973
Happy 16th VREID’s Milorg – January 5th, 2009
Happy 15th MARC RIZZO’s Legionnaire – January 5th, 2010
Happy 7th SHINING’s X – Varg Utan Flock – January 5th, 2018 SUMMONING’s With Doom We Come – January 5th, 2018 WATAIN’s Trident Wolf Eclipse – January 5th, 2018
Jimmy Kay from Canada’s The Metal Voice spoke to Flotsam And Jetsam guitarist Michael Gilbert and drummer Ken Mary about the band’s new album, I Am The Weapon, and the trends and changes in the music industry over the years.
When asked to compare today’s US metal scene to the rest of the world:
Ken Mary: “If you look at Europe they’re open, they never stopped loving metal, and the weird thing in the United States I feel like metal is actually squashed on social media, on things like YouTube. I think they restrict metal. I’m not sure exactly why or what the reasoning is, but metal is huge everywhere else in the world (except the USA). Let’s take a band like Arch Enemy for instance: they’ll play huge festivals in Europe. They’ll play in front of half a million people in South America, huge shows in Japan. They come to the United States and Play House of Blues with a thousand people. So you tell me what’s going on? How can a band and how can a genre be huge everywhere else but not in the United States? It seems kind of squashed to me.
There’s a few bands here and there that are doing okay, but by and large there’s a whole genre that is not doing well. I think the fans (in he USA) aren’t as connected as in Europe. There’s a huge metal scene and everybody is connected and everybody goes to the festivals, and everybody loves the music, and it really doesn’t matter… are you thrash metal? Are you melodic metal? Whatever you are, the fans embrace everything. They’re not going, ‘Okay, I’m only a thrash metal fan, so I will only listen to thrash metal.’ I think that happens maybe a little more in the United States, too, where somebody goes ‘Okay, I like only a specific genre, a very specific area of a genre and I’m not going to listen to anything else.’ I think that happens maybe a little bit more in the US, but I do think in terms of the mechanics of the industry I think that there is an effort in my opinion to elevate things like rap and pop, and to sort of push metal to the wayside. Like I said, there’s a few bands here and there that kind of buck the trend but for the most part that’s what I’m seeing in the United States.”
I Am The Weapon was composed and produced by the whole band and the eleven new songs were recorded at SonicPhish Productions, Gnome Lord Studios, Wayne Manor Studios, and Seventh Spike Studios. The cover artwork was again created by Andy Pilkington.
Order your copy of this must-have album, one that belongs into every well-sorted metal record collection, here.
“This entire record was special to us, and we did our best to make music that inspired us first and foremost,” the band comments. “We all genuinely love this record, and every song on the record, so hopefully our listeners feel as strongly as we do.”
“Thank you so much for your support, your love, and your encouragement for the last 40 years. You are the reason we continue to tour and to make music! You are the best, and we will continue to fight for the music as long as we have breath!
I Am The Weapon tracklisting:
“A New Kind Of Hero” “Primal” “I Am The Weapon” “Burned My Bridges” “The Head Of The Snake” “Beneath The Shadows” “Gates Of Hell” “Cold Steel Lights” “Kings Of The Underworld” “Running Through The Fire” “Black Wings”
“The Head Of The Snake”:
“A New Kind Of Hero” video:
“Burned My Bridges”:
“Primal” video:
“I Am The Weapon” lyric video:
It’s been almost 40 years since Flotsam And Jetsam, formed in Phoenix, Arizona released their landmark debut, Doomsday For The Deceiver, the only album to ever receive a 6K rating from the influential British magazine Kerrang! Bassist Jason Newsted would jump ship to Metallica while the band released the unstoppable No Place For Disgrace in 1988. Cuatro (1992), Drift (1995), High (1997), and My God (2001) all still rank extremely high in heavy metal circles. But it was the first part of this unofficial trilogy in 2016’s self-titled Flotsam And Jetsam that a certain rejuvenation and reset was clearly felt.
Fast-forward five years to a planet that was forced to its knees. While spending most of the pandemic times in a holding pattern like the rest of the world, Flotsam And Jetsam made the best of a struggling situation and just let those creative juices and angst flow. What emerged was the much-acclaimed Blood In The Water, released in 2021 via AFM Records.
Feature Photo: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Radiohead, formed in 1985 in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, England, has become one of the most influential and innovative bands in modern music history. Consisting of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano), Jonny Greenwood (lead guitar, keyboards), Colin Greenwood (bass), Ed O’Brien (guitar, backing vocals), and Phil Selway (drums, percussion), the band has released nine studio albums and numerous singles, earning critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide. Radiohead’s music spans genres, incorporating rock, electronic, experimental, and orchestral elements.
Over their career, Radiohead has received multiple awards, including six Grammy Awards, four Ivor Novello Awards, and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. Albums such as OK Computer (1997) and Kid A (2000) are hailed as milestones in music history, with the former considered one of the greatest albums ever made. Radiohead has achieved chart-topping success with tracks like “Creep,” “Paranoid Android,” and “Karma Police,” and continues to push the boundaries of musical artistry.
Here is a complete list of Radiohead songs from A to Z, including their original albums and release dates:
A – I
“15 Step” – In Rainbows (2007) “2 + 2 = 5” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “4 Minute Warning” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Airbag” – OK Computer (1997) “All I Need” – In Rainbows (2007) “The Amazing Sounds of Orgy” – B-side to “Pyramid Song” (2001) “Anyone Can Play Guitar” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Backdrifts” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Banana Co.” (live) – B-side to “Pop Is Dead” (1993) “Bangers + Mash” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “The Bends” – The Bends (1995) “Bishop’s Robes” – B-side to “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” (1996) “Black Star” – The Bends (1995) “Bloom” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Blow Out” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Bodysnatchers” – In Rainbows (2007) “Bones” – The Bends (1995) “Bullet Proof..I Wish I Was” – The Bends (1995) “Burn the Witch” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “The Butcher” – Non-album single (2011) “Climbing Up the Walls” – OK Computer (1997) “Codex” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Coke Babies” – B-side to “Anyone Can Play Guitar” (1993) “Creep” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Cuttooth” – B-side to “Knives Out” (2001) “The Daily Mail” – The King of Limbs: Live from the Basement (2011) “Daydreaming” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Decks Dark” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Desert Island Disk” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Dollars and Cents” – Amnesiac (2001) “Down Is the New Up” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Electioneering” – OK Computer (1997) “Everything in Its Right Place” – Kid A (2000) “Exit Music (For a Film)” – OK Computer (1997) “Faithless, the Wonder Boy” – B-side to “Anyone Can Play Guitar” (1993) “Fake Plastic Trees” – The Bends (1995) “Fast-Track” – B-side to “Pyramid Song” (2001) “Faust Arp” – In Rainbows (2007) “Feral” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Fitter Happier” – OK Computer (1997) “Fog” – B-side to “Knives Out” (2001) “Follow Me Around” – Kid A Mnesia (2021) “Ful Stop” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Gagging Order” – B-side to “Go to Sleep” (2003) “Give Up the Ghost” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Glass Eyes” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “The Gloaming” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Go Slowly” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Go to Sleep” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Harry Patch (In Memory Of)” – Non-album single (2009) “High and Dry” – The Bends (1995) “House of Cards” – In Rainbows (2007) “How Can You Be Sure?” – B-side to “Fake Plastic Trees” (1995) “How Do You?” – Pablo Honey (1993) “How I Made My Millions” – B-side to “No Surprises” (1998) “How to Disappear Completely” – Kid A (2000) “Hunting Bears” – Amnesiac (2001) “I Am a Wicked Child” – B-side to “Go to Sleep” (2003) “I Am Citizen Insane” – B-side to “Go to Sleep” (2003) “I Can’t” – Pablo Honey (1993) “I Might Be Wrong” – Amnesiac (2001) “I Promise” – OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 (2017) “I Want None of This” – Help!: A Day in the Life (2005) “I Will” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Identikit” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Idioteque” – Kid A (2000) “If You Say the Word” – Kid A Mnesia (2021) “Ill Wind” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “In Limbo” – Kid A (2000) “India Rubber” – B-side to “Fake Plastic Trees” (1995) “Inside My Head” – B-side to “Creep” (1992)
J – S
“Jigsaw Falling into Place” – In Rainbows (2007) “Just” – The Bends (1995) “Karma Police” – OK Computer (1997) “Kid A” – Kid A (2000) “Killer Cars” – B-side to “Planet Telex”/”High and Dry” (1995) “Kinetic” – B-side to “Pyramid Song” (2001) “Knives Out” – Amnesiac (2001) “Last Flowers” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Let Down” – OK Computer (1997) “Lewis (Mistreated)” – My Iron Lung (1994) “Life in a Glasshouse” – Amnesiac (2001) “Lift” – OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 (2017) “Like Spinning Plates” – Amnesiac (2001) “Little by Little” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Lotus Flower” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Lozenge of Love” – My Iron Lung (1994) “Lucky” – The Help Album (1995) “Lull” – B-side to “Karma Police” (1997) “Lurgee” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Man of War” – OK Computer OKNOTOK 1997 2017 (2017) “Maquiladora” – B-side to “Planet Telex”/”High and Dry” (1995) “Meeting in the Aisle” – B-side to “Karma Police” (1997) “Melatonin” – B-side to “Paranoid Android” (1997) “Million Dollar Question” – B-side to “Creep” (1992) “MK 1” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “MK 2” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Molasses” – B-side to “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” (1996) “Morning Bell” – Kid A (2000) “Morning Bell/Amnesiac” – Amnesiac (2001) “Morning Mr Magpie” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Motion Picture Soundtrack” – Kid A (2000) “My Iron Lung” – The Bends (1995) “Myxomatosis” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “The National Anthem” – Kid A (2000) “(Nice Dream)” – The Bends (1995) “No Surprises” – OK Computer (1997) “Nothing Touches Me” – Pablo Honey (collector’s edition, 2009) “Nude” – In Rainbows (2007) “The Numbers” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Optimistic” – Kid A (2000) “Packt Like Sardines in a Crushd Tin Box” – Amnesiac (2001) “Palo Alto” – B-side to “No Surprises” (1998) “Paperbag Writer” – B-side to “There There” (2003) “Paranoid Android” – OK Computer (1997) “Pearly*” – B-side to “Paranoid Android” (1997) “Permanent Daylight” – My Iron Lung (1994) “Planet Telex” – The Bends (1995) “Polyethylene (Parts 1 & 2)” – B-side to “Paranoid Android” (1997) “Pop Is Dead” – Non-album single (1993) “Present Tense” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “Prove Yourself” – Drill (1992) “Pulk/Pull Revolving Doors” – Amnesiac (2001) “Punchdrunk Lovesick Singalong” – My Iron Lung (1994) “A Punchup at a Wedding” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Pyramid Song” – Amnesiac (2001) “Reckoner” – In Rainbows (2007) “A Reminder” – B-side to “Paranoid Android” (1997) “Ripcord” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Sail to the Moon” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Scatterbrain” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Separator” – The King of Limbs (2011) “Sit Down. Stand Up” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Spectre” – Non-album single (2015) “Staircase” – The King of Limbs: Live from the Basement (2011) “Stop Whispering” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” – The Bends (1995) “Stupid Car” – Drill (1992) “Subterranean Homesick Alien” – OK Computer (1997) “Sulk” – The Bends (1995) “Supercollider” – Non-album single (2011)
T – Z
“Talk Show Host” – B-side to “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” (1996) “There There” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “These Are My Twisted Words” – Non-album single (2009) “Thinking About You” – Drill (1992) “Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor Rich Man Poor Man Beggar Man Thief” – A Moon Shaped Pool (2016) “The Tourist” – OK Computer (1997) “Trans-Atlantic Drawl” – B-side to “Pyramid Song” (2001) “Treefingers” – Kid A (2000) “The Trickster” – My Iron Lung (1994) “True Love Waits” – I Might Be Wrong: Live Recordings (2001) “Up on the Ladder” – In Rainbows Disk 2 (2007) “Vegetable” – Pablo Honey (1993) “Videotape” – In Rainbows (2007) “We Suck Young Blood” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Weird Fishes/Arpeggi” – In Rainbows (2007) “Where Bluebirds Fly” – B-side to “There There” (2003) “Where I End and You Begin” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “A Wolf at the Door” – Hail to the Thief (2003) “Worrywort” – B-side to “Knives Out” (2001) “Yes I Am” – B-side to “Creep” (1993) “You” – Drill (1992) “You and Whose Army?” – Amnesiac (2001) “You Never Wash Up After Yourself” – My Iron Lung (1994)
Check out our other entertaining and informative Radiohead articles, detailing in-depth the band’s albums, songs, band members, and more…all on ClassicRockHistory.com
Brian Kachejian was born in Manhattan and raised in the Bronx. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of ClassicRockHistory.com. He has spent thirty years in the music business often working with many of the people who have appeared on this site. Brian Kachejian also holds B.A. and M.A. degrees from Stony Brook University along with New York State Public School Education Certifications in Music and Social Studies. Brian Kachejian is also an active member of the New York Press.
Former Megadeth guitarist Jeff Young and his solo band Jeff Young Group have announced a new, instrumental single “Lightning Rising”. The single is due for release soon.
The band states: “We are over the moon excited about our brand new instrumental single coming early 2025! The song is entitled ‘Lightning Rising’ written & produced by guitarist, Jeff Young (Kings of Thrash/Badi Assad/Megadeth) and features Bass phenom, Mohini dey (Greg Howe/ Willow Smith) & Jeff Tortora (Blue Man Group) on Drums & Percussion.
“The track was mixed by our dear pal, Charlie Waymire and is a fresh fusion of funk, rock & world music vibes! Thanks to Vinnie Castaldo for engineering our basic Drum & Rhythm Guitars in Las Vegas, NV! All Lead Guitar action recorded by Charlie in Los Angeles, CA.”
Avantasia continues with track-by-track description of a new song from the upcoming Here Be Dragons album. Magnum’s Bob Catley stars on “Bring Me The Night” – a tribute to the late Tony Clarkin.
Sammet writes: “Track by Track: ‘Bring On The night’ was written on the evening of July 6th, 2024 within a few hours as a heartfelt tribute to Magnum and the late Tony Clarkin. I dive deeper into the background story in the Artbook version of the new album, but in brief words: the song came to me within minutes in an almost spiritual way, and I just had to capture it and turn it into an Avantasia tune.
“I wanted to do it justice and used the sounds and keyboards played on classic ‘80s Magnum records, and of course there would be only one singer in the world, who could sing that song with me, the undisputed king of magic, the storyteller on a storyteller’s night: my dear friend and partner for 25 years now, Birmingham’s finest: Mr. Bob Catley. It’s such a wonderful song, anthemic, melancholic, quite a bit ‘80s… or better: timeless. This kind of approach and the magic you feel when a piece of music is given to you out of nowhere and it all comes together, those are the sacred moments in music that drive me.
“Bob had tears in his eyes when he sang it, and I was trying to hide mine behind my goggles when I was sitting next to him. It’s just so beautiful. Bob, I love you for rocking my world and being the friend and inspiration you are, I can’t wait until March to hit the road with you again!”
Sammet on “Everybody’s Here Until The End” with guest singer Roy Khan:
“Track by Track: ‘Everybody’s Here Until The End’! When the album was almost done I felt that we had a lot of furious and fast material, and I thought that I was still in need of a grand finale for an epic ending, something conciliatory and big, and I sat down on my piano and started to play a ballad which would eventually grow from a piano piece into a monumental power ballad. It’s a very personal song but eventually I wanted a duet partner who would add more depth. And I reached out to an old acquaintance to the Avantasia family, the mighty Roy Khan (ex-Kamelot) to help me shape this song to an amazing finale of an enchanting album. I think it’s one of the most moving and emotional, and yet biggest ballads I have ever done.”
Sammet on “The Moorlands At Twilight” featuring Helloween’s Michael Kiske:
“Track by Track: ‘The Moorlands At Twilight’ is a really rampant speed metal anthem with my lovely brother in Avantasia since the early days, Michael Kiske delivering a killer vocal performance. I guess that type of music is just in my DNA and even though it’s a classic Avantasia song I think that the atmosphere is different to anything we’ve done before. I can hear some early Helloween influence in there, even though the song is very unique with its playful neo-classical elements and wild approach. Also, the lead guitars are extreme and quite virtuous: Sascha Paeth and Arne Wiegand have delivered an extensive, fast and hymnic axe battle that made my jaw drop. When ‘power metal’ is done like that, I absolutely love it!”
Sammet previously described “Here Be Dragons” featuring Geoff Tate:
“Track by Track: ‘Here Be Dragons’ is the longest song on the album and features a great duet with my good friend and one of my vocal heroes since his early days in Queensrÿche, Mr. Geoff Tate, who’s outdone himself on the track. It’s a groovy mid-tempo song with enchanting melodies, orchestral elements, big keyboard passages and a powerful guitar riffing driving the main parts of the song. Even though you can hear some classic Dio, Queensrÿche and even Marillion elements in there, it’s a typical Avantasia song and a very unqiue one. It has two different choruses and a very emotional and big sounding mid-section. The song wasn’t meant to be that long, but there isn’t a single note I would change or leave out if I listen to the final result now.”
Rock and metal flagship, Avantasia, will release their 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, Here Be Dragons, on February 28. They recently unleashed the energizing first new single, “Creepshow”.
The new track is one of the catchiest songs of Avantasia’s career so far, and it arrives with an exciting, cinematic music video. The guaranteed future hit rings in a new era of Avantasia and will be an integral part of Avantasia’s spectacular live shows.
In their 25 years of existence, Avantasia has become one of the biggest leading forces in metal, boasting nine successful previous albums (such as the #1 charting Moonglow), worldwide sold-out arena tours and headline shows at all of the most important metal festivals. Here Be Dragons is sure to exceed all expectations as the most powerful Avantasia album so far.
Tobias Sammet on the single and video: “‘Creepshow’ is a perfect single. It’s short and catchy, and it emphasizes a facet of my work that has taken a backseat in my music in recent years. It’s light-hearted and the opposite of melancholic. And it’s fresh, boisterous and unabashed – a straightforward kick-ass anthem. Also, even though it may seem like a reminiscence of my earlier writing, I think we managed to turn the whole thing into a trademark Avantasia tune, as we accentuated with the music video. We rented a haunted castle in North England and celebrated a night in the world of spectres and undead creatures. This is the most vibrant and eccentric music video I’ve ever shot in my entire career, not dead-serious, but certainly of serious quality! I can’t wait to play ‘Creepshow’ live on our tour next year, I can already see the whole venue jumping up and down and screaming along!”
Watch the official music video for “Creepshow”:
Featuring absolute Avantasia essentials such as spellbinding choirs and theatrical symphonic metal elements, multitalented mastermind and frontman Tobias Sammet also surprises fans old and new with plenty of intriguing fresh soundscapes. Here Be Dragons gives the celebrated Avantasia sound that has been carefully crafted over a quarter of a century an exciting and powerful spin. The new album is the most consistent and concise piece of art that the band has ever crafted.
Avantasia is not showing any signs of slowing down – soon after the release of Here Be Dragons, the band will head out on an extensive arena tour across Europe, promising to deliver fans an immersive experience with their biggest and most epic production ever.
In grand Avantasia tradition, the new full-length is rich in vivid storytelling and cinematic atmospheres, not to mention the highest level of musicianship. Opening track “Creepshow” is without a doubt one of the catchiest songs in their career. The energizing future hit truly welcomes the listener into the new era of Avantasia and will be an integral part of the band’s spectacular live shows. In contrast, the incredible title track “Here Be Dragons” is a classic Avantasia song, and at almost nine minutes, is by far the longest on the album. The cinematic dark soundscapes of “The Witch” captivate and support the song’s storyline perfectly. Emotional, multifaceted vocal performances mesmerize on “Avalon”, while the heavy metal number “Against The Wind” serves as further proof of the versatility of Avantasia’s sound. Remaining well-balanced and cohesive, Here Be Dragons is undeniably Avantasia’s most powerful album so far.
The 10-track offering was written and composed in its entirety by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Tobias Sammet together with Sascha Paeth, mixed by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The stunning cover art was once again created by acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Here Be Dragons marks another masterpiece in the Avantasia catalog, leaving both fans and critics speechless and proving the band’s standing as a main force in the world of rock and metal!
Here Be Dragons is now available for pre-order in several exciting physical editions, with bonus albums included in select limited formats, like a 3CD hardcover artbook with 96 pages, over 160 pictures, drawings of Rodney Matthews and extensive stories to accompany the music and pictures.
Here Be Dragons will be available in the following formats:
– 3CD-Artbook – large format, hardcover book incl. 96 pages, over 160 pictures and extensive stories and liner notes – 3LP Vinyl Box incl 72 Pages 12″ Booklet – strictly limited to 500 copies – 1LP Glow in the Dark Vinyl incl 12” Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – 1LP Yellow/Orange Marbled Vinyl incl 12” Booklet – strictly limited to 300 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – 1LP Blue/White Splattered Vinyl incl 12″ Booklet + Poster + Slipmat – strictly limited to 500 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive ROW – 1LP Orange incl 12” Booklet – 1LP Black incl 12” Booklet – Tape – strictly limited to 100 copies – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive – 2CD Mediabook – 1CD Digipak – Digital Album
“Creepshow” “Here Be Dragons” “The Moorland At Twilight” “The Witch” “Phantasmagoria” “Bring On The Night” “Unleash The Kraken” “Avalon” “Against The Wind” “Everybody’s Here Until The End”
Finnish epic metallers Wintersun have released a statement on their plans for 2025 and a new album is “about 80% complete.” The band finally released Time II in August 2024.
Wintersun states: “Wow! What a year 2024 was! The year of the dragon! 🐉 We finally released the long-awaited Time II album and other material in our Time Package Indiegogo pre-order campaign! Once again, thank you to everyone for supporting us! ❤️ We hope you’ve enjoyed all the content! 🤘 What’s next?
“Next, work continues on the upcoming Wintersun album, which is about 80% complete. However, the remaining 20% still presents challenges. Rest assured, we will overcome the obstacles! Thanks to all the audio technology innovations, the album already sounds fantastic. And thanks to you guys for providing us with the resources to upgrade and take our production to the next level!
“The funny thing is that all the Wintersun material you’ve heard so far is quite old. The Forest Seasons album is the newest material you’ve listened to from Wintersun, written around 2014-2015 and released in 2017. TIME I & II albums were written around 2004-2006. So, hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, you’ll be able to hear something ‘fairly fresh’ from Wintersun. Until then, please stay patient! We are working as fast as we can!”
“We wish everyone a great New Year! 🎉🥳 May the flames in the darkness reach the stars and ignite the passions of your heart!”
12 years following Wintersun’s Time I, the Finnish heavy metal quartet led by Jari Mäenpää released their new album, Time II on August 30, 2024 via Nuclear Blast Records. Check out a lyric video for 13-minute album closer, the sterling “Silver Leaves” is streaming below:
Check out the previously released lyric video for 12-minute “Storm”:
Jari Mäenpää on Time II: “Time II is an epic journey from light to darkness and back to light, exploring the universe and energy, contrasting dark stormy landscapes to calm and beautiful cherry blossom tree gardens with misty, snowy mountains that will leave you breathless. It has songs with furious speed of drums, guitars, and bass and beautiful melodic slower songs with a magical exotic influence. It has massive orchestrations and choirs spiced with ancient world instruments and glimmering synths. It has Jari’s soaring, clean singing contrasted with his aggressive style. It is a highly detailed and complex album where you will find new things with every listen.”
Order Time II here. Check out the BraveWords review of the Wintersun Time Package here.
“The Way Of The Fire” lyric video:
Wintersun is:
Jari Mäenpää – vocals, guitars, computer, programming Teemu Mäntysaari – guitars Jukka Koskinen – bass Kai Hahto – drums
The Nail recently released their lyric video for “Soul Screamer”, from their self-titled debut album, released back in September. Watch the new behind the scenes video for “Soul Screamer” below:
The Nail is a new musical alliance featuring one of the most gifted vocalists of the new generation, Girish Pradhan (Girish & The Chronicles, The End Machine) together with Efe and Reis Ali Eroglu, two very talented young kids (26 and 17 years old respectively) who – under the guidance of their father, producer Cenk Eroglu (ex-Winger, Crossing Rubicon) – created a new hard rock gem, poised to captivate audiences around the globe.
Cenk Eroglu commented on “Soul Screamer” by saying: “It’s the heaviest song of the album. The record was almost done when Reis Ali played me this riff… Then we found ourselves working on it. The meaning of ‘Soul Screamer’ and the lyrics are kind of deep. It’s the voice of your conscience. Lacking one within, it will find other ways to hunt you down. It’s also our nod to Judas Priest & Rob Halford… And Girish sang it like a jet engine!”
Talking about the album, Girish Pradhan states: “This is unlike like any record I have ever done. Different. Many of my listeners have always requested that I do something different for a change, and I feel like this record is exactly what they need. Of course, it’s all thanks to a great and a dedicated team, working tirelessly in the background, helping me bring out a different side of me. Amazing work by the young and super talented – Ali, on guitars! All in all, a great project that I got to be a part of.”
“A great chemistry right from the start,” adds Eroglu. “Young Reis Ali’s razor-sharp guitar riffs and melodies collided with Efe’s blazing lead guitars, then Girish Pradhan took it to the stars with his amazing voice. It’s hard to believe it’s a debut album; it actually feels like a best-of already.”
Girish Pradhan’s reputation has been growing recently as one of the hottest new rock singers on the scene. Coming from India, he played already several shows in Europe with his band Girish & The Chronicles and appeared as lead singer on the last album from the hard rock supergroup The End Machine featuring George Lynch and Jeff Pilson, both ex-Dokken.
Following the acclaim that Girish received over the last few years, the label’s President Serafino Perugino conceived a new project set to highlight Girish’s vocals and abilities. Turkish composer and producer Cenk Eroglu was brought in to write some songs and work on ideas with Girish, and he was immediately blown away by his talent.
He asked his friend and former bandmate Kip Winger to A&R the project and thus put to work his two kids: Efe (a 26 years old guitar hero – top shredder on the “Monsters Of Rock Cruise Shred Contest” in 2021, praised by musical giants such as Bumblefoot, John 5, Andy Timmons, Nuno Bettencourt and Reb Beach) and Ali (17 years old multi-instrumentalist and co-writer of the album).
The final result is just above and beyond any expectation. The album offers a great balance of heavier material (“Soul Screamer”, the bastard child of Judas Priest’s “Painkiller”, “Underdog” and the title track) and very melodic numbers (“Broken”, “Walk the Line”, “No Time to Burn” and “Fall Back Now”).
The Nail is a real surprise as it contains a real tribute to 80’s heavy metal, showcasing influences from Judas Priest, Sabbath, Dio and even hints at the heaviest Winger sound on the most recent albums.
The Nail tracklisting:
“Hit & Run” “The Nail” “No Time To Burn” “Broken” “Walk The Line” “Soul Screamer” “Blackout (Popeye’s Sin)” “Exorcist” “Hangman’s Noose” “Underdog” “Fall Back Now”
“No Time To Burn” lyric video:
“The Nail” video:
“Hit & Run” video:
Lineup:
Girish Pradhan – Lead Vocals Reis Ali Eroglu – Drums, Bass, Guitars Efe Eroglu – Lead Guitars
Additional Musicians:
Cenk Eroglu – Guitars, Hammond Organ, Keyboards, Back Vocals John Bisaha – Background Vocals Paolo De Santis – Background Vocals Cem & Sevinc Keskin – Ghost Vocals
– Produced By: Cenk Eroglu – Music Director: C.F. Kip Winger – Executive Producer: Serafino Perugino
Former Butcher Babies vocalist, Carla Harvey, has joined Belgian industrial dance band, Lords Of Acid. Harvey, who will release the first single with her new project The Violent Hour next month, shared the following:
“Cats outta the bag! The first The Violent Hour single is headed your way in February AND I’ve added a bucket list item to my resume: Reigning ACID QUEEN. I had three favorite bands in high school: Guns N’ Roses, Pantera, and Lords Of Acid. Each one shaped me and uniquely influenced me as an artist. LOA had me hooked from the moment I heard ‘I Sit On Acid’ as a teenager dancing the night away at Detroit’s goth Industrial Haven City Club. My obsession only grew after I saw Coop’s artwork on the cover of Voodo U. Now I get to record an album with my industrial heroes…Pinch 16 year old me! She’ll be the one in the vocal booth. Praise the Lords!”
Lords Of Acid manager Marc Jordan says, “Carla is set to begin recording vocals for the new Lords Of Acid album this winter and will be joining the band on a 27 date U.S. tour in June.”
Back in July 2024, Carla and Butcher Babies announced they had officially parted ways, issuing separate statements.
Carla: “Over the last 6 months You may have noticed my absence from BB posts. After 15 years of dedication, I wanted to let you know that I will not be rejoining the band for any future endeavours. I am super proud of my work with Butcher Babies… two EPS, five full length albums, and countless tours with our metal heroes! To all of our incredible BB friends and fans…you have provided me with some of the greatest experiences of my life! I have loved every second of writing and performing all over the world for you! I have loved meeting you. WOW. I still can’t believe this kid from Detroit got so lucky. I am not done making music and performing. I WILL see you soon.”
Butcher Babies: “As you may have already guessed, it is confirmed that Carla Harvey and Butcher Babies have officially parted ways. Carla has been an integral part of our journey, bringing her unique talent, passion, and energy to the band. We are grateful for the incredible memories we’ve made together and the impact she has had on our music and our fans. We will miss her greatly and we wish her all the best in her future endeavours. We deeply appreciate your support over the past 15 years. We feel incredibly fortunate to keep making and playing music as our career, and we are excited for this new era of Butcher Babies! See you on the road.”
Live Rochester NY, July ’77 is a live album by The Dictators, offering fans a time capsule of the band’s high-energy performance during their peak era. Released in 2015 through Norton Records, this album captures a concert recorded in July 1977 in Rochester, New York. The show took place during the tour supporting their second studio album, Manifest Destiny. This live recording showcases The Dictators’ raw punk energy, razor-sharp humor, and undeniable musical chemistry.
The lineup for this performance featured Handsome Dick Manitoba on lead vocals, Ross “The Boss” Friedman delivering blistering guitar work, Scott “Top Ten” Kempner on rhythm guitar, Andy Shernoff on bass and backing vocals, and Richie Teeter anchoring the performance on drums. The setlist is a thrilling mix of tracks from their first two albums, Go Girl Crazy! and Manifest Destiny, as well as spirited covers, including their fan-favorite rendition of The Stooges’ “Search and Destroy.”
The album received acclaim from long-time fans and punk rock enthusiasts for its authentic capture of the band’s live energy. The raw sound quality adds to the album’s charm, making it a must-listen for those who appreciate the grit and intensity of 1970s punk rock.
Indian rockers Girish And The Chronicles, featuring The End Machine vocalist Girish Pradhan, performed “Killer Of The Night” live in Darjeeling, India on December 22nd. The song is taken from from The End Machine album, The Quantum Phase, released in 2024.
The End Machine features Pradhan, former Dokken members George Lynch (guitar) and Jeff Pilson (bass), and Steve Brown (drums).
The End Machine’s new album signals a notable change in personnel. Singer Robert Mason has officially parted ways with the group, paving the way for Girish Pradhan, the rising superstar vocalist known for his work under the moniker Girish And The Chronicles and, more recently, with Joel Hoekstra’s 13. The addition of Pradhan to the band is a testament to the keen discernment of Serafino Perugino, president, and founder of Frontiers Records. Perugino, who serves as the executive producer for The End Machine, recognized the incredible talent and potential in Pradhan and brought him to the attention of the band.
Established in 2018, The End Machine released their eponymous debut album, The End Machine, in 2019 bringing early acclaim for not only contemporary production and a modern attitude, but also their perfectly crafted songs, paying homage to their roots and the music that they love. This attitude and talent was equally on display with their 2021 sophomore album, Phase2.
In delivering 2024’s The Quantum Phase, The End Machine has not only surpassed expectations but has penned the record of their lives! With each note and lyric, they have exceeded their own artistic aspirations, collectively crafting the album they always wished they had written. This monumental work stands as a testament to The End Machine’s evolution, showcasing not only their musical prowess but also their unwavering dedication to pushing the boundaries of their creative expression.
“Black Hole Extinction” “Silent Winter” “Killer Of The Night” “Hell Or High Water” “Stand Up” “Burning Man” “Shattered Glass Heart” “Time” “Hunted” “Stranger In The Mirror” “Into The Blazing Sun”
“Black Hole Extinction” lyric video:
“Killer Of The Night” video:
“Silent Winter” video:
Produced By: Jeff Pilson for Pilsound Music Inc Studio: Pilsound Studios, Santa Clarita CA Recorded By: Jeff Pilson and Girish Pradhan, additional engineering: Olivia Pilson Mixed By: Alessandro Del Vecchio Mastered By: Alessandro Del Vecchio
Band members:
George Lynch Girish Pradhan Steve Brown Jeff Pilson
